Middleburg Life | March 2020

LIFE MIDDLEBURG

1669 WINCHESTER RD | DELAPLANE

MIDDLEBURG

REAL ES TAT E AT OK A P ROPERTIE S

20561 TRAPPE RD | UPPERVILLE

7597 KEITH RD | WARRENTON

11555

HEREFORD

11555

HEREFORD

11555

HEREFORD CT |

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

HUME PETER PEJACSEVICH

$21,700,000 | Fleetwood Farm includes 26 parcels totaling 2,490 acres of mature farmland and sits a mere 60 miles west of DC. Includes 4 rental homes & historic stone mill c. 1820. Property is surrounded by Gap Run, Crooked Run, & other bodies of water.

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.270.3835 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.454.1399

540.687.6321

11555

HEREFORD CT | HUME

3004 CUNNINGHAM DR | ALEXANDRIA

$4,750,000 | Trappe Hill Farm is a 474 acre estate in 5 parcels. Includes a lovely residence w/ 1st floor master suite, library, formal/informal dining, and living/family room that opens to a stone terrace. 3 tenant houses & equine facilities.

PEJACSEVICH

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.270.3835 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.454.1399

PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

11555 HEREFORD CT |

HUME

$995,000 | Fabulous Post and Beam home in the heart of Northern Fauquier’s wine country on 50 AC overlooking 5 AC lake & Cobbler Mountain. Reclaimed heart pine, open floor plan, gleaming pine floors, gourmet kitchen, 3 FP, great deck with covered area. Detached 2-car garage.

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus. PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

$1,345,000 | Contemporary 4BR/4.5BA home w/ $800K in architectural renovations. Features breathtaking floor to ceiling views. Enjoy Little Hunting Creek frontage. Navigable water, private dock w/ power. Ecobuilt w/ smart home technology. SCOTT

11555 HEREFORD CT | HUME

320 HOPKINS DR | BOYCE

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

39423 IRISH CORNER RD | LOVETTSVILLE

$1,380,000 | Nothing like it on the market! Completely renovated and updated circa 1890 stone and siding country home on 47 private and spectacular acres. Recent updates to: gourmet kitchen, master bedroom suite, metal roofs, septic system, and much more. 2 car garage, tenant house, in-ground pool, 4 stall barn.

11555 HEREFORD CT | HUME

ROCKY WESTFALL 540.219.2633

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

HEREFORD CT |

2299 SCUFFLEBURG RD | DELAPLANE

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

$799,000 | Property features 3BD/2.5BA historic log cabin c. 1781 on 6+ acres. Smoke house, modern cistern & original hardwood floors. Cozy interior: 4 fireplaces, wood stove, wooden beams, built-in bookcases. Pond, pool, pool house/shed, gardens & more!

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.270.3835 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.454.1399

23223 DOVER RD | MIDDLEBURG

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

$419,999 | Rare opportunity to own this move-in ready, spacious, single-family home in the highly desired neighborhood of Meadow View. Wonderful neighbors, excellent commuter location, close to everything w/ tons of upgrades.

540.687.6321

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI

KRISTIN DILLON-JOHNSON 703.673.6920

$380,000 | Great turn of the century farmhouse on 3+ AC close to downtown Lovesttville! Plaster walls, HW floors, solid wood doors, oversized baseboards, doors & window trim. 3 large BD, stone foundation, Old spring house, large bank barn, storage shed, nice metal building.

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

ROCKY WESTFALL 540.219.2633

$375,000 | Lovely 10 acre lot just outside of Middleburg! Well and septic installed. Private, partially wooded and on a cul-de-sac! Absolutely gorgeous! A very short drive to fine dining and shops of Middleburg!

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

JOY THOMPSON 540.729.3428

MIDDLEBURG | 540.687.6321 PURCELLVILLE | 540.338.7770 LEESBURG | 703.777.1170 ASHBURN | 703.436.0077 MIDDLEBURGREALESTATE.COM

12076 LEEDS CHAPEL LN | MARKHAM

CT | HUME

11555 HEREFORD CT | HUME

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

SIMPLY BETTER.

We know that your life can't be placed on hold while you're buying or selling your house, which is why we take a comprehensive approach to real estate. Our agents are exceptional. Our marketing - savvy & strategic. From hunt country to the suburbs and every town in between, our approach to real estate is this: simply better.

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus.

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum sit amet, bibendum nec diam. In ut porttitor felis. Phasellus enim erat, blandit eget vulputate in metus. PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

11555

11555 HEREFORD CT | HUME

$790,000 | Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam nulla metus, rutrum et vestibulum

PETER PEJACSEVICH 540.687.6321 SCOTT BUZZELLI 540.687.6321

SIMPLY BETTER.

SOLD SOLD UNDER CONTRACT

We know that your life can't be placed on hold while you're buying or selling your house, which is why we take a comprehensive approach to real estate. Our agents are exceptional. Our marketing - savvy & strategic. From hunt country to the suburbs and every town in between, our approach to real estate is this: simply better.

middleburglife.com

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ON THE COVER

This year’s March cover was photographed at Glenwood Park in honor of the forthcoming 100th running of Middleburg’s Spring Races on April 18th. The National Steeplechase Racing Association’s new President, Dr. Alfred C. Griffin Jr., joined us to share the future of steeplechasing along with jockeys Kieran Norris and Emme Fullilove. Photo by Jennifer Gray Calcagno Photography.

ON THIS PAGE

Celebrating its 57th year, the Upperville Garden Club in conjunction with the American Daffodil Society, will host a major display of splendid daffodils at Buchanan Hall on April 7th.

by Middleburg

from the 2019 Daffodil Show.

CONTRIBUTERS

Dulcy Hooper, Heidi Baumstark, Chelsea Moore, Richard Hooper, Kaitlin Hill, Joanne Maisano, Patrick Mulrooney, Kristin Noggle, and Laticia Headings.

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR Finding Fulfillment Through The Natural with Jenn Pineau of Nature Composed

By Laticia Headings

“From a young child, I was very much interested and attracted by the natural world more than anything,” says Jenn Pineau, the owner of Middleburg’s Nature Composed. Those early impressions of the world, colored by nature, have dictated her entire career.

In high school, she worked at a fruit and vegetable stand, and while in college at Virginia Commonwealth University she got her first job as a florist-in-training at Strange’s, a conventional FTD/Teleflora florist and garden center. Later, she was hired as the greenhouse manager at Kluge Estate in Charlottesville (now Trump Winery), where she managed a tropical conservatory, two production houses growing herbs and topiaries,

two greenhouses full of oranges and orchids, and served as the estate florist.

Pineau moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 2006 and was introduced to Max Gill, the florist for the Michelin-starred restaurant Chez Panisse, once touted as the best restaurant in the country. This eye-opening experience exposed her to garden-based design and allowed her to work in the garden the same amount of time that she was creating floral designs. She later landed a contract with Quince, another celebrated Michelin-rated eatery in San Francisco, doing their flower arrangements, which paid enough to cover her monthly bills.

The florist moved back to Virginia in 2008 and started building relationships with local farmers and gardeners and started her business. She also earned a Permaculture design

certificate from George Mason University.

Permaculture is a set of design principles that centers on whole systems thinking, observing the patterns and features in natural ecosystems and emulating them. “It’s the idea of always putting down on top of the soil, not tilling, and understanding that…plants need to be in community with other plants. You need a good fungal network and a good soil biota. It takes into consideration the underground ecosystem.”

Using permaculture practices, it can take an entire year to really understand the mechanics of how a new parcel of land will grow. Because it’s a much more low-impact way of gardening that takes incredible patience, permaculture isn’t widely practiced in mass

Nature | Page 5

Photo by Nature Composed.

Nature

|

agriculture settings.

Nature Composed was born out of the culmination of Pineau’s professional milestones and personal passion for regenerative and sustainable gardening and farming. In 2017, she purchased the Pendleton Street house, where the business is located, from revered local gardener Sally Bolton, who had a bustling business called The Corner Garden for 26 years. Pineau says she wants to continue the legacy of the building and pays homage to Bolton on the sign outside, which reads: Nature Composed, A Corner Garden Shop.

A steadfast interest in the rhythms of nature runs in her blood. Her great grandfather, Larry Lemmon, was a landscape architect and gardener who had a thriving earthworm business in the 1940s. During his career, he was the Planning Director of Washington D.C.’s Parks and Recreation Department for well over a decade and worked with the Forestry Department to map out the West Virginia Mountains.

Lemmon also wrote a memoir that told of his start in the nature world, which included a season with the Frank Lloyd Wright Fellowship. When walking through the desert together, the famous architect shared some pearls of wisdom. In his book, Lemmon writes about Wright, “He did not look into the works of other men for inspiration but instead, nature was his teacher. He told me that nature alone was the best and most reliable mentor for me to follow.”

Taking a page straight from her great grandfather’s memoir, nature is also the guiding principle in Pineau’s approach. “We respect the natural world as an actual living, breathing, communicating organism that we can learn from. In our business, we try to mimic nature’s way.”

For instance, the shop is closed to the public in January to allow the plants, flowers and trees to rest. Pineau comments about all living things, “You can’t continuously grow without going inside for rest and reflection.”

“We respect the natural world as an actual living, breathing, communicating organism that we can learn from.”

- Jenn Pineau

Nature | From page 5

garden-based floral designs for weddings, corporate events and other special occasions.

Nature Composed is a “custom tailored florist,” says Pineau, and “the business is really based off allowing nature to guide the design.” Their slant on sustainability is an attractive feature for clients because the shop is free of foam, the green spongy substance used for flower arranging. Only a small percentage of florists in the country are foam free. “When you’re committed, you find natural and smarter ways around it,” she says.

The designer is also committed to creating a more expansive garden shop experience as she continues to sprout new ideas for her business, which includes holding more workshops. “We’re continuing to build out and use the spaces to the best of their ability,” she says.

Some days, Pineau gets a little extra help in the shop from her daughter Eloise, 8, and son Luca, 5. “It’s fun to bring my kids here,

the village aspect is my favorite part of it,” says the mother of two. “There are so many nice people who support our business.”

A quote by Thomas Berry is scribed on the chalkboard at Nature Composed: “There is

presently no other way for humans to educate themselves for either their survival or fulfillment than through the instruction available through the natural world.” Every day in her business and life, Pineau celebrates that! ML

Left: Sign by Nature Composed. Right: Larry Lemmon by Jenn Pineau.

THE GARDEN REVIVAL OF HISTORIC ASHLEIGH: SEE THE TRANSFORMATION ON VIRGINIA’S 2020 GARDEN TOUR

By Patrick Mulrooney

The upcoming Virginia Garden Tour is known for featuring an impressive collection of gardens that are both visually impressive and hold a strong connection to Virginia’s past. Right at home on this tour, with its ancient boxwood hedges and its historical ties to Chief Justice John Marshall, is Ashleigh.

Built in 1860 for the granddaughter of John Marshall, Ashleigh sits atop 100 acres of rolling hills and forest in Northern Fauquier County. Built in Greek Revival style architecture, Ashleigh’s gardens complement the orderly, formal style through its use of clipped boxwood and symmetrical layout. In 2017, the house was purchased by former

Missouri governor Matthew Blunt and his wife, Melanie.

Upon entering the driveway, guests are guided between dwarf boxwood shrubs down a gently curving gravel road. On the right is a view of rolling fields and Paris Mountain on the horizon. An impressive stand of old hardwoods crowning the hill up ahead suggests that there is a rich history associated with this house.

