Old Town Crier - October 2024

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

This Publishers Notes isn’t going to be quite like my others. In fact, I have never lived through a more unsettling time in my life, including the unrest during the Vietnam War. Like some of you, I grew up here in the Washington D.C. area. First in Oxon Hill, Maryland and now in Alexandria. We learned about our constitution and the Bill of Rights. We saluted the flag and recited the Pledge of Allegiance each morning before class began.

Like most, I frequented Georgetown in its early years. Watching John Denver and others perform at the Cellar Door and dancing at the clubs in Georgetown. A long neck bottle of beer cost 75 cents. I was in chemistry class when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Quiet and tears. I watched Washington D.C. 14th street burn when Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered. I have volunteered to work at Presidential Galas even though it was for the other party. I have visited the Lincoln Memorial at night, listened to the National Symphony on the west lawn of the Capitol and watched the fi reworks on the Fourth of July. I have seen a lot in this beautiful City...the Capitol of the Land of the Free!

Our Capitol city has been under attack several times over the years and it continues to this day in the halls of Congress. On November 5th we will be faced with one of the most consequential elections in American history, and we are writing that history. Early voting has already started in Virginia and other states. Get out and do your duty as an American. VOTE.

Getting off of my soap box…this issue of the OTC is our 442nd issue. That means we have a little under 5 years to hit the 500 mark. Hopefully in that time we have some new blood infused into the publication and I will be sitting on a sailboat sipping rum somewhere in the islands. Until then, we continue on.

The October issue is always a fun one for us. Fall weather is in full swing and more importantly, Halloween awaits at the end of the month. That’s why we decided putting Jack Skellington on the cover was a good idea. For those of you who live near Old Town, you know that the residents in the lower blocks really know how to decorate and celebrate for the season. Last year on my drive around to check out the 2023 displays, I was blown away by the creativeness and the detail in them. Lots of skeletons of various shapes and sizes and more animation - think moving and talking werewolves and witches - and more lighting than I have seen in years past. It is going to be fun to see if Halloween 2024 can top last year.

Inside the following pages, in addition to info about events, etc. you will fi nd a fun Halloween related feature on Dia de los Muertos, a profile of a prominent Alexandrian, some great advice on keeping in shape as well as how to enjoy some good eats and drinks, some info on the history of Virginia Wines as we celebrate Virginia Wine Month, an insight to growing up in the Trump family, everything you need to know about the 2024 Annapolis Boat Show and happenings in the Blue Ridge, taking a road trip to Culpeper, VA and picking a villa on St Barth and much more.

As the weather- hopefully - cools off, dig out those jeans, boots and sweaters and hit up a football game or take a drive to the Blue Ridge and do some leaf peeping. It’s time to get that fi re pit all squared away for fall evenings and start brewing up some spiced apple cider!

Celebrate Virginia Wine Month with a glass of commonwealth vintage wine. Photo taken at Brix & Columns Vineyard on the Shenandoah Wine Trail.

october ‘24

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

Well, look who’s checking out the Old Town Crier sitting next to our September Cover Girl, Ethyl. The sculptor himself - Dave Unverzagt. Unverzagt and his wife Aimee own and operate E-Spear Farms just outside of Lingle, Wyoming in the southeastern corner of the state. They have been farming together for over 40 years. In his spare time, he is quite handy with a welding torch. You may recognize him from last month’s “About the Cover”. Dave is the brother-in-law of the OTC’s very own Lani Gering. If you would like to see your photo in this space, take the OTC with you on your next adventure and take a high resolution photo or photos of you and yours checking us out and send it with information for the caption to office@oldtowncrier.com and put “On the Road” in the subject line.

www.oldtowncrier.com

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Regional Magazine

Check out this photo of Jack Skellington of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” fame. On one of her daily walk-abouts, local amateur photographer, Lee Moody, captured this image and many others as she strolled through the side streets of OId Town Alexandria last year as Halloween approached.

Several residents of Old Town, as well as in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, really go all out for the Halloween season. It is a real treat to just grab a beverage and take an early evening stroll up and down the streets in the lower 100 blocks of Prince, Duke, Wolfe and Lee. Lots of animation and funky lighting as well as amazing displays.

Many of you will recognize the name Lee Moody since we have had several of her images on the Cover

the

over the years and she is our “Where

She is known for her beautiful sunrise photos as well. Unfortunately, due to some health concerns, she hasn’t been able to get out and about these last few months. She tells us that she is doing what she is told and “So far it is working.” This is great news to all who know and love her.

of

OTC

Is It?” mural scout.

We had a winner last month! That is four months in a row that we didn’t stump you all. The September snippet was way easy…we had over a dozen correct guesses come in during the fi rst week of distribution. The new mural on the “garage” door at the Torpedo Factory on North Union is a beautiful new addition to the mural scene in Old Town Alexandria.

This month we have expanded outside of the Old Town area so….might be a bit more challenging!

Remember, if you are the fi rst person to respond with the correct location, you will receive a $50 gift certificate to one of our amazing restaurant advertiser’s eateries. In order to participate, Like and Follow us on: Facebook @oldtowncrier and Instagram @otcregionalmag

Send a PM with your guess and we will contact the winner each month via PM to arrange for prize delivery. Congratulations to Lori Kledaras who was the fi rst of many to correctly identify the September mural. She told us that she was going to celebrate her 34th wedding anniversary with her Bastille gift certificate.

Mural photos by Lee Moody.

Autumn ushers in glorious foliage for fall strolls through centuries-old streetscapes, crisp air for al fresco events and the start of spooky season. Voted one of Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities in the U.S. 2024, Alexandria invites visitors to soak in its architecture and sip local libations during Old Town Cocktail Week. Plus, visitors can immerse themselves in a beloved annual art festival - Del Ray’s 28th Annual Art on the Avenue. Dive deeper into fall events and activities in Alexandria with the listings below and at VisitAlexandria.com/Fall.

Through Oct. 6th

Old Town Cocktail Week

Admission: Prices vary; tickets to Art on the Rocks are $70 per person TBA locations throughout Old Town oldtownbusiness.org

Old Town Cocktail Week will feature spirited events, workshops and activities at shops and restaurants around Old Town. The festivities kick off at Art on the Rocks at the Heron Hotel on September 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Guests can sample up to ten unique cocktail and appetizer pairings and vote for their favorite pairing while enjoying imaginative artwork, live music and more. Tickets to Art on the Rocks are available via Eventbrite.

5th

29th Annual Art on the Avenue 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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

The 29th Annual Art on the Avenue festival held in Del Ray features more than 300 juried artists, from quilters to card-makers to cartographers, displaying their one-of-akind wares. Arrive with an appetite and grab a bite from dozens of food vendors while soaking up live music (Irish, folk, rock-n-roll, country and more) along the avenue. Plus, kids activities abound with pumpkin painting, screen art weaving and more. Please note parking is extremely limited. Trolley transportation will be available from the Braddock Road Metro.

October Events

4th - 6th

Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour

6 to 9 p.m.

Admission: Friday: $50 for members, $60 for general public; Saturday: $54 for members, $64 for general public; Sunday: $44 for members; $54 for general public

George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway 703-780-2000 mountvernon.org

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 enjoy concessions available for purchase from the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. Please note that the Mansion will not be open during this event.

26th

Old Town Family Trick or Treat 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free Various locations in Old Town oldtownbusiness.org

Bring the family and enjoy trick-or-treating in various shops and restaurants in Old Town along upper and lower King Street and select side streets. Visit oldtownbusiness. org in the coming weeks for details on the starting point and map pick-up location.

27th

28th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade 2 p.m.

Admission: Free

Begins at Mount Vernon Ave., south of E. Bellefonte Ave. visitdelray.com

One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions, the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade, returns once again. Costumed children, pets and babies in decked-out strollers are invited to march and show off their nest and scariest Halloween garb. For more information, including details on entering the house decorating contest, pet costume contest and stroller decorating contest, head to visitdelray.com.

Old Town Doggie Trick or Treat

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free The Dog Park 705 King Street oldtownbusiness.org

Bring your dog for a howling day of walking through Old Town and visiting participating merchants who will offer treats for your four-legged companion. Start at The Dog Park boutique, located at 705 King Street. Visit oldtownbusiness.org in the coming weeks for more details.

About Alexandria, VA

Alexandria is a welcoming weekend escape on the Potomac River, minutes from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. As it celebrated its 275th anniversary in July, the port city has played a major role in the nation’s story and re ected its progress toward inclusivity. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to nd more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront. Explore vibrant neighborhoods beyond Old Town, trace George Washington and the Founding Fathers’ footsteps and follow the stories of Black Americans who shaped the history of Alexandria and the United States.

Connect with us!

Web: VisitAlexandriaVA.com Blog: Blog.VisitAlexandriaVA.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/VisitAlexandriaVA Twitter: Twitter.com/AlexandriaVA Instagram: Instagram.com/VisitAlexVA

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, sh, fruits, vegetables and owers 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, sh and salmon, fresh mushrooms, baked goods, hard cider.  Farmers are within a 150 mile radius of Alexandria.  A non-pro t 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 air 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 re ect the diversity of Alexandria’s community. Local artisans display their arts and crafts as well.

Interstellar In uencer (Make an Impact) On Display Through November

Admission: Free Waterfront Park 1A Prince Street visitalexandriava.com/public-art

Interstellar In uencer (Make an Impact) was unveiled late last month. It is the sixth annual temporary public art installation at Waterfront Park and will be on display until as part of the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town series.

eCreated by Brooklyn-based, artist/architect duo Jason Klimoski (left) and Lesley Chang (right) of STUDIOKCA, the installation explores the impact of an asteroid that hit the earth 35 million years ago near what is now Alexandria. Interstellar In uencer uses metal, water and light to create a 1:1000 scale representation of the asteroid and the 85-kilometer wide, 1.5-kilometer-deep crater it left behind, that shaped the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed and the ow of water through its rivers and tributaries.

Everyone Goes Crazy for a Sharp Dressed Man

around 18%. Not only did the Mars corporation leave its New York based relationship with Chase Manhattan Bank, but Scott and his team of vice presidents provided personalized private concierge banking services to the highly compensated Mars executives.

Scott Elkins may be the best dressed man in Old Town. Known for his distinctive sport coats and trademark bow ties, Scott is a fixture on King Street. At age 84, he recently put the finishing touches on yet another commercial real estate investment for a client, something that he has been doing for more than 35 years as a partner in Elkins Lane Realty Advisors, LLC, a full-service boutique firm with offices in Old Town.

But what few know is that before his success in commercial real estate, Scott was one of the premier commercial bankers in Northern Virginia. Years spent in commercial banking have given Elkins a perspective in real estate sales that is indeed unique.

“Scott’s broad base of commercial banking experience is a real boost to making certain the deal gets done,” said Rick Lane, his business partner who himself had a first career as a practicing attorney.

Back in the 1980s, Scott found himself working at what was then First American Bank, in a small office with a phone (which has no reason to ring at the time). As the Senior Commercial Lending Officer, he pioneered lending to government contractors, who before then were considered to be high risk. With Scott providing his innovative approach, he soon landed BDM International as the first to break this barrier to bank financing, Scott’s success soon caught the eye of Richmond-based Sovran Bank, which recruited him to develop commercial lending in the DC area, up to that time considered nothing more than a bedroom community for the military and government establishment.

One of the early successes was with American Management Systems in Rosslyn, founded by three former Pentagon officials and destined to become one of the top government contractors in the region. Scott followed that success by landing McLean-based Mars Incorporated, the world’s largest privately owned company – not an easy achievement at a time when the prime rate hovered

As his reputation as a “can do” banker grew, so did the client list. Gannett (USA Today), Sallie Mae, Fannie Mae, Equitable Life, Mariott, Smithfield Foods, and Clyde’s Restaurant Group all joined his client list in just three short years. The secret to his success: fostering personal relationships. As his fellow banker and sometimes competitor Bob Wiles remarked, “Scott’s personality and connection with his community fostered long-term personal relationships, which became real personal friendships over time.”

Among the most memorable relationships was the one with the Washington Redskins in their glory years of the 1980s. His dealings with John Cooke, Bobby Mitchell and general manager Bobby Beathard led to his being invited to travel with the team to away games like the 1986 playoff game against the Bears in Chicago, flying on the team’s charter flight, boarding the motor coach, and being whisked to the hotel with a police escort. Hanging out with the likes of Dexter Manley, riding with Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff, and even working out in the hotel with Bethard, were genuine career highlights.

Scott’s townhouse in Old Town became the “place to be” for dinner parties that included a “who’s who” of local corporate leaders, including at various times a former RCA chairman, the head of Planning Research Corporation, the Chairman of Sovran Bank, and even Jack Kent Cooke, the billionaire owner of the Redskins.

But as the 1980s came to an end with bank merger after merger, Scott decided his experience with business entrepreneurs would translate to commercial real estate. So after a few years working with various commercial real estate firms, Scott teamed up with Rick Lane and began a whole new career that brought yet more years of success. “Scott’s competence, knowledge, diligence and effectiveness are simply off the charts,” said his long-time client, Dr. Robert Bunn. “Not to mention that he has provided me with wealth I could never have imagined.”

Scott graduated from Washington-Lee High School (now Washington-Liberty High School) in Arlington. He still attends several Nationals games each year with several from that graduating class. He attended Randolph Macon College, graduated from East Tennessee State University in his native state, and was awarded a Masters of Banking and Financing at Rutgers University. He has been a guest speaker at the Army War College, the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, and George Mason University, among others. Along the way he was a Trustee of the Fairfax County Schools Education Foundation and served as a director of the Alexandria Red Cross.

