Old Town Crier Full Issue - April 2023

F.

Stephen Bearce

Sarah Becker

Alexander Britel

Kelsey Bonham

Cheryl Burns

Lennox Campello

Steve Chaconas

Carolyn Cockroft

Beth Crabtree

Scott Dicken

Doug Fabbioli

Matt Fitzsimmons

Nicole Flanagan

Alberta Frost

Lani Gering

Miriam Kramer

Lani Gering

Bob Tagert

Meg Mullery

Erin Koons

Genevieve LeFranc

Timothy Long

Bob Matthews

Cindy McGovern

Meg Mullery

Melinda Murphy

Ron Powers

Kim Putens

Julie Reardon

Jaime Stephens

Ashley Stimpson

Bob Tagert

Carl Trevisan

Ryan Unverzagt

Catherine Varchever

Lori Welch Brown

ON THE COVER

“Friends of Mother Nature”– painting by GrammyAward winning artist Jim Warren. Warren is one of the most versatile and successful artists living today. Traditional in the sense that he uses oils on canvas but anything from conventional, Jim creates what he feels – never conforming. The whimsically surreal and amazingly unique creations he paints have inspired artists from around the world. Now considered a “Living Legend of the Art World”, Jim continues to create his unique style of art seen the world over. For more about Jim and his work, visit his website at JimWarren.com of follow him on Facebook @Jim Warren Art.

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC Life on the Farm!

Nothing like a little before-school reading while waiting for the bus to come by. Pictured here is our very own Lani Gering’s great nephew – she says he is “great” on all counts, not just her nephews son – Mason Unverzagt, checking out the fruit of his aunts labor during her recent stay on the farm in southeastern Wyoming with the family. The Old Town Crier shows up in the most unusual places.

If you would like to see your photo featured here, just take the Old Town Crier with you on your next adventure and pick a fun place to snap a photo or two and send it, along with information for the caption to office@oldtowncrier.com.

Happenings Around Town – APRIL 2023

FESTIVALS, NEW PUBLIC ART, CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND MORE IN ALEXANDRIA, VA

As the weather warms and cherry blossoms take center stage, springtime events abound in Alexandria, Virginia, located minutes from Washington, D.C., on the Potomac River and voted a Travel + Leisure Best Place to Travel in 2023 and a Condé Nast Traveler Best Small City in the U.S. 2022. Spring brings fresh happenings including a new waterfront public art installation, Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson. The annual Old Town Alexandria Historic Homes & Gardens Tour, part of the 90th Historic Garden Week in Virginia. Al fresco festivals include the Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival in John Carlyle Square and the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style on King Street. A new Del Ray Dog Fest joins the waterfront ALX Dog Walk for a canine theme in April. Cherry blossom-themed offerings, art and history events round out one of Alexandria’s most beautiful seasons.

For more spring events and activities in Alexandria, see the listings below and learn more at VisitAlexandria.com/Spring .

FEATURED APRIL EVENTS

March came in like a lion and is going out like a lamb with above average temps and normal breezes. It looks like April will be our spring!

Let’s take a look at some of what we have inside this issue:

Join us on our Road Trip this month to the greening of the mountains, while Open Space Lori Welch Brown is confronted with April Showers and May Flowers. We celebrate Earth Day on the 22nd. You can read about this year’s theme in this month’s special feature and To the Blue Ridge Julie Reardon tells you how to Stop and Smell the Roses.

THROUGH NOVEMBER

Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson

Admission: Free Waterfront Park

1A Prince Street

visitalexandriava.com/public-art

In late March, Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson was unveiled as the fifth temporary public art installation on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront, part of the City of Alexandria’s site. Created by Jamaican-born, awardwinning artist Nina Cooke John of Studio Cooke John, the installation is inspired by the ships uncovered on Alexandria’s waterfront in 2015 and 2018. The installation forms an abstracted ship’s hull with steel vertical elements that rise and bend, referencing the curve of the hull’s frame. Visitors can stand within the space and imagine a time in Alexandria’s history when the ships carried not only cargo like tobacco, molasses, rum and limes, but also enslaved people who were traded as part of the transatlantic and domestic slave trades. The outer blue of the installation is contrasted with an orange inner surface depicting text pulled from ships’ manifests listing items like herring, coconuts and gin, alongside names and descriptions of enslaved people, such as “Jane Tailor, female, 5’ 2”.” Also listed are “two boxes of oranges” and “Admonia Jackson.”

APRIL 15TH

90th Old Town Alexandria Historic Homes & Gardens Tour

10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Admission: $55 per person

Begins at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Rectory

Overlooking the Potomac and within minutes of our nation’s capital, Alexandria was the third city in the country to create a historic district to preserve its downtown. Part of Historic Garden Week in Virginia, this walking tour includes private townhomes and secluded gardens located along the tree lined streets of the historic district, boutique shopping, and fine dining, which are all just steps away. In addition, the tour ticket allows access to two Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects, George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens and Green Springs Gardens, along with other local places of interest. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.com.

THROUGH APRIL 8TH

March150 Art Exhibition

Admission: Free

Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street 703-746-4570  torpedofactory.org

Torpedo Factory Art Center’s annual exhibition and art sale returns for the 13th year featuring more than 100 works of art priced at $150 by local artists in the Target Gallery. Each piece of artwork is sized at 10” x 10”.

APRIL 1ST

“The Grandest Congress”: The French and Indian War in Alexandria

12 to 4 p.m.

Admission: Free; $5 suggested donation Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax Street 703-549-2997  novaparks.com

Winemaker Doug Fabbioli takes a look at what locally grown wines might work for this spring in Exploring VA Wines and discover five new Virginia wineries with Matt Fitzsimmons in Grapevine. Keeping with the adult beverage category, Let’s Get Crafty Tim Long tells us his favorite place to take his growler.

In High Notes Ron Powers goes retro with “She Drives Me Crazy”! With all of the hullabaloo about library censorship, Sarah Becker celebrates National Library Week in A Bit of History Last Word’s Miriam Kramer meets the author and the subject of the book she read on her way to Table Mountain, South Africa –Trevor Noah. Scott Dicken takes us truck overlanding in Africa in his Take Photos, Leave Footprints column.

It appears that spring is finally upon us. Outdoor dining in Old Town will get into full swing and the tourists will start pouring in. Hopefully folks driving through Old Town will slow down a bit and also quit drifting through stop signs and pedestrians need to look both ways when crossing a street and not at their cell phones. Let’s all be safe out there and remember to wear white or a light color at night.

The cherry blossoms will be on their way out early this month so if you haven’t taken a gander at them you still have some time. Be sure to take extra care of Mother Earth on the 22nd and if you celebrate it, have a very Happy Easter!

411 Duke Street vagardenweek.org/tours

Credit: Lee Moody

Credit: M Enriquez, Visit Alexandria

Stay Up to Date

In 1755, Major General Edward Braddock, Commander-inChief of His Majesty’s Forces in North America, lodged at Carlyle House. While staying at Carlyle House, he convened a meeting of five colonial governors. One of Braddock’s objectives was to secure funding for his upcoming campaign against the French. Carlyle called this gathering “the Grandest Congress … ever known on the Continent.” Visitors to the Carlyle House will experience Braddock’s visit and the French and Indian War firsthand through costumed interpreters.

APRIL 2ND

Del Ray Dog Fest

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free

George Washington Middle School Parking Lot 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue visitdelray.com

Del Ray Dog Fest is a springtime festival celebrating dogs, their owners and the Del Ray community. This fun outdoor event which will include dog-centered activities, doggie menu items, live music and vendors and will be capped with Yappy Hour specials along the Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. The event is dog friendly and will take place outdoors, rain or shine.

APRIL 22ND

Discovering Alexandria Architecture

Walking Tour

10:00 AM

Admission: $20 per person  Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street 703-549-2997  novaparks.com

Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join for a tour of Alexandria and explore the various architectural styles that adorn the city streets. Reservations are required as space is limited. Please wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5-hour guided tour. Tours are held rain or shine unless there is severe weather.

APRIL 14TH

The Late Shift Art Night: Cherry Blossom Jubilee

7 to 10 p.m.

Admission: Free

Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union Street 703-746-4590 torpedofactory.org

In partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Torpedo Factory Art Center invites visitors to explore the celebrated cherry blossoms through art demonstrations, music and interactive activities among three floors of open studios and galleries.

15TH

Garden Day Tours at Carlyle House

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free, suggested $5 donation towards garden restoration  Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street (703) 549-2997  novaparks.com

Enjoy open house-style tours of the garden at Carlyle House as part of the Historic Garden Week in Virginia. Experts will be on site to answer questions about working within the confines of a historic garden in an ever-changing climate. Tours are continuous throughout the day. No reservations are required.

APRIL 22ND THROUGH JULY 15TH

Alexander D’Agostino: “A Shrine for the Forgotten” Exhibition

Admission: Free  Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street 703-746-4570  torpedofactory.org

Baltimore-based solo artist exhibition recipient, Alexander D’Agostino, presents “A Shrine for the Forgotten.” The work explores queer histories and images, through performance, installation, and reclaiming material from queer archives and other cultural resources related to the historic marginalization of LGBTQ people.

APRIL 22ND THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace at Carlyle House 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street 703-549-2997  novaparks.com

Join an hour-long gentle flow yoga class on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace. You will build heat with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and, finally, relaxation. Please bring water, a towel and a yoga mat and wear comfortable yoga wear.

APRIL 23RD

Mad Science Apothecary Tour

1 to 5 p.m.

Admission: $8 per person

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum 105-107 S. Fairfax Street 703-746-3852

Come to the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum to explore where real science and mad science collide. 45-minute tours start every 30 minutes and feature historic medicines with surprising side effects. Upstairs, meet the museum’s very own mad scientist bringing to life some crazy concoctions and the science behind them. Children must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket.

PNC Parkway Classic

5K begins at 7:30 a.m.; 10-miler begins at 8 a.m.; Kid’s Dash begins at 10:30 a.m.

Admission: $85 for 10-miler and $45 for 5K and $50 for both virtual races; $20 for Kid’s Dash  Old Town Alexandria parkwayclassic.com

Lace up your running shoes for the 2023 PNC Parkway Classic. The Parkway Classic 5K course starts and finishes at Oronoco Bay Park with a scenic and one-of-a-kind course through historic Old Town, Alexandria. Meanwhile, the 10-miler starts at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and finishes at Oronoco Bay Park with a scenic point-to-point course down the George Washington Memorial Parkway and through Old Town. Virtual options are available for 5K and 10-miler. The exciting 600-meter Kid’s Dash is designed for kids 12 and under (one parent is welcome to run alongside their little ones; no registration required). Each Dash participant will receive a special race bib and a finisher medal. There will be a limited number of Kid’s Dash spots, so register early.

APRIL 29TH ALX Dog Walk

8 to 11 a.m.

Admission: Free  Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison Street  703-717-3672  alxdogwalk.com

Walkers and dogs alike can enjoy a two-mile walk down historic Union Street and return to the park along the beautiful waterfront walk for the awards celebration of music, prizes, treats, kids’ activities, dog fun and much more. Each registered walker receives a goody bag, packed with sustainable items, a t-shirt, one free raffle ticket for incredible prizes and a dog bandana.

Photo by Matt Smith for Visit Alexandria

How to Manage Cash vs. Borrowing When Interest Rates Rise

We all use credit in our daily lives, whether it’s to help optimize cash flow, create tax efficiencies, or make purchases. A risinginterest-rate environment could be a good time to take a closer look at liquidity strategies and other forms of borrowing.

Using cash versus borrowing

It could make sense to pay cash instead of borrowing in some instances. Let’s say you have a fair amount of cash and are not planning to invest it in the market. That could be a good solution for buying a car or a house, paying for a child’s education, or expanding a business.

Amid higher interest rates, paying cash could be a better option than securing a longterm loan to buy a costly item.

“Increased rates may also impact purchasing power for bigger-ticket items (such as homes, boats, and airplanes) traditionally financed over longer periods,” says Brian Singsank, senior lead wealth custom lending specialist, Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management. “It’s important to evaluate your balance sheet and wealth plan to make sure they are aligned to help meet upcoming liquidity needs.”

Also, if you have an existing variable-rate loan, such as an adjustable-rate mortgage or line of credit, that rate could go up, resulting in higher interest costs.

“If it’s still a long-term funding need, when interest rates are rising could be the time to evaluate,” Singsank says.

Whatever you decide, timing can be critical. Your investment planners can help you decide on what is best for your current situation. Discuss credit and liquidity needs with your advisors

“Be proactive when interest rates change,” says Singsank. “Consider reviewing your

wealth plan and related credit and liquidity needs with your banker, advisor, your CPA, and even an estate-planning specialist.”

Singsank recommends starting those conversations by sharing your answers to these basic questions:

How much in assets would you be willing to liquidate and why?

Are you debt-averse?

Would you consider alternatives to liquidating your current cash reserves in order to meet your financial needs?

Based on your balance-sheet leverage, what is your exposure to rising interest rates?

Are you comfortable with the amount you’re paying or may have to pay to service your variable interest payments in a rising-rate environment?

As part of working toward your financial goals, do you anticipate upcoming borrowing or liquidity needs?

“Once you’ve answered these questions,” says Singsank, “you should better understand whether you need to make changes to your wealth plan, including liquidity and other borrowing strategies, to help meet your financial goals.”

Residential Mortgages offered through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Wells Fargo Bank, NA. NMSLR ID 399801. Equal Housing Lender. 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 PresidentInvestments 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 non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2023 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

Libraries Are Still cool.

Why we celebrate National Library Week

The American Library Association [ALA] celebrates National Library Week April 23-29. Did you know Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]—author of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Minister to France, first Secretary of State, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia—was fascinated with books? The ALA’s 2023 theme: There’s more to the Story.

“Books are boring,” the green frog said. “Dude, books are fascinating,” the orange frog replied. The frogs were discussing Newbury medalist Kwame Alexander’s Surf’s Up. Libraries offer not only children’s and big print books, audio and e-books but also story times and book clubs, programs and lectures.

“A little attention to the nature of the human mind evinces that the entertainments of fiction are useful,” Jefferson wrote in 1771. “[E]very thing is useful which contributes to fix us in the principles and practice of virtue,” i.e. moral excellence.

“More patrons check out fiction than nonfiction,” Brack Stovall Duncan Library Branch Manager agreed. “I cut my teeth on science fiction.” He now enjoys environmental fiction, books like Kim Stanley Robinson, Jennifer Fitzgerald, et.al.’s 2019 Pulitzer prize-winning The Overstory. Also The Ministry for the Future by Robert Powell [2020].

Alexandria’s Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library [KWBB] received a six-month 2020-2021 American Library Association Resilient Communities grant to educate patrons concerning global climate change: to “highlight issues of environmental justice, sustainability, and emergency preparedness.” The local takeaway, flooding.

“Climate change is the one thing we’re all experiencing,” Megan Zimmerman KWBB adult services librarian conceded. “Twenty percent of Alexandria city is located on a floodplain and in recent years rainstorms have become more severe, causing homes and businesses to flood.” Examples include the Old Town Alexandria waterfront and the West Street Braddock Metro.

