HISTORIC CATESBY FARM OPENS FOR INAUGURAL CELEBRATORY RETREAT WEEKEND By Peter Leonard-Morgan Photos by Pixelme Studios
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weekend awash with festivities took place at Middleburg’s historic Catesby
Farm, beginning on Friday, January 5, and culminating on Sunday, January 7. The occasion was a surprise 40th birthday party for local resident Eric Combs, hosted by Eric’s wife, Suzi Molak, together with her business partner Jodi Moraru and their company SPACEZ, which was recently awarded the exclusive rights to operate Catesby Farm for limited events.
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Guests arrived early Friday evening from all parts of the country to celebrate in style, and no detail was overlooked. Suzi conceived and designed the party, creating an ambiance which she felt strongly highlighted what Catesby has to offer its clients, bringing in teams from Washington, D.C., and Middleburg, to light up the house with love, laughter and entertainment. The party’s theme, as well as the invitations, which included a request for a hushhush of surprise, was “I call a Mulligan”. A dedicated hashtag of #middleagedinmiddleburg was, quite literally, the icing on the cake, as evidenced in these photos. A sit-down dinner for an intimate cadre of 20 guests kicked off the weekend, with catering from Heirloom Caterers, decor and flowers from Amaryllis Designs, lighting and music from Bruce Pike Productions, rent-
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als from Capital Party Rentals, photography from Pixelme Studios and graphic design by Emily Baird Designs. Despite frightfully cold weather outside Catesby, wine flowed within, and music wafted throughout, providing revellers with a truly unique experience. That night, 20 guests slumbered lavishly in three of the five houses which are available as accommodations on the property. They awoke to a fresh-pressed juice bar complete with service from a Jinsei Juices & Tonics branded bicycle! The biggest hits were “The Hydrate” with fresh coconut meat and “The Cure” with activated charcoal for cleansing— the perfect detox! During the day, Hammerdown BBQ, a local Middleburg favorite, provided a buffet lunch served in the main house to guests and Farm | Page 19