Old Town Crier - February 2026 by Old Town Crier

A NEW LUXURY INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING RENTAL COMMUNITY

The Riviera will open early 2026 just above Old Town Alexandria in North Potomac Yard — a charming waterfront district, bringing cosmopolitan energy and sophistication to senior living. You’ll enjoy it all in this premier location:

◆ No long-term commitment

◆ No entrance fee required

◆ Upscale dining venues with chef-prepared meals

◆ Concierge service

◆ Steps away from Potomac Yard Metro station

◆ Events, recreation, entertainment, group outings

The Founders Club is our exclusive benefits program for early depositors and is ending soon. Members receive valuable savings, reduced rates, and early access to key benefits.

the QR code or call 571.462.2691 for more details.

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

As I sit here mid-afternoon in the last week of January, we have already hit the high temperature of the day - 26 degrees at noon. This has been a cold brutal week and if the weather experts are right, isn’t going to get above 38 going well into February. My hopes that, at some point this month, we have more moderate temps. Seems like Mother Nature has given Jack Frost custody of the DMV.

On a “warmer” note, we think we have a pretty decent issue for you this month. We celebrate Black History and Alexandria has several activities taking place celebrating all month long. In addition to those celebrations, we have President’s Day on the 16th and the George Washington Parade and Valentine’s Day taking place in tandem on the 14th. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday on the 17th. I don’t really go crazy with it but I know several who love it more than Cinco de Mayo. Guess it depends on whether you like Hurricane’s or Margarita’s better!

Our Special Feature this month is "Why we celebrate Presidents Day" which began with the celebration of George Washington, our very ﬁ rst president.

It is always a pleasure to introduce a new business to our readers in our Business Proﬁle. The fragrance experts at Arielle Shoshana: Your Perfume Playground are looking forward to creating your personal scents and introducing you to the nuances of fragrance.

In A bit of History, Sarah Becker illuminates Abraham Lincoln and his contributions to our nation. In today's political environment, this is a very pleasant and refreshing commentary. Enjoy.

In Financial Focus, our buddy Carl Trevison explains the tolls for ﬁ nancial ﬁtness.

In Gallery Beat, Lenny Campello laments about failed art fairs in the DMV but writes about the possibility of an "Art Week DC" that hopes to include a major art fair in the near future.

In Last Word, Miriam Kramer ﬂips a page and writes about Homeland, a political espionage thriller now on Netﬂix. After reading her article I think that I will watch for Homeland...might make me think of today's environment.

If this cold weather here in the DMV has got you down, get away to the Caribbean. In Caribbean Connection, we look at the Caribbean Travel Awards for 2026. Just reading this article and marveling at the photographs will make you feel warm inside and create a desire to hit the airport for a quick get-away to one of these great destinations. How I miss St. John.

In Dining Out, we revisited an Old Town icon, the Warehouse on King Street. A long-established restaurant that has stood the test of time. Whether it is a drink at the bar, a nice lunch or brunch or a leisurely elegant dinner, the Warehouse has you covered.

For a short month, Tim Long is all over the place with his Let's Get Crafty column. Between sporting events, Alexandria Breweries and golﬁ ng, Tim covers a lot of ground. it is a fun article!

In Exploring Virginia Wines Doug Fabbioli points out that new regulations are coming to the wine makers of Virginia, and the impact on the Virginia Farm Winery. In Grapevine, Matt Fitzsimmons elaborates on an age-old concern...the sale of Virginia Wines at the retail and restaurant level. When the Old Town Crier started writing about Virginia wines in the early 90’s, there was a huge gap of sales at the retail level. Matthew evaluates those concerns in today’s market. Some things never change. The Virginia wine industry has been pleading for years (decades) for Virginia restaurants to carry a Virginia wine by the glass for sale. A very few did and some tried, but never became widespread. With the “Stewards of Virginia Wine”, a bit of progress is being made. Good advice for all of us.

Looking in on our Fitness and Beauty section, Nicole Flanagan explains the importance of a good massage which can also be a Valentine gift to yourself in Fitness. In From the Trainer, Ryan Unverzagt continues his winter approach to ﬁtness and reveals the correct way to do bench presses. We all did these in our younger years but did we have the right technique? Ryan sorts it all out. In First Blush, Kim Putens tells us how to keep your skin looking young during these harsh winter months.

Here’s to the shortest month of the year!

Even though the Potomac River is currently frozen, Steve Chaconas writes about cheating in Bass tournaments and the consequences in Go Fish

In Open Space, Lori Welch Brown gets a little introspective about love and Valentine’s Day. Lori always has a great point of view, and this one is a little bit of self-analyzing. Maybe we all should do that from time to time. Good for the soul.

Some exciting and a bit controversial news coming from National Harbor with the pending construction of a “mini” version of the Sphere in Las Vegas in the area next to the MGM Casino and Resort. Read about it in Lani Gering’s Harbor column.

There is much more inside and we hope that you enjoy the issue. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and bring a little warmth on Parade Day. Also, don't forget Valentine's Day on the 14th. Lots of great restaurants in Alexandria to treat your sweetheart to as well as great jewelry stores and gift shops to pick up that “just right” token of your love.

It is a short month so...Get Crafty!

february‘26

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

The Old Town Crier made its way back to the West Coast to sunny San Diego with a stop at the iconic Hotel Del Coronado for lunch on the patio. Littleton, Colorado residents and OTC subscribers, Annie and Ric Ruller, took a two-week post-holiday hiatus for a bit of R&R, soak up some sun and to visit their oldest daughter, Chelsea. Pictured here are Annie (left) and Chelsea, with what looks like the hotel spire on top of her head - she wears it well!

If you would like to see your photo in this space, take the OTC with you on your next adventure and take a high resolution photo or photos of you and yours checking us out and send it with information for the caption to oﬃce@oldtowncrier.com and put “On the Road” in the subject line.

In honor of our ﬁ rst President’s birthday this month, we were looking for a ﬁtting cover for the issue. While not traditional in nature, this rendition of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a piece by local artist Sandy Sanford. We like thinking outside the box.

From the Artist: My name is Sandy Sanford. I have painted oﬀ and on since 1991 after returning from Desert Storm. My grandpa was an excellent artist and inspired me to paint. Formal training came through trial and error, and attending a basic drawing class in my twenties. The only artistic success I had before painting was winning an easter coloring contest in ﬁrst grade.

Throughout this journey I have been fortunate to sell paintings and even get accepted in a few art shows. In 2021 I published a book of my works. Most of my paintings up until 2025 have found homes with family and friends scattered across the U.S.

This past year, I accepted early retirement; this allowed me to paint and draw daily over the summer into fall. I have focused on smaller abstract acrylic paintings with bright colors (four-inch squares).

Sketching (ﬁve-inch squares) while out at local bars and restaurants has enabled me to meet people, and their encouragement has given me conﬁ dence to continue. I feel fortunate that a few of my new paintings and sketches were accepted for three exhibits at the Torpedo Factory from late summer into the holiday season.

Larger paintings are in the future this year as I continue to develop and grow as an artist. If you are interested in painting give yourself permission to have fun and create. Perfection is not the key; it might lead you into a spectacular mess while providing an escape from our world and a therapeutic tool at the same time.

1992 – First “real” painting, 20 x 24, acrylic on canvas (Matisse inspired)

Masonic Temple, 2020, 5 x 7, acrylic on canvas.

ELWOOD

No correct guesses yet! Here is another “snippet” of it that might help. We are thinking that it will take a while for someone to identify this one since it has only been up a couple of months. Remember, your hint last month was that it is located at the intersection of two well-traveled streets in Old Town proper. In fact, a good number of commuters drive by it every day.

If you are the ﬁ rst person to respond with the correct location, you will receive a $50 gift certiﬁcate to one of the best French eateries in the DMV-Bastille Brasserie & Bar

In order to participate and qualify for the gift card, you will have to Like and Follow us: Facebook @oldtowncrier and Instagram @otcregionalmag

Send a PM with your guess and we will contact the winner each month via PM to arrange for prize delivery.

Events Around Town – February 2026

Just minutes from Washington, D.C. on the Potomac River, Alexandria is a welcoming winter retreat. As you ramble along the red-brick sidewalks with a special someone, many adventures await. Start the day with some self-care at a spa, salon or tness spot, choose from the many restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a cocktail and catch the action at one of the city’s cozy sports bars. Plus, don’t miss one of the biggest parades of the year celebrating George Washington’s Birthday and experience special events during Black History Month. On these pages are just a few of the events taking place this month. Full calendar at visitalexandria.com.

Celebrating Black History

From a self-taught mathematician who mapped out the nation’s capital, to abolitionist sisters who partnered with Frederick Douglass, to the rst Black athlete to play in the NBA, African American changemakers have shaped the history of Alexandria, VA, and the United States. Minutes from D.C. and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Alexandria offers tours, markers and more to lead you through sites and stories both harrowing and hopeful.

Start exploring Alexandria’s Black history and cultural experiences for a better understanding of today. Enjoy discounts on Alexandria’s museums and more regional attractions with the Attractions Key to the City Pass. https://visitalexandria.com/ things-to-do/historic-attractions-and-museums/key-to-the-city/

7th

Preservation Tours: Lost Buildings of Alexandria-The Berg & Parker-Gray

Carlyle House

121 North Fairfax Street

10am – 11am

Join Carlyle House and Lee-Fendall House on a tour of “Lost Alexandria.” Explore parts of the historic neighborhoods of The Berg & Parker-Gray. Learn why these buildings were not preserved. Tour begins at Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St. This tour includes walking over many city blocks. Walking shoes required, bottled water suggested. Held rain or shine. Tour will be cancelled in extreme weather.

This program is non-refundable unless the museum cancels the program. Having trouble registering? Please call 703-549-2997 or email carlyle@nvpa.org

8th through May 31st

“Shall Not Be Denied: Alexandria Women and the Fight for the Ballot”

Exhibition

Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden

614 Oronoco Street

“Shall Not Be Denied: Alexandria Women and the Fight for the Ballot” is Lee-Fendall’s newest temporary exhibition that explores the vital role Alexandria women played in the struggle for women’s suffrage at the local, state, and national levels. Through stories of activism, organizing, and civic engagement, the exhibition highlights the work of women connected to organizations such as the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia and the Virginia League of Women Voters.

The exhibition also examines the Lee-Fendall House’s historical connections to the suffrage movement, revealing how this site intersected with the broader ght to secure voting rights for women. Together, these narratives place Alexandria rmly within the larger story of the long and determined ght for the ballot. www.Leefendallhouse.org

Photo courtesy of Carol Jean Stalun Photography for Visit Alexandria

Photo Courtesy Visit Alexandria

Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse Art Exhibit

Del Ray Artisans Gallery

Colasanto Center

2704 Mount Vernon Avenue

Del Ray Artisans presents “Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse” art exhibit celebrating traditions, mythology, and the dynamic symbolism of the horse in the zodiac through diverse interpretations inspired by movements, heritage, and storytelling with an emphasis on cultural respect and authenticity. The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible. Gallery Hours: Thursday 12-6pm, Friday 129pm, Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-6pm. For more information, please visit DelRayArtisans.org/exhibits.

14th

George Washington Parade

300 King Street 2pm – 4pm

The 2026 parade theme is George Washington: Virginia’s Son and America’s Founding Father, in honor of George Washington’s leading role in the founding of our country during its 250th Anniversary Year.

Thousands of spectators will line the streets of Old Town Alexandria to cheer on the oldest and largest George Washington Birthday Parade in the country! The parade features drum corps, color guards, bands, community and fraternal organizations, youth groups, local merchants, city dignitaries, and, of course, General Washington and Martha Washington. Parade route and details on the website at www.washingtonbirthday.com or call 571-384-8170.

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET

Tavern Square

100 Block of N. Royal St.

Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round

The Old Town Market is thought to be the one of nation’s oldest continuing markets operating since 1753. It is said that George Washington sent his products from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today the plaza is a mecca for farmers and artists to sell their wares. The Market is a primary source for meats, dairy, sh, fruits, vegetables and owers for all those who visit.

DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET

Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues

Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round

This market is strictly a producer grown market. Lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, sh and salmon, fresh mushrooms, baked goods, hard cider. Farmers are within a 150 mile radius of Alexandria. A non-pro t is featured each weekend.

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET HAS MOVED…

…next door to North Royal Street and Tavern Square and has come under a bit of scrutiny from “regulars” but keep in mind this is just temporary. This may be old news to many of our readers since the move took place in mid-January, but we feel it’s important to let our visitors know what is taking place.

The new location is just across the street from Market Square. Find the answers – provided by the City - to most of your questions below:

WHY THE MOVE?

The Farmers’ Market has operated uninterrupted at Market Square since 1753. Because City Hall and Market Square will undergo major renovations starting in early 2026, the Farmers’ Market must move to keep operating during the renovation.

WHY N. ROYAL STREET AND TAVERN SQUARE?

The 100 block of N. Royal Street and the courtyard at Tavern square are just across the street from Market Square. The space is big enough to host all current Farmers’ Market vendors, with plenty of room for shoppers to move comfortably. The Market Square Garage will also be closed during construction, and the new location provides easier access to nearby parking options.

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

OLD TOWN NORTH FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Montgomery Park 901 North Royal Street

Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm Year Round

Alexandria’s favorite dog friendly market! The Old Town North Thursday Market is a growers only market with a focus on produce from small family farms and local artisans. Products sold at the market include fresh fruits and veggies from Virginia’s Northern Neck, Micro Greens from an urban farm, Empanadas, Fresh baked pastries with a European air and much more.

FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS

& ARTISANS MARKET

4109 Mount Vernon Avenue

Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm Year Round

This market offers fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels and strives to re ect the diversity of Alexandria’s community. Local artisans display their arts and crafts as well.

WHERE CAN I PARK?

Farmers Market visitors are encouraged to use the Tavern Square garage (418 Cameron St.), which will offer FREE parking on Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. There is also parking at nearby Courthouse Square (111 S. Pitt St.). For a full list of parking locations, visit the Parking on Alexandria page.

HOW LONG WILL THE MARKET BE IN TAVERN SQUARE?

The renovation of City Hall and Market Square will take two to three years. The Old Town Farmers’ Market will take place each Saturday in the 100 block of N. Royal Street and the courtyard at Tavern Square during this time. Once renovations are nished, the Market will return to its historic home.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SHOPPERS?

Shoppers can expect the same variety of local produce, baked goods, owers, meats, dairy, and specialty items from over 70 vendors, now in a more spacious setting.

HOW CAN I STAY INFORMED?

Stay up to date on the Farmers’ Market relocation, including of cial move date, maps, parking and transportation options, and vendor updates, by visiting alexandriava.gov/OldTownFarmersMarket.

The Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Valentine’s Day Meaning: A Day of Romance & Love

Wow! Who knew that Valentine’s Day had a whole boat load of history? We are guessing that some of this information may come as a surprise to many of our readers as well. Knowing what we know now might make us pay more attention to the content of the cards we pick out this year! – Old Town Crier

Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed—as it was deemed “un-Christian”—at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 was St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became deﬁ nitively associated with love.

During the Middle Ages, a common belief across France and England held that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that Valentine’s Day should be an occasion for romance. The English poet Geoﬀrey Chaucer was the ﬁ rst to record St. Valentine’s Day as a day of romantic celebration in his 1375 poem “Parliament of Fowls,” writing, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s did not begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today is a poem Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote to his wife in 1415 while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

Valentine’s Day Traditions Throughout History

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century.

By the middle of the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of aﬀection or handwritten notes, and by 1900, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Readymade cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions at a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings.

Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the ﬁ rst mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.”

Today, according to Hallmark, more than 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas

Who is Cupid?

Cupid is often portrayed on Valentine’s Day cards as a naked cherub launching arrows of love at unsuspecting lovers. But the Roman God Cupid has his roots in Greek mythology as the Greek god of love, Eros. Accounts of his birth vary. Some say he is the son of Nyx and Erebus; others claim his parents are Aphrodite and Ares; still others suggest he is the son of Iris and Zephyrus or even Aphrodite and Zeus (who would have been both his father and grandfather).

According to the Greek Archaic poets, Eros was a handsome immortal who played with the emotions of Gods and men, using golden arrows to incite love and leaden ones to sow aversion. It was not until the Hellenistic period that he began to be portrayed as the mischievous, chubby child ever present on Valentine’s Day.