“With the detonation of Trinity in the New Mexico desert in 1945, the United States took control of Earth’s destiny for the first time,” Douglas Brinkley’s nonfiction book Silent Spring Revolution explains. “Not only was nuclear fallout a public health menace, but radioactive materials contaminated entire ecosystems…Prosperity [post WWII] came at a heavy cost: oceans began to die, wilderness vanished, the insecticide DDT poisoned ecosystems, wildlife perished, and chronic smog blighted major cities.”

Ecology as defined by the American Heritage dictionary: “The study of the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; the science of the relationships between organisms and their environments.”

“[E]very child in America…[every American] should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice,” Noah Webster penned in 1788. Recommended environmental children’s books include: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss [3-7 years, 1971]; We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom [3-7 years, 2020] and teen pick, ages 12-16, The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go From Here by Hope Jahren [2021].

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello library was well

organized. He could “not live without books.”

Jefferson selected his books carefully: mostly from the three categories English philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626) referenced in The Advancement of Learning: Memory, Reason, and Imagination Reason: “The capacity for logical, rational and analytic thought.”

As of 1783 Thomas Jefferson arranged his library books on the basis of: History, Philosophy, and Fine Arts. His Fine Arts section included Thomas Payne’s Observations on Gardening [1770]; Religion: David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, et.al, A Philosophical Survey of Nature [1763]; Law: Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England beginning 1765; Natural Philosophy/ Natural History: J. Nourse’s A Compendium of Physic & Surgery [1769]; Education: John Locke’s Some Thoughts Concerning Education [1693]; Modern History: Lord Clarendon’s History of the [British] Rebellion [1720] and William Stith’s History of Virginia [1747].

Jefferson’s book, Notes on the State of Virginia [1785] “is at once a compendium of information about the state and a sweeping commentary on natural history, society, politics, education, religion, slavery, liberty, and law,” Encyclopedia Virginia clarified.

The Alexandria Library Company, in existence since 1794, now celebrates its 229th year. The Company is “one of the oldest continuously operating social libraries in the United States.” The Company, the private library’s first librarian: Quaker and Alexandria apothecary Edward Stabler [17691831].

“From the latter part of 1789 to the close of 1791…Edward Stabler’s leisure hours were mostly employed in the acquisition of knowledge of various kinds,” son William Stabler wrote. “He read all that he could meet with; which he thought likely to be improving, whether literary, scientific, historical or religious.”

“Endowed by nature with a clear, comprehensive, and discriminating mind, capable of weighting evidence,” son Stabler continued, “his first step, in the conclusion of such a mind, was to embrace the Truth in the love of it.”

Edward Stabler favored non-fiction books. Books like Quaker Elias Hicks’ Observation on the Slavery of the Africans and Their Descendants, and on the Use of the Produce of their Labour [1811]. And Mr. Benjamin Franklin’s Experiments and Observations on Electricity: Made at Philadelphia in America [1751].

Brack Stovall was not surprised Jefferson had a library. “During the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson heard that British troops…burned the Capitol and, with it the government’s library [the Library of Congress],” author Cheryl Harness wrote. “Thomas, who believed that only an educated people could fully take part in democracy, offered his beloved collection [of 6,487 books] to the nation.”

This spring the Library of Congress is presenting a series of concerts including chamber music, jazz, dance, and film events. Also conversations with artists and composers: curated displays and educational projects that will provide opportunities for encounters with the Library’s “unparalleled music collections.”

A contemporary fictional favorite: Toni Morrison’s novel Jazz Alexandria’s public library system dates mostly from the 20th century. The Charles E. Beatley, Jr., Central Library opened in 2000. Del Ray’s James M. Duncan Branch opened in 1969. The westerly Ellen C. Burke Branch in 1968: Old Town’s Kate Waller Barrett Branch in 1937, the Alexandria Room circa 1954. The Library’s tangled history of integration is tied to expansion. The Law Library was only recently acquired.

“Literature is such an important part of our understanding of culture, especially our value system,” Stovall continued. Said Saatchi & Saatchi in 1999: “The defining value for Generation Y [1981-1996]—the first generation to grow up in the digital age—is the importance of staying connected in order to grow.” The result: marketers build brands with them rather than for them.

Stovall’s favorite era: “The 19th century gave birth to all the different ideas we are facing today, the battle between good and evil especially,” he a Baby Boomer [1946-1964] concluded. Brack referenced the Civil War; the Lost Cause, Capitalism and the Gilded Age. Books like historian Jon Meacham’s And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle [2022] and Grant by Ron Chernow [2017].

“Today more than ever we need to ask: where is the dividing line between objectivity and subjectivity,” Stovall concluded. “We always need to question where subjectivity comes from and I think that literature allows us to understand another point of view; to

begin conversations which include different ideas.”

Earth Day 2023 is Saturday, April 22. The theme: Invest in Our Planet. “Investing in a green economy is the only path to a healthy, prosperous, and equitable future,” earthday.org proclaims. “Human influence is unequivocally to blame for the warming of the planet and the sad truth is some forms of climate disruption will be felt for centuries to come.”

Since October 2020 the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library has sponsored 64—zoom and in person—environmental programs. The Library like others wants you to know the facts. Zimmerman’s environmental book pick: David Pogue’s How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos

Whatever the subject the Alexandria Library stands ready to serve. The choice of Day is yours: come any day, on Earth Day, or during National Library Week. “The Library strives to be kind, to treat everyone equally,” Stovall smiled.

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen [2009] tops Parker A. Poodle, my Reading Education Assistance Dog’s list of reader requested books. According to the New York Times “about a third of children in America’s youngest grades are missing reading benchmarks. In Virginia, one study found that early reading skills were at a 20-year low.”

“Reading,” as my friend Betty Wright used to say, “is Fundamental.” Visit your local library, maybe Beatley Library’s Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden and Imagine!

Columnist’s Replies: On February 28, 2023, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin [D-MD] and Lisa Murkowski [R-Alaska] testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding S.J. Res. 4—their resolution to remove the arbitrary 1982 deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment [ERA]. Senator Dick Durbin [D-IL] chaired the hearing, the Senate’s first hearing on the ERA since 1984. Will they succeed? OTC, We’ve Come a Long Way Ladies, March 2023.

Congress enacted the first widely restrictive immigration law in 1917. The Act implemented a literacy test. It also “allowed immigration officials to exercise discretion in making decisions over whom to exclude.”

Implementation of Alexandria’s 2020 Zoning for Housing Initiative/Housing For All began March 20-21, 2023. The two Initiatives “support the city’s commitment to housing production and affordability; the continuing emphasis on people of color and/or low income.” De facto segregation is defined as….?

The Complicated History of Immigration in America, Feb. 2023.

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

John Crouch Tobacconist –Another Old Town Icon

When I started the Old Town Crier in January of 1988, John Crouch Tobacconist was an established business in the 100 block of King Street. Over the years, as Old Town grew, the need for more space became more urgent. In the early 90’s the shop moved to their current location at 215 King Street. On February 1, 2022, the team of Tom Readmond, Dennis Polio and John Pann took over ownership of the iconic Old Town landmark and it remains the oldest continuous operating smoke shop in Alexandria.

Recently the trio rolled up their shirt sleeves and gave the interior and humidor a complete makeover. Although the layout is much the same, the organization of the whole store has improved and their product is better displayed. In addition to updating the interior, they have also changed the logo, pictured here, and will soon implement it on all future marketing endeavors.

The humidor has new lighting so the selection of cigars are more easily observed, making your selection easier. Pann continues to seek out new lines of cigars that his customers may be looking for or that he might recommend. With over 200 brands and 10,000 cigars, the current selection is pretty good to begin with.

If you really don’t know which cigar might suit you best, ask John, Tom or Dennis for a recommendation. I let John pick out some each month so I can try something new, however, I also ask for my favorites as well. The service and knowledge of the folks at John Crouch is unmatched.

With the first phase of changes made, the trio of owners will continue to improve elsewhere. They have recently started offering offsite cigar themed events where they supply the cigars and help educate attendees. “Let us know and we can be there with cigars at your party,” says John. They already have several venues in the area on a monthly basis. In house, they have rearranged and enlarged their seating capacity so you can sit for a spell and enjoy a cigar and some good company. They are always updating their inventory with new established lines as well as boutique cigars. They also carry rare and limited release cigars.

In addition to fine cigars, John Crouch also carries an assortment of pipes and accompanying fresh tobacco blends. While I haven’t smoked a pipe in quite some time, John Crouch has one of my all-time favorites - the Cobble Stone blend. It has a very pleasant, as well as distinctive, aroma. My former partner Dave smoked it on a regular basis when he was trying to cut down on cigarettes and he always said that the ladies he encountered over the years like the aroma as well.

The shop also carries a selection of cigarettes as well as all of the accessories needed to keep your choice of tobacco lit and stored - lighters, humidors, pipe stands, etc.

Visit an Old Town original at John Crouch Tobacco Shop…and yes, there really was a John Crouch. He was the original owner 50 years ago. Stop in for a great smoke and conversation.

CROUCH TOBACCONIST

Tom Readmond

Dennis Polio

She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals

This month I’ll be discussing one of my favorite pop songs of all time. In the late 1980s, the British band Fine Young Cannibals burst onto the pop music scene with their smash hit single “She Drives Me Crazy.” With its monster drum sounds, catchy chorus, and genius percussive hooks, the song quickly climbed to the top of the charts in both the UK and the US. Not only did this song bring the band huge success but it cemented the band’s place in music history and help define the sound of a decade.

As the opening beat of “She Drives Me Crazy” begins to play, it’s clear that this is a song that’s going to get you moving. The drums are processed with gated reverb creating that iconic 80s sound. After two bars of drums, we hear guitar chords processed with a telephone EQ filter along with plucked synth notes. These elements are placed in the arrangement with a minimalist elegance reminiscent of an abstract painting you might see in an art museum.

As the first verse is introduced the music is perfectly complemented by lead singer Roland Gift’s high-pitched falsetto vocals and catchy top line. We hear the opening lyrics, “I can’t stop the way I

feel / Things you do don’t seem real”. The vocals are supported by a punchy and clean bass sound along with drums and percussive synth. Halfway through the verse, gentle synth pad chords are added giving the music a lift in energy just before the band launches into one of the best pop choruses of all time.

The chorus of “She Drives Me Crazy” is a true earworm that’s impossible to forget once you’ve heard it. It’s built around the repetition of the song’s title, with lead singer Roland Gift delivering the line “She drives me crazy” in a catchy and distinct vocal style. The chorus is a perfect example of the band’s ability to craft simple, yet incredibly effective hooks that stick in your head long after the song is over. The instrumentation is also a key part of the chorus, with the band opening up their sound with big lush guitar chords that give that extra punch to the sound. Overall, the chorus of “She Drives Me Crazy” is a masterclass in pop songwriting that has stood the test of time and remains just as catchy and irresistible today as it was when it was first released.

Although Fine Young Cannibals are no longer making music, they’ve left behind

a legacy that has stood the test of time. “She Drives Me Crazy” sounds as fresh and exciting as the day it was released, and millions of people are still enjoying the upbeat and energized sound of this amazing band. If you’d like to learn more about Fine Young Cannibals, you can find them on Wikipedia, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you’d like to listen to “She Drives Me Crazy” you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold.

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.

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Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch 571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com

Carlyle Club 411 John Carlyle Dr. 703-549-8957

thecarlyleclub.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. fishmarketoldtown.com

La Portas 703.683.6313

1600 Duke St.

The Light Horse 703.549.0533

715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com

Michael’s Little Italy 703-548-9338

305 S. Washington St.

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

2300 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Taverna Cretekou

703.548.8688

818 King St.

Born a Crime

South African comedian and commentator Trevor Noah captured the national spotlight when he was appointed as the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central in 2015, replacing the iconic Jon Stewart. When he started, Noah aptly said “I can only assume this is as strange for you as it is for me.” The studio executives who picked an astute, biracial unknown over a bog-standard witty white guy were considered daring at the time. Noah’s outsider’s take on American and international culture and events worked in his favor, gaining him a devout following until he gave up the show in 2022. While on the air, he also wrote Born A Crime, a number-one New York Times bestselling memoir about growing up in the South Africandefined category of “coloured” (South African spelling) during apartheid, and how that shaped him as a man and as a comedian.

In his memoir, Noah talks about identity in South Africa, how his parents’ different identities shaped his own through their presence and absence, and what it meant to belong to a rigidly defined caste. His mother proved the defining influence on his young life. Trevor describes her as someone extraordinary, fearless, unaccepting of the limits placed on her life as a black woman through the apartheid. One of those strictures was the South African law preventing black and white people from having a child, or indeed the member of any prescribed race from having a child with someone from another race.

As a young woman, his mother, having mostly brought herself up, was an independent thinker as well. Forbidden from living in designated white areas by the government, she slept in restrooms at night to avoid going back to Soweto, the black township where she was prescribed to live with her mother. Having acquired a lowlevel white-collar job through some minor governmental reforms, she saved up money and learned how to illegally find an apartment in white Johannesburg.

Vivacious and attractive, she attended under-theradar, cosmopolitan parties and clubs, and started spending time with a Swiss-German white man twice her age down the hall. Telling him she wanted a child, she informed him that he would bear no responsibility for it. She just wanted someone of her own to love and bring up. As usual, she did not take the easy route, which would have been having a child with someone the government would approve.

Ergo the name of Noah’s book, Born a Crime. If miscegenation was a crime, he was the proof of it. South Africa was a whiteruled nation that under apartheid divided races up as white,

black, coloured, and Indian; while supporting division between multiple South African black tribes.

In American terms, coloured is an outdated term that means AfricanAmerican. In South Africa, it takes on other nuances. As a child Americans might call biracial, Noah was considered coloured, an in-between category, a second-class rather than a third-class black citizen. He was placed in the position of being aspirational without any real ability to ascend to the ruling white status. At the same time he was categorized as superior to black South Africans. In the desperate search for a higher status and more freedoms coloured South Africans sometimes considered themselves superior to black South Africans, who sometimes resented them. They were also forbidden to mix. Noah devotes segments of his book to the malicious brilliance of apartheid in separating people from one another and lessening their power as they collided while hunted for scraps from the same white table. To add to the mix, conflicts encouraged between multiple South African tribes increased the difficulties of black people uniting to gain agency.

Since he was both black and white, Noah was put in an untenable position. He was not supposed to be seen in his grandmother’s residence in black Soweto, so he had to hide behind the walls of her yard while there. He was not supposed to be seen in his white father’s company as his official child. Since walking with his mother would raise too many questions about the difference between her colour and his, she had to maneuver a way to go out with him. While it was illegal for her to have a child with a white man, it was not illegal for two coloured people to have a child together. So she found a coloured woman who could walk with Noah while she trailed along as if she was the maid. When Trevor’s mother became involved with a black man, his white father was squeezed out of the picture, eventually disappearing altogether for many years.

She brought him up with the excessive doses of religion that gave her courage to combat any and all of the difficulties she faced, and she spared him none of her love or strict parenting. Her goal was to make sure he did not grow up feeling entitled to the point of running afoul of the law, but also that he grew up believing that he could be who he wanted to be, despite all evidence in his life to the contrary. In contrast, his father was defined by his absence during Noah’s earlier adulthood, an absence that might not have happened had the rules been less punitive and his father less passive.

