Virginia Living - February 2022 by Cape Fear Publishing

FA B U L O U S FA I R FA X

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| S P R I N G ’ S E A R LY B L O O M S

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| SKI SEASON!

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Takes the Cake PLUS: You’re Invited:

10 real-life couples tie the knot

W W W.V I R G I N I A L I V I N G .C O M

FEBRUARY 2022

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$ 8. 9 5

BOUNTIFUL BRUNCH COZY WINTER ENTERTAINING p. 49

SEIZE THE DAWN MORNING WORKOUTS PAY EXTRA DIVIDENDS p. 72

SCOTT & ZELDA’S WILD NIGHT AT THE JEFFERSON p. 44 12/16/21 5:05 PM

Your dream day begins here.

Tucked in the middle of our 1,500+ acres of rolling hills is a haven of approachable luxury. From venues to culinary to accommodations, we have everything you need to make this occasion your very own from the moment you arrive, until the farewell.

NICEWONDERFARM.COM/WEDDINGS

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A U.S. News & World Report

TOP 10

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY in the SOUTH

Located in Farmville, Longwood University provides a transformative experience grounded in exceptional academics and a commitment to affordability. Adding to the experience are Division I athletics, clubs, and cherished traditions to make moments that Lancers never forget.

DISCOVER MORE AT GO.LONGWOOD.EDU/MOMENT

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THIS IS

SWEET BRIAR.

An excellent education close to home. At Sweet Briar, we believe there is nothing you cannot do and that includes getting an exceptional education right in your own backyard. Our innovative women’s leadership core curriculum will teach you practical, collaborative change-making. When you graduate, you’ll be confident leading from anywhere. You should also know that we have notable academic programs, including engineering, environmental science, business and more. What’s even better? You get all of that within easy reach of home on one of the most spacious and safe campuses in the country. Schedule your virtual visit today.

sbc.edu/virtual

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Weddings

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SELFIE TOUR

2 Days // 15 Stops

EVER BEEN

A KID IN A CANDY STORE? (LITERALLY OR FIGURATIVELY)

Find yourself here Not only do they sell candy at Nancy’s Candy, but they make it right here too. Patrick County is “like a box of chocolates.” We are full of surprises: picnics at a covered bridge or on the Blue Ridge Parkway, local wineries, hiking, mountain biking, and huge music festivals are just some of the sweet experiences you can have here. From the rugged outdoors to five-star luxury, there is so much to discover here. visitpatrickcounty.org

Visit the Patrick County Visitors Center at 126 N. Main St, Stuart, VA

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What’s your Life Lived Forward?

Donald and Vivian Doolittle came to Willow Valley Communities for the exceptional lifestyle our senior living community is known for. But the unusual challenges of the past year have made them appreciate so much more. Expert information, dedicated team members, and concierge services from Willow Valley Communities give them a feeling of security and well-being. “We’re not on our own,” say the Doolittles. “We’re enjoying our lives with peace of mind. Our family appreciates that.”

Find your Life Lived Forward. Explore Willow Valley Communities today.

800.770.5445 | WillowValleyCommunities.org | Lancaster, PA

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Be inspired

for your big day Discover stunning venues. Explore wedding trends. Enjoy a runway fashion show. Win prizes and secure special discounts you won’t find anywhere else. Meet the most talented and trusted wedding professionals in your area and have fun while planning your special day.

January 16, 2022

April 10, 2022

EagleBank Arena Fairfax, VA

Dulles Expo Center Chantilly, VA

January 30, 2022

Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena UMBC Event Center Baltimore, MD

Greater Richmond Convention Center Richmond, VA

April 24, 2022

You don’t want to miss this. GET YOUR TICKETS AT WEDDINGEXPERIENCE.COM

50% OFF TICKETS PROMO CODE VALIVING

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CUSTOM FURNITURE • AREA RUGS • DECORATIVE LIGHTING • HOME ACCENTS INTERIOR DESIGN • WORLDWIDE DELIVERY • 40% OFF TOP MANUFACTURERS Williamsburg, VA | www.carolina-furniture.com | 757.565.3000

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to the latest breakthrough in healthcare: Parking. Welcome to the new VCU Health Adult Outpatient Pavilion. With more than 1,000 new parking spaces and valet parking in a convenient downtown location. Plus sunlight-filled rooms and leading specialists. Now open.

VC U H E A LT H .O R G / AO P

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Trail Town USA

www.visitdamascus.org HIKE BIKE CLIMB FISH KAYAK RUN EXPLORE VL_0222.indd 10

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the virginia rye whisky

100% RYE • SINGLE BARREL • NEVER CHILL FILTERED PROUDLY DISTILLED BY HAND IN COPPER POT STILLS IN THE ROLLING FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

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A pediatric specialist not so far, far away. From watching iconic sci-fi flicks to dusting off his guitar, Dr. Clifton Lee has many passions. Like all of us at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, however, the most important to him is his passion for caring for children in a way that recognizes they’re more than little adults.

At the Wonder Tower, our new home for inpatient and emergency care, world-class doctors like Dr. Lee are only one of the many important pieces bringing our vision to life. Together with expert medical teams, community leaders and families, we’re building a one-of-a-kind, 500,000 square foot hospital where a kid can still feel like a kid, even in some of life’s toughest moments.

But we can’t do it without your help. Donate at BuiltForKids.org to support everything that makes the Wonder Tower truly wonderful.

B U I LT FO R K I D S . B U I LT BY YO U .

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At RWC, there are always interesting people to meet for lunch or a drink or maybe even a kiss.

Residents since 2018

Meet Linda and Harry S. – two lovebirds who met at a party in their 20s and talked on the phone every day thereafter before getting married in 1966. Harry likes to say they’ve been a couple as long as the Super Bowl has been around – 56 years. They have four daughters, nine grandchildren, three great granddaughters and a fourth on the way! After living in Northern Virginia, they moved to a 17-acre farm in White Stone because they both love to sail. Today, they live in a storybook-looking cottage at RWC with their adorable Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Clover. If you’d like to meet Harry and Linda and other residents at RWC, call us for a tour at 804-438-4000.

804-438-4000 | info@r w-c.org | www.r w-c.org

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Vote January 4–31!

BE S T WE

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k-12 st s e cR eRa Be Re tice uni i a h t a n F s o a t s e n ( i e m e o d t e e t a t e c c R c p Bs out t ou teR st te Fa st in dep st s est tdo s Be ng o e h Bes aRc kit medod R /hvst w est es B est ool Ry B st i t Fu t s alia pRa com toR g e i s e c R B m t t s R n s s s u e e oR Be cha Ry B FRe t Be st i Ry B ian R o tne sel ho site Bes Best tiv aFo Bin k Be Ry BtiquiRm sch ine e B t Be Be st i eRy ent ing pRa k e m e w s g m h y ( e ne as s o Fi un est ic Ry R na se um an se an n t F oR aiR Rse ute Ran e B Ew y co B oR ke lde eR st pl t B uR t ign den est houuRane FiR eR B suRtiRe lot log ool y d ST iFLORISTt t u c u s B l o t t s l e s d n R g sta cti st Be go ia est oRe ist Ba Bui al l B est es d n Be es pen ol B eak ta tat eal ial Re ’s c mo ch an e g pec p B st t h est me est ita a B p B e an Re oR d de ho st Res es R d Fac est en hal nt s omp ua an n, o n Re pRa l B hop1ist nBee’s o t s Honey e Ri t in sc est od eal ca llo R B om ht de c nn (o t ssho ings Bes k B ho nt B osp t sp camous ee Fa eNORTHERN ia dia aR ho m oRFlorist s R a in c sc ea sp Be st sh Re Ruc est ve y h Bes eR nh FR int Bes pRe y B aFo t R est axi ide st wt op pen tion st a ice o R s st aRy pRe e cR est niNngloRi Rni sto d t ce B ty einaRiRm umm Ree ten est ice Best ide t sel Be se Bnd m Rovn Be Bes inde auc ia BeRactg gop o p t i u m c A NF B c i i s g s , g B t u i F e i F R E Y in R es st m R d st D OA HeVA L Lh Fo act haR te te st st gl nt Rac val est Be ot ouRal a lth sigFiRm est Best zeR gy p Rtin st s t R B c m i l e e e i a e R h B e p a o e iz t e al e B ng F tdo t B t ho clo Besic pR al cst v est nt B m B n, o auR Re Fest eR B pita est olF t oR hea lov ing ice iRm t p olo spo m B nsigB a s c t R o n y s i u e l p F s e t n t g R s ou unt t ou uRa Besen’s sho ped ann t B Rea auRast g aRia Res Ry c est ate ho ice Best y Be hom Best lan Rac ign t Be yne Bes e Fi t c hop e s s o g t B a g co Bes est nin om ood Rth est kFa est est e Be ege ian ima ny st c aRy act p B weR est ice ial p Re p des Ran oR iRm stat Be st s ous w R o n d F e i u / t R R v e i e R m i B a B R a e B h R a h F oR an ne d est et st o Ria BRe tel ian sto an, t in st pomp ne B teR py p t sht BR Re Rac ancRy c Bat esta and ing eal FiR FloR een t o s e n c p B l i e i e t m o e R a n & h R ics un t R law st g Bes act xi t F gn uR e B izz d & t ho ita iFt veg l Be p B n c dic t v eRa men Bes st gy t Fi Pim t y R s t e E g e S R o C i o s e c o R I R p s Be ve s y/g sto est st B BesBest est BesttRai shoucti e me Bes l thsign ash ing tolo Bes tING pO RtcAhL EVRun tet acc l Be Bes nt B Bes nit gy p Bes R ing BeR t a ativ Fast sicacon R w ish Rma FiRm Bes t k1istt/B oBs est ote eR uRa gym mmuolo Rail Bes lo ialt ok t B e Be tice leR Re BteSHENANDOAH a n s o R n s asGinterst B t h om ta st co at y p c c c o F Be me es Ro es e t g t hop-12 a Ba m Be teRnReakt ph est st c FuR t de ign sho R Be kLewis pe st B uRa cti pRa dea st heaR BikRVALLEY Botanical m n i B B s R t s k n s a y e ta a o B g R e l B s R e e e Garden e e R e ik o o R e Be e e y BRes y pRRapy t cawelRoRicing lon n Fi st a d & e Be FiRmice hom y B R d RBe uildt BR ctic al htice dog ican toR Rem st d R B ood ol ( uild N n io e R i g e R ac , 2 t ex o F o s y t B t s Ret y Being et sch me Bpan A s ch Rge thee Be e Je his t hikR sadesi nt B st B caR law RactBest mpa teR R Ba me Bes pRauTnR AeL pV IR F RGINI e m i m i B l l n y o F o n su ica uRs t Fi est Bes ha th eve e Be da est y p ing co t in on t ho dio ta st py gn est st g est pa hik uR ent t h com tive g s l s tu en e / B ap n a y a i B m t go d t B B e s o s s c a o hy lF c e Be ital steR Bes & B Rit acti dingmeR heR e di ainint BeR sa e Be e s t d nt BtheR des ice Re B deR g co Bes ty/ pen e Be Rts eRn nd/ B a n s i c v l a e a i n t R R go ctic osp Roa tie che ch y pR oa Roo oR t t Fing tR Ra ha ctic dan t Be uRa cal cap seR sto Rov inin teR cia inde ctic ing al ics italt s u t B l Ra st hp oR colat kitnua geR pet og g ing Bes do sta Best pRa est Ran estahysi nds teR lRy th p tRa Roa speest pRa oRm Bes etR osp Rac Be ho ho Bes an suR st t d sel ent Bestn Re ieR dic s B tau d R t p t la haR ewe eal dog oR est e B dic eRF nt Bst Ry h ic p t Re e B c s c e s n o s s c J h t t SOUTHWEST e lt s opent acti ope st py ev st oRina iatR BesBes ee est deR Bes eticnt B n Be cou ainm ues ndiaolathop adu n Re aFo e Be Be aiR ine me es h EASTERN l e e s v R th e t d F o B e R l n i i B t q t m Bui eRia osmR Jo esig est teR nti est hoc oR FoR asiast s ca atio est est t h ues Fee Rt e e p oR op B aRi ice B vet t pehoteleRy t ca c e B n B B es q h t c t t t F a aR st h y t a B z e s s a e d t il omt pizBest uRg ape hopily e est ail est Besmen Bes al B g/daio s hop ice e B nti t coest y c Be ch s al c Rac Bes R BeBest ist e Be xic d e s act toR t a es B aR Re wi nu l p st te e t d Rs me l a CENTRAL es ket st B dsc ist s Fam Re B g tRRm BtoRe ain hop spit din Ra t i in R s es s B ce im to d an ta Fa Fit tic es ou st Ra R a n e n t o aR e B la loR est ee F Biki Re F ok s teR m s y h Boa Bes t w Ry pngs Re B ail acti t pRok s sanest den eak out Rac g B lF c e Be t o se a t a s u i s e u t F B t n i n s R en Bes est ion n FR oR ectut Bost e cRe inaR pet ess k Be uRg ish e Fa ock y pRp Be t Bo Bes Ria B est & B ooR py pdini t goRvic y Be nho ish B n e g n e e on nt B act lut ikin chit Bes y Bet iceeteRBest Fitn Ban al s FuR FR ty cologsho Bes eRy izze nt Bed utdheRaooR Bes R se weR Ree FuR e B l n i a R g n e y o y t p e a g h R ic u n s p i v y t t d e e uR att, oR st st a ilit mpa Be est ointialt Bes oFac om luTtHISTOeRcICiTaHEATalmRBeRcilit t w est tauR Bes oR cal out sho aRt t BR est ome act tiq s n ’ h s s i B h R h s ist ian R Be Be Fac co usest B eR J pec amp xill st h R g tS sp1pst ht R Bais Fa l Be nt B Res ticeood hys est ent iR c Be ym est ic p st a men o o s s y e e R s i s h g c B m c a n e t ta ast keR enn aRt akhakFa uRg st eR cd ma g B ian, t Be sBarter t o Theatre n o enn hooauR sia pRa ng g st poRe ign st awas est ng Bdon e B t woest n e B o n e a e o R i e t e i c a R g i t m s n R e l B s t R t B t in st BR st g m l a din eta so m B sa st Res es st eRy Rt e B st on p B caR e B din ho Fa Be ls B st i s u e t s m n R t e o e e e e s i B Be m B FoR Bes ed & ue din st oRa ine veg t Reg FiRhaiR TmH B st p c h R p B uRg sp caR hing st c shoest sto ine oR FRe ign ktai t B y pR , s F t t F s n e e , s W o y t R y B t u e nI A e B n u g c se t pe deR est t ve ooR nt B Bes est gan e Be nnin est use al BE S T BV IRR GuI N sh tic Bes /da clo Rm B win ice giFt est Besuten ove co uRa olo tRuc e m B i a B l e B g t y i y d / t a l m a y m v s t a i t s B n m Be st cice eve out auR weR ent st v ic s l pl tieR est sti FastcRea osm FiR Rdin en’ aw F Bes Rac Bes ent unit R g est ialt Resthal ood iR s n p Re nm m , o e B ec n ht t F ha e Be act ial est est BRe inm R Be toR cia ola e B t Feeak ce st c ing oa st m t lRBECUnE k RE S d n TApy i B t s A a U u R s n a c R e B e s e B c a R to Rtai com Ria ctic t sp ndiat op Bes est pen an p pe Re an est eRt at hi ina ho en Be B st t B un et y B Be t B st R s i e a s B t e p R e e v y o p t s s i R s h e t F c 1 y e n t a e t d u st sto ital sh B entc th Bes est st usic pan Bes se BaRk acc est panome p Be R t elR enteme ege y pRRt B Bes m Be shotieRt in sta y Be e o B om o m Pierce’s a ly Ri e B B m e it h d la s m io ou m st ly iR , v g o il iR ew Pitt ng t hi Bes aR wFami sto toR iRm iRm est n co tudakh Rs’ e Be oint c c g gRR ca lingne J Fami Ret gan tolo Res tRa g F Foooco e Be ue Racil est eR st c st t hi ng s n F Re F t B tio ce s ste Rme om eR J hva do me nse t Fi sS Tt est t2 ve ma est ing nnin met ch ctic Bec is F ce B FiRm g R E / Be n Be Bes thi esi ctu uRan auc dan est t Fa al h uRg ing Best sumcou Bes n BeeRRBN V IBR GeI NsI At, de ite B Bik pla ouRBest pRa BaR enn acti ign Best o d s t e t R e B l R l /g o B o t B e st t R es l w l t d R s s a s i i e e n s c t ct pita ’s c RioR chi est Be Bes eRy n) B Fun est plum sig t Be Bes cti act Rovi ate y Be Ric ng oncia lty FiRm caR ) Be Best ic p h d tiva and s os men nte t aR ue R FiRm lts cid /gy est ue B st e de an hop pRa ttR h p thepan isto hiki ina ecia uRe aRy nts um ped Bat Fes st s aRt R F i e a o woest BesRBec ign aduBest (oBnt B venpa B cap tau ist s eRy ist ealtoRiccom st h est est t sp ectpRim ude useRth en & est y Be ing inme t t g s e B R m s R s m t t R s i y t BkeR t Ba de t Fo ReR ctic uRa ven st s andn Re FloR suR tou me h his ing e Be eR BRm B Be Rch est ge s est st o itch ny ine FoR eRtaance t a n a h t i R l e e B e k s l e i w R o a t B a t p a t a n t a t t n t s F e en7:55 B2:49 PMBe VL_0222.indd t d Rea Ba nme 15ca y pR3 Res cial Rm B est tali Bes acia Bes st h Bes tRa stoRoa ign eve est hop k-12 nue Re B est com est t p12/16/21 12/14/21 2:49s PM PM ) & BoV-HouseAd_Feb2022.indd B R t e s t B B i i i B ( l s F g o e s g B s t g d e F n t t n y B t o s R e es B t a n l a n l ve t R

Contents JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2022

FEATURES Snow Days page 78

Hitting the slopes at Virginia’s fab four ski resorts.

Candy is Dandy page 84

For these Virginia sweets makers, it’s all about the smiles.

photo by tyler darden

ON THE COVER: Rachel Baron and Endri Mustafa, one of ten winning Virginia wedding couples. Photo by Krysta Norman.

p. 84 A deep dive into five Virginia candy makers.

IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT: VIRGINIA LIVING (USPS) ISSN 1534-9984 Virginia Living is published bimonthly by Cape Fear Publishing Company, 109 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219. Periodical postage permit 021-875 at Richmond, VA.

VIRGINIA LIVING

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Since 1930. Trusted for Generations.

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Luxury. It means everything is taken care of for you.

Photos by David Abel Photography Photos by David Abel Photography

Leave the details to us. The Jefferson offers everything from custom cakes Leave the details to us. The Jefferson offers everything from custom cakes and creatively designed floral arrangements to beautiful table settings and and creatively designed floral arrangements to beautiful table settings and inviting accommodations for you and your guests. Of course, you will still inviting accommodations for you and your guests. Of course, you will still have plenty of choices - but your dedicated planner will make sure it all have plenty of choices - but your dedicated planner will make sure it all comes together flawlessly, in a venue that is like no other. comes together flawlessly, in a venue that is like no other. jeffersonhotel.com/weddings jeffersonhotel.com/weddings

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To learn more, contact our wedding team at 866.247.2305. To learn more, contact our wedding team at 866.247.2305.

12/16/21 7:57 PM

p. 49

Contents JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2022

p. 55

23 EDITOR’S LETTER

UPFRONT

25 TAKE NOTE Beautiful botanicals, a smokeless fire pit, dark sky stargazing, and book news. 31 EVENTS

Are you going? Our picks for happenings around the state.

HOMEGROWN 35 DESTINATIONS

HEALTH + WELLNESS

p. 71

61 NOTES

Microgreens, robotic knee replacements, hydrafacials, kind shoes, medical cannabis cards, and more.

Packed with history and culture, fascinating Fairfax is well worth a visit.

photos (clockwise from top left): by greg powers, by tyler darden, courtesy of bright body, by kir tuben photography, by scott suchman

43 SPOTLIGHT Meet SNL alum Casey Wilson, actor and author of The Wreckage of My Presence.

69 PROFILE

The first plastic surgeon and the newest minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.

44 VIRGINIANA F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s wild ride through Virginia.

71 APOTHECARY The best local products for pampering.

47 NATIVES

72 FITNESS The science behind morning workouts.

The fleeting flowers of spring: don’t miss early ephemerals.

GOOD TASTE 49 COOKING

p. 35

p. 104

Delectable brunch ideas and tasty drinks that go beyond bloodies.

WEDDINGS

91 STYLE GUIDE

Expert advice and tips for planning your special day.

52 STARTERS Patty O’s opens in Little Washington, Wren at the Watermark, and more.

104 VIRGINIA WEDDINGS Ten couples say “I do!” in style.

56 DINING OUT Broadcloth debuts in Charlottesville’s newly renovated Wool Factory.

128 DEPARTURE Why essayist Phyllis Theroux calls Virginia home.

58 INTERVIEW

VirginiaLiving.com Exclusives: > See TOP DOCTORS and

The story of Stella Dikos. Her namesake restaurant shares Greek favorites.

TOP WEDDING VENDORS Lists

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VIRGINIA LIVING

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Meet Riley, Meet Riley, She loves snacking, especially on chips. She loves snacking, especially chips. since she Chips areon a no-no has braces. One afternoon Chips are a no-no since she while enjoying some delicious has braces. One afternoon fried potato goodness, Riley while enjoying some delicious experienced a crunch, and it fried potato goodness, Riley wasn’t from a chip. experienced a crunch, and it wasn’t a chip. had One offrom her brackets popped off. One of her brackets had popped off.Family Dentistry, At Virginia our team of orthodontists At Virginia Family Dentistry, are available for everyday our team of orthodontists emergencies and had her are available for everyday bracket fixed same day. emergencies and had her bracket samegood day. as You canfixed find Riley new and back to her regular You can find Riley good as routine (sans chips) to which new and back to her regular we say... routine (sans chips) to which we say... Chip-Chip-Hooray! Chip-Chip-Hooray!

www.VAdentist.com www.VAdentist.com VFD-6001 Right Page 3

7/29/2021 10:51:04 AM

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12/16/21 7:59 PM 7/29/2021 10:51:04 AM

Visit VirginiaLiving.com VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2 February 2022

Visitors to Norfolk's Virginia Zoo check out a larger-than-life tomato frog, part of their ongoing ZooLumination event.

PUBLISHED BY

Cape Fear Publishing Company

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PUBLISHER

John-Lawrence Smith EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR Constance Costas

ART DIRECTOR Ann L. Harvey

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SENIOR EDITOR Madeline Mayhood EDITORIAL INTERN Kaitlyn Hilliard

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Dining News Keswick Hall’s new restaurant Marigold from chef Jean-Georges brings seasonal Southern fare elevated with French and Asian influences. Recipes Charcuterie is art on a platter. We'll show you how the pros create beautiful boards. Destination Lynchburg It’s got everything you need for a weekend getaway, from a thriving downtown community, fantastic food, and a great outdoor vibe. House and Garden A 300-year-old house in Powhatan gets a contemporary update from interior designer Janie Molster, author of House Dressing, Interiors for Colorful Living. Handpicked Find our curated list of professionals and service providers under our "Directories" tab. This month, we bring you Top Doctors and Top Wedding Vendors throughout the state. VirginiaLiving.com/Directories. Online Exclusives Look for our interview with the design team behind Merrie Mill Farm and Vineyard’s fabulous Keswick tasting room—and more.

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photo courtesy of virginia zoo

Contributors For this month’s ski feature, photojournalist SAM DEAN and writer MARK TAYLOR took a buddy trip that recalled their days working together at The Roanoke Times. Dean, Taylor insists, is still the better skier. For our Fairfax story, writer

RENEE SKLAREW discovered

the wonders awaiting in her own home county. A journalist and history buff, she leads tours for Smithsonian Associates. Follow her @travelanddish.

TYLER DARDEN made visual

magic for our candy feature. Darden's first short film, There’s an App for That, produced by his SaltFire Studio, will debut at the Richmond International Film Festival in September.

JOHN HADDAD shares dinner at Charlottesville's Broadcloth. A longtime food and travel writer, he founded Slow Food RVA and is the Slow Food Governor of Virginia. JohnHaddad@epicuriosity.net.

Photographer and omnivore

SCOTT SUCHMAN captured

Fairfax for our Destination pages. Suchman’s work has appeared in The Washington Post Magazine, Southern Living, Bon Appétit, and Garden & Gun, among others. A Californian by birth, author and essayist PHYLLIS THEROUX settled on the East Coast before finding her way—and losing her heart—to Ashland. Her memoir, The Journal Keeper, explains why she calls Virginia home.

LEGALISMS Virginia Living is a registered trademark of Cape Fear Publishing Company, Inc. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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VIRGINIA LIVING

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12/16/21 8:04 PM

Editor’s Letter

Happy 2022!

Here’s to fresh starts and inspired resolutions.

ELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR! This month, step into your skis for a grand slalom tour of Virginia’s “Fab Four” ski resorts. I was three when I learned to ski at The Homestead, thanks to Sepp Kober, who opened Virginia’s first ski area there in 1960. Kober—whom I remember vividly—came to Virginia from Austria just as snowmaking equipment was being introduced. He was instrumental in developing ski areas throughout the Southeast and became known as the “Father of Southern Skiing.” His work earned him a place in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame. In Virginia, we benefit from the contributions of people who find their way here from abroad, bringing their vision and, often, their food. In 1962, when Stella Dikos came to Richmond, Greek food was largely unknown here. Today, at her namesake restaurant, the dishes she learned to cook as a child in Greece are both familiar and adored. Looking for true farm-to-table dining? Tuck into a feast at Broadcloth, chef Tucker Yoder’s exciting restaurant at the newly-restored and revamped Wool Factory, a must-see on your next trip through Charlottesville. It takes passion to create a business that endures and, as our writer Peggy Sijswerda discovered, Virginia’s candy makers are a passionate bunch. They do it for the happiness customers get from their lollipops, salt water taffy, orange-cashew-

photos (from top) by: sam dean, kyle l ª ferriere

Letters to the Editor TO BE A VIRGINIAN Virginia Living has never been more stunning! It was wonderful to see the review of Marigold at Keswick Hall in your December issue, along with the Brunch Market. Reading this magazine makes me excited to be a Virginian. I cannot wait for the next issue so I can plan wonderful things to do and to see with friends and family. —Sarah Holt Pierson, Fredericksburg

CROZET TURKEYS I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy Virginia Living Magazine. I started reading it a few years ago when my daughter was getting married. I love spending time in the Crozet area and was thrilled to read about the Kelly Gold Turkey Farm— maybe next year we’ll have to try one for Thanksgiving.

NO TRAIN, NO GAIN Your article on Waterford postulated that the railroad bypassed Waterford [after the Civil War] for political revenge. I suggest you look at a map. That railroad, now a bike path, runs dead straight to Purcellville. Waterford is fairly far north of this straight line. Swerved north to pass through this tiny town would have made little economic sense.

