Old Town Crier - November 2024

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

As I am writing this, the Presidential election is only 12 days away. This is probably the most consequential election in my lifetime, not just for the leader of our nation but for members of congress who will ultimately shape what happens in the USA over the next 4+ years. I have already cast my vote as have millions of other Americans and it looks like there is going to be a record number of us turning out at the polls. Do your part and exercise your right!

Fall has arrived in all of its glory (sans the few 80+ degree days we have had) with the changing color of leaves, clear days and cool nights. Restaurants have all things apple and pumpkin spice on the menu. Firepits and fi re features are getting cranked up all over the DMV. Tailgaters and fans have returned to the former FedEx Field, now Northwest Stadium, since the Commanders are fi nally playing like a real team! I have been a fan for over 70 years and I gotta admit, it’s good to have them back on track.

We have another great read for you all in this November issue. Road Trip takes us to southern Delaware and the Nanticoke Heritage Byway. Exploring VA Wine’s Doug Fabbioli takes us behind the scenes of the 2024 Virginia wine harvest. In Grapevine, Matt Fitzsimmons welcomes us to "Oneoverse".

Tim Long enjoys some high-end bourbons with Tom Gale, the Director of Operations at Virtue Feed and Grain and writes about the experience in Let’s Get Crafty. In Open Space, Lori Welch Brown is stressing over the holidays while writing about the key ingredient-check out her column to see just what that is. Our Special Feature this month explores Veteran's Day. While we feel that Veterans should be honored every day, it is great to give them a little more attention on the 11th. This is just a brief insight to what awaits in the following pages.

We welcome back our friends in Leonardtown, Maryland in St. Mary's County to our inside back cover. Leonardtown offers a look back in time in a town that seems to stand still. The Old Jailhouse is a reminder of times gone by while Shepherd's Old Field Market, a unique gift shop with over 90 business shops and services, represents new growth. Take a drive this fall and visit this vibrant and charming town.

It has been rumored that there is a pilot program proposal on the City of Alexandria agenda to extend the current pedestrian zone located on lower King Street up to the 200 block. The proposed pilot program would begin with the lighting of the holiday tree at Market Square on the 22nd and continue until mid-January. I have mixed emotions about this but am keeping my thoughts to myself at this juncture. In the meantime, I call your attention to the image that we had on the cover of our August 1994 issue – yes, we were forward thinking 30 years ago. I took a photograph of the lower two blocks on King Street early one morning when the streets were empty and we commissioned Zohair, a local watercolor artist, to paint a rendition with the streets bricked over, tables and chairs and people milling around, etc. Am sure many of

you longtime readers will recognize the Schooner Alexandria at the bottom of the street. I am looking forward to seeing if the extension does indeed come to fruition.

In the meantime, in addition to celebrating our Veterans we celebrate Thanksgiving this month. This is one of my personal favorite holidays. Unlike Christmas, you get a chance to get together with family and/or friends to eat great food, drink good wine, watch some football and sit by a fi repit and you don’t have to buy any gifts!

I know it’s a bit early but be sure to mark your calendar for Scottish Christmas Walk 2024 on December 7th. Remember that the lighted boat parade takes place that same evening. Be sure to thank those Veteran’s in your life for their service and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

The Old Town Crier travelled to Belgium in October with longtime Alexandrian, Jeanette Reitz. Her traveling companion snapped this photo of her standing in La Grand Place in Brussels. She tells us that she spent a fair amount of time exploring this plaza. La Grand Place is the central square of Brussels and is surrounded with Baroque guildhalls, the flamboyant Town Hall and the Bread House building that hosts the Brussels City Museum.

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.

Old Town Alexandria Holiday Events

Old Town Cookie Crawl

Nov. 23rd & 24th

Advance Registration required www.oldtownbusiness.org/events

Nov. 29th

First Night Alexandria

Tuesday, Dec. 31st

Fireworks at 6pm and Midnight

This is the beautiful Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay outside of Annapolis. Anne Arundel County, Maryland amateur photographer and regular contributor to the Old Town Crier photography, David Sites snapped this photo of the Lighthouse with the harvest moon rising behind it from his boat on October 17, just after sunset.

The Lighthouse is the last screw-pile style lighthouse that still stands in its original location in the Chesapeake Bay and will celebrate its 150 year anniversary in 2025.

An entire group of volunteers, led by the Lighthouse Manager John Potvin, work hard to keep the lighthouse in fantastic condition. They offer guided tours of the lighthouse, which includes a boat ride out to it in the summer months. If you are a fan of lighthouses, you might want to put taking the tour on your bucket list.

To learn more about this beautiful icon you can read about it in David Gendell’s book, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse: A Chesapeake Bay Icon

Last month we expanded outside of the Old Town area thinking we needed make fi nding this mural a be a bit more challenging and…it worked. We had a few guesses but they were no where close to where this mural appears. So, here is a larger snippet that will hopefully help narrow its location down. Last month's clue is also included below.

HINT: Check out the Fairlington area of our fair city. 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. Mural photos by Lee Moody.

EVENTS AROUND TOWN

November Events

Autumn ushered 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. Dive deeper into fall events and the beginnings of the Christmas Holiday activities in Alexandria with the listings below and at VisitAlexandria.com/Fall.

15th Through February 14th

Ice & Lights

Cameron Run Regional Park

4001 Eisenhower Avenue

Ice skating amidst a winter wonderland lled with unique light displays.

23rd

Alexandria Cider Festival

1 – 5 pm

Lloyd House

220 North Washington Street

Admission: $55 (November 1 to 22); $65 (at the door); $25 designated driver purchase

Celebrate Virginia Cider Week with a special tasting event on the grounds of the historic Lloyd House in Old Town Alexandria. Event tickets include cider tastings, live music, a tasting glass and a little history, too. This event will take place outdoors. Proceeds bene t the historic Alexandria museums. apps.alexandriava.gov/calendar

Holiday Tree Lighting

6-8 pm

Market Square

301 King Street

Ring in the city’s of cial start to the holiday season with the lighting of the 40-foot tree adorned with nearly 40,000 twinkling lights, plus enjoy appearances from Alexandria’s Town Crier and Santa himself. apps.alexandriava.gov/calendar

23rd & 24th

Old Town Cookie Crawl

All day/eve

Morrison House

116 South Alfred Street

Admission is $50

Receive a commemorative tin at the Morrison House and get a list of participating merchants - stop by all stops on the crawl and receive a pre-wrapped cookie at each location. Tickets can be purchased through the Old Town Business Association at www. oldtownbusiness.org/events

29th

Plaid Friday

Throughout Old Town Alexandria

Celebrate Plaid Friday: Alexandria’s Small Business Black Friday as shops in Old Town and beyond offering some of their best deals of the year, including early bird, storewide discounts and free gifts with purchase. Shoppers will nd one-of-a-kind deals on self-care products, artwork, jewelry, fashionable nds, home goods and more. visitalexandria.com/blackfriday

30th

Holiday Maker’s Market

12-5 pm

Port City Brewing Co.

3950 Wheeler Avenue

Shop from more than 30 different local makers while sipping craft beer, enjoying music and more. This event is dog-friendly and kid-friendly.

About Alexandria, VA

Recognized by Travel + Leisure among the Best Cities in the U.S. 2024 and voted a Condé Nast Traveler Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. 2023, 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. Celebrating its 275th anniversary in 2024, 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.

Crème de la Crème

The French Connection

Sensory overload. What happens when entering one of the five Crème de la Crème specialty stores. Earthy scents emanate from a massive array of candles in charming pottery holders. Rugs, placemats, and tablecloths in rich tones, jewelry handcrafted by local artisans, delight the eye and invite further exploration. And then there’s the soothing background music with an Edith Piaf vibe.

November marks Crème de la Crème’s 24th year at its fi rst and flagship location in Middleburg, Virginia. Fast forward 24 years and last April marked the Grand Opening of the fifth Crème de la Crème in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. During the intervening years, co-owners Tara (center at Middleburg store) and Ben Wegdam remained busy opening two additional Virginia stores, in Richmond and Leesburg, and ventured into Maryland with a store in Frederick. Complementing the brick and mortar locations is a popular online presence.

Both Tara and Ben know retail. For Tara, it’s in her DNA. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, watching her parents, and before that grandparents, own and operate The French Shoppe, a successful local clothing boutique.

Along with the opportunity to learn the nuts and bolts of retail, her mother instilled in young Tara an appreciation of nature. Walks in the woods identifying wildflowers and pointing out fascinating insects inspired incorporating a cicada into the Crème de la Crème’s logo. And the cicada pays homage to Tara’s beloved South of France where replicas of cicadas, symbols of good luck and happiness, hang at entrances to homes, hallways and kitchens.

Tara visited France frequently as a young girl. She moved to her favorite city Paris through an exchange program with Hollins College. At the same time, Ben decided to do a semester at the Sorbonne, taking advantage of an exchange program with the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. A meet-cute led to connecting over love of retail and all things French. After graduation, Tara and Ben moved to The Netherlands and opened a specialty boutique in The Hague.

Several years later they welcomed an opportunity to move stateside but by no means abandon retail. Hence, Crème de la Crème was born. Its vision, to be a tastemaker as much as a retailer, can be seen with a product mix and brands that reflect Tara’s and Ben’s unique perspective on global cultures and lifestyles as well as personal style. Add an overlay of Southern hospitality and it becomes evident why the stores have survived and thrived against the backdrop of online shopping.

Crème de la Crème shines during the holiday season with a vast selection of one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts and ornaments. Need a hostess gift? Replace the ubiquitous bottle of wine with something unique to be enjoyed for the long term. Style that is timeless. An ethos embraced by Parisian culture and transported to Crème de la Crème. The latest fads or trends will not be found here.

Tara is the person you want to sit beside when your guy friend from the office needs a plusone and you reluctantly agree to attend a wedding of strangers. She is warm, funny, authentic, engaging. While everyone at the table shows pictures of their kids, Tara excitedly displays pictures of the latest fabulous fi nds she discovered for Crème de la Creme. Her enthusiasm and love of what she does are evident and infectious.

All shops offer a curated collection of unique and interesting fi nds. Unusual pottery, functional and beautiful glassware, stemware and table settings. Upholstered furniture made by Lee Industries and crafted in the US is a recent addition to the retail mix at the Alexandria store and ultimately will be available at all locations.

Tara identifies the late Julia Reed as her style icon. Julia tragically died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 59. Feted as the consummate hostess and lifestyle expert, Julia is famous for her version of Southern hospitality described as spirited entertaining and high style all year long.

Like Julia, Tara loves entertaining and creating eye-candy table settings for the enjoyment of her guests. Harking back to the walks in the woods with her mother, Tara appreciates nature’s creations. She incorporates fruits, flowers, pinecones, grasses and other fi nds into stunning centerpieces. Friends, customers and admirers are encouraging Tara to offer workshops on entertaining with style and flair, but with a relaxed, fun, no stress approach. Stay tuned. It’s under consideration.

Crème de la Crème: the best of the best, superlative, the very best. Precisely. About the Author: Meg Mullery is a contributing writer and Blue Ridge distribution “assistant” to the OTC and just a great all around person. She is a Middleburg resident and spends some of her valuable time selling real estate for Washington Fine Properties and volunteering at Sprout – a therapeutic riding program in Aldie.

Keeping Track of Your $$ During the Holiday Season

The holidays are here. For many of us, that means gift-giving, family gettogethers, travel and spending way too much on all of it. This year, we’ve put together a few tips to help you enjoy the season and start the new year right.

Create a Holiday Budget: Yours should include gifts for everyone on your list, food for entertaining, decorations, cards, postage, travel, as well as seasonal concerts and events. Just remember, this is money you’re spending beyond your usual expenses.

Stick to the Plan: For some, having your entire budget in cash will help ensure you don’t go over budget. If you don’t decide to use cash, use cards that offer benefits like the Transportation Federal Credit Union Platinum with rewards credit card. You can earn unlimited points or cash back for every purchase. As an alternative option to carrying around cash, you can also deposit the total budget into a separate

present for your Uncle Bob or Sarah in human resources? Cut your list of recipients as much as possible then use that money in other areas of your budget.

Avoid Store Credit: Yes, those 0% offers along with no payments until next year sound good now, but you’ll eventually have to pay it back. Don’t forget, even with a low-interest loan, those store accounts often have plenty of fees and other charges. Read the fi ne print and have a plan for paying it back before it expires.

Don’t Wait: The longer you wait to shop for gifts, the more you’ll end up paying. Travel expenses, such as airline tickets and hotel accommodations, often get more expensive as the end of the year comes into focus.

Plan for Next Year: Start a Holiday Club Account, then make monthly

The Greek prefi x geo- is defi ned as “of or relating to the earth” including geography, geopolitics, geology, geochronology and mapping. November’s National Geography Awareness Week [18-24] is dedicated to learning. GAW’s goal: “to raise awareness about the significance of geography, environmental issues, and spatial understanding.”

“Education is one of Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz’s top priorities,” the Minnesota Reformer revealed. A former geography teacher, football coach and member of the United States Congress, he “really, really likes maps.”

“We need to fi nd the fi rst person who put that red-blue map up and [castigate] them,” Governor Walz [D-MN] said in 2023. It not only divided the country, it did not show the nuance that a Geographic Information System [GIS] shows.”

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a “computer system for capturing, storing, querying, analyzing, and displaying geospatial data, i.e., data that is associated with a particular location.” The popular Global Positioning System [GPS] is “a multi-use, space-based, radio-navigation system owned by the U.S. Government.”

To the Governor’s point, “a geographically illiterate member of the U.S. Congress is a very scary proposition.”

Mapping as defi ned by the Oxford American Desk Dictionary. [1] “Flat representation of the earth’s surface, or part of it.” The fi rst accurate maps of the Virginia colony were completed by Thomas Jefferson’s father, surveyor Peter Jefferson in 1751. [2] “an operation that associates each element of a given set (the domain) with one or more elements of a second set (the range).”

