Old Town Crier - December 2024 by Old Town Crier

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

Well, here it is again, we are rounding out another year of publishing the Old Town Crier, a tradition that began in January 1988. One of our better ideas was to include coverage From the Bay to the Blue Ridge. These are two entirely diﬀerent destinations with Alexandria lying in between. These are also areas that all of us visit. We have the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains to our west with changing seasons, skiing, camping, mountain climbing as well as the famous Virginia Wine industry. To the east we have the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. Here you can ﬁ nd islands to explore, sail and enjoy the serene beauty of the Bay, not to mention the delicious Maryland Blue Crabs and local oysters! All this being said, we are welcoming in the holiday season in all of areas of our coverage.

Here in Old Town, the Scottish Christmas Walk and Boat Parade of lights oﬃcially kicks oﬀ the season on the 7th. Lots of activities and markets catering to both the young and old taking place throughout the month as well including the Del Ray Tree and Menorah Lighting on the 8th. More information is available in the Calendar of this issue.

In To the Blue Ridge this month, Julie Reardon writes about sourcing your own Christmas Tree and explores all of the holiday events in the small towns in and around Fauquier and Loudon Counties. She also includes the holiday happenings at the wineries. In From the Bay, Erik Evans explores Midnight Madness in Downtown Annapolis and the Eastport Parade of Lights -a Bay holiday tradition - are a couple of the highlights.

Here is a roundup of some more of what awaits you in the following pages:

In Exploring VA Wines, Doug Fabbioli shares his thoughts on the 2024 Vintage...a dry year. In First Blush, Kim Putens shows us how to get our Holiday Glow On! In Fitness, Nicole Flanagan hits home with "Start Early and Walk Away Winter Weight". At my age I need to develop a plan for routine walking. In From the Trainer, Ryan Unverzagt helps us to keep holiday stress at bay. In Gallery Beat, Lenny Campello says, "Question everything!” The truth only evolves when we ask questions! In Grapevine, Matthew Fitzsimmons explains Virginia wines that showcase innovation and how the "Old World" still dominates the state. In Let's Get Crafty, Tim Long relates to Pizza and Beer, Atlas Brewing in Alexandria. He also pairs a cigar with the brand new Copper Fox release, Foxﬁ re. Check out the activities across the river in National Harbor. The Conservatory in the MGM, the Harbor tree lighting and the activities in the Gaylord Resort are not be be missed. In Last Word, Miriam Kramer reviews the Christmas Novella Brightly Shining. In Open Space, Lori Welch Brown vents about the rush of the holidays and looks for calmer moments.

We at the Old Town Crier wish all of you a very happy and stress-free holiday season. 2025 is around the corner and it is coming in like a freight train.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

200 Block of King Street Update

If you remember in my column last month, I mentioned the proposed upcoming closing of the 200 Block of King Street here in Old Town to accommodate pedestrian-only traﬃc like we have had in the 100 Block since the days of the pandemic. We published a photo of the August 1994 OTC cover that featured a watercolor of what we thought the 100 & 200 Blocks would look like if turned into a pedestrian “mall”. The pilot program got underway on November 22nd and runs through mid-January. The photo on this page was taken from the intersection of Fairfax and King. Lots of opinions are ﬂying around. Some of which are: 15 or so parking spots are gone, there are only 4 restaurants in the block, the uphill grade of the street isn’t conducive to level dining and goods displays, etc. While I have my personal views, I am going to see what actually transpires. Let’s see how forward thinking we were 20 years ago.

december ‘24

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

The Old Town Crier recently traveled down South to the coastal Carolinas with one of our favorite pals, Lisa Koons. On a stroll around historic Bay Street in Beaufort, South Carolina, Lisa and her daughter took a break from shopping to grab some peppermint milkshakes, visit the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and enjoy some quality time on the park's signature swings perusing one of our latest issues. Doesn't sound like a bad way to spemd the afternoon to us!

If you would like to see your photo in this space, take the OTC with you on your next adventure and take a high resolution photo or photos of you and yours checking us out and send it with information for the caption to oﬃce@oldtowncrier.com and put “On the Road” in the subject line.

In October, we expanded outside of the Old Town area thinking we needed to make ﬁ nding the featured mural a be a bit more challenging. It worked and we didn’t have any correct guesses but after “expanding” the image in the November issue, we have a winner. In fact, we have a repeat winner! Old Town resident Carol Franks found the mural featured in the January issue and has identiﬁed the mural located on the building at that houses Great Harvest bread in Fairlington. Keep your eye out if you are in this same general area for this month’s featured mural snippet.

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

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

Mural photos by Lee Moody.

Celebrate the Holidays in Old Town Alexandria

Experience holiday magic on historic streets in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia , located on the waterfront just minutes from Washington, D.C. Named the “Perfect Town for a Hallmark Christmas Movie” by Southern Living and one of the top “Cities That Go All Out for Christmas” by Condé Nast Traveler, Alexandria will bring your Hallmark Christmas movie dreams to life during the holiday season. Feel transported by a sense of holiday wonder with a stroll along the King Street mile, reminiscent of a European Christmas village. Dine around a ﬁ repit on heated patios or duck into cozy Alexandria restaurants Show your love for Alexandria’s independent boutiques that provide personal service and curated gift selections all season long.

The ﬁ rst Saturday of December (7th) kicks oﬀ Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend, as we celebrate the return of two of the region’s top signature events.

The 53rd Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade sponsored by Wegmans in historic Old Town Alexandria hits the streets at 11 a.m. The Parade, sponsored by Wegmans, is a celebration of Alexandria’s founding in 1749 by Scottish merchants and its naming after Scotsman John Alexander who owned the land that became Alexandria. The 2024 parade features more than100 parade units, including dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans, pipe and drum bands, terriers and hounds and community groups. This year’s Grand Marshal is Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, and the Masters of Ceremonies are Julie Carey, the Northern Virginia bureau chief for NBC4, and Heather Haddock, president of the Scottish American Women’s Society of Washington, D.C. The parade is produced by Visit Alexandria in partnership with Campagna Center and the City of Alexandria. Additional support is provided by Wegmans, Scottish Government USA and First Watch Strategies & Events.

Stick around town after the parade and catch the 24th Annual Holiday Boat Parade along the Potomac River shoreline at 5:30 p.m. with dockside activities from 2 to 8 p.m

This year the parade is sponsored by Amazon and will feature more than 50 brightly lit boats cruising along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline from Canal Center to Ford’s Landing Park. Parade-goers can enjoy dockside festivities at Waterfront Park, including a pop-up beer garden, food and beverage vendors and familyfriendly activities. The parade is produced by Visit Alexandria in collaboration with the City of Alexandria, City Cruises – Alexandria and the Old Dominion Boat Club.

For more information on programming, parade routes, viewing locations, transportation considerations, FAQs and additional weekend happenings, please visit the parade webpages at ALXScottishWalk.com and ALXBoatParade.com

Winter Markets

Stroll through open-air winter markets complete with live music, Santa sightings, shopping and more throughout Alexandria’s neighborhoods. New this year, be immersed in a magical new European Christmas market experience in Del Ray during the inaugural Gustave Marché de Noël Gift Market located at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue from the 13th to the 15th

Celebrate a weekend chock-full of holiday happenings including the Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show at John Carlyle Square on the 14th and the Old Town North Holiday Market & Farmers Market on the 15th, and more.

Holiday Lights Experiences

Get ready to kick of the holiday season with the Del Ray Tree & Menorah Lighting on the 8th There will be tunes, hot chocolate and much more! Enjoy hand-painted holiday windows in storefronts and start your holiday shopping with a stroll down Mount Vernon Avenue, which will be illuminated by thousands of luminarias.

Explore unique light displays and ice skate through a winter wonderland at Ice & Lights through through January 5 with the ice skating continuing through February 14.

For an enchanting evening ﬁlled with wintry lights, a winter encampment and market, and a ﬁ reworks show, head down the GW Parkway to the Mount Vernon Estate for the annual Christmas Illuminations show between the 20th and 22nd

Seasonal Shopping

Shop at more than 100 independent boutiques throughout Alexandria this holiday season. Find some of the lowest prices of the year plus special oﬀers. Head to the Del Ray Holiday Sip & Shop on the 12th for special promotions and complimentary wine and refreshments. Locations all along Mount Vernon Avenue.

Family-Friendly Festivities

On Christmas Eve, to witness a sight you have to see to believe, head to the waterfront between BARCA Pier and Founders Park on the 24th at 1 pm to witness the Waterskiing Santa Show, featuring Santa and his friends gliding along the Potomac River.

Connect with us!

Web: VisitAlexandriaVA.com

Blog: Blog.VisitAlexandriaVA.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/VisitAlexandriaVA

Twitter: Twitter.com/AlexandriaVA

Instagram: Instagram.com/VisitAlexVA

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET

Market Square

301 King Street

Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round

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

DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET

Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues

Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round

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

OLD TOWN NORTH FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Montgomery Park 901 North Royal Street

Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm Year Round

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

FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

4109 Mount Vernon Avenue

Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm Year Round

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

No Place Like Home for the Holidays

“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.” ― James Baldwin, Giovanni's Room.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what “home for the holidays” actually means. I went “home” to southeastern Wyoming last year for the Christmas holiday for the ﬁ rst time in almost 10 years. Granted, I have been home more times than that at diﬀerent times over the years but, Christmas is a special time to be there.

A little background…Both of my parents are gone and I have one younger sister who lives 10 miles from our home town of about 300 people. While I chose to expand my horizons beyond the conﬁ nes of Wyoming and pursue a career with the USDA and travel the USA, she chose to remain close to home and marry her high school sweetheart and live out her dream of farming. We are alpha/omega in many ways but also a lot alike in others –mannerisms, sense of humor, etc. In addition to she and her family, I am in touch with many longtime friends that I love to see while there and spending time with a cousin that means the world to me who lives in Colorado makes my trips home complete. Spending time with all of these people last year was amazing.

However, during the several years that I haven’t been able to

go to Wyoming, “home” for the holidays has been where ever I end up. I have spent more than one Christmas alone and was ﬁ ne with that but the majority have been with friends that are now like family to me now. Over the 30 years I have lived in Alexandria, I am lucky to have an amazing circle of people in my life and have been on a lot of Christmas adventures with them.

Since we live in a very transient place, I am sure that many of you know exactly what I am talking about. The old adage, “Home is Where the Heart is” truly has merit.

As December unfolds, I wish you all the happiest of holidays and the merriest of Christmases. I also oﬀer the following eclectic compilation of applicable quotes:

“Home wasn't a set house, or a single town on a map. It was wherever the people who loved you were, whenever you were together. Not a place, but a moment, and then another, building on each other like bricks to create a solid shelter that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go.” ― Sarah Dessen, What Happened to Goodbye

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick— even when you're home." —Carol Nelson

"Christmas is a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart." — Freya Stark

"From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other." — Emily Matthews

“The desire to go home that is a desire to be whole, to know where you are, to be the point of intersection of all the lines drawn through all the stars, to be the constellation-maker and the center of the world, that center called love. To awaken from sleep, to rest from awakening, to tame the animal, to let the soul go wild, to shelter in darkness and blaze with light, to cease to speak and be perfectly understood. ‘At Christmas, all roads lead home’." —Marjorie Holmes

“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.”

― James Baldwin, Giovanni's Room

“I wonder if it will be—can be— any more beautiful than this,” murmured Anne, looking around her with the loving, enraptured eyes of those to whom ‘home’ must always be the loveliest spot in the world, no matter what fairer lands

may lie under alien stars.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island “At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”

—Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express

"May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve."

—Anonymous

"No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given—when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.” —Joan Winmill Brown

“There is no comfort anywhere for anyone who dreads to go home.”

― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little Town on the Prairie

Retirement income threats- how should you respond?

When the daily news is filled with discussions about inflation, interest rates, market volatility, and endless other angst-producing events, how you react could make a difference in your fi nancial outcomes. These tips may help you sort through the noise and create an action plan that fits your situation.

1. Evaluate

The ﬁ rst step is to evaluate. Do you have a current retirement income plan that you have been following? If your plan is documented, it is likely that it includes how much cash ﬂow you need to meet your day-to-day expenses as well as for discretionary spending. Pull out your plan and take a look to determine where adjustments might be applied.

If you do not have a plan or it has not been updated to reflect your current circumstances, document your assets, income sources, expenses, and debt. Gathering all the information in one place helps clearly defi ne your total money picture. In the process, you may uncover expenditures that can be reduced or eliminated. A few adjustments may be enough to reduce the pressure on your income flow.

2. Retain or adjust

If your plan is addressing your current needs, it can be reassuring to conﬁ rm that your plan is working as you had expected.

If your income needs no longer match your income plan, depending on your circumstances, there are

actions you may want to consider to get your plan on track. These may include:

• Altering your withdrawal strategy to change the amount in taxes you pay on your retirement income to give you greater spending power

• Reallocating your assets or temporarily reducing withdrawal amounts to address any concerns about drawing down your investments in a down market

• Including inﬂation-indexed investments or other income-generating strategies in your portfolio

• Adding an annuity with income protection, which may help ensure an income stream that lasts for life, even in the event of poor market performance. A variety of annuities, such as variable annuities, registered index-linked annuities (RILAs), ﬁ xed indexed annuities, and immediate annuities, may provide income protection. One of these products may be appropriate for a portion of your assets,

strategy are helpful to identify if changes are needed in your strategy or to conﬁ rm that things are working as planned.

