From the Bay to the Blue Ridge
PRICELESS • SINCE 1988
oldtowncrier
OCTOBER 2026
oldtowncrier.com
otcregionalmag
SATURDAY OCT 17, 2026 9 AM - 12 PM
SHRED-IT DAY
Got old documents pilling up? We can help! Stop by our Shred-It Day to safely dispose of documents you no longer need. Come down to Oswald Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314 and we will direct you.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions!
Limit two boxes per person. Shredding is available while truck capacity lasts!
TransFCU.org | 202-366-9400 | 877-4MY-TFCU
THIS HORSE DIDN’T KNOW THAT THERE WAS
A BALLOON IN THE GRASS THAT
Cat Volmer
SHE WAS EATING.
RELEASED BALLOONS CAN HARM WILDLIFE. Prevent Balloon Litter.org Inspirational, colorful, litter-free ideas to celebrate, to remember and to honor the people who impact our lives.
PUBLISHER’S NOTES
H
ere we are approaching the fall season in the mid-Atlantic. If this last summer seemed hot to you, you are right. The summer of 2026 was one of the hottest on record in the MidAtlantic and across the entire United States according to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. NOAA reported that the summer of 2026 (June-August) was the warmest on record for the contiguous U.S. in a 132-year tracking history, beating previous high marks set in 1936 and 2021. Average temperatures reached roughly 79.8 to 79.9 degrees F, ranking as the 8th warmest summer on record at Reagan Airport. July 4th, 2026 marked D.C.’s hottest day ever recorded at 103 degrees F. Well, a change is a-coming. As of this writing on September 25th, the temperature is 71 and expecting to go no higher than 75. The trend is projected to continue so fall weather is on the way. Speaking of fall weather, October is Virginia Wine Month. It is a great opportunity to visit Virginia wineries and enjoy a good glass of wine in the beautiful countryside while the leaves turn. Checkout Twin Oaks Tavern Winery for some spooky fun during the month. See their ad in this issue. There is also some excitement brewing at Copper Fox distillery in Sperryville, Virginia...check out their ad as well. Delving on to what is in store within these pages this month, here is a bit of a preview: A Bit of History - Sarah Becker gives us an in depth look how Abigail Adams, wife of president John Adams, parallels today’s society through pioneering advocacy for gender equality…she wrote, “I long to hear that you have declared an independency, and, by the way, in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.” Arts and Entertainment High Notes-Ron Powers highlights the Cranberries and their haunting protest song “Zombie”. Ron comments on the raw, unmistakably Irish vocals of Dolores O’Riordan. Last Word-Miriam Kramer reviews Getting to Yes and how negotiations work and the means of achieving that success. Published in 1981, Getting to Yes became the best-known guide to negotiation. On Stage-Mark Edelman takes a look at the fall foliage of upcoming plays and events. At the Signature Theatre, Sondhheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along”, gets a top notch revival from Signature Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner and a really well-cast company of many of DC’s finest. There are 16 more performances that Mark reviews. Lots going on in October. Gallery Beat- Lenny Campello writes about “ What is a “vanity gallery”? “Running an art gallery around here was a heroic act!” From the Bay to the Blue Ridge and Beyond. From the Bay-Adam Tremper writes about “Who are the Amish, and the story behind the horse drawn buggy”. Adam tells us of the large community of Amish in St. Mary’s County and why they ended up here! To the Blue Ridge-Meg Mullery moves from writing about her beloved steeplechase athletes and gives us a look at Gimme a Nother, a six-year-old mare bred in South Africa, Gimme a Nother arrived in the states in 2024 and made her home in Virginia Hunt country and is now looking to continue her streak here in America.
Perfecting the art of roasting oysters! Let’s Get Crafty-This month Tim Long goes all in on Bewitched by Beer! What could be more entertaining in October than a bit of “the Witches Brew!” Always an interesting column, Tim pulls all the stops out and does some of his best writing and research. Tim also kicks in his bourbon and cigar recommendation for while you are sitting by the cauldron carefully stirring the brew. Grapevine-Last month Matt Fitzsimmons wrote about the closing of some wineries and the outright sale of others. This month Matt gives us a summary of wineries that have opened or are about to open in NOVA since 2025. Exploring VA Wines-As our friend Doug Fabbioli finishes the harvest and all of the other year end responsibilities, he explains why and how this year’s crop has fared. Fitness-This month Nicole Flanagan discusses the benefits of a trainer. I probably should look in to this myself! From the Trainer-Ryan Unverzagt got my attention in his article all about balance. At 79 years old...I get it! Those days of gymnastics, motorcycles, sailing and just goofing off are gone. I will read and understand this article and then practice it! Thanks Ryan...good advice for everyone! First Blush-Genevieve LeFranc compares the glorious colors of fall to the choices of makeup for the season. Go Fish-Steve Chaconas shows his love of fishing and the outdoors as he writes about the Aquatic Resources Education Center and Wildlife Management Branch Chief, Teresa Rodriguez.
