Old Town Crier-October 2019 Full Issue

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Since 1988 • Priceless

October 2019

C E L E B R AT E

Virginia Wine Month oldtowncrier.com

Setting the Standard In Old Town Since 1979

october’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 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Electronic Ink 9 Royal Street, SE Leesburg, VA 20175 703. 669. 5502 Peggie Arvidson Nancy Bauer Sarah Becker F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Leigh Ann Chatagnier Doug Fabbioli Nicole Flanagan Lani Gering Miriam Kramer Genevieve LeFranc Sarah Liu Bob Matthews

CONTRIBUTORS Meg Mullery Melinda Myers Whitney Pipken Ron Powers Kim Putens Julie Reardon Ashley Schultz Jaime Stephens Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown Molly Winans

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

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

Fitness................................................................................41

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

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

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

Publisher’s Notes.............................................................. 2

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

From the Trainer............................................................43

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra '19-'20 Season......11

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

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

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

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

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

Special Feature: Columbus.......................................... 4

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

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

Spiritual Renaissance...................................................44

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

Let's Drink.........................................................................36

Stingy Jack: The Legend of the Jack O' Lantern......15

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

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

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

National Harbor Dining Guide................................48

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

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

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

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

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

First Blush.........................................................................42

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

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

Road Trip...........................................................................24 Social Media Message................................................... 2

The Last Word.................................................................... 9 The Witches Caldron....................................................28

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Since 1988 • Priceless

October 2019

C E L E B R AT E

Virginia Wine Month oldtowncrier.com

about the cover Fall seating at Wintergreen Winery in Nellysford, VA — Photo by Rick Collier

On the road with OTC Old Town Crier friends Nancy D’Agostino, Estella Laguna, and Stephanie Jones in total “margaritaville” spirit enjoying a catamaran cruise on the Eco Kat in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

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

Old Town Crier

October 2019 | 1

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

BOB TAGERT

Arghh, the Ghouls Be Aproaching....

Fall has finally arrived and Halloween is fast approaching! The temps are gradually turning cooler, especially at night. The leaves in the higher elevations are beginning to turn to reds and yellows as farmers harvest the last of their crops. This is also true for the wineries of our area. This year is shaping up to be a good harvest and by now most of it has been done. October is also Virginia Wine Month. The wineries will be holding special events and music in celebration all month long. In her Grapevine article this month Nancy Bauer provides some questions to be asked at the wineries as well as some tips on the art of “spitting”.

A preview of what’s inside - this month’s Road Trip takes us to St. George’s Island located in southern Maryland between the Potomac River and St. George’s Creek with a stop at Piney Point Lighthouse. It is slow season in the Caribbean and seat belt laws on the islands are the topic of discussion in Caribbean Connection. In Go Fish, Captain Steve Chaconas tells us about his fly fishing trip to the Maury River in southwest Virginia. In A Bit of History Sarah Becker comments on civility over the years. In Open Space Lori Welch Brown attends her high school class reunion and explains why it is good to go. Whitney Pipkin writes about oyster farming in the From the Bay section.

This month we are featuring Landini Brothers Restaurant in Dining Out and would like to wish a Happy 40th Anniversary to Franco Landini, his son Noe and all the good folks at the restaurant. They have been feeding and entertaining us for a long time and the ride has been spectacular. Here’s to another 40!

Enjoy the fall weather and have yourselves a “spooktacular” Halloween!

SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE

Celebrating Halloween Pirate Style.

ASHLEY SCHULTZ ROSSEN

Social Media Message

W

ith the emergence of the damaging photos of Justin Tredeau, one really needs to be careful on what they post on their social media pages. Let us talk about what we can do to help prevent pictures, posts, and opinions on our social media platforms, from destroying our careers and reputations.

Scroll through all your previous posts, starting from the very first one. When social media first began, people were not thinking about how damaging a post could be.

You were more likely to post something controversial when you first started posting on the social media site. Evaluate what you posted and if you think it could be damaging to your career or reputation, delete it.

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Make sure to check the privacy settings of your social media pages. Is your page public, friends only, or private? Most people use the friends only setting. This allows your posts only to be seen by people who you have allowed to see your page. You can also control if people can share the posts you posts, so they can not share information that you might not want others to see.

There are several big nono’s on what you should post on social media.

Profanity: Language you use on social media is usually the same

type of language you’ll use casually interacting with your coworkers. Keep it clean.

Abusive Content: You can share your opinions, but if your feed is full of arguments and rants, you may come

across as an overly negative person, which could be seen as “unhireable”.

Offensive Content: Racism, Sexism, and other forms of discrimination should have no place in your life. Even if you are joking, think twice before sharing something that could be seen as bigotry. And then don’t share it.

Negative opinions about your job/employers: A comment about how your job could cause future employers to wonder if you really like the work you are doing or not. A comment about your “stupid boss” could cause termination or prevent you

getting hired from another employer.

Drug related content: Some employers may require you to pass a drug test as a hiring condition. You won’t even get that far if you post drug use publicly.

Remember that social media is public, even if you restrict it to the private settings. If you are ever in doubt of this, think back to all of the private social media posts that were made public when someone commits a crime. The government (and other agencies) may have access to this in advance of employment, so keep it clean.

And, even after you start, you will likely friend your coworkers, who will have access to your past posts, including that wild party where you were tagged. Keep it social, yet keep it clean.

Old Town Crier

Alexandria

OCTOBER TOURS,EXHIBITS,EVENTS

THRU THE 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 leefendallhouse.org 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 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 or call 703-5481789.

THRU DEC 31ST

Enjoy live tunes and spectacular views of the Potomac River at George Washington’s Mount Vernon’s Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour. Taste unlimited samples from 20 Virginia wineries during Mount Vernon’s most popular event. Celebrate the history of wine in Virginia at the home of George Washington. Bring a blanket, relax on the east lawn overlooking the scenic Potomac River and enjoy live music as you sample wine from Virginia’s finest wineries. Take a photo with George and Martha Washington on the piazza, tour the Mansion and cellar and learn about the successes and failures of our Founding Father’s endeavors with wine.

OCTOBER 12TH Portside in Old Town Fall Festival 1 to 7 p.m.

Admission: Free; $ for food and drink; $ for some activities Waterfront Park portsidefestival.com Enjoy a day of live music, maritime history, nautical demonstrations and children’s activities on the Old Town Alexandria waterfront.

Savor local food, beer and wine while experiencing boat building demonstrations from Alexandria Seaport Foundation Apprentices and knot tying from tall ship Providence.

Explore Portside History from the Office of Historic Alexandria, highlighting the archaeological findings of 18th-century ships uncovered along the Old Town waterfront. Continuing Alexandria’s fall tradition of Seaport Day, select activities benefit the Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s mission to improve the lives of young people through adult mentoring, projectbased learning and the craft of wooden boat building.

OCTOBER 19TH-20TH Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Family Days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: Included in general admission George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy 703-780-2000 mountvernon.org Celebrate the autumn season with 18th-century activities for the whole family at Mount Vernon. Take a horsedrawn wagon ride and play colonial games on the bowling green before heading to the Pioneer Farm to observe 18th-century demonstrations and greet General Washington. Find your way through a straw bale maze and listen to the Itinerant Band play colonial tunes. Sightseeing cruises are offered at half the regular price (while supplies last).

OCT 12TH 1-7

OCTOBER 27TH 23rd Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade 2 p.m.

Admission: Free Begins at Mount Vernon Avenue visitdelray.com/halloween

OCTOBER 19TH

Del Ray’s annual Halloween Parade begins at Mt. Vernon Ave., south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center play fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Children, pets and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb.

Following the parade, awards are given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home and Best Decorated Stroller during a brief ceremony. There is no fee to compete for Best Pet Costume or Best Decorated contests. Judges include elected officials and city dignitaries.

24th Annual Art Safari 12 to 5 p.m.

Admission: Free Torpedo Factory Art Center

Find more fall events at visitalexandriava.com/fall.

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WATERFRONT PARK ALEXANDRIA, VA PortsideFestival.com LOGO

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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

Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour 6 to 9 p.m.

Admission: $$ George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy 703-780-2000 mountvernon.org

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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 alexandriava.gov/blackhistory

OCTOBER 11TH – 13TH

An Alexandria tradition for almost a quarter-century, Art Safari returns for a day of hands-on activities for kids and families. Dozens of artists lead budding art enthusiasts in exciting and creative projects throughout the building. Dress to get a little messy.

This event is perfect for children ages 5+. Younger children may need some extra help but will still have a lot of fun.

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Art on the Avenue is a multicultural arts festival celebrating Alexandria’s diversity held the first Saturday in October, rain or shine.

Each year, more than 50,000 visitors stroll down Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray between Bellefonte and Hume Avenues. Discover more than 300 artists, from jewelers to glass makers to painters, while enjoying a variety of musicians and food vendors. Activities for children include scarecrow-stuffing, pumpkin-painting and more.

105 N. Union Street 703-746-4570 torpedofactory.org

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24th Annual Art on the Avenue 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Free Mount Vernon Avenue artontheavenue.org

in honor of the 5th anniversary of Alexandria’s Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery Memorial dedication. The exhibition runs through the end of December 2019.

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MARITIME ACTIVITIES, LIVE MUSIC & MORE

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue in Fourteen Hundred Ninety Two!

C October 30, 1451– May 20, 1506) was an Italian explorer, colonizer, navigator and citizen of Republic of Genoa, Italy.

olumbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, and Columbus Day 2019 occurs on Monday, October 14. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have been proposed since the 1970s.

Christopher Columbus, the son of a wool merchant, is believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. When he was still a teenager, he got a job on a merchant ship.

He remained at sea until 1476, when pirates attacked his ship as it sailed north along the Portuguese coast.

The boat sank, but the young Columbus floated to shore on a scrap of wood and made his way to Lisbon, where he eventually studied mathematics, astronomy, cartography and navigation. He also began to hatch the plan that would change the world forever.

10 Things You May Not Know About Christopher Columbus

BY CHRISTOPHER KLEIN Check out 10 things you may not know about the explorer who sailed the ocean blue in 1492.

1. Columbus didn’t set out to prove the earth was round.

Forget those myths perpetuated by everyone from Washington Irving to Bugs Bunny. There was no need for Columbus to debunk the flatearthers—the ancient Greeks had already done so. As early as the sixth century B.C., the Greek mathematician Pythagoras surmised the world was round, and two centuries later Aristotle backed him up with astronomical observations.

By 1492 most educated people knew the planet was not shaped like a pancake.

2. Columbus was likely not the first European to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

That distinction is generally given to the Norse Viking Leif Eriksson, who is believed to have landed in present-day Newfoundland around 1000 A.D., almost five centuries before Columbus set sail. Some historians even claim that Ireland’s Saint Brendan or other Celtic people crossed the Atlantic before Eriksson.

While the United States commemorates SPECIAL FEATURE – COLUMBUS > PAGE 5

4 | October 2019

Old Town Crier

SPECIAL FEATURE - COLUMBIS | FROM PAGE 4

Columbus—even though he never set foot on the North American mainland—with parades and a federal holiday, Leif Eriksson Day on October 9th receives little fanfare.

3. Three countries refused to back Columbus’ voyage.

For nearly a decade, Columbus lobbied European monarchies to bankroll his quest to discover a western sea route to Asia. In Portugal, England and France, the response was the same: no.

The experts told Columbus his calculations were wrong and that the voyage would take much longer than he thought. Royal advisors in Spain raised similar concerns to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Turns out the naysayers were right. Columbus dramatically underestimated the earth’s circumference and the size of the oceans. Luckily for him, he ran into the uncharted Americas.

4. Nina and Pinta were not the actual names of two of Columbus’ three ships.

In 15th-century Spain, ships were traditionally named after saints. Salty sailors, however, bestowed less-than-sacred nicknames upon their vessels. Mariners dubbed one of the three ships on Columbus’s 1492 voyage the Pinta, Spanish for “the painted one” or “prostitute.” The Santa Clara, meanwhile, was nicknamed the Nina in honor of its owner, Juan Nino. Although the Santa Maria is called by its official name, its nickname was La Gallega, after the province of Galicia in which it was built.

5. The Santa Maria wrecked on Columbus’ historic voyage.

On Christmas Eve of 1492, a cabin boy ran Columbus’s flagship into a coral reef on the northern coast of Hispaniola, near presentday Cap Haitien, Haiti. Its crew spent a very un-merry Christmas salvaging the Santa Maria’s cargo. Columbus returned to Spain aboard the Nina, but he had to leave nearly 40 crewmembers behind to start the first European settlement in the Americas—La Navidad. When Columbus returned to the settlement in the fall of 1493, none of the crew were found alive.

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6. Columbus made four voyages to the New World.

Although best known for his historic 1492 expedition, Columbus returned to the Americas three more times in the following decade. His voyages took him to Caribbean islands, South America and Central America.

7. Columbus returned to Spain in chains in 1500.

Columbus’s governance of Hispaniola could be brutal and tyrannical. Native islanders who didn’t collect enough gold could have their hands cut off, and rebel Spanish colonists were executed at the gallows. Colonists complained to the monarchy about mismanagement, and a royal commissioner dispatched to Hispaniola arrested Columbus in August 1500 and brought him back to Spain in chains. Although Columbus was stripped of his governorship, King Ferdinand not only granted the explorer his freedom but subsidized a fourth voyage.

8. A lunar eclipse may have saved Columbus.

In February 1504, a desperate Columbus was stranded in Jamaica, abandoned by half his crew and denied food by the islanders. The heavens that he relied on for navigation, however, would guide him safely once again. Knowing from his almanac that a lunar eclipse was coming on February 29, 1504, Columbus SPECIAL FEATURE – COLUMBUS > PAGE 7

Old Town Crier

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BUSINESS PROFILE

LANI GERING

It’s Goldfinch. Period!

“A Curated Collection of Curiosities”

Did you know that “goldfinch” is not only the name of a cute North American bird but is also a paint color that happens to be a favorite of local designers Jamie Brown and Jeff Akseizer who opened a beautiful retail store in the north end of Old Town – Goldfinch.

The store opened in March of this year but they waited to have their grand opening in midSeptember and we were very happy to be on the A-list. It is a bit off the beaten path when you consider that the major portion of the retail in Old Town is located on King Street or within a block or two of it but it is well worth checking out. The inventory is beautiful and top notch.

Goldfinch is best described by the owners as “A luxury home, lifestyle and gift boutique - Goldfinch Home+Lifestyle presents a scintillating environment

6 | October 2019

of enviable gifts and curated curiosities.” The collection of “curiosities” for your home includes art and antiques, home décor and gifts, designer lighting and a fabulous collection of scents for the home as well as the likes of purses and jewelry and many other accessories for your person. The table setting that is currently on display is amazing. The photos accompanying this column tell part of the story but don’t do justice to seeing the store in person.