These are just a few examples of changes that could help your retirement income deliver on your strategy. Contact your ﬁ nancial advisor and legal and tax advisors to review your speciﬁc situation and help address your changing needs.

Variable annuities are long-term investments suitable for retirement funding and are subject to market ﬂ uctuations and investment risk.

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

Our ﬁrm is not a legal or tax advisor.

Finally, the 2024 Presidential election is behind us. A winner has been declared, and in theory we can “become one people.”

According to Pew Research most population sub groups, about eight-in-ten registered voters listed the “economy: inﬂation and aﬀordability” as their top election issue.

I leave the candidates construal of the American economy to author Charles Dickens to explain. You remember A Christmas Carol, Dickens 1843 description of the divide between concentrated wealth and intensifying poverty. His portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge as a wealthy miser and Bob Cratchit an overworked underpaid clerk.

Distribution of a family’s wealth, a nation’s wealth is a fundamental economic concern. Billionaire Bill Gates, “guided by the belief that every life has equal value,” created a charitable foundation. Deceased actor Danny Thomas founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Unlike Gates and Thomas, Scrooge ignored others pleas for charity.

The 2024-2025 Calendar is turning and Alexandria’s Dickensian dialogue continues. As of 2022, 24.1% of Alexandria residents—that is approximately 38,000 people—“were born outside of the country.”

“My opinion, with respect to emigration is that except of useful mechanics—and some particular descriptions of men—or professions—there is no need of extra encouragement,” President George Washington wrote Vice-President John Adams in 1794.

Washington preferred emigrants not “settle in a body” nor “retain the language, habits & principles (good or bad) which they bring with them.” He asked that they “intermix [and] get assimilated ” instead.

“Cities’ demographic makeup and economic conditions can demand increasing expenditures on such things as education tailored to a large immigrant [and non-native speaking] population, or costly crime prevention eﬀorts in high poverty neighborhoods,” the Brookings Institution agreed. Alexandria city’s FY 2025 budget priorities: “education, improved city services, public safety and mental health services, aﬀordable housing, and a 2.5% increase in the real estate tax rate.”

The property tax is an ad valorem tax, a tax derived from an article of assessed value. It tends to be progressive—in that expensive property is generally owned by wealthier families, families who pay a disproportionally larger share of property taxes.

Alexandria city’s FY2023 Real property tax income was 36.6% of the city’s budget, the Commercial property tax 23.9%. When taken together, property taxes comprised 60.5% of the city’s income. Budget shortfalls, the resulting property tax increases irritate.

Alexandria is a city dedicated to one-party control. By comparison, the two-party Congress is conﬂicted. It has yet to politically recover from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s September shutdown sham, his failure to acknowledge the forthcoming expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act [P.L. 115-97]. “Millions will see their individual tax rates rise” when the legislation expires.

If the economy is to enjoy the fruits of specialization, better planning is needed. Resources are scarce and consensus is pretty much yesterday’s news. In mid-September the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, for the ﬁ rst time in 16 years.

Am I not impressed? The question asked it seems Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome H. Powell has remained above the political fray.

It was President Woodrow Wilson [D-VA, 1913-1921] who made the establishment of the Federal Reserve a legislative priority. He signed the Owen [D-OK]-Glass [D-VA] Federal Reserve Act into law on December 23, 1913. Wilson himself negotiated the complex compromises: the nearly straight partyline voting needed to create a permanent central bank.

Wilson’s “New Freedom" agenda guaranteed him the Progressive label. He expanded the executive branch not only with the creation of the Federal Reserve, but also the Federal Trade Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. The President’s plan generally: banking; tariff [the 1913 Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act, “the fi rst tariff improvement since the Civil War”], and labor reforms. Reintroduction of the federal income tax also. For more information regarding tariffs visit oldtowncrier.com/2018/08/31/tariffs-then-now/. Conflicts of interest spoiled previous attempts to stabilize U.S. monetary arrangements. Tensions between the farmers and trades people of Main Street who believed that they were most advantaged by politics of easy credit—and—the fi nancial barons of Wall Street who, as creditors and bondholders, preferred hard money or low inflation policies.

Inflation: A decline in the value of money: an increase in the money cost of a collection of goods. The current annual inflation rate is 2.4%, the lowest since February 2021. Wage growth is outpacing inflation. The downside: only about 6% of the nearly 600 items the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks are cheaper today. It is the latter some say that decided the November presidential vote.

It was presidential candidate Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign manager James Carville who invented the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid.”

“In 1992—George H.W. Bush’s presidential year [R-TX, 1989-1993]—10 million Americans were unemployed, the country faced record deﬁcits [$352b.], and poverty and welfare rolls were growing,” the National Archives reminded. “Family incomes were losing ground to inﬂation and jobs were being created at the slowest rate since the Great Depression [1929-1933].”

President Clinton [D-AR, 1993-2001] was sworn into office on January 20, 1993. He and Vice President Al Gore [D-TN] “launched their economic strategy soon after,” the Archives continued. (1) Establishing fiscal discipline, eliminating the budget deficit, keeping interest rates low, and spurring private-sector investment; (2) investing in people through education, training, science, and research; and (3) opening foreign markets so American workers can compete abroad.

“After eight years, the results of Clinton's economic leadership were clear,” the Archives concluded. “Record budget deﬁcits became record surpluses; 22 million new jobs had been created, unemployment and core inﬂation were at their lowest levels in more than 30 years, and America was in the midst of the longest economic expansion in its history.”

Also in 1992: the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. Balanced budget, a program of

It’s

the Economy,

Stupid!

government expenditures precisely ﬁ nanced by government revenues for the same period. If passed the Amendment would have further constrained government spending. Higher spending typically requires higher taxes.

Clinton’s successor, incoming President George W. Bush [R-TX, 2001-2009] claimed his budget blowout was incurred during the country’s 9/11 episode. 9/11 is shorthand for “four coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001.”

Thirteen days before President Barack Obama [D-IL, 2001-2009] took the oath of office the Congressional Budget Office forecast a total 200919 budget deficit of $4.32 trillion. Instead, the decade ended with cumulative deficits of $8.93 trillion—more than twice as large as projected. The last two years increase was attributable to Obama successor President Donald J. Trump [RNY/FL, 2017-2021]. Trump’s four-year deficit: “almost $7.8 trillion.”

As of October 2024 the country’s national debt totaled $35.69 trillion. Government spending and the taxation needed to ﬁ nance it, touches the lives of every American citizen. The 2024 deliberations may be over, but budget debates will continue: in Congress, in State legislatures and Alexandria’s City Council.

It really “is the economy, stupid.” Economic growth included. Alexandria’s 1983 political placement, development and marketing of the Braddock Road island-platform Metro Station is an example. Like Scrooge, Alexandria prefers the 1834 “Poor Law” to beneﬁcial reform.

When the Braddock Metro Station’s manager is stabbed on-site; the neighborhood draw remains gun-shots fi red, and the surrounding environs flood the accumulated costs are too high. The costs outweigh the economic benefits, the quantifiable gains.

Happy holidays and a prosperous New Year to all! 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

Land of 1000 Dances

by Wilson Pickett

In 1966 Wilson Pickett released a rhythm and blues explosion called “Land of 1000 Dances. Although several versions of the song exist, Pickett’s version stands out and has become a true classic in popular music. The attitude in the melody and swing in the rhythm of this upbeat gem holds a special place in the hearts of countless people around the world. From its repetitive lead guitar groove to the larger-than-life boom of Wilson Pickett’s raspy voice, there’s something about this song that makes every cell of your body jump. So, let’s dig into one of the best and biggest R&B songs the world has ever known. Things get started with Pickett counting oﬀ “One, two, three” just before a blast of sound from the horn section hits the speakers. This is repeated once and then a vibey bass guitar walks up and the whole band lays down a groove that only a dead man could ignore. Next Pickett delivers the ﬁ rst verse which consists of naming an array of dances like The Pony, Mash Potato, and The Alligator. With lyrics that aren’t exactly profound, the bulk of this song's value hinges on the soul that Pickett sings with and the feeling the band puts into the performance. The musicians on this recording tap into something that goes beyond technical skill and pop sense: Namely a raw honest emotion that can almost possess you if you permit it to.

Coming out of the verse the music stops while drummer Roger Hawkins pumps out a groove composed of closed hi hat, kick drum, and snare. After a couple bars Pickett joins Hawkins with the chorus melody repeatedly singing “Na, na-na-na-na”. Here the raw sound of the drums and Pickett’s voice create a nice texture and contrast to the booming music of the verse section. As the chorus continues, Pickett sings the lines "Need somebody help me say it one time!". This is followed with a choir-like group vocal singing “Na, na-na-nana” along with the iconic vocalist.

After the chorus the band tickles our eardrums with a redhot instrumental dripping with the sort of mojo and soul that makes you want to shout hallelujah. The horn section leads the way with Charlie Chalmers’ Tenor sax performance standing out in particular. While Chalmers blows like a hurricane, we hear the rest of the horn section letting out rhythmic blasts that synergize with the drums and bass. Chips Moman and Jimmy Johnson further ﬁll out the sound of the instrumental with steady rhythms and a sliding lead line that adds looseness and fun to the mix.

In January of 2006, Wilson Pickett ended his time here on earth and left behind some of the best rhythm and blues ever recorded. During his career he achieved a string of Billboard hits, five grammy nominations, and was even inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If you would like to listen to “Land of 1000 Dances” or any of Pickett’s many great songs, you can fi nd his music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most places music is streamed or sold. If you would like to learn more about Wilson Pickett, you can fi nd information at Wikipedia, or in the biography In the Midnight Hour by Tony Fletcher.

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

AFTER HOURS

Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch

571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com

Chadwicks

203 S. Strand St.

703.836.4442

Evening Star Cafe

703.549.5051

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The Fish Market

703.836.5676

105 King St. shmarketoldtown.com

La Portas

703.683.6313 1600 Duke St. The Light Horse

703.549.0533

715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com

Murphys Irish Pub 703.548.1717 713

Augie's

Mason Social

703.548.8800

728 N. Henry St.

ONSTAGE:

Joy and laughter suﬀuse the season with holiday good cheer at your favorite area theaters. Don’t miss the fun as we bring in the new year, live! onstage in the DMV:

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

Signature Theatre Now thru Jan 12

Matthew Gardiner and company turn in a fast-paced production of this comedy classic, Stephen Sondheim’s ﬁ rst Broadway attempt at music AND lyrics, following his success as a West Side Story collaborator. Pixie powerhouse Erin Weaver leads a company of bawdy buﬀoons who turn in enough mugging to quadruple the Shirlington crime statistics—and in a good way. Special kudos go to scenery-chewers Mike Millan, Cameron Loyal and that redoubtable rounder Sherri L. Edelen, along with John Klablfeisch’s fourteen merry musicians and wardrobe wonder Erik Teague. If you’re feeling blue about the way the world is going, this funny thing will pick up your spirits and push them out the door. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org

SUMMER 1976 Studio Theatre Now thru Dec 22

This sweet memory play, artfully directed by Vivienne Benesch from Pulitzer® Prize winner David Auburn’s well-burnished script, oﬀers a master class in character development and emotional range. DC favorites Kate Eastwood Norris and Holly Twyford grace the intimate Studio stage as frustrated artist Diana and hippie housefrau Alice. Thrown together by circumstance in that eponymous era, the two very diﬀerent women grow together and apart and together again in this touching ode to enduring, patient friendship. Take a hanky. Tickets at www.studiotheatre.org.

