Old Town Crier - May 2015 Issue

Since 1988 – Priceless

May 2015

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Business Profile

SPICE & TEA EXCHANGE

Bringing the Flavors of the World to Old Town Road Trip

THE BEACHES OF SOUTHERN DELAWARE The Annual Spring Trek Grapevine

PEARMUND CELLARS & VINEYARD Broad Run, Virginia

Across the Bridge

NATIONAL HARBOR

Good Things Happening

oldtowncrier.com

Landini’s

ZAGAT

Setting The Standard In 2006 Old Town For 35 Years AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

AND THE PAST 15 YEARS

115115 KingKing Street Street • Old Town Alexandria Old Town Alexandria 703-836-8404 • landinibrothers.com 703-836-8404

G -11 pm N I RK :30

PArday 5 T E AL atu

V y&S a

Frid

Valet Parking Friday & Saturday 5-11 pm

Noe and Franco welcome you!

COME FOR THE FUN, STAY FOR THE FOOD!

Old Town’s Favorite Raw Bar Featuring the Freshest Shellfish in Virginia

Fish Market has continued to rise above the tide with its winning recipe for success–good, fresh seafood, excellent service and a great location. Such dedication to high quality and customer service has helped launch Fish Market as an Old Town landmark since 1976!

105 & 107 King St. Old Town Alexandria

703.836.5676 fishmarketva.com

Eat Fish, Drink Beer, Live Longer!

may’15 A Division of Crier Media Group OTC Media LLC PO Box 320386 Alexandria, Va. 22320

18 36

7

phone: 703. 836. 0132 office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com Published the first week of every month.

Worth waiting for!

PUBLISHER Bob Tagert MARKETING & ADVERTISING Lani Gering Bob Tagert SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE Laura Parker DESIGN & PRODUCTION Electronic Ink 9 Royal Street, SE Leesburg, Va. 20175 Chris Anderson Peggie Arvidson Sarah Becker F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Doug Coleman Ashley Denham Busse Doug Fabbioli Nicole Flanagan Lani Gering

CONTRIBUTORS Frances Killpatrick Miriam Kramer Jeff McCord Laura Parker Julie Reardon Chester Simpson Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown

A Bit of History

8

Financial Focus

6

Open Space

45

Pets of the Month

17

Points on Pets

16

After Hours

11

First Blush

43

Art & Antiques

15

Fitness

40

Behind the Bar

28

From the Bay…

22

Business Profile

4

From the Trainer

41

Publishers Notes

2

Caribbean Connection

18

Gallery Beat

14

Road Trip

20

Chefs Special

34

Go Fish

39

Spiritual Renaissance

44

Civil Discourse

9

Grapevine

36

Dining Guide

32

High Notes

12

The Last Word

13

Dining Out

30

National Harbor

46

To the Blue Ridge

26

Exploring Virginia Wines

37

On the Media

3

Urban Garden

Festival Season

10

On the Road

1

Virginia Wine Trails

7 38

© 2015 Crier Media Group, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The Old Town Crier is published monthly and distributed to selected Alexandria residents, hotels, restaurants and retail shops. Also distributed in the Annapolis, Fredericksburg, Blue Ridge and Washington, DC areas as well as St. John, USVI.

About the cover Our cover image is one of local Alexandrian Paul McGehee's many beautiful paintings. The cover image is cropped from the original work to fit our print requirements. This is the complete image. See other paintings at www.paulmcgehee.com or visit his gallery in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia at 109 North Fairfax Street.

Old Town Crier

On the road with OTC Barbara and Shaun Sheehan both reading different editions of the Crier–cocktails in hand–sit poolside this at their home in Naples, Florida. The Sheehans (Landini Brothers restaurant regulars) still own a home in Old Town Alexandria but wisely stay south during the cold months.

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

May 2015 | 1

PUBLISHER’S NOTES BOB TAGERT

I

t seems like Mother Nature is playing games with us.

After three days of temps in the 80’s I broke out my shorts, and now they are back in the 60’s. This is where the temps should be, so we might have a gradual rise in temperatures therefore holding off the heat of summer.

Finally breaking winters cold grasp, now is the perfect time to throw off cabin fever and take a drive to our neighbors on the water in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties in Maryland, or a pleasant drive into Virginia’s wine country. The Tiki Bar opened last month in Solomons and Leonardtown is gearing up for the nice weather. Most of the wineries in Virginia are providing entertainment as well as great wines. If you are heading south to Maryland, and still would like to take in a winery, check out Running Hare or Perigeaux wineries in Calvert County or Slack Winery and Port of Leonardtown wineries in St. Mary’s County.

Although Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant was last month, Doug Coleman continues to follow the aftermath of that surrender and the events that happened, after and leading

Experience

the Art of Jewelry

ExtEnsivE CollECtion of HandmadE JEwElry Open every day and evenings 113 King Street • Old Town Alexandria 703.549.8530 • www.silverparrot.com 2 | May 2015

up to Appomattox in his Civil Discourse column.

Check out Chez Andree, our Dining Out column this month, and see what 50 years of French cooking has wrought. This is a favorite “on the fringe” Old Town place of many of our loyal readers.

Once again we are fortunate to have one of Alexandria local artist PauMcGehee’s paintings gracing our cover. Paul has supplied us with over 20 works of art for our covers over the past 27 years. This months’ cover is Cape Henlopen Light House at the northern end of Sussex County in southern Delaware. Last May Paul provided his print of Fenwick Island Lighthouse from the southern end of Sussex County for our cover. Check out our Road Trip this month, which is, you guessed it…the beaches of southern Delaware.

I am happy to share my photo space this month with Emro the parrot who resides at the fantastic Boardwalk Plaza Hotel in Rehoboth!

Let’s not forget that we celebrate Mother’s Day and Memorial Day this month. While both of my parents have passed on, I still remember my Mother on her day and my Father on Memorial Day in honor of his service in WWII. Be sure to treat Mom to something special and to remember all those who have passed before us on Memorial Day. If you encounter someone selling Memorial Day poppies, be sure to buy one!

Local Farmers Markets Old Town Farmers Market

Market Square • 301 King Street Saturday 7 a.m. - Noon, year round Free parking in Market Square garage during market hours People who come to Alexandria on Saturday mornings find themselves in a busy plaza where local farmers and artists have been selling their products since 1753. Old Town Alexandrias Market Square is thought to be one of the nations oldest continually operating farmers markets, serving as a primary source of meat, dairy, fish, fruits and vegetables for Alexandrians. George Washington sent his

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

Del Ray Farmers Market

Corner of East Oxford & Mount Vernon avenues Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon, year round The Del Ray Market is producer grown, with fresh vegetables and fruits in season. All year round this market offers meats, eggs, fresh pasta and sauces, Amish cheese, yogurt, bakery goods, eggs, jams and jellies, fancy nuts and bakery goods.

Old Town Crier

ON THE MEDIA LAURA PARKER

Three Marketing Metrics that Can Make All the Difference

H

ave you ever felt like there are a million metrics at your disposal? Page likes, shares, retweets, comments, and the list for social media metrics goes on and on. Then, there are the website metrics: page views, unique number of visitors, page clicks, link-backs, references, etc. How do you know which metrics truly matter? To help you avoid a numeric mess, here are three metrics that you should always analyze.

1. Customer Acquisition Cost

The Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) can be calculated by dividing the total costs associated with acquisition by total new customers, within a specific time period. This metric should be used as a ratio with your Lifetime Value (LTV) of a customer.

Understanding your LTV:CAC ration, as well as the CAC timeline can help you answer the following questions: • What channel helps you acquire your best customers?

• What campaign has consistently delivered the highest CAC results?

• What combination of campaigns and channels have resulted in the best LTV:CAC ratio?

Knowing your CAC will help you to continuously improve your marketing Return on Investment (ROI).

2. Lifetime Value of a Customer

The lifetime value of your customer is then numeric value that is assigned to each customer over the lifetime of your business.

This value refers to the value that each

Since 1988–Priceless

From

the Bay to the Blue Ridge

May 2014

customer actually contributes to your company.

This metric can be calculated in two ways: • Historic Lifetime Value of a Customer: the sum of the gross profit from all historic purchase for an individual customer.

• Predictive Analysis of a Customer: predictive analysis of previous transaction history, combined with behavioral indicators to forecast the lifetime value of a customer.

Knowing the lifetime value of your customer will help you to more accurately determine the true benefits of your CAC metric(s).

3. Cost Per Lead

Cost per lead is the average amount of money that you have spent on a specific digital marketing channel to attract a new lead for a specific spend. In other words, ad spend / lead = cost per lead. This powerful digital marketing metric can help you to better determine where to spend your marketing budget to receive the highest ROI. By focusing on customer acquisition costs, lifetime value of a customer, and cost per lead metrics you will more accurately understand the overall health of your business. This information will help you to make informed marketing decisions that generate higher ROI. Laura P. Parker is a freelance writer and content marketing consultant who specializes in improving the marketing efforts of small-businesses through well-written, engaging, and ROI enhancing content. laura@laurapparker.com www. laurapparker.com

get your ! monthly fix

Road Trip

A TALE OF TWO BEACHES

Delaware’s Rehobeth and Bethany Personality Profile

ARIANNA ZUCKERMAN Sensational Soprano

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Cruise the waters of the Potomac River with its postcard views of the DC skyline.

Business entertainment, private parties, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries are our specialties.

We take the art of entertaining to a whole new level, no matter what the occasion.

You and your guests will remember the cruise for years to come. Quality service begins with custom planning to suit your needs.

potomac belle Docked in Old Town Alexandria

For reservations and additional information

703-868-5566 • potomacbelle.com “What a perfect evening you provided for my guests from out of town and out of the country. Your crew was helpful and professional, from working with my caterer to keeping safety uppermost.”

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

1207 King Street Old Town Alexandria 703.549.4040 www.lamplighterlamps.com Haircuts $15

French Cuisine Fantastique

NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN

private yacht charter

A Very Good Price!

Shampoo, Cut & Blow Dry $18 (extra charge for long hair) Scissors Cut $17+up Color $43+up Permanent $45+up (including haircut & conditioner)

Good Haircut!

Beautiful Perm!

Long Lasting Color!

Van’s Hairstylists 107 North Washington Street (near corner of King & Washington streets)

703-836-1916

Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm • Saturday 9 am-6 pm We care and will give you only the best!

Biolage • Vital Nutrient • Socolor • Matrix Perm • Paul Mitchell • Nexxus May 2015 | 3

business profile LANI GERING

THE SPICE & TEA EXCHANGE 320 KING STREET Old Town Alexandria 571-312-8505 spiceandtea.com

The Spice & Tea Exchange Owners Taruna Reddy and Joy Quinn

T

he Old Town Crier is revisiting our local spice and tea mecca on King Street in this months Business Profile. Alexandria Spice & Tea Exchange (ASTE) just turned 5 years old this past April. I have to admit that I was one of the first locals to jump on their bandwagon because of the variety of their offerings and more specifically the fact that if you need something “exotic” you don’t have to buy a whole “jar” of “it.” Case in point “saffron.” Those readers who are “foody” inclined will understand that saffron is very expensive and when you need just a little bit, you can 4 | May 2015

Bringing the Flavors of the World to Old Town

get it here without the expense of a whole jar.

I consulted with co-owner Joy Quinn in order to get some factual background information about ASTE and she offered lots of great information. Spice and Tea was a small, but growing, franchise when Joy stumbled across it. Each store is independently owned and operated and the Old Town Alexandria location is store number 13. Partnering with Taruna Reddy, they both have a passion for food and wanted to build a fun and creative environment in which to apply years of (boring) business &

IT consulting into their own business.

In partnership, they opened Alexandria in April of 2010 and opened a sister store in Annapolis in mid-March 2011. Independently, Joy opened a store in Rehoboth in 2013 and is about to open another store in an undisclosed location this year.

According to Quinn, “While we have the unique/hard to get ingredients that foodies and gourmets seek, we are all about helping the “average” cook be a hero in the kitchen without extensive effort.

Just add one of our customer blends to something nominal and make it

phenomenal: Amy’s organic soup from a can combined with Adoro blend, intensifies the flavor and ads a kick.” She continues, “We are really trying to create a unique, sensory, high customer service type of shopping experience. We also host public/ private talks and shopping parties and would be interested in partnering with all of you in a variety of ways that we can talk about further one-on-one.”

The Products

Spices & Ground peppers from BUSINESS PROFILE > PAGE 5

Old Town Crier

Coleman Law Group Attorneys at Law Serving Virginia and DC for over 20 years (703) 739-4200 coleman-lawyers.com 602 Cameron Street Alexandria, VA 22314

Old TOwn Shoe & luggage Repair • Serving Alexandria for over 17 years • Shoe & Luggage Repair • New Luggage BUSINESS PROFILE FROM PAGE 4

around the world, super fresh with a high volatile oil content.

Unique and custom blended teas: black, green, white, herbal, pu-erh (or cave aged) and roobius.

Naturally infused sweet and savory sugars.

Infused and smoked salts: Dry and course for grinding, dry and fine for shaking, and finishing salts to be sprinkled after cooking for flavor and presentation. Examples: Pinot on roasted asparagus, Black truffle on potatoes, popcorn, what-have-you, smoked chardonnay on.....and the very smoky salts for folks who like to make their own blends and BBQ rubs.

The highlight of the store are their handmade custom blends: rubs and grinders, made fresh daily in the store for everything from steak, chicken, chops, fish & seafood, curries, drinks and party snacks.

The Spice & Tea Exchange® Experience

The adventure begins when you first enter the store and are greeted by a friendly, knowledgeable staff, who invite you to open up the jars and “Smell the Spices”. The warmth and energy is contagious, and their passion for quality and commitment to friendly service makes every shopping experience a pleasurable, sensory and educational adventure that sets them apart from anyone else. When you come in you will immediately smell the wonderful fine spices, fresh herbs, gourmet blends and gourmet teas. You are greeted by the a knowledgeable spice enthusiast ready to answer your questions and fulfill your order.

You will probably notice someone in the back of the store mixing up fine blends and rubs.

Feel free to wander over and ask which blend or rub is being prepared and make sure to open the jars and enjoy the fresh, flavorful aromas.

Don’t be shy – it’s part of The Spice & Tea Old Town Crier

shopping experience.

“Come in and Smell the Spices” is not just the company’s tagline, it embodies the desire to welcome and invite guests to take part in the whole Spice & Tea Exchange experience.

It’s part of the company’s DNA. Entering a Spice & Tea Exchange store is an experience like no other. Each store is unique, following the framework of an 18th century trading post.

Heavy wooden beams, nautical and antique fixtures and displays highlight the open and airy fresh market feeling that evokes a sense of stepping back in time.

The Owners

Joy Quinn: An engineer by training, Ms. Quinn has always pursued significant interests of self-expression through the arts, specifically in music and cooking. Growing up under the wing of her mother—an accomplished gourmet cooking enthusiast—Ms. Quinn leverages the recipes and knowledge gained while assisting with innumerable dinners and cocktail parties.

Outside the home, her culinary tastes and interests have matured under the influence of her worldwide travels.

Taruna Reddy: Not a chef by education, Ms. Reddy has been lured by the fascinating rituals of the kitchen—both the culinary and spiritual center where she cultivated her passion for the traditional flavors of Indian cooking. Ms. Reddy is faithful to the authentic homemade dishes of her youth, but also is a champion of the great diversity that India has to offer and the continual evolution of these multitude flavors in today’s global environment.

If you haven’t ventured into Spice and Tea here in Old Town, do yourself a favor and check it out. If you haven’t been in the store for a while, make another visit to see what’s new.

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

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

Delaying Retirement May Be the Financial Boost You Need

A

mericans are living longer, healthier lives, and this trend is affecting how they think about and plan for retirement. For instance, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the age at which workers expect to retire has been rising slowly over the past couple of decades. In 1991, just 11% of workers expected to retire after age 65. Fast forward to 2014, and that percentage has tripled to 33% — and 10% don’t plan to retire at all.1 Working later in life can offer a number of advantages. Many people welcome the opportunity to extend an enjoyable career, maintain professional contacts, and continue to learn new skills.

A Financial Boost

In addition to personal rewards, the financial benefits can go a long way toward helping you live in comfort during your later years. For starters, staying on the job provides the opportunity to continue contributing to your employer-sponsored retirement plan. And if your employer allows you to make catch-up contributions, just a few extra years of saving through your workplace plan

could give your retirement nest egg a considerable boost, as the table below indicates.

Whether you look forward to staying active in your later years or simply need the income, delaying retirement has many perks worth considering.

Delaying Distributions

In addition to enabling you to continue making contributions to your employer’s plan, delaying retirement may allow you to put off taking distributions until you do hang up your hat. Typically, required minimum distributions (RMDs) are mandated when you reach age 70½, but your employer may permit you to delay withdrawals if you work past that age.

Keep in mind that if you have a traditional IRA, you are required to begin RMDs by age 70½, while a Roth IRA has no distribution requirements during the account holder’s lifetime — a feature that can prove very attractive to individuals who want to keep their IRA intact for a few added years of tax-deferred investment growth or for those who intend to pass the Roth IRA on to beneficiaries.

A Look at Social Security

Your retirement age also has a significant bearing on your Social Security benefit. Although most individuals are eligible for Social Security at age 62, taking benefits at this age permanently reduces your

payout by 20% to 30% or more.

Waiting until your full retirement age ­— between 66 and 67 — would allow you to claim your full unreduced benefit. And for each year past your full retirement age you wait to claim benefits, you earn a delayed retirement credit worth 8% annually up until age 70.2 Consider researching your options to continue working past the traditional retirement age. By remaining on the job, your later years may be more secure financially and more rewarding personally.

Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Wealth Management Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no

A FEW EXTRA YEARS COULD ADD UP YEAR

MAXIMUM ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION

CATCH-UP CONTRIBUTION FOR WORKERS 50 & OLDER

TOTAL ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS

2015 $18,000 $6000 $24,000 2016-2020 Indexed to Inflation Indexed to Inflation ?

event shall Wealth Management Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber’s or others’ use of the content. © 2015 Wealth Management Systems Inc. All rights reserved.

This column is provided through the Financial Planning Association, the membership organization for the financial planning community, and is brought to you by Carl M. Trevisan, a local member of FPA and Stephen M. Bearce. McLaughlin Ryder Investments, Inc. and McLaughlin Ryder Advisory Services, LLC and their employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any tax-related statements are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any such taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. Tax-based statements, if any, may have been written in connection with the promotion or marketing of the transaction (s) or matter(s) addressed by these materials, to the extent allowed by applicable law. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

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

Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey, March 18, 2014.

1 2

Social Security Administration. The benefit increase no longer applies when you reach age 70, even if you continue to delay taking benefits.

6 | May 2015

Old Town Crier

URBAN GARDEN rita jacinto

The Memorial Day Poppy The inspiration for this column began at the local shopping mall. Yeah, I know it is a pretty bizarre place to get any kind of inspiration let alone gardening inspiration but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

You see sitting out front of one of the mega stores was a WWII veteran and what looked like his grandson. On the shaky card table were a bunch of red silk poppies and a can for donations.

I always put some money in the can and get a poppy to wear. It’s a habit I picked up from my Dad when I was a little kid. He always bought a poppy and kept it in the visor of his truck. I didn’t know why he did this exactly except that it had something to do with the war. He was a veteran of WWII and since he is no longer

around to buy his poppy I do it for him.

That old vet sitting at his table a few weeks before Memorial Day got me wondering about the story of the red poppy. There are many kinds of poppies but the poppy mentioned Old Town Crier

in John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”, was found growing in the fields of Flanders and often referred to as Flanders Poppy is actually Papaver rhoeas more commonly called Corn Poppy. This Mediterranean native is found growing in cultivated fields all over southern Europe.

Its legend reaches back thousands of years. They have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back 3,000 years. There is a drawing of a poppy that was found in the Codex Vindobonensis which was put together for the Byzantine princess Anicia Juliana. The Codex is dated at over a thousand years.

Homer mentions poppies in the Iliad, comparing the head of a dying warrior to that of a

hanging poppy flower. Many of the ancient Greek and Roman gods are associated with the poppy. The god Morpheus made crowns out of the poppy flowers and gave them to those he wanted to put to sleep. Poppy

flowers were used to decorate his temple.

Like all legends there is some fact mixed in with the fiction. Papaver rhoeas does not contain any opium.

Its cousin Papaver somniferum is the opium poppy and is native to parts of Asia. I repeat, for all you poppy pod swipers, the Corn Poppy does not contain any opium, so leave the pretty flowers alone so other people can enjoy them. Now that that is cleared up I’ll tell you what the Corn Poppy does contain and why Morpheus used it to put people to sleep.

Papaver rhoeas contains a substance, cleverly named rhoeadine.

It’s nonpoisonous and has been used as a mild sedative for centuries. The ancient Romans used a concoction of the poppy to ease the pains of love, I guess if you are sleeping you can’t worry about love.

The Greeks have a legend that explains how the poppy came to be called the Corn Poppy. The poppy was created by the God of Sleep, Somnus.

You see Ceres, the Goddess of Grain, was having a hard time falling asleep.

She was exhausted from searching for her lost daughter; still she couldn’t fall asleep and had no energy to help the corn grow. Somnus cooked up a concoction and got her to take it, soon she was sleeping like a baby. Rested and relaxed Ceres could then turn her attention to the corn that began to grow. Ever since that time the people believed that poppies growing around cornfields ensure a bountiful harvest.

And so was born the Corn Rose, or as we call it today the Corn Poppy.

Those are some of the ancient legends associated with the poppy.

Now you are asking if I am ever going to explain the war connection. This too is an ancient connection going

back to Ghengis Khan. It is said that after his annihilation of the enemy the fields were churned up and drenched in blood. Soon they were covered in pure white blooms of the poppy. During the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century the same phenomenon occurred. Churned up blood-drenched fields erupted in poppy flowers.

So buy a poppy, then grow some poppies. They are easy to grow and will self-sow so that each year you will have gorgeous poppies in your garden, or where ever the wind has blown the seed.

Corn Poppy grow about 2 feet tall, although I have seen them get even taller. The flowers are from 2 to 5 inches across and come in a variety of colors. Starting from seed is so easy, all you have to do is scatter the tiny seeds onto some prepared soil and forget them. You can do this in the fall or early spring. Fall scattered seeds tend to grow healthier and produce larger flowers than spring sown seed but either way you can’t go wrong. They like cooler weather, would prefer to be in full sun and they like well drained soil. They look great in mass plantings or as part of a wildflower meadow and bloom profusely. Poppies make great cut flowers. If you sear the cut end of the stem with a match they will last longer in the vase.

Publisher’s note: This article is reprinted with permission. Portions have been edited in the interest of space. To read Ms. Jacinto’s complete feature and for more information about growing poppies and other botanicals log on to botanical.com

May 2015 | 7

a bit of history sarah becker©

100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the RMS Lusitania

O

n May 7, 1915 Alexandria resident, British national and second cabin passenger John Booth lost his life off the Irish Coast while cruising aboard the RMS Lusitania.

Booth, age 35, was sunk; German U-boat Captain Walther Schwieger— with the blast of a submerged torpedo—buried him at sea. The 32,500 ton RMS Lusitania was traveling from New York to Liverpool.

London, May 7, 1915…“The giant Cunarder, Lusitania, was torpedoed and sunk off Old head, Kinsale at 3:38 o’clock this morning. All details are lacking but, it is reported the passengers and crew have taken to the boats and were saved,” the Alexandria Gazette reported. In fact 1,198 passengers died including 128 Americans.

London, May 8, 1915…“Yesterday’s dispatches stated that no lives had been lost by the sinking of the Cunard steamer Lusitania by a German submarine,” the Alexandria Gazette re-counted. “Late advices, however, dissipated all hope that torpedoing of the steamer had been accomplished without fatalities, and now it is feared 8 | May 2015

that the loss of life will equal that of the Titanic disaster three years ago...”

The Germans alleged the British flagged ship had entered a war zone armed.

On August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia, on France two days later. Europe’s continental war expanded when Germany raided Great Britain in January 1915. The British claimed the attack on the RMS Lusitania was without warning.

“The attack came as a surprise,” The Washington Post said. “Passengers were lunching when water rushed through the vessel’s side.” American minister, the Reverend John Henry Jowett described the German action “as premeditated murder.” The United States as of August 19, 1914 was neutral.

Washington, May 10, 1915…“With the full proportions of the Lusitania horror known and with evidences that the [United States] is stirred to its depths over it, all eyes now are turned to the course which will be pursued

by President [Woodrow] Wilson and his advisers,” the Alexandria Gazette wrote. “It is not too much to say that not only the eyes of the neutrals of the world, but those of the belligerents as well, are focused on Washington…

Every indication is that Berlin will… seek to justify [the attack] on the ground—so far as Americans are concerned—that they were warned.”

“There was only 15 minutes from the time the ship was struck until she foundered, going down bow foremost,” the Alexandria Gazette concluded.

Philadelphia, May 10, 1915...“The example of America must be a special example, not merely of peace because it will not fight, but of peace because peace is the healing and elevating influence of the world,” President Wilson said. “There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight. There is such a thing as a nation being so right that is does not need to convince others by force that it is right.”

President Woodrow Wilson’s unofficial European envoy, Colonel Edward M. House was on board when the RMS Lusitania sank.

The days following were “trying to men’s souls.” Colonel House survived but the President struggled “to hold the imperial German government to strict accountability.” The public was rallying including Colonel Theodore Roosevelt.

“Dudley Field Malone, collector of the port, denied…the German statements that the Lusitania had guns mounted when she sailed from this port,” The Washington Post penned. “The Lusitania was inspected, as is customary. No guns were found, mounted or unmounted, and the Lusitania sailed without any armament. No merchant ship would be allowed to arm in this port and leave the harbor.”

United States citizens, “prominent men”—like Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Charles Frohman and Justin Miles Forman—were dead. Had Germany gone too far? Or had Britain ignored passengers’ safety?

America asked: Why was it that the

Lusitania’s Captain “appeared in the war zone exactly on schedule time, at the place where the enemy might expect to find him? Why was it that he slowed down from 24 or more knots to 17 knots, at the same time blowing his fog whistle continually…despite clear weather? Why was it that no British patrol boats…appeared to escort the Lusitania, in view of the enemy’s warning? The answers, The New York Times concluded, “beclouded understanding.”

In 1916 Woodrow Wilson was narrowly re-elected President.

“Although we have centered counsel and action…upon the [domestic] problems…to which we addressed ourselves four years ago, other matters have more and more forced themselves upon our attention—matters… which, despite our wish to keep free of them, have drawn us more and more irresistibly into their own current and influence,” President Wilson said in his March 5, 1917 inaugural address.

On January 31, 1917 Germany notified the United States unrestricted submarine attacks would continue.

They announced Germany would sink on sight all merchant vessels found in a zone around the British Isles or in the Mediterranean. President Wilson broke off diplomatic negotiations and ordered the arming of American freighters.

German submarines were only part of Wilson’s naval predicament.

America’s once proud merchant marine had withered away. It was the victim of devastation wrought by Confederate raiders during the Civil War as well as post-Reconstruction changes in the American economy.

In February 1917 the Germans sank 540,000 tons of Allied shipping; in March 578,000 tons, and 874,000 tons in April. On April 6, 1917 America responded by declaring war. The A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 42

Old Town Crier

civil DISCOURSE DOUG COLEMAN

Infernal Devices, Greek Fire and BioTerrorism

A

s the war wound down in April of 1865, 2100 paroled Union POWs assembled at a camp near Vicksburg, Mississippi to await transport home by steamer. On April 24th, they crowded aboard the Sultana for the ride home. About 2:00 in the morning on April 27th, the boat’s three boilers exploded, scalding many of her crew and passengers. Scattered embers immediately set the ship ablaze and those who had not been flayed alive by steam were forced into a cold and flooded Mississippi to perish from hypothermia. About an hour later, another ship came upon the burning wreck and managed to rescue some of the survivors, while others were pulled from the water as they drifted past Memphis. Many of these would later die in hospitals of their wounds and burns. In all, deaths are believed to be in the range of 1800 – more than the Titanic’s 1512 – making the Sultana the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history.

For a time the Sultana disaster was blamed on faulty maintenance – an accident. But the deathbed confession of Robert Louden, Confederate secret agent, later called this into question when he claimed to have sabotaged the boat with a “coal torpedo.” This refers to a four pound iron shell disguised as a large lump of coal, painted black and covered with coal dust, filled with gunpowder. When shoveled into a steam engine coal-box, the shell would soon explode, triggering a catastrophic rupture which would release scalding steam and scatter burning coal to start fires. These devious devices were the invention of Thomas Courtenay, who planned to seed them among Union vessels and even to have decoy coal barges confiscated by blockaders, who would then transfer the booby-trapped coal into their own bins.

Old Town Crier

Louden may have in fact been responsible for sabotaging several Unionist boats on the Mississippi – whether his claim of sinking the Sultana is true will probably never be known, but he was the right guy in the right place at the right time, and he had done it before. Other ships which may have been the victims of coal torpedoes were the Chenango, stricken on her maiden voyage from New York to Virginia in 1864, killing thirty of her crew and crippling the ship for the duration of the war. In November of 1864, Ben Butler’s headquarters on the James, the Greyhound, burned after its boiler was blown by Confederate “visitors” who had slipped a torpedo into the coal supply. Altogether, the coal torpedo may have damaged over fifty ships, killing thousands of Yankee soldiers and sailors and a good number of civilians as well.

One of the most spectacular demonstrations of Confederate ingenuity came in August of 1864 at City Point, Grant’s vast supply depot supplying his army on the Petersburg line. A Confederate named John Maxwell snuck a “horological torpedo” – a time bomb – aboard a Union munitions ship. When the ship went up, the detonation destroyed a huge section of the waterfront, wharves and associated warehouses. Forty soldiers were killed and many others wounded, including some of Grant’s staff. The blast was heard in Petersburg, ten miles away.

On a more modest level, the Confederates deployed improvised land mines – 8 and 10 inch shells with a percussion fuse covered by foil. When a horse hoof struck the fuse … First used at the siege of Yorktown to delay McClellan’s pursuit, by 1864 thousands had been deployed around Richmond’s forts. By then many were command–detonated with

a long cord, the original Claymore.

The ethics of employing these devices were questionable in the Victorian age, but there is no doubt they were effective. Eventually the Yankees had Confederate prisoners walking in front of the Union troops to either point them out or clear them the hard way so much for ethics in wartime.

Even more effective were the Confederate submersible torpedoes - mines. Two brothers named Rains were geniuses in this field, churning out designs that actually worked. As early as 1862, the Federal navy had to proceed cautiously to avoid the mine threat, which blunted the fleet’s effectiveness and sapped morale.

In December of 1864, commanddetonated mines destroyed seven of twelve ships sent up the Roanoke River to take a fort in North Carolina. The U.S. navy lost more ships from mines than all other causes combined. At Mobile, Admiral Farragut’s famous quote, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” refers to the very real threat presented by these keel-splitting monsters. The first “torpedo” as we think of it in a modern sense was the Confederate submarine Hunley, which unfortunately delivered its warhead via manpower. In February of 1864, she sank the Housatonic in Charleston harbor, but was herself lost, ultimately killing more of her own crew than Yankee sailors.

Dirty tricks were aimed at the North’s civilian populace as well.

The Confederate secret service and sympathetic Copperheads came up with a scheme to burn down New York in November 1864. Agents set fire to thirteen Manhattan hotels and also some prominent public buildings such as P.T. Barnum’s museum. This was done with vials of a mysterious substance called “Greek fire.” When

Sultana Disaster from Harper’s Weekly

A coal torpedo

CIVIL DISCOURSE > PAGE 42

May 2015 | 9

Festival

Season is HERE!

It's Spring time! Flowers are blooming, the grass is green and it's time to gear up for festival season.

There are so many diverse music festivals happening just a short drive from the Washington, DC area that everyone should experience at least one. These are not to be missed by folks who enjoy listening to talented local bands, soaking up the sun, and making new friends.

These festivals are family- and child-friendly, with many events designed for all ages along with good food to round out the experience.

Check out the schedule listed here and hopefully you'll become a part of a great local summer tradition. See ya there!

Steep Canyon Rangers performing last year at the 2014 River Roots Festival at Watermelon Park

2015 Music Festival Schedule May Sleepy Creek SpringDig Music and Arts Festival May 1-3 www.sleepycreekpresents.com/ events 6th Annual Loudoun Bluegrass Festival May 9 www.bluegrassloudoun.com Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival May 14-17 www.gettysburgbluegrass.com/ festival Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival May 16-17 www.bayblues.org Ralph Stanley Bluegrass Festival May 21-23 www.drralphstanleyfestival.com Delfest May 21-24 www.delfest.com Graves Mountain Festival of Music May 28-30 www.gravesmountain.com/eventscalendar/festival-of-music June Dinwiddie Music Festival June 4-6 www.dinwiddiemusicfest.com Firefly Music Festival June 18-21 www.fireflyfestival.com Smithsonian Folklife Festival June 24-28 and July 1-5 www.festival.si.edu

River & Roots Festival June 26-27 www.riverandroots.com South Branch Valley Bluegrass Festival June 27 bluegrass.hampshirewv.com July Red Wing III Roots Music Festival July 10-12 www.redwingroots.com 32nd Annual Mineral Bluegrass Festival July 16-18 www.mineralbluegrass.com Floydfest July 22-26 www.floydfest.com August Old Fiddler's Convention Galax, Virginia August 3-8 www.oldfiddlersconvention.com 2015 Bluegrass in Luray Festival August 6-8 www.bluegrassinluray.com 71st Semi-Annual Festival Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival August 13-16 www.gettysburgbluegrass.com/ festival/festivals/august-festival/ September Lockn Sept. 10-13 http://www.locknfestival.com/ Watermelon Park Fest Sept. 24-27 www.watermelonparkfest.com

Launching Chinese lanterns at the 2014 Sleepy Creek Spring Festival

Larry Keel and Keller Williams (local musicians) performing at the 2014 Watermelon Park Festival

photos: Š Chester Simpson 10 | May 2015

Old Town Crier

AFTER AFTER HOURS HOURS

Birchmere 703.549.7500 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

Las Tapas 703.836.4000 710-714 King St. lastapas.us

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

The Light Horse 703.549.0533 715 King St. thelighthorserestaurant.com

Chadwicks 203 S. Strand St. 703.836.4442

Morrison House 703.838.8000 116 South Alfred St.

Evening Star Cafe 703.549.5051 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Murphys Irish Pub 703.548.1717 713 King St. murphyspub.com

The Fish Market 703.836.5676 105 King St. fishmarketoldtown.com Flying Fish 703.600.FISH 815 King St. flyingfishdc.com

OConnells 703.739.1124 112 King St. Rock It Grill 703.739.2274 1319 King St.

Austin Grill & Tequila Bar 703.836.8969 801 King St. 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. TJ Stones 703.548.1004 608 Montgomery St. tjstones.com Trattoria da Franco 703-548-9338 305 S. Washington St. Two Nineteen 703.549.1141 219 King St.

King Street Blues 703.836.8800 112 N. St. Asaph St.

Shooter McGees 703.751.9266 5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com

La Portas 703.683.6313 1600 Duke St.