The inventory in the store is sourced from artisans all over the world and is handpicked by Jeff, Jamie and Store Manager Marlene Cabezas. They have several one-of-a-kind pieces and it is evident that they are extremely proud of their wares from the way they talk about them. I visited with Marlene and Jamie when doing the sourcing for this column and it was a pleasure to talk to people who are passionate

GOLDFINCH. 806 N Fairfax Street Old Town Alexandria (571) 970-3049 Open Daily except Mondays Shopgoldfinch.com about what they are doing. Many of you readers may recognize the Alseizer name since they are involved in many other architectural and design ventures in the metro area – they even have a video production business. When I asked Jamie what prompted them to open a retail outlet, he said with a grin, “We did BUSINESS PROFILE > PAGE 7

Old Town Crier

BUSINESS PROFILE - GOLDFINCH | FROM PAGE 6

it for fun. We do a lot of entertaining and we love décor and for years we wanted to open an interior shop and put our spin and our style on it. We didn’t open it to make money.”

Shopping in Goldfinch is a very pleasant experience in itself – almost like going to the spa with the music in the background and a welcoming scent that immediately puts you in a good mood. On top of the tunes and smells, if you are lucky the “real boss” of the store will be on the premises. 12 year old Lulu – who is one of the cutest little French bulldogs that I’ve ever met – will greet you at the front of the store sitting on her throne (actually it is a very comfy chair) with her felt crown adorning her sweet head. Jamie told me that she goes everywhere he goes so I guess that makes her a real “working dog”.

While the “North End” is in the beginnings of some nice transformation much like the Parker Grey District in Alexandria, having a store the caliber of Goldfinch open in the area is a fabulous start.

You may notice from one of the interior shots that there is a (.) period behind the name on the logo. When asked what the significance of it is….”Once you’ve been here, you don’t need to go anywhere else,” says Akseizer with a slight, giddy smile.

“It’s Goldfinch. Period.”

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SPECIAL FEATURE - COLUMBIS | FROM PAGE 5

warned the islanders that his god was upset with their refusal of food and that the moon would “rise inflamed with wrath” as an expression of divine displeasure. On the appointed night, the eclipse darkened the moon and turned it red, and the terrified islanders offered provisions and beseeched Columbus to ask his god for mercy.

9. Even in death, Columbus continued to cross the Atlantic.

Following his death in 1506, Columbus was buried in Valladolid, Spain, and then moved to Seville. At the request of his daughter-in-law, the bodies of Columbus and his son Diego were shipped across the Atlantic to Hispaniola and interred in a Santo Domingo cathedral. When the French captured the island in 1795, the Spanish dug up remains thought to be those of the explorer and moved them to Cuba before returning them to Seville after the Spanish-American War in 1898. However, a box with human remains and the explorer’s name was discovered inside the Santo Domingo cathedral in 1877. DNA testing in 2006 found evidence that at least some of the remains in Seville are those of Columbus.

The Dominican Republic has refused to let the other remains be tested. It could be possible that, aptly, pieces of Columbus are both in the New World and the Old World.

10. Heirs of Columbus and the Spanish monarchy were in litigation until 1790.

After the death of Columbus, his heirs waged a lengthy legal battle with the Spanish crown, claiming that the monarchy shortchanged them on money and profits due the explorer. Most of the Columbian lawsuits were settled by 1536, but the legal proceedings nearly dragged on until the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ famous voyage.

Publishers Note: This material courtesy of The History Channel. www.history.com Old Town Crier

October 2019 | 7

FINANCIAL FOCUS

CARL TREVISAN, CFP© & STEPHEN BEARCE

Help Protect Your Finances in a Natural Disaster

F

rom blazing wildfires and floods to hurricanes and tornadoes, natural disasters make frontpage news whenever and wherever they happen.

Less headline-worthy are the financial repercussions that follow, which tens of thousands of people are dealing with right now.

These types of tragedies are unavoidable — the most you can do is prepare to minimize the time it takes to put the pieces of your life back together.

Creating a plan that addresses your finances and insurance beforehand can make it easier to recover from a devastating event.

1. Stockpile savings.

Maintaining an emergency fund with three to six months’ worth of savings is a key part of any household budget. But it’s also important in an emergency: Funds that you can draw on quickly and easily can be a lifesaver in the wake of a natural disaster.

Also consider keeping a few hundred dollars in cash on hand to see you through if your area loses power or banks and ATMs are out of commission.

2. Gather key documents.

Make sure you have important legal and financial documents with you if you have to evacuate. These may include copies of insurance policies and even bank account numbers. Keep these documents easily accessible, as you would flashlights and spare batteries. That way you’re less likely to leave them 8 | October 2019

If you miss work for a week because you’ve had to evacuate, will your disability policy cover your lost income? Talk to your agent about covering any gaps in your policies, and make sure you know whom to contact and what documentation you’ll need to file a claim.

5. Use a checklist.

Include your financial preparations in your overall disaster recovery plan. Use a checklist to make sure you are giving yourself the best chance of recovering from a natural disaster.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website (https:// www.ready.gov/) is a valuable source of information and guidelines to help you plan. Just remember—the more you prepare now, the less you’ll have to do if disaster strikes.

behind — even if you have to abandon your house quickly.

3. Protect your credit.

Part of protecting your finances involves protecting your credit.

Include the contact information for your creditors — such as your mortgage lender, credit card companies and utilities — in your financial preparedness kit. If you have to evacuate, reach out to

your creditors as soon as possible to request a temporary reprieve from payments. Make sure you reach out to your employer as well, to provide as much warning as possible if you won’t be able to work in the aftermath of a disaster.

4. Review your insurance.

Your insurance policies can help you recover financially from a disaster, provided you have the right coverage.

Review your property, flood, life and disability insurance policies once a year when you receive the new documents from your insurer. And don’t focus only on your deductibles and coverage amounts – pay attention to the riders as well.

For instance, does your property insurance cover temporary food and housing costs if you’ve had to evacuate but your home is undamaged?

This article was written by/ for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing DirectorInvestments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice PresidentInvestments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2019 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

Old Town Crier

THE LAST WORD

We are reprinting my column from July 2017 in advance of my future review of Margaret Atwood’s much-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments. My prediction two years ago was correct: the Hulu TV series The Handmaid’s Tale went on to win Outstanding Drama Series and Elisabeth Moss won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. In the time it has been on the air it has received 44 Emmy nominations and 14 wins. s a teenager in 1985 I first ran across Margaret Atwood’s newly published work, The Handmaid’s Tale, at Old Town’s wonderful Olsson’s Books & Records, which formerly stood on S. Union Street in Alexandria. I was taken aback by the power and simplicity of her writing.

This classic work of radical dystopian fiction describes the fate and musings of one woman, Offred, a Handmaid in a monotheocracy called Gilead, formed after the imagined destruction of the United States of America.

Recently Atwood’s powerful book has been adapted into an equally riveting series on the streaming network Hulu.

In this patriarchal postAmerican society, martial law and a totalitarian regime controls the movement of all citizens and women in particular, all of whom must cleave to traditionally interpreted monotheistic, puritanical values, or suffer terrible punishments. Those in charge twist the Bible’s words into propaganda, dividing women into high-status Wives, nun-like propagandists and teachers known as Aunts, servant slaves such as

MIRIAM R. KRAMER

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Old Town Crier

The Handmaid’s Tale Handmaids and Marthas (housekeepers/cooks), lowstatus Econowives, and finally the Unwomen, those too unruly to do anything but shovel toxic waste in the Colonies until they die, or others who serve as speakeasy-style prostitutes.

No women work outside the home, and none, even those with higher status, are allowed to read and write.

Fertile women are particularly prized for their ability to continue the human race, since disease and chemical waste in the former United States have caused sterility among the population

at large. Therefore, those few women proven to be fertile who are not already married to high-ranking Commanders in the rigidly conservative new hierarchy are requisitioned as Handmaids. They exist as puritanically dressed sexual slaves subject to impregnation on religious monthly Ceremony Days. Handmaids bear the burden of continuing to populate the country in pleasure-free, wife-supervised rituals with these powerful men.

Having recently binged the new television series on Hulu, I was compelled to re-visit the

book. June, a woman renamed Offred in the world of Gilead, since she is now the property “of Fred,” embodies a cloudy mournfulness and the lonely ambivalence of a woman whose existence is circumscribed and unwillingly focused, a mother whose first child has been taken away by Gilead’s police state.

Her whole value now centers on her ability to bear another child, one that she might love, but one that would be taken away from her and given to her Commander and his faded wife, a cynical Tammy Faye Bakker–like former singer and televangelist.

In The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood shows her ability to write earthily and realistically in penning frank and often-brutal conversations between the Handmaids, their contemporaries, and their captors, of whom few trust one another. In capturing the complexity of Offred’s firstperson flashes back to her life as a wife, mother, and daughter, she portrays a world where the former June took freedoms easily, despite her own mother’s historic marching and struggling for women’s rights. Atwood poetically pens gorgeous images, as Offred’s daydreaming of swollen, fecund symbols of nature and appreciation of lovely flowers in her Commander’s garden reveals a desperate will to survive, one that keeps her grasping towards hope and any tiny visual or sensual gratification available.

The author has aptly imagined what it is like to be a prisoner for whom pleasure and freedom is proscribed, like a house slave on a Southern plantation, fed adequately but subject to any kind of sexual or other physical violence; or a citizen of any totalitarian regime, isolated THE LAST WORD > PAGE 11

October 2019 | 9

HIGH NOTES

RON POWERS

V

ampire Weekend’s latest album (Father of the Bride) is the band’s fourth studio album. It was released this year by Columbia Records, and is their first album with a major record label.

It’s been almost six years since we’ve heard new music from the Indie rockers.

Father of the Bride follows 2013’s Modern Vampires of the City and is the band’s first project since cofounding member Rostam Batmanglij left the band. The new album features several collaborations with outside artists and shows the band pulling from musical and lyrical depths previously unreached. It features 18 well thought out and smartly produced songs; a few of which I’d like to highlight here.

The record kicks off with the folk and countryinfluenced duet “Hold You Now”. This song features Danielle Haim who trades verses with lead singer Ezra Koenig. The song has simple lyrics sung with a wistful yet bracing melody. Its sparse musical arrangement includes acoustic guitar and a sample from a choral score by Hans Zimmer which was featured in the movie The Thin Red Line.

The jam-band-influenced “Harmony Hall” was the first single released off Father of the 10 | October 2019

Father of the Bride

BY VA M P I R E W E E K E N D Bride. This song begins with rolling fingerpicked acoustic guitars over an ambient synth texture that makes you wonder if it’s going anywhere significant. However, once the pre-chorus hits, everything starts to make sense. This song, like much of the new album, covers territory

previously unexplored by the band. It’s songs like these that make Father of the Bride the groundbreaking album that it is.

My favorite track on the record is called “Bambina”. It’s remarkable how much life and energy has been packed into this little song. Coming in at a

brief 1 minute and 42 seconds, “Bambina” leaves you feeling refreshed and happy. It’s the kind of song you can listen to three times in a row.

Vampire Weekend presents ideas through their music in subtle and tasteful ways. This is vibrantly evident on “This Life”. At first glance it’s easy to

mistake the song for an easygoing “Brown Eyed Girl” type of tune. But when you listen to the lyrics, a biting edge emerges.

This contrast between music and lyrics comes up throughout the album. The more you pay attention to it, the more it gives.

Much of what makes Vampire Weekend great, hinges on what Ezra Koenig sings about.

It’s interesting and at times illuminating to hear what’s been rattling around in his head. “Big Blue” is a particularly interesting moment on the album.

Previous Vampire Weekend releases showed the band expressing strong antireligious sentiments, but “Big Blue” reveals a different side.

One that is less certain about how things work and more honest about the ambiguity of existence.

Father of the Bride is a good album to listen to in most any situation. However, if you’re able to devote an evening to it, I recommend it. There’s a lot to soak in on this album. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Vampire Weekend is currently on tour in support of the new album. You can find tickets, as well as links to their social media and merchandise at their website, www.vampireweekend.com.

Old Town Crier

THE LAST WORD | FROM PG 9

and made paranoid by the possibility of being betrayed by a superior, colleague, neighbor, or friend. Her writing moves along rapidly, despite its symbolic depth, and The Handmaid’s Tale will thoroughly reward fans of dystopian fiction.

While not quite as actionoriented as Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, fans of that trilogy, George Orwell’s 1984, or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World may enjoy it.

I urge everyone, even non-readers, to watch the complete first season of the new streaming series on Hulu. I cannot stop thinking about it. The first episode, “Offred,” is one of the best, most riveting first episodes of any TV series I have seen. While not uplifting, it is utterly compelling and addictive, with redemptive moments and a skillful interspersing of Offred’s current life and flashbacks to her earlier life as June, mother and wife. It is less contemplative and much more action-focused than the novel. I have never seen another series like it.

Expect The Handmaid’s Tale to receive a slew of Emmy nominations

come award season.

Elisabeth Moss is brilliant as Offred.

The directing, acting, television adaptation, cinematography, and soundtrack are eerie, beautiful, and terrifying.

For once, the book is not absolutely superior to the filmed version. They are two separate entities that enhance one another.

The series has already departed somewhat from the book, and promises to continue to do so in Season Two. In America, entities like Planned Parenthood and women’s legal rights over their own bodies are either on the funding chopping block or subject to alarming erosion.

Every severe indignity and crime against women from The Handmaid’s Tale is also practiced somewhere in the world today, so this series has an even greater global resonance. Still, the reader and watcher must remember the mockLatin phrase Offred finds scratched at the bottom of her closet by an unknown former Handmaid: “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum,” or “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” Despite her circumstances, Offred never does.

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra 2019-2020 Season Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall

IMAGINARY SYMPHONY

James Ross, Music Director Rita Sloan, piano Alan Richardson, cello Nicholas Tavani, violin WAGNER: Prelude to Die Meistersinger BEETHOVEN: Triple Concerto SEMIATIN: Tidbit #1

Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

George Washington Masonic Memorial

STRING SERENADE

IMAGINARY SYMPHONY

WALTON: Symphony No. 1 (1st mvt.)

BEACH: Gaelic Symphony (2nd mvt.)

SMYTH: “On the Cliffs of Cornwall” from The Wreckers HONEGGER: Symphony No. 3 (3rd mvt.)

Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.

George Washington Masonic Memorial

UPCOMING CONCERTS: AUTUMN CELLO AND DVOŘÁK James Ross, Music Director Wolfgang Schmidt, cello BOULANGER: Old Buddhist Prayer ELGAR: Cello Concerto DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 8

Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.

George Washington Masonic Memorial

MUSICAL TALES OF BELONGING James Ross, Music Director Claudia Chudacoff, concertmaster PRECHTL: Tribute (world-premiere) FRANK: Three Latin-American Dances RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade

Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall

Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall

Sunday, May 17, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.

George Washington Masonic Memorial

Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.

George Washington Masonic Memorial

Tickets: $20-$85 for adults. Student tickets $10 (with ID). Youth tickets $5 (age 18 & under). Military, senior and group discounts available. Purchase online at www.alexsym.org or call 703-5480885.

