Old Town Crier- September 2016 Full Issue

Since 1988 • Priceless

September 2016

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Road Trip

Dining Out

Personality Profile

Business Profile

Civil Discourse

THE ROAD TO COPPER FOX DISTILLERY

THE WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL

CHARLOTTE HALL

GOODIES FROZEN CUSTARD & TREATS

APPOMATTOX STATUE

Where the Locals Eat!

Queen of the Potomac Rivah!

Step Back to the ‘60s

Still Standing and Staying

Williamsburg, Virginia oldtowncrier.com

september’16 A Division of Crier Media Group OTC Media LLC PO Box 320386 Alexandria, VA 22320 703. 836.0132

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office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com Published the first week of every month.

Worth waiting for!

PUBLISHER Bob Tagert

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MARKETING & ADVERTISING Lani Gering Bob Tagert SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE Ashley Schultz

A Bit of History After Hours

Alexandria Events DESIGN & PRODUCTION Electronic Ink Art & Antiques 9 Royal Street, SE Leesburg, VA 20175 703.669.5502 Chris Anderson Peggie Arvidson Sarah Becker Frank Britt Bonnie Browning F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Doug Coleman Jimmy Deaton Doug Fabbioli Nicole Flanagan

CONTRIBUTORS Lani Gering Miriam Kramer Sarah Liu Jeff McCord Kate McLean Julie Reardon Chester Simpson Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown

Behind the Bar

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Financial Focus

6

24

Oysters!

First Blush

43

Personality Profile

4

Fitness

40

Pets of the Month

17

15

From the Bay…

22

Plein Air Festival

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28

From the Trainer

41

Points on Pets

16

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5

Gallery Beat

14

Publisher’s Notes

Caribbean Connection

18

Go Fish

39

Road Trip

Chef’s Special

34

Grapevine

36

Social Media Message

7

Civil Discourse

9

High Notes

11

Spiritual Renaissance

44

Dining Guide

32

National Harbor

46

The Last Word

13

Dining Out

29

On the Road

1

To the Blue Ridge

25

Exploring Virginia Wines

38

Open Space

45

Urban Garden

10

Business Profile

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© 2016 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 as well as St. John, USVI.

About the cover On the road with OTC A hummingbird feeding at a brightly colored feeder on Hope Springs Farm in bucolic Orlean, Va. Photo by Julie Reardon

Old Town Crier

Old Town Crier friends and readers take the good news with them on their trip to South Africa! This photo was taken at the Okonjima Game Reserve in Namibia.

They posed in the cheetah and leopard rescue area. Front row: Tina Dicken, Caroline Healy, Ashton Dicken, Scott Dicken; Back row: Kevin Dicken, Sandy VanDerEems, Catherine Fontaine, Michael Lucker. If you would like to see your picture here, take the OTC with you on your next trip, snap a high resolution photo and send it along with information for the caption to office@oldtowncrier.com. Happy Trails!

September 2016 | 1

PUBLISHER’S NOTES BOB TAGERT

FALL EVENTS 14th Annual King Street Art Festival September 17 & 18 Mount Vernon Colonial Market & Fair September 17 & 18 75th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour September 24 Seaport Day D 2016 September 24

Nice weather has finally arrived and the heat of summer is beginning to fade. As Fall sidles in, the time for outdoor events and festivals is in the air. In addition to the 14th Annual King Street Arts Festival and Art on the Avenue (Oct. 1) here in Alexandria, the Plein Air Festival is this month in Solomons, Md. and the 50th Annual Oyster Festival takes place in October in St. Mary’s County, Md. Read about these two festivals in this issue.

There is also the Rappahannock Farm Festival in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. If you go, make a point to stop by Tula’s in Little Washington for a libation and a bite to eat.

For the last three months we have asked for opinions regarding whether or not to remove Appomattox, the Confederate statue at Washington and Prince streets. Read Doug Coleman’s analysis and excerpts from the numerous comments we received. All of the responses will be online at oldtowncrier.com.

Since we first began soliciting opinions as to whether to keep the statue or concede to its removal, the committee appointed by the city has ruled that Appomattox should stay.

In her Open Space column, Lori Welch Brown reflects on why we should all step back and take some time to look around and spend quality time with those close to us. Farmer D gives us the low down on keeping cacti alive and thriving in Urban Garden. This is just a peek at this month’s content.

Unlike Facebook, I guarantee that when you read the Old Town Crier and turn its pages, they will not go blank and reboot and that there will be no pop-up ads to interrupt your enjoyment. Just good reading folks … and the places advertised are well worth the interest.

Just saying.

Some of you may have noticed that we haven’t mentioned the 15th anniversary of 9/11 in this issue. We discussed this at length and decided that doing so would continue giving attention to the terrorists who committed the crime. We will remember all those lost in the tragedy as well as all who were part of the rescue. We hope you honor them in your own way as well.

Let’s celebrate the last summer hoorah on Labor Day and then welcome cooler weather and the changing leaves! Also, drive safely, everyone … remember school is in session.

2nd Annual Alexandria Live Music Week September 30-October 8 21st Annual Art on the Avenue October 1 A Mansion House Whiskey Tasting at Carlyle House October 22

AN ALEXANDRIA

20th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade October 30

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Old Town Crier

Alexandria SEPTEMBER TOURS, EXHIBITS, EVENTS

1-9 BLACKBERRY DAZE Admission: $55 Wednesday-Thursday 8 p.m. and Sunday 7 p.m.; $60 Friday-Saturday 8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 3 p.m.

Metro Stage 1201 N. Royal Street 703-548-9044 www.MetroStage.org USA Today called Blackberry Daze by Ruth P. Watson & Thomas W. Jones II, “A powerful deeply moving story of triumph and tragedy, love and family … a journey straight into the center of the human heart.” The play, which runs September 1-October 9, 2016, features music by William Knowles.

9 GENTLEMAN DISTILLER: WHISKEY TASTING & DINNER 6:30-9:45 p.m.

Admission: $125 per person George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill 5513 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy 703-780-3383 www.MountVernon.org The evening begins with a reception at George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, where guests will get a firsthand look at how whiskey was produced in Washington’s time. The event continues on the estate with a brief talk by Mount Vernon’s resident distiller, followed by a whiskey tasting and seated dinner at Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant.

10 2ND ANNUAL ALEXANDRIA 9/11 HEROES RUN 9 a.m. (patriotic opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m.)

Admission: $25 (family 4 pack for $80); Volunteers and spectators are free Carl Sandburg Middle School 8428 Fort Hunt Road 202-846-6819 www.TravisManion.org/tmf_911run_ race/911-heroes-run-alexandria The 9/11 Heroes Run unites communities internationally with the goal to never forget the sacrifices of the heroes of September 11th and in the wars since.

Join us to raise awareness and honor the fallen. The 9/11 Heroes Run 5k +1M fun run/walk welcomes runners and walkers of all levels and of all ages. Events take place all over the world, on or near September 11th, and are 100% organized by local community volunteers. It is the perfect opportunity for your community to personally come out and thank your local veterans, their families, and first responders in an annual, fun, and familyfriendly environment!

10 CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY DAY 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission: Free Fort Ward 4301 West Braddock Road 703-746-4848 www.FortWard.org Learn about the role of artillerymen at a fort in the Defenses of Washington from reenactors portraying the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, a unit stationed at Fort Ward during the Civil War. Activities include cannon firing demonstrations, camp life and equipment display. Program is weather-dependent.

10- OCTOBER 1 STEEL MAGNOLIAS Admission: $22 Little Theatre of Alexandria 600 Wolfe Street 703-683-0496 www.TheLittleTheatre.com Sometimes friendship is all you need.

Steel Magnolias features a group of Louisiana women as they bond and gossip at a local beauty shop while following the marriage and motherhood of one of the customer’s daughters. Playwright Robert Harling’s poignant, sassy, and quick-witted play made its 2005 Broadway debut after the successful 1989 film version. Come join these women as they make their way over life’s many hurdles together. Winner of The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s “People’s Choice” survey.

11 GEORGE WASHINGTON PATRIOT RUN Admission: $50 per runner; $10 for spectator tickets at the finish line Mount Vernon Estate 3200 Mount Vernon Hwy. 703-780-2000 www.MountVernon.org Dash through history during the George Washington Patriot Run 10K and 5K, which finishes at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. A children’s “Fun Run” will take place near the finish line in the historic area.

11 PRESIDENTIAL SALON WITH JAMES MADISON 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Admission: $15 (adults); $10 (students) Gadsby’s Tavern Museum 134 N. Royal Street 703-746-4242 shop.AlexandriaVA.gov/Events.aspx Join President Madison as he discusses and engages guests about political and personal issues of 1816. Reservations are recommended.

ALEXANDRIA EVENTS > PAGE 30

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PERSONALITY PROFILE BOB TAGERT

CHARLOTTE HALL Queen of the Potomac Rivah

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Chessie and Rio

his will be fun. I have known Charlotte for many years yet in many ways I hardly knew her. Over the years we have both been on different merchant group committees, however she carried it a bit further and was a member of just about every organization in Alexandria. She has been involved with and also has had an influence on many decisions regarding the well being and growth of Alexandria. Her influence has been felt by all and has recently earned her the nickname of the “Nag.” Hall grew up in Warrenton, Va. back when Warrenton was still very country. The city folks hadn’t yet discovered the beauty of the area.

She was an active person who loved to ride horses, which she still enjoys today. Her outgoing personality was just right for the theater, and she joined and worked with the Children’s Theater for years.

Upon graduating from high school, Hall attended Randolph-Macon, a liberal arts college, in Ashland, Virginia near Richmond. After she graduated she took a position as 4 | September 2016

Deputy Director of Richmond- onthe- James that today is known as the Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau today. Back in those days Richmond had walking tours, bus tours and one boat that gave tours on the James River. They figured that they needed another boat so rather than go through the procurement process, they just asked Charlotte to find them another boat. Hall’s interest in the James was profound and so consuming that the Richmond City Planning Director laughed and said’ “Only the Swamp Queen would be interested in the James River…the swamp!” It was because of her concern for the James River that she earned the nickname, Swamp Boogie Queen.

Charlotte contacted three different boat companies for bids and one of the bids came from Willem Polak, owner of the Potomac River Boat Company here in Alexandria. During the conversations with all the companies Polak invited Hall and her board to come to Alexandria and see the Cherry Blossom, his twin paddle-wheel boat.

The board fell in love with the Cherry Blossom and wanted it in Richmond.

Clearly Hall had done her job well but the reality at that time, Richmond

could not justify the expense, so the Cherry Blossom stayed in Alexandria.

Polak, being the businessman that he is, recognized the talent and skill in Hall and offered her a sales job. Her opinion was, at the time, that she was just a country girl from Warrenton and the city was not her cup of tea… so she declined the job and returned to Richmond.

On her return to Richmond, after seven years at Richmond on the James, Hall was looking for a new challenge and took a position as Director of Development and Public Relations at the Maymont Foundation. Maymont is a 100-acre Victorian estate and public park in Richmond. It contains Maymont Mansion, now a historic house museum, and arboretum, formal gardens, a carriage collection, native wildlife exhibits, and nature trail and children’s farm. After another seven years, and the fact that Polak and Hall had stayed in touch, well…maybe the country had left the girl or the city moved in. She joined Polak’s team to help market the two boats he owned … Cherry Blossom and the Admiral Tilp. They have since added six vessels to the fleet.

Little did Hall know that the more she got involved with the boats the more she had to get involved with the City of Alexandria. The business began to grow as other destinations opened up. First there was the new Georgetown waterfront so the Matthew Hays began to make that trip every hour. Miss Christen could take folks to Mount Vernon for a days visit and bring them home. Then there was National Harbor.

The Harbor opened in April of 2008 and Potomac Riverboat Company was ready with two new boats for water taxi service between Alexandria and the Harbor. Hall aka the Nag played a major role in the concept and implementation of this service… she had to keep everyone focused and moving forward. Since then they have added the baseball boat. A brilliant suggestion from Polak to take fans from Alexandria to the southeast waterfront, drop them off on the first base side and wait to bring them back.

With the success of the Washington

Nationals in the past 4 years, this has become such a good idea that for some games they have had to run two boats. Recently, Potomac Riverboat Company joined into a partnership with the National Park Service offering service to the National Mall aboard the Miss Sophie.

Now, twenty four years after she accepted the sales position, Hall is now a partner in the company and the operation of the eight vessel fleet. Is the run over? Hall is now working with National Harbor and Reagan National Airport to provide a water taxi service for guests at the Harbor who fly in or need to fly out. If all goes well, there might be future service to Reagan from Old Town as well as the new southwest waterfront at the Wharf, in Washington, D.C. along Maine Avenue.

The hard work has finally paid off. Although negotiations have been going on for some time, a deal was recently inked with Entertainment Cruises out of Chicago.

Entertainment Cruises is a company that is familiar with the area, as they own the Odyssey, Spirit of Washington, Spirit of Mount Vernon and Capital Elite yachts located in the D.C. area.

Even though this well-known group is now the owner of Potomac Riverboat Company, Polak will serve as their Strategic Advisor and Charlotte will keep making it all work.

Whenever there is a meeting concerning Alexandria, Charlotte Hall will probably be there. She has been doing it for a long time and has been instrumental in marketing our beloved Old Town all over the region.

When asked about her free time she responds, “I like to go kayaking, and I enjoy doing Pilates and I still like to ride horses.” She also spends a lot of time with her two German Shepherds.

Rio, who is 6 years old, and the Chessie, who is 3. Charlotte is proud to say that they are both alumni of the Fauquier County SPCA. When asked about her social life she says with a smile, “Most people have a husband, kids or both or a significant other …

I have Alexandria!’ There you have it! Make it a point to meet her on the Rivah!

Old Town Crier

BUSINESS PROFILE LANI GERING

Brandon and the Goodies truck, otherwise affectionately known as Gigi

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Rozell and Goodies temptations

have been curious for quite some time to learn the story behind two guys I met a year ago walking around National Harbor in dapper plaid Bermuda shorts, stylin’ button front shirts and bow ties. Not exactly the normal attire you see on a regular basis.They are none other than Brandon Byrd and his side kick Rozell Moore of Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats. Byrd is the founder and CEO of one of this nations’ top 4 Food Trucks and the #1 Dessert Truck (according to the Food Network) and Rozell is his operations manager.

Goodies is the DC area’s first and only “Vintage Mobile Eatery” operating out of a refurbished 1952 Metro Van named Gigi. Rumor has it that another van named Rudy is in the works and will be serving up coffee and donuts. In addition to Gigi, they have a kiosk on American Way in National Harbor and operate out of a space in the basement level in the USDA South Ag Building on 14th and Independence Ave SW. This is where some of the absolute best frozen custard I have ever tasted is made Old Town Crier

Boogie Woogie Sundae

Kiosk at National Harbor

Big Red

sense of pride quality and craftsmanship … heavy metal referred to classic Ford and Chevy muscle cars and Detroit was known as the Motor City!

Goodies takes us back to that simpler place and time where passion, integrity, quality and customer service were more than mere words. A time period when Dick Clark’s American Bandstand dominated TV; and Rock & Roll artists like Ray Charles, Little Richard, Elvis, Fats Domino and Chubby Checker ruled the jukeboxes.”

All of the above is true. All one has to do is follow the good music flowing out of the kiosk along American Way or emitting from the interior of Gigi to find a true All American treat. I have passed by the kiosk several times and watched visitors and customers dancing their legs off. It really does take you back to a happy place.

Let’s get to the good stuff – the custard! It is handmade daily by

Byrd and Moore in the Ag building location and then packed up, trucked around town, and delivered to the National Harbor location. I don’t think that I can actually describe just how delicious their custard is. My favorite way to eat it is in their Old Fashioned Root Beer Float made with Sprecher Gourmet Root Beer! In addition to the “Pick and Pour” floats, on their menu are shakes, sundaes, peach cobbler and donuts and combinations of them all.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I hope those here are enticing enough for you to seek them out.

Goodies has received many awards and been the subject of many spotlights in all of our local media outlets as well as some nice national coverage. Byrd and his associates are well deserving of all the accolades bestowed on them. He is a self-made entrepreneur who doesn’t take his success for granted. If only there were many more business people out there like him. For more information about Goodies check out their Facebook page or log on to their website at mmmgoodies.com.

GOODIES FROZEN CUSTARD & TREATS Take a step back in time fresh daily (I spent my fair share of time in that same building and all that was on that floor when I was there was the credit union!).

To quote their Mission Statement: “We are founded on a pioneer spirit of character, integrity and high quality; our company is dedicated to excellence in products and service to our customers.”

When you meet Brandon and Rozell you will see they are the living embodiment of this statement. I haven’t had the pleasure of being served my usual root beer float from the likes of Gigi but I have seen them in action at the kiosk in National Harbor.

They say it best in the description on their Facebook page: “Goodies represents a time and place where town’s people said “hello” and most folks knew the milkman’s name … a place where honor and integrity lived and a handshake was as good as any contract! Made in America evoked a

September 2016 | 5

FINANCIAL FOCUS CARL M.TREVISAN, CFP© & STEPHEN M. BEARCE

Investing vs. Paying Off Debt The Debt Dilemma

The process for eliminating debt is anything but an easyto-solve financial equation.

Many people wonder if they should pay off their debt as quickly as possible or invest their money, letting debt payments run their course.

The answer depends on whom you ask. Theories about balancing investing with debt vary widely.

Some financial experts say freedom from debt is the most important goal. Others say it’s more about the math: Your money should go toward investing if your investments earn a higher rate of return than your debts cost you. Still others focus on the emotional aspect: how comfortable are you with a certain level of debt?

Neither One nor the Other

Better yet, perhaps, is a balanced approach to wealth management. If you’re like most people, you’ll need to manage finances for both present and future needs. That

means paying off some debt today while simultaneously investing with an eye on the future.

Although your decisions should take into account your own needs and circumstances, consider the following guidelines for handling debt in light of investing goals: Save for a rainy day.

Before paying down debt (beyond required payments) or settling on an investment strategy, make it your first priority to put funds aside for an emergency reserve.

We recommend six months or more of living expenses; an absolute minimum is three months’ worth. These funds should be in traditional savings or very short-term, highly liquid, non-volatile investments.

Your future first. As a general rule, your longterm investment plan should take priority over applying extra amounts toward debt.

Be careful as well not to let “lifestyle creep,” a tendency toward more expensive tastes

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and luxury consumption, impede your investment outlook.

By contributing to a longterm investment plan as early as possible, you may set yourself up for a brighter future. If paying down debt is also a priority, you’ll want to examine your personal budget to decide how much to direct each month toward investing and how much toward debt repayment.

Just remember, there are no magic numbers. In general, the best advice is to make sure your investment strategy fits your financial expectations for the future.

Prioritize your debts. With an emergency fund in place and your investment strategy up and running, putting any extra money toward your debts is also a smart way to go.

But how do you decide which

debts to pay down first?

One approach is to start with the smallest debts first to eliminate at least some of your debt burden and interest payments in a timely manner.

It also makes sense to pay off high-interest debts like private student loans and credit card debt more quickly.

Federal student loans and mortgages might be lower priorities, because their rates are often lower and their terms are longer. Vehicle loans might fall somewhere in the middle. Tax considerations might also come into play.

It’s personal. As you divide and conquer debt, don’t forget to consider the emotional side of your strategy. If paying off a certain debt will help you feel more secure, you might want to go with your gut feeling.

You’ll enjoy a growing sense of financial freedom as you stay

on course and get your debt under control. As it shrinks over time, you may find you have more funds available for enjoying the present and focusing on the future.

This article was written by/ for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing DirectorInvestments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice PresidentInvestments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602 Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDICINSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2015 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Old Town Crier

SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE ASHLEY SCHULTZ

Promotional Pull and Promotional Push Strategies Which is best for your marketing campaign?

T

here are two different promotional strategies to consider when developing your business’ marketing campaign. These strategies are pull and push strategies.

What is the best strategy for your business and what does each strategy entail?

