AUG. 2019
Your guide to Loudoun’s Entertainment Scene
Loudoun Lo LoudounNow udounNow Now
LOUDOUN’S FAVORITE MONTH FOR
FOODIES INSIDE: RESTAURANT WEEK AND TASTE OF LEESBURG THIS MONTH
WHEN DRINKS CLASH!!! TUSKIES “THE TITANIUM” GRILL
‘You Kill ‘em We Grill ’em’ Presents
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TUSCARORA MILL GET YOUR FILL
203 Harrison Street, Leesburg, VA 20175 tuskies.com 703 771 9300 2
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AUGUST 2019
Inside: Green Eyes by Ute Gill
GET OUT LOUDOUN
Get Out Loudoun is a 10,000 circulation monthly distributed to entertainment, tourism and hospitality venues throughout Loudoun County. For the latest news on the music scene and other community events go to getoutloudoun.com. Contributors
Therese Howe Jim Sisley Emma Steele Norman K. Styer Patrick Szabo To advertise Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com ON THE COVER
File photo
Last year’s inaugural Taste of Leesburg food festival brought thousands of visitors to the historic district. Organizers plan for an even better event Saturday, Aug. 10.
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HAPPENINGS
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ART SCENE
The county’s top chefs are serving up something special for Loudoun Restaurant Week.
Ute Gill is a prolific artist putting her focus on positive emotional energy.
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WINE
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HISTORY
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BREWS
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FLAVORS
Ashburn family band Q.O.K. marks a decade on the stage. Four Loudoun restaurants cited as top wine destinations.
How to explore Loudoun’s biggest backyard battlefield.
Old Ox hops up Middleburg’s craft beverage scene.
Crooked Run’s nanobrewery entrepreneurs have opened Sterling’s largest food hall. getoutloudoun.com
AUGUST 2019
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HAPPENINGS
Loudoun Restaurant Week Promises New Culinary Delights Looking to discover your new favorite lunch or dinner spot? Then save the date for Aug. 23-30, when chefs will be showcasing special menus designed to whet the appetites for local dishes as part of the second annual Loudoun restaurant event. “We’re excited to be in our third year of business and the community has really supported us— especially during Restaurant Week,” said Santosh Tiptur, chef at The Conche at Village at Leesburg. “Our team is very committed and constantly developing new dishes featuring seasonal specials. Our Loudoun Restaurant Week menu will feature our guest favorites as well as new creations.” Established last year through a partnership of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, Visit Loudoun and Loudoun Now, the weeklong foodie event will include restaurants from around the county. At Ford’s Fish Shack, diners that week can choose to Eat Like a Mainer (think lobster rolls), Eat Like a Bostonian (perhaps a fish and chips entrée?) or Eat Like a Ford’s Regular. Each of the three 4
Contributed
Chef Santosh Tiptur of The Conche is among county’s culinary leaders who are working to cook up something special for this year’s Loudoun Restaurant Week
menus will feature an appetizer, entrée and dessert themed around beloved GET OUT LOUDOUN
Maine, Boston and Ford’s Fish Shack dishes. RESTAURANT WEEK
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AUGUST 2019
RESTAURANT WEEK
“I take my most popular regular menu items and discount them at a 3-course price,” owner Tony Stafford said, adding that Loudoun Restaurant Week has helped draw in first-time guests who haven’t been to their Ashburn, Lansdown or South Riding locations. Last year his restaurants experienced a spike in business of about 14 to 19 percent compared to the weeks prior and after the event. “Last year’s Restaurant Week went great and it hit on all the metrics we were trying to accomplish, which included introducing Loudoun restaurants to a larger audience,” Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson said, noting
THE SAVE
DATE!
that through marketing and PR efforts, the campaign reached more than 1.2 million people. “The restaurant scene continues to evolve and provide wonderful dining options to residents and visitors alike.” “The deals with Restaurant Week allow you to explore multiple dining options and find your new favorite restaurant in Loudoun,” Erickson said. “Loudoun County has, in my opinion, the best restaurants in our region and Restaurant Week for me is a great opportunity to go and try as many of them as I can with my friends and family, said Grafton DeButts, vice
president of membership and government affairs at Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. DeButts coordinates the recruitment of restaurants and offers chefs assistance on developing pricing, menus and pairings that will entice new customers. “We encourage restaurants to offer something new and unique, paired with their signature dishes that customers will see when they come back,” he said. Ready to make your Restaurant Week list? You can view all the special lunch and dinner menus at the Loudoun Restaurant Week page on VisitLoudoun.org—and check back a couple of times as new restaurants may be added before the start date. ▼
LOUDOUN
RESTAURANT WEEK AUGUST 23-30, 2019 Loudounʼs restaurants are some of the finest in the region, join with us as we take a week to celebrate while experiencing the BEST the Loudoun culinary community has to offer!
FOR DETAILS GO TO
FOR DETAILS GO TO
loudounrestaurantweek.com loudounrestaurantweek.com
AUGUST 2019
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More than 5,000 people packed the historic district during last year’s Taste of Leesburg event.
Taste of Leesburg Returns Downtown the time.
