Issuu

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

Our very own Old Town resident and fellow OTC design guru recently travelled down South with her mom, Lisa, for a girls getaway in Crystal River, Florida. Known as the manatee capitol of the world, they strolled downtown, attended the annual manatee festival and even took to the water to swim with the manatees- some of our favorite gentle giants. Pictured here is Lisa with her favorite manatee mural in Downtown Crytal River. 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.

Well, here we are coming into June. What a roller coaster the weather was this past week or so. We have experienced a highly variable weather pattern over the past two weeks, shifting from a sweltering heatwave in the 90's to unseasonably cool, rainy weather with highs in the low 50s and 60s with minimal sunshine. It seems that the national political patterns are the same...some warmth with a little sunshine but still gloomy and foreboding for the most part. I grew up in this area since I was 6 years old...79 now. I have memories...riding my motorcycle through greater DC, along Pennsylvania Avenue, around the Ellipse and the monuments... Lincoln, Washington, Jeﬀerson, the solitude of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean Conﬂict Memorial, World War Two Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, JFK Flame and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This is Hallowed ground. And it is being desecrated by someone who understands none of this magic. There, I said it...been waiting a long time. For the good news...

THIS ISSUE IS KILLER! As I write this, one day before going to the printer, we don't have a cover image yet. Oh, hell, got a couple of hours. Here’s what you can ﬁ nd – in alphabetical order – in this jam packed issue:

- A Bit of History: Sarah Becker reminds us of Loving Day. In 1967, I graduated from high school in 1965 (seems like yesterday) and you think we have racial discrimination now! Get with it!

- From the Blue Ridge: Julie Reardon writes about peaceful integration of four-legged beauties at the oldest horse show in the country.

- Caribbean Connection: Even though spring is upon us here at home, Karen Udler introduces us to discount luxury all-inclusive for $200. Check out Jolly Beach, Antigua.

- Exploring Virginia Wines: Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Vineyards writes about the survival of the spring shoots and buds on the vine with a frigid air mass in the spring.

-Dining Out: This month we ventured to Union Street Public House Tap Room for a pleasant lunch. I remember the day they opened. It snowed bad enough that a rugby buddy of mine and I rode down to it on a Flexible Flyer sled. We made it, but getting in was another story.. they were packed.

- First Blush: Kim Putens tells us how to care for and dress our skin for summer.

- Our Flag Day Feature lets you know what you didn't know about Old Glory.

- Financial Focus: Carl Trevison (who, by the way, has been providing this column since near when we started in 1988. He gives good advice) advises on your education savings plan.

- Fitness: Nicole gives us good advice with her “Do’s & Don’ts” to get ﬁt for summer.

- Gallery Beat: Lenny relates the struggle for an art gallery to survive in the DMV.

-From the Trainer: Ryan Unverzagt touches on a fault of mine... hydration. I need to remind myself to drink way more water in general.

- From the Bay: We learn about an ancient creature that is one of the most beneﬁcial animals to man and the sea – the Horseshoe Crab. They have always fascinated me.

- Go Fish: Steve Chaconas is promoting some good ideas for a great Father’s Day gift for those dads out there ‘hooked’ on ﬁshing.

- Grapevine: Matt gives us a riveting story about Woburn Winery, thought to be the ﬁ rst black owned winery in America.

- Let’s Eat: Nicole Flannigan steps outside of her ﬁtness ‘routine’ to give us healthy recommendations for grilling this summer.

- Let’s Get Crafty: Tim reminds us of the joys of the beers of summer as well as another good whiskey and cigar to try out.

-National Harbor: Lani gives us some insight to the many activities that take place during the summer in the Harbor. The movies and the concerts are a couple of her favorites.

- Open Space: Lori, as usual, writes a story that we all can relate to –adventures with her father. She always knocks it out of the park!

- Special Feature: For all of you golf enthusiasts out there, our longtime friend and publisher of the local ‘Good News’ based Zebra, Mary

June is Adopt-A-Cat Month and I couldn’t resist putting this photo of me and my girl, Peppercorn, in this space. Peppercorn found me when I went to King Street Cats to adopt and I couldn't make my mind up on my ﬁrst visit so went back a few days later. As I approached, there she was, in the window looking for me. Done deal. I often think how lucky I am that she was still there waiting for me. Check out KSC today, and see who picks you!

Wadland, writes about the importance of keeping public golf in local communities not just aﬀordable but accessible to the youth in the DMV. Not only does she let us in on her path from a young girl golﬁ ng with her father and grandfather to a very competitive “force on the course”. The catalyst for her piece is the proposed revamp of East Potomac Golf Course at Hains Point. She makes some very relevant points.

We also want to welcome the new brain-child of Chefs Christophe and Michelle Poteaux of Bastille fame, Maison Breizh at Bastille, to the Alexandria restaurant community. Located at 1205 Pendleton Street

adjacent to Bastille, you can expect to see the results of Chef Michelle’s time in France honing her gallette and crepe making skills last year. Looking forward to the soft opening on the 4th

We hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget to pay some special attention to Old Glory on the 14th and wishing Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there.

By Lani Gering

This photo on this month’s cover of the kayaks on the Old Dominion Boat Club pier at sunrise was taken by local photographer and all round great person, Lee Moody. Her images have graced many covers over the years. They have also appeared numerous times as the main image for the calendar section. On top of that, she was my go-to gal for scouting out the bulk of the places where murals appear in and around Old Town. It is with a heavy heart that I have to impart to you all that Lee lost her valiant battle with pancreatic cancer last month. She was only 72. I only met her in person once and you would think we had known each other forever. We shared a lot of the same attitudes and experiences, however, she was much more subdued than I am in relating them. We had some great laughs that afternoon and promised to get together more often but never did. Obviously, we kept in communication on a regular basis via text and Facebook but I regret not being in her presence more.

Lee was a serious “Early Bird”! She was up and at ‘em wayyy before the sun so she could be sure to catch ﬁ rst glimpse of it rise pretty much every morning. I asked her if she ever got nervous walking around by herself in the dark at those early hours and she assured me that her faithful sidekick, Taylor, was always on the watch. Taylor is a beautiful black lab with soulful eyes that Lee adored. I think that the photo below reﬂects how they felt about each other.

May she know how much she meant to everyone who knew her and how much her beautiful images meant to us all. Rest in Peace my friend.

Events Around Town June 2026

4th

Operations Tiger & Neptune D-Day at Sea

7 PM - 9 PM

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum 201 S. Washington Street

The lecture, “Operation Tiger and Neptune – D-Day at Sea” by Rear Admiral Samuel Cox, US Navy (Ret.) and Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, will explore the strategic, historical, and human dimensions of D-Day and the Allied campaign in Normandy. A brief reception with refreshments will follow the lecture. Sponsored by the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee.

6th

Flavors & Sounds of Croatia

5 PM - 8 PM

Waterfront Park

1 Prince Street

Enjoy an evening at Waterfront Park to celebrate the food, wine, klapa, and tamburica, to commemorate Team Croatia’s Team Base Camp in Alexandria for the World Cup.

Traditional Croatian musical performances by Muška klapa Podvorje (Croatian acapella group) and Authentic Croatian Tamburitza Band will be there. Savor authentic Croatian food and wine from Old House Cosmopolitan and enjoy interactive games from the Museum of Illusions. Rain Location: Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N Union Street on the 1st Floor). Free and open to the public.

Alexandria Citizen’s Band: A Journey Through American Music

2 PM - 4 PM

Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center

25 W Reed Ave

As America celebrates their 250th birthday this year, come join us in celebrating with a concert honoring and highlighting American composers and music! Our free concert, A Journey Through American Music, will highlight American artists and composers throughout America’s musical history. From jazz to marches to lm music and everything in between, come join us on Saturday, June 6 at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Rec Center for a fun and engaging musical time celebrating America’s past and bright future. Our concert is at 3pm, but come by at 2pm for fun, family activities that will include games, crafts, and an instrument petting zoo where you can learn more about the individual band instruments. For free tickets, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ajourney-through-american-music-tickets-1989160782447?aff=oddtdtcreator

12th - 14th Sails on the Potomac: Alexandria Commemorates America’s 250th

Alexandria Waterfront

Alexandria will be hosting Sails on the Potomac as a Sail Virginia 2026 Af liate Harbor. From the creation of the Fairfax Resolves to being the hometown of George Washington, Alexandria played a unique role in the birth of our new nation and its impact on today. Join us as we commemorate America’s Story with music, family activities, exhibits, tours, public art, educational programs and more! With centuries of history and hospitality to its credit, Sail Virginia 2026 Af liate Harbor Alexandria offers an array of historic and cultural attractions. As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Sails on the Potomac will highlight Alexandria’s role in helping construct the foundation of the revolution. Sails on the Potomac will host the tall ships Gazella, Kalmar, Nyckel, Providence and Sultana as part of their event. Photo courtesy of Tall Ship Providence Foundation.

19th & 20th

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Freedom Before Emancipation – Family Day for Juneteenth

9 AM - 4 PM

George Washington's Mount Vernon

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway

Join Mount Vernon as we celebrate Juneteenth by remembering how enslaved people resisted enslavement and sought freedom before the Emancipation Proclamation Watch musical performances and see special character performances from actors portraying William Lee, Tobias Lear, and Martha Washington.

Plus, take a tour of the estate, watch spinning, cooking, and blacksmith demonstrations, and honor the lives of the enslaved at a commemoration ceremony. Details at visitalexandria.com.

Photo by Lee Moody

Luau Irish

Sunday, june 7th 4 - 7pm

MURPHY’S IRISH PUB UPSTAIRS BAR 713 King Street | Alexandria VA

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.

OLD

26th

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.

Pride Prom 2026: Starry Night

7 PM - 11 PM

Torpedo Factory Art Center

105 N. Union Street

Get ready for an unforgettable evening under the stars at our 2026 Pride Prom! This year’s theme, Starry Night, invites LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-20 to celebrate identity, community, and joy in a vibrant, af rming space. Expect music, performances, food, dancing, and a night full of magic.

The four pillars that surround Pride Prom: Education, Compassion, Action and Celebration. Pride Prom is fun! Students (and chaperones!) routinely report that it is their favorite day of the year and that they cannot wait for next year’s event! Join us for pride swag, door prizes, prom favors, tons of food, drag performances, and tunes!

Link to Purchase (and Donate) Tickets: https://givebutter.com/IpTDzoparticipate in this raf e for a Chance of a Free Donated Ticket: https:// forms.gle/N38XLNuEXX9HPR6eA

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

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.

Through mid-November

NOW or NEVER - By Alicia Eggert

Completion of the eighth in the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town Annual Public Art Series, NOW or NEVER took place in mid-March. Sitting at the foot of King Street in Old Town until November is another “interesting” piece of work. It has been met with mixed reviews across the board. Here is the description at the site:

“Eggert’s artwork features two monumental sculptures that echo the visual language of signs and billboards. They stand face to face across a narrow passageway, one declaring NOW and the other replying NEVER.

The phrase “now or never” resonates on multiple levels. Collectively, it speaks to global challenges in which hesitation means opportunity lost. Individually, it reminds us that every moment is a turning point, an opportunity to choose one’s future and to live deliberately from this moment forward. By inviting people to move physically between the structures, the artwork underscores the possibility of nding common ground, even in polarized circumstances.”

We encourage you to take a look for yourselves and see what resonates with you.

We have a winner. After a few months of some very creative guesses, Alexandria resident Josh Jenks – who picked up his copy of the OTC at Dishes of India in the Belle View Shopping Center - correctly identiﬁed this colorful mural located on the east side of a building midway up Duke Street.

This mural location is much like the previous one in that it is only visible from one side of a building located on a very well-traveled road on a daily basis - we are guessing this mural will be a challenge as well. This month’s “snippet” is just a preview of a beautiful new piece of art here in Alexandria.

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.

Flag Day 2026

Six Important Facts You Didn’t Know

We celebrate National Flag Day every year on June 14th. Make this the year the one where you can impress some of your friends with these little-known facts about this important day.

Although this holiday doesn’t get a lot of attention, once you’ve given these Flag Day facts a read, you’ll hopefully want to ﬁre up your grill to celebrate. Flag Day was invented by a teacher

wasn’t such a big deal at the time — the flag discussion was the fifth order of business that day. I wonder what was so important about the first four items?

Nineteen-year-old Bernard J. CiGrand walked into his one-room schoolhouse in Wisconsin in 1885, stuck a 10-inch ﬂag in an inkwell, and asked his students to write an essay on its meaning. CiGrand spent the next 50-ish years writing in support of making Flag Day a national holiday.

The Flag Day inventor was destined for greatness.

It’s not the ﬂag’s birthday.

He died of a heart attack 17 years before congress sealed the deal in 1949. However, parts of the U.S. celebrated Flag Day prior to congress making it an oﬃcial holiday. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson recognized Flag Day in a statement.

Flag Day is not a federal holiday.

June 14th, 1775 is the date that congress formally authorized the enlistment of soldiers into what was then called the Continental Army.

It’s a national holiday, but you won’t get the day off work unless you live in Pennsylvania, which recognizes it as a legal state holiday. It seems fitting that Pennsylvania would be the only state to do so, since that’s where the flag was born.

Bernard’s parents were from Luxembourg, a tiny European country between France, Germany, and Belgium. The name “CiGrand” comes from a variation of the French for “so grand.” It only makes sense that he would be the one to champion our “Grand Ol’ Flag!”

Flag Day is the birthday of our Stars and Stripes.

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th, because that was the day that Congress oﬃcially recognized it as the ﬂag of the United States in 1777. Apparently, it

The National Flag Day Foundation spreads Flag Day awareness. The foundation teams up with local groups like 4-H and VFW and Scouts to spread the good word about the holiday and to keep the tradition going. They hope to have a flag in every classroom, cultivate a respect for this symbol of our country, and teach the history behind the flag. In fact, you may check your local community organizations to find events planned for the 14th in your own hometown. You can find more information about Flag Day from The National Flag Day Foundation's website NationalFlagDay.com.

This piece compliments of Noodle.com. Noodle's mission is to make the search for education better through increased transparency and efficiency. We partner with not-for-profit institutions to help identify qualified applicants. In doing so, we're able to provide our content and services at zero cost to users.

Golf Should Still Belong to Her

As East Potomac Golf Links faces change, a local golfer reﬂects on public golf, girlhood, and the game that shaped her.

Ilearned golf the old-fashioned way. Not at a country club. Not with private lessons or expensive equipment.

I learned golf, carrying my own bag across aﬀordable public fairways in Delray Beach, Florida, between the ages of 8 and 15 — sunburned, mosquito-bitten, stubborn as can be, trying to understand why one shot ﬂew beautifully, and the next one rolled 20 feet sideways.

And yes — I was a girl. That matters.

Because anyone who grew up around golf knows women and girls were not always warmly welcomed on the course. For decades, the game often felt like a men’s club, whether anyone admitted it out loud or not.

But I was lucky. I had a “girl dad” before that phrase even existed. My father and grandfather loved golf, and somehow, they never made me feel like I did not belong there. In fact, every once in a while, they would quietly sneak me out of school so we could go play together.

Those afternoons remain some of the best memories of my life.

No phones. No noise. Just fairways, conversation, silence, and the strange emotional roller coaster that golf delivers to every human being willing to chase that tiny white ball around for four hours.

And golf followed me home.

I practiced pitches religiously in our front yard using two laundry baskets as targets, chipping ball after

ball, running inside on occasion to say, “Dad, I got ﬁve in the basket in a row!”

I’d ride by bike to the range with three clubs clenched in my hands across the handbars. But that was golf. Hours alone. Repetition. Trying to make one shot just a little better than the last.

And I got pretty good. In my 20s and 30s, I carried a 4 handicap and once shot a 67 on a challenging 18hole course — one of those magical rounds golfers spend the rest of their lives trying unsuccessfully to recreate.

Those days are gone now. These days, I’m a solid 13 handicap when everything comes together fairly well.

But the lessons stayed.

The experiences stayed.

The soul-searching stayed.

But public golfers hear phrases like championship destination a little diﬀerently than developers do. We hear: How much will it cost?

To be fair, President Trump and Interior oﬃcials have repeatedly said East Potomac would remain a public course with discounted rates for local players from DC, Maryland, and Virginia. They have pointed to nationally known municipal courses such as Bethpage Black in New York and Torrey Pines in California as examples of what East Potomac could become.

And maybe that reassurance helps some people. But public and aﬀordable are not always the same thing. Some of America’s most famous public courses remain technically open to everyone — but the greens fees tell another story.

