January 2014 Magazine

Since 1988–Priceless

January 2014

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Road Trip

Personality Profile

Grapevine

FROM THE BAY TO THE BLUE RIDGE

BOB HARVEY

ALBEMARLE CIDERWORKS

2013 in Review

A Legend in His Own Mind

A Place with Pressing Concerns oldtowncrier.com

Business Profile

THE HOUR

Vintage Cocktailware in Old Town

Across the Bridge

NATIONAL HARBOR Ringing in the New Year

Landini’s

Setting TheZAGAT Standard In Old Town For2006 Over 36 Years AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

AND THE PAST 15 YEARS

115 King Street Old Town Alexandria 115 King Street 703-836-8404 Old Town Alexandria landinibrothers.com 703-836-8404

G - 11 pm N I RK :30

PArday 5 T E AL atu

V y&S da

Fri

Franco and Noe welcome you!

Happy New Year from Our Family to Yours

COME FOR THE FUN, STAY FOR THE FOOD! Old Town’s Favorite Raw Bar Featuring the Freshest Shellfish in Virginia Fish Market has continued to rise above the tide with its winning recipe for success–good, fresh seafood, excellent service and a great location.

Such dedication to high quality and customer service has helped launch Fish Market as an Old Town landmark since 1976!

105 & 107 King St. Old Town Alexandria

703.836.5676 fishmarketva.com

Valet Parking Friday & Saturday 5-11 pm

Eat Fish, Drink Beer, Live Longer!

january’14 36

A Division of Crier Media Group 112 South Patrick Street Alexandria, Va. 22314 phone: 703. 836. 0132 office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com Published the first week of every month.

Worth waiting for!

PUBLISHER Bob Tagert MARKETING & ADVERTISING Lani Gering Bob Tagert SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE Laura Parker DESIGN & PRODUCTION Electronic Ink 9 Royal Street, SE Leesburg, Va. 20175 CONTRIBUTORS Chris Anderson Vincent Arrunategui Peggie Arvidson Sarah Becker F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Doug Coleman Ashley Denham Busse Jaime Elliott Doug Fabbioli Nicole Flanagan Lani Gering Elizabeth Jones Frances Killpatrick Miriam Kramer Genevieve LeFranc Julie Reardon Chester Simpson Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Neil Williamson Molly Winans Sylvia Winterling

43

18 A Bit of History

8

First Blush

43

Pets of the Month

13 12

After Hours

11

Fitness

42

Points on Pets

Art & Antiques

15

From the Bay…

22

Publisher’s Notes

Behind the Bar

32

From the Trainer

41

Resolutions by the Numbers

Business Profile

5

Gallery Beat

14

Road Trip

20

2 3

Caribbean Connection

18

Go Fish

40

Single Space

45

Chef’s Special

35

Grapevine

36

Spiritual Renaissance

26

Civil Discourse

9

High Notes

10

The Last Word

17

Dining Guide

28

National Harbor

46

To the Blue Ridge

24

Dining Out

30

On the Media

3

Urban Garden

Exploring Virginia Wines

38

On the Road

1

Virginia Wine Trails

39

Personality Profile

4

Winter Time Blues

27

Financial Focus

6

7

© 2014 Crier Media Group, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The Old Town Crier is published monthly and distributed to selected Alexandria residents, hotels, restaurants and retail shops. Also distributed in the Annapolis, Fredericksburg, Blue Ridge and Washington, DC areas as well as St. John, USVI.

About the cover Small log building in Fredericksburg, Va. after 2009 snow storm. photo: Bob Tagert

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at facebook.com/oldtowncrier

Old Town Crier

On the road with OTC Tina Jones strikes a pose in London with the Old Town Crier in hand, catching up on some favorite reading! Tina and her husband Braun are long-time Alexandria residents—25 years—and keep their boat/trawler just a block from the London Tower Bridge at St Katherine’s dock.

If you would like to see your picture here, take the OTC with you on your next trip, snap a high resolution photo and send it along with information for the caption to office@oldtowncrier.com.

January 2014 | 1

PUBLISHER’S NOTES BOB TAGERT

Stop by the real estate lounge & design center to find out why @home real estate was awarded RISING STAR by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

“

“

Buying, Selling, Renting?

Make yourself @home!

RISING STAR ALEXANDRIA

111 south alfred street | 703.791.1167 www.AtHomeDCmetro.com

Old TOwn Shoe & luggage Repair • Serving Alexandria for over 17 years • Shoe & Luggage Repair • New Luggage

W

ell, another milestone met. With this issue we begin our 27th year of publishing the Old Town Crier, and, like that little log building on this month’s cover, we have weathered the storm. It hasn’t been easy, but it sure has been fun! Starting with no investment money and no business plan, we still made it work, and I think that was because all of our friends continued to encourage us, even when others tried to deny us.

We have been lucky to have had inspired writers who have taken pen to paper each month, month in and month out, and produced articles worth reading. Our covers, thanks to many local photographers, have always been beautiful. And clearly we could not have accomplished this, or survived over the past 26 years, were it not for our advertisers and you, our readers, both to whom we are indebted.

The years ahead are going to be exciting times. With our new web/blog version and

Old Town Farmers Market

Market Square • 301 King St. Sat. 5:30 - 11 a.m. year round free parking in Market Square garage during market hours

824 King Street Old Town Alexandria, Virginia 703.299.0655 Mon-Fri 7:30 am-7 pm • Sat 9 am-5 pm 2 | January 2014

People who come to Alexandria on Saturday mornings find themselves in a busy plaza where local farmers and artists have been selling their products since 1753. Old Town Alexandria’s Market Square is thought to be one of the nation’s oldest continually operating farmers markets, serving as a primary source of meat, dairy, fish, fruits and vegetables for Alexandrians. George Washington sent

Facebook page, we have truly entered the digital age, while maintaining the warmth and feel of a regional publication. The best of all worlds, I would say.

The lay of the land is going to change over the next few years. With the MGM Casino Resort slated to open in 2016 across the Potomac River from Old Town, we can expect to see more visitors each year. By that time Alexandria should be well on its way to implementing a new waterfront plan. Check out the rendering of the new casino in the National Harbor section at the back of this publication.

My deepest thanks to all of you who, over the years, have made the Old Town Crier something to be proud of. Thanks.

Don’t forget Restaurant Week January 17 to 26. Check out our restaurant week ad to find a new restaurant to try.

his produce from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today, the market offers folks a way to reconnect to the past, while participating in an ongoing local and national tradition.

Del Ray Farmers Market

Corner of East Oxford & Mount Vernon avenues Sat. 8 a.m. - Noon year round

The Del Ray Market is producer grown, with fresh vegetables and fruits in season.

All year round this market offers meats, eggs, fresh pasta and sauces, Amish cheese, yogurt, bakery goods, eggs, jams and jellies, fancy nuts and bakery goods.

Local Farmers Markets Old Town Crier

ON THE MEDIA LAURA PARKER

Mobile vs. Responsive What’s right for your business?

T

hroughout 2013 the first question on any company’s mind was how do I make a website and is it helping me attract customers? To answer this question, let’s turn to the most recent statistics on Internet usage. A full 85 percent of American adults, age 18 years or older, access the Internet on a daily basis.

Another 63 percent of American adult cell phone owners primarily use their phones to search the Internet, while, 34 percent only use their phone to access the web. These statistics, accompanied with the effects of Google’s latest algorithm, Hummingbird, has increased the importance of a company’s mobile website.

But what type of website will best benefit your company?

Responsive Web Design (RWD)

RWD websites are designed to create the optimal user viewing experience across a multitude of both desktop and mobile devices. Easy reading, a minimum of resizing, scrolling, and simple navigation are the most prominent features. Most importantly, a responsive website is a singular site, which has the capability to simultaneously adjust to any device, without any help from the user.

In short, say hello to a responsive site and goodbye to the following prompt: “Do you want to view our mobile or desktop site?”

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for 2014 Losing Weight Getting Organized Spending Less, Saving More Enjoying Life to the Fullest Staying Fit and Healthy Learning Something Exciting Quitting Smoking Helping Others in Their Dreams Falling in Love Spending More Time with Family

2014

Mobile Friendly

Mobile friendly websites have been specifically designed to be viewed on a tablet or mobile device. They are typically a streamlined version of a desktop site. The most important company information is displayed on a mobile site in an easy-to-operate layout. A mobile site is separate from its desktop partner. As such, a business must pay for the design, maintenance, and updates to both their desktop and mobile sites.

Our staff has 3 generations of experience to assist you in your lamp and lamp shade needs!

1207 King Street Old Town Alexandria 703.549.4040 www.lamplighterlamps.com

Understand Your Audience

When choosing a responsive or mobile site, you must understand why people use your website. This understanding will enable you to more successfully determine what features will most benefit your users. In the end, an acute sense of user awareness, accompanied by a well-designed website for mobile platforms will help you achieve your website goals.

To learn more about the pros and cons of responsive and mobile websites, please read the full article which is available at www. oldtowncrier.com.

Subscribe today and enjoy every issue of the Old Town Crier at home. Fill out this form, enclose a check for $25 (12 issues) and drop it in the mail to: Old Town Crier, 112 South Patrick Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Name _______________________________________________

City/State/Zip _________________________________________ less Since 1988–Price

From the Bay to

the Blue Ridge

June 2013

Cicada The 17-Year Locust Is

Back!

Personality Profile

MILT & JON PETERSON Harbor

The Men Behind National Business Profile

DISCOVERSEA MUSEUM SHIPWRECKTreasures Hidden on Fenwick Island, DE Grapevine

LOVINGSTON & WINERY VINEYARD County, VA Gem A Nelson

Road Trip

HAMPTON & VIRGINIA BEACH, VA Fun in the Sun!

Special Feature

CREEK PARKER’SGone Right

Something in Calvert County, MD

oldtowncrier.com

News Year’s Resolution Statistics Americans who usually make new year’s resolutions Americans who infrequently make new year’s resolutions Americans who absolutlely never make new year’s resolutions People who are successful in achieving their resolution People who have infrequent success People who never succeed and fail on their resolution each year

get your !

Address ______________________________________________

Laura Parker is a full-time freelance writer and marketing guru. For more marketing tips or to schedule a marketing advice session please contact her at parke425@gmail.com

Data 45% 17% 38% 8% 49% 24%

People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions

New year’s resolutions by the numbers Old Town Crier

The Lamplighter

monthly fix

Type of Resolutions (Percent above 100% because of multiple resolutions) Self Improvement or education related resolutions Weight related resolutions

Money related resolutions Relationship related resolutions

Data 47% 38% 34% 31%

Age Success Rates Data People in their twenties who achieve their resolution each year 39% People over 50 who achieve their resolution each year 14% Length of Resolutions Resolution maintained through first week Past two weeks Past one month Past six months

Data 75% 71% 64% 46%

Source: University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology, published 12-13-2013

January 2014 | 3

Personality profile SYLVIA WINTERLING

A

fter a long hiatus, Bob Harvey, has returned to the local restaurant scene as the general manager of Riverbend Bistro in Hollin Hall.

Bob has a tenured and well-founded perspective of the evolving life of restaurants and customers over the past thirty-five years in Alexandria, as he was one of the original bartenders at Chadwicks when it opened in Old Town Alexandria in 1979.

laughed and said first of all Chadwick’s listed only two choices on their wine list; Lancers Vin Rose and Mateus and no one talked about Virginia wineries. He claims that today’s bars have got to offer both national and international selections to customers including at least a couple of the 241 Virginia wines to be competitive.

He states that dining guests today are usually sophisticated in their knowledge of both wine and food and the proliferation of food shows and

it successful. That’s what attracted him to working with owners Bill and Caroline Ross at Riverbend.

Soon after marrying and having two children, Bob decided that restaurant life wasn’t conducive to family life and he left to seek other employment.

He set up restaurants housed in ice skating rinks and sold real estate among other jobs, but the goal was to be flexible with his schedule especially after the death of his wife and he became a single parent. Now that his

Bob Harvey Bar and restaurant legend Bob claims not to be burdened by higher education. He tried college but realized he wasn’t a “good attender” and his interest in a young woman led him to working in a restaurant to be close to her. The relationship didn’t last, but his passion for restaurant life remained constant. He honed his skills as a bartender in two prestigious restaurants in Georgetown, Clyde’s and Nathan’s. In the 70’s Georgetown was the dining hotspot with more options and diversity for customers than Alexandria offered. In fact there were practically no dining choices in Old Town west of Washington Street.

When asked to describe the differences between dining out today and dining out thirty years ago, Bob 4 | January 2014

gourmet magazines and websites have educated the public about food choices and preparation and what wines are good pairings. This has emphasized the role of servers to describe the food being served and recommend good wine matches. He says this is one of his primary functions at Riverbend Bistro to train and ensure his staff can interact with their customers.

Another difference Bob has noted is the introduction of chain restaurants into the area. They have mass appeal because folks always know what they are going to get, it doesn’t change from one day or one week to another. But he admires the local entrepreneur who opens a restaurant and pours their heart, soul and money into it to make

children are grown and on their own, he felt the draw to return to the bustle of running a restaurant.

He claims that his best attribute in running a restaurant is to be the calm center and provide stability for everyone else. He’s always used humor to diffuse a stressful situation, to relate to diverse groups of people and to educate staff about their tasks. However, he learned early in his life about the dangers of humor.

While on a date in high school he was regaling the young lady with his repertoire of “Pollack” jokes. She asked him what a Pollack was and he responded someone who is known for being dumb. She asked, “but who are they” and he answered, “people from

Poland.” She quietly said her mother was from Poland. Date ended and lesson learned. Bob still thinks bar humor and locker room humor are very similar but he is always aware of his audience. One of the things he loves about Riverbend is that the majority of the staff is so young they’ve never heard any of his jokes before, so he’s enjoying a new audience.

It’s difficult to believe that a person who spent so many years bartending for a living and managing restaurants hasn’t had an alcoholic drink in twenty-seven years, but he says he was too good at drinking and got to the point of not liking the bad feeling the next day. And he stresses that today one of the major concerns of a bartender or staff in a restaurant is to ensure the safety of their customers.

While being drunk has never been acceptable it carries too many consequences today, especially with the diligence of the police officers and the strict laws about drinking and driving.

His reentry into the restaurant business has been aided by working with good friends Bill and Caroline, a staff that he considers the best people to work with and a community that has anticipated the opening of Riverbend Bistro for several months.

Bob has an easy manner that makes you feel as if you are his personal guest in his home and not just a customer in a restaurant and you would love for him to join your table for a discussion about food and wine. And maybe he would try out one of his jokes.

Old Town Crier

business profile ELIZABETH jones

The (Happiest) Hour From vintage bar and glassware to cocktail recipes and everything in between

I

always appreciate meeting the local business owners and operators around the Alexandria area, but I must admit that some interviews and visits delightfully mix business with pleasure. In preparation for the New Year, I was fortunate enough to meet with Victoria Vergason. Victoria is the proud owner of The Hour, the very welcoming vintage glassware, barware, and cocktailware shop located right in the heart of Old Town at 1015 King Street. Being the destination spot that is just a few months shy of its five-year anniversary, I imagine that many readers are well aware of this local business. Nonetheless, if you enjoy your occasional (or frequent, no judgment) cocktail, you will want to read on. From one-of-a-kind antique glassware, to the low-down on the best bars, restaurants, and cocktail recipes in town, The Hour can help make your parties memorable in 2014 and beyond.

With an MBA in International Project Finance, Victoria has the know-how to run a successful business. She has turned her hobby and love for antiquing during graduate school into a career as she continues to build her industry. I had the opportunity to learn about Victoria’s many projects and ventures, as well as the story behind her choice to call the store The Hour. She and her dedicated team have managed to build the only true brick and mortar vintage glassware shop in the country, deserving of a meaningful Old Town Crier

and memorable name. The Hour was chosen in honor of Bernard DeVoto’s book, which is a commentary on how and why we drink, and most importantly, how to do so properly.

Much like Victoria and her store, DeVoto educates his readers and sheds light on the simple joys of the cocktail hour.

With a clever name to support her growing success in the community, Victoria was ready for her next big challenge. Having attended the University of Virginia for her undergraduate degree and George Washington University for her graduate degree, she knows the ins and outs of the Washington, D.C. area. Victoria found a way to put her passion, experience, and taste buds to the test through the compilation of her popular book Capitol Cocktails.

She worked with bartenders and businesses all over the area. From bars and restaurants to distilleries and vineyards, to the farmers markets that stock the fresh and local ingredients, she provides us with the area’s first book showcasing all aspects of today’s local cocktail culture. The book features more than 28 recipes and a glance at some of the inventory at The Hour.

As if she wasn’t busy enough with a family and full-time career, about a year ago Victoria began partnering with Niemen Marcus and has opened boutiques in Beverly Hills and Atlanta!

While The Hour is still the only shop of its kind in the area, you will now be able to capitalize on Victoria’s eye for

vintage pieces on both coasts.

A true lover of Old Town, Victoria is drawn to the area for its culture and community. It is her goal to showcase the stories behind her inventory and the vast history that exists here in our hometown of Alexandria. Tourists

and neighbors alike come to visit The Hour, and know that they will find what they are looking for at this specialty shop. It’s always cocktail hour (The Happiest Hour) here, and you’re invited!

January 2014 | 5

FINANCIAL FOCUS carl m.trevisan, cfp© & stephen m. bearce

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Sell an Investment?

K

nowing when to sell an investment can be every bit as important as knowing what to buy. Here are some guidelines that can help you decide whether it is time to let an investment go.

Most investors have a process for purchasing an investment. It usually involves performing research, comparing similar investments or investment types, and considering a number of more personal factors, including time horizon, risk tolerance, and goals.

Few investors, however, have a tried-and-true process for selling an investment. Yet knowing when to sell can be every bit as important as knowing what to buy. Here are some guidelines that can help you decide whether it is time to let an investment go.

You’re concerned with performance.

If you are thinking of selling a holding simply due to a recent drop in price, take a deep breath and reconsider. Ask yourself these questions: Is my investment truly performing badly, or is it a consequence of larger economic and market conditions? How has the investment performed relative to similar investments over the last 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods? Have there been changes in management or ownership that have directly impacted its performance?

