Alexandria Living Magazine - May/June 2022

BACKYARD FIREPLACES

1886 TOWNHOUSE RENOVATION

FOODS OF THE COMMONWEALTH

MAY | JUNE 2022

THE HOME & GARDEN Edition

ALEXANDRIALIVINGMAGAZINE.COM May / June 2022

$4.95

The latest mystery from author JOHN WASOWICZ

Making ALX Real Estate Fun Rebecca McCullough, McEnearney Associate

Rebecca McCullough knows that real estate can be a challenging and complex process, so she uses her years of experience to help her clients make informed decisions on one of the most important investments of their lives. Whether it’s her development or transactional knowledge, she isn’t afraid to use her strong communication skills to create results and... have a little fun along the way!

To learn more about Rebecca, connect with her to get your next adventure started!

Rebecca McCullough, Realtor® Tel. 571.384.0941 I rmccullough@mcenearney.com I www.rebeccamccullough.com Old Town Alexandria 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 I tel. 703.549.9292 I Equal Housing Opportunity

205 S. Union Street

|

Alexandria, VA

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www.markswoods.com

703.838.9788

Photo: Silver Orchard Creative

CONTENTS

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Alexandria is hopping this time of year! Get out your calendar and get ready for fun.

16

PETS

19

DINING

22

DINING

37

HOME & GARDEN

42

HOME & GARDEN

46

TRAVEL

52

THE LAST WORD

16 PHOTO BY BUZ NACHLAS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

42

Meet Bobby, one of Alexandria's most popular pets on Instagram.

Find out about some of Virginia's most popular foods and the festivals that celebrate them!

This ain't your Grandpa's oatmeal: Meet an Alexandria couple who are amping up this morning staple.

The backyard is the place to be for these balmy nights outdoors: Enhance your family's experience with an outdoor fireplace!

Baby Boomers have more options than ever when it comes to housing as they age. One consideration? Ditching the big house for condo luxe living.

Day tripping: Hop in the car for a trip to one of these beautiful botanic gardens in the region.

As Alexandrian Julie Carey celebrates 30 years of covering news at NBC-4, there's no slowing down in her future.

46 May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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FEATURES

27 Sneak Peek

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIANNE WOEHRLE

Start your summer reading early with a taste of author John Wasowicz' latest mystery set in Alexandria — "Gadsby's Corner."

30 Renovation Journey An Alexandria couple takes us on their two-decades long rehab journey of their beloved 1886 row house.

ON THE COVER Alexandria has plenty of beautiful streetscapes including this one on Columbus Street near Christ Church.

SOCIALIZE WITH US

PHOTO BY STACIA ROGAN (@AROUNDALX ON INSTAGRAM)

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

 facebook.com/alexandrialivingmag

 @alexlivingmag

 @alexandrialivingmag

Gorgeous Historic Gem on Prized Gentry Row Built in 1788, this gracious home exudes elegance boasting airy 12-foot ceilings, 6 working fireplaces, original heart-of-pine floors, deep crown molding, and exposed brick. The huge eat-in kitchen is finely appointed featuring Thermador appliances and multiple skylights. French doors open to the flagstone patio and a stairway leads up to the second-level covered porch. The upper floors offer 4 spacious bedrooms with sizable closets, 2 updated baths, and a sitting room. Enjoy casual living in the lower-level family room and a front bonus room with additional storage. This enchanting home is located one block from fine shops, restaurants, and the Potomac River. Offered at $2,295,000.

Shown by appointment…Call Babs to preview this fine residence!

Babs Beckwith cell 703.627.5421 I Babs@BabsBeckwith.com I OldTownAlexandriaLiving.com 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 I off. 703.549.9292 Equal Housing Opportunity

A Letter from Our Founders

PUBLISHER

Beth Lawton EDITOR

Mary Ann Barton ADVERTISING

Cleo Chitester Kristen Riffle Lora Jerakis DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION

Dawn Lewandowski PUBLISHING ASSISTANT

Susannah Moore Alexandria Living Magazine is published six times per year by Alexandria Living, LLC ©2022. 201 N. Union St., Suite 110 Alexandria, VA 22314. For newsstand or distribution locations or to subscribe for home delivery, go to alexandrialivingmagazine.com/subscribe.

CONTACT US

info@alexandrialivingmagazine.com or call 571-232-1310.

PARTNER WITH US

Alexandria Living Magazine fully supports the local business community and offers several unique ways to partner with the publication.

• Sponsored articles and multimedia content on the website, in our popular email newsletters and on social media.

• Highlighted events in our events calendar, email newsletters and social media.

• Sponsored real estate listings.

• Brand awareness through online banner ads designed to boost your business.

• Contests, sweepstakes and giveaways.

To learn more about how partnering with Alexandria Living Magazine can help build your business, contact us at ads@alexandrialivingmagazine.com or call 571-232-1310.

Beth Lawton, publisher, and Mary Ann Barton, editor

PHOTO BY MATT MENDELSOHN, TAKEN AT VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN.

Welcome to our May/June issue! This is one of the most beautiful times of the year to enjoy Alexandria and we hope you plan to get out and about. There are plenty of options — be sure to check out all the doings around town in our Calendar of Events, starting on Page 8.

If you're a dog lover (and who isn't in our City?), be sure to check out one of the most popular pups in Alexandria, Bobby, on Page 16. You'll be among his 10,300 followers who enjoy his antics on social media.

Local writer Glenda Booth takes us on a tour of "edible Virginia," some of the foods and food fests across the Commonwealth that all foodies and home chefs will want to learn more about, on Page 19.

Send news releases and story tips to

Susannah Moore profiles local couple Chris and Melat Burger whose love for and twists on oatmeal turned into a business, on Page 22.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

Local author John Wasowicz has done it again — created his fifth in a series of mysteries based in Alexandria. We're giving you a sampling here of "Gadsby's Corner" starting on Page 27.

PRESS RELEASES & TIPS

maryann@alexandrialivingmagazine.com.

Subscribing to Alexandria Living Magazine is easy! You can go to alexandrialivingmagazine.com/ subscribe to pay securely online by credit card, or mail a check with the subscription mailing address to Alexandria Living Magazine, 201 N. Union St. Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Subscriptions are $14.95 for one year or $24.95 for two years.

6

Alexandria's historic homes are a big draw for many families who decide to put down roots here. We take you through a rehab journey of an 1886 row house, beginning on Page 30.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

The great outdoors beckons us this time of the year and what better place than our own backyards? Make your days and nights even cozier with an outdoor firepit or fireplace. Get some ideas on Page 37.

As Baby Boomers retire, the "silver tsunami" is upon us. One of the options is ditching all your cluttered closets, drawers, basements and attics for some streamlined luxe living. Check out Alexandria's The Landing on Page 42.

Warm temperatures are made for frolicking outdoors and some of the most beautiful spots are at botanic gardens found across Virginia. We recently visited Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Check it out on Page 46.

NBC4's Julie Carey is celebrating 30 years reporting on news about Alexandria and surrounding Northern Virginia. Get to know your fellow Alexandrian in The Last Word on Page 52.

Thank you for reading and we'll see you right back here in July!

Mary Ann Barton and Beth Lawton Founders

Our Team Meet some of the contributors to this issue.

GLENDA BOOTH Contributor

SUSANNAH MOORE Contributor

Glenda is a freelance writer who has lived in Northern Virginia for more than 40 years covering travel, history, people and conservation for local, state and national publications. Glenda has volunteered for Earthwatch in Botswana, Greece, France, Saskatchewan (Canada) and the Galapagos.

She earned a bachelor's at Longwood College and a master's at the University of Virginia. A gardener, outdoors woman and lifelong learner, she lives in Fairfax County and is the mother of two grown sons.

Susannah has happily called Alexandria home since 2015. She graduated from the College of Charleston and has worked in the political and legal fields and is excited for the opportunity to rekindle her interest in writing. For fun, she enjoys running along the Potomac with her husband or spending time with her rescue cat, Cinnamon, and golden retriever, Kai.

STACIA ROGAN Photographer

JOHN WASOWICZ Contributor

Stacia is a freelance editor who moved to Old Town in 2015 after falling in love with its history and architecture. When the pandemic hit, she started joining her husband for his daily run; they created an Instagram account (@aroundALX) to share their favorite views around town. She took this issue's cover photo on Columbus Street near Christ Church. For more of Stacia's photos, check out aroundALX.com.

Author of the Alexandria-based mystery series, John, who resides in Mount Vernon, has practiced law for more than 35 years. He began his legal career as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Arlington. Following a decade in private practice, he began a career as a Federal attorney in 2005.

BUZ NACHLAS Contributor Buz enjoys photography whether he's capturing the Red Rocks of the American Southwest or snapping an image of an iconic monument at sunset in the nation's capital. He often visits Alexandria and most recently snapped The Landing in Alexandria. When he's not taking photos, you might find him on a bike trail near his home in Toano, Va.

MANDY

Mandy is a 14-year-old American Shorthair adopted by Publisher Beth Lawton's family from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. She joined the family when she was 6 years old. She enjoys watching birds from the window, sleeping on warm laps and purring loudly. She lives in Alexandria's West End and is (mostly) a very good cat — except when she's being picky and unpredictable about her wet food preferences.

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA LIVING MAGAZINE

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

Calendar of Events May Drips, Lines, Splatters, and Splash: A Celebration of the Washington Color School Art Exhibit May 6-28 The "Drips, Lines, Splatters, and Splash: A Celebration of the Washington Color

School" art exhibit invited artists to channel Washington Color School style. Entries feature color, movement, line and sense of space – whether it is representational art, mixed media, three dimensional pieces, fiber work or jewelry design. Hours are Thursdays 12-6 p.m., Fridays 12-9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 12-6 p.m. (closed the last Sunday of the month).

Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org

Yoga with Your Best Friend: Doga May 7, June 11 | 10-11 a.m.

Join Beth Wolfe from Yoga Human for a one hour DOGA (yoga + dogs) session at the outdoor dog park at Barkhaus, a dogfriendly bar and restaurant. Your $25 ticket includes a one-hour, all-level vinyasa yoga class, followed by a beverage of your choice and a day pass that is valid for all day on

Due to ongoing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, some of the events listed here may move online, be postponed or be canceled. Keep an eye on alexandrialivingmagazine.com for an updated events calendar or check in with event organizers before heading out!

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

6115 Belle View Terrace

6022 Fort Hunt Road

909 Cameron Street

6014 Grove Drive

Represented Seller

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1788 Duffield Lane

2101 Belle Haven Road

6108 Woodmont Road

2100 Shenandoah Road

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Represented Buyer

3110 Burgundy Road

1721 N Taylor Street

1800 Edgehill Drive

1927 Summit Terrace

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Your Style Is Unique; I’ve Got You Covered.

Janet Caterson Price | Alexandria Real Estate Specialist | NVAR Lifetime Top Producer 703.622.5984 | janet@janetpricehomes.com | janetpricehomes.com 109 S Pitt St, Alexandria, VA 22314 | Equal Housing Opportunity

Saturday. BYO dog and yoga mat! Space is limited.

Barkhaus, 529 E. Howell Ave., brewskisbarkhaus. com

Spring Pop-Up Market for Mother’s Day May 7 | 1-5 p.m.

This outdoor spring pop-up market in Del Ray features local artisans and home-based businesses. The market is an opportunity to shop for Mother's Day gifts and support women-owned microbusinesses.

Pat Miller Neighborhood Square at Mount Vernon Ave. and E Oxford Ave., visitdelray.com Pat Miller Neighborhood Square at Mount Vernon Ave. and E Oxford Ave., visitdelray.com

Pillars to Pavers: Preservation in Alexandria

Rivershed Run 5K

May 7, 14, 21 and 28 | 10 a.m.

The Rivershed Run 5k returns to Port City Brewing Company this year after a two-year hiatus. Kick off your Mother's Day with a 5k race starting at the Patent and Trademark Office and ending at the brewery with food trucks, barbecue, live music, lawn games and beer.

For years, the City of Alexandria has seen older buildings and spaces being restored, preserved, and reused in different ways. In honor of National Historic Preservation Month, explore the streets of Alexandria with stops to highlight how buildings have been preserved and adapted for future generations to enjoy. At two stops, Carlyle House and Lee-Fendall House, you will be able to enter spaces that are usually closed to the public. This tour includes walking over many city blocks, stairs and in confined spaces.

Face masks and social distancing will be enforced and tours are limited to 10 people. Tickets are $25 per person.

Lee-Fendall House Museum, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

May 8 | 10 a.m.

Port City Brewing Company, 3950 Wheeler Ave., portcitybrewing.com

Mother’s Day Tea May 8 | 3-4:30 p.m.

Raise a toast to mothers everywhere. Indulge in a special “Royale Tea” that offers you a choice of a glass of champagne or sherry with your sandwiches, cakes and scones. For fun, take a Mother’s Day quiz. Tickets are $52 per person and attendees must be 21 or older.

Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS STARTING

MAY

13

David Foster; COURTESY OF THE BIRCHMERE

Concerts at The Birchmere Check out some of the performances scheduled for May and June at The Birchmere. The Birchmere’s website has the latest information and a full concert list. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary.

PHOTO BY MARIA BYRK FOR MOUNT VERNON

Caitlyn Smith

MAY 7

Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour

Spring Garden Day: The Big Plant Sale

MAY 8

May 13, 14 and 15 | 6-9 p.m.

May 14 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Bring a blanket and relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Sample wines from 19 different Virginia wineries. The Shops at Mount Vernon and Wine Valet Service are open until 8:45 p.m. The first floor and cellar of the Mansion will be open until 8:30 p.m. Concessions by the Mount Vernon Inn will be available for purchase.

Ticket prices vary by date.

Buy annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees at Green Spring Garden’s spring garden day.

Get gardening tips and more from dozens of local vendors and master gardeners. Parking and admission are free. This event is hosted by the Friends of Green Spring.

Gavin DeGraw (SOLD OUT) MAY 15

After 7 MAY 17

David Foster MAY 19

Michael W. Smith MAY 20

Rodney Crowell MAY 27, 28

Friday: Member $49; Non-Member $59 Saturday: Member $53; Non-Member $63 Sunday: Member $43; Non-Member $53

JUNE 5

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

JUNE 12

The Late Shift: Art & Technology

Ohio Players José Feliciano Gaelic Storm JUNE 15

Debbie Gibson JUNE 18

The S.O.S. Band JUNE 22, 23

Lalah Hathaway The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., birchmere.com

May 13 | 7-10 p.m.

Celebrate the growing tech, DIY and makerspace movement happening in Alexandria and beyond, with music, drinks and demonstrations. The event will feature makerspace and tech partners from across the D.C., Virginia and Maryland regions.

Plus, welcome the Solo Exhibition artist in Target Gallery with a reception at 8 p.m.

Admission is free.

Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., torpedofactory.org

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Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

Second Annual Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival May 14-15 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival is heading back to John Carlyle Square in 2022. All artwork is juried, which provides a higher level of quality, diversity and creativity of art on display, exemplifying the gifted artists in regions from all over the country. The show is rated as one of the top 100 art shows in Sunshine Artist magazine. Admission is free.

John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., artfestival. com/festivals/alexandria-king-street-art-festival

Ice Cream at Historic Huntley May 14 | 2 p.m.

Make and enjoy hand-cranked ice cream as Huntley’s Harris family may have done.

Discover how the histories of ice cream and

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY

Bike to Work Day

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May 20 Join your fellow cyclists at 100 pit stops in D.C., Maryland and Virginia for this free event for a healthy way to start your day.

The first 15,000 people who register and attend at a pit stop by bike will receive a free T-shirt. Giveaways, food and beverages will be available while supplies last.

Various locations, biketoworkmetrodc.org

ALX Dog Walk. PHOTO COURTESY OF ??

PHOTO BY BIANCA GASPAROTO

Huntley follow a similar path from elite luxury to family fare. Tour of the ice well and Historic Huntley House are included. Tickets are $10 each.

Historic Huntley, 6918 County Road. 723, fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/historic-huntley

Carlyle’s Perfectly Paired Chocolate & Wine Tasting May 14 | 6:30-9 p.m.

What goes better with wine than chocolate? Join Potomac Chocolate on the Magnolia Terrace at Carlyle House Historic Park for an evening of locally made chocolates paired with delicious wines and snacks. Tours of the first floor of the house will run from 6:30-7 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person (ages 21 and over only) and are available online. Registration required, no refunds. Ticket sales end May 5.

Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-househistoric-park

Sips & Secrets: A Speakeasy Night May 21 | 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

The 1920s are back in a big way. Join the friends, board and staff of the Lee-Fendall House Museum in their historic garden for "Sips & Secrets: A Speakeasy Night." Sips & Secrets honors Lee-Fendall House's Prohibition-era history, when it was home to one of Alexandria's liquor wholesalers (and possible bootleggers!). It features lots of speakeasy surprises, including dancing to live jazz and ragtime and a costume contest for the best flapper or mobster style, 1920s-style cocktails and more. This year, the event will raise funds for the repair of a 220-year-old brick garden wall, of which a 70-foot section collapsed last year, while also supporting the museum's ongoing work in historic preservation, education and community engagement. A private VIP pre-reception will precede the main event.

Lee-Fendall House Museum, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

Your Renovation, Our Innovation!

We work with you to design your dream living space and set you up with our remodeling specialists to turn it into reality!

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Hansgrohe Products Please Present or Mention This Coupon at Time of Purchase.

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM AND SPEAK WITH DESIGN EXPERTS!

(703) 836-4955 WWW.OLDTOWNBATHANDKITCHEN.COM 1313 POWHATAN STREET ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314

PHOTO BY YASIR SAM

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY

22

The Old Town Festival of Speed and Style May 22 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Get ready for lots of fashion, cars and fun at the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style presented

by Burke & Herbert Bank. This annual event highlights the unique offerings of the Old Town community – its history, architecture, food, people, art, style and energy. All proceeds benefit the local non-profits USO Washington-Baltimore, Campagna Center and ALIVE! View dozens of rare and exotic cars up close. This will be enhanced by a presentation of style, fashion and live music provided by over 40 local merchants.

ALX Dog Walk. PHOTO COURTESY OF ??

200-400 blocks of King Street and the 100 blocks of North Royal and North Fairfax festivalspeedstylealex.com PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA LIVING MAGAZINE

Family Fun – Plant Now, Harvest Later

The 2022 Mount Vernon Symposium

May 28 | 10 a.m.

Join leading gardeners, historians, horticulturists, archaeologists and preservationists as they reconsider the importance of gardening, landscapes and design in early America. Learn how Washington and his contemporaries shaped the natural world to achieve beauty through gardening, profited through agriculture and conveyed civic values through landscape

Explore the Edible Garden at Green Spring Gardens and learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin. Plant your own seeds to come back and harvest in the fall! All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program. Tickets are $10 per person.

Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

June 3-5

design—and how these historic methods remain relevant in today’s world. Revisit long-lost gardens, explore contemporary creations inspired by the past and come face-to-face with the most authentic 18thcentury plantation landscape in the United States. Tickets are $375 for the general public and $350 for members and donors and includes all lectures, meals and tours.

