Old Town Crier December 2018 Full Issue

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Since 1988 • Priceless

December 2018

Road Trip

Business Profile

Dining Out

Grapevine

Across the River

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

SOCIETY FAIR

TEQUILA & TACO

NATIONAL HARBOR

Gourmet Emporium, Wine Bar & Cafe

Feliz Navidad With a Twist

HANDCRAFTED WINES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Old Town Alexandria

Christmas on the Potomac & More!

december’18 A Division of Crier Media Group OTC Media LLC PO Box 320386 Alexandria, VA 22320 703. 836. 0132

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office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com Published the first week of every month.

Worth waiting for!

PUBLISHER Bob Tagert MARKETING & ADVERTISING Lani Gering Bob Tagert SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE Ashley Schultz DESIGN & PRODUCTION Electronic Ink 9 Royal Street, SE Leesburg, VA 20175 703. 669. 5502 Peggie Arvidson Nancy Bauer Sarah Becker F. Lennox Campello Steve Chaconas Doug Fabbioli Nicole Flanagan Lani Gering Miriam Kramer Genevieve LeFranc Sarah Liu

CONTRIBUTORS Melinda Myers Ron Powers Kim Putens Julie Reardon Ashley Schultz Bob Tagert Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown Molly Winans

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

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

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

Open Space.....................................................................43

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

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

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

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

Fitness................................................................................40

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

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra 18-19 Season....11

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

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

From the Trainer............................................................41

Behind the Bar................................................................30

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

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

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

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

Grapevine.........................................................................36

Countdown to Christmas............................................. 5

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

Dining Guide...................................................................32

Masters of Cuisine.........................................................34

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

Dining Out.......................................................................28

National Harbor.............................................................46

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

Exploring Virginia Wines............................................37

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

Good Old Boys and their Coon Hounds................ 4

Publisher’s Notes.............................................................. 2 Road Trip...........................................................................24 Social Media Message....................................................2 Spiritual Renaissance...................................................44 The Last Word.................................................................... 9

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge

Since 1988 • Priceless

December 2018

Road Trip

Dining Out

Grapevine

Across the River

SOCIETY FAIR

TEQUILA & TACO Feliz Navidad With a Twist

HANDCRAFTED WINES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

NATIONAL HARBOR

Gourmet Emporium, Wine Bar & Cafe

Business Profile

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Old Town Alexandria

Christmas on the Potomac & More!

about the cover Holiday wreath adorning an Old Town Alexandria home Photographer: K.Summerer

on the road with OTC Ryan and Tracy Unverzagt treated their daughter, T. Adlee, to her first trip to Yellowstone Park in Wyoming this fall. Ryan is one of the OTC’s contributing writers and pens the From the Trainer column for us. They are pictured here at their stop at the famous Old Faithful geyser and at Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin with the OTC in hand. Unfortunately they weren’t able to get the photo taken during the eruption of Old Faithful.

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

Old Town Crier

December 2018 | 1

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

BOB TAGERT

Another year draws to a close. It doesn’t seem possible that we have been publishing this magazine for almost 31 years…seems like just yesterday we were pulling the first issue together in Dave Underwood’s dining room. Time flies when you’re having fun!

This issue is packed with lots of good stuff. As most of you know, each December our Road Trip brings us back home to Old Town Alexandria. Our city has changed rapidly over the last couple of years and appears to remain on this course – 2019 will be a banner year for the waterfront. Business Profile takes us inside Society Fair “where everything is devoted to food!” Dining Out highlights the fairly new Tequila & Taco in the Carlyle development. The Bay Section highlights Annmarie Gardens in Solomons, Maryland “Garden In Lights” display and the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade. Both events are a great treat for the whole family. Unfortunately the issue came out after all of the holiday happenings here in Old Town but I am hoping you enjoyed the Scottish Walk and our very own Lights Parade on the 1st. The Blue Ridge section highlights some of the areas favorite places for choosing and cutting your own Christmas tree. After our annual Thanksgiving stuffing, our fitness section has some tips on burning some of those calories and From the Trainer you can learn how exercise helps relieve holiday stress. Now that everything else is decorated, First Blush teaches you how to “Get Your Holiday Glow On!” Lori Welch has great advice for “giving” and receiving in Open Space. Guess you can tell from the photo accompanying these notes that ICE! is back in full swing at the Gaylord – check out the National Harbor section for the details. Lani thought the photo was pretty appropriate…..

Congratulations to our friend David Martin, owner of Gold Works USA, on receiving the Alexandria Veteran Owned Small Business Award. Gold Works has been an established part of Alexandria for as long as the Old Town Crier has been here. We are proud to have so many advertisers and friends still in business for the long haul.

I hope that each of you enjoy this month of celebration and remember to patronize those shops and restaurants that make this one of America’s great small towns. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all…bring on 2019!

SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE

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f any of you have been following my column the past two years, you would know that I am a pop culture junkie. Every year I write about going to AwesomeCon, a convention of comic books, movies, and all things pop culture. Well this past November we lost an iconic writer, editor, and publisher - Stan Lee. Stan Lee was responsible for such characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther and the Fantastic Four.

Even though this strays from my usual banter on social media trends and events, I feel like we should talk about how this man’s creations made him a real life superhero to comic book lovers everywhere.

Stan Lee was born December, 28th 1922 in Manhattan to Romanian born Jewish immigrant parents. Stan began his writing career by writing obituaries for a news service and press releases for the National Tuberculosis Center. Yet, with the help of his Uncle he was able to become an assistant in 1939 at Timely Comics. By the 1960’s Timely Comics would evolve into what we now know as Marvel Comics. Stan Lee described his 2 | December 2018

cap here please

ASHLEY SCHULTZ

duties as prosaic. “In those days the artists dipped the pen in ink, I had to make sure the inkwells were filled. I went down and got them their lunch, I did proofreading, I erased the pencils from the finished pages for them.” Eventually he made his comic book debut with the text filler “Captain America Foils the Traitor’s Revenge” in Captain America Comics #3. Later he moved on from just writing filler to developing his first superheroes, Destroyer, Jack Frost, and Father Time.

In 1942, Lee entered the United States Army and served as a member of the Signal Corps, repairing telegraph poles and other communications equipment.

He was later transferred to the Training Film Division, where he worked writing manuals, training films, slogans, and occasionally cartooning. His military classification, he says, was “playwright;” he added that only nine men in the U.S. Army

flawed humanity, a change from the usual superheroes that were typically written for preteens.

Lee introduced characters that could have bad tempers, fits of melancholy, and vanity; bickered amongst themselves, worried about paying bills and impressing girlfriends, got bored or were even sometimes physically ill. This led to the creation of the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, X-Men, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and eventually the team known as The Avengers.

With the success of these stories, Lee became a figurehead and public face for Marvel Comics. He made appearances at comic book conventions, lecturing at colleges and participating in panel discussions. He moved to California in 1981 to develop Marvel’s TV and movie properties, where he was executive producer and often made cameo appearances. In 2008, Lee received the National

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez (Getty Images)

Stan Lee: The Superhero of Superheroes! were given that title.

In the 1960’s Lee was assigned by Marvel Publisher, Martin Goodman to come up with a new superhero team in response to DC Comics, Justice League of America. At this time Lee was not happy with his job and was thinking of changing careers, so Lee’s wife suggested that he experiment with his stories and take risks since he was planning on changing careers and had nothing to lose. Lee acted on that advice and gave his superheroes a

Medal of the Arts from President George W. Bush.

The award was created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts.

After Stan Lee’s death, many people paid tribute to him.

Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger said, “Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created, a superhero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain and to connect. The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart.” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige also paid tribute, “No one had more of an impact on my career and everything we do at Marvel Studios than Stan Lee, Stan leaves an extraordinary legacy that will outlive us all.”

Gene Simmons of Kiss said, “His stories taught me that even superheroes like SpiderMan and the Incredible Hulk have ego deficiencies and girl problems and do not live in their macho fantasies 24 hours a day. Through the honesty of guys like Spider-Man, I learned about the shades of gray in human nature.”

SOCIAL MEDIA> PAGE 5

Alexandria DECEMBER TOURS, EXHIBITS, EVENTS

THROUGH THE 16TH “A Christmas Carol” Various times Admission: $20 The Little Theatre of Alexandria 600 Wolfe Street 703-683-0496 www.TheLittleTheatre.com The Little Theatre of Alexandria rings in the holiday season with a return of the classic by Charles Dickens. Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable, bitter old miser travels with ghostly guides through Christmas past, present and future to find the true meaning of the holidays.

Complete with special effects, Victorian carols, and Tiny Tim, “A Christmas Carol” is a must-see for the entire family.

THROUGH THE 23RD “Christmas at the Old Bull & Bush” Various times Admission: $55 MetroStage 1201 N. Royal Street 703-548-9044 www.MetroStage.org The Old Bull and Bush Public House is alive with British music hall songs and carols, corny jokes and funny sketches, tuneful melodies, sing-a-longs and sausage rolls! Celebrate the holidays with Florrie Forde, the most famous music hall star of the era, and her troupe of British performers.

Join Mount Vernon’s residents and visitors for a festive evening.

The experience begins in the Ford Orientation Center, where you can enjoy the sounds of the holiday season and view spectacular Christmas trees highlighting the lives of the Washington’s. Light concessions will be available for purchase. The evening will conclude with live music in the Education Center Lobby and an opportunity to visit the Education Center exhibits and The Shops.

December 8th, 15th & 22nd

Photos with Santa in Old Town Alexandria 12 pm to 3 pm Admission: Advance reservation required.

Hooray for Books!

1555 King Street 703-548-4092 www.Hooray4Books.com

Old Town Crier

Civil War Christmas in Camp

Hooray for Books! and Visit Alexandria are pleased to present photos with the region’s most beloved Santa and Mrs. Claus. Advance reservation is required. To reserve a 10-minute slot for your child to meet with Santa, make any size donation to the bookstore’s special Santa account, which will be used to provide books, toys and games for the Alexandria Domestic Violence Program’s Holiday Party. The photographer from local studio Tisara Photography has been invited to take pictures for you at these events.

Noon to 4 p.m.

Admission: $2 suggested donation per person; $5 per family Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site 4301 W. Braddock Road 703-746-4848 www.AlexandriaVA.gov/FortWard

DECEMBER 2ND, 7TH-9TH, 14TH-16TH

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours

Del Ray Artisans’ 23rd Annual Holiday Market Fridays, from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Free to browse Del Ray Artisans 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-838-4827 www.DelRayArtisans.org Del Ray Artisans’ Annual Holiday Market offers unique handmade fine arts and crafts from local artists, including pottery/ceramics, photography, jewelry, fiber, paper crafts and glass. Different artists will be featured each weekend.

DECEMBER 6TH Shops of Del Ray’s Ladies’ Night Out

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Admission: Free Throughout Mount Vernon Avenue DECEMBER 1ST, 7TH, 703-683-2570 8TH, & 16TH www.VisitDelRay.com Mount Vernon by Candlelight Shop local and enjoy special Various times Admission: $25 for adults (ages 12 and promotions while sipping Virginia wine. up); $17 for youth (ages 6-11) George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy. 703-780-2000 www.MountVernon.org/CandleLight

Have you ever wanted to celebrate Kwanzaa, but are not sure how to begin? Join the staff of the Alexandria Black History Museum and Marilyn Patterson, CEO of Joyous Events, for an informative morning that includes the history of Kwanzaa, and hints on easy to make crafts, games, gifts, recipes and holiday decorating.

DECEMBER 7TH & 8TH Believe: Our Holiday Pops Concert 7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. on Saturday Admission: $25 premium reserved seating; $20 general admission; $15 groups of 10+, free children 5 and under Convergence 1801 N. Quaker Lane www.AlexandriaSingers.com Join the Alexandria Singers for its annual holiday pops concert weekend as they weave pop and jazz arrangements of traditional holiday classics with new tunes that will instantly become your holiday favorites.

DECEMBER 8TH How to Celebrate Kwanzaa Workshop 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Admission: $2 Alexandria Black History Museum 902 Wythe Street 703-746-4356 AlexandriaVA.gov/BlackHistory

Learn about Christmas traditions during the Civil War. Program features a patriotic Union Santa Claus, soldiers and civilians celebrating the holiday in winter camps, the decorated Officers’ Hut, a Victorian tree, fort tours and kids’ activities.

4 to 9 p.m.

Admission: $25 adults; $20 seniors (65 years and older) and active military; $5 children (ages 6-17) Gadsby’s Tavern Museum 134 N. Royal Street Carlyle House 121 N. Fairfax Street Lee-Fendall House 614 Oronoco Street 703-746-4242 Shop.AlexandriaVA.gov Travel through centuries of local history as you learn more about Alexandria during the holiday season at Carlyle House, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and the Lee-Fendall House. Enjoy each site by candlelight, smell seasonal greenery, sip on drinks and taste period inspired food. Seasonal libations will be available for purchase.

Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl 4 p.m.

Admission: $10 for advanced tickets; $15 at the door Throughout Mount Vernon Avenue 703-683-2570 www.VisitDelRay.com Take a break from the bustle of holiday preparations and enjoy specialty cocktails, beer and food specials at select Del Ray restaurants during a neighborhood bar crawl to benefit local nonprofits.

DECEMBER 14TH & 15TH

FOR HOLIDAY FUN & ALL THINGS FESTIVE: 1. Check out VisitAlexandriaVA.com/Holidays 2. Stay tuned to the Extra Alex blog at Blog.VisitAlexandriaVA.com 3. Sign up for the Alexandria Insider monthly e-newsletter at VisitAlexandriaVA.com/eNews

Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon 5:30 to 8:45 p.m.

Admission: $35 adult/$25 youth with mansion tour; $30 adult/$20 youth without mansion tour George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy. 703-780-2000 www.MountVernon.org/Illuminations

#ALXHolidays

Join Mount Vernon for an evening of family-friendly fun and fireworks choreographed to holiday music. Before the fireworks begin around 8:30 p.m., take a stroll through the estate while

VisitAlexandriaVA.com

ALEXANDRIA CALENDAR > PAGE 7

December 2018 | 3

You’re in the country now with the

“Good Old Boys and their Coon Hounds.”

S

outhern Heritage Coon Hunting Association kicks off its fall season in November and continues through the fall. While most hunters go after deer, turkey and other wild creatures, there are a select dedicated few who hunt the raccoon. It is more of a competition hunt and the winner is declared on a point system. The hunt is as much a social event as a competition and we were invited to Chaptico Wharf Farm for the kick-off hunt that begins their season.

Coon hunting is part of a way of life in the South and it all started in Southern Maryland. Robert Brooke brought his pack of fox hunting hounds to Maryland in 1659 and he was designated as America’s first Master of Fox Hounds. He hunted from De La Brooke Manor in St. Mary’s County along the Wicomico River in southern Maryland. The original pack of hounds produced the vast

4 | December 2018

majority of hunting hounds in America including the Coon Hound. Among the most popular Coon Hounds are the Black & Tan, Blue Tick, Red Bone, Tree Walker, and the American English Coon Hound.

The hunt we attended is one of the First Fall Coon Hunting Maryland events at Chaptico Wharf Farm on the Wicomico River - less than 10 miles from Robert Brooke’s De La Brooke Manor. There are ten farms that are connected under agriculture preserve easements consisting of 2,500 acres where they Coon Hunt and Fox Hunt each year.

As you arrive you are treated to steamed and raw oysters from the Wicomico River served along with hamburgers and hot dogs.

Mike, the bartender and the Chaptico Wharf farm manager, serves up various refreshments from a copper topped bar.

At 4:30 pm the Bench Show starts, and the Coon

hunters present their hounds to the judges who award top prizes to the King and Queen of the show. The Westminster Dog Show has nothing on these guys! There are sponsors for the event as well as the entire season.

Southern States Cooperative is a much-appreciated sponsor and donates dog food to the hunters. “We buy as much as we can from them,” one hunter says, “All our beans, corn fertilizer, horse feed and dog food, all at the best prices.”

The Chaptico Wharf Farm has a large meeting room/ kitchen with a wood burning stove and fireplace. On this cold November afternoon, the cook stove kept the room nice and toasty. The blessing of the food, hounds and hunters is done here. At 6:00 pm the United Kennel Club Coon Hunting rules are reviewed and hunting teams are sent out to four surrounding counties.

Hunters have two hours to hunt where points are given for treeing a raccoon, first

bark of the hound and viewing the raccoon in the tree. If the Coon Hound trees a fox, possum or skunk there are points subtracted from the total score. All teams must be back at the farm by midnight.

If you arrive at 12:01 you are disqualified!

The scores from the various hunters are totaled and the award for Best Overall Hunter is presented along with second, third and fourth place. Chili is served to all and hunting clothes are dried in front of the fire. The hounds have tracking devices to help retrieve them. The hunters have coon calls and spectators and hunters have high powered lights on their hats to spot the coons in the trees. It is a wet, cold night and there are still a lot of leaves on the trees and make it difficult to spot some of the raccoons, but it is not hard to see the pride and joy of these “Good Old Boys” and their hounds and their hunting families.

Countdown to Christmas God Bless Us All Anyway!

The Compulsive Organizers • Start shopping at January sales, including Christmas cards, and finish all shopping by July.

• Buy relatives and friends lovely gifts on sale at fancy boutiques.

• Mail all packages the day after Thanksgiving.

The Rest of Us

• Buy two presents in July sales giving false sense of accomplishment and forget by December where we hid them.

Start shopping December 20th.

• Save boxes from fancy boutiques for last minute buys at discount drug stores.

• Arrange a December Saturday outing for niece for lunch and visit to Santa Claus.