“Most are familiar with George Washington's role as the leader of America’s Continental Army, also his role as the fi rst President of the United States,” the Library of Congress said, “but many may be unaware of Washington's lifelong association with geography and cartography. Beginning with his early career as a surveyor…Washington relied on and benefitted from his knowledge of maps.”

“The want of accurate Maps of the Country which has hitherto been the Scene of War, has been of great dis-advantage to me,” Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army George Washington wrote in 1777. “I have in vain endeavoured to procure them, and have been obliged to make shift, with such Sketches as I could trace out from my own Observations and that of Gentlemen around me.”

“I really think,” Washington continued, “if Gentlemen of known Character & probity could be employed in making Maps (from actual Survey) of

National Geography Awareness Week '24

the Roads—The Rivers and Bridges and Fords over them—the Mountains and passes thro’ them—it would be of the greatest Advantage.”

On July 10, 1790, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to locate the permanent seat of the federal government “in a district of territory not exceeding ten miles square.” The location was left to President Washington [1789-1797] to decide.

“Whereas by a proclamation dated January 24, 1791, & in pursuance of certain acts of the States of Maryland, & Virginia, & of the U.S. Congress… certain lines of experiment were directed to be run,” Washington wrote.

“[T]he whole of the said territory [the federal district] shall be located & included within the four lines following:” Washington affirmed, “Beginning at Jones’s point, being the upper cape of Hunting creek in Virginia & at an angle in the outset of 45. degrees West of North: & running in a direct line ten miles for the fi rst line: then beginning again at the same Jones’s point, and running another direct line at a right angle with the fi rst across the Potomac, ten miles for the second line: then from the terminations of the said fi rst & second lines, running two other direct lines of ten miles each, the one crossing the Eastern branch aforesaid, & the other the Potomac, & meeting each other in a point.”

Now here we Alexandrians are, centuries later, waiting to cast our November 5, 2024, votes for the 47th U.S. president.

William Maclure [1763-1840]—the father of American geology and the man for whom Yosemite National Park’s Maclure Glacier is named—was a map-maker [1808-1809]; surveyor, scientist and educational reformer; an elected member of the American Philosophical Society [1799] and the fi rst President of the American Geological Society [1819].

Thomas Jefferson described Maclure as “an honest man; good humored, accommodating and sober.”

His groundbreaking, hand-colored, geological map of the eastern United States, Observations on the Geology of the United States was completed in 1809 the last year of Jefferson’s presidency. It was the country’s fi rst!

The suffix –ology, as defi ned by the MerriamWebster Dictionary: “A branch of knowledge, science.”

“I thank you, dear Sir, for the copy of your Geology of the US,” Jefferson wrote Maclure in 1817. “I have read it with as much pleasure as I could expect to receive from such writings in a branch of science with which I am so little familiar.”

“[Y]ou have wisely confi ned yourself to the truly useful part of this science,” Jefferson continued, “the relative positions of the different kinds of rocks, stones, ores & other minerals, and your researches into these give us valuable information as to the treasures of our country & where to search for them.”

In 1825 Jefferson begged Maclure to share his discoveries with the newly-created University of Virginia. He donated “mineral and geological articles” from his collection.

In 2016 Governor Terry McAuliffe [D-VA] proudly announced the release of The Geology of Virginia’s

18th installment, the fi rst comprehensive review of Virginia Geology in more than 100 years. Said McAuliffe: “Every Virginian should be proud of the unique geologic diversity found within the Commonwealth…[It] is one of the best places to study this topic in the world.”

Geologists study Earth’s origin: its structure and history. Geographers explore Earth’s surface: the earth’s atmosphere; human activity as it affects and is affected by climate, including the distribution of populations and resources—land use and industries.

As we celebrate National Geography Awareness Week I think of my 18 year-old nephew T. He earned his drone license at age 15. Geographers increasingly rely on drones: drone-based photogrammetry when mapping locations. The people and objects within, and the distances between.

“The ability to use what I knew about mapping… to convey complex issues and affect change amongst people is really important,” Governor Walz said in August 2024. “The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when maps of case counts and geographic spread were a ubiquitous part of newscasts and policy discussions, underscores this point.”

“Everything is related to everything else,” geographer and cartographer Waldo Tobler thought. If Tobler’s Law of Geography fails to impress you, National Geographic Maps claims to “make the world's best wall maps, recreation maps, travel maps, atlases and globes to explore and understand the world.”

The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service claims summer 2024 was the hottest in Earth’s recorded history. Climate change causes temperatures to rise; glaciers—like the Maclure Glacier—to melt; plant and animal geographic ranges to shift, and humans to relocate.

Ninety percent of Earth’s human population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. To what extent are humans responsible for the changing climate—for storms like hurricanes Helene and Milton? Are maps précises of history?

Rockin’ on, children ages 6-10 may enjoy Enrico Lavagno’s book Maps of the World: An Illustrated Children’s Atlas of Adventure, Culture and Discovery; ages 8-12 Sylvia A. Johnson’s Mapping the World

The world’s oldest known map, Babylon’s Imago Mundi was created 2600-2900 years ago. Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located 55 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq.

About the Author: Sarah Becker started writing for The Economist while a graduate student in England. Similar publications followed. She joined the Crier in 1996 while serving on the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board. Her interest in antiquities began as a World Bank hire, with Indonesia’s need to generate hard currency. Balinese history, i.e. tourism provided the means. The New York Times describes Becker’s book, Off Your Duffs & Up the Assets, as “a blueprint for thousands of nonprofit managers.” A former museum director, SLAM’s saving grace Sarah received Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award in 2007. Email: abitofhistory53@gmail.com

I Melt with You by Modern English

During the 1980s, new wave and post-punk music were key elements in shaping the decade's distinctive color. One of my favorite songs from this era is “I Melt with You” by Modern English. From the glassy sleekness of the guitars to the mellow, sophisticated lead vocals, this track delivers a cool yet heartfelt vibe from start to fi nish. Released as the second single from their 1982 album After the Snow, “I Melt with You” became the band's most successful hit, featuring prominently on MTV and in the movie Valley Girl. Written during a time when the fear of nuclear war loomed large over singer Robbie Grey, the song, as he revealed in an interview, depicts a couple making love as an atomic bomb falls.

Modern English kicks off the track with a vibrant, full-band arrangement, featuring upbeat electric rhythm guitar layered with a shimmering chorus effect. The acoustic guitar is seamlessly blended with the electric, creating a rich, textured sound. Additionally, Michael Conroy’s bass line adds depth and warmth, delivering a tight, rounded groove that anchors the music. Finally, a simple yet effective 4/4 drum beat, built from kick, snare, and floor tom is added. This musical combination makes for a compelling intro section that keeps ears listening and toes tapping.

For the fi rst verse we hear the electric guitar switch from rhythm to a melodic lead line while the acoustic guitar takes a break. The bass guitar also switches things up: transitioning from a driving simple rhythm to something with more groove and swing. Meanwhile drummer Richard Brown holds down the groove with some subtle variations to the beat. Singer Robbie Grey seals the deal with a catchy yet beautiful melody delivering the poetic lines: “Moving forwards, using all my breath / Making love to you was never second best / I saw the world thrashing all around your face / Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace”.

The fi rst chorus arrives with an effortless transition, marked by a sparse snare drum fill and a crash cymbal. Guitarist Gabriel Sullivan shifts from the melodic lead of the verse back to the rhythmic strumming that opened the track. In this initial chorus, Modern English keeps the arrangement spacious, allowing room for additional layers in the next. When the second chorus hits, keyboardist Stephen Walker introduces a synthesizer melody with an accordion-like texture. This synth line elevates the song’s emotion and plays a crucial role in crafting the classic sound of “I Melt with You.”

Forty-two years after the release of their biggest hit, Modern English is still kicking. In February of 2024 they released their ninth studio album titled 1234. They have also been touring and have several shows lined up for November of 2024 playing alongside The Buzzcocks. If you would like to listen to “I Melt with You” or any of Modern English’s music, you can fi nd it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you would like to learn more about the band you can fi nd more information on Wikipedia, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

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

AFTER HOURS

Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch

571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com

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

ONSTAGE, OLD TOWN: NOVEMBER

November welcomes rich fall colors: the ones that stage lighting, scenery and costumes bring to theaters all around the DMV. Don’t miss all of the vibrant theater illuminating DMV stages this month. With the holidays around the corner, it’s a great time to catch a show:

Through the 9th

JEKYLL & HYDE

Alexandria Little Theatre

It’s your last chance to see Frank Wildhorn’s celebrated Broadway musical, produced by our local theater, celebrating its 90th birthday this year. Holiday favorite A CHRISTMAS CAROL goes on sale November 7. Tickets at www.thelittletheatre. com

Through the 10th

ROMEO & JULIET

Folger Library Theatre

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? Tickets at www.folger.edu

Through the 17th

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

Keegan Theatre

a curse cast over his family by the eponymous Woman in Black tries to exorcise the fear that grips his soul. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t end well. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com

Through the 24th

THE OTHER AMERICANS

Arena Stage

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

THE ART OF CARE

Atlas Performing Arts Center

Mosaic Theatre presents this world premier about the beauty of a loved one's passing, births, boundary crossings, and the frustrations and resilience in the face of unexpected health crises. In a divisive election season, the play with music asks audiences to bear witness to the common humanity of one another and deep connections between art and medicine. Tickets at www.mosaictheater.org

Through the 30th

PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

Theatre J

A Parisian Jewish family is overwhelmed by an anti-Semitic attack on their son while Marine Le Pen’s right wing views fuel a troubling antiMuslim fi re . The family faces choices mirroring a generation ago as past and present play out simultaneously in this Tony® Award Best Play nominee. Tickets at www.edcjcc.org/theater-j

Through December 15th

DATA

Arena Stage

Arena’s intimate third stage—the Kogod Cradle— plays host to this suspenseful new play that takes you behind the locked doors of Silicon Valley. Maneesh is a brilliant entry-level programmer who’s content to work in a low-stress environment at a data mining fi rm. But things are not all they seem at Athena Data Analytics, tearing our hero from his unique American roots. Tickets at www. arenastage.org

Through January 4th

DISNEY’S FROZEN

Olney Theatre Center

What better anthem for the holidays than “Let It Go,” as in the credit card in your wallet. Take the young’uns up to Olney for one of the few regional theater productions to get the call from Disney to create their own take on this money spinner. This time, the adventures of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf will be supervised by director Alan Muraoka, a Sesame Street alum. It’s the Maryland theater’s biggest musical yet, which is saying something. Tickets at www.olneytheatre.org.

6th through December 22nd

DANCE LIKE THERE’S BLACK PEOPLE WATCHING

Woolly Mammoth

deliver a dose of brilliant

exclusively for Woolly Mammoth, this “Black Excellence Revue” features the troupe's worldrenowned ensemble of rising comedy stars, who promise a fresh look at the ridiculous things in life. Tickets at www.woollymammoth

12th through December 6th

SIX

National Theatre

The infamous West End melodrama returns to this DuPont Circle playhouse. A lawyer obsessed with

Those wacky improv comedians from Chicago’s famed Second City returns to Woolly Mammoth to

Black Joy. Created

Those six hot wives of Henry VIII are back at the National, still divorced, beheaded, died or survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, these regal brides remix decades of historical heartbreak into a celebration of 21st Century girl power. And you pick the winner of this Middle Age Brits Got Talent spectacular. Tickets at www. broadwayatthenational.com

13th through December 22nd

SUMMER 1976

Studio Theatre

It’s midsummer in the mid-seventies and two very different women are thrown into one another’s orbit in college-town Ohio. Iconoclast artist Diana looks down on faculty wife Alice, but their young daughters and the transformative power of a friendship forces them together. Tickets at www. studiotheatre.org.

13th through December 22nd

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

Next Stop Theatre

Stephen King’s novella and the great Tim Robbins-Morgan Freeman film have spawned this stage version of the tale of a wrongly-convicted murderer who uses his wits, determination and an unlikely friendship to keep hope alive and escape a notorious, corrupt prison. Tickets at www. nexstoptheatre.org

15th through January 12th

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Toby’s Dinner Theatre

The hills are alive over in Columbia, MD when this family friendly chestnut takes the stage for the holiday season. The real-life von Trapp family, under the steely command of Sister Maria, escape from the Nazis who have taken over Austria on their way to European domination—a cautionary tale for the world today, unfortunately. Tickets at www.tobysdinnertheatre.com.

20th through December 22nd

A HANUKKAH CAROL or GELT! TRIP THE MUSICAL

Round House Theatre

The OTHER holiday musical (see below) this family-friendly riff on a holiday classic aims to make the world a kinder place. Naturally—or otherwise—several ghosts visit our heroine Chava to help her reconnect with her Jewish identity. I assume that potato pancakes, jelly donuts and the Maccabees will show up sometime during this world premier—drive or take the Metro up to Bethesda and fi nd out for yourself. Tickets at www.roundhousetheatre.org

21st through December 31st

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Ford’s Theatre

The holidays here in the DMV wouldn’t be the same without Ford’s timeless Yuletide classic, a music-infused production that captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s chestnut with familiar characters, ghosts and a cheerful children’s ensemble. Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge. Tickets at www.fords.org.

22nd through December 29th

DEATH ON THE NILE

Arena Stage

Award-winning DC playwright Ken Ludwig adapts Agatha Christie's suspense-filled whodunit for Arena’s Kreeger Stage. Undauntable Inspector Hercule Poirot becomes entangled in a web of deceit and desire aboard a cruise ship when a murder occurs among the passengers. It’s Hercule to the rescue—but can he unmask the killer before he strikes again? Tickets at www.arenastage.org.

About the Author: Mark Edelman is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony® voter. Photos: Jekyll & Hyde Michael McGovern photo by Mark Armstrong. Woman in Black photo by Cameron Whitman. Six photo by Joan Marcus. Dance Like There’s Black People Watching photo from Second City’s 2023 production by Nolis Anderson.

