Since 1988 • Priceless
From the Bay to the Blue Ridge
September 2019
oldtowncrier.com
Setting the Standard In Old Town Since 1979
september’19 A Division of Crier Media Group OTC Media LLC PO Box 320386 Alexandria, VA 22320 office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com Published the first week of every month. Worth waiting for! PUBLISHER Bob Tagert MARKETING & ADVERTISING Lani Gering Bob Tagert Meg Mullery SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE Ashley Schultz
Fitness................................................................................41
Pets of the Month.........................................................19
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Electronic Ink 9 Royal Street, SE Leesburg, VA 20175 703. 669. 5502
After Hours.......................................................................11
From the Bay….............................................................22
Personality Profile............................................................ 4
Alexandria Events............................................................ 3
From the Trainer............................................................43
Points on Pets.................................................................18
Arts & Antiques..............................................................13
Gallery Beat.....................................................................12
CONTRIBUTORS Meg Mullery Melinda Myers Ron Powers Kim Putens Julie Reardon Ashley Schultz Jamie Stevens Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown Molly Winans
Behind the Bar................................................................32
Go Fish...............................................................................45
Business Profile................................................................. 6
Grapevine.........................................................................38
Caribbean Connection...............................................20
High Notes.......................................................................10
Dining Guide...................................................................34
Let's Eat.............................................................................36
Dining Out.......................................................................30
National Harbor.............................................................47
Exploring Virginia Wines............................................39
National Harbor Events..............................................48
The Last Word.................................................................... 9
Financial Focus.................................................................. 8
On the Road with OTC................................................... 1
To the Blue Ridge..........................................................26
First Blush.........................................................................42
Open Space.....................................................................46
Urban Garden.................................................................14
© 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.
From the Bay to the Blue Ridge
September 2019
oldtowncrier.com
about the cover Bumble and Butter doing their thing on the huge butterfly bush in front of Griffins Tavern in Flint Hill, VA. The last of summertime polination. — Photo by Lani Gering
Old Town Crier
32
20
A Bit of History............................................................. 16
Peggie Arvidson Nancy Bauer Sarah Becker Cheryl Burns F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Doug Fabbioli Nicole Flanagan Lani Gering Miriam Kramer Genevieve LeFranc Sarah Liu Michael McLeod
Since 1988 • Priceless
18
Publisher’s Notes.............................................................. 2 Road Trip...........................................................................24 Social Media Message................................................... 2 Spiritual Renaissance...................................................44 Tall Ship Providence Update....................................15
On the road with OTC A couple of “Blasts from the Past” We knew that our readers and fans liked to hold on to copies of the OTC but these two go back a few years. Pictured left, Former Washington Nationals Manager and now New York Mets Bench Coach, Jim Riggleman was surprised at an annual gathering his Frostburg College classmates have every year in Pittsburgh when one of them brought a copy of the OTC that had him on the cover (March 2010). This photo was taken at the Foundry Table and Tap. The Mets were playing the Pirates. We like his friends. Inset right, Longtime Crier fan and friend, Sean Law took a copy of the OTC back with him when he was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Ramadi Iraq in 2010. At that time he wasn’t allowed to let anyone know where he was. However, when Iraqi Freedom transitioned into Operation New Dawn the OTC (August 2010) was there. He found this photo a couple of weeks ago. Thank you for taking the OTC with you and thank you for your service.
September 2019 | 1
PUBLISHER’S NOTES
BOB TAGERT
We thought July was a hot month. August certainly upheld the trend. As I write this, the weekend temps are in the low 80’s so maybe we are returning to a cooler pattern. September is an excellent month for sailing so for our Road Trip we joined our friends on the committee boat for the Wednesday night races in Annapolis. If the mountains are more to your liking, check out our Rappahannock County banner in the Blue Ridge section and the annual Farm Tour at the end of the month. If you are in the mood for some eclectic tacos check our Dining Out column. The Personality Profile is about our good friend and former Alexandrian, Rick “Spring Break” Casey. Rick is a personality larger than life and he sure left an impression in Old Town! In Grapevine this month we can still learn what can go wrong after an excellent growing season. In Exploring Virginia Wines Doug Fabbioli talks about the farm winery contributions to local farm breweries and the intricacies of growing hops. In High Notes, Ron Powers catches us up on Jamie Cullum. In Go Fish, Steve Chaconas shows us how fishermen help St. Judes Hospital by taking Friday off and going fishing for Bass on the Potomac. In Business Profile, meet “The Family Affair” who are helping folks relocate to our wonderful area and getting them the right house. Lori Welch Brown writes about prepping for her class reunion in Open Space and the differences between emotional support and service animals is covered in Points on Pets. And….much more! It seems like there is more construction going on in Old Town than ever before, particularly as the waterfront continues to be developed and enhanced. The town is still vibrant with more visitors than expected with the closing of the King Street Metro – which, by the way, is supposed to be back up and running this month but we have our doubts. With vacation season winding down you may see fewer busses but the locals are returning. I hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend – the last official holiday of summer. As fall approaches and is official on September 23rd, we are looking forward to the season.
SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE
On the bow of M/V Skylark watching the Wednesday Night Races.
ASHLEY SCHULTZ ROSSEN
Honeymoon at Galaxycon If you have been reading my column over the past 3 years, you would know that every year I attend Raleigh Supercon and share my experiences. This past year the Supercon was bought out and changed to Galaxycon. It is the one time of the year I stray from the “social media” banter, and let my inner “nerdness” shine. I usually only go to one or two days of the Con, but this year I went to all 4 days, and let me tell you, I could have been there for 4 more! This Galaxycon was extra special this year, because it was essentially my honeymoon, since I had married Stephen the Saturday before it started. As usual, the convention was full of people dressed as some of their favorite pop culture icons! After the success of the Marvel franchise, I saw way more than just one person dressed as an Avenger. The heart of GalaxyCon, and primary draw for many, is the lineup of celebrity guests. This year included George Takei, Tim Curry, Ron Perlman, John Cusack, John Cleese, Pauly Shore, David' Tennant, Catherine Tate, and actors from, “The Office.” 2 | September 2019
Me and Tim Curry. Attractions included cosplay wrestling, in which pro wrestlers dressed as fictional characters like Skeletor, Black Panther, Spider-Gwen and Bane, duked it out. There was table-top gaming, console gaming, and viewings of classic animated TV shows from the 80’s, I went to the Care Bear showing myself! Throughout GalaxyCon, the
The author and one of her new Transformer friends. floor of the Raleigh Convention Center is packed with vendors selling collectibles, comics, vintage toys, and props on one side and celebrities selling autographs and photo ops on the other. My husband, Stephen, surprised me with a photograph, autograph, and meet and greet with Tim Curry. Unfortunately, Tim Curry suffered a stroke a few years back and
was not able to really speak, but he still radiated a presence you would only expect him to have. Another highlight for me was seeing Jodi Benson, who was Ariel in, “The Little Mermaid.” She was sweet and kind and took plenty of her time to answer any questions her fans asked. She surprised everyone at the end of her Q&A with singing, “Part of Your World.” There was not a dry eye in the house for those who grew up watching the movie, and you could sense the nostalgia. Three members of the cast of “The Office” did a Q&A - it was the actors that played, Meredith, Stanley, and Creed. They talked about how much fun it was on set, and about how Steve Carell never failed to make them laugh. As always the GalaxyCon brought droves and droves to Raleigh. Businesses saw huge profits and the attendance was the highest recorded since they started. Some might find it weird to have spent my honeymoon at a “nerd” convention, but it was something my husband and I have done every year since we started dating so there was no question on whether we would go or opt for a more traditional honeymoon. I look forward to next year and can’t wait to see who I might have the chance to meet! Old Town Crier
Alexandria
SEPTEMBER TOURS,EXHIBITS,EVENTS
THROUGH OCT. 6TH
Mirror Mirror Performance Series Various dates and times Admission: Free Waterfront Park 1 King Street 703-746-5590
Waterfront Park comes alive with a series of original site-specific performances in conversation with the sound-responsive, interactive installation Mirror Mirror. David Schulman, who performs on amplified violin with live effects, has composed an original score to interact with Mirror Mirror to present with saxophonist Sarah Marie Hughes and vocalist Bonnie Lander. Orange Grove Dance is exploring movement and sound within and around Mirror Mirror. Their choreography explores both the installation’s and audience’s relationship to land and river to tap into deep relationships that
communities have with the spaces they inhabit. Visit alexandriava.gov/ arts for the full schedule and rain dates.
8TH – 13TH “Downton Abbey” at Lee-Fendall House Tours Recurring weekly Admission: $10 in advance Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden 614 Oronoco Street 703-548-1789 Explore the surprising connections between people and places of the world of “Downton Abbey” and those of the Lee-Fendall House through special “Downton Abbey”themed tours of the museum this fall. The current owner of Highclere Castle, the real-world castle where the popular television program was filmed, is a direct descendant of the original owner of the Lee-Fendall
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 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.
Old Town Crier
House. Find out which of your favorite characters are based on members of the Fendall family. This event is free for members. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. leefendallhouse.org
21ST & 22ND 17th Annual King Street Art Festival Saturday - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Free King St. from Washington St. to Union St
9TH – 29TH “High Note” Art Exhibit at Del Ray Artisans Gallery Colasanto Center 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue Free & Open to the Public Experience “High Note”, an art exhibit exploring the connection between music and the mind, at Del Ray Artisans. Music can unleash powerful memories, transporting us in space and time. Meet the artists, juror Britt Conley, and enjoy live music at the opening reception: Friday, September 6, 7-9pm. Also join us for a musical performance benefiting the nonprofit Friends of ROAM: Friday, September 20, 8-9:30pm. DelRayArtisans.org/ event/high-note
14TH THROUGH DEC. 31ST Exhibit Opening: “The Journey to be Free: Self-Emancipation and Alexandria’s Contraband Heritage” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $3 Alexandria Black History Museum 902 Wythe Street 703-746-4356 Alexandria’s Black History Museum’s newest exhibition, The Journey to be Free: Self-Emancipation and Alexandria’s Contraband Heritage, highlights the history of Alexandria’s contraband population (those who escaped slavery) during the Civil War. This 2014 exhibit returns in honor of the 5th anniversary of Alexandria’s Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery Memorial dedication. The exhibition runs through the end of December 2019. Alexandria.gov/blackhistory
21ST Classic Car Show 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission: Free Alexandria History Museum
Historic King Street in 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 Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s 2nd Annual Beer & Wine Torpedo Garden Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. visitalexandriava.com/artfest
The Lyceum 201 S. Washington Street 703-424-5871 Co-sponsored by Packards Virginia and the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, this Classic Car Show will feature a variety of Packards ranging from the 1930s to the 1950s as well as other “orphan” vehicles that are invited to register as well. Packard was a luxury automobile manufactured in Detroit, Michigan, between 1899 and 1956, and orphan cars are any marque of vehicle built by an out-of-business manufacturer. The Packard Club is dedicated to the advancement of the maintenance, preservation, authentic restoration and use of Packard motor vehicles. This event is free and open to the public. www.packardsva.org
28TH 78th Historic Alexandria Homes Tour 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: $40 in advance; $45 day of tour
Old Town Alexandria 703-683-5544 The Twig’s 78th Historic Alexandria Homes Tour provides the opportunity to tour 18th and early 19th-century homes in Old Town and learn of their historic pasts. Enjoy an autumn stroll through homes that highlight the area’s continuing evolution as a vibrant, livable community. Tickets can be purchased in advance at thetwig. org/homes-tour, the Alexandria Visitor Center at 221 King Street or The Twig Thrift Shop at 106 N. Columbus Street (beginning September 3). The tour will also feature a raffle and prizes. All proceeds benefit Inova Alexandria Hospital. “Downton Abbey” Movie Release Party at Lee-Fendall House 1 to 4 p.m. Admission: $25 adults; $15 youth Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden 614 Oronoco Street 703-548-1789 Celebrate the release of the “Downton Abbey” movie at an ancestral home of the current Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle, the real-world “Downton Abbey.” Uncover the connections between “Downton Abbey” and the Lee-Fendall House and find out which of your favorite characters are based on members of the Fendall family. Enjoy refreshments, test your knowledge of “Downton Abbey” in our trivia contest, learn the ins and outs of antique tableware, explore the house through a scavenger hunt and discover plenty of photo opportunities throughout the house and grounds. leefendallhouse. org
September 2019 | 3
PERSONALITY PROFILE
BOB TAGERT
Rick “Cardo” Casey aka “Spring Break” Many of you may remember our friend Rick Casey from his days of writing “My Favorite Places” in the Old Town Crier. Rick had established himself within the hospitality business with his company Capitol Representation, and we shared office space at 112 South Patrick for many years. He was an Old Town resident back then and brought a lot of spontaneity to our gatherings on our popular patio and at our favorite watering holes. Rick was in town recently and I had the chance to reminisce with my friend and finally write about him. His path to the hospitality business was possibly predetermined since he grew up in Covington, Virginia, just 18 miles from the Homestead in Hot Springs and Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, which would one day both become his clients. When I asked what he learned in high school, he responded with that famous grin...”the three R’s: Readin, Rritin, and Road to Roanoke!” While in school Rick was a talented musician and began playing at the Homestead and would also work as a “Walker”. “I would escort the daughters and granddaughters of wealthy families to dinner.” At the time, Rick was only 15 and getting ready to go to college. “Sometimes I would get very interesting offers and on one occasion a family wanted me to marry their daughter,” he said. In 1973, Rick went to Madison College where he majored in premed. “Well, that lasted ten days”, he says, “I then changed my major to undeclared. I had 3 science labs and classes every day at 8:00…that wasn’t my style, especially organic chemistry, so I learned “drop-add”, and to stay on scholarship, I took badminton, racquetball, handball, Marriage and Family Relations and Military Science.” While Rick was attending Madison, he was also working in hotels and restaurants and loved the environment. “In 1976, Madison started a School of Hospitality, and “I jumped on that,” he tells me. “We 4 | September 2019
Sharing a few tall tales with our old pal Rick Casey. had a faculty dining room in the President’s Mansion that we turned it into a club, which was pretty cool. I had the best Godfathers in industry, and they took me on many consulting missions…including the infamous Pall Mall in Georgetown bust.” In 1977, the school was renamed James Madison University, and he still wanted Madison College on his Diploma. Unfortunately, he “crammed 4 years into six” for a 1979 graduation. Since then, he has served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport & Recreation Management for 23 years. Rick graduated with a degree in
Business and Hospitality and moved to Washington, D.C. where he continued to play music. “I knew exactly what I wanted to do and pissed off a lot of major hotel execs when I didn’t go into their corporate training programs. I met this gentleman who ran a company marketing luxury hotels throughout the world. He told me, if I went to work for him, he would put me on the map! So…after being one of the top hotel grads in the country (there were only 10 back then), I took my first job as a secretary to Tom Silliman, and he lived up to his word.” After being a secretary for 3 months, Rick became a sales manager. “He
was going to start his own business and asked me to go with him, but at the same time the Stouffers Hotel chain had been looking for a sales manager for 6 months. I only had two months sales experience, but they hired me on the spot,” Casey related. On his birthday in 1980, Rick left Stouffers and went back to work for Tom Silliman marketing luxury resort hotels. In January of 1987, Rick took a bigger step and started his company, Capitol Representation which still exists today. “It is the best job in the world, I’ve had more fun than anyone...traveling and staying in the best resorts. My clients were all friends who were “club members” and it was great,” he declares. Being a “hotel guy also”, he had the best of both worlds, just bringing friends together for a common goal for over 30 years. “The only thing more fun than Cap Rep was the 10 years Bob Bennett and I served as the cellar guys for our dear friend, Lloyd Flatt’s legendary vintage French wine collection. As we were all country boys (including Flatt), we definitely had more fun than the law allows”. Recently Rick began to think out of the box. “To say where I am right now is, well, everything runs through cycles, and I am a study of business cycles. The “Hospitality” business after some time can become the “Hostility” business, and I have decided to sit this one out,” he says. While he is not really retiring and maintains some personal clients, “when the idiots who proclaim personal relationships and marketing are dead…for the 5th time in my career…are proven ill advised… yet again, you will see me in some new Phoenix rising toward something very fun”. Years ago Rick moved from his home in the Torpedo Factory to the “Valley”. He had a house at Bryce Resort and maintained a small “cabin” in Mount Jackson. That was a number of years ago, and since then he has purchased 4 more cabins, and has remodeled them and has restored the exterior of a log cabin. The mountain cabin he has now, and the ones he has restored are located on a little PERSONALITY PROFILE > PAGE 5
Old Town Crier
PERSONALITY PROFILE | FROM PAGE 4
mountain called Buck Hill. Rick is a good example of “get an education but also learn a trade”, something we don’t see much anymore. He says some of his most fun projects were villas for friends in Antigua and Provo in the Turks and Caicos. Rick’s articles in “My Favorite Places” were some of our most popular when he was writing. He brings to mind some of the responses we got from the articles. “It was so much fun writing those 100 articles, and we got a ton of good feedback. When I wrote about the Duke of Wales Restaurant at the del Coronado in San Diego and spell check made it Duke of Whales...this gentleman wrote me from San Diego to chide me and he was totally correct…I thanked him for even caring to send the note,” Rick remembers. Hawks Cay in the Florida Keys was another of Rick’s Favorite Places. The owners were so pleased with the article, they invited us at the Crier to come visit for a week. When I asked him his favorite place, he didn’t hesitate...” The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs!” Rick did not idle his time away while living in Alexandria. He and friend, the late Bob Adams, opened Commonwealth Court, a 10,000 square foot facility in the World Trade Center in Old Town, designed for dining as well as catering in 1990. The restaurant lasted 6 years and was very popular. If you are wondering why the title “Spring Break”? Well, since Rick moved to the Valley, every time he comes to Old Town to visit, it turns into a party of some sort. His longtime friend John Burke named him “Spring Break” many years ago, and it has stuck. As our conversation came to an end, we remembered the legend of the golf cart! “My 18 year run in Old Town (19852003) couldn’t have been a better time back then. I left because all my friends were leaving me, Lloyd Flatt, Dave Underwood, John Burke (these three have sadly passed away) and others. They were well known to many and mythical to others,” he says.” “It was unbelievable some of the stuff we did back then, it was almost illegal...the golf cart...got to have the golf cart in this!”
