I think Spring is actually here to stay as the daily temperatures continue to rise. As I write this on the 23rd of April, the highs for this week call for the mid- seventies into the eighties, and approaching 90 degrees a week from now. I always count the days until the fi rst day of summer and it is fast approaching.
We celebrate Mother's Day this month on the 11th and one of our former regular contributors, Caroline Simpson, has some thoughts about what qualifications one has to have to apply for the “job” of Mom in our Mother’s Day feature. We also honor those service men and women who have gone before us on Memorial Day. How many of you readers are familiar with the “Buddy Poppy”? Read Lani Gering’s piece in our special feature on its history in our Memorial Day feature.
In A Bit of History, Sarah Becker explains the importance of the U.S. Federal Judiciary and the impact that is has had over the years and how the current regime has affected our lives today.
For those paddlers out there, check out Jeremy Cox’ piece, “A Paddling Experience Fit for a King”, in From the Bay. While in To the Blueridge, Julie Reardon reminds us of the beauty of the Blueridge in Spring and all of the events planned during the month. Pick one and go!
In Road Trip this month, we visited our favorite sandy place in Southern Delaware...Rehoboth Beach, with an afternoon side trip to Lewes to see 31,000 tulips. Our friend, Nancy DiAgostino joined us for one of the nights. Nancy has a condo in North Ocean City so being at the beach on a regular basis is status quo for her. We have decided that it is a toss-up between Nalu and Purple Parrot for our go-to Happy Hour joints. While local beaches are in "shoulder season" and still not ready for prime time, there is plenty to do before the Memorial Day weekend gets cranked up.
If you are in the mood for a beach in a bit more exotic place, in Caribbean Connection, Alex Brittell and his crew at the Caribbean Journal tell us about some "Off-the -beaten path Caribbean Beaches to Discover right now!"
Lani is a big fan of Cinco de Mayo and we frequent Los Tios on Mount Vernon Avenue on a regular basis so we decided they would be the subject matter for this month’s Dining Out. Many of you readers are going to see a very familiar face on those pages.
Chef Glenn Morell pawned his Let's Eat column off on his older and much better looking brother (I can say this since I know them both), Adam, who contributes his thoughts on cooking for Mom on Mother's Day and concocting the perfect twice baked potato. Adam penned a fantastic column for us on their trip to Cuba a few years ago so he isn’t really new to the OTC.
With the warm weather the Virginia Wineries are prepping for vine growth and fruit development now for this years’ harvest. In Exploring Virginia Wines, Doug Fabbioli takes a little different turn and tells us how he and other businesses in the agricultural community in Loudoun County are introducing the “farm” life to our youth as they give them hands on experiences. In Grapevine, Matt Fitzsimmons reminds us of the frailty of Pinot Noir...The Heartbreak Grape! Tim Long rounds out the wine, beer and bourbon section in Let's Get Crafty, as he, his wife Leigh and friends meet up in Easton, Maryland to enjoy some craft beer, bourbon and a good cigar.
On the beauty and health front, we published the annual “How to apply self-tanner” column by Kim Puten in First Blush. While I have no
interest in the stuff, I hear there is a real “talent” to getting it on right. Both Nicole Flanagan – Fitness – and Ryan Unverzagt - From the Trainer - take a look at what you can do to maximize putting together your springtime fitness regime.
I want to thank all of you who have sent emails, made Facebook and Instagram posts and commented on our website/blog complimenting us on our content. We have been fortunate to have such extremely talented contributing writers penning for us for many years. In that same vent, I hope that you enjoy this month’s issue of the Old Town Crier as well.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there and don’t forget to remember what Memorial Day is all about as you fi re up that grill and splash that kayak!
We would like to congratulate Michelle Spear et al on the purchase of Twin Oaks Tavern Winery in March Pictured here are Michelle left, with former proprietor and well-known Evers & Company Real Estate owner, Donna Evers as they toast Easter at the neighborhood egg hunt. Twin Oaks Tavern Winery is located in an amazing setting just outside of Bluemont. Michelle has ‘spear’ (no pun intended) headed a beautiful renovation that will open for all to see on Mother’s Day weekend. See their ad on the inside back cover and watch for more about Twin Oaks in the future. It is a beautiful winery in a beautiful part of the Blue Ridge.
Hanging out at Nalu on Rehoboth Avenue for Happy Hour with longtime friend, Nancy DiAgostino.
ON THE ROAD WITH OTC
The Condon’s are “on the road” again. This time, Kathy and Bob took the OTC up north with them on their trek to Connecticut and Rhode Island. One of the highlights of this trip was connecting with longtime friends and former Alexandrians Karen and Gordon King in Newport and dining at the infamous Black Pearl. The King’s owned and operated the popular Bullfeather’s in Old Town Alexandria - where Daniel O’Connell’s is now – for several years. Pictured here at the Point Judith Lighthouse in Rose Nulman Park and with the King’s at the Pearl. 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.
The poppies in the cover photo have been gracing the front entrance to Barrel Oak Vineyards located near Delaplane, Virginia for several years. The poppy has long been a symbol of the remembrance of those who have served their country and lost their lives in foreign wars, originating after World War I, and we thought it fitting to put these beautiful specimens on the cover of the May issue as we celebrate Memorial Day on the 26th. The “Buddy Poppy” pictured here as well, has long been a symbol of remembrance as well. To fi nd out more about them, check out the Memorial Day feature on page 11 of this issue. Photo by Lani Gering.
ELWOOD
We had another winner and it was neck in neck. There was less than two minutes between the fi rst two guesses. Congratulations to Myla Korchevska who is now a two-time winner. Her fi rst correct guess was in June 2024! The featured mural is located on the Imagine Artwear building at 1124 King Street. Sadly, May 30th is the last day for the store to be open.
The segment of the mural featured this month is located in a not so prominent area of Old Town but very near a highly traveled street. 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, Like and Follow us on: 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.
Mural photos by Lee Moody.
May 2nd through 24th
The Alexandria City High School Titan Student Art Exhibition
Del Ray Artisans
2704 Mount Vernon Avenue
This exhibit shines a spotlight on ourishing young artists who attend Alexandria City High School. View at Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA. Join us for the Opening Reception on Friday, May 2, 7-9pm, and enjoy ACHS Performing Arts students’ live chamber music performances and the ACHS Visual Arts Award Ceremony. Gallery hours are Thursdays 12-6pm, Fridays 12-9pm, Saturdays & Sundays 12-6pm (closed May 25). Details: DelRayArtisans.org/exhibits
May 3rd & 4th
4th Annual Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival
John Carlyle Square
300 John Carlyle Street 10 am - 5 pm
Savor spring in Alexandria surrounded by artwork at this beloved annual festival. John Carlyle Square is only 2 blocks from the famous King Street in the heart of the Old Town district and is close to the King St. Metro station. Located off Duke Street and near Whole Foods, this beautiful park-like setting is perfectly situated to host this spectacular event. The popular September Art Festival is rated as one of the top 100 art shows in Sunshine Artist Magazine.
May 16th through June 8th
World Pride 2025
Alexandria welcomes LGBTQ+ couples, families and friends to stay in and explore the city during WorldPride 2025 from May 17 to June 8, 2025, and beyond with special hotel packages, Pride Month events and more. Located on the Potomac River within eyesight of Washington, D.C, Alexandria, Virginia welcomes LGBTQ couples, families and friends to our historic city. Named one of Travel + Leisure’sBest Places to Travel in 2024, one of The South’s Best Cities 2024 by Southern Living and given a perfect score for LGBTQ equality by the Human Rights Campaign Municipality Equality
MAY EVENTS
Index in 2024, Alexandria is nationally recognized for its rich history and beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture—a perfect backdrop for hundreds of independent restaurants and boutiques, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and a welcoming, walkable getaway.
May 16th through 18th
Spring Wine Festival
George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 George Washington Memorial Parkway 6 pm – 9 pm daily
Bring a blanket and relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River while you sample wines from Virginia wineries, hear live music by Island Time and explore the historic area after hours. The Shops at Mount Vernon are open until 7 and the Wine Valet Service is open until 8:45 pm
Concessions by the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant will be available for purchase. Credit cards are accepted for concessions.
No outside food or beverages are allowed, except bottled water. Doors open at 6 p.m. each night.
LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS
OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET
Market Square
301 King Street
Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round
The Old Town Market is thought to be the one of nation’s oldest continuing markets operating since 1753. It is said that George Washington sent his products from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today the plaza is a mecca for farmers and artists to sell their wares. The Market is a primary source for meats, dairy, sh, fruits, vegetables and owers for all those who visit.
DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET
Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues
Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round
This market is strictly a producer grown market. Lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, sh and salmon, fresh mushrooms, baked goods, hard cider. Farmers are within a 150 mile radius of Alexandria. A non-pro t is featured each weekend.
May 18th 6th Annual Old Town Festival of Speed & Style
200-500 King Street
10 am – 3 pm
Now in its sixth year, the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, presented by Burke & Herbert Bank, has grown into one of the premier automotive events on the East Coast, drawing national and international attention to Old Town Alexandria as a destination for exceptional experiences. In just a few short years, this Festival has become the largest, most popular, and most impactful event in Old Town, setting records for attendance, the number of vehicles on display, and funds raised for charity. This festival celebrates speed, style, music, food, and fun—offering a thrilling, immersive experience that is FREE to the public.
OLD TOWN NORTH FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET
Montgomery Park 901 North Royal Street
Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm Year Round
Alexandria’s favorite dog friendly market! The Old Town North Thursday Market is a growers only market with a focus on produce from small family farms and local artisans. Products sold at the market include fresh fruits and veggies from Virginia’s Northern Neck, Micro Greens from an urban farm, Empanadas, Fresh baked pastries with a European air and much more.
FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue
Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm
Music 10 am - 12 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.
7th Temporary Public Art Installation on Display Through November Break Water By Nekisha Durrett
Break Water is the seventh annual temporary public art installation at Waterfront Park, was completed in late March and is on display through November as part of the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town series.
The sculpture draws inspiration from Alexandria’s waterfront being a place where natural forces and human activity intersect, often with profound consequences.
Break Water’s centerpiece, crafted from blackened wood, evokes the sidewheel of the steamboat River Queen, a vessel that symbolized Black ownership and opportunity until its mysterious destruction by re in 1911, shortly after its purchase by Lewis Jefferson, a Black entrepreneur. Encircled by black sandbags, the piece honors the resilience and strength of Black communities, referencing both protection and endurance during crises.
Beneath the sculpture, a ground mural of tangled taut ropes–called “Life Lines”–appears to tether the artwork to the park’s architectural elements, anchoring it against a symbolic undercurrent. Viewers are invited to walk the life lines that represent events, people, places, rituals, and traditions that have contributed to Alexandria’s unique identity. The painted lines symbolize the collective struggle to preserve these legacies, ensuring they are not swept away. Together the sculpture and the mural create a powerful tribute to the creativity and enduring spirit of Alexandria’s Black community.
HELP WANTED (ApplyWithin)
Job Title: Mother.
Requirements: must be willing to work overtime for no additional compensation.
Necessary Skills: patience, fortitude, and superhuman ability to multitask.
Salary: none but must be able to provide monthly (at least) payments to clients.
Travel: yes – lots.
Benefits: bedtime and the one day a year that it is all about you!
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! If I was in charge, I would recommend you for a promotion and a raise, your service over the years has been remarkable. However, since I do not play the CEO role in this family, I will take this opportunity to honor you by giving you an inside look at my new plans for this holiday.
In all seriousness, Mother’s Day is an important holiday. Allow me to provide a bit of the history for you. The tradition dates back as far as the Greek Empire and their Annual Spring Festival; various religions and spiritual groups dedicated a specific day in May to celebrate the Mother Mary, Mother Earth, the Mother of All Deities, etc. England expanded this honor to not just religious mother figures, but to all mothers, and the United States made it the celebration it is today about 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, mother and homemaker, decided that there were days for men and days for children, but there just was not a single day devoted to mothers alone.
Anna would be proud. Today, Mother’s Day results in the highest volume of telephone traffic over any other day of the year, restaurants are more crowded on this second Sunday in May than any other holiday, and, of course, Hallmark card sales increase dramatically.
Well, this Mother’s Day, I want to do more than just buy a card. I know that nothing says thank you like a folded piece of card stock with a poem and some pastel-colored flowers on it, but you deserve more than that. This year, I am going to make a revolutionary recommendation to extend Mother’s Day to not just the second Sunday in May but for it to replace several other holidays so as to extend the focus on the value of mothers.
Before you question my logic, take a look at the following list of holidays that I feel no one would really miss: (they all really are considered holidays according to the Earth Calendar’s website – www.earthcaledar.net.)
• Trivia Day (because moms know everything.)
• Maintenance Day (because moms fi x everything.)
• Groundhog Day (because Punxsutawney Phil won’t last forever!)
• Random Acts of Kindness Day (no explanation needed.)
• Pi Day (as in 3.14…think about all that help we had with our math homework.)
• Father’s Day (come on dad, take one for the team!)
• Cross Atlantic Communication Day (because there are times when a mother’s voice can travel that far…like when dinner is ready or your bed is not made.)
• National Hot Dog Day (hmmm – why do we have a National Hot Dog Day in the fi rst place?)
• Talk like a Pirate Day (too funny to leave this one off the list!)
• Poinsettia Day (because moms can keep them alive for months!)
It is clear that these are holidays that may be better served if they became the ten new additional Mother’s Days. Why should you settle for just one day? There are 365 days and if you do the math, eleven total holidays increase the average to…I’m not sure; you always helped me with the math. Anyway, they are kind of like vacation days; think of it as a perk or as part of your benefit package. It is worth some consideration, and you are worth it!
Comments and suggestions are welcome, just not to whoever plays the role of HR. I would not want to hear from any offended Pirates or Groundhogs.
Happy Mother’s Day(s!)
About the Author: Caroline Simpson is a former regular contributing writer to the OTC and we love to feature her missives whenever we have the opportunity. She is the mother of two adorable girls and a crazy little boy. This column first appeared in the May 2018 issue of the OTC.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fl y Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
The Buddy Poppy
I grew up the daughter of a World War II vet and every year my younger sister and I, along with other youngsters and volunteers, picked up our Memorial Day poppies at American Legion Post #5 in my hometown of Torrington, Wyoming. After getting our poppies, we headed out to the streets to hand them out to passersby as a reminder of the importance of Memorial Day. When I moved to Old Town Alexandria in March of 1992, I looked for the poppies in May and didn’t see a one. There is a Legion Post in the heart of Old Town and a couple of VFW Posts nearby in Arlington. I contacted the Legion here and they didn’t have any idea what I was talking about. I feel guilty that I didn’t pursue it further then. I believe I will redeem myself and see what I can do about getting my hands on some this year and pass them out in memory of my father and all other veterans that have gone before us.
As the bulk of our readers are aware, Memorial Day is more than a day that affords us to have a three-day weekend and put together the fi rst official BBQ of the season. We have published much of the following in previous May issues, so I refer to those sources for the information below.
Each year around Memorial Day, Veterans of Foreign Wars members and American Legion Auxiliary volunteers distribute millions of bright red poppies in exchange for contributions to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans. The program provides multiple benefits to the veterans and to the community. The hospitalized veterans who make the flowers are able to earn a small wage, which helps to supplement their incomes and makes them feel more self-sufficient. The physical and mental activity provides many therapeutic benefits as well. Donations are used exclusively to assist and support veterans and their families. The poppy also reminds the community of the past sacrifices and continuing needs of our veterans. The poppy has become a nationally known and recognized symbol of sacrifice and is worn to honor the men and women who served and died for their country in all wars.