New this month:

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Little Theatre of Alexandria Dec 7-21

The beloved Northern VA playhouse rolls out its musical version of the Dickens classic, complete with singing carolers, scary ghosts and Tiny Tim’s holiday entreaty to heaven, which we need now more than ever. Everybody’s favorite holiday pastime, the family-friendly presentation runs an hour at popular prices. Tickets at www.thelittletheater.com

LEOPOLDSTAT Shakespeare Theatre Company Dec 1-29

The brilliant Tom Stoppard’s gut-wrenching tale of an Austrian family on the eve of Nazi occupation, followed up by a coda on that terrible time. Traversing decades of joy and strife, the family strives to maintain their delicate bonds of shared history at that eponymous address. This is a tough one to sit thru during the holiday season, making it all the more important that we don’t forget its lessons. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org

ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE Shakespeare Theatre Company December 3-29

Next door to Leopoldstat, Tony Award-nominee Patrick Page (King Lear, Hadestown) turns his attention to the twisted motivations and hidden humanity at the heart of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Moving swiftly

OLD TOWN DECEMBER

through the canon, Page illuminates Shakespeare’s evolving conception of evil by delving into more than a dozen of his most wicked creations. Again, not your usual holiday fare, but there’s plenty of that to go around (see below). Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org

A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS Music Center at Strathmore December 4

This fall-out-of-your chair- hilarious cabaret, straight out of those classic ‘50s and ‘60s TV holiday specials, stars two wacky gals: Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jane Lynch (Glee, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ) and The Oﬃce’s Kate Flannery. Tim Davis and The Tony Guerrero combo accompany the ladies in this hilarious yet heartfelt extravaganza. You’re bound to leave in a merrier mood. Tickets at www.strathmore.org

AN IRISH CHRISTMAS CAROL Keegan Theatre December 4-31

Keegan favorite Matthew J. Keenan returns to the DuPont neighborhood playhouse for this homage to the Dickens classic. Set in a Dublin pub, the show tells the tale of a wealth gent who has lost touch with his own humanity. You can guess what happens to the tight-ﬁsted fellow on Christmas Eve. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Adventure Theatre Dec 6- Jan 5

Head over to Glen Echo Park for this new twist on that poetical classic, with a playscript by DC’s own Ken Ludwig, who seems to have Christmas on stage wrapped up around here (see Death on the Nile below). You know the drill-- ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house…” But wait! A mouse is stirring; and before you can say “Merry Christmas”, we

are oﬀ on a wild adventure with said rodent, an elf, and a spunky little girl who won’t take no for an answer. Tickets at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org

STEP AFRIKA’S MAGICAL MUSICAL HOLIDAY STEP SHOW

Arena Stage Dec 13-22

The holiday spirit returns as African American stepping blends with the magic of the season. DJ Nutcracker and his Arctic friends join the fun in Arena’s annual "step-stravaganza"! Tickets at www.arenastage.org

Ongoing thru the holidays:

DATA Arena Stage Closes Dec 15

Maneesh creates a ground-breaking algorithm that pre-selects “acceptable” immigrant populations. The trouble is, some good people are bound to be unselected. What’s a brilliant data analyst to do? In this speed-of-light Arena Stage premier, playwright Matthew Libby and a talented cast wrestle with the moral and ethical ambiguities at work in a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Who gets to play God, you ask. Director Margot Bordelon, late of the Arena’s acclaimed production of POTUS, points us in one of several directions in this all too relevant new work. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

DANCE LIKE THERE’S BLACK PEOPLE WATCHING Woolly Mammoth Closes Dec 22

Woolly Mammoth imports the improv gods from Chicago’s Second City to dispense a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, always thought-provoking dose of Black sensibility. The talented cast ﬁlls a hundred minutes with scenes from a lifestyle too often ignored on area stages. Who knows— you may see one of these folks on SNL next season. Tickets at www. woollymammoth.net

A HANUKKAH CAROL or GELT! TRIP THE MUSICAL Round House Theatre Closes Dec 29th

This time the ghosts visit Chava, not Scrooge, to help her reconnect with her Jewish identity in this world premier of alternate holiday programming. Tickets at www.roundhousetheatre.org

DEATH ON THE NILE Arena Stage Closes Dec 29

DC playwright Ken Ludwig’s take on Agatha Christie's suspense-ﬁlled whodunit welcomes the unﬂappable Inspector Hercule Poirot to the Arena Stage. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Ford’s Theatre Closes Dec 31

DMV favorite and all-around grouch (albeit a redeemed one) Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge in this timely holiday classic. Tickets at www.fords.org.

DISNEY’S FROZEN Olney Theatre Center Closes Jan 4

“Let It Go,” (your credit card, that is) and take the kids to Olney for this local take on the Disney fave Tickets at www.olneytheatre.org.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Toby’s Dinner Theatre Closes Jan 12

The hills are alive over in Columbia, MD when this family friendly chestnut takes the stage for Toby’s holiday season. Tickets at www.tobysdinnertheatre. com.

About the author: Mark Edelman is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony® voter. Photo credits: Funny Thing photo by Christopher Mueller.

"Questioneverything!"

The truth only evolves when we ask questions. –

Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons

Last month I had the pleasure and honor of attending a lecture by the immensely talented and super hard-working artist Maria Magdalena CamposPons at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC as part of that school’s Rubenstein Guest Artist Program.

Campos-Pons was born in La Vega, in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, a sugar plantation town where her Nigerian-born great-great grandfather worked as a slave in Cuba's brutal slave system, in which sugar mill owners often owned thousands of slaves and where death and rape were common parts of life.

In Spanish, Matanzas means "Slaughter" or "Killings" -- imagine a US state or a Canadian province named "Slaughters" as a reminder of the brutality of the Spaniards' treatment of the native American tribes (within a couple of decades of the Europeans arrival in Cuba, nearly the entire native Taino population had been wiped out by disease, murder and suicide). The name "Matanzas" commemorates the actual suicide deaths of tens of thousands of Taino Indians who committed suicide rather than become slaves to their white masters from Spain as Kubanacan (as Cuba was known in the native Taino language) became a colony of the mighty Kingdom of Spain as the world entered the so-called "Spanish Century.”

When Cuba's native population died out from suicide or disease, the Conquistadores began the new continent's slave trade and brought in African slaves purchased from the Arabs, and mostly on the brutal labor of their backbones, a new Cuban nation was eventually forged. Moreover, as an Afro-Cuban woman with this history in her bloodlines, Campos-Pons has used her cultural and racial background as the initial key theme of her own work, with long ties to her Cuban homeland, but also with a powerful inﬂuence of her evolving presence as an American.

The 2023 MacArthur Award winner is also an exceptional and gifted speaker, and immediately at the start of her lecture invited the audience to consider life

here on Earth as an opportunity: “We should be courageous and participate in this experience,” she said, adding that no one bleeds blue. “Blood is red for every single man and woman on this little island—Earth. That’s why I am not an immigrant, I am an Earthling.”

Campos-Pons discussed her ongoing project back in her Cuban hometown, where children were invited to create artwork from the meager materials available – for me the video was a palpable experience of the human spirit, especially coming from that poor island, which has been brutalized by a harsh Communist dictatorship for over sixty years. She also shared a seven-minute video installation (titled “In the Beginning”), which featured dozens of original watercolors in a mesmerizing arrangement of art and music. She calls it her “melancholy reﬂection and hope for planet Earth.”

After the video, the artist and Dorothy Moss, a former curator at the National Portrait Gallery who in the past brought performance art to the Portrait Gallery by commissioning a piece from Campos-Pons, held an audience participation discussion which was also exceptionally interesting in many levels.

Kudos to Sidwell’s Director of Art Exhibitions Aaron Brophy, who has not only completely revived and revitalized the school’s exhibition program, but also the Rubenstein Guest Artist Program, which has been an endowed, ﬂagship program at Sidwell Friends for over four decades.

Campos-Pons parting words? “Question everything! The truth only evolves when we ask questions.”

From Sidwell Friends to Alexandria, where the Art League League’s annual Holiday Ceramics Sale features hundreds of one-of-a-kind ceramic vessels and sculptures created by 40 Art League artists and students. The sale is Friday, December 6, from 5 to 9 pm, Saturday, December 7, from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, December 8, from 12 noon to 4 pm at The Art League’s Madison Street Annex location at 305 Madison Street.

While in Alexandria I want to highlight Nepenthe Gallery, located at 7918 Fort Hunt Road. The gallery stages regular “ART + WINE + CHEESE” exhibitions and last month they featured the exceptional sweet works of Jennifer Barlow.

They call her "our artist with a sweet tooth!", and I couldn’t agree more, as Barlow is easily one of the top sweet focused painters in the DMV!

What does that mean Lenster? Asks our constant readers…

In the hands of a skilled artist, pretty much anything can become art, no matter how mundane, and Barlow is not only a highly skilled painter, but also a superbly talented artist, who elevates the mundane subject of sweets, candy, cakes, etc. to the sublime level of ﬁ ne art!

Her subject matter is already packed with not only calories, but also with color, and Barlow employs her eye for color and talent to rediscover it within the two dimensions of painting, where it suddenly becomes a fantastic exploration of color and composition.

The gallery is located at 7918 Fort Hunt Road (Hollin Hall Shopping Center) in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria. Jennifer's exhibit will be up at Nepenthe until December 18th.

Later this year Nepenthe will join the rare number of DMV area galleries that participate in the annual Art Basel Miami Beach week of art fairs in the Greater Miami area during the ﬁ rst week of December, where they will be displaying several artists at the Aqua Art Fair December 4-8.

This is a giant step for any gallery, and as readers of this column know, a step that I have discussed many times over the years, especially in reference to the ﬁ rst week of December in Miami, where the 20+ art fairs deliver the art world’s number one art event on this planet!

About the Author: F. Lennox Campello's art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area has been a premier source for the art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors. Artwork by Jennifer Barlow. Top left: Macron Gift Box; Top right: Taste of Love and Honey; Bottom middle: Simple Joys.

Have

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in Jewelry Style and distinction. The essence of Imagine’s new jewelry collection is simplicity, and refinement. Each piece is handcrafted by our artists and carefully presented by our staff. Necklaces, rings, bracelets and, of course, earrings. Come in soon to see the best selection. Earrings shown are by Kinzig Design. 1124 King Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (703) 548-1461 www.imagineartwear.com

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Have Yourself a Melancholy Christmas

The bittersweet Christmas novella Brightly Shining, by Ingvild H. Rishøi, became a bestseller throughout Europe after its release in Norway in 2021. Recently translated into English, it arrives just in time for the holidays. Told from the hopeful viewpoint of Ronja, a ten-year-old girl, the story is about broken lives, sibling love, and the ﬁgures and possibilities that loom large in a child’s eyes.

Ronja and her sixteen-year-old sister, Melissa, live a highly unstable existence with their father in the Oslo neighborhood of Tøyen. While loving, he is also a dysfunctional alcoholic. He has dry summers and holds jobs at a grocery store or a bakery, but then loses them after relapsing. He asks his daughters for forgiveness after he continually lets them down.

While Melissa takes on responsibilities such as putting off debt collectors, Ronja has inherited her father’s love for dreams and stories, along with an unquenchable sense of hope. When she fi nds a flyer listing jobs at a Christmas tree market, she brings it to him. After he gets the job, the inevitable occurs

is charm and humor in her relationships with some adults and pain or fear with others.

Throughout Brightly Shining, Ronja constantly thinks back to her dad’s favorite story of a log cabin, where you have to ﬁ nd the path between the snow-covered trees, see the lake and the hill where the fox has its den, and the fence you will follow to ﬁ nd it. To her it is a mythical place with snow and bright stars at night—a place where her father locks the door at night to keep them safe. She refers back to it as kids do when they ask to hear a favorite story, holding it in her mind as a talisman and the beacon of her hope for a miracle.

Ingvild H. Rishøi writes through Ronja’s eyes convincingly, letting us come to adult conclusions while absorbing the girl’s straightforward, innocent observations and fanciful ideas. I was reminded of the skill Emma Donoghue employed in the novel Room, in which she told the story of love between an imprisoned mother and her very young son through his eyes.

when his addiction gets in the way. Caught between humiliation and love for him, she sees him wandering around drunk near her school. Melissa, forced to grow up before her time, decides to keep this job in the family. She professes no faith in people, including her father, or the future, although Ronja may be the one person she believes in and will do anything to help.

When she gets the physically difficult position at the market, her co-worker, Tommy, proposes a cynical and profitable idea. People will be more likely to buy Christmas greens from a sweet, skinny little kid, so Ronja is offered a job in which they will split the commission with Tommy. Ronja loves working after school because it keeps her from thinking difficult thoughts and feeling upset. She and Melissa are both bringing in money, and she will not have to spend time in an almost empty apartment with her father sleeping off a bender. These are not the only people in her life. Ronja chats with her school caretaker, a refugee from the Balkans who shares his lunch and jokes with her, along with other looming figures from adulthood painted in different shades. One of the caretaker’s friends buys her a Christmas tree of her own. Her family’s landlord, who is worried about the family, lends a hand with her St. Lucia Christmas celebration. When her father is drunk one night, his inebriated friend gives her a pain pill, and her Muslim schoolfriend and his father try to take care of her as she wanders around outside in a state of delirium. The Christmas tree market’s owner, not often present, threatens both sisters. There

The author is also a beautiful, evocative writer who captures my attention completely. Luckily, the translator from Norwegian to English, Caroline Waight, has done her work with deftness and delicacy. This translation keeps the prose’s poetic rhythms and resonance intact.

Brightly Shining may be just the antidote to saccharine Christmas specials for people who see the holidays with conﬂicting emotions. If you appreciate Claire Keegan’s Christmas-time novella Small Things Like These, Shelby Lynne’s blues song “Xmas,” or Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Little Match Girl,” you will likely savor this atypical Christmas gift.

A Christmas of “God Bless Us All” Anyways

The Compulsive Organizers (aka Over Achievers) vs. The Rest of Us

The author of this piece is unknown however, we think she/he has a very clever take on how the two types of people roll into the holiday season. I think the bulk of us may fall somewhere in between, what about you?

Start shopping at January sales, including Christmas cards, and ﬁ nish all shopping by July.

vs.

Buy two presents in July sales giving false sense of accomplishment and forget by December where we hid them. Start shopping December 20th

•

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

vs.

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

•

Mail all packages the day after Thanksgiving.

vs.

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.

•

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

vs.

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

•

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

vs.

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.

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

vs.

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

•

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

vs.

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

•

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

vs.

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

•

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

vs.

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

•

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

vs.

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

Midnight Madness in Downtown Annapolis The Most Festive Time to Shop for the Holidays

The biggest and best nights of the year to shop in downtown Annapolis are on the ﬁ rst three Thursdays in December during Midnight Madness. This annual threeday event is presented by the Downtown Annapolis Partnership to encourage locals to visit their favorite shops and restaurants downtown. This is the evening you will ﬁ nd many of your friends and neighbors all enjoying the festive atmosphere along Main Street, Maryland Avenue, West Street, and the City Dock area.

The downtown Annapolis area will be filled with traditional holiday decorations sponsored by Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis. The fun Snowflake Alley sponsored by RBC Wealth Management on Main Street is always a popular destination for picture taking. You will also fi nd beautiful storefront windows, decorated buildings, garland, wreaths, light canopies over Maryland Avenue and West Street, and a large real Christmas tree near the Market House. Many of these designations are popular places for picture taking. A new public art installation of artistic streetlights has just been installed by the Downtown Annapolis Partnership in time for Midnight Madness in Weisman Park near the Visitors Center which will be fun to photograph.