NUTCRACKER POTPOURRI

James Ross, Music Director Morgan Short, harp HUMPERDINCK: Prelude to Hänsel and Gretel TCHAIKOVSKY: Excerpts from Nutcracker Suite 71A RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez ELLINGTON: Nutcracker Suite

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

Old Town Crier

James Ross, Music Director Berta Rojas, guitar MOZART: Serenade No. 6 “Serenata notturna” CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Guitar Concerto in D Major PRICE: Andante Moderato from String Quartet in G Major (arr. by James Ross) SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 5

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

The Fish Market 703.836.5676 105 King St. fishmarketoldtown.com La Portas 703.683.6313 1600 Duke St. The Light Horse 703.549.0533 715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com Murphys Irish Pub 703.548.1717 713 King St. murphyspub.com O’Connell’s 703.739.1124 112 King St.

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

TJ Stones 703.548.1004 608 Montgomery St. tjstones.com LaTrattoria 703-548-9338 305 S. Washington St. Two Nineteen 703.549.1141 219 King St. Village Brauhaus 710 King St. 703-888-1951 These establishments offer live entertainment.

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

June 2019 | 11

GALLERY BEAT

F. LENNOX CAMPELLO

Hawking’s Museum

Final thoughts

Photo by Pete Duvall

ZOPHIE OR THE IMPORTANCE

KING

OF A GOOD ART WORK ETHIC

E

ver wondered how to maximize the attention that your art work gets from the press, galleries, and museum curators?

Or how to present your work in a professional manner and save money in the process?

How to tap into grants, awards and residencies? How to approach a gallery? Should you have a contract? How do you establish an online

12 | October 2019

presence for your art foot print? How do you build your professional resume? How do you get your work acquired by museums, universities and other public collections?

Those are all great questions that are seldom part of any art school curriculum that I am aware of… they are sort of part of the business side of art, which most artsy folks avoid like the plague, as art

generation after art generation gets swallowed by the “victimism” approach favored by most art faculties – at least in my experience.

If you are a 2D artist, the subject of framing your artwork is enough to give most wallets a tremor of fear, as framing, unless properly planned and delivered, can be an exceedingly expensive proposition to most artists.

And there are multiple approaches to this task, I call them “guerilla tactics” which can reduce the cost of framing up to 90%, especially in the DMV, where custom framing costs are around $100 an hour for labor (plus materials).

I’m starting this month’s column by discussing these issues because for the last 20 years or so I’ve been presenting a seminar titled “Boot camp for Artists” which covers all those areas and more. The seminar is free to attendees and is usually

presented courtesy of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Division of the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission. There are several dates being offered this year – contact them at 301.446.3251 and ask for Stuart Diekmeyer.

Done with that… let’s chat about some local art shows.

Zofie King’s most recent solo exhibition “Secular Relics and Apocryphal Fossils” took place last month at International Arts & Artists at Hillyer, and which opened on my birthday and was one of the most intelligent art exhibitions which I have seen in a long time!

King notes that “when making the pieces for this show, I was reflecting on how objects connect us to history, both geological and cultural.

Fossils serve as a record of geological time, in which GALLERY BEAT > PAGE 13

Old Town Crier

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C&0 Canal, Jack Boul

Trojan Geode Obey GALLERY BEAT | FROM PG 12

humans are a mere blip, while reliquaries encapsulate myths that go back several centuries. The origin of relics is often dubious, and their provenance hard to track. In fact, a reliquary is venerated for what it is thought to contain, and its real value lies in the story that surrounds the object. Similarly, fossils hold our fascination by telling us about the history of life before humans. Studied extensively, they are put into context using the scientific method, but in holding a fossil, one is also physically connected to a prehistoric time.”

King is a great example of what happens when a talented artist (which she is) also has a good work ethic and approaches her artwork with not just artistic talent, but also with determination that the work “be seen.”

Born in Poland and raised in Germany, Zofie King immigrated to the Unites States in 1998. After graduating with a psychology Old Town Crier

degree in 2002, she studied interdisciplinary craft at Towson University. For six years she worked in interior design while taking classes at MICA and the Corcoran, and devoted herself to her studio art practice in 2012.

Currently, and as seen in this most recent solo show, King is a sculptor who works primarily with found objects, both conceptually and visually. She has had solo shows at the NVCC Margaret W. Fisher Art Gallery, DC Arts Center, Mount St. Mary’s University Gallery, and her work has been included in numerous group shows. King was part of the Sparkplug Collective from 2017-2019 and is currently a member of the Washington Sculptor’s Group. She doesn’t sit around in her studio moping around: she creates work and then takes action with it.

Over at the Arts Club of Washington, my good friend Erk Denker has curated new works by DMV area legendary artist Jack Boul.

Check us out online at

If you’ve never been to the Arts Club, this is a great opportunity not only to see some great new work by this Washington icon, but also see the gorgeous galleries of the Arts Club. There are two opening receptions: Friday, October 4 from 6:30-8:30PM and Saturday, October 5, from 10AM to noon.

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October 2019 | 13

URBAN GARDEN

BOB MATTHEWS

G

oing out to a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, is a fun filled rite of the fall season. Whether you go out to a field filled with pumpkins, or get them from a roadside stand, we want to be certain that you get the absolutely best pumpkin for carving, decorating and eating!

Pumpkins are called “Long keepers”. A healthy, uncarved pumpkin can last to Thanksgiving and beyond.

How to Select the Perfect Pumpkin:

Do not lift or carry a pumpkin by it’s stem. The pumpkin stem gives it character.

A ripe pumpkin has a hard shell that does not dent or scratch easily when pressing on it with a thumbnail. Do this on the back or bottom of the fruit....... never on the face.

Examine the entire pumpkin carefully for soft spots. If you find even one soft spot, go on to the next pumpkin.

Select a pumpkin that is completely orange. A partially green pumpkin might not ripen any further.

Check the pumpkin for cracks and splits.

If you find one, examine it to be sure it is not turning into a soft spot or has mold inside of the crack.

Size is an important factor. Medium pumpkins are best for pumpkin carving.

Small pumpkins are better for cooking.

Look for bugs and insects. Specifically, look for holes in the pumpkin, which are indicative of insect problems.

Do not pick a pumpkin that is too big for you to carry, especially if you have back problems.

Does the shade of orange matter? If so, there are hundreds of varieties, some with different shades of orange.

Selecting the shape is a matter of personal preference. Some like ‘em tall.

Others, like ‘em round.

Often, people select shapes to fit the carving patterns they will use. Pick your pattern before you go.

If you are out in the pumpkin patch picking a pumpkin: Bring a small wagon with you. It’s easier to haul tired kids and pumpkins.

Wear boots or old sneakers. It could be wet and muddy in the pumpkin patch.

Pick a pumpkin that you can carry back with you.

If smaller children are carrying pumpkin, pick smaller pumpkins. Remember those little arms will probably get tired before reaching your car.

Bring a sharp knife or pruner.

Cut the vine on either side of the stem.

After you get it home, you can trim off the remaining pieces of vine, and cut the stem at the perfect spot.

From the Author: We intend to bring you both the serious and the humorous side of pumpkins. Our website, pumpkinnook.com, has been developed to be informative, but in a light hearted way. As a shrine and library to pumpkins, we seek to be both comprehensive and unique. To borrow a phrase, our Motto is: “We will leave no pumpkin unturned in our research efforts.”

About the Author: I have been growing pumpkins since I was a wee little lad. Which, by the way, was a long, long time ago. Friends and family members will attest that Halloween is my favorite holiday. Our website is the direct result of two hobbies running amuck, as I am both an avid gardener and a fanatic on the internet.

I do not profess to know everything there is to know about gardening, but I continue to read, experiment, listen and learn as much as I can about gardening and especially pumpkins. It is with this knowledge and a whole lot of fanatical intensity that I created this site and share with visitors a little of what I know.

For every thing you ever wanted to know about pumpkins and more, log on to pumpkinnook.com.

Marshall also maintains a website about gardening in general – gardenersnet.com. Look for more excerpts from Bob in upcoming Urban Garden columns.

Courtesy of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

14 | October 2019

Old Town Crier

Stingy Jack

The Legend of the Jack O’Lantern

H

alloween, celebrated each year on October 31, is a mix of ancient Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals and European folk traditions that blended together over time to create the holiday we know today. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity and life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition.

Halloween has long been thought of as a day when the dead can return to the earth, and ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these roaming ghosts. The Celtic holiday of Samhain, the Catholic Hallowmas period of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and the Roman festival of Feralia all influenced the modern holiday of Halloween. In the 19th century, Halloween began to lose its religious connotation, becoming a more secular community-based children’s holiday. Although the superstitions and beliefs

surrounding Halloween may have evolved over the years, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people can still look forward to parades, costumes and sweet treats to usher in the winter season.

One of the most popular activities surrounding the celebration is carving jack o’lanterns.

People have been making jack o’lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him.

True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for

one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into

turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used.

Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o’lanterns.

Traditional Irish jack-o’-lantern.

Photo courtesy Ripley's Believe It or Not!

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Adopt-A-Manatee® For The Holidays

savethemanatee.org Photo © Gregory Sweeney

Old Town Crier

October 2019 | 15

A BIT OF HISTORY

GHW Bush Bipartisan Friendship

“S

o let us begin anew— remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof,” President John F. Kennedy (D-MA) said on January 20, 1961. The Oxford American Dictionary defines civility as politeness; courtesy, respect and amiability.

George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Rule 1: “Every action done in Company ought to be with Some Sign of Respect to those that are Present.” Incivility, according to The American Heritage Dictionary, is described as rudeness. “I cannot charge myself with incivility, or, what in my opinion is tantamount, ceremonious Civility,” George Washington wrote in 1775.

“I have just repeated word for word the oath taken by George Washington 200 years ago,” President George H.W. Bush (R-TX) said on January 20, 1989. “It is right that the 16 | October 2019

©2019 SARAH BECKER

Civility ci·vil·i·ty noun: formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.

memory of Washington be with us today…he remains the Father of our Country.”

“America is a proud, free nation, decent and civil, a place we cannot help but love,” Bush explained. “[But] we need compromise...We have seen the hard looks and heard the statements in which not each other’s ideas are challenged, but each other’s motives. And our great parties have too often been far apart and untrusting of each other. It has been this way since Vietnam. That war cleaves us still…no great nation can long afford to be sundered [separated] by a memory.”

“[T]he old bipartisanship must be made new again,” Bush continued. “The American people await action.

They did not send us here to bicker. They ask us to rise above the merely partisan.”

“No President, no government, can teach us to remember what is best in what we are,” Bush concluded. “But if the man you have chosen to lead this government can help make a difference; if he can celebrate the quieter, deeper successes that are not made of gold and silk, but of better hearts and finer souls; if he can do these things, then he must.”

Civilly speaking— obliging,

not rude—America is on a downward spiral. Perhaps we are “sundered by” a more recent memory; the memory of 9/11, ISIS, and the vagaries of limited war. The public is divided. The electorate is tired. A Republican tax cut is now in effect. Still America’s debt continues to rise.

“Remember, any jackass can kick over the barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one,” Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Sam Rayburn said in 1953. Donald Trump (R-NY), the country’s 45th President defines civility how?

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill’s Political Checklist,

Rule 12: “Tell the truth the first time and you don’t have to remember what you said.”

O’Neill was first elected Speaker in 1977.

“Honesty in its widest sense is always admirable,” Robert E. Lee noted. “The trite saying that ‘Honesty is the best policy’ has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. This seems to be true. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy.”

George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Rule 110: “Labor to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience.”

Conscience is a moral sense of right and wrong. So The Oxford American Dictionary says.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill’s Political Checklist, Rule 1: “Vote your conscience, your country, your district, your leadership, in that order.”

A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 17

Old Town Crier

A BIT OF HISTORY | FROM PAGE 16

U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) authored The Conscience of a Conservative in 1960.

“Jack Kennedy considered Goldwater a friend and admired him for his many virtues,” Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., wrote as part of the 2007 edition. “These included…his sense of duty and ferocious loyalty to principle, his civility, his decency and his integrity…Martin Luther King knew Goldwater’s conservatism was…motivated not by greed or racial animosity, but by his peculiar vision of America…It is a different world from the one where President Kennedy could imagine debating Barry Goldwater, head-tohead, around the country, on matters of general principle— as rivals but also as friends.”

George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Rule 50: “Be not hasty to believe flying Reports to the Disparagement of any.”

George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Rule 58: “Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for ‘tis a Sign of a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion admit Reason to Govern.”

George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Rule 79: “Be not apt to relate News if you know not the truth thereof.”

Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation are of 16th century origin.

They originated in France; were compiled by Jesuits in 1595 and translated into English in 1640. Washington “wrote out a copy” of the 110 Rules in his school book when was 14-15 years old.

The original manuscript remains among The Library of Congress’ Papers of George Washington.

George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Rule 49: “Use no Reproachful Language against any one; neither Curse nor Revile.”

“The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is

growing into fashion,” Washington warned in 1776. “He hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly…every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it.”

To revile is to criticize abusively.

Sadly, President Donald Trump’s Twitter tweets violate most every Rule. George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Rule 65: “Speak not injurious Words neither in Jest nor Earnest Scoff at none, although they give the Occasion.”

“Our country needs a setting for political debate that is both frank and civil,” former President George H.W. Bush said in 2011.

Together he and former President Bill Clinton (D-AR) served as honorary chairmen of the University of Arizona’s National Institute for Civil Discourse, a nonpartisan center for advocacy, research and policy regarding the civility of public discourse.

The University opened the institute in response to the January 8, 2011 shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabbie Giffords and 18 others. “Although the Tucson shootings were not linked to public discourse,” University of Arizona provost Meredith Hay then said, “they ‘created a space for us to think about civil discourse.’”

“The growing problem of the culture of violence…is the changing atmosphere in the country—the growing rudeness, the pushing and shoving, the threats and name-calling,” Stan & Jan

Berenstain wrote in No Guns Allowed. “It’s contagious, like measles.”

Actor and Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss began his civics Initiative in 2011 also.

“American civilization is in a precarious state, the political environment has never been more toxic, and there is a dire need for more civility in our public life,” Dreyfuss told a National Press Club audience.

“Technology is one of the major causes of our national unease.”

“Twitter was ‘an aberration,’” Dreyfuss continued. Aberration is defined as a deviation from the normal, proper or expected course; a defect of focus. “Civility is not the absence of critical analysis.

It’s friendly discourse. It’s tolerance and it would cost us nothing to bring it back.”

“America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral purpose,” President George H.W. Bush professed in 1989. “We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the Nation and gentler the face of the world…

To my friends—and yes, I do mean friends—in the loyal opposition—and yes, I mean loyal: I put out my hand.”

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill’s Political Checklist, Rule 3: “It’s a round world— what goes around, comes around.”