The poppy movement was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces in 1915 before the United States entered World War I. By 1918 the poem was well known throughout the allied world. Moina Michael, an American woman, wrote these lines in reply:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
Selling replicas of the original Flanders' poppy originated in some of the allied countries immediately after the Armistice.
A History of the Arti cial Poppy
In the World War I battlefields of Belgium, poppies grew wild amid the ravaged landscape. How could such a pretty little flower grow wild while surrounded by death and destruction? The overturned soils of battle enabled the poppy seeds to be covered, thus allowing them to grow and to forever serve as a reminder of the bloodshed during that and future wars.
Madam Guerin, who was recognized as "the poppy lady from France", sought and received the cooperation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. early in 1922, after the Franco-American Children's League was dissolved. The VFW conducted a poppy sale prior to Memorial Day, 1922, using only poppies that were made in France. In the 1923 poppy sale, due to the difficulty and delay in getting poppies from France, the VFW made use of a surplus of French poppies that were on hand and the balance was provided by a fi rm in New York City manufacturing artificial flowers.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was the fi rst veteran organization to promote a nationally organized campaign for the annual distribution of poppies assembled by American disabled and needy veterans. In 1924, the VFW patented the name "Buddy Poppy" for their version of the artificial flower. Buddy Poppy proceeds represent no profit to any VFW unit. All the money contributed by the public for Buddy Poppies is used in the cause of veteran’s welfare, or for the well-being of their needy dependents and the orphans of veterans.
Following the 1924 sale, the VFW believed it would stimulate local sales if the poppies they used were assembled by disabled veterans in hospitals within their own jurisdiction. The 1924 encampment of the VFW at Atlantic City granted this privilege, under the provision that all poppies would be produced according to specifications set forth by the National Buddy Poppy Committee, and that all poppies would be assembled by disabled veterans in government hospitals and by needy veterans in workshops supervised by the VFW.
Around the same year, the American Legion Auxiliary adopted the poppy as the organization's memorial flower and pledged its use to benefit our servicemen and their families. Today, the poppy continues to provide a fi nancial and therapeutic benefit to those hospitalized and disabled veterans who construct them, as well as benefiting thousands of other veterans and their families.
Each nine-piece poppy is made by veterans for veterans in Auxiliary sponsored Poppy Shops that supplement physical and psychological therapy needed by hospitalized and disabled veterans. The Auxiliary provides the materials and the volunteers. The veteran makes the poppy and is paid a small amount for each painstakingly made flower. For some it is their only income.
No matter what the cost of maintaining and supplying the Poppy Shops, the memorial poppy is never sold, but given in exchange for a contribution.
CARL TREVISON AND STEPHEN BEARCE
When Things Seem Out of Control, Control the Things You Can You
During times of heightened stress, such as when there’s extreme market volatility, a person can quickly become overwhelmed and struggle to do things that might be considered simple or obvious. It can be helpful to focus on the things you can control, identify actions that you can take, and complete those action steps.
Here are four action items for you to consider:
1. Review your investment plan
Before you start making changes to your investment portfolio, consider your goals. Are you saving for retirement? Do you need to build a college fund for your children? Did a recent event create a need to adjust your plan?
If your goals have changed or if you haven’t updated your plan in a while, review and, if necessary, update your investment strategy to support reaching your goals.
2. Understand your risk tolerance
Risk is a key principle in investing. Some investments are riskier than others, but every fi nancial decision involves risk. Since risk is inescapable, the key is to understand your risk tolerance and manage how much you are taking, which should be based on your long-term fi nancial goals. If your tolerance for risk has changed, review your strategy and make sure you are still comfortable with the amount of risk you’re taking.
3. Stick to your plan
When the market gets volatile, investors often react emotionally and may want to pull out of the market to try to avoid loss. However, remember that moving or selling investments during a market decline will likely lock in losses; staying invested may allow you to benefit if
the market comes back. Before reacting, take time to step back and try to respond using logic rather than emotion.
4. Organize and update important documents
Are your important documents up-to-date and accessible to those who may need them?
Create a reference list of your documents and consider making a digital version for easy storage and accessibility. Also ensure that your beneficiary designations for investment accounts, life insurance, and other accounts are up-to-date to reflect any new circumstances such as marriage, birth, death, or divorce. Beneficiary designations typically supersede your will or trust, so you’ll want to confi rm that they are current and accurate.
Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advice. This communication cannot be relied upon to avoid tax penalties. Please consult your tax and legal advisors to determine how this information may apply to your own situation. Whether any planned tax result is realized by you depends on the specific facts of your own situation at the time your tax return is filed.
This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602.
Investment and Insurance Products are: • Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency • Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate • Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested
The U.S. Federal Judiciary "WhatisitthatmakesustrustourJudges?”
The U.S. federal judiciary was created in 1788, with the Constitution’s ratification. Article III, Section 1: "The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." Congress fi rst exercised its power in 1789.
It is Congress that “has the authority to organize and structure the federal court system,” the National Archives agreed. Inferior, as defi ned by the American Heritage dictionary: “Low or lower in order [inferior courts], degree, or rank.” The inferior federal courts in descending order: District [1789] and Appellate [1891].
President Donald Trump [R-FL, Nos. 45 & 47] explains inferior as an “estimation:” his estimation of the many “bad judges” now ruling against him. In early March Trump-47 accused U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of “crooked behavior.” The case: a deportation matter related to the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Chief Judge Boasberg found cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court in mid-April.
U.S. Representative Brandon Gill [R-TX], a member of Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) House Oversight Subcommittee for Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) also favors Judge Boasberg’s impeachment. On April 9 House Republicans passed the No Rogue Rulings Act [219-213], an Act intended to limit the scope of Judges injunctive relief.
President Trump’s comprehension of the executive branch: its power and or the absence of wears. It is Congress that has “the power ‘To lay and collect taxes, duties [taxes on imported goods], imposts and excises [U.S. Constitution Article 1, Section 8].” Elon Musk machinates as a SGE: a temporary, 130-day Special Government Employee who willfully ignores conflict-of-interest rules. As of April 8 DOGE has laid off more than 280,000 federal employees, some by mistake. Trump continues to criticize collective bargaining; four IRS Directors have resigned, and District Judge Theodore Chung ruled “the dismantling of USAID likely violates the Constitution.” The “beautiful clean coal industry” was re-introduced; changes to the U.S. Postal Service, an independent agency within the executive branch are ongoing, and the National Park Service [NPS] was told its interpretation of the Underground Railroad erred.
According to The Washington Post the NPS website’s reference to “the Underground Railroad’s resistance to enslavement through escape and flight” violates President Trump’s January 20, 2025, Executive Order ENDING RADICAL AND WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT DEI PROGRAMS AND PREFERENCING.
Trump’s Executive Orders abound. His March 25, 2025, Executive Order for PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS now belongs to the courts. His March 27, 2025, Executive Order RESTORING TRUTH AND SANITY TO AMERICAN HISTORY is off-putting. The March 27 Order “prohibits expenditure on [Smithsonian] exhibits or programs that degrade
shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy.”
Former U.S. Representative [D-IN] and social reformer Robert Dale Owen [1801-1877] arrived in the United States from Scotland in 1825—aboard a ship known as the Boatload of Knowledge. Educated in natural science and medicine, U.S. Representative Owen introduced the hand-written Act which established the Smithsonian Institution. A naturalized U.S. citizen, Owen served on the 1863 American Freedman’s Inquiry Commission. His book The Wrong of Slavery, the Right of Emancipation, And the Future of the African Race in the United States [1864] describes it all.
A Spiritualist, Owen collaborated with Frances Wright; advocated for woman’s rights, women’s property rights including divorce.
Given billionaire Trump’s want to influence both the Smithsonian Institution’s 2025, 2026 National Education Summits and the “250th anniversary of American Independence [1776-2006];” multimillionaire Greene’s occasional taunts, and Musk’s contested March 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court $2,000,000 voter lottery the public should not feel shy outing MAGA meddling. Musk spent more than $20 million of his own money on the Wisconsin Republicans Supreme Court election and lost.
“Within three years of his entry into national office, John Marshall [1755-1835] was Chief Justice of the United States, charged to protect the Constitution,” Faulkner and Carrese wrote. “In the most unpromising circumstances ever to greet a Chief, succeeding two comparably ineffectual predecessors, he went on to develop the semi-sacred authority of the Supreme Court.”
According to Chief Justice Marshall the "maxims of democracy" are "a strict observance of justice, public faith, and a steady adherence to virtue." Marshall’s chosen ethicist: Rene Descartes [15951650].
“In cases of textual ambiguity Descartes is so fair to the opposing point of view that one can mount strong counterarguments simply on the basis of evidence,” Marshall mused.
Chief Justice Marshall’s decisions [1801-1835] are legendary, his work foundational. Trend-setting cases like: Marbury v. Madison [1803], Fletcher v. Peck [1810], McCulloch v. Maryland [1819], Cohens v. Virginia [1821] and Gibbons v. Ogden [1824].
Chief Justice Marshall, Marbury v. Madison: “… the particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confi rms and strengthens the principle supposed to be essential to all written constitutions; that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void; and that courts as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument.”
Chief Justice Marshall, McCulloch v. Maryland: “The peculiar circumstances of the moment may render a measure more or less wise, but cannot render it more or less constitutional.”
The principle of implied powers; of separation of powers and judicial review are deep-seated. At no time, until maybe now, was devotion to the latter more vigorously intimated than in 1937. The then
U.S. Supreme Court decided much of President Franklin Roosevelt's [D-NY] New Deal legislation was unconstitutional.
Given the politics of the last 100+ days, readers are asking: how exactly does the U.S. Supreme Court enforce its decisions. Answer: The Court has no power to do so. It cannot compel Congress [the legislative branch] or the President [the executive branch] to enforce its rulings.
Enforcement of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown decisions [Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, 1954, and Brown II, 1955] fell to the executive branch. It was President Dwight D. Eisenhower [R-KS] who sent federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 to ensure Central High School’s integration. An example of Congressional enforcement: The Voting Rights Act of 1965— Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder [2013].
"What is it that makes us trust our Judges?” Marshall asked in 1788, “Their independence in office and manner of appointment."
“My gift of John Marshall to the people of the United States was the proudest act of my life,” President John Adams [F-MA] said in 1825. As for President Trump’s reference to the Smithsonian Institution’s “inconsistent ideologies”—he’s never outgrown the 1950s.
“Of all the American states, Virginia can lay claim to the most thorough control by an oligarchy,” historian V.O. Key, Jr., wrote in 1949. “Political power has been closely held by a small group of leaders who…have subverted democratic institutions and deprived most Virginians of a voice in their government.” Education was “neglected”— except for a 7th grade, state-listed history book: Simkin’s Virginia: History, Government, Geography
The Byrd Organization [1890s-1960s] admitted “the textbook was purposely written with bias, glorification, and political cant.” Cant: hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature. Trump’s oligarchical, self-styled politics thrive on cant.
On March 30, 2025, President Trump announced plans to run for an unconstitutional third term. “The [nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices] independence in office…” is?
To what extent was the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent order “to facilitate the return” of a mistakenly deported Marylander a check on the Trump Administration?
About the Author - Sarah Becker started writing for The Economist while a graduate student in England. Similar publications followed. She joined the Crier in 1996 while serving on the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board. Her interest in antiquities began as a World Bank hire, with Indonesia’s need to generate hard currency. Balinese history, i.e. tourism provided the means. The New York Times describes Becker’s book, Off Your Duffs & Up the Assets, as “a blueprint for thousands of nonprofit managers.” A former museum director, SLAM’s saving grace Sarah received Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award in 2007. Email: abitofhistory53@gmail.com
The Rock Show by Blink 182
In 2001, pop punk legends Blink 182 released “The Rock Show” as the lead single from their fourth studio album, marking a pivotal moment in the band's career. The song draws inspiration from lead singer Mark Hoppus’ experience meeting a girl during one of the band’s early shows in San Diego. With its energetic beat, punchy bass line, and carefree guitar riffs, “The Rock Show” perfectly captures the fun and rebellious spirit that made Blink 182 a beloved band for millions of fans. It also played a key role in propelling the album to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, solidifying the band’s status as one of the most influential forces in rock music.
The song kicks off with a four-measure intro, featuring a dynamic full-band arrangement of guitar, bass, and drums. After this, Tom DeLonge switches to a palm-muted guitar chord, played with tight eighth-note downstrokes, adding a rhythmic edge. Drummer Travis Barker joins in with a steady, punchy drum pound, creating an energy surge that propels the band into the fi rst verse. Hoppus’ lyrics in the verse convey the excitement of hanging out with friends and the thrill of meeting a girl for the fi rst time. The musical arrangement is simple yet effective, with palm-muted guitar, steady bass, and precise drums, while occasional open chords inject bursts of energy into the track.
Following another round of intro music and a second verse, Blink 182 dives into an irresistibly catchy chorus. The central hooks, placed on the fi rst, third, and fifth lines, are delivered with three-syllable gang vocals, making them instantly memorable. The rhythm section—drums, guitar, and bass—all lock in with the vocal melody, reinforcing the hooks and amplifying the fun and singalong qualities of “The Rock Show”. This is followed by a melodic post-chorus that quickens the pace and builds tension, smoothly leading into the third verse.
As the song progresses through more verses and choruses, Blink 182 transitions into one of their signature bridge sections. Tom DeLonge moves away from his usual distorted guitar tone and adopts a shimmering clean sound, subtly enhanced with delay and chorus effects, giving the bridge a dreamy, atmospheric quality. Meanwhile, Hoppus maintains his characteristic growling bass tone, adding a layer of weight and edge to the section. Barker continues to hold down the beat, providing a steady foundation as the bridge swells with additional harmonies from Hoppus, complementing his own lead vocal and adding depth to the arrangement.
“The Rock Show” captures the essence of Blink 182's early sound, blending youthful exuberance with tight, infectious musicianship. It remains a defi ning track in their catalog, representing not only a peak in their musical career but also the spirit of the era. If you would like to listen to “The Rock Show” or any of Blink 182’s exceptional music, you can fi nd it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you’d like to learn more about Blink 182 you can fi nd more information on Wikipedia, Instagram, Facebook, 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
5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com
Southside 815
703.836.6222
815 S. Washington St. St. Elmos
703.739.9268
2300 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Taverna Cretekou
703.548.8688
818 King St. TJ Stones
703.548.1004
608 Montgomery St. tjstones.com
The Study
703-838-8000
116 South Alfred Two Nineteen 703.549.1141
219 King St.
Alexandria Bier Garden
710 King St. 703-888-1951
Augie's Mussel House
703.721.3970
1106 King St. eataugies.com
Mason Social
703.548.8800
728 N. Henry St.
Sunrise on the Reaping: The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games trilogy comprising The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay have become part of popular culture due to their fast-paced action and thoughtful questions about surviving in an alternative, siloed, and totalitarian version of the United States. As bestselling dystopian novels and high-grossing films, they have made a global impact. The fi rst prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, showed the teenage viewpoint of Coriolanus Snow, the President of Panem, when he was assigned as a mentor at the Games. The recently released prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy, an important side character and mentor in the initial trilogy, and how he went from a normal inhabitant of District 12 to a games contestant who rebels without realizing the price he might pay if he becomes the victor.