Fall Season in the DMV Art World

As the DMV gallery art scene enters the Fall season of exhibitions, I start this column by expressing my gratitude (as a former Navy guy) to the men and women of our armed forces and their families – we owe all of you so much! Thank you for your service and sacrifices, and if ever needed, we got your back!

acclaimed Surrealist expression of contemporary humanism. Sandberg sets forth a vivid allegory of our relationships to one another and nature in “Bramble” with multiple human and animal figures who coexist in their own world.

Before I get into the DMV gallery scene, a reminder that next month, during the fi rst week of December the Art Basel week of Miami art fairs starts. As I have noted before, this is the planet’s biggest art event and a must visit (at least once) for serious artists and gallerists alike.

One of the most talented and gifted DMV area painters is Erik Sandberg, a fabulous artist whose career I’ve been following since he was an art student at George Mason University. Sandberg is currently exhibiting at CONNERSMITH and we are told that “this fi nal work in his most recent cycle of paintings exemplifies the artist’s

Grounded in cohering elements of earth, trees and grass, the jumble of interwoven figures - five humans, a fox, a rabbit, a monkey and a crocodileappears to revolve in empty space. In their actions and gestures, Sandberg conceptualizes dynamics among members of a household, community, or society which function as a singular organism. The characters, at odds with their circumstances, move in disparate directions, either struggling to stop, or redirect, the revolving construct, or attempting to destroy the barriers that separate them.”

UNDER $2500 is MAP’s winter benefit and it is a hybrid, physical and virtual exhibition event. The exhibition opens Friday, November 22 from 6pm10pm. Artworks may be purchased by patrons and taken off the walls on a fi rst come fi rst served basis that night. The virtual sale will launch the very next day, Saturday November 23 at 10 am and run through BLACK FRIDAY, November 29, 10pm. The virtual sale will include more artists than the physical sale.

MAP is located at 218 West Saratoga Street in Baltimore.

In the District, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities hosts “DC Art Now 2024” in their fi rst floor gallery at the Commission’s building at 200 I (Eye) Street Gallery SE.

CONNERSMITH is open by appointment, online, and via social media.

Reaching outside the DMV, over in Baltimore, the Maryland Art Place (MAP) is hosting their 12th annual “Under $2500” art exhibit!

DC Art Now 2024 is an annual exhibition of selected work by fi nalists for the FY25 Art Bank Program grant. It features many of the most exciting emerging and established artists working in the DC metropolitan region today. Stop by the Commission’s gallery and see DC come to life through photography, sculpture, painting, printmaking, textiles, and more! The gallery is free and open to the public Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6:00 pm and the show runs through December 13. If you live in the DMV, then you should be aware of Art Bank, which operates in support of local visual artists and District art nonprofit organizations. Via Art Bank, the DC Commission

Top Left- Coming Through by Ayanah George; Bottom Left- Myths of Creation by Steve Wanna; Top Right- Sky Wave ll by Michael Enn Sirvet, photo by Anything Photographic; Bottom Right- Sisters Keeper woodcut by Paula Man; Next Page: Shadows Lie Soft Through the Haze, 2023 by Rush Baker lV, photo by Pete Duvall

on the Arts and Humanities acquires fi ne art from artists living and working across the metropolitan region. The ongoing and annual acquisition of art becomes a part of the Art Bank Collection and is then loaned to District Government agencies for display in public areas and offices of government buildings. The Art Bank Collection, which started in 1986, has over 3,000 artworks.

From this year’s physical show (there’s also a virtual exhibition of works that were unable to be installed in the physical gallery, either due to space constraints or installation requirements), look for work by Tim Tate, Steve Wanna, Michael Sirvet, Percy Martin, Rush Baker IV, and Elizabeth Casquiero to stand out. In the Commission’s virtual gallery, I really liked Paula Mans’ woodcut titled “Sister’s Keeper” and Ayanah George’s inkjet photo titled “Coming Through.” You can see all the works in the virtual gallery at https://app.box. com/s/npsije4pwxze458nw039y no9oqzpi2kz - sorry about the complex URL!

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.

November 8th-10th

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A Pocketful of Mysteries From the Vault: November 2017

While I have updated my review to reflect recent film adaptations, these novels retain their hold on my imagination. Happy Thanksgiving!

This month many will see family and enjoy camaraderie and cherished experiences together, along with taking vacation time to read books that sustain us as much as any Thanksgiving dinner. If you do not want to be with family and need distractions, you have choices here. The triumvirate I write about below always satisfies me upon a re-read. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, The Likeness by Tana French, and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie are the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea by the fi re. These classic suspense novels will give you a respite from reality and take you on a dream trip to Europe as rain blows against your windowpanes.

In The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith writes as an expert in psychological suspense. Her clipped, matterof-fact sentences present one of the most interesting anti-heroes of twentieth-century suspense: Tom Ripley, a small-time crook who dabbles in mail fraud while moving from one shabby apartment to another in New York City. The father of a casual acquaintance, Dickie Greenleaf, offers him a trip to Italy if he will visit Dickie there and persuade him to give up his dilettantish pursuit of becoming an artist. Tom, notable only for his lack of notability, takes on this voyage from its inception as a method to metamorphosize. He lies skillfully and pathologically, making up stories about his origins. In the process, he inserts himself into the life of careless, affluent Dickie and his resentful friend, Marge, who jealously guards against Tom’s intrusion into their idyllic Italian life.

By intertwining himself with Dickie, Tom creates a new persona that he almost believes to be true. Resourceful with no scruples, he casts a chilly enchantment on the reader as he pulls off a re-invention of himself that makes us root for him despite his ruthlessness. Rarely have I found myself so drawn to a character’s psychological journey in a suspense novel. The Talented Mr. Ripley is rightfully a classic, written in a detached manner that allows us space to approach the story on our own terms. Recently the novel was adapted as a mini-series named Ripley. Andrew Scott does a brilliant job in portraying Tom’s opaque presence, and the cinematography is both eerie and breathtaking.

Tana French’s The Likeness is the second in a series of mysteries set in Dublin, with each novel featuring a character briefly mentioned in a previous book. The book begins with a detective, Cassie Maddox, being called in to a murder scene in a small town outside of Dublin. When she arrives, she sees her own deceased doppelganger. Not only could this woman be her twin, but she also carries an ID identifying herself as Alexandra Madison, an alias Cassie used when working an undercover case years ago. To solve the murder and understand her shadow, a mysterious version of her cover identity, Cassie dons her old guise, pretending that Alexandra Madison, “Lexie,” survived the attack as a way of enticing the murderer to try to fi nish the job. She supposedly returns from the hospital to infiltrate Lexie’s tight-knit and cliquish group of graduate student friends, who live in a romantic, dilapidated country house. As Cassie descends deeper into this identity, she also insinuates herself into the lives

of Lexie’s provocatively peculiar housemates. French plays with the notion of perception as Cassie fi nds her view skewing, seeing not only them but also herself in a funhouse mirror.

Most of us believe that we have a double somewhere in the world. Tana French takes this concept and makes it a work of art. She writes so beautifully that any of her novels is an exquisite experience. Along with her gift for creating atmosphere and exploring character, her older work is tinged with melancholy and magic, creating a sense of unease hard to pinpoint. In this book she offers a plot that instantly absorbs the reader into the narrative, as Cassie puts herself in jeopardy to divine the life of her double.

I read widely in suspense and mystery. Much writing in those genres is formulaic and predictable. French is the opposite, a writer whose complex, gripping body of work rises above the ordinary, offering the reader a special world that seems rooted in the commonplace while playing with the reader’s subconscious terrors.

Dame Agatha Christie needs no introduction, yet she has her own distinctive skills in creating and presenting a plot that deserve examination. I could have picked almost any of her books, including the captivating And Then There Were None, but here I choose the classic Murder on the Orient Express.

This quick-reading mystery presents the legendary detective Hercule Poirot traveling on a train from Istanbul via Trieste, Italy, to Calais, France. Poirot meets an unpleasant businessman, Mr. Samuel Ratchett, who is traveling with his male secretary. Ratchett, who is concerned about his security, offers Poirot the job of protecting him. Poirot turns down the offer because, as he says, “I do not like your face, M. Ratchett.”

When Ratchett is killed, Poirot discovers that he was a criminal named Cassetti. He realizes that Cassetti was the kidnapper and murderer of a little girl named Daisy Armstrong, whose prominent American family went to pieces after her death, with her mother dying and her father shooting himself. Having gotten off on a technicality, Cassetti had made his way to Europe, receiving death threats along the way.

When it turns out that no one could have left or entered the train between the times Cassetti was seen alive and discovered dead, Poirot focuses on gathering puzzle pieces to figure out a perplexing problem, one that indicates passengers one by one only to discount each.

Murder on the Orient Express reveals Agatha Christie’s gift for creating atmosphere and a tricky, tightly plotted narrative. It also highlights her keen ear for dialogue and ability to create realistic everyday connections between characters, with only a few exceptions that play to stereotypes of the 1930s. Here she does so in an exotic setting, as the passengers’ anxiety heightens while Poirot gathers contradictory evidence. Although she writes simply, reading her prose is like breathing.

While this particular story has been filmed numerous times, the written novel is much more interesting and atmospheric than any tepid, genteel re-run on PBS, or the movie made with Kenneth Branagh. If you have not read Christie, or not read her in a while, dip into this short, compelling book that reminds us why she is one of the bestselling authors of all time.

From 1954 to 2024: Veteran’s Day Celebrates 70 Years

The Old Town Crier salutes our Veterans every day but we are proud to give them a little extra attention on November 11th each year. This year marks the 70th Veteran’s Day that we have honored those who have served our country. We thought maybe you would be interested in knowing how the holiday came to fruition.

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the fi rst commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved

May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on

June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure threeday weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The fi rst Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned

the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Publishers Note: This piece was graciously provided in part by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

the oyster recovery continues

As Maryland works to complete the last of five large oyster restoration projects it committed to a decade ago, state officials have decided to tackle three more.

The state has restored more than 1,100 acres of reefs so far in Harris Creek and the Little Choptank, Tred Avon and Manokin rivers, all on the Eastern Shore, and in the St. Mary’s River off the lower Potomac.

Now, the Department of Natural Resources has announced it intends to restore and repopulate hundreds of acres more in oyster sanctuaries in Herring Bay on the Western Shore and in the Nanticoke River and Hooper Strait on the Eastern Shore.

“These three large-scale restoration sanctuaries represent a new chapter for oyster restoration in Maryland,” DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz said in announcing the selection on Oct. 9.

“We’ve had tremendous success with our existing restoration sanctuaries, and we’re excited to build on that achievement and keep up the momentum for oyster recovery in the Chesapeake Bay.”

Maryland and the federal government have spent more than $87 million so far rebuilding reefs and planting hatchery-reared oyster spat in the fi rst five sanctuaries. The effort has proven durable to date with nearly all reefs at least 6 years old yielding the minimum expected densities of bivalves, or better — and 83% sustaining the hoped-for goal of more than 50 oysters per square meter.

All but the Manokin, off Tangier Sound, are considered at least initially “restored.” DNR expects to fi nish seeding the Manokin in 2025, which would meet the deadline set in

the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Under that pact, Maryland and Virginia each pledged to undertake large-scale restoration of oyster habitat in five of their Bay tributaries. Virginia has completed restoration in four of the five rivers it targeted — the Lafayette, Piankatank, Great Wicomico and Lower York — with just 38 acres left to reach its goal in the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach.

The state-federal Chesapeake Bay Program is moving to update the 2014 agreement. Anticipating new oyster restoration goals, Maryland’s DNR sought feedback from its Oyster Advisory Commission in late summer on which sanctuaries to work on next. Herring Bay, Hooper Strait and the Nanticoke River were among the commission’s top choices, officials said.

Chris Judy, DNR’s shellfish division manager, said the department estimates that these new large restoration projects will cost $16.3 million in all, about one-fifth of what it cost to do the fi rst five. The lower cost is mainly because DNR is planning to do comparatively little physical reef construction, which made the earlier projects more expensive.

The actual acreage to be restored will be set after further study of the selected areas, DNR officials said. But they expect the Hooper Strait project to be comparable in size to the state’s three largest restoration sites so far. Harris Creek and the Little Choptank and Manokin rivers ranged from 348 to 455 acres.

Hooper Strait, a narrow waterway connecting the Nanticoke and a few

other Eastern Shore tributaries to the Chesapeake, has about 5,000 acres of historic oyster bottom, according to a 2021 DNR report. The area to be seeded, though, is likely to be a fraction of that.

Herring Bay could be the state’s largest project yet. About 20 miles south of Annapolis, it has almost 8,000 acres of historic oyster bottom, according to the DNR report. Though some has silted over, there is still extensive fi rm bottom, and DNR officials are planning to build new reefs there in addition to planting spat-on-shell.

The entire Nanticoke River was put off-limits to commercial oyster harvest in 2010 when the state expanded its network of oyster sanctuaries. But only a small part of the river is historic oyster bottom, and DNR officials estimate it will require planting just 175 acres.

“Together, these three restoration sanctuaries will strengthen the diversity of Maryland’s sanctuary program,” said Lynn Fegley, DNR’s fishing and boating services director.

“With new projects on both the Western and the Eastern Shore, as well as the mid- and lower Bay, we’re helping to spread out disease risk and increase the oyster broodstock across all areas of the Chesapeake Bay.”

The new effort is being launched at a fi nancially challenging time for Maryland with fiscal experts warning that a mismatch between tax revenues and state spending could lead to structural deficits reaching billions of dollars in the next few years. Unless something changes, that budget crunch could pose a hurdle to the new projects.

For the three new projects, DNR’s Judy said the department has requested $14.5 million be included in the state’s capital budget for fiscal year 2026 to pay for 75 acres of reef construction and seeding with another $1.8 million to be directed toward seeding the Nanticoke sanctuary. Whether those requests are granted ultimately depends on General Assembly action next year.