Pebble Beach is public. Its greens fees have climbed above $600. Torrey Pines is public. Non-resident golfers can pay well over $300 during peak periods. TPC Sawgrass welcomes public play, too, but rounds can run several hundred dollars. Even Bethpage Black — often used as an example of aﬀordable championship golf — keeps prices lower largely because New York residents receive preferred access and reduced rates.

Public access does not automatically mean everyday access. And that distinction matters.

Right now, East Potomac remains one of the more aﬀordable places to learn the game.

An adult round on the Blue Course currently costs roughly $42 on weekdays and $48 on weekends.

You also learn self-defeat. That may sound harsh, but it is true.

Golf teaches you very quickly that nobody owes you success. You have to practice if you want to improve. And practice in golf is often lonely, repetitive, and frustrating. There are no participation trophies waiting at the driving range. You either put in the work or you do not.

And when you lose, you shake hands anyway. You praise your opponent’s great shots. You learn how to fail without falling apart.

Frankly, those are qualities many grown adults probably should have learned earlier in life.

That is the real gift of golf. Not luxury branding. Not exclusivity. Not elite image-building. The gift is character. The gift is discipline. The gift is humility.

And if publicly accessible golf slowly disappears behind rising green fees and “destination course” pricing, we are not just losing aﬀordable recreation. We are losing one of the last accessible pathways into a sport that quietly teaches resilience, accountability, sportsmanship, respect, and perseverance.

Improve East Potomac?

Absolutely.

Restore it?

Yes.

Protect it from ﬂooding and neglect?

Of course.

But do not turn it into something ordinary families can no longer aﬀord to enjoy. Because golf should not belong only to people with privilege.

Anyone who truly loves golf knows exactly what I mean when I talk about those quiet walks up a hill alone toward your next shot — replaying the last swing in your mind, trying to calm yourself, hoping maybe this one lands softly and snuggles up against the stick.

Golf gives you those moments.

And those moments should not become reserved only for wealthy people.

Which is why the debate surrounding the proposed redesign of East Potomac Golf Links in Washington hits such a nerve for me

For readers who have never played it, East Potomac sits at Hains Point on East Potomac Park, between the Potomac River and Washington Channel, just minutes from Alexandria and directly beneath one of the most iconic views in America — the Washington Monument rising above the fairways. The course address is 972 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC.

The Trump administration recently unveiled plans for a major overhaul of the historic municipal course, proposing a championship-style redesign by Fazio Design. Supporters see an opportunity to restore aging infrastructure, address chronic ﬂooding issues, and elevate one of the nation’s most recognizable public golf settings. Critics worry about something else.

Does “championship golf” eventually become code for higher prices, fewer everyday players, environmental impacts, and a slow drift away from the public mission that made East Potomac special in the ﬁ rst place?

Maybe parts of that vision sound exciting. East Potomac absolutely deserves investment. The course has struggled with ﬂooding, deferred maintenance, and aging infrastructure for years.

Senior and military golfers can play for about $29–31.

Junior golfers can play for approximately $24–25.

And perhaps most important of all?

Kids can still walk onto the Red Course — East Potomac’s par-3 layout — for roughly nine dollars.

Nine dollars. That is the kind of number that creates golfers. That is the kind of number that lets a kid with a hand-medown set of clubs fall in love with the game.

And while lawsuits, environmental concerns, preservation ﬁghts, and political arguments continue to swirl around the redesign proposal, I hope decision-makers remember what makes municipal golf special in the ﬁ rst place. It is opportunity and possibility. Public golf courses remain one of the last places where a kid with a used set of clubs, a pull cart, stubborn determination, and absolutely no pedigree can still show up and belong.

Kids learn far more than golf on a golf course. They learn patience. They learn manners. They learn etiquette.

They learn honesty because golf is one of the few sports where integrity is built into the game. You count your own score. You call penalties on yourself. Nobody is hiding behind referees or replay booths.

It should still belong to the little girl pulling her own bag down a public fairway — sunburned, mosquitobitten, stubborn as ever — dreaming that maybe this next shot ﬁ nally ﬂies straight.

Mary Wadland, avid golfer and publisher of The Zebra Press. pauses for a smile from her golf cart during a summer round, showing the lighter side of the game she has loved since childhood. Photo: Wadland Collection

Mary Wadland is nothing but smiles as she enjoys another golf outing. Photo: Wadland Collection

Understanding Your Education $avings Plan

In today’s landscape, students and parents have a variety of educational choices to consider. And with education costs on the rise, families are also presented with a wide range of expense payment options — and potential challenges.

As an investor, it’s important to understand how you can eﬀectively save for your child’s or grandchild’s future. Here are three basic steps to help you understand your education savings plan:

1. Take the time to understand your overall ﬁ nancial priorities.

2. Evaluate and understand your savings vehicles.

3. Have open and honest conversations with family members about expectations.

Understand your priorities

First, get your bearings with your family and ask yourselves how many years of education your savings need to cover and what types of education you’re saving for. Outside of the traditional fouryear college model, community colleges, vocational schools, or military options may ﬁt your or your child’s goals and often operate on a shorter time span than four years.

Understand your options

Once you get a sense of your family’s education needs and how your plan prioritizes education savings, it’s time to evaluate your payment options. Fortunately, parents and grandparents have more choices today than ever before. Whether you use funds from an education savings account, credit, or cash, you’ll want to know the beneﬁts and implications of each option as you decide how to execute your savings plan.

Savings accounts

A ﬁ nancial advisor can help you choose from among a variety of savings vehicles — including 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), and custodial accounts — while helping you select a plan and investment alternatives that may ﬁt your needs and risk tolerance.

Additionally, you as the investor should recognize how each option can be implemented and structured for use. Talk through scenarios with a ﬁ nancial advisor: What happens if I take money out of this account early? How can I use an account if my child’s needs or education goals change? Knowing the impact of these scenarios will likely be important in your decision-making process.

Credit or cash options

Besides the funds from an education savings account, you may consider the following options for payment. By exploring all options, students and families may help minimize the amount of debt they accumulate while pursuing their educational goals.

• Utilizing loans to help cover expenses. Whether you are considering federal or private loans, evaluate your ﬁ nancial situation to determine how much you may need to borrow, which type of loan is best for your needs, and what your ideal repayment plan looks like.

• Using personal savings to cover a portion of the expenses.

• Scholarships and grants are available to those who meet certain criteria, such as academic achievements or ﬁ nancial need.

• Receiving gifts, such as cash from family members or loved ones, is another viable option.

Education savings account vehicles

With so many choices to save for education, be sure to work with a ﬁ nancial advisor to evaluate which one(s) may be right for your situation. This information only brieﬂy describes some of your education savings vehicles, and these rules can be complex. Be sure to include your tax and/or legal advisors in your discussions, as well. For more details, see IRS publication 970.

529 savings plans are a ﬂexible, tax-advantaged option for families looking to save for current or future education expenses. The 529 plan can be an appropriate choice for those looking to save a small amount on an annual/monthly basis, as well as for high-net-worth individuals aspiring to make larger gifts to prefund an education and potentially reduce their estate. The beneﬁts of these plans include:

• Funds potentially grow on a tax-deferred basis.

• Distributions may be federally tax-free, if used for qualiﬁed education expenses. Keep in mind, nonqualiﬁed withdrawals are subject to federal and state income tax and a 10% additional tax.

• In some situations, there may be state income tax beneﬁts.

• Qualiﬁed education expenses include K-12 tuition up to $20,000 per year.

• Accelerated funding allowing 5-year annual exclusion gifts to “front load” plan.

• You have flexible options if you save too much or you want to change the beneficiary to another eligible beneficiary.

• You may pay oﬀ up to $10,000 of qualiﬁed student loans.

• 529 designated beneﬁciaries can make a rollover contribution from their 529 to their Roth IRA if certain conditions are met:

• 529 account must have been opened for at least 15 years

• Contributions and earnings on those contributions made within the last 5 years are ineligible for rollover

• Maximum rollover lifetime limit of $35,000

• Subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits

• Roth IRA owner must have earned income at least equal to the amount to the rollover

Some of these rules are complex, and the availability of such tax or other beneﬁts may be conditioned on meeting certain requirements. Contact your tax advisor for details.

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) may be an appropriate option if you are looking to save for education but may not have as much to gift. Contributions to ESAs are limited to an annual maximum of $2,000 per beneﬁciary. Eligibility for contributing to these accounts begins being phased out with MAGI of $95,000/single taxpayer or $190,000/joint taxpayer.

• These accounts are self-directed and oﬀer the beneﬁts of annual tax deferral on account earnings.

• They also oﬀer the potential for federally tax-free distributions for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education.

• Excess funds in this account may be rolled over by an account holder prior to turning 30 to another eligible family member under the age of 30 (unless they are a special needs beneficiary) or contributed to a 529 for the beneficiary or eligible family member to avoid a non-qualified distribution.

Custodial accounts may be another way to save for a child if you are interested in saving, not only for education expenses, but other items as well.

• Funds may be used for other purposes, if they are for the beneﬁt of the child, based on state law.

• Contributions you make to this account would be subject to gifting rules, and account earnings could be subject to kiddie tax rules annually.

• Since gifts to these accounts are irrevocable and the child generally gains full control of the funds upon reaching the age of majority in their state, you may want to be thoughtful about how much to save in these accounts.

Schedule an education planning conversation

Schedule an education planning conversation and share your savings goals with your family today. Talking about money openly can help create a shared understanding of your family’s ﬁ nances and help build a foundation for your children to think critically about their money as they pursue their education.

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remember loving day

June is known as the Month of Brides. June 2 is the marital day for many famous couples. England's King Henry V married Catherine of Valoria on June 2, 1420. On June 2, 1886, The White House hosted its ﬁ rst on-site marriage. President Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom. More interesting perhaps: white/Caucasian Richard Loving married black/ Native American Mildred Jeter on June 2, 1958. The latter upended the States' many miscegenation laws. Tennessee's replicated one-drop rule included. On June 12, 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court [Virginia v. Loving] unanimously ruled Richard and Mildred Loving's inter-racial marriage illegal. The Court concluded that Virginia's miscegenation law violated the Constitution's 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause. "Because it was not illegal for other non-white couples to get married, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that the intent of the Virginia law was to uphold white supremacy."

Love as deﬁ ned by the American Heritage Dictionary: "A strong feeling of aﬀection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction."

The U.S. House of Representatives Hse. Res. 431, as passed June 11, 2011, explains the Lovings' marital and judicial history. [Italics added]

Whereas the ﬁ rst anti-miscegenation law in the United States was enacted in Maryland in 1661; Whereas miscegenation was typically a felony under State laws prohibiting interracial marriage punishable by imprisonment or hard labor;

Whereas in 1883, the Supreme Court held in Pace v. Alabama that anti-miscegenation laws were consistent with the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment as long as the punishments given to both white and black violators are the same;

Whereas in 1912, a constitutional amendment was proposed in the House of Representatives prohibiting interracial marriage “between negroes or persons of color and Caucasians”;

Whereas in 1923, the Supreme Court held in Meyer v. Nebraska that the due process clause of the 14th Amendment guarantees the right of an individual “to marry, establish a home and bring up children;" Whereas in 1924, Virginia enacted the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which required that a racial description of every person be recorded at birth and prevented marriage between “white persons” and non-white persons;

Whereas in 1948, the California Supreme Court overturned the State’s anti-miscegenation statutes, thereby becoming the ﬁ rst State high court to declare a ban on interracial marriage unconstitutional and making California the ﬁ rst State to do so in the 20th century;

Whereas the California Supreme Court stated in Perez v. Sharp that “a member of any of these races may ﬁ nd himself barred from marrying the person of his choice and that person to him may be irreplaceable. Human beings are bereft of worth and dignity by a doctrine that would make them as interchangeable as trains":

Whereas by 1948, 38 States still forbade interracial marriage, and 6 did so by State constitutional provision:

Whereas in June of 1958, 2 residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia Mildred Jeter, a black/ Native American woman, and Richard Perry Loving, a Caucasian man—were married in Washington, DC;

Whereas upon their return to Virginia, Richard Perry Loving and Mildred Jeter Loving were charged with violating Virginia’s anti-miscegenation statutes, a felonious crime;

Whereas the Lovings subsequently pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 1 year in prison, with the sentence suspended for 25 years on condition that the couple leave the State of Virginia;

Whereas Leon Bazile, the trial judge of the case, proclaimed that “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, Malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.”:

Whereas the Lovings moved to the District of Columbia, and in 1963 they [with the help of white/Caucasian, Old Town Alexandria, ACLU lawyer Bernie Cohen] began a series of lawsuits challenging their convictions;

Whereas the convictions were upheld by the State courts, including the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia;

Whereas the Lovings appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of the United States on the ground that the Virginia anti-miscegenation laws violated the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the 14th Amendment and were therefore unconstitutional;

Whereas in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari to Loving v. Virginia and readily overturned the Lovings’ convictions;

Whereas in the unanimous opinion, Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote: “Marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival...To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classiﬁcations embodied in these statutes, classiﬁcations so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the 14th Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State’s citizens of liberty without due process of law.”

Whereas the opinion also stated that “the 14th Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.”;

Whereas in 1967, 16 States still had law prohibiting interracial marriage, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia;

Whereas Loving v. Virginia struck down the remaining anti-miscegenation laws nationwide; Whereas in 2000, Alabama became the last State to remove its anti-miscegenation laws from its statutes;

Whereas according to the U.S. Census Bureau, from 1970 to 2000 the percentage of interracial marriages has increased from 1 percent of all marriages to more than 5 percent [Georgia-born. black, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1991--) Clarence Thomas married his second wife white/Caucasian Virginia 'Ginni' Lamp in 1987];

Whereas the number of children living in interracial families has quadrupled between 1970 to 2000,

going from 900,000 to more than 3 million; and Whereas June 12th has been proclaimed “Loving Day” by cities and towns across the country in commemoration of Loving v. Virginia:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives (1) observes the 40th [today the 59th] Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia; and (2) commemorates the legacy of Loving v. Virginia in ending the ban on interracial marriage in the United States and in recognizing that marriage is one of the “basic civil rights of man” at the heart of the 14th Amendment protections.

According to AI, National Loving Day "is typically celebrated by hosting or attending community backyard barbecues, potlucks, and educational festivals, alongside sharing personal stories on social media."

Remember Loving Day! Coincidence or not, Alexandria's 3-day, 250 waterfront Jazz Festival-the popular Irish Breakfast Band included is scheduled to begin on June 12. For more information visit: https://www.alexandriava.gov/ arts/alexandria-jazz-fest

Columnist's Reply: My thanks to the many who have responded to my recent columns. [1.] In my December 2024 column "It's the Economy, Stupid!" I addressed the country's budget deﬁcit. A reader has asked that I now share an update. "The U.S. national debt is now larger than the economy as a whole," The Independent reported, "hitting levels not seen since the aftermath of World War II, Figures released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis place the total debt held by the American public at $31.27 trillion as of March 31. Meanwhile, the country’s nominal gross domestic product was estimated at $31.22 trillion, meaning the national debt as a percentage of GDP stands at 100.2 percent, putting it on course to challenge the historic 106 percent recorded in 1946 during demobilization."

(2.) Readers pro and con have asked me to minimize my references to incumbent President Donald Trump [R-NY,FL]. I only go where history takes me. "A nation's character," John F. Kennedy wrote in 1946, "like that of an individual, is elusive. It is produced partly by the things we have done and partly by what has been done to us. It is the result of physical factors, intellectual factors and spiritual factors. It is well for us to consider our American character, for in peace, as in war, we will survive or fail according to its measure."

(3.) In May 2024 I offered a Q&A regarding the status, the future of Artificial Intelligence [AI]. A reader now asks how AI will influence future job markets? I offer Mark Cuban's AP reply as a conversation starter.: https://fi nance.yahoo.com/ sectors/technology/articles/mark-cuban-warn s-5job-184827810.html

About the Author: Sa rah 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

everlong by foo fighters

In 1997, Foo Fighters carved out one of alternative rock’s defi ning moments with “Everlong,” the second single from their breakthrough album The Colour and the Shape. Written by Dave Grohl during a period of personal upheaval, the song channels the rush of new love into a surging wall of guitars and melodic urgency. Peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Alternative chart and quickly becoming a staple of the band’s catalog, “Everlong” fused grunge grit with an almost dreamlike sense of intimacy, its layered production and emotional core striking a rare balance between raw confession and anthemic release. What began as a spontaneous riff evolved into a signature track that continues to resonate as both a love song and a defi ning statement of late-’90s rock.