“It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation,” Rev. Martin

Luther King said on March 31, 1968. “Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people.” Dr. King was assassinated four days later, on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee.

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. Email abitohistory53@gmail.com Old Town Crier

October 2019 | 17

POINTS ON PETS

JAIME STEPHENS

MYTHS AND MAGIC Gin and Tonic, the author's neice’s beloved black cats.

B

lack cats have been the stories of myth and folklore for hundreds of years. Many of the current superstitions surrounding black cats began in the Middle Ages, where Europeans considered them associated with the plague. At that time they were mostly nocturnal (now only crepuscular, or most active at dawn and dusk, when the light is more favorable for hunting) and also believed to be witches in disguise. Part of the reason for this is that it was often unmarried women who paid attention to the stray cats in the streets, and they were most often accused of being witches. Other myths date back to Ancient Greece. According to Greek mythology, Zeus’s wife Hera once turned her servant, Galinthias, into a black cat as punishment for impeding the birth of Hercules.

The most common myth about black cats is that they cause bad luck, and often the

story is that this happens when the cat crosses your path. If you see a black cat outdoors, you are headed for misfortune if the cat walks horizontally in front of you. The precise Germans believe that a black cat must cross your path from right to left to cause bad luck, but the same cat crossing from left to right will bring you good luck. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, however, black cats are only considered lucky if they cross your path in a certain direction and are not necessarily considered bad luck if they cross the other way. According to Groucho Marx, though, “A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.”

While black cat superstitions are plentiful, many countries, and people, do see the black cat as a harbinger of good luck.

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18 | October 2019

Russia, Japan, and Great Britain all prize the black cat. Vintage postcards from the early 1900’s make it clear that black cats were well-loved and considered good luck in America. In Scottish lore, if a black cat appears on your front porch, it will bring you prosperity. Sailors throughout history have believed having a black cat on board their ship would bring good luck, and some fisherman’s wives would keep black cats at home to ensure their husband’s safe return.

In the English Midlands, a black cat is actually considered a good-luck wedding present and said to guarantee many years of wedded bliss. Author’s note: We do not recommend giving any live animals for gifts unless specifically requested by the recipient!

Many people in Italy believe that if a black cat crosses their path it indicates the devil is present. Some Italians believe that if a black cat jumps on the bed next to a sick person, the person will soon die.

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Ancient Egyptians kept black cats in their homes and as pets, as they believed that the goddess Bastet, also known as Bast, had a deep connection to black cats and that the cats would bring good fortune from the goddess. All cats were worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, who gave funeral rites to cats and buried them as they would humans.

Bastet is also commonly represented in illustrations as a woman with the head of a black cat and is the goddess of many things, including love, the home, pleasure, sex, and

family.

While these myths are just that, they can have real life consequences for black cats. Superstitions persist, no matter how untrue they are. Despite being part of the sweet and affectionate tabby family, black cats spend more time waiting for a forever home, and are at higher risk of euthanasia in kill shelters. Black cats have lower rates of adoption than other breeds, and often POINTS ON PETS > PAGE 19

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Old Town Crier

POINTS ON PETS | FROM PAGE 18

remain in shelters longer.

This phenomenon is known as Black Cat Syndrome and applies to black dogs as well. Some reasons for Black Cat Syndrome include the fact that black cats can be difficult to photograph and that some people don’t think they are as cute as cats with more distinct markings.

Dispelling these untrue myths is important to improving and saving the lives of black cats everywhere.

Cremation of Horses & Companion Animals

I urge you to consider adopting a little panther, or two, when considering adding a new cat to your home. Speaking from personal experience, you cannot go wrong!

(571) 835-0540 Chantilly, VA IMPetServices.com

Jaime Stephens lives in Alexandria with her husband, John, and their two cats, Pookie and OJ. She is proud to be the great aunt of Gin and Tonic, pictured here.

Sources: EDITH HAMILTON’S MYTHOLOGY THE TELEGRAPH, 9/26/2007, BAD LUCK FOR BLACK CATS IN ITALY WWW.EGYPTIAN-GODS.ORG WWW.THESPRUCEPETS.COM

PETS

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

PHOEBE

MAGANDA

RUSTY

Young, Spayed Female, White and Black Hotot Rabbit

Senior, Spayed Female, Brown Tabby Domestic Shorthair

Senior, Neutered Male, Tricolor Belgian Sheepdog

Phoebe is more than just her stunning looks.

Behind her vogue facade is one sharp wit, and she loves to use it. Give her interactive toys, treat puzzles, clicker training tricks and more and she’ll wow you with her super sharp smarts. She’s looking for a best friend who can keep up with her learned lifestyle and keep her on her little bunny toes. Is Phoebe the one for you?

This older girl loves to be near you and nap in your lap or in the sunshine beaming on her special place. Maganda gets along with dogs but would prefer to be the only cat in her home. She enjoys drinking water from a faucet. She’s actually very good at it and fun to watch. Maganda will get along well with adults and older children who respect her and her need for some space. She is anything but a grumpy old lady but she does like a quiet home. Noisy children can be quite stressful for her. She will thrive with calm attention from the people in her life. She’ll tell you when it’s play time and when she needs a bit of privacy. She’s such a beautiful cat and beautiful soul. Come see her and fall under her spell.

Looks, fluff, charm: Rusty is the complete package and looking for his new best friend. Could it be you? He loves slow strolls, especially if they end with time on the couch, and just enjoying time with his friends.

While Rusty takes an easy going approach to life, he also appreciates his routine. He likes to walk the same, eat the same and live the same as he has in his 11 years, and he can’t wait to find someone who feels the same too.

alexandriaanimals.org/animal-profile/?id=36114 alexandriaanimals.org/adoption-information/ Phoebe photo courtesy of Alison Lane Photography

https://alexandriaanimals.org/animalprofile/?id=38217 https://alexandriaanimals.org/adoptioninformation/ Rusty photo courtesy of Alison Lane Photography

alexandriaanimals.org/animal-profile/?id=31867 alexandriaanimals.org/adoption-information/ Magenda photo courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography

October 2019 | 19

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION BY JENN MANES

Blog Entry 9-17-2019: You know it’s slow season when… When you write about seatbelt laws.

I know that many of you enjoy vacationing here, and some enjoy some of our lax laws. Passengers in the backseat are currently not required to wear a seatbelt.

Well that may soon change.

A Bill calling for all passengers to wear seatbelts passed through the Senate last night and now heads to the Governor’s desk for signing. This Bill does not address seatbelts in Safari taxis, which will continue to be seatbelt free. The Bill also doesn’t address people riding in the back of trucks apparently.

You can still, however, have an open container in your vehicle. So feel free to pop open that beer in the backseat… just make sure you have your seatbelt on!

Blog Entry 9-18-2019:

Well, I’ll Be Darned!

For those of you traveling to the island this month, the following information will be of major interest. Below is the 2019 Seasonal Closings list.

All dates listed were provided by the individual businesses and can change at any time. Please check with each business for the most up-to-date information.

•• 18°64: Closing for the month of September •• 420 to Center: Staying open •• Aqua Bistro: Staying open •• Art Bar at Bajo el Sol Gallery: No information •• Banana Deck: Closed; Reopening November 1 •• Beach Bar: Closed due to storms; Working to reopen.

•• Bikinis on the Beach: Staying open •• Cafe Roma: Staying open •• Cinnamon Bay Campground: Closed due to storms; Working to reopen •• Columbo’s Smoothie Stand: Reopening end of October •• Coral Bay Caribbean Oasis: Staying open •• Cruz Bay Landing: Closing September 30 through October 13 •• De’ Coal Pot: Undecided •• Dog House Pub: Closing for one week; Dates TBD •• DR!NK: Closing for the month of September •• Extra Virgin Bistro: Tentative reopening date is October 8 •• Greengo’s: Staying open

20 | October 2019

•• Gwen’s: Staying open •• High Tide: Staying open •• Hillside Terrace: Staying open •• Indigo Grill/Rhumb Lines: Staying open •• Irie Pops: Staying open •• Island Cork: Closed; Reopening date TBD •• Joe’s Rum Hut: Closed due to storms; Working to reopen.

•• La Tapa: Reopening mid-October •• Lime Inn: Reopening September 30 •• Lime Out: Reopening October 1 •• Little Olive: Reopening October 1 •• Lucky Chops: Open for Private Functions & Special Events •• Maho Crossroads: Undecided •• Margarita Phil’s: Closed through October 25 •• Miss Lucy’s: Reopening mid-November •• Morgan’s Mango: Staying open •• Nella’s Lounge: Staying open •• North Shore Deli: Undecided •• Ocean 362: Reopening October 9 •• Our Market Smoothies: Undecided •• P & P’s: No information yet •• Pizzabar: Reopening late October •• Pizza Pi (Located in Christmas Cove): Reopening in early November •• Quiet Mon: Staying open •• Rhumb Lines/Indigo Grill: Staying open •• Ronnie’s Pizza: Open Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

So yesterday, we told you all how the Virgin Islands government may soon require backseat seatbelts. We also joked about the irony of being able to have a beer in the backseat, but only if you had your seatbelt on. I know that got a chuckle out of many of you. Well we received an email from the Chief Ranger of the Virgin Islands National Park yesterday, and he provided us with some information that we never knew.

“As always, I appreciate your posts and your regular contributions to raising awareness of issues here on St John,” Chief Ranger Rick Gupman wrote. “I wanted to write today because I saw your article as an opportunity to start a conversation about some common misunderstandings, and issues that we regularly encounter in the park.”

According to Ranger Rick, you actually are already required to wear your seatbelt CARIBBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 21

•• Sam and Jack’s Deli: Staying open •• Shaibu’s Grab & Go: Closed through October 15 •• Shambles: Staying open •• Skinny Legs: Reopening on Halloween •• Sosa: No information yet •• St. John Provisions: Staying open •• St. John Scoops: Staying open •• Sun Dog Cafe: Closed through October 7 •• Tamarind Inn: Closed due to storms; Working to reopen.

•• The Tap & Still: Staying open •• The Tap Room: Staying open •• The Longboard: Staying open •• The Terrace: Closed; Reopening Late September •• Trunk Bay (concessions): Staying Open •• Uncle Joe’s: Staying open •• Westin: Staying open •• West Indies Delight: Staying open •• Woody’s: Staying open CARIBBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 20

Old Town Crier

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION FROM PAGE 20

in the National Park, which as you know is two-thirds of the island. It is also against the law to have an open container in any vehicle while driving through the Park. Who knew!

Ranger Rick pointed out that existing federal laws supersede territorial laws. And existing federal laws specifically state that we need to wear seatbelts, and we cannot have open containers when we are in the Virgin Islands National Park.

He continued, “I realize that these references may come as a surprise, as I literally can not count the number of park users that I have contacted with open containers of alcoholic beverages in their vehicles – and the response is pretty universally, ‘I have been doing this for my entire life and I have never heard of this before.’”

In the meantime, have a great day everyone! And buckle up!

Publishers Note: All content in this section provided courtesy of one of our favorite St. John Blogs hosted by Jenn Manes

– News of St. John. “Frank Barnako launched News of St. John back in 2004 as a way to increase exposure to his thenisland rental. It started as a text email and soon morphed into an online website filled with news and information pertaining to the island of St. John.

After running the site for 9 years, Frank decided to focus on his photography and listed the site for sale. That’s where I came in. I had been an avid follower of NewsofStJohn.com for quite some time when I read that Frank’s website was for sale. I quickly jumped at the opportunity and officially took

the reins in May 2013.

Since then, I’ve revamped the site to include more newsworthy items, as well as fun little island tidbits. But make no mistake, News of St. John is a blog, not a newspaper.

Therefore you’ll see a little commentary by me here and there, and also some of my opinions thrown in from time to time. If I like something or someone, I will write about it. If I don’t, I won’t. It’s as simple as that. I welcome any and all feedback, so please feel free to contact me at any time at jenn@newsofstjohn.com.”

Escape to paradise Hillcrest Guest House is located within a residential area, rising two stories above Cruz Bay, on the crest of a hill and minutes from the beach and the US National Park, Virgin Islands.

Six suites available, $185-$235/day Call 340-776-6774 or 340-998-8388 hillcreststjohn.com

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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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October 2019 | 21

FROM THE BAY …

WHITNEY PIPKIN

Bivalve Farmers Weather the Storms of Wind and Waves Instead of Those From Landowner Opposition

W

hen Tom Perry set out to start an oyster farm at the age of 26, he wasn’t interested in doing it the easy

way.

He might have opted to raise oysters in a cage on a patch of leased bottom near the shore of Virginia’s Northern Neck. Instead, the crew from his White Stone Oyster Co. pilots a workboat each morning out of the safety of Antipoison Creek and into the wide, sometimes blustery waters of the Chesapeake Bay. There, the Crassostrea virginica oysters grow in mesh bags inside cages hovering just below the surface of the water. The plastic floaties that support them bob like decoys in the distance. If that sounds peaceful, wait until the wind kicks up and the boat starts rocking too, making it that much more challenging for the captain tries to guide it between the unruly rows of cages and lines.

“You can see some of the headaches you have to deal with out here,” Perry said, after the boat’s propeller got caught in an underwater line he was just saying needs to be removed. It’s not the first time it’s gotten in the way, but “it just never makes a lot of sense to do the things that don’t directly 22 | October 2019

give you more oysters.”

But when Perry, now 31, decided to grow oysters in this open-water location, he wasn’t focused making the job easier.

Instead, he said, “I spent a lot of time trying to understand what an oyster really wants and then worked back from there.”

Oyster aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay has ballooned over the last decade.

With the surge in production, more growers are looking to differentiate their products and test the potential of new growing spaces. Commercial oyster production can take many forms, depending on the type of lease a grower pursues, and oysters can be ready for harvest year-round. They can be grown to market size in bags or cages, sunk to the river bottom or floating near the top of the water column. Raising oysters in floats on the surface — where food is plentiful enough to bring bivalves to market-size faster — is a small but growing practice. But it’s not without challenges. Leaving cages floating at the surface, particularly near the shore, can make them a lightning rod for opposition from landowners who’d rather see their waters left open for the view or for recreation. Strong storms could also rip cages left at the surface from their

moorings and leave behind debris.

But today, advancements in the gear that supports floating cages makes them able to withstand increasingly severe weather in waters farther from the shore. Better systems also are addressing some of the other factors that make this brand of oyster farming so inherently difficult.

But what the openwater location lacks in ease, Perry said, it makes up for by producing a superi or oyster: Faster-flowing waters carry more nutrients to the budding bivalves, their cages moored in place by a system of underwater lines. Constant friction from waves create a smoother, deeper-cupped shell. And, far from the rivers’ sometimes mucky waters, increased salinity affords the oyster meat a pleasant, brinysweet flavor not unlike that of West Coast oysters.

Harvesting from neat rows of oyster cages under a rising sun in the open waters of Fleets Bay, Perry admitted, the view isn’t so bad either.

But, on a windy day, or in the thick of winter, the job can be downright harrowing.