Push strategy directly places product in front of the consumer to make its existence known.

The push promotional strategy often focuses on selling directly to customers. This is through point of sale displays and directly approaching the consumer. Push marketing combines the resources of retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers to create consumer demand for a product or product line. The strategy tries to convince resellers that they can make a profit on a manufacturer’s product and encourages them to order the merchandise and push it through to their customers. Some examples of push strategy can be: direct selling face-toface at a tradeshow or showroom, packaging design to encourage purchase, and negotiations with retailers to stock your product. Often consumers find the push strategy, “pushy” and sometimes too much. This is where the Pull strategy can come into play.

The Pull strategy creates a demand for your product and encourages consumers to request the product from retailers. Pull marketing generates brand awareness, causing the consumer to want to learn more about your product or service. The pull strategy is actively used because of the Internet and Social Media.

Pull marketing gets the consumer to come directly to you rather than you going directly to your customer. Often pull marketing is through “viral” content and word-of-mouth.

Social Media has become the perfect transport for pull marketing because of the established relationship that is developed. Social media has allowed customers to share information about a product or service with their friends without costing the company any money.

Push and Pull promotional strategies both have their pros and cons. In order to determine what strategy to use; companies need to research their target audiences demographics, wants, and needs. Often companies use a mixture of push and pull, yet in order to use this mixture, a true understanding of each on their own in necessary.

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September 2016 | 7

A BIT OF HISTORY SARAH BECKER©

National Museum of African History and Culture

O

n September 24th, the long awaited Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opens to the public. Its five acre site, located in the District of Columbia on Constitution Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets NW, is “a place where everyone can explore the story of America through the lens of the African American experience.”

President George W. Bush gave his approval in 2003; President Barack Obama will cut the Saturday ribbon.

“After 13 years of hard work, I am thrilled,” founding Director Lonnie G. Bunch III said. “The Museum is a place for all people. We are prepared to offer exhibitions and programs to unite and capture the attention of millions of people worldwide.” The $500 million museum opens with 11 inaugural exhibitions.

The Museum’s more than 34,000 objects illustrate the major periods of African American history. All 8 | September 2016

were acquired after 2003 and highlights include: an 1800s South Carolina slave cabin; Virginia slave and insurrectionist Nat Turner’s 1831 Bible; Maryland underground railway conductor Harriet Tubman’s 1876 hymnal; a 1920 segregation-era Southern Railway car, and pop-singer Michael Jackson’s 1992 fedora.

The building’s exterior bronze finish contrasts sharply with the nearby George Washington Memorial’s white marble. It is intentional. Americans increasingly are People of Color and coexistence has not always come easily. George Washington’s adopted grandson, slave owner George Washington Parke Custis of Arlington House explains slavery as the “unhappy error of our forefathers.”

The 400,000 square foot Museum stands five stories tall. Four additional stories are located underground.

Among the building’s signature spaces: a water and light-filled Contemplative Court; a theater; café and store; an education center and library. The

Museum’s educational standards are tied to Standards of Learning, standards which favor historical knowledge; its application, analysis and evaluation.

Slave preacher Nat Turner’s 1831 rebellion was among the most frightening in American history. He believed God had chosen him to lead a slave revolt. His Southampton County, Virginia uprising began on August 21, 1831 and lasted for two days. Turner murdered his master and maybe 60 others. He was executed and 30 of Turner’s disciples were either hanged or expelled. Harsher slave laws followed.

“The dreadful events of August [1831] in our State [of Virginia], the want of confidence & insecurity produced by these horrors, compel me to address you,” Woodlawn’s Nelly Custis Lewis wrote Boston’s Mayor Otis Gray. “To a wretch outraging the laws of God & Man, to the Editor of the ‘Liberator’— one of your community,—protected by your Laws, we owe in greatest measure this calamity…Your Southern Brethren incurred this curse by no act of their own, they are endeavoring by degrees & consistently with their safety, & even existence to remove it…

We cannot leave our State, our only means of subsistence is here [and] we cannot dispose of our property to any advantage. We must therefore risk the horrors that may be impending.”

How — through the lens of — is freedom finally defined? Freedom ostensibly was granted with the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

Abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s portrait will soon grace the $20 bill.

Is it because in the summer of 1859 John Brown sought, and successfully secured, her support to map his attack on the Harpers Ferry Armory; to steal enough materiel to equip yet another

army of rebellious slaves? How — through the lens of — should justice be defined?

In 1866 the federal government tried to remedy civil wrongs with passage of the 14th Amendment. The Amendment, as ratified in 1868, overruled Dred Scott v. Sanford of 1857.

The 14th Amendment, Section 1: “….No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive… without due process of law; nor deny…equal protection of the laws.

After Reconstruction, America passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875.

Short-lived, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Act unconstitutional in 1883. With Plessy v. Ferguson America’s African American population was again contained. On May 18, 1896 the U.S. Supreme Court, by a vote of 8 to 1, ruled that “all railway companies carrying passengers in their coaches…shall provide equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races.”

“The object of the [14th] Amendment was undoubtedly to enforce the equality of the two races before the law,” majority Justice Henry Billings Brown wrote, “but in the nature of things it could not have been intended to abolish distinctions based upon color, or to endorse social, as distinguished from political equality…If one race be inferior to the other socially, the Constitution of the United States cannot put them on the same plane.”

“The white race deems itself to be the dominant race in this country,” dissenting Justice John Marshal Harlan wrote. “And so it is in prestige, in achievement, in education, in wealth and in power…But in the view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 12

Old Town Crier

CIVIL DISCOURSE DOUG COLEMAN

Saving Appomattox

O

n June 17, 2015, an angry racist punk named Dylann Roof shot and killed nine African-Americans at a prayer service at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina; he left one more wounded. Roof liked to post selfies posing with the Confederate flag, which in his mind represented white resistance to the Left’s agenda to diversify America. This in turn sparked a national movement on the Left to ban the Confederate battle flag and obliterate all memorials to those who fought for the Confederacy, now conflated with racism and white supremacy.

Alexandria’s left-leaning local government of course jumped on this band-wagon as well. On September 29, 2015, the Alexandria City Council unanimously approved a resolution to establish an “Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names.” The agenda included four points: the “status” of the Confederate memorial at Prince and Washington; renaming Jefferson Davis Highway; renaming streets named after Confederates; and banning the Confederate flag on City property.

City Council tipped its hand early when on September 8th it banned the flying of the flag on City property for Lee’s birthday and Confederate Memorial Day. On the renaming of the streets, no one found it ironic that the protocol for naming north-south streets was established by Alexandria Democrats in 1953 to commemorate prominent Confederates — all or most of whom were Democrats. Democrats have apparently forgotten their history as the party of slavery, Jim Crow, segregation and, more recently, “the soft bigotry of low expectations.” It is understandable that one might want to whitewash this past, but it is more honest to let the street signs testify to that pedigree.

However, no one should be led to Old Town Crier

believe these streets were christened by the party of Lincoln.

No less controversial is the memorial to Alexandria’s Confederate dead, the statue named Appomattox. And the controversy is not new — Mayor Jim Moran advocated its removal back in the 1980’s, allegedly as a traffic hazard, though locals suspected his Massachusetts origins may have had more to do with it. Fortunately the statue is protected by two powerful forces, the first of which is the fact that it would take an act by the legislature to remove it — unlikely where the rest of the Commonwealth might view Northern Virginia’s haters as puddingbrained commie carpetbaggers.

Secondly, the locals (not the majority just passing through) have a genuine affection for the old memorial. They know why the statue is where it is, in the same intersection where Alexandria’s militia gathered to leave for Manassas on the day Virginia was invaded. They know who the statue honors — the 100 Alexandrians who gave their lives defending the Commonwealth from that invasion. It has been a part of the landscape for a long time — since May 24, 1889 — and its removal for political motives would put us in the same league as ISIS blowing up archaeology it considers un-Islamic. Sarah Becker has written on the Confederate Statue for us and you may find her excellent article here: www.oldtowncrier.com/2015/09/01/ the-confederate-statue/ Fortunately the Ad Hoc Committee seems to recognize the memorial’s value, stating in its draft report: “The removal of the statue would be a deliberate act to remove a piece of Alexandria’s history and cultural heritage and must be treated seriously.” Yeah - in a city with our tourist industry, “history and cultural heritage” matter.

The Old Town Crier sought the opinions of its readers and the comments are overwhelmingly in

favor of preserving this unique piece of history. Please note none of the following comments have been edited nor has spelling been corrected. These are reprinted exactly as we received them. Many of these comments are excerpts but can be read in their entirety at oldtowncrier.com Here are a few examples:

I periodically bring her to Alexandria to attend the Daughters of the Confederacy meetings held the first Sat. of the month.”

Therese DeSanto (The letter can be read online) CIVIL DISCOURSE > PAGE 42

“My mother, grandmother, myself and our entire family are toltally against any removal of the Soldier on Washington Street.

The letter below was dictated to me by my now 102 year old grandmother. Her grandfather was a member of the organization who planned and errected the statue. She is 100% + against removal of this soldier from his resting place. She grew up in Alexandria until I moved her to Va. Beach when she was 95. She continues to feel that Alexandria is and will always be her home. My grandmother sent the letter to the Mayor of Alexandria and after receiving her letter, she called me and requested a meeting with my grandmother. This was not published or made public.

Mayor Allison told us that it was more for a humansitic meeting, not political.

CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY DAY AT FORT WARD Learn about the role and equipment of Civil War artillerymen in the Defenses of Washington on Saturday, September 10, when Fort Ward Museum presents Civil War Artillery Day. This free living history program is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will appeal to Civil War enthusiasts of all ages. The event is weather dependent.

The program features reenactors from the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, a Union regiment that was stationed at Fort Ward during the Civil War. The unit will interpret the duties and soldier life of typical artillerymen assigned to forts in the Washington area. Activities will include cannon firing demonstrations in the restored Northwest bastion of the fort, artillery

equipment displays, and camp life scenarios.

Visitors can also view the Museum exhibit, “The Art of the Artilleryman in the Defenses of Washington,” which features a variety of original equipment and personal items related to this branch of the military service.

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the remaining Union forts in the extensive defense system known as the Defenses of Washington.

Fort Ward Museum features exhibits, programs and special events throughout the year. Fort Ward is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in the west end of the City of Alexandria. For more information, please call the Museum at 703-746-4848.

September 2016 | 9

URBAN GARDEN JIMMY DEATON

A

little history: a geologic drama occurring slowly over a period of @ 20 million years is credited for the emergence of cacti. About 60 million years ago in the pre-cacti stage, the regions of Mexico, the American southwest as well as Southern Brazil which are now rich in cactus enjoyed moist, tropical climates. As the mountain pushed up to block the flow of moist air those regions became drier and the plants had to adapt to the changing conditions in order to survive.

intensity of the sun’s rays because even though they are sun lovers they too can get sunburned. After they do become acclimated most cacti and succulents are happy with no more than 5 hours of direct sun and some as little as 2-3.

Just remember that after they become acclimated to the full sun of summer you’ll have to slowly acclimate them to bring them inside in the fall where light levels will be extremely diminished compared to what they have become accustomed to. For my personal cacti and succulents I keep them inside

the spring of 2017.

Water: Overwatering cacti/ succulents is probably the biggest reason most folks fail at growing them.

Especially in the winter when many are at rest. Spritzing the cacti with water from a spray bottle or dribbling small amounts from a cleaned squirt bottle so that a few drops are absorbed around the base of the plant is all that is needed when they are at rest during this time frame. A sign of underwatering is a cacti that is beginning to shrivel up and they will recover

will actually clump up holding onto moisture and blocking the needed air space for oxygen to reach the roots. I use Flora Max aquarium substrate that I get from PetSmart. I screen it with my bonsai screen to get what’s needed for my bonsai soil and the stuff that screens through which is coarser than contractor sand, and is more or less uniform in particle size is the perfect substrate for me. I go 80% of this material with 20% earthworm castings and have never had any issues with too much moisture being held resulting in

quickly once watered. Rehydrate the pots/plants by lightly watering 2-3 times. Cacti are very prone to root rot if the roots are soaking wet. My plants get watered once a week during active growing but I use a homemade soil that is based somewhat on the substrate that I use for my bonsai’s.

They do prefer to be in a drier environment with low humidity, but overall dry conditions will entice the dreaded borg to visit your plants and take up shop Yes we’re talking spider mites. A spritzing of your plants every so often helps disrupt their reproductive cycles.

Soil: Cacti and succulents need a very fast draining soil and I mean fast.

Most folks cut regular potting soil with perlite which I personally hate due to perlite being so light weight and having a tendency to float to the top of a mix when watered. Sharp contractor grade sand is ideal but make sure it is not play or aquarium sand for reptiles which is too fine and

root rot.

These are just the basics but cacti and succulents are some of the easiest plants to grow once you master their needs and in my opinion some of the “funnest” to grow as well. They propagate extremely easy giving you many more plants to keep, give to friends or maybe use to start a side business since they are very popular at the moment. Folks are willing to part with some big sums of money for the harder to find varieties, and the number of folks that are on the social media websites/pages that focus on cacti and succulents is mind boggling.

So, step into your local garden shop and immerse yourself into this fascinating part of horticulture. You’ll thank yourself, or me, for doing so.

Until next month, have a good one!

CACTI&

SUCCULENTS Gradually leaves became spines useful as protection from predators and as built in sunscreens. Stems fattened into globes, columns and other useful shaped to help retain water. Cacti then became well established in sandy soil, between rocks and other various niches including growing in trees.

Since most cacti produce flowers that are loaded down with pollen that is spread from plant to plant by bees and other insects, they have constantly cross bred resulting in thousands of diverse species. So while it is tempting to think of them as primitive plants, the opposite is true.

Caring for Cacti and Succulents

Light: Most cacti and succulents enjoy basking a part of the day in the sun, so they love spending time outdoors in the summer. Place them where they can be sheltered from heavy rains and remember that if you’re moving your plants from inside to outside to slowly acclimate them to the 10 | September 2016

under T-5 fluorescent lamps in the 5000 Kelvin range. (2) 4 foot reflectors each with 2 tubes gives me well over 10,000 foot candles of light keeping them very happy.

Temperature: In the winter most cacti and succulents prefer a cooler temperature to rest. A room where temps drop to around 55-60 degrees at night is ideal. Some plants need much cooler temps if they are to set flowering buds. I have found that mine do best with day temps in the lower 70’s and night temps in the lower 60’s.

Fertilizer: Cacti and succulents grow very slowly for the most part and even the Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus’s which grow quicker than most other cacti still benefit from a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen Something in 2-7-7 range is ideal. A fertilizer such has Neptunes Fish fertilizer cut at half strength would be ideal. Do keep an eye out for Espoma which is releasing a cacti specific liquid fertilizer scheduled for

Questions or comments about Urban Garden or a garden question for Jimmy: office@oldtowncrier.com. Write “Urban Garden” in the subject line.

Old Town Crier

HIGH NOTES CHRIS ANDERSON

2016

has already become legendary, the universe claiming the lives of a seemingly endless number of musical icons. To add further insult, 2016 has not been a benchmark year, as far as recorded music is concerned.

Few major artists have released albums this year (that I haven’t already written up) and even fewer have released fantastic albums. However, deep research reveals that, in fact, there have been quite a few decent records to come out. You just gotta look for them. Here are ten such albums that have rattled my brain in one way or another this summer.

Anderson/Stolt: Invention of Knowledge

Of all the bands that helped to put prog-rock back on the map over the last two decades, The Flower Kings were always the band most inspired

plays all of the instruments himself.

This is a man who has almost 30 solo albums, with various musicians, and yet he took the most solo set of them all and put the GbV name to it. For the most part, this album is a disaster. However, as always, there are a handful of absolutely brilliant songs in the mix. One of the oddest albums in the GbV canon, this nevertheless proves the point we’ve known all along — Bob Pollard is GbV.

StoneRider: Holograms

Combining all the best elements of late 60’s/early 70’s popular music — sunshine soul, California folk, acid rock, & bubblegum pop — StoneRider delivers their third album and it is smashing. Tracks like “Dayrunner”, “War, Traffic, and Blind Faith”, and the title track are like mini-time capsules that instantly transport you to hazier times. Perfect for headphones and road trips alike.

studio album, and the first with Daxx Nielsen replacing the great Bun E Carlos on drums.

While they may never again match the brilliance of their late-70’s work, this is still one hell of an album, especially being a lateperiod effort. The songs are catchy and have all the trademarks of that Cheap Trick sound, and Robin Zander proves that, 40 years into his career, he is still one of the finest vocalists in all of rock & roll.

Mystery Jets: Curve Of The Earth

Five albums into their career, Mystery Jets deliver their greatest work, and quite possibly the best album of this year. The majestic beauty of “Bubblegum” and, especially, “Bombay Blue” is unparalleled. This is the kind of music I’d hoped Radiohead would have done post-The Bends.

Fortunately Mystery Jets not only fills

SUMMER ROUNDUP

by Yes. So when news came out that FK mastermind Roine Stolt had collaborated with former Yes vocalist Jon Anderson, it seemed like a nobrainer. Taking inspiration from Yes’ mid-1970s work, this album sounds like what Tormato should have been.

Some say that this sounds more like Yes than the current incarnation of that band. While I will always defend the evolution of Yes, I wouldn’t disagree.

Guided By Voices: Please Be Honest

Two years after Robert Pollard retired the Guided

By Voices name, for the second time, he is back with a totally new touring lineup and a brand new album. The difference here is that, on this particular record, Bob Old Town Crier

Stadio: Miss Nostalgia

One of the biggest bands in Italy over the last 40 years or so, Stadio delivers their 15th studio album and proves that great music is great music, no matter the language. While the album title is in English, the album is sung in Italian and moves between the hard rock of “Tutti contro tutti” and the laid-back pop of “Rimini” to the more dramatic textures of the title track and “Un giorno mi dirai”, my favorite single of this year.

Cheap Trick: Bang, Zoom, Crazy…

Hello

Fresh off their much-deserved induction to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, the Trick offers up their 17th

that void but they do it better than anyone else could. If this album does not make superstars out of this band then it’s just proof that the music industry is hopeless.

Black Mountain: IV

Vancouver’s finest psychedelic warriors, Black Mountain, release their fourth album and prove that success has not diluted their output in the least. Kicking off with the eight-minute, Amber Webber-sung “Mothers Of The Sun”, this sets the stage for a trippy, Sabbath-meetsHawkwind whirlwind of an album.

There is always a timeless quality to their music, where you never know where you are — 1973 or the present

day. They straddle it so well that it doesn’t even matter.

Biffy Clyro: Ellipsis

While they have yet to really crack the States, Biffy Clyro is one of the biggest bands in the UK. After their monumental 2013 double album, Opposites, Biffy moves into new territory on this, their seventh album.

While the songs are still undeniably from the pen of Simon Neil, the textures have changed a bit. The record is a little heavier, the arrangements a bit denser, the lyrics a bit darker. They have started flirting with technology a bit, with various synths and sequencers showing up, adding color to (but not dominating) their Rushinspired trio playing. But it still comes down to the songs and these are some of their best.

Big Big Train: Folklore

It took almost a quarter of a century for Big Big Train to elevate to the level of its greatest prog-rock peers but they got there, thanks to the twopart English Electric cycle. Their most recent album, the utterly brilliant Folklore — the fourth to feature dynamic front-man David Longdon — cements their status as one of the cornerstones of the modern prog scene.

Lydia Loveless: Real

No album title could be more fitting. When it comes to country, Americana, whatever you want to call it, Lydia is the real deal.

Featuring songs of heartbreak, hard livin’, and a healthy dose of empowerment, Lydia’s fourth album finds her in a new level of maturity and a voice that’ll send shivers up your spine. Anyone who thinks that country music has gone off the deep end just needs to give this a listen.