• Take packages to P.O. on December 22nd arriving the same time 25 grade schoolers are buying stamps (one each) for their letters to Santa Claus.

• Make gift decoupage boxes in August. Start baking in October, freezing cookies in neat little plastic bags.

• Call niece day after Christmas and promise lunch and visit to the Easter Bunny.

• Arrange schedule and tasks to allow time for attending inspiring Christmas concerts.

• Spend cozy fall evenings addressing sale cards purchased in January and mail by Thanksgiving.

• Stay up until 3 a.m. December 22nd baking brownies and sprinkling year old “sparkly things” on them. Or, buy supermarket cookies and pay through the nose for tacky holiday tins so people think you baked them.

• Stick to resolution, “I will not drink alcoholic beverages at holiday parties this year.

• Listen to 2000 airings of “Rudolph” while being trampled by other last minute shoppers at the mall.

• Decorate their homes with gorgeous ornaments (on sale) and arrangements they made from Martha Stewart instructions.

• Get our non-sale Christmas cards we didn’t finish last year – manage to address a few by December 26th and send the same card to the same people we did last year.

• Carefully arrange time for family and friends and feel THEY know the right way to celebrate Christmas.

• Wake up on the morning after an important holiday party wearing someone else’s green satin shoes and a Santa Claus suit.

• Cut all the ghastly Christmas letters we have received into strips to make paper chains for the fake tree we never took apart and kept in basement all year.

• Drop everything and make time for friends and family and feel WE know the right way to celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Old Town Crier

SOCIAL MEDIA | FROM PAGE 2

In one of Stan Lee’s messages to fans, he truly shows his character; he left us with words that America truly needs.

“Hi, heroes. This is Stanley coming at you, want you to know Marvel has always been and always will be a reflection of the world right outside our window. That the world may change and evolve but the one thing that will never change is the way we tell our stories of heroism, those stories have room for everyone regardless of their race, gender, religion or color of their skin. The only things we don’t have room for are hatred, intolerance, and bigotry. That man next to you, he’s your brother, that woman over there, she’s your sister and that kid walking by, hey, who knows he may have the proportionate strength of a spider. We’re all part of one big family together in the body of Marvel and you, you’re part of that family; you’re part of the Marvel Universe that moves ever upward and onward to greater glory. In, other words, Excelsior.”

Stan Lee created a Universe that allowed us to escape, yet be where we can relate, cry, fist pump, and laugh at. His legacy will live on, and as he would say, EXCELSIOR! EVER UPWARD!

December 2018 | 5

BUSINESS PROFILE

BOB TAGERT

SOCIETY FAIR 277 S. WASHINGTON ST, OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703-683-3247

Inset: Dan & Nadine Brown, Proprietors

W

e are all such creatures of habit that sometimes we miss what is right under our nose and I am no exception. I live and work a block and a half from Society Fair but never take the time to take the five minute walk there. This month I forced myself to make the trek to really check out the store and to talk with owners Dan and Nadine Brown. Both of these hard-working individuals are a delight to talk with. It was easy to see that Dan was preoccupied with the days business responsibilities while Nadine was very upbeat and laughs easily. She is a delight.

I remembered when renowned chef Cahall Armstrong and is wife Michelle opened Society Fair six years ago. I went then to check it out but never really went back. Now I know what I was missing. Society Fair is four businesses under one roof. It truly is “A boutique emporium delight, where everything we do is Devoted to Food” as their website states. As you walk in the front door, the market, the butcher and deli/ lunch counter is straight back with the massive bakery area in the far back of the store.

There are high tops and low tops for seating in this area as well. The restaurant and bar sit off to the left with the wine room on the right. At first it is a bit overwhelming with how 6 | December 2018

Society Fair

The Butcher, the Baker and Not Quite the Candlestick Maker! many items they have, but after a few minutes of looking around and asking questions you begin to understand that all of this is done for you.

They make your Friday nights easy with a complete dinner for two, dessert & wine included for only $49. This is a nice surprise for Friday night dinner at home. If you want to create your own culinary delight you can shop their market for everything that you need. From the creators of Restaurant Eve, they follow the same values of quality and sustainability. The Market is a welcoming place for Alexandrians or others passing by to find and enjoy some of the best specialty food products in the area.

They strive to stock products ranging from their handcrafted cheeses, homemade prepared foods and hard-tofind grocery items to house made sweets of all kinds. They

believe in wholesome food and mean to share delicious recipes to the community from breakfast sandwiches to their home entertaining and catering menus. Everything they produce in house is from scratch with the exception of the cranberry juice. Nadine said she had to draw the line at “squeezing” cranberries for the Cosmopolitan’s they serve at the bar. They have assembled a team of individuals eager to share their passion with their customers and to bring the work of talented local and international producer of cheeses, meats, dairy, jams, honey, oils and more to the Market. As Dan said, “We are literally the Butcher, the Baker,

Everyone but the Candlestick Maker!”

The market opens early so you can grab one of their delicious breakfast sandwiches to go or enjoy it on premise with your morning coffee. Lunch can also be on the go or eat in with made to order gourmet sandwiches.

Some of their featured products are their pork and mustard green sausage. The sausage is a self-contained meal that needs little more than a hot cast-iron skillet, a bun, and a smear of mustard. For your evening cocktail at home be sure to pick up Thrasher’s Artisan Cocktail Mix. Beyond the walk in, climatecontrolled wine cellar, is the restaurant or The Bistro.

“Where French parlor meets Vaudeville” the Bistro is stylish, whimsical and offers the luxury of a display kitchen where many of their hand-crafted libations and gourmet delights

are created. The menu reflects the season with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients with their food being both delicious and comforting. Their wine and cheese list are curated by both their knowledgeable chef, sommelier and fromagier.

Their charcuterie, pates, sausages, pasta and bread are all house made and available in the market. Their wine inventory is excellent with very good pricing. We will save the Bistro for a dining out article but suffice it to say that the menu is very comprehensive and reasonably priced. Society Fair also offers fresh-made pizza in the Bistro or for pickup.

The bakery at the back of the store almost doubles the space up front. Everything in the Market and Bistro is made fresh daily in the bakery.

They also make pastries and cakes for their customers and can be special ordered. The bakery starts heating up about 4 am to make the daily bread for Society Fair and their wholesale customers.

The next time you are thinking of a place for lunch, dinner or brunch or to pick up a fresh cut of meat and fresh baked bread for dinner at home or need a gourmet side dish, bottle of wine or a pastry or fresh eggs, milk and juices or…and the list goes on….stop in to Society Fair at 277 South Washington Street in Old Town. I will certainly go back!

CALENDAR | FROM PAGE 3

being serenaded by local choirs, visit with re-enactors from the First Virginia Regiment, and learn 18th-century dance moves from costumed guides in the Greenhouse. The Museum and Education Center will also be open from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

DECEMBER 14TH Alexandria After-Work Concert Series 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Admission: Free The Lyceum: Alexandria’s History Museum 201 S. Washington Street Shop.AlexandriaVA.gov Co-sponsored by the Office of Historic Alexandria and the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, join us for monthly Friday-night concerts on the second Friday of the month. The December program features Jim and Anna Holloway providing an illustrated lecture on Christmas traditions reflected in songs. The program will feature live music, the stories behind the songs and chances to sing-along. Free concert; donations will benefit the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum and the Folklore Society of Greater Washington.

No ticket required, just show up and enjoy the music! Beer and wine for sale and light refreshments available.

DECEMBER 15TH A Victorian Christmas 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Admission: $10; free to members Lee-Fendall House 614 Oronoco Street 703-548-1789 www.LeeFendallHouse.org Experience a Victorian Christmas at the Lee-Fendall House. The house will be beautifully decorated for the season and there will be holiday crafts, photographs with Santa, seasonal treats, story time, an antique toy exhibit and more!

Portside Holidays: Storytime with Santa 3 to 4 p.m.

Admission: Free Alexandria Waterfront Marina at the foot of Cameron Street near the Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street 703-746-3301 PortsideInOldTown.com Join the region’s most beloved Santa and Mrs. Claus for a special story time that includes a reading of holiday stories like “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Take part in the Penny Post pop-up where you can write a letter to Santa that he will take back with him to the North Pole, enjoy a pop-up s’mores bar from The Capital Candy Jar, and warm up with a cup of hot cocoa from Dolci Gelati’s hot chocolate bar. Storytime with Santa is part of Portside in Old Town, Alexandria’s new waterfront programming series that offers free-to-the-public themed happenings in history, art, music and

fitness with activities for families and for adults, plus additional pop-up experiences and events.

DECEMBER 16TH Colonial Handbell Ringers Concert 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Admission: Free The Lyceum: Alexandria’s History Museum 201 S. Washington Street 703-746-4994 www.ColonialRingers.com The Colonial English Handbell Ringers perform clad in colonial attire, bringing a 5-octave set of nearly 80 handbells from the world-famous Whitechapel foundry in London. The ringers will perform children’s classics, timeless holiday tunes and original showstoppers. Audience participation in the sing-a-long encouraged.

DECEMBER 24TH Waterskiing Santa 1 p.m.

Admission: Free Alexandria’s Waterfront from the Alexandria City Marina and Waterfront Park www.WaterskiingSanta.com Now in its 33rd year, this favorite D.C.area Christmas Eve event returns to Old Town Alexandria. Gather along historic Alexandria’s Potomac River waterfront for a spectacular show by Waterskiing Santa and his merry crew. The prime viewing area is the Alexandria City Marina and Waterfront Park. Come early to see the pre-show (on jet skis) and stay afterwards to meet Santa, Mrs. Claus and their merry crew by the Christmas Tree.

including the 10th Annual First Night Alexandria Fun Hunt Performances: 7 p.m.-midnight at warm indoor venues throughout Alexandria Midnight fireworks: Potomac River at the foot of King Street www.FirstNightAlexandria.com This annual New Year’s Eve music festival and more takes over Old Town Alexandria with more than 150 performances at 25 warm indoor venues. Come enjoy the Earth Wind & Fire Tribute Band, Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun Band, Vaughan Ambrose Trio, Magician Mike Rose, R&R DJs and many more entertainers while dancing into the New Year with DJ Ray Casiano.

The afternoon’s 10th Annual First Night Alexandria Fun Hunt is a fun way to explore Old Town and take a chance on winning great prizes. From 6 to 9 p.m., families with children 12 years old and younger can enjoy the “Kids Karnival” at Charles Houston (Old Town), William Ramsay (West End) and Mount Vernon (Del Ray) Recreation Centers. There will be face painting, balloons, special hosts in costumes along with carnival styled games, dancing and fun. Join us for dancing on King Street near the waterfront beginning at 10 p.m. This safe, family-friendly and fun-filled day culminates with a spectacular First Night fireworks finale over the Potomac River at midnight.

Shop Early.

Ship Early.

Old Town Pack & Ship Service, Inc. • In-house packing • Wooden crates for delicate items • Small and large items • Shipment anywhere using UPS, FedEx and others • Free pickup service in Old Town Alexandria

Find more holiday events at www. visitalexandriava.com/holidays.

822 King Street Old Town Alexandria 703.549.7167 [fax] 703.549.7168 www.vatopservices.com

DECEMBER 31ST Ship Biscuit Ornament Making During First Night Alexandria 2 to 5p.m.

Admission: Free Alexandria Archaeology Museum Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street #327 703-746-4399 www.AlexandriaArchaeology.org An almost completely intact ship’s biscuit from the 18th century was found last year in Alexandria. To commemorate the discovery, visitors are invited to make their own ship’s biscuit. Each biscuit will be stamped with the year and then baked at home to track its preservation. No registration required. While supplies last.

First Night Alexandria 2 p.m. to midnight Admission: $30 - December 1-30 $35 on December 31st Afternoon activities: 2-5 p.m.

WASHINGTONIAN’S TOP 100

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by Open Table as one of the

Southern Restaurants in America!

SPECTACULAR SEAFOOD • CREOLE & CAJUN SPECIALTIES Alexandria’s Renowned Neighborhood Restaurant & Bar Open daily for lunch and dinner and dinner on Sundays

3804 Mt. Vernon Avenue • Alexandria 703-684-6010 • rtsrestaurant.net Old Town Crier

December 2018 | 7

FINANCIAL FOCUS

CARL TREVISAN, CFP© & STEPHEN BEARCE

Are You Prepared to Handle a Personal Financial Crisis?

• Do I have an emergency fund?

I

ndividuals who are married or in a committed relationship face the possibility they’ll end up managing finances alone at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, the first time many experience handling complicated financial matters alone is during a personal crisis following the divorce or death of a spouse or partner.

We’ve prepared a list of thought-provoking questions pertaining to financial fitness and crisis preparedness. You can use these as a starting point to check how prepared you are to handle a personal financial crisis in your life.

Begin by reviewing the questions, and then determine 8 | December 2018

what you’ve already done and check those items off the list.

For the questions you need to address or take action on, seek the advice of your professional advisors and trusted family members.

Asset management • Do I have a clear picture of where my assets are located?

• Will my retirement assets provide a comfortable retirement for my life expectancy?

• Do I have a well-diversified portfolio?

• Am I taking advantage of techniques to reduce my taxes?

Estate planning

Insurance • Do I have enough insurance coverage to cover medical expenses?

• To provide for disability/ long-term care?

• Do I have a will?

• To provide for family members’ security?

• Is my will current?

• To fund estate-tax liability?

• Have I determined what my family may owe in estate taxes?

In addition …

• Have I funded my estate-tax liability?

• Have I explored and taken advantage of wealthtransfer techniques?

• Do I wish to provide for charitable giving?

• Are my power of attorney and my living will up to date?

• Are my investments appropriate in today’s economy?

Debt management

• Are my assets titled properly?

• Could I get a loan if I applied?

• Do I know my credit score?

• Have I coordinated my advisors’ (financial, attorney, CPA, banker) activities?

• What changes in my life are likely to occur within the next three years?

• Do I know the status of my parents’ and children’s financial situations and the implications for my financial well-being?

• Would I be prepared for a family emergency if it happened tomorrow?

Learn how to handle debt

and find the balance between debt and investing at https:// www.wellsfargoadvisors. com/planning/goals/gettingstarted.htm.

Our firm does not provide legal or tax advice.

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

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2018 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved

THE LAST WORD

MIRIAM R. KRAMER

THE GIFT O F

Education

A

s December rolls in we are looking forward to a joyful holiday season in Old Town.

Readers greedy for a local in-person browse have a special reason to celebrate with a much-needed new pop-up bookshop: Old Town Books. The store opened on Small Business Saturday, November 24, at 104 S. Union Street, across the alley from the old Olsson’s Books & Records location currently occupied by Virtue Feed & Grain. Below are a fiction and a nonfiction selection to get you started on your literary holiday shopping there.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is the absorbing tale of Kya Clark, a reclusive young woman who grows up isolated in the marshes outside the small coastal community of Barkley Cove, North Carolina. Her mother, siblings, and alcoholic father leave their family shack out in the wetlands one by one.

Old Town Crier

The lonely Kya must find a way to survive and eke out a living as she matures.

Scorned by the nearby town as ignorant trash and called the Marsh Girl, self-sufficient Kya makes a living off the wetlands, learning about the water and wildlife that surround her.

She begins to see through a more academic lens by teaching herself to read and

study with the help of Tate Walker, a shrimper’s son. Tate appreciates her talent as an artist who paints flora and fauna, bringing her books to enrich her understanding of nature. In 1969, when accused of murdering the handsome lothario Chase Andrews from Barkley Cove, she and the town must finally come to terms with one another.

I found Where the Crawdads Sing both airy and profound, light as a sea breeze rustling through piney woods.

The novel is a whodunit set in the South, a natural history, and a poignant love story between Kya and her wetland world that enfolds both Tate and Chase in its mysteries. If you seek lovely, evocative writing about nature, look no further.

Late this past winter Tara Westover released Educated, a memoir detailing how she found a way to get an education after a life without formal schooling in a fundamentalist, survivalist Mormon family in Idaho. She and her brothers and sisters grew up helping her father to scrap old cars from a large junkyard and her midwife mother to create homeopathic and herbal remedies.

Her paranoid and mentally ill father wanted his family completely independent of any ties with the government.

In the process her parents failed to allow her or other siblings to attend school or voluntarily visit the hospital for ailments. Tara’s family clung together under a shroud of secrecy, attending church with neighbors but otherwise keeping their distance from anything conceivably connected with the establishment.

Her only home was the one she had known forever, her family’s sprawling, isolated acres at the base of Buck’s Peak. Her family built up a cache of weapons, buried jugs of gasoline, and preserved peaches in an effort to defend themselves from the Feds and the Days THE LAST WORD > PAGE 15

December 2018 | 9

HIGH NOTES RON POWERS

Linda Tourje

I

Bah Humbug

enjoy the holidays. There’s the nippy weather, or the snow depending on your location, hot cocoa and fireplaces, excited kids running around, Santa, charity, family and good food. There’s a lot to enjoy about the holidays and it’s considered one of the cheeriest times of the year.

There’s also the holiday music. We all have that friend who hates holiday music or you yourself may tire of hearing “Jingle Bells” or “A Merry Little Christmas” ten times a day.

Perhaps you have even worked in a company, store or office where holiday music is played every day from the Friday after Thanksgiving until Christmas – a month of listening to the same songs on repeat over and over. No matter how much you like the holidays, which I do, you are bound to get irritated after a while.

There’s also another aspect of it. Every song about the holidays and the spreading of good wishes and cheer is not always accurate and doesn’t resonate with every listener. I know for certain that I am not smiling and full of cheer every minute of every day for the month of “the holidays”.

With Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or however you celebrate your winter holidays, there is also a downside. There are the extra costs, the stress of gift shopping, family drama, the added pounds, not having a significant other, loneliness and many other problems which the holidays magnify.

10 | December 2018

I always have thought that the negative aspects of the holidays also need to be taken into consideration, at least somewhat, as it’s the dichotomies that life is defined by. It’s the lows that make the highs high, you know? That’s why I am always looking for a variety of music filled with ups and downs even on the holidays.

I was lucky as a friend had me listen to Linda Tourje’s, Bah Humbug, I instantly turned up the volume and listened to it not once, but three times. Bah Humbug is a new Christmas song, which alone is a reason to listen to it, and it’s catchy and easy to sing along to.

And, perhaps, most importantly, it’s real. It’s upbeat and has a bright composition which is in contrast to the lyrics which tell of a woman who is fed up with Christmas and just wants to leave town. The lyrics go over the negative aspects of the holidays including being cold, the repetitive boredom, the crowds in the mall, the pressure of getting gifts, money being tight, getting the annual flu and just feeling very “bah humbug” about it all and leaving town.

The song was punchy and honest, and I enjoyed it very much. If you didn’t listen to the lyrics, it would easily disguise itself as a song of holiday cheer, but listening closely, you can relate. The combination of the music and lyrics melds perfectly to make a fun and meaningful song to add to your holiday playlist this season.

Learn more about Linda Tourje at LindaTourjeMusic.com.

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Upcoming Concerts MOZART’S PRAGUE SYMPHONY

RACHMANIONOFF’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3

Saturday, February 9th at 8:00 p.m.

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall

James Ross, Music Director; Marianna Prjevalskaya, pianist REZNICEK: Overture to Donna Diana SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 “Spring”

Sunday, February 10th at 3:00 p.m.

George Washington Masonic Memorial James Ross, Music Director PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 1 “Classical” J.S. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 STRAVINSKY: Concerto in E-flat major “Dumbarton Oaks” MOZART: Symphony No. 38 “Prague”

RACHMANINOFF: PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 Saturday, April 6th at 8:00 p.m.

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall Sunday, April 7th at 3:00 p.m.

George Washington Masonic MemoriaL

Tickets: $20-$80 for adults. Student tickets $10 (with ID). Youth tickets $5 (age 18 & under). Military, senior and group discounts available. Purchase online at www.alexsym.org or call 703-5480885.

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

For soloists’ biographies, please visit: http://www.alexsym. org/about/musicians/

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

Old Town Crier

The Fish Market 703.836.5676 105 King St. fishmarketoldtown.com La Portas 703.683.6313 1600 Duke St. Las Tapas 703.836.4000 710-714 King St. lastapas.us The Light Horse 703.549.0533 715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com Murphys Irish Pub 703.548.1717 713 King St. murphyspub.com

O’Connell’s 703.739.1124 112 King St. Rock It Grill 703.739.2274 1319 King St. Shooter McGees 703.751.9266 5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com Southside 815 703.836.6222 815 S. Washington St. St. Elmos 703.739.9268 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave. Taverna Cretekou 703.548.8688 818 King St.

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

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

December 2018 | 11

GALLERY BEAT

F. LENNOX CAMPELLO

Anderson admiring the 3D works of Aliguori

I

n the last issue, I offered my thoughts and predictions on the Superfine! DC art fair which by now has come and gone to the District’s historical Union Market. I visited the fair, and spent a few hours enjoying the “artmosphere” (new word that I invented decades ago) that any major art fair brings to any city, and I have some new thoughts and facts to share.

Bottom line: Superfine! art fair management announced that they’ll return next year -

that by itself is a major success in view of the DMV’s past attempts to entertain and host a major fine arts fair such as the ones that routinely take place in many other world capitals as well as in Miami each December for the art world’s big dance. This is excellent news for the capital region’s art scene!

Upon entering the fair spaces, and as a veteran of nearly 100 art fairs all over the nation and overseas, I immediately noticed two things: (a) Zenith Gallery -

Urban Companions - D. Stuelpnagel 12 | December 2018

Super Fine!

which had my work at this fair - had the primo spot by the entrance, and (b) this fair’s display booths were superbly well designed and spaced, and unlike any other art fair that I’ve ever seen! That’s a good thing.

Why do I say that? Because every other fair on this planet has one mission in mind when designing their floor plan: maximize the number of booths, because the more booths that you can squeeze into a floor, the bigger the profit that the fair organizer

stands to make. Kudos to Superfine! DC management for their booth arrangement.

Another important thing separates this fair from your typical New York or Miami art fairs: Artists can have individual booths. This is both a positive (especially in the DC art market) and a negative impact... but that’s a story for another column.

Before I visited the fair, I went online to preview it, and I was very impressed by DMV artist Martin Swift’s chiaroscuro portraits and

how good they looked online - they presented even better when closely examined!

Swift’s works were displayed with Monochrome Collective and are a delight to the eyes.

That’s one of his portraits illustrating this article - Note the enviable agility with the brush and the mastery of the paint application! This artist is really good.

We visited several DMV gallerists, admiring the works

by Gregory Ferrand and Jessica Drenk at Adah Rose GALLERY BEAT > PAGE 13

Anomaly Squarely Over Brazil - D. Stuelpnagel

GALLERY BEAT | FROM PAGE 12

Gallery. This art dealer is one of the hardest working gallerists in the area and her booth looked superb! Drenk’s work was one of my son’s early favorites for best in show.

In the past I’ve grumbled via this column about the peculiar issue of how DC area museum curators ignore artists in our area – Once, while talking about art, artists, and museums in our area on the Kojo Nmandi show on NPR, I noted (as an example) that a “Hirshhorn Museum curator would rather take a cab to Dulles to fly to Berlin to visit the studio of an emerging Berlin artist, than take a cab to Bethesda, or Adams Morgan, or Alexandria to visit an emerging DC area artist.”

That explains how an impressive artist like Scott Hutchison can remain largely ignored by museum curators in this area - mostly because DMV museums think of themselves as “national” museums, rather than regional or local. In person at this fair, Hutchison’s new series of works were even more impressive.

Another artist that I “discovered” at this fair was Baltimore artist Daniel Stuelpnagel. His elegant geometric work hides the extraordinary amount of compositional planning and work that it takes to deliver these intelligent pieces.

I also spent some time chatting with the hardworking art dealer Gabriela Rosso of Potomac’s RoFa Projects - I was astounded to find that

this is Rosso’s 9th fair this year! All over the globe, by the way, not just the US. This is a lesson to art galleries everywhere.

RoFa’s booth was full of impressive work, the output of this gallerist’s focus on Latin American artists (mostly). I was taken by the photographs of Jesús Chacón; they’re minimalist works with large areas of white, which focus the eye on the subject at hand.

When I had done my earlier online preview, I had thought that the work of Gaithersburg artist Hannah Sarfraz was fabric-based, and essentially fabric design or painting on fabric... but they were in fact really well executed, hyper realistic water media paintings! Another great find at the fair.

Sometimes a young set of eyes are the best critics, and halfway through our walk, my son Anderson made a straight line for Rogelio Maxwell’s booth and was fascinated by his works and received a really nice reception and explanation of Maxwell’s talented handling of color.

From there we found my way to the refined works of Wayson R. Jones, whose technique and presentation just keeps getting better and sharper! This is a key DMV artist deserving of more attention by the curatorial cabal of our area.

Another artist who caught the eye of the youngest Campello art critic was Dennis Crayon, who was gracious enough to spend a lot of time discussing his techniques with an admiring 9-year-old fan!

But no artist fascinated this young mind more that the Ft. Lauderdale artist known as Aliguori. His fascination was in large part driven by the 3D effect delivered by this painter’s focused genre of monochromatic works that tickle the eye’s ability to separate depths based on color warmth and position.

The fact that the very nice artist was also kind enough to spend a lot of time discussing his art and technique with a young admirer is also a great lesson in art fair niceness and etiquette!

By now we had spent a few hours at the fair, and towards the end I discovered the booth of New York’s Lori Cuisinier, whose Ariadne series of works were not only elegantly hung in the minimalist style preferred by the art fair management set - not only did she have the best hung booth at the fair - but was also the singularly sexiest booth in the entire fair and stood out in prudish Washington.

My overall impression of the fair was very positive, and I applaud the decision to return next year. This is a kick in the creative tuchis of the DMV, and it helps the capital’s artistic juices in not only a seminal way, but also in one that helps our art foot print in multiple ways.

ART&ANTIQUES ANTIQUES

GALLERIES Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street

Spurgeon-Lewis Antiques 112 N. Columbus Street

Principle Gallery 208 King Street

BW Art, Antiques & Collectibles 108 N. Fayette Street

Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery 105 N. Union Street

Imperfections Antiques 1210 King Street

St. George Gallery 105 N. Alfred Street

The Antique Guild 113 N. Fairfax Street

The Art League 105 Union Street

Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street

Local Colour Old Town 218 N. Lee Street

Red Barn Mercantile 1117 King Street

Icon Galleria 101 N. Union Street

Washington Square Antiques 425 S. Washington Street

B&B Art Gallery 215 King Street

Susquehanna Antique Co. 608 Cameron Street

Gallery West 1213 King Street

Old Town Antiques 222 S. Washington Street

Enamelist’s Gallery 105 N. Union Street

Verdigris Vintage 1215 King Street

Printmakers, Inc. 105 N. Union Street

Cavalier Antiques 400 Prince Street

Kelly’s Art & Frame 510 N. Washington Street

Sumpter Priddy III 323 S. Washington Street

Oerth Gallery 420 S. Washington Street

Henry Street Antiques 115 S. Henry Street

Jeffrey Winter Fine Arts 110A S. Columbus Street

Curzon Hill Antiques 108 S. Columbus Street

Johnston Matthew 105 N. Union Street

The Hour 1015 King Street

Huddy Studio 105 N. Union Street

A Galerie 315 Cameron Street

Mezzanine Multiples 105 N. Union Street

Random Harvest 810 King Street

Silverman Galleries 110 N. St. Asaph Street

Acme Mid-Century + Modern 128 S. Royal Street

Cochran David 105 N. Union Street

Van Bommel Antiek Hous 1007 King Street

Betty Grisham Studio 105 N. Union Street

Lloyd’s Row 119 S. Henry Street

Imagine Artwear 112 King Street

Version 1

Version 2

Recently found vintage 1997 stone lithographs!

Holiday Happy

Gift Ideas Lovely winter wool socks. Cozy chenille scarves. Elegant handpainted silks. Hats – both comfy casual and gracefully dressy. Party clothes from Harshita Designs, Kay Chapman, Kiyo, Lee Andersen and Lori Ross. Winter flannel shirts from Eleven Stitch Design. Lots of sweaters – Jaskar, Margaret Winters and Putorti. Woolen and fleece jackets from Baabaazuzu, Woolflower and Janska. Cards and ornaments from award-winning local artist Patricia Palermino Studio. Pewter nativity sets and ornaments – yoga cats and yoga dogs from Basic Spirit. Accessories and jewelry to enhance your holiday outfits. Serving pieces and home accents.

Mermaid – The Deep (Version 1) Limited Edition of 10 signed and numbered stone lithographs on 11x14 inches paper. Circa 1997 Mermaid – The Deep (Version 2) Limited Edition of 10 signed and numbered stone lithographs on 14x5 inches paper. Circa 1997

Get a vintage Mermaid stone litho by well-known DMV area artist

1124 King Street (703) 548-1461

| |

Alexandria, Virginia 22314 www.imagineartwear.com

Holiday Hours begin December 1st Mon – Sat 10 am – 8 pm • Sunday 11 am – 6 pm

Old Town Crier

Dot Wrap and Hat by Woolflower

F. Lennox Campello!

Sold loose and ready for framing! Each signed and numbered print from this tiny unique edition of 10 prints is $100, packing and shipping included.

Email info@alidaanderson.com to order – once this edition is sold out, it is gone forever!

December 2018 | 13

MELINDA MYERS

URBAN GARDEN

Poinsettia and other holiday plants should be kept in a cool, brightly lit location.

T

he holiday season has arrived. That means you will be on the giving or receiving end of a poinsettia, Christmas cactus, cyclamen, amaryllis or other holiday plant. Extend the beauty and longevity of these holiday beauties with proper care.

And that starts the minute you leave the florist or garden center. Always protect your gift plants from the harsh outdoors.

Professional florists and garden center staff will provide a care tag and wrap your plants in a plastic or paper sleeve.

Remove the wrap as soon as you arrive home. This is especially important when caring for poinsettias. The upturned leaves emit ethylene, a ripening hormone that can shorten the longevity of your poinsettia’s colorful display.

Rewrap your holiday plant anytime you move it outdoors and never leave it sitting in a cold car while running errands.

A chilled plant looks fine until it thaws. By the next day the 14 | December 2018

plant turns grayish-green, wilts and may die. Not such a nice gift after all.

Once your plant arrives home, place it in a cool, brightly lit location. The cool temperatures and indirect light help the blooms last longer.

Avoid drafts of hot and cold air.

These can dry or chill the plant, resulting in leaf and blossom drop. Fold down the foil wrap to allow sunlight to reach all the leaves.

Keep the soil moist, like a damp sponge, but not wet. A quick touch of the top inch or two of soil will let you know when it is time to water. Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and just slightly moist.

Pour out any water that collects in the foil, basket, decorative pot or saucer. Or place pebbles in the bottom of the container or saucer to elevate the plant above any sitting water.

Plant your amaryllis bulb in a container that is slightly larger than the bulb and has drainage

Melinda Myers, LLC

holes. Set the bulb in a welldrained potting mix with 1/3 of the pointed end exposed. Water the potting mix thoroughly and place the container in a cool sunny location. Continue to water thoroughly, but only often enough to keep the soil barely moist.

Or go soilless. Place several inches of pebbles in the bottom of a glass vase or watertight container. Cover the pebbles with water. Set the bulb on top of the pebbles, adding more stones around the bulb to hold it in place. Leave the top one third of the bulb exposed. Add water as needed to maintain the water level just below the bulb.

Now relax and wait the month or more needed for your amaryllis bulb to wake up and start growing. Water more often once sprouts appear.

Keep your floral display looking its best by removing spent flowers from azaleas, Christmas cactus, cyclamen and kalanchoes. This keeps the plant looking fresh and often encourages more blooms.

Remove the true flowers, those yellow knobs in the center of the colorful leaves of the poinsettia. This extends the longevity and beauty of the poinsettia plant.

And once the holidays are past, keep enjoying these plants through the gray days of winter. Move the plants to a sunny window, fertilize with a dilute solution of complete or flowering plant fertilizer and water as needed.

Add some artificial berries, cut flowers in water picks or silk blooms to replace the faded flowers. Use colorful stakes or natural twigs for added beauty and to support floppy leaves and stems.

Be sure to add a few holiday plants to this year’s gift list.

They’re guaranteed to brighten everyone’s holiday celebrations.

Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books and is the host of The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series. Her website, www.

MelindaMyers.com, offers gardening tips and videos.

THE LAST WORD | FROM PAGE 9

of Abomination, when the world would disintegrate and only they would have the supplies necessary to survive.

In this claustrophobic, fearful atmosphere, Tara could find no nuance. There was only her father’s truth or lies, good or evil.

As a youngster, Tara’s athome education consisted of reading and studying the Bible or making occasional trips to the local library. With the help of a brother who had broken free, the teenager found a way to broaden her psychological landscape radically, teaching herself enough English, math, and science to pass the ACT. After obtaining financial support to attend Brigham Young University, Tara won a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, eventually attending Cambridge University for her PhD in history.

Tara Westover has written a complex, weighty work about climbing her way out of a rabbit hole of conflicting truths into a world in which she could draw her own conclusions and write history rather than having it dictated to her. Her story is

Old Town Crier

one of surviving her parents’ gaslighting and neglect by becoming an adult with critical thinking skills who can decide whether she can accept her family’s view of reality above her own.

Educated is both harrowing and triumphant, the precisely written product of a subtle and brilliant mind.

Strangely enough, it is also a page-turner. Educated is a coming-of-age tale, a story of redemption, and an account of surviving a terribly dysfunctional family. It is also an examination of the ways in which we research and cite history, and our responsibility in doing so. This book is well worth gifting or being gifted.

As I turn to my own shopping list, I am once more looking forward to supporting our new literary hub, Old Town Books at 104 S. Union Street. As a former member of the staff at Olsson’s Books & Records, which closed ten years ago, I am pulling for its long-term success and hoping that we will find it a community cornerstone, a lively place to exchange ideas and educate ourselves.

Don’t forget to check out our Moonscape rings.

Recipient of the Alexandria veteran owned small business award.

December 2018 | 15

A BIT OF HISTORY

SARAH BECKER ©2018

ONE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC OF REALLY CIVILIZED MEN IS FORESIGHT; WE HAVE TO, AS A NATION, EXERCISE FORESIGHT FOR THIS NATION IN THE FUTURE; AND IF WE DO NOT EXERCISE THAT FORESIGHT, DARK WILL BE THE FUTURE! President Theodore Roosevelt

…the politics even hotter. Do Americans adapt to climate change—as President Donald Trump’s environmental policies suggest—or do local, state and federal governments mitigate? Most U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are human roused—the result of burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) for heat, electricity and transportation. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (84%), methane (10%), nitrous oxide (4%) and fluorinated gases (2%).

The most abundant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the product of burning fossil fuels. “We must look back at history to understand our energy problem, the transition from wood to coal to oil and natural gas,” President Jimmy Carter (Democrat, 19771981) said. Carter, the alleged father of alternative fuels, was the first U.S. President to openly criticize America’s dependence on foreign oil; to install solar panels in the White House.