“That’s where having a Tangier waterman on that boat comes in handy,” said Tim Hickey, cofounder of

the Tangier Island Oyster Co., which also farms the open waters in the center of the Chesapeake Bay. “Those guys are thinking about time, wind direction, approach. If I were behind the wheel, I’d be a mess.”

Hickey and his partners founded the company in 2014 in part to bring the economic benefits of oyster farming to erosion-prone Tangier Island. Now, the crew harvests about 1 million oysters a year, some of which sell for $3 apiece on the half-shell at restaurants such as Fiola Mare in the District of Columbia, where Hickey lives.

If the way chefs rave over these open-water oysters is any indication, they could be a wave of the future.

Jeremiah Langhorne, executive chef of the Dabney, another DC restaurant, told Bon Appétit that White Stone oysters taste as if “a very talented chef opened the top, seasoned the oyster perfectly and put the lid back down.” Martha Stewart Living said oysters from the Tangier Island company taste “like that first whiff of sea on a spring morning,” describing a balance of salty and sweet, earthy and mineral flavors.

In the case of both farms, the oysters’ clean flavor comes

from their locale, which is far from the sediment of river bottoms where most Bay oysters are grown.

Higher salinity in Bay waters also lends a brinier flavor to the bivalves, something that appeals to Americans who are more likely weaned on West Coast varieties.

“The techniques that Tom and [others] are using are really setting the standard now for aquaculture,” said Devin Rose, chef and proprietor of Adrift, a restaurant in White Stone, VA. “In a sense, it’s a totally different product.”

Rose, who grew up on the Northern Neck before working at Michelin-starred restaurants in Virginia and California, said having access to seafood products like White Stone’s is part of what brought him back. He remembers eating wild Chesapeake oysters while growing up, before Virginia aquaculture took off, and didn’t realize how far the industry had come until he returned.

White Stone’s oysters were featured in a New York Times Magazine article that questioned whether farmed oysters are becoming so uniform and balanced that they are more like “a designed object” than wild oysters. But FROM THE BAY > PAGE 28

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August 2019 | 23

ROAD TRIP

BOB TAGERT

St. Georges Island

F

or this month’s Road Trip we thought we would return to St. Georges Island in the southern part of St. Mary’s County. This is a great drive through one of the more picturesque counties in Maryland and only about an hour and a half from Alexandria.

The most direct route is the beltway to Route 5 South toward Leonardtown.

A few miles past Leonardtown you make a right on Route 249 and that will lead you to St. Georges Island.

There is much to see and do between Leonardtown to St. Georges.

The town of Leonardtown is a terrific place to shop and dine. About four years ago the main street was beautified and the town wharf along Breton Bay was developed. The pace of Leonardtown has picked up as there are always activities going on in the town square.

We came to visit St. Georges Island so we head back to Route 5 and

24 | October 2019

continue south to Route 249 or Piney Point Road. I first discovered this area when I bought my first sailboat and moved it to Cedar Cove Marina on Herring Creek - which is about four miles from St. George’s Island.

When Hurricane Isabel hit the lower Potomac River in 2003, the low-lying peninsula of St. George’s took a direct hit. The hurricane had wiped out three restaurants...Oakwood Lodge, Evan’s Seafood and Swann’s restaurant. These were throwback restaurants and bars dating back to the 50’s.

But just like in nature, out of ruin there springs new life. Where Evan’s used to be there now stands the Island Inn & Suites and the Ruddy Duck Seafood and Ale House. Out on the point where the Oakwood Lodge stood, the Piney Point Lighthouse and Museum has breathed new life.

Before venturing on to St. George’s Island, lets’ take a visit to Piney Point Lighthouse and Museum.

When I first discovered Piney Point

Lighthouse the property had only been deeded to St. Mary’s County by the Federal Government in 1980 and the first preservation work began in 1990. Back then there was just the lighthouse, a keeper’s quarters, and a small building which, in the day, was a petty officers quarters. When I first located my boat in the area I became friends with a couple who lived in the petty officer quarters. Butch and Joanne hung out at the marina where I kept my boat as did a whole cast of characters who became good friends over the years.

Since that time the small house has been torn down and an extensive renovation project has been ongoing.

The lighthouse was built in 1836 along the Potomac River about 14 miles from where the Potomac River enters the Chesapeake Bay and the light had a range of 10 nautical miles, or about 11 and one half miles. The lamp was replaced in 1855 with a Fresnel lens upgrading the range to 11 nautical

miles or a little over 12 and one half miles.

The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum houses exhibits and the Lighthouse Lens Museum Store.

The museum exhibits focus on the construction and operation of the lighthouse, the lighthouse keepers, the role of the United States Coast Guard, and the story of the German submarine that sunk in the Potomac River and now serves as Maryland’s first historic shipwreck dive preserve.

The U-1105, a modified Type VII-C German submarine, was launched on April 20, 1944. U-1105 was one of fewer than ten submarines produced during the war outfitted with an experimental synthetic rubber skin designed to counter allied sonar ROAD TRIP > PAGE 25

Old Town Crier

ROAD TRIP | FROM PAGE 24

devices, the forerunner of stealth. The black rubber coating had earned it the nickname “Black Panther.”

After the war the sub was obtained by the U.S. Navy for study and ultimately ended up being sunk in 95 feet of water in the Potomac River off Piney Point in 1949. A team of sport divers from Virginia rediscovered the wreck on June 29, 1985.

Also housed on the property is the Potomac River Maritime Exhibit with its collection of four historic wooden vessels on loan from the Paul Hall School of Maritime Training and Education. The collection is comprised of a 67-foot skipjack Joy Parks, and 84-foot bugeye Dorothy A. Parsons, a log canoe and a Potomac River Dory Boat. The exhibit focuses on the life of the watermen who sustain a livelihood working the waters of the Potomac for crabs, fish and oysters.

To get to St. George’s Island,

Old Town Crier

continue south on Route 249. As soon as you cross the bridge at Straits Point you are on the island. The Potomac River is on your right and St. George’s Creek is on your left.

With the prevailing winds coming out of the northeast, there is usually good wave action on the river. With the island breaking up the fetch (distance wind travels across water), the waters of the creek are usually calm.

As you drive down island the scenery is breathtaking.

You will pass by both new and vintage homes that are either built on the creek or riverside guaranteeing a beautiful sunrise or sunset every day and I will tell you, southern Maryland along the water has some of the most beautiful sunsets anywhere.

If you travel to the end of the island and take Thomas Road to the right, you will come to Camp Merryelande, a family oriented campground with beach cottages, beach activities, picnic tables, and beautiful views of both the Potomac and St. Mary’s Rivers. This is a great place

to bring the family for an overnighter or a month.

But...if you want to avoid the crowds and kids, head back up the island to the Ruddy Duck Seafood and Ale House. This restaurant is the St. Mary’s cousin to the popular Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill in Solomons. The tap room serves the award winning beers that are brewed in the Solomons location.

The restaurant is relatively new and well appointed. Not too fancy and not too rustic.

Maybe in 20 or 30 years it may obtain that classic watering hole and weathered restaurant look, but now the place is just too new. The restaurant side has large window views of St. Georges Creek. There is also a deck for your dining pleasure that touches the water’s edge.

The bar and casual dining area has views of both the Potomac as well as St. Georges Creek. This time of year is a good time to visit. The air is becoming crisp which makes for blue skies and incredible sunsets. The tap room also boasts a large gas fireplace for those cool nights.

They have a nice menu with something for everyone. I had to have their award-winning crab cake sandwich. If you are in southern Maryland you have to get a crab cake. True to the hype, this southern Maryland specialty is all lump crabmeat and plenty of it!

When I go back I will order the platter...the bun just gets in the way of this delicious meal. The pineapple slaw and French fries were great but proved too much for me to eat. This serving is a lot of food. The secret of the restaurant is that everything they serve is made from scratch. I was lucky because the seafood delivery truck arrived at the same time I did and the crabmeat I ate was, in all likelihood, swimming the rivers the day before or that very morning.

If you are too tired to drive home, right next door is the Island Inn & Suites. Like the Duck, this boutique hotel is relatively new and has all of the comforts you desire... not to mention a balcony that provides for a sunset or sunrise over water...your

choice. Check out the hotel online for rates and see what kind of deals they have going on. The rates are reasonable and worth every cent.

One other stop worth making is W.J. Dent & Sons and Chiefs-Your Neighborhood Bar in Tall Timbers. The bar is located in the back of the store. This was our favorite hangout twenty five years ago when I first sailed into Herring Creek.

The place has been up ticked and enlarged from those days but it is still a throw back in time. The restaurant and market is renowned for its famous Maryland Stuffed Ham and the prices at the bar are great. This is true southern Maryland charm and the real deal.

With water all around you, it feels like you are driving to the end of the earth. The serene beauty will nourish your soul and your whole world will slow down. Fall is a great time for a road trip and a visit to southern St. Mary’s County is always a pleasure.

October 2019 | 25

TO THE BLUE RIDGE

JULIE REARDON

Foxhounds by John Emms,1896

Virginia ’s THE HOUNDS OF

HUNT COUNTRY

I

t’s hunting season— whether your choice of quarry is fox, coyote, rabbit, squirrel, quail, duck, geese, coon or bear, turkey or deer. Mounted foxhunting, where riders follow a pack of hounds on horseback, is probably the sport most people think of since you can hardly go through a subdivision out here without a road named Fox Chase Lane, Tally Ho Court or Steeplechase Way. But hunting with dogs has been a Virginia tradition since before George Washington brought a pack of hounds over from England in the 1700s— they were a necessity for early settlers looking for a meal.

And for the many and varied types of sport hunting in Virginia, someone, somewhere, has a dog to help him get the job done. Our state’s hunting dogs can be purebreds or mutts—from deer hounds to foxhounds, coon hounds to bear dogs, beagles and bassets for rabbits, 26 | October 2019

pointers and setters for upland birds, and retrievers for ducks and waterfowl. Just remember in the hunt country, you can insult a man’s wife and kids before you dare say anything derogatory about his huntin’ dawg.

Mounted foxhunts are governed by the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, the organization that promotes the sport, keeps the stud book for hound registrations and establishes territory and settles intra hunt disputes.

With nearly 30 registered or recognized hunts, Virginia is the undisputed capitol of organized foxhunting in the nation. In addition to the recognized hunts, there are farmers’ packs and private hunts. Most of the organized hunts and farmers’ packs operate as subscription packs, where members pay dues to offset the cost of keeping a pack of hounds, paying staff and maintaining landowner relations and hunting

territory. Most clubs also have a social membership category for non-riders, who can follow in cars and attend hunt breakfasts, hunt balls, and other social events.

Mounted foxhunts that are subscription packs typically have a board of directors and officials elected by the dues-paying members. The Master of Foxhounds is the person responsible for kennel operations, hound breeding, staff and landowner relations.

The Master, or Joint Master, in the case of more than one, usually leads the “field,” or he may have a field master, an individual who leads the membership on the hunt, making sure to stay behind and not to interfere with the huntsman and staff.

The huntsman is the person responsible for hunting the hounds, assisted by the whippers-in, also known as whips. Whips may be paid staff at the larger clubs, or they may be “honorary,” field members who know

the hounds and the country and help the huntsman. The huntsman can be a paid position, but in some hunts the master of foxhounds hunts the hounds. Hounds are counted in couples (pairs), and most mounted hunts keep anywhere from 20 to 60 couples of hounds in their kennels, hunting 15 to 20 couples at a time usually three days a week during the season, which runs from September through March.

Beagling and bassetting is a sport that operates in much the same way as the mounted packs, except the followers are on foot, not horseback.

Many people find enjoyment following beagles or bassets in search of the cottontail.

These packs of hounds are also guided by the huntsman and his whips, with the “field” consisting of the followers, usually on foot under the direction of the Master of Beagles or Bassets. A day in the county listening to hound music doesn’t necessarily require a horse—listening to a pack of 13” beagles on a rabbit, or the deep music of the bassets can be just as enjoyable while running after them on foot. Virginia has 10 beagle and basset packs—also more than any other state.

Many packs of hounds are kept by night hunters, also known as walking or

Jack Russell Terrier jug hunters, and this type of hunting is a longtime tradition in the Commonwealth. Night hunters follow their hounds in trucks, and can recognize them by their cry. Foxhounds used by mounted packs tend to be of four major types— English, American, PennMarydel, or crossbred, while night hunters use these breeds with a liberal sprinkling of Walker and July hounds.

While the organized hunts have their hound shows in the spring, fall is field trial and bench show season for night hunters of all types.

Walking foxhound trials are frequently 3- or 4-day events, with 500 or more hounds competing. There are more beagles and beagle trials across the country and especially here in Virginia for the county’s most popular breed of hounds. Beagles run in multiple hunting formats as packs and individually under three different sponsoring organizations—the American Kennel Club (AKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), and the American Rabbit Hound Association (AHRA).

Whatever the format, these are hunting sportsmen and women that thrill to hear the sound of a hound on its quarry.

BLUE RIDGE > PAGE 27

Old Town Crier

BLUE RIDGE FROM PAGE 26

Coon hunting hounds are rarely hunted in packs, as a dedicated coon hunter may pay upwards of $5,000 for a good hunting hound. Their trials are largely the domain of the UKC, and are smaller affairs run at night after a bench show.

Pointing and flushing dogs have their trials mainly on state game land, requiring 400 or more acres. Judges and handlers typically follow their dogs on horseback. Retriever trials are one of the fastestgrowing sports in the country and in Virginia. These events are dominated by Labrador Retrievers, the most popular breed of dog in the country, but you may also see Goldens, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, as well as less common breeds such as Flat Coat and Curly Coated Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, and more. It takes dedicated training to compete pointers, setters or retrievers in their trials, but it’s a sport growing in popularity, especially the retriever field trials and hunt tests. Field trials, the most competitive retriever sport, are sanctioned by the AKC and award champion points toward the titles of Field and Amateur Field Champion. AKC also sanctions non-competitive retriever hunting tests where dogs are judged against a standard, not each other.

Many other dog sports have their roots in skills needed for hunting as well. Terriers compete in Earth dog races and barn hunt competitions; while sight hounds (and other breeds) chase a mechanical rabbit in lure coursing events.

The author’s Chesapeake Puffin during Field Day.

Photos by Julie Reardon

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October 2019 | 27

The Witches Caldron “Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog” “Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing” “For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and babble” “Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn, and caldron bubble” —William Shakespeare

W

itches have had a long history with Halloween.

Legends tell of witches gathering twice a year when the seasons changed, on April 30 - the eve of May Day and the other was on the eve of October 31 - All Hallow’s Eve. The witches would gather on these nights, arriving on broomsticks, to celebrate a party hosted by the devil. Superstitions told of witches casting spells on unsuspecting people, transforming themselves into different forms and causing other magical mischief.

It was said that to meet a witch you had to put your clothes on wrong side out and you had to walk backwards on Halloween night. Then at midnight you would see a witch.