If your investment has been a perennial underperformer, it may be time to move on.

But it’s never advisable to sell solely on impulse. Extreme market swings can make even the most seasoned investors nervous. Think of your longterm goals, and remember that trying to time the market

Carter & Coleman Attorneys at Law

Serving Virginia, maryland and DC for over 20 years 703. 739. 4200 cartercoleman.com 602 Cameron Street alexandria, Va 22314

can often bring disastrous results.

You experience changes in your overall risk tolerance, time horizon, or goals.

An investment that made perfect sense for you while you were in your 30s and 40s may no longer be as suitable as you get older. If you are no longer comfortable with an investment’s degree of volatility—particularly as you near retirement age—it may be time to sell.

You need to rebalance or diversify.1

Financial experts recommend rebalancing your portfolio at least annually. To do so means selling a portion of some of your winners to reallocate among investments that may not have performed as strongly. The goal here is to make sure that your portfolio is properly diversified. Being too heavily invested in one security or one type of asset class can expose you to a higher-thanintended level of risk.

You made a bad decision.

It can be tough to buck the herd mentality. If you bought an investment because it was the hot ticket at the time and now realize that it’s not suitable for you, it’s probably best to let it go.

You find a better and/or cheaper alternative.

Sometimes it may be practical to move from one 1

6 | January 2014

“

Knowing when to sell an investment can be every bit as important as knowing what to buy.

investment to another. For example, you may be happy with your mutual fund’s performance, but not its fees. If you can find a similar investment with a similar track record that minimizes the costs to you, it may be wise to switch.

You need the cash.

Sometimes you have to part with an investment even though you’d rather not do so. But should you sell an investment that’s currently experiencing a run-up, or one that’s been battered? It may be worthwhile to consult with your tax professional. Selling an investment that has lost value can pay dividends at tax time by allowing you to use the deduction to offset other gains.

Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error

by S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications or its sources, neither S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications be liable for any

indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber’s or others’ use of the content. © 2013 S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications. All rights reserved. This column is provided through the Financial Planning Association, the membership organization for the financial planning community, and is brought to you by Carl M. Trevisan, a local member of FPA and Stephen M. Bearce.

McLaughlin Ryder Investments, Inc. and McLaughlin Ryder Advisory Services, LLC and their employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any tax-related statements are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any such taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties.

Tax-based statements, if any, may have been written in connection with the promotion or marketing of the transaction (s) or matter(s) addressed by these materials, to the extent allowed by applicable law. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Securities offered by McLaughlin Ryder Investments, Inc. and investment advisory services offered by McLaughlin Ryder Advisory Services, LLC.

Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market.

Old Town Crier

THE URBAN GARDEN JACQUELINE MURPHY

The Best Laid Plans …

Need Not Be Original

J

anuary is an excellent month in several ways. The days are noticeably longer, most houseguests have vacated your premises, many orchids are in bloom, plus this month marks the beginning of a brand new decade.

This is a great time to take a break from contemplating the (possibly fleeting) wisdom of your New Year’s resolutions and focus instead on some serious armchair gardening and horticultural enlightenment. It’s also the time of year that I can almost appreciate the chilly temperatures that persuade me to slow down, curl up and read.

I usually like to start with the latest crop of glossy and seductive gardening catalogs to see what hybrids are hot and absorb advice on culture, growth habits and clever designs that combine familiar plants in unusual ways. You might prefer to view these same catalogs online.

Once you’ve had your fill of the marketing materials delivered to your doorstep or desktop, it’s time to get out and expand your universe yet again.

The local public libraries and the horticultural library at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria offer a plethora of publications ranging from essays and memoirs by famous gardeners, horticulturists and designers to nononsense, hardcore reference texts and everything in between. Green Spring’s non-circulating library is comfortable enough to while away a wintry afternoon immersing oneself in the impressive collection of garden books and magazines, plant society newsletters and kiosks filled with information about local horticultural lore. Appropriately dressed and more adventurous souls can wander the fabulous grounds for real-life, entirely doable and inspiring examples of many design concepts.

Old Town Crier

Although colder temperatures tend to limit outdoor gardening activities they do provide the perfect excuse to stay inside and scheme, plan and rearrange your garden; whether it’s all in your head, sketched out on paper napkins or digitally enhanced on your laptop.

Whatever dreams you entertain for your very own great outdoors you can bet someone else has already created your perfect dreamscape (or pretty darn close to it) and has been lovingly tending it for decades. Rather than feeling discouraged by some famous gardener’s fait accompli, focus on the aspects that you like and adapt them to your own conditions. Or borrow directly and shamelessly. Nothing says you have to reinvent the wheel or come up with an entirely original garden plan. Besides, whatever you’re going to install in the coming season won’t be recognizable as a transplanted copycat Versailles or Sissinghurst; even by next year. And even if it were, I wouldn’t be shy about crediting my inspiration.

Over the course of time we all find certain design styles that we adore and want to emulate. And scores of garden plans are published, ready and waiting for you to scavenge in the form of books, magazines, catalogs and even online. So go ahead and ease into a new year of gardening without straining the little gray cells too much—reap the benefits of accomplished experts who have studied horticulture and garden design for eons. There are plans for the perusing that address every outdoor location and function: front yards, backyards, play yards, small yards, poolscaping, container gardens, green

roofs; you name it, there are readymade plans that are perfect for your unique situation.

Once you’ve selected a location or locations on which to focus, start homing in on design styles (formal, naturalistic, modern, cottage, etc.) that you like and want for your own yard, and hunt around until you find corresponding books of plans. There are books of plans by just about every great garden designer I can think of and all you have to do is read them and dig a few holes.

I’m not discouraging budding (or experienced) designers from experimentation. Rather, I’m hoping to free people from the sometimes tyrannical pressure to be supremely original and creative. By all means, when the garden design spirit moves you, knock yourself out. Thomas Jefferson said “Though an old man, I am but a young gardener”, which I interpret as: there’s never going to be enough time to learn everything there is to know about gardening no matter

how long we’re at it. That’s what keeps it eternally fresh and engaging for me.

Too bad we can’t learn by osmosis; it’d be so much quicker…the next best thing is to borrow ideas directly from the greats and enjoy the collaboration.

General January Gardening Tips

• Sow seeds of warm-season annuals • Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs and vines • Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell • Plant conifers and broad-leaf evergreens • Plant bare-root perennial vegetables • Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables • Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials • Plant container and bare-root roses • Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines

January 2014 | 7

a bit of history sarah becker

Henry Lee & The War of 1812

Henry “Light-horse Harry” Lee

B

y 1812 Virginia’s political dynasty was well entrenched. DemocraticRepublican President James Madison, who succeeded Democratic-Republican President Thomas Jefferson, was preparing for re-election.

Madison’s Secretary of State James Monroe was also Democratic-

8 | January 2014

Republican. Treachery dominated the high seas, the 1806 MonroePinckney Treaty failed and American sailors remained in peril. England and Napoleon’s France were at war.

“To go to war with England and not France divides the Republicans, and arms the Federalists with new matter,” President James Madison wrote on May 25, 1812. “To go to war against both presents a thousand difficulties.”

America declared war, Mr. Madison’s war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812.

For army Major General, later Federalist Congressman Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee the War of 1812 was deja vu. Henry Lee—born in Leesylvania, Virginia in 1756—was commissioned to serve but did not.

British impressment was not his issue.

National unity was.

Like George Washington Lee—a Virginia dragoon in the Continental Army—understood the complexities of war. He “placed professionalism above regional ties” and favored a strong central union. Without a federal union, Lee felt commercial states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware would “become ’tributary disunited provinces’ of warring European nations.” In 1814 Massachusetts Governor Caleb Strong “went so far as to seek a separate peace.”

“I went up to Alexa[ndria] to an Election of a Representative,” retired President George Washington wrote on April 24, 1799. Washington voted for Federalist Henry Lee. “Light-horse Harry” Lee was a Princeton College graduate who served under General Washington in the Revolutionary War, then—as Virginia Governor—mustered with President Washington to suppress Pennsylvania’s Whiskey Insurrection in 1794. It was US Representative Lee who, upon Washington’s death proclaimed him “first in war, first in peace….”

Unlike George Washington Lee’s political career was not wholly successful. Lee resented Jefferson’s rampant ambition. He also disliked Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican philosophy.

“My experience of the art, industry, & resources of the other party has not permitted me to be prematurely confident, yet I am entirely confident that ultimately the great body of the people are passing over from [the Federalist Party],” presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson wrote on April 30, 1800. “This may require one or two elections more; but it will assuredly take place. The madness & extravagance of their career is what ensures it. The people through all the states are for republican forms, republican principles, simplicity, economy, religious & civil freedom.”

President Jefferson downsized the nation’s military.

The military was Lee’s constant.

In January 1800 eleven Virginia Congressmen voted to reduce the army.

US Representative Henry Lee objected.

“Light-horse Harry” Lee, still a soldier, favored a uniform militia.

Federalist Henry Lee described the 1812 war as deplorable. Profit and trade may agreeably fluctuate, but the United States was otherwise unprepared. America’s political parties were divided, the war was underfunded, and Britain had more than five hundred warships in inventory. By March 6, 2013 seventeen British warships had entered the Chesapeake, a sum equal to the total of the American fleet.

In July 1812 Henry “Light-horse Harry” Lee, a resident of Federalistleaning Alexandria since 1810, traveled to Baltimore, a Democratic-Republican stronghold, at the request of antiwar newspaper editor A.C. Hanson.

A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 16

Old Town Crier

civil DISCOURSE DOUG COLEMAN

Women at Arms

I

n the newly minted state of West Virginia, the January 16th, 1864 issue of the Wheeling Daily Register carried a curious story captioned “Another Lady In The Ranks”. It seems that a group of eight or ten Confederate prisoners were brought into Harper’s Ferry. After a week or so of incarceration, an observant guard suspected that one of his prisoners might be a female. The young woman of sixteen or eighteen years was immediately released and given proper feminine garb. It turned out that she came from a wealthy local family, but had abandoned a life of comfort to be with her beau. When he enlisted in the Confederate army, she sneaked through enemy lines, found his regiment and enlisted in his company. She disguised herself well, as they drilled alongside one another for several days before she saw fit to reveal herself to him. She was persuaded to return home, but was soon back in the ranks with her lover – hence her capture. Our spitfire refused to take the Union oath of loyalty, unapologetically declaring her intention to return to the Confederate army at her first opportunity. One imagines that she did. For more, see http://www.wvculture.org/history/ sesquicentennial/18640113.html.

The caption “another lady in the ranks” implies that this had happened before - it turns out that it happened a lot. An estimated 250 women served as combatants in the Confederate army and perhaps 400 women opposed them in the Union ranks. No one knows the real numbers, as these women were frequently not identified until they were sick, wounded or dead.

Perhaps 60 are known to have died in combat. At least one woman died in Pickett’s charge, as a shocked Yankee burial party discovered (probably Old Town Crier

as they rifled her pockets for valuables). In 1934, a mass grave of nine Union soldiers at Shiloh was found to contain a female skeleton in association with a minie ball which likely killed her; that she was buried among soldiers suggests both that she was herself a soldier and that she was never recognized as a woman. Sarah Wakeman lies in a United States military cemetery near New Orleans, where she died of dysentery in 1864. Her headstone bears the nomme de guerre “Lyons Wakeman”; her identity was not revealed until long after the war, when her letters home were rediscovered.

Keith Blalock was a Unionist from western North Carolina.

When he was forced to join the Confederate army, his wife Malinda signed up as well under the alias “Sam” Blalock.

Described as a good looking 16-year-old boy, she shared a tent with her husband and performed all of the duties of a soldier. In her brief enlistment of about a month, she fought in three engagements, being wounded in the shoulder in the last. The surgeon removing the bullet discovered she was a woman. Worried that he and his wife were about to be separated, Keith rubbed himself down with poison oak to simulate small pox. It worked and he received a medical discharge. “Sam” then advised her colonel that she was a woman and she too was discharged.

That was not the end of the Blalocks, though. Returning home, they fought the ugly partisan war in the mountains, this time on the side of the Union. Serving as scouts and guerillas, they assisted escaped

Kady Brownell, left, and Marie Tepe

Union prisoners and sympathizers to safety.

Eventually they joined a Federal cavalry unit.

Keith was wounded again twice, in the shoulder and face, losing an eye. Some say Malinda received a second shoulder wound bushwhacking a neighbor.

For more, see: http:// www.nccivilwar150.com/ features/women/women. htm Not all women fought incognito. A woman might serve as a “vivandiere”, originally CIVIL DISCOURSE > PAGE 16

January 2014 | 9

HIGH NOTES CHRIS ANDERSON

Top 13 of 2013

A

fter the musical juggernaut that was 2012, it stands to reason that 2013 would seem slight in comparison. And, yes, on the surface it was. Few landmark releases and too many terrible albums by once-decent artists (cough…cough, Arcade Fire).

However, careful research yielded dozens of brilliant records, some being merely pleasant entries into an artist’s oeuvre, while others were careerreaffirming masterpieces.

Without further adieu, my Top Thirteen Records Of 2013:

Dr. Dog: B-Room

Biffy Clyro: Opposites

The Weeks: Dear Bo Jackson

It’s rare for a double album to not seem overwrought.

Fortunately, Biffy Clyro is one of those bands who can’t write a bad song. Even the b-sides associated with this album are as good as anything on the proper.

Among the many highlights are “Black Chandelier”, “Biblical”, “Sounds Like Balloons”, and the beautiful title track.

Pearl Jam: Lightning Bolt

The Jammers prove they still got it on their tenth studio offering.

Songs such as the propulsive “Mind Your Manners” and “My Father’s Son”, to the more pensive “Sirens”, this is Pearl Jam’s most consistent (and consistently satisfying) album in over a decade.

Inspired by everything from the Beach Boys to My Morning Jacket, with a healthy dose of Philly Soul thrown in, the result is an instantly-lovable sound that is unlike any other band on the planet. “The Truth”, “Minding The Usher”, and “Phenomenon” are just a few of the reasons to listen to this wonderful album.

This is a good time for Southern Rock, with bands like Drive-By Truckers, Kings Of Leon, and Alabama Shakes making waves.

Another worthy contender is this excellent Mississippi outfit and this, their 4th album, is all the proof you need, especially after hearing “Brother In the Night” and the title track.

Paul McCartney: New

It’s common knowledge that Sir Paul has hit some potholes in his solo career.

Occasionally, however, he strikes gold, and his latest, appropriately titled New, sits at the top of the heap. Songs like “Save Us”, “Queenie Eye”, and the title track are all good enough to be lost Beatle classics.

The Last Bison: Inheritance

The Last Bison offer a sort of postMumford folk music that is big and grand timeless and speaks to the heart and the soul, thanks to Ben Hardesty and his eloquent pen. “Switzerland” is one of the best songs I’ve heard in recent years, and others such as “Dark Am I” and “Quill” are sure to move you.

Valerie June: Pushin’ Against A Stone Valerie June takes country, soul, folk, blues, old-time, and even African vibes, and combines them into a stew that is completely different from anything else out there. So many highlights on this album, but “Workin’ Woman Blues”, “Somebody To Love”, “Tennessee Time”, and the title track are front-runners.

Motorpsycho: Still Life With Eggplant

This Norwegian trio’s latest is as eclectic as ever, from the dark epic “Hell, pts 1-3” to the folk-tinged “Barleycorn” to the 17-minute ’Ratcatcher”, which is the meeting/ melting point between Live/Dead and Larks’ Tongues In Aspic. Throw in a spot-on cover of “August” by Love and you can’t lose.

Steven Wilson: The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories)

The Porcupine Tree mastermind continues his string of solo albums with this prog masterpiece.

Recorded quickly with his live band, this set further cements Wilson’s visionary status. While shorter numbers like “Drive Home” sound familiar, others such as “Luminol” blow the door wide open.

Black Sabbath: 13

Sabbath didn’t invent metal but they might as well have. 35 years after parting ways, Ozzy and Sabbath drop this new disc that reminds the world what heavy metal is all about. As good as the best album from their heyday, and the best thing either party has done since.

The Dear Hunter: Migrant

The Dear Hunter steps away from their series of concept albums to deliver this concise collection of cleverly-written-and-arranged standalone numbers, such as “Bring You Down”, “Sweet Naïveté” and “Shame”. This album should propel this band into the stratosphere, if there were any justice.

HIGH NOTES > PAGE 13

10 | January 2014

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January 2014 | 11

POINTS ON PETS ASHLEY DENHAM BUSSE

King Street Cats Adoption Calendar january 2014 For details & MORE INFO website: www.kingstreetcats.org email: contact@kingstreetcats.org King Street Cats is looking for foster homes! You provide the spare room and TLC and we provide food, litter and all vetting. Please email for our Kitten Fostering FAQ at: contact@kingstreetcats.org King Street Cats 25 Dove Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Every Saturday & Sunday 1:30–4:30 pm Pro Feed Bradlee Shopping Center 3690 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302 Every Saturday & Sunday 1–4 pm

10 Ways to Keep Your Pets Healthy in 2014

W

ell, it’s a new year, and we probably all have a slew of New Year’s resolutions we want to keep, or bad habits we want to kick. May I suggest thinking of your pet’s health and wellbeing, too, if you haven’t already? What follows is a quick list of things you can do to make sure your pet stays healthy.

Some of these are easy and obvious and yet they may never have occurred to you! Just as with humans (and cars!), preventative maintenance goes a long way. It can increase your pet’s quality of life, reduce vet bills, and lengthen

his or her lifespan. Plus, we love our furry friends, and want them all to be comfortable and happy.

Spay or Neuter

This is a great idea for many reasons, not the least of which is it means one less dog or cat will be contributing to pet overpopulation. Spaying or neutering can reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer, and it will often help with pets’ behavior, their tendency to fight or to roam away from home.

Regular Veterinary Care

Your pet should have a yearly exam;

often, veterinarians can spot problems that untrained eyes don’t. Your pet will also receive vaccines and other preventative measures. Also, make sure to keep your dog or outdoor cat on flea and tick medicine—Lyme disease is no fun, and neither are itchy flea bites!