As you stroll the streets to shop and dine during Midnight Madness you will ﬁ nd performances around every street corner including choirs, carolers, steel drums, dancers, bands, alpacas, and a holiday movie. This event combined with the holiday decorations and other events including the Eastport Yacht Club's Lights Parade on the 14th, Santa Speedo Run, Annapolis Holiday Market, a Kawanza Celebration, and the Menorah Parade and Lighting all are part of why Annapolis is regularly ranked as a top holiday destination.

The Midnight Madness shopping nights are December 5th, and 12th, when stores and restaurants stay open until Midnight, and on December

19th, the Eleventh Hour when they stay open until 11 pm. There are about 90 stores and 80 restaurants in downtown Annapolis participating. During the fi rst Midnight Madness, you can also attend the mayor's open house at 5 pm at City Hall and on the second night, you can also attend the opening night of the Annapolis Holiday Market from 4 pm to 10 pm on the City Dock. Alongside your favorite long-time businesses there are several new businesses this year on West Street, Maryland Ave, Market Space, and Main Street. Most of the businesses downtown are locally owned and some offer locally made items for sale. Many of the shops will offer special sales, exclusive items, and refreshments as you shop. The historic downtown area provides a unique old-fashioned shopping experience where customer service is still in vogue. Shoppers are encouraged to arrive early for happy hour and dinner before the evening shopping gets in full swing.

Parking in garages is recommended to avoid the 2-hour time limits for onstreet parking. This will allow you to relax, stay late, and enjoy all the festivities, shopping, and dining. Parking is always free on weekday evenings starting at 6 pm at the Calvert Street Parking Garage (19 St. Johns Street). Whitmore Parking Garage (25 Clay Street) always has a flat rate starting after 4 pm of $4. The City of Annapolis is offering during the holiday season the fi rst hour free in Hillman Parking Garage (150 Gorman Street) and 2 hours free parking on commercial streets when you use either the Premium or ParkMobile parking apps. Shoppers can also ride the free Circulator which picks up from the Knighton (1A Colonial Ave) and Park Place (1 Park Place) parking garages along West Street.

For additional information on Midnight Madness, lodging, shopping, restaurants, sponsors, gift cards, and more visit www. midnightmadnessannapolis. com

Photo by David Sites

December in the Blue Ridge: Christmas Tree Farms, Small Town Parades, Wineries and Everything In-Between

Whether you want to cut your own tree, pick a live tree and have it cut for you, buy a tree already cut or buy a living tree you can plant, consider a short trip to the Blue Ridge to visit one of a number of Northern Virginia's “choose-and-cut” Christmas tree farms. These are great places to buy pre-cut (also called preharvested and fresh-cut) trees, stands, sleigh rides, hay rides and related winter events and fun. Most area wineries also have planned holiday events as well as gift shops and tastings.

MIDDLEBURG

The capitol of Virginia’s hunt country straddles the border of Loudoun and Fauquier counties and glows during the holidays with quaint shops, restaurants, carriage rides and a beloved Christmas parade. Located 25 miles west of Fair Oaks on Rt. 50, it makes an ideal day trip for shopping and dining. The town’s annual Christmas Parade is on Sat., Dec. 7th this year. It starts at 11 am, with the Middleburg Hunt horses and hounds parading down the main street (Rt. 50) in town. The community parade starts at 2 pm, featuring ﬂoats and antique ﬁretrucks. Live music, bake sales and special sales at the shops in the village make Dec. 7 the day to go. This event has gotten so popular that reserving parking on parade day is a necessity; visit christmasinmiddleburg.org for information.

There are several cut your own Christmas tree farms in the Middleburg area. Try Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm—a bit northwest of Middleburg, but an easy, pretty drive. They also sell wreaths, garlands and other seasonal decorative items. Visit their website www. middleburgxmastrees.com; they also have a Facebook page by that name or call (540) 554 8625

FAUQUIER COUNTY

The town of Warrenton is 13 miles south of Gainesville on Business 29. Warrenton also has a Christmas parade on Friday evening December 6th in the town, with shops open late and Santa arrives by horse drawn sleigh. Fauquier is a farm-friendly county: it has many Christmas tree farms where you can cut your own and let the kids visit with some farm animals. Try Hank's Christmas Trees, Hartland Farm, Markham www. hartlandfarmandorchard.com In addition to choose and cut Christmas trees they have local produce for sale and kid-friendly activities on the farm. Or plan a visit to Maple Tree Farm for a fun walking Christmas light experience. There, you can stroll through 1.2 miles of twinkling Christmas lights. The family can enjoy holiday crafts, ﬁ re pits, the cow train and a sweet treat for purchase. www.mapletreefarmva.com

The farmer’s market at the Archwood Green Barns will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the ﬁ rst two Sundays in December; Dec. 2 and 8th, for “Christmas on the Farm.” Many of the popular farmers’ market vendors will be there, along with an array of freshly cut trees from a local farm, as well as grapevine wreaths and roping for holiday decorating. Santa will be there for the little kids from 12 – 2, and a girls’ choir will carol while a live nativity of goats, sheep, miniature horses and alpacas is on display. Lunch is available including chili and corn chowder and samples of products for sale in the barns. Archwood Green is located just at the intersection of Rt. 245 and I-66 exit 31, The Plains; (540)253-5289.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AT THE WINERIES

Loudoun County

Through Dec. 22nd, Saturdays Music 1-5pm. Holiday Jazz at Tarara Winery. Music, awardwinning wine and holiday treats. 703-7717100. http://www.tarara.com

Dec. 1st - Dec. 9th, Sat. & Sun., 11-5pm. Breaux Vineyards Holiday Open House. Open house with light fare and mulled wine. Discounts on holiday gifts. 800-492-9961. http://www.breauxvineyards.com

Culpeper County

Dec. 6th - Dec. 30th, Thu. - Sun., 1-5pm. Holiday Wine Specials at Old House Vineyards. Holiday shopping made easy while enjoying a wine tasting. 540-423-1032. http://www.oldhousevineyards.com

Fauquier County

Dec. 1st - Dec. 2nd, 11-5pm. Open House at Naked Mountain Winery. Browse for holiday gifts while sipping a glass of wine and nibbling hors d'oeuvres. 540-3641609. http://www.nakedmtnwinery.com

Dec. 8th - Dec. 15th, 11-6pm. Happy Holidays from Mediterranean Cellars Winery. Come for some holiday cheer and gift shopping. 540-428-1984. http://www.mediterraneancellars.com

Dec. 8th - Dec. 9th, 11-5pm. Pearmund Cellars Holiday Celebration Weekend. Knowledgeable staﬀ will help you with your gift list for the wine lover. 540-3473475. http://www.pearmundcellars.com

Rappahannock County

Dec. 15th - Dec. 16th, 11.30-5pm. Christmas at the Cellars at Rappahannock Cellars. Sample wines, tour and listen to live music. Gift baskets available. Tasting Fee: $4.50 includes souvenir glass. 540-635-9398. http://www.RappahannockCellars.com

Dec. 15th - Dec. 16th, Check for times. Smoke House Winery. Warmed and spiced mead will nurture the soul. Unusual gifts for that special person. $10 per person. 540-9873104. http://www.smokehousewinery.com

mountain lake lodge: a ‘magical christmas village & marketplace’

Many of you faithful “Road Trip” readers might remember when we featured our summertime excursion to this fabulous place two years ago. Mountain Lake Lodge is located in the southwest mountains of Virginia in Pembroke, VA. Nearby is the campus of Virginia Tech, the New River, Appalachian Trail and plenty of mountains. At approximately 4,000 feet on Salt Pond Mountain, you will ﬁ nd the stone lodge, rustic cabins and cozy cottages that make up Mountain Lake Lodge.

Mountain Lake Lodge has long been immersed in the area’s history and is where the iconic Dirty Dancing was ﬁlmed 37 years ago. Known as Kellerman’s Mountain House in the classic movie, according to many visitors, it is still the ideal place “to have the time of your life”! The property is surrounded by amazing views and is crisscrossed with 22 miles of pristine trails.

We were invited to the opening of this year’s ‘Magical Christmas Village & Marketplace Grand Illumination’ event and defi nitely couldn’t resist the invitation. While it is a bit of a drive from Old Town on a good day – four and a half hours via Routes 66 and 81 – we ran into a few snags on the way there and it turned in to a seven-hour trek. We did make a stop to grab some eats that ended up taking up one of those extra hours but the bulk of the time was spent in traffic. We thought we had left in plenty of time to avoid the normal rush hour traffic locally, but we didn’t factor in the rain, a couple of accidents and the “rush hour” around Harrisonburg and Roanoke and snow flurries on

the mountain. Our return on Sunday, however, was a piece of cake. No rain or snow, no accidents and, obviously, no rush hour. We took Route 11 for a good portion of it since we love going through all of the small towns that line this highway. This being said…leave an hour earlier than you think you have to and take a leisurely drive home on a Sunday.

The lobby in the Main Lodge is very welcoming and the beautiful stone fi replace was still all lit up when we got there despite the late arrival. This building is also home to the resorts dining options. Harvest (a white table cloth restaurant), Stone Creek Tavern (a fun casual place to eat and get a fantastic Bloody Mary) and Mary’s Market & Café (a coffee and sandwich/snack/sweets shop). Rounding out the drinking and dining options, is the Salt Pond Pub (a heated, outdoor bar located adjacent to the lodge and is host to the European Biergarten during the holiday festivities). Sandwiches and apps are available at the pub as well as some great brews and beverages. We were very excited to see the snow – especially after we arrived. We checked in and headed to our room in the Chestnut Lodge. There are 16 rooms in this lodge that is located a short way up the hill from the Main Lodge. The rooms are rustic and have wood burning fi replaces, private balconies and amazingly comfortable beds. Each room has a mini fridge and microwave as well as cable tv, wifi, etc.

After a good night’s sleep, we headed down to the Main Lodge to embark on our ﬁ rst holiday adventure of the season. The snowfall was just enough to cover the mountains and the ground and made it really feel like Christmas. Unfortunately, the temperature topped out at 39 degrees and the wind started up and was blowing 15 miles an hour all day. We didn’t get to participate in a couple of the activities (ice skating and a ride on the Pine Cone Express) we scheduled but we made it a full afternoon of checking out a few of the various cabins located around the grounds that are home to The Christmas Village shops.

After our brief foray out into the elements, we settled in at Stone Creek Tavern for some late lunch and an adult beverage. The tavern is one of our favorite places here. It was nice to see it all decked out in holiday décor. The menu isn’t extensive but there is plenty of choose from especially if you are a burger lover. Bob picked the Black Angus with fries and I took the healthier route with the Harvest Fall Salad – both good choices. I have to say, however, that my Bloody Mary stole the show! Later in the evening, we dined at Harvest – pork loin for Bob, trout for me. Food, ambiance and service all outstanding. If you there on the weekend, we highly recommend making reservations.

I could go on and on about all of the great things Mountain Lake has to oﬀer but we were there to join in on the celebration and to report back to you in the hopes you might make an overnight stay here a part of your holiday ritual.

The annual holiday festival, reminiscent of a whimsical European village, opened with the “Grand Illumination" when the entire storied resort was “bedazzled” in a backdrop of lights the evening of November 23rd.

.“Our Magical Christmas Village & Marketplace has become a premiere destination to celebrate the season and enjoy all the things that make the holidays so special,” said Heidi Stone, president and CEO of Mountain Lake Lodge.

Highlights of this year’s festival include entertainment, holiday cheer, food and dining:

Photos of Main Lodge Exterior, Lobby

Fireplace & Dining Room all provided courtesy of Mountain Lake Lodge.

festival events & offerings

• Holiday Shopping at The Christmas Village Shops - Features Toyland, North Poll Emporium and Winter Whimsy, each with its own gifts, toys and holiday delights.

• New Pinecone Express Train Rides – Runs regularly around the Village.

• Gingerbread House on Marshmallow Way – Oﬀers hot chocolate, an adult cocoa bar and s’mores ready for making at adjacent ﬁ repits.

• European Biergarten - Delicious fare and brews.

• Winter Bliss Ice-Skating Rink – Features special glow-in-the-dark iceskating.

• Horse-drawn Carriage Rides, Dec. 14th and 21st – Nostalgic rides through the Village.

• Brunch with Santa at Harvest, Dec. 15th – Continues the tradition with a festive meal.

• Christmas Day Dinner Buﬀet at Harvest, Dec. 25th – Details on website. Live Holiday Performances

A line-up of talented performers will headline the Mainstage in the resort’s beloved Mary’s Barn each Saturday night. Tickets are available online.

• Bells & Carols, Dec. 7th – Belle & Beaux Handbell Choir & Victorian Christmas Carolers

• Celtic Christmas, Dec. 14th – Highland Heritage

• Bluegrass, Dec. 21st – Andrew Small & Ashlee Watkins

• Candlelight Serenade, Dec. 28th – Harp, Violin & String Quartet

• New Year’s Eve Magic & Marvels, Dec. 31st – Spellbinding grand ﬁ nale with Magician Bryan Saint’s close-up illusions and tricks.

