Alexandria Living Magazine - July/August 2021 by Alexandria Living Magazine

THE HOT SECONDHOME MARKET

Best of the Beaches Time for a summer vacation!

ALEXANDRIALIVINGMAGAZINE.COM July / August 2021

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EXPLORING ALEXANDRIA'S BLACK HISTORY

A CHAT WITH BBQ'S MYRON MIXON

Old Town’s Real Estate Expert Babs Beckwith, McEnearney Associate

No one knows Old Town Alexandria better than Babs Beckwith, whose name is synonymous with Old Town Real Estate. With more than 25 years of success selling homes in this very special community where she lives and is actively involved, Babs has the insider’s knowledge and understanding of today’s market for selling and buying Old Town real estate. Call Babs today for a confidential conversation about your property.

Babs Beckwith, Realtor® Tel. 703.627.5421 I Babs@BabsBeckwith.com I www.OldTownAlexandriaLiving.com Old Town Alexandria 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 I tel. 703.549.9292 Equal Housing Opportunity

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CONTENTS

CONTRABANDS AND FREEDMEN CEMETERY MEMORIAL PHOTO BY GEOFF LIVINGSTON FOR VISIT ALEXANDRIA

Find out what’s going on this summer in and around Alexandria!

AROUND TOWN

FOOD & DINING

PETS

LOCAL HISTORY

HOME & GARDEN

PROFILE

THE LAST WORD

22 PHOTO BY ANGELA NEWTON ROY

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style returns Sept. 5.

Check out these new options for boating on Alexandria’s waterfront.

Alexandrian Erinn Roth talks about her appearance on FOXTV’s “Crime Scene Kitchen.”

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria offers more than cats and dogs as pets.

Alexandrian John T. Chapman is on a mission to shine a light on our Black history.

A Del Ray kitchen says “goodbye” to the ’80s, hello to function and style!

We wonder if barbecue runs in his veins: The one and only Myron Mixon.

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, retiring at the end of the year, looks back fondly on his career.

28 July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

FEATURES

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKLANDS BARBEQUE & GRILLING COMPANY

36 BBQ Round-up Have a hankering for a pulled-pork sandwich and sides? Try one of Alexandria’s favorite BBQ joints.

PHOTO BY BUZ NACHLAS

46 Best of the Beaches It’s time to pack your bags and head to the beach! We’ve got options for you, near and far.

Jockey's Ridge, Outer Banks

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

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Babs Beckwith cell 703.627.5421 I Babs@BabsBeckwith.com I OldTownAlexandriaLiving.com 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 I off. 703.549.9292 Equal Housing Opportunity

PUBLISHER

Beth Lawton

A Letter from Our Founders

EDITOR

Mary Ann Barton ADVERTISING

Cleo Chitester Teal Griffey Lora Jerakis DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION

Jessie Leiber

PUBLISHING ASSISTANT

Susannah Moore INTERN

Rachel Kiser Alexandria Living Magazine is published six times per year by Alexandria Living, LLC ©2021. 201 N. Union St., Suite 110 Alexandria, VA 22314. For newsstand or distribution locations or to subscribe for home delivery, go to alexandrialivingmagazine.com/subscribe.

info@alexandrialivingmagazine.com or call 571-232-1310.

PARTNER WITH US

Alexandria Living Magazine fully supports the local business community and offers several unique ways to partner with the publication. • Sponsored articles and multimedia content on the website, in our popular email newsletters and on social media. • Highlighted events in our events calendar, email newsletters and social media. • Sponsored real estate listings. • Brand awareness through online banner ads designed to boost your business. • Contests, sweepstakes and giveaways.

To learn more about how partnering with Alexandria Living Magazine can help build your business, contact us at ads@alexandrialivingmagazine.com or call 571-232-1310.

PRESS RELEASES & TIPS

Send news releases and story tips to

maryann@alexandrialivingmagazine.com.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

Subscribing to Alexandria Living Magazine is easy! You can go to alexandrialivingmagazine.com/ subscribe to pay securely online by credit card, or mail a check with the subscription mailing address to Alexandria Living Magazine, 201 N. Union St. Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22314. Subscriptions are $14.95 for one year or alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021 6 for two $24.95 years.

Happy Summer! Like many of you, we’re excited about life getting back to normal. One of the best things about being vaccinated is finally being able to go on that long-awaited vacation! Living in Alexandria, we’re lucky to be within driving distance of some great beach towns. We all have our favorites and we explore some of the options for you, starting on Page 46.

Beth Lawton, publisher, and Mary Ann Barton, editor

PHOTO BY MATT MENDELSOHN, TAKEN AT VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN.

For some, getting away from it all started during lockdown. One of the trends that came out of the pandemic was the increasing popularity of buying a second home for a change of scenery. If you’re thinking of taking the plunge, we have some tips for you, starting on Page 35. One of the most interesting things about Alexandria is its history — especially its Black history. City Councilman John T. Chapman has delved into this and offers fascinating and educational tours. Come along with us on an interesting walk about town on Page 24. Although barbecue is great anytime of the year, there’s something about summer and barbecue that just goes together. We’re lucky to have some heavy hitters in Alexandria who deliver the goods. Writer Rachel Kiser took on the difficult task of trying some of our eateries’ best BBQ, starting on Page 38. Also in this issue, Rachel caught up with award-winning barbecue champ Myron Mixon during a recent visit to his namesake eatery in Old Town. In other food news, be sure to check out Alexandrian Erinn Roth’s claim to fame competing on “Crime Scene Kitchen,” airing on FOX, on Page 18. Speaking of cooking, another hot trend during the pandemic has been the skyrocketing number of home renovations as people spent (and in some cases continue to spend) more time doing everything from home. If you’re looking for some ideas to renovate your kitchen, check out this 1980s Del Ray kitchen that is now a masterpiece in form and function, starting on Page 30. There’s lots more in this issue, including pet alternatives to cats and dogs (which also saw a boost in adoptions during the pandemic), our events calendar and more. Last but not least, our Last Word in this issue is a chat with Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, who will be hanging up his badge in December as Alexandria’s top law enforcement officer. We wish him the best and thank him for his decades of service to Alexandria. We hope these summer months are relaxing and rejuvenating for you. We’ll see you right back here in September!

Mary Ann Barton and Beth Lawton Founders

Our Team Meet some of the contributors to this issue.

GINA HARDTER Contributor Gina Hardter is the director of Marketing & Communications at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. A lifelong animal lover, Gina is thrilled for the opportunity to use her creativity to help animals in need and across the community. She is the “pet parent” to two dogs, Charlie and Betta, both alumni of the AWLA.

Favorite BBQ: Holy Cow (for shakes and fries)

BUZ NACHLAS Photographer Buz enjoys photography whether he’s capturing the Red Rocks in the American Southwest or snapping an image of an iconic monument at dusk. In this issue, you’ll find some of his photos from the Outer Banks. When he’s not taking photos, you might find him cycling a bike trail near his home in Williamsburg.

Favorite BBQ: Rocco's Smokehouse Grill in Williamsburg

RACHEL KISER Contributor Rachel is a recent Virginia Tech graduate where she studied fashion and journalism. She has written and edited for multiple college platforms before joining Alexandria Living Magazine. Even though she has only lived in Alexandria for a year, she looks forward to exploring the city like a local. When she isn’t writing, she tends bar in Old Town, and works as a librarian in Del Ray. She is a connoisseur of thrift stores, strong coffee and a good dive bar. Favorite BBQ: Myron Mixon's Pitmaster Barbeque

SUSANNAH MOORE Contributor Susannah has happily called Alexandria home since 2015. She graduated from the College of Charleston and has worked in the political and legal fields and is excited for the opportunity to rekindle her interest in writing. For fun, she enjoys running along the Potomac with her husband or spending time with her rescue cat and golden retriever.

Favorite BBQ: Myron Mixon's Pitmaster Barbeque

ANGELA NEWTON ROY Photographer

NAN RYANT Contributor

Based in Northern Virginia, Angela is a photographer specializing in interiors and brands. In her 10-year career, she has been fortunate to photograph some of the most beautiful spaces in Alexandria and beyond. With a background in interior design, she brings her passion for and understanding of design to each project and firm she partners with. She loves raising her family in Northern Virginia and is constantly inspired by the talented creatives in this community.

Nan is a retired occupational therapist and longtime Alexandria resident. In her spare time she enjoys taking photos of people, nature and in this issue, writing and taking photos of Virginia Beach. In addition to photography, she enjoys painting, swimming and travel. She lives in the West End with her husband Ches and their dog Gracie.

Favorite BBQ: Federalist Pig (D.C.) or Smoking Kow BBQ

Favorite BBQ: Pinky's Eatery in Owings, Md. (Owned by an Alexandria family and worth the drive!) July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

EVENT K E Y Arts Food & Dining Family-Friendly Film Historic/Educational Literature Live Music Nightlife Pet-Friendly Recreation & Outdoor Shopping Theater

Fireworks over George Washington's Mount Vernon. PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNT VERNON

Workshop

SUMMER 2021

Calendar of Events July Contemporary Delights Chamber Music

John G. Lewis in Concert

An American Celebration

July 2 and 23 | 8 – 9 p.m., Virtual

July 4 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

July 1 | 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

John G. Lewis will play a live virtual concert at 8 p.m. on Facebook on July 2 and 23. Lewis is a singer and guitarist. Lewis sings in English, French and Portuguese and performs an eclectic repertoire of jazz, classic R&B and pop classics that he refers to as a “Neo-Lounge mix.” These concerts are part of the Office of the Arts’s Arts at Home series supporting artists and the community.

Salute the first commander-in-chief during Mount Vernon’s annual Independence Day event. Capacity is limited. Advance ticket purchase is suggested. Tickets are $26 for adults, $13 for youth (6-11) and free for children 5 and under. Free for members.

