Old Town Crier July 2022 - Full Issue

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Since 1988 • Priceless

JULY 2022

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otcregionalmag

Setting the Standard In Old Town Since 1979

july‘22 A Division of Crier Media Group OTC Media LLC PO Box 320386 Alexandria, VA 22320 571-257-5437 office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com Published the first week of every month.

Worth waiting for!

PUBLISHER Bob Tagert MARKETING & ADVERTISING Lani Gering Bob Tagert Meg Mullery

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SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE Erin Koons

A Bit of History ............................................................... 8

Fitness .............................................................................. 38

Open Space .................................................................... 42

CONTRIBUTORS

After hours ...................................................................... 11

From the Bay .................................................................. 24

Pets of the Month ........................................................ 19

Alexandria Events .......................................................... 2

From the Trainer............................................................ 39

Points on Pets ................................................................ 18

Art & Antiques.................................................................15

Gallery Beat..................................................................... 14

Publishers notes ............................................................ 2

Business Profile ............................................................... 6

Go Fish .............................................................................. 41

Road Trip ......................................................................... 22

Caribbean Connection .............................................. 20

Grapevine......................................................................... 33

Special Feature................................................................. 4

Dining Guide................................................................... 31

High Notes ...................................................................... 11

Take Photos, Leave Footprints.................................16

Dining Out ..................................................................... 30

Let's Eat............................................................................. 28

The Last Word ................................................................12

Exploring VA Wines .................................................... 35

Let's Get Crafty ............................................................ 36

To the Blue Ridge ......................................................... 26

Financial Focus ............................................................... 7

National Harbor ........................................................... 44

Urban Garden ............................................................... 10

First Blush ....................................................................... 40

On the Road .................................................................... 1

Stephen Bearce Sarah Becker Alexander Britel Cheryl Burns F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Carolyn Cockroft Beth Crabtree Scott Dicken Doug Fabbioli Matt Fitzsimmons Nicole Flanagan Alberta Frost Lani Gering Miriam Kramer

Genevieve LeFranc Timothy Long Cindy McGovern Meg Mullery Melinda Murphy Ron Powers Kim Putens Julie Reardon Jaime Stephens Ashley Stimpson Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown

© 2022 Crier Media Group, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The Old Town Crier is published monthly and distributed to select Alexandria residents, hotels, restaurants and retail shops. Also distributed in the Annapolis, Fredericksburg, Blue Ridge and Washington, DC areas and St. John, USVI.

On the road with OTC The OTC traveled to Eaton, Colorado last month. Pictured here are Tracy Hall-Unverzagt and her daughter Tremson Adlee sitting on their front porch catching up on the happenings in the DMV. Looks like they are getting a jump on celebrating our Nation’s birthday as well.

If you would like to have your photo featured in this space, grab a copy of the Old Town Crier and take it with you on your adventure and snap a photo or three of you having some fun with it in hand and email it to office@oldtowncrier.com. Be sure to include information for the caption and your mailing address so we can send you a hard copy. Your photo will appear on our website/blog as well as Facebook and Instagram pages.

Old Town Crier

July 2022 1

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

BOB TAGERT

Alexandria Summer Events Feature Outdoor Festivals, Historical Happenings and More – JULY 2022

Captain Bob at the helm of SV Dawn Treader.

Summer has arrived and the 4th of July is just around the corner. Time to fire up the grill, throw on some burgers and dogs and relax with the cold one as we say Happy Birthday to the USA and our very own Alexandria! Our fair city turns 273 years old this month - see the calendar for information on the celebration taking place on the 9th. The fireworks are not to be missed. They do a great job every year.

I plan on spending some quality time on my sailboat this month. I see some fun cruises up the Patuxent River on the horizon. I hope you all have some summertime adventures planned in your future. Speaking of which, you might want to put a trek to one of our very favorite parts of “Charm City” aka Baltimore on your calendar.

Our Road Trip took us to the cool little enclave of Fells Point on the southeast corner of the city. There is a lot of fun to be had in this little waterfront neighborhood. We also want to thank David Sites for the image of the Pride of Baltimore that graces the cover. She is a must see in the Inner Harbor.

If the waterside isn’t to your liking, head into the mountains to Rappahannock County and check out Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, pick up a bottle of their award winning spirits and head over Thornton Gap into the Shenandoah’s and stay at the Mimslyn Inn in Luray – see their ad in the Blue Ridge Section.

Also in this issue, Doug Fabbioli explains the secrets of growing good grapevines in Exploring VA Wines while Matt Fitzsimmons reveals the future of Spain’s signature grape – Albarino – in the Commonwealth in his Grapevine column. In Gallery Beat, Lenny Campello tells us of the Glen Echo Park’s Gallery show in July of the images of the “Masters of the Darkroom.” Let’s Get Crafty’s Tim Long talks about the steamy relationship between oysters and beer. Bob Curley tells us how St. John (one of our favorite places) is “Back in a Big Way!” in Caribbean Connection. Be sure to check out Lori Welch Brown’s Open Space as she reflects on our freedoms and her take on the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial. All of this and more awaits you in these pages.

Wishing you and yours a fun-filled and patriotic 4th of July! Stay cool out there!

2 July 2022

4TH

JULY 9TH

An American Celebration at George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Alexandria’s 273rd Birthday Celebration

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: Included with general admission ($28 for adults; $15 for youth ages 6 to 11; free for children); free for members George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway 703-780-2000 mountvernon.org/july4 Salute the first commander-in-chief during Mount Vernon’s annual Independence Day event. Meet George Washington, watch made-for-daytime fireworks, and observe a moving ceremony in which people from across the world become U.S. citizens.

6 to 9:45 p.m.

Admission: Free Oronoco Bay Park 100 Madison Street alexandriava.gov The City of Alexandria celebrates its 273rd birthday and the USA’s 246th birthday on Saturday, July 9, with a performance by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and a grand finale fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Enjoy the return of the big birthday experience of years past with cupcakes, local vendors, live music and an extended runtime.

MORE SUMMER EVENTS & TOURS For more summer events and activities in Alexandria, see the listings below and explore more at VisitAlexandria.com/Summer.

THROUGH AUGUST First Thursdays in Del Ray 6 p.m.

Admission: Free Various locations in Del Ray visitdelray.com Held the first Thursday from April to August along Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, First Thursday is a series of free outdoor street festivals that bring the community together around a fun theme, benefiting a local nonprofit. This summer’s themes include “Unmask Your Superhero First Thursday,” “First Thursday Red, White & Blue,” “First Thursday Aloha Thursday” and “First Thursday Show Your Spirit,” respectively.

SUNDAYS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4TH Junior Docents at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Admission: $5 per adult; $3 per child (ages 5 to 12) and free for city residents Gadsby’s Tavern Museum 134 N. Royal Street alexandriava.gov/GadsbysTavern Gadsby’s Tavern Museum’s Junior Docent Program is back with an exciting new offering this summer thanks to American Heritage Chocolate! Every Sunday, June 19 through Labor Day weekend, from 2 to 5 p.m. guests can meet Junior Docents (grades 4 and older) who will be stationed throughout the tavern. They will be sharing the history of the early America

and the tavern, but also the history of chocolate, including a hands-on demonstration of historic chocolate-making in the ballroom.

THROUGH OCTOBER Potomac Paddle Club Booze Cruises Select Thursdays and Fridays Admission: $75 per person 107 N. Union Street seasuitecruises.com/locations/potomac-paddle-clubalexandria 202-656-3336 The nation’s capital’s only passenger pedal boat, the Potomac Paddle Club, is cruising its second season from Old Town Alexandria. Passengers have the option of cruising southbound underneath the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, past the Jones Point Lighthouse and around the channel markers to National Harbor and back or cruising northbound towards either DC’s Wharf or Navy Yard before circling back to Old Town for a total cruise time of two hours. The 20-passenger vessel is powered by ten cycle stations surrounding a mahogany bar. The party is bring-your-own-food and drink and is assisted by a captain and motor if needed, allowing guests to enjoy monumental views on an intimate cruise at their own pace.

ALEXANDRIA EVENTS > PAGE 3

Old Town Crier

ALEXANDRIA EVENTS | FROM PAGE 2

THURSDAYS THROUGH OCTOBER Old Town Art Walk 5 to 8 p.m.

Admission: Free Various locations in Old Town Alexandria oldtownbusiness.org Enjoy a self-guided tour of Old Town Alexandria and explore the fine art and studio crafts found in art galleries and boutique shops on the third Thursday of each month, May to October. The stroll is a great activity after an early dinner, or before enjoying a meal at one of Old Town Alexandria’s restaurants. The Old Town Art Walk is presented by the Old Town Business Association.

THROUGH NOVEMBER 13TH Lives Worth Celebrating: Stories of Resilience, Rebellion and Freedom at Lee-Fendall House Admission: $7 per person Lee-Fendall House 614 Oronoco Street 703-548-1789 leefendallhouse.org Explore a timeline of major events related to the history of slavery in the Americas as you learn about legendary African American leaders, stories of self-liberation and family legacies including the descendants of free and enslaved African Americans who worked at the Lee-Fendall House. Part 1: “Freedom” will launch this 3-part exhibit which will delve into stories of rebellion and resilience by enslaved people in America over the next two years.

9TH & 24TH Free Yoga in the Fresh Air in Old Town North 10 to 11 a.m.

Admission: Free Montgomery Park Gazebo 901 North Royal Street 571-218-2161 riversedgeyoga.com Start your day with a burst of energy from this all-level al fresco yoga class offered on select Sundays throughout the summer.

8TH & 22ND Trivia Nights at Historic Sites 7 to 9 p.m.

Admission: $8 Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden 614 Oronoco Street 703-548-1789 leefendallhouse.org Staff members at Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum combine their knowledge to create bi-weekly trivia nights throughout the summer in the beautiful gardens of the Lee-Fendall House. Test your knowledge on everything from pop culture to history.

Registration must be done in advance.

Limited capacity so register early!

Tickets include snacks and one complimentary drink. Additional drinks can be purchased at our bar. Teams are limited to 6 people, ages 21+ only.

Old Town Crier

Each trivia night will have a different theme, ranging from literature to horror to 1990s. There will be weekly prizes for the winning team as well as a grand prize for the team that wins the most points over the entire summer.

and culinary arts partners as we pair studio artists with culinary artistry. Plus: Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with a special Torpedo-inspired dessert inside the Art Center at the Waterfront, along with iced coffee and tasty beverages.

9TH

21ST

“The Quanders” with Rohulamin Quander at Lee-Fendall House

Music at the Market at Old Town North

6 p.m.

Admission: $8 per person Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden 614 Oronoco Street 703-548-1789 leefendallhouse.org Join us for an evening with Rohulamin Quander, founder of the Quander Historical and Educational Society, as he discusses his book The Quanders – Since 1684: An Enduring African America Family Legacy, which introduces stories that constitute the Quander Family legacy as one of the oldest consistently documented African American families in the United States.

July 21 6 to 7 p.m.

Admission: Free Montgomery Park 901 N Royal Street oldtownnorth.org The Old Town North Community

Partnership, with support from NOTICe, The Old Town North Alliance and local businesses and residents, present Music at the Market on the third Thursday of the month throughout the summer. Head to the Old Town North Farmer’s and Artisans Market to browse, pick up a bite and picnic in the park while soaking in great live music. Rain dates are June 23, July 28 and September 8.

31ST The Science Behind Harry Potter Specialty Tours at the Apothecary Museum 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tours offered every

30 minutes on the hour and half-hour; last tour starts at 8 p.m.

Admission: $8 per person The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum 105-107 S Fairfax Street 703-746-3852 alexandriava.gov/Apothecary In honor of Harry’s birthday on July 31st, the Apothecary Museum is offering a special guided tour for families (and adults who missed their Hogwarts letter) that will explore the old Apothecary and the historic Muggle medicines that inspired the Herbology and Potions of Harry’s wizarding world.

16TH Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour with Carlyle House 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Admission: $20 per person Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax Street 703-549-2997 novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-househistoric-park Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join Carlyle House for a tour of Alexandria, exploring the various architectural styles that adorn the city streets and make it one of the best places to live and work. Reservations are required as space is limited. All COVID-19 procedures will be in place during this tour. Please wear comfortable shoes for this one and a half-hour guided tour. Tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather.

16TH Workshops on the Waterfront 1 to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N Union Street 703-746-4570 torpedofactory.org Enjoy a free workshop or live demo with a Torpedo Factory Art Center artist at the Waterfront entrance of the Art Center. There will be a different project every third Saturday of the month from April to October.

17TH Taste of Art at the Torpedo Factory Art Center 12 to 5 p.m.

Admission: $15 to $50 per person Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N Union Street 703-746-4570 torpedofactory.org Cool off inside Torpedo Factory Art Center, then surprise your taste buds with delicious masterpieces from local food truck vendors, breweries,

THROUGH OCTOBER

July 2022 3

SPECIAL FEATURE

Happy 273rd Birthday Alexandria!

A

lexandria, founded in 1749, has a fascinating history, and many of its historic buildings are still preserved today.

During its long history, Alexandria was a tobacco trading post, one of the ten busiest ports in America, a part of the District of Columbia, home to both the largest slave-trading firm in the country and a large freeblack community, a Civil War supply center for Union troops, and a street-car suburb for Federal workers.

Alexandria was also the hometown of George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Jim Morrison and Mama Cass.

Much of present-day Alexandria was included in a 6,000-acre land grant from Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia, which was awarded to Robert Howson, an English ship captain, on October 21, 1669. This land overlapped a 700-acre patent that had previously been issued to Dame Margaret Brent in 1654. The Howson tract extended along the Potomac River, from Hunting Creek on the south to the Little Falls on the north. The grant was made by authority of King Charles II in recognition of Captain Howson’s bringing 120 people to live in Virginia. Less than a month later, Howson sold the land to John Alexander for 6,000 pounds of tobacco.

During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, plantations were established along both sides 4 July 2022

of the Potomac River and settlement began to spread further into northern Virginia. When Fredericksburg was founded in 1728, it was the northernmost town in Virginia but was still located in the tidewater, where tobacco production was profitable.

By 1732, Hugh West had established a tobacco warehouse on high bluffs overlooking a small but deep bay, at what is today the foot of Oronoco Street in Alexandria. Philip and John Alexander farmed much of the surrounding land and Hugh West oversaw the warehouse along with a ferry and tavern. When Fairfax County was established in 1742, many of the county’s residents already lived several miles inland, away from the river and from commercial ties to the outside world. Many of them found that grains like wheat and corn could be raised more profitably than tobacco in this upland area, but they desperately needed a trading place where they could gather their crops for export and could buy manufactured merchandise from abroad. To facilitate shipping, Scottish and English merchants who owned real estate at Cameron, a small hamlet four miles west of the Potomac, petitioned the Virginia General Assembly in the fall of 1748 to establish a town at West’s Hunting Creek Warehouse. In the spring of 1749, this site was selected and the new town was named Alexandria in honor of the early owner of much of the land, Scotsman John Alexander. John West, Fairfax

County surveyor, laid-out 60 acres (by tradition, assisted by 17-year-old George Washington), and lots were auctioned off in July 1749.

Alexandria thrived for the next few decades.

During the mid-1750s, the town was a staging area for British troops involved in the French and Indian War. English General Braddock made his headquarters in Alexandria and occupied the Carlyle House while planning his campaign against the French in 1755. In 1763, another land sale was held greatly increasing the size of the community.

Twenty years later, more new land was created by filling in part of the Potomac shoreline, allowing merchants to build wharves which reached oceangoing vessels in the river’s deep water channel. Lots all over town were subdivided repeatedly by their owners who rented space to dozens of different types of skilled artisans, grocers and small merchants, tavern keepers and other tradesmen. The population included many slaves as well as free blacks who lived primarily in neighborhoods called “the Bottoms” and “Hayti.”

Incorporated in 1779, Alexandria became a port of entry for foreign vessels and a major export center for flour and hemp. By the end of the 18th century, Alexandria was among the ten busiest ports in America and had been designated an official port of entry, allowing foreign shipping to land and unload without registering somewhere else first.

FEATURE > PAGE 5

Old Town Crier

WE REMEMBER ...

FEATURE | FROM PAGE 4

Its bustling harbor teemed with brigs, schooners, and ships of the line, which traversed the high seas and engaged in international and coastal trade. The streets were lined with substantial brick houses and the “sound of the hammer and trowel were at work everywhere.” Alexandria’s political, social, and commercial interests were of great importance to many local residents, especially to neighboring George Washington in Mount Vernon. Washington maintained a town house here and served as a Trustee of Alexandria. Washington also purchased a pew in Christ Church, served as Worshipful Master of Alexandria Masonic Lodge No. 22, and shipped his wheat and fish through Alexandria merchants.

