Old Town Crier October 2022 - Full Issue

Since 1988 • Priceless

OCTOBER 2022

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Setting the Standard In Old Town Since 1979

october‘22

A Division of Crier Media Group

OTC Media LLC

PO Box 320386 Alexandria, VA 22320 571-257-5437 office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com

Published the first week of every month. Worth waiting for!

PUBLISHER

Bob Tagert

MARKETING & ADVERTISING

Lani Gering Bob Tagert

Meg Mullery

SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE

Erin Koons

CONTRIBUTORS

Stephen Bearce

Sarah Becker

Alexander Britel

Kelsey Bonham

Cheryl Burns F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas

Carolyn Cockroft

Beth Crabtree

Scott Dicken Doug Fabbioli

Matt Fitzsimmons

Nicole Flanagan Alberta Frost

Lani Gering

Miriam Kramer

Genevieve LeFranc

Timothy Long

Bob Matthews

Cindy McGovern

Meg Mullery

Melinda Murphy Ron Powers

Kim Putens

Julie Reardon Jaime Stephens Ashley Stimpson

Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Catherine Varchever Lori Welch Brown

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

A Bit of History 8

After hours 11

Alexandria Events 2

Art & Antiques 14

Caribbean Connection 20 Dining Guide 32 Dining Out 28

Exploring VA Wines 34

Feliz día de los Muertos 4

Financial Focus 7

First Blush 38

ON THE ROAD

Fitness 39

From the Bay 24

From the Trainer 40 Gallery Beat 14

Go Fish 41

Grapevine 33

High Notes 11

Let's Eat 30

Let's Get Crafty 36

National Harbor 44

On the Road 1

Open Space 42

Pets of the Month 19

Points on Pets 18

Publishers notes 2

Road Trip 22

Take Photos, Leave Footprints 16

The Last Word 12

To the Blue Ridge 26

Urban Garden 10

Walk to Bust Cancer 6

Celebrate one of the Commonwealth’s largest commodities all month long!

Artwork courtesy VA Wine Marketing

Longtime OTC readers and friends, Kathy and Bob Condon always pack away an issue to take on their adventures. Their latest trek took them to the mountains of Ecuador where they visited old friends who have made their home there. Nothing like a ride in the hay cart and a day trip to the Condors and Hacienda Zvleta in Zimbabwe’s Ecuador with Kate.

Kathy & Bob

On the hay cart with Kate.

As I write this on September 21st the temperature today is 86 degrees and beautiful. A cold front comes through tomorrow and the high for the 23rd is to be 69. By the time you read this we will be in the comfortable 70’s every day. Fall is here. October is Virginia Wine Month so take a drive to one of over 300 wineries in the state. Have a glass or a bottle and take a case home with you. Check out how to Celebrate Virginia Wine Month in our Virginia Wine section.

In this month’s History column Sarah Becker takes a break from her hard hitting articles and explores Whiskey, Wine & Beer. Dining Out found us remembering when and living young at The Light Horse Restaurant & Bar. In Grapevine, Matthew Fitzsimmons will give you a chill with Haunted Wineries and Ghost Tours. In Take Photographs, Leave Footprints Scott Dicken visits the Temples of Taipei. In Get Crafty, Tim Long goes down the path of IPA. With fall upon us and leaves changing color, join us on the Potomac Eagle in Road Trip. After going back in time with his reviews, Ron Powers brings us up to date with Alchemy of Earth in High Notes. Sailing is a passion and in From the Bay it is “Show Time”. In Go Fish, local angler Steve Chaconas teaches us that “Fishing is Better with Kids”. Lori Welch Brown laments about her childhood home in Open Space.

This has been a brutal summer and hopes are for a pleasant fall. Chances are good that winter may be tolerable as well because global warming is real. I can remember ice skating on the Potomac River in the early 60’s. In recent memory I can think of a thin sheet of ice forming on the Potomac only twice, and that lasted till the sun rose the next day.

The Old Town Crier, established January 1988, remains Alexandria’s oldest continuous publication operating under original ownership. It’s been awhile since I have expressed our great appreciation for those who advertise with us each month and want to extend my heartfelt thanks to those of you who pick us up each month as well. You make it all worthwhile!

Take some time out and have some big fun this month and don’t forget about Halloween and “Feliz día de los Muertos!”

NIGHTLY IN OCTOBER

Alexandria Colonial Tours’ Ghost & Graveyard Tour

7:30 pm M-Th

8:30 & 9 pm Fri & Sat

Admission: $$ Alexandria Visitor Center 221 King Street alexcolonialtours.com

Walk your way through the charming streets of historic Old Town Alexandria. Follow a colonial-costumed guide by lantern light for an engaging history tour on Alexandria’s original Ghost & Graveyard Tour. During this entertaining tour, you’ll hear ghost stories, legends, folklore, unsolved mysteries, tales of romance and angry ghosts looking for revenge.

Head to Robinson Landing for the Waterfront Wednesday Music Series presented by Yellow Door Music Concert Series featuring a range of music genres by local musicians. Bring a chair or simply stop by to enjoy some beautiful waterside beats.

8TH

Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Admission: Free Mount Vernon & E. Bellefonte Avenue delrayvintageflea.com

Named the best flea market in Virginia by Domino Magazine, the outdoor market features more than 50 vendors at the lot at 1900 Mount Vernon Avenue plus the Salvation Army Corps lot across the street.

15TH

Old Town North “Chalk Walk”

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: Free Montgomery Park 901 N. Royal Street oldtownnorth.org

1ST

27th Annual Art on the Avenue

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Free Mount Vernon Ave. between Hume Ave. and Bellefonte Avenue artonthCaleavenue.org

The 27th annual arts festival held in the Del Ray features more than 350 juried artists, from quilters to card-makers to cartographers, displaying their one-of-a-kind wares. Arrive with an appetite and grab a bite from 20+ food vendors and set to the soundtrack of live music along the avenue.

5TH

Waterfront Wednesday Music Series

5 to 7 p.m.

Admission: Free Robinson Landing Promenade and Pier 7 Pioneer Mill Way oldtownbusiness.org

The Old Town North Alliance will be sponsoring the first annual “Chalk Walk” through multiple sites in Old Town North. Artists will be positioned throughout the neighborhood and will create works of art either on flat plaza surfaces or on building walls. Walk attendees are invited to see the artists in action or visit finished works. Beverages including beer and food trucks will be available at Canal Center Plaza. The event also features a dedicated Kid Creation area.

Made in Ethiopia DMV Trade Fair

12 to 9 p.m.

Admission: Free Durant Art Center 1605 Cameron Street africanrun.com/activities

Nova Connections presents “Made in Ethiopia DMV 2022 Trade Fair,” a multi-sector trade fair that features Ethiopia’s most recent products and services as well as rich Ethiopian traditional music.

OTHER OCTOBER EVENTS IN TOWN

15TH-23RD

Old Town OysterFest

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free. Cost of food and beverage not included

Various restaurants in Old Town Alexandria oldtownbusiness.org

Throughout the week, restaurants, bars and boutiques will feature oyster and Guinness pairings. There will be a shucking contest among restaurants. The event is sponsored by Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Pub and Restaurant and Guinness.

20TH

Art Night in Old Town

5 to 8 p.m.

Admission: Free

Various locations in Old Town Alexandria, VA 22314 oldtownbusiness.org

More than 18 galleries, boutiques, wine shops and merchants each host an open house showcasing art via wine tastings, art classes, clothing, jewelry, flowers, paintings and other styles of art. Take a walk down the historic streets of Old Town and enjoy a light supper before or after the Art Night.

27TH

Tell Me Your Name

5:30 p.m.

Admission: $$

Carlyle House Historic Park 121 N Fairfax Street 703-549-2997 novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park

Join Carlyle House Historic Park staff for a tour focusing on the experiences of the enslaved community at Carlyle House and his plantations. The guided tour will explore the historical context of slavery in 18th-century Alexandria and the importance of ongoing research efforts to connect with descendants. Reservations are required as space is limited.

29TH

Old Town Family Trick or Treat

12 to 4 p.m.

Admission: Free Various locations in Old Town Alexandria oldtownbusiness.org

Bring the family and enjoy trick-or-treating in the various shops and restaurants in Old Town. Bring your own “boo bag.” Maps will be provided.

30TH

Old Town Doggie Trick or Treat

1 to 5 p.m.

Admission: Free

The Dog Park 705 King Street oldtownbusiness.org

Bring your spooky pooch over to The Dog Park for a Halloween goodie bag full of treats for your pup. After registering at The Dog Park retail store, you and your dog will enjoy a leisurely stroll around Old Town and receive boo bags while supplies last.

Del Ray Halloween Parade

2 p.m.

Admission: Free

Begins at Mount Vernon Ave., South of E. Bellefonte Ave. visitdelray.com/halloween

One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions, the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade, returns once again. Children, pets and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb; awards are given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home and Best Decorated Stroller.

Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street torpedofactory.org

14TH

Late Shift: Masquerade

7 to 10 p.m.

Admission: Free

October is a time for reflection and renewal. Put on your favorite fall colors, sip your pumpkin-spice latte and enjoy the cooler weather during this fall masquerade. Costumes are optional but

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway 703-780-2000

mountvernon.org

Admission: $$

1ST

Mount Vernon Historic Plant and Garden Sale

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free

Shop at Mount Vernon for plants, perennials, shrubs and trees grown in our greenhouses. The cooler fall weather makes it an ideal time for planting. The same plants grown at George Washington’s estate can adorn your garden. The General’s Choice plants are grown from seeds or cuttings collected from plants on the estate.

7TH-9TH

Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour

6 to 9 p.m.

Carlyle House Historic Park 121 N Fairfax Street novaparks.com/parks/ carlyle-house-historic-park

THROUGH THE 29TH

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Admission: $$

Join a yoga instructor on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace for an hour-long Vinyasa Flow Yoga, a gentle flow yoga class that uses the breath to flow from one pose to the other. Class-goers will build heat with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxing meditation. Visitors are encouraged to bring water, a towel and a yoga mat, and to wear comfortable yoga attire.

7TH, 14TH, 21ST, 28TH

Death Comes to Carlyle House

highly encouraged. Best dressed attendees will win a special prize. Featuring DJ sets with all your favorite October and Halloweenthemed music.

15TH

Craft. Brew.: Coffeehouse Edition!

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Admission: $$

Enjoy a morning of caffeinated crafting! Sip a delicious coffee from local spot Misha’s Coffeehouse and Roaster while making a decoupage apothecary jar to take home. “Craft. Brew.” takes place at The Art League Gallery, located inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

22ND

27th Annual Art Safari

12 to 4 p.m.

Admission: Free

An Alexandria tradition for more than a quarter-century, Art Safari is a beloved in-person day of activities for kids and families. Join fellow lovers of art and learning for outdoor waterfront art activities and hands-on projects throughout the building. A great event for kids ages 5 and over.

Taste unlimited samples from Virginia wineries after hours at George Washington’s estate. Bring a blanket and relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River and meet General Washington.

22ND & 23RD

Fall Harvest Festival at Mount Vernon

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities and demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon. During this event, you can explore the farm, meet George Washington, see spinning demonstrations and more.

29TH

Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon

2 to 6 p.m.

Celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Visit Mount Vernon in costume, watch Halloween-themed Punch & Judy shows, see 18th-century chocolate-making demonstrations and more. Trick-or-treating at Mount Vernon takes place rain or shine.

6 to 8 p.m.

Admission: $$

Carlyle House presents an exhibit on mourning practices in the 18th-century through the experiences of the Carlyle household, mourning the death of town founder, John Carlyle, in September 1780. Reservations are required as space is limited.

15TH

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour

10 a.m.

Admission: $$

Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Discover Alexandria by looking at Architecture styles that adorn the city streets and make it one of the best places to live and work. Reservations are required as space is limited. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5 hour guided tour. The tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather.

22ND

Legacy of the Green Cabinetmakers Walking Tour

10 a.m.

Admission: $$

In the early 19th century, William Green started the Green Furniture factory in Alexandria, and by 1823 his son, James, would take over. James expanded his father’s factory and established himself as a prominent Alexandrian through building and operating Green’s Mansion House Hotel. Learn more about Alexandria’s cabinetmaking history and about James Green and his family’s life in Alexandria on this 1.5-hour guided walking tour. Reservations are required as space is limited.

Calacas, Calaveras and Cempasuchil ... Oh My!

Ididn’t know much about Dia de los Muertos aka Day of the Dead until I moved to Old Town in 1992 and met my good pal Catherine Jean. She has always been huge fan of Halloween and has hosted some of the best pumpkin carving parties I have ever been to. However, one year she was talking about hosting a “Day of the Dead” party instead and I looked at her like she had gone over the edge. What?? Little did I know what a cool celebration this is and looking into what it would entail was an education. Unfortunately, the plan for the party didn’t come to fruition at that time but I have faith we will pull it off in the future.

I am sure there are many of you who have admired the gorgeous costumes and makeup that people don for Halloween that feature skeletons with beautiful flower rings on their heads and the colorful designs painted on their faces. These are a result of the traditions of Dia de los Muertos. I am hoping to find someone who can paint my face this year.

I want to share what I found out about this Mexican holiday that we celebrate in the USA almost as much as we do Cinco de Mayo! Who doesn’t need another good excuse to eat tacos and drink some tequila. Check it out:

“The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased

relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31-November 2. While October 31 is Halloween, November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2.

Origins of Day of the Dead

The roots of the Day of the Dead, celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world, go back some 3,000 years, to the rituals honoring the dead in preColumbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what is now central Mexico held a cyclical view of the universe, and saw death as an integral, everpresent part of life.

Upon dying, a person was believed to travel to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead. Only after getting through nine challenging levels, a journey of several years, could the person’s soul finally reach Mictlán, the final resting place. In Nahua rituals honoring the dead, traditionally held in August, family

members provided food, water and tools to aid the deceased in this difficult journey. This inspired the contemporary Day of the Dead practice in which people leave food or other offerings on their loved ones’ graves, or set them out on makeshift altars called ofrendas in their homes.

Day of the Dead vs. All Souls Day

In ancient Europe, pagan celebrations of the dead also took place in the fall, and consisted of bonfires, dancing and feasting. Some of these customs survived even after the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, which (unofficially) adopted them into their celebrations of two Catholic holidays, All Saints Day and All Souls Day, celebrated on the first two days of November.

In medieval Spain, people would bring wine and pan de ánimas (spirit bread) to the graves of their loved ones on All Souls Day; they would also cover graves with flowers and light candles to illuminate the dead souls’ way back to their homes on Earth. In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadores brought such traditions with them to the New World, along with a darker view of death influenced by the devastation of the bubonic plague.

La Calavera Catrina

Photo by Miguel Gonzalez on Unsplash

How Is the Day of the Dead Celebrated?

El Día de los Muertos is not, as is commonly thought, a Mexican version of Halloween, though the two holidays do share some traditions, including costumes and parades. On the Day of the Dead, it’s believed that the border between the spirit world and the real world dissolve. During this brief period, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living world to feast, drink, dance and play music with their loved ones. In turn, the living family members treat the deceased as honored guests in their celebrations, and leave the deceased’s favorite foods and other offerings at gravesites or on the ofrendas built in their homes. Ofrendas can be decorated with candles, bright marigolds called cempasuchil and red cock’s combs alongside food like stacks of tortillas and fruit.