September 2016 | 11

AFTER HOURS Birchmere Las Tapas Austin Grill & Tequila Bar 703.549.7500 703.836.4000 703.836.8969 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. 710-714 King St. 801 King St. birchmere.com lastapas.us Southside 815 The Blackwall The Light Horse 703.836.6222 Hitch 703.549.0533 815 S. Washington St. 571-982-3577 715 King St. St. Elmos 5 Cameron St. thelighthorserestaurant. 703.739.9268 theblackwallhitch.com com 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave. Carlyle Club Morrison House Taverna Cretekou 411 John Carlyle Dr. 703.838.8000 703.548.8688 703-549-8957 116 South Alfred St. 818 King St. thecarlyleclub.com Murphys Irish Pub TJ Stones Chadwicks 703.548.1717 703.548.1004 203 S. Strand St. 713 King St. 608 Montgomery St. 703.836.4442 murphyspub.com tjstones.com Evening Star Cafe O’Connell’s Trattoria da Franco 703.549.5051 703.739.1124 703-548-9338 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 112 King St. 305 S. Washington St. The Fish Market Rock It Grill Two Nineteen 703.836.5676 703.739.2274 703.549.1141 105 King St. 1319 King St. 219 King St. fishmarketoldtown.com Shooter McGees King Street Blues 703.751.9266 703.836.8800 5239 Duke St. 112 N. St. Asaph St. shootermcgees.com La Portas 703.683.6313 These establishments offer live entertainment. Call to confirm show 1600 Duke St. times, dates and cover charges. Check our advertisers’ websites.

Through the Lens of a Father and Son Professional photographer Chester Simpson and his son, Daniel, have documented their trip to Thailand and Vietnam. The trip followed Daniel’s year of teaching math and science in Thailand.

Their photos will be on display for a public reception Sunday, September 11, 5 - 7 pm Mackie’s Bar and Grill 907 King Street • Alexandria, VA (703) 684-3288 A BIT OF HISTORY FROM PAGE 8

dominant, ruling class of citizens…Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law…In my opinion, the judgment this day rendered will, in time, prove to be quite as pernicious as the decision made by this tribunal in the Dred Scott case…[that blacks are] a subordinate and inferior class of beings.”

How — through the lens of — was the notion of social equality righted? Plessy v.

Ferguson remained law until the Brown decision in1954.

“These [Brown] cases come to us from the States of Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia and Delaware,” U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren said. “They are premised on different facts…but a common legal question justifies…this consolidated opinion.

Segregation of white and Negro children in the public schools of a State solely on the basis of race…denies to Negro children the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.”

“Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and ‘tangible’ factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities?”

Warren asked. “We believe it does…the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting inferiority of the negro group.”

“Equal,” NAACP Attorney Thurgood Marshall maintained, “means getting the same thing, at the same time and in the same place.”

12 | September 2016

Not until Virginia NAACP attorney Samuel W. Tucker’s 1968 Green v. School Board of New Kent County, Va. — a case argued one day before Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination — did Virginia School Districts implement full desegregation. Tucker heeded the call because he was “born black in Alexandria.”

If injustice is defined as a lack of fairness, and fairness is defined as Just and equitable, then how—through the lens of—is the resegregation of today explained? For what reason(s) do feelings of racial inferiority remain? Or do they?

In 1939 “matchless contralto” Marian Anderson gave an “enthralling” concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial; 75,000 persons attended. She sang at the corrective invitation of Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes.

Anderson’s request to use Constitution Hall, a privately-owned nearby facility, was racially denied. Her performance outfit is on display.

“The Museum is a place to remember; how much we as a country have improved and been made better by the African American experience,” Bunche concluded. For more information, visit www.nmaahc.si.edu.

Microsoft Corporation donated $1 million as did Alexandria’s historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, an African American church established in 1803. In 2007 the Virginia House Rules Committee unanimously expressed “profound regret” for the state’s role, and by implication the city of Alexandria’s role, in the slave trade.

Email: abitofhistory53@gmail.com

Old Town Crier

THE LAST WORD MIRIAM R. KRAMER

C

arl Jung once stated “The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” Jojo Moyes hit the NY Times bestseller list several years ago with her blockbuster novel Me Before You. This past fall, she released a sequel, After You, for those who wanted to follow Louisa Clark and Will Traynor, characters who experienced intense and life-changing interactions in her first book.

She struck a chord with a widespread audience as she built their story, presenting the joy and potential for bitter heartbreak that arise when people begin to understand, love, and potentially change each other.

While the tide of Moyes’s plainspoken writing style pulled me along easily, I was not intrigued by her main characters. The kind and offbeat Louisa, 26, enters this novel as a younger sister, overshadowed by brainy, energetic Treena. Without academic qualifications for a more interesting job, she lives with her cheerful, bickering family comprising her mother, father, sister, nephew, and grandfather in a workingclass semi-detached house.

She drifts along in her life, unambitious and incurious about the world. Having worked at a local café for years, she has fallen into the rut of dating a self-absorbed man obsessed with his work as a physical trainer.

Louisa’s life changes rapidly when she suddenly loses her job. She considers an unexpected job opening when

Old Town Crier

Me Before and After You her employment counselor hears of a wellpaying, six-month position as companion and general help for Will Traynor, a 35-yearold quadriplegic who lives in a grand house on the other side of town. While Will has a male caretaker to attend to his physical needs, his mother wants someone in his life to cheer him up and keep him company.

The game but sensitive Louisa initially finds her position so difficult that she feels like quitting every day.

Will has been an independent and formerly ruthless financial whiz in London, a world traveler who has tried adventure sports like bungee jumping and rock climbing all over the globe. After being hit by a motorcycle, he retains only some use of his hands. Chafing bitterly at his confinement, he has become moody, withdrawn, and highly contrary towards both his parents and caretakers.

Louisa doggedly works to reach him, joke with him, call him out on his rudeness and fulfill the request his parents have given her: to lighten his spirits and improve his quality of life.

Gradually she becomes sensitized to his changed position in the world. She sees the pitying glances from strangers, Will’s estrangement

from fairweather friends at his former workplace, and his vulnerability to illnesses that can hospitalize him at any time.

His inevitable need for caretakers and family negates his former independence almost completely. Louisa’s empathy brings her much closer to him, as he begins to understand and care for her, despite himself. As they develop camaraderie, she accidentally overhears information about his plans.

Her six-month job carries an ominous resonance, since he had given his parents an ultimatum: he will give them six months more of his almost non-existent life before he deliberately ends it at Dignitas, a clinic in Switzerland.

Louisa finds a previously unknown determination within herself, visiting chat rooms populated by quadriplegics and their caretakers all over the world, questioning how they have learned to live with their altered options. She operates with a terrier’s tenacity to change Will’s mind about his own existence, finding any opportunity to expose him to life once more. As his timeline draws nearer, Louisa designs a wonderful vacation to prove to him once and for all that he has the possibility to travel adventurously and live beautifully despite his physical limitations.

As the story shifts forward and inward, Me Before You

becomes much more than a typical chick-lit novel. My original impressions of Will and Louisa changed. When they speak with complete honesty about the choices they have made in their lives, both transform. He pushes Louisa, sometimes brusquely, towards opening her soul by exposing her to a bigger world of art, music, and travel. After she shares with him a private, traumatic experience that

made her turn inward, she can begin to enjoy experiences outside of her formerly circumscribed existence.

Will, in turn, looks forward to her company. His retreat from the outside world and newfound tendency towards introspection lead him to realize that he led a shallow, aggressive existence in business while enjoying upper-class glam girlfriends THE LAST WORD > PAGE 17

MYSTERY READING AT ITS BEST

by Virginia author Jeffrey Roswell McCord

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

CARIBBEAN hISToRY AND ADvENTURE Where did the villain General Santa Anna of Alamo infamy retire? Is time travel possible?

What was it like on the ground in the worst hurricane of the 19th century? Can a band of rogue sailors from Coral Bay, St. John, defeat ruthless corporate mercenaries? These questions and more are answered in Jeffrey Roswell McCord’s new fact-based novel “Santa Anna’s Gold in a Pirate Sea.”

Available from Amazon or as a Kindle download

September 2016 | 13

GALLERY BEAT F. LENNOX CAMPELLO

O

ne of the great things of Al Gore’s Internet is the powerful ability to see artwork of all kinds and varieties, and I must admit that I am quite hooked on that valuable toolset — both as an artist and as a writer.

Sometimes that search comes from friends and other artists, always eager

Denisovan and Neanderthal and thus have a long list of ancestors who even pre-date Homo Sapiens!

When I first came across Sedi Pak’s sculptures, part of that racial memory started a synaptic firing chain reaction inside my head that made me “remember” her three dimensional work as something, perhaps even something living that I had seen before.

SEDI PAK

to help to point out something or someone who’s caught their eye.

“You should take a look at Sedi Pak’s work,” said my friend Richard in an email. And I did.

In Jungian psychology, racial memories are those memories, feelings, and ideas inherited from all of our ancestors. Those memories are passed down into our collective minds as part of a DNA attempt to teach us what our ancestors learned and saw.

In theory, inside our brain we have recorded everything that our ancestors saw, felt, smelled, touched, etc.

According to my recent National Geographic DNA test, I’m almost 5%

14 | September 2016

OK, I’m pushing it there; but the work certainly caught my attention, and so I called her and talked to her on the phone.

“As a painter for over 13 years,” noted Pak when I eventually reached her in her Los Angeles area studio and asked her to describe her sculptural work, “one day I found myself unable to communicate what I can best describe as ‘negative air.’”

The result of that inability to communicate was that Pak decided to switch her artistic production from two dimensional works to sculptures.

Like most great art, it all started on paper as a drawing, with multiple

organic forms twisting and visually resisting the inability to leave the surface of the paper, almost as twodimensional trapped alien beings seeking escape to a third dimension.

That escape to another dimension was not easy: the first transformation into a three dimensional product took one year to build.

“It was really labor intensive,” says Pak. “There was a lot of engineering involved to make the sculptures struggle with gravity.” The forms that came out of drawings and transformed into large wooden sculptures, with a central metal core to help defy gravity, are quite impressive.

The symbiosis of wood and metal from that first year’s work, and the months that followed, are a visceral triumph of both the physical challenges involved in creating them, as well as the intellectual muscle that led to them.

As a result, the Sedi Pak’s quest to explore the “negative air” has evolved into works of art that almost demand, perhaps require, that the viewer walk around that negative space around them, and reach a tentative hand to touch them. I suspect that hand, primed by thousands of years of Jungian memory, will be ready to jerk back, if the figure “moves.”

Where does this work’s seminal beginning come from? What is the lever that opened a conduit in her

mind and regenerated an undulating form that seeks tactical attention?

And in those forms our brain sees what a wide-eyed Jacques Cousteau might have seen growing out of volcanic and magmatic creations in seldom visited underwater hot springs that spew super-heated water into the deep oceans off the coast of Mexico and make the Gulf dark floor grow into Sedi Pak sculptures.

Or perhaps something that the brilliant Harlan Ellison might have imagined for Kirk and Spock during the halcyon days of Star Trek.

“I want people to touch them,” says Pak. And since the physicality of her work demands hundreds of hours of sanding, and also terminal and unplanned explorations into methods to preserve the wood from which they are assembled, her quest is yet evolving.

But the result is a clear and memorable success for this accomplished and multi-talented artist. Pak’s sculptures have not only punched the solar plexus of our minds, but in doing so they have sprinkled us with a rare gift that spans both the visual and tactile senses.

I hope that she figures out all the remaining questions, so that when these sculptures are showcased in a museum or gallery, the wall text will say: “Go ahead… touch them.”

See Pak’s works online at www. sedipak.net.

Old Town Crier

Plein Air Solomons

September 12 through 18, Plein Air returns to Solomons, Md. As we learned last year, plein air simply means painting outdoors rather than in a studio. The term comes from the French en plein air, meaning ‘in the open air.’ The Impressionists were particularly interested in the influence of changing light and the effects of light on color when outdoors. Monet is a popular example of a plein air painter. Today plein air painting is flourishing as its own art form. Artists come together for paint-outs and competitions to hone their skills. Landscape painters of all skill levels are finding that plein air painting is a rewarding and powerful experience.

This year’s competition at Solomons is very keen as 100 artists applied to compete and only 31 were juried for lack of space. Come and paint alongside the artists or watch them do what they do best. You can even track your favorite artists on Twitter and Instagram.

ART&ANTIQUES ANTIQUES

GALLERIES

Spurgeon-Lewis Antiques 112 North Columbus Street

Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 North Union Street

BW Art, Antiques & Collectibles 108 North Fayette Street

Principle Gallery 208 King Street

Imperfections Antiques 1210 King Street

Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery 105 North Union Street

The Antique Guild 113 North Fairfax Street

St. George Gallery 105 North Alfred Street

Silverman Galleries 110 North St. Asaph Street

The Art League 105 Union Street

Red Barn Mercantile 1117 King Street

Local Colour Old Town 218 North Lee Street

Washington Square Antiques 425 South Washington Street

Icon Galleria 101 North Union Street

Susquehanna Antique Co. 608 Cameron Street

B&B Art Gallery 215 King Street

Old Town Antiques 222 South Washington Street

Gallery West 1213 King Street

Verdigris Vintage 1215 King Street

Enamelist’s Gallery 105 North Union Street

Cavalier Antiques 400 Prince Street

Printmakers, Inc. 105 North Union Street

Sumpter Priddy III 323 South Washington Street

Kelly’s Art & Frame 510 North Washington

Wednesday, September 14 SUNSET QUICK DRAW Artists have 2 hours to complete a finished painting along the Solomons Riverwalk.

Note: Anyone may enter this event for a $25 registration fee.

Henry Street Antiques 115 South Henry Street

Oerth Gallery 420 South Washington Street

Curzon Hill Antiques 108 South Columbus Street

Jeffrey Winter Fine Arts 110A South Columbus Street

The Hour 1015 King Street

Johnston Matthew 105 North Union Street

Sunday, September 17, 9am – 1 pm PAINT THE TOWN FOR A CAUSE Come paint with the competition artists on the Solomons Riverwalk! Free and open to all ages.

Prizes awarded.

A Galerie 315 Cameron Street

Huddy Studio 105 North Union Street

Random Harvest 810 King Street

Mezzanine Multiples 105 North Union Street

Acme Mid-Century + Modern 128 South Royal Street

Silverman Galleries 110 North St. Asaph Street

Van Bommel Antiek Hous 1007 King Street

Cochran David 105 North Union Street

Lloyd’s Row 119 South Henry Street

Betty Grisham Studio 105 North Union Street

Plein Air Event Schedule

Tuesday and Wednesday, September 12 & 13 Artists paint in Solomons or anywhere in Calvert County.

Wednesday and Thursday, September 14 & 15 Artists paint in Solomons within the competition boundaries.

For complete details Google Plein Air Solomons. This is always an exciting event so come on out and Paint the Town!

alidaanderson

VISIT A

MU

Imagine Artwear 112 King Street

SE

UM

Imagine-July 2016.qxp_Layout 1 6/18/16 10:25 PM Page 1

Celebrating 25 years together!

How time and fashion flies, but the look is still as sophisticated and classic as when we started representing Kiki Verveniotis and her line, “Go Lightly.”

Many of Imagine’s customers have already collected Kiki’s suits, coats, jackets and the most comfortable pants you've ever owned. Come in and see many of her bestsellers, updated for today, plus new styles from her line of recycled and repurposed clothing,”Kiki & Pooky.” The model is Kiki’s daughter, Koula, who attended shows with her mother from the time she was born and is now a cover girl and chief assistant.

Come see our entire line of amazing American-made clothing, jewelry and crafts.

The Batman Brooding From the Naked Superheroes series Charcoal on Paper, 20x16 inches ©2015 F. Lennox Campello Represented by Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC Washington, DC For more information or images of other works from the Naked Superheroes series, email us at info@alidaanderson.com

Old Town Crier

1124 King Street | Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (703) 548-1461 | www.imagineartwear.com Mon – Sat 10 am – 7 pm

•

Sunday 11 am – 5 pm

September 2016 | 15

POINTS ON PETS SARAH LIU

KING STREET CATS ADOPTION CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2016 FOR DETAILS & MORE INFO website: www.kingstreetcats.org email: contact@kingstreetcats.org King Street Cats is looking for foster homes! You provide the spare room and TLC and we provide food, litter and all vetting. Please email for our Kitten Fostering FAQ at: contact@kingstreetcats.org KING STREET CATS 25 Dove Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Every Saturday & Sunday 1:30 - 4:30 pm PRO FEED Bradlee Shopping Center 3690 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302 Every Saturday & Sunday 1:00 - 4:00 pm PETCO UNLEASHED AT PENTAGON ROW 1101 S. Joyce Street Arlington, VA 22202 Saturday, September 3 Saturday, September 17 Sunday, September 18 1:00 - 4:00 pm PETCO UNLEASHED 283 S. Van Dorn Street Alexandria, VA 22304 Saturday, September 24 1:00 - 4:00 pm THE DOG PARK 705 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Saturday, September 10 1:00 - 4:00 pm

16 | September 2016

Pet Allergies: They Suffer Too

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s many volunteers in a shelter environment can attest, one of the saddest reasons for owner surrender is lack of information on how to deal with a pet’s allergies. While most people are familiar with the occurrence of pet allergies in humans, comparatively few know how to identify or combat substances poorly tolerated by their animal companions.

While a visit with your family veterinarian should always be the first course of action, this article provides a few tips for identifying potential allergens in cats and dogs, and minimizing their impact on your companion’s health and comfort.

So what are they? Allergies are hypersensitive immune responses to common substances entering or contacting the body. While allergens may be harmless to most members of a common household, they can cause an extreme reaction in individuals with a specific low tolerance. Essentially, if an individual is allergic, the immune system reacts as if the substance was harmful, and tries to destroy it. The release of histamines during this process causes local inflammation, commonly seen as itching, redness, and swelling.

Like young children, animals lack the ability to articulate the causes of their discomfort. Consequently, it’s up to pet parents to be sensitive to a companion’s behavior, and quickly recognize signs of distress. Common signs of allergies in both cats and dogs include sneezing, wheezing, itchy skin and increased scratching or scabs, itchy and/or runny eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, snoring due to inflamed throat, chewing of paws, and swollen paws. In cats, watch for chin acne from contact with plastic bowls. In dogs, be aware of secondary bacterial or yeast infections that can cause hair loss, scabs, or crusting on the skin.

Allergies may appear at any time in an animal’s life, but are most commonly seen after the first one to three years.

Notably, while most cat breeds appear equally susceptible to allergic reaction, certain dog breeds are more predisposed. These include golden retrievers, Labrador

retrievers, shar-peis, beagles, bulldogs, English and Irish setters, terriers, cocker spaniels, dachshunds, Dalmatians, miniature schnauzers, Lhasa Apso, pugs, and boxers.

Identifying the allergens that cause your companion’s discomfort is often the hardest part. There are three common categories: 1. Ingestion: food, treats, liquids, medications, vitamins, additives, preservatives, or dyes; 2. Inhalation: cigarette smoke, pollens, mold spores, feathers, perfumes, cleaners, or dander; and 3. Skin Contact: fleas, flea control products, shampoos, cleaning products, fabrics, rubber or plastic materials.

While it’s rarely easy to determine a specific allergen, you can often narrow it down to one of the categories above.

In the process, pay attention to your pet’s behavior and collect data: is she scratching after she sleeps on freshly washed bedding? Is she vomiting after eating a certain type of canned food? Are his eyes watery after early morning walks? Make a detailed list of observations and try removing and replacing potential culprits in your pet’s environment.

If you are unable to relieve your pet’s symptoms, and you haven’t consulted a vet yet, make an appointment.

Discuss your observations. Your vet will take a complete history and conduct a physical exam. If he or she cannot determine the source of your pet’s reaction, additional diagnostics may be recommended, or referrals to a pet allergist or dermatologist.

Then what? Well, while there are no cures for allergies in cats or dogs, there are ways to prevent exposure and relieve uncomfortable symptoms.

