Old Town Crier - January 2025 by Old Town Crier

PUBLISHER’S

Well here we are folks, starting another year of bringing you the Old Town Crier Regional Magazine with information of not only Alexandria but also info from the "Bay to the Blue Ridge". In the beginning, with the personal computer in its infancy, we had to send our articles to Pica and Points, a new business in Old Town that set the type into galleys (think one long strip of one column of a newspaper article) that we then separated into columns and pasted down on huge boards (large pieces of heavy paper stock) that we took to our printer for processing into the ﬁ nal product. Ads were designed by hand using exacto knives and preprinted graphics. It was a pretty complicated process compared to what we do today but it deﬁ nitely was a labor of love. Today, it is pretty much all done digitally including the transfer of all documents. It is comforting to know that if all hell breaks loose and we lose our digital capabilities, we could carry on if we could get our hands on a correcting Selectric typewriter and a waxing machine (get in touch with us if you want me to explain that “gadget”.)

The computers and digital world have made the production and the printing of the Crier each month a lot easier and it has also allowed for more print competition. We have managed to put out an edition every month for the last 37 years including the year of the pandemic – the OTC is the only local publication of its kind to continue to print. This January issue is our 444th edition. I hope that you enjoy it!

Let’s take a look at what is in store in this issue. For the last several years we have used these pages to recap where we went on our monthly Road Trips and looking back on 2024, we sure did have some fun experiencing some new places and revisiting some old favorites. Speaking of favorite places, the Caribbean Journal Staﬀ partners provided a look at the 11th annual edition of the Caribbean Travel Awards in Caribbean Connection. It is getting colder...might be a good time to book a ﬁght to the islands and there are lots of fabulous places to pick from.

We have been writing about the evolution of Virginia wines since day one and Exploring VA Wine’s Doug Fabbioli asks the question..."Who's making your wine?”. In Grapevine, Matthew Fitzsimmons explores the 2024 Virginia vintage year as well as other high points. Tim Long addresses the age-old question “What came ﬁ rst, the bread or the beer?” in Let’s Get Crafty. You can ponder this along with him with a shot of Baby Jane Bourbon and a Rocky Patel in hand.

Chef Glenn Morel provides his technique for putting together the “Ultimate” Beef Wellington in his Let’s Eat column. It is a bit of a process but well worth the eﬀort especially if want to impress a guest. Dining Out took on a bit of a diﬀerent vent by highlighting our amazing restaurant advertisers. Restaurants have been a major part of the backbone of the OTC over the years. Landini Brothers, The Fish Market and Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub have had an ad in all of the aforementioned 444 issues!

It is cold in Hunt Country with not too much going on so Julie Reardon decided to do something a bit diﬀerent and write about the “2024 Word of the Year” in her To the Blue Ridge column. Molly Winans provided her annual “Frostbite Sailing” piece in From the Bay. Being a sailor myself and having had to sail in some pretty cool temps, I don’t really see the attraction to

intentionally freezing your face oﬀ but several of my die-hard sailing pals live for it.

The Arts and Entertainment section is host to Lenny Campello’s Gallery Beat as he writes that his proposal for a Women Artists of the DMV Show in 2023 is actually coming to fruition in September of 2025. Way to go Lenny! In Last Word, Miriam Kramer reviews American Dirt, a popular book about the migrants struggle in America. Mark Edelman outlines what live theater is doing during the month in On Stage while Ron Powers reviews “The Adults Are Talking” by The Strokes in High Notes I may just have to take a listen on this one. In this age of Big Pharm, Sarah Becker writes about the beginnings of the Alexandria apothecary shop and National Pharmacist Day in A Bit of History. In Open Space Lori Welch Brown takes a humorous look at how to view January in her popular Open Space column. In Fitness Nicole gives her Annual New Year Resolution Pep Talk and Genvieve LeFranc gives us some tips on how to save $$ on beauty products. This and much more await in these 48 pages.

I toast each and every one of you who take the time to read us each month and welcome to those who are new to the game. Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

New Years Bob wishing you a fantastic 2025!

january‘25

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

How about those Washington Commanders? By the time this issue hits the streets, they may actually be in the playoffs for the fi rst time in a long time this year. We are sure that a part of their success is their dedicated fan base and Jeffrey Fisher, longtime DMV resident now retired in sunny Florida, is one of those die-hard guys. He and his lovely wife Joanne followed the team to “The Big Easy” last month and took the Old Town Crier to the Superdome in New Orleans along for the ride. The Commanders pulled off that game after a rough start and followed suit the following weekend with the Hail Mary win over the Eagles!

If you would like to see your photo in this space, take the OTC with you on your next adventure and take a high resolution photo or photos of you and yours checking us out and send it with information for the caption to oﬃce@oldtowncrier.com and put “On the Road” in the subject line.

We continue to be very proud of our covers so, as we have done for the last several years in the January issue, we feature all of the covers from the previous year. It looks like 2024 was another stellar year!

We get inspiration from all sorts of people, places and things when one of us comes across something we think will draw the readers eye to the issue but are especially happy when we run across an image from a local photographer and can give them a place to showcase their photos – a special thank you to David Sites and Lee Moody. We have been fortunate to meet local artists who have touching stories in addition to creating beautiful art makes for a good cover – thank you Lee Jaworek.

Last year we asked for input from you readers as to which cover you thought was the BEST one and we got quite a response. Every issue got several votes and the winner by a small margin was Lee Moody’s photograph of her Old Town Christmas tree ornament on the December issue. Once again, we would like to know which of the 2024 covers appeals to you most. Take a good long look and decide which one deserves a mention in the 2025 About the Cover. You can email us at oﬃce@oldtowncrier.com or message us on Facebook.

This month the mural is a little closer to Old Town and has been around for quite some time. Remember, if you are the ﬁ rst person to respond with the correct location, you will receive a $50 gift certiﬁcate to one of our amazing restaurant advertiser’s eateries.

In order to participate, Like and Follow us on: Facebook @oldtowncrier and Instagram @otcregionalmag

Send a PM with your guess and we will contact the winner each month via PM to arrange for prize delivery.

Mural photos by Lee Moody.

We had a winner again this month. Keyri Bonilla from Clinton, Maryland correctly identiﬁed the location of the mural as behind Orangetheory Fitness in the Bradlee Shopping Center on upper King Street.

January Fun in Old Town Alexandria

Now through February 25th

Ice Skating at Cameron Run

Weekends & Holidays

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cameron Run Regional Park 4001 Eisenhower Avenue

Looking for a unique winter activity? Enjoy outdoor daytime ice skating in Alexandria, just minutes from Old Town. Warm up with a hot chocolate or make your own s’mores over the repit. This fun winter experience is only available for a limited time and capacity is limited! Learn more about Ice Skating at Cameron Run and to reserve tickets check in at cameron@nvrpa.com.

January 19th

Inauguration Weekend Open House at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum 134 N. Royal Street (703) 746-4242

Did you know Gadsby’s Tavern hosted Thomas Jefferson for a presidential inaugural dinner? Visit Gadsby’s Tavern Museum for FREE during Inauguration weekend to learn about this event and more during the early years of the nation.

January 27th - February 10th

The Restaurant Cherry Challenge

Daily at participating Restaurants https://washingtonbirthday.com/

The “Cherry Challenge” is a competition among the ner restaurants in Alexandria. Each restaurant develops its own cherry beverage, appetizer, entrée, and/or dessert in honor of our distinguished native son, of course! Visit washingtonbirthday.com or call (571) 384-8170 for a list of competing restaurants. Winners will be announced on Saturday, February 15, 2025 (George Washington’s Birthday Parade Day).

Alexandria Restaurant Week Winter 2025

For 10 days and two weekends, a record number of nearly 100 restaurants in Alexandria, Virginia, will offer a $30, $40 or $50 in-person dinner for one during Alexandria Restaurant Week 2025. Special menus are available in-person at participating restaurants.

Alexandria Restaurant Week showcases the inventiveness of local chefs and international cuisine in neighborhoods throughout the city, including Old Town, Old Town North, Del Ray, Carlyle and Eisenhower, Arlandria-Chirilagua and the West End. A digital ip-book of menus at participating restaurants will be available at AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com.

Alexandria Restaurant Week was launched in 2009 by Visit Alexandria and has become a favorite amongst patrons and restaurateurs, occurring biannually in the winter and summer. In addition to serving as an economic driver for Alexandria restaurants, Alexandria Restaurant Week bolsters the city’s reputation as a culinary destination.

About Alexandria, VA

Alexandria is a welcoming weekend escape on the Potomac River, minutes from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. As it celebrated its 275th anniversary in July 2024, the port city has played a major role in the nation’s story and re ected its progress toward inclusivity. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to nd more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront. Explore vibrant neighborhoods beyond Old Town, trace George Washington and the Founding Fathers’ footsteps and follow the stories of Black Americans who shaped the history of Alexandria and the United States.

Connect with us!

Web: VisitAlexandriaVA.com

Blog: Blog.VisitAlexandriaVA.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/VisitAlexandriaVA

Twitter: Twitter.com/AlexandriaVA

Instagram: Instagram.com/VisitAlexVA

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET

Market Square

301 King Street

Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round

The Old Town Market is thought to be the one of nation’s oldest continuing markets operating since 1753. It is said that George Washington sent his products from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today the plaza is a mecca for farmers and artists to sell their wares. The Market is a primary source for meats, dairy, sh, fruits, vegetables and owers for all those who visit.

DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET

Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues

Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round

This market is strictly a producer grown market. Lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, sh and salmon, fresh mushrooms, baked goods, hard cider. Farmers are within a 150 mile radius of Alexandria. A non-pro t is featured each weekend.

OLD TOWN NORTH FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Montgomery Park 901 North Royal Street

Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm Year Round

Alexandria’s favorite dog friendly market! The Old Town North Thursday Market is a growers only market with a focus on produce from small family farms and local artisans. Products sold at the market include fresh fruits and veggies from Virginia’s Northern Neck, Micro Greens from an urban farm, Empanadas, Fresh baked pastries with a European air and much more.

FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

4109 Mount Vernon Avenue

Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm Year Round

This market offers fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels and strives to re ect the diversity of Alexandria’s community. Local artisans display their arts and crafts as well.

Interstellar In uencer (Make an Impact) On Display Through November

Admission: Free Waterfront Park 1A Prince Street visitalexandriava.com/public-art

Interstellar In uencer (Make an Impact) was unveiled late last month. It is the sixth annual temporary public art installation at Waterfront Park and will be on display until as part of the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town series.

eCreated by Brooklyn-based, artist/architect duo Jason Klimoski (left) and Lesley Chang (right) of STUDIOKCA, the installation explores the impact of an asteroid that hit the earth 35 million years ago near what is now Alexandria. Interstellar In uencer uses metal, water and light to create a 1:1000 scale representation of the asteroid and the 85-kilometer wide, 1.5-kilometer-deep crater it left behind, that shaped the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed and the ow of water through its rivers and tributaries.

CARL TREVISON AND STEPHEN BEARCE

Does the Secure Act 2.0 affect your retirement planning?

You may want to review your retirement planning strategies because of key provisions in the SECURE Act 2.0, which was signed into law in December 2022.

Currently effective

Do you need to take required distributions from your retirement accounts?

The act increased the required minimum distribution (RMD) age to 73. The RMD age is scheduled to increase to 75 in 2033.

Does making qualiﬁed charitable distributions (QCDs) make sense?

QCDs are available to those age 70½ or older and have a Traditional IRA and/or Traditional Inherited IRA. Now you may distribute a one-time $53,000 QCD paid directly from your IRA to certain split-interest entities that qualify. The distribution will be considered part of the $105,000 QCD annual limit (both amounts are adjusted for inﬂation). The rules governing which split-interest entities are allowed to receive the one-time $53,000 amount are complex, so consult a planning or philanthropic specialist who can provide more information.

Should you direct employer matching contributions to your before-tax qualiﬁed retirement plan (QRP) account or designated Roth account?

Your employer may now oﬀer you the option to receive vested matching contributions in a QRP designated

Roth account instead of a QRP before-tax salary deferral account. Contributions to a Roth account are made with after-tax dollars and qualiﬁed distributions are tax-free.1

Should you delay taking distributions from a designated Roth account?

Previously, if you had a Roth IRA, you were not required to take RMDs while you were alive, but you did have to take them from a designated Roth account in a QRP. Now you no longer have to take RMDs from either type of Roth account.

Would a 529 plan designated beneﬁciary get a head start on saving for retirement by transferring their unused balance to a Roth IRA?

A 529 plan designated beneﬁciary may be eligible to have a direct rollover contribution made on their behalf from their 529 plan to a Roth IRA, if certain conditions are met (state laws may vary).

Distributions are subject to annual Roth contribution limits, the 529 beneﬁciary must have equivalent earned compensation, and the aggregate distributions are limited to a $35,000 lifetime amount.

To qualify, the 529 account must have been in existence for at least 15 years and the amount rolled over to the Roth IRA may not exceed the aggregate amount contributed (plus earnings) before the ﬁve-year period ending on the transfer date.

Will you get credit for your student loan payments?

If you are paying off qualified student loans, your employer has the option to match your loan payments with contributions to a retirement account, offering you an additional incentive to save for retirement. For this purpose, matching contributions can be made into a 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b), or SIMPLE IRA plan if your employer chooses to offer this feature. Should you take advantage of employer-sponsored emergency savings accounts linked to individual account plans?

Your company has the option to automatically sign you up for an emergency savings account for up to 3% of your salary or up to $2,500, indexed for inﬂation, to your retirement plan if you earn less than a certain amount of money. These contributions can be made on an after-tax basis with the potential for an employee match. If your company participates, you are allowed at least one withdrawal per month and the ﬁ rst four withdrawals in a year cannot be subject to any plan fees.

Starting January 1, 2025

Should you take advantage of higher retirement catch-up contributions?

Currently, if you’re age 50 or older and want to increase your taxadvantaged retirement savings, you can make an additional $8,000 contribution annually to your QRP and $3,500 to a SIMPLE IRA.

Beginning in 2025, if you’re aged 60 – 63, you will be able to increase

that amount to the greater of $10,000, indexed for inﬂation, ($5,000, indexed for inﬂation, for a SIMPLE IRA) or 150% of your catch-up contributions for the year.

Beginning in tax years after December 31, 2025, if your wages exceed $145,000 in the preceding calendar year, indexed for inﬂation, you will be required to make your catch-up contributions to a designated Roth account.

1 Distributions are qualified when a designated Roth account has been funded for more than five years and the employee is age 59½, or disabled, or taken by their beneficiaries after the employee’s death. Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advice. This communication cannot be relied upon to avoid tax penalties. Please consult your tax and legal advisors to determine how this information may apply to your own situation. Whether any planned tax result is realized by you depends on the specific facts of your own situation at the time your tax return is filed.

This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602.

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and nonbank aﬃliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2023 – 2024 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

National Pharmacist

Day 2025

January 12th is National Pharmacist Day, a day to celebrate your pharmacist’s good care. I, like most, depend on my local pharmacist to ﬁll orders for prescription drugs; explain the food-drug and or drug-drug interactions, allergic reactions and side eﬀects, costs and cost coverage including pharmacy discounts.

Whose talent do I ask you to help me celebrate on the 12th? Alexandria apothecary: Quaker and manumitter Edward Stabler. Stabler died in 1831, at age 61 from scarlet fever.

“When, in 1799, young Edward Stabler borrowed from an uncle a hundred pounds in order to buy stock for the apothecary shop he planned to operate, he did not realize he was establishing a business in which his descendants would continue for the next one hundred forty-one years [1792-1933],” Eleanor Leadbeater wrote in the 1934 Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association. “His business prospered.”

“It is not surprising that during those earliest years of the store’s history, General [George] Washington, whose business and friendships often called him to Alexandria, frequently dropped in to talk with Edward Stabler and to purchase supplies to restock the medicine chest at Mount Vernon,” Eleanor continued. “He had the welfare of his slaves as well as the immediate household to consider.”

During the Revolutionary War [1775-1783], the Continental Congress “codiﬁed distinctions among doctors, surgeons, and apothecaries.” As of 1775 drugs were in short supply. Purgatives, emetics, opium, cinchona bark, camphor, potassium nitrate and mercury were some of the drugs prescribed. Cinchona bark, for example, contains the quinine chemical.

During the Civil War [1861-1865] Edward Stabler’s grandson, Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Sr. [ESL, Sr.] “remained at his business” [Leadbeater &

Co., 1860-1865],” Eleanor wrote. “Husbands and sons marched away to ﬁght for that which after four bitter years was to become forever, ‘The Lost Cause.’”

