DEC. 2019

Mixing up the best holiday cocktails

LoudounNow Loudoun Lo udounNow Now Your guide to Loudoun’s Entertainment Scene

JULY IN CHRISTMAS A TROPICAL POLYNESIAN BEER DINNER December 18th @ 7pm $100 Inclusive

As we march into the Holiday Season Tuskies has decided to give you a tropical retreat just days before Christmas. We are turning our wine cellar into a pleasant tropical oasis to warm your bodies, hearts, and minds with beers brewed by tepid weather dwellers. Chef Thomas crafted his menu after traveling all over the south pacific (in his mind) to create the most authentic and delicious courses for your enjoyment. This beer dinner will be the final dinner of the year and we want to welcome you all to July in Christmas!

203 Harrison Street, Leesburg, VA 20175 tuskies.com 703 771 9300 2

GET OUT LOUDOUN

DECEMBER 2019

Inside: Chromesthesia by Steve Loya

GET OUT LOUDOUN

Get Out Loudoun is a 10,000 circulation monthly distributed to entertainment, tourism and hospitality venues throughout Loudoun County. For the latest news on the music scene and other community events, go to getoutloudoun.com. CONTRIBUTORS Contributors Martin Bonica Therese Howe Jim Sisley Norman K. Styer

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TUNES Kid Brother returns to Loudoun’s biggest stage for a hometown show.

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ART SCENE Early 20th century painter Edith Lake Wilkinson provides the inspiration for a special exhibit at the Tryst Gallery.

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TO ADVERTISE Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com ON THE COVER

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Santa sightings, parades, carols, concerts and more.

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FLAVORS Loudoun’s top mixologists offer their recommendations to put some zip into your holidays. BEST BETS Get Out Loudoun’s Picks for December.

Samet Yuksekgonul, general manager and mixologist at The Conche in Leesburg, puts the finishing touch on A Bittersweet Holiday, one of the chocolate haven’s signature cocktails. By Norman K. Styer DECEMBER 2019

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Courtesy of Lansdowne Resort & Spa

Lansdowne Resort & Spa celebrates the season with a Winter WonderLansdowne with festive offerings that include a brunch with Santa, an Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt and horse and carriage rides.

Holidays In Loudoun

Scarlet-jacketed huntsmen on horseback, vintage horse-drawn carriages straight out of Downton Abbey and a 1.5-mile procession of floats, drummers, bagpipers, hunt dogs and 700 farm animals – literally more than in Barnum’s Circus… “Nowhere does the holidays quite like Middleburg,” Garden & Gun wrote of the town’s Christmas festivities. The famous Christmas in Middleburg parade and hunt review takes place the first Saturday in December, but celebrations start the evening before with the Oh Holy Night tree lighting at the visitor center, and continue through Sunday with the Foxcroft School’s nativity – a tradition begun in 1904 that inspired the wider celebrations seen today.

Fans of historic homes can enjoy a series of themed Christmas teas – Nutcracker, Candy Cane, even Ugly Sweater – at Oatlands Historic House & Gardens over multiple weekends in December. Enjoy a black tea blend, cucumber sandwiches and cream scones and make sure to take a guided tour of the main mansion, decorated for the season. Nearby, kids will love Leesburg Animal Park’s “Christmas Village,” open select evenings in December, and featuring a nativity, bonfire and marshmallow roasting, holiday lights, and live animal encounters. We hear Santa himself may even appear. Talking lights, over 10,000 vines on the slopes of vertiginous Bluemont Vineyard will be illuminated from late November through December, bathing the hillside in a resplendent

Holiday fun in Loudoun isn’t restricted to hunt country, however. 4

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HOLIDAYS IN LOUDOUN

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DECEMBER 2019

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PRESENTS A SPECIAL CONCERT EVENT

John Gorka "THE PREEMINENT

SINGER-SONGWRITER OF THE NEW FOLK MOVEMENT."