Last summer’s inaugural Taste of Leesburg was an overwhelming success, drawing a massive crowd to the historic district where scores of vendors served up yummy dishes and craft beverages. The event was conceived by the town’s Parks and Recreation Department staff to offer a summertime bookend to its extremely popular spring Flower and Garden Festival. The result surprised organizers and participants alike, with many vendors and even downtown retreatants scrambling to refill empty supplies. “I think they were completely blown away and overwhelmed 6
This year, the staff and participants expect an even bigger crowd—and they’ll be ready to meet that demand. Taste of Leesburg will be held from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 on Market and King streets downtown.
Contributed
Nearly two dozen breweries, wineries and cideries will be pouring during the second annual Taste of Leesburg event on Saturday, Aug. 10.
but happy and excited,” Events Coordinator Barb Smith said at GET OUT LOUDOUN
Food can be purchased directly from food vendors at the tasting rates of $5, $6, and $7. On the beverage side, patrons can purchase tickets for unlimited tastings of local beer, wine and cider. There is a limited number of those tickets, available for $35 if purchased by Aug. 8 and $45 thereafter. For details go to tasteleesburg. com. ▼ AUGUST 2019
2019 Polo in the Park!
Photo by Bob Tobias
Visit PolointhePark.org for more details! Arena polo is every Saturday evening July 6 – August 24.
Buy Season Passes!
Get over 20% off the regular gate admission price!
Bring a picnic, a blanket, and your favorite beverage to the terraced viewing area and sit back and enjoy an evening of polo! Gates open at 6 p.m. First match starts at 7 p.m. Featuring wine from Stone Tower Winery and food from Grubbers Food Truck and King Street Oyster Bar. Car passes are $35 in advance online, or $40 cash at the gate. Tailgate spots available.
Chas Sumser Photography
Chas Sumser Photography
AUGUST 2019
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ART SCENE IMAGE SOURCE
Gill: Painting Without Fear BY JIM SISLEY
Ute Gill is a fountain of art and completes nearly 300 paintings per year. Most artists don’t produce 400 paintings in a lifetime. Her motto is “paint without fear, just do it and have fun.” “Everything I do is because I want to do it,” she said. Since art is almost always about what the artist intends to produce, Ute’s intention is to produce work with positive emotional imagery rather than paintings that express negative emotion. These are happy paintings. Gill paints what she sees. Her ability to discern and recreate light, reflection, movement and emotion without overworking the material is her primary strength as a painter. “It’s harder to paint less,” she said. Instead she focuses on the things that matter in a way that captures a viewer’s attention. “It’s more important to me that the painting works, that it is compelling and provides emotions than for the painting be technically 8
Birds Nest by Ute Gill
perfect. More and more I find myself painting intuitively.” She uses her acquired skills as an artist, but senses her path to completing a painting rather than holding fast to the dogma of academic process. During the early stages of a painting, she uses reference material like photographs and other imagery, but at some late stage puts that material away and “listens to the painting” to finish her work. She paints “loosely” with less detail—allowing the viewer, at a distance, to perceive detail that dissolves when seen from a closer point of view. Her influences have been the French Impressionists, American artist John Singer Sargant, contemporary painters like Hungarian, Tibor Nagy and local art luminaries like Trisha Adams. She raves about the beauty of Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla (1863– GET OUT LOUDOUN
Contributed
1923) and she aptly mimics his use of light, reflection, color and contrast. “I paint somewhat realistic, but I’m adding abstraction to it,” she said. Her influencers helped her learn how to use color, composition and accents to produce imagery that is “fresh” and contemporary. Many of her works are small and, by virtue of their size, are less expensive to purchase. She sells a lot of small works and is aware that most art consumers can find wall space to hang a small painting. She sells many of her works to other painters. “They always want to know if there is a secret to how I paint or if it is OK to ask about how I paint,” she said. She encourages them to ask anything they want; she is willing to answer. ART SCENE
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AUGUST 2019
ART SCENE FROM PAGE 8
“Art, for me, is not just creating my own work; it is also social.” She works with the Loudoun Sketch Club as the membership chairwoman for the “community and friends.” “It’s like I found my tribe,” she said. Her advice to young or nascent artists is to “paint daily, paint smaller, use only basic colors so you learn how to mix and don’t fight the material”. Don’t fight the feeling to see Ute Gill’s paintings during her featured artist show at Tryst Gallery during August. They will bring a smile to your face; these are happy paintings. ▼ Jim Sisley is the owner of the Tryst Gallery, located at 312 E. Market St. Suite F in downtown Leesburg. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and First Friday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each month.
8th Annual An ual u
Bluegrass & BBQ Q August 10
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• Wine tastings • Delicious BBQ from Hog It Up • Craft vendors • Live bluegrass music all day
Live music line up: 12pm-3pm The Short Hill Mountain Boys 3pm-6pm Plank Stompers
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www.fordsfishshack.com AUGUST 2019
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TUNES
Contributed
The Queens Over Kings family band from Ashburn has been playing gigs up and down the East Coast for the past decade.