Fred W. Smith National Library, 3600 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

Clean the Bay Day 2022 June 4 Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s "Clean the Bay Day" has been a staple for Virginia's Chesapeake Bay community since its inception 33 years ago. Each year, thousands of Virginians simultaneously descend on the rivers, streams, and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to remove harmful litter and debris. Saturday, June 4, is the traditional Clean the Bay Day. You will be able to sign up for a location near you online. Organizing partners will coordinate assignments for the cleanups. During the week of May 30-June 4, you will also have the opportunity to join a DIY event, cleaning up your neighborhood, your place of work or anywhere you have permission and can take care of disposing trash yourself. Go "plogging" (jogging while picking up litter) or do a "trash dash" with the kids and honor Clean the Bay Day your way.

Various locations around Alexandria, cbf.org/events/clean-the-bay-day/index.html PHOTO BY STEVEN HAYRE, CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

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Putting a Face to a Name Art Exhibit June 3-25 For the "Putting a Face to a Name" art exhibit, artists were asked to create portraits of their favorite fictional or historical characters, using historical texts or modern author’s descriptions to help guide their portraits—keeping in mind the attributes and personality of the subject to inform the features and demeanor. Gallery hours are Thursdays 12-6 p.m., Fridays 12-9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 12-6 p.m. (closed the last Sunday of the month).

Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org

Prelude to a Kiss June 4-25 | various times A different kind of fairy tale, "Prelude to a Kiss" is a celebration of life and love. It tells the story of Peter and Rita, who fall in love despite the woman’s pessimistic outlook on life. Shortly after their wedding, a supernatural event tests the strength of their love and commitment to each other. Will they live happily ever after? Join fellow theater-lovers for Craig Lucas’ romantic comedy.

The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., thelittletheatre.com

Mount Vernon Summerfest June 10, 11 and 12 | 6-9 p.m.

Experience Mount Vernon after-hours and taste 32 different beers from across the region. Your ticket includes a commemorative tasting cup and eight tasting tickets. Additional tastings are available to purchase on-site. You can also enjoy an 18th-century beermaking demonstration, garden talks with Herb & Vine and live music. Foods made using traditional ingredients and methods can be purchased from the Half Crown Bakehouse and concessions will be available for purchase from the Mount Vernon Inn food truck.

Tickets are $48 for the general public and $40 for members.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

Trivia Nights at Historic Sites Begins June 10 | 7 p.m.

Staff members at Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum combine their knowledge to create biweekly trivia nights throughout the summer at Lee-Fendall gardens. With a different theme each night, test your knowledge on everything from pop culture to history. Participants must register in advance. Tickets are $5 per person and include one drink ticket. Additional drinks can be purchased at the bar. Teams are limited to six people, ages 21 and older only.

River Farm the perfect setting for your special Riverevent Farm/AHS Ad

Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

Well Ray Festival June 11 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. .

Staff members at Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum combine their knowledge to create biweekly trivia nights throughout the summer at Lee-Fendall gardens. With a different theme each night, test your knowledge on everything from pop culture to history.

For more information (703) 768-5700 e xt. 114 rentals@ahsgardening.org www.ahsgardening.org River Farm is headquarters of the American Horticultural Society PHOTO BY KAROLINA-GRABOWSKA

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APR JUNE

24 24-25

Independence Fireworks at Mount Vernon

June 24 and 25 | 6–9:45 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of family fun and fireworks along with patriotic music to celebrate our nation’s founding. Food from the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant will be available for purchase. Tickets are available with and without Mansion tours.

With Mansion Tour: Adult member: $40, adult non-member: $50 Youth member: $28, youth non-member: $38 Without Mansion Tour: Adult member: $35, adult non-member: $45 Youth member: $22, youth non-member: $33 George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON ESTATE

Participants must register in advance.

Tickets are $5 per person and include one drink ticket. Additional drinks can be purchased at the bar. Teams are limited to six people, ages 21 and older only.

the foot of King Street. The Portside in Old Town Summer Festival is produced by Visit Alexandria in partnership with the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts. Admission is free.

Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., visitalexandriava.com/ portsidefestival

Portside in Old Town Summer Festival

The Old Town Arts & Crafts Fair

June 17 | 6-9 p.m.

June 18 | 1-9 p.m.

Volunteer Alexandria brings the popular Old Town Arts and Crafts Fair to Market Square Saturday, June 25. The square is right in front of City Hall in historic Old Town surrounded by a variety of shops, restaurants and close to the waterfront, the Torpedo Factory and parks. The fair features more than 70 local and regional artists and crafters showcasing their pottery, stationary, fabrics, paintings, jewelry, photography and more. Food and beer available. Admission is free.

Kick off summer with the return of the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival.

New this year, the event begins Friday evening with an eclectic collection of jazz performances. Saturday the festival continues with a day of live music featuring an array of creative collaborations and genres, a beer garden from Alexandria’s award-winning Port City Brewing Company, plus local food, hands-on art and history activities and fun for the whole family on the Old Town Alexandria waterfront at

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

June 25 | 3-8 p.m.

Market Square, 301 King St., volunteeralexandria.org/ arts-and-crafts-festival

LE DRIP: The Uncontainable Sauce of Black Essence through July 17 Exhibition Reception: May 13 | 7-10 p.m.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Target Gallery presents "LE DRIP: The Uncontainable Sauce of Black Essence"

by D.C.-based artist Brandy “Blu” Murphy.

LE DRIP is a fusion of high-contrast forced perspective photography and abstract graffiti in color-encased, custom-painted vintage frames. The goal is to invoke appreciation and love for a subset of individuals who are often undervalued. The graffiti will spill off the frame and onto the gallery’s white walls, breaking down barriers, both visual and thematically, to celebrate and embrace Black culture.

Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., torpedofactory.org

A lifestyle filled with activity—and possibility With elevated amenities and personalized care in the heart of Alexandria, The Landing is a different kind of community for seniors. Offering refined Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care residences, along with innovative wellness programs and opportunities for connection, it’s enriching, inspiring—and above all, fulfilling.

landingalexandria.com 2620 Main Line Blvd.

Alexandria, Virginia 22301 571-487-9291

A S I LV E R STO NE/WAT ERM ARK R E T I R E M E N T CO M M UNI T Y LI C E N S E P E N D I NG

INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING THE BRIDGE MEMORY CARE 15

Bobby – known to his 10,300 Instagram followers as @kingstreetwestie — wasn’t supposed to be a COVID dog.

Famous on the ’Gram Meet Bobby the King Street Westie — Alexandria’s most popular pup on Instagram.

BY BETH LAWTON

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

In January 2020, Amber McDowell and her husband picked up Bobby from Foxcreek Kennel in Buffalo Junction, Virginia, 150 miles west of Norfolk. It had been five years since McDowell’s first West Highland terrier, Kennedy, passed away, which is how Bobby got his name.

Less than two months after bringing Bobby home to Alexandria, the world shut down due to the pandemic, and Bobby became “our little personality in the house while we were isolating,” McDowell said.

McDowell, who works in strategic communications, decided to start an Instagram account for the pup, since she was taking so many cute photos of him, anyway. Almost immediately, Bobby gained a following.

“People were looking for something happy” during the pandemic, McDowell said. “He helped me with that. As crazy as the internet can be, people can be so kind.”

when she takes photos on her iPhone camera, the instruction she got from The Art League really helped improve her shots.

Putting some of Bobby’s unique personality into the posts helped, too: He’s the “King of Cheese” (and ham, turkey, and anything food can fit into his little Kong), McDowell said. Apples and pears are a hit, too. Car rides and balls are on top of his list of favorite things. He doesn’t love wearing hats, but he’s pretty chill about it.

up the bathtub because he’ll be in it by the time the water fills up,” she said.

Because Bobbie’s puppyhood was spent with humans and he played very little with other dogs, he really thinks he’s human, McDowell said. She brings Bobby to Dogtopia every once in a while, but he mostly stands in a corner or follows the humans around the play area. Now that the world is opening back up, McDowell said she’s looking forward to having Bobby meet more dogs at local dog parks and walking around.

One thing he does go a bit crazy for is water. “You have to watch when you fill

Alexandria’s #DogsOfInstagram

While Bobby doesn’t have as large a following as the most world-famous dogs @jiffpom (9.8 million Instagram followers) or @itsdougthepug (3.8 million followers), Bobby may hold the record for being Alexandria’s most Instagramfamous dog.

Here are a handful of the Instagram accounts we recommend for Alexandria dog lovers. Some of these dogs, like Piper here — she’s the Chief Canine Officer at ALX Community — are kind of a big deal.

McDowell found that the keys to growing her dog's following were consistently posting on Instagram, engaging with people who comment, responding to questions quickly and engaging in Bobby’s voice on other people’s accounts, too. “I think he’s just got one of those faces, too,” she said.

Other tips: Get close up and try to capture the pet’s expressions. The tone of the posts really matters, down to the placement of periods.

On the other hand, McDowell said, “Sometimes it’s so random how some things catch on and some things don’t.”

During the pandemic, McDowell took a photography class from The Art League, which she found immensely helpful. Even

@dogsofalexandria (founded by @oldtownluna) @alexanimals @justice_fur_ball @bullyandthebrinks

@the_furlosopher @lola_and_nala_the_yorkies @zeustheskywalker @twodogtales @princesspipersassypants

Follow the local hashtags #dogsofalexandria and #dogsofalexandriva to find more!

Did we miss your favorite local dog on Instagram? Head to this article at alexandrialivingmagazine.com/pets and comment with your suggestion!

