As we embark on a new Spring, it’s an opportunity to usher in change, a new path, and do new things. And as a change advocate, I’ve helped my clients experience opportunities through a new lens and bravely weather any challenges they may face during the complicated process of selling or buying a home. Wherever you are in life, your first home or third, connect with me to discuss how I can help you with your next move.
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the home and a place where many memories are made – cooking meals, doing homework, entertaining family and friends.
If your kitchen could use a bit of love, we offer home equity loans and lines of credit that can help you finance the renovations to build the kitchen of your dreams. You can also use the equity in your home to finance a college education, other renovations, consolidate debt and much more. Stop by our branch or call us to discuss how a CommonWealth One home equity loan or line of credit can help you create those fond memories.
Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
“ Kitchen (noun) - A gathering place for friends and family. A place where memories are homemade and seasoned with love.”
It's almost summertime! Pencil in all the exciting doings Alexandria has to offer during May and June..
The Old Town Farmers' Market was recently named one of the best in the South by Southern Living Magazine. Local writer Glenda Booth explores this 270-year old gem.
Local food blogger Leslie Bobo helps us prepare for the perfect summer dinner party. Check out her delicious menu!
When a local couple moved into their 100-year old cottage in Del Ray, its history inspired their new kitchen design.
Dreaming of lounging by the pool or under an umbrella at the beach? Don't forget to bring a book by an Alexandria author or about our beloved city.
Curious about the "other Alexandrias" across the country? If you're looking for a new adventure to a familiar-sounding place, this is the ticket.
Planning a summer soiree? Popular Alexandria caterer and event aficionado Charlene DantzlerHenry has run her own business for the past 41 years. Find out about the Charlene Experience!
Former Obama administration lawyer Nicole McGrew's path took a twist a few years back and she's now got a new career and is chairing the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
PUBLISHER
Beth Lawton
EDITOR
Mary Ann Barton
ADVERTISING / EVENTS
Kate Barton
Cleo Chitester
Kristen Riffle
DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION
Andrew White
PUBLISHING ASSISTANT
Susannah Moore
Alexandria Living Magazine is published six times per year by Alexandria Living, LLC ©2022. 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.
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Welcome to the May/June issue of Alexandria Living Magazine! In this issue, we focus quite a bit on entertaining and more specifically on something we can all agree on — great food!
Seasonal produce is at the heart of many of the meals you'll likely be planning ahead during these warmer months. Local writer Glenda Booth explores the Old Town Farmers' Market, recently named one of the country's best by Southern Living Magazine. The market got its start in 1753 and attracts residents each Saturday who come to enjoy the fruits of the regional farmers' labors and the ambience that only the market can offer. Read all about it on Page 16.
In business the past 41 years, Alexandria caterer and event planner Charlene DantzlerHenry has a devoted following among those who entertain. Find out about the Charlene Experience on Page 36.
Feel like trying out some new recipes at your next get-together? Welcome food blogger Leslie Bobo to our pages! A recent transplant from San Diego, she also enjoys all things foodie and brings us her menu for a summer dinner party on Page 20.
In keeping with this entertaining theme, we look at the renovation of a kitchen in a 100year old cottage in Del Ray on Page 24.
When you're not entertaining this summer, grab some solo time with the perfect book for the pool or the beach. We've got some great ones to recommend, by Alexandria authors or about Alexandria on Page 32.
Our Alexandria of course isn't the only city with that name. We explore some of "the other Alexandrias" in our travel story in this issue, starting on Page 38.
And last but not least we catch up with Nicole McGrew, who after working in the Obama White House, began a new career and now finds herself chairing the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did putting it together. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, visit our website and sign up for our emails. We'll be at the Festival of Speed & Style on Sunday, May 21. Stop by and say hello!
See you right back here in July.
Kate manages advertising and social media for Alexandria Living. She grew up in Alexandria and enjoys highlighting new creators, businesses and events on social media. Kate loves creating unique partnerships with local businesses and finding opportunities for the Alexandria Living brand to grow. If you're interested in advertising with us, email kate@alexandrialiving.com.
Leslie recently moved to Alexandria from San Diego with her husband Kory and her dog Lulu. She has a food blog, The Gathering Page, and is a recipe creator. Leslie gets a lot of her inspiration from family recipes and local restaurants. When she is not cooking and creating content she enjoys hiking, reading, and discovering new cafes.
Glenda is a freelance writer who has lived in Northern Virginia for more than 40 years covering travel, history, people and conservation for local, state and national publications.Glenda has volunteered for Earthwatch in Botswana, Greece, France, Saskatchewan (Canada) and the Galapagos Islands. A gardener, outdoors woman and lifelong learner, she lives in Fairfax County and is the mother of two grown sons.
Joi is the owner of Joi Lyn Photo. She is a dedicated and energetic photographer serving the D.C. Metropolitan area, specializing in lifestyle and fashion portraits, food and nightlife photography. With more than 15 years of experience, it’s fair to say that photography is one of her favorite things to do. You can check out her website at joilyn.pic-time.com.
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, Cinnamon, and golden retriever, Kai.
A native of the former Yugoslavia, Igda and her husband now call Alexandria home. It's where she runs her own photography business, Warner Creative LLC. You may see her strolling through town, talking to business owners and promoting Alexandria and its unique melting pot of personalities and people. Find out more about her business at igdawarner.com.
Before you start looking for homes, it's important to know how much you can afford to spend. Meet with a mortgage lender to get prequalified for a mortgage so you can narrow down your search and make an offer when you find a home you like
Alexandria has many neighborhoods, each with its own character, amenities, and prices. Take time to research different neighborhoods to find one that matches your lifestyle, needs, and budget Consider factors such as commute times, school districts, safety, and access to shopping, entertainment, and parks.
The Alexandria housing market is competitive, so it's important to be prepared to move quickly when you find a home you like. Work with your real estate agent to develop a strategy for making a competitive offer that will stand out from other offers This might involve being flexible on closing dates, offering a higher price, or being willing to compromise on certain contingencies.
A local real estate agent can provide valuable guidance and insights on the local housing market, help you find homes that match your criteria, and negotiate the best deal on your behalf Look for a real estate agent who is responsive, knowledgeable, and trustworthy
Even if a home looks perfect on the surface, it's important to have a professional home inspection to uncover potential issues or repairs that may be needed A home inspection can reveal hidden problems such as leaks, faulty wiring, or structural issues that may not be apparent to the untrained eye.
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Beyond the Battlefield: A Civil War Walking Tour of Alexandria
May 1 and 27 |10 a.m.
This walking tour shares the stories of soldiers, citizens, and self-liberated African Americans in Civil War Alexandria. It covers the military occupation, the conversion of public and private buildings into hospitals and emancipation. Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. The tour is limited to 12 participants and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Walking tours take place rain or shine, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Members of Lee-Fendall House
are admitted free but must call or email to make a reservation.
Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org
Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace
Tuesdays and Thursdays (ongoing)| 6-7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays (ongoing) | 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Take an hour-long gentle flow yoga class on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace. Build heat with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxation. Please bring water, a towel and yoga mat. Classes may be cancelled due to inclement weather.