These establishments offer live entertainment. Call to confirm show times, dates and cover charges. Check our advertisers’ websites.

Through May 16 Wednesday-Saturday 8pm • Sunday 3pm Directed by Joanna Henry Produced by Eddie Page and Alan Wray Written by Neil Simon www.thelittletheatre.com Alexandria’s Little Theater presents Neil Simon’s comedy classic with a twist! Unger and Madison are at it again — Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is — in Neil Simon’s hilarious contemporary comic classic. Come watch this time-honored comedy reinvented from a different perspective as the ladies take over the juicy roles of the famously mismatched couple to give this well-known play a whole new life. Watch and laugh as this “odd couple” learn that friendship may have its ups and downs but in the end it overpowers all.

Gayle Nichols-Grimes (Olive) and Jennifer Lyons Pagnard (Florence)

Old Town Crier

Photo: Keith Waters / Kx Photography

May 2015 | 11

HIGH NOTES

the sonics

CHRIS ANDERSON

T

hese days it’s not unusual to hear talk of band reunions. It seems like every broken-up band eventually gets back together. Some of those, like Phish, Van Halen, or Genesis, seemed inevitable. Some bands, however, fall into the “unlikely” category. Usually that is due to bad blood within the band, especially in the case of groups like the Eagles, The Stone Roses, or The Police. All of those bands buried the hatchet, at least for a little while, and made triumphant comebacks, though a few others like The Smiths, The Byrds, or Dire Straits…well, we are not holding our breath.

Even still, none of those reunions, real or hypothetical, are nearly as unlikely as the return of legendary Seattle garagerockers The Sonics, whose last album of original material was called Boom, released in 1966, some 49 years ago.

Who are The Sonics, you might ask? You are forgiven, if you don’t know. While they were one of the more successful of the mid-60s garage-rock boom, they never achieved major-label status or any real level of fame, and they soon split up to forge careers of the normal man. But their few records fell into the hands of many aspiring musicians and The Sonics wound up becoming major influences on bands in the punk, grunge, indie, and garage revival movements. Without The Sonics, there would be no Nirvana, Ramones, Stooges, Black Keys, White Stripes, or Pavement. Songs like “Strychnine”, “The Witch”, “Boss Hoss”, “Cinderella”, and “Have Love Will Travel” are the sonic blueprint for so much of what came later, whether directly from the records or filtered down through the ages, that their influence is almost immeasurable. Gerry Roslie’s gritty holler, Larry Parypa’s overdriven guitar leads, and Rob Lind’s reedy sax licks (a rarity in rock at that point) added a new level of grit to rock & roll. In short, those records kick ass.

So after living more or less “normal” lives for 40 years or so, and occasionally reforming for one-offs, The Sonics reformed in earnest in 2007, performing at festivals around the world, and blowing audiences away once again. After so much time away from the biz, I don’t think anyone expected that the band would still have it, but they totally rose to the occasion, influencing a whole new generation of garage rockers (helping to define Little Steven’s Underground Garage channel on Sirius). In 2010, the band released an EP, with a few new songs and some live cuts, but it was a pretty obscure disc and it went largely without notice.

Then came the news that The Sonics were working on a new album. Certain sectors of the music world were shocked that, after all this time, there would be a new album, but no one really expected it to be anything more than a pleasant afterthought, to bookend their career as a band.

But then the record came out.

Simply put, This Is The Sonics is the best comeback album…ever. Hell, it even betters the band’s initial output from the 60s. They come screaming right out of the gate with the gritty wail of “I Don’t Need No Doctor” and they just keep it coming. “Be A Woman”, “Black Betty”, and “The Hard Way” all rock harder than anything the Stooges ever put out, and the version of “You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover” is by far the best that has ever been recorded. “Sugaree” (not the Grateful Dead or Elizabeth Cotton song of the same name) is a dizzying track that sends every band they ever influenced back to Rock School, while “Leaving Here” proves itself to be the grungiest record to ever come out of Seattle.

You could put Mark Lanegan in front of Mudhoney, with Dave Grohl on drums, and even they couldn’t make a record like this.

Gerry Roslie might be 71 years old but his voice has lost none of its edge, and Larry Parypa’s guitar and Rob Lind’s sax scream and wail harder than anything you will hear from a band of 20-somethings.

Original bassist Andy Parypa and drummer Bob Bennett were unable to commit and are replaced by the rhythm section of Freddie Dennis (bass) and Dusty Watson (drums), and their energy propels these recordings even more. This is music that makes you want to dance yourself dizzy. This is music that makes you want to drive a hundred miles an hour. This is music that makes you want to shout.

The Sonics ain’t no ballad band, and they make that very clear as they roll through the classic, “Look At Little Sister”, another ferocious take that betters any version that came before, and “I Got Your Number” which pounds a four-onthe-floor that leaves you with no choice but to bang your head. “Living In Chaos” features one of Gerry Roslie’s greatest vocals….man, no one can scream like that. Every heavy metal and hardcore singer that ever lived wishes he can scream like that. “Save The Planet” may be slightly slower but it is still heavy and features one of the best lyrics on this album – “You can buy a one-way ticket if you want to go to Mars / you might be disappointed coz they got no risqué bars” and then goes on to say that we should “all get loose and drink a little brew” because “party time is here”. Ain’t that the truth.

Closing out the album is the dirty, old-school punk thrash of “Spend The Night”, featuring the sort of overdriven powerchord riffery that made Dave Davies famous.

And that’s it. In 32 minutes, The Sonics do what most bands can’t in their entire output. They make you BELIEVE. Despite what is proving to be a relatively massive success, I wouldn’t count on a follow up. Which is quite alright with me.

No band could ever deliver a greater exclamation point than this.

The Sonics prove it – 70 is the new 20. What are YOU doing?

this is the sonics

12 | May 2015

Old Town Crier

THE LAST WORD MIRIAM R. KRAMER

Mystery and Mayhem in the Imperial Moonlight

I

n 1978 the scholar Edward Said published the book Orientalism, which examined Western attitudes towards and cultural representations of so-called Eastern parts of the world: Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa in particular. He pointed out that these attitudes were often ill-informed, sentimental, and patronizing towards the people and customs of these countries. Imperialist nations wanted to ensure that their imperial mission to civilize and rule these subjugated countries was seen to be valid not only by others, but also by the subjugated peoples and themselves. M.J. Carter’s adroit mystery novel The Strangler Vine manages to play with or debunk many Imperialist tropes cleverly, creating a colorful and picturesque detective romp through the colonized India of 1837 while maintaining a subtly modern revisionist perspective.

In 1837 India was governed by the East India Company, a concern with its own army that had given up its original mission, which was to trade with the East. Instead, it had decided to take over large parts of India and rule it. It was both a company and a part of the British state. As the author says, “it was arguably the first multinational.”

Young William Avery, who has recently arrived in India from England, glumly exists in the unglamorous life he has found as a young English soldier newly employed by the East India Company.

As a youngest son he needs to earn a living, and has few connections, ideas for advancing, or prospects for a better situation, along with debt from gambling. With British young ladies few on the ground, he falls for the lovely, if ignorant, Helen Larkbridge. He feels sure that she will choose someone Old Town Crier

whose prosperous future in India seems assured, however.

When Avery is asked to go find a subversive political agent wellversed in foreign languages, he has the typical reaction of a British soldier living in the insular bubble of AngloIndian society. He is disgusted at finding Jeremiah Blake, who has gone native. Blake has given up his captaincy in the East India Company Army and lives outside its quarters, widowed by an Indian woman, dressing in native garb, and learning Hindustani, Urdu, Pashto, Marathi, Gujarati, and other subcontinental languages.

A rebel, Blake only works for the Secret and Political Department as a secret agent under duress.

The Chief Military Secretary, Colonel Patrick Buchanan, forces young Avery, a greenhorn with no Indian languages or special talents except the ability to ride and shoot, into accompanying Blake on a special mission. They must find one of Avery’s favorite writers, a famous Byronic figure named Xavier Mountstuart, who disappeared in the city of Jubbulpore while researching material for his next poem about the Thuggee, a cult of thieves and murderers. When Avery resists, Buchanan informs him that if they accomplish their task, he can choose his future, and if they don’t, Avery will be sent to a remote malarial hole near Calcutta to rot away, never getting out of debt or the East India Company Army.

When Avery and Blake start out on their quest, they are aiming to find the sensational author Mountstuart, but they also know that they will be heading into the heart of

Thug territory in central India as they undertake their journey along the road. The Thuggee is known as a notorious group of thieves and murders that infiltrates groups of travelers and then strangles them from behind with rumals, or scarves. When they finally arrive in Jubbulpore, they meet a Major Sleeman, who is in charge of the station there.

Sleeman claims to have solved the Thug problem and written numerous articles and books about them. Yet both Blake and Avery feel that something is off, particularly when Sleeman doesn’t want Blake talking to the natives under arrest for being Thugs.

Carter employs Blake as a voice of reason and one who stands up for the natives in the face of the East India Company as he encounters all of its officials along the road.

In noting to Major Sleeman at one point that Indians are no better off financially, and in fact are poorer because of the company demanding higher rents from landowners, Blake serves as a voice of reason.

Here, through her subversive character, Carter undermines the blatant Orientalism accepted and practiced by the East India Company.

While Blake and Avery, along with their native guides, travel on a journey from Jubbulpore to visit a native Prince and undertake an impromptu tiger hunt, Avery begins to shed some of his preconceived notions and respect for the allpowerful Company in favor of his native assistants and people he meets along the road, such as the occasional unusual European figure.

Such individuals include the real historical figure Fanny Parkes, wife of an East India Company civil servant.

Instead of eschewing India and staying in her insular European enclave, she came to love India, learning Hindustani and the sitar, and remaining fascinated by its rich cultures. She symbolizes India’s effect on Avery.

As adventure and danger lurk around every corner, Avery unwittingly starts to fall in love with the India he sees. Yet he still worries about the Thuggee culture and the prospect of bands of Thugs coming after him and Blake while they seek the flamboyant author Mountstuart, who may or may not be alive.

The Strangler Vine is a very well-written and wellresearched mystery that shows linguistic influences of

nineteenth-century whodunits

by Wilkie Collins and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. M.J. Carter performs a balancing act, writing a briskly paced and engaging thriller in a nineteenth-century literary style with old-fashioned spellings while including insights gleaned from studying the pitfalls and problems of British imperialism in India, and the real Thuggee phenomenon in particular, from hindsight. Therefore this novel is a literary and historical mystery that offers modern perspectives on that history, thus cementing its appeal for today’s reader.

CaribBean Mystery and intrigue

Jeff mccord A dead Marine washed ashore on a Caribbean island leads investigators to otherworldly perpetrators in historic pirate waters and high level abuses in Washington. An intrepid maritime historian working the case for U.S. Naval Intelligence discovers a 60-year record of extraterrestrial activity in the Caribbean basin. History and national security politics meet science fiction in this mystery based on exhaustive factual research and informed conjecture by Virginia author Jeffrey Roswell McCord.

AvAilAble from AmAzon in pAperbAck ($10.97) or As A kindle downloAd

May 2015 | 13

GALLERY BEAT F. LENNOX CAMPELLO & amy marx

ZOFIE

LANG Bambi

I

Hansel and Gretl

Lord of the Flies

14 | May 2015

n my blog (DC Art News), I often alert readers to art scammers, those nasty trolls that prey on the good will of artists eager to make a sale. As soon as I out them, I often get an email or two from people who were about the ship the work to the scammer – “He paid me with an international money order” or “He paid me with several credit cards” – so how does the scam work.

First and foremost, be suspicious of any email that comes out of the blue offering to buy your artwork (without any specificity to “what artwork”) and offering to pay for all shipping (usually overseas).

Ask for a phone number to talk to the person – the scammer will usually avoid this and stop communicating.

If you’ve been taken and received an international check and taken it to your bank, wait for the check to clear – not just with your bank, but also with the foreign bank where the check is drawn – that’s the usual part that bites back with fakes.

With credit cards, call the issuing bank and express your concerns; if the emailer offers to send you several credit cards and have you run them until one clears… well then, red alert!

Visit www.artscams.com for more details and info: Be aware!

In the DMV, the very talented Zofie Lang’s first solo exhibition took place at the Margaret W. & Joseph L. Fisher

Gallery from April 3 - May 17, 2015 and it was a landmark exhibition for this talented young artist.

We were told this about the exhibition: “Certain narratives, such as those in fairy tales, have existed for millennia and maintain a grip on our collective imagination. They are refreshed and reiterated, showing up in popular culture in both familiar and novel ways; similar themes also emerge across cultures and generations. Using photography, digital photomontage, and found object assemblage, Zofie Lang’s work reconstructs these narratives visually by extracting their key elements. Zofie examines the underlying meaning of narratives, including the fairy tales she remembers her Polish grandmother telling her as a child and literature that has inspired her.

Her assemblages creates new layers of meaning, consisting of a mix of nostalgia and contemplation of our present popular culture.”

In addition to that elegant description of her work and what’s behind it, I would add that there’s an artistic vision in those pieces that in this 21st century is both the perfect assembly of attention to detail, immense depth of meaning and a demand for time well-spent studying each piece and trying to decipher the works.

Look for great things to come from this young artist; she’s definitely one to watch grow over the next few years.

Old Town Crier

Colorful, comfortable, creative

For Mother’s Day Fair trade puts a new twist

That’s how you will feel in a Margaret Winters cotton sweater!

Newest arrivals are in the shop now.

Come see our entire line of American-made clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home furnishings by American artists.

on timeless beauty.

Sterling silver and blue topaz jewelry handcrafted in India.

MAY 1-10 BUY ONE, GET ONE

50%OFF! ALL JEWELRY* 1124 King Street | Alexandria, Virginia 22314

* Discount applied to item of equal or lesser value

915 King Street • Old Town Alexandria 703.684.1435 alexandria.tenthousandvillages.com Monday-Saturday 10-7 • Sunday 12-6

At the corner of King and Fayette Streets

(703) 548-1461 | www.imagineartwear.com Mon – Sat 10 am – 7 pm

•

Sunday 11 am – 5 pm

Art&Antiques ABACA IMPORTS 1120 North Fairfax St. 703-683-5800

ELDER CRAFTERS 405 Cameron St. 703-683-4338

JAMES WILHOIT ANTIQUES 227 S. Washington St. 703-683-6595

AMERICAN HERITAGE GALLERY 901 North Columbus St. 703-519-7869

FACTORY PHOTOWORKS 105 N. Union St. 703-683-1501

Jeffrey Winter Fine Arts 110A S. Columbus St. (in the courtyard) 703-962-6266

THE ANTIQUE GUILD 113 N. Fairfax St. 703-836-1048 ARTCRAFT 132 King St. 703-299-6616 ARTS AFIRE GLASS GALLERY 1117 King St. 703-548-1197 THE ATHENAEM 201 Prince St. 703-548-0035 AUBURN ARTS GALLERY 110 South Columbus St. 703-548-1932 BANANA TREE 1223 King St. 703-836-4317 BELGRAVIA FINE ART 411 Cameron St. 703-549-2011 BIRD-IN-THE-CAGE ANTIQUES 110 King St. 703-549-5114

FINE OLD POSTERS 1015 King St. 703-684-3656 FIVE OAKS ANTIQUES 2413 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-519-7006 FOLIOGRAPH GALLERY 217 King St. 703-683-1501 FRASER GALLERY 7700 Wisconsin Blvd.

Suite E Bethesda 301-718-9651 FRENCH COUNTRY ANTIQUES 1000 King St. 703-548-8563 GALLERY G 215 King St. 703-836-5400 GALLERY INDIGO 1607 King St. 703-838-8098 GALLERY LAFAYETTE 320 King St. 703-548-5266

BROCKETTS ROW ANTIQUES 277 South Washington St. 703-684-0464

GALLERIE LA TAJ 1010 King St. (Gadsby Arcade) 703-549-0508

THE CLASSICAL GALLERY 110 S. Columbus St. 703-836-7736

GALLERY WEST 1213 King St. 703-549-7359

CURZON HILL ANTIQUES 108 S. Columbus St. 703-684-0667

GOSSYPIA 325 Cameron St. 703-836-6969

DIEHL ANTIQUES 614 N. Washington St. 703-706-8191

IMAGINE ARTWEAR 1124 King St. 703-548-1461

Old Town Crier

Kellys Art & Frame 510 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314 703-549-3313

SPURGEON-LEWIS ANTIQUES 112 N. Columbus St. 703-548-4917 STUDIO ANTIQUES & ART 524 N. Washington St. 703-548-5188 STUDIO BIANCO 220 S. Henry St. 703-299-0662 TIME JUGGLER 411 Cameron St. 703-836-3594

MARIS ELAINE GALLERY 178 Waterfront St. National Harbor 301-686-0323

TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER 105 N. Union St. 703-838-4565

MINDFULL HANDS GALLERY 211 King St. 703-683-2074

TRASTEVERE 303 Cameron St. 703-683-9555

OLD COLONY SHOP 222-B S. Washington St. 703-548-8008

VAN BOMMEL ANTIEK HAUS 1007 King St. 703-683-4141 703-629-6521 by appt.

Steve Young, Proprietor

P & C ART 212 King St. 703-549-2525 PAUL McGEHEES GALLERY 109 North Fairfax St. 703-548-7729

THE VON BRAHLER LTD./GALLERY 1437 Powhatan St. 703-798-8686

POTOMAC WEST INTERIORS & ANTIQUES 1517 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-519-1911

WASHINGTON SQUARE ANTIQUES 689 S. Washington St. 703-836-3214

PRINCE ROYAL GALLERY 204 S. Royal St. 703-548-5151

Frida Kahlo

by F. Lennox Campello, circa 1981 limited edition of 10 signed and numbered etchings, 8 x 6.5” available from Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC Washington, DC e: info@alidaanderson.com p: 301.437.1054

feast your eyes. feed your soul.