Maintain Healthy Weight

Keeping pets at a healthy weight can reduce the risk of many diseases and increase pets’ quality of life and life expectancy. If your pet is overweight, ask your vet for recommendations on a lower-fat food, and try to get your pet more exercise—it does every body good!

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Old Town Crier

Feed Them Well

Feed them the highest quality food you can afford. The first five ingredients are key: they should be meat and vegetables primarily. And plenty of fresh water is important!

Mani-Pedi

For dogs, clip their nails regularly, especially if they spend very little time on surfaces that would naturally grind them down. Letting nails get too long (if you hear them clicking on tile or hardwood floors, they are too long!) can lead to cracks and splits, which can be painful and become infected. Nails that are left too long can become so uncomfortable that a dog will change the way he steps; this can impact his gait, causing arthritis and other musculo-skeletal problems! Same goes for kitty.

Regularly trimming her claws is important to her overall health and will save you much grief and wear and tear on your furniture.

Now Ear This!

Clean ears regularly, especially on dogs whose ears hang down. Moisture—and even long fur—can trap debris, germs, and yeast inside the ear, causing itching, bleeding and infection. You can buy ear cleaner or ear wipes at pet supply stores. If your dog swims a lot, make sure to dry his ears gently every time.

Clean Teeth Regularly

You can train your pet to let you brush her teeth at least weekly, or take her to a groomer who can do it for you. If worse comes to worse, you can take her to the vet and have her anesthetized, but this can be expensive— so preventative maintenance is better. You can also use toys and treats that are designed to clean teeth, or purchase simple additives to put in her water. If you need any more motivation, consider this: More than 80 percent of dogs over age three have periodontal disease, which

can lead to a host of other medical problems if left untreated.

HIGH NOTES FROM PAGE 10

Big Country: The Journey

Big Country reconvened with Alarm vocalist Mike Peters to create this excellent late-career offering. While no one could replace Stuart Adamson, songs like “Hurt” and “In A Broken Promise Land” reveal a band still on a mission.

Exercise

Just like for humans, plenty of exercise and mental stimulation go a long way toward mental and physical health. And it’s good bonding for you and your pet, too! Even if your pet is an indoor one, there are lots of games you can play to stimulate and exercise him. A simple Google search can yield plenty of ideas for a snowy or rainy day!

Tired Pony: The Ghost Of The Mountain

Members of Snow Patrol & REM team up to create a body of work much grittier than any of their main bands’ work. Thanks to songs like “I Don’t Want You As A Ghost” and “Blood”, this second album is one for the ages.

Body Check

Check your pet’s fur, skin, and body regularly for any changes, abnormalities, growths or sores. Just be well acquainted with your pet’s body by regular petting, gentle rubbing or massage, and visual inspection. Make sure to check inside the mouth, in between the toes, There you are, thirteen of the best records I’ve heard this year. around and in the pads, and on the belly. If As always, there are many, many notable omissions and if I had you notice anything that seems concerning, get more room they would definitely be here. it checked out! Often times early detection can Among those highlights are offerings from Josh Ritter, Bosnian make all the difference.

Rainbows, 10,000 Maniacs, States, Guided By Voices, Spock’s Beard, The Devil Makes Three, Placebo, Speedy Ortiz, Suede, St. Show the Love Lucia, Richard Thompson, Beady Eye, San Cisco, Arctic Monkeys, Give your pets lots of attention and love— Wild Leaves, Kodaline, Jagwar Ma, Little Green Cars, Bear’s they depend on you for companionship and Den, Califone, Son Volt, Shearwater, The Riverside, Touchstone, affection. And providing a safe, loving home The Flower Kings, Big Big Train, The Launderettes, The Wild for them reduces stress, which—just like in Ones, Midlake, Dream Theater, Avett Brothers, Elton John, Bad humans—improves mental and physical health. Religion, Lorde … oh, and some bloke called David Bowie.

I must also give props to my friends from Sweden, Other ideas or tricks for keeping your pets Hellsingland Underground, and their fantastic album, Evil Will healthy? Visit our Facebook site and share Prevail. Exempt from this list because it came out in 2012, it them! www.facebook.com/doggywalker. was nonetheless my go-to album of 2013. This time next year, Here’s to a great new year! they will have a new one and, unless they screw it up, it will surely be on this list. Along with anticipated new ones by U2, Phish, Marillion, Yes, Bruce Springsteen, and others.

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Molina, Peter Banks, Alvin Lee, Donald Byrd, Patti Page….and com or email info@doggywalker.com. the daddy of them all, Lou Reed. Rock & Roll Heaven has gotten a little more eclectic. Play on forever.

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GALLERY BEAT F. LENNOX CAMPELLO

Mayer Fine Art, left, and Adah Rose Gallery at PULSE Miami

F

or the last two months I have been writing about art fairs, from the perspective of art galleries and from the perspective of artists. I have discussed predatory galleries and dealers as well as unethical artists.

I know of at least two galleries in the Mid Atlantic that have financial backers who absorb most or some of the financial risk involved in doing an art fair. Since these sort of galleries are very limited (who wouldn’t love to have a financial backer?), they are the outlayers in the formula for clicking

anyway, as an outsider to the money shell game that running a non-profit must be (I tip my hat to them).

I’m not saying that all visual arts non-profits should do this. I am sure that the mission of some of them are strictly focused on local only, rather than expanding their artistic

The Ugly Side of Art Fairs Art fairs are very expensive. As I’ve noted before, many galleries risk everything to come to Miami, and I suspect that many are financially destroyed at the end of the week. And yet, many do well and return year after year.

Between my years with the Fraser Gallery and currently with AAAP, we’ve been returning to Miami for many years now. Other DMV and regional galleries that keep coming back are my good buds at Connersmith, Hamiltonian, and Virginia’s Mayer Fine Arts. They consistently take the financial risk and venture to Miami (and in some cases all over the US and Europe). Some newer participants are Morton Fine Arts and Adah Rose; both galleries did their first art fairs a year or two ago and both are enthusiastically now doing art fairs all over.

Others have tried a year or two, crashed and burn and never return to the party.

Is there a formula to this? What’s the magic that makes this work for some and not for others?

the right button in the art fair game.

Some non-profits have the economic stability to play consistently in the art fair game; and to make it easier for them, many art fairs have special, lower pricing for non-profits. So they are also a special case, I think, because in most cases, the financial risk is absorbed by the state of their incomegathering to stay afloat as a non-profit.

It is a mystery to me why more DMV area non-profits don’t go to the art fairs. Hamiltonian is a notable exception (mostly due to its dual structure), as is Honfleur Gallery in Anacostia. And the WPA does participate in our own (e)merge.

But I would submit that there are several area non-profits that could, and should participate in Miami and New York art fairs as part of their business model; if a local non-profit can afford to pay $70-$80,000 a year to its executive director (and several DMV non-profits are in that range), then it can certainly afford to budget $12-18K to participate in an art fair outside of the DMV. I believe this,

presentations outside the capital region.

But that still leaves several key ones that (if I was the DMV art dictator) should be in NYC and Miami during art fair times.

This also applies to some of our large membership-based visual arts organizations and cooperative galleries, such as The Art League.

I’m a big fan of The Art League, and when I lived close to Alexandria I was a member for many years, and I have been honored multiple times by being selected as a juror for them.

And thus I am going to use them as an example, but this example applies to the multiple other art leagues, groups, clubs, cooperatives, etc. that exist around our region and which are important and significant components of our cultural tapestry. I could just as easily have picked the Rockville Art League, or the Reston Art League, Gallery West, Touchstone, Fairfax Art League, CHAW, etc.

The money part is always an issue, but when the money part can be

divided into several (rather than one) entities, then the financial risk is reduced, because it is spread, rather than concentrated into one (the independent commercial gallery) bank account.

So let’s proceed with this example using The Art League.

They have several thousand members and run a very successful and important program at their space inside the Torpedo Factory and assorted classrooms all over the area.

So the issue is, how does The Art League (again, you can fill in any of the many DMV area membershipbased art organizations) pick or select the 3-5 artists to take to an art fair?

The good art fairs are nearly always tightly juried. There are many art fairs where one just pays and anyone and everyone can go.Those usually suck and in about a week or so, some DMV galleries and many DMV solo artists will unfortunately discover this.

And thus for Miami/NYC fairs I am thinking (in no particular order) about Art Miami, Context, Aqua, Pulse, NADA, Affordable Art Fair(s), Scope, Miami Project, Frieze... some of these are very, very difficult to get in, but they’re listed nonetheless, because there is a food chain of art fairs, and the bottom-feeders usually spell disaster for the participants.

And thus The Art League would need to establish a process to pre-jury its membership to three to five artists and apply with those artists to an art fair. I would start with The Affordable Art Fair in New York. They are close by and are a proven fair. I have done it GALLERY BEAT > PAGE 15

14 | January 2014

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many times and consistently recommend it to any gallery that inquires about art fairs in general.

And thus redux The Art League would need to canvas their membership and find out who’s interested in being juried for possible selection for further jurying into an art fair. I would make this process independent from the Art League itself, just as they do for their monthly juried shows, and have interested artists bring their work in to be juried by an independent juror.

That juror has to be a very special juror. In fact 98 percent of your standard-issue visual art jurors (art professors, art critics, art writers, art center directors, artists, etc.) would guarantee a disaster to this process. In the DMV the jury pool for this process is very limited and its members are only those gallerists who have participated in multiple art fairs. In fact I can’t think of anyone better to jury this part than me!

Back to the generic process in next month’s column. All DMV (and nationwide visual arts non-profits/co-ops and clubs) should be reading this.

January 2014 | 15

A BIT OF HISTORY FROM PAGE 8

“Silence would be treason,” Hanson wrote in his Federal Republican and Commercial Gazette.

A constitutional champion—a delegate to the 1788 Virginia Ratifying Convention—Lee favored freedom of the press. Democratic-Republican Maryland Governor Robert Bowie was rallying residents on behalf of the war and, as of June 22, the Baltimore newspaper was under attack. Hanson, a Federalist who otherwise lived in Georgetown, was determined to “steadily pursue the course.”

“Passengers in the stage last evening from Baltimore report that a Mob gathered with artillery, in that devoted city on Monday evening [July 27] about ten o’clock for the purpose of demolishing a house and wreaking their vengeance,” The Alexandria Daily Gazette reported on July 29, 1812.

Retired military officer Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee was among the armed band protecting the property. The Baltimore mob, a Maryland mob hyped on war, nearly killed him.

“In addition to the information given yesterday in relation to the proceedings of the Baltimore mob, we learn verbally that a party of the military of that place interfered on the morning of Tuesday, to whom those gentlemen who had undertaken to defend [the house], surrendered themselves on a promise of protection from the fury of the lawless banditti, and were escorted to the jail

for safe keeping,” the Alexandria Daily Gazette continued on July 30, 1812. “That on the evening of that day a large party forcibly broke into the jail with sledges and other instruments, and took out the gentlemen who had been lodged, one by one, and beat them in so shocking a manner that the lives of nine of them are despaired of and Gen. Lingan of Montgomery county, Md. is dead. During the perpetration of this horrid outrage upon Society, we do not learn that any attempt was made either by the military or civil authority to quell it.”

“Light-horse Harry” Lee remained forever infirmed. George Washington Parke Custis, “who saw Napoleon as ’the modern Zenghis Kahn,’” delivered Gen. Lingan’s eulogy. Georgetown lawyer Francis Scott Key declined the speaking request because he feared more violence.

Lee, taken by horse-drawn carriage to Pennsylvania, “was black as a negro, his head cut to pieces [and] without a hat or any shirt but a flannel one which was covered with blood. One eye [was] apparently out, his clothes torn and covered with blood from tip to toe, and when he attempts to stir he tottered like an infant just commencing to walk.”

He was severely wounded.

President Madison remained true to party and did not call the Baltimore act sedition. “When our country is engaged in an open and declared war with one of the most powerful nations

of Europe, it is the part of patriotism— it is the spirit of harmony and concord, to avoid all internal broils and domestic disturbances,” Maryland Governor Bowie alleged. Bowie lost his reelection bid.

Henry “Light-horse Harry” Lee returned to Alexandria; his second wife Ann Hill Carter, their children and his siblings. He described his health as “deranged & inconvenient” referring frequently to the “extraordinary atrocity of the unpunished Baltimore mob.”

Lee remained at their 607 Oronoco Street home, his son Robert E. Lee’s Boyhood Home only briefly. “Lighthorse Harry” was anguishing, anxious to leave America behind.

In May 1813 a decrepit Henry Lee departed Alexandria for the last time.

He traveled to the island climes, hoping to heal. Lee left his family in financial distress; wrote them often but did not return. Then, on March 10, 1818 he came ashore in Cumberland Island, Georgia. Lee felt death approach and wanted his family near.

Henry Lee died on March 25, 1818 at Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene’s daughter’s Georgia home. A fitting end, perhaps, for the cavalryman whose 1812 Memoirs of the [Revolutionary] War in the Southern Department of the United States still live. Wrote General Greene to Lt. Colonel Lee on January 27, 1782: “From our earliest acquaintance, I had a partiality for you, which

CIVIL DISCOURSE FROM PAGE 9

simply a female sutler. But in practice a vivandiere accompanied her regiment on the battlefield as a first responder serving whisky and water to the wounded. Some were armed and shot back. A common virtue is the outstanding courage of these women. Annie Etheridge enlisted in a Michigan regiment with 19 other women. She saw action at First Manassas and Chancellorsville, where she was wounded in the hand and won the Kearny Cross for her courage under fire.

Marie Tepe also won the Kearny Cross for valor, being wounded at the first battle of Fredericksburg. She had enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment of zouaves along with her husband in spring of 1861. She had a falling out with her husband and joined a different Pennsylvania regiment. She dressed as a zouave in a blue jacket with red pants, with a skirt trimmed in red to set her off from the men. After her wound at Fredericksburg, Tepe was at Chancellorsville, where her colorful skirt was riddled with bullets. She also served at Gettysburg, tending the wounded after the battle. Tepe’s colorful outfit drew attention at the Bloody Angle during the battle of Spotsylvania, where once again she did not hesitate to follow her regiment into some of the heaviest fighting in American history.

Tepe survived the war and participated in the Grand Review in Washington in May 1865. She returned home to Pennsylvania and remarried in 1872, divorcing again in 1897. In 1901, crippled by rheumatism and the Confederate bullet in her heel, she took her own life by drinking pesticide. See Mihalov, 16 | January 2014

progressively grew into friendship…I am far from agreeing with you in opinion, that the public will not do you justice. I believe few officers, either in America or Europe, are held in so high a point of estimation as you are.

Substantial service is what constitutes lasting reputation….”

Was the War of 1812 America’s second revolutionary war? It is not obvious what the War of 1812 in fact accomplished. The United States enjoyed some military victories: Lake Erie, Fort McHenry, and the Battle of New Orleans. However when Great Britain’s war with Napoleon’s France ended so did Great Britain’s impressment of American sailors.

Yes, America’s international status changed. Independence was reconfirmed. The military, especially the Navy emerged stronger and coastal fortifications eventually improved.

However the 1814 Treaty of Ghent said little regarding commercial rights.

Lee-Fendall House, a historic Alexandria house museum located on property once owned by Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee, celebrates the Lee legacy on January 25. The program: Robert E. Lee, Not Just a Soldier.

For more information, visit www. leefendallhouse.org.

Questions and comments? Email: abitofhistory53@gmail.com

Vivandieres: Forgotten Women of the Civil War, http://www.army.mil/article/11458/; Marie Brose Tepe, http://wiki.carrickoverbrook.org/Marie_Brose_Tepe.

Vivandiere Kady Brownell was born in 1842 in South Africa to a French mother and Scottish colonel. Adopted after her mother’s death, she grew up in Rhode Island. Three days after being married, her husband’s militia unit was called up. Despite efforts to dissuade her, Brownell accompanied her husband’s regiment to Washington, having been anointed a “daughter of the regiment”

by Colonel Ambrose Burnside. She served at First Manassas as the regimental color bearer – a post of considerable peril. She was trapped beneath a soldier who was killed and fell on her. Wounded herself, she managed to avoid capture without losing her colors. It is said that she slept with the regiment’s flag wrapped around her for safekeeping.

Brownell also served at the battle of New Bern, where she was decorated for her valor in narrowly averting a friendly fire incident between two Rhode Island regiments. She accomplished this by running out between the two regiments and waving her flag. Her husband received a disabling wound in this battle. Brownell went home with him bearing a ceremonial sword awarded by General Burnside in recognition of her valor. One may read the New York Times article celebrating her life here: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/ archive-free/pdf?res=F70610F93E5D13728DD DAF0994DA405B838DF1D3.

Now, 150 years later, we debate whether women should serve in combat. They already have.

Old Town Crier

THE LAST WORD MIRIAM R. KRAMER

Warning: Graphic Words & Images

G

raphic novels have taken off in the world of publishing, as the line between books and cartoons with their heroes and their anti-heroes has begun disappearing in popular culture. They are no longer just comic books: they have something more obvious to say.

Of course, not all of them are profound, any more than books are. Some books are now put together from popular blog posts as well, complete with pictures or drawings. The blog too is bleeding into the novel or autobiography. Perhaps the most famous example of a classic graphic novel taken seriously is the series Maus: A Survivor’s Tale and Maus: A Survivor’s Tale 2: And Here My Troubles Began, drawn and written by Art Speigelman.

Spiegelman won a Pulitzer Prize for Maus, a graphic novel that coolly delineated his own story and that of his father and mother, who were survivals of the Holocaust. It received some criticism when Spiegelman drew all the Jewish characters in his family as mice, while the Poles were pigs and the Nazis were spiky-whiskered cats in uniforms and jackboots. Some felt it was too cozy a depiction of the Holocaust. I completely disagree, in that I think it made the Holocaust an approachable subject for an audience that might never have picked up a graphic novel before. The novel is by no means sentimental, however.

It downplayed none of the ferocity the Nazis inflicted on Spiegelman’s family, although he occasionally displays black humor to leaven the situation.

