Old Town Crier- September 2018 Full Issue

Since 1988 • Priceless

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

September 2018

Road Trip

AN END OF SUMMER TRIP ALONG THE WEST RIVER Anne Arundel County, MD Personality Profile

WENDY RIEGER News Anchor, Emmy Award Winner & One of A Kind Points On Pets

SERVICE ANIMAL OR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL There Is a Big Difference Dining Out

AUGIE'S MUSSEL HOUSE Traditional Belgian Cuisine With a Modern Twist

september’18 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 MARKETING & ADVERTISING Lani Gering Bob Tagert SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE Ashley Schultz DESIGN & PRODUCTION Electronic Ink 9 Royal Street, SE Leesburg, VA 20175 703. 669. 5502 CONTRIBUTORS Peggie Arvidson Nancy Bauer Sarah Becker F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Doug Fabbioli Nicole Flanagan Lani Gering Miriam Kramer Genevieve LeFranc Sarah Liu

Melinda Myers Ron Powers Kim Putens Julie Reardon Ashley Schultz Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown Molly Winans

© 2018 Crier Media Group, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The Old Town Crier is published monthly and distributed to select Alexandria residents, hotels, restaurants and retail shops. Also distributed in the Annapolis, Fredericksburg, Blue Ridge and Washington, DC areas and St. John, USVI.

Since 1988 • Priceless

A Bit of History............................................................. 16

From the Bay….............................................................22

Personality Profile.............................................................4

After Hours.......................................................................11

From the Trainer............................................................41

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

Alexandria Events............................................................ 3

Gallery Beat.....................................................................12

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

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra 18-19 Season..... 3

Go Fish...............................................................................45

Arts & Antiques..............................................................13

Grapevine.........................................................................38

Behind the Bar................................................................32

High Notes.......................................................................10

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

Brick Wood Fired Bistro Spicy Mussels Recipe.....23

Dining Guide...................................................................34

Let's Eat.............................................................................36

Dining Out.......................................................................31

Local Farmers Markets.................................................. 3

Exploring Virginia Wines............................................39

Music Festivals '18........................................................11

Financial Focus.................................................................. 8

National Harbor.............................................................47

The Last Word.................................................................... 9

First Blush.........................................................................43

On the Road with OTC................................................... 1

To the Blue Ridge..........................................................28

Fitness................................................................................42

Open Space.....................................................................46

Urban Garden.................................................................14

Publisher’s Notes.............................................................. 2 Road Trip...........................................................................26 September's Holidays.................................................... 5 Social Media Message....................................................2 Spiritual Renaissance...................................................44 The History of Labor Day...........................................25

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

September 2018

Road Trip

AN END OF SUMMER TRIP ALONG THE WEST RIVER Anne Arundel County, MD Personality Profile

WENDY RIEGER News Anchor, Emmy Award Winner & One of A Kind Points On Pets

SERVICE ANIMAL OR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL There Is a Big Difference Dining Out

AUGIE'S MUSSEL HOUSE Traditional Belgian Cuisine With a Modern Twist

about the cover An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly visits the flower garden of Carmen Nance- Gambrill, owner of Carmen's Gallery on Solomons Island, MD. Photo by Nance-Gambrill.

on the road with OTC Alexandria native, Greg Rucker takes the OTC to Ketchikan, Alaska! Greg accompanied his fiancée to the “Salmon Capital” of the world. While she attended job related functions, Greg was enjoying the sites and scenes everything from salmon and lumberjacks, to seals and bears. He brought along something from home to keep him company - The Old Town Crier!

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

Old Town Crier

September 2018 | 1

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

BOB TAGERT

The days are getting shorter and less humid. It is a good time to take a road trip. This month we returned to one of our favorite places from years ago…

Galesville and Deale Maryland and our favorite waterfront dining spots. The places we used to visit are a little more modern but worth the drive. It is also a great time to visit Virginia wineries. Check out our wine section for places to visit. Our Personality Profile is local news anchor Wendy Rieger, a true one-ofa-kind! Sarah Becker writes about tariffs, then and now in History. Lori Welch Brown discusses what she will give herself for her birthday in Open Space. Steve Chaconas revisits the snakehead fish of the Potomac River in Go Fish. Lenny Campello talks about thrift shop buys that can be worth millions in Gallery Beat.

This month we visited a new restaurant in town, Augie’s Mussel House for a teaser for a future full blown Dining Out. Great location for casual dining for the next couple of months and then watch what happens with that space.

You might want to stop into the Whiskey Room Bar at Union Street Public House on Wednesday Whiskey Nights and taste their guest distillers wares. The summertime activities are winding down in National Harbor. Check out what you might want to participate in before the months end in the National Harbor Section.

I really can’t believe that we are getting into the holiday season already. ICE is coming to the Gaylord and we are already getting inundated with PR requests to publish “Holiday Gift Ideas”. Let’s keep our holiday shopping local and support the shops that keep our business community alive.

As I write this, the Nationals are playing the Phillies and are 7.5 games out of first place. They have had a hellava year with lots of fingers being pointed but the bottom line is they are MY TEAM. The players haven’t given up and neither have I. Let’s hope I am talking about them in my October issue Pub Notes.

Enjoy the end of your summer….

SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE

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t comes to that time of year, where Ashley goes a little off topic, and discusses her ventures at “SuperCon.” Last year was the first year for “SuperCon,”in Raleigh, NC; it proved a success and this year undoubtedly reassured that it’s not only good for Raleigh, but good for those that need to escape into their fantasy worlds.

“SuperCon,” is a three day festival for fans of pop culture, superheroes, science fiction, fantasy, anime, cartoons and video games. Last year, I met Levar Burton of Star Trek and Reading Rainbow, Jason David Frank, the Green Power Ranger from the Power Rangers series and the infamous wrestler Ric Flair. Let me tell you a little about my Saturday!

Just like last year, myself, my boyfriend Stephen, and his best friend 2 | September 2018

The publisher hanging out with his new Pirate pal at The Dock Bar in Galesville, MD.

ASHLEY SCHULTZ

Jarrod all journeyed together to Raleigh.

We discussed who we wanted to see, what panels we wanted to go to, and lastly what we wanted to BUY! Once in Raleigh, parking was supposed to be a mess, but the city of Raleigh was prepared, we paid $7.00 for all day parking! Take that DC! We knew we were in the right place once we saw Sir Walter Raleigh with a lightning bolt on his chest!

We got inline to redeem our tickets; and of course saw some great cosplay: which is the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game. The thing about these conventions is that you can be who ever you want to be and there is no judging. You will get a high five for being the weirdest! We got our schedules and set our plans for the day. First stop, the main floor, to look

at the merchandise and mostly, for me to fill out surveys to get free stuff!

While we were looking around, we met Michelangelo, the orange turtle from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Then the infamous, Ghostbusters car, and characters from Star Wars! I managed to get a 2 free bags, a kazoo, and coupons to Dave and Buster’s. A win for me!

First panel we went to was the Pink Ranger from the Power Rangers, Kimberly Ann Hart. She looked just like she did when she was in the show! Yet, the panel was uneventful, we ended up leaving half way thru.

We walked around some more and took in the cosplay outfits. I ended up leaving Stephen and Jarrod to go out on my own, let them have their “guy time.” I met a cosplay of Casey Jones, from TMNT, Beast from X-Men, and Deathstroke originally from Teen

Titans. I went to a panel all about “Disney in Movies,” they showcased movies that had the Disney parks in them, such as Saving Mr. Banks, Ernest Saves Christmas, and Hulk Hogans Thunder in Paradise.

We then ventured to see the infamous William Shatner from Star Trek! He was just as funny and quirky as you would imagine! The house was full and he catered to any questions asked! Henry Winkler was there as well, and he sure put on a show!

Finally we met with Kevin Conroy, who voiced Batman in the animated series, he talked about working with Mark Hamill aka Luke Skywalker, who voiced the Joker.

I can’t wait until I can report about SuperCon next year! I walked away with some great memories, great pictures, and a few tears of nostalgia!

Old Town Crier

Alexandria SEPTEMBER TOURS, EXHIBITS, EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 1ST The Alexandria Black History Museum Presents: Story Time for Little Historians 11 a.m.

Free; $3 suggested donation Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314 703-746-4356 alexandriava.gov/blackhistory Bring your little learners to the Alexandria Black History Museum for cultural stories and creative craft activities that introduce world history and folklore. Story time will take place every first Saturday of the month at 11 a.m. in the Watson Reading Room (located next door to the museum.)

Explore our museum exhibits afterwards to learn about local black history. All ages are welcome, but most suitable for children 3 to 6 years old.

SEPTEMBER 6TH First Thursdays Del Ray 6-9 p.m.

Free; pets welcome Along Mount Vernon Ave. www.visitdelray.com First Thursdays is a series of free outdoor street festivals along Mount Vernon Avenue in the spring and summer. This is the last First Thursday of the season. The Del Ray Business Association features businesses along Mount Vernon Avenue, special events, food and music. Each month has a different theme with activities for children, live music and a festive atmosphere.

SEPTEMBER 9TH George Washington Patriot Run 8 a.m.

Admission George Washington’s Mount Vernon www.MountVernon.org Dash through history during the George Washington Patriot Run. The 10K and 5K course takes runners up and down the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway and traces Washington’s footsteps through the historic area at Mount Vernon.

Cross the finish line with the beautiful mansion in view! A free Kids Run will be held near the finish line at Mount Vernon (registration required). All 10K and 5K runners will receive a T-shirt and a finisher medal. All Kids Fun Run participants will receive a kids medal.

Apothecary Museum Geek Tours: American Sign Language 11 a.m. to noon Admission: $15 Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum 105 S. Fairfax St. 703-746-3852 www.alexandriava.gov

Learn about the muggle botanical science that inspired the potions and herbology of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and make your own magical sleeping potion! This tour will be conducted exclusively in American Sign Language. Only visitors fluent in ASL should attend this tour. Adults and children ages 8 and older welcome.

Outlandish Fashion Show & Tea 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax St. 703-549-2997 www.novaparks.com Do you love the Outlander books and/ or the television show? Then join us for tea and a special fashion show on the Magnolia Terrace. Members of the Appin Regiment, an18th century Scottish Living History group, will model the fashions from the time period when Jamie, Claire and John Carlyle lived. Tickets available online.

Registration required no refunds.

Everyone in party must be registered.

SEPTEMBER 13TH Second Thursday at the Torpedo Factory Art Center 6-9 p.m.

Free Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union St. www.torpedofactory.org Every second Thursday visit until 9 p.m. and browse open studios and galleries, get to know the artists, and enjoy special programming throughout the building. Don’t miss the monthly lecture series, Torpedo Talks, at 8 p.m. in the Main Hall. This series features some of the contemporary art world’s best-known artists, art curators and art professionals.

SEPTEMBER 14TH Late Shift at the Torpedo Factory Art Center 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission: Free Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union St. www.torpedofactory.org Enjoy gallery talks, artist receptions, music, live performances, hands-on artmaking and three floors of open artists’ studios. The theme will be Culture ALX, where artists, poets, and performers showcase the vibrant cultures that have greatly contributed to the region’s remarkable tapestry.

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET MARKET SQUARE • 301 KING ST SATURDAY 7 A.M. – NOON, YEAR ROUND Free parking in Market Square garage during market hours People who come to Alexandria on Saturday mornings find themselves in a busy plaza where local farmers and artists have been selling their products since 1753. Old Town Alexandria’s Market Square is thought to be one of the nation’s oldest continually operating farmers markets, serving as a primary source of meat, dairy, fish, fruits and vegetables for Alexandrians. George Washington sent his produce from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today, the market offers folks a way to reconnect to the past, while participating in an ongoing local and national tradition.

DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET CORNER OF E. OXFORD & MOUNT VERNON AVES SATURDAY 8 A.M. – NOON, YEAR ROUND The Del Ray Market is producer grown, with fresh vegetables and fruits in season. All year round, this market offers meats, eggs, fresh pasta and sauces, Amish cheese, yogurt, bakery goods, eggs, jams and jellies, fancy nuts and bakery goods.

NORTH MONTGOMERY PARK FARMERS MARKET NORTH MONTGOMERY PARK • 901 N. ROYAL ST THURSDAY 3 – 7 P.M., YEAR ROUND, WEATHER PERMITTING CALENDAR > PAGE 6

Old Town Crier

KingsJewelry.NET 609 King Street Old Town Alexandria 703-549-0011 Family owned and operated for over 60 years.

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Open Thurs 10am-8pm Closed Sundays

The market will feature local growers, bakers, and other area providers of wholesome foods including Twin Springs, Grace's Pastries, Bread & Water, and Relay Foods.

September 2018 | 3

PERSONALITY PROFILE

LANI GERING

Wendy on the Pier

M

ost of you who live in the local area will recognize this name as one of NBC Channel 4’s most popular news anchors. In fact, she celebrates 30 years with the affiliate this year – hard to believe isn’t it? Sort of like it’s hard to believe the Old Town Crier celebrates its 30th year as well. She also shares the love of the Chesapeake Bay and the Blue Ridge Mountains that we do. I guess one would say it

is today is well worth the surfing – actress, Emmy Award winner, environmental activist, etc. (Get it… surfing the web). I want to concentrate on some of the things that make her tick and what she sees for her future.

Our first encounter at Tula’s was a chance meeting on a

a house on the West River in Galesville, Maryland and that she had fairly recently purchased a weekend home in Rappahannock County – the “From the Bay to the Blue Ridge” connection.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. We met Wendy and a friend of hers for

Wendy Rieger – One of a Kind From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Wendy on her Farm was kismet that we met in one of our favorite drinking and dining places in Washington, VA – Tula’s. Tula’s is owned by our longtime friends, and Alexandrian’s, John McCaslin and Mark Allen. Small world.

I’m not going to make this profile a biography of her life. You all can get that information via the wonders of the world wide web. I will tell you that she is a native Virginian from Norfolk but has been in the DC area since she was 22 and the story of how she got to where she 4 | September 2018

powers that be). “I like to shake things up,” she told me. One time she really went off of the rails and died her hair a deep auburn (dating an Irish guy and was headed to Ireland for a few weeks) and I guess that created quite a stir when she returned to work. She was back to blonde

each with a funny story about their lives. She suggested that Rappahannock County could be its own reality show.

She is very open about being 62 years old – one would never guess that by the way. She is vibrant and full of energy. “I get bored easily, I want to have as many experiences as I can. I don’t believe in bucket lists. In fact, until that movie came out I didn’t know there was such a thing”, she says, “I

Wendy Outside the Shack cold night in January. We were sitting at the bar chatting with locals that we have befriended over the years when she came in and joined us at the bar. I don’t think that there is a pretentious bone in this woman’s body. She is truly a “what you see is what you get” kind of person. Obviously, we are always on the lookout for interesting people to profile and she definitely fit the bill. As the conversation continued, we discovered that her permanent residence is

brunch at Tula’s on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. An unusual day for August since there was no humidity and the temps were mild and… no rain! The encounter was more like catching up with an old friend than doing an interview. The conversation just flowed. We talked about a lot of different things. Like why did she cut her hair short (one of the caveats of her job entails her appearance and there are some guidelines so she did run this by the

within a few days. Guess it involved a pricey promotion that the station had previously filmed that was hitting the airwaves with a very blonde Wendy in it. We talked about millennials, youth shaming, animals, people and places we know in common and about the characters that make up both of the communities in which she resides. She made the analogy that Rappahannock County is 40% Mayberry and 60% Green Acres. So many characters

do everything because of an epiphany or on an impulse.

