Old Town Crier - June 2024

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

Here it is June and the last month of the first half of the year. Most things seem to be moving in the right direction. There is no crystal ball, however, the Washington Nationals are in third place of their division and the Commanders (Redskins to me) have new owners, new coaches and players. The future of DMV sports looks bright. On the other hand, the political stability of our country looks shaky. The House of Representatives (the Peoples House) has the worst efficiency record in history. We need to get back to George Washington's Rules of Civility. Sarah Becker addresses this topic in A Bit Of History

The following is a brief look in to what is in store for you in this issue:

In Business Profile, Lani Gering is right at home at Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe & Wine Bar...it is the “Cats Pajamas”! Lani Gering introduces us to Alexandria's very own "Flash" in Personality Profile

Gallery Beat’s Lenny Campello enlightens us on the “Art” of the Scam and High Notes, Ron Powers takes us back to the early 2000 with "Hey Ya!" In Last Word, Miriam Kramer reviews The Searcher and The Hunter. Mark Edelman wraps up what is On Stage in Old Town for June.

In Caribbean Connection we learn about the 10 little Caribbean Beach Resorts to visit now. As the hot/humid weather closes in on us, I think about the temperate weather of a breezy Caribbean beach. Road Trip takes us down south on Route 4 on an off the beaten path adventure.

Molly Winans introduces you avid boaters to the SpinSheet Century Club in From the Bay. OTC contributing photographer David Sites has logged some serious time on the Bay. To the Blue Ridge Julie Reardon updates us on the “Oldest Horse Show in the Country” that takes place every year in Upperville, VA.

In Fitness we learn how beer and running work in tandem. In From the Trainer, Ryan agrees with a beer after running but also explains proper hydration!

We welcome Mystic BBQ & Grill to the Old Town dining scene. Matt Davis took over the former Myron Mixon space with his father and longtime restauranteur, Ralph. Read about it in Dining Out

As we celebrate Father’s Day this month, Lori Welch Brown remembers her own Dad and what he “Didn't Do” in Open Space and Steve Chaconas penned his annual Bass Fishers Guide to Father’s Day gifts in Go Fish

Don’t forget to show your colors and get out Old Glory on the 14th and fly her proudly for Flag Day. If you have the flag flying every day, make sure it’s in good shape. I see many flags flying that are frayed and faded as I drive around the DMV.

As the first day of summer rolls around on the 20th, we launch into the second half of the year. I am looking forward to spending some quality time sailing this summer. I didn’t have her out one time last year because of some needed repairs but I’ve promised so many people that I would take them out for the day that I have to get her all squared away and ready to go. You know who you are…I won’t let you down.

As always, thank you for picking the Old Town Crier up each month and for patronizing our advertisers – without you, we are nothing.

Me and my Mermaid! While conducting the R&D for this month’s Road Trip column we made a stop at the newly opened Sunset Creek at Vera’s just off of Route 4. Many of you may remember the former Vera’s White Sands. Sunset Creek isn’t quite ready for prime time and has many fun changes on the horizon. I sure hope my Mermaid girlfriend stays!

Photo Credit: Jay Lankford

Let’s Sail into Summer!

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

Former co-workers and longtime friends Nancy D’Agostino and Stephanie Jones and their pal Heather McGee took the OTC “on the road” with them on their annual trek to see former Alexandrian’s Bruce Wood and Estella Laguna at their home in San Antonio, TX. These ladies always get up to big adventures on these trips.

This year Bruce was kind enough to escort them to a few wineries near Fredericksburg, TX. They chose some good ones – Becker Vineyards, the Texas Wine Collective and Fat Ass Ranch and Winery.

We think we would really have some fun at the last one and it appears that they did. Pictured from left to right: Heather, Nancy, Bruce, Estella and Stephanie.

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

No one sent in the correct answer! This must look like other murals/ street art around Old Town because we had several guesses that were all over the map. Let’s see if this larger snippet of the mural in Old Town is familiar to any of you.

Remember, if you are the first person to respond with the correct location, you will receive a $50 gift certificate to one of our amazing restaurant advertiser’s eateries.

In order to participate, you will have to Like and Follow us: Facebook @oldtowncrier and Instagram @otcregionalmag

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

Mural Photo by Lee Moody.

Isn’t this the cutest kitty you’ve ever seen?? Well… she certainly is in our eyes here at the Old Town Crier Peppercorn (her name when Bob adopted her) came to us via King Street Cats where she literally picked him to be her person. In a city where dogs rule (we are big dog fans as well) we thought we would celebrate “Adopt a Cat” month with a feline on the cover and… we just happen to have some “cool cat” photos of our office diva on hand. This kitty does tricks too. If you want to see a video of her giving a “Five down low, a Five up high and a kiss”, message us on our Facebook page.

Anyone who has been reading the OTC on a regular basis knows that we support the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and King Street Cats every month. Both of these organizations have rescued thousands of animals over the years and continue to be good stewards to all animals in our community.

The month of June tends to be the high point in “kitten season” and you can read more about that in the Points on Pets column in this issue. Jane Koska provides some great insight as to what causes the influx and what we can do to lessen the load.

ELWOOD

Summer Events in Alexandria

This summer, enjoy an abundance of festivals, outdoor music, pub crawls and more in Alexandria - located minutes from Washington, D.C., on the scenic Potomac River and recognized by Travel + Leisure among the Best Places to Travel in 2023 and voted a Condé Nast Traveler Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. 2023. As part of the City of Alexandria’s 275th anniversary celebrations, visitors can kick off the summer season at special events including Portside in Old Town Summer Festival and a special 275th iteration of the Alexandria and USA Birthday Celebration in July. Celebrate Pride Month in June with the 7th Annual Official Pride Bar Crawl throughout Old Town, and come August, enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors of dozens of nations at the Around the World Cultural Food Festival. Plus, don’t miss summer celebrations in the Carlyle, West End and Del Ray neighborhoods.

Find details on the top summer events and happenings in Alexandria below, and head to VisitAlexandria.com/Summer for more summer experiences.

2nd

15th Annual Taste of Del Ray

1 to 3 p.m.

Admission: $20 per person

Mount Vernon Recreation Center fields 2701 Commonwealth Avenue visitdelray.com

Top area restaurants are slated to participate in the 15th Annual Taste of Del Ray. The event, named one of Virginia Living Magazine's top food festivals in the state, will take place on Sunday, June 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center fields. Ticket holders will enjoy a wide range of tastes from top Del Ray restaurants and can cast their votes for the People's Choice award. A VIP ticket option will also be offered, giving foodies the first bites with early admission at 12 p.m. and a wine tasting at 1 p.m. For more information and tickets, head to visitdelray.com.

15th & 16th

Juneteenth African American History Bus Tour  15th - 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. & 16th - 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Admission: $35 per person

Meets at The Alexandria Black History Museum 902 Wythe Street manumissiontours.com

Join Manumission Tour Company for the annual Juneteenth African American History Bus Tour. Ride along on a 90-minute bus tour to visit various historic sites that will tell the story of African Americans in early Alexandria. Some of the sites discussed on the tour include several historic African American churches in the city, including Alfred Street Baptist Church, Barrett Library, site of the 1939 Library Sit-In, Freedom House and many more.

21st & 22nd

Portside in Old Town Summer Festival

Friday, June 21, 2024, 6 to 9 p.m. & Saturday, June 22, 2024, 1 to 8 p.m.

Free Admission

Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314 PortsideFestival.com

Kick off summer with the return of the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival. This free festival features an array of live music, local craft beer from Port City Brewing Company and fun for the whole family on the Alexandria waterfront. The event includes Friday evening jazz performances and readings by Alexandria poets as part of the ALX Jazz Fest @ Portside. Saturday, the festival continues with an eclectic musical lineup, local food, hands-on art and history activities and more. New this year, as part of the City’s 275th anniversary celebrations, Port City Brewing Company will serve an original hoppy India Pale Ale called ALX275, brewed with 275 lbs. of hops.

The Portside in Old Town Summer Festival and the ALX Jazz Fest @ Portside are produced by Visit Alexandria and the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts.

7thAnnual Pride Month Celebrations

Pride Pop-up Bar: Expected to open this month, Del Ray’s seasonal pop-up bar from Homegrown Restaurant Group (HRG) transforms into “Pride on the Avenue,” featuring an interior rehaul and an extensive new craft cocktail program. The popup will extend throughout the summer, and HRG will donate $500 each week to Equality NOVA, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

14th

Pride at Torpedo Factory Art Center Torpedo Factory Art Center is open until 10 p.m. for the monthly themed “2nd Friday” event with special activities celebrating Pride Month. Explore the building full of artists, live music and art activations.

22nd

Bar Crawl

The 7th Annual Official Pride Bar Crawl, hosted by Crawl With Us, invites participants to dress in vibrant attire and express their true selves. Registrants can check in at Alexandria Bier Garden, then enjoy handpicked inclusive bars, exclusive drink specials and freebies that are available only to Pride Bar Crawl participants. 20% of the event proceeds will be donated to Safe Space NOVA.

22nd

Drag Brunch

Also on the 22nd, King & Rye hosts a Pride drag brunch, pairing Southern fare with some of the region’s top entertainers.

About Alexandria, VA

Alexandria is a welcoming weekend escape on the Potomac River, minutes from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to find more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront. Explore vibrant neighborhoods beyond Old Town, trace George Washington and the Founding Fathers’ footsteps and follow the stories of Black Americans who shaped the history of Alexandria and the United States.

Connect with us!

Web: VisitAlexandriaVA.com

Blog: Blog.VisitAlexandriaVA.com Facebook: Facebook.com/VisitAlexandriaVA

Twitter: Twitter.com/AlexandriaVA Instagram: Instagram.com/VisitAlexVA

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET

Market Square

301 King Street

Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round

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

DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET

Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues

Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round

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

OLD TOWN

NORTH FARMERS

& ARTISANS MARKET

Montgomery Park

901 North Royal Street

Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm Year Round

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

FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

4109 Mount Vernon Avenue

Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm Year Round

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

Interstellar Influencer (Make an Impact) On Display Through November

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

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

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

Photo courtesy of Todd Wright

Weasley is the mascot and the inspiration for Mount Purrnon. Kristen rescued him when he was 12 weeks old. She told me, “He is the smartest cat I have ever met; he does tricks like paw, sit, come, and fetch. He is 13 but acts much younger!”

Mount Purrnon Cat Café & Wine Bar

For all of you cat lovers out there, this place is the bomb. If you love cats, food and wine, it is a small slice of heaven. The brainchild of Kristin Cowan and Adam Patterson, Mount Purrnon opened just as the pandemic hit making it a bit of a rough start. Obviously, they persevered and have built a successful enterprise.

Mount Purrnon was inspired by Kristin and Adam’s visit to a Cat Café in North Carolina. She was in the FBI at the time and decided she had had it with the environment she worked in and wanted to pursue something she could love – cats, wine and history. She is now living her dream.

What is a Cat Café?

It is part café and bar and part lounge area with cats and a cat adoption center. The café and bar areas are separate from the lounge. This makes it a place that both cat lovers and guests who just want to have something to eat and drink can go together.

There is much more to do at Mount Purrnon besides drinking wine and playing with the cats. They have an array of games and books available along with free WiFi to take advantage of. In addition to Wine Tasting Wednesday, Cats and Tarot on Fridays and Cat Yoga, they also host special events on a regular basis – wine and food pairings, trivia nights, tea parties and even ghost story nights. This month as we celebrate Pride Month, they are hosting Drag Bingo Night with Cats on the 21st from 6 to 8 pm. Be sure to check it out on their website.

Mount Purrnon is embraced by the real Mount Vernon and there are several historical touches in the décor that involve images of the grounds. The first floor houses the café and wine bar as well as the gift/swag store. I found it very comfortable and can see bringing my other kitty lovers here for a beverage, some eats and some quality time with kitties waiting to be adopted.

I toured the lounge where the kitties hang out and it is quite the set up. These felines have a wide array of spaces to curl up and jump on as well as some pretty cool catwalks. There are between 20 and 25 cats in the lounge at all times and the number of visitors at one time is 12. There are special times when you have to be 18 years or older and no children under 5 are allowed.

Reservations are highly recommended in order to spend time with the cats. The café and bar are available any time. Weekends sell out on a regular basis as do the special events. Walk-ins are welcome pending availability. The passes range from $25 an hour for adults to $18 an hour for kids ages 5-12. Daily Passes are $50 and Monthly Passes are $100. These fees go to the maintenance of the lounge, the care of the cats, food and litter…lots and lots of litter.

Mount Purrnon works in tandem with Fancy Cats and Dogs Rescue so all of the cats have their shots and have been tested for FIV, etc. and all of them are up for adoption.

For hours of operation and detailed information on everything Mount Purrnon, log on to their website and check out their Facebook page.

Colleen was born in the alley behind the cafe. Kristen brought her and her siblings inside to a safe and warm place and discovered they were all born with birth defects. Colleen may have no eyelids and is slowly going blind, but she is high-energy and friendly and loves to meet new people. She's our greeter!

Owners - Kristin Cowan and Adam Patterson

Alexandria’s Very Own “Flash”

While 79 year-old Fred Lash aka “Flash” doesn’t don a full body red leotard and zip around like the speed of light, he certainly is a force of energy. He came into our realm when Last Word columnist, Miriam Kramer - “Mim” to Fred –introduced us to her longtime family friend in order to facilitate some promotion for the Little Theatre of Alexandria’s (LTA) upcoming 90th Anniversary celebration. Fred is volunteering his time as Governor for Public Relations.

After an email intro and a couple of phone calls, Fred and I made a coffee date to meet in person and talk about how we could work together promoting the LTA. I don’t really know what I expected but I knew the moment I saw this “George Burns” cool looking guy approaching the table, it had to be Fred. Those of you readers under 40 might have to google George so you understand the reference.

I knew immediately I was in for a treat. Fred exudes enthusiasm and is passionate about the theatre and life in general. He is an entertainer both on stage and off and it doesn’t appear he is a stranger to anyone. When I asked if he would let the OTC profile him, he gladly accepted.

While I have a tendency to make “assumptions,” – I know, bad word – when I sat down with Fred for this interview, I fully expected to hear about all his career in the theater. Well...I couldn’t have been more off base. Fred retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after 24 years of service and he is the recipient of three purple hearts resulting from being wounded

in action three times in the Vietnam War. A little more on this later.