When the early settlers came to America, they brought along their belief in witches. In America, the legends of witches spread and mixed with the beliefs of others, the Native Americans - who also believed in witches, and then later with the black magic beliefs of the African slaves.

The black cat has long been associated with witches. Many superstitions have evolved about cats.

It was believed that witches could change into cats. Some people also believed that cats were the spirits of the dead.

One of the best known superstitions is that of the black cat. If a black cat was to cross your path you would have to turn around and go back because many people believe if you continued bad luck would strike you.

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Perry — who lives in Richmond with his wife and two young children — said all he did was pick a spot that does the work for him.

While many near-shore aquaculture operations run their oysters through a tumbling machine to help buffet them into tidier shapes, daily beatings from waves perform this task on open-water oysters. The steady pressure forces the shells to clamp down, developing deeper cups ideal for holding thick, juicy meat and smoothing the shell’s pearlescent exterior.

“By using a heavy-duty cage and being in the open water, these oysters are tumbling themselves, and they tend to grow at the same [rate],” said Myron Horzesky, chief operations officer of Massachusetts-based Ketcham Supply Co., which sells Flow N Grow floats and cages used by open-water farmers. “When you see these oysters, it looks like a cookie cutter has been stamping them out.”

Suspended in bags spaced across the cage’s compartments, which allows room for them to grow uniformly, the oysters receive a steady flow of plankton at the top of the water

column. An added advantage, Horzesky said, is that growers can periodically flip the cages over — so the pontoons are on the bottom and the cage is exposed to the open air — allowing their shells to dry for several hours and kill off microorganisms that compete with oysters for food.

Both Perry and Hickey said they were breaking new ground with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, which manages oyster growing leases, when they asked about growing oysters in the Bay’s open water.

Perry found his ideal spot by referring to the VMRC’s online map of available oyster leasing sites while paddling his kayak around the Northern Neck, depth finder and salinity meter in hand.

Taking aquaculture into “uncharted” waters has allowed him to avoid conflicts with shoreline homeowners and spread the water filtration benefits of oysters to new portions of the Bay. White Stone was one of four oyster farms that The Nature Conservancy recently studied to better understand FROM THE BAY > PAGE 29

Old Town Crier

FROM THE BAY FROM PAGE 28

the potential water quality and ecosystem benefits of aquaculture. The report, conducted with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, confirmed that oyster farming — in contrast with other forms of animal production that can generate water pollution — removes from the water up to 370 pounds of nitrogen and nearly 50 pounds of phosphorous from each midsize farm per year.

Perry said the farm’s unique location resonates with customers, but its success still comes down to whether the oysters taste good.

“We’ve gone up to countless chefs’ back doors, just following the grease marks and knocking on the door,” Perry said. “Most chefs are crazy busy, but they’re open to trying an oyster any day.”

Whitney Pipkin writes about food, agriculture and the environment from her home base in Northern Virginia.

Her work for the Bay Journal often focuses on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, and she is a fellow of the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources.

This column provided by the Bay Journal News Service

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October 2019 | 29

THE GASTRONOMES

DINING OUT

Franco and Noe Landini circa 2014

Landini Brothers Restaurant

A LITTLE BIT OF TUSCANY IN OLD TOWN FOR 40 YEARS

T

LANDINI BROTHERS RESTAURANT 115 King Street Old Town Alexandria 703-836-8404 LandiniBrothers.com 30 | October 2019

his month Franco Landini, son Noe and staff celebrate 40 years of serving the folks of Northern Virginia as well as from around the world at their popular restaurant in Old Town Alexandria. The restaurant is, and has always been, a gathering place for dignitaries, politicians, movie stars and other perceived movers and shakers as well as regular folks like us. I know as I have been a regular for well over 35 years. Over the years some things have changed, we have grown older, some employees have gone and new ones have come on board, but the quality of food served and the service has been consistently great.

Ever since I began going to Landini’s (as the locals call it), I was impressed with the volume of business they did, and not just on weekends, but during the week as well. The entire staff is very professional and friendly and the service is

Tami, Mitch and Susan excellent. It is a place that you can make your own.

The bar is usually filled with regular customers on any given day of the week and

especially during the after work hours. Although there are no “Happy Hour” prices, the seats are always filled with interesting people. During

the day the bar becomes a place for many locals and visitors to grab lunch. There is an extensive lunch menu with 6 to 8 specials added each day. The prices are reasonable with pastas going from $12.95 to $14.95 and with the option to place a half order. The other entrees, including their popular veal, come in at $14.95. They also offer an assortment of Panini sandwiches with either their French fries or delicious potato salad (it has bacon in it). My favorites for lunch are half orders of either Penne alla Romana with sweet Italian sausage or Linguine alla Vongole Rosse...baby clams in a white sauce. These pasta dishes also come with a house salad.

The veal dishes at Landini’s are renowned for their flavor and texture. If you happen by the restaurant around 3 in the afternoon, you can hear DINING OUT > PAGE 31

Old Town Crier

Veal Landini DINING OUT | FROM PAGE 30

the kitchen staff pounding the veal for that evening’s dinner. My all time favorite for dinner is Scaloppine di Vitello Landini, or simply put...Veal Landini for $28.95.

The dish consists milk fed veal sauteed in butter, white wine, homemade brown sauce, mushrooms, melted Mozzarella cheese and asparagus. Top this off with one of their spectacular wines and you are set for a fantastic evening. The dinner pastas range from Agnolotti alla Fiorentina, fresh homemade pasta filled with spinach, Ricotta cheese sauteed in butter, cream and Parmesan cheese for $17.95 to Linguine alle Pescatora, sea scallops, shrimp, baby clams , mussels and squid sauteed in garlic, red pepper and white wine for $22.95.

Even though this is an Italian restaurant, Landini’s also offers a selection of 5 different steak dinners from a 14 ounce Prime Sirloin to an 8 ounce Sirloin Kebab.

The steaks are thick and juicy and prepared just right. The restaurant has consistently offered the highest in USDA grade beef. Only about 2.9 percent of beef in the United States meets this level of quality.

Our favorite soup is their onion soup, which is only served on Wednesday. It is a beef broth packed with fresh onion with a piece of house made bread with aged mozzarella cheese on top.

The soup is hearty and very tasty and you don’t have to fight the usual half pound of melted provolone found on most versions. The salads range from the finely sliced avocado, tomato, and steamed Old Town Crier

Insalata di Fagioli asparagus dressed with a silky vinaigrette to the popular Insalata di Fagioli, white beans tossed with fresh leeks, avocado, shrimp and jumbo lump crab meat – this is one of our favorites as well.

Walking into Landini’s you will step back into the time that these old warehouses were built. Centuries old stone walls and slate floors are set off by white linen and works of art. Old wooden beams and support posts still show where they were hand cut. When the restaurant was enlarged some years ago, you can see where the cut was made through the foot and half stonewall that now joins the two dining rooms. On the second floor is the wine room, which is used for special gatherings.

The glass enclosed wine cellar holds over 7,000 bottles of some of the best wine in the world.

Although the food is very good here, I think it is the people that make this a special place and that starts at the top. Franco and Noe Landini have spared no expense in bringing world class dining to Old Town Alexandria.

There are several servers and managers that deserve a big congratulations on being a part of this restaurants continuing success. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the three people who have been manning and “womanning” the popular bar for a good portion of these 40 years. Susan Hergenrather, Mitchell Hughes and Tami Hatridge are a fabulous team as they continue to serve the well-known Landini pour.

We at the Old Town Crier are happy to have been a part of these last 40 years and look forward to celebrating with them on this anniversary.

606 N. Fayette St., Alexandria, VA (703) 519-3776 October 2019 | 31

BEHIND THE BAR

BOND 45 149 WATERFRONT STREET NATIONAL HARBOR, MD 301-839-1445 BOND45.COM

Carlos serves up Bond 45’s version of the Old Fashioned-there is a secret ingredient!

CARLOS ZELAYA JR. How did you get started in the bartending business?

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

I learned to bartend at a restaurant called Stellas, which was located at the north end of old town in front of the King Street metro station in Old Town Alexandria. I love making drinks for people to enjoy.

It came very easy to me and is so much fun. I loved it so much I later began to bartend at Secret’s in DC and learned to love it even more. Most especially because I got to work with my very good friend Christa Strong. We used to throw beer bottles across the bar for the other to catch, she’s an amazing bartender and we had so much fun together. I did that for about 12 years before settling in at Bond 45.

With me flattery gets you everywhere. I remember a pretty young woman once said to me that if my drink were as tasty as I am handsome then she wanted a tall one. To which I replied, “I’m only 5’8”, but she made me smile so big I bought her a mojito. I think the lines stopped being clever some time ago but “It’s my birthday” seems to be at the top of the list for free drinks. Even if their birthday was two weeks ago.

What is your biggest bartender pet peeve?

Bev naps! I’m crazy about bev naps - every drink must have one under it. I believe it goes hand in hand with my bigger pet peeve. It drives me crazy when bartenders fill up a glass or a martini so much that it cannot be carried anywhere without spilling. Just like food, drinks must be presented beautifully. Your lips should touch the drink first not your hands.

32 | October 2019

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

I heard a guy once say, “What’s a beautiful place like you doing in a girl like this,” and no that is not a typo.

I believe it’s a movie line, just can’t remember which.

To my surprise the line worked, it made a girl smile and they had many drinks together.

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

I had great conversation with a chef once - we got BEHIND THE BAR > PAGE 33

Old Town Crier

BEHIND THE BAR FROM PAGE 32

along great. Talked about food and drinks in the DC area, southern food and restaurants in LA, which is like a second home to me. After some time I introduced myself and he said his name was Art. I then realized I was speaking with Art Smith, former chef to Oprah Winfrey and Jeb Bush.

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

Being the huge movie buff that I am I would love to sit down and have a drink with Hugh Jackman or Ryan Reynolds. I am such a big fan of the X-men, Wolverine and Deadpool movies. They would be so much fun to hang out with. They are both funny actors, I picture a night of great laughs.

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

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AMERICAN

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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 | October 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

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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

October 2019 | 35

LET’S DRINK

LEIGH ANN CHATAGNIER

You will love the warmth from the cinnamon and star anise as well as the hint of sweetness from the apple cider and caramels! The drink is rounded off with a kick of bourbon to keep all the flavors in check and makes this hot toddy one that you are going to love mixing up way past Halloween!

Ingredients:

• 3 Oz. Bulleit Bourbon • 1 Cup Apple Cider • 1/8 Cup Fresh Orange Juice + 1 whole Orange Slice • 8 Caramel Candies • 1 Splash of Water • 1 Cinnamon Stick • 2 Star Anise • 8 Whole Cloves

Directions: • In a small saucepan combine apple cider, orange juice, 4 caramel candies, cinnamon stick, start anise, orange slice, and whole cloves, and simmer for 15 minutes until fragrant and caramels have melted stirring occasionally.

• In two heat safe glasses, add 1 1/2 oz. of bourbon each • Take the remaining caramels and add a splash of water to a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds to 1 minutes until caramels are melted and smooth. (Alternatively you can melt on the stove.)

• Strain the warmed spiced caramel apple cider into each glass equally, stir with the bourbon, and garnish with an apple slice and drizzle the melted caramels over the rim of each glass.

Serve immediately. Serves 2.

Leigh Ann Chatagnier loves to share favorite recipes with her social media followers. As the founder of My Diary of Us, Leigh Ann invites visitors to come into her kitchen and cook with her and her family. She is a frequent guest on Houston Life, and cooks up family-friendly meals on Home & Family on The Hallmark Channel and NBC Syndicated Daytime. She has been featured in Louisiana Cookin’ magazine, Red Trycycle and inRegister. Leigh Ann is the author of two cookbooks, The Unexpected Cajun Kitchen: Classic Cuisine with a Twist of Farm-to-Table Freshness (Skyhorse/2016), and Natural Baby & Toddler Treats: Homemade, Nourishing Recipes for Baby and Beyond (Skyhorse/2019). Leigh Ann lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and young son. Recipe and photo printed with permission by Leigh Ann Chatagnier. Visit her at www.MyDiaryofUs.com

36 | October 2019

Old Town Crier

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WE ARE AN OFFICIAL GREEN BAY PACKERS BAR! October 2019 | 37

NANCY BAUER

GRAPEVINE

Clockwise, from top left: Barboursville Vineyards Delaplane Cellars The Author At Glass House Winery Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery

“We love it when people ask about our story. Why we decided to do this. How we came up with the winery’s name. The story behind the “fanciful” names of our blends. How we still work other jobs to help support this passion.

Sharing the history, why we grow what we grow, how we decide on the blends etc. is more fun than the technical details, but of course we answer those types of questions too. Really, we welcome engaging in any conversation about wine!

That’s why we do what we do.”

Tina Marchione, Co-owner, Magnolia Vineyards

38 | October 2019

Questions

to Spice Up Your Winery Visits

T

he only thing better than fall is fall in wine country. Whether Virginia’s or Maryland’s wine country, it’s all good, with acres of grapevines turning to gold, pickers working double time, and bees buzzing the crush pad while the juice just keeps flowing. Winery staff throw extra logs on the firepits and roll out new vintages to taste.

And customers? Well, they pack the tasting bars, but more often than not they’re just asking the same old questions. Maybe this Virginia Wine Month, it’s time to jazz up the customer side of the tasting bar?

Visit a few dozen wineries and you’ll quickly recognize

the patter of a bored (or maybe just busy) Tasting Room Associate--the folks who pour the wine.

This is our [fill in the blank]. It’s 75% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon, and 5% pencil shavings. You’re going to taste berries, tobacco, quinoa and horned melon. Or whatever. It doesn’t matter; you’re not listening. They’re bored and you are, too.

Winery tasting rooms should be some of the most vibrant, interactive places on the planet—what’s more fun than wine?--but instead you see uptight customers afraid to ask the dumb question, and Associates who have clicked over to autopilot.

So I asked some expert wine

pourers to weigh in. What are some of their favorite questions from guests? What really perks them up and turns a run-of-the-mill tasting into a real opportunity to bond with customers? What questions do they want you to ask?

Try a few of these out on your next winery visit and watch what happens:

^^ What does it mean for a wine to be ‘estate bottled’? ^^ How is the terroir here unique/different than other parts of Virginia? ^^ How do you know when the grapes are ready for harvest?

Photos: (c)RickCollierImagery

^^ What makes the grapes different from year to year? ^^ How is this grape different when it’s grown in Virginia vs. where it’s originally from? ^^ What is residual sugar? ^^ What makes a wine sweet vs dry? ^^ What is malolactic fermentation? ^^ Why use newer barrels vs older barrels or French vs American? ^^ Why is this fermented in oak rather than steel? ^^ Where did your winemaker learn to make wine? ^^ What foods does this wine pair well with? ^^ What grape varieties do you grow here? ^^ I’ve never heard of GRAPEVINE > PAGE 40

Old Town Crier

EXPLORING VA WINES

DOUG FABBIOLI

Graham Bell and Alan Kinne who worked for others but had really learned their craft and made their living through hard work, sharing their challenges and encouraging each other.