Road Trip-We took a drive to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Harpers Ferry was a strategic location during the Civil War. Here John Brown made a raid on the armory in an attempt to start a revolt by enslaved people. Harper’s is the top historic attraction in West Virginia.
Open Space-Lori Welch Brown laments about turning 60 coupled with the realization a best friend was knocked down by fate. It is not an easy thing to celebrate your success when a sister or brother has had the essence of life knocked out from under them. Coping is tough, understanding is hopeless.
Caribbean Connection-Our friends at the Caribbean Journal made a few trips to Ambergris Caye in Belize and wrote about their experience. I can attest to everything they say as my best friend bought some land there and built a house many years ago. It is a different kind of island but still beautiful.
Well folks, that’s about it on the preview of the October Old Town Crier with the addition of some spookiness that abounds in the DMV with ghost tours and eerie events in our Halloween Feature. In fact, one of the eeriest tours appears to take place in Harpers Ferry! Another reason to take that road to WV!
Eating & Imbibing Dining Out-While November is traditionally “National Oyster Month”, we have some special events going on in Old Town this month. We give you some tips on eating the popular bivalves and a bit of info about them.
As noted, the weather is again becoming our friend. Head out to the Blue Ridge and take in the countryside. Do yourself a huge favor and go in the middle of the week if you can. Lots of markets, wineries and small town eateries to check out.
Let’s Eat-Well folks, it is Fall, so pumpkin is on the menu. Information and recipes abound. Enjoy the fall people...summer was rough!
4 October 2026
Old Town Crier
october‘26 A Division of OTC Media LLC
OTC Media LLC PO Box 320386 Alexandria, VA 22320 571-257-5437
office@oldtowncrier.com oldtowncrier.com Published the first week of every month. Worth waiting for! PUBLISHER
Bob Tagert
MARKETING & ADVERTISING
Lani Gering Bob Tagert Meg Mullery
24
36
18
SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE
Erin Koons
CONTRIBUTORS
Stephen Bearce Sarah Becker Alexander Britel Steve Chaconas Carolyn Cockcroft Mark Edelman Doug Fabbioli Matt Fitzsimmons Nicole Flanagan Lani Gering Miriam Kramer Jane Koska Timothy Long
Bob Matthews Cindy McGovern Meg Mullery Melinda Murphy Charles Oppman Ron Powers Kim Putens Erin Shackleford Bob Tagert Adam Tremper Carl Trevisan Ryan Unverzagt Lori Welch Brown
© 2026 OTC Media LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The Old Town Crier is published monthly and distributed to select Alexandria residents, hotels, restaurants and retail shops. Also distributed from the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains and USVI.
About the Cover........................................6
Gallery Beat...........................................18
Open Space.............................................45
Alexandria Events.....................................8
Go Fish...................................................44
Pets of the Month....................................43
Caribbean Connection..............................26
Grapevine..............................................36
Points on Pets........................................ 42
Dining Guide...........................................29
High Notes..............................................14
Publishers notes.......................................4
Dining Out..............................................30
History....................................................13
Road Trip................................................24
Exploring VA Wines ................................37
Last Word...............................................15
Special Feature........................................10
Financial Focus........................................12
Let's Eat.................................................32
To the Blue Ridge....................................22
First Blush..............................................40
Let's Get Crafty.......................................34
Urban Garden.........................................41
Fitness....................................................39
National Harbor......................................46
Where is the Mural?..................................6
From the Bay..........................................20
On the Road.............................................5
From the Trainer.....................................38
OnStage..................................................16
ON THE ROAD WITH OTC Our traveling friends and loyal readers Jeffrey and Joanne Fisher were ‘on the road’ again this summer. This time they were joined by their daughter Ariel – who is a resident of Tucson, AZ – for 10 days while they toured the south of Spain. This photo (Ariel on the right) was taken in the Alhambra in Granada. The Alhambra is a Moorish palace that has been maintained in exquisite condition. While on this trek they took day trips to Morocco and Gibraltar among others. The Fishers aren’t letting any grass grow under their feet as they departed for 10 days in the UK on September 25th so they could catch the Commanders game in London. Will watch for some pics from there. 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.