THE PRINCIPLE GALLERY 208 King St. 703-739-9326 SCULPTURE GALLERY 115 S. Patrick St. Studio 303 703-683-5056 SILVERMAN GALLERIES ANTIQUES 110 N. Asaph St. 703-836-5363

visit a museum.

May 2015 | 15

POINTS ON PETS ASHLEY DENHAM BUSSE

King Street Cats Adoption Calendar may 2015 For details & MORE INFO website: www.kingstreetcats.org email: contact@kingstreetcats.org King Street Cats is looking for foster homes! You provide the spare room and TLC and we provide food, litter and all vetting. Please email for our Kitten Fostering FAQ at: contact@kingstreetcats.org King Street Cats 25 Dove Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Every Saturday & Sunday 1:30 - 4:30 pm Pro Feed Bradlee Shopping Center 3690 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302 Every Saturday & Sunday 1- 4 pm PETCO UNLEASHED AT PENTAGON ROW 1101 S. Joyce Street Arlington, VA 22202 Saturday, May 2 Saturday, May 16 Sunday, May 17 1- 4 pm THE DOG PARK 705 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Saturday, May 2 1- 4 pm

Crazy Cat Antics Explained

H

ave you ever wondered why your cat “head-butts” you? Or wipes his cheeks along your face? What about when she leaves you a “present” on your doorstep, like a dead mouse? Or why he curls himself up in the tightest and most odd places, like a shoebox or a bowl?

We love cats around these parts, and thought it might be fun to investigate some common but puzzling cat feline behaviors. Read on to solve the mysteries…

Head Butting

This action is called “bunting” and it’s most likely a greeting; it’s also a way for your kitty to mark you with the scent glands on his cheeks. And it’s actually a good sign: it means he trusts you – even loves you – and wants to show affection.

If he bunts up against you and then puts his head down or to the side, he’s probably reminding you that it’s your job to scratch his cheeks or under his chin like you usually do!

Scent-rubbing is not just about marking territory,

although that’s a common cause; it can also be done to establish scent on members of what the cat considers his colony (or family), to self-soothe, to establish familiarity or to show respect.

So if your kitty rubs up against your legs, he’s just including you in his circle of love. And face bunting is as intimate as a kiss.

your attention and affection (especially if you’ve given him more attention for this behavior in the past). It could also be a gift that shows you’re his friend. Your kitty might simply be sharing her bounty.

If you don’t care for it, consider putting a bell on her collar so it’s harder for her to catch prey, but don’t punish or give extra attention to her.

Ahh, those “gifts” left on the doorstep or even – gasp! – brought inside

What about when your cat sits on your lap and massages your legs?

Does your cat bring you his rodent or reptile or insect “kill”? Unfortunately, there’s no consensus among experts as to why cats sometimes do this. It could be that your kitty remembers his mother feeding him this way, or he may be seeking

Some people call that “making biscuits” or “kneading dough”! This kneading action derives from the very first days of kittenhood, when babies massage their mother to stimulate the release of milk. Usually, it’s a sign of contentment (or self-soothing); it may also be a way of marking you with her scent. If it occurs along with a purr, consider yourself loved.

Curling up in the smallest possible container?

When I was growing up, as we

POINTS ON PETS > PAGE 17

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Old Town Crier

POINTS ON PETS FROM PAGE 16

were setting the table for dinner, we’d pull out the kitchen drawer that held the cloth napkins and our cat would immediately leap in, curl up, and settle down! Pretty soon, we stopped using those fur-covered cloth napkins and kept the drawer open often (a move only cat-lovers will understand); that became one of her favorite sleeping spots. Cats need a sense of security; out in the wild they’d need a safe den to avoid being caught by predators. So if your cat chooses an odd but cozy-to-him spot to nap, leave him be.

Not covering his poop in the litterbox, or even going potty right outside the box?

This can be a sign of a medical condition like a urinary-tract infection, so you should see your vet, especially if this is a new habit.

Or your cat might be stressed or anxious; he may even dislike the kind of litter you use in the box, so try another kind. If you’ve ruled out medical issues and tried different litter, you may just have a stubborn kitty. Try moving the litterbox somewhere else, preferably a tight space that leaves room only for the box. Alternatively, ask your vet for an animal behaviorist who can help you (re)train your kitty.

Chattering at birds and things out the window

No one is 100% sure why cats do this, but most likely it’s either a way to warm up the jaws for eating prey, or a sign of pent-up frustration at not being able to hunt.

Stop, Drop, and Roll

If your kitty drops to the floor and rolls onto her back, what she’s saying is, “Give me attention!” If you’ve responded to this behavior before, Congratulations – your cat has you trained! But as we all know, “Give me attention” from a cat can mean, “Rub my belly for 3 seconds and then I’m gonna change my mind and bite you.” Ha, gotta love ‘em.

Speaking of which, what’s up with the sudden biting when you’re petting your cat?

Well, you may have misinterpreted your cat’s signals – you thought she wanted a belly rub when she really wanted to playfight. Or you may have missed the cues that her mood has changed and she’s had enough petting (cessation of purring, tail lashing and thumping, twitching, growling, ears flattened back, cat looking back at your hand, dilated pupils). Learn to read her body language — that’s how she communicates. And never punish her for your misunderstanding – this will only make her fearful and defensive.

Cats — strange, fickle beasts, but we love them all the same. What’s your cat’s craziest behavior?

Ashley Denham Busse has worked part-time for Doggywalker.com since 2006. Doggywalker.com is a professional pet-sitting company located in Old Town Alexandria, celebrating more than 13 years of providing daily walks and customized in-home pet care. Visit www.doggywalker.com or email info@doggywalker.com.

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Old Town Crier

May 2015 | 17

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION JEFFrey R. Mccord

I

t’s Springtime in Virginia and many will be enjoying the gardens of historic sites like Colonial Williamsburg and hiking the trails of Shenandoah National Park.

And, when kids get out of school, some families will be traveling to the Virgin Islands National Park (VINP) in the U.S.V.I.

LAURENCE OF THE CARIBBEAN Some may not be aware that one father and son are largely responsible for preserving Williamsburg and establishing both the Shenandoah and Virgin Islands Parks. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. spearheaded the Williamsburg and Shenandoah projects and his son Laurence orchestrated creation of the VINP. On their way to The Hampton Institute, a liberal think tank, John, Jr. and his family first visited the decaying, mostly abandoned ancient town center of Williamsburg. It was the only colonial capital and Revolutionary War era city capable of being preserved and restored in its entirety. John, Jr. spent about $55 million to do just that and is responsible for most of the Williamsburg we see today. I once had the pleasure of hearing David 18 | May 2015

Rockefeller, then chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank and another of John, Jr.’s sons, proudly tell a small group in the Rainbow Room of Rockefeller Center about his family’s work on Williamsburg.

But, John, Jr.’s conservation work was in part expiation for the perceived sins of his oil monopolist and “robber baron” father John D. Rockefeller, Sr. John, Jr. “was deeply troubled by the image of his father and saw his life’s mission as trying to remove the taint that seemed to exist around the Rockefeller wealth, and the Rockefeller family, and the Rockefeller name,” explained Steven Rockefeller, John, Jr.’s grandson in an interview for a wellwatched PBS “American Experience” story on his family.

John, Jr.’s middle son Laurence developed his own passion for philanthropy and conservation, inspired by his father’s better angels.

Laurence told PBS that his father “took us on voyages to see America; we were camping and building log cabins and riding horseback, and we were hiking.”

His father “had this great love and joy in opening up, wherever he was, the beauty of nature so people could see it.”

Following service in the Navy during World War 11, Laurence sailed the Caribbean with his wife on a grand tour. According to the New York Times, in 1952: “He put in at Caneel Bay, a cove fringed with frangipani, bougainvillea and monkey-no- climb trees on St. John, the smallest and most unspoiled of the United States Virgin Islands.”

He reportedly said St. John is the most beautiful island in the

Caribbean. And, at that time, there were only about 400 residents on the island. Eighty-five percent of the land was undeveloped. Laurence was determined to preserve as much of the beautiful island as possible so the public could enjoy it.

Using his family’s Jackson Hole Preserve, Inc. (JHP) non-profit group, he first purchased the 170 acres of Caneel Bay peninsula, including sugar plantation ruins, and built one of the nation’s first ecosensitive resorts. Laurence Rockefeller believed there should be a partnership between responsible commerce and conservation.

The proceeds from Caneel Bay resort went to JHP to help fund other environmental preservation projects.

Founded by Laurence’s father John, Jr., JHP had been instrumental in forming Grand Teton National Park. With the mission of “preserving areas of outstanding primitive grandeur and natural beauty,” JHP laster deeded the Caneel Bay land to the Virgin Islands National Park, but continued to operate the resort under a long-term lease.

As he constructed and operated Caneel Bay resort, Rockefeller provided many jobs to islanders and built the infrastructure required to make it self-sufficient. At the same time, he was purchasing land for the National Park he envisioned.

Laurence brought JHP engineering talent and other resources to the VINP project.

In collaboration with St. Johnian Frank Stick, who owned 1,400 acres of Lameshur Bay, the Creque and Lockhart families, among others CARIBBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 19

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CARIBBEAN CONNECTION FROM PAGE 18

and with the local political guidance of St. John territorial Senator Julius Sprauve, Laurence invested about $1,000,000 of JHP funds to assemble 5,086 acres, which were donated to the federal government on December 1, 1956. The land amounted to more than half of the 9,500 acres later authorized for the Park. On August,2, 1956, President Eisenhower signed legislation establishing the VINP as the nation’s 29th National Park.

Laurence, who was a conservation advisor to President’s Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, had had the clout to make the Virgin Islands National Park a reality. He also had considerable influence over Eastern Airlines, as its early financier and largest shareholder. Eastern was a major early passenger carrier to St. Thomas and St. Croix.

On St. Croix, Rockefeller also established the Carambola Golf Resort built on land his own family had used as their retreat. Rockefeller enlisted the famous golf course designer Robert Trent Jones to lay out a worldclass golf course that opened in 1966.

Named after the Carambola tree that yields locally popular Star Fruit, the resort is located at the edge of Cane Bay on the lush north shore of St. Croix, the largest island in the U.S. and British Virgin Island archipelago.

During the same period, Rockefeller also bought land on the undeveloped

k

British island of Virgin Gorda. There he built the environmentally sensitive resort Little Dix Bay, which opened in 1964. He reportedly called it “wilderness beach,” because of its unspoiled beauty. As with Caneel Bay Resort, the construction and operation of Little Dix Bay brought jobs, roads and other infrastructure to Virgin Gorda, which then had a population of about 600 people.

Today, Rockefeller’s Caribbean creations are doing quite well.

According to an article run last year in Robb Report magazine: “Little has changed at Caneel Bay since Rockefeller first introduced it to the world in 1956. Spread over 170 acres, it remains the only resort located within the now 7,000acre Virgin Islands National Park.

Afternoon tea is still served at the Turtle Bay Estate House, and seven white-sand beaches remain fringed by gin-clear water. Even the resort’s new features—such as the Italian restaurant that opened last year in an 18thcentury sugar mill—are rooted in the past.”

Similarly, of Rockefeller’s Virgin Gorda resort, Robb Report, says, “half a century later, Little Dix Bay’s pared-down-luxury motif is largely intact.” New owners have restored and expanded the resort.

And, on St Croix, the Marriott Corporation has restored and upgraded the Carambola Resort under its’ Renaissance brand. Its location

Ann Street Gardens

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ey west getawa

on a beach in the northwest rain forest region of St. Croix continues to be a draw to tourists looking for a quiet ecologically-oriented vacation.

But, the jewel of Laurence Rockefeller’s Caribbean realm remains the Virgin Islands National Park. Within its more than 7,000 acres on St John and St Thomas are twelve unspoiled beaches, a fully equipped seaside campground, majestic Caribbean mountain views and examples of most Atlantic tropical coastal, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It also boasts important and rare pre-Columbian Native American sites, including striking petroglyphs carved in stone by a waterfall and pond off the popular Reef Bay Trail on St. John.

A new Park addition is Hassel Island, located on St. Thomas, bordering the harbor of Charlotte Amalie. The island contains the ruins of 18th century Danish settler habitation, 19th century Napoleonicera British forts, and the oldest remaining marine steam railway in the Western Hemisphere. It even has a leprosarium.

On St. Croix, the National Park Service manages the Salt River National Historic Park and Ecological Reserve, which includes the only known site where Columbus’ men stepped on shore in what is now U.S. territory. It is also the site of the first battle between Europeans and Native Americans.

Park Service-administered Buck Island Reef National Monument, a short boat ride from Christiansted, St. Croix, is a small uninhabited island (176 acres) known for its snorkeling and brown pelican nests. Two-thirds of the island is surrounded by an elk-horn coral barrier reef. And the island’s powder white sand beach has been rated by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful in the world.

Laurence Rockefeller, who died in 2004 at the age of 94, told PBS that his “father so emphasized the biblical verse ‘Unto he who much is given, much is required,’ that it was almost like our flag.”

Virgin Islanders and Virginians have been given much environmental and historical treasure. Much is required of citizens to conserve and preserve these assets for future generations.

Jeffrey R. McCord is a free-lance journalist and media relations consultant who has called Northern Virginia his home for more than 20 years. The author of “Undocumented Visitors in a Pirate Sea,” a quarterfinalist in the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest, Mr. McCord’s articles on international economics and consumer protection have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Gannett newspapers and Truthout.org, among other publications. He now divides his time between Virginia and St. John, USVI

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May 2015 | 19

ROAD TRIP BOB TAGERT & Lani Gering

The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Emro the Parrot and Fred Dean.

Far right: the Purple Parrot and local real estate

SUSSEX COUNTY

DELAWARE This month our road trip once again took us to Sussex County Delaware, but more specifically to the beaches of southern Delaware. The beautiful beaches of southern Delaware were separated from the Washington D.C. area by the Chesapeake Bay for a long time, but that all changed in 1952.

The first span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was completed in 1952, opening up the Atlantic beaches to D.C. and northern Virginia. The bridge was the world’s longest continuous over water steel structure. The parallel structure was added in 1973. What was once nearly impossible to reach was now just a little over three hours away by car and today that drive has been reduced to a little over two hours.

In the late 60’s and early 70’s the building boom along the shore began in earnest. Washingtonians, looking for that summer retreat, were buying up beach homes as soon as they were built. You can see these little beach communities today as you drive north along Highway One from Fenwick Island to Lewes and Cape Henlopen State park where you will find Cape Henlopen Light House as depicted on our cover by our friend and local artist, Paul McGehee.

With the proliferation of the housing market, the population began to swell in the summer months and towns such as Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island became more and more year-round settlements. As more and more people moved to the area, the needs of the people were met with the building of shopping centers and the world famous Tanger Outlet Malls. Over the years the real estate market has slowed, but recently has taken a turn for the better, according to Fred Dean, Sussex County Association of Realtors (SCAOR) 2015 President. “There’s no questioning the fact that the first quarter

20 | May 2015

Old Town Crier

of this year has been especially robust, with many more buyers entering the market,” says Dean. “With the reduction in inventory due to the higher number of sales, we feel this market is only going to continue strengthening moving forward. As industry professionals, we’re definitely excited at what we are seeing in Sussex County.”

We had the chance to meet with Dean at the popular Purple Parrot restaurant in Rehoboth. Even though it was mid-April and chilly out doors, the town was jumping with people… probably because it was also “spring break”. Dean explained to us the various price differencing between the resort houses and others countywide. Housing prices in resort areas are around $500,000 and condos are $400,000. The average price in the non-resort areas is about $230,000 making the county wide average $340,000. “We are particularly excited about the inventory reduction because that means we are beginning to achieve a more reasonable balance between homes on the market and buyers wishing to purchase a home,“ says Dean. “This leads to a healthier real estate market, one that’s been many years in the making.” Dean also informed us that rentals are up over last year as well, and the number of rentals is shrinking because of owners moving back.

On this particular visit to the beaches we once again stayed at the beautiful Boardwalk Plaza Hotel which is located right on the beach in Rehoboth. The Plaza offers a wide variety of accommodations tastefully decorated in grand Victorian style Old Town Crier

with all the conveniences you would expect to find in a modern hotel. From the accommodations to the oceanfront restaurant and the lobby parlor filled with antiques and a colorful parrot or two, the Boardwalk Plaza offers its guests a glimpse of an earlier, gentler time. You will also find whirlpool bathtubs, ultra-fast T1 Internet access and a heated indoor-outdoor pool/ Jacuzzi.

While Lewes and Bethany are more laid back, Rehoboth and Dewey can rock the night away. There are numerous eateries and a pizza parlor on just about every corner. Some of these places have been here since the early 70’s like Summer House Restaurant.- in Rehoboth. Located in the heart of town, Summer House offers the best in traditional food.

There is also the Frog Pond, Henlopen Oyster house, Dogfish Head Pub, and the popular Blue Moon for dining and entertainment. Nearby Dewey has my old favorites, the Rusty Rudder, Bottle and Cork and Starboard. They have recently opened a Hyatt Place Hotel right next to the Rusty Rudder in what was “Ruddertown”.

About 10 miles south of Rehoboth is Bethany, voted one of the “Best Secret Beaches on Earth” by Travel & Leisure magazine, Bethany and Fenwick are often referred to as the “quiet resorts”.

Bethany is smaller than Rehoboth but still has a half-mile boardwalk and some nightlife. The dining in Bethany is top notch and has earned the privilege of being part of the “Culinary Coast of Delaware” along with the other towns that make up the coast.