The Legend of St. Valentine

The history of Valentine’s Day—and the story of its patron saint— is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was St. Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three diﬀerent saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, deﬁed Claudius and continued to marry couples in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered his execution. Others insist St. Valentine of Interamna (modern-day Terni, Italy), a bishop, is the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded during Claudius II’s reign for refusing to renounce his faith and converting new followers.

Other stories suggest Valentine might have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the ﬁ rst “valentine” greeting, himself, after he fell in love with a young girl—possibly his jailor’s daughter—who visited him during his conﬁ nement.

Before his death, it is said he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic ﬁgure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine had become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Source: HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team.

The Scent of a Woman…or a Man…or a Room… Arielle Shoshana!

Arielle Shoshana is the brain child of Arielle Shoshana Weinburg. She and her partner Katri Haas have dubbed Arielle Shoshana as “Alexandria’s perfume playground”. According to their website, they have the most exciting and exclusive fragrances that you won’t smell anywhere else and they embrace a line of audaciously original fragrances for perfume lovers who spray by their own rules.

Unfortunately, I can’t personally attest to the above statement…yet! Due “inclement” weather we had the last week of January, we had to conduct our interview remotely so I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Arielle (left) and Katri (right) at the store.

The upside is that they introduced me to Google Meet. This is the ﬁ rst interview that I have conducted remotely. The only other face to face “tool” I have used is good old Facetime with friends and family and that’s been a handful of times. (Guess you can tell that I didn’t have to work remotely during the pandemic.) The downside, obviously, is that I didn’t get to experience just what the process is in creating my own fragrance or sampling the many interesting scents they have in-house. However, the friend that suggested we proﬁle the perfumery said she had a fabulous experience and highly recommended checking it out. That being said, by the time you’re reading this, I will have met the ladies in person and, hopefully, customized a fragrance to my specs.

In order for you to “spray by your own rules” you are encouraged to take a twoquestion quiz - questions below. All of the choices for answers made me smile but here are a few standouts:

How do you want to smell?

Bold, juicy, vibrant, like a passion fruit margarita from your favorite rooftop Bar.

Comforting, cozy, delicious, like a matcha latte with particularly adorable latte art.

Bewitching, subversive, resinous, like midnight mass in a long-abandoned cathedral.

It’s 9:00 on a Saturday night, where are you?

Fence hopping. Skinny dipping. Being escorted oﬀ the premises.

At home, sheet mask on your face with Drag Race Season 5 on your laptop.

Building a bonﬁre deep within the forest for a midnight ritual with your coven.

I guess you could say that, in addition to knowing fragrance, Arielle and Katri have wicked senses of humor. And, I can see how answers to these two questions could lend some great insight to a person.

Arielle Shoshana also has fragrances for

your home, oﬃce or any space you prefer – candles and diﬀusers and even a laundry detergent.

Having to rely on their website for the bulk of this content, I really think this statement says it all:

“We delight in the unexpected: in Mondays that smell like Saturdays (and vice versa), in vibrant, imaginative perfume notes no one else would dare to use. Wear our days-of-the-week fragrances wildly out of order, entirely according to your own whims.”

I am also very impressed by the press they have garnered from these wellknown publications:

Allure

"The Long Weekend Sample Set includes a citrus scent for Friday, bright fruit for Saturday, warm gourmand for Sunday, and soothing lavender tea for Monday. 'It's giving range. It's giving maximum variety.'"

Elle

"Arielle Shoshana makes the coolest day-of-the-week-inspired fragrances, and Monday is no exception. This uplifting scent smells like Earl Grey tea, bergamot and lavender—just the thing to get me out of bed after the weekend."

The Strategist

"I love a niche fragrance boutique. Places like MUSE in Harlem and Arielle Shoshana in Washington, D.C., stock brands you might not otherwise ﬁnd — and that’s especially good if you don’t want to walk into a room and smell like anyone else."

Not being able to meet the ladies in person and actually being inside the store has made writing this proﬁle a bit of a challenge but I think you have a good idea of what they are all about and I hope that the next time you are in Old Town that you stop in. I know I’m looking forward to my ﬁ rst visit.

Arielle Shoshana

313 Cameron Street

Old Town Alexandria ArielleShoshana.com

Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 11AM-7PM Sunday: 11AM-5PM

You can shop in-store or online by brand or fragrance family. In addition to their Arielle Shoshana line, they handle several other independent brands. If you aren’t familiar with any of them, you can pick the fragrance you have in mind – citrus, beach, ﬂoral, spicy, etc. –and the experts will point you in the right direction.

We plan our weekends. We plan our weddings, careers, and futures. Planning not only helps set us up for successful outcomes in the future but can also help immensely in the present.

It helps us deﬁ ne and reﬁ ne our goals, align tactics, proactively address risks, and chart our progress.

Too often, however, the planning that could be the most valuable is overlooked. The same people who would not dream of embarking on a two-week vacation to Italy without an hour-byhour itinerary may have just a basic outline of a plan for their retirement, which could last 20 to 30 years.

What drives this disconnect?

Many of us are intimidated by the thought of putting our plans on paper. Others fail to grasp the value of the planning process. One common mistake is thinking your situation is very simple and straightforward so you don’t need a plan.

This misconception can stem from a misunderstanding of exactly what constitutes a plan and an assumption that planning ought to be comprehensive enough to meet the needs of the rest of your life. Planning should meet you where you are and reﬂect your current situation. Your investment goals and your plan will evolve with you over time.

Eﬀective plans are generally the ones that take your individual circumstances and those of your family into account. They should start with your goals and objectives and may encompass planning for investments, retirement, taxes, and wealth transfer.

As you map out your goals, consider the following:

• Are you thinking of starting a business?

• Are you exploring buying a second home or is there another big purchase that you would like to make at some point in the future?

• Do you want to travel extensively after you retire?

• Have you promised your children or grandchildren that you’ll help pay for their college education or for them to study abroad?

• Do you need to build or rebuild an emergency fund for unforeseen expenses?

• Is there a community program or charitable cause you’d like to support more robustly?

One way to express your goals is to think of them as your own personal story that you are intending to write. For example:

“Now that I have my ﬁ rst grandchild, I’d like to save enough to help me comfortably retire so I can spend more time with my family. My spouse and I have had a lifelong dream of road tripping across the country once I retire. As we get older, I want to build up a savings fund for medical needs and start a legacy fund to help ﬁ nancially support my children and my grandchild.”

Or:

“I am passionate about supporting local businesses and have a goal of opening my own restaurant that partners with local vendors. I want to have enough money to start the business while helping grow our nest egg in case we need to dip into it while we are starting out. If we’re successful, I

Setting Goals: The First Step in Creating an Investment Plan

hope to expand the business by opening an additional location.”

After identifying your goals, the next step is to understand how much money you will need for each goal. This information will help you determine your saving and investing priorities, your time horizon for each goal, and the amount of investment risk you’re comfortable taking to achieve each goal.

There’s no one-size-ﬁts-all answer to achieve each goal. Life throws curveballs and your priorities may change;

however, people who have a plan may be more prepared for life’s events and feel more comfortable that their goals will be met.

This article was written by/ for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA. You can contact hin with any questions at 800-247-8602. Investment and insurance products are not insured by the FDIC or any federal

government agency, are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by the bank or any bank affiliate, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. Brokerage services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered brokerdealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2023 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

Remembering Lincoln

President Barack Obama took his oath of oﬃce in 2009 using former President Abraham Lincoln’s bible. Lincoln’s lore is legendary not only to residents of Obama’s Prairie State, but also to Hoosiers like me. As a child I lived an hour’s drive from Lincoln’s Boyhood Home.

Lincoln was synonymous with greatness and if he split one rail, he split them all. As Abraham Lincoln dreamed, he became: a self-educated lawyer, an Illinois Representative, the 16th President of the United States, a conservator and an emancipator.

“If Abraham Lincoln oﬀers a lasting history lesson it is that freedom and equality are the pillars of the Republic,” Frank Milligan Director of President Lincoln’s [Washington, D.C.] Cottage said. “Emancipation is the building block that helped Lincoln to explain his view of society.” Lincoln spent approximately a quarter of his Presidency at the Cottage and he drafted his 1863 Emancipation Proclamation there.

“In Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky; that he spent his formative years in Indiana; that Lincoln’s beliefs and values were inﬂuenced by his frontier experience; that Indiana shaped his personality and his character, and that while in Indiana he determined that every man should have the freedom to rise to his potential,” National Park Ranger Michael Capps said.

“Indiana never sanctioned slavery, neither the 1787 Northwest Ordinance nor the State’s Constitution,” Capps continued. “But Kentucky was another matter.”

Honest Abe became a brand long before press handlers became the rule. Lincoln left Indiana for Illinois in 1830 and entered politics two years later. He lost his initial bid for a seat in the Illinois Legislature. Lincoln ﬁ nished eighth in a ﬁeld of thirteen candidates.

In 1834 Lincoln again ran for the State legislature and won. He also began to seriously study the law. Lincoln passed the BAR in 1836 and a year later, when Springﬁeld became the State capital, he opened a law practice there. Lincoln practiced Illinois law for 24 years. Civil War martyr Elmer Ellsworth was among his 1860 law clerks. When the Republicans met in 1860 to select their party’s presidential nominee, William Seward was the front runner. Abraham Lincoln, the compromise candidate, was elected on the third

ballot. Hence, the popular reference to Lincoln’s team of rivals.

Lincoln took his Presidential oath of office on March 4, 1861, one month after Virginia called its secessionists convention. The Union was dissolving; six States had already seceded, in part because of Lincoln’s Presidential win. His law clerk Ellsworth helped with his campaign. Alexandrians know Elmer Ellsworth well. He was a Lincoln lawyer turned Union military officer, the fi rst known casualty of the Civil War. Virginia, a slaveholding State, formally seceded from the Union on May 23, 1861. The next morning a Federal Army including Colonel Ellsworth crossed the Potomac River to retake the town. Confederate sympathizer James W. Jackson killed Ellsworth in a hotel skirmish. Ellsworth’s body lay in state at the White House.

“Much of Lincoln’s war strategy was devised with the four border States in mind,” Milligan explained. “Kentucky, a Union slave holding State, was among them. Lincoln did not want to alienate these States. He even oﬀered slaveholders the opportunity to sell their slaves to the Federal government.”

“Lincoln gradually came to the conclusion that it was the military that would save the Union,” Milligan continued. “Saving the Union was his ﬁ rst priority. Military emancipation, the abolition of slavery was the second.”

“The Emancipation Proclamation contains few emotional references to the tragedy of slavery,” Milligan concluded. “Instead, Lincoln borrowed from Clay and especially Webster – Liberty and Union were indivisible. He believed in the economic equality of opportunity.”

To Lincoln, the Founding Fathers were a study in contradiction. The country’s 1776 Declaration of Independence spoke of “certain inalienable rights,” yet the 1787 Constitution included the three-ﬁfths of a person compromise. In 1863, in the afterglow of Antietam, Lincoln declared all slaves free. Lincoln paid for this decision with his life. "The curtain rose slowly on the second act, and while all were enjoying the eccentricities of Asa Trenchard, a muﬄed pistol shot was heard,” read an April 15, 1865, eyewitness account. “Within [Ford’s] theatre the wildest confusion for a time prevailed.” President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated less than one week after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

On February 12 at least two Lincoln-related sites begin the year-long bicentennial celebration: Ford’s Theatre and President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldier’s Home. “We plan to help Americans understand Lincoln’s commitment to equal opportunity,” Milligan said. “By 1864 Lincoln embraced all aspects of social, political and economic emancipation.”

For more bicentennial information visit: www. fords.org, www.lincolncottage.org or www. lincolnbicentennial.gov Dr. Milligan also recommends: Lincoln’s Sword by Douglas L. Wilson, Lincoln’s Sanctuary by Matthew Pinsker, and Lincoln by David Herbert Donald. Wrote Barack Obama in Audacity of Hope: “Lincoln, like no man before or since, understood both the deliberative function of our democracy and the limits of such deliberation. We remember him for the ﬁ rmness and depth of his convictions – his unyielding opposition to slavery and his determination that a house divided could not stand. In Lincoln’s rise from poverty, his self-study and ultimate mastery of language and of law, in his capacity to overcome personal loss and remain determined in the face of repeated defeat – we see a fundamental element of the American character.”

Abraham Lincoln inspires us all.

About the Author: Sarah Becker started writing for The Economist while a graduate student in England. Similar publications followed. She joined the Crier in 1996 while serving on the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board. Her interest in antiquities began as a World Bank hire, with Indonesia’s need to generate hard currency. Balinese history, i.e. tourism provided the means. The New York Times describes Becker’s book, Off Your Duffs & Up the Assets, as “a blueprint for thousands of nonprofit managers.” A former museum director, SLAM’s saving grace Sarah received Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award in 2007. Email abitofhistory53@gmail.com

Publishers Note: This column ﬁrst appeared in the February 2009 issue. Sarah is recovering from a lengthy illness at this time. We wish her a speedy recovery.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” - Abraham Lincoln

Stuck In the Middle With You by Stealers Wheel

In 1973, the Scottish folk rock band Stealers Wheel struck gold with the release of “Stuck In the Middle With You”. The song reached number 8 on the UK charts and soon became an international hit reaching number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The band didn't expect the song’s huge success and were surprised when the single sold over one million copies. Interestingly, it was written as a parody of Bob Dylan's style and has been mistaken as a song by the folk legend since its release. From its snappy rhythm to its cozy and catchy melody, "Stuck In the Middle With You” oﬀers a laid back vibe that keeps toes tapping from start to ﬁ nish.

Things get started with a smoothly played acoustic guitar riff by Gerry Rafferty. Soon the bippity bop of Tony Williams' bass line joins Rafferty and is followed by the drums and a second acoustic guitar rhythm by Joe Egan. Next, we hear the rough yet smooth vocal delivery of Rafferty singing about feeling out of place and disoriented at a music industry party. By now the boys have their listener’s heads bobbing to a rhythmic cocktail reminiscent of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” by The Beatles. By the time the fi rst verse comes to a close, it’s easy to understand why “Stuck In the Middle With You” is considered one of the best songs from the 1970s.

Leading into the chorus, Raﬀerty sings the words “Clowns to the left of me / Jokers to the right” and then delivers the iconic chorus lines “Here I am / Stuck in the middle

with you”. Subtle vocal harmonies are also sprinkled in to give the central hook just a touch more pep. Additionally, a simple scat guitar rhythm alternates between down beats and oﬀ beats throughout the chorus further adding to the catchy rhythm in the music. Without gushing emotion, “Stuck In the Middle With You” is a song that acknowledges and soothes the bewildering and unwelcome aspects of life. Its laidback vibe and subtle humor invites the listener to relax and lighten up while traversing the vicissitudes of existence.

The bridge section for “Stuck In the Middle With You” is particularly interesting in that it is repeated: Delivered once after the second chorus and once after the instrumental. This allows the section to function both as a bridge and chorus and helps make the song even more memorable. We hear the lyrics, “Well you started oﬀ with nothing / and you’re proud that you’re a self-made man”. These lines are followed by a snappy lead guitar part that slides around the fretboard and enhances the rhythm. Additionally, the energy of the music picks up with bass guitar switching to a driving rhythm along with the jingle jangle of sixteenth note tambourine shakes. This section creates a structural pattern that is rare indeed in popular music. I actually can’t recall one other song that uses a bridge quite like this.

Sadly, the founding members of Stealers Wheel have passed on and the possibility of a reunion went with them. However, the legacy of their music lives on in the hearts and ears of millions around the world. If you would like to listen to “Stuck In The Middle With You” or any of the band’s other well-crafted songs, you can ﬁ nd it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you would like to learn more about Stealers Wheel, you can ﬁ nd more information on Wikipedia.

About the Author: Ron Powers is an independent A&R specialist and music industry consultant and is constantly searching for, discovering and writing about new talent.

AFTER HOURS

Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch

571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com

Chadwicks

203 S. Strand St.

703.836.4442

Evening Star Cafe

703.549.5051

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The Fish Market

703.836.5676

105 King St. shmarketoldtown.com

La Portas

703.683.6313

1600 Duke St.

The Light Horse

703.549.0533

715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com

Murphys Irish Pub

703.548.1717

713 King St. murphyspub.com

O’Connell’s

703.739.1124

112 King St.

Rock It Grill

703.739.2274

1319 King St.

Shooter McGees

703.751.9266

5239 Duke

“I-I missed something once before, I won't.... I can't let that happen again.” — Carrie Mathison , Homeland , Season 1: Pilot , speaking of September 11, 2001.