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(540) 668-6464

HAPPENINGS

File Photo

In a renewal of a Loudoun tradition, Santa flies in by helicopter on Dec. 7 to visit with children at the Virginia Village Shopping Center in Leesburg

Loudoun’s Don’t-Miss Holiday Happenings Get Out Loudoun is spreading the holiday cheer with a roundup of seasonal activities that will get everyone in the spirit of the season. From tree lighting ceremonies to New Year’s festivities, we can help you create a schedule of holiday events for your family calendar. The Town of Leesburg celebrates the start of the season with an annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Town Green on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. that also includes performances by local groups and a holiday message. The next day, Ida Lee Recreation Center hosts a Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show featuring more than 90 local and regional artisans. Children 8 years and older can get their picture with Santa and dance the night away at Ida Lee’s Rockin’ with Rudolph and Friends from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. And on Dec. 14, get a spot along King Street in downtown Historic Leesburg to watch the Annual Christmas and Holiday Parade starting at 6 p.m. For more information, go to leesburgva.gov.

but the big celebration begins Dec. 14 with a Christmas Parade. Other festivities including a Christmas market, ornament decorations, pictures with Santa at the train station and Historic Bush Tabernacle, and more. On Dec. 14 and 15, you can take a free, 45-minute Lights Tour ride around town. For details, go to purcellvilleva.gov. The Town of Middleburg invites the community to attend its Tree Lighting Ceremony and Carols, which takes place 5 p.m. Dec. 6 behind the Pink Box in downtown Middleburg. Festivities continue on Dec. 7 with a full day of activities starting with the spectacular Middleburg Hunt Review brings 150 horses, riders and dozens of hounds though the town starting at 11 a.m., followed by the spectacular festive Middleburg Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. along Washington Street. For a schedule of all events and more information, go to christmasinmiddleburg.org

The Town of Purcellville also kicks off the holidays with their annual tree lighting ceremony 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Town Hall 6

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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

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DECEMBER 2019

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS FROM PAGE 6

TAKE PHOTOS WITH SANTA On Dec. 7, welcome Santa as he touches down in a helicopter in the middle of Virginia Village shopping center in Leesburg at 10 a.m. He’ll be available for photos and activities at Santa’s House, which will be open from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. If it rains, the event will be rescheduled to Dec. 14. For more information, go to vavillageleesburg.com. You can find daily photo sessions with Santa at Dulles Town Center through Dec. 24. If your kids are of the four-legged variety, you can find a dog or cat for a session on Dec. 4 from 6-9 p.m. Photo packages start at $29.99. Make a reservation online and skip the line with a FastPass, or get more information at shopdullestowncenter.com. Enjoy brunch while getting the opportunity to take pictures with Santa at local resorts including Lansdowne Resort’s Riverside Hearth and Salamander Resort’s Ballroom on Dec. 7, 14, and 21. For pricing and more information, go to lansdowneresort.com and salamanderresort.com. Leesburg Animal Park also offers photos with Santa at their Christmas Village, which is open on Fridays and Saturdays until Dec. 22, as well as on Dec. 23. While there, the kids can also enjoy Christmas arts and crafts, live animal encounters, marshmallow roasting, animal petting and feeding, and more. Tickets to the village are $10.95 per person. Children age 2 and younger are free. For details and to buy tickets, go to leesburganimalpark.com VISIT WINTER WONDERLANDS Explore Frogshackle Nature Cabin and the historic Lanesville Ordinary and enjoy light displays, crafts and roasted marshmallows at Claude Moore Park, which hosts a Holiday in the Park on Dec. 7. Wagon rides through the park are available, and donations of new hats and gloves will be accepted for the Winter Warmth Tree. The 7th Annual Tree Lighting at One Loudoun on Dec. 7 features community performances, horse drawn carriage rides, an ice rink, ice DECEMBER 2019

sculpture carving, carolers, and more. Or for a more quaint setting, the Town of Hillsboro kicks off its Holidays in the Gap celebration on Dec. 8 with a tree lighting and community potluck dinner. On Dec. 22, Chabad of Loudoun County hosts a Light Up the Night at One Loudoun by the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to celebrate Chanukah. From 5 to 6 p.m., enjoy hot latkes, donuts, activities and more. At Village at Leesburg, you can take in their Spectacular Musical Tree Shows, featuring a five-story tree with 15,000 lights, music and light shows. The show takes place on the hour from noon to 9 p.m. through Jan. 1. For a unique holiday light show, take a trip up to Bluemont Vineyard, where the Lighting of the Vines offers a spectacular view of 10,000 illuminated vines. The vineyard is open daily from 11 a.m.-7 p.m, and you can enjoy the dazzling scenery through Jan. 1. HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES The Loudoun Chorale provides a program of songs of the season, choral masterpieces, classic carols, readings and poetry at A Loudoun Lessons & Carols Dec. 7 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Purcellville and Dec. 8 at Leesburg Community Church. Tickets are $15 each; go to loudounchorale.org to purchase online. The 26-member Shenandoah University Conservatory Chorale will be performing classical and contemporary Christmas favorites during A Christmas Spectacular at Middleburg United Methodist Church from 4-5:30 p.m. Dec. 14. General admission is $20, free for children under 18 years old. Go to middleburgconcerts.com for more information and to purchase tickets online. Snow Story on Ice on Dec. 14 features performances by the Loudoun Ballet Performing Arts Company, The 21st Battalion Gray Coats Fire & Drum Corps, world class skaters and more at Ion International Training Center. Tickets range from $20-$30, a dinner

