Get Out Loudoun for May 2023

Mininberg: Charting a New Course Page 6

GET OUT LOUDOUN

Get Out Loudoun is distributed monthly 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

Dana Armstrong Renss Greene

Jan Mercker

ON THE COVER

6

TUNES

Dave Mininberg will be cutting class and hitting the road as the retiring educator looks to make his music a full-time career.

ON STAGE

TO ADVERTISE

Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com

getoutloudoun.com

14

10 18 20 22

Playwright Terry Smith explores the aftermath of his wife’s death by suicide in his new work “M,” to be performed by the StageCoach Theatre this month.

TASTE

Downtown Leesburg is getting a bigger helping of southern comfort food as Buford’s Biscuits settles into its new Market Street location.

HAPPENINGS

Don’t yet have a favorite food truck? Find one (or more) at the LoCo Food Festival at Segra Field.

GIVING BACK

Some of the region’s most popular performers join the NoVA MusicFest at 868 Estate Vineyards with the hope of having a lasting impact to support musicians battling cancer.

BEST BETS

Get Out Loudoun’s top picks for May.

Norman K. Styer

Photo by Norman K. Styer

Longtime Loudoun County teacher

Dave Mininberg is charting a new course in the music industry.

Get a Taste of Loudoun’s Whiskey Revival

BY DOUGLAS ROGERS

The bestselling 2008 novel “The Wettest County in the World”—later turned into the hit 2012 film “Lawless” starring Shia LeBouef and Tom Hardy—told the story of how Franklin County southwest Virginia became the center of the moonshine and bootlegging trade in the U.S. during Prohibition. In Northern Virginia at the time, Loudoun was far from being the wettest county in the world. “We were once a popular meeting place for the Virginia arm of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, which helped usher in Prohibition,” said Greg Moore, chief distiller at Flying Ace Farm Brewery and Distillery.

Times, tastes, technologies, and regulations change. Fast forward to 2023 and Loudoun is not only known as DC’s Wine Country with

more than 50 wineries and home to the LoCo Ale Trail with more than 30 breweries, it’s also the center of a burgeoning craft distillery scene. This month—Saturday, May 20 is World Whiskey Day and Monday, May 22 National Craft Distillery Day—is a good time to celebrate that scene and the creative people behind it.

While Moore and Flying Ace Farm have won multiple awards for their blended bourbon and White Dog three grain whiskey since opening in 2020, Loudoun’s whiskey revival really began in Purcellville 14 years ago—ironically not far from the Bush Tabernacle where that Temperance Union used to meet. It was in 2009 that chemical engineer Rebecca Harris and her husband, Scott, opened Catoctin Creek Distillery, the first distillery in Loudoun since Prohibition.

Photo by Douglas Graham

Bottles of Catoctin Creek’s award-winning rye whiskey await labeling at the Purcellville distillery.

“Virginians were among the first in our nation to make rye whiskey,” Rebecca said. “We faithfully dedicated ourselves to that tradition.” Today, Harris is arguably one of the greatest female whiskey makers in America and Catoctin Creek’s flagship Roundstone Rye, a pre-Prohibition style whiskey made from 100% mostly local rye grain, has won dozens of awards.

The distillery hosts several events in May, most notably the popular free “Bottling Workshops” on May 7, where volunteers get a chance to learn how to bottle, cap, seal and label a Roundstone Rye. Buy one as a gift and tell your friend you bottled it yourself.

Hard on the heels of Catoctin Creek came Mt Defiance Distillery, which opened in Middleburg in 2014. Similarly inspired by Virginia’s craft spirits tradition, the owners set about bringing back “lost spirits”—classic liquors that had fallen out of fashion in post-Prohibition America. Distiller Peter Ahlf, a former NASA rocket scientist, started making twice-distilled apple brandy and then rum before moving on to a slate of niche liquors including Gin Nouveau, Agave Spirits (tequila), Straight and

Smoked Whiskey and— intriguingly—a green 140% proof Absinthe Supérieure based on a 19th century French recipe. Swing by in May and you can sample the new Spring Cocktail Menu —every drink mixed with spirit made on the premises.