Some federal funding could help. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently awarded Maryland a $10 million grant to build 50 to 75 acres of reefs within an existing oyster sanctuary. DNR’s Judy said officials plan to use that money in the new effort, though where it will be spent has yet to be determined.

Pending funding availability, DNR expects to start planting in the Nanticoke in the spring and summer of 2025 with work to begin in Herring Bay in 2026 and in Hooper Strait sometime afterward.

Even before announcing these three large projects, DNR had begun a new restoration effort in Eastern Bay, where state lawmakers directed that $2 million a year be spent in 2024 and 2025 on spat-on-shell plantings, divided equally between sanctuaries and public fishery areas. Watermen had complained this summer that the sanctuaries there were getting all the plantings, but by fall the wild harvest areas had gotten more, Judy said.

About the Author: Tim Wheeler is the Bay Journal's associate editor and senior writer, based in Maryland. You can reach him at 410-409-3469 or twheeler@ bayjournal.com . This column printed with permission. www.BayJournal.com

A water cannon on an Oyster Recovery Partnership boat shoots spat-on-shell oysters from the University of Maryland's Horn Point hatchery onto a sanctuary in Maryland's Tred Avon River in 2018. Photo by Dave Harp

Spat-on-shell oysters from the University of Maryland's Horn Point hatchery are hosed in 2019 into the Tred Avon River sanctuary, part of Maryland's large-scale oyster restoration efforts.

Photo by Dave Harp

Photo by David Sites

I love Thanksgiving - it's always been my favorite holiday. All the treats and good food that you get on Christmas with none of the anxiety of gift giving and worrying about failed expectations that the December holiday seems to bring. Some years I'd spend the morning hunting with friends. Most of these hunts, whether fox hunting on horseback or duck hunting with friends, were short and sweet and less about the quarry than about spending time with good friends. Often on those hunting days, I'd enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with friends who were collecting “orphans” who were not spending the day with family.

Other Thanksgivings in years past, my mother would host a family feast at her waterfront home on the Chesapeake, or I'd host it at my farm. Everyone loved coming to the farm. They were welcome to bring their dogs and we'd often shoot skeet before having a meal or the men gathering by the TV to watch football. When I was very young, sometimes an aunt or grandmother would host a grand meal complete with silver, real linens and, my favorite, the children's table. I have very fond memories of that children's table.

As we grew older and had families and lives of our own, occasionally some tensions would interfere with the enjoyment of my favorite holiday. Every family has one—in my case two. A younger sibling was desperate to be the center of attention and get us all to come to her house and would stage fits, even one year an operation the day before Thanksgiving, to get her way and those were invariably stiff, awkward events. An older sibling was hell bent to ruin holidays by then, she'd announce right before or en route that she hated turkey and so-andso was boring, had a boring spouse or worse. Once there, she'd sit off by herself and glower and act supremely bored. Both, of course, usually descended into liquorfueled rages before the meal was even fi nished. I've always been the middle of the road, the peace maker, the conflict avoider. I'm done now. Deep down, these are not mean girls. But alcoholism and dementia make people mean. I can forgive, but this behavior falls into the category of toxic. There's no room in anyone's life for toxic people

It's not winter yet, but the chilly nights and early sunsets remind us it's just around the corner.

Giving Thanks in Beautiful, Rural Virginia

Fortunately, even this close to winter there are plenty of mild days, fall colors and time to enjoy yourself before the rush of the holiday season and the shortest day of the year arrive next month. So, take a mini vacation day and take in any or all of these adventures.

Saddle up cowgirls and cowboys and take a scenic tour of the countryside on one of the well-trained trail horses at the Rocking S Ranch near Winchester, www.therockingsranch.com 540-678-8501. Starting at $50 an hour, you can ride on trails once used by Union and Confederate cavalry during the Civil War in the northern Shenandoah Valley. With our warm fall and lack of rain, leaf peeping has been delayed and prime color should last well into November. Marriott Ranch in Hume also offers leisurely trail rides suitable for beginners on quiet, well trained trail horses with experienced trail guides on the ranch's 4,200 acres in the Blue Ridge starting at $55 per person for guided rides. Faster-paced rides are also available for more experienced riders. For both, advance reservations are required; check the website for details. www. marriottranch.com

Deer hunting is perhaps the single most important tool for management of Virginia's exploding white tail deer population; and venison is the quintessential organic meat: lean and tasty. Virginia's fi rearms deer season in our area is usually mid-November until early January. Locally, the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries maintains several good wildlife management areas open to public hunting, including Merrimac Farm, 300 acres in Prince William

county; C.F. Phelps, 4,540 acres on the Rappahannock in southern Fauquier County near Remington; Weston, 265 acres near Warrenton; Thompson, 3,963 hilly acres near Delaplane in northwest Fauquier County; and Rapidan, 10,327 acres in Madison County near Culpeper. You can fi nd your game by clicking on www. HuntFishVA.com . Hunting packages are available if you don't have time to scout an area; the Marriott Ranch in Hume offers hunters packages including tree stands in prime areas and even overnight stays in quaint hunting cabins in November and December with all the legwork done for you—visit their website www.marriottranch.com for details. No more than 8 hunters are allowed at a time on the 4,200 acres so book early.

Although the farmers markets in our area typically shut down in November, the Archwood Green Barns usually remains open until the Sunday before Thanksgiving. A worthy destination itself, it's also right off I66 just 8 miles west of Haymarket so easily accessed going to or from points west. It's also one of

the few markets that is worth a visit on a rainy day since most of the vendor stalls are located inside the historic converted horse barns. More than just produce, you can fi nd organic and wholesome home-grown local Virginia goods, from fruits, vegetables, farm fresh chicken, pork and beef, fresh bread of all types and more. You can ask all the questions you like as this is a producer's market. The people selling the items are the ones that grew or made them, since this is a producer-only market. You'll fi nd fruits, vegetables, baked goods, goat cheese, meats (fresh and frozen) to make your own locavore meal. Besides the hard-to-fi nd local items you've been looking for, you'll fi nd items you never expected, too including orchids, olive oil, coffee, gourds, quilted specialties and homemade rustic wood furniture. You can fi nd a list of vendors and what they sell on their website www. archwoodgreenbarns.com; open Sundays in November from 10 am until 3 pm. Don't miss out, after Thanksgiving it will not reopen until May. 4557 Old Tavern Road, The Plains (right off I66 exit 31).

The Nanticoke Heritage Byway

Last month we accepted an invitation from our friend James Diehl, Executive Director of the Nanticoke Heritage Byway, to join a FAM tour, or familiarization tour, of Sussex County in Southern Delaware including the towns of Seaford, Laurel, Lewes and Milton. Some of you Rehoboth beach regulars will remember that you pass through these areas on your way to the beach. The Byway, which includes the beautiful Nanticoke River, moves through an area that is rich in the history of transportation and economic interests of the region. Although the western Sussex County landscape may at fi rst seem to be a quiet and subdued rural area with small towns, it encompasses many of Delaware's historic treasures and important natural features. Visually, the route alternates between farmlands, wooded areas, and small towns, providing a variety of views and different types of landscapes. There are many recreational opportunities for hiking, bicycling, boating, and other activities.

The fi rst thing that you will notice about the state

DuPont Company chose Seaford as the site of the fi rst Nylon plant leaving Seaford as the "Nylon Capital of the World".

The land at the head of the Nanticoke River has long been inhabited by mankind. The Nanticoke Indians and their ancestors have lived along the river for over 6,000 years. The fi rst record of a European to explore the head of the Nanticoke was in 1608 when Captain John Smith set out exploring the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Development along the river was slow partly due to friction between the Nanticoke Indians and the English settlers.

Phillips Landing Recreation Area is located near the confluence of the Nanticoke and Broad Creek. In May of 2007 a monument was placed at Phillips

Landing to commemorate Captain John Smith's exploration of the river and his meeting with the Nanticoke Chiefs. Phillips Landing is best known for bass fishing, bird watching, and a beautiful view of the wild rice beds across the river. The adjacent Nanticoke Wildlife Area conserves landscapes that appear much as they did 400 years ago.

We were fortunate enough to meet the fi rst female Chief of the Nanticoke Tribe, Chief Natosha Carmine, during our stop at the Landing. We learned a bit more about the relationship between the Nanticokes and Captain John Smith from Natosha and Sterling Street who is also a member of the Nanticoke tribe and a local historian.

A little way up the Nanticoke River from Phillips Landing is the Woodland Ferry which is owned and operated by the Delaware Department of transportation. The Woodland Ferry transports vehicle and foot passengers between Seaford and Laurel. Traffic from nearby Bethel, Blades and even Galesville, Maryland use the Ferry as well.

Further up Broad Creek, a tributary of the Nanticoke, is the well-preserved 19th century shipbuilding and trading community of Bethel. Wooden sailing vessels were constructed by Bethel's skilled ship carpenters until the early 20th century. The most significant class of Bethel craft were the Chesapeake sailing rams, which originated from this Broad Creek port. More than 30 of the Rams were constructed between 1870 and 1918. The town of Bethel is home to the

of Delaware is how the landscape is very flat. This feature has contributed to the success of the farming community of Delaware. Our tour began at the riverfront town of Seaford. In 1939 the

Bethel Heritage Museum and is the closest town to Phillips Landing.

Surrounding the towns of Seaford and Bethel is the Nanticoke Wildlife Area. The Wildlife Area is made up of three large tracts of land totaling 4, 510 acres and is managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife. Visitors can explore miles of primitive trails that are perfect for long hikes and bird watching, allowing you to experience the truly isolated wonders of nature.

One of the truly beautiful areas of Sussex County is Trap Pond State Park. Located near Laurel, Trap Pond is the largest surviving fragment of what was once an extensive wetland in what is now southwestern Sussex County. The state park features an extensive patch of bald cypress trees.

The bald cypress is a wetland tree adapted to areas of calm, shallow standing water. Trap Pond State Park is the northernmost park in North America that includes cypress and bald cypress, although the actual range continues further north, ending just north of Georgetown Delaware, in the Ellendale State Park. Note that we have Battle Creek Cypress Swamp in Calvert County, Maryland as well.

Many birds flock to stands of bald cypress, including great blue herons, owls, warblers, and pileated woodpeckers. Birdwatchers can also see hummingbirds and bald eagles at Trap Pond.

Trap Pond State Park's campground has 142 total campsites including 130 with water and electric hookups, 10 primitive walk-in tent sites, and 2 primitive areas available only for youth groups,

eight camping cabins and 2 yurts are also available for rent. Campsites with electric and water are open year-round, with the primitive sites open from March 1 until November 30. There is no swimming allowed in trap pond.

On the two nights we were in Delaware we were treated to two of their fi nest restaurants. Abbott's Grill on Broad Creek in Laurel was truly a real treat. Abbott's Grill takes pride in serving fresh, innovative American cuisine sourcing much of what they serve from local farms. Abbott's is a very roomy restaurant with a lot of windows that let in light and opens the view onto the patio and Broad Creek.

The second restaurant was one we had been to a few years ago. Bon Appetit Restaurant in Seaford is a lovely restaurant located in a house. It is an intimate gathering that is always full. Reservations are a must. We enjoyed a great meal with great service and a gracious hostess. It reminded me of Le Refuge in Old Town Alexandria with its quaintness.

There are all sorts of fun spots to check out in this part of “The First State”. A few of our recommendations are the Brimming Horn Meadery in Seaford, the Bethel Market in Bethel and the Old Christ Church & Prayer Cove near Laurel. Services are still conducted in this historic place of worship.

Getting to Sussex County takes a little over 2 hours, depending on traffic. Once over the Bay Bridge take Route 50 to Route 404 and into Delaware. Take Route 16 south to Seaford. This is a good central point for your visit. Nice motels/ hotels and many restaurants. We recommend the Hampton Inn in Seaford. It is reasonably priced, exceptionally clean with comfortable beds and the complimentary breakfast buffet is much more than a banana and a muffin.

Whether you want to make Sussex County a destination Road Trip or a swing by on your way to or from the beach, make a point to visit living history in Delaware...The First State aka The Blue Hen State aka The Diamond State aka The Small Wonder.

How a Legendary Nassau Hotel Became one of the Caribbean’s Best New Luxury Resorts

The legendary British Colonial has been transformed into one of the Caribbean's best luxury resorts. If hotels could be royal, The British Colonial would be a Queen. With 288 guest rooms (25 suites) it’s not the biggest hotel in Nassau. But it’s truly majestic.

You can feel it as soon as you enter the impressive lobby and see the spectacular grand staircase and ornate ceiling. As someone who has been staying at this hotel for decades, it was dramatic.

In short, there is no place like it in the Caribbean. If you love hotels, this place will make you swoon. This hotel is special, and it was when I stayed here a few weeks ago. It’s not just the beauty, detail and tangible history, it’s also the great staff and service, the location and Nassau itself. The British Colonial is an essential part of the renaissance of downtown Nassau.

There is a new boardwalk connecting the cruise port to this part of town and that has made a big impact. There are new shops, restaurants and attractions and the British Colonial is right in the

middle of it — and you get access to one of the Caribbean’s best waterparks right next door.

Centuries ago, the site where the British Colonial sits was a military fort guarding Nassau Harbour.

Nothing came into or out of Nassau without getting by this spot. The same thing is still true today. Everyone who visits Nassau or lives in Nassau is drawn here. The British Colonial is a central point and regular meeting spot for locals, tourists and business travelers and is extremely popular for weddings, events and meetings.

There is 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. The hotel is downtown and within walking distance to everything — the white-sand beach is right out the back door on the harbor.

There is a beautiful pool deck and an amazing beach with full service, chairs, towels, umbrellas, and of course, The Red Pearl Grill and beach bar. It is the kind of place you’ll want to stay all day. Watching the cruise ships come and go is

great entertainment and as the sun goes down, the harbor lights up and you just stroll up to one the hotel’s great restaurants like Woodes Rogers Tavern, The Mahogany Club or the Sakana Noodle and Sushi Bar.