“I’ve known Scott for more than 40 years, through two careers – each of which would have been a big success for anyone else,” said Mark Allen, a local real estate attorney. “Scott has no equal when it comes to cultivating client relationships that become real friendships. For his clients he is tenacious, with his friends he is loyal. He is creative, he’s fair, and above all, he’s got integrity.” Truly the secrets to his decades of success.

About the Author: The author of this piece asked to remain anonymous but has been close to Mr. Elkins for many years, as well as a fairly well-known entity in Old Town Alexandria and the surrounding area in his own right.

When did you last check your beneficiary designations?

One of the easiest, yet often overlooked, components of an estate planning strategy is designating beneficiaries. Those whose estate plan includes a will or trust may wonder why this step is important. Transfer of some assets — such as life insurance policies, annuities, IRAs, retirement plans, and other employee benefit plans — can be based on beneficiary designations in place at your death. As your objectives for transfer may change over time, it is important to review those designations in context of your overall plan for asset transfer.

Confirm your designations align with your estate plan

Inventory your assets and determine which can have designated beneficiaries.

Review the designations in place to make sure your preferred beneficiaries are listed for each asset.

Consider choosing a successor in case your designated beneficiary does not survive you.

If changes are needed, be sure to complete each form as indicated. Requirements may vary from one fi nancial institution to another or from one state to another. For example, the custodian of

a retirement plan may require a spouse’s signature but a life insurance carrier may not. Similarly, some institutions may require a notarized original while others may allow you to complete the designation online.

As you acquire new assets, make sure to consider establishing beneficiary designations in alignment with your estate plan.

Identify any unintended implications to your overall estate plan

While creating designations may be a clear-cut process, identifying potential tax implications for your beneficiaries may not be so easy. Your tax and legal advisors can help you review your beneficiary designations to identify any unintended impacts to your beneficiaries.

Remember that your beneficiary designation forms are one piece in the larger estate-plan puzzle you have put together. It is important to consider how those designations — which operate outside your will or trust — may impact your overall strategy. For example, if your objective is to evenly divide all of

your assets among your decedents, a designation could change that balance.

Your tax advisor can also help you weigh options for transferring taxable assets. If charitably inclined, you may consider naming a tax-exempt organization as a beneficiary of a taxable asset, such as a qualified retirement plan or nonqualified stock options.

Revisit your designations

As with all documents in your estate plan, it’s a good idea to review your beneficiary designations regularly. Not updating your forms to reflect life events such as a birth, death, marriage, or divorce may mean that your wishes would not be reflected when your assets ultimately transfer. Changes in the law may also create a need to revisit your beneficiary designations. Your tax advisor can help you understand how the latest changes may impact your objectives for transfer.

Key takeaways

Make sure you take the time to thoughtfully fill out beneficiary designations for eligible assets. Also, consider regularly discussing

your plans with your tax and legal advisors and wealth planning specialists. Your advisors can help you avoid expensive mistakes and suggest opportunities to better reflect your ultimate wishes for your estate. This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602. Our firm is not a legal or tax advisor.

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2023 – 2024 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

Investment and Insurance Products are:

• Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency

• Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate

• Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested

How Is Your Mental Health?

In April 2024, City Manager Jim Parajon asked City Council “for $900,000 to solve Alexandria’s mental health staff shortage.” Staff turnover was high and city salaries were lower than the neighboring average. Shortages exist not only in Alexandria but throughout the United States.

World Mental Health Day is October 10. “Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health,” the United Nations professes. “This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks…the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.” According to INOVA’s 2019 Alexandria Community Health Assessment, mental health is a “top 10 health issue.”

Within the U.S. “about one in five adults experience mental illness annually,” the National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI] explained. “Fifty percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14; seventy-five percent by age 24. One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience an annual mental health disorder.”

The influencers: genetics; brain structure and biochemical processes; environment, lifestyle and language isolation. “Compared to Virginia and national averages,” INOVA concluded, “a higher proportion of Alexandria’s population is linguistically isolated.”

Congress created Atlanta’s Marine Hospital Service, the forerunner to the U.S. Public Health Service [USPHS] in 1798. Established to take care of “sick and injured seamen,” the Service history says little about the watermen’s mental health. As for the Founding Fathers:

Massachusettsan and U.S. President “John Adams [1735-1826] is thought to have suffered from depression and anxiety,” Columbia University said. “His diaries recount bouts ‘of great anxiety and distress.’” Chairing twenty-five of the second Continental Congress’ many committees was stressful.

Twice Virginia Governor Patrick Henry [1736-1799] “had a loved one with serious mental illness,” CU continued. “Records indicate that his wife Sarah Shelton Henry developed what appears to be post-partum depression following the birth of their last son. Despite the professional recommendations, Henry refused to institutionalize his wife and instead arranged to care for her at home.” Pennsylvania’s Dr. Benjamin

Rush [1746-1813]—signer of the Declaration of Independence, Surgeon General of the Continental Army, and the father of American Psychiatry—was the fi rst American to write a mental diseases textbook, to study mental health disorders “in a systematic way.”

Dr. Rush developed treatments that relied not only on confi nement, but also medical intervention. His mental health treatments included “bleeding and purging, also the use of the tranquilizer chair and gyrator,” the University of Pennsylvania confi rmed. Dr. Rush’s tranquilizing chair “slowed down the fluid movement of agitated patients.”

The Doctor’s gyrator, which was a horizontal board on which sluggish patients were strapped and spun, stimulated blood circulation.

Bloodletting is the intentional removal of a portion of a person’s blood. It was the then balance—or imbalance—between the body’s four humors, the four bodily fluids— blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile —that determined a person’s physical and mental health. Blood was moist and warm, phlegm moist and cold, yellow bile dry and warm, and black bile dry and cold.

Physicians, professional leech-ers and cuppers all practiced bloodletting: also, barber-surgeons. The colors in today’s barber pole date from the blood-letting era. Red represents blood-letting; white signifies hygiene, and blue denotes tranquility.

By the mid-1800s blood-letting gave way to Charles Darwin’s theory— the Origin of Species. “[M]ental deviations, i.e. extreme variations, were conceived as having a biological basis; primarily genetic,” the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health concurred. “This view provided little hope for recovery of the mental deviant.” The majority of Dr. Rush’s psychiatric patients were referred to as “Lunaticks” (sic).

Utopian Robert Owen [1771-1858] was one of the few in the industrial Kingdom of Great Britain to demonstrate concern for workers welfare. “The right of mental liberty is inherent in our nature,” Owen declared in 1826. “While man exists in mental health, [it was not] until the Revolution of 1776, [that Americans] acquired the political power…to use that right.”

The term mental hygiene was fi rst introduced in 1843 by Dr. Isaac Ray, a founder of the 1844 American Psychiatric Association. The “province of mental hygiene” is “the art of preserving the mind against all

incidents and influences calculated to deteriorate its qualities, impair its energies, or derange its movements.

The management of the bodily powers in regard to exercise, rest, food, clothing and climate; the laws of breeding, the government of passions, the sympathy with current emotions and opinions, and the discipline of the intellect.”

"When we remember that we are all mad," Mark Twain penned, "the mysteries disappear, and life stands explained.

It was not until the 1890s that Swiss-born psychiatrist Adolph Meyer “became convinced that… industrialization and urbanization were undermining human potential for continuous adaptability and constructive activity.”

Mental hygiene as described by C.E.A. Winslow, Yale professor of Public Health in 1933: “An organized community response to a recognized community need; and it lays its prime emphasis on the detection and the control of those incipient maladjustments with which the physician qua physician never comes into contact, unless specific community machinery and far-flung education facilities are provided for the purpose.”

“Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness today,” the Mental Health Foundation explained. Anxiety, as defi ned by Dorland’s Medical Dictionary: “A feeling of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear without apparent stimulus….” The types include floating anxiety, neurologic anxiety, separation anxiety, situation anxiety and political stress.

Other mental illnesses: [1] Posttraumatic stress disorder, phobias, et al., [2] Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, et al.), and [3] Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, et al.)

As of April 2022, 69% of U.S. public schools reported an increase in mental health concerns. My question: for what reason does U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., believe “there are critical gaps in our understanding of mental health, especially children and adolescents’ mental health.”

“Social media use among young people is nearly universal,” the Surgeon General’s Office replied. “Children and adolescents on social media are commonly exposed to extreme, inappropriate, and harmful content; and those who spend more than three hours a day on social

media face double the risk of poor mental health including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

Dr. Murthy’s oft repeated rejoinder: “It is time to require a Surgeon General’s warning label on social media platforms.” The why for why not: Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.

“As algorithms begin to play an increasingly significant role in our online experiences, lawmakers need to fi nd a balance between free speech and consumer safety,” the National Association of Attorneys General said.

“Some social media platforms show suicide and self-harm-related content including even live depictions of self-harm acts, content which, in certain tragic cases, has been linked to suicide and childhood deaths,” the Surgeon General’s Office continued.

In June 2024 the U.S. Supreme Court agreed that the USPHS “should communicate with social media companies” in order to protect, promote, and advance the nation’s health. [Murthy, Surgeon General v. Missouri] Not long after, Gov. Glenn Youngkin [R-VA] ordered VDOE to draft guidelines for implementation of “cell phone-free education in public schools.” ACPS reportedly agrees: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg not really.

Today the American Psychological Association explains mental hygiene as “a general approach aimed at maintaining mental health and preventing mental disorder through such means as educational programs, promotion of a stable emotional and family life, prophylactic and early treatment services, and public health measures.”

For free, confidential, suicide crisis support dial 988—the National Suicide & Crisis 24/7 Lifeline.

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

In October of 1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) released a rock-n-roll masterpiece that electrified the world of popular music and continues to do so today. Shortly after its release, “Fortunate Son” became a big hit peaking at number 3 on the Billboard charts and has been added to several greatest-songs-ofall-time lists published by Rolling Stone Magazine and Pitchfork Media. The song also became a Vietnam antiwar movement anthem and a symbol of opposition to the United States military involvement in the Vietnam War. From its driving backbeat to the passionate snarl of the lead vocals, “Fortunate Son” provides a tough and scrappy energy that lifts your spirits and lends support to the resistance of and contempt for the corrupt.

CCR gets things started with a steady drumbeat accompanied by a single-note bass line that creates a steady tension before the fi rst verse begins. After two measures of bass and drums the iconic guitar playing of brothers John and Tom Fogerty is introduced creating the unmistakable mood of “Fortunate Son”. The band proceeds to play a few bars of some of the coolest music ever printed to tape and then we hear Fogerty belt out lyrics that give expression to a burning feeling that so many were relieved to hear expressed. The verses of “Fortunate Song” chastise a system that exploits the poor and gives excessive privilege to the wealthy. When asked about the meaning of the song, John Fogerty had this to say: "It's the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them."

Next the band launches into a brief yet satisfying chorus, delivering musical and lyrical punctuation to the driving snarl of the verses. Here additional guitar work is added to the steady pattern of Tom Fogerty’s rhythm guitar playing. For the top line of the chorus, we hear John’s raspy voice sing the lines: “It ain't me, it ain't me / I ain't no senator's son, son / It ain't me, it ain't me / I ain't no fortunate one, no”. The stripped down four-piece band and single vocal with no harmonies creates an unvarnished emotion that is the perfect vehicle for the song’s fiery message. But even if you don’t care about the lyrics, “Fortunate Son” delivers a rock-n-roll feeling that can jumpstart the moment.

After delivering a couple verse/chorus combos, CCR downshift into an instrumental that begins with the bass guitar pulsating a single note along with sparse lead guitar and percussion. Halfway through the instrumental we feel the energy pick up as drummer Doug Clifford fi res off a killer percussive transition. As the energy increases a second guitar part is added that is soaked with a fuzz effect making it sound a little like a rock-n-roll horn section. Finally, the band transitions out of the instrumental with a blistering snare roll and an iconic yell from John Fogerty that leads into the fi nal verse and chorus.

Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded in 1972 after producing some of the best rock-n-roll of all time. Despite not being together for over 50 years, the band’s music still stands as some of the most popular in the world. For me, “Fortunate Son” is CCRs best and most iconic song, but that is debatable given the extremely long list of great CCR tunes. If you’d like to listen to “Fortunate Son” or any of the band’s incredible discography, you can fi nd it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you’d like to learn more about Creedence Clearwater Revival you can fi nd information on Wikipedia or in the multiple books that have been written about them.

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.

Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival

AFTER HOURS

Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch

571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.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. shmarketoldtown.com

La Portas

703.683.6313

1600 Duke St.

The Light Horse

703.549.0533

715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com

Murphys Irish Pub

703.548.1717

713 King St. murphyspub.com

O’Connell’s 703.739.1124

112 King St.

Rock It Grill

703.739.2274 1319 King St.