The Golf Cart Rick begins, “Somebody took Underwood and me over to Captain Billy Tindall’s where we picked up the golf cart and drove it back to Old Town through the Wilkes Street tunnel to Landini’s. The whole bar was outside. We decided to take a drive up King Street, and these two young lasses hopped on for a ride to the new King Street Metro station. There was a Metro Police officer and an Alexandria Police officer at the Metro and one said, “Man, I would like to throw the book at you, but I don’t even know where to throw the book, just get the hell out of here!” “I never returned to the Metro again. Dave and Rick continued to drive the cart around Old Town for two years, much to the chagrin of a certain police officer “out to get them”, and a local printer friend even had a parking sign made for “Golf Carts Only” in front of Landini’s. It was a magnetic sign that could be attached to the metal sign if the boys were on their way...and there was always a spot. When Rick left our interview, and we were still laughing. He was headed to “Da Bank” to spend a few days with his brother. “Da Bank” is their first family cabin and sits on the bank of the Jackson River that they bought many years ago. It is located between Covington and Hot Springs, VA. He says it “Always feels like going home!” Eat your heart out Thomas Wolfe.
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Old Town Crier
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BUSINESS PROFILE
BOB TAGERT
From Left to Right, Matthew McGinley, Lori Windsor and Eric Yakuchev
W
ith all of the interest about Amazon moving into Crystal City we thought it a good time to talk to some real estate people about the ins and outs of this booming market. There is no better place to start than talking to Lori Windsor, local Alexandrian and real estate professional for Craftmark Homes. Lori’s husband, Eric Yakuchev, and her son, Matthew McGinley, who also sell for Craftmark, joined us in the discussion. Growing up in Springfield, Lori has spent most of her life in Alexandria so she knows the area well. She has sold over 60 communities in her career in Northern Virginia with 37 being in Springfield, Arlington and Alexandria. Before Craftmark, she sold for Pulte at the Potomac Yard project. Eric has sold for Syntax before joining Craftmark, and they both met at Potomac Yards. Matt naturally went into real estate sales and is currently a pre-sales expert for the Craftmark projects. Together, these professionals have a lot of knowledge and skill. As is the case with these new home sales, when one project is nearly completed, like The Crest community, the sales managers are relocated to a new property. Lori is 6 | September 2019
It’s a Family Affair
now the sales manager of Towns of South Alex, which is where we met for this meeting. The name Craftmark is relatively new to me so Eric explained, “Craftmark is a 25 year old privately held company. They have built over 8,000 homes and numerous communities throughout the Northern Virginia area. Their claim to fame was luxury and estate single family homes so they were definitely upper end but lately have become more diversified.” During the conversation, they all agreed that the Northern Virginia area is one of the top five housing markets in the United States. “I think that we can share with you that inventory is scarce in the marketplace now,” says Lori. Eric added, “Values of property is already escalating and people are thinking about how much more valuable their property will be in the near future.” As far as an investment is concerned, Lori points out that “with interest rates as ridiculously low as they are that real estate is still one of the best investments that you can make today and that Northern Virginia is one of the strongest real estate markets in the nation.” “I bought my first house at 18 1/2 percent BUSINESS PROFILE > PAGE 7
Old Town Crier
OLD TOWN Shoe & Luggage Repair
BUSINESS PROFILE | FROM PAGE 6
interest but when lenders are quoting 3 1/4 percent 30 year fixed on a VA you might want to buy two homes - it is such a great value,” says Lori. As it turns out, the Old Town Crier has been connected with these three individuals for quite a while, but didn’t know it. “I sold at Potomac Yard,” Lori tells me, and both Mathew and Eric have both sold in this market place in six to ten communities each.” For five years Pulte advertised on the back cover of the Old Town Crier during the selling of Potomac Yard. “That is how I knew about the Crier, and when the ad contract was up I knew that I wanted Craftmark to be in that spot,” Lori tells me. Eric remembers, “I told Lori that you need to get that back page for Craftmark.” The timing couldn’t have been better.” “I still get calls from people for The Crest from those ads, they must have an old copy, and that is great,” Lori says. “It still has shelf life,” Eric chimes in, “Like… if it goes two, three, four months and someone was not in the market that day, then all of a sudden it keeps pulling people in and you wish you had another 20 units because of the shelf life and all the people coming in.” It is clear to see that this trio of professionals love what they do, and are very good at it. As the conversation turned to all of the people we knew in common, it began to feel like I was visiting old friends. One interesting point came up. I asked if they ever
The stage has been set for extraordinary living at Fillmore Place, one of Craftman's newest Alexandria projects compete for the same contract and a round of laughter broke out. “Well we try not to,” says Lori, “One time Eric and I were working on the same client and he came to me and said that they are ready to sign, but they want to sign the contract with me. I told him I needed the contract to help with my quota and that I would buy him whatever he wanted for his birthday. Well, the 58-inch TV and the platform and set up cost me more than my commission.” My take on these guys is that they will do what is best for their client and will do what it takes working together. Although they do manage different properties and Matthew specializes in pre-sales, they are still there to help each other if necessary in the interest of the customer.
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Old Town Crier
September 2019 | 7
FINANCIAL FOCUS
Y
CARL TREVISAN, CFP© & STEPHEN BEARCE
Do You Plan to Downsize in Retirement?
ou might have a dream of what your retirement will look like — more time to travel, some well-earned relaxation, maybe increased time for some of your main hobbies. And you may even know where you want to spend your retirement years — a small beachfront town, perhaps, or within the heart of your favorite city. But one thing that tends to escape some soon-to-be retirees’ minds is what that living space will look like. Do you still need a 3,000-square-foot home with five bedrooms, or would an upscale townhome better suit your retirement lifestyle? Here are some important considerations for all empty nesters and retirees when determining whether to downsize in retirement. Compare different scenarios — and set your priorities. You may feel ready to move into your retirement space tomorrow, but in reality, you’ll need to give yourself time to consider the logistics of downsizing before you actually do it. Start by comparing the scenarios that deliver on your downsizing goals. Evaluate the pros and cons of different home options, such as single-family, townhome, 8 | September 2019
Do you still need a 3,000-square-foot home with five bedrooms, or would an upscale townhome better suit your retirement lifestyle? and condominium, based on your objectives for scaling back. Here’s how it works. Pick out a smaller home in a location that you’d realistically consider buying as a way to estimate actual homeownership costs, such as property taxes, heating bills, maintenance, and any upgrades you may need to do later to accommodate you as you age. Then do the same research on other types of residences, such as condos or townhomes. Also consider what your life will be like in the future and how that will impact how you want to live. You may have no problem taking a flight of stairs every time you want to get something from your bedroom now, but will a single-level home be more suited to your physical abilities in the future? Ultimately, the comparison will help you identify the downsizing option that delivers on your priorities. It may turn out that you value the
maintenance-free amenities that a condo affords. Conversely, you might find that a smaller single-family home where you aren’t in quite as close proximity to the neighbors is more your style.
Purge — and bring in help if you need it. Downsizing can bring new possibilities for the future, but it also quite likely requires parting ways with items you’ve accrued over the years. When those possessions are attached to important memories, purging can be difficult. But keep the process in perspective. If you struggle to downsize, a professional concierge moving service can help. Niña Weireter-Liehr of My Divine Concierge* helps clients with the entire downsizing process from start to finish, including guiding them on what items they should throw out,
donate, sell (and how to determine whether an item has monetary value), or bring to the new smaller space. Her company also helps facilitate charitable donations and manage similar moving needs. To keep yourself on task, WeireterLiehr says to consider your downsized home to be very expensive square footage. “What things are so valuable that they’ve earned a spot in that highdemand space? Surround yourself with the items that bring you the most joy and that you want to see every day.” This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing DirectorInvestments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/ NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/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
A short Associated Press article in 2008 in the St. Petersburg Times about abuses at the Dozier school led the newspaper and Florida law enforcement authorities to launch their own investigations into the institution’s history. (The St. Petersburg Times)
T
wo years ago Whitehead authored The Underground Railroad, a retelling of history in which the passage north for African-American slaves was a real railroad. In plumbing our racial history, he created a symbolic work with surrealist touches reminiscent of William Faulkner and Ralph Ellison. Winning the 2017 Pulitzer and National Book Awards for this novel, Whitehead untangled and rewrote one thread of the malignant history of racism in America. The Nickel Boys tells a similar but more realistic tale, relating the story of two Black boys sent to a reform school in Northern Florida in the early 1960s. One, Elwood Curtis, is an idealist, a straight-A student who worships the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and believes in the possibility of eventual equality between the races. Another, Jack Turner, is a cynic who has had to bounce from member to
Old Town Crier
The Nickel Boys member of his family, taking odd jobs to survive. When arrested by the police, Elwood is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Turner has dropped his usual detachment and rebelled by throwing a cinder block through a white customer’s car window. According to its mission statement, their destination, the Nickel Academy, a segregated juvenile reformatory, provides “physical, intellectual, and moral training” so that its “pupils” can become men with integrity and honor. In reality it might as well have the words Arbeit Macht Frei nailed above the front door. Reformatories, concentration camps, and for-profit penitentiaries have long delighted in lofty, absurd proclamations that bear no resemblance to such institutions’ effects on the human beings contained within. After Elwood arrives, he naively applies his ideals to conditions within the system. Standing up for
a black inmate who is being bullied, he falls victim to Superintendent Maynard Spencer, the very picture of a twentieth-century slave overseer. In
the middle of the night Spencer takes him and others involved to The White House, an innocuous-looking building in which they are whipped until they cannot stand up. Elwood is whipped until he has to go to the school infirmary, where the resident doctor gives him some aspirin and then leaves him alone. There Elwood gets to know Turner, a cool-cat observer and survivor who might be able to help him adapt, at least superficially, to the degradation that permeates his world. As Colson Whitehead has mentioned in an interview, the two characters of Elwood and Turner represent, in some respects, his own divergent views rubbing up against each other. The Nickel Boys is a much less symbolic and more lightly fictionalized story about institutionalized racism than The THE LAST WORD > PAGE 11
September 2019 | 9
HIGH NOTES
RON POWERS
Jamie Cullum is an English singer and songwriter. He is primarily a vocalist and pianist, but also plays guitar and drums. His latest album, Taller, was released earlier this summer.
10 | September 2019
I
Get Taller
t’s been four years since Jamie Cullum released original music. Now he’s back with his 8th studio album “Taller”. Cullum’s new effort is made up of ten masterfully produced jazz-pop songs and is hands down some of the best work of his career. Each song flows effortlessly into the next all while maintaining a contrast that holds the listeners attention. In addition, it’s a wellrounded and balanced album packed with perfectly crafted melodies that have just the right mix of soul, pop, and jazz. Cullum’s vocal performance shines bright throughout as he delivers spot on toplines with his signature smooth yet raspy voice. The record kicks off with the title track and lead single “Taller”; A boom bopping hit with a big bad groove that reveals Cullum as both vulnerable and tough. Next we hear the up close and intimate “Life Is Grey”. On this tune we notice Cullum’s deeper and reflective side. Track three is called “Mankind”; an uplifting and hopeful song with an old-time gospel vibe. “Usher” is the fourth track off “Taller”. It comes along with a slamming groove dripping with so much funk magic that even the crustiest of
IRS agent would be unable to resist moving to it. The fifth track (“The Age of Anxiety”) is the most touching song of the ten. You can feel Cullum baring his soul on this one. After that we have “For The Love”; an uplifting song about fighting through hard times and following your dreams. The amazing melodies roll on with the inspirational “Drink”. This song features tough-love lyrics and a melody that will make your soul soar. “You Can’t Hide Away From Love” is the eighth and most romantic song of the album. Listening to this song is like sharing a candle lit dinner with your sweetheart on the rooftop of the tallest building in the world. Number nine is called “Monster”. It’s yet another gem of inspiration which communicates the profound difficulties of pursuing one’s highest ideals. The album finishes with the sweet and quiet “Endings Are Beginnings”. This one has an almost lullaby quality. It brings a fantastic album to a cozy and touching finish. “Taller” has a great production value as well. It possesses all the trimmings of a modern and well-polished recording, but it also has the warm and fuzzy analog feel of a record produced in the ‘50s. This is accomplished with lightly distorted or overdriven drum sounds and rich fat tones on almost everything. The vocals sound particularly nice. Cullum’s voice sits right on top of every mix. It not only cuts through but it has weight and body to it as well. I don’t know how Jamie squeezed so many thick juicy tones into one album, but my ears are very happy he did. This is an album suited for lots of occasions. Whether you’re throwing a parting, taking a drive, or just want some music to work to, “Taller” fits the bill. If you’d like to know more about Jamie Cullum you can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you’d like to hear his music you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most places music is sold or streamed. You can also visit his website at www.jamiecullum.com/.
Old Town Crier
THE LAST WORD | FROM PG 11
Underground Railroad, although it too describes a kind of slavery. Whitehead based his fictional Nickel Academy on a real institution, the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys outside of Tallahassee, Florida, which began operating in the late nineteenth century and only closed in 2011. It gained attention when commercial developers discovered an unmarked burial ground, one where boys who had supposedly “run away” ended up when they disobeyed their overlords. Whitehead’s words shine a harsh spotlight on it, one that leaves shadows as long as the ones darkening its inhabitants’ psyches. This fictional boys’ reformatory, like its real role model, proves a selfpropagating, money-making machine. Its inmates, some of whom are orphans and others who committed no crime except to fall into the machinery of the state foster care bureaucracy, plant vegetables, make bricks, and run a printing press that does all its publishing for the government. The machinery
Colson Whitehead is the author of six novels, including his debut work, The Intuitionist, and The Underground Railroad for which he won the the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. grinds on for years, using boys as grist for the profitmaking mill. While called “students,” the boys learn little to nothing in school, with many unable to read into their teens. Obedience and acceptance of school norms and projects help more towards ensuring eventual release than scholastic progress. White boys receive better food if not better living conditions than blacks. Some of the food bought by the
state for the black boys is sold off to local restaurants and businesses, making the nearby community of Eleanor, Florida complicit in providing kickbacks to the Nickel Academy’s director. When boys perform “community service” for local residents, the school’s administrators benefit financially. As he navigates Nickel, Elwood Curtis must find a way to either discard or reconcile his innate compulsion to follow Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings. How can he maintain dignity in the face of ultimate degradation? Must he love his enemies? Can he summon the moral courage to rebel peacefully? Is it sufficient to survive within the system without demanding more? If so, is that really survival? In systematically writing down the injustices he sees, he can at least bear witness to the sexual predation, corruption, and grift around him. Turner tries to help him cope and lay low without understanding quite how Elwood’s idealism has quietly begun to infuse his
own vision. In penning this work, Whitehead himself bears witness to those boys who lived through and limped out of the real-life Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, an institution that belied its socalled purpose and strove to beat the humanity out of them for over a hundred years. For the reader, seeing a precious friendship between Elwood and Turner root and bloom in a dark place, changing their
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respective fates, makes The Nickel Boys worth reading. Luckily, Whitehead’s terse, beautiful prose makes this book the most unlikely of page-turners, a speed-read that dishes up hard truths and terrible history. His subtle writing reveals Elwood and Turner’s humanity and capacity for love, carrying you like a current through their pain and redemption while sparing you none of it.