Price is $10 per class.
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N Fairfax St., novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park
George Washington Whiskey Tasting
Saturdays in May and June | 2-5 p.m. Enjoy a rare opportunity to taste Mount Vernon’s one-of-a-kind distilled spirits. Sample three distilled spirits, made using 18th-century distilling methods and techniques and take a tour of the distillery and gristmill. Tickets are $60 for non-members and $50 for members. curators and artists.
George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, 5531 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
Concerts at The Birchmere
Check out some of the performances scheduled for May and June 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.
MAY 4
Raheem Devaughn
MAY 8
Cowboy Junkies (sold out)
MAY 9
Amy Grant
MAY 12
The Manhattans Featuring Gerald Ashton
MAY 20
Najee
MAY 24, 25
Chrisette Michele
MAY 28
The Seldom Scene & Larry Keel Experience
JUNE 2
Natalie Macmaster & Donnell Leahy
JUNE 7
Euge Groove
JUNE 9
Marcus Miller
JUNE 13, 14
America (sold out)
JUNE 17, 18
Atlantic Starr
The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., birchmere.com
George Washington Whiskey Tasting
Saturdays in May and June | 2-5 p.m.
Enjoy a rare opportunity to taste Mount Vernon’s one-of-a-kind distilled spirits. Sample three distilled spirits, made using 18th-century distilling methods and techniques and take a tour of the distillery and gristmill. Tickets are $60 for nonmembers and $50 for members.
George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, 5531 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
Prints in May
May 5-27
This exhibit features a variety of printmaking artworks from traditional printmaking on paper, to mixed media, to impressions on clay, to stamps on metal, to computer generated art and more! Attend the opening reception on Friday, May 5 from 7-9 p.m. to meet the curator and artists.
Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.o
May 6-7 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Step back in time at Mount Vernon’s Revolutionary War Weekend. Mount Vernon’s 12-Acre Field transforms into a battleground as Continentals, Redcoats, and Hessians conduct military drills, perform calvary demonstrations, and engage in 18th-century tacticals. Meet
the soldiers and camp followers who are encamped at Mount Vernon, discuss military techniques, and greet General Washington. Go inside a replica of General Washington’s War Tent. Admission is free for members. General public admission is $35 for adults and $21 for youth.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
Spring Garden Tour
March 6 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Enjoy a guided tour of Green Spring’s beautiful demonstration gardens with an Extension Master Gardener docent. Hear about the garden’s 18th-century origins and its mission today. Find inspiration in our horticulturists’ plant choices and designs and take ideas home to try in your own landscape. Garden tours run rain or shine. $12 per person.
Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring
Old Town Alexandria Art Show & Craft Spring Fair
May 6 | 11a.m.-5 p.m.
One-hunded artisans, crafters, independent consultants and other local small businesses are looking forward to showcasing their products, just in time for Mother’s Day! From arts and crafts to jewelry and baked goods, to body and hair care, vendors will help you find unique, handmade items. Admission is free. The event is pet friendly and will be held rain or shine.
May 6, 7 | 1-3 p.m.
Time for spring cleaning! Learn how to make a turkey wing style hand broom, while discovering some of the history and superstitions surrounding this seemingly innocuous household item. Your broom can be both decorative and useful! This program includes materials and instructions to make one turkey tail style hand broom for you to take home, and a tour inside Carlyle House.
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N Fairfax St., novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park
May 6 | 6-9 p.m.
Discover the secret language of the fan as many women in the 19th century did. While practicing your fan skills enjoy a variety of chocolate bon-bons from Potomac Chocolate. Tours of the first floor of Carlyle house will run from 6-7 p.m. with the program starting promptly at 7p.m. Tickets are $40 per person.
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N Fairfax St., novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park
May 7 | 2-4 p.m.
Join artist Kellie Sansone to paint and create a unique pendant and pair of earrings! The sets will make beautiful Mother’s Day presents (or keep them for yourself). All materials and instruction provided. $70. Advance registration required through madeinalx.com.
Made in ALX, 533 Montgomery St., madeinalx.com
May 7, June 4 | 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Experience Green Spring Gardens with all of your senses. Join Ana Ka’ahanui, co-founder of local nonprofit Capital Nature for a slow, meditative walk around the gardens. Contemplative, but more
active than meditation, this forest bathing walk will help reduce blood pressure, boost immunity and enhance mood and creativity. Decompress and feel a deeper connection with the natural world. Bring something to sit on the ground, which may be damp, and a water bottle. Dress for the weather. $35 per person.
Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-sprin
All Lit Up Like a Japanese Lantern: The Japanese Aesthetic in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House
May 7 and 21 | 3 p.m.
By 1941, the year Pope-Leighey House was completed, Frank Lloyd Wright had studied Japan for almost a half-century. He had become a serious collector of woodblock prints--even writing a book on the subject--and had won acclaim for his design of the Tokyo Imperial Hotel, one of the few buildings to survive the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. On this special tour, visitors will discover how the famous American architect incorporated his love of Japanese art, architecture and philosophy into Usonian homes and how this East Asian influence shines in Wright’s PopeLeighey House. Tickets are $20 per person. Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House, 9000 Richmond Hwy., woodlawnpopeleighey.org
Virtual Floral Design - Mother’s Day Design
May 11 | 1-2:30 p.m.
Gift your mother with not only a beautiful flower arrangement but hands-on floral design tips and tricks. In this virtual workshop, certified floral designer Betty Ann Galway helps you expand your skill set. Register for both the class and the supply fee. Please pick up your floral supplies at Green Spring Gardens prior to the class, either the day before or morning of the program. A Zoom link will be emailed prior to the program. $42 per person (plus $35 supply fee).
Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring
The Late Shift Art Night: Heritage –Asian American and Pacific Islander
May 12
The Torpedo Factory Art Center will be honoring the area’s local Asian American and Pacific Islander community and culture. Experience hands-on art-making
May 20 | Noon - 5 p.m.
A diverse mix of more than 30 local makers will pop up and take over Port City’s parking lot, showcasing the creative community of Alexandria-based creators, makers, designers and crafters. Enjoy a Port City pint or two as you browse. The event will also feature food trucks and is both pet and kid friendly. Port City Brewing Company, 3950 Wheeler Ave., madeinalx.com
and demonstrations, with all three floors of studios and galleries open to the public.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., torpedofactory.org
Fanny, Franz and Brahms: Four Hands, One Piano
May 12 | 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Hailed for “effortless technical command and authority with a sense of poetry”, award-winning pianist Vijay Venkatesh returns to the Secret Garden with Eva Schaumkell as they play together on one piano with a program of Fanny Mendelssohn’s Piano Pieces for 4 Hands; Franz Schubert’s Fantasy in F Minor; and Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dances. Tickets are $25-$45.
The Rectory at Princess St., 711 Princess St classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts
May 12 & June 16 | 6:30-9 p.m.