Shooter McGees

703.751.9266

5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com

Southside 815

703.836.6222

815 S. Washington St. St. Elmos

703.739.9268

2300 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Taverna Cretekou

703.548.8688

818 King St.

TJ Stones

703.548.1004

608 Montgomery St. tjstones.com

The Study 703-838-8000

116 South Alfred Two Nineteen 703.549.1141

219 King St.

Alexandria Bier Garden

710 King St. 703-888-1951

Augie's Mussel House

703.721.3970

1106 King St. eataugies.com

Mason Social

703.548.8800

728 N. Henry St.

ONSTAGE, OLD TOWN: OCTOBER

October leaves a few more weeks (now thru October 13) to enjoy DMV Theater Week—tickets as low as $20 for a number of these productions. The discounts end October 13—plenty of time to enjoy the great theater our area has to offer, including some of these (check each box office for participation and prices):

Through the 6th

THE COMEUPPANCE

Woolly Mammoth

An excellent cast, anchored by the moody Jordan Bellow, animates Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ new play about a group of high school honor alums attending their 20th reunion. Morgan Green directs the eerie proceedings, as the spectre of mortality overshadows old friends facing hard truths past, present and future. You may say death becomes them. Tickets at www.woollymammoth.net

Through the 6th

SOJOURNERS

Roundhouse Theatre

A Nigerian couple living in Texas in the 1970s welcomes the promise of America but remains homesick for their roots. Tickets at www. roundhousetheatre.org

Through the 13th

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL Atlas Theatre

In this handsome production of Lanie Robertson’s off-Broadway and Broadway hit, DC’s own Roz White makes the role of a down-on-her-heels Billie Holiday her own. That golden voice rings out just a little too true (Roz is in much better vocal shape than Billie was) in Mosaic Artistic Director Reginald Douglas’ deftly directed performance. Designer Nadir Bey creates a warm and friendly club environment so snag a table up front. Tickets at www.mosaictheater.org

Through the 13th

JA JA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Arena Stage

This Tony® Award nominated Best Play takes us inside a bustling West African salon in Harlem where a lively group of braiders create masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

Through the 13th

MR LINCOLN Ford’s Theatre

TV star Scott Bakula assays the role of our 16th President in the theater where we lost him. Tickets at www.fords.org

Through the 27th

EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND Olney Theatre Center

Another Presidential bioplay, this one stars Tony Award winning actor John Rubinstein as POTUS #34, culled from our 34th President’s memoirs, speeches and letters. Tickets at www.olneytheatre.org

Through the 20th

COMEDY OF ERRORS

Shakespeare Theatre Co

The Nats may be out of the running, but Simon Godwin and his crew of merry pranksters at Shakespeare Theatre Company hit another grand slam with this delightful take on one of the Bard’s mistaken-identity trifles. Inspired casting brings Alex Brightman and David Fynn to STC’s Klein Theatre to play identical twins: both actors starred in the Lloyd Webber musical School of Rock, Alex on Broadway and David in the West End, and their resemblance is

uncanny. The entire ensemble is terrific. Points are scored by all the designers, especially Alejo Vietti’s technicolor costumes; and Michael Bruce’s score sparkles with what could be the best fi nale number you’ll see on a DC stage this season. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org

Through the 20th

PRIMARY TRUST Signature Theatre

Kenneth never misses a happy hour with his best friend until a job loss upends his static existence. Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize, this touching story takes him (and us) on a journey to discover the courage to open a new door. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org

Through the 27th

EXCEPTION TO THE RULE

Studio Theatre

When six high school students get stuck in after- school detention, things go awry. Where are all the teachers and how do they get out of this place? Tickets at www.studiotheatre.org

1st through November 3rd

BABBIT Shakespeare Theatre Center

Matthew Broderick and a supporting cast of Broadway stalwarts star in this new adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s satirical masterpiece. When upstanding middle class everyman George F. Babbitt plunges headlong into the biggest rebellion of his life, trouble is bound to ensue. My guess is this one is headed for Broadway, so catch it at STC while you can. Tickets at www. shakespearetheatre.org.

1st through November 10th

ROMEO & JULIET

Folger Library Theatre

The Bard’s fan favorite rom-com (except the lovers die at the end) opens the Folger’s fi rst theater season since its sparkling new library renovation.

The timeless story of star-crossed lovers is also a story of the politics of hatred and the violence that can consume society. Sound familiar? While you’re there, check out the amazing display of eighty-two First Folios--Shakespeare’s plays, bound and published. Tickets at www.folger.edu

4th through November 3rd

SHE PERSISTED

Adventure MTC at Glen Echo Park

A new musical based on the book by Chelsea Clinton follows fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a Women’s History Museum. As she travels back in time, Naomi encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history including Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor. Tickets at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org

12th – November 17th

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

Keegan Theatre

The infamous West End melodrama returns to this DuPont Circle playhouse. A lawyer obsessed with a curse cast over his family by the eponymous Woman in Black tries to excorcise the fear that grips his soul. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t end well. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com

11th – 20th

25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Kennedy Center Oct 11-20

This little gem of a Broadway musical gets its own Ken Cen production. A fi rst-rate cast of Main Stem veterans presides over the fun, including Broadway Funny Girl Beanie Feldstein. Tickets at www.kennedy-center.org

15th – 20th

MEANS GIRLS

National Theatre

Back in DC for an encore engagement, Tina Fey’s movie about high school angst and mischief features direction and choreography by Broadway stager extraordinaire Casey Nicholaw. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com

18th – 20th

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

Capital One Hall

A touring production of the Tony® Award winning Best Musical about teens dealing with the loss of a classmate visits Tysons, VA . Tickets at www. capitalonehall.com

18th – November 24th

THE OTHER AMERICANS

Arena Stage

Co-produced with NYC’s Public Theatre, Emmy Award-winning actor and playwright John Leguizamo introduces us to a Colombian-American laundromat owner grappling with a failing business and buried secrets. When son Nick returns after a traumatic incident, Nelson is forced to tackles racial and identity challenges to achieve his dream. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

19th – November 9th

JEKYLL & HYDE

Alexandria Little Theatre

Frank Wildhorn’s Broadway musical based on the Gothic novella by Robert Lous Stevenson follows a London-based legal practitioner who investigates a series of strange events involving his friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll and a murderous criminal names Edward Hyde opens on the 19th in Alexandria’s very own Little Theatre.

About the Author: The writer is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony® voter.

Photo credits: Comedy of Errors photo by Teresa Castracane, Comeuppance photo by Cameron Whitman. Babbitt photo courtesy of La Jolla Playhouse. Romeo & Juliet photo by Shan Wallace

Colores A

A while back, when I was on NPR’s Kojo Nnamdi radio show discussing the DMV’s visual arts scene, as I did every once in a while, the conversation turned to our area’s museums and mainstream media coverage of that segment of the fi ne arts. I made the observation that most of our local museum curators would rather take a cab to Dulles Airport, then a flight to Berlin, or London, or Madrid, to visit an emerging artist than take a cab to Rockville, or Georgetown, or Alexandria to visit a studio or gallery show of a DMVbased artist.

If today, somewhat remorsefully they would ask me, “sorry Lenster, what show should we go to this month?” I would point them to the beautiful BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Maryland.

This month, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County (HCCMC), in partnership with Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) and the aforementioned BlackRock Center for the Arts, all worked together, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage

Month to assemble Colores, an exhibition “celebrating the vibrant talents of Latino artists residing in Montgomery County. Colores showcases the rich cultural heritage and eclectic creativity that the Hispanic community contributes to our local arts scene.”

“We are thrilled to partner with BlackRock Center for the Arts and the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce to launch this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations,” said Dr. Mauricio Vásquez, Executive Director at HCCMC.

“Colores is more than an art exhibition. It’s a celebration of the diverse stories, experiences, and perspectives of Latino artists in our community. We are grateful for the support of BlackRock Center for the Arts and the GaithersburgGermantown Chamber of Commerce, and we invite everyone to join us in honoring the artistic achievements of our local talent.”

I visited the exhibition, which showcases the ample talent of Rosana Azar, Fausto Bayonet, Wendy

Celebration of Latino Artists

Bonilla, Sandra Pérez-Ramos and Roxana Rojas-Luzón.

Pérez-Ramos and Rojas-Luzón are super hard-working, well-known DMV artists whose work is widely exhibited and respected, and I was quite familiar with their visual art. Nonetheless, I was pleasantly impressed by the way and processes that these two artists continue to develop, refi ne, and improve upon to deliver their intelligent compositions.

Sandra Pérez-Ramos is a highly trained artist with a formidable artistic presence with includes multiple weapons in the arsenal of the fi ne arts. One of those is a fiber background, which empowers her to deliver gorgeously complex mixed media drawings/paintings that tease at the edge of the imagination.

The work is technically abstract in nature, and a powerful homage to the native Taino people of Puerto Rico (and other Caribbean islands), which is where she was born, yet it plays with our eyes as we struggle to follow the somewhat erotic forms and try to discern what they truly are. It is hypnotic in a way which only a

superbly talented artist can deliver. And, are you ready for this… PérezRamos recently had her DNA done and discovered that she is about a quarter Taino!

The art world loves to segregate artists by media, style, etc., and Peruvian-born artist Roxana RojasLuzón is perhaps best known for her exceptional collage work. She once noted that she’s “fascinated by the art of collage, and use snippets of magazine paper, fabric, paper painted by my children or by myself, photographs, my own pencil drawings, raw pigment, or anything that enriches the texture and color of my images.”

In this exhibition, Rojas-Luzón offers intelligent mixed media works which allow her to amplify some of her interests, and in an interesting and unplanned confluence of separate interests flowing together, this recent work is heavily influenced by the Nazca lines of her native Peru. The Nazca lines in southern Peru are a diverse group of pre-Columbian etchings/drawings done into the desert sands by removing rocks and

Roxana Rojas-Luzón Nazca Tree 2023. Mixed media collage.

Sandra Pérez-Ramos Myths of Creation- Bird Totem 2024.

earth to create a “negative” image of about 300 different figures, plants, abstractions and animals; lines which are essentially only visible from the air.

In the same flow of artistic prowess that Pérez-Ramos employs to modernize Taino influences, Rojas-Luzón brings these gorgeous designs into the 21st century with a series of smartly composed works – they are fascinating and memorable!

I also liked the paintings of Wendy Bonilla – I was shocked when I discovered that this talented artist has essentially only been painting since 2019! Rosana Azar and

Fausto Bayonet also deliver stimulating and though-provoking paintings that touch two diverse spectrums of the visual arts genre.

About the Author: 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 has been a premier source for the art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors.

Curated vintage decor, art, unique gifts, and more! FLINTANDBAILEY.COM

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Price and additional images upon request. “A woman in love with abstraction” - 2021

“ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON, DC” – Washington City Paper

16x20 watercolor on paper with embedded electronic images that rotate every 5 seconds.

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Syreni Caledonii (Northern Atlantic Mermaid). Watercolor, charcoal and Conte. 2019, 12x36 inches.

Price and additional images upon request. Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC, Washington, DC www.alidaanderson.com / info@alidaanderson.com

Devil with the Blue Dress

“She’s a real humdinger and I like it like that.”

There is lots of new inventory in the shop and you can order online. Choose your style, your size and color, including the tie dye blue (but no brushstroke). From Christopher Calvin. Jane Seymour Hat by Walleroo. Jewelry by Sarah Cavender Metalworks. Handmade in Oxford, Alabama.

Monday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm

1124 King Street l Alexandria, Virginia 22314 703-548-1461 l www.imagineartwear.com csimagine@aol.com

Photo by Bev Dietz

Above - Sandra Pérez-Ramos Myths of Creation 2024. Drawing with acrylic pen on textured, rough edged, handmade watercolor paper; Below- Wendy Bonilla Belleza en el Desierto 2022. Acrylic, pastel, oil on canvas. (cactus painting)

Growing Up with the Trumps

“This is the most important presidential election of our lifetime.” This is the third time in ten years we have heard this statement, and it has always been true. President Joe Biden decided to step down as the 2024 Democratic nominee and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in July. In so doing, he upended the dynamic of the 2024 presidential campaigns. The country now faces a stark choice between two very different tickets. Fred Trump III (Fritz)’s chronicle, All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way, and his estranged sister Mary’s book, Who Could Ever Love You: A Family Memoir, may help undecided voters better evaluate current presidential candidate and former President Donald J. Trump. It offers fascinating perspectives on the behaviors of real estate builder Fred Trump Sr. and his family dynasty. Icy-veined patriarch Fred Sr. created and exacerbated a web of extreme psychological dysfunction that permanently affected the behavior of Freddy, Donald, their siblings, and everyone else in their families.

Until now, almost no one has written about the dynamic of the Trump family from an intimate family perspective. Mary Trump’s fi rst such book, a 2020 dissection of the former president, Too Much and Never Enough, offered a licensed clinical psychologist’s view of Donald Trump’s mental instabilities and pathologies. I reviewed it in the Old Town Crier four years ago ( https:// oldtowncrier.com/2020/08/01/booksfor-an-uncertain-summer/ ). That account is a more detached, cutting analysis which is also very worth reading. This memoir, however, is a personal account of the keen pain and isolation Mary experienced growing

up within a wealthy family driven by ruthlessness, greed, and dysfunction.

Freddy (Fred Jr.), Mary and Fritz’s father, tried to escape his tightly controlled, airless family structure by attending TWA’s highly competitive flight school as one of only two students without a military pilot’s background. He was then assigned a prestigious route between Boston and Los Angeles. Scoffed at by Fred Sr. and Donald, both of whom indicated that being a pilot was a step up from being a bus driver, Freddy fi nally abandoned his dreams to support the Trump empire.

Taking their cue from Fred Sr. and his wife Mary Ann, the other Trumps also disapproved of Freddy’s wife, Linda Clapp Trump, a flight attendant who gave up her job to marry Freddy. Over the years Linda became very depressed, helpless, and angry, disgusted with her inability to get out of the Trump trap with no job skills and two children to raise.

Fred Sr. and Mary Ann Trump lived in the House, an unwieldy, unfashionable Queens mansion where their children, children’s spouses, and grandchildren came together for Sunday lunches, if not warmth. Mary recounts how her Aunt Elizabeth would put her hand on her grandfather, looking for affection, only to have him whirl away from her grasp. The shrewd, intelligent Maryanne Trump Barry, their fi rstborn child, ended up with an impressive career as a judge, yet still could not get her father and mother’s love and attention.

