Get Out Loudoun for February 2020

FEB. 2020

Meet the Winemaker of the Year

Loudoun Now Your guide to Loudoun’s Entertainment Scene

MEET THE WINEMAKER DINNER February 19th @ 7PM $110 INCLUSIVE

WITH DOUG FABBIOLI

ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED WINEMAKERS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY. DOUG'S AWESOME WINES ALONG WITH CHEF THOMAS'S MOUTHWATERING CUISINE WILL MAKE THIS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

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

GET OUT LOUDOUN

FEBRUARY 2020

16

Loudoun Flips Out over Pinball 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.

6 10

CONTRIBUTORS Martin Bonica Therese Howe Norman K. Styer

Photo by Norman K. Styer

TUNES Lisa Forilli is among the musicians leading a jazz resurgence happening on stages in Leesburg’s historic district and across the county.

14

ART SCENE The works of portrait painter Ellen Emmet Rand provide insight into the sporting life of American equestrians a century ago as part of an exhibit at the National Sporting Library and Museum.

16

BREWS Pinball wizards—and those who want to be—are finding new venues for competition at Loudoun’s breweries..

18

BEST BETS Get Out Loudoun’s Picks for February.

ON THE COVER Corry Craighill at Sunset Hills Vineyard

WINE The latest accolade for Corry Craighill is her selection as Loudoun’s winemaker of the year. Her work in the industry isn’t just a passion; it’s a lifestyle.

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

getoutloudoun.com FEBRUARY 2020

GET OUT LOUDOUN

3

The congregation of the John Wesley Church in Waterford, 1910.

Courtesy Thomas Balch Library

Explore Loudoun’s African American Heritage From Antebellum plantations and stillstanding stone slave quarters, to hidden cemeteries, historic black churches and sites commemorating the National Underground Railroad, Loudoun honors its African American heritage without shying away from its past.

February is Black History Month and Loudoun marks the commemoration with a series of talks and events on how African Americans shaped, and continue to shape, the story of Loudoun.

On Saturday, Feb. 1 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) the Black History Committee Friends of the Thomas Balch Library host Essence of a People: Preserving African American Sites and Stories, an open house led by historian Arlean Hill.

The event explores successful multi-year local efforts to save such Loudoun landmarks as the Settle-Dean Cabin (log cabin of former slave Thomas Settle in South Riding); and the 1800s-built stone Arcola Slave Quarters in Sterling, in the face of development.

Three weeks later, on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m., the library will host award-winning University of Maryland African American Studies academic (and hip-hop authority) Jason Nichols. Nichols, who traces his family’s roots in the Hamilton area back to the late 1700s, will speak on his Loudoun ancestry, Dr. Martin Luther King and African Americans who fought in the Vietnam War. In eastern Loudoun, the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum will host three speakers who 4

will discuss the African American-owned farms of Sterling in the 20th Century. The Saturday, Feb. 15 event at 1 p.m. will focus on the Ewing, Edds and Nokes families who operated successful dairy and wheat farms in the area.

Indeed, parts of Sterling are still known as Nokesville today, and among the speakers will be a descendent of the Edds family whose dairy farm (which supplied much of Washington, DC with milk) was at what is now the busy intersection of Countryside Blvd and Rt. 7.

Loudoun’s African American story exists beyond Black History Month and there are countless ways to explore this storied past.

The Thomas Balch Library, Loudoun County Courthouse and Oatlands Historic House & Gardens are all listed as National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Sites by the National Parks Service and are worth visiting outside of the above events, and you can celebrate the entrepreneurial spirt of Loudoun’s African Americans over a cocktail or dinner at the swanky Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, owned by billionaire African American businesswoman Sheila Johnson.

For more information, visit visitloudoun.org/getout

GET OUT LOUDOUN

FEBRUARY 2020

loudoun A WEDDING SHOWCASE

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020 West Belmont Place ı Leesburg, Virginia BUY TICKETS OR VIP ACCESS AT

VISITLOUDOUN.ORG/WEDDINGS

VINES

For Loudoun’s 2019 Winemaker of the Year, Complacency Isn’t An Option

Corry Craighill

Loudoun’s 2019 Winemaker of the Year

BY THERESE HOWE

L

oudoun’s 2019 Winemaker of the Year, Corry Craighill of Sunset Hills Vineyard, got her start in the wine industry in the tasting room in Charlottesville while attending the University of Virginia as a student majoring in religious studies and bioethics. After graduating, she knew she didn’t want a desk job and so she took an offer as a harvest intern at Blenheim Vineyards in Charlottesville, despite having no experience in the field.