As political espionage thrillers go, the series Homeland cannot be beaten. It debuted on Showtime in October 2011 only to end in February 2020 after eight seasons. In November it came to Netﬂix, immediately gaining a fervid new audience.

I recently viewed it again to see if its mixture of the nerve-wracking crosshairs of espionage and national political imperatives stood up, or if the series even represented any of the USA’s deliriously worsening domestic and foreign political landscapes. It preﬁgures them. All hail Homeland’s writing, directing, and the terriﬁc acting from Clair Danes as CIA agent Carrie Mathison and Mandy Patinkin in CIA and security roles. Their chemistry and energy fuel Homeland’s greatness.

This show pulses to the neurotic, workaholic beat thrumming through foreign policy in Washington, DC’s government institutions. An imbalanced, brilliant CIA agent and improbable heroine, Carrie Mathison works with her equally passionate boss, Saul Berenson. Each will sacriﬁce almost anything to complete their missions.

Berenson is a CIA higher-up, a man obsessed with his job. He successfully uses his status as an outsider to maintain a clearer view of his surroundings. As a Jew, he grew up in a small, WASP, Indiana town without much religious identity. Carrie and Saul are symbiotic, a team in which each sees the other as family. Neither can easily maintain an outside romantic relationship, and both mostly eschew the idea of children— they are married to the games they play for organizations protecting the United States. They expect much from each other.

In the pilot episode Carrie sneaks into a Middle Eastern prison to bargain for information with a prisoner about to die. He provides her with crucial if nebulous intelligence: an American prisoner has been turned. A few years later, an American prisoner of war, a Marine named Nicholas Brody, is released from prison after eight years being held by an Al-Qaeda commander in Syria.

Three seasons focus on Mathison's belief that Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) was turned by the enemy, and now poses a signiﬁcant risk to national security. Since 9/11, Carrie will not let any perceived threat from Al-Qaeda rest until she ﬁ nds a way to stop it.

I have two small quibbles with the show. When only Carrie can play the hero with a crew of quickly assembled covert ops guys at her command, the viewer must suspend her disbelief. Luckily, the show is so good, and Carrie is so charismatic that it is not too diﬃcult.

HOMELAND

Second and more importantly, Carrie is made out to be bipolar 1. Her sister, a doctor, prescribes medication to her so the CIA can’t ﬁ nd out. First oﬀ, Carrie would be found out during a polygraph. Also, a prominent psychiatrist I met in Washington, DC told me she had multiple CIA and FBI clients who were bipolar, so the illness is accepted at least to some extent.

This aspect of Carrie’s personality should be valuable in exposing any ignorant viewer to a manageable mental illness. Yet her disease is often shown as a huge weight that makes her impossible to handle or able to function. As she mentally cycles from manic energy to immobilizing depression, her family and employers see her as unpredictable and out of control.

When she deliberately goes untreated in Homeland, her professionally valuable manic phase allows her to draw brilliant conclusions and solve security issues by seeing and understanding webs of people, places, and motives. She purposefully places herself in harm’s way to identify these connections, sacriﬁcing her health and reputation.

Therefore, I would like to know how much we should believe regarding the show’s medical accuracy. Homeland does not present an image of the majority of bipolar patients. They are either type 1, which suﬀers more severe highs and lows, or type 2, which is similar but much less severe. Both sets of suﬀerers attempt to manage their illnesses, and most do so well. They do not deserve to be stigmatized.

From season four onwards, the series covers various threats to the United States: terrorism by radical Islam in Germany; the potential for civil war in the United States, egged on by an incendiary Alex Jones–type media host; and plans for a coup from within the government by the military and other government employees, spurred along by potential Russian disinformation. Writers on this show are prescient about the problems ensuing today from domestic threats, such as the polarization that prompts each half of the country to dismiss or argue with the other. The viewer is often peeping through her hands at the screen, and plot twists appear as strategically and suddenly as jacks-in-theboxes.

Other well-ﬂeshed characters, such as a troubled covert ops soldier named Peter Quinn, a loyal American-Iranian named Farah Sherazi who works for the CIA as a forensic accountant, and the reliable CIA computer programmer, Max Piotrowski, add their viewpoints as facets to the American ideas of homeland: how we deﬁ ne that term and our relationship to it.

Throughout, those defending the United States ﬁ nd themselves in quandaries, ones

in which all decisions are unacceptable or terrible. Should you betray an asset to save thousands of people? Is it necessary to delve so deeply into someone’s personality that you don’t know where you begin and they end? In the end, after all the lies you have told and personalities you have adopted, who are you and what do you represent?

The cliché that espionage is only colored in shades of grey exists. Yet Carrie, at least, with Saul supporting her reckless courage, always has a clear-cut sense of her values, whatever shade they might be. She knows what she will or will not do to support her homeland, America, regardless of the impression she leaves.

Please do not miss this show if you care about nerve-jangling thrills, great acting and writing, and your own desire to ﬁgure out what a homeland, wherever it might be, and Homeland, mean to you.

About the Author: Miriam Kramer worked at Olsson’s Books & Records before it closed in 2008, welcoming Old Town, Alexandria, residents to a unique place where employees with encyclopedic knowledge of literature and music enriched the community. As a global nomad, she has lived, studied, or worked in diverse countries overseas. With her experience writing and studying international aﬀairs, she has promoted democracy, international media, the arts, peace building, and citizen diplomacy during her career.

ONSTAGE:

It’s Valentine’s month, time to take that special someone out for dinner, flowers, chocolates and how about a night of theater? There’s a lot of great work happening on DMV stages. You’re bound to earn points with your main squeeze—or even a fi rst date—by popping for a pair of tickets to one of these fi ne productions.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Now thru Feb 7

The terrifying ﬁlm franchise of the same name spawned this onstage thriller, a shared production between prestigious theaters in Los Angeles, Chicago and now Washington, DC. Be prepared to be scared. Tickets at www. shakespearetheatrecompany.org

DRACULA… A COMEDY OF TERRORS

Now thru Feb 15

Atlas Performing Arts Center

Bram Stoker’s vampire tale morphs into outrageous new life as a madcap comedy full of camp, lusty encounters and outre spectacle. Five actors shapeshift thru multiple roles, transforming this tale of Gothic horror into a feast of physical comedy and unhinged seduction, carried oﬀ as only the folks at Constellation Theatre can do. Tickets at www.constellationtheatre.org

BALLOONACY

Imagination Stage

Now thru Feb 15

The 1956 French cinema classic The Red Ballon inspired this sweetly funny piece of clownery starring Matthew Pauli with accordion accompaniment by Tori Boutin. Gone is the little boy following his red balloon around Paris. Now he’s a befuddled big lunk of a guy, navigating his lonesome apartment just ahead of that interloping scarlet sphere, artfully operated by puppeteer Enzo Leone. At about forty minutes, the show runs just the right amount of time to keep the kiddies engaged—and by that, I mean yelling to the poor guy onstage to watch out for that balloon. If my three year old grandson is any indication, it’s a great way to start a life of theatergoing. Tickets are available at www. imaginationstage.org

OCTET

Studio Theatre

Now thru Feb 22

From Dave Malloy, the inventive creator of the Broadway confection “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of1812,” comes this chamber musical about eight people who meet in a church basement. Deprived of their cellphones and other digital devices, the group bond over their struggles with digital dependency, charting their compulsions using only the analog vibrancy of their voices. In the process, they Octet face the many ways we escape into our screens and how to be present with each other. Tickets are available now at www.studiotheatre. org

DROWNER [RENWORD]

Next Stop Theatre

Now thru Feb 22

Two black college students land what appears to be a cushy summer gig— watching a retired college professor swim. But something’s not right with their elderly charge as she struggles to dredge up her troubled past, pulling the young women into unsettling conclusions in this horror-comedy. Tickets at www.nextstoptheatre.org.

JOHN DOE

Keegan Theatre

Now thru Feb 22

This world premier revolves around anthropophobia, the fear of people. Zia claims the aﬄiction, while her friend Doe suﬀers from being dead. Brought together by chance, fate, or potentially ghostly revenge, the two set out on a journey to uncover Doe’s forgotten life while Zia faces perhaps a fate worse than death… socializing. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com

CHEZ JOEY

Arena Stage

Now thru March 15

Rodgers and Hart’s slick Broadway musical Pal Joey gets a jazzy upgrade in this “revisical” about a fast-talking, velvet-voiced songster who gets caught between a bright-eyed chorus girl and a wealthy baroness who can bankroll his big break, Starring Tony® Award winner (for MJ The Musical) Myles Frost, co-directed by ace choreographer Savion Glover and with a passel of Main Steam designers, this one feels pre-Broadway, like Arena’s recent Damn Yankees. Add in Rodgers and Hart chestnuts like “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “This Can’t Be Love” and “The Lady Is a Tramp,” and you’ve got another great Broadway musical down in Southwest. Tickets at www. arenastage.org.

THE WORLD TO COME

Woolly Mammoth

Feb 3- March 1

The residents of the SeaBreeze Hebrew Home for the Aging carry on as usual-- knitting, playing scrabble, ﬁghting and falling in love.- as the outside world threatens their way of life, Fighting to protect the community they’ve built together, these plucky seniors ﬁ nd joy in each other’s company, revealing in the process how powerful friendship can be a form of resistance. Tickets at www.woollymammoth.net

OLD TOWN

ROCK OF AGES

Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Now thru March 15

She was a small-town girl, living in a lonely world. If you know the rest of Journey’s hit song and love all of the big hair, booming guitar solo bands from the 80s, this is the musical for you. A Broadway hit and a Tom Cruise-starring motion picture, this is one show you’ll want to see with a Jagermeister or Bartles & Jaymes wine cooler on the table. Toby’s can probably oblige, along with a tasty meal. Tickets at www.tobysdinnertheatre.com

SCHOOL OF ROCK

Little Theatre of Alexandria

February 7- 28

The hit Broadway musical based on the Jack Black-starring ﬁlm about a misﬁt substitute teacher who turns a class of musical nerds into the coolest rock band in town. All this plus some new songs by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tickets at www.thelittletheatre.com

LITTLE MISS PERFECT

Olney Theatre Center

Feb 8- March 8

High school senior Noelle is under a lot of pressure. She’s lived up to expectations of perfection her whole life, blending in as one of the few Black students at her predominantly white school. A scholarship to Howard University is within her reach —if she can demonstrate she has what it takes in this new musical by Joriah Kwame, Tik-Tok star whose title track has garnered millions of views. Tickets at www.olneytheatre.org

STEREOPHONIC

National Theatre

Feb 10- March 1

The Tony® Award winning best play of the year tells the tortured tale of an upand-coming rock band—loosely based on Fleetwood Mac—and the pressure and pain they face in coming up with a follow up hit—loosely based on the multi-platinum Rumors. Arcade Fire’s Will Butler Wrote a terriﬁc score, though it’s not a musical. It’s a play about making music and art told with fall-on-the-wall intimacy by the musicians who birthed it. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com

NOTHING UP MY SLEEVE

Round House Theatre

Feb 11- March 15

Fans of illusionist Dendy and playwright/director Aaron Posner’s previous collaboration The Tempest will be happy to see the daunting duo pull back the curtain on the history of magic and Dendy’s own journey to the land of makethem-believe. If you enjoy spellbinding prestidigitation, you will, too. Tickets at www.roundhousetheatrre.org

ON BECKETT

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Feb 11- March 15

Tony Award-winning actor and master clown Bill Irwin, a funny hat and a podium is all it takes to mine the comedy and tragedy of Irish playwright Samuel Beckett’s iconic work. If you’re a fan of Waiting for Godot (or even understand it), you’ll enjoy this nonstop display of jovial verbal and physical comedy that has become Irwin’s signature and Nobel Prize winner Beckett’s gift to the theater. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatrecompany.org.

FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY THE MUSICAL

Adventure MTC

Feb 13- March 29

The eponymous Freckleface learns that everyone is diﬀerent and that’s what makes us special in this brand new musical based on the best-selling book by actress Julianne Moore. Ms. Strawberry will do anything to get rid of her freckles – from scrubbing them with soap to wearing a ski mask to school. With the help of an talented ballerina, cute jock, charming ditz and kooky teacher, Freckleface and her family learn an important life lesson. Tickets at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org

RENT IN CONCERT

Strathmore Music Center

February 25

Jonathan Larson’s always touching, always life aﬃrming Tony® and Pulitzer® Prize winning musical gets a concert rendition in Bethesda at the Strathmore’s elegant Music Center. Tickets at www. strathmore.org

About the Author: Mark Edelmen is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony® voter. Catch his monthly podcast at www.onstagedmv.org.

Photo credits: On Beckett by Craig Schwartz; Paranormal Activity by Kyle Flubacker; Balloonacy by Giovana Roskocz Reis. Rock of Ages by Jeri Tidwell.

A Washington Art Fair on the Mall??

Much has been written about the phenomenon of art fairs as the new salons of the 21st century, as magnets where galleries congregate and collectors and curators, and celebrities, and the illuminati go to see and buy art. Furthermore, anecdotal figures from the major fairs seem to confirm that a lot of artwork is being sold by galleries at the fairs. My own experience in doing art fairs for the last 20 years confirms this fact - I have my own positive empirical evidence.

Here in the DMV, we've had our own taste of a major "Miami style art fair" with artDC in 2007 - and that fair was a major failure, as that basic fair model didn't work in the Greater Washington area, which historically has a well-documented degree of apathy when it comes to actually buying art or getting the main stream press interested... or the immense reluctance that suburbanites have in driving to DC over the weekend to parking-challenged areas.

Subsequently to that epic art fair failure, the (e)merge art fair - a hotel variation of the "art fair inside a huge building/tent" model, where the fair is held in a hotel (in this case the Capitol Skyline Hotel) - has had more success – but it also ended.

And now the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities has been furiously planning a weeklong event that they’re calling “Art Week DC” which will (according to them) include a major art fair.

And thus... an idea that I have been mulling in my head for years now keeps bugging me.

There's another "world" out there of ﬁne art fairs that, because of the curious highbrow attitude of the "high art" cabal, never really gets any attention from the art media, etc.

These are the outdoor art fairs that some of us know well, and many more others think they know well even though they've actually never been to any of the good ones. I am talking about the outdoor art festivals that get ranked as the top ones by Sunshine Artist magazine; fairs such as the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, or the Ann Arbor Arts Festival (actually four separate art fairs that draw over half a million visitors), and of course, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Miami, which routinely attracts about 150,000 visitors in the Miami area.

Immediately the clueless know-it-all who have never been to one of these top-of-the-line outdoor art festivals will think and imagine what

they visualize as an outdoor art market: dried ﬂowers, teddy bears and watercolors of barns. Don't get me wrong, there are thousands and thousands of these type "art" fairs around as well - but those are NOT the ones that I am talking about.

I am talking about the cream of the Sunshine Artist Top 200 list. These are shows where only original art, not reproductions, are allowed, and photography has very severe rules (must be done by the photographer, limited editions only, signed, archival processes only, etc.). These shows are highly competitive to get in (they're juried), and usually oﬀer quite a lot of money in prizes for the artists. The jurors vary from museum curators, art center managers, art critics, artists, etc.

I guess I'm saying that there's some curatorial legitimacy to them as well... for the “elitista” amongst you.

But the real destination to which I am driving here is attendance: thousands.

Locally in our area, there are several of these exceptional ﬁne arts outdoor festivals – the Tephra ICA Arts Festival in Reston attracts around 30,000 people; the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, and the Bethesda Row Arts Festival also attract those numbers of people and are all highly competitive. Consider the median income in either Bethesda ($185K) or Reston ($105K), and what you get out of it is a lot of people with a lot of disposable income. As a whole, the DMV itself has a median household income of around $90K - that ranks highest among the U.S.'s 25 most populous metro areas.

Art price tags at these local fairs range from $100 to $20,000. So there's a somewhat comparable

universe of prices to the DC area gallery market, as an example.

And I submit that a lot of the people who attend one of these outdoor ﬁne art festivals do not have the "formation," as a Communist would say, to dare set foot in a white cube gallery... and have probably never heard of Art Base Miami Beach.