—Margie Springer, Raleigh, NC

—Don Gartrell, Formerly of Middleburg

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honey brittle, and peach buds. And as you might have guessed, the candy business these days is thriving. Speaking of passion, it’s our wedding issue! It’s heartwarming to see the joyful celebrations taking place around the state. And if you’re planning your own big day, you’ll want to read our “Feel-Good Stay Sane Guide to Planning a Wedding” for insider pointers and great ideas. Then look to our website for our curated list of wedding vendors across the state. If you’re starting the year with a fitness resolution, you’ll want to read “The Dawn Patrol.” Our writer Christy Rippel digs into the science behind early-morning workouts and brings you Virginians who are rowing, swimming, stretching, and sweating long before the sun rises. (Spoiler alert: I’m not one of them.) Up for a getaway? Fairfax county—Virginia’s largest at 406 square miles—is an area well worth exploring, as our writer Renee Sklarew reveals. Here, you can see the Concorde and the Space Shuttle Discovery, taste Mount Vernon’s hoe cakes, hike Great Falls Park, and explore the history of the suffrage movement with time to cap the day with a rooftop brew and a view of the Blue Ridge. There’s more, always. But I hope we’ve whet your appetite.

Ski racer Tanja Locher at Bryce Resort.

Constance Costas, Editor ConstanceCostas@CapeFear.com

We love a good historic kerfuffle, Don. Thank you. A Waterford Foundation publication, Walk With Us, notes that, “Commercial development in the village was further weakened in the 1870s, when the railroad pushed west of Leesburg but bypassed Waterford.” Still curious, we consulted Loudoun historian Eugene Scheel, who told us, “I do not think politics had anything to do with the bypassing of the railroad via Clarke’s Gap, Hamilton, etc. That right-of-way was laid out in the 1850’s, well before the war.” —VL

Drop Us a Line LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We love receiving letters and emails from readers and hearing your reactions to our stories! Email us at Editors@CapeFear.com or write to us at Letters to the Editor, 109 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219. Please include your name and city of residence. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

VIRGINIA LIVING

12/16/21 12:26 PM

36 Holes of World Class Golf • Award Winning Grill • Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses in the Mid-Atlantic

365 Rock Harbor Drive, Winchester, VA 22602 • 540-722-7111 • RockHarborGolf.com

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12/16/21 8:06 PM

UPfront > Take Note > Events

Take Note WORLD - CLASS STARGAZING Five Virginia parks earn international “Dark Sky” honors. By Peggy Sijswerda

photo by joyce harman

Rappahannock County Park is among the 107 Dark Sky Parks in the world.

For world-class stargazing, head to one of Virginia’s five Dark Sky Parks. This special designation is awarded by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to parks around the globe that maintain naturally dark spaces. To date, the IDA has awarded this honor to only 107 such parks worldwide. In 2021, Natural Bridge State Park in Rockbridge County and Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane joined Virginia’s growing list of Dark Sky Parks, which is now the longest one east of the Mississippi. James River State Park, near Lynchburg; Staunton River State Park in Scottsburg; and Rappahannock County Park, in Washington, Virginia are also included. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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Natural nighttime darkness is quickly disappearing worldwide according to the IDA, and light pollution not only blocks our view of the universe, it impacts human health and disrupts wildlife. David H. Collett, Western Field Operations Manager for Virginia State Parks, says more Virginians have been inspired to visit state parks and check out loaner telescopes and star charts (available from park visitors centers). He encourages visiting a Dark Sky-certified park for the best view of stars and planets. “Once you experience this, you’ll understand why.” he says. For more stargazing tips, visit VirginiaLiving.com; DarkSky.org 25

VIRGINIA LIVING

12/16/21 12:27 PM

Experience WanderLove Come to Madison for the hiking, history, artisans, scenery, breweries, wineries, or your destination wedding! Stay in a B&B, cabin, camper, RV, lodge, vacation rental house, tent or even a yurt! Or just enjoy the journey and the hidden gems along the way!

madisonva.com

Some clothes are just fun to wear

www.jimmyandsook.com

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12/16/21 9:22 PM

UPfront Take Note

Hannah Cross Hanlon with a detail of “Turkey Fig and Zebra Swallowtail,” part of her upcoming botanical series featuring the plants, insects, and animals of the Southeast.

BOTANICAL BEAUTY With colored pencils, artist Hannah Cross Hanlon captures nature in exquisite detail.

photos (from top): by hannah cross hanlon, courtesy of burly usa

RTIST HANNAH CROSS HANLON’S stunning botanical drawings are inspired by childhood summers spent on the York River in Gloucester. “I inherited my love of nature and creatures from my Virginia grandfather, who

FIRED UP

was a wildlife biologist, field trial judge, and outdoorsman.” In fact, her grandfather served as executive director of the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. The Dick Cross Wildlife

Virginia fire pit maker, Burly, offers a smokeless solution.

BUSINESS HAS BEEN HEATING UP for fire pit manu-

facturers across the country, as we search for ways to socialize outdoors during the winter months. One popular brand was founded right in our own backyard. Burly, based in Richmond, was recognized in a New York Times Wirecutter review as one of country’s top five smokeless fire pits, along with Solo Stove, Tiki, Breeo, and Blue Sky brands. The idea sparked when Burly founders John Sexton and Miles Clarkson were chatting one night. “We were sitting around this smoky fire and thought there had to be a better solution,” says Sexton. “Smoke occurs with incomplete combustion, when there’s not enough oxygen to fuel the fire.” To address the problem, the duo designed a twopiece wood-burning fire pit with a perforated inner floor. The innovative design forces hot air to circulate, introducing oxygen back into the fire. The result is a clean, smokeless burn.

Not only is less smoke more enjoyable, it’s better for your health. When wood is burned, it releases microscopic particles that can be toxic if inhaled. According to the EPA, particle pollution is reduced when wood is burned more efficiently and at higher temperatures. After hitting the market in 2019, sales of Burly’s fire pit grew exponentially during 2020. “Not only were we popular for consumers, but some of the state’s biggest breweries and vineyards were the first to sign on,” says Sexton. “They’ve created cozy spaces for guests to sit around a fire and enjoy being outside.” When choosing a fire pit, Sexton notes, there’s a lot to consider—from price to portability. “There are a lot of great products out there, but it’s a good idea to see where it’s made, how much it weighs, and if it will last,” he says. At the end of the day, it’s about being outside and enjoying a good fire—well that, and toasting the perfect marshmallow. BurlyUSA.com —By Laura Anders Lee

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Management Area in Mecklenburg County—known nationally for hosting bird dog field trials— is named in his honor. Hanlon, who now lives in Atlanta, worked in graphic design before turning to botanical art. An aquatic series, rendered in pen, earned her a solo show at Atlanta’s Spalding Nix Fine Art Gallery. “It felt so good to start drawing again,” she says. “I’d missed the process of making art with my hands.” Next, she tried colored pencils, drawing the butterflies, beetles, and plants of the Southeast. “I hadn’t picked up a colored pencil since seventh grade,” she says. “It just clicked.” A keen observer, Hanlon captures the natural world in exquisite detail. “I wanted to celebrate the species we’re so used to seeing, but in a new way,” she notes. Virginians will find her spectacular magnolias and colorful swallowtail butterflies familiar, while her fig renderings are faithful to the fig trees near her family’s summer cottage at Gloucester Point. Like John J. Audubon and Charles Darwin, Hanlon often uses plant and insect specimens to get the details just right. “There’s nothing more fun than researching species to create a truly custom and personal piece for a client,” Hanlon says. In addition to private commissions, she’s currently at work on her next solo exhibit, coming this fall. HannahHanlonArt.com, SpaldingNixFineArt.com —By Konstantin Rega

VIRGINIA LIVING

12/16/21 12:27 PM

Works on Paper by the Artist and His Circle February 12 – May 29, 2022

Visit the Muscarelle Museum of Art on the campus of William & Mary at 603 Jamestown Rd. Williamsburg, VA 23185 Hours: Tuesday - Friday | 12 - 5 PM & Saturday - Sunday | 10 AM - 5 PM Exhibition Admission: $10 (Free to Muscarelle Members) Learn more about our exhibitions, events, and membership offerings at Muscarelle.org

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12/16/21 8:10 PM

UPfront Take Note

Will Poulter and Michael Keaton in Hulu’s Dopesick.

HULU SERIES, DOPESICK, PUTS VIRGINIA IN THE SPOTLIGHT Roanoke author Beth Macy’s book got Hollywood’s attention.

IRGINIA’S FILM INDUSTRY HAS

helped produce hits like Homeland, The Walking Dead, and Wonder Woman 1984. But Hulu’s recent eight-part series Dopesick, based on the book by Roanoke author Beth Macy, hits especially close to home. Starring Michael Keaton, Dopesick has earned critical acclaim for exposing the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, for their role in the opioid crisis. When OxyContin was introduced in 1996, the company targeted physicians in Virginia’s coal mining communities, claiming the powerful prescription narcotic was not addictive. “It was important for me to have the series filmed in Virginia—Dopesick is a Virginia story; the epidemic began in rural southwestern Virginia,

photos (fromtop) courtesy of: hulu, heidi spreece, bookclubz

Dopesick author Beth Macy

and those communities are still among the hardest hit in the nation,” says Macy, who co-executive produced the series with Warren Littlefield, the hitmaker behind Fargo and The Handmaid’s Tale. It was Litttlefield who championed the true story by Macy, a former reporter for The Roanoke Times. “We were blown away when Warren Littlefield showed us Beth Macy’s book,” said Bert Salke, president of FOX 21 television studios in a statement. Filmed in Clifton Forge, Petersburg, Cartersville, Hopewell, and Richmond in 2021, the series employed hundreds of Virginia-based crew members, says Andy Edmunds, director of the Virginia Film Office, including caterers, prop masters, technicians, costume designers, extras, and more. As in the book, the series shows how patients who were prescribed OxyContin to relieve legitimate pain became addicted. The drug left patients facing intense withdrawal symptoms that created a desperate need for anything—including heroin— to provide relief. Macy hopes the Hulu series will help those still impacted by OxyContin: “Whatever attention the show can bring to the causes of the crisis—and how much work is yet to be done in places where OxyContin first landed—will help, ultimately, remove barriers to care and stigma.” —By Laura Anders Lee

JOURNEY WITH ERNIE A dog lover shares the lessons of an overseas adoption. WHEN SHE ADOPTS a golden retriever from Turkey, Yorktown high school teacher Heidi Speece finds her life turned upside down. Why Turkey? Unlike the U.S., where dogs are like family, it’s not uncommon there for owners to abandon them after the novelty of pet ownership wears off. At a Washington, D.C. rescue organization, Speece meets the “fairy godmother,” who facilitates Ernie’s adoption. After months of delays—and a surly customs officer— the two are united on Independence Day, and it’s sloppy dog kisses at first sight. Speece’s memoir, My Journey With Ernie: Lessons from a Turkey Dog, captures the powerful bond that grows between them. “I hope this little book gives a great story about the amazing work the rescue organizations do and the countless lives these dogs have positively impacted,” says Speece, who is donating proceeds from her book to support animal rescue organizations. Like Marley and Me or The Art of Racing in the Rain, Speece’s story of Ernie inspires laughter and more than a few tears. HeidiHSpeece.com —By Konstantin Rega

A BETTER WAY TO BOOK CLUB IF YOUR BOOK CLUB spends more time ping-ponging

The Bookclubz app keeps reading groups organized.

meeting dates than talking books, meet Bookclubz. The brainchild of founder Anna Ford—who hit on this digital solution when her own book clubs became snarled—and cofounder Nancy Brown of Richmond, Bookclubz now keeps more than 40,000 reading groups humming worldwide. With the free Bookclubz app, group leaders can poll members on book picks, track meeting dates and RSVPs, send reminders, and confirm who’s bringing the guacamole. The app’s library of discussion guides helps elevate book talk, and a designated homepage lets groups share recommended titles and save book reviews, photos, even

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recipes. The Bookclubz team partners with publishers and authors to provide users with plenty of inspiring book news, too. For leaders who are starting a book club, the app streamlines the process. And if you’re looking to join one, Bookclubz can play matchmaker, listing local and virtual groups who are seeking new members. “We’re now seeing companies looking to launch book clubs for their employees,” says Ford, who recently launched Bookclubz for Biz. “They’re discovering what book club members have known all along—that the shared experience of reading and discussing books is a great way to build community.” Bookclubz.com —By K.R.

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12/16/21 12:27 PM

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12/17/21 9:39 AM

UPfront Events

Winter Calendar 34 places to go and things to do this month.

FEB. 1 ESCHER QUARTET Williamsburg Library Theatre ChamberMusicWilliamsburg.org

FEB. 5 FEB. 4

CENTRAL

DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM

JAN. 14 –15 THE ISLEY BROTHERS VSU Multipurpose Center, Petersburg 804-524-3300, VSUMPC.com/Events

JAN. 21–23

Historic Academy Theatre, Lynchburg 434-846-8499, AcademyCenter.org

FEB. 19 1ST DRAFTS AND BAGELS

DOWNTOWN RICHMOND BOAT SHOW

Firehouse Theatre, Richmond 804-355-2001, FirehouseTheatre.org

Richmond Convention Center DowntownRichmondBoatShow.com

FEB. 25

JAN. 29 ANYTHING GOES— VIRGINIA REP’S GALA The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond 804-783-1688 ext. 1128, Va-Rep.org

EASTERN JAN. 6 & 23, FEB. 6, 19, & 27

Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts 757-514-4130, SuffolkCenter.org

WINTER WILDLIFE TRAM TOUR

FEB. 11–12

False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach 757-426-7128, DCR.Virginia.gov

JAN. 11–25 NEWPORT NEWS RESTAURANT WEEK

POETRY READING

Various Restaurants 757-886-7777, NewportNewsRestaurantWeek.com

New Dominion Bookshop, Charlottesville 434-295-2552, NDBookshop.com

JAN. 28 – 30

FEB. 26 MARDI GRAS IN THE MOUNTAINS

MASTER OF SOUL CONCERT

JERSEY BOYS Chrysler Hall, Norfolk 757-664-6464, SevenVenues.com

Blue Mountain Barrel House, Arrington 434-263-4002, BlueMountainBarrel.com

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE SCAVENGER HUNT Historic Main Street Merchants, Chincoteague 757-336-3700

FEB. 12 LINDSEY WEBSTER The Attucks Theatre, Norfolk 757-622-4763, SevenVenues.com

Mavis Staples comes to Wolf Trap.

In Come From Away, guests stop at the Gander Legion for a night of music, fun, and a Screech-In—a Newfoundland traditon in which guests drink a shot of rum and kiss a codfish.

NORTHERN JAN. 5 & FEB. 2 WEDNESDAY WALK AT BRISTOE STATION BATTLEFIELD Bristow 703-366-3049, PWCVa.gov

JAN. 20 –21 KEB’ MO’ BAND CONCERT The Birchmere, Alexandria 703-549-7500, Birchmere.com

JAN. 28 – 30, FEB. 5, 6, 11, 13

photos (from left) by: matthew murphy, jalylah burrel

THREE DECEMBERS Virginia Opera House, Fairfax 804-644-8168, VaOpera.org

FEB.1– MARCH 20 DAPHNE’S DIVE

COME FROM AWAY The surprise Broadway hit comes to Richmond Feb. 1-6. WHEN FLIGHTS were grounded on

September 11, 2001, a remarkable story of kindness unfolded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. The story is captured in the inspiring musical Come From Away, coming to Richmond’s Altria Theatre, February 1-6.

Gander’s townspeople found themselves hosting 6,700 uninvited guests—the passengers on the 38 wide-body planes grounded there that day. They mobilized to provide food, shelter, clothing, even pet care for jet passengers who were suddenly

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dependent on the kindness of strangers. When it arrived on Broadway in 2017, Come From Away was met with skepticism by New York theatergoers who had, after all, endured the worst of the 9/11 tragedy. But the play’s universal message of the kinship that springs from sharing a profound experience eventually softened hearts; the show went on to score seven Tony® Award nominations that season with the play’s director, Christopher Ashley, winning for Best Direction of a Musical. AltriaTheater.com —By Constance Costas

Signature Theatre, Arlington 703-820-9771, SigTheatre.org

FEB. 4 FIRST FRIDAY FLIGHTS Aroma Wine Tasting, Manassas 540-935-8320, MoraisVineyards.com

FEB. 21–23 MAVIS STAPLES The Barns at Wolf Trap, Vienna 703-255-1868, WolfTrap.org

FEB. 26 RIPPON LODGE GAME DAY Rippon Lodge Historic Site, Woodbridge 703-499-9812, PWCVa.gov

VIRGINIA LIVING

12/17/21 12:33 PM

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

For History. For Beauty. For Fun.

• Thriving Main Street • Outdoor Recreation • Water Access • History VisitGloucesterVA.org A N N U A L

April 2-3, 2022

Saturday, 9am-5pm Sunday, 12pm-5pm

Gloucester Court Circle Over 200 handcraft and artistic vendors, live music, food vendors, children’s activities, parade, and of course daffodils! More information: D a f fo d i l Fe s t i va l VA . o rg

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12/16/21 8:14 PM

UPfront Events

SHENANDOAH JAN. 13, 20, 27 & FEB. 3, 10, 17, 24 ECCO ADESSO APERATIVO Ecco Adesso Vineyards, Fairfield 540-817-0419, EccoAdesso.com

JAN. 17 BLUEGRASS CONCERT: SPRINGFIELD EXIT West Oaks Farm Market, Winchester 503-539-8175, WestOaksFarm-Market.com

JAN. 19 PIANO4-TÉ FACULTY PIANO RECITAL James Madison University, Harrisonburg 540-568-7000, JMU.edu

JAN. 28 –29 BALLET HISPÁNICO Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, Harrisonburg 540-568-7000, JMUForbesCenter.com

FEB. 11 VIRGINIA IN LOVE: CELTIC MUSIC FOR VALENTINE’S DAY Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton 540-886-9132, TrinityStaunton.org

FEB. 12 WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY PRESENTS: THUMBELINA Keller Theater/Lenfest Center, Lexington 540-458-8000, WLU.edu

SOUTHWEST JAN. 16 SUNDAY MUSIC JAM Floyd Country Store 540-745-4563, FloydCountryStore.com

JAN. 22– MARCH 12

DEAR B.J.: POSTCARDS FROM THE PANDEMIC EXHIBIT Piedmont Arts, Martinsville 276-632-3221, PiedmontArts.org

JAN. 26

photos (form top) courtesy of: scad (3), ballet hispánico

ROBERT EARL KEEN— FEELIN’ GOOD AGAIN TOUR Cameo Theater, Bristol 276-296-1234, TheCameoTheater.com

Costumes from Black Panther on display under a mural by Brandon Sadler. Below: Detail of the Black Panther suit.

RUTH E. CARTER EXHIBIT Movie costumes showcase a master designer’s four decades of passion. designer Ruth E. Carter has worked on more than 60 films and television projects. Her ensembles can be seen in blockbusters and history-inspired movies like Black Panther, Coming 2 America, Selma, and Do the Right Thing. A graduate of Hampton University, Carter has transformed Hollywood’s top actors through costume, enabling them to fully immerse themselves in groundbreaking roles—from Oprah Winfrey’s turn as Annie Lee Cooper in Selma to Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X, and Chadwick Boseman’s performance as King of Wakanda in Black Panther. Carter credits Hampton University’s Theatre Arts program with introducing her to the wonder of costume design. In February 2021, she became only the second costume designer to receive a star on

Ballet Hispánico

“It’s such a phenomenal exhibition,” says Sunny Nelson, Taubman’s deputy director of marketing. “We’ve actually had guests cry when they walk into the gallery. They’re so overwhelmed with how beautiful—and personally meaningful—the costumes are.” The exhibit brings decades of Carter’s costumes together to great effect, allowing each piece to speak individually while capturing the extraordinary impact of an artist whose work— whether we knew it or not—we’ve been admiring all along. TaubmanMuseum.org —By Konstantin Rega

JAN. 26

FEB. 18

TEAM TRIVIA NIGHT

YASMIN WILLIAMS

7 Dogs Brewpub, Wytheville 276-228-0994, Facebook: @7dogsbrewpub

Jefferson Center, Roanoke 866-345-2550, JeffCenter.org

FEB. 8

FEB. 19

GORDON LIGHTFOOT

RICKY TIMS IN CONCERT

Berglund Center, Roanoke 877-482-8496, BerglundCenter.live

Historic Masonic Theatre, Clifton Forge 540-862-5655, HistoricMasonicTheatre.com

All event listings were confirmed at press time, but may change without notice. Please check with organizers before traveling.

SHARE THE DATE Tell us about your upcoming event, and we might share it here! Send an email to Editors@CapeFear.com with the subject line “events.” Include the event name, date(s), location, sponsor, admission price, contact info, and a brief description. Plus, submit your event to our online calendar at: VirginiaLiving.com/Events/Submit.html.

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the Hollywood Walk of Fame—the first being Edith Head, who received the honor in 1960. Carter says having her exhibit’s premier at Roanoke’s Taubman Museum of Art “has been incredibly heartfelt for me,” because “Virginia is my ancestral home.” There until April 3, “Afrofuturism in Costume Design,” features four decades of Carter’s work, complemented by original comic-book style murals from Atlanta-based artist, Brandon Sadler, whose work can be spotted in Black Panther. The collection is part of Taubman’s ongoing series of designfocused exhibits titled “Fashioning the Future.” On the big screen, Carter’s costumes become part of the narrative, but when visitors view them in a museum, meticulous details that align to create each character can be fully appreciated in person.

ACADEMY AWARD -WINNING costume

Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter

VIRGINIA LIVING

12/16/21 2:05 PM

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

GREAT FOOD. GREAT HISTORY.

GREAT OUTDOORS.

With world-class shopping, some of the finest restaurants in the area, thousands of acres of beautiful parklands, and all the attractions of Washington, D.C. nearby, we’ve got it all! Get away for a little vacay in Fairfax County, VA.

Plan your perfect trip at FXVA.com.

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12/16/21 8:15 PM

HOMEgrown > Destinations > Spotlight > Virginiana > Natives

The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville.

Destinations FOOTLOOSE IN FAIRFAX Washington’s home is just one reason to explore the Commonwealth’s largest county. By Renee Sklarew | Photography by Scott Suchman As I slide into a booth at AKB Kitchen & Bar at the Archer Hotel in Tysons Corner, the sun is setting. Bartender Patrick Ocama pours me a Hennessey Smoke Mash. “It’s our signature drink,” he says as he torches the drink’s wooden cover and smoke rises in a curlicue. It smells like a campfire. I’m visiting Fairfax because, for as long as I can remember, I’ve been intrigued by George Washington. I want to see where the “Father of our Country” left his mark on his home county and check out some new attractions. I’ve checked into the luxurious Archer, the boutique hotel in Tysons Corner. The hotel’s urban-chic design includes a mural that pays homage to the area’s original peach orchards, which dotted the landscape long before Tysons became a mecca for shoppers. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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VIRGINIA LIVING

12/16/21 2:27 PM

Named for Lord Thomas Fairfax, a British nobleman who received a land grant from King Charles II of England in 1742, Fairfax County’s untamed landscape was first traveled by the Dogue tribe who hunted and fished along the Potomac River.

MUST-SEES & HIDDEN GEMS

I’ve consulted Julie McCool, creator of the blog Fun in Fairfax Va to design my itinerary. She’s lived here for 26 years, and like me, history is her

JULIE McCOOL’S FAIRFAX FIVE: Her popular blog focuses on Fairfax County’s attractions. Here, Julie McCool’s top five tips for getting the most out of your visit. Find more hidden gems at FunInFairfaxVa.com.

jam. She’s supplied me with a list of must-sees along with some hidden gems. “Fairfax has such a wonderful blend of urban and natural attractions,” McCool tells me. “Start at Great Falls Park,” she says, “I can never get enough of the views, and it’s fun to climb the rocks.” Here, you’ll see Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which runs parallel to the Potomac River. George Washington saw the river as the most direct route for transporting goods from the Ohio Valley to the Tidewater, so he engineered a canal and lock system that skirted the impassable waterfall. “When I walk the old canal, I think about how Washington built it to unite the country and connect western states with the East,” McCool explains. Today, though, the only boats are whitewater kayakers leaping through the rapids. At Great Falls, I watch as rushing water vibrates like white noise, whooshing over boulders, foam gathering at the crest. Scrambling over the rock-strewn trails, I pass remnants of Washington’s canal. As I hike along the ridgeline, the crowds thin, and I see climbers rappelling down the 750-million-year-old rocks. From there I head to Great Falls Village to pop into Vivid Chill, a boutique owned by designer Marika Tsombikos. The store is a kaleidoscope of colorful clothing and home furnishings, inspired by her Aegean homeland. For lunch it’s Afghani food at Zamarod, where I feast on silky dumplings drizzled with yogurt and brightened by mint. Fairfax County has every cuisine you can imagine—and probably some you haven’t. At 406 square miles, the county is also the Commonwealth’s largest, so seeing it involves a lot of driving. But, McCool promises, “it’s worth the effort.”

At Zamarod, I feast on silky dumplings drizzled with yogurt and brightened by mint.

CONCORDE & DISCOVERY

She’s right. My jaw drops when I walk into the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The cavernous airplane hangar houses 170 aircraft, some suspended between multi-level walkways where you get a pilot’s-eyeview. I’m excited to see the Concorde, the pointynose Air France jet that flew roundtrips from Paris to Dulles in the 1980s. My dad was a pas-

1. Great Falls is a natural wonder just 15 miles from D.C., so I always take visitors there to check out three overlooks. In Great Falls Park look for the remains of the town of Matildaville. In the 18th century trolleys brought D.C. residents there for the the fresh air. Afterwards, I go for fish and chips at Old Brogue Irish Pub in Great Falls Village. 2. At the Udvar-Hazy Center, don’t miss the overlook where you can see restorations in progress. Walk the catwalk to see a landscape of planes. 3. At the Mount Vernon Inn & Restaurant, try the grits. They’re milled from the Mount Vernon Gristmill by a process used in Washington’s time. The restaurant also serves small-batch whiskey. 4. At the National Museum of the U.S. Army, the wonderful volunteer docents give context to each piece that you can’t get from reading the exhibit notes. 5. I love the Winery at Bull Run. Behind its beautiful scenery, there’s an amazing story: When the Battle of Bull Run broke out, locals flocked there with picnics saying, “It’s a lovely day for a battle.” As the Confederate Army prevailed, the picnickers got caught up in the Union Army’s desperate retreat— with one landing in a Confederate prison.

Kabuli Pulau, a lamb shank dish at Zamarod.

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HOMEgrown Destinations Captain John Smith provided the first written account of Great Falls in 1608. The 75-foot waterfall is Fairfax County’s most spectacular feature.

senger before the plane was retired, and as a pilot himself, he was thrilled to fly at twice the speed of sound. I stop to listen to a volunteer educator describing his work on the Space Shuttle Discovery—the museum’s showpiece. Discovery flew 39 missions, including 13 trips to the International Space Station. It’s surrounded by rockets, missiles, and a floating astronaut in a Manned Maneuvering Unit, the propulsion unit that enabled astronauts to perform untethered space walks at a distance from the shuttle. I wonder what Washington, an engineer with a passion for astronomy, would have thought of this place. A glass of wine is in order, so I text McCool. “Visit the Winery at Bull Run next to the Manassas National Battlefield—the place has an interesting history of its own.” I drive to the bucolic vineyard and find a table where I can watch riders prance by on horseback as I savor my glass of Lilly’s Viognier.

Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. From top: Winery at Bull Run in Centreville; Vivid Chill store.

AT HOME WITH GEORGE AND MARTHA

The next morning, I head to George Washington’s Mount Vernon where sun streams through the leaves of poplar trees, now 250 years old. First, I peruse the Museum & Education Center exploring Washington’s amazing legacy—his military career, leadership in the Continental Congress, and election as the first American president. I feel a rush of emotion walking through the green, yellow, and blue rooms of the mansion where George and Martha Washington lived and entertained visitors. Light fills the Palladian windows ornamented with neoclassical carvings.