The event is open to the public through January 4th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. A Two-Night Magic overnight package includes accommodations, breakfast each morning, and ice-skating passes. For detailed information on all of the above, visit www.mtnlakelodge. com or call 540-626-7121. Mountain Lake Lodge has been recognized by TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice Awards 2024, The Knot Best of Weddings 2024 and 2023 and The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame, and received ﬁ rst place in Virginia Living’s Best Resort and Best Special Event Venue 2023.

Two New All-Inclusive Resorts Just Opened in Jamaica: One for Families, the Other Adults-Only key west getaway

Maybe you know Montego Bay. Or Negril. Or Ocho Rios. Or maybe you’ve been to further frontiers like Port Antonio and Treasure Beach. But Jamaica’s two newest resorts are in a destination you probably haven’t heard of: Green Island, about halfway between Mobay and Negril.

Spanish hotel ﬁ rm Princess Hotels and Resorts just opened a pair of new resorts in the area: Princess Senses The Mangrove, an adults-only resort, and Princess Grand Jamaica, a family-friendly property — both the ﬁ rst-ever Jamaica hotels for the brand.

The adults-only Princess Senses has 401 rooms, all of which are suites, joined by 14 overwater bungalows — some of just a handful available in the country. Each overwater unit comes with its own inﬁ nity pool, too. Overall, the adults-only resort has 29 diﬀerent food and beverage outlets. If you’re not staying in an overwater room, you can choose from swim-out suites, terrace rooms or suites with their own balconies. There are also “pleasure suites,” with private hydromassage hot tubs and unique room designs. Overwater villas start at $1,453 per night.

The family-friendly Princess Grand Jamaica ticks all the boxes for families, particularly with kids: you get a water park, a kids club, a special space just for

teens and even special larger family suites with more space for bigger groups. At the Jamaica Grand, you get 590 suites, all with ocean views, along with 17 diﬀerent food and beverage concepts.

“This opening has truly been a labor of love with all team members pitching in to strive for a seamless guest experience,” Princess’ Kareen Hall told Caribbean Journal. “We are proud to make history as the largest investment in hospitality industry the island has ever seen.”

So, what about price? Rooms at the Princess Senses The Mangrove are running at $794 per night. That gets you a deluxe junior suite, one of 183 at the property. At the Princess Grand Jamaica, a junior suite starts at $438 per night, all-inclusive. A swim-out room will cost you $489.

For more information about this property, visit princesssenses.com.

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

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

NAPLES FL TOPS THE LIST FOR BEST BEACHES IN USA

SEASONAL RENTAL AVAILABLE

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

Call (no texts), email or visit our Facebook page @NaplesOceanfrontCondo. 540-364-9480 • hopespringsfarm@gmail.com

This Tiny Overwater Bungalow Resort

Crowd-Free Corner of the Caribbean

We love overwater bungalows. So do you. Admit it. Everyone does. It’s one of the great travel fantasy’s — you and yours all by yourselves, surrounded by nothing but water, waking up to the ocean and living under a thatched roof.

While they were always the purview of the South Paciﬁc, in the last decade they’ve become more popular in the Caribbean. That’s particularly true in the crowd-free, underthe-radar Caribbean coast of Panama, more speciﬁcally the stunning Bocas del Toro archipelago.

Here, there are quite a few overwater bungalow options, with precisely the sort of experience you’re looking for.

That includes a new-look option: the transformed Sol Bungalows resort in Bocas del Toro, which just unveiled its newly-built bungalows.

There are four in total, with all of the essentials: the thatched roof, overwater hammocks, the glass ﬂoors, snorkeling you can do right from your room.

Even better? The hotel also has its own permaculture farm, meaning its services up locally-sourced, farm-to-table fare served right in your fantasy cottage.

It’s also completely solar powered, with all water harvested from rain, meaning you really are right oﬀ the grid.

Sol calls itself an overwater bed-and-breakfast: it’s a unique, intimate, friendly little overwater resort that’s worth the trip. Prices start at $330 per night including breakfast, making it also one of the best-value overwater options, well, anywhere. For more information, visit Solbungalowsbocas.com

DINING GUIDE M

AMERICAN

1799 PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD

110 S. Pitt Street

571-404-6001

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

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970

BLACKWALL HITCH

5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090

BOB & EDITHS DINER 1743 King Street

703-664-0043 bobandedithsdiner.com

CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442

CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080

CITY KITCHEN

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

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

EVENING STAR CAFÉ

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051

EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street

703-299-0894

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

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

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

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

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

HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355

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

JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

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

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

KILN - HOTEL HERON 699 Prince St. 703-662-1900

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street 571-319-0794

LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533

LOST DOG CAFE

808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511

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

MAJESTIC CAFÉ

911 King St. 703-837-9117

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

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

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

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

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

OCONNELLS

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

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

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

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

RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com

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

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

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

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

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

SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550

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

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

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S

510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street

703-838-8000

T.J. STONES

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

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

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

unionstreetpublichouse.com

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

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

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

ASIAN

ASIAN BISTRO

809 King St. 703-836-1515

INDOCHEN 1625 King Street (571) 404-6050

KISSO ASIAN BISTRO

300 King Street

703-888-1513

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

MAI THAI

9 King St.

703-548-0600

NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848

SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458

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

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

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

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

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

CEDAR KNOLL

703-780-3665

CONTINENTAL

GW Parkway at Lucia Ln.

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

ALEXANDRIA BIER GARDEN 710 King Street 703-888-1951 villagebrauhaus.com

FRENCH

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

bastillerestaurant.com

BEN' YAYS 1028 King Street 703-495-3888

BRABO 1600 King St. 703-894-3440

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

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

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

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

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

ITALIAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EPICURE ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090

PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287

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

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

MEDITERRANEAN

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

ELAINE'S 208 Queen Street 571-970-0517

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

PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194

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

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

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

SEAFOOD

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

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

ﬁshmarketoldva.com THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834

WHISKEY & OYSTER 301 John Carlyle 703-567-1533

INDIAN

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

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

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

NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615

MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN

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

CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438

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

LOS CUATES RESTAURANT 1116 King Street 703-548-2918

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

LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167

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

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

URBANO 116 116 King Street 571-970-5148

Meet Us at Junction Bistro, Bakery & Bar For Dinner!

Located in pretty much the “Heart of Del Ray” area of Alexandria, the original Junction Bakery and Bistro has been catering to a wide variety of locals and visitors alike since July 2016. Originally concentrating on gourmet baked goods, pastries, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and the like served in the cozy bistro in the front of the operation, last year Junction transformed the space that housed the original full-blown bakery operation into a very sleek, eﬃcient open kitchen with counter stool dining, a large L-Shaped dining room and a full bar. They also added a large inviting outdoor space that runs along the majority of the length of the north side of the building. In addition to revamping the space, they revamped the menu to include dinner. This is why we decided to visit! We dined the Monday before Thanksgiving so it was pretty quiet in the dining room, however, the bistro out front was alive with action – lots of young parents and their kids and the die-hard coﬀee drinkers. We like the fact that “they” aka “kids” were in their section and we were in ours. It isn’t that we aren’t fans of little kids, it’s just that we enjoy eating and drinking among adults.

From the Junction Libations section to the Sides choices, the menu is very diverse. There are offerings that are complex in nature mixing flavors you may not think work –think some really creative craft cocktails - as well as good old classics the likes of pot roast and G’ma’s meatloaf and everything in between. There are offerings that have flavor profiles including Southwest, Thai, Chinese, Mediterranean, Lebanese and a little Italian. It may sound daunting but it isn’t. You just have to see the full menu to get the drift.

little bit of charring on top. We are also suckers for “presentation” and the personal tureen the soup is served in hit that mark. The Beet Salad is different than any we’ve had before. It is a fantastic combination of arugula, shaved fennel, lots of beets, halved red grapes, goat cheese and chopped pecans tossed with an amazing buttermilk vinaigrette dressing. We are also big beet fans and adding the grapes and shaved fennel to the mix was a treat. The salad is enough for two people for sure. I knew I couldn’t eat it all so did what I could and fi nally picked out the “good stuff ” leaving the rest of the arugula tossed with the dressing to take home with me. That buttermilk vinaigrette is really, really good.

On our visit, we chose to sit sat at the bar – as we are like to do – since it is a very casual atmosphere. All of the other tables in the new dining/bar area are high tops with a booth-like back that extends all along the west side of the room. The high top chairs have backs on them making that attractive to those of you who prefer to have some support.

The drill at Junction is that you place your order from the bar or via a QR Code (which we know nothing about since we are OLD) and a runner/ server brings your meal to your seat. It appears to be a fairly eﬃcient MO.

We had a hard time deciding on what to order so opted to just get a starter and go from there. We chose the French Onion Soup and the Beet Salad. We are both huge fans of the soup and therefore consider ourselves “self-proclaimed” experts… and the Junction version is spot on. Hearty beef broth and caramelized onions topped with a sourdough crouton and a fair amount of gruyere on top that is broiled to just the way we like it – a

It is a good thing that we ordered the starters and waited to decide on a main course. The tureen of soup and the HUGE salad are meals in themselves. This being said, we decided to share the Pot Roast that Junction is known for. Bourguignon braised short rib served with glazed vegetables and mashed potatoes make up this entree. The sauce/ gravy from the beef accompanies the mashed potatoes. We both thought this dish was great with the exception of the vegetables. They appeared to have been steamed and not glazed with anything and they were a bit al dente for us. This may have been just a misstep in the kitchen on this night and we deﬁ nitely won’t hesitate to order the dish again. Once again, the portion is enough for two and we actually ended up bringing some of it home as well. With the addition of the full-service bar, came a great Happy Hour that runs Monday through Friday between 3 and 7 pm. There are some major discounts on libations including beer, wine, rail drinks, craft cocktails and even Jello shots (while supplies last). Also on the Happy Hour menu are some tasty sounding food items that we didn’t see on the other menu. The likes of burrata with warm tomato jam and chile honey served with multigrain bread and chorizo nachos as well as loaded tots and a smash burger option and more. No buﬀalo wings or sliders on this menu.

If it has been a while since you have been in for coﬀee and one of their “Cruﬃns”, you might want to put Junction on your “take a break from holiday shopping” dinner list. You will not be disappointed.

The Perfect Bûche de Noël

We’ve all seen the famous French Christmas Yule log―the bûche de Noël. A bûche is made by slathering butter cream on a sheet of pliable sheet cake called roulade, rolling it into a cylinder and decorating it with butter cream to resemble a small log. Making a bûche requires a bit of work, but it’s not beyond the skills of serious home bakers. Your family and guests will be impressed. They make great gifts too.

Serves: 8 Time: 2 hours

Roulade (Jelly roll cake)

Ingredients

4 egg yolks, from large eggs

1/3 cup white granulated sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose ﬂour, sifted

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

4 fresh egg whites, from large eggs

Instructions

Grease a standard jelly roll pan (about 11 x 7 inches) and line it with parchment paper or waxed paper. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. These tasks must be done prior making the roulade.

Whip the yolks and sugar on medium speed until the mixture turns pale yellow and ribbons form. This can be expedited by warming the bowl intermittently over hot water or a low flame on top of the range. Once ribbons have formed, incrementally fold the flour into the yolks and sugar mixture with a curved rubber spatula. Folding is best accomplished by turning the bowl whilst you fold in the flour in stages. This provides uniform distribution of the flour. If you have only one mixer, remove this mixture to another bowl then wash and dry the machine bowl for whipping the whites.

In a very clean and dry mixing bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff and peaks form. Whipping should be done on medium speed as this will result in fi rmer, more stable meringue. High speed will result in a meringue that collapses easily. Combine the whites with the egg, sugar and flour mixture. This is a very delicate procedure. This is best accomplished by combining half the whites with the mixture and gently folding the remaining whites into the mixture. Take care to turn the bowl as the whites are added incrementally.

With an oﬀ-set palette knife, spread the entire mixture over the prepared jelly roll pan. The batter should be spread to a depth of only ½ inches thick as the batter will rise when baked. Place pan in the middle of the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until the edges begin to turn light brown. Do not overcook as it will become brittle and break when you roll it.

To check for doneness, insert a toothpick in the center and if it comes out clean the roulade is suﬃciently cooked. Remove from oven and allow cooling before removing from pan. Remove the paper by beginning at a corner and gently pulling towards the opposite end.

Vanilla Butter Cream Ingredients

1 cup water

3 cups white granulated sugar

9 fresh egg whites, from medium eggs

4½ cups unsalted butter, softened

1 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

In a clean, heavy-bottomed sauce pan combine sugar and water. Rapidly boil the syrup to precisely 240ºF. A candy thermometer should be used to obtain the exact temperature. While the syrup is cooking whip whites on medium speed in a clean and dry machine mixing bowl. Once syrup has reached 235ºF remove it from the ﬁ re. The temperature will continue to rise to the desired 240ºF. With the mixer on high speed, slowly drizzle the hot syrup into the whites. Reduce mixer speed to medium and allow meringue to cool down to nearly room temperature, about 100ºF.

With the mixer still on medium speed, slowly add dollops of butter to the meringue. Allow each addition to incorporate before adding the next. Add vanilla. Chocolate butter cream may be made by adding ½ cup of melted dark semi-sweet chocolate to the batch. You can also make hazelnut butter cream by adding Nutella.

Assembling and Garnishing the Cake

Spread a thin layer of butter cream on the sheet of roulade and roll it into a cylinder. Wrap the cylinder in waxed paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Once thoroughly chilled remove to cutting board and slice each end at a 45º angle. Place the cylinder on the serving platter with which you intend to serve the bûche. This will obviate the need to transfer the ﬁ nished log and possibly damaging it in the process.