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June 2019 | 11
GALLERY BEAT
F. LENNOX CAMPELLO
True Stories from the Gal ery World “True Stories from the Gallery World” should be a book written by me about some of the most interesting, sometimes even weird experiences that I’ve had since I started selling art - initially my own art school assignments at the Pike Place Market in Seattle when I was an art student at the University of Washington. One of the key lessons which I learned there is that the trite saying “Art is in the eyes of the beholder” is very true. And I have empirical evidence to prove it. As I noted, I used to sell, trade and/or give away all of my art school assignments: ALL OF THEM, including the inexplicably senseless ones, such as the ones which one of my professors, maybe Alden Mason, or perhaps Jacob Lawrence assigned, where each student was handed a brown grocery paper bag filled with objects and stapled shut. In the “assignment”, we were supposed to “feel” the objects and use our mind’s eye to image or detect what the object was and then produce a charcoal drawing on newsprint. You can just imagine the vapid things which resulted from this assignment, but just like all my assignments, as soon as it was graded, I had it backed in a sturdy board, shrink-wrapped and on sale for around five bucks at the Pike Place Market. These beauties usually hung around for a few years, with thousands of visitors pawing them as they looked though all my offerings and passing on them. And then one day, someone would pick one up, hold it triumphantly in front of their faces with two extended arms and shout: “I love this!” Behind the metal tables at the Pike Place Market, I would smile warmly at the new collector while thinking to myself: “Why?” Why? Because that trite saying is indeed true! A couple of decades later my then wife and I opened up The Fraser Gallery in the Canal Square of Georgetown, which at the time 12 | September 2019
boasted of seven galleries within the square – all centered around the Sea Catch Restaurant, right on the Canal. Thus, the setting for my story: We had a gallery group show of 25 or so artists from around the US, Europe, Latin America and the region. A casually dressed couple, having just finished dinner at the Sea Catch Restaurant in Georgetown step into the gallery. Him: Can we come in? Me: Yes of course, welcome to the gallery. Him: Does it cost anything to come in? Me: Of course not! Come on in and look around, let me know if you have any questions. They come in, and start looking at the works on exhibit, which as with any group show, include a variety of
styles, genres, and subjects. Her: We didn’t know there were any art galleries here... Him: Are these all by the same artist? Me: Uh... no, it’s a group show by artists from all over the US, some from Europe and some area artists. Her (pointing to a large etching): I really like this piece. Me: It’s an intaglio etching by -Him (looking closely at the wall label with title, artist and price info): Is that the best that you can do? Me: It is the price for the work sir, this etching is an edition of 10, and several pieces have already sold and -Her (Looking at a small drawing): I really like this one too. Him: Is that the same artist? Me: No, that’s a graphite drawing by --
Him: How come it is the same price as the other one (pointing to the etching)? That other one is at least twice as big. Me: This one is an original drawing; it is one of a kind, and the other piece that you liked is a limited edition print, and there are 10 of them, although there are only three left in the edition. Him (looking incredulous): Somebody bought all the others? Her: I really like both of these... they’re much more interesting than all the stuff that you have hanging at the house. Him: If we buy both of them, will you give us a deal? Me: Well, they’re very fairly priced as they are, but if you buy both of GALLERY BEAT > PAGE 13
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B&B Art Gallery 215 King Street
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A Galerie 315 Cameron Street
BW Art, Antiques & Collectibles 108 N. Fayette Street
Enamelist’s Gallery 105 N. Union Street
Random Harvest 810 King Street
Imperfections Antiques 1210 King Street
Printmakers, Inc. 105 N. Union Street
Acme Mid-Century + Modern 128 S. Royal Street
The Antique Guild 113 N. Fairfax Street
Van Bommel Antiek Hous 1007 King Street
Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street
Lloyd’s Row 119 S. Henry Street
Red Barn Mercantile 1117 King Street
GALLERIES
Washington Square Antiques 425 S. Washington Street
Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street
Susquehanna Antique Co. 608 Cameron Street
Principle Gallery 208 King Street
Old Town Antiques 222 S. Washington Street
Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery 105 N. Union Street
Verdigris Vintage 1215 King Street
St. George Gallery 105 N. Alfred Street
Cavalier Antiques 400 Prince Street
The Art League 105 Union Street
Sumpter Priddy III 323 S. Washington Street
Local Colour Old Town 218 N. Lee Street
Betty Grisham Studio 105 N. Union Street
Henry Street Antiques 115 S. Henry Street
Icon Galleria 101 N. Union Street
Imagine Artwear 112 King Street
GALLERY BEAT | FROM PG 12
them, we will gladly offer you a 10% collector’s discount. Him (adding up the Math in his head): How about $1500 for both of them? Me: Sorry sir, that’s more like a 50% discount - you wouldn’t want to do business with any art gallery that has a price structure where you can obtain “art” at half price. Him: I always get at least 40% at other art stores. Me (clearing my throat): We don’t exhibit work that can be ethically discounted to those extremes, and most reputable art dealers do not either; it hurts both the artist and the collector. Her (staring hard at him): I really like both of these; I’ve never seen work like this before and I really like them. Him (beginning to get the message): How about 25% off? Me: With a 10% collector’s discount you are getting a very fair price for two framed works of real... art. Her: Just get them... Him: Awright... We’ll get them if you deliver them to Virginia and that way it will save us the sales tax. Me (hoping that my eyes are not rolling): Where in Virginia? Her: Great Falls. I swallow hard, do the paperwork, and after explaining to them that they’ll have to wait until after the exhibition is over, close the sale. A couple of weeks later, Old Town Crier
I contact them to arrange the delivery. Using our delivery service (in other words me), I drive to Great Falls, and find their home, or shall I say mansion, one of those monster houses with acres of lawn. I knock on the door. A Filipino maid actually wearing one of those French maid outfits opens the door. I explain to her that I am delivering two pieces of artwork, and after she stares at me and the two pieces of art, she lets me in, and shouts something in Tagalog towards the upstairs. A second uniformed Filipino maid comes down, and speaking in English says that the owners are out, but that they left a message for me just to leave the two pieces of art. I do so, and ask her if it is OK for me to look at the owner’s art collection. She nods and leaves, while the other maid keeps an eye on me. And I look at wall, after wall full of gaudily-framed decorative work... you know: Impressionistic women in Victorian dresses with umbrellas in the wind, large Parisian scenes in thick, bright oil paints, men and women in hats that cover their eyes playing pool, seductive-eyed vixens staring dreamily into the viewer, Kinkaidian landscapes, and strangely enough at least six huge photos of those dog portraits by Wegman. I sigh, thinking of all the
Kelly’s Art & Frame 510 N. Washington Street Oerth Gallery 420 S. Washington Street Jeffrey Winter Fine Arts 110A S. Columbus Street Johnston Matthew 105 N. Union Street
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Syreni Caledonii (Northern Atlantic Mermaid). Watercolor, charcoal and Conte. 2019, 12x36 inches.
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Huddy Studio 105 N. Union Street Mezzanine Multiples 105 N. Union Street Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street Cochran David 105 N. Union Street
tens of thousands of dollars spent in “wall decor,” and almost feel as if I am leaving two small hostages behind. The English-speaking maid checks up on me, as I leave. Me: Who usually buys the... uh... artwork? Maid: These are all Mr. ____’s. She points to the two that I’ve left behind. Maid: Those are the first two that his new wife has bought. I drive away with a tiny bit of relief; very tiny. Art is in the eyes of beholder, and perhaps some eyes are better than others.
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September 2019 | 13
URBAN GARDEN
“Muttify”Your Lawn
Courtesy of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute 14 | September 2019
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Tall
p Shi
Comi ng
Pr
o vid e nce
She’s Gone…But Not For Long! The Tall Ship Providence has come and gone. If you follow this column and the Providence you know that it finally made its arrival in Alexandria in July. The ship sailed from Maine and arrived in Alexandria at midnight on July first. Although the ship sailed well on the trip from Maine, even with three days in the Atlantic Ocean, she has not yet received her Coast Guard Certification, which allows visitors onboard. Where the Providence once swayed gently with the tide at the G/H dock in Old Town Alexandria, the end of the dock is now empty. According to Foundation Director of Communications, Diana West, the Providence needs some marine electrical work done. “We found a team of naval marine electricians available in Norfolk who could do the work that we needed and it turned out to be easier to take the ship to them than bring them here. If all goes to plan, the work should be completed in about two weeks and the Providence will return to Alexandria by Labor Day weekend. We hope to open to the public shortly thereafter,” says West. If all goes well by the time you read this article, the Providence will once again be at the end of G/H dock (dock north of Chart House restaurant) and soon open for guests. Once tours start, visitors will learn about the history of the ship, see what life was like aboard ship during the American Revolution, and meet Captain John Paul Jones, who will share a thrilling tale from his days aboard Providence.
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September 2019 | 15
A BIT OF HISTORY
SARAH BECKER
Copywright ©2019 Sarah Becker
I
n 1950 the 81st Congress convened; government scientists worked on a hydrogen bomb and Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy condemned Communism. Soviet-armed North Korean troops invaded South Korea; the U.S. Supreme Court upheld black Americans right to attend a state law school, and segregated Virginia ranked thirty-fourth in its financial support of education. In Virginia education was mostly “neglected,” except for a 7th grade state-listed history book written to appeal to a “conservative rural audience.” “What is most distressing about the product of the 1950 Virginia Textbook Commission—and the Virginia General Assembly that created it—is not the over-glorifying of Virginia’s heritage, but a lack of confidence in it or her people,” The Virginian-Pilot wrote in 1965. “The concept of an arm of the government supervising the writing of history is precisely the sort of statism to which Virginia politicians object so vehemently in their own 16 | September 2019
Federal Government.” President Donald J. Trump (RNY) defines fake news as not true. “False stories created to be shared or distributed for the purpose of… promoting or discrediting a public figure or political movement.” Commission Chairman, former Virginia Delegate and a top-ranking member of the Byrd Organization Cecil W. Taylor, of Lynchburg, admitted the 7th grade textbook— Virginia: History, Government, Geography by Francis Butler Simkins—was “written with bias, glorification, and political cant.” In fact, the 7th grade history text was “‘purified’ by state censors” in an effort “to appeal to conservative Virginia’s point of view.” “Dixie [the South] is of two cultures,” Charles Reagan Wilson wrote in 1980. “One of Christian and one of southern values…In the years after the Civil War a pervasive southern civil religion emerged. This common religion of the South, which grew out of Confederate defeat in the Civil War, had an identifiable mythology, ritual and organization.” Virginia’s “identifiable” organization
belonged to State Senator (19161926), Governor (1926-1930), and U.S. Senator Harry Flood Byrd, Sr., (19331965). “Of all the American states, Virginia can lay claim to the most thorough control by an oligarchy,” historian V.O. Key, Jr., wrote in 1949. “Political power has been closely held by a small group of leaders who…have subverted democratic institutions and deprived most Virginians of a voice in their government. The Commonwealth possesses characteristics more akin to those of England at about the time of the Reform Bill of 1832…It is a museum piece.” “Some of the free Negroes were given an opportunity to go to school,” Francis Butler Simkins wrote. “The Quakers supported schools for Negroes at Williamsburg and at Alexandria…But it seems from the records that only a small portion of colonial Negroes attended school. Nevertheless, the colonial Negroes were trained in many useful skills…In time they learned the English language and the beliefs and customs of their masters so well that they forgot most of their African ways…[T]hey adopted
the ideals of the Virginia planter and his family.” “For more than a year after the close of the [civil] war, the feeling between the white people and the Negroes was quite friendly,” Butler continued. “The white people accepted the fact that the Negroes were free. And most of the freedmen respected and trusted their former masters…It was a different story with younger Negroes. Although they were badly needed for work on the farms, many of them refused to work at any price. They thought freedom from slavery meant freedom from work; they wanted to enjoy their freedom in idleness.” Propaganda: “information, ideas, half-truths or rumors deliberately spread to help or harm a group, movement, institution or nation.” “Obviously the 7th grade textbook Virginia: History, Government, Geography is set up to glorify…a political point of view,” John Klousis, the 1965 director of city instruction for Norfolk city schools declared. “We ought to be teaching kids to think critically. Instead this book glorifies a A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 17
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A BIT OF HISTORY | FROM PAGE 16
past that never was.” Alexandria Living Legend Carlton A. Funn, Sr., a black elementary school teacher born at 1005 Oronoco Street, was a philosopher of a type. When we met in 2008 the retired Lyles Crouch educator—still carried the same 1957 7th grade history text segregated Virginia used in the 1950s-1970s. A graduate of Storer College, a black college located in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, Funn found the textbook’s Jim Crow-like passages historically inaccurate. Among Simkins offputting lines: “Life among the Negroes of Virginia in slavery times was generally happy.” “The Negroes went about in a cheerful manner making a living for themselves and for those for whom they worked,” Simkins continued. “They were not so unhappy as some Northerners thought they were, nor were they so happy as some Southerners claimed. The Negroes had their problems and their troubles. But they were not worried by the furious arguments going on between Northerners and Southerners over what should be done with them. In fact, they paid little attention to these arguments.” Carlton Funn’s childhood neighbor Jesse Jennings explained the black student’s dilemma. “What used to disturb me about the textbooks was the fact that they left out so much black history,” Jennings said. “The comments that referenced blacks were inaccurate watered down comments. Those who made these comments tended to protect the white image. They were in denial of discrimination.” The Virginia General Assembly passed the Act to Preserve Racial Integrity in 1924. The Act required all Virginia residents to note their status as either “white or colored.” State Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr., [D-VA10] after “easily” winning the 1925 Democratic gubernatorial primary, explained the essential components of his platform; in a speech to the Democratic State Central Committee. “Byrd defended the one party system that controlled Virginia and the South as absolutely necessary for the maintenance of white rule.” “Byrd argued that a black electorate with decisive strength to sway elections constituted a much greater evil than ‘the continued and unchallenged government by a single political party,’” J. Douglas Smith Alexandria city attorney Armistead Booth’s grandson explained. “There are 700,000 negroes in Virginia and the most important task of the Democratic Party is to keep them poor, so they will not be able to meet certain economic qualifications [poll tax], and to keep them ignorant, so they will not be able to meet certain educational qualifications [literacy],” The Norfolk Journal and Guide observed. “The Democratic Party’s fealty to white supremacy ensured that educational [also voting] opportunities for negroes remained even more illusory than those for white Virginians.” “Virginians desired the Negroes to become good citizens, but they wanted to settle this problem in their own way,” Simkins 7th grade history text concluded. “The federal government, however, was unwilling for Virginians to do this.” Virginia’s “reputation for good race relations” remained relatively intact until the mid-1950s, when white Virginians, the white South went Old Town Crier
the way of massive resistance. Rather than comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, Senator Byrd, Sr., relied on a Southern Manifesto. Virginia’s 1956 school-closing laws “required the governor to close any school that enrolled even a single black student.” Not until Samuel W. Tucker’s 1968 Green v. School Board of New Kent County, VA—a case argued one day before Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination; the U.S. Supreme Court’s extension of Brown—did Virginia School Districts implement full desegregation. Virginia NAACP attorney Samuel W. Tucker heeded attorney Charles Hamilton Houston’s call because he was “born black in Alexandria.” “By 1972, under the direction of Republican Governor Linwood Holton—father of Board of Education member Anne Holton, father-in-law of Virginia Senator and former Governor Tim Kaine—the state began to decommission the books,” The Virginia Mercury wrote, “though some textbooks [like Simkins] stayed in the Virginia classroom until the late 1970s.” “It was Virginia’s 1990s adoption of uniform statewide Standards of Learning (SOL) for social studies education that led to the publication of a new generation of textbooks, textbooks that included more social and cultural history specific to women, AfricanAmericans and Indians,” The Library of Virginia confirmed. Virginia’s statewide 20182019 SOL scores show Alexandria students are still trailing the State average: reading, writing, and history included. This despite 2017 changes to the test(s). Fake news and white supremacy are much discussed today. Whether the conversation is born of the Byrd legacy; the 2020 census and voting rights; President Trump’s controversial tweets; the internet and radicalization; Alt Right organizer Richard Spencer’s 2017-2018 Alexandria stay; the 2017 Charlottesville Unite the Right rally, the El Paso killing spree, gun violence and or reform…let’s tell the story(s) truthfully. Virginia’s 1924 Act to Preserve Racial Integrity was overturned in part in 1967; repealed in total in 1975.