When I asked how he came to be so involved in the theater, it all sort of came together. Born and raised in southern Indiana, both of his parents were very fond of music and art (his father sang in a Glee Club called the Elks Chanters that sang all around the state and his mother was an artist) so music and entertaining are in his blood. Fred followed his passion for theater in high school while still excelling at math which led him to majoring in Engineering at Purdue – he said his parents thought it would be a more lucrative career path. At the time he entered college, he also wanted to follow in the path of his brother-in-law who was a helicopter pilot in the Marines, so he enrolled in a four-year Marine Corp Platoon Leaders Class. Turns out that he was spending much more time participating in college theatrical productions and garnering all sorts of accolades in that realm while slipping in the math department…so, he changed his major to history in order to bring his GPA up to a “C” so he could stay qualified for the Platoon Leaders Class.

While in Vietnam, the jeep Fred was riding in hit a land mine and he was badly injured. He said he had no recollection of leaving Vietnam when he woke up in a hospital in Okinawa. After recovering, he remained stationed there and along with his military duties, he got involved in theatre. He acted in several productions and was active in the Okinawa Theatre Guild. It was while in

Okinawa that he met his wife, Donna, whose father was a Colonel visiting and after sort of a whirlwind engagement, he returned stateside and they were married at Quantico in 1968. I had the pleasure of meeting Donna and I have to say she is an amazing woman. Keeping up with “Flash” and keeping him grounded is a full-time job.

Fast forward to Flash’s local theatrical debut. After seeing an ad placed by the LTA soliciting actors for a production of “The Fantastics”, he auditioned and was selected for the part of the father. He made his LTA debut with the show in 1989. He has since acted in 12 shows with the LTA and has acted in hundreds of shows in the DMV over the years. He has taken a 2-year hiatus from the stage in order to concentrate on the duties he has as Governor for Public Relations at LTA. He did tell me, however, that he is going to audition for the part of Scrooge in this year’s production of “A Christmas Carol”. I have my fingers crossed that he gets the part! All of the activity leading up to the LTA 90th Anniversary as well as being a National Park Docent on the Mall at the WWII, Korean and Vietnam memorials has kept him running. He is also involved in photographing funerals at Arlington Cemetery for the Korean War Veterans Association, Iwo Jima Association of America and The Chosen Few (survivors of the battle at the Chosen Reservoir in Korea). And…all of this is pro bono. My life has been made better for having Flash come into my realm.

Fred as Beverly Westin in “August: Osage County” at Little Theatre of Alexandria.

Estate Planning Can Be For Everyone

There’s a common myth that estate planning is only for the wealthy; however, in reality, most people should consider an estate plan.

Bank accounts, investment accounts, 401(k) or 403(b) plan accounts, your house, cars, jewelry, family heirlooms. Your estate may include all this and more, and your plan can determine what happens to all these when you die. A good plan will also focus on taking care of you as you age or if you become ill or incapacitated.

It’s all about control Estate planning is about helping take control of your future, and asset management is only part of the picture. For example, a will is an essential part of an estate plan, and for parents, having one is the only way to name a guardian to raise your minor children if both parents die.

A well-designed plan will also include documents designating who can communicate with health care professionals and make decisions about what type of care you should receive if something happens and you can’t make those decisions yourself.

Ultimately, if you don’t make your own plan, your family may be left scrambling at an already difficult time. Someone will have to ask a court to decide who will act as guardian for your minor children (or maybe even for you), and state law will determine what becomes of your assets. Bottom line: If you don’t decide, someone will decide for you.

Remember, establishing a plan is only the beginning. Significant life events are likely to call for changes. It’s important to regularly review your plan to ensure it continues to meet your needs. You should consider whether your documents, asset titling, and beneficiary designations allow your assets to be handled the way you want them to be.

Five essential documents

Your situation’s complexity will determine which documents your plan requires; however, these five are often essential:

A will provides instructions for distributing your assets to your beneficiaries when you die. In it, you name a personal representative (executor) to pay final expenses and taxes and distribute your remaining assets.

A durable power of attorney for financial matters lets you give a trusted individual management power over your assets currently and/or if you can’t do it yourself. This document is effective only while you’re alive.

A health care power of attorney lets you choose someone to make medical decisions for you if something happens and you can’t make them yourself.

A living will expresses your intentions regarding the use of life-sustaining measures if you are terminally ill. It doesn’t give anyone the authority to speak for you.

By transferring assets to a revocable living trust, you

Investment and Insurance Products are:

can provide for continued management of your financial affairs during your lifetime, after your death, and even for generations to come.

Turn to a team of professionals

The notion of making the decisions involved with estate planning may seem intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be.

The key is to rely on a team of trusted professionals, including a financial advisor, estate planning attorney, and accountant. They know the questions to ask and can help you avoid potential pitfalls.

If you currently don’t have relationships with these individuals, a financial advisor may be a good place to start. He or she can discuss his or her role in the planning process and can refer you to an estate planning attorney who can work with you to draw up the necessary documents.

Trust services available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to nonaffiliated companies of Wells Fargo Advisors. Our firm does not provide legal or tax advice. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state.

This article was written by/ for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA at 800-2478602.

• Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency

• Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate

• Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested ©2021-2023 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

CAN WE ALL DO BETTER?

America, it seems, is at a crossroad. We are several months into the 2024 presidential campaign. Messaging is mostly garble. And war continues: in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

“If we resort for a criterion, to the different principles on which different forms of government are established, we may define a republic to be…a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from… the people; and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure, for a limited period, or during good behavior,” James Madison wrote in 1788.

As of April 26, 2024, 52 members of Congress—eight members of the U.S. Senate and 44 members of the U.S. House of Representatives—have announced they will not seek reelection. Most say, they’ve had it!

“For me, the essential ingredients of effective public service are integrity and civility,” retiring Senator Ben Cardin [D-MD] said in May 2023. “I have always tried to listen to people… and then work with them to find a solution…I was taught that it’s okay to compromise to get things done. Inspire trust. That’s civility and it has been central to all I have done.”

On February 4, 2024, Senator Kyrsten Sinema [I-AZ] retiring, was joined by Senators James Lankford [R-OK] and Chris Murphy [D-CT] to announce the release of their bipartisan border security package. “A major bipartisan border deal: one that was intended to be paired with a foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel.”

“The border security bill will put a huge number of new enforcement tools in the hands of a future administration and push the current Administration to finally stop the illegal flow of immigrants,” Lankford explained. Tools, Sinema said, “To end catch and release, increase relief to border communities, disrupt the flow of fentanyl and more.”

A day later, at former President Donald Trump’s request [R-NY/FL, 2017-2021], Speaker of the House Mike Johnson [R-LA] killed the deal rather than celebrate a bipartisan victory prior to November’s election. Then—on April 20, 2024—Speaker Johnson reminded himself of right. He, in part, reversed course.

Sixty-one percent of Americans

question the ability of Democrats and Republicans to work together [Pew], especially as it relates to science [Gallup]. Forty-nine percent of voters identify as Democrat or leaning Democrat while 48% identify as Republican or leaning Republican [Pew].

“Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the Government nor of dungeons to ourselves,” Republican presidential nominee Abraham Lincoln said in 1860. “Let us have faith that right makes might….”

The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project ranks Abraham Lincoln No. 1 on its list of best U.S. Presidents. One of Lincoln’s [IL, 1861-1865] greatest preoccupations as a political thinker: the issue of self-governance.

The remaining top ten Presidents, in descending order: Franklin Delano Roosevelt [D-NY, 1933-1945], George Washington [VA, 1789-1797], Teddy Roosevelt [R-NY, 1901-1909], Thomas Jefferson [DR-VA, 18011809], Harry Truman [D-MO, 19451953], Barack Obama [D-IL, 20092017], and Dwight Eisenhower [RNY, 1953-1961].

The Presidential Greatness Project’s lowest listing: Donald Trump.

“One thing distancing him…is his inability to unite those with opposing viewpoints,” the Project related.

Would it surprise you if—in this sea of political debris—I told you that two of the Project’s top ten Presidents were also Nobel Laureates? The four Peace Prize winners are: Theodore Roosevelt [1906], Woodrow Wilson [1920], Jimmy Carter [2002], and Barack Obama [2009]. Vice-President Al Gore also [2007].

Alfred Nobel was a “man of many disciplines”—including physics, chemistry, medicine and physiology; literature and peace. When he died in 1896 Nobel left his fortune to “those who have been outstanding figures in these fields.”

According to Nobel’s will the Peace Prize is to be chosen by a Committee of five selected by the Norwegian national Parliament. The Prize awarded annually: to those who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing

armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”

On June 8, 1905, President and former U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt invited Russia and Japan to New Hampshire to discuss their differences. The Russo-Japanese War had been ongoing since February 1904. It was time, Teddy thought, “for the belligerents to negotiate.” Three months later a peace agreement was signed and Roosevelt received the Nobel Peace Prize the following year.

President Woodrow Wilson accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in 1920. WWI [1914-1920] was coming to a close; the League of Nations Draft was completed on February 14, 1919, and the multi-nation Treaty of Versailles was soon signed. Wilson’s League of Nations, the forerunner to today’s United Nations was an outgrowth of his 1918 “Fourteen Points program for peace.”

Former President Jimmy Carter [DGA, 1977-1981] was given his Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He was honored for his efforts “in finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, advancing democracy and human rights, and promoting economic and social development.” For more information, visit oldtowncrier.com, A Bit of History, February 2024.

President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 2009, his first year in office: For his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Multilateral diplomacy had again found its place.

“I think I’m gonna get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things—if they gave it out fairly, which they don’t,” President Trump told the U.N. General Assembly in 2019. “Trump offered no real evidence that the Nobel committee…was actually ‘rigged,’” The Washington Post reported. Trump-45 was one of 329 nominees for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize: For his administration’s 2020 Abraham Accords, the Declaration that normalized relations between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE. “For his merit, I think Donald Trump has done more trying to create peace…than most other peace prize nominees,” Norwegian politician Christian Tybring-Gjedda then said. “But the way he behaves sometimes….”

When Abraham Lincoln spoke of “A House Divided” he borrowed from the Bible. Matthew 12:25: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand."

America’s Civil War began in 1861— when the Confederates bombarded the Union’s Fort Sumter. “Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish,” Lincoln mulled in 1865. “Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other.”

War is “any situation in which there is strong competition between opposing sides.” Be it a period of armed conflict or a prolonged war of words. Today’s Congressional wars include: immigration and border security, inflation and the economy, social security and taxes; women’s rights, gun control, and climate change.

“The dysfunction in [the 118th] Congress is serious and we are seeing a breakdown of civility,” retiring U.S. Representative Ken Buck [R-CO] ranted in March 2024. “We need to find better ways to bring America together.”

“We can succeed only by concert,” President Lincoln messaged Congress in 1862. “It is not ‘Can any of us imagine better? but Can we all do better?”

Assassinated on April 14, 1865, Lincoln’s funeral railcar was built in Union-occupied Alexandria.

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

ONSTAGE, OLD TOWN: JUNE

Now that summer’s here, why not enjoy these DMV plays and musicals in airconditioned comfort (except for Wolf Trap, of course, which offers its own natural pleasures):

Through June 8th

IS HE DEAD?

Alexandria Little Theatre

In this comedy by Mark Twain, adapted by Tony® Award-winning playwright David Ives, a young painter in debt to a villainous art dealer can only pay his way out and marry the love of his life by faking his death, since only dead artists achieve fame and fortune. Mischief ensues when the artist tries to pass himself off as his own sister. Tickets at www.thelittletheatre.com

Through June 15th

MEXODUS

Mosaic Theatre

History meets hip-hop in this musical about Southern slaves who sought freedom in Mexico instead of heading North—a different and surprising route on the Underground Railroad. Tickets at www.mosaictheater.org

Through June 16th

METAMORPHOSES

Folger Theater

Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation of Ovid’s mythological tales of joy and heartbreak gets a colorful rendition from busy director Psalmayene 24, choreographer Tony Thomas and a talented cast of actors and designers. Mike Eubanks’ costumes dazzle and Nick Hernandez’s tasty new compositions place the piece squarely in the African diaspora, from reggae to R&B with hints of juju, mbaqanga and other musical tropes thrown in for good measure. There’s no swimming pool this time, but you won’t be disappointed with this Metamorphoses. Tickets at www.folger.edu.

Through June 16th

PROBLEMS BETWEEN SISTERS

Studio Theatre

Julia May Jones’ distaff take on Sam Shepard’s True West tracks two pregnant sisters—one a visual artist, the other an artist of the con variety—who converge on a remote family cabin in Vermont. The eponymous problems flare into a collision of family baggage, personal morality, and artistic taste in this funny and savage take on the elusive demands of the Primal Female. Tickets at www.studiotheatre.org

THE MATCHBOX MAGIC FLUTE

Shakespeare Theatre

Talk about a gift from the gods—the DMV gets another Mary Zimmerman opus, this one a brand new theatrical adaptation of Mozart’s beloved opera. Playful and imaginative, this “matchbox” presentation follows the fantastic adventures of Prince Tamino and Princess Pamina as they consort with dragons, a man who is a bird, trials by fire and water and a battle between Day and Night. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org

Through June 23rd

TOPDOG/UNDERDOG

Round House Theatre

Suzi Lori-Parks Tony® and Pulitzer Prize=winning tragedy about two brothers locked in a cycle of love and resentment compounded by the challenges of poverty and racism. In a devastating climax, the brothers’ lifelong tug-of-war raises an age old question-- can we ever really change the cards we’re dealt? Tickets at www.roundhousetheatre.org

LONG WAY DOWN

Olney Theatre

Based on the Newberry Medal Honor-winning Young Adult novel by DMV native Jason Reynolds, this powerful story of family honor turns a sharp and deadly light on gun violence. What happens on the long way down is an emotional hip-hop journey that brings our hero face to face with the ghosts of his past as he tries to make the biggest decision of his life. Tickets at www. olneytheatre.org

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Keegan Theatre

What happens when your typical Indian software-engineer defies her family, quits her IT job and moves to the US to pursue an acting career? Things don’t turn out quite like she imagined in Priyanka Shetty’s autobiographical onehander about conflicting cultures, unforgettable love and the desperation of not belonging anywhere. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com

June 5th – June 25th

THE HATMAKER’S WIFE

Theatre J

Magic and realism collide in this modern fable about learning to love. A cross between ghost story and a Yiddish fable, this moving and whimsical new play redefines home, family and love. All this plus talking walls and a golem with a taste for Cheetos. Tickets at www.edcjcc.org/theater-j

June 7th – June 15th

BYE BYE BIRDIE

Kennedy

Center

In this light-hearted satire of the music industry, teen idol Conrad Birdie is drafted into the Army, much to the chagrin of his songwriter Albert. In one last moneymaking effort, Albert and his long-suffering girlfriend Rosey arrange for Birdie to perform Albert’s song on The Ed Sullivan Show and give one last kiss to a lucky fan. Once again, Jeffrey Finn and his team at the KenCen have conscripted an all-star cast from Tony® Award winner Christian Borle as Albert and firecracker Krysta Rodriguez as Rosey to scene grabbers Caroline Aaron (Mrs. Maisel’s mother-in-law) and Broadway vet Richard Kind to pilot this fun-filled flight. Tickets at www.kennedy-center.org

June 13th – July 14th

IS GOD IS

Constellation Theatre

In this fierce and funny drama, twin sisters embark on a journey across America to exact righteous revenge on the man who betrayed their family. Constellation concludes its winning 17th season with this epic Afropunk adventure. Tickets at www. constellationtheatre.org

June 25th – 30th

THE KITE RUNNER

Kennedy Center

Based on the international best-selling novel, this powerful play follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption after a childhood torn apart in Afghanistan. Told across two decades and two continents, The Kite Runner shows us all that, against all odds, we can be good again. Tickets at www. kennedy-center.org

June 25th – July 14th

FUNNY GIRL

Kennedy Center

the funniest and most beloved performers in Broadway history. Her love life didn’t go quite as well as her routines for the legendary Florenz Ziegfeld: therein lies the pathos in this Broadway hit, featuring the Streisand chestnut “People” and a load of great Jule Styne- Bob Merrill showstoppers. Tickets at www.kennedy-center.org

Through July 7th

HAIR

Signature Theatre

spot-on revival of America’s tribal love-rock musical.