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALX COMMUNITY

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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Opening Early Summer in Old Town North 533 Montgomery St. madeinalx.com

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

FOOD & DINING

Edible Virginia:

Celebrating the FooDS of the COMMONWEALTH

HOLLIN FARMS APPLES | PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA LIVING MAGAZINE

BY GLENDA C. BOOTH

Virginia has a rich history — and a list of rich food traditions and celebrations of Virginia-grown and Virginia-made foods.

PEANUTS To this day, peanuts fuel parts of the economy in southeastern Virginia. Near what is now Waverly, which is south of Richmond and west of Norfolk, the first known commercial peanut crop was planted in 1842. For several decades in the late 1800s, Virginia was the top producer of peanuts in the United States. By the early 1900s, the state was home to 14 of the United States’ 20 commercial peanut processing factories.

This October, Suffolk County (home of Planter’s Peanuts) will host its 44th celebration of this favorite legume. In some years, festival-goers can smell peanuts a quartermile away, emanating from an eight-foot Mr. P-nutty statue. Creative types will compete in the peanut butter sculpting contest, carving from a five-pound block of the gooey spread. Visit suffolkpeanutfest.com.

To satisfy your craving before the Suffolk festival, visit the Virginia Diner in Wakefield. The diner serves peanut pie — a caramelized, peanutty filling in a flaky crust. Or, visit the Hotel Roanoke for its peanut soup, served topped with fresh, chopped peanuts with spoonbread. (For the recipe, visit hotelroanoke.com/downtown_restaurants/ hotel_roanoke_recipes.)

PHOTO BY CARRIE MILLER FOR THE OLD TOWN SHOP

Peanut lovers may also take delight in a road trip to the Isle of Wright Museum in Smithfield to learn about the history of peanut farming, and a visit to the first peanut

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FOOD & DINING

PHOTO BY SUGAR TREE COUNTRY STORE & SUGAR HOUSE

museum in the United States, inside the Isle of Wight County Museum, in Waverly.

Here in Alexandria, be sure to stop by The Old Town Shop to pick up a can of Hub’s Peanuts.

MAPLE SYRUP Wood smoke and maple syrup aromas mingle in the mountain air in Virginia’s “Little Switzerland,” Highland County.

For generations, maplers have drained sap from trees, some 200 years old, through plastic tubes snaking down the hills from 15,000 tree taps. The sap is boiled down into pure syrup — no preservatives, no artificial flavoring, no coloring.

Highland County is the center of Virginia mapling. The county offers a passport and guide that visitors can reference to stop by seven “sugar camps” that operate year-round. The camps offer opportunities to learn the techniques of maple syrup production. There’s a prize for visiting all seven sugar camps and getting your passport stamped at each one. Learn more at virginiamaplesyrup. com.

Mark your calendar for next March’s Maple Festival in Highland County. Veteran maplers will be on hand to offer tutorials, tastings and more. For more than just pancakes, maple syrup is a key ingredient in local sausage, pork gravy, chicken barbeque, donuts, ice cream, apples, mustard, pecans, lollipops, cream, fudge and tea. Visit highlandcounty.org/events/maplefestival.

WILD GAME The Virginia Housewife, a cookbook published in 1824, is widely considered the first cookbook published for mass use in America. Vintage copies available online contain recipes for a wide variety of meats, fishes, stews, sauces, desserts and more.

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June 2022

PHOTO BY SMITHFIELD

Not included: Brunswick stew. The dish wasn’t invented until later in the 1820s, when a chef accompanying a Virginia state legislator reportedly invented the gamebased dish. Though Georgians may try to claim this invention came from the town of Brunswick, Georgia, many Virginians believe that Brunswick stew originated in Brunswick, Virginia. The dish was originally made with wild game like rabbits and squirrels, though today’s “adulterated” versions may include chicken or beef.

Diehards simmer it in a cast-iron cauldron over a fire and add vegetables, like potatoes and lima beans.

Virginia Senate Clerk Susan Schaar, in her office overlooking Richmond’s Capitol Square, displays a fivefoot-long wooden paddle, designed to stir Brunswick stew.

The critical, undisputed ingredient of a true Brunswick stew, Schaar insists, is squirrel – not rabbit, chicken or (heaven forbid) beef.

“Every January, I tell the new General Assembly pages that those squirrels out there will end up in a Brunswick stew,” she says.

HAM Virginia hams are historically famous — even well-known back in the 18th century, according to Mount Vernon Estate Associate Curator Jessie MacLeod. The Marquis de Lafayette was so fond of Virginia ham that George Washington shipped him a barrel full of them in 1786.

Virginia’s most famous type is the Smithfield ham, which by law must be cured within Smithfield town limits.

The company, founded in 1936, initially fed their hogs peanuts. Smithfield hams are dry salt cured “country style.” Virginia tradition calls for ham to be served with grits and red-eye gravy, which is made with coffee.

Smithfield’s own website has a variety of ham recipes and side dishes, as well. Visit smithfield.sfdbrands.com.

Or, visit the recipes section of the Mount Vernon Estate website at mountvernon.org/inn/recipes.

the oyster’s saltiness, sweetness, creaminess or mineral notes.

APPLES

“To enjoy the many flavors of a Virginia oyster, you need to chew it a number of times or you’ll miss the subtle tastes,” advises a Virginia Marine Products Board brochure. “After the initial salt, you will often notice a light creamy/butter flavor of different intensities and then a sweetness. The finish varies depending on the oyster and the time of year.”

Apples thrive around the state, with Shenandoah Valley the epicenter. John Bruguiere, of Dickie Brothers Orchard, in central Virginia’s Nelson County explains that the state’s elevations, soils rich in organic matter and nitrogen content and cool night temperatures during the growing season make apples “a good fit.”

A traditional Virginia staple is the fried apple “pie.” Vaguely resembling a piece of pie, it’s a mixture of cooked apples, sugar and cinnamon between two pieces of dough pressed together and skillet fried in Crisco.

A famous Virginia apple product is apple butter, a mahogany-hued, slurpy condiment made in the fall.

Apple butter purists use a copper kettle with a roundedbottom and no seams and cook it over a wood fire. With a special paddle, minders stir the mixture of apples, water, sugar and spices, including cloves, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon, in a long, slow boil for long as 12 hours. Many experts prefer Rome, Stayman, Granny Smith, golden delicious and winesap apples. Some offset tart apples with sweeter varieties in their apple butter. How to eat it?

Smear it on biscuits or cornbread, or put it in cakes or on ice cream.

At Lorton’s Pohick Church every fall, parishioners convert 50 to 60 bushels of apples into 1,000 to 1,200 jars of apple butter. If you’re up for a road trip this fall, Etlan United Methodist Church’s Apple Butter Committee makes gallons at Graves Mountain Lodge’s annual Apple Harvest Festival in Syria, in Madison County, this year on October’s first three weekends.

This fleshy blob of meat inside two nondescript, bumpy, gray shells is so revered in Virginia that in 2015, then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe launched the Virginia Oyster Trail and declared the state the “Oyster Capital of the East Coast.”

Urbanna, “A Little Historic Town with an Oyster Problem,” has a festival every fall, this year on Nov. 4-5, where people gobble up the morsels breaded, deep fried, steamed, boiled, stewed, Rockefellered and frittered as they shop for oyster shell lamps, ornaments and jewelry.

The festival’s oyster shucking contest has sent shuckers to international championships. Contestants split the bivalves at lightning speed, aiming for clean separation, no dirt or shell fragments, undamaged meat and a tidy tray display. Festivities climax with the crowning of the Oyster Queen and Little Miss Spat.

Visit virginiaoystertrail.com and urbannaoysterfestival. com.

Here in Alexandria, of course, make a reservation at the new Hank’s Oyster Bar, which moved from King Street to Old Town North in April. Or, in the Carlyle District, make a date at Whiskey & Oyster.

Here in Alexandria, don’t skip a visit to Lost Boy Cider.

The cidery has been winning accolades in Virginia and across the country for its Virginia apple-based ciders. Learn more at lostboycider.com.

OYSTERS Dubbed “bite-sized bundles of love,” oysters have long been central to Chesapeake Bay diets. Oysters helped some English Jamestown settlers survive. Visiting the Bay in 1701, Swiss nobleman Francis Louis Michel effused that Virginia oysters were four times the size of England’s, marveling at their abundance. “There are whole banks of them so that the ships must avoid them,” he wrote.

Discriminating oyster aficionados can identify the water of origin by

PHOTO BY MARIA LINDSEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA OYSTER TRAIL

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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Bringing Oatmeal Back

BY SUSANNAH MOORE

When you think of exciting foods, oatmeal probably doesn’t make it to the top of the list.

Maybe it should!

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALTERNATIVE OATS

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

One taste of Alternative Oats oatmeal may just turn your opinion of this common breakfast food on its head.

Alexandria couple Chris and Melat Burger started Alternative Oats last year in order to create oatmeal and oat products that are fun, tasty and packed with nutrients.

Melat was not always a fan of oatmeal. “I always hated oatmeal,” Melat explained.

“I was born in Ethiopia and I grew up in Germany so oatmeal was not a big thing.

It looks like baby food that is smashed together or it was too sweet.” That changed when she met Chris in 2013, while they both were attending grad school in D.C.

They moved to Chris’ native Michigan after school and bought their first home together which is where the idea for Alternative Oats was first planted.

“There were no decent breakfast options for the area I was in, it’s very industrial, blue collar," Chris said. "I would buy those 16-ounce soup cups and on a Sunday I would go out and buy my coconut, my seeds a big thing of oats from Costco and I would make like 30 oat cups and they would just be stacked in the corner, and on the way to work we would each grab a cup.” Friends suggested that they sell their oatmeal but the Burgers laughed it off at the time.