THANK YOU! Thank you to everyone who helped the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) find homes for 36 pets during Clear the Shelters this past Saturday. Clear the Shelters is a nation-wide event that waives adoption fees for adoptable animals across the country with the goal of matching adoptable animals with their new best friends. The AWLA had a busy day of adoptions, which meant lots of happy memories for animals finding a home to call their own!
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. September 2019 | 17
POINTS ON PETS
CHERYL BURNS
I have a coworker who never fails to bring a smile to my face. She has this remarkable gift — an amazing ability to make every person feel like they are special, important, and loved. The unsaid message seems to be: “You! It’s you! I was hoping I’d see you today! You are so great!” It is her natural tendency, but she’s also worked at it. After all, while she isn’t formally in that role when she joins her human at the office, Roxie is a trained therapy dog. This month’s column focuses on some special animals: service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy animals. The groups are distinct and the terms have legal significance, but all are a testament to the beautiful connection between humans and animals.
Emotional Support Animals
Service Animals Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.” These dogs — and the ADA only officially recognizes canine service animals, although some other laws like the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and some states (including Virginia) cover other species — are trained to take a specific action to help their human. While seeing eye dogs are the most commonly known type, service dogs perform a variety of tasks from alerting a diabetic that his blood sugar is at a dangerous level, to warning an epileptic that a seizure is imminent, or reminding an individual to take her daily medicine. The ADA does cover animals trained to respond in a specific manner to assist with a psychiatric disability, but it does not cover dogs that provide emotional support more generally. Service animals (and their humans) have extensive legal rights under various state and federal regimes. Notably, the ADA gives service animals permission to be in most public facilities and private businesses, and covered entities cannot request
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HARD AT WORK: Service, Emotional Support, and Therapy Animals
special documentation showing that a dog is a trained service animal. Rather, as the Department of Justice explains: In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required
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because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.
As the American Veterinary Medical Association explains, emotional support animals are a newer category of animals that “provide therapeutic benefits that alleviate one or more identified symptoms or effects of an individual’s disability, or emotional support to a disabled individual who has a disability-related need for such support.” Animals other than dogs — including cats, horses, and even reptiles — can qualify as emotional support animals. While not a separate category under the ADA, the designation carries legal weight under the Fair Housing Act, which means that housing providers may be required to provide reasonable accommodation for emotional support animals. Another law that includes emotional support animals is the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). While the ACAA covers any animal individually trained or able to assist a passenger with a disability — including by providing emotional support — airlines can request advance notice and documentation for emotional support or psychiatric service animals. Although the ACAA covers a wide variety of animals, airlines can exclude some animals including certain species, animals that are too large to accommodate in the cabin, or those that pose a threat to other travelers. Anyone who plans to fly with a service animal should check with the specific airline for details.
Therapy Animals According to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (one of many groups associated with therapy animals), like emotional support animals, therapy animals “provide therapeutic and psychological benefits.” However, the key difference is that therapy animals “provide this service to many people beyond just their owners.” Many species can become trained therapy animals, and they offer support in POINTS ON PETS > PAGE 19
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POINTS ON PETS | FROM PAGE 18
Cremation of Horses & Companion Animals
numerous environments including schools and nursing homes. My pal Roxie even calms frazzled air travelers around holidays!
Final Notes There is always a need for patient, loving people to help train service animals. It is hard work — and it means giving up animals after bonding with them for some time — but important and noble work. If you see an animal wearing a vest or other garment that indicates he or she is a working service animal, respect the animal and its job. Do not pet a working animal and avoid distracting the animal in any way. While they are trained to ignore distractions, they are still animals and a minor distraction can cause serious results. Pet owners know that animals provide us with so much, and many can sense when we are ill or sad. During a particularly difficult time, I would walk in the door, collapse onto the couch, and immediately be joined by one our cats, often inviting a hug despite not typically being a fan (they’re lap cats, but like it on their terms!). Most pets provide love, but animals go further: It isn’t only their pure hearts, it is also their job. And we can all help them do it. Smoky Tiggs and Sweet Potato Bailey Burns kindly allow Cheryl Burns and her husband to live with them in Springfield — and they will happily provide love in exchange for cat treats. Resources: Alliance of Therapy Dogs, “What’s the Difference Between Emotional Support Dogs, Service Dogs & Therapy Dogs” (Nov. 26, 2018) (https://www.therapydogs.com/emotional-support-dogs/). American Veterinary Medical Association, “Emotional Support Animals” (2019) (www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/EmotionalSupport-Animals.aspx). U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA” (July 2015) (adata.org/factsheet/service-animals). U.S. Department of Transportation, “Service Animals (Including Emotional Support Animals)” (March 20, 2018) (www. transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/ service-animals-including-emotional-support-animals). Virginia Fair Housing Office, “The Virginia Fair Housing Law and Assistance Animals” (April 2015) (www.dpor.virginia. gov/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/FairHousing/VFHO%20 brochure_assistance%20animals%203-2015.pdf).
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All dressed up and looking for a loving place to go, this sweet little tuxedo cat could be your best date ever! Jessie is an adult black and white cat with unique markings on her nose and lips that make her stand out in a crowd of kitties. Her beautiful green eyes are captivating! In fact, Jessie only has eyes for you, and she prefers to receive all of your attention and affection. If you’re seeking a potential life partner to enjoy quiet nights with lots of snuggles and lazy Sunday morning cat naps, visit Jessie today to see if you’re a match!
Why’s he called Marshmallow? Cuz he’s a big ol’ softie! Marshmallow has big brown eyes and an even bigger head, but what’s biggest of all is his heart, especially when it comes to his toys. Marshmallow’s ideal best friend loves toys as much as he does and knows that sometimes, a dog and his squeaky just gotta romp. This active gent loves a good run around the yard or a long walk on a nice day, with plenty of ear scratches along the way. And when he looks up at you with his big brown eyes, how can you resist? So if you’re looking for a secretly squishy puppy pal, stop by today to meet Marshmallow!
Meet Fred! This snappy ginger is such a sweet treat! A medium-sized shorthaired rabbit, Fred brightens whatever space he enters. With a striking coat as colorful as the carrots he nibbles, Fred is hoping to find a human friend who enjoys sharing whisker nuzzles, grass snacks, and hay naps just as much as he does. Are you looking for a little extra bunny spice and color in your life? Visit Fred the Red today! Adoption profile: alexandriaanimals.org/animalprofile/?id=30018 Adoption information: alexandriaanimals.org/ adoption-information/ Photo courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography
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Photo courtesy of Alison Lane Photography
Photo courtesy of Alison Lane Photograph
September 2019 | 19
CARIBBEAN CONNECTION BY JENN MANES
The Old Willy T Gets A New Life ... Old Willy T makes its way to a new home
The Willy T and her escorts.
W
e have a very cool story to share with all of you. I’m sure you all know by now that the Willy T – the large steel ship that was anchored off of Norman Island and served as a bar/restaurant – was heavily damaged during Hurricane Irma. The vessel was so severely damaged that it could no longer be used, and for nearly two years, it sat smashed against the shoreline near Pirate’s Bight. A new Willy T was built 20 | September 2019
Let the sinking begin .... – it was the third vessel that served as the Willy T – and it was first anchored off of Peter Island and reopened back in June 2018. The new Willy T finally moved back home to Norman Island last month where it remains today. Who says you can’t go home… Phew, that’s a lot of backstory! Ok, so now you’re probably wondering what happened to the old Willy T that was damaged during the storm. Well it recently received a new life… on the ocean floor. The old Willy T is
one of the British Virgin Islands’ latest artificial reefs. How cool is that??! It all happened thanks to a nonprofit group called Beyond the Reef. The BVI organization is comprised of a group of collaborators who are passionate about the ocean and include an underwater engineer, an oceanographer, a metal sculptor and an environmental filmmaker. Their goal, with a little help from the community near and far, is to create the most impactful artificial coral
The Willy T underwater. reef system in the world. And in our opinion, they’re well on their way to doing that. Now this is clearly a cool thing. But makes it even cooler is how they turned the old Willy T into a piratethemed wreck. The old Willy T was sunk on August 7 in Key Bay on Peter Island. It sits 65 feet down between coral heads with CARIBBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 21
Old Town Crier
Dog in the Dog Islands. I know I’ve said it before, and I hope it’s not too annoying to hear me say it again, but so much good has come out of those storms. I am thankful for everyone who has had a part in it. For more information on Beyond the Reef, please visit its website at www.1beyondthereef.com
CARIBBEAN CONNECTION FROM PAGE 20
the top of the wreck sitting about 35 feet underwater. The organizers of Beyond the Reef are asking all companies that dive the wreck to donate $5 per person which will go back into the community through an initiative that teaches local children how to swim. Snorkelers can check out the wreck too, but you really need to dive the site to truly enjoy it all. Here are a few pics taken the day of the sinking: I’m not sure about all of you, but I’m pretty excited to check this out. Beyond the Reef is also working to sink three airplanes that were also
Capt. Skelton charts the progress. damaged during the hurricanes. These planes are being converted into sharks and will be sunk near Great
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A Willy T crewmember awaits the plunge.
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CARIBBEAN MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE A dead Marine washed ashore on a Caribbean island leads investigators to otherworldly perpetrators in historic pirate waters and high level abuses in Washington. An intrepid maritime historian working the case for U.S. Naval Intelligence discovers a 60-year record of extraterrestrial activity in the Caribbean basin. History and national security politics meet science fiction in this mystery based on exhaustive factual research and informed conjecture.
CARIBBEAN hISToRY AND ADvENTURE Where did the villain General Santa Anna of Alamo infamy retire? Is time travel possible? What was it like on the ground in the worst hurricane of the 19th century? Can a band of rogue sailors from Coral Bay, St. John, defeat ruthless corporate mercenaries? These questions and more are answered in Jeffrey Roswell McCord’s new fact-based novel “Santa Anna’s Gold in a Pirate Sea.”
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September 2019 | 21
FROM THE BAY …
Mallows Bay Ghost Fleet Declared Marine Sanctuary Courtesy Chesapeake Conservancy, Photy by Kyle Smith Local community partners, national conservation and preservation groups, and recreation and education advocates celebrated the designation of a new national marine sanctuary at Mallows Bay in the Potomac River. The sanctuary will take effect by the end of 2019 and will be the first designated in 19 years. This new sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay watershed will protect the “Ghost Fleet” of more than 200 shipwrecks. “Mallows Bay contains the greatest, richest and most vibrant maritime artifacts of America’s ascendancy on the international stage,” said historian Donald G. Shomette, author of Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay. “It is a virtual calendar of over 250 years of history, including the very ships that made America the greatest shipbuilding nation on the planet. It is truly a national treasure.” “Mallows Bay is a unique place where we can immerse ourselves in our natural and cultural heritage by getting up close to history,” said Kim DeMarr, owner of Atlantic Kayak Company. “As someone who takes people out on the water every day, the national recognition and attention that comes from having a national marine sanctuary creates new opportunities to connect our community and visitors alike to the Chesapeake Bay watershed through fun, educational experiences while growing our outdoor recreation economy.” “Marine sanctuaries are our nation’s underwater living laboratories and outdoor classrooms,” said Diving With a Purpose Director Jay Haigler. 22 | September 2019
“In partnership with students from Ocean Guardian schools in the area, we are already seeing young leaders empowered to become environmental stewards, to educate and engage people throughout their communities, and to inspire action and appreciation for our shared maritime heritage. That’s the true power of sanctuaries.” “This is a great day for the Chesapeake Bay. The first National Marine Sanctuary in the Chesapeake means there will be a spotlight on one of the hardest fought restoration efforts of our time. All eyes will now be on our challenges and our achievements as we work to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay. We hope that the designation will encourage more people to come out and kayak through the shipwrecks to experience the wonder of Mallows Bay firsthand,” said Joel Dunn, Chesapeake Conservancy president and CEO. The Ghost Fleet of the Mallows Bay site includes more than 200 wrecks that span three centuries of maritime heritage. As the largest and most varied collection of shipwrecks in the western hemisphere, the Ghost Fleet is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over time, these abandoned ships became the foundation for a rich habitat for endangered and threatened wildlife, including bald eagles, herons, and osprey, river otters and beaver, and numerous fish species. Situated less than 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., it will be the closest national marine sanctuary to our nation’s capital, opening new possibilities for building support for
the National Marine Sanctuary System among the public. This sanctuary provides ample potential for educational and outreach opportunities. Mallows Bay is an outdoor classroom for two Ocean Guardian schools in Maryland, where it is a safe space for students to explore and learn outside of the traditional framework and off of screens. Sanctuaries, including Mallows Bay, are a model for outdoor classrooms, getting kids outdoors to learn skills and becoming interested in the environmental field. Most recently, partnerships with the National Association of Black Scuba Divers, Diving With a Purpose and Junior Scientists in the Sea have provided in-pool dive instruction for high school students and introduced other advanced technologies that one day may be the inspiration for academic and career pursuits. Mallows Bay is a popular spot for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, birdwatching and other outdoor recreation, making it an economic engine for the region. The sanctuary designation will enhance the site’s tourism and recreation potential thanks to elevated awareness, new programs and enhanced public access points throughout the sanctuary, and new links with local businesses. Unlike maritime heritage sites with fully submerged shipwrecks, the historic and ecological resources at Mallows Bay are visible from shore, readily accessible by kayak and brought to life with an interpretative water trail guide available on-site. The site also has great promise for research, conservation, citizen science, and educational opportunities because of its unique maritime features
and connection to the Chesapeake Bay. America’s National Marine Sanctuary System includes 13 marine and one Great Lakes sanctuaries and two marine national monuments. These unique waters sustain critical, breathtaking marine habitats that provide homes to endangered and threatened species. They preserve America’s rich maritime heritage and are living laboratories for science, research, education and conservation. Sanctuaries also offer world-class outdoor recreation experiences for all ages and support local communities by bringing billions of dollars to their economies. Communities across the nation look to sanctuaries to protect nationally significant areas of our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. About the Conservancy - Chesapeake Conservancy’s mission is to conserve and restore the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. We empower the conservation community with access to the latest data and technology. As principal partner for the National Park Service on the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, we helped create 153 new public access sites and permanently protect some of the Bay’s special places like Werowocomoco, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and Fort Monroe National monument. chesapeakeconservancy.org Old Town Crier
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August 2019 | 23
I
ROAD TRIP
have sailed into Annapolis Harbor for many years, mostly on my sailboat but also on others including the 125 foot Schooner Alexandria. The sight of the U.S. Naval Academy has never failed to impress me as well as the sheer number of sailboats on the water. This is why Annapolis is known as the Sailing Capital of the United States. On this particular trip however, we would not be sailing, but were guests of Carl and Tulinda Larsen, longtime friends, aboard their 50 foot trawler, Skylark. Our destination was to anchor one end of the starting line for Wednesday Night Races and also serve as the committee boat. And more importantly , it was also a birthday get together for Tulinda and Lani. The Wednesday Night Races have been a time honored tradition in Annapolis for nearly 60 years and the Annapolis Yacht Club has been the host for every race. “What better way to break up the week than a relaxing evening out on the water?” said John Sherwood, a legendary Chesapeake Bay sailor and longtime Annapolis Yacht Club member, “I can’t imagine doing anything else on Wednesday night. It’s part of the weekly schedule.” Annapolis sailors do not take their sport lightly! In addition to the 130 or so sailboats that participated in the race, there were also dozens of spectator boats that lined the course to watch the competition as the boats hoist their colorful spinnakers and asymmetrical sails. The finish of the race can also be observed in Spa Creek from the comfort of restaurants like the Chart House and Carol Creek if the wind cooperates. But we were here to observe the race from the committee boat and learn a little bit about what goes into a race like this. Actually, this is not one race, but can be up to 10 separate races, all featuring different classes of boats. Each class has its own starting time and the faster boats start first so the classes stay separated as they sail out into the Chesapeake Bay. On Skylark there were at least 8 volunteers working the start of each race and being observant of any boats crossing the starting line before the horn sounds for the start. In addition, there are another 22 volunteers that help monitor the races from the start, duration on the course, ROAD TRIP > PAGE 25
24 | September 2019
BOB TAGERT
s i l o p a n An night races y a d s e n d e W e h and t
The race committee doing its thing.