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, or bring your own picnic dinner, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets. Tickets are $25, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House, 9000 Richmond Hwy., woodlawnpopeleighey.org
Spring Art Market 2023
May 13 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Del Ray Artisans’ Our Spring Art Market is an annual outdoor market, the day before Mother's Day, that gives you the chance to purchase original handcrafted artwork from talented local artists. This market showcases artwork in a wide range of media including ceramics, fiber, jewelry, mixed media, paper, photography and more. Shop original work from local artists—perfect for gifts or treat yourself! The event will be held rain or shine. Colasanto Park, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org
May 19
Join your fellow cyclists at 100 pit stops in D.C., Maryland and Virginia for this free event for a healthy way to start your day. The first 15,000 people who register and attend at a pit stop by bike will receive a free T-shirt. Giveaways, food and beverages will be available while supplies last. Various locations, biketoworkmetrodc.org
Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
May 19, 20, 21 | 6-9 p.m.
Taste unlimited samples of wines from Virginia’s finest wineries at Mount Vernon’s most popular event of the year. Bring a blanket and some friends while you relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River while you enjoy live music. Explore the mansion and shops after hours.
Friday — Member $49; Non-Member $59
Saturday — Member $53, Non-Member $63
Sunday — Member $43; Non-Member $53
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
Third Annual Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival
May 20-21 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival is heading back to John Carlyle Square in 2023. All artwork is juried, which provides a higher level of quality, diversity and creativity of art on display, exemplifying the gifted artists in regions from all over the country. Admission is free.
John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., artfestival. com/festivals/alexandria-king-street-art-festival
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style
May 21 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Enjoy this popular annual event that features cars, fashion and fun! The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style highlights the unique offerings of the Old Town community – history, architecture, great food, fabulous people, art, style, energy. All proceeds benefit the local nonprofits, ALIVE! and Campagna Center. View dozens of rare and exotic cars up close, made famous by their speed, performance
and elegance. This will be enhanced by a presentation of style, fashion and live music provided by over 40 local merchants. The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style is presented by Burke & Herbert Bank and admission is free.
200-400 blocks of King Street and 100 blocks of North Royal and North Fairfax Streets, festivalspeedstylealex.com
Historic Garden Tour
May 20-21 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Discover the history of the Lee-Fendall Garden from its eighteenth-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. Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance. The tour is limited to 10 participants. Members of LeeFendall House are admitted free but must call or email to make a reservation.
Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org
The Freedom of June
June 2-25
The Freedom of June art exhibit celebrates Juneteenth and highlights the resilience, strength and beauty of African American culture. Attend the opening reception on Friday, June 2 from 7-9 p.m. to meet the curator and artists.
Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org
Clean the Bay Day 2023
June 3
Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s "Clean the Bay Day" has been a staple for Virginia's Chesapeake Bay community since its inception 33 years ago. Each year, thousands of Virginians simultaneously descend on the rivers, streams and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to remove harmful litter and debris.
Saturday, June 3, is the traditional Clean the Bay Day. You will be able to sign up for a location near you online. Organizing partners will coordinate assignments for the cleanups.
Various locations around
June 4
Top area restaurants are slated to participate in the 14th Annual Taste of Del Ray. The event, named one of Virginia Living Magazine's top food festivals in the state, will include a VIP reception, tastes along Mount Vernon Avenue, restaurant competitions and more. Various locations in Del Ray, visitdelray.org
June 3 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Celebrate the 156th birthday of American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright! Enjoy an open house tour of the Pope-Leighey House and learn about the history of the house and its designer. In the yard, enjoy activities related to the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright and grab a celebratory bite of cake. Stay a little, or all afternoon to enjoy the
JUNE
16 & 17
festivities. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children (5-17), under 5 are free. Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House, 9000 Richmond Hwy., woodlawnpopeleighey.org
The Nacirema Society Requests
the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years
June 3-24
Every year since Emancipation, the Nacirema Society of Montgomery, Alabama introduces six elegant AfricanAmerican debutantes to a world of wealth, privilege and social responsibility. This year, at its 100th anniversary, with young love brewing, old flames simmering and national media attention on-hand what would dare to go awry? A sparkling romantic comedy with warmth and wit, Pearl Cleage invites you into this glamorous world where folks still dress for dinner and strong-willed grandmothers work behind
June 16 & 17
Kick off summer with the return of the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival sponsored by Ting. This free festival features an array of live music, local craft beer from Port City Brewing Company and fun for the whole family on the Alexandria waterfront. The event features Friday evening jazz performances and readings by Alexandria poets presented by the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts. Saturday, the festival continues with an eclectic musical lineup, local food, hands-on art and history activities and more. Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., visitalexandria.com/events/portside-festival
the scenes. This is one invitation you’d be crazy to refuse!
The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., thelittletheatre.com
Magic Flute in the Secret Garden
June 8, 9 | 5 p.m.
Mozart’s masterpiece The Magic Flute returns to the Secret Garden in an enchanting staging featuring a talented cast of young musicians. An audience favorite for 230 years, experience the delightful story of adventure and true love – and Mozart’s majestic, sparkling score – like never before. Sung in German, with English dialogue. Presented with a brief intermission. Tickets are $35-$50.
The Rectory at Princess Street, 711 Princess St., classicalmovements.com/secretgardenconcerts
Mount Vernon Summerfest
June 9,10 | 6-9 p.m.
Experience Mount Vernon after-hours and taste craft beers from across the region while enjoying live music. Tickets include a commemorative tasting cup and eight tasting tickets. Additional tastings are available for purchase for $2 on-site. Tickets are $40 for members and $48 for general public.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
Independence Fireworks
June 30, July 1 | 6-9:30 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of family fun and fireworks along with patriotic music to celebrate our nation’s founding. The iconic mansion will be lit in red, white and blue during the fireworks show. Additional activities include ice cream-making demonstrations and an 18th-century magic show. Concessions will be available for purchase.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
We create comfortable and stylish spaces by properly arranging much of your own furniture and décor and guiding you to make smart purchases for additional furnishings saving you time and money!
From furniture rearranging to full room makeovers. VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS are available for faster and easier room design. Send us a photo of your room that you would like to transform today!
We offer evening appointments for your convenience.
Every Saturday, some rise from their slumber at 2 a.m., load up their trucks in the dark with eggs, meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, popcorn and flowers, drive to Alexandria and set up by 7 a.m. for the start of the Old Town Farmers’ Market.
They come from towns like Ortanna and Honey Grove, Pennsylvania, and Marysville and Frederick, Maryland. Some have shorter commutes, from suburban outposts like Chantilly and Sterling, Virginia, even Alexandria’s Eisenhower Avenue. Braving rain, snow, sleet, summer steam baths, whatever the weather, they greet a steady stream of customers for five hours.
By 8 a.m., the enticing aromas of buttery popcorn and frying sausages infuse the morning air and encourage “retail therapy.” Lines form for Hog Haven’s breakfast sandwiches, fried eggs and sausage, ham, bacon, fresh jowl or pork belly in an English muffin-type biscuit.