Naturally, the best way to treat allergies is to remove the offending substance. Avoiding ingestible allergens will probably involve a preliminary diet of elimination, and strict adherence to a no-treat policy. Once the offending ingredient is identified, your vet or specialty pet store can provide information on non-allergenic foods suitable for your pet’s comfort and health. Home cooked meals may be an option, but should be prepared with guidance, in order to maintain proper nutrient balance. Where medications, supplements, and vitamins are concerned, it is imperative to seek veterinary guidance in cases of negative reaction.

When it comes to inhalation, elimination may be more challenging.

Closing windows, running air filters, and regular dusting/vacuuming will reduce the amount of dust, mold spores, and pollens your pet breathes. Pets should not be kept in dusty or damp garages, basements, laundry rooms, or barns.

Avoid walks in the early morning, or late evening, when pollen counts are highest.

If you smoke, remember your pet is smoking too. Studies have shown that second and third hand smoke, (smoke remaining on skin, fur, POINTS ON PETS > PAGE 17

Old Town Crier

THE LAST WORD FROM PAGE 13

primarily there for his bank account, looks and alpha male personality. In valuing Louisa, he gets as much joy from helping her develop as she does from working to open his mind to the possibility for a disabled person to enjoy a different way of being. Their humorous back-and-forth slowly develops into a beautiful and genuine conversation.

This novel shows influences from stories such as Jane Eyre and Bridget Jones’ Diary, along with a superficial pop culture echo of Richard Gere “tutoring” Julia Roberts in the highly irritating fantasy film Pretty Woman.

That being said, this book is nothing like that film. Moyes’s Me Before You creates the relationship between Louisa and Will as a profound way POINTS ON PETS FROM PAGE 16

clothing, and furniture), increases the risk of malignant lymphoma in cats almost 2½ times over cats in smoke free environments. Likewise, studies suggest a link between oral cancer in cats and environmental tobacco smoke, as the cat’s mouth tissues are damaged by grooming tobacco smoke off the fur.

With skin contact, flea bites are the most common cause of pet allergies.

Start and maintain a flea control program for all your pets. Clean bedding once a week, and check your pet’s fur regularly. Avoid detergents and cleaning products with strong perfumes, and use cotton fabrics instead of wool. With dogs, weekly

for each to find an unanticipated joy through their strong connection, while bringing up the provocative and painful idea of assisted suicide. I often took a break in reading to fully consider the characters’ opinions and compare them to my own views on the topics they discussed.

As Louisa and Will fall in love, Me Before You focuses on human yearning for redemption, a redemption achieved through those rare, gorgeous, moments of connection in which people instinctively understand and spontaneously show great spiritual generosity toward one another. Such love generates blind courage, courage enough to bear the subsequent prices for that love. Me Before You has the potential to change the reader. For that reason alone, it is worth your time.

Moyes’s follow-up, After You, may be worth perusing for its discussion of ways to deal with grief ’s impact in fragmenting families, friends, and lovers. It does not carry the same weight as Me Before You, but it may satisfy those who want to know more about Louisa and Will.

In this sequel set eighteen months later, Louisa has slipped back into her old routine of working an unchallenging job while doing what she can to handle her emotional burdens. In addition to a chaotic whirl of family problems intruding constantly on her life, she is blindsided by the unexpected arrival on her doorstep of Will’s previously unknown and neglected teenage daughter, Lily, an unhappy girl for whom she feels an innate responsibility. While

Louisa’s passivity and grief make it hard to retain focus, she finds a way to realize the internal resilience she once discovered through understanding Will’s views and clear vision. While helping Lily to connect with her newfound Traynor family, she opens herself up once more to adventure and possibility.

After You is larded with silly and unbelievable plot twists, but it too has a good heart. It is also a quick read. In the end, Will’s presence and attitudes have changed Louisa permanently, and she gets ready to jump into a tantalizing future. By now she has taken measurable steps to embody another Carl Jung philosophy that always defined Will’s attitudes towards his own life. “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”

bathing may prevent or relieve allergic itching, but should be discussed with your veterinarian or professional groomer. For cats with chin acne, ditch the plastic bowl. As a general rule, feed your pets from metal or ceramic bowls only. Don’t use cedar chips in pet beds, or cedar wood in or for dog houses.

Limit time on treated wood decks.

When prevention isn’t enough, your vet may recommend medications to treat or control allergic reactions.

Like humans, antihistamines or injections may be used, as well as special shampoos and immune modulating medications. In severe situations, cortisone may be used.

Follow your veterinarian’s advice, and never administer medications without

professional direction.

Early detection and prevention are the optimal course in dealing with pet allergies. Veterinary expenses and special foods may seem daunting at first, but proper care and maintenance of your pet’s health and comfort will reduce long term stress and avert potential tragedy. Discuss concerns with your vet, and ask for suggestions in easing lifestyle changes. Remember, pets are creatures of habit, and a change in routine will be just as stressful for them. Patience and perseverance are golden, and a lifetime of joy with a healthy pet is priceless.

• www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ dr-coates/2014/june/risks-secondhand-smoke-dogs-and-cats-31821 • www.delrayanimalhospital.com/wpcontent/uploads/controlling_house_ dust_mite_exposure.pdf • www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article. cfm?siteid=12&acatid=169&aid=75 • pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/ caring-for-a-dog-that-has-foodallergies • http://www.peteducation.com/ article.cfm?c=1+2117&aid=142

Sources

• pets.webmd.com/dogs/allergies-dogs

Sarah Webber Liu resides in Alexandria and is a long-time volunteer at King Street Cats. She is devoted to her cat, Mrs. Huggins, and loves animals of all kinds.

PETS OF THE MONTH

ROO (A067881) Peek-a-boo! Meet Roo! This sweet 1 year old boy came to the AWLA from Humane Society International, after he was saved from a dog meat farm in South Korea.

Due to his difficult background, Roo has a few special medical needs, and will also need to be the only pet in the home. He is incredibly social though, and has quickly learned to trust people, even after his rough start in life. If you would like to know more about this incredibly special boy, please call or stop by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria!

HARPER (A066866) Say hello to Harper! This sweet 6 year old girl has slowly become an AWLA staff favorite. When she first arrived, she was incredibly nervous and we weren’t quite sure how she felt about people. We sent her out to foster care to investigate further, and she totally blossomed. Her foster mom said she was as sweet as can be, and she has been the same way ever since she came back to the shelter to be made available for adoption! She is still shy sometimes, and is usually hiding in her cage, but as soon as you enter she will come out and greet you with so many purrs and rubs! Please stop by and meet this amazing little girl today!

POPCORN (A067894) Meet Popcorn, the adorable little mouse!

Most people don’t think of mice as pets, but domesticated mice can make fabulous companions. This adorable little guy is very social and loves when visitors come over to his cage! He also loves being fed snacks and running on his wheel for exercise. If you are considering adding a small animal to your family, stop by the AWLA and meet Popcorn, and our staff would be happy to tell you more about owning a pet mouse!

The DC stands for Dog and Cat For more info: www.dcPawsRescue.org

CHANGE A LIFE.

ADOPT

4101 Eisenhower Avenue • Alexandria, VA 703-746-4774alexandriaanimals.org Mon-Fri, 1-8 pm • Closed Wed • Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm Old Town Crier

September 2016 | 17

Caribbean Rum Helped Win the First Wild West

W

ith autumn upon us and winter around the corner, some Virginians may have thoughts of hot rum toddies sipped before roaring fires as cold winds sweep past storm glass windows. Beyond such soothing imagery, though, rum played a very real role in Colonial America’s ruthless expansion beyond the Appalachians.

For now, let’s stick with pleasantries.

Historic Mount Vernon’s web site offers an appealing rum toddy recipe supposedly inspired by Martha Washington. To make a bowl serving six-to-ten people, you need the following: • 3 oz. White Rum • 3 oz. Dark Rum • 3 oz. Orange Curacao • 4 oz. simple syrup • 4 oz. lemon juice • 4 oz. fresh orange juice • 3 lemons quartered • 1 orange quartered • 1/2 Tsp. grated nutmeg • 3 cinnamon sticks (broken) • 6 cloves • 12 oz. boiling water Our love affair with rum began in the mid-1600s on the British island of Barbados where slave dependant sugar planters learned that molasses -- that heavy, sweet syrupy waste residue of sugar refining -- could be fermented and, with the addition of water, 18 | September 2016

produce an intoxicating drink. In the islands, the liquor was first known as “kill-devil.”

Barbadan rum, of the thick, dark variety also known as “blackstrap” became wildly popular in Britain and her North American colonies. To meet demand, production quickly spread from Barbados to Jamaica and other sugar producing Caribbean islands.

Since 1760, the Virgin Island of St Croix has produced “Cruzan Rums.” St. Croix became known for its lighter, white and dark rums blended from thicker, more aged rums. They’re ideal for mixing in rum punches and hot toddies.

As a young man, George Washington personally witnessed rum distillation during his sole trip abroad. In 1751, at age 19, he traveled to Barbados with older brother Lawrence. They thought the warm climate and clear sea air would help Lawrence’s battle against tuberculosis.

It didn’t and Lawrence died in 1752.

George then moved into Lawrence’s estate Mount Vernon to help his widow manage its lands and enterprises. He also became active in Lawrence’s most promising venture — the formation and management of the Ohio Company of Virginia, which aimed to develop a healthy trade with Indians living beyond the mountains and secure Virginia’s land claims before French Canadians moved in. In return for valuable beaver skins, furs

and land, Indians would receive cheap Beyond his surveying, Washington British manufactured goods, such as played a fascinating role during the cloth, beads, firearms and rum.

1750s in establishing Ohio Company The Potomac River (and a system of forts (log stockades) and storehouses portages) provided a good highway for along the route West from Alexandria early traders’ canoe traffic, enabling to Winchester and Cumberland, as them to approach a key pass through well as the first attempt to establish the Alleghenies west of what is now a British presence at what’s now Cumberland, MD. But, to receive the Pittsburgh. In the process, 21-year-old imported trade goods from Britain Washington and the band of Virginia and transport them up the Potomac frontiersmen he led unwittingly required a deep water port and sparked what became the French warehouses. In the 1730s, a and Indian War. warehouse storing tobacco Through it all, Indians had for export had been built at developed quite a taste for rum. the confluence of Hunting In his autobiography, Creek and the Potomac. The Benjamin Franklin, Ohio Company, encouraged then representing by the Washingtons, the province of Lees and other local Pennsylvania in landowning investors, an effort to secure chose that location peace and trade in for construction the West, described of new docks and 1753 negotiations with warehouses. Young Indians held in the frontier Pirates carrying rum on shore George Washington was town of Carlisle, Pa.: to purchase slaaves one of the first surveyors “[Knowing it would of that land that would become make the Indians disorderly], we Alexandria. Docks, storehouses, strictly forbade selling any liquor to an inn and even a rum distillery them; and, when they complained, we (producing cheap “Alexandria Rum” told them that if they would continue from imported West Indian molasses) sober during the [negotiations], we were all constructed in the mid 1700s would give them plenty of rum when along the shore line. In the 1980s, business was over. They promised . . . archaeologists working the site now [and] because they could get no liquor, known as Harborside found extensive the treaty was conducted very orderly, remains of that development.

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 19 Old Town Crier

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION FROM PAGE 18

and concluded to mutual satisfaction. They then claimed and received the rum; this was in the afternoon; they were near one hundred men, women, and children [camped outside town] . . . In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, [we] walked out to see what was the matter. They had made a great bonfire in the middle of [camp]; they were all drunk, men and women, quarreling and fighting . . . running after and beating one another with firebrands accompanied by their horrid yellings; there was no appeasing the tumult and we retired to our lodging. At midnight a number of them came thundering at our door, demanding more rum, of which we took no notice.”

Aware they had “misbehaved,” the next day Franklin said the Indians’ “orator” excused themselves by explaining: “The Great Spirit, who made all things, made everything for some use . . . and for that use it should always be put. Now, when He made rum, He said, ‘Let this be for the Indians to get drunk with,’ and it must be so.”

Sadly, Franklin concluded that “rum may be the appointed means” in “Providence’s design” to displace these Indians with European cultivators.

More to the point, John Heckewelder, a Moravian missionary in the region who lived among the Indians in the 1750s, described in his own book the use of rum: “The general prevalence of drunkenness among the Indians is owing to unprincipled white traders who persuade them to become intoxicated that they may cheat them more easily and obtain their lands or pelts for a mere trifle.”

Secular authorities found it all distasteful,

while averting their eyes. Virginia Governor Dinwiddie, an important investor in the tradedependent Ohio Company, disingenuously called such Indian traders “a set of abandoned wretches” in a 1753 letter to the Pennsylvania Governor. Later, in 1755, British General Braddock, whose mission was to subdue the French and their Indian allies in the region, called Indian traders “Banditti,” although he used them as scouts and followed their trails.

Ultimately, the traders, rum and AngloAmerican military muscle did fulfill what Franklin called Providence’s plan. The trans-Appalachian frontier was opened for settlement at the expense of the unfortunate Indians who were moved further West beyond the Mississippi River. Some Indians were even sent to the Caribbean as slaves.

As we enjoy our rum drinks, we may not wish to consider that dreadful West Indian slave plantations produced the elixir that, in turn, helped create the Native American diaspora.

Jeffrey R. McCord is a free-lance journalist whose work on international economics and consumer protection has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Gannett newspapers and Truthout.org, among other publications.

For more than 20 years, he’s called Northern Virginia his home. Jeff is the author of two fact-based Caribbean novels: “Undocumented Visitors in a Pirate Sea,” which was a quarterfinalist in the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest; and, “Santa Anna’s Gold in a Pirate Sea,” a finalist in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book contest. He now divides his time between Virginia and St. John, USVI.

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More than 60 percent of this spectacular Caribbean island is Virgin Island National Park, offering hiking, snorkeling, and unbelievable views.

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Phone 703 628-9005 • Fax 703 765-5900

Key West Getaway One Block from Sloppy Joe’s Contact: historichideaways.com • 1-800-654-5131

Old Town Crier

September 2016 | 19

ROAD TRIP BOB TAGERT

THE ROAD TO WILLIAMSBURG AND

T

his month we decided to head south and visit the beautiful area of Williamsburg, Virginia and to visit our friend Rick Wasmund who has just opened his second Copper Fox Distillery. The drive is about 200 miles and works better if you spend at least one night.

Our trip began Saturday morning about 8:45. This would give us time to stop along the way for a nice breakfast to nourish for the days adventure. Wanting to avoid I-95 south at all costs, we decided to go into Maryland and take route 210 south to Bryans Road and then back roads to La Plata, Maryland and U.S. Route 301 south towards Richmond. While in La Plata we stopped at a cool family restaurant…Marie’s Diner. It was now 9:30 and we had about a 15 minute wait for a table. The wait was worth it. Great breakfast with country ham, grits and the usual two eggs over easy. Our waitress, Sandy (or Gramma as the other employees call her) says, “I’ve got wrinkles older than my co-workers!” The restaurant has been serving the locals for 37 years and Sandy has been there 35 of those years. This stop got our road trip off to a great start.

A short ways down 301 we came to the town of Newberg and had to stop at the sprawling Glory Days Antiques. Actually this is a place that has not what you need, but everything that you want. If you are ever looking for a short road trip try Glory Days 20 | September 2016

as a destination and be sure to stop at Marie’s.

After paying the $6 toll and crossing over the Potomac River, we were in Virginia and settled back for the drive to I-295 around Richmond to I-64 and on to Williamsburg.

Williamsburg is located in the northern part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It is bordered by James City County and York County. Williamsburg was founded in 1632 as Middle Plantation as a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers. The city served as the capital of the Colony of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and was the center of political events in Virginia leading to the American Revolution. The College of William & Mary, established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the only one of the nine colonial colleges located in the south.

The city’s tourism-based economy is driven by Colonial Williamsburg, the restored Historic Area of the city. Along with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown, Williamsburg forms part of the Historic Triangle, which attracts more than four million tourists each year.

At the outset of the American Civil War, enlistments in the Confederate army depleted the student body of the College of William & Mary and on May 10, 1861 the faculty voted to close the College for the duration of the conflict.

In 1924 the Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin launched a building and fundraising drive to save houses in the historic section of Williamsburg for use as student and faculty housing. In the process Goodwin obtained the initial, and later complete financial support of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the wealthy son of the founder of the Standard Oil monopoly.

Rockefeller began buying up property and houses and had agreed to pay for college restoration plans and drawings. He later considered limiting his restoration involvement to the college and an exhibition enclave. He did not commit to the town’s larger restoration until November 22, 1927 – now known as the uppercase Restoration birthday.

Concerned that prices might rise if word got out that Rockefeller was buying up property he and Goodwin took Williamsburg attorney, Vernon M. Geddy, Sr. into their confidence and Getty began to do much of the title research and legal work related to the properties in what was to become the restored area.

Going back to Revolutionary times, Colonial Williamsburg is a beautifully restored city with sights, sounds and plenty of shopping and dining. There are at least six places for overnight accommodations within the restored city. Tour the city by horse-drawn carriage, fire an 18th century firearm at the Colonial Musket Range, visit museums and enjoy a tavern dinner.

Jamestown is part of the historic triangle and Old Town Crier

Copper Fox Distillery’s Rick Wasmund

COPPER FOX DISTILLERY, PART DEUX s minutes from Williamsburg. Here is the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.

William Kelso writes Jamestown “is where the British Empire began…this was the first colony in the British Empire.” Within days of landing, Powhatan Indians attacked the colonists. In a few weeks the English had erected a fort and the first colony in North America took hold and the seeds for the United States of America began to grow. Today you can learn from the experts who are adding vibrant details to the Jamestown story with their archaeological research. Here you will also hear the stories of disease, famine and Indian attacks. Also stories of Captain John Smith, the “starving time” and Pocahontas.

Less than two miles from Colonial Williamsburg is the new Copper Fox Distillery. This is the second location of our friend Rick Wasmund and his libation creations, Wasmunds Single Malt American Whiskey, Wasmunds Blue Top, Copper Fox Rye, VirGin and Belle Grove 1797. Rick is one of those rare breeds who thinks that he can do anything, and he usually does. Laid back with a soft voice, you would think that he might want to take a nap any minute, but that is his daylong demeanor. He just keeps on going.

One of those moments struck Rick at the end of the last decade when he went to a scotch tasting.

Hummm, maybe I can do that! After some research Old Town Crier

he decided to head to Scotland and learn from the experts. Wasmund began an internship that lasted 6 weeks at the Bowmore Distillery on the Isle of Islay on the shores of Loch Indaal.

Five years later, with the hopes of purchasing the equipment from a Virginia distillery, Wasmund looked for a suitable site and found it along the Thornton River in Sperryville, Virginia. The purchase deal fell through but with that “I can do it attitude”, Wasmund set out to purchase equipment and assemble his distillery. With the help of his friend and business partner Sean McCaskey. In about a year Copper Fox produced it’s first bottle of Wasmunds Single Malt and the production for that year totaled about 100 cases. Today that distillery is producing 10,000 cases.

As the business began to grow, the building didn’t, and although the aging process for their whiskeys is only about 13 months, the need for additional storage came to the forefront. By this time the distillery had contracted with a farmer in southern Virginia to buy their barley crop, the grain with which to make malt. As the craft beer craze began to sweep through Virginia, Wasmund saw an opportunity to provide the brew masters with the best malt available for their beer recipes. Now they market their own malt, which is done by hand, but this again becomes a space issue. Along comes Williamsburg.

In 2014 Wasmund became aware of a 6 acre, 104room motel that the city had bought and was willing to sell. With the vision of how he could turn this into a perfect distillery, in the heart of Williamsburg, he swung into action. Purchasing the property a year ago he has already set up a bottling room, a tasting room and retail store. He has renovated one big building for barrel storage and is putting the finishing touches on the new malting area.

With the tasting room retail shop the enterprise is now making money. The barrel storage capacity will allow Sperryville, under the watchful eye of McCaskey, to produce more spirits. When the malt room becomes operational there will be an increased production of some of the best local malt for the new breweries.