The totalitarian government of Panem, this future United States, sends children representing all twelve districts to the Capitol, site of their non-representative government, to fight to the death in an arena every year until all but one are dead. Those winners are crowned victors of the Hunger Games, a gruesome annual reality show watched by all citizens and treated as entertainment by the privileged, frivolous upper class in the Capitol.
Suzanne Collins focuses primarily on the characters picked for the Games from the segregated District 12, a thinly veiled version of Appalachia, in all of her novels. It is considered the poorest district: one where people do what they can to make ends meet and get enough food to fend off starvation.
In The Hunger Games, Peeta Malark is chosen as the boy and Katniss Everdeen volunteers to replace her sister, Primrose, in the fi rst series. They are assigned the drunk, dissolute Haymitch as their mentor 24 years after he won the Hunger Games. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes centers the relationship between the young Coriolanus Snow, an ambitious student assigned to mentor the female candidate from District 12, Lucy Grey Baird, a member of a singing gypsy folk group called the Covey. Sunrise on the Reaping tells Haymitch’s story in a Hunger Games taking place forty years later, as he suffers the rigors of navigating the Games with the goal of standing up to the Capitol with other unwilling participants.
other districts and figure out who they might and cannot trust. In the process, Haymitch gains a plan, with the help of his mentors, to throw a monkey wrench into the Hunger Games operation and stand up for the masses, who should by all rights be able to overthrow the few and the authoritarian who rule them.
I have read The Hunger Games Trilogy several times and seen the movies as well. I ended up loving The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes for its view of President Coriolanus Snow when he was young, poor, ambitious and resourceful, at the fulcrum of choosing power or love. The movie, which few saw, was even better, with a different, introspective feel to it than the original trilogy but all of the advantages of wonderful cinematography
figure whose welfare is never far from his mind. Named after the elusive maiden Lenore in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “Nevermore,” snatches of the macabre poem flash through his mind as he follows his courageous path in standing up to President Snow.
The novel reveals that as a result of his past, Snow may have his own bitter reason for a particular vendetta against District 12 participants, one that will affect Haymitch no matter what he does. The Poe poem elevates the novel in its Gothic style and haunting repetition, which echoes through Haymitch’s traumatized mind as he worries about his lady love. As verses echo one another, they slide about in Haymitch’s consciousness, representing the past, future, or just a dream.
Haymitch begins his story as a contented teen with a girlfriend who is also from the Covey, Lenore Dove, a woman he adores for her spirit and beauty. He loves his mother, brother, and friends, and brews bootleg liquor in the woods outside District 12, making enough money to help his mother make ends meet. When he is chosen to replace a boy picked for the Hunger Games, he is in shock at the idea of his almost certain imminent demise. When Haymitch and his fellow District 12 tributes arrive in the Capitol, they mix with tributes from
and animation, a fast-moving action-adventure plot and a mesmerizing ambiguity at the end. I recommend it highly. Suzanne Collins starts to expand on her ideas about power and governments and political philosophy, but not in an unapproachable way. Since this book is accessible to both young adults and their parents, it is useful as a starting point for a discussion.
Sunrise on the Reaping fills out Haymitch’s backstory to see how he went from a fairly happy-go-lucky teen to the dissolute, angry, and despairing creature Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark meet fi rst in The Hunger Games. His love for Lenore Dove, a rebellious and beautiful musical member of the Covey, becomes mystical as he goes through trials in the arena, with Lenore a shining
“Nevermore” is a poem that crosses from Panem to our world. It asks us to ponder what Poe meant about human love, grief, and the imagination of loss.
Suzanne Collins inserts poems as songs and songs as poems from her fi rst Hunger Games novel onwards. “Meet Me at the Hanging Tree,” a song for which she wrote the lyrics in that book, adds a poignant touch that increases the novel’s depth and meaning. The music added to it in the film made it even more beautiful. She has a talent for penning poems inside novels, in addition to dubbing characters with surreal, slightly askew names that reflect their district backgrounds. I thought of J.K. Rowling, who shows a similar skill in naming her Harry Potter characters with a mixture of influences from our Muggle world and the magical one.
Suzanne Collins has penned a moving tale of Panem before the advent of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, continuing to explore the nature of authoritarian regimes in which the few govern and instill fear that subjugates and subdues the masses, who eventually must come together to destroy their power. This idea even makes its way into the arena when the less trained tributes become allies, fighting more powerful district groups made up of cruel, bullying, and well-trained members. Collins poses revolution as an idea that flickers and grows, one that needs just the right combination of circumstances to catch fi re. She seems to have developed as a writer over time in exploring the ideas of power for power’s sake versus love in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. In Sunrise on the Reaping, she examines Panem’s propaganda and lies through Haymitch’s perspective, in which he can see that at least part of the population will believe they indicate the right way to live. This novel shows that the struggle against authoritarian rule has its price, and that it can also become part of a longer journey to victory with many sacrifices along the way. Hunger Games fans should read it along with reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and watching that screen adaptation. This last prequel will probably also be filmed, and one can only hope that it lives up to the previous movies in the Hunger Games universe.
ONSTAGE:
It’s May—time for Mother’s Day. Can’t think of a better gift this month to remember the little lady who gave us life than live! theater. Mamma Mia!what better way to say I love you (and thanks for putting up with me at two, thirteen and last week) than a visit to one of these nurturing plays or musicals:
FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT
Arena Stage
Now thru May 4
Renowned playwright Larissa FastHorse's comedy about a collision of friends and foes, ensnaring colleagues and bystanders and unraveling secrets that highlight the absurdities of ambition and authenticity. Amidst the laughter, genuine connections form, emphasizing the value of unexpected paths to success. Tickets at www.arenastage.org
SISTER ACT
Ford’s Theatre
Now thru May 17
Based on the hit 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film, a nightclub singer takes refuge with a group of nuns to escape retribution from a couple of goodfellas (i.e. mobsters). Cooped up in the convent, she helps her new Sisters discover their powerful voices while, inevitably, fi nding her own. Tickets at www.fords.org
CHARLOTTE’S WEB
Adventure Theatre MTC
Now thru May 25
Take the kids and celebrate the power of friendship and the enduring impact of kindness—a virtue sorely missing in public life these days—as eightlegged Charlotte saves her friend Wilbur with her miraculous web. Tickets at adventuretheatre-mtc.org
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
Signature Theatre
Now thru June 22
With killer heels and a fabulous wig, Hedwig tours the country, trailing the exlover who stole her songs and made it big. Hear her sorrow-filled tale in a hard rock story about growing up behind the Iron Curtain, living thru a botched sex change operation and coming to America. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org
HEAD OVER HEELS
Constellation Theatre
May 1- June 1
Here’s a kicky idea: mash up a famous Elizabethan romantic comedy with the catalogue of 80s girl group The Go-Gos, Belinda Carlisle’s old band. Blame it on conceiver/book writer Jeff (Avenue Q) Whitty and the creative folks at Constellation. Ticket at www.constellationtheatre.org
AKIRA KUROSAWA EXPLAINS HIS MOVIES AND YOGURT… Woolly Mammoth
May 4- June 1
Renowned filmmaker Akira Kurosawa (or an actor who looks like him) explains his iconic filmography, brilliant mind, the thrilling world of movies, and “culture.” But… why can’t he stop talking about yogurt? In this whimsical world premiere, playwright Julia Izumi weaves through media and memory to examine cultural imperialism, “healthy” consumption, and why we make art. Tickets at www.woollymammoth.net
OLD TOWN MAY
THE STORY OF A ROSE
Ruth Schlesinger Concert Hall
May 7
Sub-titled A Musical Reverie of the Great War, Broadway star Melissa Errico debuts her newest original concert-theatre piece in a one-night-only performance in Alexandra. Here she takes the real-life role of her Aunt Rose, a Ziegfeld Follies star and Italian immigrant living during the Great War. Accompanied by a jazz ensemble, Ms. Errico is joined by Broadway actor/ musician George Abud in this tribute to love and sacrifice. Tickets at https:// bit.ly/story-of-a-rose-tickets.
FOOTLOOSE
Next Stop Theatre
May 8 – June 8
Head to Herndon for the stage version – complete with those great pop songs—of the 1980s movie about a city-born teenager who shakes up a small town’s uptight moral code and dance ban as he fights for freedom and selfexpression. And guess who wins the heart of the town minister’s daughter? Tickets at www.nexstoptheatre.org
FALSETTOS
Keegan Theatre
May 10- June 15
The Tony Award ®winning musical about family, relationships, bar mitvahs and baseball, among other life lessons. When Marvin leaves his wife Trina and son Jason to be with his lover Whizzer, tempers flare, problems escalate and everyone learns to grow up fast. Tickets at www.keegantheatre.com
WE ARE GATHERED
Arena Stage
May 16- June 15
Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight)t offers a contemporary twist on one Shakespearean’s wedding plays Do Free and W. Tre make it to the altar? As they approach a milestone anniversary, each wonders if he’s met Mr. “Right” or had a long one-night stand with a lovely Mr. “Maybe”. Tickets at www.arenastage.org
KIMBERLY AKIMBO
National Theatre
May 20- June 1
This Tony Award ® winning musical about growing up and growing old welcomes us into the world of sixteen-year-old Kimberly, who is forced to navigate family dysfunction, fi rst crush, a rare genetic disorder and possible felony charges on her road to happiness against all odds. Tickets at www. broadwayatthenational.com
PORGY & BESS
Kennedy Center
May 23-31
The Gershwin Brothers Great American opera, torn from the tales of the marginalized people who lived through and found love and redemption in their suffocating confi nes. Washington National Opera artistic director Francesca Zambello reminds us why the Kennedy Center is so important to this community for the diverse, moving histories revealed on its stages. Tickets at www.kennedy-center.org
FRANKENSTEIN
Shakespeare Theatre Company May 27- June 22
Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece is reimagined as a chilling exploration of what it means to create new life. Redefi ning the legend we know and the name we fear, this new adaptation asks us to reconsider the monstrous act at the heart of the tale. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org
About the Author – Mark Edelman 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: Kimberly Akimbo photo by Joan Marcus. Fake it… photo by Daniel Rader. Sister Act photo by Scott Suchman. Melissas Errico photo by Marco Vacchi. Twelfth Night photo by Joseph D. Tran.
Must See Exhibits
“You Don’t
Know Me” and
“Connections”
As I have previously mentioned in this column, I have been curating a major survey show as a snapshot in time of the women artists working in the Greater Washington, DC region. One of the great joys in an otherwise immense amount of work required to curate and organize such a major undertaking (I am told that this is the largest ever curated visual art show in the capital region) spread across 8 venues, is the “discovery” of new artists – at least “new” to me!
One such discovery is the work of DC-born artist Esperanza Alzona.
For the “Women Artists of the DMV” survey, I selected a powerful 2020 sculpture titled “Nevertheless She Persisted,” which was created in cast aluminum. Alzona describes the work as “a pair of bare feet plunging through the wall, representing the naked strength and determination of the female spirit penetrating the barriers placed upon us by society.”
Alzona brings an exceptionally diverse and interesting set of life experiences to the table, and which clearly exert a crucial influence on her work.
At age 19 she already had a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and then she spent the next two decades as a professional dancer and choreographer, while also competing as a nationally-ranked fencer. She then returned to
school and earned a master’s degree in public communication, which was followed by working as the executive director of the Loudoun Symphony, and then as director of operations for the Shepherd University School of Music.
It was while at Sheperd that Alzona began to discover her passion and natural talent (my opinion) for sculpture.
In a newspaper story about her a few years ago, she noted that “As a dancer, you are a 3D artist, actually a 4D artist or 5D if you want to think about that,” she said. “Besides those regular physical dimensions, you have time and you have movement and music.”
Alzona’s work will be showcased for the survey show at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center next September.
One of the great resources for an artist’s development is learning about other artists, and in our region, we’re are lucky to have an excellent resource in Art Clinic Online (ACO) where J. Jordan Bruns (who is a very talented artist with a fantastic set of technical and observational skills) runs a bi-weekly program of artists discussing and presenting their work in an hour-long live online discussion.
I highly recommend visiting www.jjbruns.com to sign up for the alerts for upcoming interviews, but also to see and listen to past ones, which include such wellknown DMV area artists like Akemi Maegawa, Ellyn Weiss, Steve Wanna, Teresa Oaxaca, and many others In the District, Hemphill Fine Arts has a must-see exhibition through April 26 which showcases the work of Leon Berkowitz, one of the legendary members of the Washington Color School in the halcyon days of Washington painting, and Wayson Jones, representing the contemporary DMV area painters keeping the painting reputation of our region on fi re and moving forward.
I’ve been following Jones’ work for over a decade now, since it was brought to my attention by my good
Remember Mom this year with a handcrafted gift.
friend and legendary DMV printmaker Lou Stovall, and a few years ago I noted in a review of his work about the "refi ned works of Wayson R. Jones, whose technique and presentation just keeps getting better and sharper! This is a key DMV artist deserving of more attention by the curatorial cabal of our area."
Clearly Jones has accomplished that, as exhibiting in a gallery of the caliber and standing of Hemphill’s, is proof that an artist has “arrived” in our art scene.
And when that artist is paired with a legendary name such as Leon Berkowitz, it adds even more “oomph!” to that artistic presence.
Enough has been written about the great artists of the Washington Color School, and none more informative than Walter Hopps’ “An Interview with Gene Davis,” where we learned that the Washington Color School "members" did not feel much camaraderie, with each other, and perhaps even a sense of jealousy of Berkowitz’s works and relative success. This is an important show which deserves attention not only because of the historical and documented importance of Berkowitz, but also and equally of note, a new and just as important footprint by Wayson Jones, a superbly talented contemporary artist whom I believe represents a 21st century continuation of the great days of Washington painting.
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.
Pictured left: Three Cows and a Pig, Hinton, WV. Gelatin Silver Print circa 2023. Photograph by Beatrice Hamblett; Pictured right, middle: Jill and Jill Competition at Woodchopping Festival, Webster Springs, WV. Gelatin Silver Print circa 2021. Photograph by Beatrice Hamblett; Pictured right, top: Waves, Oil on Canvas by Pattee Hipschen
Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello
“A woman in love with abstraction” - 2021
Price and additional images upon request.
“ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON, DC”
16x20 watercolor on paper with embedded electronic images that rotate every 5 seconds.
– Washington City Paper
Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello
Price and additional images upon request.
Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC, Washington, DC www.alidaanderson.com / info@alidaanderson.com
Devil with the Blue Dress
“She’s a real humdinger and I like it like that.”
There is lots of new inventory in the shop and you can order online. Choose your style, your size and color, including the tie dye blue (but no brushstroke). From Christopher Calvin. Jane Seymour Hat by Walleroo. Jewelry by Sarah Cavender Metalworks. Handmade in Oxford, Alabama.
Monday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm
1124 King Street l Alexandria, Virginia 22314 703-548-1461 l www.imagineartwear.com csimagine@aol.com
by
Photo
Bev Dietz
It wasn’t until I got home that the full measure of what I had experienced came into focus.
I was unstrapping the kayak from the top of my car when I noticed hues of brown, beige and gold standing out against its white hull. It was sand scoured up from the Patuxent River’s shoreline. More than likely, it had gotten slathered there when I ran the plastic vessel aground upon my return to the launch site.