Things get started with Dave Grohl playing two note chords on his Gibson DG-335 using a soft pick attack. He uses the neck pickup of the guitar to achieve the round warm tone and the pick attack helps create a chime-like texture in the guitar sound. Next, heavily overdriven guitar chords are struck and left ringing out by Pat Smear while Grohl, who also recorded drums for this song, picks up the pace with a 16th note pattern on the hi-hats. Finally, the intro music shifts into a full band arrangement composed of heavily distorted guitars, bass, and full drum kit, raising the energy to a full-blown rock song.

Moving into the ﬁ rst verse the guitars switch up their rhythm pattern alternating between palm muted and open chord strikes. Meanwhile, the drums and bass maintain the steady foundation established during the intro music. This straightforward rock band arrangement sets the stage for Dave Grohl’s Breathy and Dreamlike vocal delivery and poetic lyrics. As the verse winds down,

the band shifts into a pre-chorus lifting the energy signiﬁcantly with crash cymbals and tension building guitars while Grohl switches his vocal delivery to his signature rock growl.

As the band explodes into the chorus, we hear Grohl singing from the heart delivering the lines, “If everything could ever feel this real forever / If anything could ever be this good again”. After each of these lines, blazing drum ﬁlls are added creating an energetic attack in the music. The Guitars also change things up for the chorus with a new chord progression allowing the vocal melody to shift into fresh new territory. Coming out of the chorus we hear an interesting mix of guitar spikes along with “do do do’s” sung by Louise Post of Veruca Salt who happens to be the person “Everlong” is about.

Currently, the Foo Fighters are supporting the release of their 12th studio album with stadium concerts booked into next year. If you would like tickets, you can ﬁ nd them through the band's website. If you’re interested in listening to “Everlong”, or any of the Foo Fighters extensive catalog of music, you can ﬁ nd it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. To learn more about the Foo Fighters, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

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

A GAME WITH NO END IN SIGHT

Author George R.R. Martin is oﬃcially the worst procrastinator in the world. So say I, Lady Miriam of House Kramer, located near the pestilent Trump Swamp.

It has now been fifteen years since Martin published A Dance With Dragons, his fifth installment of the renowned high fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF). Based on medieval Machiavellian machinations amongst high lords in the kingdom of Westeros and beyond, his fi rst book, Game of Thrones, appeared in 1996. Then came A Clash of Kings in 1998; A Storm of Swords in 2000; and A Feast for Crows in 2005. So far he has penned a thousand pages of this recent installment but has not found a place to stop. Part of the problem for the reader, of course, was a gain for the viewer. Martin became distracted initially by the adaptation of his books into the television series, A Game of Thrones. HBO released a new season every year between 2011-2019. With well-cast actors and beautifully filmed episodes, the series continued to win over TV executives impressed by the fi nancial and artistic success of the fantasy film trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Game of Thrones ended up the mostawarded scripted television series in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, with 59 wins out of 160 nominations.

Martin was sucked into directing and writing several episodes, however, beginning the endless string of his distractions. After the ﬁ rst seasons proved huge successes, he was then asked to greenlight spin-oﬀ shows from the world of Westeros based on sideproject books such as Fire & Blood about the Targaryen dynasty or his Dunk and Egg stories in the book A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

House of the Dragon, a prequel series about a period of internal conflict between the Targaryens, has run for two seasons so far with a Season Three premiere scheduled for June 21, 2026. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a simpler and later prequel about a poor hedge knight and his squire traveling Westeros in search of glory, has been renewed and is filming Season Two. I have enjoyed both these series, although House of the Dragon has moved slower than the original Game of Thrones. While also violent, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is charming and a relief from the endless grimness of Martin’s other tales. Peter Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg make an endearing pairing. In addition to penning his novel and the occasional screenplay, Martin became mired in TV development meetings; script consulting; promotional tours; his movie theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico; and writing these new spin-off Westeros books. He has also spent time editing anthologies of other authors’ stories, consulting on video games, traveling to conventions, and involving himself in any activity he can fi nd to distract him from fi nishing ASOIAF. I was particularly annoyed when the TV series caught up with and then chronologically passed the books. I knew I would have to watch them because I would read or hear the spoilers anyway. Those filming and creating the series did a marvelous job creating the dragons and many other visions only seen in my mind’s eye, though, including the Wall of ice that serves as its own character throughout

the books. Until Series 8, the show was a wonderful depiction of Martin’s world.

Martin said in the past that the series and the novels would go in diﬀerent directions but end up in about the same place. Just several days ago, though, he posted in his blog that he had been working in his “winter garden,” a metaphor for writing the Winds of Winter. “Things twist, things change, new ideas come to me, old ideas prove unworkable, I write, I rewrite, I restructure, I rip everything apart and rewrite again, I go through doors that lead nowhere, and doors that open on marvels.” Martin reported that some characters will die who lived in the TV series, and others who die will live. He has also stated that the series will deviate substantially from the HBO series. I hope he can ﬁ nd an entirely new ending, although I would not bet on it.

In addition to his distractions, Martin seems to have written himself into a corner. Aﬁcionados of the novels know how complex his plots and character arcs are, particularly in comparison with the TV seasons and episodes. As the books have piled up, the complexity of resolving them has only increased. A self-professed slow writer and perfectionist, Martin is also under a huge amount of pressure to conclude the penultimate novel, not to mention the series itself. When he ﬁ nished A Dance of Dragons in 2011, he had just ascended to a new level of global fame. Now readers around the world are waiting for him to tie up the hundreds of literary loose ends he’s left.

While I sympathize with that pressure, I hope he can focus. There is still a book left to write after this one, and I do not want the series left for a less capable, or indeed any other writer, to ﬁ nish.

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:

June is busting out all over—or so Oscar Hammerstein would contend in the picnic scene in “Carousel.” In honor of Oskie’s partner Richard Rodgers’ birthday month, bust out of your own warm weather lethargy and check out one or more of these plays and musicals, live! onstage this month in the DMV:

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

Little Theatre of Alexandria

Now through June 6

A bickering bridal couple, bumbling best man, beside-himself theatrical producer, dim-bulb hostess, beleaguered bakers, braggadocio-imbued Casanova and bourbon-besotted grand dame spice up this musical comedy bon bon. Tickets at www.littletheatre.com.

OR Atlas Performing Arts Center

Now through June 7

Constellation Theatre presents a musical comedy about Aphra Behn—spy, poet, and the ﬁ rst professional female playwright—as she races to ﬁ nish a script, navigate secret missions, and juggle lusty entanglements, all in one chaotic night that’s a celebration of art, passion, and sexual freedom. Tickets at www. constellationtheatre.org

THE MOTION

Arena Stage

Now through June 14

Four scholars embark upon a kaleidoscopic odyssey through memory, identity, and the fragile boundaries of belief. As the world around them transforms, they wrestle with profound and unsettling questions about purpose, morality, and what it truly means to be alive. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

ONCE

Next Stop Theatre

Now through June 21

A Dublin busker has just about run out of luck and patience singing for pennies on the street when a young Eastern European woman encourages him to soldier on in both art and love. The Tony ® Award winning Best Musical based on the Academy Award winning (for Best Song) ﬁlm is a transcendent story about love that goes unrequited—or does it. Tickets at www.nextstoptheatre.org.

PURLIE VICTORIOUS

Studio Theatre

Now through June 24

Psalmayene 24 directs this madcap comedy, which calls on survival techniques forged in the Jim Crow South while it calls out satiric targets that feel as urgent as they did when the lacerating comedy premiered in 1961. All that and a love story, too. Tickets at ww.studiotheatre.org.

OTHELLO Shakespeare Theatre Company

Now through June 28

Wendell Pierce headlines Shakespeare’s tragedy about the power of words to kill. Venice is scandalized when its protector Othello elopes with a nobleman’s daughter, while his most trusted lieutenant, Iago seethes after being passed over for a promotion. Vengeance raises its ugly head, transforming Othello’s faithful wife Desdemona and turning upright men into beasts. Tickets at www. shakespearetheatre.org.

SALLY AND TOM

Round House Theatre

Now through June 28

A scrappy theater group takes on a new play about Founding Mother Sally Hemings and our third president (and slave owner) Thomas Jeﬀerson. When the playwright takes the role of Sally and her bf directs and plays Jeﬀerson, art and life collide and truths about race and power are laid bare. Tickets at www. roundhousetheatre.org

A FINE MADNESS

Woolly Mammoth and more

Now through June 28

Kicking oﬀ a month full of one man shows (see below), Justin Weaks invites us on a radical act of remembrance inspired by the time capsules carried into outer space by the Voyager mission. Through retelling and reclaiming his own personal journey as a Black gay man living in Washington D.C., Weaks creates a new archive that is inclusive of his lived experience and those of the people in the room. Beside Woolly, the piece will play several more DC sites this month. Check out all the details at www.woollymammoth.net.

PIPPIN

Signature Theatre

Now through July 26

Decades before his big score (no pun intended) with “Wicked,” composerlyricist Stephen Schwartz was an undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, working on an odd musical theater hero—Pippin, the son of King Charlemagne, head of the Holy Roman Empire. Years later—and with much gnashing of teeth and venting of spleen--director/choreographer Bob Fosse took hold of the piece and made it a Broadway legend. Now Matthew Gardiner and company in Shirlington make the musical their own. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org

PRECARIOUS

Atlas Performing Arts Center

June 4-28

Mosaic Theatre presents this new comedy about starting out, starting over and the enduring love of family. Though recently retired Violet is ready to chart a new path forward, her daughter Tilly and a summer heatwave stand in her way. This world premiere promises insightful reflections on the climate crisis and generational divides while imagining a brighter future. Tickets at www.mosaictheater.org.

OLD TOWN

FEELING AFRAID AS IF SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN

Studio Theatre

June 4- July 12

Marcelo Dos Santos stars in this one-man show about a permanently single, professionally neurotic stand-up who ﬁ nally meets Mr. Right and then proceeds to do everything wrong. His dark journey through self-awareness and selfsabotage leads him-- and perhaps some of us as well—to choose between love and that killer punchline, delving into the anxieties of modern life from the fear of intimacy to the terror of vulnerability. Tickets at www.studiotheatre.org

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

Keegan Theatre

June 6- July 12

Those wacky thespians at the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are presenting another old chestnut when things go rather swiftly from bad to utterly disastrous. Whether it’s the unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, or actors who trip over everything including their lines, the show must go on, despite the hilarious consequences. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com.

HOW SHAKESPEARE SAVED MY LIFE

Folger Library Theatre

June 9- July 5

Calling on the Bard and a host of genius rappers, half-crazed preachers, and soulful poets, playwright-actor Jacob Ming-Trent takes us on a propulsive ride that reaﬃrms the power of language and music in this one man show that follows Ming-Trent’s attempt to reclaim his youth and connect to the deeper parts of us all. Tickets at www.folger.edu

CRAZYSEXYCOOL—THE TLC MUSICAL

Arena Stage

June 12- August 9

Storming the '90s music scene and topping the charts, the world-renowned vocal trio TLC created the look, the sound, and the soul of a generation with their unforgettable anthems, ﬂy dance moves and head-turning style. Now their journey comes to the stage in this fresh new musical by writer/ director Kwame Kwei-Armah, who brings TLC’s (mostly true) story of unshakable sisterhood to the stage with multi-platinum hits from “Waterfalls,” and “Creep,” to “Unpretty,” and “No Scrubs.” Tickets at www.arenastage.org.

SUFFS

June 16-28

National Theatre

Direct from Broadway comes this Tony Award®-winning musical about the passionate American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Shaina Taub won the Tony® Awards for Best Book and Best Score for this bold exploration of the challenges met and conquered on the way to achieving suﬀrage for women, a basic human right. Here’s hoping we don’t slip backwards. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com

WHAT BECAME OF US

June 16-July 26

Signature Theatre

A moving new play about two siblings who remain connected over the course of a lifetime, Signature employs two diﬀerent casts from very diﬀerent backgrounds to tell this story about immigrant and native-born brothers and sisters. Each pair’s disparate perspectives lead to both fractures and forgiveness as they witness each other’s story in Signature’s intimate Ark space. Tickets at www. sigtheatre.org

SLEEPING BEAUTY: THE TIME TRAVELER

June 18- August 23

Adventure MTC

Rolly’s ordinary summer takes an extraordinary twist when he’s whisked back to the 12th Century where he meets Aurora, a bold 12-year-old princess with dreams of knighthood and adventure, despite a mysterious curse that threatens to plunge her into a century-long sleep. As Rolly and Aurora plot a daring escape to the modern world, past and present merge in an epic journey ﬁlled with courage, friendship, and a dash of magic. Tickets at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org

BROADWAY

AT WOLF TRAP

June 20

Filene Center at Wolf Trap

The folks at Signature have a terriﬁc summer show in store for us as some of the DMV’s top musical theater talent join forces with Tony ® Award winner Heather Headley and Broadway favorite Titus Burgess, direct from his fall-out-of-your chair hilarious stand as “Oh Mary” in NYC. Who wants to make a Falshi bet that Awa Sal Secka, starring in “Pippin” that night, winds up on the Filene stage before the curtain comes down? Tickets at www.wolftrap.org

NO EXIT

June 25 – July 19

Atlas Performing Arts Center

Scena Theatre’s oﬀers up Jean-Paul Satre’s existential drama about three fraught souls seemingly locked in a room together. Force to confront their pasts and each other, they (and we) come to the conclusion that psychological torture can be far worse than physical pain. Tickets at www.atlasarts.org.

About the Author: Mark Edelman is a writer 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: Pippin by Daniel Rader picured below; Othello by Teresa Castrecane; The Motion by Kiane McKellar; Suﬀs by Joan Marcus.

The Curious Case of the DMV and Art Collectors

All galleries everywhere, including fabled places like New York and LA, struggle to survive and sell work in order to pay the artists, pay rent, pay for publicity, pay for openings, pay for electricity, pay for the plumber the 2-3 times a year that somebody ﬂushes a sanitary napkin (or one of those indestructible hand towels) down the toilet at an opening and clogs the pipes, pay for websites, etc.

Galleries in the DMV face an especially arduous task in the art of selling art…. Also, art fairs! Every time that someone has tried to do an art fair in the DMV, it has generally been an abject failure.

Selling art is not an easy task for the most adept of galleries and gallerists. The tales of sold out shows and shows that sell out before the openings are sometimes true, but also sometimes exaggerated as a publicity stunt. I know for a fact of a former DC area gallery (no longer around) that used that storytelling line to create this "sold out" aura around the gallery that was fabricated most of the times.

Selling art in the Greater DC region is an especially diﬃcult task, and a hard one to understand because our region has than its share of very, very wealthy people; in fact, according to the IRS, it has the second highest concentration of millionaires in the United States (after Silicon Valley).

actually buy a piece of original artwork is a very difficult process, and unfortunately for the galleries and for artists, they only control a small part of it. The most difficult part is getting people to actually know that there are galleries, and openings, etc. Getting the potential buyer to the gallery, or aware of the gallery or artist, is the key, and of course the most difficult part.

And because most galleries can't aﬀord the rents right on the main commercial streets (say M Street

Families residing in Bethesda and in Potomac have a median income of $250,000 per capita Income and the average income per single resident stands at $120,363. The median household income for Montgomery County is $132,450.

The average annual household income in Georgetown is around $199,908; around McLean it is around $250,000. Thus… disposable income is not the issue here.

And you can research your head oﬀ and ﬁ nd out that generally speaking, the Greater DC area is making more money than most of the rest of the country. But cracking the code and getting most DMV people to

of artists took an abandoned building in boarded-up Old Town Alexandria, removed forty truckloads of garbage from the building, refurbished it and created the Torpedo Factory and kindled the birth of a new tony neighborhood and destination.

That means that you usually do not have the luxury of "walk-in" traﬃc of people walking around the nice shops, boutiques, restaurants that line up high end commercial streets like Bethesda Avenue or M Street, etc.

in Georgetown, or Bethesda Avenue in Bethesda), they're were once upon the time (mostly closed now) usually found in clusters just oﬀ the main drags (like Canal Square in Georgetown, R Street in Dupont Circle, or to the side of East-West Highway in Bethesda). And galleries, hungry for low rents and bigger spaces, are usually the ﬁ rst ones that begin to revitalize a sketchy neighborhood, such as the former Fusebox Gallery once did for 14th Street corridor, and the Torpedo factory did for all of Old Town Alexandria decades ago.