By fastening on to Donald and Fred Sr.’s political and social connections, Maryanne leveraged power and managed to gain prominence. Such

gains were the substitute for any loving ties. Backbiting and alienating other members in pursuit of money or power was common. With Fred Sr., all interactions were transactional, even with Donald, his favorite. Younger brother Robert, superficially more acceptable, was cruel towards Freddy’s second-tier branch of the family upon multiple occasions. The vulgar expression “Sh*t runs downhill” is apt in representing the way Trump siblings other than Freddy learned from their father to bully those less able to fight back. Mary Ann Trump was too continually sick, ill-suited to be a mother, and chilly to compensate for her husband’s sociopathy. She was often unable to provide her children with support, instead donating to the auxiliary at the hospital she frequented. Donald quickly learned that to gain attention and feed his self-esteem, he would need to be the shameless bully, callous cheat, and attention-hogging liar that his sociopathic father required for the business. To get his father’s attention, if not love, it was necessary to be like him. To admit vulnerability would be an intolerable act of weakness. He quickly became so frustrated, unruly, and hard to control that his father packed him off to military school while focusing his attentions and ambitions on Freddy. Yet Donald would be a mirror to reflect interests that Freddy could never further. An outdoorsy, friendly man who loved boating and flying, Freddy was ill-suited for representing all ventures Trump. Deeply unhappy, he was incapable of winning his father and mother’s approval or taking the reins as Fred’s heir. Smoking and turning to alcohol to drown his misery and self-loathing, he gradually

became very unreliable, flying his personal plane inebriated and getting so blackout drunk once that a young Mary saw him threaten her mother with a shotgun. Her mother, frustrated and bitter about her treatment by the Trumps and unable to live with her incapacitated husband, eventually divorced him. After the divorce, he might fail to show up to his kids’ events, cancel plans, or disappear on their scheduled weekends to sleep off a bender.

Over the years, Freddy went to rehab repeatedly, only to go back to the depths of hopelessness. His father gave Freddy and Linda modest housing for a discount in his rundown buildings but did nothing to support them. Over the years, he demoted Freddy from running major operations, eventually putting him on a Trump building maintenance crew while calling him a poor slob behind his back.

At that point Freddy lived back and forth between the House, in his childhood bedroom, or in small, dingy apartments with foldout beds and a small black-and-white TV which he would watch on the weekends with his kids. Fred Senior gradually reduced his goodhearted, attractive son to a squeaking, alcoholsoaked gerbil before Freddy’s premature 1981 death from a heart attack caused by alcoholism.

Fritz’s memoir, while it correlates with Mary’s in all important respects, is simpler. It is strangely difficult to get a read on his motivations, but he seems like a man with decent values who loves his family and advocates for those with disabilities. While revealing anger and hurt, his writing is less introspective than

Trump family - from left Robert, Elizabeth, Fred Jr., Donald, Maryanne

Linda holding Mary, Freddy (Fred Jr.) holding Fritz (Fred Trump III)

Mary’s. He describes going back and forth between alienation from and fraternization with his aunt and uncles after legal battles that many would consider unforgivable. Perhaps he is more naïve than Mary, or maybe he maintains a level of denial necessary to stave off pain. Perhaps he simply wants to maintain good relations for personal reasons, such as protecting William, his severely disabled son who needs round-the-clock care. He still has to swim in a Trump shark tank that contains vengeful Donald, his cousins, and his uncle’s attack dogs. Fritz’s personal account of growing up Trump feels necessary for illuminating Trump family practices, but it sometimes seemed opaque.

Near the time Fritz and his wife found themselves rearranging their lives to support their permanently disabled son, he and Mary discovered after Fred Sr.’s death that the executors of Fred Sr.’s will, Maryanne, Robert, and Donald, had conspired to cut them out as their father’s heirs when Fred Sr. was suffering cognitive decline in 1991. When they went to court to win back their inheritance, their uncles and aunt decided to cut off their Trump company health insurance. Donald told the New York Daily News that after being sued, he asked himself “Why should we give [William] medical coverage?” That kind of cruelty towards a young disabled child does not sprout naturally in most people, but it could easily come from someone schooled in the arts of Fred Trump Sr.’s malignant narcissism. Fritz and Mary came to a settlement fi nally and signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2000. Reconnecting with his aunts and uncles afterwards, Fritz capably convinced his father's siblings, who had swindled him and Mary out of their inheritance, to set up a joint medical fund for William. Yet later on, after a meeting with the Department of Health and Human Services to advocate making investments to support disabled people and caretakers, Donald pulled Fritz aside and said, "Those people...The shape they're in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die."

Along with her descriptions of the older Trumps in the dynasty, Mary’s intelligent memoir is cleareyed, insightful, and sometimes excruciatingly sad. As she describes growing up with a miserable, alcoholic father and a depressed, neglectful mother, her feelings of increasing alienation, pain, and anger bubble to the surface, along with the self-loathing she inherited from them and other family members who neglected her needs. When she developed asthma as a child and went to wake her mother up at night, the enervated Linda would motion “Get in” and have her lie in bed, wheezing until morning, when she would fi nally take Mary to the hospital. When she realized she was gay, Mary turned to her mother, who suggested that she see a psychiatrist while doing nothing to help her.

Her father would often cancel plans with her and Fritz and sometimes disappear to rehab or elsewhere. Her

respite was going to camp every year, where she excelled in sports and became a counselor, and then at boarding school, which she attended to get away from her needy mother. She developed a shell that separated her from others, a reserve based on feeling unloved by anyone.

Mary was devastated and retraumatized when her uncle was elected to the White House in 2016. With her assistance a team from the NY Times helped expose his family's dubious wealth and tax practices in an article that won a Pulitzer Prize. Already a PhD in psychology, she attended a counseling retreat to address her self-flagellation and the feelings of worthlessness and depression that had hijacked her life. She found herself competent and focused when doing interviews on Zoom during the pandemic, only to regress after turning off the computer camera.

Who Could Ever Love You is worth reading on its own merits regardless of whether you are interested in a family named Trump. It is valuable as a young woman’s coming of age in a toxic, materialistic American family, one in which the fulfilled American dream of achieving wealth and fame is more like a nightmare despite gilt trappings.

To this day Mary works to keep herself stable to support her daughter and fight her uncle’s policies to support her values and regain power against her past. In November 2022, her next lawsuit accusing her uncles and aunt of defrauding her out of a multi-million-dollar inheritance was dismissed. This year Donald Trump’s lawsuit regarding her revealing secrets to the New York Times was allowed to go forward. Her courage in continuing to battle while revealing her tremendous pain, insecurities, and vulnerabilities in a national spotlight is formidable, particularly since she keeps going up against a president who cudgels his less-powerful opponents in any way possible.

Both siblings have stated their plans to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and support her in other ways. There are few to no contradictions between Mary and Fritz’s stories of their upbringing, which makes these accounts feel truthful. Their current estrangement merely underscores their stories’ validity. While there may be multiple reasons for their alienation from one another—neither would go into detail, and neither denigrated the other in any real way— their fissure may be the legacy of the top-down destructive trauma passed down to them from their parents and other relatives. Read these absorbing memoirs so you can judge for yourself.

Any opinions stated in this article are mine and do not represent those of the Old Town Crier. If you are not registered to vote, visit Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org to cast your ballot on or by Election Day, November 5, 2024.

Don't miss the 52nd Fall Powerboat Show either!

For all of you go fast boat people out there, the 52nd Fall Powerboat Show this fall takes place at Annapolis City Dock from October 3rd to 6th.

This year’s show will feature 370 boats for guests to preview alongside tents stocked with the latest in nautical gear and accessories, electronics, communication equipment, education, charter companies, clubs, and more.

Tickets for the Annapolis Powerboat Show are on sale now. More information along with ticket sales can be found at www. annapolisboatshows.com

54th Annual Fall Sailboat Show Takes to the Water October 10th - 14th

Poised for a record-breaking showcase this year, the Annapolis Fall Sailboat Show will open its gates for the 54th year at Annapolis City Dock from October 10th to 14th, extending the annual event an additional day to run through Indigenous Peoples' Day.

“This year we’ve aimed to add even more experiences for our guests,” says Annapolis Boat Shows President Mary Ewenson. “From seminars and demo opportunities to new products and chances to meet popular content creators and podcasters, we’ve really hit that mark.”

The largest sailboat show in the world, this year’s event will feature a fleet of 155 boats, including 16 exhibiting for their fi rst time in the United States. Ewenson remarks that the selection on display highlights trending models and introduces innovative new designs too.

“We’re seeing a marked return in the demand for sailboats that measure 30 feet in length or less. They’re accessible, maneuverable, easy to dock, and able to be sailed with a crew of one or two,” she says. “And importantly, they’re really fun to sail. We’re eager to share a wide inventory of those smaller size boats with guests this year.”

Visitors will also have an opportunity to explore sailing history aboard the Pride of Baltimore II, a reconstruction of a 19th century Baltimore clipper, which will be docked alongside hundreds of its modern sailing descendants.

This year’s selection of exhibiting vessels will also be joined by 535 vendors offering nautical gear and accessories, electronics, communication equipment, sails, rigging, education, charter opportunities, clubs, and more.

“A real highlight of this year’s show is the volume of education and skills development on offer,” Ewenson adds. “In our First Sail course and Take the Wheel Workshops, the offshore emergency medicine class, Cruisers University, and free daily seminars, there are opportunities to learn on and off the water for sailors of every skill level.”

The Annapolis Boat Shows team produces the premier show series for power and sailing vessels.

The annual fall sail event is the largest in the world, featuring multihulls, monohulls, cruisers, racers, and sailing dinghies from manufacturers around the globe. Alongside vessels that range from accessible to elite, show tents are stocked with the latest in gear, electronics, accessories, and more.

Tickets for the Annapolis Sailboat Show are on sale now. More information along with ticket sales can be found at www.annapolisboatshows.com

Publishers Note: We will be attending opening day and posting photos and videos on our Facebook (oldtowncrier) and Instagram (otcregionalmag) pages. Be sure to check them out on the 10th. Photos courtesy of the Annapolis Boat Show.

Photo by David Sites

An embarrassment of riches is right down the road as summer gives way to harvest season. From glossy plump cows, to bright orange pumpkins, to shiny red apples and purple grapes, Virginia's farms are bursting at the seams with good stuff and fun things to do. We're fortunate to live in an area where there are working farms only an hour from the city and there's no better time to visit for anything from produce, to dairy products to fruits and vegetables.

Although it's a bit early for prime foliage viewing, Fauquier County's 28th annual Fall Farm Tour October 5th lets visitors immerse themselves in the vibrant agricultural heritage and diverse farming operations of the area. This year's tour promises a delightful journey through the scenic countryside, offering unique insights into local farming practices and rural life. This tour promises to be a fun-filled day exploring the beautiful farms of Fauquier County, where you can experience the charm of the countryside. Get ready to see animals, pick fresh produce, and learn about farm life. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect with local farmers and enjoy the autumn season in a unique way.

In addition to unique insights into local farming practices and rural life, visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant agricultural heritage. The farms will have a variety of activities: guided tours, hands-on demonstrations, and of course plenty of fresh local

Harvest Happenings

farm products for sale. This is an excellent opportunity for families, agriculture enthusiasts, and anyone interested in learning more about farming and rural life in Fauquier County. Each farm will provide a unique experience, from seeing farm animals and learning about farming practices to exploring historical sites and enjoying local food and drink. Participating farms include:

• Ovoka Farm

• Sky Meadows State Park

• Hidden Creek Farm

• 4j's Farm & Brewery

• Berkshire Farm

• Trip Bopp Farm at FHS

• American Heritage Farm

• Mann-I-No Farm

• Cool Lawn Farm

• Messick's Farm Market

• Greenfield Farm Alpacas

Visit www.fauquierag.com or call the Fauquier County Agricultural Development Department at (540) 422-828 for more information.

Cows-N-Corn

This event is located at Maple Tree Farm near Warrenton and is a worthy destination for the whole family. Cows-N-Corn is a family farm and dairy that doubles as a Northern Virginia destination and educational adventure for city kids and grown-ups too. The farm is open to the public weekends beginning in April until November. Here, you'll learn about the life of a dairy cow from birth to production, as well as how they use computer technology to help care for their

cows so they can produce high quality milk. The farm also uses the latest conservation methods for growing crops to preserve and protect our environment. For more information or special events check out their website at mapletreefarmva.com

Horsing Around with Horse and Hound

Fall is probably the most eagerly awaited season for horse, hound and foxhunter. Last month horses and hounds began cubbing, as the early foxhunting season is called. This time of year, the young entry hounds will learn to hunt in a pack and respond to the huntsman's commands. Young fox cubs also learn the ropes—they learn during the slower paced, shorter early season how to outwit the pack to provide good sport later in the season, hence the term cubbing.

Foxhunting itself doesn't lend itself well to spectating, since you need a horse, an invitation and/ or ownership of a large parcel of land, but from it comes a huge local culture of horse events, from hunter shows to steeplechasing, polo and jousting, and October has plenty of horse events where you can combine leaf peeping and tailgating just right for horse fans. While an actual foxhunt requires a horse and an invitation, you can see the horses and riders compete in steeplechases and horse shows throughout the Blue Ridge this month. Horse fans, tailgaters, photographers, families and friends seeking a social outing,

can enjoy a day in the country at any number of nearby events. From the polo season winding down, to the fall shows and steeplechases, there is something to appeal to everyone.