A few years ago, the Burgers moved to the DMV area so that Chris could

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PHOTO BY SUSANNAH MOORE

pursue his career related to China, but the political and economic environment and eventually the pandemic forced Chris to shift to consulting for family manufacturing businesses. By January 2021, Chris began to seriously consider starting his own business.

forward. By March 8, 2021, Alternative Oats was registered and business kicked off in June.

“Let’s go create our own demand for ourselves — let’s go build our future from the ground up,” said Chris, describing his mindset. Oatmeal made sense as a starting point because it is shelf stable, tangible and has a smaller upfront cost.

She designed the Alternative Oats logo and worked with a graphic designer to bring it to reality. They wanted to use bright, vibrant colors that match the fun and often colorful quality of their products.

Melat’s initial reaction to an oatmeal business was mixed. “There is nothing sexy about oatmeal,” Melat explained with a laugh. “Then, that first recipe he created, the Island Spice, which is pink, we were like 'OK, this is it …”

The Burgers make their product in their suburban Kingstowne home. They were first certified by the Virginia Department of Agriculture to produce in the kitchen but quickly realized this was not conducive to everyday life.

“Eureka!” Chris interjected.

They decided to convert a downstairs playroom/guest room into a commercial kitchen space complete with epoxy floors, stainless steel work surfaces and equipment. It made sense because they

The couple sent out hundreds of samples of their oatmeal blends to friends and got positive feedback and decided to move

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

Melat, who works full time in retail purchasing and quality assurance for a large grocery chain, is also an artist.

were able to control the setting and it was less risk and cost then renting space at a commercial kitchen. Two women work four to five hours each week with them to create the products.

Their garage has been converted into a home office for Chris’ consulting work and a warehouse for storing raw materials, inventory and shipping. At times, there are up to 800 pounds of oats, 400 pounds of oat flour and 100 to 200 pounds of nuts, seeds and other ingredients on the garage shelves.

The Burgers, along with their 4 year-old son, started selling their product every Saturday at the Loudoun One farmers market for six months straight. There, they began to build a local following and learned a lot about customers' likes, dislikes and allergies and how best to market their products.

“It gave us a reliable sales cushion so that there was always something each week

to pay down the card, to order more materials, to try to grow it,” said Chris.

They stopped selling at the farmers market at the end of last year in order to focus on getting into wholesale and to grow the brand. Alternative Oats uses only clean, natural ingredients and no preservatives or artificial ingredients.

The standard recipes include very low amounts of real sugar. The oats used are gluten-free and organic.

Right now, the recipes are 80 to 95 percent organic and they plan to shift to all-organic in time. All flavors are “accidentally vegan” except for Peaches and Cream which contains dairy. For allergy reasons, the Burgers have decided to remove peanuts from their recipes for now, but haven’t ruled out bringing it back in the future.

“You can’t satisfy everybody, you can’t cover for every allergy," said Chris. "At some point you just have to go with what is more important."

The products contain unique ingredients like pure peach powder, guava powder and dragon fruit which give the products their fun colors. The Burgers don’t cut any corners when it comes to their products. They fly in made-to-order peach powder from Malaysia because peach powders available domestically are all cut with fillers.

“We are uncompromising on quality," Chris emphasized. "If we need to take a loss to maintain that integrity we’ll do it.”

Alternative Oats oatmeal comes in resealable pouches and the serving size is 30 percent larger than standard oatmeal packets. They are considering switching over to single-serve cups.

Oatmeal isn’t the only product Alternative Oats sells. “We are starting with oatmeal but we want to be an oatcentered business," explained Chris.

"Our philosophy is that oats are this super awesome component of a diet, they are a really healthy ingredient.

There is more that can be done with them than just oatmeal."

They also sell oat flour-based pancake mixes, which came to them while they were working at the farmers market and were initially sold only to existing customers.

Past pancake mix flavors have included Chunky Monkey, which contained peanut powder, pecans and chocolate, and a blue mix that contained butterfly pea powder and blue spirulina.

Their Christmas recipe was extremely popular with customers to the point they would call to meet up with the Burgers in parking lots just to get

their hands on it. It was red in color and contained pomegranate, pistachios, cacao and cinnamon.

The Burgers' future is looking as bright as their oatmeal. Because most of their customers have kids, they plan to launch a kid-specific oatmeal made with finerchopped oats for quicker prep, no sugar and colored with fruit or vegetable powders.

They will also attend numerous pop-ups now that the weather is warm and are available through Made in Virginia and at over half a dozen local coffee shops like Misha’s and Grounded Coffee.

The Burgers dream of someday opening an oatmeal and oat product factory in Alexandria, creating jobs and reinforcing their strong ties with the community.

“This house, this neighborhood, this community, this is our Alamo. That is a part of Alternative Oats,” Chris stated. “Our neighbors are like our biggest promoters, every time we meet a new person they tell them these are 'the oatmeal people.' We have become the oatmeal people,” Melat added with a laugh. And when that happens, the Burgers smile with pride, because they know they have created something special – and it’s only just the beginning.

For more information about Alternative Oats, visit their website at alternativeoats. com.

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205 S. Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 571-290-0645

WWW.BRAEMARCABINETRY.COM

Summer Reading Enjoy a chapter from Gadsby’s Corner, Book Five of the Old Town mystery series by local author John Adam Wasowicz.

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIANNE WOEHRLE

In this first-person narrative, readers are introduced to the suspects in a murder that will occur during the performance of a skit titled Murder at the Museum.

——————— • ———————

You can pre-order the book, Gadsby’s Corner, now through MadeinALX.com. Two dollars from the purchase of each pre-ordered book will be donated to the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society. Books will be available in early July. Plus, stay tuned for an announcement on Murder in the Museum, sponsored by the Society this fall.

The grand room of Gadsby’s Tavern

vanished, including the chatter of a

who is deeply invested in rDNA vaccine

Museum was standing-room-only for

crowd, the clicking of glasses, the clatter

development or something of that

Murder in the Museum, a skit performed

of dishes, and the entire orchestral

nature.

by local artists. Boisterous conversation

sound that accompanies an assemblage.

and shrieks of laughter punctuated the

Silence is okay, but it has its place, like

atmosphere and created a cacophony of

Walden Pond.

turned-author Bernie Hill, who just

love the sound of a crowd. I always have.

There’s a distinguished threesome

administration. I purchased a copy. It’s

Since the lockdown during the pandemic,

engaged in conversation: Luis Aquila, a

remarkable how far we’ve fallen down

I enjoy it more than ever.

state delegate from Fairfax, rumored to

the political ladder since the ʼ80s, and

rich sound. I don’t know about you, but I

28

Near them stands retired journalistpublished a tell-all about the Reagan

be making a run for lieutenant governor

that’s all the more remarkable when you

During the pandemic, silence permeated

in 2025; Katlin Ash Brook, a real estate

consider the political dissension that

our lives. Things that we took for granted

magnate; and philanthropist Siri Deng,

existed at that time.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

According to the history books, we were filled with optimism 40 years ago. Ronald Reagan called us the beacon of hope for the world. “America is a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere,” he said. I read it in Hill’s book.

We were suddenly the world’s only superpower. The Berlin Wall was coming down. We envisioned a world in which peace might extend across Europe and then around the globe. Now look at things! There’s destruction and desolation as far as the eye can see as Putin’s troops cross into Ukraine. So much for utopian visions.

Hill is engaged in conversation with socialite Monica Livingston.

Bernie Hill is an old, frumpy, matronlylooking man. Something about his cheekbones and red lips, both of which create the image that he’s wearing makeup. His face is like Robin Williams’ Mrs. Doubtfire. He seems harmless enough, but you know what they say about that type. They’re the axe murderers and arsonists hiding innocently among us. Remember: For every cold case, there’s a red-hot murderer running around somewhere.

Bernie Hill fits the mold.

Hill’s New Orleans roots are on prominent display from the glass he’s holding in his hand. His cocktail of choice, you see, is a Hurricane, a mixture of rum, lemon juice, and passion fruit syrup. It’s a mainstay in the Big Easy. A dead giveaway for the drink is that it’s served in a tall and curvy eponymous hurricane glass.

Now let’s talk about Livingston, who people always confuse with Monica Lewinsky even though there’s really no comparison. Livingston is a Hollywood transplant who’s rumored to be close to Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She’s reportedly helping them film a fictional account

of an affair between the British prime minister and the U.S. president. It’s not a gay story, though that would be tantalizing. The prime minister is reportedly modeled after Margaret Thatcher. The ʼ80s are in vogue, I guess.

I survey the rest of the room. There’s Pad Khan, on sabbatical from Oxford University, where he reportedly teaches economics. He’s in conversation with Flint Silver, the ex-congressman who suffered an embarrassing defeat in the last election. They both subscribe to supply-side economics, which is out of favor these days.

Silver is slowly emerging back into the public eye to see whether there’s an opportunity for another run. While no stories have appeared to confirm the rumor, there is a story circulating on the internet that Silver settled a sexual harassment case during his prior stint in Congress. If that’s true, he’s finished. He was supposed to do one of the morning talk shows the other week, but cancelled at the last minute, lending credence to the suspicion that he’s hiding something.

I also noticed Buck Robison. He’s a hulk of a man, a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback. In just a couple of seasons in the pros, he created a lot of buzz as a sensational runner, passer, and playmaker. Then he got injured and had surgery. Rather than risk further injury, he retired. Now he’s leveraging his athleticism to vault himself into the political arena. If it’s true, he’s holding his cards close. Maybe the state house, maybe the U.S. Senate. Some people are even saying maybe the White House. I think that’s a stretch, but you can’t rule anything out anymore.