You’ve got to listen to the universe speaking to you and telling you what to do.

You gotta go with it. People don’t do that and they remain stagnant. Especially at this age. Once I reached 60, I thought, I’m burning daylight now, we are all burning daylight now. You better be living with all of your engines firing.”

She is passionate about PERSONALITY PROFILE > PAGE 7

Old Town Crier

September, 2018 Daily Holidays, Special and Wacky Days For some reason we have had a couple of friends get on the “Celebrate Something Special Everyday” bandwagon - like it is a new fad of some sort so we did some research. Through the wonders of the “world wide web” we found the following:

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Old Town Crier

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Please celebrate in your own special way. There are some very important days sprinkled among the whacky but I think we will be celebrating VJ Day - Victory Over Japan Day pretty much ended World War ll - and International Bacon Day with some sushi and sashimi and a rasher or two.

September 2018 | 5

CALENDAR | FROM PAGE 3

Alexandria After-Work Concert Series 6 to 8 p.m.

Free The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum 201 S. Washington St. www.alexandriava.gov Co-sponsored by the Office of Historic Alexandria and the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, join us for monthly Friday night concerts on the second Friday of the month. The September concert at The Lyceum will feature After the Flood, a “Newgrass” folk Americana string band with close harmony singing in traditional American styles.

SEPTEMBER 15TH Civil War Shelter 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free Fort Ward Museum & Park 4301 W. Braddock Rd. www.alexandriava.gov/fortward Can you tell a Sibley tent from a dog tent? This interpretive program will explore a variety of tents and shelter for Civil War soldiers. Examples of some major types of tents will be set up and explained by Union military interpreters, and the furnished Officers’ Hut will be open to the public.

Firefighting History Walking Tour 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Admission Friendship Firehouse Museum 107 S. Alfred St. 703-746-3891 www.alexandriava.gov Explore Alexandria’s firefighting history on the “Blazing a Trail: Alexandria’s Firefighting History” tour. The tour begins at the historic Friendship Firehouse, proceeds east on Prince Street, and returns via King Street. For age 10 and older.

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra’s 75th Anniversary Celebration Concert 4 p.m.

Admission Virginia Theological Seminary Campus

3737 Seminary Rd. 703-548-0885 www.alexsym.org Join the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra as it is celebrates its 75th anniversary with a special outdoor concert featuring new music director, James Ross. Held on the campus of the Virginia Theological Seminary, patrons will enjoy a familyfriendly program with selections from The Sound of Music, Swan Lake, Americana favorites and light classical music. General admission lawn seating and VIP tickets available.

Cinema Del Ray Outdoor Movies 7 p.m.; films begin at dusk Free Mt. Vernon Recreation Center 2701 Commonwealth Ave. www.facebook.com/cinemadelray

ALEXANDRIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2018-19 SEASON

BEETHOVEN’S SYMPHONY NO. 7 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 TH AT 8:00 P.M. RACHEL M. SCHLESINGER CONCERT HALL SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH AT 3:00 P.M. GEORGE WASHINGTON MASONIC MEMORIAL James Ross, Music Director; Alexander Kerr, violinist

Bring family, friends, neighbors and a blanket to watch these open-air movies including The Lion King, The Lego Batman Movie, Toy Story 3, Cars 3 and Coco at Cinema Del Ray, sponsored by The Jen Walker Team.

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A major TORKE: Javelin DVORAK: Romance in F minor SAINT-SAËNS: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso

SEPTEMBER 15TH & 16TH

UPCOMING CONCERTS:

16th Annual King Street Art Festival

MENDELSSOHN’S SCOTTISH SYMPHONY

15th 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

16th 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free King St. Washington to Union Streets 703-746-3301 www.VisitAlexandriaVA.com/ArtFest

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018 AT 3:00 P.M. GEORGE WASHINGTON MASONIC MEMORIAL

Historic King Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, from Washington Street to the waterfront is transformed into an outdoor art gallery with original fine artwork by more than 200 artists from around the country. Enjoy live music, and interactive art activities, as well as The Art League’s Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser. The 16th Annual King Street Art Festival takes. The Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Beer & Wine Torpedo Garden will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

Crafts at Carlyle Noon-4 p.m.

Free Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax St. 703-549-2997 www.novaparks.org

James Ross, Music Director PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 1 “Classical” J.S. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 STRAVINSKY: Concerto in E-flat major “Dumbarton Oaks” MOZART: Symphony No. 38 “Prague”

RACHMANIONOFF’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 James Ross, Music Director; Marianna Prjevalskaya, pianist REZNICEK: Overture to Donna Diana SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 “Spring”

RACHMANINOFF: PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 SATURDAY, APRIL 6TH AT 8:00 P.M. RACHEL M. SCHLESINGER CONCERT HALL

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD AT 8:00 P.M. RACHEL M. SCHLESINGER CONCERT HALL

James Ross, Music Director; Tanya Anisimova, cellist KRASH: Cello Concerto (world premiere) MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3 “Scottish” BERNSTEIN: Overture to West Side Story BERNSTEIN: “Three Dance Episodes” from On the Town

MOZART’S PRAGUE SYMPHONY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH AT 8:00 P.M. RACHEL M. SCHLESINGER CONCERT HALL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH AT 3:00 P.M. GEORGE WASHINGTON MASONIC MEMORIAL To coincide with the King Street Art Festival, children will be able to create their own artwork at Carlyle House to take home. Children will paint their own floor cloth, a popular 18th century floor covering.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7TH AT 3:00 P.M. GEORGE WASHINGTON MASONIC MEMORIAL Tickets: $20-$80 for adults. Student tickets $10 (with ID). Youth tickets $5 (age 18 & under). Military, senior and group discounts available. Purchase online at www. alexsym.org or call 703-548-0885.

Free parking provided by the ASO at both venues.

The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center is accessible by Metro bus lines 7A, 7B, 7F, 7Y, 25A, 25C and 25E, as well as DASH bus line AT6. The George Washington Masonic Memorial is accessible by the Blue and Yellow metro line (King Street station), numerous Metro, Dash and Richmond Highway Express bus lines, and the King Street Trolley in Old Town, Alexandria.

For soloists’ biographies, please visit: http://www. alexsym.org/about/musicians/

Mount Vernon Colonial Market & Fair 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission George Washington’s Mount Vernon 703-780-2000 www.MountVernon.org Visit with colonial artisans who demonstrate and sell traditional wares such as baskets, woodcarvings, tin and ironwork, leather-workings, weavings, furniture, and food. Watch 18th-century shows, including a puppet show, a fire-eating act and a balloon launch and listen to colonial music. Costumed interpreters will be demonstrating the 18th-century chocolate-making process using an authentic colonial recipe! Potomac River sightseeing cruises are available at half price (while supplies last). Colonial Market & Fair takes place rain or shine.

SEPTEMBER 22ND 77th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission Old Town Alexandria 703-338-0691 www.thetwig.org/Homes-Tour The Twig’s 77th Historic Alexandria

6 | September 2018

Homes Tour provides the opportunity to tour 18th and early 19th century homes in Old Town and learn of their historic pasts. This year’s homes are located in the heart of Old Town, in easy walking distance, and underscore the area’s continuing evolution as a vibrant, livable community. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www. thetwig.org or at the Alexandria Visitor Center at 221 King Street. On tour day, tickets may be purchased at the Alexandria Visitor Center, at The Twig Thrift Shop at 106 N. Columbus Street or at The Athenaeum at 201 Price Street. All proceeds benefit Inova Alexandria Hospital.

Classic Car Show 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. 703-424-5871 www.packardsva.org Co-sponsored by Packards Virginia and The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, the show will feature a variety of Packards ranging from the 1930s-1950s as well as other “orphan” vehicles that are invited to register as well.

CALENDAR > PAGE 7

Old Town Crier

PERSONALITY PROFILE | FROM PG 4

where she lives. Much has been written about her home on the West River near Galesville.

In fact, the Road Trip column in this issue is about that very same area. She was a “city dweller” at the time she was doing a stand up (news reporter term) on the steps of the Capitol in Annapolis and a gust of wind came off the water and blew the scent of salt water in her face. She decided that day that she was going to move to the water. And…. within a few months, there she was in the perfect Circa 1920 Chesapeake Bay Bungalow with a 180 foot dock and an original Crab Pavilion on the river and she has been there for 19 years. I guess this falls in the epiphany category.

Her love of the mountains was sparked after her parents divorced in the mid-60’s and her airline pilot father moved to Southern Towers in Northern VA – a place where lots of pilots and “stews” resided back in the day. When it was his turn to spend time with the kids, he would pick them up in Norfolk and drive them to the city via Skyline Drive making a stop to climb Stoney Man Mountain and then they would stay at Skyland Resort in the Shenandoah Mountains. This became a ritual for many years and I could tell it was something very dear to her heart as she described it.

It took years for her to make her decision to move to the mountains. She tells me that she was looking at John CALENDAR | FROM PAGE 6

SEPTEMBER 23RD Apothecary Museum Geek Tours: A Magical Apothecary 11 a.m. to noon Admission Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum 105 S. Fairfax St. 703-746-3852 www.alexandriava.gov Learn about the muggle botanical science that inspired the potions and herbology of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and make your own magical sleeping potion! Adults and children ages 8 and older welcome.

SEPTEMBER 25TH Twilight and Tipple Tours Admission Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House 9000 Richmond Highway www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org Participate in our very popular “Twilight

Old Town Crier

McCaslin’s Instagram – not only is he co-owner of Tula’s, he is also an old beau of hers – and saw the fabulous photos he posts of Rappahannock County. Once she found out that RappCo, as it is affectionately called by locals, is near the Shenandoah’s she had to see for herself. She connected with John last year and he gave her the grand tour. In a few short months she found, yet again, another perfect abode – a renovated circa 1920s Farm House with a paddock on 3 acres near Amissville – and basically purchased it on the spot. There is that impulsive side. Odd that both homes are circa 1920 and actually were almost the same price. After spending weekends in her newly acquired digs, she decided that she would take some advice an old boyfriend – a builder – gave her years ago and build her own home from the ground up. She went on the hunt for land and found the perfect spot in April. She had her DC condo for sale and she got a contract for the sale of it on the same day she signed the contract for the purchase of her 24 acres. This may, sort of, fall in the category of the universe telling her what to do.

She is in the process of clearing out trees and foliage and felling an old building that she affectionately calls the “unabomber” shack on her newly acquired property.

She hopes to begin building in the next few months. She tells me that she and her architect are close to having the perfect & Tipple Tuesday” tours and allow guests to enjoy libations from local partners, while taking tours of the Pope-Leighey house as the sun sets.

This is a very special tour that only takes place in the warmer months.

Come experience how the indoor light shines through Wright’s distinctive custom window cutouts in the twilight.

Check our website for upcoming dates!

SEPTEMBER 29TH A Mansion House Whiskey Tasting 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax St. 703-549-2997 www.novaparks.com Join us for a unique and intimate evening with old friends and new as we taste extraordinary whiskeys paired with delectable food, harkening back to the days when the Mansion House Hotel stood on the property.

plan. When I asked if she would be selling her Bay home, she said it wasn’t in the plan right now, however, she does want to make the Blue Ridge her permanent residence and it may come down to selling the bungalow to someone who will love it as much as she does. “I don’t want to be greedy. I want to let someone else have the opportunity to love it as well,” she said, “I might, however, keep the 180 foot pier with the pavilion and purchase a boat so that I still have my connection to the water.”

One of the last things she said to me as we were looking over her property was, “A house is something that survives long after you are gone. If you build a good house, it will be your legacy.”

I do believe Wendy is well on her way. She definitely is “one of a kind’.

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FINANCIAL FOCUS

CARL TREVISAN, CFP© & STEPHEN BEARCE

How to Avoid and Correct Tax Issues

N

obody likes unexpected tax bills or IRS penalties. So how can you minimize the possibility of errors on your return? And if an error does still slip through, what then? In both cases, it’s often a matter of paying close attention to documentation.

Avoiding tax errors.

Audrey Young, a tax attorney and senior manager at accounting, tax, and consulting firm RSM US, says one of the basic things that everyone should do is pay attention to what their tax preparer sends them.

“Most clients who work with professionals get a tax organizer,” Young says. The organizer is a document outlining a series of questions for people to answer. It helps taxpayers think through all the big and small items from the past year that could 8 | September 2018

impact their taxes.

Big life changes in particular should be called out in the organizer, as they’re a common cause of tax filing errors: • Selling a business • Selling interest in a building or shares in a closely held business • Inheriting money or an IRA • Turning 70½ and triggering mandatory IRA distribution requirements “Most people do a very good job except when an extraordinary transaction comes along,” Young says.

In these cases, good record keeping is crucial — as is sharing that information with your advisor. For example, a problem that can attract unwanted IRS interest is when someone fails to note an extraordinary gift, such

as land, to a university or charitable organization. The value of that property has to be properly documented.

When gifts of stock or other property (like a vacation home) are made during one’s life, good records are essential to avoiding tax problems down the road — especially for the recipient. That’s because the gift’s “cost basis” — the purchase price — also transfers to the gift recipient.

Say mom and dad give their vacation home to their adult child. If, later on, that child sells that house, the cost basis used to determine how much profit was made on the sale is the purchase price of the home when the child’s parents originally bought it.

Correcting tax errors. If you do make a mistake, don’t panic. With some common mistakes, such as math errors, IRS computers will often

detect the error and send you a bill. You’ll be required to pay interest on the unpaid tax, but unless the IRS thinks it’s a deliberate or particularly large omission, you probably won’t owe a penalty.

If you or your preparer discover an error after filing, Young recommends filing an amended return as soon as possible. “I think it’s always better to report your error before the IRS finds it,” Young says. Remember, your preparer will need to correct all the errors in the return — not the just the ones that are favorable for you.

It’s important to note that your preparer must file amended returns on paper (rather than e-filing) and they can take longer for the IRS to process. So, the sooner you correct any mistakes, the sooner you can resolve any potential conflicts.

Our firm does not provide tax or legal advice.

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 FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2018 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

Old Town Crier

THE LAST WORD

MIRIAM R. KRAMER

Clock Dance

A

nne Tyler has had a weighty influence on American letters with her prolific collection of novels, which include the excellent Breathing Lessons, awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, and her twentieth book, A Spool of Blue Thread, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2015. Her latest work, Clock Dance, showcases her easily approachable writing style but also some unfortunate weaknesses in her character development and narrative.

Her story centers on Willa Drake, a woman whom the reader follows from her preteen years in 1967, early adulthood in 1977, married life in 1997, and latest chapter of life in 2017.

The eleven-year-old Willa and her younger sister, Elaine, live in smalltown Pennsylvania with their parents, the mild-mannered Melvin and dramatic Alice.

Willa grows up wishing for a big, happy family because of the instability in her own small one. Her histrionic mother slams in and out of the house, fighting with her passive father, whom she derides as Saint Melvin.

Alice is prone to Jekyll-and-Hyde mood swings, in which she changes from Willa’s bright, charming mother to a frustrated, erratic woman who hits her children and disappears unpredictably from the house, leaving a trail of emotional destruction in her wake.

When her mother emerges after a two-day absence, the pre-teen Willa’s resentment at being placed in the position to care for her younger sister and suffer her mother’s bouts of temper pushes her to a critical decision: what kind of person she will choose to be in life. Her decision to emulate her father rather than her mother, as if there were only two choices available as role models, creates a profound effect on her own character and on her future.

Old Town Crier

I

n an exclusive preface to the Barnes & Noble edition of Clock Dance, Tyler writes that she herself had realized that “(N)one of us can just blithely decide to be first this way and then that way, to possess this virtue and then that virtue, ad infinitum.