Off to the Races

Rippling through the steeplechase community is word that the International Gold Cup had to make a hasty venue change in September from its home at the Great Meadow course in The Plains to Glenwood Park in Middleburg. The change was mandated by jump race governing body National Steeplechase Association, because problems with the turf made the Great Meadow course unsafe for the horses.

A last minute switch was made to Glenwood Park, a historic and beautiful old course one mile outside of Middleburg on Foxcroft Road. With the October 26th date, area foliage should be in peak fall color and Glenwood Park has one of the most spectacular views of the mountains and the racing activity anywhere in the country. There is one drawback to the location, however: it has a smaller spectator capacity than Great Meadow. Therefore, attendees should purchase all tickets, including general admissions, and/or reserved parking in advance at www. vagoldcup.com

Or fans can take in the Middleburg Fall Races Oct. 12th, held at their regular Glenwood Park location two weeks earlier. Information and tickets are at vafallraces.com

On the Road to Culpeper…

This month we decided to revisit one of our favorite small towns, Culpeper, Virginia. As we expanded our distribution of the Old Town Crier into the Blue Ridge, the beautiful town of Culpeper was a perfect distribution point. Over the years we got to know many of the merchants as well as other places of interest.

The town was founded in 1749 and soon became the hub of the region. The train station and the railway became an important feature of the town as well as a key target of both the Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War. Today the Amtrak trains run north and south with stops in Culpeper as well as Alexandria and Washington, D.C. The train is an excellent way to visit Culpeper for a day. However, if you wanted to stay overnight, the Fountain Hall B&B is a short walk from the station. There are other overnight accommodations as well.

Culpeper is centrally located between three other great towns...Sperryville 11 miles on Route 522, Warrenton 25 miles on Route 29 and Fredericksburg on Route 3. There are two distinct sides of Culpeper. The large box stores are located on the north side, and the quaint shops and restaurants on the south side of town. We will focus on the south side of town along East and West Davis streets that make up Historic Downtown Culpeper.

Some of the stores are now gone since we fi rst visited. I miss Mr. Minnick and Clarke's Hardware. That store had everything you ever needed. Some of the other stores that were still here twenty years ago that remain downtown are Calhoun's Ham House & Country Deli (they also have a place at the Old Town Farmers Market on Saturdays), Frost Cafe, It's About Thyme Restaurant, Piedmont Steakhouse, The Cameleer, The Frenchman's Corner, Green Roost, Le Monkey House, Pepperberries and Vinosity. A fun new shop that caught our eye is Ine’s Jewelry and

Art that is located at the end of a long closed off alleyway in the middle of Davis Street. This fun place is the gift shop version of the aforementioned Clarke’s Hardware.

One thing that I have always said about the shops of Culpeper is that they are all unique...no two are the same. In addition, every one of the owners are delightful people and eager to please their customers. This part of Culpeper is laid back country and most of the stores close at either 5 or 6 PM. The north side of town is typically opened later.

There are many dining options on Davis Street, Main Street and the side streets. These options range from Thai, steaks at Piedmont Steakhouse, It’s About Thyme and fi ne Italian dining at Flavor on Main. Unfortunately, the afternoon we were walking around town, it was in between lunch and dinner so we didn’t dine anywhere. We did, however, treat ourselves to a milk shake at Frost’s Café – they are known for their milk shakes and downhome fare.

On day two, we took a short drive from Culpeper to visit a few of the area’s other destinations. The fi rst was Belmont Farm Distillery, advertised as the oldest distillery in the nation. The distillery sits on their 198-acre farm where they grow their own corn to be used in the process of making their whiskey. Back about the time we started the Old Town Crier in 1988 I had taken a drive to this distillery and we wrote an article about this beautiful farm. I remembered a story told to me then that novelist Jackie Collins had her helicopter land in the field next to the tasting room where she picked up a case of whiskey then flew away. On our recent visit, “Brand Ambassador” Cheryl Buys, verified the story. Belmont Farm has chosen to preserve a national tradition of copper pot still whiskey. Belmont Farm was also chosen as one of the Top 3 moonshine providers in the country and made the list of awesome places to visit in

Virginia. Their whiskeys are also very affordable. We also ventured off course to Wollam Gardens in Jeffersonton, VA at the recommendation of the Culpeper Tourism people. This was a bit of a déjà vu experience. Bob Wollam had been a staple at the Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market for years and it was fun to see where the flowers were actually grown. This is one laid back place. You are pretty much on your own when you visit. Along Route 3 outside of Culpeper, you can fi nd Old House Vineyards. Parick Kearney found this property in 1998 and started the winery. Since then, he has added a distillery and brewery. Old House has been making award winning wines every year and the property is beautiful.

Our last stop was at the Ole Country Store & Bakery and Lake Culpeper Adventures right off of Route 29. This store and bakery is owned and operated by members of the Amish community and is a must stop if you are in the market for some fantastic baked goods, a really good sandwich or home churned ice cream and a ton of other edibles. Lake Culpeper Adventures is located adjacent to the store and offers kayaking, canoeing and paddle boating. It was a glorious day when we were there but time didn’t allow us to participate in any of the activities. It was bustling with a group of 10th graders when we were there and they were certainly having a grand time.

Culpeper is a road trip worth taking. This charming town is best observed over two days... there is much to do and enjoy. Back when we fi rst discovered Culpeper, traffic wasn't a big issue. Today is another story. To drive there, you can take I-95 (which I always try to avoid) south to Route 3 in Fredericksburg and then west to Culpeper. The other option is I-66 to Gainesville and take Route 29 south to Culpeper. We are seriously considering boarding the train at the King Street Station the next time. And…if you have your own plane, Culpeper has a small airport.

CherylBuys-Belmont's BrandAmbassador

Renee (left) & Merrill (right)

Vinosity

Bob Wollam

The Caribbean’s 4 Hottest New Vacation Villas Are on the Island of St Barth

It’s the biggest trend in Caribbean travel, at least in the luxury segment: the villa vacation, which saw enormous growth during the pandemic — as travelers sought out space, seclusion and an elevated degree of luxury and service.

Now, villas continue to be a major draw for luxury travelers. And when it comes to the villa vacation, one destination towers above them all: the French Caribbean island of St Barth.

No island has a more impressive portfolio of luxury villas, from small retreats to grand, sweeping beachfront retreats. And when it comes to St Barth villas, there’s one clear leader: Wimco St Barth Properties, part of the Nocturne Luxury Villas Collection.

If you’re planning your next St Barth villa getaway, you’re in luck, because Wimco just revealed its hottest new villas in St Barth, and we have the exclusive.

But WIMCO doesn’t just have the best villas — they also have daily housekeeping and the company’s renowned concierge service — with each villa getting a dedicated concierge who can attend to literally every need you have during your stay.

They’re all in one of St Barth’s most beautiful locations: Grand Cul de Sac, home to one of the best beaches — and some of the best views — on the whole island.

Here’s a guide:

Larimar A magnificent, long infi nity-edge pool looks out on the turquoise of Grand Cup de Sac, with four bedrooms, all with a master bedroom layout, SONOS throughout the villa and a heated pool. Book Now

Lazuli Another Grand Cul de Sac retreat with a heated pool is a four-bedroom getaway with a nature theme. We love the living room, which has its own projection screen if you want to turn your evening into a trip to the cinema; the pool deck is a stunner, too.

Quartz There are three bedrooms here, along with four bathrooms and a terrific kitchen with its own wine fridge. The pool is heated, too, and the outdoor space is impressive, from the infi nity pool to the garden. The coolest amenity? A high-tech fitness room that’s all yours. Book Now

Tourmaline You get three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms here, with a super-long pool, great Wi-Fi and a spectacular terrace, perfect for peering out into the different shades of blue in Grand Cul de Sac.

If you like these villas, they have a secret. You can actually rent all of these villas together with a 14-bedroom layout for the ultimate group retreat.

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.

Larimar

Lazuli

Tourmaline

Quartz

NAPLES FL TOPS THE LIST FOR BEST BEACHES IN USA

BEACHFRONT SEASONAL RENTAL AVAILABLE

Naples has again claimed the top spot by Travel and Leisure and several other groups for best beach town in the US. The jewel of SW Florida’s Paradise Coast has sugar sand beaches, turquoise clear waters and every amenity worthy of a world class resort town. Seasonal lease of well furnished 2BR 2BA condo in the very best beachfront location is available this winter (90 day minimum lease term). No ner view from inside and better beach access at any price and most rentals in area start at twice the price. Includes carport parking, heated pool, elevators and privacy; uncrowded beach and, onsite management. Photo is the view from inside! Call (no texts), email or visit our Facebook page @NaplesOceanfrontCondo. 540-364-9480 • hopespringsfarm@gmail.com

DINING GUIDE M y s t i c B B Q & G R I

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 DINER 1743 King Street

703-664-0043

JULA'S ON THE POTOMAC 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

EDDIE'S LITTLE SHOP & DELI 1406 King Street 571-312-8615

EVENING STAR CAFÉ

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

703-549-5051

EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE

1400 Duke Street

703-299-0894

FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342

FRANKIE'S KITCHEN & COCKTAIL BAR 823 S. Washington St. 703-512-2118

GADSBYS TAVERN

138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288

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

703-436-0025

KILN - HOTEL HERON

699 Prince St. 703-662-1900

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street

571-319-0794

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

MYSTIC BBQ & GRILL 220 N. Lee St. 703-565-9808 mysticbbqandgrill.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 DanielOconnells.com

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. 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com

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

ROYAL RESTAURANT 730 N. St. Asaph St. 703-548-1616

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

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S

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

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

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

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

ZUKI MOON 1909 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-836-1212

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

RAILBIRD KITCHEN 804 North Henry St. 703-577-9023

CEDAR KNOLL

703-780-3665

CONTINENTAL

GW Parkway at Lucia Ln.

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

ALEXANDRIA BIER GARDEN

710 King Street 703-888-1951 villagebrauhaus.com

FRENCH

BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776

bastillerestaurant.com

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

JOSEPHINE

109 South St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776

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

ITALIAN

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

ANDY’S PIZZA 107 N Fayette St 571-319-0497

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

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

HANDOVER BY THE SLICE 728 King Street 571-319-0794

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 ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090 Michaelsonking.com

PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287

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

THOMPSON'S ITALIAN 1026 King Street alexandria@thompsonitalian.com

MEDITERRANEAN

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

ELAINE'S 208 Queen Street 571-970-0517

NANDO'S PERI PERI 2462 Mandeville Lane 571-473-5500

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

Table Talk Does Dinner!

Wow! We never thought we would see the day that one of Old Town Alexandria’s breakfast and lunch icons would open for dinner. We are thinking that maybe the revamping of another icon, The Royal Restaurant, by Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP) has something to do with it. While the remodel and menu changes that have taken place at The Royal are a major uptick, it no longer has that down home, neighborhood diner feel that still remains at Table Talk. We are guessing that the some of the “old guard” crowd who frequented dinner at the Royal have moved their loyalty to Table Talk. This, in conjunction with the fact that we needed another reasonably priced place to have dinner in Old Town, may have contributed to owners, Jeff and Kelly Yates decision to open for dinner 5 nights a week.

We both have many fond memories of this cool place. Most of them early morning adventures after a late Friday night out! Sometimes you need a bit of “hair of the dog” at 7:30 on Saturday morning and they serve a good Bloody Mary in addition to hearty breakfast fare. In fact, they serve breakfast ALL DAY long every day. This is a ‘good to know’ if you can’t make it to a place before they take the two eggs over easy off of the menu and start serving lunch. It isn’t normally our policy to print a restaurant’s menu but we thought it was a good idea in this case. It says it all! The dinner menu is pretty much a mirror image of the lunch menu. The only difference is the price and we think it is way fair that they are charging a whopping $1 more on each item at dinner.

It was a nice surprise to be greeted at the door by our friend Natasha - who we have had the pleasure of serving us at another Old Town establishment

over the years. We were also fortunate enough to have our friend Laura with us on our visit. It’s always good to have additional input.

We started out with a cup of the chicken noodle soup and a wedge salad that we shared. The soup was just like grandma used to make and the wedge salad was over the top good. The tomatoes and lettuce were fresh, the bacon perfectly crispy and the blue cheese dressing stellar. Next came the ham, baked meatloaf and roast turkey dinners. The entrée’s come with dinner rolls and your choice of two sides. Lots of food on these plates. All three were quintessential comfort food for sure. The meatloaf was as good as it gets, however, we all think that the ham needed “ham” based gravy instead of the same brown gravy served with the meatloaf and there was a bit too much gravy on the fantastic turkey (which was sliced right off of the bird). It might be a good idea to order the gravy on the side. All in all, our meals were great.

Even though none of us really had room for dessert, we had to give their apple pie a try. This is defi nitely house made and next time we will save room so we can order it ala mode.

They have a fully stocked standalone bar and Happy Hour runs all day long. The vodka gimlets we ordered were small but spot on and the house white and house red filled the bill as well. Last, and certainly not least, is the fact that Table Talk has FREE off-street parking next to and behind the restaurant!

“Two Party Salad" and More!

As the presidential election heats up, it’s time to spice up your gatherings with a culinary celebration of democracy. Get ready to toss together a dish that’s as vibrant and diverse as the political landscape itself! Presenting the “Two Party Salad,” a delightful mix of ingredients that will have your taste buds voting for flavor!

Ingredients:

For the Salad:

New Green Deal Lettuce

Because every salad deserves a fresh start! Candi-dates

Sweet little treats that are sure to win over voters (or your guests)!

G.O.Peaches

Juicy and ripe, these peaches will add a refreshing twist!

Demo-crans

A sprinkle of tartness to balance the sweetness! Govern-mint Leaves (optional) – For a zesty kick that keeps the conversation lively!