“So my first vintage was 2011, which … before 2018 was one of the worst vintages. I picked a lot of grapes in the rain, cleaned a lot of lugs and sorted a lot of fruit,” she said with a laugh.

She followed up that experience with more work in vineyards and cellars around the world, including cross-country stints several times as well as trips across the Pacific and Atlantic.

Her formative years as a winemaker, though, were the two and a half years she spent as an assistant to both Kristy Harmon at Blenheim and Matthieu Finot at King Family Vineyards, also in the Monticello American Viticultural Area. Both winemakers expressed no surprise that Craighill won the award, despite her relative youth in the industry.

6

“Corry is a young winemaker, but she has worked a ton of harvests and has really maximized her time doing multiple harvests a year ( she even squeezed in three one year),” said Harmon, who has been winemaker at Blenheim since 2008. “She has worked in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, Oregon and Virginia! That’s a lot of really great places to learn and experience winemaking, and she has worked really hard to get as much out of each experience as possible.

“Corry is able to understand winemaking from many different perspectives and is therefore able to see what style or approach to winemaking best suits the vintage and the grape she is working with. She is constantly striving to do better and be better each vintage,” Harmon added.

Finot, King Family’s vintner since 2007, echoed the praise, citing her critical thinking skills and dedication to innovation among other traits needed for the job. “First of all to be a winemaker you need to be able to have a good palate and she’s very good at tasting, which is important, you need to be able to taste the wine. … You also have to be curious; you have to explore, you have to create your own

GET OUT LOUDOUN

CRAIGHILL

7

FEBRUARY 2020

CRAIGHILL FROM PAGE 6

Craighill said at the time. “We are already seeking out more innovative ways of farming, or of making wines, or of attracting new and existing customers to our wineries, but we need to do more. If we want to be taken seriously Craighill’s extensive travels have allowed as a wine industry her to do just both in Virginia that, providing and internationally, a wider lens on If we want to be taken seriously as we need to push winemaking and a wine industry both in Virginia and boundaries. We the industry internati onally, we need to push need to take risks.” as a whole. At boundaries.

We need to take risks.”

To that end, the October Craighill worked ceremony when as a Loudoun she was honored Wineries as Winemaker of Association board member to bring the Year, she took the opportunity to address representatives from the Virginia Wine Board Loudoun’s winegrowing community with that Marketing Office to the county recently. perspective. identity as a winemaker and not just reproduce what other people are doing. (To do that), you have to know what’s being done (elsewhere) and how it’s being done.”

“As a community of friends and of colleagues, we need to continue to push each other,”

CRAIGHILL

8

Enjoy Delicious

New England Style Seafood

Three Convenient Locations Ashburn 44260 Ice Rink Plaza #101 Ashburn, VA 20147 571.918.4092

South Riding 25031 Riding Plaza #150 Chantilly, VA 20152 703.542.7520

Lansdowne 19308 Promenade Drive Leesburg, VA 20176 571.333.1301

Download Our Mobile App

Order online, skip the wait, and more!

www.fordsfishshack.com

FEBRUARY 2020

GET OUT LOUDOUN

7

CRAIGHILL FROM PAGE 7

“We created a two-day experience for them with the hope that we would gain more traction in the Virginia wine industry,” she said. “If we’re ever going to compete on a national or international scale, we need our wines to be outside of Loudoun because otherwise who is going to know we are making good wines other than the tourists that come and taste the wines?”

Of course, “you’re getting a really narrow viewpoint of what the direction of Loudoun’s winemaking industry should be,” she added.

“I think there’s not just one direction. But I personally think we need to push the boundaries outside of Loudoun … and show the world we’re making good wines.”

Closer to home, she’s looking forward to following through with her experiments in the cellar at Sunset Hills. “We had a great vintage in 2019 so I think this is a good year to showcase not just winemaking but what the vineyards can do. In 2017 I created a vineyard designate Chardonnay and so in 2020 I’m definitely going to be looking in my cellar to see if I can do more vineyard designate wines.”

That spirit of innovation is supported wholly

by Mike Canney, who founded Sunset Hills with his wife, Diane. “While I am very proud of Corry and the outstanding wines she has made, I always want to see if we can make them better. I feel her best wines are still ahead of her, and I want to support her experiments to make them better.”