“ESL, Sr.’s religious scruples forbade his joining the Southern army,” Eleanor explained. A sympathizer of a sort, he “could not force himself to submit to the [Union] edict that, unless the [store’s] clerks took the [Union’s loyalty] oath, all business houses should be closed.” When Union sympathizer and Justice of the peace Lewis Mackenzie declared he would trust no one but Ned Leadbeater to put up his prescriptions Leadbeater & Co. remained open.

As for the store, the business house itself: “old hand blown bottles, the ancient show cases, the shelves covered with gleaming bottles of ingredients for prescriptions as well as the various staples sold by apothecaries for many, many years, all serve to heighten the contrast between this historic business house and a modern drug store,” Eleanor concluded.

Today many modern drug stores—CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid—are closing, creating “pharmacy deserts” in their stead. The StablerLeadbeater Apothecary Museum was designated a Department of the Interior National Historic Landmark in January 2021.

In 1831 scarlet fever was described as a disease “that killed.” The disease occurs when cells in the human body are damaged as a result of infection. Diseases, French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur [1822-1895] said, are caused by invasive microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. In 1617 Jamestown’s Indian villages suﬀered a fatal smallpox epidemic. In 1793 Alexandria’s Superintendent of Quarantine inspected incoming ships to prevent the spread of yellow fever. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln’s son Willie died of typhoid fever. Pasteur developed his germ theory coincident with the Civil War.

Scarlet fever, a bacterial disease, starts with an outbreak of small, red spots on the skin; more frequent and redder than measles. Later signs include fever, sore throat, headache and, in children, vomiting. There was no medical treatment early on.

It was not until 1923 that researchers George and Gladys Dick identiﬁed the streptococcus responsible for scarlet fever. Scarlet fever begins when the unhealthy germs enter the human body. The bacteria cells are so small they can only be seen using a microscope.

Hans and Zacharias Janssen created one of the earliest microscopes—around 1590. It was not until Robert Hooke and Antonj van Leeuwenhoek that today’s compound microscope was created. Hooke published the ﬁ rst book dedicated to the subject of microscopes in 1665.

Today few Americans suﬀer from scarlet fever. Why? Because doctors know the penicillin drug cures. Sir Alexander Fleming discovered it in 1928. And with penicillin came an inﬂux of antibiotics.

THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN

A New Year’s home experiment.

BACKGROUND: Scarlet fever is caused by Streptococcus bacteria which are found on the skin and in the throat. It is usually treated with a 10-day course of antibiotics. With puriﬁed penicillin, the “wonder drug” that launched the antibiotic era. Penicillium mold naturally produces the antibiotic penicillin. The mold itself is made from fungus. Fungus needs warmth, moisture and, usually, darkness in order to grow well.

GOAL: The purpose of this experiment is to learn how to grow mold.

SUPPLIES: Oranges or lemons, unripe peaches or pears, two dishes or plates, water, plastic and paper bags

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Peel the orange or lemon and wet the peeling with a few drops of water. Place the wet peeling in a plastic bag, close it tightly and put the bag in a dark place. After several days, look at the peeling in the bag. What color is the peeling? The peeling should have turned green. The soft, fuzzy green material is one of the green penicillin molds from which the medicine is made.

Note: Please encourage children not to smell, inhale, or touch the moldy peeling. Some children may suﬀer from allergies.

Step 2: Try putting the moldy fruit in a paper bag with an unripe peach. Return the closed bag to a dark place. Check the bag in another few days. All of the fruit should have ripened. Why? The mold gives oﬀ so much gas that a single, moldy orange or lemon can speed up the ripening of hundreds of pieces of unripe fruit.

Questions:

1. What is mold? Mold is a fuzzy growth caused by fungus growing on decaying vegetable or animal matter. The plural of fungus is fungi.

2. Name a common type of fungi.

3. What eﬀect does light have on mold?

4. What is a gas, Ethylene speciﬁcally?

Flu season is upon us. Influenza‐associated bacterial and viral infections are responsible for high levels of morbidity and death during pandemic episodes and influenza seasons. Many pharmacists, pharmacies offer vaccinations.

The smallpox vaccine was introduced during the Stabler era, the typhoid vaccine during the Leadbeater epoch. The Stabler-Leadbeater business stores were closed when the 1938 yellow fever vaccine commenced.

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop/Museum awaits your visit. The Shop/Museum is located at 105-107 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information visit alexandriava.gov/ Apothecary.

“Edward Stabler…Having reduced the principles which he adopted; to the test of experience, and finding that they were of efficacy sufficient to sustain him, and of power enough to maintain their integrity and authority over the soul...ventured his all upon them,” son William wrote in 1831.

As for The Lost Cause [1866-1950s]: ESL, Sr.’s 1899 obituary pretty much says it all. “His funeral… was very largely attended.” In addition to eight white pall-bearers, “eight colored men, in the employ of the [expanding] Leadbeater ﬁrm, acted as body-bearers.”

About the Author: Sarah Becker started writing for The Economist while a graduate student in England. Similar publications followed. She joined the Crier in 1996 while serving on the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board. Her interest in antiquities began as a World Bank hire, with Indonesia’s need to generate hard currency. Balinese history, i.e. tourism provided the means. The New York Times describes Becker’s book, Off Your Duffs & Up the Assets, as “a blueprint for thousands of nonprofit managers.” A former museum director, SLAM’s saving grace Sarah received Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award in 2007. Email abitofhistory53@gmail.com

The Adults Are Talking by The Strokes

In 2020, The Strokes released their sixth studio album, The New Abnormal. Upon its debut, the album was met with widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, even earning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2021. One standout track for me is “The Adults Are Talking.” It’s a song that satisﬁes fans longing for the classic Strokes vibe while introducing fresh elements to their sound. Much of this newness comes from Julian Casablancas’ hushed, soft vocal delivery, a departure from his signature relaxed rasp. This subtle shift blends seamlessly with the music, creating an atmosphere that feels entirely unique. It’s the kind of song that grows on you, revealing its brilliance over repeated listens, and it’s easy to see why it has resonated with so many.

The song begins with a beat crafted on an old drum machine, which manages to sound both futuristic and vintage. Soon after, a simple guitar melody and bassline enter, showcasing the silky, stylish tone The Strokes are known for. Acoustic drums join in, adding a layer of muscle to the sound. As the track transitions into the verse, a palm-muted, single-string guitar line, enhanced with tape echo, casts a subtle enchantment over the music. Casablancas then delivers his serene vocal performance, which lands like a warm summer breeze, completing the song’s captivating introduction.

The ﬁ rst chorus sees The Strokes shifting gears. The rhythm guitar takes a more prominent role, plucking out chords one note at a time and sliding gracefully up the fretboard. Its mellow, rounded tone enriches the midrange frequencies, blending with the other instruments to create a lush sonic texture. Meanwhile, the lead guitar follows the topline melody, reinforcing the song’s hook and establishing a cohesive bond between the vocals and the music. Beneath it all,

the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar lay a ﬁ rm foundation, allowing the lead elements to shine without overpowering the song: a testament to a band that prioritizes serving the music over showcasing ﬂashy individual talent.

After the ﬁ rst chorus, the band breaks into a starburst instrumental, with guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr. taking center stage. The two trade and intertwine their lead lines, creating an echo-soaked braid of sound that resolves eﬀortlessly into the next verse.

During this exchange, bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti anchor the music with rhythmic precision and a solid bottom end. This instrumental section, placed immediately after the ﬁ rst chorus, deviates from conventional song structure but ﬁts perfectly within the unique shape and color of “The Adults Are Talking,” leaving the listener refreshed and eager for more.

Currently, The Strokes are working on their seventh studio album with producer Rick Rubin. They’ve been crafting the album in Costa Rica, recording in a house perched atop a mountain. While there’s no release date yet, fans are eager to see how the Costa Rican peaks inﬂuence their sound. In the meantime, “The Adults Are Talking” and the rest of the band’s exceptional catalog are available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most major streaming and retail outlets. To learn more about The Strokes, visit their oﬃcial website at www.thestrokes.com or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

About the Author: Ron Powers is an independent A&R specialist and music industry consultant and is constantly searching for, discovering and writing about new talent.

Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch

571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com

Chadwicks

203 S. Strand St.

703.836.4442

Evening Star Cafe

703.549.5051

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The Fish Market

703.836.5676

105 King St. shmarketoldtown.com

La Portas

703.683.6313

1600 Duke St.

The Light Horse

703.549.0533

715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com

Murphys Irish Pub

703.548.1717

713 King St. murphyspub.com

O’Connell’s

703.739.1124 112 King St.

Rock It Grill

703.739.2274

1319 King St.

Shooter McGees

703.751.9266 5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com

Southside 815

703.836.6222

815 S. Washington St. St. Elmos

703.739.9268

Women Artists of the DMV Survey Show Coming in 2025!

In 2023 I proposed to various DC area art venues an idea to curate an exhibition of 100+ works by 100+ women artists comprised of both leading and established female artists plus talented emerging contemporary female visual artists who represent the tens of thousands of women artists working in the Greater DC region.

As most of you know, that region is now known as “the DMV” for “District, Maryland & Virginia” – a term which according to the Washington City Paper, I may have invented a couple of decades ago… cough… cough…

This culturally and ethnically diverse region provides a rich universe of female artists to assemble a group show to showcase the immense power of the visual arts being created by these artists. Equally diverse as the artists, will be the artistic styles and media you will see in this curated survey exhibition, the ﬁ rst of its kind for the capital area.

With 100+ works of art potentially available for curatorial selection, this exhibition will oﬀer a primer for both the experienced art eye and the beginning art aﬁcionado, highlighting a selection of talented artists who usually deserve more attention on a local, regional and national scale.

Women Artists of the DMV - the show is on! It will open middle of September 2025 and run for about 8-9 weeks at the American

University's gorgeous Katzen Museum in DC (as part of the Alper Initiative), the classical and beautiful Athenaeum in Alexandria, Artists & Makers Studios in Rockville, an independent, woman-owned ﬁ ne arts commercial gallery space, and the Galleries at the Strathmore Mansion, also in Rockville!

I'm also working on a book deal with the same publisher which I did for 100 Artists of Washington, DC over a decade ago, and I plan to coordinate with the Smithsonian Institution to archive the exhibitions in order to record a snap-shot in time of our working DMV-based artists in 2025!

Less than a month after these exhibitions were announced, I’ve received over 2,000 emails from interested artists – Oh yeah: In order to be considered/reviewed, just send me an email with a note and your website – my email is super easy to ﬁ nd on my website at lennycampello.com!

So far, I’ve reviewed hundreds and hundreds of artists and selected quite a few, with lots more to come.

I've curated over 200 group art shows in the DC area since the mid-90s, and often I ﬁ nd that the ﬁ rst few pieces chosen often also speaks about the show as a whole.

My formula for group shows is essentially the same, and a proven, successful, and bordering on brilliant technique:

• The group show is a pyramid of artists at various points in their careers and development - blue chip, well-known artists;

• A set of well-known, mid-career artists;

• And the pyramid's wide and powerful base: a set of young (not simply in age, but perhaps also in artistic age - think of a 95-year-old artist who just started painting ﬁve years ago - artists who need the exposure that a well-attended, widely publicized, and wildly successful art show oﬀers their young careers.

The ﬁ rst work chosen for the show is a “new” artist – at least “new” to me: Selena “Noir” Jackson. She was born and raised in Washington DC, attended Montgomery College School of Art, where she earned her A.F.A. in Studio Arts, and from what I can tell from her website, has not exhibited widely around here or anywhere else. One of her works, titled "Comparative Anatomy (Petrus Camper)" and illustrated here, was the ﬁ rst piece that I have chosen for the epic "Women Artists of the DMV" survey show. I predict great things for this artist: DMV gallerists: CONTACT.HER.NOW!

Some of the other works chosen and illustrated here, are “Cracked Baby” by überartist Renée Stout, “Coastal Communities” by Judith Peck, and “Gunlicker I” by Kate Kretz.

Lots more to come: DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!

About the Author: F. Lennox Campello's art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area has been a premier source for the art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors.

Have a handcrafted holiday this year! Stay toasty this winter in sustainable alpaca!

the

Syreni Caledonii (Northern

12x36 inches.

Comparative Anatomy by Selena Jackson

ONSTAGE:

Happy New Year! As the ﬁ rst two months of 2025 roll around, there’s plenty to celebrate on DMV stages. This schedule is replete with plays and musicals new to our metro--- some world premieres to boot-- so check out what’s onstage as we begin a new year:

MATILDA

Alexandria Little Theatre

Feb 8- Mar 1

From the classic Roald Dahl’s children’s book comes this family-friendly musical about an exceptionally gifted young girl with a vivid imagination who loves books. Along with her friends and favorite teacher Miss Honey, Matilda stands up for justice against the wicked headmistress Mrs. Trunchbull, her selﬁsh parents and adults everywhere who can’t be bothered with the aﬀairs of their children. Tickets at www.thelittletheatre.com

LIFE OF PI

Kennedy Center

Now thru Jan 5

Winner of three Tonys ® and the Olivier® Award for Best Play, this beautifully-rendered dramatization of the epic novel about a shipwreck in the middle of the Paciﬁc Ocean is a dazzler. A 16-year-old boy named Pi survives the arduous trek that ends on a lifeboat with four strange companions—a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. Tickets at www. kennedy-center.org.

& JULIET

Kennedy Center

Now thru Jan 5

What would happen if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? That’s the question Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare’s wife, not the movie star) ponders as she withholds certain favors until the Bard comes up with a happier ending. The ensuing romp is a sell-out musical comedy hit on Broadway and in the West End. Thanks to the Ken-Cen, it’s the DMV’s turn. Tickets at www. kennedy-center.org.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO

THE FORUM

Signature Theatre

Now thru Jan 12

Matthew Gardiner and company turn in a fast-paced production of this comedy classic. If you’re feeling blue about the way the world is going, this funny thing will pick up your spirits and push them out the door. Tickets at www.sigtheatre. org

DOWNSTATE

Studio Theatre

Jan 8- Feb 16

Tony® Award winning playwright Bruce Norris examines the limits of compassion, the desire for retribution, and what happens when society decides some acts are unforgivable. When a man shows up at a group home for registered sex oﬀenders to confront the piano teacher convicted of abusing him as a child, events build to an explosive conclusion. Tickets at www. studiotheatre.org.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Theatre J

January 8- 26

Tony® Award-winner Ari’el Stachel;s one-man show brings to life a cast of fascinating characters out of his past to illuminate what it means to pursue and accept our own complex identities. Co-produced by Mosaic Theatre. Tickets at www.edcjcc. org/theater-j

WHAT

THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

Round House Theatre

Jan 15- Feb 16

Obie® Award winning playwright Heidi Schreck takes a closer look at our Constitution and its impact on four generations of women in her family in this profoundly personal look at the evolution of our nation’s most debated document. A hit on Broadway, now live! in Bethesda in this new Round House production. Tickets at www.roundhousetheatre.org

TINA…THE TINY TURNER MUSICAL

National Theatre

January 24-26

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

OLD TOWN

The Queen of Rock n’ Roll returns to the DMV in this uplifting comeback tale about a woman who broke barriers to become one of the most acclaimed pop stars of her generation. What’s love got to do with it? Find out at the National in this weekend stop for the musical’s national tour. Tickets at broadwayatthenational.com

GUAC

Woolly Mammoth

Jan 25- Feb

Manuel Oliver, the father of a Parkland shooting victim, pulls no punches in this fearless, funny one-man tour-de-force theatrical experience about a father turned activist. Oliver’s story of an immigrant family in search of the American Dream only to be confronted by an American Nightmare. Tickets at www.woollymammoth.net

JOB

Signature Theatre

Jan 28- March 16

Direct from Broadway comes this gripping tale about a fragile young woman who must receive an evaluation from a crisis therapist before she can return to her tech job. During their session, secrets emerge and ﬁlters are stripped away as doctor and patient edge toward an epic showdown. Tickets at www. sigtheatre.org

SCHMIGADOON

Kennedy Center

Jan 31- Feb 6

New York doctors Josh and Melissa go backpacking in a last-ditch eﬀort to save their failing relationship. Wouldn’t you know it though-- they get lost in the woods and end up trapped in a magical town that’s a classic Golden Age Broadway musical come ridiculously to life! Jeﬀ rey Finn and his team at the Ken Cen score an impressive bullseye, getting the world’s stage premiere of this Emmy Award®–winning TV show, a must-see if you’re a fan of the great American musical. Tickets at www.kennedycenter.org.