The most prominent symbols related to the Day of the Dead are calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls). In the early 20th century, the printer and cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada incorporated skeletal figures in his art mocking politicians and commenting on revolutionary politics. His most well-known work, La Calavera Catrina, or Elegant Skull, features a female skeleton adorned with makeup and dressed in fancy clothes. The 1910 etching was intended as a statement about Mexicans adopting European fashions over their own heritage and traditions. La Calavera Catrina was then adopted as one of the most recognizable Day of the Dead icons.

During contemporary Day of the Dead festivities, people commonly wear skull masks and eat sugar candy molded into the shape of skulls. The pan de ánimas of All Souls Day rituals in Spain is reflected in pan de muerto, the traditional sweet baked good of Day of the Dead celebrations today. Other food and drink associated with the holiday, but consumed yearround as well, include spicy dark chocolate and the corn-based drink called atole. You can wish someone a happy Day of the Dead by saying, “Feliz día de los Muertos.”

Publishers Note: The facts and figures in this piece provided by History.com – for even more information about Day of the day log on to: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-thedead#origins-of-day-of-the-dead

Where Is It?

Where Is This Mural?

Be the first person to respond with the correct location and receive a $50 gift certificate to a local dining establishment of our choice. In order to participate, you will have to Like and Follow us on:

Facebook @oldtowncrier

Instagram @otcregionalmag

Send a PM with your guess and we will contact the winner each month via PM to arrange for prize delivery.

Previous Winners:

July – Kyle Stanton – ESP Tea & Coffee on Upper King

August - Emily Hanner – The Linder Academy on South Washington

September – You still have a chance! Several guesses but no winner. Hint: It isn’t in Old Town proper.

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET

Market Square

301 King Street

Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round

The Old Town Market is thought to be the one of nation’s oldest continuing markets operating since 1753. It is said that George Washington sent his products from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today the plaza is a mecca for farmers and artists to sell their wares. The Market is a primary source for meats, dairy, fish, fruits, vegetables and flowers for all those who visit.

DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET

Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues

Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round

This market is strictly a producer grown market.  Lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and salmon, fresh mushrooms, baked goods, hard cider.  Farmers are within a 150 mile radius of Alexandria.  A non-profit is featured each weekend.

OLD TOWN NORTH FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Montgomery Park 901 North Royal Street

Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm Year Round

Alexandria’s favorite dog friendly market! The Old Town North Thursday Market is a growers only market with a focus on produce from small family farms and local artisans. Products sold at the market include fresh fruits and veggies from Virginia’s Northern Neck, Micro Greens from an urban farm, Empanadas, Fresh baked pastries with a European flair and much more.

FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

4109 Mount Vernon Avenue

Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm

Year Round

This market offers fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels and strives to reflect the diversity of Alexandria’s community. Local artisans display their arts and crafts as well

THROUGH OCTOBER

Keep An Eye Out for Mary’s Wings

We normally dedicate this space to profiling a small business that is located in our distribution area. This month, however, we thought it would be prudent to highlight a “local” event that a “national” foundation has been hosting in Alexandria for the last 7 years.

As we all know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While we all agree that every month should be “awareness” months for all diseases, it is good to bring awareness to the top of the list once a year for this cancer that has affected millions of people over the years.

The National Breast Center Foundation, located here in Alexandria - whose mission is to improve the lives of women by removing barriers that prevent them from getting proper screening, diagnosis, treatment and education about breast cancer regardless of income and availability to insurance - is hosting their 7th Annual “Walk to Bust Cancer” on Sunday, October 23rd.

Leading up to the walk, the foundation will be partnering with several Alexandria shops, restaurants, exercise studios, and more to promote the walk and Breast Cancer Awareness month. A pair of giant angel wings, now a known symbol of the Walk to Bust Cancer, will be traveling to different locations throughout Alexandria, where people can take photos, tag on Instagram and Facebook, register for the walk, and learn more about breast cancer risks and genetic testing. In honor of longtime Walk to Bust Cancer Committee member and creator of the Angel Wings, Mary Edwards, the wings are now named the Mary’s Wings.  Edwards, who passed in January, had said “The wings allow

people to honor those who have lost their battles but also represent those being lifted up and supported as they fight along their journey.”

The October 23rd walk provides an important opportunity for our community to join in raising funds for breast cancer screening and treatment, celebrating survivorship, honoring those we have lost, and lifting up and supporting those currently undergoing treatment. The family-oriented event will include inspirational dances, mindful meditation, exercise warm-ups and cool downs.

“The list of women waiting for screening mammograms continues to grow. The longer they remain on that list, the greater the risk of later stage detection and decreased survival,” said Dr. David Weintritt, Founder of the National Breast Center and Foundation. “We all know someone - a family member, neighbor, co-worker, or friend - who has

been touched by breast cancer. This is a global problem, and we are committed to make a difference starting right here in our own community,” he added. “Thanks to the support of our community, we have been able to assist over 150 women with more than 400 completed screenings, diagnostic exams and procedures.”

The Walk to Bust Cancer is the single biggest fundraiser each year for the National Breast Center Foundation. Martha Carucci, Executive Director of the Foundation, emphasized “the impact of the pandemic continues to hit our patients, as many women and men have lost their jobs and insurance coverage limiting proper screening and treatment for breast cancer. Funds raised with this year’s Walk to Bust Cancer will allow us to provide care that directly benefits our community during these unprecedented times.”

For more information about the walk, please go to www. walktobustcancer.org or email walktobustcancerhelp@ gmail.com.

Dr. David Weintritt, Mary Edwards and Martha Carucci, Executive Director.

Aleseia Saunders, Breast Cancer Survivor, her daughter Julia, and Martha Carucci.

Key questions to answer to help

plan to pay for retirement

Your retirement could last 20 years or more. Now could be the time to ask yourself, “What do I want to do when I retire?”

It’s an important question to ask sooner rather than later, as the answer could impact your retirement savings plans, so that you can align the retirement you want with the retirement you can afford. The first two steps in that process are: (1) decide what you want to do, and then (2) determine the potential costs.

The answers to these questions could help you take the first step toward creating the retirement lifestyle you hope to achieve.

What will I be doing during my retirement days?

Do I plan to continue working past age 65 or after I reach my full retirement age? Full time or part time?

Are there hobbies I want to pursue that will either cost money or make money?

Is there volunteer work that may also have costs associated?

Do I plan to travel?

Are there things I enjoy doing that have related costs?

What are the activities that make up my ideal retirement day?

Where will I be living in my retirement years?

Will I stay in my current home or downsize to a smaller home or a rental property?

Will I move to a retirement community or assisted living facility?

Will I sell my home and replace it with an RV or other alternative living option?

What situations might occur that could impact my retirement expenditures?

What health care coverage do I need for my specific health conditions?

Do I have an emergency fund for unexpected situations such as a health care crisis or loss of property due to a natural disaster?

What if I stop working sooner than expected?

What happens if I experience a significant loss of income?

What are the barriers that are keeping me from investing?

I have nothing extra to invest.

I have education loans or other debt.

I don’t know how to start an investment plan.

I have time to start saving later.

Next steps:

Prepare rather than panic. Review the questions above and create an outline from your answers. That outline will give you the framework to calculate the income you may need to support your retirement lifestyle.

Make the decision to adjust your spending patterns today. Choose something that you really don’t need and redirect that amount to a savings or investment account. Take advantage of the growth potential over time. Pay yourself first instead of spending money on something that will not support your future retirement needs. Creating that nest egg now could lessen your stress about money.

Start or add to an emergency fund. Even if the amount seems very small, it is important to take the first step. As that amount grows and the saving behavior becomes a habit, you will likely gain confidence and momentum in your investment activities.

Meet with your financial advisor to review your answers and turn your outline into a plan that will help you work toward your goals. Your advisor has planning tools and other resources to help you identify your retirement income needs.

Revisit your plan on a regular basis. Over time, your goals may change because of new opportunities or unexpected events. Periodic reviews can help you assess your progress and fine-tune your strategy.

This article was provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice PresidentInvestments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602.

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2022 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

A Mixed History of Alcohol and Alexandria

How do lawyers and historians pass their respective bar exams? Lawyers mostly study hard. Spirited historians sip booze.

The American Whiskey Trail, championed by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States includes both distilleries and historic sites, sites such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon distillery and Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. GW’s favorite alcohol drinks: sweet, fortified wines like Madeira and Port; rum punch, and porter [dark beer].

Reconstructed as of 2007 Mount Vernon’s “whiski distillery” was originally built in 1797: the same year John Adams succeeded George Washington as President. Two years later the distillery was one of the country’s largest 18th century facilities, producing approximately 11,000 gallons of whiskey annually. Whiskey sold for $.50 a gallon and a federal Excise Whiskey Tax was due. The 1791 tax was used “to offset a portion of the federal government’s assumption of state debts.”

Mount Vernon’s distillery was a spinoff—born of Washington’s want “to simplify his farming operations.” It generated a substantial profit, thanks mostly to the efforts of Scottish farm manager James Anderson. The Estate produced ample grain; the gristmill and water system were previously installed, and enslaved labor was cheap. Better still, the remaining slop—distilled grain—was recyclable. The distillery was home to 150 pigs and 30 cows.

The “demand,” Washington wrote, was “brisk.” Alexandria merchant and leading surveyor George Gilpin was among the distillery’s earliest customers. The un-aged whiskey was made from 60% rye, 35% corn, and 5% malted barley.

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 85.6% of Americans ages 18 and older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime; 69.5% reported that they drank in the past year. The top alcohol drinks, in descending

order: 12-oz. of regular beer, 1½-oz. of distilled spirits, and 5-oz. of wine.

Today the beer industry produces an amazing $100 billion in annual sales. Craft beer accounts for $26.8 billion. Alexandria’s Port City Brewery’s Optimal Wit, a craft beer brewed in the Belgian Wit Bier tradition is a favorite. As are Whiskey & Oyster’s rare whiskeys, whiskeys like Colonel E.H. Taylor and Eagle Rare.

The first U.S. University to offer a major in brewing science: Colorado State. The curriculum includes biochemistry, microbiology, physics and organic chemistry; beverage fermentation, production and quality control. U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper [D-CO], one of TIME’s top five 2015 mayors, established the Wynkoop Brewing Company in 1988—Denver’s first brewpub since Prohibition.

“Beer is proof God loves us and wants us happy,” Benjamin Franklin said. In truth the beer industry co-opted the phrase as part of a marketing

campaign.

“You have often enlivened me, my dear friend, by your excellent drinking songs; in return I beg to edify you,” Franklin wrote French economist Abbe Morellet in an undated letter. “We hear of the conversation of water into wine at the marriage of Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy!”

“To confirm, still more your piety,” Franklin continued, “reflect upon the situation which it has given to the elbow…man, who was destined to drink wine, must be able to raise the glass to his mouth.”

Not that many years ago alcohol consumption was illegal. For 13 years—from 1920 until 1933— America said no to liquor. “The temperance movement hijacked Washington’s persona in a flagrant attempt to rewrite history by portraying him a non-drinker,” former Mt. Vernon Vice President of Preservation Dennis Pogue said in 2012.

The temperance movement reached its zenith in the early 20th century, the result of anti-lobbying activity which began in the 1830s. Alcohol use was associated with social ills, social reform, and German and Irish immigrants. Prohibitionists couched their middle class message in conformity and, as with any morality play, the ending was prescribed.

Prohibition exhibited many of the characteristics inherent in progressive reforms. Dr. Benjamin Rush, as early as 1784, argued “that the excessive use of alcohol was injurious to health.” In 1789 two hundred Litchfield County, Connecticut, farmers swore off alcohol during farming season.

“ Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy. ” – Frank Sinatra

The nation’s first temperance group formed in 1789; Virginia’s in 1800. Over time Rush’s call for drinking in moderation morphed into a religious cause. In Boston, in 1826, an allmale gathering of clergy and laymen founded the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance. Mark Twain was a Cadet of Temperance from 1846-1850; the Prohibition Party formed in 1869, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1874. Tired of enduring drunken behavior at home, many of the early temperance advocates were women.

Maine, in 1851, became the first State to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages except for “medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes.” Although patent medicines were well-known for their alcohol content, such products remained protected. For example Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound was a liquor-laced, herbal remedy sold to women with female complaints.

Although Maine’s abstinence law eventually failed, temperance education did not. Temperance was the panacea for poverty, crime, and domestic violence. Abolitionists and suffragists eagerly joined the temperance movement. Advocates like Carrie Nation sometimes resorted to violence, physically destroying bars with a hatchet.

In 1917—perhaps timed to coincide with America’s entry into World War I and the country’s anti-German sentiment—the country’s Prohibition amendment passed. On January 29, 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified by the States: “After one year from the ratification of this article, the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.”

Congress repealed the Amendment in 1933. Moderate alcohol consumption was again the public’s behavior of choice. The stock market had crashed and Americans were thirsty for change.

Former President Donald Trump—an alleged teetotaler—once promoted “T&T,” Trump and tonic. The brand: Trump Vodka. The slogan: “Success Distilled.” Unsuccessful the Donald now owns the largest winery on the east coast: Charlottesville, Virginia’s Trump Winery.

Mount Vernon Estate’s distillery is open seasonally—Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., April-October. The fully functioning distillery is located 2.7 miles from the Estate’s main entrance.

George Washington first attended John

Gadsby’s Birth Night Ball, an Alexandria tavern party given in his honor, in 1798. Today the Museum hosts the event. New York City’s Fraunces Tavern Museum celebrates not only General George Washington’s first tavern visit, but also his on-site December 4, 1783, Farewell speech to the Continental Army.

“[W]ho has before seen a disciplined Army formed at once from such raw materials?”

General Washington asked. “Or who that was not on the spot can trace the steps by which such a wonderful Revolution has been effected….? Tavern owner Samuel Fraunces “served as steward of Washington’s New York City [1789] and Philadelphia [1790-1797] presidential households.”

Cumberland, Maryland’s Allegany Museum remembers Washington annually—with a Whiskey Rebellion Festival. On August 7, 1794, President Washington ordered all those violently opposed to the Whiskey Excise Tax, southern and western farmers especially to “put down their arms and return to their homes.”

“[W]hereas, it is in my judgment necessary… to take measures for calling forth the militia,” President Washington proclaimed, “I have accordingly determined so to do, feeling the deepest regret for the occasion, but withal the most solemn conviction that the essential interests of the Union demand it.” Washington rallied thirteen thousand troops.

“The first mention of Washington imbibing in whiskey was in October of 1794, as he planned an excursion into Pennsylvania to put down the Rebellion,” Mount Vernon said.

The weather is cooling and the leaves are changing color. Take a Covid-safe break and travel the American Whiskey Trail. [https:// americanwhiskeytrail.distilledspirits.org]

The Puritans knew the value of alcohol. They loaded more beer than water for their voyage to the New World.