I wiped some off with my fi ngertips. And for a few moments, I had some deep thoughts about grit.
This was more than a mess to be washed away with a garden hose. This was a metaphor for what happens to us when we travel, especially outdoors: We end up carrying back things we don’t expect. Sure, it can be sand. But it’s often something ineffable.
The day took us — Bay Journal photographer Dave Harp, paddling enthusiast Dave Linthicum and I — to Kings Landing Park in Southern Maryland. The Calvert County Department of Parks & Recreation manages the 260-acre suburban getaway in partnership with the Calvert Nature Society.
Our expedition took place on the last day of winter, but hints of spring were in the air. Temperatures had climbed from the 30s in the predawn hours to 70 degrees by the afternoon. Most of the deciduous trees were bereft of leaves, but buds on the red maples were flashing their trademark color.
“It’s my favorite month of the year,” Linthicum said, gazing into the distance. “You can just see so far out into the woods.”
There was certainly no lack of nature to behold.
This stretch of the river, he pointed out — including Kings Landing on the Calvert side and the Black Swamp Creek area on the Prince George’s County side — is the second-largest swath of contiguous protected land along the tidal portion of the Patuxent. Linthicum would know. He makes a living as a mapmaker, updating international boundary lines for the U.S. State Department. He has made it his life’s mission to
get to know the Patuxent. The river begins in Maryland’s Piedmont country, flowing 115 miles in a generally southeasterly direction before depositing into the Chesapeake Bay at Drum Point. Linthicum knows almost every inch of it.
He takes on freelance projects. And his passion project was a waterproof map for the lower 62 miles of the Patuxent. It was nearly two decades in the making. Aerial photographs and digital maps were the foundation. Then, he hiked and paddled across the white spaces between those lines to fill in the details.
“I fi nd it good therapy to get out there. You get to know the backwoods off-trail and fi nd some old colonial road and old ruins from the 1800s. You get to know the area even better when you’re mapping it,” he said.
Linthicum often relied on what he called “old school” methods: counting his steps and using a compass. He also combed over historical documents to augment modern-day features with highlights from the past, including suspected locations of Indigenous villages recorded by Capt. John Smith during his 1608 trip up the river.
Soon, the map was ablaze with details far surpassing other maps, especially for the popular paddling area between miles 40 and 50. There, every power line, fence, slope and trickle of water gets its due. (The map is available for $7 at paxrivereeper. org; proceeds benefit the Patuxent Riverkeeper.)
That precision extends to descriptions of points of interest along the water trail. For instance, the map notes that the distance from the vehicle gate to the kayak launch at Kings Landing is 175 yards. That’s important. You can drive your car to the water’s edge to unload, but you must head back up the road to park near the gate.
Kings Landing was once part of a plantation known as “Kingslanding,” where a family with the surname King enslaved African Americans, according to the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition.
The park’s amenities include a community pool, an equestrian ring and hiking trails. But our party was
A Paddling Experience Fit for a ‘King’ in Southern Maryland
bent on gliding across the water.
One of the park’s distinguishing features, Linthicum said, is that it’s within a half mile of three picturesque Patuxent tributaries: Black Swamp, Chew and Cocktown creeks. Each offers 2-3 miles of relatively easy, flat water.
We aimed for Cocktown Creek, which forms the northern boundary of the park. To get there, we had to paddle about a quarter-mile upstream. That can be difficult on windy days or when the tide is strong, Linthicum warned us. On such days, he recommends hauling your watercraft a few hundred yards down a trail that leads directly to the creek.
But luck was on our side. The surface of the river was like a mirror.
From a distance, the mouth of Cocktown Creek appeared to be little more than a small gap in the yellow reeds. As we paddled onward, the vegetation became interspersed with cattails.
Both sides of the creek are free from visible development. The north side is protected as a haven for hunting and hiking. It’s an ideal destination for those looking to avoid crowds, Linthicum said.
The little creek is basically a series of oxbows, surrounded by marshes. As the ground increases in elevation, the landscape gives over to oaks, loblolly pines, beech trees and maples.
This part of Maryland is classified as a coastal plain, so the elevation here might surprise you. One of the promontories overlooking the Patuxent, for example, looks down 95 feet to the water.
Getting to that overlook, though, is a slog. It requires hiking about 45 minutes south from the pool area’s parking lot at Kings Landing. Most of that hike offers no trail and requires crossing a formidable swatch of marsh, Linthicum said.
Along Cocktown Creek, the occasional bluffs rise 20-40 feet from the water’s edge. Their faces are peppered with gnarled tree roots, stray rocks and alluvial fissures.
Within a few paddle strokes up the creek, it felt like nature had taken control. Red-winged blackbirds called to each other. An osprey nest awaited
A great blue heron
over the scene.
“I think if you popped in here from the Midwest or New England and you had no idea about this area at all, you would be most blown away by the fact that there is a tidal river 24 miles from [the nation’s capital], where you can paddle for hours and you could hike for hours and not see a soul,” Linthicum said.
We returned to Kings Landing, brimming with a feeling of renewal that only nature can provide. It stuck with me the rest of the day, even after a long drive home that included rushhour traffic on the Bay Bridge.
My thoughts turned to what Linthicum told me when I asked what makes the middle section of the Patuxent so special.
“You come up the river. You’ve got the lower river with a lot of powerboats and power lines. You’ve got the big Chalk Point power plant. And then you get here. And all of a sudden, it all disappears, and you can just melt into the tributaries.”
And there it was: the word I had been searching for to describe the experience. I had “melted” into the place, and it was everything I needed. If you go…
Kings Landing Park is at 3255 Kings Landing Road in Huntingtown, MD. Admission is free.
Several miles of trails are available within the park and at the Huntingtown Natural Resources Management Area off Smoky Road. Water access is available for kayaks and canoes only via a soft launch adjacent to the Patuxent River pier.
Other amenities include a public pool (open Memorial Day to Labor Day), a picnic pavilion, primitive camping for youth groups and rental of its event facility for up to 160 guests. An equestrian facility features a 150-by300 riding ring.
About the Author: Jeremy Cox is a Bay Journal staff writer based in Maryland. You can reach him at jcox@bayjournal.com . This column printed with permission of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, edited for space. Visit www.bayjournal.com for more. Photo by Dave Harp.
the return of its tenants. Wood ducks splashed.
swooped
Photo by Lani Gering
Celebrate May in Hunt Country!
In no particular order, these are some rural favorites so if you've considering or recently moved to the country, it's helpful to appreciate or at least understand their importance. How can you not feel energized when you wake up to brilliant new green leaves and grass, colorful bulbs, pink and white dogwoods, azaleas and all the breathtaking beauty of spring in Virginia? Although the Blue Ridge Mountains are perhaps more famous for flaming fall colors, spring is equally spectacular and with lengthening days, there's no better time for a day trip than now.
With so many events to choose from, if you pick just one may we recommend the Hunt Country Stable tour, back for its 66th year on May 24th and 25th. It's a self-guided driving tour featuring a dozen of the most beautiful farms and estates rarely open to the public. This beloved event took a hiatus during the pandemic and was reorganizing last year but is back and ready for your enjoyment. Mostly horse oriented, it appeals to both city slickers and horse lovers that enjoy watching or interacting with horses and farm animals: Thoroughbred colts and fillies destined for the race track, all kinds of riding, training and lesson facilities for every horse sport from jumping, to polo, to carriage driving. You can also learn about green innovations and new organic farming techniques as well as visit baby animals including baby alpacas, called crias. Tickets are available in advance for one or both days; visit www. trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour/ .
Horsing Around at the Races
Few events signal springtime like thoroughbreds jumping over fences at speed in steeplechase or point to point races. This year the jewel of Virginia’s steeplechase season, taking place the fi rst Saturday in May (3rd) is the Virginia Gold Cup, the granddaddy of steeplechasing and tailgating fun, or the many other, smaller events throughout the month that make ideal day trips just down the road where you can enjoy the drive as much as the destination. Most events are less than an hour’s drive from Alexandria.
There’s another big race on that same day, also always the fi rst Saturday in May—the Kentucky Derby—but for Virginians, the Gold Cup is “the” springtime event. It’s not too late to get tickets, but by the time you read this it may be too late to get any early bird discounts. The helpful staff at the Gold Cup office are the ones to call if you want to book a last-minute tent or party rental---call them at 540/347-2612 or visit www.vagoldcup.com
Going to the Dogs
Purebred dogs of all breeds will compete at the Mattaponi Kennel Club AKC spring breed and obedience show at the Prince William County Fairgrounds on Rt. 234 between Manassas and Gainesville on May 16-17, and at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Kennel Club show May 30-31 at the Foxfield Race Course. Both are AKC dog shows, which are ideal to visit if you want to research different purebred dog breeds to really learn about them for your next dog. Most exhibitors are also breeders and are happy to let you meet their dogs and explain to you the characteristics of their breed of choice, and if they don't
have puppies themselves, they can direct you to a good breeder that produces sound dogs with good temperaments. At the shows, dogs compete for points toward the AKC Champion title and for best of their particular breed and then
go on to show in groups—sporting, toy, herding, etc. Group winners compete at the end of the day for the coveted “Best In Show” award. Obedience trials are also held in which purebred dogs of different breeds compete together for performance titles. www.infodog.com/calendar
Every Weekend in May
Flying Circus Air Show in Bealeton opens for the season Sunday, May 3rd Every Sunday, the show starts at 2 pm and features daring pilots performing stunts in vintage biplanes, parachuters, wing walkers, and more. Hot air balloon rides available, too. Bring a picnic and Grandpa, he'll love it! Gates open at 11 a.m., call 540/439-8661 or visit www.flyingcircusairshow.com
Farmers’ market season, which shuts down in winter, started up in April including the Fauquier and Rappahannock Master Gardeners' season started their “Grow Your Own” food event making this year renton's fi rst Artists and Farmers event. Beginning in mid-April. 26th, the indoor space at 18 Court St. in Old Town started hosting Warrenton's fi rst Artists and Makers Market. There will also be a rotation of guest vendors to introduce you to new, local favorites! In Warrenton, Wednesday and Saturday mornings starting at 7 a.m. in Old Town Warrenton. From 66, take 29 south into Warrenton & follow signs to downtown & the farmers’ market. Middleburg has one too, for late risers theirs starts at 9 a.m. Saturdays, behind the post office. Rt. 50 west into Middleburg, turn left at the light, go one block and turn right, the market is one block on your right. One of the hunt country’s largest, is the Farmer’s Market at Archwood Greens; this one is right off I-66. It’s open Sunday afternoons from 1 – 4. Take 66 west to The Plains, the green barns are immediately on your right after the exit ramp. All feature scrumptious baked goods, local fresh produce, jams, jellies, crafts, plants, herbs, and more.
The Beach & The Boardwalk Plaza
This past February we ventured to Virginia Beach for our March Road Trip. With six inches of fresh snow on the roads and beach, it made for an interesting trip that turned in to an extended “snow day”. This April we ventured to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for our May Road Trip. What a difference two months makes. We had beautiful weather with temps in the 60s and 70s. Growing up in Oxon Hill, Maryland since I was 5 years old (now 78) when we went to the beach, it was mostly to Ocean City, Maryland. As the "Highrise" period at the beach moved north, we eventually discovered Rehoboth. The town was founded in 1873 as the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association by the Rev. Robert W. Todd, of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington, Delaware as a site for Methodist Episcopal Church camp meetings. Today Rehoboth is a vibrant year-round city that explodes in the summer.
Our intent of visiting Rehoboth in April is to take advantage of the amenities of a beach town in the early months of the season. Another reason for choosing Rehoboth, is a chance to return to the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel. Sitting on the boardwalk and two and a half blocks from the main drag in Rehoboth, this location is perfect no matter what the weather. Since Rehoboth is a year-round community, most businesses are also open year-round but the number of people is way down. Therefore, there is almost no waiting to fi nd a seat for dinner or drinks. Also, the parking meters are turned off so all parking is free. Once in Rehoboth we proceeded to the Plaza
to check in. As in the past, we were greeted by their great staff and the three parrots that occupy the desk area. Emro IV (left) is top
with Moose (bottom) and Peanut (middle) also clamoring for attention and talking up a storm. The Victorian-style Boardwalk Plaza is a beautiful hotel with many antiques and beautiful
furniture. The hotel has its own restaurant as well as the hotel pub where you often fi nd entertainment.
Adjacent to the lobby is their popular grotto... a large pool like hot tub which is open for use day and night and is connected to a small sitting pool on the boardwalk.
Upon checking, we were given an ocean front suite on the fourth floor which is only for adults. During the shoulder seasons this is nice but during the summer months when the place is buzzing with kids, it is essential. You have to have a special key card that will access the fourth floor from the elevator. Another nice touch is that only the fourth floor can access the hot tubs on the roof. This is a really nice treat.
The suites are beautifully appointed and the views are amazing. I am very happy of the photo of the sunrise that I took on our fi rst morning. We have been lucky enough to stay in one of these suites on our previous trips and they are consistently exceptional.
After playing a little bit with Emro IV, we went
parrot
to our room. We then decided to visit a few of our favorite places on Rehoboth Avenue. Our fi rst stop involved a nine-minute walk to Nalu, an island style restaurant and in Hawaiian means surging surf or wave. Nalu has great drinks and a specialty offering of bacon wrapped pineapple chunks. Delicious. It was great to see that Jules
was behind the bar. We had a lot of fun with her last year when we made our annual trek. She knows how to make a good drink and keep her bar patrons entertained.
After a Happy Hour beverage and an order of the bacon wrapped pineapple, we ventured down Rehoboth Avenue a few blocks to the Purple Parrot, another one of our favorites and a fun beach style restaurant. With dollar bills
stapled over all of the walls and ceiling left by customers, the place has a very comfortable feel. Feeling a bit hungry we ordered She Crab soup and a chicken quesadilla. The soup was perfect and the quesadilla hit the spot – it is enough for two for sure. After a couple of cocktails, we
decided it was time to head back to the hotel, don our swim attire and hit the grotto! Adults only after 8 pm!!
The next day our friend Nancy drove up from her condo in north Ocean City to join us for the night. She arrived just in time to take a short drive to Lewes, Delaware to check out the 16th Annual Tulip Celebration to see the 31,000 tulips that had been planted around the city and to grab a quick lunch. Full disclosure, we don’t think we
saw all 31,000 but we did see a lot of beautiful plantings. While Rehoboth is a beach town on the ocean, Lewes is a small community steeped in history located on the Delaware Bay. It is a slower paced place with very a nice choice of eateries and one-of-a-kind shops. I wish we had taken more pictures. The downtown section of this little town is truly “Hallmark” movie worthy. We recommend that you check out Lewes Oyster House – they had our very favorite “Sweet Jesus” bivalves from Hollywood Oyster Company located in Hollywood, Maryland and one of my favorite beverages, Painkillers. IYKYK.
Nancy and I stayed until the end and then we retired to the suite to grab a slice of said pizza and get our suits on and head down to the grotto. The three of us were pretty much the only guests in the pool at 10:30 pm. Not sure why we didn’t check out the hot tubs on the roof this year… there’s always a next time.