Old Town Crier
October 2026 5
O N THE COVER
JUST FOR FUN By Lani Gering
WHERE IS IT?
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church is a historic stone chapel perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Lower Town district of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Originally constructed in 1833 to serve Irish canal and railroad laborers, it famously stood as the only church in Harpers Ferry to escape destruction during the Civil War. Today, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operates as a historic mission chapel under St. James the Greater Catholic Church in nearby Charles Town. The famous Stone Steps leading from Lower Town up to St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and the Harper House are a major historic landmark within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The flight consists of 44 steep steps that were hand-carved directly into the hillside in 1810. They actually predate St. Peter’s Church (built in 1833) by more than two decades. They were created to give residents an easier passage between the bustling Lower Town and the residential upper areas.
It happened again this month! For the third month in a row, when you think you have picked an obscure location for “Where Is It?”, someone guesses it pretty much right out of the gate. Thought for sure the September sculpture snippet would take some time. Our winner, John Trerola, submitted the correct location 9 days after the issue hit the streets! John is a Old Town resident and he and his wife Beth picked up their copy at one of our favorite watering holes, Landini Brothers Restaurant located at 115 King Street. If you are in the market for a good martini, stop in and see Susan on Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday!
The stairs are composed almost entirely of Harper’s shale, a prominent native rock found throughout the river gorge. This same durable stone was used to build many of the town’s historic foundations, retaining walls, and home structures. Because the shale has weathered over two centuries of footsteps, the stairs are highly uneven and can be very slick when wet. Fortunately, the National Park Service has installed sturdy handrails on both sides of the flight to assist hikers. Holy Mass is celebrated every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM, attracting both local community members and park tourists.Through October, docents (often dressed in Civil War-era attire) open the church to the public on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The Shipbuilder Artist: Michael Curtis Unveiling Date: October 31, 2004 Design: Features a seven-foot bronze figure of a periodattired 19th-century craftsman atop a three-foot carved granite base with bronze informational plaques. Significance: Created as a tribute to the historical shipbuilders who shaped the maritime economy and early industrial development of Alexandria's port. Sticking with featuring local pieces of Public Art in our fair city, let’s see how fast one of you comes up with the location of the October piece! Hint: It is in Old Town proper. If you are the first person to respond with the correct location, you will receive a $50 gift certificate to one of the best French eateries in the DMV- Bastille Brasserie & Bar! In order to participate and qualify for the gift card, you will have to Like and Follow us: Facebook @oldtowncrier and Instagram @otcregionalmag Send a PM with your guess and we will contact the winner each month via PM to arrange for prize delivery.
ADVERTISE WITH US office@oldtowncrier.com
FOLLOW US ONLINE www.oldtowncrier.com Instagram: otcregionalmag Facebook: Old Town Crier Regional Magazine
6 October 2026
Old Town Crier
7th 7t 7th th A An Annual nn nn nu ua u all a
OY O OYSTER OY YST TER E
Wee We Week Week eek ek
Oc October October 10th-17th 0ttthh-1177ttthh O cctttooobbeerr 110th-17th 0
Join the Ultimate Oyster Celebration
Old Town Oyster Week is a premier annual event held every October, showcasing the best local oysters, shucking competitions, and exclusive specials. Be sure to pick up your oyster passport at a participating location and get as many stickers as you can for an entry in our oyster week raffle (winners drawn at the Murphy's closing ceremony)! Check out the week full of events listed below to create a jam-packed oyster week celebration:
10th 7th Annual Oyster Shucking Competition
12th Beat the Bartenders Guinness Pour Competition
11 am – 1 pm Daniel O'Connell's 112 King Street Come cheer on your favorite restaurant!
14th Personalized Pints & Picking the Pints Perfect Name 6 pm – 8 pm The Commodore 220 North Lee Street The pints will be flowing with the ripple machine to top your pint with a personalize picture. SHUCKING SPONSOR:
ELWOOD
TO
NT
DAY
NIGHT TO
S UR
&
T
WN
BES
URS I
O
SPONSOR:
6 pm – 9 pm Daniel O’Connell’s 112 King Street Join us in the O'Sullivan Room to challenge your favorite bartenders to a pour-off.
13th Themed Trivia at Murphy's
7 pm – 10 pm Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub - 713 King Street Join us for a fun-filled night of Irish Music trivia.