In front of the house, a driveway circle features four holly trees, still laden with their winter fruit and freshly clipped into identical forms. Poking up around their feet are multitudes of grape hyacinth bulbs standing above a lush tangle of Vinca groundcover. An 8-foot hedge of American boxwood borders the

Ashleigh | Page 9

Photos taken in 2019 by Missy Janes.

driveway area and acts as a windbreak from the fields to the north.

Looking out from its Doric columns and nestled into the landscape with English boxwood on all sides is the house; a one-story structure with three bays, flanked by two-bay wings on either side. Its lines are clean and its stucco is smooth, encouraging the garden to be of a similar character. To the left, underneath towering oaks and sweet gums, a wide stone platform invites guests to enter the garden.

The first vista of the garden at Ashleigh is stunning: The allee, with its 8-foot laurel hedges, guides visitors through a bright mixed border where alliums, tulips, Narcissus, hellebores and peonies dazzle in the spring and are gradually replaced by Kalimeris (a Japanese aster), garden phlox and iris, among many others, throughout the summer.

Complementing the architecture of the house, walkways were designed to be wide and open to convey a sense of calm. There are no winding woodland paths here as the three large “rooms” of this garden are better suited for entertaining.

“The croquet lawn would be beautiful for a wedding,” Melanie Blunt says. A longtime gardening enthusiast, she is now a member of the Piedmont Garden Club and president of the Middleburg Garden Club.

When Matthew and Melanie Blunt purchased the garden in 2017, the garden needed a little bit of work. “It was lovely and relatively well-cared for, but it needed some work to return it to its original glory,” Melanie Blunt says.

This was great news for BJ Fleming, owner of Naked Mountain Gardeners, who has been working on the property on and off since the mid-90s.

“There was a lot of restoration work to be done, a lot of pruning of trees and shrubs,” says Fleming. “We came back in fall of 2019. Only one gardener had been on staff for a few years and things needed some work.”

In addition to maintenance, Fleming is also carrying out the installation of landscaping around the new features, which include

“It is a privilege to be surrounded by our beautiful landscape. Working with the Land Trust of Virginia we were able to place Ashleigh under a perpetual easement that will protect the historic characteristics of the property and ensure the land is preserved for a farming and forestry forever.”

- Homeowner Matthew Blunt

Ashleigh | Page 11

Top: Photo taken in 2019 by Missy Janes. Bottom: New at Ashleigh Estate: a 100-foot long water feature that includes three fountains, designed by Barry Starke at Earth Design Associates, Inc. Photo by Patrick Mulrooney taken in February 2020.

a 100-foot long fountain and a new pergola, which joins the three garden rooms together under a wisteria-lined path. The fountain was designed by landscape architect Barry Starke of Earth Design Inc., who is well-known for his work on the 1978 renovation of Maymont Gardens in Richmond, Va. The pergola is new, but it is clear that the wisteria is not. Working around the old vines was a challenge

Greer’s

the Blunt’s were willing to take on in preparation for the tour.

Perhaps the biggest news since the Blunt’s took ownership is the addition of the property to the Land Trust of Virginia, which will protect the property in perpetuity.

“It is a privilege to be surrounded by our beautiful landscape. Working with the Land Trust of Virginia we were able to place Ashleigh under a perpetual easement that will

protect the historic characteristics of the property and ensure the land is preserved for a farming and forestry forever,” says homeowner Matthew Blunt.

Virginia’s Historic Garden Week 2020 is April 18-25. The Middleburg portion of the tour is on April 24th and 25th which includes Ashleigh, Oak Spring, White Hall and Elysian Fields Farm. Visit vagardenweek.org to purchase tickets. ML

School Road, Purcellville, VA 20132

| greersant@gmail.com

44 years

Ashleigh | From page 9

Photos taken in 2019 by Missy Janes.

HOW TO BUILD A HOME

WITH TIMOTHY CLITES

By Kaitlin Hill

takes on.

“Did I tell you I love my home, because it’s my home?”

To Timothy Clites, owner of Clites Architects, PC in the heart of Middleburg, the above praise is the best compliment a client can give. Beyond square-footage, crown molding, soaring ceilings, or exposed rafters, Clites and his team don’t just build houses, they create homes. What’s the difference? Years of experience, close working relationships with his customers, and involvement in his community make all the difference and are manifest in each project he

Born and raised in the rural surroundings of Harrisburg, Pa., Clites would take two big city detours before returning to the familiar country-feel he would find in Middleburg later in life. “I grew up in Pennsylvania, outside of Harrisburg, in dairy country. The landscape was similar to this area of Virginia,” he says from his Marshall Street office. “From there, I moved to Boston where I studied architecture at the Boston Architectural Center and got married to my wife Linda.” The birth of their first child and a desire to be closer to family led Clites and his wife to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area where he joined

Barnes Vanze Architects in Georgetown.

After nearly five years in the Georgetown office of Barnes Vanze, Clites moved to Middleburg, a decision based on a mix of an expanding business and a growing family with two boys.

Clites remembers, “The reason for wanting to live here was so that our oldest son could start kindergarten at the Middleburg Elementary School, and at the same time, I opened an office for the firm.”

Seven years of semi-frequent commuting between Middleburg and Georgetown and a third son later, Clites decided to open

Clites | Page 13

Middleburg Exterior by Stylish Productions.

Clites | From page 12

his own business. “I got to the point in my career where I realized I wasn’t interested in returning to Georgetown to live or work, and [Middleburg] felt completely like home. And, I had a lot of clients, contractors, and friends’ support around the idea of starting my own business.”

Clites established Clites Architects, PC in Middleburg in late 2010.

The small architecture group swelled from two employees to five at one point but, Clites notes, “We find our sweet spot is at three or four, including myself.” He adds, “That includes architects, intern architects, people that are training in architecture, and my wife, who is a full-time health assistant at Mountain View Elementary, but also does all our accounting and bookkeeping.”

However small the staff, the firm takes on impressive projects from renovations of

historic buildings, of which Middleburg has many, to entirely new builds across Virginia. No matter the size of the project or the age of the building, Clites’ approach is personal. He says, “I think one of the things that makes us different…from other architects… is on a personal level. I find a lot of interest in getting to know the client and what they are interested in.” He expands, “We tend to be more client-focused…I find us spending a fair amount of time trying to get to know not only what are the aesthetics that the owner is interested in, but how do they want to live?”

For Clites, that question is central to the process of making a house into a home. Clites shares, “In architecture, you really have to start the conversation around what about a style or a mix of elements is appealing [to the client] and why? And then, how does that help us start to blend the ideas into a project that not only meets [a client’s] needs but

also expresses stylistically something they relate to as being home.” More than exposing original wood in historic buildings or creating beautiful and functional Hunt Country kitchens, the personal touches that reflect his closeness with his clients make Clites’ work truly unique.

He adds, “For us, it is about trying to bring the best of who they are and what they want to a terrific design.”

Utilizing local talent is a key factor in creating that client-driven design. Clites comments, “I feel like we are really fortunate in this area to have a whole group of amazing contractors and other professionals, designers, landscape designers that we work with. And they are like us. They’re small companies that are really focused on the client.” He continues, “We are all pulling in the same direction and we all bump into each

Clites | Page 14

Top: Timothy Clites by Kaitlin Hill. Middle: Middleburg Living Room by Stylish Productions. Bottom: Leesburg Kitchen by Mary Parker.

Clites |

From page 13

other at the Safeway, at the school, and in the community.”

Local participation and sense of community are not only essential professional practices, but personal ones as well, and have helped Clites and his family form a foundation in Middleburg.

He remarks, “At the start we thought, how do we get to know the community? I realized that being involved in things that we can contribute to as opposed to just getting involved because we want to get to know the community would be the best approach.”

Offering his talents, Clites, at one point or another, has served on the Middleburg Planning Commission, the Board of Directors at the Middleburg Community Center, the Historic District Review Committee in Middleburg, and as a youth soccer coach to all three boys.

He still serves on the Historic District Review Committee and admits, “I really enjoy

that committee. It has a lot to do with the whole community and everyone that lives here and works here and, a lot more than just historic, it helps maintain Middleburg’s character, and is an obvious place for an architect.”

In addition to the houses he builds and the committees he sits on, Clites embodies the Middleburg spirit of small-town hospitality, perhaps the most crucial factor in transforming a house, town, or community into a

welcoming home. He says, “I remember what it was like for us, and how welcomed we were and how quickly everyone that we bumped into very much made us feel like we were part of the community.”

Clites is not just part of the community, but a vital part of what makes this small town special, and a reason local residents, and even visitors, would agree that Middleburg feels like home. ML

Warrenton Farmhouse by Bradley M. Jones.

THEN & THERE

The Notting Hill Hippodrome Steeplechase

Story and photos by Richard Hooper

In 1837, when the Notting Hill Hippodrome held its inaugural day of racing, the area in London it was named for looked very different from today. Kensington Palace was about three-quarters of a mile east and south, but the area of Notting Hill, other than along the main road, had very few structures of consequence. Along one side of what would become the racecourse were Pottery Lane and The Potteries, named for a local industry. Containing some of the poorest housing in London, it was also known as the

Piggeries, comprising 250 or so dilapidated dwellings set on a section of eight acres, with a pig population triple that of people.

The Ladbroke family, owners of the land, were planning to develop the area during a building boom in the 1820s. The boom, however, fizzled before anything groundbreaking was accomplished. Consequently, somewhat less than 200 acres were leased to the entrepreneur John Whyte to be used for a hippodrome, with stables for about 80 horses. In May 1837, “The Times” described the soonto-be-opened hippodrome as a facility for “pursuing any sort of equestrian exercise.”

In the centre of the ground is a hill appropriated to pedestrians, on which about 30,000 persons may stand; this is parted off by a circular railing, that they may enjoy the view of the sports and exercises around them, without running any risk of a contact with the horses. Without this railing is a broad circle for gentlemen and ladies who ride on horseback, either for private exercise or for the sake of witnessing the sports in the Steeplechase | Page 17

The Last Steeple Chase at the Notting Hill Hippodrome by Charles Hunt.

outer circles. The next circle is a race-course, and beyond that is a further circle for the purpose of a steeple chase, fitted with all the necessary obstacles of hedges and ditches, that the lovers of this hazardous diversion may enjoy those risks which are its peculiar characteristics.

The hippodrome opened on June 3, with staggered prices for admission: a fourwheeled carriage, 5 shillings; a two-wheeled carriage, 3 shillings; horsemen, 2 shillings 6 pence; and pedestrians, 1 shilling. The attendance was so large that the start of the first race was postponed by nearly an hour to allow time for everyone to enter the grounds. Estimates ranged from 20 to 30 thousand, including a large representation from the nobility and two to three thousand spectators on horseback. An abundance of carriages of every description made a jam of traffic. There were two flat races and a steeplechase of two miles with eight obstacles. Between races, spectators could charge their horses over the hurdles.

Two complaints arose from the first meeting. The first was that a large number of those on horseback breeched the barrier enclosing the area reserved for pedestrians and mingled among them, causing concern and anxiety. It appears that this encroachment was easily remedied and did not occur at future meets.

The second complaint was ongoing and arose from a multitude of the citizens of Kensington, of which Notting Hill was a part. Mr. Whyte had erected a high fence around the hippodrome, blocking the view from outside as well as blocking a path that had been a public right-of-way known as “Cut Throat Lane.” The locals were outraged and demanded open access. It became a cause célèbre for those who wished to ban racing from London pitted against those who believed that the hippodrome was the best thing to have been brought into the metropolis. The dispute made its way to Parliament under the name of the Notting Hill Enclosure Bill, where, after being batted about for several sessions, eventually died from lack of attention.