The next day we checked out, said our goodbyes to our feathered friends and went to Starboard (another must stop for us) in Dewey Beach for breakfast before Nancy went back to Ocean City
and we headed home. I was surprised how many cars were in town in March. It turns out it was spring break so folks were getting an early start. There were very few people on the beach as the temps were a bit chilly. However, a week later the temps were in the mid-70s and I heard that the beach got their fair share of beach goers. As I write this on April 22nd, the temps at Rehoboth reached 78 today.
Upon our return to Rehoboth, we pretty much retraced our steps from the evening before to take advantage of the Nalu and Parrot Happy Hour eats and drinks. We then returned to the Hotel in order to catch local musician, Keith Mack, who was playing in the Tavern. He is very popular and the Tavern isn’t very big so you have to get there early to get prime seating. We were a little late but two lovely ladies let us join them to share their prime space. We got all wrapped up in the music and nixed our plans for a nice dinner but Lani saved the day and made the trek down the boardwalk to a beach staple, Grotto Pizza and procured nourishment. They never disappoint.
Certainly, the most popular time to head to Rehoboth and the beaches is the summertime. However, if you want to beat the crowds, head out in the spring and fall. You can still fi nd warm days but still a cold ocean, just like we learned at Virginia Beach.
Also, you can probably get cheaper room rate off season, and the Boardwalk Plaza is the perfect choice. Incredibly nice staff, great restaurant and pub and a lot less folks running around...it is pleasant.
The drive time to Rehoboth is about two and a half hours and Route 404 will take you through the small towns and fields of Delaware.
CARIBBEAN CONNECTION
10 Off-the-Beaten-Path Caribbean Beaches to Discover Right Now
Doesn’t everyone want to find that “secret” slice of beach heaven when you are in search for some relaxing time in the sun and sand? Alexander Brittell and his staff did some heavy-duty R&D to uncover 10 gorgeous such places in the beautiful islands of the Caribbean. You may want to start planning your next beach adventure in one of these spots – Lani Gering.
The Caribbean has no shortage of headline-making beaches — Seven Mile, Grace Bay, Eagle Beach — and they deserve the spotlight, too. But tucked away across the region are lesser-known gems, quiet strands with local charm, raw beauty, and the feeling that, when you arrive, you’ve made your own personal discovery. These are the kinds of places you almost don’t want to share — but they’re too good to keep secret.
Anse Marcel, Saint Martin It’s in one of the best corners of one of our favorite destinations; Saint Martin, but it somehow flies way under the radar. This little destination-within-a-destination is tucked in a northern corner of the island, within easy access of both Grand Case (the gourmet
capital of the Caribbean) and Orient Bay, with a breathtakingly beautiful beach edged by green hills. It’s one of the great Caribbean beaches you’ve probably never heard of. It’s also home to the sleek, tiny Aura, a hybrid hotel-villa-residence that’s perfect for groups and families. (Rooms from $396).
Pigeon Point, Antigua Every time we make the trip here, we like it more. It feels like a secret: quiet and alluring, but it’s also home to one of the best beach hotspots in the Caribbean right now:
Cafe,
Rocks Group’s all-day beach destination where the Negronis flow and the vibes are immaculate. It’s a perfect Caribbean beach.
Portici Beach, Grenada Located just a five-minute drive from Maurice Bishop International Airport, Portici Beach is a secluded gem nestled between two rocky cliffs and surrounded by lush vegetation.
This less-than-half-mile stretch of golden sand offers crystal-clear waters, making it ideal for family outings, snorkeling, or simply relaxing in tranquility. But the biggest reason to visit might be the pair of hotels that now call this beach home: the lovely, venerable Laluna (rooms from $534) and the upstart, effortlessly chic Silversands Beach House (the sister property to the now-famous Grand Anse resort). Rooms from $600.
Hopkins, Belize Dreamy and intimate, there’s a fantasy feel to this stretch of beach in central
Belize. Beach shacks, cold Belikins and a barefoot, carefree vibe. The best part? No one you know has ever heard of it. That means when you get here, it’s your own personal discovery.
Old Bight, Cat Island, The Bahamas Located in the village of Old Bight, this five-mile stretch of pure white sand offers a peaceful setting perfect for
quiet walks, picnics, beachcombing, or sunbathing. It just seems to go on and on.
The beach’s expansive shoreline and clear blue waters provide an idyllic backdrop for relaxation — and it’s also home to a beloved little beach hotel called Rollezz Villas, with rooms for under $300 per night — right on the sand.
Anse Noire, Martinique Set at the very bottom of a high cliff, this is the only black sand beach in the
south of Martinique, nestled in a small, peaceful cove with crystal-clear waters. The beach offers a magnificent underwater world and a romantic, stunning setting that makes it a kind of bucket-list beach.
Pain-de-Sucre, Terre de Haut, Guadeloupe We like to say that if you squint, you can imagine a
miniature version of St Barth on the little island of Terre de Haut in the Guadeloupe archipelago. And here, you get a mini version of Brazil’s Sugarloaf. They call it Pain de Sucre, and this is the crown jewel of the Les Saintes mini-archipelago in Guadeloupe. It’s wonderfully calm, scenic and perfect for laying back with a ti’ punch.
Lindquist Beach, St Thomas Tucked away on St. Thomas’s tranquil East End, Lindquist Beach is one of those places that feels like a secret — even if it isn’t. Officially part of the 21-acre Smith Bay Park, this stretch of sand is everything you come to the Caribbean for: soft, white-pink sand, impossibly clear turquoise water, and a quiet, unspoiled vibe. It’s a local favorite, but rarely crowded, with gentle surf perfect for families and plenty of palms for shade. The beach is part of a protected
Catherine’s
the
nature reserve, so you’re just as likely to spot seabirds and marine life as fellow sunbathers.
There’s a lifeguard on duty, showers, picnic tables, and changing stalls — but no vendors, so pack your cooler. (You may recognize it from the old Hannah Davis commercials for DirectTV).
Baby Beach, Aruba This beach isn’t a secret, but it’s still one of Aruba’s most remote beaches. It’s uniformly shallow, meaning you can wade out as far as you want in the nylonturquoise water and fi nd the perfect blend of
energy and calm. This beach is also about to hit the travel radar in a big way with the imminent debut of Secrets’ fi rst ever resort on the island.
Long Bay, Tortola Gold-medal beaches are all over the British Virgin Islands, whether you’re in Anegada, Virgin Gorda or Peter Island. So, it’s sometimes easy to forget just
how magnificent the beaches are in Tortola. And for us, there’s none better than Long Bay and its dreamy, almost intoxicating beauty, a beach that somehow manages to continue flying under the radar.
Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staff contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/ website at caribjournal.com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean.
The
Right on the beach in the nicest part of Naples, next to a park. You cannot get any closer or find a better view at any price than this 2BR 2BA condo. Naples was rated the No. 1 US city to live in by U.S. News and is always on the list of the top 10 best beaches in the U.S. Extremely well built, low density post WWII building that has withstood the past two Cat 4 and 5 hurricanes with no structural damage. Step out to beach or walk to town center, fabulous golfing biking and boating nearby. You cannot buy a better view anywhere on the Gulf for five times the price. For downsizing or a winter getaway don't let this one slip away. Listed for $975,000 with Naples Vibe Realty at 239-300-7006 naplesviberealty.com or call the owner Julie at 540-364-9480 for more information.
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
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
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
HOPS 'N SHINE 3410 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-566-1509
HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355
JACKS 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
MAJESTIC CAFÉ
911 King St. 703-837-9117
MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street 703-548-8800 mason-social.com
MURPHYS IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com
MYSTIC BAR & GRILL 220 N. Lee St. 703-565-9808 mysticbbqandgrill.com
NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032
OAK STEAKHOUSE 901 N. St. Asaph St. 703-840-3395
OCONNELLS
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 COOPER MILL 10 Duke St. 703-566-1278
THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street 703-838-8000
T.J. STONES
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 GRAIN & FEED 106 South Union St. 571-970-3669
VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & THE 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
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
SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458
TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878
CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE 407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800
SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154
RAILBIRD KITCHEN 804 North Henry St. 703-577-9023
CONTINENTAL
CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665
OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361
ALEXANDRIA BIER GARDEN 710 King Street 703-888-1951
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
FONTAINES 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 (behind the building) 703-888-2243
ANDY’S PIZZA 107 N Fayette St 571-319-0497
BUGSYS PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313
COOPER MILL 10 Duke St. 703-566-1278
FRANK PEPE NAPOLETANA PIZZERIA 3231 Duke Street Alexandria Commons 703-719-2035
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
EPICURE ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090
PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287
RED ROCKS FIREBRICK PIZZA 904 King St. 703-717-9873
THOMPSON'S ITALIAN 1026 King Street alexandria@thompsonitalian.com
MEDITERRANEAN
BARCA PIER & WINE BAR 2 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1100
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
DELIAS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. 703-329-0006
VASO'S MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1118 King Street 703-566-2720
VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747
SEAFOOD
HANKS OYSTER BAR 818 N St. Asaph 703-739-HANK
FISH MARKET-OLD TOWN 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
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 (next to Crate & Barrel) 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 RESTAURANT 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
Celebremos el Cinco de Mayo en Los Tios!
It has been quite a while since we have written about one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in the DMV – the Los Tios located on Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray area of Alexandria. This place is a regular stop for some chips and salsa and a margarita while we are doing the issue distribution in that area. And….Cinco de Mayo is fast approaching!!
Since Bob is a relative newcomer to Mexican cuisine and I have some history here since, along with mom visiting from Wyoming and my longtime friend Catherine, I was among the fi rst customers to patronize this location when it opened and it was often my Friday night “go-to” place when I resided in Del Ray.
While Los Tios isn’t a traditional Mexican restaurant, it features some of the most popular Tex-Mex and Salvadorean food in the area. I just wish they would make a great chile verde and add it to the menu.
Los Tios has long been one of our favorite places for good margaritas and some of the freshest corn chips and salsa around. On top of that, the wait staff are some of the best so the service is spot on. You might see a familiar face from the Old Town restaurant scene behind the bar or on the floor these days. Miguel Lemus, former head bartender at The Wharf and previously on the floor and behind the bar at Landini Brothers for years is on board here. He was behind the bar on this visit and that is good because we usually sit at the bar since you can be seated and served right away - the place normally has a line out the door for a table during the dinner hour and on weekends. This is a good sign that the place is worth the visit since it is a huge restaurant. There are two large dining rooms in addition to the bar that has high top seating as well as bar seating and sidewalk dining
that takes up almost half of the block.
We love the décor. The color scheme and the multiple paintings on the walls and the various wall hangings all with a Mexican theme make you feel like you are actually in Mexico and points beyond. One of the best pieces of “décor” in the bar area is
a couple of them entail! Bob sticks with the traditional and I am a “spicey” version girl. They also have a nice selection of Mexican beers and we hear that they serve a great Mojito. Wine lovers have a couple of choices but if you are a serious wine drinker, you might want to jump on the margarita band wagon.
chips. Worth the splurge for sure.
The menu is extensive and we won’t go in to everything that they offer since you can check it out in its entirety online.
We stayed with our go-to selections of Tacos Los Tios off of the Platos Tipicos section of the menu and a combo of chicken and beef
something that we call the “Tequila Tree”. We believe that it really is a replica of an Agave plant turned in to a tequila holder. Anyway, we think they are cool.
If you are a big fan of the margarita, this is the place for you. Margaritas come in different sizes and are offered both on the rocks and frozen.
“Grande” and “Rio Grande” or you can opt for the smaller “regular” house Marg with whatever tequila they use but you have your choice of over 20 brands. You can also have them in a variety of flavors – too numerous to mention and you will have to ask what
Drinks and dinner are both started out with a complimentary basket of fresh house made corn chips and salsa fresca. They have a killer Chile con Queso and the house made Guacamole are great additions to the
on the Fajita menu. The Tacos Los Tios is offered with beef or chicken and with soft or hard corn tortillas. I always get the beef because I really like the marinade and go back and forth between the soft and hard tortillas.
Accompanying this entrée
are Mexican rice, refried beans, lettuce, Pico de Gallo, quacamole and sour cream. If you are a traditional taco fan, this is the order for you.
The fajitas come in a bunch of combos on and above just chicken and beef. You have your choice of everything from shrimp to chorizo with bbq ribs in between. Bob opted for a chicken and beef combo. They are served with your protein choice, onions and green peppers sizzling on a cast iron platter accompanied by fresh flour tortillas, refried beans, Mexican rice, Pico de Gallo, lettuce, quacamole and sour cream. The portions are good sized so, depending on how hungry you are, you may come home with some leftovers.
We were so full we couldn’t even entertain the thought of dessert but Miguel treated us to an amazing pineapple and coconut ice cream creation that we just had to consume. It was over the top in presentation as well as taste. Traditional choices of fried ice cream, sopaipillas, tres leches, fried bananas with ice cream and flan as well as key lime pie and cheese cake are on the menu.
In addition to dinner, Los Tios offers lunch specials that are served from 11am to 3pm and Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3–7pm at the bar. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 11am-2pm. Open MondayThursday and Sunday 11am–10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm.
If you can’t make it for Cinco de Mayo, just pick any day of the month to celebrate with food that has a Mexican flair.
Los Tios Grill
Don’t even pick up the phone. It’s not going to happen anyway. Beyond Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day may be the busiest restaurant day of the year. Even if you make the call early enough to get that table for prime time after church, don’t do it. Because it’s also the perfect time to reach for that peak of self-expression, that burst of culinary creativity, that act of genuine love. It’s time to cook for Mom. She doesn’t want to fight for a parking spot and navigate the crowds for slow service and rushed ratatouille any more than you do. She wants you. To cook. For her.
In the old days, they said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But in this age of equity, we know it’s the way to all hearts – especially your Mom’s. She knows it’s not your “go to” move. She knows you’re more comfortable in the yard or the garage. Frankly, she knows the whole cooking thing is, for you, a stretch. But that’s precisely why she loves it. She knows you’re trying. She knows it’s all you can summon. She probably doesn’t even care if it tastes good. (And we’re here to tell you, if you follow our lead – it will actually taste good.) But you know what else she knows? She knows, as you set the table, serve her a glass of wine and prepare a plate of your best effort, that you love her. Because nothing says love like food. Especially for a Mom.
We’re your friends here. We’re going
to make it easy on you. The recipe to follow is a sure-fi re, time-proven, world tested Mom pleaser. But fi rst, a few tips.
Enlist your Dad and siblings. You came up with the idea. You just need buy-in. These folks also love Mom, so it shouldn’t be hard. They also need a gift. And you are just the person to assist them.
Delegate, delegate, delegate. A few days before Sunday, get your “todo” list together. Grocery shopping (don’t forget the wine store). Flowers for the table. Table setting. Cooking. Serving. And the all-important fi nale (do NOT skip this step) – cleaning up. Figure out where each person’s talents lie and start delegating! After all, the family that preps together, loves Mom together.
Don’t get too complicated aka “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. Would your Mom rather have a totally botched Confit de Canard with fresh tomato pie and rainbow baked Alaska or a perfectly executed twice baked potato. This is not an episode of Iron Chef. It’s Mother’s Day. Make something you can manage.
Try this easy recipe:
• 4 large russet potatoes
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for topping)
• 1/4 cup milk
TheOneDay RestaurantBoycott –CookingforMom!
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 green onions, sliced (optional as Dad doesn’t like onions)
• Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F
Bake the Potatoes: - Wash and scrub the potatoes, then prick them several times with a fork. - Bake directly on the oven rack for about 45-60 minutes, until tender.