This hotel manages to pull off a rare feat: it is both completely new and historic at the same time. The hotel went through a major renovation and reopened in December 2023.

The renovations were extensive and are very impressive. The hotel and the rooms feel completely new. The pool deck and beach are new. It’s a sparkling place.

But we do love history, too. Henry Flagler, builder of the Breakers in Palm Beach bought this hotel site in 1900. He opened a massive hotel in 1901 and it operated for 20 some years until it burned down in 1922. The hotel was eventually rebuilt and the rebuilt again, bought and sold several times.

What the British Colonial is today in many ways

shares no resemblance with the British Colonial of even just 10 years ago.

It has been transformed and reinforced, respectful of the past and intensely aware of what today’s travelers need and want.

It’s one of the most historic hotels in the Caribbean. But it’s also one of the best new hotels in the Caribbean in quite a long time.

It’s also a fantastic deal: rates at the British Colonial start at $160 per night right now.

You can book now at www.britishcolonial. com

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.

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DINING GUIDE M

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 bobandedithsdiner.com

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

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

JULA'S ON THE POTOMAC 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644

JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-436-0025 junctionbakery.com

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

LOST DOG CAFE

808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511

MACMILLAN'S SPIRIT HOUSE 500 Montgomery St. 703-665-6690

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

BEN' YAYS 1028 King Street 703-495-3888

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

EPICURE ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090

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

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

Thanksgiving Dinner 2024

Let Someone Else Do the Cooking!

This month we decided to highlight the special menus that our restaurant advertisers are offering for Thanksgiving dinner. While we both are big fans of cooking this big dinner at home and sharing it with family and friends, we realize that there are times when you just don’t have the time or the energy to pull it all together.

After checking in with everyone, we found out that Landini Brothers, Fish Market, O’Connell’s and Mystic BBQ are closing on Thanksgiving in order to enjoy the holiday themselves and to give their employees a well-deserved day off. River Bend Bistro will also be closed but want to encourage you to join them at 6:30 pm on the 30th for their 10th Annual Champagne Dinner – 5 course tasting menu and 13 champagnes - $150 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required.

The menu’s that we garnered from Bastille, Union Street, Murphy’s, the Warehouse and Junction range from traditional to gourmet in their offerings. Union Street and Junction are preparing to-go meals only that require pre-ordering. Check out these restaurant’s ads in this issue for contact information.

Murphy’s Irish Pub – Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner

Adult - $26 per person

Children (12 & Under) - $14

Dinner includes roast turkey, baked ham or a combination of both accompanied with mashed potatoes

and gravy, candied yams, stuffing, green beans with red peppers, cranberry sauce and a dinner roll. Pumpkin and pecan pie will be available for an additional $6. In addition to the dinner, appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, fish and chips, Irish stew and the Jameson steak will be available. Doors open at 11 am and dinner will be served until 9 pm.

Bastille – French-Inspired Thanksgiving Feast

Three course Prix Fixe Menu

$89 per person (taxes, gratuity and alcohol not included)

$35 Premium Wine Pairings available – 2 glasses of wine and 1 cordial glass of dessert wine

The menu will be available in all areas of the restaurant, both dining rooms and the café & the bar. A la carte will not be available in the dining rooms or the café but will be available for patrons sitting at the bar. The Petits Gourmands menu (Kids menu) items will be available and we will have a Kids Turkey plate for $18. They will be closed for lunch on Friday, November 29th, but will open at 4pm for Happy Hour and regular dinner service. Credit cards are required for booking, but they are taking walk-ins the day of Thanksgiving. There is a 48-hour cancellation policy. Thanksgiving Day hours are 12 noon to 6pm with the last seating is 5:30pm. For detailed menu at www.bastillerestaurant.com

The Warehouse – Thanksgiving with a Creole Flair

$29.95 per person

The Warehouse is known for its amazing Cajun cuisine and their full menu along with some very inviting specials including a turkey dinner are on the menu on Thanksgiving. They are serving sliced roasted turkey breast with green beans, pecan stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and a cranberry and citrus compote. Peach cobbler ($12) and southern pumpkin pie with Chantilly cream ($10) will be available for dessert. The restaurant will be open during their regular hours - Lunch 11 am –3:30 pm and dinner 3:30 pm – 10 pm. Reservations are encouraged.

Thanksgiving Dinner To Go

Junction

Dinner for 8-10 - $300

Junction Bakery in the Del Ray section of our fair city has become a local favorite of many Alexandrians. This location is the fi rst of the three Junctions to open its doors in the area - the other two are located in Chevy Chase and on Massachusetts Avenue. The recently added full bar service in this location makes it a good place to meet for a cocktail as well as grab some great eats.

This family dinner includes French cut roasted turkey breast, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, choice of beet or vitality citrus salad, cranberry sauce, 10 dinner rolls, whipped butter and pumpkin pie.

All Thanksgiving pre-orders will be taken until the 18th or while

set quantities last. The restaurant will not be open to full service on Thanksgiving and all pre-orders must be picked up by 12 noon that day. If you need dinner rolls or pies to accompany your menu, they are also encouraging pre-ordering of these items. Orders can be emailed (preferred method) to info@ junctionbakery.com. Be sure to include your name, contact phone number, date and time you want to pick up, items you are ordering and quantities. Orders are not confi rmed until a manager has reached back out with said confi rmation and payment is provided.

Union Street Public House

Dinner For 4 - $199.00 plus tax

Union Street will not be open for dining in on Thanksgiving but they have put together a very impressive dinner to go for you all to just pick up and take home. Included in the package are honey roasted turkey breast, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and traditional gravy, apple and sage dressing, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and pecan or banana caramel bread pudding.

To place your order, call them at 703-548-1785 or email your complete order to info@ unionstreetpublichouse.com. Your order will be confi rmed by email. Orders must be placed by 5:00 pm on Monday, November 25th and may be picked up on Wednesday, November 27th between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 pm.

Let’s talk turkey. Reverse meal and leftovers. We all know it's what you really want anyway...

Admit it, you know darn well that Thanksgiving leftovers are better than the holiday day for which they were prepared. You get to attend family feasts in hopes of being sent home with care packages. Or...you simply want the best part of the feast fi rst and easy. This is a great idea if you are alone or just two of you or if you’re simply over “the other” dry meat.

I could save the unsung hero, the turkey and mayonnaise sandwich on white bread to the very end of this article, however, I do not want to be looking at the turkey in the corner of the room.

You know where they make the turkey and then the next morning you have a turkey and mayonnaise sandwich and that's better than the actual turkey on Thanksgiving. Or it is the middle of the night, and you wake up and there's some more casserole or stuffing leftover that lives between you and a glass of water (or the bathroom) and the fridge. We all pay the fridge a midnight visits sometime.

That is the best part, so why not make Thanksgiving dinner as if it was all about

leftovers? Or you can wait like Pilgrims until the following day.

What would you do with your turkey if your turkey was already leftovers for your main course?

MY TURKEY SANDWICH

Take two slices of fresh white bread. Layer generous slices of leftover turkey. Add a dollop of mayonnaise. Top it off with lettuce or any other leftover greens for a refreshing crunch. And then…most importantly add a SLICE of cranberry sauce. Enjoy the savory goodness that surpasses the original Thanksgiving turkey. What would you do with leftover green bean casserole because it's leftover?

MY GREEN BEAN LEFTOVER GREEN BEAN CASSAROLE

Mix the leftover green bean casserole with cooked pasta. Sprinkle some cheese on top. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Voila! And let us not forget about the stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and more. The beauty lies

in their versatility. Simply heat them up and pair them with anything you desire. Let your creativity guide you in crafting a unique leftover feast that rivals the original holiday spread.

JUST HEAT THAT UP AND SPREAD IT ON ANYTHING!

You get the point, and you can reverse cook your own traditional meal...I think.

You can turn all those main dishes and sides into what they will become and serve and eat that fi rst without guilt. November 29th the refrigerator remains the black market of holiday munchy spell goodness for everyone sleeping under your roof. Apart from pie, the rest of the meal in its leftover form can be prepared 24 hours before my guests and I totally attack it. So, why not make Thanksgiving all about the anticipation of leftovers? Embrace the magic of repurposing your holiday dishes into delightful creations that bring joy to your taste buds. In the end, the waiting game for the perfect moment to savor those leftovers is just as satisfying

as the feast itself. Either way I’ll be sitting here with a belly full of tryptophan, sugar and my father's favorite red wine. I’m thankful for memories of patiently waiting for my brothers to get off the most comfortable chair in the living room without a well staked claim. “I am just going to sit here and rest my eyes for a bit. He will see...I'm not even paying attention to that left over Lazyboy chair with those electronic human Sloth features.”

See...same results.

About the Author: Glenn Morel is a producer turned chef. His website is www. ifihadachef.com. 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-orless), he also offers catering for small and large groups.

Chef Glenn works with you to create a customized menu and first-class event.

THANKSGIVING FEATURE CATHERINE LAMB

Afew years ago, I made my inner history nerd unbelievably giddy and spent a few weeks digging in to one question: What was actually eaten at the fi rst Thanksgiving? The results were surprising (no turkey?!), illuminating, and just plain curious. So, leading up to November, I thought I'd give you something to chew on besides what's on your table. First, let's set the scene:

The modern Thanksgiving holiday is based off a festival shared by the pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native American tribe at Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, in 1621. The feast purportedly celebrated the colonists’ fi rst successful harvest in the New World. While modern Thanksgiving always lands on the fourth Thursday in November, the original went down sometime earlier in autumn, closer to harvest time.

(Parenthetically, I’ll note that Thanksgiving was originally a one-off. Abraham Lincoln was the fi rst to bring back Thanksgiving in 1863, when a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale convinced him that a nationally celebrated Thanksgiving holiday would unite the country in the aftermath of the Civil War. From then on Thanksgiving was celebrated annually, typically on the last Thursday in November, but the date wasn’t made official until decreed by Congress in 1941.)

There are only two surviving documents that reference the original Thanksgiving harvest meal. They describe a feast of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, a bounty of cod and bass, and flint, a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.

These two sources contain all we know fi rsthand about the fi rst Thanksgiving food. The rest of the menu we can only piece together, based upon what was available, what both groups ate in times of celebration, and what the Native Americans would have (literally) brought to the table.

Wildfowl

First and foremost, there would be wildfowl—most likely duck or geese, but potentially carrier pigeons or swans. That’s right— turkey might not have even been present at the fi rst Thanksgiving. The birds were probably stuffed with onions and nuts instead of the bread cubes and sausage more familiar to us today, then boiled or roasted.

What Food Was Really Served at the First Thanksgiving?

Seafood

Seafood is a rare sight on a modern Thanksgiving table, but the colonists most likely had fish, eel, and shellfish, such as lobster and mussels, at their feast.

Produce

Vegetarians would not have gone hungry in 1621. Native crops such as peas, beans, squash, and the aforementioned flint corn would have likely made an appearance on the Thanksgiving table alongside vegetables brought over from England, such as cabbage and carrots. In fact, just like what you learned in kindergarten, there is some evidence that the Native Americans did teach the colonists how to plant beans, squash, and other local crops. (If you want to learn more about indigenous American cooking, check out our interview with a Sioux chef at food52.com.

What Wasn't Served at the First Thanksgiving

It is also worth noting what was not present at the fi rst Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn’t yet have mills to produce flour. There was no sweet potato casserole, with mini marshmallows or without, since tuberous roots had not yet been introduced from the Caribbean. Cranberries may have been incorporated into Wampanoag dishes to add tartness, but it would be another 50 years before someone fi rst wrote about cooking them with sugar to make a “sauce to eat with... meat.”—the now-ubiquitous cranberry sauce. Also, since there was probably no refi ned sugar in the colonies in 1621 (it would have been prohibitively expensive), the point was moot.

There Were, However, Pumpkins No flour, no sugar—that's right, there was nary a pie. No apple, no pecan, no pumpkin at the fi rst Thanksgiving table. Well, pumpkins were probably present, just most likely stewed with vinegar and currants.

So this year, as you’re digging in to your green bean casserole and heaping your mashed potatoes into a soon-to-be-gravy-“lava”filled volcano, be thankful. After all, you could be eating a heaping plateful of two-day-old potage with a side of eel, instead.

About the Author: Our thanks to food52.com and this blog written by kitchen scientist and doglover Catherine Lamb. We encourage you to join this fun and to follow her at www.catherine-lamb.com

Welcome To the “Oneoverse”

Comic book films have popularized the idea of “shared universes” where heroes from multiple worlds join together. It’s great movie fodder, but it wasn’t until Reggie Leonard described the breadth of the wine club/wine community/access & opportunity program he co-founded that I realized why this initiative refers to itself under a similar moniker.

I say this because the “Oneoverse” (Ee-Nuh-Verse) is all of those things and more.

Reggie’s passion for wine began in 2015 when he took a job at the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science. An urge to meet people and try something new led to the discovery of free tastings at Market Street Wine in downtown Charlottesville. Little did he realize these tastings would introduce him to an entirely new community.

“I’m an ambivert; an introvert but in an extroverted way,” Reggie said over the phone. “I knew that community is important to me, and I wanted to make sure that I found a community that allowed me to be extroverted.

At fi rst, I didn’t understand any of the terminology used at these wine tastings. But over time, I surprised myself by starting to remember different names, recognizing different tasting profiles. I connected to wine more than I realized, and through that realization I eventually discovered a Black Wine Lovers Facebook group.”

Learning the terminology of wine is difficult enough. But Reggie was encountering another barrier; the world of wine isn’t easily accessible to people of color.

The lexicon of wine relies on Eurocentric descriptors and food pairings that the BIPOC community doesn’t always relate to. On top of that, the lack of other Black faces made the experience more daunting.

“When I experienced wine, it didn't mirror the rest of my life, since the traditional wine experience wasn't built with me in mind ,” he explained. Reggie didn’t realize it at that time, but this realization must have triggered an idea. If there wasn't a community for those outside their comfort zone to learn about wine, he’d help build one.