Teacher by Day, Rock Star by Night BY THERESE HOWE
To say Kristyn Roberts Marrott is busy is an understatement. A special education teacher at Eagle Ridge Middle School, she also fronts the Ashburnbased band Q.O.K. (voted best band in Northern Virginia in 2018), stages music and art popup events in Loudoun, and soon will be teaching and hosting music workshops in a new recording studio that will open in the fall in Sterling. “I’m a special education teacher for Loudoun County by day and a rock star by night—that’s what I tell people,” she said with a laugh. And the best part? She’s doing all of these musical endeavors 10
with family. Q.O.K., formerly known as Queens over Kings, got its start 10 years ago when the baby of the Roberts family, Hallie, started taking drumming lessons at age 5. Her music teacher also taught siblings Loren and Ingrid guitar and piano, respectively. The second oldest, Jerald, already played guitar and Kristyn had been involved in the performing arts through high school and college, so they were ready when the music teacher asked them to perform as a group for a charity event in 2009. “That was the very first Queens over Kings performance on stage and over the years we’ve just run with it.” They’ve performed GET OUT LOUDOUN
up and down the East Coast, from the Jersey Shore Music Festival to a gig on Carnival Cruise Line. Locally, their tours have included shows at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Sound Off Live and Light City in Baltimore, Herndon Festival, Broadlands Live, Smokehouse Live, and the Loudoun County Fair. The group considers their sound alternative pop rock, but “it really is a mix of a lot of (our) different tastes and genres and even generations. So, we really have learned to create a style that incorporates a lot of different influences,” Marrott said. “We put our EP out last year with QUEENS OVER KINGS
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AUGUST 2019
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VAN MORRISON TRIBUTE: INTO THE MYSTIC
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AUGUST 2019
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QUEENS OVER KINGS FROM PAGE 10
members of the community.”
five songs on it and they’re all very unique and they go together. We’re in the process of writing two more right now and we’re really into original music now.” With Hallie and Ingrid still in high school, the band’s efforts culminated last year in a win as best band for Northern Virginia by readers of a regional magazine. Jerald now works as a professional musician and filmmaker and Loren is studying for a B.A. in audio engineering. Their parents have supported their passion throughout the years, starting with the music lessons and hosting hundreds of practices and rehearsals in the basement of their Ashburn home. Today, their mother, Maria, manages Q.O.K. as well as another local band that Loren plays in. Maria also partnered with Kristyn on another project they launched in summer 2018: Mod & Muse, which stages 12
music, art, food and fashion popup events in Loudoun. “We just wanted to give more opportunities for musicians and artists to have places to perform and showcase their work, so we’ve been partnering with local business to host little popup events,” Kristyn said. Events have included a couple of music shows, an art show, and a master class in stage presence, vocal control and song expression. Coming up, they’ll be hosting a masquerade party at Art Sweet Art in October. With all the family’s experience performing over the past decade, a recording studio was the logical next step, Kristyn said. With Blank Tape Studios, “we want to redefine the local music scene and what that means … (by) emphasizing the original music that’s here and the behind-the-scenes work that’s done, and sharing that part of the story with more GET OUT LOUDOUN
Located in Sterling, the studio will not only cater to established visual and performing artists, but also to the community. “We want to invite music and art schools to come and record their soundtracks for plays, and students who are doing auditions can come and record their auditions. Even pushing that further, we’ll be inviting the community to do similar things—we have a grandmother who wants to come and record herself reading stories for her grandchildren that don’t live in the area.” The team behind the project again comprises members of the Roberts family: Maria will be sharing her experience in music business development and band management; Maria will be event and host coordinator; Jerald will be providing expertise in music and filmmaking; and Loren will be contributing his mastery of audio engineering and music theory. “What I really love about (these projects) is that all of it’s with my family,” Kristyn said. “And it’s all here in Loudoun, which I absolutely love. This is my hometown. I went away for school and all I wanted to do was come back. I’m excited to be here in Loudoun and doing these types of events that I love and sharing them with my neighbors and my friends and my community.” Learn more about the family band at queensoverkingsband. com. ▼ AUGUST 2019
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WINERIES 1 The Barns at Hamilton Station 16804 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton thebarnsathamiltonstation.com 2 Bluemont Vineyard 18755 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont bluemontvineyard.com 3 Bogati Winery 35246 Harry Byrd Hwy, Round Hill bogatiwinery.com 4 Boxwood Estate Winery 2042 Burrland Rd., Middleburg boxwoodwinery.com 5 Breaux Vineyards 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro breauxvineyards.com 6 Cana Vineyards of Middleburg 38600 John Mosby Hwy, Middleburg canavineyards.com 14
7 Cardamon Family Vineyards 12226 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro cardamonfamilyvineyards.com 8 Carroll Vineyards 29 South King St., Leesburg leesburg-vintner.com/vineyards 9 Casanel Vineyards 17952 Canby Rd., Leesburg casanelvineyards.com 10 Chrysalis Vineyards 39025 John Mosby Highway, Aldie chrysaliswine.com 11 Corcoran Vineyards & Cider 14635 Corkys Farm Lane, Waterford corcoranvineyards.com 12 Creek’s Edge Winery 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville creeksedgewinery.com