Zara Abadan just walked into the room, looking spectacular, per usual, in a chiffon dress with lush blues, reds, and yellows. Primary colors for a primo deal maker, that’s what I say. Abadan is my age, mid-30s, but she’s far more accomplished. She’s got an MBA from

GW and a law degree from Harvard. She runs her own investment fund, raising capital for enterprising companies.

And then there was Guido Marsh and Sunny Martinez, an inseparable duo.

The New York Times did a piece on their wedding at the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg. It talked about how they met in San Paolo, when they both worked for the World Bank. Now they operate their own hedge fund.

Oh, wait! I just spotted TJK. Her head is bent and she is engaged in conversation with...someone. I can’t make out who she’s talking with, but she certainly appears solemn, pointing a finger in the direction of her conversational partner as though she was thrusting a dagger into that person’s chest.

I can hear the evening’s luminary, Henry David McLuhan, reciting some poetic lines to a group off to the side.

“Once upon a time,” he’s saying to a rapt audience, “someone was constructing something in heaven with red bricks. One day a brick slipped off the wheelbarrow, fell to earth, and broke into thousands of pieces along the Potomac River below Four Mile Run. A mason’s line was drawn creating straight rows, and a storey pole was planted as a guide to set all of those heaven-sent pieces of brick into beautiful homes and sidewalks, forming a quaint community.”

Everyone smiles. They love this stuff.

They’re proud of Alexandria, which has become a destination city along the East Coast, just like Savannah to the south or Bar Harbor to the north.

But enough. Let’s mingle. I negotiate between bodies, dodging elbows and sidestepping flailing arms. I get lost in the shuffle. Little do I know it, but I find myself shoulder to shoulder with a suspect in the murder that’s about to occur within the hour!

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

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HOME & GARDEN

Rehab Reality Check: Falling in Love with an 1886 Row House

BY BETH LAWTON

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

Part of the fun of watching home renovation “reality” shows is seeing how much a home can change in just a few weeks.

But sometimes, home renovations are ongoing processes that happen in fits and spurts as time and budget allow.

For Alex and Wendy Santantonio, completely rehabbing a historic Old Town rowhouse, first built in 1886, has taken almost two decades.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLD TOWN HOME

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HOME & GARDEN

Newly married and long before becoming a Realtor, Wendy started looking at homes with her husband, Alex. Old Town was on their short list of neighborhoods.

“We walked in the front of the house,” Alex said, “and I remember when we got to the fifth room, at the back of the house, I said, ‘I’ll take it.’ And Wendy said, ‘Calm down.’” It was the first house they had seen.

After looking at other homes in Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park and other nearby neighborhoods, they bought that first house they saw in Old Town.

Wendy calls the house their “diamond in the rough.” The home, when they bought it, had no real personality, dated bathrooms and a very old kitchen. “It didn’t reveal all of the work it needed,” she said.

Living Room After

Living Room Before

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HOME & GARDEN

Memorial of the Battle of Stalingrad — The Motherland Calls Statue, Memorial Complex, Volgograd, Russia

Plaster Repair

property’s homeowners renovate the home to an open-concept floor plan, so the interior is very traditional for a historic rowhouse.

In addition, the couple has gone to great lengths to bring back architectural elements that were missing from the original, including finding original-looking hardware to go with the original doors and windows.

“The things we did see with it that made us fall in love with it were the transom windows, original doors, plaster walls and the crown molding. It had very intact historic charm and character, so we knew we could bring it back to life,” Alex said.

Since they purchased the home, the couple has been bringing it back to its original glory — and they’re doing so in front of an audience. They started to blog about their renovation journey, but have largely moved to Instagram, where they

have more than 16,500 followers. Their account is @oldtownhome.

Gone are the 1980s finishes, including the Jacuzzi tub and the gray pedestal sink and matching toilet. “We’ve introduced what we feel is a more timeless look and we’ve been very diligent in trying to maximize storage,” Wendy said.

Architecturally, the house feels very original, since the home retained most of its footprint from when it was built in the 1800s. At no time did any of the

The first two things the couple did was refinish the floors and take on a kitchen refresh on the cheap, Wendy said. They painted the cabinets and installed new hardware, learning that “with paint and a lot of elbow grease, we were able to make some changes that were budgetfriendly but had an immediate impact.”

Some other lessons, the Santantonios learned the hard way.

They figured that renovating the entire house would take them three years. But some projects, such as stripping all the

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HOME & GARDEN

paint from the mouldings in the house, took a lot more time and effort than they originally estimated.

Plus, early on in the process, they discovered extensive termite damage.

“That was one of those surprises we were not emotionally or financially prepared to tackle,” Wendy said, but they “scraped together” the money to repair the damage.

There’s one rule with any historic home preservation and restoration project, Wendy said: “It’s going to take longer and cost more than you ever think.”

“We kind of went into it a little naïve, but we figured things out, we saw that it was a bigger project than we initially thought, and we worked through the details of the effort until we were able to get our arms around it,” Alex said.

Their confidence in their ability to learn new things and execute projects grew over time.

Kitchen Before

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

Kitchen Midway

HOME & GARDEN

“There’s this huge, old-house community that is this supportive, nurturing place where people share ideas and inspiration,” Alex said. He still gets questions from blog posts he wrote years ago. “It’s not just Alexandria by any means, but you get to see what people are doing from Boston and Maine to San Francisco and Los Angeles.” In fact, some of Alex and Wendy’s closest friends came from Instagram.

After two decades of DIY renovations on the home, Wendy and Alex have a unique understanding of the potential pitfalls of some older homes in Alexandria. Wendy has found that insight valuable for her real estate clients, as she has a better understanding than most agents “about the level of effort that might be needed to change something, when to call in the experts and what can reasonably be tackled as a DIY project.”

As for those “reality” home-improvement shows: “They are a disservice to the general public,” Wendy said.

For all the hard work and headaches, Alex says that if he won the lottery and

Kitchen After

One of the things Wendy says she’s most proud of Alex for doing is learning the art of historic plastering.

“So many contractors are so quick to want to rip out plaster and replace it with drywall, so we’ve been able to keep the plaster throughout the house,” she said.

To do that, Alex had to find special, limebased restoration plaster and learn how to apply it the same way homebuilders did 150 years ago.

“This is where learning and putting that effort into doing it yourself makes sense,” Alex said. “It begins to preserve

still wanted to work, he would love to something that would traditionally be lost these days.”

spend time guiding homeowners on DIY historic preservation. “Maybe that’s a second career once I’m retired,” he said.

It may be easier and faster to hire experts, but if you have the time and interest in doing a historic project yourself, Alex said, “It’s completely in your reach to do it because of the amazing online communities that have popped up around old homes and restoration.” That wasn’t the case when they first started out, before Instagram existed. (Their original blog is still available at oldtownhome.com.)

Alex

Wendy

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

35

HOME & GARDEN

A Second Home

Just a few years ago, Wendy and Alex purchased a second home about an hour away from Alexandria, in Maryland. The “foursquare” style house dates to the early 1900s and was originally used as a hotel before a previous owner turned it into a single-family home.

“We were much better prepared going into this,” Wendy said, compared to their home in Alexandria. “But at the same time, the photos made it look much nicer than it really was.” After falling in love with the home online, they had to convince themselves it was a good project to take on.

Most home renovations have an unexpected surprise involved. With this project, it was a cold snap combined with a poorly timed oil heating failure.

Wendy and Alex left Maryland to return to Alexandria on a Monday. When they came back to the house on that Friday after a very cold weather week, they found that every single pipe in the home had frozen. They spent the next seven months replumbing the entire house and replacing the entire HVAC system. The house is now heated and cooled using geothermal energy.

The two are continuing to renovate the home under the supervision of their dog, a four-year-old pug-boxer mix named Truman.

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

— AROUND THE —

Fireplace

Spring weather is here and it’s time

to start hosting evening get-togethers around the firepit.

PHOTO BY REGIS VOGT FOR MARKS-WOODS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

Safety Considerations Adding a fire feature to your yard this summer? Here are a few safety tips from the Alexandria Fire Marshal’s Office: • K eep recreational fires under three feet in diameter and two feet high.

• C onfine to a permanent outdoor fire ring, a portable outdoor fireplace, or a commerciallydesigned chimney or fire pit.

• R esidents are also required to use or install a screen to prevent embers from escaping.

• P ortable outdoor fireplaces should be at least 15 feet from a structure or combustible materials and should follow all manufacturer's instructions for use.

• O nly seasoned firewood should be used as a fuel source; items such as trash, construction materials and yard debris are prohibited.

• A ll outdoor fires must be constantly attended during use and fully extinguished when completed.

• L ocation of fire shall not create excessive smoke conditions that become a nuisance or hazard to neighboring properties.

• B e mindful of weather conditions; do not have outdoor fires during periods of high wind.

PHOTO BY REGIS VOGT FOR MARKS-WOODS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

Porches, decks, patios and outdoor kitchens — the backyard is where the party’s happening this season for an increasing number of homeowners.

In fact, the trend toward reimagining backyard spaces has gotten so strong that there’s a term for it: Backyarding.

“We saw with COVID – people have

• H ave a garden hose, fire extinguisher, or five-gallon bucket of water nearby.

really connected to their outdoors in a meaningful way. It’s become a valuable space and a safe space,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Alexandriabased Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and the TurfMutt Foundation.

About three-quarters of Americans who have a yard (76%) say their family yard

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

space is one of the most important parts of their home, according to a poll commissioned by the TurfMutt Foundation, which encourages outdoor learning experiences, environmental responsibility and care for living landscapes.