For the Main Dish:

Red, White, and Blue Chard Rolls With pork and Tariff rice for a hearty addition to your political potluck!

For Dessert:

Red and Blue Jello Balls

A fun, wiggly treat, topped with house party whip cream for that celebratory touch!

Instructions

Prepare the Salad:

Start by washing the New Green Deal Lettuce thoroughly, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. This lettuce represents fresh ideas and new beginnings! Next, add in your Candi-dates**these can be gummy candies or even candied fruits, depending on your preference. Sweeten the deal!

Dice up the G.O.Peaches and toss them in. Their juicy goodness symbolizes a fruitful economy. Sprinkle in the Demo-crans for a pop of flavor and color. These little gems are sure to spark some

lively debate and provided some much needed brain food!

If you’re feeling adventurous, toss in some Governmint Leaves for that extra zing!

Create the Chard Rolls:

Take your Red, White, and Blue Chard (the vibrant greens symbolize our nation’s colors) and blanch them briefly in boiling water to soften.

In a bowl, mix together cooked pork (seasoned to your liking) with some Tariff rice (a blend of rice and spices that packs a punch!).

Roll the pork and rice mixture into the chard leaves, securing them with a toothpick or string.

Place the rolls on a platter to signify unity in diversity!

Whip Up the Jello Balls:

Prepare red and blue gelatin according to package instructions. Once set, cut them into fun ball shapes or use a melon baller for a festive touch.

Serve these bouncy treats with a dollop of **house party whip cream** on top for an extra layer of fun!

The Final Touch:

As you savor your delicious feast, share stories of your earliest political memories. Remember the time when Nixon resigned? Perhaps you can pull out that old cassette tape from your car and relive the nostalgia!

And who could forget the “hanging Chard”? It’s a timeless classic that never fails to amuse at gatherings!

Stock Up on Conversation:

And lastly, don’t forget to serve the Nancy Pelosi STOCK it's rich, flavorful, and bound to spark a debate or two!

So, there you have it—a political party salad that will keep your taste buds campaigning for more! Gather your friends, serve up these delightful dishes, and let the conversations flow as freely as the ideas. Happy election season, and may the best flavors win!

Optional:

You might have considered making **Mitch Cannoli**, but let’s face it, they tend to flop around too much! Let’s focus on the stable flavors we’ve assembled instead.

About the Author: Glenn Morel is a producer turned chef. With experience in restaurants from Florida to Manhattan, he specializes in bringing his clients their very own personal chef for any special event. In addition to private parties of 12 (or more-or-less), he also offers catering for small and large groups. Chef Glenn works with you to create a customized menu and first-class event. He brings culinary professionals with him that dress appropriately and are experienced in handling food. They are also often trained mixologists and fine dining servers.

Celebrating 40 years of Loudoun wines!

When I arrived in Loudoun County in 1997, there were four wineries, Swedenburg, Willowcroft, Loudoun Valley and Tarara Breaux was making wine but not quite open yet. I was hired at Tarara as the winemaker and vineyard manager. Even though I had ten years’ experience at a winery Sonoma, CA, I did not have the job of lead winemaker or vineyard manager. But I learned quickly and Tarara grew in quality and recognition as a winery along with the wine industry in Loudoun County. Willowcroft was the leader that gives us the forty-year stake in the ground. Owner Lew Parker is still going strong in energy and quality. Now there are about 60 wineries in Loudoun County. Visit Loudoun, our tourism bureau, branded us DC’s Wine Country about two decades ago and the name has stuck!

Many of us in the industry have been involved in nurturing our young industry. Collaborative efforts in marketing, agriculture, quality and legislative concerns have helped us grow in a sustainable manner.

About fifteen years ago, a number of leaders in the Loudoun rural economy took a road trip to the Finger

Lakes wine region in order to learn what they have done. Our intention was to learn from them so we can put our best step forward in the years to come. Tonight, I was reminded of an epiphany I had on that trip regarding the growth and future of our industry. I realized that if we, Loudoun County or Northern Virginia, were to be considered as a serious wine region, we needed more grapes in the ground.

Well, here we are! We have significantly more vines and wines, more recognition in the media for our quality and tasting experiences as well as the offerings aside from wine for our visitors. Vineyards are agriculture and have become a part of our local culture. We still need to educate the next generation more, as well as many consumers who have yet to try our products.

As we honor and celebrate our forty years of wine here in Loudoun County, twelve wineries have brought their winemakers together to create a special collaborative blend. This red wine has just been released at the participating wineries and is a tribute to our founders and farmers who make this industry possible. We used wine from 2022 and 2023 and includes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Norton and Chambourcin.

Blended together to make a stylistic and drinkable blend. Each participating winery, including ours, will have some of this wine to taste and purchase. About 285 cases were made, so I would imagine it will go quick.

October is Virginia Wine Month, so make a trip to the wineries, share that special Virginia wine in your cellar, consider joining a wine club, and be proud of this local, authentic agricultural industry! We are proud of our growth and our continued improvement to quality. We have received some strong accolades lately, and we are honored to receive them.

A perfect wine is never achieved, but we continue to strive! Bring our efforts home to enjoy with your friends and family.

About the Author: Farmer, winemaker, entrepreneur, educator, and leader, Doug Fabbioli has been accelerating the growth and quality of Virginia’s wine industry since 1997. With his wife Colleen, Doug is the owner/operator of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. He is the founder and director of The New Ag School, which focuses on teaching the next generation of farmers and agriculture-related leaders. No wonder they call Doug Fabbioli the Godfather of DC's Wine Country.

THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY 11-5

How to Tour Virginia Wineries Like A Pro! October is Virginia Wine Month

I’ve written about the Virginia wine industry every month for the past five years. While I fi nd great joy in nerding-out with winemakers about different aspects of viticulture, it’s important to occasionally go back to the basics and talk about what makes Virginia wine so special. So, in honor of Virginia Wine Month, here’s a quick (re)introduction to the world of Virginia wine.

Virginia has the distinction of being both one of America’s oldest wine regions and an emerging one. The fi rst wines produced in the Thirteen Colonies were grown in the late 1750s at plantations near the Chesapeake Bay. Decades later, Thomas Jefferson established himself as America’s foremost oenophile due to his love of French wine and doomed attempts to grow vines at his estate in Monticello.

Today, Virginia has over 300 wine brands and over 4,300 acres of vines. While over half of these grape varieties are typically associated with either Bordeaux or Burgundy, local winemakers are quick to point out the state’s unique growing conditions makes copying either of these areas impractical.

These growers also agree Virginia should focus on grapes that are weather hardy as opposed to ones that are commercially famous. That’s led to a surge in varieties that are rarely seen elsewhere, such as Petit Manseng or Viognier. It’s ironic that Virginia’s two most planted red grapes, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, are ones Bordeaux considers minor grapes in their vineyards.

Virginia wine also consistently punches above its weight in terms of quality. In 2023, Wine Enthusiast selected the Monticello American Viticultural Area as its Wine Region of the Year. Since then, Virginia wine has received rave reviews from major publications such as Decanter, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal, to name just a few.

Why You May Not Have Yet Heard About Virginia Wine

So, if Virginia wine is so great, why haven’t you seen it?

Probably the biggest issue facing Virginia wine is its limited availability, with the state only making 0.3% of total U.S. wine production. Most local

wineries make under 3,500 cases a year; only a handful make more than 40,000 cases.

The boutique nature of this business model means Virginia wineries seldom achieve the economy of scale necessary to compete in the $25 and under market. While Virginia wine compares favorably against similarly-priced out of state bottles, their relatively higher prices make it more difficult to attract entry-level consumers.

Lastly, as most Virginia wine is sold directly to consumers in the tasting room, there is limited inventory to share with retailers and restaurants. This means potential buyers must visit local vineyards to sample the good stuff.

Fortunately, the industry’s proximity to some of the nation’s wealthiest counties makes wine tourism a viable way to generate sales. Over 100 wineries are just over an hour’s drive from D.C. or Northern Virginia. More are located in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, historic Charlottesville, and beyond.

How To Plan Your First Winery Day

For those who have never visited Virginia wine country, here are some suggestions for planning your trip:

1. Decide what kind of experience you want to enjoy. Virginia wineries offer a diverse array of options. Many are child-friendly, while others are adults-only. Several venues offer beer and/ or spirits in addition to wine. A number of locations allow large groups and picnicking, while others provide more intimate, winefocused experiences.

Pro tip: Always check a winery’s operating hours, and make sure to use the official Virginia Wine marketing page (https://www.virginiawine.org) and Virginia Wine Love (https://www.virginiawinelove. com) for help in selecting wineries with the atmosphere you’re looking for. This research will ensure you don’t show up to a winery, only to learn too late they don’t allow kids/dogs/large groups.

2. Visit no more than 3 wineries a day. With a driver you could visit more…but why would you want to? Winery associates work hard to teach you about their wine, a learning

experience that becomes difficult the more you imbibe. Moreover, wineries make it easy for you to stay and enjoy yourself.

Pro tip: A visit shouldn’t be just about sampling wine; many are set in stunning rural areas that encourage even non-drinkers to stick around to enjoy the view while listening to live music. Anybody can enjoy a visit to wine country.

3. Check out their wine club. Wine clubs are typically a winery’s bread & butter, so don’t be surprised if your hosts give you their best sales pitch on why their club is best. Clubs are also where you’ll fi nd your best deals.

Nearly all wine clubs offer discounts on bottles and tastings. What’s not immediately obvious is many wineries host events or have special bottles that are exclusive to club members. If a particular winery strikes your fancy, ask for more details.

Pro tip: If you aren’t a fan of every single wine available, ask the club manager what their rules are for exchanging bottles. Some clubs have multiple options.

4. Planning meals & overnight stays: Most wineries are located in relatively rural areas, so plan your meals out in advance. Many offer some kind of snacks, but these options vary greatly from place to place. It’s best to eat before you go out, and either bring your own food (assuming your destination allows picnicking), or look for local restaurants along the way.

Some wineries also offer overnight stays. Even those without on-site Airbnbs are typically close to a major town, such as Staunton or Charlottesville. Pro tip: Several wineries have amazing in-house restaurants, especially larger venues such as Early Mountain, Pippin Hill, Barboursville, and Veritas. They are a great way to see how wine and food are a perfect pairing.

About the 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/

Beers, THE Burgh, and the Backyard Brawl

Pittsburgh is a fun sports town. It always has been. It’s the only city in the United States where all the professional sports teams wear the same colors. The Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins all don the black and gold. So, sports conversations are usually easy. Everyone is on the same page, and probably wearing the same colors. All the patrons of the bar you’re in are friends, buddies, compadres. It’s all fun and games, until a certain question is posed. A question that can divide the bar and create chaos. It’s a simple question, an innocent question. A question that gets asked in most places without any unseemly results.

“What college team do you root for?”

The bar will immediately split three ways. Sides will be taken, and the smack talking will get loud. University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), Penn State University, and West Virginia University (WVU) fans will stand their ground and proudly display loyalty to their alma maters. Where there was friendship, there is now animosity. Buddies are suddenly rivals. Many Pittsburghers attend one of these three universities, so the city has large alumni bases from each. The three schools used to play each other every year. Now that each is

in a different college conference, the games aren’t as common. But when they do occur, they are ferocious. The Pitt and WVU game is the Backyard Brawl. People tend to know this; the matchup is famous. But they often don’t know where the appellation comes from. It’s really simple: the schools are only one hour and twenty minutes from each other. As far as major universities go, that close distance is rare. The two are literally in each other’s back yards.

My wife and I just attended the most recent Backyard Brawl. It was in Pittsburgh this year. (Or the Burgh, as Pittsburghers often call it.) I grew up in the area, just west of the city. So, Pittsburgh is home to me. The city has changed a lot since I was a kid, mostly for the better. The steel mills that dominated much of the area are gone. True, there are those older denizens who would not see that as a positive thing. Nevertheless, the city spent three decades redefi ning itself.

The once dirty and polluted steel city is now a beautiful, clean tech hub with great food and theatre scenes. And, of course, great craft beer.

We arrived late Friday afternoon and checked into the William Penn Hotel

The William Penn is a luxurious hotel constructed in 1916 at a cost of six million dollars, a lot of money for the time. It’s right downtown and quite beyond fabulous.

We checked in, then headed next door to the Commoner, a lovely bar inside the Hotel Monaco. It’s one of our favorite spots. After the four-hour drive from DC, we both wanted a drink. I spied their house old-fashioned on the drink menu, the Commoner O.F. I noticed that it was made with a house blended bourbon. The bartender explained that they mix Four Roses and Russel Reserve bourbons. I considered this a bold move and had to try it. It was delicious. These guys know what they’re doing.

Next stop, Blend Cigar Lounge. It

has a great wine list, bourbon list, and local craft beers. Their walk-in humidor is fantastic. I picked out an Arturo Fuerte Hemingway, which is a wonderful cigar. As I lit my smoke, Martay, the bartender, was answering my questions about their draft beers. They had two local beers from Links Brewing Company. Being

a golfer, I loved the name and had to try both. Links 1010 is Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout. It hits you up front with chocolate and espresso notes. The bourbon flavor from the aging blends perfectly. This is a welldone stout. Next is the Links Ale. It's an American Ale. They advertise it as lightly hopped, and it is. There are just enough hops to add to the taste. This beer is light, citrusy, and refreshing. Quite a delightful beer.

While I was enjoying my beer and cigar, my fraternity brother Bob called. We were meeting Bob, his wife Jenn, and my fraternity brother Mike for a tailgate the next morning.

“Hey, I got a case of Miller Lite for the beer snob” He chuckled.