In an effort to liberate their path, the locals sawed and axed their way through the fencing on numerous occasions. Other than general annoyance at their gaining free entry, there were two distinct impressions of the char-

acter of the intruders. One faction observed that they were mannered and, other than a few miscreants, did not cause much of a disturbance. The other point of view saw only miscreants. A contributor to The Times described the intruders as “all the idle and outcast population of the neighborhood, and all

the dirty and dissolute vagabonds of London ... by relying on their numbers, they spread themselves over the whole of the ground, defiling the atmosphere as they go; and carrying into the neighborhood of the stands and carriages, where the ladies are most Steeplechase | Page 18

Top: Bayswater Hippodrome from Cremorne and the Later London Gardens by Warwick Wroth. Bottom: Racing at Notting Hill from a contemporary print.

Steeplechase | From page 17

assembled, a coarseness and obscenity of language as repulsive to every feeling of manhood as to every sense of common decency.”

The number of races per meeting increased and stakes, plates and cups were added: The West Kent and East Surrey Stag Hounds Stakes, The Coronation Cup (Queen Victoria), The Olympic Stakes, The Metropolitan Stakes. In addition, there was a Farmer’s and Hunter’s Cup, “for horses bona fide property of farmers (and to have been in their possession two months before running) holding and farming at least eighty acres of land, hunted over by any established pack of hounds whose kennel is within thirty miles of London.” There was a further stipulation: that the horse be ridden by farmers, farmer’s sons, gentlemen or tradesmen, but not hired servants or any person that has ridden for hire.

During its short life span, the racecourse was known by several names, with Hippodrome prefaced by either Notting Hill, Kensington, or Bayswater (the district bordering Notting Hill to the east). When the last race was run in 1841, it was known as Victoria Park. The venue was ultimately brought down, not by the controversy over neighborhood rights, but by the soil (if it could be called that) which was composed of a heavy, clinging clay, which made racing there unpopular when the ground was wet. It also proved to be unsatisfactory for those who wished to ride or exercise their horses over the acreage.

After it closed and the land began to be developed, it eventually became the setting for “Notting Hill” the popular movie starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. The racecourse is remembered by two streets: Hippodrome Place and Hippodrome Mews - they are very close by the once infamous Pottery Lane, which is now quite lovely. ML

Nature’s Best Hope

A Free Lecture by Professor & Award-Winning Author Doug Tallamy

RECENT HEADLINES about global insect declines, the impending extinction of one million species worldwide, and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us. Such losses are not an option if we wish to continue our current standard of living on Planet Earth. The good news is that none of this is inevitable. Tallamy will discuss simple steps that each of us can- and must- take to reverse declining biodiversity and will explain why we, ourselves, are nature’s best hope.

Hosted by the Oak Spring Garden Foundation in partnership with Virginia Working Landscapes.

A plan of the Notting Hill Hippodrome from Cremorne and the Later London Gardens by Warwick Wroth.

PATRICKSWELL

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

308 acres of spectacular land Extensive renovation and expansion by premier builder Immaculate home and beautiful land on Atoka Road in 3 parcels |

CATESBY FARM

MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

SPRING GLADE

Two large stables Multiple ponds |

Incredible views | Charming guest house

Tennis court | Stunning setting

MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIA

$10,000,000

Gracious Georgian Manor home, 11,000 sf, built in 1930 | Updated and suitable for large scale entertaining | 7 BR, 7 1/2 BA, 7 FP High ceilings, formal gardens & private setting Belmont style stable w/30 stalls and 2 apartments 4 BR guest house/entertainment complex, 4-car garage w/office 4 restored tenant houses, skeet range, pool & tennis court 241 acres recorded in 3 parcels Land mostly open & rolling with bold mountain views, numerous ponds and vineyard

FIDELIO

THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA

AQUINNAH

RECTORTOWN, VIRGINIA

SALEM HILL

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

$9,950,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

French Country home, with renovations in 1999 & 2017 | 4 BR, 5 full & 2 half BA, 5 FP, hardwood floors, flagstone terrace | Beautiful drive to hilltop stetting overlooking pond, lake & mountains | Im provements include pool, 2-car garage, 2 BR guest house & apartment | Lovely boxwood gardens | Kitchen allowance to be provided | 79.89 acres

$3,900,000

ahon

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

SPRING GLADE

MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

French Country home, recent renovations

4 BR, 5 full & 2 half BA, 5 FP, hardwood floors, flagstone terrace | Beautiful drive to hilltop setting overlooking lake & mountains

Improvements include pool, 2-car garage, 2 BR guest house & apartment | Lovely boxwood gardens | 79.89 acres

$3,900,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

CASTLE MOUNTAIN FARM

CASTLETON, VIRGINIA

292 acre private hunting preserve in Rappahannock County | 30 minutes from Warrenton and 20 minutes to Culpeper | Broad mountain views, spring fed pond, about 1 mile of Thornton River frontage, trails, machine shed and barn | The hunting preserve has maintained trails for hunting and hiking through the diverse property |Some open and some wooded - lovely grounds | Property is in VOF Conservation Easement Grounds | Custom built residence includes 5 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths - main level master bedroom, gourmet kitchen, maple floors, generator and much more

Prime Fauquier County location minutes from Middleburg | Unbelievable finishes throughout Antique floors and mantels, vaulted ceilings 6 BR, 5 full, 2 half BA | 6 FP, gourmet kitchen Improvements include office/studio, stone cottage with office, spa, guest house, pool and lighted tennis court | Landscaped grounds with stream, waterfalls, boxwood and special plantings | 61 acres

Prime Fauquier County location | Residence circa 1850 has been completely updated |7 bedrooms, 7 1/2 baths, 6 fireplaces, note room sizes | Mountain views, gourmet kitchen with gas range, subzero fridge, duel ovens and two islands | Master suite with balcony | Indoor heated pool, attached gym, par terre garden, greenhouse, tennis courts | Separate building office or guest house | New 8 stall center aisle barn with office and tack room |Riding ring, new fencing, 200 degree mountain views with unbelievable sunsets.

$8,750,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

$3,690,000

$4,850,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Well protected Fauquier location | 6 bedrooms | 4 full and 2 half baths | 3 fireplaces | Great views | Pool with large flagstone terrace | Large county kitchen | 4-car detached garage with apartment/ office | 9-stall barn | Covered arena | Outdoor ring | 4 stall shed row barn | 51 fenced acres

ahon 703.609.1905

203 River 4 full Gunnite and paddocks,

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

SALEM HILL MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

Well protected Fauquier location

6 bedrooms | 4 full and 2 half baths | 3 fireplaces | Great views | Pool with large flagstone terrace Large county kitchen

4-car detached garage with apartment/office

9-stall barn | Covered arena | Outdoor ring |

4 stall shed row barn | 51 fenced acres

$3,690,000

Margaret Carroll 540.454.0650

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

GAME CREEK

RG

$3,750,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Located in the heart of fox hunting country

3 miles from Middleburg 49 acres Elegant 1940’s brick colonial home | Stable, cottage, apartment, pool and tennis court | Mature trees and sweeping lawn to Goose Creek which surrounds most of the property

$3,300,000

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

HALCYON HILL

RECTORTOWN, VIRGINIA

HALCYON HILL

RECTORTOWN, VIRGINIA

17 acres of rolling pasture land in the village of Rectortown Convenient to both Routes 50 & 66

Newly renovated | Private setting with magnificent mountain views 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 1 half bath, 2 fireplaces Heated pool & spa 2 bedroom guest house |

Large shed & 2-car garage

$2,250,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

OLD ALDIE RECTORY

WOOD HILL ALDIE, VIRGINIA

Historic home circa 1803, in village of Aldie

Originally a parsonage, part of land surveyed by George Washington |Four bedrooms, two full and one half bath, six fireplaces and old wood floors Front and rear porches, garden, in-ground pool, hot tub, entertainment area, gazebo, walkways and patios | Large studio or office | Conservation easement B & B potential

$1,200,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

A remarkable property located within a private enclave just minutes from town | Stone and stucco manor house with main level master suite | 7 additional BR | 5 stone FP | Beautiful gardens, terraces, salt water pool, cabana, carriage house & stable with 2 paddocks | Lovely finishes throughout & sweeping lawn to private trails to Goose Creek | 31 acres | Private, elegant & convenient $2,650,000

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

BUST HEAD ROAD

THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA

82.69 acres | Mostly wooded, mountain views, bold stream in very protected area | Conservation easement | Can not be subdivided Prime Orange County Hunt location | Halfway between Middleburg and The Plains

17 acres of rolling pasture land in the village of Rectortown | Convenient to both Routes 50 & 66 | Newly renovated | Private setting with magnificent mountain views | 4 bedrooms, 4 full bath, 1 half bath, 2 fireplaces | Heated pool & spa | 2 bedroom guest house | Large shed & 2-car garage

$1,100,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

MARKHAM, VIRGINIA

Elmore Farm c. 1820’s on 40 acres bound by Goose Creek Gracious old home with original floors and stone fireplaces, high ceilings and huge back porch | 4+ bedrooms and in-law suite | Bright kitchen with family room addition for today’s living | Great views and open pasture & pond True old Virginia home Sold in AS IS condition

$2,475,000

$725,000

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

rebuilt beams

bedroom multiple

ELMORE FARM

FREED’S BISCUITS:

A LITTLE TASTE OF THE SOUTH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

By Chelsea Rose Moore

Photos by Jennifer Gray

Buttermilk, flour and butter. Three simple ingredients carrying an endless array of possibilities. For Josh Freed, owner of Freed’s Biscuit Company, these ingredients serve as the base for his popular biscuits.

What began as a farmer’s market endeavor for Freed has grown into a pop-up stand at breweries, a popular choice for events, and a catering company for weddings. Biscuit bar, anyone?

Freed’s biscuit brainchildren include novelties such as a biscuit quesadilla, with thinly rolled out biscuit dough, chicken, beef, shrimp, salsa and guacamole. He’s even done the same thing with tacos.

He’s made black and white biscuits, inspired by black and white cookies. He’s created Scotch egg biscuits by frying an egg, wrapping it in sausage, and putting it inside a biscuit. He’s made cinnamon rolls with biscuit dough, chicken pot pies with biscuits, crab cake biscuits with Old Bay, and rosemary biscuits stuffed with buffalo chicken, a carrot

and celery salad, and blue cheese dressing. He’s created a stuffed biscuit, reminiscent of an Italian meat sandwich, by filling spinach and artichoke biscuits with salami, mortadella and ham, tying it together with pickled jalapeños.

His biscuit flavors are endless too. From buttermilk to jalapeño cheddar, French onion soup to everything bagel, there’s something for everyone. He’s even working on a gluten-free biscuit. A quick scroll through his Facebook page will showcase the unending bounds of his creativity and leave you salivating for a taste.

Biscuits had always been a side item for Freed, like the little brother to KFC’s fried chicken. But that all changed one night when he watched Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, which featured a biscuit company. Inspired by the episode, he woke up the next morning and made biscuits and gravy for his family. He knew he’d struck gold.

“I thought, ‘Oh, this is good,’” he said.

From there, he reached out to the town of Warrenton to discuss setting up a booth at their Farmer’s Market. There weren’t any prepared food options at the market, and

he hoped people would be excited about a breakfast sandwich.

He arrived at his first market in April 2018, electric skillet in hand, ready to cook biscuits onsite. He immediately realized the market didn’t have electricity, which meant he needed a generator to put his skillet to use. He didn’t own a generator, so he ran home to make 25 biscuit sandwiches and raced back to sell them at the market. His girlfriend helped distribute biscuits and greet customers.