Despite increasing competition from Baltimore, which gradually replaced Alexandria as the main shipping point for the upper Chesapeake region, the town remained a bustling center for the export of grain and bread products, fish, a variety of small manufactures and rail transportation.

Alexandria also was a center of the slave trade during the early nineteenth century, from which thousands of blacks were transported to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and other areas in the deepSouth where cotton production demanded more and more labor. New gas and water works and many new homes were constructed in town during this period and Alexandria’s population almost doubled in the decade before 1860.

Within days of Virginia’s secession from the Union in the spring of 1861, Federal troops arrived in Alexandria to take possession of the city. Union military forces arrived on May 24, 1861, and Alexandria became a logistical supply center for the federal army. Troops and supplies were transported to Alexandria via the port and the railroad and then dispersed where needed at the front. Wounded soldiers, brought back on the trains, crowded the available hospitals and temporary medical facilities in and around the town. Many of the largest buildings in town, including The Lyceum, were confiscated for use as hospitals and for other official purposes and many new warehouses were constructed along the waterfront. It was during this era that several forts were constructed in Alexandria as a part of the defenses of the City of Washington. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site contains one of these restored forts. From 1863 to 1865, the City was the capital of the Restored Government of Virginia, which represented the seven Virginia counties remaining under federal control during the Civil War. By the end of the Civil War, Alexandria’s economy was in shambles but the city itself had been spared the destruction witnessed by many other places in Virginia such as Richmond and Fredericksburg.

Although Alexandria was a major slave-trading center prior to the Civil War, it also had a history of several free black communities. African-American life flourished with the establishment of churches, social and fraternal organizations, and businesses.

Many early Alexandria African-Americans were skilled artisans. During the Civil War, African American refugees flooded into Union-controlled areas, including Alexandria and Washington.

Although many of the freedmen found work and some served in the Union army, others arrived destitute, malnourished, and in poor health. After hundreds of freed people perished in the area, a parcel of undeveloped land was seized from a proConfederate owner for use as a cemetery. This cemetery is now the Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial, open to the public.

New neighborhoods sprang up around the outskirts of the city by the turn of the twentieth Old Town Crier

George Izo Long time Alexandria resident, George William Izo passed away peacefully on June 11 at Paul Spring Retirement Community in Alexandria after a long struggle with Alzheimers. George was a standout high school athlete and had an illustrious football career at Notre Dame, earning All-American honors as quarterback. Turning pro, George signed with the Chicago Cardinals as the second pick in the draft.

During his 7-year NFL career, George played for a number of teams including the Washington Redskins where he tied the NFL record for the longest pass completion play--99 yards to Bobby Mitchel. Our condolences to his family.

century. Local industries included the Robert Portner Brewing Company, the Old Dominion glass works, the Virginia Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company, and Potomac Yard, one of the largest rail facilities in the country. The U.S. Naval Torpedo Station, now the Torpedo Factory Art Center, was built during World War I and was expanded during World War II, with large industrial buildings dominating Alexandria’s waterfront. A Ford Motor Company warehouse at the south end of the waterfront was also converted to military use during World War II. The Second World War brought tremendous growth and change to the Washington area and to northern Virginia. National Airport was constructed at the beginning of the war on Alexandria’s northern edge, the former site of Abingdon plantation.

Thousands of people from all over the country poured into the region as the government expanded and Alexandria became one of many “bedroom communities” serving the capital city. This growth set the tone for the post-war period, as well, which has seen even greater development of Alexandria and her surrounding communities.

Today, Alexandria still retains much of its historic character. Many late 18th- and early 19th-century townhouses and warehouses remain in the “Old Town” section of the city, along the west bank of the Potomac River. While still a residential area for many Federal employees, Alexandria is also

home to many national associations, corporations, restaurants, shops and other businesses. Many old landmarks have become museums, historic sites and art galleries. Public parks line the waterfront and the river is actively used by fishermen and recreational boaters.

The 21st century has seen increased density around Metro stations and the replacement of some low-income housing projects with mixed-income housing. A third Metro station and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus are coming to Potomac Yard, and plans are in place to move Inova Alexandria Hospital to the site of the old Landmark Mark, as the anchor of a mixed-use development. With the Robinson Landing and Old Dominion Boat House projects, the City is finally realizing its long-term goal to complete a public walkway all along the waterfront.

Visitors to the National Capitol area find that Alexandria serves as a quaint change of pace from the hectic hustle of downtown Washington, a place to relax and discover what the region was like many years ago.

Publishers Note: This column is courtesy of the City of Alexandria and Historic Alexandria. For more in depth history, log on to Alexandriava.gov/historic-alexandria July 2022 5

BUSINESS PROFILE

BOB TAGERT

Gem OLD TOWN

We started the Old Town Crier in 1988 and two years later David Martin opened Gold Works at 1400 King Street - it has been an Upper King Street icon ever since.

In 1983 Martin made his move to Alexandria and joined other jewelers at a co-op in Belleview shopping center near the Fort Hunt area specializing in jewelry design and repair. At the time, Martin was doing repair work for jewelers throughout the Washington, D.C. area. In 1989-90 he decided to go his own way.

These were the days when the west end of Alexandria was beginning to grow. More restaurants and businesses were renting the old warehouses and opening their doors. Martin worked hard to establish his reputation as a quality designer with exceptional repair work skills. As his business grew he continued his education by studying at the Gemological Institute of America, specializing in jewelry design, casting and stone setting.

At Gold Works, Martin has many custom rings that he has designed and is just waiting for Gold Works USA the right customer to come in 1400 King Street and select the perfect gem for the Alexandria, VA setting. To complement that one703-683-0333 of-a-kind ring, Gold Works also Goldworksusa.com carries a large selection of stones and estate pieces.

As a jewelry designer one must master many skills - scientist, mediator, consultant and sculptor. David’s Not only is jewelry design a feature at Gold Works, own personal background as a graphic illustrator in but there is also a large selection of finished pieces the fields of architecture, historical art and medicine available that incorporate animals and symbols, has been invaluable as a jewelry designer. He began designing jewelry as he developed those illustrations antiques, Celtic weavings, charms, and crests in engraved rings, cufflinks, earrings, and necklaces. into wearable art and miniature sculpture. Carvings Martin has even taken the crest of the City of he has done include alabaster, malachite, turquoise, Alexandria and converted it into cufflinks and marble and opal – all have become part of his earrings. Martin has also created pieces of some of unique, handmade jewelry. He will also inlay stones Alexandria’s most popular properties and historical into wedding bands made of gold, white gold and sites with St. Mary’s Church being the most popular. yellow gold, as well as rings and pendants made of After 32 plus years, Martin still continues to silver, platinum and bronze.

6 July 2022

educate himself. He has learned to use Gemvision CAD Matrix, a software program used in jewelry design. This program speeds up the design process and gives a great visual throughout the design process.

David Martin has also been active in local business groups and was an original member of KSMET (King Street Metro Enterprise Team).

His interest in the success of all of Alexandria is as important as his own success. Stop in to an Old Town original...David Martin and Gold Works.

Old Town Crier

FINANCIAL FOCUS

CARL TREVISAN, CFP© & STEPHEN BEARCE Using dollar cost averaging in a fluctuating market Investing $500 per month over one year Month

Price per share $24

Shares purchased 20.83

February

$25

20.00

March

$28

17.86

April

$30

16.67

May

$27

18.52

June

$22

22.73

July

$24

20.83

August

$27

18.52

September

$26

19.23

October

$29

17.24

November

$28

17.86

December

$27

18.52

January

This example is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only.

Consider a Simple Investment Strategy to Help Reduce Guesswork For most investors, the key to success is simple: Buy low and sell high. But how often have you seen this scenario played out? (You may have done it yourself.)

When the market is up, an investor feels good and buys stocks.

When the market is down, that same investor gets scared and sells.

Although reacting like this may feel instinctively right at the time, buying high and selling low is unlikely to result in a profit.

Why do investors do this? The reason may have a lot to do with us making investment choices the same way we do many important decisions: using both our heads and our hearts (i.e., logic and emotion). When there’s market volatility—including both market highs and market lows—our emotions tend to take over and we may make illogical choices going against our best interests.

Rather than falling victim to the potential perils of emotional investing, you may want to be completely logical: get into the market when it’s down and out when it’s up. This is known as “market timing.”

While this approach sounds rational, the problem is it’s extremely difficult, even for experienced investors, to do consistently. There’s an old saying: “No one rings a bell” when the market reaches the Old Town Crier

top of a peak or the bottom of a trough. Translated, that means anyone attempting to time the market finds it difficult to know exactly when to make their move.

For example, if you think the market has reached a peak and get out and then share prices keep rising, you’ll miss out on the additional profits you could have made by waiting. And after you get out, how do you know when to get back in? If you act too quickly, you’ll forego better bargains as prices continue to fall. If you wait too long, you may sacrifice the chance to fully benefit from a market rally.

Give dollar cost averaging a look To avoid the potential problems of emotional investing and market timing, consider a strategy called “dollar cost averaging.”

Dollar cost averaging is the practice of putting a set amount into a particular investment on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) no matter what’s going on in the market. For example, you could invest $500 each month. In a fluctuating market, this practice lets you purchase: Additional shares when prices are low Fewer shares when prices increase As shown in the table below, if the price is $24 per share, you’d buy 20.83 shares (keep in mind mutual funds let you purchase fractional shares). If it rises to

$30, you would buy only 16.67 shares.

In a fluctuating market, dollar cost averaging will result in an average cost per share that’s less than the average market price per share. The average market price per share in the table (the sum of the market prices [$317] divided by the number of purchases [12]) is $26.42. However, the average price per share (the total invested [$6,000] divided by the number of shares purchased [228.81]) is only $26.22.

While you’re mulling dollar cost averaging’s potential merits, consider this: You may well be using the strategy already. If you participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b), and contribute the same amount each payday, you’re using dollar cost averaging.

Get help for when the going gets tough One of dollar cost averaging’s challenges is you have to stick with the strategy even when the market declines, and that can be difficult (see our previous discussion about emotional investing). However, during times like these, dollar cost averaging can be most useful by letting you purchase shares at lower prices.

Because dollar cost averaging can be simultaneously more difficult and advantageous when the going gets toughest, consider turning to a professional financial advisor for help. He or she should offer a voice a reason during these periods as you grapple with whether to adhere to the strategy.

Like any investment strategy, dollar cost averaging doesn’t guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. Because dollar cost averaging requires continuous investment regardless of fluctuating prices, you should consider your financial and emotional ability to continue the program through both rising and declining markets.

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 800247-8602. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used

by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2021 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

July 2022 7

A BIT OF HISTORY

©

SARAH BECKER

July 4th:

Why We Celebrate

In 1837 Michigan was admitted as a free state, the Union’s 26th state. Texas, a slave-holding republic was denied annexation. The Panic of 1837 began: banks failed, a depression followed, and the price of cotton plummeted.

Lawyer Abraham Lincoln was admitted to the Illinois Bar, Martin Van Buren [D-NY] became the 8th U.S. President, and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson celebrated his Hymn: Sung at the July 4th Completion of the Concord, Massachusetts, Monument.

The Monument immortalizes Paul Revere’s midnight ride, the settlers April 19, 1775, resistance to oncoming British forces. The fighting covered 16 miles and included 4,000+ colonials: 1,700 British regulars. Concord, a Puritan settlement established in 1635, was the first Massachusetts community to protest Parliament’s March 31, 1774, Coercive Acts.

Independence Day, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary: “July 4, celebrated in the United States to commemorate the adoption in 1776 of the Declaration of Independence.”

“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them….

[W]hen a long train of abuses and 8 July 2022

Edward Stabler

Ralph Waldo Emerson

usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security….”

Independent, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary: “Not governed by a foreign power.”

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood,/ Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,/ Here once the embattled farmers stood,/ And fired the shot heard round the world,” Emerson’s Hymn begins.

“The foe long since in silence slept;/ Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept/ Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,/ We set to-day a votive stone;/

Volodymyr Zelensky

That memory may their deed redeem,/ When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare/ To die, and leave their children free,/ Bid Time and Nature gently spare/ The shaft we raise to them and thee.”

Poet, essayist, and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in 1803, the fourth child of William, a Unitarian minister, and Ruth Emerson.

He spent his early life in Boston and entered Harvard College in 1817.

Ten years later Emerson, a student of theology was spiritually adrift. Quaker minister and Alexandria apothecary Edward Stabler consoled Emerson when they coincidentally conversed aboard a north-bound steamboat.

Emerson, 34 years Stabler’s junior, remembered him as a God-taught teacher. “It was said of Jesus that

‘he taught as one having authority,’” Emerson noted. “There are a few people in every age, I suppose, who teach thus. [Edward] Stabler, the [Hicksite] Quaker, whom I saw on board the boat in the Delaware Bay, was one.” Stabler died four years after their 1827 encounter.

At his death, in 1831, the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of [Quaker] Friends remembered Stabler as: “Endowed by nature with a clear, comprehensive, and discriminating mind…one [whose ministerial] object was, to impress the minds of his hearers with the importance of examining things for themselves…[to distinguish] between good and evil…[to believe] that the one always blesses, and the other as uniformly torments….”

“I refer now to…the scattered company who have ministered to my highest wants,” Emerson recalled on May 19, 1836. “Edward Stabler, Peter Hunt…A.B. Alcott, even [Achille] Murat has a claim,—a strange class, plain & wise…They are the argument for the spiritual world for their spirit is it.”

“The reason why the world lacks unity—lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself,” Emerson wrote. Waldo believed “in the strength of nature and

A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 9

Old Town Crier

A BIT OF HISTORY | FROM PAGE 8

the power of the human spirit; in individualism and self-reliance.”

Emerson—an abolitionist who believed the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law [an] immoral law— first met Abraham Lincoln, a Whig turned Republican President in 1862: approximately nine months after the outbreak of the Civil War. “There never was a nation great except through trial,” Emerson noted. “A religious revolution cuts the sharpest, & tests the faith & endurance. A civil war sweeps away all the false issues on which it begun, & arrives presently at real & lasting questions.”

Fast forward to today…what presently are the real & lasting questions regarding Russia’s February 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. For what reason[s] did Russia attack Ukraine a sovereign nation-state: land acquisition generally, power and positioning including Crimea, resurrection of the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic [USSR], Ukraine’s claim to the Sea of Azov, or something else.

According to the United Nations, as of March 20, 2022, ten million Ukrainians—one quarter of the population—had either fled the country or been displaced from their homes as a result of Russia’s devastating, if not ruinous attacks. Sadly the mass graves, such as the three found in April in Mariupol, a city located in southeastern Ukraine on the north coast of the Sea of Azov, have become all too common.

“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding,” Emerson suggested.

It was on April 24 that U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense, Blinken and Austin first visited war torn Ukraine. “We don’t know how the rest of this war will unfold, but we do know that a sovereign, independent Ukraine will be around a lot longer than Vladimir Putin,” Blinken said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Meeks and Schiff arrived soon after to discuss “security; economic and humanitarian assistance.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s team also toured.

“Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up,” Emerson said.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] was established in 1949, mostly for military purposes: (1) to prevent Germany’s post-WWII military revival, and (2) to quash Russia’s, later the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics’ expansion. Twelve nation-states signed the original treaty including the United States. Since then NATO’s membership has increased; Sweden and Finland’s applications are now pending, Russia and Ukraine are excluded.

Some of NATO’s newer members were formerly affiliated with the USSR, Russia’s Soviet Union. The USSR’s outdated territory stretches from Eastern Europe’s Baltic States to the Pacific Ocean. Ukraine, a 1917 spinoff of a tsarist regime gained its independence in 1991—with the fall of President Mikhail Gorbachev’s USSR. It is Europe’s second largest country.

Ukrainians religious affiliations include Ukrainian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, born January 25, 1978, is Jewish.

Putin speaks of Nazism; Zelenskyy calls Ukraine’s situation “WWIII in the making.”

Old Town Crier

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says a nuclear threat is possible, “that the threat of nuclear conflict amid the war in Ukraine ‘should not be underestimated.’” One only needs to remember Ukraine’s 1986 Chernobyl disaster to comprehend the negative effects of a nuclear encounter.

“The hero is not fed on sweets,” Emerson wrote, “Daily his own heart he eats….” On March 2, 2022, 39 nation-states, “acting under article 13[a] and 14[1] of the International Criminal Court” referred “the situation in Ukraine” to the Prosecutor of the ICC for investigation of war crimes. Russia’s service on the UN Human Rights Council was suspended—effective April 7, 2022.