Savor the fresh and unexpected! This outdoor concert program contains works with unique instrumentation, featuring mixed chamber ensembles with percussion. Musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra perform contemporary chamber works by Andy Akiho, Yong Nan Park, Kevin Puts and more. The Rectory on Princess Street, 711 Princess St., classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Virtual, facebook.com/4jlewismusic

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

ONGOING SUMMER EVENTS

Trivia Nights at Historic Sites July 9, 23 and Aug. 6, 20 | 7 p.m. Staff members at Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum combine their knowledge to create biweekly trivia nights throughout the summer in the beautiful Lee-Fendall gardens. With a different theme each night, test your knowledge on everything from pop culture to history. Registration must be done in advance. Tickets are $8 per person and include snacks and one complimentary drink. Additional drinks available for purchase. Teams are limited to six people, ages 21+ only. There will be weekly prizes for the winning team as well as a grand prize for the team that wins the most points over the entire summer! Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

LEE-FENDALL HOUSE | PHOTO BY SUSANNAH MOORE

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Stories from the Past

Every Tuesday and Thursday from July 1 – Aug. 31 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Every Friday from July 2 – Aug. 20 | 10:30 a.m.

Join Carlyle House’s yoga instructor every Tuesday and Thursday evening for an hour-long Vinyasa Flow Yoga on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace. A gentle flow yoga class that uses breathing to flow from one pose to the other. Start with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxing meditation. Please bring water, a towel and yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear. Class may be cancelled due to extreme weather. Class is $10 per class or $40 for a five-class pass.

Join Lee-Fendall House staff for a history-themed story and craft in the garden every Friday morning throughout the summer! This storytime is designed to introduce cultural concepts to young learners ages 3-6, however children of all ages are welcome! Museum staff will be following all recommended health guidelines. The program will take place outdoors and all craft materials will be sanitized and individually packaged for each child. $6 per participating child, parents/chaperones are free of charge. Advance registration is required.

Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park

Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

Lake Arbor Jazz Summer Concert Series

Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market

July 10 | 10 a.m.

Every Thursday – Sunday from July 1 – Aug. 1 | 7:30 p.m.

Every second Saturday through December | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Discover the history of the Lee-Fendall garden from its 18th century beginnings to the present. Learn how the use and appearance of the garden has changed over time and see recent efforts to restore the garden and create an educational space and urban wildlife habitat. This tour is led by garden volunteer and retired biologist Roger Monthey. Tickets must be reserved in advance and are $10 per person or free for members.

The Lake Arbor Jazz Outdoor Concert Series at National Harbor features some of the nation’s and the region’s finest contemporary jazz and R&B artists including Gerald Albright, Maysa, Jeff Bradshaw, Najee, Norman Brown, Avery*Sunshine and more. Gates open at 6 p.m. and shows begin at 7:30 p.m. (rain or shine). All tickets are non-refundable.

Explore unique finds and hidden treasures at Del Ray’s popular outdoor vintage and flea market. After browsing, enjoy lunch at one of Del Ray’s many nearby restaurants.

PHOTO BY CHRISTINE HALSEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Wine and Welding July 9, Aug. 13 | 7 – 10 p.m. Grab your partner and join The Garden by Building Momentum for their bestselling date night experience. Learn to MIG weld, enjoy a wine tasting and build a wine rack together. Cost of the class is $250 per couple. Check their website for requirements. The Garden by Building Momentum, 5380 Eisenhower Ave., Suite C, thegarden.net/all-events

Historic Garden Tour at Lee-Fendall

Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

802 National Harbor Blvd., lakearborjazz.com/ summer-concert-series

Intersection of Mt. Vernon and Bellefonte avenues., delrayvintageflea.com

Visit alexandrialivingmagazine.com/ upcoming-events to find more in-person or virtual events.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JULY

16-18

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXANDRIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

USA/Alexandria Birthday Celebration July 10

Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar

Savory Soiree: ‘Liberté Chérie: A Bastille Day Celebration’ July 10 | 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Celebrate Bastille Day early with fine food and a delectable musical program of French songs and opera arias by Jules Massenet, Georges Bizet, Pauline Viardot, Nadia Boulanger and more. The concert will feature Elizebeth Barnes, mezzo-soprano. Bastille Day is July 14. The Rectory on Princess Street, 711 Princess St., classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts

Eco-Gardening Ideas Evening Stroll at Green Spring July 10 | 5:30 – 7 p.m. Take an evening stroll through the gardens at Green Spring with curatorial horticulturist Brenda Skarphol to see eco-friendly and sustainable garden ideas. Learn how to incorporate native plants that will attract more pollinators and wildlife to your garden and ways to improve your soil for better water retention and manage runoff. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON

Summer Wine Festival & Sunset Tour

PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER

On the Saturday after July 4th, Alexandria celebrates the birthday of our city and our country with fireworks, music and cake. Last year’s celebration was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year is expected to have a limited inperson option. More information about the event will be posted on the City of Alexandria website.

July 16-18 | 6 – 9 p.m. Join Mount Vernon for one of their most popular events of the year. Taste unlimited samples of wine from Virginia’s finest wineries and meet George Washington. Bring your own blanket and relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River. Tickets range from $49 - $63, VIP tables are also available. George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

Backyard Composting Basics July 17 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. Visit Green Spring’s composting station to learn different composting methods, materials to use and not use, proportions, aeration, screening, critter control and compost use. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour July 17 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join Carlyle House Historic Park staff for a tour of Alexandria as they explore looking at the various architecture styles that adorn the city streets and

make it one of the best places to live and work. Reservations are required as space is limited. All COVID-procedures will be in place during this tour. Please wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5-hour guided tour. Tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather. Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park

Twilight Boardwalk Stroll July 17 | 8 – 10 p.m. Aug. 28 | 6:45 – 8:45 p.m. Join a park naturalist for a guided walk along the forested paths to the wetland and experience the park as it transitions from day into night. Watch and listen for beavers, owls and other nocturnal residents. Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows

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Janet Caterson Price NVAR Lifetime Top Producer | Licensed in VA 703.622.5984 I JanetPriceHomes.com I Janet@JanetPriceHomes.com 109 S Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 | 703.549.9292 | McEnearney.com Equal Housing Opportunity

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PHOTO BY SUSANNAH MOORE

Tell Me Your Name July 18 | 11 a.m. – noon PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER

Join Carlyle House Historic Park staff for a tour focusing on the experiences of the enslaved community at Carlyle House and John Carlyle’s nearby plantations. The guided tour will explore the historical context of slavery in 18th century Alexandria and the importance of ongoing research efforts to connect with descendants. Reservations are required as space is limited. All COVID-procedures will be in place during this tour. Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park

Concerts at The Birchmere Music Hall

July 29 | 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. If you’ve never heard a trombone quartet or a French horn trio, this is your moment. Hear the noble French horn and the characterful trombone showcase the arresting versatility of their instruments with the Kennedy Center Horn Trio and the National Symphony Orchestra Trombone Quartet.

JULY 8

JULY 11

Flatland Cavalry JULY 20, 21

Leonid and Friends JULY 29

The SteelDrivers JULY 30

Judith Hill

Intro to Bonsai July 19 | 7 – 8 p.m.

The Rectory on Princess Street, 711 Princess St., classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts

Aaron Stratten, president of the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society (a Potomac Bonsai Association club), will introduce the art and practice of bonsai. Learn what bonsai is and how to get started. Virtual, alexlibraryva.org/event/5074915

AUG. 9

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy AUG. 12

Paul Thorn AUG. 13

Chrisette Michele AUG. 17, 18

Colin Hay AUG. 25

The Secret Sisters AUG. 27

BoDeans AUG. 28

Three Dog Night The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., birchmere.com

Enjoy Neil Simon’s high-energy comedy on the LTA stage. In the play, three couples arrive at an upper-crust Manhattan anniversary party only to discover that their host (the deputy mayor of New York), has accidentally maimed himself!

Bold as Brass Chamber Music

Asleep at the Wheel

JULY 28

July 24 – Aug. 14 | Various times

The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., thelittletheatre.com

Check out some of the performances scheduled for July and August at The Birchmere. Check The Birchmere’s website for the latest information and a full concert list. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary.

Steve Earl & The Dukes with The Mastersons

Rumors

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Stories in the Architecture July 24 | 2 p.m. Explore the history of the Lee-Fendall House through its architecture and visit parts of the house that are not regularly open to the public. See how changes in style and home technology have left their mark on the home, from when it was built in 1785 through its continued use as a home in the 20th century. For your safety and for those around you, face masks are required. The tour is limited to eight participants. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $10 per person or free for members. Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

August A Caruso and Lanza Celebration with Errin Duane Brooks Aug. 5 | 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Metropolitan Opera tenor Errin Duane Brooks makes his Washington, D.C. debut celebrating the centennial of Enrico Caruso’s death and Mario Lanza’s birth with beloved songs and breathtaking arias by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet and Leoncavallo – including “Nessun dorma.” The Rectory on Princess Street, 711 Princess St., classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Together Art Exhibit Aug. 6 – 28 The Together art exhibit features artwork by Del Ray Artisans’ outstanding volunteers and board members who continue to make Del Ray Artisans a thriving organization that fosters community and promotes creative expression and artistic endeavors in the visual, performing and applied arts. Gallery hours are Thursdays and Fridays from noon – 6 p.m. and Saturdays noon – 4 p.m.

AUG 14-15

Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org

James Bazen Trio in Concert Aug. 7, 27 | 6 – 7 p.m., Virtual James Bazen Trio will play a live virtual concert on Facebook. James Bazen has been active in the Baltimore/Washington music scene since 1985. The James Bazen Trio has performed at various clubs and restaurants including Laporta’s in Alexandria where they’ve had a steady gig for nine years. The trio plays a wide variety of jazz, pop and Latin music. This concert is part of the Office of the Arts's Arts at Home series supporting artists and the community. Virtual, facebook.com/jcbazen

Racial Segregation via Real Estate Aug. 11 | 7 – 8 p.m. Alexandria Library hosts LaDale Winling in a virtual discussion about his work around U.S. housing discrimination. Recently awarded the Lloyd Lewis Fellowship from the Newberry Library in Chicago to research “redlining,” Winling will give a brief overview of the historical intersection of race and housing in the United States, and discuss how discrimination in U.S. housing has changed over time. Virtual, alexlibraryva.org/event/5055190

PHOTO BY SARAH MARCELLA CREATIVE FOR VISIT ALEXANDRIA

Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale Aug. 14 – 15 Find end of season discounts on fashion, jewelry, home décor, gifts and more at some of your favorite Alexandria boutiques and shops! Free parking will be offered at select City of Alexandria parking garages. The event is led by Visit Alexandria in partnership with the City of Alexandria, Old Town Boutique District, Old Town Business Association, Old Town North and Del Ray Business Association. More information and a list of participating stores can be found on the event website. Various locations throughout Old Town and Del Ray VisitAlexandriaVA.com/SidewalkSale

Following the program guests are invited to take a self-guided tour of the estate. Tickets are $45 per person. George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

Tea with Martha Washington

Aug. 14 | 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Honor the centennial year of Astor Piazzolla with a multi-course dinner of Argentinian food and Malbec wine — and

Aug. 14 Join Martha Washington for a cozy tea as she shares memories of her and the General’s life as a young married couple, during the Revolutionary War and presidency and at their beloved Mount Vernon. Enjoy some of the Washingtons’ favorite treats and delicacies prepared by the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant.