As he did to open the season with a fine production of Ragtime, the adroit Signature Theatre artistic director delivers a cast that acts, sings and dances the hell out of the show. More important, Gardiner tells us a touching, ultimately tragic story we can follow—not a mean feat for this often disjointed piece.

Gardiner focuses on story from the opening notes, as Berger (a sexy, riveting Mason Reeves) narrates the travails of his merry band of misfits, especially the forlorn Claude (Jordon Dobson in a touchingly understated performance), who longs to be part of the gang. It’s Claude’s arc Gardiner leads us through, a dark journey beneath all the psychedelia and Top 40 hits.

Production values are Signature’s usual first rate affair. As we enter the space, Patrick Lord’s video projections return us to the 1960s of Leave It To Beaver and Crisco ads, then wisk us to hippiedom in a breathtaking scenic move. Ashleigh King’s choreography uses the multi-level space cleverly, keeping the pace brisk. And yes, they doff their colorful, spot-on period Kathleen Geldarddesigned rags at the end of Act One.

Hair directors often stage the finale - “Flesh Failures/Let the Sun Shine” - as a jubilant celebration, like the Fifth Dimension cover. Here, Gardiner keeps the ensemble in a tight, almost military phalanx, emotionless and cold. It’s a choice that makes for a chilling coda to Claude’s tragic tale. Tickets at www. sigtheatre.org

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

Photo credits: Hair photo by Christopher Mueller; Magic Flute photo by Liz Lauren; Funny Girl national tour photo by Matthew Murphy. Metamorphoses photo by Brittany Diliberto

This hit musical is loosely based on the story of Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips, one of the first white DJs to play black music in the 1950s. A mixture of soul, blues, jazz, and rock ‘n roll, surrounded by racial tension and rivalries.

Set in 19th Century London, this delightful farce depicts the chaos that ensues when a woman tries to gain entry to a fictional club of explorers. Lots of silly gags, tricks, and physical comedy.

The Broadway musical based on the Gothic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, follows a London-based legal practitioner who investigates a series of strange events involving his friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll and a murderous criminal named Edward Hyde.

DEC. 7 – 21,

The delightful musical tale of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.

Shakespeare’s

Much Ado AboUT NOTHING

A comedy by William Shakespeare, this play revolves around two romantic pairings that emerge when a group of soldiers arrives in town. The play relies on tensions created by a paradoxical use of deception by its characters.

During the performance of a play-within-a-play, a plethora of disasters befall the cast and crew, including doors sticking, props falling, and floors collapsing. Cast members misplace props, forget lines, break character, and experience hilarious situations.

The bittersweet story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a plain-looking Jewish girl from the Lower East Side who became of

Matthew Gardiner hits the nail on the head once again with this

The “ Art of the SCAM ”

I’m starting this month’s column with one of the most common questions that I get: “Lenster, how do art scams work?”

To start, once a week or so I get an email from an artist somewhere on the planet like this one below:

Hello, I'm a German artist and found your "Art Scam Alert" from July 15, 2018 about this Donald Hugh mail. Now at January 21, 2024 I got the same mail from him online in German. He ordered two pictures from me. My question is, how he is trying to rip off artist? He wants me to send pictures and doesn't pay?

Thank you for an answer.

This is how:

1. They will most likely give you (a) International Bank Draft/Postal Money Order or (b) Credit Card

2. Your bank will accept them and they will show almost immediately as available in your account, which is the "normal" way to show that the deposit has cleared

3. Artists then usually ship the work

4. A few days later the bank gets a note from that overseas bank... bad news - the draft is fake and/or cc has just been reported as stolen

5. They withdraw the funds from your account

6. You're hosed.

One would think that in 2024, the banking system would be more reactive to the above scenario… but nope!

If you an email out of nowhere, about someone who admires your work, or who noticed his wife looking at your artwork on your website, etc. and wants to buy your art, be suspicious and immediately do a search for the email address and you’re likely to find warnings all over Al Gore’s Internets about the scam.

Be aware and be careful.

Another golden nugget for you readers: The non-existing formula for pricing artwork!

Another question that I often get is how to price one’s artwork… recently in Facebooklandia, a local artist asked the question: Easy, easy question: how do you price your art?

Material cost + (hourly rate * number of hours * 2)? Plus studio cost plus miscellaneous stuff like going to Sushi?

That’s what I thought someone said. This might be for artists who have just started selling.

Not so easy my friend… not so easy! In my opinion, there's really no formula now and there was never a formula.

Why? Because art for sale is a commodity; therefore, ECON 101 tells us about how prices in most cases are driven by supply and demand, but that doesn't work for 99.999% of us in the fine arts because that ECON 101 formula only works for that art that is very limited in supply but in high demand: Picasso, Frazetta, Monet, Manet, etc.

Example one: About a decade ago, you could pick up a painting by my good friend Sam Gilliam, may he rest in peace, at a local DC area auction house for hundreds of dollars. Why? Because there was no "demand" for Gilliam’s amazing and novel work, and buyers were not willing to pay above a few hundred Samolians for a Gilliam canvas from the past.

About ten years ago the Sam Gilliam painting from 1972 titled “Dance” was estimated at $1000-2000 and sold for $600 at a local auction. That painting is now probably worth several tens

"Dance" by Sam Gilliam

of thousands of dollars if not higher.

Why?

A few powerful exposure events happened driven by art galleries (not in DC) "rediscovering" Gilliam and bringing his work to art fairs, and suddenly there was a huge demand for Gilliam’s works, and his prices skyrocketed and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person!

Or take the case of Carmen Herrera, for decades and decades her canvasses sold for practically nothing (if they even sold) - then a curator from the Tate in Great Britain "discovered" that this artist had an amazing pedigree (she showed alongside some of the greats of art in the 40x, 50s, etc.) and organized a retrospective for Herrera at the Tate, and suddenly the world art

collectors discovered her work and rushed to buy itcreating the demand and thus a huge rise in prices.

More examples?

In the 1960s Alice Neel was on welfare and traded her paintings to Lida Moser for Moser to take slides of her work so that Neel could try to get galleries interested in her work... then... go back to the top of this article and substitute "Neel" for those two artists.

Maybe there is a formula in there somewhere.

About the Author: F. Lennox Campello's art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area has been a premier source for the

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

“A woman in love with abstraction” - 2021

Price and additional images upon request.

“ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON, DC”

16x20 watercolor on paper with embedded electronic images that rotate every 5 seconds.

– Washington City Paper

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Price and additional images upon request.

Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC, Washington, DC www.alidaanderson.com / info@alidaanderson.com

art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors.

Our new Christopher Calvin linens are in the shop now and online. Available in the newest A-line dress and three shirt styles. Nineth is ready for dining out on King Street, now that the rains have finally stopped. Or going to the racetrack. 100% linen and available in sizes xs to 3xl. The SPF-50 sunhat is by Carole Amper of Toucan Designs, from Kingston, New York.

Monday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm Sunday, Noon to 5pm

1124 King Street l Alexandria, Virginia 22314 703-548-1461 l www.imagineartwear.com csimagine@aol.com

"Portrait of Alice Neel" by Lida Moser, in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.

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

Hey Ya!

As I shuffled through one of my favorite playlists the other day, a familiar beat echoed through my headphones, instantly transporting me back to the early 2000s. It was Outkast's infectious hit, "Hey Ya!," and let me tell you, it still holds its magic after all these years. This song isn't just a relic of the past; it's a timeless gem that continues to captivate audiences with its irresistible charm.

Outkast, composed of André 3000 and Big Boi, needs no introduction in the realm of hip-hop. Their innovative sound and boundary-pushing style have cemented their place in music history. "Hey Ya!," released in 2003 as part of their album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," is a shining example of their creative genius.

Things get started with André 3000's iconic voice shouting, "One, two, three, uh!". This is followed by energetic strumming of acoustic guitar and the first verse lyrics mixing together hooking the listener instantly. From the very beginning this song exudes an energy that feels like an invitation to a musical journey that you simply can't refuse.

One thing that sets "Hey Ya!" apart is its eclectic blend of genres. It seamlessly fuses elements of funk, hip-hop, and pop, creating a sound that's as fresh today as it was two decades ago. The infectious rhythm, driven by handclaps and a funky bassline, urges you to move your feet and lose yourself in the groove.

For the verse sections, André 3000's playful lyrics take center stage. His witty wordplay and catchy melodies paint a picture of love and longing in the modern world. Lines like "If what they say is 'Nothing is forever' / Then what makes, then what makes, then what makes, then what makes / Then what makes love the exception?" resonate with listeners in a thought-provoking way, even amidst the song's upbeat tempo.

But it's the chorus that truly elevates "Hey Ya!" to legendary status. André 3000's infectious refrain of "Hey ya! / Hey ya!" is impossible to resist, drawing listeners into a euphoric sing-along. The instantly memorizable lyrics and easy to sing melody adds to its infectiousness, making it a staple of parties and playlists across the globe.

Musically, "Hey Ya!" is a masterclass in arrangement and production. The dynamic shifts between verses and choruses keep the listener engaged from start to finish, while the layered instrumentation adds depth and texture to the sound. From its stripped-down verse sections to its sparkling chorus harmonies, every element of the song is meticulously crafted to perfection.

Outkast's "Hey Ya!" isn't just a song; it's a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless appeal of good music. So, the next time you're in need of a pick-me-up or a soundtrack for your dance party, just remember to press play on "Hey Ya!" and let the music do the rest. And if you're curious to explore more of Outkast's groundbreaking discography, you can find their music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you’d like to learn more about Outkast you can find information about them on Wikipedia, Instagram, X, and Facebook.

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

AFTER HOURS

Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch

571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com

Chadwicks

203 S. Strand St.

703.836.4442

Evening Star Cafe

703.549.5051

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The Fish Market

703.836.5676

105 King St. fishmarketoldtown.com

La Portas

703.683.6313

1600 Duke St.

The Light Horse

703.549.0533

715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com

Murphys Irish Pub

703.548.1717

713 King St. murphyspub.com

O’Connell’s

703.739.1124

112 King St.

Rock It Grill

703.739.2274

1319 King St.

Shooter McGees

703.751.9266

5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com

Southside 815

703.836.6222

815 S. Washington St.

St. Elmos

703.739.9268

2300 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Taverna Cretekou

703.548.8688

818 King St.

TJ Stones

703.548.1004

608 Montgomery St. tjstones.com

The Study

703-838-8000

116 South Alfred Two Nineteen

703.549.1141

219 King St.

Alexandria Bier Garden

710 King St. 703-888-1951

Augie's Mussel House

703.721.3970

1106 King St. eataugies.com

Mason Social

703.548.8800

728 N. Henry St.

The Searcher and the Hunter

I fell in love with Tana French’s writing when I discovered her Edgar Award–winning first novel, In the Woods, in a stack of international mysteries at Olsson’s Books & Records, where I worked on South Union Street in Old Town. Her Dublin Murder Squad chain of tales comprised the backstories and inner visions of detectives who feature briefly in other books in the series. Linking up all these views of private lives, I felt like I was entering French’s own solar system, with each personality a compelling world of its own. It gave me a glimpse of Ireland through crime, nostalgia, eerie peripheral vision, corruption, and outrage at injustice. Her recent duology, The Searcher (2020) and The Hunter (2024), leaves the Murder Squad but not the murders behind, focusing on the inhabitants of a rural Irish town and the retired American police officer, Cal Hooper, who roots himself there.

Recently divorced and weary after twenty-five years on the Chicago police force, Hooper retires to Ardnakelty in the west of Ireland, choosing it as the ideal place to find quiet and a less stressful existence. He finds a small community that appears peaceful with its agrarian beauty and independence from big city bustle. He discovers that its secrets are locked away, although long-term residents know each other’s histories and dirty laundry.

As he works to patch up his dilapidated house, he gradually becomes involved in the town’s business. Trey Reddy, a kid from a ne’er-do-well family living on the nearby mountain, commandeers him to assist her in finding her missing older brother, Brendan. At thirteen, Trey travels through life like a feral cat, operating on her own because her father left her exhausted mother with three younger children, Trey, and Brendan to mind. The town sees the Reddys as poor and worthless, leaving Trey outside of local culture like Cal himself. She asks him for help because she has no one else.

As a mystery The Searcher builds tension slowly, while French adds atmosphere with her detailed depictions of natural beauty, tart-tongued villagers, Cal’s adjustment to local living, and the trust that gradually develops between him and Trey. This novel is no thriller. It is a twig-by-twig nest, a character study with a menacing thread that becomes more apparent as it winds through the story.

The second book, The Hunter, builds upon the previous mystery. Trey has grown older and closer to Cal Hooper. As a maturing teenager, she helps

him construct and refurbish furniture for the community. He grows to love her as his own child, helping her build her worth and position in Ardnakelty through teaching her the life skills she would never receive at home.