Freed’s girlfriend Jill Gardner, co-owner and president of recruiting company The Talent Shop, helped Freed get his company off the ground. With a larger-than-life personality, Gardner served as the face of Freed’s Biscuits on Saturday mornings at the market.

Since the initial market two years ago, a lot has changed for Freed and his biscuits. Perhaps most importantly, he now cooks off a flat top at the market and makes hundreds of biscuits. He’s built a loyal following of customers who will stand in line and visit his market stand week after week.

He recently established a partnership with

Biscuits | Page 22

Left page: The stuffed biscuit: a spinach and artichoke biscuit with salami, mortadella and ham, tied together with pickled jalapeños. Left: Josh Freed with his biscuit sandwiches. Right: Two biscuit sandwiches. Buffalo chicken biscuit sandwich pictured on the left. Egg and cheese biscuit sandwich pictured on the right.

Wild Hare Hard Cider. He’ll be serving up his biscuits at all three locations in Warrenton, Middleburg and Leesburg, allowing people to pair cider with biscuit sandwiches.

In March, he’ll be at Ocelot Brewing Company in Dulles cooking breakfast burgers—on biscuits, of course. He’ll still be at the Warrenton Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. His schedule is filled with catering events and weddings, and biscuits can be ordered in large quantities by the dozen.

He hopes to eventually open a brick and mortar, where he can capture the commuter crowd, grabbing a biscuit sandwich on their way to work.

“All the biscuits that I’ve shown you, I have a ton more to offer,” he said, noting that a brick and mortar would be the perfect way to let his imagination run wild.

Creativity with food runs in his genes. He grew up in a self-described “food family.” His dad owned a catering company in the 1980s and later worked as a personal chef for athletes. He expressed his love for family by cooking for them, and even Freed’s school lunches were filled with gourmet items, like pâté and croissants.

“It was very impactful,” Freed said. “Every time you would go to the fridge, there was an abundance of food inside it. Every time you would go to the table, there would be way too much to eat. Food is just a huge part of our lives. Our best times [as a family] are when we are gathered around eating, drinking and hanging out. It always comes back to food.”

He attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University (Rhode Island), spent two years in kitchens throughout Budapest, worked as a personal chef to athletes, and spent 10 years managing operations training for a growing restaurant group in Washington D.C.

“[Food is] my way of showing [my] customers I appreciate them coming out and value them as a person, because that’s how my dad and grandma showed me love, through quality and care in heart-warming food,” he said, his eyes dancing as he talks about food. ML

Find all the details on Freed’s Biscuits by following them on Facebook and Instagram @freedsbiscuits.

Top: Beautiful biscuits from Freed’s Biscuits. Bottom: Cinnamon roll biscuits with a cream cheese icing.

THE BRIGHT FUTURE FOR STEEPLECHASING WITH DR. ALFRED C. GRIFFIN JR.

By Dulcy B. Hooper

Al Griffin is already one very busy man, and with his new role, he’s no doubt about to get even busier.

As has been reported widely throughout the horse world, Griffin was elected president of the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) at the group’s Jan. 17 board meeting, an election that catapults him to a unique po-

sition: the first Virginian to head the governing body since the tenure of the late Randy Rouse in the early 1970s.

This is of particular interest to horse Steeplechase | Page 26

Photo by Joanne Maisano.

Steeplechase | From page 24

aficionados in the Middleburg area, which Griffin describes as the “mecca for jump racing.”

The International Gold Cup alone attracts tens of thousands of spectators, and the Virginia Gold Cup is NSA’s largest meet in terms of attendance. “There are so many in this area tied to steeplechase racing,” he said. “It is so ingrained here. Point-to-points and sanctioned meets are not just races, they are community events.”

Griffin says that he is “really honored to have been elected president of the National Steeplechase Association,” the overseeing body for all jump racing, including Gold Cup and the Middleburg Races. “The National Steeplechase Association is a fairly complicated organization,” he said. “For instance, there are 27 meets, and each one has its own governing body. That individuality is a strength. We have to look at how we move forward while still maintaining and honoring the traditions and individuality of each race.”

Griffin says that he will also be focused on “today’s messaging and communicating with the next generation of race attendees.”

“I haven’t really been in the steeplechase scene long enough to see how it’s changed over the years,” said jockey Emme Fullilove. “But I think that Dr. Griffin’s election will be a very positive change for the future of the NSA.”

Of particular significance to Fullilove is Griffin’s successful efforts to change the rules at the last International Gold Cup, allowing amateurs to ride. “This was especially great for me, as it allowed me to ride in the flat race,” she said. “Hopefully, Dr. Griffin’s election will mean more opportunities for amateur jockeys, which in turn will grow the jockey colony.”

Griffin has already played a major role in ushering in some modern-day changes, including his involvement in the National Steeplechase Association’s move in late 2018 to institute high-definition imagery at all of its race meets. Griffin was also instrumental in the formation of the Virginia Equine Alliance in 2013, and obtaining legislative approval for pari-mutuel racing at the Virginia Gold Cup and the International Gold Cup.

“Al’s role with the NSA brings a different

Steeplechase | Page 27

“We have to look at how we move forward while still maintaining and honoring the traditions and individuality of each race.”

- Griffin

Dr. Alfred C. Griffin Jr. Photo by Jennifer Gray.

Steeplechase

From page 26

aspect to the sport,” said jockey Kieran Norris. “He is at the ground level, after running his own horses, and has a good grasp of what owners and trainers are dealing with.” Norris was the National Steeplechase Association Rider of the Year in 2016. He won the Open Timber Race several years ago at the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point (riding Aero, owned by Griffin), and has won numerous other racing awards.

“At Gold Cup, for instance, Al would walk with us and talk about ground conditions, what we thought about the track,” he said, “He was always very involved in solving problems.”

As the National Steeplechase Association kicks off its 2020 season on March 21, Griffin says he will “strive to foster continued growth of steeplechasing into a bright, sustainable future for our sport, our horsemen, and our race meets.”

His leadership has particular meaning for the Middleburg area. “Steeplechasing has such a long and storied history in our area,” he said. “For instance, The Middleburg Spring Races — 100 years of the same race being celebrated this spring. It should be applauded that they have maintained the mystique and authenticity of the sport throughout that century of racing. So many local people have volunteered over that time to make the races happen. I can think of two and three generations of families who were instrumental then and now.”

JOHN COLES 540-270-0094

large land holdings”

CLEREMONT

MUSTER LANE

$13,000,000

Upperville ~ The Impressive & Historic 1511 acre Estate & Prize Winning Cattle Farm of Cleremont is an assemblage of 3 contiguous farms, which can be purchased separately. Through exceptional management, which is willing to stay, this is some of the most magnificent farmland with 33 verdant pastures, natural water resources and forest, which creates a haven of tranquility.

TULEYRIES

Boyce ~ Exquisite Federal Style Mansion, c.1833, features 12’ ceilings, dramatic curved stairway and 5 en-suite bedrooms. Sited on 406 Acres in 3 parcels with Easement Potential. Built by Joseph Tuley, Jr., later purchased by Graham Blandy, who bequeathed over half of the original estate to the University of Virginia. Estate also includes 3 tenant houses, 12 stall stable with renovated 3 bd. apt. & numerous historic structures.

$5,000,000

The Plains ~ Finely built custom residence on 16 Acres minutes from Middleburg in Prime Orange County Hunt Territory. Designed for Grand Entertaining both inside and outside. The rooms graciously open into one another and lead out to the deep porches, which wrap the home and overlook the pool, grounds, gardens and conservatory. $2,950,000

The Plains ~ 108 gorgeous Acres, This Stately and Historic Estate with its grand rooms is in prime Orange County Hunt Territory, minutes to Middleburg. It also features a pool and pool house, 5 bay garage with office, 2 tenant houses, newly remodeled 11 stall center aisle stable with apt. & office, riding arena and exceptional ride-out to wooded trails and open pastures.

CHUDLEIGH FARM SECTION 2 (Adjacent to OATLAND VIEWS SECTION 1)

$7,250,000

ALDIE ~ 379.75 Acres on the north side of Oatlands Road between Rt. 15 and Snickersville Turnpike. Currently divided into 16 HOMESITES developed under the Low Density Development Option. Homesites range in size from 13.83 Acres – 38.12 Acres. Open Space Easement in place with potential for tax credits. $7,500,000

CHILLY BLEAK

$4,900,000

The Plains ~ Magnificent horse property in the midst of the serene countryside. From the picturesque Young Road two driveways access the 107 acres of Hidden Trail Farm. The first leads to one of the finest indoor arenas surrounded by exquisite ride out. The second is the graceful, parklike drive, which parallels a creek and then gently curves left to the elegant manor home.

Delaplane ~ Spectacular Views! Approximately 250 Acres in 2 parcels. The primary parcel of 142 acres features the 3 BR/3 BA stone home accessed from Moreland Road, 2 tenant homes and numerous supporting structures including a large 4 bay machine shed. The second parcel of 107 acres is on the opposite side of Moreland Road, and currently offers a 2 BR tenant home with potential to build an additional primary dwelling. The 2 parcels may be purchased in total or separately, neither of which may be further divided. $2,426,000

Marshall ~ This 152 acre horse farm features beautiful open gently rolling pastures and fields in prime Orange County Hunt Territory. The historic fieldstone home dates to 1820 with later additions creating a 5 BR / 5 BA home with stone terrace and pool. Two Stables - 15 stalls and 6 stalls, Kraft Walker, 8 paddocks, 6 fields, 3 cottages. The home is perfectly sited for privacy with easy access to I-66 and Rt. 50. VOF Easement. Shared listing with Sotheby’s.

$3,750,000

Delaplane ~ 72 Acre Horse Property in Piedmont Hunt Territory. Features Handsome 7 stall stable perfectly sited for cross ventilation, built by P. J. Williams and features an upscale 1 bedroom + den apartment with screened porch. Generator. Perfect for training Cross County/Eventing. Uphill gallop with good elevation, 100’ x 200’ riding ring with all weather footing, 5 fenced paddocks and 2 run-in sheds. $1,050,000

THE CAVALRY BATTLES

By Heidi Baumstark

It’s called horse country for a reason. Why at one time, horses outnumbered people in Loudoun County, known as the horse and hunt capital of Virginia. From the nation’s oldest horse show (Upperville Colt & Horse Show, 1853), to alluring fox hunts, and famous Washingtonians like the Kennedys, Loudoun continues to entice visitors to its continuous circle of history and horses.

But during the Civil War, horses played a much different, harder role. Instead of horses for pleasure, Loudouners witnessed

pounding hoofs and whinnying cavalry in three battles in the summer of 1863 up and down a ten-mile stretch of U.S. Route 50 between Aldie and Upperville. At that time, the road was called Ashby’s Gap Turnpike; today, it’s John Mosby Highway. It became the site of three cavalry battles known as the prelude to the Battle of Gettysburg, which was the turning point of the Civil War favoring the Union.

In a three-part lecture series titled “Prelude to Gettysburg: Cavalry Battles in Loudoun County,” local historian Richard T. Gillespie, historian emeritus for the Mosby Heritage Area Association (MHAA) and Volunteer Guide at NOVA Parks, offered an

in-depth account of these three battles that erupted in Loudoun from June 17-21, 1863. These battles are often overlooked but proved the worth and fighting power of both northern and southern cavalrymen and their fourlegged mounts.

Gillespie’s first lecture was on Jan. 9 at Cana Vineyards and Winery featuring the Battle of Aldie (June 17, 1863); the second was on Jan. 30 at Mt. Defiance Cider Barn about the Battle of Middleburg (June 19, 1863); and the third was on Feb. 20 at Slater Run Vineyards, which detailed the Battle of Upperville

Battle | Page 32

Cannon at Mt. Defiance Historic Park. Photo by Jennifer Gray.