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13 Crushed Cellars 37938 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville crushedcellars.com 14` Doukenie Winery 14727 Mountain Rd., Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com 14 Dry Mill Vineyards & Winery 18195 Dry Mill Rd., Leesburg drymillwine.com 16 Fabbioli Cellars 15669 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg fabbioliwines.com 17 Fleetwood Farm Winery 23075 Evergreen Mills Rd., Leesburg fleetwoodfarmwinery.com 18 Greenhill Winery & Vineyards 23595 Winery Lane, Middleburg greenhillvineyards.com
AUGUST JULY 2019
19 Hidden Brook Winery 43301 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg hiddenbrookwinery.com 20 Hiddencroft Vineyards 12202 Axline Rd., Lovettsville hiddencroftvineyards.com 21 Hillsborough Vineyards 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro hillsboroughwine.com 22 Hunters Run Wine Barn 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton huntersrunwinebarn.com 23 Lost Creek Winery 43285 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg lostcreekwinery.com 24 Maggie Malick Wine Caves 12138 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro maggiemalickwinecaves.com 25 Notaviva Vineyards 13274 Sagle Rd., Hillsboro notavivavineyards.com
26 Otium Cellars 18050 Tranquility Rd., Purcellville otiumcellars.com 27 Quattro Goomba’s Winery 22860 James Monroe Hwy, Aldie goombawine.com 28 Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., L’burg stonetowerwinery.com 29 Stonehouse Meadery 36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com 30 Sunset Hills Vineyard 38295 Fremont Overlook Ln, Purcellville sunsethillsvineyard.com 31 Tarara Winery 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg tarara.com 32 Terra Nebulo 39792 Old Waterford Rd., Waterford terranebulo.com
33 Two Twisted Posts Winery 12944 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro twotwistedposts.com 34 Village Winery 40405 Browns Lane, Waterford villagewineryandvineyards.com 35 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd., Leesburg willowcroftwine.com 36 The Wine Reserve at Waterford 38516 Charles Town Pike, Waterford waterfordwinereserve.com 37 Walsh Family Wine 16031 Hillsboro Rd., Purcellville northgatevineyard.com 38 Winery 32 15066 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg winery32.com 39 Zephaniah Farm Vineyard 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd., Leesburg zephwine.com
BREWERIES 1 Adroit Theory Brewing 404 Browning Ct., Purcellville adroit-theory.com 2 B Chord Brewing Company 34266 Williams Gap Rd., Round Hill bchordbrewing.com 3 Barnhouse Brewery 43271 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg barnhousebrewery.com 4 Bear Chase Brewing 33665 Bear Chase Ln, Bluemont bearchasebrew.com 5 Belly Love Brewing Company 725 E. Main St., Purcellville bellylovebrewing.com 6 Beltway Brewing Company 22620 Davis Dr. Ste 110, Sterling beltwaybrewco.com 7 Bike TrAle Brewing 101 Loudoun St. SE, Leesburg facebook.com/BikeTrAleBrewing 8 Black Hoof Brewing Company 11 South King St., Leesburg blackhoofbrewing.com 9 Black Walnut Brewery 210 S. King St. Leesburg blackwalnutbrewery.com 10 Crooked Run Brewing Central 22455 Davis Dr., Sterling crookedrunbrewing.com 11 Crooked Run Brewing AUGUST JULY 2019 2019
Market Station, Leesburg crookedrunbrewing.com 12 Dragon Hops Brewing 130 E. Main St., Purcellville dragonhopsbrewing.com 13 Dirt Farm Brewing 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com 14 Dog Money Rest. & Brewery 50 Catoctin Circle NE, Leesburg dogmoney.squarespace.com 15 Harper’s Ferry Brewing 37412 Adventure Ctr. Lane, Hillsboro harpersferrybrewing.com 16 House 6 Brewing 4427 Atwater Dr., Ashburn house6brewing.com 17 Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Rd. #142, Ashburn lostrhino.com 18 Lost Rhino Retreat 22885 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn lostrhinoretreat.com/ 19 Loudoun Brewing Company 310 E. Market St. Leesburg loudounbrewing.com 20 Ocelot Brewing Company 23600 Overland Dr., #180, Dulles ocelotbrewing.com 21 Old 690 Brewing Company 15670 Ashbury Church Rd., Hillsboro old690.com GET OUT LOUDOUN
22 Old Ox Brewery 44652 Guilford Dr., Ste 114, Ashburn oldoxbrewery.com 23 Old Ox Brewery Middleburg 14 S Madison St, Middleburg, VA 24 Phase 2 Brewing 19382 Diamond Lake Dr, Lansdowne Phase2Brewing.com 25 Quattro Goomba’s Brewery 22860 James Monroe Hwy, Aldie goombabrewery.com 26 Rocket Frog Brewing Company 22560 Glenn Dr. #103, Sterling rocketfrogbeer.com 27 Solace Brewing Company 42615 Trade West Dr., Sterling solacebrewing.com 28 Sweetwater Tavern 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling greatamericanrestaurants.com 29 The Craft of Brewing 21140 Ashburn Crossing Dr., Ashburn thecraftob.com/ 30 Twinpanzee Brewing Co. 101 Executive Dr., Sterling twinpanzee.com 31 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts vanishbeer.com 32 Wheatland Springs Farm 38454 John Wolford Rd., Waterford 15
WINE
Cheers to Loudoun Winners of 2019 Wine Spectator Awards Four Leesburg and Middleburg restaurants recently took honors for their wine programs in Wine Spectator magazine’s 2019 Restaurant Awards: Lightfoot Restaurant, Tuscarora Mill, The Conservatory at Goodstone, and The Red Fox Inn and Tavern. The awards, which were first given out in 1981, recognize the world’s best restaurants for wine. This year, the Restaurant Awards went to 3,800 U.S. dining destinations and 79 countries. “We’re pleased to shine a spotlight on the destinations around the world that show devotion to their wine program, while also creating a comprehensive global dining guide for our readers to enjoy,” Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher at Wine Spectator, said in a press release. “Both novice wine lovers and seasoned sommeliers alike actively seek and frequent restaurants with exciting, wellcurated wine lists. Bravo to all the 2019 recipients—we raise a glass to you.” Lightfoot, Tuskies and Red Fox Inn were honored with an Award of Excellence, which recognizes restaurants whose 16
Norman K. Styer/Get Out Loudoun
Marcel Kansu, manager and “wine king” at Lightfoot Restaurant, proudly displays the 2019 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence award.