While pulling back from the residents after the events in The Searcher, Cal becomes involved with a local, independent woman named Lena, who also stays shy of most doings in the town. He eventually joins a venture with area farmers only to protect Trey from them and herself. Trey’s gladhanding wastrel of a father re-appears with a get-rich-quick scheme for locals—one that inadvertently offers Trey an opportunity for vengeance against the community that has hurt her with its secrets and tendency to problem solve without the law on its side.

Tana French writes gorgeous prose. An exceptionally gifted novelist, French could describe wallpaper and make you happy. That being said, the first of these two books moves very slowly. If you are a fan of the Dublin Murder Squad’s story lines and pace, you may not want to trudge through a plot that creeps along for at least the first hundred out of 450 pages. I prefer her previous series because it offers compelling character building with more action. I hope she will return to it someday.

The second-person narration in these books removed me from the immediacy and fever-dream quality that made her other first-person works so propulsive and poignant. Her prose has changed from the dazzling, running-brook descriptions of the characters who inhabit In the Woods. She has adopted a streamlined, tight narrative style that started becoming evident in her most recent Dublin Murder Squad book, The Passenger, and her first separate novel, The Witch Elm.

If you read The Hunter as the second work in this duology, you will find it easier to move forward than in the first. Even if you are reading it as a stand-alone novel, you will proceed faster with a plot that quickly reveals complicated relationships and possibilities for imminent danger.

Although Cal Hooper and Trey Reddy are the two most prominent individuals in these books, an equally important character is the town of Ardnakelty itself. Feeding off links and enmities between neighbors, Ardnakelty supports both the camaraderie and suffocating atmosphere of an insular culture. It instinctively closes ranks against visitors, whether they be an American ex-cop or law enforcement from another part of Ireland. In the end, Cal, Trey, and any allies must navigate and come to terms with it or suffer the consequences.

SpinSheet Century Club

Are you ready to start logging your days on the water?

There’s plenty of time to log 100 days on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond to qualify for the SpinSheet Century Club. Get rewarded for all that time on the water! We'll throw a party all those who make it to the finish line by December 31.

David Sites, our Erewhon Award winner, broke our all-time record by logging 365 days in 2023. He claims he won’t go on a boat every day this year but at print time has already logged 134 days… that’s what David does. Don’t let his overachievements discourage you from starting on day one right now. Plenty of sailors, kayakers, powerboaters, and anglers are just starting to log their first on-water days

for 2024. Remember: the goal is 100 on-water days.

It's not just about sailing Go windsurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, powerboating, anything that involves watercraft. Count days on other peoples' boats. Swimming, however, does not count.

We allow up to 10 days of boat maintenance to count as "on-water" days (even if your boat is on the hard), OR you may count up to 10 days of remote control sailing or powerboat racing, OR you may count up to 10 days of fishing from a pier, OR a combination of all of those. We only allow 10 "exception" days per year.

If you register and sail on the Summer Sailstice, June

22, you earn a bonus day. Find details and start logging your days at spinsheet.com/ century-club Click on "log your days" to get started. In past years, we've accepted various types of logs, but now all Century Club members must log their days on the website by December 31.

Here's how it works!

Track your days. Keep track on SpinSheet's online Century Club page. Click on "log your days" above to get started. In past years, we've accepted various types of logs, but now all Century Club members must log their days here on the website by December 31.

It's not just about sailing. Go windsurfing,

paddleboarding, kayaking, powerboating, anything that involves watercraft. Count days on other peoples' boats. Swimming, however, does not count.

It's not just about the Bay. Test other waters. It's summer vacation, after all.

Exceptions: boat work days, remote control boats, and fishing from a pier: We allow up to 10 days of boat maintenance to count as "on-water" days (even if your boat is on the hard), OR you may count up to 10 days of remote control sailing or powerboat racing, OR you may count up to 10 days of fishing from a pier, OR a combination of all of those. We only allow 10 "exception" days per year.

Just get the boat off the dock. Even one hour on a small boat counts as a "day" on the water, so go take that short boat ride.

Count your days from January 1 through December 31. To officially join the club, create your account and begin logging your days. On social media, tag your photos with #spinsheet100. Send questions to molly@ spinsheet.com. Good luck and stay in touch!

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

Photo of Molly and David courtesy of SpinSheet

History & Horses

Living in Virginia, it's easy to forget just how much history is woven into the fabric of where we live. And that includes the horse shows, steeplechase racing and other equestrian activities in the hunt country.

The oldest horse show in the country and possibly one of the oldest continuously run sporting events starts June 3rd right here in Upperville, straddling the border of Fauquier and western Loudoun County and runs through June 9ththe Upperville Colt & Horse Show presented by Mars Equestrian.

Established in 1853 by Colonel Richard Henry Dulany, who also founded the Piedmont Fox Hounds, the show was originally designed to encourage better treatment of young horses and improve the local breeding stock. Colonel Dulany chose one of his properties, Grafton Farm, as the site for his competition. Adjacent to the original Winchester Turnpike, now Route 50, Grafton was known

for its stately oak and tupelo trees, with good grass footing. Contacted by Dulany, Charles Louis Tiffany designed the first silver trophy, donating his labor and craftsmanship.

Since its inception, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show has grown tremendously and is now established as one of the signature horse shows on the local, national, and international yearly calendars. Today, the show takes place over the first full week in June, and includes nearly two thousand horse and rider combinations. Prizes are awarded for in-hand hunter breeding conformation, and performance in both hunters and jumpers. Riders range from local children on their lead-line ponies to Olympic caliber horses and riders.

Popular attractions include the USHJA International Hunter Derby and the FEI 4* Grand Prix event that concludes the show on Sunday. Crowds are also entertained by fun exhibitions, like the Hat Contest and

the Horses and Horsepower antique car show. An exquisite array of local and national vendors brings variety and interest to shoppers and foodies of every age and taste. Attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year, Upperville has been named Horse Show of the Year by the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame and the Virginia Horse Show Association.

For exhibitors, sponsors, vendors and spectators alike, participating at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show makes one a part of a longstanding legacy of equine excellence. The event is also home to many social traditions, from elaborate tailgate picnics to parties sponsored by prominent local residents and businesses.

Equestrians and spectators from around the globe look forward to coming together “under the oaks” each spring in the Piedmont of Virginia. Upperville Colt & Horse Show is far more than simply a show; it is part of a shared and cherished experience, deeply rooted in the best

of American sportsmanship. For those interested in attending, there are various different classes held during the week-long show. Most are hunters and jumpers—hunters are judged subjectively on smoothness of pace and rhythm jumping a course of fences while jumpers get no style points, the winner is the one that jumps a course of fences the fastest without knocking any rails down. Both the hunter and jumper divisions are classes for green horses, those that have not shown or are in their first year, as well as for amateur riders and open classes where anyone, including professional riders, can compete. There are also classes for horses and ponies ridden by junior riders (under 18) even a leadline class for very young children and a family class. The breeding classes showcase breeding stock: horses and ponies from foals to 3 year olds that are judged on conformation. The show is open to spectators all week from 8 am to 5 pm, visit their website at www. Upperville.com for more information.

Photo courtesy of Upperville Colt & Horse Show

Let’s Head South on

For those frequent readers of the Old Town Crier, you are aware that each month we take a road trip. Most times the destination determines the subject matter of this column but we decided to feature some things to do on the way.

Most of you faithful readers know that Solomons Island is one of our favorite destinations in Southern Maryland and we have featured it in this space several times over the years. We decided, however, to take a couple of side trips off of Route 4 this month. We visited some of the interesting places along the way.

The easiest and quickest way to get there is to pick up aforementioned Route 4 off of the Beltway and head South. After you get through the first group of traffic lights you will encounter open roads meandering through the Maryland countryside. The only large town that you will encounter is Prince Frederick which is also the County Seat of Calvert County.

and baked to perfection. Jerry’s is closed Monday through Wednesday. Check their website for hours. www.Jerrys-place.com

About another mile down Route 4 is Broomes Island Road (there is a traffic light at the turn). For the last 25 years we have made this turn to get to Stoney's Restaurant at Broomes Island. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed a few years ago, but we still make the turn to visit friends who live on the water. In fact, we were spending the weekend at their home on this trip.

About a mile down the road, you will come to a small strip mall. The biggest landmark is the Mr. Tire sign but the gem in this this space in right next door - Jerry's Place. Jerry’s is one of the best seafood restaurants in the state and home to the famous Crab Bomb - 10 ounces lump crab, a touch of Old Bay

You will see an Amish-style pavilion on your right that is home to fruits and vegetables from Jake’s Produce and plants from Linda’s Greenhouse. This pavilion is only a couple of years old. Before that, we made our selections of vegetables and fruit (seasonal products picked each day) from a wagon pulled behind Jakes tractor. Be sure you treat yourselves to some of the best sweet corn in Calvert County.

A few miles further down the road you will find another local favorite - The Gateway Restaurant. Gateway is family owned and if you are lucky Sheila will be behind the bar assuring everyone is having a good time. They have a varied menu, specializing in local seafood and the prices are very reasonable. A great place for lunch or dinner.

Photo Credits: Calvert Cliffs (right) ,- by Calvert Cliffs State Park, Jakes Market (below)- photo courtesy of Jake's Market

Photo Credit: Cove Point Lighthouse (above) by Beth Graeme Photgraphy

Heading on down Broomes Island Road, make a left turn on to Mackall Road and follow it to the entrance (on the right) of Jefferson Patterson Park. For years I thought that Jefferson and Patterson were two different people. As I found out early on at the Visitors Center, Jefferson Patterson is one guy. Patterson served as United States ambassador to Uruguay under Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1958 to 1964. Patterson bought a large tract of land in Calvert County to develop a family retreat. The land was subsequently donated to the state of Maryland in 1983 by the late Mary Marvin Patterson and is named in honor of her late husband. The 560- acre property has more than 70 identified archaeological sites offering glimpses into 9,000 years of documented human occupation. It is a fascinating place with hiking and bike tails, canoe launch facilities on the beautiful Patuxent River. The park is host to many popular events during the course of the year and well worth the stop at the Visitors Center and walking the grounds. For full details log on to www.jefpat.maryland.gov

Fun fact: The Patuxent is the only river that starts and ends in the state of Maryland.

dominate the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay for roughly 24 miles in Calvert County. They were formed over 10 to 20 million years ago when all of Southern Maryland was covered by a warm, shallow sea. When the sea receded, the cliffs were exposed and began eroding. Today these cliffs reveal the remains of prehistoric species, including sharks, whales, rays and seabirds that were the size of small airplanes. Calvert Cliffs State Park is a day-use park featuring a sandy beach, unique fossils, an accessible

recycled tire playground, fishing, a freshwater and tidal marshland and 13 miles of hiking trails. The cliffs are a favorite place to go shark tooth hunting.

Time to switch on your GPS and plug in Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery and head back north (if you are headed back to NoVA). This is a great place to wind down at the end of the day as well as one of my favorite Maryland wineries. It is a small winery with some very soothing ambiance and they have a great selection of wines. We chose a bottle of their Pinot Gris and retired to a pair of the big wooden chairs under a beautiful shade tree that looks out on the vineyard. This is a perfect respite from driving.

Making your way back to Route 4 and heading south you will soon come to a sign showing the way to Cove Point Lighthouse. Cove Point Light is an active light house warning ships of the shoal off of Cove Point into the Chesapeake Bay. In 1881 the light keepers house was converted to a duplex to house a second light keeper and family. The keepers remained until 1986 when the light was fully automated. You cannot only tour the grounds and light house but also rent the duplex for a vacation stay.

The coast line at the Cove Point Light is relatively flat as it dissolves into the Bay. However, as you move north the shore line turns into the Calvert Cliffs. These cliffs are constantly eroding from the Chesapeake Bay and Mother Nature. As the land gives up to the sea, many artifacts are revealed. The massive cliffs, from which Calvert Cliffs State Park was named,

We have covered a lot of ground here. If you want to turn your road trip into a two-day adventure there are motels/hotels as well as several AirBnB’s and VRBO properties in both Prince Frederick and Solomons. In fact, Solomons is a full day of adventure in itself. There is history there the likes of the Calvert Marine Museum and Annmarie Gardens is a must see for you art lovers. Tack on one-of-a-kind-shops as well as several great restaurants, bars and local folks and you have yourself set up for a grand time.

You might consider treating Dad to a “Road Trip” this month….

10 Little Caribbean Beach Resorts to Visit Right Now... From Belize to Grenada

There are different resorts for different vacations, different tastes, different moods. For some, there’s something delicious about a pint-sized, tiny Caribbean resort, where the emphasis is on the intimate, the serene. Where the soundtrack isn’t a piped-in DJ set, but the gentle shaking of palm trees.

At these 10 resorts scattered all over the Caribbean, you’ll feel as if you’ve discovered your own private club, personalized and exclusive.