WOLF DEN

The Plains ~ Nature lovers Paradise! Custom built in 2007, the French Style Country home sits high overlooking Little River and tree tops, absolutely serene. This home provides privacy and security including gated entrance and cameras around home and 4 stall barn with 1 bedroom apartment. The 18.67 Acres are in 2 parcels, the home and barn on 17.05 Acres and additional vacant 1.62 Acre Parcel. Orange County Hunt Territory.

$1,550,000 Rebecca Poston 540-771-7520

THE ROOKERY

Middleburg ~ Charming home (circa 1840), completely renovated with care to preserve its historical integrity. Sited on 7+ acres with spring fed pond, manicured grounds, stone walls & towering trees. Gourmet kitchen & sun room, both with vaulted ceilings. Recreation room with wood burning fireplace, Master Suite and BA, 2 additional BRs and full BA on the second level. Terrace and inground lap pool. The property includes a 3 stall stable, tack room & storage area, a riding ring and four, board fenced paddocks. $1,395,000 Mary Ann McGowan 540-687-5523

POSSUM HOLLOW

Delaplane ~ Estate on 27 acres of rolling countryside with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The all brick 3 level residence features 5 BR / 5 BA, spacious rooms and huge floor to ceiling windows. The grounds include a pool with stone terraces, a center aisle stable, a huge indoor riding arena and a tenant/guest house. Ideally located with easy access to the nation’s Capital. $1,150,000 Mary Ann McGowan 540-270-1124

WINDY RIDGE

Berryville ~ Spacious 1880’s 4 bedroom, 3 bath farm house renovated on 82 secluded acres. Interior details include original heart pine floors, high ceilings, 3 fireplaces, large wrap around porch, new eat-in kitchen and appliances in 2015, 2 offices with built-ins, library, large dining room, living room, Master bedroom with fabulous Master bath. Custom wood siding. 4400 sq.ft. of living space. 45 min to Dulles. 1 DUR.

$979,000 Ann Marstiller 540-270-6224

WILLOWCROFT

Marshall ~ A traditional country home on the outside with a sophisticated, contemporary design within. 3-4 BRs, 2.5 BAs with open Kitchen, Dining Room with original stone fireplace, Living Room with built-ins, bay window and fireplace. Separate Office/Den or 1st Floor Bedroom. New roof, new windows & 4 sets of French doors. Flooring includes blue slate, Carrera marble & hardwoods. Large open flagstone terrace. Extensive landscaping. $960,000 Cricket Bedford 540-229-3201

ARDEN

Marshall ~ Renovated home on 5+ wooded acres surrounded by protected land. Contemporary design with an open floor plan. 4 BR/3 BA, new Kitchen, formal Dining w/fireplace, Living Room w/fireplace, exposed beams and brick. Master Suite has lux Bath, private terrace & unique glassed-in storage room. New roof, bathrooms, hardwood & ceramic tile floors, extensive landscaping. Open deck along entire back of the house. Easy commuter location just minutes to Marshall and I-66.

$799,000 Cricket Bedford 540-229-3201

Middleburg ~ Your choice of two parcels just East of town. Open and rolling 3 or 4 acre lots in an area of lovely homes along Route 50 and picturesque Sally Mill Road which has stone walls and mature trees. Cleared home sites with pastoral views. Ideal commuter location allows for easy access to both Dulles International Airport and Washington DC. Each has 4 BR septic permit, private Access Easement and Restrictive Covenants. $250,000 - $265,000 Cricket Bedford 540-229-3201

Middleburg ~ Furnished 2 BR pool house for rent on a private property. Open kitchen/living room with Cathedral ceiling. 2 small bedrooms each with their private bath. All amenities: dishes, cutlery, linens etc. included. Solarium. Washer/dryer room. Outdoor shower and separate half bath for pool guests. Use of pool negotiable with some extra cost for pool maintenance. Very private. Ideal for one responsible professional, or weekend house. Agent MUST accompany any potential tenant.

$1,700/mo + utilities

Rein Du Pont 540-454-3355

Middleburg ~ Available for the first time in decades, the Thos. Hays & Son Jewelers space is coming for rent. Corner location at the cross streets on Madison and Federal in downtown historic Middleburg. This street has seen a renaissance of sorts! Lots of new shops and restaurants. $1,700/mo Cricket Bedford 540-229-3201

SALLY

19 S. MADISON

Battle | From page 30

(June 21, 1863) at Goose Creek Bridge. Each program was in the vicinity of all three battles, which were sandwiched between the famous battles of Brandy Station (June 9, 1863) and Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863).

On Jan. 30 at Mt. Defiance Cider Barn in Middleburg, Lorraine Moffa, programming coordinator for Loudoun County Public Library, welcomed the packed house of history buffs, adding, “We’re honored to partner with NOVA Parks to provide these programs,” and thanked Mt. Defiance for hosting the event.

Tracy Gillespie (Richard’s wife) is the historic site manager of all of the NOVA Parks properties related to these battles: Aldie Mill (Battle of Aldie), Mt. Defiance Historic Park (Battle of Middleburg), and Goose Creek Bridge (Battle of Upperville), and said, “We’re fortunate that NOVA Parks has the land of these three battles that happened in June 1863.”

Richard Gillespie opened his lecture on the Battle of Middleburg at Mt. Defiance Cider Barn remarking how the combination of history and alcohol make for an interesting pair. He pointed out that this portion of Route 50 “is where we saw some of the heaviest cavalry fighting.” This section of Route 50 after Gilbert’s Corner is called John Mosby Highway for a reason: named after the ever-evasive “Grey Ghost” who paraded along this route during the Civil War causing havoc for the Union and heroic exploits for the Confederates. It’s the location of the second largest cavalry battle in the western hemisphere.

About one mile west of Middleburg is Mt. Defiance Historic Park, a five-acre portion of

core battlefield where the Battle of Middleburg was fought on June 19, 1863, which was the mid-point of the 1861-1865 Civil War. Just ten days prior was the Battle of Brandy Station in Culpeper, known as the largest single cavalry engagement on American soil, and was a major surprise that the Union cavalry was becoming strong and couldn’t be underestimated.

In June 1863, Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart was in Loudoun trying to collect intelligence. He was in the little mill village of Aldie where fighting occurred on June 17, 1863. UVAtrained John S. Mosby knew what his boss, Stuart, needed to know and gathered intelligence at the Beveridge House (today’s Red Fox Inn in Middleburg). Now the Confederates had gained significant intel from the Union, and Mosby took this information back to Stuart. Gillespie added, “And all the maidens came out to see Stuart in the town of Middleburg. They came to get a glimpse of his red hair and bright blue eyes—and to touch his horse’s tail.”

On June 18, troops regrouped on both sides. Stuart’s men buy time and slowed things down. They didn’t want to fight directly in town; so, he abandoned Middleburg and severe fighting broke out near The Plains Road, the location of today’s National Sporting Library and Museum. Confederates moved about one mile west to a property called Mt. Defiance, which includes a cluster of 19th century stone buildings: a tavern, blacksmith shop, and blacksmith cottage, which are all part of Mt. Defiance Historic Park. During the war, the Barton family owned the tavern but were visiting relatives in Baltimore at

Battle | Page 33

Top: Stone tavern at Mt. Defiance Historic Park, sight of the Battle of Middleburg, June 19, 1863. Photo by Jennifer Gray. Middle: Aldie Mill on Route 50 in Aldie, near where the Battle of Aldie was fought on June 17, 1863. Photo by Heidi Baumstark. Bottom: Goose Creek Bridge in Upperville is the location of where the Battle of Upperville was fought on June 21, 1863. Photo by Jennifer Gray.

Battle | From page 32

the time of the battle.

Stuart’s troops fell into place and John Irvin Gregg’s Union brigade was ordered to head west toward Mt. Defiance. The area around the blacksmith shop—at the intersection of the old Zulla roadbed and Route 50—was where the Battle of Middleburg was fought. The conflict intensified by noon on that sweltering June 19, 1863. The Union’s 1st Maine Cavalry were fighting dismounted from their horses, and the outnumbered Confederates were almost overrun by the 1st Maine. There was hand-to-hand fighting, sabers swinging, and pistols and shot guns firing near the blacksmith shop.

Today, a 12-pound Napoleon howitzer cannon stands in the 19th century old Zulla roadbed that the Confederates used as a defensive position. Stacked stone walls bordering Mt. Defiance were strategic to provide excellent cover for Confederate soldiers who were dismounted and in the woods; those stone walls still stand today. Gillespie said, “Both Union and Confederate soldiers were hiding behind stone walls that were left and right along the turnpike. They’re popping up from behind the walls and fighting each other.”

One of those fighters at Mt. Defiance was Heros von Borcke, a Prussian cavalry officer in the Confederate army. “He fell in love with Stuart’s ways. He loved the plume in his hat, so he had to have one, too,” Gillespie added. Though von Borcke was wounded at the Battle of Middleburg by a bullet in his neck while mounted on his horse, he survived, and returned to his native Prussia. The bullet was never removed, and he later died in 1895 as a result of his wound.

Around 6 p.m. on June 19, 1863 a nasty storm rolled in, ending the Battle of Middleburg and resulting in about 400 casualties. Churches became hospitals, including Aldie’s Mt. Zion Church where graffiti by soldiers can be seen on the walls.

The outcome? Gillespie said, “Union cavalry essentially won each of these three battles and showed what we could expect looking ahead. But Stuart succeeded in the campaign because Federal cavalry never accomplished their mission of getting through the [mountain] gaps to discover Lee’s location; so, Lee’s corps passed north unhindered.” Stuart basically screened Lee’s invasion route to the north, sparring with Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton’s Union cavalry. (Stuart and Pleason-

ton each commanded the cavalry corps of their respective armies.)

Against popular opinion, the naming of Mt. Defiance has nothing to do with the Civil War. Instead, the name comes from an earlier battle between two prominent families: the Chinns and the Powells who were feuding in the early 1800s over dividing lines on their land. After court proceedings settling the issue in 1814, the Chinns named their parcel Mt. Recovery to honor the reacquisition of their land; and Burr Powell (son of Middleburg founder, Leven Powell) built on the portion of his tract a house called Mt. Defiance— that decades later—would become the site of the Battle of Middleburg.

The town was named Middleburg since it was the midway point on this major trade turnpike (Route 50)—a toll road—that connected the seaport of Alexandria to the Shenandoah Valley city of Winchester. But originally, Middleburg was known as Chinn’s Crossing, a tiny hamlet in what was still the colony of Virginia with four buildings centered around Chinn’s Ordinary, a tavern built by Joseph Chinn out of local fieldstone. It became a popular stopping point for traveling colonists, and around 1748, was visited by young surveyor, George Washington. A placard on the stone building states the inn was established circa 1728 and is thought to be one of the oldest continuously operated inns in Virginia and the U.S. In 1812 this stone tavern was called Beveridge House, now, the iconic Red Fox Inn. It was here where Stuart met with Mosby and his rangers in June 1863 discussing their war strategy upstairs in a room that today is called the Jeb Stuart Room, while wounded soldiers were cared for in the tavern below after the battles up and down Ashby’s Gap Turnpike.