So here's the issue that has been brewing in my head:

All of these huge and highly successful outdoor arts festivals (as far as I know) only allow individual artists to sell their work at the fairs. Why doesn't an enterprising fair organizer go one step further and add a whole new angle to the outdoor arts festival and set aside a whole section for independent commercial ﬁne arts galleries?

Or even better: create an outdoor gallery-only fair with one of those huge tents like they do in Miami? But somewhere in the DMV with plenty of parking and/or Metro Access?

Because the entry price point is a substantial fraction of what it costs to sign up for a gallery art fair such as the 26 or so fairs during Art Basel Miami Beach week, the financial mathematics of this idea make sense to both sides of the equation. For fair organizers, they could offer the gallery a basic price tag of $2000 for the weekend, which (for an additional fee) would include a 10 feet by 20 feet double tent and display equipment. Or -- and this is a big or -- the organizer, in order to attract the art galleries, could offer them zero entry fee and instead a 10% commission on all sales. This may get a little sticky in the monitoring of sales

Babazuzu mittens.

and unreported sales by art dealers who lack ethics and scruples, so a ﬂat fee is probably the best and easiest idea.

Another option: Align with the Smithsonian Institution and set up a giant tent on the National Mall. We all know of at least a dozen other fairsnone of them art - that do this on a regular basis on the Mall.

The Washington Art Fair on the National Mall! For the gallery it would oﬀer them an opportunity to expose their artwork to possibly thousands of new potential collectors, exposing most of them, for the ﬁrst time, to an art gallery. It's all in the numbers.

About the Author: F. Lennox Campello's art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area has been a premier source for the art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors. All photos courtesy of the 2025 Tephra ICA Arts Festival in Reston

“A woman in love with abstraction” - 2021

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Price and additional images upon request.

16x20 watercolor on paper with embedded electronic images that rotate every 5 seconds.

We are of cially an online store only. Check us out at www.imagineartwear.com (703) 548-1461 // csimagine@aol.com

– Washington City Paper

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Price and additional images upon request.

Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC, Washington, DC www.alidaanderson.com / info@alidaanderson.com

Syreni Caledonii (Northern Atlantic Mermaid). Watercolor, charcoal and Conte. 2019, 12x36 inches.

Mid-Atlantic Black history: A Journey with a New Map

An eﬀort to map sites important to African American history in the Chesapeake Bay region has uncovered dozens of previously undocumented examples and shed new light on many more — many with close ties to waterways and the Bay itself.

State preservation offices, the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Gateways Network and the National Trust for Historic Preservation collaborated on the five-year, $400,000 project, known as the Chesapeake Mapping Initiative. The effort centered on documenting places associated with influential Black people and important historical events involving African Americans — before those locations fade into history themselves.

“Even just ﬁ nding one more historic site that we didn’t know about before was a win,” said Lawana Holland-More, director of grantee impact and engagement for the trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. “African American history is American history, and these places are our tangible contributions to it.”

In many cases, researchers learned they were 5-10 years too late: An old structure had been demolished, for instance, or decay had taken its toll, or the human repositories of vital information were no longer alive.

Holland-Moore said she hopes that the project helps communities protect more sites important to the story of African Americans in the Chesapeake region.

“Being able to formally recognize these sites is so important to their preservation,” she said. The initiative focused on three Bay states: Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Because of budget and time constraints, team members narrowed their surveys to portions of each state’s geography.

Many of the featured places and people are connected to the Chesapeake Bay and the region’s rivers, but not all.

In Virginia, where researchers focused on African American watermen, the effort documented 97 sites overall. In Maryland, team members focused on Calvert, Kent and Somerset counties and identified 350 sites. In Pennsylvania, the effort added 52 places to the state’s catalogue of historical sites, added information to more than 50 other sites and identified locations for potential archaeological research.

Here is a look at a few of those sites with ties to the woods and waterways of the Bay region. Kings Landing Park (MD)

Along a gentle bend in the Patuxent River, Kings Landing Park in Maryland’s Calvert County presents a full plate of recreational amenities: a 200-foot pier for ﬁshing, horseback-riding trails, tree-enclosed hiking paths, a swimming pool and a paddle craft launch within easy reach of the sinuous Cocktown Creek.

The park also oﬀers a window into how young African Americans interacted with nature during the Jim Crow era and beyond.

The 260-acre park was once the setting of a summertime camp for Black youth from Baltimore. The YMCA in the city’s Druid Hill neighborhood purchased the property in 1946 and transformed it

into Camp Mohawk. Campers enjoyed swimming, tennis, canoeing, archery, nights around the campﬁ re and other outdoor activities.

The camp operated until 1980. Four years later, the state bought the property, and today the Calvert County Department of Parks & Recreation manages it with the Calvert Nature Society.

Camp Mohawk’s history can still be glimpsed at the park. Seven of the original cabins remain, and they have been restored to bring back their original atmosphere — including authentic camper-scrawled graﬃti.

Outlaw blacksmith shop (VA)

For decades, Samuel D. Outlaw served as a vital cog in his community’s economy. In the days before big box hardware stores, farmers, watermen and others turned to him when they needed metal tools for their work.

The small building stands on the outskirts of Onancock, VA, a quaint town on the state’s Eastern Shore. Outlaw opened his blacksmith shop there in 1927 and ran a successful operation for more than 60 years.

Through the Chesapeake Mapping Initiative’s eﬀorts, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.

attended the four-year blacksmithing program at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute’s Armstrong-Slater Memorial Trade School,” notes the site’s National Register application.

Outlaw used a forge, cast-iron vessels, vises and planers to fabricate metal tools and parts. He contributed to the region’s seafood industry by supplying and repairing crab dredges, clam rakes, oyster tongs, rudder shafts and other items.

Outlaw scaled back operations in 1972 but continued repairing hand tools until his retirement nearly 20 years later.

What distinguishes the privately owned site from many of its brethren in the database is that it’s open to the public. A nonproﬁt operates the building as a museum, touting it as a “rare surviving example of an African American-owned industrial site.”

Wednesday tours can be arranged by calling 757656-3460.

Seagull Beach (MD)

An advertisement published in 1956 in the Washington Afro-American newspaper proclaimed to readers that this resort was “catering to the DISCRIMINATING YOU.”

Was that a coded message? Racial discrimination had led to segregated beaches throughout the Bay region. In answer to “whites only” beaches, other locations sprang up that furnished Black audiences with shoreline outlets for fun, music and relaxation. Places like Seagull Beach.

Nestled along the Patuxent River near Prince Frederick, MD, Seagull Beach’s heyday was from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. It drew African American families, church groups, schools and fraternal organizations from across the MidAtlantic region.

They were attracted by activities such as swimming in a pool, boating, dancing and ﬁshing. They could buy picnic baskets ﬁlled with food or purchase meals at the clubhouse.

The site was also part of the Chitlin Circuit, a network of venues that showcased Black talent during the Jim Crow era. James Brown and Ray Charles were among the acts that performed there. Michael Kent, a local historian and former president of the Calvert County NAACP, contributed a report to the mapping initiative. He included Seagull Beach, he wrote, to spark memories and renew interest in that chapter of history.

“Having oral histories attached to various places may hopefully inspire younger generations to preserve certain parts of property that relate to local oral history,” Kent wrote.

Seagull Beach and most of the surrounding area are now mostly given over to suburban homes and gated homesteads. But public access is aﬀorded just slightly upriver at the Hallowing Point Boat Ramp and Beach at 6904 Hallowing Lane in Prince Frederick.

Available activities include boating, kayaking/ canoeing and ﬁshing along the beach.

About the Author: Jeremy Cox is a Bay Journal staﬀ writer based in Maryland. You can reach him at jcox@bayjournal.com

“Unlike many blacksmiths who learned their trade as apprentices and journeymen, Outlaw

Publishers Note: This piece printed in part with permission of the Chesapeake Bay Journal. For the entire write up, log on to the bayjournal.com.

Seven cabins like this one have been restored at Kings Landing State Park, offering a glimpse of the site’s past as Camp Mohawk, a summer camp for Black youths from 1946 to 1980. F. Delventhal/CC BY 2.0

Samuel Outlaw opened a blacksmith shop in Onancock, VA, in 1927 that served local watermen and farmers for decades. Blake McDonald/VA Department of Historic Resources

SNOW DAYS STILL BELOVED BY THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART

Remote lessons/learning weren't a thing for many of us growing up, and snow days were keenly appreciated. They still are, and fortunately most don't include any remote studying. Cancellation of classes for snow is cause for play, whether you live in town or in a rural area. In fact, we laughed at a recent TV poll that was over 80 percent against remote lessons on snow days. I suppose those in support of remote lessons on snow days were childless churls.

We rarely get stuck here since Doug has a big 4-wheel drive tractor with a bucket and grader and makes a little money digging people out of their longish farm driveways. Livestock needs to be checked, plenty of hay provided and stock tanks inspected to make sure the ﬂoating de-icer is functioning. Fencing needs to be checked so that any fallen trees creating escape routes can be ﬁ xed or rigged up to stay put until better weather. The only good thing about those escape routes is that the escapees can be tracked by their hoof prints.

Now AI can come to the rescue estimating the probability of snow days. You can visit websites or even buy apps for snow day predictions from artiﬁcial intelligence. Next, we 'll be getting robo-calls to buy them. Luckily you can ignore some or all of the predictions and wait for the news to call it. Unless you're somewhere where the only white on the ground is sugar white sand with turquoise waves lapping at it. If that's the case, do your friends a favor and don't brag.

Spring Races Are Right Around the Corner

We know February is the month of love, but weather wise, it's a bust more often than something to love. We can't wait to get out of the house as it draws to an end.

It might not feel like spring yet, with no signs other than a lonely crocus or two straggling up through the snow. But there’s no surer harbinger than the Point-to- Point season, which opens February 28th. For true horse lovers, those suffering from cabin fever, and those looking for a country outing, there’s nothing like the fi rst few race meets here in the hunt country. These early season races tend to be smaller, more informal affairs but there’s no shortage of equine talent as the country’s top steeplechasers as well as hot young prospects make their debut racing over fences after a winter layoff.

The Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point opens the season on the 28th with their meet at The Hill in Boston, Virginia. With millions in total purses, meets in 12 states, and millions of spectators, steeplechasing is big business. Some of the best horses and horsemen thoroughbred racing has to oﬀer race over fences, and it all starts here in Virginia this month.

For a full schedule of this year’s races, check out www. virginiahorseracing.com.

HUNT COUNTRY

The month of January was a rough one for us and we weren’t able to carve out time to go on an adventure in search of subject matter for this column. Hopefully we will be back on track this month and will have another fun destination to turn you on to in the March issue.

In keeping with the President’s Day theme, we thought it might be a good time to suggest that you all take in the many memorials and the two monuments (Washington and Garﬁeld) located in the DMV that honor some of our Presidents. Until I did the research for this, I had no idea that half of them existed. Mind you, I have lived in and around Old Town for 34 years and I used to work for the USDA in the south building located on the Mall at 14th and Independence Avenue and no doubt encountered some of the lesser knowns and didn’t realize it. I feel kinda bad actually. I don’t want you to feel the same way. I have compiled a listing - including the icons we all know and love – in no particular order of the ones that are a short drive or metro ride away.

As an aside, if you ﬁ nd yourself without anything to do on Valentine’s Day or maybe make it a part of your “celebration”, the largest President’s Day parade in the USA takes place in the heart of Old Town on the 14th. See the calendar listing in this issue for details.

Washington Monument

Located at 2 15th Street NW, this 555-foot marble obelisk oﬀers 360-degree views of the city. While the grounds are open 24 hours, the observation deck is open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Entry is free, but a $1 service fee per ticket applies for advance reservations on Recreation.gov. www.nps.gov

Lincoln Memorial

A neoclassical temple featuring a 19-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln is located at 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle. It is open 24 hours a day and has no entrance fee. In 2026, the new Undercroft museum is set to open, providing access to the building's massive concrete foundations and civil rights history exhibits. www.nps.gov

Celebrating President’s Day in DC!

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Located on the Tidal Basin at 16 East Basin Drive SW, this rotunda honors the third U.S. president. It is open 24 hours and is particularly famous for its surrounding cherry trees, which typically bloom in late March or early April. www.nps.gov

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

This expansive outdoor memorial uses four "rooms" of granite walls, waterfalls, and statues to chronicle FDR’s four terms. It is open 24 hours and is located along the Tidal Basin at 1850 West Basin Drive. www.nps.gov

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial

One of the newest additions, located across from the National Air and Space Museum at 540 Independence Avenue SW. Designed by Frank Gehry, it features bronze statues and a massive stainless-steel tapestry depicting the Normandy coastline. It is open 24 hours. www.nps.gov

Theodore Roosevelt Island

Our 26th president has an 88-acre wooded island in the Potomac River dedicated to him. It features roughly 2 miles of trails and a central memorial plaza with a statue. Access is via a footbridge from the Virginia side near Rosslyn.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove On the Potomac

A peaceful grove of white pines and a granite monolith located in Lady Bird Johnson Park on Columbia Island. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove is located in Washington, DC across the Boundary Channel from the Pentagon in Virginia. The park has entrances on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Boundary Channel Drive. www.nps.gov

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is the presidential memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring American Civil War general and 18th president of the United States. It sits at the base of Capitol Hill, below the west front of the United States Capitol. www.aoc.gov

Garfield Monument

The James A. Garfield Statue by John Quincy Adams Ward honoring the 20th president stands on the grounds of the United States Capitol in Garfield Circle near the Rayburn House. Basically, in a traffic circle at First Street and Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, D.C. Wikipedia.com

James Buchanan Memorial

This memorial is a bronze, granite, and concrete memorial that honors U.S. President James Buchanan. It is located on the southeast corner of Meridian Hill Park, near the park's reﬂecting pool, in an area where Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, and the U Street Corridor intersect. It was designed by architect William Gorden Beecher, and sculpted by Maryland artist Hans Schuler. Wikipedia.com

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Memorial

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Memorial Exhibit is located at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004. The closest metro stop is Federal Triangle. www. wilsoncenter.org

John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame

The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame is a presidential memorial at the grave site of assassinated United States President John F. Kennedy, in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. www.arlingtoncemetery.mil

President William Howard Taft Memorial Grave President William Howard Taft (1857-1930), the 27th president of the United States, was the ﬁ rst president to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and one of only two presidents buried here. (The other is John F. Kennedy.) Taft is the only person to have served both as president of the United States (1909-1913) and as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1921-1930). www. arlingtoncemetery.mil

Why We Celebrate Presidents Day

Wetry to publish this piece each February as space allows. Alexandria has many events that revolve around this day so we think it is ﬁtting you all know why.

Presidents Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February; Presidents Day 2026 occurs on Monday, February 16th. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other ﬁgures, Presidents Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present.

The story of Presidents Day begins in 1800. Following the death of George Washington in 1799, his February 22 birthday became a perennial day of remembrance.

At the time, Washington was venerated as the most important ﬁgure in American history, and events like the 1832 centennial of his birth and the start of construction of the Washington Monument in 1848 were cause for national celebration.

While Washington’s Birthday was an unoﬃcial observance for most of the 1800s, it was not until the late 1870s that it became a federal holiday. Senator Steven Wallace Dorsey of Arkansas was the ﬁ rst to propose the measure, and in 1879 President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law.

The holiday initially only applied to the District of Columbia, but in 1885 it was expanded to the whole country. At the time, Washington’s

Birthday joined four other nationally recognized federal bank holidays— Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving and was the ﬁ rst to celebrate the life of an individual American. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, signed into law in 1983, was the second.

The shift from Washington’s Birthday to Presidents Day began in the late 1960s, when Congress proposed a measure known as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Championed by Senator Robert McClory of Illinois, this law sought to shift the celebration of several federal holidays from speciﬁc dates to a series of predetermined Mondays.

The proposed change was seen by many as a novel way to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers, and it was believed that ensuring holidays always fell on the same weekday would reduce employee absenteeism. While some argued that shifting holidays from their original dates would cheapen their meaning, the bill also had widespread support from both the private sector and labor unions and was seen as a sureﬁ re way to bolster retail sales.

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act also included a provision to combine the celebration of Washington’s Birthday with that of Abraham Lincoln, which fell on February 12. Lincoln’s Birthday had long been a state holiday in places like Illinois, and many supported joining the two days as a way of giving equal recognition to two of America’s most famous statesmen.

Be sure to check out all of the aforementioned President’s Day celebration activities in Old Town during the month. A partial listing is in the calendar section of this issue.