Here are 10 to check out right now:

Laluna, Grenada

Portici Beach in Grenada is set at the bottom of a long, winding hillside road, with the lovely shade of a grove of palm trees and a wonderful, secluded feeling. It’s also home to a funky, cool, unique little boutique hotel with just 16 rooms called Laluna. The property is a slice of the Mediterranean in Grenada, with a selection of rustic-chic cottages and some outstanding Italian-inspired food. It’s a hidden gem. www.laluna.com

Turtle Inn, Belize

While Francis Ford Coppola’s rainforest retreat in Belize’s Cayo District, Blancaneaux Lodge, may be better known, the legendary filmmaker also has a beauty retreat in Belize’s stunning Placencia. There are just 25 rooms, most either on the sand or just steps away, with thatched roofs and the kind of world-class gastronomy you get from a Coppola hotel. www. thefamilycoppolahideaways.com

Sunset Reef

with endlessly comfortable suites and a de facto private beach in its own little Kittitian bay. www.sunsetreefstkitts.com

Let’s be honest. Jost Van Dyke needed a hotel like this. Finally, the beloved island famous for its beach bars has a legitimately cool place to stay, and it’s this boutique portfolio of toes-in-the-sand cottages that all come with their own private plunge pools. And yes, this is Jost, so it’s connected to the legendary Hendo’s Hideout bar. www.thehideoutbvi.com

Les Ilets de la Plage, St Barth

We’ve stayed here more times than we can count, and this hotel remains the best-kept secret on the Caribbean’s most glamorous island. Just a handful of beach bungalows and hillside villas, Les Ilets is a friendly, warm, throwback hotel that takes you to a different, wonderful side of St Barth. www.hotels-enislas-del-caribe.com

Anegada Beach Club

Even with just 28 rooms, the hotel devotees call ABC is really two hotels: one, a boutique beach resort, the other a collection of fabulous glamping tents perched right above the dunes on one of the British Virgin Islands’ best beaches. It’s the perfect way to explore one of the most beloved little islands in the region. www.anegadabeachclub.com

LTC Grand Case

Caribbean aficionados love Grand Case, St Martin. Once you go, you come back, and you keep coming back. It’s the food (without question the greatest concentration of fine-dining restaurants in the Caribbean, at least on one street), the people, the scene. And tucked away at the beginning of the boulevard is the LTC, a decidedly tiny hotel-restaurant that is perched right above Grand Case Beach, with sleek little rooms and spectacular food. www. ltclaplage

St Kitts’ newest hotel is a reinvention of the boutique hotel: state-of-the-art green energy tech, a pocked-sized but robust wellness offering (including cold and hot plunge pools) and the best restaurant on the island. That’s along

The Hideout, Jost Van Dyke

La Sagesse Grenada

It’s been here seemingly forever: the La Sagesse Beach Hotel, just 12 rooms right on the sand on the sought-after La Sagesse in eastern Grenada. The family run hotel is celebrating nearly four decades on the island, with an intoxicatingly serene, rarefied location on an unforgettable beach. The on-site restaurant is great, too. www.lasagesse.com Karibuni, St Martin

Okay, so this isn’t actually on the beach. But this hotel has a secret. The hillside hotel in the Cul de Sac area of St Martin has something even better, its own beach bar set on the offshore island of Pinel. Just call reception, tell them you’re on your way, and they’ll take you on their private boat to your own already-reserved beach chairs on Pinel, where you can spend the morning, afternoon or the whole day noshing on truffle tuna tartar and sipping on ti’ punch. www. lekaribuni.com

Bluff House, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco

Yes, the island is really called Green Turtle Cay, and it’s everything you imagine. White-sand beach, a little marina, a charming historic hotel, an exquisite beach bar. At the center of it all is the Bluff House, one of the first hotels in The Bahamas when it opened in the middle of the last century, and still an exemplar for what a tiny Caribbean hotel can be. Just make sure you have a Tipsy Turtle. Or two. For rates contact frontdesk@bluffhouse.com

Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staff contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/website at caribjournal. com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean. Photos courtesy of Caribbean Connection.

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

NAPLES FL TOPS THE LIST FOR BEST BEACHES IN USA

BEACHFRONT SEASONAL RENTAL AVAILABLE

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

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

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

and enjoy every issue of the Old Town Crier at home. Fill out this form, enclose a check for $35 (12 issues) and drop it in the mail to: Old Town Crier • PO Box 320386 • Alexandria, Va. 22320

Name

Address

City/State/Zip

DINING GUIDE

AMERICAN

1799 PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD

110 S. Pitt Street

571-404-6001

ADA'S ON THE RIVER

3 Pioneer Mill Way

703-638-1400

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE

1106 King Street 703.721.3970

BLACKWALL HITCH

5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090

BOB & EDITHS DINER 1743 King Street

703-664-0043

JULA'S ON THE POTOMAC

44 Canal Center 571-800-6644

CHADWICKS

203 Strand St. 703-836-4442

CHART HOUSE

One Cameron St.

703-684-5080

CITY KITCHEN

330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172

fatcitykitchen.com

EDDIE'S LITTLE SHOP & DELI

1406 King Street

571-312-8615

EVENING STAR CAFÉ

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

703-549-5051

EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE

1400 Duke Street

703-299-0894

FIVE GUYS

725 King St. 703-549-7991

FOSTERS GRILLE

2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342

FRANKIE'S KITCHEN & COCKTAIL BAR

823 S. Washington St. 703-512-2118

GADSBYS TAVERN

138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288

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

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

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

HUMMINGBIRD

220 South Union Street

703-566-1355

JACKS PLACE

222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372

JOE THEISMANNS

1800 Diagonal Rd.

703-739-0777

JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO

1508 Mount Vernon Avenue

703-436-0025

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street

571-319-0794

LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533

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

LOST DOG CAFE

808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511

MAJESTIC CAFÉ

911 King St. 703-837-9117

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

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

MYSTIC BBQ & GRILL

220 N. Lee St. 703-565-9808 mysticbbqandgrill.com

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

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

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

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

THE PEOPLES DRUG

103 N. Alfred Street 571-257-8851

RAMPARTS

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

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

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

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

RT'S RESTAURANT

3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

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

SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

SONOMA CELLAR

207 King St. 703-966-3550

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

SOUTHSIDE 815

815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S

510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street

703-838-8000

T.J. STONES

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

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

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

VIRTUE GRAIN & FEED

106 South Union St. 571-970-3669

VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & THE HI-TIDE LOUNGE

101 North Union St. 703-935-8890

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

ASIAN

ASIAN BISTRO

809 King St. 703-836-1515

INDOCHEN 1625 King Street (571) 404-6050

KISSO ASIAN BISTRO

300 King Street 703-888-1513

MALAYA

1019 King St. 703-519-3710

MAI THAI

9 King St. 703-548-0600

NASIME

1209 King St. 703-548-1848

SIGNATURE THAI

722 King Street 707-888-2458

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

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

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

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

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

CONTINENTAL

CEDAR KNOLL

GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

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

FRENCH

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

bastillerestaurant.com

BRABO 1600 King St. 703-894-3440

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

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

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

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

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

ITALIAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LENA’S WOOD-FIRED

PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086

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

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

PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287

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

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

MEDITERRANEAN

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

ELAINE'S 208 Queen Street 571-970-0517

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

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

PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194

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

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

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

SEAFOOD

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

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

THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834

WHISKEY & OYSTER 301 John Carlyle 703-567-1533

INDIAN

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

DIYA

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

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

NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615

MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN

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

CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438

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

LOS CUATES RESTAURANT 1116 King Street 703-548-2918

LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290

LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167

TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226)

TEQUILA & TACO

540 John Carlyle Street 703-721-3203

URBANO 116 116 King Street 571-970-5148

Sail Into the Mystic…

Last month, long time restauranteur Ralph Davis decided to open a new restaurant at 220 N. Lee Street with his son Matt. Ralph has had a long history in Old Town which I will not go into here, but you can Google Ralph Davis Alexandria, Va. and read the article I wrote in 2017. This is a new chapter and it begins with Matt.

It seemed that the timing was right. As Ralph was getting bored with retirement, Matt indicated his desire to open his own restaurant. What better mentor than Ralph Davis. They settled on the property at 220 North Lee Street. This location had been home to successful restaurants in the past. When I came to Old Town in 1977 it was Cafe Biarritz and had a grand piano in the back room. Later the location was home to the popular Ecco Cafe, then Overwood’s and finally Myron Mixon’s BBQ. While not located on King Street, the block and a half walk to 220 N. Lee Street is a breeze.

The name of the new restaurant does not tell the whole story. While Myron Mixon is an American Celebrity chef and competitor on the competitive barbecue circuit, his legacy is not the only one at Mystic BBQ and Grill. Over the years of working at and then owning several Old Town restaurants, Ralph developed his own special recipes that are

also featured at The Mystic. In fact, the choices of their BBQ plates and their Creole influenced dishes makes for a unique dining experience. This is a restaurant you can visit four nights a week and have four different dining experiences.

The physical layout of the restaurant is pretty straight forward. There are three distinct dining areas all located on different sides of the bar area. The medium sized bar anchors the main room with several tables and high tops scattered about. The décor is very contemporary and open and rock and roll images adorn the walls. Mystic is named in memory of Ralph’s wife and her love of music and is a play on the Van Morrison’s lyrics - “We were born before the wind, also younger that the sun. Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the Mystic.” You will hear this era of music as well as other familiar tunes as you dine. We were very happy to see a familiar face behind the bar on our visit. Kat Warren (formerly at the popular RT’s Restaurant on Mount Vernon Ave) is now holding court at Mystic. I know she is a familiar face to many of our readers as well. So… if you’ve been missing her, now you know where to find her. The bar is well stocked and there are some very fun choices of the ever popular “craft” cocktails ie. Gator Bites and Mystic Hurricanes

and the prerequisite “craft” beers and seltzers. Happy Hour is served from 3 – 7 pm Monday through Friday with both food and beverage specials - $3 off apps, $2 off rail drinks and draft beer and $8 glasses of wine!

The choices of the BBQ Plates and seafood and shellfish delights make for interesting ordering. You can go one way or the other, or like I did, combine the two. On our recent visit I ordered the "Mystic" Fried Oysters. They were lightly battered with secret “mystic” stuff and fried to a very light, tasty crust. The tomato-onion salad & horseradish sauce nicely compliments the oysters. Next up, I went all out and ordered the “Mystic” Baby Back ribs off of the BBQ Plates menu – you have your choice of said ribs or a ½ pound of Texas Brisket or Carolina Pulled Pork (both available on the sandwich menu as well). The ribs came lathered in a hearty dark barbeque sauce which was fantastic. The ribs were slightly seared while the meat was generous and cooked just right. While the ribs are a meal in itself, you have a choice of two sides (fries, coleslaw, mac and cheese, collard greens, Creole white beans w/Tasso ham and cornbread w/honey butter). I opted for the collards and the beans and they were both excellent choices.

…BBQ & Grill

My dining partner isn’t a fan of pretty much fried anything except potatoes and chicken, so she opted for the Smoked Chicken Wings with white BBQ sauce as a starter. These wings are different from the norm and really, really tasty and tender. Even harder to describe is the Alabama BBQ sauce. It has a really good jacked up Ranch kind of taste and pairs perfectly with the smokiness of the wings. Next up for her was the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich. And that is exactly what it is – a jumbo cake with jumbo lump crab and pretty much just enough secret ingredients to hold it together. Served on a soft bun with lettuce, tomato and a Florida mustard sauce (we are sure you could substitute cocktail or tartar but give this sauce a whirl first) it comes accompanied with a side. She chose the coleslaw.

There are 25 items on the menu and I will highlight a few here. The other starters are Brisket Mac & Cheese, Popcorn Shrimp & Calamari and Fried Green Tomatoes. Is your mouth starting to water? Other sandwiches include Wood-Grilled Cheeseburger, Citrus-Chile Grilled Chicken and a Shrimp Po'Boy.

The Mains are from Davis's wheel house...Black Pepper Mussels, Shrimp & Grits, Creole

Bouillabaisse, Delta Catfish, Shrimp & Crawfish Etouffee (Yum) and Wood-Grilled Steak Frites. (Check out their complete menu on line).

There is something else about their menu that is rare in Old Town. The most expensive item is $28. Their Crab Cake sandwich is $26 and is worth every nickel.

There are many choices to dine in Old Town Alexandria and Mystic BBQ & Grill fits right in with a unique menu that is off the beaten track. Getting away from all of the hullabaloo on lower King Street is very appealing to us so take a threeminute walk up North Lee Street and treat yourself to something special. You will go back!

The Tradition of Gathering Around the Dinner Table

You can pretty much eat anything and anywhere you want these days. The essence of dining lies not in elaborate gourmet dishes but in the cherished moments shared around the dinner table.

"Remember the time Mom spilled a tray of cheese grits on the rug?!" A memory that will get told at every "almost perfect" meal. The tradition of sitting with loved ones, engaging in heartfelt conversations, creating lasting memories and sharing recipes is a treasure unparalleled by many experiences.

Picture this: sitting at a dinner table with other people, the clinking of glasses, the aroma of home cooked meals through the air. It's an experience that’s become a "food pic and look what we created and where we ate" craze on TV and multimedia. It is a celebration of togetherness, (It ought to be anyway) of forging connections that nourish the

soul and plates up memories... with visuals.

As we break bread together, the chatter often revolves around more than just the food on our plates. It delves into shared pastimes and "Way Back When's", like the time Dad invited 29 servicemen over for Thanksgiving dinner because there was no leaving GITMO. We share dreams and the fabric of our lives when we are nourished. The familiarity of sipping the same wine year after year binds us in a way that surpasses mere taste preferences. Laughter and even awkward dish failures form a tapestry of tradition and warmth.

In these moments, the vintage of the wine matters less than the vintage of the stories shared. The clinking of cutlery and the laughter that fills the room are the true essence of the feast. Breaking bread together often times leads to memories of prior meals and future

recipes. No amount of fine wine can replace the joy of having loved ones gathered around the table, sharing and creating a symphony of these memories and flavors.

So, as we celebrate seasons and life, raise our glasses and savor each bite, let us remember that the true feast is in the connection we foster, the laughter we share, and the love that fills the spaces between us. In a world where choices abound, the simple act of sitting at a dinner table with other people remains a timeless tradition—a reminder that the most fulfilling meals are those savored in the company of cherished souls and most especially strangers.

While I think we should celebrate Dad’s every day of the year, don't forget to celebrate with something special on the 16th! Gathering around the table - or the grill - would be a great thing to do.

About the Author: Glenn Morel is a producer turned chef. His website is www. ifihadachef.com. With experience in restaurants from Florida to Manhattan, he specializes in bringing his clients their very own personal chef for any special event. In addition to private parties of 12 (or more-or-less), he also

offers catering for small and large groups. Chef Glenn works with you to create a customized menu and firstclass event. He brings culinary professionals with him that dress appropriately and are experienced in handling food. They are also often trained mixologists and fine dining servers.

“Agritainment”- Why Not?

I am well into my fifth decade of farming and I find myself regularly trying to find ways to encourage the next generation to join this industry. We always need more farmers, but we tend to have a hard time selling this job opportunity to young folks. I remember many years ago, applying to a job that advertised, “Hard work, low pay, long hours. Learn the wine business from the ground up.” Why in our modern age of 2024 would anyone want to do this work?

Maybe instead of complaining about the weather, the dirt, the broken equipment and the long days we need to pitch this opportunity with the highlights. How about this: get plenty of sunshine and exercise while making a living and feeling productive! Sell your farm grown products at an urban farmers market, meet interesting folks wanting to try your products grown with love and commitment. Welcome folks from the city and show them your farm operation. Expose them to the taste of fresh asparagus from the ground or the sweetness of a peach right off the tree. Better?