Here, you can sense the first couple’s presence and imagine how their love for Mount Vernon influenced Washington’s push to move the nation’s capital 15 miles up the Potomac River to where it stands today. Tour guide Karen Fischer leads my group to Washington’s tomb. “In his farewell address, Washington establishes the country as a republic rather than a monarchy. He didn’t want to die in office, so he set a precedent and stepped down,” Fischer says. “I feel my respect swell for F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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the ‘Father of His Country’ who, like every wise father, empowers his child to find their own way.” I could spend all day here, but presidents and tourists have to eat, and Mount Vernon Inn & Restaurant serves Washington’s favorite peanut soup and hoecakes—and they’re calling my name.

U.S. ARMY & SUFFRAGIST MUSEUMS

A few miles away is the National Museum of the U.S. Army, a sparkling facility that depicts seven

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HOMEgrown Destinations

periods of war in our history through stories told by real soldiers. “We had not chosen war, but since the job was inevitable, we meant to see it through,” utters an infantryman treading past bombed-out buildings, a tableau from the MeuseArgonne offensive during World War I. In the “Founding the Nation” gallery, there’s a miniature Washington Monument representing the Army Corps of Engineers who built the towering obelisk to honor the first president. Coincidentally, the museum sits on the grounds of Fort Belvoir, land that was once part of Washington’s estate. It’s a short drive to the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, commemorating the struggles that countless women endured to win the right to vote. The name alludes to a pivotal moment in 1917 when women picketing beside the White House fence were arrested and thrown in jail at the nearby Occuoquan workhouse prison. “This is the only national suffrage memorial in the country,” explains Pat Wirth, director of the Turning Point Memorial Association. “Its purpose is to mark the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, nearly 150 years after the country’s founding.” The Occoquan Workhouse has been refurbished and renamed Workhouse Arts Center. Today, the brick buildings house an artists’ collective and the Lucy Burns Museum, where I duck my head into a tiny cell and feel a deep appreciation for my own right to vote.

ing sports on a giant screen, I order a bratwurst and beer at the Starr Hill Brewery Biergarten and take in the view of gleaming skyscrapers with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. Although I’ve barely scratched the surface of all Fairfax County has to offer, my understanding of George The Archer Hotel. Clockwise from top: School group at George Washington’s Mount Vernon; Space Shuttle Discovery at National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center; exhibit at Lucy Burns Museum.

CEDAR KNOLL & THE ARCHER HOTEL

Dinner is at Cedar Knoll. Helmed by charismatic chef Andrew Holden, the fine dining restaurant overlooking the Potomac serves Virginia wines and Rappahannock oysters. A fetching portrait of Washington hangs over the fireplace. “This building was located on the original Mount Vernon estate,” Holden mentions. It feels like the gentleman from Fairfax could stride in at any moment. Back at the Archer Hotel, I walk to Capital One Hall, Fairfax’s new performing arts venue featuring a roster of touring Broadway shows. You don’t need a ticket to enjoy its 11th floor rooftop park called The Perch. After playing bocce and watchVIRGINIA LIVING

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Washington has deepened, and as promised, it was well worth the drive. Renee Sklarew is a journalist specializing in mid-Atlantic food and travel. She leads tours for Smithsonian Associates. Follow her @travelanddish

photos (clockwise from top left) by adam b. auel / courtesy of george washington’s mount vernon, dane penland / courtesy of udvar-hazy center, kip dawkins / courtesy of archer hotel. courtesy of lucy burns museum. opposite: thalia romero / courtesy of george washington’s mount vernon

You can sense the first couple’s presence and imagine how their love for Mount Vernon influenced Washington’s decision to move the capital 15 miles up the Potomac River.

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West Front of the Mansion at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

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HOMEgrown Destinations

The Workouse Arts Center. Clockwise: Vivid Chill; Chef Dor Niaz and his dumplings at Zamarod Afghan Cuisine; Hennessey Smoke Mash at AKB Kitchen & Bar.

A WEEKEND IN FAIRFAX WHERE TO EAT

room, and ergonomic workstation. This hotel lobby opens onto The Perch rooftop garden, beside Capital One Hall. Opt for the sumptuous breakfast buffet—and don’t miss the small plates at the hotel’s own Wren. Learn more about their Japanese-izakaya style of dining on page 52. TheWatermarkHotel.com

Cedar Knoll, Alexandria The menu at this fine dining restaurant overlooking the Potomac changes with the seasons. Choose the bright and airy garden room, the understated elegance of the central dining room, or the cabin room, built in the 1800s. Each has a fireplace, and the outdoor patio sparkles with twinkling lights. CedarKnollVa.com

Mount Vernon Inn & Restaurant, Mount Vernon This quaint, full-service restaurant features colonial and regional favorites. Try the hoecakes topped with vanilla butter and honey or roasted turkey pot pie with buttermilk biscuits. MountVernonRestaurant.com Zamarod Afghan Cuisine, Great Falls Menu highlights at this authentic bistro include signature kebobs and Afghani classics like Kadu Palow, sautéed pumpkin with yogurt and tomato sauce, and Muntoo, dumplings filled with ground beef. Zamarod.com

WHERE TO DRINK

AKB Bar & Kitchen at the Archer Hotel, Tysons Try the Appalachian Smash, made with moonshine and ginger rock candy syrup or a seasonal sangria; the Rouge combines red wine, cognac, seasonal berries, mango purée, ginger beer, apples, and a sangria

popsicle. Rustic brick-oven pizzas are popular, along with the Warsteiner cheese fondue and ahi taki bites. AKBHotelBar.com Starr Hill Biergarten, Tysons An outdoor venue located at The Perch, the new rooftop garden on the 11th floor of Capital One Hall. Starr Hill serves casual bites and a lineup of beers on tap. Don’t miss the spicy cauliflower bites and Murphy’s Gold braised bratwurst. StarrHill.com/Tysons Winery at Bull Run, Centreville This Fairfax-based vineyard sits on property that played a pivotal role in the Civil War. Later it was used as a Union field hospital. WineryAtBullRun.com

WHERE TO STAY

Archer Hotel, Tysons This urban-chic boutique hotel is the first of its kind in Fairfax County, and the 178 rooms and suites are beautifully appointed. Located beside McLean Metro Station and Interstate 495, just minutes from Tysons Corner’s shopping and restaurants, Archer is an ideal jumping-off point for exploring Fairfax County. ArcherHotel.com The Watermark Hotel, Tysons Each of the Watermark’s 300 luxury suites includes a kitchenette, sitting

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Tyson’s Corner Center Offers over 300 brands, from Aritzia to Zara. Anchored by Nordstrom, Blooomingdales, and Macy’s and connected to the Hyatt Regency hotel, the center offers concierge services, luggage check, valet parking, 40 dining options, and more. TysonsCornerCenter.com Vivid Chill, Great Falls Located in the courtyard of the Great Falls Village Center, this boutique stocks owner Marika Tsombikos’s curated collection of vibrant apparel, jewelry, children’s toys, and clothes, along with skincare and home accessories. VividChill.com Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton The former Lorton Workhouse Prison is now a gallery and working studio space for dozens of accomplished artists. Much of the works on display there are for sale. Built around an open courtyard, the facility is also used as a gathering space and hosts a farmers market. WorkhouseArts.org

photos by scott suchman. cocktail photo by kip dawkins / courtesy of archer hotel

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HOMEgrown Spotlight

Casey Wilson promoting her role in Showtime’s Black Monday for the 2019 Emmys.

experience there.” (Actor Dermot Mulroney is also a grad) Her Northern Virginia childhood turns up in her recent book, The Wreckage of My Presence, a collection of personal essays published in May. “I always wanted to write a book but didn’t think I had enough to say,” Wilson recalls, adding, “I now have way more compassion for my parents. They were wonderful. I realized what it’s like to raise an emotional artist.” The writing process was “cathartic,” she says, helping her process the 2005 death of her mother at 54 from heart failure. “It tells the story of grief but humorously,” she notes. “It has things you can laugh at, but are relatable.” After years of writing for television, where “you have a studio executive—or 10 other people—adding to what you write,” she enjoyed the freedom of telling her own story. These days, her father helms the Kathy Wilson Foundation in honor of Casey’s mom, who directed childcare and development centers in Alexandria after retiring from her work in politics. “It’s small but mighty,” she says. “It’s my mom’s legacy. She had a passion for working with children with specific needs. Now, we do work with early intervention and getting kids screened at a young age.” Wilson has appeared on Celebrity Family Feud and Who Wants to be a Millionaire to raise money for the foundation. Casey Wilson donated her Family Feud winnings to the Alexandria-based Kathy Wilson Foundation.

Casey Wilson’s Heart is in Virginia

The Alexandria native’s film career began in her own backyard.

photos (from top): by billy bennight / zuma wire, courtesy of abc

BY JOA N TUPPONCE

OU MIGHT HAVE SPOTTED HER

in Alexandria’s Old Town recently. Or maybe you’ve seen her with Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd in The Shrink Next Door, just out on Apple TV Plus. Although she lives in L.A., Casey Wilson—actress, writer, and director—considers herself a Virginian first. Her career began in the backyard of her childhood home in Alexandria’s Rosemont neighborhood, when her father rummaged in the attic, found some old red curtains, and built a stage there. Soon, she was writing her own plays and staging them for an audience of neighbors. Her parents, Paul and Kathy Wilson, probably never imagined their daughter would wind up on Saturday Night Live—where Wilson was a cast member for two seasons—or appear in Bride Wars with Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, the

movie she co-wrote with June Diane Raphael, her best friend from college. “I was driven and ambitious but knew it was going to be tough,” she says of the years after she graduated from NYU’s Tish School of the Arts and the Stella Adler School of Acting. “With acting you are perpetually looking for a new job. You have to hustle, and you have to have luck.” But landing roles in Julie and Julia, Gone Girl, Always Be My Maybe, and the ABC comedy Happy Endings required more than luck—although she did run into a stroke of it when the show’s creator, David Caspe, became her reallife husband. Wilson got her start acting in musicals at T.C. Williams High School, under the tutelage of her “beloved” drama and English teacher, Flo West. T.C. Williams was the “start of my whole life growing,” she says, adding, “I loved my F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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“It’s small but mighty,” she says of the Alexandria-based Kathy Wilson Foundation, which honors her mother’s legacy. “She had a passion for working with children with specific needs.” Wilson and her family visit Alexandria every summer and during the Christmas and New Year holidays. “I love Old Town Alexandria. That’s where my dad’s office is. I love all the shops and la Madeleine Bakery on King Street as well as the Shirlington Movie Theater. I especially love seeing Old Town lit up at this time of year,” she says. “I absolutely love Northern Virginia and would live there if I wasn’t acting. The environment is so supportive.” Joan Tupponce has written for O (Oprah), AmericanWay, Delta Sky, Seventeen, AAA World, New York Daily News, and Virginia Living.

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gles with the glass out of one eye,” as Fitzgerald would later write in his story, “The Cruise of the Rolling Junk.” Their Marmon 34C Speedster—the story’s title character—was a two-seater with spoked wheels and a six-cylinder engine. Although it could hit 70 miles per hour, the Marmon was prone to breaking down. In a letter, Zelda later recollected driving “through the haunted swamps of Virginia, the red clay hills of Georgia, the sweet rutted creekbottoms of Alabama.” The trip spooled out like a romantic fever dream. “We drank corn on the wings of an airplane in the moon-light and danced at the country-club and came back,” Zelda wrote. “I had a pink dress that floated and a very theatrical silver one.”

“The Richmond hotel,” Zelda noted, “had a marbled stair and long unopened rooms and marble statues of the gods.”

F. Scott and Zelda’s Excellent Adventure

The Marmon blew a tire in Philadelphia. And in Washington D.C., it lost a wheel before the battery died, forcing them to stay overnight at the Willard Hotel. The next morning—Saturday, July 24—was Zelda’s twentieth birthday. They patched up the car and headed south on what is now U.S. Route 1, taking turns behind the wheel as they drove through Virginia’s Civil War battlefields, past the ruins of once-stately mansions, just 57 years after the war’s end. South of Fredericksburg, Zelda gunned the Marmon past a robber who tried to stop them after dark, “in the middle of a bottomless

A serendipitous road trip led to a night at The Jefferson. B y J O H N W I L L I A M VA N D E K A M P | Illustration by M A DDA LENA C A R R A I

HEY WERE NEWLYWEDS IN JULY

of 1920 when, on a whim, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald set out on an eight-day road trip that would take them through

Virginia. Zelda longed for the breakfasts she’d known at home in Montgomery, Alabama: peaches and soft, flaky Southern biscuits, and Scott would do anything to make his bride happy. The two had met at a country club dance in 1918. Vivacious, beautiful, and emotional Zelda Sayre had been reluctant to marry Fitzgerald until his success as an author was assured. To win her over, Fitzgerald pressured Maxwell Perkins, his editor at Scribner’s, to hurry the publication of his first novel, This Side of Paradise. Perkins, editor to Ernest Hemingway and

Thomas Wolfe, complied, advancing Fitzgerald money against the book to support the couple’s lavish lifestyle. (Perkins himself would visit Richmond while editing Douglas Southall Freeman’s four-volume R.E. Lee: A Biography, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1935.) Fitzgerald’s novel, published in late March of 1920, captured the zeitgeist of the post-WWI generation, making him famous at 24. The couple married in New York just days later, on April 3, and settled in Westport, Connecticut. More than 1,100 miles of road stood between Westport and Montgomery, with Richmond at the halfway mark. They packed three fully loaded suitcases and took along “a four-inch map, torn out of the circular of More Power Grain and Seed Company, two mournful tools, and a pair of gogVIRGINIA LIVING

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Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald on the French Riviera in 1926.

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HOMEgrown Virginiana

swamp.” The notorious Chopawamsic Swamp, on the Stafford-Prince William county line created “America’s greatest barrier to road touring,” the Alexandria Gazette lamented in 1917. Local farmers made extra cash towing cars from the bog. With Richmond in sight, they secured a muchneeded gallon of gas before pulling into The Jefferson Hotel, where the electric trolley cars of the Richmond Union Passenger Railway—the first such system in the country—ran past the hotel’s Main Street entrance. A life-sized Carrara marble statue of Thomas Jefferson stood in the hotel’s Palm Court. There, live alligators lounged in two shallow marble pools surrounded by palms, bay trees, and cactuses. Local children called The Jefferson the “Alligator Hotel.” The alligators had arrived after outgrowing the bathtubs of Richmonders who’d brought them home as babies, souvenirs from vacations in Florida. They occasionally wandered from the lobby down the hall into the library, where one allegedly became a footstool for an elderly woman engrossed in a novel. Nine-foot-long Old Pompey slept in a lobby chair each night. Weary from the drive, with both dressed in knickerbocker pants—scandalous for any woman in 1920—Scott worried that The Jefferson might turn them away. The desk clerk at The Willard had assigned them a room only after Fitzgerald had pleaded. “We’ve got to have a bath with a room,” he told the clerk, explaining that they were traveling through from Connecticut. “The Richmond hotel,” Zelda noted, “had a marbled stair and long unopened rooms and marble statues of the gods.” Each of the 79 rooms on The Jefferson’s second floor had a washbowl with hot and cold running water, but only a few had private baths with bathtubs. Bathrooms stood at the end of each corridor. “They gave us the bridal suite!” Zelda wrote of room 291. “An immense and imponderable affair, as melancholy as a manufacturer’s tomb.” Virginia banned alcohol sales four years before Prohibition began in January of 1920, but guests

could order liquor from the hotel’s speakeasy. Scott would have packed gin—his favorite, least likely to be detected on the breath—in his luggage. His favorite cocktail, the Gin Rickey, was made with gin, lime, and club soda, mixed in a

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S FAVORITE COCKTAIL: THE GIN RICKEY

“We drank in long greedy swallows.” —Tom Buchanan after mixing a Gin Rickey for his wife, Daisy, in The Great Gatsby INGREDIENTS 2 oz. Gin ½ Lime Club Soda Add the gin to a Collins glass full of ice. Add the juice from the lime half, and then drop the shell into the glass. Top with soda water.

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highball glass with ice. Sunday’s Richmond News-Leader brought news of This Side of Paradise. The paper’s “Literary Gossip” column said Fitzgerald’s novel “gives an extraordinarily-frank picture of the thoughts and actions of our younger American generation.” Not everyone was charmed. “A good many mothers and elderly people have been shocked by this book,” the News-Leader reported. “But the younger generation seem to be reading it with an undisguised delight.” Of that July Sunday, Fitzgerald later wrote, “We wandered about Richmond, drenched by an unbelievable heat and humidity. We visited the Confederate museum and pored for an hour over shredded battleflags and romantic sabres and grey uniform coats [sic].” The exhibits, he said, were “dimmed only a little by the interminable lists of living women who had managed in some way to get their names linked up with these trophies.” He never described The Jefferson’s Beaux Arts beauty. Instead, in his fictionalized account of the road trip, published in Motoring magazine in 1924, Fitzgerald wrote, “This exhausted Richmond—we discovered nothing else of any possible interest.” As they headed south toward Oxford, North Carolina, Fitzgerald probably had biscuits and peaches on his mind—and the 600 miles of road that lay before Montgomery. Today, guests enter The Jefferson on Franklin Street, through the “women’s and family entrance” of the 1920s. Each guest room has a private bath with a tub. Old Pompey, the Palm Court’s last surviving alligator, died in 1948. And you won’t find Fitzgerald’s novels in the library, now a dining room. But at breakfast, you can still get buttermilk biscuits and fresh fruit. And there’s plenty of gin at the bar. John William Van de Kamp is a retired Air Force Colonel and Annapolis Capital Gazette editorial board member and columnist. He served in the Strategic Air Command, and the Pentagon and State Department in national security strategy.

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HOMEgrown Natives to reach the nectar deep within—while the pollen hitches a ride on the bees’ furry exteriors. For the more macabre-minded, red trillium or “stinking Benjamin” is pollinated by flies, which are attracted to the whiff of rotting flesh it gives off. Jack-in-the-pulpit attracts a species of gnat, luring them with a woodland fungi scent. Once the gnats bring pollen from a male to a female plant, they find themselves trapped and become entombed within the female’s flower. Not to be left out, ants play their role as well. According to Mills, a number of native ephemerals count on ants to spread their seeds, in a relationship known as “myrmecochory,” which means literally “the dispersal of seeds by ants.”

Spring ephemerals offer a window into the wondrous interdependencies of the natural world.

Early Bloomers

The thrill of spotting spring’s first fleeting flowers. By C A ROLINE K ET TLEW ELL | Illustration by A NDR E A COBB

ONG BLOOMERS ARE EASY TO LOVE:

that blowsy hydrangea, the patch of black-eyed Susans, the marathon of dahlias that stretch into fall. But the gift of early-blooming spring ephemerals is evanescence, not endurance. “‘Ephemeral’ means ‘fleeting,’” says Elaine Mills, a master gardener with the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Arlington/Alexandria unit. “These plants are only above ground for a limited time.” In the wild, ephemerals are found on forest floors, where they emerge before the tree canopy leafs out. “The gentle, early spring sunshine brings them up,” Mills notes, and in that brief bath of sunlight they will flower, be pollinated, set their seeds, then vanish until the next spring’s

sun coaxes them forth once more. Perhaps the most familiar is the Virginia bluebell, (which isn’t always blue, says Mills), but there is also miner’s lettuce, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, toadshade, shooting star, cutleaf toothwort, Jack-in-the-pulpit, trout lily, and one (Erigenia bulbosa) is actually known as “harbinger of spring.” Spring ephemerals offer a window into the wondrous interdependencies of the natural world. Consider, for example, the spring beauty mining bee. It’s specialty is the pollen of the ephemeral “spring beauty” (Claytonia virginica). The blooms of Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), which resemble upside-down pantaloons, draw bumblebees equipped with a long proboscis F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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These plants drop seeds to which are attached an enticing package rich in lipids and proteins known as an “elaiosome.” Ants gather up the seeds and take them back to their nests to consume this nutritious treat, leaving the rest of the seed unharmed. “The seeds can be dispersed so much more widely,” says Mills, “than if they fell just around the plant.” Even mice and chipmunks get in on the act, spreading the tubers of the ephemeral squirrel corn. The reward for us, of course, is sprays of spring beauty, carpets of mayapple, clusters of trillium, and colonies of trout lily. So where can you see ephemerals this spring? There is always a walk in the woods to see what you might discover. But first, to know what you are looking for, watch the Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS.org) video “Spring Wildflowers of the Mid-Atlantic,” or watch Mills’ video on native spring ephemerals on the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia website at MGNV.org. Their site also lists demonstration gardens in the area. You can also visit the state arboretum in Boyce, the arboretum at James Madison University, or botanical gardens in Richmond and Norfolk. And of course, you can plant ephemerals in your own garden. Source them from reputable native-plants nurseries (the master gardeners at your local Virginia extension office can provide recommendations), Mills says. Select a site where the plants will receive late-winter and earlyspring sun but be shaded later in the season. Start with odd numbers, Mills says, and “toss them gently and plant them roughly where they land, so you end up with an asymmetrical disbursement of the plants.” Come spring, will they dazzle you with their glory for week upon week? They most certainly will not. But after the long, drab months of winter, how welcome they will be. Caroline Kettlewell is an insatiably curious writer who has written on all manner of topics, from endurance athletes to electric vehicles; she has a particular interest in stories about science, health, and the natural world. CarolineKettlewell.com

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12/17/21 2:55 PM

GOODtaste > Cooking > Starters > Dining Out > Interview

Clockwise: Blogger Laura Davis’ Beer Candied Bacon; fruit salad; The Lita Grey cocktail; Christie Smith’s Waffle Biscuit Monte Cristos; Honey Breeze cocktail.

Cooking WEEKEND BRUNCH PARTY

Easy entertaining ideas from food bloggers and mixologists around the state. By Madeline Mayhood and Ashley Hunter | Photography by Tyler Darden | Food styling by Debi Shawcross

Winter and brunch go together like hot chocolate and marshmallows. And there’s nothing like good food and drinks to bring family and friends together on a chilly morning. We found food bloggers across the state—from the Eastern Shore to NOVA and all points in between—offering creative recipes perfect for a winter weekend brunch. So we rustled up spectacular brunchworthy cocktails and put together an easy weekend entertaining game plan.

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Which weekend day is ideal for serving brunch? Brittany Mullins unequivocally prefers Saturdays, and her popular blog, Eating Bird Food, offers a wealth of menu ideas. “There’s no wrong day to host brunch, but Saturdays tend to be more open and allow for a leisurely brunch,” she says, and points out that most people like to spend Sunday preparing for the week ahead. A mom, holistic nutritionist, and recipe developer, Mullins shares healthy, wholesome ideas that appeal to any guest list.

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“B

runch doesn’t have to be 20 people crowded into your house,” notes Laura Davis, who cooks and blogs from her Chincoteague Island kitchen. “Start small, invite six or eight people,” she advises. “I personally prefer smaller gatherings,” she admits. “They can be just as special.” Davis’s Tide & Thyme highlights fresh and locally available ingredients from the Eastern Shore. Center the meal around a hearty breakfast casserole like this Polenta Breakfast Bake from Brittany Graham, a Navy wife who started her blog, The Anchored Kitchen, from her family’s home in Virginia Beach. With grits, bacon, and poached eggs, it will serve a small crowd.

There’s nothing like good food to bring family and friends together. For beauty in a bowl, add a Fig, Goat Cheese, and Arugula Salad to your menu from Eating Bird Food. Toss in candied or spiced nuts and dried cranberries and mix with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette for Polenta Breakfast Bake a guaranteed hit. Pair it with Beer and Pumpkin Chocolate Candied Bacon from Tide & Thyme. Chip Muffins. Laura Davis bastes strips of good quality, thick-cut bacon in a sweetsavory mix of stout beer (½ cup) and brown sugar (¼ cup) as it cooks in a 400-degree oven; then serves the strips upright in small glasses— like breadsticks. Roasted asparagus is elevated to new heights by dredging the spears in flour spiked with garlic powder, salt, and pepper; then eggs before coating them in a panko crust. A Panko-Crusted Asparagus recipe, from Liz Thomson’s I Heart Vegetables, calls for roasting the dredged spears in a 400-degree oven for 15-20 minutes and turning them halfway through. Serve them plated or parceled out in mugs along with dipping sauces like marinara or an aioli. For more easy pick-up ideas, consider adding Cucumber Cups from ButterYum to your menu. Northern Virginia blogger Patricia Reitz combines cottage cheese, dill, scallions, salt, and pepper and stuffs the mixture into almost hollowed-out cucumber wheels. The result is an ideal pick-up food, easy to pop in your mouth, but hard to stop at just one. A Waffle Biscuit Monte Cristo from Christie Smith’s Manassas Parkbased blog, A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures, calls for stuffing uncooked jumbo buttermilk biscuits (yep, from a twistable can) with ham and cheese. Christie separates each biscuit into halves, adds cheese and ham, a little mustard, and slides the stack into a waffle maker for several minutes. The result is a prettified and gooey biscuit, imprinted with a waffle pattern. Sweets can be just the right bookend to a weekend brunch. The Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins on ButterYum bring seasonal deliciousness while Carol Lou’s Mini Cinnamon Toast Scones—topped with cinnamon, sugar, and melted butter—from her A Passion for Entertaining blog are downright irresistible. VIRGINIA LIVING

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Polenta Breakfast Bake

Grits and eggs star in this delicious breakfast bake from Brittany Graham’s, The Anchored Kitchen. With a supporting cast of cheese and bacon, it gets a mild kick from a dash of hot sauce. 3 ¾ cup chicken stock 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted 1 tsp kosher salt ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes ¼ cup half and half 1 cup polenta (aka grits, not instant) 6-8 large eggs ¼ cup shredded sharp cheese such as cheddar or Gruyere 2 strips bacon, cooked and chopped 1 green onion, chopped Dash hot sauce (optional) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In an 8x11 casserole dish add the chicken stock, melted butter, salt, crushed red pepper, half

and half, and polenta. Whisk, incorporating ingredients, then carefully place on the middle rack of a preheated oven. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Using the back of a spoon, make 6-8 indentations in the polenta and crack an egg into each one. Return to the oven and cook 10 more minutes for a runny yolk—15 if you prefer the eggs a bit more set. Top with the shredded cheese then place back in the oven for 2 more minutes. Remove from the oven and top with the bacon bits and green onion. Top with a dash of hot sauce if you like. Serves 6-8

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GOODtaste Cooking

Beyond Bloodies

The Lita Grey

CAN CAN BRASSERIE, Richmond

A fresh take on brunch cocktails.

Who doesn’t love the spicy zing of a Bloody Mary or the sparkling tingle of a mimosa? But there are more ways to fill the glasses accompanying the brunch menus here. This winter, taste the innovative brunch cocktails— from boozy to honey-sweet, classic to caffeinated—turning up at restaurants around the Commonwealth.

¾ ounce gin ¾ ounce sloe gin (we prefer Plymouth) ¾ ounce Giffard Apricot Liqueur ¾ ounce lemon juice Build in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini or coupe glass. Top with sparkling wine, and garnish with a lemon twist

Honey Breeze THE BEE & THE BISCUIT Virginia Beach

Clockwise from top: All The Way Up; The Lita Grey; Brandy Milk Punch; Honey Breeze. Spiced peanuts and chickpeas.

2 ounces Jim Beam Honey ¾ ounce raspberry syrup pineapple juice cranberry juice Pour Jim Beam Honey and raspberry syrup into a shaker. Add a 4-count splash each of the juices. Vigorously shake, and then pour into an ice-filled glass (we prefer nugget ice). Top it off with a honey drizzle on top.