Maus and Maus II are now taught in some high schools. One can sometimes get closer to understanding horror if it is depicted in a subtle fashion or with small details, without numbing and

Old Town Crier

overwhelming readers by slamming horrific images and stories in their faces.

Art Spiegelman did this brilliantly, even revealing his survivor’s guilt and somewhat unpleasant personality, while establishing the graphic novel as an art form for the cognoscenti. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his efforts with Maus.

One type of the new graphic novel is Hyperbole and a Half, a recently published compendium of cartoons

by Allie Brosh, who has written a blog by the same name for several years now. Her hilarious, twisted stories of her stubborn childhood, her rescue dogs and their problems, and other aspects of her life keep one thoroughly amused.

I would never miss her blog posts.

Recently she published a very insightful comic about her strong depression, describing it in both pictures and words.

Her words echoed the feelings of many of her readers. They make ardent responses to her post, saying that she had helped them feel less alone. That entry, along with the funny ones, is included in this slightly crazy, very fun group of stories.

For those with rescue dogs, you would be better off spitting your coffee all over your book instead of your computer when you start laughing uncontrollably. So purchase it and read it at home.

Recently I read two compendiums

by David Thorne, a graphic designer from Adelaide, Australia, who moved to Harrisonburg, Va. when he married

an American woman. His first book, The Internet Is a Playground, contains mostly a batch of his wildly imaginative blogs interacting with people in a ridiculous fashion at his former advertising agency, many of whom disagree with his opinions and make him laugh. He engages in a series of back-and-forth endless e-mails with outside agencies such as the electric company, making up stories about himself, running his smart-aleck mouth, creating weird logos, and seeing how far he can go before he makes them leave him alone and go off in disgust.

For fans of the movie Office Space and author David Sedaris, Thorne is a more sarcastic, darker, but extremely funny alternative, particularly when commenting on office dynamics. His books include illustrations and drawings, so they are somewhat in-between a book and a graphic novel. He is best known for a spider meme, in which he tried to pay a utilities bill online with his drawing of a seven-legged spider. It was hysterical and forwarded widely throughout the Internet, thereby drawing attention to him and his web site 27bslash6.com for the first time. His second compendium, I’ll Go Home Then; It’s Warm and Has Chairs: The Unpublished Emails, is not as cohesive as the first. Yet it is still worth reading, with its helping helpings of his sarcasm, immature mischief, and odd drawings.

So enjoy some lightness in the dreary dark of January and try a graphic novel for an alternative, palatable, and often humorous take on the concerns of the day.

January 2014 | 17

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION JAIME ELLIOTT

Virgin Islands National Park 7,000 acres of America’s paradise

A view of the bay from the trail helps keep the aching legs going uphill. inset, top: Hiking with our new dog Nellie on Brown Bay Trail. inset, bottom: The payoff after hiking over the hill is turquoise waters and great snorkeling.

O

ne of the very best aspects of St. John is undoubtedly the Virgin Islands National Park. The park encompasses about half of the island, ensuring the pristine alabaster beaches will remain just that, undisturbed for generations to come.

National Parks are touted as “America’s Best Idea” and here on St. John, I have to agree. The park here dates to about 60 years ago, when Laurence Rockefeller began acquiring land on the island, including most of the sandy beaches of the North Shore. This land would eventually become Virgin Islands National Park, but there were a few wrinkles along the way.

For these major land acquisitions, Rockefeller formed the Jackson Hole Preserve, and recruited several associates to help him acquire about half of this 20-square mile island.

A early effort of Rockefeller’s to get U.S. Congress to pass a bill turning the entire island into a protected park was met with fierce opposition by local families. Senator Theovald Moorehead—after whom our main barge facility today is named—even traveled to Washington, D.C., to fight the measure.

Once that bill was defeated, there was general support for the creation of a U.S. National Park on the island, which would protect the many cultural and natural CARRIBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 19

18 | January 2014

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resources and bring needed tourism to this sleepy Caribbean outpost.

U.S. Congress passed the bill creating V.I. National Park in 1956 and since then the park has grown even further and deeper. An additional 5,000 acres was added in 1962 and Hassel Island—with its historic marine railroad dating from when St. Thomas was a major shipping port—was added in 1978.

Before leaving office in 2001, President Bill Clinton signed an act protecting a large area of submerged land off the island’s East End, creating the Coral Reef National Monument.

Just last month the national non-profit organization Trust for Public Land sold the final parcels of a 225-acre tract to the National Park Service for $2.5 million. This most recent land sale included the shoreline of one of the island’s most popular beaches, Maho Bay. Whether swimming in the azure waters off shore of one of our achingly beautiful bays, snorkeling the biologically rich mangroves of the Coral Reef National Monument or hiking one of the 20 trails traversing St. John, it’s almost impossible not to enjoy our National Park.

My favorite beaches and hiking trails have changed over the years, but the recently preserved for perpetuity Maho Bay, is a perennial favorite. Francis Bay’s many little tree-covered nooks are a great place to spend an afternoon as well.

Snorkeling off Salt Pond Bay will usually reward you with a turtle spotting, while Haulover Bay’s coral colors are some of the most impressive around.

For hiking trails, it’s tough to beat Ram Head point on an early morning or full moon night. There are several hidden hiking gems out by Lameshur Bay and a recent favorite trail of mine is a two-mile trek to Brown Bay and back which rewards with stunning views, great snorkeling and beautiful ruins.

While I’ve explored a vast area of the island, there are still many hikes and bays I’ve never seen. That is something I would like to change. So this year, my New Year’s resolution is to hike all 20 of the trails in our Virgin Islands National Park. If you head down this way, check out one or two yourself.

Happy New Year!

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January 2014 | 19

ROAD TRIP BOB TAGERT

A

s is my custom, the January road trip is a review of the places I visited in 2013.

Complete articles can be found on our website from previous issues, however, not all have been archived yet.

Although it was cold last January, I braved the weather and visited the Bloomery Plantation Distillery just outside of Charleston, West Va. as my subject for the February issue. This is not a spirits distillery, but an operation for making traditional Limoncello, which does include spirits. The distillery location was once a part of the Willowdale Plantation and the name “Bloomery” comes from the iron works at Bloomery that was once located on the banks of the Shenandoah river that is near the business. Owners Linda Losey and her husband Tom Kiefer bought the property in 2001 and successfully reaped the harvest of their imported lemon trees from Italy.

An old log building from around 1840 has been restored and serves as their

about one of my favorite small towns, Culpeper. When I say small town, I am talking about the historic district, which is comprised of East Davis Street and Main Street (Route 522).

There is another part of Culpeper that has the box stores, but I like to just visit the Old Town section. Like Old Town Alexandria, Historic Culpeper is home to unique shops and fine restaurants. The newly renovated State Theater is now featuring national acts as well as business gatherings. The shops and restaurants are unique and there are no two that are exactly alike.

May took me to Solomons, Maryland for the unofficial, official welcoming of summer with the annual opening party at the renowned Tiki Bar. The new palm trees have been brought in and the sand has been regarded after a winter of lying still.

Even though the Tiki Bar closes for the winter months, the rest of Solomons Island is open year round and features a diverse selection of restaurants as well as shops. Bordered on one side by the Patuxent River and the other

2013’S LONG & WINDING ROADS production space as well as the tasting room. Nice cozy fireplace, perfect for this time of year.

In March I went to the Cross Street Market in Baltimore’s popular Federal Hill. Cross Street Market is not your average market, but more of a gathering place for the locals who live in the community or nearby. At the Charles Street entrance (this place is a block long and under cover) is what might be considered a beer garden.

Folks arriving were meeting friends here for a leisurely pint before crossing the sign that read ”No Alcohol Beyond this Point.” The market hosts dozens of vendors selling everything from sushi to steaks, wings to over stuffed sandwiches, fresh seafood and poultry to chocolates and cigars. The produce and flower stands are jam packed with fresh fare. It is a little overwhelming at first, but after you make your initial run through and get the lay of the land, is easy to just go with the flow.

In April I wrote

by the Chesapeake Bay, Solomons is a point of land that is becoming know as our little Key West and the playground of Alexandria.

In June I took a real road trip and visited Hampton, Va. and Virginia Beach. These two towns are close together geographically, but different in culture. Hampton is steeped in history from the early days of the Revolutionary War to their own Air and Space Museum. At the end of Virginia Peninsula stands Fort Monroe. Built as Old Pointe Comfort between 1819 and 1834, fort Monroe was the largest moat-encircled masonry fortification in North America and was designed to mount 142 cannon. At the Hampton History Museum, explore the chronicle of man in America through the story of this city by the sea from early Native American culture to man’s reach into space. Hampton also sits across the harbor from the largest naval base in the world…Norfolk, Va. If your timing is right you might see a

top to bottom: Bloomery Plantation Distillery’s limoncello; relaxing Solomons-style; Baltimore’s Cross Street Market in Federal Hill; visiting Culpeper, a favorite old town.

20 | January 2014

Old Town Crier

new aircraft carrier heading out on deployment or a nuclear submarine returning home.

On the other side of Norfolk and bordering the Atlantic Ocean is the playground of Virginia Beach. To me, Virginia Beach is just a nice pleasant beach resort that seems to lack the chaos of other beach towns. Part of the reason is that most of the beach shops and bars are one block away on their own main drag. Lots of great restaurants and bars abound here as well as some fantastic sculptures along the boardwalk.

July found me driving down through Virginia’s Northern Neck. Avoid Interstate 95 and instead head into Maryland, past Waldorf, across the 301 bridge at the Potomac and into Colonial Beach, Virginia. Colonial Beach is a laid back town that sits on the banks of the lower Potomac River. Showcasing the second largest beach front in Virginia, Colonial Beach was a popular resort town in the early to mid-20th century, before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge made ocean beaches on the eastern shore of Maryland more accessible from D.C. and Northern Virginia. Traveling south you will come to Popes Creek, the birthplace of George Washington.

Farther south on Route 3 you will encounter Westmoreland State Park, Stratford Hall, the town of Montross and finally to Coles Point Marina and Troy Claytons’ (owner of Geranio) new restaurant, The Landings.

In the hot month of August I took a drive to Luray Caverns, which sits south of Front Royal in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. I thought this would be a great place to go in the summer because the temperature of the caverns is 54 degrees year round. They forgot to include the humidity factor. The caverns are truly a magnificent creation. The formation of the caverns began after the limestone of the Shenandoah Valley was formed as a result of the inland sea, which took millions of years. The entire cavern is confined to a zone only about 100 feet thick. When I went in August there were hundreds of tourists visiting and our tour group must have been at least 50 people. This is a great time of the year to go…temps are the same but a lot less people.

In September my friend Reed Hellman wrote about a day in the life of the Godiah Spray family in St. Mary’s County, Md. circa 1661. All of

this took place at St. Mary’s City, Maryland. His story included the days activities, dress as well as what was eaten during that period. He even had a few receipts from the day. Until 1695 St. Mary’s City was the capital of he Providence of Maryland, and today is a living working history of that time.

In October I visited the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, Pa. As we all know, last July marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. This town is worth the visit. Not only are the battlefields well preserved, but also the rest of the town reflects the importance of where they stand in history. Period restaurants like the Dobbins House Tavern take you back in time. The citizens of Gettysburg, understanding the importance of their town’s role as a symbol for the struggle for a united nations, have resolved to preserve the town’s historic integrity. The result is the combined commitment of local, state and federal government, businesses and townspeople to promote economic growth through historic preservation.

In November I went to where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Shenandoah River … Front Royal, Va. Front Royal is a relatively large Virginia town, but has at its heart the historic district. History abounds here and the pace of life is a bit slower. As spring approaches the mountainsides will be coming alive with the colors of spring. Spring and fall are always the right times to visit these mountain and waterfront towns, however in the winter there are far less visitors and you can set your own pace and have any table you want.

In December, as custom dictates, I returned to Old Town Alexandria and wrote about her many charms. Full of history and grandeur, there is no place else to be than the annual Scottish Christmas Walk. A city founded by the Scots, Alexandria can sure turn out the bagpipes for the holidays. With a thriving business community, new waterfront plan in discussion and the newly approved MGM casino slated to open across the river in 2016, there is much to look forward to in the future.

Old Town Alexandria photos: Chester Simpson

top to bottom: Virginia Beach's King Neptune; the pier at Colonial Beach, Md.; Luray Cavern's Dream Lake; historic St. Mary's historical re-enactors; the clock in old town Front Royal, Va.; hallowed ground of Gettysburg, Pa.; Old Town Alexandria dressed up for the holidays and the Scottish Christmas Walk.

Old Town Crier

January 2014 | 21

FROM THE BAY… MOLLY WINANS

Erin and Bob playing music onboard Mandy at City Dock Annapolis.

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mong the reality television concepts I think would work, if only for a small and quirky viewer population, “Name This Vessel” has potential. The host would lead seasoned sailors, all blindfolded, on 10 unique sailboats, and once below, take off their blindfolds and let them guess the specific vessel type based on the layout of the main saloon.

If I had been a contestant on that show last weekend, I would have failed miserably. The show host would have blindfolded me before we faced the water and then turned and led me down the docks and onboard the sailing vessel Mandy—which would have been tricky with the low tide due to a cold westerly and clumsy step down from the dock. Then, he would have led me to the cockpit and down below, trickier still due to my need to turn around and go backward, blindfolded, down steep steps through a narrow companionway.

Once below, the first thing I would have sensed was ample Old Town Crier

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headroom. Only taking a few steps before sitting on a settee, I felt warmer than I had in the cockpit but not warm enough to take off my coat. Then, the host would have removed my blindfold, given me a few minutes to adjust my eyes to the pleasantly dim light, maybe to sample the red wine or rum, and to consider the pretty wooden paneling, old-fashioned portholes, kerosene lamps, library shelf with rope netting, and tiny galley. Then the moment, drum roll please, when he would say, “Name this vessel.”

I would have looked bewildered. I have been onboard the Pride of Baltimore II, the Schooner Woodwind, the HMS Bounty (twinge of sadness), several tall ships, a skipjack, a bugeye, and plenty of lovely custom woodies; this boat possesses qualities of each and a classic pirate-ship attitude, yet without being able to see beyond the curtain into the V-berth or deeper into the aft cabin—or up at the rigging—I would have proved incapable of guessing the boat type. I may have guessed, “Thirty-five-foot schooner-like vessel?” My host, who might resemble Alex Trebek dressed as a ship captain, might say, “Sorry. You’re wrong. It’s a 28-foot Bristol Channel Cutter.” As has been the case with every Bristol I have ever met, I loved Mandy.

I had met Mandy’s owners, Bob and Erin, at the Eastport Yacht Club’s Lights Parade awards party, Old Town Crier

RUDDYDUCKBREWERY.COM RUDDYDUCKBREWERY @RUDDYDUCKGRILL where they were playing music (in the fog) on the deck of the new clubhouse. After purchasing the boat and fixing her up in Deltaville, VA, they departed in early December to sail to Annapolis to live for a couple of years, pay off the boat by playing music as Rib Bone (rib-bone.com), teaching guitar lessons, and working at other jobs to fill the cruising kitty. Like others I have met who step beyond dreaming and cross over into realizing their adventure dreams, they seem extraordinarily lighthearted. When they say, “Come by for a drink,” they mean it. So we stopped by for one… or three.

Bob is six feet tall, seemingly absurdly tall for a man who lives aboard a 28-foot boat; yet Mandy boasts six feet and four inches of head room. A funny, bespectacled, wooly-bearded percussionist, Bob also does computer-aided design work. Erin, whose height and tweed hat fit living on a small bluewater cruiser quite well, is a musician and composer with a master’s in ethnomusicology and a specialty in Eastern Canadian sea shanties. (You can’t make this stuff up.) They bonded one summer after a sail on an E-Scow on Keuka Lake, “the jewel of the Finger Lakes,” in Hammondsport, NY, where Erin’s mom owns an Irish pub. Somehow, through a distance of 3000 miles (she studied in Seattle, WA, at the time), these two bright, adventurous souls

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Among the many stories Bob and Erin shared that January evening on Ego Alley, one memorable tale about a windless summer day on Keuka stands out. The cockpit winches on their O’Day 22 doubled up nicely as oarlocks, so the crew rowed along peacefully. A cigarette boat driver vroomed around them and said, “I have a problem with your boat’s speed.” Without skipping a beat, Bob replied, “I’ll race you to England!”

And so, by the light of the lanterns and the warmth of one tiny space heater in the roomiest little sailboat in the harbor, we enjoyed a hearty laugh, a nod to Aesop’s tortoise, and a toast to sailing slowly and enjoying the ride.

Welcome to the Chesapeake, Bob and Erin! If you dig slow sailing, you will love this place.

This article first appeared in the February 2013 edition of SpinSheet.

When she is not working as managing editor of SpinSheet and PropTalk magazines, Molly Winans plans to hole up this winter to finish her first novel.

January 2014 | 23

…TO THE BLUE RIDGE JULIE REARDON

Help for Your Best Friend Physical rehab and other non-traditional veterinary care

W

hen your dog is hurting, there’s help beyond the vet: physical therapy and holistic and alternative medicine can speed recovery.

Tanzy in the water and on the exercise ball; and Puffin ,below, receiving cold laser therapy. photos: Julie Reardon

24 | January 2014

It’s gut-wrenching when you find your pet badly injured and you don’t even know if it’ll live. They can’t tell us what hurts, or even what happened. You may never have to deal with a seriously injured pet or a debilitating chronic condition, but eventually you’ll help them through the infirmities of old age, or even make a life or death decision.

Physical rehabilitation therapy for animals was almost unheard of twenty years ago. But veterinary medicine, just like its human counterpart, has evolved and improved so our pets, too, are enjoying longer and healthier lives. And it’s no secret that we don’t mind spending billions on our pets, including veterinary care. And beyond veterinary medicine, now we have access to physical rehabilitation, acupuncture and other alternative medicine to help our animals recover from injuries, surgery and live comfortably in their later years. But many desperate for help are unaware of these emerging therapies until a pet is stricken.