Every culture on the planet has a foundation in agriculture, or they never would have survived. Farming is naturally diverse in its history. It is just a matter of growing what works on your land and climate along with what people want to eat, or wear. Kids love to get out on the farm no matter where it is located. In NOVA for example we have Cox Farms and Great Country Farms among many others leading the way with agritainment opportunities for young folks and families. It might be feeding a baby goat, playing on old farm equipment, going through a corn maze or learning the science of germinating a seed. Many farms find a way to grow their crops and teach their visitors as well. The exposure of agriculture needs to be a priority if we want to keep eating, drinking and dressing. If that exposure is fun, then it could be more effective in encouraging people to choose farming.

I have been pushing and preaching this concept for a while, along with many others. School gardens, field trips and weekend family outings all contribute into encouraging the next generation to see the opportunities to do something different than sitting in a cubicle staring at a screen for a living.

The New Ag School is built on this very idea, but our school systems can do a bit more to get these kids thinking about alternative career choices. We have spent the last century steering our youth to careers off the farm, but hopefully we are beginning to recognize the importance of farm work.

So…enjoy the farm and respect the farmer and appreciate how hard they work to make a living. Encourage your kids to spend more time outside as they may find their calling in the evolving field of agritainment. Remember that great wines come from great farmers on great lands. The flavors of the foods we enjoy all come from Mother Nature. For more information on our program, go to Newagschool.org. Thanks, and help us keep farming!

Finally...Happy Father’s Day enjoy your day!

About the Author: Farmer, winemaker, entrepreneur, educator, and leader, Doug Fabbioli has been accelerating the growth and quality of Virginia’s wine industry since 1997. With his wife Colleen, Doug is the owner/operator of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. He is the founder and director of The New Ag School, which focuses on teaching the next generation of farmers and agriculture-related leaders. No wonder they call Doug Fabbioli the Godfather of DC's Wine Country.

OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY 11-5

PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS FOR GROUPS OF SIX OR MORE

15669 Limestone School Rd Leesburg, VA 20176

703.771.1197 • fabbioliwines.com

info@fabbioliwines.com

Exploring Richmond’s Wineries

Virginia’s capital isn’t famous as a wine region –but it should be. Richmond is deeply connected to Virginia wine, from the industry’s earliest days to the vineyards and cideries that surround the city today.

It was in Richmond that Norton, Virginia’s first rockstar grape, was “born”. According to the book The Wild Vine, Dr. Daniel Norton was an amateur horticulturalist who experimented with crossing different breeds of grapes. In 1821 he discovered a new variety in his nursery, eventually bequeathing it his name.

The Norton grape was a mainstay of the American wine industry during the later half of the 19th century, only to largely disappear upon the advent of prohibition. It’s now making something of a comeback as winegrowers find new appreciation for Norton’s weather-hardiness, especially as climate change takes hold.

Today, Richmond is surrounded by wine trails on all sides. North of the city is the “Heart of Virginia” wine trail, encompassing a half-dozen locations. To the city’s east is the “Virginia Peninsula” wine trail, and westward lies the Richmond West Trail, which includes wine, cider, beer, and spirits. Further out is the Central Virginia Fermentation Farm Trail, which stretches from Richmond to almost Charlottesville.

Richmond is also home to a growing craft beverage scene. 30+ award-winning breweries and cideries dot its neighborhoods, as well as both an urban winery and meadery.

Understanding RVA Wineries

Unlike the Shenandoah Valley or the nearby Northern Neck peninsula, most Richmond-adjacent wineries aren’t part of a specific wine growing region.

The major exception to this is the Virginia Peninsula American Viticultural Area (AVA), which was established in 2021. AVAs are federally recognized for their distinct growing conditions, allowing wine grown inside their boundaries to be associated with a “sense of place”. The Virginia Peninsula AVA is located just east of the city, stretching 50-miles down to Hampton Roads.

This area is characterized by its subtropical climate, moderate weather, and soil types ranging from sandstone, gravel, and sandy-clay. Many grape varieties are grown here, but local winemakers report it’s particularly suitable for warm-weather varieties, such as Albariño.

While many of these growing conditions apply to other nearby vineyards, the area around Richmond is too diverse to be placed in a single geological or stylistic basket. If anything, for the dozen wineries within a roughly 30-minute drive of the city, diversity is their hallmark.

Some locations such as Skipper’s Creek are quaint venues where your server is likely to be the owner/ winemaker, while others including Jolene Family

offer lake-side picnicking. Saudé Creek’s tasting room may evoke images of an old colonial inn, while Resolution is an urban winery and one of a handful of Black-owned wineries in the state.

A Combined Food & Wine Experience

If there’s one aspect of Richmond’s wine scene that sets it apart from Virginia’s other regions, it’s their focus on providing an all-inclusive experience.

A number of local wineries have full-service kitchens, providing fare that go beyond the normal charcuterie plates or food trucks usually found elsewhere.

With that in mind, here are several must-visit wineries to fully experience what Richmondadjacent wineries have to offer:

7 Lady Vineyards at Dover Hall (1500 Manakin Rd, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103)

Dover Hall is the home of 7 Lady Vineyards, one of Virginia’s newest wineries. Founders Chad Hornik & Jeff Ottaviano teamed up with winemakers Ben & Tim Jordan of Commonwealth Crush to provide an assortment of Virginia-grown wines as well as varietally-correct styles from around the world.

7 Lady is offering pop-up tastings and wine dinners at Dover Hall while the tasting room is being built. But the wine club is up & running and they are already booking weddings, rehearsal dinners, and corporate events.

Ashton Creek Vineyard (14501 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Chester, VA 23831)

According to winemaker A lan Thibault, opening a kitchen has as much to do with practicality as it does with providing complimentary food and wine pairings. “There’s not many local restaurants in our area, so we wanted to provide options so people have everything they want right here. We keep it as farm-to-table as we can.”

Ashton Creek’s food focuses on handheld dishes and shareables. Alan’s favorite food combination is his 2022 Gravity red blend (67% Noiret, 22% Merlot, and 11% Tannat) with lamb lollipops, using a wine reduction sauce using his Chambourcin.

New Kent Winery & Talleysville Brewing (8400 Old Church Rd, New Kent, VA 23124)

Located less than 30-minutes outside the city down I-64, New Kent is not only a farm winery with 38 acres under vine, but a brewery as well.

The tasting room uses pre-Civil War bricks and reclaimed old-heart pine to blend modern and historic aesthetics. Its trusses came from a 1901 railroad depot in Richmond, while the floors and timbers were reclaimed from a Connecticut warehouse that was built in 1852.

Try their BBQ pork sliders with an IPA, and have a taste of their flagship Reserve Chardonnay and Merlot, both of which earned Gold medals in the 2024 Virginia Wine Governor’s Cup.

Upper Shirley Vineyard (600 Shirley Plantation Rd, Charles City, VA 23030)

Upper Shirley is the brainchild of Suzy and Tayloe Dameron, who saw potential in an otherwise undeveloped stretch of land on the bank of the James River. They soon partnered with Michael Shaps, who’s won more wine awards than anyone in Virginia.

Their kitchen offers everything from brunch to prefix dinners, while in 2024 alone their wine won 3 Gold medals at the 2024 Virginia Wine Governor’s Cup. Check out the view from their porch while dining on a burger or crab cakes.

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

Aslin Beer Company, Frühlingsfest, and a Plethora of Great Lagers

I visit Aslin Brewing Company’s Alexandria location every Spring. It’s a great brewery. And their lagers are always extraordinary. The brewery has a cool tasting room. Unlike most breweries, their tasting room is large and organized, with a very modern look. They have several big screen televisions, so sports watching is a big part of the experience. The menu features pizzas, smash burgers, and chicken sandwiches. It’s very Americana, as a brewery menu should be. But the reason to visit is the beer. This is a brewery. Beer is the star.

I met in the tasting room with Tim Parrott, Aslin’s Director of Marketing. I almost always meet with brewers and owners. So, meeting a marketing person is quite a treat. I have an undergraduate degree in marketing. And I’ve done marketing consulting work for a number of companies. This is going to be a fun conversation.

Aslin has a huge variety of beers. But I’m there to taste the lagers. So, Tim immediately brought out draft tastings of six lagers. He also provided me with a tasting sheet describing each beer, which impressed me. I usually take copious notes. Tim also put some packaged beer on the table. The beers

are the same lagers that we are going to taste. All are in twelve-ounce cans. I’m surprised. The trend in the craft beer industry right now is four packs of sixteen-ounce cans.

He explains that they switched the lagers to twelve-ounce cans for a couple of reasons. It creates uniformity in that line of beer. The smaller cans also do not get warm as quickly, and store easier in a cooler. We’re headed into picnic and beach season, cold beer during this area’s hot and humid summers is a must. All the lagers are in six packs, except for their Old Town Lager. It’s sold in a twelve pack. Which makes sense, it’s one of their flagship beers and very popular. I love the entire marketing strategy. It’s simple, yet brilliant. Packaging is a huge part of both promotion and distribution in marketing. The twelve-ounce cans not only have more utility than their sixteen-ounce counterparts, but they’ll also stand out on a grocery store shelf next to other craft beers. This is a marketing homerun.

Tim poured us Aslin’s Old Town Lager, Esperante Mexican Lager, a rice beer called Reis, De Gens, which is a German Pilsner, and Much Ado, a Helles Lager. Only the Old Town Lager and the Esperante are available in stores. You need to come to the brewery to drink or purchase the Reis, De Gens, or Much Ado.

The Old Town Lager tastes clean and crisp with a dash of floral hops and a touch of malt. The Esperante has notes of graham cracker up front and lemon-lime throughout. The Reis is different and fun. It’s brewed with yuzu, jasmine, and green tea. All come through on the palate, with the green tea prominent at the end. The De Gens is a true German Pilsner. A light lemon flavor pops up front. It’s clean with toasted bread, graham cracker, malt, and that great crisp noble hop bite at the end. The Much Ado is also crisp and dry with subtle notes of lemon and caramel.

is markedly

“Variety is important,” Tim explains. I wholeheartedly agree. I mention that I usually judge a brewer by their lagers. The better brewers do them very well.

Tim nods in agreement, “You can’t hide behind hops with a pilsner or lager.”

Truer words were never spoken. When it comes to lagers and pilsners, the brewer is naked. It’s all there, good, or bad.

One of the owners and co-founders, Kai Leszkowicz, joins us. Kai founded the brewery with his brother-in-law, Andrew Kelley, in 2015. Each married a daughter of the Aslin family, hence the name. They started as home brewers and the company grew from there. As Kai put it “We were home brewers who got lucky.”

Kai and I talked about craft beer and the industry for a while. Kai and Tim then tell me about their

Each lager

different. There are great nuances in this line of beers.

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

HSE Grande Reserve XO

It’s Summer, let’s talk rum. Or as they spell it in the French West Indies, rhum. This is an exceptional Agricole rum out of Martinique. It has a deep amber color. The bouquet has orange, pepper, fig, and vanilla. It’s soft on the palate with wood, vanilla, nut, and spices coming through. It finishes long, with intense notes of roasted nuts, cocoa, tobacco, and wood. This wonderful rum is 86 proof and goes for about $90. It’s well worth it. For the best experience, drink it on the rocks and sip it slowly.

My Father Le Bijou 1922

You’ll need to pair that fine rhum with a good cigar. May I suggest the My Father Le Bijou 1922. This smoke will hit you up front with spice, but these cigars are never harsh. The spice blends with a subtle sweetness as you smoke it. This cigar is captivating. It’s moist, chewy, and delightful. And the spices will blend well with the HSE Grande Reserve XO rhum you’ll be drinking. Enjoy.

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

upcoming Spring festival. Frühlingsfest is celebrated in Germany in the Spring. It started in 1964 and is celebrated with lagers, much like Oktoberfest. Frühlingsfest celebrates the planting season and highlights local showmen and women. In Munich, this festival is marketed as Oktoberfest’s Little Sister. It’s mostly been attended by locals, but today tens of thousands of celebrators are there every year.

My wife and I attended the festival at Aslin. They were pouring twenty different lagers and pilsners from various breweries. The beers were great. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The love of beer demonstrated by the attendees ended up being the greatest part of the experience. Why? It rained. It rained all day. Not heavy rain, but just enough to be annoying. Yet the festival had a huge crowd. This is what I love about craft beer drinkers. It would take a lot more than a little rain to keep them away. The festival ended up being a true testament to their will, determination, and fortitude. There were people standing at cocktail tables in the rain holding an umbrella with one hand and drinking a beer with the other. I proudly viewed this display of true grit while seated, comfortable and dry, under a large canopy. I love craft beer as well. But I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. I’ve survived multiple trips to Oktoberfest in Munich. My record stands for itself.

Do yourself a favor and visit Aslin Beer Company. They have breweries in Alexandria, VA, Herndon, VA, Virginia Beach, VA, Washington DC, and Pittsburgh, PA. And they often have great events. The atmosphere is fun and lively. But go for the beer. They’re a brewery. And their beer is definitely the star.

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

It's KITTEN Season!!

June is the height of kitten season. Because more cats are breeding at this time of year, the nationwide influx of tens of thousands of adorable cats can put a serious strain on animal shelters/rescue organizations, which take in more than two million cats each year in the U.S. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) chose June for Adopt a Shelter Cat Month to bring awareness to this and its effect on shelters, which may run short on funds, space, food, and other supplies.

But why there are so many kittens? First, because cats are biologically suited to producing many offspring, and second, because there are millions of free-roaming, unowned cats in the U.S. that haven’t been spayed or neutered.

Here are a few facts that help explain cat reproductive biology. Cats can become pregnant as soon as they reach sexual maturity, around five to six months old. Estrus, or “heat,” is the time when unspayed female cats are fertile. Cats’ estrous cycles repeat every two to three weeks except during pregnancy. A female cat can come into estrus – and become pregnant with a new litter – within a few weeks of giving birth, even if she’s nursing. Since the average gestation period in cats is 63-65 days, or about nine weeks, cats can have multiple litters in a year, with an average litter size of four to six.

Estimates have been made of how many kittens a cat might have in her lifetime – perhaps more than 100 –

and how many kittens she and her female offspring might have –as high as 4,000 to 5,000. These estimates assume the mama cats are healthy and well-fed, and don’t account for variation in number of litters, kittens per litter, and number of years the females reproduce. While pet cats allowed outside by their owners do contribute to the kitten population explosion, most adoptable kittens in shelters are born to the tens of millions of freeroaming cats in the U.S. Unowned cats living outdoors include abandoned pets and strays who have lived with people. As adults, these cats are often comfortable enough with humans to be adopted. Feral cats have never been socialized to humans; they prefer to live independently in groups/colonies. Many adult feral cats are unlikely to adjust to people enough to become house pets. However, feral kittens can be socialized if the process is started early enough.