“One distinguishing 16 | December 2018

characteristic of really civilized men is foresight; we have to, as a nation, exercise foresight for this nation in the future; and if we do not exercise that foresight, dark will be the future!” President and conservationist Theodore Roosevelt (Republican, 1901-1909) said in 1908.

“Let us remember that the conservation of our natural resources, though the gravest problem of today, is yet but part of another and greater problem to which this Nation is not yet awake, but to which it will awake in time, and with which it must hereafter grapple if it is to live.”

In October 2018 the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that “greenhouse gases have been rising steadily and mean global temperatures along with it.” The scientists’ warnings are dire. From 1880 to 2012 the average global temperature increased by 0.850 C. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the greenhouse gas produced in the largest quantities and the United States is the second-largest emitter. China is first; the European Union third, India fourth, Russia fifth, Indonesia sixth, Brazil seventh, Japan eighth and Canada ninth. The United Kingdom, a departing EU member, passed the world’s first Climate Change Act in 2008, an Act which included legally binding commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

“Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging [wild]fires, crippling drought, and more powerful storms,” President Barack Obama [Democrat, 20092017] said in his Second Inaugural Address. “The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But Americans cannot resist this transition. We must lead it.”

Residents of Alexandria’s U.S. Route 1 residential corridor, informed of the United Nations Montreal Protocol in 1987, the Kyoto [emissions reductions] Protocol in 1997 agree. But rather than develop mass transit competitively, market its metro stations fittingly, the city completes auto-driven streets. Carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules, once emitted, remain in the atmosphere for maybe a century.

United Nations scientists confirm that “oceans have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished and the sea level has risen.” Rising seawaters already flood Miami on sunny days. From 1901 to 2010, the global average sea level rose by 19 cm as oceans expanded due to warming and ice melted. Yosemite’s largest glacier the Lyell has receded dramatically: from 1.2 million square meters in total volume in 1883 to 270,426 square meters in 2015.

“We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity,” President Obama continued.

“We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” The sea ice extent in the Artic has shrunk in every successive decade since 1979, with 1.07 x 106 km2 of ice loss per decade.

Still President Donald Trump [Republican, 2017] ignores the warning(s). Is the future dark, especially given the more than 540 Political Action Committees now invested in U.S. election politics?

President Trump withdrew the United States from the United Nations Paris Climate Accord in June 2017. Climate “scientists have a very big political agenda,” he said [60 Minutes, October 2018]. In truth America cannot legally A BIT OF HISTORY > PAGE 17

WE MUST LOOK BACK AT HISTORY TO UNDERSTAND OUR ENERGY PROBLEM, THE TRANSITION FROM WOOD TO COAL TO OIL AND NATURAL GAS. President Jimmy Carter

A BIT OF HISTORY | FROM PAGE 16

withdraw from the Accord until November 2020, Trump’s presidential reelection year.

Political condemnation aside, it has taken the city of Alexandria more than a century to resolve reported sewer overflows. “At this day, when the sewers from Washington and Alexandria run into the river, together with so much filth, it is dangerous for any one to drink of it,” the Alexandria Gazette wrote in 1918.

“There is alarming evidence that important tipping points, leading to irreversible changes in major ecosystems and the planetary climate system, may already have been reached or passed,” the UN 2018 Report continued. “Ecosystems as diverse as the Amazon rainforest and the Arctic tundra may be approaching thresholds of dramatic change through warming and drying. Mountain glaciers are in alarming retreat and the downstream effects of reduced water supply in the driest months will have repercussions that transcend generations.” Governor Jerry Brown recently announced that his drought stricken state will stick with mandatory water restrictions.

Temperature change is, as former Vice President Al Gore argues, An Inconvenient Truth. “Given current concentration and ongoing emissions of greenhouse gases, it is likely that the end of this century will see a 1-20 C increase in global mean temperature above the 1990 level (about 1.5-2.50 C above the pre-industrial level). The world’s oceans will warm and ice melt will continue. Average sea level rise is predicted to be 24-30 cm by 2065 and 4063 cm by 2100 relative to the reference period of 19862005.”

Avoiding the damage “requires transforming the world economy at a speed and scale that has ‘no historical Old Town Crier

precedent.’” True to the cause, in April 2014 Jimmy Carter urged President Barack Obama to reject TransCanada Corporation’s Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Obama did, Trump did not.

Unpopular when he left the President’s office in 1981, Carter now “feels vindicated.”

His Georgia farm fields are packed with solar panels; 34 states have developed climate action plans, and, in 2016, the United Nations Civil Aviation Organization adopted international carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards for aircraft. The United States struggles to meet the UN deadline.

Now the Trump administration wants to rollback fuel economy standards for cars. Hold them at or near the 37 miles-pergallon mark. California and other states favor regulations which hold fuel economy standards to 54 miles-pergallon by 2025. Some states, General Motors also ask that automakers total in-state sales include a percentage of zero emission vehicles, electric cars.

“We have become great in a material sense because of the lavish use of our resources,” President Roosevelt told State Governors in 1908. “But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil, and the gas are exhausted, when the soils shall have been still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields, and obstructing navigation.”

“If greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, the atmosphere will warm by as much as 2.70 F, or 1.50 C above preindustrial levels by 2040,” The UN 2018 Report concluded. “Without aggressive action, many effects that scientists once expected to happen further in the future will arrive by 2040, and

at the lower temperature…

To prevent 2.70 F of warming greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and 100% by 2050. The use of coal as an electricity source will have to drop from nearly 40% today to 1% to 7% by 2050.”

“It’s telling us we need to reverse emissions trends and turn the world economy on a dime,” Myles Allen, Oxford University climate scientist and author said. All countries need “to ratchet up their ambitions…scale up their pledges and cut emissions of greenhouse gases.” How? When Trump’s America “is now the largest global crude oil producer?”

“Let Us Have Clean Coal,” the Alexandria Gazette insisted in 1918. “A correspondent of the New York Sun calls attention to a phase of the coal question...

The Fuel Administrators, state and national, should take this matter up at once [as] the householder has a right to claim protection.” In 2016 Bloomberg, like others before, concluded “Clean Coal is Far From Clean.”

President and California Republican Richard Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. “We have the chance today to do more than ever before in our history to make life better in America— to ensure better health… better transportation, a cleaner environment,” Nixon said. “Let us be bold in our determination to meet those needs in new ways.”

Wishing all a happy, healthy and productive New Year!

Epidolex cannabidiol (CBD) oral solution, the first FDAapproved drug that contains a purified drug substance derived from marijuana. The CBD oral solution will be used to treat seizures associated with two forms of epilepsy.

CBD is a chemical component of the Cannabis sativa plant, more commonly known as marijuana. Unlike the chemical component tetrahydrocannabinol THC, CBD does not cause intoxication or euphoria (the “high”). Consumer Reports (October 2018) concludes CBD, medical marihuana may offer “New Hope for Pain Relief.” CBD’s medicinal “market is exploding, expected to multiply sevenfold by 2021,

to $2.15 billion from roughly $292 million in 2016.”

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

Columnist’s Note: Readers seem to agree. Hemp has a Hectic History [OTC, June 2018]. Voters in Utah and Michigan, as part of the November midterm elections approved the use of medical marijuana. Two-thirds of U.S. states concur. Late summer the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved December 2018 | 17

POINTS ON PETS

STEPH SELICE

H

oliday celebrations may be what many humans look forward to all year long, but they’re not always a treat for our beloved pets.

Fortunately, there are many simple and even fun ways we can help our animals enjoy the holidays safely and less stressfully.

and preferences, veterinary history, and emergency contact information for you and your pet’s vet. If you’re traveling with your pet, consult with your vet a few days before you travel, in case your pet needs to have special precautions taken.

Stinky the Christmas Cat

Photo by Chris Usher

Fostering or Adopting Pets in the New Year

Decorating Your Home Safely After many media warnings, most pet lovers know that some seasonal decorations are unsafe for pets. Tinsel, ribbons, and glass ornaments on a Christmas tree may look lovely, but other types of garlands or decorations are safer for cats and dogs. Pine needles also need to be swept up and tree water kept clean and covered.

Certain holiday houseplants are poisonous to pets, yet some say they can be inside your home safely if you plan ahead: Poinsettias can be placed up high in an inaccessible spot or a tall bookcase, and mistletoe can be hung way out of reach of even the most acrobatic cat.

Alternatively, try decorating with plants like Christmas cactus, which are non-toxic, or hanging artificial mistletoe that looks real.

Holiday lights and electric decorations often attract our pets. Be careful to secure strings of lights and other electrical fixtures out of reach, to check that they are not frayed or damaged, and to make sure batteries are dry and switches are installed properly. Make sure your pets can navigate around your light displays safely, or put lights in rooms or outside where only humans can visit.

Enjoying Food Treats and Toys Because we all love our pets (and most of us love to eat), making or buying holiday

treats for our pets is part of the joy of the season for many of us. Most foods intended for people, and many spices and seasonings, need to be off limits to our animals. Yes, cats do tend to want fish and dogs love pumpkin and peanut butter, however, chocolate, onions and chives, garlic in more than small amounts, grapes or raisins, macadamias and high-fat nuts, other fatty foods, heavily salted, sugared, or spiced dishes, raw meat or raw eggs, chicken bones, and coffee can be dangerous for them and for other pets. And of course, alcohol, tobacco products, caffeinated drinks, and any prescription or recreational drugs should be kept out of their reach. Just having safe, healthy treats on hand will make it easier for you to help your pets avoid eating “no-no’s”.

If your pet would enjoy a new toy or bed, think outside of the box or…just use one: a

ADOPTION CALENDAR

shipping box from holiday gifts (with towels) often becomes a dog or cat’s favorite bed.

Crumpled paper (thrown away as needed!) or a tennis ball is all you need for a game of catch or floor hockey. Buying or making a climbing tree or scratching post for cats or a chew or pull toy for dogs are always great options. But being with you is what your pets want, so making time to play or just snuggle is still the best gift you could give them.

Sharing Your Home While Easing Your Pet’s Holiday Stress Most animals don’t like change much unless it involves more treats. Help your pets navigate the changes in your household that holidays bring by allowing them some safe, quiet, “normal” places and routines at home that are not part of the holiday hubbub.

If your cats are used to their

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KING STREET CATS 25 Dove Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Every Saturday and Sunday from 1.30pm-4.30pm

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18 | December 2018

quiet place or your dogs like to be walked at the same times every day, keeping routines and home spaces just for them will help make the holidays more peaceful. (And why not enjoy some extra walks with the dogs, or playtime with all of your animals?) Extra attention from you, including smushes, grooming, or playing, will make this time of year even better for your pets.

Your holiday guests will have their own daily routines and their preferences for food and prescriptions, as well as alcohol, nicotine, or other drug use. Talk with visitors about your pet’s needs, and introduce new folks to your animals with mutual respect and care. This includes petsitters or boarding personnel if you’re traveling solo. Instructions you share about your pet’s care would include information about diet, toys, any prescription food or medicine, daily routines

PETCO UNLEASHED 1101 S Joyce St, Arlington, VA 22202 Every first Sat & third Sat from 1pm-4pm PETCO UNLEASHED 1855 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, DC 20007 Every fourth Sat/Sun from 12pm-3pm THE DOG PARK 705 King Street, Alexandria, VA22314 Every second Saturday from 1pm-4pm

Many New Year’s resolutions sound familiar and involve pets: “This year we’ll get a dog.” “Let’s get the kids a cat.” Although adopting an animal is one of the biggest responsibilities people can take on and one of the greatest joys anyone can know, it’s one we just can’t foist on others. Please don’t give an animal as a gift.

Shelters and rescues report that animals given as unsolicited and sometimes even requested gifts often end up abandoned.

Instead of giving an animal to people you love, why not invite them to visit a local shelter or rescue with you to meet potential pets or just visit beautiful critters?

If your family or friends are interested in particular breeds, a Google search will find many breed-specific rescues that help with adoptions—a much more humane and less expensive alternative to buying a rare, purebred, or exotic pet.

Many animal rescues with limited facilities also need foster families. Help your loved ones plan their own adoption or fostering of a cat, dog, or other pet in 2019 (see Resources at the end of this column). Consider donating food, toys, supplies, or your time to a rescue in the name of your loved ones, human or animal….and enjoy the holidays!

Steph volunteers with King Street Cats and lives in Alexandria with her husband and their two kitties Dorian and Callie, who were adopted from city neighborhoods in Delaware and Virginia.

Resources

Give A Gift That Matters

HOMEMADE PET TREATS CESARSWAY.COM/DOG-CARE/FOOD-AND-TREATS/MAKEYOUR-OWN-HOLIDAY-DOG-TREATS CARE.COM/C/STORIES/6291/10-EASY-HOMEMADE-CATTREATS-YOUR-CAT-WILL-LOV/ CATS.LOVETOKNOW.COM/RECIPE_FOR_HOMEMADE_CAT_ TREATS JOJODABUNNEH.WEEBLY.COM/HOMEMADE-TREATS.HTML SELECTED REPUTABLE ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES IN VIRGINIA: ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF ALEXANDRIA (Adopts to residents within 25 miles of the shelter)

ALEXANDRIAANIMALS.ORG/

FRIENDS OF RABBITS AND HOUSE RABBIT SANCTUARY

Adopt-A-Manatee® For The Holidays

savethemanatee.org Photo © Gregory Sweeney

(Adopts to residents of metro DC)

FRIENDSOFRABBITS.ORG/ KING STREET CATS

(Adopts to residents of metro DC)

KINGSTREETCATS.ORG/

PETS OF THE MONTH

OPERATION PAWS FOR HOMES, INC. (Dog rescue for VA, MD, DC, and south central PA) OPHRESCUE.ORG/ RIKKI’S REFUGE ANIMAL SANCTUARY (1300 animals and 22 species on 450 acres. Visits by appointment.)

RIKKISREFUGE.ORG

POINTS ON PETS | FROM PAGE 19

BUGSY

Adult, Female, Brown Guinea Pig

PEEDEE

Senior, Neutered Male, Brown & White, Large American Bull Dog

MARTHA

Senior, Spayed Female, Black & White, small Domestic Short Hair

Bugsy is a sweet little pig looking for a family to call her own. She is very social and loves running to the front of her enclosure to meet new visitors and being held and petted!

Photo courtesy of Dirty Paw Photography Peedee is a senior guy who still loves making friends! He enjoys the company of his fellow pups and would be happy to join your pack or be your one and only. Now in his senior years, he isn’t as fast as he used to be, but would still love to join you for a leisurely stroll around town!

Photo courtesy of Dirty Paw Photography Sweet, gentle Martha loves the people who love her. Martha is a senior girl looking for a quiet home with caring attentive humans where she can enjoy her golden years. Martha is far from being a fussy girl. She’s happy simply being with you to share your time and attention. Martha will need medication for the rest of her life. That’s a small price to pay for the joy of her company and the gentle purring presence she will bring to your life.

Come visit Martha today. She’ll be thrilled to see you. If you and Martha connect – and we bet you will – your home and your life will be filled with a joy beyond words.

Photo courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography

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

December 2018 | 19

CARIBBEAN CONNECTION

Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Beach

•

•

T

hough it’s only 32 square miles in size, St. Thomas has a million miles worth of things to do. Go shopping and sailing, snorkeling and sightseeing, or diving and dining. Enjoy the island’s worldrenowned golf course, picture-perfect beaches and spectacular nightlife. Take the Skyride 700 feet above the city or climb the famous 99 Steps of Charlotte Amalie for an incomparable view of the Caribbean. And if you’re interested in culture and history, don’t miss seeing the second-oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, the 1680-built Fort Christian or the childhood home of Camille Pissarro, one of the bestknown French Impressionists.

St. Thomas’s history and culture alone are worth a visit to the island. Fort Christian, a U.S. National Landmark, is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands and home to the Virgin Islands Museum, where early island memorabilia and old maps trace the islands’ history. Market Square, a bustling produce marketplace, was once one of the West Indies’ busiest 18thcentury slave markets.

Also of interest is the Synagogue of Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasidim, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the United States. On nearby Government Hill, looming over Charlotte Amalie, stands Blackbeard’s Castle. Known during colonial times 20 | December 2018

St. Thomas Charlotte Amalie as Skytsborg, this 17th-century fortified tower also served as a popular restaurant and hotel before the ravages of Irma. They are in the process of rebuilding but the historic portion remains.

Located in the hills not far from the heart of Charlotte Amalie, Government House has been the center of government in St. Thomas since the mid-1860s. Visitors interested in seeing St. Thomas’s political life may tour the

building’s first two floors. The 99 Steps, made by bricks that were once used as ballast on Danish and British ships, were built into the hillside to keep the orderly grid of the city intact.

Whether indulging in some of the world’s prettiest beaches, re-discovering history at museums, forts or historic houses, admiring stunning panoramic views via a hike, bike or sky tram, playing a round of golf, making a splash in the invigorating turquoise blue waters, or visiting duty-free shops, St. Thomas has much to enjoy! Attractions in St. Thomas appeal to both those seeking adventure and those looking for peaceful relaxation.

While parts of the island are still recovering from the damage caused

by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year, St. Thomas hotels offer luxurious accommodations to complement the ultimate Caribbean shopping spree. Known for their sophisticated ambiance, superb dining, and spectacular nightlife, hotels in St. Thomas offer a variety of lodging alternatives from grand resort estates to small inns and villas. Although cruise ships sometimes loom in the harbor, visitors to St. Thomas experience breathtaking views, secluded beaches and a deeply relaxing atmosphere. For an unparalleled Caribbean vacation, CARIBBEAN CONNECTION > PAGE 21

Publishers Note: We here at the Old Town Crier recommend that you consider securing your lodging at the gorgeous Cliffhanger Villa. We have stayed at this fabulous place and it never disappoints. It is off of the beaten path but close enough to get into town for some nightlife! See their ad in this section or contact us for more information.