Shirlington resident Anna Deramus goes every Saturday. First stop: Hog Haven for a sausage and egg sandwich. “I like the atmosphere and the fresh air,” she said, as she introduced her mother from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Founded in 1752, the Old Town Farmers’ Market is the oldest market in the country held continuously at the same site, according to Jacqueline Woodbridge, the city’s editorial and media relations manager. When the Virginia House of Burgesses passed a law establishing Alexandria as a town in 1749, the law set aside two half-acre lots for a marketplace. Twice a year, by law, “fairs” were held at the marketplace. George Washington sent produce from his Mount Vernon farms. Today’s market is held on the
same property, now called Market Square. In the growing season’s peak, around 70 vendors bring their wares.
For 10 years, Kinley Coulter has traveled from his 220acre farm in Honey Grove, Pennsylvania, where he farms with his wife, Rebecca and seven children. They milk 50 grass-fed, Jersey cows a day for organic cheeses, yogurt, kefir, ice cream, butter and milk. He brings large white coolers packed with beef, lamb, pork and dairy products. Jeff Wools from Sterling, Virginia, has been selling at the market for 17 years. He runs Blue Ridge Dairy, an artisan creamery that makes applewood-smoked mozzarella, burrata and ricotta cheese and Greek-style yogurt. He gets the milk from Jersey cows raised on Winchester, Virginia, farms. It’s worth leaving home at 4:30 a.m., he says. “It’s a good market that has a good turnout.”
Papa’s Farm Market and Reid’s Orchard, from Orrrtanna, Pennsylvania, has been an institution at the market for 44 years, first the father, then his son, David Argento. Tables bulge with vegetables, like bright orange carrots, russet sweet potatoes and buff-colored Eva potatoes. John Arnold, who leaves home at 3:30 a.m., and helps with sales, explains that Papa’s brings vegetables from nearby farms, that Papa’s is primarily an orchard. He offers many kinds of apples and pears, plus homemade applesauce, pear sauce, apple butter and honey.
“It’s a great market for us,” says Joe Kenna, who drives from Chantilly, Virginia, every Saturday. His family-run company is Lobster Maine-ia and he brings a taste of
PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZERMaine to his customers, including Maine lobster meat. He also sells North Carolina shrimp, Chesapeake Bay clams and crabmeat, Faroe Island and king salmon, bluefin tuna and more.
Some vendors don’t have to start their commute in the wee hours. For eight years, Bert “Ram” Todd, founder of Alexandria’s Kiwi Kuisine, who has a shop on Eisenhower Avenue, sells hand-held, savory meat pies that he relished as a youngster in New Zealand. When he could not find any in the Alexandria area, he started his company with the theme, “It’s all good, mate!” Customers can preorder on the shop’s website for the Old Town market, order pies and rolls for local delivery and place orders for shipping a dozen or more. Brightening his table each week are big dispensers of mixed vegetable beverages. The green one, dubbed Kiwi Monster, is a mix of kale, kiwi, pineapple and lime.
Alexandrian Maribeth Nyerges is a 36-year Old Town market veteran who sells decorative cookies and pies made in her wholesale Colvin Street bakery. Many of her cookies have a theme, like baseball, Father’s Day or Halloween. Visiting Maribeth’s stall is a long-established ritual for Colin Surovell, age 16, a weekly customer. “Maribeth makes him feel special,” says his grandfather, Rob Surovell, who takes Colin every Saturday for “a bonding experience.”
Jim Gearing, who lives in Alexandria, goes every Saturday for fresh, in-season produce. The freshest of the fresh may be Helen Knower’s stand, King Mushrooms. She grows mushrooms indoors in Marysville on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and for six years has brought six kinds, including chestnut, oyster, cremini and portobello. “It takes two to three weeks to grow shiitakes,” she says. She also sells a homemade Hungarian soup, seasoned with paprika and dill.
For shoppers needing a little liquid pick-me-up, Alexandria’s Lost Boy Cider is at the ready, retailing up to 12 flavors of hard cider like red pepper, raspberry, cherry and jasmine and grapefruit and apples. Lost Boy also touts barrel-aged ciders that age in French oak barrels that once housed red wine, beverages with a “pleasant grippiness,” say their promotions. The newest offering is Bernadette, the first release of their new brand, “Lost
Girl Wine,” an original sparkling red wine in the “petnouveau” style. “Pet” comes from the word “pétillant,” French for “sparkling” and “nouveau,” which means “new.”
Then there’s Billy of Billy’s Flowers from Suitland, Maryland, who’s been coming for 20 years. In the summer, he grows flowers and he gets some from farmers. In the winter, he buys them from importers. Billy creates a friendly, colorful spot near King Street where he often gives away long-stem roses “to make people happy.”
The market’s customers seem very happy.
Square, 301 King St., in front of City Hall. It is open every Saturday, 7 a.m. to 12 noon. Parking is free during market hours in the garage directly under Market Square Plaza from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. year-round. Access the garage at 108 N. Fairfax St. More garage and street parking is available in the surrounding area.
For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/OldTownFarmersMarket
BY LESLIE BOBO PHOTOS BY IGDA WARNER
Summer is almost here and you know what that means — time to wipe down the outdoor furniture, fire up the grills and call your friends, because it’s dinner party season!
There is truly nothing I love more than hosting people at my home for dinner. Afterall, that’s what my blog, The Gathering Page, is based on - bringing people together around really good food. To host a dinner party, you really only need one thing: Great company. I know, I know it’s cliche, but true. That said, if you want to impress your guests, keep reading for some tips, and of course, delicious recipes.
There are some simple things you can do to make a regular dinner party a spectacular dinner party that everyone will adore.
• Freeze edible flowers in ice cubes. This is a fun way to add some pizzazz to the beverages served.
• Add name cards to the table. This is certainly not necessary, but will make your guests feel special! It adds a personalized touch.
• Have an arrangement of fresh flowers. Fresh flowers are an inexpensive way to brighten up any space! They are so pretty to keep around, especially in the summer.
Now to get to the good stuff! No dinner party is complete without a menu full of flavorful items. This one is inspired by fresh summer flavors. Think herbs, hints of lemon and summer produce. Let’s get to it!
If you’ve never had prosciutto with cantaloupe you might think it sounds weird, but just trust me. The sweet and salty mixed with the creaminess of the mozzarella really is the perfect combo. Not to mention, this is so simple to put together. When you are hosting an easy appetizer is the way to go! It will hold your guests over until dinner without adding extra stress to your plate.
Ingredients:
1 cantaloupe cut into bite-size pieces
1 (4 ounce) pack of prosciutto
8-ounce pack mozzarella pearls
Drizzle of reduced balsamic glaze
Fresh basil
Additional: Skewers cut in half or toothpicks
Instructions:
Add a fresh basil leaf, small piece of prosciutto (I tear each piece into about three small pieces), a ball of mozzarella and a piece of cantaloupe to a skewer. Drizzle with reduced balsamic glaze. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Again, when hosting, it’s helpful to keep things simple, but that does not mean you have to skimp on the flavor! Chicken thighs are great because they stay tender, whereas chicken breasts are more likely to dry out. The juicy taste and this summer-inspired marinade will certainly impress your guests.