Yep! let's not forget that a few decades ago, a handful

Why are these potential DMV area collectors so hard to bring in from the dark side? A while back I submitted this thesis:

Because they were not exposed to art in their upbringing. Not because their parents were bad, uncultured people, but because their parents were hard-working stiﬀs who worried about the rent, the electric bill, the food bill and paying for junior's college so that junior could get a Computer Science degree and go on and invent Amazon or Google.

And in college, junior probably was not exposed to art other than the two or three peripheral courses that he needed to get his electives; certainly not to buying art, or even aware that art was for sale.

And then junior works hard and becomes a millionaire, and now has disposable income out the yingyang, and looks around for expensive toys, because as George Carlin was fond of saying, we all love to collect "stuﬀ."

And he/she sees ads for expensive cars, expensive furniture, expensive cigars, and he/she reads tons of reviews for the latest trendy restaurants, etc. But he's never really made aware that there's also art out there, for our local media has a spectacular sense of apathy towards the visual arts in our area. For decades, while at least they still had a “Galleries” column, The Washington Post was the only major American

newspaper that had a freelancer deliver around 25 reviews a year to cover an entire year of DC area gallery shows, and to this they allow their chief art critic to review only museum shows. Very little attention is placed upon our art galleries by the newspapers, certainly not commensurate with the amount of print space that they give theatre, music, dance, fashion, food, etc.

I’m looking at you Bethesda Magazine or Washingtonian

So junior doesn't know that the DC area has a really good and creative visual arts scene… granted that about 75% of the galleries which were around a decade ago have long closed.

Thus, when junior takes a stroll through the city's main shopping streets, he doesn't know about the side streets where the galleries are, but sees the furniture stores passing for art galleries that sell the pretty, expensive wall décor "pictures," and then junior assumes that this "stuﬀ " is art.

And he drops a ton of money for a pretty "picture.”

Spring Forward !

Springtime is coming ... really!

Springtime is coming...really!

Update your wardrobe with classic styles and bold contemporary pieces in beautiful, handmade and eco-friendly natural fabrics.

But instead, it is the art galleries that go out of business: Veerhoﬀ (after 125 years), eklektikos, Fusebox, Fraser, Alla Rogers, MOCA, Parrish, Marsha Mateyka, Irvine, Baumgartner, etc. And only superheroes like Margery Goldberg’s Zenith Gallery continue to survive.

Every once in a while, junior - usually by accident - discovers a reputable art gallery, and sometimes a real collector is then born. But for every one of those, thousands of others remain on the dark side, or worse still, think that they have to go to New York to ﬁ nd contemporary art.

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.

“A woman in love with abstraction” - 2021 16x20 watercolor on paper with embedded electronic images that rotate every 5 seconds.

"Woman balancing on a Jackson Pollock landscape", 2026 F. Lennox Campello. 32x40 inches, mixed media original painting on 600 weight paper.

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello Price and additional images upon request.

“ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON, DC” – Washington City Paper

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello Price and additional images upon request. Alida Anderson Art

For the dads who have shown us the way.

Check out our online store to see all of our wonderful new collections from all of your favorite artists!

Update your wardrobe with classic styles and bold contemporary pieces in beautiful, handmade and eco-friendly natural fabrics. Our lovely model is wearing the Wilder tunic by Bryn Walker in bambu linen and cotton in the gray and white print “nero.” Paired with a matching pant, this outfit is remarkably modern and comfortable for any warm weather coming your way. Come into the shop to see all of our wonderful new collections from all of your favorite artists.

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

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

Horseshoe Crab Spawning MigrationArrivedHas

Thousands of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) have started landing on Maryland’s shores this spring for what is believed to be the world’s oldest wildlife migration. Dating back an estimated 350 million years, the annual spawning occurs from May through July, peaking with high tides on or around the full and new moons in June.

One spawning female horseshoe crab will deposit an average of 20,000 eggs into the sand, with a mate grasping onto her shell and fertilizing the eggs. In addition to perpetuating the ancient species, the eggs are a seasonal buﬀet for migratory shorebirds preparing to return to their summer nesting grounds in northern Canada.

Horseshoe crab larvae are also an important food source for juvenile Atlantic loggerhead turtles, striped bass, American eel, and ﬂounder. For human health, the horseshoe crab’s copper-based blood is also used for testing for bacterial products used in medicine. Specially permitted ﬁshing operations collect the animals, draw their blood in a biomedical facility, and release them back into the water.

Despite their armor and tail, horseshoe crabs are gentle creatures that do not bite or sting. The tail is not a weapon; it is used to plow the crab through the sand and muck, act as a rudder in the water, and to right the crab when it accidentally tips over. Humans can help horseshoe crabs stuck upside down in rock jetties by gently ﬂipping or moving the animal, using both hands, but never picking it up by its tail.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program monitor the returning horseshoe crab population for ecological and scientiﬁc research purposes. The department encourages the public to report any spawning activity and sightings of horseshoe crabs to DNR’s Horseshoe Crab Volunteer Angler Survey

The best opportunities to view horseshoe crabs are evenings around the full and new moons in June (June 15 and June 29 in 2026).

Prime Viewing Locations

If you are in the Alexandria, VA area and want to observe this 350-million-yearold migration, you can visit local spawning beaches around the Bay: Flag Ponds Nature Park (Calvert County, MD: A well-known hot spot for horseshoe crab spawning in Southern Maryland.

Maryland's Coastal Bays & Ocean City: Sunset Park near the Ocean City Inlet is a premier site to witness the gathering.

How You Can Help & Get Involved

While the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) primarily focuses on advocacy, oyster restoration, and living shorelines, there are several ways you can actively participate in tracking and protecting horseshoe crabs: Maryland DNR Surveys: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) monitors shoreline usage. You can report sightings directly to the Maryland DNR Horseshoe Crab Survey to help identify spawning habitats.

Citizen Science: In nearby Worcester County, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program coordinates annual volunteer spawning and stranding surveys.

Resources: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Quick Facts

• Species type: Native

• Size: 2 feet in length

• Habitat: Juveniles are found in shallow, protected waters with a sandy bottom; adults live in deeper waters

• Range: Found year-round in the middle and lower Chesapeake Bay, as far north as the Chester River. Most visible in spring and summer, when they spawn on sandy beaches.

• Diet: Feeds mostly on worms and mollusks such as razor clams and soft shell clams

• Lifespan: Can live more than 20 years

• Conservation status: Stable

• Appearance: Horseshoe crabs grow to two feet in length. They have a hard, rounded, brownish-green exoskeleton, a spike-like tail and ﬁve pairs of jointed legs. Their widely spaced eyes look like bumps on the top of their shell. Their gills have folds of membranes that look like the leaves of a book. Juveniles are sand-colored.

• Feeding: The horseshoe crab eats mostly worms and mollusks such as razor clams and soft shell clams. It spends most of its time rooting through bottom sediment looking for food. Because they lack jaws, these crabs use the spiny bases of their legs to crush and grind their food, then push it into their mouths.

• Predators: Several types of shorebirds eat horseshoe crab eggs. Various ﬁsh, invertebrates and sea turtles feed on eggs and larvae. Humans catch adult horseshoe crabs for bait and medical research.

• Reproduction and life cycle: Spawning takes place in spring and summer (peaking in May-June), usually during evening high tides when the moon is full or new. Large numbers of adults crawl up onto sandy, protected beaches to mate and lay eggs. Females lay clusters of about 4,000 greenish eggs in the sand around the hightide mark. They return to the beach to lay more eggs during high tides throughout the season. Eggs take about one month to develop and hatch. Young swim to shallow, sandy, protected nursery areas, where they remain for up to two years.

Did you know?

1. Horseshoe crabs are not true crabs, and are more closely related to terrestrial spiders than blue crabs.

2. Often called "living fossils," horseshoe crabs have existed for more than 300 million years.

3. Although their spikes and spines may look dangerous, horseshoe crabs are harmless.

4. Just like other arthropods, horseshoe crabs must molt to grow. They leave their old shells behind and grow a new, larger shell.

5. Horseshoe crabs swim upside down and can survive out of the water for an extended period of time if their gills are kept moist.

Sources and additional information

• Life in the Chesapeake Bay by Alice Jane Lippson and Robert L. Lippson

• Maryland Fish Facts: Horseshoe Crab – Maryland Department of Natural Resources

• Animal Diversity Web: Limulus polyphemus – University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

• Limulus polyphemus – MarineBio

• The Horseshoe Crab – Ecological Research & Development Group

Horseshoe crabs have ﬁve pairs of jointed legs underneath their hard shell. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

“Horseshoe Crab Family Gathering” by Willy Conley, submitted to the 2023 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.

JULIE REARDON

LUpperville Colt & Horse Show 2026

iving in Virginia, it's easy to forget just how much history is woven into the fabric of where we live. And that includes the horse shows, steeplechase racing and other equestrian activities in the hunt country.

The oldest horse show in the country and possibly one of the oldest continuously run sporting events starts June 1st right here in Upperville, straddling the border of Fauquier and western Loudoun County and runs through June 7th - the Upperville Colt & Horse Show presented by Mars Equestrian.

Established in 1853 by Colonel Richard Henry Dulany, who also founded the Piedmont Fox Hounds, the show was originally designed to encourage better treatment of young horses and improve the local breeding stock. Colonel Dulany chose one of his properties, Grafton Farm, as the site for his competition.

Adjacent to the original Winchester Turnpike, now Route 50, Grafton was known for its stately oak and tupelo trees, with good grass footing. Contacted by Dulany, Charles Louis Tiﬀany designed the ﬁ rst silver trophy, donating his labor and craftsmanship.

Since its inception, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show has grown tremendously and is now established as one of the signature horse shows on the local, national, and international yearly calendars.

Today, the show takes place over the ﬁ rst full week in June, and includes nearly two thousand horse and rider combinations. Prizes are awarded for in-hand hunter breeding conformation, and performance in both hunters and jumpers. Riders range from local children on their lead-line ponies to Olympic caliber horses and riders.

Popular attractions include the USHJA International Hunter Derby and the FEI 4* Grand Prix event that concludes the show on Sunday. Crowds are also entertained by fun exhibitions, like the Hat Contest and the Horses and

Horsepower antique car show. An exquisite array of local and national vendors brings variety and interest to shoppers and foodies of every age and taste. Attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year, Upperville has been named Horse Show of the Year by the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame and the Virginia Horse Show Association.

For exhibitors, sponsors, vendors and spectators alike, participating at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show makes one a part of a longstanding legacy of equine excellence. The event is also home to many social traditions, from elaborate tailgate picnics to parties sponsored by prominent local residents and businesses.

Equestrians and spectators from around the globe look forward to coming together “under the oaks” each spring in the Piedmont of Virginia. Upperville Colt & Horse Show is far more than simply a show; it is part of a shared and cherished experience, deeply rooted in the best of American sportsmanship. For those interested in attending, there are various diﬀerent classes held during the week-long show. Most are hunters and jumpers—hunters are judged subjectively on smoothness of pace and rhythm jumping a course of fences while jumpers get no style points, the winner is the one that jumps a course of fences the fastest without knocking any rails down. Both the hunter and jumper divisions are classes for green horses, those that have not shown or are in their ﬁ rst year, as well as for amateur riders and open classes where anyone, including professional riders, can compete. There are also classes for horses and ponies ridden by junior riders (under 18) even a leadline class for very young children and a family class. The breeding classes showcase breeding stock: horses and ponies from foals to 3 year olds that are judged on conformation. The show is open to spectators all week from 8 am to 5 pm, visit their website at www. Upperville.com for more information.

HUNT COUNTRY

PHOTO

JOHN MCCASLIN

ACome With Us on Our Paper Route!

s our readers know, each month we seek out a new destination to visit and write about in this column. We're changing it up this month.

Lani and I do the local distribution of the Old Town Crier ourselves each month. The destinations in our local market speak for themselves...most of you are well aware of where we drop them in Old Town, Del Ray, the West End, North Old Town, Fort Hunt, Eisenhower, National Harbor, etc., but this month I thought it might be fun for you to join us as we take you along on our peripheral delivery “From the Bay to the Blue Ridge”.

With me at 79 and Lani heading toward 73 this year, sometimes I wonder if I should submit our names to the Guiness World Book of Records in the quest to be tagged as the oldest paper boy and girl in the USA. Truthfully, doing the regional distribution is a great way to wind down from the 175 stops we make locally. While we tend to stick to the same M.O. each month, we have mixed it up depending on events and obligations in both areas in order to “kill two birds with one stone”. Hop in the truck and let’s go.

After we take care of our immediate area, we head out to the Blue Ridge where our stops include many of the wineries, distilleries, restaurants and various retail spaces where folks gather in the region. Following the trek to the hills, we head toward the Great Chesapeake Bay into Anne Arundel, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties with drops at various Visitor’s Centers, waterfront restaurants and various small town gathering places. These two destinations are delightful escapes from the madness of traﬃc which passes through our town. Each destination has a diﬀerent personality. The Blue Ridge takes on a bit more sophisticated air while the Bay exudes a more laid-back, down-home feel. Both regions are full of history and mid-Atlantic beauty. Here are some highlights.

The Blue Ridge

When we head to the Blue Ridge, we usually take Route 66 west. Hitting the traﬃc right is critical to a good beginning. Once we get to Haymarket, we exit I-66 and take the back roads to Georgetown Road and Pearmund Cellars. One of Virginia's premier wineries. This is also our drop oﬀ point for our stellar Middleburg distribution partner, Meg Mullery, who meets us to pick up the bundles for the majority of our Fauquier County distribution. This saves us a lot of miles. From here we pick up Route 11/211 and head for Rappahannock County and the quiet town of Sperryville.

Sperryville is a beautiful little town. The reason we added this area to our distribution route 20 or so years ago is in an old apple packing warehouse where Rick Wasmund created Copper Fox Distillery in 2005. Rick and his warehouse folks, headed up by the very enthusiastic Bruce, give exceptional service and educational tours. In addition to having some pretty tasty libations, the warehouse itself is a living museum with tours daily.

Sometimes we turn our delivery ‘day’ into two days with a stay at Rappahannock Getaway’s River Cottage (see their ad in this issue). Located in the middle of Main Street is a little blue cottage that is perfect in our estimation. The deck located right on the Thornton River and the outdoor shower make for a great summertime stay. Right next to the Cottage is the local morning gathering spot, Before and After. A perfect place for coﬀee and light breakfast and the purchase of a bottle of wine for the evening. Sperryville is also home to the River District Market Place and The Corner Store. Both places are not to be missed. The beauty of Sperryville is, if you stay at the Cottage, you can get out and walk to every destination in town. There is an amazing little walking path that follows the river and passes by

pretty much every restaurant and shop in town as well as the aforementioned distillery and a couple of craft breweries.

From here we are back on Route 211 as we head over the mountains at Thornton Gap and end up down the other side at Shadow Mountain Escape in Page County. This “couples only” compound, owned and operated by Karen and Ralph Riddle, is a collection of four timber framed cabins nestled literally in Jewel Hollow at the base of the Shadow Mountain tracks and are available for rent. If you are looking for a place to elope, they have a perfect package for you. Great folks and incredible place to get-a-way. Shadow Mountain is also where we drop oﬀ the bundles to be delivered into Luray. Our thanks to Karen for this. This eliminates some back tracking and saves us some time.

Speaking of back tracking, after the Shadow Mountain drop, we head back through Sperryville and this is when Lani picks up local honey and cider from her pals at the Corner Fruits and Crafts road side stand. Another beauty of the area during the summer and fall are stands like this that dot the roadways.

Passing by Sperryville, we take the exit to Route 522 and head to Flint Hill, another small town that seems to be about four blocks long. Here you will ﬁ nd the Dark Horse Pub, a great Irish restaurant and local watering hole here, and the popular Blue Door Kitchen. Not a lot of shopping opportunities here. Continuing on Route 211, we head toward Warren County and Front Royal with stops at Rappahannock Cellars and the Blue Ridge Country Store in Huntly along the way. Be sure to treat yourselves to a stop at both. You will be amazed at what you can ﬁ nd in the Country Store. Please say hello to Jack from us when you stop in.

Photo courtesy of Twin Oaks Tavern Winery

On to Front Royal, home of Spelunkers and one of the best burgers and shakes you will ever experience, with a side trek to one of the newest wineries in the area, Reitano, we head back toward Route. 66.

After our drop at the iconic Apple House in Linden and the purchase of apple donuts and the best baked beans in the DMV, we are on our way back into Fauquier County and on to Marshall.

Marshall is known for its historic village atmosphere, local business the likes of the original Red Truck Bakery, and connection to Chief Justice John Marshall, after whom it is named. Our primary drop here is the Marshall Diner. This is where the local folks hang in the morning and folks driving through (like us) stop for a down-home lunch.