Over at Flying Ace Farm in Lovettsville meanwhile, Moore, who cut his teeth as assistant distiller under Becky Harris at Catoctin Creek, continues to master those bourbons. Visit in May and try the American Ace White Dog whiskey made using rare Bloody Butcher corn grown on the farm. We suspect it would have given that potent Franklin County moonshine a run for its money back in the day.

“Virginians were among the first in our nation to make rye whiskey”

Dave Mininberg Trades Teaching for Trop Rock

BY DANA ARMSTRONG

School teacher by day and singer/songwriter by night, Dave Mininberg is preparing to go on permanent summer vacation. He retires this June to pursue a full-time career as a musician.

Mininberg is the student activities and engagement coordinator for Riverside High School. He has taught government, history, economics, and other social studies classes at high schools around Loudoun County for more than two decades.

All the while, he has led a dual life as a musician. He spends nights and weekends playing gigs in many of Loudoun’s breweries and wineries. And in recent years, he has ventured out to Louisville to be on a radio show and to New Orleans and Key West for songwriting engagements.

“The music has grown a lot more than I ex-

pected,” Mininberg said. “I’m pushing 100 gigs a year, plus the teaching job—it’s too much. I figure I need to give it a shot and see where this will take me.”

Mininberg attributes his early love of music to his parents’ musical tastes. Whether on the hi-fi stereo system in their living room or the 8-track in their car, he recalls hearing everything from Glen Campbell and Paul Simon to Willie Nelson, The Temptations, and Louis Armstrong.

“They used to have a Top 5 at 10 on the radio station. [As a kid] I would run downstairs and wait for my song, hit play/record, and I remember I would sit and try to memorize the lyrics.”

From junior high school through college, Mininberg played saxophone in band classes and small groups. But at the time, he never considered turning music into his career. He even stopped playing music entirely for a little while

Photos by Norman K. Styer Dave Mininberg will be cutting class and hitting the road as the retiring educator looks to make his music a full-time career.

after college, but his love for singing eventually led him to try it out again and pick up the guitar.

His first solo gig was at the Charles Washington Inn in Charles Town, WV.

“I didn’t even know how to set anything up. I had an acoustic amp, and it had two inputs. I plugged my guitar in it and my microphone. That was probably at least 20 years ago. That was kind of the beginning.”

He persisted in solo gigging. And he’d go on to form a band called 7th Son of WV with two of his teacher co-workers—drummer Phil Truiett and guitarist Tom Briner, with Briner’s wife Kelly as the bassist. They played classic rock, blues, country, and originals for bars, festivals, and private events around Northern Virginia.

But it was a chance run-in with a celebrity almost a decade ago that would change Mininberg’s life direction.

“I was in Florida, and I was going to go snorkeling. It was on South Beach, right on Ocean Drive. … I went to get money for the parking meter, and I almost bumped into this guy. He was like, ‘Oh, excuse me,’ and he kind of stepped back and gave a sweep with his hand like you go ahead.”

“I came out after I got my change and I said to the valet, because it was kind of a fancy place, ‘Is that who I think it was?’ And he said, ‘Yep, that’s his car over there.’”

“It was Billy Joel. And his beautiful Bentley convertible.”

Mininberg decided to hold off on his snorkeling plans and wait outside. An hour later, he saw the “Piano Man” again. This time, he asked Joel if he could pick his brain about the music industry.

“By the end of that conversation, I was convinced I needed to go to Nashville,” Mininberg said.

Alhough he already had some songwriting experience under his belt—at the request of patrons in Loudoun’s bars—Mininberg cites a songwriting workshop in Nashville with country soul songwriter Marc-Alan Barnette as being particularly helpful.

Every time Mininberg would return to the “Music City” (all in between teaching), he’d gain

new connections, friends, and inspiration for future songs.

He would even organize annual trips to Nashville for some of his musically inclined students working on capstone projects. Over a few days, the students would attend a workshop, tour a recording studio, experience Nashville’s infamous writers’ rounds, and speak with Mininberg’s songwriter friends.

These friends included Joie Scott (who’s written for Shania Twain), Bruce Burch (who’s written Reba McEntire hits), and even one of Mininberg’s former students Matt McGinn (whose songwriting credits include Kane Brown, Blake Shelton, and Tim McGraw).

“With the folks in Nashville, I was getting better at [songwriting] to the point where around [Loudoun] I’m one of the few guys who will go out and do originals. I can do four hours of originals if they wanted,” Mininberg said.