He notes that while Craighill manages all facets of production and the vineyard at Sunset Hills and their other farms, she shows just as much passion for improving and growing the business in other areas. For instance, “Corry helps our management team equip the staff with an extensive wine education. This goes beyond just a staff training that one might receive on a first or second day. Every week, she helps us bring a new theme to the staff meetings 8

Norman Styer/Get Out Loudoun

Corry Craighill prepares to sample wine aging at Sunset Hills Vineyard near Purcellville.

- for example, aromatic whites or Cabernet Franc. … Wine can be intimidating, but not when you work with Corry. She creates a work environment that is welcoming and open, but she is the clear leader because she has gained the trust and respect from everyone at Sunset and 50 West. She allows guests and staff alike to ask the 101 questions that some may consider ‘below them’ and she meets them where they are!”

“While she is improving the individual knowledge of our employees, her bigger goal is to improve our place of employment and the growing Virginia wine industry,” he said.

Within the county, Craighill also will be helping to coordinate the Loudoun Winter Wine Barrel Tasting in February, which will be the second year that LWA has offered the experience.

GET OUT LOUDOUN

CRAIGHILL

9

FEBRUARY 2020

CRAIGHILL FROM PAGE 9

“What’s really cool is that you’re getting access to Loudoun’s winemakers. One of the requirements is that the winemaker has to be there and be the one pouring the wines. … I think that it’s important to show customers that this is where your wine is coming from, it’s not just shipped in from somewhere. The winemakers can say this is my passion, this is what I’m excited about, and I want to share it with you.”

Craighill’s own passion for her profession is evident, even as she travels for personal rather than professional reasons. On vacations, she’ll travel with friends in the industry and visit other wineries to not only enjoy their wines, but to take notes on ideas or techniques she can take back home and adapt to Virginia’s vineyards. “Being in the wine industry isn’t work - it’s a lifestyle.”

Courtesy Visit Loudoun

A selection of Sunset Hills award-winning wines.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020 • 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Ida Lee Park Recreation Center Leesburg, VA

Shop for beautifully handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gifts for Easter, Mother’s Day, and graduations!

Our show brings you the most current trends in jewelry and fashion accessories.

Find that unique piece that is all you! Browse the finest in home décor, candles, personal care, fine art, and more. FREE ADMISSION.

www.idalee.org • 703-777-1368 FEBRUARY 2020

GET OUT LOUDOUN

9

TUNES

Fiorilli Helps Lead Loudoun’s Jazz Scene Expansion

BY MARTIN BONICA

Downtown Leesburg has become a focal point for jazz music. A prolific member of the scene’s burgeoning community is Lisa Fiorilli, saxophonist, teacher, and leader of the Lisa Fiorilli Jazz Trio, which has lately expanded to become a quartet.

For the past 10 years she has taught through the Catoctin School of Music, and over that time her band has become a local mainstay. For the past seven years, her band has consisted of herself, Patrick Fritz on guitar, and Fernando Bolanos on bass guitar. The three met teaching at the Catoctin School of Music, and recently began playing with Sawyer Gaydon on drums.

The band has a wide repertoire spanning from jazz standards to unexpected pop deep cuts—a version of Sting’s “Englishman in New York” was a standout at one of their recent performances at Crooked Run Brewing in Leesburg.

Fiorilli came to Northern Virginia after completing a degree in music performance at Bowling Green State University and then leaving Ohio for Virginia for “a change of scenery and warmer weather,” she said. She first picked up the saxophone after being steered toward it by a teacher in the fourth grade.

“I like that when I play music, everything’s involved; the brain’s involved, the body’s involved. It’s very physical,” Fiorilli said of her main instrument. “It feels really good to play, just physically vocalizing through the instrument is really enjoyable. …

People talk about mindfulness now, and even meditation, and playing an instrument is a way to achieve mindfulness and flow.”

Lisa Fiorilli

By Martin Bonica 10

She describes jazz as a liberating medium.

FIORILLI

GET OUT LOUDOUN

11

FEBRUARY 2020

creatively or academically—and improvisation.

Pursuing both is a good balance for me.”