Noah learned how to navigate his in-between status in part through learning languages. As he says, “I became a chameleon. My colour

BORN A CRIME

By Trevor Noah

Published by Spiegel & Grau

Release Date | November, 2016

Length | 304 Pages

ISBN | 0 978-0-399-58817-4

didn’t change, but I could change your perception of my colour. If you spoke to me in Zulu, I replied to you in Zulu. If you spoke to me in Tswana, I replied to you in Tswana. Maybe I didn’t look like you, but if I spoke like you, I was you.” His hardships became his super power: they honed his talents for objective observation and the ability to speak about it, which every comedian who parses society and the human condition needs.

Born a Crime is as brilliant and clearly written as it is multifaceted. A memoir of a particular son, man, and comedian, it is a revelation to an audience born outside of South Africa. Noah breaks down the apartheid he experienced in his childhood before it actually broke apart in 1994, explaining an extremely complex and nuanced subject to non-South Africans in comprehensible terms. Americans can view for themselves how it compared to the racism in the United States in the twentieth century and as it continues today, no easy subject for us ourselves to dissect. He shows the recent history of apartheid as not just cruel and evil, but also a codification of craziness, a system that made no sense and yet endured for decades in fact and longer in practice.

I recently attended the first Africa Summit ever held by Sister Cities International in its over sixty years of existence, which was held in Cape Town, South Africa. I went searching for a South African Sister City to add to my Sister City organization’s network. As a speed reader who falls asleep with a book in my hand every night, I read Noah’s short work over three nights in Cape Town.

On the second day, I talked to conference participants at lunch, advising them to run out and buy it. I finished it the last night of the

conference, and planned a short trip up beautiful Table Mountain, the landmark of Cape Town, the next day with a South African guide. I spoke to her about the book too, since pretty much everyone in South Africa knows Noah.

As we were crowding into the cable car to descend, my guide turned to me and said “Miriam. There’s Trevor Noah!” Shocked, I looked at him and said “But I just finished your book! Last night! You explained apartheid to me! It was a wonderful piece of writing!” This event has to be the most bizarre and serendipitous of my literary life.

We took a picture together and then my guide remarked, “She’s here for Sister Cities.” He looked at me, puzzled, and I was able to explain to him briefly that I was the

president of a member of Sister Cities International: an organization devised by Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 to connect cities worldwide through citizen diplomacy in an attempt to prevent future wars and promote friendship between people in different countries. It was wonderful to be able to tell him about a cause I find so deeply meaningful that I devised a way to attend the Africa Summit, when he had helped explain and connect me with this African country he calls home.

Read Born a Crime if you want to know more about Trevor Noah and South African history, or simply absorb an excellent, fast-paced Bildungsroman, another person’s precious and peculiar experience of becoming an adult in an endlessly challenging world.

ELWOOD BY BRYLEY

Kramer met up with Noah during a recent trip to South Africa.

SOMETIMES THE WHOLE WEEK FEELS LIKE MONDAY

Other really good outdoor shows in our region are the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival and the Bethesda Row Arts Festival, both on the streets of Bethesda, Maryland – also drawing on a savvy collector base.

Key fact for both of these festivals is the attendance, which exceeds 50,000 for all three shows!

Homo Artifex: Hard-working or Whiner?

In my view there are always two sub-genres of your typical homo artifex: the hard-working variety and the whiner variety.

The hard-working homo artifex is always producing, always changing and more importantly always on the prowl for a place or opportunity to exhibit the artwork produced not only out of love for the arts, but also upon the discovery that the best place for one’s artwork is hanging on someone else’s walls.

The DMV is ripe full of exhibition opportunities, depending on the focus

and goals of the homo artifex; if the artifex is willing to augment the front battle lines of the fine arts world, then there are plenty of really good outdoor art shows in our region – in fact some of the best in the nation!

One such great opportunity is the formerly called Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival (now called Tephra ICA Arts Festival) which takes place on the streets of the Reston Town Center in Reston, Virginia and highlights more than 200 artists who are “creating unique, handmade works in the fields of fine art and fine craft. In the

competitive artist application process, each submission is reviewed by a juror panel, made up of visual arts leaders, artists, and practitioners, who select top ranked artists across ten categories to present their work at the Festival.”

Drawing upon a robust exhibitor and collector base coupled with Tephra ICA’s contemporary art foundation, the Festival has become one of the region’s most anticipated events taking place in the outdoor environment of Reston Town Center. I’ve done it for many years and highly recommend it!

The hard-working homo artifex is also exactly that: hard-working. One such great example of that kind of artist is Michelle Banks.

Banks’ work has for many years explored the marriage of art and science in a visual representation that maximizes the artistry of science and the science of visual art. And to repeat myself: while many artists complaint about lack of opportunities, Banks grabs them by the horns and you can see her work several times a year around the region.

She writes: “Art and science may seem like opposites, but they can form beautiful partnerships. My work draws on biology, anatomy and neuroscience to produce paintings and collages that celebrate colors and forms that can often be seen only under a microscope.

Her current show titled Micromajesty: Intersections of Art and Science, runs through April 26th at Artists and Makers Studios in Rockville, MD. This show features lots

Michele Banks - Earth Vessel 3 (round) , watercolor, 2023, 18 x 18 inches

Michele Banks - Earth Vessel 5 , Watercolor, 2023, 18 x 24 inches

of Banks’ new watercolors inspired by “the tiny vessels that enable life to flourish, alongside the photomicrography of Ivan Amato. To create his pieces, Amato dissolves substances, from table sugar to prescription medicines, coaxes them to re-solidify on microscope slides and then captures the best with a camera.”

Banks also participated in Fairfax’s Mosaic District’s two-day festival in early April and in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival feature 90 artists selling their work as well as a farmers’ market and entertainment. Hard-working artists at work!

And then on April 23rd and if you’re looking for fun ways to engage the whole family in Earth Day, then you’ll find Banks at the daylong street festival Earth Day Every Day. The festival features live music, great food, kids’ art activities, a native plant sale, environmental education activities, and even a sustainable

art market. The event takes place from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, in front of the Lee Heights Shops, 4500 Old Dominion Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22207. Presented by the Langston Boulevard Alliance, this is a day for our community to come together to celebrate the beauty and promise of our local environment and the planet.

Go see some hard-working artists and buy some art from homo artifex of the hardworking variety!

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.

Hop on Over ...

...to see new jackets and tops from Moonlight, Christopher Calvin, Harshita, and the IC Collection in easy care fabrics. Sizes available: extra small to 3X. Come in soon to see and shop!

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Price and additional images upon request.

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Syreni Caledonii (Northern Atlantic Mermaid). Watercolor, charcoal and Conte. 2019, 12x36 inches.

Price and additional images upon request. Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC, Washington, DC www.alidaanderson.com / info@alidaanderson.com

Jacket by IC Collection Necklace by Erica Zap

Ivan Amato  - Light Speed: Vitamin C and Stevia, Micro photograph , 8 x 10 inches

The Flower Garden in Mid Spring

Plants should be putting on lots of new growth now, so if you have any perennials to lift and divide, or new ones to plant, do so as early in April as possible to allow them the maximum time to settle in. Start feeding established perennials now with a general fertilizer.

Taking Cuttings in April

Continue to take cuttings of fuchsias, geraniums, dahlias and chrysanthemums during April, for a late summer flowering display.

As the weather improves in

late April, begin hardening off those cuttings that were taken last month and have formed roots. Use a cold frame or find a sunny, sheltered spot outdoors. Leave the plants there during the day, but bring them in at night, when temperatures drop.

Pinch out the growing point when rooted cuttings are about 6 inches high. This encourages the young plant to produce side shoots, which in turn will produce more flowers, rather than expending all its energy in producing a single, tall stem.

Sowing Annuals Outside in April

Hardy annuals are the main flowers to be sown in April. Choose a windless day as fine seeds can easily be blown all over the place. Most hardy annuals can be sown where they are to flower. Ideally they can be used to fill up gaps in developing shrub borders or to add color to mixed borders. If space permits, you can also sow them in drifts and groups of different flowers. If you are planning a large annual border, it should first be marked out, and then

the seeds sown in lines or broadcast in a pre-arranged location for each variety.

Sowing Herbaceous Perennials Outside

Seeds of herbaceous perennial plants may also be sown in April, either direct into the ground or into pots or trays, instead of sowing the seeds in their final positions. Sow thinly and plant the resulting seedlings in nursery rows about 1 foot apart when they are about 4 inches tall. Plant them out in their final positions in the late summer or autumn. If you have a frame to sow in, this will give you larger plants more quickly, and many perennial sown under cover often flower in the same year.

Sowing Half Hardy Flower Seeds Under Cover

Half-hardy annuals can also be sown in April, but only under a frame or cloche because they can easily be killed by the lightest of frosts. Once they have germinated, give them all the ventilation you can, provided that the outside temperature is reasonably warm.

Planting Violas Pansies and Antirrhinums

Violas and pansies can be planted out now, either ones bought from a garden center or your own seedlings or rooted cuttings. Light shade is much appreciated, and watering at the first sign of dry weather.

Antirrhinums, sown in January or February or propagated from cuttings last autumn, can also be planted out in April, provided they have been hardened off first. Ensure that all sign of severe frost is over before planting as it would be a shame to lose these carefully nurtured plants.

Planting-out Sweet Peas

Plant-out sweet peas as early as possible to ensure a good show of flowers. Sweet peas root deeply and need plenty of nourishment, so plant them in rich soil in a sunny, sheltered position.

Don't forget to provide canes or pea sticks for the taller growing varieties. However, if you prefer the

rambling, natural growth, which means smaller but quite plentiful flowers, simply let them climb freely on bushy pea sticks.

When space is short in outdoor beds you can grow sweet peas in a tub, trained on a wigwam of canes placed in a circle and tied at the top.

Potting-up Plants in Containers

Check container grown plants to see if they are pot bound and need potting on into larger containers. Those that have reached their full size may need re-potting into fresh compost. For potting on, choose a pot with a diameter of at least 1 inch larger than the previous.

Don't forget to add suitable material in base for drainage. Ideally, place broken bits of flower pot, convex-side up, over the drainage hole. Cover the crocks with a layer of good-quality, loam or compost.

Carefully knock the plant to be re potted out of its old pot, and remove any crocks that may be caught in the tangle of growing roots. Place it centrally in the new pot, then add compost round the sides until the pot is full. Tap the pot once or twice to allow the compost to settle, firm lightly then top up again, leaving room for watering.

Water with tepid water and place the pot in a lightly shaded spot for a few days to allow it to acclimate.

Dead Heading Bulbs

Once daffodil and other narcissus flowers have begun to wither, pick off the dead heads. This prevents the heads producing seeds and weakening the bulbs. Do not remove any of the foliage or stem, while it is still green and healthy. Leave it on until it has started to turn yellow. The leaves feed the bulb and builds up its energy reserve for next year. Apply a general fertilizer around the bulbs.

Publishers Note: Many thanks to Seasonal Gardening for providing the information in this month’s column. For more details and answers to your seasonal garden questions, log on to: www.seasonalgardening. co.uk/april_flowers.htm.

Invest In Our Planet

As far as we here at the Old Town Crier are concerned every day should be Earth Day….we hope that all of you reading this agree. Always nice to pay some special attention to Mother Earth on her day.

This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement, commemorated annually as Earth Day. Since 1970, billions of individuals from more than 190 countries worldwide have come together every April 22nd to take action towards a greener, more equitable future for our planet. As the countdown to Earth Day 2023 continues, it is important to remember regardless of where you are or what you do, you have the power to yield real change and be a champion for Earth. To protect our planet, we must invest in it.

Rallying behind this year’s theme, Invest in Our Planet, highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving the climate crisis. The idea behind the day

Did You Know?

- honoring the planet and all living things that inhabit it - originated with the early 1960’s hippie era. That’s when Earth Day bloomed into a grass roots movement that resulted in the first official U.S. observance of Earth Day.

Not only should we be concerned with the climate, we need to be mindful of the living beingsincluding ourselves - that are affected by the changes. Besides the more visibly exotic African animals under threat, bees and other insects responsible for pollinating the world’s plant population continue to be decimated by the use of insecticides. Marine animals have been devastated, with turtles particularly hard hit due to destruction of nesting grounds. Meanwhile, climate change threatens almost 75% of the world’s coral reefs.

Today, many cities extend Earth Day celebrations for an entire week to increase awareness of recycling and better energy efficient communities. Come April, major cities in the US and Canada honor Earth Day from coast to

• Exceeding all expectations, 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day observance in 1970. Celebrations effectively stopped traffic in New York City when 20,000 people packed Union Square to see Hollywood actor Paul Newman and hear a speech by New York City Mayor John Lindsay, who arrived on an electric bus.

coast by hosting civic ceremonies and interactive programs to get everyone involved.

How to Earth Day 2023

Plant trees or a pollinator garden.

Trees are one of the most powerful tools to combat the climate crisis. Attend a local tree planting event or donate to campaigns, like EARTHDAY.ORG’s The Canopy Project, to help reforestation efforts across the world.

Pollination is essential for all terrestrial life on Earth. Plant a pollinator garden using species native to your area to support local populations of butterflies, bees, and other organisms critical to sustained biodiversity in your ecosystem. Reduce your plastic consumption.

Plastic pollution is one of the most important environmental problems we face in today’s world. We all contribute to this problem and must work to reduce, and ultimately end, plastic

• John McConnell was the creator of the first Earth Day Flag. His design was inspired when he saw the first picture of the Earth, later dubbed “The Blue Marble”, printed in Life magazine.

• Throughout the 1970’s, Earth Day observances eventually led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection

pollution. Make a plan this Earth Day to reduce your plastic consumption using EARTHDAY.ORG’s plastic calculator.

Participate in advocacy.

Educate yourself about the science behind climate change and show responsibility in addressing it by taking climate action to the next level. Send a letter to your local elected officials, speak up at your next town hall meeting, or use EARTHDAY.

ORG’s Vote Earth hub to learn about your voting rights, register to vote, and get reminders for important voting deadlines.

Make sustainable fashion choices.

Fast fashion has completely revolutionized the apparel industry, but not for the better. Learn about the detrimental impacts of fast fashion, the importance of sustainable fashion, and commit to responsible consumption.

Plan your own event.

It’s easy to start your own Earth Day event! Whether it be a community cleanup, march, teach-in, or rally, EARTHDAY.ORG has step-by-step instructions on how to organize your Earth Day activity in their Earth Day 2023 Action Toolkit. Be sure to register any and all events you plan on the official Earth Day Map. Donate.

By donating to a campaign supporting the environmental movement, like EARTHDAY. ORG’s The Canopy Project, you are not only making a difference, you’re empowering change and mobilizing individuals to take part in building a better world for generations to come. Activate on social media.

Creating content for the world to see is critical in communicating the importance of climate action. Whether you create posters and banners, or plan/attend a march, rally, cleanup, or any other popular Earth Day event, be sure to post what you’re doing to tag #EarthDay and/or #InvestInOurPlanet to spread awareness around the environmental movement and possibly be featured on EARTHDAY.ORG’s social channels.

For more information on how to do Earth Day, be sure to check out the Earth Day 2023 Toolkit and checking out EARTHDAY.ORG’s website: https://www.earthday.org/

Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

• Today, Earth Day is the largest secular holiday in the world, with more than 500 million people taking part in 174 countries around the world.

• Google has celebrated Earth day with animated doodles on its home page since 2001.