All The Way Up FOUNDING FARMERS Reston and Tysons

1 egg white ½ ounce coffee syrup ½ ounce cognac ¾ ounce coconut milk 1 ounce cold brew coffee 1 ounce Founding Spirits Vodka Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice, and shake vigorously. Fine strain all contents into a cocktail glass, and garnish with crushed chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Brandy Milk Punch BAYOU BAKERY, COFFEE BAR & EATERY, Arlington 2 ounces E&J Brandy 3 ounces half & half 2 teaspoons powdered sugar 1 teaspoon egg white ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg Combine all ingredients with ice and shake. Pour into a highball glass, and top off with a dust of nutmeg.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

SMALL BITES, HAPPY GUESTS

ButterYum’s delectable brunch muffins have a decidedly winter dessert vibe thanks to chocolate, pumpkin, and spices. Make them the day before, and warm up before serving. Baker’s Joy baking spray or muffin cups 28 ounces canned pumpkin purée 2 cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs ¾ cup vegetable oil 3½ cups all purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon fine table salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

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our guests will feel extra welcome if you set out bowls of nibbles—like cocktail nuts or crunchy air-fryer chickpeas—around your space. For a delicious take on cocktail nuts, Carol Lou combines curry, brown sugar, and butter with dry roasted peanuts, which she shares on her A Passion for Entertaining blog. The lowly but nutrient-packed chickpea is transformed—with help from an airfryer and inventive spice mixes—in an I Heart Vegetables recipe. Blogger Liz Thomson suggests a trifecta of garlic powder, salt, and pepper; or taco-seasoning; or a combination of chili powder, cumin, and black pepper combo, which imparts a decisive kick.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, place rack in center position, and prepare muffin pan with liners or Baker’s Joy spray. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and oil; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; pour flour mixture into pumpkin mixture and combine well. Stir in chocolate chips and fill muffin cups about 4/5 full. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow muffins to rest for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely. Makes 1 dozen

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SIMPLY SHAREABLE Wren, in Tysons’ Watermark Hotel, elevates Japanese-style small plates.

ERCHED ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF

the Watermark Hotel in Tysons Corner, Wren invites diners to participate in the Japanese concept of izakaya—pub-style, small plate dining. Chef Yo Matsuzaki explains the goal is for guests to “taste a lot of food and have a good time with good drinks.” Dishes range from oysters and sashimi to crispy Brussels sprouts and slow-braised pork belly bao buns. Beverage director Luis Mantilla raves about Matsuzaki’s Tokyo Chicken. The panko-crusted chicken thighs, Matsuzaki’s take

on fried chicken, are “a fan favorite” and “very elevated,” says Mantilla. Mantilla’s fusion-inspired bar program includes highlights such as sake and Japanese beer, but the focus is cocktails. Here, Mantilla complements his extensive library of spirits with fresh ingredients and house-made syrups, bitters, and cordials. Favorites include his Moscow Mule crafted with house-made ginger syrup, which imparts “an incredible amount of flavor, better than ginger beer,” says Mantilla. Wren offers a terrace with fire pits, as well

WINTER’S COMFORT FOODS

as lounge and restaurant seating. Floor-to-ceiling windows create a light-soaked dining space, and the bar offers a comfortable spot with stunning open views. Guests can look forward to a roving cocktail cart—Mantilla describes it as “the Bugatti of bar carts”—which features spirits of the week. Plus, in a nod to the Watermark Hotel’s motto, “like no other,” Mantilla teases that returning diners may even have the opportunity to enjoy secret menu items. WrenTysons.com —By Ashley Hunter

photos (from top): by greg powers (2), courtesy of mojofoto co

Wren’s Tokyo Chicken. Below: The Virginian Gin & Tonic, made with Sunset Hills gin.

our thoughts turn to the rib-sticking comfort foods that are quintessentially Virginian. And these favorite outposts deliver:

WHEN THERE’S A CHILL IN THE AIR,

Our favorites from around the state.

STUMBLE DOWN MAC ‘N CHEESE The Virginian, Charlottesville So famous it has its own hashtag, the Virginian’s version is made with cavatappi pasta oozing with pepper jack cheese and topped with a house-made cheddar potato cake. UNKOL CHUCK’S BRUNSWICK STEW Alberta General Store, Alberta Made the old-fashioned way, Unkol Chuck’s, a consistent winner in Brunswick Stew contests, is stewed for hours in a cast iron pot over a hickory wood fire. Find it at the Alberta General Store, where it’s made, or sold frozen in quarts at farmers markets throughout Central and Southern Virginia. CREAM OF PEANUT SOUP King’s Arms Tavern, Williamsburg With roots in Africa, peanut soup was adopted

Pungonian Shrimp & Grits from The Bee & The Biscuit.

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GOODtaste Starters

photos (clockwise from top left) courtesy of: carbone fine food, barboursville vineyards, early bird biscuit company, van cleve seafood

photos (from top): by greg powers (2), courtesy of mojofoto co

DESSERT IN A GLASS

NOW IN VIRGINIA... Small batch pasta sauce from Carbone’s in New York. New York pasta sauce? Carbone’s—which serves up luscious old-school Italian favorites from its retro-chic outpost in Greenwich Village—has captured their full-bodied tomato sauces for home cooks. Carbone’s marinara, arrabbiata, tomato basil, and roasted garlic flavors are now sold in Virginia at Harris Teeter, Weis, and Giant—with more locations on the way. Pick a sauce to pair with fresh pasta, tell your guests it’s been simmering on the stove all day—then hide the jar. CarboneFineFoods.com —By Madeline Mayhood

CRAVING AUTHENTIC

A BLUE-RIBBON BLUE CRAB PIE IT’S NO WONDER Van Cleve’s Chesapeake Blue Crab Pies made Oprah’s “Best Of” list—each pie is packed with a half-pound of premium blue crab meat, cheeses, and more than 20 herbs and spices. This family-owned company, headquartered in Spotsylvania, offers the best in fresh and frozen seafood with an everexpanding repertoire including Chesapeake Scallop and Bacon Pie and Hickory Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Scallops—or shrimp. VanCleveSeafood.com —By M.M.

by the colonists, where the definitive version is still at the King’s Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg’s historic district. In a trick of culinary alchemy, the addition of peanut butter to onions, celery, and chicken stock creates a flavor that’s both sophisticated and comforting. CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES PIE The Pie Shoppe, Fincastle This scratch-made chicken pie claims “nostalgia” as the main ingredient. Also made with carrots, corn, peas, and green beans. Sold frozen for home baking, this savory classic is available for online ordering with pickup locations in Fincastle, Botetourt, and Roanoke. UNIQUE BISCUITS Early Bird Biscuit Company, Richmond They’re soft, flaky, and perfectly baked—it’s impossible to choose which to order. Their plain buttermilk biscuits are epic, but so are their daily Unique Biscuits, which alternate between a savory and a sweet option. Build Your Own and Lunch on a Biscuit also never fail.

CLASSIC JOHNNY GRILLED CHEESE Grilled Cheese Mania, Harrisonburg Start with the basic version then, if you’re feeling adventurous, go for the Maniac—provolone, bacon, cheddar, pepperoni, sweet pickles, peppers and onions, honey BBQ chips, and macaroni and cheese piled super-high on three slices of bread and grilled. This Harrisonburg outpost also offers loads of options in-between.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Biscuit from Early Bird Biscuit Company.

PEANUT PIE Virginia Diner, Wakefield Sussex County is Virginia’s peanut capital, and this ode to the state legume (no, it’s not a nut) is a gooey treat for any pie lover. Its ample, caramelized peanut-packed filling is nestled in a delicious homemade, uber-flaky crust. PUNGONIAN SHRIMP & GRITS The Bee & The Biscuit, Virginia Beach Named for Virginia Beach’s rural Pungo area, this bowl of extra creamy stone-ground grits is topped with spicy shrimp, zucchini, and herbs and consistently wins raves. —By M.M.

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From the department of deliciousness: Paxxito, the awardwinning dessert wine from Barboursville Vineyards, brings special meals to a luscious conclusion. Made from Moscato Ottonel and Vidal grapes that are harvested while young then air dried on racks to concentrate their sweet flavor, the wine is fermented then aged in older barrels. The finished product is a lovely peachy-pink color with a nectar-like flavor. We sampled it at a recent chili-focused dinner at Shagbark that showcased the bounty of Hanover’s Village Garden Farm, and the sweetness complemented the spice beautifully. BbvWine.com, YourVillageGarden.com, ShagbarkRVA.com —By Constance Costas

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GOODtaste Starters Assorted pastries and desserts from the bakery at Patty O’s, including their signature carrot cake with Valrhona white chocolate whipped ganache, micro herbs and a leaf tuile garnish. Right: Greek Salad with Turkish goat’s milk feta.

Chef Patrick O’Connell dons a cowboy hat and waves an American flag to celebrate Patty O’s opening.

PATRICK O’CONNELL INTRODUCES PATTY O’S CAFE The Michelin three-star chef brings casual dining to “Little Washington.”

CROSS THE STREET FROM THE

photos by greg powers. opening night photo by jason tesauro

famed Inn at Little Washington, chef Patrick O’Connell has given the namesake village Patty O’s Cafe, an elegant and warmly approachable bakery, pastry shop, café, bar, and—of course—patio. The first new restaurant from the Michelin three-star chef in 43 years, Patty O’s was well worth the wait. “This restaurant is the kind of place I would hope to discover,” O’Connell said in his ribboncutting speech, “a happy place where even the simplest of dishes taste extraordinary, where no compromises are made in quality.” For every diner who wins the lottery-like jackpot of a reservation at the Inn, there are scores

of others who won’t. For them, Patty O’s is an opportunity to taste the craft and feel the vibe sans the hefty tab. In this former gas station off the village square in the town of Washington, no luxuries are ignored. From the lush environs to the handsome fireplace, smart staff uniforms, and curated artwork, this is not an “Inn Lite” knock-off. Consider Patty O’s as a deuxième vin, the second wine, as it’s called in Bordeaux. If the Inn is the famed Grand Vin de Château Latour (which runs around seven Benjamins upon release), Patty O’s is the fantastically-delicious-at-half-the-price Les Forts de Latour. Expect lunch and dinner service featuring clas-

Patty O’s half pound burger with beef from Ovoka Farms in Paris, Virginia.

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“It’s the kind of place I would hope to discover, a happy place where even the simplest dishes taste extraordinary.” —Chef Patrick O’Connell

sic, comfort-inspired seasonal fare, plus a killer cocktail bar, and pastries that light up one’s pleasure center akin to the glow on the restaurant’s Ferrari-like $30k La Marzocco KB90 espresso machine. “I’ve always loved fairy tales,” said the theatrical chef, who sported a cowboy hat and ascot during Patty O’s opening. “Especially the fable of Stone Soup where an entire village each brought an ingredient to the broth to create a delicious soup. That is exactly what this collaboration has felt like.” Paris-based interior designer Pierre Yves Rochon envisioned the space, and Russell Stillwell (whose father helped design the Inn’s first kitchen in 1978) created the kitchen. Sixth-generation faux finisher Paul Robson painted the graining and marbling, while artist William Woodward created the bar’s delightful mural. Throw the top down, drive the curvy Blue Ridge roads to Little Washington, and slide onto a Patty O’s banquette. Pick the right day, and you might catch a sighting of the chef himself. “My staff knows,” O’Connell added, “that the real reason Patty O’s was created is that I had no place to eat on Tuesdays, when the Inn is closed.” PattyOsCafe.com —By Jason Tesauro

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Seasonal vegetable salad, with tofu dressing and black cocoa crumble. Right: Beers on tap from Wool Factory neighbor Selvedge Brewing.

At Broadcloth, Local Flavors Shine

Chef Tucker Yoder

Close ties to purveyors elevate Chef Tucker Yoder’s ever-changing menus. By JOHN H A DDA D

S WE PULLED UP TO THE WOOL

Factory, just a mile from downtown Charlottesville, the skies opened. We scurried through the deluge down a series of cascading steps, across a courtyard, and into the dry embrace of Broadcloth. Founded in 1840, the original Woolen Mills produced cloth for military uniforms for more than 100 years before closing in 1962. Now revitalized, The Wool Factory complex infuses a modern aesthetic into the historic space paying homage to its textile-making origins with a brewpub, Selvedge, a wine and coffee boutique known as The Workshop, an event space with on-site catering, and flagship restaurant, Broadcloth. The restaurant’s ambitious menu bursts with seasonal flavors thanks to chef Tucker Yoder’s enduring relationships with local farms and pur-

veyors. While many chefs talk farm-to-table, Yoder walks the walk. A culinary veteran, Yoder was the force behind The Red Hen in Lexington and Charlottesville’s now defunct OXO. He’s also done several tours at the Clifton Inn. The drink menu offers cocktails with textilethemed names like Le Peignoir, Off the Cuff, and a Dye House Old Fashioned. The beer selection from the in-house Selvedge Brewing also taps the textile theme with the Poplin Pilsner, Seersucker Gose, and Velvet Imperial Stout, to name a few. Bar snacks include their famous sourdough bread with butter or lardo and pickled mustard seed (don’t miss the opportunity to spread luscious cured pork fat on fresh, hot-from-the-oven bread), as well as duck rillette and blistered shishito peppers. The menus change weekly. Ours celebrated the local bounty of heirloom tomatoes, Jimmy VIRGINIA LIVING

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GOODtaste Dining Out

“I let my ingredients do the work and stay out of their way.”

photos courtesy of the wool factory

Duck rillete with shiso, sesame, and pickled plums. Above right: Broadcloth’s dining room.

Nardello peppers, sweet corn, okra, eggplant, and summer squash. Diners can choose from four courses ($60) or six ($90), or opt for the 8-10 course Chef’s Tasting Menu ($135). Wine, beer, and spirit pairings are also available ($35, $55, and $80, respectively). The wine list features Virginia vintages, as well as California, Washington, and international selections. Our four-course menu provided eight distinct dishes to share over a few hours marked by well-paced, gracious, and attentive service. The amuse-bouche started us on a playful note with chilled honeydew melon over turmeric yogurt topped with icy shaved watermelon, a refreshing version of a palate-cleansing sorbet. We moved on to a tomato salad, which came alive with the umami punch of a dashi broth and a slow-cooked egg with a side of grilled sourdough to sop up all the juices. Seared scallops, kissed with the sweetness of lightly cooked corn and peppers, were accented with a nasturtium oil marrying the flavors. Lightly seared rockfish, fresh from the Chesapeake Bay, was served with a harmony of grilled okra and summer squash; a turmeric sauce tied it all together. Seeds of the horizontally sliced okra appeared like jewels. The richness of a dry-aged duck breast, served on a bed of buckwheat, played off the acids of charred pickled cucumbers and dried and crumbled black olives. While the first courses were decadent, our main courses soared to new levels. A rareroasted lamb loin from Rockingham County was heightened by the earthy undertones of charred eggplant and a succulent confit of garlic and

tomatoes, dried ever-so-slightly as to concentrate the flavors. A grilled rib eye from nearby Timbercreek Farm was prepared simply, with roasted sweet onions and a short rib jus. The brilliance of Yoder’s food is from his light touch. “I let my ingredients do the work and stay out of their way,” he once told me. Humble words from a great chef. Desserts and bread come from chef Yoder and Wool Factory consulting pastry chef Rachel De Jong. With a pastry certificate from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, De Jong has created for Petit Trois in Los Angeles and The Inn at Little Washington. Her sweet and savory breads, desserts, and pastries are now available at Cou Cou Rachou, her stand-alone bakery in Charlottesville. The night we dined at Broadcloth, offerings included a playful take on the Tarte Tartin made with caramelized eggplant and accompanied by whipped feta, for a more savory take on this classic French dessert. A salad of peaches and plums came with a lacy lemon-thyme cookie and ice cream crafted from sheep’s milk cheese from nearby Twenty Paces farmstead. The skies had cleared as we left The Wool Factory, a setting that—with its myriad spaces— only serves to widen Broadcloth’s appeal. We look forward to returning as the seasons change to taste the flavors Chef Yoder and his team will continue to coax from the bounty of the area. John Haddad has written about food and travel for more than 15 years. He founded Slow Food RVA in Richmond and is the Slow Food Governor of Virginia. JohnHaddad@epicuriousity.net F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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—Chef Tucker Yoder

THE WOOL FACTORY: A historic textile mill finds a new life. Built in 1847, Charlottesville’s historic Woolen Mills once produced 15,000 yards of cloth per month, primarily for military uniforms. Although the textile mill was burned down during the Civil War, Henry Marchant, son of the mill’s founders, resurrected the business and, in 1878, it became Charlottesville’s first to install a telephone. When the mill finally closed, this historic site languished for decades before undergoing a $20 million renovation. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the newly revitalized complex, now known as The Wool Factory, includes event space along with Selvedge Brewing Co., a coffee and wine bar, known as The Workshop, and Broadcloth.

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Stellas’ hilopites, lima bean and feta salad, and tzatziki served with pita bread.

Everybody Loves Stella

Stella Dikos

How the flavors of her Greek childhood changed the way we think about food.

By A SH L E Y H U N T E R | Photography by A DA M E W I NG

ESTLED ON A CORNER OF

Lafayette Street in Richmond, Stella’s radiates a golden warmth with its tin ceilings, wooden accents, and welcoming lighting. Katrina Giavos and her husband Johnny preside over this popular spot—along with a small restaurant empire throughout the city. But the soul of Stella’s is Katrina’s mother, Stella Dikos. Generations here embrace the flavors of her spanakopita, pastichio, and souvlaki, something she couldn’t have imagined when she arrived from Trikala, Greece in 1962. “Nobody knew Greek food when I came here,” she recalls. “There was one French and one Italian restaurant.” Although she’ll tell anyone she’s not a trained chef, says Katrina, “she has a great palate. I am amazed to watch her cook.” When visitors come from out of town, they marvel, ‘‘‘There’s a real Stella?’ We set our standards high out of respect for her.”

Simple and healthy, Greek food highlights fresh ingredients with the recurring flavors of the Mediterranean—lemon, mint, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Meat sauces in pasta dishes are mellowed with a hint of cloves and cinnamon, an intriguing combination that’s “more Middle Eastern than Italian,” Dikos notes. Stella’s menu captures these flavors in their purest form. “It’s how you eat in Greece,” says Giavos. Stella Dikos learned to cook as a child in Trikala. “The food at Stella’s now, in many ways, is the food I grew up with,” she explains. She recalls gathering dandelion greens, wild and sweet. And leeks, which she still uses instead of spinach when making spanakopita at home. “A lot of people don’t know about the leeks, but they’re delicious,” she says. And although she lived in the mountains, seafood was plentiful. “A train arrived with fresh caught fish each morning,” she recalls. “Maridas, sardelas, squid, octopus—all fresh.” VIRGINIA LIVING

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“When visitors come from out of town, they marvel, ‘There’s a real Stella?’ Our standards are high out of respect for her.” —Katrina Giavos

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GOODtaste Interview Stella and her daughter Katrina pose at the bar in their flagship Richmond restaurant.

Lima Bean and Feta Salad ½ small sweet onion, finely chopped 3 green onions, chopped small 3 stalks celery, plus 3-4 springs center celery leaf, finely chopped 1½ pounds frozen lima beans, thawed 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled softly Juice of 1 lemon ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped 1 teaspoon oregano Salt Pepper Mix together onions and celery. Add limas, and mix in feta. Add lemon and olive oil and stir. Add parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Serves 6.

Tzatziki 1 quart whole Greek yogurt 2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, grated, and squeezed to remove water 5 cloves garlic, smashed in mortar and pestle 2 teaspoons granulated garlic 4 sprigs dill, chopped finely Juice of 2 lemons ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ½-1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper Combine yogurt and cucumbers in a large bowl. Add garlic, dill, lemon juice, and olive oil and mix gently. Add salt and pepper, and adjust to taste. Serves 6.

black and white photos courtesy of constantine giavos

Katrina, Stella, and Katrina’s daughter Maria.

She has no memory of her mother, who died in childbirth when she was just three, and so it was her grandmother and the women of her close-knit neighborhood who taught her about food. “They called me Stellita—little Stella—and took me under their wing,” she says. “I watched how they were making things and learned about cooking, social graces, everything. I was very lucky to grow up there.” She arrived in Richmond at 18, working with her husband Stavros at his Village Restaurant, located in the heart of the Virginia Commonwealth University campus. The couple opened the first Stella’s in the early ‘80s, on the second floor of a Fan District building. “People said, you’re crazy, who’s going to walk up 26 stairs to eat in a hippie neighborhood where you can’t find parking?” she recalls. But she had faith. “I’ll never forget one crisp November morning there. I looked out the window and a powerful emotion came over me that said, I will do well here. If I make a good plate of food using all of my heart and all of my intelligence, people will come.” They’re still coming. A Stella’s outpost in Charleston, South Carolina, opened five years ago. And the Lafayette Street restaurant just celebrated ten years. Across the street, a boutique stocks housewares and gifts curated by Katrina and her daughter Maria offering “the rest of Greece.” And, at six locations across Richmond, Stella’s

Grocery—small markets stocked with prepared food, bakery items, wine, and other necessities, some with table seating—are thriving. If you’re lucky, you’ll see Stella at the restaurant, where she still comes to bake occasionally. “I’m always in the background,” she says. “It’s what I like. I’m kind of shy.” But when speaking of Richmond and the love she’s received, she doesn’t hesitate. “When you grow up with no mother and a very strict father, you grow up not having the support and praise that you see other girls having from their mothers. And when the people here show you that love and praise, you stand back and think ‘where does this come from?’” “I think something guided me the right way, how to treat people, and in return, people treated me really well. I will never forget the support of the community of Richmond.” Here, the family shares a few recipes for you to try in your own kitchen. Start with a crisp lima bean and feta salad, dressed simply in olive oil and herbs. Use creamy, cucumber-based tzatziki as a dip for breads or vegetables. And, enjoy the contrast of savory beans with salty olives in a rustic noodle dish—all, of course, alongside a good glass of Greek wine. StellasRichmond.com Ashley Hunter is a Virginia native and a Virginia Tech graduate. Former digital editor of Virginia Living, she loves all things food, wine, and spirits. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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Hilopites: Rustic Greek Pasta Olive oil 1 teaspoon butter 2 teaspoons chopped garlic White wine 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 1 pound Greek egg noodles, cooked 2 cups gigantes (Greek giant beans) ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese 1 tablespoon pine nuts Salt Pepper Mint, chopped Heat pan, add olive oil, butter, and garlic. Add white wine until garlic is aromatic. Add tomatoes and noodles and toss until tomatoes start to blister. Add giant beans and olives and continue to toss. Add feta and mix until creamy. Add pine nuts, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and garnish with mint to serve Serves 4-6.

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HEALTH +W ellness > Notes > Profile > Apothecary > Fitness

Notes SMALL BUT MIGHTY Packed with flavor and nutrients, microgreens can power up your diet. By John Haddad

You’ve probably noticed microgreens at farmers markets or natural food stores. But do you know what these nutrient-dense flavor bombs can do for your diet? While they emerged on the culinary landscape back in the 1980s, it’s only in recent years that microgreens have turned up in mainstream groceries across the state. Today, while many shoppers are still wondering what to do with them, nutritionists and trainers are counseling clients to embrace the mighty microgreen. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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VIRGINIA LIVING

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HEALTH + Wellness Notes WHAT EXACTLY ARE MICROGREENS?

The first tiny seed leaves (known as cotyledons) picked early in a plant’s growth cycle—at 10-14 days—microgreens are cultivated in soil or grown using hydroponic methods. Unlike sprouts (which are typically grown in water and eaten roots and all), microgreens are cut with scissors above the soil line when they’re just an inch or two in height. The most popular versions are grown from plants we all recognize: ■ Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, watercress, radish, and arugula all come from the Brassicaceae family. ■ Lettuce, endive, chicory, and radicchio come from the Asteraceae family. ■ Dill, carrot, fennel, and celery come from the Apiaceae family. ■ Garlic, onion, and leeks are in the Amaryllidaceae family. ■ Amaranth, quinoa, swiss chard, beets, and spinach are from the Amaranthaceae family. ■ Melon, cucumber, and squash are from the Cucurbitaceae family.

Microgreens offer big rewards in a small package and can be used in a variety of ways to boost your meals with flavor and nutrients. WHY ARE THEY GOOD FOR US?

Researchers with the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) compared nutrient levels in microgreens with the full-grown version of the same plant and found that the microgreens contained from four to 40 times more nutrients.

Growing greens at Nouveau Farms. Below: Poached pear with “Bulls Blood” beet microgreens.

Sharon Palmer, author of The Plant Powered Diet, found that, “Since microgreens are harvested when the plants are not yet mature, they are rich in the nutrients and antioxidants needed to grow into full-blown plants.”

HOW TO USE THEM

Best eaten raw to preserve the flavor and nutrients, microgreens offer big rewards in a small package and can be used in a variety of ways— sprinkled on soups or added to sandwiches—to boost meals with flavor and nutrients. “I tell clients that by adding microgreens into simple foods such as a sandwiches, salads, and

WHERE CAN YOU FIND THEM?

At Lil’ Spouts, Jackson now grows five varieties of microgreens (sunflower, pea, radish, broccoli, and salad mix) indoors with organic soil and artificial light, supplying retailers like Ellwood Thompson’s, Good Foods Grocery, Libbie Market in Richmond, and Foods of All Nations in Charlottesville. He’s determined to dispel the myth that microgreens are expensive and inaccessible. “With microgreens, less is more,” says Jackson. “They’re more efficient—they’re essentially the caviar of greens.”

Look for microgreens on menus, in farmers markets, and in natural food grocers. A few of our favorite Virginia producers include: CABBAGE HILL FARM

Chris Vaughan has been farming microgreens for 15 years. His popular Cabbage Hill Farm micro-mix contains 12 greens, including mustard, cabbage, kale, broccoli, arugula, and radish tops. He also sells some micro specialty greens like cilantro, dill, fennel, parsley, leeks, and basil. Inspired by his mom’s Zesto Pesto business in Rochester, New York, Chris began making his own pesto combinations using microgreens, including a pea shoot and pistachio pesto, a cilantro and macadamia nut pesto, and a radish-cashew pesto. The intense flavor concentration in the microgreens and his creative use of different nuts create delicious and unique flavor profiles. Cabbage Hill Farm sells produce and pesto to over 30 restaurants in Central Virginia. In Richmond, Cabbage Hill can be found at Belmot Butchery and Outpost, as well as at Byrd House Market and Big Market at Bryan Park. LIL’ SPROUTS

A quest for nutrient-dense foods led Trent Jackson to microgreens. As a competitive high school soccer player, he found his answer in wheatgrass. He began selling it at his Colonial Heights high school before adding microgreens to the mix and selling to farmers’ markets and restaurants—all before moving to Richmond, enrolling in VCU’s DaVinci Center for Innovation.

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smoothies, they’ll boost the amounts of beneficial vitamins and antioxidants consumed by up to 40 times more,” says Jim White, a registered dietician and exercise physiologist certified by the American College of Sports Medicine. White owns the Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, which offer medical nutrition therapy, workplace wellness, and other fitness services. “People are surprised to learn about these tiny greens, and they’re thrilled to make this subtle adjustment to benefit from the rich nutrients in microgreens that they wouldn’t get from lettuce,” he notes.