This is not all done alone. Rick married his wife Chelsea in 2010 and has produced two beautiful children. Camille who is 6 years old and already a budding ballerina and 4 month old Mason who is quickly keeping up.

I am lucky…I have known these people for the past 10 years and their success has been remarkable.

And I know that it has only been achieved by ALL of those involved and their belief in Rick’s vision. Stop

by Sperryville or take a road trip to Williamsburg… see the sights, soak up the history, and settle down with a nice Wasmunds, ice, splash of water or Copper Fox Rye…and enjoy. Drive safe!

September 2016 | 21

FROM THE BAY… MOLLY WINANS

A Dinghy Diary Photo: Al Schreitmueller

A

few evenings ago, while docking after a sweet sail and sunset, a friend and I were on deck, preparing to retrieve dock lines, discussing nostalgia.

I had just told the crew about how our stormy and then overcast trip home from Oxford felt autumnal to me, except for one major detail: I was barefoot. I knew my comfortable barefoot days were numbered.

I told my friend that I understood how fall could make him feel yearnings for the past with leaves turning and summer ending. He said, “I don’t just feel nostalgic for summer.

It’s more visceral than that. I feel nostalgic for like eighth grade.” Such moments—a guy pushing 40, leaning on a shroud and talking about how smelling leaves makes him miss junior 22 | September 2016

high—are hard for this fallen French literature major to shake. I get how an image, such as one yellow leaf stuck to your windshield or the sight of a flock of geese, can transport you to another time and place, du temps perdu.

The next day, I jotted down a list of memories of the summer. The day after a steamy St. Michaels visit, sailing down Eastern Bay in a surprisingly fresh breeze. Before breakfast, diving off a swim platform into a nettle-free Rhode River. At anchor on the Magothy, my teenage niece asking if we could turn the radio off to just listen to the night sounds. While riding in the SpinSheet Protector with Dan Phelps for the Governor’s Cup start, watching him be as excited as a kid with his new camera lens in hand. The list went on, but one vivid memory kept bobbing back to the surface.

Some back story: it all started at a

dinner party at Rebecca and Chris Neumann’s house. I had written about the Neumanns before, three years ago during their year-long cruise with their six-year-old daughter in a Bristol 45 from Annapolis to New England and the Bahamas. Although they sold the Bristol post-adventure, they have two dinghies in their garage — both obtained for free (or almost), one of them with a moody engine, the other with oars. The one with the oars belongs to our friend Josh, who right there in the kitchen, offered it to us for our upcoming Oxford Regatta trip. “I would be thrilled,” said Rebecca, “if you removed one of those dinghies from my garage.”

Two weeks later, out the eightfoot inflatable went, up on a car rack, across Eastport, back in the drink, rowed over to the slip, hoisted up on deck via spin halyard, and lashed

down. Two mornings later, after a healthy rain storm in Oxford and inspection of said dinghy, tied by then to our stern, the skipper said, “I think there’s more than just rain water in there.” We threw a couple of lifejackets and an old school bailer pump in the little boat and set off for the Tred Avon Yacht Club (TAYC) for our dock time.

The trip over to the club was amusing, but the trip back in the evening is the one etched in memory.

We both crewed on log canoes that afternoon—he on Island Bird, I on Flying Cloud. It was a wild ride. Log canoes sail beautifully in eight knots of wind; add gusts deep into the teens, and there will be swimming. Flying Cloud snapped her foremast. Island Bird capsized. Only four of 12 log canoes finished the race.

Hours later, after helping to bail and clean up lines and masts, telling war stories, and enjoying rum drinks and a crab cake and corn-on-the-cob dinner, we dragged the dinghy back off the TAYC beach. My guy, still sporting his soggy Margaritaville T-shirt, rowed me back to his sloop, in a comical zigzag fashion (he has a strong right arm), as I was perched precariously, yet princesslike on a throwable cushion on the stern gunwale, being the worst kind of back seat driver, but smiling and pumping to avoid sinking Josh’s free dink.

I can see all of the elements of a great summer condensed into that humorous little image — generous sailing friends, a nail-biter of a sailboat race, a scenic anchorage, adventure, mishaps, laughter, and getting wet.

Maybe from now on, the sight of a swampy dink will transport me back to Oxford. That would be okay by me.

Publisher’s note: This article first appeared in the September 2011 issue of SpinSheet. Winans is the editor of the ever popular sailing magazine SpinSheet and power boat magazine PropTalk located in Eastport, Md.

Old Town Crier

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A plate of Sweet Baby Jesus and 38 Degrees North oysters, both from St. Mary's county.

Southern Maryland Oysters and the St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival

BY BOB TAGERT

S

ince next month marks the 50th anniversary of the annual Oyster Festival at the St. Mary’s Fairgrounds, I thought I would check up on our bivalve friends and their progress over the past 15 years.

The Oyster Festival is an event that is attended by folks from all over, including a large group of Virginians that make the pilgrimage every year.

There will be oysters cooked anyway that you like or, like most, raw on the half shell. This is also home of the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship and shuckers come from all over the country to compete for the title. Competitors also come from around the country to compete in the Oyster Cookoff that consists of three categories: hors d’oeuvres, soups/ stews, and main dishes. Professional chefs serve as the judges, although the public gets a chance to vote on their favorite dish. So what are these incredible creatures that are not only good to eat but can also filter up to 50 gallons of water an hour.

Oysters are considered the vacuum cleaners of the Chesapeake Bay. They filter the water, removing organic and inorganic particles, resulting in cleaner water, which then positively impacts other species, including 24 | September 2016

man. Oysters can selectively choose and feed on microscopic phytoplankton or algae, removing the algal biomass from the water. Oysters also remove other suspended solids from the water and package them into bundles, which they release as pseudofeces. This bundle is then utilized by other organisms on the oyster reef for food.

In 2010 the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a report stating, “Adding up the cumulative annual losses over the last three decades shows that the decline of oysters has meant a loss of more than $4 billion for the economies of Maryland and Virginia.” On the Brink: Chesapeake’s Native Oysters…what will it take to bring them back?

Once plentiful throughout the Chesapeake, oysters began to decline as a result of over fishing and disease.

Due to concentrated efforts and monitoring the populations on oyster bars, there has been a slow return in the number of oysters. In a 2015 release by the Fishery-independent oyster survey reported that over

the past nine years there has been a slow increase in the number of market oysters found on 30 sampled oyster bars, increasing about 350% from 2007 to 2015, however abundance levels are still very low compared to historic levels.

Restoring the oyster industry in the Chesapeake Bay is a key environmental goal of Maryland’s policy makers and residents. Maryland Sea Grant Extension played an important role in influencing major changes in state policies that encourage expansion of oyster aquaculture throughout the Bay. New legislation enacted in 2010 expanded the area of the Chesapeake Bay that can be leased for oyster harvesting and the categories of eligible leaseholders. The state of Maryland opened 6000,000 acres for future private aquaculture leases, and the state Department of Natural Resources began accepting applications for leases under the new rules.

Because of these actions and similar actions in Virginia, oyster farming, or aquaculture has become a big business and has spawned a number of private

operations like HongaTonk, Sweet Jesus, Choptank Sweets, 38 Degrees North, all in Maryland and Virginia’s Lighthouse, Hog Island, Wild Ass Pony, Rappahannock Oysters and Alexandria’s own Bruce Wood and his farm, Dragon Creek in Maryland.

The difference is that the oysters are suspended in cages. Traditionally, oysters were scraped or tonged off the bottom of the Bay from the afore mentioned oyster beds. Today the oysters are suspended hanging from floats and do not lie on the bottom thus creating a more even flow of water all around the oyster and doesn’t get smothered in the mud. This method allows the farmers to produce a healthy and clean oyster by growing it up off of the bottom.

Last year, Maryland and Virginia reported their best oyster harvest in three decades, gathering a combined 900,000 bushels, and that number doesn’t include the oysters in both states that are raised in floats and cages, which has become a multimillion dollar business. Some estimates for oyster farming last year are as many as 500,000 oysters for a single operation.

The world is your oyster … so come to the St. Mary’s County 50th Oyster Festival in October and discover that world.

Old Town Crier

…TO THE BLUE RIDGE JULIE REARDON

HUNTING IN HUNT COUNTRY The Pemberton family of Middleburg owns and operates Total Sportsman's Outfitters and seeks to make hunting accessible to families, including women and children.

Neil Selby owns and operates Shady Grove Hunting Preserve, Kennels and Sporting Clays, and can arrange duck, pheasant, chukar or Hungarian partridge hunts with or without guides and trained dogs.

T

hey don’t call our area of the Blue Ridge “the hunt country” just because of the foxhunting. Horses and hounds begin their informal training hunts, called cubbing, in September, after spending the past few weeks getting ready. And local hunters have been honing their skills for other game for opening season, which starts Sept. 1 for resident Canadian geese and Sept. 3 for doves. All around the Commonwealth shooting sports enthusiasts have been putting in time at local ranges and sporting clays stands sighting in their rifles, patterning their shotguns and shooting skeet. Local shotgun and sporting clays instructor Isobel Ziluca of Upperville has seen a big increase in women participating in the shooting sports, and learning to shoot well so they can hunt. Ziluca is a certified instructor with the National Sporting Clays Association and specializes in helping beginners and women learn to shoot skeet.

Despite being so close to a major metropolitan area, Northern Virginia offers plenty of places to learn to shoot and/or go hunting within an hour’s drive of Alexandria. If you’re an experienced hunter without access to private land, the Virginia

Old Town Crier

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries maintains over 40 Wildlife Management Areas statewide; four are nearby and allow public hunting. These lands are purchased and maintained with hunting, fishing, and trapping license fees and with Federal Assistance in Wildlife Restoration funds, derived from the sale of hunting-related equipment. These areas were created for all to be able to enjoy wildlife, habitats, and the bountiful natural resources found there. And there’s the George Washington National Forest, part of which is an easy drive out I-66 near Front Royal. Hunting public lands can be rewarding but does have its pitfalls— it can be crowded and requires advance planning. For information on hunting seasons, licenses and regulations for hunting at the WMAs, visit www.dgif. virginia.gov/hunting/.

Preserve hunting can be an excellent introduction to wing shooting and a chance to hunt upland game birds now scarce in the Mid Atlantic. Nearby, Shady Grove Hunting Preserve & Kennels is the place to go. Owned

by Neil Selby and Leslie Carter, it’s located near Remington in central Fauquier County on several hundred acres of managed lands. Hunters can

Preserve hunting allows harvesting pheasants, an upland game bird that has all but disappeared in the wild in our area.

go solo or Shady Grove can provide a guide and dog to hunt chukar, Hungarian partridge, pheasant or mallards. You can even have your birds cleaned and dressed on site after your hunt. There is also a newly rebuilt sporting clays range slated to open September 10. “The new sporting clays range will be open every week, Thursday through Sunday and holiday Mondays, and on Wednesdays by appointment for lessons or groups,” said Carter. Shady Grove is a member of the National Sporting Clays Association, and Carter added that instruction is available for beginners or those that want to improve their shooting from John Alexander, a top rated NSCA instructor. For more information, check out their Facebook pages for Shady Grove Kennels and Shady Grove Sporting clays or visit their website Shady-Grove.com.

If you don’t have access to land or time to scout, a good option is to use a local outfitter where you can book hunts with a guide. If you’re new to the area or to hunting, a guide is well worth the fee, and for waterfowl hunting, will probably save you money. Outfitters typically have large tracts of land they lease and

permission to hunt on private property where they manage the habitat for optimum hunting success. The hunter doesn’t need to worry about finding good spots and obtaining permission to hunt on private property nor worry about scouting and equipment.

“We supply the boats, blinds, decoys and duck calling,” explained Sarah Pemberton who, along with her husband, runs Total Sportsmen’s Outfitters in Middleburg. “And our guides know how to call in ducks.”

TSO also has trained retrievers to find and return downed birds. And, of course, unlike hunting public lands, the hunter doesn’t need to worry about competition and crowds. The public lands, especially the WMAs, can get crowded on weekends.

Total Sportsman’s Outfitters offers nearby waterfowl, dove, deer, bear and turkey hunting mostly in Loudoun and Fauquier counties but also on the rivers and the Eastern Shore.

It’s a family business started by the owner, John Pemberton, who is a local and has hunted all his life. He’s aided by his wife, Sarah, and his two children Hardy, age 12 and Sydney, age 7. They strive to make hunting BLUE RIDGE > PAGE 26

September 2016 | 25

BLUE RIDGE FROM PG 25

accessible to anyone from combat wounded veterans to women and children. “We love having children out to hunt,” explained Sarah.

Hunting is a family affair for the Pembertons. Son Hardy began hunting with his father when he was just six, and daughter Sydney has been accompanying them since she was two and is, according to her mom, an excellent bird spotter “and quieter in the blind than most adults.”

Sarah also added that this looks like it’ll be a really good year for both dove and resident Canadian geese; both have abundant populations on the leases they manage.

Sarah is one of a growing number of women who participate in the shooting sports: among hunters, women represent the fastestgrowing demographic. “A lot of women call us to book hunts for their husbands, and I’ll talk them into coming along,” she said. “And then they’ll come out themselves or with their friends.” More information about their hunts and how to book one is on their Total Sportsmen’s Outfitters page on Facebook and at totalsportsmans.com.

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BEHIND THE BAR MO EL-NAKEEB IS BEHIND THE BAR AT VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & HI-TIDE LOUNGE 101 NORTH UNION STREET OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703-935-8890

MO EL-NAKEEB How did you get started in the bartending business?

I never thought I would end up a bartender, never liked drinking a lot, and I didn’t think I had the gumption for it. At the time I was working as a server at an Old Town favorite, the Flying Fish, and the owner, Larry, sat me down the day before I turned 21 and basically said he saw something in me and that he was throwing me on the bar the next day. Little did I know I would absolutely love it and would want to make a career of it.

What is your biggest bartender pet peeve?

Everyone always says they hate making mojitos or people asking for something “fun”, but to be honest I don’t really have any pet peeves. I love every aspect of the industry and I know that sounds like such a cookie cutter answer but I truly mean it.

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

28 | September 2016

One night someone made a bet with me that they could say 20 words in under 20 seconds without the letter “A” in any of them. I was thinking there was absolutely no way someone could rattle off that many words off the top of their head in less than 20 seconds so I was down. And then he started counting…“one, two, three, four….”

All the way to twenty…apparently we don’t spell numbers with the letter “A”.

He definitely earned his free drink.

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

I haven’t had the chance to hear any great pickup lines, but I’ve definitely been an accessory to escaping them. I’ve pretended to be womens’ boyfriends, brothers, even someone’s son once to help get away from that creepy person at the bar.

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

Every encounter with customers is interesting because you never know what you’re going to get that day.

Mo serves the Hi-Tide Mai Tai. Stroll into Vola's any day and you'll find him behind the bar.

Could be someone who just went through a divorce on the verge of tears or someone who just won the lottery and wants to buy the whole bar a few rounds. At the end of the day the job title “bartender” essentially means having crazy encounters all the time with random people.

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

Definitely my grandfather. He

died when I was younger but what I remember of him was his love. Intense and passionate love for his family and especially for his young grandson at the time. I would love to let him see the man I’ve become today and get his thoughts on the world.

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

Old Town Crier

DINING OUT BOBTAGERT

THE WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL

The Warehouse Bar & Grill

214 KING STREET OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703-683-6868 WAREHOUSEBARANDGRILL.COM

W

ith Fall right around the corner we thought that we would venture back to the Warehouse Bar & Grill in Old Town. As Old Town has grown over the years, the Warehouse, as well as a handful of other businesses, has been a part of that growth from the beginning by serving steaks, seafood and some of the best Cajun fare this side of New Orleans.

Old Town Crier

Some of the best Cajun this side of New Orleans

The tag, Bar & Grill, might be a little off target except in the theory that the Warehouse is a low-key, friendly restaurant that is frequented by locals.

The service is friendly and swift, but the setting is one of the finest in Old Town. White tablecloths and a raised seating area gives you the feeling that everything else is raised a notch.

The raised seating leaves the antique Mahogany bar a few steps down which

isolates into its own area, although it is in the middle of the restaurant.

Adorning the short wall railing around the bar and on the wall leading to the upstairs dining area are caricatures of locals that have been created over the years by former resident Brian McCall.

Although I lobbied, I never made the wall!

On the evening that we were there we were seated in the front part of the dining room by the window that runs nearly the entire width of the wall.

The view of the foot traffic along King Street is wide-screen and the elevation of the room gives you a superior view.

There is also dining on the second level that offers an even better place to people watch while dining.

The appetizer and Soup & Chowder list is full of the Cajun influence.

Crawfish & Shrimp Beignets, Cajun Fritto Misto, Spicy Pecan Crab Cakes anchor the appetizers while She Crab Soup, Creole Alligator Stew and Seafood Gumbo dominate the soups and stews. I ordered a cup of Gumbo because I knew from a previous

experience that a bowl of this tasty dish would fill me up. The rich broth is loaded with shrimp, sausage veggies and the taste is truly down country.

The Alligator stew may sound a little challenging, but it is very good with its’ own unique taste. Lani opted for the popular and always excellent She Crab Soup — if you are a local you have had it, if you are a new comer put this on your foodie bucket list.

For dinner I ordered a Cajun favorite … Louisiana Crawfish Etouffee. With a good-sized portion of garlic parsley rice to help absorb the rich sauce, I dug right in. The word etoufee (pronounced eh-toofey) comes from the French word “to smother.” The best way to describe the dish is a thicker stew, seasoned to perfection and chock full of delicious, plump crawfish and the Warehouse nails it! Although spicy, it is not over the top, but just enough to give it zing but another glass of water is not necessary.

DINING OUT > PAGE 31

September 2016 | 29

ALEX. CALENDAR FROM PAGE 3

17 SCOTTISH HERITAGE OUTLANDER DAY AT CARLYLE HOUSE 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission: Tours $5 Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax Street 703-549-2997 www.CarlyleHouse.org Visitors are invited to tour this beautiful 18th century house museum, dating back to the days of John Carlyle (and Jamie and Claire in Outlander) and attend a day of programming on Scottish culture. Events include a Highland dance performance and a concert by the Devil’s Tailors, and Scottish storytelling and vendors. Tours of the museum will include references to Outlander, the popular book series and television show.

17 SCOTTISH HERITAGE OUTLANDER DAY TEA AT CARLYLE HOUSE Noon and 2:30 p.m.

Admission: $40 Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax Street 703-549-2997 www.CarlyleHouse.org Do you love the Outlander books and/ or the television show? Then join us for tea on the Magnolia Terrace. Celebrate Scottish heritage at the oldest stone house in Alexandria, home of John Carlyle.

Admission includes tea, plus a special Outlander-accented tour of the museum.

Advanced reservations are required for the tea.

17 1ST ANNUAL BARLEY & MUSIC FESTIVAL Noon-6 p.m.

Cost: Free to attend, $15 for 5 drink tickets John Carlyle Square 300 John Carlyle Street www.BarleyMusicFest.com A new hops, beats and bites themed event will debut in Alexandria when the 1st Annual Barley & Music Festival transforms the John Carlyle Square Park with craft brews from artisanal breweries, live entertainment, and food vendors including Carluccio’s, Ada’s Kitchen on Wheels, Gordon Biersch Brewery and UNO’s Pizzeria. Attendees will be able to sample beer from regional craft breweries such as Starr Hill, Devil’s Backbone, Bold Rock Hard Cider and Troeg’s Independent Brewing. Cheers!

17 CINEMA DEL RAY OUTDOOR MOVIES: KUNG FU PANDA 3 Fun begins at 7 p.m.; film begins at dusk Admission: Free Mt Vernon Recreation Center 2701 Commonwealth Avenue www.VisitDelRay.com Bring family, friends, neighbors and a blanket to watch these open-air movies at Cinema Del Ray, now in its 11th season.