Two to Tango: Celebrating Piazzolla at 100

the singular sound of the bandoneon in a program featuring the entrancing music of the composer who brought tango to international attention, along with other celebrated tango composers and original music by Emmanuel Trifilio. The Rectory on Princess Street, 711 Princess St., PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON

classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Under the Same Roof: Enslaved and Free Servants at the Lee-Fendall House Aug. 14 | 2 p.m.

AUG.

20-29

Explore the Lee-Fendall House from the perspectives of the enslaved and free African Americans who lived and worked in the home as domestic servants, both before and after the Civil War. Hear the stories of how they built and shaped the Lee-Fendall House over the course of its history. For your safety and for those around you, face masks are required. The tour is limited to eight participants. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $10 per person or free for members. Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

Vola's Dockside patio | PHOTO BY K. SUMMERER FOR VISIT ALEXANDRIA

Alexandria Restaurant Week Aug. 20-29

Summer Safari at Green Spring Aug. 21 | 11 a.m. – noon Salamanders, snakes, toads, turtles… summer is their favorite season and all are out and about. Come on a safari to explore the habitats and activities of these creatures and more! Binoculars and magnifying glasses will be provided to aid you in your summer safari. All attendees (parents and children) must be registered for this program. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

Enslaved to Statesmen Aug. 24 | 7 – 8 p.m. The National Park Service joins Alexandria Library for a talk about African Americans in public office following the Civil War. Virtual, alexlibraryva.org/event/5080975

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

For 10 days and two weekends, dozens of restaurants in Alexandria will offer a $49 in-person and/or to-go dinner for two during Alexandria Restaurant Week. Select restaurants will offer a $25 in-person and/or to-go dinner for one in addition to the $49 deal for two. Alexandria Restaurant Week showcases the inventiveness of local chefs in neighborhoods throughout the City. In early August, guests will find a digital flip-book of menus at participating restaurants on the event website. Various locations in Alexandria including Old Town, Del Ray, Carlyle, Eisenhower and the West End. AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com

Beautiful, Poetic Strings Chamber Music

Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Aug. 26 | 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 | TBA

Musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra celebrate summer. Last Stand Quartet returns to offer a program of stimulating music for string quartet. Heather LeDoux Green and Paul DeNola perform as “The String Thing,” a witty and engaging duo where performance and acting come together — and will leave you in stitches!

Typically Alexandria’s Irish heritage organization, the Ballyshaners, hold the annual Alexandria Irish Festival every August at Waterfront Park. This year, they are changing it up a bit and holding a halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Sept. 18. Stay posted for more details on the event in our next issue.

The Rectory on Princess Street, 711 Princess St., classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts

Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., ballyshaners.org/events.html

AROUND TOWN

Old Town Festival of Speed & Style Returns Sept. 5 The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style returns Sunday, Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a car show on several blocks of King Street and Market Square featuring rare and unusual cars from the ’50s to the ’80s.

“It’s always a little unusual for me to do

The King Street High Octane Ball (partly sponsored by Alexandria Living Magazine) will take place the night before, on Saturday, Sept. 4 from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., featuring live music, catered food, wine, libations, a silent auction and more. Tickets are available through the festival’s website at festivalspeedstylealex.com.

an event that everyone in the region

Thanks in part to main sponsors Burke & Herbert Bank and McEnearney Associates Realtors, the event will raise money for two charities: ALIVE! and USO of Metro Washington. The event drew 10,000 people at its inaugural show in 2019.

a ‘Speed & Style’ thing because I drive a Prius,” said Mayor Justin Wilson at the festival’s poster unveiling event in May at Principle Gallery. “This is going to be one of the first big events we're going to have back in Old Town in the ‘after.’ We're so excited. It’s rapidly becoming looks forward to. It’s going to be a really great day.” Artist Tom Kuester, who has a background in industrial design, said he was inspired by Old Town. “I like cars, I like drawing,” he said. The 2021 poster features six classic cars parked at Market Square. Principle Gallery owner Michelle Marceau Ward, whose gallery has been in business at 208 King St., for 25 years,

“We love the energy this brings, we’re glad it's back and we want to support it any way we can,” she said. The festival was founded by a group of local car enthusiasts, led by Rick Myllenbeck, of Sonoma Cellar on King Street. His wife, Elizabeth Myllenbeck, described the “style” part of the event to the crowd. She noted that the King Street High-Octane Ball will include a “step and repeat,” vintage cars, catering from local restaurants, dancing and live music. “But the big thing about this ball is, it’s a fancy-dress party,” she said. “You get to dress up in ’50s, ’60s and ’70s style clothing and [car] racing clothing of that era. I expect to see a lot of Audrey Hepburn out there, a lot of Jackie Onassis and a lot of beautiful gowns. It should be a lot of fun.”

said retailers and restaurants in Old Town are excited about the return of the event this year.

For more information about the festival, visit festivalspeedstylealex.com.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

SPONSORED

Stronger Together

ACT for Alexandria Harnesses the Generosity and Compassion of Alexandrians

The COVID-19 pandemic brought profound change to our nation and our community. The degree of hardship and loss of life is beyond what many of us have experienced in our lifetimes. “The past year is a testament to the love and compassion that Alexandrians have for one another, shares ACT for Alexandria’s President & CEO, Heather Peeler. “We sheltered in place, supported local businesses, volunteered our time, and made donations so that our community could remain safe and strong in the face of adversity.” ACT for Alexandria’s is Alexandria’s community foundation and home for philanthropy. From March through December 2020, ACT for Alexandria, in partnership with the City of Alexandria, thousands of donors and more than 100 nonprofits, worked together to provide critical

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

programs and services for our neighbors in need. Thousands of Alexandrians, local businesses, congregations, and the City provided more than $5.76M in COVID-19 emergency support. The collective response to the pandemic was immediate, responsive, and comprehensive. You can read about the details of this comprehensive response at actforalexandria.org. The pandemic also highlighted the destructive grip of racism in our community. Neighbors hardest hit by the pandemic were the same ones left out of the region’s pre-pandemic prosperity. “To move forward as a community, we understood that we would need to prioritize investments in African American, Latinx, and immigrant communities,” explained Ms. Peeler. Alexandrians are focused on emerging from the pandemic. According to the Alexandria Health Department, vaccination

rates continue to increase. Local businesses report an upswing in business. However, significant headwinds remain. Many Alexandrians continue to navigate food and housing insecurity, lack of childcare supports and persistent gaps in internet access. Economic security for those already on the financial edge before the pandemic is illusive. The City of Alexandria has proposed several initaitives that will use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to address these issues. This critical investment will help all Alexandrian’s secure stronger financial footing in the months to come. “In order to have an equitable recovery, we must deepen our resolve to move forward together,” shares Ms. Peeler. “ACT will continue to work with partners and grantees to address the urgent human service needs of Alexandrians in ways that complement the efforts of City government.” The Alexandria Resilience Fund continues to receive donations. Grants are currently available for vaccine outreach to hard-to-reach communities. New funding guidelines for the Resilience Fund will be launched in July. More information about the Resilience Fund can be found at actaforalexandria.org.

AROUND TOWN

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMBARK DC

Cool Off on the Water It’s hot and humid — and this is the perfect time to get out on the water. This year, Alexandria residents and visitors have two new options: a pedal boat (the pedaling is optional) and a fleet of small boats. Both are offering private group rentals and leave from Old Town Alexandria. Potomac Paddle Club, the first “cycleboat” in the region, is offering private, two-and-a-half hour cruises for 10 to 16 people that launch from The City of Alexandria Marina dock behind the Torpedo Factory. With a mahogany bar as its centerpiece, guests have the option to pedal in tandem on the pontoon pedal boat, even though it does have

motor power. Since the boat is BYOB, passengers may bring their own alcoholic beverages, with the exception of hard liquor. Visit potomacpaddleclub.com to make a reservation for cruises. Embark DC is launching private boat cruises along the Potomac River for private parties this summer from Robinson Landing. The company offers both open bow boats and yacht-certified, multi-level cruisers for up to six guests. Boat guests can decide their destinations in advance to create a custom, private, sightseeing or recreational cruise for 90 minutes or more. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drink on board. The open boats are dog-friendly (and include life vests for four-legged boaters). Learn more and make a reservation at embarkdc.com. Looking for something a little more active? There are plenty of places to rent a sailboat, kayak, canoe, standup paddleboard and more. Here are some suggestions:

• Alexandria Community Rowing offers competitive and recreational rowing opportunities. 1 N. Madison St., rowalexandria.com • Blue Octopus Scuba offers introductory scuba diving lessons, certifications, equipment rental, dive trips and more. 4154 Duke St. 703-461-3483, blueoctopusscuba.com • Mariner Sailing School offers sailing classes, camps and boat rentals including canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and sailboats. Located along George Washington Memorial Parkway at Belle Haven Marina, 703-768-0018, saildc.com • Washington Marina Sailing School offers sailing lessons and camps and boat rentals at 1 Marina Dr. 703-548-9027, boatingindc.com

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

FOOD & DINING

Alexandria Resident Competes on FOX’s ‘Crime Scene Kitchen’ BY SUSANNAH MOORE

Erinn Roth still can’t believe she was chosen to compete on FOX’s new baking competition show. “Crime Scene Kitchen” premiered in late May on FOX. “I can hear my mom saying, ‘If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.’ If you had told me 90 days ago, if you had told me a year ago, during COVID, that I would be on a national TV show on this major network, I’d be like, ‘Yeah right, whatever,’ but God is laughing,” said