Mafolie Hotel Restaurant Night View CARRIBEAN CONNECTION FROM PAGE 20

look no further than St. Thomas!

A cozy blend of cosmopolitan charm and unparalleled natural beauty, St. Thomas offers travelers every option to ensure that you keep moving and keep smiling. To reach this $1,600 duty-free shopping paradise, just board a helicopter, water taxi, small charter plane or commercial airplane — there’s no passport required for U.S. citizens. Once you arrive, experience the island at your own speed as you enjoy a friendly taxi tour or soak up the sights behind the wheel of a scooter. St. Thomas also offers the height

k

of Caribbean luxury to all travelers, and the island boasts many upscale limited mobility options, including several ADA-accessible beaches.

This column provided courtesy of USVI Tourism. For more information about St. Thomas and the other islands that comprise the USVI log on to www.usvitourism.vi or call 800-372-USVI.

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

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

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MYSTERY READING AT ITS BEST

by Virginia author Jeffrey Roswell McCord

CARIBBEAN MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE A dead Marine washed ashore on a Caribbean island leads investigators to otherworldly perpetrators in historic pirate waters and high level abuses in Washington. An intrepid maritime historian working the case for U.S. Naval Intelligence discovers a 60-year record of extraterrestrial activity in the Caribbean basin. History and national security politics meet science fiction in this mystery based on exhaustive factual research and informed conjecture.

CARIBBEAN hISToRY AND ADvENTURE Where did the villain General Santa Anna of Alamo infamy retire? Is time travel possible?

What was it like on the ground in the worst hurricane of the 19th century? Can a band of rogue sailors from Coral Bay, St. John, defeat ruthless corporate mercenaries? These questions and more are answered in Jeffrey Roswell McCord’s new fact-based novel “Santa Anna’s Gold in a Pirate Sea.”

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December 2018 | 21

FROM THE BAY …

A

nnmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons, Maryland, announces the Annmarie Garden in Lights for the 2018 holiday season.

This family-friendly light art event is a joyful outing for all ages - and has become a favorite Southern Maryland holiday tradition. The Garden is transformed with more than one million lights in dazzling and unique installations and vignettes. Guests will be delighted with the quirky and unique “light sculptures” that transform the Garden into a glittering kaleidoscope of color. Take a walk through the protected ¼ mile wooded

Annmarie Garden in Lights! path, then come inside and enjoy live entertainment, food, and holiday shopping.

“We love putting this show together each year. This event is all about the joy that it brings and celebrating the season. We are excited to be trying some new things this year that add to the experience with more lights and more dazzle.” says Stacey Ruff, director of Annmarie Garden.

Annmarie Garden in

Lights also features live entertainment each night, the Hardesty Haven Holiday Café, unique shopping in the Annmarie Gift Shop, an Ornament Show & Sale, Holiday Pop-up Shops, and much more! Special themed nights throughout the month include, Snow Princess Night, Scout Caroling Night, Santa Night, Festive Holiday Attire Night and Pet Night. Special nights include live characters who will greet guests

and provide great photo opportunities.

The Light Show will be open to the public nightly through January 1st between 6 and 9 pm with the exception of December 3rd & 4th and 24th & 25th. Admission at the door is $7; free for children 2 & under; free for Annmarie members.

Visit wwwannmariegarden. org to purchase special Fast Pass Tickets and for a detailed entertainment schedule.

EYC Lights Parade Celebrates 30 Years!

The Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade, one of Annapolis’ signature events for more than 30 years, is just around the corner! For the third year, our hometown parade has been nominated as one of the USA Today 10 Best Readers Choice Holiday Parades in America! If any of you want to be a part of the process you may vote once a day, every day, until December 8. Fans may go to:www.10best. com/awards/travel. Scroll down through the current contests to find Holiday Parades…..then VOTE! In 2016, our parade was named the #1 Best Holiday Parade in America!

The parade bursts upon the Annapolis waterfront with up to 40 boats of all shapes and sizes, power and sail, brightly decorated with thousands of lights and crewed by jolly revelers.

This festive maritime event is great fun for the entire family. Skippers participate for the fun of it, and circle the waterfront in two fleets: one circling in front of Eastport, the City Dock and the Naval Academy seawall, the other circling the length of Spa Creek, inside the bridge.

This year, the Lights Parade will be held on Saturday, December 8th, between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 PM. The event will occur rain or

22 | December 2018

Poster by Artist Cindy Holden

shine, with only high winds forcing a cancellation.

Twenty to thirty thousand people line the waterfront each year to watch this glittering holiday parade. It’s fun for the entire family with entries such as Santa Claus, Polar Bear Express,

Directions to Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center From Washington DC (about a 60 minute drive): take Route 4 South to Capital Beltway Exit 11 (to Prince Frederick).

Continue on 4 South, following signs to Solomons. Left on Dowell Road at Hilton Garden Inn Annmarie is less than 1/4 mile on left.

From Annapolis: follow Route 2 South towards Prince Frederick/Solomons. Left (South) onto Route 2/4 at Sunderland light. Left on Dowell Road at Hilton Garden Inn. Annmarie is less than 1/4 mile on left.

and The Abominable Snowman.

Lights Parade participants compete for prizes and recognition either individually, or as a representative of their club. The parade is an excellent opportunity to show off a boat or to showcase a club. Anyone may enter and Eastport Yacht Club provides safety briefings as well as decorating tips. Skippers may register their boats until December 5 for this joyful holiday event.

Entry forms are available online - www.eastportyc. org/lights-parade. For more information about boat registration, contact: signup.elf@gmail.com People can take home memories of the Lights Parade by purchasing posters, tee shirts, and cards.

These will be available through the Eastport Yacht Club, and several downtown locations. Original artwork will be displayed in all of the locations.

The Lights Parade Livestream event is back and running for 2018 and will be broadcast LIVE on December 8 (www.livestream.com). Livestream may be accessed on any mobile device and there will be a link to Livestream on the Eastport Yacht Club web site, www.eastportyc.org/lightsparade. For further details, you can check out EYC Lights Parade on Facebook: facebook.com/ EastportYachtClubLightsParade.

For more information about the Lights Parade including parade maps, parking information, and viewing sites, visit the Eastport Yacht Club website at: eastportyc.org/lights-parade.

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December 2018 | 23

Home for the

Holidays OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA

Photo by Lani Gering

24 | December 2018

ROAD TRIP

BOB TAGERT

Photo by M. Enriquez

Copyright: NIck Eckert, 2013

A

s most of you know, every month we take a road trip and then write about the experience and destination. Each December, however, my road trip is about our home town of Alexandria, Virginia and the history that has been created here and about the history still being made.

This past year saw the sale of the Old Dominion Boat Club building to the city in order to create the new Portside Park at the foot of King Street. As of this writing, the project is still under construction due to the difficult weather (rain) that we have encountered this past year. It looks like the final stages will not be completed until late winter, but Portside Park promises to be a great addition to the Old Town Alexandria experience. The park will feature free-to-thepublic themed happenings in history, art, music and fitness with activities for families and for adults. The addition of the now-popular “pop-up” experiences and events will be a big part of Portside throughout the year.

Alexandria will reclaim her history as a seafaring port with the acquisition of the tall ship Providence. The Providence will provide a living link to the city’s rich marine, naval, and Revolutionary history. The Providence is a replica of the first ship authorized to serve in the Continental Navy and John Paul Jones’ first command. The Providence will set the tone for the city as the Schooner Alexandria did years ago.

The waterfront development began a little over a year ago and much has happened.

The new Old Dominion Boat Club opened last year and is a beautiful addition to the waterfront as is the year- old Indigo Hotel and Hummingbird Restaurant.

Old Town Crier

During the excavation of the Indigo Hotel, Alexandria’s seaport was once again exposed. The hull of an old wooded vessel was unearthed and preserved.

As excavation began for the adjoining Robinson Landing project three more hulls were found. The theory goes that these ships were scuttled along the shoreline to act as a foundation for land fill in order to move the shore closer to the deep channel in the Potomac River. These archeological finds slowed the construction so that the timbers could be removed and preserved. Alexandria’s seafaring legacy is found everywhere.

Even though the waterfront development won’t be complete until spring, there are many reasons to visit Alexandria in December. The first Saturday in December Alexandria will host the annual Scottish Christmas Walk which kicks off the Christmas season. This hour- long parade is always a hit with military bands, school bands, fife and drums, and lots of bagpipes. The highlight of the parade is the mass pipes in front of city hall as the finale to the parade.

The Christmas tree is lit as are the holiday lights that decorate the trees that line King Street. The shops and restaurants are decorated and look forward to your visit. Most of the shops in Old Town are a one-of-a-kind store. While retail has suffered over the years, Old Town is home to some businesses that started here and are still here thirty years later. Some of these shops include Imagine Artwear, Kings Jewelry, Gold Works, Lamp Lighter, America, Christmas Attic and Comfort One Shoes.

There are also many restaurants that have been in Old Town for many years and the choices of dining are widespread from casual to fine

dining. Obviously, most of our favorites are those restaurants whose ads appear every month in the issue. Some of the Old Town classic dining spots have been acquired by new owners but the restaurant has not changed while other new owners have opened their own concepts which have increased the choices of dining options. Although the largest concentration of restaurants is near the waterfront, there are many fine restaurants that run all the way to the King Street Metro stop 18 blocks from the waterfront.

Speaking of the waterfront and the metro, a free trolley runs every 15 minutes between the waterfront and the King Street Metro, pausing at many stops along the way enabling passengers to get off and on at their leisure. Even though King street is the main drag in Old Town, there are a lot of other shops and restaurants on the adjacent streets throughout town. The sandwich boards at the corners of the intersections let you know what awaits on Old Town’s many charming streets.

There are lots of things happening in Old Town during the holiday season (see the calendar of events in this issue) but one of the “coolest” might just be watching Jolly Old St. Nick do some waterskiing on the Potomac on Christmas Eve! This is a must see.

I encourage all of you to consider the advertisers in this issue as your first stops for dining and shopping. They are the people that make printing this column possible each month as well as the entire issue!

Take a road trip this month and discover the magic of Old Town Alexandria. Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday to you all!

Photo by K. Summerer

Photo by Lani Gering

December 2018 | 25

TO THE BLUE RIDGE

Y

JULIE REARDON

ou may notice the cost of a live Christmas tree is a little higher this year. Fewer lots are open for business, and those that are open, have a smaller and pricier selection than in years past. That’s because we’re experiencing a shortage of available trees. This is partly due to severe weather and flooding in some of the major supplier areas of Ga., S.C. and N.C. in the past two years, but it began before that, according to one Christmas tree farm owner in the mountains of western N.C. Billy Edwards has been growing

Cut your own

Christmas Tree Christmas trees for over 40 years, and he believes you have to go back further than the recent weather patterns to understand the shortage. “You have to go back 10 or 12 years,” he explained, to when the economic downturn started. He explained that in the lean years, growers planted no seedlings. If growers had planted trees then, they would be ready now. “For the next five to 10 years there will be shortages,” Edwards said.

It takes seven to 10 years for a seedling to grow tall enough to be a marketable 6 to 8 foot tree.

Even in our area, that largely escaped most of the severe weather, many of the “choose and cut” farms will not open this year due to low inventory. Bill Wright, a retired teacher who has grown and sold Christmas trees on his small farm in Fauquier County for 25 years, said, “Oh, it’s been a terrible year. We lost a lot of trees that died because it was just too wet.”

Wright grows a variety of trees at his Arboria Farm

near Marshall. He’s been experimenting for over 30 years with what does well in our area. He explained the three basic types of Christmas trees are pines, firs and spruce (he grows all three). “Pines have the long soft needles and the branches that tend to droop,” he said, adding that they hold their needles the longest. They’re also a fast growing tree that does well in our area. “Firs have short, soft needles, and they’ve become the most popular tree in the past 20 years,” he said, but added they are not natives and tend to be more labor intensive and take longer to grow to market size.

“They’re finicky about getting their feet wet,” Wright added, saying root rot from the wet year we’ve had took a toll on them.

The third variety is the spruce tree. These used to be everyone’s favorite Christmas tree and they do have a unique beauty but they have the short, prickly needles. “You definitely need gloves to handle them,” Wright said. “They are a very pretty tree, but they drop their needles

faster than pines and firs.”

Two popular varieties are Norway and blue spruce; with the Norway variety growing well in our area.

There are several established Christmas tree farms where you can “choose and cut” your own tree in the Middleburg/ Warrenton area this year.

These farms, most open weekends until Christmas and by appointment, generally have a fairly good selection of trees but expect shortages and plan to go the first week of December; many will be sold out after the first week. Call or email first to check availability.

Arboria Farm, Marshall; has the biggest variety of pines, firs and spruces. It’s located just a few miles off I66 at 10699 Ada Rd., Marshall. Bill Wright says due to the small size of his tree plot, he’s usually sold out the first week of December, but he stays open weekends until inventory is gone.

It’s best to call first at (540) 364-3166 or on his cell (coverage in area is sporadic) at (540) 2708617.

Oak Shade Farm near Rixeyville (15 minutes west of Warrenton) has a good selection of pre-cut as well as choose and cut trees starting at $50. They are a family operation; in addition to the trees, they have a farm store.

Different family members make jams and jellies and raise laying hens, sheep, pigs and rabbits bees and grow extensive market gardens. Other family members enjoy various arts and crafts, including oil painting, rug hooking, iron work, weaving and woodworking. Their products are displayed for sale in the farm store. Open Saturdays & Sundays 9-5; plus Wed., Thurs. and Fridays 1 to 5. oakshadefarm.net Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm, located just outside Middleburg, is open weekends Thanksgiving until Christmas. Their trees start at about $85 for a 6 foot tree; add $10 a foot for larger ones.

They provide saws, carts, binding for loading your tree and wreaths for sale.

Middleburgxmastrees.com Lowelands Farm, between Middleburg and Leesburg, has cut your own trees available weekends until Christmas. They also sell wreaths, roping and garlands, and their own herbed honeys and vinegars. LowelandsFarm. com for prices/availability.

Care of Fresh Cut Trees in the Home Tree freshness is always a concern, as dried out trees present a fire hazard. A visit to a choose-and-cut farm and cutting your own tree is one way to assure freshness. Pre-cut trees on retail lots require a closer inspection. The foliage of a pre-cut tree should be flexible when the needle is bent. And when the tree is shaken, very few needles should drop.

As soon as you get the tree home, make a fresh straight ¼-inch cut across the base of the trunk and place it in a bucket of water. Use a tree stand that will hold a gallon or more of water. A fresh tree may take up three or more quarts of water a day for the first few days after it’s placed in water.

Never place the tree near a source of heat and do not let the water level in the bowl drop below the base of the tree. Make sure light cords are in good working order and are turned off when you go to bed or leave the house. Courtesy of the Virginia Christmas Tree Association.

26 | December 2018

VisitRAPPAHANNOCK background photo by Lauren Fleming

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Old Town Crier

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December 2018 | 27

DINING OUT

THE GASTRONOMES

Tequila & Taco

I

f you are looking for a new place to take a break from the rigors of holiday shopping in Old Town, take the short drive to “New Town” and visit Tequila & Taco on John Carlyle Street in the heart of John Carlyle Square. The Square is located between Duke Street and Eisenhower Avenue across from the train station and King Street Metro and is home to the U.S. Patent and Trade Office and the Federal Courthouse. This fairly new area of Alexandria is growing at a steady pace and is also home to several new eateries.

One of the newest kids on the block is Tequila & Taco another of local restaurateur Mike Anderson’s dining establishments. T & T joins sister restaurant Sweet Fire Donna’s BBQ on the 500 block of John Carlyle Street.

We decided to test the waters….and the tequila…. at T&T on that rare, sunny Sunday afternoon after Thanksgiving. It was a nice treat after the turkey and wine. Naturally, we started out with a couple of margaritas on the rocks w/salt to accompany the chips and salsa while we perused the menu. Just like the name indicates, there are several taco variations (13 to be exact) and tequila choices (over 40 kinds) but we were also impressed with the other offerings. The menu is simple and straight forward with the ever popular fajitas (chicken, shrimp, steak or a combo), burritos (cheese, pulled chicken, pulled pork

28 | December 2018

and sliced brisket), enchiladas (pulled chicken, sliced brisket and veggie), three salads (beet, taco cobb and Caesar), T&T style shrimp ceviche and tuna tartare. There is also a burger on the menu.

Not to be overlooked are the starters and desserts. The starters range from some of the best queso blanco that we have ever had to fried oysters and the empanada of the day with nachos, quesadillas, yucca fries, street corn and guacamole in between. There are only three dessert choices - tres leches cake, key lime pie, and churros - but that is plenty. The cake and key lime pie are made in house as is most everything else on the menu.

These guys pride themselves on fresh ingredients and the fact that most everything is prepped daily and the food is a good indication that they aren’t kidding. As mentioned earlier, we started with margaritas – one original and one spicy – and house-made chips and salsa. The “margs” are made with fresh squeezed lime and orange juice and blue agave tequila. There are several variations including a few seasonal flavors so we had to try the pomegranate/kiwi combo with dessert. And… yes, they even fresh squeeze the pomegranate and kiwi juice here! We both really liked the chips but weren’t that crazy about the salsa. It isn’t that it isn’t good – we ate a lot of it – but it isn’t traditional DINING OUT > PAGE 29

DECEMBER

RACK OF LAMB MONTH!