On November 13, one of my Chesapeake Bay Retrievers collapsed, in the blink of an eye going from athletic, healthy four year old to near total paralysis. Earlier in the day Tanzy had been fine. We rushed her to our regular vet, who is exceptionally competent and thorough, but as we had no idea of what brought on the collapse, he was stumped. So was the 24-hour emergency vet where she spent the night in intensive care hooked to an IV and catheterized. A battery of tests were clear for tick diseases, tetanus and more exotic conditions, and she remained paralyzed the next morning. My choices were to visit a third vet, a neurology specialist, or euthanasia.

At Bush Veterinary Neurological Services Old Town Crier

in Leesburg, a diagnostic MRI revealed two ruptured vertebrae in Tanzy’s neck. Dr. Brewer went over them with me and said Tanzy would need immediate surgery. As serious as her injuries were, he was encouraging. “We actually do two or three of these [surgeries] a week,” he explained, adding that BVNS has a better than 90 percent success rate. Her prognosis wasn’t as good. Many of the surgeries BVNS routinely does are on long-backed breeds prone to disc issues and/or dogs with congenital or old-age related conditions. Because she had fragments and debris as well as blood in her spinal column from the ruptures, there was a higher chance she’d never be able to walk, or even die during the surgery. I pulled out my credit card, signed the forms, and gave the OK. Dr. Brewer operated on Tanzy the evening of Nov. 14 and called to report the two-hour surgery had gone well; now we just needed to wait until the swelling subsided.

Three days after surgery, she still couldn’t move or even lift her head. I did some soul searching and agonizing. Even though the surgeon had cautioned that recovery would take months and it would be four to six weeks before she’d be able to stand or move on her own, the sight of my dog, heavily sedated and unable to even lift her head, was heartbreaking.

Would the kindest thing to do, after all that, be euthanasia? Time to research physical rehabilitation for dogs. But there aren’t many places that do it, since it’s a fairly new field.

In Virginia, animal physical rehabilitation is done by veterinarians or by licensed veterinary technicians who’ve undergone a minimum of two years of specialized training.

Luckily I found Jason Strahin, a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, head of the rehabilitation division of Old Mill Veterinary Hospital in Leesburg. He was optimistic about getting Tanzy back on her feet within a week and in fact, eager for the challenge. Five days after surgery, I moved her to Old Mill, and Strahin went to work the day she arrived with cold laser therapy. A veterinary laser concentrates a narrow bandwidth of UV rays onto a small area, which promotes circulation and cell regeneration to speed the healing process. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and cannot cause burns when properly used.

Strahin’s rehab program for Tanzy included range of motion exercises, and sessions in his specialized canine underwater treadmill. At only 5 days post-surgery, she could neither stand nor hold her head up on her own, so Strahin got right in the water with her. Her legs flopped and knuckled; it was awkward and clumsy looking, but she was moving her legs on her own and actually seemed to enjoy it. Strahin worked with her intensively that first week, along with his other client dogs. Patients included Labrador Retrievers recovering from cruciate ligament surgery; to arthritic, overweight and geriatric dogs getting treatments, and Tanzy. Within just days she was up and moving on her own, at first doing what Strahin called “the seal flop” and he assured me she’d be standing and walking by the end of the week.

“Probably 75 percent of my patients are rehabbing from injuries,” Strahin said. “But I also work on chronic conditions like hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy (a progressive spinal paralysis certain breeds are prone to, similar to ALS in humans) overweight and geriatric problems like osteoarthritis. Basically old age management Old Town Crier

things.” Water treadmill exercise is an excellent low-impact way to strengthen muscles and can be tailored to the patient, whether it’s an old dog with painful arthritis, or a young one, like mine, recovering from major trauma.

With Strahin’s combination of rehab therapies and dedication, Tanzy was able to stand and walk unaided out of her kennel to come home before Thanksgiving, a full three weeks ahead of schedule.

Another increasingly popular adjunct to traditional veterinary medicine, as well as rehabilitation and physical therapy, is acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Locally, Dr. Rebecca Verna operates a veterinary practice in Fauquier County that incorporates traditional as well as holistic treatment.

Although she’s a licensed veterinarian, her practice specializes in physical therapy and rehabilitation, using acupuncture for healing and pain management. She also uses Chinese herbology and homeopathic medicines and enjoys a loyal clientele as she’s willing to take on the tough cases, including cancers, that have not responded to traditional treatments.

“By using a combination of herbs, diet and acupuncture, we’ve had some really dramatic improvements,” she said. Dr. Verna’s Paws for Holistic Vet Care in Marshall, Va., is one of a small but increasing number of practices utilizing non-traditional methods; energy based treatments such as Reiki, and herbology and homeopathic medicines and food therapy for animals. She also designs nutrition programs to help managing chronic conditions using Chinese herbs and a raw diet, noting that it can greatly increase longevity as well as cure a range of conditions from allergies to ear infections. Chronic ailments such as disc degeneration, arthritis, and hip dysplasia make up about 60 percent of her cases. The rest are split fairly evenly between injury rehabilitation and cancer cases.

Tanzy, along with her grandmother Puffin, who at nearly 14 is stiff and arthritic, started acupuncture treatment Dec. 2. Dr. Verna used the laser and chiropractic adjustments, and performed acupuncture on them with a calm, practiced hand. Neither dog so much as flinched at the needles, relaxing completely during their treatments. There was immediate improvement in both that has continued after twice-weekly visits; old Puffin can even navigate the stairs now, something she hadn’t done in months.

Tanzy still has much to do to return to her former health. She can walk and run, but still has balance problems. She has to be supervised outside on our farm, since we suspect her injury came from rough play with the other dogs. She’ll continue the rehab at Old Mill letting Strahin work his magic, and she’ll get regular laser and acupuncture treatments at Dr. Verna’s Paws for Holistic Vet Care.

She’ll also start swimming at the Northern Virginia Animal Swim Center in Middleburg to continue strengthening her muscles in the hope that by summer she can safely swim in our ponds. We’ll need to use a harness instead of a collar on her, and she may never be able to duck hunt or compete in AKC hunting tests, but we do know she can live a healthy, normal life now. I hope by sharing Tanzy’s journey, local pet owners learn of the resources available to help injured or aging pets gain mobility, freedom from pain and confidence.

“Like our best friends’ home if our best friends were amazing chefs and knew exactly what we wanted before we asked.”

Trip Advisor

www.hopkinsordinary.com Sperryville, Virginia 540.987.3383

Websites: OldMillPets.com/rehab; DrVerna.com; and AnimalSwimCenter.com.

January 2014 | 25

SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE PEGGIE ARVIDSON

Accessing Intuition

I

t’s a new year and a new opportunity to do great things in the world.

You get to define what doing great things in the world looks like for you.

Cool, huh?

As you contemplate your new year, get clear on your passions so you can let your greatness shine. Do you think of passion as a burning love or desire for another person?

Or do you believe that passion can only be for one thing and that if you pick the wrong thing you will be doomed to a life in the wrong field? Not

so. Your passion comes from within you. It’s your natural joie de vivre.

It may have been a long time since you allowed yourself to really feel joy and to have fun. There’s so much to do and there’s never enough time, right? Yet you’ve the same amount of hours in the day as Michelangelo, Ben Franklin, Marie Curie and Mother Theresa had, right? I challenge you to set out into 2014 with the intention to bring passion to everything you do.

Your passion is the way you approach things, the willingness to show up with

DO YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE PURPOSE? Would you like to know the meaning of your life?

Once you’ve figured out the meaning of your life, the fun begins. You get to laugh more, breathe deeper and create balance for everything that is important to you. Your life purpose is the cornerstone of balance and peace in your life.

The good news is that everything you need to get started is literally in the palm of your hands.

Email Peggie at handanalystpro@comcast.net and explore whether a life purpose identification reading is right for you.

703-577-4759 or peggie@peggiearvidson.com

26 | January 2014

a child’s eye and natural curiosity. Passion is what allows you to deeply listen to the person who is talking, even if you desperately want to finish their sentence. When you’re passionate you stop and take 10 seconds to whisper thanks into the ether because even the mundane moment is so charged with wonder.

As you open up to passion in your everyday life, you’ll rekindle a pull to do great things and make a difference.

You may still believe that you have “nothing special” to offer, but the pull will remain.

When that happens it’s time to tap into your intuition.

Intuition is 100 percent natural. We all have intuition.

That little voice that told our ancestors that a saber tooth tiger was watching them and it was time to hightail it out of the woods, is the same voice that tells you to park in a different spot than normal when you head to work. If you ignore that voice and you come back to the car to find it broken into, who do you blame?

Ignoring it is what most of us do though. So here’s a quick primer on using your intuition. Whether you want to gain clarity about your purpose or you want to decide on the right time for an important conversation, listen to your intuition.

There are multiple ways to access intuition.

Understanding your primary intuitive language is key to learning to use your intuition each day. Your primary intuitive language may be: 1. Clairaudient (clear hearing). This isn’t so much voices in your head as it is words suddenly “popping into” your mind. You may zone in on the lyrics of a song that you haven’t heard in a while, or you might feel certain that you just heard someone call your name

but there’s no one there.

2. Clairsentience (clear feeling). You get a “gut feeling” when you’re struggling with a question, a challenge or a situation.

You might feel a sudden tweak in your leg or back or hip and wonder where it came from.

3. Clairgustatory (clear smelling/tasting). You suddenly smell gardenias in the dead of winter when no one else is around, or the scent of the stinky cigar your grandfather smoked —except he’s not with us anymore and there’s no one in a 10 mile radiance smoking!

4. Clairvoyant (clear seeing).

You see what appears to be images in your mind’s eye. You might see flashes of light or blurry things that are out of place in the corner of your eye. You can easily visualize things that aren’t there and can’t understand why others cannot “see” what you’re describing.

Knowing which of these senses is your ’lead’ can help you as you tap into your intuition for practical living.

You definitely have all four, but one is definitely your ringleader and will be most prevalent when you’re first working with intuition.

Next, learn to trust your intuition.

Practice by asking for guidance around a particular issue or question that’s been vexing you. Then relax.

Release any attachment to the outcome or answer. Let go of your preconceived notions and breathe deeply for a count of three. Close your eyes and wait. After 60 seconds or so write down whatever occurred to you while your eyes were closed. Even if it doesn’t seem to make any sense. Don’t force it, just let it be.

Throughout the remainder of the day reflect on the image, scent, word/s or feeling you had and curiously explore what it could mean.

The tough part is releasing your expectation for any specific outcome.

Practice daily and track your “hits” in a specific journal.

Review your observations over time and what patterns are forming. You may note that something you wrote down three weeks ago actually happened today! Or perhaps you kept seeing a picture of an owl in your mind’s eye and this week your boyfriend took you to a wildlife sanctuary where you were working with injured owls!

As you flex your intuitive muscle, you can explore deeper questions, by asking, “What’s my life purpose?” and writing down what you “get.”

Don’t be surprised if it’s not a complete sentence and step by step action plan. Your purpose is a way of being in the world versus a way of “doing.”

Keep that in mind as 2014 unfolds and you set your intention to show up, passionately, in each area of your life!

Peggie Arvidson is the Money Mindset Coach for Healers.

She helps healers charge what they’re worth and get it by helping them break the pattern of self-doubt so that they can attract their perfect clients.

One of the hardest things for those in healing professions is to recognize the monetary value of the services they provide, so they can keep their businesses thriving and stop struggling to pay their bills.

Peggie walks them through the five steps they’ll be able to apply, using their genuine strengths. to bring them a steady flow of perfect clients for their practice. You can learn more at GrowYourMoneyMojo.com Old Town Crier

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Are You Feeling the Wintertime Blues?

Ten Easy Steps to Turn Them Around

I

f you live in a sunny place like Florida then you probably won’t know what I’m talking about. The wintertime blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), usually begin when the days start getting shorter and the sky clouds over into perpetual gray. People with SAD dread October because the clocks move back an hour and, in a single day, autumn twilight becomes dark night.

Symptoms of SAD include depression, brain fog, easy sleepiness, carb craving, and weight gain.

At the very heart of the wintertime blues is a lack of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin.

When the gray winter days in the Northern Hemisphere arrive, the serotonin you stored up in the sunny summer months starts declining.

At the same time, your brain’s stores of sleepinducing melatonin increase, making you feel like a hibernating bear.

Women are the major victims of wintertime blues because all women start life with less serotonin in their brains than men. But if you’re someone trapped in a SAD life, with no immediate prospects of wintering on the Costa del Sol, you can beat the wintertime blues and get your life back. Basically, you’ll need to pull out the stops and do everything you can to

stimulate your brain to make more serotonin.

This includes lighting up your life, exercising, taking a couple common supplements, and timing your intake of good carbohydrates throughout the day.

Here are 10 low-cost steps you can take right now to banish the wintertime blues: 1. Go outside and walk briskly with your face in the light—even if it’s gray outside —for 20 minutes every day. Both the light and the exercise will kick up your feel-good serotonin.

Of course, if the wind-chill outside will deepfreeze your face, find a health club with windows, locate a treadmill or a stationary bike in the brightest light, and hop on.

2. Keep your curtains or blinds pulled open all the way so sunlight (or daylight, even on cloudy days) can pour into your living/work space.

3. Paint your walls light colors—they’ll reflect the light.

4. If your car has a sunroof, let in the light while you drive (singing along to your favorite songs is optional, but I recommend that too).

5. Increase the wattage of your light bulbs to between 5,000 and 10,000 lux (units of light).

Choose subcompact fluorescent bulbs, a bit more expensive but mine have lasted 7+ years. The newer bulbs don’t have the ALXVG_111200_OConnells.indd 1 ALXVG_101200_DanielOConnellsIrishBar.indd 1

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January 2014 | 27

American BILBO BAGGINS 208 Queen St. 703-683-0300 BITTERSWEET 823 King Street 703-549-2708 CARLYLE CLUB 411 John Carlyle St. 703-549-8957 CHADWICK’S 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442 chadwicksrestaurants.com An Old Town tradition since 1979 and an original Georgetown pub and restaurant since 1967.

CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080 CLYDE’S 1700 N. Beauregard St. 703-820-8300 clydes.com

DUTCH’S GRILL (Holiday Inn) 2460 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, VA 703-960-3400

INDIGO LANDING #1 Marina Dr. Washington Sailing Marina 703-548-0001

THE GRILL RESTAURANT/ PIANO BAR AT MORRISON HOUSE 116 S. Alfred St. 703-838-8000

IRELAND’S OWN 111 North Pitt St. 703-549-4535 irelandsownpub.com

EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051

JACK’S PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372

FAST EDDIE’S BILLIARD CAFE 6220 Richmond Hwy. 703-660-9444

JACKSON 20 480 King St. 703-842-2790

FIN & HOOF 801 N. Saint Asaph St. 703-836-4700

JOE THEISMANN’S 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

FINN & PORTER AT MARK CENTER 5000 Seminary Rd. 703-379-2346

KING STREET BLUES 112 N. St. Asaph St. 703-836-8800

FIRE FLIES 1501 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-7200

COLUMBIA FIREHOUSE 109 S. St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776

FLAT IRON STEAK & SALOON 808 King St. 703-299-0777

Dining Guide

FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342 GADSBY’S TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288 HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050

RED MEI 602 King St. 703-837-0094

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

THAILAND, ROYAL ST 835 N. Royal St. 703 535-6622

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600

TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878

BRABO Tasting Room 1600 King St. 703-894-5252

TEMPO 4231 Duke St. 703-370-7900 temporestaurant.com Northern Italian, French provincial and American cuisine featuring fresh seafood, meats and pasta served in a contemporary, romantic atmosphere.

Caph’e Ban’h Mi’ Vietnamese 407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800 Sang Jun Thai 300 King Street 571-312-3377

NOTTING HILL 1106 King St. 703-299-4590 RESTAURANT EVE 110 S. Pitt St. 703-706-0450 CEDAR KNOLL INN GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-799-1501

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

CHEZ ANDREE 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-836-1404

LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661

TWO NINETEEN RESTAURANT 219 King St. 703-549-1141

LA BERGERIE 218 N. Lee St. 703-683-1007 labergerie.com

FONTAINE’S CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151

YVES’ BISTRO 235 Swamp Fox Rd. In the Hoffman Center 703-329-1010

28 | January 2014

PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-822-5699

MONROES AMERICAN TRATTORIA 1603 Commonwealth Ave. 703-548-5792

RAILSTOP GASTROPUB 901 N. Fairfax St. 703-683-8793

MOUNT VERNON INN Mount Vernon, Va 703-780-0011

RAMPARTS 1700 Fern St. 703-998-6616 rampartstavern.com

T.J. STONES GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com American cuisine with libations from around the world. Bar specials Mon-Fri, 4-7 PM. Brunch served Sat & Sun.

LAPORTA’S 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313 LIGHT HORSE RESTAURANT 715 King St. 703-549-0533

NICKELL’S AND SCHIFFLER 1028 King St. 703-684-5922

MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117

NINA’S DANDY Potomac Party Cruises Zero Prince St. 703-683-6076 dandydinnerboat.com

MANCINI’S 1508 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-838-FOOD MANGO MIKE’S 4580 Duke St. 703-370-3800

BERTUCCI’S 725 King St. 703-548-8500 BUGSY’S PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313 bugsyspizza.com FACCIA LUNA 823 S. Washington St. 703-838-5998

FRENCH BASTILLE 1201 N. Royal St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com

SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222

REYNOLDS STREET CAFÉ 34 S. Reynolds St. 703-751-0830 RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. Hollin Hall Shopping Center 703-347-7545 ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274 SAMUEL BECKETT’S IRISH GASTRO PUB 2800 S. Randolph St. Villages of Shirlington 703-379-0122

O’CONNELL’S RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 danieloconnellsrestaurant.com

LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com Elegant, classical Italian cuisine served in a lovely historical setting. Fresh veal, homemade pastas, and fresh fish are some of the daily choices. An extensive list of wines and champagnes served in a sophisticated and friendly atmosphere.