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BECKER/FOX

Roth during an interview with Alexandria Living Magazine just before the show premiered. The show pits 12 teams of two people against each other to win a $100,000 prize. Teams are made up of both self-taught and professionally trained bakers. The contestants are allowed to explore a kitchen that was recently used to bake a specific treat. They must use their baking skills and the clues left behind to determine what was baked and then they have two hours to recreate what they think it was. At the end of each episode, after two rounds, a team is eliminated. The show is hosted by actor Joel McHale with celebrity judges chef Curtis Stone and cake artist Yolanda Gampp.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

As of press time, Roth was not allowed to tell us how she did on the competition. It was Roth's late mother who inspired her to start her dessert and catering business, Ms. Jo’s Petite Sweets, after Roth retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2017. Her mother passed away suddenly a few months before retirement. “I was in a severe funk for a couple of months, until one day something said, ‘Get up off your butt and start that business.’ I feel like it was my mother talking to me, so I decided to, as an eternal tribute to her, name my business after her. Ms. Jo is my mom’s first name,” Roth explained. Roth said that starting her own business was tough but worth it and she passes on the lessons she learned to others who are considering starting their own business. “If you’re lazy, don’t be a small business owner,” she said with a laugh. A year ago, Roth hired a social media manager to help her with branding. It was the Instagram hashtag #veteranbaker that caught the attention of a casting agent who was working on “Crime Scene Kitchen.” Roth wasn’t sure the DM she

received from the casting company was legitimate, but after confirming it with an actor friend, she set up a call and the rigorous interview process began. Roth was told she needed to pick a partner for the show because the competition is made up of teams of two bakers. She immediately thought of her friend Amanda Carter, whom she met at pastry school a few years earlier. Together, they filmed their audition tape in a conference room at coworking space ALX Community in Old Town Alexandria, where Roth is a member. Following background checks, and a number of other steps, Roth and Carter were cast and quickly whisked out to Los Angeles on April 2. Roth was blown away by the experience. “Coming on the studio, on the lot as they call it, it was like, ‘Wow, this is really real!’” Roth described. They received their own trailer and each team had a state-of-the-art kitchen to use on set. Roth said she felt very safe on set, where the crew were masked and constantly cleaning. She also said everybody who worked on the show was so nice. “I have so much respect for the TV world, let me tell you. It was grueling but it was fun, the shooting, the filming, but I have so much more respect for any show, any movie,” said Roth. Roth and Carter were fans of celebrity judge Gampp before the show, and meeting her was an extra special experience for them. “For people like myself and Amanda, Yolanda Gampp — she’s Canadian — they call her the ‘Beyoncé of Cakes’ but I really think she’s better than that, she’s like a cake master, a cake artisan extraordinaire… If I had known she was going to be a judge I would have brought her book with me and she could have signed it,” Roth said. Roth described being on “Crime Scene Kitchen” as a “bucket list” item she didn’t know she wanted. “It was a great experience. Just to think that people

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thought that I was good enough to even come on the show, interesting enough to come on the show, it’s pretty humbling.” Roth was operating out of a commercial kitchen in Alexandria’s West End but it was forced to shut down because of COVID-19 related losses. Now she is in the process of setting up at a kitchen in northeast D.C.

To find out more about Ms. Jo’s Petite Sweets visit petitesweetsbymsjo.com.

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July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

PETS

The AWLA finds different ways to treat — and promote — all kinds of adoptable animals. PHOTO BY DIRTY PAW PHOTOGRAPHY

Turtles and Hamsters and Bunnies, Oh My! BY GINA HARDTER, Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

When you think about adopting a dog, the first place you visit might be your local animal shelter; if you’re in Alexandria, that would be the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). If you’re considering adding a cat to your family, the AWLA might once again be the first place you think of.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

But what if you want to adopt a rabbit? Or a parakeet? Or a turtle, a ferret, a lizard, a chinchilla, a hamster, a mouse or even a hedgehog? While the majority of animals adopted at the AWLA are dogs or cats, Small Animals (or SMAMs) make up 10 to 15 percent of the animals who find new homes through the AWLA each year. The care of each of these small animals is different, requiring unique equipment, handling and even placement of the animal in the facility.

For example, domestic turtles, which the AWLA see regularly, require a tank big enough to accommodate 10 gallons of water for every inch of their shell length; for some of the larger red-eared sliders who have been at the AWLA in the past year, this means a 90- or even 100-gallon home per turtle. Most cold-blooded animals, like snakes and lizards, need to be located close to electrical outlets that can power heat lamps and rocks for them to regulate and maintain their body temperatures.

AWLA volunteer Terye holds Jojo the bunny. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AWLA

Adopted turtle Princess Peach is the queen of her castle. PHOTO BY DIRTY PAW PHOTOGRAPHY

Small birds, on the other hand, like parakeets and budgies, prefer a space in the AWLA’s community room; it is often quieter than other locations in the shelter and has a warm, consistent airflow that these tropical animals require. Staff members pride themselves in being experts in the different types of small animals who pass through the doors of the AWLA. Animal Care staff member Amanda Johnson loves some of the more exotic mammals, like sugar gliders (a small nocturnal marsupial), as well and rabbits and guinea pigs. In her time at the AWLA, staffer Jennifer Yang has become a turtle authority and is happy to talk to anyone about the joys of terrapin companionship. This species-focused care continues as animals prepare to head home with their adoptive families. Ferrets and rabbits are spayed/neutered and microchipped before they go home. Other animals may be sent home with favorite toys or treats. All animals have seen the AWLA’s staff veterinarian during their stay, and each adopter receives additional information about exotic animal vets in the area. Notes about their veterinary evaluations, behavior and even medical records are also reviewed with and provided to adopters to help set these pets up for success in their new homes.

Yes, adopters even receive information on a small animal’s behavior when he or she was at the AWLA. Staff members and a dedicated cadre of volunteers take the time to find out what makes each animal tick, providing them with activities to enrich their stay and maybe even learn a few tricks. Volunteer Terye Dame noticed a newly arrived turtle didn’t seem to be acting the way she was used to turtles behaving, so she let staff know. When the veterinary team examined the turtle, they realized that she was blind and used that information to reconfigure her enclosure in a way that would be more comfortable to her. “It was amazing to feel I’d made such an impact for her,” Dame recalls. But Dame’s first SMAM experiences were with rabbits, including a young black rabbit named Jojo. “Not all rabbits like this, but Jojo’s favorite thing was to be picked up and held like a baby. I introduced so many volunteers — and potential adopters — to rabbits when they saw him snuggling up like that. It’s how he ultimately met his future family.”

Adopter Cecelia Michalowski says her newly adopted hamster Boba is the perfect pet for her apartment. “I spend a lot of time crafting toys and hideouts he can use and am always looking at objects around my house that I can remake for him. He’s so silly to just sit and watch play, and incredibly soft to hold and cuddle with,” she shared. “I’ve been wanting a furry friend for a while, and getting [Boba] was the best decision I’ve made.” So the next time you’re ready to adopt a pet — of any type — check your local animal shelter first. Not only might you be surprised by the menagerie of animals available for adoption, but they can also provide you with information about their personalities, their background and even veterinary care. But most importantly, you will be changing two lives: that of a homeless animal… and your own!

Every adoptable animal is different and unique, but each is loving, intelligent and shows off his or her own individual personality. Animals like rats can be taught cues like "sit" and "fetch." And AWLA turtles are regularly taught target training to help them engage more confidently with humans.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

LOCAL

HISTORY

John T. Chapman pauses near the statue of the Edmonson sisters. | PHOTO BY CHRIS CRUZ FOR VISIT ALEXANDRIA

Shining a Light on Alexandria’s Black History BY MARY ANN BARTON

John T. Chapman is walking toward Old Town Alexandria’s Ramsey Alley on a Sunday afternoon, with about 20 people following along on a tour about the Underground Railroad. While there aren’t many records about ties between Alexandria and the Underground Railroad, the secret network of people who helped free enslaved people, there is still a lot to be discovered when it comes to Alexandria’s Black history.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

“This is still a working alleyway,” Chapman said as he gathered everyone around him on a cobblestoned alley near Old Town’s waterfront. Chapman, who is a fourth-generation Alexandrian and also a city council member, gives these walking tours about Black history in Alexandria as the owner of Manumission Tour Company. (Manumission is the act of freeing slaves.) He said he has discovered a lot about Alexandria’s Black history as he’s delved into it over the past few years.

Chapman founded Manumission Tour Co. in 2016 to fill a gap in Alexandria’s many history tours: African Americans made up 20 to 25 percent of Alexandria’s population as far back as the 1700s, and they were essential to the early development of the city. Chapman has gotten a lot of his information from records kept by William Still, a Black abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad who lived in Philadelphia and wrote down the stories of slaves who made their way to freedom — including at least one slave who escaped from Alexandria.

LOCAL

HISTORY

Slave Housing “When I was putting together this tour, I came across the Encyclopedia of Virginia and they actually had a look into slave housing in Virginia and I saw Alexandria was on the map for slave housing,” he told visitors on the tour. “And I said, ‘Hold on! I know we have Old Town and I know we have a lot of historic homes, but I’d never heard of any kind of slave housing.’” Stopping next to a brick home in the alley, Chapman said the building dates back to the 1790s and was home to a family that owned slaves, who also lived at the property. “So, you have examples like this, of homes that are brick and mortar and still around.” Slaves lived either in a brick house, if a family was very wealthy or sometimes in wooden outbuildings built adjacent to a home, Chapman noted. Other examples include the homes of Lord Thomas Fairfax at 607 Cameron St., a house Fairfax built in 1816. Another is the home of John Carlyle, a wealthy merchant and a founder of the city who lived at 121 N. Fairfax St., which is now part of NOVA Parks. Fairfax freed his slaves, including the great-great-great grandfather of Justin Fairfax, who is running for governor.

A Taste of Freedom In the runup to the Civil War, in 1850 Alexandria, “you’re going to have enslaved people and free people walking the streets” of Alexandria, Chapman noted, setting the scene. “African Americans made up about 23 percent of the population in Alexandria in 1850. Of that 23 percent, it’s going to be almost a 50-50 split between enslaved and free.” It wasn’t always that way, Chapman explained. In 1790, when the first census happened in the United States, the population of the Alexandria area was about 22 percent African American, but then it was about 90 percent enslaved and 10 percent free.