Dave Mininberg performs on the main stage at Leesburg’s Flower and Garden Festival last month.

TUNES FROM PAGE 7

In November, Mininberg hosted a sold-out album release party at Old 690 Brewing Company near Hillsboro. The nine-track album, “Change Your State of Mind,” is a collection of trop rock songs Mininberg had written and recorded over the years at The Facility Nashville recording studio.

Each song—from the southern rock “Gonna Get Lit Up” or the aptly-named “Jimmy Buffett Didn’t Write This Song”—serves as a mini, warm weather vacation telling stories of happy hours, sunsets, and simple everyday pleasures near the beach.

“In college, I got turned on to Jimmy Buffett. … His stories and his songs just kind of take you away. When you listen to it, depending on the song, it’s something that hits home with you. But it could also be something that, when you’re listening to it, you’re not thinking about anything else. You’re just living in that moment.”

With Mininberg’s upcoming retirement from teaching, he looks forward to taking advantage of every moment to grow as a musician. Over

the next year, his goals are to co-write more with other songwriters, try to get his music on larger radio stations, and travel more by playing gigs around the U.S.

“I think the biggest kick I get is when someone comes up and says either [the song] resonated with me or I knew someone like that. I always advertise myself as a mini vacation. If for three hours you don’t think about all the stuff going on in your life, then that’s the best to me,” he said.

“It’s also cool when former students send me a quick video where they’re in a car somewhere or in college blaring my music. If young folks like your music, too, that’s really cool to me. If you go to a Buffett concert or a Kenny Chesney concert, there are people that are 14/15, up to grandparents because good is good, fun is fun, and everybody can connect that way.”

To preview Dave Mininberg’s upcoming shows, become a patron, and find links to his social media—including his YouTube channel with a vlog series on Nashville—check out his website davemininberg.com.

Loudoun’s Attractions

LOUDOUN HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM

Travel through time to meet the 10 generations of Loudoun County residents who built this county and left their mark on the land. Exhibits include a schoolhouse, general store, Native American artifact display and the American Workhorse Museum Collection.

21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, VA 20164 (571) 258-3800 • heritagefarmmuseum.org

LOUDOUN MUSEUM

With a collection of more than 8,000 artifacts, the Museum tells Loudoun’s story from pre-1600 up until today, with a selection of special exhibits featuring the history of Virginia Wine, the Early Republic era, and the County’s role in the US Civil War, along with a timeline of Loudoun County history. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for upcoming events and public programs!

16 Loudoun Street SW Leesburg, Virginia 20175 (703) 777-7427 • loudounmuseum.org

MORVEN PARK

Morven Park is a 1,000-acre historic estate on the edge of Leesburg that was home to Virginia governor and agricultural pioneer Westmoreland Davis. Tours of the Greek Revival mansion include 16th century Belgian tapestries, Spanish cassones, hundreds of silver pieces, Hudson River Valley paintings, and Asian treasures. The estate also features the Winmill Carriage Museum, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting of North America, formal boxwood gardens, miles of hiking and riding trails, and athletic elds.

17195 Southern Planter Lane Leesburg, VA 20176 703-777-2414 • morvenpark.org

OATLANDS HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDENS

The 415-acre Oatlands estate, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, offers tours of the historic mansion, extensive gardens and outbuildings that include the oldest standing greenhouse in the South. Exhibits focus on the lives of the Carter and Eustis families who building the estate, as well as the lives of enslaved people who lived and worked there.

20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA 20175 703.777.3174 • oatlands.org

Terry Smith Gets Real with Grief

STAGECOACH THEATRE’S “M” TACKLES THE COMPLEXITIES OF SUICIDE

BY JAN MERCKER

How do you heal when a loved one dies by suicide? What does a person considering suicide go through—and what happens to the people left behind?

Longtime Loudoun actor and playwright Terry Smith explores these questions in his new play “M” that runs May 6-21 at StageCoach Theatre in Ashburn. “M” is a brutally honest take on grief and complex emotions based on the death by suicide of Smith’s wife, Melisande, in 2013. The two-act, two-person play follows Smith’s journey as a survivor and explores his wife’s mindset by delving into journals he found after her death.