wine lists feature a wellchosen assortment of quality producers. The Conservatory at Goodstone, meanwhile, won a Best of Award of Excellence, GET OUT LOUDOUN
as a restaurant that offers more extensive selections with significant vintage depth and excellent breadth across WINE
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WINE FROM PAGE 16
multiple regions. “It’s nice to have that recognition because we do have a very nice wine list, and it lets people know that they’re going to get a good glass of wine when they come here,” said Lightfoot co-owner and General Manager Carrie Gustavson Whitmer. “We try to keep the wine selection fresh, approachable and affordable,” she said. Diners can pair their meals from a constantly changing selection of about 100 wines. “We basically divide it up by varietal but then we do have some global reds that come from all over, mostly heavy on France and Italy.” The restaurant also supports local businesses by offering bottles from Loudoun wineries; in mid-July, their selection included wines from Boxwood Winery, Fabbioli Cellars, Greenhill Vineyards, Zephaniah Farm Vineyard and Walsh Family Wine. For a full list of 2019 award winners, visit restaurants.winespectator.com. ▼
JULY 2019
GET OUT LOUDOUN
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HISTORY
Norman K. Styer/Get Out Loudoun
Union forces deployed three cannons during the Battle of Ball’s Bluff and replicas are on display for visitors to the park.
Wedding Parties to History Buffs: Touring Ball’s Bluff To many locals, the Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park and National Cemetery on the eastern edge of Leesburg is a backyard recreation area—223 acres of woodlands and Potomac River frontage that offer miles of hiking trails and scenic views. But a small army of volunteers stands ready every weekend from April until November to help visitors understand the events that occurred on the grounds Oct. 21, 1861, in the early days of the Civil War. Free guided tours are offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. The program is rooted in the work by historian Jim Morgan. He was one of the first guides at the battlefield and his on-the-ground experiences led to him question some earlier assumptions about the conflict. He spent years delving into the details of the combat and exploring the significant political implications of the stunning Union defeat. His 2011 book, “A Little Short of Boats: The Battles of Ball’s Bluff & Edwards Ferry, October 21-22, 1861,” has been deemed a definitive account of the battle.
GETTING THERE: The park is located on the northeastern edge of Leesburg. From the Leesburg Bypass head east on Battlefield Parkway to enter the Potomac Run neighborhood. Take the first left to head north on Ball’s Bluff Road. Continue until the paved road ends in a cul-de-sac. Enter the park on the gravel driveway and proceed to the parking lot.
of Ball’s Bluff, which trains the volunteer guides and organizes frequent living history programs on the grounds. On a recent Saturday, Eric Burroughs was on hand to welcome visitors at the park’s parking lot where the tours begin. The history graduate student from Ashburn joined the program four years ago and volunteers one day a month to conduct the tours. He is one of about 40 active trained guides.
Morgan is the founding chairman of the Friends 18
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BALLS BLUFF
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AUGUST 2019
TWILIGHT POLO at Great Meadow
PRESENTED BY BLUE VALLEY VINEYARD & WINERY
Photo by Tony Gibson.
SATURDAY NIGHTS FROM MAY 18 TO SEPTEMBER 14 IN THE GREENHILL STADIUM AT GREAT MEADOW
Tickets Available at greatmeadow.org/tickets. 5089 Old Tavern Road
AUGUST 2019
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The Plains VA, 20198
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(540) 253-5000
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leaders were learning on the job.”