Overlanding Adventures

I’m a traveler that can’t sit still for more than 10 minutes. I love being on the go and want to maximize my time. Seeing as much as feasibly possible on every trip is a primary objective. Overlanding, best described as a self (or group)-reliant adventure to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal, is a great way to achieve this; you only spend a couple of days in each place, and you get to meet new people; an extrovert’s dream. My overland adventures have taken several different forms including boats, motorized rickshaws, and rental cars; but for this particular article I’m focusing on my adventures in Africa on overland trucks.

There’s something special about overland trucking in Africa. Driving through remote villages and setting up camp as the sun goes down each day has a special allure. The best news is that over the past 10-15 years there’s been a proliferation of companies offering overland experiences, which has substantially driven down prices. However, overlanding isn’t for everyone; before booking you should know more about what overlanding is, research companies in detail and make sure you pick one that best meets your particular style. In this article, we start that research together.

The Pros of Overland Trucking in Africa

SCENERY AND SUNSETS: You’ll get to see parts of Africa that the average tourist doesn’t visit, wake up to some of the best sunrises, and watch some of the best sunsets anywhere in the World.

NEW EXPERIENCES: Getting off the beaten path means you’ll experience a style of holiday, and a style of activities, you don’t normally experience on typical package holidays. You could be hot air

ballooning above the Masai Mara one minute and white water rafting the Nile the next. Overland trips open a host of options, some of which you might not even consider until you see everyone else giving it a go.

THINGS ARE TAKEN CARE OF FOR YOU: Let’s be honest, trying to independently arrange an overland trip through Africa takes a huge amount of time, dedication, and a general understanding of African travel limitations. An organized overland truck tour takes all of that planning out of your otherwise busy hands and into the hands of a professional; but all the while still leaving you with a real sense of adventure.

VALUE FOR MONEY: The overlanding style of travel provides fantastic value for money, especially when compared to flying between locations and staying in lodges and hotels. You also stand a much greater chance of knowing most of your costs up front given that food is, on most occasions, included.

WILDLIFE: Overlanding means you get to maximize your chances of seeing wildlife in a condensed period. In a single two-week vacation you could spend time in the Masai Mara, Nakuru and Naivasha in Kenya tracking leopard, followed by Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to track gorillas. Alternatively, you could watch

elephants cross the river in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, canoe safari through the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and track lion in Etosha National Park, Namibia all in a single trip. That’s a serious amount of wildlife for a single holiday!

The Cons of Overland Trucking in Africa

UNDESIRABLES: It isn’t your fault, and it isn’t theirs, but every overland trip has at least one person on it that you wouldn’t usually choose to socially engage with. However, in such restricted confines you will unavoidably have no choice but to. They may have no filter, they may lack a social conscience, or they may just keep managing to steal the last teabag. Either way, roll with the punches. No amount of hiding at the other end of the truck is going to enable you to avoid them for two weeks; make the most of the situation and you’ll often find by the end of the trip that they end up being the person you keep in touch with the most!

CLEANLINESS: You’ll be camping for at least 90% of your time on an overland trip. This isn’t glamping, it’s camping in Africa. Some of the camps you visit might well be fairly upscale (I remember one campsite I stayed in in Northern Kenya that had a bar that wouldn’t have been out of place in central London), but others might be little more than a field with a couple of taps. However, there’s a strong likelihood that you might need to go a few days without a hot shower. After a while nobody will even notice that you’re slightly more pungent than when you all met at the airport. But if freezing cold showers at the crack of dawn doesn’t really appeal then you might want to take a few packs of wet wipes to last you until the next hot

LEAVE FOOTPRINTS | FROM PAGE 16

shower is available. Another important point to make here is that you obviously get what you pay for. If you go for a bargain basement overland tour, then you’re likely to get the bottom rung of campsites. Sometimes this actually makes the trip more fun and increases group camaraderie, but admittedly that isn’t for everyone; so,

all a part of the spirit of adventure you’re buying in to when you pick an overland tour.

SPACE AND PRIVACY: You’re spending your time in a truck and sleeping in tents. Neither of these things lend themselves to either space or privacy. You’ll get to know the rest of your group intimately well (most notably, who snores the loudest). Another consideration is space for your luggage. Overland trucks typically either have under seat storage lockers (some require you to bring your own padlock if you want enhanced security) or a space under the truck or at the back where luggage can be stored. The space provided is usually fairly snug and so most companies have strict baggage limits (and often require that the bag is softshell; no expensive Samsonite hard shells). So, you’ll need to pack fairly conservatively.

make sure you do your research.

DRIVE TIMES: Sometimes I look at trip itineraries and get excited about how many different countries can be visited in such a short amount of time. However, if you delve a little deeper into the trip details you soon come to realize that means a huge amount of time spent on the road. A few days on the road is always to be expected (and can definitely be enjoyable) but I would suggest avoiding trips that have multiple back-to-back days of 8-hour drives. Although you’ll get to see some beautiful landscapes, the idea of an overland isn’t to be confined in the truck 24/7 for however many weeks you’re on it. If you’re doing a two week overland, I would suggest no more than 2-3 countries at the most; those offering more are probably trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

CHORES: I’ve put this in the ‘cons’ section but I honestly think it ends up becoming a fun part of the trip. Some of the best friends I’ve made on overland trips are those that have been in my chore group. Also, an important disclaimer is that the chores aren’t really all that difficult; it’s more a case of chipping in to make sure things run on-time and smoothly. Typical chores include: food preparation and cooking; cleaning the truck; camp tidy-up; and dishwashing. Of course, this is on top of pitching and dismantling your own tent.

ORGANIZATION: If you’re an organization freak, don’t like leaving anything to chance, and refuse any flexibility in your holiday schedule then overlanding probably is never going to be the best option for you. Trucks do break down, roads do become impassable at short notice (especially in the wet season on dirt roads) and mid-tour changes do occasionally have to be made to adjust the schedule. While I’ve had a truck break down I’ve never arrived late at the final destination; sure it meant extra time spent on the road but that’s

CRACK OF DAWN STARTS: In my opinion this is both a con and a pro. OK, you’ll need to get up early and for some people this is the antithesis of a holiday, but it also means you get to see some of the most stunning sunrises you’ll ever see (seriously, Africa has the best sunrises and sunsets anywhere in the World). Once you get over the initial cold (take layers) and have had your morning coffee, you’ll soon get over the tiredness and appreciate the early starts. As an alternative, you’ll always get the chance to sleep on the drive.

COMFORT LEVELS: This type of holiday is never going to be 5-star luxury; and you’d think you’d know what you’re letting yourself in for by the time you book. Sleeping on the floor isn’t for everyone, and if one roll-mat isn’t enough then make sure you take an extra one with you. The food is usually basic, but I’ve never gone hungry. You

can also stock up with snacks each time you get to a larger town. One thing my wife and I like to do is treat ourselves to dinner at a nearby ‘fancy’ restaurant every once in a while and skip the camp dinner (you’ll often find camp sites in some of the bigger towns, like Livingstone in Zambia, are right next door to upscale hotels with great restaurants). This way you can break up what might otherwise feel a little monotonous at times.

If you’re looking for more hints and tips on trips to Africa, make sure to visit www.takephotosleavefootprints. com.

About the Author: Scott Dicken is a world traveler and amateur photographer on top of being employed full time at an internationally known company. His love of travel is evident – you can read more articles like this at takephotosleavefootprints.com

— Photos by Scott Dicken

Traveling With Your Pet

Summer is just around the corner and for many people that means vacation travel. It could also mean deciding whether to take your pet with you or leave them at home under the care of someone else.

Years ago, the author Peter Gethers regaled us in his book The Cat Who Went to Paris with his many travel adventures with his cat Norton. Since he had never had a cat, he thought nothing of putting his young pet in a cloth bag and carrying him onto a flight from New York to California. Then, there is the street cat named Bob (of the movie of the same name), who followed his person onto a London bus because he did not want to be left behind during the workday. Fun stuff, but it may come as no surprise to you that traveling with pets; be it by plane, train or car has become a more complex proposition these days and one that requires research and advance planning.

The first consideration, of course, is the health, temperament, and size of your animal.

Some pets are simply too fragile or large for some forms of travel. You should consult with a veterinarian when considering a trip with your

pet. Assuming the vet believes your pet is a suitable travel companion (or because you are moving and have no choice) then the real research and planning process starts. The mode of transportation you choose and your destination obviously bear on your preparations, however, some common denominators are that you need to assure that all your pet’s vaccinations are current, that you have a health certificate from your vet, and, ideally, that your animal is microchipped with current information. If you are traveling outside the United States or even to a different state you need to check the requirements for bringing animals into their jurisdiction. The web sites for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), and the American Veterinary Medical Association are good sources on this subject. It is also good to prepare for emergencies by making a copy of your pet’s medical records, assuring that the pet’s collar, tags, and carrier have both identifying and destination information, that you have a current photo, and that you know where emergency vet services are available along your route.

You will also need a pet travel kit and a carrier that is sturdy and the right size. Mode of transportation and the length of the trip will certainly dictate some of this but do consider including a first aid kit, extra leashes, baby wipes, a towel, waste bags and pee pads, and possibly shredded paper or pine shavings for the bottom of the carrier. At a minimum you will need food (dry is best for travel), bowels, water, treats, meds, toys, and for cats, litter and a litter box. Now to the subject of sedating your pet.

The American Veterinary Medical Association strongly recommends against it and, according to one professional pet transport company, they and airlines will not accept pets who have been sedated. If you believe your pet needs something, consult your vet to consider other options and stress relievers.

If you love trains, know that Amtrak accepts only dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (the combined weight of the animal and the carrier) for trips up to 7 hours. It is also best to check in more detail because animals are barred from some routes. Your pet needs to be with you and caged at all times unless it is a service animal.

If you are flying, the Federal Aviation Agency and the Department of Transportation do have regulations governing various aspects of pet air travel (check their web sites), but in general airlines have a great deal of policy latitude and do differ from one another. You can find ratings for both airlines and airports on various web sites. In general, however, try for the shortest, most direct flights, come to the airport as late as you safely can, know where the bathroom areas are, and exercise your animal before putting them in the carrier. Carriers must either fit under your seat or the animal will have to fly as checked baggage. Some airlines will not fly animals in cargo or prohibit those with snub noses. Carriers intended for cargo must meet certain specifications and be labeled “live animal”. Familiarize your animal with its crate and even, if possible, with the airport. Make all these arrangements well in advance as airlines frequently limit the number of pets per flight. Now to cars – presumably the easiest way for your pet to travel.

Well, maybe, as this too is dependent on your pet and your

destination. Animals need to be either in a carrier secured by a seat belt, pet car seat, or harness in the backseat. Pets should not be placed in the passenger seat in case there is an accident and the airbag activates. In no event, should animals be allowed to move freely around the car. Map out a route in advance that includes regular stops (especially for dogs), try to keep to their regular feeding schedule, keep your pet hydrated, and know which hotels are pet friendly.

All this planning may seem too much– but it will be worth it if you and your pet truly want to enjoy each other’s company.

When you first adopt your furry friend start taking them on brief trips from the start. For major trips consider using a specialized transport service. In all cases, know your animal, consult your vet, and practice with the carrier (in the car, the airport, or the train station) well in advance so your pet is familiar with what is coming next and can enjoy the experience as much as possible. Bon Voyage!

Re:Sources

www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

www.cdc.gov/importation/traveling-with-pets.html

www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/ traveling-your-pet-faq

www.amtrak.com/pets

www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_pets

www.preventivevet.com/dogs/safety-tips-for-flying-withdogs-or-cats-in-plane-cargo

PETS OF THE MONTH

By Erin Shackelford

Selected Metro DC Animal Shelters/Rescues

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria alexandriaanimals.org/ Animal Welfare League of Arlington www.awla.org

Fairfax County Animal Shelter www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter Friends of Rabbits and House Rabbit Sanctuary www.friendsofrabbits.org/

King Street Cats www.kingstreetcats.org/ Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. ophrescue.org/

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary www.rikkisrefuge.org

SAMMY

Ready for a face that will melt your heart?

Sammy›s puppy-dog eyes and playful personality are charming. Sammy is an 11-month-old male dog who is searching for a patient, loving home. While he is friendly and cuddly, he can be shy and timid in new situations and around new people, mostly men he doesn’t know. He is working very hard on his leash walking and confidence building in his foster home. Once Sammy knows you’re A-OK, he’s the best, most loving and loyal companion.

Alexandria, VA 703-746-4774

alexandriaanimals.org

Mon-Fri,

SWEET PEA

Lookin’ for some bunny to spend Easter with? Sweet Pea is a 2-year-old female American Chinchilla rabbit. She can’t indulge in Easter goodies like chocolate and jelly beans, but she does enjoy munching on hay and leafy veggies. While Easter may be a good time to consider a rabbit as a pet, remember they are companions meant for all year long. Sweet Pea is a friendly and sociable gal who would love to find an adoptive home.

FREEDA

Freeda is ready to be free of the shelter! While she is enjoying her time with volunteers and staff, Freeda is ready to be in a home. We just can’t figure out why this perfect little pooch hasn’t been scooped up yet. She is a 1 year old female dog who is spunky, playful and loves everyone she meets. She has been great with other playful dogs. Affectionate and lovely, Freeda would make a wonderful family companion.

About the Author: Alberta Frost is a long-time caregiver at King Street Cats and animal lover in general.

Now that we're all working remotely Wouldn't you REALLY rather work from the beach?

NAPLES FL TOPS THE LIST FOR BEST BEACHES IN USA

BEACHFRONT SEASONAL RENTAL AVAILABLE

Naples has again claimed the top spot by Travel and Leisure and several other groups for best beach town in the US. The jewel of SW Florida’s Paradise Coast has sugar sand beaches, turquoise clear waters and every amenity worthy of a world class resort town. Seasonal lease of well furnished 2BR 2BA condo in the very best beachfront location is available this winter (90 day minimum lease term). No ner view from inside and better beach access at any price and most rentals in area start at twice the price. Includes carport parking, heated pool, elevators and privacy; uncrowded beach and, onsite management. Photo is the view from inside!

Call (no texts), email or visit our Facebook page @NaplesOceanfrontCondo. 540-364-9480 • hopespringsfarm@gmail.com

This Caribbean Island Has a Cool New Hotel

In case you haven’t been following, the historic downtown of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas is in the midst of a renaissance.

There is a new energy here, new life in these centuries-old streets and a dramatic waterfront transformation project undertaken by the USVI Department of Public Works.

And now, perhaps most importantly, there’s a very cool new hotel.

For the first time in more than two decades, St. Thomas as a new hotel — and, crucially, it’s in the heart of historic Charlotte Amalie.

It’s called the Pink Palm, and it’s a hip, retrochic hotel that’s the sister hotel to the American Beech hotel in Long Island, NY.

The 27-room hotel, which began welcoming guests last month, is a significant boost to downtown Charlotte Amalie, with a bright, colorful, fun aesthetic that’s a new kind of hotel for the island.

“We also have two hotels on the North Fork of Long Island, American Beech and Aqua Beach, and as that area is pretty seasonal to summer and fall, I was looking to open another hotel that was seasonal to winter and spring.

I first saw the listing for the property online.

There were a couple of other places I was considering, but as soon as I came down to St. Thomas and saw [it], I fell in love,” says Brent Pelton, owner and CEO of the Pink Palm. “We’re the first fully new hotel on the island in over twenty years. We’ve been working to create strong relationships with the local businesses, galleries and restaurants, as well as organizations like the St. Thomas Historical Trust, and overall there is an air of excitement about what’s happening in Charlotte Amalie.”