“What is happening now is not about Ukraine, but about the future world order, which has no room for hegemony and where Russia can’t be isolated,” Russia’s Vladimir Avatkov responded.

As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember that as of Flag Day 1954 the United States was and still is “one Nation, under God, indivisible.” Zelenskyy, on May 6, 2022, told the U.K.’s Chatham House he was “elected by the people not as president of a Ukraine of some kind, but of Ukraine.” More than 20% of war torn Ukraine, eastern Ukraine especially now functions under Russian control.

“In an age of fops and foys,/ Wants of wisdom, void of right,/ Who shall nerve heroic boys/ To hazard all in Freedom’s fight…,” Emerson asked. “So near is God to man….”

Edward Stabler on compensation [1828]: “I went on to show that a sale implied an exchange of commodities,—a thing to be parted with, and something else as the price, to be received instead of it. And his obedience to those particulars of the outward law that were then mentioned, not having enriched his mind [or his] soul…to obtain this treasure, he must sell all that…prevents him from inheriting eternal life…I then stated what some of these things were; and the price that would be given to us for them., viz:—If we would give up our pride, we should have humility in the place of it. Our obduracy might be exchanged for tenderness of heart; and our fierceness, for gentleness, &c. And these things being spiritual, and appertaining both in nature and quality to the soul, they would make it ‘rich toward God.’” “[T]he law of compensation…holds as far as we can see,” Emerson echoed. “Different gifts to different individuals but with a mortgage of responsibility on everyone…old Stabler the Quaker in the Baltimore Steamboat said to me.”

“Spirit, that made those heroes dare/ To die, and leave their children free,/ Bid Time and Nature gently spare/ The shaft we raise to them and thee.” Ralph Waldo Emerson died in 1882, is buried in Concord’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

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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.

July 2022 9

URBAN GARDEN

July In the Garden

Thanks to our friends at GardenHelper.com, here are a few gardening tasks and projects that you can do to help keep your garden looking it’s best for the rest of this season as well as what you can do to make sure your garden comes back in full force next spring. We have been utilizing the “expertise” of these “experts” off and on for several years.

Watering The amount of water that your garden will need is going to depend on the weather conditions in your area.

The primary rule of summer watering is to water thoroughly and deeply each time and to allow the soil dry out between waterings. Deep watering will allow the plant’s roots to grow deeper, where they are less likely to dry out, as well as the added benefit of anchoring the plant into the ground better. Light, surface watering actually wastes water, because the water never actually reaches the root zone of the plant, and the moisture rapidly evaporates from the top inch of soil.

The best way to tell if your plants are receiving enough water is to take a trowel or shovel and dig down a few inches. The soil should be moist at least 3 or 4 inches deep to insure that the water is reaching the root zone of the plants. Of course, if you planted drought resistant plants in your garden, you won’t have to water as often, but the principal of deep watering still applies.

As the weather dries out, your container plants may need daily watering, especially if the pots are exposed to the drying sunlight. Push your finger into the soil in your 10 July 2022

container plantings at least once a day (more often on hot, dry days) to feel for moisture and be certain that plants are getting enough water. Apply water until it runs out the drainage holes.

Try to do your watering during the morning hours so that the leaves can dry off a bit before the hot sun hits them. Evening watering is sometimes acceptable if the temperatures are warm enough to insure that foliage dries before the temperature drops at night. (Wet foliage makes plants more susceptible to fungus and disease.)

Perennials, annuals, and bulbs Continue to dead-head (remove dead flowers) your annuals to encourage continued blooming. If your annuals have died off, pull them out and add them to the compost pile. Replant that spot with hardy annuals or perennials, such as Pansies, Calendulas, or Armeria.

Get a second bloom from faded annuals by cutting them back by one half their height, then fertilize them with a liquid 5-10-10 fertilizer.

Roses will need to be fertilized each month through the summer. In colder areas, allow shrub roses to ripen by discontinuing feeding them at the end of the month.

Fertilize container gardens regularly with a liquid all-purpose plant food.

Chrysanthemums should be lightly fertilized every two weeks.

Discontinue pinching your mums in mid-month so they will be able to develop flower buds for the fall.

To promote ‘trophy size’ flowers, allow only one or two main shoots to develop. Remove all side buds as they begin to develop.

To produce the largest Dahlia flowers (especially ‘Dinner plate’ Dahlias), the main stems should be kept free of side shoots, allowing only the main terminal bud to develop. Be sure to provide adequate support to prevent wind damage.

Bearded Iris may be divided and replanted when they have finished blooming. Discard all shriveled and diseased parts.

Sweet peas may tend to fizzle out with the hot summer weather, but with heavy mulching to keep the roots cool and moist you can prolong the flowering season by a few more weeks.

A little mid-day shade will also help to maintain the quality of the flowers and prolong the blooming season.

Verbenas, Euonymus, Pachysandra, Ivy, and climbing roses are some of plants that will root fairly quickly by layering them into the warm soil. Fasten a section of the stem containing one or more “eyes” down onto cultivated soil with a horseshoe shaped piece of wire and cover it with additional soil. By summers end, the stem should be rooted sufficiently

to sever it from the parent plant and replant into another area of the garden.

Sow seeds of Hollyhocks, English daisies, Foxgloves, Violas, Canterbury bells, and Sweet William into the garden now for next year’s bloom.

Geranium cuttings may be made in late July to start plants for indoor bloom during the winter months, and for setting into the garden next spring.

You may need to provide supplemental lighting with fluorescent grow lights for really good winter blooms indoors.

Shrubs and trees Summer blooming shrubs should be pruned for shape after they have finished flowering. Remove any dead or diseased branches.

Fertilize flowering shrubs like Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas immediately after they have finished flowering with a ‘Rhododendron’ or ‘Evergreen’ type fertilizer.

Dead head the developing seed pods from your Rhododendrons and Azaleas to improve next year’s bloom.

Be careful not to damage next year’s buds which may be hidden just below the pod.

Publishers Note: For more tips on keeping your garden healthy in the hot summer months log on to GardenHelpers.com.

Old Town Crier

HIGH NOTES

RON POWERS

McCartney’s Lonely Road This month I’m bringing you the first of a series of articles I’m doing called “Flashback”. In this series, I’ll discuss some of the lesser-known work by the biggest names in music. First on the list is a song called “Lonely Road” by Paul McCartney. “Lonely Road” is the first track off McCartney’s 2001 album “Driving Rain”. It mixes mid-tempo rock-n-roll with a spooky vocal melody to create a sophisticated and cool feeling that is both energetic and relaxed. “Lonely Road” didn’t get much recognition upon its release, but it remains one of my favorite songs by the legendary Beatle and I’m happy to have a chance to share it with you here.

The song begins with a round stumbling bass line followed by a mix of drawn-out electric guitar notes and chords played through a high-quality tube amp. We also hear faint acoustic guitar chords mixing with tambourine and kick drum to create an intriguing rhythm that supports the topline nicely. With a cool and laidback melody, McCartney delivers the simple but relatable lines “I tried to get over you / I tried to find something new / but all I could ever do / was fill / my time / with thoughts / of you”. As the verse progresses organ chords are added along with a snare drum and other percussive elements. At the tail end of the verse, Paul delivers “Chuck Berry style” octave bends that create a classically cool feeling leading into the chorus.

McCartney’s guitar work is particularly remarkable during the chorus of “Lonely Road”. The rhythm is interesting and unpredictable: One second we hear swooping notes that ring out for a full measure and the next thing you know Paul is attacking the strings with vigorous strumming. A second guitar is peppered throughout the chorus delivering a mix of hauntingly plucked guitar chords and scat rhythms.

Under the guitars, McCartney adds a walking bass line that creates an interesting movement in the music and works well with the drums and percussive elements.

For the vocals, Paul’s voice is doubled giving the sound extra shine and power.

The depth of McCartney’s musical understanding and songwriting abilities are displayed throughout “Lonely Road”. Obviously, we know him as a great songwriter but he also plays all of the instruments heard on “Lonely Road”. Collaboration between band members can make for exciting music, however, I think there’s something to be said for one person generating all the musical elements. It opens up connection points in every aspect of the music between an artist and their listener. There’s a level of intimacy that isn’t possible any other way.

McCartney wrapped up the “Got Back Tour” in June and is currently writing new material for future releases. If you’d like to listen to “Lonely Road” or any of Paul’s legendary music, you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you’d like to learn more about Paul McCartney you can find him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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.

Old Town Crier

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July 2022 11

THE LAST WORD

MIRIAM R. KRAMER

Happy-Go-Lucky

I

n the last twenty-five years the writer David Sedaris has gained what could oddly be called a mainstream cult following not only in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries, but also all over the world.

After starting out reading essays on NPR in the 1990s, Sedaris continued with books such as Barrel Fever, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and Calypso.

With his extensive book tours followed by long, conversational book signings, he has even made his self-promotion fun and collaborative. We long-time readers consider ourselves honorary members of his family, who are often the subject of his satirical essays. So where has his mordant wit taken us in Happy-Go-Lucky, his most recent release?

In this case, you should judge a book by its cover.

Happy-Go-Lucky features a shudder-inducing clown and cheerful little girl on its book jacket and even in its electronic versions. The cover is peak Sedaris.

He has always been interested in the unusual and freakish aspects of human nature, and somehow makes them acceptable and accessible to a mass audience. His public follows his lead in enjoying, or at least experiencing, a frisson of weirdness and distaste from looking at the bizarre. In this book, he takes a sobering look at life in the pandemic and late middle age, but leavens it with the appreciation of the absurd and grotesque, along with the superficial lightness that gilds much of his work.

With the recent publications of his two collections of diary entries, Theft by Finding and A Carnival of Snackery, he allowed readers to trace the evolution of his writing from 1977 to 2020. Sedaris is no longer the edgy young New York City writer who lives downtown and cleans houses or moves furniture 12 July 2022

to support his writing. He has not been that in a long time. You could say that with his residences in England, New York City, and North Carolina, he is now fully encapsulated in an upscale bubble that prevents him from ever becoming more practical.

If Sedaris has a target demographic, it is a middleclass, liberal-educated audience that has grown older and more affluent with him. While commercially successful, it never seems like he has written according to a commercial formula. We see other people through his cock-eyed, sharp, and yet often child-like vision. He never virtue-signals, or at least without realizing that he is doing it, and examines his own foibles and frustrations with the same ease that he does everyone else’s. He used to write in a heady, hilarious, and more stylized way, such as in the classic Me Talk Pretty One Day. Now he makes it easier for his readers to commiserate with his viewpoints by exaggerating less and showing more vulnerability.

The state of the world comes in for more scrutiny these days in his writing. Sedaris discusses how he pays attention to politics differently in the post– Donald Trump era. He takes a bemused look at gun culture in the United States, discussing the time he went for a one-time shooting and gun safety lesson with his sister, Lisa, right before the Sandy Hook school shooting. When I read this chapter, I noted that Happy-Go-Lucky was released a week after the Uvalde mass murder. As he points out, “every school shooting is different but the same. We see the

news footage, the crying children, the flowers and teddy bears in a pile getting rained on. There are reports that the community is ‘healing,’ and then it’s on to the next one.” I wonder how many new mass shootings will have taken place by the time this book review is published. Three? Four?

He and his partner, Hugh Hamrick, buy an apartment in New York City and start settling in as the pandemic arrives. Sedaris writes about the eeriness of walking miles at night across Manhattan seeing no one, and of the uproar of protests and marches there after the George Floyd murder, many sponsored by young white people taking selfies. He dips into the past, remembering what it was like to grow up gay in North Carolina after meeting a gay teenager in France. Hugh, his partner, comes in for his own session of David’s scrutiny for his temper and occasional crabbiness. In the process, the audience sees Hugh, with Sedaris’s knowledge, as a foil to his own sometimes childish and needy self, a flawed but much-beloved boyfriend. Hugh always comes off as the sober grown-up in the relationship.

As usual, David’s siblings are showcased. He shops for bizarre fashions and grotesque objets d’art with the hilarious Amy Sedaris, known in her own right for her comedic acting, appreciation for absurdity, and improvisations. He meets his sisters Lisa and Gretchen, along with his brother Paul, at the Sea Section, a beach house he bought for the family in North Carolina. If you have been reading Sedaris all along, you will be back on familiar terrain, virtually taking part in another Sedaris family summer vacation on Emerald Isle, perhaps participating in their annual tanning contest.

Yet now, even during beloved get-togethers, THE LAST WORD > PAGE 13

Old Town Crier

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THE LAST WORD | FROM PAGE 12

David looks back with a touch of melancholy, thinking of his sisters getting older, his mother’s absence, the missing piece in his sibling circle caused by the suicide of his sister, Tiffany. He pieces together her mental illness with her unusual circumstances as a rebellious figure growing up, trying to find some way of solving her puzzle.

David’s father, Lou, emerges as perhaps the central figure, other than David himself, in this work. In earlier works, David mentions his father and his tightness with money, love for jazz, initial rejection of his homosexuality, and other very odd characteristics, but never dwells on his own relationship with his dad.

His father’s highly anti-social way of dealing with the world, along with his children, comes to the fore for the first time.

As his father moves into assisted living and eventually passes away, David mentions how his father softened and became so much kinder in his last year of life. In Happy-GoLucky he has changed from the father who always undermined David, comparing him unfavorably to other siblings in public at art shows and college graduations, voting against gay rights, and even cutting him out of his will in a way that was supposed to be a surprise after his death. As a longtime Sedaris reader, until now I never knew quite how mean his father could be, trying to set his children against one another, short-changing contractors, monitoring his daughters’ weight and looks, and becoming over time a hoarder with probable mental issues.

One of the passages in this book that struck me was the sweeter Lou saying “David…You’ve accomplished so many fantastic things in your life. You’re, well…I want to tell you…you won.”

Sedaris ponders his statement, thinking “I couldn’t tell if he meant ‘You won’ as in ‘You won the game of life,’ or ‘You won over me, your father, who told you—assured you when you were small and then kept reassuring you— Old Town Crier

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Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris

12

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Publication Date: May 31, 2022 Format: Hardcover ISBN: 9780316392457 that you were worthless.’ Whichever way he intended those two faint words, I will take them and, in doing so, throw down this lance I’ve been hoisting for the past sixty years. For I am old myself now, and it is so very, very heavy.”

So know that while you will read the usually funny, often vulgar, and seriously skewed musings from David Sedaris, you will also touch on a writer in the early autumn of his life, looking at his aging family and an uncertain future with melancholy, along with his unique, peculiar sense of wonder at human behavior.

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July 2022 13

GALLERY BEAT

F. LENNOX CAMPELLO

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Wanna See Some Pictures?

You can put money on this: a thousand years from now, there will still be photographers who still use the techniques of that profession that were invented at the beginning of photography itself. There is something so attractive to the masters of the darkroom about photographic processes such as handmade prints from glass negatives, and other 19th century processes such as Platinum Palladium, Cyanotype, Oil, Carbon, Gum Bichromate, VanDyke Brown, Salted Prints, Tintypes, and Ambrotypes.

Virginia’s Sally Mann, not only one of the planet’s top photographers, but also someone who has been a contemporary pioneer in revitalizing some of these archaic techniques, often speaks of “old-time, folksy, soulful, artisanal processes”… that “slicker technologies have displaced.”

She labels these processes “holistic.”

Wanna see some of these holistic processes and the gorgeous works that they yield?

At Glen Echo Park’s Photoworks Gallery, “a group of likeminded photographers presents work that is more than just nostalgia. Each photographer lends her/his own voice with their

Images from "Cold Warrior" exhibit at Multiple Exposures Gallery in The Torpedo Factory.

14 July 2022

GALLERY BEAT > PAGE 15

Old Town Crier

GOSSYPIA

GALLERY BEAT | FROM PAGE 14

unique, hand-made images, some of which are augmented by hand tinting. While the images are contemporary, the artisanal nature of the images harkens to an earlier age. The tension between these qualities makes them TIMELESS.” Represented in the exhibit are works by Rodrigo BarreraSagastume, Paige Billin-Frye, Mac Cosgrove-Davies, Scott Davis, Sebastian Hesse-Kastein, William Shelton and Redeat Wondemu.

In addition to the opening, Photoworks will be offering related demonstration and hands-on events during the exhibition: Zoom Artist Talk (Friday, July 15, 7-8pm) – for those unable to attend the opening, this is an opportunity to hear from and interact with the artists. Learn about the artist and their vision, their chosen photographic processes and related classes offered at Photoworks.