Spinnakers up!
The Schooners Woodwind
Old Town Crier
favorite spots in Annapolis. It is indeed a beautiful town with a lot of history and charm. You can get there by land or by sea and you won’t be disappointed. However, one disappointing note here is that after we got all of this done, I learned that the Wednesday Night Races ended on August 28th. On the
ROAD TRIP | FROM PAGE 24
upside, however, the Frostbite Sunday Races will commence in November and you can watch the end of those races from one of the restaurants that border Spa Creek. Regardless, there will be a lot of sailing in September and it is a beautiful time of the year to visit Annapolis. I hope that you enjoy the photos.
The Charthouse Restaurant.
PRIVATE Getting rigged to race. around the marks and the finish boat. Each class has its own signal flag that is flown on the Signal Boat (Skylark) so that each captain can see where the race stands even though there is radio contact from the Signal Boat as to starting times. The timing and organization of this spectacle is incredible and very smooth. After the boats return to their slips the crew members make their way to the Annapolis Yacht Club where there is a party including drinks and food and also a video recording of the race for the crews to enjoy. During the entire race there is a crew out filming every start in order to replay all of the action. The best we can do is show the photographs from our afternoon on the Signal Boat. The second part of this road trip is the town of Annapolis itself. Like Old Town Alexandria, Annapolis is an old seafaring town along the banks of the Severn River and the Chesapeake Bay. It is also the State Capital of Maryland and home to the United States Naval Academy. The Main Street of Annapolis runs from the City Dock along Ego Alley up through town to Church Circle. Like Old Town, former warehouses have been converted into fine shops and great dining establishments. Some of these establishments have come about in the past ten or fifteen years, but some Old Town Crier
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September 2019 | 25
TO THE BLUE RIDGE
JULIE REARDON
Ick.
ALGAE BLOOMS: TOXIC TO DOGS, SICKENING TO PEOPLE
A
bout the time dire warnings about dog deaths from bluegreen algae hit social media, we had an unusually thick mat of algae in the pond closest to our house. We knew the pond was not draining correctly because of a collapsed drainage culvert that needed an expensive repair, and because of the algae, we tried to keep the dogs out of it, but we never worried about toxicity. Then, in early August, we had a massive fish kill. Hundreds of bass and bluegills floated on the surface. Turns out, our fish kill was because the thick mat of algae on the surface was starving the fish of oxygen and coupled with the July heat wave, killed all but the catfish. Ours was fortunately not, however, the dogkilling blue-green algae. It’s common in late summer for ponds and lakes to become covered with algae blooms and aquatic vegetation that can be unsightly and form large, smelly mats on the water surface. Most is unattractive and smells disgusting but not harmful. Some can be deadly to dogs. These blooms of algal overgrowth tend to become worse after heavy rains and excessive periods
26 | September 2019
of higher than normal temperatures, both of which we’ve had this summer. Recently reports have surfaced that dogs have died after exposure to a toxin commonly referred to as bluegreen algae. Reports of dog deaths from the harmful algae blooms or HABs in North Carolina, Georgia and Texas have made headlines nationally and people have become scared for the safety of their pets. As did we after our fish kill, but testing revealed ours was just an overgrowth of run of the
mill algae. The toxin that is harmful to dogs (and humans) is not actually algae, rather it’s a bacteria known as cyanobacteria that can be found on still or stagnant water surfaces and when present in large amounts can form a film or scum that looks like algae and is often blue green in color. Also known as blue-green algae, when the bacteria grow in excess they can look like algae but to confuse things, not all clumps of blue green
scum on ponds contain the harmful cyanobacteria, a neurotoxin. And the cyanobacteria are not always blue green; they can be green or red or brown. These organisms are commonly found in trace amounts in many waters and normally present no problem until there is an abundance of them caused by excessive nutrient run off or unusually warm stretches of weather. Locally, the HABs have been confirmed in a few Maryland and Virginia lakes and ponds, but officials admit they do not have the resources to test private ponds and lakes. To date, no dog deaths have been reported from either Maryland or Virginia. Common sense dictates that most humans know to avoid stagnant scummy pond water for swimming and recreation but dogs harbor no such caution so it’s wise to keep your dogs leashed near water that you suspect could be contaminated. Dogs are particularly susceptible because they like to play in and drink from the water, and may ingest some retrieving or playing. They are also likely to lick it off their paws and coat. If you suspect your dog has been BLUE-GREEN ALGAE > PAGE 27
Old Town Crier
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE FROM PAGE 27
in contaminated water, rinse it off with clean water immediately and watch for any symptoms of bluegreen algae poisoning. These can happen as soon as 15 minutes after exposure up to several days later and include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and neurological signs such as weakness, disorientation/staggering, lack of coordination, collapse and/or unconsciousness and seizures. Consider any of these symptoms an emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention if your dog has been around any water you suspect might be toxic. Contact your vet immediately; often dogs can be saved if the toxins are flushed out of their system soon after contact. Are blue-green algae blooms dangerous for humans? Most species are not toxic, but some blue-green algae can produce neurotoxins (nerve) toxins or hepatotoxins (liver) during blooms that may be harmful to humans. Exposure can come from swallowing water, direct skin contact, and breathing aerosolized bacterial toxins that are in the air. If water containing bluegreen bacterial toxin or cell components is swallowed, gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can result. If direct contact is made; skin and eye irritation can result, with symptoms such as tingling or numbness of the lips, fingers and toes and dizziness. Respiratory irritation can result from breathing air that contains toxins or cell components. Long-term exposure to bluegreen bacterial toxins may result in liver damage. Effects due to HAB nerve toxins may appear within 15-20 minutes of exposure while liver toxin symptoms may take hours or several days to appear following exposure. If you are concerned that you have been exposed to a harmful algal bloom, please see your doctor or health professional. Telling your doctor about contact with water may help him/her treat the illness properly. Old Town Crier
Although the algae looks similar, the owner of this pond had it tested and this was just garden variety pond scum, not toxic blue green algae! No dogs were harmed in the taking of the photos. — Photos by Julie Reardon
YOUR
ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE
Quality Sport & Trail Horses For Sale Open Year-Round Lessons • Training •Trail Rides • Special Events www.therockingsranch.com • 540.678.8501 September 2019 | 27
VisitRAPPAHANNOCK
HORSE N HOUND 667 ZACHARY TAYLOR HWY. FLINT HILL, VA. 22627 Store Hours: Monday – Saturday 10-5pm
American Rustic Cuisine
SADDLERY • GIFTS • PET FOOD • OUTDOOR WEAR • Full Service Tack Store for the English Horse & Rider
Washington, Virginia, was originally surveyed by a young George
Join us for the 2019 Rappahannock County Farm Tour
• Great selection of cards & gifts including leather bags, Washington in 1749, and officially became a town in 1795. Now belts & wallets.
the county sits in Rappahannock County, where Little Washington is home to 145 residents and nearby wineries, antiquing, hiking in the • Outdoor Wear – boots, hats,Blue rainwear, gloves & socks and exciting dining options. Ridge Mountains, • All Natural Cat & Dog Foods, leather collars & leashes
Mention this ad and get 10% off any clothing & footwear Tula’s Restaurant and Bar offers farm to table dining, excellent
wines, craft beers, and fun with friends and visitors alike. Come join 540-675-1650 • www.horsenhound.com us and enjoy sophisticated country life at its best!
horsenhound.va
Tula’s Restaurant
American Rustic Cuisine
Washington, Virginia, was originally surveyed by a young George 311 Gay Street • Little Washington, VA Washington in 1749, and officially became a town in 1795. Now 540-675-2223 the • county tulasrestaurantandbar.com sits in Rappahannock County, where Little Washington is home to 145 residents and nearby wineries, antiquing, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and exciting dining options. Tula’s Restaurant and Bar offers farm to table dining, excellent wines, craft beers, and fun with friends and visitors alike. Come join us and enjoy sophisticated country life at its best!
Tula’s Restaurant
311 Gay Street • Little Washington, VA 540-675-2223 • tulasrestaurantandbar.com
Farm-to-table dining, excellent wines, craft beers, and fun with friends and visitors alike. Come join us & enjoy sophisticated country life at its best. 311 Gay Street, Little Washington,VA VA• •540-675-2223 540-675-2223 311 Gay Street, Washington,
SATURDAY September 28
11 am – 5 pm
SUNDAY September 29 11 am – 5 pm
#rappfarmtour2019
•
29 Main On the River – Sperryville
•
A quaint cottage on the Thornton River in the Heart of the Village of Sperryville. Spacious one bedroom/one bath suite Kitchenette Private deck overlooking the River Outdoor shower Popular for Hikers and Foodies, looking for a great getaway. VRBO#1001234 • AirBnB #18582009
• • • • • •
Large put cozy, suite above Little Washington Spa 1 Bedroom/1 Bath Living room with pull out sofa Kitchenette Great Location in the center of town VRBO#735456 • AirBnB #7131304
• • • • •
The Loft – Little Washington
More Info Contact- Samantha.rpkgetaways@gmail.com
Background photos by John McCaslin 28 | September 2019
ROAD TRIP > PAGE 28
Old Town Crier
VisitRAPPAHANNOCK Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29
KohlerRealtors.com JanMakela.com Real Estate III ~ Washington, VA 540-675-1373
Featured Listing Old Firehouse Hill, Castleton
The 3 BR farmhouse, c.1912, has been enlarged to accommodate a gourmet kitchen and great room. Original portion includes a main floor master suite & a den/office. Geothermal HVAC. Gunite pool and 3 BR pool/guest house complete the propery. All on 24 AC. $799,000 CheriWoodard.com 37 Main Street, Sperryville, VA 22740 (540) 987-8500
Background photos by John McCaslin Old Town Crier
September 2019 | 29
THE GASTRONOMES
DINING OUT
Chop Shop Taco
O
ne of Alexandria’s newer kids on the block, Chop Shop Taco opened this spring in the ParkerGray District of the city on Madison Street in the remaining space of a former auto body shop that also houses Grateful Kitchen and Zweet Sport Total Fitness. This cool new place added another bit of spice to the block and more “taco joint” competition to the area. We currently have 4 designated “taco” places in Alexandria along with several Mexican food restaurants. Wonder what the new fad is going to be? This taco spot was introduced by Chef Ed McIntosh, previously of DC’s taco delivery service Tortilladora and Alexandria’s rotating concept carry out restaurant Pendleton Carryout Co. McIntosh’s collection of restaurants consistently focus on quick, tasty and price appropriate food, and Chop Shop Taco fits the same bill. Obviously the name comes from the reference to the old body shop practice of “chopping” up vehicles and repurposing the parts into others. These guys did much of the same thing by repurposing parts of the body shop into the décor. The old car lifts now 30 | September 2019
CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street Old Town Alexandria 571-970-6438 ChopShopTaco.com
Frito Pie
Chicken Yucatan Taco (top,) Pork Achiote Taco (bottom)
have tables on top of them, a tool bin now holds flatware, napkins, a variety of hot sauces and a self-service water jug. We didn’t look in all of the drawers but I bet there were some cool things in them as well. There is seating in the rear of the restaurant that resembles reupholstered car seats and the same sort of theme is taken out on the chairs. Old tires serve as plant holders. The garage door still opens and there
is counter seating in front of it. The murals and the paint job in Chop Shop is fantastic. This is a really fun place to be – it takes you “out of the city”. It made us feel like we were in Old Mexico or in the islands. The photos don’t really do it justice. You need to go see for yourself. The menu is pretty eclectic and you aren’t going to find anything that resembles an Old El Paso or Taco
Bell taco in this joint. They serve five varieties of tacos ranging in price from $3-$4.50 and rotate daily depending on the availability of seasonal fresh ingredients. They are all served on fresh Masa tortillas made in house daily. We tried the Pork/Achiote/Banana Leaf with cilantro, radish, medium salsa, quick pickle red cabbage and a lime to squeeze and the Chicken/Yucatan with mango salsa, scallion, pickled red onion and the lime to squeeze. They were both very tasty. We each had one of each and accompanied them with two of the sides – the Frito Pie and the Roasted Corn on the Cob/Za’Tar. The Frito Pie was really good – lime crema, za’tar red onion, cilantro, jack cheese and chile beans served over corn chips in an individual Frito Lay DINING OUT > PAGE 31
Old Town Crier
®
DINING OUT | FROM PAGE 30
Your Home for New England Football Join Us for Our Famous Sunday Brunch 10 am-3 pm Live Music 7 Nights a Week with No Cover! Chop Shop Taco on Madison St. bag. Presentation is key! The corn, on the other hand was no great shakes. The problem was the quality of the corn itself. This time of year there should be some really good ears out there. It was tough and flavorless even with the chipotle-lime crema and cotja on it. We didn’t venture into the entrée they have on the menu – The Rib – but it sounds really good. You probably can’t go wrong with a bone-in duck fat roasted beef short rib with gochujang (whatever that is), cilantro, lime, red onion and handmade tortillas. We aren’t in the habit of regurgitating a restaurants entire menu since most of you can check them out online but they have small plates and a version of guacamole that we are going to try on our next trip. We also had a couple of the house classic margaritas and they were exceptional. Most of the ingredients in the cocktails here are made in-house and we are sure the freshly squeezed lime juice makes the difference in the margs. We also liked the presentation with the black sea salt on the side. They have 5 kinds of margaritas and a rotating cocktail menu along with the prerequisite craft beers and some good Mexican beer selections. The wine list is limited but there is something for every palate. Chop Shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. They are open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 11 am to 11 pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 12 am. The taco window is open until 9 pm and they have a late night menu that is served until close. This is just the place for a late night beverage and a snack! Chop Shop Taco is definitely headed in the right direction –it will soon be one of Old Town’s top hot spots - if it isn’t already!
Old Town Crier
Inspired by foods found in cities across America with a toast to their craft brews, wines, and spirits
PORK TENDERLOIN MONTH!
713 King Street • Old Town Alexandria 703.548.1717 • murphyspub.com
A FEAST OF CRAB SEPTEMBER 15, 2PM
Hard Shells, Crab Soup, Crab Cakes Corn on the Cob and Cold Dessert, Beer by Hardywood Brewery, Richmond LIMITED SEATING RESERVATIONS are a MUST - $75
FatCityKitchen.com 330 S. Pickett Street | (703) 685-9172
celebrating american cuisine with libations from around the world
Chicken Scallopini Month!
Not including drinks, tax and gratuity
SEPT 23 - FALL
MENU
Plenty of Old Favorites including Oysters and New Seasonal Treats!
outdoor patio dining! private event room over 300 beer & wine 7966 Fort Hunt Road
Call 703-347-7545 RiverBendBistro.com
tjstones.com 608 Montgomery St Alexandria 703.548.1004 September 2019 | 31
BEHIND THE BAR
RT’S RESTAURANT 3804 MOUNT VERNON AVENUE ALEXANDRIA 703-684-6010 RTSRESTAURANT.NET
Steve Bork conjures up RT’s Creole 75 #1 – House made rosemary and pear infused gin, ginger and lemon shaken and strained, topped with champagne and a lemon twist.
How did you get started in the bartending business? While in college I got a job as a server and ended up being pretty good at it so when a bartending position opened up they asked me if I was interested. My “regular” job is writing code and I luckily get to work from home so being a nerd with social skills I feel like they will go away if I don’t use them. The extra money surely doesn’t hurt as well.
What is your biggest bartender pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve as a bartender is actually (some) other bartenders. If you are going to be surly while behind the bar then DON’T BE A BARTENDER. Go sit in a cubicle and be miserable. You don’t necessarily have to be entertaining but you at least have to be pleasant and affable. If a guest annoys you laugh it off and let it roll off of your back, most are at the bar to have a great time so don’t take it out on them. Tending bar should be fun. End of rant.
What is the cleverest line anyone has tried on you in order to garner a free drink? A rather disheveled gentleman approached the bar and asked for a drink and then explained that he had no money but told me if I bought him one he would “pay it forward”. I spent the next 10 minutes explaining to him how that
32 | September 2019
wasn’t how paying it forward works but he didn’t get it. Buying him a drink would have been a better option as I will never get those lost minutes back.
What is the best/worst pick up line you have heard at the bar? A guy came up and started talking to a girl at the bar and told her he could guess where she had gone to college. She laughed and told him that it was a very small and obscure school and that he had no chance of guessing it. He laughed as well and then said “fine, if I guess it then you have to make out with me”. She agreed and said he had one guess. He made a show of analyzing her and then said “Longwood University”. Her jaw dropped and I knew he had gotten it correct. They left together a few minutes later. He came in a few weeks later and told me that his sister had gone to college there and that he had recognized her from a picture. Well played. If you ever sit at my bar, ask me about the worst one. I can’t tell it here.