NOUVEAU FARMS

When his daughter was five, Trevor Ferguson searched for the perfect strawberries to satisfy her, and when he came up empty, Nouveau Farms was born. Originally from The Bahamas, Ferguson came to the U.S. to study engineering 20 years ago. That knowledge has helped him craft a technically-precise hydroponic growing system that is USDA GAP-certified (Good Agricultural Practices). Ferguson sells nine varieties, plus herbs through Ellwood Thompson’s, Good Foods Grocery, and Libbie Market and statewide through the Seasonal Roots and 4P community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. To come are online sales with farm pickup.

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Sanctuar y C osmetic C enter Soheila Rostami, MD, FAAO, FAACS Founder and CEO at Sanctuary Cosmetic Center, president of the medical society of Northern Virginia for 2020 and 2021, knew she wanted to be a surgeon since she was 6 years old.

Dr. Maryam Nazemzadah

Dr. Soheila Rostami

With over 21 years of experience, Dr. Rostami has an outstanding ability to help her clients project the best version of themselves to the world, all while looking natural from her procedures. Dr. Rostami shows tenacity, is relentless, faces adversity head on, and stands her ground, all while being kind to everyone around her and offering support to whoever needs her in the moment. Her mother taught her to always trust her instincts and to work hard to go after what she wants. This advice has been integral to her success. Her friendly demeanor and expertise offer all clients exactly what they deserve: respect, dignity and a listening ear to their wants and needs. While she supports women through her aesthetic procedures, such as eyelid-lifts, face-lifts, skin tightening, injectables, and more, Dr. Rostami also supports women through mentoring and supporting her staff, which is made up of 99% women, as well as supporting female-owned, local businesses. As a leader, she believes true leadership means giving rising stars an equal opportunity, especially those who have been easily overlooked because of gender disparities. Dr. Rostami is a mother of two sons; she understands the importance of all genders, and she raised and nurtured her sons on the same principles she was raised on. Dr. Rostami and her team have expanded to three locations and are very excited to add multiple providers and star surgeons to the team in the months ahead.

1650 tySonS Blvd. Suite 100 McleAn, vA 22102 24430 Stone SpringS Blvd. Suite 240 dulleS, vA 20166

www.sanctuarycosmeticcenter.com

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703-893-3937

12/16/21 8:33 PM

G N I T A E R T

Breastfeeding should be a joy!

D N A LIP

S E I T E U G TON

Functional Issues BEF ORE

Consequences of Untreated Lip and Tongue-Ties

Feeding a baby comfortable and efficiently is the most important aspect of a newborn’s life and a precious experience for a new mom. A normal frenum is a connective band bringing two soft tissue pieces together. In some cases, if that band connects too low or tight is may result in a condition known as a Tongue-Tie or a Lip-Tie. These conditions can jeopardize the beautiful nursing relationship between a mother and her newborn. A frenectomy procedure allows a baby to freely use their lip and tongue for an efficient, effective, and comfortable feeding experience.

Feeding Issues

Many children struggle with transitioning from milk to purees or table foods. While some become picky eaters and have diﬃculty managing variable texture of table foods.

Dental Issues

Cavities seen on the front part of the incisors or recession of gums near the midline are often attributable to lip-ties. Cavities on the chewing surface of the molars are often seen in patients that have a tongue-tie and never developed the reﬂex to clean out the sticky foods after snacks or meals.

Speech Issues

Many children develop air management and speech clarity or articulation problems due to limited range or motion and elevation of all parts of the tongue required to produce various sounds–l/th d/n, st/sr/kh/gh, m/p/b and so on.

Zzzz

Sleep Issues

Disordered Breathing and Sleep Apnea are often seen in children that cannot manage the proper

posture and tone of the tongue muscle due to restrictions or ties. Snoring, exhaustion, grinding of teeth, attention deﬁcit disorders, behavioral issues are all now being connected back to sleep disordered breathing in the literature.

How Are Tongue-Ties and Lip-Ties treated today?

Thanks to the great advances in laser technology, most technologically-savvy and upto-date healthcare providers are educated on the laser’s properties and why they are highly favorable in soft issue procedures. Dr. Rishita’s experience in using Waterlaser allows her to provide desensitization, coagulation and cooling as it separates the tissue. The laser light beam is precisely controlled for the most thorough and safe procedure. Waterlaser virtually eliminates the need for scalpel, sutures, or anesthetic in infant frenectomy cases. The newborns we treat can feed immediately after the procedure for comfort. Moms report significant difference in personal comfort, baby’s consumption, and efficiency while nursing or bottle feeding.

Lip Tie

Tongue Tie

BEFORE

✓ Shallow ineﬀective latch ❍ ✓ Gassiness/Reﬂux symptoms ❍ ✓ Poor weight gain ❍ ✓ Maternal pain / Mastitis ❍

Benefits of Laser Frenectomy AF TER

No Lip Tie

No Tongue Tie

AFTER

✓ No anesthesia ❍ ✓ No scissors or sutures ❍ ✓ Possible to treat same day! ❍ ✓ Baby feeds immediately ❍

Dr. Jaju and Smile Wonders team has helped improve the quality of life of her patients including infants as young as 2 days old, who are struggling with challenges of nursing due to Lip or Tongue-Tie issues.

(571) 350-3663

11790 Sunrise Valley Dr #105, Reston, VA 20191

www.smilewonders.com

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HEALTH + Wellness Notes

ARE YOUR SHOES CRUEL OR KIND? Foot health begins at the shoe store. Shoe shopping? Consider the advice of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). You don’t have to forgo dressy sandals or buy expensive brands these experts say, but shopping smart will help keep your feet pain free and healthy. DOUBLE- CHECK SIZE, EVERY TIME: “As we age, the foot can flatten out a bit, increasing

the shoe size,” says Blake Moore, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and foot and ankle specialist, with offices in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk. “And during pregnancy, it’s not uncommon for people to go up an entire size.” Shoe sizes vary across brands, too. Try a half-size larger to ensure toes can wiggle freely in new shoes, the AAOS advises. There’s no such thing as a break-in period, so don’t buy shoes that feel tight in the store. EXPENSIVE ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER: In studies, runners wearing expensive shoes fared worse than those in cheap ones. “Surprisingly, the people in the cheap shoes actually had fewer injuries,” says M. Truitt Cooper, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery, at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. While supportive shoes with cushioning were once considered ideal, the new thinking says shoes that approximate barefoot walking are better for maintaining foot strength and flexibility. STRAPS MATTER: “I don’t have anything against M. Truitt Cooper, MD sandals,” says Dr. Cooper. “But if you look at basic flip-flops, biomedical studies show they change your gait and make people walk abnormally. You want something that stays on your foot.” Look for sandals with an extra strap or two that allow you to walk more naturally. HEELS IN MODERATION: Limit heels to two-and-a-half inches. Higher heels can lead to foot, hip, and lower back problems. Can’t resist? After a few hours in heels, switch to lowheeled shoes the next day. “No shoe should cause pain for a significant amount of time,” says Dr. Moore. “If it bothers you for two hours, take it off and put on something else.” TRUST YOUR FEET: “People ask me, ‘What brand of shoe should I get?’” says Dr. Cooper. “If the shoes feel good, most people don’t need to worry about things like arch and ankle support or cushioned soles.”

TURBO-CHARGING SKIN HydraFacial fans say it’s a game-changer. OFFERED IN PLASTIC SURGEON’S OFFICES and medical spas, the

HydraFacial goes beyond pampering. “It’s for people who want to feel like a million bucks—but also want results,” says Elizabeth Weiler, director of education and development at OVME Medical Spa in Merrifield in Fairfax County. When combined with cosmetic procedures, such as chemical peels and injectable fillers, HydraFacial boosts the benefits. The secret is in the serums, customized to each client’s needs. “In double-blind placebo studies,” Weller notes, “they’ve found that, when paired with HydraFacial, patients who had laser resurfacing saw a 50 percent increase in smoothness.” OVME.com —By Constance Costas

—By Beth Weinhouse

THE FUTURE OF KNEE REPLACEMENT? photos courtesy of m. truitt cooper, md, ovme, monogram

One company says their high-tech approach is a game-changer.

HAT’S NEXT FOR KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY? Mono-

gram Orthopedics is betting that their high-tech solution will disrupt the $6.5 billion knee replacement market—one that’s expected to reach $8 billion by 2026. Using 3D printing, automated digital-image analysis, machine learning, and robotic surgery, the Austin-based medical technology startup promises to bring mass-personalization to orthopedic implant surgery, improving the fit, placement, and overall success of prosthetic joints while also reducing the cost. The fundamentals of knee replacement surgery have remained unchanged for decades, says Monogram CEO Benjamin Sexson in a message to investors, with one in five patients reporting less than satisfactory results. The new process will use technology to change that. How will it look to the patient? The

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knee replacement process would begin with digital imagery from a CT scan, which the surgeon would use to create a precise 3D model of the patient’s existing bone structure. Based on this model, Monogram then creates a customized 3D printed titanium alloy implant. During surgery, a surgical robot mills the bone cavity to create a precise fit for the prosthetic. Unlike traditional knee replacement surgeries, which cement the new joint in place, the Monogram implant is porous to “allow the bone to fuse to the metal and hold it in place naturally,” says Sexson. Although Monogram’s approach won’t be seen in hospitals before 2024, the company plans to exhibit their new technology at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery in March and will pursue approval from the FDA later this year. MonogramOrthopedics.com —By C.C.

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Congratulations to our 2022 Top Docs

The winners for 2022 are: • Chad Aarons, MD • John Blank, MD • Jed Vanichkachorn, MD

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HEALTH + Wellness Notes

FASTER HEALING, LESS PAIN AFTER ORAL SURGERY GOOD NEWS FOR ANYONE FACING GUM GRAFT OR

dental implant surgery: A new all-natural process using patients’ own blood is reducing pain and speeding healing. Known as L-PRF™ (for leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin), the process uses a blood sample—drawn in the office and spun in a centrifugal machine—to create a concentrated bioactive bandage. “We’ve come a long way in how we manage bone grafts and tissue donor sites,” says Jill Beitz, D.D.S., M.S.D, a Richmond-based periodontist. “We make a little bandage using growth factors extracted from your blood and we stitch that to the surgery site, where it bathes the area,” she explains. Studies show L-PRF™ decreases pain and speeds healing. “We can definitely attest to that,” Dr. Beitz notes. Even better, it’s inexpensive. “We don’t charge extra for it,” she adds.“But patient outcomes are better—so that’s why we like to do it.” —By C.C.

AWARD-WINNING SANCTUARY

images clockwise from top: courtesy of eupepsia, by colin hayes, courtesy of dr. nicholas marsh, courtesy of pure shenandoah

Eupepsia ranks first among wellness seekers.

S SPAS EVERYWHERE RECORD AN UPTICK IN BOOKINGS,

one Virginia wellness retreat is earning national accolades. Located in Clarke County, just southeast of Winchester, Eupepsia Wellness Resort was recently voted the No. 1 Best Wellness Resort in the U.S., earning USA Today’s top Reader’s Choice award. Contenders included Hawaii’s Sensei Lanai at The Four Seasons and Hilton Head Health in South Carolina. Set on 256 bucolic acres, Eupepsia combines traditional Ayurveda-based therapies with cutting-edge screenings and treatments, extensive fitness and spa offerings, and chef-prepared meals with ingredients supplied by the property’s organic greenhouses and local farm purveyors. “I believe the secret of our success is to genuinely see the beauty of each guest and make them feel at home and cared for,” says Shivani Schieider Mrad, Eupepsia’s co-founder. “In seeing their highest potential, we bring

healing at a very deep level that will impact their life forever.” Guests can customize their experience at Eupepsia—which offers yoga, massage, meditation, detoxifying therapies, an infrared sauna, flotation room, and Himalayan salt chalet. Choose from the resort’s Relax & De-stress, Fitness & Recovery, Healthy Detox, and Weight Management programs, or let Eupepsia’s wellness experts create a retreat designed to meet your specific goals. Eupepsia.com —By Madeline Mayhood

adding that telemedicine allows him to see patients statewide. Board-certified anesthesiologists and palliative care physicians are also qualified to evaluate patients for eligibility. If your own doctor demurs, Dr. Marsh says, it’s often because they “don’t have the knowledge or experience.” Once certified, a card-carrying patient can purchase products from the four state-run marijuana dispensaries, which is the only legal and safe way to acquire it. Products range from edibles, like gummies, to topical creams, vapes, pre-rolled Dr. Nicholas Marsh joints, and the flower itself (all of which can be shipped). Dr. Marsh reassures that the products are highly tested and regulated, as well as carefully and specifically labeled. Each dispensary is overseen by a certified pharmacist, he explains, who “provides coaching and counseling, not written amounts.” This way, the patient can determine the ideal dosage for their condition. ReThink-Rx.com, VaNorml.org/Dispensaries, CannabisVa.gov —By Konstantin Rega

GETTING THE GOOD STUFF The latest on medical cannabis and its therapeutic benefits. NOW THAT MEDICAL MARIJUANA has been legalized in Virginia, should you consider it as

a treatment option? “Thirty percent or more of patients are seeking medical cannabis for anxiety or mood disorders,” says Dr. Nicholas Marsh, founder of ReThink-Rx in Leesburg. It is effective in treating insomnia, arthritis pain, muscle spasms, and providing relief from chemotherapy. “The quality of life people report with cannabis is remarkable,” he notes. So how do you join the 33,000 registered patients who carry the medical card required to purchase medical marijuana? Dr. Marsh, an anesthesiologist, guides patients through the process of qualifying for a medical cannabis card and connects them with physicians who are certified by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to prescribe it. “You need an evaluation and a diagnosis from a medical practice like ours,” he explains,

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Where to Buy? Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

Richmond: gLeaf Medical Cannabis 2804 Decatur St., Bldg 30, 23224 800-484-0303 Coming soon: 3100 W. Cary St., 23221

Abingdon: Rise Cannabis

gLeaf Medical Cannabis 11190 W. Broad St., Glen Allen 23060 804-613-5697 gLeaf.com

26864 Watauga Rd., 24211 276-644-6400 RiseCannabis.com

Richmond, Short Pump:

Manassas: Beyond/Hello 8100 Albertstone Cir., 20109 703-420-4021 Beyond-Hello.com

Salem: Rise Cannabis

Portsmouth: Columbia Care 4012 Seaboard Ct., 23701 757-315-6808 Col-Care.com

Sterling: Beyond/Hello 21290 Windmill Parc Dr., 20166 276-235-9700 Beyond-Hello.com

1634 W. Main St., 24153 540-380-0420 RiseCannabis.com

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EVMS FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY

Congratulations to Dr. Eric Dobratz and Dr. William Dougherty on being named 2022 VIRGINIA LIVING TOP DOCTORS IN COSMETIC & PLASTIC SURGERY To schedule an appointment: Please call us at 757.226.8089 or visit us at evms.edu/facialplastics.

Locations: Eric Dobratz, MD

William Dougherty, MD

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Rhinoplasty Face lift Eyelid surgery Eyebrow/forehead lift Lip rejuvenation Skin resurfacing Facial implants and injectables

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The knowledge to treat you better

12/17/21 10:06 AM

HEALTH + Wellness Profile

Medical Trailblazer The country’s first plastic surgeon hailed from Prince Edward County.

images from top courtesy of esther thomas atkinson museum, hampden-sydney college, by colin hayes

N THE MID-19TH CENTURY, PATIENTS

seeking the best medical care would travel— even from abroad—to see a Virginia country doctor. And for good reason. John Peter Mettauer of Prince Edward County was widely regarded as one of the finest surgeons alive. The son of a military surgeon who came to Virginia with the Marquis de Lafayette from France, Mettauer graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1806 and left for Philadelphia to earn his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania under Philip Physick, the Father of American Surgery. But he returned to his beloved Virginia to build his own practice among the Southern pines. A bit eccentric and known for wearing a tall stovepipe hat, Mettauer was also brilliant, performing nearly every operation then known, often improving upon standard techniques. He became recognized as the country’s first plastic surgeon after he successfully repaired a cleft palate in 1827. A decade later, Mettauer pioneered a vaginal fistula repair that would go on to become a standard therapy in women’s healthcare. An avid writer, Mettauer filled the nation’s medical journals with new treatment methods, making invaluable contributions to the science of medicine. In 1837, Mettauer responded to the lack of medical schools in the U.S. (there were 12 at the time;

patients while producing future practitioners. The trainees even helped Mettauer, an ingenious mechanic, construct surgical instruments out of silver and iron—some of which remain on display at Hampden-Sydney. In 1848, his institute became the Medical Department of Randolph-Macon College, then located in the town of Boydton. Two of his own sons joined him on the faculty.

Mettauer became known as the country’s first plastic surgeon when he successfully repaired a cleft palate in 1827.

Dr. John Peter Mettauer successfully repaired a cleft palate in 1827.

just three in the South) by establishing his own institute. His 30 students formed a corps of nurses and assistants, increasing his capacity to treat

During his career, Mettauer performed more than 800 cataract operations, and at age 88, in the last week of his life, he performed three final operations: “His eyes were yet keen enough and his hands steady enough for him to make a successful operation,” said George Ben Johnston, president of the American Surgical Association, in a 1905 tribute to the good doctor. In a posthumous tribute, the American Journal of Medical Sciences credited him “with more improvements in operations and inventions of instruments to date than any other man.” Through it all, Mettauer wore his towering top hat, even at meals—and once, famously, and to one judge’s chagrin, while testifying in court. His last instruction, it was said, was to bury him with his hat on. —By Dean King

SEEKING DEFINITION The latest cosmetic procedures offer temporary results—for less.

WHEN MODEL CHRISSY TEIGEN shared

before and after photos of her newly chiseled look after undergoing face-slimming buccal fat removal surgery, Dr. Soheila Rostami saw an uptick in calls about the procedure, one of the hottest in the recent wave of minimally invasive cosmetic surgeries. Social media and Zoom are driving this intensified interest, says Dr. Rostami, an oculoplastic surgeon who owns cosmetic surgery centers in Reston, Tysons Corner, and Chantilly. “My patients have careers,

they’re on Zoom 24-hours a day,” she explains. “They come in and say, ‘I don’t recognize myself, and I don’t like it.’” “It’s a simple procedure, very similar to dental work,” says Dr. Rostami of Teigen’s surgery, which extracts fat through a small incision made inside the mouth and takes about an hour. For round-faced patients, removing some of the buccal fat pad “can give you a more defined and more oval face,” she notes. At $3,000–4,000, the surgery is often done in conjunction with other procedures such as liposuction on the neck, thread lifts, or neurotoxin injections— which can bring the price tag to $5,000 to $10,000. Results last two to three years. Another lessinvasive procedure, the Tinkerbell nose, lifts the tip of the nose using injections of hyaluronic acid-based filler. Also known

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as “liquid rhinoplasty,” the price ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 and results last from nine months to two years. Still, Dr. Rostami cautions, even minimally invasive surgeries require an experienced professional. “In the hands of a novice, liquid rhinoplasty can have serious complications,” she notes. “Deep knowledge of the blood supply to the nose is crucial; an accidental injection into the blood vessels can cause devastating complications.” Choose a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, or the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. Once used to correct drooping lids, the “fox-eye lift” is now used to create a more almond-shaped eye. But because trends come and go, Rostami recommends a reversible version instead.

Lateral canthopexy achieves a similar look using carefully-placed sutures under the corner of the eye at a cost of $3,000– $4,000. “I recommend that surgeons do these procedures in a way that can be very easily undone if the patient decides later on that they don’t like it,” Dr. Rostami notes. SanctuaryCosmeticCenter.com, Beauty4Eye.com —By Sandra Shelley

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Blue Ridge Oral & Maxillofacial Surger y Our mission at Blue Ridge Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is to help patients live healthier lives through compassionate and specialized care. We provide a safe, nurturing environment where your comfort and health are of primary importance. Dr. M. Todd Brandt and Dr. Corey C. Burgoyne are dedicated surgeons leading in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. What began as a small practice in the Shenandoah Valley has grown into a technologically advanced outpatient surgical facility with on-call doctors who can perform a wide range of oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures. Our devoted surgeons take pride in treating every patient like they are a member of the family, and they strive to make your oral surgery experience as smooth, quick, and painless as possible. From performing wisdom tooth removal, implant placement, bone grafting, and emergency care, Blue Ridge Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery wants to serve your specialized oral surgery needs. Our doctors are fully licensed to provide in-office anesthesia for surgical procedures and before you undergo any type of treatment, they will make sure to answer all your questions. We are excited to meet you or your loved one, and we want you to know that our highest priority is serving you with exceptional and professional care.

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54 S. Medical Park drive FiSherSville, va 22939

112B houSton Street lexington, va 24450

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5 4 0 -2 13 - 874 8

Arthritis & Sports Orthopaedics • Physical Therapy • Wellness the practice’s experienced, board-certified physicians focus on a particular subspecialty — so regardless of why you come to Arthritis & Sports, you can rest assured you’ll get the highest quality care possible.

Arthritis & Sports, one of the area’s largest and most well-respected surgeonowned orthopaedic and physical therapy practices, is a hometown clinic that provides world-class care. For more than two decades, their team of specialtytrained orthopaedic surgeons have been

committed to helping patients regain and maintain their musculoskeletal health so they can lead active, pain-free lives. Founded in 1998, Arthritis & Sports offers the latest nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for the full spectrum of orthopaedic sub-specialties all under one roof. Each of

www.arthritisandsports.com

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From their team of certified physicians to their rehabilitation specialists, they provide each of their patients with prompt and effective treatment. They remain involved with each patient’s treatment to ensure the fastest, healthiest, and most complete recovery possible. Whether you want to keep up with grandchildren or return to professional sports, their team will create a personalized treatment plan to get you back to living your best, most productive life.

21475 RidgetoP CiRCle, SteRling, Va 20166 25055 Riding Plaza, South Riding, Va 20152

703-444-5000

12/16/21 8:51 PM

HEALTH + Wellness Apothecary

Self-Care Staples

Our favorite Virginia-made products will keep you feeling pampered this winter. B y K A I T LY N H I L L I A R D a n d VA Y D A PA R R I S H

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1 AROMATHERAPY ROLLERBALL BUNDLE Taylor Made Organics, Port Republic Designed for on-the-go aromatherapy, these essential oil rollers soothe ailments ranging from anxiety to congestion and even restless sleep. Crafted for easy use and packed in a travel-friendly zipper pouch, these blends may be applied under the nose or on the back of the neck for continuous comfort. TaylorMadeOrganics.com $42 2

EVERY BODY OIL Maven Made, Richmond Made from cold-pressed plant oils and packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, Maven Made’s signature facial serum provides essential moisture and nutrients for skin, hair, cuticles, even beards. Mindfully made in small batches, this oil calms and protects the body during the cold winter months and beyond. MavenMadeRVA.com $20

3 SIGNATURE BODY FROSTING Essentially Zen, Staunton This luxurious, skin-nourishing body frosting is concocted from premium, organic, and ethically sourced ingredients from Virginiabased suppliers—including coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, and aloe. Essentially Zen’s double-whipped treat looks sweet enough to eat, but save it for pampering yourself after a nice long bath instead. EssentiallyZen.shop $18 4 ELDERBERRY LAVENDER SYRUP Erin’s Elderberries, Warrenton There’s nothing sweeter than a healthy mind and body! Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, Erin’s Elderberry Syrup boosts immune health and is a sweet treat loved by adults and children alike. An added burst of lavender helps to improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and ease anxiety. ErinsElderberries.com $29.50 5 LATE NIGHT PEANUT BUTTER Piemonte Provisions, Floyd If you’re looking to satisfy a self-care sweet

tooth, grab a spoon and dig into this doublechocolate and espresso-infused peanut butter. Made in small batches with locally grown peanuts from Suffolk, it’s also delicious as an ice cream topping or as a graham cracker spread. PiemonteProvisions.com $7.99 6 TRANQUILITY TEA WITH HEMP AND LAVENDER River Organics, Gloucester The newest addition to River Organics’ lineup of CBD products carries refreshing hints of chamomile, fennel, lavender, lemon balm, and rosehips. Take a moment for yourself any time of day with a steaming hot cup of this soothing caffeine-free tea made with Virginia-grown organic hemp. RiverOrganics.com $19.99 7 CUSTOM AYURVEDIC FACE MASK KIT Bright Body, Richmond “If you can customize a smoothie, you can customize your skin care”—that’s the mantra behind Bright Body’s Custom Ayurvedic Face Mask Kits. They include up to three boost-

ers (powdered herbal bases) and a liquid activator of your choice (manuka honey, aloe serum, or oat milk), for personalized pampering. MyBrightBody.com $30 -$45 8 SPARKLING BEVERAGES Crunchy Hydration, Virginia Beach These carbonated waters quench thirst and target an array of bodily imbalances. Need a caffeine kick? Crack open a lime or mango flavor. For more mellow sipping, try grapefruit or tangerine—both enhanced with 15mg of full-spectrum hemp extract. Watermelon and raspberry varieties round out Crunchy’s fruity offerings. CrunchyHydration.com

$15 -$20 FOR 6 - PACKS 9 LG’S ELIXIR Charlottesville Based on a recipe from his Haitian ancestors, Lesly Gourdet’s powerful elixir promises to get your body back on track when illness gets in the way. Made from cold-pressed natural ingredients like turmeric, ginger, honey, and lemon, the elixir pairs well with a mixer of cranberry or orange juice. LGsElixir.com

$37 FOR 8 OZ.

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HEALTH + Wellness Fitness

The Dawn Patrol Before the world wakes, morning warriors are working out, all around the state. By CH R IST Y R I PPEL | Photo by A DA M EW ING

n the pre-dawn hours across Virginia, alarm clocks are sounding and— instead of hitting snooze—a legion of dedicated early morning exercisers are slipping into swimsuits, rowing gear, or sneakers before the demands of the day take hold. They seize the dawn for practical reasons, so that jobs, families and late-day fatigue don’t interfere with their sweat habits. James Farmer, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Roanoke, joins a master’s swimming group for laps at 5:00 a.m., three times a week, a routine he has maintained for five years. “Nobody misses me at that point in the day—I can control when I get up, but I can’t always control when I’m done with work,” explains Dr. Farmer, who joins his busy family with four children when he takes off his white coat in the evening. “Even when I had the best intentions of exercising later, things would interfere and derail that plan.”

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As it turns out, science supports the crack-ofdawn workout. When compared to other hours of the day, morning exercise has proven benefits including increased fat loss, blood sugar control, and appetite regulation. There are mental health benefits, as well. A 2019 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that morning exercise improves visual learning, attention, and decision-making throughout the day. Starting a new habit isn’t easy, but behavioral science has given us proven ways to make an exercise routine stick, like working out with a partner or group, setting motivating goals, and starting small. If you’ve ever wanted to give morning exercise a go, here’s how people around Virginia make it happen.

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Compared to other hours of the day, morning exercise has proven benefits, including increased fat loss, blood sugar control, and appetite regulation.

photo, right, courtesy of jane ellington

PARTNER WORKOUTS: AN ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY

Jane Ellington at The Yoga Shed. Above: Katrin Sydlik and Jamie Blinn rowing on the Chickahominy River in Williamsburg.