Or—make Martha Washington’s favorite dinner drink at home. Excellent Cherry Bounce: “Extract the juice of 20 pounds well ripened Morrella cherries. Add to this 10 quarts of old French brandy and sweeten it with White sugar to your taste—To 5 Gallons of this mixture add one ounce of spice such as cinnamon, cloves and Nutmegs of each in Equal quantity slightly bruised and a pint and [a] half of cherry kernels that have been gently broken in a mortar—After the liquor has fermented let it stand close-stopped for a month or six weeks then bottle it remembering to put a lump of Loaf Sugar into each bottle.”

Enjoy fall; the Trail and Halloween!

About the Author: 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: abitofhistory53@gmail.com

STRONG AS

WITH THE

Going 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:

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

■ Size is an important factor. Medium pumpkins are best for pumpkin carving. Small pumpkins are better for cooking.

■ 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.

■ Do not lift or carry a pumpkin by its 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.

■ 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.

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

■ 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.

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

HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT PUMPKIN

Get the most out of your lawn this spring.

Alchemy of Earth

by David Campbell and Pauline Frechette

Alchemy of Earth begins with Pauline Frechette’s “Spring Awakening”. I was taken away by this song’s delicate progressions. It unfolds like the blooming of a flower and expresses a deep and meaningful feeling. This song is a good example of music communicating something words cannot. The light and airy feeling of “Spring Awakening” seamlessly melts into the album’s second song (“Summer Skies”). As you might expect from the title, this song has more warmth to it. As I was listening an image of sunset came to mind. It expresses all the beauty of a sky full of expansive clouds painted with glowing pink, orange, and purple light as a summer’s day comes to an end. For the album’s third track Frechette continues with her seasonal theme, delivering “Liquid Moon”. This song is one of my favorites by Frechette. It makes you feel like you’re stepping out into nature when you listen to it. “Liquid Moon” also appears on an EP by Pauline called A Winter’s Tale. For Frechette’s fourth and final installment of seasonal gems, we’re treated to the exquisite and vigorous “Ice Storm”. This song has a dark and enchanting power pulsating through it. From its mysterious and meandering melody lines to its thundering brass section.

“Ice Storm” is a piece of music that keeps your attention from beginning to end.

Legendary composer David Campbell keeps things moving with the album’s fifth track, “19th Century Entanglements”. The bustling energy of this song pulls you in and gets your blood pumping without warning. I was particularly struck by the depth of prowess that this song exudes. Every note rings with the weight and authority of a man who has mastered his craft. Campbell continues his entangled journey with the beautifully eerie “20th Century Entanglements”. The emotion of this song is somewhat ambiguous. While listening, you don’t know whether it’s taking your breath away or if it’s sending chills down your spine. It ventures to an emotional space few have managed to express with such precision and grace. Finally, we come to Campbell’s most elaborate contribution to the album, “21st Century Entanglements”. This song delivers all the bustling energy of “19th Century Entanglements” and simultaneously expresses the expansive emotion of “20th Century Entanglements”. In short, Campbell engulfs the listener in an array of sonic textures and colors that few musicians possess the wizardry to summon.

While researching Pauline I was impressed by some of the highlights of Frechette’s career. Her music has been performed by the Baltimore Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the New West Symphony and the California Contemporary Ballet Co. Furthermore, her credits include singing on major motion pictures like Aladdin, Rent, Mermaids, and recording/ performing with legendary artists like MUSE, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Leonard Cohen, Cher, and Neil Diamond. And if you want to be flabbergasted, take a look at David Campbells Wikipedia page. He has worked on over 500 albums with major artists and over 100 films. No wonder this duo’s music is so powerful!

It was an incredible experience listening to Campbell and Frechette together on this album. They are two musicians who understand what it takes to emotionally connect with an audience through music. I can’t recommend Alchemy of Earth enough. If you’d like to listen to the album you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you like to learn more about Pauline Frechette you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and at paulinefrechette.com. If you’d like to learn more about David Campbell you can find him on Instagram, Facebook, and at davidmusic.com.

About the Author: Ron Powers is an independent A&R specialist and music industry consultant and is constantly searching for, discovering and writing about new talent.

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.

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

Michael’s Little Italy 703-548-9338 305 S. Washington St. Murphys Irish Pub 703.548.1717

713 King St. murphyspub.com

These

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

The Study 703-838-8000 116 South Alfred

Two Nineteen 703.549.1141 219 King St.

Village Brauhaus 710 King St. 703-888-1951

J. K. Rowling’s Ink Black Heart

Originally published November 2020. Republished this month with an addendum about J.K. Rowling’s New Novel, The Ink Black Heart

J.K. Rowling, ranked in the top ten bestselling authors of all time, has moved far away from her Harry Potter days. Her renown from penning her beloved children’s fantasy series of seven books, plus other books related to the series, have made Harry Potter and his world of witches, wizards, and fantastic beasts a global pop culture touchstone. The Casual Vacancy, her first murder mystery, was a stand-alone novel with a nasty tone about nasty people. After this freshman effort, which had a mixed reception, Rowling decided

to create the Cormoran Strike series, a succession of blunt, psychological murder mysteries based around two private detectives, Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott.

Deciding to write under the pen name Robert Galbraith, Rowling wanted the series to sink or swim on its own merits, while signaling that these thrillers were set in a different universe than her blockbuster children’s novels. She was outed as the author, however, and the first novel subsequently shot up the bestseller list after its middling initial sales. The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, Career of Evil, Lethal White, and very recently, Troubled Blood, have profiled a provocative, evolving partnership between Cormoran and Robin, along with their private lives and hunts for

the criminals who lurk among their diverse victims.

Cormoran Strike, a former military policeman who wears a prosthesis after his leg was blown off in Afghanistan, starts a struggling detective agency. A secretarial temp assigned randomly to the office, Robin Ellacott, shows up there for a week’s work, only to be confronted with Strike’s ex-fiancée running out the door and Strike himself, who nearly knocks her down the stairs by accident. A sympathetic, personable, and organized colleague, she complements Strike’s gruff and imposing presence, bringing insights to the table as he calls in favors from London’s Metropolitan Police while interviewing suspects and witnesses

PAGE

that Strike would intimidate.

As the novels progress, Rowling develops the P.I.s’ back stories. In the first novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, Strike has just broken up with his gorgeous, wickedly funny fiancée, with whom he has had a tumultuous relationship for sixteen years. The goal of Charlotte Campbell, mentally unstable and fond of drama, is to escape responsibility. An upper-class woman with a broken home life and network of aristocratic friends, she chose Strike in college to rebel against her upbringing and fell in love with him.

After his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, the prickly, fast-food–loving Strike decides to opt out of the military and set up his own shop as a private investigator. Strike, the illegitimate son of super-groupie Leda Strike and rock star Jonny Rokeby, has grown up moving constantly. His pot-smoking mother drifts from ratty flat to ratty flat, and musician boyfriend to musician boyfriend, with her children, Strike and his conventional halfsister, Lucy. Strike’s only source of stability is his part-time childhood in Cornwall, where he has good memories and old friends, with his Uncle Ted and Aunt Joan. Dropping out of Oxford after his mother died of a heroin overdose, he gravitates towards the military police. As an MP, he learns how to organize his life and develop a methodology as he investigates crimes.

When Strike hires Robin permanently as a secretary and then a private investigator, she begins fulfilling a lifetime dream of working in criminal justice. Born in a closeknit middle-class family in Yorkshire, she had started off as a psychology major at university. After suffering trauma, she too drops out. A born investigator, she does what she can to stay with Strike, despite the low pay and potential danger. Her new fiancé and long-time accountant boyfriend, Matthew Cunliffe, finds her new profession dangerous and wants her to make more money. As they plan their wedding,

Robin starts coming into her own, developing her professional relationship with Strike and making her mark by helping to solve cases and bring in customers.

Rowling has written five novels so far and plans to write ten more in the series. Can it last that long or will it peter out? Book by book she develops Robin’s relationship and sexual tension with Strike, as they maintain a professional distance from one another while handling their personal relationships with family, friends, and lovers. How will this attraction resolve itself over that many books? I am already impatient.

The Cormoran Strike series is characterized by a deliberately rude, occasionally over-thetop focus on the detectives’ personal lives as they solve complex mysteries. As readers may have noted so far, Rowling is not a restrained author. She will hammer home a description of a person or place multiple times throughout the books, in part for the readers who haven’t read other novels in the series, and in part because that is her style. Emotions run high in the Harry Potter series, which features a developing story about pre-teens growing up to face severe adult problems. A detective series can encompass some similar emotions, and the Cormoran Strike series does.

Rowling certainly features more shades of grey than she has in her previous work. After his breakup with Charlotte, Cormoran Strike is focused on his job, not relationships. He maintains a skeptical distance from his lovers and does not always accede to their emotional needs. He is grumpy, sometimes volatile, and occasionally less complicated than he seems on the surface. He dislikes children. He is real.

Robin develops independence over time, facing her post-traumatic fears by hunting criminals with Cormoran. She evolves by shedding her need for others’ approval, maturing in the process. While playing second fiddle to Strike, she is still more likable and skillful when playing parts to find information.

If I have a complaint to make, it is that the

HAWAII

Out of the Studio and Into the Universe

Some artists create artwork as a very personal exercise to which they become very attached; others create artwork simply as a commodity and to sell it and make money – most good artists create artwork as a combination of both.

If you are an artist, chances are that you’d be interested in expanding the circle of places where your art is owned and displayed. One of my maxims has always been that the worse place for a piece of artwork is in the artist’s studio or home. It is created so that as many people a possible can enjoy it, see it, etc. That’s usually in some other folks’ walls!

Some artists love to work in a solitary setting, while many others look to congregate and become part of a group such as an artists’ group, league, cooperative, etc. There are many such groups and organizations in our area, such as the Art League in Alexandria, the League of Reston Artists, the Fairfax Art League and others… and cooperatives such as Multiple Exposures Gallery, Touchstone Gallery, etc.

One such group in our DMV area is the Montgomery Art Association (MAA) in Montgomery County, Maryland. The MAA is not active as an artists’ organization but also seeks

ART & ANTIQUES

ANTIQUES

Spurgeon-Lewis Antiques

112 N. Columbus Street

BW Art, Antiques & Collectibles 108 N. Fayette Street

Imperfections Antiques 1210 King Street

The Antique Guild 113 N. Fairfax Street

Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street

Red Barn Mercantile 1117 King Street

Washington Square Antiques 425 S. Washington Street

Susquehanna Antique Co. 608 Cameron Street

Old Town Antiques 222 S. Washington Street

Verdigris Vintage 1215 King Street

Cavalier Antiques 400 Prince Street

Sumpter Priddy III 323 S. Washington Street

Henry Street Antiques 115 S. Henry Street

Curzon Hill Antiques

108 S. Columbus Street

The Hour 1015 King Street

A Galerie 315 Cameron Street

Random Harvest 810 King Street

Acme Mid-Century + Modern 128 S. Royal Street

Van Bommel Antiek Hous 1007 King Street

Lloyd’s Row 119 S. Henry Street

GALLERIES

Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street

Principle Gallery 208 King Street

Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery 105 N. Union Street

St. George Gallery 105 N. Alfred Street

The Art League 105 Union Street

Local Colour Old Town 218 N. Lee Street

Icon Galleria

101 N. Union Street

B&B Art Gallery 215 King Street Gallery West 1213 King Street

Enamelist’s Gallery 105 N. Union Street

Printmakers, Inc. 105 N. Union Street

Kelly’s Art & Frame 510 N. Washington Street Oerth Gallery 420 S. Washington Street

Jeffrey Winter Fine Arts 110A S. Columbus Street

Johnston Matthew 105 N. Union Street

Huddy Studio 105 N. Union Street

Mezzanine Multiples 105 N. Union Street

Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street

Cochran David 105 N. Union Street

Betty Grisham Studio 105 N. Union Street

Imagine Artwear 112 King Street

innovative ways to expose their members’ artwork.

One such novel way was started about five years ago, in which MAA partners with the city of Kensington to stay a city-wide plein air painting event which stages dozens of artists throughout the picturesque DMV suburban town as well as a juried art show for its members staged at the city’s former Armory building. The three-day event, held during Labor Day weekend is called the “Paint the Town Labor Day Show & Sale.”

I was recently honored to be the juror for the 2022 version of this show, and was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the entries, both for the plein air entries as well as the other designated categories (abstract, landscape, etc.). I was also delighted to see the exceptional large amount of work which sold.

For me it is always an honor when someone parts from their hard-earned money just to acquire a piece of art which will hang on their walls and offer visual pleasure for years (and hopefully) generations to come.

This was very hard work. Why? Because as

/

12x36

Historia Est Magistra Vitae by Dora Patin

Veri Peri Macaron by Jennifer Barlow

all great shows are, this was an immensely difficult show to judge, which is a good thing! The quality of entries was uniformly superior in almost every category, and the difference between first, second, third, and even some honorable mentions was minimal. The Portrait category in particular was tough to judge as there were so many really outstanding entries. And I was especially surprised by the Kensington category – there was not a single bad entry! As always, I was honored to be able to judge and comment on work of my fellow artists.

The Best in Show selected by me was a spectacular Trompe L’oeil painting titled Historia Est Magistra Vitae, by artist Dora Patin in the Kensington category. Later on, when I met the artist (and her teacher, the great Glen Kessler – the Founder and Director of The Compass Atelier, not the other guy) I was astounded to discover that (a) she had only been painting for only five years, and (b) and she created the gorgeous work in about three weeks! Patin is clearly a gifted painter and I cannot wait to see where she goes next.

First Prize in the portrait category was I Will Conquer by Isabella Martire. What Martire does with this work is that subtle “thing” that only great portrait artists can deliver: the ability to not just capture the likeness of the subject, but also to transmit a psychological insight into them. She does that superbly in this work!

First Prize in the Still Life Category was a riot of color titled Veri Peri Macaron by Jennifer Barlow. Here the artist skillfully fools us into seeing some delicious macarons when in fact she’s flexing some enviable artistic musculature to showcase her mastery of color.

First Prize in the Abstract Category was awarded to Metamorphosis by Sandra PérezRamos. Here the artist toys with our visual interpretation of her painting. The technical definition of abstract art is essentially any kind of art that does not attempt in any form to represent any sort of recognizable external reality (which is what representational art does), but instead achieve its artistic effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.

Pérez-Ramos not only does that, but also entangles our visual senses by tempting up into trying to recognize the maternal virus thing that she has depicted – or is it a macabre being from another dimension?

Sarah Clayton Davis won the Landscape category with a sophisticated painting of a cloud formation above a body of water –simple but effective in that it allowed her to reflect the water on the bottom of the cloud, while Peijisan Art won the Sculpture category with an intelligent work titled Patchwork of Promise.

As all great shows are, this one left me happy and inspired!

About the Author: Since 2003... the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet! And with over SIX million visitors, F. Lennox Campello’s art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area.

Enid O’Rourke of the Ashfield Collection is a new artist for Imagine and you’ll be really excited to see her line of limited-edition and one-ofa-kind pieces that are locally made in Richmond, Virginia. Enid sources her luxurious fabrics from Europe and beyond to design and make her collection of jackets, coats, vests, hats and bags.