THE BEDWETTER

Arena Stage

Jan 31- March 6

Not to be outdone by their colleagues over in Georgetown, the folks at Arena Stage celebrate their own world premier musical, based on that everfascinating comedy marvel Sarah Silverman. Her bestselling memoir springs to life in this tuneful tale about a 10-year-old navigating a new school, her parents' divorce, and a secret you'll never guess unless you read the title. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

HAND TO GOD

Keegan Theatre

Feb 1- Mar 2

Troubled youth Jason discovers an outlet for his anxiety at a Christian Puppet Ministry in smalltown Texas. His complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and his mom take on an otherworldly dimension when Jason’s hand puppet Tyrone takes on a shocking personality all its own. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com

CONSTELLATIONS

Constellation Theatre

Feb 6- Mar 9

No surprise that Constellation would get around to this hip new play with which it shares its moniker. In a swirling multiverse, star-crossed lovers travel through a myriad of experiences - from barbecue to ballroom dancing, bar-hopping to beekeeping. Through the magic of quantum physics and time travel, their love story illuminates destiny, adversity, and hope with inﬁ nite possibilities. Tickets at www.constellationtheatre.org

DRAGONS LOVE TACOS

Adventure MTC Theatre

Feb 7- Mar 30

A boy and his dog are watching a TV show about dragons when they unexpectedly get caught up in the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ of what to serve to dragons to eat. As the title implies, Dragons love tacos, but if they accidentally eat spicy salsa…watch out! Fun y divertidos for the whole family Tickets to the production over in Glen Echo Park at www. adventuretheatre-mtc.org

IN THE HEIGHTS

Signature Theatre

Feb 11-May 4

Before Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda celebrated his Washington Heights heritage with this tuneful treasure, which earned him his ﬁ rst Tony ® Award. With his ‘hood on the brink of gentriﬁcation and a life-changing winning lottery ticket somewhere in their midst, Usnavi and his neighbors share hope, loss and love the American way. Immigrants—they get it done! Tickets at www.sigtheatre. org

WAITRESS

Olney Theatre Center

Feb 13- March 30

Pop star Sarah Bareilles’ charming musical rom com follows the tale—like the movie it’s based on—of a hapless young woman who ﬁ nds strength and purpose in the one-of-a-kind pies she makes for all emotional occasions. Tickets at www.olneytheatre.org

KUNENE AND THE

KING

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Feb 16- Mar 16

A celebrated South African actor takes on the role of King Lear in the midst of a painful diagnosis. As he faces his own mortality, the actor clashes and connects with his at-home caregiver, discovering in the Bard’s play and his own machinations aspects of the meaning of life. Tickets at www. shakespearetheatre.org

SHUCKED

National Theatre

Feb 25- March 2

A fall-out-of-your chair funny musical comedy about, of all things, corn. There’s a love story, some backwoods skullduggery and enough great songs by acclaimed tunesmiths Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally to keep you in a state of Broadway bliss. Some of the jokes get a bit bawdy, but that’s all part of the fun. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com

About the Author: The writer is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony® voter.

Photo credits: Life of Pi and Shucked photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman. & Juliet photo by Michael Murphy. Tina photo by Julieta Cervantes

FROM THE VAULT: American Dirt

On January 20 th , the second Donald J. Trump term will begin. He has promised the return of hardline policies for migrants and immigrants. One of his administration’s end goals is detaining and deporting people from the United States of America on a scale yet unseen.

The novel American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, which I reviewed over four years ago, is an eminently readable way to learn the travails some migrants experience when heading northward to the promised land of the USA. If you have been reading my column for some time, you will also remember my re-printed reviews of The Border trilogy by Don Winslow. The third book, The Border, also covers the fate of those crossing the border to a new country. (Previous column edited for space.)

Recently Oprah Winfrey and Barnes & Noble Bookstores selected the book American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, a novel about migrants trying to make their way to a new life in the United States, as a timely pick for their respective book clubs. In doing so they unwittingly made a controversial choice. Many Latinx writers protested the pick,

with several accusing the white writer of spreading stereotypes about Mexicans and other Central Americans while attempting to write a story that was not hers to depict.

As pundits and other cultural ﬁgures argued about the story, Cummins’ book tour was canceled because of threats of violence. This tumult raised the book’s proﬁle but also obscured what she wrote: a profound and moving work about maternal love, human resilience, and the evil and kindness that emerge during the worst of human circumstances. Her story about migrants searching for the best among terrible choices gives names, faces, and humanity to the brown hordes clamoring for a piece of the North American dream at the border to El norte.

American Dirt sprints off the starting line as a middle-class Mexican mother, Lydia, and her son, Luca, hide in a bathroom when bullets start flying at a family birthday party in Acapulco. Emerging to fi nd their extended family killed, along with their husband and father, Sebastián, Lydia fi nds a note pinned to her husband. It reads “My whole family is dead because of me.”

As a journalist writing about the cartels, Sebastián has penned a locally published proﬁle of local kingpin Javier Crespo Fuentes, known as La Lechuza (The

Owl), the head of the cartel Los Jardineros. Before knowing who he was, Lydia had befriended La Lechuza at the bookstore she owns, growing close to him because of their long conversations about literature. In telling her husband that La Lechuza would not threaten them, Lydia has made a terrible mistake.

Knowing that his halcones (cartel lookouts) want to fi nd her and Luca to fi nish off the job, Lydia realizes that La Lechuza has located her at a hotel where they are hiding. She must flee with Luca and fi nd a way out of Acapulco to the United States, where she has a relative in Colorado.

As she begins living the life of a migrant with little access to money or security, Lydia realizes that “All her life she’s pitied these poor people. She’s donated money. She’s wondered with the sort of detached fascination of the comfortable elite how dire the conditions of their lives must be wherever they come from, that this is the better option. That these people would leave their homes, their cultures, their families, even their languages, and venture into tremendous peril, risking their very lives, all for the chance to get to the dream of some faraway country that doesn’t even want them.”

In writing Lydia as a middleclass woman forced to join people of diverse socio-economic levels

making their way north, Cummins has made it easier for a middleclass readership to empathize with the way corruption in Mexico or elsewhere can bring people of all types to their knees.

Without the documents to fly north, Lydia now contemplates riding La Bestia (The Beast), a network of Mexican freight trains that migrants from Central America and Mexico climb and ride on a dangerous journey north. On La Bestia they can fall and kill or injure themselves, or fall prey to cartel bandits or corrupt policía. In contrast to these terrors, churches open migrant shelters with kind priests and others offering temporary shelter and food to those fleeing cartel wars, death, and oppression.

In the process of seeking out the best way forward to Nogales, Mexico; on the border of Arizona, Lydia and Luca meet people fleeing gangs that will rape or kill them if they stay, including two kind sisters from Honduras with whom they strike up a friendship. They meet regular Central Americans deeply affected by dire circumstances, corrupt officials who try to extort them, gangs who kill men and rape women, and those who rise above modest circumstances to show kindness and try to save their lives. In the process, Lydia does everything she can to survive and save her child.

When reading about the controversy surrounding this book, I wanted to determine as best I could whether I thought this book was unfair to Latinx people, or those interested in this subject matter. Some Mexican and other Central American writers have accused this novel of stereotyping and said, in essence, “I don’t recognize myself in these people.”

I would not agree. Despite being a relatively privileged, well-traveled person, I recognize myself in the other characters as much as I do in middle-class Lydia. I also believe that a writer can write any point of view about any characters in any book she wants to write. Brown writers have no monopoly on writing a book about brown writers, just as white writers, or male writers, or female writers, have no such monopoly in writing only about their own demographics.

Mexico, Central America, and the United States of America are not monoliths. We are all multifaceted countries comprising multifaceted peoples. If those protesting Latinx writers mean that they don’t recognize themselves as uneducated migrants whose lives have been threatened, perhaps they are tired of others assuming that everyone who comes here from Mexico, or Central America, or other countries, did. Such writers also might have grown up as victims of racism and stereotypes in this country.

That being said, Mexico is the most dangerous country in the world for journalists attempting to tell truth to power. That is a fact, and this book recognizes it. Cartel corruption rots the highest levels of government. It is also true that poorly paid government oﬃcials, whether they be the federales or state and municipal policía, are riddled with corruption. There are honest government employees and dishonest ones. Except in certain areas, the latter are the ones who generally make living wages.

Cummins spent ﬁve years interviewing people who had made this trip as migrants. In American Dirt, she explores all types of characters, and writes with nuance about the best and sometimes even the worst of them.

If you want to experience her discoveries through others’ eyes, please watch the transﬁ xing Showtime documentary series The Trade, in particular Season 2. While the series covers aspects of the drug trade overall, the four episodes in Season 2 are speciﬁcally about desperate Central

American migrants trying to get to the United States of America and stay there. These powerful stories parallel and conﬁ rm many in American Dust.

You might also read Don Winslow’s powerful trilogy about the Mexican drug trade from the the Eighties until today: The Power of the Dog, The Cartel, and most importantly in this case, The Border. I consider these books excellent, thinly ﬁctionalized lessons in history, international relations, and global money laundering, with the United States as guilty as any other country when it comes to the latter.

It seems that Latinx writers’ outrage comes mostly from feeling sorely underrepresented at telling their own stories through major publishing houses. In this case, the controversy surrounding American Dirt can only help their stories get heard. I would be very interested, for example, to read a story about currentday migrants written by a Mexican or Honduran writer to see how it compares to Cummins’ perspective and changes my own. I hope these writers can hold publishing houses’ feet to the ﬁ re and make that happen. There is a huge Latinx community in the United States, and it hungers to read better books and hear diﬀerent points of view on their own experiences. So does the book-buying

public. We do not just want to hear about migrants, either. American Dirt is surprisingly subtle considering its subject matter. This novel does not hesitate to confront evil while recognizing not only the love Lydia has for Luca but also that which they feel for certain migrants who become like family. It is broad-minded, unsentimental, violent, terrible, and hopeful. It is also a speed-read that paradoxically makes you want to pick it up and put it down at the same time.

like The Grapes of Wrath, to which author Don Winslow compared it? I do not know. I do know that it brought me emotionally closer to the lives of languishing asylumseekers and desperate border crossers than anything else I have read. If there is one point that Jeanine Cummins wants to make in titling the book, it is that we all live on American dirt, no matter what America that is, and that the borders between us exist as constructs, not as strict boundaries diﬀerentiating people with the same emotions, needs, and hunger for security and sustenance.

Is American Dirt a future classic

The Annual Frostbite Column: “DoWhatCoolPeopleDo!"

Why Frostbite Racing Is Cool.

It’s 34 degrees outside. The water temperature measures in the upper 30s. It might get gusty out. It might snow. What would you rather do: lounge on the couch or go sailing? Hundreds of sailors on the Chesapeake Bay choose the latter. Every winter, we like to reach out to a few of them to learn their reasoning, their expert winter gear tips, and suggestions for curious would-be winter sailors.

What’s the appeal?

Warren Richter races his J/22 Committed with his partner in racing and wife, Tracey Golde. Richter says, “I enjoy frostbite to keep our skills sharp during the so called ‘oﬀ-season.’ It's great to get out, get some sunshine, and have fun racing. Makes dusting oﬀ the rust in the springtime much easier and also allows for racing that is less boat-handling-intensive. It is a great time to train new crew and practice.”

Golde adds, “We’re not sure what we’d do with our time if we didn't have a reason to be on the water. Also racing with just a main and jib as required by frostbites gives us an opportunity to work on our fleet management without having to worry so much about boat handling. Also, there is usually significantly more wind than during the rest of the year, so we get to practice in different conditions.’

The Committed frostbite team includes Mary Howser, Koralina and James McKenna, Amanda Gates, and Bryan Stout.

Richter notes, “They are all fantastic sailors. We appreciate everything they do to come racing with us.”

Gavin O’Hare, who races ILCA class dinghies (formerly Laser) out of Severn Sailing Association on Sundays, says, “Because the winter is cold, it puts a damper on doing most things outside. Dinghy frostbiting is diﬀerent. What better way to break up the week of cold with two hours of bliss (challenging yourself with cold and conditions, alone on your boat—no crew to rally or lunch to be made for), plus the opportunity to reward yourself with a cold beverage around an open ﬁ re immediately afterward!”

Go-to winter gear.

What to wear while winter sailing? These racing sailors are experts.

Richter wears, “Carhartt wool socks for warmth, Rocky GoreTex socks to keep the feet dry, Musto gloves to keep hands dry, Patagonia and Gill ﬂeece thermal and mid layers, and Under Armour base layers. Our rechargeable waterproof handwarmers make a great present and are much more eco-friendly than the disposable ones.” (Golde calls these handwarmers a “game changer on the super cold days.”)

As a singlehander on a dinghy, wearing a dry suit and a lifejacket, O’Hare notes how crucial it is to keep the hands and feet dry and warm. “I fi nd wool or wetsuit socks inside dinghy boots help a lot. I have yet to fi nd a winter glove that stays dry and warm. I tried surfi ng wetsuit gloves one year and found that it took too much energy to close my fi ngers on tiller or mainsheet. I have concluded that the cold weather-winter gardening gloves sold at your local hardware store are pretty good and certainly cost effective. When

it is really cold and the wind chill is severe, I use my gardening gloves during racing and change to dry mittens or lobster gloves in between races!”

One cold day…

When asked to recite a cold-day memory, most frostbiters note that they ski outside in snow, so why not sail? Or they tell you about the warmer days that don’t feel like frostbite racing at all, yet if you prod them to admit that sometimes it gets uncomfortable out there, they will tell you about the really cold days.

Richter notes that there were “too many to count—plenty of time spent sweeping and shoveling snow oﬀ the decks to go sailing!”

O’Hare says, “When the wind is blowing and the chill is severe, you need to use more vang to keep the boat ﬂat. The problem is the boat likes to stay headto-wind in these conditions if you don’t tack properly or know how to handle on the starting line. And of course, when ice forms on your control lines, they don’t control or worse cannot be adjusted. Add to this that your hands are on the fringe of frozen and you are tired… but it is only two hours!”

Amazing sailing and cool on-water vibe.

“The amazing winter sailing day is when the wind is not to light and not too windy, and we get lucky with an unusually warm day,” says O’Hare.

Richter adds, “Several weeks ago (November 13) was one of the windiest frostbite races we have sailed in a long time. Great conditions and racing!” When asked if he thinks the on-water vibe in winter is any diﬀerent than in summer, he says, “I think it's a bit cooler vibe! (Ha) But seriously, it is a bit more relaxed than summer racing.”

Golde says, “Warren is always in race mode starting ﬁ rst thing in the morning on a race day. The vibe is the same whether it’s summer, winter, or just going out for a ‘cruise.’ If we are on a sailboat the expectation is we are 100-percent focused on making the boat go fast.”

“Many with day jobs who cannot make the summer evening short-course racing do come out for frostbite Sundays,” says O’Hare. “So, the competition is strong, yet there is also a camaraderie among us all because we respect each other more for coming out when it can be extreme. We do oﬀer three-minute justice protest resolution should grievances not be worked out on the water.”

Advice for would-be frostbite racers.

“Just get out there, even if the weather is tough,” says Richter. “It will make you better. Be sure to be prepared for the conditions both clothing- and boatwise.’ Golde says, “Just show up. Even if the weather is awful.”

Why not give it a try? O’Hare says, “My advice to a would-be-frostbite racer is to come down one Sunday afternoon and check it out from the seawall or on a safety boat (wearing cold weather gear). Also know your abilities—going out in bigger breeze is only more challenging in the winter. Safety comes ﬁ rst!”

About the author: Molly Winans is the managing editor of SpinSheet, the Chesapeake Bay’s only sailing magazine, as well as PropTalk and FishTalk in Annapolis. Find her at editor@spinsheet.com . This ﬁrst appeared in the January 2023 issue of SpinSheet.

Warren and Tracey Richters’s J/22 Committed in action frostbite racing in Annapolis. Photo by Will Keyworth

Photo by Lani Gering

What's Word? in a

January is a pretty quiet time here in Hunt Country so I thought I would dedicate this month’s column to something a little more entertaining. I hope you ﬁ nd it enlightening.

Polarization. It's the Merriam Webster 2024 Word of the Year, in case you hadn't heard. Among the top 10 were totality, fortnight, demure, pander, resonate and allision. At ﬁ rst, I thought allision might be some slang word that made it into Merriam Webster. Nope, it's of maritime origins, used for a moving object colliding with a stationary one, such as the container ship Dali crashing into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge. Although more often described as a collision except in maritime publications, collision actually means two moving objects colliding, such as when you're driving down a country road and hit a deer. Unless that deer was standing still, then it would be an allision.

Rounding out the 2024 top 10 were weird, cognitive and democracy. Merriam Webster uses various criteria to pick its top 10, but mainly how many times a word is looked up and how much it's used now factor in. Fortnight, for example, is a primarily British word not widely used here. But it's been around for 700 years, and means a period of 14 days and nights. Popularized by a Taylor Swift song of that name, it remains to be seen if use here becomes common. Even if you're familiar with most or all the top 10 words, take a peek into slang words and phrases that are commonplace mid-decade, but unheard of or obscure before 2020.