Katrin Sydlik and Jamie Blinn are rowing partners who regularly push a double boat into the Chickahominy River in Williamsburg at 6:00 a.m. during the summer—and train together on rowing machines during the chilly months. The Germanborn Sydlik, a natural early riser who has been sculling since she was nine years old, helps motivate Blinn to get moving early. “I have five kids and I’m a teacher, so I need to get my workout in and early is the best time to do it,” says Blinn, who is new to the sport, but a quick study under the experienced eye of Sydlik. Blinn is not a morning person, she says, but is urged out of bed by the thought of her boat mate, who’s counting on her to show up. Though Sydlik isn’t bothered by the early hour, a partner keeps her F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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Jamie Blinn and Katrin Sydlik post-workout on the Williamsburg Boat Club dock. Clockwise: Group classes at Valley Health Wellness and Fitness in Winchester; morning in The Yoga Shed; Orangetheory Fitness in Fairfax; first dive.

accountable, too. “Neither of us would do it alone,” Sydlik adds. What keeps the duo coming back is the peace they find on the water. The morning is ideal, as the wind often has not yet stirred, and just a few fishing boats share the calm waters. “If we time it right, the sunrise adds to the natural beauty,” says Blinn, who loves seeing a familiar heron on the dock each morning when she arrives. When Sydlik heads back to her teaching job in Atlanta each fall, the pair motivate each other from separate cities. Each has an indoor rowing machine, and they’ll wake before 6:00 a.m. and send each other screenshots of their sweat sessions, ensuring they’re both conditioned for when they meet up in person and take to the water again.

Jamie Blinn is urged out of bed by the thought that her boat mate is counting on her to show up: “Neither of us would do it alone.” Both women are part of the Williamsburg Boat Club, which caters to new and experienced rowers through learn-to-row classes and available competitive avenues. “It’s a real community atmosphere,” says Blinn. Blinn and Sydlik have tapped into a powerful tool to keep themselves on track, as researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland concluded. An exercise companion increased the amount of exercise people did, and yielded further gains when their workout buddy was emotionally supportive (think of the pair’s screenshots of workouts and “thumbs up” emojis).

GOAL SETTING AND GROUP EXERCISE

Maybe you can’t find the perfect partner to team up with you, but you can find group support in gyms and classes, like Orangetheory Fitness, which operates more than 30 studios

throughout Virginia. Ella Burkhart, manager of the Fairfax Circle Orangetheory, said the earliest classes, a 60minute combination of cardio and weight training, start at 5:00 a.m., and a dedicated core group attends regularly. “The community that we’ve built

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here and the friendships that people have keep them coming back, and the encouragement they show each other—maybe congratulating someone on completing a 10th class or a 100th class—I think it matters,” says Burkhart. If a client goes missing for more than a week, a trainer from the studio calls them to check in, judgment-free, and offers to schedule their next class. “I’d say 90 percent of the time that gentle nudge works,” Burkhart notes. If you think you’ll slink away after a few weeks, a gym with an accountability plan is a good idea. At Valley Health Wellness and Fitness in Winchester, fitness manager Josh Shade sees

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photos by adam ewing, and clockwise from top, courtesy of valley health wellness and fitness, jane ellington, orangetheory fitness

HEALTH + Wellness Fitness the same faces in the early morning for exercise classes, which start at 5:30 a.m., and range from water aerobics to cycling and body pump. But this unique gym—which is attached to a hospital campus—also offers goal-setting for those who have been referred by a physician and may be new to exercise. MyFitRx, which Shade oversees, is an eight-week program designed to kickstart new habits and improve fitness metrics. “We evaluate weight, body composition, cardio endurance, muscle strength, and flexibility at the start, and then do a reassessment at the end of the program, which helps people battling diabetes or recovering from an injury, or getting stronger to undergo a cardiac or orthopedic procedure,” says Shade, who has been at the facility more than a decade. The hospital’s own research has shown that the program improves surgical outcomes, like recovery time, and each participant has the option to roll into a full gym membership at the program’s completion—the hope is that tangible progress cements new fitness desires and habits. “We’re building that routine and consistency with exercise, and while certainly people can be disciplined to come in at other times of day, I find that morning exercisers are the ones who consistently stick with it,” notes Shade. “I include myself in that. When I knock it out early in the day, I feel better, and I know I won’t find an excuse later not to do it.”

LITTLE BY LITTLE, BUILD A NEW HABIT

Jane Ellington, a trained yoga instructor who runs The Yoga Shed in Richmond, a backyard oasis in a renovated shed offering one-on-one lessons, has a consistent early morning yoga practice of her own to center herself before she begins seeing private clients at 7:00 a.m. “I used to practice in the evenings up until a couple of years ago,” says Ellington. “As I got older and had more responsibilities in life, I couldn’t make a 6:00 p.m. yoga class. Carving out the time in the morning is what makes or breaks my week, to be honest.” Ellington says the key to getting a morning practice cemented is to start where you are, do what you can, and have grace for yourself. “Some of the best advice I got was rather than making a huge change, start smaller,” Ellington says. “If you normally get up at 7:00 a.m., scale back to 6:30 a.m., and get in 20 minutes. Do that for two weeks, and then go another 15 minutes.” This relieves the pressure of making a big change, like promising yourself an hour workout at 5:00 a.m. when you’ve never rolled out of bed before 6:30 a.m. “The consistency is more important than the length of time,” she notes. In addition to seeing private clients, Ellington produces studio-quality yoga videos available via subscription, so yogis can develop a home practice for a fraction of the cost of private training, perfect for starting a morning habit at home. As for giving oneself grace, research shows a new habit takes approximately 66 days for most people to cement. So mark the calendar, and check in with yourself in a little over two months to see how far you’ve come to reach your sunrise goals. Christy Rippel is fascinated by the people and places that make her adopted hometown of Roanoke unique. She writes regularly for The Roanoker, The Roanoke Times, and national publications. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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Life in the Heart Land

The VPM docuseries “Life in the Heart Land” explores the toughest challenges facing America’s rural communities and how some people are creating solutions. Courtesy of Deep Structure Productions

CONNECTED TO WHAT INSPIRES EMPATHY. CONNECTED TO WHAT MATTERS. As Virginia’s home for public media, we bring you relevant news and local storytelling to foster a greater understanding of our state, our neighbors and our world. VPM.org

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Hitting the slopes at Virginia’s Fab Four.

By M A R K TAY L OR | Photography by SA M DE A N

Skier on “Diamond Jim” at Massanutten.

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BY THE NUMBERS:

Virginia’s Ski Resorts BRYCE RESORT 1982 Fairway Dr. Basye, VA 22810 BryceResort.com Eagle’s-eye view of Bryce Resort. Below: Bryce’s bunny slope.

Year open: 1965 Skiable area: 25 acres Slopes/trails: 8 Lifts: 5; capacity 2,500/hour Vertical: 500 feet Longest run: 3,500 feet Snowmaking: 100 %

MASSANUTTEN RESORT

am Dean and I were tackling Bryce, the first stop on a four-day blast through Virginia’s ski areas. We’d skied together during the decade we worked at The Roanoke Times, squeezing in ski days between assignments, grabbing as many runs as we could before the lifts shut down. For Dean, little had changed. But my equipment, along with my joints, felt rusty, and my confidence had waned. And in skiing, confidence is key.

Year open: 1973 Skiable area: 70 acres Slopes/trails: 14 Lifts: 7; capacity 6,500/hour Vertical: 1,110 feet Longest run: 4,100 feet Snowmaking: 100%

THE OMNI HOMESTEAD 7696 Sam Snead Hwy.

BRYCE: Family-Friendly Terrain

Bryce is a great place for a skier to rebuild that confidence. Nearly all of the terrain is designed for beginning and intermediate skiers and the runs remain uncrowded. Established as a summer resort in the 1900s, Bryce’s ski area, spurred by snowmaking technology, was designed in 1965 by Austrian Sepp Kober, who introduced skiing to The Homestead in 1959. Bryce had its own Europeans—brothers Manfred and Horst Locher—who began traveling to Bryce from their home in Germany to work as seasonal ski instructors. When they finally settled here in the 1970s the brothers went on to manage ski operations for Bryce, a memberowned resort, for decades. Today Ryan Locher, Horst’s son, is Bryce’s general manager while Tanja Locher, a daughter of Manfred’s, is a F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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1822 Resort Dr. Massanutten, VA 22840 MassResort.com

mountain regular. Both successful Hot Springs, VA 24445 regional racers who learned to ski at OmniHotels.com Bryce, Ryan and Tanja served as our Year open: 1959 guides. Skiable area: 45 acres With Dean, they sent sheets of Slopes/trails: 10 powder flying with every graceLifts: 2; capacity 3,000/hour ful turn, while I stuck to “Redeye,” Vertical: 700 feet reminding myself to bend my knees, Longest run: 4,200 feet lean forward, look ahead of my skis, Snowmaking: 100% and let them do the work. When I hit a patch of ice—inevitable when WINTERGREEN RESORT skiing in the Southeast—I dug in my 39 Mountain Inn Loop edges and, with each run, I felt my Nellysford, VA 22958 confidence grow. WintergreenResort.com Bryce’s friendly terrain, with just Year open: 1975 one black-diamond slope—the short, Skiable area: 125 acres steep “Hangover”—makes it popuSlopes/trails: 24 lar with families. And in fact, the Lifts: 8; capacity 9,200/hour resort just enjoyed its best year yet. Vertical: 1,003 Between runs, Ryan Locher tells me Longest run: 1.4 miles that the resort’s planned expansion Snowmaking: 100% will include adding more slopes off the mountain’s back side. By afternoon, Dean and I carved down “White Lighting,” worked on tighter turns on “Revenuer’s Run,” and sped straight down “Locher’s Bowl” before calling it a day and heading south.

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Clockwise: Tanja and Ryan Locher at Bryce; the view down “Para Dice” at Massanutten; catching air.

MASSANUTTEN: Celebrating 50 Years

As we wound up the mountain that evening, we imagined a mellow weeknight of skiing at Massauntten, which celebrates 50 years this season. Instead, the place was pumping. But with seven lifts serving 14 slopes, Massanutten is well-equipped to handle an influx of skiers and snowboarders. We slid into line at the high-speed quad lift that runs from the main lodge area about halfway up the mountain. The line moved quickly, and we were soon atop “Southern Comfort.” Rather than take that gentle beginner slope, Dean and I transferred to the nearby quad lift to continue to the area’s peak. Unlike the lower mountain lifts, the quad to the top had no lines. Even on the busiest days, the toughest terrain is a great place to avoid crowds at any ski area. But once at the top, black-diamond slopes “Para Dice” and “Diamond Jim” are the only way down. We picked “Para Dice,” and as Dean took off making lilting turns looking for bumps, I followed, working on turns, while being overtaken by gangs of whooping teenaged snowboarders. We hit “Diamond Jim” next, then rolled to the mid-mountain triple that serves “MakAttack” (the mountain’s only other expert-rated slope) and the intermediates “Showtime,” “Mass Transit,” and “Pacesetter.”

Behind “lean forward,” skiing’s other key rule may be: Don’t push your luck with “one more run” when your legs are tired at the end of the day. We passed on “MakAttack” and called it a day—and a night—reaching our rented condo just as a big storm rolled in. A foot of snow was predicted, but the morning brought 4 inches of ice pellets. Still, to our happy Sepp Kober: Patron Saint surprise, the slopes were in great of Southern Skiing shape, thanks to the grooming team. kiing in the South? In the late 1950s, Sepp Kober’s vision Despite sketchy main roads, was an audacious one. “When you said ‘Virginia,’ people folks were rolling in mid-mornwould think tobacco—they didn’t think about skiing,” Koing, many wearing University of ber told The Roanoke Times in 2010. But with the advent Virginia and James Madison gear. of snow-making equipment, Kober, a native of Austria, believed Although JMU is just 30 minutes he could change all that. from Massanutten, the school’s From scratch, Kober built The Homestead’s ski program, turnski team calls Bryce home, while ing the Hot Springs resort into a popular winter destination. For UVA’s team is based at Wintermore than 40 years, he presided over the Sepp Kober Ski School green. But today, these students there and served as a sought-after advisor to ski-area developers were just out to have fun. in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. At the two terrain parks, we Known as the Father of Southern Skiing, Kober co-founded the watched skilled freestyle skiers Mid-Atlantic Ski Areas Association, was a founding member of and snowboarders do their thing the National Ski Areas Association, and launched the Southeaston jumps and rails, then ended ern Ski Representatives Association. the day at the yurt-shaped, glassAt 87, Kober was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall enclosed bar at the lodge, sipping of Fame in 2009, just one year before his death. Today, Kober’s Virginia IPAs and watching the influence on the sport continues, with the Southeast serving as slopes. the largest feeder market for ski resorts nationwide.

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sepp kober photo courtesy of the homestead

We scanned the rolling Appalachians and then the slope below us. “Just like old times,” Sam said before launching himself down the mountain.

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BEFORE YOU GO:

Lift tickets, ski rentals, season passes, and more.

hile nothing beats a spontaneous ski trip, a bit of advance planning can help skiers (and snowboarders) maximize slope time and minimize costs. All Virginia ski resorts offer online lift ticket sales and equipment rentals—and most now offer convenient apps. Ski-area rental shops are skilled at moving crowds, but on a busy weekend morning, the rental-fitting process can take an hour or more. To save time, rent from a ski shop closer to home—and don’t forget a helmet. Advance lift ticket purchases, season tickets, and packages— which include tickets, rentals, and lodging—often offer the best deals. Look for military, senior, and student discounts as well. Half day, night session, and weekday lift tickets always beat weekend and holiday rates. At Wintergreen, a full price, full day weekend ticket runs $94, the highest in the state, but Wintergreen also offers the most lifts and the longest runs. Comparable tickets sell for $82 at Massanutten, $58 at Bryce, and $54 at The Homestead. Virginia’s fickle winter weather is the only downside to planning a ski trip well in advance. For last-minute trips, check on-slope webcams to see snow conditions and crowd sizes in real time.

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WINTERGREEN: Something for Everyone

The storm that brought ice pellets up north had dropped six inches of powder here, where the skies were an impossibly bright blue. Everyone seemed to be smiling. Wintergreen is not only Virginia’s largest ski resort, it’s the only one with the main lodge at the top of the slopes, so you start the day skiing from the lodge, where the view is spectacular. Earlier, we’d been taking in that view from an overlook, when we met a father and son who parked Even on the and pulled their skis from their car. Slope poachbusiest days, ers? Nope. Season ticket holders. “We park here and walk up the road to get onto Upper Wild Turkey. sticking to That way we don’t have to go through the beginner slopes at the end of the day.” Smart! the toughest Wintergreen’s beginner slopes are sandwiched between the mostly intermediate runs on the terrain at resort’s south side and the expert runs to the any ski area north. Dean and I started on the blue-rated “Eagles Swoop,” where the snow was perfectly groomed, is a great and headed downhill. “Tyro” on the opposite side of the lift is just as good. way to avoid We also hit the expert-rated “Upper Sunrise,” the bottom of which is an easier intermediate slope. crowds. “Big Acorn,” a black-diamond slope named after the quad lift that serves those slopes, was closed for a race, so we made our way north, skiing “The Gap” and “Devil’s Elbow” to bounce effortlessly down a mogul field is breathtaking. Dean and I leave reach the high-speed, six-person Highland Express lift. those to the specialists. “Wild Turkey,” which runs below the lift, was a fun, straight shot. “CliffLate in the day, halfway down yet another run on “Eagles Swoop,” it hit hanger” goes from black-diamond on the top to double black on the bottom. me. I was no longer thinking about my next turn. For the first time in years, Even when groomed, steep terrain can get bumpy and watching an expert I was just skiing—and it was wonderful. VIRGINIA LIVING

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FARTHER AFIELD:

10 Ski Areas Near Virginia 1. APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN Blowing Rock, N.C. Ghent, W. Va.; Winterplace.com

2. BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT Beech Mountain, N.C. BeechMountainResort.com

3. CANAAN VALLEY SKI RESORT Davis, W. Va.; CanaanResort.com

4. LIBERTY MOUNTAIN RESORT Fairfield, Pa.; LibertyMountain.com

5. SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN RESORT (including Silver Creek ski area) Snowshoe, W. Va.; SnowshoeMtn.com

6. SUGAR MOUNTAIN RESORT Sugar Mountain, N.C.; SkiSugar.com

THE HOMESTEAD: Where It All Began

Clockwise from top: Eagle’s-eye view of Wintergreen; family skiing at Wintergreen; apres-ski relaxing; snowboarding at The Homestead; catching a lift on the Blue Ridge Express.

Dean and I hadn’t skied The Homestead, now an Omni Resorts property, for nearly 20 years. It was there that I’d introduced Dean to the woman he would marry. Opened in 1959, the Homestead’s ski area is the Southeast’s first, and you don’t have to be a resort guest to ski there. Of the mountain’s nine runs, only a short and steep connector trail, “The Glades,” is an expert trail, making The Homestead ideally suited for beginner and early-intermediate skiers. Many Virginians have nostalgic stories about taking their first turns on this beginner-friendly mountain. Little here has changed. Old loudspeakers on the lift stanchions still blare tinny 80s hits while ice skaters, some graceful, circle the small rink at the foot of the mountain. The lift offers a midway roll-off station a quarter mile up the hill, where students in the Sepp Kober Ski School exit to meet their instructors. We continued to the top, launching down the slope to the reggae pop sound of Eddy Grant’s 1983 hit “Electric Avenue.” The snow was good. The crowds were light. The brisket lunch and cold beer at Kober’s bar at the Mountain Lodge were delicious. The day went quickly and, as the sun dropped toward the horizon, we finally stopped at the bottom of the mountain. “Are we done?” Dean asked. “Let’s do one more,” I said. So we did.

Davis W. Va.; TimberlineLodge.com

8. WHITETAIL RESORT Mercersburg, Pa.; SkiWhitetail.com

9. WINTERPLACE Ghent, W. Va.; Winterplace.com

10. WISP RESORT McHenry, Md.; WispResort.com

Oregon native Mark Taylor landed in Norfolk in 1988 for a four-year stint as a U.S. Navy officer. Now based in Roanoke, he works as Trout Unlimited’s eastern communications director. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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7. TIMBERLINE MOUNTAIN

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Why We’re

Williams Candy Company Fancy Mix

Crazy

for

C-ville Candy Company Confetti Nonpariels, Almond Toffee Crunch, Sesame Peanut Crisp, and Freddie’s Favorites

hen my kids were little, Saturday was candy day. I’d give each of my three boys a small cupful with a word of advice: they could eat it all at once or savor it slowly. Today, they still love candy. It’s in their genes. They get it from me. It’s no wonder that candy sales jumped in 2020: When life takes a sudden and disastrous turn, a piece of chocolate, a lollipop, or peanut brittle transports us to a more innocent time, when happiness was just a jelly bean away. It’s a simple fact that candy makes people happy. And for five Virginia entrepreneurs, they’re in the candy making

business because it brings meaning to their lives. There’s a sweet connection between the maker and the customer, and there’s love in that relationship. These folks are survivors. And while none pose a threat to that other Virginia-based candy giant, Mars—makers of M&Ms, Snickers, and Skittles, whose global headquarters is located in McLean— these makers are providing jobs and helping to sustain us during uncertain times with a lemon drop of sunshine or a nutty nougat of chewy goodness.

David Shalloway

C-ville Candy

WHEN I ENTER DAVID SHALLOWAY’S

candy factory near Charlottesville, my mouth waters. Stacks of nonpareils in a rainbow of colors and trays of chocolate bark call my name. The heady, tropical scent of cocoa wafts through the air from a vat of liquid chocolate that is tempering. A genial fellow in his early 60s, Shalloway welcomes me with a big smile. He lives, breathes, thinks, designs, creates, quantifies, dreams, and, yes, eats candy. Like the nonpareils he makes, he’s one-of-a-kind with an enthusiasm for life that matches his love for candy. But he’s proudest of his team—Chris, Sherri, and Rebecca—who help him make and pack C-Ville’s candy. “They’re like my family,” he says. VIRGINIA LIVING

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Candy A Secret Forest lollipops

For five Virginia candy makers, business these days is sweet.

By PE G G Y SI JS W E R DA | Photography by T Y L E R DA R DE N

Shalloway started selling his orange-cashew-honey brittle at the Charlottesville Farmers Market in 2014. “A big crowd, all ages, gathered around, elderly, young,” he recalls. “They were all smiles, excited, euphoric at what they were seeing and tasting. Even the older people looked like kids again.” He’s held a dozen or more jobs—from junk shop owner to roles at companies that made soap and file folders. “I love to work,” he says. With each job, he developed the next set of skills he’d need to run his candy business. The last one allowed him time to perfect his candy recipes. By then, Shalloway was on fire. “Anything I do,” he says, still smiling, “I do absolutely 100 percent.” CvilleCandy.com

Vanessa Beller

A Secret Forest

WHEN I MEET “THE LOLLIPOP LADY,” she is leaning over a stainless steel table, intently arranging tiny shapes in a mold. “I have to finish this before it sets,” Vanessa Beller says, so I quietly watch this 44-year-old artist at work. A Secret Forest began in L.A., as a side gig to Beller’s thriving cake and pastry business. “I didn’t even think this was a business,” she says. But after she posted her handcrafted lollipops on Tumblr, the candy went viral. When Beller and her husband moved to Richmond to be closer to family, they continued to grow their business. Today her pops have been featured in Martha Stewart Living, Elle, BuzzFeed, and Brides.com, and they’re shipped all over the world. Her 5,000 Instagram followers drool over Beller’s creations, which are indeed works of art. Embedded within the clear hard candy are pieces of edible paper in shapes and colors limited only by your imagination—unicorns, hearts, butterflies, even logos—each exquisitely crafted and detailed. “The flavors are endless,” says Beller, who favors florals like elderflower, jasmine, violet, and rose. Customers cre-

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Vanessa Beller crafting her lollipops. Opposite: David Shalloway and a fresh batch of C-Ville Candy Company Confetti Nonpariels.

ate their own insta-pop, choosing the flavors and design. “Everything is made to order.” When demand grew dramatically, Beller shifted more to wholesale outlets. “We’re just trying to stay ahead of the orders,” says Beller, who admits to working seven days a week. When she can, she travels for inspiration, finding it in Spain’s colorful tiles and orange trees. “I get ideas from everywhere.” ASecretForest.Etsy.com, @asecretforest

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she plays every weekend. The pandemic has brought supply chain challenges and price increases, Charney said. The cancellation of many specialty food shows last year reduced the number of orders she normally gets. “But I’m still here,” she says, grinning. “I won’t go away.” RedRockerCandy.com

Lemon Burst Pretzel Mix

Marty Cochran

Forbes Candies

“OUR CANDY REPRESENTS VACATIONS OF OLD and memories,” says

Marty Cochran, 44, owner of Forbes Candies, sold in beach towns from Maine to Key West. “It brings people together. Peppermint is Christmas.

Butter Crunch Cashew

Sue Charney

Red Rocker Candy

WHEN SUE CHARNEY, 60, DECIDED TO GO INTO the candy business,

she struggled to come up with a name. She’d recently bought an old rocker at a thrift store and painted it red. Bingo. Red Rocker Candy was born. “It evoked the feeling that I wanted to give people,” she says. “We’re family, front porch.” That was in 2002. Charney and her husband, Jack, moved to Virginia from California to start their new business after the events of 9/11 made them rethink their paths in life. “I’d been laid off from my job and I started making toffee. My husband took it to work and people couldn’t believe how good it was,” says Charney. “My neighbor asked me to make some for gifts.” For six years, she made the candy in her basement, selling it in farmers markets and gift stores before the couple decided to build a factory. Around then Jack became ill with leukemia and passed away in 2014. It was a tough time for Charney, who was nursing her husband while trying to grow her business. “But I survived,” she said. Her candy offerings expanded to include chocolate bark, cashew toffee, and Red Rocker’s top-seller: Rocking Chair Mix, a salty-sweet mix of pretzels, cereal, and almonds coated in white chocolate. She’s a candy fan, too. “When I eat candy, I feel like a kid,” she says. Her other passion is golf, and

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Forbes Candies taffy on the puller, evenly distributing flavor and color. Opposite page, clockwise from top: Marty Cochran; at Red Rocker Candy, Paula Morrison makes Butter Crunch Cashew; tins before sealing; a batch of Peppermint Blast Pretzel Mix.

“Our candy represents vacations of old and memories. It brings people together.” —Marty Cochran, Forbes Candies

Taffy is vacation.” Cochran never planned to be a candymaker. While in college, he took a summer job at a Forbes store on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. In 2009, he purchased the business from the Forbes family with a partner, whom he later bought out. Besides their ubiquitous taffy, Forbes makes hand-dipped Easter eggs, fudge, caramels, pecan delights, rocky road, and more. Valentine’s Day is their thirdlargest holiday behind Christmas and Easter. “The majority of what we sell are assorted chocolate boxes,” he explains. “They come in all shapes and sizes and prices, and everything we put in our boxes is locally produced in Virginia Beach.” “We do best at taffy,” said Cochran, who hasn’t changed the recipes but has added new flavors, such as blue raspberry and sour watermelon, to keep up with the changing tastes of consumers.

Sales exploded in 2020, Cochran says. “It’s just been nuts.” When they had to shutter their retail locations early on, Cochran began distributing his candies to truck stops, convenience stores, and gas stations across the country. These new distribution outlets helped keep the Forbes factory humming. “We’ve made more candy this year than we’ve ever made.” Cochran isn’t quite sure why all of a sudden everyone’s crazy about candy, but he does think that candy can be part of a healthy diet. “In order to be healthy, you have to be happy. Candy makes you happy. Makes sense to me,” he says with a smile. ForbesCandies.com F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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Clockwise from top: Hot candy is poured onto cooling table; Joe Williams cutting molten candy; ribbons cooling on a conveyor belt; David Williams kneading candy. Opposite page: Fresh Pineapple Lump candy.

David Williams

Williams Candy

DAVID WILLIAMS, 68, IS FOCUSED ON THE HOT LIQUID CANDY,

spread out on a stainless steel table in his small factory in Chesapeake. “Peach buds, they’re our top seller,” he says, “watch.” Williams spreads coloring around and then divides the candy into three 30-pound mounds, each a different color, which he and his assistant Blake deftly knead. “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em,” says Williams with a wink and a grin as he lays two large chunks of candy carefully in a machine, tops them with a snowy mass of coconut, and places the last one on top. “Like putting a puzzle together,” he says. Slowly the giant mass turns round and round, magically melding it into one long cylinder of gold, red, and cream yumminess, which spews from the end of the machine like a colorful snake, to be broken into their signature candy at the end of the line. “It’s a workout,” Williams says. He’s a third-generation candymaker. His grandfather started the business, his mom currently owns it, and Williams runs it along with his sister, other family members, and a small staff. “We’re her worker elves.” Besides peach buds, they make old-fashioned hard candy in flavors like banana, cinnamon, and fruit, to name a few. “I believe in quality. If you get the quality right, people will keep coming,” Williams says. “You gotta take pride in what you do.” Williams Candy Company distributes to grocery stores, candy stores, and outlets. Business has been skyrocketing lately. “You gotta love it,” he says. “If you don’t, there ain’t no need to be here.” He likes to entertain people and welcomes customers to stop by the factory to see candy being made. “If you get your customers laughing, you’ve done your job,” he says. “You made their day.” Call 757-545-9311. Peggy Sijswerda, MFA, lives in Virginia Beach and writes about travel, food, and wellness. IfYouSeekAdventure.com, @peggywrites. VIRGINIA LIVING

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There’s a simple, sweet connection between the maker and the customer, and there’s love in that relationship.

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Weddings

photo by anna & amber at anna bowser photography

Find Virginia Living’s Top Wedding Vendors online at VirginiaLiving.com/ Directories

Katelynd Shoff andJosh Fleshman at Big Spring Farm in Lexington.

If we’ve learned anything from this year’s wedding couples, it’s resilience. In a season filled with curveballs, love saw them through. In their honor, we’re excited to share our “Feel Good, Stay Sane Guide to Planning a Wedding” along with news on men’s rings, dream vendors, inspired catering, and dresses for every venue. Here, our joyful celebration of love and romance comes with lots of help from family and friends. Because isn’t that what weddings are all about? F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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The Feel-Good, Stay Sane Guide to Planning a Wedding Couples counselors offer their best advice for riding the wedding rollercoaster.