“That’s not funny” I reply.

“Well, what do you want?”

He started listing beers. I stopped at Great Lakes Oktoberfest.

“That’s perfect! Get that.”

It’s probably bad form to be drinking a Cleveland beer in Pittsburgh, but this one is great. The Great Lakes Oktoberfest is a Marzen-style Oktoberfest beer, so it’s darker and has more malt than most other lagers. But the malt does not overpower the beer. It’s a medium bodied beer with great autumn flavors. A perfect tailgating beer.

Our tailgate the next morning was on the side of a hill, not uncommon for a Pitt or WVU tailgate. The WVU section was in the endzone at Acrisure Stadium. By the way, everyone still calls the stadium Heinz Field. Our seats were on the upper tier, so high up that birds were flying below us. But no matter, we enjoyed ourselves. Well, until WVU blew a 10-point lead in the last three minutes of the game and lost. But life goes on. After the game, it was back to the William Penn hotel to have a glass of wine in their Palm Lounge and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of this classic spot. Yes, I do enjoy drinking a good glass of wine. Man cannot live on beer and bourbon alone. The hotel has a pub and a speakeasy as well. Both are quite fun.

The next morning, we’re off to the Grand Concourse restaurant for brunch with my nephew Dan and his wife Linda. This restaurant is on the southside of Pittsburgh in Station Square. The building is the old train station. The interior is beautiful. The brunch is enormous and fabulous. It’s a buffet broken into stations that are spread throughout the restaurant and bar. What a great experience. But one must come hungry. The amount of food is unbelievable.

Their bar is called The Gandy Dancer Saloon. My father used to take us there when we were in the city. The place is a great childhood memory for me. And it’s hardly changed over time. I couldn’t help but take a moment and reflect. I must admit I got a tear in my eye. I could still see my dad sitting at the bar eating oysters.

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Knob Creek 9 Year Bourbon Whiskey

This month’s recommendation is the Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 9 year. It’s an easy drinking, high proof bourbon. Perfect for tailgating. The nose has a good amount of spice, with apple, brown sugar, and caramel. It’s sweet on the palate, but not overly so, with maple syrup, vanilla, and brown sugar. The fi nish is long with oak, cinnamon, and leather. It’s 120 proof, so be careful. But at $55 a bottle, it’s a real bargain.

Arturo Fuerte Hemmingway Signature Cigar

This cigar has a sweet Cameroon wrapper and is arguably the perfect size for a tailgate cigar. The smoke delivers cream, chocolate, cashews, and a bit of pepper. It has a sweetness that lingers on the tongue, but not too much. The cigar has a crisp and clean fi nish. At around $7 a stick, this little gem is a steal.

This cigar, and many other fine cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King St. in Old Town Alexandria. Mention this article and get 10% off the purchase of this month’s recommended cigar.

Do yourself a favor and plan a weekend in Pittsburgh. The people are friendly, and the food and drink scenes are well worth it. You fi nd it to be a wonderful experience. For me, it’s always that, and just a little bit more.

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 fl y doing in my soup? http://whatfl yinmysoup.com

Calacas, Calaveras and Cempasúchil…Oh My!

I didn’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 fi nd 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 pre-Columbian 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, ever-present part of life.

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 bonfi res,

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

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.

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 fi nally reach Mictlán, the fi nal resting place. In Nahua

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 fi rst two days of November.

In medieval Spain, people would bring bring wine and pan de ánimas (spirit bread) to the graves of

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 year-round 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

POINTS ON PETS CAROLYN COCKCROFT

Safe & Stress Free... NOT Spooky!

Providing a Safe and Stress-free Night for Pets this Halloween

Masked doorbell ringers, freaky decor, costume parties and, of course, treats—these are all part of the fun of Halloween celebrations. For our pets, however, some traditions during this season can be confusing, or worse, downright frightful. Common sense and some consideration (try thinking like a cat or dog) can keep the evening a safe and calm one.

It Starts with the Doorbell. A constantly ringing doorbell, sudden knocking, and shouts of “Trick or Treat!” may startle an animal not used to abrupt noise or rowdiness. If alarmed, your pet’s impulse may be to dart outside the house and become lost. Even if your pet loves to greet guests and runs to the door as soon as the bell rings, he might, in his excitement, jump onto or nip a child. “We have a plethora of animals that are misplaced at Halloween when there's all these kids and fluffy costumes coming, “ says Jenny Lindquist, DVM, owner of Lindquist Veterinary Care Center in Kirksville, Missouri. “It’s easier for them to slip out the door.” You may consider disconnecting the doorbell for the evening or keeping your pet in a back room with food, water and toys (See “Safe Space” below). Or, to minimize the noise, consider sitting outside and distributing candy to trick-or-treaters before they can knock on the door or ring the bell. Keep Candy Hidden from Curious Pets. Chocolate and candy sweetened with xylitol, as well as many other sweets, are toxic to pets. Veterinarian emergency clinics see an increase on Halloween night, due to cats and dogs with swollen tummies, diarrhea, or vomiting. Warn your children or party guests who may be tempted to

share food with your feline or canine (this holds true for any human food at a party). The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888426-4435) is available 24 hours. Call your veterinarian or the Poison Control Center immediately if you suspect your pet has swallowed anything harmful.

Use Caution with Costumes. A human may think it cute to dress a puppy as Yoda and then click a photo to share on social media. Many pets, however, resist being forced into clothing —especially cats. According to cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, “It doesn't feel good to them, their hair follicle receptors, their whiskers— they're not meant to deal with that.”

A stressed pet may react by tucking a tail, flattening ears, whimpering, growling, or even becoming very still or “frozen” with fear. The costume itself could become a hazard if the animal’s breathing or sight becomes restricted, or if the pet chews or chokes on it. If you insist on bedecking your pet for Halloween, Fear Free Happy Homes, an online educational website for pet advocates, suggests conducting a “dress rehearsal” before October 31, by “letting the pet sniff and investigate the costume before slowly dressing

them” and providing treats “to create a positive association with the costume.” On Halloween night, monitor the pet closely for any signs of discomfort or clothing entanglements. Especially avoid any attachments, such as a loose string, dangling bell or other item that could be a choking or strangling hazard. Do not dye your pet’s hair. Not only are dyes potentially toxic if the pet ingests it, but in some jurisdictions, dying pets is illegal.

Keep the Décor in Check. The Humane Society warns that some decorations can pose health risks, such as “lit candles, rubber eyeballs (choking risk), glow sticks and

cobwebs (can choke or entangle pets and wildlife), potpourri (toxic to birds) and strung lights.” Candy wrappers and packaging, also, can be tempting to pets who love to chew on plastic and, if ingested, could result in needing surgery in order to extract the foreign body. House décor that contain spider webs, string, or wires are defi nite hazards for a curious puppy or kitty who likes to explore. Why not instead decorate your driveway or front porch with creepy displays to amuse your neighbors? Create a Safe Space. If you know your pet can be spooked by loud noises, strange visitors, unfamiliar smells, create a secluded area, such as a back room with a comfortable

blanket, water, favorite toys, some treats and (for a cat) a litter box. This will help them feel at ease. One of the greatest risks at Halloween is having a pet bolt outside when you answer the door. Leashes, crates, or presegregation in a room can help prevent a heartbreaking loss.

Make sure your pet is microchipped! In addition to all these safeguards, the most effective deterrence from the despair of losing a frighten or curious pet who darts into the night is to ensure he has been microchipped and the

information is current. Pets are family. “As their human guardian, you need to make decisions that are in their best interests,” reminds Jackson Galaxy. While adults and children alike want to celebrate Halloween with all the rituals and goodies, our pets’ welfare and safety must be as much of a priority during the holidays as it is the rest of the year.

About the Author: A volunteer at King Street Cats, Carolyn is supervised by two indoor cats, Marigold and Butterbean.

Sources: https://www.jacksongalaxy. com/blogs/news/whyyou-should-never-dressup-your-cat?_pos=1&_ sid=c323e609f&_ss=r https://www.humanesociety. org/resources/halloweensafety-tips-pets https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=_rB13Bx1Cgc https://www.catster.com/ lifestyle/are-black-cats-indanger-on-halloween/ https://www. fearfreehappyhomes.com

PETS OF THE MONTH

Bruno

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304

703-838-4774

www.alexandriaanimals.org

Animal Welfare League of Arlington 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive Arlington, VA 22206 703-931-9241 www.awla.org

Fairfax County Animal Shelter 4500 West Ox Road Fairfax, VA 22030

703-830-1100

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter

King Street Cats 25 S. Dove Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-231-7199

www.kingstreetcats.org

Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. (Dog rescue for VA, MD, DC, and south central PA) P.O. Box 90813 Alexandria, VA 22309 703-344-7320 ophrescue.org

Friends of Rabbits www.friendsofrabbits.org

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary (1300 animals and 22 species on 450 acres) P.O. Box 1357 Orange, VA 22960 540-854-0870

By appointment: tours@rikkisrefuge.org events@rikkisrefuge.org www.rikkisrefuge.org

Venus

Betty

703-746-4774

Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm Alexandria, VA

Mon-Tu-Th-Fri, 12-7 pm

Bruno is a 3-year-old, 68-pound male dog with an adorably smooshy, expressive face. He could stand to gain a bit more weight with proper nutrition. He came to us from a rescue partner in Texas from Dallas Animal Services -- a very overcrowded shelter where he was unfortunately on the euthanasia list. Bruno is incredibly sweet and docile. He loves to shower people with affection. He's even been known to just sit and ask you to hold his paw. He really enjoys playing with toys and will fetch and tug enthusiastically. We think he'd make a wonderful family dog and seems exceptionally tolerant and easygoing.

Venus is an 8-year-old female cat with a beautiful black coat and lively green eyes. She is sweet, social and affectionate -- and eager for attention. She loves to meet new people and enjoys having visitors. Venus would make a lovely easygoing companion for a variety of families. She has come from a house with other kitties, so she may t well into a multi-cat household. She needs a family that will keep her on thyroid medication and work with a veterinarian to keep her healthy. But we promise, the extra effort is well worth the kindness, fun and endless snuggles Venus brings.

Betty is a 2-year-old all-black female bunny with an extremely outgoing and friendly personality. She is a big gal, with lots of uff and ears that go on for days. Beyond her stunning appearance, she is a feisty, fun-loving bunny. She greets everyone who comes near her kennel and shows absolutely no hesitation when meeting new friends. She relishes attention and pets and will even let you scratch her belly. She loves her tasty veggie treats and enjoys playing with her busy bags. She would love a home that would allow her to hop around and have some fun. She even does well on a leash and harness!

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 doe-eyed 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 defi ned 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.

Get Fit This Fall

Everything you need to know to start slimming down and bundling up

With fall comes brisk mornings, followed by cooler days, and not to mention the beautiful foliage and delicious fall foods. Now is the time to get that workout into your schedule so that it becomes part of your routine before things get hectic for the holidays. Here are just a few reasons why you should use this fall to make fitness part of your life.

Enjoy the year’s most beautiful season. Its time for the weather to cool off and for the leaves to change into their fall colors Get outside and enjoy the season by bicycling, walking, hiking, jogging, and playing golf and tennis. Explore parks in your area; fi nd a new bike path through the woods, take a walk around a lake. The time spent out in nature will do as much good for your mind as for your body.

Get back to the club. As I have said before, it takes 30 days to make a habit, and supplementing your outdoor activities with a regular

gym workout will help keep you on track. While cardio exercise is good for your heart, it is important to add some resistance training to your program as well. If you are looking for something new, sign up with a personal trainer for a few sessions and have them come up with a new program for you. This is especially a good idea if you are looking for a program specifically suited to help you improve your running or hiking.

Take advantage of what fall has to offer. Fall makes me think of apple picking. Turns out that this awesome fruit has incredible health benefits. Apples contain pectin, which has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol and can help with managing diabetes. The antioxidants found in apples have been found to lower the risk for asthma and lung cancer. In addition to that apples also provide us with a bout 8mg or vitamin C. This is not a sufficient amount, but considering that every bit counts

and cold season is around the corner we’ll take what we can get. With that being said, head out to the nearest orchard this weekend for some apple picking!

Make your workouts social. Nothing kills a workout routine faster than boredom. Find a friend and use your 40-minute walk to catch up with each other. If you have a workout partner who you know is going to meet with you then you are more likely to stick with it. If that doesn’t seem to fit into you or your friend’s schedule, get a trainer. A trainer will help to motivate you to want to come in and workout, and also hold you accountable for reaching your fitness goals. It’s a good way to get back in the workout groove.

Do yoga. The fi rst time I ever did yoga, I thought to myself -“This is crazy” It seemed so slow, no sweating (well not really), no breathing hard, just what was the point of these excruciatingly slow exercises? I kept doing it and I

actually started to enjoy it once I allowed myself to relax and do something gentle for a change. The very things I hated at fi rst became the things I appreciated mosthaving a gentle, slow activity that was more about feeling good than pushing myself to the limit. Yoga is the perfect way to balance out your routine, especially if your workouts are heavy on the cardio and strength, light on the flexibility and relaxation. A well-rounded program touches on all different areas of fitness - pushing hard as well as pulling back. If you haven't tried yoga, I strongly recommend heading into your local health club or nearest yoga studio to check it out.

Take these fitness ideas and put them to some good use. Get outside for a hike and some apple picking, run with a friend, try a workout with a trainer and do some yoga. All of these should help you to build a good foundation for your fall fitness routine.

Let’s Work On Those Lats!

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 fi nd 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 10-15 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.

Tips for Picking Out the Perfect Pumpkin

That time of year has rolled back around…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.