FIORILLI

“Playing jazz, the element of improvisation, permits mistakes. When I’m performing classical music or music composed by somebody else, there’s a lot of pressure to play perfectly, so I find it’s much more enjoyable to have the freedom to improvise, to navigate a path through the form, and if mistakes are made, to figure out how to forge ahead and not stop and crash the train,” she said.

Fiorilli cites a major personal loss as a motivation to start performing jazz, when, in 2011, her best friend passed away.

“He was so brave and so genuine, and such a great musician; I try to channel him now,” she said. “When he died, I thought two things: ‘This is shocking, and I need to keep playing music.’

I play in part to honor him but also because music, jazz in particular, is what makes me most excited about life,” she said.

In the early 2000s, Fiorilli completed a master’s degree in English at George Mason University, and began teaching for Loudoun County Public Schools in 2005. “There’s no opportunity to be stage-shy” when teaching, she said. “I definitely gained a lot of confidence being in front of other people, just through teaching, so that experience makes me more comfortable to perform in public.”

She explains how jazz performance and writing can complement each other. “I think there are a lot of parallels between music and writing, and a lot of parallels between writing—whether

Jazz bands, including Fiorilli’s, have been enjoying more opportunities to perform in downtown Leesburg.

“What’s cool about Leesburg is that the population is varied, because it is densely populated, more so now than in the last 10 years,” she said. “The community is really supportive of live music and art.

The restaurants and bars, in particular the managers of the restaurants, are a major part of facilitating live music.”

She ticks through the list of venues her band has played, naming the Wine Kitchen (where they played their first Leesburg gig), Casa Nostra, Trungo’s, and both of Crooked Run’s locations— the cozy Leesburg space and the more massive Sterling location.

“We have a lot of musicians who live in the area and are really advocating for more live music,” she said, citing the efforts of the Loudoun Jazz Society, which hosts monthly jam sessions at Trungo’s, as well as the weekly jazz nights at Lightfoot Restaurant. “I think the First Friday scene is awesome for musicians; there will be twenty to twenty-five different venues who host live music.” Over the course of the past few years, she said, the pace of her band’s shows has picked up from once every few months to almost weekly.

FIORILLI

22

Martin Bonica/Get Out Loudoun

Lisa Fiorilli’s jazz quartet, from left: Patrick Fritz, Fernando Bolanos and Sawyer Gaydon.

FEBRUARY 2020

GET OUT LOUDOUN

11

15 8 25 34

26 1

LIBATIONS

21

13 32

6

31

32 22 15 14 21 38

20

12

24

37

35 33

31

39 3

17

23 14

4 2 4 13 3

1 12 5

2 10

27 30 36

16

9 14 9 11 7 8 19

40

24

29

16 22 17 25 28

5

19

7 23 11

26

18

25

18 10

29

28

6

20 27

30

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

Leading the Field: The Works of Ellen Emmet Rand Miss Emily Davie, 1932

Ellen Emmet Rand was one of the first successful, professional female artists in the United States, known for her portraits that included the first painting of Franklin Delano Roosevelt following his election in 1932, as well as many depictions of captains of industry, socialites, artists, and children.

In 1936, her exhibit at the Sporting Gallery & Bookshop in New York City featured wellknown sporting figures such as Fletcher Harper, Master of the Orange County Hunt (now Orange County Hounds); Dr. Howard Collins, Master of Millbrook Hunt; and Charlotte Noland, founder of the prestigious Foxcroft School and Joint-Master of Middleburg Hunt.

In an exhibit that continues through March 22 at the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, many of those same paintings from that exhibit, “Sporting Portraits by Ellen Emmet Rand, N.A.,” are on display.

The new exhibition “Leading the Field: Ellen Emmet Rand” brings to life the stories, personalities, and relationships behind those works.

Rand was a lifelong equestrian, active in American foxhunting circles, and proved to be significant within the context of sporting history and culture during the first half of the 20th century.

14

Miss Charlotte Noland, 1929 The National Sporting Library is located at 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday through Sunday.

GET OUT LOUDOUN

FEBRUARY 2020

19 W Market St, Leesburg, VA (703) 777-1665

Tickets Available at:

WWW.TALLYHOTHEATER.COM

Coming to Town this February 2/1

COWBOY MOUTH

2/13

THE WAILERS

2/21

UFO

50TH ANNIVERSARY FAREWELL TOUR

2/22

SOUL ASYLUM

2/28

UNCLE KRACKER

2/29

CARBON LEAF

FEBRUARY 2020

7:00PM

7:00PM

7:00PM

GET OUT LOUDOUN

7:00PM

W/LOCAL H

7:00PM

7:00PM

15

BREWS

Pinball Enthusiasts Flipping Out in Loudoun Breweries

BY THERESE HOWE

W

hen Ocelot Brewing renovated the private space known as the Antelope Room into an arcade last summer, Dave Heltzel had no idea how popular the transformation would be for the brewery.