It’s the history that really makes it unique, Pelton says.

The hotel is set at what was once Smith’s Fancy, a popular guesthouse in the 1940s and 1950s that at the time drew artists, celebrities and Hollywood stars before becoming an apartment complex for decades.

“We kept the original architecture of all six buildings on the property, and worked to make design choices that kept in the spirit of an “artist’s guesthouse” with a mix of different colors, textures and prints,” said Pelton. “The location is also incredible. We’re tucked into

The rooftop of the Pink Palm is a hub of activity.

The Pink Palm is a reimagining of the legendary mid-century Smith’s Fancy guest house complex.

CARRIBEAN CONNECTION | FROM PAGE 20

the hillside with amazing views and surrounded by native plants, while also being steps away from the restaurants and shopping of downtown.”

So what can guests expect?

The hotel has a pool, a hot tub, outdoor showers, a restaurant, a bar area and a lush landscape across the property, from mango trees to lignum vitae.

Every room at the hotel has a unique layout, with kingsize beds, bathrooms with Frette bathrobes and towels, bath amenities from Ortigia, Smart TVs and mini fridges.

Executive Chef Bruce Miller is leading the culinary program, coming to the island after stints at top eateries in New York and Long Island.

And then there is the location: with easy access to all of Charlotte Amalie’s sights and sounds.

“There is an air of excitement about what’s happening in Charlotte Amalie,” Pelton says. “There’s a surge of creativity right now, and everyone is working together to highlight the beauty, culture and history of the island and city by supporting each other’s businesses and with projects that both preserve and breathe in fresh air, like the Step Street Project and the recent street lighting project. With that, I think there is a ton of potential for Charlotte Amalie, and St. Thomas as a whole, to really shine in a new way.”

For more, visit the PinkPalmHotel.com.

Publishers Note: 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.

As featured on HGTV and winner of “Bang For Your Buck” in St. Thomas. This recently renovated villa resides on the edge of a cliff 200 feet above the Atlantic Ocean crashing onto the rocks below. The best location on the island—a private, secure, gated community of luxury villas—the villa offers spectacular views of the Atlantic and various islands including St. John, Jost Van Dyke and Tortola. The main house has 3 bedrooms with a detached

The Rooftop Deck

Interior of one of the gorgeous rooms. — All photos courtesy of the Caribbean Journal.

The Boat Shows are coming! The Boat Shows are coming!

The Annapolis Boat Shows, producer of in-water sail and powerboat shows for over 50 years, launched a new website and updated their brand in February. With a focus on their continued growth and enhancing the boat show experience, the new website features a streamlined design that offers easy navigation, a user-friendly interface, and a mobile experience that convey the unique experiences visitors from around the world have come to expect when attending the shows.

“Our old website was terrific - when we launched it. It’s great to have retired it in favor of this new site. It loads quickly, is easy to navigate, and is a great resource for planning a visit to our shows.” said Mary Ewenson. “With

the supply chain issues easing up, we’re expecting a big increase in the number of boats at all four of our shows as well as many new exhibitors. The new website is launching at the perfect time.”

The launch came just two months prior to the spring shows: Bay Bridge Boat Show (April 14-16) and Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show (April 28-30).

Set at the foot of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at the Bay Bridge Marina, the Bay Bridge Boat Show will feature a large selection of new and brokerage powerboats, as well as the latest in equipment, accessories, and apparel.

Favorites such as PropTalk’s Demo Dock and Boat U.S. Foundation “On-

Water Training” will return, and new features for 2023 are slated to be announced in the coming weeks.

Closing out the month of April is the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, which features new and brokerage boats including catamarans, monohulls, family cruisers, daysailers, and inflatables. Guests may meet with boating clubs, sailing schools and charters companies, shop gear and equipment, and expand their knowledge with free seminars, the First Sail Workshop, and Cruisers University.

For those looking to enhance their visit, LaVictoire Finance will host the VIP Experience at the Spring Sailboat Show. This premier ticket provides

an elevated experience at the show featuring a place to relax, delicious buffets, and all-day drink tastings inside the Latitude 38 Waterfront restaurant.

Tickets are available for advance purchase on the Annapolis Boat Shows website. Admission is $20 but discounted to $18 per person when pre-purchased online. Children 12 and under are free. For more information, visit www.AnnapolisBoatShows.com.

The Annapolis Boat Shows is the producer of four annual shows: Bay Bridge Boat Show (April 14-16), Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show (April 28-30), Annapolis Powerboat Show (October 5-8), and Annapolis Sailboat Show (October 12-15).

Credit the Annapolis Boat Shows

The Bay Bridge Boat Show will be in Annapolis April 14th-16th

Credit the Annapolis Boat Shows

The Spring Sailboat Show is set for April 28th – 30th.

Let’s admit it, we all love to peek through the closed doors and through the windows and walled gardens of others, especially the wealthy. There’s a bit of voyeurism in all of us, and online pictures and videos just aren’t the same as immersing ourselves in these private gardens rarely open to the general public. Even if you’re not a gardener, Historic Garden Week in Virginia April 15 – 22 this year, offers a rare chance to visit some of the area’s loveliest estates during a time when they’re all dressed up in spring colors.

Historic Garden Week is a statewide event, and the only statewide event of its kind in the country; this is the 90th year it’s been held. It’s sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia and its local chapters. During this special week in April, 250 of the most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks statewide will be open during “America’s Largest Open House.” This 8-day event provides visitors a unique opportunity to see unforgettable gardens at the peak of Virginia’s springtime color, as well as beautiful houses and historic sites sparkling with over 2,000 flower arrangements created by Garden Club of Virginia members.

In the hunt country of the northern Blue Ridge, take in some or all of the homes open on several different tours scheduled for April 15 – 22. Beginning on Saturday April 15th homes in Warren County near Front Royal will be open for the tour, the same day as Alexandria’s homes are open. Skip to Wednesday the 19th and visit the open houses of the Warrenton garden club in and around that town in Fauquier County. On Thursday and Friday April 20-21 homes in the Middleburg area open their doors and gardens for you, and on Saturday the 22nd, homes of Clarke County just west of Upperville are open to tour. Most ticket blocks for the tours start around $30 in advance and some popular tours do sell out. You can also purchase single tickets for just one property for $20.

The horse country around the village of Middleburg, is the location of the Loudoun and Fauquier Garden Club chaper’s 2023 tour, held Thursday and Friday April 20-21. Some spectacular properties in Upperville and Paris including two that belonged to the late philanthropist Paul Mellon, will open their doors. From an iconic Federal period mansion, to a French stone farmhouse, visitors will be delighted by the diversity of these grand estates and landscapes that celebrate the open spaces of Virginia’s Piedmont. The tour headquarters at the National Sporting Library and Museum, houses a worldclass collection and exhibitions of fine

Take Time to Stop and Smell the Roses

animal and sporting art, to enhance your tour in the heart of hunt country. The area is also loaded with unique shops and quaint restaurants.

The fabled Blue Ridge mountain views, the stone walls, the dogwoods, and the redbuds in bloom for the backdrop, there is no better time than April to visit these rarely open homes and their gardens. Tickets for any/all of the tours across the state start at $30 in advance, and can be purchased online, or available the day of the tour for a slightly higher fee. For information on any or all these tours, visit www. vagardenweek.org

Back in 1927, a flower show put on by the Garden Club of Virginia raised $7,000 to preserve some of the trees on the lawn of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, a huge sum at that time, and Historic Garden Week was born. The Garden Club of Virginia operates as a non-profit organization comprised of 47 member clubs and 3,400 volunteers. Proceeds go toward the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic public gardens. The first statewide tour was in 1929, and since then over $17 million has been contributed to this worthwhile cause.

The nearly 50 active Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects statewide include Mount Vernon, the Pavilion Gardens at the University of Virginia, and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, which benefit from Historic Garden Week tours. Tour proceeds

fund the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic gardens, and provide graduate level research fellowships for building comprehensive and ongoing records of historic gardens and landscapes in the Commonwealth, and support the mission of the Garden Club of Virginia.

The Garden Club of Virginia (GCV) has been committed to preserving the beauty of Virginia for all to enjoy. The GCV advocated for maintaining the pristine beauty of Goshen Pass and the wilderness of the Great Dismal Swamp. It has worked to preserve the natural beauty of landscapes along Virginia’s highways and promoted the elimination of billboard blight. It has prioritized education about the importance of clean air and water. Over the last decade, the GCV has supported and recognized conservation projects along many of Virginia’s rivers and waterways. Each year, the Garden Club of Virginia sponsors workshops and a Forum that takes a balanced look at environmental issues. These efforts go hand in hand with educating members and the public about relevant topics, like using native plants in the landscape.

Its most well-known public event, Historic Garden Week is a beloved spring tradition with a fascinating history. Coming originally from England, early Virginians brought with them an inherent love of the land. They created splendid plantations with

noble homes and handsome gardens. Without organized protection of this irreplaceable inheritance, the Garden Club of Virginia foresaw its inevitable destruction. Starting in 1929, they made it their mission to preserve our state’s historic public gardens. The first tours were organized to support restoration work at Kenmore in Fredericksburg. From Monticello, Mount Vernon, Bacon’s Castle, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, to the State Arboretum in Winchester, to name just a few – a full diversity of gardens is represented in the GCV’s projects. Tour proceeds continue to fund the restoration and preservation of more than 40 of Virginia’s historic public gardens and landscapes, a research fellowship program and a new initiative with Virginia State Parks. The Garden Club of Virginia was instrumental in establishing these parks, also in 1929, the year of the first Historic Garden Week.

Tickets for the Fauquier Loudoun Garden Club’s tour can be purchased in advance online and are $40 on the day of the tour. For online purchase, go to vagardenweek.com and on the day of the tour, they can be purchased locally at Buchanan Hall in Upperville or at the National Sporting Library in Middleburg. For the Monday tour only, box lunches can be ordered in advance for $15. For details, email flgc.hgw@ gmail.com

More Garden Goodies

The Upperville Garden Club’s Daffodil Show, held annually for 60 years, will have thousands of daffodils on display at Buchanan Hall on the south side of Rt. 50 in Upperville on April 11th. Here, you can see every kind of daffodil, from the mundane to the exotic. More than 50 exhibitors are expected to enter from Virginia and nearby states; this year’s theme is Historic Virginia Mansions. Themed arrangements will highlight the Federal styles of historic Virginia homes such as Mount Vernon, Monticello, Morven Park, Montpelier and Oatlands, and more.

The doors open at 2 p.m., and although admission is free, donations are welcomed. According to organizers, anyone can enter an exhibit. If you think you have some prize-worthy daffodils and/or are good at arranging them, just pick them, arrange them and plan to arrive between 8 and 10 a.m. on April 11th; volunteers will be on hand to assist you. In addition to the themed exhibits, there are a wide variety of divisions; including large and small cupped daffodils, double daffodils, Jonquilla, one or multi stemmed, and more. For information, email kegardengirl@gmail.com.

It's Back To the Blue Ridge…

With sunny skies and temperatures forecast into the mid 70’s, we decided it was a good time to return to the Blue Ridge Mountains and what lies between. For those of you who read this column every month, you already know that we return to this area often and it is always an adventure. This time we decided to take a few days, so we made our reservations at 29 Main in Sperryville and followed the sun.

Unlike our previous trips, I will not begin this article by complaining about Route 66. They have finally completed the widening and addition of express lanes and this trip is a breeze. Granted, this wasn’t rush hour, but the traffic flowed at or above the speed limit with no problems whatsoever. I remember when there was no Route 66 and the only road out this way was Route 55, which exists today and is a nice road to drive if you are not in a hurry.

Our first stop was Barrel Oak Winery which is right off of Route 66 in Delaplane. A longtime favorite and great advertiser of ours, the winery was sold about eight months ago and the new owners have put some resources into the main building as well as the rest of the property. The tasting room has new lighting and a fresh look. Their brewery is still producing enhancing the experience for everyone. On cold days, Barrel Oak has the absolute best stone fire place in the state. We ordered a bottle of their Vidal Blanc, a hearty grape that did not go through malolactic

fermentation which made for a bright, clean wine. It helped us segway into the laid back, country mood after our slot-car run on Route 66.

Leaving Barrel Oak we picked up Route 55 (it parallels Route 66) and headed to the small town of Linden. In the past we would take a right turn in Linden on Freezeland Road and head up the mountain to Fox Meadow Winery. However, this time we took the left turn on to Fiery Run Road and made our way to Linden Vineyards in a small valley. It had been years since we had visited Linden and its “one-

The Inn at Little Washington - Photo by John McCaslin.

of-a-kind” owner…Jim Law. Although Jim is associated with the wine from Linden Vineyards, he is first and foremost a farmer! He told me many years ago that “he is most happy when in the vineyard with his vines”. After all…that is where it all begins.

Once in the tasting room we ordered a bottle of 2019 Village Chardonnay. As I remembered…crisp, clear and clean, an excellent wine and worth sipping. Then we had one of those “Bay to the Blue Ridge” experiences. Seated at the table next to us were Greg and Michelle Cottrell, from the Rosemont area in Alexandria and very familiar with the Old Town Crier This made our day as well as making some new friends. We had a grand time sipping our wine and talking about Old Town and wineries. Our next stop was Dark Horse Irish Pub in Flint Hill.

If you are familiar with the area and don’t recognize the name Dark Horse Pub, it is because it is new and was formerly known as Griffin Tavern. The new owner is Mark Kirwin, owner of Samuel Becketts in Shirlington and Kirwin’s on the Wharf in the D.C. Harbor. The transition should be a success based on Mark’s ability and the success of

his other two restaurants. I ordered a Shepard’s Pie for lunch. It was great and a lot of it. I also ordered my favorite…Copper Fox Single Malt Whiskey. The afternoon got better as our new friends Greg and Michelle dropped in to see the new place and an old friend Scott Truax and his wife showed up. I think the new look is going to work out well.

By the time we got out of the Dark Horse we went straight away to the Sperryville Corner Store to buy some food stuff for the cottage stay and headed to 29 Main where we dined in. The upscale Three Blacksmiths Restaurant is reported to be on a par with the Inn at

Little Washington and is only open Thurs, Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations are a must. Other dining options in town are RPK aka Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen – excellent pizzaand the Pit Stop Country Cafe where you will find one of the best burgers and fries in the county. The former Headmasters Pub was undergoing a renovation and an owner change so we will check it out next time. And…if you are in the mood for a little pasture pool, the

Schoolhouse Nine par 3 golf course is the place to check out. There are some very unique galleries throughout the town that are worth visiting as well. Downstream from the golf course is Copper Fox Distillery which we will visit tomorrow morning. Off to 29 Main.

29 Main is a great place to stay. A longtime friend of mine moved out to a farm just outside of Sperryville many years ago. Shortly after her move, she bought a one room building in town that she

converted into a small cottage located at, you guessed it…29 Main. The cottage has one large room with a fantastic bed, round dining table and a very large television on the wall. It also has a kitchenette area with a microwave (no stove) and a bathroom with a shower. There is also an outdoor shower and the back yard ends at the beautiful Thornton River which runs through the property. There is a sizable deck with two

Best

The Sperryville Corner Store.

comfortable Adirondack chairs that sits just above the river – great place for a glass of wine in the evening or a cup of coffee in the morning. The next morning we made our first stop at Copper Fox Distillery to drop off some back copies of the OTC. We first wrote about Copper Fox fifteen years ago when they first opened. Since then Rick Wasmund and his partner Sean McCaskey have opened a second distillery in Williamsburg, Virginia. After visiting with Sean and his crew, we headed for home with two more stops ahead of us.