Organizations including the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) call all unowned cats living outside “community cats”, whether or not the cats are interested in human interaction. AWLA supports trap-neuter-release (TNR) as a humane way to help community cats coexist with humans. TNR is a commonly used term, but many programs, including AWLA’s, are trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNVR), because providing basic vaccinations helps community cats have healthier lives.

In most TNR programs, community cats are humanely trapped, spayed/

neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their original location after recovery. Cats who’ve been through TNR are also “ear-tipped:” had a tiny bit of their left ear surgically removed under anesthesia. Ear-tipping is a universallyrecognized sign that a cat has already been through TNR and doesn’t need additional intervention. Because only spayed/neutered cats are returned to the community, TNR programs help reduce the population of unowned community cats over time. Also, spayed/ neutered and vaccinated community cats have healthier and safer lives. Females don’t have to experience the physiological stress of repeated pregnancies. Vaccinations help reduce disease in the population. Cats become better, less territorial, neighbors.

Participating in AWLA’s Community Cats program is open to anyone in Alexandria who wants to help their neighborhood cats. But not everyone can participate in a TNR program, and not everyone can adopt a shelter cat or kitten this June. But there are lots of other ways to help cats, especially during Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, but also year-round.

First, make sure your female cat doesn’t become a mom – have her spayed. Keep your male cat from becoming a dad – have him neutered. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control. For pet cats allowed outdoors, it also reduces their urge to roam and decreases their risk of disease, injury, and death.

If you’re not ready to adopt, you can foster from a local rescue or shelter. You get to see what it’s like to have a cat in the house, and the cat gets to experience a loving home. By ensuring cats/kittens are socialized, you’ll help them make a successful transition to forever homes. Shelters and rescue groups always welcome monetary donations that they can put toward veterinary care and needed supplies. If you’d like to make a material donation, check with your local facilities for their specific needs before you go shopping. The shelter may have a list on their website or a link to a wish list at an online retailer.

Another way to help is to give your time. Shelters and rescues rely on volunteers to accomplish their missions – they are almost always looking for more help. Bonus – you get to see adorable cats and kittens every time you volunteer!

Finally, you can help shelters and rescue facilities through social media. Follow your local shelters/ rescue organizations and share their content/ information. You can help adoptable cats get the visibility they need to find their forever homes and encourage more people to help shelters by donating or volunteering. About the Author: Jane Koska is a writer and editor. Her home is ruled by two young rescue cats whose mom was an Alexandria community cat. They’re furry, funny proof that with patience and proper socialization, kittens born to outdoor cats make happy, affectionate companions. Links to resources can be found online at oldtowncrier.com

Fundraiser for the AWLA benefiting Alexandria’s animals!

PET PHOTO CONTEST

Open June 2024 for

Scan the QR code or visit AlexandriaAnimals.org/ calendar to upload your pet’s photo and vote!

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria alexandriaanimals.org/

Animal Welfare League of Arlington www.awla.org

PETS OF THE MONTH

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA

703-746-4774

alexandriaanimals.org

Mon-Fri, 1-8 pm

Closed Wed Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm

Selected Metro DC Animal Shelters/Rescues

Fairfax County Animal Shelter www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter

Friends of Rabbits www.friendsofrabbits.org/

Bonita

Bonita is a beautiful black and white 5-year-old female cat who is searching for a quiet and peaceful home to enjoy. She has been a little shy and reserved at the shelter, but she is slowly blossoming into an attention-seeking, social girl. She is now quicker to welcome visitors and curl up in their laps for chin and ear scratches. One sure way to win over her heart is through her favorite lickable treats -- Churus. (Professional photo from DeSilva Studios)

King Street Cats www.kingstreetcats.org/

Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. ophrescue.org/

Winston

Winston is a handsome older tabby gentleman. He is 12-years-old and calm, social, and well-mannered. He loves to have visitors pop by for treats (Temptations please) and stimulating conversations and pets. He likes mental challenges, so he enjoys a licky mat, snuffle mat or puzzle toy. If you're looking for a low-key companion to spend time with, Winston could be your man! (Professional photo from Deborah Davidson)

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary www.rikkisrefuge.org

Alice

Alice is a stunning all black kitty with golden yellow eyes. She is just under 2 years old and full of purr-sonality! She is social, sweet and affectionate. She has never met a stranger and always greets visitors with a cheerful meow. Alice loves to play with catnip mice toys and pipe cleaners but is always willing to give new toys a try. Alice is ready to meet a family who is in need of a little feline company and ready for lots of fun.

Schedule time to meet with any of these amazing adoptables by emailing Adopt@AlexandriaAnimals.org or calling 703.746.4774 opt. 2.

For the Men in Your Life...

Some bite their nails when they get too long; others wash their hair with bar soap; and a few only shave for work or that all-important visit with your parents. Men, whether they like to admit it or not, follow a “beauty” regimen just like women, but too often are seriously lost. Everyone wants to look their best, but the men in our lives sometimes have trouble admitting they enjoy looking good, and need the right stuff to do so.

This is where you step in. Maybe he would never indulge in quality toiletries and is more of the hiking and grilling type. Maybe your man already has an established routine with high-end products. Either way, it’s always nice to give that special guy in your life something he’ll love, but wouldn’t necessarily buy for himself. There’s something in it for us, too: a few great grooming gifts could tame his unruly brows or soften his scratchy stubble, and the gift of a few carefully chosen products is a lot subtler than a gym membership. Perfect for Father’s Day, a college grad, or as a thoughtful birthday gift, these grooming gift ideas are the perfect way to say, “I love you … but not your post-workout musk.”

Unlike fishing gear, golf clubs, or another kooky tie, hair and skin products are the breath of fresh air he’s been waiting for (but maybe didn’t know it). They won’t end up in a cobwebbed corner of the garage, and he’ll actually enjoy a little self-indulgent grooming, not to mention all the compliments he’ll receive! The key to getting something he’ll actually use is to consider what kind of guy he is.

If he travels a lot, he probably relies on a collection of those sad little hotel shampoos. Consider, instead, products with travel-size versions. If you think he might be self-conscious about— gasp!—his appearance, choose products that look and smell a bit more masculine. If he’s outdoorsy, choose an option with SPF. If he’s entering his distinguished older man phase, opt for anti-aging or anti-wrinkle formulas. Whatever you choose, you can sleep soundly knowing his skin is better cared for, and you won’t have to face the awkward moment of walking in on him

in the bathroom, hunched over the sink, covertly using your concealer.

We all know by now that men have particular needs, but in the grooming department, there is none more specific than shaving. Even if you can’t get him to use tools more refined than Barbasol and a disposable razor, help him get a smoother shave with these simple tips:

• Make sure he washes his face before shaving to remove oil and dirt. This ensures a closer, smoother shave. Better yet, get him to use some kind of scrub. Many men don’t use exfoliators, so he’ll likely notice the difference immediately.

• Shave with hot water on moist (not wet) skin. This helps to soften his whiskers. Make sure he knows to change razor blades frequently to reduce irritation.

• If he has ultra-sensitive skin, suggest shaving in the shower. The steam and moisture will soften his beard and lubricate skin to reduce irritation. Buy him a fogless mirror to hang around the showerhead so he can actually see what he’s doing and avoid nicks.

• Shaving creams today are efficient—he won’t need much to work up a rich lather. He doesn’t need a full-on Santa Claus beard of cream, just a thin layer.

Rachel seriously needed to intervene with that over-gelled head of hair Ross rocked for years. If your guy is a victim of hair product overdose, help him out! Some guys are nononsense when it comes to their hair, either routinely buzzing it all off or arguing that bed head looks “rock star cool.” Show him the light! Don’t fuss with expensive shampoos; men’s hair is typically on the short side, so why spend on something that isn’t particularly beneficial and washes right down the drain? Even a $7 barber’s cut looks great with a dab of

high-end product. He’ll look more polished and be able to switch up his look in minutes.

Unfortunately, men don’t embrace fragrance quite the same way women do. The sad reality is that men often look no further than locker room aerosols. Since fragrance is so subjective, finding the right one will take a little time investment from both you and your man. But fear not—there are options to suit every taste. My long-time favorite is Versace Man Eau Fraiche, a subtle mix of fruits, green leaves, musk, and sycamore wood.

Finally, get him something classier than a Ziploc bag to house his new grooming arsenal. Dopp kits have a certain sophistication you just can’t get from a knotted plastic grocery bag or a scummy college shower caddy. Splurge and buy him a refined, sumptuous leather case—it makes for a thoughtful, personal gift. Whether you two have shared a bathroom for years, or he dumps his stuff on your bathroom countertop when he spends the night, a Dopp kit will keep his products and tools organized. If you’re feeling generous, pack it with some great grooming goodies, too.

Great News for Beer Drinkers...

You can run your race and drink your beer, as long as you are smart about it!

Aside from meeting at the local coffee shop after a long Saturday morning run, meeting at a bar for a pint seems to be equally as popular. And why not hoist a wellearned brew? Beer, like red wine, does provide some health benefits. The malt and hops used to make dark beers contain flavonoids, the same heart-healthy compounds in vegetables and wine that counter cell damage, thus reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer. Beer also contains B vitamins and chromium, which aid in converting carbohydrates to energy. However, because beer is less potent than liquor, it may be too easy for some runners to overlook its five percent alcohol content. Besides causing embarrassing lapses of judgment, too much beer can dehydrate you and slow recovery. The key, as with any indulgence, is moderation. There's no reason for runners to feel like beer can never cross their lips,

you just need to drink it at the right time.

The Night Before - Some runners order a beer and joke about carboloading. However, it's not so. The idea that beer provides a significant amount of carbs is a misconception, a 12-ounce bottle contains 12 grams of carbohydrates, which is equivalent to about half a slice of bread. What's more, because of the way alcohol is metabolized, most of these excess carbs are stored as fat. So…you're actually fat-loading. And if you're drinking a lot, you may be running to burn off beer calories rather than combusting body fat. Alcohol is also a diuretic, which means drinking too much the night before a run or race could leave you dehydrated in the morning. To avoid the effects of poor hydration-lack of coordination, less oxygen to the muscles, which can slow you down-drink water before and after your

beer. (That's right, one beer. Unless you're a large guy who drinks beer regularly, in which case, a second should do no harm.

Beer on the Run - While you obviously don't want to replace a mid-marathon sports drink with a beer, a few sips on a short fun run isn't such a big deal. In longer events, you're already partially dehydrated, so even a small amount of alcohol can impair judgment and coordination. Alcohol can also dilate the skin's blood vessels, that promotes heat loss and may make you colder. Hot days are no better; they speed dehydration. And carbonated beverages empty slowly from the stomach, increasing the risk of bloating and cramping.

The Party After - Hooray, you're finished! Now you can belly up to the bar. But drink something else first since alcohol can interfere with refueling, which delays recovery.

Have eight to 16 ounces of water or other fluids and about 200 carband-protein calories before you start toasting. If you've suffered an injury, however, it's best to wait. Alcohol can delay the body's ability to heal, it seems to limit the production of natural antiinflammatories. After 36 hours, however, the inflammation should have subsided, at which point you're free to head to your favorite pub. While a pint or two won’t cause any ill effects on your running, it is still advised to drink plenty of water especially when the weather gets warmer. I am not saying that just because you run you should drink since that is certainly not on everyone’s exercise or social agenda. However, if you do choose to celebrate your long run, fun run, or race with a frosty beverage do so responsibly and be sure to stay well hydrated.

H20

: the key to a successful summer workout season

This month officially marks the start of the summer season. I hope all of you have cool vacations planned that include lots of physical activities. As the temperatures rise through the summer, it becomes extremely important to monitor when, where and how much exercise you should be doing along with hydrating properly. I agree wholeheartedly with Nicole’s take on enjoying a brew or two as it pertains to running (see Fitness) but let’s crunch some numbers regarding hydration overall.

Did you know that water accounts for more than 60% of the human body’s volume? Water is so vital to life that we can survive only about three days without it depending upon climate conditions. The hotter and more humid the environment, the faster we become dehydrated. It takes as little as a two percent change in body weight to negatively affect exercise performance. For a 150 lb person, that equates to only 3 lbs!

There are many factors that affect your hydration status such as:

Ambient Air Temperature (Outside)

Humidity

Individual Sweat Rates

Body Temperature (Internal)

Exercise Intensity & Duration

Fitness Level

Individual Body Fat Percentage

Existing Health Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, kidney failure, etc.

Dehydration can have several negative effects during exercise such as decreased muscle strength and

endurance, coordination, mental acuity, and impaired thermoregulation. One of the most important functions of water within the body is to help regulate body heat.

When the body is properly hydrated, exercise will feel easier and you will typically have a lower heart rate at the same intensity than you would if you were in a dehydrated state. This is due to optimal blood volume and cardiac output to deliver nutrients and oxygen to your working muscles.

There is no single “Gold Standard” for measuring hydration levels because too many factors play into how your body stores water. However, here are some general exercise and hydration guidelines to follow this summer:





Try to work out during the coolest part of the day if outside (usually mornings)

Weigh yourself before & after your workout

 Drink about 10 ounces of fluid 1 hour before your workout

 Drink 8 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes during exercise

 Drink 20 ounces of fluid per pound of weight lost through sweat after exercise

 Always finish a workout with a cool-down by gradually decreasing intensity

 Use a cool, damp towel on the neck to help bring body temperature down

 It’s better to have a sports drink (Gatorade, PowerAde, Propel) to replace electrolytes (mainly sodium) after a prolonged workout over 60 minutes

Fill that water bottle and get out there and start off the summer on a “hydrated” foot!

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

Making the Most Out of Your Patio or Deck This Season

Summer means time spent gardening and relaxing with friends. And just like the kitchen in winter, the patio or deck tends to be the gathering spot when the weather turns warm.

Get the most from this space with a bit of preseason planning and decorating. Select functional and beautiful furnishings to create a special spot for you, family and friends to enjoy whenever the weather allows.

First, sketch out the space and measure the dimensions of all furnishings you are considering, making sure they will fit. Allow extra space for people to pull chairs in and out from the table and navigate around furnishings, preferably 3 to 4 feet. Next, select a table that fits the space and provides ample serving space. An extension table allows you to expand your surface if a few more folks drop by. A round folding table provides space for guests, and it can be stashed against the wall when workspace is needed.