Carlyle House | PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER

“So, there’s great change over the course of several decades in an urban city like Alexandria,” Chapman said. “The enslaved who are here and the subject of these stories are going to understand and have a little bit of knowledge about what it’s like to be free, because they’re going to see them in the city streets. It’s not going to be something that’s going to be foreign to them like if they were on a plantation and they don’t see free people.” “And so they’re going to be much more desirous of that freedom because somebody they can see and touch and know has that,” he said. “That’s going to set some of the activity levels that we have around people running away here in Alexandria.” Chapman leads the group up Cameron Street. Before the Civil War, Mary Dade lived at a home on the street, and was the owner of a man named Oscar Payne, an enslaved man, who she decided to rent out to another person.

“Renting of slaves is not an uncommon thing here in the city of Alexandria,” Chapman noted. In this case, Dade rented out Payne to J.P. McGuire, the headmaster of Episcopal High School. The rental contracts for slaves could be for days, months or even years. “We don’t know when [Payne] picks up the idea to run away,” Chapman said. “But we do know that he runs away in 1857. And he makes it all the way to Philadelphia, where he is interviewed by [the abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor] Still.” “One of the things we do know — the Underground Railroad does a little reconnaissance on their own,” Chapman noted. “There is a slave ad put out by J.P. McGuire for the capture of Oscar Payne. What I want to point out is the reward amount (which is $200) is a lot of money. Why is it so high?”

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

LOCAL

The reward notice reads:

22222222 “$200 Reward.—Ran away from the service of the Rev. J. P. McGuire, Episcopal High School, Fairfax county. Va., on Saturday, 10th inst. Negro Man, Oscar Payne, aged 30 years, 5 feet 4 inches in height, square built, mulatto color, thick, bushy suit of hair, round, full face, and when spoken to has a pleasant manner—clothes not recollected.”

88888888 “This [Oscar Payne] is not his property, he is someone else’s,” Chapman noted. “So, for him to lose somebody else’s property, it’s worth the extra money to put in a reward versus the knowledge

Lord Fairfax House | PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

HISTORY

that you’re going to have to pay all of the money for her lost property, which he does end up having to do because Oscar is not caught.” Most of the rewards for runaway slaves at the time are $100 to $150. At that time in the 1850s, a slave would cost about $1,100 — or $30,000 in today’s dollars, Chapman said. The newspapers at the time, the Alexandria Intelligencer and the Alexandria Gazette Packet would publish such ads, he said.

Slave Traders Alexandria was not a place where many slaves looking for freedom might hide, said Jenny Masur, author of Heroes

of the Underground Railroad Around Washington, D.C. “Quakers who helped them had to be very careful about their records,” she said. “There were definitely people involved in the anti-slavery effort but they left nothing in writing. Quakers were in a difficult situation, they had to get along with their pro-slavery neighbors. I don’t think Alexandria would have been a good place to hide. It was full of slave traders.” Those included Isaac Franklin and John Armfield, better known as the slave traders Franklin & Armfield at 1350 Duke St., who were in the wholesale slave business. Their firm, which started in the early 1800s, handled hundreds of slaves and sold them

LOCAL

HISTORY

to plantations in the South. They eventually sold the business to Price, Birch and Co., which continued in the business until 1861, when, at the outset of the Civil War, federal troops arrived to occupy Alexandria.

A Railroad Through Alexandria During the Civil War, one of the biggest names of the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman, who worked for the Union Army as a cook and nurse, becoming an armed scout and spy. “Do we know if Harriet Tubman ever came to Alexandria?” asks Chapman. “We know much of her work was done in Dorchester County, Maryland.” Researchers in Dorchester County in April of this year discovered the foundation of Harriet Tubman’s childhood home in what is now the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge there. But there is one significant Alexandria connection: An enslaved man from Alexandria, Joe Vinny, has a wife and four kids who live on a plantation in Dorchester County, Chapman said. When he traveled there to visit them, he found out from his wife that a group of slaves were getting ready to run away. Joe returned to Alexandria to make his plan to escape and meet them back in Dorchester County. He was successful and met up with the group of about 36 people, which then broke up into small groups and make their way to Philadelphia. “This is one of the bigger runaways recorded in William Still’s book,” Chapman noted. “And so you have this group, he records all of their stories.” But the slave owner — Samuel Pattison — is on the hunt for them and places an ad. “What the conductors in the Underground Railroad do is keep track of the owners,” Chapman explained.

Freedom House Museum | PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

“They find the slave advertisements. Most provide a description of each individual who runs away. Pattison runs five ads listing their names and what they’re wearing, so they can be tracked down.” Pattison did receive a message, from a man named J.W. Thompson who wants to know more information so he can help to track down these individuals,” Chapman said. “We find out later that Thompson is one of the conductors. He is acting like he is interested so he can find more information so he can help those who have run away.” “Conductors don’t just free people but they do reconnaissance work — you have people changing their names and changing their appearance. It’s not just about saving people but about keeping them free as well.”

Find out more about Black history in Alexandria: Manumission Tour Company: manumissiontours.com The Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., includes the Museum, the Watson Reading Room and the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. Other African American historic sites in Alexandria include the Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial, at 1001 S. Washington St., and the Freedom House Museum, at 1315 Duke St.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

Alexandria's Black History 1. Episcopal High School, 1200 N. Quaker Lane Location where Oscar Payne was working (for Rev. John Peyton McGuire, principal of the school) when Payne ran away.

2. 1701 Duke St.

Statue of Edmonson Sisters, who were part of a group of 77 slaves who tried to escape from Washington, D.C. by boat. That failed, but they were freed from slavery later and became prominent in campaigns against slavery.

3. 1707 Duke St.

Once home to Bruin & Hill slave traders.

4. Freedom House Museum, 1315 Duke St. The Musuem was once home to Franklin & Armfield slave traders.

5. Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington St.

The house was once home to Quaker educator Benjamin Hallowell, who helped form the Benevolent Society of Alexandria in 1827. His son was thought to be a conductor on the Underground Railroad.

6. Dade Residence, 505 Cameron St.

The Dade Residence is now a private home, but was once the residence of Mary Dade and two slaves, Oscar and Joseph Ball, stepbrothers of Oscar Payne. Oscar and Joseph escaped.

7. Market Square, 300 King St. This area was once a slave market.

See map for other notable black history sites.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

PHOTO BY EVA

N MICHIO PHO

TOGRAPHY FOR

THE CITY OF ALE

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PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

PHOTO BY EVAN M

Alexandria Black History Museum

ICHIO FO R VISIT AL EXANDRI A

African American Heritage Park

PHOTO BY CAROL JEAN STALUN PHO TOGRAPHY FOR VISIT ALEXAN DRIA

PHOTO BY R. KENNEDY FOR VISIT ALEXANDRIA

Contrabands & Freedm en Cemetery

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

HOME & GARDEN

Form & Function A Del Ray Kitchen is Revamped for a Busy Family PHOTOS BY ANGELA NEWTON ROY

Family life has changed a lot since the 1980s, and for one family in Del Ray, it was time to say goodbye to the outdated, awkward kitchen in their home and bring in some modern functionality. A native of New Orleans, Lindsay Boudreaux of interior design and renovation firm Shotgun Double infuses casual refinement in each of her projects. Boudreaux took an outdated 1980s spec house kitchen in a Del Ray home and created a functional and attractive space.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

BEFORE

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

HOME & GARDEN

A highlight of the renovation included asking the family to catalog what they used in the kitchen, which helped guide the design of new storage solutions that provided easy access to the most-used items. “The more time you can dedicate to the planning, the easier the whole process will go,” said Boudreaux. “In a well-designed kitchen…everything just works and it feels good, but it takes some effort to get there.” Spending more time planning can actually shorten the construction process, as well. “If you can plan early enough, you can get your construction window tighter because you aren’t waiting for materials or appliances,” Boudreaux said. Having worked with this client in the past, Boudreaux already knew they wanted wood elements, saturated colors and earthy tones.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Interior designer, Lindsay Boudreaux

The original kitchen had odd cabinet and sink placement, which Boudreaux fixed by moving the sink and dishwasher slightly, but keeping the refrigerator and range where they were to stay within budget. She repurposed the relatively new refrigerator, replaced the range, and added a new vent hood. Lindsay also removed the pantry closet to open more functional space and created a variety of storage solutions, including an under-the-counter beverage center. She added more counter space by removing a half-wall and tucked the microwave on a shelf under the counter. The most economical cabinet solution was to install semi-custom frames, doors and drawers in cherry that would patina over time along the perimeter with honed black granite counters, along with painted gray island cabinets with a white marble-look quartz. The backsplash tile is an ultra-glossy, creamy white, hand-thrown-look tile that complemented the saturated green walls and the greenery outside. LED-recessed fixtures and under-cabinet lighting along with new decorative lights added interest to the space.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

HOME & GARDEN

Appraisal required for eligibility and subject to conditions. Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed Rate for current rates and for more information.

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Branch Manager/SVP of Mortgage Lending

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HOME & GARDEN

5972 Blue Water Dr, Cambridge, MD | PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARON REAL ESTATE P.C.

Is There a Vacation Home in Your Future? BY BETH LAWTON

Demand for primary homes here in Alexandria is way up from a year ago, with a lot of wouldbe homeowners competing for homes this summer. But demand for second homes in nearby locales is even higher, according to real estate trend reports. In fact, the interest in second homes nationwide is higher than the demand for primary homes, according to a Redfin analysis of mortgage application data from Optimal Blue, a real estate analytics firm. Three main factors have led to this increased desire for a second abode: Home prices, interest rates and, yes, COVID-19. Rapidly rising home prices locally means that many Alexandria homeowners are “equity rich” — the amount of money between what they owe on their home and what the home is worth has grown. Homeowners are tapping into that equity

We love the homes we do - everything from highly traditional to rock star!

and using it to renovate… or to put a down payment on a second home. Low mortgage interest rates have sparked interest in the real estate market, not only for refinancing primary homes, but also for investing in second homes for those who have the means. As you’ll see on the following pages, your money can buy more house in less expensive areas. The third reason: “Because pandemic.” Some homeowners discovered they could work from anywhere. If they didn’t want to make a permanent move, a second home presented itself as a good option. There are a few things to know before you dive into the second-home market. Here are things to keep in mind: It’s nearly impossible to get a $0-down mortgage on a second home, so be sure you have your financing lined up for a down payment.