Tell us about an interesting encounter you have had with a customer/customers. While working the main bar at Old Ebbitt Grill in Georgetown, Dennis Leary and his BEHIND THE BAR > PAGE 33
Old Town Crier
BEHIND THE BAR FROM PAGE 33
girlfriend sat at my bar. Unlike most celebrities who want to understandably be left alone, he had the whole bar cracking up and was encouraging people to engage him. A younger girl was sitting at the window across from the bar with her mom and she kept looking at him and pointing but never approached. At one point she had her back turned and was looking out the window when he came up behind her and said “are you going to come over and say hi?” She freaked out and he spent a good 15 minutes taking pics and chatting with her and her mom.
If you could sit down with anyone past or present and have a cocktail, who would that be? The easiest of questions. Hands down it is Nikola Tesla. Steve is behind the bar working a double on Saturdays and Tuesdays, Sunday nights and Monday days.
606 N. Fayette St., Alexandria, VA (703) 519-3776
GRAB ABITE
Sponsored by:
Old Town Crier
HOFBRÄU MÜNCHEN
September 2019 | 33
AMERICAN
AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970
JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777
BILBO BAGGINS 208 Queen St. 703-683-0300
JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue Alexandria 703-436-0025
BLACKWALL HITCH 5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090
LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313
CAFE 44 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644 CARLYLE CLUB 411 John Carlyle St. 703-549-8957
THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533
CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442 CHARLIE'S ON THE AVENUE Mount Vernon Avenue 703-851-3270
LORI'S TABLE 1028 King Street 703-549-5545 LOST DOG CAFE 808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511
CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080
MACKIE’S BAR AND GRILL 907 King St. 703-684-3288
CITY KITCHEN 330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com COLUMBIA FIREHOUSE 109 S. St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776
MAGNOLIA’S ON KING 703 King St. 703-838-9090 MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117 MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street Old Town Alexandria 703-548-8800 mason-social.com
EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051 EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street 703-299-0894 FIN & HOOF 801 N. Saint Asaph St. 703-836-4700 FIVE GUYS 725 King St. 703-549-7991 FLAT TOP BURGER 529 East Howell Ave. 571-970-1006 FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342 GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288 GRATEFUL KITCHEN 727 N. Henry Street HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050 HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969 HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355 JACKS PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372 JACKSON 20 480 King St. 703-842-2790 JAVA GRILL 611 King Street 571-431-7631
34 | September 2019
LIVE OAK 1603 Commonwealth Ave. 571-312-0402
MOUNT VERNON INN Mount Vernon, Va 703-780-0011 MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com MYRON MIXON PITMASTER BBQ 220 North Lee St. 703-535-3340 NECTAR COFFEE & WINE BISTRO 106 Hume Avenue 571-431-6150 NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032 OCONNELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 danieloconnellsrestaurant.com PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-822-5699 THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street RAMPARTS 1700 Fern St. 703-998-6616 rampartstavern.com RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. Hollin Hall Shopping Center 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274 RT's RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com
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 SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550 SOUTH BLOCK 106 N. Lee Street 703-465-8423 SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222 SWEETGREEN 823 King St. 571-319-0192 SWEET FIRE DONNA'S BBQ & HOPS 510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960 T.J. STONES GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com 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 ASIAN
ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515 MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710 MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600 NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848 STREETS MARKET AND CAFE 3108 Mt. Vernon Ave. 571-431-6810 THAILAND ROYAL 801 N. Fairfax St. 703 535-6622 TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878 CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE 407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800 KAI ZEN TAVERN 1901 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-836-1212 THE SUSHI BAR 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue 571-257-3232
CONTINENTAL
BRABO by Robert Weidmaier 1600 King St. 703-894-3440 BRABO TASTING ROOM 1600 King St. 703-894-5252 CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665 OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361 TEMPO 4231 Duke St. 703-370-7900 temporestaurant.com Village Brauhaus 710 King Street 703-888-1951 villagebrauhaus.com FRENCH
BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com BISTRO SANCERRE FRENCH 1755 Duke Street 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 ITALIAN BUGSYS PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313 bugsyspizza.com FACCIA LUNA 823 S. Washington St. 703-838-5998 HANKS PASTA BAR 600 Montgomery Ave. 571-312-4117 IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833 LA TRATTORIA 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338 LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com LENA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086 MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 100 King Street 703-997-5300 PARADISO 124 King St. 703-683-5330 PINES OF FLORENCE 1300 King St. 703-549-1796 RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873
MEDITERRANEAN
LA TASCA 607 King St. 703-299-9810 TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194 thepitahouse.com DELIAS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. Alexandria, VA 703-329-0006 VASO'S MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1118 King Street 703-566-2720 VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747 SEAFOOD
CATCH ON THE AVENUE 2419 MOUNT VERNON AVE 703-566-1283 HANKS OYSTER BAR 1026 King St. 703-739-HANK FISH MARKET-OLD TOWN 105 King St. 703-836-5676 fishmarketoldva.com ERNIES ORGINIAL CRABHOUSE 1743 King St. 703-836-0046 THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834 INDIAN
DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd. 703-660-6085 DIYA 218 North Lee, 2nd Floor 703-706-5338 NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615 MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN
CASA TEQUILA (next to Crate & Barrel) 1701 Duke 703-518-5312 CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438 DON TACO TEQUILA BAR 808 King St. 703-988-3144 LOS CUATES RESTAURANT 1116 King Street 703-548-2918 LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290 LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167 TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226) TEQUILA & TACO 540 John Carlyle Street 703-721-3203 Urbano 116 116 King Street 571-970-5148
Old Town Crier
BASTILLE BRASSERIE & BAR
M-F 4-7pm Sat-Sun Noon-5 pm 606 N. Fayette Street $6 Coq-tails, $5 House Wine, $2 off Beers
CHADWICKS 4-9pm M-F 203 Strand Street 703-836-4442
House Drinks $4.00, House Wines $4.00, Narraganset and Chadwick’s Lager $4.00 Select Bottles $3.00
FISH MARKET
CITY KITCHEN
4- 7pm M-F 330 South Pickett Street 703-685-9172 $3.75 Select Wine, Liquor and Beer
3-7 pm M-F 105 King Street 703-836-5676 Select Import Bottles $5.00 Rail Drinks $5.00 Classic Margaritas and Cocktails $6.00
MACKIE’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 3 - 7pm M-F 907 King Street 703-684-3288
Select Draft and Bottles $3.00, House Wine $5.00, Rail Drinks $5.00, Jameson $5.00
OLD TOWN’S BEST
HAPPY HOURS MURPHY’S GRAND IRISH PUB M-F 4-7pm 713 King Street 703-548-1717
RAMPARTS TAVERN & GRILL M - F 4 - 7pm 1700 Fern Street 703-998-6616
RT’S RESTAURANT
Everyday 4-7pm 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703 684-6010
Select Draft, Rail Liquor and House Wine $3.50
$1.00 Off House Liquor Drinks, Premium Wine Selections $6.00 Select Beers $4 - $5
WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE
4 -7pm M-F 214 King Street 703-683-6868
VILLAGE BRAUHAUS
$2 off Draft Beers and House Wine by the Glass. $5 House Spirits
Rail Drinks $6.00, Draft Beer $5.00, Domestic Bottles $4.00, Wine $6.00
Draft $5.00, Speciality Cocktails $10.00, $2.00 Off Wine By the Glass, $4.00 Well Drinks
Rail Drinks, Draft Beer, House Wine, Jameson and Bushmill Specials!
Old Town Crier
T.J. STONE’S
SOUTHSIDE 815
M-F 4-7:30PM Beer: $4.50 Select Imports and Virginia Craft Drafts Select Domestics $3.75 All Rail Drinks $$4.50 House Wines $5.50
4-7 pm M-F 608 Montgomery Street 703-548-1004 Draft Beer: Yuengling, Blue Moon, PBR, Parkway Amber $3.25 House Wines $3.25
M - F 4-7 M-F 710 King Street 703-888-1951
September 2019 | 35
LET’S EAT
MR. FOOD
Fresh Corn Dip What a novel dip to serve when you’re expecting company and what a good way to use up some of the last of the sweet corn in season! Our creamy, Fresh Corn Dip is made with super sweet corn and lots of flavorful add-ins, so you know it’s going to be addictive. Serve it in an edible bread bowl for a super change-of-pace from traditional dip recipes.
What You’ll Need 4 ears fresh corn on the cob, cooked (see Note) 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 4 scallions, sliced 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, drained 1/4 cup diced roasted red pepper 1 cup sour cream 3/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 (1-pound) round pumpernickel bread, unsliced
What to Do •
Using a sharp knife, remove corn from cob and place in a large bowl. Add cheese, scallions, green chilies, and roasted red pepper; set aside.
•
In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients except the bread; mix well. Pour over corn mixture and toss until evenly coated. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until ready to serve.
•
Using a serrated knife, cut a hole in top of bread about 3 inches in diameter. Hollow out bread, leaving one inch of bread around sides. Spoon dip mixture into bread bowl. Cut bread top and hollowed out pieces into 1-inch chunks for dipping.
36 | September 2019
Mr. Food Test Kitchen Tip! If you prefer, you can substitute 2 cups thawed frozen corn for the fresh. Here are 3 easy ways to cook corn on the cob: STEAM — Bring 1 inch of water to a boil, add husked corn, return to a boil, cover, and cook 3 to 4 minutes. MICROWAVE — Wrap corn in a damp paper towel and microwave 2 minutes per ear. GRILL — Wrap each ear of corn in aluminum foil and cook on grill 15 to 20 minutes or until kernels are tender. Recipe courtesy of Fresh Supersweet Corn Council. For more information and recipes, go to www.sunshinesweetcorn.com.
Old Town Crier
A local favorite since 1978 American comfort foods and over 250 wine & beer from around the world
September is Sea Scallops Month! VISIT OUR CLASSIC WHISKEY BAR! W H I SK E Y W E DN E SDAY L I N E U P Sept. 4
Sept. 18
Coopers Craft Bourbon......$6
92Pr lemon custard, apple, toasted oak
Heavan’s Door Bourbon $8 90Pr vanilla, baked bread, toasted oak
Sept.11
Sept. 25
Jameson’s Black Barrel $6 80Pr malt, honey, dried fruit
High West Double Rye $8 92Pr apple, cinnamon, mint
121 SOUTH UNION STREET, OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703.548.1785 • UNIONSTREETPUBLICHOUSE.COM
Specials Every Day Saturday & Sunday Brunch Wine Bar and a Sports Pub Private Party Room
RampartsTavern.com
1700 Fern St, Alexandria 703.998.6616
BRUNCH SERVED
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
GOOD SPORTS GOOD FRIENDS GREAT EATS!
MIMOSA & BLOODY MARY SPECIALS
Mondays Only 1/2 Price Award Winning Dry Aged Burger Wednesdays Only 1/2 Price Wings Buffalo, Cajun, Jerk & Old Bay 907 KING STREET OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703.684.3288 | MACKIESBARANDGRILL.COM Old Town Crier
8 Hi Def TV’s in 2 Rooms Game Day Specials!
WE ARE AN OFFICIAL GREEN BAY PACKERS BAR! September 2019 | 37
GRAPEVINE
SCOTT ELIFF
It’s veraison season. What could possibly go wrong? By the time you read this, our DuCard Vineyards grapes will be in the ‘veraison’ stage of ripening, where the berries start to soften and turn color. It’s pronounced ‘ver-ay-zon’ but most of us have Americanized it as ‘ver-ay-sion’. No matter – sort of mumble it and give it a little French flair and we’ll know what you mean. It’s a great time of year as it gives us a major hint and nod that all the growing season work we’ve put in to date just might pay off. During this period the grapes evolve from hard, light green pebbles to translucent yellow gold luscious globes with concentrated sugars and aromas (for white grapes like Viognier and Chardonnay) and to dark blue-purple orbs packed with distinctive varietal character (for reds like Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot). White harvest is about 30 day away, and red harvests about 60 days out. Exciting for sure. And hey, what could possibly go wrong ??
diluting them and delaying ripening – in effect offsetting much of the work that’s been done to date during the growing season. We are happy with a total drought, and recognize we’re not very realistic.
Well, rain for one.
There are several highly specialized insects that wait patiently until the
A big rainstorm will dump buckets of water that grapevine roots will absorb and push out into the berries,
38 | September 2019
Humidity for another. Ah, August and September in Central Virginia. Dripping with it. The risk for us is mildew and rot and a potentially ruined crop. So we’re constantly stripping off excess leaves to improve airflow in the vine rows and increase sunlight penetration on the berries.
Weather that’s cloudy, or cool … or even super hot. Not asking much there either. This year in Bordeaux it’s been up to 115 degrees – literally frying the grapevine and fruit, with potentially devastating results for their industry.
Insects, too.
Vintner Scott Elliff of DuCard Winery
GRAPEVINE > PAGE 40
Old Town Crier
EXPLORING VA WINES
DOUG FABBIOLI
Hops To It! As I am now in my 39th year of growing grapes and making wine, I get to pontificate a bit more than usual. The late night punch downs and the weeks’ long string of fruit processing will help to keep me humble, trust me. I have been working with great folks over the years in an effort to enhance our rural economy through value added products and experiences. Farm stands, wineries, local creameries and local land-based products that people will connect to, this is the entrepreneurial base that will keep our Loudoun lands green, our residents connected to those lands and our visitors appreciative of our authenticity and hospitality. A few years back, the Virginia state government allowed breweries to operate in the countryside if they farm. It has been my effort to help these brewers farm their land and
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GRAPEVINE | FROM PAGE 40
grape skins are soft and vulnerable, and then they seek to drill into the berries to lay their eggs. Not so terrific. And by drilling through the grape skin there’s increased potential for various diseases to penetrate the berries, and spread through the full vineyard. Doubly not terrific.
Deer, raccoons and groundhogs can take the crop, Bears too.
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In some years we’ve lost 30% of our crop. Those of us in Forest Lakes all know a little bit about deer, right? But we’ve upped our game this year, installing an eight foot fence around the entire vineyard – and a few “deer keep out” signs for good measure.
And let’s not even mention birds. Picture the Hitchcock movie, ripe with underlying tension that the billions of birds out there could choose to swarm our vineyard, eating some of the berries and just pecking away at others, rendering them vulnerable to damage, as above. Thank goodness they don’t know the full power that they have! It’s farming and one thing we know for sure is that farmers are constantly complaining. If there’s any good news it’s that we are prepared for these potential problems – seen that movie before, not our first grape rodeo, etc. And for this year we are at least starting out in a good position, with healthy vines, decent weather to date, good sunlight, diligent work practices used by our top notch staff, and more. We have the potential at least for an excellent crop that continues the tradition and growing reputation for quality we have developed at DuCard. We’ll all just wait and see what happens. And appreciate your support if you happen to be personal friends with Mother Nature. About the Author: Elliff is the owner of DuCard Vineyards located in Etlan, Virigina.