From here we head back toward Route 66 and The Plains. This historic town is forever tied to the annual Gold Cup Steeplechase races at Great Meadow. Here you will ﬁ nd two delightful restaurants - The Rail Stop, a local favorite that has been there for many years and The Bistro@The Porch. Both are very good and pack a lot of history.

From the Plains we pick up Route 66 and begin the return trip, hoping that traﬃc has subsided, at least we will be going against rush hour.

Side Note: Check out the Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop ad on the inside back cover of this issue and get a visual of this enchanting area.

The Bay

This distribution isn’t quite as “scenic” since we have to contend with Routes 4 and 5 but the destinations are worth it. The following day, we load the truck up and head south down Route 4 toward Solomons Island. Route 4 is a way better drive than 5 but is still a major artery for Southern Maryland folks commuting to the District so do yourself a favor and don’t head down anytime close to rush hour.

Our ﬁ rst stop on Route 4 is just past south of Prince Frederick in a strip center with the most dominant signage being the Mr. Tire sign. A few doors from there is Jerry's Place seafood restaurant. It is a very popular restaurant in the area and known for its iconic Grand-Dad Crab Cake. This monster is a 16 ounce perfectly seasoned and lump crab cake with no ﬁller. It ain’t cheap but you can feed three people!

There are a few side adventures on the way continuing south. After leaving Jerry’s, you quickly come to a traﬃc light that marks Broomes Island Road. Turning right, you will immediately come upon Linda’s Plant & Jake’s Market. This is a must stop for great plants, vegetables and local folks. Continuing on Broomes Island Road, you will come to Gray's Road which will take you to the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary, a protected nature

preserve featuring one of the northernmost stands of bald cypress trees in the U.S. and accessible via a boardwalk and nature center. A little further down Broomes Island Road you can pick up Mackall Road that will take you to Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery and a bit further to Jeﬀerson Patterson Park & Museum. From here head back but make a turn at Parran Road which will take you back to Route 4. Continue south and watch for the signs for Solomons island. This peninsula that ends at the conﬂuence of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay has long been a prime destination not only from locals but anyone that likes being on the water. Solomons Island is our major distribution point in Calvert County and we tend to spend a lot of time here, especially when I had the sailboat at Calvert Marina. Even though those days are gone, we are in town often.

On top of the many restaurants and shops on the island where we frequent and drop the issue, our major drop is at the Calvert Marine Museum. This interactive museum is fun for all ages. The exhibits are a great insight to the Bay’s natural and cultural history including exhibits on paleontology, estuarian life and the maritime heritage of the area. Featuring aquariums, a boat basin, and outdoor displays like the river otter habitat belonging to Chessie Grace and Calvert are a must see.

The Annmarie Sculpture Gardens & Art Center is a fabulous stop to include in your road trip. No matter the time of year the grounds are beautiful and full of activities for young and old alike.

Back in the early days, the infamous Tiki Bar was the only reason to drive to Solomons. Today there are numerous ﬁ ne restaurants that line the Patuxent River and Back Creek. It is a narrow island so water is only a block or two away from all of the venues. There really are no favorite restaurants in Solomons because they all are great and unique. The Pier is one of our go-to places since we are sort of “regulars”. It sits out on the Patuxent River, thus giving you unrestricted views up and down the river. On a breezy day, particularly from the east or west, you will see beautiful sailboats reaching up and down the river.

Across from The Pier and on Back Creek is The Lighthouse Restaurant. The original Lighthouse burned to the ground in 2006. In 2013 the rebuild began and today is a destination on the creek. It has the stern of a power boat as the bar in the casual bar area with a garage door that acts as a wall that opens up in nice weather for a beautiful view of the creek. The food is very good and the Lighthouse, Pier and Tiki Bar anchor this end of the island. I must add, although I have never been, there is a relatively new restaurant called Trifecta at the end of the island at

the Harbor Island Marina. It is on the calendar for this month!

While we have drops at CD Café, Angler’s Inn, and the Ruddy Duck there are many other drinking and dining options in Solomons - Bugeye Grill, La Vela Italian Restaurant at Zhanhisers Marina, Boomerangs BBQ for starters.

Now it is time to leave Solomons and head over the Thomas Johnson bridge to St. Mary’s County and Leonardtown. The TJ Bridge was built in 1977, prior to that you had to cross by boat. As you cross the bridge heading toward Route 5, the views are fantastic. Jersey Walls line the road so your view in unimpeded.

Crossing over Route 235 continue until you get to Route 5 and take a right. Leonardtown is short distance away.

Not only is Leonardtown the county seat of St. Mary's County it is also a pretty happening town. In the last decade, some new and delightful businesses have opened up. Sweet Bay Restaurant and Bar brings a bit of city style to this country town. The Rex caters to a younger crowd with some good eats and drinks and live music. The Social Coﬀeehouse & Cocktail Bar has it all covered. Fresh coﬀee and eats in the morning and cocktails at the end of the work day. All three of these are located around the Town Square along with three or four other eateries including some of the best pizza we have had at The Slice House. Our last eatery stop is The Front Porch on the fringes of the Square.

The Old Jail Museum Visitors Center is an informative tour. A few streets oﬀ of the main drag is Shepherd's Old Field Market. This large indoor marketplace has over 90 locally owned shops and services in a repurposed historic building, oﬀering unique gifts, home decor, artisan goods, and specialty foods. There is also a great beer joint attached to it. This place has it all.

Leonardtown hosts a plethora of fun events yearround so check out their social media for the latest. If you want to spend the night, the Executive Inn, located just oﬀ of the Square is a great option. Reasonable rates and comfortable rooms in the heart of the action.

On to our very last stop before heading back to Old Town, take Hollywood Road out of town toward Route 235, make a right and proceed a short way to Clarke's Landing Road. Turning left, follow it to the end to Stoney's Clarke's Landing. This is a popular landing spot for locals and us. It sits on the water at the exit of Cuckhold creek and looks out on the Patuxent River and in the distance the TJ Bridge is quite clear. Beautiful view. If you go there, tell owner Jeannie Stone that the Old Town Crier sent you.

Photo courtesy of "I Love Solomons"

Old Town Crier

KAREN UDLER

the Caribbean’s Best Value All-Inclusive Right Now! Jolly Beach, Antigua

Turquoise at the water’s edge. A lighter band of blue that almost glows just beyond it. Farther out, the color deepens into a steady, clear azure. On certain days, the sun pushes it brighter, an almost neon line stretching across the horizon.

That’s where it starts at Jolly Beach in Antigua.

The sand runs for a full mile, wide and uninterrupted. You walk in either direction and the view remainswhite sand beneath your feet, calm water, consistent color. The experience is immediate and it stays that way.

This is one of the deﬁ ning beaches on an island known for having 365 of them. And right here, on this exact stretch, is where one of the Caribbean’s strongest all-inclusive values is playing out right now.

A Different Kind of Value Story in Antigua

The property is Jolly Beach Antigua, a 40-acre all-inclusive on the island’s southwest coast. It’s not trying to compete on ultra-luxury positioning or design-forward presentation. What it is doing is far more relevant right now: delivering a true beachfront all-inclusive at a price point that has become increasingly diﬃcult to ﬁ nd anywhere in the region.

Rates are consistently landing in the $200s per night range, depending on timing and room category. That number stands out in Antigua, where many beachfront resorts are priced signiﬁcantly higher, particularly for all-inclusive stays.

You’re not giving up location to reach that rate. You’re not trading away direct beach frontage or settling for a limited footprint. You’re staying on one of the island’s most recognized beaches, with a full range of inclusions, at a price that keeps the overall trip within reach.

You get the beach you dreamed about.

Space, Size, and How the Property Feels

Jolly Beach Antigua is the largest resort on the island, spread across 40 acres of tropical grounds that open directly onto the beach. That size is noticeable as soon as you begin moving through the property. Walkways cut through palms and ﬂowering gardens. Guest buildings are spaced apart enough that you’re not constantly navigating tight corridors or crowded pathways. Moving between your room, the pool, and the beach feels easy and unhurried.

The resort oﬀers ﬁve room categories, each with a private balcony or terrace, and many with views of the water or gardens. The rooms are straightforward and practical.

Dining, Drinks and What’s Included

The all-inclusive program is broad and easy to navigate. There are three restaurants and three bars spread across the property, oﬀering a mix of buﬀet dining, casual meals, and sit-down service. Food is available throughout the day, and drinks are consistently part of the experience, whether you’re at the pool, on the beach, or moving between spaces.

The main pool serves as a central gathering point, anchored by a swim-up bar that stays active through the afternoon. Music carries across the water, and the pace stays steady without becoming overwhelming. A second pool oﬀers a quieter alternative, with a more relaxed tone.

On the beach, loungers and shaded areas line the sand, and the water remains easily swimmable across most of the mile-long stretch.

The resort also includes a wide range of nonmotorized water sports, from kayaking to snorkeling. You can walk from your room to the activity area and be on the water within minutes. On land, the oﬀerings continue with tennis courts, a volleyball court, a ﬁtness center, and a game room, along with a spa and beauty salon for those looking to book treatments.

The model is simple. Once you arrive, the majority of your daily experience is already covered.

The Daily Pace at Jolly Beach

Late morning tends to settle into a familiar rhythm across the property. Some guests head straight to the sand, setting up near the water and staying there for hours. Others move between the pool and the bar, cooling oﬀ, ordering drinks, returning to loungers, and repeating the pattern.

The beach holds its consistency throughout the day. The sand remains even and white, the water clear, the entry gentle. And it’s kind of hard to look away. You just keep watching it, like a piece of art in a museum. It’s that beautiful.

There’s no need to reposition or search for a better vantage point. The experience stays steady from one end to the other.

Dining and Drinks

Dining at Jolly Beach Antigua is built around ease and repetition, with everything included from morning through late evening. Your rate covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and unlimited house-brand drinks, so the experience stays simple from the start.

Most mornings begin at The Palms Restaurant, the resort’s main buﬀet space, where breakfast runs from early morning through mid-morning with a rotating mix of hot dishes, fruit, and pastries. The same venue resets for lunch and dinner, with themed nights appearing throughout the week and a mix of Caribbean and international options.

Midday pulls you toward the Coconut Grill, set between the beach and the Fantasy Pool. It’s openair and direct: grilled items, quick plates, and easy lunches that keep you within a few steps of the sand. Dinner shifts to Lydia’s, the resort’s open-air Italian restaurant set in a garden courtyard. It’s reservationbased and à la carte, offering a quieter, more defi ned evening meal with a slower pace than the buffet. Throughout the day, The Coffee Shop runs from early morning into the evening, serving coffee and tea in a central location that’s easy to pass through between the beach and the pool.

Bars are spread across the property, led by the Melini’s Bar, the long-standing beach-facing bar that runs into the night, and the swim-up bar at the main pool, which anchors the afternoon. Drinks stay consistent, service moves quickly, and the experience aligns with the rest of the resort. And yes, for us, swim-up pools are always a draw — and rightly so.

The approach is straightforward. You eat when you want, you drink when you want, and everything is positioned close to where you already are.

Getting There and Why It Adds to the Value

Antigua continues to be one of the more accessible Caribbean destinations, with nonstop ﬂights from major cities in the United States, Canada, and Europe, including daily Miami ﬂights.

The transfer from the airport to Jolly Beach is straightforward, bringing you from arrival to the resort quickly. That ease of travel plays into the overall value, particularly for shorter stays where time on the ground matters.

When you combine manageable airfare with lower nightly rates, the total cost of the trip remains within reach for a wider range of travelers.

What You Can Do Beyond the Resort

While the all-inclusive model encourages you to stay on property, Antigua oﬀers plenty beyond the resort if you want to explore.

Jolly Beach’s position on the southwest coast places you within reach of local restaurants, shops, and historic sites. The island’s coastline and inland areas are easy to reach with short drives.

The resort’s tour desk organizes excursions including catamaran cruises, eco-tours, scuba diving trips, sport ﬁshing, and island safaris, giving you structured ways to see more of Antigua.

Still, many guests spend the majority of their time on the beach and around the pool, drawn back by the simplicity of the experience and the quality of the setting.

Who This Resort Is For

Jolly Beach Antigua is best suited for travelers who prioritize location, price, and a straightforward all-inclusive experience. You’re choosing this resort because you want a strong beach, a wide range of included activities, and a rate that keeps the trip aﬀordable.

The property has a minimum age requirement of 12, which keeps the atmosphere more relaxed and less focused on younger children. Couples, groups of friends, and solo travelers all ﬁt naturally into the environment, particularly those looking for a no-frills Caribbean stay with reliable fundamentals. It’s “cheap and cheerful” as the resort likes to describe it — and isn’t that what we really want anyway?

Why It Stands Out Right Now

Jolly Beach Antigua remains one of the few properties in the Caribbean delivering a full experience at a lower entry point. You’re on a mile-long white-sand beach I think is one of the best in the whole Caribbean (meaning one of the best on earth), with dining, drinks, and activities included in the rate.

The resort spans 40 acres, with multiple pools, restaurants, and direct access to the water. And the pricing continues to land in a range that keeps the trip accessible for many travelers. That combination is increasingly rare.

It starts with the hues of the water — turquoise near the edge, lighter blue just beyond it, then a deeper, steady azure farther out. It carries through the rest of the stay, in the ease of the experience and the clarity of what’s included from the moment you arrive.

But when you look at the full picture — the beach, the inclusions, and the price — Jolly Beach Antigua stands as arguably the most compelling value all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean right now.

Prices at Jolly Beach Right Now

All-inclusive rooms start at around $286.82 per night, based on the resort’s website. That gets you a “SuperSaver” room with a double bed and perfect if you’re on a budget. For a standard room with two twin bds and ocean views, the price is another $49 per night.

About the Author: Karen Udler is the Deputy Travel Editor of Caribbean Journal. A graduate of Duke University, has been traveling across the Americas for three decades. First an expert on Latin American travel, Karen has been traveling with CJ for more than a decade. She likes to focus on wellness, luxury travel and food.

By Chef Michelle Poteaux

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

Union Street Public House Tap Room: Be There or Be Square!

While we have featured Union Street Public House (USPH) in this column several times over the last 38 years, we treated the Tap Room side as sort of a “sidebar” in those columns so thought it deserved some special attention this month.

The Tap Room is a popular gathering place. The large bar accommodates plenty of people and spacious booths are scattered along the walls. Two tops and four tops dominate the large space in front of the bar and behind the wallto-wall windows looking out onto Union Street. The entire restaurant is very inviting with both décor and ambiance, and the Tap Room is iconic. Much of this can be attributed to the Bob Holland design that you will also ﬁ nd at the former Portner’s now Josephine, on South St. Asaph Street. They both have that old school D.C. bar vibe. There is something about this bar that lends itself to a kind of Cheers (I know this analogy gets a bit overused but…) kind of place. Whether you are a regular or not, you feel like part of the crowd.

From day one, the Tap Room has been known for their large selection of draught beer, ﬁ ne whiskeys and great food.

Locally sourced, their food is always good and plentiful. It is also home to some of the best bartenders in the DMV – including the infamous Bruce Wytucki who has been holding court behind the bar for almost, if not, 40 years. Our bartender the day we lunched, Tim, always has a smile on his face and is eager to please as well.

We stopped in for a late lunch on the day after Memorial Day and were greeted by General Manager Al Chadsey as we sidled up to the bar next to a few regulars and some fun visitors. There was a decent number of people in the booths so the decibel level - with the exception of one known regular who forgets he has an inside voice – was pleasant. The Tap Room can get pretty raucous at Happy Hour and later in the evening. Like many restaurants in Old Town, the acoustics aren’t the best when a crowd is having some big fun.

The lunch menu is pretty straight forward and concise. It is much simpler than the dinner menu but has plenty of oﬀerings to sate any appetite. Some of the favorites remain the popular Crab Dip, the USPH Burger, the Fish and Chips, the Crab Cake Sandwich, the Classic Caesar, the

Oysters on the Half Shell and who could pass up the New England Clam Chowda? All of which we have consumed over the years.

On this trip, we opted to just have appetizers and went with the aforementioned Crab Dip and a bowl of the ‘Soup of the Moment’ – French Onion. The dip is a great combination of crab meat, artichoke and green onion in a creamy/cheesy base. Served nice and hot with Pita chips, it is just the right amount for an appetizer. We both love a good French Onion soup and were not disappointed with the version served here. It is beef broth based and the caramelized onions were some of the sweetest I have tasted in a long while. Served with croutons and topped with just the right amount cheese (some places go way overboard with it in my opinion) melted to perfection

on top and served piping hot with a chopped parsley garnish. It is served in a traditional crock that is also on the smaller side in order to give you room for an entrée.