GERANIO RISTORANTE 722 King St. 703-548-0088 geranio.net Still Old Town’s highest-rated Italian restaurant (Zagat). Discerning Old Towners flock here for refined cuisine in this comfortable, yet sophisticated restaurant. With entrees from $14, there is no reason not to enjoy a selection from their Wine Spectator awardwinning list, while being attended by the friendly staff of seasoned professionals. Reservations recommended and casual attire welcomed.

OLD CHICAGO PIZZERIA 2245 Huntington Ave. 703-960-1086

IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833

VILLA D’ESTE 600 Montgomery St. 703-549-9477

LA STRADA 1905 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-2592 SAPORE D’ITALIA RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA 1310 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-683-9680

PARADISO 124 King St. 703-837-1245 PINES OF FLORENCE 1300 King St. 703-549-1796 RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873 TRATTORIA DA FRANCO 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338

TRADEMARK 2800 Jamieson Ave. 703-253-8640 TRADITIONS (Holiday Inn) 625 First St. 703-548-6300 UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com Old Town’s favorite neighborhood tap & grill. Distinct southern style menu, fine steaks, fresh seafood. Sunday brunch, private parties, happy hour.

VERMILLION 1120 King St. 703-684-9669

SHOOTER MCGEE’S 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

VIRTUE GRAIN & FEED 106 South Union St. 571-970-3669

SOCIETY FAIR 277 S. Washington St. 703-683-3247

THE WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL 214 King St. 703-683-6868

italian • pizzErias

CONTINENTAL BRABO

by Robert Weidmaier 1600 King St. 703-894-3440

OVERWOOD 220 North Lee St. 703-535-3340

MURPHY’S IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com Old-world Irish pub featuring a roaring fireplace, serving a variety of imported, domestic and non-alcoholic beers in a friendly atmosphere. Serving robust American-Irish meals at fair prices.

Favorites include fish and chips and Irish stew. Irish-style entertainment nightly.

asian ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515

McGINTY’S PUBLIC HOUSE 3650 S. Glebe Rd. Potomac Yard Located at Market Square in the Eclipse next to Harris Teeter on Rt.1 703-414-3555

MEDITERRANEAN LA TASCA 607 King St. 703-299-9810 “Spring into Spain and Feast Like a King.” Offering unlimited tapas at lunch and dinner. Choice of dessert included. Lunch 11:30-4:30 for $20.07; dinner 4:30-close for $30.07. Eat a little, drink a little, have a lot of fun!

LAYLA 907 King St. 703-684-3288

CASABLANCA 1504 King St. 703-549-6464

PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194 thepitahouse.com Family owned and operated; carry out available and free delivery.

TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com

DELIA’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. Alexandria, VA 703-329-0006

LAS TAPAS 710 King St. 703-836-4000

seafood Hank’s Oyster Bar 1026 King St. 703-739-HANK RT’S RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 FLYING FISH 815 King St. 703-600-FISH flyingfishdc.com Traditional American and fancy seafood specializing in sushi.

FISH MARKET-CLINTON 7611Old Branch Ave. Clinton, MD 301-599-7900 ERNIE’S ORGINIAL CRABHOUSE 1743 King St. 703-836-0046

FISH MARKET-OLD TOWN 105 King St. 703-836-5676 fishmarketoldva.com Internationally known and locally owned! We serve shrimps, a few crabs, tall people and lots of nice people, too! Live music and lively food!

THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834 wharfrestaurant.com "It’s All About the Seafood," traditional and creative coastal cuisine.

MEXICAN • LATIN SOUTHWESTERN AUSTIN GRILL 801 King St. 703-684-8969 LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290 LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167 TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226) INDIAN DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd.

703-660-6085

Old Town Crier

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January 17-26, 2014 Powered By

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sOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington Street 703-836-6222 southside815.com

king street blues 112 N. St. Asaph Street 703-836-8800 kingstreetblues.com

$35 PRIX FIXE THREE-COURSE DINNER

Bastille 1201 N. Royal Street 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com

chart house One Cameron Street 703-684-5080 chart-house.com GERANIO 722 King Street 703-548-0088 geranio.net

VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN 106 S. Union Street 571-970-3669 virtuefeedgrain.com

flat iron steak & saloon 808 King Street 703-299-0777 flatironkingstreet.com

For actual menus and a complete listing of participating restaurants, go to oldtowncrier.com and click on the link on the opening page or go to visitalexandriava.com

Old Town Crier

January 2014 | 29

DINING OUT bobtagert

Brunch at the Grille Alexandria’s favorite Morrison House

N

ow that we are firmly settled into winter, we thought we would take a different approach to our Dining Out column and write about a nice cozy brunch.

The Grille at the Morrison House has long been a favorite destination for local Alexandrians and now Chef Brian McPherson has introduced a Duck Press Brunch. We ventured out on a snowy Sunday morning in December and actually had a hard time trying to leave because of the warmth and ambiance the Grille provides.

Back in the late 1970s, Bob Morrison wanted to build a modern but period looking hotel and restaurant that would fit in with the architecture of Alexandria.

He accomplished that and more. Today the property is owned and operated by Kimpton Hotels, and they continue to make it better.

The Grille itself is what I would call masculine, with dark red leather chairs, dark wood tables and a comfortable bar that is not too big. Ceiling to hiplevel windows allow for a long vertical

30 | January 2014

view outside which was perfect on this particular snowy day. There is also a grand piano and pianist who provides welcome music during the brunch.

As I mentioned earlier, the centerpiece of this brunch is a French duck press.

As roasted duck breast is served during the brunch, the remnants of the duck are placed in a brass press from Matfer Bourgeat. Pressure is applied by screwing down the top of the press to extract additional juices, which are then flambĂŠed to create an especially rich and flavorful sauce. I would have to say that they are dead on. The duck breast was tender and bursting with flavor.

Originally developed in Paris in the 19th century, the complex dish is considered a delicacy.

There is a system to executing this brunch effectively. When you are first seated your waiter will bring you seasonal beignets, fruit, breads and jams. Coffee and juice are also provided. After you have settled in and enjoyed the beignets, it is then time to place your egg order with your waiter. While your eggs are being cooked to order, it is time to visit

a series of brunch stations, choosing from a rich selection of the pressed duck, crepes and petit fours. At this point you may also opt for a $14 bottomless Bellini bar, which includes a selection of peach, passion fruit, pear and berry purees.

The buffet selections include the Rohan Duck, roasted red bliss potatoes, truffled wild rice, Burgers Smokehouse country bacon and sausage, Rissole cauliflower, with pine nuts and golden raisins, and a selection of made to order crepes including buckwheat crepes with warm Vermont Maple syrup and Vermont butter.

By the time you return to your table your eggs should be up and you can settle in for a long delicious meal, and with the endless Bellini bar you might spend the better part of a cold winter day at the Grille.

Considering what you get, the $38 for the brunch is reasonable and the Bellini bar exceptional.

Reservations can be made online at thegrillealexandria.com or by calling 703838-8000.

Old Town Crier

Old Town Crier

January 2014 | 31

BEHIND THE BAR CHESTER SIMPSON

Rico Beetle IS BEHIND THE BAR AT o’connell’s restaurant & pub 112 king street old town alexandria 703-739-1123 danieloconnells.COM

photo: ©2014 Chester Simpson

Rico Beetle Rico is serving a “Beer and a Buddy”—Guinness and a shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey.

How did you get started bartending?

Shortly after I got out of the Navy I took a job working service bar at a very large restaurant. Here is where I learned to make all the drinks according to recipe specifics. After a bit I was moved to main bar where I cultivated my customer service skills.

What is your bartender pet peeve?

Rude, mean people. You can be picky or demanding, but if you are rude to me or others around you, then you can … leave.

32 | January 2014

Do you have a funny pick up line you’ve heard that you can share with us?

Best pickup lines are always just someone being sincere in asking “Hi, how are you ?” I think the days of “what’s your sign?” are over.

What have patrons done to try to get a free drink from you?

Free drinks are a thank you from your bartender. They are earned through faithful patronage, good behavior and favorable gratuity.

Tell us an interesting story?

There is a bar in Los Angeles, down the street from my cousin’s house.

Whenever I go out there to visit we always stop in, and it’s always the same—a dingy, hole in the wall with a small karaoke stage and three passed out old men at the end of the bar.

When it comes time for a Carlos P. to sing his song, one of the old men wakes up, stumbles to the stage and belts out the most perfect rendition of “Me and Mrs. Jones”! When he’s

finished, he can barely make it back to his stool where he promptly passes out again. Funny, cause it’s true!

Who would you most like to sit down and have a drink with?

I would most like to have a drink with Jesus. After all, he can turn water into wine. We’ll never go dry!

Have a favorite bartender you’d like to see featured here? Send your request to chester@chestersimpson.com.

Old Town Crier

G GERANIO RISTORANTE Redefining Italian Cuisine in Old Town Alexandria Dinner Entrees from $14 722 King Street Old Town Alexandria 703.548.0088 www.geranio.net

® SUNDAY BRUNCH 10 AM - 3 PM Only $8.95 So Many Delicious Choices Pancakes with Sausages Irish Country Breakfast Three Egg Omelette Eggs Benedict Homemade Quiche French Toast Hamburger Platter Steak & Egg Special $9.95 Home of Patriots Football!

713 King Street • Old Town Alexandria 703.548.1717 • murphyspub.com Old Town Crier

taste original. try rye.

At Copper Fox we malt our own barley, gently kiln dry the grain with soft sweet apple wood and cherry wood smoke, and pot-still in small batches, one barrel at a time.

Sip it. Mix it. Love it.

TM

DISTILLERY ENTERPRISES, L.L.C. SPERRYVILLE, VIRGINIA

Tours daily. Go to www.copperfox.biz

January 2014 | 33

GRABABITE!

Bart Invites You to the New Bugsy’s

Dining, Sports Bar & Delivery Come in and check out the new menu!

We have added several new options while maintaining all your favorites serving alexandria for 30 years • 1983-2013 111 King St•Old Town Alexandria 703.683.0313•www.bugsyspizza.com

Fine

Wines

Fine

Dining Casual

Style

Wine Tastings every Saturday 2 - 4 pm 7966 Fort Hunt Road

(In the Hollin Hall Shopping Center)

703-347-7545 RiverBendBistro.com Plenty of FREE parking 34 | January 2014

Old Town Crier

CHEF’S SPECIAL CHESTER SIMPSON

Eric Nelson ERIC NELSON IS THE chocolatier of artuflly chocolate 2003A mount vernon ave 703-635-7917 506 john carlyle street 703-575-8686 artfullychocolate.com

What brought you to the business of chocolate?

My interest in chocolate took off in 2006 when I was looking to open my own business where I could show and sell my artwork.

I opened Artfully Chocolate in 2006 when I was nearly 50 years old as a way to combine my passions for fine chocolate and art. I figured that they would both attract a similar type of customer.

For all of my adult life prior to that I was an executive in the telecommunications industry.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration was my mother who lived life to the very fullest and who was always looking for ways to use every bit of God-given talent she had. She inspired me to always look forward, to live bravely and to embrace change as a natural rhythm of life. As a French Jew who grew up in France during World War II, she had a very difficult childhood and was never able to finish her high school education. Eventually after raising children, she rose well beyond her background and received a bachelors and masters degrees in her 40s and 50s. She embodied the word inspiration.

What chocolate concoction of yours has received the most attention?

The part of the menu that has had the strongest response is the Diva hot chocolate. We came up with a dozen different flavor combinations for hot chocolate and named them after movie starlets from the 40s and 50s. They have been amazingly well received. Based on these drinks, Travel and Leisure magazine has named us among the top spots in the U.S. for hot chocolate— two years in a row. Just this fall, Fodor Travel Company also named Artfully Chocolate one of the top places in the U.S. for hot chocolate.

What do you do to insure that you are using quality ingredients?

We use the highest quality Belgian chocolate in the confections we sell and in the drinks we make.

If any chef in the world wanted to cook you dinner, who would you pick?

For me, the best meal in the world would be my mother’s French Onion Soup. It was one of the French culinary specialties that she brought with her from her French upbringing.

photo: ©2013 Chester Simpson

What is your guilty food pleasure?

My guilty pleasure is, without question, our Diva hot chocolate­—the Grace Kelly, a fine 60% dark chocolate combined with caramel and a pinch of sea salt—yum.

If you would like to see your favorite culinary expert featured here, send contact information to chester@chestersimpson.com.

Eric holding a tray of Triple Nut Clusters, and preparing a DNA Hot Chocolate, below.

Old Town Crier

January 2014 | 35

GRAPEVINE NEIL WILLIAMSON

PRESSING CONCERNS at Albemarle Ciderworks

T

his month’s Grapevine is a little fruity—apple, that is. With four new cideries open in the last year, there are now eight across the Commonwealth. Cideries are emerging throughout the Southeast and Virginia is producing many unique and tasteful ciders. In fact, Virginia ranked number four on the top 10 list for cider case sales in 2011 by southeast states, with a total of 91,266 cases sold.

Cider is fermented apple juice just as wine is fermented grape juice. The best cider, just like the best wine, is carefully crafted from fruit chosen for

36 | January 2014

cider making. That brown stuff you buy in the grocery store juice section is just that, apple juice. In colonial America, fermented cider was the drink of choice. Thomas Jefferson’s champagne-like cider, made with Hewe’s Crabapples, was his “table drink.” Throughout the 19th century, growing apples and crafting cider from cider apples was an integral part of every community. Many Virginia cidermakers now aim to revive the cider tradition by growing, or encouraging others to grow cider apples, and by crafting fine cider.

Albemarle Ciderworks is one of the pioneers in the modern Virginia cider industry. Founded and operated by the Shelton family, it is clear the passion for cider drives the business. The impetus for this agricultural adventure was Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. As a part of their educational mission, the folks at Monticello regularly host lectures. Charlotte Shelton attended a couple of lectures about the specific apples Jefferson had grown and were becoming scarce.

What started as a planting of a small array of interesting apples has grown now to more than 200 different cultivars, both heirloom and more recent varieties. In addition the farm produces about three dozen peach varieties, as well as several plums, pears, cherries, nectarines and apricots. The

farm’s nursery The space is operation offers designed to be more than 100 a comfortable varieties of place to fruit trees from experience a their collection cider tasting, through the fall/ relax over a winter catalog glass of cider, that they post enjoy an a la online each carte picnic fall. Many of from their local these varieties food offerings Bill, Charlotte and Chuck are virtually or of your own, unobtainable elsewhere. listen to live music, or host an event.

The cidery came about after Chuck No cider tasting is complete without a Shelton had been experimenting with history lesson regarding the role cider making cider from some of the apples played in American history. on the farm. With each successive Cider was the libation of choice batch he gained experience and a in colonial and early America. Cider receptive audience among the nursery was already a centuries old tradition clientele. The cidery opened with in England by the time America was great fanfare, including Governor Tim settled, and the first settlers to the Kaine in 2009.

New World brought with them both Despite being directly on US 29, cidermaking knowledge and the apples the tasting room is situated aside necessary to its production. Most of the old barn among the rolling hills the seedling apple types planted in of Albemarle County, just south of Virginia and the other colonies would Charlottesville, Va. The cidery and have been unappealing for eating tasting room were designed and built fresh, but many made excellent cider, in 2009. The buildings are designed and as such were enjoyed as a locally in a simple straightforward style, pressed alternative to coffee, tea, and with some arts and crafts touches in wine, all expensive imports. the tasting room including walnut Like wine, ciders are often named wainscoting from trees cut on after the variety of apple used. In the property, and a curved bar of other cases, when a blend of apples fiddleback maple that Ciderist Chuck is used, a “fanciful” name is often Shelton and his son Rob created. used. Such is the case with 2011 Old Town Crier

Jupiter’s Legacy a blend of Black Twig, Winesap, Albemarle Pippin and several crabapple varieties. This is one of the most complex ciders tasted it is bright with citrus notes (tangerine and grapefruit dominate) on the attack and midpalate. The finish is delightfully light and clean. Jupiter’s Legacy really shines when paired with complementary foods: chicken and cream-finished dishes, game meats, steak au poivre, and of course pork.

2012 GoldRush, which I would have pegged as a fanciful name, is actually a newer apple variety. Slightly higher alcohol content than the average cider (10%), GoldRush exudes grapefruit notes throughout the flavor profile.

Most refreshing this cider would pair well with a mixed greens salad or grilled white fish.

Albemarle Ciderworks 2011 Royal Pippin is named after the Albemarle Pippin apple. History tells us that Queen Victoria and her subjects were so enamored of the taste of the Albemarle Pippin that they were willing to pay higher prices and forego the import tax on this richly flavored apple. This apple is also the official apple of the big apple (NYC). The cider has a balanced acidity and a wide mouth feel.

My personal favorite is the 2011 Red Hill, named for the small community just north of Albemarle CiderWorks.

This blend of traditional cider varieties melded with the juice of Winesap and Albemarle Pippin apples that are grown in the red clay soils for which the area is named. It is a complex and earthy Old Town Crier

dry cider with a bright acidity and tart apple flavor. The finish is memorable with hints of ginger and a touch of cinnamon. I envision enjoying Red Hill with oysters on the back deck.

Cider also makes a great blender for cocktails. One tasting room favorite suggestion is the Honey Badger. This cocktail is balanced enough to be able to use any cider with it but is best with a dry cider. It calls for honey syrup (to make it easier to mix) but I just use straight honey, mixing it into the gin and lemon before adding the cider.

Ingredients: 1.5 oz Gin, 1 oz Honey (or Honey Syrup), 0.75 oz Lemon Juice, Hard Cider Combine the Gin and Lemon Juice in a glass, add Honey and mix thoroughly (Or dissolve the honey in a bit of water to make Honey Syrup), Add Ice, top off with Hard Cider.

Always growing, the farm operations continue to evolve. In addition to the cidery and the nursery, the original farmhouse on the property is now available as a guest house. This once modest farmhouse has been expanded to include four bedrooms and two baths. A most enjoyable respite from the hubbub of the city, the guesthouse is an attractive alternative to an extended hotel stay.

Albemarle Ciderworks is located just south of Charlottesville on US 29 and is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11-5.

Neil Williamson is chairman of the Virginia Wine Club tasting panel and editor of the Virginia Wine Journal.

Reach him at editor@vawineclub.com.