Ingredients:
3 pounds (8) chicken thighs
3 tablespoons. olive oil
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons honey
1 shallot sliced thin
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 lemon thinly sliced
Instructions:
Add olive oil, zest of lemon, juice of lemon, garlic, chopped parsley, honey, sliced shallot, salt and pepper to a bowl. Whisk together. Place chicken thighs in a greased casserole dish. Pour marinade over chicken and use hands to make sure it has coated all of the chicken. Place lemon slices on top of chicken. Cover with foil and let marinade in refrigerate at least one hour. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 400°F. Remove foil and place casserole dish in oven for 30 minutes. Once done cooking, broil chicken for 3 minutes to crisp the skin; monitor closely to make sure it doesn’t burn. Enjoy!
For a summer dinner party, I try to include as many fresh flavors as possible. Of course that means lots of summer produce. Pasta dishes are great because they are easy to make and super versatile. You can throw in almost any vegetable you have on hand!
Ingredients:
1 bundle of asparagus
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1.5 cup uncooked orzo
2.5 cups vegetable brothh
Salt to taste
3/4 cup fresh shaved parmesan
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil
2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
Cut the ends off of the asparagus, and then cut the remaining into 1” pieces. Finely chop the basil and cut the tomatoes in half. Heat butter in a dutch oven over medium heat. Once melted, add the orzo and stir for about one minute. Pour in the vegetable broth and a dash of salt, bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so it does not stick to the bottom. Add the asparagus and let simmer for five minutes or until the orzo has absorbed the broth, continuing to stir occasionally. Remove from heat and immediately stir in parmesan, basil, tomatoes and olive oil.
Ingredients:
PEACH COBBLER:
1 box of puff pastries (2 puff pastry sheets)
3 peaches
1 cup blueberries
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon melted butter
WHIPPED CREAM:
2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut peaches into bite size pieces, you can peel them if you prefer but I did not. Add peaches, blueberries, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a bowl and mix well.
Let puff pastry thaw at room temp for about 30 minutes. Gently roll out puff pastry sheets on a floured surface and use a pizza cutter to cut each sheet into 9 squares, for a total of 18 squares. Place squares in muffin tin*, lightly pressing down the center. Fill each square with a heaping tablespoon of the fruit mixture. Melt butter and lightly brush the edges of puff pastry. Bake for 17 minutes. Let cool completely before removing from muffin pan. For the whipped cream add the ingredients to a bowl and use a hand mixer to mix for about 5 minutes or until cream is thickened and can form peaks. Serve the cobbler bites with whipped cream on top!
*Note: I recommend using a silicone muffin pan for this recipe. If you use tin, make sure it is greased very well to avoid the puff pastry sticking to the pan.
If you’ve made it this far, you are ready to host an incredible dinner party! If you enjoyed these tips or recipes please let me know.You can find more through my social channels (@gathering.page) or on my website thegatheringpage.com.
Happy hosting!
BY BETH LAWTON
PHOTOS BY ROBERT RADIFERA PHOTOGRAPHY
Keeping the historic elements of a home while modernizing it for today’s living is a challenge — but with inspiration from a contemporary magazine and historic salvaged wood, a Del Ray couple managed to pull it off.
Tony Cerveny and Amy Marino worked with Aiden Design, taking some inspiration from another another Aidan Design kitchen in the Barnaby Woods (D.C.) neighborhood they saw in a local magazine.
The couple had been living in Old Town for years, but they sought a bit more space without sacrificing their pedestrian lifestyle. They’d made an offer on an Old Town North property, but it wasn’t meant to be. Not long after their disappointment, they were introduced to a charming 100-year-old cottage in cozy Del Ray. It was love at first sight, even before they discovered the 2012 addition in the back with floor-to-ceiling windows and a loft-like feel.
The house officially became theirs in October 2019, and began a series of weekend projects that gradually made it feel like home, including new paint, new windows, a new front porch and extensive landscaping with 21 new trees. By January 2019, the owners were ready to tackle the orange kitchen and tapped Aidan Design to help transform the space in the 1921 home.
The couple was drawn to the architectural grills used in the dining space of Aidan Design’s Barnaby Woods project. But rather than a separate dining room, a cocktail lounge most suited the couple. The moody space conveys a speakeasy vibe and offers an optimal place for an after-work libation and conversation.
In the renovated kitchen, the couple called upon their new friends – the previous owners – to provide more salvaged wood to match the open staircase, a rescued relic of George Washington’s family warehouse
in Old Town. The hand-hewn open shelving complements the roughly textured glazed tile that adorns the kitchen walls and breakfast bar.
“We were able to honor the spirit of this home by making small but significant changes that focused on simplicity and craftsmanship,” Amy said.
“The spaces are much more inviting and integrated, thanks to Aidan’s help,” Tony added. “We enjoy each historic room rather than pass through them to get to the modern living area.”
The cabinets feature a Wood-Mode Colony full-overlay door style in Matte Eclipse on maple in the kitchen and Navy in the lounge area. The counters are Primordia from Caesarstone. The renovated kitchen also includes a farmhouse-style sink and plenty of storage to stash kitchen essentials.
There are two original bedrooms and a bathroom in the historic part of the home. A cozy sitting area and fireplace greet visitors and frequent overnight guests.
The couple’s primary bedroom and bath, which they plan to renovate this year, span the top floor with views of their green roof and the Masonic Temple. A lower level with high ceilings, abundant light, and polished concrete floors offers two separate office spaces for the couple who work from home many days.
Tony and Amy adopted the previous owners’ vintage Shasta trailer, parked in the lush backyard. It serves as an outdoor party accessory and a favorite spot for their dog Feta and her canine pals to gather.
The couple, who love to entertain, look forward to the pandemic-belated 100-yearanniversary party for their home once their many trees begin to bloom.
Having started at the original Blackwall Hitch location, he has a deep understanding of the restaurant’s history and its clientele. But it’s his own origins that made him the ideal chef to lead the restaurant in the first place.
Chef Hlusak’s culinary education began at an early age. Before any formal training, he would work with his grandmother in his Italian American household.
"I've been making pasta and stirring sauce since I was knee high to a grasshopper," he reminisces. Often labeled as the family troublemaker, he spent his Sundays standing on a milk crate and stirring sauce with his Nonna.
From Sunday afternoon “punishments”, Chef Hlusak soon started working in restaurants at the age of 13 as a busser and dishwasher, and he hasn’t looked back since. I liked the pajamas. I liked knives. I liked the fire," he says with a laugh.
After continuing to work in various restaurants throughout college, he grew his career at Galileo with Roberto Donna where he stayed for many years.
Hlusak’s next chapter kicked off during the pandemic when he came in contact with James King, the founder of Titan Hospitality, and began to develop the menu at Blackwall Hitch Alexandria.
While the atmosphere — what Chef Hlusak calls casual elegant – may be what draws people in, it’s the menu that keeps them coming back, one that celebrates local producers and coastal delicacies alike.
Blackwall Hitch Alexandria has become the welldeserved center of the Alexandria Waterfront’s emerging culinary scene, and with its enviable location, relaxed atmosphere, and Chef Hlusak’s ever-evolving menu, it’s well worth a visit.