Inspired by foods found in cities across America with a toast to their craft brews, wines, and spirits

DINING OUT FROM PAGE 28

in that is has a very smoky chipotle taste instead of the fresh tomato, cilantro, onion, jalapeno combo that we both prefer. Don’t let our opinion dissuade you. In keeping with his standard Mexican restaurant M.O., my partner ordered the chicken fajitas while I stepped into taco and burrito territory. He was very impressed with the T&T fajitas and commented that this is the first place that has served the plate with enough tortillas to accommodate the dish. The tacos are streetstyle so are small and made with soft corn tortillas and made to be ordered ala carte, however, there is a three taco combo offer on the lunch menu for $10.95 - this is the way to go if you are just there for the tacos. I ordered one ground beef taco and a pulled pork burrito and was very happy with my choices.

The taco was very tasty and just what I expected and the burrito was exceptional. This dish is served with lettuce, rice, cheddar, black beans, entomatado sauce and pico de gallo. We were pleasantly surprised when our server – Helena, who is fantastic BTW – placed a piece of the

TEQUILA & TACO 540 JOHN CARLYLE STREET ALEXANDRIA 703-721-3203 Key Lime Pie on our table with two spoons. We are both huge fans of this dessert and it was one of the best we have had in a long time. Just the right amount of tanginess with a perfect graham cracker crust. The aforementioned pomegranate/kiwi margarita was a nice compliment to the pie but I imagine it would be great with a cup of coffee as well.

While neither of us are huge tequila drinkers, we really don’t appreciate the inventory here but it is impressive none the less. For those of you aficionados of the blue agave

juice, this place is a small slice of heaven. Over 40 kinds and served any way you like it, there has to be something that will impress you. While we are on the subject of alcohol, something that did impress us was the fact that Tequila & Taco has “Happy Hour” EVERY day from 4 to 7 pm - $3 beers, $5 margaritas and pina coladas and $5 glasses of wine.

We would be remiss if we didn’t comment on the décor.

If you are a fan of “Dias de los Muertos” aka “Day of the Dead”, you will love the way they have incorporated the iconic artwork into the interior design. It is worth checking out for sure.

If you haven’t ventured over to the Carlyle Square area, put it on your list of places to check out and make it a point to stop in Tequila & Taco for lunch, dinner or brunch. They are open daily 11 am – 11 pm.

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NancyMilburnKleckPhotography.com Old Town Crier

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BEHIND THE BAR

SHOOTER MCGEE’S 5239 DUKE STREET WEST END ALEXANDRIA 703-751-9266 SHOOTER MCGEES.COM

HEATHER FRAZEE How did you get started in the bartending business?

I was working in the food industry as a server and soon realized how much fun - and of course the money – there was in bartending so I worked my way into the position. It has been one of the best jobs I have ever had. Fun people, making pretty drinks and having very interesting conversations - that is probably the greatest thing about being behind a bar. The stories you hear…..

What is your biggest bartender pet peeve?

Dirty mirrors behind the bar, and, of course, breaking a glass in the ice.

That sucks, it always happens when you are slammed too.

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

I was behind the bar at Jaker’s Bar and Grill in Twin Falls, Idaho when Nick Nolte walked into a closed glass door and knocked himself out.

Yes…I called 911 and they showed up but he “came to” in the “Nick” of time. He was a regular along with Bruce Willis and Albert Finney.

Sundance and Jelm are right up the road and they are host to many Hollywood elites. I loved that they liked to come to my bar on a regular basis. Nick’s favorite attire was a maroon bathrobe paired with his jeans and that’s what he had on when he did the face plant into the glass door. Hmmm….I think he’d been drinking.

What is the cleverest line If you could sit down and anyone has ever used to get you to give them a free drink? have a drink with anyone in Not sure I have ever heard a clever the world, past or present, who would that be? one, but this one was unforgettable.

Heather stirs up a Perfect Manhattan Shooter Style.

30 | December 2018

“Since I am the DD don’t you think I deserve a free drink?

John Denver - I cried when he died!

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

Heather is behind the bar Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Best is “You are so beautiful I forgot all my pickup lines.” Worst, “Are you a parking ticket ‘cause you have fine written all over you.”

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

Brand new look. Same great whisky.

Just in time to dress up your bar for the holidays. www.copperfoxdistillery.com

MerryChristmas and

Happy New Year

from all of us at

Bistro

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Enjoy our Regular Menu or Try Our $75 Tasting Menu and $35 Wine Pairing Reserve Champagne List also Available

& Wine

Bar

NEW YEAR’S DAY HANGOVER BRUNCH!

Menu Specials, Egg Nog and Create Your Own Bloody Mary Bar

Open Christmas Eve • Closed Christmas Day 7966 Fort Hunt Road (In the Hollin Hall Shopping Center) Reservations: 703-347-7545 • RiverBendBistro.com Old Town Crier

December 2018 | 31

AMERICAN AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970 MOHO KITCHEN & COCTAILS 116 South Alfred St. 703-739-6090 BILBO BAGGINS 208 Queen St. 703-683-0300 BLACKWALL HITCH 5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090 CAFE 44 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644 CARLYLE CLUB 411 John Carlyle St. 703-549-8957 CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442 chadwicksrestaurants.com An Old Town tradition since 1979 and an original Georgetown pub and restaurant since 1967.

CHARLIE'S ON THE AVENUE Mount Vernon Avenue 703-851-3270 CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080 CITY KITCHEN 330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com USA City inspired menu choices that bring together traditional American and global cuisine with their own personal touch. Casual dress. $30 and under. Lots of free parking.

Open 7 days a week with brunch on Sat & Sun 11-3. AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa COLUMBIA FIREHOUSE 109 S. St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776 EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051 EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street 703-299-0894 FIN & HOOF 801 N. Saint Asaph St. 703-836-4700 FIVE GUYS 725 King St. 703-549-7991 FLAT TOP BURGER 529 East Howell Ave. 571-970-1006

HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355

RESERVE 2216 2216 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-549-2889

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

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

REYNOLDS STREET CAFÉ 34 S. Reynolds St. 703-751-0830

ASIAN ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515

JACKSON 20 480 King St. 703-842-2790 JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777 JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue Alexandria 703-436-0025 LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

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

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

32 | December 2018

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600 NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848 STREETS MARKET AND CAFE 3108 Mt. Vernon Ave. 571-431-6810 THAILAND ROYAL 801 N. Fairfax St. 703 535-6622

THE ITALIAN PLACE 621Wythe St. 571-777-8981 HANKS PASTA BAR 600 Montgomery Ave. 571-312-4117 IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833 LA TRATTORIA 305 S. Washington St. 703-548-9338

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

SNACK BAR 2419 Mt. Vernon Avenue 703-566-1283

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

MAGNOLIA’S ON KING 703 King St. 703-838-9090

SOCIETY FAIR 277 S. Washington St. 703-683-3247

THE SUSHI BAR 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue 571-257-3232

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

MAJESTIC CAFÉ 911 King St. 703-837-9117

SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550

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

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

LOST DOG CAFE 808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511 MACKIE’S BAR AND GRILL 907 King St. 703-684-3288

MOUNT VERNON INN Mount Vernon, Va 703-780-0011 MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com Old-world Irish pub featuring a roaring fireplace, serving a variety of imported, domestic and non-alcoholic beers in a friendly atmosphere. Serving robust American-Irish meals at fair prices.

Favorites include fish and chips and Irish stew. Irish-style entertainment nightly.

MYRON MIXON PITMASTER BBQ 220 North Lee St. 703-535-3340 NECTAR COFFEE & WINE BISTRO 106 Hume Avenue 571-431-6150

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

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

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

LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com Elegant, classical Italian cuisine served in a lovely historical setting. Fresh veal, homemade pastas, and fresh fish are some of the daily choices. An extensive list of wines and champagnes served in a sophisticated and friendly atmosphere.

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

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

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

LIVE OAK 1603 Commonwealth Ave. 571-312-0402

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

GRATEFUL KITCHEN 727 N. Henry Street

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

SAMUEL BECKETTS IRISH GASTRO PUB 2800 S. Randolph St. Villages of Shirlington 703-379-0122

FOSTERS GRILLE 2004 Eisenhower Ave. 703-725-1342

GLORY DAYS GRILL 3141 Duke Street 703-567-157

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

ITALIAN

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

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

SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222 SWEETGREEN 823 King St. 571-319-0192 SWEET FIRE DONNA'S BB@ & HOPS 510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960 T.J. STONES GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com American cuisine with libations from around the world. Bar specials MonFri, 4-7 pm. Brunch served Sat & Sun. TRADEMARK 2800 Jamieson Ave. 703-253-8640 UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com Old Town’s favorite neighborhood tap and grill. Southern style menu, fine steaks, fresh seafood. Sunday brunch, private parties, happy hour.

VERMILLION 1120 King St. 703-684-9669

THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street

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

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

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

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

CONTINENTAL BRABO

by Robert Weidmaier 1600 King St. 703-894-3440 BRABO TASTING ROOM 1600 King St. 703-894-5252 CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665 Situated on an idyllic hill, with sweeping views of the Potomac, the historic atmosphere features French and American Cuisine.

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 100 King Street 703-997-5300 PARADISO 124 King St. 703-683-5330 PINES OF FLORENCE 1300 King St. 703-549-1796 RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873 MEDITERRANEAN LA TASCA 607 King St. 703-299-9810 TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com

TEMPO 4231 Duke St. 703-370-7900 temporestaurant.com Northern Italian, French provincial & American cuisine featuring fresh seafood, meats and pasta served in a contemporary, romantic atmosphere.

PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194 thepitahouse.com

FRENCH BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com

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

LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661 FONTAINES CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151

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

VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747 SEAFOOD HANKS OYSTER BAR 1026 King St. 703-739-HANK

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

FISH MARKET-OLD TOWN 105 King St. 703-836-5676 fishmarketoldva.com Internationally known and locally owned!

We serve shrimps, a few crabs, tall people and lots of nice people, too! Live music and lively food!

YVES BISTRO 235 Swamp Fox Rd. (in Hoffman Ctr.) 703-329-1010

ERNIES ORGINIAL CRABHOUSE 1743 King St. 703-836-0046

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

t.j. stone’s grill house and tap room

celebrating american cuisine with libations from around the world

December Lamb Shank Month!

NEW YEAR’S EVE | DEC. 31, 2018 Union Street Public House transforms into Studio 121

wood burning fireplace! private event room over 300 beer & wine

Old Towns Largest New Years Eve 70’s DISCO Party Hats, Noise Makers • Prize for Best Costume Couple Special NYE dinner menu • Put on your boogie shoes

NO COVER!!

tjstones.com

121 South Union St. • Old Town Alexandria 703.548.1785 • unionstreetpublichouse.com

608 Montgomery St Alexandria 703.548.1004

Eat, Drink & Be Merry this December

December 1st ~ Sparkling Wine Class 2-4pm / Tickets available online December 19th ~ Champagne Wine Dinner 5-course menu / 6:30pm Reception / 7pm Dinner December 24th ~ 12th Annual Christmas Eve Dinner 4-course menu / $75 per person / 4pm Happy Hour / 5pm Dinner December 31st ~ 12th Annual New Year’s Eve Dinner 4-course menu / $85 per person / 4pm Happy Hour / 5pm Dinner

Book Your Holiday Party with Us Today!

606 N. Fayette St. Alexandria VA Reservations 703-519-3776

www.bastillerestaurant.com THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834

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

FISH MARKET-CLINTON 7611Old Branch Ave. Clinton, MD 301-599-7900

NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615

INDIAN BOMBAY CURRY COMPANY 2607 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-836-6363 DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd.

703-660-6085

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MASTERS OF CUISINE

JONNI SCOTT About Chef Scott:

I grew up moving around the country with my military family. I loved to bake and share my tasty treats with friends and loved ones, who in turn encouraged me to pursue a culinary career.

After moving to the Washington D.C. area, I studied Baking and Pastry at The Art Institute of Washington and worked Cenan’s Bakery and Sweet City Desserts in Vienna, VA. I continued my sweet adventure as the Pastry Chef of Ris in D.C.’s West End Neighborhood for two years, followed by working for Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants as a Pastry Sous Chef Tournant.

Now you can find me working as the Executive Pastry Chef of Junction Bakery and Bistro in Del Ray, Alexandria.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the culinary field?

Growing up, my mom enjoyed cooking a lot. She used time in the kitchen as her alone time and to escape from life’s craziness. Because she enjoyed cooking so much, all that was left for me to make was the desserts. I really enjoyed baking and started developing my own cookie recipes. My friends and family started asking if they could buy cookies from me and said that I should open my own bakery someday. Their encouragement inspired me to pursue a career in the culinary field.

Who or what has made the biggest influence on you during your career?

My boyfriend, Ryan Moore, has been a big influence on my career.

Ryan is the Executive Chef of a new

34 | December 2018

modern Israeli restaurant in DC called Sababa. He has a lot of experience making some of the best food out there. He spent 5 years working as a chef at minibar by Jose Andres, as well as many other amazing restaurants here in DC and abroad. We try to go out and eat food and desserts from the best chefs in area as often as we can. He has always encouraged me to continue to challenge myself and continue to refine my skills. He has helped me to grow as a chef and manager over the past few years.

What is your “personal favorite” dish on your menu and why?

I love our Butterscotch Éclair. I change our other desserts seasonally, but I always keep the Butterscotch Éclair on the menu because everyone loves it. It’s salty, sweet, and boozy, creamy and crunchy. It’s definitely a favorite among our staff and our customers.

What do you feel sets your cuisine apart from others in your field?

We make everything in house, even down to our English Muffins, Breakfast Sausage, Kimchi and Pickles.

All of the bread for our sandwiches is made in house. Hours are spent on every component of our hand-rolled croissants. Having someone work hands on with every single product demands very close attention to detail, which really elevates the quality of the final product.

If any chef in the world (past or present) could prepare you a meal, who would you want that to be?

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Yannick Cam. I am fortunate to know him personally. I have been to his restaurant in Bethseda, Bistro Provence, several times. He has prepared some of the best meals I have ever had. His food is real and pure, absolutely delicious.

What is your guilty food pleasure?

Chocolate Chip Cookies. I eat at least one chocolate chip cookie every day. Whenever we make the dough, I eat an unhealthy amount of it. Our chocolate chip cookies at Junction have a kiss of Maldon Sea Salt on top, and it makes the classic cookie a little bit better.

If you would like to see your favorite “Master of Cuisine” featured in this space, submit contact information to office@oldtowncrier. com.

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MARY ANN DANCISIN, Certified Specialist of Wine

GRAPEVINE

HAND-CRAFTED WINES for the

G

iving a gift of fine wine for the holidays is a time-honored tradition. In fact, the months leading up to Christmas are always the heaviest selling season for wines and spirits. But: not at our local wineries.

Visits to wineries in the beautiful Virginia countryside fall off once the leaves are off the trees. There’s no good reason for that. So many of them have roaring fireplaces, mulled wine, holiday gift bazaars, and more.

Three Fox Vineyards in Delaplane has plans for an ornament making party and music throughout the month.

Barrel Oak Winery features poinsettia cocktails every Sunday in December.

And, to entice the thinning crowds, quite a few wineries offer special deals and discounts at this time of year.

So why not give a local wine as a gift? Afraid you’ll make a mistake? How do you know your selection with make the proper impression?

Here’s a great way to start.

To help identify the best of the best, the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association holds an annual competition, the largest in the US focused exclusively on the east coast. Judges “blind taste” close to 500 wines, that

is, they know the category of the wine (ie Chardonnay, Rose, Fortified), but NOT the name of the winery. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded.

From all the golds, a “Best of Category” winner is selected.

And, believe it or not, in the 30+ categories of stellar eastern wines, almost twothirds are from VA and MD. Focus on the Best of Category winners and you’ve got a wine list vetted by ASWA’s experts.

Next, you need to evaluate the personality of the gift recipient.

Classic Need to impress a boss or an important client? You can’t go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon. Approaching its 25th anniversary, Gray Ghost Vineyards was a pioneer of the modern Virginia wine trade, and their Reserve Cab, 100% estate grown, is only produced in exceptional years.

Another classic is a Bordeaux-style blend, like Pearmund Cellars Ameritage Reserve 2016, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot and malbec, with dark fruit, spice, and vanilla flavors.

Or cheat a little (there’s tannat in this blend) with Philip Carter Winery of

You are probably familiar with the Virginia Wine Festival. It’s the Commonwealth’s longest running fest, begun in 1975. The organization that puts the festival together, the Atlantic Seaboard Winery Association (ASWA), has roots that go deep in the Virginia wine scene.

Founded in 1973 as the Vinifera Wine Growers Association, ASWA was renamed in 2008 to reflect an expanded regional focus and desire to explore a broader range of grape varieties. Today, wineries in the 17 east coast states, plus PA, WV, and VT, can be members.

36 | December 2018

Virginia Cleve 2015. Cleve Hall was an historic estate owned by the Carter family, and this tribute wine displays the quality the Carter family has been known for since their first wine award in London in 1762.

The wine is rustic yet velvety, with subtle oak married with jammy notes.

Foodie Do you have a friend who is very precise when selecting wines to serve with dinner? Often overlooked, sauvignon blanc is a much more versatile food wine than a typical chardonnay.

Consider Stinson Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2017.

Winemaker Rachel StinsonVrooman ferments the wine on the lees in a concrete egg and in traditional stainless steel giving it a vivid, mineralladen profile.