No, the opportunities for the selection of our future selves are strictly rationed, I figure. Let’s say, to be safe, one choice per person.

Probably no more than that. So choose carefully.”

Tyler creates Willa as a woman like herself; one who chooses to be like her father, the submissive “steady one” in an adult relationship. From this choice the narrative progresses in a way that affects most action in the novel.

Intelligent Willa’s meekness causes her to choose an opposing personality: a sharp-tempered, energetic husband who disrupts her career plans to choose an academic career in linguistics when she leaves school and gets pregnant. His ability to rescue her from her dysfunctional family pushes her to make this fateful decision.

The reader spends at least half of the book learning about Willa’s inability to stand up for herself and the gentle negative effects of her choices. As Tyler puts it, unlike other mothers, Willa wants to be a pleasant parent who will be taken for granted by her sons after her own painful experience with a mother who disappeared on a whim. Her sons become unresponsive as adults, seeing their mother as “too nice.”

Willa’s responses are understandable in the context of her history, but they

also make much of Clock Dance a mildly unpleasant read with little gained from the effort. Despite Tyler’s invitingly simple writing, the book drags on in the first half of the plot. Pleasant Willa lives a superficial life without much insight. She is not even able to understand why her nowadult sister might have chosen to wash her hands of her dysfunctional mother, father, and sister.

At sixty-one, she gets a surprise call from her son’s ex-girlfriend’s neighbor in Baltimore, who believes Willa to be ex-girlfriend’s mother-in-law.

Since Denise, the ex-girlfriend, has been shot in the leg, she asks Willa to take care of Denise’s young daughter, whom she believes to be Willa’s granddaughter.

If all that seems exceedingly complex and improbable, that’s because it is. Tyler says that when Willa “rides through the city in a taxi, late one afternoon in the summer THE LAST WORD > PAGE 13

September 2018 | 9

HIGH NOTES

I

n my quest for the new, exciting, unique and interesting, I recently flew to London to see what its scene was contributing to music. It was there where I ironically discovered, not in a London Club, but on a streaming platform, a London based band released on a US label, Hot fUSs. London based punk rock band Hot fUSs bring us the unique blend of both grit and charm on their debut single “Brightside of the Moon”. If you are or were ever a fan of Iggy Pop, then you will love this raw and exciting rock ‘n’ roll. With rough-edged production juxtaposed against melodic pop sensibility, Hot fUSs’ “Brightside of The Moon” introduces a vibrant and promising new act.

10 | September 2018

RON POWERS

“Brightside Of The Moon”

by Hot fUSs

“Brightside of the Moon” kicks off with a snarl drenched in delay and fuzz effects accompanied by two scrappy guitar rakes. Then it’s off to the races with Johnny Ramone-esque guitars, drums with just the right amount of stomp and snap, and a subtle synth under the chorus that gives Hot fUSs’ retro vibe a tasteful modern touch.

Added to all that are crispy megaphone vocals.

The verses delineate the indictment of an enemy. They describe a ruthless sleaze bag, and a victim turned avenger putting his retributive foot down. When the infectious

chorus kicks in we hear a male and female lead vocal line sung in unison. The lyrics “I’m gonna get you back, as a matter of fact, sneaky little rat, here comes the cat” are sung with a melodic hook that gets in your head in all the right ways.

The members of Hot fUSs are no slouches musically either. What may be confused with simplistic chords and straightforward rhythm in actuality reflects a deep understanding of music theory and structure. There is a deliberateness in every creative decision made. Like the great minimalist painters,

Piet Mondrian, Mark Rothko and Josef Albers, Hot fUSs knows and respects the art of simplicity, yet at the same time, like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Hot fUSs has all of the technical skill it takes to pull off something complex when the song asks for it.

The guitar solo on this enjoyable track is a blistering example of just that. Take a listen and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. This is the kind of song you can listen to again and again. It’s the one that the more you listen, the more it grows on you and the

harder it becomes to get out of your head.

The members of Hot fUSs include siblings Simon Mark (bass, vocals) and Sylvia Williams (guitar, vocals), and longtime family friend Jason Black (drums, vocals).

Hot fUSs is also featured on a track by Chelsea Dagger called “Somebody Told Me You’re A Mess” (yet another enjoyable new tune that tells us Hot fUSs is a new act that is here to stay). I, for one, look forward with anticipation for what this outstanding new band will deliver next. In the meantime check out “Bright Side of The Moon” and “Somebody Told me You’re a Mess (feat. Hot fUSs)” on Spotify, iTunes or any other of your favorite music platforms.

Old Town Crier

If you like music and the outdoors, these festivals are the best for you, your family and friends to attend.

Come for the day or camp the weekend. Support local and international artists performing around our area.

music festivals 1' 8

Sept. 20-22 Watermelon Park Festival Watermelon Park Venue 3322 Lockes Mill RoadBerryville, VA https://watermelonparkfest. com Oct. 5 – 7 The Festy Experience Infinity Downs and Oak Ridge Farm Arrington, Virginia https://www.tixr.com/groups/ thefesty/events/the-9th-festyexperience-8147 Oct. 5-7 Sleepy Creek Harfest Sleepy Creek on the Potomac Joshua Lane Berkeley Springs WV https://www. sleepycreekpresents.com/ harfestm

AFTER HOURS Birchmere 703.549.7500 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com The Blackwall Hitch 571-982-3577 5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com Carlyle Club 411 John Carlyle Dr. 703-549-8957 thecarlyleclub.com Chadwicks 203 S. Strand St. 703.836.4442 Evening Star Cafe 703.549.5051 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Old Town Crier

The Fish Market 703.836.5676 105 King St. fishmarketoldtown.com La Portas 703.683.6313 1600 Duke St. Las Tapas 703.836.4000 710-714 King St. lastapas.us The Light Horse 703.549.0533 715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com Murphys Irish Pub 703.548.1717 713 King St. murphyspub.com

O’Connell’s 703.739.1124 112 King St. Rock It Grill 703.739.2274 1319 King St. Shooter McGees 703.751.9266 5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com Southside 815 703.836.6222 815 S. Washington St. St. Elmos 703.739.9268 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave. Taverna Cretekou 703.548.8688 818 King St.

TJ Stones 703.548.1004 608 Montgomery St. tjstones.com LaTrattoria 703-548-9338 305 S. Washington St. Two Nineteen 703.549.1141 219 King St. These establishments offer live entertainment.

Call to confirm show times, dates and cover charges. Check our advertisers’ websites

September 2018 | 11

GALLERY BEAT

F. LENNOX CAMPELLO

WHO THE

#$%& IS JACKSON

POLLOCK?

H

as anyone seen the documentary about the lady truck driver who has found an alleged Jackson Pollock painting in a thrift shop? It is titled “Who The #$&% Is Jackson Pollock”, and was made about a decade ago.

If you haven’t seen it – look for it and watch it online.

Essentially, California truck driver Teri Horton “devoted much of her time to bargain hunting around the Los Angeles area.” In the 1990’s

12 | September 2018

she found a $5 painting in such a place and subsequently pretty much discovered that it was a Jackson Pollock original, possibly worth as much as $50 million dollars a decade ago.

The documentary is highly entertaining – but the lesson here is a class lesson. The issue of Horton versus the “art world” predictably developed into a class war of sorts.

I haven’t kept up much with it, and it has been more than 25 years since the California

resident bought the 66-by48-inch abstract painting that revealed some of the deep class issues within the art world. From memory I even recall a TV show discussing the fact that Horton’s alleged Pollock has a fingerprint that apparently has been found to be the fingerprint of Jackson Pollock. Also, forensic experts had also determined that the paint in the alleged Pollock is the same paint used in certified Pollocks. She has declined $2 million from a dealer and later $9 million from a Saudi art collector, as those figures are not even close to what a certified Pollock would bring.

Normally that would be enough to certify that this is a Pollock, right?

But that assumes that the art world “experts” that swore up and down that Horton’s find was not a real Pollock are willing to admit that they were wrong.

So in spite of a fingerprint and same exact paint... don’t hold your breath. Most recently, Charles Wang, an independent researcher, apparently has stated “that the painting is one of Pollock’s missing works.”

According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, “Wang said he believes

Horton’s painting is actually the original version of “No. 5, 1948,” which he said was damaged and returned to Pollock to be repaired, but Pollock instead painted a new one that became the one that sold for $140 million.”

Still the art world has not coming to knock on Horton’s door to sell the painting. Is this a class issue?

I think so. It has always surprised me the curious reaction that most art world illuminati have towards the general American public when it comes to art.

Not exactly a loving, nurturing relationship, is it?

And on the art world side, we’re all supposed to be militant lefties, always on the side of the poor, downtrodden masses, always on the prowl and look-out for the evil Republicans’ latest plots and ideas, especially when it comes to art, in any manner or form.

But the art world leftwingers make a curious right turn when it comes to the masses and to the public in general. If the public likes it, it can’t be high art. If a trucker discovers the art find of the century, it can’t be true.

So it is easy to see why the Horton affair was picked up as a 60-minute type Old Town Crier

GALLERY BEAT | FROM PAGE 12

documentary as an example of a convenient class battle between art world elitists and people who drive trucks and have no idea who Jackson Pollock was.

And it makes it juicier when the “experts” and elitists are proven wrong (by science), and rather than offering a good ole “aw shucks folks, we wuz wrong,” apology, they retreat into their galvanized white cubes and refuse to THE LAST WORD | FROM PAGE 9

of 2017—well, to my mind, that’s when her story changes to Technicolor.” This change in Willa’s life comes too late in the narrative. The ensuing events, in which Willa takes a leap of faith and goes to Baltimore, Tyler’s home town, also seem unlikely.

In the end, this is a novel about a woman’s choice, its effect on her future, and her desire for a colorful, loving family. The second half of the book reminds the reader of Maeve Binchy’s light, enjoyable novels in which extended and adopted families evolve and help each other. That being said, Willa’s childlike, timid approach not only in her earlier life but also in Baltimore make even that part frustrating as she slowly grows to understand what she wants.

When Willa finally has her epiphany in the last pages of the book, Tyler leaves the reader to guess the decision she makes by leaving the novel open-ended. At that point, the

admit that probably science is right and what Horton found in a California thrift shop should have made this California lady super rich… but didn’t.

And as usual, classy or class-less, money talks, and if I was in those experts’ expensive shoes, I’d be worried, because they’re still dealing with a tough, trashtalking, ex-trailer mamma… and I suspect that before long, her painting will make a debut at a fancy auction

somewhere… I hope.

Paul Biro notes: “The bottom line for me is that most of the educated world lives by science and technology in the 21st Century. However, a small segment of the art market has chosen to stand apart.

This is the only reason why Teri’s painting has not yet entered the market. While the museum, academic, and legal world has no problems with forensics, a few in the art market do.”

ART&ANTIQUES

reader no longer cares what she has chosen.

Perhaps an older Anne Tyler fan might interpret and appreciate this novel and Willa’s problems differently.

As a member of Generation X, I grew up in a context where marriage often took place in a woman’s late twenties and thirties. From early adulthood women have striven to fulfill an almost impossible goal of “having it all,” balancing a family and completely rewarding full-time work.

They have also found it much easier to live an independent, satisfying single life than in the past.

Women growing up in the 1950s and 1960s were offered a narrower set of options, which included finding a husband, bringing up a family, and potentially dropping out of school and giving up career possibilities. Some were very happy with this path.

Many also found a different trajectory after raising children or reaching retirement.

If Willa had realized her

own needs and followed her goals for fulfillment much earlier in the novel, her character would have been exponentially more engaging.

She lacks the inner conflict required to make her character provocative.

In the end, I do not agree with the conclusion in Tyler’s preface to Clock Dance. The opportunities to choose a future self are not limited to once a lifetime, or even twice.

To transform may be very difficult. Yet the possibility is always there for any of us to change our minds and potentially the circumstances that lead to happiness, selfknowledge, and contentment.

of Autumn in the Air!

Visit us in Old Town to see an amazing collection of new outfits, accessories, and home accents arriving every day. From top (Kakyco hats and many, many more hats and scarves from American designers) to toe (the new fall collection of the lovely b.ella socks), you will find the perfect way to begin developing your new fall wardrobe. We also have some wonderful summer styles at great values. We are open until 7 pm Monday through Saturday and until 5 pm on Sunday.

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Old Town Crier

Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street

Spurgeon-Lewis Antiques 112 N. Columbus Street

Principle Gallery 208 King Street

BW Art, Antiques & Collectibles 108 N. Fayette Street

Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery 105 N. Union Street

Imperfections Antiques 1210 King Street

St. George Gallery 105 N. Alfred Street

The Antique Guild 113 N. Fairfax Street

The Art League 105 Union Street

Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street

Local Colour Old Town 218 N. Lee Street

Red Barn Mercantile 1117 King Street

Icon Galleria 101 N. Union Street

Washington Square Antiques 425 S. Washington Street

B&B Art Gallery 215 King Street

Susquehanna Antique Co. 608 Cameron Street

Gallery West 1213 King Street

Old Town Antiques 222 S. Washington Street

Enamelist’s Gallery 105 N. Union Street

Verdigris Vintage 1215 King Street

Printmakers, Inc. 105 N. Union Street

Cavalier Antiques 400 Prince Street

Kelly’s Art & Frame 510 N. Washington Street

Sumpter Priddy III 323 S. Washington Street

Oerth Gallery 420 S. Washington Street

Henry Street Antiques 115 S. Henry Street

Jeffrey Winter Fine Arts 110A S. Columbus Street

Curzon Hill Antiques 108 S. Columbus Street

Johnston Matthew 105 N. Union Street

The Hour 1015 King Street

Huddy Studio 105 N. Union Street

A Galerie 315 Cameron Street

Mezzanine Multiples 105 N. Union Street

Random Harvest 810 King Street

Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street

Acme Mid-Century + Modern 128 S. Royal Street

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September 2018 | 13

MELINDA MYERS

URBAN GARDEN

F

all is a great time to start a garden or renovate an existing planting bed.

The soil is warm while the air is cool – a perfect combination for establishing new plantings. It is also a great time to prepare gardens for the next planting season.

Investing time up front to create a healthy foundation for your plants will pay off with years of beautiful, healthy and productive gardens.

When you read plant tags and seed packets you’ll find that the majority of plants prefer moist well-drained soil.

Unfortunately, most gardeners aren’t growing in plant-friendly soils. Heavy clay, sandy and droughty soils are much more common. Understanding what you have is the best place to start when creating a healthy soil foundation for new and existing gardens.

Start with a soil test.

Contact the local office of your Extension Service or state certified soil testing lab for details. They can direct you on how to take a soil test and where to send the sample. The test results will tell you how much, if any, fertilizer, lime, or sulfur is needed. Following soil test recommendations can save you money spent on and time applying unnecessary soil additives. Plus, following the results will increase your

14 | September 2018

CREATE A

Healthy Foundation FOR

Fall Plantings gardening success.

While waiting for the results you can do a bit of analysis yourself. Soils are made of clay, sand, and silt particles.

The feel and cohesive nature of this sample will tell you a bit about your soil. Take a handful of soil and create a ribbon by rubbing it through your thumb and index finger to get a feel for your soil type.

If the soil easily forms a ball or rolls into a sausage shape, feels slippery when wet and smoother when dry, you have a high percent of clay in your soil. Soils with a high percent of the very small clay particles are often called heavy soils.

They stay wet longer and hold onto soil nutrients. Clay soils are slow to dry out and warm up in the spring. Avoid working them when wet. This leads to compaction and clods you will be contending with all season long.