Source: The History Channel – www.history.com

Caribbean Travel Awards 2026

I can’t believe we haven’t been back to our favorite places in the Virgin Islands – mainly St. John - for almost ten years. We were going at least one a year for several years in a row. Guess time and money, or lack thereof, has kept us mainland bound. Will, hopefully, rectify that this year!

Alexander and his Staﬀ at the Journal did a fabulous job covering these awards. We are very happy to see that The Saint Hotel on St. John received the New Caribbean Hotel award and that Charlotte Amalie on St. John took the Experiential Destination of the Year award. Looking forward to checking out The Saint and being back in Charlotte Amalie again soon. The following isn’t all inclusive. The entire listing can be found at caribjournal.com.

Congratulations to all of This Year’s Winners! – Lani, Old Town Crier

When the ﬁ nal tallies come in, more than 35 million people will likely have visited the Caribbean as overnight guests in 2025 — around 4 percent more than the previous year, and about 3 percent more than in 2019. That’s along with another 38 million arriving on a cruise ship.

In other words, travelers continue ﬂocking to the Caribbean — and it’s easy to see why. The world’s most dynamic travel destination just keeps improving: stunning, vibrant cities and towns; breathtaking beaches; myriad remarkable hotels; the most delicious food on earth; and the world’s most fascinating tapestry of cultures. And that’s what we’re here to honor.

We launched the Caribbean Travel Awards in 2014 as the world’s premier celebration of Caribbean travel, showcasing the greatest places to stay, the best places to eat and drink, the best ways to enjoy the Caribbean and, most importantly, the people who work every day to make this region what it is.

This year is the 12th annual edition of the Caribbean Travel Awards, which are nominated and selected by our editors — the world’s top Caribbean travel experts. This year’s awards cover 41 diﬀerent categories of Caribbean travel, led by Caribbean Destination of the Year.

The Caribbean Travel Awards have emerged as the region’s most meaningful measure of travel distinction, celebrating the destinations and experiences that shape the future of Caribbean travel,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal.

Caribbean Destination of the Year- St Maarten/Saint Martin It’s two different countries, but one magnificent Caribbean destination. For the fi rst time, the Caribbean Destination of the Year is actually two places in one: Dutch St Maarten and French Saint Martin, the twin paradise that has been reaching new heights with surging visitor arrivals, thanks to a world-class culinary scene, booming airlift and one of the most diverse, rich hotel products in the region. St Maarten is one of the true capitals of the region, the keystone of the northeastern Caribbean, and its vibrant, dynamic character, its easy accessibility and its abundant friendliness have made it the 2026 Caribbean Destination of the Year.

This has always been in the pantheon of great Caribbean hotels: now, after an $18 million renovation, it’s better than ever — anchored by one of the most striking designs in the region, the straw-hat Sisi Bar right on the beach. This is the epitome of the Caribbean luxury resort: impeccable service, diverse, high-level fare , fabulous, massive rooms and one of the most beautiful pools you’ll ever meet. A Caribbean legend has taken things to a new level.

New Caribbean Hotel of the Year- The Saint, St John

The ﬁ rst new hotel in St John in years is a hip, energy-ﬁlled boutique retreat that’s added a whole new vibe to the endlessly lovable beach town of Cruz Bay, from its outstanding spa to a destination eatery. And did we mention it’s adults only?

Caribbean Small Hotel of the Year- Rock House, Turks and Caicos

The Mediterranean meets the Caribbean with this stunning 46-room hotspot has set a new bar for Turks and Caicos cool: think oversized rooms with turquoise views, an elevated Italian-fusion eatery and a rock-walled Cave Bar.

Caribbean All-Inclusive of the Year- Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines It’s a rare thing for a single resort to help transform an entire destination, but that’s what the Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines has achieved. It’s helped to put St Vincent on the travel map, drawn in new airlift, raised buzz and — oh, by the way, is a world-class luxury resort — replete with overwater bungalows and new private-rooftop plunge-pool suites, too. There are all-inclusive resorts, and there’s Sandals.

New All-Inclusive of the Year- W Punta Cana All-Inclusive

The growth of all-inclusive in recent years has led to a number of new brand enter the space. But the most exciting debut was W, the hip, urban hotel brand that completed an eﬀortless transition into the everything-included market last year with its new hotel in Punta Cana and has shown just how far all-inclusive has come — and where it’s going next.

Caribbean Sustainable Hotel of the Year- Secret Bay

This six-star retreat in Dominica single-handedly vaulted the island into the global luxury ecosystem, led by visionary owner Gregor Nasseif’s relentless approach to delivering an authentic, truly Dominican experience — rooted in a perspective on sustainability that covers every facet of the property, from the staﬀ to the culinary program to the sand.

Caribbean Spa of the Year- Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

This is more than a spa. It’s a global destination: 18,000 square feet of high-tech wellness amenities, from a hydrothermal circuit and 12 treatment rooms to a cold plunge pool and a menu of state-of-the-art treatments like touchless infrared detox.

Wellness Resort of the Year- Kokomo Botanical Resort, Turks and Caicos

It’s almost hard to believe this oasis exists in Providenciales, a lush retreat with a high-level Balinese spa, a strong yoga program, gourmet food and an overarching approach to wellness that, as the hotel puts it, is about ROH — return on health.

Caribbean Culinary Hotel of the Year- Graycliff Hotel, Nassau

A regular at the top of the list of the best restaurants in the Caribbean for decades, this Bahamian classic is a gourmand’s delight, from its signature restuarnat (with some of the best sourcing you’ll experience) to its on-site chocolate factory to the region’s largest collection of cognacs. Food and beverage is, for us, the essence of luxury, and here, if you are a bon vivant, you are home.

Resilient Destination of the Year- Jamaica

It’s only been three months since Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, but thanks to the indomitable spirit of its people and a forwardthinking resilience strategy, Jamaica’s tourism sector is back and operating again, with hotels across the island welcoming guests and airports functioning. It’s a remarkably quick comeback for this island — and a reminder of Jamaica’s enduring, endless strength.

Caribbean Culinary Destination of the Year- Nassau Paradise Island

Daniel Boulud. Marcus Samuelsson. Michael White. JJ Johnson. Dario Cecchini. Jose Andres. Nobu Matsuhisa. We could go on. But you get the point — Nassau and Paradise Island has assembled a who’s who of the culinary world, complementing a dynamic local food scene (hello, Fish Fry) and a stable of stories eateries like Graycliﬀ. If you’re a foodie, this is your next stop.

Caribbean Cruise Destination of the Year- US Virgin Islands

Shopping, historic sites, beaches, restaurants, boating. If you have one day on a Caribbean island

Caribbean Hotel of the Year- The Palms. Turks and Caicos

The beach at the Grand Case Beach Club in Saint Martin.

oﬀ a cruise ship, the oﬀerings in the US Virgin Islands, whether you’re in port in St Thomas or St Croix, are vast, well-oiled and well run. That’s without mentioning one of the best excursions: a visit to St John.

Experiential Destination of the Year- US Virgin Islands

Kayaking the mangroves. Walking the streets of Charlotte Amalie. A chef’t table at the marina. A day trip to Buck Island. The USVI is all about getting out and exploring, with options for just about every kind of travel –all delivered in an easy-to-roam, friendly, accessible package. And that’s exactly what travelers are looking for right now.

Caribbean Adventure Destination of the Year- Belize Reefs, rainforests, jaguars, blue holes. Belize is a full-ﬂedged natural wonderland, with its unique blend of jungle and sea meaning

an almost unlimited selection of adventure opportunities for intrepid travelers — and the adventure and experiential-focused hotels to match.

Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staﬀ contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/ website at caribjournal.com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean.

Magens Bay in St Thomas, from above.

Charlotte Amalie.

DINING GUIDE

AMERICAN

1799 PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD

110 S. Pitt Street

571-404-6001

ADA'S ON THE RIVER

3 Pioneer Mill Way

703-638-1400

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970

BLACKWALL HITCH

5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090

BOB & EDITHS DINER 1743 King Street

703-664-0043 bobandedithsdiner.com

CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442

CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080

CITY KITCHEN

330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com

COOPER MILL 10 Duke St. 703-566-1278

EDDIE'S LITTLE SHOP & DELI 1406 King Street 571-312-8615

EVENING STAR CAFÉ

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

703-549-5051

EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street 703-299-0894

FRANKIE'S KITCHEN & COCKTAIL BAR 823 S. Washington St. 703-512-2118 frankiesoldtown.com

GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288

HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

HOME GROWN 1600 King Street 703-705-4955

HOPS 'N SHINE 3410 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-566-1509

HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355

JACK'S PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372

JOE THEISMANNS

1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

JULA'S ON THE POTOMAC 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644

JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-436-0025 junctionbakery.com

KILN - HOTEL HERON 699 Prince St. 703-662-1900

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street 571-319-0794

LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533

LOST DOG CAFE

808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511

MACMILLAN'S SPIRIT HOUSE 500 Montgomery St. 703-665-6690

MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street 703-548-8800 mason-social.com

MURPHY'S GRAND IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com

NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032

OAK STEAKHOUSE 901 N. St. Asaph St. 703-840-3395

O'CONNELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 DanielOconnells.com

PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-822-5699

THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street 571-257-8851

RAMPARTS 1700 Fern St. 703-998-6616 rampartstavern.com

RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com

ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274

ROYAL RESTAURANT 730 N. St. Asaph St. 703-548-1616

RT'S RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

SLATERS MARKET 1552 Potomac Greens Dr. 703-548-3807

SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550

SOUTH BLOCK 106 N. Lee Street 703-465-8423

SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S

510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

THE MAJESTIC 911 King St. 703-837-9117

THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street 703-838-8000

T.J. STONE'S

GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com

TOASTIQUE GOURMET TOAST & JUICE BAR 1605 King Street 571-312-1909

UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE

121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com

VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN 106 South Union St. 571-970-3669

VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & HI-TIDE

LOUNGE

101 North Union St. 703-935-8890

THE WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL

214 King St. 703-683-6868 warehouseoldtown.com

ASIAN

ASIAN BISTRO

809 King St. 703-836-1515

CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE

407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800

INDOCHEN 1625 King Street (571) 404-6050

KISSO ASIAN BISTRO

300 King Street

703-888-1513

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600

NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848

RAILBIRD KITCHEN 804 North Henry St. 703-577-9023

SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878

UMIYA SUSHI 3000 Duke Street 703-564-1800

CONTINENTAL

ALEXANDRIA BIER GARDEN 710 King Street 703-888-1951

CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

FRENCH

BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com

BEN' YAYS 1028 King Street 703-495-3888

LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661

FONTAINE CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

JOSEPHINE 109 South St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776

TWO NINETEEN RESTAURANT 219 King St. 703-549-1141 ITALIAN

ALDO'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 2850 Eisenhower Avenue 703-888-2243

ANDY’S PIZZA 107 N Fayette St 571-319-0497

BUGSY'S PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313

EPICURE ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090

HANDOVER BY THE SLICE 728 King Street 571-319-0794

IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833

LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com

LENA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086

MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 100 King Street 703-997-5300

PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287

REDROCKS NEAPOLITAN BISTRO 904 King St. 703-717-9873

THOMPSON ITALIAN 1026 King Street alexandria@thompsonitalian.com

MEDITERRANEAN

BARCA PIER & WINE BAR 2 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1100

DELIA'S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. 703-329-0006

ELAINE'S 208 Queen Street 571-970-0517

TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com

PITA HOUSE

719 King St. 703-684-9194

VALLETTA PORT 682 N St Asaph St. 703-512-4122

VASO'S MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1118 King Street 703-566-2720

VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747

SEAFOOD

HANK'S OYSTER BAR 818 N St. Asaph 703-739-HANK

FISH MARKET 105 King St. 703-836-5676 ﬁshmarketoldva.com

THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834

WHISKEY & OYSTER 301 John Carlyle 703-567-1533

INDIAN

BOLLYWOOD MASALA 211 King Street 703-512-0175

DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd. 703-660-6085 DIYA 218 North Lee, 2nd Floor 703-706-5338

KISMET MODERN INDIAN 111 North Pitt Street 703-567-4507

NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615

MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN CASA TEQUILA 1701 Duke 703-518-5312

CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438

DON TACO TEQUILA BAR 808 King St. 703-988-3144

LOS CUATES 1116 King Street 703-548-2918

LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290

LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167

TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226)

TEQUILA & TACO 540 John Carlyle Street 703-721-3203

URBANO 116 116 King Street 571-970-5148

THE WAREHOUSE Cajun Hospitality in the Heart of Old Town!

This month we revisited one of the oldest restaurants in Alexandria and one of the ones that put Old Town on the restaurant map back in 1969. This iconic restaurant has not only earned its fame from the delicious food but also of the caricatures of local Alexandrians that adorn the walls. The restaurant is located in the 200 block of King Street in the “Pedestrian Mall” that has become a major attraction for Old Town Alexandria, which also includes the 100 block, and has allowed for in the street dining that has become very popular. Unfortunately, it is a bit cold this time of year, although they do have heaters for the "not so cold days".

In colonial times, Alexandria was a formidable seaport town along the Potomac River and most of the buildings along King Street were warehouses associated with the commerce of Alexandria and the east coast of America.

The Warehouse Restaurant has maintained that legacy by retaining the name.

The restaurant opened in 1969 when the many warehouses were converted to shops and eateries. Back then there was a bar upstairs called the Quarterdeck and was popular with the locals like myself. A local guy named John Nugent was our bartender back then, today John owns Nugent Design Build LLC located in Deale, Maryland. Another successful businessman who got his start tending bar in Old Town Alexandria. Let’s talk a bit about the décor.

lived in the area for any amount of time, we are sure you will recognize a few. We are on display and if you can pick us out, email us at oﬃce@oldtowncrier.com and we will meet you there for an adult beverage.

The upstairs bar is no longer there but they do have a bar downstairs as you enter. It is a well-stocked and comfortable bar perfect for an afternoon cocktail or a drink before dinner. Co-owner and Executive Chef Sert Ruamthong has worked at the Warehouse for well over 30 years. Sert expanded his FrenchAsian background to include American Creole and Cajun dishes which are the back bone of the Warehouse menu. He selects locally grown products that are available in the area and often features local Soft Shell Crabs, fresh Louisiana Crawﬁsh, Chesapeake Bay Rockﬁsh, Oysters and Shad Roe.

The Warehouse is famous or maybe infamous for their “Rogues Gallery” of sketches of locals that adorn the major portion of wall space. These sketches are of local icons, celebrities, politicians from both sides of the aisle, and just cool, “normal?” Joe Blows. If you have

Although the menu at the Warehouse has a distinctive Louisiana feel, they are also well known for their steaks and seafood. On our recent visit for lunch, we were seated inside at the front window by owner and GM, Hossein Pishdad. Our table gave a great view of folks enjoying the pedestrian walk way, but on this chilly day, the few we saw were bundled up. As we settled in at our white tablecloth adorned table, we were promptly greeted with glasses of water and a request for a drink order.

As is our custom, we ordered drinks fi rst. I had my usual Vodka Gimlet “up” while Lani ordered a Lemon Drop. Our drinks were soon at our table as the attentive waiter took the rest of our order. A quick note here. We have known most of the waitstaff at the Warehouse for over 25 years from their employment here as well as many other fi ne restaurants in Old Town. They are some of the best this town has to offer. We took the time to savor our drinks, enjoying the view of King Street on this cold day.

Cocktails were accompanied with some of the best bread we have tasted in quite a while – it ISN’T sourdough and is accompanied by whipped butter. It’s hard not to eat all of it before the appetizers arrive. Speaking of which, I ordered my standard –She Crab soup – and it lived up to its reputation. Lani is a huge fan of all things New Orleans, Cajun, Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday so she opted for the Gator Bites. The bites are a mighty tasty combo of buttermilk fried Louisiana Gator served with Cajun remoulade and cherry peppers. And, yesss, they taste a lot like chicken.

Next up were the entrees. In keeping with the theme, I ordered the Louisiana Crawfish Etouffeecrawfish and shrimp smothered Cajun style served with garlic parsley rice. This is a substantial order which left some for tasting later for lunch the next day. As I mentioned before, I have been going to this restaurant since 1969 so I am pretty familiar with this menu and the Etouffee is one of my favorites. The Cajun spices were very good and not too heavy for my tender palate.