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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

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HOLIDAYS IN LOUDOUN FROM PAGE 4

glow. Enjoy the twinkling views over a glass of aptly named Ascent, a Bordeaux Blend. Fans of live entertainment can get in the spirit, too. A Christmas Carol: A One Man Performance by John Hardy is at Franklin Park, Dec. 7, and on Dec. 14 enjoy Snow Story on Ice at ION International Training Center. Santa drops in on the Leesburg Farmers’ Market December 7th – in a helicopter, not a sleighwhile both Purcellville and Leesburg host their Christmas parades the weekend of the 14th. Stock up on gifts at the Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show at Ida Lee the weekend before, featuring 90 local artisans.

Lansdowne Resort & Spa meanwhile debuts its second Winter WonderLansdowne: a variety of festive offerings such as brunch with Santa, an Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt, horse and carriage rides and the lighting of a 20-foot tree. Back in Middleburg if you can’t make the parade, Salamander Resort & Spa will unveil its own tree and a host of events such as cookie decorating and story time with Mrs. Claus. Famous miniature pony Cupcake will even dress up for guests. For more information, visit visitloudoun.org/getout

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS FROM PAGE 7

buffet also is available for an additional $20. For more info and to buy tickets, go to ioitc.com. The International TUBACHRISTMAS Concert puts some oom-pah-pah in the holidays with a selection of tuba performances on Dec. 15 from 2-3 p.m. at Village at Leesburg. The StageCoach Theatre Company hosts the holiday murder mystery party Up on the Rooftop, Click, Click, Bang on Dec. 1, 6 and 8; the show also will play on Dec. 15 with a matinee at Tarara Winery, which includes lunch. Other holiday shows include Santa’s Funky Hawaiian Christmas Cabaret, a musical mashup of classic Christmas songs Dec. 8-22, and the family friendly “A Seussified Christmas Carol” that will play Dec. 14-15 and Dec. 21-23. For details and to buy tickets, go to stagecoachtc.com. NEW YEAR’S EVE Comedian and Juggler Mark Nizer brings his one-man show to the stage at Franklin Park Arts Center for a Family New Year’s Eve Celebration 7-9 p.m. on Dec. 31. You’ll be spellbound at his world class juggling combined with technology, including juggling laser beams at 1,000 rpms or five ping pong balls flung 20 feet in the air with just his mouth. Tickets for the show are $10 per person, or $35 for a family of four or more. Go to franklinparkartscenter.org to purchase online. 8

Adults 21 years and older are invited to dance the way into 2020 at The Reagan New Year’s Eve Party at Tally Ho Theater on Dec. 31. Doors open at 7 p.m. for this 1980s throwback party, which will end at 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1. The party includes drink specials and a champagne toast at midnight. Advance tickets are $25, $35 at the door, and $75 for VIP tickets, which include a guaranteed seat throughout the show, early admission, and access to the VIP bar with hors d’oeuvres. Go to tallyhotheater.com for the link to buy tickets. It’s 1969 at the Event & Conference Center at Cascades Overlook Town Center, where the Beatlemania Again Dinner Show will transport you to the era when the Beatles ruled the world. Tickets are $70 per person and include an international buffet dinner. Show takes place from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. For a link to purchase tickets, go to their Events page at facebook.com/CascadesOverlookEventCenter/. Dragon Hops Brewing hosts an Around the World for New Year’s Eve party with a DJ and live music all night through 1 a.m. An open beer and wine bar, and a buffet of jerk chicken wings, empanadas and pork BBQ sliders open at 8 p.m., with desserts and a champagne toast at midnight. For more information and a link to buy tickets, go to the Events page at facebook. com/eventbymerlin.

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DECEMBER 2019

Come share in the

magic

of the

in Loudoun

We’ll save a seat for you.

Learn more at VisitLoudoun.org/events

Lighting of the Vines at Bluemont Vineyard

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Event styled by J Shea

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Photo by Lauren Haislip

TUNES

Leesburg’s Kid Brother headlines at the Tally Ho Theater on Dec. 21.