“I really didn’t realize how much of a cult following pinball really has, it’s pretty crazy,” the brewery’s director of operations said. Heltzel added that the growing interest in the games meant the arcade quickly expanded from five pinball machines and two arcade games when they first opened to 11 machines and five arcade games now.

Matt Wycoff operates the games with his business partner, Chris Chatman, and serves as commissioner of the Ocelot pinball league, which is part of the Free State Pinball

16

Association. The FSPA has overseen the region’s pinball leagues since 1995, and the only other league in Loudoun is Silverball Sanctum at Lost Rhino Brewing, which started around the same time in June.

Edan Grossman has been running the Silver Sanctum league at different locations in Loudoun since 2015, when it was held at Mighty Mike’s in Sterling. He also plays in other leagues and is one of the reigning Ocelot champions for the fall 2019 season.

Although the spring 2020 season began in late January, ‘”players who are not part of the league are more than welcome to come in during a standard league night,” Grossman said. “They can be assigned to a group as if they were playing in league, and their scores wouldn’t affect the other players. The only cost the guest player would incur is the coin-drop to play the machines, (and) this can range from

GET OUT LOUDOUN

PINBALL

17

FEBRUARY 2020

PINBALL FROM PAGE 16

25 cents to $1 per game. Each player will play four games per night during league, so they are only looking at a few bucks to play on any given night.”

new every time they come to play. Chris and I are pinball and arcade collectors; my passion is restoring games and keeping them in as perfect condition as possible. Ocelot was an opportunity for us to deliver a game room that’s just as high in quality as their product, and also a pinball destination with games spanning all eras from the ’70s and ’80s to the most modern games from companies like Stern and Jersey Jack Pinball.”

At Ocelot, Wycoff has capitalized on the rising popularity of the game, hosting two tournaments in August and November last year.

“Our first tournament was an overwhelming success; we had three times the expected turnout, we were prepared INTERESTED IN JOINING? and adapted well, and everyone The Free State Pinball Association’s spring season has seemed to have a great time,” already begun, playing weekly until the playoffs in early Wycoff said. Both tournaments April. Ocelot’s league plays Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and were sanctioned by the International Silver Sanctum plays Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. League dues are typically $40 per season, according to the FSPA Flipper Pinball Association, the website. The league operates three seasons each year, governing body for leagues around taking a break in the winter. For details about the leagues the world. and joining, go to fspazone.org.

“A decade ago, players would have slim choices on where to play and frequently had to drive an hour or more to get to a location. With the rise in popularity and opening of locations like Ocelot, players now have multiple choices nearby,” said Steve Kapinos, an Ashburn resident and Ocelot league member who is ranked 15th in Virginia by the IFPA. (Grossman is ranked third in the state, and is one of the top 300 players in the world.)

Wycoff and Chatman first approached Ocelot’s owners with the idea for the arcade because “their friendly atmosphere, dedicated space and weekly rotations of delicious craft beer mean players can try and take home something

Ocelot’s current lineup includes some of the newest and sought-after games among pinball players, including Jurassic Park (Pro) and Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. The games are listed on apps and websites, which has helped bring new business into the Sterling brewery. “There are guys who travel and pull up an app on their phone to see where they can go play pinball. We’ve gotten some new customers from that - they come in to play and PINBALL

22

Photo courtesy of Steve Kapinos

Pinball players from around the metropolitan Washington DC area and beyond compete in Ocelot Brewing’s inaugural pinball tournament in August.

FEBRUARY 2020

GET OUT LOUDOUN

17

BEST BETS

2.13 THE WAILERS Feb. 13 Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater The band behind the legendary Bob Marley will be bringing their reggae beats to downtown Leesburg, led by founder Aston “Family” Barrett and joined by original Wailers guitarist Donald Kinsey. General admission is $30 and VIP seated tickets are $50. Sales end on Feb. 13 – go to tallyhotheater.com to buy tickets online.