In addition, more than 72% of survey respondents say a spacious yard would be at the top of their wish list if they were looking for a new home.

Whether your outdoor space is an acre or just a tenth of that, Kiser encourages homeowners figure out what type of landscape and setup would work best for them (and the people they live with) before plowing ahead with outdoor renovations.

JANET BERTIN Decorating Alexandria for more than 25 years

We love the homes we do highly traditional with a flash of glam to rock star with notes of classic, and everything in between!

Do you want to make co-workers green with envy with the ultimate Zoom call background, or do you want a space to entertain and relax (with space for a super comfortable hammock for weekend afternoon naps)?

and large umbrella can give you space to work, dine and play games, too.

Call us and we can help you love your home too!

One of the most popular features these days: fire features. From small, portable fire bowls to installed pits or tables, homeowners are making these

“I have an office outside, which I love — but do you want a firepit, do you want a staycation, do you want a place for the kids to play, do you want space for the dog?” Kiser asked.

central to their new, outdoor gathering

For people with small backyards, planning spaces that can function multiple ways should be a priority. If there isn’t much room for a full garden, a potted butterfly bush can add color and life to even the smallest space. A table

While the winter is traditionally fireplace

places. On the next few pages, take a look at some Alexandria backyards that incorporated fireplaces or firepits into their landscapes.

season, homeowners are increasingly adding fireplaces and firepits outdoors.

Both have grown significantly in popularity in the past few years and can

Janet Bertin, Allied ASID 703-299-0633 janetbertin@decoratingden.com janetbertin.decoratingden.com May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

39

PHOTO BY CHAIT GOLI

cost anywhere from $50 for the smallest, most basic wood-burning pit to several thousand dollars for a large, custombuilt fireplace connected to the home’s natural gas line.

external fuel source like a propane tank.

Here are the different types and considerations:

A firepit table is a non-portable fire

If you’re looking for a small, movable firepit, look for a steel bowl-shaped one that is raised off the ground. These are typically wood-burning firepits and often come with a screen cover to prevent embers from burning your guests. These are the closest to a backyard campfire you can get. (Pictured.)

hidden inside and is not designed to be

These are usually small and designed to be portable, while offering convenience and minimal cleanup.

bowl built into or around a table. It has a dedicated gas line or a propane tank moved.

A fire bowl is similar to a firepit, but it is often connected to an

Think Nature Backyards can be pretty while serving a positive purpose for the environment, Kiser notes.

When landscaping, consider choosing native, flowering plants to attract pollinators. Plants can also help with water conservation (when you plant things that can survive without much of it), help sustain wildlife and even slow runoff.

Not all fire pits fit the mold, and there are a lot of non-traditional options available. For example, Del Ray Metalworks’ Warren Wylupski created a modernist wood-burning chiminea from Corten steel. Raised off the ground and more than 4-feet tall, the chiminea is designed to direct smoke up and away from the people sitting around it.

(The chiminea is for sale for $1,995 through MadeinALX.com.)

“Can you use privacy hedges as opposed to building a fence?” Kiser asked. “Think nature and put nature into the equation.”

Kiser, who lives in Alexandria, said he has moved part of his home office outside and has been pleasantly surprised by the nature that stops by, including a variety of migratory birds.

“If you just be quiet and give them a little space, it’s amazing the interactions you get – and it’s really a stress reliever,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEL RAY METALWORKS

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEL RAY METALWORKS

SPONSORED

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX BY THINKING OUTSIDE THE WALLS

For lots of us, the idea of creating comfortable spaces is purely an indoor pursuit. We invest time and care in assembling comfortable, inviting rooms that reflect our tastes and sensibilities.

We relish the peace they provide and (if we’re honest) we take some pride in how they reflect on us as individuals and families. And too often it all ends at doors to the outside.

But there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t bring all the comforts of the indoors outside with us now that spring is (finally) here. With a bit of imagination and a willingness to bring the same care to your outside décor as your indoor style, you’ll find that it’s remarkable easy to extend indoor comfort and style outward.

Many of my clients were wedded to the thought that outdoor seating was all about webbing or plasticized cushions.

Today, nothing could be farther from the truth. Furniture makers have created truly stylish pieces that hold up impeccably under the sun and rain.

And for their part, textile makers are producing outdoor fabrics with all the comfort, style and feel of their finest indoor offerings.

Think about it: We no longer need to think of, say, movie watching as an indoor-only diversion, so why should we think of curling up with a good book on a comfortable sofa as an indooronly creature comfort. Shake off the old thinking and look beyond traditional chairs and chaise longues for your outdoor look.

Go for the same sofas and big comfortable chairs outside as you would inside. And while we’re thinking of outdoor style, think of your JANET sun BERTIN protection as another way to put your Decorating Alexandria for more than 25 years stamp on your space. Big umbrellas and awnings are perfect avenues for you to put your stamp on your space.

Make the most of the warm-weather months by extending your style and creativity to the open-air.

We love the homes we do -

Care to share your thoughts? Just drop with a highly traditional flash of glam to rock star a line to janetbertin@decoratingden. with notes of classic, and everything in between! com and we can keep the conversation Call us and we can help rolling. you love your home too!

To start your next interior design project contact Janet Bertin at 703-299-0633 or janetbertin.decoratingden.com.

Janet Bertin, Allied ASID 703-299-0633

janetbertin@decoratingden.com janetbertin.decoratingden.com

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

41

Luxe Living for Seniors

BY MARY ANN BARTON ALL PHOTOS BY BUZ NACHLAS

While a lot of local seniors want to age in place, an increasing number of retirees are opting to downsize and move to luxury, all-inclusive accommodations on par with the area’s nicest, most expensive apartment buildings.

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

These aren’t the depressing nursing

classes and workshops and even

homes of decades past. Instead, a new

personal shopping services.

variety of senior living facilities are offering pampering and conveniences in addition to health and wellness care.

These perks may include mani-pedis, massages, wine tastings, full-service fine restaurants, fitness classes on site, first-run movies and even community

In addition, some of these communities are taking advantage of a parallel trend and converting office buildings and former hotels into high-end residences for the over-55 set, complete with smart home technology including voiceactivated lights and ventilation systems.

gardens. At some locations, there are

“In terms of luxury, the urban offerings

also performing arts venues, academic

from Coterie, Inspir, Sunrise and

Conversation Area at The Landing in Alexandria.

Dining room at The Landing in Alexandria.

Watermark Retirement already are setting the bar higher than ever, with designs, technology offerings, hospitality services, health care, prime locations and other components,” according to Senior Housing News. In addition, more retirement communities are incorporating elements and using “inspiration from the concierge-style, individualized experience that high-end hotels have traditionally delivered, based on their knowledge of frequent guests’ habits and preferences.”

We recently got a sneak peek of The Landing in Alexandria, a Watermark community, at 2620 Main Line Blvd., just before it opened earlier this spring.

Some units (one or two-bedrooms) are already rented and residents started moving in at the beginning in April.

The company is catering to the looming "silver tsunami," said Bobby Zeiller, vice chairman and co-CEO of Silverstone.

"Baby boomers think about things differently than the Silent Generation [those born between 1928 and 1945]," Zeiller said. Think "active aging."

The Landing is Alexandria’s most recent example of luxury senior living, welcoming residents with soaring ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, beautiful artwork, tasteful furnishings and cozy spots for coffee and conversation.

"I like to think of us as a combination boutique hotel, a high-end residential and obviously senior living," he said. "We focus on hospitality, specific culinary styles, and well-being and wellness."

The 163-unit building, located in the North Potomac Yard neighborhood near the upcoming Potomac Yard metro station, is part of the Silverstone/ Watermark's Senior Living Elite Collection. Near the new residential building will be a new Inova campus, the Virginia Tech Innovation campus and easy access to all that Alexandria and the District have to offer.

The Landing includes Delano's, a restaurant with booths, tables, a wine room and outdoor seating. A maitre d' will greet residents as they arrive and patrons dining alone are welcome to sit and engage with the chef while he's whipping up dinner (including pizzas in the pizza oven).

"If you like blackened salmon, he'll make you blackened salmon," Zeiller said. The menu will change seasonally.

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

43

Model bedroom at The Landing in Alexandria.

Model kitchen at The Landing in Alexandria.

Residents who live in the Independent

getting forgetful and need help with

Memory Care units do not have a

Living section of the building can cook

medications, for example) and Memory

kitchen. All units offer wide bathroom

their own meals in their full kitchens

Care. Each level of living has its own floor

door openings, no-trip showers and

or stop by the restaurant for breakfast,

or floors, each with themes (a beach-

lunch or dinner (or even order room

themed floor offers soothing tones of

sloped floors to the drain.

service). Private dining areas are

blue and green in artwork depicting

available for celebrations and gatherings.

the seashore) and impeccably designed interiors.

The nine-story building offers four

44

If you aren't part of the silver tsunami but want a preview of The Landing, get ready to check out the building at the bistro on the first floor, which will be

levels of care: Independent Living (on

Independent Living units have full

the Landing's top three floors), Assisted

kitchens; Assisted Living units have

open to the public where anyone —

Living, "The Bridge," (between Assisted

kitchens but for safety reasons do not

regardless of age — can grab a pastry

Living and Memory Care — if you're

have cooktops, disposals or dishwashers.

and coffee.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

Booth in the dining room at The Landing in Alexandria.

Piano at The Landing in Alexandria.

Spa and salon at The Landing in Alexandria.

Want to Age in Place?

Luxury retirement communities are often designed with safety features in mind for aging residents. But sometimes living in these retirement communities can be expensive, and some homeowners really want to just stay in place.