They laid the ground work for myself, Matthew Finot, Stephen Barnard and others in this wave to fine tune the quality of the wines and grow the businesses to a point where the industry gained in reputation beyond “cottage.”

The next wave was one of new investment. Folks were buying Virginia land specific

other key piece to our success is the customers that were hungry to connect to this pioneering spirit. These folks loved being a part of our industry. I have always tried to recognize that our success is connected to our customer base. We have to keep selling wine to pay our bills and do what we do. That level of commitment, whether a club member, wedding wine purchases, a wine shop buyer or Total Wine expanding their Virginia wine section, all these steps keep us feeling confident enough to plant that next field

Virginia Wine

I

didn’t know much about Virginia wine before 1997. I knew there were young vineyards and wineries, and many of us in California knew of the history of Thomas Jefferson and his challenges to establish his vineyards at Monticello.

I know I was warmed inside hearing that those modern day agricultural pioneers had struck some success in the ground and climate where so many could not succeed before. Little did I know at the

time that I would join these “Mavericks” to plant my own vines in this well respected land of agriculture and leadership.

My arrival to Virginia in July of 1997 was around the time I describe as the “second wave” of winemakers in the Commonwealth. Many of the wineries were smaller and their owners were often wearing the hats of winemaker and vineyard manager and they were learning along the way.

There were some like Brad McCarthy, Michael Schaps,

Months for Me

for planting grapes and hiring consultants like myself to help them start their businesses.

Some were looking for a “retirement” project including a home and lifestyle, others had built a business plan including investors, sales estimates and grand visions. Nothing was easy, or happened exactly like it was planned, but most of the challenges were known and with diligence and harder work, were surmountable.

As the quality of the wine grew, the experiences in the tasting rooms grew as well. The

real people. earth friendly. fabulous wines.

HOLD YOUR ‘FABB’ EVENT AT FABBIOLI CELLARS! WEDDINGS • CORPORATE OUTINGS • GRADUATIONS • CELEBRATIONS

email us at info@fabbioliwines.com 15669 Limestone School Rd • Leesburg, VA 20176 703.771.1197 • fabbioliwines.com Old Town Crier

or buy that new press because customers will keep buying our products.

We have had another growth as well, the suppliers to the industry. Virginia is the leader in the East Coast wine industry. Barrel purchases, new equipment, consultants, tractors, trellising supplies and packaging materials are all places where our money goes to make our wines. These businesses have grown their presence and attention to Virginia because our growing reputation, and the monies we spend. They have been learning quality and effectiveness as well, supplying us the latest technology or proven supply that makes our operations succeed.

We wineries have worked together to build this

industry for you, and you have continued to help that process with your dollars and visitation. I am honored to be a part of building a piece of culture in such a historic and vibrant part of our nation.

Enjoy and celebrate this American success story as we celebrate Virginia Wine Month 2019. Cheers to all of us!

Where friends, family and the joy of wine come together!

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Open 7 days a Week - 12 pm to 6 pm Located in Huntly,VA 14437 Hume Rd.

540-635-9398 | rcellars.com

October 2019 | 39

GRAPEVINE | FROM PAGE 38

this grape; can you tell me more about it? ^^ Why are the vines planted like that?

^^ Why do you decant or aerate the wine? ^^ How does bottling work?

^^ What’s harvest like? ^^ What is the history of this place?

^^ What’s your favorite wine? ^^ What other wineries do you like to go to? ^^ Why do you like the wine industry?

OPEN YEAR ROUND THURSDAY-SATURDAY & MONDAY from 11-5

^^ How does Virginia’s

^^ Of all the medals here, which were the most exciting to win? ^^ Where should I go next?

Spitting: Just Do It

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40 | October 2019

wine industry compare to other states?

Planning a really big day in wine country? One or two wineries a day is one thing, but if you’re looking to really dive in—after all, October is Virginia Wine Month—may I make a suggestion?

If you hit, say, five wineries in a day, at six to eight wines per winery, figuring even a scant one ounce per pour, you’re looking at 35 ounces – or about 7 glasses of wine - over the course of your day. So yeah, no. It’s time to learn to spit, if you haven’t already.

I am chagrined to say that I never once spit in the five months my husband, Rick, and I spent touring 150 wineries to research our Virginia Wine in My Pocket travel app and website. I paid the price in dehydration, embarrassed slurring, honking headaches, and a big weight gain. Now I make it a point to grab a big plastic cup on my way out (a red Solo is fine). You get almost all the flavor with way fewer side effects.

Practice at home if it makes you feel more confident, but once you have glass in hand, the routine is simple: swirl, sip, swish, spit. Because you aren’t swallowing, you want to pay particular attention to the swish; make sure the wine makes it around the sides and the back of your mouth, touching all the taste buds.

Take your time; let it sit there awhile as you notice how the flavors evolve, the acid makes you pucker and the tannins creep in.

Then when you’re ready, bring the cup to your mouth and let ‘er rip. If your cup gets too full for a splash-free spit, it’s perfectly acceptable to dump it into the bucket on the bar. (Make sure it’s the dump bucket and not the water pitcher.)

Still feeling self-conscious? Here’s an incentive: Since almost no-one spits, one of the unanticipated benefits is that the staff will assume you’re a wine aficionado.

That may pay off in more attention and, ironically, even more wine.

Old Town Crier

FITNESS

NICOLE FLANAGAN

THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A PERSONAL TRAINER

M

any people today are making the decision to include exercise as part of their healthy lifestyle. After all, it has been recognized that a balanced exercise program of cardio, strength and flexibility can help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, manage weight, strengthen bones, improve sleep and make you look and feel great. Beginning an exercise program should be fun and motivating. In order to keep up the good work a person should be seeing results and feeling great, right? For those who are new to exercise, starting a program can be a bit overwhelming.

If the last time you stepped foot in a gym was is PE class in high school it may be a good idea to hire a trainer just to get you started.

Personal Training today is much more available and much more affordable than it’s ever been. Many sports clubs even offer a free introductory lesson as part of a membership.

Know that this is not always an actual personal training session, but more of an introduction to the facility and the equipment. For some, this may be all you want or need. At Old Town Sport and Health Club each new member receives a complimentary Smart Start with a certified Personal Trainer. During this onehour session a personal trainer will conduct a full baseline assessment that includes a health questionnaire, body composition, movement analysis, health and lifestyle analysis, and a discussion of long and short range fitness goals. The trainer will also talk a little bit about the importance of nutrition and show the new member how to use the equipment.

This is a great way to get back to the gym and learn about new equipment and how to use it safely. One of the great benefits of having a certified Personal Trainer is that he or she will set up a personalized program that is designed to fit your lifestyle and goals. Some people do not have all day to spend in a gym, others have nothing but time. A personal trainer will be able to make a program that works no matter what your busy schedule Old Town Crier

holds. Most importantly your personal trainer will show you how to work out safely. The goal of beginning a workout program is to feel great and keep up the motivation. Your personal trainer will use your initial base line assessment of weight, blood pressure, and body fat measurements as the starting point for the exercise program, from which they will modify and record your progress.

Working with a trainer will make you accountable and keep you motivated. Results are generally just on the other side of your comfort zone and that extra push is what you need to get the results you want. Mixing up your program will help to speed up results and keep you from getting bored. The human body was meant to adapt to new things, therefore to keep your body from hitting that “plateau” you need to try new challenges.

To get exactly what you want, it is important that you choose the right fitness trainer. If you have a clear goal such as weight loss it would be advised to meet with your potential fitness trainer first to make sure he or she has the expertise in the area of diet and weight loss. Read testimonials and ask for a client case study. Experience and skills vary in the personal training and fitness industry, so by asking questions you should be made to feel more comfortable about using a particular fitness trainer. Not only does your fitness trainer need to be results orientated, it is important that you get along, especially if you are going to be spending some considerable time with them.

Depending on an individuals’ goals and budget, personal training works differently for everyone. You may be interested in using a personal trainer several times a week, or it might be more economical for to see your personal trainer once every other week. Either way, using a personal trainer with some form of regularity will give you clarity, support, motivation, consistency, information, structure and accountability.

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October 2019 | 41

KIM PUTENS

FIRST BLUSH

A

re you lip locked with your lipstick…. or wish you were?

Are you convinced there is a conspiracy to make your lipstick fade quickly? Well, you’re not alone. The most frequently asked questions are: HOW do I make my lipstick stay on longer…WHAT is the longest wearing lipstick? In reality we are all simply in the dark about the different types of lipsticks and their “wearability”. Let me shed some light.

So, what is the longest wearing lipstick? Well, I wish I could say it is Brand X in so and so color. It’s just not that easy, but it is simple to understand how to find the longest wearing lipstick. Lip color is generally broken down into three categories – lip gloss, sheer lipsticks and matte lipsticks. Lip gloss does not wear long. It isn’t meant to and it usually doesn’t have enough color to stain the lips. They only offer a hint 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)

of color balanced with a lot of shine. They are perfect for the woman that doesn’t like the look of lipstick or the

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Long Lasting Color!

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Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm • Saturday 9 am-6 pm We care and will give you only the best!

Biolage • Vital Nutrient • Socolor • Matrix Perm • Paul Mitchell • Nexxus 42 | October 2019

trouble of putting it on, but wants a little color to brighten her lips. Lip gloss is also perfect for drier, chapped lips because all that ‘glossy shine’ instantly makes the lips look moist.

Sheer lipsticks are the next category of lipsticks.

These have really accelerated in popularity in recent years. Almost every major brand of cosmetics has a collection of sheer lipsticks.

Sheer lipsticks come in a traditional lipstick tube, but they don’t pack as much color punch as a traditional matte lipstick. These sheer alternatives are usually lighter weight, moisturizing, and a lighter pigment than a matte counterpart. Sheer lipsticks wear a little longer than lip gloss, but not much. If you

do have a favorite lipstick color but don’t always want the look of a severe lip, there is probably a sheer alternative.

These sheer lipsticks also make it easier to switch from the office to the soccer field without having to completely change your look.

The last category of lipstick is the matte lipstick. Think of this as the gold standard of long wearing lipstick.

Matte lipsticks are the longest wearing lipstick regardless of the brand. Since they don’t have any moisturizing ingredients, the color almost ‘sticks’ to the lips. The pigments are also typically deeper and richer. The deeper colors combined with a lack of moisturizing ingredients makes the lipstick last much longer on the lips.

So, the longest wearing matte lipstick is one that is darker or deeper in color. A deep red matte will last longer than a bubble gum pink. The only problem with matte lipsticks is that they make the lip look dry. If you suffer from chronically chapped lips, you might want to consider layering your matte lipstick over a good lip moisturizer and add a dab of lip gloss.

Now that we all know which type of lipstick stays on longer, let’s now solve the mystery of HOW to make your lipstick stay on longer.

The obvious first answer is to choose a matte lipstick.

However, there are a few tricks to making any lipstick stay on longer. First, take a little face primer and pat it on your lips. Your foundation with a little powder over it will do the trick too. Next, line your lips with a lip liner that is the same color as your lipstick. Take that liner and color in your lips. Make sure to stay in the lines. Now, apply a matte lipstick over the liner. Remember, if you choose a darker color, it has a better chance of lasting longer.

The next step is to blot your lips with a tissue or, even better, a piece of paper. Paper is preferred because it won’t leave any tissue residue. Now, go ahead and apply another layer of your lipstick color.

Finally, finish off your look with a little lip gloss to make the lips look less dry. Voila!

You now know the trick to making lipstick stay on longer.

Keep in mind, ladies, if you are a lip licker or can’t go five minutes without drinking something, you will have to reapply your lipstick, lip gloss, or sheer lipstick more often.

Old Town Crier

FROM THE TRAINER

RYAN UNVERZAGT

❶

❷

THE DUMBBELL STEP-UP OLD TOWN DENTISTRY This month’s exercise is another one using dumbbells only we are concentrating on your lower body with the Dumbbell StepUp. This exercise will strengthen your quadriceps, hamstrings, and not to mention, your butt! I prefer using a flat bench to step onto, although you can use a lower surface such as a 12” plyometric box.

Grab a pair of dumbbells (DBs) equal to about 20% of your body weight to hold at your sides. Line up perpendicular to a flat bench about a foot away. Choose a foot to step up with and place it on top of the bench. Lean slightly forward to shift your body weight to the front leg (lead leg) as you step up on top.

Straighten your leg completely before bringing your other foot (trail leg) on top. A common mistake is to use the trail leg to help straighten the lead leg. This usually means that the DBs are too heavy. Instead, contract your gluteus muscles to assist in hip extension.

To finish, step down with the trail leg keeping your body weight shifted on the lead leg. Control your descent on the way down don’t just drop onto the trail leg. Bring the lead leg off the bench and parallel to the other foot. Now, here is where you have options. You can keep stepping up with the same leg or alternate legs. I like to stay with the same leg because there is no rest for the muscles. When you alternate, one leg gets a break while the other one is working.

Try at least 10 reps per leg no matter which way you choose to step up. Good balance is also required for the DB step-up so I hope you have been practicing the balance exercises that I’ve I written about over the years here in the Old Town Crier.

Frinet Kasper, DDS • Family & Cosmetic Dentistry • Crowns & Bridges • Invisalign • Sealants • Fillings • Whitening • Same Day Appointments

1203 Prince Street • Alexandria, Va. 22314 • 703.683.0800 • www.oldtowndentistry.com Hablamos Español

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

Old Town Crier

October 2019 | 43

SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE PEGGIE ARVIDSON

Y

How badly do you want things to change?

ou may be reading all the “right” books, taking mindset classes and meditating your little heart out and still, nothing is changing.

Do you find yourself saying things like, “I know I shouldn’t be saying this because it shows me that I’m still a Victim” or “ I know I need to be open to let the healing begin” ? or are you blaming yourself for not doing your inner work well enough?

While I highly recommend books, a good training program or seminar and mediation, don’t let those things replace action! If you’re like me, you think that reading, attending events and such IS taking action. In the pure definition, we’d be right.

However, we’re not actually taking action that initiates change in our energy and our situation.

Reading a book is only theory until you put its lessons into your daily life.

Simply reading, while wise, isn’t enough. Don’t con yourself! Only read self-help books if you’re willing to do the work. When I realized that the reason my life wasn’t changing despite my good intentions, I committed to taking action.

To be honest, I didn’t know exactly what action would work and more times than I can count I stopped in my tracks because I was sure I was “doing it wrong,” and was destined to a life of meh.

Once I put down the books, tuned out the selfproclaimed gurus and gave myself permission to take action in any way that I 44 | October 2019

wanted I felt better. I did not immediately drop 40 pounds (that took just over a year), heal my relationship (that took a near annihilation of the relationship and 9 months and counting) or land the job of my dreams (actually, that happened pretty instantaneously). What did happen is that I got busy and my mind has less time to wallow.