Credit: Alex Mangione

Kid Brother Returns Home on a Hot Streak BY MARTIN BONICA

Fresh off an East Coast tour, up-and-coming indie rock band Kid Brother returns home this month to play a headlining show at the Tally Ho Theatre in downtown Leesburg and then prepare for the release of their second album in January. Kid Brother formed in 2016, initially as a collaboration between Baltimore transplant Christian Neonakis (guitar, vocals) and Sam Athanas (drums). They worked on a set of demos before adding guitarist Dylan Savopoulos. The band cycled through bassists before settling on Richard Smith (former guitarist of Milo in the Doldrums) in late 2017, and keyboardist and vocalist Piano Whitman (formerly of Juxt) joined the band after the departure of Lindsey Cook in early 2019.

The band started out playing bars, breweries, and “any place that would have us,” Neonakis recalls. Since then, the band has played as far west as Nashville, regularly appears at Union Stage, DC9, and the Black Cat in DC, and recently played their first international show at Sneaky Dee’s in Toronto. Tours, like the one the band recently finished, are usually a collaborative effort. “If we’re playing outside of this area, we’ll usually be jumping on a tour with another band,” Neonakis said. “That’s how all bands do it. You either make the tour and other bands get on with you, or you hop on a tour with a band that’s bigger than you are.” The entire band lives in Leesburg, and that has worked to Kid Brother’s benefit. “Relative to the rest of Northern Virginia, KID BROTHER

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WINERIES 1 868 Estate Vineyards 14001 Harpers Ferry Rd, Purcellville 868estatevineyards.com 2 The Barns at Hamilton Station 16804 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton thebarnsathamiltonstation.com 3 Bluemont Vineyard 18755 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont bluemontvineyard.com 4 Bogati Winery 35246 Harry Byrd Hwy, Round Hill bogatiwinery.com 5 Boxwood Estate Winery 2042 Burrland Rd., Middleburg boxwoodwinery.com 6 Breaux Vineyards 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro breauxvineyards.com

7 Cana Vineyards of Middleburg 38600 John Mosby Hwy, Middleburg canavineyards.com 8 Cardamon Family Vineyards 12226 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro cardamonfamilyvineyards.com 9 Carroll Vineyards 29 South King St., Leesburg leesburg-vintner.com/vineyards 10 Casanel Vineyards 17952 Canby Rd., Leesburg casanelvineyards.com 11 Chrysalis Vineyards 39025 John Mosby Highway, Aldie chrysaliswine.com 12 Corcoran Vineyards & Cider 14635 Corkys Farm Lane, Waterford corcoranvineyards.com 13 Creek’s Edge Winery 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville

creeksedgewinery.com 14 Crushed Cellars 37938 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville crushedcellars.com 15` Doukenie Winery 14727 Mountain Rd., Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com 16 Dry Mill Vineyards & Winery 18195 Dry Mill Rd., Leesburg drymillwine.com 17 Fabbioli Cellars 15669 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg fabbioliwines.com 18 Fleetwood Farm Winery 23075 Evergreen Mills Rd., Leesburg fleetwoodfarmwinery.com 19 Greenhill Winery & Vineyards 23595 Winery Lane, Middleburg greenhillvineyards.com

20 Hidden Brook Winery 43301 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg hiddenbrookwinery.com 21 Hiddencroft Vineyards 12202 Axline Rd., Lovettsville hiddencroftvineyards.com 22 Hillsborough Vineyards 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro hillsboroughwine.com 23 Hunters Run Wine Barn 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton huntersrunwinebarn.com 24 Lost Creek Winery 43285 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg lostcreekwinery.com 25 Maggie Malick Wine Caves 12138 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro maggiemalickwinecaves.com 26 Notaviva Craft Fermentations 13274 Sagle Rd., Hillsboro notavivavineyards.com

27 Otium Cellars 18050 Tranquility Rd., Purcellville otiumcellars.com 28 Quattro Goomba’s Winery 22860 James Monroe Hwy, Aldie goombawine.com 29 Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., L’burg stonetowerwinery.com 30 Stonehouse Meadery 36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com 31 Sunset Hills Vineyard 38295 Fremont Overlook Ln, Purcellville sunsethillsvineyard.com 32 Tarara Winery 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg tarara.com 33 Terra Nebulo 39792 Old Waterford Rd., Waterford terranebulo.com