Small and large-space gardeners will enjoy the benefits of elevated gardens with built-in trellises. These maximize growing space even on a small deck or patio and bring the garden to the party. Look for self-watering planters and especially those with wheels so you can easily move them out of the

way of a family gathering or closer to the kitchen for easy harvesting.

Include a multifunctional piece like a potting bench. Look for a versatile and well-built, furniture-quality piece like that complements other furnishings and can be used as a serving surface when entertaining. Consider features like a faucet for washing and watering that drains into a bucket or the ground, as well as hooks for hanging tools and baskets and space for storage.

Bring nature to your door and mask unwanted background noise with the soothing sound of water. Wall-mounted and container fountains add the sound and motion of water to even the smallest patios and decks. Watch for colorful winged visitors stopping by for a sip.

Extend your enjoyment into the evening with pleasing outdoor lighting. Make sure the light is deflected and not shining directly into visitors’ eyes. Downward facing overhead lights brighten large areas. Use them to illuminate key spaces such as those used for cooking. Strands of lights on structures, ribs of an umbrella or the underside of a bar provide a festive touch.

Use tabletop lighting to create a more intimate mood. Outdoor flameless candles add warmth to

your space while a Columbine Solar Lantern adds charm. Look for a style that complements your outdoor décor.

Add pathway lighting to direct guests to the patio or on a stroll through the garden. Solar lighting allows flexibility and eliminates the need for trenching wires to a power source. Think beyond traditional pathway and railing lighting. Strategically placed upward lighting of structures and plants or downward lighting hung from above can also provide needed illumination.

Whatever the size of your patio or deck you can create an inviting outdoor space for gardening and entertaining. Just invest a bit of time planning and shopping for attractive and functional furnishings. Then sit back and relax in your newly decorated space.

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

MELINDA MYERS

“Oh no, not another tie!”

Dude don’t get Dad another tie! He might wear it…only when you’re in town or when you mention it. He really dreads having to tie one on for you! It’s Father’s Day, put a bit of thought into gifts for the guy who was always thinking of you! Show Dad he’s legendary.

Socks? Absolutely to keep dad on his toes. Nothing more comfortable than odor-absorbing merino wool, for long days in or outdoors. Italian made Meindl socks wick away moisture with temperature-regulating technology ensuring dad’s feet stay warm in cold climates and cool in warm ones. Unless dad has two left feet, he needs socks anatomically designed for left or right feet, ensuring comfort and wear. No more bunching up to make shoes uncomfortable. Meindl cushions and reinforces where it’s needed for comfort and durability, heels, and toes! The perfect amount of stretch keeps Meindl socks in place. Different weights and heights for any activity. meindlusa.com. If an American made Gerber knife or multi-tool isn’t enough, allow your imagination to come up with the perfect camping cook out compliment. Founded in 1939 and based in Portland,

Oregon, Gerber has proved their metal with innovative knives and problem solving tools meeting unique needs of specific activities. Now Gerber’s ComplEAT knife set allows preparing and serving dad’s campfire or outdoor grilling specialties easy.

Three full-sized essential knives with polypropylene sheaths, designed with German stainless steel knives cover camping cuisine.

A 3.25” paring knife, a 6” serrated utility knife, and an 8” chef knife with rubber overmold textured handle grips pack neatly and safely in a tough polyester webbing carrying case. Chef dad will love Gerber’s ComplEAT knife set. gerbergear.com.

Since 1980, Simms anglers have perfected innovative fishing clothing, utilizing cutting edge materials with on the water testing. When Dad wants to take to the water to wet wade, the most important piece of gear is his shoes. Traction and foot protection is built into Simms Pursuit Shoe. Dad won’t misstep on sharp and slippery rocks and his shoes won’t leave marks on boats and paddleboards, making this an on and off the water shoe. Simms Pursuit Shoe is easy on and off with a quick-lacing system for fit

adjustment. An ultra-breathable and quick-draining mesh upper allows water to drain through. A stretch collar keeps sand and pebbles from entering around ankles. It’s tough too, protecting the shoe and foot with highly abrasion resistant, durable, and comfortable TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) in key wear areas.

Sized to be worn barefoot or with a thin liner sock. simmsfishing.com

Dad might toss out his closet full of hoodies once he tries on Sitka’s Radiant Hoody. Soft and comfortable polyester/Tencel, a high loft fleece interior, provides warmth without bulk! But it also keeps the heat and sun off, helping dad keep his cool, making this

Bassing in JUNE

Water is the perfect bass fishing temperature. Whether winding small crankbaits or bladed jigs, low stretch Gamma Edge fluorocarbon snaps baits from grass to trigger strikes. Grass and

piece of gear a year-round favorite. The Radiant Hoody’s comfort will keep it in the front of dad’s rotation. Water repellent finish, UPF 20 sun protection, sweat wicking, and fast drying, loads this lightweight hoody. And to keep dad from raising a stink, Polygiene® Odor Control Technology keeps this hoody, and dad, smelling fresh. sitkagear.com

Remember, if you give it, dad will use it, wear it, or eat it…make a good choice so he won’t think of you when he’s in line returning it

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

wood are target areas. Time to think about topwaters. Walking baits are perfect for sluggish post spawn bass and can be tied to 30 pound Gamma Torque braid. Poppers work too, but hollow frogs worked over thick grass on 50 pound Torque braid produce big fish. As for other cover, pitching creature baits, tubes or jigs is also effective. Work outer edges at lower tides.

Potomac River

It’s What He Didn’t Do That Made Him GREAT

Boy, do I ever miss my dad. Don’t get me wrong—I miss both my parents, but I was a daddy’s girl 1,000 percent. Sadly, Dad passed just before the COVID vaccine was rolled out. I was heartbroken, but his last year on this planet was pretty miserable locked away in an assisted living facility, reliant on a bare-bones staff to help him with everything from going to the bathroom to changing the channel on his TV, to placing a call.

Grief and maturity are interesting beasts. They make you think about things in different ways. Yes—I miss my dad for a million reasons, and I’m sad not to be able to celebrate him on Father’s Day. But now that I’m older, I appreciate him in ways I never imagined—mostly for the things he didn’t do vs. the things he did—and I think my brothers would agree— that’s what made our dad so special. For starters, he never complained. When life handed him lemons, he shrugged and said, “No use worrying about it. Just gotta put one foot in front of the other and keep going.” He taught us that life was hard, but you can overcome your challenges with grace.

Unlike me, he never cursed or swore. He was a true Virginia gentleman, rarely—if ever—letting anyone get him riled up. Okay—maybe when we were younger and missed curfew or disobeyed one of his many rules. Even during those times, he never lost control. And, it was abundantly clear who was in control.

He rarely drank, never smoked, or gambled (beyond the occasional Friday pm poker games with my uncles) or went out without my mom or us. He went to work, came home, and coached our after-school wiffle

ball games in the backyard. As we got older and started experimenting with alcohol, he told us “You don’t need booze to have fun.” I think he was right, but the jury is still out. He didn’t join expensive gyms or clubs, collect sports cars, or buy expensive watches. He lived simply and joyfully. The lesson—material things don’t make us happy. He never called in sick to work. No matter how he felt, he went to make the doughnuts. That is probably not great advice as no one should be show up sick to work, passing their germs around. The point being that he got up every morning at the crack no matter how he felt because he had mouths to feed. He modeled an amazing work ethic that he passed down to all of us. He never disrespected our mother or anyone for that matter. Even during their arguments, he listened and treated her with respect, never raising his voice.

As I mentioned, Dad had rules. Lots of them, but he didn’t sway on them. We knew what the rules were and that they weren’t to be bent or broken. One of my faves is, “The person with the checkbook makes the rules.” And another oldie, but a goodie—“My house, my rules.”

The other thing Dad didn’t do was spend money that he didn’t have; he rarely used credit cards—only at Christmas for convenience’ sake or when a major appliance bit the dust. As a result, we all learned how to live within our means.

So simple—but he didn’t leave his tools out or let dirt sit on our vehicles. He took good care of the things he worked for. We saw that he valued those things and wanted them to last.

He also didn’t buy things for us that we could buy for ourselves. He and mom gave us chores and paid us an allowance so we could save up for our wants. It made us appreciate the things we worked hard for, and as a result, we took care of our things as well. It also helped us build selfconfidence.

He didn’t hand us credit cards. Instead, he took us to the bank at an early age (I think I was 5 or 6?), and had us open our own savings accounts. Money from birthday gifts and holidays was deposited and saved. I loved watching my money grow and felt like such a grown up going up to the teller window.

He didn’t let a Christmas go by without sending cards, and he made me sit down the day after my high school graduation to write thank you notes. He understood the value of a handwritten note and a thank you.

Dad didn’t let us get one over on him. When we were teens and tried to push boundaries, we quickly learned that it was next to impossible.

When it came time to learn to swim or ride a bike or drive, he didn’t hold us back. Nope—he threw us right in and watched as we swam or drove off.

When we entered adulthood, he didn’t keep his wallet open. I’m really grateful for that because it made me independent. Sure—if something happened and I found myself in a pinch, he would extend a loan, but the terms were clear—he expected to be repaid.

He didn’t let us disrespect him. Ever. And, it was because of his rules, that he earned our respect.

He didn’t yell or scream at us. He got his point across in a quiet way. When

people say there’s power in silence, I know what they mean.

He didn’t make idle threats. We knew he meant business when he spoke. He didn’t jump in and rescue us every time we fell. He let us hit the ground, dust ourselves off, and get back up which taught us resilience.

He didn’t spoil and coddle us—he protected and cherished us. We knew we were loved, but we also knew our place—behind him and Mom. They were a couple. They were in charge. We were their charges.

He didn’t take his responsibility as a parent lightly. He looked at it like a job that he needed to be successful at in order for us to be successful.

He didn’t take education for granted. No matter what—we were getting our butts out of bed and going to school. His education only went as far as the eighth grade, and he was making damn sure we walked across the stage to receive our diplomas.

Was my dad an ogre? Hardly. Was he our friend? Absolutely not. No—he was a parent, and he did a damn good job at being our dad.

Sometimes it’s the things you don’t do that makes you a great dad.

Dad—I’m so very grateful and blessed and miss you every minute of every day.

Happy Father’s Day!

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

The Top Eight Summertime Activities at National Harbor

From

boating to Movies on the Potomac, National Harbor promises a

lot of options for fun this summer!

National Harbor has become a top waterfront destination in the Washington, D.C. region. This summer is no exception with a wide array of new activities and experiences along with some continuing favorites. In addition to Movies on the Potomac (outdoor, waterfront date night movies every Thursday at 7 p.m. and family movies every Sunday at 6 p.m.), Salute the Sunset military concerts on Saturdays on the waterfront stage (150 National Plaza) at National Harbor, there are a lot of choices for summertime fun. Here are some additional highlights:

Enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding. REI has onefour person paddleboards, pedal boats, and single and tandem kayaks. REI also offers a variety of boating experiences including a “Learn to Kayak” class.

Improve your golf swing in living-room comfort at Topgolf. No matter your skill level, Topgolf National Harbor promises a highly entertaining experience. Whether or not you’re a seasoned golfer or have never picked up a club, this lowpressure atmosphere will turn you into a golfer within your own climate-controlled hitting bay along with a sports bar and restaurant. Using your complimentary clubs or your own, take aim at the giant outfield targets using Topgolf’s hightech balls that electronically keep score. Each bay accommodates up to six players. For wait times and to make reservations, click here. 6400 Clipper Way)

Kids Day every Tuesday through August. Grab the kids and head to the waterfront plaza at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday June through August, where National Harbor teams up with a variety of partners to engage and enthrall kids. Partners include WHUT/PBS, Prince Georges County police and fire departments, Maryland National Capital Parks & Planning, U.S. Army Band, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and others. The full schedule is available here.

Shop ‘til you drop. National Harbor’s Tanger Outlets provides the best outlet shopping in the Washington, D.C. area. With a wide array of summer sales and discounts, everyone will find something whether its back-to-school items, specialty goods or the perfect outfit. (6800 Oxon Hill Rd.)

Work it all out. National Harbor provides free fitness classes by Onelife Fitness on the water front (150 National Plaza). Monday Bootcamp starts at 7 p.m., Tuesday Just Dance classes are at 7 p.m. and Saturday yoga is at 10:00 a.m. Silver Strides for those 55 and older, takes place on the third Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. Go Old School. Sip & Develop is the only company in the United States that combines a social environment with easy-to-understand black and white film developing instructions. No film developing experience is required! They’ll lend you a 35mm camera to explore the Harbor and when you return, you’ll be entertained as they show you step-by-step how to develop your photos! (136 Waterfront St)

Celebrate The Capital Wheel’s 10th Anniversary. Soar above it all in one of 42 climate-controlled gondolas on The Capital Wheel and take in breathtaking aerial views of National Harbor, Old Town Alexandria and distant Washington monuments. Plan to ride later in the day and catch the sunset that Expedia has called, “One of the best in the U.S.” The Capital Wheel and Spirit Park Carousel have a number of summer and anniversary packages here.

Use your wits and team skills to get out of a locked room. Escapology at National Harbor offers an immersive experience that challenges players to work together to solve puzzles and riddles. What separates Escapology from others, is that the rooms feature Hollywood-quality build outs and sets that one might find at a major amusement park attraction. Challenges are available for all skill levels including a Kids Mode. There are also

outdoor escape games that take players around National Harbor to uncover secret clues only visible through a special tablet! (230 American Way)

With so much to do, visitors may want to consider an extended getaway to National Harbor with overnight stays in one of its eight hotels including MGM National Harbor, AC Hotel National Harbor, Westin National Harbor, Hyatt Place National Harbor and Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center with a number of summer packages and discounts. A new, unique accommodation, FLOHOM, has just opened at the National Harbor Marina. FLOHOM provides visitors with an opportunity to stay on the water in luxury accommodations.

Dining at National Harbor is equally impressive with more than 40 restaurants ranging from fast casual to fine dining.

National Harbor has been developed and managed by one family-owned company—the Peterson Companies. This is unique to most properties of this size. Because it has been designed by one entity, it features a cohesive, highly walkable, easyto-navigate destination with plenty of parking, unlike any other in the U.S.

Located within minutes of Washington, D.C. and Old Town, Alexandria, National Harbor is the perfect destination to reach the region’s many cultural attractions. And, with waterfront access, a convenient water taxi takes visitors from National Harbor to Old Town Alexandria and to Washington, D.C.

For more information on National Harbor, visit www.nationalharbor.com.

Publishers Note: We don’t often print press releases, but thought this was great information for our readers and extend our thanks to Bendure Communications.