My partner opted for the Spicy Pecan Crusted Chicken. The chicken is coated with seasoned chopped pecans, sauteed perfectly and served on top of a Creole mustard cream sauce accompanied with mashed potatoes. The dinner menu version of this dish is a bit more decadent in that it includes a topping of lump crab and a side of fresh vegetables for a few dollars more.

The Warehouse is noted for their great wine list. We were actually behaving ourselves and opted for a half bottle (another perk here at the Warehouse) of a nice sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. We didn’t take any pics and don’t remember, but think it was the Kim Crawford. It was crisp and citrusy and a very nice compliment to both of our meals.

Between the bread, the appetizers

and our entrées we were pretty full but…how do you pass up Key Lime Cheesecake? You don’t. It was as tasty as the photo accompanying this write-up looks. We did, however, end up bringing some of it home as well.

The Warehouse oﬀers many tasty items for lunch or dinner. Indeed, this is a restaurant with a heavy Cajun and Creole inﬂuence, which is what makes it great, but that isn't all.

The Warehouse also oﬀers delicious steaks, chops as well as Cajun style Pork Chops, Veal Oscar, in addition to Filet Mignon, New York Steak and the Warehouse's own Warehouse Filet Mignon. Rather than give a rundown here, please check it out at WarehouseOldTown. com for their complete menu.

Treat yourself to lunch or dinner at the Warehouse next time you are in Old Town. And…if you happen to be in the area on a Saturday or Sunday morning, the brunch here is superb.

In the spirit of the season…Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Louisiana Craw sh Etouffee

Gator Bites

Spicy Pecan Crusted Chicken

Valentine’s Day Decadence

With Valentine’s Day almost upon us you need to come up with a gift for that special someone. Why not make it a gift of food? Not just any food - it must be chocolate. Lovers the world over consider chocolate to be sexy and sensual and few other gifts can say: Je t’aime ma chérie like chocolate.

Ever since the Spanish Conquistadors brought this wonderful food back to Europe, chocolate has been one of the most prized foods in history and the perfect gift for special occasions. We usually just hand over chocolates that someone else made. Why not make this Valentine’s Day extra special and hand-make your gift of chocolate this year. When I think Valentine’s chocolate I think chocolate mousse. Why not? Here’s a quick and easy chocolate mousse recipe served in a chocolate cup no less. This will be the most memorable Valentine’s Day ever. While there are more complicated recipes involving meringue and gelatin, this one will do just ﬁ ne.

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups whipping cream

• 16 ounces quality semi-sweet chocolate chips OR chopped bar (reserve 4 oz. for cups)

• 1 tablespoon instant coﬀee dissolved in warm water

• 3 tablespoon dark rum

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

The Mousse

1. Chill whipping cream in refrigerator. Chill metal mixing bowl.

2. Place 12 ounces of chocolate chips in metal bowl and place in a double boiler or over a sauce pan with simmering water. Melt over barely simmering water, stirring constantly. Remove from heat while small chunks are still visible. Cool to nearly room temperature. Taste it, if it’s too hot to taste, allow continuing to cool.

3. Add butter, rum and coﬀee mixture to chocolate. It might coagulate and clump at ﬁ rst, but continue to stir until smooth.

4. In the chilled mixing bowl, whip cream to medium peaks. Fold 1/4 of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in the remaining whipped cream in two doses. There may be streaks of whipped cream in the chocolate and that is ﬁ ne. Do not over work the mousse or it will deﬂate into chocolate “soup”.

5. Cover mousse and place in refrigerator.

The Cups

1. Repeat same procedure for melting 4 ounces of chocolate over double boiler. Allow to cool to nearly room temperature.

2. Place four paper muﬃn cups in a muﬃn pan. With a pastry brush, paint the inside

of each cup with melted chocolate. After each coating place cups in refrigerator for 5 minutes to allow chocolate to harden.

3. Once chocolate has hardened apply another coat of chocolate until 5 or 6 coats have been applied.

4. Place cups in freezer to allow chocolate cups to harden completely. Remove cups from freezer and peel paper oﬀ now-hardened chocolate cups.

5. Fill each chocolate cup with an equal amount of mousse. Garnish with strawberry slices or mint leaf.

6. Refrigerate ﬁlled cups uncovered until presentation.

Since this luscious dessert is to be served on that very special day for lovers it must be accompanied by a special beverage. And only one beverage will do. Champagne! This lively libation is capable of doing more than tickling your nose. Champagne can fan the ﬂames of romance and what better day of year for that. If champagne isn’t available―true champagne is produced only in France’s Champagne region― there are many excellent domestic sparkling wines from which to choose. I’d recommend brut or extra dry with this dessert since they are on the dry side and compliment its sweetness.

FINALLY A February Worth Celebrating!

February is the shortest month of the year, but it feels like it’s the longest. It’s the Tuesday of months. It’s lipstick on a pig.

Do you get that February is not my favorite month? If you regularly read this column, you probably already knew that. It’s a dull and dismal month that’s usually colder than January. You shiver so much that it counts as a workout. And it doesn’t offer us much in the way of fun. The best part is the Super Bowl, but that’s always at the very beginning. At least in January you have New Years Day and playoff football for both NFL and college teams throughout the month. In February you get Valentine’s Day, a holiday created by Hallmark. It was the greeting card industry’s biggest success. But now even Valentine’s Day has been eclipsed by the Hallmark Channels and Hallmark Christmas movies. Our wives and significant others should be buying us dinner after we have suffered through Hallmark Christmas. I know, wishful thinking. Let’s face the brutal facts, February is 28 days, sometimes 29 during bad years, that we are never going to get back

However, I feel that maybe this February will be diﬀerent. Maybe this February will turn out to be fairly fun. Maybe, just maybe, this February wont consist of us counting the days until March. Why? Because there is a feeling in the air, and a fun event

that many of you may not know about. The feeling in the air is Olympic Fever, and the fun event is the Waste Management (WM) Phoenix Open.

The fact that I just suggested a PGA event for fun may throw oﬀ those who don’t play golf. You’re probably thinking “What the hell is fun about a golf tournament?” Keep reading, I’ll get there.

The Winter Olympics start on February 6th, two days before the Super Bowl on February 8th. Not only is this a grand kickoﬀ to the month, but it’s also going to give a boost to this waste of one twelfth of our year. The Olympics run until February 22nd. They plow right through Valentines Day. You can skip it completely! I know, more wishful thinking.

Now let’s talk about golf. Why am I suggesting the WM Phoenix Open? Because it is the most raucous and fun golf tournament of the year. For some reason, perhaps television ratings, the PGA allows behavior at this tournament that it would not accept at any of its other events. The fun occurs on the16th hole, also known as The Coliseum because it is a stadium hole. It’s a par-3 enclosed by thousands of fans in temporary seating and skyboxes, creating a party-like atmosphere with roaring crowds, cheers, and even beer showers if you shoot an ace. (An ace is a hole-in one for all of you non-golfers.) If you

hit the green, you get cheered. Miss the green, and the boos are relentless. It turns the game into a funﬁlled spectacle. It resembles a fraternity party and is the PGA golf's craziest hole of golf all year.

The WM Phoenix Open runs from February 5th to February 8th. It ends on Sunday before the Super Bowl begins. And it makes for a great Super Bowl party pregame viewing event. The ﬁ nal day is always the best day on the 16th hole. The debauchery has peaked by then. You’ll actually be disappointed when the golfers move on to the 17th and 18th holes to ﬁ nish the tournament.

And where would be a great place to watch this plethora of fun-ﬁlled events?

Imagine yourself at the heart of the action—where is the best spot to catch every thrilling moment? Picture the energy, the camaraderie, and the excitement as you share these experiences with friends and family. Where will you choose to make the most of every unforgettable highlight?

Well, how about your local craft brewery?

February is always a great time to support local breweries. Almost all of them have multiple televisions. Here in Alexandria, Aslin Brewing, Port City Brewing, and Atlas Brewing were built for viewing multiple events at once. And this February is made for craft beer drinking. Imagine

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

watching the WM 16th hole, the USA and Canada competing in hockey, the Swedes crushing the Norwegians in curling, and the Puppy Bowl all at once before the Super Bowl even starts! That in and of itself will make up for having to celebrate Valentines Day!

So, support your local breweries during these fun times. They’re nearly as common now as the neighborhood pubs once were and serve as strong economic engines for their communities. Chances are, you live within ten miles of one. Help consume your share of the 325 million gallons of beer consumed on Super Bowl Sunday, make the day count for something. Buy from your favorite local brewer, support their hard work and their impact on your community, and celebrate the game with a beer that actually tastes good.

Yes, I know, many parties traditionally serve domestic beer. But try this point of view, you’re trying to improve this horrible month. So, do it by drinking good beer! Sure, we all grew up pounding Bud Light and Miller Lite on Super Bowl Sunday. It’s practically a tradition, like turkey at Thanksgiving. You’re at a party and feel obligated to crack one open for old times’ sake. But you don’t have to live in the past. It's 2026! You need to drink and enjoy a modern beer, not one of your grandpa’s beers! Enjoy this rare occurrence, this fun February. Cheer on our men and women competing in the Olympics. They’re making this dull and depressing month into a festive occasion. Show your appreciation for them and for your local brewers! Raise your glass to our hard-working athletes! They deserve it! And by the way, so do you. Cheers!!

Willet Reserve Potstill Bourbon

The bottle grabs your attention before you even crack the cork. It looks like it belongs on a wizard’s shelf or behind a speakeasy bar guarded by a guy named “Big Percy.” On the nose, you’re hit with the classic bourbon flavors of caramel, vanilla, and honey. The fi rst sip is smooth and delightful, with flavors of toffee, corn sweetness, and light oak. There’s a gentle spice kick, think cinnamon and white pepper. This bourbon is smooth. It shakes your hand instead of challenging you to a duel. The fi nish is medium-length and warming, leaving behind vanilla, soft oak, and a touch of sweetness. It’s perfect for sipping while enjoying your fun February sporting events. Or you might just have fun admiring that ridiculous bottle on your shelf.

Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto

February is a tough month, and this cigar is just what you need. From the ﬁ rst light, you get dark chocolate, espresso, and a little pepper. This cigar lets you know that it means business, but it stays smooth the whole way through. As it burns, some earthy cedar and a touch of sweetness come through. The draw is easy and the burn is solid. This cigar is classy without being stuﬀy. It’s perfect for an evening of Olympic hockey, and even better with a bourbon in your hand. Enjoy.

This cigar, and

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@ belmarinnovations.com . Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that ﬂ y doing in my soup? http://whatﬂ yinmysoup. com

Writer’s Side Note: In the January/February edition of Cigar Aﬃcionado, they picked the Rocky Patel Emerald Robusto as Number 6 in their Top 25 Cigars of the Year list. In my January article, I picked the Rocky Patel Emerald Toro as my Cigar of the Year for 2025. Nice to see that they almost got it right. LOL!

The Stewards of Virginia Wine

Have you ever looked for a bottle of Virginia wine but didn’t want to drive to a winery to ﬁ nd one? If so, then check out “The Stewards of Virginia Wine”.

This initiative from the Virginia Wine Marketing Oﬃce recognizes restaurants, bars, and retailers who have championed the Virginia wine industry. These businesses were rated on criteria such as their partnership with local wineries, presence on shelf space or wine lists, and overall commitment to Virginia wine.

A set of judges recognized 18 ‘Stewards’ in the inaugural list, released in October 2025. The Judges Award went to the top 5 scoring businesses, namely Charlottesville-based Ethos Wine & Tea, L’Auberge Provencale in the Shenandoah Valley, The Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, The Wine Guild of Charlottesville wine store, and Charlottesville’s The Workshop wine and coﬀee bar.

These Stewards play an important marketing role for the Virginia wine industry. In 2019, an economic impact study found only 5.3% of wine sold in Virginia was locally produced. If Virginia is to increase this number, it will need retailers, restaurants, and bars such as these to increase the footprint of the local wine industry.

Sales from these venues also oﬀer a ‘prestige factor’ that is hard to replicate. Horton Vineyard’s 1993 Viognier was the ﬁ rst Virginia wine ever sold at The French Laundry, one of the most prestigious restaurants in the US. This was a marketing boon for the then-nascent Virginia wine industry.

Why Virginia wine is hard to ﬁnd outside the winery

The lack of availability of Virginia wine is linked to two intertwined culprits: high bottle prices and low production.

Given alcohol is such a signiﬁcant revenue stream, restaurants are more inclined to include a less-pricy wine they can mark up, rather than try to sell an already relatively expensive (but unknown to consumers) local bottle.

Marketing Virginia wine is also a challenge,

Pricing also makes it diﬃcult for wineries to share their wine with bars and wine stores.

American alcohol sales are governed by the ‘Three Tier’ system of producers, distributors (who buy from wineries at a reduced price), and retailers (who buy from distributors and sell to consumers). The ‘farm winery’ license uses by most wineries allow them to cut out the distributer and producer middlemen and sell directly to consumers. This is why 77% of Virginia wine is sold directly from the tasting room.

Most Virginia wineries make under 3,500 cases/year; only a handful produce more than 40,000 cases. The boutique nature of the business means wineries seldom achieve the economy of scale necessary to compete in the $25 and under market, even assuming they have bottles to spare. Many of Virginia’s most famous wineries price their premium bottles in the $45$70 range.

These prices make it diﬃcult for venues to include Virginia wine on the menu. Around 21% of restaurant sales are from alcohol, according to data from the National Restaurant Association.

since the state lacks the recognition enjoyed by California, Bordeaux, or even smaller wine producing states such as Oregon. Some Virginia winemakers toy with the idea of rallying around a speciﬁc grape to focus their advertising, but previous eﬀorts have proven contentious.

Adding those second and third tiers means the winery must sell at a price barely above the cost of production. While some feel the increased exposure is worth the cost, it’s far less proﬁtable for them to take this route.

Retailers and restaurants a key to industry growth

Even with these challenges, the Virginia wine industry’s future may rest with these restaurants, bars, and retailers. The Stewards of Virginia wine are leading the charge here, but they can’t do it alone.

The VA wine industry’s business model is heavily reliant upon agro-tourism, which inherently limits its audience. If it’s to grow beyond the boundaries of Virginia, these wineries must ﬁ nd a way to distribute their wine.

This will prove challenging. Many wineries are already hospitalityfocused venues, relying upon the view and overall experience as much as the quality of their wine. Only a handful can aﬀord the cost of using an intermediary.

Ultimately, it will be consumer demand that allows Virginia wine to rise to this challenge.

When accepting the award for the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup, Barboursville winemaker Luca Paschina told the audience, “When you go to your favorite restaurant, you must demand they carry Virginia wine!”. These Stewards are doing their part in advertising local vino, but it’s up to consumers to convince their favorite venues to include wine from the Dominion state.

So get out there and demand your local restaurant to sell Virginia wine!

Author: Matthew Fitzsimmons is a blogger who has visited nearly every winery in Virginia –most of them twice. Track his progress at https:// winetrailsandwanderlust.com/

New Regulations Coming!

New state representatives are coming to Richmond, and discussions have started about the laws regulating restrictions on farm wineries here in Virginia. The law was actually crafted with major input and approval from the Virginia Wineries Association to protect the integrity of the wine industry. The changes have a 5-year period to get wineries in compliance and there is no grandfather rule. We are 3 years into this transition period so changes are beginning to happen. The goal is to keep farming in the Virginia farm wine industry.

Over the past decade or so, several farm winery licenses have been approved for venues and businesses that are not actually farming. These venues end up being businesses in the countryside with no connection between the land and the products that they serve. The main regulation that will aﬀect some operations is the requirement to have 3 acres of crops that go into your products. This level is where most businesses will land. They can lease other vineyards, produce oﬀ site, but still be authentic in their agriculture operations.

If the operation is farming less than 3 acres, they can still have a farm winery license, but they will be limited in production to only what they grow and will not be able to have as many businesses’ options. The goal of this law is not to exclude small operations but to keep land buyers from skirting the law and building venues that dilute the authentic wine-growing culture of our region.

As our state has grown and developed, farmers

have been granted a few exemptions from building and zoning regulations. Farming is hard enough without adding further restrictions, regulations, fees, and reports. Selling your farm products directly to consumers is an important part of farming success in the 21st century.

Farmers are the original entrepreneurs; farmers have shifted, failed, thrived, and sometimes failed yet again to be productive and successful on their land. Some have eventually sold out to housing developers and other business ventures such as data centers. Certainly, some farmers are better stewards of the land than others, but farming is a critical part of our society and should be respected.