Enjoy fresh seafood and sunset views over the bay at Bluecoast Seafood Grill

and Raw Bar. Grab lunch or dinner on an oceanfront deck at Mangos or, if your taste if Italian, try DiFebos’s restaurant. Bethany is more of a place for families and folks who just want to chill. There are many cottages and houses for rent, perfect for couples and small groups. Forty years ago, a group summerhouse was the thing to do every summer, and I guess that is still the tradition.

Delaware is also one of the fastest growing states because of its tax structure. The number of people buying vacation, retirement or

investment property in Coastal Delaware increases each year.

Delaware offers home owners some of the lowest Real Estate taxes in the country. For most, that is enough of an incentive to buy and live in Delaware, but when you add to the equation that there is no sales tax, no inheritance tax for most residences, and no social security tax it is difficult to find a better place to live.

Check out the realtor’s ads in this issue and spend a week or three this summer at a Delaware beach, or buy a home of your own for the future!

Shall we save you a seat?

Contact a Sussex County REALTOR® today and stay awhile!

302.855.2300 www.scaor.com

The Sussex County Association of REALTORS® Your Voice for Real Estate in Sussex County May 2015 | 21

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May 2015 | 23

HAPPENINGS ON THE BAY

Calvert County North Beach May 1-October16 Farmers Market Welcome in the first Farmers’ Market of the season. Take part in the Classic Car Cruise-In and the Art Fair. Running every Friday night on the waterfront at 5th Street and Bat Avenue from 6 –9 pm.

May 16 Movies On The Beach Big Hero 6.kicks off the Movie on the Beach season. Bring your blankets, chairs and snacks and enjoy a flick under the stars. Movies start at dusk.

May 23 The bike, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available for the season today! Come down and get on the water!

Solomons

May 8 and 22 Crafts & Campfire Come and join us on the beach (near the Welcome Center) for a FREE evening of children’s crafts, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores near the campfire.

Festivities begin at 6:30 pm.

Photo: CM Photography

Ann Marie Gardens May 2 Sewing the Sea Join instructor Erica Daley and learn how to create mixed media works using fabric scraps and found objects from the beach.

Instructor provides all fabrics, but feel free to bring your own shells and “beachy” finds to add to your work. Class is offered from10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Class costs $40, or $35 for members. There is a materials fee of $15 due to instructor at the start of class. Advanced registration is required, please call (410) 326-4640 or email:studioschool@annmariegarden.org.

May 22 & 23 Itchin’ To Scratch: Intro to Scratchboard, Spring Session Sometimes called “the art of taking away,” scratchboard is a medium that allows for amazing detail. In this class, you will learn the basic techniques for working on scratchboard. Learn from instructor Carmelo Ciancio how to use knives and abrasives to remove the black ink to reveal the white surface and how to achieve textures and subtle details in your work. Class from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm both days. Class costs $90, or $85 for members. There is a materials fee of $25 due to instructor at the start of class. Advanced registration is required, please call (410) 326-4640 or email:studioschool@annmariegarden.org.

May 23 Crazy for Canines: Clay Dog Sculptures Spend a day with artist Parran Collery, exploring the dog form in clay! Students will spend the day using clay to make several dog tiles and small sculptures. This will be a fast paced and fun day full of whimsy. Class is 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Class costs $80, or $75 for members.

There is a materials fee of $15 due to instructor at the start of class. Advanced registration is required, please call (410) 326-4640 or email:studioschool@ annmariegarden.org.

May 26 & 27 Painting Pets and Animals This workshop lead by Nancy Thompson will focus on fabulous fur, beautiful eyes, and great backgrounds. Bring lots of photos of your favorite animal and learn how to create a successful portrait. Some experience is preferred. This 2-class series

24 | May 2015

is from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. Class costs $150, or $140 for members. There is a materials fee of $15 (or bring your own painting supplies) due to instructor at the start of class. Advanced registration is required, please call (410) 326-4640 or email:studioschool@annmariegarden.org.

May 30 Steampunk Style Metal Bracelet Join instructor Tricia Hall and learn how to rivet, stamp, texturize, and antique our way to a fabulous steampunk bracelet in copper, nickel, and brass. No experience necessary! Kit includes everything needed to create one bracelet. Class is from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Class costs $40, or $35 for members. There is a materials fee of $25 due to instructor at the start of class. Advanced registration is required, please call (410) 326-4640 or email:studioschool@annmariegarden.org.

Calvert Marine Museum Through May 10 Shop for your special someone, spend $50 or more, and receive a free box of sea salt caramels. One per customer please. The Museum Store has operated for more than 40 years and stocks wearables, tote bags, jewelry, etched wine glasses, pillows, scarves, jar candles by the Chesapeake Bay Candle Company, specialty “Dee-Lightful” tea and many more items to please all tastes. The Museum Store is open daily from 10:15 am– 4:45 pm and the online store is now open too with new items being added weekly at www.calvertmarinemuseum. com.

May 10 Mother’s Day Brunch Cruise What a better way to say “You’re Special” than a relaxing cruise on the Lord Tennison and brunch. Cruise runs from 11:30 am– 1 pm and registration is required by Wednesday, May 6. Adults $25; Children 12 and under $15. Contact us at 410-326-2042.

May 23 Heart Live In Concert Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Heart will grace the stage with their hits “Crazy on You”, “Magic Man”, “Barracuda” and many more. Log on to our website at calvertmarinemuseum.com for ticket information. Tickets are on sale now!

Old Town Crier

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May 2015 | 25

…TO THE BLUE RIDGE JULIE REARDON

Solar Expansion Puts Popular Fauquier Business in Jeopardy

top to bottom: Shady Grove owner Neil Selby and author Julie Reardon’s Chesapeake Bay Retriever Usher, that Selby trained and handled to his AKC Master Hunter title.

Dog handlers training their retrievers at Shady Grove A wagonload of dove hunters sets out for the fields Dominion proposes to cover with solar panels at the annual Shady Grove Dove Hunt.

26 | May 2015

L

ast month, Dominion Power’s rezoning request to install hundreds of acres of solar panels on farmland in central Fauquier County was given the green light by the Planning Commission and today a very successful small business is in jeopardy.

Dominion wants to build solar panels on the grounds of what is now Shady Grove Hunting Preserve and Kennel under the trappings of “solar energy is a good thing” and “this will be good for Fauquier County.” The real truth is that this could destroy a viable and vibrant business in order to erect hundreds of acres of solar panels that will benefit no one: not the Dominion shareholders, not the users of Dominion’s power, and last but not least, certainly not the taxpaying citizens of Fauquier County. And they will be a hideous blight on the land.

While it’s true that solar energy has made advances, even the best, most advanced technology still costs far more to produce than any possible cost savings to be had anywhere in this country, but especially in this state. Solar energy cannot be stored for peak periods like other energy forms and at best, even in a hot, sunny desert climate, is less than 30 percent efficient. Or in other words: at present, solar energy costs way more to produce than it generates. Further, the type of panels that would be installed are already obsolete. Dominion’s customers and you, the taxpayer, are the ones paying for this expensive experiment. While solar energy might one day be a worthwhile investment, that day is still a long way off and the taxpayers of Fauquier County and the rest of the state should not be forced to fund this outrageous waste of money.

Sadly, this solar boondoggle would never have gotten to the point of the Dominion request for rezoning and special exemption, had the company not been promised attractive financial and tax break incentives from Richmond and the Virginia taxpayers. These incentives are packaged under the fiction of “green energy is a good thing” when in fact the only benefit is bragging rights for the environmentalists who think “warm and fuzzy” trumps cost to taxpayers and the economy. But

in a time when budgets for necessary items are being slashed, warm and fuzzy is not a good use of taxpayer funds.

Meanwhile, one of Fauquier’s finest small businesses, that happens to generate enormous amounts of economic benefit directly to this and surrounding counties, is now in serious jeopardy. Shady Grove Hunting Preserve and Kennel is a unique facility like no other in the D.C. metro area. There is a sporting clay range; duck and upland bird hunting for people who are not landowners and/or cannot afford expensive hunting leases; a dog training kennel; and many public events, including a half dozen or more American Kennel Club sanctioned dog events that all contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to the local economy. It is, perhaps, one of the county’s greatest success stories: a business that is compatible with a rural, agricultural heritage.

Currently the AKC is conducting a survey to learn how much people spend per day when they travel to dog events like the ones Shady Grove hosts. A conservative estimate is $200 per day on motels, meals, gas and incidentals.

Multiply that by hundreds of attendees and multiply that over a dozen days when such events are held; it means millions are spent here as a direct result of Shady Grove hosting them.

This revenue is far greater than the anticipated tax revenue and job creation of Dominion’s solar project, generously estimated to be $75,000 per year and adding no new jobs. In generating no jobs and only a paltry sum in taxes, the project would destroy up to 10 full and part time jobs directly dependent on the current business that is Shady Grove, including the business owners Neil Selby and Leslie Carter.

Selby and Carter are vowing to do their best to keep their business alive, but could use support of like-minded Virginia sportsmen and women. Many have already supported the facility in large numbers by writing prior to the hearing where the planning commission approved the Dominion’s rezoning request to install the solar panels. Carter wrote on Shady Grove’s Facebook page that despite the BLUE RIDGE > PAGE 27

Old Town Crier

FOR RENT: TWO FABULOUS CABINS IN THE SHENANDOAH MOUNTAINS OF LURAY, VIRGINIA! A BUCK’S VIEW

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Visit the cabin websites to book online or email eyman15@gmail.com. Both cabins are approximately 90 minutes from Washington, DC and ready for your Shenandoah getaway!

CRIER1 WHEN INQUIRING ONLINE

BLUE RIDGE FROM PAGE 26

project approval, “Dominion stated on public record that they were in discussions with [Selby] to find a solution for Shady Grove. The Planning Commission also requested on public record that Dominion help Shady Grove find an alternative site for operations.”

Carter further added that: “Dominion has two more stages of approval required before the solar plant is finally approved. We will need your help during these meetings as well. Please watch for further posts with information, before May 4th. Thanks to everyone Dominion saw the extensive community support that Shady Grove has.” Although Dominion owns the land, Selby has leased it since he opened his business there almost 25 years ago. He still has a lifetime lease on 37 acres, but without the 205 acres Dominion is proposing to take for the solar panels, the business would be crippled. The land needed for the upland hunts, the entire 20-station sporting clay range, and the ability to host AKC hunt tests and field trials would be lost. For information or to help out, visit the Shady Grove website at ShadyGrove.com.

Old Town Crier

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

Trip Advisor

www.hopkinsordinary.com Sperryville, Virginia 540.987.3383 May 2015 | 27

BEHIND THE BAR lani gering

Joie de Lima-Jones How did you get started in the bartending business?

I was working part time at a restaurant while in college when two bartenders called out and my boss said “ Hey Joie, here’s the Rolodex with the recipes... I need you to bartend right now...” and the rest is history.

Biggest bartender pet peeve?

Separate checks...particularly when there’s a group of 10+ and one person is doing the ordering and delivering of all the drinks, then says “oh, we need separate checks.” Really?

photo: Bob Tagert

joie de lima-jones IS BEHIND THE BAR AT mcCormick & schmick 154 national plaza national harbor, md 301-567-6224

Joie serves the ever-requested Perfect Lemon Drop, made with fresh squeezed lemon juice and a spiral twist.

Joie is behind the bar Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 4 pm to close.

What is the most clever line anyone has ever used to get you to give them a free drink?

A group of gents (bar crawl bachelor party kinda guys) stopped through my bar and one of the groomsmen asks me for a round of drinks and says to me “So, have I told you that I think you should buy me a drink because you’re going to end up with all the money in alimony I have to pay

when you become my ex-wife”? Funny because we started dating a couple of weeks later and.....almost twenty years later, we’re still married!

What is the best/worst pickup line you have overheard at the bar?

The worst, or at least the most corny, “Excuse me Miss, is your name Angel?

I say that because heaven must’ve sent you from above”! Seriously.

Tell us an interesting encounter you have had with a customer.

Same answer as question 3!

If you could sit down and have a drink with anyone in the world, past or present who would that be?

My Grandparents! They passed away before I could meet any of them!

If you would like to see your favorite bartender featured here, send contact information to office@oldtowncrier. com.

This is where your new favorite whiskey comes from.

Visit us in Sperryville. Tours daily. www.copperfox.biz

28 | May 2015

Old Town Crier

Liberty April Showers Bring May Flowers!

Cheer

• New Spring Menu • New Beer List • Outside Patio

Good Food & Drink for All! 112 King St., Old Town Alexandria

703.739.1124

www.danieloconnells.com

eat like a local!

Now open for BRUNCH Saturdays & Sundays at 10AM 121 South Union Street, Old Town Alexandria 703.548.1785  unionstreetpublichouse.com

Old Town Crier

May 2015 | 29

DINING OUT BOBTAGERT

Chez Andrée Français Restaurant & Bar

30 | May 2015

W

ith all of the fine restaurants were have here in Old Town Alexandria, we tend to loose sight of some of the quality eateries on the fringe. One such place is Chez Andree Francais Restaurant and Bar. Located at 10 East Glebe Road, the Lecureux family has been serving Alexandrians and other travelers for over 50 years. While we usually frequent the restaurant for lunch, we decided to try their famous brunch this past Sunday.

Every restaurant has a brunch but what makes this one special is that you can order off of their regular lunch menu if eggs and French toast are not your forte. As is usually the case for their brunch, the place was crowed around 12:45 when we got there. You may want to make a reservation if you

have a large crowd.

Even though it was a beautiful sunny spring day, we decided to pass on the patio and join an old friend at the bar, as we often do. Shortly after we sat down, two more friends joined us and it all made for a very fun brunch all the way round.

At Chez Andree you won’t see any Jagermeister shots being slammed back. This is a martini crowd from top to bottom. We normally embibe in a gimlet before our normal lunch but since it was brunch we decided on a couple rounds of their $3.50 mimosas and Bloody Marys. We took our time with our beverages while we got caught up with Ernie and perused the menu. The personnel want you to enjoy yourself and there is no sense DINING OUT > PAGE 33

Old Town Crier

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

“The Finest Lebanese Cuisine” –Washington Post, 2001 Family Owned & Operated Come and Enjoy a Cozy Candlelit Dinner Carry-Out Available • Free Delivery Open 7 Days for Lunch & Dinner

719 King St. Old Town Alexandria 703.684.9194 • thepitahouse.com

dine out!

Meet Old Friends or Find New Ones at Murphy’s!

HOME OF IRISH MUSIC & HOSPITALITY SINCE 1978 Featuring Traditional Irish and American Fare Nightly Irish Entertainment – No Cover Check Out Your Favorite MLB Team and Soccer Matches Irish Luau Summer Kick-Off Party May 31, 4 -7pm WEEKLY SPECIALS Sunday Brunch Starting at $9.95

Monday: Margaritas All You Can Eat Ribs $14.95 Tuesday: Half Price Burgers 4 - 9 pm • Trivia 8:15 pm

Wednesday: 40¢ Wings 4 pm to Close

Thursday: Steak Night $11.95 • 5 - 9 pm PRIvATE PART Y Saturday: Seafood Saturday ROOM

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

May 2015 | 31

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

CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080 CITY KITCHEN 330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com USA City inspired menu choices that bring together traditional American and global cuisine with their own personal touch. Casual dress. $30 and under. Lots of free parking. Open 7 days a week with brunch on Sat & Sun 11-3.

AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa COLUMBIA FIREHOUSE 109 S. St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776 DUTCHS GRILL (Holiday Inn) 2460 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, VA 703-960-3400 THE GRILL RESTAURANT/ PIANO BAR AT MORRISON HOUSE 116 S. Alfred St. 703-838-8000 EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051 FAST EDDIES BILLIARD CAFE 6220 Richmond Hwy. 703-660-9444 FIN & HOOF 801 N. Saint Asaph St. 703-836-4700 FINN & PORTER AT MARK CENTER 5000 Seminary Rd. 703-379-2346 FIRE FLIES 1501 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-7200 FLAT IRON STEAK & SALOON 808 King St. 703-299-0777 FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342 GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288 HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050

32 | May 2015

HUNTING CREEK STATION 1106 King St. 703-836-5126

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

RED MEI 602 King St. 703-837-0094

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

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

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

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

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

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

JACKSON 20 480 King St. 703-842-2790

REYNOLDS STREET CAFÉ 34 S. Reynolds St. 703-751-0830

JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. Hollin Hall Shopping Center 703-347-7545

KING STREET BLUES 112 N. St. Asaph St. 703-836-8800 LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313 LIGHT HORSE RESTAURANT 715 King St. 703-549-0533 LOST DOG CAFE 808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511 MACKIE’S BAR AND GRILL 907 King St. 703-684-3288 MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117 MANCINIS 1508 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-838-FOOD Mason Social 728 Henry Street Old Town Alexandria 703-548-8800 mason-social.com MONROES AMERICAN TRATTORIA 1603 Commonwealth Ave. 703-548-5792 MOUNT VERNON INN Mount Vernon, Va 703-780-0011 MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com Old-world Irish pub featuring a roaring fireplace, serving a variety of imported, domestic and non-alcoholic beers in a friendly atmosphere. Serving robust American-Irish meals at fair prices.

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

NICKELLS AND SCHIFFLER 1028 King St. 703-684-5922 NINAS DANDY Potomac Party Cruises Zero Prince St. 703-683-6076 dandydinnerboat.com OCONNELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 danieloconnellsrestaurant.com OVERWOOD 220 North Lee St. 703-535-3340

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

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266 SOCIETY FAIR 277 S. Washington St. 703-683-3247 SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222 T.J. STONES GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com American cuisine with libations from around the world. Bar specials Mon-Fri, 4-7 PM. Brunch served Sat & Sun. TRADEMARK 2800 Jamieson Ave. 703-253-8640 TRADITIONS (Holiday Inn) 625 First St. 703-548-6300 UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com Old Towns favorite neighborhood tap and grill. Distinct southern style menu, fine steaks, fresh seafood. Sunday brunch, private parties, happy hour.