Building a Community

In late 2020, Market Street Wine approached Reggie about hosting virtual events. One of the participants was Blenheim Vineyards Sales/ Marketing Director Tracey Love. The two eventually connected in-person, leading to a collaboration with Blenheim.

Tracey encouraged Reggie to host an event to talk about his wine journey. That led to further discussions how they could replicate this theme of ‘community’, all along the backdrop of wine.

The “Oneoverse” was born.

According to its website, Blenheim’s Oneoverse Club is “dedicated to expanding opportunity and perspective through Virginia wine for people who have never joined a wine club or are seasoned professionals.” While outreach to members of historically underrepresented communities is a key part of its mission, the club is open to everyone. Members are also encouraged to share their wine tasting experience during their events.

Yet the Oneoverse doesn’t exist by itself; it’s part of an ecosystem of similarly-minded organizations. Among them are Charlottesville’s Ethos Wine & Tea and RichWine, an online wine club based in Richmond. Both businesses focus on lowintervention, sustainable wines.

Probably their most active partner is The Veraison Project, which co-hosts the Two Up Wine Down music festival and Oneo Camp. The former takes place every November at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, while the latter is a three-day Virginia wine immersion program for historically underrepresented consumers and industry professionals.

Showcasing Non-Traditional Grapes and Styles

The Oneoverse’s advocacy for the underrepresented goes beyond outreach to communities of color; it showcases other parts of the wine industry that are often overlooked.

“What else can wine look like?” Reggie asked rhetorically. “Historically, we’ve only paid attention to vinifera wine. But who doesn’t like more options?”

Reggie and Lance Lemon, owner of RichWine, were deeply inspired by Jahdè Marley’s “Anything But Vinifera” wine movement. Jahdè’s desire to spotlight hybrid and non-traditional grapes

encouraged the two to found their latest initiative; The Parallax Project.

Several years ago, winemakers Ben and Tim Jordan of Commonwealth Crush reached out to Reggie and Lance to explore ideas for a partnership of their own. At the end of that conversation, the quartet came up with the idea of making a small-batch of wine, produced at Commonwealth but under Reggie and Lance’s direction.

The project’s name was inspired by what’s called “The Parallax Effect,” which is “a difference in the apparent position of an object when viewed along two different lines of sight.”

Lance and Reggie applied this principle to their two wines, both made with a mix of vinifera and hybrid grapes. While one is a red and the other is a white, both were made using nearly the same grapes but blended in different proportions and made using different winemaking styles.

Reggie summarized his my riad of projects with this; “We are building a space for something that has not been built for. That’s not just for people of color but other aspects of wine, like hybrids and lower-alcohol wine. If we do that, we can bring in customers that weren’t part of the market before.”

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.

Reggie Leonard

Rain or Shine- it's Harvest Time!

In the world of wines, where the grapes are grown and when they were grown are pretty important things. Location and time play an important part of the story that affects the flavors and influences the style, character and end results. The biggest character of the wine is the grape type, but the location and vintage date will certainly come into play for some of the more knowledgeable and detail-oriented wine folks. Now that the grapes are harvested, here are a few thoughts on the 2024 vintage from our region.

I would characterize the 2024 season as mostly dry. Dry is a usually a relatively good thing for grape growers, as long as it’s not too dry. Many grape growers had to combat the dryness by watering some vineyard rows in order to give the vines a chance to survive. Also, in some cases it was necessary to drop grapes on some vines where the stress of the season showed in the leaf condition. Vines can drop leaves in stressed conditions, but it is harder for them to drop fruit. Their natural instinct to reproduce will have them use their last bit of energy to make the fruit more attractive to birds rather than to retain its energy for survival. The driest part of the season for me was late May, through June and into the beginning of July. Lots of growing usually happens during this time frame and some vines in some soils really suffered.

In July and August, we got some much-needed rain. The summer showers were welcome but I am not sure we got enough to reach the deep roots of all our vines. We want deep roots because that brings the flavor and sense of terroir from the soils into the grapes and ultimately the wine produced.

Late August and early September were quite nice! Warm days and cool nights with no rain and lots of sunshine is just what the vintner wants for fi nishing up the grapes on the vine. We can track the progress of the fruit both with numbers from our sugar and acid tests as well as with our eyes and palates. The flavors developed nicely. As we got to mid-September, the tropical moisture began to affect us. It was not many inches of rain, but more misty, cloudy

and damp weather. The vines did not get a chance to dry out. Many of our reds were not quite ready to harvest, so we let them hang on the vine hoping for better weather.

As the weather forecast was not really improving, we committed to picking through the misty days. The grapes were good but not really improving. Critters, bees, deer and disease were starting to hinder the quantity and potential quality of the season. Some folks picked everything before the rains started. Personally, we have lots of fruit and physically we could not pick everything before the rain started. We sorted fruit in the field, and picked with care to bring in the best of what we had. In the end, most of the white grapes came in before the rains. The reds were picked as quickly as possible. As farmers who dance with Mother Nature, we complain a lot and sometimes second guess our decisions. As we work with these wines in the cellar, I will feel more confident about how they have come together. But each year we do this, we want to improve over the last year. In Virginia, we have done a great job over a relatively short period of time, learning our vines and soils in a way that we can adjust our practices in the vineyard and cellar to improve our quality. Each vintage is different and we learn something new each year.

The ability to reflect and adjust keeps us improving. I am very grateful to our customer base that supports our endeavors and enjoys our wines. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends and maybe a bottle or 2 or more of locally made wines.

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

"Bourbon brings people together." –Tom Gale

November is upon us. The temperatures are cooling. The leaves are turning. The holidays are approaching. And everyone is thinking about one thing…Bourbon.

I don’t know if bourbon has an official season. But if it did, it would start in November. November is built for bourbon. A good beer is a great thing during a football game, but a beer doesn’t warm you like bourbon. November is also sweater season. And nothing looks better in your hand while sporting a sharp sweater than a bourbon. Bourbon is more than a drink, it’s a fashion accessory.

A good bourbon is not hard to fi nd in Old Town Alexandria. Almost every bar and restaurant carry at least a few of the better brands. But one establishment stands above them all, the awardwinning Virtue Feed and Grain. Old Towners refer to it as just Virtue.

Tom Gale is Virtue’s Director of Operations and, more importantly, their Bourbon Steward. Tom hails from Virginia’s Northern Neck and is a true southern gentleman. A fact that becomes quite apparent the minute he begins to speak. Tom tells me that where he’s from, they don’t refer to our area as Northern Virginia, but as North of Virginia. I chuckled. Tom has a plethora of witty quips in his verbal arsenal and he’s a delightful personality. Our mutual love of bourbon became very apparent as we talked. Tom’s knowledge of bourbon is amazing. When he complimented me on mine, I was sincerely flattered.

something is just not to your palate.” Tom says I told him that, having spent thirty years in the business, I could relate to that. I write this column with a similar approach. I never review, I recommend. If I don’t like something, I simply don’t write about it. He looked at me with a big smile and said, “I’m stealing that.”

Tom likes to quote Frank Loyd Wright, “Simplicity

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, one of my favorites, and Bittermilk Bourbon Barrel Aged Artisanal Bitters. Tom explains that it’s the bitters that make an old fashioned. These bitters are custom made for Virtue. The drink is amazing. It’s the little things that count. I was taught that years ago. And Tom says it several times throughout our conversation. This philosophy is part of what makes Virtue one of my favorite spots.

The bourbon list is long and impressive at Virtue. Tom handpicks every bourbon and has a story for every bottle. It’s quite remarkable. Virtue’s inventory isn’t selected by brand name, but by Tom’s standards of quality. Tom understands that all palates are different, which is something that I have stressed repeatedly in this column.

“It’s all about the palate. And sometimes,

As we discussed the bourbon list, I could tell that Tom was having just as much fun as I was. He offered me a taste of Garrison Brother’s Honeydew Bourbon. They were using it to make the sauce for their Hickory BBQ Ribs special that evening. The choice made sense; the bourbon had a wonderful smooth honey flavor on the back end.

In the middle of the discussion, Tom stopped and looked at me.

“I have a bourbon that you need to taste. Wait here.” He left the bar and returned with a bottle of Michter’s 20-year-old bourbon. It’s not on their main bourbon list. You have to ask for the Green Book, a list of their higherend whiskeys. Tom pours us two small shots.

is the essence of good design.” What a great philosophy for a hospitality establishment to live by. You can see this in everything that Virtue does.

The Father of Bourbon Old Fashioned is Virtue’s signature cocktail. Tom began our meeting by ordering us two. It’s made with

“I’m sharing this with you because I know you will appreciate it.”

Again, I’m flattered.

“Now kiss it to start. Just a tiny taste.”

I can tell by the tiny taste that this is an extraordinary bourbon. On my nose, I got vanilla, apricot, and orange. The fi rst taste was creamy and almost savory. Pecan pie and buttered toast come out. The back taste was smoky with leather notes. Absolutely delightful.

Tom looked at his glass.

“It’d make a hound dog hug a rabbit.” Tom’s delightfully wry.

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

He smiled. “It’s said that Millionaires drink Pappy, and billionaires drink Michter’s.”

I’m not going to add this bourbon to my collection anytime soon; one bottle costs north of $800. And I have a wife.

A few weeks after my time with Tom, my wife and I attended an Elijah Craig Bourbon Dinner at Virtue. Tom was the host, along with a few of Elijah Craig’s top people. We all started with the Father of Bourbon Old Fashioned. I was delighted to drink it again. The dinner featured a different Elijah Craig whiskey with each of the three courses. The food was great. You’ll never go wrong dining at Virtue. I’ve been an Old Towner for longer than I’d like to admit. Back in the day, this place was full of larger-than-life characters. Any Old Towner with a touch of grey can regale you with stories of Pat Troy, Ray “Mr. Ray” Giovannoni, Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, and many of the other restaurateurs who built this place. They created the original Old Town experience that I fell in love with. Old Town has changed since then, in many ways for the better. But I do miss those grand personalities.

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon

The Elajah Craig whiskeys that were served at the bourbon dinner were the Small Batch Bourbon, the Toasted Barrel Bourbon, the Barrel Proof Bourbon, the Straight Rye Whiskey, and courtesy of Tom, the 18 Year Bourbon. None of them disappointed. But if I had to pick one, it’s the Toasted Barrel Bourbon. On your nose, you get toasted oak and caramel. On the palate, it’s smooth and rich with notes of pepper and spice. It has a delightful milk chocolate fi nish with just a touch of smoke. At around $55 and 94-proof, it’s a great deal.

La Aroma De Cuba Connecticut Robusto

This cigar is on the mild side but has flavors that will bend nicely with bourbon. It starts with light creamy traces of pepper, cashew, and coffee beans. As you get into the smoke the cashew becomes more prominent along with almonds and traces of honey and melon. It fi nishes as mellow and velvety as it starts with more of the melon flavor on the end. This cigar would complement any bourbon, especially the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel. Enjoy.

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.

That is until I walk into Virtue Feed and Grain. And Tom greets me with that gregarious personality and a funny quip or two. I am instantly transported back to those days. I feel like I just walked into Tom’s house. Virtue is family-owned. They provide an experience that only comes from family pride. It’s an understanding that it is the little things that count. I taste it in every glass of bourbon, every drink of beer or wine, and every bite of food. It’s a true salute to what Old Town was, and a wonderful example of what Old Town has become. My favorite bourbon spot is a big part of why I love it here. Cheers!

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@belmarinnovations.com. Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that fly doing in my soup? http://whatflyinmysoup.com

POINTS ON PETS

Pet people are always concerned about keeping their animals from getting lost. We’re fortunate to have new, inventive digital tools to fi nd our lost pets. But these methods still need to be paired with old-fashioned, analog footwork to be effective.

Microchipping, Tattooing, and Tags

Experts agree that cats, dogs, and some other pets should be microchipped and sometimes tattooed to help identify them. Veterinarians and animal shelters or rescues can microchip pets. Small mammals like rabbits and ferrets can be microchipped, as well as horses, birds, tortoises, and even snakes! Microchips are designed to last 25 years. After paying a one-time registration fee with a national microchip database service like Home Again or PetLink, our pets are tracked for their entire lives. Our responsibility is to update their information and make sure we have current photos and veterinary records. PetKey.org and other services register all brands of microchips and have free searchable lost/found databases.

Tattooing a dog or cat is a safe supplement to microchipping but is not what vets would recommend as a pet’s only ID. A sturdy collar with an ID tag is still essential. But

because pets can slip their collars, microchipping is now the gold standard for identifying lost pets.

New-School Tracking Tech

Many pet lovers now use tracking devices with GPS, Bluetooth, or radio-frequency tech to track their pets.

GPS devices track pets by satellite and may require more battery power than other trackers. GPS trackers can be in standby mode until a human wants to know exactly where a pet is. Active tracking uses battery charge faster. Humans can create safe zones for their pets, tracking them by phone from miles away. But GPS can be expensive, and satellite tracking sometimes doesn’t work.

Bluetooth and radio frequency tracking offer alternatives and useful features that may cost less than GPS but may not be as effective. Various apps such as TrackiPet use a subscription tracking device that reports real-time tracking every few seconds.

When Your Pet Is Lost

Footwork and in-person follow-up often make the difference in bringing a beloved animal home.

When you can’t fi nd your pet, check your space (especially closets and basements), yard, and your

Lost and Found:

Getting (and Keeping) Our Pets Home Safely

neighbors’. Dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals sometimes burrow into bedding, furniture, car seats, and even insulation and walls. Check, then check again.

After you’ve looked everywhere close to home, contact your pet’s microchip service. Their sites help create electronic posters you can share on social media in your neighborhood; local vets, hospitals, and rescues; and community bulletin boards. Ask everyone to share and repost in Public mode. Post on Facebook, Nextdoor, Craigslist, Instagram, Ring, and other sites. Pet FBI, Petco Love Lost, 24PetConnect, PetBoost, and Petkey are petcentered, nationwide, and free.