Or thinking about the ubiquitous turkey or ham, try

Left: Rockbridge V d'Or Right: Cross Keys Fiore 2017 ASWA’s 2018 Best of Show winner CrossKeys Vineyard Fiore 2017, a rosé composed of 70% cabernet franc and 30% chambourcin, made with estate-grown Shenandoah Valley AVA fruit. It shows a lush fruitiness balanced with savory herbal notes.

Loyalist Put a quintessential Virginia spin on your giftgiving with Barboursville Vineyards Viognier Reserve.

Always excellent, the wine is 100% varietal, 100% stainless fermented and aged on the lees.

Pair it with a red from

Pearmund Cellars: Cabernet Franc 2016, showing a characteristic hint of bell pepper combined with cocoa, cherry and black raspberry flavors.

Trendsetter/Wine Geek Go experimental with Boordy Vineyards Landmark Albarino 2017. The Spanish grape albarino is still a rarity here. At Boordy, the wine is cool fermented and bottled early to capture fresh peach and flower aromas and crisp acidity.

GRAPEVINE > PAGE 38

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DOUG FABBIOLI

Underground

tips to enjoying the wineries in the holiday season

E

arly December quiets down on the weekends at most wineries. If you can make the time, it’s a great time to do a tasting tour. Less crowds and better parking.

Many wineries will have music, open house events and pricing specials that can help fill a few stockings. Check out the websites, Facebook pages Some of the wineries have been offering vertical flights lately. This means larger tastes of the same wine from different vintages. This can make for a different and more in-depth tasting experience.

If you have relatives in town, it is highly recommended that you take them out to the country to taste some of Virginia’s finest.

Remember that house guests need a little fresh air during their stay. The weekdays around the holidays can be great times to visit the wineries. Be sure to check the hours of your chosen wineries.

We have had some customers give a wine club membership as a gift. Other gift ideas might be a special tasting or a class the winery is offering.

If you are looking for something a bit more grand, you may host a winery tour complete with a hired driver and transportation. Be sure to plan ahead with the wineries you visit.

The winter is a much easier time to get your reservation.

Be sure to bring home some wines for your holiday table and as gifts for those worthy folks that were not quite on the list, as well as those that are. Lots of quality choices from some great venues and buying local helps us keep farming.

Across the wine industry, we love doing what we do and who we do it with. Thank you for visiting our venues, buying our wines and sharing it with friends. Have a FABulous holiday season and cherish the time you share with your loved ones!

real people. earth friendly. fabulous wines.

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December 2018 | 37

GRAPEVINE FROM PAGE 36

A new darling on the Virginia wine scene is petit manseng. Cooper Vineyards, sold in 2015, is transitioning to the name Fifty-Third Winery. Fitting, as it was the 53rd farm winery licensed in VA. Their Petit Manseng 2016 is a medium-bodied quaff with notes of pineapple, pear and honey.

Fun, just Fun Your friend who perpetually throws house parties can probably use a case or two.

The Barns at Hamilton Station is a family-owned winery on a former dairy farm. Virginia luminary Michael Shaps is the winemaker. Their Cascina 2017 is a versatile blend of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, viognier and petit manseng, with grassy,

herbal notes and a tropical finish.

Instead of a mass-produced pinot grigio, go for something handcrafted like Fox Meadow Winery’s Pinot Grigio 2017.

The wine shows an exciting a balance of acidity with minerality and citrus notes.

Top: Gray Ghost Cab Bottom: Port of Leonardtown winery barrel

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who, while not really “wine people,” simply love them some sweets.

And, yes, you are reading this correctly: Port of Leonardtown Port captured the Best of Category for port-style wine.

The wine is robust, and rich with dark fruit flavor.

Ice wine is a perfect winter treat. The technology of refrigeration becomes an art as practiced by Rockbridge Vineyards. Try V d’Or 2016, a lush wine redolent of honey and oranges. Suggested retail: $25.00 Clearly, there is a perfect Virginia or Maryland wine for everyone on your list. Most wineries will ship in state, so even if you can’t make the trek, you can still support our local vineyards. And, for your special wine guy/gal, ask your favorite winery if you can purchase a gift membership to their wine

club.

That way, the giving lasts all through the New Year!

To see the full list of ASWA’s Best of Category winners, go to aswawines.org/aswa-winecomp/award-winning-atlanticseaboard-wines/.

Mary Ann Dancisin (mdancisin@ studioecs.com) is a Certified Specialist of Wine with more years in the wine trade than she’d care to acknowledge. Currently a marketing consultant focusing on wine, food and travel, she is planning to revive the Virginia Wine Guide Online, a spin-off of the old Virginia Wine Gazette, in the coming months. She was appointed to the Board of the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association in March of this year.

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December 2018 | 39

FITNESS

E

very January hundreds of people head out to join a gym or activity group to make a new year’s resolution. One of the top resolutions on just about everyone’s list is some type of fitness goal, losing weight, training to run a 5k or starting a weight training program to tone up. Make this upcoming new year more successful by starting your fitness program before the new year gets here. Experts say it takes 30 days to create a habit. If you start your workout plan in December, by the time the new year rolls around you will be ahead of everyone else!

One of the simplest forms of exercise that just about 40 | December 2018

NICOLE FLANAGAN

everyone can participate in is walking. There is no equipment needed except for a good pair of walking sneakers. With the weather that we have been having here there is no reason not to grab a buddy and get outside for a walk. If going outside is not an option then a walking workout on a treadmill is great as well. Here are a few ways to boost your walking routine into a fat burning session.

Steady-Pace walk: Aim for a speed at which you’re hustling but still able to carry on a conversation. Your rate of perceived exertion, or RPE should be about a 6. RPE is measured on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being sitting still and

10 being an all-out sprint. If you are on a treadmill this speed will be between a 13 and 17 minute mile. The goal is to maintain this speed for 45minutes. Calories burned at this pace can be between 150 and 300 depending on your pace and fitness level.

Walking Hills: walking up hills or climbing stairs will burn more calories and add some muscle tone to your legs and butt. Start out walking on a flat surface for 15minutes at a pace where your RPE is about 6 or 7. Find some stairs or a hill or set your treadmill to a 4 percent incline and walk uphill for about 2 minutes.

Recover by walking on a flat surface for five minutes. If you are outside and can only find

one set of stairs or one hill, walk up and down the stairs for five minutes followed by ten minutes of walking on a flat surface. If you are walking along the bike path or anywhere in Old Town there are plenty of stairs to walk.

Continue this uphill interval for a 45minute workout and burn almost double the calories you would if you were just walking at a steady pace.

Intervals: burn more calories by increasing your pace.

Warm up by walking at a reasonable pace for about ten minutes at an RPE of around 6. Then walk as fast as you can for one minute, followed by slowing down to your regular pace for about 2 minutes.

Alternate these intervals for

45 minutes. If you’re not wearing a watch, measure your fast and moderate pace by blocks. Walk quickly for one block and then slow it down a bit for two blocks.

With three easy ways to increase your calorie burning potential while you walk you can be sure that walking off some weight during this holiday season will be a success. Try to get out and be active at least three to four times per week to maintain your cardiovascular fitness.

Getting a routine set up now will help manage stress and keep off weight during the holidays, plus give you an advantage when it comes to making that fitness resolution for 2019!

FROM THE TRAINER RYAN UNVERZAGT

❶

❷

Holiday Stress….What?

D

ecember is a great time to exercise because exercise is a great way to relieve some holiday stress. This month’s exercise is the Cable Row. This is a machine resistance exercise which targets the back and spinal muscles,

mainly the rhomboids, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, rear deltoids, and biceps.

Many variations of the cable row exist because of the numerous cable handle attachments that you can use.

In this example, I chose to use a narrow-grip handle.

Before you begin, select an appropriate weight in which you can pull through a full range of motion without the need to lean backwards. Most cable row machines will have a flat bench to sit on with an angled foot-plate to position the legs and feet. Others

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might have an adjustable seat and chest-pad to lean against without a foot-plate. The start position for this exercise is shown in Figure 1.

What I do first is grab the handle with both hands and then place one foot on the plate to help scoot back on the seat. The handle will be too far forward to reach if you sit down in position and then try to grab it. Once you secure the handle and pull it away from the machine, both feet should be placed on the footplate, knees slightly bent, arms extended straight in front of you, and seated in a good, tall posture without leaning backwards. Now you’re ready to begin.

Pull the handle toward your abdomen using your upper back muscles (not just your arms) until the shoulder blades come together and your elbows are slightly behind the torso. Stay in the Haircuts $15

upright position (Figure 2) throughout the row. You can pause for a moment before controlling the weight stack back to the start position by extending your arms straight.

Remember to keep breathing too, exhale on the pull, and inhale while lowering the weight. Try 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Enjoy some holiday fun and start thinking about those upcoming resolutions.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

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

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December 2018 | 41

FIRST BLUSH

KIM PUTENS

Get Your Holiday

Y

ou’ve trimmed the tree, hung the stockings, decorated the house, and bought the gifts, but what about you?

When invitations to holiday parties abound, make sure you sparkle for every occasion. Consider these trendy make up looks for any possible holiday festivity that may come your way.

The Office Party Your normally conservative office look is still the best course of action even though it is a “holiday” party. Keep your makeup light, but fresh.

Freshen and awaken your look with a dab of concealer to the corner and outer edges of the eye. Dab on a sheer lip gloss. And, to lend some festive sparkle, add a dab of shimmer to the apples of the cheek and to the corner of the eye. So as not to compete

with the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree, be sure not to overdue the shimmer.

Be light, be strategic and be discreet.

Drinks with the Girls Think girly fun, think pink, think glossy, and think fresh.

Glossy, sheer lips with a dab of dazzle are best. Pink tones on the eyes and cheeks make for a fresh and flirty look appropriate for an exclusively girls only fete. To ensure a fresh and dewy look, choose cream based products for the cheeks and eyes. Finish the look with a light coat of black mascara on your upper and lower lashes.

Cocktail Party Take subtle to new heights with heavier eyeliner and metallic tones. Try heavy eyeliner over subtle eye

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base colors for a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” look. Layer generous eyeliner along the lash line on the top eyelid only, choosing from rich tones such as navy blue, black or chocolate brown. To pull off this look correctly, be sure to keep the eye shadow a neutral shade swept over the eyelid and all the way up to the brow. Keep cheeks bare and choose a sheer or light colored lip gloss.

You could also choose to sparkle at your next cocktail party. Metallic tones in all shades of gold, pewter and bronze are very in style and festive for the holiday season.

Sweep the appropriate shade for your tone (golds for blonds, pewter for dark hair, bronze for brunettes) over your eyelid only.

Pair with a generous amount of eyeliner and mascara making sure to pump up the volume to add drama to the eyes. Next sweep a bronzer over the face and add a neutral lip gloss.

Black Tie Event This is the event to add some drama to your normal makeup routine. Try a few different looks depending upon your mood and the scene. The smoky eye is still the way to add drama to your evening look. Be sure to pair it with neutral, but glossy lips to avoid looking vamped out.

Shimmer is still in too!

You can’t go wrong with bringing a little sparkle to your face. As I’ve always

On! cautioned though, be sure to reach for the shimmer, not the glitter … you don’t want to apply your makeup like you’d do an art project. Be strategic with the shimmer - try sweeping it across the cheeks, pressing it along the brow bone, and applying to the center of the lips.

Another option for the black

tie event is a look I like to call the festive look. Try a pale face matched with ruby red lips. In order for this to resonate over the holidays, be sure to match the red of your lips to the red of your

outfit. Clashing reds will make everyone else seeing red. The rest of the makeup should be light and subtle. Only the lips can take center stage with this look.

Have fun with your makeup and enjoy the Holiday season in style!

OPEN SPACE

I

hate to admit it, but I’ve had a few gift-related meltdowns in my past and I’m not talking about the year I didn’t get my Baby Drowsy. One meltdown may or may not have been as recent as three months ago when, on the morning of my birthday, my dearly betrothed XXL did not have a gift for me to open.

Waaaaaahhhh!!!! I know. I’m such a brat, but if you’ve ever read, “The 5 Love Languages”

by Gary Chapman, you’ll understand that GIFTS are my mojo. To me, gifts are love materialized—literally. They make me feel appreciated, that someone took the time to be thoughtful about me.

Being on the receiving end of a special token of someone’s affection makes my heart sing. So, to wake up to no gifts sent me a message that everything else in his life was more important than me which is not at all what he intended. #relationshipfail. We just happen to speak different love languages. It’s important to know your significant other’s love language! My hubby’s love languages (you can have more than one) for receiving are words of affirmation and

LORI WELCH BROWN

A GIRL’S GUIDE TO GIFT RECEIVING (AND GIVING) perfectly for us both so long as affection. For giving, he is acts for error. As I got older, my he understands that after he’s of service. He lives to serve. He Mom sorta started mailing it in done washing my car, he needs takes out the garbage, empties as far as Christmas gift giving. to drive it over to LuLu Lemon the dishwasher and washes To her credit, she wasn’t a big for some new yoga apparel. my car. Those are just a few shopper (proof my brother My parents were great at examples of how he tells me Marty may have been right all gift giving when I was younger he loves me, and I love that those years he told me I was because my brothers and I each adopted). She latched onto about him. In the beginning provided a specific list which of our relationship, I went the whole gift card thing. Easy was primarily based on the overboard for every birthday peasy. To the receiver this says, Sears and Roebuck Christmas and Christmas carefully “I don’t know a thing about catalog. The day the mailman selecting gifts that showed that you and I happened to be at slipped it into our mailbox was I not only loved him, but I 7-11 buying some smokes and almost as exciting as Christmas grabbed this for you. Enjoy.” knew who he was—I ‘got’ him. morning itself. My brothers I trolled Bass Pro Shops for Ugh. I didn’t mind one or two, and I jockeyed for position as fishing gear, read articles about but hello—I’m gonna need you the best bourbons, and covered to who would get it first. Let to put some effort into this. I me tell you, those pages were him in flannel and camo. He mean, what’s the point? Isn’t would do the appropriate ‘ohhs pretty thin and dog eared if that what gifts are all about—a you were the last in the line and ahhhs,’ but most of the thoughtful gesture? To me, a up to get your paws on it. My gifts are probably still in their well-chosen gift means that parents realized my ninja-like boxes with the tags. He’s not person ‘gets’ me. I remember administrative skills early on a gift guy. The gift he loved feeling slightly depressed when when my list was presented the most was the picture I my own mother would say (pre-computer) on collegedrew of his best friend, Dozer. things like, “You’re so hard ruled paper with columns That brought him to tears. to shop for. I just don’t know and headings to include He gets more enjoyment out what to get you.” Really? I Description, Color, Product of me telling him he’s hot came from your loins. It’s just and Page #.| IDesigner was creatingJewelry and touching his knee than not|that hard, people. And— Custom#,Designs Engagement Rings | spreadsheets before Bill Gates if I bought him a Rolex, so here’s the thing I’ve told my was even born. I left no room this arrangement works out husband. I really can’t be mad

if you actually went to a store and tried. But, please try at a store that has a decent return/ exchange policy. I know.

I’m evil, right? And, OMG. Homemade gifts? Not only did you think of me, you put your heart and soul into it. #love-it!

After my birthday melt down, I told hubby that I would idiot proof this whole gift thing for him. I never wanted either of us to suffer in this fashion again. (We had already lived through a Christmas when he did 90% of his shopping at CVS. Don’t get me wrong. CVS is great for cold medicine and hosiery and perhaps the occasional chia pet for your white elephant gift exchange, but otherwise off-limits for genuine gift giving). I made him a list that he would have throughout the year—a list of things that he could ‘surprise’ me with for any occasion. Harkening back to my childhood, it details the store, the item, color, size, etc., and bonus points—this time I actually got to utilize Excel.

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December 2018 | 43

SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE PEGGIE ARVIDSON

“I

don’t need to know how it works, but I have faith that every morning when I get out of bed my feet are going to land on the ground and I’m not going to float up in space… because….gravity.” She said it tongue in cheek as our conversation on faith was getting deeper by the minute.

We laughed and moved on to other topics. I still wasn’t sure that believing in gravity, which can be proven by science, was equivalent to having faith.

I’ve been researching the concept of faith for several years and recently doubleddown on the research. It’s not been as easy as I’d hoped to get a handle on faith. I guess you could say that my faith in the ease of writing about faith was misdirected.

Faith comes from the Latin word fides roughly translated to mean “trust, guarantee, proof, sincerity, loyalty and/or belief.”

Can there be faith if there is no religious or Godconnotation? One would think.

Yet when you type “what is faith?” or “Can you have faith without being religious?” in

OPEN SPACE FROM PAGE 43

has a spreadsheet to help guide him through it. I recently overheard him telling someone about my secret gift room which he has come to terms with and now appreciates. I am a shopper—I love to shop. I live to shop. I believe that retail therapy is a thing. As I shop throughout the year, I’m always picking up little trinkets and treasures for my loved ones— things that make me think of them or that I think they will enjoy/appreciate—which get tucked away into the gift room until the perfect occasion.

I get it. The holidays are not about gifts and ’tis better to give than receive…yada yada ya. No. Seriously. I get that. It’s the SPIRIT of the season that matters. The whole thing makes me giddy. And, I truly LOVE gifting others. Gifts don’t have 44 | December 2018

YA GOTTA HAVE FAITH…. any search engine you will find thousands of results all discussing faith in religious terms, primarily in traditional Christian theologies.

There’s no argument that faith is essential to Christian doctrine, but what about faith for the millions of people world-wide who don’t practice Christianity?

Meriam-Webster defines faith in a number of ways, as “1 (a) allegiance to duty or a person: loyalty; (b) 1 fidelity to one’s promises, 2. Sincerity of intentions,” as well as “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.”