With an oﬀ-set palette knife or spatula slather butter cream ½ inch over the entire cylinder including the ends. Drag a pastry comb or the tines of a dinner fork along the length of the log to make textured lines that resemble tree bark. Make the bark design on the sides of the trunk only. The butter cream on the ends should remain smooth. If you wish, the ends can be made to resemble tree rings by piping alternate concentric rings of melted dark chocolate and butter cream. Refrigerate cake until service. You can even decorate the plate with sprigs of holly leaves.

About the Author: Chef Morell is taking some much needed time oﬀ so we tapped into our archives in order to bring you Chef Charles Oppman’s famous Christmas Yule Log recipe. Charles wrote this column for the OTC for many years, Enjoy!

Northern Virginia’s 2024 Vintage

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

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

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

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

chance to dry out. Many of our reds were not quite ready to harvest, so we let them hang on the vine hoping for better weather. As the weather forecast was not really improving, we committed to picking through the misty days. The grapes were good but not really improving. Critters, bees, deer and disease were starting to hinder the quantity and potential quality of the season. Some folks picked everything before the rains started. Personally, we have lots of fruit and physically we could not pick everything before the rain started, but we sorted fruit in the ﬁeld and picked with care to bring in the best of what we had.

In the end, most of the white grapes came in before the rains. The reds were picked as quickly as possible. As farmers who dance with Mother Nature, we complain a lot and sometimes second guess our decisions. As we work with these wines in the cellar, I will feel more conﬁdent about how they have come together. Each year we do this, we want to improve over the last year. In Virginia, we have done a great job over a relatively short period of time, learning our vines and soils in a way that we can adjust our practices in the vineyard and cellar to improve our quality. Each vintage is diﬀerent and we learn something new each year.

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

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

THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY 11-5

15669 Limestone School Rd Leesburg, VA 20176 703.771.1197 • fabbioliwines.com info@fabbioliwines.com

GRAPEVINE

Virginia Wines Showcase Modern Innovation

The European wine industry is steeped in tradition, much of which is codiﬁed into law. Bordeaux famously regulates everything from the kind of grapes grown within its borders, the amount of irrigation its wineries can use, and even the level of alcohol. While the Virginia wine industry isn’t bound by the kind of regulations found in Europe, winemaking traditions derived from the ‘Old World’ still dominate the state. It has taken Virginia wineries decades to appreciate that not everything that works in Europe can be replicated locally.

This gives leeway to innovators to redeﬁ ne how wine should be made. Whether it be trying out new grape varieties, exploring new blends, or creating new twists on old favorites, local innovators are pushing the industry’s boundaries forward.

Dennis Horton might be Virginia’s foremost innovator. When he founded Horton Vineyards in the early 1990s, Virginia wineries were relying upon either popular but fragile grapes such as cabernet sauvignon, or tougher but less commercially desirable hybrid grapes. Not satisﬁed with either option, he planted a dizzying array of less famous vinifera including viognier, petit manseng, touriga nacional, and tannat.

Dennis discovered these grapes by researching which wine growing regions have climates similar to Virginia. He reasoned that if a place like Condrieu had hot summers coupled with cool wet winters, then a Condrieu grape such as viognier would work here.

Given the changing landscape of the wine industry, this out-of-the box thinking remains relevant. Many grape varieties are becoming vulnerable to climate change in places they long called home, while others are flourishing in new locations. At the same time, the clientele the industry caters to is changing. Younger buyers prefer sustainability and affordability over a wine’s fancy classification. Such consumers are open to wines that ‘break the rules.’ For oenophiles who want to try something new, here are four options from wineries that lean into this spirit of innovation.

Artemisia is one of a handful of Virginia farms crafting vermouth, an aromatized, fortiﬁed wine. Vermouth may seem an odd choice for wine lovers, but Artemisia is proving doubters wrong with an assortment of uniquely crafted options.

Vermouth is typically thought of as a cocktail mixer, but Artemisia’s bottles are ﬁ nding an audience as a stand-alone drink with ingredients that emphasize their local nature. Coowner Kelly Allen explained, “We want to capture Virginia’s terroir as an abstract essence”.

One vermouth that particularly shines is Mentha, a mint-rhubarb aperitif made with traminette. Mentha is aged in apple wood and pecan, bittered with dandelion and wormwood, and infused with Kentucky colonel mint, mojito mint, and spearmint. The last ingredient is especially prevalent, giving it a full, fresh ﬂavor.

Briedé Family Vineyards' 2023

Arandell Special Reserve

to organic standards. While harsh weather forced the Briedés to drop their organic certiﬁcation, they continue to apply many of the same techniques.

One lesson they took to heart is organic farming requires grapes that are naturally disease resistant. That led them to plant a number of hybrid and native grapes, including cayuga, marquette, la crescent, and arandell. That last variety deserves special mention. Arandell was created by Cornell University, which is developing a new generation of hybrid grapes that are as ﬂavorful as they are hardy.

Arandell’s ﬂavor proﬁle combines earthiness and acidity, with a hint of tobacco. While many oenophiles tend to look down their nose at hybrid grapes, such snobbery is uncalled for. Arandell is a standout in the pantheon of hybrids and is one of the few hybrid wines to earn a Gold medal at the 2024 Shenandoah Wine Cup competition.

The French wine industry is notorious for being a stickler for tradition. This means when arinarnoa was announced as one of a handful of varieties now authorized for planting in Bordeaux, the wine industry took notice.

Arinarnoa is a cross of tannat and cabernet sauvignon, making it suitable to both Virginia’s and Bordeaux’s increasingly warm climate. Chateau O’Brien is the ﬁ rst winery on the east coast to plant this grape.

Owner Howard O’Brien explained, “I got the idea to plant arinarnoa during one of my trips to Uruguay, where

they plant it next to their tannat. In the vineyard, it has characteristics from both of its parents. Arinarnoa has a leaf structure like tannat, berries like cab sauv, ripens like cab, and its growing season is very similar to tannat. I only do 1-3 tons an acre, but it crops very well.”

Howard’s arinarnoa showcases a nice balance of earth and mushroom notes on the nose, with soft tannin and some dark fruit on the palate.

The Parallax Project What’s This? and What’s That?

The Parallax Project is a collaboration between winemakers Ben and Tim Jordan and owners Lance Lemon and Reggie Leonard. The Jordan brothers already have a ﬂair for unusual blends, but these wines topped even their wildly creative imagination.

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

While What’s This? and What’s That? were both made using vidal blanc, chardonel, tannat, petit manseng, traminette, and albariño, they are very diﬀerent wines. What’s This? is a white wine that leans more heavily on vidal and chardonel, giving it citrus notes and a ﬂoral aroma.

“What’s That?” is a juicy red made with 83% tannat, yet it’s low on tannin and highly aromatic.

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

Artemisia Farm & Vineyard’s Mentha

Owners Paul and Loretta Briedé originally farmed their vineyard

Chateau O’Brien 2019 Arinarnoa

Pizza and Beer! Atlas Brewing Brings a Classic Combo to Alexandria!

When I was in college and living in the fraternity house, we would roar through the weekends. Fridays and Saturdays were full of football, basketball, parties, and the pursuit of sorority girls. The latter reminds me of an old joke. In their later years, Groucho Marx once asked George Burns “Do you remember when we used to chase the girls?” George replied “Yeah. Remember when we used to catch them?”

All that revelry on Fridays and Saturdays lead to one thing, being ﬂat broke on Sunday. College boys were not then and are not now known for their ﬁ nancial acumen. But we were creative, as college kids always are. On Sunday’s we would often have “Dollar Parties.” Everyone would throw in the few bucks they had left, then we would buy the refreshments for the Sunday afternoon festivities. Although the occasional bottle of cheap gin or bag of ganja was purchased, the celebration was usually a pizza and beer party.

Pizza and beer are one of the greatest pairings of all time. The two are right up there with peanut butter and jelly, steak and potatoes, top hats and coattails, and wine and cheese. This pairing can be suited to almost any occasion but goes perfectly with sporting events. A good slice of pizza and a great pint of beer can enhance any football game, basketball game, or soccer match. Hell, if it’s really good pizza and beer, it might even make a cricket match palatable.

Atlas Brewing Company opened last June in the Carlyle Crossing neighborhood of Alexandria. Not only did they open a brewery with their award-winning beer, but they also partnered with Andy’s Pizza, who make award-winning pizza. Now that, my friends, is a great pairing.

Do you want to know the best thing about our new brewery?

It’s in my backyard.

Ok, it’s not exactly in my back yard. But it’s

only about a ﬁfteen-minute walk. What a great way to get my steps in.

“Honey, I’ll be back later. Gotta hit my 10,000-step goal!”

I would probably have to walk to Atlas several times a day to hit that mark. But I’m willing to adjust my ﬁtness goals accordingly. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Plus, they have a dog friendly patio. So, in good weather, I can bring our dog Crosby with me. “Honey, the dog needs to go out. I’ll be back later.”

Atlas’ space is very large, sporting 12 big screen televisions. Their patio is huge as well. The main room is more of a bar than a tasting room. It’s well-designed, not thrown together like many brewery tasting rooms. Although I do enjoy the eclectic hodge-podge tasting room, this one does have a good feel to it. It has a clean industrial look. You can see the brewing equipment from almost any seat.

Right as you walk in, Andy’s Pizza catches your eye. Andy’s has an open kitchen and pick-up counter, with their fantastic pizzas on display, just steps from the bar. If you haven’t had Andy’s pizza, you need to go there and try it. It’s delightful. There’s a great happy hour special, $10 for a pint of beer and two slices of pizza. That in and of itself is worth the trip.

When I arrived, I met with Michael Temple, the Atlas Assistant General Manager. Michael’s story is similar to a lot of brewery managers. He fell in love with the craft beer industry, and dove right in. He was a beer tender at Manor Hill Brewery in Maryland. Then he owned his own brewery for a short period. His beer knowledge is great and his passion for the craft is contagious. They just recently started brewing in-house beers. The others come from their brewery in DC. Michael wastes no time and puts a beer tasting ﬂight right in front of me. It’s their Hometown Hero Flight, all brewed in-house. We start with their Mexican lager, Atlantico.

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Foxﬁre Cinnamon Whiskey

It’s the holiday season. So, I figured I’d have some fun with this month’s whiskey recommendation. Foxfi re Cinnamon Whiskey is made with 100% Virginia-grown corn and infused with cinnamon and Grade A Vermont maple syrup. It’s made by Copper Fox Distillery, which I have recommended a couple of times in this space. They make quality whiskeys. This one is both bold and sweet, with a little spice. The cinnamon flavor is not overpowering. Our publisher, Bob Tagert, likes it on the rocks. I prefer it in a hot apple cider. It’s perfect for many different cocktails. One of the suggested cocktails is a Foxfi re Mule: Foxfi re Cinnamon Whiskey with apple cider and ginger beer. It’s a fun addition to any holiday gathering.

Camacho Corojo

Camacho is one of my go-to brands. The Camacho Corojo is a great winter cigar. It’s spicey and full bodied from the fi rst puff. This is a peppery cigar, but not in an overpowering way. As you get into the smoke, it becomes savory and buttery. The pepper flavor remains, but hints of pine nut and cedar also come through. It’s a great lounging by the bonfi re smoke. Enjoy.

It’s light and refreshing with a great lime taste on the back. What I love about this beer is that the lime flavor comes from the selection and treatment of the hops. No lime juice is added to this beer. Next, we had Noah Lyle’s 100 Meter Golden Ale, an obvious tribute to Alexandria’s Olympic Gold Medalist. This golden ale is bready with hints of biscuit up front. As you drink it, you get a soft cashew flavor. It fi nishes clean and smoothly. The last beer we tried was the Tidewater Session IPA. This is a whole bodied beer that gets lighter while it’s on your palate. It has a soft red berry flavor that is cut very quickly by melon. It’s an IPA, so you need to like hops. But the hops in this great brew are not overbearing.

We also tried a beer that is a partnership between Patagonia and Atlas brewing. That’s right, Patagonia the winter apparel company. The result is Atlas’ Kernza lager. It’s made with the sustainable Kenza grain, which Patagonia is promoting. The beer was husky and a bit nutty with good lager ﬂavor. **

It's fun watching Michael’s excitement grow as he describes the beers. He began describing their winter release which will be out soon. A honey-brewed double IPA named Money Trouble Honey Double. I hope I got that name right. We both had a good laugh while Michael stumbled over it several times.

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

It’s great having another brewery in the area. The more breweries the better, I say. They offer such a fun experience. There’s nothing like craft beer. The Atlas Brewery and Andy’s Pizza combination doesn’t disappoint. I’ve been to their Navy Yard location; this one is different. The focus here is family and dog friendly. It’s also a great spot to gather with friends at happy hour or for a game. And it’s located right by the AMC Hoffman theatre. So, it’s perfect for a date night. Michael told me that he advises people to go to the movie fi rst, then to come to the brewery, not vice versa. That’s sage advice, especially for anyone who snores. Cheers!!

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

Why Do They Do THAT?? Cats Explained (Well, a Bit…)

Cats are lovely, but often baﬄing companions. It is rare that a week goes by when I don’t ask Ms. Sweet Potato Bailey Burns (SPBB for short) WHY she is doing something or at least laugh at her silly ways. Some things will always remain a mystery – why that particular toy? why chin scratches above all else? –but some questions do have answers. Or, at least pet experts think they know. Cats are rather adamant in their refusal to speak our language and we haven’t learned theirs!