There are certainly quite a few opinions on this issue, and I fi nd myself pulled in different directions sometimes. We are hoping that this long-term effort will keep our industry relatable and respected for many decades to come. Enjoy the authenticity of your favorite local winery and recognize all the work and skill it takes to grow and make that wine.

About the Author: Farmer, winemaker, entrepreneur, educator, and leader, Doug Fabbioli has been accelerating the growth and quality of Virginia’s wine industry since 1997. With his wife Colleen, Doug is the owner/ operator of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. He is the founder and director of The New Ag School, which focuses on teaching the next generation of farmers and agriculture-related leaders. No wonder they call Doug Fabbioli the Godfather of DC's Wine Country.

THROUGH MONDAY 11-5

February In the Garden

Even though it may still be cold, damp and miserable outdoors, an occasional dose of sunshine could certainly put the gardening bug into you. With a little luck, Mother Nature will send a few blossoms your way this month. We are now at a time when we can no longer put off those garden projects, waiting for a nice day......don't be caught off guard though, winter is far from being over! If exceptionally cold weather is forecast, provide protection to early flowering or tender plants by covering them with some type of cloth material. Remove the covering as soon as the weather moderates again.

Shrubs and Trees

• Deciduous shrubs and trees are still dormant enough to transplant this month, once the buds have begun to swell, it will be to late. Click these links for information on transplanting azaleas or moving specimen plants.

• Trees which weren't fed last fall should be deep fed by punching a series of 1-2 inch holes two feet apart around the drip line and ﬁlled with an appropriate food. A mulch of well composted manure is also an excellent treat for your tree.

• Mid to late February is the time to fertilize shrubs and evergreens. Use an acid type rhododendron fertilizer to feed evergreens, conifers, broad leaf evergreens, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. Use an all-purpose fertilizer to feed roses and other deciduous trees and shrubs. If you use dry type fertilizers, be sure to water it in thoroughly.

• Prune your summer flowering shrubs now but be aware that spring bloomers have already produced their buds last fall, and pruning them now will result in the loss of flowers. Forsythia, quince, spirea and other early spring flowering shrubs should be pruned a little later, after they have fi nished flowering. Pruning to improve the shape of the plant, as well as to open up the center of the plant to good air circulation and sun exposure. Always start your pruning by removing all dead, decayed or broken branches. Click these links for information on pruning roses or general procedures.

• It's a good time to stroll around and trim back any branches that were damaged by the ravages of winter.

• If you haven't yet applied your dormant fruit spray, DO IT NOW!! Perennials, Annuals, and Bulbs

• Plants which may have been pushed out of the ground by frost heave should be pressed ﬁ rmly back into place.

• Plant daylilies, bleeding hearts, and plantain lilies this month.

• Deciduous vines such as honeysuckle should be pruned and shaped.

• Most perennials may be divided and moved up until they begin to show new growth.

• Check your stored plants such as fuchsia and geraniums, and if they are shriveled, water them lightly.

• Summer ﬂowering bulbs may try to start into growth if they are subjected to heat. They should be kept very dry, and stored at 45 degrees F. If they are shriveling, put them into slightly damp peat moss, but keep them cool!

• If you plan to grow lobelia, ageratum, verbena, petunia, vinca, or other slowing plants from scratch, the seeds should be started indoors in the later part of the month. For more information see growing plants from seeds.

• Climbing roses should be thinned out to get rid of last years tangled growth.

Odds and ends

• House plants may notice the longer days, and begin growing. You can begin feeding them again, but use a dilute 50% fertilizer mix until the growth is robust.

• Continue feeding our feathered friends, you'll want them to stick around to help you in insect control when the weather warms again.

• Did you check your garden tools yet? Don't wait 'til the spring rush to get your mower back in shape!

• In the event of snow, be sure to shake or brush oﬀ the white stuﬀ from the branches of your evergreens and shrubs.

• It's time to turn the compost pile! This column provided by TheGardenHelper.com

FIRST BLUSH KIM PUTENS

Y –O –U –

N

–G !

You haven’t found the fountain of youth yet, but you’re afraid to go under the knife. You sit in wonder of how to keep your skin looking young, particularly during these harsh winter days. Many people ask me how I keep my skin looking young. They want to know my beauty tricks and if they involve botox. There is no doubt that at 41 it’s much harder to ﬁght the signs of aging than at 21. But, I will avail you of the routine that helps me keep my skin looking Y-O-U-N-G and, no, it does not involve botox. I’m too afraid of the needles.

Y – Yoga. I can’t live without yoga in my life. It helps relieve the daily stresses associated with running a business, keeping up with my two children and maintaining a busy household. Research has shown that stress not only impacts your body, but your skin too. As your mom always told you – if you keep making those faces, your face may stay that way. Well, there is something to be said for that. Your frowns and furrows leave their mark when you make them often enough.

– Oxygen. Recent studies have shown that as the skin ages, there is a reduction in oxygen in the skin. Luckily, there are ways to get oxygen back into the skin. I am an exfoliating queen. I always have been. I use a scrub on most days to help unclog my pores and reveal softer skin. By opening up your pores, you’re allowing more oxygen to get into the skin. Depending how clogged your pores are, a deep exfoliation or exfoliating mask will help to slough oﬀ dead skin cells and unclog surface pores. If you’re skin has been neglected or has really clogged pores, try a cleanser with salicylic acid which cleans the pores and kills the bacteria clogging them.

U – Uncover. At the end of the day, I can’t wait to wash my face. I can’t wait to get my skin clean and wash away the gunk from the day. And, if I have a day that I don’t have anywhere to be, I simply wash my face in the morning and put nothing on. I’ve always believed you need to give your skin a break and let it breath every once in a while.

N – Nourish and Protect. I have very dry skin (particularly in the winter). To that end, I’m a moisturizing freak. I use heavy moisturizers to replenish and nourish my dry skin. And, I am a HUGE advocate of eye cream. It is the fountain of youth if you start using it when you are young. I have been using eye cream since I was 19 because I have always believed in making sure to take care of the delicate skin around my eyes. Antioxidants are also my lifesaver. I believe strongly in the virtues of Vitamin C. It deﬁ nitely has made a diﬀerence in the elasticity of my skin. But, most importantly, I was taught and truly believe antioxidants are the best protectors of your skin. Combined with a zinc-oxide based sunscreen, there is no better way to protect your skin from the sun’s very harmful rays.

G – Glow. With dry skin, it’s defi nitely a challenge to keep my skin glowing. But it’s a challenge I’m willing to tackle head on because glowing skin is often associated with youthful skin. There are a couple of ways I help to bring the glow back. First, I like to use masks and serums weekly that work to bring the blood flow to the surface of the skin. These products are often labeled as ‘revitalizing’ and contain botanicals that help to improve the skin’s blood flow. Keeping my skin hydrated and properly moisturized also contributes to skin that glows. Finally, I’ve recently been experimenting with creams and liquid based makeup that contributes a little luster to the skin. When applied strategically along the cheekbone and around the eye area, it awakens the skin and diffuses harsh lighting to make the skin look smooth.

Exercise and Massage Therapy –

Rubbing You the Right Way!

We often think of a massage as a luxury experience, more of a special occasion than an everyday or weekly session. There are various reasons to get a massage and a good massage will do more than just make you feel good. Massage can have a tremendous eﬀect on the body and people do not realize how many beneﬁts there are to receiving one. It doesn’t matter what kind of shape you are in, massage can be a great way to help both active and sedentary individuals.

More and more sports and fitness enthusiasts are including massage as a part of their conditioning programs. It's not just for the professional athlete or the person who is training for the Olympics. Massage is for everyone and should be looked at as a health benefit and not a luxury. There are many benefits of massage; the most commonly known benefits include relaxation, improved circulation and relief of muscle tension. Fitness enthusiasts and athletes will fi nd that massage helps improve their flexibility. Massage can improve flexibility by lengthening the muscles and promoting relaxation. It can also help decrease the amount of soreness post workout. Massage enhances blood circulation, which increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to the muscles. This increase in oxygen and nutrients reduces muscle fatigue. Massage also has a great effect on the body’s ability to eliminate waste. By physically moving lactic acid out of muscles a post workout massage will greatly increase your chances of not being as sore or stiff the next day. This reduction in soreness and fatigue can help athletes train better and with more effective workouts.

your body relaxes, this along with chemicals that your body naturally releases, help to dilate the blood vessels in the body. The stroking action of a massage physically helps to move blood from other parts of the body toward the heart. This increase in blood flow is comparable to that associated with exercise. The increase in blood flow also leads to an increase in red blood cells. The red blood cells are the ones that carry oxygen. An increase in oxygen carrying cells means that there is more oxygen being delivered to the muscles in the body. All of these things are going to lead to a reduction in healing time. Whether an athlete is recovering from a hard workout or from an injury, massage can help. A deep massage can reduce the formation of scar tissue at the site of an injury. It keeps the scar tissue flexible but strong so it does not interfere with muscles’ movements.

Massage has a positive eﬀect on every system in the body; it can improve your cardiovascular endurance and even reduce healing time. During a massage

With all of the great beneﬁts of massage it is wise to see that massage is not just for being pampered. A good massage will certainly make you feel great, but there is a lot more going on than just feeling relaxed. Working hard at work and at the gym can take a toll on the body. Massage is great way to help your mind and body stay well.

Press On!

I hope everyone had a successful January. It takes some time and discipline getting used to a new habit (I’m talking about exercise), so don’t give up. This month’s exercise is the bench press. It targets the pectoralis majors & minors, anterior deltoids, serratus anterior, and triceps.

There are many variations to the bench press. However, this one is performed on a ﬂat bench using a free-weight bar. Standard Olympic bars weigh 45lbs without any weight plates on them. If you are trying this exercise for the ﬁ rst time, you now have a reference point when deciding how much resistance to use. It’s also a good idea to have a spotter ready in case you need assistance.

Lie on your back with the hips, shoulder blades & head in contact with the bench. Knees are bent 90 degrees with feet flat on the floor. Grab the bar on the rack with a slightly wider than shoulder-width grip. The bar should be directly above eye level. Lift the bar off the rack and position it over your upper chest (Figure 1).

Slowly lower the bar toward the bottom portion of your chest (Figure 2). You can either touch the bar to your chest or stop a few inches above, but

do not bounce it off the chest! Without pausing at the bottom, push the bar up and slightly back toward the rack to fi nish with the arms straight. The bar should be directly above the upper chest and shoulders. Remember to keep your hips in contact with the bench during the upward phase. If you fi nd that you need to arch your back to lift the bar, you have too much weight on it!

Try 3-4 sets of 7-12 reps with moderately heavy weight if you want to build some muscle, 2-3 sets of 15-25 reps with lighter resistance for endurance, or 4-6 sets of 1-6 reps with a heavy weight for strength gain. I encourage you to ﬁ nd a weight-lifting partner or hire a ﬁtness professional to keep you safe and motivated!

About the Author: Unverzagt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wellness Management from Black Hills State University. He is a certiﬁed Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

When Your Regular Vet is Not Enough

Every pet owner knows they have a responsibility for the happiness and health of their furry companions, and how the ﬁ rst often relies on the second. As much as the fuzzballs may panic or protest a trip to the vet, regular medical checkups are as essential to their health as going to the human doctor is for ours -- or more so, given the diﬀerences in our lifespans. Yet many aspects of human and animal health parallel each other. For example, there may come a time when a general practice vet cannot address a complicated medical condition or does not feel comfortable doing so. Just like when people encounter that problem, pet parents may need a specialist.

What Does “Specialist’ Mean, Exactly?

Humans typically have a general practitioner (GP) do routine maintenance and monitoring. When the GP spots something worthy of more attention, they often send us to specialists. Veterinary medicine works the same way.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) describes the situation. “Veterinary specialists have had additional education and training in a speciﬁc ﬁeld of veterinary medicine,” explained Paige Andersen, DVM, Managing Partner of TimberCreek Veterinary Hospital. “They have the knowledge, skillset, and specialized equipment to handle complex cases and procedures that may not be available in general practice.”

A Texas A&M discussion of this topic notes that bringing in a specialist is not the end of the regular vet’s job but an extension of it. “Boardcertiﬁed veterinarians collaborate very closely with the primary care veterinarian, who saw the animal ﬁ rst and, therefore, has a deeper understanding of the pet’s history and diagnostics

and treatments already performed and response to that treatment,” Dr. Stacy Eckman, associate dean for hospital operations and chief executive oﬃcer for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, said. “Specialists consult with them throughout the process, and when the pet is stable, they often return care back to the primary veterinarian.”

Chances are there is a professional for whatever ailment a GP vet detects.

Veterinary Healthcare Associates lists numerous specialists, including dentists, nutritionists, pathologists, physical therapists, ophthalmologists, toxicologists, and breeding experts. The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) recognizes 22 veterinary specialty organizations “comprising 48 distinct AVMA-recognized veterinary specialties” enrolling more than 16,500 veterinarians. The AMVA is the professional body that certiﬁes veterinary specialists.

When Will You Need a Specialist?

Your regular vet will likely ﬁ nd the problems that indicate the need for a specialist. Routine checkups and monitoring changes in behavior can reveal underlying issues.

Charlotte Animal Referral & Emergency lists the top reasons pet parents turn to specialists: complex or chronic illnesses that do not respond to initial or typical treatments; when the patient needs an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or other medical imaging; a pet that needs orthopedic, spinal, or other specialized surgery; cancer treatment where diagnosed or suspected; and for neurological issues.

The job seekers’ perspective may indicate the specialty services most likely to

be needed by consumers. Veterinary Recruiting and Staﬃng says the most in demand specialties are radiology (X-ray, MRI, and CT scans), cardiology, internal medicine, surgery, neurology, and ophthalmology. According to veterinarian support company Otto, ophthalmology pays (suggesting it therefore costs more or is more commonly required) the highest while veterinary radiologists make the least among specialists.

How to ﬁnd a Specialist

The AMVA notes that “the most common way that clients ﬁ nd a specialist for their animals’ health issues is by referral to a specialist from their own veterinarian.” Sometimes, however, a pet parent may wish to do their own research based on the desire for a second opinion, wanting to establish basic understanding of the professional situation, or some other motivation. AMVA has an FAQ on vet specialists providing solid, basic information about their role in pet treatment.

The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners has a searchable database to ﬁ nd a specialist by type and proximity. The AAHA mentioned previously maintains a site to identify the kind of care needed and links to the group overseeing those practitioners, often with further links to a searchable database. In the modern age, it has never been easier to ﬁ nd a vet and their specialty, credentials, and standing.

Cost Concerns

More specialist utilization arises from more pet parents having pet insurance, according to Today’s Veterinary Business. They say, “While escalating costs are demonstrably impacting the ability of non-insured pet owners to access care readily … an undeniably positive countertrend has emerged: Insured pet owners

are increasingly seeking and utilizing specialized veterinary services …. [D]ata scientists found that despite economic shifts, insured owners have consistently accessed specialty veterinary medicine for their pets, often having to pay only a small fraction of the care’s invoice …. While insured pet owners can increasingly access advanced treatments, a signiﬁcant portion of them face growing ﬁ nancial barriers that impact their ability to provide optimal care.”

The actual dollar cost varies widely based on the type of specialist needed. CareCredit, a credit card company for paying vet bills, compiled information on the costs of care. Its site estimates advanced procedures such as

canine colon cancer treatment ($5,351) or feline cancer therapy ($3,980) can present a serious challenge to any budget.

Truly incredible treatments can now help our animal friends. To access these possibilities, pet parents need to think ahead and have a plan to ﬁ nance advanced medicine when and if needed, as we would for any other loved family member. Options here have also increased, with specialized credit cards and pet insurance joining the old approach of simply building a cash reserve. With preparation, options for pet medical care can enrich and extend the lives of our animal friends.

About the Author: Ken Byrer is a writer living in North Ridge.

A Quick Message from the AWLA:

We’ve seen an increase in the number of animals abandoned both at the AWLA and throughout the community. Marshmallow the guinea pig was even carelessly tossed in or donation bin. We certainly understand that life happens and caring for a pet can become diﬃcult or even impossible. But, please, let us help you ﬁ nd a better – more humane –solution for rehoming your animals.