1124 King Street

(703) 548-1461

religious Mexican

day

joyous remembrance,

of

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

I Will Conquer by Isabella Martire

The Temples of Taipei

With over 12,000 temples registered across the country, it’s fair to say that religion plays a vital role in everyday life in Taiwan. In terms of pure numbers, Taiwan has one of the highest temple per capita ratios in the world. To put that statement into perspective, there are more registered temples than there are convenience stores in Taiwan (a statistic that I’m sure has the senior management team at 7-11 quaking in their boots).

That doesn’t only mean that the Taiwanese population practices a large number of common faiths in peaceful harmony (although that statement is certainly true). It also means that they take those faiths and mix them up with a hodge-podge of religious and spiritual beliefs that often overlap with native ‘folk religions’. This diversification means that a trip to Taiwan could have you visiting temples honoring Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, Mormonism, and Hinduism, in addition to the worship of divine figures as diverse as Mazu, the Earth God, and the Electric-Technco Neon Gods (yes, that’s really a thing and has nothing to do with rave music).

All in all, ‘religiously diverse’ is probably a good way to describe Taiwan and this is appropriately reflected in the temples of Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei. So, saddle up and take a quick tour of some of Taipei’s temples with me.

to honor Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, but has statutes honoring over 165 other deities (it would make for a fantastic, if somewhat challenging, treasure hunt!) and is guarded by dragons, phoenixes, and heroes from ancient Chinese folklore. There’s also a photogenic waterfall in front of the temple which makes for the perfect ‘I was here’ photo for Instagram (if you’re into that sort of thing)!

Mengjia Longshan Temple

Longshan Temple, built in 1738, is probably the most famous of Taipei’s multidenominational temples. In my opinion this isn’t necessarily because of the temple’s size or because of any particularly exciting architectural characteristics. Instead, the real draw for me is the atmosphere. I’ve visited Longshan on two separate occasions and both times it was my favorite place in the city (in fact on my last visit I spent an hour standing in the same spot transfixed by the hypnotic chanting of some 200 devotees inside the temple). If you want to sample that same atmosphere of burning incense and chanting then you’ll need to visit at 6am, 8am or 5pm when devotees gather. The temple was built

Confucius Temple

Confucius is probably best known as China’s most renowned philosopher and his teachings have gone a significant way to shaping modern day China. Taipei’s Confucius Temple combines the style of the Qufu Confucius Temple, and Southern Fujian architecture. The result is an architecturally simplistic temple (something Confucius himself very much valued) and you will see much less of the grandeur and adornment that you might see in Taipei’s other temples. The temple you’ll visit sadly only dates back to its reconstruction in 1928. Unfortunately, the original temple, which was constructed in 1879, was damaged beyond repair during the Japanese occupation and was rebuilt by Wang Yi-Shun, who also happened to design Longshan Temple. If you’re looking for more ‘enlightenment’ than a wander around the temple can provide then you might want to consider arranging a visit to the temple’s regular Chinese calligraphy and poetry classes. Carrying on the Confucian tradition of education these classes are free – in itself a great reason why the Confucius Temple is one of Taipei’s top temples.

Bao-an Temple

If you plan to visit the Confucius Temple then you have no excuse if you don’t visit the Bao-an Temple as well; after all, it’s located right next door (well, technically it’s just around the corner). Located in the Datong District this Taoist temple was constructed in a fairly humble wooden design way back somewhere between 1742 and 1760 by Fujian immigrants. Today’s temple was reconstructed

in 1805 (so not exactly a recent renovation), took 25 years to build, and was conferred UNESCO induction in 2003 for cultural heritage conservation. Architecturally, the temple is known for its stonecarved artwork; the oldest of which is located in the Sanchuan Dian (front hall) where you’ll find two dragon columns. As the 900sqft temple is dedicated to the Taoist saint, Baosheng Dadi a cultural festival is held every year to honor his birthday. Unfortunately, planning your visit around that date is somewhat difficult as it’s held on the 14th day of the 3rd moon…. nonetheless, if your trip happens to coincide with the festival then you’ll be treated to colorful parades worshipping the local agricultural gods, sweat inducing displays of firewalking, enough firecrackers to permanently damage your eardrums, and traditional cultural shows; quite the extravaganza!

Ciyou Temple

If I had to give one piece of advice for visiting Ciyou Temple, it would be to visit at night. I first visited during the day and while the temple was aesthetically pleasing it was nothing compared to visiting at night when the temple is spectacularly lit and humming with crowds from the nearby Raohe Street night market (which is a great place to grab yourself some dinner by the way). The folk temple is dedicated to the Sea Goddess, Black-Faced Mazu and, if legends are to be believed, it was constructed by a traveling monk who happened to stumble across a of Mazu followers. They worked together for ten years raising the money for the temple’s construction. Finally completed in 1753 the temple is one of the oldest in Taipei and is one of the more elaborate of Taipei’s top temples to visit.

Xingtian Temple

Having been constructed in 1967 Xingtian Temple is relatively modern when compared to Taipei’s other major temples. But what it lacks in age it makes up for in atmosphere as Xingtian is probably the busiest temple I visited in Taipei. Devoted to Guangong, a red-faced general who became deified and is worshipped as a god of war and martial arts, the temple is also one of larger temples in Taipei. The temple itself is a fairly simple design, so don’t go expecting the ornate adornments that you’ve seen on the other temples on my list. That said, the highlight of this temple (for me at least) wasn’t the temple itself, but the atmosphere created by the crowds interacting with the numerous fortune tellers and

temple vendors (who seem to be particularly adept at taking commercial advantage of the crowds). It creates a somewhat heady and hectic atmosphere that makes the temple compelling to visit, and worthy of being one of Taipei’s top temples!

If you’re keen to find more inspiring tips for Taiwan, or Taipei, then make sure to visit the takephotosleavefootprints.com website.

About the Author: Scott Dicken is a world traveler and amateur photographer on top of being employed full time at an internationally known company. His love of travel is evident – you can read more articles like this at takephotosleavefootprints.com

Bao-an Temple

Ciyou Temple

HALLOWEEN and Your Pets

Pet costumes can be as simple as a scarf or cape, or as complex as elaborate outfits with helmets and wigs. There are themed costumes like Star Wars and Disney characters, as well as other movie and television favorites. Americans spend almost $500 million on Halloween costumes for their pets according to the National Retail Federation. Pet costumes comprise 15% of the $3.2 billion spent on all costume sales.

On average, more than 30 million people purchase pet costumes. A quick internet search shows an angel costume with set of wings and halo for about $12 to a Yoda costume complete with light saber for $40 to $70, depending on the size of the dog. Not surprisingly, a pumpkin is the top pet costume: hot dogs and bumble bees take the second and third place, respectively. While it may be cute to see your furry friend dressed up to celebrate the holiday, is it a good idea?

Wearing a costume can cause stress for some animals. You should only dress up your pet if you know they

enjoy it. If you do opt for a Halloween costume, be sure to try on the costume before Halloween, ensuring it doesn’t limit movement, sight, or their ability to breathe, meow, or bark. Make sure it isn’t dangerous or simply annoying to your pet and check for small, dangling, or easily chewable pieces that could present a choking hazard. Ill-fitting costumes can get caught or twisted on external objects or on your pet, leading to injury. Pets who are wearing a costume should always be supervised by a responsible adult so if something goes wrong, it can be addressed immediately.

If your pet seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, remove the costume and try a festive collar or bandana instead. Signs of discomfort are: folded down ears, eyes rolling back or looking sideways, a tucked tail, or hunching over. Cats may start to groom themselves a lot, sit or lie very still, be more vocal or even lash out. Dogs might show they’re stressed by licking their lips, yawning or panting, or freezing still.

While it’s best to keep your pets inside for Halloween, some will accompany you on trick or treat rounds. Make sure your dog has

the proper identification and all information is up to date. Microchips are a great way to help find any pets that get lost. Cats, in particular, should stay indoors, especially black cats. Black cats are an easy target for Halloween pranksters who want to hurt unsuspecting animals. In fact, many shelters won’t adopt out black cats during the month of October as a safety precaution.

If you’re the one answering the door and dispensing candy, keep the following safety tips in mind. All but

the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-ortreating hours. While opening the door for guests, be sure that your dog or cat doesn’t dart outside. Animals can become excited or threatened by visitors, so keeping them in a separate room will both help them remain calm and ensure they don’t escape.

Halloween is the busiest time of year for the Pet Poison Helpline because pets can accidentally ingest Halloween candy or décor. As PetMD notes “All forms of chocolate—especially baking or dark chocolate—can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures.

Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and loss of coordination and seizures…. And while xylitol toxicity in cats has yet to be established, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Animals can’t remove the wrappers from candy and may try to eat them; ingesting these

PETS OF THE MONTH

By Gina Hardter

wrappers can cause choking or life-threatening bowel obstruction. If you think your animal companion has ingested something, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately. Halloween decorations also pose a threat to dogs, cats, and other animals. Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns, candles, balloons, or other decorations that they could ingest, become tangled in, or be injured by. If you are using candles to light your jack-olanterns or other Halloween decorations, make sure to place them well out of reach of your pets so they don’t burn themselves or cause a fire.

Electric/battery-powered Halloween decorations are safer than open candles, but they can still be a risk to pets: chewing on electrical cords can cause a lifethreatening electrical shock or burn, and batteries may cause chemical burns when chewed open or gastrointestinal blockage when swallowed. Shards of glass or plastic can cause lacerations externally or internally.

While glow sticks can help keep people safe on Halloween night, they can add some unwanted drama to the holiday if a pet chews one open. The liquid inside glow sticks is non-toxic, but it will

still taste bad. Pets who get a taste may drool, paw at their mouth, become agitated, and sometimes even vomit. If your pet does chew on a glow stick, offer fresh water or a small meal to help clear the liquid out of their mouth.

Pumpkin can be good for dogs and cats, but too much can cause digestive issues. And a rotting pumpkin that was hollowed out to make room for a candle may harbor harmful bacteria, causing gastrointestinal upset. Mold

can produce mycotoxins that can cause neurologic problems in dogs and cats.

Does all this mean you can’t enjoy Halloween with your best furry friend? Of course not. By taking simple, common-sense steps to protect your pet’s safety, you can both enjoy a safe and festive holiday.

About the Author: Cindy McGovern is a dedicated cat owner and King Street Cats volunteer.

Resources: www.marketwatch.com www.aspca.org/pet-care www.humanesociety.org www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 703-746-4774

alexandriaanimals.org Mon-Fri, 1-8 pm Closed Wed Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm

SPOCK

What’s so spooky about Spock?  Spock doesn’t ascribe to the theory that black cats are scary, and as a matter of fact, he thinks he might be the most hospitable houseguest you’ve ever had.  Spock has already learned a variety of tricks for some delicious treats, and he’s ready to be your new feline friend not just for Halloween but for every howliday!

Live Entertainment

Dining & Beer Garden

Local Vendors & Artisans

Adoptable Animals

Read more at PawsintheParkVA.com

Sunday, October 16, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

MCKENZIE

What’s Mckenzie dressing up as for Halloween?  How about Your Best Friend!  This couples costume includes a collar that has your name on it, a leash and a lot of toys for you both to play with.  And just like that, you are both ready for any occasion, from trickor-treating to a Halloween bash!

Schedule time to meet with

LYNN

Lynn’s favorite part of the spooky season is trick-or-treating.  Whether you are handing out carrots, apple slices, cucumbers or that Halloween classic - Timothy hay - Lynn has her tiny pumpkin bag at the ready for all the yummy snacks.

Adopt@AlexandriaAnimals.org or calling 703.746.4774 opt. 2.

Proceedsbeneft the Animal Welfare League ofAlexandria

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Hamilton at Home

“Hamilton, you are back!”

Under a sunbeam on the water’s edge in Charlestown, Nevis, historian Harvey Hendrickson reads his ode to a still-shrouded sculpture on the lawn.

A few minutes later, the bronze is revealed, and Alexander Hamilton is finally back in the place of his birth nearly 257 years after his family moved to St. Croix.

It was in Nevis that Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, must have dreamt and aspired and “as a consequence, achieved great things,” Nevis Premier Mark Brantley said.  Hamilton, whose towering life

returned to the public consciousness with the launch of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tonysweeping musical in 2015, was born on the Eastern Caribbean island in 1757, spending his early years in Nevis and then periods of his youth in St. Croix and Statia.

Hamilton’s extraordinary career included being the first secretary of the treasury, founder of the Federalist Party, founder of the US Coast Guard and arguably the father of the United States’ financial system, among other

Now that we're all working remotely Wouldn't you REALLY rather work from the beach?

Nevis Premier Mark Brantley delivering remarks at the unveiling.

achievements.

Today, Hamilton’s birthplace is a centerpiece of downtown historic Charlestown, Nevis‘ capital, home to a museum and, on the second floor, the site of the Nevis Island Assembly.

And Hamilton remains a major draw for the island, which has seen a wave of new tourism interest driven by the reinvigorated public curiosity about Hamilton; the island’s top resort, the Four Seasons Nevis, has an Alexander Suite, for example; there’s even an Alexander Hamilton Rum on sale in the museum shop.

Because it all truly did begin in tiny Nevis, and Hamilton’s Caribbean contribution was the subject of a thoughtful ceremony at the Alexander Hamilton Museum in Charlestown this past weekend, one that included a moving appearance by Hamilton re-enactor Scott MacScott.

“We, as I like to say, must agree that the United States owes Nevis a debt of gratitude,” Brantley said.

In a world where statues and their place are the subject of sometimes tumultuous

conversations, the bigger purpose of the Hamilton work  is “not to glorify but to recognize the impact that individuals from small island states can have,” said Jahnel Nisbett, director of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society.

The idea is for visitors to come to learn about Hamilton “and leave knowing more about Nevis itself and its rich history,” she said.

More broadly, the hope is to inspire young people in Nevis “of the contribution of a Nevisian, that an island this size could have contributed so much to a country the size of the United States,” Brantley said.

The life-size bronze statue, donated by Robin Sommers, is part of a series of statues by American sculptor Benjamin Victor, whose first Hamilton statue debuted at the US Coast Guard Academy in 2018.

Hamilton, set on the grass in front of his onetime home, is portrayed as a younger man to represent his youth in the Caribbean, carrying a scroll – a symbol of his skills and knowledge, said Nicole Scholet, president of the Alexander Hamilton

Awareness Society.

The series will also include statues in Statia and St. Croix, Hamilton’s other stops in the Caribbean.

And now in Nevis, Hamilton is back, peering out at the sea and the streets of Charlestown, the place that by the caprice of history drove him to one day help forge the American Republic.

“It’s a welcome addition,” Brantley said. “It reminds us that we are never limited by the station of our birth, only

by the extent of our ambition and imagination.”

Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staff contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/website at caribjournal.com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean.

149 Eagle Drive Romney, WV 304-424-0736

PotomacEagle.com

Riding the Rails on the Potomac Eagle

To get a jump on the folks seeking fall foliage in October, we hopped on the Potomac Eagle for a leisurely trip through the heart of the West Virginia Potomac Highlands and the South Branch of the Potomac River in Romney. The vintage diesel locomotive took us on a three hour round trip ride through the beautiful mountains and fields that border the South Branch of the Potomac.