Slang usually has its origins with the younger generation, those born after 1995. Pop and youth culture tend to create new slang words and trends. Historically, that meant TV shows, pop and hip-hop music, movies, and video games popular with kids, teens, and young

adults inﬂuenced current slang. While those forms of media still shape new slang words and cool slang, young people now tend to spend more time online—and with that shift, the internet, and especially social media, drove the majority of American slang in 2024. To many of us born prior to 1965, understanding the new words and phrases can be bewildering, especially as slang can be regional in both usage and popularity. The closer to the mountains and further south you go, you start to hear Southern slang, also confusing to those unfamiliar with it.

There's no oﬃcial source for the top slang words and phrases, probably because it's so hard to keep up with them all. Almost daily, new phrases, abbreviations and words spread across social media platforms. Gathered from various sources and in alphabetical order, here's a list of some of the best I found: Ate, basic, beige, boujee (or bougie), cheugy, cringe, H/T or HT, IYKYK, Karen, Nepo baby, Noob, OK Boomer, quiet quitting, rizz, side eye, sus, yeet. If any of these puzzle you, imagine if you were trying to learn English!

Things I learned: some of these make sense, like basic and beige. These refer to everyday and ho hum or drab things or people. Boojee I was familiar with and love, because it comes from the word bourgeois and has a similar meaning. Bourgeois or bourgeoisie was a favorite insult of my late mother, bless her heart. She used it to describe social climbers with new money striving to improve their status among those with old money and real class. Cheugy is a derogatory reference to once fashionable or popular things or people, now outdated and appearing to be trying too hard. OK boomer? Delulu comes from delusional and usually refers to unusual or extreme behavior; HT or H/T means hat tip to properly attribute and acknowledge the original source of a

meme, expression, image, or idea; IYKYK stands for if you know, you know; a noob is a newbie or novice; and OK Boomer is a dismissive retort to condescending older folks. Quiet quitting is doing the bare minimum at your job; rizz comes from charisma and refers to someone's ability to ﬂirt and use charm. Side eye is a facial expression in which someone glances disapprovingly or suspiciously at another person, often using the corner of their eyes. Sus means suspicious or suspect and yeet means to throw or express enthusiasm.

The South, and particularly the mountain areas, have their own slang and phrases. Here are some favorites widely used, starting with “Bless your heart”. It can mean oh, poor you or it can be used sarcastically. Yonder or over yonder means there and can be as vague as across the street or down the road. Y'all is often used incorrectly as it's never used to refer to just one person, it means more than one person. A larger group might be all y'all. “Pitch a hissy” or hissy ﬁt means to throw a temper tantrum; might could mean maybe and I reckon means I guess or I think. “Rode hard and put away wet” is not, as some think, sexual but rather it refers to a hard-ridden horse that is hastily stuck in its stall sweaty without being properly cooled oﬀ. Hifalutin means pretentious or pompous, in other words too big for his britches.

“That dog won't hunt” means an idea, plan of action, or suggestion that simply isn't going anywhere. It's a slightly nicer way of outright rejecting or disparaging an idea. “Ain't got a dog in this hunt” means an outcome or situation that has no effect on you. Fixin' to or sometimes fidna, I'm fi xin' to tell you that this phrase is as Southern as sweet tea. When you're fi xin' to do something, it's going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. And if you hear jeet, that means did ya eat yet?

Our 2024 Road Trip Round Up!

Our Road Trip every January is a recap of the previous year. In 2024 we visited some new locations and returned to a few that we had previously visited and enjoyed.

February

Last year we started off in February with River Bluff Farm Bed and Breakfast in Quicksburg, Virginia. If any of you are like we are, we tend to lean towards the places that are off the beaten track. River Bluff certainly fits the bill. The B&B is very rustic but also has an air of elegance. The cabin is a legitimate log and timber structure located on 20 stunning acres and sits on a bluff about a hundred yards from the banks of the Shenandoah River. The view from the dining room is also a perk as you enjoy breakfast. River Bluff offers three guest bedrooms each with a private bath. Shared spaces available to all of their guests include the main living room, the log cabin sitting area with fi replace, a dining area with a small kitchen, a half bath on the fi rst floor and a cozy upstairs seating area. Outdoors, facing the riverside meadow and the river, you will fi nd a large deck with a gas grill, tables and chairs as well as a covered porch accessible from the breezeway between the main room and the dining area. Frankly folks, it doesn't get much better than this. How can you go wrong with comfortable accommodations and a river adventure wrapped up into one?

March

Note from the author: If you would like to read the full story on each of these destinations, log on to oldtowncrier.com and pull up the archived issue. The entire print version is available on the site as it the column on its own.

For our March Road Trip last year we ventured to Annapolis, Maryland one of our favorite destinations. Across Spa Creek from Annapolis is Eastport, or locally known as the Maritime Republic of Eastport. (long story, Google it). We have had a long relationship with Annapolis as it is part of our marketing area and the simple fact that I have a sailboat. Annapolis aka the "Sailing Capital of the World" is home to U.S. Naval Academy and the Annapolis Sailboat Show-the largest in-water boat show in the world. Annapolis has historical signiﬁcance for many reasons. It is the state capital of Maryland and the country's capital when the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War, was signed there. The main attraction in Annapolis is Ego Alley, the water way at the foot of town where many large yachts converge. There are also many nice restaurants located along the Alley. Two of our favorites are Middleton's Tavern and McGarvey’s. Many years back I sailed into and tied up in Ego Alley...it is something else! While we were at McGarvey's we booked a room for the night at the Scotlaur Inn B&B on Main Street. This is a small B&B above Chick & Ruth's Diner on Main Street. Chick & Ruth's has always been our go-to for breakfast on over-night stays. The room is perfect and reasonable in price.

April

Our Road Trip for April took us to the fabulous Boardwalk Plaza Hotel in Rehoboth, Delaware. A long time summer retreat for many Alexandrian's, Rehoboth Beach is also a great getaway during the spring. It is less crowded, parking is free and occasionally you might catch some 60-70 degree sunny days. No matter the season, it is always a good time to go to the beach. When we were there last March, the temperature was in the mid-fifties but reached 70 degrees the weekend before St. Patrick's Day. We arrived too early to check into the Plaza, so we went to Dewey Beach for a late lunch. We went to one of our favorites, Woody's but the bar was packed so we grabbed a table at the enclosed front patio and ordered a pound of steamed shrimp and shared the lobster roll. It was excellent. Our room at the Plaza was on the concierge Level, aka fourth floor. This is the top floor and is reserved for adults...a very nice touch especially during the summer. Our room was directly over the boardwalk and facing the ocean. It was a clear, cool day and the sun shone brightly. The boardwalk had a few folks out for a walk, a couple of bicycles and one person walking along the water where the waves gently rolled in. On the horizon we could see a large ship heading south. The sights and sounds brought back memories. The Boardwalk Plaza is a beautiful, full-service hotel. Their dining room is not only popular with the guests but also the locals...a sure sign of quality. Another luxury of the Plaza is the Grotto, a large heated indoor pool with water jets around the perimeter...a very large hot tub. This is where we enjoyed our last drink form the Pub.

March-City Dock in Annapolis

April- The Purple Parrot (Rehoboth, DE)

February- River Bluff Farm B&B (Quicksburg, VA)

May

Our Road Trip in May was a little different. We called our friend Dean Goldsmith, owner of See D C Today, and arranged a tour of the military museums and memorials in the D.C. area. Our fi rst stop was the Korean War Memorial near the Lincoln Memorial. Here they had a platoon of statue soldiers marching in order from a cover of trees into the field. Although this was a crowded Saturday in D.C., the crowds were quiet and respectful. This is impressive during the day but at night it is very moving. From here we walked the short distance to the Lincoln Memorial, a truly impressive building. Having grown up here I have visited this memorial many times over the years. From here we walked to the other side of the Reflecting Pool toward the Vietnam War Memorial. As I walked along the Reflecting Pool I could not help but recall Dr. Martin Luther King's speech..."I Have a Dream". The Vietnam Wall is truly a solemn place. Folks walk slower and talk in hushed tones. It is heartbreaking to realize how many names are etched into that Granite. Also, near the Wall is the "Three Servicemen Statue". Nearby is the Vietnam Women's Memorial. This memorial features three uniformed female nurses caring for a wounded male soldier. Each nurse is named for a Virtue: Charity tends to the soldier, Faith prays for him and Hope looks upward for inspiration. We then made the short drive down Constitution Avenue to 17th Street and the World War II Memorial. This is the newest of the War Memorials and was placed between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. From here we drove into Arlington and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and the sculpture of Iwo Jima. Our fi nal stop was the Air Force Memorial along I-395 and Arlington Cemetery.

June

In June of last year we decided to take a Road Trip locally south on Maryland Route 4 and visit some of the local destinations. The largest town you will encounter is Prince Frederick in Maryland. About a mile or so past Prince Frederick you will come to a small strip mall with a large Mr. Tire sign. At the south end you will fi nd Jerry's Place. Jerry's is a family-owned seafood restaurant that has been in business over forty years. Excellent crab cakes. Closed Monday - Wednesday. About another mile down Route 4 is Broomes Island Road. After you make the turn you will come upon an Amish style pavilion on your right that is home to fruits and vegetables from Jake's Produce and plants from Linda's greenhouse. The best place for fresh veggies. A little farther down the road you will come to the Gateway Restaurant. The Gateway is family owned and if you are lucky Sheila will be behind the bar assuring that everyone is having a good time. They have a varied menu specializing in local seafood and the prices are very reasonable. Heading on down Broomes Island Road make a left turn on Mackall Road and follow it to the entrance on the right of Jefferson Patterson Park. The land was donated to the state by Mary Marvin Patterson and is named in honor of her late husband. The 560-acre property has more than 70 identified archaeological sites offering glimpses into 9,000 years of documented human occupation. Making your way back to Route 4 and continuing south you will come to the turn off for Cove Point Lighthouse. The light keepers house was converted into a duplex in 1881 and is available for rental since the light was fully automated in 1986. On the way back on Route 4 make a stop at Perigeaux Vineyard and Winery. A perfect ending to your day.

July

With the heat of summer upon us we decided to take our July Road Trip to Breezy Point and the Twin Beaches in Calvert County. Once again, we took Route 4 south to the turn off at Bayside Road to Breezy Point. It may not be the Atlantic Ocean but it is certainly worth the shorter drive. Breezy Point is a private enclosure and visitors pay a small fee to enjoy the white sand and the welcoming shade trees. The half mile of sandy beach has a 200-foot fishing and crabbing pier. Stepping into the beautiful blue Chesapeake Bay you are protected by a netted swimming area. In the summer the jelly fish can become a problem. Leaving Breezy Point, we turned right on Bayside Road for the 20-minute drive to Chesapeake Beach and her twin, North Beach. The major draw of Chesapeake Beach is the famous Rod'N'Reel Restaurant. There is also a railway museum that showcases the rail transportation from Washington, D.C. to Chesapeake Beach. North Beach does have a gated beach area that is also netted. There are plenty of restaurants and shops at both beaches to explore.

August

Our August Road Trip took us back to the mountains of southwestern Virginia to Lydia Mountain Lodge off of Route 29 near Stanardsville, Virginia. The Lodge sits at the very top of the mountain with spectacular views to the valley below. As we drove up the mountain we noticed individual log cabins. These were the fi rst buildings constructed and the Lodge was added in 2019. The cabins have fun themes as well and there are ones that are perfect for couples, groups or families. The cabins don't have the view that the Lodge does as they are nestled in among the trees. The two-story Lodge is beautiful with themed guest rooms ranging from "The Old Wash House" to the "Southern Belle". After checking all those that were available for our two-night stay, Lani chose the "Hollywood Suite". It was on the second floor which gave us a beautiful view of the valley from our deck. I can't tell you enough about the detail in this room. Lots of Marylin Monroe (reason Lani chose it) paraphernalia. There wasn't a place in the suite that wasn't staged with every detail. There are hiking trails through the mountain and also golf carts that you can rent for the day. There is disc golf and corn hole to keep you active. You can also arrange spa services at the Lodge. The Lodge also has its own restaurant, the Bear Apetit! On our second day we visited a couple of the good wineries in the area. Some of Virginia's best wineries are within a half hours drive. On the drive home we took a different route and stopped in at another of our favorite destinations, Sperryville.

August- Lydia Mountain Lodge (Stanardsville, VA)

May- Vietnam War Memorial (Washington, DC)

June- Jefferson Patterson Park (St Leonard, MD)

July- Virginia Beaches. Photo by Angel Beil

ROAD TRIP September

For our September Road Trip we stayed close to home and went to Fells Point, in Baltimore. Like our home town of Alexandria, which was founded by Scotsman John Alexandria, Fells Point has its own story. Fells Point begins with the tale of two brothers: Edward Fell who ﬁ rst landed near "Baltimore Town" in 1726, and his brother, William Fell, who followed shortly thereafter in 1730. The brothers arrived in a time marked by speculative land sales, where large areas of land were divided and sold to settlers and investors. They acquired 3,000 acres which is now Fells Point. With the deep water Patapsco River and the close approximation to the Chesapeake Bay, and access to large tracts of timber, the land was ideal for shipbuilding. The riches of the Fell family were eventually passed on the William's only son, also named Edward (after Willliam's brother). Young Edward and his wife Ann Bond Fell, developed the land in 1761, creating a grid of streets and selling sub-divided plots along them to the general public. The street names were largely inspired by two common themes: family and British heritage. Many of these streets still have their original names, including Ann Street, Bond Street, Fell Street,Thames Street and Shakespeare Street. Just like the old warehouses of Alexandria, the buildings of Fells Point today house restaurants, shops, and pubs. Exploring Fells Point is like exploring Alexandria.

October

Our October Road Trip took us to Culpeper, Virginia. As we expanded the distribution of the Old Town Crier into the Blue Ridge, Culpeper was a perfect distribution. Over the years we got to know many of the merchants as well as other places of interest.

October- Culpeper, VA

The town was founded in 1749 and soon became the hub of the region. The train station and the railway became an important feature of the town as well as a key target of both the Confederate and Union forces in the Civil War. Today the Amtrak trains run north and south with stops in Culpeper as well as Alexandria and Washington, D.C. The train is an excellent way to visit Culpeper for a day. However, if you wanted to stay overnight, the Fountain Hall B&B is a short walk from the station. Some of the stores we knew years ago are gone but a lot still remain. The stores that make up the town of Culpeper have a lot to oﬀer. Many are unique boutiques and specialty stores. It is a great place for lunch or dinner as well with excellent restaurants. The south side of town is where you will ﬁ nd the small shop owners while the larger stores and big box stores are on the north side of town. Right outside of town we visited the Belmont Farm Distillery. Belmont Farm has chosen to preserve a national tradition of copper pot still whiskey. Belmont Farm was also chosen as one of the top three moonshine providers in the country and made the list of awesome places to visit in Virginia. We also visited Old House Vineyards where we found out owner Patrick Kearney has also added a distillery and brewery. Culpeper is an excellent destination for the day or a two day stay.

November

Our November Road Trip took us to Sussex County in Southern Delaware and the Nanticoke Heritage Byway as well as the towns of Seaford, Laurel, Lewes and Milton. Some of you Rehoboth Beach goers will realize you pass right through these towns heading to the Atlantic Ocean. The Byway, which includes the beautiful Nanticoke River, moves through an area that is rich in the history of transportation and economic interests in the region. Although the western Sussex County landscape may at fi rst seem to be a quiet and subdued rural area with small towns, it encompasses many of Delaware's historic treasures and important natural features. Visually, the route alternates between farmlands, wooded areas, and small towns, providing a variety of views and different types of landscapes. There are many recreational opportunities for hiking, bicycling, boating and other activities. Phillips Landing Recreation Area is located near the confluence of the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek. In May of 2007 a monument was placed at Phillips Landing to commemorate Captain John Smith's exploration of the river and his meeting with the Nanticoke Chiefs. Phillips Landing is best known for bass fishing, bird watching, and a beautiful view of the wild rice beds across the river. The adjacent Nanticoke Wildlife Area conserves landscapes that appear much as they did 400 years ago. Further up Broad Creek, a tributary of the Nanticoke, is the well-preserved community of Bethel. Wooden sailing vessels were constructed by Bethel's skilled ship carpenters until the early 20th century. The most significant class of Bethel craft were the Chesapeake sailing rams, which originated from this Broad Creek port. One of the truly beautiful areas of Sussex County is Trap Pond State Park. Located near Laurel, Trap Pond is the largest surviving fragment of what was once an extensive wetland in what is now southwestern Sussex County. The state park features an extensive patch of bald cypress trees.