Soils with a larger percent of sand particles don’t form a ball when moist and feel gritty to

the touch. The much larger sand particles create bigger pores in the soil for water and nutrients to move through quickly. They tend to be nutrient deficient, fast draining and dry. But they warm up and dry quickly in the spring.

Silt feels smooth like flour when dry and soapy slick when wet. They are the middle-sized particles that hold water and nutrients longer than sand, but not as much as clay particles.

Silty soils drain slower and stay colder longer than sandy soils in the spring. Overworking soils with a high percent of silt leads to crusting and compaction, decreasing drainage and water infiltration.

Consult your soil test report when preparing your new garden beds. Prior to planting is the easiest time to add organic matter to any of these soil types. It increases the waterholding ability, the infiltration rate so less water runs off the soil surface and builds plant-friendly soil structure.

Incorporate several inches of compost, aged manure or other organic matter into the top eight to twelve inches of soil.

Further improve your soil by using a slow release fertilizer with a high percent of organic matter like Milorganite (milorganite. com). The 85% organic matter feeds the soil microorganisms and your plants as it improves all soil types. You get multiple benefits with this type of fertilizer.

So, as you plan your new landscape additions this fall, include testing and amending the existing soil into your plans. Understanding your soil can help you create a strong foundation important to the health, longevity and beauty of your gardens and landscapes.

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

MelindaMyers.com.

Old Town Crier

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Old Town Crier

September 2018 | 15

A BIT OF HISTORY

SARAH BECKER ©2018

TARIFFS

THEN & NOW IN FRAMING A CONSTITUTION, GREAT DIFFICULTIES ARE NECESSARILY TO BE OVERCOME; AND NOTHING CAN EVER OVERCOME THEM BUT A SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE. James Madison

16 | September 2018

“O

n 6 July, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on $34bn in Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to hit back with levies on the same amount of U.S. exports to China,” London’s The Guardian reported. “In response, the White House released a wide-ranging list of Chinese goods, from tobacco to pet food, worth $200bn it would target with a 10% tariffs.” Beijing said it would “fight back as usual” then filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization. Still Trump’s trade war continues.

A tariff is a tax imposed on imports. In 1827 one hundred delegates met in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to promote protectionist policies; to

“shelter” the American wool industry, as well as producers of such products as hemp, flax, hammered bar iron and steel.

On May 19, 1828, President John Quincy Adams (MA-DR) signed

the later known Tariff of Abominations into law. He did so over the objections of congressional Jacksonians; his Vice President, former U.S. Representative and Secretary of War John C. Calhoun (SC-DR, Nullifier).

Father of the Constitution and former President James Madison (VA-DR) spoke “on the constitutionality of the power of Congress to impose a tariff for the encouragement of manufactures.” The Constitution was approved “in Convention by unanimous consent of the States present” on September 17, 1787.

“The Constitution vests in Congress, expressly, ‘the power to lay & collect taxes, duties imposts & excises’; and ‘the power to regulate trade,’” Madison wrote Joseph C. Cabell on September 18, 1828. “The present question is…a simple question under the Constitution of the U.S. whether ‘the power to regulate trade with foreign A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 17

Old Town Crier

A BIT OF HISTORY | FROM PAGE 16

nations’ as a distinct & substantive item in the enumerated powers embraces the object of encouraging by duties, restrictions and prohibitions the manufactures & products of the Country?

And the affirmative must be inferred from the following considerations [selections]: • The meaning of the Phrase ‘to regulate trade’ must be sought in the general use of it, in other words in the objects to which the power was generally understood to be applicable, when the Phrase was inserted in the Constitution.

• The power has been particularly the case with Great Britain, whose commercial vocabulary is the parent of ours. A primary of her commercial regulations is well known to have been the protection and encouragement of manufactures.

• Such was understood to be a proper use of the power by the States most prepared for manufacturing industry, whilst retaining the power over their foreign trade. It was the aim of Virginia herself….

• Such a use of the power by Congress accords with the intention and expectation of the States in transferring the power over trade from themselves to the Govt. of the U.S.

By Mr. Dawes an advocate for the Constitution, it was observed: ‘our manufactures are another great subject which has received no encouragement by national Duties on foreign manufactures...‘If we wish to encourage our own manufactures, to preserve our own commerce, to raise the value of our own lands, we must give Congress the powers in question.’

7. If revenue be the sole object of a legitimate impost, and the encouragement of domestic articles be not within the power of regulating trade it will follow that no monopolizing or unequal regulations of foreign Nations could be counteracted….

8. That the encouragement of Manufactures, was an object of the power, to Old Town Crier

regulate trade, is proved by the use made of the power for that object, in the first session of the first Congress under the Constitution…[M] embers from Virginia… as well of the antifederal as the federal party… did not hesitate to propose duties…By one a duty was proposed on mineral Coal in favor of the Virginia Coal-Pits; by another a duty on Hemp was proposed to encourage the growth of that article; and by a third a prohibition even of foreign Beef was suggested as a measure of sound policy. [See Lloyd’s Debates] [T]he State of Virginia made various trials of what could be done by her individual laws. She ventured on duties & imposts as a source of Revenue; Resolutions were passed at one time to encourage & protect her own navigation & Ship-building; and in consequence of complaints & petitions from Norfolk, Alexandria & other places against the monopolizing navigation laws of Great Britain…. [Journal of House of Delegates, 1785) The effect of her separate attempts to raise revenues by duties on imports, soon appeared in Representations from her Merchants that the commerce of the State was banished by them into other channels, especially of Maryland where imports were less burdened than in Virginia. [Do. for 1786] These projects were superseded for the moment by that of the Convention of Annapolis in 1786, and forever by the Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and the Constitution which was the fruit of it….,” Madison concluded.

Question: did the United States not impose tariffs on “China’s Economic Aggression” by Presidential Memorandum a White House Memo issued March 22, 2018?

Did 107 Republican members of Congress not previously write the President “imploring him not to impose tariffs?”

The Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-30 was the result of a half-century of conflict between eastern and western Virginia over matters of representation and suffrage, internal improvements and

government abuse. Said attendee James Madison on December 2, 1829: “The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. In monarchies, the interests and happiness of all may be sacrificed to the caprice and passions of a despot. In aristocracies, the rights and welfare of the many may be sacrificed to the pride and cupidity of the few. In republics, the great danger is, that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority. Some gentlemen, consulting the purity and generosity of their own minds, without adverting to the lessons of experience, would find a security against that danger, in our social feelings; in a respect for character….”

“It is your character, and your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappy,” Senator John McCain (R-AZ) wrote with Alexandrian Mark Salter in Character is Destiny. “That is all that really passes for destiny. And you choose it.”

Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) “has said he will propose a bill to nullify the tariffs.”

“In framing a Constitution, great difficulties are necessarily to be overcome; and nothing can ever overcome them but a spirit of compromise,” Madison concluded. “Other nations are surprised at nothing so much as our having been able to form Constitutions in the manner which has been exemplified in this country. Even the Union of so many States, is, in the eyes of the world, a wonder; the harmonious establishment of a common Government over them all, a miracle.”

the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, Section 232; the 1974 Trade Act and the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Senator Mark Warner (DVA) has joined Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) in introducing a “bill that would require congressional approval when the president enacts tariffs under the auspices of national security.” [Section 232] The risks associated with presidential power, the Executive Magistrate’s ability to impose tariffs was deliberated in 1787.

In Convention in Philadelphia, July 20, 1787: “Mr. Madison thought it indispensable that some provision should be made for defending the Community against the incapacity, negligence or perfidy of the chief Magistrate. The limitation of the period of his service was not a sufficient security. He might lose his capacity after his appointment. He might pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation or oppression. He might betray his trust to foreign powers. The case of the

Executive Magistracy was very distinguishable from that of the Legislature…

In the case of the Executive Magistracy which was to be administered by a single man, loss of capacity or corruption…might be fatal to the Republic.”

On July 24, 2018 the Trump administration announced a $12bn tariff-related aid package. To subsidize American farmers trade losses especially China.

Sarah Becker started writing for The Economist while a graduate student in England. Similar publications followed. She joined the Crier in 1996 while serving on the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board. Her interest in antiquities began as a World Bank hire, with Indonesia’s need to generate hard currency.

Balinese history, i.e. tourism provided the means. The New York Times describes Becker’s book, Off Your Duffs & Up the Assets, as “a blueprint for thousands of nonprofit managers.” A former museum director, SLAM’s saving grace Sarah received Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award in 2007.

Congress, in fact, has surrendered much of its ‘power to lay & collect taxes, duties imposts & excises;’ its ‘power to regulate trade.’

With passage of the 1917 Trading with the Enemy Act;

September 2018 | 17

POINTS ON PETS

CINDY MCGOVERN

“Thousands of blind like me abhor being dependent on others. Help me and I will help them. Train me and I will bring back my dog and show people here how a blind man can be absolutely on his own. We can then set up an instruction center in this country to give all those here who want it a chance at a new life.”

Morris Frank, founder of The Seeing Eye, the first guide dog school in the United States

F

rank wrote those words in 1927 in a letter to Dorothy Harrison Eustis, an American dog trainer living in Switzerland. Eustis had written an article in the Saturday Evening Post about a school in Germany where blind World War I veterans were being trained to work with guide dogs. Frank was subsequently partnered with a German Shepherd he named Buddy. They made news when Buddy led Frank across West Street, a particularly dangerous street in New York City, and later on Broadway during the evening rush.

According to The Seeing Eye, over 17,000 partnerships between individuals and dogs have been created since 1929. That’s just one training institution dedicated to training the skyrocketing number of service dogs and emotional support animals.

In January of this year, United Airlines refused to let an emotional support peacock board a flight with her owner, demonstrating how broad the definition of support animals has become since Buddy and how they remain very different from service animals.

Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal?

There is a BIG Difference

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Miniature horses can also qualify as a service animal in some case if they have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities.

The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability. It doesn’t matter if a person has a note from a doctor stating that the person has a disability and needs to have the animal

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18 | September 2018

for emotional support. Such a letter does not qualify an animal to be a service animal.

The following are examples of service animals under the ADA: • A guide or seeing eye dog serves as a travel tool for persons with visual impairments or who are blind.

• A hearing or signal dog alerts a person who has significant hearing loss or is deaf when a sound occurs, like a smoke alarm.

• A psychiatric service dog helps detect the onset of psychiatric episodes and lessen their effects. These dogs may remind the handler to take medicine, provide safety checks or

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room searches, and keep disoriented individuals from danger.

• A sensory signal or social signal dog assists persons with autism by alerting the handler to distracting repetitive movements common among those with autism, allowing the person to stop the movement.

• A seizure response dog serves a person with a seizure disorder by standing guard over the person during a seizure or finding help. Some have learned to predict a seizure and warn the person in advance to sit down or move to a safe place before a seizure.

Training for service dogs can last up to two years and is

intense, with some programs reporting a 50 to 70 percent drop-out rate. Service dogs typically wear a vest that identifies them as a service dog and asks the public not to pet or distract them.

There is no breed restriction for service dogs, but many programs use Golden and Labrador Retrievers or German Shepherds. A good service dog is not protective, is people orientated, not overly active, confident but not dominant or submissive.

The needs of the person normally determine the ideal size or breed based on the work required. For instance, small dogs will struggle to help move a wheelchair or pick up and present objects, while large dogs are hard to put under a table in a restaurant or out of the way on a bus or plane.

Emotional support or comfort animals are often used as part of a medical treatment plan as therapy animals. They may provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and help with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and certain phobias.

They do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities, nor are they limited to dogs and miniature horses.

While some states have laws defining therapy animals, these animals are not limited to working with people with disabilities and therefore are not covered by federal laws protecting the use of service animals.

The ADA makes clear that there is no national POINTS ON PETS > PAGE 19

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Old Town Crier

POINTS ON PETS | FROM PAGE 18

registry for service, emotional support or therapy animal.

The American Veterinarian Medical Association also discourages visiting internet sites that will send a vest and certificate for anyone willing to pay the fee. Such practice minimizes the value true service and support animals perform and could put a pet in a situation they are not trained for.

So what about traveling with that peacock? The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) requires airlines to allow service animals and emotional support animals to accompany their handlers in the cabin of the aircraft. For evidence that an animal is a service animal, air carriers

may ask to see identification cards, written documentation, presence of harnesses or tags, or ask for verbal assurances from the individual with a disability using the animal.

Emotional support animals may need to provide specific documentation and the reason the animal must travel with the individual. Travelers should contact their airline ahead of time to find out what kind of documentation is required.

Buddy, for her part died in May of 1938. She and Frank are immortalized in a bronze sculpture in Morristown, New Jersey. It captures the pair in mid-stride, with Frank motioning his hand ahead as if he is giving Buddy the “forward” command.

PETS OF THE MONTH

COCO

Domestic Short Hair, Grey Tabby, Neutered Male, Adult

DELILAH

Tan American Pit Bull Terrier, Spayed Female, Adult

Resources SEEING EYE WWW.SEEINGEYE.ORG/ABOUT-US/ AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ADATA.ORG/PUBLICATION/SERVICE-ANIMALS-BOOKLET AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB WWW.AKC.ORG

TINA & REBECCA

ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL WWW.ASSISTANCEDOGSINTERNATIONAL.ORG/

White Rabbit (Tina) and Grey Flemish Giant Rabbit (Rebecca), Spayed Females, Adults

Coco will always say hello to new friends! He greets anyone who stops by his office with his special meow and loves chin scratches and neck pets. Coco took a little time to come out of his shell when he arrived at the shelter, but thanks to the extra time of staff who share his office, he’s shown what a sweet, outgoing guy he can be. He’d like to be your one and only, so he can have your lap and attention all to himself, but he’s sure to never leave your side!

If those eyes don’t melt your heart, nothing will. Delilah is a sweet and loving gal looking for hourly kisses and ear rubs. She can be selective

with other dogs and would not be a good fit for a household with small animals, but she has loved spending time with our summer campers!

Tina and Rebecca are a bonded pair of the prettiest rabbits you’ll ever meet! These ladies are both mellow gals who enjoy spending their days on your lap, lounging together in whatever cardboard castle is in their pen and munching on hay.

Although they have each other, they’re looking for a new best friend! Could it be you?

Photos courtesy of Dirty Paw Photography

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September 2018 | 19

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION

T

Visiting the Virgin Islands Year Round!

he weather in the Virgin Islands, as in most places in the Caribbean, doesn’t vary much from season to season. The difference between average temperatures in the summer and winter is approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit, so the high season for tourism is dictated more by the weather in other places than in the Virgin Islands.

Winter in the Virgin Islands is like the month of May in much of the North American Southeast, with an average temperature hovering around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius). This makes winter the most popular time to visit, as North Americans escape the freezing temperatures of their home towns.

Summer brings hotter weather and humidity to the Virgin Islands, and both summer and fall have a greater chance of rain than other times of year. The hurricane season officially lasts from June 1 to November 30, but that shouldn’t deter a visit. More hurricanes hit the U.S. mainland than the Virgin Islands, and with today’s 20 | September 2018

Low Season in the Virgin Islands

meteorological technology, there should be more than enough warning to take proper precautions.

The crowds are the most obvious difference between visiting during the tourist season versus the off-season, but this difference causes more changes than travelers might initially realize.

High Season in the Virgin Islands Visiting the Virgin Islands

in the high season of tourism is quite an experience. The islands become a hustling, bustling swirl of vacationers, all reveling in the beautiful weather and the Caribbean experience. Hotels, shops, and restaurants offer their most extensive services with a smile. The crowds can be exciting and exhilarating, but also a little daunting. This is definitely an ideal time for small groups: singles, couples, or groups of friends who

can navigate the islands with ease. The dating scene is also more lively in the high season.