Cool and Scoop: - Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for about 10-15 minutes. - Cut each potato in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides into a mixing bowl, leaving a small border to maintain the potato shell.
Mix the Filling: - To the bowl, add the sour cream, cheddar cheese, milk, butter, green onions (if using), salt, and pepper. - Mash and mix until smooth and creamy.
Fill the Potatoes: - Spoon the potato mixture back into the potato skins, mounding it on top. - Sprinkle more cheese on top if desired.
Second Bake: - Place the stuffed potatoes on a baking sheet and return them to the oven. - Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the tops are golden and bubbly.
Serve: - Allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your delicious, twice-baked potatoes! Feel free to customize the filling with your favorite ingredients like bacon bits, broccoli, or different cheeses.
Set the table. Use the nice dining room and the nice dishes. What you lack in execution you can make up in elegance. You wouldn’t wrap a nice gift in the Sunday comics would you? (Don’t answer that.)
Seat Mom first and, for crying out loud, serve her fi rst.
Finally, when the meal is done and Mom is getting up to fi nd her angle of repose in the living room, walk
over and hug her. Tell her you love her and say “You go relax, Mom. We’ve got the dishes.” At this point, you are rounding third for home with victory in hand. All you have to do is not break the wine glasses. (Wash them by hand.)
Clean-up. Fill and run the dishwasher that morning. You’ll want both racks nice and empty for clean-up. And don’t even think about starting clean up until after the meal is completely done. In fact, watch everyone at the table. When they are done eating, wait another ten minutes to allow some loving family chatter. Don’t get up. Sit and chat. Mom’s love that. And with that, you’ve done it. You’ve skipped the madness. You’ve put your own hands and heart into it. We promise you, your Mom will know one thing for sure. You love her. About the Author: Contributing the column this month is Adam Morel, Chef Glenn’s brother. Glenn Morel is a producer turned chef. His website is www.ifihadachef.com
This is the first year the Morel bother's celebrate Mothers Day without their Mom. Obviously, she loved a twice baked potato.
GRAPEVINE
Pinot Noir - The Heartbreak Grape
Few wines are as versatile as Pinot Noir. Its high acidity and ‘silky’ tannins makes it a go-to pairing for many dishes, while Pinot’s lighter body makes it easy to drink on its own. Pinot Noir is also popular for higher-end sparkling wines, which is why it accounts for 38% of the grapes grown in Champagne.
Yet Pinot Noir’s popularity is almost equally matched by its fragility. Pinot is nicknamed “the heartbreak grape” because of its vulnerability to spring frost, disease, and harsh weather. Its need for very specific growing conditions would give even Goldilocks fits.
Virginia’s warm, humid climate makes this task especially hard. Dennis Horton, a man famous for introducing multiple varieties to the Old Dominion, reportedly once said of Pinot, “I don’t think Jesus Christ could grow Pinot Noir in Virginia. You can do it, but it doesn’t taste like Pinot should.”
Pinot’s reputation as a fi nicky grape is why it only makes up 41 out of nearly 3,500 acres of Virginia grapevines. Difficulties pushing their grapes to full ripeness also means many winegrowers only use them for sparkling wine or rosé, adding to Pinot’s scarcity as a red wine.
Fortunately, the tide is turning. A growing number of wine growers, mostly in the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains, have fi nally cracked the code on how to properly cultivate Pinot. A grape once confi ned to 2-3 consistent producers is slowly becoming more accessible.
The Evolution of Virginia’s Pinot Noir It’s difficult to say which winery fi rst planted Pinot, but several, including Barboursville and Swedenburg, tried in the 1990s and early 2000s. These viticultural pioneers didn’t yet realize how badly their low-lying sites would struggle, and eventually ripped out their vines. “Pinot is hard for Virginia. It doesn’t do very well here for still wine,” one grower admitted.
The key change from the wines that Dennis Horton tried is these newer vineyards usually select
higher-elevation sites, often 1,600 feet and above. This elevation ensures a constant flow of cool air and moderate temperature swings, which protect Pinot’s tightly bunched clusters from damage and allow them to evenly ripen.
Ankida Ridge became Virginia’s most famous Pinot producer based on the strength of their highelevation site; a 1,800’ mountaintop vineyard with a steep slope. Its inaugural 2010 vintage received such acclaim that it became the fi rst Mid-Atlantic wine to participate in the invite-only International Pinot Noir Celebration.
While Ankida may have paved the way in demonstrating Pinot Noir’s place in Virginia, others were close behind. Ox Eye Vineyards planted Pinot vines at their 1,780’ foot site in 2009, as did Hazy Mountain at its Swoope vineyard in 2016. 12 Ridges founded their 3,300’ foot site in 2016, which includes 3 acres of Pinot Noir. Fox Meadow and Stone Mountain, both with 1800’ vineyards, recently joined the Pinot club as well. Elevation helps, but that’s not Pinot’s only requirement. John Kiers of Ox Eye Vineyards was encouraged to plant Pinot after seeing its success in the Finger Lakes, a region which shares a similar climate to the Shenandoah Valley. The valley’s limestone soil and limited rainfall provide additional advantages.
Randy Philips of Cave Ridge Vineyards likewise sees parallels between the Shenandoah Valley and upstate New York. “It was partly an experiment, partly a business plan,” Randy said during our chat. “We grow Riesling, which shares many of the growing conditions that Pinot requires. Pinot also has name recognition, which helps with sales.” Today, Cave Ridge and Ox Eye both have an acre of Pinot.
Where To Find Virginia Pinot
The roster of wineries which typically produce a full Pinot is far larger than most realize. Ankida Ridge and 12 Ridges are Virginia’s most famous producers, but they’ve since been joined by Above Ground, Cave Ridge, Hazy Mountain, JBR, and Ox Eye.
Other wineries, including CrossKeys, Rockbridge, and Trump, occasionally make a still Pinot during better vintages. Mediterranean Cellars uses Pinot in its rosé.
Pinot Noir has also been a boon for sparkling producers. CrossKeys Vineyards’ 2019 Estate Blanc de Noir took “Best of Show” at the 2022 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association, while Trump Winery’s 2015 Blanc de Noir won the San Francisco Chronicle “Sparking Sweepstakes” award. Ankida, Ox Eye, and others also make Blanc de Noirs.
Must Try Virginia Pinot Noirs:
12 Ridges: Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, 12 Ridges is the 2nd highest elevation winery on the east coast. Their wines are difficult to fi nd, as the growing conditions which promote great acidity and minerality comes with the tradeoff of lower tonnage per acre. This shouldn’t deter local Pinot lovers from making a pilgrimage.
Ankida Ridge: They weren’t the fi rst winery in Virginia to make Pinot, but they certainly put it on the map. During an 2025 industry tasting of Virginia Pinot Noirs, their 2022 vintage was the consensus favorite.
Cave Ridge Vineyards: Megan Philips was so convinced their 2023 vintage was ready to go she convinced her dad Randy to bottle their Pinot as a still wine instead of making it into a sparking. Clean, fruity, and with notes of cherry and red plumb, she was right.
Ox Eye Vineyards: Their 2022 vintage is charming and approachable, and 2023 promises to be even more so. At $27, this is also one of the best values local Pinot lovers will ever fi nd. Owner/ winemaker John Kiers doesn’t make a still Pinot every year, but his $35 Blanc de Noir is a great alternative.
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/
The Next Generation
Last week we had a dozen local middle school and high school students here at the farm for The New Ag School’s “Think Outside” program. The base of the program is to give the students some introduction and awareness of the many jobs and careers in agriculture and related fields.
This year we included an equine day. The students were given some safety instructions and then visited a local therapeutic riding facility, Bridal Paths. Here the clients, disabled vets and citizens, interact and connect with the horses in ways that help them handle and, in some cases overcome their individual challenges. The students were able to meet the horses as well as talk with the staff about all the work needed to make this program and facility function. Nonprofits have jobs as well.
Other parts of the program included a day at the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling where we tended to the apple trees, berries grapes and asparagus that we planted 2 years ago. There was lots of compost mulch, weed removal, pruning and tying up the plants. Here at our farm, we built, filled and planted a large raised bed, started sprouts for them to take home, had a culinary program, worked vines, berries and apples a bit as well as planted a couple of long rows of pollinators. We also had some good discussions about horticulture, landscaping, entrepreneurism, leadership and mentoring.
In addition to the students, we had 4 teacher/ mentors for the week as well as 4 different business mentors who led discussions and hands on learning for the program. Having these folks involved is critical to our success. This opens up the idea of a field trip, on the job training, and learning from the experts in the field. Tony Stafford from Fords Fish Shack , Tyler Richards from SkyHound, Amanda, Katie, Grayson, Nancy and Denise, thanks so much for your time, commitment and dedication to helping the next generation.
There is something about learning on the job that is so different from learning in a classroom. Even if the kids are not “working” they get that chance to learn in a hands-on but also safe environment. In my opinion there is little that can substitute for that. I remember working in my grandmothers garden many decades ago and then in my parents. It was part of the process of what needed to be done. I feel a lot of that opportunity is missing in today’s lifestyle for our young folks.
This summer The New Ag School will be partnering with Loudoun County Public Schools to have 2 one-week programs for rising high school freshmen. This will be a pilot program based on what we have already found successful over the past few years. Our goal is to help develop skills and passion in the students so they can be involved with their onsite school gardens and even lead their environmental clubs.
The future is endless for these kids with a base understanding and commitment to plants and leadership. These are our future land owners, winemakers, community leaders, farmers, executives, teachers, scientists, parents, business owners and so much more. I am proud to have the opportunity to work with others to share a bit of what we have learned to make their future roads a little more navigable. We may not have talked wine much this month, but we certainly have built up the base for our flavorful industry. Cheers!
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
Easton, Maryland: the Home of Brews, Bites, Bourbon and Bugattis
One of the great things about living in this area is that there is a plethora of locations for fun one day getaways. When I fi rst moved here after college in the late 1980s, I was fortunate enough to have several friends living in the area. One of which was my former college roommate and fraternity brother, Andy. He had grown up here and was a proficient sailor. When he graduated, he bought a thirty-foot Catalina sailboat and it docked in St. Mary’s, Maryland. We would go on great weekend sailing trips all over the bay. I’ll never forget my fi rst time sailing under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It was amazing.
To this day, I love visiting the Eastern Shore. My wife, Leigh, and I go there a couple of times a year. We love St. Michaels. But we always stay in the adorable town of Easton. Trips there never disappoint. It’s a great place for strolling, shopping, dining, and of course, imbibing.
We decided it was time for an Easton trip. We met our friends, Bonnie and Art, at the Tidewater Inn in downtown Easton around noon on Saturday. Located in the heart of Easton, this beautiful boutique hotel is a must see. The architecture and design capture the look and feel of the inn’s waterfront home.
A classic inn lobby with working woodburning fi replaces greets you as you enter. It has spa services and wonderful banquet facilities. Plus, Hunter’s Tavern, their fun and delightful bar. It’s lunchtime, so we headed down the street to Rude Burger. They’re not actually rude to you at Rude Burger, which I found a tad disappointing. But that was my only disappointment. It’s a cute, small, and very busy place. The fi rst thing that jumped out at me was the great craft beer and bourbon selection. As I examined the beer list, my choice was obvious, Maine Lunch IPA from Maine Brewing Company. It’s rare to fi nd this beer on tap. This IPA doesn’t have the usual bitter and hoppy characteristics. It’s fairly light, with caramel, orange, papaya and grapefruit flavors. A perfect lunch beer, no pun intended. Leigh chose the Ten Eyck TMave Pivo Czech Lager. A dark and malty lager that is as big a mouthful as its name. Although it’s dark, the taste is very light. Our burgers were fantastic, as were the accompanying tater tots. I refrained from diving into Rude Burger’s great bourbon list. After all, the afternoon had just begun.
Our next stop, The Easton Academy Art Museum for the Bugatti Exhibit. Bugatti is a famous luxury French Sports car manufacturer. The modern-day Bugatti Chiron starts at $3 Million. The exhibit had 4 cars from the early 1900s, two race cars and two sports cars, plus other memorabilia. We were in awe of these beautiful vehicles. There’s no room for a full history lesson here. But Bugatti is defi nitely worth an internet search.
was Masters weekend. So, it was time to stop for a beer and to watch some golf. Leigh suggested a cute little pub, Legal Assets. It had a great atmosphere and very friendly staff. We had already eaten, but the food looked delicious. I spotted my beer tap, Nanticoke Nectar IPA from RAR Brewing, a great local brewery. This is an excellent West Coast IPA without the dank bitter hops or the piney taste. It’s refreshingly citrusy featuring mango and grapefruit flavors.
After the beers it was time to go shopping. The wives led the way as Art and I pulled up the rear. After a couple of stops, Art turned to me.
“What are we doing? “
“I don’t know.” I confusingly replied. “Following blindly?” “Exactly.” Art answered. “Hey Bonnie, do you need us to be with you?”
Both ladies replied that they didn’t need us. And that we should go to a pub and watch The Masters if we want to. There was no need to tell us twice. We headed to Doc’s Downtown Grille, and old Easton favorite. It’s a classic pub. The perfect atmosphere to watch golf. Art gets another Nanticoke Nectar
Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations
IPA. It’s a little later in the afternoon now, so it’s now bourbon time for me. I chose an old favorite, Woodford Reserve. Not much beats sipping a good bourbon and watching the Masters in a great pub with a buddy.
After a while, we headed back to the hotel to relax. That evening, we went out for an amazing dinner at Scossa, a wonderful Northern Italian restaurant just a couple of blocks from the Tidewater Inn. The chef’s name is Giancarlo Tondin, who began his career at the world-famous Harry’s Bar Restaurant in Venice. Needless to say, everything was delicious. Especially when accompanied by a bottle of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley, California. I do love wine. But I rarely make it part of this column. This low tannin cabernet has blueberry, cranberry, clove, and French oak on the palate and fi nishes as clean and smooth as it starts. It was a perfect wine for a perfect meal.
It’s time to head back to the hotel for a nightcap. Hunter’s Tavern was rocking, so we joined in. This great little hotel bar is frequented by THE locals, a true sign of quality. I spotted an old favorite on the top shelf behind the bar, Little Book Chapter 8. It’s one of Booker’s higher end bourbons, and hard to fi nd. I asked the bartender how much it was for one on the rocks. He checked, smiled at me, and said sixty dollars. He was fortunate that I was too buzzed to care and ordered one. Leigh asked what I was drinking, so I ended up ordering two. That lucky bartender doubled down and won without even trying. The bourbons and then some more wine topped off what had been a wonderful day.
Little Book Chapter 8: Path Not Taken
This series of bourbons from Bookers has a new chapter each a little different than the last. Little Book is always a masterful blend of whiskeys ranging from 4 to 18 years in age. Chapter 8 is bold and spicy on the nose with hints of cinnamon and baking spices. The fi rst sip is a delight with rye bread, butterscotch, caramel, and charred oak coming through. The rye in this whiskey gives it a delightful spice that is prominent until the last sip where it is joined by a bit of apricot and citrus notes. Yes, it’s a unicorn. But it’s a unicorn worth hunting. Enjoy.