The journey begins at Wappocomo Station located next to a charming homestead and a sprawling view of the mountains. Once you get out of the station, the train tracks are about 25 to 50 feet back from the river. The summer foliage that we encountered made for difficult views of the river except when the train came to the occasional clearing and then views of the rapids and kayakers were spectacular. Although the foliage was dense in some spots, by the time this column is read, fall will be upon us and the leaves will have started to turn and begin to fall. Since October and November in the West Virginia Highlands will be colder, the viewing will be much better as well as more colorful.

Soon the fields and pastures began to disappear as the mountains closed in on the river from both sides. We had entered a part of the canyon named The Trough. The Trough is a 6-mile long wooded gorge carved by the river as it continues northwestern course with several bends in the river and large boulders dislocated from the ridges above dotting its

shores. The steep slopes of the Trough are forested primarily with oaks, hickories, Virginia pine and large quantities of paw paw; with several rock outcrops visible on both sides. The two wooded ridges that define the Trough make it inaccessible from either side. Entry into the Trough is only by the South Branch Valley Railroad, by boat or on foot. The area is also well known as perfect habitat for Bald Eagles. The rock outcrops as well as tall trees make for perfect, protected nesting for the eagles and the river provides their favorite food...fish.

Soon the train crossed back over the river and came to a stop. Here passengers had a chance to move around and relocate to the open car aka Gondola or the covered open air Observatory Car

ROAD TRIP

BY BOB TAGERT

Photo Courtesy Potomac Eagle

ROMNEY, WEST VIRGINIA

All aboard! Our journey began at the Wappocomo Station in Romany.

We settled into the well-appointed Chessie Club Car to enjoy the view.

Potomac Eagle

for better viewing. Once you are on the Gondola you have to remain there until the train stops to change direction. The Observatory is available to come and go from your seat as you please during the duration. There are onboard gift shop and Snack Bar cars that are available the whole time as well. The choice of seating accommodations on the train range from benches and traditional train seats, to dining cars with tables and chairs to the club/lounge car that we sat in. Obviously, the higher the ticket price the cushier the surroundings. The bar car is in the process of being “upticked” to accommodate all that is needed to serve those aforementioned adult beverages.

Each car has a unique history and I wish I had enough room here to tell you about them. Please take the time to log on to their website and read all about their history under the “Equipment” tab.

The entire trip is accompanied by a live narration. Not only is the history interesting but the narrator can point out eagle nests on the other side of the river. Binoculars certainly make for better viewing. On our return trip we had a young bald eagle keep pace with the train as he flew alongside up the river… therefore the name Potomac Eagle.

Potomac Eagle offers 7 different types of trips with pricing at all levels so there is something for every budget. There are dining options that range from the snack bar and a box lunch to a 4 course meal served during the ride. We opted for the Trough Trip with dining at the “Superior” level which

meant for an additional $35 each we were seated in the Chesapeake & Ohio Chessie Club Car and served beverages (tea, lemonade, water at this point but they are busy working on getting their adult beverage license in place before the holiday trips roll around) and a 4 course meal. Without regaling you with all of the particulars of the trips available (All Day Trip to Petersburg, Green Spring Special, the Combo Trip and the North Pole Express during the Christmas holiday) since you can read all about them on their website at www.potomaceagle.com –we will tell you about our choice.

As we departed the station and crossed over the Potomac River we were given our beverages and received the first of our 4-course lunch for the trip. The lunch was amazingly good and the courses were spread out so we had ample time to enjoy the sights of the trip both ways. You make your food selections when you make your ticket reservations so there aren’t any surprises. Our lunch consisted of an appetizer of shrimp cocktail followed by a large, crisp wedge salad. Next came my main course of perfectly cooked Salmon and my traveling companion’s eyes about popped out of her head when she saw the size of the Cornish game hen that was on her plate. My dessert was a delicious cheese cake and hers a fresh apple tart. We both ended up getting “to-go” boxes as did everyone else seated in our car. The whole lunch was spread out over 45 minutes. It is very civilized.

I might also add that the entire staff – there are

even legitimate Conductors who punch your ticket when you board - on the train were excellent. Very efficient yet fun to interact with as if we had known each other for years.

Getting there

We took an old tried and true route. I-66 to Route 50, west to Winchester and continuing on 50 to Romney. This route was about 125 miles, however, the traffic signals on Route 50 and traffic through Winchester gets a little tedious. On our return trip we took Route 50 north through Romney, then northwest to Moorefield, picked up Corridor H (Route 48) - a true road across the mountain tops - into Wardensville. Here we stopped for a great homemade lunch at the Kac-ka-pon restaurant. From there we continued on old Route 55 to Strasburg and on to I-66 and the Beltway. The mileage was about 174 miles but we encountered only three traffic lights and two of those were in Romney. If you go out that way when the leaves are changing, take the Moorefield route. The drive is spectacular through the mountains and there is less traffic.

We found ’60s cool galore at the aptly named Koolwink Motel in Romany.

Whichever route you take, it is a good idea to find accommodations for an overnight stay. We stayed at a throwback to the era of the 60’s/70’s motel in Romney…the Koolwink. I can’t say enough about how “cool” the Koolwink Motel is. I will let the photos tell the story! Not only is it aesthetically nostalgic, the price is right too! We will stay there again! Actually we're thinking about heading back there for a ride on the North Pole Express. There is some talk about an “Adults Only” ride during the holidays with a “Nightcap with Santa” theme. Now that is right up our alley.

The open air gondola and observation cars offer great views of the river and nesting eagles.

For the ultimate fall color tour you

disaplponted with your journey on the Potomac Eagle.

It’s Show Time on the Bay

I remember the days when we wouldn’t miss a sailboat boat show that went down within our commuting area unless the weather was close to hurricane status. Those were the days when my pal was on the hunt for a “bigger” boat and I was really fond of having every latest *saily gadget for the galley and just the right splash jacket for the hanging locker. Not to mention seeing the latest and greatest in bottom paint, boat soap and other fancy cleaning gadgets and potions. Moving on to present day (15+ years)….I am still using many of the *saily gadgets and I definitely need a new splash jacket and the “bigger” sailboat could really use some of the latest and greatest in paint, soap and potions. This all being said, I believe we will head to Annapolis for the Sailboat Show this year. In full disclosure, we spend quite a bit of time in this Sailing Capital and it is one of my favorite places in the United States!

I enlisted the help of our pals at Annapolis Boat Shows to get the scoop on the 2022 events. See below:

The boating world will once again rejoice as fall approaches and visitors from the U.S. and abroad return to Annapolis for two iconic boat shows, the United States Powerboat Show (Oct. 6-9) and United States Sailboat Show (Oct. 13-17). This year,

in addition to celebrating the return of international travel, the Annapolis Boat Shows will celebrate the 50th United States Powerboat Show.

Each year, the team from the Annapolis Boat Shows transforms Annapolis Harbor into a floating showcase of new models of boats and innovative products. This year, the boat shows will again have an impressive lineup of new and premiering boats. Shoreside exhibit areas and tents will feature nautical

accessories and services, top educational courses will return, and vacation charter companies will be onsite to answer questions and book vacations.

This perfect destination showcases beautiful brick-lined streets filled with art galleries, a variety of apparel, antique shops, and specialty boutiques. Restaurants for every palate line the streets providing visitors easy access to refuel after

Taste award winning wines at the Port of Leonardtown Winery

Explore the galleries showcasing local artists in Southern Maryland’s only Arts & Entertainment District. Stay overnight and make it a weekend getaway!

Dine on the square at an outdoor cafe.

Enjoy a sunset along Breton Bay

Photo courtesy of Josh Davidson

24 October 2022 Old Town Crier FROM THE BAY LANI GERING The Annopolis Boat Show transforms Annapolis Harbor into a haven for boat-lovers throughout the mid-atlantic.

a day of fun at the show. One of the perfect ways to experience the show is by extending your stay. Whether a staycation or weekend getaway, Annapolis offers a variety of accommodations to fit every budget. Provided by Annapolis’ own DMO, Visit Annapolis, overnight attendees can awake from their quaint downtown stay and hop on a free shuttle to the main gates of the show each day.

Tickets are available on the Annapolis Boat Shows website. Admission starts at just $22 for general admission when you purchase in advance. Tickets to the VIP Experience, presented by LaVictoire Finance, are also available for the entirety of the shows. This premier ticket provides an enhanced experience at the show featuring reserved parking close to the gate, delicious buffets, and all-day drink tastings in a relaxed and comfortable area.

OCTOBER 6-9, 2022

City Dock, Annapolis, MD

The City Docks of Annapolis are buzzing with excitement as an enthusiastic crowd of boat lovers returns to celebrate the 50th show anniversary of the United States Powerboat Show. Spend the day exploring a variety of new and used boat types including Bowriders, Center Consoles, Cruisers, Cuddy Cabins, Deck Boats, Power Catamarans, and many more. This is the best place to purchase boating supplies, navigation equipment, fishing gear, clothing, and marine accessories. Come for the show and leave with a lifestyle.

OCTOBER 13-17, 2022

City Dock, Annapolis, MD

From a seasoned sailor to a first time boat buyer, the United States Sailboat Show offers everything a boater needs. Every October, sailors from around the globe gather on miles of docks in beautiful downtown historic Annapolis to experience hundreds of new and premiering boats, boating gear and accessory exhibitors, financing options, all while enjoying tasting tents and the time to connect with fellow boaters. If you are looking to experience the ultimate sailing experience, this show is a must-visit show.

Sooo….if you have any affinity for the water and a vessel to traverse it, one or both of these shows are the place to be to satisfy your every need. I hope to see you there while I am on the lookout for those 2022 *saily gadgets and some new sailor girl apparel.

*Anything with non-skid on the bottom or on a gimbal.

Fall Fun For All

October’s bright blue skies, moderate temperatures and brilliant colors make it the ideal month to plan a day trip to the Blue Ridge for leaf peeping and more. Many annual festivals and events that have not been held for the past two years because of the pandemic restrictions are now back and open for you to enjoy.

ORLEAN DAY is Saturday, October 8th this year at the Orlean Market and Pub, 6855 Leeds Manor Rd., Marshall (it is actually 10 miles south of the actual town of Marshall). This historic country store/ restaurant/gas station is the heart of the pretty little village in the foothills overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and is host to Orlean Day, a free, family friendly event with activities for children and adults alike. There will be face painting and a bouncy castle for the little ones and a fitness obstacle course for both children and adults. Live music will play all day and good food will be available onsite.

For those who enjoy steeplechasing, there are three good ones to attend this fall locally. THE VIRGINIA FALL RACES will be held this year on Saturday, October 8 at Glenwood Park in Middleburg. Gates open early for the fox hunter championship finals and post time for the first race is at 1 pm. More information is at vafallraces.com On October 22, The International Gold Cup races will be held at Great Meadow in The Plains; advance ticket sales and information can be found at VaGoldCup.com . The racing season closes on November 5th with the Montpelier Races held at the lovely and historic Montpelier estate near Gordonsville. MontpelierRaces.org has details. Advance purchase of tickets is strongly recommended, visit the websites for more information.

Another popular event is the FAUQUIER FARM TOUR,

scheduled this year for the busy weekend of October 8. Several farms will be open to the public that day featuring beef cattle, miniature horses, alpacas, hay rides, farm equipment, orchards, vineyards and more. If you can’t make it to the tour, there are farmers markets - including some with corn mazes for the youngsters - that are open all month long into November. FauquierAg.com has information on the farm tour. The local farmers markets are open into November, but call ahead or check the websites for hours/days of operation. Corn mazes can be found at the BUCKLAND FARM MARKET (BucklandFarmMarket. com) located on the southbound side of Rt. 29 just over the Prince William County line; at MAPLETREE FARM (MapletreeVa.com) and at the MESSICK’S FARM MARKET (MessicksFarmMarket.com) please note there are charges for these; check out the websites or call for information/hours of operation.

Get out there and enjoy some big fun in Hunt Country.

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Meet Us at Harry’s Place!

The Light Horse Restaurant and Bar

restaurants have previously occupied this space and I tended bar at one of those when I was in my late 40’s and I’m 75 now...it has been “you do the math” many years ago. Times have changed and so did the restaurant but the building at 715 King that is home to The Light Horse holds many fond memories for me.

A bit of history….The Light Horse Restaurant and Bar has been here for over 13 years and was named after Henry “Harry Light Horse” Lee, the father of Robert E. Lee. The restaurant is a haven for the younger professional crowd, but as you can tell from the first paragraph, we made a visit to this popular watering hole and restaurant for a change of pace and we are a bit on the older side of the professional spectrum.

As with many months, we were getting way close to deadline and didn’t have any idea what restaurant we were going to highlight in this space. Ms. Gastronome decided she wanted a change of pace to do some brainstorming so she decided to hit Happy Hour at the Light Horse and I joined her. While we were sitting at the bar (it is beautiful by the way) contemplating who we should highlight in the October issue, the proverbial light went on. Why not feature where we were sitting?

Although the Light Horse is relatively new to Old Town, three

The ground floor is home to the main dining area and a large bar, with several high tops with both booth and chair seating and a one piece winding table in the middle of the dining area. Not sure how to describe it. Check out the photo. There is still ample seating for a good sized crowd but I imagine the quarters get pretty tight on a busy winter weekend when the sidewalk dining is closed. There is additional dining on the second floor with a smaller bar and parlor type games to one side offering games like skeeball, shuffleboard and other interactive games. On weekends the dining area becomes a dance floor with a live band. The upstairs is the party place!

The menu here is formidable without being overwhelming. Appetizers and small plates consist of

20 items ranging from Bacon Wrapped Dates, Bourborn BBQ Meatballs, Cajun Crab Dip and Fried Calamari to Mussels, Surf & Turf Skewers and Candied Bacon. We split the Surf & Turf Skewer and the Candied Bacon. Both were great and the Candied Bacon is fantastic. The soup, salad and sandwich offerings cover all of the bases with something for everyone. A couple offerings really stood out to us and we are looking forward to trying them in the future. They have a Bruschetta Menu that has 6 types with the option to create your own and the

Build Your Own Mac N Cheese – can’t go wrong with either of these!

The Entrees are also varied from Bone-In Pork Chop, Pan Seared Salmon and Seafood Mixed Grill to Chicken Breast Under a Brick and Seafood Linguini. The restaurant also offers both food and beverage specials every night as well. Tuesday is Prime Rib night for $20. Now that’s a deal!

I am a big fan of Grilled Swordfish and on this particular night it was on the specials menu, so I jumped at

The Light Horse

the chance. The swordfish was a generous portion and grilled just right. It reminded me of many nights of grilling my own swordfish but with better seasoning. It was served on top of vegetable couscous that was flavorful and a nice portion as well and the roasted tomato & habanero salsa that topped it off brought all of the flavors together. It was served with grilled yellow squash - another one of my favorites - that was cooked perfect, a little al dente for that firm texture.

Ms. Gastronome got a little carried away with the appetizer so she thought she would “just have a sandwich”. Well….the Steak Sandwich – shaved ribeye topped with Monterrey Jack cheese and caramelized onions and served with beef au jus and horseradish cream – was enough for two people and the sweet potato fries she ordered to accompany it were plentiful as well. Needless to say, half of her meal came home in a box.