December

December took us to Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia. Many of you faithful “Road Trip” readers might remember when we featured our summertime excursion to this fabulous place two years ago. Mountain Lake Lodge is located in the southwest mountains of Virginia in Pembroke, VA. We were invited to the opening of this year’s ‘Magical Christmas Village & Marketplace Grand Illumination’ event and defi nitely couldn’t resist the invitation. It is a bit of a drive from Old Town on a good day – four and a half hours via Routes 66 and 81 – but well worth it. The lobby in the Main Lodge is very welcoming and the beautiful stone fi replace was still all lit up when we got there despite the late arrival. This building is also home to the resorts dining options. Harvest (a white table cloth restaurant), Stone Creek Tavern (a fun casual place to eat and get a fantastic Bloody Mary) and Mary’s Market & Café (a coffee and sandwich/snack/sweets shop). Rounding out the drinking and dining options, is the Salt Pond Pub (a heated, outdoor bar located adjacent to the lodge). Sandwiches and apps are available at the pub as well as some great brews and beverages.Don’t forget, the iconic Dirty Dancing was filmed here 37 years ago. Known as Kellerman’s Mountain House in the classic movie, according to many visitors, it is still the ideal place “to have the time of your life”!

As we roll into the new year, we are looking forward to more new adventures!

Mountain Lake Lodge (Pembroke, VA)

November- Phillips LandingRec Area (Laurel, DE)

September- Fells Point, Baltimore

The Caribbean Travel Awards 2025

More than 32 million people visited the Caribbean in 2023, and that number should be eclipsed by the end of this year. In other words, the Caribbean is more popular than ever — deepening its position not just as the world’s premier warm-weather destination but, in our opinion, as the most complex, diverse, vibrant destination on the planet. We work hard to convey how layered and how distinctive the Caribbean is across its more than 30 diﬀerent destinations.

With the Caribbean Travel Awards, now in its 11th annual edition, we celebrate the mosaic of Caribbean travel excellence across 36 diﬀerent categories ranging from the Caribbean Destination of the Year to the region’s leading chef to its top tourism executive, as voted on by the world’s foremost experts on Caribbean travel: the Caribbean Journal Editorial Team, who have nearly a century of experience traversing the Caribbean, exploring the region in depth and immersing themselves in the Caribbean with on-the-ground travel.

Caribbean Hotel of the Year: British Colonial Nassau

Nassau Harbour’s classic hotel celebrated its 100th birthday this year — but after a $100 million renovation, the newly-relaunched British Colonial is practically a brand-new hotel. When we stayed here after the reopening, what was striking was just how exquisitely the property managed to preserve its historic charm while catering to the needs of today’s traveler. From the alwaysbeautiful beach to one of the world’s great hotel lobbies, the British Colonial isn’t just a gem of a Caribbean hotel; it’s also a symbol of the continued renaissance of downtown Nassau — a movement that has turned this corner of the Bahamian capital into a new level of destination.

New Caribbean Hotel of the Year: Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada

Exciting things are happening in Grenada right now, and the fi rstever Six Senes to open in the Caribbean is right at the center of it. The 71-room resort, which welcomed its fi rst guests in April, is set on the island’s fantastic La Sagesse Beach, with a plunge pool in every room, a collection of high-design villas and Six Senses’ extraordinary blend of modern luxury and immersive wellness. It’s a hotel that fits in seamlessly with Grenada’s burgeoning identity as a global sustainability destination, and instantly in the pantheon of top Caribbean hotels.

Caribbean Small Hotel of the Year: Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize

It began life as legendary ﬁlmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s private lodge, and now it’s a remarkable jungle retreat in the heart of Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Everything here is intimate, thoughtful and luxurious; it’s a place where you can dive right into the natural wonders that deﬁ ne Belize and savor the property’s particular take on Caribbean luxury. From the thatched-roof rooms to the lovely Jaguar Bar, it’s a truly unique, bucket-list travel destination.

Caribbean All-Inclusive of the Year: Galley Bay, Antigua

The story at Galley Bay starts with the natural beauty. Every time we’ve stayed here, we’ve remarked at how breathtakingly beautiful it is, from the lagoon to the beach to the myriad birds singing from the trees all day long. But Galley Bay isn’t just a beautiful place. It’s one of the world’s great destination allinclusives, from its true toes-in-the-sand rooms to the endlessly comfortable Gauguin cottages (with private plunge pools) to the rum shack to the food at Ismay’s. This is a resort that oozes romance, and it’s the archetype of what the modern luxury traveler is seeking out.

The grand entrance. Photo by caribjournal.com.

The new Six Senses Grenada. Photo by Resort Photography.

Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize. Photo by The Family Coppola.

The spa at Galley Bay. Photo by caribjournal.com.

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION

Small All-Inclusive of the Year:

Keyonna Beach, Antigua

This lovely “barefoot” Caribbean all-inclusive manages to convey the essence of what we love about small all-inclusive resorts: the combination of a boutique feel with the convenience of the allinclusive concept. At Keyonna, you can enjoy locally-focused food with a beautiful layout that marries plunge pool cottages with toes-in-the-sand bali beds and a commitment to delivering a truly Antiguan experience.

Jamaica

Sustainability is term that’s thrown around quite a bit these days, but at its core it’s about making sure the impact of tourism is beneﬁcial, lasting and deep. This boutique resort in Jamaica’s exquisitely beautiful Treasure Beach has made the community a centerpiece of its tourism philosophy for decades, with an overarching sustainability manifesto that applies to everything from supporting local entrepreneurs to local farming to regenerative ﬁshing practices. That’s along with a broad green program that includes solar water heating and a chemically-free pool. When you stay at Jakes, you’re not just staying at a Caribbean hotel — you’re living in the heart of Treasure Beach.

New All-Inclusive of the Year:

Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres

Marriott has been making a dedicated push into the all-inclusive space for the last five years, adding new All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy properties across the Caribbean-Mexico region. But its new Luxury Collection resort on the lovely little island of Isla Mujeres off the coast of Cancun might be its crown jewel right now, with 105 rooms in a direct-oceanfront setting with a terrific spa. Almare just opened its doors this fall, and it’s instantly one of the region’s must-visit all-inclusive destinations.

Caribbean Culinary Resort of the Year: Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

When you have as many diﬀerent amenities as the Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo does (spa, wellness, golf, equestrian and more), it can be easy to forget that the La Romana resort is also a world-class foodie destination, with countless restaurants touching every cuisine from classic Dominican fare to a Mexican taqueria to a traditional Italian trattoria. But Casa de Campo continues to up its game, too, including its new Food & Wine Festival, which just held its second edition and reinforced the property’s place as one of the Caribbean’s great gourmet outposts.

What is wellness? Yes, it’s about spa treatments and healthy eating and mental serenity, but it’s about more than that. It’s about body and soul. At this lovely boutique resort set within a tropical garden in Providenciales, wellness is a holistic concept, from the stunningly good Balinese spa to the meticulouslycrafted food. A residential resort, Kokomo and its endlessly serene environs provide a respite from the noise of the world and a place to re-balance your energy. It’s one of the best-kept secrets in Turks and Caicos, but perhaps not for long.

Caribbean Sustainable Hotel of the Year: Jakes,

Caribbean Wellness Resort of the Year: Kokomo Botanical Resort, Turks and Caicos

Pool cottages at the Keyonna Beach resort. Photo courtesy of caribjournal.com

Jakes Hotel in Jamaica.Photo courtesy of caribjournal.com

The new Almare resort just opened this fall. Photo courtesy of caribjournal.com

The pool at Kokomo Botanical Resort. Photo by caribjournal.com.

The Chilango Taqueria at Casa de Campo. Photo by caribjournal.com.

Caribbean Golf Resort of the Year: Aurora Anguilla

It’s one of the most beautiful courses in the Caribbean: The International Course at Aurora Anguilla, the luxury resort that has quietly developed a world-class golf oﬀering over the last few years that includes the signature Greg Norman design and an equally stunning short course called Avalon Links. That, along with outstanding practice facilities and an on-site golf academy, have helped to turn the resort not just into the most complete hotel in Anguilla but one of the best destination golf resorts in the hemisphere.

Publishers Note: This is just a portion of the award recipients. For the full article on the 2025 Awards log on to www.caribjournal.com/2024/12/18/the-caribbean-travel-awards-2025

We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staﬀ contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section.

Check out the popular online magazine/website at caribjournal.com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean.

The

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The Greg Norman-designed golf course at Aurora Anguilla. Photo courtesy of caribjournal.com

DINING GUIDE M

AMERICAN

1799 PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD

110 S. Pitt Street

571-404-6001

ADA'S ON THE RIVER 3 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1400

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970

BLACKWALL HITCH

5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090

BOB & EDITHS DINER 1743 King Street

703-664-0043 bobandedithsdiner.com

CHADWICKS

203 Strand St. 703-836-4442

CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080

CITY KITCHEN

330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com

EDDIE'S LITTLE SHOP & DELI 1406 King Street 571-312-8615

EVENING STAR CAFÉ

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051

EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street

703-299-0894

FRANKIE'S KITCHEN & COCKTAIL BAR 823 S. Washington St. 703-512-2118

GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288

HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

HOPS 'N SHINE 3410 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-566-1509

HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355

JACKS PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372

JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

JULA'S ON THE POTOMAC 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644

JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-436-0025 junctionbakery.com

KILN - HOTEL HERON 699 Prince St. 703-662-1900

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street 571-319-0794

LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533

LOST DOG CAFE

808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511

MACMILLAN'S SPIRIT HOUSE 500 Montgomery St. 703-665-6690

MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117

MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street 703-548-8800 mason-social.com

MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com

MYSTIC BBQ & GRILL 220 N. Lee St. 703-565-9808 mysticbbqandgrill.com

NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032

OAK STEAKHOUSE 901 N. St. Asaph St. 703-840-3395

OCONNELLS

RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 DanielOconnells.com

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

THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street 571-257-8851

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

RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com

ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274

ROYAL RESTAURANT 730 N. St. Asaph St. 703-548-1616

RT'S RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

SLATERS MARKET 1552 Potomac Greens Dr. 703-548-3807

SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550

SOUTH BLOCK 106 N. Lee Street 703-465-8423

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

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S

510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street

703-838-8000

T.J. STONES

GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com

TOASTIQUE GOURMET TOAST & JUICE BAR 1605 King Street 571-312-1909

UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785

unionstreetpublichouse.com

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

VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & THE HI-TIDE LOUNGE 101 North Union St. 703-935-8890

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

ASIAN

ASIAN BISTRO

809 King St. 703-836-1515

INDOCHEN 1625 King Street (571) 404-6050

KISSO ASIAN BISTRO

300 King Street

703-888-1513

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

MAI THAI

9 King St.

703-548-0600

NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848

SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458

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

CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE 407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800

ZUKI MOON 1909 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-836-1212

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

RAILBIRD KITCHEN 804 North Henry St. 703-577-9023

CEDAR KNOLL

703-780-3665

CONTINENTAL

GW Parkway at Lucia Ln.

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

ALEXANDRIA BIER GARDEN 710 King Street 703-888-1951 villagebrauhaus.com

FRENCH

BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776

bastillerestaurant.com

BEN' YAYS 1028 King Street 703-495-3888

BRABO 1600 King St. 703-894-3440

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

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

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

JOSEPHINE 109 South St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776

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

ITALIAN

ALDO'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 2850 Eisenhower Avenue (behind the building) 703-888-2243

ANDY’S PIZZA 107 N Fayette St 571-319-0497

BUGSYS PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313

FRANK PEPE NAPOLETANA PIZZERIA 3231 Duke Street Alexandria Commons 703-719-2035

HANDOVER BY THE SLICE 728 King Street 571-319-0794

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

LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com

LENA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086

MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 100 King Street 703-997-5300

EPICURE ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090

PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287

RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873

THOMPSON'S ITALIAN 1026 King Street alexandria@thompsonitalian.com

MEDITERRANEAN

BARCA PIER & WINE BAR 2 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1100

ELAINE'S 208 Queen Street 571-970-0517

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

PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194

DELIAS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. 703-329-0006

VASO'S MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1118 King Street 703-566-2720

VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747

SEAFOOD

HANKS OYSTER BAR 818 N St. Asaph 703-739-HANK

FISH MARKET-OLD TOWN 105 King St. 703-836-5676

ﬁshmarketoldva.com THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834

WHISKEY & OYSTER 301 John Carlyle 703-567-1533

INDIAN

DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd. 703-660-6085

DIYA 218 North Lee, 2nd Floor 703-706-5338

KISMET MODERN INDIAN 111 North Pitt Street 703-567-4507

NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615

MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN

CASA TEQUILA (next to Crate & Barrel) 1701 Duke 703-518-5312

CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438

DON TACO TEQUILA BAR 808 King St. 703-988-3144

LOS CUATES RESTAURANT 1116 King Street 703-548-2918

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)

TEQUILA & TACO 540 John Carlyle Street 703-721-3203

URBANO 116 116 King Street 571-970-5148

From Bouillabaisse to Burgers, Our Advertisers Have it ALL

As the Old Town Crier celebrates its 37th year we wanted to take this opportunity to pay some special attention to those eateries who help support our eﬀorts with their continual advertising support each month. Many of them have been appearing in these pages in excess of twenty-ﬁve years with three of them in every issue since the beginning. I guess that’s a testament to all of our longevities in business here in Alexandria.

All of these establishments have very distinct ﬂavor proﬁles ranging from good old fashioned “Diner Fare” including their popular breakfasts served up on chrome and formica 24 hours a day at Bob and Edith’s on

Upper King Street to the white table cloths, Martini’s and Manhattan’s at the infamous Landini Brothers Serving upscale Tuscan Italian cuisine in a revamped warehouse since 1979

in the 100 Block, Landini’s has been with us since day one. Just up the street, prime aged steaks, seafood and upscale Cajun oﬀerings are featured at The Warehouse. The Warehouse is home to hundreds of caricatures of

local icons including the Gastronomes – we feel special. Warehouse was also in the ﬁ rst issue!

those gigantic schooners of beer and Chesapeake-style seafood including their popular “peel and eat” shrimp. New (sort of) to the Old Town restaurant scene is Mystic BBQ and Grill that opened last spring serving southern centric cuisine the likes of Texas Style BBQ and all of the sides as well as seafood with a touch of

Serving upscale American cuisine in another revamped colonial warehouse in Old Town is Union Street Public House. This place has been an old town go-to since 1986. Just around the corner is Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant & Bar serving upscale Irish fare in ﬁ rst generation Irish décor. Billing itself as “Born in Ireland and raised in Old Town”, the bulk of the décor was shipped directly from the land of Erin. OC’s deﬁ nitely

has that authentic Irish Pub feel including the lovely Irish accents of many of the ﬁ rst generation staﬀ. We are betting that the majority of you regular readers have an experience or two to share about the Fish Market Restaurant – some we probably couldn’t print! Opening their doors in 1976, they continue to serve

Cajun inﬂuence. Located just a block oﬀ King on North Lee Street, Mystic is housed in the former Myron Mixon location.

Heading up the street is Old Town’s ﬁ rst Irish Bar and one of the OTC’s ﬁ rst advertisers – they have been on board for 37 years – Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub. Serving traditional Irish fare, “Murph’s” has been like a home away from home for many locals as well as visitors. Operating since 1978

with probably the best “real wood” ﬁ replace in Alexandria, you can get a great bowl of Irish Stew and more here.

Making your way out to the “metro” area of Alexandria, you will ﬁ nd award-winning modern French fare at Bastille Brasserie & Bar in the Parker Grey area. If you are intimidated by French food and afraid to try it, this is the place to be. The menu is straight forward and is anything but pretentious while every dish on the menu is classic. Served in a comfortable casual atmosphere, don’t

forget to save room for one of the amazing desserts. Modern AmericanMediterranean cuisine served in a “rustic-chic” atmosphere is on the menu at River Bend Bistro located just down the GW Parkway in the Fort Hunt area. You can’t go wrong by ordering anything on this menu

but if the French Onion Soup is a special, order it. Junction Bakery, Bistro and Bar, located on Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray part of town, was originally a commercial bakery with a small coﬀee shop but now it not only cranks out bread and pastries for other eateries but keeps customers very happy with their trendy breakfast, lunch and dinner

oﬀerings. All three of the above have coveted FREE parking!

In addition to those who advertise with us, there are a plethora of great places to drink and dine in our distribution area. With the winter Restaurant Week taking place this month, you will have an opportunity to check out many of them at specially discounted prices. This is something to take advantage of without breaking the bank.

The Ultimate Beef Wellington: A Recipe

for Culinary Glory

Ah, Beef Wellington! The dish that makes you feel like a master chef, even if the most complex thing you've ever cooked is instant noodles. With its ﬂaky pastry, succulent beef, and an air of culinary sophistication, this dish is sure to impress anyone at your dinner table. So, roll up your sleeves, and let’s embark on this delicious journey.