Ferio Tego Timeless Panamericana Cigar
What a great smoke. This cigar kicks off with an intense peppery and earthy taste with hints of nuts and oak, typical for a Nicaraguan cigar. The smoke tastes almost velvety on the palate. It slowly becomes a very well-balanced medium smoke as you continue. Some sweetness comes out further in, but the pepper, nuts, and earth tones remain. The cigar fi nishes wonderfully becoming a tad fuller bodied during the last few inches. The spice and earthiness will match perfectly with that Little Book you are drinking. Cheers!
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.
Places like Easton make this area great. Whether it’s the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Maryland Eastern Shore, or the District, there are tons of great places to visit. All offer unique, fun, and often educational experiences. Just be careful when you order a nightcap at the hotel bar after a fun day of activities. Your bar bill shouldn’t be more than the bill for your hotel room. Oh well, live and learn. Cheers!!
About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@belmarinnovations.com . Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that fl y doing in my soup? http:// whatfl yinmysoup.com
POINTS ON PETS CHERYL BURNS
Meet Sweet Potato Bailey Burns!
“Momma Needs a Kitty!” The Impact of Cats on Human Stress
It was one of the most stressful periods of my life, and I’ve survived the bar exam, life in a big law fi rm, and several big moves. The details don’t really matter but, suffice it to say, every day took everything I had. I’d get home from work and rather than getting a snack or changing into gym clothes (okay, or pajamas), I’d simply collapse onto the couch, lying in a slightly extended fetal position with my arms wrapped around my own shoulders or belly. And within seconds, I’d feel a nudge.
Like most cats, Sweet Potato Bailey Burns does not enjoy hugs—she loves some good lap time, relishes pets, and even tolerates being carried, but a hug gets a protesting yowl and an immediate attempt to break free. And yet…
When I needed comfort the most, there she was. Instead of wriggling free, she wriggled her way into my arms and purred her little heart out. If she could speak, I’d swear she was
saying, “It’s alright Momma. Sweet P is here.”
It wasn’t all that surprising. She was a “comfort kitty” from day one. She’d graced many a lap during her relatively brief stay at King Street Cats (when she simply went by Bailey), a no-kill, free-roam, allvolunteer shelter in Alexandria, Virginia, making sure visitors felt welcome. She’d chatter on about the events of her day while volunteers did their work. Later, in the early days in her forever home, she’d often sit on the lap of one human and spot the other across the room. Her muscles would tighten, seemingly with a sense of responsibility, and she’d leap to provide love to the person who was lacking a kitty companion. A few minutes later, she’d spot the fi rst person’s empty lap and rush back. “Momma needs a kitten!!!”
And no one else saw it, but I swear the late, great Smoky Tiggs once did a little jig on her hind legs just to make my tears turn to laughter. She was
the prim and proper princess, but she still took care of her people. She knew who needed her and when. Smoky saved me, but that’s a longer story. They Know, and They Respond
When it comes to sensing their people’s stress, dogs tend to get all the credit, but our feline friends deserve some recognition too. In a veterinarian-approved article, the folks at Catster note that cats can sense both depression and anxiety. They cite several scientific studies including a report from a group of Italian researchers who conducted a study, concluding that cats use a range of visual and auditory stimuli to understand the emotions of humans and their fellow felines.
And not only do they know what we’re feeling, they adapt. The Italian researchers put this in appropriately formal terms: “they appear to modulate their behavior according to the valence of the emotion perceived.”
The simply named Cats.com takes
a more informal approach, noting that cats may recognize when their people feel sad or anxious and adjust their behavior accordingly. Cats may respond by showing affection or trying to share comforting pheromones by rubbing against the person.
It’s worth noting, however, as Cats. com reminds readers, that sometimes cats respond to stress by becoming stressed themselves, so do keep an eye on them too. I can tell you that the closest we came to an all-outcatfight between our two felines was on a call about the same source of stress that turned Sweet P into a hugmachine. And it happened twice, two separate calls about the same topic. They knew. They felt it. While it wasn’t quite the same, feeling called to comfort them did distract me from my own stress.
A Note on That Purr
Sweet Potato is known for a power purr, and never does it manifest as
strongly as when she’s in “comfort kitten” mode. I suspect she knows what scientists have found. As the Hand & Wrist Institute reports— and as most cat people would probably attest— the low-frequency vibrations of a cat’s purr can calm and relax their humans. It even reduces blood pressure and may lower the risk of a heart attack!
But, Why?
I suppose this all makes evolutionary sense. After all, while humans worked to domesticate the wolf into the dog we know today, the generally accepted view is that cats domesticated themselves. They didn’t actually change much physically, Sweet P and Smoky Tiggs bear much in common with their wilder sisters, but they realized people were useful, and they made friends. It’s to their benefit to keep us attached to them, it keeps the food coming and the shelter warm.
But, still, I’ll choose to believe that cats know they are loved and love us back. No one will convince me—or the kitty tucked in my lap— otherwise.
About the Author - Cheryl Burns is a legal editor who is convinced her cats adopted her, not the other way around.
Sources:
Dr. John Knight, “Is a Cat’s Purr Actually Helpful to our Bones?” Hand & Wrist Institute.
Angelo Quaranta, Serenella d’Ingeo, Rosaria Amoruso, and Marcello Siniscalchi, “Emotion Recognition in Cats,” Animals (June 28, 2020).
Dr. Lizzie Youens, “Can Cats Sense Anxiety and Depression in Their Owners?” Cats.com (June 7, 2024)
PETS OF THE MONTH
Our May pro les are for three bonded pairs looking for homes together. Is your home ready for them?
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304
703-838-4774
www.alexandriaanimals.org
Animal Welfare League of Arlington 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive Arlington, VA 22206 703-931-9241 www.awla.org
Fairfax County Animal Shelter 4500 West Ox Road Fairfax, VA 22030
703-830-1100
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter
King Street Cats 25 S. Dove Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-231-7199
www.kingstreetcats.org
Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. (Dog rescue for VA, MD, DC, and south central PA) P.O. Box 90813 Alexandria, VA 22309 703-344-7320 ophrescue.org
Friends of Rabbits www.friendsofrabbits.org
Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary (1300 animals and 22 species on 450 acres) P.O. Box 1357 Orange, VA 22960 540-854-0870
By appointment: tours@rikkisrefuge.org events@rikkisrefuge.org www.rikkisrefuge.org
Carol & Addison
Jamie & Doll
Shyla & Blaze
alexandriaanimals.org
Mon-Tu-Th-Fri, 12-7 pm
Carol and Addison are a bonded pair of 3-year-old short-haired bunny buds who have been together their whole lives. The real trick? Telling them apart! These two bunnies have very similar black and white markings. They are both highly social and affectionate and their fur is smooth as silk
Jamie and Doll are two pretty parakeets. They enjoy catching up on the latest gossip while on their swing. They both like puzzle and foraging games. Some of their favorite snacks are greens, carrots, bananas and oranges -- along with their parakeet food. These birdie BFFs need a home together.
Shyla, 12, and Blaze, 10, are like an old married couple. Shyla is the more spry and social while Blaze is more happy to ease into his recliner. These two get along well with the other dogs, teenage kids and enjoy slow walks around the yard. Now this pair is ready for a more permanent place to settle in for their golden years.
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“Every year at about this time, those of us who like that bronzed skin look start thinking about the long Memorial Day Weekend as the beginning of tanning season. We know that too much sun exposure isn’t good for you and that an SPF 30 is recommended from head to toe, however, a tan masks a multitude of sins – cellulite doesn’t look quite as bad, freckles sort of run together, etc. That being said, there is the alternative – self tanners. The tanning products that are available these days are numerous. It is way different now than the Coppertone QT some of us used back in the 60’s and 70’s. My favorite is the Bondi Sands Australian tan foam version with the microfiber mitt applicator. Jergens Natural Glow is a very close second. We try to publish these tips from Kim Putens each year as a refresher. I can tell you from experience DO NOT SKIP STEP 1!” - Lani
Learning to apply self-tanner is as much about patience and perseverance as it is an art form. It does not have to be an uphill battle, like learning how to paint the Mona Lisa. It is achievable and a few tricks of the trade will have you looking as stunningly bronzed as ever. Even if you seek out a professional for help, it is important to know what
and what not to do. Remember, regardless of your self-tanning fate, it is still better to get that fake bake than to bake in the sun or in a wretched tanning bed.
S��� 1 – Exfoliate – You must get off all that dead skin before even attempting to point that bronzing bottle at your body. If you do not slough, the tanner will blotch. Pay particular attention to rough spots like knees, elbows, heels, and hands. When choosing an exfoliant, be sure to choose one that is oil-free. Oil prevents tanner from properly penetrating.
S��� 2 – Prep Yourself – To avoid turning green, orange or any other color of the rainbow, it is extremely important that you prep your skin. Remove deodorant – it can react to the self-tanner and turn your underarms green. Put moisturizer on your eye brows – the tanner can turn them orange. Finally, rub a thin layer of body lotion onto chronically dry areas such as elbows, hands, heels and hands to keep them from turning darker shades of brown. All this will ensure that the tanner absorbs nicely without splotching or streaking.
S��� 3 – Dress Accordingly – Opt for less is more. Choose clothing that is not your Sunday best. Keep in mind these clothing items may or
most likely will be covered in self tanner. If at home, naked is best. If at a professional tanning salon, consider wearing a thong that could get ruined or use the paper ones provided. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
S��� 4 – Get to Work – To avoid weird lines from bending over, it is best to work your way up starting with your lower half. With the spray tan version, be sure to hold the spray tan can at least eight inches away from you and spray in an up and down motion. Spray from your thighs to calves to feet in slow, steady, even layers. Go easy on typical problem areas - feet, knees and ankles - so they don’t end up darker than the rest of your body. Next, move to the middle. Spray the front and back of your torso. Then do your arms, armpits, and wrists. Be careful not to overdo the area around your armpits. These should look a little lighter as they naturally would. Go lightly on your wrists and hands so you don’t end up looking like you are wearing brown gloves. Finally, face the music. Mist your face lightly. Instead of one fell swoop, mist your face in sections. If using the foam or lotion versions, follow the above steps and use an applicator or disposable gloves
while applying. If you have to use your bare hands, WASH THEM IMMEDIATELY with soap after applying.
S��� 5 – Fix Mistakes – You have about 20 minutes before the tanner fully absorbs. So, check your work quickly so you can attend to mistakes. If you fi nd areas that are too dark or splotchy, fi x your mistakes by blotting the dark areas with a make-up sponge. Be sure not to wipe, as you can create streaks.
S��� 6 – Let it Set – Heed the directions on the can/bottle. It takes about 8 hours for self-tanner to fully set. Thus, for this period of time, be sure to wear loose, dark clothing, as it is possible for tanner to rub off on your clothes. Avoid any clingy clothing such as a bra. Avoid showering during this time period as well because it will impact the fate of your tan. If you fi nd that an area looks too dark, rub a slice of lemon over the area. The acid will tone down the color.
S��� 7 – Make it Last – Most selftanning applications last about one to two weeks. To get the maximum out of your self-tanning effort, avoid exfoliating and shave your legs infrequently, if possible. Finally, moisturize your body from head to toe after every shower.
The Fit Mom Life
As a personal trainer and mother, I can appreciate being able to have an hour to myself to get in a good workout. This event rarely happens. It seems that by the time I actually have some time to spend on myself there is still a million things to get done.
Exercise is always on my list of things to do for the day and I have found that the best way to fit it in is by doing a 15-20 minute workout at least twice a day. Fitting in a workout can be easier if you make it a part of your daily routine. I know this is easier said than done, but it is possible.
Make your workout fun for you and for your kids. Try doing a workout video in the living room while your kids play. If they are old enough to move around have fun with them, you get your workout in and the kids get worn out too! When babies are too young to move on their own, it’s the best time to strap them in a stroller and go for a walk. If you are a runner, I highly recommend investing in a jogging stroller - it will make exercising fun and the jogging strollers fold up so you can take them just about everywhere.
Exercising increases your metabolism, increases energy and will help you sleep better - even if you are only getting a few hours at a time. You can complete an entire
strength training routine in just under 20minutes using only your body weight. The best part about body weight training is that you can do it anywhere!
Total Body Strength Workout:
Warm-up with jumping jacks and/or walk in place for 1 minute.
Squat Jump
-Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
-Squat down, bending your knees to 90 degrees.
-Now jump up and land softly again in the squat position. Use the strength in your legs and butt to jump up explosively.
-Remember to land as softly as you can with your knees bent; keep your weight back, over your heels.
-Do 3 sets of 8 reps
Single Leg Circles
-Lie back on the mat with your arms by your sides and your palms facing down.
-Begin by pointing with your left foot, as if reaching out with your toes toward the ceiling, and rotate your leg slightly outward.
-Inhale, and trace a circle on the ceiling with your left leg, moving your whole leg, but keeping your hips still. Don't lift your left hip off the floor.
-Trace the circle on the ceiling 5 times in a clockwise
direction. Repeat in a counter-clockwise direction.
-Switch legs and repeat 5 times
Single Leg Opposite Arm and Leg Reach
-Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, abs engaged, left hand on hip.
-Lift left knee up to 90 degrees in front of you. Lean forward slightly as you reach
right arm in front of you and push left foot behind you.
-Hold for 1 count. Pull both back in. Do 12 reps.
-Switch sides; repeat 3 times.
Eccentric Push-ups
-Start in a plank position. Shoulders over wrists, back straight, core engaged. You can be on your knees or toes.
-slowly lower your body to the ground keeping your core
tight and legs straight.
-Return to start position. The goal is to lower your body slowly; you are only doing the down part of the push-up.
-Do 3 sets of 5-8 reps
No Weight Shoulder Press
-Extend arms out to sides at shoulder height, elbows bent 90 degrees, palms forward.
Raise arms over head, then lower to start. (30 reps)
Into A Summer Six Pack!
Welcome back to another edition of From the Trainer It’s that time of year when we need to start trimming down before swimsuit season hits and focus on transforming that keg into the six-pack we always dreamed of! This month’s exercise is a Sit-Up with a twist using a decline bench. It targets the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis, internal/external obliques, and transverse abdominis) and also works the hip flexor muscles including the rectus femoris of the quadriceps. This is another great bodyweight exercise that you can add to your abdominal repertoire. The advantages of using a bench is the ability to adjust the decline angle to your fitness level and securing your lower legs and feet for a more effective sit-
Time to Turn That Keg
up. A flat bench is for the beginners and an increased angle is for the seasoned vets.
Before you begin, adjust the bench to your comfort level. After that, climb on and secure your lower legs and feet into the position shown in figure 1. Notice how my hips and knees are bent while my feet are anchored behind the top pad. Ab benches will vary in design, but the better ones will allow you to secure the feet and lower legs and position the knees above hip level (as in these pictures). This position will help protect the lower back and spine from extreme shear forces during the situp. When the hips are flexed, the less your hip flexors are involved, which means the abs do the grunt work. For the start, place your
hands on the back of your head with the elbows bent, but avoid interlocking the fi ngers. You do not want to pull on the back of the head during this exercise because your neck will not appreciate the strain. Contract those abdominal muscles to initiate the sit-up and try to peel the shoulder blades off the bench. When you reach the halfway point, rotate your torso to bring the left elbow towards the right knee to the fi nish position (figure 2). If you’ve made it this far, congrats, but you’re not done!