Caroline Mastin, tasting room manager at Middleburg’s Greenhill Winery & Vineyards, attended the lecture at Mt. Defiance Cider Barn. She grew up in Fredericksburg and loves history. Both of her grandfathers were history professors. She said, “I actually grew up playing on Civil War cannons, and the church I grew up in was a Civil War hospital.” Her husband, Christian Reese, also attended the lecture, and together, they often attend similar programs. Mastin said, “At Greenhill, we’d love to host programs like these; we have so much history on our property; we have Little River running right through our property and it would be a perfect place for these types of events.”

Mark Schroeter of Middleburg works at Leesburg’s Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, built circa 1804. According to the 1860 census, Mrs. Elizabeth O. Carter of Oatlands holds the record for the largest slaveholder in Loudoun County with 128 slaves. Schroeter said, “I didn’t know about the Battle of Middleburg, and I know lots of local history since I work at Oatlands.”

Gillespie ended, “On one of Loudoun’s most travelled roads and one of its most scenic—through the efforts of NOVA Parks, American Battlefield Trust, Mosby Heritage Area Association, and others—we’ve preserved the place where the second largest cavalry battles of the western hemisphere were fought [on Route 50]. These were events that changed the way we do war, events that were the making of the U.S. cavalry that would be critical in winning the Civil War for the federal government. And yet most [people] have no idea that these things exist and can be easily visited. That’s the reason NOVA Parks collaborated with Loudoun County Public Libraries to see this series come to fruition.”

Thanks to dedicated preservation efforts, we can walk the fields and drive the roads where cavalrymen—and their trusted horses—made history. ML

Mt. Defiance Historic Park, located at 35945 John Mosby Highway in Middleburg, is open daily during daylight hours. Visit NOVA Parks or call 703-327-9777 for more information. Mt. Defiance Cider Barn is located at 495 E. Washington Street, Middleburg.

Memorial at Mt. Defiance Historic Park. Photo by Jennifer Gray.

TINKERGARTEN: A CLASSROOM WITHOUT WALLS

By Chelsea Rose Moore

Can you catch the wind?

Imagine teaching your child about the wind. It isn’t visible, but its traces are all around us. It engages our senses; we hear it rustling through leaves, we see it moving branches, we feel it on our faces. But what is it? What if we made a flag to catch it?

How? Let’s find an old sheet, cut it into a triangle, and paint the fabric. Once it’s decorated, we’ll attach the flag to a stick and then head outside.

Give your child the space to experiment with the flag. Hold it up in the wind, spin around with it, dance with it.

Maybe it will become a billowing flag atop an imaginary castle. Maybe it will become a magic wand. Whatever it becomes, it will serve as an activity that engages the senses, cultivates curiosity, and acts as a simple physics lesson.

What if childhood days were filled with more hands-on activities, like sensory-filled nature walks or opportunities to build pinecone palaces for birds?

Tinkergarten is working to make this a reality for families. An organization with chapters across all fifty states, and local groups in and around Loudoun County, Tinkergarten’s goal is to get more families outside together.

Leigh Anne Mullins, a local Tinkergarten

instructor, holds classes on her five-acre Aldie farm. Before having kids, she worked in the ER as a registered nurse, and today she’s a homeschooling mother of five children. Tinkergarten fits beautifully into her homeschool philosophy, one in which learning is not confined to the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but happens all day long.

She has loved watching Tinkergarten equip parents to lead their children in play. “Kids are outside 15 minutes a day and they really should be out four hours a day,” she said, “It’s good for our lungs, our eyes, our imaginations. [TV] doesn’t get our bodies moving or our brains working.” And

Classroom | Page 36

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being outdoors is best for kids’ mental health, she noted.

The Mullins family owns horses, chickens, a pot-bellied pig, and rabbits. Because Tinkergarten classes are held on their farm, the animals are incorporated into classes and kids can pet and observe the animals.

The farm animals add a unique component to Mullins’ classes. “You can go to my class or somebody else’s class down the road and get a different experience,” she said.

Sarah Sheneman is another local instructor and is something of a Tinkergarten-veteran. Currently teaching her 14th Tinkergarten season, she holds classes at the Virginia State Arboretum. She homeschools her three boys and also finds that the curriculum fits perfectly into her homeschool life.

“Tinkergarten was a perfect match for my plan of raising my kids,” she said, “There’s simple play, outdoor time, beautiful materials. The mission is to educate the families about free play. It’s about educating the parents on the difference between free play and guided play because the kids [already] know everything. They know how to play.”

With a fine arts degree and a concentration in fibers, Sheneman weaves, spins, and crochets and makes a lot of her own materials for Tinkergarten classes. She has a background in Waldorf education and early childhood development and loves hands-on learning and artistic activities. She lives near the Paris mountain on five acres, with a duck pond in her yard.

“I think [Tinkergarten] is a great alternative to the traditional preschool classes,” she said. Classes teach motor skills, “from fine motor skills to gross motor skills. Just playing with nature items, mixing mud, pouring water, all of these things are so important to these skills.”

Kids bloom socially too. Sheneman noted that when kids start classes with her, they are saying one or two words at first, but by the time they’ve taken a few classes, they are actively communicating with her and other adults in the class.

Because classes require a parent or guardian to attend with the child, it encourages kids to pick up social cues from parents.

Classes are designed for children 6 months to 8 years old, with a curriculum focused on building confidence, curiosity, and creativity in kids. Tinkergarten’s classes are held outdoors and develop early STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

concepts through play-based learning.

Tinkergarten classes are based around seasonal activities, with each season focusing on a different skill set. Winter 2020 was centered around persistence and grit, whereas spring classes will be about creativity.

The Tinkergarten founders, husband-wife team Brian and Meghan Fitzgerald, noticed that today’s kids are spending more time in front of a screen, rather than playing outside. The Fitzgeralds recognized that play is

simply the best way for young kids to learn. And what better way to help facilitate play than to encourage families to get outside together? ML

Spring classes are enrolling now! To read more about Tinkergarten, register for local classes, or find outdoor activities to do with your child, visit tinkergarten.com.

“Kids are outside 15 minutes a day and they really should be out four hours a day,” she said, “It’s good for our lungs, our eyes, our imaginations.”

Photos courtesy of Tinkergarten.

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“My goal through this exhibit is to tell stories that remind people that there are still wild places left to be discovered, species left to be discovered and to fight for…We can still take action to conserve these spaces and protect them for future generations.”

CALLIE BROADDUS: BACK TO NATURE & STILL WILD

By Kaitlin Hill

At just 29, Warrenton native Callie Broaddus has already built an impressive résumé. With journalist, photographer, National Geographic book designer, board member, and lifelong environmental activist under her belt, her latest project adds founder, professional conservationist, and youth advocate to the list. Launched in August, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust is the culmination of all her experiences, personal and professional, and a return to nature where her multi-faceted career started.

Broaddus credits her early-formed affection for the natural world to her Warrenton upbringing. Broaddus reminisces, “I was lucky enough to have five or six girls in my neighborhood, and we would run around in our meadow with butterfly nets to catch butterflies and watch them. I think that was my first immersion into nature.”

Elementary school at Linton Hall was reinforcing too. She shares, “We had an outdoor class every other week called OCEW, Outdoor Conservation Ecology and Wildlife, and it was extremely formative for me.”

She expands, “We learned about ecosystem health and our local native wildlife. And over the past 20 years, I’ve seen a lot of the nature that I grew up loving disappear. That fostered in me a very deep concern for nature, not only globally but in my hometown.”

For Broaddus, concern quickly turned into action. In fourth grade, she started her first conservation-focused group: The Nature Nuts. She remembers, “There was a Killdeer nest next to the blacktop where kids played knockout…So my Nature Nuts friends and I took it upon ourselves to guard the nest. Back then, I remember thinking that only we had the skills necessary to keep this bird safe.”

She finishes, “Now that I look back, that was a real milestone in my career as a naturalist… I think that impressed upon me the importance of doing what you can to protect your piece.”

One of the skills necessary would prove to be photography, a hobby, like environmental activism, Broaddus picked up in childhood.

“As I kid I would walk through the woods, carrying my little, tiny camera and try to take pictures of woodpeckers. They would wind up being a millimeter in size in the middle of the frame, but it was an obsession from an early age.”

As she matured, her passion for environmental activism and photography only increased. She explains, “I graduated high school in 2008 and went to UVA for four years to get a Bachelor of Science in architecture and a minor in urban and environmental planning, but I knew I didn’t want to be an architect. I wanted to get back to those roots in nature if possible.”

Out of college, she found a natural fit at National Geographic. She remarks, “While I was there, my love of photography grew further…And I realized that photography could

Wild | Page 40

Left: Cloud Forest by Callie Broaddus. Above: Callie Broaddus with the “Still Wild” Exhibit. Photo by Kaitlin Hill.

be a really powerful conservation tool.” She adds, “I started to think about photography more through the lens of how we can save animals and convey conservation methods.”

While at National Geographic, she was asked to join the Rainforest Trust Council in 2018. Not only an honor, this invitation proved to be a step towards launching Reserva. Broaddus admits, “I didn’t understand why they would ask me. I didn’t have ‘doctor’ or ‘former ambassador’ or something fancy in front of my name. So I spent a few good weeks thinking about how I might be able to contribute something valuable to this group that I appreciated so much and felt so grateful to be a part of.”

“It was then that I realized of all the people on that council, I was the only one that had a significant interest in youth and nature. It sort of hit me like a brick that no one had ever asked young people to be a donor constituency in the conservation space.”

“I decided to pursue this idea of creating the world’s first entirely youth-funded nature reserve.”

Armed with a mission, refined photography skills, and the support of her friends, family, and co-workers, Broaddus left her beloved book designing post and pursued Reserva full-time in August 2019.

Broaddus and her 50-person youth council (26 years old and below) are working towards creating the first entirely youth-funded nature reserve, specifically, a 1,219-acre site in the Ecuadorian Chocó Cloud Forest.

“The idea of Reserva is not to be the world’s largest land conservation organization. Our goal is to be the most impactful youth empowerment organization in this space. Through storytelling we can take the impact that we have and amplify it.”

Though her project is undeniably ambitious, Broaddus knows first-hand the power of youth, thanks in part to her sister Finley.

Broaddus shares, “Six years ago, my sister was diagnosed with an aggressively fatal cancer. She was an environmental advocate. She was completely obsessed with fighting climate change. And when she was diagnosed, she realized the toughest thing for her was that she couldn’t be making hands-on changes when

Wild | Page 42

Top: Frog by Callie Broaddus. Bottom: Orchid by Callie Broaddus.

she was confined to a hospital bed.”

Finley started Finley’s Green Leap Forward Fund and set her sights on raising $18,000 by her 18th birthday, all to be donated to combat climate change. She raised $70,000.

Broaddus adds, “Finley passed away on June 2, 2014 after a five-month battle with cancer, but before she died, she knew her fund had reached $100,000 and she was able to give out two grants to organizations fighting climate change.”

She finishes, “While this experience was incredibly heartbreaking and affecting for me, it showed me that young people can transcend boundaries that science has not been able to, and that a young person’s passion can convey urgency where no scientific paper has been able to.”

Like her sister, Broaddus’ most admirable quality isn’t necessarily her ambition, but her optimism when facing difficult times. Broaddus argues that this character trait, so often exhibited by youth, is crucial to success and fundamental to the conservation storytelling approach at Reserva.

“A big part of this whole initiative, of Reserva and my own personal belief system, is that we are more productive at fighting this big challenge, tackling this enormous challenge of ecological crisis, if we are optimistic. And we are more optimistic if we can actually hear stories and see images of our chances of success.”

“When we learn about new species being discovered, that gives us a glimmer of hope. When we learn about landscapes that are so utterly wild that you can still see animals behaving in their real raw, wild, natural ways, that gives us hope.”