• What’s up with the boxes?

I remember the fi rst time we found the late, great Smoky Tiggs tucked in a cardboard box. Being new to cat mom-hood, I was baffled. Laughing but baffled. Turns out, this is very much on brand. And there are several reasons cats love boxes. The confi ned space feels safe, especially for a creature that’s both predator and prey in the natural world and one that

sleeps some 12 to 16 hours per day. It’s also warm – if cats controlled the thermostats, they’d have it in the upper 80s, which few of their humans indulge. (Side note: That may also be why SPBB steals my blankets.) The box is also “theirs,” a special domain that they make their own by leaving their scent.

• Why do they knead?

Whether on their people or the (stolen) blankets, cats will often knead with their paws, a behavior pet parents call “making biscuits.” This behavior is a carryover from their kitten days when they’d knead their mom’s belly to get milk. As they grow, it’s a sign of contentment and relaxation. The minimassage is also a big compliment! They’re also marking their territory since they have scent glands in their paws. You might not smell it, but another cat will know you’re theirs!

• Why do they rub their faces on everything (including mom and dad)??

This follows nicely from that last one. Cats have scent glands in their faces, so rubbing against objects (or their humans) is a way of marking their territory. It’s also a way they simply say hello and show aﬀection. I know SPBB is particularly likely to rub against our ankles at feeding time! Plus, it just feels good. Sadly, their humans are not constantly available to provide cheek and chin scratches.

• Why do cats sleep with their heads upside down?

There are few things that I ﬁ nd more adorable than a cat sleeping – or wide awake and watching me – with its head upside down. Like many sleeping positions (the loaf, the sprawl, the superkitty), it’s partly that they’re just plain comfortable that way. In particular, turning their head upside down can be a way of keeping warm. It also helps block out noise and makes them feel safe and secure.

• Why do they love to show oﬀ their bottoms?

Cats seem to love displaying the butts for all to see, especially their family. In this case, your cat’s often just saying hi! Cats present their bottoms to each other as a greeting. Oﬀering a quick sniﬀ is just good feline manners. Turning backwards is also a sign of trust. Again, cats are both predators and prey. If they aren’t watching you, they know you’ve, well, got their back.

• Why do cats purr?

There are few sounds that are more relaxing than a cat’s purr. It’s one way to communicate. Usually, it’s a good thing: a sign of contentment. That said, sometimes they’re trying to self-soothe because they’re scared or in pain. We had a foster cat that never purred as loudly as she did at the vet’s. Interestingly, purring may also be a healing mechanism. Scientists suggest the particular frequency of a purr can relieve pain and even strengthen bones. So, it’s totally justiﬁed to say I’m

PETS OF THE MONTH

spending my Wellness Day petting my cat till she purrs like a lawnmower, right?

• And one for the humans: Why do people give pets as gifts?

Look, I’m a pet lover. I get it. Animals bring such joy to our lives, and we want others to know that companionship and love. But please remember that pets are a huge responsibility. Pet adoption is a commitment. It’s a promise to devote time, money, and your heart to an animal for the rest of its life. Don’t give an animal as a gift unless you are absolutely certain that the pet is wanted – something more than a passing comment in the presence of an adorable furball, a true expression of the commitment to all pet parenthood involves.

And while we’re talking about humans, please keep your pet in mind when decorating for the holidays. What looks beautiful to us can be dangerous – even lethal – for our furry or feathered friends. See the article below for details.

Be well and purr on!

Sources:

Cheryl Burns, “Pets and the Holidays: A Commitment, Not a Gift, and Pet Prooﬁ ng for the Holidays,” Old Town Crier (Dec. 1, 2020)

Alison Gerken, “Why Do Cats Like Boxes?” PetMD (Sept. 19, 2023)

Sarah Lazzari, “Why Do Cats Knead? Is This Normal?” BeChewy (Sept. 19, 2024)

Janelle Leeson, “Why Do Cats Put Their Butt in Your Face? We Got to The Bottom of This Strange Behavior,” Daily Paws (May 21, 2024).

“Why Do Cats Sleep With Their Head Upside Down? 5 Reasons,” Pet Food Mark (Nov. 16, 2023)

About the Author: Cheryl Burns is a Senior Legal Editor and Subject Matter Expert with BARBRI, a legal education company. She now resides in quiet Central Pennsylvania, but she’s still a proud King Street Cats supporter (and not just because Sweet Potato Bailey Burns (f/k/a just Bailey) is an alum!).

Royal

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304

703-838-4774

www.alexandriaanimals.org

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

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

703-830-1100

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter

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

www.kingstreetcats.org

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

Friends of Rabbits www.friendsofrabbits.org

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

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

alexandriaanimals.org Mon-Tu-Th-Fri,

Royal is a 3-year-old female dog who weighs approximately 60 pounds. Her easygoing nature has won over our staff and volunteers. She is a fairly calm gal who likes to leisurely play in the yards with toys. She will partake in a game of fetch, but mostly enjoys snif ng and exploring. She has gotten along well with other playful dogs. She knows cues, like sit, and seems to be motivated to learn even more cues. She has immaculate house manners and is housetrained. She doesn't bark at neighbors or dogs walking by the house.

Evander is an 8-year-old gray and white kitty with a distinguished personality. We believe Evander has lived a lot of his life on the streets, which have earned him his ruggedly good looks. This sweet guy is calm, laid-back, and social. Although, if he's honest, sometimes he likes just to hang back and watch the world go by. He likes batting around a catnip mouse or a pipe cleaner. His favorite leisurely activity is a “Lickable” Churu treat squeezed on an enrichment mat. Evander is easy company and would be a lovely, loyal companion.

Holmes is ready for a home for the holidays! Holmes is an adorable black and white short-haired rabbit who has been searching for a family since August. He is calm, sweet, and social. Holmes greets all of his visitors with enthusiasm and a hope for some of his favorite nibbles. He loves his timothy hay of course, but he also loves a carrot or lettuce to nosh. Some of his favorite toys include busy boxes stuffed with timothy hay and biscuits -- he works very hard to best those and nd all the surprise treats.

Evander

Holmes

it's time to get your holiday glow on!

You’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.

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 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 shimmertry 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.

Cocktail Party

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

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.

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

Start Early and Walk Away Winter Weight

Every 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 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.

Walk at a Steady Pace: 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 fi nd 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 these 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 the new year.

Keeping Holiday Stress at Bay

The holidays have arrived in quick fashion and for many of us it’s probably one of the busiest times of the year. Whether you’ve made travel plans to see family and friends, trying to ﬁ nd that perfect Christmas gift or attending multiple holiday parties, this time of year is fun, but can also be stressful. As we get wrapped up in the holiday madness, it’s easy to let your ﬁtness routine slide, which can mean unwanted weight gain. However, there are a few simple things you can do to avoid the extra pounds.

Choose Snacks and Drinks Wisely at Holiday Parties: Holiday parties are a great way to unwind, but they can also set us up for easy weight gain. You want to try to limit sweets, juices, and alcohol. Instead, opt for tea, coffee, and water. If you choose to drink alcohol, stick with the light beer. You should stay away from high-fat meats and cheeses such as salami, mini-dogs, and cheddar and jack cheeses. Look to eat turkey breast, ham, low-fat cheeses like mozzarella, Swiss, or provolone instead. Always fill your plate with plenty of fruit and vegetables and eat them fi rst!

Stay Active: This might be the most diﬃcult task to achieve, especially when the weather is bad. If you can’t make it to the gym for a workout, there are some activities you can try at home. Hold a contest between family and friends to ﬁ nd out who can perform the most sit-ups, pushups, crunches, squats or jumping jacks (Do this only before eating,

of course). Walk up and down the stairs during the commercial breaks of your favorite TV show. Better yet, play Wii video games all day! If you don’t have a Wii ﬁ nd someone who does. If the weather is nice, go for an afternoon walk or bike ride around the neighborhood.

Don’t Skip Dessert! That’s right. This is not a misprint. You should be able to treat yourself during the holidays, rather than feel deprived. Just adjust your portion sizes down at the dinner table so you can have that piece of pie, fudge, cookie, or cake. Remember to do so in moderation.

Drink Water: 0 Calories! What more do I need to say?

I hope that you fi nd these tips useful in your battle to fight off those unwanted “holiday pounds”. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!

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

Taking Care of Tannenbaum

Christmas is coming! The presents have been purchasedmost of them anyway - and now is the time to start thinking about that tree. Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes, from the huge natural tree that towers above the White House lawn every season to little artiﬁcial ones with shiny aluminum needles. For many families, the holiday wouldn't be complete without a cut natural tree gracing the living room.

There are a wide variety of Christmas tree types available on the market, each with a distinctive shape and color. Scots pine, white pine and white spruce are among the most popular and widely available. And, in certain areas, local species are oﬀered for sale as well.

Every year beginning in late fall, Christmas tree lots spring up in shopping mall parking lots, at home and garden centers and near local convenience stores. Gas stations also get into the act. Christmas trees are even available by mail order on the Internet. While trees bought at these locations can be perfectly acceptable, an alternative worth considering, depending upon your location, is a tree farm. Buying from a tree farm has a number of advantages. The ﬁ rst is freshness. When you see your tree being cut or you cut it yourself at a tree farm, you can be sure you are getting the freshest tree

possible. The second advantage is selection. While most farms specialize in only one or two species of tree, the many diﬀerent shapes and sizes available mean that trees are available to suit almost every taste. Finally, a visit to a tree farm can be a real outing both for you and your family. Many tree farms also have activities like wagon rides which turn buying a Christmas tree from a chore into an event.

If you do decide to purchase a Christmas tree from a commercial tree lot, once again, the most important consideration is freshness. Many Christmas trees are trucked a considerable distance, sometimes part way across the continent, and days or even weeks may pass between the time the trees are cut and when they arrive for sale. Always ask the vendor where the tree has come from and how long ago it was cut. Buy a locally produced tree wherever possible.

Inspect your prospective purchase. Does it appear green and healthy with a fragrant smell and moist ﬂexible needles or is there evidence of drying or browning? Avoid any trees with broken branches or damaged bark. Bounce the tree lightly on its cut end if you can or shake it. Does this result in an inevitable little sprinkling or does it produce a shower or needles? If needles rain down, you might be wise to look

around a little more. The next consideration after freshness is size.

Make sure the tree you buy will fit comfortably in the room and location you have chosen. Use a tape measure if necessary. Check the bottom of the tree. Is there enough space between the end and the lowest branches to make a slightly diagonal fresh cut? Cutting an extra inch off the bottom before mounting your tree will greatly help water absorption and ensure your tree lasts as long as possible. Be sure to make this fi nal cut just before placing it in water. If it is exposed to the air for too long, the vessels will become blocked.

The fi rst thing to do after you have carefully selected your Christmas tree is to get it home and into its stand as quickly as possible. A Christmas tree should never be mounted dry, but rather in a container of water that is replenished on a regular basis. As referenced above, using a small handsaw, cut about an inch off the bottom at a slight angle to aid water absorption. Make sure the tree is mounted securely in its stand and that the tree itself is positioned away from open flames or heat sources that may dry it out prematurely.

After your tree has been mounted, the decorating begins. A properly maintained Christmas tree is

not a particular ﬁ re hazard, but common sense is important too. Candles or open-ﬂame ornaments of any kind are never, ever to be used. Check strings of lights to ensure that the bulbs are working properly, that the cords are not frayed and that the connections are secure. Discard any that look questionable and replace with new strings. Never leave lights on when no one is at home. Once your tree is up and decorated, sit back and enjoy. Or get to work on those last-minute presents!

Generally speaking, a Christmas tree should be kept for a maximum of 10 days. Still the most popular way of discarding a Christmas tree is to leave it with the garbage for pick up. Better, many municipalities have a special tree pick-up day when discarded trees are taken to be chipped for mulch. As an alternative to discarding your tree, think about standing it in your backyard for use as a bird feeder. Or take it yourself to have it chipped for mulch.

While maintaining your Christmas tree isn’t necessarily a “gardening task, it never hurts to be reminded about the proper care of your live tree during the holiday season.

For complete information and recommendations for tree types log on to treehelp.com!

Potomac River Bassing in DECEMBER

Falling water temperatures are grouping bass on steep drops. It’s also time to use spinning reels spooled with 10 pound test GAMMA Torque braid and leaders of 8-10 GAMMA Edge Fluorocarbon line.

¼ ounce ball head jig can be presented with a slow lift, glide and drop. Bites are light, so watch the line.

Shopping for anglers is frustrating; but for people on the receiving end there’s a guaranteed stint in return lines! Choose gifts for on and off the water! Quality, comfort, and durability in a variety of enhanced materials make for long lasting gifts. Since 1980, Simms anglers have perfected innovative fishing clothing, utilizing cutting edge materials with on the water testing. Avid anglers take to the cold and ice, fishing year round. Simms Challenger Insulated Jacket is waterproof and lightweight PrimaLoft provides warmth. Insulated 3-point adjustable hood protects during cold boat rides. Seams are taped to keep water and weather out. Lined with moisture-wicking polyester taffeta adds ease to wearing. Sleeves are secured with hook and loop closures. Hand warming pockets and chest pocket with a tethered eyeglass chamois. simmsfishing.com

Before anglers fight fish, they battle wind, rain, and sun. AFTCO has outfitted anglers since 1958. AFTCO’s Reaper Sweatshirt provides comfort and mobility with warm microfleece. A built-in face mask and neck warmer is suited for cold boat rides. Laser cut mask and underarm ventilation allow airflow. Shock cords anchor the hood at high speeds. Unique ultraquiet pocket enclosures don’t pick up fuzz. Super top layer or under jackets for incredible warmth and comfort. aftco.com

Dad’s khakis will go to the bottom of the rotation when he wears

Drop shot and split shot rigs can be worked slowly down the drops with frequent pauses. Use a 2/0 hooks with 3-4 inch green pumpkin worms or swim baits.