VERMILLION 1120 King St. 703-684-9669

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

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600

KAI ZEN TAVERN 1901 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-836-1212

BRABO

by Robert Weidmaier 1600 King St. 703-894-3440 BRABO Tasting Room 1600 King St. 703-894-5252 RESTAURANT EVE 110 S. Pitt St. 703-706-0450 TEMPO 4231 Duke St. 703-370-7900 temporestaurant.com Northern Italian, French provincial and American cuisine featuring fresh seafood, meats and pasta served in a contemporary, romantic atmosphere.

CEDAR KNOLL INN GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-799-1501 FRENCH BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com 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

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

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

Sang Jun Thai 300 King Street 571-312-3377

CONTINENTAL

SAMUEL BECKETTS IRISH GASTRO PUB 2800 S. Randolph St. Villages of Shirlington 703-379-0122

ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515

Caphe Banh Mi Vietnamese 407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800

BISTRO ROYALE 1201 N. Royal St. 703-519-9110 bistroroyal.com YVES BISTRO 235 Swamp Fox Rd. In the Hoffman Center 703-329-1010 CHEZ ANDREE 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-836-1404 LA BERGERIE 218 N. Lee St. 703-683-1007 labergerie.com

ITALIAN BERTUCCIS 725 King St. 703-548-8500 BUGSYS PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313 bugsyspizza.com FACCIA LUNA 823 S. Washington St. 703-838-5998 GERANIO RISTORANTE 722 King St. 703-548-0088 geranio.net Still Old Towns highest-rated Italian restaurant (Zagat). Discerning Old Towners flock here for refined cuisine in this comfortable, yet sophisticated restaurant.

With entrees from $14, there is no reason not to enjoy a selection from their Wine Spectator award-winning list, while being attended by the friendly staff of seasoned professionals. Reservations recommended and casual attire welcomed.

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

DELIAS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. Alexandria, VA 703-329-0006 BISTRO DU SOLEIL 1116 King St. 571-312-2754 SEAFOOD Hanks Oyster Bar 1026 King St. 703-739-HANK RTS RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010

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

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

Live music and lively food!

LA STRADA 1905 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-2592

ERNIES ORGINIAL CRABHOUSE 1743 King St. 703-836-0046

SAPORE DITALIA RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA 1310 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-683-9680

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

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

OLD CHICAGO PIZZERIA 2245 Huntington Ave. 703-960-1086 PARADISO 124 King St. 703-837-1245 PINES OF FLORENCE 1300 King St. 703-549-1796 RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873 TRATTORIA DA FRANCO 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338 VILLA DESTE 600 Montgomery St. 703-549-9477 MEDITERRANEAN LA TASCA 607 King St. 703-299-9810 “Spring into Spain and Feast Like a King.” Offering unlimited tapas at lunch and dinner. Choice of dessert included.

Lunch 11:30-4:30 for $20.07; dinner 4:30-close for $30.07. Eat a little, drink a little, have a lot of fun!

FLYING FISH 815 King St. 703-600-FISH flyingfishdc.com FISH MARKET-CLINTON 7611Old Branch Ave. Clinton, MD 301-599-7900 INDIAN DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd.

703-660-6085 MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN AUSTIN GRILL 801 King St. 703-684-8969 LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290 LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167 TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226) CASA FELIPE 835 N. Royal St. 703-535-7868 TRES HERMANAS 4580 Duke St. 703-370-3800

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

Old Town Crier

DINING OUT FROM PG 30

that you are being “rushed” to order.

The brunch menu isn’t extensive as it only offers 7 items, but these items touch all of the bases. They offer Classic Eggs Benedict, Chesapeake Eggs Benedict with jumbo lump crabmeat, a Three-Egg Omelet with Fresh Mushrooms, Spinach and Swiss cheese, a ThreeEgg Omelet with Ham and Swiss cheese, Smoked Salmon Platter, French toast with fresh Fruit and the same with either sausage or bacon. The prices range from $9.95 to $12.95.

Keep in mind that the full lunch menu is also available during brunch so dining choices are many.

We started off with the Smoked Salmon Platter. Thick slices of fresh salmon with cream cheese and plenty of chopped red onion and capers and a soft toasted bagel. There was enough salmon to satisfy both of us. I thought that the bagel was a nice touch and paired with the cream cheese made for a different taste.

The cream cheese also helped hold the capers and onion to the bagel as I laid a thick slice of salmon on top. Note: This platter is also available on the regular menu, however, it is served with toast and a dill crème fraiche instead of the bagel and cream cheese.

Next we ordered the Eggs Benedict and the French toast with Fresh Fruit and sausage.

The Eggs Benedict were… well, Eggs Benedict. However, this is a brunch staple that my dining partner uses as a gauge everywhere where she “brunches”. It is a testament to the chef that he doesn’t take this routine egg dish for granted and serves up a great meal each time. Both eggs were hot and cooked just right with a thick hollandaise sauce.

The potatoes were a little on the warm rather than hot side indicating that the potatoes were probably placed on the plate while the egg finished poaching but the flavors were good and savory. This dish is also served with fresh fruit.

The French toast was great. Three thick slices of traditional French bread that was very fresh - dipped in egg wash and grilled to perfection. The sausage (this is one of my brunch gauges) was good, but I prefer mine a bit more flavorful with a little more “zip”. I don’t usually

MAY EVENTS at

Tuesday, May 5, 6:30 pm

Crivelli Wine Dinner 5 Courses with Wine Pairings Meet Importer Brennan Downey and Crivelli Winery Rep Luisa Valenzano Space is limited, Reserve Now! See our website for details.

Sunday, May 10 Don’t Forget –

MOTHER’S DAY with Special Menu Items

Wine Tastings every Saturday 2 - 4 pm 7966 Fort Hunt Road (In the Hollin Hall Shopping Center)

Reservations: 703-347-7545

RiverBendBistro.com Plenty of FREE parking

Great Steaks

USDA Prime Cuts

Late Night Menu Available Every Night

DINING OUT > PAGE 35

Old Town Crier

May 2015 | 33

CHEF’S SPECIAL CHESTER SIMPSON

Sheerhu Madhu When did you first become interested in cooking and why did you pursue a culinary career?

I was very passionate about cooking when I was in high school . I always helped my mom in her kitchen and learned from her. During college I was working as an assistant to a chef in London. Then I decided that I would make my career as an Indian Curry Chef. I wanted to give the world the best of Indian curries with all of their aromas and flavors of spice.

photo: ©2015 Chester Simpson

Who have been the biggest inspirations of your career?

My mom. I grew up eating her best curries and also my inspiration is from India’s famous celebrity chef, Sanjeev Kapoor.

What dish on your menu are you curious to see how it is received by your guests?

Mayfair-London (Must sheeru madhu Try) Biryani Chicken, IS THE CHEF AT Lamb, Goat, Shrimp with london curry house steamed Basmati long 191 somerville street grain rice layered with cameron Station spice and garnished with alexandria, va fried onions and mint.

703-675-7194 Also Britains National londoncurryhouse.com Dish, Chicken Tikka Masala. Originally Indian but perfected in Scotland — boneless Chef Madhu and Owner.Mgr. Asad Sheikh. Food (Clockwise from top): Dahi Poori, Tandoori Chicken, Tandoori Salmon, Khulfi, Samosa, and (center) Biryani Chicken, Lamb, Goat, Shrimp, baked in the oven. chicken breast in cubes cooked in

tangy tomato sauce.

What do you do to insure the quality of the food going out of the kitchen?

We buy our spices from our trusted vendors who import them directly from India. Our vegetables are fresh from local farmers markets and local produce vendors. Our meat is fresh and never frozen.

If any chef in the world could prepare you a meal, who would it, be?

My mentor Sanjeev Kapoor, famous India’s celebratory chef – he is very creative. You give him a few spices and within a few minutes he comes up with curry dishes that you have never heard about and are great in taste. He also stars in the TV show Khana Khazana, which is the longest running show of its kind in Asia; it broadcasts in 120 countries and in 2010 had more than 500 million viewers.

What is your guilty food pleasure?

Naan, a leavened, oven baked flatbread and Kabob from an Indian grocery store. When I was settling down in America that was my meal.

If you would like to see your favorite chef featured in this space, send contact information to chester@chestersimpson. com.

(L to R) Chicken Tikka Masala, Dahi Poori (Crispy lentil Puff stuffed with yogurt, tamarind and chickpeas), Tandoori Chicken (whole chicken legs marinated overnight with spiced yogurt, ginger/garlic and finished in clay oven), and Khulfi (Pistachios) Indian style ice cream.

34 | May 2015

Old Town Crier

HOB-CrierAd-150325.pdf

DINING OUT FROM PG 33

eat pancakes or French toast much, but when you have butter and a good maple syrup, you can’t go wrong.

As I mentioned earlier, the regular lunch menu is available as well for those of you who want something more than breakfast. The appetizers include a Country Pate and Plat du Charcutrie, as well as Escargots du Bourgone, steamed Mussels and Mussels Povencale. The French Onion soup is always good here… and a large portion. For some there might be too much cheese melted on top, but I love it. The broth is a beef broth with lots of onion.

Some of the highlights of the entrees are Veal Sheri, Trout Almondine and Seafood Crepes. The steak and poultry consist of Chicken Florentine, Steak au Poivre, Filet Mignon aux Béarnaise and Rack of Lamb. Andree’s classics feature Chicken Livers, Country Sausage & Lentils, Sweetbreads and Calf ’s Liver.

Chez Andree is also a great place for dinner. The dining rooms are decorated with period furniture with a country theme, which makes for a nice relaxing evening. The bar area has a large, classic wooden bar and back bar facing a spectacular mural that looks like a scene from Moulin Rouge.

Get out of your comfort zone and try some traditional French Country cooking. The atmosphere is wonderful and old world, while the food is a nice change of pace. Chez Andree prices are reasonable and they boast a very nice wine list as well. They have daily specials during the week that are all well worth checking out. This is what keeps you coming back for more! See their ad in this section for address, phone number and other pertinent information.

1

3/25/15

4:49 PM

Spectacular Waterfront Dining C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Fresh Fish Specialties • Prime Rib & Steaks Hot Chocolate Lava Cake

3-Courses for $39

Monday & Tuesday Nights Two Course Dinner with Bottle of Wine for Two $39.95

Sunday - Thursday $4 - $7 Bar Bites Monday - Friday • 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Brunch • Lunch • Dinner One Cameron St. • Alexandria (703) 684-5080 chart-house.com

GRAB a bite!

Chez Andrée Restaurant Français & Bar 10 East Glebe Road Alexandria, Virginia 703.836.1404 chezandree.com

Old Town Crier

May 2015 | 35

GRAPEVINE FRANK BRITT

Pearmund Cellars where it’s all about the wine

M pearmund cellars

6190 Georgetown Road Broad Run, VA 20137 540-347-3475 pearmundcellars.com

ore than a tag line, “It’s About the Wine” has been the way of the wine at Pearmund Cellars since it opened in 2003. As you approach the Fauquier County winery, driving between Chardonnay vines that are established--in fact, they are the oldest Chardonnay vines in Virginia-you know that you are headed for a wine experience totally focused on quality and consistency.

Owner Chris Pearmund and Executive Winemaker Ashton Lough, one of the most decorated wine teams on the East Coast, produce award-winning wines year after year. Chris has been a mainstay in the Virginia wine industry since 1984, managing or consulting with a number of vineyards across the state, as well as working with wineries just getting their start.

Situated in Broad Run, in the foothills of eastern Fauquier County, Pearmund Cellars is conveniently close to Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. The 7500 square foot geothermal winery is located on a farm that dates back to the 1740s. The vineyard was established in 1976 and originally hosted nine different grape varieties. Today, it’s all about Chardonnay which has proven to be the GRAPEVINE > PAGE 37

36 | May 2015

Old Town Crier

GRAPEVINE FROM PG 36

EXPLORING VIRGINIAWINES DOUG FABBIOLI

most successful varietal for the terroir. There are 11,000 vines of Chardonnay, cultivars or clones of Chardonnay cultivated on 15 acres.

Pearmund also sources from premier vineyards that specialize in one particular varietal. In addition to Chardonnay, the winery produces Viognier, Risesling, Late Harvest Vidal, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Ameritage.

The Tasting Room at Pearmund Cellars is surrounded by picturesque views and offers a warm, friendly ambience for tasting and relaxing. Outside, picnic tables are placed under large shade trees adjacent to the Chardonnay vines. Light fare, wine-related gifts and locat artwork are offered for sale.

The Tasting Room consistently offers 10 to 12 wines, including the buttery, oaky Old Vine Chardonnay and the rich, robust Bordeaux blend Ameritage. Pearmund’s extensive portfolio of wines includes a dessert finish with the Late Harvest Traminette.

For a little sweetness, try the 2014 Riesling (there is a dry version as well). For a red wine that is “jammy” with a robust finish, the 2012 Petit Verdot is recommended.

Following a tasting of Pearmund wines, visitors consistently comment that they “like every wine” and they compliment the knowledgeable and friendly tasting staff. Add attractiveness of the location, and it’s apparent why Pearmund Cellars is voted Top Tasting Room by subscribers to the Official Virginia Wine Lover (www.vawinelover.com).

Frank Britt is the former co-publisher and co-founder of Virginia Wine Lover magazine and current publisher of the Official Virginia Wine Lover e-newsletter, “THE Source for Virginia’s Wine news.” (www.vawinelover.com—complimentary to Old Town Crier readers). He also consults with several wine festivals and can be reached at frank@ brittmarketing.com; www.vawinelover.com

May Is Growing Time

I

am always amazed at how quickly the seasons change. Even though this spring was later in arriving this year, it seemed like summer arrived just as the last of the snow was gone. On the farm, the list of projects grows exponentially.

Around here, once the grass starts growing, it seems we are always needing to mow it. The asparagus is popping, the pear blossoms are blooming, the berries are pushing new shoots and here come the grapes. When the grape buds push, they seem to open for us about 2-3 weeks after the cherry blossoms.

Once they start swelling, it is important that we monitor the progress and the pests that can destroy those buds and small shoots. The grape flea beetle will eat the inside of the bud consuming the tiny clusters that are the grapes for the season. The climbing cut worms can do the same thing. We do not use insecticides unless we need to. Some years the bugs do not show up. Other times, the growth of the plant can push past the destruction these little critters can cause.

The biggest pest that we contend with on our farm in the spring is the threat of a killer frost.

We have a frost protection system that we will Old Town Crier

put to work on those nights when our small green shoots are out and a cold spring night is in the forecast. I have an alarm as well that goes off if the temperature drops below 35; we are up immediately and put our system to work.

The method uses fans to remove the cold, low lying air in the vineyard and tarps hanging on our perimeter deer fence to keep the cold air outside the vineyard from flowing in. This system does not work on all frost incidents, but it does help for many of ours.

A farmer has many things to learn about their crops, their equipment, their land and their customers. Accepting that there is no end to the learning is an important part of being successful. This fall, Northern Virginia Community College is offering classes on viticulture. As our wine region continues to grow in both size and stature, we need to maintain the growth of both our quality and production of our wines. The work that Loudoun County, the town of Purcellville, industry leaders and the educational institutions have put into this effort is paying off. We look forward to this program being the start of some bigger things. Learn, grow, share and work your buns off! Cheers.

May 2015 | 37

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

n three fox vineyards aPriL & May events n

aPriL 4th: three fox easter egg roLL – see website for detaiLs n May 2nd: 11th estate CeLebration n May 3rd: bLessing of the vines n 14th bUd breaK CeLebration – date to be annoUnCed

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

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

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

Tasting Room Hours - Open Year Round Thursday-Saturday, & Monday 11-5 pm • Sunday 12 pm (noon)- 5 pm

Mention or bring this ad for a complimentary tasting for two through 12/23/2010 10100 Three Fox Ln. • Delaplane, VA • 540-364-6073

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

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

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

A small, family winery focused on quality, sustainable farming and our community Visit us and other quality wineries on the Loudoun Wine Trail–www.loudounfarms.org Serving your local red wine needs since 2006 Open Daily 11am - 5pm Educational wine events

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Virginia Wine Marketing Office

38 | May 2015

For More Information: virginiawine.org Visiting Virginia’s Wine Country Its always a good idea to call before visiting. Many Virginia wineries are small, family-owned operations and may be closed during the time you are planning to visit.

If you are a group of eight or more, call ahead to help the winery prepare for your visit and to make sure they can accept groups.

Most of our wineries have grape cluster highway signs within a ten-mile radius pointing the way to the winery. Many of these signs also tell you how many miles to go before reaching the winery.

Old Town Crier

GO FISH STEVE CHACONAS

Losing a Boating Icon

L

eaving your mark is a life’s dream.

Accomplishing that while raising the bar makes you a legend. The boating industry lost a legend earlier this year.

BoatUS founder Richard Schwartz passed away at 85, leaving behind a locker full of accolades, including the largest US boat owners organization, fighting boating battles and making boating safer!

Schwartz created the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and for nearly a half-century advocated for boat owners and operated a nationwide discount marine retail chain with 62 BoatUS retail stores. In the early 1960s it wasn’t much of a stretch to visualize Schwartz, a young Princeton and Yale Law School graduate and anti-trust attorney, establishing the nation’s largest and most influential recreational boating organization. While a guest on a friend’s boat, the friend was given a ticket for something Schwartz felt was unfair and not the boater’s responsibility. Discovering there was no one fighting for the interests of boaters, BoatUS was conceived, adopting a mission of “service, savings and representation.” Schwartz ascertained the boating manufacturing sector was also complicit as it built in issues and inconsistencies into boat construction and safety. He created the only Consumer

Bassing IN MAY Potomac River

The spawn is here! Using red Lucky Craft lipless LV RTO crankbaits, cast and crawl along spawning areas.