Print out your pet’s poster in color and put it up around your neighborhood, in stores and businesses, and on telephone poles and bus-stop shelters. Tell everyone you know that your pet’s lost.

File reports with your local shelters and animal control department, and plan on visiting the shelters regularly. In-person visits are essential. Shelter staff are swamped, and there is no universal lost-pet database. Recovery rates from shelters are low, partly because humans don’t follow up on their lost pets in person. But combining database reporting with social-media posts and in-person

shelter visits exponentially increases your chances of being reunited with your pet.

Keep a carrier or crate with favorite food or treats ready. A Good Samaritan may need your help to bring your pet home, so be ready to go when you get the call. Even if your pet only lives indoors, keep some food or water outside.

One reminder from experts about revealing all you know about your pet: Sometimes people claim to have an animal and demand payment before returning it. Hold back some identifying information about your pet until you confi rm any “found” reports are legitimate.

When You Find A Pet

Our instincts as animal lovers are to help lost pets. But it’s important to do so safely. If an animal appears aggressive, call animal control or the police. Approach animals you don’t know carefully and quietly, and contain them in a carrier or box with airholes, or on a leash/lead for dogs. Use food or treats as a lure, and don’t try to hold the animal unnecessarily. Some people worry about bringing found pets right to shelters. (They’re concerned about animals being euthanized.) But everyone agree that checking for collar ID and microchips comes next, so be sure

the pet is scanned for it at a shelter, vet, or police station. Even if you’ve left a message for the pet’s human, contact local shelters and animal control and file “found” reports. If you’re concerned about leaving the animal at a shelter, take a photo and ask the shelter to add a “found” report to their lost-and-found database. Use the photo to file reports with found-pet services like those listed above, and follow the steps recommended if you lost your pet to notify your neighbors that you may have found theirs. Local papers often post free “found” ads online and in print. And thank you for helping reunite them!

Steph Selice volunteered as an adoption counselor at King Street Cats in Alexandria for seven years.

Resources https://www.petlink.net/ https://www.pawboost.com/ https://petcolove.org/lost/ https://24petconnect.com/ https://petfbi.org/search.html#/ https://petkey.org/Search-Lost-Pet https://ring.com/support/articles/hoqg6/Howto-Create-a-Pet-Profile-Lost-Pet-Post-or-LostPet-Flyer?srsltid=AfmBOooNIIqLzjyl2aGhI1v 7kOot9jHjvdC8vYCkZ43oLmHz8z31ba8H https://cats.com/best-cat-tracker https://www.consumerreports.org/electronicscomputers/gps-pet-trackers/best-gps-pettrackers-a1117406199/?srsltid=AfmBOoqW7G Y2fGixnPGMMYW439SCSI1Hd3HqoDcUal TVGW-IYKQeBkTb

PETS OF THE MONTH

Cookie

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

Spice

Bigwig & Clover

703-746-4774

Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm Alexandria, VA

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

Like her name suggests, Cookie is a sweet pup! She is a 1-year-old, 37-pound female dog who would love to nd a loving, safe home. When Cookie  rst arrived, she was very shy and timid, but as she's become more comfortable here, she's showing her playful, bubbly, social side. She loves to play with toys and enjoys busy boxes and lick mats. If you get on her level, she may even try to sit in your lap and smother you with kisses. She's learning to walk nicely on a leash and is responding very well to clicker training and cues like sit and paw. We think Cookie will thrive with a family that can provide her with opportunities to grow her con dence.

Spice is a 3-year-old beautiful female Calico cat with a fun and zesty personality to match her name. She is social and craves attention from just about everyone, but can be a tad spicy sometimes, if she's honest. But let's be honest- we are all guilty of the same thing every once in a while! She likes to get to know her visitors rst, so it's best to take your time winning her over. However, once you do, you'll be best friends before you know it! She loves Temptations and Churus, but isn't too fond of other cats, so a single kitty household would be best. If you're searching for a cat with con dence and catitude to give all of your love and attention to, look no further than Spice!

Bigwig (white) and Clover (black) are bonded female shorthaired rabbit sisters who are looking for a home where they can stay together. They are both 5 months old. This pair loves to zoom around their playroom, chasing each other. They both are incredibly smart and love to best treat puzzles. In their foster home, they were even learning some bunny tricks. The two love to be around each other and will often snuggle with and groom each other. It's quite cute. They both enjoy getting pets here and there. If you're searching for companions that are sure to provide hours of entertainment and affection, Bigwig and Clover might be your bunnies!

Autumn can be a tricky time for beauty. For many of us it’s somewhat of an awkward in-between season in which our skin is losing the last of its sun kissed summer glow, where your skin isn’t quite oily but not quite dry, your leg stubble becomes less of a concern, and your hair has become dull, limp, and seems to be suffering from early onset static. It’s easy to look blah and feel blah in this preholiday season slump. From fancy airbrushed spray tans, extensive waxing treatments, and highmaintenance highlights, you can waste a ton of money remedying most of these cold weather beauty blues, and with gift shopping right around the corner most folks are trying to save a buck. This season why not look to one of the fastest, simplest, and cheapest ways to give yourself a little pick-me-up; the headband! Lazy girls rejoice! With practical zero effort, headbands allow your locks a break from the blow dryer, hide bed-head and gym hair, rein in unruly fly aways, and polish up any look in a cinch. Plus, it’s a welcomed change from your standard winter beanie.

Adorning your noggin with a little unexpected flair is an effortless way to stay on trend this Fall, not to mention rake in the compliments from coworkers and commuters alike. Seen all over the catwalk and sidewalk, there are so many styles of headbands and scarves currently in style that there’s a look to suit every personality and occasion. From a Rosie-the-Riveter headscarf look to a glammedout sparkle crown, there’s something for everyone. When your mane is looking as bleak and dreary as the bitter November weather and you can’t bear to bother with fussy hot tools or hairmashing hats, simply top off your look with the perfect chic headpiece.

Floral

Garland-esque floral headbands give off that groovy, laidback, music festival vibe and their vibrant colors and whimsical nature are perfect for brightening up a gloomy day when all you see are bare branches and fallen leaves. Wear with long, loose waves to a beach bonfi re or casual brunch with the girls.

Bejeweled

Whether ornate and blinged out or understated and simple, a little bit of sparkle never fails to jazz up lifeless cold weather hair. This style adds a dose of romantic glamour and sophistication to your look, and makes any outfit instantly dressier and more feminine. Just don’t go anywhere near the tiara look! I love delicate, tasteful bejeweled headbands sitting atop an expertly mussed updo or nestled into sexy bedroom curls for a look that works particularly well for evening events, winter weddings, and especially candlelit date nights.

Simple

If you’re more of a function over fashion kinda gal, a simple but chic headband will work wonders for your routine. Whether you’re looking for something to hold back your hair while you grow out your bangs, something basic and understated for work, or just something you can throw on for running errands or the gym, sleek, skinny, low-key headbands are the way to go. Think neutral colors and fabrics and wear

The Beauty Headbandsof

with anything from a gym ponytail to a sleek boardroom chignon.

Scarf

Wearing an expertly tied scarf knotted in your hair is a thing of beauty and something to be admired. It’s actually a lot harder than it looks, but when you get it right a cute silk scarf can become a look-transforming piece of magic. Whether you’re looking for flair or masking a bad hair day, scarves are an underrated, retro approach to switching up your hair looks. Search

online for video tutorials or step-by-step photos on how to tie headscarves into some truly interesting looks— everything from twisty turbans to nautical knots.

Turban Style

Turbans are very on trend this season and are really easy for everyone to rock. They’re a little retro, a lot hip, and actually keep your ears warm. Plus, the knotted style and stretchy fabric material won’t flatten a voluminous blowout or give you matted hat hair. These styles look great with hair up or down!

“Keeping” Fit During the Holiday Season

November marks the beginning of the holiday season. This is the time of year when we start making all those yummy baked goods and delicious homemade soups. Instead of letting all this wonderful food catch up to us this year, let’s make a goal to maintain our fitness. Last month I said how fall is the best time to get yourself back into a fitness routine and gear up for the cooler months ahead. Well, it has been thirty days since then and hopefully everyone has been able to stick with his or her fitness routines. In case you are starting to falter from your schedule, here are some tips to keep you motivated for the next month.

Just remember that dedicated workout times are great but you can get your exercise other ways as well. You don’t necessarily have to set aside a whole hour to workout. Exercising can actually be a lot of fun. Wondering what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Look for an activity that suits the whole family! Check out a local climbing wall or hiking trail. Push your kids on the swings or climb with them on the jungle gym. Plan a neighborhood kickball or touch football game. Find an activity you enjoy, and go for it. If you get bored, try something new. If you're moving, it counts!

Exercise helps us deal with stress and can increase the energy we have to deal with all of our daily activities. Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals, which may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than you were before you worked out. You'll also look better and feel better when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Exercise even reduces feelings of depression and anxiety. Use regular exercise as a way to improve your own well-being

and as a way to keep with your busy life. If your weekdays are anything like mine you are running around from the minute you wake up in the morning until you climb into bed at night. While exercise can help you have more energy throughout the day it can also help you sleep better at night. Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. The timing is up to you, but if you're having trouble sleeping, you might want to try late afternoon workouts. The natural dip in body temperature five to six hours after you exercise might help you fall asleep. When you sleep better at night you wake up feeling more energized for the day. Having a good night’s sleep can improve your productivity, mood and concentration. As if there weren’t enough good reasons to exercise, here is another one that will keep you motivated through the cooler months. Exercise helps improve your immune system. We are exposed to viruses other than just the Covid 19 version and germs every day. As the weather gets cooler, we tend to spend less time outdoors and more time inside. While there seems to have been a substantial decrease in cold and flu cases with the mask mandate and people paying extra

attention to hand washing, some people are naturally less susceptible to becoming sick because their immune systems are stronger. More and more research is fi nding a link between moderate, regular exercise and a strong immune system. Regular exercise has been linked to a positive immune system response and a temporary boost in the production of macrophages, the cells that attack bacteria. It is believed that regular, consistent exercise can lead to substantial benefits in immune system health over the long-term.

With the holidays right around the corner and things becoming more hectic we can all count on exercise as one way to de-stress and stay healthy. Aside from the many benefits I have mentioned already I’m sure that you have come to fi nd that exercise is something that can help many aspects of our busy lives. Whether you work out to distress from work, keep up with your family, or simply for the feeling of a good hard workout, exercise is something that you can always fall back on. With all of this in mind…have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Watching What You Eat…

Welcome back faithful readers! I’ve decided to skip the regular “Exercise of the Month” in this issue of the OTC to focus a little more on food and nutrition. November can be a difficult month to control our eating habits with the Thanksgiving holiday. We seem to let our eyes and stomach get the best of us and give into temptation. So…what advice can I give you to stay on the fitness track this month? Put down the fork and back away from the table! Just kidding, but we could all use a little bit of will-power when it comes to eating food.

I think the biggest issue to address fi rst is portion control. Eating the correct amount of food can save you a ton of calories. Sounds easy enough, right? Let’s review how much a serving size actually is:

1 fruit serving = 1 small to medium fresh fruit, ½ cup canned or fresh fruit or fruit juice, ¼ cup dried fruit

1 vegetable serving = ½ cup cooked veggies or vegetable juice, 1 cup raw veggies

1 starch serving (carbohydrate) = ½ cup cereal, grain, pasta, or starchy vegetable such as corn, potatoes, beans; 1 slice bread, ¾ to 1 ounce snack food

1 dairy serving = 1 cup milk, ¾ cup yogurt, 1 ounce cheese (about the size of 4 dice), ½ cup ice cream or pudding, 1 medium egg

1 meat serving = 3 ounces chicken, turkey, shellfish, beef

1 serving pumpkin pie = 1/8 pie and 1 serving fruit pie = 1/6 pie

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to constitute a serving. If you truly took the serving sizes listed above, a normal Thanksgiving Day plate and glass would hardly be full. Therefore, choose to grab a smaller plate and glass to “trick” your mind into thinking you have larger portions. Obviously, smaller

plates will limit the amount of food you can fit onto it. This sounds crazy, but it can work.

The second thing to remember is to eat and drink S-L-O-W-L-Y! Relax and enjoy your favorite foods. Set down your utensils between each bite. By eating slower, you end up eating less because the feeling of being full arrives sooner. Eating too fast blunts the sensation of being full until it’s too late, when you’ve already overeaten. Try to eat more protein-rich and higher fiber foods like turkey and vegetables. These foods will fill you up faster and keep you full longer than higher carbohydrate foods, especially desserts. You can still have your pie, but keep in mind the serving size.

And, what about the “adult beverages”? The holidays are a time to celebrate and Thanksgiving dinner needs to be accompanied by a nice glass of wine and the annual Lions vs Dallas game isn’t the same without a brew or two. The key is moderation.

One last thing to mention is EXERCISE! A little bit of activity and portion control will keep you from gaining any unwanted pounds. I recommend walking because it’s the easiest and most convenient way to stay active over the holidays. I really hope you take this advice and RUN with it - if you know what I mean!

In the big picture, don’t get stressed if you go overboard…just get back on track as soon as you can! Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Photo by Elly Fairytale

Plant Based Essential Oils to Boost the Mind, Body & Spirit during the Holidays

Ease into the hectic holiday season with the help of aromatherapy. The fragrances of plant-derived essential oils have long been used to improve the health of our mind, body and spirit. We are betting that many of our readers have several of the herbs used in the following elixirs in your gardens.

Boost your energy and increase your focus as you work to balance work, family and holiday fun. Peppermint has long been prized for this and so much more. You’ll fi nd it also helps relieve headaches and indigestion.

Freshen your home with the scent of grapefruit. It’s the perfect solution when unexpected guests drop by for a visit. You may also fi nd the grapefruit aroma, along with your company, help to lighten your mood.