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EXPLORING VA WINES | FROM PAGE 40
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utilize the local farm products in their brews. The great thing about brewing beer is that many different products that grow here can be used in beer. The creativity of the brewers as well as the interest of the customer base gives the farmers a chance to sell more product. We have been growing hops on our farm for 7 years. They can be rather moody plants and I have been on a heavy learning curve the whole time. Last week we brought in our best harvest yet. Larry at Vanish Farm Brewery has used some of our hops in the wet form in an ale that will be released in a few weeks. The rest of our hops will be pelletized for later use. The hops processor is the key piece of Lucketts Mill and Hopworks, the entity that has been quite busy lately turning all those vines of hops into a workable product. Ian Shanholtz has been running this operation this year and is bringing it to another level. I also sold some pear juice to Ryan at Harpers Ferry Brewing. Next year, I will market my excess products a little more, but this was a bright surprise of collaboration bringing more local farm products into the local beers. Through the efforts of The New Ag School, we have been teaching some of our brewers how they can grow different products on their farm. Nothing is easy in agriculture, but by working together and teaching what works, we can build the skill sets and commitment to our lands in a financially and environmentally sustainable way. As you visit our countryside this harvest season, look for the local, purchase the authenticity, and share your enjoyment of our efforts with others. This industry was virtually nonexistent three decades ago, but we are building it in a way to stay here for generations to come and to share with the next generation that working the land can be quite fulfilling on many levels. Take it from the old guy who is still doing it! Old Town Crier
FITNESS
NICOLE FLANAGAN
Staying Fit Forever
We all know that there are great benefits that come with exercise. Participating in a regular exercise program can improve and maintain cardiovascular and muscular health, reduce or even eliminate the risk of osteoporosis, and help to lead a longer and healthier life. As we get older our needs for exercise changes and our ability to do certain exercises may change as well. The importance of participating in an exercise program is that it will promote healthy ageing. No matter what your age, it is never too late to start an exercise program. In 2007 the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and American Heart Association (AHA) released new physical activity recommendations for healthy adults ages 18 to 64 years and recommendations for those ages 65 and older. The recommendations for older adults include ages 50 to 64 years who have chronic health conditions or functional limitations that impact their fitness, physical activity or ability to move. Moderate intensity workouts should be hard enough that you can feel your heart rate increase and you break a sweat but are still able to carry on a conversation. A brisk walk or bike ride is considered to be a moderate intensity exercise. You should always consult with your physician before starting an exercise program. For adults who have never participated in a program or Old Town Crier
The guidelines for healthy adults 65 and older (or adults between 50 and 64 with limitations such as arthritis) are: • Do moderate intensity aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week... OR • Do vigorous intensity aerobic exercise 20 minutes a day, three days a week • Do eight to 10 strength training exercises, 10 to 15 repetitions of each exercise twice to three times per week.
just a few of the exercises that can be used to strengthen the core. Strength training as we get older can reduce the risk of osteoporosis by increasing our bone density. It also makes many activities of daily living such as walking, gardening, or carrying in the groceries seem much easier. The last part of the exercise guidelines covers balance and also includes flexibility exercises. Improving balance can be beneficial for many reasons. Including balance exercises into your fitness program can be easy and make a big difference. Next time you do your bicep curls try standing on one leg or take an exercise that you normally do on the floor and try standing on a BOSU ball. Making small changes like this will challenge your core and help to improve your balance. Lastly, flexibility is something that everyone should include in an exercise program. Collagen production and elasticity of the tissues decrease as we age. This impairs both flexibility and range of motion. Scientific evidence, however, suggests
that much of this decline is due to inactivity. Stretching exercises can effectively increase our range of motion and flexibility, so they are an important part of any fitness program. Improving flexibility will help also to reduce joint stiffness and can help prevent injury. Keeping active throughout your life is an important part of ageing gracefully and maintaining good health. Remember that there is no age limit to fitness and any time is a great time to start an exercise program. If you have questions about starting a fitness program or are completely unsure of what to do, consult with a trainer at your local fitness club. A personal trainer will help you to safely start and maintain an exercise program. If group fitness seems more fun, try looking into what your club has to offer. Many places offer classes that include strength, cardio and balance training. Try to make your fitness experience fun, that way you will be more inclined to keep up the good work!
• If you are at risk of falling, perform balance exercises • Have a physical activity plan. for those who have certain medical conditions, working with a health professional will ensure that you are getting the maximum benefit from the exercise while taking into account your needs and safety. There are a few points to consider when beginning an exercise program no matter what your age or level of fitness. If navigating the fitness floor of your local health club seems like a daunting task, ask to be signed up for a session or two with a personal trainer. Your personal trainer will be able to do a fitness assessment and give you some basic exercises to get you started. If you have been out of exercise commission for quite a while, a session with a trainer may help to familiarize you with some new exercise techniques. The goal of your program should be to work out smarter, not harder and still reach your fitness goals. When starting an exercise program use the guidelines as a starting point. The recommendation for cardiovascular exercise
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is a minimum of 30 minutes five days a week. If you are not up to that capacity yet don’t worry. Make it a goal to start doing 20 minutes as many days a week as you can. Work your way up to that 30 minutes and then try to exceed it. Know that the guidelines are set for healthy individuals to maintain health. For weight loss and to increase cardiovascular endurance, adults should meet and exceed the recommendations. Strength training exercises should include a least 8-10 exercises which cover the major muscle groups in the body. Exercises like squats, lunges, leg extensions and hamstring curls are examples of lower body exercises. Upper body exercises can include push-ups or a chest press machine, overhead shoulder press, or a row which works the back muscles. Core exercises are just as important. Strengthening your core helps improve posture and balance. Sit-ups, crunches, back extensions and planks are
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September 2019 | 41
GENEVIEVE LAFRANC
FIRST BLUSH
Read and Reap Women are known for their faultless intuition, and as we get older, we often feel we already know everything there is to know about looking our best. While your tried and true makeup and hair regimes have served you well for a good bit of your life, it never hurts to update your knowledge and entertain the experts of the beauty field. While magazines, romance novels, or even Harry Potter have kept you amused as summer reads, why not pick up a book that does more for you than distract you from work or life’s other responsibilities as we progress into Fall? Beauty books are some of my favorite to read: they are enjoyable and entertaining, but offer legitimate tips, techniques, advice and the latest knowledge of everything beauty, while inspiring you to set aside your favorite shade of lipstick for a fresh new look, or to conquer a technique you’ve been trying to master. Here are some of my favorites.
“Happy Hair Days” by Philip Kingsley One of the simplest ways to give your look a boost is with your hair. Whether you’re trying a new style or cut, using a new moisturizing treatment, or test driving a bold new color, our hair is the ultimate accessory for enhancing our beauty. An intricate braid or chic Haircuts $15 Shampoo, Cut & Blow Dry $18 (extra charge for long hair) Scissors Cut $17+up Color $43+up Permanent $45+up (including haircut & conditioner)
chignon can transform your look instantly. This adorable and informative little blue book offers 50 hair tips for preserving, improving and enhancing your locks from Philip Kingsley, hair guru to the celebrities with 50 years of experience in the industry. Philip Kingsley boasts a clientele of politicians, celebrities, and even royalty— both men and women. In his book, the quirky, comical cartoon illustrations accompany a lifetime of experience in his distinctive, direct and humorous style— it will have you laughing and learning from start to finish. Kingsley also provides answers to many of the hair myths we all wonder about: stress causing hair loss, heat damage, and the truth about dandruff. You will immediately find yourself putting his practical advice to use, and your hair will reap the benefits. Would you expect anything less from the
“The Green Beauty Bible” by Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley With the tagline “The Ultimate Guide to Being Naturally Gorgeous,” this book is perfect for the environmentally aware or Earth Mother types. Going green with your beauty routine isn’t always easy, but this book makes organic, natural beauty a cinch! Hundreds of real women tested products for this book to cut through the hype and find out what’s really worth your while (and money!), and the authors offer real, solid insight into the world of eco-beauty with a simple, less-is-more approach. Even those who prefer their products from a sparkling department store counter will find this guide invaluable for suggesting products that really work, are truly “green,” and budget-conscious.
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man who coined the phrase “bad hair day”?
Whether familiar with the legendary name or not, there is no doubting the late Kevyn Aucoin was one of America’s greatest make-up artists and a celebrity in his own right. World renowned as a leading and innovative mind in the beauty world and true visionary, Aucoin worked on countless celebrities and famous faces for innumerable fashion shows, ad campaigns, music videos, editorials, and covers of every major magazine in the world. Not only will this book be at home on your coffee table, you’ll find yourself spending
hours pouring over the stunning, rich photographs and transformations, turning every page to see what’s next. Aucoin believed that makeup could give anyone an endless variety of “faces,” and for every look he provides detailed, practical, step-bystep instructions so you can recreate any look on your own at home. This book is perfect for every makeup junky, demonstrating the true power of cosmetics. With clients like Cindy Crawford, Elizabeth Hurley, Whitney Houston, and Linda Evangelista , Aucoin was a thoroughly renowned and celebrated talent in the beauty industry. My favorite pages are the unique transformations of Gwyneth Paltrow into James Dean, Calista Flockhart into Audrey Hepburn, Winona Ryder into Elizabeth Taylor, Courtney Love into Jean Harlow, and even Martha Stewart into Veronica Lake— using nothing but makeup.
“Bobbi Brown Beauty” and “Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty” both by Bobbi Brown & Annemarie Iverson These books will seriously amp up your basic knowledge and understanding of makeup and how it should be used for a refined look. A firm believer in makeup enhancing natural beauty, makeup artist Bobbi Brown clearly and concisely offers useful, real advice in the realms of skincare, hair care and cosmetics. She understands real women who want to look and feel their best day and night, and offers the essential and necessary techniques to maximize your potential. Jam-packed with
question-and-answer and do’s and don’ts sections, common beauty questions are answered for the everyday woman. Both books are honest and refreshingly straightforward with Brown emphasizing her belief that there is no one perfect standard of beauty and that every woman should embrace her own look and the features that make her unique, while learning how to correctly play up her strengths. With such a positive message, every woman young and old can feel good about reading this book or giving it as a gift. I received New York Times Bestseller “Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty: Everything You Need to Look Pretty, Natural, Sexy, and Awesome” as a gift when I was still just a young teenager beginning to experiment with makeup. It helped me embrace my “flaws” and learn how to appropriately apply makeup for my age, as well as addressing issues like makeup for braces (with which I suffered for nearly three years). If you are a mother with a daughter who is beginning to experiment with cosmetics, this is the perfect book for her. It sends a healthy message to young women while still offering them the practical advice they want to know. From zits, prom, and body image to makeunders, preteen basics, and mother-daughter beauty, this book is a must-have for every budding cosmetics coveter. So go ahead, be the cool Aunt or Grandma and pick up a copy of this today for the young beauty in your life.
“Supermodels’ Beauty Secrets: Hot Tips for Style, Beauty, and Fashion from the world’s Top Models” by Victoria Nixon What woman hasn’t coveted the Heidi Klum’s luminescent skin, Adriana Lima’s perfect pout, or Gisele Bundchen’s gorgeous, beachy hair? Whether in the pages of a glossy magazine or on a FIRST BLUSH > PAGE 43
Old Town Crier
FROM THE TRAINER
RYAN UNVERZAGT
Incline Dumbell Press September’s exercise is the Incline Dumbbell Press which targets the upper pectoralis majors, anterior deltoids, and triceps. You will need to utilize an adjustable incline bench for this exercise. I prefer to set the bench at a 45 degree angle as shown in figure 1. You can start this exercise by matching the DB ends together and hold above the upper chest with your arms straight. There are a couple ways to get the DBs into that position. If the weights are lighter, you can simply curl them up to shoulder level while sitting on the bench, and then lie back to press them overhead into the start position. If the DBs are heavier (more than you can bicep curl), stand in front of the bench and put the DB ends on the top side of your knees and sit down. Next, you can lean back and use your legs to “kick” them up to
shoulder level to press them overhead or use a spotter to help you. Your feet should stay flat on the floor, the lower back and head against the back of the bench during this exercise. Slowly lower the DBs out wider than shoulder-width, keeping your wrists positioned directly above your elbows. Going wide at the bottom will activate your chest better than bringing the DBs straight down to the shoulders. Lower until your elbows bend at least 90 degrees (figure 2). Without pausing at the bottom, press the DBs toward the ceiling until they come together again at the top. Try two sets of 10-15 reps with a lighter resistance until you learn the DB pattern. The first time might feel like your hands are all over the place, which is quite normal. I recommend that a workout partner provide
FIRST BLUSH | FROM PAGE 43
TV ad campaign, many women wonder what supermodels do to look the way they do, and how they can recreate the looks themselves. In this book, former model Victoria Nixon shares the lowdown on the hottest beauty and hair tips in an easyto-read, simple format with help and advice from other top models like Elle Macpherson and Helena Christensen. This guide offers ideas for making the most of your makeup, as well as my personal favorite: a list of the classic, must-have cult products that no woman can do without. Nixon even includes useful sections promoting healthy eating habits as well as choosing the right clothes for your body type. In no time, this book will transform you from sidewalk to catwalk!
“Jemma Kidd Make-up Masterclass: Beauty Bible of Professional Techniques and Wearable Looks” by Jemma Kidd This book is really all about perfecting your skills. Former model and international makeup artist Jemma Kidd was inspired to write this book with the aim of teaching women exactly how to use the latest techniques. While most women everywhere use some kind of makeup, very few have been taught just the right way to apply it, and Kidd’s glamorous, contemporary guide eliminates the mystery that can often accompany makeup’s proper application. Expert advice is offered in an accessible, “broken-down” format with insider tips and detailed instructions. Perfect for any behind-thescenes junky, Kidd shares details about her life in the beauty industry and the preparations of fashion shows and photo shoots, while explaining how she works with the latest trends. Perfect for the daring, high fashion girl, Jemma Kidd also demonstrates how extreme runway looks can be adapted for an everyday look. Old Town Crier
a spot for you. However, a rookie spotter’s mistake is to provide assistance at the lifter’s elbows instead of grabbing the wrists. You are safer to spot at the wrists to help control both the press and pattern. Another variation to this exercise is to
alternate presses from the top position. Unverzagt holds Bachelor of Science degree in Wellness Management from Black Hills State University. He is a certified Strength &
❶
Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
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September 2019 | 43
SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE PEGGIE ARVIDSON
Life’s not fair. Love Anyway. I watched a TEDX video of Amanda Morin (you should watch it) the other day. My takeaway is “life isn’t fair, AND it’s my choice to react or respond.” When I was a kid my lament was that life wasn’t fair. Maybe because I’m an Aquarian, I truly want there to be order and alliance – fairness across the board. That simply makes logical sense to me. Dabbling in human, emotional nuance is not my natural state. Or so I thought when I was on my rally to make things fair and even. Now I know life isn’t fair. People die. Jobs disappear. The big move wasn’t worth it. Hearts get broken every day. No one deserves these things. Yet you can count on them as much as you can count on oxygen. Amanda’s point was that it’s our attitude, about big and small things – about ourselves, other people and the world that can keep us in pain. Got me thinking that I don’t often talk about my one guiding spiritual principle. Love. It sounds so simple. People think I’m talking about kum-by-ah and some weird type of bliss. Or they think it means I don’t have my head and feet on the ground and miss the point that life is full of suffering. Or maybe they don’t think anything at all. That’s the thing. My truth is my truth. Love wins. Always. It’s not a rallying cry for me, but sometimes, when I catch a “love wins” meme or sign out of the blue, tears come. When tears come I know I’ve tapped something deep. They come when I communicate with Spirit in any form, they come when I’m deep in prayer and they come when I am caught
44 | September 2019
by the prayer that is this life in all it’s mess. I wish there were a bit of a less dramatic reaction – yet maybe Spirit needs something deep and visceral to catch my logical mind and bring it present. When I say that love wins or that my religion is love that doesn’t mean I am blind to pain and suffering. That doesn’t mean that I am unaware that at this very moment children are suffering, parents are struggling and someone is taking their last breath and there are others who are grieving that missing piece in their life. Because of love those things are culpable. Believing in love as my guide, (if you are so inclined, feel free to replace the name Jesus or Mohammad or Buddha or the prophet of your choice for the word love) I recognize that it’s easy to fall on that in good times. I know that it doesn’t guard you from shitty things happening. My heart has been ripped open over and over again. Frankly it was cut in half and handed back to me, still beating less than a year ago. I get it. I’m still getting it. How I respond to the heartbreak is what determines my future. I’m told often that I’m “so lucky” and that things drop into my lap. Sure they do. I work hard. I show up and check my attitude every step
of the way. I check for love leading me at every point in my journey. When love isn’t leading I know it. I feel sick. I live with a chronic disease so feeling sick is clearly another way for my Spirit to tap into my head and get me back to present. I want that logic and fairness to guide the day - to show me how to do things and how to be in the world. I want logic to pop through and show me how and when to forgive. How to be a good daughter and spouse and
friend. How to make everyone happy. Logic, or my brain, is only a tool though. It’s not the guiding force in my life. When I think I will make all choices from a logical standpoint, things fall apart, are harder than they need to be or otherwise derail. When love guides the way, things open up. There are rocky times still, lots of habits need undoing when you start facing and living your own truth without apology. You have to stand up to people
you love and recognize that there is no such thing really as unconditional love while letting it still be the goal. The people who have loved and nourished you and supported you for your entire life are human just like you. Their answers don’t have to be your answers. Their truth is not yours and maybe they do love you despite that truth and their life would feel so much better if only you would come around to their way of thinking. Love shows that you love when you disagree. You love people who hurt you. You love the little and big moments. You love the challenges and the ease. You love without any conditions and expectations for returns. You love and forgive because that’s all you can do. Even when your heart was shredded. You don’t forget. You don’t ever get blindsided again. Life isn’t fair. And still you love.