The Festival of Speed & Style will bring together exquisite cars and motorcycles, with enthusiasts of fashion, art, music, and style, to create a one-day festival of good energy and fun.
The festival this year is Sunday, May 21 on the streets of Old Town Alexandria. Several blocks of King Street will become a parking lot of luxury, high-performance and unique, historic vehicles.
The festival is designed to celebrate the heart and spirit of the Alexandria, VA community and highlights the elegance and style of Old Town.
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered to generate funds to be donated to charitable organizations. Tickets to the High-Octane Ball before the main event, the evening of Saturday, May 20, are available through Eventbrite. Proceeds from Saturday night and donations Sunday and will benefit this year's chosen nonprofit organizations, The Campagna Center and ALIVE!
Attending Sunday's event is free and sponsored by a variety of local businesses and organizations.
More information is available at festivalspeedstylealex.com.
Later sunsets, warm evenings, the sound of crickets, fireflies flickering and maybe an iced tea — early summer is the perfect time to sit outside with a good book.
Here, we’ve rounded up several books either set here in Alexandria or written by people with strong connections to our area. Some of the books are brand new, but some are older ones you may have missed!
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list — we know we could fill many, many more pages. But, we would love it if you sent us a note at info@ alexandrialivingmagazine.com to add your book or Alexandria author suggestions to our list online. Or, send us a book report and tell us what you thought of these!
“The Wraith and the Rose is a delightful reimagining of The Scarlet Pimpernel in a Victorian-inspired setting with dangerous Fair Folk and a love worth dying for,” according to the book’s publisher. Brightley, who lives in Alexandria with her husband and two children, is also author of The Lord of Dreams, the Erdemen Honor book series and a number of other fantasy books. Brightley’s started her career in nuclear policy. Now an author full time, Brightley also bakes, makes jewelry and teaches karate. (Don’t mess with her — she’s a black belt in taekwondo.)
by Ross Murphy
You Will Never Dance
Alone is set in Alexandria and follows the life of a young immigrant who takes a keen interest in boxing. “He is America’s ‘golden boy’ until fate tragically strikes his life a mortal blow and tests his faith and his sanity to their limits,” according to the publisher. Author Ross Murphy grew up in the Alexandria area and attended Thomas Edison High School. He passed away in 2022.
This new release from local mystery author John Adam Wasowicz tracks the giant tunnelboring machine Hazel (being used in reality for Alexandria Renew’s RiverRenew project) — but in this fictional book, the machine unearths skeletal remains that could be connected to a decades-old cold case. Wasowicz lives in the Mount Vernon neighborhood with his wife. He has three grown sons and is the author of several locally-set mystery novels, including Slaters Lane and Jones Point. By day, he’s an attorney.
by James Riley
Alexandria resident James Riley has published three fantasy novel series: Half Upon a Time, Story Theives and his latest series, The Revenge of Magic. The latest series focuses on a boy named Fort who attends a governmentrun school of magic and works with other children to banish the evil Old One. Riley was born in Connecticut, attended Georgetown University and lived in California before moving to Virginia.
A series of gruesome murders occur at Alexandria’s historic sites during the pandemic — and then criminals start breaking into local banks and townhomes associated with the lives of George Washington, Robert E. Lee and figures from the Civil Rights era. Who’s behind the crimes? The Old Town Horror is Edward Moser’s first fiction book, released in March 2023. Moser lives in Alexandria and has had a long, storied history as a writer, including working for Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” and as a presidential speechwriter. His other published books include The Lost History of the Capitol and The White House’s Unruly Neighborhood.
Longtime Alexandria resident Barbara Ehrenreich’s last book, written after she herself was diagnosed with cancer, focuses on all the ways humans try to live healthier and longer lives. “We may buy expensive anti-aging products or cosmetic surgery, get preventive screenings and eat more kale, or throw ourselves into meditation and spirituality. But all these things offer only the illusion of control. How to live well, even joyously, while accepting our mortality -- that is the vitally important philosophical challenge of this book,” according to the publisher. Ehrenreich is best known for her book Nickle and Dimed, in which she takes a series of minimum-wage jobs and tries to make ends meet. She also won awards for Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America, Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream and This Land is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation. Ehrenreich passed away in 2022.
Ghosts of Alexandria
by Michael Lee PopeGhosts of Alexandria brings readers through the stories behind Alexandria’s most haunted places. Ghosts includer a Revolutionary War spy, Union and Confederate soldiers, the Female Stranger of Gadsby’s Tavern and spirits at the historic Woodlawn Plantation. Pope is a longtime Alexandria resident. (Also consider reading Haunted Alexandria & Northern Virginia, by J.J. Smith.)
Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture
by Lindsay M. ChervinskyPresidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky’s latest book, Mourning the Presidents, looks at “how different generations and communities of Americans have eulogized and remembered U.S. presidents since George Washington's death in 1799,” according to the publisher. Chervinsky also wrote The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution. Chervinsky lives in Alexandria.
Jessica Buchanan’s original memoir, Impossible Odds, is the harrowing tale of when Jessica and a male colleague were kidnapped by Somali land pirates. The book also details Jessica’s husband’s efforts from afar to rescue her and the eventual arrival of Seal Team VI. Buchanan now speaks nationwide about her ordeal, overcoming challenges and more. Her follow-up book, Deserts to Mountaintops, is a collection of inspiring essays by women who have overcome addiction, abuse and more. Buchanan lives in Alexandria and is co-host of the podcast We Should Talk About That.
As told to Steve Sullivan
The real defensive coordinator of the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team, Bill Yoast passed away in 2019 — but not before telling his story to Steve Sullivan. Yoast was born in Alabama in the 1920s and served in the Army Air Corps before starting his career in physical education. Yoast stayed at T.C. Williams High School until his retirement in 1996 and had much to share in this book about inspiration, integration and intelligence. (Sullivan is a motivational speaker who lives in Connecticut.).
The award-winning memoir by Alexandria resident Rachel Boehm details her struggles and triumph over a variety of challenges from abuse to eating disorders. “I Am NOT [is] a memoir of triumph over verbal and emotional abuse, bullying, disordered eating, and societal norms. A journey of self-deprecation and the promise of continued growth. An anecdotal warning of the challenges kids, teens, and adults still face today,” according to the publisher. Boehm is now a successful consultant and wellness coach, and she is working toward her Ph.D.
by Martha Carucci
Martha Carucci, the executive director at the National Breast Center Foundation, released Sobrietease in 2016 and followed up with Sobrietease 2: Make It a Double in 2020. Carucci writes about her life as a suburban mom and recovering alcoholic in a way that’s relatable and funny — twice. Carucci lives in Alexandria.
Fifteen questions with Alexandria epicurean and design aficionado Charlene Dantzler-Henry, owner of Charlene's Kitchen, an event catering business in Alexandria, in business for 41 years.
1. You grew up in Pittsburgh — did your childhood there inspire your love for entertaining and to start your own business? If so, how?