Smith, who co-founded StageCoach in 2011 with Jerri Wiseman, is well known in the Loudoun theater community for lighthearted original murder mysteries. “M” is a theatrical departure for Smith, who worked on the

script for almost 10 years, but it was a story he needed to tell.

“Suicide is a huge problem in the United States. The biggest problem, I decided after I went through all of this, was listening. If I could convey a story to those thinking about it about what happens after the fact, they might think about it,” Smith said. “And trying to present the process the person went through to finally make that decision. … It is a sad and horrible thing but at the same time, I want [audiences] to understand that it was a choice, that it was her choice.”

“M” stars Centreville-based actor Allen McRae as Terry and Leesburg’s Leah Daily as M. The play’s first act focuses on the aftermath of M’s death, following the Terry character through the grueling early days after his loss.

“What happens to the people left behind?”

Photo by Renss Greene

Allen McRae and Leah Daily perform during a rehearsal for StageCoach Theatre’s production of “M.”

Smith said. “What I went through from the moment that I made the 911 call to the moment about 30 days later when I’d come to terms and moved forward with my life.”

Through the Terry character, Smith addresses the confusion and sense of overwhelm that follow a tragic death, from initially being considered a suspect by law enforcement, to breaking the news to his adult children, to dealing with his mother-in-law’s failure to understand and accept the news.

“When you’re emotionally compromised and have information overload, it’s very difficult to remain focused with the whirlwind that’s going on around you,” Smith said.

The play also includes moments of humor as the Terry character struggles to process and function, letting the audience know it’s okay to laugh.

“It’s heavy, but I also like comedy. There’s stuff in there to make people laugh. Some of it’s awkward laughing,” Smith said. “Don’t get wrapped up in the seriousness of the show. Enjoy the story, and laugh if you want to laugh. Cry if you want to cry. It’s an emotional journey for everyone.”

“It’s almost like a one-person show in the first act with me and a one person show in the second act with [Daily],” said McRae, a longtime StageCoach actor who was director Barbara D. Carpenter’s early choice for the role of Terry.

Despite longtime personal connections with Smith, McRae’s process involves stepping away from the personal and interpreting the role from a fresh perspective.

“I’m not approaching it like I’m playing Terry,” McRae said. “I’m approaching it as if I didn’t know the author.”

The play’s second act focuses on the M character and her emotional journey, based on the journals Melisande Smith left behind. The play tackles M’s layers of trauma in a way Smith describes as “peeling back the onion to understand,” unpacking the pain surrounding the death of the couple’s son at age 5 in the early ’90s, M’s feelings of unworthiness and failure as a parent and her past emotional trauma as a child and young adult.

“In the script, she says, ‘Before you can understand why, you need to understand me,’” Smith said. “After she passed, I was cleaning the house. Unbeknownst to me for 20 years, she had been keeping random journals. I started reading through them and they were brutally honest. A lot of people don’t get to know what a person is going through and understand that mindset.”

Carpenter cast StageCoach regular Leah Daily, who starred as Truvy in the company’s 2022 production of “Steel Magnolias,” as M. “There is a part of M in everybody. We all have had a past. We’ve all had people in our life that shaped us and caused trauma,” Daily said. “For me personally, that helps.”

Daily also knew the real Melisande Smith but, like McRae, chose to move away from personal ties and focus on the character in her interpretation. “The thing that helped free me to dive into the character was that I’m not M. My job as an actor is to help tell the story,” Daily said.

Carpenter, also a longtime part of the StageCoach community, has close personal ties with the Smith family and like her lead actors, knew Melisande before her death.

“For me, it has been an absolute honor to be asked to be part of the project. I’ve been involved [with StageCoach] for a very long time. … It’s been very personal and it’s been very moving,” Carpenter said. “I think there are times in everybody’s life when maybe they’ve felt they’ve been where M was. To hear it written so well and told so beautifully. It’s a beautiful story. It’s a hard story to tell.”

“Our hope is that other people can see and maybe make a determination that [someone] may be in trouble, may be in crisis and may need support,” Smith said.

Terry Smith’s “M” runs May 6-21 at StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120 in Ashburn. Tickets are $25 for in-person seats and livestream viewing. Go to stagecoachtc.com for tickets and information. The show is intended for adult audiences.