B y J EN N I F E R PR INCE | I l l u s t r a t i o n s b y A DA M L A R K U M

hether you get engaged in a quiet restaurant or on a mountaintop, the moment is just between the two of you. Once the news spreads and the intimacy of your engagement goes public, however, you quickly find yourself fielding questions like When? Where? and Can my cousin’s boyfriend bring his dog? It can all feel a little overwhelming. But, our relationship experts say, it doesn’t have to be. Sure, you’ll need a well-organized to-do list. But you’ll also benefit from some emotional know-how to keep teamwork on track and communication flowing between family, friends, and fiancés. We asked several Virginia couples counselors for advice on navigating the wedding-planning process. Their pointers on dividing tasks, setting realistic goals, and defining healthy boundaries will help you plan a celebration you’ll cherish while managing the inevitable twists and turns along the way.

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Remember, you’re playing the long game.

Although planning your big day is exciting, it’s easy to get swept up in the details. To stay grounded, check in with your partner at regular intervals to keep communication lines open. “When the stress of wedding planning starts to happen, couples should remind each other to keep things in perspective,” suggests Brian Mayer, owner of Brian Mayer, LCSW Counseling Services in Richmond. Although you want your wedding day to be a fabulous celebration of your love, it’s one day. You have the rest of your lives to focus on, too. “A beautiful wedding and reception lasts a few hours, while a loving relationship will last for decades,” reminds Mayer. Having a long-term perspective can help you and your significant other stay focused on what truly matters.

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Weddings Style Guide Realize it’s normal for one partner to take the lead.

Chances are, one partner will emerge as the lead planner. Yes, you’ll want to make big decisions together, but if one partner shoulders more responsibility, that’s okay. “It is common for one person to take the lead in the planning process,” says Mayer. “To avoid stress, they should have conversations with each other early in the process around responsibilities.” Divide duties up based on your interests. Maybe one partner loves budgeting and organizing, while the other has a knack for food, flowers, and decorations. Use those bents to your advantage. “There will be some tasks that the less engaged partner would be willing to do,” says Mayer. “Find out what those are, then the more engaged partner should take a step back from those.” No matter your role, allocating responsibilities will reduce the likelihood of conflict.

Talk about things other than wedding planning.

You fell in love with each other for a reason. Whether it was her smile or his gut-busting jokes, you were a couple long before the planning process began. Keep it that way. Reconnect with each other and don’t limit conversation to the big day. “As much fun as it can be to plan a wedding, make sure you continue to invest in yourself and your relationship during this time, and don’t let the wedding planning become your sole focus,” advises Lindsey M. Hoskins, Ph.D., LMFT, and the owner of Lindsey Hoskins & Associates in Sterling. Try to keep your life and interactions as normal as possible, and that includes hanging out with others. “Spend time with friends and loved

While some advice may be welcome, too much can feel meddlesome. “It’s important—but not easy—to set boundaries.” —Brian Mayer, LCSW

ones doing non-wedding-related activities, go on dates together, and continue to pursue hobbies, exercise, etc.,” Hoskins emphasizes. She also notes that focusing on each other provides a soft landing after the special day. If you only talk and think about the wedding, there can be a big letdown once the party’s over.

Set boundaries on who can weigh in on your plans.

Everyone from your aunt who wed 30 years ago to your sister-in-law who got married last year will want to give you advice for your big day. While some advice may be welcome, too much can feel meddlesome. “It is important—but not easy—to establish boundaries with others early in the process around what the couple’s wishes are. After all, this is their day,” says Mayer. Hoskins agrees that the earlier you set those limits, the better. “It is easy for other voices to muddy the waters when making decisions, especially for those from large or opinionated families,” she says. Her advice? “Try to envision yourselves as you experience your wedding day,

and think about what is going to help you create meaningful connection and memories together.” In short, realize that the day is about you and the one you love.

Stay on task—and budget.

Right now, your head may be spinning with inspiring ideas from Pinterest, blogs, and glossy magazines. Hoskins reminds us that the wedding industry itself can get overwhelming, and budgets can quickly feel strained. “I’ve seen many couples deal with tension and conflict after their wedding day because they have overextended themselves financially,” she says. The best way to combat this is to talk openly about your finances and stick with a plan once you set it. “Think carefully about what you can spend on your wedding, agree on a budget that is comfortable for both partners, and then get creative about staying within that budget,” advises Hoskins. “Starting your marriage off on solid financial footing pays dividends over the longterm.” But, again, it’s one event—not something that should cause extreme debt. Your wedding day will bring joy as family and friends witness your commitment to the one you love. By focusing on each other and your future together, you’ll concentrate on what truly matters. “The most important thing to remember is that a wedding should represent the two people getting married and what makes them feel happy and connected,” says Hoskins. Incorporate what’s essential to you as a couple on your big day, get married, and then enjoy a wonderful life together. Jennifer Prince lives in Lynchburg with her husband, kids, and too many cats. The mastermind behind Hill City Bride—a Virginia wedding blog— she enjoys travel, supporting local businesses, and thrifting for vintage finds.

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Photo Credit: Lauren Morris Photography

Your Forever Begins at Veritas Vineyard & Winery

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The Farmhouse at Veritas delivers private fine dining, multiple ceremony locations, luxury accommodations, and multi-night packages for intimate weddings of up to 50 guests. Let us take care of the details on your special day.

The Winery is a full service venue overlooking vineyards ideally suited to midsize and large weddings. Our Ballroom, Ceremony Lawn, Tasting Room, and wrap-around veranda offer luxurious spaces for your guests to gather and celebrate your love.

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Your Happily Ever After Begins Here.

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Moments that Matter. Discover a world of bespoke possibilities with unprecedented grace and comfortable luxury in Virginia’s horse and wine country. Our attentive team will bring your vision to life at our iconic and timeless Forbes Five-Star resort. 888.211.2504

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Weddings Style Guide

The Inside Scoop Three important wedding details not to overlook. By JENNIFER PR INCE Styling and Design by KRISTIN SHOCKLEY

Gown by Monique Lhuillier.

CHOOSING A MENU: How to get the best from your caterer.

photos by david abel (2), catering and venue courtesy of william & mary college

YES, YOU CAN WORK WITH YOUR DREAM VENDOR

ou follow them on social media, and you’re a fan. They’re the vendor with impeccable style, but their prices may be out of your range. Before you rule them out, know that many top vendors are willing to work with you—if you know how to broach the subject, that is.

Communicate your admiration. Everyone loves a sincere compliment, so whether you admire a florist’s eye for design, a baker’s imaginative cakes, or a band’s ability to light up the dance floor—share what you love about them. Have an open mind. Chances are the wedding pro will be able to offer costeffective alternatives. “Being open to artistic interpretations of your inspiration is a great way to get a unique design that the designer can create within your desired price point,” says Bron Hansboro, owner of The Flower Guy Bron in Richmond. Most likely, they can implement budget-friendly ideas. For example, Hansboro once had two weddings in one weekend, and the couples shared floral designs. It was a fabulous way to be sustainable while having two weddings bear the cost of one high-end florist. Be honest about your budget. “Be transparent about your investment upfront,” suggests Hansboro. Letting them know your budget allows them to choose whether to decline kindly or offer creative solutions. Everyone loves peonies, but using this spring flower for a December wedding means having to order blooms from afar. An experienced florist can make suggestions that give the same look without the high price tag.

You’ve found a dress, booked the venue, and signed a photographer. Now it’s time for tastings with your caterer. The word from food insiders is this: you don’t have to settle for the pre-planned lineup of dishes. We asked Chef Jon Beattie, the owner and head chef of The Renaissance in Richmond, to share the latest food trends and offer advice on creating a personalized menu. The same rules apply to bakers and bartenders, too.

Opt for fresh, local ingredients.

Think beyond chicken and beef.

Spice up your dishes.

Chefs enjoy showing off their skills, which means that branching off from the norm can yield delicious results. “Couples are looking to expand their guests’ experiences with curated dishes and layered flavors and offerings like never before,” says Beattie. Chefs are trying to wow couples with elaborate food tastings that engage all of the senses. Beattie notes that it’s not just about swapping meats, but about the how you flavor them, too. “Salmon is always fun, but instead of a hot dish, explore a chilled option with a spicy dressing,” he suggests.

Go unexpected with the traditional.

Having chicken and beef is perfectly okay, but ask your catering team for suggestions on unique seasonings. Beattie advises, “Caterers— and for that matter, couples—need to stop thinking ‘safe’ and really experience the amazing dishes that an expert team can achieve.”

Modern couples are infusing more flavors into their receptions, which is refreshing for chefs like Beattie, who appreciate an opportunity to experiment with different flavor profiles. “There were times where every one of our couples would say ‘easy on the spices’,” he says. “Now we get to schedule a tasting and provide both options. The perfectly seasoned dish wins every time!”

Use heirloom recipes.

If you have a favorite family dish, include it on your wedding day. A quality caterer will be able to replicate the meal, especially when provided with a tried-and-true recipe. “It really adds little to no time or cost to create something that is a nice surprise if it’s an old family favorite,” states Beattie. “Elevate the experience past just the taste.”

MODERN WEDDING BAND TRENDS FOR GROOMS Alternate Materials Gold will always be classic, but men’s rings can also highlight substances like tungsten, titanium, steel, and wood. Gemstones It’s perfectly acceptable for men to feature gems on their wedding bands, including clear and colored stones. One-of-a-Kind Search estate jewelry stores for heirloom pieces, or have one custom designed within your price range. Secondary Bands An active guy will appreciate a second band (silicone is only around $20) to prevent wear and tear on their primary ring.

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Talk to your caterer about incorporating fresh, seasonal flavors from nearby farms and purveyors. “Couples should insist on the freshest of vegetables even if the chef has to handpick the vegetables and herbs the very day of the event,” suggests Beattie. Even simple dishes are quickly elevated if the ingredients are at the peak of freshness.

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M O U N TA I N L A K E LODGE

Your dream wedding

any season

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Weddings Style Guide

Winery? Barn? Museum? Castle? When shopping for a wedding dress, experts say, consider the setting.

By J E N N I F E R PR I NC E | Photography by A M AT I V E C R E AT I V E

HEN BRIDES GET ENGAGED,

two things top their list besides showing off the new bling: Dress shopping and picking a venue. Of course, it makes sense as both are excellent foundations for setting the tone and style of your big day. But have you ever considered pairing the two? Virginia experts say that doing so could simplify

the process of choosing your gown. “I have noticed that the majority of my brides already have their venue picked out before selecting their dream gown,” says Olivia Rumsey, assistant manager and stylist at Caryn’s Bridals, Formals, & Tuxedos in Farmville. “I find this extremely helpful, especially if a bride is between two or more gowns.” Not only can the style of your VIRGINIA LIVING

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venue help you narrow down your dress selection, but considering the location may seal the deal. Andrea Lewis, owner of Amative Creative in Lynchburg, imagines the bigger picture when helping her brides select a dress. As a photographer, Lewis likes to conceptualize the gown ahead of time to get to know the bride’s style and consider poses that complement the dress. Having the gown

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coordinate with the location is a satisfying bonus. “You’d be surprised how many weddings I shoot where the bride beams with joy stating that her dress matches her venue,” says Lewis. The location may also dictate other factors, such as selecting a durable fabric if you’re getting married in the woods. “If your venue is a hotel ballroom, you have more flexibility with wearing sleeves and heavier fabrics because you’ll be in a climate-controlled space,” advises Alyce Carlin, owner of The Newfangled Bride in Salem. She also suggests lightweight fabrics for rustic settings with uneven terrains, such as a barn floor or the outdoors.

Don’t fall out of love with a gown that seems perfect because it’s not the same style as your venue. Although you should keep your wedding’s setting in mind when dress shopping, don’t fall out of love with a gown that seems perfect simply because it’s not the same style as your chosen venue. If it makes you feel amazing, go for it! “The most important thing to consider when picking a dress is how you feel,” suggests Carlin. “When you feel beautiful in what you’re wearing, the confidence will come across to your guests and in your photos.” Rumsey also agrees that brides should stay true to themselves. “Find a gown that reflects your personal style and love story,” she advises. “Be mindful of what is genuine to you.” No matter what, your wedding day reflects you and your partner, and if you want something unconventional, don’t be afraid to go outside of perceived norms. Whether you adore colorful vibes or clean lines, there’s a dress—and a venue—for that. The choice is yours.

1 PLAYFUL Traditionally more offbeat, these locations are often found inside art galleries, breweries, flower gardens, and reclaimed spaces. Pick a gown that is playful, yet a bit understated—perhaps even with a pop of color—to let your personality take center stage.

gowns by church street bridal, lynchburg

2 MINIMAL Modern lines and an impeccable fit characterize minimalistic gowns. It’s no wonder as these events often take place in clean, bright, unfussy spaces, such as refurbished buildings and warehouses with light-colored walls that act as the perfect backdrop for your big day. 3 DRAMATIC Gowns inspired by old Hollywood glam are perfect for darker, moodier venues, such as theatres and luxe ballrooms. This maximalist approach to dressing concentrates on crystal accents, layers, and statement details like unexpected sleeves or a bead-laden bodice. 4 EARTHY These venues are ideal for those who love boho and rustic vibes. Consider gowns with handmade-inspired detailing and lace overlays. Slight nods to the 1970s also fit with this style of dress, which is perfect for the outdoors, barns, and farms. 5 ELEGANT These classic events often occur in light and airy hotel ballrooms, open reception spaces, and well-curated gardens. Although it’s not necessary to overspend, elegant gowns often look expensive by focusing on the overall construction instead of mounds of tiny details.

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For a memorable and historic celebration, join us at the Smithfield Inn.

For over 250 years, family and friends have been celebrating and creating traditions at the Smithfield Inn. The public areas are newly renovated, focusing on the historic importance while offering tasteful Southern elegance. The Smithfield Inn excels in catering to your every need for special occasions such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, sweet 16 parties, and of course holiday events. Our beautiful dining room and garden will provide the perfect atmosphere for any occasion. Featuring five suites in the main building and four rooms in the garden house, the Smithfield Inn provides an intimate setting for your guests’ needs. The garden house is a perfect location for bridesmaids to stay and prepare for the big day! C. Caldwell Properties has owned and operated the Smithfield Inn since 2017. They take great pride in taking care of this historic treasure of downtown Smithfield. All proceeds go toward maintaining and ensuring that the Smithfield Inn remains for future generations.

112 North Main St. • Smithfield, VA 23430

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7 5 7 - 3 5 7 - 1 7 5 2 • S m i t h f i e l d In n . n e t

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WEDDINGS CREATE MEMORIES

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S virginia Weddings B y VA L E R I E H U B B A R D

VIRGINIA LIVING

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

Joanna & James A Woodberry Forest wedding.

May 15, 2021 • Ceremony: St. Andrews Chapel at Woodberry Forest School, Woodberry Forest Reception: Mount Ida Reserve, Scottsville

HARED PASSIONS INSPIRED THE

lavish, floral-infused wedding of college sweethearts Joanna Borman and James Moyler, which took place in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in May. The couple, who met as undergraduate students at William & Mary, wanted their wedding to reflect the places and people that had played significant roles in their lives. That guiding theme actually began with James’ proposal during a surprise weekend for Joanna in Middleburg—a place the couple loved to visit. On a hike, James asked Joanna to marry him, presenting her with an engagement ring adorned with diamonds from both of his grandmothers, enhanced by a third diamond he’d selected to complement the setting. Freshly engaged, the couple began making wedding plans together. They chose James’ alma mater, Woodberry Forest School in Madison County to exchange their vows. “We wanted a church that meant something to us, and the chapel at Woodberry Forest is where James spent many Sunday evenings,” says Joanna. The choice for their reception venue came after

a visit to the Mount Ida Reserve, a winery and farm in Scottsville. “I could not stop envisioning a tent at the edge of the lawn looking out on the Blue Ridge Mountains,” she says. That vision played out with a reception lush with flowers and greenery, covering arches, tables, the bar, and even suspended from the tent roof, filling the spaces with the couple’s favorite colors: pink and green. From the invitations, dresses, men’s ties, menu, and escort cards to the cake, macaroons, and signature drinks, everything played out in pink and green. Even their shoes—his green, hers pink— reflected their color palette. The couple, who also share a love of music and dancing, hired the Queen City Band that specializes in classic shag tunes. James also surprised Joanna with a performance by Will Anderson, lead singer from the pop-rock band, Parachute. “It was magical, and I will never forget it!” says James. Valerie Hubbard tried economics and politics, but traded them for life as a newspaper reporter and, most recently, a contributor and editor for regional publications like Virginia Business and Bay Splash. ValerieHbbrd@gmail.com

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Kir Tuben Photography, Washington, D.C. WEDDING COORDINATOR: Pamela Barefoot Events & Design, Bristow CATERER: The Local, Charlottesville HAIR & MAKEUP: Anna Breeding, Atlanta, GA FLORALS: Dream Floral Art, Northern Virginia, Southern Blooms, Madison VIDEOGRAPHER: DeVries Productions, Lynchburg DESSERTS: ButterCream Bakeshop, Washington D.C. CUSTOM BAR: Paisley & Jade, Richmond

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105 V I R G I N I A L I V I N G

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THE GREATER VIRGINIA

Bridal Show

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presented by

Photo Credit Sareh Nouri

Plan your wedding in one day at our elegant bridal shows: January 9, 2022 | 1 – 4 pm Boonsboro Country Club Lynchburg January 23, 2022 | 1 – 4 pm Fredericksburg Fair Grounds Expo Center January 16, 2022 | 1 – 5 pm The Berglund Center Roanoke February 27, 2022 | 1 – 5 pm The Richmond Raceway Expo Center

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Burying the Bourbon with

TheEstateAtRiverRun.com 804 . 887 . 0171

The perfect combination of beauty and history for a memorable wedding or special event.

Our unique venue offers the perfect blend of rustic and modern. With multiple ceremony sites and a climate controlled lodge for receptions, you’ll be happy you chose us for your special day!

Recognized by both the Virginia Landmark Register and National Register of Historic Places as a place of unique historic value.

Weddings 6639 N. Valley Pike, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 6639 N. Valley Pike, Harrisonburg, VA 22802

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info@melrosecaverns.com

540.434.3500

MelroseCaverns.com

12/16/21 9:48 PM

“What’s scarier than driving six hours for a first date?” —Katelynd

Katelynd & Josh An undeniable connection leads to a family-centric celebration. August 22, 2020 • Big Spring Farm, Lexington

F FATE HAD ITS WAY, KATELYND

Shoff and Joshua Fleshman might never have had a first date, much less gone on to marry. She lived in Columbus, Ohio. He was six hours away in Roanoke. The two were set up on a first date for the wedding of mutual friends. But when the wedding was cancelled, the date never happened. Their texts continued, however, and weeks later, they decided to plan a meeting. “But what’s scarier than driving six hours for a first date?” says Katelynd. “We decided the best option was to meet up halfway on a Sunday in Charleston, West Virginia—because a three hour drive to a first date wasn’t as bad as six.” Since neither had ever been to Charleston, picking out a day’s worth of activities proved challenging. The breakfast restaurant they chose for their first encounter turned out to be more McDonald’s-like than the quaint local café they’d envisioned. Their other choices proved equally disappointing—including an arcade where only

three of the games worked, an awkward dinner, and a goodnight kiss in the Walmart parking lot, where Katelynd had left her car. “We both drove home grinning the whole way because we both knew,” says Katelynd. “Our connection was undeniable.” Engaged a few years later, the couple chose Big Spring Farm near Lexington for their ceremony, charmed by its mountain views and wooded outdoor setting. The fall celebration leaned into the season with a palette of terracotta, green, and white with special touches that reflected the couple and their families. A reception in Big Spring’s restored barn began with table assignments on an assortment of ceramic, glass, and wood decorative items that Katelynd and her mother sourced in thrift stores. The duo also teamed up with an aunt to create floral decorations. In a final nod to their families, the couple left their reception in Josh’s grandfather’s green 1929 Model A Ford Roadster. True to their story, it rained on their celebration. They barely even noticed. VIRGINIA LIVING

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Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Anna & Amber at Anna Bowser Photography, Roanoke VIDEOGRAPHY: Abbey Dillard Photo & Video, Vinton DJ: Kidd Carter, Roanoke DRESS: Twirl Bridal Boutique, Kenton, OH SUITS: Moss Bros BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: The Dessy Group FLORALS: Aimee Williams, Columbus, OH MAKEUP: Glam by Holly Jade, Roanoke HAIR: Makaela Hurd with Up Towne Hair & Nail Salon, Roanoke CATERER: CHEFS Catering Company, Lexington CAKE: Kimberly Shoff, Columbus, OH

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

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You are the Star at the Historic Masonic Theatre! Restored in 2016, the Historic Masonic Theatre makes an unforgettable wedding venue.

MASONIC AMPHITHEATRE

MASONIC AMPHITHEATRE CLIFTON FORGE, VA

BEACH BUM TANNING & AIRBRUSH SALON BE A C H B U M A P P N OW AVA I LA B LE!

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WINCHESTER, VA 540.545.8895

FRONT ROYAL, VA 540.635.6466

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Three unique spaces to choose from for your ceremony or reception Catering kitchen Tables and chairs

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State-of-the-art A/V equipment Setup included in fee Located in the beautiful Alleghany Highlands

F O R R AT E S A N D D E TA I L S Call Teresa Wright at 540 862-5655 or email at info@historicmasonictheatre.com PHOTOS BY NICOLE VIEWS

OVER-THE-MOON I N PA R A D I S E

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Blue Ridge

Weddings & Events Full Wedding Planning and Coordinating Services

Lori Hedrick Photography

A wedding venue as elegant and original as you are

Events by Erin where every moment is a memory. BlueRidgeWeddinsAndEvents.com

276.233.8 4 47

National treasures of America’s Mountain Music

Me & Martha

Laura’s Focus Photography

Performing as Duo or Band Processional Music  Wedding M.C.  Reception Music  Rehearsal Dinner Music  Licensed Wedding Officiant  

BIANCA NORTON Director of Catering

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River Farm the perfect setting for your special event

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(703) 768-5700 ext. 114 rentals@ahsgardening.org www.ahsgardening.org River Farm is headquarters of the American Horticultural Society

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

Even though the wedding was small, everyone chipped in to make sure the food and decorations were special.

Victoria & Jonathan A Waterford wedding with a backyard setting. September 21, 2020 • Family home, Waterford

HEIR SEPTEMBER WEDDING WAS

nothing like they’d imagined. Like many engaged couples in 2020, Victoria Bayzaee and Jonathan Abraham saw the pandemic upend their plans for a large wedding celebration. “We had to make a difficult decision from planning a large vineyard wedding to changing plans altogether to have a small wedding,” says Victoria. “It was a whirlwind of emotions.” But this unexpected turn of events wasn’t the couple’s first. Neither Victoria, a nurse, nor Jonathan, a physician in Northern Virginia, had expected to find their soulmate at work. When Jonathan proposed at the U.S. Botanic Garden in July of 2019, Victoria hadn’t anticipated becoming the “cliché nurse and doctor couple,” she says. But love, as they say, is love. Their wedding plans took many twists and turns as the pandemic played out, with the couple finally settling on an intimate ceremony in the backyard of Victoria’s parents’ Waterford home. With their guest list pared to immediate family, everyone rolled up their sleeves and got involved in setting up for the wedding celebration. To transform the backyard space, a close family friend made a floral arch adorned with greenery for the marriage ceremony—which Victoria’s mother officiated—and Victoria and Jonathan purchased tables and chairs, plates, cups, and candles to create the setting. The couple, who love food trucks, rented a “sip

social” bartending trailer, which they decorated with flowers and a banner with their names. Both families enjoyed an artisanal pizza bar followed by macaroons, cake pops, and a wedding cake for dessert. Even though the wedding was small, everyone chipped in to make sure the food and decorations were special. “It was truly a celebration of bringing two families together, made even more special with everyone helping to make the day amazing,” says Victoria.

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Audra Wrisley Photography, Alexandria MOBILE BAR: The Sip Social, Alexandria VIDEOGRAPHY: Winter Studios, Leesburg FLORALS: Petals by the Shore, VA/DC/MD DESSERTS: Signature Sweets by Amanda, Warrenton HAIR STYLIST: Styles by Stefani, Ashburn

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Julie & Josh

A shared passion for their Celtic heritage. April 17, 2021 • Friend’s property, Dugspur

HEN PLANS FOR A LARGER

spring wedding had to be scaled back the previous year, Julie Borden and Josh Kinn turned to their friends and family for help. “Every detail of our wedding was special because everything was touched by a friend or family member,” says Julie. Friends with an eclectic collection of vacation rentals—a cottage, a “glamping” tent, and a gypsy caravan—splayed throughout the lush green slopes in Southwest Virginia, eagerly jumped in to offer a wedding venue, accommodations for guests, and even catering for the reception. “We owe so much to their generosity and hard work,” the bride says. Julie and Josh share a passion for Celtic music and heritage—they play together in a Celtic band called “Kinnfolk.” And although Celtic traditions played a starring role in their celebration, they quickly realized that the “theme” for their wedding would be love of those who meant most to them. With the colorful gypsy caravan as their centerpiece, the couple exchanged vows beneath a flower-strewn arch made of rhododendron branches cut from the surrounding woodlands. A chandelier, found tucked away in a friend’s house, further decorated the arch at its peak. While Julie wore a traditional white wedding gown and cape, Josh—whose family has ties to the MacKay clan—wore full formal clan

dress including a kilt in the family tartan. Their ceremony incorporated a Celtic tradition called “handfasting.” This is where the minister ties the couple’s hands together with a cloth of the groom’s family tartan, serving as an official welcome into the fold. Music also came from family and friends with Josh’s grandfather playing bagpipes as they entered the reception tent and friends supplying ceremony and reception music. Others arranged flowers and helped with meal preparations—Josh’s grandmother even baked cookies for wedding guest favors. “So much of the day was a happy blur filled with family and friends,” says Julie.

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Kaytlin Lane Photography, Christiansburg FLORALS: Anna Sachs, Salem CATERER: Theresa Palmer, Dugspur GOWN: New Fangled Bride, Salem GROOM’S ATTIRE: Celtic Tides, Lexington WEDDING PLANNER: Ashley Rose Events, Lynchburg DESSERTS: Copper Hill Cakes & Goodies VIDEOGRAPHER: Fainting Goat Studios, Bedford WEDDING BANDS: Green Lake Jewelry, Seattle (bride); Blue Nile (groom)

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

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MarryUs WEDDING OFFICIANTS

• Breathtaking country setting • Beautiful event building for up to 200 • Outstanding accommodations in 12 bedrooms

EASY, AWESOME, AFFORDABLE, SINCE 2013

Weddings Historic charm in the wine country of Middleburg , Virginia 703.327.5911 | 23130 Briar Patch Lane Middleburg, VA 20117

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Marriage commissioners and wedding officiants David and Donna Norford are available for traditional and elopement ceremonies, legal marriages without a wedding ceremony (just sign the marriage license), courthouse weddings and marriage license signing. Areas served: Fredericksburg, King George, Stafford, Quantico, Woodbridge, Occoquan, Spotsylvania, Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, Caroline, Westmoreland, Colonial Beach, Dahlgren, and Riverwind Estate on the Potomac River, King George, Virginia.