From the Author: We intend to bring you both the serious and the humorous side of pumpkins. Our website, pumpkinnook.com, has been developed to be informative, but in a light hearted way. As a shrine and library to pumpkins, we seek to be both comprehensive and unique. To borrow a phrase, our Motto is: "We will leave no pumpkin unturned in our research efforts." For everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins and more, log on to pumpkinnook.com. Marshall also maintains a website about gardening in general –gardenersnet.com.

Did you know???

Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which also includes squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.

The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in 2005 and weighed 2,020 pounds.

Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.

In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America, he reported fi nding "gros melons." The name was translated into English as "pompions," which has since evolved into the modern "pumpkin."

Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber. They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein, and iron.

The largest pumpkin ever grown in the USA to date is a 2,749 pounder named “Michael Jordan” grown by Travis Gienger, a landscape and horticulture teacher in Anoka, Minnesota.

Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.

Life’s Other Plan

Playing in an NFL Super Bowl, MLB World Series, or NBA Final is the dream of every little American boy. But in 1983, a youngster living in Bethesda, dreamt of casting for cash and taking the BASSMASTER Classic stage.

The championship of bass fishing has taken place since 1971, a year after Ed Loughran III was born, and has grown steadily with over 160,000 attending this year’s Classic events. Growing up with the expanding sport, 14 year old Ed was convinced he was going to be the bass fishing world champion.

Loving to fish came without encouragement. Ed and his single mom lived in a basement apartment in Bethesda. In 1984, his mother gave him a membership to the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, which included a BASSMASTER Magazine subscription. Reading cover to cover over and over, the fishing fi re was lit. Seeing legendary angler Rick Clunn hoisting the Classic trophy in front an energized crowd, he focused for the next decade to make it to that stage.

Pro bass fishing is a long path. At 14 years old Ed fished with small clubs, bought a jon boat and eventually a used bass boat, to take his dream to the water. Ed credits older anglers mentoring him during his Classic journey. With a plan in place, he was sure he would make it.

Pro fishing is expensive. To pay his way, Ed spent hundreds of days on the water guiding and fishing tournaments. He worked after school at an outdoors store, painted houses, and did side work. He reinvested some of his income and tournament winnings into his fishing lure company, Hook Industries. Making spinnerbaits and selling them on the road, he sold over 11,000 in a year. Making his way to his Classic dream,

Ed was making a living from fishing from 18-25 years old while gaining a reputation as a successful local and regional tournament competitor. Ed credits his early years on the road learning a variety of diverse fishing waters for giving him an edge.

Attending his 3rd BASSMASTER Classic in Richmond in 1990, Rick Clunn again took the stage and the trophy. Seeing the

says, “It’s truly a humbling sport. The guy who was full of confidence and thought he had it all figured out was sent home broke with his tail between his legs.”

Ed was burned out in his mid 20s. Simultaneously, life was happening, and his dream slowly drifted out of reach. He disappeared from the bass fishing world for the better part of two decades.

Graduating from college in 1999 Ed worked as a Wall

contemplated a comeback to reconnect with the young hot shot fisherman from the 90s. This meant hitting the qualifying trails once again without sponsors, but with the support of his wife and his company. In 2019, after 6 years he became a rookie on the BASSMASTER Elite Series. Finally in 2021, 50 year old Ed Loughran made it to the Classic stage, realizing his teenage dream that started in 1984. He thought about

man who lit his fishing fi re and hearing the roar of the crowd, further stoked Ed’s passion.

In 1992 he attended George Mason University but dropped out. Ed was all-in to make the BASSMASTER Classic. But fi rst he had to grind through the qualifying trails and at 24 he was ready, without sponsors, to take on the fishing world. Never doubting his abilities or focus he started strong but missed the cut by a few spots and his career went bust. Ed

Street trader and eventually became a civil litigator. In his mid 40s, life was complete. He had a terrific wife, wonderful kids, a house, some rental properties, and a job he enjoyed. Ed had everything, but never lost sight of his dream, working to make a life that would allow him to make another run at the Classic, “someday”. With a few years of life experience Ed understands that “someday” may never come. “Life just gets in the way.” With a few extra years and pounds and no bass boat, Ed

his friends and mentors who didn’t make it. “They’re the guys that just love the sport of bass fishing…They’ve got the skills and talent to compete on the Elites and make it to the Bassmaster Classic, but life had another plan.” Life can create barriers with work, family, money, and medical conditions.

In August, Ed earned a major win on the Elite Series, a trophy and $100,000. Recognizing that being a pro angler is a long road, Ed says fishing skills aside there are 3 things that should be considered before taking that road: a lot of money with some passive income, a job you can walk away from 12 weeks a year, and a marriage with complete support. Reflecting on his youth, Ed is thankful he didn’t achieve his dream in his 20s. Now in his 50s, he holds a much deeper appreciation for how fortunate he was to make his 40 year journey to have the chance so many deserving guys never get. According to Ed, “Many had the dream, the talent and drive, but then life just happened.”

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fi shing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: nationalbass. com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide.

River Bassing in OCTOBER

Grass is almost gone. Fish are moving to hard cover. Shallow crankbaits contacting hard cover on 10 pound GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line draw strikes. Deflect and pause. Pitch jigs, in either black/ blue or green pumpkin patterns to hard cover including docks. Try Texas

rigged Mizmo tubes on 3/0 tube hooks tied to 14 pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line.

In drops and ditches, drop shot and shaky head work well. For both, spool GAMMA Torque braid with 10 pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon leader. On cloudy days, topwaters work when water is calm and fairly clear with 20 pound test GAMMA Torque braid. Vary retrieves of poppers and walkers.

Potomac

I Don’t Know What to Believe, But I Know This...

With the election looming, life is getting more crazy by the hour it seems. As of this writing there have been two attempts on former President Trump’s life. I’ve lost track of school shootings, and both sides seem to disagree on everything from the price of eggs in 2020 to the fate of some missing pets in Ohio. Don’t get me started on international news—it would be impossible because I’ve been avoiding it like an Ozempic ad.

Social media is a total melt down. I’ve paused several ‘friends’ because I can’t take the hate spreading, not to mention the dissemination of fake news. People—check your sources! Anyone with access to wifi and a laptop can write a ‘news’ story so just imagine what a Russian intelligence office can knock out. Don’t mention AI to me because I am 1000 percent head in the sand on that one. Now I understand why my parents refused to learn how to set the timer on their VCR. At some point, you just have to draw the line on tech. Speaking of which, stop sending me links to TikTok. I politely refuse to introduce another rabbit hole of doom and gloom into my life.

It’s hard to know what to believe. Even the ‘credible’ news sources are biased so while there is truth, it is painted in a certain light. Like Taylor Swift so eloquently said, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.” So, do your homework. Unfortunately, the research isn’t easy, but a lot is riding on it.

Bret Stephens, Opinion columnist for the NYT, when describing his current state of mind “so readers can understand how it stands with uncertain voters like me,” said “If Trump wins the election, I’ll feel sick. If Harris wins, I’ll feel scared.”

For some of us, there are no clear cut, easy answers which leaves me feeling a bit queasy. Frankly, I’m still scratching my head wondering how we got here.

In a world where truth is stranger than fiction (people bbq’ing pets?), there are some things I know to be true—fi rst, people are inherently good. There are more people who will do the right thing, even when no one is looking, then there are bad people. I believe this in my bones.

Second—whatever’s gonna happen, something is gonna happen. And while that may be a little unsettling, there is also some solace to be found. There is only so much that I can do, and I try my best to stay focused on what is in my lane, i.e., showing up for myself and others; staying informed, but in a way that is healthy for me, i.e., not going down the rabbit hole of social media; showing up at the polls; keeping my conversations and/or what I’m putting out into the world factual, focused, and positive.

Third—I know that everyone is entitled to their opinions, and even if we disagree on politics, it doesn’t make them bad people. It just makes them bad researchers, and we can only blame the school

system there. Just kidding! It’s the parents who are to blame—always!

But seriously, it’s hard to be in the world when it feels so divisive—especially when the divisiveness is sitting across the Thanksgiving table from you or lying next to you in bed or blowing up Facebook with their conspiracy theory fake news memes written by God knows who.

For the record, I’d like to say that Facebook—and all social media for that matter—was invented for the sole purpose of spreading happiness vis a vis sharing recipes for meatloaf taco cheesecake and adorable pets being pushed in stroller pics—not political rhetoric. So, stop ruining that for me, please.

Someone once told me in a heated, non-political discussion that I needed to “take off my rosecolored glasses.” While I’m pretty sure it was meant as a barb—and that’s how I initially took it—I now see it as a compliment.

My rose-colored glasses are my super power as well as my survival mechanism. When the world feels topsy-turvy and the sky is about to fall, I put on my rose-colored glasses and am able to fi nd a piece of positivity. And you know what? Those glasses help me see the good in everyone—even the folks intent on stealing my joy.

What is irksome is all the tongue biting and restraint. Instead of taking the bait and responding/ engaging, I’ve opted for silence. But make no mistake, my silence is not rooted in weakness, but in preservation. Mostly, my own, but also the relationships that I cherish that are more important than whoever wins an election or whether or not to vaccinate or who ate my leftovers. These are weighty issues and while we may not agree, we do need to fi nd a common ground. Because if we don’t, at some point, we may look around and fi nd ourselves isolated and alone and no one benefits from that.

Here’s another thing I know—I’m likely not the smartest person in the room, especially when the subject is politics, so there’s always something to learn. And, if we aren’t open and available to learning, we might as well be dead. Admittedly, I could use some practice when it comes to not shutting down and/or getting frustrated when someone offers an opinion that is the polar opposite of my own, but I’m trying to do better. It’s only through understanding where another person is coming from that we are able to bridge the gaps or at least come to a mutual understanding of agreeing to disagree.

Perhaps the most important thing I know is that just as we have gotten through 9/11, COVID-19, a myriad of horrific natural catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina, not to mention our own personal losses, we will get through whatever comes our way and we will do it together. Just as we always have. And we will come out stronger because of it—whatever ‘it’ is. Because that’s who we are as Americans and humans.

On one point I agree—we don’t need to make America great again. We never stopped being great, but we can always be better. Being better humans and neighbors will make us a better, stronger nation.

In the meantime, grab your broom, buckle up, and get ready for a bumpy ride. This trick or treat might prove to be the scariest ever.

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 25 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this.

Capital Wheel Gets Lighting Makeover for 10 Year Anniversary

All of our regular readers know how fond I am of The Wheel in the Harbor. I am very excited to see what the new lighting makeover is going to entail. Construction began in mid-September and they are installing new state of the art technology that will include brighter lights, animation, logos, text and more! I am really looking forward to seeing what the “animation” option is going to include.

Our friends at the wheel provided the following detailed info about the makeover:

The Capital Wheel has been spinning for 10 years, marking countless celebrations with spectacular light shows and providing breathtaking views year-round. As part of the celebration the wheel will be receiving a full makeover with a new state of the art technical lighting package that will run 40 plus frames per second compared to the current 10 frames per second allowing the lights to produce animation, text messages, company logos, more detailed lighting shows, and so much more.

“For the last ten years The Capital Wheel has been an icon at National Harbor,” said Derek Lovato, vice president and general manager at The Capital Wheel and Flight Deck. “Millions of people visit every year to experience National Harbor, eat at fantastic restaurants and take a spin on the wheel. This new lighting technology is going to be out of this world. Our guests will be able to propose with personalized messages, reveal their baby’s gender with colors, graphics and text, organizations can promote their cause with logos, and we will be able to cheer on our local sports teams with their iconic graphics. The sky really is the limit with this new

lighting system, and we can’t wait to unveil it later in the year.”

“We’re delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Capital Wheel with this spectacular new lighting technology,” said Kent Digby, EVP, Asset Management, Operations & Marketing for National Harbor. “Over the past 10 years, The Capital Wheel has traveled more than 33,000 miles and has delighted millions of guests. This Washington, D.C. icon will continue to light the way to National Harbor for years to come.”

Construction on The Wheel began on September 16th with the old lights being removed, followed by a fresh coat of paint and then installation of the new lighting system. The wheel is closed Mondays through Thursdays in order to complete construction as quickly as possible.

The Wheel and Flight Deck waterfront lounge will only be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday until construction is completed.

Plans are to reopen before the launch of the holiday season, when they will have multiple new holiday shows and exciting viewing opportunities for guests. Guests who follow The Capital Wheel on Facebook and Instagram can follow construction updates and maybe see a sneak peek of the light being tested before the reopening.

About the Wheel: The Capital Wheel is a large-scale observation wheel. The iconic attraction, celebrating 10 years of #wheelfun in 2024, is 180-feet high with 42 climatecontrolled gondolas each seating up to eight passengers. For more information, visit www. thecapitalwheel.com

He Is As Good As New!

The Awakening, National Harbor’s iconic sculpture of a distressed giant rising up from the sand has recovered from some major surgery on his shin in August. It was the fi rst time the sculpture had undergone any repairs since being purchased for $740,000 and being moved from Hains Point to National Harbor.

J. Seward Johnson II was the artist who created the 70 foot across and 15 feet high sculpture that is now 43 years old. The Awakening is in a prominent location where it has a lot of engagement including being climbed on, which is what wore away a portion of the shin the statue. National Harbor commissioned the Seward Johnson Atelier Inc’s restoration team to create a component for the shin replacement. When I went to take a photo of his new shin, the statue was laying in about a foot of water due to the rain and high tide that day so the photo featured here is an archived pic but rest assured, his leg looks pretty good and I am sure there will be thousands of people climbing on him again as the holidays approach us.