15th Get Yourself Perfect Pint Certified! 6 pm – 8 pm Cooper Mill 10 Duke Street Join us at Cooper Mill to check your pint pouring skills and learn more about the perfect pint.
SEE DC TODAY SMALL GROUP AND PRIVATE TOURS
202.900.3015
SEEDCTODAY.COM Best Part of Our Trip!
“This tour was not only the highlight of our time here in DC but the best city tour/excursion we have been on in the 22 years we have been traveling.”
Old Town Crier
October 2026 7
EVENTS AROUND TOWN
Photo by E. Michio for VisitAlex
Events Around Town - Ovtober 2026
As the air starts to chill, autumn leaves create a scenic canopy above red brick sidewalks in Old Town. Art festivals add to the seasonal spirit as locals load up at and fall festivities pop up in Old Town, Del Ray and beyond. Sip local cider, stroll King Street for seasonal finds and Halloween treats. Dating back to 1749, Alexandria’s history is filled with remarkable stories and mysterious legends embedded in the brick-lined streets and centuries-old sites. This spooky season, embark on a lantern-led ghost tour, hear chilling stories at historic sites and show off your costumes at Halloween events around town.
3rd 30th Annual Art on the Avenue 10 am – 6 pm
2nd-31st Carnival of Curiosities Art Exhibit Del Ray Artisans Gallery Colasanto Center 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue
Held each fall on Mount Vernon Avenue between Hume and Bellefonte Avenues, Art on the Avenue strives to reflect the diversity of the Del Ray community through the artists and their work. This year’s festival will feature over 350 local and regional artists, live music, international food, children’s activities, a pie-baking contest, and more. The event, voted by Virginia Living readers as the best art festival in Northern Virginia, is volunteer-run, with support from the local business community. Art on the Avenue is free and open to all. For more information, visit artontheavenue.org
10th Support Ayuda - Live Music & Performance Art Benefit Welcome one and all to the Carnival of Curiosities art exhibit at Del Ray Artisans where we’ll explore all things carnival and circus related, from fun foods and silly games to quirky costumes, haunted attractions, terrifying oddities, and magical slights of hand! Step right up! But beware, not everything is as it seems. Gallery hours: Thursday 12-6pm, Friday 12-9pm, Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-6pm. The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible.
2nd-30th Poisons at the Apothecary 6 pm - 7 pm Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum 105-107 S. Fairfax Street Explore the sinister side of medicine on the Apothecary Museum’s Poisons Tour. This onehour tour explores several different types of poisons, their historic uses at the Apothecary, and what we know today. Recommended for adults. Tour is 6-7pm. Please arrive a few minutes early to check-in. The doors will be locked once the tour begins. https://shop. alexandriava.gov/Events.aspx 8 October 2026
2–6 PM Galactic Panther Art Gallery 1303 King Street Galactic Panther Art Gallery will host an afternoon of live music and performance art by Rob Parrish, Lou Black Trio and New Passengers. All proceeds from the event benefit will go to support Ayuda, which provides legal, social and language services to low-income immigrants in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Founded in 1973, Ayuda has served more than 150,000 low-income immigrants and provides assistance in areas including immigration law, familybased immigration, asylum, removal defense, naturalization and other humanitarian immigration matters. Old Town Crier
10th-17th 7th Annual Old Town Oyster Week- the Ultimate Oyster Celebration!
LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS
Old Town Oyster Week is a premier annual event held every October, showcasing the best local oysters, shucking competitions, and exclusive specials. Be sure to pick up your oyster passport at a participating location and get as many stickers as you can for an entry in our oyster week raffle (winners drawn at the Murphy's closing ceremony)! Check out the week full of events listed on page 7 to create a jam-packed oyster week celebration.
11th 6th Annual Ethiopian Fall Festival 1:00-7:00 pm Chinquapin Park 3210 King Street
OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET Tavern Square 100 Block of N. Royal St. Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round The Old Town Market is thought to be the one of nation’s oldest continuing markets operating since 1753. It is said that George Washington sent his products from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today the plaza is a mecca for farmers and artists to sell their wares. The Market is a primary source for meats, dairy, fish, fruits, vegetables and flowers for all those who visit.
DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round
The Ethiopian Fall Festival is a community celebration bringing together residents and visitors from across Alexandria and the greater DMV area to experience Ethiopian culture through traditional music and dance, Ethiopian food, youth performances, local vendors, cultural presentations, and family-friendly activities.