Threading an avocado colored stingray grub on a

Silver Buddy lures are the best allaround bait to use through the winter. Tie the silver ½ ounce size to 10 pound test GAMMA Copoly line and work with a slight burp and semi-slack line on the drop.

On warmer days, try slow rolling spinnerbaits or slowly cranking ﬂat sided tight-wiggle crankbaits. In the clearest water use suspending jerkbaits.

Angling for Holiday Gifts

Grundéns Ballast Pant. A true angler pant built by fishermen. For over a century, Grundéns has been the leader in wellconstructed commercial and sport fishing clothing. A bit of stretch and gusseted fit allow freedom of movement. Strength is built in with triple needle stitching and reinforcement in key areas, including a welted plier pocket. Soft and very durable water repellent (DWR) cotton/nylon fabric repels liquids and stains with quick drying performance. grundens.com

Expect toughness and functional clothing when your motto is “Always Be Ready”. 5.11 Tactical is a unique brand making top-quality tactical gear. Law enforcement, ﬁ re and emergency services departments demanding more get more from 5.11. Expect nothing less from the 5.11Defender-Flex Jean, whether working in the woods or yard, or going out, this good-looking cotton/polyester mechanical stretch denim provides comfortable stretch and recovery. Reinforced nylon front pockets, double needle construction, bar tacks in highstress areas, 5.11 Defender-Flex jeans will outperform and outlast. 511tactical.com

Nothing feels better than merino wool, organically providing warmth, breathability, and comfort. Nearly wrinkle free, Minus33 Merino Wool clothing is naturally elastic for ﬁt. Specializing in base layers, socks, headwear, and other apparel, Minus33’s Midweight 3 button

Long Sleeve Henley is 100% merino wool. Moisture wicking and odor resistant, Minus 33’s Henley is a great base or for everyday wear for outdoor fall, winter, and spring activities, whether hot, cool, wet, or dry. minus33.com

Socks make a great stocking stuffer and merino wool is the most comfortable material that also provides warmth. Bridgedale has been making the United Kingdom’s best loved outdoor socks for over 100 years. A unique Fusion Technology blends high quality yarns with performance microfibers for a durable and well ventilated sock. Several different weights based on outdoor activity, Bridgedale socks keep feet warm, dry, and healthy. bridgedale.com

For coffee drinkers, nothing makes a better brew than a French Press maximizing the full flavor from ground coffee. The YETI Rambler French Press has a grounds control filter to stop the brewing process, protecting the full coffee flavor, while settling the grounds to the bottom of the double wall vacuum insulated pot. The twist lock lid keeps coffee hot whether serving in the kitchen or campground. yeti.com

Finally, a working multi-tool. Founded in 1939 and based in Portland Oregon, American made Gerber Dual Force Black is a functional tool. Comparable to toolbox pliers, Gerber pliers are adjustable for a better grip with a wire cutter and stripper. Of course, this tool has a legendary Gerber knife and saw positioned on the handle for ease of use.

The screwdriver is amazing, positioned in line with the handle for best leverage and use. Two additional screwdriver tips are stored in a magnetic receptacle. Gerber innovative knives and problem solving tools are individualized gifts backed by Gerber’s limited lifetime warranty. gerbergear.com

Batteries operating trolling motors, electronics, livewells and ﬁ ring up outboards can come up short. Power-Pole’s CHARGE Marine Power Management Station keeps batteries ready to perform as a traditional battery charger, charge-on-the-run, and emergency start system, in a compact and easy to install unit. CHARGE reserves power to crank outboards. CHARGE juices up boaters and every battery. power-pole.com

Made in America DEKA AGM deep cycle batteries last longer and charge faster than others. DEKAs withstand rough water, long trailering vibration and hold up without spilling or leaking in any weather. Santa brings peace of mind with DEKA batteries. eastpennmanufacturing.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!

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

Bankrolling the Holiday Slush Fund

Praise [insert name of your personal higher power here]. The election is ﬁ nally behind us. I think it’s safe to say that no matter your political aﬃliation, there’s a collective feeling of exhaustion.

Trust me—this is not a good time to be exhausted. Starting oﬀ the holiday season in a deﬁcit, is the opposite of good. And yet here we are. Every year I tell myself, “You will not feel overwhelmed. You will enjoy the holiday season and will feel energized, rested, and rejuvenated going into it so you can actually breathe and enjoy time with friends and family vs. stressing every minute and fussing over every detail and racing against deadlines—deadlines to shop, ship, mail, pack, wrap, trim, bake, shop, pluck, shave, wax, lose 20, dress, etc.”

Ladies—you know the drill.

And every year, on or about December 1, I’m already frazzled, staring down the barrel of a long list of to do’s delegated from me to me by me. I am my own worst enemy, but I’m also a Virgo and a workhorse. In other words, I live to get sh*t done. Even at my own peril. But I’m not such an old horse that I can’t learn some new tricks and/or actually take some of my own advice on occasion—and this is a particularly good occasion.

So how do you make some deposits into the account so that you’re not seeing red by your ﬁ rst sugar cookie? You’re probably not going to like this, but the answer starts with putting the sugar cookie back in the jar. Or for me, the leftover Halloween candy in the trash. The calendar really is not our friend. I mean—whose brain child was it to stick a candyinspired holiday just before we kick oﬀ the holiday season? Talk about

setting a person up to fail. I’m all about exercising and movement, but probably not helpful when I’m capping it oﬀ with a handful of miniKit Kats as my reward.

Note to self: Self-care doesn’t start with a sugar coma.

Okay—so I could make some dietary changes…Noted.

I may not be the best person to write this piece because I’m currently sitting at my chair the week before Thanksgiving—the season of gratitude—and boy, do I have a ‘tude. I’m tired, cranky, and feeling every bit the Grinch. I gripe and moan about CVS and Home Depot overlapping holidays and here I am putting Christmas before the turkey with my bah humbug mood.

“Why would I think of buying ‘soand-so’ a Christmas gift when I don’t even know if they got the birthday gift I sent in July?” Don’t even get me started on ‘thank you’ notes. “No—I don’t want to host a holiday get together. It would require intense cleaning, cooking, and being FESTIVE.” “No, I don’t want to go to their annual pot luck. Where there is food, there is PEOPLE.”

I told you. The green reptilian looking guy has nothing on me.

This morning, however, the tiniest of cracks made its way through my hardened shell, and I felt a little ray of sunshine ﬁlter in. I heard my ﬁ rst holiday song when I mistakenly scanned over to 97.1 FM. Although my mind was busy plotting out whether or not it was best to go to Walgreens to pick up an Rx before I made some returns at Michael’s, it relaxed ever so slightly when it heard Mariah belting out, “Baby please come home.” My hands softened their grip on the wheel and automatically

began to tap in sync with the music. My shoulders released oﬀ my ear lobes and relaxed down an inch or two.

It was a good start—a small deposit into the holiday account.

If only I could ﬁt in a nap after taking care of my returns at Michael’s, my holiday account would seriously thank me, but alas, there wasn’t time. I had been running on fumes for days—weeks even—but Mariah gave me hope that there was time to reconcile my holiday account before I was totally bankrupt and depleted. While I didn’t have time for a nap, I did have time to sit on my porch while I made a few calls and answered some emails. Just breathing in the crisp, fresh air for a few minutes felt good. Really good. The sun was shining, the leaves were almost oﬀ the trees, but there was still just enough color left for me to appreciate Mother Nature’s stunning handiwork. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I began to feel a bit refreshed.

The next thing I did was to take a look at my calendar and see what I could move oﬀ to allow some much needed downtime. My husband, XXL, is always telling me to slow down and stop overbooking. Ha! But that’s my superpower. Only it’s not. It may be for a while, but then I pay the price. Don’t tell him I said this, but I’m not getting any younger. I do require rest. And while I’m not even close to being the Olympic-level napper that he is (his super power), I have learned that I do enjoy actually taking a few minutes to sit during the day, put my feet up, and turn my brain oﬀ for a few. Let’s face it—we all need that. Even the kids. Okay—eat better and build in some downtime. Got it.

Next stop, to do list. What are the things that I actually NEED to do. What can I push off or just say ‘no’ to. Do I really need to bake three desserts to take to the party on Saturday? One would probably be more than enough. Do I really need to paint that piece of furniture in December? Can’t it wait until January? Will anyone notice if we use the regular flatware at Christmas vs. my Mom’s which would require polishing? No. I just shaved at least 12 hours off my list which can be re-allocated to cleaning the outdoor furniture and organizing the hall closet. NO. That is the wrong answer. It can be re-allocated for a yoga class, a massage, and a few hours curled up with a good book. BINGO. We have a winner.

What can I say? I’ve always lived by the motto, “Work hard, play hard(er).”

Self-care doesn’t come easy to everyone—I’m betting especially to the Moms and probably a lot of the Dads too. Self-care can often be (wrongly) equated with selfishness, but it’s not. It’s ‘savingness’ or ‘saving us.’ It’s good for everyone. Everyone benefits when there’s a slush fund in the account to spend generously—heck—maybe even frivolously. We all deserve a little gift this time of year—and what’s better than the gift you give yourself? Sure beats the leaf blower XXL tried to pass off as a present last year.

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

National Harbor Lights Up the Holidays with Two Million Lights and More!

For those of you who have been reading this column for any length of time, you know how partial I am to the Christmas holidays in the Harbor. I really miss living there during this time of year. While I do think they start the “celebrating” way too early – they started on November 9th with the weekly tree lighting and ﬁ reworks – I do get in the groove after Thanksgiving. Full disclosure, however, I have watched a few Halmark Christmas movies already!

I asked our friends at Bendure Communications for some updated information about what is happening this year. The highlights include:

The Harbor has become one of the DMV’s top holiday waterfront destinations as well as being recognized nationally. This year, the 350-acre mix-used property adds a Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show Series to its packed holiday schedule. National Harbor is magical during the holidays and all dressed up with more than two million holiday lights and decorations throughout. With its eight hotels, more than 40 restaurants and The Capital Wheel, it’s the perfect location to make holiday memories. From family activities to a romantic getaway for couples—National Harbor has it all. Each year, National Harbor welcomes Gaylord National

Resort’s amazing annual holiday celebration including its worldfamous ICE! attraction. This year, the fun runs through the 28th, with “A Charlie Brown Christmas!” theme.

The larger-than-life sculptures are accompanied by frozen slides and awe-inspiring tunnels. The carvers, from Harbin, China, work with more than two million pounds of colorful ice, taking more than 12,000 man hours to create the nearly 20,000 square foot, frozen attraction. ICE! is part of Christmas at Gaylord National, which includes a variety of family-friendly holiday events such as photos with Santa, ice tubing, snow ball tossing and much more. For additional information, visit ChristmasAtGaylordNational. com.

The National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show Series runs Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 pm. The market will be set up along American Way and each week where new crafters and artisans will have their works for sale. Some of the goods being sold include clothing made for children, upscale jewelry, dog accessories, candles, maple products, home décor, bath and body, pillows and table runners, dinnerware, cashmere and silk scarves, rugs and carpets, glasswork,

alpaca blankets and shawls, crystals, metal art, aprons, towels, resin art, woodwork, stationery, leather products, photography, kids’ crafts and a wide array of artworks.

MGM National Harbor celebrates the holiday season at National Harbor with spectacular decorations throughout, including the property’s popular Conservatory where the holidays come alive with a breathtaking display. The Theater at MGM National Harbor is oﬀering a variety of holiday shows. MGM provides additional boutique shopping and a variety of dining options ranging from a burger at Shake Shack to 4-star dining at Voltaggio Brothers.

The holiday celebration continues throughout the destination with the lighting of the Waterfront District’s extraordinary 60-foot animated RGB tree, guarded by two 12-foot nutcrackers. The nightly light show starts at sunset and continues every half hour until 9 p.m. Guests will enjoy thousands of lights dancing alongside a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band. Saturday night ﬁ reworks follow the tree lighting and run through the 28th at 5:30 p.m. Activities continue with the opportunity to meet Santa at The Capital Wheel on the 7th, 14th and 21st.

National Harbor continues its annual holiday movie tradition with Movies on the Potomac at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays with The Muppet Christmas Carol on the 1st, The Santa Clause (1994) will show on the 8th, The Year Without a Santa Clause (1976) will run on the 15th, Jack Frost will be shown on the 22nd and The Polar Express will be featured on the 29th. National Harbor is also the perfect location for holiday shopping with more than 140 shops including Tanger National Harbor’s 85 designer brands such as Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, Movado, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilﬁger, Nike, Coach and H&M.

There is additional shopping in the Waterfront District where there are walkable streets with unique shops and boutiques such as Mahogany Books, ZAAF, Brookie Girl, Miguel Wilson, It’Sugar, Corinto Gallery and more. These join nationally recognized brands including Carhartt and others. For more information about all of National Harbor’s holiday fun, visit www.NationalHarbor.com/ hohoho

Here’s wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and happy whatever celebrations you take part in during the Holiday Season!