Light Horse also offers a large selection of craft beers, a nice wine list and a classic whiskey bar. They also hand craft their specialty cocktails. I selected their Black Fox consisting of Copper Fox Rye, Blackberry Black Peppercorn Syrup, Aquafaba, Lemon Juice, Grated Nutmeg and Salt. Although a little fancy, it was very good.

The Light Horse hosts happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 pm. They offer 12 food specials from $5 to $8 Natchos and a $9 Burger. Libations offer $1 to $5 off with the $5 Tito’s being very popular. Even though the bar is spacious, it is a good idea to get there early.

Brunch is offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Serving from 11am – 3 pm on Friday and 11 am – 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. We think this may be one of the few places in Old Town that has a Friday brunch. Good to know!

With the fall weather arriving, the Light Horse patio is ideal for Al Fresco dining in Old Town. Open 7 days a week at 11 am except for Monday when they open at 4pm. On weekends the music starts at 9pm.

Fall Classic: The Caramel Apple

It is said that the first caramel apple was created in the 1950s when a Kraft Foods employee named Dan Walker discovered the recipe when he experimented with excess caramels from Halloween sales. He melted the caramels down and dipped the apples, and as they say – the rest is history.

Caramel apples are one of the ultimate fall treats! This is a foolproof recipe that is nearly impossible to mess up and it makes perfectly tempting and tasty caramel apples that are great for holidays, parties and gifting.

The easiest caramel apple recipe! Made with just three ingredients, plus toppings if you want to make them extra special. One of the ultimate fall treats! Perfect for gifting

and parties. Makes 7 caramel apples (about 3 servings per apple).

Ingredients

7 small granny smith apples (about 2 1/4 lbs)

• 15 oz. caramels, such as Werther’s Chewy*

• 3 Tbsp heavy cream

• Various toppings, optional

Instructions

Rinse and thoroughly dry apples with a paper towel. Insert a caramel apple stick*. Having toppings ready if you’ll be adding some to apples.

Line a 13 by 9-inch baking sheet or baking dish with a sheet of parchment paper, spray parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray, set in the fridge.

Place caramels and heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl (about 5 cup size bowl)*.

Heat in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well between intervals, until melted and smooth. This will take about 2 - 3 minutes. If

caramel is extra runny let it cool just briefly so it doesn’t run right off the apples.

Dip apples one at a time into caramel on an angle so it covers nearly to the top center. Rotate and turn to coat apple. Lift apple and let excess run off, then run bottom of apple along inside edge of bowl to remove excess caramel. Lift apple and turn apple upside down to let caramel run up the apple a little then immediately roll in toppings (or sprinkle with toppings) before caramel sets.

Turn apples upright and place on prepared baking sheet in fridge, repeat process with remaining apples. As needed reheat caramel in microwave in 15 second increments for a runny, dipable consistency.

Allow caramel to set completely, about 30 minutes in the fridge (you can eat them before this but if you want caramel to firm back up the wait the 30 minutes). Cut apples into slices just when ready to enjoy so they don’t brown.

TOPPING IDEAS

We like to use crushed Oreos, chopped candy bars such as Butterfingers, chopped nuts such as peanuts or pecans, crushed graham crackers with ground cinnamon, mini M&M’s, sprinkles, shredded coconut, crushed pretzels, a little sprinkle of flakey sea salt, or marshmallow bits.

DINING GUIDE

AMERICAN

1799 PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD 110 S. Pitt Street 571-404-6001

ADA'S ON THE RIVER 3 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1400

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970

BLACKWALL HITCH 5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090

BOB & EDITHS 1743 King Street 703-664-0043

CAFE 44 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644

CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442

CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080

CITY KITCHEN 330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com

EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051

EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street 703-299-0894

FIVE GUYS 725 King St. 703-549-7991

FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342

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

GRATEFUL KITCHEN 727 N. Henry Street

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

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

HOPS 'N SHINE 3410 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-566-1509

HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355

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

JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue Alexandria 703-436-0025

LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533

LORI'S TABLE 1028 King Street 703-549-5545

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

MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117

MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street 703-548-8800 mason-social.com

MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com

NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032

OAK STEAKHOUSE 901 N. St. Asaph St. 703-840-3395

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

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

THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street 571-257-8851

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

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

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

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

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

SLATERS MARKET 1552 Potomac Greens Dr. 703-548-3807

SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550

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

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

SWEETGREEN 823 King St. 571-319-0192

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S BBQ & HOPS 510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street 703-838-8000

T.J. STONES GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com

TOASTIQUE GOURMET TOAST & JUICE BAR 1605 King Street 571-312-1909

UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com

VIRTUE GRAIN & FEED 106 South Union St. 571-970-3669

VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & THE HI-TIDE LOUNGE 101 North Union St. 703-935-8890

THE WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL 214 King St. 703-683-6868 warehouseoldtown.com

ASIAN

ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515

INDOCHEN 1625 King Street (571) 404-6050

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street 571-319-0794

KISSO ASIAN BISTRO 300 King Street 703-888-1513

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600

NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848

SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458

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

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

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

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

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

CONTINENTAL

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

BRABO 1600 King St. 703-894-3440

LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661

FONTAINES CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

TWO NINETEEN RESTAURANT 219 King St. 703-549-1141

ITALIAN

ALDO'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 2850 Eisenhower Avenue (behind the building) 703-888-2243

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

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

FRANK PEPE NAPOLETANA PIZZERIA 3231 Duke Street Alexandria Commons 703-719-2035

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

LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com

LENA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086

MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 100 King Street 703-997-5300

MICHAEL’S LITTLE ITALY 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338

PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287

RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873

MEDITERRANEAN

BARCA PIER & WINE BAR 2 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1100

TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com

PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194

DELIAS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. 703-329-0006

VASO'S MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1118 King Street 703-566-2720

VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747

SEAFOOD

HANKS OYSTER BAR 818 N St. Asaph 703-739-HANK

FISH MARKET-OLD TOWN 105 King St. 703-836-5676 fishmarketoldva.com

THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834

WHISKEY & OYSTER 301 John Carlyle 703-567-1533

INDIAN

DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd. 703-660-6085

DIYA 218 North Lee, 2nd Floor 703-706-5338

KISMET MODERN INDIAN 111 North Pitt Street 703-567-4507

NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615

MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN

CASA TEQUILA (next to Crate & Barrel) 1701 Duke 703-518-5312

CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438

DON TACO TEQUILA BAR 808 King St. 703-988-3144

LOS CUATES RESTAURANT 1116 King Street 703-548-2918

LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290

LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167

TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226)

TEQUILA & TACO 540 John Carlyle Street 703-721-3203

URBANO 116 116 King Street 571-970-5148

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

October’s Haunted Wineries and Spooky Ghost Tours

Those visiting Old Town Alexandria in the evening will occasionally come across a lantern-wielding guide decked-out in late 18th-century clothing, weaving a tale of spooky stories and little-known local facts. These Ghost Tours have long been a staple for tourists looking to combine history and entertainment.

A number of Virginia wineries have similar events. Several are positioned near old battlefields, or use old manor homes as their tasting rooms. Even wineries that lack paranormal activity (that they know of) get into the act.

So if you’re a wine lover and want to try something both fun and a little spooky, here are a few places to visit this October.

The Winery at Bull Run Centerville, Virginia

Bull Run is close to Manassas Battlefield, the first major engagement of the Civil War. Union General William Sherman used this property (then called Hillwood Estate) as a headquarters, and the property was later used as a field hospital. The tasting room displays relics from this era.

Bull Run has been investigated by paranormal investigators who have stated the property is indeed haunted. The staff can attest to this, with stories ranging from hearing their names whispered in empty rooms to items being thrown off of tables.

Tour director Colleen Corrado explained, “There is an energy here that you can’t explain, that justifies a rational explanation. That’s what hauntings are – energy that remains. There is a common occurrence of the unexplainable.”

Bull Run has a ghost tour, but the emphasis isn’t on cheap scares. Instead, this is an intellectual ghost tour, as

“the spirits of the battlefield come to life and tell you their stories.”

Tours October 3rd – November 6th.

Tickets include a Winery at Bull Run logo glass, a wine tasting, exclusive access to the winery after hours, and special deals on mulled wine + branded mug combos.

The Winery at La Grange Haymarket, Virginia

Visitors will be immediately impressed by this late 18th century manor house-turned tasting room. While the building saw many occupants, the most famous owner was Benoni Harrison. Benoni purchased the property in 1827 and lived here till he died in 1869.

Granite Heights Winery Opal, Virginia

Granite Heights may not have a spectral presence but it does have a Ghost Tour led by owners Toni and Luke Kilyk. The tasting room is an older house that was converted into a area for guests to enjoy their wine (make sure to ask for their Lomax red blend).

This tour involves several Halloween scenes that involve your wine tasting as part of the story. Every year Toni and Luke change the narrative to keep the event fresh. Last year it revolved around a story about Frankenstein, who was after their Cabernet Franc grapes.

Expect scares during this tour. You will scream, you will laugh – but don’t spill your wine!

Tours October 21st & 22nd and 28th & 29th. Tickets include the tour and a tasting.

Benoni and his wife Catherine didn’t exactly get along. As the story goes, Benoni said something rude to her at a social event, and she retaliated by “spanking him like a child” in front of their guests. After that Benoni had additional fireplaces installed, as he refused to share a hearth with her.

According to paranormal investigators this winery is haunted, although the ghosts are benign. One story revolved around mysterious piano music from an instrument Benoni once owned but was sold long ago.

Not only that, Benoni’s ghost is allegedly still bound to the property. For many years the staff placated him with an offering of wine placed on the mantelpiece behind the tasting bar, the contents of which would disappear faster than normal evaporation can explain.

Price: $20 for a tasting – although club members can enjoy periodic “Benoni Day” special library wine tastings.

Stephens City, Virginia

Valerie Hill’s manor house tasting room was built in 1807. This building saw a range of activity over the centuries, ranging from being used as a Civil War hospital, a farm, and a private residence.

The winery was the subject of a February 2022 episode of “Ghost Hunters”. During their visit the team not only recorded mysterious phenomena but also used cadaver dogs to search the area for unmarked graves.

Several sets of ghosts are said to inhabit the property, perhaps including slaves who perished from a typhoid outbreak and Civil War soldiers who died of their injuries after the Battle of Cedar Creek. But the most well-known ghost story involves Benedict Rust.

Benedict was the nephew of Peter and Elizabeth Rust, who kept the mentally ill Benedict locked in the cramped attic. Benedict apparently lived the rest of his life there; his death was never recorded.

Visitors and staff have reported a range of mysterious events. One recurring theme involves women with ponytails, who claim their hair was tugged while standing at the tasting bar. Valerie Hill also hosts periodic dinners which go into detail on the house’s paranormal activity.

Valeriehillwinery.com for current dinner & ghost tour pricings.

Author: Matthew Fitzsimmons is a blogger who has visited nearly every winery in Virginia – most of them twice. Track his progress at https:// winetrailsandwanderlust.com/.

Valerie Hill Winery

Is it real or just your imagination? Some say Bull Run is haunted. Visit the Winery at Bull Run and find out for yourself.

October in Luckettsland

That autumn feel is in the air!

The harvesting of the crops, the cool evenings, and the changing leaves all help to create a season that makes our Virginia countryside an iconic setting for a fall experience.

Out here in Lucketts, just north of Leesburg, October seems to be our busiest month of the year. I refer to

Lucketts as Luckettsland: “From the merge to the bridge, and from the river to the Ridge.” We have fabulous farm stands throughout the year but fall brings out more of the color, produce and decor that you can take home. Apples and apple cider, pumpkins, gourds, mums, and cornstalks all

help to give that seasonal feel to our region and home. The autumn leaves on the hillsides highlight feel of the season. Our antiques stores have truly put us on the map, and the themes of each vendor or venue show each one’s creativity and personality. Hopefully that inspires your own creative drive to bring home some decor, the handcrafted plant stand and the plant that goes with it. The produce for your

meal and the fruit for the homemade applesauce you used to make with grandma are here in Luckettsland for you to experience and bring home.

One of our attractions here in Lucketts is Temple Hall Farm Park. This is a great venue for the kids as it has a play land element along with a bit of education. They have a variety of farm animals as well as farm activities specific for the month of October. Pumpkin picking, hayrides and more will make help to make some great memories for the kids as well as for the adults.

October has been Virginia Wine Month for as long as I can remember. Because the wineries are farms that need certain types of land to grow grapes, they are naturally picturesque and often established in the rolling hillsides. The wineries are harvesting their grapes at this time, so your chances of seeing some grape picking

Pearmund Cellars

or processing is much greater this month. If you really want to get in on the “making” part of the wine, call your winery ahead of time and see if they can accommodate. During the week is usually a better time for this as many of the smaller wineries are

coordinating space and staffing on the weekends for customers. Some wineries will offer special tastings or events in order to take advantage of this month. We certainly hope you will support us this month by bringing home an extra bottle or two for holiday events and for sharing with friends.

Vanish Brewery

www.vanishbeer.com

Barnhouse Brewery www.barnhousebrewery.com

The Old Lucketts Store www.luckettstore.com

Brossman’s Family Farm www. brossmansfarm.com

Hope Flower Farm and Winery www. hopeflowerfarm.com

Loudounberry Farm Stand www.loudounberry.com

Roots 657 www.roots657.com

The Cottage www.luckettscottage.com

On a Whim www.facebook.com/pinksilo/ Rust and Feathers www. rustandfeathers.com

Fabbioli Cellars www.fabbioliwines.com

The Vineyards and Winery at Lost Creek www.lostcreekwinery.com

Hidden Brook Winery www.hiddenbrookwinery.com

EagleTree Vineyards www.eagletreevineyards.com

Bleu Frog Vineyard www. bleufrogvineyards.com

Temple Hall Farm www.novaparks.com

There are many more places to explore, so make a day of it—or a weekend! Our businesses are here to offer our products and experiences for you and your family, and this is the time of year when we really shine. Enjoy the visit!

Celebrate Virginia Wine Month

October is Virginia Wine Month. Pick a vineyard or a weekend. Plot out the perfect itinerary or follow wherever the road takes you to explore the shifting landscape and extraordinary wines of Virginia.

Harvest Party is Saturday, October 15th. This home-grown holiday is a day to toast the richness of our region. There are so many ways to celebrate— attend a dinner at a local winery or host your own, stock up on wine and take advantage of exclusive deals and local bundles. The Harvest Party is a chance to celebrate the bounty of harvest and the hard work of farmers and vineyard crews across the state that get our local fruit into your glass. What’s happening here is bigger than a drink. At the heart of Virginia Wine is a community of farmers

perfecting their own agricultural art. They don’t bend to trends—they listen to their land, crafting wines that embody the grace, grit and experimental spirit of Virginia.

What to look for

Celebrations are occurring across the state this October. Enjoy the month at celebrations near you. Visit harvestpartyva.com for details and happenings.

Kick-off the month by entering in a giveaway on @vawine Instagram.

Share your Virginia Wine Month / Harvest Party pictures on social media— tag us @vawine and use the hashtags #vawinemonth, #harvestpartyva, #vawine for a chance to be featured.

Here are just a handful of the spots to enjoy the autumn experience in Lucketts:

The Long Journey of the IPA

“When a brewer says, ‘This has more hops in it than anything you’ve had in your life— are you man enough to drink it?’ It’s sort of like a chef saying, ‘This stew has more salt in it than anything you’ve ever had—are you man enough to eat it?’”