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HOME & GARDEN

Remember to factor in the cost of utilities when you consider your monthly costs. Even an empty house has some utility costs, particularly if you want Internet service there. Also factor in insurance, taxes and maintenance like lawn care and other costs for upkeep. If you’re thinking about renting out your second home through Airbnb, VRBO or a similar service, check local rules. Some condo associations or home owners’ associations don’t allow owners to host guests. If you can rent out your second home through Airbnb or a similar service, there will be extra costs to consider there, too: • First, be prepared for utility bills that may be higher than those here in Alexandria. It’s a documented phenomenon: When people are on vacation, their mindset prioritizes comfort and relaxation over conservation. That means that if your renters aren’t

paying for the air conditioning, they won’t think twice about cranking it up. • You’ll want to get landlord insurance, which covers a bit more than regular homeowners’ insurance and can be a little bit more expensive. Shop around for this. • Renters expect that the property will be professionally cleaned, so be sure your rent rates include that cost. • Be ready to spend more on replacing towels and linens than you do at home. While you may tolerate some stubborn stains or wear and tear personally, renters have higher expectations. The median list price of homes in Alexandria is around $600,000 (as of April 2021). Here, we take a look at three homes that cost a little less than that in three very different areas within a few hours of Alexandria.

State with the most second homes:

Florida

State with the least second homes:

South Dakota

The number of second homes in the United States:

7.6 million (in 2020)

$589,000

This “Southern Charmer” is on a quiet lot in Fords Colony and has been fully updated in the past five years. The home is spacious and gets plenty of natural light through brand new windows. The media room (furniture and equipment convey) is perfect for movie nights, and the large front porch, back deck, beautiful kitchen and more make this a perfect spot for cookouts and gatherings. The home is mid-way between Colonial Williamsburg and the historic Jamestown Settlement for history lovers!

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

105 Congressional Way, Williamsburg, Va. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3400 sq. ft. on 0.53 acres REALTOR: Faith Heinen, Liz Moore & Associates, lizmoore.com

$525,000

98 Foxhall Road, Charles Town, W.Va. 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3,900 sq. ft. on approx. 1 acre REALTOR: Tracy Kable, Kable Team Realty, kableteam.com

This spacious Colonial-style home is on a private cul-de-sac in the Eastland neighborhood. This home includes a main-level office and owner’s suite with access to the home’s large front porch. The family room has skylights and a stone fireplace, and the spacious kitchen leads to a breakfast room and private rear patio. Updates in 2017 and 2018 include a new roof, siding, garage doors and water heater. Not to be confused with the state capital of Charleston, West Virginia, Charles Town is just a stone’s throw from historic Harper’s Ferry on the Potomac River. Charles Town and Harper’s Ferry both have plenty of outdoor activities, historic sites, hiking and entertainment.

$550,000

5972 Blue Water Dr, Cambridge, Md. 3 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,100 sq. ft. on 26 acres REALTOR: Sharon Spedden , Sharon Real Estate P.C., 410-228-2525

This home features an open floorplan with a spacious kitchen and plenty of space to entertain. It is described as a “private hunter’s paradise” with abundant whitetail deer and turkey. Outdoor spaces include a new saltwater pool, pavilion, firepit, patio and countless off-road trails on the property for ATV riding and access to tree stands. A 30x30 Morton Building with a wood stove and utilities provides an additional, quiet retreat. The property includes deeded access to LeCompte Creek for kayak or canoe launching, fishing and crabbing.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

Enjoy Summertime BBQ in Alexandria BY RACHEL KISER

Barbecue is not an experience meant to be enjoyed solo, unless you picked up some take out and you’re devouring it in your car because you just couldn’t wait. All it needs is what the earth can provide — fire, smoke, heat and water. With its primal roots, it’s a messy summer dining pleasure meant to be shared on a picnic table or a backyard get-together — a world away from fancy tablecloths and your Mama’s best china. At times like these, we are desperate for things that remind us all that we are a community, and food is a love language that can convey that. Regardless of where you eat or who you eat it with, barbecue is a summertime comfort food that reminds us all of the simple pleasures of the season. Here’s a look at some of our hometown favorites.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKLANDS BARBEQUE AND GRILLING COMPANY

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

MYRON MIXON'S PITMASTER BARBECUE

➲ 220 n. lee st. Four-time world barbecue champion Myron Mixon, star of “BBQ Pitmasters” and author of five cookbooks, grew up in Unadilla, Georgia, where he also serves as mayor. His restaurant serves traditional Georgia style barbecue from a vault of family recipes — the baked beans are made with Georgia peaches, the coleslaw is his mother’s recipe, and the deviled eggs are “not your mother’s” deviled eggs, stuffed with baby back ribs. Mixon, with pitmaster Andy Dunn, smokes their competition barbecue with hickory wood and an H20 smoker designed by Mixon himself. (You can buy one to use at home — prices start at $4,399.) The brisket, one of their most popular meats, is cooked hot and fast for seven hours, and then smoked for four hours to create a pink smoke ring that halos around the brisket’s edge. Their signature chicken wings are coated in dry rub, smoked, fried and coated again in Myron’s original dry rub mix from his Dad’s recipe. Sauces include an Alabama mayo-based white sauce, a classic and sweet hog sauce, a vinegar-based Carolina sauce and “sweet heat” mustard. And if you still have room, don’t skimp on the banana pudding.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Popular Sides Baby Back Rib Mac ’n Cheese Deviled Eggs Baked Beans

PHOTOS BY RACHEL KISER

➲ PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 mt. vernon ave.

The Pork Barrel brand started when Heath Hall and Brett Thompson stepped into the spotlight on the first season of TV's “Shark Tank” to find a Shark (Barbara Corcoran) to help them grow their sauce and rub company. After their sudden rise to fame, Bill Blackburn and Mike Anderson, of Homegrown Restaurant Group, partnered with the duo to open a restaurant in Del Ray. Since opening in 2011, Homegrown Restaurant Group has opened six restaurants, including their sister restaurant, Sweet Fire Donnas, and pride themselves on Pork Barrel's being a casual joint with a focus on community and dedication to their employees.

Popular Sides Monster Mac ’n Cheese Cheesy Grits Collard Greens

Pork Barrel has created an “all American style” based on their favorite barbecue across the country with a twist, like their Redneck Burrito. The sauces — original, sweet, Carolina mustard and vinegar, spicy and the seasonal white or chipotle sauce — represent the different regions of barbecue that inspired them along the way. They marry the best of both worlds, representing the East Coast-style with pulled pork and ribs, smoked with wood and gas-assisted for eight to 12 hours; and Midwestern influences with brisket and jalapeño cheddar sausage, courtesy of local business Logan Sausage. However, the fish, served every Friday, and smoked turkey are the “sleepers” in a barbecue world full of pigs and cows.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL KISER

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

➲

SMOKING KOW

Popular Sides

3250 duke st. Smoking Kow owner Dylan Kough loved barbecue growing up. After graduating high school, he traveled to Kansas City to “try all the famous places” and started experimenting with his own rubs. He started his first food truck in 2015 and eventually opened a brick-andmortar, fast-casual barbecue joint in 2018. All their meats — ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, turkey, and sausage — are smoked with aged hickory

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Mac ’n Cheese Texas Caviar (black bean and roasted corn salad)

logs to achieve that caramelized, bacon-like flavor. The brisket and pork, their most popular meats, are smoked for around 18 hours, while their chicken is smoked for six hours. Their sides, all made in house, pack a punch with fresh jalapeños, like their mac and cheese with garlic and jalapeño, baked beans and cheese jalapeño grits. However, their signature is Kansas City burnt ends, proving that beef is sometimes king, even on the East Coast.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SMOKING KOW

ROCKLANDS BARBEQUE AND GRILLING COMPANY 25 s. quaker lane The first thing John Snedden remembers cooking as a child was applesauce using apples from his grandmother’s tree. His family cooked outside during the summer, unlocking the “unique primal experience and community aspect” of barbecue. He started competing in barbecue competitions as a hobby, where he connected with Bryan Watson, the owner of Bugsy’s, a pizza and sports bar, which led to his first restaurant job. Since then, Snedden has been driven to create a “delicious, authentic bite,” and the goal is to create fresh food made every day, in house, and without processed ingredients. Rocklands’ variety of meats — baby back ribs, spare ribs, pork shoulder, brisket, beef ribs — are sourced from local farmers like Gonzales Farms. Their flavors “aren’t trying to emulate any specific style or region with sauce,” but feature a cross between Carolina and Florida barbecue, a perfect balance of not-too-sweet, not-too-much vinegar, and four types of peppers and onions. Meats are smoked low and slow with a blend of red oak and hickory wood, and finished on the grill to caramelize for a jam-like finish. Their first menu when they opened, painted on plywood, featured sides that continue to be powerhouses today: Collard greens, broccoli and bacon salad and red beans and rice. Even though the popularity of meats vary by store location, guests “never get tired of barbecue when done right.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROCKLANDS BARBEQUE AND GRILLING COMPANY

Popular Sides Sweet Pea Salad Minted Cucumber Salad Traditional Potato Salad Southwestern Black Bean Salad

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

TRAVEL

➲

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S Popular Sides

Mac ’n Cheese Texas Caviar (black bean and roasted corn salad)

510 john carlyle st. Donna Anderson, a retired cardiac nurse, runs her kitchen line like her unit. Seven years ago, her husband, Alexandria restaurateur Mike Anderson, gifted Donna with the restaurant for Christmas and named it after her, on the condition that she had to run it. Similar to their sister restaurant Pork Barrel BBQ, the family-run restaurant wanted to create a neighborhood ambience. Thanks to her upbringing in the Carolinas, the traditional BBQ joint is infused with vinegar-based items, like Donna’s mother’s collard greens and mustard-based vinegar sauce and Texas hybrid-inspired dishes smothered in ketchup-based sauces. All their meats — chicken, beef sausage, burnt ends, turkey, spare ribs and the most popular, pulled pork and brisket — are smoked in-house in their “Southern pride” smoker with blended woods. Their kitchen manager, Chef Lazo, started working for the Andrsons in 1984, as a dishwasher, and brings his unique twist to barbecue flavors with his El Salvadoran background, from their mac 'n cheese with green chilis, to their smoked white chicken chili and homemade hot sauce made with home-grown peppers. “Barbecue is a love language,” explains Donna’s daughter, Chelsea Anderson, and they intend to keep the spark alive.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