Fortunately, many of the physical elements of senior living facilities can be incorporated into Alexandria homes, making it possible to age in place. Here are a few things to consider:

Horizontal living is always easier to convert for aging in place than a townhome or other multi-story home, often due to multiple staircases or narrow rooms or hallways. To age in place, homeowners must consider whether doorways and hallways are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility-assistive devices.

Other elements to consider if you want to age in place: New lighting fixtures and smart-home technology, fire alarms that flash and speak, security cameras to see who’s at the door before opening it, electric outlets that are placed higher on the wall, more accessible storage in the kitchen (so residents can avoid climbing on ladders to reach that pot), and nonslip and non-trip flooring options.

Look at access into and out of the home — are there a lot of stairs? Is there room to build a ramp or add a chair lift to help aging seniors navigate those stairs?

Inside, consider whether there’s room for a ground-floor master suite, including a bathroom.

The main bathroom itself may be converted to one that’s wheelchair accessible, including a roll-in shower and fixtures that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Fitness Center at The Landing in Alexandria.

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

45

TRAVEL

Summer visitors and the Conservatory PHOTO BY JONAH HOLLAND

Stop and Smell the Roses:

Garden Day Trips Near Alexandria

BY MARY ANN BARTON

Rosa Cherry Parfait

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

TRAVEL

About an hour-and-a-half drive from Alexandria is the Lewis Ginter Botanical

Warm spring days are made for strolling through green gardens, running through meadows and stopping to smell the roses.

Here's a sampling of some gorgeous botanical gardens within driving distance of Alexandria, where you can make a day of it.

Garden.

"It is truly a special place here in the region," said Brian Trader, president and CEO of the 50-acre garden in Lakeside, Va., a suburb of Richmond, just north of the city.

The centerpiece of the property is the soaring conservatory, which opened in 2003, designed by Rough Brothers, Inc. of Cincinnati.

"It's gorgeous year-round," said garden spokesperson Beth Monroe. "Even in the dead of winter, it's an oasis." The

conservatory showcases palms, orchids, tropical plants and more.

The conservatory is also the venue for the Garden's "M&T Bank Butterflies LIVE" exhibit, which opened last month and will feature hundreds of fluttering butterflies on display through Oct. 10.

Admission to the exhibit is free with garden admission.

The community-oriented non-profit garden named for Ginter, a prominent businessman, was started by Ginter's niece, philanthropist Grace Arents, who bequeathed funds to create the garden.

A garden created in her honor is located in front of a historic home on the

Girl looking at Paperkite butterfly PHOTO BY SCOTT ELMQUIST May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

47

TRAVEL

M&T Bank Butterflies LIVE educator and kids looking at chrysalids PHOTO BY SCOTT ELMQUIST

property, the Bloemendaal House, where

to the library for others to borrow (if all

Rose lovers can also visit the Louise

she lived until her death in 1927. It was

goes to plan, as they say).

Cochrane Rose Garden, featuring more

restored by the Garden Club of Virginia in 1990. The house was originally used

by Ginter for the Lakeside Wheel Club, a bicycle club.

The park offers a variety of guided walks and art classes for all levels. You can even check out seeds from the garden's on-site library, where they circulate

48

If you're really into roses, mark your calendar for Saturday, May 21 (1-4 p.m.) and Sunday, May 22 (11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) for the Rose Society Show, which is free with regular admission to the garden. Roses will be on display and

a collection of seeds that people can

experts will be available to answer your

borrow, plant, harvest, save and return

questions.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

than 1,300 bushes on a 9,000-square foot hillside garden. Peak bloom occurs in late May and early June. It's one of more than a dozen themed gardens, which also include Children's Garden, Asian Valley and Cherry Tree Walk.

Thursday evenings from June to midSeptember, the garden is open late until 9 p.m. for "Flowers After 5" with live music, activities, food and drinks. Guests

TRAVEL

Cherry parfait PHOTO BY DON WILLAMSON

Rosa Cherry Parfait PHOTO BY JONAH HOLLAND

are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Although outside picnics are not allowed, food sales continue until 8 p.m. at "Flowers After 5."

The second and fourth Thursday nights are also Fidos After 5 Nights, when the Garden partners with the Richmond SPCA and leashed dogs are allowed.

If you plan to bring your dog, read up on some of the garden pet rules here: lewisginter.org/visit/dogs.

Garden Cafe PHOTO BY CLAUDINE REYES

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

49

TRAVEL

Garden Cafe outside

PHOTO BY PHUONG TRAN

Wildflowers in the Anderson Meadow, Conservatory in background PHOTO BY DON WILLIAMSON

Garden Cafe PHOTO BY CLAUDINE REYES

During regular hours, the Garden Cafe

Admission is $14 per person for ages 13

is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily,

and older, $11 for seniors 65 and older,

featuring freshly made flatbreads,

$10 for military, $8 for ages 3 to 12, and

sandwiches, soup, salad bowls, plus grab

free for children under 3. If you live more

and go selections, dessert, beverages

than 50 miles away from the garden,

and more.

there is a discount for membership, which allows unlimited visits.

Before you head home, make time to

50

stop by the Garden Shop for a souvenir

To help plan your visit, you can see

or useful gardening supplies and

what's in bloom each month here:

gardening-inspired gifts for all ages.

lewisginter.org/visit/whats-in-bloom.

alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

TRAVEL

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GARDENS IN THE AREA:

BROOKSIDE GARDENS 50 acres Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1800 Glenallen Ave. Wheaton, Md.

GREEN SPRING GARDENS 32 acres Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays 4603 Green Spring Road, Lincolnia

MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS 95 acres Hours: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna

U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN 3 acres Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, D.C.

U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM 412 acres Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3501 New York Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.

WINKLER BOTANICAL PRESERVE 44 acres Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria

Conservatory Summer Cosmos Blooms

May/June 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com

51

THE LAST WORD

Alexandria's Julie Carey Celebrates 30 Years at NBC-4

BY MARY ANN BARTON

Broadcast journalist and Alexandria resident Julie Carey is celebrating 30 years at WRC-TV this spring, the last six as Northern Virginia bureau chief.

She and her husband, a fellow journalist, moved to the area way back when from the Hoosier State, where they met at Indiana University. She landed her first job there at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids.

"It was the perfect place to start — big enough that there was a lot going on and small enough that I could make rookie mistakes."

They had planned to stay in the D.C. area for just three years but fell in love with Alexandria and the pull of covering journalism in the nation's capital.

You'd be surprised to learn that I: Sing in my church choir.

Every morning, I read: Every online community newspaper in Northern Virginia, The Washington Post and a devotional.

I'm most proud of: My children.

My pet peeve is: Butchered crape myrtles.

The last book I read was: "The Vanishing Half."

My favorite way to relax is: Hiking or watching sports.

What I like most about living in Alexandria is: The incredible diversity and the sense of community. I often describe it to outsiders as a very big small town.

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alexandrialivingmagazine.com • May/June2022

Julie's upbringing in Ames, Iowa influenced her decision to get into journalism. "We read two newspapers a day and watched NBC from the 'Today Show' to the Nightly News." Her parents were involved in local politics and elections. "I joke that my Mom was so curious about what was happening around town that if we were driving around in the family station wagon and heard a fire engine, we’d drive toward it to see where it was going."

A college English professor encouraged her love of writing. "I'd intended to be in print journalism but it was that ability to combine pictures and words to tell stories and there are occasions where pictures are really worth a thousand words."

Her most memorable stories include covering 9/11. "I was driving down Mt. Vernon Avenue and saw the smoke rise from the Pentagon," she said. "I went straight there and reported on the attack for the next two weeks."

"I've kept in touch with the families who lived through that," she said, noting that she most recently caught up with them during reporting on the 20th anniversary last fall.

Another big story: The Charles Severance case, which "hit even closer to home. I’d met all the victims before their deaths and knew what they’d meant to the community. What a terrible loss."

Julie speaks of her colleagues at the TV station who have been influential in her career, the veterans who are familiar faces to viewers — in particular Doreen Gentzler ("such a poised presence on the air"), Wendy Rieger who just retired ("the best broadcast writer I've ever seen"), Pat Lawson Muse ("I just marvel at her intellect and capacity for information." The late anchor Jim Vance is still a constant presence, she said. On Friday evenings, at the end of the 6 p.m. broadcast, the show closes out with his jazz music.

Julie has no thoughts of retiring. "What I do beats working for a living," she joked. "It's not quite time to step away yet."

And for young people considering a career in journalism these days? Julie advises it helps to have healthy doses of "curiosity, creativity and persistence."

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since 1995

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BauerFinancial, Inc., the Nation’s Premier Bank and Credit Union Rating Firm, congratulates United States Senate Federal Credit Union, Alexandria, Virginia on its 106th consecutive 5-Star Rating. To earn this top rating, the credit union must excel under a rigorous, independent analysis of its financial condition and the United States Senate Federal Credit Union has done so continuously since December 1995. Only credit unions, like United States Senate Federal Credit Union, that have earned this top rating for 100 plus consecutive quarters can call themselves a “Best of Bauer Credit Union”.

1310 Braddock Place • Alexandria, VA 22314 800.374.2758 // ussfcu.org Membership eligibility required. Federally insured by NCUA

Bank and Credit Union data compiled from financial data for the period noted, as reported to federal regulators. The financial data obtained from these sources is consistently reliable, although; the accuracy and completeness of the data cannot be guaranteed by BauerFinancial, Inc. Since 1983, BauerFinancial has relied upon this data in its judgment and in rendering its opinion (e.g. determination of star ratings). BauerFinancial, Inc. is not a financial advisor; it is an independent bank research firm. No institution can pay for or opt out of a BauerFinancial rating. Star-ratings are all available for free at bauerfinancial.com.

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