This market is strictly a producer grown market. Lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and salmon, fresh mushrooms, baked goods, hard cider. Farmers are within a 150 mile radius of Alexandria. A non-profit is featured each weekend.
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 flair and much more.
FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm Year Round
This market offers fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels and strives to reflect the diversity of Alexandria’s community. Local artisans display their arts and crafts as well.
Through mid-November
24th Old Town Trick-or-Treat 11 am – 4 pm Hosted by Pippin Toy Co. 1310 King Street
NOW or NEVER - By Alicia Eggert For more than a decade Old Town Alexandria has rolled out the red – or in this case orange – carpet to trick or treaters from all over the DMV. With the closing of Old Town Business, this year, Pippin Toy Co. is stepping in to keep this beloved tradition alive. Start at Pippin Toy Co. to grab your map. Then spend the day trick or treating at some of your favorite businesses and historic attractions while enjoying all the thrills and chills Old Town Alexandria, the DMV’s Halloween hub, has to offer. Old Town Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Trick-or-Treating for the littlest ghouls and goblins. Connect with us! Web: VisitAlexandriaVA.com Blog: Blog.VisitAlexandriaVA.com Twitter: Twitter.com/AlexandriaVA Instagram: Instagram.com/VisitAlexVA Facebook: Facebook.com/VisitAlexandriaVA
Old Town Crier
Completion of the eighth in the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town Annual Public Art Series, NOW or NEVER took place in mid-March. Sitting at the foot of King Street in Old Town until November is another “interesting” piece of work. It has been met with mixed reviews across the board. Here is the description at the site: “Eggert’s artwork features two monumental sculptures that echo the visual language of signs and billboards. They stand face to face across a narrow passageway, one declaring NOW and the other replying NEVER. The phrase “now or never” resonates on multiple levels. Collectively, it speaks to global challenges in which hesitation means opportunity lost. Individually, it reminds us that every moment is a turning point, an opportunity to choose one’s future and to live deliberately from this moment forward. By inviting people to move physically between the structures, the artwork underscores the possibility of finding common ground, even in polarized circumstances.” We encourage you to take a look for yourselves and see what resonates with you.
October 2026 9
SPECIAL FEATURE
ADAM TREMPER
When the Dead Tell the Best Stories... October has arrived. The evenings come a little earlier, the air turns crisp, leaves scrape across sidewalks and old streets, and cemeteries somehow look a bit more interesting. For a few weeks each year, even the most skeptical among us seem more willing to wonder about things that go bump in the night.
explores the supernatural traditions and haunted history of the islands. They have also undertaken the enormous task of documenting ghost tours around the country, creating one of the largest databases of ghost tours I have found.
It is spooky season, and if you really want to experience it, go on a ghost tour. As a kid, my parents took me every year to Harpers Ferry for the historical ghost tour offered there. We went in October, when the cool night air chilled our bones and the old town, tucked between the mountains along the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, seemed like the perfect setting for a ghost story. It was a tradition that I loved. Listening to the amazing Shirley Dougherty tell her stories enthralled me. They were ghost tales. There were murders, tragedies,
unexplained happenings, and souls who, for whatever reason, just didn’t seem ready to leave. There was also history. A lot of history. After the tour, my mom would bring out warm apple cider. We’d sit there in the parking lot drinking it, and I would replay some of those stories in my head. Who were these people? Did that really happen? What else could I learn about them? I wanted to get home to my encyclopedias and find out more. Looking back now, I wonder if my love of history, and especially my obsession with researching the stories of ordinary people, came at least in part from those annual October pilgrimages to Harpers Ferry. Today, ghost tours can be found in cities big and small. Old Town Alexandria is home to Alexandria Colonial Tours, Alexandria’s Original Ghost and Graveyard Tour, which has been sharing the city’s fascinating history and haunting stories with visitors for almost 40 years. Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Annapolis, Richmond, and Frederick all have ghost tours. So do smaller communities like Sharpsburg, Ellicott City, Staunton, and, down where I live, beautiful Solomons Island. Travel farther and you’ll find ghost tours in Savannah, Charleston, New Orleans, Boston, Gettysburg, Key West, San Francisco, and hundreds of other communities across the country. Even paradise has ghosts. In Honolulu, Mysteries of Hawaii 10 October 2026
October is the perfect time to seek one out. Darkness comes early, old streets look different beneath the glow of a lantern, and stories that might seem improbable on a sunny afternoon become just a little easier to believe when you’re standing outside an old house at night. Old Town Crier
Out of the hundreds of ghostly attractions that appear every October, a good historical ghost tour offers something more than a jump scare. Most ghost tours focus on history, legends, lore, and something that is a little harder to define: what I like to call the spirit of a place. Every town has a different spirit. When we travel somewhere new, how often do we stop to wonder who built the town and why? Who lived in those old houses? What was that restaurant before it became a restaurant? Who walked these streets a hundred years ago? Two hundred? What happened there that people remembered long enough to tell someone else? For most people, the answer might simply be, “Why does it matter?” Truthfully, knowing what happened inside an old house in 1816 probably isn’t going to have much impact on your everyday life. One day, though, all of us will be gone. Most of our names aren’t going to appear in history books. There probably won’t be monuments built to us. Future generations aren’t going to memorize our birthdays or study our accomplishments in school.