1 Adroit Theory Brewing 404 Browning Ct., Purcellville adroit-theory.com 2 B Chord Brewing Company 34266 Williams Gap Rd., Round Hill bchordbrewing.com 3 Barnhouse Brewery 43271 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg barnhousebrewery.com 4 Bear Chase Brewing 33665 Bear Chase Ln, Bluemont bearchasebrew.com 5 Belly Love Brewing Company 725 E. Main St., Purcellville bellylovebrewing.com 6 Beltway Brewing Company 22620 Davis Dr. Ste 110, Sterling beltwaybrewco.com 7 Bike TrAle Brewing 101 Loudoun St. SE, Leesburg facebook.com/BikeTrAleBrewing 8 Black Hoof Brewing Company 11 South King St., Leesburg blackhoofbrewing.com 9 Black Walnut Brewery 210 S. King St. Leesburg blackwalnutbrewery.com 10 Crooked Run Brewing Central 22455 Davis Dr., Sterling crookedrunbrewing.com

11 Crooked Run Brewing Market Station, Leesburg crookedrunbrewing.com 12 Dragon Hops Brewing 130 E. Main St., Purcellville dragonhopsbrewing.com 13 Dirt Farm Brewing 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com 14 Dog Money Rest. & Brewery 50 Catoctin Circle NE, Leesburg dogmoney.squarespace.com 15 Harper’s Ferry Brewing 37412 Adventure Ctr. Lane, Hillsboro harpersferrybrewing.com 16 House 6 Brewing 4427 Atwater Dr., Ashburn house6brewing.com 17 Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Rd. #142, Ashburn lostrhino.com 18 Lost Rhino Retreat 22885 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn lostrhinoretreat.com 19 Loudoun Brewing Company 310 E. Market St. Leesburg loudounbrewing.com 20 Ocelot Brewing Company 23600 Overland Dr., #180, Dulles ocelotbrewing.com 21 Old 690 Brewing Company 15670 Ashbury Church Rd., Hillsboro old690.com

34 Two Twisted Posts Winery 12944 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro twotwistedposts.com 35 Village Winery 40405 Browns Lane, Waterford villagewineryandvineyards.com 36 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd., Leesburg willowcroftwine.com 37 The Wine Reserve at Waterford 38516 Charles Town Pike, Waterford waterfordwinereserve.com 38 Walsh Family Wine 16031 Hillsboro Rd., Purcellville northgatevineyard.com 39 Winery 32 15066 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg winery32.com 40 Zephaniah Farm Vineyard 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd., Leesburg zephwine.com

BREWERIES 22 Old Ox Brewery 44652 Guilford Dr., Ste 114, Ashburn oldoxbrewery.com 23 Old Ox Brewery Middleburg 14 S Madison St, Middleburg, VA 24 Phase 2 Brewing 19382 Diamond Lake Dr, Lansdowne Phase2Brewing.com 25 Quattro Goomba’s Brewery 22860 James Monroe Hwy, Aldie goombabrewery.com 26 Rocket Frog Brewing Company 22560 Glenn Dr. #103, Sterling rocketfrogbeer.com 27 Solace Brewing Company 42615 Trade West Dr., Sterling solacebrewing.com 28 Sweetwater Tavern 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling greatamericanrestaurants.com 29 The Craft of Brewing 21140 Ashburn Crossing Dr., Ashburn thecraftob.com 30 Twinpanzee Brewing Co. 101 Executive Dr., Sterling twinpanzee.com 31 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts vanishbeer.com 32 Wheatland Springs Farm 38454 John Wolford Rd., Waterford

ART SCENE IMAGE SOURCE

The works of Edith Lake Wilkinson, 1868-1957, are providing inspiration to local female painters who will exhibit their works this month in Leesburg.

‘Unapologetic’: Exhibit Challenges, Celebrates Female Artists BY JIM SISLEY

Most recognizable artists are known for a style of painting. Nascent art makers are often told by an educator or mentor that artists should keep to a certain style in an effort to hasten mastery and to find their own niche. So, it was with a sense of mischief and rebellion that Loudoun painter Kris Loya recently advanced the idea to a local group of painters that they should depart from their stylistic constraints and unapologetically produce that piece of art they always wanted to try. Loya invited a group of 14 female artists to throw out their respective rule books and, without remorse, stretch their artistic expression. The idea for the exhibit came from the storied life of painter Edith Lake Wilkinson and the constraints she faced in the male dominated society of the early 1900s. 14

“At that time, female artists were only allowed to show their artwork on Sunday,” Loya said. In the late 18th century most artists were men, but today most of the artists that show at regional galleries are female. Loya said she doesn’t “think of creating art as tilted toward one gender or another.” However, she recognizes there is a direct correlation between the rise of feminism and the number of women artists today. Young Kris Loya grew up in a household where her mother rose from an executive assistant to a “C level” executive and she rightly sees strong successful women as today’s societal norm. It follows then that there is an element of girl power and generationism in the upcoming exhibition. The mature artists in this show have embraced the concept with a kind of activism while younger participants engaged as a

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UNAPOLOGETIC

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DECEMBER 2019

“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

Leesburg’s Holiday Tree Lighting

Jingle Jam

Leesburg First Friday

Olde Time Holiday Celebration

December 6th, 6:00pm Join friends and neighbors on the Town Green.