Champagne and Platinum (Friday, July 22, 7-10pm at Photoworks) - spend a delightful evening with the Alt-Photo crowd in the Photoworks Gallery sipping bubbly and watching a live demo of the platinum printing process. Platinum printing allows delicate rendering of image detail with an astonishing tonal range and legendary permanence. ($20 per person) Wet Plate Demonstration (Saturday, July 23, 11am-2pm at Glen Echo Park) – This is a live demonstration of the photographic process that was dominant from the 1850s-70s (i.e during the US Civil War. The photographer must sensitize, expose, and develop the plate in a matter of minutes, using a portable darkroom. Results are available immediately.

Sun Printing (July 30, 11am-2pm) - A family friendly funfor-all where everyone makes cyanotype shadowgrams. This is an excellent introduction to cyanotype process. Cyanotype is the simplest historic photographic process to learn. It also can deliver extraordinary creative expression.

Staying on the theme of photography, and through July 24, Multiple Exposures Gallery presents an exhibition of New Photography by Tom Sliter titled “Cold Warriors.” On exhibit is “a series of images that takes a different look at the aircraft that defined the Cold War. Rather than focusing on the aircraft’s characteristics, the exhibit delves into the underlying design elements -- the grand sweeps, smooth lines, sharp angles, and graceful curves that are a hallmark of pushing boundaries.”

Multiple Exposures is located inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria, one of the great art jewels of the Mid Atlantic.

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Like us on Facebook! @oldtowncrier July 2022 15

TAKE PHOTOS, LEAVE FOOTPRINTS

SCOTT DICKEN

10 Steps to Planning your Next African Vacation Planning a trip to Africa without professional assistance, particularly if it’s your first time, is an intimidating prospect. Fiftyfour countries, thousands of hotels and lodges, hundreds of safari destinations, and prices that can reach eyewatering heights. It can be a lot to take in.

To alleviate some of that stress, in this month’s Take Photos Leave Footprints article I’ll highlight an easy ten step process that’ll have you spotting the “Big 5”, or relaxing on an Indian Ocean beach, in no time.

Step 1: Pick a Destination With fifty-four countries to choose from, picking a vacation destination in Africa is a daunting task. Be it a classic safari or a beach destination, I’ve created a cheat sheet that highlights some of the most popular African vacation countries and the activities possible in each. The table on page 43 also provides three of the more popular sights in each of those countries to whet your appetite.

Step 2: Choose a Time of Year and Length of Trip Choosing a time of year and length of trip is a crucial decision. Two full weeks (14-16 days) is the minimum amount of time id’ advise considering. Any less will feel rushed, particularly because of the long journeys involved.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: Weather: As with all vacations, weather is always going to be key. Weather conditions vary across the continent, so you’ll want to check the weather for your chosen destination.

One thing worth considering, if you’re partaking in safari activities, is that wildlife is more easily visible during the dry season when the foliage provides wildlife with less cover.

SPECIAL EVENTS OR SEASONS: The most obvious of these for East African safari goers is timing your trip to coincide with the location of the great wildebeest migration. However, you might also want to think about specific activities, such as Devil’s pool in Zambia, which only opens when the water near Victoria Falls is low enough.

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC FACTORS: Make sure you check for things like public holidays, religious events, and elections. Elections in particular can lead to civil unrest and can cause disruption for vacationers, particularly in Africa’s biggest cities.

BUDGET: Like everywhere, African countries have high seasons, low seasons, and shoulder seasons. If you are on a strict budget, you 16 July 2022

might wish to opt for the low season when your budget will stretch further (you may even be able to splurge on a little luxury at much lower prices). However, low season is low for a reason. The weather may be more unpredictable, or wildlife may be more difficult to spot. I typically aim for the shoulder season.

While there’s a slightly higher risk of suboptimal weather you can usually snag an absolute bargain just before peak season starts.

Step 3: Book Your Flights Flights are often one of the biggest expenses of a trip to Africa, particularly if you are incorporating regional and domestic flights or anticipating fly-in safaris to remote destinations or bush airstrips. I always book flights before booking accommodation based on an assumption that the destination has multiple lodging options. However, if you are planning on joining a scheduled tour, visiting for a specific event, or have your sights set on a specific lodge or hotel, then you might want to consider booking that first.

Here are my top tips for snagging a great deal: It goes without saying that you’ll want to try and secure the cheapest flights possible. I recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to explore the best deals.

You might also want to consider signing up LEAVE FOOTPRINTS > PAGE 17

Old Town Crier

LEAVE FOOTPRINTS | FROM PAGE 16

to scottscheapflights.com on the off chance that deep discounts are available from your departure airport.

Time your booking carefully. Over the 11-month period that flights are typically available demand, and ticket prices, fluctuate. The best time to book is often a case of personal circumstance. If you’re risk adverse, then book as far out as possible. If you’re after the best deals they are typically available anywhere between 4-months and 3-weeks prior to departure.

Book all flights under one booking.

Try to make sure that you book as many of your connections as possible (international, regional, and domestic) under the same booking. That way, your airline will be responsible for you if delays result in missed connections.

Consider buying flexible tickets. If you think that there’s a chance that you might need to change your dates or cancel your trip altogether (all the more important in this new, COVID, era) then you might want to consider spending more money on flexible tickets.

Step 4: Book Your Accommodation, Transfers, and Activities TO TOUR OR NOT TO TOUR: A vast array of companies have entered the market offering everything from privately guided short tours to multimonth overland tours. If you’re an extrovert on a budget then start by looking at overland tour companies such as G Adventures, Intrepid, Exodus, Explore, Acacia, and Absolute Africa. Otherwise, start researching reputable travel agents that can do everything from organizing an entire trip, to focusing on land transfers and self-drive options.

ACCOMMODATION BOOKING: If you opt to book your own accommodation, or wish to hand pick accommodation for your booking agent, then the next step is to search for lodges and hotels. One thing to consider here are the inclusions. For example, safari lodges can often seem incredibly expensive at face value.

However, once you factor in that many Old Town Crier

are inclusive of lodging, 3-4 meals a day, alcohol, and activities (typically game drives or walking safaris) then the cost can start to seem more justifiable.

ACTIVITIES: As I mentioned before, many activities (including game drives) are included when you book African lodge accommodation.

Although many additional activities can be booked upon arrival you should do most of the legwork before you leave so that you don’t waste valuable vacation time. Things that are typically high demand should be booked as far in advance as possible.

For example, Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda/Uganda, Devil’s Pool trips in Zambia/Zimbabwe, and Hot Air Balloon trips in safari destinations are all good examples of things that tend to sell out well in advance of run dates.

Step 5: Purchase Travel Insurance On most occasions your African vacation will likely be smooth sailing.

However, Africa is not a place where you can afford to get caught out.

Outside of medical care, regional and internal flights are often cancelled at very short notice and there’s always the chance of lost luggage. In those worstcase scenarios, you’ll want to ensure that you have the financial means to safely and securely get yourself back home in one piece having recouped as much of your financial outlay as possible.

Only twice have I had to truly call upon travel insurance in a time of need. Those two instances alone have saved me a whopping $25,000. Those two events have taught me one simple thing: travel insurance is worth every cent! When I’m traveling throughout Africa, I always use World Nomads and can attest to their unbelievable customer service in an emergency (such as being helicoptered out from Everest Base Camp).

Step 6: Obtain Visas My first port of call when researching visa requirements is visahq.com. I’ll then cross compare the details found with the country’s local Embassy or Consulate website for accuracy and commence the

application process, if necessary.

Many Southern and Eastern African countries offer some form of visa-onarrival. However, securing a visa prior to travel avoids potential problems, and lengthy delays, when you arrive at the border.

In addition to your visa, you should always make sure (regardless of where you’re traveling to) that you have at least 6 months left on your passport on the date of departure in addition to two blank pages somewhere in that passport. If not, then you’ll need a new one before you depart!

Step 7: Visit a Travel Doctor The further out from your flight date you consult a health professional the better, especially if you aren’t a frequent traveler. Vaccination requirements typically fall into three categories: • Routine vaccinations such as tetanus.

• Recommended vaccinations will be tailored to your trip and could include, for example, rabies.

• Required vaccinations are those that you’ll need to prove you’ve had in order to enter certain countries. They might include yellow fever, for example. This may include a requirement to provide a certificate upon entry to a country (particularly if you transit through a Yellow Fever prevalent country prior to reaching your destination).

In addition, and depending on your destination, you may be advised to have a course of anti-malarial tablets.

I also quite regularly carry a course of multi-use antibiotic in case of emergencies, especially when access to healthcare might be more difficult or time-consuming for something otherwise quite routine (such as traveler’s diarrhea or a bacterial infection). Make sure you consult your doctor first if you want to go down this route.

Step 8: Plan your Wardrobe A trip to Africa doesn’t necessarily mean filling your suitcase full of khaki shorts and shirts, so make sure you pay close attention to the weather and

plan accordingly. What you’ll need will depend on which part of Africa, and what time of year, you’re visiting. At the extreme, nighttime temperatures at Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania can reach -29 degrees Celsius. Back at ground level, if you’re on a morning safari during the winter months you should be prepared to be wearing a warm hat and gloves.

Step 9: Plan your Spending Money My general advice is to carry a combination of US dollars and cards when you travel. As a universal currency, US Dollars will almost always be capable of getting you out of a bind and is easily exchangeable upon arrival.

Some other points worth noting: It’s been a very long time since I arrived in an African country with local currency. I’ll typically exchange US Dollars for local currency once I arrive in the first major city. Try to avoid currency exchange bureaus at airports or hotels if possible. Captive markets mean poor rates.

If you do take US Dollars, do not take notes dated earlier than 2006 (earlier notes are largely unacceptable across Africa). As far as possible, because they are less degraded, try to take notes dated within the past 5 years.

Traveler’s checks are a nightmare to exchange and virtually impossible to use outside of major cities.

If you plan to withdraw local currency from an ATM upon arrival, make sure you arrive with at least a couple of days’ worth of US dollars in cash as a contingency.

If you plan to use credit and debit cards remember to pre-arrange travel alerts with your card provider/bank before departure.

Credit cards often incur costly surcharges and fees. Only use them for high value purchases (hotels and tours) or for occasions when ATMs are not available to withdraw cash.

Before you depart, ask your bank which African banks accept your card and what fees are applicable. This can help you plan where to withdraw local currency.

Don’t forget that ATMs have LEAVE FOOTPRINTS > PAGE 43

July 2022 17

POINTS ON PETS

KEN BYRER

Is It Time to End Cat Declawing?

Recently, Maryland joined New York in outlawing cat declawing, a procedure also known as Onychectomy. In addition to those two States, several localities have also said “no more” to this operation. Should Virginia and Alexandria consider similar laws?

For most our centuries with cats, we wanted them fully armed and operational to eliminate vermin and varmints. A declawed cat made as much sense as a dog that couldn’t bark or herd, or a horse that couldn’t bear a rider or pull a wagon. But when cats moved from mainly coworkers to mainly companions, humans established procedures to reflect that change. Some of these practices, like spaying and neutering, remain valued by experts, while declawing has come to be increasingly seen as harmful.

People only developed declawing sometime around 1948, and possibly as part of dogfighting as much as keeping the family wing chair intact.

As spaying and neutering countered natural cat behaviors of yowling and spraying, declawing addressed the natural cat behavior to scratch – now inside, in homes with stuffed sofas and lacquered wooden chair legs. A joke in the declawing ban discussion holds that upholsterers, at least, support cats having claws.

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AMVA) brief on declawing thoroughly discusses

18 July 2022

the issue. The strongest pro-declaw argument holds that human guardians who cannot get their cat’s scratching under control may relinquish them, although a study in British Columbia from 2021 found no significant increase in owners giving up their cats after that province’s ban. Despite its appraisal that the issue needs more hard scientific evidence to reach a definitive conclusion, the AVMA “recommends that the procedure only be performed

after exhausting other methods of controlling scratching behavior or if it has been determined that the cat’s claws present a human health risk” and also notes bans in several localities, one State (at the time), and the entire European Union. That said, in testimony to the Maryland General Assembly on its ultimately successful declawing ban, the trade association wrote, “We have grave concerns about legislative and regulatory actions that remove the professional judgment of veterinarians in determining when to perform specific veterinary procedures.”

A local vet contacted for this piece could only think of one instance in her experience where medical need required the declawing procedure.

“The one I can think of is the polydactyl cat ([that] had 3 thumbs) where I removed two of the three thumbs on both front feet because they were growing directly into his skin and both front feet were very infected,” she wrote.

All existing bans on declawing include a provision for medical necessity.

While it is difficult to find hard numbers on the rate of declawing surgeries, most sources see the procedure falling out of favor among veterinarians.

Danielle Bays of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) told the Washington Post, “While the U.S. veterinary community is increasingly opposed to declawing, we can’t continue to wait for the profession to end declawing on its own.” Its position paper declares the group “opposes declawing except for the rare cases when it is necessary for medical purposes, such as the removal of cancerous nail bed POINTS ON PETS > PAGE 19

Old Town Crier

POINTS ON PETS | FROM PAGE 18

tumors.”

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) concurs. “The ASPCA is strongly opposed to declawing cats for the convenience of their owners or to prevent damage to household property. The only circumstances in which the procedure should be considered are those in which all behavioral and environmental alternatives have been fully explored, have proven to be ineffective, and the cat is at grave risk of euthanasia,” the group says in its position statement.

Pet welfare organizations agree that serious harm results from declawing. The PetMD website says negative results from declawing include the potential for botched surgeries, infection, refusal to use the litter box due to paw sensitivity, paw pain and nerve damage, lameness, back pain caused by changes in how they walk, and behavioral changes. A study from 2017 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery identified similar issues. The Paw Project declares that declawing fundamentally damages cats, who normally walk on their toes, and compares the result to a human walking with pebbles in their shoes. The group also notes that “claws are the primary defense cats use to protect themselves, so declawed cats will resort to other means of self-protection such as biting when they feel threatened or antagonized.”

The chief means to minimize damaging scratching is to provide plentiful and proper scratching opportunities through scratching

posts that meet the cat’s needs, as Catster details. The HSUS offers other tips on cat scratching. They stress keeping cat claws trimmed to minimize damage to household items and providing stable scratching posts and boards around the home. Having both vertical and horizontal posts of different materials provides variety, which owners can further make attractive by adding toys and catnip. To play a little defense, consider covering other areas with two-sided tape to discourage clawing the furniture. If conditions require further steps, ask a veterinarian about soft plastic caps (like Soft Paws®) that are glued to the cat’s nails.

Still, no one can expect perfection from their cat. During discussions on the Maryland law, sponsor Senator Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery County) said, “If people are uncomfortable with sometimes getting scratched or sometimes having the furniture get scratched, they probably shouldn’t adopt the kitty.”

Invented to address human convenience many decades ago, new attitudes reflect human compassion and empathy. The consensus view holds that declawing inflicts permanent physical and behavioral damage to address a problem that training, patience, and common equipment can almost always solve. Virginia and the City of Alexandria should begin the process of ending the practice of declawing for non-medical reasons.

Ken Byrer is a writer living in Alexandria, VA

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 Old Town Crier

Brown

Honey

14--year-old Brown is always chill, no matter the temperatures. This laid-back mastiff mix prefers to take it easy when the mercury soars, with a lot of time snoozing in bed though he’s happy to join his human friends for a bout of snuggling.

Schedule time to meet Brown from his foster home by emailing Adopt@ AlexandriaAnimals.org.

How does Honey stay cool? By letting the summer breeze flap through her ears and keeping her smile bigger than the sun. At 6 years old, this terrier mix keeps her brain busy learning new tricks in the cool of the A/C; she doesn’t need long walks in the sun. Learn more about Honey by emailing Adopt@ AlexandriaAnimals.org or calling 703.746.4774.

Carlie Carlie’s got it made in the shade this summer. Now all she needs is a family to call her own! Carlie’s Summer Tips: When you get warm chasing all the toys, a nice roll on the grass is the best way to cool down. Thanks for the advice, Carlie! Meet Carlie by calling 703.746.4774 or emailing Adopt@ AlexandriaAnimals.org.

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

July 2022 19

Now that we're all working remotely

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION BY BOB CURLEY

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 finer 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.

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Ann Street Gardens

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ey west getawa

Lime Out Floating Taco Bar

St. John Is Back Bigtime

The combination of no passport requirements, easy-to-understand COVID-19 rules and strong tourism management led to a boom in visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the mainland in 2021, helping to fuel a dramatic turnaround in tourism on St. John, which had struggled in the aftermath of devastating blows from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

The storm wiped out one of St. John’s most iconic resorts, Caneel Bay, which still hasn’t reopened and possibly never will.

But meanwhile, St. John has gained a new private island resort and many other new and revived hotels, restaurants, and attractions are drawing visitors back to the island in record numbers.