Use eucalyptus essential oil in the fight against colds and flu this winter. Just place a few drops into a diffuser on your desk at work, in your bedroom or family room. The diffusers come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Some use heat, ultrasonic vibrations, fans or wood wicks to disperse the fragrance throughout the room. Others, like the Eden Aroma Diffuser, allow the fragrance to seep through the porous portion of the diffuser pot and into the room.

Or use a eucalyptus eye mask to help relieve sinus pressure and soothe tired eyes. Just gently heat or cool the mask, cover your eyes and relax into a bit of relief.

End your day with relaxing lavender. It helps reduce anxiety, relieves headaches and improves sleep. Turn up the heat and fragrance with the Ultimate Lavender Wrap (gardeners.com). Simply pop the flax, rice and lavender infused insert into the microwave. Place it back into the cloth cover and drape it over your neck and shoulders. This can provide relief for those suffering from tense or aching muscles and winter chills.

Encourage a good night’s sleep by tucking a lavender-filled sachet under your pillow. Or set a bundle of dried lavender stems in the bathroom, bedroom or anywhere you want to enjoy the fragrance of a summer garden and a bit of relaxation.

When you incorporate some aromatherapy into your routine you’ll fi nd yourself smiling and more relaxed. The boost in energy and reduced stress will help you navigate the many gatherings, rich food and busy schedules ahead. And consider giving the gift of aromatherapy to someone you love, so they too can enjoy improved harmony and health into the New Year.

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

Unplugging Technology

Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) is changing largemouth bass pursuit. Technology shows fish 100 feet away, allowing anglers to see lures approach fish until caught. The last 3 tournament seasons have been wrought with contention and controversy as unranked anglers rose to the top of a sport that had been dominated by experienced professional anglers relying on decades of knowledge and experience. In recent tournaments, FFS anglers are shown staring at big screens and chasing bass in deeper open waters. Bass fishing fans argue this doesn’t produce a compelling sport.

Major tournament organizers are addressing the technological imbalance, enacting FFS restrictions for 2025. Heritage bass tournament organization BASSMASTERS is limiting transducers and screens. The other major tournament trail, Major League Fishing (MLF) is restricting duration of use.

Bassmaster Elite Series BassCat Mercury pro John Crews says, contrary to social media beliefs, FFS still involves fi nding and evaluating significant areas.

Sometimes spots are located with FFS but mapping and examining contour lines puts you in the vicinity of key high percentage spots. Crews says FFS can distinguish how fish relate to cover: holding tight, swimming near, or suspending over it. FFS reveals fish mood and location and whether they’re suited to being chased with trolling motors and FFS. Anglers must decide how many fish need to be in an area before they determine its effectiveness for achieving a tournament limit.

These details are nailed down before the fi rst cast. Similarly rigged spinning rods have a variety of jig head weights and soft plastic minnow baits. Jig weight is according to depth and wind. In open water Crews downsizes Sunline as thinner line runs deeper and is less likely to be blown around. In clear water or when FFS indicates spooky fish, longer rods make longer casts. In heavier cover, Crews beefs up leader strength.

Crews’ company Missile Baits makes soft plastic

minnow imitations and drop shot baits in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Natural baits, according to Crews, have a darker back and lighter belly mimicking baitfish. Missile Baits Spunk Shad, with a gray or green back and white belly, works well in open water. Missile Baits Magic Worms in Missile Morning, a pink translucent bait, are a Crews favorite. Leader length depends on water clarity, longer for drop shot (up to 20 feet) and shorter for minnow baits.

Idling to locate schooling fish or using side imaging to fi nd fish areas are common FFS strategies. Crews says waypoints marking fish are a waste of time for open water fish, except to identify general locations or if close to cover. Crews says fi nding fish isn’t the fi nal answer. Fish moving during the day make using FFS a challenge. Finding them again is the key to winning. Most pros are quiet about their system of fi nding fish.

Making a significant rule change for 2025, Major League Fishing (MLF) is giving anglers the option to use FFS during only one of

three periods. Triton Mercury pro Brent Chapman says the strategy of when to use FFS is compelling for fans. Chapman also notes this will differentiate angler skills from the FFS impact.

TV misses FFS strategy. Chapman points to how far FFS is looking. Shorter distances show more detail, including how fish react to lures, and allows anglers to target individual fish. Longer range settings enable long casts to groups of fish. Decisions on this distance depend on how close they can get to fish. Fish behavior is revealed with FFS identifying them as a target by anglers who determine the screen is showing bass. No matter the setting, most pros are reluctant to reveal FFS set ups.

Decisions, like using soft minnows or hard jerkbaits, are based on hookup percentage. Lower rates indicate time to change baits or presentations. Sometimes abandoning a fish then returning might be the best way to approach an individual fish. Chapman says new rigs with unique baits are sometimes necessary to get fish to commit. Even knots can impact success.

Prefishing with FFS involves idling around with Side Imaging to locate fish and then slowing down with the trolling motor to see fish size with FFS. Local

YouTube videos reveal many key locations. Using FFS in high school through college gives younger anglers a leg up with technology without having to rely on old school mapping or visual targets. Unlike traditional tournament practice periods, there’s not much casting with FFS. FFS is here to stay and Chapman says established pros are committing to it. Adjustments on installation and set-up are keys to maximizing his Garmin FFS effectiveness. Choosing a transducer for specific scenarios, based on distance, is important. Having proper power supply and voltage results in better pictures. Gain, range, color gain, color limit, and ghost settings are secrets unlikely to be shared. FFS works well until the screen goes dark. Relying on electronics negates time on the water knowledge and experience. It’s certain more adjustments by tournament organizations and anglers will be coming as technology continues to advance and anglers acquire FFS skills. It’s only a matter of time until anglers will be targeting the same fish from hundreds of feet away. Fans will decide if they watch.

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

Potomac River Bassing in NOVEMBER

Cast moving baits on 10-pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line.

Squarebill crankbaits covering any grass remnant or hard cover is the best strategy Patterns vary from shad to red crawfish.

Half ounce lipless crankbaits either silver with

a blue or black back, red patterns, or chartreuse can be dragged around gravel banks or near grass remnants.

Spinnerbaits, ¼ ounce Colorado/Indiana gold blades and white skirts work well when contacting hard cover.

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.

the key ingredient? gratitude .

As I write this column, we are less than two weeks away from voting in the 2024 presidential election, a dear friend/neighbor is being relocated several states away, I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since Clinton was in office (no credit to him—it’s just been that long), my roots are betraying me yet again, and…then there are the holidays. Where will we spend Thanksgiving? Who’s gonna host? Who’s gonna cook? Should I make reservations? We should defi nitely have a reservation—we can always cancel. Should we go away? Will we be able to get a house sitter? Probably not. Defi nitely not. Should we invite your family? They’re not going to want to travel. What about my family? They already have plans. Friends? They probably already have plans. What about Christmas?

My current state of mind is that I can’t get my head around the holidays yet, but I know I need to. I just don’t want to think about turkeys and stuffing and pumpkin pies. Jiminy Christmas—I haven’t even had my fi rst pumpkin spiced latte yet, put on a pair of boots, or parked myself next to a fi re pit yet. Can we pump the brakes for a minute?

I say it every year, but the holidays feel like a rollercoaster careening down a wooden track. I’m white knuckling the side of the car, and I just want to get out before it hurls over the side. Personally speaking, I’m more of a log flume, winding river ride kinda gal so this doesn’t feel fun. At all.

I’d much prefer a slow roll into the holidays. Like, let us enjoy Halloween BEFORE the Christmas trees start popping up in the seasonal section of

Home Depot. I don’t want the inflatable grim reaper anywhere near Mrs. Claus which is frightening on so many levels. I don’t want the corncandystuffingeggnog holiday implosion. Let us savor these things individually.

But, I realize I may be a camp of one. Some people (aka freaks) feel the need to book their Thanksgiving plans in March and have their holiday fetes all tied up with a bow by mid-April. These super planners are extraordinary humans and my hat goes off to them. While I do plan certain aspects of my life, the holidays have typically been left to the last minute.

If I’m being honest, I’m jealous of those people— they know where they’ll be and whom they’ll be raising a glass with—they have traditions and rituals—places to go and people to see. Some of us are born procrastinators and/or flounder in a fog of indecision and inaction. Some don’t have family and/or friends close by and can’t travel for different reasons.

Some years the non-plans morph into a day of spontaneous fun spent with unexpected people in surprising places. Some years it feels meh. But every year no matter where I am or who I’m with, I try to bring one key ingredient to the holiday table—gratitude.

Gratitude has never disappointed—even the years (and there have been quite a few) when I’ve been feeling very bah humbuggish, gratitude has swooped in to salvage the day. While mashed potatoes may have played a supporting role, it was gratitude who was the constant that lifted me up

and reminded me that there is always something to be thankful for—even if it is just gratitude for the potatoes. And maybe the Chardonnay too.

Life is fast paced and can feel tumultuous and unsettling. Politics have become incredibly divisive even within our own families. You can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. Whether you’re crammed around a table overflowing with bickering family or alone in your apartment, you have access to gratitude. You have the ability to look around and feel grateful for something— the air you’re breathing, the color of the sky, the warmth of the sun on your face. May that warm your soul and remind you of the blessings you carry with you throughout Thanksgiving and all the holidays you celebrate.

This year I feel especially grateful for being safe and healthy. Hurricane Helene and Milton were reminders that everything can be swept away without warning. I’m also really grateful for all the good people who jump in, roll up their sleeves, and/or open up their wallets to help those in need. It warms my heart to see the good in the world when the news is often filled with the opposite— especially during the election cycle. Grateful to my pack--XXL, Dozer, Lucy & Josie. Happy Thanksgiving to all! XOXO

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

Ladies Day (and Night) Out at the MGM

It had been a while since I got to spend some time with a couple of my favorite gal pals so I invited my very sophisticated friend, Kathy, to accompany me one afternoon while I took advantage of the MGM Grand’s gracious invitation to take a guided tour of the Casino, spend some time in the beautiful spa and partake in dinner at one of the resorts fi ne eateries. Later in the month, I caught up with my slot machine loving friend, Nancy, for an evening that included a bit of gambling, a lot of people watching and some good eats.

Massages & Martini’s

Kathy picked me up in Old Town in her cool Audi convertible aka Chick Mobile and we headed across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the MGM Grand. We opted to self-park in the free lot and found a perfect spot close to the elevator doors on Parking Level 3. Walking through The District –food court and shops – into the Conservatory, we met Bernadette, our hostess for the afternoon and began our adventure. After securing our spa bags in our lockers in the spa, we went down to the ground floor and met the Vice President of Casino Operations, Alex Alvarado, at the Casino’s main entrance. Alex took us on an insiders sort of tour that proved to be very informative. While I have been in the casino several times over the years, I found that there is a lot more to it than I realized. I had totally forgotten that there is an outside area that has gaming machines. You can gamble al fresco – who knew? We were on a timeline since we had massages scheduled in the spa so…no time to test our luck at the tables or with a machine. When we entered the Spa we were given a very

warm welcome and after all needed paperwork was completed, we were given a tour of the facility by Katharine Craig the Spa Director. It defi nitely has a very serene and calming look and feel. Full disclosure, this wasn’t my fi rst tour of a spa but it was the fi rst time in my 71 years that I had any sort of treatment in one, let alone a massage. I know, I know. Most of you are probably thinking that’s nuts. For some unknown reason, the thought of being rubbed on by someone I don’t know just never appealed to me and I was actually a little unnerved. Well, I have really been missing out. That was my fi rst massage but defi nitely isn’t going to be my last. Kathy, however, isn’t a stranger to massage or a spa. Remember that I did say she is my sophisticated friend. We had the opportunity to add enhancements to our 55-minute massages. We both opted for the hot stones and I chose a collagen face massage – this was actually a warm sheet mask placed on my face that is supposed to pull out impurities and leave your face hydrated with a gold-infused serum. It defi nitely left my face feeling great. After our massages we relaxed with a glass of champagne in the women’s wet room where a spa/whirlpool is located.

After getting ourselves pulled together, we were escorted to Ginger – the Asian fusion restaurant in the hotel – where we enjoyed our post massage martinis and great meal. After dinner, we ventured to Voltaggio Brothers – another amazing fi ne dining establishment in the MGM – for an afterdinner beverage. It was an amazing afternoon and early evening.

Slots and Salsa

My excursion with my pal Nancy started out at one of her new favorite slot machines just outside the door of TAP Sports Bar inside the casino. When I walked up to her, she had a big grin on her face and the word WINNER was flashing on the screen. She plays a lot of slots and she was on a roll the night we were there. I played a few games of video poker and put $20 in one of the Buffalo themed slots (my favorite) but didn’t have the luck she had. We

grabbed a cocktail and she showed me a few of her other favorites and I watched as she hit the “spin” button. She has a system of sorts and obviously it was working that night.

In between our slot sessions, we got lucky and got two seats at the Bar at Diablo’s Cantina – another of the dining establishments on the property. It was fate that we got those seats. Diana Ross was playing in the Theater and there were lines at all of the eateries but since we didn’t need a table, we were ushered right in. Margaritas were on our agenda. We ordered the Classic Diablo – hers without salt and mine with salt and jalapenos. We both agreed that these margs are some of the best that either of us has ever had. In addition to the chips and salsa (Diablo’s version is exceptional and I am a salsa snob), we ordered the nachos ($13) with beef (add $12) to share. Spending $25 on nachos sounds kind of ridiculous but the plate was huge. We were both hungry but couldn’t fi nish it off between the two of us.

Since I was on deadline getting this column pulled together, I had to head back to Old Town early. I left Nancy to her own devices and she headed back into the casino to continue her winning streak. I won’t disclose her fi nal winnings total but it was 4 figures.

The Conservatory will be transforming into its holiday theme this month and I expect it will be as beautiful as it has been every year since they opened and there are some impressive acts coming to the Theater. I encourage you to make a play date with a friend and head to the MGM. It is truly an adult’s playground.