PHOTOS BY RACHEL KISER

PUZUKAN ➲ 6464 landsdowne centre dr. Ki Bum Kim and his family moved to America from Korea three years ago, chasing the American dream of a rebranded Korean barbecue restaurant. Puzukan, the Americanized word for “the butcher shop” in Korean, is an opportunity to try a new style of Korean barbecue. Since Puzukan opened last year alongside their other restaurant down the street, Matsu Japanese Sushi and Ramen, Kim and his brother have pioneered a favorite: A casual, yet authentic Korean dining experience for Fort Belvoir transplants and locals alike. There is no questionable ingredients bar — everything is fresh, housemade and made to order.Traditionally cooked using gas or charcoal, they mimic those same smoky flavors with pan cooking and finish on the gas grill. There are two different menus, the classic barbecue bowls with traditional flavors as seen in other Korean restaurants like bibimbap; and signature bowls — their own fusion riffs on Korean flavors, similar to what they had growing up combining fried chicken with rice. The bulgogi is the crowd favorite, alongside their citrus lemonade; the Chi-Bop, chicken and rice and Cha-Bop, brisket and rice, keep the foods of their youth alive — all you need is a side of tiger sauce.

Popular Sides Chicken Nugget with KFC sauce (spicy) Honey Butter Chips Bulgogi Sliders

PHOTOS BY RACHEL KISER

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

PROFILE

He sits down with guests while they walk through the menu, laughs with them as if he were reconnecting with old friends, walks around with a double Crown Royal on the rocks as if he was hosting a neighborhood barbecue instead of a whole hog roast in his honor at his Old Town namesake restaurant. “You’d think it would feel like old hat, but it doesn’t,” he confessed over beers and deviled eggs, his first championship ring kaleidoscoping against framed competition posters as he talked about his fifth win. “Not many people can say they have won five world championships in anything,” he said. He still got that same rush of adrenaline when they announced that his team, Jack’s Old South, had won the Memphis in May World Championship barbecue contest, and Mixon said the way his team’s faces lit up was worth it in itself. Mixon first started barbecuing when he was nine years old with his younger brother and his father, Jack, who had a takeout barbecue business in Vienna, Georgia — “spelled the same as your Vienna” in Virginia, but with a twangy “vi” that sounds like “vine,” he said.

Politics, a Whole Hog and the State of Barbecue BY RACHEL KISER

To see Myron Mixon working a crowded room — if you didn’t know any better — you would never know he was a five-time barbecue world champion.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

His first job wasn’t as glamorous as being a pitmaster, but a beefier version of a bar back — “tout, fetch, and go get.” Over time, Mixon “learned under protest” the artfulness behind barbecue from his father, who Mixon described as “probably the best pitmaster I have ever seen.” His father died in January 1996 at age 56, five months before Mixon’s first barbecue competition in June 1996. There, he won first place in both hog and pulled pork. Everything from there became a series of falling dominos — winning competitions led to shows, which led to the cookbooks, which led to restaurants, which led to cooking schools.

When he entered the competitive barbecue world in 1996, Mixon talked about how the industry was very “niche and boutique” — it existed as a food genre that was mostly a Southern thing. Now, as one of the most popular food genres in the country, people crave it and seek it out in all forms, Mixon said, including cross-country barbecue crawls. Barbecue comes with a uniqueness and a love that he said he is blessed to experience — how barbecue is social and uniting, and how primal and basic it is in nature. To see barbecue move forward, Mixon hopes to see a marriage of flavors from different barbecue regions and make it one Kumbaya-esque wave of barbecue. “Everyone wants to always talk about tradition,” talking about the vinegary flavors of Carolina style or tangy Memphis style people are so commonly aware of. “There is a place for traditional barbecue,” Mixon said, including holes in the wall on the side of the road, where their menus are sketched on scrap wood and specials are done by word-of-mouth instead of Instagram. He’s starting to see a blend of regions from people moving around and “bringing with them what they think is historically or traditionally barbecue,” but at the end of the day, “it’s still barbecue.” Mixon loves something different about every one of his restaurant locations. He enjoys the “it’s 1 o’clock every night” feeling of Miami and the modern nightlife of Hoboken, but “there’s nothing like Old Town.” He tried to think of a word best to describe it, grimacing at “quaint,” but settling on “reserved” — a sleepy town packed full of personality, foodie hits, and people who wave to each other on the streets. He would love to buy property in Old Town, but he has to talk his wife out of setting her sights on Daytona Beach, Florida. Mixon still lives in the same county he grew up in, but a different town. He’s now mayor of Unadilla, Georgia (pop. 1,500). He lives on a 12-acre “barbecue

THE LOCAL LENDER Toni Slye Miller's Old Town Favorites compound” where he has been teaching barbecue classes since 2005. Mixon “likes to fix stuff,” saying this while he rearranged the menus on the table to line up neatly, and said that while he flourished and expanded his business, the other residents of Unadilla struggled to pay month-tomonth expenses. He was elected mayor in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 “strictly to help” — he donates the $400 he gets paid each month to a town fund that allows families to get Christmas lights every year. He has also improved parks, got the city’s finances into the black, and installed splash pads for kids in the community. “People chuckle when I mention the splash pads, but in a little rural community, they are something special to have.” When asked “what’s next...” he was silent for a while. Someone broke the silence from the next table over, shouting “number six,” to signify a sixth world championship. Mixon just chuckled and said, “Absolutely.”

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July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Best Beaches OF THE

THE

Looking to get away this summer? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a look at three popular beach destinations within driving distance of Alexandria. Bon voyage!

VIRGINIA BEACH | PHOTO BY JENNA LEE

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

TRAVEL

COVID vaccine? Check. Sunny weather in the forecast? Check. Ready to travel? Heck, yeah! With COVID vaccines under our belts, we are ready to hit the road for a long-awaited getaway. Virginia Beach has been our “go to” beach for decades. However, due to family obligations and the ongoing pandemic, we had not been to “the Beach” for several seasons. We were eager to explore the new “old” Virginia Beach.

Where to Stay

The view from Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites

Our “home away from home” during a recent visit was the new Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites, located on Shore Drive, between the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and First Landing State Park. It is an ideal location if you’re looking for a quieter Chesapeake Bay waterfront location away from the hubbub of the oceanfront. This area is commonly known as Chic’s Beach to locals. It’s also one of the only locations where you can watch both the sunrise and sunset over water. Other hotels to try include the Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club, Ocean Beach Club, or look for an Airbnb or VRBO.

WEEKEND GETAWAY TO THE NEW ‘OLD’

Virginia Beach STORY & PHOTOS BY NAN RYANT

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

The ViBe section of Virginia Beach features a variety of murals.

What to Do Looking for your happy place? The Edgar Cayce Association for Research and Enlightenment, “A.R.E.,” located on Atlantic Avenue and 67th St. in the North End, is the perfect example of new and old Virginia Beach. We met with the spa manager, Celeste, who arranged for us to experience an AlphaSphere session. Created in Austria, AlphaSphere is an ergonomically designed lounger that envelopes the senses with soothing sound, color and vibration therapy to take you to your happy place, lowering your heart rate and blood pressure while relieving muscle tension and stress. Above: Getting up close with a shark at the aquarium in Virginia Beach. Below: Commune is a farm to table restaurant offering up an eclectic menu in Virginia Beach.

Just past the Rudee Inlet bridge is the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center at 717 General Booth Blvd. It is an impressive structure with thousands of animals representing more than 300 species displayed. The aquarium is not only a tourist destination, it is also a serious participant in several marine science research projects.

Where to Dine We ended our trip with a delicious lunch at Commune, a locally owned, made-fromscratch, farm-to-table restaurant at 501 Virginia Beach Blvd. This local delight in the ViBe section has an onsite bakery, locally brewed Kombucha, and a broad menu of traditional, vegetarian and vegan offerings. Proving that it is truly a small world, we learned that one of the farmers/suppliers is an old friend of my husband’s whom he has not seen in more than 30 years. You’ll also want to try Delta Hotels’ Tin Cup Kitchen + Oyster Bar. Its name is a nod to the heavy military presence in the Hampton Roads area. As the military expression goes: “Whiskey tastes better from a tin cup.” The restaurant features seafood and local oysters in a casual environment with indoor and outdoor seating available.

TRAVEL TIME:

Three hours July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

TRAVEL TIME:

Five hours

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT

The Outer Banks STORY & PHOTOS BY MARY ANN BARTON

A sandpiper waits for the tide to go out in the Outer Banks.

You won’t want to leave the Outer Banks once you get there, so try to plan to stay for at least a couple of days. While a lot has changed about these world-famous North Carolina beaches in the past few years, there are plenty of old classics to enjoy, as well. Here are a few of our favorite things about the Outer Banks.

Where to Stay The Sanderling Resort in Duck can’t be beat with a location just up the road from “downtown” Duck. With three swimming pools, you can get some laps in and then (literally just a few steps from the beach) plop down for a siesta under an umbrella or stroll the beach looking for seashells. We also love a few of the other options around, including rentals and hotels such as Burrus House Inn or White Doe Inn in Manteo, or the Lighthouse View Oceanfront Lodging in Buxton.

What to Do Just down the road from Sanderling is an awesome coffee shop, Duck's Cottage, 1240 Duck Road, where you can pick up a New York Times or a great book and some coffee and grab a seat on the front porch. Coconut Crunch is their most popular coffee flavor.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Wild horses graze in the dunes on Corolla Beach.

TRAVEL

Two of the best places for watching the sun set in the Outer Banks are the Blue Point Bar & Grill Back Bar and Jockey’s Ridge State Park. At Blue Point, grab an Adirondack chair and your favorite cold beverage and watch the sunset over the Currituck Sound. Jockey’s Ridge features a 100-foot tall sand dune and is the perfect spot to take photos of the sunset or portraits during “the golden hour.”