Somewhere in those stories is John Brown and his ill-fated raid on the federal arsenal. I still remember Shirley Dougherty telling that story when I was a kid. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who might take the tour this October, but more than 35 years later, I can still hear her voice reaching the most deliciously creepy part of the tale: Those COLD. DEAD. EYES. You’ll have to go to Harpers Ferry for the rest. Whether you’re traveling across the country or staying close to home, October is a wonderful time to discover the haunted side of a place. You don’t have to believe in ghosts. A ghost tour encourages you to slow down and look at a place differently. That old brick building stops being just another old brick building. Someone lived there. Someone loved there. Someone died there. Something happened there that another person thought was important enough to remember and tell someone else.
We are the ordinary people. We work, fall in love, have our hearts broken, raise families, laugh, argue, struggle, celebrate, grieve, and somehow make our way through life.
Sometimes the history is perfectly documented. Sometimes fact and folklore have become tangled together over generations. Sometimes all that remains of someone’s life is a name, an old house, and a story whispered on a dark October night.
Preserving local history, legends, and lore is one way of remembering people like us. Ghost stories, strange as it may sound, can keep the memory of ordinary people alive long after almost everything else about them has disappeared.
Maybe that is what a ghost really is: a story that refuses to be forgotten.
Old Town Alexandria offers a perfect example. One of the city’s enduring mysteries is the story of the “Female Stranger.” In 1816, a desperately ill young woman arrived at Gadsby’s Tavern accompanied by a man believed to be her husband. Her identity was carefully guarded, reportedly even from some of the people caring for her. She died soon afterward, taking her identity with her. More than two centuries later, we still don’t know who she was. Her grave at St. Paul’s Cemetery identifies
This October, when night comes earlier, the leaves begin to drop, and you are looking for something spooky to do, find a local ghost tour and follow them into the dark. Perhaps you’ll start your own tradition. The easiest and best way I have found for you to find a ghost tour near you is to check out Mysteries of Hawaii’s list of tour operators from all over the world. https://www.mysteries-of-hawaii.com/tour-partners About the Author: Adam Tremper is the owner and tour guide at Spooky Solomons, a year-round historical ghost tour in Solomons Island Maryland. Sharing Southern Maryland history, legends, and lore is a passion of his.
her simply as a “Female Stranger,” and over the generations, stories naturally began to grow around the mystery. Who was she? Why the secrecy? Why did the man traveling with her guard her identity so carefully? Some say the mysterious woman never entirely left Alexandria. You may arrive looking for a ghost story, but you leave wondering about a real woman who walked those streets more than 200 years ago. Somehow, despite her real name being lost to history, we are still talking about her. Travel over to Annapolis and you’ll hear another sort of story: two lovers separated by war who come tantalizingly close to finally embracing again, only to have that anticipation dashed to pieces because someone didn’t look both ways before crossing the street. According to legend, these two continue searching for one another long after death. Down in Solomons Island, where I lead the ghost tours, you’ll hear about the Drum Point Lighthouse and the young woman who died there and, according to local legend, never left. You’ll hear stories about shipbuilders, watermen, terrible storms, murder, tragedy, and generations of people who made their lives along the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. Some of those stories can be documented. Others exist in that murky place between history and legend, passed down through families and repeated for generations. Every once in a while, someone on one of my tours will wait until the crowd has moved away and quietly tell me something that happened to them, their parents, or their grandparents. Sometimes it fits perfectly with a story I have already been telling. Sometimes it sends me down an entirely new rabbit hole. Those stories are still being created. Details are added, corrected, and rediscovered. History, legends and lore mix together to form a more complete picture of the people, culture, and spirit of a place. Then there is Harpers Ferry, where for me it all began. The old town itself seems designed for ghost stories, with historic buildings climbing the hillside, narrow streets, old ruins, mountains looming overhead, and enough bloodshed and tragedy in its history to keep storytellers busy for generations. Old Town Crier
October 2026 11
FINANCIAL FOCUS
CARL TREVISON AND STEPHEN BEARCE
Should You Open a Roth IRA for Kids?