December 6th, 6:00-9:00pm Live music performances, art shows, wine tastings, kid’s activities, and more. www.LeesburgFirstFriday.com

Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show

at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center December 7th, 9:00am-4:00pm and December 8th, 10:00am-4:00pm This show features over 95 local and regional artisans selling a variety of hand-made items from home décor to jewelry. Free Parking and Admission.

Hometown Holiday

December 7th, 12:00-3:00pm Enjoy downtown holiday open houses, photos with Santa, carolers, and strolling holiday characters. www.downtownleesburgva.com

December 14th, 11:30am, 2:30pm, and 8:00pm Rock n’ roll at the Tally Ho Theatre to Leesburg’s hottest holiday band.

December 14th, 12:00-3:00pm Horse drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa, cookie decorating, carolers, and strolling holiday characters. www.downtownleesburgva.com

Annual Christmas and Holiday Parade December 14th, 6:00pm The parade will usher Santa and his friends through Historic downtown Leesburg.

Girls Night Out

December 19th, 5:00-8:00pm Shops are open late with specials and restaurants will feature happy hours, live music, and other fun events. www.downtownleesburgva.com

703-777-1368 • www.idalee.org DECEMBER 2019

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FLAVORS

Make the Holidays Merry & Bright With Seasonal Cocktails ‘Tis the season for hosting holiday parties, and what better way to impress your guests than with a cocktail bursting with the flavors of the season? We’ve tapped some of the county’s best mixologists and craft libation makers to provide you with recipes that are sure to add sparkle to your evening. Pro tip: Sample the cocktails first at the locations provided so you know what they’re supposed to taste like before making them yourself! cocktail shaker and strain into coupe glass. Garnish with a sprig of thyme. Available at AhSo Restaurant in Brambleton Town Center

FORD’S FISH SHACK WINTER MULE 1.5 oz Cranberry Smirnoff 3 oz ginger brew ½ oz simple syrup 1 oz cranberry juice

Shake all ingredients and serve over ice in a glass with salted rim, garnish with cranberries and lime twist. Available at ChefScape in Village at Leesburg.

Mix all ingredients in a copper mug. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and sugar coated cranberries.

Add a shot of non-alcoholic cider to a glass of Corcoran hard cider rim with caramel dipped in brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon.

Available at Ford’s Fish Shack locations in Cameron Chase Village Center, South Riding Market Square and Lansdowne Town Center.

Available at Corcoran Vineyards and Cidery in Waterford.

CHEFSCAPE’S SANTA-RITA

AHSO’S THYME TRAVEL

1 oz Patron Silver ½ oz Grand Marnier ½ oz Malibu Rum 2 oz Coco Lopez Coconut Cream ½ oz agave ½ oz lime juice

1½ oz Bloom Gin ½ oz Thyme-infused Cocchi 2 oz House pear/basil/pepper puree ¼ oz lemon juice 3 drops Lavender bitters

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CORCORAN’S CIDER COCKTAIL

Shake all ingredients hard in a GET OUT LOUDOUN

THE CONCHE’S A BITTERSWEET HOLIDAY 1 oz Patron Cafe XO 1 oz Amaro Averna 2 oz chilled espresso shot  1 dash Aztec Chocolate Bitters SEASONAL COCKTAILS

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BEST BETS

12.6 BATTLE OF THE BANDS Dec. 6, 6 p.m. Cascades Overlook Event Center, Sterling Produced by Loudoun Youth Inc., Loudoun County PRCS and the Youth Advisory Council, this annual music contest features the best of Loudoun’s youth bands and performers. The musicians compete monthly starting in December. The second round takes place Jan. 24, the third on Feb. 28 and the final battle is on March 27 at Tally Ho Theater. The winning band will take home $900 in cash prizes, studio time, and private lessons with professional songwriters. Admission to the concert is $5. For details, go to loudoun.gov/4455/ Teen-Events-Programs.

12.8

arrangement of arias from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” and end in Eastern Europe with tales and gypsy folk songs. Tickets are $20; to register, go to franklinparkartscenter.org/.