Boats bob in the water outside Avenue Waterfront Grille in Manteo.

If you want to get out on the water, you can rent a catamaran at Nor’Bank Sailing & Watersports at 1314 Duck Road. Other rentals, including kayaks, pontoons and wave-runners are also available. Parasailing is also offered for those who’d like their view from a bit of a higher vantage point. Other adventurous activities while visiting the Outer Banks is going looking for wild horses in Corolla, just 20 minutes up the road from Sanderling. There are several tour outfits you can choose from or you can drive on the beach on your own but make sure you have four-wheel drive and stay on the packed sand.

Where to Dine The picturesque Morris Farm Market at 3784 Caratoke Hwy. is on the way down to OBX. Grab one of their little red wagons and load up on fresh corn, watermelon, pickles, pies and lots of other farm-fresh goodness for your stay. Ocracoke Beach Ocracoke Lighthouse

The Black Pelican, 3848 Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk is a great spot for dinner, and we recommend the bacon-wrapped sea scallops. Ask for a seat in the “old section” of the restaurant; the original part of the eatery served as a life-saving station constructed in 1874. If you have room, you might want to try their coconut cream pie or key lime pie. Steamers, 1 Ocean Blvd., Duck. This upscale restaurant features two floors of indoor and outdoor dining. You can’t go wrong with the Steamers Street Tacos featuring wild-caught fish and cumin-spiced vegetables. Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, 1264 Duck Road, is another great place for lunch or dinner around sunset. It can get a tad windy outside if the breezes are blowing too hard (or you can wear a hat). Some standouts here are the She Crab Soup, Coconut Shrimp and Broiled Lump Crabcakes.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

Rehoboth Beach ‘THE NATION'S SUMMER CAPITAL’

PHOTO BY JOSEPH HETU FOR VISIT REHOBOTH

BY MARY ANN BARTON

If you have kids, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, aka “The Nation’s Summer Capital,” is a great bet for a beach vacation this summer. Where to Stay Cottage rentals are one of the most popular ways to enjoy this region. You can rent a cottage in Rehoboth Beach from a local real estate company (try Jack Lingo Realtor, whose company has been around since 1974), VRBO or Airbnb. Rents in July range from $150 per day for an apartment to more than $1,000 per night for beachfront properties. Top-rated hotels in Rehoboth include Avenue Inn & Spa ($3,500 per week), Boardwalk Plaza Hotel ($362 to $450 per night) and Hotel Rehoboth ($423 per night). If you can visit after Labor Day, there are some great deals. For example, Hotel Rehoboth’s rates drop to $249 per night starting Sept. 6.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Boardwalk Plaza | PHOTO BY VISIT REHOBOTH

TRAVEL

TRAVEL TIME:

Two-and-a-half hours

View from on top of Thrashers building | PHOTO BY VISIT REHOBOTH

What to Do For some classic summer thills, there’s always the Funland amusement park on the mile-long boardwalk. When you’re not building sandcastles or strolling the beach, there are plenty more activities to choose from in Rehoboth: • Shopping: Doing some shopping for bargains at Tanger Outlets is a great rainy-day activity or if you need a break from the sun. Best of all: No sales tax! • Art gallery: Want to take some of the beach home with you? Visit The Beach Life Gallery, at 239 Rehoboth Ave., featuring the work of photographer Michael Orhelein. His work features landscapes, seascapes and old boats.

Funland | PHOTO BY VISIT REHOBOTH

You also have the option of exploring some of the quieter beach communities nearby like Bethany Beach, just 20 minutes south of Rehoboth. Bethany also has a boardwalk, although it’s shorter (just a half-mile) and doesn’t have nearly the same number of shops and restaurants, which is a plus for some looking for quieter evenings. And if Bethany is too quiet for you, and you’re looking for a party, Dewey Beach is probably more your scene, especially on the weekends. It’s located between Rehoboth and Bethany, about three miles south of Rehoboth.

Where to Dine Rehoboth has a robust dining scene; it’s smart to make reservations for dinner. Some of Yelp’s top-rated eateries in Rehoboth include: • Shorebreak Lodge: 4.5 stars from 500 reviews • Bluecoast Seafood Grill: 4.5 stars from 266 reviews • Salt Air: 4 stars from 390 reviews • Fork and Flask: 4 stars from 382 reviews • Henlopen City Oyster House: 4.5 stars from 682 reviews

Thrashers French Fries | PHOTO BY VISIT REHOBOTH

Looking for a quick bite while strolling the boardwalk in Rehoboth? Try these classic summer gotos: Grotto Pizza and Thrasher’s Fries. Around since 1963, Grotto Pizza attracts tourists with their funky pies that feature the sauce on top of the cheese. Another boardwalk tradition, Thrasher’s Fries, has been offering up their buckets of goodness to beach crowds since 1929.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

TRAVEL

One-Day Trips While Rehoboth Beach, the Outer Banks and Virginia Beach are fantastic, they really do call for at least a few days’ stay. If you don’t have that much vacation time or want to stay a bit closer to Alexandria, here are a few suggestions.

PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

Colonial Beach Just about 90 minutes south of Alexandria, Colonial Beach, Virginia offers the appeal of a very small town, sandy beaches, salt air and good times. Once called the “Playground of the Potomac,” Colonial Beach is home to the second-longest beach in Virginia. There is public parking at the beach, a beach shop just off the boardwalk, and food trucks and snack shacks available for iced drinks and meals. In addition, there are plenty of spots to rent kayaks or small boats, and you’ll want to check out the tiki bar at High Tides on the Potomac and Colonial Beach Brewing. Learn more at visitcbva.com.

Sandy Point State Park Sandy Point State Park in Maryland is nearly 800 acres and located along the northwest shore of the Chesapeake Bay. About an hour east of Alexandria near Annapolis, the park is known for its popular swimming beach and beautiful view of the Bay Bridge. Sandy Point State Park offers food and beverage concessions, fishing, picnic areas with grills, shelters, bathhouses and playgrounds. Park admission is $5 per person on weekends and holidays, and $4 per person on weekdays. Bring water shoes to help you get past the rocky shoreline. Pro tip: Get there early. On popular weekend days, the park can reach capacity by 10 a.m., leaving you sitting in traffic with no guarantee of reaching the beach. Learn more at dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/sandypoint.aspx.

Chesapeake Beach East on Route 4 a bit past Upper Marlboro, Chesapeake Beach is an adorable small town in Calvert County, Maryland. There’s something for everyone with public boat ramp access and local tackle shops for fishing supplies. Or, make a reservation on a charter boat (there are more than a dozen options), visit the Chesapeake Beach Water Park, enjoy multiple seafood restaurants and crab shacks, and then walk off the calories on an easy hike along the railway trail or heritage trail. Sister town North Beach is close by, too. Both are an hour away from Alexandria. Learn more at chesapeakebeachmd.gov/ for-visitors.

July / August 2021 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

THE LAST WORD

FAV O R I T E S P O T S I N A L E X A N D R I A :

Ivy Hill Cemetery (the George Washington Masonic Temple and the train station are runners up). FAV O R I T E M O V I E :

“Harvey” (1950)

FAV O R I T E T V S H O W:

“The Andy Griffith Show” R E T I R E M E N T A C T I V I T Y Y O U 'R E M O S T L O O K I N G F O R WA R D T O :

Riding my moped around Alexandria MOST PROUD OF:

My wife, Linda, and our three daughters and two grandchildren

Sheriff Dana Lawhorne with his wife Linda | PHOTO BY LOUISE KRAFFT

Dana Lawhorne Alexandria Sheriff INTERVIEW BY SUSANNAH MOORE

For Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, people come first. His office at 2003 Mill Road is filled with photos of the people who have touched his life. From black and white photos of police officers who set him on the right path decades ago, to picture collages of his family — they all remind him of the path his life has taken and an impressive 43-year career in law enforcement. He served 27 years with the Alexandria Police Department before being elected to four terms as Alexandria’s sheriff. He will retire in December. Lawhorne, who is a lifelong Alexandrian, was quick to point out that achieving the job title of sheriff didn’t come easy. He and his four siblings were raised in a chaotic environment by parents who struggled with alcoholism. He credits his success to fate and the many people who offered him a helping hand along the way. “You don’t get here by yourself,” he said. “It takes generosity and friendship

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • July / August 2021

and kindness to help get people to a place where they can succeed.” He recalled that he was considering dropping out of school by age 14. “I was a pretty lost kid, I would just stand on the corner and, you know, hope something good would come by.” And something good did come by in the form of two police officers who befriended him and sparked his interest in a career in law enforcement. Four years later, one of those officers helped him get a job as a security guard for The Hamlets, an apartment complex in the West End. It was there that he met his wife of 37 years, Linda. Lawhorne has accomplished a lot in 43 years. He spearheaded many initiatives to improve safety in the city and improve outcomes for inmates at Alexandria’s William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center, but he says he is most proud of work he did early on in his career when he was a detective investigating crimes against children. “Working with families, victims and kids who needed help is the one thing I’m probably the most proud of — being able to help the family or somebody

who was abused get justice and heal,” Lawhorne said. He said that he makes it a point to treat everybody with empathy and compassion and to try to put himself in their shoes — something that wasn’t that hard to do, given his own background. “We called the police quite often. I always remembered how certain police officers treated us and how some tried to help, most didn’t… I always felt like if I was ever in that position to stand in somebody’s living room because they called me to help them, that was what I was gonna do, some way, somehow.” One of the biggest changes Lawhorne has witnessed in Alexandria over the years is the increase in density and the lack of infrastructure to support the growth. Despite this, he believes that the police and sheriff departments have managed to keep up well. Major crimes have gone down from 8,400 a year during the height of the crack epidemic in 1988, to a little over 3,000 a year today. Lawhorne is understandably apprehensive about retiring from a career that has been in his heart since he was 14 years old. “I find it really hard to believe that I’m not going to be in this business any longer. That is hard to swallow,” he said. He will spend more time with the grandkids, volunteer and possibly look into teaching, but he admitted that he doesn’t have any grand plans. “Maybe I’ll go back to standing on the corner and see what happens, see what comes by,” Lawhorne said with a laugh. If his past is any indication, whatever comes around that corner is bound to be something good.

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