Vital to Reserva’s brand of storytelling is making it equitable and accessible. For Broaddus, that means, “empowering youth where perhaps they need to be empowered the most.”

The organization’s One Million Letters campaign is just one example of how Reserva is giving a platform to those who might not otherwise have one. Broaddus collects letters submitted by youth from around the world detailing what they love about nature and why their governments should do more to protect it. Each letter is met with a three-dol-

lar match. Swelling with pride Broaddus explains, “It’s a wonderful thing, for example, to be able to tell an eight-year-old girl in Ecuador that even though she has no money, that we were able to match her letter with three dollars and that her voice is really worth something. That three dollars can protect a classroom-sized area of rainforest. To a kid, that’s enormous.”

The accessibility aspect of Broaddus’ vision of conservation storytelling is largely accomplished by photography. At the start of 2020, Broaddus curated an exhibit of her photos from out in the field to bring the wild into the homes, and more importantly, into the hearts of the general public. Her gallery, which currently resides at Goodwin House in Bailey’s Crossroads, is a collection of inspiring, haunting, and breathtaking images of atrisk wildlife she has captured from her trips around the world.

“My goal through this exhibit is to tell stories that remind people that there are still wild places left to be discovered, species left to be discovered and to fight for…We can still take action to conserve these spaces and

protect them for future generations.”

The exhibit titled “Still Wild” is open to the public and will remain at Goodwin House through March 16, before moving to The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and later, the Janelia Research Campus.

Broaddus shows no signs of slowing down when she addresses her plans for the future. She confesses, “Our dream at Reserva is, in five years, to have a network of youth-funded reserves around the world and a council of 100 youth that represents every corner of the globe.”

With optimism, sheer determination, and conservation experience stretching as far back as adolescence, Broaddus is certainly prepared to keep fighting the good fight.

“If you’re trying to tackle a problem, or go into battle against something as big as the biodiversity crisis that we’re in, you don’t take just one approach head-on. You flank the enemy from multiple sides…We are not just protesting for change. We are leading by example with what little we can. And if we can tell these stories, then perhaps we can influence change at a larger level.” ML

Youth Council Members by Callie Broaddus.

Azer Homeschool

Blue Ridge Middle

Foxcroft School

Freedom High School

Georgetown Visitation

The People of Trinity Episcopal Church

Invite You To Join Us For Holy Week & Easter Worship

April 5 - Palm Sunday

8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II

April 6, April 7, April 8

12:00 pm Holy Eucharist

Thursday, April 9 - Maundy Thursday

6:30 pm Agapé Supper & Holy Eucharist

7:30 pm Stripping of the Altar & Tenebrae Service

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12:00 pm & 7:00 pm Good Friday Liturgy

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6:00 am Community Sunrise Service (Outdoor Chapel at Trinity Church)

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FOREVER GOURMET

MAKES CONJURING MAGICAL CULINARY EXPERIENCES LOOK SIMPLE

Story by Dulcy B. Hooper

Atticus Lyon and Roberta Marcenaro-Lyon collect extraordinary experiences the way some people collect stamps. The pair have traveled the globe, meeting and mingling with world-class chefs, hoteliers and restaurateurs. Their background was perfect training for founding Forever Gourmet, the couple’s culinary experience business, headquartered in Middleburg.

While Forever Gourmet has years of experience staging exclusive culinary events in the U.S. and Europe, it had never done so on a mass, commoditized scale. That, however, changed when Lyon realized that an opportunity existed for a company to take unique experiences and make them broadly accessible.

“There are a lot of experience platforms out there, but they all suffer from the same

problem,” he said. “The inventory is largely identical. Because most of these sites are aggregators, they list the same uninspired mass-market experiences – foodie walking tours, pasta-making classes or trips to overcrowded tourist landmarks.”

Lyon said while that may have moved the needle five years ago, today’s consumers are much too discerning for watered-down experiences.

“It’s the ‘Instagram effect,’” he said. “When you’ve already seen your friends share a similar experience, it loses part of its impact. Travel and culinary experiences are social currency now, and routine, touristy events are devalued. Think of it as experiential inflation - what was unique and compelling yesterday may not resonate as much today.”

So how did one small Middleburg company crack the code to creating truly memora-

ble experiences at scale?

“We’re not a group of software developers who built a marketplace to aggregate listings,” Lyon said. “We are deeply steeped in the culinary world. My wife, Roberta, was practically born in her mother’s restaurant in Liguria, Italy. We’ve been staging events with great chefs for years.”

Lyon said this history is critical not only in terms of designing exclusive experiences, but in executing them.

“We know the kinds of experiences people want, because we’ve created so many of them. Now, through our global marketplace, we are able to do it at scale. We’re working with some of the leading names in the food, hospitality, and travel industries to create extraordinary experiences that people can book directly through Forever Gourmet.”

Gourmet | Page 46

Dishes Prepared by Chef Cerea.

P R I V A T E E V E N T S

C h o o s e f r o m o u r B a r r e l

R o o m , M i n i B a r , C l u b H o u s e , o r C o n f e r e n c e R o o m s .

C E L E B R A T I O N S

B o o k y o u r n e x t w e d d i n g o r r e h e a r s a l d i n n e r w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f o u r

e x p e r i e n c e d e v e n t s t e a m .

H O R S E S

B o o k a c a r r i a g e r i d e o r

m i n i a t u r e h o r s e s f o r y o u r

n e x t c e l e b r a t i o n .

One of their extraordinary experiences is happening at Salamander Resort & Spa, a regular partner with Forever Gourmet. This event, held March 6-8, will feature fashion icon Anna Fendi and Chef Enrico (Chicco) Cerea of three-starred Da Vittorio. (Original plans had included Chef Bobo Cerea, Chicco’s younger brother who is also with Da Vittorio.) Chef Cerea will cook two six-course gourmet meals, host a cooking class, and prepare a gourmet brunch. All meals are designed to be perfectly paired with wines from Anna Fendi’s new wine collection.

“Meeting, cooking and eating with Chef Cerea is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Lyon said. “Da Vittorio is one of only 11 restaurants in Italy with three Michelin stars, and the brothers are among Italy’s most celebrated culinary personalities. And Anna Fendi – while she’s best known for building the House of Fendi, she’s also a world-class wine-maker. Her wine collection has been extremely well received, and the opportunity to enjoy these wines with a perfectly paired meal from one of the world’s most

talented chefs is bound to be nothing short of incredible.”

For Atticus and Roberta Marcenaro-Lyon,

however, it’s just one more in a long line of unique experiences they are delighted to share. ML

“Meeting, cooking and eating with Chef Cerea is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Lyon said. “He and his brother are among Italy’s most celebrated culinary personalities. And Anna Fendi – while she’s best known for building the House of Fendi, she’s also a world-class wine-maker.”

Gourmet | From page 44

Left: Anna Fendi. Right: Chef Chicco Cerea.

LET’S GO TO THE RACES!

Written by Kristin Noggle

Photographed by Karen Monroe & Doug Gehlsen of Middleburg Photo

If you like early spring weather, casual tailgating, serious horsepower, and beautiful mountain views, you’ll love Point-toPoint races! Enjoy the best outdoor spectator sport in the Mid-Atlantic every weekend this spring. For those new to racing, let’s discuss what it is, why you should attend, and how to make the most of your first experience, especially if you have never thought of owning tweed or Wellies.

What Is It?

Point to Points, abbreviated as P2Ps, are family and single-friendly sporting events with roots in the 18th century Irish countryside. Back then, a few farmers would race each other on their best horses from point A,

a church, to point B, another church steeple in the distance. They would jump hedges, walls, ditches and whatever else was in the way. Spectators might include their friends from the pub and a few sheep. The modern version is an afternoon of racing around a loop in an old cattle field, making it easier to sit or stand in one place and see most of the action.

For the last 100 years in the United States, P2Ps’ rustic settings have been in Virginia’s rural Loudoun, Fauquier, Clarke or Rappahannock Counties. Every weekend starting March 14, the first race of the day starts at 12:30 p.m. This is called the post time. The six to eight races on the card, or schedule, run every 30 minutes. Racegoers can buy tailgate spots in advance, park in rows along the rail, and lay out food and drink, or show up to graze, bringing a bottle or plate of something to contribute.

The Race Itself

Each race consists of 4 to 12 gorgeous Thoroughbreds, 1200 pounds of rippling muscle, flying past at 30 mph, finessed into steering by wiry men and women with American Ninja Warrior level fitness skills. They eagerly attack the rolling courses, galloping and leaping over split-rail fences, stone walls and plastic shrubbery, up hills and down. Battling the sometimes-blustery conditions, they rip around a loop for 3 miles, with an announcer narrating the action from a tower in the middle. Near the finish line, you can see the grit and determination on the jockeys’ faces. The announcer starts speaking quickly and the excitement in his voice grows. The crowd starts whooping as their favorite drives to the finish.

Races | Page 49

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO ATTEND ONE OF THE POINT TO POINT RACES THIS SEASON

Races |

From page 48

How to Attend

If you are single, the best way to attend a P2P for the first time is to gather some friends, reserve a tailgate spot and pack a few beers, chairs, and appetizers. You can get to know the people at the spots next to you and have a base for refills if you cruise around or go to the paddock in between races. The paddock is where the horses circle and jockeys get on before each race.

If you don’t want to arrive by noon to park without running over the crowds in between tailgates, eat lunch at home or stop on the way, and bring beverages and plastic cups. Glass is discouraged where a horse might end up stepping on it. You can walk around with a beverage, but general parking may not be convenient to the spectator area. Sometimes there are food trucks, but not always.

The same holds for families: if you don’t have a tailgate to go to, bring snacks and drinks.

General parking is $30-$40 per car, paid by cash as you drive in. There is no pavement, but there may be mud, bumps and rocks. Bring the appropriate vehicle or convince a friend who owns one to provide the transportation.

If you plan to follow the action at all, buy a five-dollar program.

What to Wear

From boots to gloves to sunscreen, plan on layering up. It’s Virginia, which means the weather could change every 30 minutes. Remember, it will be 5 degrees colder here than in D.C. If it warms up, you can always take layers off. Being cold out in the open is no fun.

The Scene

Friends hangout together at tailgates. Serious fans consult their programs and jump up and down at the finish of their favorite horse or jockey. People of all ages, in a sea of tweed, jeans and ball caps, munch on bruschetta, brownies, fried chicken and charcuterie. There are strollers, octogenarians looking ready to hop on and ride a race, teenagers sporting striped boots and the latest puffer jackets, and groups of urban ex-pats and horse country natives. You’ll see well-behaved dogs and the occasional goat on leashes.

Why Go?

Attending a P2P feels like sitting in an Irish pub during a soccer match, surrounded by hundreds of people aged 9 weeks to 95 years old. But instead of a screen, there is grass under your feet, beautiful countryside to admire, and delicious food and drinks. You will feel like a veteran by the time April 18 rolls around, the first local not-so-casual race meet in Middleburg. The people are nice, and the people-watching can be fun. Oh, and there are horses. ML

Visit centralentryoffice.com for the full schedule and contact info.

POINT TO POINT RACE SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 | 8:30 A.M.

SUNDAY, MARCH 29 | 1 P.M.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 | 1 P.M.

Rappahannock Hunt Point to Point

The Hill, Boston, Va.

540-229-7752 | 540-270-8580

rappahannockhunt.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 | NOON

Warrenton Hunt Point to Point

Airlie Race Course, Warrenton, Va. 540-270-1730

warrentonhunt.com

Piedmont Fox Hounds Hunter Pace Events Salem Course, Upperville, Va. 410-790-5359

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 | 1 P.M.