MARCOLIVIA: TRAVEL BY NIGHT Dec. 8, 3 p.m.

12.13

Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville Families with children ages 8 years and older are invited to enjoy this violin and violin/viola duo’s performance with music inspired by voice, dance and Mozart. They begin with Baroque dance music of 18th century France, continue with their own 18

LEGENDS BY LANTERNLIGHT: EARLY CHURCHES OF MIDDLEBURG Dec. 13, 6:30 p.m. Asbury Methodist Church, Middleburg The Mosby Heritage Area leads this a lantern-lit walking tour of Middleburg’s

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BEST BETS

oldest churches, where you’ll learn about Middleburg in the 1840s and ’50s through its church communities. The tour will begin at Asbury Methodist Church, progress to Sharon Cemetery outside of the Baptist Church, and will conclude at Emmanuel Episcopal with a traditional carol and informal reception. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students, and can be purchased at the door or at mosbyheritagearea.org/events/ december2019legends.

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JOHN GORKA Mandolin Wind Concert Series Dec. 15, 7 p.m. Doukénie Winery, Hillsboro John Gorka, a world-renowned singersongwriter with 14 critically acclaimed albums, performs in an intimate setting on the 400-acre farm. Tickets are $50 and must be purchased in advance. Go to doukeniewinery.com.

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DIVAS DRAG SHOW Dec. 14, 8 p.m. Dragon Hops Brewing, Purcellville Hosted by renowned drag queen Alexa V. Shontelle, this show promises a night of lively entertainment for adults 21 and older. Presented by CLM Entertainment and Dragon Hops Brewing.

12.15 BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS: AMANDA MURPHY AND THE LOST INDIANS

THE CAPITOL STEPS Dec. 15, 6 p.m.

Dec. 20, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg This longtime political satire group brings their contemporary parodies to Loudoun for one night at this fully seated show. Performances will cover all political affiliations – no party is safe. All seating is first come, first serve. Doors opens at 6 p.m. All tickets are $30; purchase online at tallyhotheater.com. DECEMBER 2019

B Chord Brewing, Round Hill Amanda Murphy and the Lost Indians, based in Northern Virginia and the northern Piedmont region, began playing together in 2007 and perform a mix of progressive and traditional bluegrass.

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BEST BETS

12.21

12.27

WEST KING STRING BAND

RADIO PETTY: THE ULTIMATE TOM PETTY TRIBUTE SHOW

Dec. 21, 8 p.m. Crooked Run Brewing, Sterling The West King String Band, made up of longtime friends Jesse Harman, Jack Studer, AJ Fox and Spooky Fiddler, formed in 2013 in Saint Augustine, FL. Today, from their base in Nashville, they take their blend of rock, classic country and bluegrass across the country, playing more than 200 shows a year. For tickets, go to crookedrunbrewing.com.

Dec. 27, 7 p.m.

COMEDY NIGHTS

Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg

Dec. 21, 8 p.m.

Relive the best hits of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at this ultimate tribute show from this band that was formed after Petty’s death in 2017. What was supposed to be a one-off show turned into an ongoing concert experience by this New Jersey and New York tribute band. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost between $15 for general admission and $35 for VIP seated; purchase online at tallyhotheater. com.

Twinpanzee Brewing Co., Sterling The North American Comedy Brewery Tour makes a pit stop in Sterling for an evening with some of the funniest comedians from around the country. Pair the laughs with brews from Twinpanzee and barbecue from What the Heck BBQ. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to Twinpanzee’s Facebook page at facebook.com/Twinpanzee.

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DECEMBER 2019

LAST HAM STANDING Dec. 27, 8 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville Performers in this family friendly comedy show take audience suggestions for a funny night of improv along the lines of the old TV show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” The show is performed monthly at the center; this one will be the last of the year. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $14; purchase online at lastham.com. LIVE WIRE: THE ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE Dec. 28, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theatre, Leesburg This five-member tribute band has paid homage to AC/DC since 2000 and performed their high energy show on five continents around the world. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost between $15 for general admission and $35 for VIP seated; purchase online at tallyhotheater.com.

12.29 PLANETARIUM SPACE ART Dec. 29, 1:30 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville Call early to register for this family friendly astronomy event featuring the Digitalis Delta 4 inflatable planetarium, where you’ll discover the wonder of space. After the show, kids will create their own space-inspired art. To register, call 540338-7973. Tickets are $8 per person, and you’ll pay at the door. Intended for children ages 4 years and older. For more info, go to franklinparkartscenter.org.