I
t may seem premature to help your children prepare for retirement before they even graduate from high school. But thinking about ways to help them save now — including opening a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for them — may help provide a significant head start on saving for retirement. Kids have more time on their side, which can be a big advantage. The money set aside in a Roth IRA for kids may compound, if the returns are reinvested, and have the potential to grow tax-free for decades. The earlier they get the money in, the more it could work for them. Every little bit helps later in life. Consider this: A one-time contribution of $1,000 to a Roth IRA could grow to more than $12,000 in 50 years, assuming a conservative 5% annual investment return and monthly compounding. Now imagine the total if your child made annual contributions. It’s best to work with your tax advisor with any eligible Roth IRA contribution amounts for a minor. Here are a few other things to keep in mind regarding setting up a Roth IRA for kids.
Your child must have earned income Kids of any age can contribute to a Roth IRA as long as they have earned income. It can be income and wages earned from a W-2 job. Self-
12 October 2026
employment income from a yardwork or babysitting business can qualify as well, as long as it’s classified as earned income reported to the IRS.
There are no age limits Even babies can have Roth IRAs if they have income. Yes, babies. For example, if a couple’s young son received compensation after being cast in a commercial, the couple could fund a Roth IRA with the money. That’s an uncommon case, however. In most cases, children aren’t earning income until they’re older.
There are contribution limits In 2026, the contribution limit to a Roth IRA is $7,500 a year or the total of earned income — whichever is less. For example, if your child earns $1,000 babysitting in 2026, the contribution toward a Roth IRA is capped at that $1,000 amount. And, as long as the child has earned income, anyone can contribute money into the child’s Roth IRA (up to the child’s limit). This includes parents, grandparents, family friends, or anyone who is willing to contribute money for the child.
Other benefits beyond retirement Many parents don’t realize that the money in a Roth IRA for a child can be used for more than just retirement. For example, Roth IRA contribution amounts can be withdrawn for any
reason, even before reaching age 59½, without any taxes or penalties enforced. Under IRS rules, children can also tap into earnings without incurring an early withdrawal penalty if the money is used for qualified higher education expenses, but they may have to pay income tax on those distributions. Another exception allows your child to withdraw up to $10,000 of earnings for a first-time home purchase without paying income tax or a penalty if the account has been open for at least five years. But be sure to discuss this further with your tax consultant. Keep in mind that your child will receive full control of the account once they are a legal adult. You can surprise them with it when they turn 18 (or reach the legal adult age in your state) or use the account as a tool to teach them about saving and investing as they grow from child to teen to legal adult. You give your child a head start by building their retirement early, or maybe your child taps some of the principal to pay for school or to start their own business. Whatever’s decided, a Roth IRA can be an excellent long-term tool with a lot of flexibility. Qualified Roth IRA distributions are not included in gross income. Roth IRA distributions are generally considered “qualified” provided a Roth IRA has been open for more
than five years and the owner has reached age 59½ or meets other requirements. Withdrawals may be subject to an IRS 10% additional tax for early or pre-59½ distributions. Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal 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, are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by the bank or any bank affiliate, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2026 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.
Old Town Crier
A BIT OF HISTORY
©
2026 SARAH BECKER
Fighting for Woman's Equal Rights Across History's Golden Eras
A conservative Massachusetts-er, founding father John Adams and his wife Abigail reflect not only the give and take of early American politics, but also the prejudices associated with the founding era. Said Revolutionary War historian Mercy Otis Warren in 1790: "A soul, inspir'd by freedom's genial warmth Expands\grows firm, and by resistance strong."