Abandonment, besides being illegal, is inhumane and dangerous. Abandoned animals can suffer from starvation and dehydration to being struck by cars or attacked by wildlife. If you are fi nding it tough to provide food, supplies, or vaccines to your animal, let us know. We can defi nitely help. I you just can’t keep the animal, let us help you with rehoming and discuss your options. There is no judgement here. We serve the city of Alexandria, VA but some of our pet retention programs, like our lowcost vaccines and pet pantry, can extend beyond our jurisdiction.

For additonal information, please e-mail us at info@ AlexandriaAnimals.org, ﬁnd us online at AlexandriaAnimals.org or call us at 703-838-4774.

PETS OF THE MONTH

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304

703-838-4774

www.alexandriaanimals.org

Animal Welfare League of Arlington 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive Arlington, VA 22206 703-931-9241 www.awla.org

Fairfax County Animal Shelter 4500 West Ox Road Fairfax, VA 22030 703-830-1100 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter

King Street Cats 25 S. Dove Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-231-7199

www.kingstreetcats.org

Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. (Dog rescue for VA, MD, DC, and south central PA) P.O. Box 90813 Alexandria, VA 22309 703-344-7320 ophrescue.org Friends of Rabbits www.friendsofrabbits.org

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary (1300 animals and 22 species on 450 acres) P.O. Box 1357 Orange, VA 22960 540-854-0870 By appointment: tours@rikkisrefuge.org events@rikkisrefuge.org www.rikkisrefuge.org

alexandriaanimals.org

Mon-Tu-Th-Fri, 12-7 pm

Are you looking for an extra-large dog with a big heart? Oakley could be your guy. This 10-year-old senior fellow is a sweetheart with a winning personality. Despite his age, Oakley’s nose for fun is fully engaged. He has a good amount of energy for walks and has demonstrated good leash manners. Oakley can be a snuggly couch potato and will happily join you for slow afternoons of reading or movie watching. This laid-back dog is waiting to meet you and join you for his active golden years. His adoption fee is waived thanks to Royal Restaurant.

We introduced you all to Yang last month and she is still ready to hop into your heart! This “ opsy” lady is sure to come over when you offer a timothy hay treat. Yang was transferred to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria from a different shelter, and we are still learning about her quirky personality. We believe that she may not have been treated kindly in the past and is learning to trust humans. A patient bunnylover who could continue to offer Yang new treats and gentle attention would be ideal for her journey.

Meet Devo, a handsome and clever young dog! This 57-pound boy would love to be your one and only furry pal. He is very smart at the age of one year and one month, and he enjoys a good puzzle or snuf e mat. Devo would be thrilled to join you on outdoor adventures where he can explore and engage his curious nose. He is ready to be your energetic walking buddy and would thrive in an active household. Devo would do best with older children or an adult-only home, as he really does want all of the loving attention.

Oakley

Yang

Devo

Bass tournament cheating is often suspected and sometimes verified. Polygraph testing protects the sport’s integrity. Rule-breaking had been curtailed with random co-anglers and monitors. But time off the water questions the credibility of professional bass fishing.

Pro circuits rely on whistle blowers and polygraph testing as judge, jury, and executioner. Several big name pros have been disqualified and their careers ended. Rebuilding reputations among anglers, fans, and sponsors takes a commitment of time and a lot of effort to regain what polygraphs take away in minutes. Many variables affect polygraph reliability, yet anglers agree to testing when they fish tournaments.

Courtroom drama viewers know polygraphs aren’t admissible in court. Polygraphs measure a person's breathing rate, pulse, blood pressure, perspiration, and other physiological phenomena. Tests are administered where only the tester and subject are present. However, the elephant in the room is increased scrutiny of obtaining information prior to an event.

In the past, it was assumed that top pros received game-changing lure and location information. A scorched earth approach by tournament organizations placed anglers in positions of being falsely accused or by failing the biggest question asked in a polygraph, did you solicit information from a non-public source to gain a competitive advantage? Some say this is an unfair question, likely to lead to a false positive as some overthink the question, hesitate, or stumble. “Solicit”, “non-public”, and “gain competitive advantage” require analysis.

Several anglers have failed these tests and have been disqualified. Some have been reinstated as more evidence has come forward. However, there isn’t an official appeal process on the results, or the way polygraphs are conducted. Anglers are calling for access to their tests and the ability to get retested by a disinterested 3rd party. Also in question are the examiner’s credentials. Some sessions have been stretched out with several tests over 3-4 hours, with anglers waiting for hours to find their fate. Some anglers experiencing major stress immediately prior to testing, like cross country multiple day road trips, long practice days, mechanical failure, and more, feel they were in no condition to take such an impactful

Disqualifying Cheaters and Those Who Lie

exam. Not to mention pressure to perform after leaving family behind for a week or two trip. Most polygraphs focus on getting or soliciting help with fishing information. B.A.S.S., at the request of anglers, is modifying their information rules, intended to maintain fairness while giving anglers freedom to fish and chat about the sport. For 2026, as soon as the schedule is announced, there can be no purchase of fishing information. Also, a 28 day off-limits is in effect with no time on tournament waters and no soliciting or intentionally receiving information from anyone except another registered competitor in that specific event. Only publicly available sources are permitted. All conversations must not include anything that could provide a competitive edge. The tricky part is how to avoid or walk away from inadvertent information.

Elite Series pro and Angler Board of Professionals president John Crews says, “During the 2025 season, the sentiment of the anglers was that we needed a shorter window for the full scope No-Info rule.” While this may be tighter as far as the rules go, there’s still a wide open door for inadvertent information to be projected at an angler. Even an email that goes unread could be used against an otherwise compliant angler.

Information hitmen can report an angler for a violation and there’s no opportunity to confront the accuser. Nor is there a realistic time limit in all cases. Once accused, anglers must face a polygraph ﬁring squad. Case in point, an angler was disqualiﬁed from an FLW Tour Open and banned from participation in the organization's events for at least a year due to an alleged violation dating back several months.

The 2025 Bassmaster Elite season saw random polygraph disqualiﬁcations of three high-proﬁle anglers. Making matters worse, organizations revealed few details like which rules were broken,

what evidence was presented, and actual exam questions. This cloud left onlookers to make their worst assumptions.

In some cases, anglers have opted out of the circuits entirely. Once polygraph failure places doubt as to the angler’s integrity, other anglers, sponsors, and fans lose conﬁdence. They leave not because they broke a rule, but they don’t trust the system that judged them.

Polygraphs are called lie detectors but have never been credited with being honesty detectors. As anglers run the gauntlet of information being thrown in their paths, the no-information rules will be diﬃcult to enforce. The dishonest will continue to rely on illicit information, pushing their luck of the polygraph draw or their ability to weather an examiner.

Polygraph-based disqualifications are rising across B.A.S.S., MLF, and NPFL. Some pros say the real danger isn’t just cheating, but how polygraphs, wrought with flaws, lack of transparency, and limited appeals process, could cause the sport to eat its own. Increased polygraph use and unprecedented disqualifications are coming as noinformation rules set anglers up to fail.

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass ﬁ shing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide.

Potomac River Bassing in FEBRUARY

Water is still very cold as water temperatures drop to 40 degrees, or below! Fish are depth oriented, located in out of the current areas with steep drops. But days are getting longer. Silver Buddy lures work well to catch cold water bass, covering depths and areas. Cast on 8 pound test GAMMA Copoly on spinning gear. Allow ½ ounce silver baits

to drop and once on the bottom, slightly burp up and semi slack line down. Most bites occur on drops or ﬁsh will be there when you lift.

Work drop shot and split shot rigs with short leaders slowly down drops with frequent pauses. Try 2/0 hooks with 4 inch green pumpkin worms or swim baits.

Present avocado colored stingray grubs on ¼ ounce ball head jigs with slow lifts, glide and drop. Bites are light, so watch the line.

Lessons in L-O-V-E

As some of you may remember, I started in this space with a column aptly titled, Single Space. My close friends referred to me as their very own Carrie Bradshaw—without the great shoes, wardrobe, or size 0 ballerina body. Oh, and the good hair. Come to think of it—we did share a few commonalties. Namely, an appreciation for a long drag oﬀ a Marlboro light at the end of a stressful day, a good cocktail shared among friends, and a talent for picking unsuitable suitors.

Carrie and I both muddled through, learning valuable lessons as we aged out of wild club ragers and 4” stilettos and into Sunday brunches and Birkenstocks, but only after years and years of dating mishaps and mind boggling bewilderment. Did he really say that? Did I really get broken up with on a post it?

While Carrie was pining over Mr. Big, I was dating a lion’s share of BIG MISTAKES. One of my best ﬁ rst dates was with a married man. Of course, I didn’t know that until the next morning when his wife called my number and asked how I knew her husband. Awkward. And scary. I thought for a second that I was going to have a lead role in an upcoming Dateline episode.

This is probably not the Valentine’s Day column you wanted and/or expected, but I wanted to share with you that if you’re not getting a dozen roses delivered to your cubicle, do not despair. You are not alone. It’s just not your time. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you. Your person is out there—maybe being ghosted or sorting through their issues or trying to ﬁgure out how to write a compelling dating proﬁle.

In the meantime, here’s a little dating primer courtesy of yours truly. Feel free to swap out man/ men/him with woman/women/her or whatever you choose.

1) People say and do stupid things. It doesn’t change even after you marry them. Prepare for it whether it’s your ﬁ rst date, second, or you’re newly engaged and/or at the point in your relationship where you are picking food out of each other’s teeth.

2) Do not make excuses for him to try to convince yourself that there’s a reason he hasn’t done what he said he was going to do. If a person loves you, they will move mountains to be with you. And they will do it with integrity.

3) Do not accept unacceptable behaviors. You deserve better—and it will not get better over time. A person is on their best behavior when they’re dating. If that behavior is unacceptable, run—don’t walk—to the nearest exit. As Dr. Maya Angelou so eloquently said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the ﬁ rst time.”

4) Do not chase anyone. Maybe I’m old school, but trust me when I say that if you haven’t heard from the person you had a fabulous date with in a few days, do not text or call or email or strategically place yourself at the gym when you know he’s going to be there. Instead, take a breath. Call your girlfriends and go to happy hour or put on your running shoes. In other words, distract yourself.

5) Do not try to explain away other people’s bad behaviors. If you’re a kind, thoughtful, and caring person, it can be perplexing to cross paths with someone who either doesn’t acknowledge or reciprocate that behavior in kind. Eyes wide open.

6) Do not try to make anyone your pet project. Do not tell yourself that “If only he had a good woman showing him love and support, he would be able to ﬁ nd a job or stop acting that way or call his mother more (or less).” For the controlling among us, that is insulting to the other person.

And as my therapist once told me, “He’s broken. You can’t ﬁ x him.” Not your job.

Maybe because I’m both a writer and an artist, I thought Suffering (with a capital S) was really what dating was all about. I had to put in the suffering in order to fi nd my version of happily ever after. Queue the drama. Trust me when I say that it doesn’t have to be that way—in fact, it shouldn’t be that way at all.

I’m not saying any of this because I’m smart, or a relationship coach, or a therapist. I am saying it because I am d) none of the above. I’m the opposite. I did all the wrong things. I gave people my attention who didn’t deserve my attention. I twisted myself into knots trying to be someone I thought someone would like vs. being myself. I cried over people who didn’t deserve my tears But this probably shouldn’t be the subject of a Valentine’s Day column—a day of love.

Finding love should be the fun, easy part. But it’s not. It’s hard to meet people in this age of technology when everyone’s face is buried in their phones 24/7. Once you make the connection though, it should be relatively easy. Sure—you’re going to have to work through some kinks in the ‘getting to know each other’ department and the Compromise Department has a line out the door. But…it shouldn’t feel like pain and suﬀering and disappointment and tears. It should feel easy and joyful and exciting and fun. That’s when you know you’ve found your person. The person who gets you. That’s what I found when I met XXL. There were no tears or unanswered texts or games. Maybe that’s because we were older and not only knew what we wanted—but we knew what we didn’t want (a married man!) and knew how we wanted another person to show up for us. And now we are ten years married, and I’m still clueless about love most days. But I’m ﬁguring it out as I go, and I’m grateful for XXL for being patient with me and working on our version of happily ever after together. Which, btw, is really more akin to “I didn’t once think about killing you today.”

Just kidding, XXL.

Romantic love is great, but so is the love you get from your tribe, i.e., your Samanthas, Mirandas, and Charlottes. I’m blessed with a great tribe— some have been around for decades and others I’ve met more recently through my art community, volunteering, and other hobbies that take me out into this big, beautiful world.

And let’s not forget puppy love. The love I have for my fur babies is oﬀ the charts. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with my babies. Poor XXL—he often gets the short end of the stick and the least amount of space in the bed

And, of course, there is the love you shower upon yourself which I hope you are doing in abundance this month. Buy yourself ﬂowers. Take yourself out to a yummy dinner. Soak in a long bath. Treat yourself to the rich, delicious chocolate. Indulge and spoil yourself. You’re worth it.

About the Author: Lori is a local writer, painter and pet lover who loves to share her experiences and expertise with our readers. She has been penning a column for the OTC for over 25 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this.

Something Wicked This Way Comes…

Let’s deﬁ ne “wicked”. It has several meanings according to the Oxford Dictionary including something extremely unpleasant (despite the lovely snow, the ice and extreme cold have been wicked ) and something excellent (I make some wicked Bloody Mary’s).

Leading off with the official press release from Peterson Companies regarding a smaller version of the Sphere in Las Vegas coming to the Harbor: “The proposed National Harbor venue would be the fi rst smaller-scale Sphere, with capacity of 6,000 seats. Smaller-scale Spheres would feature an Exosphere – the exterior LED display of Sphere that showcases both artistic and branded content and reaches audiences globally. The venue would also feature a 16K x 16K interior display plane – the world’s highest-resolution LED screen. All of Sphere’s advanced technologies would be incorporated, including Sphere Immersive Sound, as well as haptic seating and 4D environmental effects.

Any construction, development, ﬁ nancing and operation of a Sphere venue at National Harbor is contingent upon, among other things, negotiation and execution of deﬁ nitive agreements, as well as receipt of certain governmental incentives and approvals from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.

About Sphere: It is an experiential medium that is redeﬁning the future of immersive experiences. Powered by advanced technologies that ignite the senses, Sphere is a venue where the foremost artists, creators, and technologists create extraordinary experiences that bring storytelling to a new level and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The venue hosts original Sphere Experiences from leading Hollywood creatives; concerts and residencies from the world’s biggest artists; and premier brand events. The ﬁrst Sphere opened in Las Vegas, with a second venue planned for Abu Dhabi. More information is available at thesphere.com .”

When I saw the ﬁ rst social media message regarding a “Barbie Doll” version of the Sphere in Vegas coming to the Harbor I did a double take. The Sphere in Vegas has been on my “bucket list” since the ﬁ rst time I saw the hype and was really reinforced when I saw the clips of The Wizard of Oz production. I have had a few friends who have experienced shows in this amazing venue and all of them came away with saying they would do it again in a heartbeat not withstanding that the shows come with a pretty hefty price tag. I am sure that even though the proposed version is much smaller, the cost of attending a show isn’t going to drop proportionately either. In any case, if it comes to fruition, I will dig into my savings

to experience a show…or two if it really lives up to its big sister/brother’s reputation.

After looking at the myriad of negative comments on my Facebook and Instagram pages that this proposal has generated in the last couple of weeks, I have been weighing the pros against the cons and am pretty much at a stand still at this point. On the plus side, this will be the only Sphere on the East Coast and it is in our back yard and doesn’t require a plane ticket to get to and I am confident the nature of the experience inside the “dome” will be amazing. On the negative side, it will be visible from the Beltway and most assuredly cause a bunch of “Lookie-Loo’s” to wander out of their respective lanes going 70 miles per hour possibly causing a pile up or two, and event traffic will no doubt make a difference to commuters just like most major events taking place in the Harbor or Old Town Alexandria do. Before I get off of the fence, I think I will wait to see what actually comes down the pike in the next few months. Right now, selfish Lani wants to be one of the fi rst people in the door no matter what the show is and the more practical side is taking a back seat. As with most controversial situations, there is always a chance that a plan could get squelched and we know in this day and age it all comes down to MONEY. Fortunately, or unfortunately, there is a ton of it in this area.

Photo courtesy of Peterson Companies

Treat yourself to some winter fun on the Blue Ridge Whisky Wine Loop!