17 & 18 14TH ANNUAL KING STREET ART FESTIVAL 17th: 10 a.m.-7 p.m 18th: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: Free King Street Between Washington and Union streets 703-746-3301 VisitAlexandriaVA.com/ArtFest At this popular art festival, King Street from Washington Street all the way to the Potomac waterfront is transformed into a gallery filled with art from more than 250 artists from the U.S. and abroad. Visitors can purchase original artwork, participate in hands-on art activities at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and enjoy a scoop of ice cream at The Art League’s Annual Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser.

17 & 18 MOUNT VERNON COLONIAL MARKET & FAIR 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: included in general admission $20 adults; $10 youth Mount Vernon Estate 703-780-2000 www.MountVernon.org Colonial-attired artisans demonstrate 18th-century crafts and sell traditional wares such as baskets, woodcarvings, tin and ironwork, leather-workings, weavings, furniture, and much more.

“General Washington” will be on hand overseeing the festivities: 18th-century entertainment including music, a balloonlaunch, fire-eating, puppet and magic

party!

We have the perfect spot.

In the heart of historic Old Town, Alexandria, the Athenaeum makes every event special.

Photo: Willy Hoffman

come to ours

Join us for La Vie en Rose our annual member appreciation party Saturday, October 1, 7 — 9 p.m. We’ve planned a stroll through Paris’s Monmartre arts district to amuse and delight you. All NVFAA members at the Supporter level and above get at least one free ticket. Contact Kelly Mechling (kelly@nvfaa.org) to confirm membership status, to become a member, or to learn more.

host your own

The Athenaeum is a wonderful venue for holiday parties, wedding receptions, and meetings. The elegant rooms have 24-foot high coved ceilings, enormous windows and beautiful woodwork. Standing events can accomodate as many as 150 guests. Contact Richard Webber (rentals@nvfaa.org) for more information or to schedule a site visit.

contemporary ART iconic ARCHITECTURE authentic ALEXANDRIA

WWW.NVFAA.ORG The Athenaeum 201 Prince St. Alexandria,VA 703.548.0035 Open Thursday, Friday & Sunday, noon - 4; Saturdays, 1 - 4.

30 | September 2016

Annual King Street Art Festival

shows, plus hearty specialty food for sale on site. Costumed interpreters will be demonstrating the 18th-century chocolatemaking process using an authentic colonial recipe! Colonial Market & Fair takes place rain or shine.

24 ALEXANDRIA SEAPORT DAY 12 noon-6 p.m.

Admission: Free Waterfront Park 1A Prince Street 703-778-0977 AlexandriaSeaport.org/Events Alexandria Seaport Day is an annual community event celebrating the mission and programs of the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and Alexandria’s maritime heritage. Enjoy children’s activities, a wooden boat display, nautical activities, boat rides, live music, local restaurants providing food, beer and wine, local boutiques and ASF’s annual “Anything that Floats” race!

24 75TH ANNUAL HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA HOMES TOUR 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Admission: $40 in advance; $45 day of Old Town Alexandria 703-823-1273 TheTwig.org/Homes-Tour For the 75th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour, the public can step inside and get a glimpse of six gorgeous homes and gardens in Old Town Alexandria, all within walking distance of one another. On tour day, start at the Twig Shop at 106 N. Columbus Street to exchange your ticket for the map and brochure. All proceeds benefit Inova Alexandria Hospital.

30 - OCTOBER 8 2ND ANNUAL ALEXANDRIA LIVE MUSIC WEEK Admission: Varies by venue Various locations throughout Alexandria 703-439-8487 www.LiveMusicWeek.com The 2nd Annual Alexandria Live Music Week, presented by Alexandria Live and On Tap Magazine, is a citywide music event featuring Alexandria’s diverse music scene and musicians, as well the clubs, bars, restaurants, shops and venues that feature and promote live music in Alexandria. There will be over 50 participating venues and over 300

performances, including a full schedule of music during Del Ray’s Art on the Avenue.

Venues include Alexandria’s legendary The Birchmere, Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub, Bilbo Baggins, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Nick’s Night Club, The Durant Arts Center, Daniel O’Connell’s, La Tasca, FireFlies, Chadwicks, MetroStage and many more.

The event will include national acts such as The Funky Meters and El DeBarge and renowned local bands such as The Free Flowing Musical Experience, Judge Smith, Janna Audey, Farley Granger and legendary Irish guitarist Rocky Guttman.

Other events include a children’s music program, German oompah music, jazz, acapella, bluegrass, blues, R&B, and much more. Also, look for a music-themed motion picture viewing party courtesy of the Alexandria Film Festival.

OCT 1 21ST ANNUAL ART ON THE AVENUE 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Free Mount Vernon Avenue, Del Ray VisitDelRay.com Art on the Avenue is a multicultural arts festival celebrating our community’s diversity through the arts in the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia. This festival is held on the first Saturday in October, rain or shine.

Every year, over 50,000 visitors stroll down Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray between Bellefonte and Hume Avenues.

People are greeted by over 300 artists (jewelers – silversmith & beaders, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass makers, unique painters, sculptures, fabric artists), musicians (Irish, folk, rock n’ roll, country and more), and food vendors (hot dogs, BBQ, Indian, crab cakes, chocolate bananas dipped on a stick, and homemade cider donuts).

Activities for children include stuff your own scarecrow, paint a pumpkin, lotus flower design and weave screen art to name a few.

Old Town Crier

DINING OUT FROM PG 29

Spicy Pecan Crusted Chicken was the other entrée we tried. The online menu indicates that it comes with jumbo lump crab meat and a creole mustard cream sauce, however, we ordered it off of the “Restaurant Week” menu and the lump crab was substituted with baby shrimp in a cream sauce. It was very good at any rate. In fact, the pecan crusted chicken on its own is fantastic. My suggestion is that you ask for the cream sauce on the side.

It is served with garlic parsley rice and sauteed spinach. I also want to note that the portions aren’t too big nor too small — they are just right.

The rest of the menu is equally divided between seafood and meats, which mostly fall into the category of Warehouse Favorites. Seafood consists of Crawfish-Crab Imperial, Stuffed Flounder “Tchoupitoulas”, Pan Roasted Maine Salmon, Shellfish baked in Parchment, Sautéed Shrimp “Diane”, Southern Fried Catfish and Trout Orleans. The meat and poultry entrees include the likes of Grilled Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Porterhouse Steak, Grilled Pork Chop, Cajun Veal

Oscar, Cajun Style Meatloaf and the aforementioned Pecan Crusted Chicken. There are also a couple of pasta dishes for those who need a pasta fix. On the lighter side, they have a nice mix of salads and specialty sandwiches to offer.

We aren’t huge fans of dessert but we couldn’t bypass the fresh strawberries and cream that were available on our visit. Beautiful ripe berries with a nice dollop of Chantilly whipped cream topped with a fresh mint leaf.

The perfect end.

The Warehouse has a wellrounded unassuming wine list that has a good choice for every pallet and prices that don’t gouge the wallet.

Speaking of wine, the bar at the Warehouse is a local favorite and has a fantastic Happy Hour during the week.

They serve brunch on both Saturday and Sunday and have a large local following on Saturday mornings.

If you haven’t been to this fine place for a while or if you are new to the area, make a date to treat yourself soon!

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Dining Guide AMERICAN ASHAR RESTAURANT AND BAR 116 South Alfred St. 703-894-6356 BILBO BAGGINS 208 Queen St. 703-683-0300 BITTERSWEET 823 King St. 703-549-2708 BLACKWALL HITCH 5 Cameron St. 571-982-3577 CARLYLE CLUB 411 John Carlyle St. 703-549-8957 CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442 chadwicksrestaurants.com An Old Town tradition since 1979 and an original Georgetown pub and restaurant since 1967.

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

AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa COLUMBIA FIREHOUSE 109 S. St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776 EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051 FIN & HOOF 801 N. Saint Asaph St. 703-836-4700 FIRE FLIES 1501 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-7200 FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342 GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288 HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050 HUNTING CREEK STATION 1106 King St. 703-836-5126

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

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

ASIAN ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515

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

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

JACKSON 20 480 King St. 703-842-2790

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

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600

JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

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

RED MEI 602 King St. 703-837-0094

KING STREET BLUES 112 N. St. Asaph St. 703-836-8800 LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313 LOST DOG CAFE 808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511 MACKIE’S BAR AND GRILL 907 King St. 703-684-3288 MAGNOLIA’S ON KING 703 King St. 703-838-9090 MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117 MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street Old Town Alexandria 703-548-8800 mason-social.com MOUNT VERNON INN Mount Vernon, Va 703-780-0011 MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com Old-world Irish pub featuring a roaring fireplace, serving a variety of imported, domestic and non-alcoholic beers in a friendly atmosphere. Serving robust American-Irish meals at fair prices.

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

NICKELLS AND SCHIFFLER 1028 King St. 703-684-5922 NINAS DANDY Potomac Party Cruises Zero Prince St. 703-683-6076 dandydinnerboat.com OCONNELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 danieloconnellsrestaurant.com OVERWOOD 220 North Lee St. 703-535-3340 PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-822-5699

32 | September 2016

ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274 RT's RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com SAMUEL BECKETTS IRISH GASTRO PUB 2800 S. Randolph St. Villages of Shirlington 703-379-0122 SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266 SOCIETY FAIR 277 S. Washington St. 703-683-3247 SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550 SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222 T.J. STONES GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com American cuisine with libations from around the world. Bar specials Mon-Fri, 4-7 pm. Brunch served Sat & Sun. TRADEMARK 2800 Jamieson Ave. 703-253-8640 UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com Old Towns favorite neighborhood tap and grill. Distinct southern style menu, fine steaks, fresh seafood. Sunday brunch, private parties, happy hour.

VERMILLION 1120 King St. 703-684-9669 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

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

STREETS MARKET AND CAFE 3108 Mt. Vernon Ave. 571-431-6810 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 SANG JUN THAI 300 King Street 571-312-3377 KAI ZEN TAVERN 1901 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-836-1212 CONTINENTAL BRABO

by Robert Weidmaier 1600 King St. 703-894-3440 BRABO TASTING ROOM 1600 King St. 703-894-5252 CEDAR KNOLL INN GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-799-1501 RESTAURANT EVE 110 S. Pitt St. 703-706-0450 TEMPO 4231 Duke St. 703-370-7900 temporestaurant.com Northern Italian, French provincial and American cuisine featuring fresh seafood, meats and pasta served in a contemporary, romantic atmosphere.

FRENCH BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661 FONTAINES CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151 LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854 TWO NINETEEN RESTAURANT 219 King St. 703-549-1141

YVES BISTRO 235 Swamp Fox Rd. (in Hoffman Ctr.) 703-329-1010 LA BERGERIE 218 N. Lee St. 703-683-1007 labergerie.com ITALIAN BERTUCCIS 725 King St. 703-548-8500 BUGSYS PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313 bugsyspizza.com FACCIA LUNA 823 S. Washington St. 703-838-5998 GERANIO RISTORANTE 722 King St. 703-548-0088 geranio.net Still Old Towns highest-rated Italian restaurant (Zagat). Discerning Old Towners flock here for refined cuisine in this comfortable, yet sophisticated restaurant.

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

HANKS PASTA BAR 600 Montgomery Ave. 571-312-4117 IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833 LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com Elegant, classical Italian cuisine served in a lovely historical setting. Fresh veal, homemade pastas, and fresh fish are some of the daily choices. An extensive list of wines and champagnes served in a sophisticated and friendly atmosphere.

LENA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086 PARADISO 124 King St. 703-683-5330 PINES OF FLORENCE 1300 King St. 703-549-1796 RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873 TRATTORIA DA FRANCO 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338 MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA 529 East Howell Ave. 571-970-1006 LA TASCA 607 King St. 703-299-9810 “Spring into Spain and Feast Like a King.” Offering unlimited tapas at lunch

and dinner. Choice of dessert included.

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

TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194 thepitahouse.com Family owned and operated; carry out available and free delivery.

DELIAS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. Alexandria, VA 703-329-0006 BISTRO DU SOLEIL 1116 King St. 571-312-2754 SEAFOOD HANKS OYSTER BAR 1026 King St. 703-739-HANK RTS RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 FISH MARKET-OLD TOWN 105 King St. 703-836-5676 fishmarketoldva.com Internationally known and locally owned! We serve shrimps, a few crabs, tall people and lots of nice people, too!

Live music and lively food!

ERNIES ORGINIAL CRABHOUSE 1743 King St. 703-836-0046 THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834 wharfrestaurant.com "Its All About the Seafood," traditional and creative coastal cuisine.

FISH MARKET-CLINTON 7611Old Branch Ave. Clinton, MD 301-599-7900 INDIAN BOMBAY CURRY COMPANY 2607 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-836-6363 DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd.

703-660-6085 MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN DON TACO TEQUILA BAR 808 King St. 703-988-3144 LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290 LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167 TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226) CASA FELIPE 835 N. Royal St. 703-535-7868

Old Town Crier

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Old Town Crier

713 King Street • Old Town Alexandria 703.548.1717 • murphyspub.com September 2016 | 33

CHEF’S SPECIAL CHESTER SIMPSON

When did you first become interested in cooking? Why did you decide to pursue a culinary career?

I came to the States when I was 17 and, ever since, I have been in kitchens. My first sous chef job was at The Oval Room from 2004 to 2006.

Then I moved to BLT Steak from 2006 to 2009 as an executive sous chef. From there I worked at Circa in Clarendon for three years as chef de cuisine, at which point I felt I needed a bigger challenge in my career. I wanted to run my own kitchen, so I worked for Hawk ’n Dove in DC for two years (which was not my best experience); then I found Alexandria Restaurant Partners last September and that totally changed my life for good.

Who has been the biggest inspiration for your career?

Chef Victor Albisu. He is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris; was executive chef of BLT Steaks in D.C.; has cooked for President and Mrs. Obama; and was named Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).

He is now at Del Campo, his own upscale South American grill in

34 | September 2016

the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, D.C., as well as Taco Bamba and Albisu. His mom, Rosa Susunski, owns Taco Bamba, a takeout taqueria in Falls Church, Va., that reflects his Cuban and Peruvian roots.

He was my mentor and he helped me a lot and, KEVIN FLORES thanks to him, I’m here.

IS THE CHEF OF PALETTE 22 What dish on the menu are 4053 CAMPBELL AVENUE you most curious to see how VILLAGES OF SHIRLINGTON it’s received?

703-746-9007 Watermelon PALETTE22.COM and Halloumi. It’s different because of the combination of If any chef in the world could prepare flavors. Also, our empanadas. Every you a meal, who would it, be? restaurant has empanadas but ours Chef Thomas Keller, who holds are a little different. We have lamb, many tittles as chef, restaurateur, beef, plantains, raisins, capers, and and cookbook author. He and his hardboiled egg. landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, What do you do to ensure the quality of Calif., have won multiple awards the food going out to customers? from the James Beard Foundation.

Be on the line all the time and make He is the only American chef to have sure all my sous chefs learn to love and been simultaneously awarded three taste every dish that goes out to the star Michelin ratings for two different customers. restaurants. He currently holds seven Michelin stars in total: three at Per Se; three at The French Laundry; and one

photo: ©2016 Chester Simpson

KEVIN FLORES

at Bouchon.

Fun fact: Keller taught film star Adam Sandler to cook the world’s greatest sandwich, a BLT, with a fried egg, while working on the film, “Spanglish.”

What’s your guilty food pleasure?

Eating two apple empanadas with ice cream before going home.

If you would like to see your favorite chef featured here, send contact info to chester@chestersimpson.com.

Old Town Crier

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September 2016 | 35

GRAPEVINE

BY FELICITY CLOAKE

I

t doesn’t seem long ago that merely owning wine glasses was enough to mark one out as a sophisticate of the highest order. Such affectations were for professional establishments like the local pub: at home we drank out of cloudy tumblers or plastic cups at parties. But while I was busy growing up and smashing my way through successive boxes of Ikea stemware, someone changed the rules: special glasses for drinking wine are not enough — now we’re buying different glasses for different wines. It’s as if someone’s suggested I need a whole new set of cups to get the most out of my Earl Grey (do I?).

Matching glassware to wine is nothing new — Raymond Postgate (creator of the Good Food Guide) published the wonderful 1951 Plain Man’s Guide to Wine with illustrations of the five traditional glass shapes, designed for sherry, claret, port, champagne and hock. In it, he observes scornfully that “to wine drinkers, not one of them improves the wine in any way at all.” He goes further, denouncing the sherry glass as “an innkeepers’ trick, [for making] the quantity of wine look much more than it is” and the coloured hock glass as a simple disguise for poor quality, cloudy Victorian wine. Indeed, Postgate is definite “there is only one satisfactory type of wine glass, and it will serve for any kind of wine. It is colourless, rather tulip-shaped, and the upper rim of the cup narrows.” It looks like those in my cupboard: a large bowl on a narrow stem, tapering slightly towards the top.

While Postgate was bemoaning fancy glassware, in Austria, a ninth-generation glassmaker called Claus Riedel was theorising glass shapes’ effect on wine.

The company launched a range of grape-specific glasses in 1961, claiming “wide, open glass shapes require us to sip by lowering the head, whereas a narrow rim forces the head to tilt backwards so that the liquid flows. This delivers and positions the beverage to different ‘taste zones’ of the palate.”

Such specific zones are now known to be an oversimplification of the way we taste and I’m unconvinced, but I’ve come to John Lewis Foodhall to test their range of glasses. Wine expert Will Parker admits he shared my scepticism but thinks he can change my mind. Their customers don’t seem to need much convincing: the range, which includes two white and three red wine glasses.

36 | September 2016

First up was the 380ml glass designed for “refreshing and aromatic” whites and rosés — riesling, sauvignon blancs and so on — which we test out with an English Bacchus. The pronounced curve of the glass, with its dramatically tapered rim is, Parker tells me, intended to direct the wine to the centre of the tongue, rather than to the sides of the mouth, where the acidity receptors are located. I’m worried this will rob the Bacchus of its characteristic zing, which, in an ordinary wine glass has me puckering up like a Hollywood starlet, but actually it simply delayed my perception of the acidity, which means I appreciated the wine’s other flavours as well.

Interesting, but nothing on the larger white glass. The effect on an Australian chardonnay is startling — out of the standard glass it’s dull and heavy, reminiscent of a hundred underwhelming pub pours, but the design of the tailored glass spreads it evenly around my mouth, bringing out far more exciting flavours of pineapple, smoke, even minerality. Parker describes it as “a more complex experience in the mouth”, and it’s true — like the smallest red glass, which smooths the tannins of an own-label claret, or the space-age medium version, which points up the red fruit in a beaujolais, these really do seem to bring out the best in the wines they’re designed to flatter.

Obviously such glasses can’t change the taste of a wine, but they can alter our perception of it. The Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker has described the difference Riedel’s glasses can make as “profound”, while Victoria Moore says in her book, How to Drink, that, after experimentation, she’s been forced to admit that buying an expensive bottle of wine without decent glasses to drink it out of “would be like buying a state-of-the-art sound system and fitting it to cheap speakers.”

Not everyone’s convinced however. The Oxford Companion to Wine’s Jancis Robinson and Hugh

Johnson acknowledge the subtle differences made by glassware but maintain such things are strictly for “purists”.

This newspaper’s Fiona Beckett agrees that it isn’t something everyday drinkers should worry about “unless you’re crazy about a certain type of wine (eg burgundy) and want it to show at its best.” At home, she has “glasses of all shapes and sizes, picked up along the way.”

Even champagne flutes, the most mainstream of the specialist glasses, are of debated worth. Richard Geoffroy, Dom Pérignon’s Chef de Cave swears by white wine glasses for serving his champagnes because flutes, while concentrating the fizz, can also stifle the aroma of older, more complex wines: “You taste the way you see,” he says, “A narrow flute will narrow the taste, an ample wine glass will amplify the taste, a flat saucer will flatten the taste”.