Accommodations and flights should be booked at least two or three months in advance, and even earlier during certain times.

Reservations are necessary, transportation is stretched thinner, and tours are generally more crowded. This is when the islands make most of their money, so every guest is treated like royalty.

While the high season is exciting, the off-season may be more indicative of the true Caribbean. With diminished crowds, a less-hurried, more quintessentially Caribbean way of life prevails. During the off-season, midday temperatures may rise to an uncomfortable 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit, but the Atlantic trade winds keep the mornings, afternoons, and evenings extremely pleasant.

Hotels and resorts may reduce their services and diminish their staff during the off-season, and some tours or activities may be closed altogether. Hotels also reserve their major repairs or renovations for the offseason, so it’s a good idea to call ahead and make sure you won’t be lodging in the midst of a construction site.

On the flip side, traveling in the off-season can be much cheaper. Hotels cut their rates from 20 to 60 percent, and tours and shops may cut CARIBBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 21

Old Town Crier

CARRIBEAN CONNECTION FROM PAGE 20

prices to remain competitive.

There is easier access to public transportation, tee times and golf courses, courts, water sports, and other activities. Flights and accommodations are easier to book, as are restaurant reservations.

Events and Festivals Many people plan their vacation to the Caribbean around a certain event or festival. In the Virgin Islands, there is always something going on. The high season is filled with events like the Crucian Christmas Festival, the Blues and Heritage Festival, the International Rolex Cup Regatta, and the famous Island Carnival. Some islands hold small events on a regular basis, such as St. John Saturdays held the last Saturday of every month.

Visitors who opt for the off-season, however, can still experience many of the festivities that the Virgin Islands are known for. In the British Virgin

Islands, Summer Fest is a major event for the delight of vacationers and locals alike.

Events such as the Fourth of July occur in the off-season and are celebrated quite festively in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other carnivals, festivals, sailing regattas, holidays, and fishing tournaments take place in the Virgin Islands throughout the year.

When it comes to planning your trip to the Virgin Islands, choosing when to go is probably one of the easier decisions you have to make, but that doesn’t mean

you should take it lightly.

Take weather, crowd, cost, and must-attend events into account before you book your trip.

This column is brought to you courtesy of Caribya.com. Caribya! provides detailed coverage of the entire region – from the largest islands to the smallest cays, from the busiest tourism hot spots to the quietest villages deep in the rain forest. For everything that you need to know and more about traveling the Caribbean, make Caribya.com your go to site.

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September 2018 | 21

FROM THE BAY …

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 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 nettlefree 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, 22 | September 2018

MOLLY WINANS

A Dinghy

Diary

Photo: Al Schreitmueller

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 yearlong cruise with their sixyear-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 eight-foot 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-thecob 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 princess-like 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.

This is a little walk down memory lane. This article first appeared in the September 2011 issue of SpinSheet.

Winans is the managing editor of SpinSheet, PropTalk, and FishTalk magazines in Eastport, MD.

Old Town Crier

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Ingredients for fish broth: 5 Roma tomatoes 1 bunch cilantro 1 clove chopped garlic ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup sherry 1 10 oz can clam juice or fish stock Place the tomatoes, cilantro and garlic on a roasting rack or pan, coat with oil and roast at 450 degrees for 40 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes then add to a blender with clam juice and sherry and puree.

For the Mussels: In a medium pot over high heat add oil, garlic, chorizo and tomatoes and saute until garlic is golden brown (about 4 min).

Add mussels and fish broth, cover and cook until mussels are fully open. Remove and transfer mussels into a serving bowl and top with hot broth. Garnish with parmesan cheese, parsley and oregano. ServeSeptember immediately.

2018 | 23

24 | September 2018

Old Town Crier

Labor Day: What it means Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Labor Day Legislation Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment.

By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

Founder of Labor Day More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still

Old Town Crier

The History of Labor Day some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”

But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged.

Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date.

The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

A Nationwide Holiday The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of

the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression.

Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Source material supplied by the United States Department of Labor.

September 2018 | 25

ROAD TRIP

BOB TAGERT

The West River and Beyond

W

hen we started the Old Town Crier thirty years ago, after each month’s delivery, we had a few days to take a break. These were mostly day trips although sometimes it was not advisable to drive back that night. One of our favorite destinations was the West River and the restaurants (bars) of Swamp Circle Saloon, Steamboat Landing (now Thursdays) and Pirates Cove in Galesville. These were great adventures back in the day, so we decided to make a return trip but also to include Skippers Pier in Deale, another favorite.

Things have changed somewhat from those days. There is a lot more traffic out that way as more people have moved to this beautiful area.

It is still a step back in time. Back then you could buy the house a drink at Swamp Circle Saloon for $20. You could get three plays on the jukebox for a quarter and they were all 45’s. They had a real dart board and an air conditioner in the wall that would blow out a little fog on hot days. The Circle is closed now waiting to be transformed into a Mexican place, but the last time I was there they had an electric dartboard, CD jukebox and central air.

The drive is still the same as I remember. As soon as you got off the main highways the heat from the road faded as treelined single lane roads provide shade from the sweltering summer sun.

The road-side stands where you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits and that Maryland original…

Silver Queen…corn are packed with produce.

Now is the time folks!

This is a boating mecca along the West River and its little coves and points. Back in those days Herrington Harbor in Deale had about 150 boats.

Today I guess that they have over 1,000 boats… mostly sail and averaging 35 feet. Hartge’s Yacht Harbor in Galesville is an institution. It is still one of the premier places for “Slips, Service and Serenity”. They actually did some work on my boat several years ago.

As I mentioned earlier, a lot of people have moved to the land of pleasant living over the past

26 | September 2018

30 years. Wendy Rieger, who is our Personality Profile this month bought a bungalow, circa 1920, years ago at Chalk Point and loves her view on the West River. Across the West River is Pirates Cove, a favorite dining spot for Rieger and is our first stop on this road trip.

The correct name is The Inn at Pirates Cove.

Not only is it a great and roomy restaurant with an out- door bar area, but it also has a small cluster of rooms for rent. This option was a blessing some 30 years ago when then bartender Joe Williams recommended that we not drive back but rather spend the night. That was good advice. Pirates Cove is in the quaint town of Galesville, which has a rich history and character dating back to 1652. Pirates Cove Restaurant was established in 1960, and in 1984 Bob and Theano Platt began creating the Pirates Cove we have come to know today. Whether your preference is indoor dining, sitting along the water on the dock, this place has it all plus great food. Our favorite is the Dock Bar. Situated alongside the restaurant and under the Inn, the Dock Bar is certainly a local favorite gathering place. Local musicians preform there on weekends and chances are good you may find our friends The Eastport Oyster Boys performing on special occasions. The L-shaped bar can accommodate a number of patrons while there are numerous tables scattered about for casual use. The bar has a great view of the boats that call this home and the transient sailors looking to quench a thirst. The place is well run and all the wait staff and managers we met were terrific. Our bartender this month works there.

Next to Pirates Cove is Thursday’s where Steamboat Landing used to be years ago. This is a restaurant that is built out over the water making for 270 degrees of water views. The inside bar looks like it was imported from D.C…. dark woods everywhere. The sign says crabs and steaks and this place has both. The picnic tables are a perfect spot for that crab feast and cold beer and of course…silver queen corn on the cob. The outdoor bar is a great place to unwind and watch the boats come in from a day on the West River

or Chesapeake Bay. Leaving Galesville, you can make a left on Muddy Creek Road (468) and travel past some beautiful horse farms to Swamp Circle Saloon.

As I mentioned it is closed awaiting a new tenant.

Continuing down the road to route 256 take a right towards Deale. Plug in your GPS and locate Skipper’s Pier. You will travel through small neighborhoods to get to this iconic place. Thirty years ago we didn’t have GPS, so it took a little effort to find it…we had a real map. In my day it was one building with a covered bar out on the pier. They had a toy train set up that ran from the kitchen, through the wall and behind the bar. That is how the kitchen would send out the sandwiches.

Today the set up is larger. They have added on to the restaurant for more dining possibilities.

Like Thursday’s, they also offer steamed crabs. What once was an oyster processing plant on Rockhold Creek is today a first-class dining experience. They have an extensive menu covering it all from steaks to seafood to sandwiches but still the water beckons and we took a seat at the dock bar. The U-shaped bar looks directly out on the creek ad passing boats with an occasional one tying up at the dock looking for an empty table.

These water side bars are where you can lose the day to pleasant thoughts. The food is downright Maryland delicious and the people are an interesting lot. There is no pretense here, you must come in your big boy pants. The coming month is the best time to visit these establishments.

In addition to the road side stands, restaurants, bars and boatyards, there are some very interesting antique stores in both Galesville and Deale. My traveling companion was enamored with the Cap’t. Harvey’s Antiques in Galesville.

You have to see this place to believe it.

The summer heat is fading, and the wind is rising which will make for great sailboat watching and sailing. See you by the water.

Old Town Crier

The Sights at Pirates Cove (Clockwise, from left) The Boardwalk; Pirates Cove Dock Bar from the water; Pirates Cove sign; The Scourge of the West River! Pirates Cove's own Pirate.

Other Sights to See! (Left to Right) Skippers Pier; Thursdays; Antiques in Galesville; Road to West River.

Old Town Crier

September 2018 | 27

TO THE BLUE RIDGE

L

ong before any of them were acquainted with social networks online, a group of friends and neighbors envisioned opening a series of connected trails in Northwestern Fauquier County near the small village of Orlean. The group, mostly horseback riders and residents of two major roads just north of the village, included hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. “It really started as a meet your neighbors sort of thing,” said one of the original founding members, Donn Smith. About that time he’d moved a few miles down the road to a property on acreage that came with a network of trails that had been maintained by the Warrenton Hunt. “We met a lot of our new neighbors on those trails,” he said.

Since it was formed over a dozen years ago, the Orlean Community Trail System (OCTS) has grown into an interconnected network of trails that gets larger every year, aided these days by social networking. Although initially communication was by mailed newsletters and invitations, communication is now mainly via email and social media. The group has its own website and Facebook page. “It’s really more about the community than the actual trails,” Smith, who serves as OCTS membership director, explained. “If you have property, at some point you might find yourself wanting to go off that property and so you ask your neighbor if that would be OK, and maybe you offer your land for your neighbor to use in the same manner.”

People were immediately receptive to the idea, and the OCTS was born. Rather than knocking on strangers’ doors seeking landowner permission, OCTS hosts community events where neighbors meet each other.

The OCTS mission statement reads, in part, that it is “a non-profit community-based organization of members and friends” who seek to restore

28 | September 2018

JULIE REARDON

Happy Trails To Neighbors In Orlean, VA

trails in the Orlean area to the way it used to be, where private landowners allowed riders and neighbors to traverse their property in a responsible fashion. In turn, OCTS members abide by OCTS trail etiquette and build back up a sense of community in an area that has, over the years, lost some of that ‘neighborhood feel’ that prevailed in earlier days in the area. Membership is limited to residents within a 10 mile radius of Orlean, VA. The main and largest event is the OCTS Annual Snipe Hunt, which, like the snipe hunt it’s named after, doesn’t really have anything to do with hunting

but is rather, a guided trail ride for horseback riders and hikers.

Both groups gather for the trail rides and/or hikes to meet each other and explore trails, with a potluck meal after. OCTS has also hosted trips to Charles Town Races, barn dances and bonfires that have been very popular, attracting local politicians as well as neighbors.

Landowners feel safer about opening their property to riders, hikers and bikers that they know, so the success of the OCTS has come from the neighborhood networking. “We haven’t had a single complaint,” Smith said, adding that landowners can restrict access

to certain times and certain areas as needed for weather or planting. OCTS relies on neighborhood leaders in its areas – “We’re always seeking more, to expand our trails so that one day we’ll have a 10mile radius from the center of Orlean,” – Smith said, and they also have a trail committee that can open new, or maintain existing trails, if the landowner is willing to offer permission but isn’t capable of clearing trails. “So far, we haven’t ever had to use them,” he said.

There is no publicly available map of the existing and proposed trail system, which is currently about a seven-

mile network, and OCTS membership is restricted to residents within its area only. And in this manner, a landowner who agrees to let OCTS members cross his or her land, knows the people using the trails, and the users know and respect the landowner’s wishes and agree to abide by trail etiquette.

The cooperation gives both landowner and user a feeling of security that comes from being part of a community.

Giving OCTS permission is not a blanket invitation for anyone to use the trails, since only Orlean area residents can be members of OCTS. There are side benefits too: although most of the active members are riders, not all are since most landowners also allow hikers. With the growth and participation of the community, the OCTS has also served to reunite strayed or missing livestock with their owners, as well as quite a few cats and dogs.

Future plans include broadening participation and adding adjacent communities so there is a network of interconnected trails within a 10 mile radius of Orlean.

Eventually such a system would allow riders to or hikers to go from Orlean to Warrenton, or from Hume to Orlean; residents and landowners of neighborhoods in Hume and Bears Den have already expressed interest.

Crossing over into the adjacent neighborhoods in Culpeper and Rappahannock counties isn’t out of the realm of possibilities, either. “All we need is people in those areas willing to be a committee chair and reach out to their neighbors,” said Smith, who is pleased that the community concept has been growing exponentially. In an area where farms are being sold off into residential tracts with many new people moving in, the OTCS helps maintain the neighborly small town feel for old and new residents alike.

Old Town Crier

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Old Town Crier

THE GASTRONOMES

DINING OUT

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 KING STREET ALEXANDRIA 703.721.3970 EATAUGIES.COM

Augie's House Mussels

Frites & Dips

Lisa with the Grimbergen Double-Ambree Old Town Crier

T

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE

his Dining Out is going to be a little bit different than the norm.

Consider it more of a teaser of bigger things to come than a showcase. Augie’s Mussel House recently opened in the old space that we affectionately knew for many years as Le Gaulois at 1106 King Street. It’s most recent occupant was Hunting Terrace Steakhouse that closed after the untimely death of then owner, Jeff Yates. Augie’s is the product of the team of Chad and Justin Sparrow and Larry Walston. These guys are the brainchildren behind Mason Social that opened on North Henry three years or so ago.

It appears that they wanted to test the waters with their concept before they took to revamping the entire interior and a good portion of the exterior. The plan is to begin construction sometime in November, however, in the meantime they have the patio – one of the best in Old Town – and the upstairs bar and dining room open for business. We bet many of you didn’t realize that there is a bar upstairs, did you? This means that you will be able to check the concept yourself over the next couple of months as well.

According to their website, St. Augustine is the Patron Saint of Brewers and since they are serving all sorts of craft brews – many with Belgian roots – it was only appropriate to name the joint Augie’s. There are 7 draft beers and many in bottles as well

as a full bar with 4 signature drinks and a nice wine list. You will not leave this place thirsty. The Belgian influence comes into the picture with the menu.

Mussels are a Belgian favorite as are waffles, however, we only saw one entrée that comes “on” waffles and it is the Hot Chicken. The menu is pretty straight forward and not overwhelming. It is comprised of 5 starters ranging from White Asparagus Soup to Watermelon Salad with some standards like Classic Caesar in tow. There are 6 “Augie’s By the Half Pound” mussel choices with a range of different flavors, and 8 Mains.