Now in its second season, the Lovongo Resort & Beach Club is the hottest thing to happen to St. John in a long time. Set on a private cay offshore of Caneel Bay (the body of water, not the resort), Lovongo is a mix of guest accommodations and residential homes; stays can be as diverse as a luxury villa hideaway, a treehouse perch, or nights spend in

a glamping tent.

Guests also have the option of adding three nights on a charter yacht to their stay — a must do in the Virgin Islands, where the easiest way to get around is by boat. The beach club and waterfront dining only sweeten stays for overnight guests, as well as drawing in boaters and other day visitors.

Virgin Islands National Park, which occupies 60 percent of St. John, is basically back to preIrma and pre-pandemic operation levels, with major attractions like the Reef Bay Trail, Trunk Bay beach with its famous snorkeling trail, the campground at Cinnamon Bay, and Annaberg Plantation all open to visitors. The Concordia Eco Resort, located within the park on the east side of St. John, reopened in early 2022, once again offering guests stays in eco-friendly studio rooms and tents with ocean views.

Bookings at St. John’s fine collection of private villas also have been red hot, and the Westin St. John Resort Villas has returned as a vacation ownership resort — fully condos, CARRIBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 21

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Villa Marea Old Town Crier

Bikinis On the Beach

Concordia Eco Resort CARIBBEAN CONNECTION | FROM PAGE 20

in other words — that can also accommodate stays by nonowners.

Cruz Bay’s Wharfside Village Hotel, is back with 15 redesigned rooms within steps of great dining, nightlife, and shopping. The landmark Gallows Point Resort was one of the first on St. John to reopen after the hurricanes; guests will benefit from freshly renovated rooms and the farm-to-table Ocean 362 restaurant.

And then the area the sought-after villas of the Blue Sky Luxury Travels portfolio.

Events are back on St. John, too: the island hosted its first Carnival in three years in April, and the St. John Celebration is slated to go forward again this month.

The Lime Out floating bar and restaurant weathered the COVID-19 storm and continues to serve tacos and rum drinks at its swim-up bar in Coral Harbor.

The 18° 64° The Restaurant is a newcomer on the Cruz Bay dining scene, serving up seafood and sushi in the Mongoose Junction courtyard; neighbors St. John Brewers opens the taps daily for beer lovers after handing out brews for free in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricane.

The Tamarind Inn, long a favorite for breakfast in Cruz Bay, closed after Irma and stayed that way even when the affiliated Inn at Tamarind Court reopened. The good news: the restaurant has returned to offering courtyard dining for breakfast and dinner. And for waterfront rum drinks, you can’t beat the recently reopened Rum Hut at Cruz Bay’s Wharfside bar and restaurant. Newcomers to the local dining scene include Dave & Jerry’s Island Steakhouse at the Cruz Bay Hotel, the Windmill Bar at Neptune’s Lookout with its spectacular views, the colorful Shambles VI serving all-day barbecue on Centerline Road, and the Roti King Food Truck at the Lumberyard in Cruz Bay. And Caneel is still home to one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations: the Bikinis on the Beach Bar, this year’s Number One Beach Bar in the Caribbean.

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.

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Lovango Resort and Beach Club Old Town Crier

July 2022 21

ROAD TRIP

BY BOB TAGERT

Fells Point:

Our Favorite Part of Charm City

W

ith gas prices still high, we decided to take a road trip closer to home. About 55 miles north-east of Alexandria you can find Fells Point along the Patapsco River near Baltimore, Maryland. In 1726, English Quaker, William Fell bought land he named Fell’s Prospect. This eventually became Fells Point and it appears that you can spell it Fell’s or Fells. I’m going with use Fells.

My relationship with Fells Point began over 30 years ago when I crewed on the Patricia Divine, a two-masted schooner, in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. The race actually starts in Annapolis and ends along the waterfront at the Norfolk Mall in Norfolk, Virginia. The boats gather in the Patapsco River around Fells Point a day or two before the race to prep for the great race. This is how I first discovered Fells Point.

Looking ahead to a few days on the water racing we all took a little liberty and visited the town of small shops, restaurants and an array of really cool bars. We spent the majority of the night at the Cat’s Eye Pub, truly a sailor’s kind of place. Back then the area was undergoing a revitalization period and the results show today.

The main attraction is still the selection of watering holes and restaurants along Thames Street, the main drag. Like Old Town Alexandria, they have all adjusted to the additional outdoor dining space (result of the pandemic protocols) that takes up former parking spots. There are also a number of fine establishments a block or two off of Thames Street.

One of these popular places is Bertha’s Mussels. Bertha’s was established in 1972 when the area was run down and trying to find its way...similar to the situation in Old Town Alexandria around that time.

Once we found a place to park in the center of town, we walked across the park to enjoy lunch at Bertha’s to

Welcome to The Cat's Eye - Cory Is Waiting!

ROAD TRIP > PAGE 23

22 July 2022

Old Town Crier

Trojan Horse sculpture at the Pendry.

ROAD TRIP | FROM PAGE 22

get fueled up for our afternoon minipub crawl. After ordering my Mount Gay and ginger ale I opted for the Maryland Crab soup and a bacon cheeseburger. The soup was definitely homemade and the burger was perfect.

Lani stayed true to the theme of the place and ordered Mussels Marinara and declared that they were delicious.

At one end of Thames street you will find places like Duda’s Tavern, Fells Point Tavern, The Horse You Came in On and Bayou Blues. In the next block you will find Kooper’s Tavern, Waterfront Hotel Bar, Thames Street Oyster House and the Cat’s Eye Pub. This is a legitimate Pub Crawl organizers dream street!

One of the reasons the Cat’s Eye Pub is still my favorite, is the people.

From the customers to the staff and owner, the friendly vibe can’t be beat.

On this particular day our bartender was Cory Pearson who was not only a great personality but he took the time to listen to me tell my stories. Cat’s Eye also offers music nightly and it is rated as one of the best places for tunes in Baltimore. Also, the rugged, worn out

look of the pub gives it that “dive bar” grace. You can’t help but feel good here. On the other end of the street is an equally cool dive – The Horse You Came In On. Always a must stop if only to sit on the saddle style bar stools!

Besides the amazing bars and restaurants you can enjoy several eclectic stores and galleries. A new favorite of Lani’s is Zelda Zen – check it out when you are there. If you are nostalgic for Old Town shopping,

Saddle Up at the Horse You Came In On Old Town Crier

Kilwins and Ten Thousand Villages have locations here. The Fells Point Maritime Museum is a must see for anyone interested in the amazing history of this small corner of the world.

There are a few hotels in town with the Sagamore Pendry as the most beautiful. The Pendry is located on the historic 1914 Recreatrion Pier or known to the locals as the “Rec Pier”.

When I first went to Fells Point this property was in shambles. The only thing that remained was the facade and main building. The building was actually used as the police station in the hit TV show “Homicide: Life on the Street!” Today it is a work of art. The Trojan Horse-like sculpture in the breezeway that leads to the pool is amazing! We stopped in at the Pool Bar which is out back and is surrounded by the Patapsco River. It is incredible.

Before leaving our plan was to visit another old favorite, the Tavern at the Admiral Fell Inn, but is was under renovation and expected to open by the time you read this. We decided to go across the street to the Admirals Cup Restaurant & Bar. This was our

Angelo is your go-to guy at Admirals Cup.

first time here but won’t be the last.

The bar takes up the center of the first room and is beautiful. Once again, our bartender, Angelo Paraskevaidis, was delightful and the customers were pleasant to talk with. Their dark rum selection was light but the one they did have, though new to me, was very good. Not only is the Admirals Cup noted for their dining but also for the quality of the music acts they book.

Unlike Old Town Alexandria, there are an abundance of live music venues in Fells.

Like Old Town Alexandria, Fells Point could be considered Baltimore’s “Old Town” as it is located between Canton and the Inner Harbor.

Although street parking is limited, at the end of the block behind Duda’s Tavern there are two parking garages for all day use.

Fells Point is a step back in time and has that seaport town feel. There are marinas on the river and many folks come by boat. When we had lunch there were four folks dining outside who had come by sailboat. Whether it is by water or land...take the time and take a road trip! This place won’t disappoint.

There's No Place Like Bertha's!

July 2022 23

FROM THE BAY

WHITNEY PIPKIN

Problems on the Bay ABANDONED BOATS ARE A GROWING PROBLEM IN CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERS

The Vessel Disposal and Reuse Foundation removed this abandoned boat that had been disintegrating in a marina near Dockside Seafood & Fishing Center in Virginia Beach.

(Courtesy of VDRF)

W

hether lurking as hazards beneath the water’s surface or becoming eyesores as they drift ashore, abandoned boats are a growing problem in Chesapeake Bay waters — especially in Virginia.

And they’re not as easy to get out of the water as they were to put in.

The U.S. Coast Guard has documented 170 abandoned and derelict vessels in Virginia waters since 2013, and state officials are building a list of even more that need to be removed.

Some boats are set adrift by storms and, in the absence of a fastidious owner, stay that way for months or years. Recreators who bought a boat during the pandemic may be realizing they no longer want to maintain one.

But one of the biggest concerns involves boats built during the affordable fiberglass boat boom that began in the 1960s, which are reaching the end of their lifespans. The number being abandoned appears to be on the rise.

“When luxury is built in,” reads one 1980 ad for a 37-foot cruiser with a fiberglass hull, “it doesn’t wear out.” Made with reinforced plastic-and-glass materials, these boats don’t blend into a marshy shoreline as they decompose, like their wooden forebears. Instead, they persist in the environment, shedding microplastic particles and leaching toxic materials over time.

The boats often end up left in a marina or set adrift because the owner feels like there aren’t other options for disposal. Getting rid of a defunct boat can easily cost more than the boat is worth.

Unlike old cars, whose mostly metal frames can be sold or donated for scrap materials, the fiberglass components of a boat “are practically worthless and tend to cost more to remove, prepare for disposal and dispose of than their parts are worth,” states a recent report from the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at William & Mary Law School.

Abandoned boats pose navigation problems for other boaters and are hazardous to the environment.

Some slowly disintegrate in the marina where an owner has left them. Others drift into marshes or are purposefully sunk near a shore. Fuel, oil, paint, sewage and chemicals leaching from batteries and cleaners onboard threaten the environment as the 24 July 2022

vessel drifts or sinks.

Once it’s dead in the water, removing an abandoned boat costs thousands of dollars and up to tens of thousands depending on where the boat is located and how much it has already disintegrated.

And getting it back out of the water — whether by towboat, crane or claw — comes with all sorts of red tape.

The Coastal Zone Management Program, operated under Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality, has largely completed a report on the status of the state’s abandoned boat problem. First drafted in the fall, the document includes policy suggestions for giving boat owners better options for disposal, funding removals and addressing the underlying issues contributing to an uptick in abandoned vessels.

As of late May, the report was waiting for approval by the Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration.

Meanwhile, the agency has been working on an inventory of abandoned boats to help prioritize removals once funding becomes available.

But Laura McKay, manager of the coastal management program, said the problem continues to grow. “We have got to turn off that faucet, or we’re just in big trouble,” she said.

Bootstrapping Boat Removals Mike Provost had recently retired from the U.S. Navy when he got curious about an abandoned 36-foot cabin cruiser left tied to a tree in Long Bay Pointe off the Lynnhaven River.

“I made a couple calls and quickly determined no one was going to do anything about it,” he said.

Virginia’s current approach to the problem of abandoned vessels is piecemeal and painstakingly slow. The authority to remove vessels is divided among several agencies, depending on where the boat is located and other factors. That leaves many structures in limbo as to who’s responsible for removal.

So Provost began fundraising to remove the boats himself, ultimately starting a nonprofit, the Vessel Disposal and Reuse Foundation. He raised the $11,000 needed to remove that first boat, which eventually ran aground at First Landing State Park, with a GoFundMe page.

Since December, the organization has removed nine boats from the Lynnhaven River area. Many of them had been there for years. Provost learned a lot from that first removal and has since worked with a marine salvage contractor to do the heavy lifting.

If the boat were to leak oil while being removed, the person or group removing it bears the liability in many cases. If a person disposed of a boat illegally, they may have also removed any identification that would help find and transfer legal ownership of the vessel.

Through tracking down boat owners, Provost has developed a better understanding of the types of situations that lead them to abandon their vessels.

Most, he said, are elderly, facing financial trouble, physically or mentally handicapped or addicted to illegal substances.

Provost estimates that his organization has removed 100,000 pounds of marine debris from waterways so far.

“That’s like removing tons of beach trash, which is crazy to me,” he said.

He’s already begun raising an additional $75,000 to remove the next batch of vessels with plans to tackle a “boat graveyard” in the North Landing River where an estimated 13 boats have been abandoned next to a natural area preserve.

Provost knows he can’t keep up with the ongoing influx of abandoned boats if the underlying issues aren’t addressed, and he hopes the state efforts will start to stem the tide.

Though Virginia law considers it a Class 3 misdemeanor to abandon a vessel in a waterway, the $500 fine is much less than the potential cost of removing it. Without a clear process for safe disposal, many people abandon their boats out of desperation.

In the Chesapeake watershed, only Maryland has a steady source of funding to remove abandoned vessels, according to NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. Maryland has, for years, funded its abandoned boat and debris program through a 5% excise tax on all boats purchased in the state.

The money helps keep channels dredged for boat navigation and provides up to $500,000 per year FROM THE BAY> PAGE 43

Old Town Crier

Celebrate Summer with us in ...

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

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July July 2022 20222525

TO THE BLUE RIDGE

COURTESY TWILIGHT POLO CLUB

Twilight Polo At Great Meadow Twilight Polo Club invites you to come enjoy watching polo, people and horses every Saturday summer evening through September 17th. Greenhill Polo Stadium at Great Meadow is a beautiful rural venue in the heart of Virginia Horse Country, 30-60 minutes from the DC area in The Plains, Virginia.

Bring your family, friends and coworkers for an evening of fun and excitement in a wonderful outdoor setting. Stunning sunsets, three polo matches, picnicking, wine, food trucks, giant tug o’war games for the kids at halftime, then dance the night away! One ticket admits an entire car load of family and friends.

Admission tickets are available online for $25 per vehicle (5 people), or you can pay $30 cash per vehicle at the gate.

Limited VIP tailgate and box seat options available, providing and your party a private space to enjoy the night. Perfect for groups, bridal parties, birthdays, corporate entertaining and more! Call or email us for VIP information and reservations: 540-253-9845 or manager@twilightpolo.com See you there!

JULY SCHEDULE 2ND – STARS & STRIPES – DJ & Dancing in your red, white & blue.

9TH – JUNGLE NIGHT – Dress in your favorite animal print.

16TH – PEACE, LOVE & TYE DYE – Get groovy.

23RD – DISNEY PLUS PARTY Conjure up your favorite Disney, Pixar or Marvel character.

30TH – TACO ‘BOUT A FIESTA Margaritas & Mexican food and more.

Gates open at 5:30 Opening match 6:00

26 July 2022

Twilight match 7:00 Main game 8:00

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July July 2022 20222727

LET’S EAT

CHARLES OPPMAN

Louisiana Shrimp Creole

S

hrimp Creole is a dish of Louisiana Creole origin— French and Spanish heritage—consisting of cooked shrimp in a mixture of diced tomatoes or tomato sauce, onion, celery and bell pepper, parsley and garlic spice with

condiments. This dish is commonly served over steamed or boiled white rice. The shrimp may be cooked in the mixture or cooked separately and added at the end. Other “Creole” dishes may be made by substituting some other meat or seafood for the shrimp, or omitting the meat entirely

and make an all veggie version. Nearly every restaurant in Louisiana has its own version of Shrimp Creole. Apart from the foundation ingredients of onion, celery and bell pepper, Creole dishes are commonly used as “improvisational” delight, as the basic recipe may be altered to include

whatever ingredients the cook has readily available. The shrimp may be substituted with alligator, fried fish, chicken or pork. Smoked sausage may be added.

Serves: 8-10 Time: 1½ hours LET'S EAT > PAGE 29

“A Washington Post Capitol Cuisine Favorite” The Very Best Alexandria has to offer in the Heart of Historic Old Town Famous for our She Crab Soup, Steaks and Crab Cakes

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Old Town Crier

Where Is It? Be the first person to respond with the correct location and receive a $50 gift certificate to a local dining establishment of our choice.

In order to participate, you will have to Like and Follow us on: Facebook @oldtowncrier Instagram @otcregionalmag We will contact the winner each month via personal message to arrange for prize delivery.