2 8 Chains North Winery 38593 Daymont Ln., Waterford, VA 8chainsnorth.com

3 868 Estate Vineyards

4 The Barns at Hamilton Station 16804 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

5 Bleu Frog Vineyards 16413 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg bleufrogvineyards.com

6

7

31 Maggie Malick Wine Caves

12138 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro maggiemalickwinecaves.com

32 October One Vineyard

7 Loudoun St., SW, Leesburg Octoberonevineyard.com

33 Old Farm Winery

23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie oldfarmwineryhartland.com

34 Otium Cellars

18050 Tranquility Rd., Purcellville otiumcellars.com

35 Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., L’burg stonetowerwinery.com

36 Stonehouse Meadery

36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com

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 Black Hoof Brewing Company 11 South King St., Leesburg blackhoofbrewing.com

7 Black Walnut Brewery 210 S. King St., Leesburg blackwalnutbrewery.com

8 Crooked Run Fermentations Central 22455 Davis Dr., Sterling crookedrunbrewing.com

9 Crooked Run Fermentations Market Station, Leesburg crookedrunbrewing.com

37 Sunset Hills Vineyard 38295 Fremont Overlook Ln, Purcellville sunsethillsvineyard.com

38 Terra Nebulo 39892 Old Wheatland Rd., Waterford terranebulo.com

39 Three Creeks Winery 18548 Harmony Church Road, Hamilton 3creekswinery.com

40 Two Twisted Posts Winery 12944 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro twotwistedposts.com

41 Village Winery 40405 Browns Lane, Waterford villagewineryandvineyards.com

42 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd., Leesburg willowcroftwine.com

BREWERIES

10 Dirt Farm Brewing 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com

11 Dynasty Brewing Company 21140 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Ashburn 101 Loudoun St, SE, Leesburg dynastybrewing.com

12 Flying Ace Farm 40950 Flying Ace Ln, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com

13 Harper’s Ferry Brewing 37412 Adventure Ctr. Lane, Hillsboro harpersferrybrewing.com

14 Harvest Gap Brewery 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro facebook.com/HarvestGap

15 House 6 Brewing 4427 Atwater Dr., Ashburn house6brewing.com

43 The Wine Reserve at Waterford 38516 Charles Town Pike, Waterford waterfordwinereserve.com

44 Walsh Family Wine 16031 Hillsboro Rd., Purcellville northgatevineyard.com

45 Williams Gap Vineyards 35785 Sexton Farm Lane, Round Hill williamsgavineyard.com

46 Zephaniah Farm Vineyard 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd., Leesburg zephwine.com

BREWERIES & WINERIES

1 Bluemont Station Brewery and Winery 18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont bluemontstation.com

2 Hillsborough Brewery & Vineyards 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro hillsboroughwine.com

3 Notaviva Brewery and Winery 13274 Sagle Rd., Hillsboro notavivavineyards.com

22 Old Ox Brewery Middleburg 14 S Madison St, Middleburg, VA

23 Phase 2 Brewing 19382 Diamond Lake Dr, Lansdowne Phase2Brewing.com

24 Solace Brewing Company 42615 Trade West Dr., Sterling solacebrewing.com

25 Sweetwater Tavern 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling greatamericanrestaurants.com

26 The Craft of Brewing 21140 Ashburn Crossing Dr., Ashburn thecraftob.com

27 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery 42245 Black Hops Ln., Lucketts vanishbeer.com

28 Wheatland Springs Farm + Brewery 38454 John Wolford Rd., Waterford wheatlandspring.com

4 Quattro Goomba’s Brewery & Winery 22860 James Monroe Hwy., Aldie goombawine.com

Expanded Buford’s Biscuits Opens on West Market Street

BY DANA ARMSTRONG

After outgrowing its original location in Leesburg’s historic district, Buford’s Biscuits has opened at its new West Market Street home. Partners and co-owners, Lauren Barrett and Charles Schech, signed the lease on their original Loudoun Street restaurant in December 2019. After COVID-related delays, they opened eight months later and quickly gained popularity for their cathead biscuits and sumptuous Southern comfort fare.

But with room for only four tables in the dining area and an equally small kitchen, their cozy restaurant soon grew to be confining.