Our first stop was Patty O’s in Little Washington. This restaurant is the little sister of the Inn. Another brilliant idea from Patrick O’Connell. The build out for Patty O’s is beautiful. The place just wants to make you dress up but blue jeans and a sweater are good too. The prices might seem high, but for what you get and considering the tip is included, it is not bad at all. The Bloody Mary’s, the shrimp and grits and the avocado toast were fantastic. Now I understand how some versions of each are better than others. Don’t forget to check out the bakery in the back of the restaurant as well – the brioche they make here is top notch.

Our last stop on this road trip was Pearmund Cellars, somewhere near Warrenton (fire up the GPS). Located

at Virginia’s oldest vineyard, Chris Pearmund has been producing award winning wines and educating folks for years. He is also another good advertiser of ours and an easy guy to talk with. He currently has a case of Chardonnay known as the “Pearls of Wisdom”. Each label is a different drawing of

a pearl within an oyster and a different quote of wisdom. The Chardonnay is very good and the price is also. Check it out!

Although the trip back 66 was at rush hour, the traffic again ran smoothly…until I hit 495. They haven’t fixed that mess yet. Take a Road Trip…follow in my wake!!

Kelly Spaine Photography

Egypt, Brazil and the Stadium

Stepping outside of the “traditional” Dining Out format, we thought we would give you all a teaser about some of the newest eateries in our midst. In fact, all three of these establishments opened within days of each other in the last week of March. In full disclosure, we didn’t dine at any of them so we aren’t going to comment on the food from that perspective. We were on a mission to see what each of these new places were all about and did have a cocktail and talked with patrons, bartenders, servers and managers at each place.

Fogo de Chao

141 National Plaza National Harbor 240-558-7666 Fogodechao.com

The Harbor is now home to a Brazilian steak house! Located in the former McLoone’s Pier House space on the water at the east end of National Plaza, Fogo de Chao

opened on March 24th. This is their sixth location in the DMV. We always intended to check out DC but didn’t want the hassle of the traffic and the parking. Now it is a straight shot from Old Town with lots of available parking space (albeit paid parking) nearby. Eating at a Brazilian steak house is a treat. If you have never been, put it on your bucket list. The restaurant features an open-air churrasco

grill where guests can dine and watch gaucho chefs demonstrate the culinary art of churrasco as they butcher, prepare and grill different cuts of meat over an open flame. Having your choice of meats carved individually for you at your table is a treat. The Market Table aka extensive salad bar is a colorful palate of fresh ingredients inspired by

Elaine’s

208 Queen Street

Old Town Alexandria 571-970-0517

Elaines-restaurant.com

I was immediately drawn to Elaine’s since that is my legal first name. Right out of the gate, I know it will be a great addition to Old Town’s dining scene. Many of you may recognize the address since it was home to Bilbo Baggins for many years. Let me tell you, the build out transformed the former dark (and not exactly clean) motif into a beautiful contemporary space.

Elaine’s is named after the owner’s grandmother. Her husband told us that when

Patio Season is Upon Us

she was twelve years old in Cairo, Egypt, she promised her grandmother that one day she would own a restaurant and name it after her. She is looking forward to sharing her family recipes with everyone.

The menu boasts modern Mediterranean cuisine based on food found in Alexandria, Egypt. We were told that their unique style is best described as Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. The food we saw served while on our visit looked amazing and neither of us knows that much about middle eastern cuisine in general, let alone Egyptian. We are so looking forward to having a meal there soon.

My drink of choice – a glass of Woolpack Sauvignon Blanc – excellent wine.

“A Washington Post Capitol Cuisine Favorite”

e Very Best Alexandria has to o er in the Heart of Historic Old Town Famous for our She Crab Soup, Steaks and Crab Cakes

Best Brunch in Old

Town

Saturday & Sunday 9am- 4pm

Brazilian farmlands and recipes that are traditional and natural staples of Southern Brazilian cuisine. The National Harbor location features an outdoor dining patio with waterfront views of the river and an attractive indoor bar that is ideal for their allday Happy Hour. Yes. All. Day.

My drink of choice – Mango Habenero Caipirinha (Silver Cachaca, limes, mango, habanero peppers – yum!

Tom’s Watch Bar 200 American Way National Harbor 301-960-3936

Tomswatchbar.com

We trekked across the Woody Bridge to National Harbor to check out the latest Tom’s Watch Bar location that opened on March 23rd. The “All Sports, all the Time!” concept was launched in 2014 in Los Angeles by a guy named Tom Ryan who now has 5 locations across the nation including DC’s Chinatown and now the Harbor. For those of you familiar with the Harbor restaurants, Tom’s occupies the former Granite City Brewery space on the corner of American Way

Where Is It?

and Fleet Street. True to their hype, this place defines the ultimate sports watching entertainment experience. We didn’t count all of the TV’s in all sizes that are dispersed around the massive place but believe me, there are several. Promising “All the Sports, all the Time”, Tom’s Watch Bar’s programming covers all sports from collegiate to professional to international, big events and prize fights, even emerging obscure and outrageous sports. They also have two virtual golf stations with clubs available to hone your swing.

The menu looks mighty tasty and

covers every sports fans tailgating favorites with some amazing entrée’s for the serious diner as well.

My drink of choice – Tom’s Bloody Mary – they use ZingZang so it was good!

While we encourage you all to patronize these new places, please keep in mind that they are all in the “working out the kinks” stage over the next few weeks and a little extra patience and understanding is in order. We are looking forward to making our reservations at Fogo and Elaine’s and hitting up Tom’s for a full experience after the “new” wears off.

Where Is This Mural?

Third time is a charm! Well…we’ve really stumped you all! Again…we received several guesses as to where the mural We originally featured a piece of the mural in the February issue and ran it again with a bit more showing in the March issuebut none were right. Here is yet another part of said mural that should give it totally away and as another hint…it is located in Old Town between Queen and Duke Streets. Be the first person to respond with the correct location and receive a $50 gift certificate to a local dining establishment of our choice. In order to participate, you will have to Like and Follow us on:

Facebook @oldtowncrier

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.

What are Hot Cross Buns?

A nursery rhyme, of course! And the first song we usually learn on the recorder. But what are the hot cross buns we eat? Hot cross buns are rich with history dating back to the 12th century. They’re yeasted sweet buns filled with spices and various fruits such as currants, raisins, and/or candied citrus. They’re decorated with a white cross representing the crucifix, either marked right into the dough or etched on top with icing. Hot cross buns are a traditional Easter food, typically eaten on Good Friday. Learn how to make our rendition of hot cross buns using this deliciously spiced yeast dough. Brown sugar, raisins or currants, butter, and vanilla add exceptional flavor and each dense bun is marked with a traditional cross. Orange icing is a tasty finishing touch to this Easter recipe!

We’ve been making these for years and I would love to share our family’s version here today.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk, warmed to about 110°F

• 2 and 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or instant yeast (1 standard packet)

• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar

• 5 Tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature and cut into 5 pieces

• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 2 large eggs, at room temperature

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 and 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon (see note)

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

• 3 and 1/2 cups (438g) all-purpose flour or bread flour (spoon & leveled)

• 1 cup (140g) raisins or currants

• Flour Cross

• 1/2 cup (63g) all-purpose flour or bread flour

• 6–8 Tablespoons (90120ml) water

• Orange Icing

• 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar

• 3 Tablespoons (45ml) fresh or bottled orange juice (or use milk and a splash of vanilla extract for plain icing)

Instructions

Prepare the dough: Whisk the milk, yeast, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer. Cover and allow mixture to sit for about 5 minutes or until foamy on top. *If you do not own a mixer, you can do this in a large mixing bowl and in the next step, mix the dough together with a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula. It will take a bit of arm muscle. A hand mixer works, but the sticky dough repeatedly gets stuck in the beaters. Mixing by hand with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula is a better choice. Add the brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and 1 cup (125g) flour. Using the dough hook or paddle attachment, mix on low speed for 30 seconds, scrape down the sides of the bowl

with a rubber spatula, then add the remaining flour and the raisins. Beat on low speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes. Dough should be a little sticky and soft. If it’s too sticky and not pulling away from the sides of the bowl, mix in additional flour 1 Tablespoon at a time.

Knead the dough

Keep the dough in the mixer and beat for an additional 3 minutes or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 3 minutes.

1st Rise: Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a relatively warm environment for 1-2 hours or until double in size. (I always let it rise on the counter. Takes about 2 hours. For a tiny reduction in rise time, see my answer to “Where Should Dough Rise?” on my website at www.sallysbakingaddiction.com)

Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or two 9-inch square or round baking pans. You can also bake the rolls in a cast iron skillet or on a lined baking sheet.

Shape the rolls

When the dough is ready, punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into 14-16 equal pieces. (Just eyeball it– doesn’t need to be perfect!) Shape each piece into a smooth ball, pinching it on the bottom to seal. I do this entirely in my hands and you can watch in the video above. Arrange in prepared baking pan.

2nd Rise: Cover shaped rolls with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean

kitchen towel. Allow to rise until puffy, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).

Add the cross

Whisk the cross ingredients together, starting with 6 Tablespoons of water. You want a thick paste that will pipe easily. Add remaining water if needed. Spoon paste into a piping bag or zipped-top bag. (No need to use a piping tip if using a piping bag.) Snip off a small piece at the corner. Pipe a line down the center of each row of buns, then repeat in the other direction to create crosses.

Bake the rolls

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top, rotating the pan halfway through. If you notice the tops browning too quickly, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil. Remove from the oven and allow rolls to cool for a few minutes as you prepare the icing.

Make the icing

Whisk the icing ingredients together, then drizzle or brush on warm rolls. Serve immediately. Cover leftover rolls tightly and store at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

About the Author: Sally McKenney

is a professional food photographer, cookbook author, and baker who resides in Maryland with her family of four and her rescue dogs. Her kitchentested recipes and thorough step-bystep tutorials give readers the knowledge and confidence to bake from scratch. Sally has been featured on Good Morning America, HuffPost, Taste of Home, People and more. www. SallysBakingAddiction.com

DINING GUIDE

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

CAFE 44 44 Canal Center

571-800-6644

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

FIVE GUYS

725 King St.

703-549-7991

FOSTERS GRILLE

2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342

GADSBYS TAVERN

138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288

GRATEFUL KITCHEN

727 N. Henry Street

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

JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO

1508 Mount Vernon Avenue

703-436-0025

KINGS RANSOM

728 King Street 571-319-0794

LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533

LORI'S TABLE 1028 King Street 703-549-5545

LOST DOG CAFE 808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511

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

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. Hollin Hall Shopping Center 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com

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

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

SWEETGREEN 823 King St. 571-319-0192

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S BBQ & HOPS

510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

Please Contact your favorite restaurants for updates on their "Social Distancing" policies.

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

THAILAND ROYAL 801 N. Fairfax St. 703 535-6622

TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878

CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE

407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800

KAI ZEN TAVERN

1901 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-836-1212

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

CONTINENTAL

CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN

1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

VILLAGE BRAUHAUS 710 King Street 703-888-1951 villagebrauhaus.com

BASTILLE

FRENCH

606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com

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

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

FACCIA LUNA 823 S. Washington St. 703-838-5998

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

MICHAEL’S ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090 Michaelsonking.com

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

NANDO'S PERI PERI 2462 Mandeville Lane 571-473-5500

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

Hidden Gems of Virginia Wineries

This February, Governor Glen Youngkin awarded Delfosse Vineyards and Winery the Virginia Governor’s Cup for its 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage. This petit verdotheavy red blend took top honors in the Governor’s Case, which showcase the event’s best scoring wines.

What made this event unusual is that many of the industry’s most famous winemakers didn’t make it into the Case. It’s not because King Family, Michael Shaps, or Veritas aren’t making the stellar wine they’ve long been known for. Instead, wineries that are further off the beaten path such as Delfosse and Mountain Run Vineyards gave the most famous names in Virginia wine a run for their money.

If there’s a lesson in all this, it’s that you don’t need a famous name or central location to make it into the big leagues. You just have to make great wine.

There’s a term I like to use for wineries like these: “hidden gems”.

The extra time it takes to find such locations make them particularly rewarding. While large venues can wow you with amazing views and chateau-like tasting rooms (and don’t get me wrong, many hidden gems have those too), wineries at the furthest ends of the wine trail keep visitors coming back by focusing on the basics: great wine and service. And isn’t that what visiting a winery should be about?

Virginia is full of ‘hidden gems’; these are just a few. Get out there and find the rest for yourself.

Jump Mountain Vineyard

When it comes to ‘hidden gems’, the Shenandoah Valley sits on a wealth of riches. With low levels of rainfall and high elevation, the valley has a strong argument as the best wine-growing region in the state.

The Shenandoah Valley is already a road trip for most Virginia residents, but Jump Mountain takes things to a whole new level. Located in the hills roughly between Staunton and Lexington, Jump Mountain is one of those places you need to map out in advance since your GPS signal may fail you on the way there.

But don’t let that dissuade you! In addition to growing cabernet sauvignon and tannat on the hottest slopes of their vineyard, owners Mary Hughes and David Vermillion grow vines not easily found elsewhere in Virginia, such as refosco, grüner veltliner, and lagrein.

Refosco is particularly fascinating as it’s one of the oldest grapes still used to make wine. Jump’s “Livia” refoscoheavy blend is named after the wife of the Roman emperor Octavian who once extolled on the benefits of drinking wine.

Rogers Ford Farm Winery

Rogers Ford is one of the best wineries most people don’t know about. Located between Fredericksburg and Culpeper, the winery is housed in a two hundred year old farmhouse converted into a tasting room. Visitors don’t come here for wine as much as they visit to relax.

Owner/winemaker Johnny Puckett makes a dizzying array of wines for such a small venue, including an orange wine, bourbon barrel port-

style, and a late-harvest “First Frost” vidal blanc. Even traditional favorites like chardonnay have a southern hemisphere twist.

Rogers Ford has another claim to fame; they made Virginia’s first petit verdot. While now one of Virginia’s most popular single-varietal wines, decades ago petit verdot was considered strictly a blending grape.

Johnny’s father recognized this grape’s potential and bottled a full varietal petit verdot in 2000. Today, petit verdots are among Virginia’s most awarded wines, and Roger Ford’s PVs should be recognized as some of the best.

Rosemont Vineyards & Winery

Calling Rosemont a hidden gem is something of a misnomer. It’s a wellrespected name in Virginia wine, despite the fact that most people

familiar with the winery have never taken the trip to southern Virginia to visit in person.

Those ‘in the know’ have likely met Aubrey and Justin Rose pouring at the Mount Vernon wine festival,

The wine of Rogers Ford Farm Winery.

seen the scores of Justin’s signature Kilravock red blend in Wine Enthusiast, or sampled Rosemont wines as part of Early Mountain Vineyard’s “Best of Virginia” flight. The really lucky ones may have sampled Rosemont’s vermouth or its Gold Medal-winning Extra Brut sparkling.