BALLS BLUFF FROM PAGE 18
His tour typically takes just over an hour. He said it isn’t just history enthusiasts who come out. “Our biggest draw is when there are weddings in the area and they need something to do before the wedding,” he said. “My last tour was a group of locals. We get people from out of state, too. You get the Civil War buffs and you get the people just looking for something to do.” Burroughs acknowledged the park is a bit of a hidden treasure. The entrance is a gravel road at the end of a cul-de-sac in the Potomac Crossing subdivision. “It’s not a very big battlefield. For most people it’s hard to find unless you know exactly where it is,” he said. “Most people come here with a baseline understanding of the Civil War,” Burroughs said, adding that a key goal of the tour is to leave visitors with understanding of five key points: the lopsided Union defeat, the importance of a Confederate victory early in the war, the significance of Baker’s death, the congressional investigation that followed, and the mistakes that highlight how the inexperienced military
For tour-goers who want to learn more about the details, they are encouraged to follow up by reading Morgan’s book. Highlights of the tour include visiting the steep bluffs, visiting the national cemetery, and posing for photos with the three reproduction cannons on display. “If you don’t go to the bluff to see the river, then did you really go to Ball’s Bluff? So that is what most people are coming to see is the bluff itself,” Burroughs said. The park also features the third smallest national cemetery in the United States, a half-acre plot where 54 Union soldiers are interred. The identity of only one, James Allen of the 15th Massachusetts, is known. Tours include about one mile of walking on woodland trails requiring moderate ability. The tours last one to two hours. Those wishing to take tours on their own may pick up a brochure at the visitor’s kiosk. Dogs are allowed on a leash. Ball’s Bluff is a trash-free park meaning that all visitors should take their trash with them. No public restrooms are available beyond the portable toilets located in the parking area during the tour season. ▼
THE BATTLE IN BRIEF The battle began on the evening of Oct. 20, 1861, when Union Gen. Charles Stone sent a scouting party across the river to identify the positions of Confederate Col. Nathan Evans’ troops near Leesburg. In the darkness the party’s inexperienced leader mistakenly took a line of trees for an unguarded Confederate camp. Early the next day, Col. Charles Devens led an attack on “the camp.” After realizing a scouting error, his troops encountered a company of Mississippi infantry and a skirmish ensued. Col. Edward Baker, a U.S. senator from Illinois, moved to reinforce Devens. With only four boats available to transport men across the river, the reinforcements arrived slowly and Evans was able to organize a counter attack. Fighting continued through the day, but 20
after Baker was killed in the afternoon, Confederates drove the retreating Union soldiers over the bluff and into the Potomac. Many drowned and hundreds surrendered to avoid that fate. While it was a small battle, the overwhelming Union defeat and the death of Baker, a close friend of President Lincoln, had major political implications—prompting an extraordinary congressional inquiry, the Joint Committee of the Conduct of the War. The battle involved 1,720 Union soldiers and 1,709 Confederates. There were more than 1,000 Union casualties, 223 dead, 226 wounded and 553 missing or captured. The Confederates reported 36 killed, 117 wounding and two missing. ▼
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BREWS
Emma Steele/Get Out Loudoun
Loudoun’s newest brewery in downtown Middleburg features a comfortable brick and steel tasting room along with an outdoor beer garden.
Old Ox Brewery Opens 2nd Location in Middleburg BY THERESE HOWE
Middleburg’s libation scene is now complete: a handful of wineries and a cidery/distillery have been operating within the town limits for years and now it boasts Loudoun’s newest brewery: Old Ox Brewery Middleburg. Old Ox, which opened its original Ashburn site in 2014, had a soft opening for its second location in late June. A ceremonial tapping of the first keg took place July 27 at the brewery, located in the former Health Center. “We are excited to be part of the Middleburg community and appreciate all of the support the town has given us to get the doors open,” said Chris Burns, who owns 22
the brewery along with his wife, Kristin, and his parents, Graham and Mary Ann. Craft beer fans can select from 12 beers on tap, including two that are only available at this location. “We have an Apricot Blonde that was aged in white wine barrels—it’s fantastic,” Chris Burns said. “And just for juxtaposition, we have the same beer that we aged in red wine barrels and did not fruit. We’re really excited about those two beers and giving people an opportunity to try the same beer that’s been treated in two different ways and really showcase the flavor impact of the various barrels and the fruit.”
Middleburg once a five-barrel brewhouse in the property’s five-bay garage is up and running. Until then, the lineup of year-round, limited release and specialty beers are being delivered from its Ashburn location, which produced 5,500 barrels in 2018. Burns has said he expects to brew up to 700 barrels, or 21,700 gallons, of beer on site each year.
He plans to offer other specialty beers exclusive to
Guests can sip their pints in the 2,000-square-foot tasting room or in the three-season outdoor beer garden fronting Madison Street. There’s also the Backlot, the outdoor space between the tasting room and the brewhouse that’s available for backyard games, movie nights, mini-festivals and other events. A beer-friendly beer menu is available, and you can view a schedule of food truck at the brewery at oldoxbrewery.com. ▼
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LOUDOUN BREWERIES CELEBRATE VIRGINIA CRAFT BEER MONTH With more than 30 craft breweries in the county, you could drink a pint at a different location every day in August to celebrate Virginia Craft Beer Month. “The really nice thing about being in Loudoun County is that we have 34 active breweries, which makes us the most densely populated brewery-rich area in the state,” said Chris Burns, owner of Old Ox Brewery and chairman of the Loudoun County Brewers Association. “When people are looking for a beer destination, Loudoun County is at the top of their minds, so we’re doing a great job of bringing in tourism
from Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Loudoun has become a place for beer lovers.” In terms of what’s being drawn at the taps in Loudoun, “IPA is still king,” Burns said. “The hazy IPAs are certainly leading the trend right now. You’re also starting to see breweries branch out into other verticals like seltzers and-gluten free options.” Relatively fresh off the inaugural LoCo Beer Week in June, area brewers will again be showcasing specialty releases throughout the month. If you haven’t already gotten one, it’s a great time to pick up a LoCo Ale Trail Passport at a brewery and get it stamped with each visit.