Ingredients:

For the Beef:

- 2 pounds of beef tenderloin (the star of the show, so pick a good one!)

- Salt and pepper (the trusty sidekicks)

- 2 tablespoons of olive oil (for that sizzle For the Mushroom Duxelles:

- 1 pound of mushrooms (preferably cremini or button; go wild!)

- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

- 2 cloves of garlic, minced (because they’re always invited)

- 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves (the herb that says “I care”)

- Salt and pepper to taste

For Assembly:

- 8 slices of prosciutto (because everything is better with prosciutto)

- 1 sheet of premade frozen pizza dough (storebought unless you’re feeling ambitious)

- 1 egg, beaten (the glue that holds it all together)

- Flour for dusting (because we want to avoid a pastry disaster

Instructions

1. Prepare the Beef:

Season the beef tenderloin generously with salt and pepper. In a hot pan, add olive oil and sear the beef on all sides until it’s gloriously browned (about 2-3 minutes per side). Set it aside to cool. This is the moment you can say, “I’m a beef whisperer

2. Make the Mushroom Duxelles:

Chop those mushrooms fi nely. Think tiny little bits that can fit in your dreams. In the same pan, melt butter, add garlic, and sauté until fragrant. Toss in the mushrooms and thyme, and cook until all the moisture evaporates and the mixture is thick. Season with salt and pepper, and let it cool. This is your secret weapon for flavor

3. Wrap it Up:

On a ﬂoured surface, lay out the prosciutto slices, overlapping them slightly. Spread the cooled mushroom duxelles over the prosciutto like you’re painting a masterpiece. Place the cooled beef on top and roll it up tightly. This is where you channel your inner gift wrapper

4. Pastry Time:

Roll out the pastry to a size that can wrap around your beef log. Place the wrapped beef in the center, and fold the pastry over, sealing the edges with the beaten egg. Don’t worry about making it look perfect; just make it look like you meant to do it

5. Bake to Perfection:

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the wrapped Wellington on a baking sheet, brush the top with more beaten egg, and make a few slits for ventilation (like a tiny sauna for your meat). Bake for 2530 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 130°F for medium-rare

6. The Waiting Game:

Once baked, let the Wellington rest for about 10 minutes. This is a crucial step; you wouldn’t want to slice into your masterpiece too soon. Use this time to toast yourself for being a culinary genius

7. Slice and Serve:

Cut the Beef Wellington into thick slices and serve with your favorite sides. Revel in the applause of your guests, and

1 3 4 4

remind them that you’re basically Gordon Ramsay now (minus the yelling)

And there you have it! A Beef Wellington that will not only satisfy your taste buds but also elevate your status in the kitchen. Remember, cooking is all about having fun, so don’t stress if things don’t go perfectly. Just enjoy the process, and your Beef Wellington will turn out deliciously every time. Happy cooking!

About the Author: Glenn Morel is a producer turned chef. His website is www.ifihadachef.com. With experience in restaurants from Florida to Manhattan, he specializes in bringing his clients their very own personal chef for any special event. In addition to private parties of 12 (or more-orless), he also offers catering for small and large groups. Chef Glenn works with you to create a customized menu and first-class event. He brings culinary professionals with him that dress appropriately and are experienced in handling food. They are also often trained mixologists and fine dining servers.

Who’s Making Your

Wine?

I recently read a discussion on social media about local wineries and where the wines are actually being made. There seemed to be some concern about wines that are not being produced at the facility where the grapes are grown or where customers are enjoying the wine hospitality. I felt inspired to give my perspective of the state of the industry and where we are in the world of estate wines, custom crush and how our businesses succeed at this point.

In the Old World of wine, namely France, a number of vineyard towns have a central wine coop where a vineyards crop will go for processing. Trained cellar workers and winemakers will transform the grapes into wine using modern equipment, scientific analysis and climatecontrolled conditions. Most vineyards will receive back their wine in bulk or bottles for them to sell on their own. These co-ops are an intricate part of the industry so the growers can focus on growing grapes, and still have a fi nished wine without having to invest in the permanent staff and infrastructure that is a winery.

Here in Virginia, we have a handful of wineries that have committed to making wines for others in addition to making their own. Fabbioli Cellars is one of these wineries. Michael Shaps and Walsh Family Winery are others. The keys to their success are a well-seasoned winemaking team and a strong commitment to quality for all. My fi rst year of processing fruit for others was in1999 when I was the winemaker for Tarara and we made Viognier and Chardonnay for Chrysalis. The success of this effort gave me the confidence to make other people’s wines, but also gave me more experience. We tend to copy the model of California, where new wineries will utilize the opportunity to get wines made under a knowledgeable winemaker while their own facility is being built.

Winemaking is a profession that needs experience to improve. It doesn’t come from solely from a book, seminar or a degree. Winemakers grow in conﬁdence and quality with experience. There are many new vineyards being planted and new

wineries opening and we need to make sure we have the winemaking experience to make great quality wines. We only get to make wine once a year, so the lessons learned from experiments this year can get applied next year. More wines made means more lessons, better quality and more professionalism, if the learning is properly applied!

I have folks ask me how I can keep all these wines separate and make them diﬀerent. The biggest part is using grapes from their own vineyards. I remember years ago selling grapes to a fellow winemaker. When I tasted their wine in a blind tasting 6 months after harvest, the characteristics of that wine were very similar to the one I made from the same grapes. Winemakers have fermentation choices, blending choices, aging decisions, but the grape and where it was grown will always be most important. Our wine region is judged by the wines we produce. I am proud of the work my clients have done with their businesses, and I am as proud of their wines as I am of the ones with my name on them. The eﬀorts to continue learning is critical especially with our shifting climate. I am happy to learn more with others grapes as well as my own. Please venture out in 2025 to try another winery. Maybe one you’ve haven’t been to in a while or maybe a new one that opened up close by. Bring home a couple bottles and share with your friends. This industry is deeply rooted in this region and is here to stay. Your patronage will add to our continued quality. Thank you from me and my fellow vintners.

About the Author: Farmer, winemaker, entrepreneur, educator, and leader, Doug Fabbioli has been accelerating the growth and quality of Virginia’s wine industry since 1997. With his wife Colleen, Doug is the owner/operator of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. He is the founder and director of The New Ag School, which

OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY 11-5 PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS FOR GROUPS OF SIX OR MORE

15669 Limestone School Rd Leesburg, VA 20176 703.771.1197 • fabbioliwines.com info@fabbioliwines.com

focuses on teaching the next generation of farmers and agriculture-related leaders. No wonder they call Doug Fabbioli the Godfather of DC's Wine Country.

The 2024 Virginia Wine Year In Review

2024 was a rough year in the international wine industry. For the past several years, changing consumer preferences and shrinking discretionary spending has resulted in wine sales steadily plummeting.

Virginia wine’s focus on tasting room sales to agro-tourists somewhat insulates it from these larger industry trends, but challenges remain. Foot traﬃc is down, and vineyards face a serious threat from the invasive spotted lanternﬂy.

That said, 2024 has produced a number of good-news stories. The local wine industry still managed to grow to a record-high 327 tasting rooms. Moreover, high-proﬁle media recognition, greater industry inclusion, and the availability of unique winemaker-driven projects provide ground for optimism in 2025.

Here are a few of the most important stories and notable bright spots that shaped the Virginia wine industry in 2024:

1. The 2024 Vintage

In the words of one winemaker, “The 2024 vintage was…weird”.

It started oﬀ strong. Spring lacked major frost risks, and the summer was especially hot and dry. These conditions allow vineyards to produce fruit with high-intensity berries, suitable for making powerful wine.

Alas, the drought was so harsh that winemakers actually wished for a few inches of rain. Yet when it ﬁ nally came, it came in torrents. What could have been an awesome 2023-like vintage was knocked down a peg or two in many places.

Late-ripening reds such as cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot most likely suﬀered the most as they either had a hard time drying out or growers were forced to pick them prematurely. Fortunately, many vineyards brought in excellent merlot and cabernet franc earlier in the season, and their white wine grapes came in well before the rain.

Of course, this is a generalization. There are wineries that were extremely happy with their fruit and others that were less so. While uneven phenolic ripening in the berries may be a challenge, most winemakers seem satisﬁed with the quality (but not the quantity) of the 2024 vintage.

2. A Good Year For Diversity and Inclusion 2024 was a triple win for diversity and inclusion, with well-deserved callouts to Pride in the Vines,

Virginia Women in Wine (VWIW), and The Oenoverse

Loudoun County’s ‘Pride in the Vines’ hosted its second wine trail this past June for Pride Month. Not part of the trail but thematically connected was Culpepper Pride, hosted by Mountain Run Winery. Pride ﬂags are ﬂying in towns that didn’t welcome them even a decade ago.

Next up is Nancy Bauer’s VWIW, which launched its inaugural event in August. The necessity of this organization is driven by how two-thirds of the local wine industry workforce are female, yet women are severely underrepresented in industry leadership positions. The VWIW’s mission is to close this gender gap, oﬀering opportunities for networking, leadership development, and highlighting the industry’s female trailblazers. Blenheim Vineyards’ Oenoverse (Ee-Nuh-Verse) isn’t new, but this wine club/wine community/ access & opportunity program has been ‘in the news’ in 2024 as co-founder Reggie Leonard received national recognition for his outreach to historically underrepresented communities. Oenoverse-related events in 2024 included the Two Up Wine Down wine festival, which highlighted a number of BIPOC winemakers/ owners. It also partnered with The Veraison Project, which hosted an immersion program aimed at members of historically underrepresented consumers & industry professionals.

3. Banner Year For Media Recognition

In 2023, Wine Enthusiast selected Monticello as their “Wine Region of the Year”. Since then, there has been a notable uptick in national recognition of the Virginia wine industry.

Major outlets which showered praise on Virginia wine include The Wall Street Journal, Decanter, Vogue, Southern Living, Travel & Leisure, and Men’s Journal (to name just a few). While Virginia wine has been recognized in the press before, it’s fair to say Wine Enthusiast supercharged the press circuit.

Hopefully, this will normalize Virginia as an ‘established’ region known for its quality wine, rather than constantly be identiﬁed as an ‘up & coming’ area to watch out for.

4. Small Batch Wine and the “Incubators” that foster them

The number of small-batch wine labels has grown signiﬁcantly over the past decade, with six micro-

brands opening in 2024 alone. This has given rise to ‘wine incubators’, which provide a space for these tiny enterprises to grow.

While such spaces aren’t new, Eastwood Farm’s “Virginia Wine Collective” may be the most innovative.

Eastwood plans on renovating the current Michael Shaps Wineworks Extended tasting room in Charlottesville, creating individual spaces that can be licensed separately. This allows the winemakers operating in these incubation spaces start-to-ﬁ nish control over their wine. This also sets Eastwood apart from other “incubators,” which can’t allow their entrepreneurs to operate heavy equipment because of insurance liability.

Owner Athena Eastwood explained the goal is to create a joint tasting room for Eastwood’s participating “Wine Collective” members, which include local wine luminaries such as Jake Busching, Joy Ting, and Matthieu Finot. She also hopes it will encourage fresh talent to enter the industry by lowering the startup costs encountered by new winemakers.

5. RdV Vineyards purchased by Château Montros

This June, RdV announced it was purchased by Château Montrose, a “Second Growth” winery in Bordeaux. This is the ﬁ rst time a high-powered French château has established itself in the eastern United States.

This acquisition is a huge vote of conﬁdence in not just RdV’s wine, but the quality Virginia wine can aspire to. Founder Rutger De Vink has already moved to Oregon, passing the reins to the Bouygues family. RdV will now be led by Charlotte Bouygues, who plans to split her time between NYC, Paris, and Virginia.

Charlotte explained Montrose’s decision to purchase RdV was driven by a desire to ﬁ nd a location abroad that stylistically ﬁts with their existing Bordeaux wines. Locating a business where the existing team was willing to stay on, especially Winemaker Joshua Grainer, also encouraged them to make this move.

At some point in the near-future the winery will be renamed Lost Mountain, after RdV’s ﬂagship wine and hilly location.

About the Author: Matthew Fitzsimmons is a blogger who has visited nearly every winery in Virginia – most of them twice. Track his progress at https://winetrailsandwanderlust.com/

which came first, bread or beer?

It’s January. It’s a time for new beginnings. It’s a time for new thoughts and new ideas. It’s a time to reﬂect on our lives. It’s a time to ponder change and to set new goals. And why do we do this?

Because we’re bored.

Let’s face it, this is not the best month, and that’s putting it nicely. We’re all bloated and broke. The holidays have ended, so we’re recovering from that sugar high. The weather sucks on a good day. It’s perpetually cloudy and cold. And even when the sun comes out, you can barely feel it. The days are getting longer, but it isn’t noticeable yet. The only happy people are the gym owners and employees. Their gyms are packed. Well, packed for the ﬁ rst three weeks.

So, while you’re sitting on your couch pining away for spring, let me give you something important to ponder.

Which came ﬁ rst, beer or bread?

This puzzling question has been debated for decades. And people still take sides. It’s not as prolific as the chicken and the egg argument, which has gone on for centuries. By the way, the answer is the egg. Why? Because eggs existed long before chickens. According to Sciencefocus.com, Dinosaurs laid eggs, the fi sh that first crawled out of the sea laid eggs, and the weird articulated monsters that swam in the warm shallow seas of the Cambrian Period 500 million years ago also laid eggs. They weren’t chicken eggs, but they were still eggs.

When the question is asked, we assume it refers to a chicken egg. But that isn’t the way it’s stated. So, the answer is the egg. Be sure to bring this up with your weird cousin or brother-in-law at the next holiday gathering. It’ll make for a great argument and probably an embarrassingly huge loud argument that will cause the neighbors to call the police. But the resulting story will entertain the family at holiday dinners for decades to come. You’ll be a legend.

So, that all being said, back to the original question. Which came ﬁ rst, bread or beer?

For years we were taught that it was bread. Our ancestors grew grain to make bread. Beer, or alcohol in general, was a byproduct of agriculture. Extra grain was stored for leaner times. People noticed that when you mashed up grain, mixed it with water, and let it sit for a while (probably as a result of an abandoned breadmaking effort), something miraculous happened. The resulting beverage did not smell bad. The taste wasn’t great, but you got used to it. And the short-term effect was wonderful! You caught a buzz! That theory went unchallenged for years. However, in the early 1950s, scientists began to doubt its validity. Agriculture is the foundation of civilization. But it seems it was the making of beer that drove it, not bread. First of all, beer is easier to make than bread. Second, it has an effect that bread can’t match. Let’s face it, the shift from being hunters/gatherers to farmers must have been stressful. All of a sudden, the group was much larger. You were staying in one place, which introduced a plethora of problems. You had neighbors, and your wife was inviting them over for dinner. Governments, laws, and norms began to form. The simple way of life that your ancestors knew was gone. You’re one step up from being a caveman, and the whole world is changing around you. You needed a beer.

Discoveries at Göbekli Tepe, a 12,000-year-old site in Turkey, seems to document this change. It was a site for worship, no one lived there. There are no signs that any form of civilization was nearby. The people who came there were hunter gatherers who came to worship. Archaeologists found huge limestone vats with grey-black adhesions. These adhesions tested positive for calcium oxalate, a compound that develops in the course of the soaking,

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Baby Jane Bourbon

This is one of Widow Jane’s bourbons. Widow Jane is out of New York and makes bourbon with a unique proprietary heirloom corn. Yes, good bourbon can come from New York. Their product line was expanded when they were bought by Elijah Craig a few years back. This bourbon is mild and smooth. It has summer fruit with honey and green grapes on the nose. The palate has honey and caramel, along with hints of apricot and peach. Allspice emerges at the ﬁ nish, but not in an overpowering way. At 91 Proof and at $50 a bottle, it’s well worth adding to your collection.

Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary Robusto

You can never go wrong with a Rocky Patel cigar. On the fi rst puff, you get hit with a pepper bomb, but it quickly fades. As the pepper fades, chocolate, cedar, and a hint of cinnamon then begin to come through. This cigar is a smooth smoke and draws very well. After the halfway point, floral flavors and a touch of sweetness are prevalent. There is a bit of tartness at the end, but not in an overpowering way. The floral flavors continue through the fi nish of the smoke. This is a great New Years Day kickoff the year smoke. Enjoy.

This cigar, and many other ﬁne cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King St. in Old Town Alexandria. Mention this article and get 10% oﬀ the purchase of this month’s recommended cigar.

mashing, and fermenting of grain. Our ancestors brewed beer before they formed cities. As beervanablog.com states it, And yet, across the ancient world, we see similar evidence that the ﬁrst large gatherings of people, centered on feasting, ritual, and booze, happened long before anyone had come up with the idea of planting and harvesting crops. Archaeologists working in the Fertile Crescent have noted that at the earliest known sites the particular tools being used and varieties of grain being grown were more suited to making beer than bread. One recent discovery found evidence of beer-making by the Natuﬁan people around 13,000 years ago, predating the emergence of agriculture by at least 3,000 years.