We all say we live in Pittsburgh, but I actually am from a small town outside of there in the Fayette County area. My childhood did inspire my business. My mother made everything from scratch and was a homemaker. My father also gardened and this inspired both my love of cooking and gardening. We also had natural meats that we purchased locally.. I started making sandwiches for my
cousins to sample and taste which were considered gourmet back then.
2. What brought you to Alexandria?
The quaint smallness of the community and it being outside of Washington, D.C. brought me here. It is a pretty area. I also met my husband in Washington, D.C. and we got married in the courthouse of Alexandria and decided to settle here.
3. Tell us about how you started your business.
I started by working in Georgetown at American Cafe. I worked all levels here but I was most fulfilled in the kitchen and working on the menus. Then I left and
went to the Chanterelle Caterers which was down the street and it was a women-owned catering business that was run by three women. They are no longer in business, but during my time there, I did parties and worked in the kitchen. It inspired me that I could also start and run a business. Ann Amernick who was the White House Pastry Chef, Kate Jensen who started Firehook, Eric and Mark Michaels who started the Occasions Catering Company and I were all working at the same time. We all were becoming successful business entrepreneurs.
4. What are the biggest changes you've made to your business over the years?
In the 41 years of my business, I have had a storefront only for the last 18 years and that was the biggest successful change. My career started in my house and then I rented space all over the city as my business began to grow. The storefront changed everything.
5. What business advice would you give to someone just starting out?
You are not going to be successful overnight. The “microwave society” thinking
will not work when you are beginning this venture. You need to be in this for the long haul. Take some classes, practice your theory, stick with it through the highs and lows and hone your craft.
6. Tell our readers what the most requested items are from your menus, especially for the spring/summer season!
We see the most requested items during the spring and summer are the salads and the galettes. Anything that is fresh with the heirloom tomatoes and baby lettuce is popular as well as the shortcakes, cobblers and tarts.
7. Is the bulk of your business weddings or?
The bulk of my business is repeat clientele that I am proud to serve. Also making quality food daily for all occasions is the bulk of my business.
8. Tell us about your operationdo you work out of your home or a commercial kitchen or? How many employees are there?
We have a storefront and in-house we have a prep person and a sous chef. When doing a catering event we have about eight independent contractors.
9. Do you follow recipes that you created? Are they family recipes or recipes you've collected over the years?
All of the above.
10. What's been your most successful event?
All of my events are successful. My clientele always keep coming back and value my work.
11. Any disasters??
The dump truck running into the store in November of 2022 was a memorable disaster. We had to shut down for five days between Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.
12. What's the biggest lesson you've learned, being in business for 41 years?
The biggest lesson I learned is to always be respectful of others and consider their needs and wants. Also, to complete an order.
13. Describe The Charlene Experience!
The Charlene Experience is the top event which I created seven years ago when seeking a lot of rental companies and floral arranging and finding they were very mundane to me. I started with my love of creating and hunting and collecting various things. I decided to begin designing on my own. The custom picking of the vault materials, the food, the designing of the floral, stylizing and curating of the bar, the calligraphy, and the floor work is what creates the experience. I didn’t see any other caterers doing this. I wanted a notch up for my clients.
14. If you're throwing a party for yourself, what's on the menu?
It depends on the mood. I will always have some kind of grazing board which will have a lot of different textures, a specialty cocktail, a wine and one protein dish. I will always have an appetizer and entrée. I don’t want to be the wife that comes to my husband and asks, “What is in the fridge? We didn’t get anything tonight.”
15. Where do you find your collection of platters, plates, glassware and candleholders?
I find these all over. They could be from a retail store, dusty old garage, Salvation Army and thrift stores, high end/low end antique stores, anywhere.. It is basically when I go home to Pennsylvaia that I find many of these things. If I am going to buy anything new or a reproduction, I get those online.
Keep up with all things Charlene's Kitchen on her Instagram and Facebook pages.
BY BETH LAWTON
Periodically, Alexandria Living Magazine gets subscription requests from residents of Louisiana, Minnesota or New York, who mistakenly think this Northern Virginia magazine covers their hometown — also called Alexandria.
The city of Alexandria, Louisiana, was part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The young United States government platted the land to a businessman from Pennsylvania named Alexander Fulton. It was Fulton who laid out the plan for the town.
Today, the city is home to more than 44,000 people and is the ninth-largest city in Louisiana.
The “Cenla”—Central Louisiana—region boasts plenty to do from enjoying nature to arts and culture. Alexandria itself features a zoological park that houses more than 500 animals of 160 different species. Admission is less than $10 per person.
In addition, Alexandria boasts an award-winning art museum. Alongside pieces from all over the world, the art museum displays an impressive permanent collection of contemporary Louisiana art and the largest collection of North Louisiana Folk Art in the state. Be sure to check out the Arna Bontemps
African American History Museum.
The best place to stay is the historic, four-star Hotel Bentley ($129/night).
For nightlife, several bars focus on daiquiris and frozen drinks, but you can also take a tour of the Huckleberry Brewing Co. and try the local craft brews.
For lunch, stop by Pamela’s Bayou in a Bowl; treat yourself to dinner at Cajun Landing.
The city is situated on the south bank on the Red River and visitors are encouraged to explore the riverfront walk and the Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery just 20 minutes south of Alexandria.
Nearby Pineville has a discgolf course, an ATV park, paddle rentals and recreation areas with hiking trails.
In 1996, the government of Alexandria, Egypt, hosted a festival and meet-up for delegations from ALL cities named Alexandria around the world.
“We traveled on the flight from NYC to Egypt with the Alexandria, Virginia delegation, including Patsy Ticer, who served as Mayor of Alexandria, VA and at that time, had recently been elected to the Virginia State Senate,” wrote Deborah Randolph, President of the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce, in an email to Alexandria Living Magazine. Randolph and her husband, who was mayor of Alexandria, Louisiana, visited Alexandria, Virginia for its 250th birthday celebration in 1999.
Randolph also noted that the nuclear submarine USS Alexandria is named for both Alexandria, Virginia and Alexandria, Louisiana. The insignia says, “Twice As Strong.” The San Diego, California-based submarine is sometimes open to visitors when it is docked in the United States. “Sometimes we connect with Alexandria, Virginia folks on those visits,” Randolph said.
Alexandria, Minnesota was first settled in 1858 and is named for the brothers Alexander and William Kinkead, who settled there from Maryland. The town, about 130 miles northwest of Minneapolis, is home to just over 14,000 residents and it is growing.
One of the more curious attractions is a giant statue of a Viking called Big Ole. The 28-foot-tall statue was built for the 1965 New York World’s Fair and now sits on a pedestal in town. While locally loved, he was built based on the belief that Nordic explorers had come to the area in the 1300s, which was later found to be untrue. (You can see a live camera feed of Big Ole at explorealex.com/big-ole-live-camera.)
Big Ole faces the Runestone Museum, named for a runestone discovered in the area in 1898. The museum admits the runestone is “controversial” (some believe it is a fake), but a large portion of the museum is dedicated to the “additional artifacts found in Minnesota that relate to Middle-Age Nordic explorers.”