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GO FISH
STEVE CHACONAS
Fishing Adds Up For St. Jude Children’s Hospital Sports are measured in numbers. Games are determined by inches. Clocks run out. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Americans are always keeping score. On 7-26-19, 98 anglers took to the waters of the Potomac and by the end of the fishing day; they raised $5,000 for the kids of St. Jude Children’s Hospital. This might not seem to be many, but there were a lot of participants this year in spite of the big tournament the following day. This was the 24th tournament. Going back 24 years, Viacom DC radio General Manager Charlie Ochs listened to one of his managers make a pitch for the country music radio giant WMZQ to enhance their fundraising efforts for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The program Director and Sales Manager at the time were solidly opposed to a bass fishing tournament. They didn’t like the image fishing presented, at least in their minds. They felt the bass fishing demographic didn’t suit their target audience. Charlie heard them out and then took off his glasses and
became Sargent Ochs. His eyes lit up and he asked if they knew anything about bass fishing. Charlie wasn’t a bass fisherman, but knew they bought boats, trucks, and tackle and made every Middle America purchase. He also knew they had families and made donations to worthy causes like St. Jude. Consensus was reached and here we are 24 years later. Amazingly, there are a few guys who fished the original event who continue to show up and bring others to the tournament. This event is like no other competition. Oh sure, there are a few gunslingers seeking prize money, but there are others like the Pyles brothers who in 2016 donated their winnings right back to St.
Jude. This gathering of local bass anglers includes some of the best fishermen on the river along with avid anglers who just want to take a Friday off to support the kids. And support they do by showing up and opening their hearts and their wallets. Events like this are enhanced by corporate sponsors willing to donate products to show support for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and of course the anglers. Long time sponsor Jack’s Juice Bait Spray has been there with samples, hats and shirts for the contestants, nearly the entire run. BoatUS also joined up over a decade ago, providing useful swag, like cooler bags, lanyards, and key floats. They also toss in towing packages.
Potomac River Bassing in September Water is cooling and fish are moving. Not much grass, so target hard cover like wood and docks. Pads are fine too. Mann’s Classic spinnerbaits and Mann’s Baby 1-Minus crankbaits are perfect to cover water. Use 12-pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line. To go deeper, try chatterjigs and swim jigs. Black/blue patterns are a good start. Switch to craw patterns when water is a bit clearer. For higher tides, use soft plastics like Mizmo tubes on 3/0 Mustad Mega Bite hooks. Drop shot with 1/0 Mega Bite hooks. And Shaky head will all work. Try the Neko rig too with a 1/0 Mustad Wacky hook with wire weedguard. Red hooks are a good bet too. Soak soft plastics in garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray. Topwater bite can be good too. Mann’s hollow Super Frogs on 60-pound test Gamma Torque braid, poppers and walkers on either braid or 12-pound test Gamma CoPoly line. Use when water is clear and calm. With chop, try a buzzbait.
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The support of GAMMA Fishing line is also very much appreciated, donating line for just about every angler; braid, fluorocarbon or copolymer. Water Gremlin supplies split shot weights. Newcomer 13 Fishing, rod and reel maker, jumped at the opportunity to participate. They donated rod/ reel combos for bass fishing. Others also support the event. St. Jude Children’s Hospital is a worthy cause. At a cost of $2.5 million per day to operate St. Jude, the kids rely on public contributions to provide more than 75 percent of the operating funds. Insurance only provides 14% and 9% comes from grants. Most hospitals generate more than 90% of their revenues from insurance recoveries and other sources. St. Jude, the second largest health care charity in America according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 400 list and the 11th largest charity on Forbes list of the 200 largest U.S. charities, has consistently been in compliance with the Council of Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. The American Institute of Philanthropy, as well as financial rating agency Moody’s and Fitch have also
rated St. Jude favorably. But more importantly, St. Jude changes the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Finding cures and saving children is their mission. Sharing treatments invented at St. Jude have helped to push the overall survival rate for childhood cancer from 20% when the hospital opened in 1962 to more than 80% today. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food What was behind the consistent support in this year’s tournament? Was it the decent weather? Maybe that the Potomac River is yielding plenty of quality size largemouth bass. Perhaps it was the publicity generated via social media. All valid possibilities. But, after talking to each and every participant, it turned out it was the kids, the brave kids who put up the fight of their lives, that got everyone to take a hot Friday off to participate in their battle. These anglers didn’t ask for thanks. They just wanted to know when the 25th Annual St. Jude Children’s Hospital Potomac River Open Team Tournament would be so they could show up again, in record numbers. Congratulations to the winning team Nelson/ Grike, weighing in just over 20 pounds! See you July 31, 2020. 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. September 2019 | 45
OPEN SPACE
LORI WELCH BROWN
Back-to-School Time Heading back to school this month after 35 years for my high school reunion. I missed our 30th as I was busy getting married (for the first time, might I add). Guess it’s time to let all those hot guys who have been pining away for me all these years know I am officially off the market. Gonna need a few late night study sessions, but not for an algebra exam. Praise be to God. I’ve gotta dust off my yearbooks and study up on my 1984 classmates so I’ll hopefully be able to recognize a few since I likely won’t be able to read the print on their name tags unless it’s size 54 font. Suffice to say my memory is definitely not what it used to be and neither is my vision. God forbid anyone asks me what I had for lunch yesterday let alone anything that happened 35 years ago. As a reward, I’ll do some back-to-school shopping.
Most back-to-school lists look something like this: • Back pack • Binders • College-ruled paper • #2 pencils • Ruler
Mine looks like this: • Manicure • Pedicure • Lash extensions • Highlights/roots done • Face lift Age-defying moisturizer • Spanx
Am I nervous about seeing my classmates after so many years? Not really. In my mind, I’m still that same teenage girl they all knew, and they’re all still standing at their lockers in their parachute pants humming Sister Christian. I’ve filled out in places I’m not happy about, but I’m grateful everything still works give or take a few creaks. I’m excited to hear what they have been up to since the last time I saw them. Facebook has filled in some blanks, but it will never be able to replicate the joy in someone’s face as they recant a favorite memory from the way-back files. Our senior class was not unlike the cult-classic movie The Breakfast Club. There were the jocks, freaks, brainiacs,
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preppies, and the outcasts. There were science nerds, math nerds and theater nerds. That’s a lot of nerds come to think of it, but they are all the CEOs of Fortune 100 companies now. Where did I fit into the mix? Good question. I was a mutt—part brainiac, part nerd, I guess. Like most teenagers, I teetered between trying to fit in and trying not to get noticed too much. I knew a lot of people by mere virtue of the fact that my family never moved during my entire academic life, but I wouldn’t say I was popular. I wasn’t invited to all the parties, and I wasn’t in the cool cliques. The mean girls didn’t pay me much attention, but neither did the cute guys. Even though I was pretty smart by academic standards, high school wasn’t my jam so I didn’t apply myself and/or engage like I should have. Hindsight is 20/20, right? I did a compressed schedule my senior year so I only had three classes. Against my mother’s advice, I started working the moment I could, which was middle school. First babysitting, then telephone sales. [Apologies to Olan Mills for the hours I spent engaged in rubber band fights vs. trying to sell portrait packages. The pitfalls of hiring child labor I guess]. By the time I was a sophomore, I was hostess extraordinaire at the brand-spanking new Sea Galley Seafood Restaurant. I was beyond excited to have been selected for this esteemed position. Unlike some of my classmates who thrived in high school life, I couldn’t wait to walk across that stage in my cap and gown and start my post-high school life—my real, adult life and that life needed money to finance it. I didn’t need algebraic equations or gym class—I needed independence, freedom and a new car with “faux” leather interior and a factory-installed cassette player vs. the one my brother installed that dangled precariously in the passenger floorboard of my 1976 Firebird. Regrets? I have a few. I wonder why I didn’t recognize that high school— like any experience—is what you make it, and there is no need to rush adulthood and car payments. Mom was right, but wasn’t she always?! I wish I hadn’t been so fixated on my ‘tomorrow’ vs. enjoying the
The author, circa 1994 moment that was as carefree as car washes and pep rallies. Knowing what I know now, I’d love to turn back the clock and have a high school do over. I would be a full-on spirit geek. I’d decorate floats, paint my face green & gold, wear Viking garb, and SHOW UP. I’d sit at the uncool lunch table. I’d volunteer. I would exude confidence. (Why didn’t I then? My waistline was to die for, I had gorgeous long legs, and could execute a mean cartwheel!) I’d befriend the not-so-popular kids and call out the bullies—or at least I’d make a map of the bathrooms they hung out in and hand out to the incoming freshmen. I’d thank Mrs. Raines for her sage advice and Mrs. Clark for building my confidence. I’d immerse myself in art class. I’d try out for cheerleading AND the tennis team. (God, I wish I had started playing tennis back when I had those strong legs!) I’d go to the dances I said I was going to vs. hanging out at my friend’s boyfriend’s apartment at Potomac Crest. I wouldn’t have smoked—although it was definitely more cool in 1984 than it is now— and vaping is just dumb, FYI. For the record, so are man buns. I would take
more pictures of myself in those cute OP shorts even though selfies weren’t yet a thing. I would act on my crushes vs. spending hundreds of dollars in gas in an attempt at one glorious drive-by sighting at Featherstone Park. Social media has made stalking so much easier—we had to do it real time and it was costly! In anticipation of our upcoming reunion, I was surfing around our class website, and was stopped in my tracks by the “In Memory” page which listed 11 classmates who have passed. How is that even possible as it seems like just yesterday we were all figuring out locker combinations and lunch schedules? In my list of doovers, I’d like to add “spend more time with each of those beautiful lights.” Life is short. How many times do we need that lesson handed to us before it sinks in? Enjoy the time you have as there are no ‘do overs.’ Luckily, we do get reunions, and I’ll look forward to seeing you all again. RIP: Yancy, Carla, Michael, Billy, Melissa, Kimberly, George, Tommy, Francis, Tammy and John.
Old Town Crier
NATIONAL HARBOR
LANI GERING
Photo by Waymon Meeks
The Sun Sets On Summer In the Harbor Yahoo, summer is close to being outta here! Normally I’m not this anxious for this sunny season to be over with but the heat we have had in the last couple of months has been over the top. I haven’t been at the pool in my condo complex once because every time I can go the weather has been way too hot! Our sailing trips have been few and far between as well because of the heat. Enough whining….bring on fall! When doing the research for the calendar in this section, I found out that the last Salute to Sunset concert of the season is on September 7th. This is one of my favorite summer happenings on the Plaza and I wish they extended into at least October. But….no one has asked my opinion so….I am happy that they have picked some of the best for last – The U.S. Navy Band Cruisers. These eight sailors are said to be the most dynamic performers from the Band. I have seen them on several occasions and they are FABULOUS. They perform music from all genres – rhythm and blues, jazz, classic rock, contemporary and pop. Mark your calendar for this last concert. The sun is also setting on the Urban Pirates cruises with their last cruise day being September 2nd. This is actually a fun thing for adults as well as kids. They will be back next year Old Town Crier
but if you need a pirate fix in the meantime, their Baltimore location at Fells Point will be open through October. Summer Friday’s on the waterfront will be ending this month along with the Happy Hours on American Way that have been running from 5 pm to 7 pm. Free live music and reduced beer and wine prices make this a worthwhile stop on your Friday night. While I was doing my walkabout looking for inspiration for this column I saw a very cute group of young
summer campers taking advantage of their last days of camp. They loved climbing on “The Awakening” and it looked like they were taking advantage of a small piece of shade provided by his knee in the photo. The bulk of them had already retreated up to the plaza before I took the pic. As summer ends and fall begins that means football season is upon us. I got last minute information from my new best friend Jessica (she’s with the harbor marketing entity) that the Harbor is kicking off the NFL season
with their version of a tailgate party! The party takes place on opening day on Sunday the 8th with Granite City Food & Brewery providing samples of seasonal and local favorite beers and Cadillac Ranch will be sampling tailgate favorites like wings and nachos on the Belvedere from 11 am to 1 pm. In addition to the food and beverage samplings, the Redskins Cheerleaders and some former players will be at National Harbor from 12:30 pm to about 3 pm and Maryland Parks and Rec will be out from 11 am to 1 pm with obstacle courses and football drills for children to enjoy. NFL games will be shown every Sunday on the Jumbo Screen at the “District Stadium”. FYI, this is a fancy name for the covered aluminum bench seating that is housed in a cargo car that sits on the Plaza. It is very functional and will keep the sun and rain off of your head. The best part of this all is that it is FREE! That being said, come on over, down, up or across and celebrate with fellow fans on opening day! While the sun is setting on summer it is rising on fall and that means the holidays are just around the corner! Let’s just take a deep breath and enjoy the falling leaves and the spiced cider and take it one day at a time! September 2019 | 47
National Harbor Calendar of Events - September 2019 ONGOING THROUGH SEPTEMBER Movies on the Potomac On the Big Screen At the Plaza
10 am – 5 pm Miller Farms is in National Harbor with their wide array of fresh fruits, vegetables and baked goods.
ONGOING THROUGH OCTOBER
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! Family Night Movies – 6 pm 1st – The LEGO Movie 2 8th – The Wizard of Oz 15th – The Wiz 22nd – Despicable Me 3 29th – The Lion King
Fitness on the Potomac On the Plaza
Salute the Sunset Concert Series Finale Plaza Stage 7 pm
Mondays – Cardio Hit Tuesdays – Teaser Fitness Wednesdays – Zumba Saturdays – Yoga
The final concert of the season featuring the U.S. Navy’s premier contemporary entertainment ensemble, The Cruisers. This group features eight of the Navy’s most dynamic performers. The group takes its name from the Navy’s versatile, flexible, multi-missioned ship – the Cruiser.
14TH Potomac River Cleanup at The Harbor 9 am – 11 am
LABOR DAY WEEKEND August 30th – September 2nd LEGOLAND New York “On the Road” Experience Plaza Pier Tent, 10 am – 7 pm daily
Miller Farms Farmer’s Market On the Belvedere at Waterfront and American Way
GN19ICE012[ad] ICE! Early Bird Old Town Crier Ad.ai
7TH
Participate in FREE fitness classes on the Plaza. All classes run from 7-8 pm with Saturday morning Yoga that runs from 1011 am.
Date Night Movies – 7 pm 5th – Black Panther 12th – Venom 19th – Creed II 26th – Ocean’s 8 Please note that movie times/dates may be changed or cancelled due to weather. Any updates will be announced via social media, so please make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates.
EVERY SATURDAY
This interactive event will allow families to learn from Master LEGO® Builders and see a preview of the LEGOLAND® Driving School cars. Looking for a perfect family photo-op? A large-scale LEGO® panda and zebra, as well as costumed characters, will provide the perfect backdrop for snapshots. Or, take a photo in a simulated Dragon Coaster ride vehicle.
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Join Alice Ferguson Foundation and Potomac Riverkeeper Network by participating in the 31st annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup! Wear old clothing that is weather appropriate and bring extra layers. Expect moderate work that requires bending over to pick up trash and walking. Join us the second Saturday of every month. Sign up at potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/volunteer/
10:59 AM
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November 15 – December 30, 2019
The Washington, D.C. Region’s Must-See Holiday Attraction Returns! ICE! is back with an all new theme featuring the 1957 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! scenes from this beloved Christmas classic in magnificent hand-carved sculptures made from more than two million pounds of colorful ice.
Use code EARLYBIRD19 and purchase by October 1, 2019 to save! Value Days Only!*
33 $27
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ADULT
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29 $21
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Enjoy ULIMITED PRIORITY entry to ICE! with our overnight packages, starting at $249** ChristmasOnThePotomac.com | (301) 965-4000 *Early bird pricing is available until October 1, 2019 and is valid on Value Days, except Fridays. Subject to tax and service fee per order. **Per room plus tax, resort fee, parking and service fee, based on double occupancy. Package pricing, components, show schedules and entertainment subject to change without notice. TM & © 2019 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved. PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc.
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Gaylord National Resort 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745
Old Town Crier
FINISHING TOUCHES, you’ll only find here LESS THAN 1 MILE TO YELLOW LINE METRO! FALL & END OF YEAR MOVE-INS AVAILABLE!
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Urban Rooftop Terrace 2-Car Garage Townhomes from the mid $700s | <10 Min. to Old Town | 2,896 sq. ft. | 4 BR | 3 full, 2 half BA Sales Manager | Lori Windsor (703) 507-6882 | lwindsor@craftmarkhomes.com
CraftmarkHomes.com/SouthAlex Brokers Warmly Welcomed. Must register and comply with policy terms.