I’m pretty sure that the right glassware can’t make a bad wine good, but it can make a good wine more enjoyable. Whatever you’re drinking out of, though, the most important thing is ensuring it’s clean both of dirt and detergent, relatively thin (the thick rims of the classic Paris goblet disrupts the flow of wine) and, ideally, tulip-shaped to concentrate the aromas. Traditional stemmed glasses may not be as trendy as Duralex tumblers, but they do keep the wine at a more constant temperature — if you can avoid knocking them over of course. Which is a talent I fondly hope to acquire with age.

CAN THE SHAPE OF THE GLASS ENHANCE THE TASTE OF THE WINE?

Publisher’s note: This article courtesy of Guardian News & Media, LLC. Also, of note is that I attended a seminar held at Café Milano in Georgetown presented

by Claus Riedel’s of Riedel Glassware fame, son Georg.

We tasted red wines of different grape varietals in specific glasses and the differences were remarkable!

Old Town Crier

VIRGINIA WINE TRAIL PROFILES BEDFORD COUNTY WINE TRAIL bedfordwinetrail.com The Bedford Wine Trail in the Central Virginia region includes five vineyards and wineries surrounding Bedford.

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

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

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

BOTETOURT COUNTY WINE TRAIL botetourtwinetrail.com The Botetourt County Wine Trail features three wineries in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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

VISITING VIRGINIAS WINE COUNTRY Its always a good idea to call before visiting. Many Virginia wineries are small, family-owned operations and may be closed during the time you are planning to visit. If you are a group of eight or more, call ahead to help the winery prepare for your visit and to make sure they can accept groups. Most of our wineries have grape cluster highway signs within a ten-mile radius pointing the way to the winery. Many of these signs also tell you how many miles to go before reaching the winery.

Old Town Crier

FAUQUIER COUNTY WINE TRAIL fauquiertourism.com/wineries.html Fauquier County is home to 16 wineries and vineyards – each with its own unique flavors. Enjoy award-winning Virginia wines, wine tastings and tours.

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Virginia Wine Marketing Office

September 2016 | 37

EXPLORING VIRGINIAWINES DOUG FABBIOLI

Is the Virginia Red Wine Grape Cabernet Franc?

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38 | September 2016

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

hen I arrived from Northern California 19 years ago, I found a significant amount of Cabernet Franc in the ground here in Virginia. The wines were generally promising but inconsistent. Some of the more challenging wines had green aromas and hard, thin tannin structure. There was talk of the “Virginia Twang” in our reds — a tart, rough structure that was not very comfortable in the finish of the wine. My, have we come a long way from there!

I have always been thankful for the customers that rode through the rougher wines and times helping us get to where we are today.

We still have more to go and more consistency to build, but our improvements have been acknowledged and well received.

How did we improve the quality of our wines? Well, we focused on the vineyard. First we managed the crop load on each vine. Any short shoots are stripped of their fruit as there are not enough leaves on a short shoot to give necessary energy to its clusters resulting in ripe flavors. This process eliminates the greener characters, and focuses more energy to the remaining fruit. The other key process of dropping fruit is called a green harvest. When the fruit is changing color in late August, we go through the vineyard and drop the remaining green clusters. The timing is critical as you want to do this process at about 90% color change or veraison. You are dropping the 10% green clusters but keeping the riper grapes and increasing the concentration of the more mature flavors. We have also learned how to be more patient when we make harvesting decisions.

Evaluating tannin ripeness, seed maturity and using good sampling methods have added to our chemistry methods to improve our information for deciding when to pick.

Once the grapes are brought to the winery, the cellar team has a process that was rarely done 20 years ago. We sort the fruit from the crusher as it is going into the fermenter. Our goal at this point is to remove any green particles. Often times parts of the stems will come through as well as some small green berries. By eliminating these pieces, we have lessened the green character and improved the fruit character of the wine.

There are some other varietals that grow very well in Virginia, but through our history and improvements, I believe that Cabernet Franc will continue to gain us world recognition.

When done right, it shows balance, savory and spice along with the fruit, ripe tannins in the finish integrated with judicious levels of oak influence. Buy this wine from your favorite local winery and if you like what you taste, let your friends know why you did. Letting them taste it is usually the preferred method.

Doug is the proprietor and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in Loudoun County and has been penning this column for several years. He has been instrumental in the success of many of the Commonwealth’s vineyards and wineries.

Old Town Crier

GO FISH STEVE CHACONAS

And the Winner Is …

N

o red carpet, beautiful people, or golden trophies at the world’s largest sportfishing industry trade show in July. The recreational fishing industry’s trade association, American Sportfishing Association (ASA), hosted ICAST 2016, the gathering of the domestic and international sportfishing trade. More than 15,000 people; exhibitors, buyers, and outdoor media, connected in Orlando. This single event can drive a company’s domestic and international product sales and remains the ultimate showcase for the latest fishing innovations. It’s one-stop shopping for buyers and media with gear, apparel and accessories that help to make a day on the water.

Not open to the public, it’s up to buyers and writers to get the word out on what’s hot.

The New Product Showcase, with 25 categories, brings out the competitive nature of the tackle trade. Winning can add a tag line to a print

ad or launch an unknown company into overnight success onto a tackle shop end cap. But, looking back over the years, it appears mega companies overshadow newcomers. Some attendees feel the voting is marginalized as some writers and buyers cast votes, not based on valid features and benefits but on personal favor. However, there are unique products that rise above.

For decades TTI Blakemore, the parent of legendary Road Runner lures, has introduced new products at ICAST. The Buck-Tail PRO Road Runner, a multi species lure bass anglers call “hair jigs” and saltwater anglers “Bucktails”, caught the attention of anglers attending the show and generated chatter from writers and buyers too.

Another bass bait introduced was Casey’s Finesse Runner with all the features of his Classic Runner just downsized for slower presentations and shallower waters. Blakemore was accompanied by top

Bassing IN SEPTEMBER POTOMAC RIVER

Weather improves and grass begins to break up allowing for more topwater action in the mornings. Using Lucky Craft Gunfish or G-Splash poppers, work over grass in clearer water.

Over grass mats and pad fields, work Mann’s Hollow Super

Old Town Crier

pro anglers including Randy Howell, Casey Ashley, Tommy Skarlis, Jimmy Houston, Captain Van Hubbard, and Captain Tom Van Horn.

Buyers learned about the new products. For veteran attendees, ICAST is a reunion with many friends stopping by. According to PR representative TJ Stallings, buyer meetings are as much about fellowship too. Noting how the show has grown, he feels politicians should take notice of the angling public. ttiblakemore.com In business for 5 years and attending their 4th ICAST, relative newcomer to the rod and reel industry, Floridabased 13 Fishing entered edgy and technologically advanced products into the showcase.

While not going home with a category win, they developed new relationships with media and tackle industry people. Utilizing displays with images, video, and text, 13 Fishing product features, functions and benefits were laid out. Interestingly, this

company’s reel designer ran the country’s largest reel repair shop incorporating what worked and avoiding what didn’t on his way to designing some of the hottest new products. BASSMASTER Elite Series pros like Dave Lefebre provided practical insight into product performance. 13fishing.com If there’s such a thing as stealing this show, The Cobra Garage Door Storage Rack probably pulled it off, winning the BEST OF SHOW for Best Tackle Management. After the New Product Showcase win, they began to show up in trades and social media. Their goal was to seek exposure for their unique new product

and allow buyers and media to see what the Cobra Rack is all about. Demonstrating how their rod storage system worked, providing rod storage on the back of unused garage door space, impressed the crowd. In business for a year and attending their first ICAST, Cobra Garage Door Solutions is hoping to build upon this success as they plan to bring new and innovative products to the next big show. cobrastorage.com YETI coolers have grabbed the attention of the fishing world. From big fishing boats to small bass boat compartments, fisherman are a core part of the brand’s GO FISH > PAGE 45

Frogs on 60-pound GAMMA Torque braid to haul big ones out the entire day. Punching on the same line with a stout Mustad Flipping hook and 1 ounce Round Valley Tungsten weight will also work in thick mats.

Skip weightless stickworms, soaked in Jack’s Juice, under cover like docks and allow to drop. Watch for bites. Slowly crawl chatterjigs and swim jigs like Mann’s Stone jigs with Mann’s HardNose Mullets through the grass and snap free.

Craw patterns work. Use either braid or 16-pound Edge.

Other times use Mann’s Baby –Minus cranks over cover.

September 2016 | 39

FITNESS NICOLE FLANAGAN

FALL BACK INTO EXERCISE

F

or some of us the fall brings a feeling of renewal. The changing of seasons can bring a change in your daily routine. With the kids heading back to school and the holidays just around the corner it may be impossible to find time to exercise. But what better time of the year is there to enjoy the fresh air without the heat and humidity. September is a great time to get back in gear and change up that workout you have been doing all summer.

40 | September 2016

There are twelve weeks from the beginning of September until Thanksgiving. That is a great time frame to get in the habit of a new workout that you will be able to stick with through the winter months.

There are so many ways to make exercising more fun in the fall. Trying out a new routine or simply bringing a running workout from the treadmill to the treelined streets is a great way to change your routine and get your mind set on some new workout goals.

Fall is a great time for running, cycling, hiking, and walking. Walking is the easiest form of exercise.

The key to making walking enjoyable is to make it a part of your daily routine. Start walking in the morning before work or school. By getting started early you jump start your body, mind, and metabolism so you have more energy throughout the day. If you need something a little more fast-paced, running is a great way to stay in shape especially in the fall. It’s not

too hot, not too cold and the crisp morning air will be much more awakening than a buzzing alarm clock.

Once you get in the habit of a morning run or walk you will find yourself looking forward to waking up early just to see the sun rise as you begin your workout.

Bringing your cycling workout from the studio to the streets or the trails will add fun to your workout. Get out those mountain bikes and take the kids out for a bike ride after school. You will get to spend time with the family while enjoying a fun calorieburning workout. If biking on the trails does not seem like it’s for you then try going hiking. It’s a great leg workout and the views of the woods in the fall are beautiful.

When the weather begins to get too chilly, take advantage of that gym membership you’ve been holding on to. Gyms offer a variety of cardio and strength machines that can help you to break that workout plateau. The key to keep seeing results is to keep a workout interesting. Don’t do the same exercises over and over for an extended period of time. By changing your workout every couple weeks you are forcing your body to adapt to new routines. This keeps it from becoming “comfortable” with a certain workout.

Take advantage of all that your club has to offer. Most health clubs offer free classes to their members. If you are looking for a high intensity calorie burner, try a cycle or a cardio kick boxing class. If you want an all over strength and flexibility workout try pilates or a beginner yoga class. If your club has an indoor pool I highly recommend taking a water aerobics class or swimming laps on your own.

Swimming is a great overall strength and conditioning workout, (just look at Michael Phelps) and if you have access to a pool year round why not take advantage of it.

If you’re not crazy about going the gym then home fitness is another great option.

Having a home gym can be as simple as having a few sets of dumbbells and some resistance bands to having a complete gym with at home cardio machines, mirrors from ceiling to floor and a weight bench. There are also workouts that you can do with no equipment at all.

There are many resources available online to help you with everything you need for a home gym, from what equipment you need to how to organize your workout.

The best way to keep up with your fitness is to incorporate exercise into your everyday life. We all know the obvious suggestions like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking your car farther away from the mall entrance, and walking to lunch on your break. Here are a few that may be less obvious. When you are at your kid’s soccer practice or game walk a few laps around the field instead of sitting and watching. You’ll get a much better view of the action and also get some exercise in for yourself. Be an active television watcher. Most of our favorite shows start the new season in the fall. While you’re enjoying the new season of your favorite show do some standing lunges, jog in place, lift weights or do tricep dips on the couch.

During commercials do as many sit-ups and push-ups as you can get in before the show comes back on. During a one-hour show you will probably get almost twenty minutes of commercials.

With so many options to amp up your fitness routine for the fall it seems like it should be easy to get started.

Half of winning the battle with exercise is getting into the habit. Remember that it takes about four weeks for the body to adapt to lifestyle changes. Try to stick with your new program for a month. After that, behavior patterns will have adapted and your program will be much easier to stick with. Good Luck!

Old Town Crier

FROM THE TRAINER RYAN UNVERZAGT

B

odyweight training is nothing new, but I would like to discuss how you can integrate this type of training in your fitness routines. For centuries, man utilized his own bodyweight as a means to get stronger for battle which is one reason why our military still uses this type of training today. Bodyweight training uses the forces of gravity as a means of resistance without the need for barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, etc.

If you are searching for a change in your exercise routine, just try using your own bodyweight. The best thing about training this way is that you can do it anywhere. No more excuses of why you didn’t get to the gym this week. Below is a sample bodyweight workout: JUMPING JACKS

3 X 50 REPETITIONS

SQUATS

3 X 25

MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

3 X 50

PUSH UPS

3 X 20

SIT UPS

3 X 25

FRONT HOVER (PLANK)

3 X 30 SECONDS

ALTERNATING FORWARD LUNGE

3 X 24 REPETITIONS

SQUAT JUMPS

3 X 15

Let me explain a few of these exercises. Mountain climbers are performed in the pushup position by bending your hip and knee with one foot forward and underneath you while the opposite leg is straight. Bodyweight should be evenly distributed through each hand and foot. Next, switch foot positions rapidly by “jumping” and alternating the landing position. Try to keep your hips level with the rest of your body. Arms stay straight as your feet do the work. Each alternation counts as a repetition.

Make sense? I hope so because that’s a hard one to describe on paper.

The front hover or plank is similar to the pushup position except that you will support your upper body with the forearms (elbows directly under the shoulders) and your feet together.

Try not to let your hips drop toward the floor by contracting your abdominals and avoid holding your breath. The object of this exercise is to hold this “plank” position for a thirty-second count.

A squat jump is simply a squat finished off with an explosive jump up. Remember to always land softly by bending your knees and hips.

There are only eight exercises with this routine, but the goal is to perform each one without rest in between. Once you have completed the circuit, allow yourself a rest break anywhere between 2-5 minutes before starting another round. In this example, I have a total of 3 rounds (notice the 3 x ).

Here is another way to incorporate bodyweight training into a normal weight lifting routine. Execute your lift then follow it up immediately with a body weight exercise. Examples: Bench Press followed by Pushups, Leg Press followed by squat jumps, or an Abdominal Crunch Machine followed by the Front Hover. You might be surprised on how difficult the bodyweight exercises can be when performed in this fashion. Never underestimate the value of bodyweight training because it can be a great addition to any fitness routine.

Unverzagt holds a BS in Wellness Management from Black Hills State University. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), and a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Old Town Crier

BODYWEIGHT TRAINING

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September 2016 | 41

CIVIL DISCOURSE FROM PG 9

“Let us not throw away our history because it seems politically incorrect.

Alexandria has such rich history and that statue and what it represents is part of it.”

Cheryl Holt “The confederate statue is both tasteful and arguably peaceful. In no way does it glorify war or the confederacy.

It’s a part of Alexandria’s and American history and deserves to be right where it is. If modern “students” find it offensive they should “Look away.” They won’t get this reference either.”

J Murray Tarter “I find it unbelievable that political correctness is raising its insidious divisive head in Alexandria over this historical monument. My response to these Democrats, (and surely the proponents of removing the statue are Democrats) is: When the Democratic Party apologizes to all Americans for institutionalizing slavery in America and perpetuating it through Jim Crow laws then maybe we can discuss this statue. Until the Democratic Party apologizes, the statue stays perhaps now as a reminder to them of their

history in promoting racism and slavery in America…”

Jim Haybyrne “History is full of individuals and cultural icons that are today regarded as anachronistic or irrelevant or objectionable. These things are nonetheless a part of history, and if we begin a process of “cultural cleansing” — based on modern notions of morality — then many of the icons and symbols of human history will be removed from our sight….”

Timothy Conway “This has to stop. My Confederate Ancestry is being discriminated against. Stop with erasing the war. I don’t care the North won. My nonslave owning ancestors were fighting for their beliefs. The war wasn’t about slaves. It was because of economics. Done!” rogersjessaamber@aol.com “Everyone who wants this statue removed should take the time to go to Prince and Washington streets and then go a few steps south on Washington and take a long and thoughtful look at this soldier’s face……

Leave it alone.”

David A. Norcross

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“I was born in Old Alexandria Hospital almost 70 years ago, and have been here all my life. I could say the statue has been a part of the city that long, but what I really feel is that if you forget the past, you are doomed to repeat it. We cannot forget that terrible episode of our country’s past and must work hard to do better and that statue is a bitter reminder.”

Helen Bradford “This Alexandria icon must be preserved at its current location. The current antiConfederate everything hysteria is counterproductive and represents hate not heritage.”

Claude Mayo, Native Alexandrian “It is appalling to me that Alexandria are even considering moving this statue. This is an attempt to rewrite history by a small hate group and its allies.

Confederate soldiers, almost none of whom owned slaves, were fighting to defend a legitimate government against an unwanted (both in the North & the South) and unconstitutional invasion … ” Willard Hardman, PhD “Definitely should stay.

That soldier represents a part of Alexandria’s history.

As misguided as the city’s Confederate sympathies may have been, the figure is neither inflammatory nor boastful. It is a stitch in the bigger weave that makes up Alexandria’s identity. Acknowledge history, learn from it — Don’t erase it.”

MM Flannery “I am positive about its history and artistic value and its appeal for tourism to Alexandria. More can be said about the statue and its history at the Lyceum so that we add balance and not just remove our southern history and story of how Alexandria’s families mourned their losses and rebuilt Alexandria into the city it is today, one we can all be proud of.”

Jim Becker “Don’t stir the hornet nest.

As a retired Time Life Books person having had our office on South Washington St, I enjoyed the history of that confederate soldier. This statue is not confederate flag. Let sleeping dogs lie. As someone who promoted TLB’s Civil War series too, those were tough times “Brothers against Brothers”. We need some respect for those who died on both sides.”

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The statue, renowned for artistic excellence, is a monument to boyhood chums who as young men fought to protect their loved ones, city and state against invaders.

Would we urge our citizens today to do less in the same circumstances and should we not publicly honor the courage and sacrifice of these American soldiers? The site is where they last gathered, all living, in uniform, as the invasion was expected.

That is why Edgar Warfield, initiator of the regiment, its last survivor and initiator of the statue, chose that site and why it should remain there in perpetuity. It is a funeral monument. Some of those dead may have no other.

“It is a sad commentary on some of our citizens that they think the war was fought solely to preserve slavery, the narrative falsely put out in history books still written in the North by its propagandists…If we have removed all Confederate traces, what will that say about us as a city that claims to be the hometown of George Washington who was renowned for telling the truth? Of course, as everyone knows, a partial truth is not the truth, so we must tell the whole story and tell it well. Robert E. Lee is also an international hero, but you wouldn’t know he had lived here from the information provided tourists.”

Ellen Latane Tabb “I caution all. Beware of the baggage that one brings to this conversation — Our educations are often both simplistic and emotionally based. As a result, we tend to perceive reality in black and white and see — I do not mean in a racial sense.

Though we are taking about race and our racial histories AND we are talking about our collective histories and our collective heritages — we cannot make them go away.

They are what they are — History happened! We should live in our history and with our history — Good and bad … Embrace both hate and love, and live with who we are and from whence we came, and cease attempting to erase historic realities.”

Mark Michael Ludlow M.A “I have been watching very closely the public shenanigans concerning the attempt by the City of Alexandria to change the names of the streets and buildings connected with the

Confederacy. Also I am against the proposal to remove the statue of Appomattox that commemorates and identifies the one hundred gallant men from Alexandria that lost their lives defending Virginia during the period 1861 to 1865. If this is what political correctness has become in our culture then I want no part of it …”

Don Hakenson “The Great Cover-Up!!!

Reading your small clip in the Old Town Crier, I could not but chuckle about the great cover-up that is being foisted off as some sort of rightest racist rant. And in fact the tone of the argument is to pit the poor African American minority against the Republican party … So now is the time to cover-up the crime of despotism in the 1800’s.

Just get rid of the statues and monuments, blame the Republicans and no one will remember which party sponsored and supported slavery, segregation, Jim Crow and the corrupt Affirmative Action scams. Sweet Deal if the Demokrat Party can get away with it.”