Minnesota is called the “Land of 10,000 lakes” and several of them surround Alexandria. In the summer, there are endless opportunities to rent kayaks, jet skis, paddleboards and sailboats. There are plenty of fishing charters, too, in the summer (and some ice fishing charters in the winter months). The Alexandria area also boasts more than 100 miles of biking and hiking trails.
Every July, Alexandria hosts the Big Ole Paddlefest, a two-day festival and event where people can paddle their kayaks or canoes along a 26, 13 or 5-mile route from Lake Miltona through adjacent creeks and lakes.
Alexandria has a couple of cute bed & breakfasts and multiple cabin-centered resorts — many are petfriendly — on its lakes. National chain-hotels are also an option.
Alexandria has a thriving arts scene, including hosting outdoor concerts every Thursday in the summer by the Red Willow Arts Coalition. The city is home to the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra, several theaters and artist studios.
Within a short drive, you can explore multiple wineries, Panther Distillery, Ida Graves Distillery, 22 Northmen Brewing Co. and Thousand Lakes Brewing.
The Land of 10,000 Lakes comes with a ton of mosquitoes, so bring bug spray if you visit in the summer. The good news: temperatures peak around 80 degrees in July with much less humidity than we have in Northern Virginia. If you visit in the winter, bundle up! The average daytime high temperature in January is a brisk 18 degrees.
Alexandria, Kentucky may have been named after Alexandria, Virginia. It is believed that the town’s first settler, in 1793, was a man named Frank Spilman, who hailed from Virginia.
Alexandria’s motto is “where the city meets the country.” Officially founded in 1834, this city of 10,396 people is often considered a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, but is also called the gateway to Kentucky’s bluegrass region.
The city is just a couple of miles west of Ohio River, and the river offers ample opportunities for fishing (catfish and trout are common). If lake fishing is more your style, Alexandria Community Park features a 9-acre fishing lake as well as 3 miles of paved trails, unpaved trails and Frisbee golf holes.
There are also a few highly-rated golf courses within a short drive, including the A. J. Jolly Golf Course and Hickory Sticks. A.J. Jolly Park, just five miles south of town, also hosts the annual Sun Valley Bluegrass Festival in July and the annual Dragon Boat Festival in September.
One of the city’s attractions is the Campbell Country Log Cabin Museum, which features reconstructed log cabins, antique farm equipment and more.
Most of the city’s restaurants are on the main drag, Route 27 (also called Alexandria Pike). Try Four Mile Pig for BBQ or Gold Star Chili, with a chili-focused menu.
Most hotels are in nearby Newport or Wilder, Kentucky. Cincinnati, as a large city, has more options.
If you visit in July and August, expect temperatures in the mid-80s. Winter temperatures are similar to Alexandria, Virginia, with daytime temperatures around 40 in January.
One hundred miles due north of Syracuse, New York, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Alexandria is called the “Heart of the Thousand Islands.”
The town has a population of just more than 4,000 people and was founded in 1821. It was named after the son (Alexander) of the town’s founder, J.D LeRay de Chaumont. Much of the city life revolves around the river and the historic downtown, which features unique shops and restaurants.
Like many other Alexandria’s on the river, there are plenty of opportunities to go on fishing boats and enjoy other recreational activities on the water. Seafood-forward restaurants include Cavallario’s Steak and Seafood House and Riley’s by the River.
Don’t miss the Boldt Castle and Yacht House on one of the many islands in Alexandria Bay. Construction on the castle started in 1900 at the direction of millionaire hotelier George C. Boldt. It was meant to be a getaway for his wife, but she died in 1904 before construction was complete. Distraught, Boldt stopped construction, and the castle sat unfinished and vacant for more than 70 years.
Now under the ownership of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, the castle is open for weddings and other events as well as historic tours.
Summertime temperatures are pleasant, with daytime temperatures in July barely climbing into the low 80s. If you visit in January, you’ll want to wear several layers. High temperatures in the winter are in the 20s and there will be snow on the ground.
Alexandria, Alabama – an unincorporated community in Calhoun County. Pop. 4,032.
Alexandria, Indiana – a city in Madison County. Pop. 5,131.
Alexandria, Kentucky – a city in Campbell County. Pop. 10,396.
Alexandria, Louisiana – a city in Rapides Parish. Pop. 44,787
Alexandria, Missouri – a city in Clark County. Pop. 105.
Alexandria, Minnesota – a city in Douglas County. Pop. 14,382.
Alexandria, Nebraska – a city in Thayer County. Pop. 142.
Alexandria, New Hampshire – a city in Grafton County. Pop. 1,776.
Alexandria Township, New Jersey – a township in Hunterdon County. Pop. 4,938.
Alexandria, New York – a town in Jefferson County. Pop. 4,061.
Alexandria, Ohio – a village in Licking County. Pop. 542
Alexandria, Ohio – a community in the city of West Portsmouth, Scioto County. Pop. unknown.
Alexandria, Pennsylvania – a borough in Huntingdon County. Pop. 388.
Alexandria, South Dakota – a city in Hanson County. Pop. 649.
Alexandria, Tennessee – a town in DeKalb County. Pop. 958.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EXPLORE ALEXANDRIA (MN) TOURISM
PHOTO COURTESY OF KVIDT CREATIVE
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOTEL BENTLEY
Growing up in Elizabeth, N.J., there were signs that Nicole McGrew would follow the path that brought her to Alexandria, where she chairs The Chamber ALX.
"My Dad, ever since I was a little kid, called me 'a rebel with a cause,'" she said with a laugh. Her childhood "causes" included trying to get her father to stop smoking, giving tours of historic buildings and growing tomatoes in the front yard.
She first moved to the DC area in 2002, as a law school student at Georgetown. That eventually took her to the Department of Justice and later the White House, where she worked for the Obama administration.
Her accomplishments at the DOJ included work she did to help tribes share law enforcement data with their government partners. At the White House, working to get mental health treated more equitably was a victory.
By early 2017, with a change in administrations, McGrew was looking to put one of her passions — sustainability — into motion. After volunteering at Arcadia Farm
Camp (run by Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture) near Mount Vernon, she started Threadleaf & Company in 2018, opening a store in Old Town Alexandria.
During the pandemic, Threadleaf moved online and is now more event-oriented with pop-ups, speakers series and more. A silver lining from the pandemic? McGrew became a certified master gardener.
Her advice to other entrepreneurs includes "start small — keep your costs small while you're testing your concept." Another tip is to "look at your numbers and your feedback frequently. Don't wait a year. Make adjustments as necessary."
And finally, she notes that getting to know your fellow business owners is invaluable. "I find people are willing and happy to share information."
Every morning, I read: The Washington Post, The New York Times and Financial Times.
My favorite movie is: "Love Actually"
What I enjoy most about Alexandria is:
"I think the scale. The trees, being close to the river,the skyline is not dominated by high-rises, you can see the mayor just walking around or see a parent from school. It’s a very easy city to live in."
My favorite food is: Macaroni and cheese
You'd be surprised to learn that I: Wanted to be a DJ in high school.
The hardest thing I've ever experienced: When my Dad passed away.
I'm most proud of: Managing motherhood with everything else.