“We were very thankful to have a line [of customers] every Saturday and Sunday. But we were pushed, and we don’t always want to see a 45-minute wait when we’re so busy,” Schech said.

“We loved that space, but it was definitely a beginner space. We didn’t have any gas, so we were cooking everything off induction burners. Now with the new location, we have a range with 10 gas burners, which is pretty amazing,” he said.

The new Buford’s Biscuits fills a former bank building that was converted to restaurant space in 2017. After periodic closures during the pandemic, Mexican restaurant Cocina on Market permanently closed in January.

When chef Jason Lage and his family made the difficult decision to close Cocina, they and the building’s owner wanted to pass on the opportunity to a locally owned restaurant. Buford’s Biscuits fit the description, and Lage sold the building to the couple.

Photo by Norman K. Styer

Co-owners Lauren Barrett and Charles Schech pose in front of a mural in their rooftop dining space at Buford’s Biscuits’ new West Market Street location.

TASTE FROM PAGE 14

“In this place, it gives us about five times the size of what I think we were at. And we have downtown Leesburg’s only rooftop [dining space], which we’re really pumped about,” Schech said.

Their months-long renovation of the new space features dining rooms that are themed to evoke the atmosphere of a different southern city, including Savannah, Charleston, and Bristol—the area where most of Barrett’s family is from. After all, the restaurant is named after her grandfather, Buford. And they are further honoring the family ties with a heritage wall of family photos and a family tree.

The rooftop is designed to have a New Orleans feel providing guests with a special view of the historic district as they hang out and enjoy cocktails.

The reopening brings the return of the popular Appalachian-inspired breakfast and lunch dishes, including the Buford’s Biscuit: a sweet tea brined chicken thigh, collard greens, and mustard velouté smothered over one of their signature cathead biscuits. Even more exciting, they are expanding into having a full dinner menu.

While there are big changes, they are carrying their commitment to making all their dishes with locally sourced ingredients.

“Our whole menu is about 80-85% local. So, we don’t purchase food from larger corporations like Sysco, U.S. Foods, and things like that. Even our mushrooms are from Misty Meadow Mushrooms and eggs are from Wiffletree Farm out in Warrenton.”

“The majority of our proteins, like sausage for our sausage gravy, are from Mr. Baker down in Mount Jackson. We get it from the Leesburg Farmers Market. So, every Saturday you’ll see us there picking up our food from him.”

Schech and Barrett owe their inspiration for supporting local producers to Jason Miller of the nearby Wine Kitchen, where they both worked. They thank him for teaching them how a restaurant should be run and look forward to implementing this knowledge in their next chapter on West Market Street.

“We’re ecstatic to be in Leesburg still … We didn’t know what our options were going to be for that restaurant because it was tough. We wanted to find our forever home, so the opportunity to buy the building was fantastic,” Schech said.

“Downtown real estate—there’s not a lot of it, so when something comes up it’s really important. I’m just happy that Leesburg is our place.”

Hungry for more? Buford’s Biscuits is located at 7 W. Market St. in Leesburg, currently open Thursday through Sunday. Learn more at bufordsbiscuits.com.

Check out

Loudoun’s Dining

FORDS FISH SHACK

Consistently voted Loudoun residents’ favorite place for seafood, Ford’s offers fresh seafood in a family-dining atmosphere at three locations, as well as a catering arm and a food truck operation.

Ashburn-44260 Ice Rink Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147 (571) 918-4092 • fords shshack.com

Lansdowne-19308 Promenade Dr., Leesburg, VA 20176 (571) 333-1301 • fords shshack.com

South Riding 25031 Riding Plaza, Chantilly, VA 20152 (703) 542-7520 • fords shshack.com

SPANKY’S SHENANIGANS

Known as one of the Loudoun’s favorite bars, Spanky’s Shenanigans is a popular destination from its morning breakfast menu to its ample roster of live music performers.

538 E Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176 (703) 777-2454 • spankyspub.com

LIGHTFOOT RESTAURANT

Inside an historic bank building in downtown Leesburg, the Zagat-rated Lightfoot provides both a ne-dining experience and a gathering place for locals. Executive Chef Ingrid Gustavson serves up American cuisine with southern and ethnic accents.