My theory has been that faith is hard to describe but I know it when I experience it.

Years ago I wrote about walking in dense fog in Northern Virginia. I had my two dogs with me and we couldn’t see more than five feet to cost an arm and a leg. They just have to be thoughtful. For my family, I try to give gifts that will create a memory, i.e., tix to an event, dinner, etc. One of my fave traditions is shopping for kids who might not have a Christmas otherwise. The agency we use provides a list with each child’s sizes, favorite colors and wish list. As I’m shopping, I feel like I ‘get’ that kid—that I understand who he/ she is by what they’re reading, what their likes and hobbies are, etc. I try to imagine who they are what they’re about.

Every year when I wrap those gifts, my heart just about implodes knowing that for just a moment I’ve connected with them and sent them some love because this is a language I understand.

Here’s thinking of you, my friends, and wishing you the happiest of holidays.

in front of us. I was worried about a neighbor’s rogue dog appearing out of the fog and raising a ruckus and I almost aborted the walk to wait for the fog to lift. In the end I chose to keep walking, one foot in front of the other and to have faith in my dogs’ sense of smell to keep us all on the path and away from the scrappy roaming ankle-biter. I relied on trust that the path would be there as it had always been even though I couldn’t see it.

This wasn’t a life or death situation. I wasn’t in imminent danger and other than apprehension about an unlikely dog-fight I knew all would work out. That’s what life is like of course. Fog every morning and every day. We can fall into the mistaken belief that our life purpose is entwined with the outcome of an election, or the state of politics or even

the condition of our bank account. Faith comes in when we step back and recognize that our purpose is always there, shining light, if we’re willing to see it. We must have faith that we have the capacity to live meaningful lives and that our meaning is separate from the showdowns we put front and center.

Recently a friend said that faith allows us the ability to get out of the house and drive to our destination, because we have faith that the other people on the road will not cross the double lines and crash into us. After all, we don’t know those people, we simply have faith that the idea of selfpreservation is strong in each of us.

In these times it can seem harder to have faith like that.

It’s hardto have faith in our fellow humans and their self-

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preservation desires. There have been far too many atrocities for me to naively believe that all humans are committed to their own wellbeing, given the way they act out toward others. Still, I have faith that this is all part of a plan to which I’m not yet privy.

Having faith, to me, means that I stay loyal to my promises, and to my higher self. The promises that I’ve made to find kindness instead of hate and to believe in the love in every one of us without exception. My faith gives me the platform to sustain this promise no matter how many times the 6 o’clock news shines the light on the dark recesses of humanity. I have faith that one person can make a positive impact and that showing up and being focused on that is my only job. Faith is holding steady despite the torrent of bad news – not to be “better than,” but simply to be.

This isn’t a new concept, Helen Keller said it best, “Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.”

I hold faith that in 2019 all our purposes will shine brighter.

GO FISH

STEVE CHACONAS

Fishing for Holiday Gifts?

S

hopping for anglers is frustrating; but for the person on the receiving end, there’s a guaranteed stint in the return line!

Choose gifts for on and off the water!

Football players wear gloves for better grip. Fishing gloves must enable finger use for knot tying and sensitivity. Fish Monkey Pro 365 Guide Gloves enhance fishing performance and provide protection from outdoor elements. The newest patterns are Fish Monkey virtual hand graffiti. Comfort, grip and support and a quickdrying spandex back provide total UPF 50+ sun protection with a non-slip silicone palm print. Getting on or off is easy with “pullers”. Several angling gloves are available. fishmonkeygloves.com Slipping into something more comfortable, sport sandal maker TEVA created Ember Moc. Part sneaker, part sleeping bag, Ember Moc is a shoe in for traveling airport feet, slipping feet around the house, stepping out to get the paper, or even at the campground. The easyon shoe features a collapsible back allowing feet to slide in while heels rebound for slipper like comfort in an outdoor leisure shoe. The polyurethane sockline/footbed delivers comfort. teva.com Outdoors people will love the toughness. Others will appreciate the style and comfort of the windproof and water resistant Grundens Midway Hooded Softshell Fishing Jacket. Comfortable 4-way stretch softshell fabric allows movement and protection against cold, wind and damp air.

Fit features like a three-piece adjustable hood, cinch-cord waist adjustment and adjustable wrist cuffs seal out bitter wind and cold air. Pockets for gear and personal item storage including an MP-3 friendly interior chest pocket. grundens. com Giving foul weather the boot, Grundens new DeckBoss Fishing Boots are essential for wet land or boat decks.

Deck-Boss Boots provide allday comfort. A flexible and protective toe cap and injection molded upper eliminate delamination and cracking.

The Patented “Herkules Grip™” compression molded rubber outsole provides traction.

With a height of 15 inches, the flexible upper boot can be folded down. A 1-inch groove holds a durable silicone band, keeping pants out of muck and legs dry. Manufactured in the Pacific Northwest. grundens. com Women deserve outdoors clothing! Since 1897, Filson has provided rugged outdoor wear for miners, prospectors and lumbermen. This tough company has a softer side too! Filson’s new brushed cotton flannel, button front Women’s Alaskan Guide Shirt is comfortable versatile, and breathable. A tight weave provides durability and wind resistance. The Women’s Alaskan Guide Shirt offers a tailored fit designed for mobility and adjustable cuffs. Back darts add female form-fitting comfort and movement. Machine washable. filson.com Fishing electronics are incredible for finding and catching fish, and expensive

and are easy targets for thieves looking for a quick buck and getaway. Theft protection is necessary. Simple, compact and easy to install, DuraSafe E-Locks fit most bracket-mounted electronics, eliminating the hassle of uninstalling and reinstalling equipment, saving time and reducing wear and tear on plugs and wires. DuraSafe E-Locks can be keyed alike, protecting several units. Constructed with marine grade materials. Made in the USA. durasafelocks.com Phones ring when fishing, hunting or enjoying the outdoors. Hands-free ear buds always fall out at the wrong time. Decibullz Bluetooth earphones mold to the exact shape of your ears, easily and quickly for a better and secure fit. They can be softened and molded for a comfortable, secure and noise isolating perfect fit. Containing microphone with volume control, Decibullz Wireless inear machined metal earphones are small and light. Bluetooth technology provides on-thego sweat proof and waterproof earpiece performance. decibullz. com Don’t reflect upon the suns

glare! World famous Maui Jim sunglasses PolarizedPlus2® technology protect eyes from glare and harmful UV rays revealing and enhancing vivid colors. A bit larger, Byron Bay’s sleek wrap frame provides a little more width to fit comfortably for long days on the water. Easier on the eyes and your face, BiGradient SuperThin scratch and solvent resistant glass lenses are 32% thinner and lighter than standard glass. A lightweight frame has embedded rubber

nose pads and spring hinges.

Four frame/lens color combinations. Available in prescription. mauijim.com Award winning outdoors writer Robert Montgomery’s newest book, Kickin’ Bass, has elevated bass fishing into a cerebral zone. The right lure at the right time in the right place will produce the bass of a lifetime. Learn the decisionmaking process from angler/ writers who know how to fish and communicate. The perfect gift anglers who have everything, except on-the-water success. amazon.com Gift certificates are great.

Online, catalog and brick and mortar stores are loaded with outdoors gifts. But the best gift of all is time on the water. Find a buddy, a spouse and especially a child, and go fish!

Author Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac bass fishing guide & contributing writer for BoatU.S. (BoatUS.com) Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. Book trips/purchase gift certificates: info@NationalBass.com.

Potomac River Bassing in December Target hard cover near drops as fish prepare to head into winter holes. Use Quantum spinning rods with faster Quantum Smoke reels and downsize to GAMMA 6-pound test Edge fluorocarbon either as a main line or leader with 15-pound test GAMMA Torque braid. Reels with smooth drags are important, like the Quantum Smoke.

Drop shot, shaky head, and split shot are best bets. Use Mustad 1/0 Mega Bite hooks along with 3/16-ounce Water Gremlin BullShot weights for drop shots and split shots. MIZMO’s BarbWire head keeps baits in place and increases hook ups with 5-inch Doodle worms. MIZMO also makes great 3-inch grubs and tubes. Use 1/8-ounce heads for both. Also break out Punisher hair jigs with matching chunks.

Use slow horizontal presentations. Soak soft plastics and jigs in Jack’s Juice garlic bait spray.

Also time to tie on Silver Buddy lures. Use ½ ounce on 10-pound test GAMMA EDGE on casting reels like QUANTUM VAPORs on KVD Quantum spinnerbait rods with enough tip flex for casting and hook-setting backbone.

Mann’s Loudmouth II cranks on 10-pound test EDGE work along warmed surfaces.

Use shad patterns in clearer water or sunny days, craws otherwise. On warmest days, try suspending jerkbaits when water reaches 50 degrees.

Old Town Crier

December 2018 | 45

NATIONAL HARBOR

I

am officially in the holiday spirit now! The tree lighting here in the Harbor took place a little bit early for my taste but I have to admit that it did give me a nudge toward getting psyched up for the season. I will admit that I have been watching my Christmas shows on Hallmark and Lifetime since before Thanksgiving…. don’t judge me. It’s going to be a fabulous holiday season.

Being the co-publisher of the OTC has a few perks and one of the best is being invited to the Media Preview of ICE! and the opening of Christmas On the Potomac at the Gaylord National Resort.

I look forward to this event each year almost as much as I 46 | December 2018

LANI GERING

do 4th of July fireworks. Part of the allure is the fact that since this isn’t open to the public, it lends itself to a nice sized crowd and not a “ton” of kids. I know, I know, it should be all about the children but sometimes you just want to enjoy things with “child-like” adults.

The resort’s signature holiday attraction, ICE!, returns for the 10th year to showcase the true meaning of Christmas with its rendition of the beloved classic story, A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schulz. My favorite characters including Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and friends come to life in more than 2 million pounds of colorful, larger-than-life

ice sculptures hand-carved by 35 artisans from Harbin, China. And…my very favorite ICE! feature - the ice slides!

I really do get a thrill sliding down the two-story tall slide. I am probably one of the oldest, if not the oldest, participants at 65. As in years past the show culminates with the impressive, crystal clear ice sculpture of the Nativity scene. This year Linus’ famous soliloquy from the holiday classic accompanies the scene.

If ICE! isn’t enough time with the Peanuts gang, visitors can experience a new Merry Snoopy Christmas Scavenger Hunt and enjoy an interactive character experience, Breakfast with Charlie Brown™ & Friends,

that is sure to have the entire family bopping around. Enjoy a delicious buffet of morning favorites with Peanuts-themed dishes, such as Charlie Brown’s Build-Your-OwnFrench-Toast station with Snoopy’s Maple Syrup.

The resort truly does turn into a Christmas wonderland during the season. Considering that there are over 2 million lights involved, both the exterior and the interior are a sight to behold. This is the third year for the Starlight – or Jetson as I refer to it – Christmas tree.

It is a 55 foot tall structure suspended from the ceiling of the 19 story Atrium that is lit three times during the evening accompanied by a

laser light and fountain show set to the tune of an array of holiday tunes. I can sit through all three lightings with my adult beverage at the Belvedere Lounge just off of the lobby. Oh, yeah, the nightly indoor snow fall ads to the ambiance.

New this year, visitors can see a 25-minute Cirque Dreams Unwrapped show in the atrium. I will miss the song and dance production that they had last year but I am a Cirque fan so this is a good alternative. This is definitely worth watching just for the sheer talent of the performers and the spectacular costumes and set.

Attendees enjoy acrobatic acts, aerialist performances

and fun for the whole family performed by an international cast from seven countries. For guaranteed seating, tickets are available. See times in the Events listing in this section.

The Christmas Village is back in full swing and the ice skating rink is back. There were several people on the ice when we were there this year. I’m going back to try it out. Been awhile since I’ve had skates on. The carousel and train ride, Cookies with Mrs. Claus, photos with Santa and a Gingerbread Decorating Corner and the Build-A-Bear Workshop are all back this year. There is a fee for these attractions but there are packages that can be purchased that will save you Old Town Crier

some change.

There are several other events taking place at the Resort that will entertain the little ones and they are offering some fantastic Stay and Play room packages. Can’t think of a better present for the whole family than a night at this fabulous place during the holidays.

Outside of the Gaylord, the holiday celebration continues throughout the Harbor with the nightly lighting of the 56-foot tree that overlooks the Plaza. The lighting is accompanied by some very happening music at intervals throughtout the night. New this year are the fireworks that happen Saturdays at 5:30 pm through the 22nd. Other

activities continue throughout the holidays but one of the best is the opportunity to meet Santa at either the Capital Wheel or the Carousel. The wheel is very impressive these days. They have a new “lighting” guru and it has been spectacular.

Don’t forget to stop by the Flight Deck for a beverage before you board – they have some nice big fire pits going and some hot beverages to warm you up.

The MGM celebrates its two-year anniversary and the holiday season with spectacular decorations throughout the complex including the property’s popular Conservatory. The holidays truly come alive with

this year’s fabulous theme.

The display is two stories tall and has to be seen to be truly appreciated. The photos in this section don’t do it justice.

It looks like the Cirque troupe that is performing in the Atrium at the Gaylord is part of a larger production, Cirque Dreams Holidaze, that will take place in the Theater at the MGM from December 20th -23rd. I’m looking forward to checking it out. I love events in small venues and every Cirque production I have been to makes you feel like you are part of the show.

The Harbor is the perfect location to enjoy a wide array of holiday activities and events in close proximity to Old Town Alexandria and

Christmas at Mount Vernon as well as the holiday events at The Wharf on the waterfront in D.C.—all of these are just a short drive from the Harbor.

My preference is the water taxi if you have the time. No need to worry about parking (other than where you get on) and you can experience each destination in one day if you really do some planning. The water taxis run between all of these destinations until New Year’s Day. Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa or whatever else any of you readers may celebrate! Let’s make this a very happy holiday season!

December 2018 | 47

Experience 2 Million Pounds of Ice Sculptures & Slides

Tickets & Overnight Packages on Sale Now!

ChristmasOnThePotomac.com The fun ends January 1.

ICE! PRESENTED BY

PRESENTED BY

Peanuts © 2018 Peanuts Worldwide LLC. PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc.

NATIONAL HARBOR DINING GUIDE AC LOUNGE 156 Waterfront Street 301-749-2299 BOND 45 149 Waterfront Street 301-839-1445 BRASS TAP 164 Fleet Street 301-965-9116 BROTHER JIMMY’S BBQ 177 Fleet Street 301-909-8860 CADILLAC RANCH 186 Fleet Street 301-839-1100 CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL 158 National Plaza 301-749-2016 CRAB CAKE CAFE 140 National Plaza 240-766-2063 ELEVATION BURGER 108 Waterfront Street 301-749-4014 FIORELLA PIZZERIA E CAFFE 152 National Plaza 301-839-1811 GRACES MANDARIN 188 Waterfront Street 301-839-3788

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY 200 American Way 240-493-3900 IRISH WHISPER 177 Fleet Street 301-909-8859 MASON'S FAMOUS LOBSTER ROLLS 156 National Plaza 410-298-7850 McCORMICK & SCHMICK 145 National Plaza 301-567-6224 McLOONES PIER HOUSE 141 National Harbor Plaza 301-839-0815 MEZEH MEDITERRANEAN 144 National Plaza 301-753-7961 NANDO’S PERI-PERI 191 American Way 301-567-8900 NATIONAL PAST TIME SPORTS BAR & GRILLE Gaylord Resort 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com OLD HICKORY STEAKHOUSE Gaylord Resort 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com

48 | December 2018

PIENZA ITALIAN MARKET Gaylord Resort 301-965-4000 gaylordnational.com POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS 146 National Plaza 301-686-1160 PUBLIC HOUSE 199 Fleet Street 240-493-6120 REDSTONE AMERICAN GRILL 155 National Plaza 301-839-3330 ROSA MEXICANA 135 Waterfront Street 301-567-1005 SAUCIETY AMERICAN GRILL 171 Waterfront Street 240-766-3640 SUCCOTASH 168 Waterfront Street 301-567-8900 THAI PAVILLION 151 American Way 301-749-2022 WALRUS OYSTER & ALE HOUSE 152 Waterfront Street 301-567-6100

National Harbor Calendar of Events - December 2018 SATURDAYS AT 4:45 Holiday Movies On the Plaza 1st – ‘Tis the Season to be Smurfy 8th – A Pink Panther Christmas (1978) 15th – Jack Frost (1979 22nd – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) The holiday movies continue through December 22nd. Bring a portable chair and a blanket and sit back and enjoy!

THROUGH DECEMBER 22ND Holiday Happenings National Harbor Waterfront Street The holiday celebration continues throughout the destination with the lighting of its 56-foot tree and two million twinkling lights followed by a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday nights. Fireworks will continue every Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. throughout the season until December 22. Activities continue throughout the holidays with the opportunity to meet Santa at the Capital Wheel and the Carousel.

THROUGH JANUARY 1ST Christmas on the Potomac Gaylord National Resort 201 Waterfront Street ICE! – A Charlie Brown Christmas - Open Daily through January 1st Cirque Dreams Unwrapped - Live Entertainment in the Atrium - 1:00, 6:30, 8:00 pm A Christmas Wish - Tree Lighting, Laser Light Show and Indoor Snowfall – 6:00, 7:30, 8:30, 9:00 pm Breakfast with Charlie Brown & Friends at Pienza Christmas Village – Ice skating, Cookies with Mrs. Claus, carousel & train rides, Build-A Bear Workshop, gift shop and more!

Everything happens within the confines of the Resort making this a great one stop adventure. For detailed information log on to ChristmasOnThePotomac.com.

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