2.1

2.14

DANNY KNICELY’S 14TH ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT

LOUDOUN LYRIC OPERA COSI FAN TUTTE Feb. 14-22

Feb. 1 8:00 p.m.

Various locations

Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center Enjoy an evening of music and dance as multiinstrumentalist Danny Knicely leads an exciting show featuring international tap dancing star Baakari Wilder, Aimee Curl on vocals and John Previti on bass. Knicely will perform on the mandolin and guitar, drawing from the Appalachian folk music of his youth as well as various genres he has encountered in his travels to more than a dozen countries. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to franklinpartkartscenter.org.

18

Opera fans will enjoy this tribute to Valentines, as the Loudoun Lyric Opera presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s romantic comedy about promises made and promises broken. Shows take place Feb. 14 at St. Peter’s Episcopal in Purcellville, Feb. 15 at Christ Church Lucketts in Leesburg, Feb. 16 at St. James Fellowship Hall in Leesburg, Feb. 21 at St. David’s Episcopal in Ashburn, and Feb. 22 at Lansdowne Woods Clubhouse for Lansdowne residents. Tickets are $15 for students, $25 for adults and seniors.

Buy online at www.loudounlyricopera.com.

GET OUT LOUDOUN

BEST BETS

20

FEBRUARY 2020

WINTER BARREL TASTING

BEST BETS

Feb. 22 11 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Participating wineries Winemakers at more than a dozen of the county’s finest wineries will be opening their cellars to offer tastings directly from the barrel at this second annual wine event. It’s a unique chance to meet and talk with the winemakers in an intimate setting, and get a preview of what will be going into the bottle in the upcoming seasons. Tickets are $40 in advance, $55 at the door, and include barrel samples at the participating wineries. For details and to purchase tickets, go to www.loudounwine.org/ winter-barrel-tasting.

2.15

TODD WRIGHT

LOVESICK BLUES: A TRIBUET TO HANK WILLIAMS SR. AND PATSY CLINE Feb. 15 8-10 p.m.

Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center It’s a night at the Grand Ole Opry in Purcellville as Robbie Limon and Tracey Wygal take the stage as Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline. Tickets are $20-$25, with reserved seating. For details and to buy tickets, go to franklinpartkartscenter.org.

2.22

Feb. 22, doors open at 7 p.m.

Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards Loudoun favorite Todd Wright performs an intimate, listening room concert as part of the Songs, Stories and Gas Money music series. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For details, go to thebarnsathamiltonstation.com.om for more info including how to buy tickets.

2.28

SAMEDI GRAS CELEBRATION Feb. 22 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Breaux Vineyards Samedi is Saturday in French, and Breaux is kicking off Mardi Gras early with a Fat Saturday celebration featuring all the traditional festivities including dancing, beads, king cake, costume contest and live music from the Voodoo Blues. Cost is $15 per person, $12 for Cellar Club members, and includes admission, souvenir glass, bead, and king cake sample.

Tastings are not included. For more information, go to breauxvineyards.com.

Feb. 28 Doors open at 6 p.m.

Cascades Overlook Event Center It’s the third battle before the final show on March 27 for this annual music contest showcasing the best of Loudoun’s youth bands and performers. The event is produced by Loudoun Youth Inc., Loudoun County PRCS and the Youth Advisory Council. The winning band will take home $900 in cash prizes, studio time, private lessons with professional songwriters.

Admission to the concert is $5. For details, go to loudoun.gov/4455/Teen-Events-Programs.

CONTINUED ON PAGE

20

GET OUT LOUDOUN

21

FEBRUARY 2020

BEST BETS

UNCLE KRACKER Feb. 28 Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater The country rock artist behind such hits as “Follow Me,” “When the Sun Goes Down,” and “Smile” brings his feelgood vibe to the stage in downtown Leesburg at this all ages show. General admission is $35 – VIP seated tickets are sold out. Go to tallyhotheater. com to buy tickets.

33RD ANNUAL YMCA CHOCOLATES GALORE & MORE Feb. 28 7-11 p.m.

Lansdowne Resort & Spa Some of Loudoun’s most popular chefs vie for the title of Best Taste and Best Presentation at one of the county’s most attended culinary events of the season. Besides the desserts and hors d’oeuvres, guests will enjoy dancing, music, complimentary champagne and more. Business or cocktail attire is suggested. Tickets are $85 for general admission. For details and to register, go to loudounchocolates.com.