11 North King Street Leesburg, VA 20176 703-771-2233 • lightfootrestaurant.com

TUSCARORA MILL

Known by locals as Tuskies, the restaurant is located inside a restored 19th century grain mill in Leesburg’s historic district. Offering everything from locally sourced ne dining to a casual bar experience, it’s been a dining destination for more than three decades.

203 Harrison St SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 (703) 771-9300 • tuskies.com

Happenings

The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes craft stations, historic and environmental demonstrations, moon bounces, community organization stations, live animals. and more.

Admission is free. The park is located at 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road in Sterling.

RUN THE GREENWAY RETURNS

On Saturday, May 6, area runners take over the Dulles Greenway to help raise money for 18 area nonprofits.

The third annual Run The Greenway event features 5K, 10K and 800-meter Kids Fun races that will start and finish at Loudoun Station. There also is a virtual race option. Races start at 8 a.m.

Last year, the event attracted more than 1,700 runners and raised $220,000 to support local charities working to address hunger, mental health, animal welfare, adoption, children’s literacy, and other services.

Register at runsignup.com/Race/VA/Dulles/ RunTheGreenway.

A BUFFET OF FOOD TRUCKS

Segra Field south of Leesburg will be a gathering spot for the region’s top food trucks Saturday, May 13.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., folks are invited to sample the wide variety of food offerings, support the creativity of these mobile chefs, and enjoy live music performances. Register in advance to join the cornhole tournament.

Admission is free. Outside food and drinks are prohibited and the event will be canceled if there is inclement weather.

For details, go to loudoun.gov/5413/PRCSEvents.

A TRIP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE: THE SPRING FARM TOUR

Dozens of agricultural venues will be open for tours during the May 20-21 weekend as part of Loudoun County’s Spring Farm Tour.

CLAUDE MOORE SPRING FEST

Families are invited to Claude Moore Park and the Heritage Farm Museum on May 6 for a day of fun.

All locations provide an educational component for visitors, and most will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Launched in 1996, the annual no-cost, family-friendly, self-guided tour is a showcase of

western Loudoun’s rural industries. Farms on this year’s tour are leaders in the production of responsibly raised meat, vegetables, fruit, hemp, flowers and fiber, as well as artisan-crafted wine, gifts and more.

The county offers an interactive mobile app to help visitors navigate the tour and rewarding them for making stops and interacting with the farmers. The app includes a map of farm locations with links for navigation, social media, and a chat feature to ask questions throughout the weekend.

Loudoun County is home to more than 1,200 commercial farms, according to the most recent Ag Census from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For full details on this year’s event, go to loudounfarmtour.com.

GARDENS IN THE GAP

Hillsboro celebrates spring with its annual Garden in the Gap event that includes a showcase the town’s private gardens and a market with a variety of plant and craft vendors. The May 20 event also includes demonstrations, food trucks and live music.

On Friday, May 19, the town hosts a Eat, Drink Y& Be Literary lecture on native plants at the Old Stone School.

It is a ticked event. For details, go to oldstoneschool.org.

NoVA MusicFest: Musicians Step Up to Support Colleagues with Cancer

BY NORMAN K. STYER

The third annual NoVA MusicFest at 868 Estate Vineyards is a Memorial Day weekend highlight offering a daylong showcase of some of the region’s top performers.

While the Sunday, May 28 event is designed to be a welcome to summer party, it’s also a party with a special purpose.

The concert is a benefit for Cancer Can Rock, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting musicians facing aggressive cancer. The core of the program is to put them in a recording studio, surround them with great players, and lay down a track that will memorialize their talents.

The program is the passion of Jim Ebert, a multi-platinum record producer who survived his own bout with brain cancer starting 22 years ago. He was a producer at the Cue Recording studio in Falls Church in the ‘80s, before leaving for the LA music scene. The birth of his son brought him back to the DMV and he moved to Leesburg a few years ago.

“One day driving back from North Carolina where I’m treated, I just kind of thought to myself, I need to do something for other people,” he said. “And I thought, well what I can do is produce music because that's what I’ve done my whole life and I can get people who are my fellow cancer people and see if I can bring people in.”

The program recently reached a milestone, recording its 50th artist—two-time Wammie winner Carey Colvin, who last year was diagnosed with breast cancer and credits its early discovery with an excellent prognosis going forward. She recorded her song “Blind,” for which the Cancer

Can Rock team also produced as a video.