I’m sure there are theologians out there who hate this theory. The idea of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or Abraham trekking across the desert, with keg cups in their hands must infuriate them. But the evidence does seem to point in that direction. Beer came ﬁ rst, my friends. The buzz was more important than the bread.

So, when your weird cousin or brother-in-law starts to argue that it was probably aliens who visited our ancestors and taught them how to make beer, just excuse yourself from the table and head to the kitchen. Everyone will think you are polite and want to avoid confrontation, but you’ll actually be making a little hat out of aluminum foil. A hat to place on their heads when you come back out. A ﬁst ﬁght will probably ensue. But your legacy will be secure. Your great grandkids will be telling their grandkids stories about how bold and fun Pap-Pap was. You’ll never be forgotten because legends never die.

Happy New Year, Pap-Pap.

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@belmarinnovations.com . Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that ﬂ y doing in my soup? http://whatﬂ yinmysoup.com

Traveling With Your Pet

If You Love Them Like Family, Keep Them Safe Like Family!

We Americans are crazy about our pets, often treating them as beloved family members. We take them with us on local trips and, more and more, on vacation. In fact, 51% of travelers with pets say they would bring their pets along on every vacation if they could, according to a recent AAA/Best Western survey.

But when it comes to keeping them safe while driving, most Americans are not taking the same safety precautions for their animals, especially dogs, as they do for human passengers.

According to a survey by the American Automobile Association, over 80% of dog owners drive with their pets in the car. Yet only 16% of people use proper safety restraints.

This poses signiﬁcant threats to both pets and humans. A loose dog can:

• Distract the driver.

• Be hurt or killed by an airbag.

• Be harmed by debris in the road if it hangs its head out the window.

• Interfere with the gear shift, pedals, or steering wheel.

• Exacerbate a road accident.

• Hamper emergency responders’ actions during an accident (refusing to let ﬁ rst responders near a victim).

These dangers also apply to cats, although it’s more likely that a cat will start out in some sort of carrier.

Consider this: In a car crash at 35 miles per hour, an unrestrained dog becomes a 2,700-pound projectile, with enough force to kill both the dog and human occupants.

If the unthinkable happens and you’re in an accident, the proper restraint can save your life and your pet’s life, and it can keep pets safe and restrained at the site. We’ve all read stories of animals surviving a crash unrestrained, only to be lost after running from the scene, terriﬁed.

While none of this is pleasant to think about, vehicles are not designed for animal safety, so owners must be responsible for providing safety features for pets.

There are several available means of restraint. All require the animal to be in the back seat or cargo area.

1. Crate or kennel. One of the safer ways for your dog to travel, provided the crate is very sturdy and secured in place. If your crate is in the cargo area, be sure your car’s crumple zone is not. Harnesses or seat belts secure it in the back seat. A crate should be sized appropriately to minimize injury if the pet is thrown against the sides of the crate.

2. Car harness. A car harness ﬁts like regular harnesses but is made to withstand an accident. Wide straps and padding in the chest can help provide extra protection from impact. Also, the tether should be short to lessen the distance the dog can be thrown.

3. Car seat. Dog car seats and booster seats are designed for small dogs, much like a child booster seat. Seats should attach securely to a car's seat belts with a harness that attaches securely to the dog. If there is a leash clasp, do not hook this to a dog’s neck collar due to risk of strangulation.

4. Car barrier. These block oﬀ a section of the car behind the front seats or the back seats in SUVs to keep a dog out of the front seat. They can minimize distraction (60% of Americans say they have been distracted by their dog while driving.) They may also prevent a dog from becoming a projectile in a crash. Still, they may collapse at impact and are not considered as safe as a harness or crate.

No matter which restraint or combination you select, do your research! There is no government entity devoted to testing pet restraints, but one pet owner whose dog was injured due to an ineﬀective restraint, Lindsey Wolko, founded the Center for Pet Safety. The CPS uses the same federal standard as child-restraint systems as its guide for testing dog restraints. For more information on their methodology and products tested, go to www. CenterforPetSafety.com

For cats, the number one safety restraint is a carrier.

• The carrier should be strong, durable yet lightweight. Hard-sided carriers are safest for car travel.

• Your cat should be able to stand up and move around inside the carrier, but don’t make it too large.

• There should be multiple entries, such as a front door and top door. It is also easier to check on the cat if the carrier has a top-loading system.

• It must be well-ventilated.

The Center for Pet Safety recommends placing small cat carriers on the ﬂoor behind the passenger or driver seat. Unless you are absolutely sure about the structural integrity of the cat carrier, don’t place it on the back seat.

If you place it on the back seat, strap a seatbelt around the carrier to make it more stable and secure. It will also ensure that the carrier doesn’t fly off if you need to make a hard brake. You can get an additional seatbelt especially for securing cat carriers on the seat. You may use blankets, towels, or other items to help secure the carrier more tightly in the space, as long as it doesn’t impede ventilation. Our pets bring love and joy into our lives, and more and more Americans are including their pets in everyday and vacation travel. While it may take more time and effort, we should make sure they are as safe and comfortable as any family member when we travel.

Sources:

AAA/Best Western Survey Reveals Top Needs Among Pet Travelers; Dog Expert Millan Oﬀers Hotel Etiquette Tips | AAA SoCal

The Statistics: Car Safety and Pets in America

We Need to Talk About Keeping Dogs Safe in Cars

Automobile Safety for Dogs: Car Restraints

13 Essential Tips for Traveling With Cats in Car Long Distance - Petful

How to Keep Cat Safe in Car: Step by Step Guide - VIVO Pets

About the Author: Lisa Velenovsky is an Alexandria, VA, resident, animal lover and King Street Cats volunteer.

PETS OF THE MONTH

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria 4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304 703-838-4774

www.alexandriaanimals.org

Animal Welfare League of Arlington 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive Arlington, VA 22206 703-931-9241 www.awla.org

Fairfax County Animal Shelter 4500 West Ox Road Fairfax, VA 22030 703-830-1100

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter

King Street Cats 25 S. Dove Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-231-7199

www.kingstreetcats.org

Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. (Dog rescue for VA, MD, DC, and south central PA) P.O. Box 90813 Alexandria, VA 22309 703-344-7320 ophrescue.org

Friends of Rabbits www.friendsofrabbits.org

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary (1300 animals and 22 species on 450 acres) P.O. Box 1357 Orange, VA 22960 540-854-0870 By appointment: tours@rikkisrefuge.org events@rikkisrefuge.org www.rikkisrefuge.org

Astro

Kipsie

Ike

alexandriaanimals.org

Mon-Tu-Th-Fri, 12-7 pm

Astro is a 7-year-old, 96-pound big ol' boy looking for a home for the pawlidays. Astro is an A+ cuddler and is exceptionally sweet and affectionate. We know from his previous guardian that he is house trained, knows cues for sit, shake and fetch, and has done wonderfully around kids. Astro loves to play fetch and chase tennis balls. Astro is working very hard on his leash manners and clicker training. He's a staff favorite!

Kipsie is an almost 2-year-old male dog who weighs 75 pounds. Kipsie has a beautiful brindle coat and a glimmering personality. Kipsie is de nitely a people pup who is extremely friendly with everyone he meets. He adores playing with other dogs and knows some cues, like sit. He is a great leash walker -- very easygoing! We know from his previous guardian that he has lived in a home harmoniously with other dogs, kids and even cats.

Ike is a young male looking for a patient, loving family. We don't know much about Ike's past, but do know he was found as a stray animal with another dog and both of them were underweight. Ike can be very shy when meeting new people, but is gentle. He would love a quiet home that can provide him with the comfort and space needed to acclimate to a new environment. We promise this sweet and handsome boy is worth a little extra work.

Drugstore Junkie

Every January as we usher in a new year, our wallets look forward to a break from a busy holiday season of gift shopping, travel expenses, and expensive restaurants. Now is the time to revisit the pricey cosmetics counter alternative and bring out your inner beauty warrior. It never hurts to break your beauty regimen for the more affordable drugstore versions of your favorite must-have staples. While you'll get no argument from me that treating yourself to an expensive eye shadow or high-end moisturizer every once in a while is a female prerogative well worth exercising, pricey beauty products used on a daily basis add up. January is the time to tighten our belts and start saving where we can, so it’s just plain smart to explore what worthwhile, effective products your local drugstore offers. Whether you run out last minute, need to cut back on spending this month, or are simply tired of dropping fifty bucks every time you run out of bronzer (be strong—the packaging on some of the upscale brands are hard to resist, I know), drugstores really do have some great products that will help you save and keep you (and your wallet) looking great. Here's a mere sampling across the beauty product spectrum of what your local drugstore has waiting for a smart, savvy beauty consumer like you. Onward and upward, Drugstore Junkie!

Mascara:

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Blasting Mascara, $9 vs. DiorShow Mascara, $33

If you love DiorShow mascara for its renowned cult following and the glam catwalk lashes it produces, consider Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Blasting mascara as an affordable alternative. It’s almost a quarter of the price and provides the same sexy, fringed effect. Typically, I prefer to save and invest in quality cosmetics, but mascara is the one product I refuse to blow my cash on. I love Covergirl’s Lash Blast mascara for its innovative brush and rich black pigment. The patentpending brush is designed to maximize and individually defi ne each lash, leaving you with big, flirty doe eyes. Unlike most other mascaras on the market, Lash Blast's brush is made up of sturdy, miniscule rubber cones that won’t give you sticky, clumped tarantula lashes. The formula boosts volume overall, and you can pile on coat after coat without a single unsightly clump. Also available in a waterproof formula.

Face Scrub:

skin. For a product I use daily, four dollars is a bargain, especially when compared to an expensive alternative like Philosophy.

Tinted Lip Balm:

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm, $6 vs. Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm, $18.75

In the bitter cold months of winter, smart beauty girls keep a lip balm on them at all times. I keep one in my purse, backpack, car, and nightstand, and have a handful of backups just in case—chapped lips are not a cute look. If you like to add a subtle punch to your pout, tinted lip balms are excellent for achieving the perfect dose of sheer color while moisturizing dry lips. Clinique’s Chubby Stick is a beautiful crayon-like option, but rings in at a whopping $18.75. For the same look at nearly half the price, try Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm. It is 100% natural and nourishes your lips with shea butter and botanical waxes, while adding a hint of soft shine and a smooch of sheer color in six ﬂattering shades. Smells yummy, too.

Shampoo

: John Frieda Luxurious Volume Full Clarity Purifying Shampoo, $10 vs. Phytovolume Maximizing Volume Shampoo, $20

Shampoo is another product I can't get too worked up about. I want something that smells fresh and cleans my hair and scalp thoroughly—no point in splurging on something you wash right down the drain. For a standard shampoo for normal hair, my favorite is the John Frieda Luxurious Volume Full Clarity Purifying Shampoo. The smell is amazing—light, fresh, clean, and summery, and your hair's texture will be transformed. My hair is instantly more voluminous, and fullness is restored at the roots for a lifted, healthy bounce. This shampoo gently removes any built-up residue, so it’s perfect when preparing your hair for greater volume when styling. You get salon-quality fullness and volume for a mere six bucks, unlike pricier options that claim to accomplish the same results, like Phytovolume’s Maximizing Volume Shampoo, nearly four times the price!

Anti-Aging Serum:

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum, $27 vs. Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum, $66

St. Ives Apricot Scrub, $3 vs. Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, $30

If I could only choose one product from my bathroom to use every day for the rest of my life, it would be St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub. Nothing leaves my skin feeling softer or more refreshed while also resurfacing my complexion. Unlike some expensive brands with a scant amount of scrubbers, the creamy, gritty consistency of this scrub provides dull skin with a luminescent, polished ﬁ nish for a sixth of the cost. The scrub really washes the day oﬀ, yet is gentle enough for everyday use and won’t dry out your skin. You’ll love the invigorating earthy, nutty scent. It's also available in a gentler formula for sensitive skin as well as a formula for acne prone

It’s no secret that anti-aging products are ridiculously overpriced, so this is one product you’ll defi nitely want to peruse the drugstore for. If you do your research, you’ll fi nd that most drugstore anti-aging products contain the same ingredients as their pricier department store competitors. For a reasonably priced option, try Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum. This serum penetrates deep into the skin’s surface to deliver a youth cocktail of super concentrated amino-peptides and B3 complex. The formula absorbs quickly and isn’t greasy, and provides hydration that softens fi ne lines and wrinkles to improve skin’s overall look and texture. Olay offers a product that truly makes skin more radiant, bright, and fi rm for a bargain price, especially when compared to Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum, nearly double the cost.

The Annual Pep Talk

Do you have a New Year’s Resolution? Well, if you’re like most, you have at least one resolution, and, if you are like the majority of these promise-makers, your resolution is probably related to health and ﬁtness. While resolutions are well-intentioned, unfortunately most people fail at keeping them. With all the hype surrounding these promises, it’s easy to get caught up in them without really taking them seriously.

We live in a throw-away society and even our resolutions, I’m afraid, are not immune. However, especially for promises that include improving our health it’s in our best interest to not take them lightly.

So, what’s the secret to successful resolutions? While you can’t wave a magic wand and make your resolution come true, there are some easy steps to take to make it easier to fulﬁll your promise to yourself.

Choose an obtainable goal. Resolving to look like a super model is not realistic for the majority of us, but promising to include daily physical activity in our lives is very possible.

Avoid choosing a resolution that you’ve been unsuccessful at achieving year after year. This will only set you up for failure, frustration and disappointment. If you are still tempted to make a promise that you’ve made before, then try altering it. For example, instead of stating that you are going to lose 30 pounds, try promising to eat healthier and increase your weekly exercise.

Create a game plan. At the beginning of January, write a comprehensive plan. All successful businesses start with a business plan that describes their mission and speciﬁcs on how they will achieve it. Write your own personal plan and you’ll be more likely to succeed as well.

Break it down and make it less intimidating. Rather than one BIG end goal, dissect it into smaller pieces. Set several smaller goals to achieve throughout the year that will help you to reach the ultimate goal. Then even if you aren’t able to reach your fi nal goal, you will have many smaller, but still significant, achievements along the way. For example, if your goal is to complete a 10K race, your smaller goals could be running a 5K in less than 30 minutes, adding upper and lower body strength training to increase your muscular endurance, and running 2 miles with a personal best completion time. Ask friends and family members to help you so you have someone to be accountable to. Just be sure to set limits so that this doesn’t backfi re and become more irritating than helpful. For example, if you resolve to be more positive ask them to gently remind you when you start talking negatively. Reward yourself with each milestone. If you’ve stuck with your resolution for 2 months, treat yourself to something special. But, be careful of your reward type. If you’ve lost 5 pounds, don’t give yourself a piece of cake as an award.

Instead, treat yourself to a something non-food related, like a professional massage.

Don’t go it alone! Get professional assistance. Everyone needs help and sometimes a friend just isn’t enough. Sometimes you need the help of a trained professional. Don’t feel that seeking help is a way of copping out. Especially when it comes to ﬁtness, research studies have shown that assistance from a ﬁtness professional greatly improves people’s success rate.

Limit your number of promises. You’ll spread yourself too thin trying to make multiple changes in your life. This will just lead to failure of all of the resolutions.

On average only about 20% of us keep our New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, some of the biggest failures are found in ﬁtness resolutions. But don’t let the statistics get you down. By following the tips above you’ll be better equipped to fall into the successful 20% category.

get a “leg up” in the new decade!

Welcome to 2025 and a brand new half-decade! Hard to believe that I have been penning this column for well over 15 years! Each New Year brings exciting opportunities for all of us, especially in the world of ﬁtness. A few words of advice for sticking with your resolutions: Keep at it, even if you stumble at times. Don’t expect to be perfect. Try to establish a regular routine by getting support from family and friends. Exercising with someone is more fun anyway, so let’s hold each other accountable. With that said, my objective is to provide you with safe, eﬀective exercises that can help you reach your training goals.

This month’s exercise is the Leg Press (also called the Hip Sled). It strengthens all the muscles of the legs and hips, particularly the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus maximus. The leg press is safer than a free-weight squat and can provide much needed back support too. This is a plate-loaded machine meaning that you slide on the weight plates before getting started.

Most machines should have a back support that adjusts to diﬀerent angles. The highest setting provides the most back support. Once you have

adjusted the back support to a comfortable angle, sit down into the seat and place your feet about shoulder-width apart on the foot-plate. Notice how the foot-plate has two diﬀerent angles as

fatigue before ﬁ nishing your reps. Some machines may not have these, but you want to set them so you have about a 90 degree knee angle at the bottom.