Crankbaits like the Lucky Craft 1.5 will cover depths up to 4 feet. Use reds in stained water or cloudy days and chartreuse or shad patterns with clear water and sun.

Carolina rigs work with the same technique. Use a ¾ ounce Round Valley tungsten with 30-pound test

Old Town Crier

Protection Bureau for boaters seeking redress with manufacturers.

Boaters never think about insurance polices until they file a claim or pay premiums.

Schwartz put a lot of thought into insurance so boaters wouldn’t need to, replacing gobbledygook insurance industry jargon with plain English common sense. Realizing most boating insurance policies were full of leaks, he introduced BoatUS insurance in 1967.

Listing his accomplishments would take away from boating time. Anyone enjoying time on the water owes Schwartz a salute.

His Capitol Hill testimony resulted in the watershed Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, giving the US Coast Guard the power to hold manufacturers accountable for certain safety standards. It also led to the creation of the US Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety, a lifesaving move!

Richard Schwartz sought legislation to legally protect boater rights, contributing to the passage of the Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Act of 1979 that directed taxes and fees paid by boaters to support boating programs. He opposed the luxury tax (1992) and diesel fuel tax (1997), both repealed! The Granddaddy of boating GO FISH > PAGE 42

Gamma Torque braid and a 12-pound test Edge leader.

Mann’s Hardnose lizards on a 3/0 Mustad Mega Bite hook sprayed with garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray will produce.

Also use Shaky head with MIZMO Barb Wire heads and green pumpkin Quiver Stix. Cast and shake or crawl.

Use Mizmo Tubes with and insert head in the same areas.

Drop shots will also work!

Try topwaters too! Buzzbaits over shallow cover like wood and grass can bring the bigger fish up! Poppers will work too, but walking baits like the Lucky Craft Gunfish will taunt fish into biting!

It’s also a good time to try the all new Mann’s Reel ‘N Shad! This is an easy cast and reel lure! Tie to GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line.

May 2015 | 39

FITNESS NICOLE FLANAGAN

Fit Mom

A

s a personal trainer and mother, I can appreciate being able to have an hour to myself to get in a good workout. This event rarely happens. It seems that by the time I actually have some time to spend on myself there is still a million things to get done. Exercise is always on my list of things to do for the day and I have found that the best way to fit it in is by doing a 15-20 minute workout at least twice a day. Fitting

in a workout can be easier if you make it a part of your daily routine. I know this is easier said than done, but it is possible. Make your workout fun for you and for your kids.

Try doing a workout video in the living room while your kids play. If they are old enough to move around have fun with them, you get your workout in and the kids get worn out too! When babies are too young to move on their own, it’s the best time to strap them in a stroller and go

for a walk. If you are a runner, I highly recommend investing in a jogging stroller - it will make exercising fun and the jogging strollers fold up so you can take them just about everywhere.

Exercising increases your metabolism, increases energy and will help you sleep better (even if you are only getting a few hours at a time). You can complete an entire strength training routine in just under 20minutes using only your body weight. The best part

about body weight training is that you can do it anywhere!

• Switch legs and repeat 5 times

Total Body Strength Workout

Single Leg Opposite Arm and Leg Reach • Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, abs engaged, left hand on hip.

• Lift left knee up to 90 degrees in front of you. Lean forward slightly as you reach right arm in front of you and push left foot behind you.

• Hold for 1 count. Pull both back in. Do 12 reps.

• Switch sides; repeat 3 times.

Warm-up: jumping jacks, walk in place for 1 minute

Squat Jump • Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.

• Squat down, bending your knees to 90 degrees.

• Now jump up and land softly again in the squat position. Use the strength in your legs and butt to jump up explosively.

• Remember to land as softly as you can with your knees bent; keep your weight back, over your heels.

• Do 3 sets of 8 reps Single Leg Circles • Lie back on the mat with your arms by your sides and your palms facing down.

• Begin by pointing with your left foot, as if reaching out with your toes toward the ceiling, and rotate your leg slightly outward.

• Inhale, and trace a circle on the ceiling with your left leg, moving your whole leg, but keeping your hips still.

Don’t lift your left hip off the floor.

• Trace the circle on the ceiling 5 times in a clockwise direction. Repeat in a counter-clockwise direction.

40 | May 2015

Eccentric Push-ups • Start in a plank position.

Shoulders over wrists, back straight, core engaged. You can be on your knees or toes.

• slowly lower your body to the ground while keeping your core tight and legs straight.

• Return to start position. The goal is to lower your body slowly; you are only doing the down part of the pushup.

• Do 3 sets of 5-8 reps No Weight Shoulder Press • Extend arms out to sides at shoulder height, elbows bent 90 degrees, palms forward.

Raise arms over head, then lower to start. (30 reps)

Old Town Crier

FROM THE TRAINER RYAN UNVERZAGT

balance

B

alance is the foundation for nearly every movement.

We rely on it so much without even thinking twice about it.

Balance is utilized during sitting, standing up, walking, climbing stairs, running, and not to mention….exercise, which is why I want to share a few ways to test your balance this month.

There are two types of balance: static and dynamic.

Static balance is the ability to hold a position without excessive movement for a certain amount of time, such as standing on one leg.

Dynamic balance is being able to maintain control while performing a movement, such as walking a tightrope. Now, I don’t expect you to be able to actually walk a tightrope, you can leave that up to Barnum & Bailey’s Circus performers!

Exercise 1: Static Balance

Stand upright with your feet together and arms at your sides. Slowly lift one foot off the ground by flexing your hip and knee and hold that position for at least 30 seconds. Switch feet to find out which leg has better control. The goal is to feel comfortable on each side in order to progress to more challenging exercises.

Exercise 2: Variation on 1

This one starts just like the first except that you will be looking over your left and Old Town Crier

right shoulders to increase difficulty. Start by looking at the wall in front of you then slowly scan the room toward your left shoulder without looking down at the floor.

Once you’ve looked over that shoulder, scan back to the right side until you’ve looked over the other one. Repeat this 10 times on each leg. Once you’ve mastered this exercise, try scanning from your toes, along the floor and up the wall to the ceiling directly above you and back down. Sounds easy, right?

skills. Remember to keep movements slow to remain in control. If you lose your balance at any time during the exercise, just place the opposite foot on the ground to regain control. Do not

hop around on one leg.

You can always find ways to up the difficulty level by adding an unstable surface such as a BOSU trainer or Dyna-Disc. If you don’t have access to equipment or want the ultimate challenge, try these exercises with your eyes closed. The best time to perform balance exercises is at the very beginning of your workout or as part of your

warm-up routine before you get too fatigued.

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

Old TOwn denTisTry FrinetKasper,DDS

Exercise 3: Dynamic Balance This third exercise will test your dynamic balance: You will need something to set in front of you such as a cone or basketball. Stand about two feet away from your object and start by lifting one foot off the ground. Lean forward toward your object by bringing your opposite leg behind you and keep your stance leg straight (knee not locked out). Bend from your hip and avoid rounding the back by keeping great posture.

Continue to reach until you are able to touch the object with your opposite hand and slowly come back to the start position. Your back leg should also remain straight to help counter-balance your torso during this exercise.

Try 10 reps on each leg. You can increase the challenge by grabbing a dumbbell.

These are very basic exercises to test your balance

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May 2015 | 41

A BIT OF HISTORY FROM PG 8

United States entered the global war on the condition that it could legitimately demand universal liberal democracy from the world.

“It is fearful to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance,” President Wilson said. “But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts— for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own government, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal domination of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.”

The Great War, World War I concluded with the Peace Conference of 1919. The 1914 conflict was “a quarrel… between nation and nation, culture and culture.” President Wilson’s 1917 war was about competing ideologies, competing visions of the European and international orders. From Alexandria

passenger John Booth’s family crest, God Assists Us. The National World War I Museum is located in Kansas City, Missouri. Nearly 4.7 million American soldiers served. Although state and city memorials abound no national WWI Memorial exists.

Washington, D.C.’s WWI Memorial, the only District of Columbia memorial on the National Mall, is situated in West Potomac Park. The District’s Woodrow Wilson House celebrates Lusitania Week with a display. An ongoing exhibit, War & Art: Destruction and Protection of Italian Cultural Heritage during WWI continues until August 5. In Virginia, Alexandria’s WWI Memorial— an adapted 18’ granite column initially intended for the George Washington Masonic Memorial—is located in the traffic circle in front of Union Station.

The 1918, WWI Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation was located in Alexandria at Jones Point along the Potomac River. On April 6, 1918 Corporation executives and city officials marched through the streets in celebration of the first “anniversary of this country’s declaration of war against Germany.”

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CIVIL DISCOURSE FROM PG 9

poured out and exposed to the air for a time, this would spontaneously combust.

The concoction was spread on beds and linen and in stairwells, but the resulting fires were small and slow, and were soon extinguished. The conspirators fled to Canada; one, Robert Kennedy, was caught reentering the country and was hanged in New York just before war’s end in late March 1865.

Biological warfare was old by the Civil War – the British gave Indians “gifts” of blankets infected with small pox during the French and Indian War. Confederate agents attempted the same thing with clothing which had been worn by yellow fever victims.

Although virtually unknown in the U.S. today, yellow fever killed hundreds of thousands in the 18th and 19th centuries; in 1793, an epidemic in Philadelphia killed 5,000 out a population of 45,000. A Southern physician who specialized in yellow fever, Dr. Luke Blackburn, travelled to Bermuda to assist that important Confederate ally with an outbreak. Before leaving, he filled trunks with the clothing of yellow fever victims. He planned to travel to Canada and on to the United States to distribute the GO FISH FROM PG 39

legislation, the 1984 federal Wallop/Breaux Trust Fund Amendment that now returns over $650 million annually to federal and state boating and fishing programs, has been credited to Schwartz!

Schwartz’s tireless efforts influenced national boating safety with the BoatUS 501(c) 3 nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. This program ranges from free Online Boating Safety Courses to the only nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids and EPIRB rental programs. The BoatUS Magazine has become the largest boating magazine in the country with over half a million circulation. In the 1980’s Congress ordered cessation of Coast Guard tows. The most recognizable mantle of BoatUS services, red BoatUS Towing boats, replaced the Coast Guard’s onthe-water assistance! Recently BoatUS halted an effort by a company petitioning the

clothing for resale in Northern cities and Washington, believing that this would spark epidemics in those cities. He set aside the finest shirts with a mind towards making these a special gift for Lincoln. But the U.S. consul in Bermuda discovered the plot and Blackburn had to flee without his cargo. It would not have worked anyway – yellow fever, like malaria, is spread by mosquitoes.

Of course, the Yankees had some dirty tricks of their own. In the New Mexico territory in February of 1862, a Captain Graydon devised a sort of primitive “smart bomb.” This plot involved two worn out old mules which were loaded with 24-pounder howitzer shells and then released to head for their fellows in the corral of a Confederate encampment, lit fuses trailing. When the mules started popping, the shell bursts stampeded the Confederate herd, many of which were later captured by Union pickets along the Rio Grande. The next day, as the battle of Valverde opened, the Confederates were short 150 mules.

But for the most part the Yankees had no need for such gimmicks. They had numbers, brute force and industrial might. Custer and Sherman could get by

without Greek fire – they had cavalry and plenty of torches.

The Swamp Angel and other Yankee guns could pulverize downtown Charleston with no imagination at all. In the end, all the Confederate ingenuity in the world was no answer to brute force.

Government to implement a new wireless band. Sounded good until BoatUS revealed this would be a disaster for GPS, a system boaters rely on for navigation safety.

In the BoatUS Alexandria Headquarters lobby, a wall map displays colored lights indicating customer location and numbers. Missing was the inshore boater. Big boaters were aware of BoatUS, the Association, the insurance and Towboat US. BoatUS created a big splash in the bass boat pond. Bass anglers and bass guides across the country now know and employ BoatUS as their insurance provider. I became familiar with BoatUS when a bass buddy of mine had issues with his outboard.

BoatUS not only stood by him, they negotiated a brand new motor. This in light of the fact that the manufacturer was just weeks away from filing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy! I was impressed, but they didn’t offer guide policies. Working with BoatUS, about 8 years ago, a bass policy and the ultimate guide policy emerged

with on and off the water towing!

Only 4 years ago, Schwartz turned the rudder of the nation’s #1 boat-owners advocate to BoatUS President Margaret Bonds Podlich.

Schwartz remained on board as Chairman of the BoatUS Board of Directors as well as Chairman of the BoatUS National Advisory Council.

BoatUS has kept both oars in the water on a steady course to float everyone’s boat. Richard was well loved by everyone and would spend time just chatting about boating. On my visits to the Alexandria Headquarters, I would occasionally see him. He always remembered me as the guy who liked his shirts. Truth be told I liked him, more than his shirts.

Sources

Confederate Bio-warfare: Dr. Blackburn and the Yellow Fever Plot, http:// www.oddlyhistorical. com/2014/02/03/confederatebio-warfare-dr-blackburnyellow-fever-plot/; Paddy Graydon’s Mule Bombs, http://www.desertusa.com/ desert-people/paddy-graydon. html; The Confederate Plot to Burn New York, http:// history1800s.about.com/ od/civilwar/a/ConfederatePlot-To-Burn-New-York. htm; The Coal Torpedo – The Confederacy’s Own Improvised Explosive device, http://militaryhistorynow. com/2014/01/13/dirty-trickthe-confederacys-top-secretcoal-torpedo/ Doug Coleman is an attorney and amateur historian in Alexandria; comments and corrections are always welcome at dcoleman@colemanlawyers.com.

Author Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fishing guide & contributing writer for BoatU.S. (BoatUS.com) Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. Book trips/ purchase gift certificates: info@ NationalBass.com.

Old Town Crier

FIRST BLUSH KIM PUTENS

Secrets to a Fool-Proof Self Tan Experience the Difference

L

earning to apply selftanner is as much about patience and perseverance as it is an art form. It does not have to be an uphill battle, like learning how to paint the Mona Lisa. It is achievable and a few tricks of the trade will have you looking as stunningly bronzed as ever.

Even if you seek out a professional for help, it is important to know what and what not to do. Remember, regardless of your self-tanning fate, it is still better to get that fake bake than to bake in the sun or in a wretched tanning bed.

your Sunday best. Keep in mind these clothing items may or most likely will be slathered in self tanner. If at home, naked is best. If at a professional tanning salon, consider wearing a thong that could get ruined or use the paper ones provided. It’s best to be safe than sorry.

Step 4: Get to Work

To avoid weird lines from bending over, it is best to work your way up starting with your lower half. Be sure to hold the spray tan can at least eight inches away from you and spray in an up and

Step 1: Exfoliate

You must get off all that dead skin before even attempting to point that bronzing bottle at your body. If you do not slough, the tanner will blotch. Pay particular attention to rough spots like knees, elbows, heels, and hands. When choosing an exfoliant, be sure to choose one that is oil-free. Oil prevents tanner from properly penetrating.

Step 2: Prep Yourself

To avoid turning green, orange or any other color of the rainbow, it is extremely important that you prep your skin. Remove deodorant – it can react to the self-tanner and turn your underarms green. Put moisturizer on your eye brows – the tanner can turn them orange. Finally, rub a thin layer of body lotion onto chronically dry areas such as elbows, hands, heels and hands to keep them from turning darker shades of brown. All this will ensure that the tanner absorbs nicely without splotching or streaking.

Step 3: Dress Accordingly Opt for less is more.

Choose clothing that is not Old Town Crier

quickly so you can attend to mistakes. If you find areas that are too dark or splotchy, fix your mistakes by blotting the dark areas with a make-up sponge. Be sure not to wipe, as you can create streaks.

Step 6: Let it Set

It takes about 8 hours for self-tanner to fully set. Thus, for this period of time, be sure to wear loose, dark clothing, as it is possible for tanner to rub off on your clothes. Avoid any clingy clothing such as a bra. Avoid showering during this time period as well because it will impact the fate of your tan. If you find that an area looks too dark, rub a slice of lemon over the area. The acid will tone down the color.

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Step 7: Make it Last

down motion. Spray from your thighs to calves to feet in slow, steady, even layers. Go easy on typical problem areas - feet, knees and ankles - so they don’t end up darker than the rest of your body.

Next, move to the middle.

Spray the front and back of your torso. Then do your arms, armpits, and wrists. Be careful not to overdo the area around your armpits. These should look a little lighter as they naturally would. Go lightly on your wrists and hands so you don’t end up looking like you are wearing dark brown gloves. Finally, face the music. Mist your face lightly. Instead of one fell swoop, mist your face in sections.

Most self-tanning applications last about one to two weeks. To get the maximum out of your self-tanning effort, avoid exfoliating and shave your legs infrequently, if possible. Finally, moisturize your body from head to toe after every shower.

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You have about 20 minutes before the tanner fully absorbs. So, check your work May 2015 | 43

SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE PEGGIE ARVIDSON

What Your Freckles Say About You

T

ake a look at your hands for a second. Look beyond the lines and mounts and search for freckles. Only look at the inside of the hand, not the part of the hand that is usually rougher and exposed to the world and sun. As a palmist this is the area of the hand I focus on when I do your reading, whether we’re meeting in person or via your inked hand prints.

If you have a freckle on the palm of your hand it serves as a not so subtle NUDGE to get going on that thing that makes you feel most like you. Some people call that purpose. Your life purpose can be initiated in many ways throughout your life, from the day you’re born until you leave the planet.