“A lot of people get confused thinking that Cancer Can Rock as a horrible name. What does that mean?” Ebert said. “It means you can you know you’re gonna have cancer, but you can still partake in your musical life.”

“What we do is we take musicians with cancer, and we bring them into a recording studio, all paid for, I produce it, and put a band around them,” he said. ”It’s amazing. We give them a beautiful day. I’ve had statements like, ‘Today I forgot I had cancer,’ which is really powerful. So that’s what we do. We are kind of our slogan: Because music lasts forever. This gives everybody who we work with a permanent legacy for friends and family.”

Ebert said every session is special.

“One thing musicians have said to me is that this was the best day of my life,” Ebert said. “I just find that hard to believe, especially when they have children, but I’ll take it because it’s very humbling to have people say that.”

It is important to the CCR team to create a piece that captures the essence of the artists. “We do have people, of course, who do not survive. We’ve probably had about eight people that have not survived and that’s always very hard because I try to stay in touch with as many of people that I can. A lot of them have become friends, good friends,” Ebert said. “To watch people leave is not fun, but to be able to do something good for them, something their family can see forever, their grandkids can see it—you know the video and the song is pretty neat.”

While reaching 50 recordings is significant, Ebert would like to see CCR recording an artist every week of the year. That’s where events like the NoVA MusicFest come in. The money raised by the show helps make those recording sessions possible.

The May 28 event includes seven hours of music from local, regional, and international musicians, food, 868 Estate wine, Lost Rhino beer, craft vendors and more.

Pre-sale tickets are $25 with $30 admission at the gate. Children 12 and under are free. This event is dog-friendly, family friendly. Pop up tents are welcome. Outside alcohol is prohibited.

For more details and tickets, go to cancercanrock.org.

NOVA MUSICFEST SCHEDULE

12:30-1 p.m. The Greek and the Freak

1:05-1:35 p.m. Gary Smallwood

1:40-2:20 p.m. Caleb Hacker

2:15-2:45 po.m. Adriel Genet

2:55-3:25 p.m. Juliet Lloyd Duo

3:40-4:40 p.m. 19th Street Band

4:55-5:25 p.m. Tommy and Kim

5:30-6 p.m. Jason Masi and Tommy Gann

6:15-7 p.m. Todd Brooks and Pour Decisions

7:15-8 p.m. Delta Spur

5.8

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY

Saturday, May 6, 5-8 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery vanishbeer.com

The Rochester, NY-based quintet brings its blend of alt. county and indie rock to Loudoun.

Best Bets

The Nashville-based guitarist, songwriter and producer was a member of the psychedelic rock band SIMO and has worked with artists from Jack White to Cowboy Jack Clement to Phil Lesh.

5.11

JD SIMO

Thursday, May 11, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater

tallyhotheater.com

5.13

BIG, BAD BRASS PARTY

Saturday, May 13, 6:30-10 p.m.

Creek’s Edge Winery

creeksedgewinery.com

Jumptown teams up with Jules and The Agreeables for a ticketed show in the pavilion.

5.20

KOOL & THE GANG

Saturday, May 20, 7 p.m. Ion Arena ionarena.com

Performing for more than five decades, the iconic R&B group brings their hits—including Celebration, Jungle Boogie, and Cherish—on the Ion Arena stage.

5.27

Uncle Kracker

Saturday, May 27, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

The Michigan rapper turned country crossover hitmaker performs an intimate, interactive show in Leesburg before hitting the road on the Sharp Dressed Simple Man tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top this summer.

5.26

Eric Sharp and Johnny Ringo

Friday, May 26, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ monksq.com

Performing with Brennan Edwards, these Caribbean cowboys blend their Gulf Coast originals with popular sing-alongs for a fun night of music.

In celebration of National Travel & Tourism Week, we invite you to become a tourist in your own community now and throughout the year! Scan the code to learn more.

Experience craft beverage destinations.

Taste farm-to-table flavors. Shop local boutiques.

Explore historical sites.

The possibilities are endless!

Climb to new heights

Take the family on a winery picnic

Cheers with your friends at a local brewery

Explore the great outdoors