To start, push the resistance away from the supports to release them to the side. The legs should be straight but the knees not locked out to keep tension on your muscles (Figure 1). Lower the weight until your knees reach a 90 degree angle. This should take about 2 seconds (Figure 2). Without pausing at the bottom, push the resistance back up until the legs are straight again but remember to avoid locking the knees. You can press the weight up at a faster pace than lowering. Try at least 2 sets of 10 reps. You can begin with a lighter weight for the ﬁ rst set and progress to a heavier resistance in successive sets.

A strong body starts with strong legs! Remember to encourage one another in keeping those New Years ﬁtness resolutions alive. Until next time….

well. I placed my feet towards the top, but you can move them lower to make the quadriceps work harder during the exercise. The last adjustment is the safety stops. These prevent the weight from crashing down on you in case your muscles

About the Author: Unverzagt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wellness Management from Black Hills State University. He is a certiﬁed Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Increase Indoor Garden Success with Proper Watering

Too much of a good thing can mean death for indoor plants. Overwatering is a good example of this and a common problem for indoor gardeners. For others it’s the opposite extreme, allowing plants to go too dry. Knowing when to water your indoor plants can increase gardening success and eliminate the stress of uncertainty.

The ﬁ rst step is to throw away your watering schedule. Start watering plants based on their individual need not the date on the calendar. Consider the type of plant, container material and size as well as other growing conditions.

Get to know your plants by checking the plant tag, online resources and books. Those native to tropical climates or wet soils such as peace lily, baby tears and papyrus prefer moist soil. Plants from drier locations like cacti, succulents, Chinese evergreens, ponytail palm and snake plants do best when the soil dries between watering.

Evaluate the indoor growing conditions. Plants located in bright light and warm homes where the humidity is low lose moisture faster and need more frequent watering. Cooler homes, higher humidity and lower light conditions mean longer stretches between watering plants.

Adjust watering as the seasons change. Shorter, often gray days of winter mean plants dry out more slowly. When the heat and air conditioner

are turned on, the humidity level drops and plants dry out more quickly. Plus, many plants rest in winter and prefer drier soil.

Check plants growing in small pots, breathable terra cotta containers and fast draining growing mixes more often and water as needed. Plants growing in larger containers and those made of plastic, glazed ceramic and similar materials dry out more slowly.

Use your fi nger to determine when plants need to be watered. Stick your fi nger an inch or so below the soil surface of small pots. You’ll need to go a fi nger length deep for larger containers. And for succulents and cacti feel the soil through the drainage holes on the bottom of the pot. Water thoroughly until the excess runs out the drainage holes as needed.

Extend the time between watering with selfwatering pots and watering aids. These have reservoirs that slowly provide water to plants over time. Or amend the soil with a moisture-retaining product like wool pellets (wildvalleyfarms.com). This organic and sustainable product holds 20% of its weight in water and slowly releases it into the soil when needed. The wetting agents in most potting mixes lose eﬀectiveness after a month or two. These pellets continue working long after this, so you’ll be watering less often.

Make watering easy, so it feels like an opportunity to enjoy each individual plant instead of a chore. Use a watering can with a long narrow spout, making it easy to apply water over the entire soil surface and under the leaves and crown of the plant. This reduces the risk of disease that can occur when the top growth remains wet.

Set plants on saucers or trays ﬁlled with pebbles. The excess water collects in the tray and the pebbles elevate the container above the water. This eliminates the need to empty the water that collects and remains in the saucer for more than thirty minutes.

With more experience watering indoor plants, it will become second nature. That means you’ll have more time and opportunity to enjoy and even expand your indoor garden.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Wild Valley Farms for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.

Photo courtesy of Melinda Myers, LLC.

Catch and...

When fish are caught, there’s the possibility they’ll either die due to the angling process or from delayed mortality after being released. These issues are well documented in tournaments. Keeping five fish alive during the tournament day and through the weigh-in process is especially challenging in summer months. This prompted a MD Black Bass Advisory Committee (BBAC) discussion to amend the tournament permit requirements.

Over the past 5 years, there were nearly 2000 permitted tournaments with 23% on the Potomac River. This does not include events launched from Virginia ramps as they aren’t required to obtain a permit from the MD DNR. Noting that nearly half of the MD events occurred during the special ﬁsh care period, June 1- Sept 30, the DNR closely scrutinized events held during that period.

For several years permit guidelines have been complied. Functioning livewells, non-piercing culling devices, no culling of dead fish, and minimum ¼ ounce penalty for dead fish were readily accepted. Additionally, fish had to be transported in water-filled containers to and from the weigh in with a maximum of two minutes of transportation time. When water temperatures exceed 80°, continuous live well circulation with periodic water exchanges are required. Prior to release, fish must be recuperated.

However last June the MD DNR monitored a Potomac tournament. Their data produced some concern. Of 1,375 ﬁsh, 113 were dead at the scale, an 8.2% mortality rate. The Department says this is high, especially when there could have been improved survival with compliance with permit requirements. The BBAC also felt this was high but were concerned that the tournament director reported only 41 dead ﬁsh. This disparity was excessive according to many BBAC members.

This questions the validity of fish mortality reporting as many tournament directors underreport dead fish. If the fish exhibits even the slightest sign of life, it’s recorded as a live fish, even only moments away from expiring. There’s no definitive life or death standard, however such a large discrepancy is concerning. This places more emphasis on delayed mortality studies and

scrutiny on ﬁsh surveys showing reduced ﬁsh populations and smaller year classes.

MD DNR Tidal Black Bass Manager Ryan Gary says extreme conditions, regardless of fish care, would result in an above average mortality rate because of hot air and water. Last June’s tournament exceeded dead fish expectations. Gary points to more weigh in bags being distributed than aerated tanks could handle. It was also noted fish were held in transfer bags more than the required 2 minutes without access to supplemental water, which would provide cooler and more oxygenated water. He says tournament transfer bags were exposed to long periods without exchanging water allowing them to heat up quickly, depleting oxygen. Additionally, some fish bags were not filled with water after weighing and on their way to rehabilitation tanks prior to release, leading to further fish stress.

The Department is suggesting further restrictions possibly based on air temperature triggers, 85, 90, 95 degrees. Ice for tournament live wells will keep water closer to the actual ﬁshery temperature. Earlier 1pm weigh ins will get ﬁsh back in the water before the heat of the day.

While each of these were well received, the BBAC encouraged the department to establish guidelines for limiting flight sizes or bags weighing in to speed the process of returning fish to the water. The BBAC overwhelmingly supported increasing dead fish penalties from ¼ to a ½ pound for each dead fish. It was also suggested that DNR staff or volunteer monitors be assigned to events to ensure permit compliance. It was agreed these procedures will improve fish survival.

The downside to overly restricting tournaments would be discouraging bigger tournament organizations from bringing their events. The BBAC felt dead ﬁsh penalties along with more structured weigh in times and procedures would be acceptable to all tournament organizations for events held from June 1st to September 30th. In 2025 MD permit holders will agree to

only have 3 bags in line, increasing to ﬁve each per 100 gallon aerated tanks.

Questionable dead ﬁsh data collected from tournament directors, due to the subjective evaluation of life, will continue to muddy the waters of tournament impact, especially during the summer months. As the MD DNR continues to ﬁne tune permit requirements, which could be in place for 2025, it remains for tournament directors to take these best practices to heart and implement them.

However, anglers taking care of their fish during the tournament should scrutinize the actions of the tournament director to further protect their fish. If not, anglers need to pressure their tournament organizers to do better or stop fishing in them! And for Virginia tournaments not affected by MD restrictions, it’s time they consider adopting them. It’s important to understand that the fish brought to the scales are the largest in the fishery and once they’re gone, they can’t be replaced.

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass ﬁ shing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide.

Potomac River Bassing in JANUARY

One of the coldest months of the year with water temperatures dropping to 40 degrees, or below! Fish are very depth oriented and located in out of the current areas with steep drops.

and once on the bottom, slightly burp up and semi slack line down. Most bites occur on the drop or ﬁsh will be there when you lift.

Drop shot and split shot rigs can be worked slowly down drops with frequent pauses. Use 2/0 hooks with 3-4 inch green pumpkin worms or swim baits.

Silver Buddy lures are the best way to catch cold water bass, covering depths and areas. Cast on 8 pound test GAMMA Copoly on spinning gear. Allow ½ ounce silver baits to drop

Threading avocado colored stingray grubs on ¼ ounce ball head jigs can be presented with a slow lift, glide and drop. Bites are light, so watch the line.

Look—I get it. December was a ﬂippin’ blast. You ate the cookies, drank the nog, partied like it was ’99, and here you are again simultaneously cursing the concept of an ‘open’ bar and that new bathroom scale that calculates everything from your holiday spending to metric tons of reﬁ ned sugar consumed since December 25 (a lot).

Things are not looking good. You’re afraid to look at your Visa bill, climbing a ﬂight of steps leaves you winded, and your ex just changed his proﬁle picture to include his new “holidate”—apparently, she morphed into a girlfriend between Christmas and New Year’s. How convenient.

Don’t despair—this is your month! Tuck last year where it belongs—in your rearview mirror. Deﬁ nitely not into your jeans—ain’t nothing ﬁtting in there. Don’t despair. January is all about moving forward with a big, fat blank slate. And don’t worry if everything feels big and fat because that’s temporary. It’s winter—you’re supposed to bulk up (at least that’s what I keep telling myself).

So…pull out that new calendar and get to planning! I can practically smell the Sharpie! What day is the

Living Your DREAM Life

Mediterranean diet starting?

Don’t want to start it January 1? That’s like setting yourself up for failure. Can’t do it next week—January birthdays and then the holiday weekend. Move it to February! But there are birthdays in February also, not to mention President’s Day weekend and Valentine’s Day. We’ll ﬁgure it out. Nothing goes better than summer with Mediterranean anything, am I right?

What about joining the gym? Absolutely! Nothing says commitment to health like a gym membership. It’s probably going to be crowded with all those nutty resolution people so should probably postpone that until February as well. But go ahead and sign up to take advantage of the decreased fees. Signing up is half the battle!

Of course, you’ll want to curb your spending after your holiday free-for-all (one present for them, two for me!). But what about the after-Christmas sales? Everyone knows the mark downs are huge. And besides—you have to get out of the house. Staying in is just depressing.

What about dry January? It would be a good idea to back oﬀ the booze a bit. The liquor

cabinet is empty thanks to the New Year’s Day brunch and your wallet does need tightening. But God. Could January be any more depressing? (RIP Chandler). It’s dark by 5:00, cold by anyone’s standards, and BLEAK. Maybe just a few drinks once a week or maybe two short happy hours and an occasional brunch. You can’t just stop being social because it’s cold outside.

You know what you need? A vision board! That’s it. Every dream starts with a vision— and you can’t start planning without one. It’s like trying to ﬁ nd Disney World without a map—errr, I mean GPS. Anyhow, you have to know where you’re going in order to arrive. Now where are all those magazines? Oh right. No one reads magazines any more. What about catalogs? Sorry—cancelled those in last year’s purge. No worries—you can write your dreams and goals in your journal.

Now we’re talking. Where are all those beautiful journals you’ve been hoarding? You know—the ones too pretty to actually write in? Grab one of those—okay, maybe not that ONE—and get started. Close your eyes and think about what you want your

life to look like in 2025. Where are you? Who are you with? Really nail down the specifics. What are you wearing? What do you smell? See? Are you at the beach? Mountains? Do you smell the ocean breeze? What are you doing for work? Are you sitting at a desk or spreading out your mat in a yoga studio? Are you in a conference room sharing ideas with colleagues or sitting at a laptop alone in a coffee shop? What did you drive to the coffee shop? A Jeep? Corvette? Ford F250? What about travel? You know what they say about all work and no play? How will you recharge your batteries and where? Biking through the French countryside? Hiking the Alps? Remember— this is your DREAM, not your current reality. Let ‘er rip! No dream is too big! In reality, you may not be able to afford a plane ticket to Cleveland, but this isn’t reality so go for it! Are you eating a mouthwatering slice of pizza overlooking the Adriatic Sea? Drinking a perfectly drawn Guinness at a pub in Ireland? Or perhaps enjoying a chilled dirty martini before dining al fresco in Cannes?

The world is literally your oyster, and I don’t know

about you, but all this planning is making me hungry and thirsty. Life is short. Drink the Prosecco and eat the tiramisu (in moderation). Dream big always, but be realistic about your goals. Don’t book the Caribbean cruise if it means skipping your rent. Work hard to achieve what you set out to do and reward yourself with some much deserved R&R—even if it’s from the comfort of your living room. You’ve got a blank slate before you called the New Year. Do better than you did last year, but also go easy on yourself. When you make the occasional slip, show yourself some grace. Get back up, dust yourself off, and try again. Remember— the goal is to fi nish the marathon, not win the sprint. Happy New Year from me to you. May your days be merry and bright and filled with peace, joy, and health. And hey—a little wealth wouldn’t hurt either.

About the Author: Lori is a local writer, painter and pet lover who loves to share her experiences and expertise with our readers. She has been penning a column for the OTC for over 20 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this.

Post Holiday Fun in the Harbor!

Seems like the holidays came and went in a record amount of time last year. I didn’t even get half way through the left over bite size Butterﬁ ngers from Halloween and was having to plan my contribution to Thanksgiving Dinner and seems like we just ﬁ nished those leftovers before it was time to get out the cranberries and oranges for my holiday breads. As I write this, New Year’s Eve is only 2 days away. Haven’t even had time to come up for a plan to welcome in 2025!

Looking forward to things slowing down this month. That’s why I thought it would be a good idea to share some activities in the Harbor that don’t require a ton of energy. While I haven’t personally participated in any of the following, I have heard good things about them all. I think they all sound like a good way to have some post-holiday fun either by yourself or with family and friends if you didn’t get enough of them in the last couple of months.

I particularly like that you have the opportunity to have an adult beverage or two at Sip & Develop as well as a selection of several wines and beers along with a nice selection of eats at Paintbar

Sip & Develop

136 Waterfront Street - (833) 747-6338 - www.sipndevelop.com

Learn how to develop old school 35mm black & white film in a fun filled social environment while you enjoy a bottle of wine, a cold beer or two, a mocktail or a choice of several other non-alcoholic beverages. They offer both individual and group events that include: Classes - a unique way to learn about developing film with strangers in a fun-filled social atmosphere. Parties - schedule a private group party with them and enjoy developing photos with everyone you choose to invite.

Darkroom Experiencesenjoy some time to yourself in the darkroom and gain conﬁdence in developing ﬁlm all on your own.

Picture taking tipsgain the knowledge you’ve always wanted when it comes to taking pictures and utilize their professional services for all your picture-taking adventures.

How it works: Choose your activity from their selection of in-house photography, camera sign-out self-photography, film development, or a combination of each. You can even host your own private group event with them or simply reserve the darkroom for your own personal use. Come experience the fi rst Sip & Develop that opened in the United States and discover the joys of film-developing near you!

Thread & Sole 178 Waterfront Street - (301) 500-1180 - www.kineticslabhq.com

This is a one-stop shop for all your customization needs. Thread & Sole is a Do-It-Yourself Apparel Customization Lab oﬀering shoe customization and apparel sewing classes that include embroidery, heat pressing, and custom denim-order sneakers. Want to add a unique twist to garments and shoes

you own or buy something new? They can assist you. They also accept commissions for custom shoes, so feel free to bring in your ideas. Thread & Sole also hosts birthday parties, date nights, team building, and networking events.

Muse Paintbar

122 Waterfront Street - (888) 607-6873 - www.musepaintbar.com

You’ve found the premier paint and sip experience! Muse Paintbar oﬀers unique entertainment for all ages in an inclusive environment where anyone can unwind and explore the artistic process.

Check out their online calendar to view their events and reserve a seat for your favorite painting. Their bar and kitchen will be open when you arrive and are fully stocked with drinks, bar bites, and desserts to keep your inner artist inspired during the event. Follow along with their artist instructors to turn your blank canvas into a work of art. When you’re done, your masterpiece is yours to keep.

Escapology Escape Rooms

230 American Way - (301) 550-1873 - www.escapology.com

Step into Escapology, the pulse-pounding live escape game that challenges your intellect with immersive, fantastic adventures like Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure, A Pirate's Curse and Who Stole Mona? With 60 minutes to ﬁ nd clues, decipher codes, and solve puzzles, you and your team will need creativity, teamwork, and steely resolve to make your escape. Challenges available for all skill levels. What is Escapology? Spoiler: It’s unforgettable.

Escapology is a unique, immersive, and always private escape game where players are gathered inside a themed room and must complete their mission before time runs out. Stepping inside a real-life adventure, they must ﬁ nd hidden clues, crack codes, and solve puzzles to make an escape—all in an hour!

Owner Rashon Robinson