2.29 PRINCESS BREAKFAST & BRUNCH Feb. 29 Seatings at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center Kids ages 2 to 12 years are invited to dress as their favorite princess for this second annual event at recreation center. Food, crafts and games for kids, and coffee for adults will be provided. Adults and children are $8 per person, and all those attending must register. For more information and to register, call 571-258-3600 or go to any Loudoun Parks and Rec office.

FEBRUARY 2020

GET OUT LOUDOUN

21

plus, they realize the value of art and culture and music, so that’s definitely a boon.”

FIORILLI

Everyone in the band is a music teacher, as well as a performer. “Teaching music gives me an opportunity to hone my craft as I help young students develop theirs. Learning an instrument, and learning how to make music, is a lifelong pursuit, and watching them progress by tackling increasingly difficult techniques inspires me to do the same,” Fiorilli said. She points to the area’s education opportunities as another positive for the local music scene, citing the number of schools in Loudoun County with VMEA Blue Ribbon and VBODA Honor Band awards.

Fiorilli has a positive outlook on the area’s rapid expansion over the past decade. “The growth means that there are more people who come see us play, which means venues are more willing to book live music, and in turn, we can attract people to come out to the venues. The community is very supportive of live music;

“Music has saved my life more than once.

That might sound trite, but it is literally true that it has saved my life more than one time.

When I’m playing, I’m truly in a state of flow, and life is rich, so for me it’s about more than just expressing myself. It’s also about building a community and bringing something to other people that can bring joy to their lives as well.

I never thought that when I was younger - I thought ‘hey, I’m going to play this instrument really fast and really proficiently’ - but that’s not music. Music is about sharing energy that makes you feel good but also makes others feel good. Music is life.”

Lisa Fiorilli teaches at the Catoctin School of Music, and continues to perform with her band regularly. Show dates are updated regularly at facebook.com/musiclisafio/. Her band’s upcoming dates include a quartet show at Crooked Run Leesburg on March 13, and at Crooked Run Sterling on March 14.

PINBALL FROM PAGE 17

they try our beers,” Heltzel said.

“Loudoun itself has some of the best locations in the region to play,” Kapinos said. “It is super gratifying when you talk to a (Ocelot) patron and find out they’ve traveled a great distance just to check out the game room, they comment on a game you’ve worked hard to restore, or they say they made the trip just because they heard about the game room.”

In addition to new clientele from out of town, the arcade has attracted other locals in the area as well. “I have a handful of guys who I had never seen before that are there five days a week playing pinball,” Heltzel said. The arcade crowd ranges in age from kids accompanying their parents to “guys in their late ’60s and ’70s playing … That’s another cool thing about pinball, it’s not one specific demographic.”

“Pinball as a game is very diverse, with lots of different styles and forms over its long history,” Kapinos added. “From the bells and chimes of the early games, to the classic ’70s 22

Norman K. Styer/Get Out Loudoun

The game room at Ocelot Brewery in Sterling features a varied lineup of pinball games and draws big crowds during weekly competitions by the Free State Pinball Association.

and ’80s arcade titles many remember from their childhood, to the latest and greatest titles being released - the games resonate with folks in different ways. Players love having choices, and the game room Matt and Chris have set up is so strong and attractive it really lends itself to being a hub for organized pinball activities.”

GET OUT LOUDOUN

FEBRUARY 2020

FEBRUARY 2020

GET OUT LOUDOUN

23

A Tranquil Mountain Escape + Handcrafted Wines

2019 was a great year!

Come, taste history repeat itself in 2020.

2019 VA Governor’s Cup | Gold 2019 San Francisco Chronicle | Double Gold 2019 June Issue, Northern Virginia Magazine | Best Winery in Northern Virginia 2019 Loudoun Wine Awards | Gold 2019 American Wine Society | Double Gold Visit our website for complete upcoming event details www.doukeniewinery.com February 14 & 15 Petite LouLou Valentine’s Cheese Fondue Dinner

February 22 Loudoun Wineries Association Barrel Tasting

March 8 Day with the Winemaker

March 29 Blending with the Winemaker

Winter hours November 1 – March 31 Monday –Thursday 10am-5pm | Last call for tastings 4:30pm Friday – Sunday 10am-6pm | Last call for tastings 5:30pm Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays during January & February Members call for pick-ups.

14727 Mountain Road, Purcellville, VA | (540) 668-6464 | www.doukeniewinery.com