—

My friends joke about how easy it is to find me in a bar. All you need to do is listen. It’s true, that’s why it’s funny. My mom always told me that my voice carries, which is a nice way of saying that I’m loud. In elementary school, I was the kid who got in trouble whenever the teacher left the room. I would be admonished when they returned. “Timmy Long, I could hear you all the way down the hall!” I wanted to be quiet. I just didn’t have the ability. My wife often leans over to me and says, “Honey, inside voice.’

If you ever do find me in a bar, again, which is not hard to do, you may catch me staring at the beers taps. I am often in awe of beer taps. Those taps reflect the choices of the bar manager who set them up. My awe is not always a good sign. Sometimes it’s like looking at a car wreck. It can be a real “What were you thinking?” moment. They think that they have a variety of beers on tap, but what they have is a variety of IPAs.

Ah yes, the IPA, the Indian Pale Ale. The over-hopped little darling of the American craft beer industry. It’s been the favorite of American brewers, and bar managers, from the beginning of the craft beer trend. This coveted style of beer has gone through quite a long journey. From its humble beginnings in 19th century England to the 21st century roller coaster ride on which the American brewers have taken it.

IPAs, by definition, are over-hopped beers.

Master Brewer of Brooklyn Brewery in 2008

And even the mere mention of hops can make many beer drinkers think of only one word, bitter. As I wrote last year in an article titled “Give Me Hops, But Don’t Give Me Bitter Death”:

“Over-hopped beer can be very bitter. It also raises the specter of beer elitism. We envision brew pub bars packed with man-bun-wearing millennials sipping from a flight of five small glasses in front of them while they are taking notes, discussing aromas, and comparing flavors. Hops is a natural preservative and does not need to be bitter.”

As stated above, hops don’t have to create bitter flavor. The addition of hops can lead to many different flavors, aromas, and characteristics, depending on how the hops are treated. But people will continue to associate hops with bitterness. Why? Because most of the IPAs made in the early days of the craft beer trend were bitter. And many beer enthusiasts drank them and pretended to love them even though they probably didn’t. It could be a test of strength to finish one. Brew pubs were full of puckered-lipped men and women stating, “I love this beer!” It was a pathetic sight. IPAs were new, and so was this craft beer trend. However, the IPA did change the industry and signified a reversal in our beer tastes. Americans drank bitter lagers up until the early 1960s, when the mass producers began sweetening their beer. This trend held until the 1990s, when the

craft beer exploded onto the local markets. We should all be grateful to the IPA. It changed everything. It inspired the creativity of American brewers who spent decades experimenting and creating new forms. Today, there are now too many types of IPA to count. For this article, we’ll go with the list of nine basic ones found on Beermerchants. com, a great resource for beer lovers. Below are the basic IPAs you’ll find your local bars today, along with several variations. Get out there and enjoy these great beers. And talk to your local brewer about them. You’ll be fascinated by the ingenuity used in creating these marvels.

English IPA

This is the grassy, earthy, citrusy original. The beer that could make the trip from England to India. The preservative oils in the hops would keep the beer fresh during its long journey. I love it. I guess I’m just nostalgic.

West Coast IPA

This bitter bandit was invented in California and inspired by the English IPA and American hops. This IPA is not for everyone. It can be very bitter and with a strong citrus aroma that can verge on piney, dank, and weed-like smells. This IPA is an acquired taste.

East Coast IPA

We do everything better on the East Coast don’t we? I like to think so. This IPA is based on the West Coast IPA, but the east coast brewers use different yeasts. Instead of a bland natural yeast, they use a variety of British yeasts that add flavors like fruit, banana, and tropical notes. But they aren’t for the faint of heart.

Double IPA and Triple IPA

Because a regular IPA just isn’t bitter enough, let’s add even more hops for even heavier smells and drier finishes. The triples can top 12% ABV. Brewers often add more malt to calm the taste and add unique flavors and aromas. These two super IPAs are very popular beers.

Session IPA

This is a more casual IPA. It’s much less of a hop hit and lower in ABV than the others. These dry-hopped wonders give you the maximum amount of aroma with the least amount of bitterness. The Session IPA is very drinkable and full-flavored, a great all day football watching beer.

Black IPA

This beer, arguably not an IPA, is also known as a Cascadian Dark Ale. It’s named for both the region in the US where it was invented and the hops that was used. The idea was to create a beer that looked like a stout but tastes like a West Coast IPA. This full bodied and clean tasting beer is a delight on any afternoon, or evening.

Belgian IPA

When “Belgian” is added to the name of a beer, it usually means it was made with Belgian yeast. But many brewers will add the name when they use Belgian hops as well. These beers can be fruity, spicy, citrusy, or funky. It all depends on what the brewer uses to make it.

Grapefruit IPA

The grapefruit flavor can come from the hops, but some brewers add grapefruit juice. The fruit adds a wonderful grapefruit aroma plus an acidity that brings the IPA close to being a sour. This beer can be delightfully fruity, clean, and bitter

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator.

Email: tlong@belmarinnovations.com.

Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy.

Blog: What is that fly doing in my soup?

http://whatflyinmysoup.com

Tim’s

Angels Envy Bourbon

The mash is 72% corn, much higher that the required 51% for bourbon. This, and the fact that this bourbon is finished in ruby port casks, makes it the perfect early Fall bourbon. I enjoy the port sweetness of this whiskey.

For some strange reason, it works with sweetness of the bourbon. The flavors blend and one does not overpower the other. The aroma has oak, berries, and baking spices. The taste is vanilla, apples, maple syrup and cocoa on the front with bananas and vanilla on the back. This is a smooth and lovely whiskey. At 86 Proof and $45 per bottle, it’s an easy addition to your whiskey collection. If you are a regular reader of this column, I’ll assume that you have whiskey collection.

Nub 460 Habano

Whiskey and RecommendationsCigar

Nubs are fun and unique cigars produced by Oliva. The 460s are 4 inches long with a 60 gauge. This short cigar is developed to let the smoker start in the flavorful middle, instead of having to wait for the cigar to develop. The Habano is one of my favorites. It’s a darker cigar that has a glossy milk chocolate appearance, but not a heavy taste. It has a rich creamy character with hints of peanut and baked bread. The aftertaste is smokey with a touch of spice. Another perfect early Fall indulgence to go with your IPA and Angels Envy Bourbon. Enjoy. This cigar, and many other fine cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist 215 King St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Fall Beauty Trends

The trends for the season seem like a repeat of the trends from last fall. The themes are the same – bold, rich, 80’s inspired. The main difference is the extent to which the trends have skewed to garner attention and make a statement.

EYES: Eyes are the focus this season. Wild eyes are the best way to describe them. The big trend are cat-like eyes made by drawing eyeliner past the corners of the eyes and out to the temples. Many may remember this look in the 80’s. However, what makes this more modern is it is paired with bold colors in shades of red, orange, violet and yellow. But, for a smoldering eye, hues of black, blue, brown or gunmetal still remain a trend.

Other wild trends for eyes this fall are glittery eyelids, blue eye shadow, and under-eye accents. Glittery eyelids are paired with the cat inspired look. Blue eye shadow is making a comeback on its own without further amplification. It is also shown paired with cat-like eyeliner. Under-eye accents, inspired by Twiggy, are making a different appearance. This look is achieved by applying jeweled accents and extra long eyelashes to the lower lashes to create a wide-eyed and doeeyed look.

BROWS: If the eyes are the picture, think of the brows as the frame. And, framing these wild eyes is the key to being on point with this trend. This season, brows are well defined and well groomed. Groomed brows should not have a hair

out of place. If bald spots exist, the groomed brow is drawn on and filled in to achieve perfection.

LIPS: The look of lips this season can only be described as extreme – opposite ends of the spectrum. On one end of the spectrum are bold, red lips paired best with a subtle eye. On the other end are pale lips, which are a better pairing with this season’s wild eyes. The subtle lips have little to no color almost blending in with the one’s skin tone.

CHEEKS: Quite simply, cheeks are rosy. In some instances, the chiseled cheek look is making a quiet comeback. This is achieved by swooping check color along the cheekbone and up toward the temple.

NAILS: While it is always wise to choose the color that best matches your skin tone, for those that are uber style conscious, knowing the trends can chart the course for the season. Shades of gray, beige and metallic gold and silver hit the runways with force this season as the newest trends for nails. Half-moon and reverse French manicure are also among the new trends. Older favorites such as intense reds and shades of black and navy are still very current.

HAIR: Hair has taken on new heights and a new attitude. Up dos and buns are reaching for the sky. These new dos conjure images of Spiderman leaping tall buildings at a single bound. These up dos and buns are not all about structure and height. Many are disheveled and loose in an attempt to look like it was thrown up in a hurry and without much thought. Also trendy is wavy, long hair - seeming to be the antithesis to the up do look. To get this trend right, the waves hit low, starting around and below ear-level.

The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Trainer

Many 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 one-hour 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 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.

It’s All About the Latissimus

Dorsi

Welcome back all you faithful readers! October’s exercise is the “Lat Pulldown”. This exercise strengthens the largest muscle group of the back called the latissimus dorsi. A wide grip will help make this muscle work even harder which is why a longer bar is more beneficial. In this example, I used a Fitball to sit on. Most lat pull machines will have an adjustable seat and/or knee pads to anchor your legs during the pull down. Traditionally, this exercise was performed by pulling the bar behind the head and neck. I recommend pulling the bar to the front side of the body to protect the head, neck, and shoulders from potential injury.

Whether you use a Fitball or not, the start position should look like Figure 1. A wide, overhand grip (as opposed to underhand used for a chin-up) should be utilized with your upper body slightly leaned back. Keep good posture and don’t let your lower back “round out”. Pull the bar down toward the upper chest – Figure 2. A common mistake is to pull the bar down past

the chest into the lap. If you can do this before the weight stack hits the top, you need to select a heavier resistance.

Try to touch the bar on your upper chest. It’s obvious that you need to use your arms to perform the pull down, however, you should also focus on using your back by squeezing the shoulder blades together, especially once the bar passes the chin. Maintain the same body position as you did when you started, meaning don’t lean back as you pull on the bar. If you find yourself doing this, choose a lighter resistance. Control the weight on the

way back up. This part of the exercise is the most important. The majority of strength gains come from the eccentric portion of an exercise (when the muscles are lengthening while under tension). Again, if you are unable to control the weight, this means that it’s too heavy. Try at least two sets of 1015 reps.

The Lat-Pulldown is an excellent exercise to strengthen and shape your back. If one of your goals is to do a pull-up with your own bodyweight, this exercise is the place to start because you can select a resistance

that is lighter and progress toward your bodyweight. Enjoy the month of October, but try not to eat too much Halloween candy!

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

Winchester Store

115 N Loudoun St

Winchester, VA 22601 (540) 667-0030

Mon-Thur: 10am-7pm Fri-Sat: 10am-8pm Sun: 12pm-5pm

Front Royal Store

120 E Main St, Front Royal, VA 22630 (540) 749-2470

Mon-Thur: 10am-6pm Fri-Sat: 10am-7pm Sun: 12pm-5pm

Fishing is Better with Kids

Kids are the future. Pretty much sums up every peek into the future. Without kids, there’s no future. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is sold on this concept and is putting money on it.

Bass tournaments attract large numbers of the general fishing population and are the most organized fishing group in the sea. Getting the biggest bang for their conservation buck, fisheries biologist Dr. Joe Love is delivering a message and the goods to promote fishing conservation and youth involvement. The MD DNR incentive program, The Director’s Black Bass Conservation Award (DNR is looking for a new name) provides a black bass conservation award. It’s not a cash award, rather the Department is putting up $1000 in equipment purchases to support conservation during bass tournaments, divided between two groups every year as long as the budget allows. In addition to allocating the award, Dr. Love is spreading the word to show this is available. He reiterates this is supply based…no check… no prizes…it’s an award to provide supplies to enhance or improve the survival of bass during tournaments.

But the DNR’s offer comes with a catch. To hook kids on fishing, tournament directors who apply for this award need to include youth fishing, kids under 16 years of age, as part of their tournament. And Dr. Love says, as with all DNR permitted tournaments, participants must take “bass class” and answer questions based on videos. Graduates receive an email certificate.

Love says tournament directors need to meet the following criteria. Tournament director or co-director applicant is a resident of Maryland; tournament participants have a Maryland fishing license, at most 49 boats; and at least 50% of angler participants who are between 16 and 25 years old, ages inclusive. Tournament Directors can apply on-line (dnr. maryand.gov/fisheries) or contact Dr. Love.

Upon applying for a tournament permit for the Ike Foundation, Jocelyn Rhea realized her

Potomac River Bassing in October

Grass beds are breaking up very quickly, leaving fish to group up in less area. At higher tides, cover water looking for the scattered remnants. Spinnerbaits, swimbaits, shallow cranks, and lipless cranks are great to locate, engage and snap free to trigger strikes. Fish are also holding on hard cover. An excellent time to pitch jigs and soft plastics to docks.

Use black and blue jigs on 16 pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line. Swimming jigs anywhere is a good technique. Snap and drop in grass beds. Pitch to pilings and under docks in the shade.

Topwaters are every effective. Poppers, walker and especially buzzbaits. Try these to 30 pound test Gamma Torque braid. Vary speeds until the cadence is found.

event qualified for and eventually received the award. Their tournament was on the Upper Chesapeake Bay and not at a popular tournament launch area. It was lacking in many of the necessary equipment to conduct a conservation-minded weigh in. Prior events released fish off a pier, however when the tide was low, this put tournament fish in a perilous position with a steep drop off the dock and very shallow turbid water. Dr. Love suggested a chute to safely release fish further from the dock. DNR staff set up the chute, pump tank, sink and brought mesh weigh in bags. Dr. Love says the equipment will follow the Ike Foundation events so it will promote conservation wherever they go, “A win for bass fishing and not just here.” Supporting tournament directors who educate youth to become more knowledgeable in black bass conservation and watercraft safety, will preserve the sport for years to come.'

Earlier awards have gone to tournament organization Fishers of Men on a MD lake. Youth fishing with adults. Their event was a Catch, Photograph and Release (CPR), no possession. Hand scales for this tournament were provided by the MD DNR and Fishers of Men is using them at other events. This award promoted youth fishing and CPR, the latest tournament conservation effort.

The IKE Foundation, a dream to reality of professional bass fisherman Michael “IKE” and Becky Iaconelli, has been getting kids involved in fishing and providing scholarships for 8 years. The Foundation seeks out kids who would otherwise have no opportunity to experience the outdoors. Starting with shipping lightly used fishing gear, the Ike Foundation now supplies new Abu Garcia “Ike” Dude rods, Flambeau tackle boxes, and Rapala fishing lures. Kids learn about the environment and how to keep it clean. As the Ike Foundation has grown, volunteers school to provide assistance, meals, and fishing gear

Basically, faster in clearer and in warmer water. Stained water makes it tough, but slowing down with bigger, darker, and noisier baits at lower water can work well.

Half ounce lipless cranks in bait fish patterns can cover water and are easily snapped out of grass. They also deflect off wood and rock to trigger strikes. Tie to10-12 pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line. They work really well in current.