Once you’ve visited a brewery in each cluster, you’re eligible to win a prize—including a LoCo Ale Trail T-shirt once you’ve completed your first cluster. The most popular clusters have been Leesburg and Purcellville, according to Visit Loudoun, which launched the program in September 2018. Since then, about 30,000 LoCo Ale Trail maps and passports have been passed out and 48 people have completed the full circuit. “The craft beer industry in Loudoun continues to grow, collaborate and produce the finest product in Virginia,” Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson said. ▼
Loudoun’s First Winery
Celebrating 34 Years! Come visit us to experience our award-winning wines, the history, and the beautiful views
www.willowcroftwine.com | 703-777-8161 38906 Mt. Gilead Road, Leesburg, VA 20175 OPEN Friday to Monday 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. AUGUST 2019
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FLAVORS
Norman K. Styer/Get Out Loudoun
Combined with Crook Run Brewing’s tasting room, the Sterling food hall has seating for 300.
Cooked Run’s Latest Expansion Features Craft Food Offerings Six years ago, Jake Endres and Lee Rogan used crowdsourced funding to move their passion for homebrewing to a bigger operation, setting up a nanobrewery in downtown Leesburg. The 25-year-old first-time business owners were well ahead of Loudoun’s craft brewing wave, and they continue to lead the evergrowing pack. In their 600-square-foot tasting room in Leesburg’s Market Station retail complex, the pair create chili IPAs, sours, and Belgian-style ales, all made with fresh, local ingredients using a small three-barrel brewing system. The small operation won global acclaim when their saison Supernatural won a 24
Patrick Szabo/Get Out Loudoun
From left, Jake Endres, Damian Dajcz and Lee Rogan during construction last December.
gold medal at the prestigious World Beer Cup. Just four years after opening in Leesburg, they expanded
to a Sterling business park where they opened a larger brewery with a 10-barrel system to allow commercial CROOKED RUN
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distribution and considerably more elbow room for patrons. Today, Crooked Run produces about 3,500 barrels of beer each year. “When I opened, this was not a proven business model. I had a shoestring budget and an idea for a nanobrewery,” Endres said at the time. “I didn’t necessarily know what I was doing, but I knew what I wanted to do.” The model worked well, and the Sterling location quickly became crowded with dedicated patrons, too. This June, they celebrated yet another expansion, opening two restaurants in partnership with food entrepreneur Damian Dajcz, who first brought his popular Señor Ramon’s Taqueria to the Sterling tasting room. The Daybreak Kitchen and Biscuit Co. offers southern comfort staple biscuits and gravy along with southern California and Korean influences. The restaurant specializes in freshly made biscuits and fried chicken during breakfast hours and hot chicken sandwiches covered in chili oil later in the day. “We spent a lot of time creating and tasting this new concept we managed to bring here, to make real but unique. We didn’t compromise on the quality of the ingredients we use and we are very proud not just of the food, but the team we have here,” Dajcz said. The Nectar Cocktail Bar uses AUGUST 2019
Norman K. Styer/Get Out Loudoun
Daybreak Kitchen offers southern comfort staple biscuits and gravy along with southern California and Korean influences.
said during the grand opening celebration.
Norman K. Styer/Get Out Loudoun
The food hall’s large windows help create a beer garden atmosphere inside.
a state-of-the-art, $14,000, 5-foot-tall cold pressed juice machine to create all sorts juice blends and mimosas as an alternative to the brews served up in the tasting room next door. The two ventures share a 300seat dining hall, doubling the capacity at the brewery. “It’s been my dream to open up a restaurant for pretty much my whole life, so I couldn’t be happier,” Endres GET OUT LOUDOUN
The drive behind it all is Crooked Run’s desire to serve the community from morning to night. Endres and Rogan also understand that breweries need to evolve to keep up with an ever-changing society. “It’s not all about the beer anymore,” Endres said. “That usually means going outside of the beer geek crowd.” Daybreak Kitchen and Biscuit Co. and Nectar Cocktail Bar are located at 22455 Davis Dr. Suite 133 in Sterling, with Crooked Run’s brewery right next door. The nanobrewery in Leesburg is located at 205 Harrison St. SE, on the ground level of Market Station. For more information, go to crookedrunbrewing.com. ▼ 25
BEST BETS Algonkian Regional Park Shelter 4 novaparks.com This second annual overnight camping event includes an afternoon of activities including a guided nature hike and a rock-climbing wall. Relax by the river and enjoy the beautiful sunset before settling into your tents for the evening. Must bring all your own camping supplies. JENNIFER DANIELS Acoustic on the Green Summer Concert Series Aug. 3, 7 p.m. Free Leesburg Town Green acousticonthegreen. com
8.02 BLIND MELLON Aug. 2, 7 p.m. (doors) $27-35 Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com Twenty-five years after the release of their self-titled debut, an album that fused southernpsych-rock influences with nineties-era altgrunge, Blind Melon is back on tour, with a stop in Leesburg.
The Saturday evening concert series in downtown Leesburg closes with the haunting folk rock music of singer songwriter Jennifer Daniels. Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended, and picnics are encouraged.
8.08 8.03 COMMUNITY CAMPOUT
THE BIG FAKE WEDDING Aug. 8, 7 p.m. $25 Stone Tower Winery
Aug. 3-4 from 4 p.m.- 9 a.m. $10 26
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thebigfakewedding.com Brides- and grooms-to-be are invited to this bridal show alternative where they will be the guests at a big fake wedding, complete with renewal ceremony, cocktail-style dinner, and dance-party reception. Tickets include light bites, a signature drink, and a swag bag.