True wine-lovers, however, take the trip to Bracy to sample these wines first-hand. The farm has been in the family since 1858 and was revitalized as a winery after the Roses sought advice from vineyard consultant Lucie Morton on what to plant. Today, they have a mix of hybrids and vinifera, including some tannat which Justin uses to power up his red blends.

Stanburn Winery & Daring Wine Company

While all vineyards are by definition farms, some wineries reflect their rural roots more than others. Located in scenic Patrick County (not far from the border of North Carolina), Stanburn is one such location.

Family patriarch Nelson Stanley planted his first vines in 1999, intending to source to local wineries but later making wine on his own. Today, Stanburn has a mixture of hybrid and vinifera grapes, including a small section of barbera.

Stanburn also has a secret weapon – winemaker Jocelyn Kuzelka. Jocelyn not only makes wine for Stanburn,

she’s a cider maker and co-owner of Daring Wine Company, one of Virginia’s only 100% female-owned wine businesses. You can find Jocelyn and co-owner Megan Hereford selling wine at farmers markets in Charlottesville.

Wind Vineyards at Laurel Grove Vineyards probably aren’t the first thing that come to mind when thinking of Essex County, but a visit to

REMEMBER A LOVED ONE WITH A LASTING MEMORIAL. PLANT A TREE INSTEAD OF RELEASING BALLOONS.

Wind Vineyards may change that. The area is part of the Chesapeake Wine Trail, which produces some of the best oyster and wine pairings in the state. Wind earned a Gold medal for its chambourcin at the 2023 Governor’s Cup competition. Such recognition is rare for hybrid grapes, as many judges tend to turn their nose at anything that isn’t vinifera. But as climate change wreaks havoc on low-elevation vineyards, chambourcin and other

hybrids may be the wave of the future. Wind also boasts one thing that’s totally unique in Virginia wine – it hosts a monster truck show every year, with one of the trucks driven by the owner/winemaker. Take that wine snobs!

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/.

Daring Wine Company partners Jocelyn Kuzelka and Magan Hereford.

Courtney Hale

It’s Time for Spring Wine

s the weather gets warmer the flowers start to pop, our springtime gatherings come up on the calendar, and

Aour flavor preferences change to lighter foods and drinks.

I’ve made my mark as a hearty red wine maker, but those are not really thought of as springtime wines. So let’s take a look at what locally grown wines might work for this time of year.

In the spring I feel an offdry style of wine best fits the season and the cuisine. One of our better growing white grapes in Virginia and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic is Vidal Blanc. The fruit characters always remind me of Juicy Fruit gum—in a good way. This can be used as a base in a blend like our Something White, or as a varietal wine.

A dry, steel-fermented Chardonnay is another wine that could fit the bill. The barrel-fermented, buttery style has been the bane of the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd for years, but the lighter, crisper Chablis style of Chardonnay expresses the fruit and acid much better. A newer grape variety to our region is Albariño. Crisp, steel-fermented, with bright fruit notes, this wine is made from a Spanish grape that grows quite well here. There is a legendary origin story that tells of bud wood, the material needed to propagate new plants, being transported from Spain in a carry-on bag under the description of “wood for smoking meats.”

I can’t attest to this story or to which infamous Loudoun winery was involved but I know it wasn’t mine. Another variety that popped up here around the same time is Petit Manseng. This variety is a little more viscous and intense than Albariño, but could easily be a springtime wine. Intense in fruit character with an underlying sweetness and very firm acid, this fruit can be

used to make a variety of wine styles from dry to dessert.

Rosé can certainly be a springtime wine, but that is a big subject for a different column! Let’s go Italian instead: Barboursville’s Vermentino is a beautiful white wine grown in Virginia. It almost seems to have a reserved spot in the Governor’s Case each year, the cherished spot for the twelve wines awarded the highest points in the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition. I planted a bit of Vermentino here on our farm and I happily blend it into our Something White, where it adds a little earthiness and complexity. This is a terrific variety that is relatively unknown, but certain fits the style we are discussing.

Another area to think about for your springtime sipper is a wine cocktail. Many of the wineries, including ours, make different drinks using wine as the base with flavoring syrup, soda, fruit juice, or other spirits added in. As low- and no-alcohol drinks have gained in popularity, these cocktails are a great option and can truly highlight a wine just as a sauce can highlight a cut of meat. My wife, partner, and boss is the mixologist behind our specialty drinks at Fabbioli Cellars. We have two or three per month and at least one of them is always based our theme for the month. April’s theme is the Outlander book and TV series, so plan a visit to see what she has in store

this month.

Whether you call your drink sangria or cactus punch, it’s amazing what creative styles can come from using wine as a base. Back in the day, my favorite was dry red wine left over from the previous day over ice with 7Up and a good slice of lemon. It was very refreshing and much better than a Bartles and Jaymes wine cooler (a 1970s Gallo product for those of you too young to remember).  Enjoy your spring sipper however you wish. Try something new—it is spring after all, and spring is all about newness. Find different ways to use our locally grown wines. I guarantee that your winegrower will appreciate both your business and seeing your face every time you stop in. Cheers!

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 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.

When we visit our favorite breweries or brewpubs, it’s how we bring home tap beer that is not normally available for carry out. They always have beers that are on limited release and not available in a can or bottle. Well, at least the good brewers do. And these beers are usually among the finest ones available.

A growler is just a jug. However, the original growlers were not jugs. They were 2-quart pales that people brought to the breweries to transport their beer home. The name “growler” came from the noise the beer supposedly made as it sloshed around the pale and caused carbon dioxide to escape.

I love my growler. It’s wonderful. My wife got it for me for Christmas a few years back. She really knows the way to my heart. Most growlers are made of glass and purchased at the brewery. But not mine. It was made by Stanley. So, it’s basically a thermos. Not the red and black plaid one like I carried with my lunch in elementary school. No, this is a 64-ounce, army green beast that will keep its contents cold for 24 hours, even longer if you put it in the fridge. The top has a fantastic seal. Therefore, the beer remains fresh and carbonated, for several days if necessary. But I never let it sit that long. When I was a kid, I would have been a hero if I had walked into elementary school with this monster. Especially if it had been full of beer.

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE MY GROWLER

I’ve known the proprietor, Vanessa Moore, for years. Her former wine buyer, Brett Chappell, is a close friend of mine. I’ve always enjoyed visiting Vanessa’s store. It’s continuously well stocked with great beers and wines. Wine is their actual wheelhouse. Wine buyer and store manager Jessica Outer keeps a great selection on hand. General Manager Sparlin Witt does a great job of making sure that service stays at a superb level. They also have a great store in the Bradlee Shopping Center. But they run a larger selection of craft beer at the Belle Haven store.

I recently discovered that Vanessa had hired another old friend of

mine as the store’s beer buyer, Gary Pemberton. Gary’s actual title is Beer Boss, which I love. Gary is an Old Town OG, just like I am. His beer knowledge is way beyond mine. If the comparison were likened to golf, his handicap would be very low, close to that of a golf pro. Mine would be what it currently is, the equivalent of a respectable bowling score.

I meet Gary at the store’s craft beer bar when I arrive. Gary’s philosophy is to create a fun, creative beer list with an assortment of “fun and different brews” that are not readily available elsewhere. To quote Gary, “I like to hit all the food groups.” He shares my

point of view that most restaurant draft beer lists do not have enough variety. He tries to keep the taps as local as possible. Six of the twelve taps during my visit are local beers.

His taps turn over once about every week and a half to two weeks. Therefore, the beers we tasted have probably since been changed out. He tries to not repeat beers but does admit that some circle back due to popularity. His vendors are very eclectic. They basically walk in and hand him a list and say, “Here’s what I have today.” This differs greatly from most places. Usually, vendors walk in and just ask you what your order is for today. Gary always finds new and exciting beers. Ones that you rarely to never see in restaurants or bars.

Here are some of the beers we tried during my two visits:

Marke – a German Pilsner from Tabol Brewing in Richmand, VA.

Bald Irishman - a Red Irish Ale from Center of the Universe Brewing Company, Ashland, VA.

Tripel – a Belgian Tripel from Une Annee Brewery in Niles, IL.

Reigh in Helles – A Helles Lager from Precarious Beer Project, Williamsburg, VA.

Last Supper – an English Porter from Magnanimous Brewing, Tampa, FL.

Querido and Perdido – a Double Imperial Stout from Casita Brewing Company, Wilson, NC.

I could write my next two articles reviewing the beers from our tasting. Let’s suffice it to say that they were all fantastic. There is something on Gary’s list for everyone.

We finish our tasting and head over to the canned and bottled beer section. The beers are fun and diverse, just like the draft line up. A lot of thought obviously goes into each category.

We discuss current craft beer trends

The growler is an important tool in any craft beer drinker’s arsenal.

Everyone has a favorite place or two to take their growler. Oddly, mine is not a brewery or a brewpub. It’s a gourmet wine and beer store in Alexandria in the Belle Haven Shopping Centre called Unwined.

As we begin our tasting, Gary says to me, “These are not your storegrocery beers.”

Tim’s Whiskey and RecommendationsCigar

as Gary leads me through the section. Gary sees tastes trending toward lagers, pilsners, and helles. I have noticed this as well. He also sees West Coast and American IPAs trending up. He then starts talking about land beer being a new trend. Land beers are beers that use local ingredients from the local terroir. These ingredients are often grown and cultivated on the same farm. Terroir is a term usually reserved for the wine industry. I guess craft brewers wanted their own term, not the vintner’s term.

The other big trend Gary sees, non-alcoholic beers. “The growth is huge.” He says. I peruse the section and notice that these are not your typical mass-produced non-alcoholic beers. These are craft beers. Who would have thought? My opinion of non-alcoholic beer has always been that it’s for people who just want to smell like they’re drunk. I guess times have changed.

If you’re looking for cheese, and I often am, Unwined has a great cheese selection run by their Cheesemonger Lisa Herold. They also have a fantastic restaurant and bar attached to the store. Revel is a cozy warm place to enjoy great wine, craft beer, and food. Gary’s craft beer list in Revel differs from the store, making it a separate experience.

As we end our time together, Gary leaves me with a parting thought. “I don’t know if I emphasized this enough, but I really believe this is a Golden Age of Craft Beer. Consistent quality and variety leave only your sense of adventure to be your guide.” You made that point abundantly clear my friend. I’ll be back soon, with my growler in hand.

and flavorful with lots of oak present. This bourbon is 90.4 Proof and runs at about $45 a bottle. Not bad for a good bourbon.

CAO Amazon Basin Anejo Le Toro

This exquisite cigar has the highly flavorful Ecuadorian Sumatra tobacco as a wrapper. No wonder it’s so good. You’ll get orange peel, apples, and some pepper on the first taste. As you continue to smoke it, citrus, apples, fig, coffee, and brown sugar come through. A black pepper flavor lingers throughout the smoke. This cigar finishes with a stronger coffee flavor along with figs and brown sugar. At around $15 a cigar, it’s not the cheapest. But trust me, it’s worth it.

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 fly doing in my soup? http://whatflyinmysoup.com

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

A true favorite of mine. They make this bourbon by taking their regular Woodford Reserve Bourbon and transferring it to a second newly charred oak barrel and letting it age for about another year. The new barrel immediately begins to inject a new level of wood flavor. It adds a whole new complexity to the bourbon. You get oak on the first smell, along with marshmallows and buttered popcorn. On the palate you get the traditional oak and vanilla flavors with cherry. The cherry flavor really stands out. The finish is sweet

in Old Town Alexandria.

This cigar, and many other fine cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King St.

Springtime Make-Up…

Spring is finally here - a great time to pair back the layers of our beauty routines, and lighten our load. The big trend this spring is lighter make-up. Forget the heavy pigments and piled on high make-up from winter. This is the time to let your natural skin shine through.

The beauty trends for spring that we like look like a resurrection of the 60’s and 70’s – natural, ethereal, dewy and colorful. Barefaced, doe-eyed, and pale colors, reminiscent of Bridget Bardot, are flooding the beauty scene.

SKIN

Beautiful skin that looks like it has barely been touched is the trend. This is the time to throw out those heavy, matte foundations and make room for tinted moisturizers. Tinted moisturizers will give your skin a hydrated look with very little effort. And, because they are lighter in weight, your skin won’t look like it’s been fitted with a mask of make-up. It’s also time to let skin shine, but not sparkle. Shining with shimmer and glitter is not the objective. The key

to this look is keeping the skin looking hydrated as though it’s glowing from within. It’s best to look for products infused with mica that help to reflect natural light and make the skin glow. Also, a natural looking glow is one that is subtle and applied strategically either on the cheekbones or around the temples.

CHEEKS

Get cheeky this spring with a dab of dewiness. Simply add a little gloss or mica enriched moisturizer to the cheeks to make them glow. Do this while keeping the cheek color subtle, but fresh. Look for barely-there colors of light pinks and peach tones. You can also give your cheeks a lift by adding cream bronzer below the cheekbone area. This will automatically turn up the emphasis on the illusion of high cheekbones. Look sun-kissed for spring too. Try a light bronzer on the cheeks to do the trick.

EYES

With the promise of summer, the sun is shining even brighter and so are

eye colors for this spring. The use of golden, bronze eye colors will make the eyes pop. Icy eye shadow colors applied with a wet brush will add some intensity to the look. Eyes this spring are not made up, but more demure with a hint of drama. Dramatic eyelashes with layers of mascara help to achieve this. Also, strategically placed eyeliner helps to solidify the look. By simply adding eyeliner of pale peach, followed by a thin line of black eyeliner along the lash line, eyes will give off the illusion of extended, longer lashes, without the fuss of actually applying lash extensions.

A holdover from fall is the fuller eyebrow. Put down your tweezers and give your eyebrows a break. Allow your eyebrows to be full and natural. And, while full is in, unruly is not. So, keep those hairs tamed by trimming hairs that have gone rogue. And, to complete the look, brush eyebrows up & outward toward your temples to create one sleek line.

LIPS

Further inspired by the 60’s are nude

lips. These are making a comeback this spring but with a modern update. Hints of lavender, metallic and pastel peach are glossed over nude lips for a fresh take on an old trend.

HAIR

Hairstyles are loose and natural as a compliment to this season’s makeup trends. Much of it is free and loose, but tame, not unruly and messy. Hair trends for spring conjure up images of fairies and princesses of faraway lands. Popular for this spring is hair strands that are twisted and braided around the crown with the rest of the hair left loose. Also, put away your straightening irons and shears, long and wavy are in for spring.

For those looking for a little more structure, the classic French twist is making a comeback too. The only difference is that it’s not stuffy and perfect, but loose and fresh. Leave wisps of hair out at the crown and at the nape of the neck for a more updated look.

Challenging Your Balance, Posture and Legs

Welcome back to another edition of From the Trainer! April is one of my favorites since I celebrate my birthday and I still have a few years to go before I hit the big 5-0! Staying in shape has always been my goal as I get older and it should be a priority for you as well.

This month’s exercise is the Single-Leg (SL) Dumb Bell (DB) Squat. It will challenge your balance, posture, and legs. The set up for this one is important because the wrong foot position can cause you problems. Let’s take it from the bottom up.

First, you need a place to put your uninvolved (back) foot.

I used a 12-inch plyometric box, but a flat bench or an aerobic step works great too. Grab a pair of light DBs to hold at your sides. With the box or bench behind you, take a long stride forward to

give yourself space to work. I have my right foot back on top of the box with the left leg supporting all of my body weight. Use your back foot for balance only (figure 1).