Next, simultaneously lower and rotate the torso back to the center on the way down. This part of the exercise should be performed slowly (about 2 seconds) and under control until the shoulder blades are resting on the
bench. Avoid relaxing the stomach and crashing back down to the bench as I’ve seen too many times! The only time this is allowed is on your last repetition…. Ha, not really. Ok, so you’ve sat up and to the right, now it’s time to sit up and twist your right elbow towards the left knee using the same technique. For the beginners, try two sets of five reps per side for a total of ten (per set) with the bench flat. For the more advanced, try three sets of 15 per side with a declined angle. Rest about one minute between sets.
Remember this exercise is not a race, so take your time. Most people think the faster, the better when it comes to the abs. Not true. Research articles that I’ve read about abdominal exercise suggest that strength gains come
from the muscles “time under tension” and not how fast you can sit-up. This means that the longer the abdominals are working, the more strength and endurance is gained.
It’s never too early to start chiseling the mid-section. So, enjoy this exercise and until next time, stay fit!
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.
Mother’s Day Gifts That Are Sure to Please
Each year we set aside one day to honor mothers. And each year we struggle to fi nd the perfect gift to show them we care.
Cut flowers are one of the most popular gifts. No dusting and maintenance required, and they are sure to generate a smile.
Behavioral research at Rutgers University found the gift of flowers had immediate and long-term benefits no matter the age of the study participants.
Participants demonstrated true or excited smiles as well as delight and gratitude when they received flowers. They also reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated long after receiving the gift of flowers. Floral gifts also helped create connections between family and friends.
A hanging basket or container garden is another way to give mom a season of flowers and more. Gardening helps improve health and well-being by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, strengthening muscles and increasing flexibility.
If mom likes to cook, a potted tomato, container of greens or window box of herbs may be the perfect gift with increased benefits. Mom can grow and further boost her health with fresh nutrient-rich vegetables.
A gift certificate to her favorite garden center, hobby store or retail location allows mom the freedom to select her own gift. She can enjoy time shopping for something special she wouldn’t normally buy for herself.
The gift of time is appreciated by many mothers. Helping mom in her garden, working around her home or assisting her with another hobby is a great way to spend time together doing something mom loves. Update her garden tools if she is an avid gardener. Consider a tool caddy and fill it with her favorite hand tools such as a weed knife, hand pruner, sunscreen, and gloves.
Add elegance and function to your mother’s daily activities with durable and fashionable gloves. Their practical and fashionable nature makes them a popular add-on or stand-alone gift item. Elbow length garden gloves - I recommend Foxgloves (foxglovesinc.com) - protect forearms and hands from sun, scratches, and plant oils. The ‘cottony soft’ feel of the Supplex® nylon that these are made of makes them comfortable but extremely durable and tough. They can be washed and dried quickly, so mom always has a pair of gloves ready to use.
Add some fun to this functional gift by choosing one of the bright colors.
Add a hat to further protect mom from the heat and sun when working outdoors. If it’s comfortable and looks good, she is more likely to wear it.
Take the pressure off and make mom’s day extra special with one of these Mother’s Day gifts that provide immediate and long-term benefits. She’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness when she opens the package, unwraps the flowers or puts the tools and gloves to use all season long.
Melinda Myers has written numerous 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 program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Foxgloves for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www. MelindaMyers.com.
MELINDA MYERS
GO FISH STEVE CHACONAS
Studying Forward Facing Sonar
Fisheries biologists are examining potential impacts of overfishing as the use of Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) increases. Recently Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources conducted a survey to study FFS use. Nearly 2/3 of respondents used FFS to target largemouth bass. The DNR considers this survey to be a starting point in evaluating FFS’s impact. They’re not motivated to make any decisions at this time but are aware of angler and fishery manager concerns.
In the aftermath of the world championship Bassmaster Classic, fans continued to beat a dead horse, pointing to the elephant in the pond, FFS. The debate was fueled by another event decided by its use, with record results. Wherever anglers stand, it’s certain that a demographic fracture is occurring. Proponents claim technology brings younger anglers to the sport. The harsh reality is the real elephant in the room is money. Pro bass fishing has always been about money. Attracting younger anglers, under 25 years old, may appear to increase numbers in the sport but older anglers are losing interest and money. No matter what the organization claims, there were a lot of empty seats at the Classic weigh in. Post Classic social media posts were overrepresented by dissatisfied viewers.
The Classic broadcast, by all accounts, was boring. Staring at a screen, spotting a fish, pursuing the fish, casting to that fish until enticed or aggravated, reduces suspense. Time on the water is being replaced with electronics expertise. Many feel future stars will become younger as they forgo fishing experience for video game prowess. Previous electronics advances like flashers, 2D, side and 360 imaging, pale in comparison with FFS. These units show where fish were. FFS reveals where they are in real time. Anglers put baits close to fish and watch lures elicit
reactions. When FFS was first introduced it was a way to see fish cover from a distance. As with most video games, FFS morphed. It became an open water chase rather than a more traditional hunting tool. Old school maps, contours, and history are no longer required reading. Tournament preparation, ordering baits, respooling reels, and packing gear for specific fisheries, is being replaced with spinning rods, jig heads, and soft plastic minnows.
of lures, techniques, and water depths, modern anglers are equipped with spinning rods, jigs, and minnow imitators. Overall, this is hurting lure makers. This comes as tackle sales, viewership, and attendance are down as proclaimed on social media. Attracting a younger audience doesn’t help sell $120,000 bass boats. Something must give. There’s never been a piece of equipment that allows below average fishermen to win
technology. For older ones, it’s for reference. Older anglers are reluctant to embrace this new fishing style. The sport is evolving and leaving them behind. Others liken FFS to MLB allowing steroids and metal bats.
Anglers, responding to the MD DNR survey, who have and don’t have FFS agree it provides an advantage that removes the element of finding fish, which creates more time for catching them. Spending
Claiming older guys can’t keep up with technology isn’t true. For decades, pro anglers met the challenge of advancements in electronics. Most experienced pros say they just don’t like fishing with FFS and their bait sponsors are likely thankful as established pros still have strong followings, reaching most anglers to boost traditional lure sales of crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and others. Sponsors support anglers who sell their products. With FFS, professional angler skill sets are narrowing. Rather than being proficient with a variety
tournaments like FFS, and it’s no coincidence livescopers don’t do as well in tournaments where it’s not allowed or irrelevant. FFS won’t make fish bite, however in any event, scopers rise to the top. The MD DNR survey confirms anglers see an FFS advantage. Younger anglers refer to scoping as a craft and challenge older anglers to learn it. All pros have FFS. For younger guys, its reliance on
more time looking for active fish the old fashioned way leaves traditional anglers behind, while scopers offer repeated presentations until fish bite. FFS isn’t used to locate cover and habitat. It singles out the biggest fish and allows time to make that fish bite. Individual ability is being replaced with interpretive electronics. The Classic TV broadcast lacked excitement, watching anglers staring at screens, leaving some to suggest a split TV screen to see what anglers see. Highly focused on the screen, scopers generally don’t offer much information. Color commentary by a scoper would reveal what’s happening for the audience to gain insight to the anglers approach.
FFS is on everyone’s radar and it didn’t take long this season to dominate dock talk. There’s no question it attracts younger anglers. Professional bass fishing’s newer generations will be learning to fish only with electronics, forsaking grandpa’s century old fishing lures. A level playing field with everyone fishing with electronics will feature anglers not trying just to catch fish but learning to crack the code.
About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fi shing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: nationalbass. com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide.
Best time of the year to get on the water. A variety of lures work. Try lipless crankbaits in red patterns when water is cloudy or chrome patterns in clearer water. Tie to 12 pound test Gamma EDGE fluorocarbon and drag across gravel bottoms or tick the tops of emerging grass.
EDGE. Add minnow trailers. Vary retrieves and depths.
Bladed jigs in white patterns and shallow crankbaits in fi retiger or red are working tied to the same 12 pound test
When fishing docks, wood, or grass, black/ blue jig patterns on 14 pound test Gamma EDGE fluorocarbon line is effective. Also try bulkier creature baits or Mizmo Tubes Texas rigged with 3/16 ounce weights.
Carolina rigs cover water and come through grass. Bites feel like pulling. Sweep set to hook them.
In shallow water, tandem spinnerbaits cover water and can be used in any cover.
Potomac River Bassing in MAY
What's Your
Artists and creatives are often asked, “Why?” Why did you paint that landscape? Why did you write that story about a young mother who lost her son to cancer? Why do you work in metal? In other words, why do you do what you do?
It’s an interesting question and not always easy to answer. We get so bogged down in the ‘how’ and the actual doing that we forget to ask ourselves the most important question—why. And, for the record, I don’t necessarily think that ‘why’ is relegated to creatives. Why did you go into law? Why do you run? Why do you want kids?
Many years ago, I ran a professional organizing and concierge company. My ‘why’ was that I loved to help people. My company’s tagline was, “Life just got easier,” and that was at the forefront of everything we did—we made our clients’ lives easier. Now I fi nd myself in a new chapter—pursuing my artistic endeavors— and I’ve struggled with my ‘why’ beyond that it brings me pleasure and I fi nd it soothing. It calms my monkey mind. So, I dug a little deeper…
Because I like making order out of chaos. Because I like problem solving and resolution. Because I like to start with something unrecognizable—ugly even—and make it into something that brings joy. Because I like cutting and pasting and playing with different supplies and letting my imagination wander. Because I like shutting myself away in my studio, turning on a podcast or some music, and losing myself.
Because I like to envelop myself in memories— memories of riding my minibike across my grandmother’s field with the neighbor’s collie racing behind me, memories of our vacation in Italy, memories of…Because I love color— especially bright, bold ones. Because I love trying to capture nuances in nature and objects. Because I like to start with a simple mark and see where it takes me. Because I love the feeling of accomplishment.
We often go through life checking boxes and doing things because they’re expected or because a door opened and we walked through it without really asking ourselves ‘why’. Maybe you ended up in fi nance because your uncle owned an accounting fi rm and offered you a job. Maybe you ended up marrying your fi rst boyfriend because your parents liked him, he asked, and all your friends were getting married. Maybe you forgot to ask yourself ‘why’…
Kids ask ‘why’ all the time. Go to bed. Why? Pick up your toys. Why? Don’t touch the stove. Why? George Washington was our fi rst president. Why? It’s their tool for learning and simultaneously driving the adults in their lives bonkers. For the record, in my house, the answer to ‘why’ was always ‘because I said so.’
As adults, we’ve lost a bit of the curiosity and wonder in our lives. Maybe as we age, our ‘why’ gets replaced with knowledge and wisdom, but we’re never too old to keep learning and wondering—as well as wandering down different roads.
Maybe if we flexed our daily ‘why’ muscle it would help us in a myriad of ways.
Why am I eating this fifth slice of pizza? Why am I pouring another glass of wine? Why am I slicing another piece of cheesecake? Of course, you can always say, “Why not have another slice of pizza and open another bottle of wine?” Why am I so mad at my partner? Why am I sad? Why am I so irritated at this driver who clearly doesn’t know how to use a turn signal? Why can’t the line at Target move faster? Why can’t Amazon deliver my leggings in one hour? Why can’t Jon Hamm take his shirt off in more scenes?
Why can’t this moisturizer remove these crow’s feet? Why can’t everyone stop complaining about egg prices and start raising their own hens? Why can’t everyone be perfect like me?! God—if only…alas, the world is imperfect and it’s the perfect people who must suffer the daily consequences and inconveniences.
As you can see, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of ‘why’s’ so perhaps start small. Like why are you here when you could be out biking or hiking or eating another piece of cheesecake.
Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Memorial Day! Lots to celebrate this month—no reason to ask ‘why’. Just enjoy.
About the Author: Lori Welch Brown 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.
Up & Coming In the Harbor
Wow! This spring has been busy in the Harbor. The retail and restaurant business situation is looking up. In the many years that I lived in the Harbor, I watched several businesses – mostly retail – come and go over the course of those years. The Harbor was new and still trying to fi nd it’s marketing niche. Was it going to be geared totally toward vacationers and convention attendees with a few places to entice the locals or was its primary market going to be the DMV with a few “tourist” joints interspersed. Obviously, they have tried to fi nd a healthy middle ground. It has defi nitely been a “hit and miss” with retail but the restaurant community has been a bit more successful at holding its ground. Still open for well over 10 years are my favorites Bond 45 and Fiorella joined by Grace’s Mandarin, Bobby McKey’s, Rosa Mexicana, McCormick & Schmick, Cadillac Ranch, Walrus Oyster & Ale, Redstone, SUCCOTASH as well as others. We lost one of the fi rst anchors on Fleet Street, Public house, last year and it was sad to see them go but several other spots are opening up. I received the following information from the Harbor marketing gurus so wanted to share it with you. I haven’t had the pleasure of actually patronizing any of them at the time of this writing, but have that on my radar this summer.
As most of you know, National Harbor is one of the region’s most popular waterfront destinations. They announced in late March that it has leased another 10,408 square feet of space to four new tenants including new restaurants and food establishments. That’s in addition to the 18,407 square feet that has or will open this year.
The Jewelry Experience, 181 American Way is a 1,311 sq. ft. jewelry store. It opened in March. I still miss the Harbor’s very fi rst jewelry store, Fire & Ice, but am very happy a new place has opened.
Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken. The 1,753 sq. ft restaurant, located at 140 National Plaza is open and I am anxious to try it. Will be fun to compare it to the Wooboi Hot Chicken located in North Old Town Alexandria. Imagine it’s “all in the sauce”!
Crumbl, 128 Waterfront St. with 1600 sq. ft. of cookies, was scheduled to open the third week in March/early April. I haven’t verified that but I have heard amazing things about this chain.
Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, Cinnabon and Carvel —all in 2,900 sq. ft. at 173 Waterfront St. opened in April. Kinda sounds like we will be able to pretend we are in a major airport concourse while inside 173 Waterfront!
Coming in August are:
illy Caff è, 138 Waterfront St., will open in the spirit of an Italian café. It is a highquality, casual dining establishment with 1,767 sq. ft., providing a variety of coffee and drinks, breakfast sandwiches, lunch wraps, salads, bakery goods and desserts. Wigenton Candle Co., 120 Waterfront St., offers candles for purchase as well as the opportunity for individuals or groups to make their own within the 1,077 sq. ft. store.
Coming in 2026:
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, 180 American Way, is a 6,253 sq. ft. Michelin Guide recommended authentic Chinese restaurant known for its wide variety of soup dumplings. “Xiao long bao” means “little steamer-basket buns” in Mandarin Chinese. The restaurant will open early 2026.
“It’s always great to see new tenants signing on and opening at National Harbor. We’re especially excited that Nan Xiang chose National Harbor as they are a Michelin Guide recommendation.” said Kimli Cross, senior vice president of leasing for Peterson Companies, developer and management company of National Harbor. “All these new tenants bring a new energy and excitement for our residents and visitors.”
One of the proposed new kids on the block, Live-K, a karaoke bar is supposed to open in late summer in a 12,154 sq. ft. space at 137 National Plaza. If this actually happens, I bet this will be a hoppin’ joint! Over 12,000 sq. ft. of “karaoke” is a lot! Better hone your singing skills before the opening! These new merchants join 60 other food establishments, specialty boutiques and shops, gourmet stores, entertainment venues and national brands in the Waterfront District at National Harbor. For more information on National Harbor, visit www.NationalHarbor.com Photos courtesy of Bendure Communications.