Piedmont Fox Hounds Point to Point Salem Course, Upperville, Va. 540-592-7100

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 | 9 A.M.

Orange County Hounds Hunter Pace Events Locust Hill Farm, Middleburg, Va. 540-295-5141

Orange County Hounds Point to Point Locust Hill Farm, Middleburg, Va. 540-687-6605

pippymcc@gmail.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 4 | NOON

Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point

Ben Venue Farm, Ben Venue, Va. 571-276-0702 | 540-631-8607

olddominionhounds.weebly.com

Races | Page 53

Photo by Joanne Maisano

Races | From page 52

SUNDAY, APRIL 5 | 1 P.M.

Old Dominion Hounds

Hunter Pace Events

Ben Venue Farm, Ben Venue, Va. 540-270-3585

olddominionhounds.weebly.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 11 | NOON

Rappahannock Hunt Hunter Pace Events Pine Rock Farm, Reva, Va. 703-989-9545 | 540-229-7752 rappahannockhunt.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 | NOON

Loudoun Hunt Point to Point

Oatlands Plantation, Leesburg, Va. 703-431-8861

loudounhunt.com/point-to-point-races.html

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 | 9 A.M. Blue Ridge Hunt Hunter Pace Events

Fox Spring Woods Farm, Boyce, Va. 540-539-5215

BlueRidgeHunt.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 | 1:30 P.M. Middleburg Spring Races

Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Va. 540-687-6545 | 504-687-6595 middleburgspringraces.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 | 1 P.M. Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point Woodley Farm, Berryville, Va. 540-636-0500 | 540-974-0500 blueridgehunt.org

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 | 1 P.M.

Warrenton Hunt Hunter Pace Events Clovercroft/Millpoint Farm 540-219-6562 warrentonhunt.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 25 | 10 A.M.

Loudoun Fairfax Hunt Hunter Pace Events

Kennels at Overbrook, Hamilton, Va. 703-887-2711

loudounfairfaxhunt.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 25 | 1 P.M.

Foxfield Spring Races

Charlottesville, Va. 434-293-9501

foxfieldraces.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 26 | 1 P.M.

Middleburg Hunt Point to Point Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Va. 540-338-4366 | 540-454-2991

SATURDAY, MAY 2 | 1 P.M.

Virginia Gold Cup Races

Great Meadow, The Plains, Va. 540-347-2612

vagoldcup.com

Finding Poetry in Animals: Poetry Reading & Workshop

Thursday, March 12 | 6 - 8pm

$5 Nonmembers | Free for NSLM Members

Poetry is a special kind of language and can o en render meanings behind the everyday surfaces of our encounters. Dr. Jane Desmond, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, hosts a workshop exploring how poetry about animals can serve a way of knowing based on encounters across species. A reading and discussion of selected poems is complemented by a hands-on workshop where participants “ nd” their own poems in existing texts.

Simple instructions, some magic markers, and copies of sample texts from the archives will guarantee success in nding the poetic in the everyday.

MICHELIN STAR COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF CHICCO CEREA AT SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA

MARCH 7 | 12 P.M. | salamanderresort.com

Learn the ins and outs of Italian cuisine from Italian Michelin Star Chef Chicco Cerea. Chef Cerea joins Salamander Resort & Spa for an exciting Michelin Star Chef Weekend on March 6-8 in partnership with Forever Gourmet. Chef Cerea will host two six-course dinners, cooking class, a wine launch with Anna Fendi, as well as a farewell brunch. $120 per person. Reservations required, please call 540-326-4070.

HEIRLOOM SEED STARTING WORKSHOP AT THE MIDDLEBURG COMMUNITY CENTER

MARCH 9 | 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. middleburgcommunitycenter.com

Need help getting your garden started this spring? Our workshop will leave your garden fully equipped with heirloom seedlings. The $50 ticket price includes 72 cell seed starter tray, micro-greens tray, plant mister, and boxed lunch. Two classes are available, the morning workshop is from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and the evening workshop is from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Call MCC with questions 540-687-6373.

BIZ BUZZ AT SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA

MARCH 10 | 5:30 – 7:30 P.M. visitmiddleburgva.com/biz-buzz/

Biz Buzz is a monthly networking event held by the Middleburg Business and Professional Association. These events bring local business owners and professionals together to network, provide local businesses with an opportunity to showcase their facilities and services, and help to spread the word about interesting news and events. Please RSVP via Facebook or by e-mail to info@visitmiddleburgva.com. Members free, future members $10.

NOT IN OUR BACKYARD: HOW TO FIGHT SPOTTED LANTERNFLY WITH SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS

MARCH 11 | 7 – 8:30 P.M.

facebook.com/SustainabilityMattersVA

Spotted Lanternfly, arguably the worst invasive insect to enter Virginia in 150 years, has now spread from Frederick County to Clarke. Learn how to ID, report sightings, and slow the spread of this terrible new pest. Presented by Sustainability Matters, Virginia Cooperative Extension, United States Department of Agriculture, and Virginia Department of Forestry. Registration is required. $5 Sustainability Matters & FOSA Members/$10 Non-Members. Held at the State Arboretum of Virginia.

FINDING POETRY IN ANIMALS: POETRY READING AND WORKSHOP WITH DR. JANE DESMOND AT THE NATIONAL SPORTING LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

MARCH 12 | 6 – 8 P.M. | nationalsporting.org

Dr. Jane Desmond, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, leads a workshop exploring how poetry about animals can serve as a kind of ethnographic lens, a way of knowing based on encounters across species. Light refreshments and drinks provided. $5 admission, free for NSLM members. RSVP at info@nationalsporting.org or 540-687-6542 x 4.

WILLIAM WOODWARD OPENING RECEPTION AT LONG BRANCH HISTORIC HOUSE

MARCH 14 | 6 – 8:30 P.M. | visitlongbranch.org

The Galleries at Long Branch are thrilled to share the extraordinary work of legendary local painter, William Woodward. “RECENT AND RETROSPECTIVE” Drawings and Paintings 1967-2020 by William Woodward will be on exhibit from March 2 through April 27. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served with music by Bergamot Rose.

ST. PATRICK’S ARCHERY TOURNAMENT AT SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA

MARCH 14 | 1 P.M. | salamanderresort.com

Test your luck with our family friendly archery tournament. Teams of 2-4 people can compete in this St. Patrick’s Day archery tournament. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced archer, all levels are welcome to compete. $50 per team. For reservations or more information, please call 540-326-4060.

IRISH COCKTAIL CLASS AT SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA

MARCH 14 | 2 P.M. | salamanderresort.com

Get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with a class all about Irish spirits. In this hands-on class, you will create three classic cocktails each featuring a different Irish whiskey. $89 per person. Reservations required, please call 540-326-4070.

SPRING BOUQUET ARTISTS’ RECEPTION AT THE BYRNE GALLERY

MARCH 14 | 5 – 8 P.M. | byrnegallery.com

The Byrne Gallery is proud to present Spring Bouquet, an exhibition by three local artists who are all new to the Gallery. Each uses a different medium in their floral paintings and expresses color in their own unique way. The exhibit runs from March 4th – 29th, with the reception for the artists on March 14. The exhibition and reception are both open to the public and everyone is cordially invited to attend.

LOVE LOUDOUN: A WEDDING SHOWCASE

MARCH 15 | 1 – 5 P.M.

visitloudoun.org/weddings

The Love Loudoun Wedding Showcase puts a spotlight on Loudoun County’s extraordinary community of wedding professionals and venues. This high-touch showcase at West Belmont Place features a VIP hour, fashion show, and much more! General Admission Tickets are $10; VIP tickets are $25. For questions, contact Dana Henry, at 703-6692007 or henry@visitloudoun.org.

MAGNIFICENT MUSIC TO AWAKEN SPRING AT EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH’S PARISH HOUSE

MARCH 15 | 3 P.M. | emmanuelmiddleburg.org

As part of Emmanuel Church’s At The Parish House series, the Heimat String Quartet will perform in Middleburg. Reservations are recommended, but not required; call 540-687-6297. A donation of $10 is suggested, but not required.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION AT L’AUBERGE PROVENCALE

MARCH 16 | 5 – 8 P.M. | laubergeprovencale.com

It must be the luck of the Irish, our annual celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is back and better than ever! Our renowned bistro menu will be featuring Irish favorites and don’t forget the beer flights. Then jig the evening away with lively music provided by the Brogue Rogues. Call to make a reservation 540-837-1375.

“RUSSIAN REFLECTIONS” WITH THE ILLINOIS ART TRIO AT MIDDLEBURG UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MARCH 22 | 4 – 6 P.M. | middleburgconcerts.com

Music will come alive in a performance by violinist Aaron Jacobs from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Russian pianist Tatiana Shustova, and cellist Amy Catron from Millikin University. The Trio will perform renowned mid-20th century works by Russian composers.

Tickets are $20 per person. Students 18 and under are free. For more information call 540-592-1660 or email middleburgconcerts@gmail.com.

WINEMAKER’S DINNER AT CHRYSALIS VINEYARDS

MARCH 27 | 7 – 9 P.M. | chrysaliswine.com

The first ever winemaker’s dinner at The Ag District, this event will feature a delicious four-course meal created by our chef, Keaton Beus. It will incorporate cheese made right here on the farm, as well as wines selected by our winemaker Jake Blodinger to pair with the dinner. Tickets are $90. Reserve your seat today.

MIDDLEBURG WELLNESS DAY

MARCH 28 | 10 A.M. – 3 P.M.

middleburgva.gov/306/Wellness-Day

Join the Middleburg’s Go Green Committee for their annual Wellness Day at the Middleburg Community Center. There will be vendors focusing on health and wellness, as well as expert speakers talking about topics related to brain health. Make sure to participate in one (or all) three of the “Walk Middleburg” routes!

YOGA FOR WOMEN AT THE MIDDLEBURG LIBRARY

MARCH 28 | 2 – 3 P.M. | library.loudoun.gov/Middleburg

Relax and replenish with yoga centered on women’s health and wellness including PMS, menopause, breast health, and mindfulness for anxiety. Experienced and beginners welcome. Bring your yoga mat or sit in a chair. Shakta Khalsa is an E-RYT 500, the highest-level designation by Yoga Alliance.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE ‘BURG

APRIL 2 | 7 P.M. | shakespeareintheburg.com

The seventh Shakespeare in the ‘Burg theater festival will be held April 2 and April 5 with a performance of Imogen (aka Cymbeline) and performances of winning plays from the international one-act playwriting competition. Imogen will be presented on April 2 at 7 p.m. A champagne brunch, with performances of the winning one-act plays, will be on April 5 at 11 a.m. Performances will be held at the Hill School’s Sheila Johnson Center for the Performing Arts.

UPPERVILLE GARDEN CLUB DAFFODIL SHOW

APRIL 7 | 2 – 5 P.M. | uppervillegardenclub.com

Celebrating its 57th year, the Upperville Garden Club in conjunction with the American Daffodil Society, will host a major display of splendid daffodils at the beautiful Buchanan Hall. The 2020 Theme “Birds of a Feather” should result in exquisite artistic entries. Admission to this event is free to the public. Entries are accepted from 8 to 10:30 a.m. with doors opening to the public from 2 to 5 p.m. ML

Jump into Spring at the 100th Running of the MIDDLEBURG SPRING RACES APRIL 18, 2020

Glenwood Park Racecourse — Middleburg, VA

Post Time 1:00pm

Get your tickets today! MiddleburgSpringRaces.com 540-687-6545

Please

A weekend shopping event to benefit the Middleburg Spring Races.

4-8pm featuring light refreshments

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