For a nice cold draft beer, you will ﬁ nd what you want with a dozen beers on tap and the prerequisite seasonal craft cocktails won’t disappoint. Theye have a pretty impressive back bar and the wine list is fairly extensive as well.

Happy hour runs from 4 pm-7 pm Monday through Friday and Brunch is served on both Saturday and Sunday and the Brunch menu is very impressive on its own. They have daily specials for both lunch and dinner. Growlers of beer, bottles of wine, and cocktails are available for carry-out.

Summer is oﬃcially on its way and there is no better time to stop by the Union Street Public House Tap Room to cool oﬀ and enjoy a “bite” of historic Old Town! Be there or be square!!

Union Street Public House Tap Room 121 S. Union Street Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 548-1785

Unionstreetpublichouse.com 11:30 Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Hot Eats and Cool Treats That Won’t Ruin Your Diet

The hazy hot and humid days of summer are on their way. Regardless of the heat, my favorite part of summer is cooking out on the grill and relaxing with friends and family. The wonderful part of summer is all the fresh produce that is available at your local Farmers Market. Fresh fruit or garden salads make a great addition to any meats cooked on the grill, and it’s all healthy! This month I have made a list of some of my favorite summer recipes. These healthy and ﬂavorful dinners and drinks will be a great way to compliment a nice summer day.

Perfect Burgers

• 1 slightly beaten egg white

• 2 tablespoons water

• 1/4 cup ﬁ ne dry bread crumbs

• 1/4 cup ﬁ nely shredded carrot

• 1/4 cup ﬁ nely chopped onion

• 1/4 cup ﬁ nely chopped sweet pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 6 whole-grain buns

• Shredded carrot, sprouts, mixed greens, tomato slices, and/or red onion slices (optional)

Combine egg white, water, bread crumbs, carrot, onion, sweet pepper, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add Parmesan cheese and ground beef; mix well. Shape mixture into six 1/2-inch-thick patties. Grill burgers on an oiled grill rack for 7 minutes. Turn and grill 8 to 11 minutes more or till no pink remains. Serve burgers on buns with vegetables, as desired.

6 servings - Calories 232, Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 3g, Sodium 334mg, Carbohydrate 19g, Fiber 3g, Protein 18g

Chicken With Black Bean Sauce

• 3 tablespoons diced yellow onion

• ½ tsp minced garlic

• 1 14oz can of black beans rinsed and drained

• 2 tsp ground chipotle chile

• 1 cup chicken stock

• ¼ cup diced tomatoes

• ½ tsp minced fresh cilantro

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tbsp chile powder

• 4 4oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Sauté onions and garlic in a saucepan over medium high heat until onions are soft. Add the beans, chipotle, chicken stock, tomatoes cilantro and salt. Simmer 15-20 minutes or until beans are slightly thickened. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Puree half the bean mixture in a food processor. Add the whole beans to the pureed mixture and set aside. Combine the olive oil and chili powder in a small bowl to make a paste. Rub the paste on the chicken breasts. Grill chicken 3-5 minutes on each side or until meat is no loner pink. Top with black bean sauce.

4 servings – Calories 330, Protein37g, Carbohydrates 29g, Fat 8g , Fiber 11g

SpikedPomegranate Lemonade

• 1.5 ounces lemon/lime vodka

• 1.5 ounces lemonade

• 1.5 ounces pomegranate juice

• 4 ounces club soda

1 Serving - 136 calories

Citrus Lemonade

• 6 large lemons

• 3 medium limes

• 3/4 to 1 cup honey

• 6 cups water

• 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

• Ice cubes

• Lemon and/or lime slices

In a 2-1/2-quart pitcher, combine lemon juice, lime juice, and 3/4 to 1 cup honey. Add water and raspberries. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Just before serving, gently stir to combine. Pour into ice-ﬁlled glasses. Add lemon and/or lime slices, if desired.

Makes 10 servings, 101 calories per serving

Melon Margarita Ice

• 4 cups seeded and cut-up cantaloupe or honeydew melon (about 1 medium)

• 1/2 of a 10-ounce can (about 2/3 cup) frozen margarita mix concentrate, thawed

• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh mint

• 2 tablespoons lime juice

• 1 tablespoon tequila (optional)

In a blender container or food processor bowl combine half of the cut-up melon and half of the margarita mix. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with remaining melon and margarita mix. Stir in mint, lime juice, and, if desired, tequila. Pour melon mixture into a nonmetal freezer container. Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours, stirring occasionally. (The consistency should be icy, not smooth.) To serve, scoop into 4 margarita glasses or small wine glasses. (If too hard to scoop or scrape, let stand at room temperature about 15 minutes or until slightly softened.)

Makes 4 servings, 112 calories per serving

Hopefully you will enjoy these recipes. The melon margarita ice is my favorite!

Publishers Note: Nicole Flannigan pens the Fitness Column each month and we are happy to share her tasty eats and drinks with you all in this space as well.

But what if you like a heavier beer and want to drink it during the summer? Well, go ahead. Don’t let anyone tell you what beer to drink, or what cigar to smoke, or what cocktails to enjoy. There are no right and wrong answers when it comes to summertime indulgence, or for any of the other seasons. Even though many so called experts try to tell you that there are. If you prefer a dank heavy IPA on a hot afternoon, then drink one. As I have stated many times in this column, it’s what your palate enjoys. It’s not about what someone thinks it should enjoy. But if a light, yet ﬂavorful, beer sounds like summer refreshment to you, then read on. I’ll explore some traditional, and perhaps not so traditional, styles that can make for great summer imbibing. And I’ll throw in some local recommendations as well.

As I was preparing this article, I received an email from Atlas Brewing. They were having a craft beer festival at their Alexandria brewery that would feature several excellent local breweries. This was quite fortuitous as the festival was four days before I had to turn in my draft for this article. Altas Alexandria Brewery and Tap Room is in my neighborhood. I can walk there and stumble home. Lady Luck was smiling on me.

Here are my summer beer recommendations. Some are from the festival, some are not. But all are quality brews. Enjoy.

Classic Lager

Classic lagers are hard to beat in hot weather. Clean, crisp, and easy drinking, they deliver refreshing malt sweetness without overwhelming the palate.

Blue Mountain Brewery Classic

Lager: A perfect balance of malt and hops makes this beer a must buy for summer drinking. It is smooth, crisp, and refreshing, as a lager should be.

Pilsner

Watching baseball, eating hotdogs, relaxing poolside, playing golf, and drinking beer are what come to mind when I think of summer. Beer and summer go together like mom and apple pie. And some styles are perfect for summer enjoyment, or at least better suited. As the temperature climbs, beer drinkers usually start reaching for lighter, crisper, and more refreshing beer styles.

A good Pilsner delivers crisp bitterness, ﬂoral hops, and sparkling carbonation. German and Czech versions are especially refreshing during summer due to their lightness.

Atlas Brew Works Bullpen Pilsner: Upon my arrival at the craft beer festival, I immediately headed to the Atlas Brewery stand to taste the Bullpen Pilsner. It’s a classic. Crisp, clean, and refreshing with subtle floral and earthy hop notes layered over a light malt flavor. It fi nishes sharp, as a good pilsner should.

Kölsch

That is probably why it won a Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup this year. Caboose Brewing Company “Das Gute” German Style Pilsner: Also featured at the festival, Caboose does a great job with their beers. This pilsner has crisp malt, ﬂoral noble hops, and a clean, dry ﬁ nish. It’s a very well-done beer.

Originating in Cologne, Kölsch is one of the ultimate warm-weather beers. It drinks like a lager but has subtle fruity notes from ale yeast. It’s light-bodied, slightly bready, and incredibly smooth.

Bluejacket Brewery Baby Blue: Also represented at the Atlas Craft Beer Festival, this wonderful Kolsch is slightly malty and sweet up front with gentle fruit notes coming through. It’s a wonderful beer with a clean dry ﬁ nish that represents this beer style very well.

Bear Chase Brewing Kodiak Kolsch: I have to include my 2025 Best Craft Beer Pick from my January article. As I stated then “This beer hits every note. It pours a light golden color with a clean white head, exactly as a Kolsch should. You’ll get soft bready malt, a touch of honey, and a light herbal note that keeps things balanced. The ﬁ nish is clean, dry, and refreshing.”

Helles

A smooth pale gold German lager with a softer malt proﬁle than a Pilsner. Helles beers are bready or grainy with mild bitterness, making them easy to drink.

DC Brau Brewing Company

Declaration Helles Lager: I was excited when I read that DC Brau would be at the festival. And even more excited when I saw that they brought a Helles Lager with them. The star of this beer is the malt. It delivers smooth cracker and toasted bread notes but never becomes heavy. This beer is a crisp and refreshing salute to summer drinking.

Hazy IPA

Often called a New England IPA this style is all about juicy hop ﬂavor, soft mouthfeel, and low bitterness, making it perfect for summer drinking. Unlike traditional West Coast IPAs that focus on sharp bitterness, hazy IPAs are fruitforward and smooth with a cloudy presentation.

Dad Strength Brewing Company

Hazy IPA: I heard of this brewery but had never tasted their beers. Their niche is low 2.9% ABV beers. What my dad would have called “Near Beer.” I never thought I’d like one and assumed they would be watered down with little to no body. I was wrong. The mouthfeel is smoother and fuller than what you’d expect from a low-ABV beer. Juicy citrus and ripe fruit come through as you drink it with a clean and refreshing ﬁ nish. This beer was a pleasant surprise.

Mexican-Style Lager

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

These beers have exploded in popularity for a reason. Crisp, light-bodied, and often served with lime, they pair perfectly with tacos, grilled food, and poolside afternoons.

Atlas Brew Works “Atlantico” Mexican Style Lager: A light, crisp, refreshing lager with a clean ﬁ nish, subtle malt sweetness, and just small hint of lime ﬂavor. It’s designed for easy summer drinking.

Port City Dark Mexican Lager: This lager has chestnut coloring and a white foamy head. I love drinking it poolside because people think it is a Guinness. You get sweet, toasted malt, caramel, and a hint of chocolate. It goes down easily and smoothly as good summer beer should.

Having a great summer means having great beer. Hopefully some of these recommendations will help deliver an enjoyable summer to you. Cheers!!

Woodford Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey

Not all whiskeys are great for summer drinking, but every variety has some that are suitable. This whisky is actually a very good summer whiskey, especially if you enjoy a little spice and freshness rather than heavy oak or syrupy sweetness. The nose opens with classic rye spice, mint, black pepper, cinnamon, and herbal notes. On the palate, clove, cinnamon, cracked pepper, and a little dill opens things up before caramel, toasted grain, honey, and light fruit flavors takeover. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and smooth. The fi nish is clean and warm with lingering spices, oak, and a faint minty freshness. It makes a great Old Fashioned, where the rye spice adds some extra depth and structure. At 90.4 proof and around $40 per bottle, it’s a perfect fit with your summer beer collection.

Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc

Cigars wrapped in Connecticut Leaf are built for summer. This cigar delivers a smooth, medium-bodied smoke. You get roasted nuts and buttercream up front, while the middle settles into a soft earthiness with hints of coﬀee and sweet bread. The ﬁ nish is clean and approachable without becoming dull, making it an easy everyday cigar. This cigar shines as an afternoon sitting on the porch smoke. Enjoy.

This cigar, and many other ﬁne cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King St. in Old Town Alexandria. Mention this article and get 10% oﬀ the purchase of this month’s recommended cigar.

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 ﬂy doing in my soup? whatﬂyinmysoup.com

My Visit to Woburn America’s First Ever Black-Owned Winery

about Woburn from Lewis’s living relatives were not in the cards. It also meant my idea of doing a photoshoot of Black-owned wines at America’s ﬁ rst Black-owned winery was unlikely to come to fruition.

The History of Woburn Winery

I was surprised how little has been publicized about Woburn Winery. I was fortunate to ﬁ nd a webpage maintained by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which is a treasure trove of information on Lewis and his family farm.

These records reveal that John June Lewis Sr. (1894-1974) was the mixed-race child of Anna Lewis and Armistead Burwell. Anna is listed in census records as a Black female, while Armistead was a Confederate veteran and former slave owner. John June was taught home winemaking from his father, but wasn’t exposed

The Visit Finally Happens!

In late 2025, I discovered the Instagram account of John June Lewis III, grandson of Woburn’s founder. A few months later, John replied to one of my messages; his family was having a ‘soft launch’ of the Woburn brand, and I was invited.

It turned out this launch was less of an opening and more of a family reunion at the old Woburn vineyard. While the winery was long closed, the property remained the home of his father John June “Ducky” Lewis, Jr., until his passing in 2022.

I nerd out over two subjects: wine and history. So, you can imagine how captivated I was by the story of Woburn Winery, widely believed to be America’s ﬁ rst Black-owned winery.

I’ll get to the full history of Woburn in a moment. But ﬁ rst, I want to explain why I was so eager to learn more about this topic.

I fi rst heard of Woburn around 2021, during a time when the American wine community was openly grappling with its lack of inclusivity. One often-cited figure was published by SevenFifty Daily, which pointed out that only 2% of the 3,100 wine industry professionals it surveyed identified as Black.

This lack of diversity is largely due to structural barriers faced by Black wine lovers, according to articles by Dorothy Gaiter and Julia Coney. These barriers range from wine terminology so Eurocentric it’s exclusionary to a non-white audience, the lack of networking opportunities, and outright discrimination in the tasting room (please don’t assume Black wine patrons automatically want sweet wine).

A decade ago, the Virginia wine industry closely reﬂected many of these disparities. At the time, there was only one Black-owned winery in the state (now-closed Preston Ridge),

and nearly every winemaker was white (and largely male, although that’s another topic).

Fast forward to 2026 and the landscape is starting to change.

“Wine incubators” including Commonwealth Crush and The Virginia Wine Collective have lowered the cost for joining the wine business, leading to a surge in Black-owned brands.

While giving tours of his father’s house, John June Lewis III and his wife, Ayana, ﬂoated several ideas for restarting the Woburn brand. John said he was chatting with possible business partners, but nothing was set in stone. I gave my best sales pitch as to why he should keep the winemaking in Virginia, but I suspect such plans are years away. Fortunately, I was able to score a brief tour of the property before the rest of the guests arrived.

The “Oenoverse” initiative, founded in 2022, also promotes wine education for underrepresented communities.

This backdrop heightened my curiosity about those who pioneered diversity in American wine. Woburn’s place in this history caught my attention.

While reading about Woburn I discovered its physical address; a farm in Clarkesville not far from Virginia’s border with North Carolina. I also learned that Woburn’s founder, John June Lewis Sr, has grandchildren living in North Carolina.

Needless to say, I set about contacting the Lewis family the way I normally reach out to strangers – by sliding into their DMs. When that didn’t work, I changed tactics and mailed a letter to the old Woburn Winery address.

A week later, it returned to me with “undeliverable” stamped on it. It seemed like my eﬀorts to learn more

to ﬁ ne wine until he was stationed in Europe with the US Army during the aftermath of WW I.

Even so, it was years before he could start a winery. Prohibition destroyed the wine industry, and it wasn’t until its end in 1933 that Lewis could pursue wine as a profession.

The ink announcing Prohibition’s end was barely dry when Lewis planted 10 acres of hybrid and native vines on land inherited from his father. In 1940, this property became Woburn Winery. Lewis was a trailblazer in other ways as well. During a time when most wineries used California grapes, Woburn made wine from their own vines. The Lewis family also sourced fruit locally, including some from North Carolina.

Woburn stayed in business for over 30 years, closing shortly after Lewis’s death in 1974.

The vineyard is long gone, but the former production building is somewhat intact. I peered through the window, imagining John June Lewis Sr. at work. John June Lewis III did pose for a photo, as did his son (also named John June).

One relic that survived is the original “Woburn Winery” sign. I propped it up on a chair and surrounded it with bottles from every local Black-owned winery I could acquire. We later popped open several for his guests to enjoy, and I gifted him the rest.

While I didn’t leave with ﬁ rm details regarding Woburn’s potential reopening, I achieved my original goal. I spent an hour snapping photos of an array of Black-owned wine brands in front of America’s ﬁ rst Black-owned winery.

Seeing these bottles in front of the Woburn tasting room felt like history coming full circle.

About the 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/.