8TH ANNUAL BBQ & BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Aug. 10, 11 a.m. Free Breaux Vineyards breauxvineyards.com Enjoy live bluegrass music from Short Hill Mountain Boys and Plank Stompers at Breaux’s annual festival featuring delicious barbecue and other food vendors, craft booths and of course, wine tastings. Seating is limited, so bringing your own lawn chairs and blankets is advised.
8.10 CHILD SAFETY DAY Aug. 10, 12 p.m. Free Village at Leesburg villageatleesburg.com The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office 8th Annual Child Safety Day will feature Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office vehicles, K-9 Unit, and a dive truck and boat. Visit displays from the LCSO, the Town of Leesburg Police Department, the DEA, the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Loudoun County Child Advocacy Center, Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, Loudoun Child Protective Services, Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad, FBI, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. MOONLIGHT PADDLE TOUR Aug. 10, 7:30 pm $30 Algonkian Regional Park novaparks.com/parks/algonkian-regional-park/ events/
is open to paddlers ages 14 and older with an accompanying adult. Fee includes rental boat, equipment and guided tour. Open to beginners, but those with little or no experience may find paddling against the modest current frustrating.
8.11 PENTAGON SUCCULENT TERRARIUM WORKSHOP Aug. 11, 12 p.m. $48 Winery 32 winery32.com You must be 21 or older to attend this fun and
This evening adventure on the Potomac River AUGUST 2019
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SUMMER OF LOVE MUSIC FESTIVAL 8.17
Doors open at noon $10 in advance, $15 at the door B Chord Brewing Company visitloudoun.org Visit Loudoun wraps up an incredible “Summer of Love” to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Virginia is for Lovers brand with a finale music festival. Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root and his new band Uprooted will be headlining the event with a lineup of local musicians, singers and songwriters including Todd Wright, The Band-Changed and Hungry on Monday.
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educational workshop, where you’ll create you very own succulent terrarium in a pentagon vessel. Fee includes all terrarium materials and as a glass of wine from Winery 32. THE CAPITOL STEPS Aug. 11, 6 p.m. $30 Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com Catch this hugely popular political satire group, which got its start in DC with Senate staffers more than 30 years and have performed their 28
musical skits around the country, at its only Loudoun performance for the rest the year.
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Presented by: The Lucketts Bluegrass Foundation and the Lucketts Community Board
8.16 WINE TASTING WITH MARY WATSON-DELAUDER Aug. 16, 6:30 p.m. $20 Black Olive Bar & Grill, The National Conference Center conferencecenter.com Get your tickets early to join The National’s Chief Wine Officer and Sommelier Mary Watson-DeLauder in sipping some of her favorite wines paired with small bites created by Executive Chef Frank Estremera. Tasting will take place in The Secret, an intimate speakeasystyle lounge.
8.18
10 am – 6 PM Rain or shine
Tickets: $30 in advance or $35 at the gate
Food Trucks on Site. 50/50 Raffle. And Kids Events!
LEESBURG 20K/5K Aug. 18, 7:30 a.m. $35-$55 Historic Leesburg prraces.com/leesburg20k/ Runners will begin both the 20K and 5K at Market Station and complete a course through scenic, historic Leesburg. A free kids fun run takes place at 7:55 a.m., no registration necessary. After completing the course, runners will enjoy refreshments, music and awards. CONTINUED ON PAGE
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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
festival.luckettsbluegrass.org Lucketts Community Center
42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg, VA 20176 703-771-5281
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BRIAN FITZY PLAZA PARTY Aug. 23, 6 p.m. Free Village at Leesburg villageatleesburg.com
AUTUMN DRESSAGE SHOW
Blending elements from a variety of genres and decades, Brian Fitzy falls somewhere between Daryl Hall and Jamiroquai by way of A Tribe Called Quest. Outdoor games for kids are provided; bringing your own chairs and blankets is recommended.
8.31 BRUCE IN THE USA Tarara Summer Concert Series Aug. 31, 6 p.m. $10-$45 30
Aug. 24-25, 9 a.m. Free Morven Park International Equestrian Center morvenpark.org Virginia Dressage Association members will compete in the balletic choreographed movements of dressage, an Olympic sport judged on the artistic and physical skills of both horse and rider.
Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com Fronted by Matt Ryan and backed by worldclass musicians, this high-energy musical experience was born in Vegas and has been acclaimed as an amazing rendition of a Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band show. GET OUT LOUDOUN
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Free!
Hillsboro’s Old Stone School OldStoneSchool.org
LAWN OPENS 6 p.m. Local Wines * Food * Beer Virginia Picnic Basket * Moo Thru Ice Cream
Saturday, Aug. 3
Cargo & The Heavy Lifters Sponsored by JK Moving
Friday, Aug. 9
Jon Spear Band Sponsored by Volkert
Friday, Aug. 16
BEATLES Tribute
CAL EVERETT * TODD WRIGHT TOM LOFGREN Sponsored by McEnearney Associates
Friday, Aug. 23 Season Finale!
MARDI GRAS in The Gap!
U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp Band
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