Tom and University of Virginia student Maddie Ward doing a bit of bottling.

TOM UNSWORTH, ASSISTANT CIDERIST • ALBEMARLE CIDERWORKS Hometown Charlottesville, Va. Item always in your refrigerator A few bottles of my basement cider experiments.

Favorite saying I worked for a farmer in Berryville who, when asked about accolades for his fruit, would say “Well, that’s not for me to say.” Such honest modesty is in short supply in today’s social media trumpeting of achievements.

Best thing about the Virginia cider industry As a new industry, with a product that dates back hundreds of year, there is a spirit of adventure and esprit de corps among the Commonwealth’s cideries.

Worst thing about the Virginia cider industry Lack of the right fruit—it takes up to five years to bring an apple orchard online (compared with three years for a vineyard); of course once established, orchards last upwards of 200 years.

Comfort food Savory meatloaf with roasted potatoes and broccoli.

Most embarrassing moment Ciderist Chuck Shelton and I were working without power after a storm last year and we had the bright idea to use frozen CO2 to cool the cider that was in the midst of fermenting. After dropping just a small amount of dry ice into the tank, we created a geyser of apple goodness.

Favorite cider Hewes Crabapple Albemarle Ciderworks first reserve cider— it is made from the same fruit that Thomas Jefferson used in his cider.

January 2014 | 37

EXPLORING VIRGINIAWINES DOUG FABBIOLI

Get Dirty in 2014

S

o do we start talking about New Year’s resolutions now? The start of a new year is certainly a time for goal evaluation and setting... for me, 2014 is a year for farming.

We are currently working to plant out more of the land at the Fabbioli estate. We are planting four more acres of grapes, more hops, more veggies and more berries. This past year a lot of wineries, including us, were looking to purchase grapes that just were not available.

The solution for the long term is that we use local land to grow what we need. Of course this means that we need to train more people to farm.

looking into the project that Mike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs TV series fame) is spearheading with his Mike Rowe Works Foundation. He has recognized a gap in skills and work ethic here in America today, where young folks are unwilling to get their hands dirty with respect to skilled jobs. This dovetails right in with our needs here in Western Loudoun, where we need to grow more smart and dirty farmers.

All of this fits together in a way where we are working hard, feeding ourselves, making a living and creating economically sustainable jobs that support our families and our community.

Now if I can pull each of these pieces

We need to grow more smart and dirty farmers to where we are working hard, feeding ourselves, making a living and creating economically sustainable jobs that support our families and our community.

The organization that I started this past year, Piedmont Epicurean and Agricultural Center, (PEAC) is set up to help develop new farmers and farming enterprises. The demand for local farm products continues to grow. The people in our region already seek out locally grown products, and are willing to pay a little more to support the local economy.

In conjunction with PEAC, I have begun

together through hard work, leadership, good communication and collaboration, I think I will have achieved my New Year’s resolution.

Two websites to look at for more information are epicureancenter.com and Mike Rowe’s website profoundlydisconnected.com.

Cheer this effort on, buy local and get dirty yourself in 2014. Happy New Year!

Visiting Virginia’s Wine Country

It’s always a good idea to call before visiting. Many Virginia wineries are small, familyowned operations and may be closed during the time you are planning to visit. If you are a group of eight or more, call ahead to help the winery prepare for your visit and to make sure they can accept groups. Most of our wineries have grape cluster highway signs within a ten-mile radius pointing the way to the winery. Many of these signs also tell you how many miles to go before reaching the winery.

38 | January 2014

For More Information: virginiawine.org Old Town Crier

GREENHILL W I N E RY & V I N E YA R D S

Our Hours:

Open Daily Noon until Sunset WWW.GREENHILLVINEYARDS.COM 23595 WINERY LANE MIDDLEBURG, VA 20117

Tasting Room Hours - Open Year Round Thursday-Saturday, & Monday 11-5 pm • Sunday 12 pm (noon)- 5 pm Now available at La Bergerie The Grille at the Morrison House and the12/23/2010 Virginia Shop Mention or bring this ad restaurant, for a complimentary tasting for two through

10100 Three Fox Ln. • Delaplane, VA • 540-364-6073

Taste the Altitude!

Climb the Mountain— Stone Mountain Vineyards

VIRGINIA WINE Trail Profiles Bedford County Wine Trail bedfordwinetrail.com The Bedford Wine Trail in the Central Virginia region includes five vineyards and wineries surrounding Bedford.

Blue Ridge Wine Way www.blueridgewineway.com The Blue Ridge Wine Way features eight wineries and vineyards in the spectacular mountains of the Northern Virginia region.

Botetourt County Wine Trail botetourtwinetrail.com The Wine Trail of Botetourt Country features 3 wineries in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

GOVERN2006 O GOLD MR’S CUP E WINNE DAL R

Eastern Shore Wine Trail esvatourism.org The Eastern Shore of Virginia Wine Trail hosts three wineries along the Land Between Two Waters. This area is a unique rural coastal environment. Hundreds of miles of Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay shoreline provide a wealth of recreational opportunities for beachlovers, fishermen, and boaters in addition to wine lovers.

Fauquier County Wine Trail fauquiertourism.com/wineries.html Fauquier County is home to 16 wineries and vineyards —each with its own unique flavors. Enjoy awardwinning Virginia wines, wine tastings and tours.

Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail svwga.org The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail is an association of six vineyards and wineries.

Call: 434-990-WINE

Loudoun Wine Trail visitloudoun.org Loudoun’s Wine Trail in Northern Virginia takes you through Virginia’s hunt country to 23 participating wineries.

1376 Wyatt Mountain Road Dyke, Virginia 22935

www.StoneMountainVineyards.com

info@stonemountainvineyards.com

Town Crier Ad 1/4 page ad 6"w x 6.5"h 6/07 A small, family winery focused on quality, sustainable farming and our community Visit us and other quality wineries on the Loudoun Wine Trail–www.loudounfarms.org Serving your local red wine needs since 2006 Open Daily 11am - 5pm Educational wine events

Old Town Crier

Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail chesapeakebaywinetrail.com The Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, in the Chesapeake Bay region, highlights six different wineries.

Heart of Virginia Wine Trail www.hovawinetrail.com The Heart of Virginia Wine Trail in Central Virginia presents several events throughout the year at four wineries located in the central region of the state.

Blue Ridge Wine Trail blueridgewinetrail.com The Blue Ridge Wine Trail features five wineries and vineyards in the spectacular mountains all within minutes of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Fabbioli Cellars Douglas Fabbioli Colleen M. Berg 15669 Limestone School Rd Leesburg 703-771-1197 www.fabbioliwines.com

General’s Wine & History Trail thegeneralswinetrail.com In 2009, 10 wineries banded together to form a new type wine trail experience. The new wine trail experience was to tie our rich wine heritage with our rich historical heritage and thus the General’s Wine & History Trail was born.

Monticello Wine Trail monticellowinetrail.com The Monticello Wine Trail leads to 24 wineries from its hub in Charlottesville.

Source: Virginia Wine Marketing Office

January 2014 | 39

GO FISH STEVE CHACONAS

It’s Show Time!

I

t’s cold, too cold to fish! But not too cold to think about fishing and getting ready for Spring. After a decade of slow death, show promoters regrouped and went back to show basics. Fishing shows are making a comeback!

For booth exhibitors, a good crowd is a must!

The Richmond Fishing Show, January 1719 at Meadow Event Park, Doswell. Va., has rebounded and exceeded expectations over the past 6 years, bringing crowds and big name attractions. Anglers school to events with the tractor-trailer sized bass tanks where local

Bassing IN january Potomac River

It’s cold, but fish can still be caught! Find locations out of the current, with steep drops and watch for slight warm ups! Expect water temperatures in the 38-45 degree range.

On the warmest days at lower tides and with clear water, suspending Lucky Craft Bevy Shad cranks will present easy targets for slightly more active fish. A very slow crawl, twitch and stop on GAMMA EDGE

40 | January 2014

and national pros demonstrate techniques and new products. Big box stores lack the total shopping experience as show attendees can sit up close and personal at seminars and even chat with speakers one-on-one. Exhibitors carry products and offer expert advice to assist anglers stocking their tackle boxes. Guides are booking trips, but also are willing to share their experiences. If they don’t share their secret spots, mapmaker George Martin with GMCO maps sells the best fishing maps: lakes, rivers and bay. He’s spent years in the map business GO FISH > PAGE 44

Fluorocarbon 10-pound test line.

After that, it’s Silver Buddy time! This reliable classic shines in cold water! Use a medium heavy rod with a softer tip. 10 pound test GAMMA Edge here too! There are a few presentations: a standard burb and drop on semi slack line or a slight drag and stop. In both cases, allow the bait to sit on the bottom for a few seconds.

Once the depth is found with the Silver Buddy, other techniques will work too! With soft plastics, use 6-pound test EDGE on spinning gear for Mann’s Stingray Grubs and Hardnose 4 inch grubs on ¼ ounce ball head jigs cast in the same area, worked slowly and soaked in Garlic flavor Jack’s Juice to encourage fish to hold on.

Also try Mann’s Classic spinnerbaits with gold blades and white skirts slowly crawled through bottom cover.

Old Town Crier

FROM THE TRAINER RYAN UNVERZAGT

bosu forward lunge with dbs ❷

❶

F

irst thing’s first: Happy New Year!

I hope that all of your dreams came true during the holidays but more importantly that you rose to my fitness challenge. Did you manage to stay active the past two months even when it seemed impossible? It doesn’t take much. A simple walk around the neighborhood can do the trick. Have some fun this year and enjoy all the benefits that being active can bring to your life.

January 2014’s exercise of the month is called the Bosu Forward Lunge (with dumbbells-DBs). This exercise is a fun way to work on your legs without all the grunting of a leg press or squat. The Bosu will challenge your balance and improve ankle stability. To start, grab a pair of DBs and hold them at shoulder-level. Stand directly behind the Bosu and then take one exaggerated step backward (about 3-4 feet).

Figure 1 shows the starting and finishing positions.

Old Town Crier

Before attempting your first lunge onto the Bosu, it’s important to note that it may slide if you don’t place your foot in the proper area. To avoid this mishap, I suggest placing it next to a wall or something solid to hold it in place. The reason for holding the DBs at shoulder-level is to make your spinal and abdominal muscles work a little harder than if you were to hold them at your side. This also keeps your posture in check while performing the lunge.

Step forward with the left foot to place it on top of the Bosu. While doing this, you also need to shift your body weight to the front foot, bend your hip and knee until they reach about ninety degrees (Figure 2). Keep your back straight, chest and chin up. The front of the knee shouldn’t go past the toes. A common mistake is standing too close to the Bosu before lunging. If this happens, your knee will go past the toes.

Make sure that you have plenty of space to actually

lunge forward. To finish, you’ll need to forcefully push yourself off the top while transferring your body weight back to the right leg. This movement should be much quicker than the actual lunge.

You’re not done yet! You have a couple options. You can keep lunging forward with the same leg or alternate

legs as you go. Regardless, try at least two sets of ten reps per leg. The key to a successful Bosu lunge is being consistent on the placement of your foot. If this is slightly off, your balance will be as well. Give it a whirl and remember that it’s ok to try this one without the dumbbells too!

Unverzagt holds a BS in Wellness Management from Black Hills State University and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He is an active member of the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA).

January 2014 | 41

FITNESS NICOLE FLANAGAN

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Check our website for monthly specials and our client referral program.

J

anuary marks the beginning of a new year, and for most of us that means some type of resolution to do something different for the next twelve months. If your old gym workout is starting to seem uninspiring, try something new to start off the year on a good note.

People have been practicing yoga for thousands of years—there is a reason this ancient practice has been around for so long.

There are many benefits of practicing yoga which go far beyond the physical aspect. Yoga can help you balance your mind and spirit as well as your body. When the mind is clear and the body feels balanced it is easier to face the challenges of each day regardless of what they may be. Many people work out because it makes them feel better. Yoga is certainly a workout, but in a different way than going to a gym and lifting or cycling. It is physically challenging, yet relaxing at the same time.

Yoga is a great way to stay in shape. The postures tone organs and develop long, lean muscles. The practice of forward bends, back bends, lateral poses, twists, and inversions, balances and works every muscle, bone, joint, and organ in the body. Yoga can improve circulation of blood and lymph throughout the body. Inversions such as a headstand reverse the flow of gravity, improving the blood supply to the lungs and brain and give the legs and heart a rest. The heart is exercised by the different postures with many similar benefits of aerobic exercise—with one exception. Through yoga postures, the heart is not stressed as it is in aerobic activities such as running or spinning.

In yoga the heart receives the actions of various poses much like the rest of the body, through toning, stimulating and massaging actions. Weight bearing yoga poses can help improve bone density and slow the progression of osteoporosis.

Flexibility and strength of the muscles and range of motion in the joints is greatly increased as well as overall stamina and endurance.

Yoga gives you energy. Yoga postures

bend the spine in many different ways.

Moving the spine this way keeps the spine flexible and healthy and nourishes the entire nervous system. These poses release tension and blocked energy, lengthen and strengthen muscles, and tone, stimulate and massage internal organs. As a result, every cell in the body has improved function which gives a person the sense of renewed energy and a reduction in overall stress. A reduction in stress helps to keep the body and the mind in a healthy state. When the body is in a constant state of stress it takes a toll on overall health.

Yoga can help you relax through specific breathing techniques called pranayama.

Pranayama invigorates the entire bodymind system. The respiratory and nervous systems are calmed and strengthened. When pranayama is done correctly the body’s vital energy is balanced and replenished and fatigue is lessened. Conscious relaxation techniques systematically guide you into a state of deep relaxation. As the noisy chatter of your mind recedes, your body is able to let go and release muscle tension. As your muscles relax, the breath rate slows and deepens so the respiratory system is allowed to rest. As the breathing rate slows, the heart rate responds and slows down as well. This positively affects the entire circulatory system and rests the heart. When the heart is relaxed this sends the message to the nervous system to initiate a relaxation response. It is this deep relaxation that goes right to the core of decreasing fatigue. After experiencing a deep relaxation yoga class you will feel full of energy as if you have just taken a mini vacation from you stressful day.

This year make a new addition to your workout regime and try a yoga class. It will balance your mind and body and give you a feeling of renewed energy. It will help to reduce stress and fatigue and improve overall strength.

Not to mention it can be done in a nice warm studio while the cold wind blows through the streets of Old Town.

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42 | January 2014

Old Town Crier

FIRST BLUSH GENEVIEVE LEFRANC

Radiant Orchid

Pantone’s 2014 Color of the Year is a beauty winner

D

rum roll, please ... Pantone, the world-renowned color authority, has officially selected Radiant Orchid as 2014’s Color of the Year.

Every January beauty and fashion junkies alike eagerly await the unveiling of the highly anticipated Color of the Year so they can get to brainstorming how to incorporate the hot new hue into their everyday looks. I know what you’re probably thinking but trust me, this is totally not a Barney look.

The ever-exotic Radiant Orchid is easier to

As per tradition, beauty giant Sephora teams up with Pantone to create a collection inspired by the Color of the Year which is scheduled to launch this spring.

Until then delight in discovering many of the vivid products already available in this captivating punch of purple. Be prepared to clue everyone in with your dazzling, attention-grabbing, on-trend look that reenergizes any look.

Laura Mercier Stick Gloss in ’Black Orchid’

This hyper-moisturizing cross between lip balm and lip stain cares for lips while providing the perfect swipe of color in a sheer black cherry finish.

NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection Limited Edition Cinematic Eye Shadow in ’Rage’

This limited edition eye shadow offers a velvety soft texture that provides high-impact color with a dazzling metallic finish. This electric orchid shade formula is inspired by legendary fashion photographer Guy Bourdin.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Matte Lip Tar in ’Hoochie’

Not one for shy girls, this extreme magenta shade of longwearing matte lip formula offers unprecedented longevity and a stunning splash of rich, pigmented, opaque color.

Long lasting like a liptstick with the easy application of a gloss.

incorporate into your beauty routine than you think. Uplifting and bold without being overpowering, this fresh, enchanting combination of fuchsia, pink, and purple works as a surprisingly versatile flush for eyes, lips, nails, and even cheeks, and universally complements all hair, eye, and skin tones.

Believe it or not, this vibrant shade enlivens the skin by blending both cool and warm undertones. It provides a refreshingly modern, feminine shade while its rosy undertones will make your complexion luminescent. Whether you’re experimenting with a Radiant Orchid Color of the Year product that’s vividly intense, petal soft, saturated, or sheer, this is one shade everyone ought to give a go this winter and coming spring.

Old Town Crier

Lancôme Vernis In Love Nail Polish in ’Violet Coquette’

Inspired by Lancome’s bold In Love lip collection, this intense pastel nail color looks stunning and unexpected against both light and dark complexions.

Smashbox Always Sharp 3D Waterproof Kohl Liner in ’Orchid’

This eyeliner contains reflective, three-dimensional pearls that provide dazzling, luminescent color in rich pigmented hues. Best part? This liner comes with a handy sharpener built right into the cap so you’ll always be sure to achieve a crisp, clean, precise line.

Lancome Color Design 5 Shadow & Liner Palette in ’Orchid Splendor’

This all-in-one, five-shadow palette features silky, lustrous, long-wearing powders that can be applied in five steps—all over, lid, crease, highlighter, and liner—perfect for creating a purple smoky eye that’s as unexpected as it is gorgeous.

Mix and match to create your own look that’s soft for day or intense and dramatic for evening.

Genevieve LeFranc holds a BA in writing, rhetoric and communication from James Madison University. She researches and writes about the beauty and fashion industries.

January 2014 | 43

Come be bLoWN aWay...