540.840.2414 MarryUs.us

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at the Jefferson Hotel

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If you would like to treat yourself or are planning a special event choose The Jefferson Hotel. Individual services or spa packages available. Enjoy drinks, lunch or dinner after.

Hair Services

804.565.9000 www.salonvivace.com Richmond • Pittsburgh • Charlotte • Virginia Beach • Williamsburg Facials

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

The couple exchanged vows wearing traditional wedding attire—but they changed into red and gold Vietnamese wedding robes for the tea ceremony.

Helen & John Michael Choosing Virgina for a dream wedding. October 10, 2020 • Stoneleigh Estate, Stanleytown

EWLY ENGAGED AND LOOKING

for the perfect wedding venue, Helen Nhan and John Michael McCaffrey of Atlanta were captivated by the historic charm and breathtaking features at Stoneleigh Estate, in Southwest Virginia’s Henry County. The couple agreed that the 1926 Tudor style mansion was the perfect Virginia setting for their upcoming nuptials. “John Michael has a large family with 13 siblings, and my extended family is also quite large with lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins,” says Helen. “With everyone spread all throughout the United States, we weren’t tied down to having our wedding in our hometown. Instead, we widened our scope and settled on Virginia as the perfect place for all the families to come together.” John Michel and Helen took on the planning for their fall wedding, and their families helped with preparations. In honor of Helen’s Vietnamese heritage, the couple decided to blend Vietnamese traditions into the celebration by incorporating a tea ceremony. “Respecting our elders is a huge part of Vietnamese culture,” explains Helen. “Tea ceremonies are typically a time for the bride and groom to pour tea to the elders, who in exchange, present gifts to the bride and groom. For our

wedding, we were filled with gratitude for our parents and decided to surprise them each with their own gift.” The couple exchanged their vows wearing traditional Western wedding attire—a white wedding dress and a suit and tie— but they changed into red and gold Vietnamese wedding robes for the tea ceremony. Western traditions, including scripture readings, prayers, and blessings were also incorporated. The celebration was imbued with fall colors with floral arrangements in greens, oranges, pinks, and yellows. “One of my favorite aspects of the wedding included picking out the flowers and arranging them with our loved ones,” says Helen.

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Megan Sheppard Photography, Boone, NC ATTIRE: Aisle & Veil, Roswell, GA; Frank & Buck FLORALS: Fifty Flowers MAKEUP: Keri Beauty, Kannapolis, NC VIDEOGRAPHY: Goins Videography, Atlanta, GA RECEPTION DJ: Quest Entertainment, Roanoke

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Anna Bowser Photography

Wedding & Special Event Coordination Services www.andreaferrisevents.com 540.798.2968

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• info@andreaferrisevents.com

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

Mollie & Ryan

An intimate mountain wedding for divinity school sweethearts. March 18, 2021 • Craig Springs Camp & Retreat Center, New Castle

N 2017, MOLLIE DONIHE AND RYAN

Wilkerson were new students at Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. They met during orientation and quickly became friends, sharing classes and later, landing next door to each other in the same student apartment building. During months filled with studies, game nights, all-you-can-eat sushi dates, and mini golf competitions, their relationship blossomed. Nearly three years later, in almost the exact spot on campus where they’d first met, Ryan proposed marriage to Mollie—with close friends standing by to celebrate. When their wedding plans were postponed due to the pandemic, the pair decided to elope. They arranged an intimate ceremony in March at Craig Springs Camp and Retreat Center, a Christian

Church campground nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, just west of Roanoke. While the ceremony was set to take place outdoors on a mountain clearing, rain in the forecast convinced them to move inside—to the cabin that Ryan was living in as the camp’s minister and manager. “We switched gears and decorated the stone fireplace with a floral garland and sheer white curtain panels draped on the mantle,” says Mollie. Joined only by a photographer, Mollie’s matron of honor, and the officiant, who wore a pastoral stole made by Mollie, the marriage setting was aglow with candles and warmed by a wood stove fire. Flanked by two blueberry bushes that they would plant near their new home, the couple exchanged vows and shared their first communion as husband and wife. “Since it was just the five of F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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us, we were not stressed about when and where we had to be or doing things exactly how they ‘should’ be done,” says Mollie. “We felt calm and enjoyed each other’s presence.”

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Lizzie Jacobson - Lilly Magnolia Photography, Lynchburg RINGS: Kubes Jewelers, Fort Worth, TX CEREMONY FLORALS: Something Borrowed Blooms, Lafayette, LA BOUQUETS AND BOUTONNIERES: Lynn Donihe (bride’s mother), Roanoke POTTERY COMMUNION SET: made by Jessa Decker-Smith CAKE: Evie’s Bistro and Bakery, Roanoke

VIRGINIA LIVING

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Wolfcrest Photography

www.doverhall.com

d o v e r

804.784.6051

h a l l

1500 Manakin Road • Manakin-Sabot, Virginia 23103

W e d d i n g

e x p e r i e n c e

Our turn-key properties ensure that saying "I do" is a seamless and stress-free process. Celebrate your wedding at Dover Hall, Virginia's premier luxury wedding and event venue, and host your rehearsal dinner at our sister property, Bartizan.

www.bartizanrva.com

804.360.7475

4035 Whittall Way • Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

David Abel Photography

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

Madison & Harry Christmas at Dover Hall.

December 12, 2020 • Dover Hall, Manakin-Sabot

ADISON SANTOS WAS SET TO

start her first year of dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond in August of 2016. The Norfolk native was swiping through photos on a dating app, when Harry Squire caught her eye. When she realized Harry was also a VCU dental student, Madison was intrigued. One month later, the two were officially dating. And in May of 2019, Harry—one year ahead of Madison in school—proposed marriage on his graduation day. They’d planned a two-week European vacation to celebrate Harry’s graduation and, on that romantic trip, the couple fell in love with Italy. Madison and Harry, who’s from Emporia, chose Richmond, the city where they met, for their wedding and settled on a December 2020 date because, Madison explains, “I adore Christmas!” The couple had sent about 250 save-the-date cards to family and friends when the pandemic hit, ruling out large gatherings. “We didn’t want to change our wedding date, so we had to send notes to all but our immediate families and the wedding party, saying ‘stay tuned’ for a larger celebration to come,” she says. Then they forged ahead with a scaled-back plan, selecting Dover Hall in Manakin-Sabot for their smaller, holiday-themed nuptials. “We looked at wineries around Charlottesville, but Dover Hall

has such a European vibe that reminded us of Italy,” says Madison, who wanted to do something different for the celebration. Christmas-themed touches included hand-painted ornaments for guests, cocktails emblazoned with an edible sugarpaper topper that featured a Christmasy drawing of the couple’s pets, and Christmas trees twinkling in almost every available space. The couple exchanged vows outside at the foot of a majestic tree adorned with a sweeping floral spray and surrounded by nearly a dozen lit Christmas trees. And as an extra-special wedding favor for their guests, “we invited our friends to come and get a Christmas tree the next day!” Madison adds with a laugh.

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Nikki Santerre Photography, Mechanicsville WEDDING PAPER AND DETAILS: English Tea Paperie, Richmond EVENT DESIGNER: Taylor Batt with Alyson Taylor Events, Richmond FLOWERS: Olivera Floral Design, Richmond ENTERTAINMENT: String Poets Quartet, Washing ton, D.C. HAIR & MAKEUP: Avenue 42 Salon, Richmond

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Rachel & Endri

A happy blend of cultures. June 5, 2021 • Tranquility Farm, Purcellville

OME WEDDINGS UNITE FAMILIES

who’ve known each other for years. Others celebrate blending cultures, cuisines, and languages from far-flung points around the globe. Rachel Baron and Endri Mustafa seamlessly accomplished the latter, combining American and Southern European traditions when they exchanged vows on June 5. Rachel, a native of North Potomac, Maryland, and Endri, who grew up in Fier, Albania, first met in Washington, D.C. in December 2017. Rachel was a third-year law student at Georgetown University and Endri, who came to the U.S. to study at the University of Maryland, was working as a civil engineer. It was love at first sight and, two years later, Endri proposed in Florence, Italy. “We were on our way to Endri’s sister’s wedding in Albania, and we visited Florence, where I had spent a semester studying abroad during college,” says Rachel. “Endri and I went up to an overlook where you can see the city. I could see there was something in his pocket. He told me it was his AirPods, but it was my engagement ring!” The couple decided to marry close to their home in Washington, D.C., and found Tranquility Farm, located in the lush rolling hills of Loudoun County, fit the bill with its large outdoor space. “We both wanted an elegant, outdoor wedding with a clear tent and string lights,” recalls Rachel. Most importantly, though, the couple wanted their families and guests to feel comfortable and have fun. They created signs in Albanian for the celebration and, at the reception, led guests in lots of Albanian dancing. In a nod to Rachel’s Jewish heritage, they also danced the Hora, adding to the night’s festivities. “It was perfect for us and our families!” says Rachel.

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Krysta Norman Photography, Catlett CATERING: Main Event, Arlington RENTALS: Select Event Group, Tysons Corner FLORIST: Springvale Floral, Alexandria DJ: Zandi Entertainment, Reston HAIR & MAKEUP: Up Do's for I Do's, Columbia, MD CALLIGRAPHY: Leah Letters, Purcellville

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

They created signs in Albanian for the celebration and, at the reception, led guests in lots of Albanian dancing.

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Elegant Southern Hospitality in a Historic Country Setting

Tavern on the Rail Barn Venue in Louisa County, Virginia.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Call for a tour and information to plan your special event.

www.TavernOnTheRail.com

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•

540-872-RAIL (7245)

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

Molly & Jordan A colonial celebration.

July 10, 2021 • Ceremony: Wren Chapel, William & Mary, Williamsburg Reception: Williamsburg Inn

ISTORY ENTHUSIASTS MOLLY

Ann Jacob and Jordan Crenshaw never had any doubt where they would get married. A Richmond native, Jordan had spent many years in Colonial Williamsburg as both an undergraduate and law student at William & Mary. Molly, a native of nearby Newport News and graduate of the University of Virginia, had visited the colonial capital frequently with her family growing up. Her favorite spot was William & Mary’s historic Wren Building, where both her fiancé and her favorite Virginian, Thomas Jefferson, attended classes—although a few hundred years apart. “We knew the Wren Chapel was where we wanted to get married.” says Molly. While technology brought them together—they met through a dating app—they realized that they had been close to meeting several times before. In honor of her favorite Founding Father, Jordan decided to pop the question on Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, April 13, at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. “We wished him a happy birthday!” says Molly. Tidewater Virginia and America’s Revolutionary era served as inspiration as they planned their July wedding at the Wren Chapel followed by a reception at the Williamsburg Inn, where many of the couple’s favorite leaders—including Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush—have visited. The colonial-infused celebration began when the newlyweds rode in a horse-drawn carriage

past the Governor’s Palace en route to the reception. A colonial fife and drum band played “Yankee Doodle” as the couple was introduced as husband and wife. The Virginia history buffs even selected the names of famous Virginia Founding Fathers and Mothers for their reception tables. “Waving to our guests from the Wren balcony, ringing the Wren Chapel bell, pretending to be royal in our carriage ride, and having the fife and drum lead our entrance were all pretty memorable.” says Molly.

A colonial fife and drum band played “Yankee Doodle” as the couple was introduced as husband and wife.

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Katherine Sparks Photography, Williamsburg DAY OF COORDINATOR: Lauren Donnally, Williamsburg FLORIST: Lindsay Codekas MAKEUP: Beauty by Tiffany, Newport News HAIR: Sara Makepeace, Williamsburg VENUE COORDINATOR: Yuani Valentin CAKE: The Inn, Colonial Williamsburg DRESS: Blush Bridal, Newport News

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ABOUT FACE MAKEUP ARTISTRY LUXE & ON TREND AIRBRUSH MAKEUP BEAUTY: Hair and Makeup

Kim Trotto - Makeup Artist | Master Aesthetician IG: about_face_mua 757-969-8287 • AboutFaceMUA.com AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AT RIVER FARM

25 landscaped acres overlooking the Potomac River

Venues: Gardens and Estates 7931 East Blvd. Dr., Alexandria, VA 22308 703-768-5700 ext. 114 • AHSGardening.org

AGNIHOTRI COSMETIC FACIAL SURGERY Flawless wedding makeup starts with healty skin BEAUTY: Cosmetic Procedures 7702 E. Parham Rd., Richmond, VA 23233 804-270-5028 • ACSCosmetic.com ANDREA FERRIS EVENTS Wedding & Special Event Coordination Services EVENT VENDORS: Wedding Planners

CHEFS CATERING Creative Hospitality Events From Stoneridge FOOD: Catering

BY JACQUI PHOTOGRAPHY Capturing Moments While You Create Memories Weddings and Event Photography

RIVERSIDE ON THE POTOMAC Unique. Exceptional. Riverside Wedding & Event Venue

Lexington, Virginia 540-462-7182 • StoneridgeCatering.com

2211 N. Augusta Street, Staunton, VA 24401 202-670-2031 • ByJacquiPhotography.com

44337 Spinks Ferry Rd, Leesburg, VA 20176 571-528-1065 • RiversideOnThePotomac.com

CB DANCE STUDIOS Dance & Fitness Community Onsite, Online, Private, & Group Classes EVENT VENDORS: Dance Lessons 7201A George Washington Memorial Hwy., Yorktown 757-898-1922 • Countrybootleggers.com

THE JEFFERSON

Wedding & Event Venue

ROUNTON FARM Rustic elegance on a vast and peaceful farm Wedding & Event Venue

101 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220 866-247-2305 • JeffersonHotel.com/Weddings

10155 Rapidan Road Orange, VA 22960 540-661-6635 • RountonFarm.com

CHATEAU MORRISETTE WINERY You dream. Leave the details to us.

KESWICK VINEYARDS

Inclusive Outdoor Tented Venue near Charlottesville

Venue: Winery & Estate

SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA Memorable occasions in the heart of horse & wine country Wedding & Event Venue

291 Winery Rd. Floyd, VA 24091 540-593-2865 • TheDogs.com

1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick, VA 22947 434-295-1102 • KeswickVineyards.com

500 N Pendleton St, Middleburg, VA 20117 844-824-0660 • SalamanderResort.com

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG RESORT

LAKESIDE AT WELCH ESTATE

SAUDÉ CREEK VINEYARDS Enjoy a variety of venue options for your very special day. Venue: Vineyards

Venues: Wineries

Intimate to Elaborate — and Everything in Between

Virginia Honeymoon Destinations

Luxury. It means everything is taken care of for you.

An Exceptionally different waterfront venue in the heart of Virginia

Historic Colonial Williamsburg, VA 23185 855-231-7240 • ColonialWilliamsburgHotels.com

Wedding & Event Venue 3661 Anderson Hwy, Powhatan, VA 23139 804-787-4347 • LakesideAtWelchEstate.com

DREAMS AND DESTINATIONS

LINDEN ROW INN

Where Will Your Dreams Take You?

TRAVEL AGENT: Honeymoon and Destination Weddings 44927 George Washington Blvd, Ste. 265 Ashburn, VA 20147 703-724-1243 • WhereDreamsLead.com DREAM A LITTLE DREAM WEDDINGS

An intimate oasis where romance has always flourished in the heart of downtown Richmond

Venue: Historic Hotel/Garden 100 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219 804-225-5841 • LindenRowInn.com

16230 Cooks Mill Road, Lanexa, VA 23089 804-966-5896 • SaudeCreek.com SINKLAND FARMS Our Farm, Your Dream Wedding VENUES: Intimate Celebrations 3020 Riner Rd., Christianburg, VA 24073 540-382-4647 • SinklandFarms.com

MARRY US WEDDING OFFICIANTS Easy, Awesome, Affordable since 2013 SERVICE: Wedding Officiants

STRING QUARTET OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, LLC Add an elegant touch to your wedding ceremony! Special Events Music

7430 Little Chatterton Ln., King George, VA 540-840-2414 • MarryUs.us

Alexandria, VA • 703-473-8986 NorthernVirginiaStringQuartet.com

MELODIOUS STRINGS QUARTET & PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLES Ceremony Musicians Shenandoah Valley, Northern VA, Washington D.C., & Richmond Regions

WILLIAMSBURG LODGE

THE MIMSLYN INN Your dream wedding in the Shenandoah Valley Wedding Venue

WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER

401 W. Main Street, Luray, VA 22835 540-743-5105 • MimslynInn.com

9518 Workhouse Road, Lorton, VA 22079 703-584-2951 • WorkhouseArts.org

MOUNTAIN LAKE LODGE Creating memories for families, romantics and adventurers Venues: Barns and Farm 115 Hotel Circle, Pembroke, VA 24136 540-626-7121 • MountainLakeLodge.com

THE FARMHOUSE AT VERITAS Intimate weddings at c.1836 Farmhouse Venues: Vineyards and Estates

P.O. Box 432 Upperville, VA 20185 703-853-5899 • AtokaStringQuartet.com

THE ESTATE AT RIVER RUN The Richmond Areas Newest Luxury Event Venue Overlooking The James River Venues: Estates and Plantations 2421 River Rd W, Maidens, VA 23102 804-887-0171 • TheEstateAtRiverRun.com

AWESOMESAUCE PHOTOGRAPHY NO RULES. JUST FUN. Weddings and Event Photography

THE GEORGES Lexington’s premier address for private events Venues: Inn and Restaurants

NAUTICUS COLLECTION An Unparalleled Waterfront Experience Venues: Waterfront

VERITAS VINEYARDS AND WINERY Virginia’s premiere wedding destination

4805 Kellywood Dr, Glen Allen, VA 23060 804-627-1729 • Awesomesauce-Photography.com

11 North Main St., Lexington, VA 24450 540-463-2500 • TheGeorges.com

One Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510 757-664-1074 • Nauticus.org

151 Veritas Lane, Afton, VA 22920 540-456-8000 • VeritasWines.com

BLUE RIDGE WEDDINGS AND EVENTS Events by Erin where every moment is a memory. Weddings and Event Planner

HAHN HORTICULTURE GARDEN Create your dream wedding in our beautiful garden

ZIBA MEDICAL & DAY SPA

Venues: Gardens and Plantations

NIAMTU COSMETIC FACIAL SURGERY Making Virginia more beautiful... one face at a time BEAUTY: Cosmetic Procedures

Southwest, Virginia • Galax, VA 24016 276-233-8447 • BlueRidgeWeddingsAndEvents.com

200 Garden Lane, Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5970 • HahnGarden.vt.edu

11319 Polo Place, Midlothian, VA 23113 804-934-3223 • LoveThatFace.com

3302 Albert Long Dr., Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-401-6922 • ZibaMedSpa.com

BRIAR PATCH BED & BREAKFAST INN Historic charm in D.C.’s Wine Country

Venues: Barns and Farms

THE OMNI HOMESTEAD RESORT Combining Southern charm and service in an iconic resort setting Venues: Resorts

ZOYA'S ATELIER Bridal, Evening Wear and Alterations Boutique Wedding Dress Preservation

23130 Briar Patch Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117 703-327-5911 • BriarPatchBandB.com

7696 Sam Snead Highway, Hot Springs, VA 24445 800-838-1766 • OmniHotels.com/TheHomestead.com

THE RICHMOND GREATER VIRGINIA BRIDAL SHOW Plan your wedding in one day at our elegant bridal shows 600 E. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, VA 23222 804-789-9110 • TheGreaterVirginiaBridalShow.com

Making your dreams come true, one vow at a time!

1512 East Bayview Blvd, Norfolk, VA 540-798-2968 • AndreaFerrisEvents.com

SERVICE: Wedding Officiants Kimberly Bishop, M.A., Commisioner of Marriage Based in Central Virginia serving the State of Virginia 434-260-4048 • VirginiaSweetheartOfficiant.com

ASHLEY HALL PHOTOGRAPHY Capturing Wedding Day Bliss EVENT VENDORS: Photographers

DOVER HALL Unrivaled Events · Boutique Lodging · Thoughtful Cuisine VENUE: Weddings and Special Events

Based out of Virginia’s Northern Neck 804-724-3343 • AshleyHallPhotoNNK.com

1500 Manakin Road, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 804-784-6051 • doverhall.com

ATHENAEUM Contemporary Art | Iconic Architecture | Authentic Alexandria Venues: Events/Gallery

EAGLEVIEW EVENT CENTER

201 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-548-0035 • nvfaa.org ATOKA STRING QUARTET Virginia Hunt County’s Premier String Ensemble Ceremony Musicians

Rustic Elegance In The Heart Of The Blue Ridge Mountains

Wedding Barn & Event Venue 639 Wagon Wheel Rd., Elk Creek, VA 24326 276-768-8511 • EagleviewEvents.com

harrisonburgstrings@gmail.com • melodiousstrings.com

Historic elegance and comfort that captures your heart and inspires your wedding day dreams.

Museum Venues 310 S. England St., Williamsburg, VA 23185 757-220-7976 • ColonialWilliamsburgHotels.com

Host your wedding at a vibrant arts center located on a historic property within one of our refined art galleries or designated outdoor event spaces.

Venues: Historic site/Art Galleries/Lucy Burns Museum

72 Saddleback Farm, Afton, VA 22920 540-456-8100 • VeritasFarmhouse.com

Venues: Vineyards and Estates

Experience the art of aesthetic enhancement in luxurious, upscale surroundings where your personal cosmetic goals become reality at the Valley's newest spa! Host your engagement party or bridal shower in our beautiful Relaxation Lounge!

260 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046 703-533-9600 • ZoyasAtelier.com

For the full list of 2022 Top Wedding Vendors, please visit VirginiaLiving.com/Directories.

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WEDDINGS Virginia Weddings

Morgan & Zachary A Southern wedding with a New York vibe. September 12, 2020 • Bride’s family home, Carrollton

OR A COUPLE OF SOUTHERNERS

who met, fell in love, and got engaged in New York City, their wedding needed to blend a timeless classic feeling with modern urban vibes. “My vision was lots of matte blacks, architectural rounded curves, and rattan lanterns paired with soft rusts and pinks offset by white flowers and pops of tropical banana leaves scattered throughout the property,” explains Morgan Thorndike Markiewicz. The Carrollton native and Virginia Tech graduate and her groom, Zachary Markiewicz, who has deep roots in Georgia, chose Morgan’s parents’ house for their wedding. With its sprawling lawn overlooking the James River, the house offered the perfect setting. “My family’s home has always been a very special place for both of us. We felt as if we had enough space to host a wedding that was elevated but also felt very personal to us,” says Morgan. The wedding ceremony took place near the water’s edge. For the reception, multiple lounge seating areas, furnished in natural hues of green and soft pinks and lit with candles, were scattered around the lawn. “Mixing materials, fabrics, textures, and lighting gave me the design look I was going for,” explains Morgan. An extensive cocktail hour featured a raw bar and cheese and charcuterie boards. Dinner and

dancing to a live band took place underneath a large white tent. “Food and beverages were super important to us,” says Morgan. She and Zachary chose a family-style dinner of shrimp and grits and beef brisket. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the couple topped off the dinner with tiramisu for dessert—a nod to their favorite late night treat in New York. But one of Morgan and Zachary’s most memorable wedding moments happened after the reception was underway, when they took a moment to walk down to the river and look back at the tent. “Knowing that our blended families and friends were all together in one place brought us each so much happiness,” Morgan recalls.

Details PHOTOGRAPHY: Chelsea Diane Photography; Jackie Tara Studios, Richmond RECEPTION BAND: Kustom Made, Newport News WEDDING PLANNER: The Happy Hour Hostess, Virginia Beach FLORALS: Gather Floral, Virginia Beach CATERING: Yummy Goodness Catering Company, Virginia Beach & MAKEUP: Kim Wadsworth, Virginia Beach

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Departure

Southern Ways She was just passing through; but Ashland had other plans. By PH Y LLIS THEROUX | Illustration by JA NE W EBSTER

N MY MID-40’S, I ALMOST MARRIED A FARMER-PROFESSOR

from Vermont. In preparation for my new life, I bought a pair of rubberized boots, a new L.L. Bean parka, and tried to get interested in tapping trees for maple syrup. But I couldn’t keep my eyes on the spigot—which eventually wound up being true of the relationship as well. I broke off the engagement and moved, instead, to Ashland. It wasn’t long before I realized I had done both of us a favor. Within the year he was married to someone else and I had bought a house in a town I had chosen for one cold-blooded reason: to get a tax deduction. I got a lot more. Here’s what I like about the South. The way they talk, which is soft and unhurried and has the soothing effect of floating down a warm creek in an inner tube. A mundane word like “chair” is pulled apart like taffy and turned into “chay-uh,” which sounds much better. They don’t say “hi” but “hey,” which has an affectionate ring to it. And if you are over 35 and they like you, they will put a “Miss” before your first name, as in “Hey, Miss Phyllis,” which makes you feel as if they’ve been waiting all day for you to walk by and make them happy. Gardens are very important. You plant a hydrangea bush and people come right over to see it, like a new baby. If you get sick, you are swamped with soup and prayers. If you forget to wear your shoes to the local market, people look the other way. “I can’t believe you went in there in your bare feet,” said my mother, who was from New York, where they’re much stricter about such things. “This is the South,” I said defensively. “They tolerate eccentricity better than they do up North.” I like Southern houses. They are high-windowed and full of clutter, homeVIRGINIA LIVING

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grown flowers, and relatives who are too old to fend for themselves. They sit around the kitchen table after dinner and tell you stories about how they were born in Stonewall Jackson’s kitchen, which was converted into a hospital delivery room—and they have a special birth certificate that cost $15 to prove it. People in the South take their histories, large and local, very personally. Every house has a name, like “Grandma Hall’s” or “the Moreland house,” which is where I live, now that Dr. Moreland, who died on his knees saying his bedtime prayers, has gone to his reward. And, of course, every person is connected, like strands in a fishing net, to everybody else. Soon after I arrived, I phoned my neighbor, Lula Hopkins, who was one of the town extension cords until she died. If you wanted to find out who was sick, got the job, or had the baby, you called Lula. I was giving a party for Dr. Moreland’s visiting daughter and most of the people on her list were unfamiliar to me. Lula knew them all. Betty Troxell, she said, was kin to the Lucks, and of course I knew who they were. I did. But she didn’t think Ralph Milledge would be coming on account of his heart bypass last June, and she hadn’t seen his wife, Lou, at church last Sunday. Then again, she was probably just under the weather. And so it went down the list, until I was thoroughly caught up and woven into the larger picture, which is more complex than I used to think. On the surface, a small Southern town is highly stratified, particularly along religious lines. Where you go to church (if you go) tends to become your core community. But because the wider circle is so small, it is easier to meet people who do not think or act like you, which brings everybody closer together on a regular basis. Over time, Ashland has changed. The farm tractor distributor is gone from England Street. We have a Starbucks, a new Town Hall, and expensive houses on the periphery. But the essence, or fragrance, of the town remains the same. We still have magnolia trees with blossoms like soft, floppy white ribbons, and a grocery store that smells like someone’s kitchen before dinner. It takes more strength than most people have to hold onto a grudge. We try to rise above each other’s political yard signs and when sorrow strikes, we strike back with cookies, casseroles, and hand-written notes on good stationery. Of course, living anywhere for a long time can make you restless. You need to leave home in order to know what you’ve left behind. I am not a romanticist. I do not believe that one has to be in a particular place to fulfill one’s destiny. But I have now lived for more than thirty years in a community I thought I was only passing through. Instead, something unexpected happened. The community passed through me.

Gardens are very important. You plant a hydrangea bush and people come right over to see it, like a new baby.

Born in San Francisco, essayist Phyllis Theroux settled on the East Coast after college. Her 2010 memoir, The Journal Keeper, explains why she now calls Virginia home. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

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