Robert P.J. Lindseth “… One thing that has always resonated with me, is the importance placed on our history and to honor, respect and preserve the memory of those who have served — no matter what. I have family that fought on both sides of the Civil War conflict.

I am in favor and great belief that all memorials should remain in place. People that came before us wanted to honor and remember — who are we to change “their” minds? … Please let Appamatox stand — He is a symbol of honor and memory and of service and sacrifice.”

Lois S. O’Connor “It is my understanding that you are conducted a poll as to whether or not the statue of the Confederate soldier “Appomattox” should remain in its current location in Old Town Alexandria.

Please register my vote as a “yes” for the retention of the statue, which is a valuable piece of Alexandria and Virginia history.If this is not the correct forum for registering my vote, please let me know. Thank you for your consideration to this important issue.”

Patricia G. Sandberg

Old Town Crier

FIRST BLUSH KIM PUTENS

Never Look Tired Again!

“H

ow can I get rid of the fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness around my eyes?”

The eye area is the most delicate and where the first signs of aging begin to creep up on us. Most often, it is the area that is most neglected until we see that first wrinkle.

The most important thing to realize is that prevention is the best defense against the inevitable aging process.

Choosing to use an eye cream at an early age is the best defense against those fine lines creeping in before we’re ready. There are also a few other remedies to weaken the defenses of those fine lines and to address other eye concerns.

Aging

When we begin to age, the eye area is the first to show those signs. That is why it is the most important area to take care of. Taking care of our eyes is quite simple — moisturizer. Keeping the eye area moisturized is key to maintaining its elasticity

and keeping the crows feet and wrinkles away. Choosing an appropriate moisturizer is important. Too light of a moisturizer won’t be effective and too heavy of a moisturizer will just make your make-up a runny mess. To determine the right weight of a moisturizer, look for a moisturizer that absorbs into the skin just enough to still provide relief and still be a little slick. Furthermore, the right moisturizer must not be too intense. The eye area is the most delicate skin on our face and requires that we take great care to ensure it is treated accordingly. A moisturizer designed specifically for the eye area is the best choice. Choosing any facial moisturizer isn’t appropriate because they often contain too many active ingredients that are too much for the eye area to handle. It’s also important to recognize that, for most of us, our eyes are more sensitive than the rest of our skin. A moisturizer should be delicate in addition to being the appropriate weight.

Dark Circles

As a life-long dark circle sufferer, I have particular sensitivity to these concerns.

I also understand what it is like to try every eye cream under the sun to attempt to deal with my dark circles. I’m here to tell most of you: put down the eye cream, walk away and grab a concealer.

The reality is that eye creams formulated to combat dark circles do not address most dark circle concerns. Eye creams that claim to fight dark circles are designed for dark circle conditions involving broken capillaries.

These broken blood vessels create a darkening under the skin that these dark circlefighting creams work to disintegrate. Unfortunately, for the majority of us (myself included), our dark circles are the result of discoloration or excess pigment around our eyes. This is a function of the way we are built and no eye cream can change that.

But, there are ways to reduce them and hide them. Most effective is making sure to get good sleep because those dark

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Old Town Crier

Puffiness

Puffy eyes come in two forms: chronic and circumstantial. Chronic puffiness is typically a condition in which pockets of fluid (or bags) have collected under the eye area. Aside from surgical methods to treat this, there are some eye creams available to address these issues. Circumstantial puffiness is the result of a lack of sleep, hay fever or an allergic reaction. These types of puffy eye conditions are easily treated with cold compresses to the eye area when there is an occurrence.

Using something — like

a bag of peas — that can mold to the eye area will be the most effective. In both circumstances — chronic or circumstantial — there are eye creams loaded with an antiinflammatory to help regulate the puffiness. To know if a particular eye cream will work for you, test-drive it in the store. Most of these eye treatments have immediate results that can be seen from the moment they are applied.

Try this: apply the eye treatment to one eye and leave the other untreated. Check in the mirror to see if it has made a difference. Continued use of these eye treatments will improve the continued puffiness over time and help to enlighten the eyes area.

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September 2016 | 43

SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE PEGGIE ARVIDSON

10 Reminders You Are Not Broken

Y

ou are not broken.

It’s a hard thing to remember with the hundreds of thoughts that race though my head in any given minute.

From berating myself when I miss a turn as I navigate my new city to chastising myself for having that second cookie I can carry on a stream of negative self-talk from morning to night. Sometimes it happens so quickly and consistently that I barely notice! How can that happen if I’m not broken?

Yet in the small moments of quiet I remind myself that I wasn’t made broken. I didn’t come to this lifetime to berate myself and I’m doing a disservice to all that is good in the world to beat myself up in big and small ways.

We’ve all heard of the law of attraction, right? It’s been overused and commoditized

The

but the gist is a good one. The core principle is that what we focus on we attract. If we’ve all heard that so often that it seems overused, why are we still focusing on negative things? Why can’t we just turn a switch and remember to focus on the good things?

I hear you thinking, “But Peggie, bad things happen every day! Are you saying that bad things happen to me and my loved ones because we’re focusing on them?”

No. I’m not. Even though this basic description gives off the impression of a simple cause and effect process the truth is more complex.

When it comes to living by the mantra, “I am not broken” and the Law of Attraction, here are some good ground rules to keep in mind:

1. It’s a practice.

Staying focused on the positive doesn’t mean burying

your head in the sand. It’s about being present to whatever happens and then responding, rather than reacting.

2. You have more power than you think you do.

For instance, every moment of every day you can choose how you show up in any situation. When you refuse to participate in gossip you are in power. When you keep your cool while dealing with ornery “customer-service” people, you are in power. Power isn’t about bull-dozing others; it’s about recognizing that you are in choice in every minute of the day.

3. Thoughts become things.

When you consistently think you are less than or broken, you start to manifest experiences in your life that will prove that you are broken.

When you consistently remind yourself that you are

Pragmatic Palmist PEGGIE ARVIDSON

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44 | September 2016

4. People are not born with good luck or bad luck.

People create their own luck by responding from a source of love rather than fear.

5. All feelings are neutral.

Sometimes you’re mad and sometimes you’re happy.

Allow the feeling to come in and to flow over you. Then let it go. The more you allow your feeling to pass through you the easier it is to get back to a place of harmony where you actually feel satisfied with your life.

6. You are not in charge of other people.

Sure, if you have teeny babies in your life, it’s a good idea to care for them to the best of your ability. However, you are not responsible for the happiness of anyone else in your world. In addition, you are not in control of anyone else’s feelings, actions or responses. Resign as CEO of the world.

7. Track how much time you spend worrying about someone other than yourself.

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

whole and perfect, you find yourself having experiences that prove you are whole and perfect.

Whether it’s the pesky coworker, the annoying inlaw or the antics of your grown child, the time you spend worrying about them (patronizing them, yelling at them, and generally buying into their story) is time you could be spending in your own world. That’s a much better use of your time.

8. Make an effort to focus on the good things.

Whether you keep a gratitude to appreciation journal, send thank you notes to people who make you happy or simply take

10 minutes a day to bask in the good things you have in your life at the moment, do it. If you spend as much time focused on positive things as you do on the negative, you’ll see a perceptible positive shift in how you feel on a daily basis.

9. Resist the temptation to play the blame game.

I know it seems like your life would be better if: (pick just one!) the economy was better; your mother wasn’t so mean; your husband listened to you; your kids made their beds; your boss gave you credit; the weather would cooperate; etc. Start focusing on one thing every day that allows you to feel better instead of all the things that seem to be blocking your way.

10. Bad things are going to happen no matter what you do.

This is not because you are bad or broken. It is because the nature of life is to change.

Change can sometimes feel good and sometimes it can feel very bad. Allow for the change by reminding yourself you’re not broken.

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

Old Town Crier

OPEN SPACE LORI WELCH BROWN

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

S

o I started writing September’s column with a long ramble about the dog days of summer probably because the actual details of my summer are already a blur. What a scorcher, huh?! Oy the weather. This heat is unbearable. It’s a sweat-fest up in here. How did it get to be September already? Seems like just yesterday, I was packing up the down comforters and starting my bikini body regime (it didn’t work, btw). Then early one Friday morning, we received a call that my mother-in-law had died. Nothing like a death in the family to bring you back down to Earth and make you realize how trivial everything else is in comparison. Granted, my mother-in-law was 88 years old and lived a very long, full and happy life — it didn’t hit us out of the blue. We knew it would happen eventually, but somehow it was still a shock.

When someone is there day in and day out and then ‘poof ’ one day they’re not, it throws you for a loop.

Her inevitable passing had been lingering on the horizon for a while — so much that it made it seem like that it would likely never really happen. I was placing bets that she would outlast us all. She was a force of nature — a woman who, in my opinion, had likely looked Death square in the eye on numerous occasions and told him to go packing. She wasn’t GO FISH FROM PG 39

identity. Founders Roy and Ryan Seiders are avid anglers and launched YETI out of frustration with gear failing on fishing trips. YETI debuted the Hopper Flip 12, which took home a Best New Product Award. The YETI tradition continues with a leak-proof, tough-as-nails, compact and portable small soft cooler. This cubed body cooler is the perfect lunchbox with a wide-mouth opening for easy loading and access to food and drinks. yeti.com Looking good while feeling good, no matter the weather, the winner of Lifestyle Apparel was Old Town Crier

ready. Her slow descent became background noise — part of the conversation of daily life. “Mom seems better today. Mom seems to be backsliding today. Mom hasn’t eaten today. Mom ate everything on her plate. Who knows how long Mom will be around. We should plan to spend Christmas with Mom; it could be her last.” I don’t think any of us believed it would happen any time soon. Then the call came and she was gone. Her children lost their Mom. The grandkids lost their Nonnie. I’ve only been in the picture for four years, but during that time, she and I got to know each other. On the news of her passing, however, I couldn’t shake the unexpected feeling of disappointment around all of the conversations we wouldn’t have and all the great stories I had missed out on — a nd she was full of them. Of course, it also brought to mind all the stuff about my own mortality, living in the present, being mindful, etc., but I just kept coming back to the missed opportunities — which felt like an added layer of loss. I blamed myself for procrastinating and taking for granted that she would always be just a five minute drive away. When life isn’t so busy, I’ll stop by more. Once I stop working full-time, I’ll make it a point to go by a couple of times a week for lunch and a chat. The ‘whens’ and ‘onces’ were not to be and it truly is my loss.

My adult mind understands death and grieving.

My husband, XXL, and I actually discussed how blessed we feel because we have never really experienced a tragedy of the sort where someone Under Armour’s Men’s UA Fish Stalker SS. Fighting heat and humidity and avoiding dehydration is key during the toughest on the water conditions.

Strategic ventilation and a loose fit, so air can move easily around your body, offer full range of motion.

Also featuring built-in UPF 30+ sun protection, ArmourBlock (anti-odor technology) and UA’s signature moisture transport system to wick sweat round out the unique coolness. underarmour.com There were many winners at this year’s ICAST with several companies finding opportunity in the New Product Showcase. In spite of some feeling

near and dear gets ripped from you unexpectedly as in a fatal car accident or heart attack — or worse —think Dateline. Truly — that is a blessing. I have lost friends my age—and that is painful. I’ve also been to funerals for people much younger than me — children of friends. That is about as horrific as it gets. For days, weeks and months, you walk away thinking that you’ll be more aware of the gift of life and that you won’t take people and loved ones, or your own health, for granted. You’ll work out more, curse less. You’ll eat organic and curb your week day drinking. You’ll be more forgiving and tolerant.

You’ll volunteer more. You’ll call your Mom every day just to say hi. You’ll hug your husband every day before you each head out the door. You’ll be kinder and gentler and live with purpose and meaning. You won’t yell at the kids for silly things like leaving their dirty socks on the floor. You’ll pay attention to the spring blooms and wave to the children out playing in the cul de sac. You’ll walk your dog every day and not just when it’s 80 degrees with no humidity.

Then life happens and you find yourself prioritizing work and chores and errands ahead of people. You pull into the drive through, order a Filet o’Fish (small fries, please) and curse Ms. Mickey Dees for forgetting the extra ketchup. You put finishing your taxes in front of calling your Dad. You race out the door in the morning, shoving down a toaster waffle and wonder if your husband is still in bed. Hopefully he remembers to feed the dog. Life.

So, as the summer ends, I wonder how many other opportunities I’ve missed because I’ve been running at warp speed. Not just of the mega-clearance sale variety, but real, honest opportunities to connect with my fellow humans. How many times have I had my face buried in an electronic device trying to make a social connection and missed a moment with a real live person. How many stories haven’t I heard because I was too busy focusing on running through my never-ending list of errands and chores.

These are the moments of life and they are fleeting, especially with those who could really tell us something worth hearing. I know it’s hard to explain to the younger generations, but they really don’t make them like that anymore.

RIP, CWB. You are greatly missed. overshadowed by large companies, many still recognize ICAST as the best way to introduce new gear by putting products in the hands of media members and buyers. Most companies plan on returning to the 2017 show, in Orlando next July, which promises to be even bigger and better.

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

September 2016 | 45

Waterfront Dining at Dusk

W

waterfront restaurants here hile on one of my at the Harbor, there really is “walk-abouts” something to the old adage here at the Harbor “location, location, location.” last week I really If you enter the waterfront took note of from the intersection of what a beautiful waterfront Waterfront Street and we now have. With the American Way, once you addition of the Capital descend the stairs you Wheel and its nightly light

BY LANI GERING have choices on both show and the back drop sides. Fiorella’s Italian of the Wilson Bridge and Kitchen, Pizzeria and Bar with Rosa the Masonic Temple on the horizon Mexicano’s* balcony right above is in Old Town Alexandria, it really is to your immediate left and Redstone pretty spectacular — most especially American Grill is right across the at dusk. The night I took the photos throughway. To your right is Potbelly the weather was particularly nice. The Sandwich Works with Bond 45’s* stifling heat from the days prior was balcony directly above. Next to them gone, the humidity had dissipated to is Crab Cake Café and across the a pleasant percentage, and the sunset throughway and to the north you had been a good one. will find McCormick & Schmicks Also, pretty spectacular are the Harborside and McLoone’s Pier dining out options on the waterfront.

While I don’t want to take anything House. Brews & Bites is located at the away from the other fabulous nonend of the same pier that houses the

Wheel. There is also a Chipotle on the waterfront but I am a bit biased and have never really considered them a “dining out” option. Don’t hate on me — just my opinion.

Each of these places has something that sets it apart from the others.

Fiorella’s offers hand-tossed pizza.

Rosa has tableside guacamole service.

Redstone has the only outdoor bar on the water. Potbelly toasts their bread.

Bond welcomes you with a glass of complimentary Prosecco. Crab Cake serves one of the best crab cakes I have ever had. McCormick’s serves their cocktails with fresh squeezed juices.

McLoone’s has a great Happy Hour and serves the only Rum Bucket in the Harbor. And Brews & Bites is literally “on the water” at the end of the Capital Wheel Pier.

I will give you all the low down on the other great places we have to dine in the heart of the harbor in a future

column. There are lots of them!

There is always something airing on the big screen on the Plaza and most nights there is an activity on the “lawn.” Fridays are particularly fun on the Plaza with the addition of lawn games, live entertainment from Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Boom Box and a DJ rounding out the evening.

Summer Fridays will end on Sept. 29, but hopefully this activity will return next season. Saturday evenings the plaza host the Military Concert Series (see the calendar of events in this section for the scheduled bands).

Now that Fall is fast approaching and the weather should lend itself to dining al fresco, make a plan to frequent any or all of these fine waterfront establishments. Please tell them the Old Town Crier sent you.

*These restaurants are entered from Waterfront Street. There is no access to them from the plaza.

46 | September 2016

Old Town Crier

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NATIONAL HARBOR SEPTEMBER EVENTS Visit www.NationalHarbor.com for more information and holiday itineraries.

SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS THRU OCTOBER Farmers Market American Way 10 am - 5 pm Miller Farms Farmer’s Market returns to National Harbor with their wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, beautiful flowers and plants, and much more.

TUESDAYS THRU SEPTEMBER Turbo Kick/Cardio Kickboxing On the Plaza, 7-8 pm FREE! Compliments of No Excuse Workout WEDNESDAYS THRU SEPTEMBER Family Fitness Class On the Plaza 10 - 10:30 am FREE! Compliments of No Excuse Workout Hip Hop Zumba Class On the Plaza 7 - 8 pm FREE! Compliments of No Excuse Workout SATURDAYS THRU SEPTEMBER Yoga On the Plaza 9 - 10 am FREE! Compliments of No Excuse Workout

SUMMER FRIDAYS THRU SEPTEMBER On the Plaza, 4 - 8:30 pm Join your friends for one of the many lawn games the likes of bocce ball, corn hole, yahzee, tic-tac-toe and jenga!

Games start at 4 pm. From 6 to 7 pm Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Boom Box will be on hand. The evening rounds out with a DJ and dancers handing out giveaways! FREE!

season than a Date Night at National Harbor. Join us on the Plaza every Thursday night and Sundays for Family Night. Pack your chairs, grab food to go from one of our delicious dining establishments, and meet us at the Plaza screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages!

SATURDAYS THRU SEPTEMBER Salute the Sunset Concert Series On the Plaza, 7 pm, FREE! World-class performances by bands from the nation’s Armed Forces at National Harbor will stir the hearts and souls of civilians and military personnel alike, while their tuneful stylings in a variety of genres please music lovers of all ages.

8th:

Men in Black

15th:

Ocean’s 11

22nd:

Meet the Parents

29th:

Ocean’s 12

3rd: Marine Big Band 10: Navy Sea Chanters 17th: Air Force Band

Airmen of Note 18th: 3:00 pm: Air Force

Concert Band &

the Singing Sergeants 24th: Navy Commodores

18th: Zootopia

DATE NIGHT • 7 PM 1st : Casino Royale

FAMILY NIGHT • 6 PM 4th: Tomorrowland 11th: 25th:

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SEPTEMBER 5 – LABOR DAY Alex’s Lemonade Stand Westin Hotel 171 Waterfront Street In an effort to join the battle against childhood cancer, The Westin Washington National Harbor will host an Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Located in the heart of National Harbor’s beautiful waterfront community the Westin Washington National Harbor will be selling lemonade, cupcakes & other treats to help raise funds & awareness for childhood cancer.

We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you at the stand!

Movies On the Potomac On the Plaza, FREE! Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars — and there’s no better way to enjoy the

Old Town Crier

September 2016 | 47

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NATIONAL HARBOR DINING GUIDE AC LOUNGE 156 Waterfront St. 301-749-2299 BOND 45 149 Waterfront Street 301-839-1445 BREWS & BITES Capitol Wheel Pier 301-749-1300 BROTHER JIMMY’S BBQ 177 Fleet Street 301-909-8860 48 | September 2016

CADILLAC RANCH 186 Fleet St. 301-839-1100 cadillacranchgroup.com CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL 158 National Plaza 301-749-2016 CRAB CAKE CAFE 140 National Plaza 240-766-2063

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

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

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

703.684.0580 GRACES MANDARIN 188 Waterfront Street 301-839-3788 GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY 200 American Way 240-493-3900 McCORMICK & SCHMICK 145 National Plaza 301-567-6224

ELEVATION BURGER 108 Waterfront Street 301-749-4014

McLOONES PIER HOUSE 141 National Harbor Plaza 301-839-0815 mcloonespierhousenh.com

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

NANDO’S PERI-PERI 191 American Way 301-567-8900

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PUBLIC HOUSE 199 Fleet Street 240-493-6120 publichousenationalharbor.com REDSTONE AMERICAN GRILL 155 National Plaza 301-839-3330 ROSA MEXICANA 135 Waterfront Street 301-567-1005 SAUCIETY AMERICAN GRILL 171 Waterfront Street 240-766-3640 THAI PAVILLION 151 American Way 301-749-2022 WALRUS OYSTER & ALE HOUSE 152 Waterfront Street 301-567-6100 Old Town Crier

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