GO FISH! FROM PG 40

and working with local guides and charters to mark the hot spots! Boat dealers will be wall ashion is seasonal tyle is Forever to wall making deals. Check out great deals on Skeeter boats from Chesdin Boat Sales. ad hair is unacceptaBle National Elite Series pro John Crews returns, -masoN shupe, oWNer picking up where he left off, presenting his Little John Series of crankbaits and varied bLoWN...the saLoN lineup of Missile soft plastic baits available for sale at the show in Dave’s Tournament Tackle and Green Top booths. Crews will air uts eN omeN introduce his new MISSILE swimbait, the SHOCKWAVE! A unique new natural color oLor ighLights uLL artiaL is in store for the MISSILE pitching/flipping oNditioNiNg reatmeNts D-Bomb and Baby D-Bomb. Bourbon with black flake is a natural color and will be an in-between color match. All eyes will be on sk bout ur appy our his newly released Baby Fat John, a shallow diving squarebill that “hunts.” After more than LoWout peCiaL 20 prototypes, Crews says this could be his best creation ever! Look for John Crews in his booth with his 2014 Bass Cat EYRA boat. ppoiNtmeNts uggested One name tops the chart when talking aLk Ns eLCome crankbaits, FLW pro David Fritts will be hanging out in the Mare Marine booth as well WWW bLoWNsaLoN Com as giving seminars and tank demonstrations.

He’ll discuss structure fishing with crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and spoons. Fritts will at the CorNer oF patriCk & kiNg streets also be unveiling a new soft plastic Berkley iN oLd toWN aLexaNdria Havoc bait, fished a variety of ways from Texas to Carolina rigged. However Fritts has been tightlipped about his newly designed Berkley crankbaits but says prototypes for 1002 king street demonstration could be available at show time! alexandria, va 22314 The legendary cranker has revealed very little other than the material is not plastic or wood, 703.683.5555 but a new composite combining long-range www.blownsalon.com castability, buoyancy control and livelier action.

The result will be a smaller bodied crankbait that will probe deeper fish cover! Another Haircuts $13 A Very Blown Ad.indd 1 11/25/13 11:49 AM product Fritt’s is proud of is the new LEW’s Good Shampoo, Cut & Blow Dry $16 Good BB-1 cranking reel. Without infinite anti(extra charge for long hair) Haircut!

Price! reverse, this reel stands alone in the market as Scissors Cut $17+up the top cranking reel, according to Fritts. Pair Beautiful Long

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WINTER TIME BLUES FROM PG 27

annoying flicker and strange light the old fluorescent tubes once had, use 25 percent less energy than a standard bulb, and fit in most fixtures. If you have any sort of a desk job, buy a full spectrum light box (available online) and aim it at your languishing self for an hour a day.

6. Add the raw materials your body needs to make more serotonin by taking these supplements every day: 2 grams of fish oil and one B complex 100.

7. Eat a small amount of high-quality carbohydrates with every meal and as snacks throughout your day. Fruits, nuts, veggies, and whole grains are among the best choices, as are beans, soups, and oatmeal. You need a little carbohydrate at every meal for your brain to produce serotonin. In fact, craving comfort foods in the winter is your body’s cry for more carbs to boost serotonin— but, please, if you want to keep your weight stable, make good food choices most of the time.

8. Premenstrual aggravation of wintertime blues is very common. If you notice a worsening in the week or so before your period, understand that your hormones are taking your serotonin levels on a rollercoaster ride: when your estrogen drops, as it does in the week before your period, your feel-good serotonin goes right along with it.

this LEW’s reel with his newly designed Speed Stick Pro Model cranking rods (90% fiberglass, 10% graphite) featuring a larger handle and newly positioned trigger for distance control and reduced hand fatigue! Fritts is also very excited about sharing information on the new Raymarine electronics that provide greater detail for reading deeper water.

Local Potomac River and Lake Anna expert guide, tournament angler and Woods & Waters pro team Captain John Hutchins will also present seminars focusing on turning tackle and technique weaknesses into strengths.

Hutchins says line is key and correct use of GAMMA TORQUE braid; Copoly and EDGE fluorocarbon lines will cover differing conditions and presentations. He’ll also discuss using Humminbird Side Imaging electronics for probing deep Lake Anna or shallower Potomac River to locate spots and fish.

This year saltwater anglers will be treated to more booths, retailers and experts than ever before like Capt. Jimmy Price, Capt.

Rick “Rodman” Bennet, Capt. Noah Lynk, Capt. Dave Tilley among others. The Bass Tub returns for live fish demos. The VA Federation will host the Reel Kids Casting State Finals. A trout/catfish pond provides youngsters with fishing thrills. Radio station K-95 is partnering with Catmagic Tackle for a custom Catfishing Rod outfit give-a-way. Greentop sponsoring a $2.00 off admission coupon available for pickup in the store. The Richmond Fishing Expo is setting new standards for the old fishing shows with the largest array of tackle, combined with some of the finest professional talent around, offering a weekend of fishing “OVERLOAD.” Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fishing guide, and a BoatUS “Ask the Expert” (http:// my.boatus.com/askexperts/bassfishing/) Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. To book trips/ purchase gift certificates: info@NationalBass.com.

Get your PMS under control by following the healing path in The Triple Whammy Cure.

9. Try alternative therapies: acupuncture and Chinese herbal remedies—together called traditional Chinese medicine—have a seasonal component that make them effective for mild wintertime blues. Flower essence therapies like honeysuckle, mustard, and sweet chestnut all have antidepressant and energizing qualities. And bodywork therapies such as massage and Reiki allow your chi to flow freely thought your body, reducing symptoms of wintertime blues.

10. If after trying the ideas in items 1-9 your symptoms haven’t budged, consider taking St. John’s wort or 5HTP, both of which increase serotonin levels.

Publisher’s note: This colum provided courtesy of Health Castle Nutrition Inc. Please visit their website and healthcastle.com.

David Edelberg, M.D., the author of The Triple Whammy Cure, is a practicing physician for more than 30 years and was chief medical adviser of WholehealthMD.com. In 1993, he founded American Wholehealth (AWH), a network of health care centers that combines conventional and alternative medicine. He teaches alternative and integrative medicine to medical students and residents from the University of Chicago.

Old Town Crier

SINGLE SPACE LORI WELCH

I Resolve to Get Rid of Stains

I

f you’re reading this column, chances are your New Year’s Eve hangover has subsided and your resolutions got packed away the same day you boxed up your Elf on the Shelf. I’ve never really been a big fan of new year’s resolutions: “I resolve to give up [fill in the blank],” has just always felt so negative. Why am I going to start off a brand new year depriving myself of something? I prefer to use my Resolve to remove stains and not carbs and alcohol, but hey, that’s just me. Of course, like everyone else, I’ve made my NY lists in years past. I resolve to give up eating dessert during the week.

I resolve to hit the gym a minimum of four times a week. I resolve to lose 10 pounds by Easter. What I managed to do was eat dessert four times a week, never hit the gym, and gain 10 pounds

by Valentine’s Day because I’m an overachiever apparently.

This year, instead of removing things—other than stains—from my life, I’ve decided to add things, so I’m making my NY’s Additions List. In 2014 I’ll be adding…

More downtime More yoga More laughter More lightness More acceptance of others and myself More gratitude More LOVE Adding downtime has always been a challenge for me—I’m a doer. If I’m lying on the couch, I’m thinking about what needs to be done, what I should be doing, and what ain’t getting done while I’m lying there. It’s not very relaxing. Prior to Thanksgiving, I had developed the habit of pulling out my yoga mat every morning and getting a little practice in—even if only for 15-20 minutes. It was starting to transform my life as well as my upper arms, but then I went away on a trip and … well, you know how that goes.

My virtuous morning routine took Old Town Crier

a flying leap once I got back home. I now look at my yoga mat rolled up in the sunroom and wonder when I’ll find the time, but I’m gonna. Some day. XXL makes me laugh on most days, but it’s the days when I haven’t allowed myself any downtime or yoga that the laughter is hardest to come by —and the lightness too. Coincidence?

I think not. Laughter is truly the best medicine, but it’s hard to come by if you’re walking around taking life and yourself a tad too seriously, which we are all likely guilty of most days. I like to think that God meant life to be fun and enjoyed and not so arduous and soul sucking. Smile a little. Laugh a little. Let a little sunshine into your life. Where there is light, laughter will follow.

Interestingly enough, my lack of yoga produced a Buddha belly. I think about it constantly—muffin top is a good reminder. I say a lot of negative things about it to myself all day, every day. “You shouldn’t eat that. How is that going to make you feel? That is such a cute top—if you ever worked out, maybe you would stand a chance of looking good in it. Why did you eat that chocolate chip cookie the size of Texas if you want to lose weight, loser?” Ugh. That is what one of my favorite writers, Anne Lamott, refers to as radio station KFKD, or K-Fu#*ed radio. The sounds that play in your head 24/7.

Out of the right speaker in your inner ear will come the endless stream of self-aggrandizement, the recitation of one’s specialness, of how much more open, and gifted and brilliant and knowing and misunderstood and humble one is.

Out of the left speaker will be the rap songs of self-loathing, the lists of all the things one doesn’t do well, of all the mistakes one has made today and over an entire lifetime, the doubt, the assertion that everything one touches turns

to sh*#, that one doesn’t do relationships well, that one is in every way a fraud, incapable of selfless love, that one has no talent or insight, and on and on and on.

When KFKD starts playing in your head, remember you can change the station—you have the power. If you said the things you say to yourself to other people, you likely wouldn’t have any friends and/or everyone would think you were crazy. Acceptance. I better add that to the list twice.

Gratitude is a tricky beast. When everything is going our way, we sometimes forget how blessed we are in the moment. When things head south, then the prayers flow easily and freely and we begin to realize how blessed we were yesterday—before the car wouldn’t start or you didn’t notice the change in that freckle. Or we save up our gratitude for Thanksgiving.

Facebook was blowing up with “Today I am thankful for…” posts back in November.

For my own personal practice, Santa brought me a gratitude journal so I can log my bounty daily. I have a lot to be grateful for starting with XXL, an abundance of family and friends, a wonderful home and a job that I love and people I love working for. My cup doth overflow.

If you want to add instant love into your life, rescue a pound puppy or kitten. We did both in December and our home is exploding with love. XXL proclaimed when we first met that he

wasn’t a cat person, he was a dog guy. We blended our families and joined his best friend, aka Buck the golden retriever, with my baby girl, aka moody tabby, Safari. Our hearts broke in a million pieces when they each got sick (Buck in March; Safari in November) and we had to say goodbye. If you’ve never had to do that, feel blessed—it’s a really tough thing. Anyhow, during their time together, Safari grew on XXL, and they found a mutual respect. Seeing how heartbroken I was over losing Safari, XXL begrudgingly agreed to welcome a new kitty into our home, and we decided to add a puppy as well so they could grow up together and keep each other company. The kitty, Macey, came home first and XXL was immediately smitten. You haven’t seen love until you’ve seen a grown arse 6’2” man kiss all over a three pound kitten. I didn’t think I could love anything more than that little adorable gray ball of fur, but I think once our puppy arrives (we just passed the adoption approval process), I’m sure my heart will expand even more.

I don’t know what 2014 holds in store, but speaking of store, I probably better get some Resolve. I’m pretty sure that the addition of puppy and kitty is going to mean I need to add some Resolve into my life for all those stains.

Cheers to a blessed and bountiful 2014.

If you would like to comment or broach a subject for my column, contact me at mysinglespace@aol.com January 2014 | 45

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WELCOME 2014!

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y the time most of you are reading this issue, New Year’s Eve will have passed and you are probably in the middle of taking down the last of the season’s decorations! This is a bittersweet time of the year for many of us. We are sad that the holidays are over but happy that the hullabaloo that comes with them has died down.

It’s a good time to take a break and get settled in for the winter for some of us, and for others it’s the time to embark on new adventures. Either way, there is something in the Harbor to satisfy both.

By Lani Gering For those looking to take a break, it may be a good time to check out the Harbor’s premier spa, Relache (see their ad on page 48). Relache is located in the Gaylord Hotel and Resort and was named one of “America’s Top 100 Spas” by Spas of America. Their focus is your health, wellness and relaxation. There are 12 luxurious treatment rooms including one for couples that overlooks the river. They offer massages, facials, and body, hand and foot therapies along with a host of the latest treatments. Also available is a co-ed river view relaxation room, saunas and steam rooms. All changing areas have private lockers, showers and personal amenities. This is a place to be no matter your gender.

The Harbor is growing in leaps and bounds. The Tanger Outlets made their debut on Black Friday in November and appear to have been a wildly popular place for holiday shoppers. I must admit that I have yet to make my trek to the mall for a couple of reasons: I’m not a big shopper just for the sake of shopping in the first place; and every time I drove by the parking lot was packed and had even spilled over into the parking normally reserved for special events on the Plateau! This meant that there must have been way too many warm bodies looking for a good deal for me to hang around! I am going to check them out early next week when I am thinking that most of the people making returns will be done as well! There are some great stores to explore and ´ some good deals to be had. It’s nice not to have to drive 50+ miles to an outlet!

The latest big adventure began with the approval of MGM Grand building the casino at the Harbor. I know that there are varied views on the impact that this will have to Prince George’s County and the Harbor in general but I will admit that I am very excited about this project! It is going to be a great addition to the waterfront and will bring much needed capital to the area. We here at the Old Town Crier have been proponents of MGM since the get go. They have a beautiful plan in place that will be nothing like the other casinos in our commuting area. We will actually

WATERFRONT DINING

NationalHarbor.com

46 | January 2014

1-877-NATLHBR

Old Town Crier

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Loc Riv Wil from and Ale Mt. from

FAC

COME FOR HAPPY HOUR Stay for Sunset HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS Appetizers $6 • Raw Bar Oysters $1.50 & Clams $.75 Happy Hour Martini $5 • Coors Light (Draft & Bottled) $3 House Wine $5 • McLoone’s Seasonal Ale $3.50 have a Las Vegas style, high-end venue with big name entertainment, restaurants and retail! It will do wonders for the convention and visitor business in the area as Potomac Gourmet well as provide another entertainment option for us has reopened under new locals. management at 180 American There are also several new retail stores that have Way. Harbor residents and opened in the Harbor in the past couple of months visitors alike should stop by and including the Pepper Palace, GNC, SpagNVola check out the store.

Chocolatier, VIP Outdoor, Brookstone and Himalayian 301-567-7800 Art. We will be profiling individual stores in this space potomacgourmetmarket.com in the months to come so if you have a favorite place in the harbor, let us know and we will put them on the list.

I am also looking forward to a new neighborhood restaurant that will be filling the space that Ashton Kutcher and partners Ketchup vacated a few months ago. Rumor has it that The Walrus Oyster and Ale House—D.C. restaurant veteran Michael Sternberg’s latest venture—featuring Eastern Shore influenced seafood and a raw bar is opening this spring. The concept is based on the poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter.” Bob Kinkead is also part of the project and there may even be a kiosk serving lobster rolls along American Way. In the meantime, treat yourself to a waterfront experience at McLoone’s Pier House on the water, some lively Irish music and accompanying fare at Harrington’s Pub and Kitchen or watch your favorite sports team and grab some great American fare at the Public House on Fleet Street.

We hope that familiarizing you with what is available at the Harbor will entice you to come visit —if you haven’t already—or to make your first trip to this very happening place.

Potomac Gourmet

Questions and comments may be made via email to: office@oldtowncrier.com; via blog on our website oldtowncrier.com; or on our Facebook page Facebook/Old Town Crier Regional Magazine.

national Harbor winter Calendar of Events through January 5 Harbor Tree Light Show Every 30 minutes after sunset until 10 pm through January 5 Holiday Market Saturdays & Sundays • 12-5 pm through January 5 Just Add Ice! Drink specials at participating restaurants Need to present your ticket to ICE! through January 5 Ice Skating Rink • $$ through January 5 ICE© at the gaylord resort Old Town Crier

301.839.0815 mcloonespierhousenh.com 141 National Plaza • National Harbor, MD

NATIONAL HARBOR DINING GUIDE AROMA D’ITALI 156 National Plaza 301-839-3492 BAJA FRESH MEXICAN 186 Waterfront Street 301-839-1377 BOND 45 149 Waterfront Street 301-839-1445 CADILLAC RANCH 186 Fleet St. 301-839-1100 cadillacranchgroup.com All-American cuisine ELEVATION BURGER 108 Waterfront Street 301-749-4014 FIORELLA PIZZERIA E CAFFE 152 National Plaza 301-839-1811 GRACE’S MANDARIN 188 Waterfront Street 301-839-3788 Harrington’s Pub and Kitchen 177 Fleet Street 301-909-2505 harringtonspubandkitchen.com Enjoy traditional Irish fare and more!

McCORMICK & SCHMICK 145 National Plaza 301-567-6224

McLOONE’S PIER HOUSE 141 National Harbor Plaza 301-839-0815 mcloonespierhousenh.com NATIONAL PAST TIME SPORTS BAR & GRILLE Gaylord Hotel 301-965-4000 OLD HICKORY STEAKHOUSE Gaylord Hotel 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com PIENZA ITALIAN MARKET Gaylord Hotel 301-965-4000 POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS 146 National Plaza 301-686-1160 PUBLIC HOUSE 199 Fleet Street 240-493-6120 publichousenationalharbor.com Whether it’s lunch, happy hour, dinner or a late night party, we can meet your needs.

ROSA MEXICANA 135 Waterfront Street 301-567-1005 SAUCIETY AMERICAN GRILL 171 Waterfront Street 240-766-3640 THAI PAVILLION 151 American Way 301-749-2022

January 2014 | 47

New Year, New You at Discover Relâche™ Spa & Salon located just across the river in National Harbor.

Our professional therapists will provide you with personalized service to refresh and rejuvenate your body and soul.

Kick off the new year with our special offer:

Your choice of a 50 minute signature massage OR a facial starting at $115*.

Complimentary access to our sauna, steam room, whirlpool and Riverview Relaxation Lounges included as part of your service.

To book, call 301-965-4400.

For more information visit us at EscapeToRelacheSpa.com Relâche™ Spa & Salon 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD Minutes from D.C. & Old Town Alexandria. *Special offer price is valid for select dates in January 2014 only. Offer not valid on Saturdays and price does not include 20% service charge which is additional. May not be combined with any other discounts or promotions, and no substitute treatments allowed. Appointments must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance of scheduled appointment time or guest will be charges the full amount of service. Based on availability. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply.

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48 | January 2014

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Old Town Crier

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