DECEMBER 2019

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KID BROTHER FROM PAGE 10

Leesburg is a small town,” Smith said. “We have this small community that we’re really integrated with. When we play, there’s a hometown band playing a hometown venue. There isn’t a rush to sell pre-sale tickets and convince people to drive out of their heavytraffic area.” The road to headlining Tally Ho was a gradual one; the band started out playing some opening sets there, before proving their mettle consistently enough that they eventually started to top the bill every six months. The band last played there in June, delivering a high-energy set of aggressive, catchy tunes to a packed hall. The band’s members cite their branding and social media presence as factors to their success. Dylan Savopoulos pulls double duty designing shirts and other merch, as well as event posters and social media. The band even collaborated with Crooked Run Brewery on a beer (“Spilt Salt,” named for a song on their album) that bore the band’s logo and cover art. The band’s debut album “Baltimore Street Rat” was recorded at M80 in Purcellville. The album includes staples like the earworm “Pastels,” the foot-stomping “Good News,” and deeper cuts like the epic piano ballad “The Wooden Crown.” The album’s lyrics are serene and nostalgic at one moment, and bitter and caustic at the next, painting detailed pictures of desperate characters. “What’s unique about Christian’s writing is that there’s no sense of vagueness in it. Some of it’s metaphorical, but it’s pretty to-the-point, which can be jarring for some people, but that’s what I really respect about it,” Whitman said. The band’s songwriting process has democratized over the years. “All of us write music in our own time,” Whitman said. “It’s something that I’ve always done.” She tracks demos in her home studio with no particular objective in mind, and if she picks an idea that seems appropriate for Kid Brother, “That’s gonna go into the drive.” Athanas explains the next steps: “A lot of times on certain practice days, if we don’t have something to immediately practice, we’ll flip 22

through it and pick one song. Sometimes it’ll blossom into something amazing.” Jamming and improvisation are key elements in the band’s recent compositional process. “It’s super groovy,” Whitman said of the newer material Kid Brother has been introducing on the road. Athanas concurs; “We found little parts of each song that are fun to travel around in.” Smith describes the band’s musical dynamic: “We have common material that we listen to, but our influential roots are all very different, so it just so happened to work out that even though all of our roots are different, we as musicians work very well together. It allows us to have a grab-bag from different genres and different styles.” At a typical Kid Brother show, about half of the setlist is composed of unreleased material not heard on “Baltimore Street Rat.” Their sophomore album is recorded, and the band plans to have it out in late January. “We’ve got so much material for upcoming albums,” Neonakis said. “I think the plan moving forward is to definitely have an album a year.” Everyone in the band expresses enthusiasm about their trajectory, and desire for the project to keep going. “My main goal is to create a sustainable, lasting career from this,” Neonakis said. Athanas agreed, pointing out how Kid Brother is slowly working through items on his bucket list— playing a festival (they appeared at FloydFest last year) and performing in Canada among them. Smith said the band members have remained close friends as they’ve worked together for the past two years. “It hasn’t gotten old,” he said. “I feel like no matter where the band goes and what happens, I’ve just been hanging out with my buddies this whole time.” Kid Brother’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. Tickets for the band’s headlining show at the Tally Ho on Dec. 21 are $10-$15 and available at tallyhotheater.com. Their music can be found at kidbrotherva.bandcamp.com.

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DECEMBER 2019

UNAPOLOGETIC FROM PAGE 14

continuation of the hard-won inclusivity they have always known. “I think women have always been bold in art. There is less caution, timidity or hesitation by women in the arts today,” Loya said. The internet has hyperinfluenced art producers and they consume so much visual imagery that styles come and go at a faster pace. Loya says the increased access to imagery “produces a lot of mud or middle ground,” a sort of sameness that frustrates the innovative mind. “Painters eventually abandon the notion of painting for an

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SEASONAL COCKTAILS FROM PAGE 16

audience and seek unique expression instead,” she said. At the time of this writing, it was unknown what work will be delivered for the show. Titled “Unapologetic,” the exhibit opens at Tryst Gallery in Leesburg on Friday Dec. 5, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. and runs through Jan. 15. Jim Sisley is the owner of the Tryst Gallery, located at 312 E. Market St. Suite F in downtown Leesburg. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and First Friday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each month.

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Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with chocolate stick and chocolate swirl.  Available at The Conche in Village at Leesburg.

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Celebrate The Season With Delicious New England Style Seafood Three Convenient Locations Ashburn

South Riding

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