There are 2 chicken options, a smoked salmon, hanger steak, pasta, a burger and Fried Bologna. Yep, you read that correctly, Fried Bologna. For $11 you get “shrettuce”, Augie’s sauce, American cheese, potato chips and mayo served grilled on white bread. We didn’t try it but it might be on the front burner the next time we go in. They are very proud of their Frites (fries for those not in the know) and Dips. The fries are right up our alley. Made with fresh potatoes and served piping hot. They are not greasy and this is a big plus.

They come in three versions: salt and vinegar, Old Bay or classic. There are 4 dips to choose from: garlic aioli, smoked tomato, Augie’s sauce (this has a bit of heat) and green green (think hot green chili peppers).

We decided to test the waters with a Grimbergen Double-Ambree’ draft, an order of the classic Frites and the

Augie’s House mussels. While one of us is almost strictly a Coors Light drinker who steps outside the box on St. Patrick’s Day and drinks a Guinness or two, the other actually enjoys “real” beer. In this case, we both really liked the Grimbergen. It didn’t have that after bite that some of the darker beers have. The fries are served in a wire basket and there are enough for two or more people depending on how hungry you are. While we liked all of the dips on one level or another, good old Heinz 57 fit the bill. The Augie’s House version (garlic-herb butter, bacon and beer) of the mussels were plentiful and cooked perfectly and the broth was very good but a little on the bland side. However, you have to take into consideration that our normal mussel order when we dine out is on the Italian side with spicy marinara.

The mussels are served with a sliced baguette and a spoon so you can finish off any remaining broth without any trouble.

Head over to Augie’s while the weather is nice and you can enjoy the patio if you are a fan of al fresco dining. Otherwise, head upstairs and sit at the bar or one of the high tops and catch the latest in sports on the big screen television while you dine.

Be sure to take a look at the renditions of the build out that adorn the wall as you walk in – it is going to take the building to a whole other level!

September 2018 | 31

BEHIND THE BAR

KERRY NAGLE How did you get started in the bartending business?

I have been in the service industry almost 16 years now. I started at Galway Bay in Annapolis where I first started serving and then moved to Killarney House in Davidsonville where I served and managed. I was then sent off to Brian Baroo in Severna Park to train fellow coworkers all tricks of the trade regarding serving and managing. Bartending was the one part of the industry that I had not learned so I dove in head first and love the excitement of the job and meeting fun people this summer at the Dock Bar at Pirates Cove in Galesville.

What is your biggest bartender pet peeve?

One of my biggest pet peeves - and maybe it’s because I’m old-school - is greeting people and not being acknowledged because they’re glued to their technology.

PIRATES COVE DOCK BAR 4817 RIVERSIDE DRIVE GALESVILLE, MD 410-867-2300 PIRATESCOVEMD.COM

Kerry mixes up a couple of West River shots! Coconut rum, fresh squeezed OJ, a splash of blue curaçao and topped with prosecco.

32 | September 2018

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

There are so many….Do you come here often? Don’t I know you from somewhere? I would like to get to know you. Telling the bartender “their drinks are on me”. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?

Although I think most of “the picking up” is now done online.

What is the cleverest thing a customer has done to get a free drink from you?

I had a customer ask, “Is it free drink hour instead of happy hour” and my reply was “Sorry love ain’t nothing in this world for free” and we both chuckled out loud.

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

I have sat down and thought about this for a while and I have so many heartfelt memories that I cannot narrow it down to just one. I am fortunate enough to work in an environment where I meet interesting people every day. It’s what makes my job so enjoyable.

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

Oh, what I would do to have a few pints with my Mom. She was an amazing, hysterical, strong woman.

I know that every sunrise to sunset she’s watching over her two beautiful granddaughters and I. Kerry is at the Dock Bar on Sundays from 11 am to 10 pm.

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

Old Town Crier

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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.

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LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313 LIVE OAK 1603 Commonwealth Ave. 571-312-0402 LORI'S TABLE 1028 King Street 703-549-5545 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

NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848

HANKS PASTA BAR 600 Montgomery Ave. 571-312-4117

STREETS MARKET AND CAFE 3108 Mt. Vernon Ave. 571-431-6810

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

SAMUEL BECKETTS IRISH GASTRO PUB 2800 S. Randolph St. Villages of Shirlington 703-379-0122 SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266 SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

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SOCIETY FAIR 277 S. Washington St. 703-683-3247 SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550

GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288

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

HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355 JACKS PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372 34 | September 2018

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THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street

THE SUSHI BAR 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue 571-257-3232

SWEETGREEN 823 King St. 571-319-0192

FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

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

BRABO TASTING ROOM 1600 King St. 703-894-5252

TRADEMARK 2800 Jamieson Ave. 703-253-8640

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

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

SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222

NECTAR COFFEE & WINE BISTRO 106 Hume Avenue 571-431-6150

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

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

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

FLAT TOP BURGER 529 East Howell Ave. 571-970-1006

GRATEFUL KITCHEN 727 N. Henry Street

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

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MYRON MIXON PITMASTER BBQ 220 North Lee St. 703-535-3340

FIVE GUYS 725 King St. 703-549-7991

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

RT's RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com

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.

FIN & HOOF 801 N. Saint Asaph St. 703-836-4700

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

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

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600

SNACK BAR 2419 Mt. Vernon Avenue 703-566-1283

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.

ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515

ITALIAN

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

MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117

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UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com Old Town’s favorite neighborhood tap and grill. 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

TEMPO 4231 Duke St. 703-370-7900 temporestaurant.com Northern Italian, French provincial & 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

THE ITALIAN PLACE 621Wythe St. 571-777-8981

LA TRATTORIA 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338 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.

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713 King Street • Old Town Alexandria 703.548.1717 • murphyspub.com September 2018 | 35

LET'S EAT

CHARLES OPPMAN

SOFT SHELL CRAB FACTS • Female blue crabs have red tipped claws, male typically all blue.

Photo: Courtesy of the Clam

Deep-Fried Soft Shell Crabs

N

ow that we’re in the middle of soft shell crab season we should be thinking about frying up a few of these fabulous crustaceans. The soft shell crab is one of the South’s greatest contributions to American cuisine. Soft shells are a delicacy in every sense of the word. They can be sautéed or deep fried. A soft shell is a common blue crab that’s harvested during the early stages of molting, when the crab sheds its smaller shell and before a new, larger shell forms. The crab should be cooked before the new shell begins to harden.

A bit of pre-cooking preparation needs to be done.

The crab needs to be cleaned.

1. To clean soft-shell crabs, hold the crab in one hand, and using a pair of kitchen shears, cut off the mouth and eye parts.

2. Lift one pointed end of the crab’s outer shell; remove the gills by pulling them out. Repeat on the other side.

3. Turn the crab over and pull off the small flap known as the apron. Rinse the entire crab well and pat dry. Once cleaned, crabs should be cooked immediately.

Only buy crabs that are alive. If they don’t move when touched, they’re dead and you won’t know when they expired. Smell the crabs. Like other seafood, soft shells should odorless or smell like the ocean. Avoid buying frozen crabs as they lose most of their body fluid when they thaw out and appendages tend to break off. Soft shells should only be consumed during 36 | September 2018

the season, which varies with the latitude. Soft shells are great with French fries and coleslaw or as a po’ boy sandwich. Any po’ boy should be made on a crunchy French baguette. The po’ boy can be dressed with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce.

Serves: 4 Time: 30 minutes Ingredients 4 soft shells 2 eggs, lg ½ cup milk 1 cup all-purpose flour 2-3 cups frying oil, or as needed depending upon the size of pan.

Salt, pepper & seafood seasoning mix such as Old Bay, to taste Directions Combine the flour, salt, pepper and Old Bay. Whisk together the milk and eggs to make egg wash. To coat the crabs, dredge them thoroughly in seasoned flour, then dip in egg wash and back into the flour mixture.

The crab is now ready for frying.

Heat the frying oil to 350ºF in a sauté pan. Carefully place the crabs into the hot oil. Cook for at least 2 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. With tongs, carefully turn over and cook until golden on the other side. When crabs fry they tend to explode splashing oil on anyone standing nearby so cover with a frying screen or hold a lid a few inches over the pan.

Drain on paper towel. Serve hot while they are still crispy.

• Blue crabs may be found in other locations—larval and juvenile crabs have been known to attach themselves to ship hulls or be transported in a ship’s water ballast. They are sold live and may have been released in new areas.

• Because of the crab’s physiology, there is a harvesting process that is unique to this fishery: the crab MUST be removed from the water immediately after shedding its shell. If it remains in the water the shell starts to harden. The shell will not harden out of water.

• If the crab stays in the water just a short time after molting, the skin gets a bit tough and almost leathery. These crabs are called ‘tin backs’. They are still OK to use in the soft shell preparation but the carapace and legs will be a bit tougher.

• Harvesting a soft shell is by luck.

Commercially crabs are harvested during their hard shell stage and put into ‘shedding tanks’ on land with either filtered recalculating water or water circulated directly from the ocean or bay, or in floating cages called ‘shedding floats’ in bays or estuaries. In any method, the crabs must be checked every couple of hours to remove them at the peak of quality.

• Soft shells can be found live, fresh in season or frozen year round.

Thank you to the Dana Point Fish Company for this cool information.

DanaPointFishCompany.com

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September 2018 | 37

GRAPEVINE

NANCY BAUER

Potomac Point Winery

Hartwood Winery

© RickCollierImagery.com

Mattaponi Winery

© Hartwood Winery

James River Cellars Winery

© Nancy Bauer

T

o weary DC commuters, a “3 Days on I-95” itinerary may sound like a cruel travel writer joke, but trust us: there’s gold in those exits. And wine.

Ashland – that town you whiz by on the way to Richmond – is your base of operations, and a charming one at that, plunked down in the middle of a region filled with Civil War sites, great biking roads, an iconic theme park, plus dinner theater and live music.

On this weekend getaway, two fresh, new wineries just off I-95 await exploration (one requires an advance appointment), three winery veterans vie for your loyalty with three very different concepts, and one invites you to settle in for the evening.

Not convinced? You can always skip the drive and take the train from Union Station or Alexandria to Ashland. The Henry Clay Inn in Ashland is across the street from the Amtrak platform, and many of the venues below – though not the wineries - are within walking distance.

DAY ONE On your way south on I95, take the Ladysmith exit about 40 minutes south of Fredericksburg and head to the new Sassafras Shade Vineyard and Winery. Open since late 2014, the familyowned and operated winery is small in size but mighty in delicious wine choices and natural surroundings. All aspects of the business are conducted on premises from vineyard to bottle, and the 38 | September 2018

© RickCollierImagery.com

I-95 WINERY TOUR:

DC to Richmond rustic winery building features a variety of wood harvested from the property. Rocking chairs, a porch swing and picnic tables provide a resting place on the front porch.

Inside, the tasting room is spacious and comfortable.

White wines include Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Cayuga White, White Chambourcin, Granny Smith

Apple, and Caroline White, a blend of Niagara and Vidal Blanc. Red wines are Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, and Caroline Red, a blend of the two reds.

ASHLAND HANOVER AREA FUN FACTS * The town of Ashland was settled in 1834 in anticipation of the first Virginia railway which began operation in 1836. * American patriot Patrick Henry, whose speech containing the famous line “Give me liberty, or give me death!” became a call to action for the Revolutionary War, hailed from Hanover County. * The town was named “Ashland” after native son and Civil War-era Secretary of State Henry Clay’s estate in Kentucky. * America’s first Dinner Theater performance was at the Barksdale Theatre, a part of the Hanover Tavern Foundation.

Next, carry on to Ashland and check out the shops, galleries and cafes along Railroad Avenue. The Visitors Center, formerly the train station, features an abundance of rail memorabilia.

Get an official orientation at the Ashland Museum, a treasure trove of all things historical, and ask about booking a walking tour that includes many of the 200 buildings that make up the Historic District.

For lunch, hop in your car for the short drive (10 minutes) to the historic Hanover Tavern, one of the oldest in the United States. Meals are made from scratch at the Tavern, with a southern flair.

If you’re a fan of live theater, check the calendar for the Barksdale Theatre (now the Virginia Repertory Theatre), which is part of the Tavern complex. The Barksdale was originally opened by a group of friends in 1953 as the country’s first-ever dinner theater.

After lunch, check into your lodging and relax a while. A full complement of mid-range chain hotels are available for overnight accommodations, and there are inns and B&Bs that reflect the charm and hospitality for which the South is known.

In downtown Ashland, the Henry Clay Inn has 13 guest rooms, flanked by a parlor, a drawing room, and a balcony overlooking Randolph-Macon College. Its roots trace back to 1858.

GRAPEVINE > PAGE 40

Old Town Crier

EXPLORING VA WINES

DOUG FABBIOLI

And Here We Go Again!

F

ruits of the season are singing to the farmer with sweet smells of ripeness. The red berry aromas and dark colors from the raspberry patch, the citrus floral characters from the hops and the color change on the grapes; these are all signs that we need to shift gears into evaluating ripeness and scheduling the next phase of our jobs, the harvest. I don’t make things very easy around here. We have a number of different crops that all seem to come in around the same season.

We picked our first batch of hops yesterday. These are Chinook hops and most are destined for our Attitude Adjuster hard Apple Cider. The tall string of hops is called a bine. These are picked off the farm and transported down the road to Black Hops Farm, AKA Vanish Brewery, where they are run

through a 1970s era picking machine to remove the hops combs from the rest of the plant.

Then they are dried over a 10 hour period and refrigerated to be pelletized and packed in a few weeks. We took over the operation of the processing part this year and fortunately it kind of works like processing grapes. Timing, equipment, quality control, staff training

and understanding parameters are all in play for a successful product at the end. It was a very challenging year to grow hops so there is a limited crop. I am not complaining as this gives us a chance to learn the process and equipment without the pressure of full production.

The next harvest for us is raspberries. We have fall bearing plants on our farm so harvest

starts in August and can go into late September. Because these will go into wine, we freeze our early batches of fruit and ferment once the freezer is full. This is used in wine so we can pick the berries when they are really ripe and don’t need to worry about shelf life or transportation issues.

We will also buy seconds from other growers who need to make a pretty pint for the grocery store shelf and don’t want to waste a good berry that might go bad in a couple days.

Asian Pears is our next pending harvest. We have a 3 acre orchard of trees that is quite resistant to diseases and other challenges. Once picked, these can stay in the cooler for a few days if needed. These will be used for our various pear based wines, but we are planning on picking and packing some for whole pears as well. I have some restaurants and produce stands that are interested.

I guess we need to think about grapes as well. For our area, harvest usually will begin in early September. Whites are usually first and then the reds come.

Warm days, cool nights and DRY is our best weather to ripen our crops. This year the weather has been challenging, but not devastating, so far. Keep a good thought for all the farmers so our crops come in well and we stay safe through the process. Farmers grow most everything we eat and drink!

KEEP A GOOD THOUGHT FOR ALL THE FARMERS SO OUR CROPS COME IN WELL AND WE STAY SAFE THROUGH THE PROCESS. FARMERS GROW MOST EVERYTHING WE EAT AND DRINK!

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September 2018 | 39

GRAPEVINE FROM PAGE 38

Ten minutes south, the lovely James River Cellars Winery – the closest winery to Richmond - is the evening’s destination. Every Friday (June through September) is Friday on the Patio from 6:30-9:30, with live music and food trucks. Tickets

DAY TWO

are $8, and wine tastings (additional cost) are available, as well as wine by the bottle.

You’ll find an affordable selection of wines here, with favorites like Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc, along with more unusual finds like Gewurtztraminer, Touriga and Petit Verdot.