If you’re in a place where you’re longing to manifest change and nothing is happening despite your hard and consistent work on your mindset - stop beating yourself up and start taking action.

Let’s get started: Set one very concrete, very specific BABY STEP goal and take aim to take action.

If you’re currently not happy with your finances, pick a number, say $100 and take action on a plan to add that to your bank account this month.

Whether your goal is $100 or $10 just make sure it’s something you can feel grateful for achieving.

Now that you know what you’re aiming for start writing down all the ways (realistic and magical) that you can consistently earn $100 a month. Include all the work you might think is impossible or below you or just can’t happen because you’re sure it doesn’t exist.

Next write down all the skills, gifts, talents and experience you have. Dig in here and start observing the things that are easy for you to do and write those down too.

Follow the above with a

list of what you are willing to change in order to reach your goal. Are you willing to get up earlier or go to bed later? Would you be willing to work during the hour of your favorite TV show? Can you talk to people about what you want to accomplish despite being shy? Would you be willing to work inside/ outside? Can you see yourself being the person you’d have to be to earn $100 a month?

What do you need to invest in yourself to start the change?

Finally list what type of environment or physical situation you want to work within - telecommuting, odd hours around your kids’ school and sports’ schedules, easily accessible by bike, bus or metro?

Congratulations! You’ve

completed FOUR steps to get to your specific “baby step” goal.

Now it’s time to put that information you’ve gathered into action.

Beware: This action phase requires you to make phone calls, get out of the house and let everyone you know your ambition. Ask for referrals to possible income-generating opportunities.

If you decided you’d use the hours while your daughter is at school to make money helping people organize their kitchen pantry, then get on the phone, or go to your neighbor and let people know that you’re open for business.

Do not let yourself get bogged down in minutiae. Simply make it known that you will be helping people organize

their pantries between the hours of 10am and 2 pm, Monday through Friday and that your fee is $15.00 an hour. In less than 2 days you’ll have earned your $100 for the month.

When you meet your goal, take a minute to celebrate before you decide on the next goal you’re going to tackle.

While you may not want to open a full-fledged pantryorganizing business, you know now that you can earn the money you wanted to without having to repeat mantras, attend workshops and apologize for your mindset! You’ve gotten out of your own way and taken action. May this “back to school season” be the season you put all your lessons to good use.

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

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

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

Private Sessions are available by phone or Skype.

PeggieArvidson.com peggieParvidson@gmail.com Old Town Crier

STEVE CHACONAS

GO FISH

Annual Fly By

A

n annual fishing trip has to take place and scheduled about the same place and time every year, and with the same buddy. This summer’s trip to the Lynchburg area certainly qualified.

Not many occasions require setting the alarm for 2:30 AM to embark to southwest Virginia, five hours away. At that time of the morning, brains don’t work well. Better load the car the night before or gear is sure to be left behind. Pack the YETI with as much food and water to maintain a healthy diet on the water.

Fishing 200 days a year, this trip stands out as anticipation builds as soon as the last ends. Buddy Alan Friedlander booked the trip as he’s done for the past 5 years for about the same time. I remember because we are usually fishing on my wedding anniversary.

A great gift for my wife who gets to spend a few quiet days alone with her dog.

The location is the same, either the Upper James or the Roanoke River. And of course, our guide Capt. Matt Miles makes the trip. As a guide, I call these “same time next year” clients. Most of these people will refer to past trips and their solo trips. Spending a lot of time catching up on life.

Capt. Matt has been our float guide for 5 trips. We generally book 2 days to try various waters. Capt. Matt suggested the Maury River, a system we had not fished.

He explained the other local rivers were a bit high and muddy. We were advised the Maury was a good river with lots of fish.

Much to our surprise our boat for the day wasn’t a boat, rather a rubber raft. Skeptical to say the least, we climbed on board. Slightly smaller, but just as comfortable, this vessel was designed to clear water only inches deep and slide over rocks.

I made my first cast with the Orvis fly rod Capt. Matt

set up for me. Because of the direction of the boat and side of the river it was with my right hand, my unnatural side. It had been a year since my last fly rod cast. It didn’t take long where casts were effective enough to reach the fish. I cast with my left hand when changing river sides.

With steady action all day, I was getting better at casting and setting the hook. Fish fell for gliding topwater lures early, but when that slowed Capt. Matt tied on tequilly flies. Alan and I picked up a few decent ones, but mostly 6 inch fish, not the ones we wanted.

At the end of day Capt.

Matt discussed day 2 options.

Potomac River Bassing in October Cooling water is encouraging fish to bite.

Use search baits like Mann’s Baby X crankbaits on deeper cover or the Baby 1-Minus for shallower cover. Tie to 10 pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line.

Dock fishing is also good now. Pitch soft plastics with pegged 3/16 ounce weights on Quantum Smoke casting gear spooled with 12 pound Edge or Quantum Smoke spinning gear with 15 pound Gamma Torque braid with 10 pound Edge leaders. Soft plastics with 3/0 Mustad Mega Bite hooks will work: stickworms, Mizmo tubes, and just about anything in blue, black or green pumpkin. Soak all soft plastics in garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray.

For deeper applications and just about anywhere else, drop shot with 3/16 ounce Water Gremlin BullShot weights and braid/fluorocarbon setups, 2/0 Mega Bite hooks with 4 inch soft plastics.

In clear and calm water, topwater opportunities include buzzbaits, poppers and walkers.

Old Town Crier

The Upper James River was fishing tough but provided better opportunities to get bigger fish. It was unanimous, we opted the bigger fish in lieu of numbers.

Back in the slightly larger drift boat, day 2 was tough.

Very few bites. Capt. Matt’s decades of knowledge, and rowing ability put us on every terrain option. Shallow, deep, shade, sun, drops and edges, we fished them all.

A break for lunch and we were at it again, only a couple of fish to show for the morning’s effort. A lull for the next hour was interrupted with a double, Alan and I had hooked up with decent fish.

Not sure whether the fish started biting, we had figured them out, or our confidence level had surged, but we started getting more and bigger fish.

Forced to make right handed casts on the right side of the river, a well-placed cast with the tequilly fly and the line went tight. A wellexecuted hookset and a big smallmouth bass was on. Not having much experience with everything happening after that, like rod manipulation to control the surging and acrobatic fish, my lack of experience lead to my rod finger slipping off the line, nearly allowing the fish to run

free. These river smallmouth are strong, fast and have a lot of energy. Quickly reorienting my finger with the line, allowed my left hand to retain tension on the fish. The battle was nearly over. A few more surges, great netting by Capt.

Matt and I had landed my largest smallmouth ever with my right hand.

After 2000 casts, my switching hitting status was established as I was able to finally put several skill sets together to prepare for a big fish. While not entirely graceful, I felt comfortable with my progress with only 8 days of experience over the past 5 years.

Casting is the base for all angling. The rest of the skills, lure presentation, strike detection, hooksets and landing, take time on the water. Capt. Matt has been a great coach, teaching and tweaking. I owe him more practice time to maximize his efforts. My Orvis fly rod will travel with me to extend beyond annual use.

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.

October 2019 | 45

OPEN SPACE

S

ome people scoff at class reunions and for good reason.

It’s a little like going to the gym.

There are those three people who bounce out of bed and burst through the doors like they are collecting a million dollar check at the tread mill. Then there are the rest of us.

We go begrudgingly. We drag our feet, cursing under our breath as we attempt to adjust the seat on the stationary bike.

As luck would have it, the TV on the bike we have chosen is malfunctioning so we move over to Plan B recognizing the fact that the TV in our bedroom was working just fine and is where we should have stayed. About 30 minutes into our workout, the happy endorphins kick in, and the resulting euphoria carries us through the day. Same with reunions. We see the announcement and come up with a million reasons why we might not be able to go even though it’s practically in our back yard.

“I’m in touch with the people I wanted to stay in touch with,” or “It will be the same ol’ cliques,” or “I have to stay home and lengthen my lashes.” As I was convincing myself that I probably wouldn’t go, I was ordering Crest teeth whitening strips and upping my miles on the bike just in case. Girl’s gotta keep her options open.

The worst part of any social scenario is walking through the door— especially if you are going solo which I recommend unless your significant other went to your school and/or you don’t trust yourself being around your crush(es). If you’re nervous and/or have a bout of social anxiety, you are probably not alone. I tried to make a pre-game plan with one of my grade school besties, but sadly she wasn’t able to attend so alone into the dark and scary night I went. The first person I recognized was a friend I hadn’t seen in years, Heather, who greeted me with a warm smile and a hug. Thank you, 46 | October 2019

LORI WELCH BROWN

Reunited and It Feels so Good Heather.

Here’s why it’s good to go…

It’s great to see everyone all grown up.

Who would have thought that my funloving, crazy classmates are now parents of grown, college-age children! Who would have thought we would have made it through high school let alone full-blown adulthood?! Who knew that Billy would end up on the West Coast or that Kelly would be a mega-star realtor or that Frank and I would both be caring for aging parents? Who knew that some of the same smiles I’ve known since elementary school would be standing at the bar next to me ordering adult beverages talking about careers and kids and colleges. Mind. Blown.

Wish we had more time to catch up.

Real honest-to-goodness friendships don’t end just because high school did. I saw people I hadn’t seen in ten years or longer, and we picked up right where we left off. When CR rounded the corner, smiles erupted and hugs ensued. So many memories and laughter! “How’s your mom? Where are you living now?

How about your sister? Where is she?”

Heather, Vicky and I picked back up like we were meeting up at our lockers to dissect the hidden meaning behind that glance I got from Mike during PE. And the best part? I felt like I made new friends. I talked with people that I didn’t really ‘know’ in high school, but who were at the reunion. I woke up the next morning regretting that there hadn’t been more time and opportunity to talk with more people.

Oh, the memories. What I realized, however, is that we all have different ones. I barely remember anything, but

I was able to fill in the blanks on a few stories here and there. I loved hearing OPMs (Other People’s Memories). Who cares how distorted they may be after all these years. If nothing else, we are funny and legends in our own minds.

Those really popular, unapproachable people are…just people. Once you leave high school, the playing field gets leveled. No one is wearing a Varsity cheerleading uniform or homecoming queen sash. I’ve matured. They’ve matured. I am just as [fill in the blank] as [fill in the blank]. Except for Michele—I’ll never be as extroverted and outgoing as her! The only difference between me and [fill in the blank] is that maybe she had a little more confidence or better jumps or an inner Marsha Brady urging her on. But, hey—I was an excellent speller, could type 90 WPM and darn it, I did just fine without having ‘cheerleading captain’ on my resume. Everyone’s path is different.

Not better or worse. Just different. I blame my parents. Just kidding. At least Mom signed me up for sports club cheerleading (aka no try outs/everyone got pompoms). Let’s face it. All I really wanted was pompoms and saddle shoes.

Chances are that your flaming hot crushes have smoldered. Not that they don’t look great or or aren’t as witty or smart as they were sitting behind you in senior year English. Luckily, my crushes weren’t in attendance so I was able to imagine them sitting in their basement room at their parents’ house with receding hairlines, beer guts and uncontrollable flatulence issues. That being said, I did take a look around the room and try to imagine myself with in

a ‘Sliding Doors’ moment. What if I had married X instead of XXL? X is great, but all I wanted to do was go home and tell XXL about how awesome my classmates are and how I wish he could have met them. Although, XXL would have probably been pretty bored hearing about all our shenanigans. Bottom line is that the grass is never greener and chances are that the life you’ve actually spent time building is far better than the fantasy one you built in your head.

If God’s plan was for me to marry Phil, his dad wouldn’t have put him on restriction right before my party so I could have actually had a date and all my prayers would have been answered and my teenage life wouldn’t have been ruined! I can practically smell the drama which caused me to dedicate my entire sophomore English journal paper to this very subject. If God had wanted me to marry Joe, he would have let Joe somehow know I was alive. I don’t even think I made it to the friend zone. Curious—did Joe think it was a coincidence that every time he looked over his shoulder in Mrs. Raines’ class, I just happened to be looking in his direction? Or that my car just happened to be parked next to his car like every single day? Enquiring minds want to know. If only God could have granted me some small victory vs. letting me be some Shakespearean unrequited-love teenage drama queen. At least he gave me Leif Garrett and David Cassidy to fill the void.

Speaking of coincidences—just celebrated my 35 year class reunion, turned 53 years old, and celebrated my fifth wedding anniversary—which in dog years is 35. Hmmm. Time to play the lottery? Drinks on me at the next one—hopefully at my Swiss chalet.

Cheers to a new season of pumpkins, little goblins, leather boots and bon fires!

Old Town Crier

NATIONAL HARBOR

LANI GERING

October Is Here! Yahoo….I think!

I

love the month of October! I love fall! I love it that the holidays are approaching! I am so looking forward to getting out my sweaters and jeans and wearing the cool socks I have collected over the years. However, as I write this, it is damn near 88 degrees out. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all about keeping my tan for as long as I can and not having to worry about dragging my plants in off of the balcony but 88 is a little hot for this time of year. In fact, as I strolled around the Harbor looking for something to give me inspiration for this column this month, all I could think was “I wish the pool at the condo was still open”! There aren’t any mums or corn stalks on display along American Way and all of the planters are still adorned with palms and cannas. All that being said, I pretty much have drawn a blank.

There aren’t any more Date Night and Family Night movies on the Jumbo Screen with the exception of Hocus Pocus on the 27th. The Sunset Concert series ended last month. No more Zumba or Yoga on the Plaza. No more Friday Night Happy Hours on American Way. No more Farmers Market. The Urban Pirate boat has sailed back to Baltimore. You beginning to see a pattern here? I guess it really is the end of summer even if the weather doesn’t agree.

Enough of my Negative Nellie….let’s talk about what we do have. The Flight Deck at the base of the Capital Wheel will still be open but running on a fall schedule – Fridays 4pm to 10pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12 noon to 10 pm. This is one of the absolute best places to be for the sunset and to watch the activity on the water.

Remember is it just beer and wine. NFL Football is being aired on the Jumbo screen every Sunday afternoon and the World Series will be aired as well – let’s hope that the Nationals make it through the playoffs;

Old Town Crier

no hope for the poor Orioles. The District Stadium will remain in place for the duration so get there early so you can grab a seat and feel like you are actually at the game….sorta!

We do have the Annual Harbor Halloween celebration on Sunday the 27th. This will get your kids all geared up for the real night. The event is free for kids 12 and under and includes Trick or Treating at select businesses from 1pm to 3pm as well as the airing of the aforementioned Hocus Pocus at 1:30 pm and the grand finale to the afternoon – the National Harbor Chefs Pumpkin Carving Contest takes place at 3 pm. This is as much fun for adults as it is for kids. It’s a good place to get some creative ideas for your own jack o’lanterns.

Let’s hope by the time you are reading this the weather is at least in the 70’s and the nights are cool enough for jeans and socks! In the meantime, enjoy the sunny days and have a very Happy Halloween!

October 2019 | 47

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Old Town Crier

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