LET'S EAT | FROM PAGE 29

Ingredients 2 pounds large shrimp with heads and shells ½ cup bacon, diced 1 cup bell peppers, chopped 1 cup onion, diced 1 cup celery, diced 1 cup curly parsley 2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons dried thyme leaves 2 cups tomato sauce Worcestershire, hot sauce salt and cayenne and black pepper to taste

Directions Peel the shrimp and use the shells and heads to make a shrimp stock. Simmer the heads and shells in two cups of water for 20 minutes. Reduce to one cup.

In a large heavy-bottomed skillet sauté bacon until fat is rendered out. Add celery, bell pepper, parsley, onion, bay leaves and thyme and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic, Worcestershire and hot sauce, salt and cayenne and black pepper. Add shrimp stock and tomato sauce. Simmer entire mixture for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaves. Add the raw shrimp to the Creole mixture and cook a few minutes until done. Serve with white rice.

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July 2022 29

DINING OUT

THE GASTRONOMES

Celebrate Bastille Day at Bastille!

Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the National Day of France and celebrated on July 14 each year.

The French National Day is the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a major event of the French Revolution. In honor of Bastille Day we decided to revisit Bastille Restaurant in Alexandria for this month’s Dining Out article.

Bastille is located at 606 N. Fayette Street in north Old Town. Although there are no views of the Potomac River, there is ample free street parking to help relieve that hassle. The restaurant has a comfortable bar and a bar dining area as well as two more dining rooms. On nice days there is a beautiful patio in the courtyard for al fresco dining.

We picked a good evening to visit Bastille as they had just released their new summer menu. Unfortunately, that meant I couldn’t order their delicious beet salad but there are many new items to enjoy. I will just have to wait for fall to roll around for my beet fix.

We are particularly fond of the Prix Fixe menus offered here. There are

currently three 3-course Prix Fixe Menus available. The Bistro menu is $45 while the Brasserie is $57.

They have recently added Le Menu Budgetaire that offers three select courses with a $29 price tag with a glass of house wine available for an additional $5. All are excellent values.

The choices are numerous as you can see from the photo of the menu. All of the items on the fixed price menus and several other choices are available ala carte.

For my dinner I ordered from the Brasserie menu. My first course was the French Onion Soup. The soup was served in a piping hot crock with a perfect amount of melted Gruyere cheese. The caramelized onion/roasted onion broth was delicious. For my main course I ordered the Loup de Mare. This translates into Seared Mediterranean Branzino Filet with Couscous “Tabbouleh”, Romesco sauce and Arugula. Branzino or Sea Bass is a popular fish in the Mediterranean region. It is also known as European Bass, White Salmon or Common Bass.

This firm white fish was cooked with the skin on which made for a nice crunch with each bite. The fish was

BAR BASTILLE BRASSERIE & eet 606 N. Fayette Str Alexandria, VA 703-519-3776 Bastillerestaurant.com

cooked just right and very flavorful.

Even though it isn’t offered on the Brasserie menu, I finished my meal off with their Creme Brulee a la Vanille - a Madagascar vanilla bean custard with burnt sugar to top it off. As an

aside, Crème Brulee is pretty much my “go to” dessert if it is on a menu and I am pretty picky. This version was perfect.

Ms. Gastronome, here. I opted to DINING OUT > PAGE 32

RIVER BEND

OPE PEN N IS

JULY 4TH

Enjoy our NEW Summer Menu!

And Have a Cool Cocktail Maryland Fresh Picked Crabcakes are Back

River Bend will be closed July 5 and 6 for maintenance

703-347-7545 RiverBendBistro.com 30 July 2022

Old Town Crier

DINING GUIDE AMERICAN

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 CAFE 44 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644 CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442 CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080 CITY KITCHEN 330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051 EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street 703-299-0894 FIVE GUYS 725 King St. 703-549-7991 FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342 GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288 GRATEFUL KITCHEN 727 N. Henry Street HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050 HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969 HOPS 'N SHINE 3410 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-566-1509 HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355 JACKS PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372 JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777 JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue Alexandria 703-436-0025 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

Old Town Crier

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

MACKIE’S BAR AND GRILL 907 King St. 703-684-3288 mackiesbarandgrill.com MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117 MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street 703-548-8800 mason-social.com MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032 OAK STEAKHOUSE 901 N. St. Asaph St. 703-840-3395 OCONNELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-822-5699 THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street 571-257-8851 RAMPARTS 1700 Fern St. 703-998-6616 rampartstavern.com RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. Hollin Hall Shopping Center 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274 RT's RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266 SLATERS MARKET 1552 Potomac Greens Dr. 703-548-3807 SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649 SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550 SOUTH BLOCK 106 N. Lee Street 703-465-8423 SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222 SWEETGREEN 823 King St. 571-319-0192 SWEET FIRE DONNA'S BBQ & HOPS 510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

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

THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street 703-838-8000 T.J. STONES GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com TOASTIQUE GOURMET TOAST & JUICE BAR 1605 King Street 571-312-1909 UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com

TEMPO 4231 Duke St. 703-370-7900 temporestaurant.com VILLAGE BRAUHAUS 710 King Street 703-888-1951 villagebrauhaus.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

BRABO 1600 King St. 703-894-3440 LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661 FONTAINES CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151 LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854 TWO NINETEEN RESTAURANT 219 King St. 703-549-1141

ASIAN

ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515

FRENCH

BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com BISTRO SANCERRE FRENCH 1755 Duke Street

ITALIAN

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street 571-319-0794 KISSO ASIAN BISTRO 300 King Street 703-888-1513 MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

ALDO'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 2850 Eisenhower Avenue (behind the building) 703-888-2243 BUGSYS PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313 FACCIA LUNA 823 S. Washington St. 703-838-5998 IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600 NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848 SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458 THAILAND ROYAL 801 N. Fairfax St. 703 535-6622 TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878 CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE 407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800 KAI ZEN TAVERN 1901 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-836-1212 SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154 CONTINENTAL

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 LITTLE ITALY 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338 PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287 RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873 MEDITERRANEAN

CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665 OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

BARCA PIER & WINE BAR 2 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1100 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 1026 King St. 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

GRAB ABITE, TONIGHT! July 2022 31

DINING OUT | FROM PAGE 30

CELEBRATING 36 YEARS

4th Of July Brunch 10 am to 3 pm

July 9th Union Street Public House is “Ground Zero” Port City Bar Crawl!

Order Your Snack Box to watch the Fireworks along the river. (Includes BBQ Ribs, chips and a chocolate brownie! 4th Of July Brunch.)

10 am to 3 pm

121 SOUTH UNION STREET, OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703.548.1785 • UNIONSTREETPUBLICHOUSE.COM

choose from the Bistro side of the menu since the seasonal risotto is offered as a main course.

I started off with the Soupe du Jour which was gazpacho. It is a very creamy version of this popular summertime soup of which I am a big fan. I couldn’t identify what gives it the very pleasant “kick” but the flavors in this version melded together beautifully. The summertime risotto is amazing. The arborio rice is cooked to perfection with the addition of fresh roasted summer corn, oregano, fresh tomato esplette jus and served with a very tasty parmesan crisp. The roasted corn is the star in this dish. I ended my meal with the Basque Brownie that is offered on the Brasserie side of the menu.

Guess you figured out that Mr. and I switched dessert options. I’m not really a big dessert fan but there is something about the desserts that Chef Michelle concocts that I can’t pass up.

She is amazing to say the least. This brownie is a chocolate lover’s overload. It is so rich that two people could actually share it. It isn’t just any old brownie. It is a valrhona tainori spiced fudge brownie served with a mango compote, chocolate crunch and some mango ice cream.

Nothing much more decadent than that!

As you would expect, Bastille has a very extensive list of wines from around the world concentrating on some of the best from France. We ordered a very nice Sancerre which is produced in the area of Sancerre in the eastern part of the Loire Valley. The wine is well regarded for and primarily associated with Sauvignon Blanc. The restaurant also has

a nice spirits selection in the bar as well as both draft and bottled beers. The resident “Coq-tail” expert, Jacob Sunny, has put his mixology skills to good use producing a very nice selection of craft cocktails that change seasonally.

The decor in this restaurant is very light and airy and also very welcoming. One of the more charming things about Bastille is their open kitchen. It is located adjacent to the front dining room. Not only is the action in the kitchen interesting, it is also quite entertaining.

Fun to see what goes on behind the scenes!

Bastille is also perfect for special events.

They use the back dining room for these types of gatherings. I had my 75th birthday party there and it was a great success with the incredible food and attention to detail from their staff.

Speaking of the staff…the night we were dining they were hosting a wine dinner for 20 people, had a full dining room and bar and didn’t miss a beat. The Poteaux team headed up

by Chef Chrisophe and Chef Michelle is a welloiled machine.

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713 King Street • Old Town Alexandria 703.548.1717 • murphyspub.com 32 July 2022

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Old Town Crier

GRAPEVINE

MATTHEW FITZSIMMIONS

Albariño Taking Off In Virginia Albariño is arguably Spain’s signature white grape. Found mainly in the Spanish wine growing region of Rías Baixas and nearby Portuguese region of Vinho Verde (where it’s known as Alvarinho), Albariño produces a light, crisp wine, famous for its salinity and zestiness.

Albariño isn’t well known in Virginia, but be prepared to hear a lot more about it. While Virginia currently only has 34 bearing acres of Albariño, its proven so popular that in the last several years an additional 27 acres have been planted. This makes it the fastest growing grape variety in the state.

It isn’t just a handful of local wineries that are dominating these new planting either. According to Skip Causey, co-owner of Potomac Point Vineyard and President of the Virginia Vineyards Association, “When we were writing the latest Virginia Commercial Grape Report we found 27 new acres of Albariño spread across 12 vineyards. And it isn’t just a handful of big sites that are dominating these plantings. Albariño is going in everywhere.”

“The Mighty Mouse of Grapes” Chrysalis Vineyards helped bring

Albariño into Virginia in 1996. Owner Jenny McCloud explained the idea for planting a Spanish variety was inspired by an American Society of Enology and Viticulture panel on ‘alternative grapes’ led by Dennis Horton and Alan Kinne of Horton Vineyards. But it wasn’t until Jenny visited Rías Baixas that she discovered Albariño, which impressed her with its minerality and acidity.

She may not have realized it at the time, but the weather in Rías Baixas is similar to that of Virginia. Not only do both regions endure high levels of humidity, frequent Atlantic squalls make Rías Baixas one of Spain’s wettest regions. These conditions mean grapes that grow there would likely perform well back home.

Jenny later learned Dr. Tony Wolf of Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Research Center was also looking into this grape, and the results looked promising. Albariño’s loose clusters and tough skins help to prevent rot and increases it’s resistant to pests. It’s also cold hardy, a good trait given the state’s variable weather. To top it all, it has naturally high acidity.

High acid grapes can hang longer than other varieties without losing that acidity – an important factor when

rainfall forces winegrowers to let their grapes dry out on the vine. Virginia’s heat also naturally brings that acidity down to more manageable levels.

These factors make Albariño a hit with Virginia growers.

Caitlin Horton, head winemaker for Horton Vineyards had high praise for her Albariño. “It’s awesome! It’s not bulletproof and it’s got problems, but GRAPEVINE > PAGE 34

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GRAPEVINE | FROM PAGE 33

it’s versatile. It can be oaked, it can be put in steel, and it can be made into a sparkling. The way it tastes in the field is not one note. It has liveliness, it has good acid, and it doesn’t overpower it.

Albariño is the one block you don’t have to worry about as long as you keep it on a regular spray program. It’s not a high density fruit, but it’s very consistent. Unlike some grapes like Petit Manseng it’s also a well-known wine variety. Albariño is the Mighty Mouse of grapes.”

Understanding Albariño’s Appeal Albariño has two big advantages over other up-and-coming Virginia grapes; its name-recognition and versatility.

Petit Manseng is currently one of the darlings of Virginia wine growers, but it lacks the same name recognition Albariño already has. There are just over 3100 acres of Petit Manseng planted globally, according to 2016 data on international grape plantings.

By contrast there are 13,700 acres of Albariño. On top of that, Albariño is already strongly associated with Spanish and Portuguese wines and specifically with Vinho Verde-styles.

It’s also very approachable.

Albariño’s high acidity and salinity makes it a famously good pairing for seafood and fatty dishes. This gives it the potential for filling a niche as a food-friendly, easy-drinking crowdpleaser.

Virginia’s Albariños have also

been racking up awards. Maggie Malick Wine Cave’s 2020 steelfermented Albariño earned double gold in the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition, and later went on to place as one of Virginia’s top-12 wines in the 2022 Governor’s Cup competition. Ingleside Vineyards has also earned a number of Gold medals for their Albariños in different Governor’s Cup competitions.

“Albariño is a premium grape for us,” explained Mark Malick, winegrower at Maggie Malick winery.

“It’s a smaller berry, which means about 25% less yield in comparison to most other grapes. But the smaller berries mean more intensity of flavor.”

Virginia’s Albariños Stand On Their Own This April Maggie Malick hosted

an event with a group of industry professionals, wine writers, and social media mavens to sample Albariños from Virginia, Spain, Portugal, and Uruguay.

Of the 11 Virginia Albariños that were sampled, most tasted varietally correct but distinctly different from their Spanish counterparts. Nearly all the Virginia wines trended toward notes of stone fruit, especially yellow or white peach. Most had more traditional lime-zest flavors. Several had notes of melon.

The greatest difference between local Albariños and Spanish ones were the local examples were even more approachable. The salinity in Spanish and Portuguese Albariño were very apparent. That saline quality was often present in Virginia Albariños, but it wasn’t noticeable to the same degree.

Mark Misch, former winemaker for Ingleside and current winegrower for Trump Winery, explained his view of Albariño’s appeal. “I think it’s a couple factors. Albariño is relatively new to the state so its newness makes it appealing. Not many people know what it should taste like either so we have a lot of wiggle room to make a “Virginia” style.”

You can find great examples of Virginia Albariños around the state, including Maggie Malick Wine Caves, October One Vineyard, Horton Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, and more. Have you tried comparing Virginia and Spanish Albariño? Tell us what you think!

Author: Matthew Fitzsimmons is a blogger who has visited nearly every winery in Virginia. Follow his progress at winetrailsandwanderlust.com/.

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34 July 2022

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EXPLORING VA WINES

DOUG FABBIOLI

The Heat of the Season As all farmers know, one of the biggest elements of our business is free: sunshine! But it takes other, more costly components to allow us to capture that sun and turn it into a sellable product. We also need the rains to come at the right time to make all the growing happen. That magic balance we ask Mother Nature to provide is not always delivered in the way or with the timing we need. The rain and storms are usually the most unpredictable part this time of year. We can count on the sun coming up tomorrow and we even know what time it will rise, but the summer rains, the hail storms, and gully washers that can make or break a crop are harder to forecast as exactly.

We want some rain, but not too much, and we want it spread out enough so the plants have the moisture when they need it. In many winegrowing regions the weather patterns do not provide the summer rains we have here in the MidAtlantic. California is relatively dry from March into October, and farmers there rely on deep roots on their vines and drip irrigation to keep the vines in balance and get the fruit to the best condition for harvest. They have some control over the dry season only if they have access to the water they need when they need it.

Here on the East Coast most vineyards do not have irrigation.

When a new vineyard is planted, we need moisture for those young roots to grow. Often times we can count on those summer thunderstorms to bring the rain needed to get the vines off to a healthy start. Older vines have deeper roots and can handle some dry spells during the growing season. However, because those young vines may have grown up with frequent summer rains, they may have shallower roots because of the surface moisture, and they may need a growing season or two to develop the deep roots needed to see them through periods of drought.

Soil composition is an important factor too. Some soils drain well, some will retain some water, and some can be like a clay pot, holding that water as a puddle on the surface for days after a storm. Having good land to farm on has been critical since ancient cultures stopped wandering and started farming the land. We learned over time what and where the better soils were and acted on that knowledge. I have been fortunate to find a spot where the soils are good for grapes and for a lot of other crops too.

Growing a grapevine is no different than any other crop.

Consistency and balance make things work better, but you have to be prepared for inconsistency and sometimes use man-made techniques to keep your crops healthy. Each crop is different in its needs. The hops we grow on the farm are very thirsty: they want a lot of water on a regular basis. The raspberries are thirsty too, especially just before harvest as those berries fill up with juice. Others are less demanding. We grow sunflowers, asparagus, blueberries, squash, garlic and other crops on our farm in addition to grapes. Some crops are more particular than others in their needs, and we have to know and pay attention to each one.

The summer sun, the staggered rainstorms, and the attentive farmer all come together to nurture the right crops in the right soils so the farm can have a successful season. We farmers accept that perfection is unattainable, but sometimes we get real close and that keeps us going year after year. Enjoy the fresh crops at your local farmers’ market or the preserved crops at your favorite local winery. After all, we grow it for you!