Start your Saturday at Caboose Market and Cafe and pick up picnic supplies as you head out to North Anna Battlefield Park, an intriguing site for Civil War buffs. Park signage provides extensive guidance as you follow the routes taken by

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both Grant’s and Lee’s forces in May 1864.

The rest of your day can be devoted to pure fun at Kings Dominion theme park. A magical place where you can see the Eiffel Tower from the Blue Ridge Tollway, Kings Dominion offers several parks-within-the-park. Soak City Water Park, Planet Snoopy, International Street and more all vie for your attention. A host of worldclass roller coasters are a highlight.

Since you’ll be in the Doswell area, this is the time to try to squeeze in a visit to the nearby, appointment-only Castle Glen Estate Winery.

(Use the Contact Us form on the winery’s website to request an appointment – castleglenwine.com.)

The owners planted in 2009 and sold their first Cabernet Sauvignon in 2014.

Since then, they’ve added Merlot, Vidal Blanc and Chambourcin. The winery keeps up an active festival schedule while a tasting room is under construction, so you can also find them on the road, and Castle Glen Estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon is also sold at many Virginia ABC stores.

End your day back in downtown Ashland over dinner at Jake’s Place, home of “Southern Comfortable” food.

Then pop over to Ashland Coffee and Tea for live music before retiring for the evening.

mostly sweet, fruit wine in a rustic space with a 40-footlong bar. Wines include choices like Wabamin (translation: white berry), Makadewamin (blackberry), and the Governor’s Cup award-winning Odeimin (strawberry).

Another 20 minutes up I95 and a quick veer left onto Route 17 brings you to Hartwood Winery, another small, family-run spot known for its friendliness (they love kids). The original vineyard was planted in 1981, and wines today include some unusual offers such as a Chardonel/Rkatsiteli blend, a Chambourcin/Niagara/Seyval Blanc blend, a Beaujolais style red from Chambourcin, and a Claret from Cabernet Sauvignon.

By now you’re starving, but hang in there: the last stop, Potomac Point Winery in Stafford, has a fun little Bistro with a full restaurant menu, including all-day Sunday Brunch. After lunch, step over to the wrap-around bar for a tasting. Grapes grown on-site include Viognier, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Petit Manseng. (One of my faves is the Rabelos dessert wine, a port-style offering which had, to me, a pleasing taste of coconut.) There’s plenty of outside deck space for a bit of relaxing before heading back up the road.

Who knew I-95 could be so much fun?

DAY THREE Get an early jump on this three-winery day heading back up I95. Mattaponi Winery, the first stop, opens at 10am. This small family winery honors the area’s Native American ancestry through its wines and art.

Owners Mike and Janette Evans and team pour their

Nancy Bauer (Nancy@ VAWineInMyPocket.com) writes about Virginia Wine Country travel on the Virginia Wine in My Pocket website and smartphone app, and is the author of the Virginia Wine Country Travel Journal, available at Amazon.com. Virginia wine writer MaryAnn Dancisin also contributed to this article.

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40 | September 2018

Old Town Crier

FROM THE TRAINER RYAN UNVERZAGT

Bodyweight Training SAMPLE BODYWEIGHT WORKOUT: EXERCISE.............................. SETS X REPS

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.

Let me explain a few of the

Jumping Jacks........................ 3 x 50 exercises above. 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

Squats................................... 3 x 25 let your hips drop toward the floor by Mountain Climbers................. 3 x 50 contracting your abdominals and Pushups................................. 3 x 20 avoid holding your breath. The object Situps.................................... 3 x 25 of this exercise is to hold this Front Hover (Plank)................ 3 x 30 seconds “plank” position for a thirty-second Alternating Forward Lunge...... 3 x 24 count.

A squat jump Squat Jumps.......................... 3 x 15 is simply a squat finished off with an fashion. Never underestimate explosive jump up. Remember example, I have a total of 3 rounds (notice the 3 x ). the value of bodyweight to always land softly by Here is another way to training because it can be a bending your knees and hips. incorporate bodyweight great addition to any fitness There are only eight training into a normal weight routine. exercises with this routine, lifting routine. Execute but the goal is to perform Unverzagt holds Bachelor of your lift then follow it up each one without rest in Science degree in Wellness immediately with a body between. Once you have Management from Black Hills weight exercise.

Examples: completed the circuit, allow State University. He is a certified Bench Press followed by yourself a rest break anywhere Strength & Conditioning Pushups, Leg Press followed between 2-5 minutes before Specialist through the National by squat jumps, or an starting another round. In this Strength & Conditioning Abdominal Crunch Association and a Registered Machine followed by the Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer Front Hover. You might be through the American Registry surprised on how difficult the bodyweight exercises can for Diagnostic Medical be when performed in this Sonography.

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September 2018 | 41

FITNESS

NICOLE FLANAGAN

RETHINK YOUR EXERCISE W e all have mental hurdles that we need to jump before getting into workout mode. For some of us it’s just getting up and out of bed and making it to the gym first thing in the morning. Sometimes it’s the end of the day exhaustion that you have to convince yourself will go away once you get on the elliptical. Whichever problem you may be having here are a few ways to rethink a pre-workout hesitation.

Don’t think: “The scale doesn’t budge, why bother working out” Do think: “Keep up the good work and it will pay off” Stick with the scale: Love it and you’ll probably lose pounds. In a study at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, of 3,026 adults who were watching their waistlines, those who weighed themselves more frequently lost more weight over two years or regained fewer pounds. Plateaus are part of the process, Stay motivated in the meantime by giving yourself credit for how much better your clothes fit and for improving your overall health. Fix the problem by changing up your routine.

As your metabolism changes to accommodate your smaller size, you are going to have to change what you’re doing to keep your body responding and shedding fat. If you’re eating light already (around 1,500 calories a day), don’t cut back more; turn up the intensity and/or increase the length of your workout session a smidge. This will not only burn more calories 42 | September 2018

but also increase your cardio capacity, meaning that everything feels easier to do, so you can keep exercising.

Crank the resistance on your stationary bike, push the pace of your walk or run for oneminute intervals, or add stepups or jumping jacks between sets of toning moves: The cardio-strength mix of circuit training burns 512 calories per hour, more than double that of lifting alone.

Don’t Think: “Run a mile? No way” Do think: “If I can walk a mile I CAN run a mile” Split your run into walking and running parts at first.

Jog a quarter of a mile, walk for half a mile, and finish by jogging another quarter.

As you improve, stretch out the jogging and shrink the walking segment before jogging that final quarter mile.

Do this three or four times a week and you’ll be able to run the whole distance in about six weeks.

Don’t Think: “I hurt my knee, I will be out of the gym for a few weeks” Do Think: “There has got to be another type of exercise I can do” Your body starts to lose conditioning within three days of your becoming a couch potato. Depending on your injury, moderate elliptical training, cycling, or jogging in water can be an appropriate alternative.

As with any injury, be sure that your doctor clears you

for exercise and follow his recommendations.

Don’t Think: “Classes like Spinning and boot camp seem too intense for me.”

Do Think: “Any exercise can be done at my pace” The great thing about Spinning is that you control your experience, If the instructor tells you to turn

up the resistance, go to where you feel you can keep up; then if you get tired, lower it. In any group exercise class, your main goal is to get the hang of it, so aim for form over speed.

Don’t Think: “I simply can’t shake the after-work energy slump to exercise.”

Do Think: “Just 10 minutes.”

There’s a difference between

being mentally tired and being physically tired. Doing something physical will actually help combat some of the mental fatigue. Tell yourself that you’re not going to do more than 10 minutes of exercise. Often this leads to extending the time once you get into it. If you do make it to 10 minutes and still feel completely exhausted then you probably do need the rest.

In that case missing one day at the gym is not going to do any harm.

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FIRST BLUSH

KIM PUTENS

FINE LINES * DARK CIRCLES * PUFFINESS

HOW CAN I GET RID OF THE FINE LINES, DARK CIRCLES, AND PUFFINESS AROUND MY EYES?

T

he 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

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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.

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.

Aging

Dark Circles

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

As a lifelong 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 circles will only get darker from the lack of sleep.

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.

September 2018 | 43

SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE PEGGIE ARVIDSON

Five Minutes a Day Can Change Your Life

O

ne of my nearest and dearest is participating in a triathlon as I’m writing this.

Several months ago, when she announced this plan I was speechless.

I admit I was awestruck – the enormity of a triathlon seemed insurmountable. My friend is active but not weight lifting, marathon running and swimming and biking miles on end active – still she threw down her own gauntlet and when she does that, she commits 100% which is one of the reasons I admire her.

As the weeks turned into days prior to the big event I asked how she was feeling and she told me she was as prepared as she’ll ever be and was ready for it to get started. We chuckled. Then she reminded me that it was 5 minutes a day that brought her along this journey.

That was so profound I’ve been thinking about it all week.

Many times in my life I’ve wanted a change and I’ve wanted it NOW. My earliest recollection of this tendency of mine is heading home to my mom and demanding she teach me to read. My friend Wendy had learned to read and therefore I, too, needed to be able to read a book on my own. My mother sat with me but needed to stop to make dinner. I was not happy about that interruption and insisted that we couldn’t stop until I could read. Eventually I did 44 | September 2018

learn to read, however, I didn’t have it down in one night, much to my chagrin.

How often do we do this in our lives?

As we get older we may set out toward a goal – to start a business, to start a family, to travel the world, to write a novel, to play an instrument – only to stop when it begins to feel overwhelming. The problem is, when you’re a beginner, everything is overwhelming! Learning to play an instrument involves learning not only the rules of the instrument, but how to read sheet music, how to understand timing and of course getting your hands to participate in the way necessary to make music!

This can be frustrating at best and mind-numbing at worst.

(Take it from someone who plays more than 8 instruments poorly!)

What happens when we fall into this overwhelm? We beat ourselves up for being stupid, or too old, or too young, or not hard-wired to think this way and we stop. We tell ourselves it’s no big deal and it wasn’t really meant to be in the first place.

This is why so many people seek out psychics, tarot readers and hand analysts to tell them what they should do with their lives. They want to have a line on what is the “right” way to spend their time and their energy. They feel that they don’t want to waste time learning or trying

out something that will turn out to be the wrong thing.

What if there is NO wrong thing? What if every nudge you have to take on a big challenge, like a triathlon when you haven’t participated in athletic competition for more than a decade, is simply a knock to wake you up to living now?

We’re afraid to be beginners. Many people confess that they took piano lessons as an adult but quit in a few months because they just couldn’t get the sound they wanted and they were embarrassed to sound like a beginner. “But you are a beginner,” I suggest gently.

“Yeah, that’s the point, I don’t like being a beginner. People will laugh at me and I don’t want to risk that.”

That’s the end of it for them.

We’ve bought into this idea that we’re born with certain talents or we’re not and that we shouldn’t get in our own way and try new things. Isn’t that crazy? When I was 5 and wanted to learn to read I also wanted to be a ballerina, a lawyer, and a famous jockey.

When I was 8 I wanted to be a spy and a writer and I wanted to ride horses.

Over the years I’ve dabbled in dance, pre-law classes and many years of horse-back riding. I write daily. I can’t say

one way or another how that spy thing worked out (lol) but I can tell you I have followed many beginner’s passions and I’ve also stopped myself short after one or two tries because of my fear of being a beginner.

My pride got in the way.

That conversation with my friend, the Triathlete, rumbles in my head as I think about the next big goal on the horizon – it’s going to be completed in hundreds of five-minute increments, not one big swoop. I’m so grateful to be reminded of the simple truth that it’s seemingly small moments that change lives – let’s make the best of those moments.

Are you at a crossroads and need to make some serious decisions?

If you’re feeling stuck at work, in love or in general, it can feel impossible to get out of your own way.

Peggie helps you assess your situation, using ancient and modern tools to help you move forward with a specific plan of action.

Private Sessions are available by phone or Skype.

PeggieArvidson.com peggieParvidson@gmail.com Old Town Crier

STEVE CHACONAS

GO FISH

Snakeheads, A Protected Species?

M

ore divisive than politics, debates over whether Potomac River Northern Snakeheads should be a protected sport fish lit up social media pages after being ignited by a Washington Post Op Ed by John Mathwin.

In 2004, Frankenfish frenzy covered pages and TV screens across the country. Even the Sopranos mentioned those ****** snakeheads. With little scientific documentation, legends were circulated.

Walking on land, eating small children and spawning like rabbits made this toothy creature more ominous. So evil, an entire pond was chemically treated to execute all fish to find illegal fishigrants.

Like a first kiss, area anglers romanticize their first snakehead. Catching my first snakehead, I didn’t know what it was. It was mean. It was ugly.

It was nasty and slimy. I thought I’d hooked a lawyer. But we cut it open and saw it had a heart and knew it wasn’t a lawyer.

In just a few years, snakehead populations boomed and Potomac River guides were catching hundreds a year, booking trips with wannabe Fish Monster anglers. They put up a great fight, kinda like trying to pull a dog off a fire hydrant. According to many anglers, snakeheads are pit bulls in a pool of poodles. Since they’re obligated to breath air topwater lures work well, adding to snakehead excitement.

Now guides only get a couple dozen, still fielding calls from

snakehead hunters as world records continue to be broken.

Living in shallow waters makes them accessible to anglers. And there’s cuisine in that catch as snakeheads are one of the best tasting freshwater fish!

As appetizing as that sounds, it might not be enough to convince MD DNR biologist Joe Love to relax current restrictions. It’s unlawful to possess or transport live snakeheads. MD encourages anglers to kill snakeheads, but not mandatory. When questioned about allowing the snakehead population to regenerate, Love reasoned with his peers at the first International Snakehead Symposium held in Alexandria in July. Love acknowledged the Potomac population has stabilized or likely diminished due to catch and kill efforts, including bow fishing. However he strongly stated it wouldn’t be a good idea to allow snakeheads to expand unchecked as a game fish. Efforts over the last ten years should not be ignored as this fish, listed as an invasive, could have negative consequences for the Potomac River.

Not entirely onboard with the snakehead’s downside, VDGIF biologist John Odenkirk said snakeheads are unwelcome, but whether they’ll cause ecosystem damage has not been shown.

The Potomac’s bass population is doing well and snakehead stomach contents do not include largemouth bass. In fact, despite some dietary overlap, competition does not seem to be

occurring. Overall, there’s very little snakehead documentation, as their countries of origin don’t have much of a paper trail other than recipe books. Odenkirk isn’t in favor of declaring snakeheads a national disaster.

Mathwin laments the snakehead’s decline, although kayak angler Johnathan Leavitt reports ample catches in waters accessible only by stealthy shallow drafting vessels. Blaming MD and VA authorities for wanted dead or alive snakehead management programs, Mathwin suggests it’s time to end that practice and designate the snakehead a game fish, limiting the number of snakehead that can be kept.

Mathwin admits catch and kill was reasonable when snakeheads were discovered in a Crofton, Maryland pond a dozen years ago. Within a couple of years, it invaded the Potomac and burst to astronomical numbers with populations peaking and stabilizing in 2012. It was thought they spawned up to 5 times a year. The Snakehead Symposium discussed two spawns, but not altogether sure if the same fish spawned twice or if there were two spawning periods. Pointing to accepted data, there’s no effect of snakeheads on largemouth bass, Mathwin asks for a stay of execution.

Reiterating Joe Love’s suggestion, where we would be now if anglers, bow anglers and meat hunters did not remove these top-level predators from the Potomac? It’s bad enough

some anglers are illegally Johnny Appleseeding…carrying fish to other bodies of water. But what if left unchecked, or spared and protected? Love doesn’t want to find out. It’s noteworthy that increased bow angling has accelerated the check on the snakehead population. There’s no catch and release.