TOWN

Lower yourself by bending at the hip and knee until you reach about 90 degrees.

If your knee passes over your toes, widen your stance if necessary. You can hop your

foot forward if you trust your balance, but I recommend taking your back foot off the bench or box to line it up with the front foot and then take a small step forward to increase your distance.

Keep your torso upright with good posture as you control the decent.

Once you have reached the bottom (figure 2), push yourself back up by contracting the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps to extend your hip and knee of the front leg. Try at least one set of ten repetitions per leg.

You might find that one leg is stronger or your balance is better with one foot than the other. A great advantage of isolating a single leg is that

you can correct those strength differences and imbalances by performing more sets on the weak side than the strong side. The single-leg squat is a unique exercise that requires balance and concentration. You can also try this exercise without DBs to get comfortable using your own body weight. Enjoy!

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 and a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

124 South West Street Suite 100

Spring In to a New Workout

As March rolls into April and the nicer weather starts to make a more permanent appearance it is time to give your workout a make-over. Warmer weather means we get to ditch the long pants and jackets and trade them in for shorts and t-shirts. If you are not feeling quite like you are ready, don’t worry, you still have about six weeks to do a quick over-haul on your existing workout. Many times all we need to bust that plateau is a new workout! If you feel like you are still holding onto a few extra pounds from the winter try some of these exercises and amp up the cardio to get the results you need for the spring.

The idea of this workout is to use minimal equipment to get maximum, total body results. All you will need are a set of 5-12 lb dumbbells and either a stability ball or workout bench.

Sumo Squat with Tricep Extension

Stand with feet more than shoulder width apart, toes turned slightly out with a dumbbell in each hand. To get in the start position, bend elbows 90 degrees and bring them beside your ears so the weights are behind your head, palms should face each other. Maintaining arm position, lower into a wide squat, return to standing position and extend right arm toward the ceiling. Lower the dumbbell to start position. Repeat the squat, this time extending the left arm toward ceiling as you return to standing. Do 1215reps

Single Leg Squat and Bicep Curl

Holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by your sides, palms facing forward, stand with back to a stability ball with feet hip-width apart. Reach leg behind and place

apart to balance on toes. Maintaining a slight bend in your elbows raise dumbbells out to the side up to shoulder level with palms facing the floor, then lower to start. Do 12-15 reps

Adding a few new exercises to your workout can help you

bust that plateau that’s been hindering your progress. The success of any good strength workout is to include as much calorie blasting cardio as you can. Make sure you are getting at least 3 40-minute cardio workouts per week. A good way to add a difference to

your cardio routine is to take what you do inside, outside. Walking on the trail can be more of a challenge than the treadmill and riding your bike through Old Town will be just as beneficial, but much more interesting than a spin class.

your shin on the stability ball. Lower yourself to the ground for a single leg squat. As you stand up, do a bicep curl. Do 8-10 reps on each leg

Side Lunge with Shoulder Raise

Holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by side, stand with feet hip-width apart. Lunge to the right side with right leg, toes should be pointing toward the right. Keeping your left leg straight, raise your left arm directly out to the side with palm facing the floor. Then step back to start and lower your arm. Do 8-10 reps each direction.

Hamstring Curl on the Stability Ball

Start by lying face-up on the floor with your arms by your sides, palms flat on the floor. Place your right heel on the stability ball and left knee bent in toward the chest. Dig your right heel into the ball and bend the knee 90 degrees to lift your hips off the floor and roll the ball towards your butt. Slowly lower your body to the ground as you extend your right leg to the start position.

Do 8-10 reps on each leg

Chest Fly on Stability Ball

With a dumbbell in each hand, start lying face up on a stability ball with upper back resting on the ball, knees bent 90 degrees and feet flat so your torso is parallel to the floor. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, palms facing each other. Keeping your arms slightly bend lower your arms toward the floor until they are parallel to the floor. Then return to the starting position.

Do 12-15 reps

Reverse Fly

Lie face down on the stability ball, holding a dumbbell in each hand with elbows slightly bend and palms facing in. Extend your legs behind you hip-width

www.mountain-trails.com

Virginia Isn’t Alabama

Finger pointing is rude but, in the case of the introduction of the Alabama bass into Virginia water by anglers, it’s poking a finger into the eye of the entire bass fishing community. All because of the ignorance of an angler or two who thought adding a new species would enhance their fishing efforts. Moving fish around, called Johnny Apple Seeding, is illegal. Now it’s gone way beyond spreading disease or adding another predator, it’s put us on an unimpeded course to ruin bass fishing in Virginia. This time, the sky is falling. The introduction of Alabama bass in Virginia waters is creating imminent danger to largemouth and smallmouth bass fisheries. While Alabama bass

may be nearly identical in appearance to largemouth bass, their presence leaves a lasting impression on fisheries where they are nonnative. Virginia waters are being invaded by a fish that looks like a largemouth bass, swims like a largemouth bass and can be caught like bass. However, this fish is not a good neighbor to the more native largemouth bass.

Aggressive Alabama bass outcompete with native largemouth and even small mouth, and they hybridize with them. They dilute the gene pool of larger northern bass and can wipe out entire smallmouth populations. As an invasive species, Alabama bass can cause declines in largemouth populations. Once

Potomac River Bassing in APRIL

April is one of the best months for big fish and a lot of them. Lipless crankbaits in red, chrome, and shad patterns. Tie to 12 pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line. Gravel points in creek mouths and bays are great targets. Make long casts and slowly retrieve red baits, keeping them on the bottom. In areas with grass, keep the bait in contact with grass and snap free with a slight hesitation. Fast reels are important.

Also, old school Carolina rigs can cover water in the same areas. The 1 ounce weight keeps baits on the bottom. Use 16 pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line with a 12 pound test Edge leader is the set up. Leader length varies, 18-24 inches covers most conditions. Longer in very clear water.

Fish are moving to docks. Target docks closer to the creek mouth or deep water. Jigs and creature baits will yield good fish.

Spinnerbaits slow rolled along the bottom will get big bass to bite. Best when water has some color or there’s chop. Gold blades and white skirts.

Alabama populations establish, stunting occurs, resulting in greater abundance of smaller bass. Fisheries are likely to shift from being dominated by 2–3 lb. largemouth or smallmouth bass to being dominated by 1 lb. Alabama bass. Hybridization and declines in either population will result in the loss of sportfishing opportunities and the million dollar economic benefit.

Destruction of quality largemouth fisheries doesn’t take long! Well known North Carolina lakes, like Lake Norman, saw a decline in largemouth. Lake Chatuge saw a loss of smallmouth following the introduction of Alabama bass in less than a decade! In Georgia, Alabama Bass have spread and hybridized with native Shoal bass and Chattahoochee bass to the point where both populations are endangered and have been labeled by Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources as Species of Special Concern.

Smallmouth populations in the James River could be decimated with no chance of rebound! While every system is different, outcomes are reliably the same. The effects of an Alabama bass invasion might not be realized initially but don’t take long for the interbreeding process to wipe out the preferred largemouth genes at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, DWR is finding Alabama bass in several fisheries, including the New River and Claytor Lake, which many consider to be the best fishery in Virginia with native smallmouth bass. Largemouth abundance declines are more likely in lakes that are relatively clear, and which have limited vegetation such as Smith Mountain Lake, Lake

Anna, South Holston Reservoir, and Lake Moomaw if Alabama Bass are introduced.

Making this disaster even more complicated is how difficult it is to identify them. Even fisheries biologists are challenged to differentiate Alabama bass from spotted bass and most anglers can’t discern a largemouth bass from an Alabama bass, making it very difficult for angler or biologist intervention and removal of the undesirable bass. DWR offers a quick differentiation…Alabama bass jaws line up with the middle rear of the eye. Largemouth Bass jaws extend past the eye. Alabama bass have a dark, blotchy lateral band from head to tail, and have spots below this band. Largemouth bass have a more continuous lateral band. Alabama Bass also typically have a tooth patch on their tongue, which is rare in Largemouth Bass. Alabama and Spotted Bass are differentiated by differences in lateral line scale counts or genetic analysis.

The DRW strategy is focusing on education and engaging bass anglers. In addition, Alabama bass have been added to the undesirable list, expressly prohibited stocking of spotted bass because of appearance similarities.

Maryland is keeping a watchful eye as several of their prized fisheries could have the habitat where Alabama bass could flourish and destroy Deep Creek Lake, Prettyboy, Loch Raven, and Liberty Reservoirs, the nontidal Potomac River and its major tributaries, and some areas of the tidal Chesapeake Bay.

There’s no bag or size limit and anglers are encouraged to harvest all they catch. Alabama bass are on Virginia’s Predatory and Undesirable Species List. Live possession is unlawful outside of the body of water of catch. Violations of this regulation are a class III misdemeanor. This is the time for anglers to act! Report any violations immediately! 800-2375712 or WildCrime@dwr.virginia.gov

Bottom line, anglers must stop now and not stock any fish. The future of bass fishing in Virginia is now compromised and we will lose our valuable resource due to the selfish and ignorant acts of a few. Don’t be one of them.

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

What I’m Telling Myself

Some think April showers, May flowers. I think holy crap—it’s almost bathing suit season and my Michelle Obama arms are flapping in the wind. What the heck happened to all my well-intentioned New Year’s intentions? What happened to January, February, and March?

I’ll tell you what happened. It was cold. I was tired. The dog ate my gym card. In other words, my good intentions bit the dust.

Things I did manage to finish:

■ The laundry (but is it ever really finished?);

■ Three seasons of YOU;

■ Every episode of Dateline and 20/20 related to the Murdaugh trial;

■ Nine episodes of The Last of Us;

■ Five quarts of Ben & Jerry’s.

But, it’s okay. At least that’s what I’m telling myself because this is the year of total ACCEPTANCE. Acceptance of myself, others, life’s ups and downs, my husband’s quirks, but not his snoring which I could perhaps accept if I actually had the proper amount of rest and wasn’t so darn crabby all the time.

This is the year I’m going to accept myself as I am. I’m going to embrace my flaws (of which there are many), and I’m going to accept my body however it chooses to show up every day for me—tired, puffy, a little bloated and gassy, etc. It’s mine and I need to be more kind, compassionate, and appreciative of it.

That being said, I also need to show it daily love which is what I’m focusing on. I need to show it love by feeding it good, whole foods that fuel it. I need to make sure it gets proper rest even if it means sleeping in the guest room

occasionally (see snoring above). I need to take it for nice, long walks. It really doesn’t mind the cold, but it’s not particularly fond of the wind which hopefully dies down soon. And, it actually likes to be challenged and pushed a bit. It’s been a minute since I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone physically. During a recent spring cleaning purge, I came across some old half marathon medals and memorabilia from two AIDS rides I completed. Granted, I was in my thirties when I rode my bike for from Raleigh, NC back to DC, but the pride swelled up inside me like it was yesterday as I looked at the pics of me and my fellow riders with bikes hoisted above our heads in celebration.

Looking at those pictures reminded and inspired me:

I can do hard things; I can do anything I set my mind to; Challenges are more fun when done with friends;

My body is capable of doing more than I give it credit for; and

With the proper training, patience, and practice, my goals are attainable.

As much as the calendar taunts me this time of year with what I haven’t accomplished, it is also a reminder that there is no time like the present. Start where you are. Blank slates aren’t exclusive to the month of January. Every day your feet hit the floor is a fresh start.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Accepting your body, situation, circumstances, etc. doesn’t mean lying down and raising the white flag. On the contrary, it means that you have a starting point, a jumping off platform to leap in the direction of your dreams and goals, whatever they may be.

While I may not be up for a century bike ride today, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. While I can’t run a half-marathon today, I can set a

series of goals for myself and build up to it in a way that works for my body and reduces the risk of injury. While I may not be ready to join CrossFit, I can pick up those hand weights and do some bicep curls. Or, maybe I can join a pickle ball league. There are many options to move, play, and enjoy a sense of community while working toward my good intentions.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

I’m also telling myself that Spring is here, and that I am accepting and embracing with open, albeit jiggly, arms.

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.

Happy 15th Anniversary!

Wow! Can you all believe that it has been 15 years since National Harbor made its debut? Those years certainly flew by. I remember when Milt Peterson first unveiled his plan for the project and the hullabaloo that ensued afterward, most specially on the Alexandria side of the Potomac. Comments like “He is building a resort that is going to take away our tourist business.” “It is never going to work. Who would want to spend time in Prince George’s County? It is dangerous!” and so on….

Well….no tourist business was taken away from Old Town. In fact, the Gaylord has provided hundreds of thousands of tourists each year to our fair city. Old Town has something the Harbor doesn’t have – hundreds of years of history. I lived in a wonderful condo in the Harbor from 2010 to 2021 and never felt in danger once. In fact, I wish I still lived there but the Economic impact of the pandemic forced my move.

When Peterson took on this project he didn’t know that the economy would take a bit of a hit in the early 2000’s. When the downturn occurred he stayed true to his word (unlike many others in the building business) and put his money where his mouth is and kept the project going. After the completion of the Gaylord and the main footprint of the “Heart of the Harbor” – it officially opened on April 1, 2008. We were there at the ceremony and were happy to be part of a little bit of history being made.

“When Milt Peterson, first saw the piece of land, he saw something that no one else saw,” said Jon Peterson, CEO of Peterson Companies. “As a developer, we always look to provide what a community is needing and there was an opportunity in southern Prince George's County for residential, retail, restaurants, and office space. Therefore, we created this minicity right on the Potomac River. My father Milt always said, let's provide something that's fun for the family as a getaway - that was part of the

vision. It was to provide something here for everyone and as you can tell after 15 years, there is something here for everyone.” The photo featured on this page of Jon and Milt was taken in May of 2013 by former Rolling Stone photographer Chester Simpson – www.ChesterSimpson.com . It captures the essence of both men and has been a favorite of the family for these past 10 years. Sadly, Milt passed away in May of 2021 at age 85. He was a force to be reckoned with.

Now as I look across the river from Old Town and the skyline now hosts the MGM Grand, the Capital Wheel and the Flag at Spirit Park in addition to the original “Star of the Harbor”, the

Gaylord Hotel and Resort, I maintain that Milt had a really good idea. Even though, some retail businesses and eateries have come and gone, the Harbor still has a vibrant shopping and dining scene with new things popping up every month. Not to mention the festivals and events that happen yearly. In fact, Cherry Blossom celebrations are winding up early this month.

I was hoping to find out that there are anniversary celebrations running throughout the month but as of this writing, it appears that the only events commemorating the Anniversary happen on April 1st and that is the day this issue hits the streets.

There are so many amazing things to see in the Harbor from an artistic perspective but two of the most powerful are “The Beckoning” sculpture that greets you as you turn into the Harbor and “The Awakening” that lays in the sand along the waterfront at the foot of American Way. Speaking of American Way… there are many sculptures that line that promenade - my favorite is “Marilyn”. If you haven’t been in the Harbor for a while or haven’t been at all, it is worth the trek across the bridge. Information about all of the artwork and its significance as well as a guide to eateries and shops is available at www.NationlHarbor.com .

Jon and Milt Peterson, 2013 on the carousel at National Harbor - Photo by Chester Simpson

When It’s Craftmark, You Know.

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