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LET'S GET CRAFTY

TIMOTHY LONG

Oysters and Beer “The world was my oyster, but I used the wrong fork.”

– Oscar Wilde Oysters and beer, one of the greatest culinary delights known to man. A delicacy of indulgence beyond any other. The two go together like eggs and bacon. Back in the 90s, my buddy Devo and I walked into a bar that we knew had great oysters. We wanted to watch the WVU/Syracuse football game.

The bar was running a Saturday afternoon special, 25 cent oysters. Good luck finding that price now.

We sat at the bar, got a pitcher of beer, and ordered 5 dozen oysters. The bartender gave us a derisive look and informed us that she was not shucking 5 dozen oysters. Fair enough. I then asked for a dozen and that we would order more as needed. We ate 6 dozen while watching WVU lose to Syracuse. The oysters saved what would have been a disastrous afternoon.

Oysters are wonderful, but don’t eat one in a month without an “r” in it. That’s the rule! Don’t do it! You’ll be sick for days and vomiting so hard that you’ll see your shoes drop into the water!

I have questioned this ‘R” rule from the first time I heard it. Really? What the hell does the spelling of a month’s name have to do with getting a bad oyster?

The answer is almost nothing. Although, there was a time when this rule did have merit.

According to the New York Times article, Oysters, Despite What You’ve Heard, Are Always in Season, GET CRAFTY > PAGE 37

Tim’s

Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations 36 July 2022

Copper Fox Port Style Barrel Finish Single Malt Pairing an oyster with whiskey can be a great experience. Many people recommend coastal scotches for our local oysters. And although they do blend well together, stick with one of our local whiskies instead. I recommend Copper Fox Port Style Barrel Finish Single Malt. The briny sweet oysters from our Chesapeake waters blend well with a single malt. This local whiskey has notes of honey and ginger with a biscuit style finish that beautifully complements our local oysters. 100 Proof, $79.95 a bottle.

Oliva Series V Liga Especial Belicoso Cigars are made to enjoy after a good meal. So, once you have finished your oysters, fire up an Oliva Series V Liga Especial. This wonderful robust cigar is full of meaty and nutty flavors with a balanced sweetness. A Cigar Aficionado rating of 93 and priced at $6 a stick makes this cigar is a real steal. Enjoy.

Old Town Crier

GET CRAFTY | FROM PAGE 36

this rule dates to an English cookbook from the 1500’s.

“The adage of eating oysters only in “r” months goes back (at least) to 1599, when it appeared in an English cookbook, Dyets Dry Dinner, What it really means is: Say no to raw oysters in the summer. And there’s some merit to that. During the summer, unrefrigerated (or un-iced) oysters spoil more easily, the bacteria that cause food sickness are more rampant, and oysters are spawning.

Dr. Meritt said the cookbook was probably referring to European flat oysters, Ostrea edulis, which brood their larvae inside the shell. During spawning season, a European oyster may come with a surprise crunch: a sac of baby oysters in tiny shells.”

The article goes on to state that our east coast oysters do not reproduce in that way. And that nowadays, the National Shellfish Sanitation Program enforces strict guidelines when it comes to the handling and storage of oysters. Part of which is getting oysters on ice stat. The ice lowers the oysters to a temperature that makes it hard for bacteria to grow. Is the risk a little higher in warmer months? Yes, a bit. But proper handling reduces it greatly. Naturally, you should always be cautious when consuming any shellfish. If it looks, smells, or tastes bad, discard it. Don’t take a chance in any month of the year.

Old Town Crier

“I don’t care what your grandma says.

You can enjoy them any time of year. And what else can you enjoy any time of year? Beer.”

I have my own rule when it comes to eating oysters, only eat them on days that end in Y. I can consume oysters like candy. Oysters are fun to eat and are not seasonal. I don’t care what your grandma says. You can enjoy them any time of year. And what else can you enjoy any time of year? Beer. Oysters and beer are an American tradition that dates to before the country’s founding. The best part of it is that the choices are almost unlimited. Several varieties of beer pair well with several varieties of oysters. Oysters change in flavor according to their location and the time of year. Spring oysters tend to be small and milky. Fall oysters are meaty and sweet. East Coast oysters are briny, sweet, and have a clean

taste. West Coast oysters are bolder with melon and mineral flavors. The choices never end and there really is no right or wrong. You can have a blast doing this!!

To quote M.F.K. Fisher, author of the 1941 book, Consider the Oyster: “One man can drink wine with them, another beer, and another fermented buttermilk, and no man will be wrong,” So, do whatever works for you.

When it comes to oysters and beer, the world really is your oyster. Although, as with any pairing, do try to consider how the tastes will blend. You must have some contrast between the two.

The beer should complement the oyster, and vice versa.

My suggestion, start with a stout or a porter. That’s right, I said a stout or a porter. If you read this column on a regular basis, you know the difference between the two. Why a stout or a porter? Tradition. These beers were paired with oysters back in Victorian England. British pubs of that era poured mostly stouts and porters, and oysters were a popular and plentiful snack. The earthiness of stouts and porters and the brininess of oysters blend wonderfully together. Many people consider this the quintessential pairing. It also happens to be one of my personal favorites. But not an oyster stout, there will not be enough contrast. There will be way too much oyster flavor. Trust me, I’ve tried it.

Here are some other suggestions

to get you started: West coast oysters will often pair well with a citrusy IPA. The lemony taste of the beer pairs well with the melon flavors in the oyster.

Also try them with a German Kolsch or Helles. These beers also magnify the mineral and melon flavors of the oysters. East coast oysters do, of course, go well with a stout or porter, but also try them with a pilsner. The dry, crisp flavors of the pilsner pairs wonderfully with their brininess. And always try to pair your oysters with craft beers from the same region.

The liquid in an oyster captures its local environment, and the same holds true for beer. Food and drink from the same terroir are more apt to complement each other.

Again, the number of pairings is endless. It’s fun to do tastings to see what you most enjoy. Indulge your palate and spend the summer figuring out your favorite pairings.

As Jimmy Buffett once wrote, “Give me oysters and beer for dinner every day of the year. And I’ll feel fine.”

I couldn’t more agree more whole heartedly.

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

July 2022 37

NICOLE FLANAGAN

FITNESS

LOSE THE ROLLS Obesity in America is a big problem.

We as a society are getting fatter each year.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese. Some of the leading causes of death in this country include obesity related conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. With that being said, I believe it may be time to take a closer look at how food and fitness play such an important role in the longevity and quality of this modern life.

Today the term “you are what you eat” can have a very bad outlook if you consider what we are putting into our bodies. So much of what we eat is processed and manufactured to the point that when we consume this “food” our bodies don’t know what to do with it. The human body is meant to break down foods that come from natural sources such as whole grains, fresh produce, and natural sources of

protein. Food should be seen as a source of energy for the body. When we eat clean natural food our bodies can use every molecule. Each molecule goes to someplace in the body where it can be used and does something positive for your health.

Protein molecules go to building and repairing tissue. Healthy fats are used to lubricate cells and keep things like hair, skin and other organs healthy.

Molecules from complex carbohydrates are broken down and used as energy for the body to carry out its daily processes. Fiber is used to clean out our system and water carries important nutrients where they need to go. When every little bit of food is used up there is nothing left to store as excess fat.

However, when our digestive system encounters something that’s not found in nature, like a lot of the processed, chemically charged, sugar-fortified food that we see everywhere today, it simply sticks it

in a fat cell and leaves it, since there is nothing else it can do. This is where the problem of excess body weight begins. The meals we eat should consist of lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables and complex carbohydrates. Not sugar, caffeine and partially hydrogenated foods that seem to be more abundant and cheaper than what is really good for you.

When it comes to the battle of losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight I am sure that many people believe that if you work out hard enough you can essentially eat what you want. The idea that if you simply burn off more calories than you take in would lead one to the conclusion that this will cause weight loss. For the most part this is not incorrect. However, what if someone told you that 80% of weight management is diet? What if someone said that your weight could be controlled simply by monitoring what food goes into your system? It is almost crazy to think that 80% of weight management is diet, a mere 10% is exercise and the other 10% is genetics. But it’s true! Now, I am not saying that exercise should not be part of a healthy routine, but the fact is that you can change the way you look and feel just by changing what you eat. In fact, your workouts will feel much less like a chore and more something that you look forward to. Think of what you eat more as a way to fuel your body and feed your muscles so that every working part can perform at optimum levels. If what you eat is clean, healthy, and well-balanced meals then that’s what you will feel like. If you rely on fast food and artificial energizers all you will get is a quick buzz before you come crashing down again. Diet should be based on the best way to fuel a workout, and not base your workout on how to work off those extra empty calories.

When you put good healthy food into your system what you get in return is more energy, a healthier complexion, less health problems and more energy.

Oh, did I say that twice? Yes, you will have more energy, and not the kind you get from drinking a cup of coffee with a snickers bar. I cannot mention enough how much better you feel when what you consume is actually used up by the body and not stored in some fat molecule. Eating a healthy diet is the first step to maintaining a healthy weight.

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FROM THE TRAINER RYAN UNVERZAGT

Weight Plate Horseshoe Welcome back to another edition of From the Trainer! Hope everyone has enjoyed the summer so far with plenty of sunshine, heat, and humidity on the way. July has a couple of important dates to note. The first is the celebration of our nation’s Independence from Great Britain.

The next day is my father’s birthday!

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this month which generally involves burgers, brats, and beer. Keep your health & fitness goals in mind while enjoying the summer BBQ’s. Eat and drink in moderation. Take advantage of all the local farmers’ markets by purchasing the fresh fruit and vegetables while supporting the area farmers as well as your health! My family farms in Wyoming and I know they appreciate when people support and recognize all the hard working families that bring food to your table.

With that said, I’ll move on to another exercise that can help you stay fit. I call it the Weight Plate Horseshoe.

It targets the shoulders and upper trapezius muscles. I really enjoy this exercise because it challenges your balance, abdominal strength, and provides resistance from multiple directions. Many variations of this exercise exist, but I’ll describe just one version.

Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart holding a weight plate at one side with your arms straight-(Figure 1). I suggest using a 10lb plate for women and a 25lb plate for men. Using your shoulders to lift, bring the plate up and out to the side of your body while keeping the arms straight-Figure 2. Continue to rotate the weight above your head, and then slowly let it down on the opposite side in the same fashion-Figure 3.

A few things to remember during the exercise: Control the weight at all times. Avoid twisting your spine.

Contract the abdominals while lifting, this helps stabilize the torso and isolates the shoulders better.

STRAIN PAIN?

Treatment for Repetitive Strain Injury and ways to prevent them!

Avoid twisting your spine.

Contract the abdominals while lifting At this point, you’re only halfway through the exercise. Rotate the weight plate in the opposite direction to complete the “horseshoe”. This counts as only one repetition. Try one set of 8-10 reps before progressing to more sets and reps. You can add this exercise to any workout for variation.

If you like more of a challenge, stand on top of a Bosu Balance Trainer to involve more of the legs. Enjoy the Weight Plate Horseshoe along with all

the other fun summertime activities this month!

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.

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July 2022 39

FIRST BLUSH

KIM PUTENS

Oily Skin + DC Humidity = Complexion Havoc Oily skin combined with 100% humidity in Washington DC equals havoc. It doesn’t, however, have to reach havoc stage if you follow these simple tips:

“Blot, blot, blot.”

KEEP OILY SKIN BALANCED BY WASHING RIGHT. Make sure to use the right type of face wash to break down oils but not dry it out. When we see a breakout, our first reaction is to reach for the benzyl peroxide and dry it out. While you may see instant gratification, the problem is your skin will have a complete breakout meltdown shortly thereafter. The reason is the over drying caused by the harsh response makes the skin produce more oils to compensate for the attempt to dry it out. Thus, the skin experiences more and worse breakouts. The best way to combat this is to use a cleanser with at least 2% salicylic acid. The salicylic acid will clean out the pores of the excess oil, but will not dry it out.

LIGHTEN UP ON YOUR NIGHT CREAM. No matter your skin type, the extreme humidity of summer makes it unnecessary to use heavy moisturizers. The general rule of thumb – if you use a cream in the winter, switch to a lotion. If you typically use a lotion, consider a hydrating serum. And, if your skin is extremely oily, you may not need a lotion at all.

EXFOLIATE AND SLOUGH OFF DEAD SKIN CELLS AND CLEAN OUT PORES. Using a physical exfoliation once a week will help to relieve the skin of dead cells and unclog pores. For even better results, follow the exfoliation with a mask. Clay masks are best – particularly during summer months – because the

40 July 2022

clay works to suck out impurities in the pores that lead to breakouts. If you find that your skin is really greasy, you may want to try a glycolic peel. Glycolic acids exfoliate the skin by breaking down dead cells rather than sloughing them off. Glycolic peels come in varying degrees of intensity. Because of the deep exfoliation of a glycolic peel, it’s imperative that you wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun.

SCALE BACK YOUR MAKEUP. Summer is time to abandon foundations. Foundations melt into pores and contribute to break outs. Furthermore, skin always looks best in the summer. So, there is no reason to hide it behind foundation. Instead, try tinted moisturizers or powder foundations. Many tinted moisturizers offer sunscreen and powder foundations help to soak up oils.

CHOOSE SUNBLOCK IN LIEU OF MOISTURIZERS. Some sun blocks actually absorb oils. Look for sun blocks with oil absorbing micronized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. In addition to their abilities to absorb oil, they also offer the best sunscreen protection.

BLOT, BLOT, BLOT. Use oil blotting papers to soak up excess oils. These miracle papers don’t strip the skin of its natural oils. Reach for these instead of a powder puff. Using too much powder can lead to a cakey look.

Old Town Crier

STEVE CHACONAS

GO FISH

D E D N BRA

Branding is a key component in every marketing plan.

Some products are so well branded they become the default name in a category.

The competition tries to create a generic label to break the branded lock on the market.

Kleenex becomes tissue,

Coke becomes cola, Scotch tape is reduced to tape. It’s no different in the fishing business.

Fishing is brand oriented.

Anglers want to know exactly what pros use to win

tournaments. Anglers want to know details down to the hook, line, and sinker. In fact, many anglers think pros fish with prototype lures not available to average fishermen.

Worse yet, it’s been common practice for anglers to use a lure, only to give credit to their sponsor equivalent or no credit at all. This practice has been exposed by co-angler presence and media coverage, but still happens. The industry has coined generic lure categories to remove inadvertent advertising for competing products. Winners can keep their bait a mystery using generic names, while the actual lure company goes without credit.

Around 2004, pros were winning with a new lure. Chatterbaits brought immediate angling success and were on the deck of nearly every level of tournament angling. Demand was overwhelming for the original designer who struggled to meet orders. Tackle makers pounced with lookalikes.

Legal action stopped most, but astute intellectual property attorneys encroached without infringing on patents and a new category was created, the bladed jig. As the water cleared, ZMan emerged as the sole proprietor of the Original Chatterbait. While wins came with the Original Chatterbait, unsponsored anglers credited their success to the nondescript bladed jig label, denying Chatterbaits of their due respect. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it doesn’t pay the bills.

As the Chatterbait led the

way in the bladed jig category, more good vibrations have been coming from ZMan. The Jackhammer, Stealth, and MiniMax and many other unique Chatterbait versions have expanded their bladed jig dominance.

Take for example the Silver Buddy lure from Kentucky.

Buddy Banks and Billy Westmorland designed, tinkered, and forged a metal multi-species fish catching bait nearly 40 years ago.

Owning the market, this proven cold water slab of metal has been labeled a blade bait. Sources witnessing the record catch of the largest Potomac River bass report a Silver Buddy was used.

Even at the weigh in, credit was given to Silver Buddy.

However, once a record was recognized, the catch was attributed to another brand.

Published reports name a BPS Lazer Blade lure, or simply blade bait, as the bait that landed the record setting 11.2 pound fish. There are many blade bait brands, some with

holographic finishes, glass eyes, fish shapes, however, Silver Buddy lures enjoy a strong brand as most anglers refer to all blade baits as Silver Buddys. This simple but wellbranded bait lives up to their slogan, Catching Anything That Swims.

Walking the dog took on new meaning for fishermen when the Zara Spook first hit the water. It’s been copied hundreds of times since it was created in the early 1900s. Creator James Heddon cracked the topwater lure surface and set the stage for a category where every lure company has an entry, the walking bait. Walking topwater lures are called Spooks, no matter the manufacturer. While many have floated designs with artistic baitfish patterns, sound chambers, and modified shape to affect the walk, after nearly 100 years there’s only one Spook. Look alikes were called Spooks.