Some social media warriors are always quick to point to largemouth as a non-native Potomac species. It’s the game fish of choice with several industries built around it. Is there room for another game fish in the livewell? As for

now it’s too risky. Too many unknowns. The Snakehead Symposium reminds us that one man’s invasive is another’s sport fish. Japan and Hawaii are trying to revive and maintain their snakehead populations; a management task complicated by that darn predator, the largemouth bass.

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

Potomac River Bassing in August Lack of rain has dramatically reduced grass abundance, so any grass bed or wood cover will be a solid target. This could set up to be the best fall fishing ever.

Start with topwaters early and then work down.

Mann’s Baby 1-Minus on 14-pound GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon bounces off hard cover and snaps free from grass. Vary retrieves to get bites. Under cloudy skies and stained water, try Mann’s Classic spinnerbait, also on 14-pound Edge.

Pitch Mizmo Tubes to grass clumps and docks. Polarized Maui Jim sunglasses help locate grass and pieces of wood. Use 3/0 Mustad Ultra Point tube hooks and 3/16-ounce bullet weights. 16-pound Edge would be a good idea. Use faster Quantum Smoke casting reels with a 7’ MH G-Force rod. Soaking in garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray helps!

Swim Mann’s Stone Jigs through grass slowly on 16-pound Edge fluorocarbon line.

Fish heavy drop shot in grass, around docks and along drops. Use 20-pound Torque braid with 12-pound Edge leader. A 2/0 Mustad Mega Bite hook with a 3/16 ounce Water Gremlin Bullshot weight and a 14-inch leader.

Old Town Crier

September 2018 | 45

OPEN SPACE

LORI WELCH BROWN

Gif Me t Thi s

W

hile many of you may be focused on back-to-school activities, I am focused on MY BIRTHDAY. Yes—that’s right.

I’ve made it another turn around the sun so let the herald angels sing, “AMEN!” Woot. Woot! I’ve always loved birthdays! “Bring on the cake!”

I say. Pink says, “Get the party started - Everybody’s dancin’ and they’re dancin’ for me!”

Release the doves and strike up the band. I cannot even begin to get my brain behind these people who want birthdays to slip away silently into the night. Birthdays are a BIG DEAL. Your birthday is when you entered the world. Haven’t you ever been to a hospital right after someone you love has given birth to another being that you immediately fall in love with? It is heavenly and each and every one of God’s creatures deserves a celebration to commemorate that deliriously happy moment so let’s get this party started!

You know those love signs, i.e., how you like to receive love and how you show love to others? I rank highly in gifts— as in I like to receive them.

Actually—I like to give them as well. It’s one of the ways I show love. So, this year I’ve decided to show myself some love and others by bestowing some gifts—namely: No. I’m giving myself the gift of ‘no’. I am going to allow myself to use if freely and wildly throughout the year.

46 | September 2018

No. No. No. I’m typically a ‘yes’ girl, but move aside because the tide is a changin’.

OPRs. For some reason I’ve been fixated on Other Peoples’ Relationships (OPRs) as in trying to fix broken ones.

We have many in my family and I lose sleep over them, worry about them, and am constantly working out ways to fix them—many of which have been broken for years, decades even. I think about how sad it would make my Mom if she were alive to know that her family was so disjointed. It makes me sad and it makes my heart hurt on a cellular level.

During my waking hours I think of letters I might write to say how these fractures are pushing our family apart, how much I love everyone involved and how I miss us ‘being one big, happy family.’

During my sleeping hours, my subconscious is constantly trying to work through these problems. I know how much better their lives would be if they would just…But, alas, they are grownups and they get to manage their own lives and relationships so “you’re welcome.” I’m giving you all the gift of MMODB aka minding my own damn business. Well, at least I’m gonna try. This is a hard one as I love everyone involved.

Can’t we all just get along? Life is short, people. (P.S. I reserve the right to take this gift back at any time I feel like inserting my two cents again as I feel it is in your best interest).

Forgiveness. I’m forgiving all the slights I’ve been holding close to my chest. As enlightened and evolved as I like to think I am (namaste this), I’ve got quite a way to go before I achieve Buddha status. One step that might get me a little closer to the Bodhi tree, however, is to let go of these hurts, grudges and resentments. They are mainly around friendships that went up in smoke. These people were important in my life at some point, and for reasons both known and unknown to me, these friendships hit their expiration date. I recently saw one of these women, and it was like running into an ex. My heart took a little nose dive and my flee instinct kicked in.

In the name of giving, I’m waving my fairy godmother wand all over the countryside to sprinkle my magical fairy forgiveness dust far and wide. The best part of having a great gift is sharing it so when you awaken, you also will have the super power of forgiveness. Jump out of bed and just start forgiving the crap out of people.

Everyone. Your control-freak, micro-managing boss. Your cantankerous neighbor. The match.com date who ghosted you (consider yourself blessed you dodged that bullet, btw). The prick in the Audi who stole your parking spot yesterday. The father who wasn’t emotionally there for you. The cousin who stole your crush. The ex who walked out

the door and left you with a mortgage and a kid. Forgive all those A-holes. You’ll feel better and they won’t know what hit them. All this light and goodness stuff is like hitting the lottery without even having to buy a ticket. You’ve possessed this magic bullet all along, Dorothy. Click those heels together and own it, girl.

Self Worth. Hang on, we are going to get a little deep on this one—like therapy deep. I’m going to give myself the gift of value that is not related to money. For whatever reason, I have tied my personal worth to my 1040 form. The more I earn, the more valuable I am.

I’m going to jump out and say that this is probably tied to being raised by Depression era parents because as we all know everything goes back to your parents. It is ALL their fault— everything from my crooked toes to my hairy arms to my inability to do algebra is a direct result of their parenting.

Granted—in the Pandora’s box of ‘issues’, this one hasn’t served me all that badly. It is definitely better than a crack addiction and less costly. It has actually propelled me to work hard and strive to be a highproducing individual. It has also been exhausting and often has me putting other people’s priorities in front of my own.

I’m getting better at this, and my awesome husband, XXL, has encouraged me to stop working so hard and pursue my passions which leads me to my next gift.

Pursuing Passions. I’m giving myself the gift of time to purse my passions. This is perhaps the best gift of all— especially if you’re anything like me—you bury your passions/pleasures at the bottom of your ‘to do’ list and never seem to find time for them/yourself. I’m definitely getting better at this, and let me tell you—it’s life changing.

Two years ago, I started taking art classes. I signed up for tennis lessons. Yoga is at the top of my ‘to do’ list at least two days a week.

Meditation. Since we are on the whoo whoo bus, might as well give myself the gift of 15 minutes a day for meditation.

I can’t explain it. It is pure voodoo wacky wizard magic. If I spend 15 minutes a morning in meditation, I’m a nicer, kinder, more patient person.

This is a gift for everyone who crosses my path so again, you’re welcome.

In all seriousness, you, my friends & family, are truly my greatest gift. I am blessed beyond measure.

In celebration of me, please give yourself lots of lovely, luscious gifts this month as well as a wholelottalove. Or—if you’re feeling really generous, donate to your local animal shelter—or even better, adopt a fur baby!

Happy birthday to me and all the other September babies out there. #virgosrule Old Town Crier

NATIONAL HARBOR

LANI GERING

Zumba

Live Music

I

can’t believe that is has been a year ago that I was writing about this very same subject. Time flies when you are having fun! I have to admit that I am pretty tired of the rain we have had this summer since it seemed it came down only on the weekends so I hope the waning days of the solstice bring on more sunny days! The coming of fall means that some of the events that make this a fun place to live and visit cease only to make way for upcoming holiday happenings. The Thursday “Date Night” and the Sunday “Family Night” movie screenings end this month along with the Friday Night Fun Night activities and the Sunset Concert Series.

I celebrated 7 years of living here in the Harbor last month and I have to admit that I probably haven’t taken advantage of as many of the free events that have taken place over the years that I should have, but this summer has been different. My schedule has been such that I have spent several Friday evenings having some fun on the plaza with old friends and making new ones and have watched my fair share of movies on the big screen on both Thursdays and Sundays.

I’ve only made it to two Sunset Concerts since they are on Saturday and this year it isn’t because we were sailing but because of the damn rain for the most part and a couple of weekend trip to the mountains.

Just like last year I am hoping that this column will get you revved up for joining in on some of the last of the summer fun. Unless you plan to get to the Plaza early to score a seat in one of the Adirondack

Old Town Crier

! n i a g …A

Summertime is Winding Down chairs available or don’t mind sitting on one of the several granite benches, you might want to bring a cushion for the benches, a camping chair or a nice blanket to sit on during the movies. The “astro-turf ” that compiles the “lawn” does have a padding of sorts under it to add a bit of cushion. Folding chairs are set up on Saturdays for the Sunset Concerts but if the weather is really nice, they fill up fast so bringing something to sit on as a backup is a good idea. As far as food and beverage are concerned, there are several good places to grab something “to go” and special food vendors that set up (hot dog stand, popcorn/ kettle corn and lemonade, etc.) on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Feel free to bring a picnic of your own, however, no alcoholic beverages are allowed outside the confines of established restaurants. If you want to imbibe during a movie or concert, you can enjoy them from the outdoor patios of

their performance is followed by a DJ who rocks the Plaza out with popular tunes from yesterday and today. They always have the crowd up and dancing – even in the rain!

Mother Nature doesn’t spoil the fun- unless it involves lightening and a down pour!

If you are a regular reader of the OTC and this section, you know that we have FREE fitness classes on the Plaza as well spring, summer and fall. Umm…I haven’t actively participated in any of them….

Umm….they run through the month of October so maybe I will give a couple of them a try this month and report back to you afterward. I know that a little Zumba wouldn’t hurt me!

Something we didn’t have last year that we have now is the Flight Deck at the base of the Capital Wheel. There have been a couple of attempts at utilizing this space over the years but Derek and Icon Attractions figured it out this year. I have featured the Flight Deck in previous columns but I can’t stress what a cool place it is to watch the sunset. While they only serve wine, beer and sangria along with soft drinks and water accompanied by popcorn, peanuts and Dippin’Dots, just sitting at the bar or at a table doing a little people watching - both on and off the water - it is worth the stroll to the end of the pier.

Come on over and take advantage of any or all of these events. Looking forward to winding down the summer with you.

Bond 45, Rosa Mexicana, Fiorella’s and a portion of the McCormick & Schmick and Redstone patios.

The movies and concerts start while the sun is still up and I have to admit it has been a tad hot on the Plaza on a few nights and getting in just the right shadow on the east side of the big screen was a challenge – mostly on Sundays since the crowd involves lots of kids.

The up side is that you get to witness the beautiful sunset as it drops down behind the Capital Wheel and the shore of Old Town Alexandria. The selected movies are all ones that everyone can watch and the concerts will definitely bring out the patriot in you.

There are many, many talented musicians and vocalists in our Armed Forces. The Singing Sergeants are one of my favorites. A list of the September movies and concerts is on the calendar of events.

I think I will miss the Friday

Night Fun the most – festivities run from 4 pm – 8:30 pm.

This weekly event draws a very diverse crowd from both an age and ethnicity perspective.

There are babies in strollers and Senior citizens with walkers and everything in between.

There are people from all over the world enjoying each other’s company. Just what we need in this day and age! Games the likes of the still popular Corn Hole, Giant Jenga, Hula Hoop, and Connect Four are just a few. Sometimes you find kids who have never met before kicking a soccer ball or tossing a football around.

One of the highlights of Friday nights is the arrival of Bobby McKey’s Rolling Dueling Pianos! Two of McKey’s talented performers entertain the crowd with requests as well as some old favorites. They arrive around 6 pm or so and

September 2018 | 47

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NATIONAL HARBOR DINING GUIDE AC LOUNGE 156 Waterfront Street 301-749-2299 BOND 45 149 Waterfront Street 301-839-1445 BRASS TAP 164 Fleet Street 301-965-9116 BROTHER JIMMY’S BBQ 177 Fleet Street 301-909-8860 CADILLAC RANCH 186 Fleet Street 301-839-1100 CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL 158 National Plaza 301-749-2016 CRAB CAKE CAFE 140 National Plaza 240-766-2063 ELEVATION BURGER 108 Waterfront Street 301-749-4014 FIORELLA PIZZERIA E CAFFE 152 National Plaza 301-839-1811 GRACES MANDARIN 188 Waterfront Street 301-839-3788

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY 200 American Way 240-493-3900 IRISH WHISPER 177 Fleet Street 301-909-8859 MASON'S FAMOUS LOBSTER ROLLS 156 National Plaza 410-298-7850 McCORMICK & SCHMICK 145 National Plaza 301-567-6224 McLOONES PIER HOUSE 141 National Harbor Plaza 301-839-0815 MEZEH MEDITERRANEAN 144 National Plaza 301-753-7961 NANDO’S PERI-PERI 191 American Way 301-567-8900 NATIONAL PAST TIME SPORTS BAR & GRILLE Gaylord Resort 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com OLD HICKORY STEAKHOUSE Gaylord Resort 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com

48 | September 2018

PIENZA ITALIAN MARKET Gaylord Resort 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS 146 National Plaza 301-686-1160 PUBLIC HOUSE 199 Fleet Street 240-493-6120 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 SUCCOTASH 168 Waterfront Street 301-567-8900 THAI PAVILLION 151 American Way 301-749-2022 WALRUS OYSTER & ALE HOUSE 152 Waterfront Street 301-567-6100

National Harbor Calendar of Events - September 2018 ONGOING THROUGH OCTOBER Fitness on the Potomac On the Plaza Participate in FREE fitness classes on the Plaza. All classes run from 7-8 pm with Saturday morning Yoga that runs from 10-11 am.

Mondays – Cardio Blast Tuesdays – Kickboxing Wednesdays – Zumba Saturdays – Yoga

Start your weekend right with Summer Fridays at National Harbor! Play Corn hole, Connect Four, Giant Jenga, hula hoop, hopscotch, and more with family and friends. Enjoy performances by Bobby McKey’s, giveaways, and listen to the DJ spin your favorite summer jams. And of course, joining us means you get front row seats to the best sunset view in the DMV. Get your cameras ready and your flip flops on!

Please note that movie times/dates may be changed or cancelled due to weather. We will announce any updates via social media, so please make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates

MOVIES ON THE POTOMAC

15th – Air Force Singing Sergeants 22nd – Army Downrange 25th – Airmen of Note

FARMERS MARKET RETURNS

On the Big Screen On the Plaza

American Way Sundays through December 23rd 11am - 3 pm

Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than movie nights at National Harbor. 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!

Community Foodworks has pulled together many local vendors for the Market this summer. Local farmers and food producers will be offering fresh produce—apples, locally-baked breads, humanely-raised meats and dairy products, as well as coffee, eggs and more. Vendors may vary during the season.

ONGOING THROUGH SEPTEMBER Summer Fridays Coming to An End! On the Plaza 4 pm- 8 pm

Date Night Movies – 7 pm 6th – Black Panther 13th – Black Panther-2nd showing 20th – Last Call: Perfect Pitch 27th – Marshall Family Night Movies – 6 pm 2nd- A Wrinkle In Time 9th - The Wizard of Oz 16th – The Wiz (1978) 23rd – Moana 30th – The Lion King

SALUTE THE SUNSET CONCERT SERIES Plaza Stage 7 pm

World-class performances by bands from the nation’s Armed Forces at National Harbor 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.

Please refer to our social media pages for any weather-related cancellations.

@oldtowncrier Old Town Crier

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