Upper left: John June Lewis Sr., Upper right: John June "Ducky" Lewis, Lower left: June Lewis III, Lower right: John June Lewis

Recovering from the Freeze

On April 21st, a large mass of frigid air settled on the Mid-Atlantic region after the warmest April on record in Virginia. This caused a lot of rapidly growing shoots on our vines (and other plants) to be exposed to many hours of temperatures in the 20s. No, I am not here to talk about how painful that event was for each grower or every industry, but I do have a few thoughts on how we try to recover.

The vines themselves. For us, the Tannat vines were hit the hardest. They are not a very cold hearty varietal. This freezing weather event killed off the secondary buds as well as buds that pushed. You can see from the photo there is no life on the branches along the wire where the future fruit would develop. There is life at the base of the vine. We can identify the Tannat leaves from the rootstock it is grafted on. Then we protect and train those Tannat shoots to replace the trunk and branches of the vine. The shoots at this stage are very tender and can break off the trunk very easily. So gentle care and choosing the right one or two is critical. These could produce fruit next year if things go well. There is lots of energy coming from our well-developed root system so this can affect the balance of the vine. Big shoots, or bull wood, do not produce the best buds for growing fruit. Pencil sized or pinky sized shoots are best to train.

The winery business is in recovery. Even though there may be little or no crops coming from the vineyard, the vines need to be farmed, and the rebuilding described above can be more labor intensive that a regular season. Sprays, training, mowing and canopy management are all harder because each vine needs its own level of attention. Wineries have inventory in bottles and barrels, but this loss of a vintage knocks any future planning into a challenging situation. Last year was a very low crop vintage as well for many growers and most wineries were looking to catch up this season. Yes, we sell less wine than in the past, but we are

in the business of growing grapes and making wine from our land. Crop insurance is expensive and needs numerous years of successful history to be considered. So, we will recover, but some wineries may say enough is enough.

Peaches, apples, pears, cherries, berries and more were all affected by this weather event along with the grapes in the Mid Atlantic wine region. Do we stop growing here? We certainly received plenty of press about it. We need the long-term commitment from our communities to buy our wines, share our wines and visit our wineries when guests are in town. We need our fabulous wedding venues to offer and serve local wines. We need our restaurants to do the same. This patronage and cash flow will help the businesses make positive choices that will keep the industry alive through this event. Some wineries may import fruit from other regions to keep products moving. We have done this in the past. This is not a sin, it is survival. Ask your server the story behind the wine and the grapes. We are farmers, committed to the land and the community. These businesses will last for many years and maybe with new owners. They add culture to the region and offer so much more that a convenience store or another strip mall. Please patronize your local winery and farm operation. We will work through the highs and lows to offer you the best flavors and experience we can. We are already recovering!

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.

OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY 11-5 PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS FOR GROUPS OF SIX OR MORE 15669 Limestone School Rd Leesburg, VA 20176 703.771.1197 • fabbioliwines.com info@fabbioliwines.com

H20

:

This month oﬃcially marks the start of the summer season and I decided to dig out a previous column touching on hydration. For those of you who have missed going to the gym these last few months, I bet many of you have turned to outside activities. As the temperatures rise through the summer, it becomes extremely important to monitor when, where and how much exercise you should be doing along with hydrating properly.

Did you know that water accounts for more than 60% of the human body’s volume? Water is so vital to life that we can survive only about three days without it depending upon climate conditions. The hotter and more humid the environment, the faster we become dehydrated. It takes as little as a two

percent change in body weight to negatively aﬀect exercise performance. For a 150 lb person, that equates to only 3 lbs!

There are many factors that aﬀect your hydration status such as:

1. Ambient Air Temperature (Outside)

2. Humidity

3. Individual Sweat Rates

4. Body Temperature (Internal)

5. Exercise Intensity & Duration

6. Fitness Level

7. Individual Body Fat Percentage

8. Existing Health Conditions such as cystic ﬁbrosis, diabetes, kidney failure, etc.

Dehydration can have several negative eﬀects during exercise such as decreased muscle strength and

endurance, coordination, mental acuity, and impaired thermoregulation. One of the most important functions of water within the body is to help regulate body heat.

When the body is properly hydrated, exercise will feel easier and you will typically have a lower heart rate at the same intensity than you would if you were in a dehydrated state. This is due to optimal blood volume and cardiac output to deliver nutrients and oxygen to your working muscles.

the key to a successful summer workout season

There is no single “Gold Standard” for measuring hydration levels because too many factors play into how your body stores water. However, here are some general exercise and hydration guidelines to follow this summer:

1. Try to work out during the coolest part of the day if outside (usually mornings)

2. Weigh yourself before & after your workout

3. Drink about 10 ounces of ﬂuid 1 hour before your workout

4. Drink 8 ounces of ﬂuid every 15 minutes during exercise

5. Drink 20 ounces of ﬂuid per pound of weight lost through sweat after exercise

6. Always ﬁ nish a workout with a cool-down by gradually decreasing intensity

7. Use a cool, damp towel on the neck to help bring body temperature down

8. It’s better to have a sports drink (Gatorade, PowerAde, Propel) to replace electrolytes (mainly sodium) after a prolonged workout over 60 minutes

Fill that water bottle and get out there and start oﬀ the summer on a “hydrated” foot!

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.

The Dos & Don’ts of Getting Fit for Summer

Whether you are an exercise pro or a beginner to the gym, chances are you have a few questions about your workout. With summer just around the corner everyone is stepping up their workout to get ultimate results. Here are a few tips to keep that workout moving in the right direction.

DO:

Work out every day: You don’t need to be at the gym seven days in a row, but try for at least ﬁve days. To get a good habit started you must be consistent. Doing something every day even if it is just a little is all you need to keep up the motivation.

For the best results, don't overwhelm yourself. You should aim for 30 minutes of cardio every day and strength training twice a week for the ﬁ rst month or two. Once this workout has become a part of your regular routine you are ready to increase your intensity.

Set new goals: It's easy for gym regulars to hit a slump and stop seeing the beneﬁts or having the fun that kept them motivated in the past. Before you start dodging gym dates, ﬁ nd a new challenge: Sign up for a 5K, or plan an active vacation like hiking or kayaking. Keeping your workouts interesting and goal oriented will make it more fun and also give you something to work toward.

Breathe better: To improve your performance, focus on your breathing. Next time you are jogging on the treadmill or out on the path try inhaling to a count of three and exhaling to a count of three. Steady your breathing with your pace and you will feel more energized during your workout. Something new: Many advanced exercisers can get stuck in a workout rut. Some exercisers will stick to the same workouts because they are familiar with it. Try new exercises that are completely diﬀerent from what you normally do. Those are the moves that help build a stronger, more balanced body and prevent overuse injuries. By changing up your routine you are challenging your body in a diﬀerent way and forcing your body to adjust. It’s good to be competitive but every once in a while, it’s nice to give your body a break and change up the normal routine.

DON’T:

Get stuck on the treadmill: New exercisers often do the same routine for the same duration and at the same intensity every time they work out. First of all, this is a really good way to make exercise become a task instead of a release. This bad habit gets reinforced because, as your workouts get easier, you're fooled into thinking you've become more ﬁt. In reality, your muscles have just grown accustomed to the challenge. Be sure to mix up your routine by varying your time and intensity and by cross-training on the bike or elliptical machine, or by going for a jog outside.

Be a slouch: Whether you're leaﬁ ng through the latest gossip rag on the elliptical or curling dumbbells on a bench, straighten up. Focus on sitting or standing up straight, since most people spend a lot of time sitting at a computer give your shoulders a break and pay attention to posture. Slouching also keeps you from breathing deeply, which is necessary for delivering the oxygen your muscles need to work at full capacity.

Be unbalanced: Most regular exercisers are diligent about including cardio, strength, and ﬂexibility in their routines, but they forget about balance. This critical skill allows you to move ﬂuidly and avoid injuries. At the end of your workout, stand on one leg and lift the other out in front of you. Try to hold this for 20 to 30 seconds, then, repeat with the other leg. If this maneuver seems too easy for you try adding a BOSU ball to your workout. Stand on the BOSU while doing bicep curls or shoulder presses. Focus on the numbers: Tracking your running time or calorie count provides instant feedback on your workout. Try not to get too hung up on the numbers. When you have a goal whether it be time, distance or calories it feels great to reach it. If it becomes an obsession it takes the joy out of the workout. Be sure not to push yourself to your limits all the time. Take a day and run just for fun.

Transitioning to Summer enjoy the sunshine!

With the change in weather comes adjustments in the way we care for and dress our skin. For men, the changes may actually mean more work. They may actually have to consider caring for their skin before heading out into the bright sun. While, for women, these changes might mean less work –lighter skin care products and less make-up. For women, the result may be a quicker routine.

So, what must you do to get ready for summer? For starters, get a really good sunscreen. Consider two diﬀerent types of sunscreen products. One that is for maximum protection. This would be a typical sunscreen product that you would use when playing sports and going to the pool or beach. Another sunscreen product would be for every day. This would be a light moisturizer with sunscreen. A tinted moisturizer with sunscreen would be a good choice to add a little color, even out skin tone, and provide protection from the sun.

Second, take a look at your skin care regimen. Even the driest of skin types need to lighten up on skin care products in the summer. I have dry, like the Sahara-desert, skin in the winter, but in the summer my skin is much more moist due to the natural humidity in the air. Be sure to switch up your skin care regimen to products that are more appropriate for the current climate. Many products used during the winter months can be pore clogging in the summer. Even though my skin is dry in the winter, I reach for much lighter moisturizers in the summer. If you have combination skin, consider only using moisturizer at night. Your skin may be naturally moist enough during the day that you may not need one. Try it out, play with your routine. If you are oily, consider more oil absorbing and mattifying products for summer.

It is also important to rethink your cleansers. The humid summers of the DMV are ripe with opportunities to clog pores allowing bacteria to prevent skin from breathing. It is even more important than ever to ensure you select cleansers and toners that get your skin clean. If you are not a typical cleanse and tone type of girl or guy, this is the time of year to adopt these habits. The combination of both will ensure that you are getting your skin very clean and ridding it of all the bacteria that is collecting in your pores as a result of the sweat and buildup of the day. After a day of work, I cannot wait to get home and wash my face. It just feels dirtier in the summer and it is when I am most likely to have breakouts.

Finally, for women, this is the time to rethink your makeup regimen. Everyone’s skin – and I do mean everyone – looks better in the summer. Most of us pick up a bit of color in the summer, even though we are not trying. And, everyone’s skin has a natural glow from the summer heat. So, there is no reason to cover up your skin. If anything, it is more important to give your skin the opportunity to breathe. Make minor changes. Switch from foundation to tinted moisturizers. Go lighter on your eyes. Choose colors that are lighter, choose textures that wear better in the summer, and choose to wear less make-up altogether.

Try these tips to learn if your skin performs better in the summer. And, trust your instincts when something does not seem to be working. Best of all...

Take It Up a Notch Out Back Add Some Appeal to your Patio or Deck

Summer means time spent gardening and relaxing with friends. And just like the kitchen in winter, the patio or deck tends to be the gathering spot when the weather turns warm.

Get the most from this space with a bit of preseason planning and decorating. Select functional and beautiful furnishings to create a special spot for you, family and friends to enjoy whenever the weather allows.

First, sketch out the space and measure the dimensions of all furnishings you are considering, making sure they will ﬁt. Allow extra space for people to pull chairs in and out from the table and navigate around furnishings, preferably 3 to 4 feet.

Next, select a table that ﬁts the space and provides ample serving space. An extension table allows you to expand your surface if a few more folks drop by. A round folding table provides space for guests, and it can be stashed against the wall when workspace is needed.

Small and large-space gardeners will enjoy the beneﬁts of elevated gardens with built-in trellises. These maximize growing space even on a small deck or patio and bring the garden to the party. Look for self-watering planters and especially

those with wheels so you can easily move them out of the way of a family gathering or closer to the kitchen for easy harvesting.

Include a multifunctional piece like a potting bench. Look for a versatile and well-built, furniture-quality piece like that complements other furnishings and can be used as a serving surface when entertaining. Consider features like a faucet for washing and watering that drains into a bucket or the ground, as well as hooks for hanging tools and baskets and space for storage.

Bring nature to your door and mask unwanted background noise with the soothing sound of water. Wall-mounted and container fountains add the sound and motion of water to even the smallest patios and decks. Watch for colorful winged visitors stopping by for a sip.

Extend your enjoyment into the evening with pleasing outdoor lighting. Make sure the light is deﬂected and not shining directly into visitors’ eyes. Downward facing overhead lights brighten large areas. Use them to illuminate key spaces such as those used for cooking. Strands of lights on structures, ribs of an umbrella or the underside of a bar provide a festive touch.

Use tabletop lighting to create a more intimate mood. Outdoor ﬂameless candles add warmth to

your space while a Columbine Solar Lantern adds charm. Look for a style that complements your outdoor décor.

Add pathway lighting to direct guests to the patio or on a stroll through the garden. Solar lighting allows ﬂexibility and eliminates the need for trenching wires to a power source. Think beyond traditional pathway and railing lighting. Strategically placed upward lighting of structures and plants or downward lighting hung from above can also provide needed illumination.

Whatever the size of your patio or deck you can create an inviting outdoor space for gardening and entertaining. Just invest a bit of time planning and shopping for attractive and functional furnishings. Then sit back and relax in your newly decorated space.

About the Author: Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply for her expertise to write this article. Myers’s web site is www.melindamyers.com.

Rebuilding a Better Bond with your Cat(s)

Earlier this year, I had a series of surgeries (all went well) that resulted in my not being able to play, sleep with, and greet my cats when coming and going like I normally do. To top oﬀ the insult, I had a nurse living with us for a week and my mother came to live with us for quite a bit longer. As a result, when I had ﬁ nally (mostly) healed and all the extra company was gone, I noticed that my cats— Gillian and Josephine— seemed a bit more tentative than usual.

I had adopted them from King Street Cats’ (KSC) What About Me program 8 years earlier. They were adult cats who were a bonded pair (veterinarians came to suspect that they were actually a mother/daughter duo) that had been through a horrible ordeal in a hoarding house. When they came to my home, they had been at the shelter for over a year and were petriﬁed. Over the next few months, they slowly came around and began getting on my lap (at least the mom, Gillian, did -- Josephine was more lap-adjacent) and both slept with me. They were like my little shadows and I liked it that way.

Because of the surgeries I was unable to get down on the ﬂoor and play with them or even lean down and pet them. They couldn’t crawl on my stomach in bed. I wasn’t even the one feeding/ watering them or cleaning up their litter boxes. I was in the house and making sure they were cared for, but was able to interact with them much less and in diﬀerent ways.

After a couple of months, my girls began to act more unsure. One thing you always need to check when your cat’s behavior changes is their health. My girls are seniors and see the vet twice a year. Josephine has Irritable Bowel Syndrome and is under a specialist’s care so I felt good that their medical needs were being addressed.

dreamed I would spend so much time face down on the ﬂoor. This time, thankfully, my face didn’t need to be on the ﬂoor since they didn’t hide under the couches anymore, but my opposite end did need to be closer to their level. Since humans are so big, relative to cats, the thought is that, much like kids,

for this creature, who is not just predator, but prey, to trust you by keeping its eyes closed for a longer period of time than necessary thus making itself vulnerable to you.

As we all know, the internet knows when you are feeling curious about something, so videos of all kinds began popping up on every social media channel I have. It made me reexamine the new normal I had settled into with my cats. I decided to go back to basics.

First, I got back down on the ground with them to play and just hang out. KSC advised this when I ﬁ rst got them and it had worked then. Since they hid under the couches initially, I joked that I never

they can get more comfortable if you don’t loom over them.

That is also a much better venue for the slowblink, although you can do it when cuddling on the couch or bed too. For the uninitiated, the slow blink is how cats say, “I love you.” Look at your cat and slowly blink once for each word and repeat (think close (I), open (love), close (you)). Often, your cat will do that back to you. It is a sign of extreme trust

We began playing with toys again—I discovered the Frisco Cardboard & Wire teaser which is exactly as simple as it sounds. They love it, especially if I hide it under something so they can hunt it down and pounce on it. We played ball on a ﬁgure-eight toy track with a ﬂashing ball. They had only been meowing at me for bedtime, now they did it for playtime too.

During covid I had gotten out of the habit of petting them when I came in, I prioritized washing my hands and sanitizing myself after being outside, but I started going to them quicker and gave them gentle pets on the top of the head and just behind their ears (an area hard for the cat to get at) and told them how glad I was to see them. This led to them greeting me at the door more often when I came home.