But as the effectiveness of GO FISH > PAGE 43

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Potomac River Bassing in July Time for frogs over thick grass. Use 60 pound test Gamma Torque braid. Same line with a ¾-1.5 ounce tungsten weight to punch through matted grass with Texas rigged soft plastics. These techniques are best when it’s hot and sunny. For frogs, cover water over grass to locate bass for the punching method. Punch through loose grass and sticks, etc. floating around thick mats.

Early in the day or under low tide or cloudy conditions, use walking baits and poppers, on 30 pound test Torque braid around edges of grass, docks, or riprap. Vary speeds depending on water clarity, faster in clear, slower in stained water.

Shallow diving crankbaits cover water tied to 14 pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon. Another bait to use it a big bodied, buoyant crankbait like the Lucky Craft BDS 4. Contacting grass is key for both of these. Crank down to the grass and snap free, then pause and repeat.

Jigs work…pitching, swimming and bladed jigs in craw patterns or black/blue pattern…in grass and around docks. Use either Gamma braid or fluorocarbon line. Heavy drop shot works around cover and in grass.

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OPEN SPACE

LORI WELCH BROWN

What I learned from the Depp/Heard

Freedom Found and Squandered (or Streamed)

I

t’s July, and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Freedom. Which, to be honest, I often take for granted because I’m an entitled American, and thanks to a lot of brave people whom I tip my hat to a couple of times a year, I get to say and do what I

want.

I’m joking, but also not. I do take my freedom for granted. I’m guessing that many of us do. When I think about it, I enjoy a treasure trove of freedoms every single day. I am free to get up when I choose, free to eat and drink what I choose. Free to purchase what I choose from whomever I choose. Free to read and/or write whatever suits me. Free to leave my house when I want and make decisions of my own will.

Many human beings do not share these same luxuries I afford every day. There are many sick people who are not free to leave their bed, many forced to work two jobs to keep themselves afloat, and many who are trapped under a cycle of domestic abuse—which is my segue-way to talk about what we all really want to talk about: The Johnny Depp v.

Amber Heard trial.

For the record, *domestic abuse is no joking matter, and in no way do I want to make light of it.

Although I agree with the jury’s findings, whether you agree with me or not, I’m sure we can all agree that domestic violence is never okay—towards men or women. Whatever my thoughts are about the trial, I do think that shedding light on the fact that men can be abused and not just abusers was a good thing.

42 July 2022

*Domestic abuse is no laughing matter. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please seek help by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

In case you have been living in a cave, the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial took place in our very own Fairfax County for the better part of six weeks.

Megastar Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, over an article she wrote in the Washington Post which he claimed defamed him, labeling him as a wife beater.

I wasn’t immediately riveted to the trial, but once I was hooked, it was over. I spent countless hours glued to the live stream. I even went to the courthouse on Day 13 in an attempt to acquire one of the coveted courtroom entry tickets. Alas—I was not successful, but I did get a JD sighting.

So you know, I wasn’t a huge Johnny Depp fan before the trial, but I did know he was Captain Jack Sparrow and had been in a lot of movies including Edward Scissorhands. I had no clue who Amber Heard was—didn’t even know they had been married. I have since gone back and watched many of his movies. If you haven’t seen What’s Eating Gilbert Grape or Benny and Joon, tee them up ASAP. But, I digress.

Once the closing arguments were presented, I was like a feral cat waiting for the verdict. All those hours watching attorney’s sidebar with the judge, I will never get back, but my time was not a total waste as I did learn quite a lot from the trial which I’d like to share:

Trial

• Famous people own a lot of real esta te and employ a lot of people; • You can make a crap load of money bein g an expert witness; • If you have enough money, you can find anyone who agrees with your opinion and who will ‘expertly’ testify to said opinion; • Rich people do a lot of recreational drug s; • Rich people drink really expensive wine . Amber was guzzling $500 a BOTTLE to a tune of $30,000/month; • I don’t have a drinking problem; • MDMA is a drug, not a government entit y; • You can’t take your dog to another coun try without doing some serious paperwork so probably best to leave Fido at home; • Personal assistants are underpaid and can be very surly as a result; • Amber Heard is not a great actress even on the witness stand; • Court reporters are underrated; • Johnny Depp is a charismatic, engaging actor, especially on the witness stand; • It pays to have a great legal team; • It pays to be friends with rich people—y ou get free rent at swanky condos in cities you coul d never otherwise afford to live in; • Trailer parks are underrated—even cele bs dig them; • Much of life can be chalked up to ‘hea rsay;’ • You can assault your couch and/or som e cabinets, but not your spouse or anyone for that matter. EVER.

The true lesson is that we enjoy many freedoms that we should never take for granted—apparently the freedom to enjoy a mega-pint first thing in the morning is one of them. What we don’t have is the freedom to bully and/or abuse anyone—emotionally or physically—even if he/she left a #2 in your bed.

Did that really happen?

In the end, you are free to form your own opinion or those of the many expert witnesses who were paid a lot of money for their testimony. Whoever you believe, it’s important to treat everyone as a human being and offer them kindness, compassion, and maybe a little empathy.

Perhaps we owe a debt of gratitude to Johnny, Amber, all the attorneys, jurors, etc. for giving us the ultimate freedom—distraction from real world events and disturbing news stories. Personally speaking, I may have to go back and watch it all again for that very reason, and thanks to streaming service and the sweltering heat, I have the freedom to do just that.

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.

Old Town Crier

LEAVE FOOTPRINTS | FROM PAGE 17

Region

Country

Safari

City Break

Beach Adrenaline Historical Desert Sights

Diving/ Snorkeling

withdrawal limits. So, don’t arrive expecting to take out enough cash to cover your whole trip in one go!

Try to have at least one Visa card.

It is more widely accepted than Mastercard. I won’t even talk about American Express.

Step 10: Get Ready to be Flexible Now you’re done with all that planning it’s important to remember that anything can happen once you arrive. That airport transfer might be an hour late. That specific room you booked is no longer available. Your guide, he’ll turn up two hours late on the first day. Power outages might have you drinking warm white wine.

Nairobi’s notorious traffic might mean it takes you hour to escape the city limits. You get the idea!

A common adage used when traveling in Africa, and one that you’ll be bound to hear at some point on your trip, is “T.I.A” or “This is Africa”.

Casting aside some of the dangerous prejudices the phrase might conjure, it’s an endearing characterisation of Africa’s ability to mess with your best laid plans; but in doing so it always manages to earn a place in your heart.

Roll with the punches my friend, you’re in for a thrilling ride!

Northern Africa

Egypt

X

X

X

X

Northern Africa

Morocco

X

X

X

X

Northern Africa

Tunisia

X

X

X

X

Tunis, Carthage, El Jem

Southern Africa

Botswana

X

X

Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert

Southern Africa

Eswatini

X

Southern Africa

Malawi

X

X

X

X

Liwonde National Park, Lake Malawi, Majete Wildlife Reserve

Southern Africa

Mozambique

X

X

X

X

Bazaruto Archipelago, Maputo, Gorongosa National Park

Southern Africa

Namibia

X

X

X

Southern Africa

South Africa

X

X

X

Southern Africa

Zambia

X

X

Southern Africa

Zimbabwe

X

X

Eastrn Africa

Kenya

X

Eastrn Africa

Madagascar

Eastrn Africa

Rwanda

X

Eastrn Africa

Tanzania

X

Eastrn Africa

Uganda

X

X

X

X

X X

X

Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Great Zimbabwe

X

X

X

X

X X

X

for removing abandoned vessels, according the Virginia Coastal Policy Center report.

Florida, California and other coastal states have also developed ongoing funding mechanisms to pay for the removal of derelict vessels.

A draft of Virginia’s abandoned vessels report suggests the General Assembly steer more funds toward boat removals, possibly through a new fee paid when a boat is registered.

Those funds could also support programs to improve disposal options and prevent abandonments.

The Coastal Policy Center’s paper suggests that Virginia legislators could also approve a “liability shield,” similar to Maryland’s, that protects agencies and individuals from the financial and legal risks associated with the removal

Disposal Options Boat owners who want to dispose of a vessel properly will find it’s not easy in Virginia. State websites don’t offer guidance, leaving boat owners to call around and ask if local landfills will accept a large fiberglass hull they can’t sell elsewhere.

Acknowledging that this is a problem in multiple states, one website suggests cutting a fiberglass boat into pieces with a chainsaw so a landfill will accept it. Some companies also offer boat removal services.

“An old car has scrap value of a few hundred dollars. But old fiberglass boats — there’s usually nothing salvageable or salable and it costs money to dispose of them correctly,” said Katie Register, executive director of Longwood’s Clean Virginia Waterways.

State officials are looking into whether fiberglass from vessels can be shredded and burned as fuel and usable ash by a cement factory.

Internationally, fiberglass wind turbines are providing alternatives to coal ash for some cement manufacturers.

Other states offer vessel turn-in programs that, once disposal options are arranged, can save state agencies the cost and effort of removing vessels that might otherwise become abandoned.

“It’s much less expensive to dispose of a boat if someone turns it in and shows they own it,” Register said.

“It costs one-tenth as much as a boat that’s been abandoned in the environment.”

Abandoned vessels are just one source of pollution addressed in Virginia’s overarching Marine Debris Reduction Plan, first created in 2014

GO FISH | FROM PAGE 41

Lewis affectionally called his rattle trap. In fact, his Rat L Trap crankbait is so well branded, the industry needed to come up with two generic labels, lipless crankbait and simply “Trap”. Not only that, but there are more copies of this bait than of the Mona Lisa. No matter how many different sound chambers and thunks, dings and clicks, the Original Rat L Trap remains the standard in this lure

class. Still independently owned with many of the original employees the Rat L Trap catches fish and, when the going gets tough, anglers tie on the real Trap.

Branding isn’t just a marketing ploy to promote a lure into a legend. It’s the other way around, legendary lures create the brand. With fishing lures, branding perpetuates the lure and its lore for generations. Build the brand

FROM THE BAY | FROM PAGE 24

the walking action proved positive through many angling generations, other companies entered the market under the walking bait category or in many cases, just walker. The Spook brand wasn’t just created, it endured versions from around the world.

The best branded bait was named after the old clunker car inventor Bill Old Town Crier

of abandoned vessels.

Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Winelands

X X

X

Hlane Royal National Park, Mkhaya Game Reserve, Lebombo Mountains

Victoria Falls, Luanwa National Park, Kafue National Park

X

X

Fez, Marrakesh, Sahara Desert

Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund

X

X

Cairo, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh

X

X

X

Hiking Three Noteworthy Destinations

X

Nairobi, Maasai Mara, Amboseli National Park Avenue of the Baobabs, Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Three Bays

X

Gorilla Trekking, Kigali, Akagera National Park

X

Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Zanzibar

X

Gorilla Trekking, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park

and updated in 2021. The state has made progress tackling other forms of plastic pollution such as bags, polystyrene and balloons. But the abandoned boats problem has risen as a recent priority as fiberglass vessels age out.

“I would argue that all of these are priorities,” Register said. “We can stop using [plastic] straws at restaurants and prevent pollution from fiberglass boats. It’s an all-hands-on-deck situation.”

and they will copy. Well-branded lures

About the Author: Whitney Pipkin is a Bay Journal staff writer based in Virginia. You can reach her at wpipkin@ bayjournal.com. This article first appeared in the June 2022 issue of the Bay Journal and was distributed by the Bay Journal News Service. It has been edited for space.

catch fish. The category copies catch fishermen.

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac bass fishing guide. Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. Book trips/purchase gift certificates: info@ NationalBass.com.

July 2022 43

NATIONAL HARBOR

SUSAN BOUNDS

Photos courtesy Kaleidoscope Immersive

Hot Times in The Harbor The National Harbor’s Waterfront District premiere restaurant, Bond 45 and New York Producer HollyAnne Devlin are happy to announce that Speakeasy At The Sunset Room - an all-in-one immersive mixology experience that combines the worlds of cirque, illusion, burlesque and musical theatre with an upscale cocktail flight - will open at the Sunset Room in National Harbor for a limited engagement this summer following a sold out run in New York City. Hailed as “deliciously decadent” (Newsbreak), and “dazzling, splashy, sexy, intoxicating” (NY Theatre Guide).

Enjoy the delectable delicacies of Bond 45, while being tantalized by the world’s hottest stage, cirque and burlesque stars. Each ticket for this magical mixology experience includes a flight of five cocktails and a delicious appetizer from Bond 45’s world class culinary team. Dinner and a Show packages which include a delicious three course meal at Bond 45 are also on offer. This is the perfect celebratory night for friends, couples, bachelorette parties, Girls Night’s Out and more!

Speakeasy is directed by HollyAnne Devlin whose Broadway and Touring credits include Jersey Boys, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays and Bring It On The Musical, choreographed by Broadway’s Michael Fatica (Beetlejuice, 44 July 2022

ABOUT “SPEAKEASY” Created by entertainment innovator and Broadway creative, Holly-Anne Devlin (Jersey Boys, 700 Sundays, Bring It On), Speakeasy first played as a feature film with cocktail delivery to sold out virtual audiences during the pandemic and featured celebrity guests Hazel Honeysuckle, Autumn Miller, Miss Miranda, Mike Peele, Dan Sperry, Big Will Simmons, artists from Cirque Du Soleil and many more creatives from New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Th e live version premiered in New York City in June 2021 and played to Sold Out Audiences at Bond 45 through the end of that year. @Speakeasytimessquare Performances begin on Friday, July 1st at 8pm and play Friday evening’s at 8pm, Saturday Evening’s at 5pm and 8pm and Sunday’s at Noon and 5pm through July 31st. Tickets start at $99 and may be purchased exclusively on FEVER (feverup.com/m/115436) and include a sinful snack and five decadent signature cocktails designed by the master mixologists of Bond 45. Dining packages are available before and after the show to complete the supper club experience.

ABOUT KALEIDOSCOPE IMMERSIVE Their productions are created for the global community to enjoy. By incorporating cocktails, improvisational comedy, burlesque and contemporary spins on infamous tunes that live in the heartbeat of modern society, our events are accessible, celebratory and exactly what is needed in this ever-changing entertainment landscape.

Hello Dolly, Frozen) and features the top cirque, burlesque, and theatrical performers in the world including Broadway’s Annelise Baker (Jagged Little Pill) as Imogen; Madison O’Connor (The Radio City Rockette’s) as Amour; Nichelle Lewis (Hairspray) as Bessie Bourbon, Lauren Mary Moore as Fleur De Lis; international burlesque and opera singing

sensation, Opera Gaga; star of Legendary on HBO Max Karma Stylez; Golden Clown of Monaco, international cirque star, Chen Lei, tap dancing sensation, Brian Davis (After Midnight); and Oscar at the Crown star, Jada Temple as the mistress of ceremonies, Madam Lulu; along with internationally acclaimed burlesque and variety artists, Tansy

Burlesque, Audrey Love, MisSa Blue, Chrishon Jerome, Hayley Lampart (Kinky Boots), Barnaby Llewellyn and Peekaboo Pointe; “America’s Got Talent” contortionist, Aryn; All Star Cheerleader Charlee Shae, world renowned cirque artist Allison Schieler and special guest stars from Broadway will also make appearances throughout the run.

The creative team also includes New York favorites Liya Grigoryan as the evening’s Musical Director, costume designs by Tristan Raines, lighting design by Michael Powers, sound design by Emmy nominated, Ron Sinko, stage management by Laura West and Tyler Deleo and Josh Roberts on Drums and award winning jazz artist Tony Glausi on trumpet. Speakeasy is produced and managed by Kaleidoscope Immersive/ Holly-Anne Devlin and Myles Nuzzi.

Step in to the world of Speakeasy where sirens rule the night and celebration is not only encouraged but expected!

Thank you to Susan Bounds of Bendure Communications for this contribution to my Harbor column. We are looking forward to seeing the show. Watch our Instagram and Facebook page for my thoughts on the performance.

Old Town Crier

BUST OUT! The days are longer, the sun is warmer, and the road beckons.

We invite you to visit both of our unique distillery locations for whisky flights and craft cocktails, and of course, bottles of your favorites to bring home.

We’ve been waiting for you.

Experience the flavor journey that never ends.

9 River Lane Sperryville, Virginia 540.987.8554

901 Capitol Landing Road Williamsburg, Virginia 757.903.2076

www.copperfoxdistillery.com

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2-Car Garage | 3-Levels Townhome from Upper $600s 4-Level Townhome from Low $700s GPS to Model Home: 14900 Conference Center Dr., Chantilly, VA 20151 New Decorated Model: 5286 Ridgeview Retreat Dr., Chantilly, VA 20151

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