Palmistry and Your Life Purpose

The ways in which you show up on purpose matter far less than you may have been led to believe. I’m not saying that your purpose isn’t

The

important, I’m saying it’s not as complicated as you think it is.

It’s called your LIFE purpose, not your HOW TO MAKE A LIVING purpose.

Your vocation and your job can be ways that you shine your purpose into the world, but if you’re lucky you’ll have dozens or more jobs and job titles between the time you’re born and the time you die.

Now that you’re a little less wigged out about finding your purpose, let’s talk about how the freckles kick you in the butt to be on purpose every day.

What Matters Most about Freckles?

Just like real estate, the answer is Location! Unlike real estate there are no bad neighborhoods. You nevertheless need to know a little about the neighborhood where your freckle resides.

I want you to think of freckles as being little markers reminding you to bring the vibration of its location into focus in your life. In big and small ways, you can master

the skills represented by your freckle zone.

These descriptions are BROAD STROKES, not a specific reading for you. Take what resonates with you and pull it forward. If it doesn’t resonate or you want to see how your freckle plays into your overall life fulfillment plan for being the best version of you no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you know you can have a professional read your hands for you.

The Jupiter Zone: This includes the Jupiter (first) finger and the entire zone that falls below it. If you have a freckle anywhere in your Jupiter Zone, reflect on the meaning of power in your life. Questions to ask: Where can I step up and lead more effectively? Is there anywhere in my life where I am giving my power away in big or small ways? Do I ever say something can’t be done because of outside forces?

The Saturn Zone: This includes the Saturn (middle) finger and the entire zone

Pragmatic Palmist PEGGIE ARVIDSON

Are you ready to use the wisdom in your hands to manifest the business of your dreams? Would you like to find out once and for all how to get out of your own way and attract love and money, using the gifts of your own DNA? Private readings, group sessions, classes and workshops are NOW available by appointment at:

Phone and Skype appointments are also available!

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44 | May 2015

that falls below it. If you have a freckle anywhere in your Saturn Zone, reflect on the meaning of value and worth in your life. Questions to ask: Where do I neglect asking for what I want or need? Is there anywhere in my life where I sell myself short? Do I ever feel guilty taking time for myself?

The Apollo Zone: This includes the Apollo (ring) finger and the entire zone that falls below it. If you have a freckle anywhere in your Apollo Zone, reflect on the meaning of creativity and being seen in your life.

Questions to ask: Where do I shy away from the spotlight and how does that make me feel? Is there anywhere in my life where I hold back on my vision because of fear? Do I ever feel like I’ll never fit in or don’t belong?

The Mercury Zone: This includes the Mercury (pinky) finger and the entire zone that falls below it. If you have a freckle anywhere in your Mercury Zone, reflect on the meaning of intimacy, trust and communication in your life. Questions to ask: Where do I hold my tongue instead of telling my truth and how does that serve me? Is there anywhere in my life where I feel I can’t trust myself or others?

Do I feel the need to control everyone and everything, yet never feel satisfied?

The Venus Zone: This is fleshy area at the base of your Thumb. If you have a freckle anywhere in your Venus Zone, reflect on the meaning of wonder, awe and play in your life. Questions to ask: Where can I make room for play in my life? Is there anywhere in my life where I try to bury my feelings/needs with too much food/sex/substances/ shopping instead of addressing the situation head on? Do I ever feel like I am too busy to play or relax in nature?

Now that you’ve had a look at your hand and your freckles step back and do some reflection. Remember those freckles are nudges to you to bring the related vibration forward in your daily life, whether at work, at play or running errands.

Peggie Arvidson, the Pragmatic Palmist is a healer, teacher and soul coach as well as the founder of The Profitable Alchemist Academy. She’s helped thousands of people connect with their life purpose and put it to work for them through private readings, small group classes and individual coaching programs. You can learn more & sign up to receive your free mini-reading at PeggieArvidson.com. She’s also available for private sessions at Rising Phoenix Holistic Center in downtown Manassas, Va. Old Town Crier

OPEN SPACE LORI WELCH BROWN

M

MAC

y sister-in-law refers to aging as the ability to see ‘the end of the conveyor belt.’ While I still have the horizon in my vista (as does she!), I’d be lying if I said that some of the conversations in my head weren’t thinking along those lines. “How many cars do I have in my future?”

“If this latex mattress is supposed to last 15 years, I may only have to buy a couple more so probably a good investment” or “I may only have one more shot at the home of my dreams, before it’s into the home of jello lunches and nightly bingo so do I want the blue pearl or ubatuba granite in the kitchen?” As you can imagine, those thoughts are a little stressful. I don’t want to make the wrong choice and be stuck staring at ubatuba in my twilight years. All this confirms is that I’m feeling very middle aged.

Actually—probably a little more like middle aged crazy (MAC). And, trying to do the math of consumer spending is just the beginning.

Lucky for us, the transition to middle age has a whole host of challenges to entertain. In the past, happy hour conversations revolved around vacations. Now they revolve around retirement locations. XXL will ask me over a glass of chardonnay— “so what’s our next step? Where do we go from here?” Wow. I thought marriage was a big commitment, but retirement planning kinda blows that out of the water. Where do you decide to live out the rest of your dreams?

Mountains? Beach? For a girl who has never lived outside of Virginia— and by Virginia, I mean Northern VA, that’s a mind blower. Heck—I only have two passport stamps. I love hearing other people’s plans—some of whom have their plan all mapped out like my friend Peggie. She knows

Old Town Crier

middle aged crazy

she wants to go to Arizona. She has a whole state already. I worry because XXL can have strong debates over where to go for dinner. How in the world are we going to narrow down retirement destinations? North Carolina? Not sure I like barbeque that much. Georgia? Sounds hot. Florida?

All those kids and blue hairs? We would be the retirement tweens.

While on some levels, I feel like I’ve still ‘got it,’ I’m starting to lose my grasp on what ‘it’ actually is. I’m still pretty cool to people in their twenties, but they don’t invite me to their parties or happy hours. I joined the running club at work, and I’m the caboose. After a long run last week, I mentioned the need for some Ben Gay, and no one knew what I meant.

Sigh. I’m on Facebook, but I don’t tweet or post on Instagram. With all these doctor appointments, who has the time? I find myself cursing the manufacturers who make clear

bottles with white print. Who on earth can read that? I swear if my hair falls out because I couldn’t read the shampoo bottle, I’m suing. And—I’m old enough that I actually have an attorney.

This may be the summer that I give up shorts because of spider veins and crepe paper skin, but that thought is too depressing. I’m trying to convince myself that it’s just the particular angle that I’m seeing them that makes them look so bad. If you see me in shorts, consider yourself warned. I’m not really obsessing over wrinkles or gray hair or rooster neck. I like to think my newfound beauty marks add character.

The new morning aches and pains do make me a little sad. I used to wake up and do a little yoga. Now I wake up and squat on the commode and consider that part of my practice. I’m actually starting to master the stand up position because getting up feels a bit too intermediate and I don’t want

to push myself.

Not sure about the rest of you Gen X’ers, but this is hard for me. I was the youngest of four, and the youngest cousin of my extended family. I was also generally the youngest among my friends and co-workers. No one refers to me as ‘kid’ any longer. When did that happen? I still have to remind myself that I’m actually a grown up when faced with decisions such as do I buy this adorable one-of-a-kind Italian leather handbag or pay my AMEX bill?

Or—do I purchase tickets to Bon Jovi even though it’s the night before my scheduled presentation to the Board?

Being a grown up is highly overrated.

Of course, there are many positives to this chapter. I know longer worry about paying cover charges—I’m in bed way before those start. I actually have real-life experiences that guide decisions and conversations. It’s only a matter of time before I start getting discounted movie tickets and memberships to AAA and preferential seating on public transportation. I’ll probably never have to take another entry-level position. I can afford to pay someone to do the things I don’t excel at like cleaning the house and hemming my pants. While I’m starting to get invites to botox parties (eeks!), I’m usually still the first person on the dance floor at any given party (no videos, please).

Aging doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I am privileged to know a lot of cool baby boomers who really changed the way we think about the conveyor belt. Thanks to them, I know it’s possible to enter this period not only with grace and dignity, but also with styles, power, strength and beauty, with perhaps a tinge of MAC. Let’s face it. A little dose of crazy is what keeps us young.

May 2015 | 45

clockwise from above: Granite City Food and Brewery; AC Hotel double bedroom; and AC Hotel lobby

Good Things Happening Here!

T

he Harbor has really started coming alive after the seemingly long winter we just struggled through. Due to space constraints, I am only going to be able to touch on a couple of the big things that have come into fruition since our April issue was

By Lani Gering published.

The AC Hotel

Many of you readers may remember the Aloft Hotel that was located on 156 Waterfront

46 | May 2015

Street. It was a good place in its own right, however, the space has taken on a new persona. The property was purchased by the proud owners of our beloved Gaylord Hotel, The Ryman Hospitality Group, and is also managed by Marriott International. Welcome the newly revamped, eight-story AC Hotel Washington, DC at National Harbor.

The AC features 192 guest rooms and six suites, 3,700-square-feet of meeting space GOOD THINGS > PAGE 47

Old Town Crier

GOOD THINGS FROM PG 46

and a fitness center. The hotel is designed to attract “millennials” who want a sophisticated experience with style, inspired social spaces and technology.

While I may actually be “almost” old enough to be a “millennials” grandmother, I find that there is a lot about this place that attracts me. It is very sleek and contemporary (very easy to dust) and has a very modern appeal. It isn’t a place that you “traditionalists” will particularly find appealing but then again, there are lots of other choices in the area that cater to your taste.

The AC boasts that they have a “bar with a twist”. According to my sources, the AC boasts that beverages come first. The Lounge features “all-knowing” bartenders who act as go-to sources for exploring the local area.

Guests can experience classic drinks, like its signature Gintonic (OTC publisher, Bob Tagert can vouch for this cocktail), along with small plates at the AC Lounge. The lounge delivers to its guests’ handcrafted cocktails, wine on tap, and local craft beers in a can. According to G.M, Rick Sawyer, they are striving to carry local libations and they certainly are off to a good start with our friend Rick Wasmund’s Copper Fox Rye out of Sperryville, VA and D.C. favorite Green Hat Gin. We are hoping that they will partner with some local wineries in the near future as well.

There isn’t exactly a full service restaurant on property but they have incorporated a “European-Inspired” food scene that stems from its Spanish roots. Offering tapas in the evening at the AC Lounge and a Europeaninspired breakfast at AC Kitchen, guests and locals alike can enjoy freshly baked croissants flown in from France, hand sliced prosciutto from a Berkel artisan slicer, an assortment of cheeses, sweet and savory tarts, and freshly brewed hot and iced coffee.

Breakfast is offered from 6:30 am to 10:00 am on weekdays and from 7:00 am to 11:00 am Saturday and Sunday.

The hotel was designed purposefully and has incorporated the linear design of the harbor into its art. Upon entering the eightstory hotel, guests will find a rope wall inspired by boats docked on the Potomac River, as well as modern nautical accents throughout.

Some of you may be wondering just what is a “Millennial-driven Experience”?

According to the marketing gurus at AC: “We are looking to engage the millennial traveler, AC Hotels by Marriott incorporates a design-focus approach. Guests will find openOld Town Crier

concept closets and integrated work desk and luggage benches in all rooms. Complimentary WiFi, ample USB and power ports and smart TVs that can stream on-demand content is a much appreciated, added bonus.”

I toured the facility a few weeks ago and admit I am impressed with the rooms but also have to say that they are quite “stark”. My only suggestion would be to add an area rug or two to absorb some sound and ad a bit of warmth to the experience – like when your feet hit the floor in the morning after a cozy nights sleep.

No matter your decorating style, it will definitely be worth your time and effort to check out this new kid on the block.

Granite City Food and Brewery

At the time of this writing, Granite City Food and Brewery had yet to open its doors so I can’t impart any personal experiences in this space; but we have all been anxiously awaiting the opening. Beer hounds and foodies alike, get ready to wet your whistles and enjoy a meal at the St. Cloud, Minnesotabased restaurant and brew-pub when it open its 34th location here in National Harbor on Wednesday, May 6th at 200 American Way. “We’re pleased to open the DC Metro area’s first Granite City Food & Brewery in National Harbor,” said Rob Doran, Granite City Food & Brewery CEO. “It’s an honor to bring our award winning, hand-crafted beers and madefrom-scratch meals to a whole new audience of hungry diners.”

According to the press information we received: “The 10,881 square foot restaurant seats approximately 260 patrons in the dining room, 27 at the bar and 64 in the private dining room. It features an outdoor patio with additional seating for 20 to 30 people.

The modern-designed space features an open kitchen and an on-site brewery and creates an inviting ambiance with its dark wood and granite accents. For added convenience, the restaurant features family restrooms, purse hooks and USB and electrical outlets underneath the bar for tech savvy guests in need of a charge.

“This is a very exciting time for us,” said Andy Rosenberg, executive chef of Granite City Food & Brewery in National Harbor.

“In preparation for the National Harbor opening, we created a newly expanded menu to supplement the Granite City favorites fans have come to know and love. We look forward to sharing these delectable new tastes with the local community.”

Patrons will enjoy a satiable menu that features made-from-scratch recipes and

NATIONAL HARBOR DINING GUIDE AROMA DITALI 156 National Plaza 301-839-3492 BAJA FRESH MEXICAN 186 Waterfront Street 301-839-1377 BOND 45 149 Waterfront Street 301-839-1445 CADILLAC RANCH 186 Fleet St. 301-839-1100 cadillacranchgroup.com ELEVATION BURGER 108 Waterfront Street 301-749-4014

NATIONAL PAST TIME SPORTS BAR & GRILLE Gaylord Hotel 301-965-400 OLD HICKORY STEAKHOUSE Gaylord Hotel 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com PIENZA ITALIAN MARKET Gaylord Hotel 301-965-4000 POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS 146 National Plaza 301-686-1160

FIORELLA PIZZERIA E CAFFE 152 National Plaza 301-839-1811

PUBLIC HOUSE 199 Fleet Street 240-493-6120 publichouse nationalharbor.com

GRACES MANDARIN 188 Waterfront Street 301-839-3788

REDSTONE AMERICAN GRILL 155 National Plaza 301-839-3330

Harringtons Pub and Kitchen 177 Fleet Street 301-909-2505 harringtonspub andkitchen.com

ROSA MEXICANA 135 Waterfront Street 301-567-1005

McCORMICK & SCHMICK 145 National Plaza 301-567-6224 McLOONES PIER HOUSE 141 National Harbor Plaza 301-839-0815 mcloonespierhousenh.com

SAUCIETY AMERICAN GRILL 171 Waterfront Street 240-766-3640 THAI PAVILLION 151 American Way 301-749-2022 Walrus Oyster & Ale House 152 Waterfront Street 301-567-6100

GOOD THINGS > PAGE 48

May 2015 | 47

GOOD THINGS FROM PG 47

fresh, high-quality ingredients. Signature dishes include ponzu salmon, braised bison short ribs, pulled pork waffle sandwich, burgers, flatbreads, salads, steaks and more, as well as a regionally-defined seasonal menu sourced from local food producers.

The brew-pub’s handcrafted beers –also available in growlers – are moderately priced and offer unique styles and flavors not typically produced by major breweries. The patented brewing process, known as Fermentus InterruptusTM, makes replicating the same great taste simple and efficient throughout all Granite City Food & Brewery restaurants.

As an added incentive, patrons who visit the National Harbor location on May 6th will receive a complimentary Brew Rewards membership, which allows patrons to collect points on all food and tap beer purchases. Brew Rewards points can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases.”

Granite City will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and does take reservations. For more information, visit www.gcfb. com.

We here at the Old Town Crier are very happy to welcome Granite City to the Harbor and are confident that it will be a fantastic addition to an ever-growing, popular restaurant scene!

Speaking if which – rumor has it that the Harbor will soon have our very own Chipotle (located in the former Cake Love space on the Plaza) and Succotash, another upscale eatery featuring Asian accented southern cuisine will claim the former space that Baja Fresh occupied on Waterfront Street.

Bring it on!

It’s going to be an exciting spring around here! Come back and visit if you haven’t already done so. If you have never had the Harbor experience, treat yourself and make the trek.

Don’t forget that you can take the water taxi from the foot of Old Town Alexandria over to the Harbor and vice versa if you don’t want to drive. I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage you National Harbor residents and guests to take a break from your own backyard and go soak in some history and established fine dining, drinking and shopping in Old Town!

Potomac RiveRboat comPany SightSeeing – Private CharterS – Water taxiS

alexandria – national harbor Water taxi

washington by wateR monuments cRuise

National Harbor is a waterfront destination across from Alexandria. Round-trip and One-way service provided.

Enjoy our nation’s monuments and historic landmarks on a narrated cruise between Old Town Alexandria and Georgetown Washington D.C.

george WaShington’S mount veRnon by wateR cRuise

Water taxi to the national Mall

Arrive by boat and spend the afternoon exploring the 45-acre estate, grounds, Museum and Education Center.

Arrive in style at the National Mall to view the Roosevelt Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and more!

For additional information, visit our ticket booth located in the Alexandria City Marina, behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

703.684.0580 |

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Old Town Crier

“Career

“

My Wegmans lets me

LEARN & GROW -Lauren

Wegmans Culinary Management Trainee

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu of Orlando, Lauren cooked for hotels and restaurants, but wanted to do more than just work a line. Coming to Wegmans in 2012 was her first step towards a truly exciting career.

“Wegmans believed in me and gave me the chance to teach and manage. You’re respected here; it’s a positive, family environment where you can actually have a life!”

Now hiring and training for various culinary positions at our NEW Alexandria Store!

Apply online at wegmans.com/careers