I redoubled my eﬀorts to not be loud at home and tried to be sure

the TV and music were never up too loud. I gave more treats to them when they were curled up on and near my lap when I watched TV or read. And really treasured the opportunity to cuddle and pet them during those times. One thing I never lost the ability to do was play some cat-TV, like the BBC America’s nature specials (my girls like watching the big cats, ﬁsh, and birds the best).

It didn’t take long at all for Gillian and Josephine to respond to my return to their preferred normal. Especially with cats who have had a more challenging past, is it rewarding to see how willing they are to give humans another chance -even with we inadvertently mess up. Thankfully, our furry overlords are forgiving.

By: Angela Ohm. Angela lives in Arlington, Virginia with her two King Street Cat rescues, Gillian and Josephine (pictured above), who rule their home with stern but loving meows.

Resources:

• King Street Cats “What About Me?” campaign--https:// www.kingstreetcats.org/info/display?PageID=14030

• Instagram cat videos https://www.instagram.com/ furrball_toons/reels/

• Slow blink https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vdLf6I8oE-0

• Play https://meowtel.com/blog/post/how-to-spendquality-time-with-your-cat-when-you-re-home

PETS OF THE MONTH

alexandriaanimals.org

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

Slim is an adorable companion with lots of love to give! Slim weighs about 36 pounds and loves to run and play, especially with a human pal. She is a pretty girl with a soft tan coat and golden eyes that will melt your heart. Slim is a really fun little dog who will keep you entertained for hours on end with her antics. She would likely get along well with a canine playmate. When playtime is over, Slim turns into a little cuddle bug. If you are looking for a little buddy who has a zest for life and a love of people, you really can't go wrong with Slim!

Meet Suzie, a gorgeous senior girl with super expressive ears and an inquisitive personality to match! She is about seven years old and weighs right around 85 pounds. This lovely lady with a friendly face has long settled into her adult personality. She enjoys short walks with lots of stops for sniffs and smells. She is a curious one, indeed! However, Suzie is mostly ready to relax in a quiet, comfortable home. She would be absolutely thrilled to mosey around a fenced yard and amass a collection of squeaky toys to call her own.

Brutus is a friendly, handsome 1-2 year old dog who weighs 54-pounds and loves people. He is a little more selective about other animals and does need to be the only dog in a home. He is incredibly smart and already knows the cues for sit, paw and down! Brutus is an active guy who loves to run, play and go on walks, around the neighborhood or hikes in the woods. As long as he is with his person, Brutus is a happy dog. If you pick Brutus, he is guaranteed to give you unconditional love and endless doggie kisses.

Slim Suzie Brutus

Oh No, Not Another Tie 2026!!

Dude don’t get Dad another tie! He might wear it…only when you’re in town or when you mention it. He really dreads having to tie one on for you! It’s Father’s Day, put a bit of thought into gifts for the guy who was always thinking of you!

From humble beginnings in Texas in 1938, Academy has grown to over 300 fullline US sporting goods and outdoor recreation retail stores carrying both leading national and private label brands. Partnering with Jacob Wheeler, one of the top professional bass anglers, comfort meets functionality with Magellan Outdoors Men's Pro Angler Tech Pants. These lightweight fishing pants, with 7 pockets, are made of a water-repellent blend of nylon and spandex for a stretchy fit that helps dad stay dry. The UPF 50 sun protection shields skin from UV rays, and the integrated fishing line cutter button makes these pants an essential part of dad’s fishing gear. academy.com

A leader in well-constructed commercial and sport fishing clothing, Grundéns introduces its Tough Sun Hoodie with breathable UPF 50 sun protection. Adding more protection, the crossover hood blocks sun rays. For cooling, the hood comes down. Sleeves stay in place with integrated thumb holes, protecting the backs of dad’s hands. For on and off the water durability, the Tough Sun Hoodie has been built with increased snag resistance, no matter where dad takes it, whether for travel or a hike in the woods to his favorite secluded fishing spot. Finished with HeiQ anti-odor, thermal regulating, and stain-release treatments, Tough Sun is easy to care for while being comfortable. It’s so tough, Grundéns gives a lifetime warranty on construction. grundens.com

Fish Monkey fishing gloves provide more than UPF 50+ sun protection. Errant hooks or fish spines and teeth are thwarted by Fish Monkey Gloves. Tough fi ngers, supple enough for casting and knot tying dexterity, and padded palms provide comfort and reduce hand fatigue with grip enhancing surfaces for any weather. Fish Monkey, the leader in quick dry breathable professional fishing gloves, offers several styles for any angler. The Half Finger Guide Glove provides complete sun coverage protection. The shorter Stubby Guide Glove protects hands while fishing. fishmonkeygloves.com

Kentucky Derby Triple Crown winner Secretariat’s legendary performance inspires performance outdoor products from Ariat. Known for comfortable footwear for various outdoor and work environments, Ariat created the ideal waterproof hiking boot, Traverse Mid H2O. Camping, hiking, or just going through the woods to get to dad’s

hidden ﬁshing hole, Traverse has a stable platform with great traction. Most boots create pinch points on the tongue and collar, but Traverse is meshlined with lightly padded Lycra. No bruised heels as Protective Tec-Tuﬀ cradles heels and sides. Toes are safe behind a molded rubber protector. Feet are supported with Ariat’s ATS® Max technology for long outdoor adventures. The EVA midsole delivers excellent shock absorption. The Duratread™ outsole provides maximum wear resistance and grip. ariat. com

Either outdoors or indoors Kings Camo XKG Freyr Pant takes dad hiking in comfortable 4-way highstretch technical fabric. Wet weather won’t slow him down. Water repellant protection sheds moisture and protects against stains. Pockets that make sense carry dad’s essentials. Articulated knees allow ease of movement, gusseted crotch adds comfort, and knife clip panels for outdoors activities set these pants apart from jeans. Excellent for everyday wear or activities requiring mobility. Constructed with comfortably blended Nylon, Polyester, Spandex material. Ideal for cool evenings into the cooler months. kingscamo.com Tell dad to take a hike in Italian made Meindl MT2 Trekking Basic socks. Comfortable synthetic yarn keeps dad on his toes, providing exceptional breathability and moisturewicking performance for light hiking in moderate temperatures. Ventilation channels allow feet to breathe when hiking, traveling, or for casual wear. Padded heel and toe areas provide all day comfort and wear longer. Toe area seams are pressure free, reducing irritation. Cuffs won’t leave marks but stay secure. Unless dad has

Bassing in JUNE

two left feet, he needs socks anatomically designed for left or right feet, ensuring comfort and wear. No more bunching to make shoes uncomfortable. Perfect amount of stretch keeps Meindl socks in place. meindlusa.com

No matter the activity, dad needs to stay hydrated. Yeti, known for keeping hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold, has the perfect sized leakproof kitchen grade stainless steel Rambler 26 ounce water bottle. A unique TripleHaul handle comes off to access a shatter resistant spout for drinking on the go. To wash or refill, the entire lid can be removed. Of course, the double-wall vacuum insulation keeps drinks cold or hot. Several attractive colors. yeti.com

If an American made Gerber knife or multi-tool isn’t enough, give dad the perfect camping, cookout, or kitchen compliment. Founded in 1939 and based in Portland, Oregon, Gerber has proved their metal with innovative knives and problem solving tools meeting unique needs of speciﬁc activities. Gerber’s ComplEAT Take-A-Part Shears allow dad to easily prepare campﬁ re, outdoor grilling, or kitchen specialties. Easy to clean and safely stored in a tough polyester webbing carrying case. Chef dad will love Gerber’s ComplEAT Take-A-Part Shears. gerbergear.com

Remember, if you give it, dad will use it, wear it, or eat it…make a good choice so he won’t think of you when he’s in line returning it..

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

Water is the perfect bass ﬁshing temperature. Whether winding small crankbaits or bladed jigs, low stretch Gamma Edge ﬂuorocarbon snaps baits from grass to trigger strikes. Grass and wood are target areas.

Time to think about topwaters. Walking baits are perfect for sluggish post spawn bass and can be tied to 30 pound Gamma Torque braid. Poppers work too, but hollow frogs worked over thick grass on 50 pound Torque braid produce big ﬁsh. As for other cover, pitching creature baits, tubes or jigs is also eﬀective. Work outer edges at lower tides.

Potomac River

I’ll

Be Having Me S’moreofthat, Dad!

My good friend Liz recently requested that I write a ‘happy, fun’ column as opposed to the last two Debbie Downers. “Seriously, Lori,” she said. “stop making me cry.” What can I say? A beloved friend died earlier this year and then I had to say goodbye to my sweet boy, Dozer. Now we are rolling into Father’s Day, and all I can think about is how much I miss my dear, sweet dad!

I could write about all his funny anecdotes—like the time we were at a hotel breakfast buﬀet.

Always a man with a hearty appetite—guess I have him to thank for my Hungry Man palate—I looked over as my 88 year old dad was taking a bite of something, and asked, “What’s that?.” Straight faced, he responded, “S’moreofthat.” As in, I’ll have me some more of that. I busted out laughing. I seriously didn’t think he still had it in him so bravo, Dad.

Jokes aside, dads are pretty funny. Take my husband XXL for instance. He is a dad, and he provides me with a ton of quality comedic material. From the way he (mis)pronounces certain (most) words, to the way he does laundry (perplexing), to his encyclopedic knowledge of every sandwich/sub shop along the Eastern seaboard. Not to mention his taste in TV shows (snorefest) and (bizarre-o) condiment usage. God forbid he has a ‘dry’ sandwich. I once watched in horror as he put a HUGE slice of RAW onion on a cinnamon raisin bagel which seriously made me rethink our entire relationship.

MEN. They are a diﬀerent breed. No denying it. God love ‘em.

But they are also our rocks and our pillars. Our protectors and safe havens. If XXL had his way, he

would take every weight of worry and every problem known to man, and place them all on his broad shoulders and carry them for us.

Things are a little diﬀerent these days, but back when I was growing up, Dad had the responsibility of being the sole provider for his family and keeping a roof over our heads. He got up every day before any of our little eyes were open and went to a job he didn’t love no matter how he felt because he knew he had to put food on the table and pay the mortgage. No one asked him about his passions and desires. He had no idea what his Myers-Briggs was, and if you had asked him about his enneagram, he would have said he didn’t have time to go to the doctor. There was no such thing as paid leave in his world.

He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college— heck, he didn’t even have the opportunity to fi nish the eighth grade. School was a privilege his family couldn’t afford when there was work to be done. But not once did he ever use that as an excuse or consider himself a victim of his circumstances. No—he considered himself a lucky man to have a job that he could be proud of, but he was smart enough to know how important education would be to his children. And while college wasn’t something either of my parents attended, both of them made sure that our feet hit the floor every morning, headed to the bus, and encouraged us all to further our education. But hey—dads aren’t all work and no play. My dad played all the time, but his play wasn’t on a golf course or racetrack. His play was referee’ing our backyard wiffle ball games and coaching my brothers’ little league teams. His play was planting our garden and fi xing our car and teaching us how to swim and eventually how to drive. He taught us a million little things every day just by living because

he had four pairs of eyes watching his every move. We watched as he said, “thank you” and “please.” We watched as heated up the griddle and made our pancakes every Sunday morning. We watched as he came home to our family every day after work and when he came into our rooms to say “good night.”

While I no longer have my own dad, I am fortunate to be surrounded by men who, like my dad, are doing their best to make good humans—a role that never ends. I still hear my dad’s voice in my ear saying, “Take a jacket,” or “Check the oil.” My nephew, Charlie, continues to amaze me with his mad dad skills. I love watching him with his kids. In him, I see my dad in a million little ways.

Gosh, Liz. Not sure if this column is turning out fun and/or happy, but know this. I count having a dad like I did one of the greatest blessings of my life. I am blissfully aware what a gift that was because many people are/were not fortunate like me. I’m not sure where I would be today if I didn’t have his guidance, rules, and boundaries—not to mention his love— although I could have lived without his curfews. My hope is that everyone can know love like a father’s love.

If you’re reading this and still have your dad, give him a big, fat hug and then tell him you want “s’moreofthat”. Dads are worth going back for seconds and thirds…and maybe even a trip to the golf course.

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.

What’s Up for Summer in the Harbor?

Lots going on during the summer in National Harbor. I really miss living there during this time of the year. I could watch the movies and listen to all of the concert series from the comfort of the balcony outside of the party room at One National Harbor. It was a nice stroll out to the Wheel for a beverage at the Flight Deck and a great view of the sunset with an occasional spin on the Wheel or the Carousel in the cards. Since moving back to Old Town, I have to plan my treks across the river and I plan to take advantage of as many of the activities listed here as time allows.

I sourced the following 10 activities from the National Harbor website. They aren’t all inclusive but they give you an idea of what you can expect. For all of the details on these and individual events taking place, log on to nationalharbor.com/events

Kids Day

Grab the kiddos and head to National Harbor for Kids Day every Thursday at 10:30am from June - August. Enjoy the fresh air and family friendly activities on the Plaza. nationalharbor.com/events/ annual-events/kids-day-on-the-plaza Salute the Sunset Concert Series

Enjoy patriotic performances on select Wednesdays and Saturdays all summer long at our free Salute the Sunset Concert Series. Saturday evenings throughout the summer are military band nights at National Harbor. Bring a chair and enjoy an evening with performing ensembles from a variety of United States military bands at 7pm. nationalharbor.com/ events/annual-events/salute-the-sunset/ Movies on the Potomac

your favorite family classics and date night movies throughout the season. Pack your chairs, grab food to go from one of the delicious dining establishments, and meet at the Plaza’s big screen for free fun!

Enjoy Thursday Date Night Movies at 7pm and Sunday Family Movies at 6pm, running through September 27. Check out the full summer movie lineup and start planning at nationalharbor.com/ events/annual-events/movies-on-the-potomac/.

Water Activities

Beat the heat and get out on the water this summer! Check out the wide array of water activities including two of our favorites listed below as well as renting a canoe, kayak or a pedal boat from the Harbor Boat House by Adventures Abound, participating in the Carefree Boat Club and just taking the City Cruises water taxis between the Harbor, Old Town Alexandria and the Wharf in DC.

FLOHOM luxury houseboat rentals. FLOHOM is a company leading the experiential lodging & hospitality revolution. Our luxury accommodations meet the serene beauty of water living to create unforgettable experiences. FLOHOMs are the epitome of tranquil retreats, merging the comforts of modern living with the unique adventure and connection that only water can provide.

Freedom Ring Boats - Experience National Harbor like never before on one of their unique round donut boats. These donut boats are the perfect way to relax, explore, and unwind with friends, family, or colleagues while creating unforgettable memories on the water!

Summer of More at Gaylord National

Gaylord National Resort invites guests to experience the waterfront resort’s ﬁ rst-ever Pirates & Princessesthemed ‘Summer of More’ with fun activities for the entire family.

Friday Summer Sounds

Stroll the streets of the Waterfront District every Friday from 5-7pm for National Harbor's Summer Sounds. Enjoy a rotation of music from Bobby McKey's and local artists.

Ride the Capital Wheel

Take your adventure to new heights on The Capital Wheel, where magic meets the skyline! Soaring 180 feet above the Potomac River, this unforgettable ride offers breathtaking views of the DC skyline, from the Washington Monument to Georgetown and beyond. With 42 cozy, climate-controlled gondolas, The Capital Wheel is a must-do experience all year long. Keep the fun going with a spin on the whimsical Spirit Park Carousel, then toast to the view at Flight Deck, our waterfront lounge serving up specialty drinks, beer, wine, and unbeatable sunsets. Whether it’s your fi rst ride or your fiftieth, The Capital Wheel is where unforgettable memories take flight!

Topgolf National Harbor

Topgolf is taking the world by storm, using it’s approachable, fun-loving atmosphere to make golf a blast for players of every skill level. Grab a bay and hit some balls, or simply stop by to grab a drink, order a bite and watch the game. No matter how you choose to play, one thing is certain: everyone wins. Buy a Summer Fun Pass and enjoy unlimited Topgolf game play all summer long for you and up to ﬁve Guests from June 1 through August 31 (weekdays until 4pm).

Rock’n Raftup Concert Series

Get out on the water and enjoy an evening of musical performances at the National Harbor Marina's Rock'n Raftup Concert Series. Bring your own boat or rent one from Monumental Boat Tours to enjoy the free show taking place on Freedom Pier.

Watch

full roster of

UniverSoul Circus

Don't miss this unforgettable journey of electrifying, edge-of-you-seat performances. Grab your tickets today for the party that's been over 29 years in the making. At National Harbor June 30th - September 5th. Photo by Tim Pethel.

Treat yourself to some warm weather fun on the Blue Ridge Whisky Wine