Finesse drop shots and shaky heads when conditions are tougher.

Leaving home in Hume

Sometimes a piece of dirt is just dirt, and sometimes it’s your whole life. Sometimes it’s your slice of heaven on Earth. That’s how 2.24 acres on the corner of Leeds Manor and Hume Roads in beautiful Fauquier County is for me, and I’m about to hand it off to a total stranger.

I’m sure said stranger is perfectly nice, a fine man, but one never really knows these days do they? Regardless, his funds will transfer to the proper account, and I’ll hand over the keys and do what my realtor and the closing attorney tell me to do and that will be that. Nowadays, you don’t even meet. You docusign or doculoop your entire life away without even ever looking each other in the eye.

I won’t have a chance to tell Mr. Newhomeowner that my grandmother never had plumbing, let alone a hot shower and that a chestnut collie named Silver used to chase after me when I was learning to ride my motorcycle in the field until she got hit by a car and that I cried when I heard the news even though she wasn’t my dog or my grandmother’s for that matter. Mr. Newhomeowner will never know that my mom and I were once trapped in the outhouse, surrounded by a bunch of horses angrily circling us (aka grazing happily) because my mom was afraid of horses. I don’t recall a time that Mom was ever so grateful at seeing Dad coming down that hill as when he rescued us. BTW—the horses

weren’t hers either, but rather the neighbors. Grandma had a deal with the neighbors for the horses to graze in her field in exchange for water from their well that she carried in buckets across the street every morning.

Mr. Newhomeowner also won’t know that my grandfather died after complications from being kicked by a horse, and all I remember is a hospital bed in the middle of the huge dark, drafty room I was only in long enough to race through past the fox who sat guard on top of the cupboard to get to the pee pot in the back bedroom with the church organ no one ever played and the warped linoleum floor because you know, splatter. Why no one ever hung out in the big room remains a mystery to me, but I am grateful nonetheless.

Nor will he know that the Leeds Ruritan Park just up the street was host to many a Welch family reunion, pig roast, and cutthroat softball games. Or that Mrs. Wright who owned the store down the street didn’t know my grandmother smoked Parliaments because Mom would go in and buy them for her. Mom smoked Paul Malls, but I guess Mrs. Wright didn’t know that. Grandma didn’t like people knowing her business even thoughbecause she had a party line - everyone probably did.

He won’t know anything of the tiny metal desk Grandma used to sit and write me letters in her shaky scrawl in the evenings before she made her way

up the rickety steps to the bedroom with the slanted floor and scary people pictures. But, like Grandma, those are all long gone replaced by a prefab house with wall-to-wall carpeting, running water, and 2.5 baths where my parents once lived.

Mr. Newhomeowner won’t know about the horrible case of shingles Mom got after falling in front of Martin’s during one of their weekly trips into town for provisions or the night I went flying up Route 66 wearing my pajamas so I could pick Dad up and race to Warrenton hospital. Turns out Mom lasted another 36 hours so I may have had time to grab some underwear or put on a bra, but you know what they say about hindsight. Days later, I sat at the kitchen table with Dad and the pastor from the Baptist church and discussed plans for the service. My parents, unlike most of the people in the village, weren’t churchgoers so he didn’t know her. When he asked Dad to tell him something about his wife of 50+ years, Dad looked up and said, “She kept a clean house.” It’s the only time I ever wanted to punch him, but I chalked it up to grief and Dad probably being nervous talking to a pastor so…there you go.

It probably shouldn’t be that big a deal since various strangers have been living in the house ever since Dad moved to Pensacola to start a new chapter with a new woman, whom by the way, I didn’t care much for and

Where in the world will I ever again be ableto roll down the window and be gobsmacked bythat special mixture of hay, grass, manure,and memories?

let’s just say it was mutual. And, I was happy when he returned to Virginia a decade later without her even if she was replaced by a wheelchair. He never lived in the house again, but he knew it was there, and we were grateful for the rental income that helped when circumstances dictated that he enter into assisted living where he passed from COVID in 2020.

I still run into people in Hume who remember Dad, and I always hear the same thing, “He was such a nice man.” Yes he was. One of the best, and my heart hurts so much, but when I look at the magnolia tree in the front yard, my heart hurts a little less. It was an odd gift to give him, but what do you get a man who has all the grilling tools and car cleaning products a garage can hold? I still can’t believe how big the tree has grown, but I guess it was a long time ago. I wish I could take

Hume, Virginia of my youth. Dad's house in Hume today

for the event. Many local fishermen along with some national pros to come to help. They know what we’re doing and enjoy it. Corporate sponsors are lining up, including Bass Cat boats, Yamaha outboards, Power Pole, Lowrance electronics, to create a memorable event. As the event grows, the community gets more involved.

Co-Founder Becky Iaconelli says the kids have fun with anything that pulls back on that line…accomplishing something. “Parents are with their kids to reinforce the lessons learned and appreciate the fishing knowledge and tools…info like tying a knot and the

basics…parents are excited…especially single moms! Now I can do this with my child.” Kids are involved with various activities with plenty of photos. Walmart now carries the special IKE foundation Flambeau tackleboxes with proceeds going to the 501(C)(3) notfor-profit organization.

Becky is planning to bring the Ike Foundation back to the Upper Bay in 2023 and MD DNR welcomes them.

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac bass fishing guide. Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. Check out YouTube page, NationalBassGuide.

doing puzzles, know that most of these are a thousand pieces or more.

later novels become too long, and I love long books. Rowling provides plenty of gore and drama. She focuses primarily on the P.I.s’ private lives, along with their intuitive step-bystep sleuthing. That emphasis is engaging, and she also adds in some fun recurring characters. Yet in the process, her description of their small day-to-day life actions grows tiresome. We do not need to hear repeatedly what they have for dinner, and how Strike’s leg hurts, and what Robin is doing to prepare for her wedding.

Why have I not even lasered in on the criminals? Perhaps because they are not particularly subtle or interesting. They are paradoxically both part of the book and an afterthought. Actively, excessively repellent, they are, quite simply, boring. There are no real anti-heroes, or even heroes, in these novels. Robin and Strike’s travels through the UK, and their interviews with witnesses or sources of information, tend to be much more absorbing than the murderers at the heart of their mysteries.

Robin and Cormoran display the ambition Rowling had when she was a poor single mother writing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. They live their dreams, however precarious and dangerous their circumstances. Rowling loves creating complex but obscure riddles. If you are addicted to

OPEN SPACE | FROM PAGE 42

that tree with me or the lilac that Mom grew from a clipping off the one from our house in Woodbridge. Mom never had a green thumb, but somehow she managed to take a piece of our childhood home with her to Hume. I tried to do the same, but it died so maybe that’s a sign to leave it behind.

A part of me really wanted to buy the house—magnolia, lilac and all— and keep it in the family, but then what? I don’t have children who would remember Silver or the fox or

While this series features engaging main characters, I would prefer more subtlety, with tighter plots and more complicated murderers. J.K. Rowling has a wonderful sense of humor, and I want more of it here. That being said, I did read each book for fun, and they are decent suspense novels. I advise you to read them because you want to zoom through escapist thrillers, not because you think that they will become classics.

Addendum: The Ink Black Heart

Almost two years later, on August 30th of this year Rowling as Galbraith released the next installment in her series, a plodding tome. The Ink Black Heart arrives at over 1200 pages, many of which are far from necessary. As I mentioned, Rowling tends towards verbosity, and it particularly hurts her here. Where was the editor?

Cormoran and Robin’s new client only becomes one posthumously. A young animator, Edie Ledwell, with her boyfriend, Joshua Blay, creates a spooky cult universe on YouTube about a levitating black heart that lives in a graveyard. This cartoon, along with its other associated characters, has become successful enough to interest Netflix in a deal.

Two mysterious characters, whose online handles are Morehouse and Anomie, have created “Drek’s Game,” a computer game based on the show that

the Nehi’s we used to get from Mrs. Wright’s store. Like Dad, I have a new chapter or two under my belt, and for right now, it isn’t in Fauquier County - which pains me. There’s no place else where I pull off the interstate, gleefully round the corner of a two-lane road and yell, “Wheeeee,” as I glide down a hill and “Moooo” as I pass the cows who stare back at the crazy woman in her Jeep. There’s no place else where I pull up and can still see Dad riding his mower or my bestie’s daughter Morgan racing down the hill naked being chased by Mom’s poodle, Molly.

is attacking Ledwell for selling out and for her criticism. The fearful woman comes to Robin about Anomie, whose vicious verbal attacks and incitement of trolls are frightening her. Only a brief time later Robin hears that both Edie and Josh have been stabbed and tasered in the real Highgate Cemetery, where they dreamed up their universe. Edie has died. Robin and Cormoran then take on the case when asked by Ledwell’s surviving family.

I appreciate Rowling’s ambition in authoring this particular plot. Character assassination happens on social media every minute of every day, and she aims to examine it, how it happens, and what it means, particularly because of her own experiences with her large online following. Of late she has engendered, no pun intended, much controversy in adopting the persona of a TERF, an acronym for transexclusionary radical feminist. This term is generally used to distinguish trans-inclusive feminists from ones who do not believe that trans women are women, do not include them in women’s spaces, and do not support transgender rights legislation.

Rowling’s attitudes and her reactions to “social justice warriors” do inform the way she writes about fans and critics on the Internet to some extent here, although she steers clear of writing about TERF issues. I disagree with those views, but I always appreciate great writing. In the hands

BTW—Morgan was three at the time, and will be married later this month. RIP, Molly.

Where in the world will I ever again be able to roll down the window and be gobsmacked by that special mixture of hay, grass, manure, and memories— my slice of heaven? The good news is that while Mr. Newhomeowner may get the keys and the run of the place, I won’t be signing over any of that. I’ll be holding onto my memories and I can breathe in that sweet country air any time I choose.

Mr. Newhomeowner—I wish

of a different kind of writer, this book might have been a fascinating study of cyber bullying, character assassination, online anonymity and its dangers, and the real friendships sometimes made in online communities. Unfortunately, although she is wonderful at creating compulsively readable stories in certain circumstances, this is not one.

In many chapters the reader must read simultaneous threads from the sinister moderators of “Drek’s Game” side by side on a page and then assimilate the way in which they move the plot forward. I like the novelty of a novel written partially in the form of social media or gaming posts. That being said, the comments are uninteresting and reading the threads side by side is a slog. It is particularly hard to read them side by side on a Kindle Paperwhite or even a full-fledged tablet. The reader either puts the book down for a break or looks forward to the next chapter featuring Cormoran and Robin’s offline sleuthing.

Unfortunately, The Ink Black Heart effectively blocks out the real heart of this series: Cormoran and Robin’s deep-seated friendship and the relationships they have with their quirky friends and charismatic colleagues. Will they get together in this book? The next book? Who really cares? After trudging your way through the humongous and mostly tedious Ink Black Heart, you probably won’t.

you and your loved ones as much happiness and history as we’ve enjoyed, and I’m sure everyone in the wonderful village of Hume will welcome you with open arms.

About the Author: Lori is a local writer, painter and pet lover who loves to share her experiences and expertise with our readers. She has been penning a column for the OTC for over 20 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this.

Fall Is In Full Swing at National Harbor

I love the month of October! I love fall and I love it that the holidays are just around the corner! I am so looking forward to getting out my sweaters and jeans and wearing the cool socks I have collected over the years with my boots. Don’t get me wrong, I do like keeping my tan as long as possible but I am over the 88 degree days!

It has been a little over two years since I moved back to Old Town and I still miss living in the Harbor, especially this time of the year! While the summer activities and concert series have come to an end there are still plenty of things to keep you busy here. The tourist traffic slows down, the weather tends to be cooler and the Gaylord is gearing up for the holidays.

If you are football fan, bring your chair or a blanket and sit in front of the big screen on the Plaza and take in the action on the weekends. The NCAA games air at 12 noon on Saturdays and NFL games at 1 pm on Sundays. The “Commanders” – I still can’t get used to calling the Redskins that – will definitely air and you can check the Harbor Facebook page for other games scheduled.

There is always something happening at the Capital Wheel and at the Flight Deck right beside it. October is a fantastic month to enjoy a spin around the Wheel and a beer or glass of wine on the Deck. This is probably one of my very favorite places here

OCTOBER EVENTS

TACO, BEER, TEQUILA FESTIVAL

Get your taco on at National Harbor during the Taco, Beer, & Tequila Festival! Enjoy all day tacos, unlimited beer and tequila samples as well as the guacamole pavilion.

SAT., OCT. 22

11am – 6 pm

Sun., Oct. 23

11am – 5pm

in the Harbor. It sits right on the water and is a fabulous place to people watch. It is a great location to frequent both during the day and at night. This time of year, the daytime will most likely provide a nice breeze and the evenings provide a nice view of the sunset on the shoreline of the Virginia side of the Potomac. As the weather cools off, this is the place to sit by a fire pit and contemplate the upcoming holiday season and the return of ICE@ at the Gaylord. The downside of this time of year is that the Deck is only open Fridays (4 pm-10pm), Saturdays (12 noon-10pm) and Sundays (12 noon-10pm). They have a great Fall for Fun package available that includes two tickets to The Capital Wheel, two beverages (cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, hard seltzer or soda), two souvenir cups, plus two 6×8 photos, one 4×6 photo and a digital download to remember your experience. JUST $55, a value of $85! This package is only available Friday – Sunday during Flight Deck operating hours.

I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage you all to take a trek through the Conservatory at the MGM Grand Hotel this month as well. The fall decorations are sure to be stupendous. In fact, I have yet to make it over there to check them out this month so it is something I’m looking forward to as well. And while you are there, you might want to test your luck at a slot machine or two. Video Poker is my game!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GOOD FRIEND AND GENERAL MANAGER AT BOND 45, JOHN EDWARD, on his nomination by the Greater Washington Community Foundation for the “Emerging Leader of the Year 2022” award. John is the first Egyptian-American and also the first restaurateur to be nominated for this award. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the MGM on November 10th. We wish him all of the luck in the world as he is very deserving of this honor.

HARBOR HALLOWEEN!

SUN., OCT. 30 12:30 pm –3:00 pm

It’s our favorite day of the year, Harbor Halloween!

Join us for an afternoon full of “spooktacular” fun for the whole family, including:

12:30 -2:30 PM Trick-orTreating at select restaurants and retailers

1:00 - 2:30 PM Community Canopy activities

1:00 PM Halloween Movie On the Plaza Screen

802 National Harbor Blvd Southepointe Lot

2:30 PM Chef Pumpkin Carving Contest

2:45 PM Pet “Pawrade”

love slurping oysters, sipping local wines & spying spooky spirits at our fun fall events, or spend cool autumn days exploring where Maryland history was made at immersive historic sites, paddling waterways in our gorgeous state parks, or marveling at dozens of naval aircraft at our naval air museum.

Located in a highly desirable Fairfax County/Chantilly location is your opportunity to experience the best of new home luxury. With our courtyard and green view homesites available for move in this year, there’s never been a better time to claim your Craftmark townhome!

For those who desire modern luxury and convenient connections, welcome to all The Retreat at Westfields has to offer:

Dr.,

20151

Conference Center Dr., Chantilly, VA 20151