The battle for Woman's Equal Rights crosses history's Golden Eras. Abigail Adams parallels today’s society through her pioneering advocacy for gender equality; her balancing of household management, and her insistence on civic engagement and education. "I long to hear that you have declared an independency—and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would Remember the Laidies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors." Abigail wrote John in March 1776, 250 years ago. "Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands," Abigail continued. Into British Jurist Sir William Blackstone's 1765 Law of coverture. In 1765 Blackstone wrote that "by marriage, the husband and wife are one person in law," meaning the wife's legal identity was suspended and 'covered' by her husband." "Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could," Abigail said. "If particular care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation." "That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth," Abigail continued. "Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity," "Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex.," Abigali concluded. "Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness." Author and Revolutionary War historian Mary Wallstonecraft published her treatise, Vindication of the Rights of Women, in1790. Her cause: Woman's Educational Equality. Decades later Alexandria Quaker Mary Stabler, wife of apothecary Edward Stabler, convinced fellow Quaker Benjamin Hallowell-a teacher, mathematician and scientist--to open his school to girls. In New York, in 1832, bridegroom, newspaper editor and author of Moral Physiology Robert Dale Owen, of Scotland and Indiana “wrote a bold” marriage contract: “Of the unjust rights which in virtue of this ceremony an iniquitous law tacitly gives me over the person and property of another, I cannot legally, but I can morally divest myself. And I hereby…declare that I consider myself…utterly divested, now and during the rest of my life….”
• He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise. • He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice. • He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men - both natives and foreigners. • Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.
• He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead. • He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns. • He has made her, morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes, with impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband. In the covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master - the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement. • He has so framed the laws of divorce, as to what shall be the proper causes of divorce; in case of separation, to whom the guardianship of the children shall be given, as to be wholly regardless of the happiness of women - the law, in all cases, going upon the false supposition of the supremacy of man, and giving all power into his hands. • After depriving her of all rights as a married woman, if single and the owner of property, he has taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only when her property can be made profitable to it. • He has monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is permitted to follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration. • He closes against her all the avenues to wealth and distinction, which he considers most honorable to himself. As a teacher of theology, medicine, or law, she is not known. • He has denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education - all colleges being closed against her. • He allows her in Church as well as State, but a subordinate position, claiming Apostolic authority for her exclusion from the ministry, and with some exceptions, from any public participation in the affairs of the Church. • He has created a false public sentiment, by giving to the world a different code of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women from society, are not only tolerated but deemed of little account in man.
Many date the onset of the current Woman's Rights Era as 1838, with the release of Quaker convert, abolitionist, and Woman's Rights advocate Sarah Moore Grimke's Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Women. Grimke's interests included not only Woman's Rights, but also woman's religious equality, and the connection between racial and gender oppression.
• He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to assign for her a sphere of action, when that belongs to her conscience and her God.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton presented her foundational Declaration of Sentiments 10 years later, in 1848. "The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of onehalf the people...we insist that they have immediate admission and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States."
Old Town Crier
• He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life.
Susan B. Anthony's pursuit of Woman's Equal Rights included a failed attempt to include voting rights
in the 15th Amendment (1870). Anthony opposed its ratification because it enfranchised Black men only while continuing to exclude women. "Gender," Anthony said, "should be included alongside race." Stanton, a consistent persistent, woman's advocate released her two-volume The Woman's Bible in 1895 & 1898. “From the inauguration of the movement for woman’s emancipation the Bible has been used to hold her in the ‘divinely ordained sphere,’ prescribed in the Old and New Testaments,” Stanton age 80 wrote. “The canon and civil law; church and state; priests and legislators; all political parties and religious denominations have alike taught that woman was made after man, of man, and for man, an inferior being, subject to man." "The fashions, forms, ceremonies and customs of society, church ordinances and discipline all grow out of this idea,” Stanton continued. Religion still plays a critical role in today's conservative politics. If you doubt it, ask Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Pastor Doug Wilson, a Christian Nationalist. "Pastor Wilson's beliefs are extreme," National Public Radio's July 2026 interview began. "Wilson is a self-described Christian nationalist who wants to repeal a woman's right to vote," NPR continued. "He has defended slavery, and believes homosexuality should be a crime." "The entire nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda," Pastor Wilson concluded. He "opened a D.C. 'church service' because of the number of Christians who adhere to his church's teachings within the Trump administration." The fight for women's rights continues: Equal voting rights and ratification of the 19th Amendment [1920], equal pay and equal job opportunities; religious freedom and the separation of church and state, abortion and reproductive rights." Advocates like Alice Paul, Betty Friedan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey and Gloria Steinem have fought hard to create a better tomorrow. It was Quaker President Richard Nixon, a California Republican, who signed the Title IX legislation. Woman's Rights, resurrection of the defeated Equal Rights Amendment [ERA] is not on Trump's agenda. The Equal Rights Amendment was officially defeated when its extended ratification deadline expired on June 30, 1982. If only Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "analysis of how discriminatory religious ideologies play into both radical and conservative politics" was better understood. "We will stand bravely, we will live proudly, we will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way," Trump touted. "Our golden age has just begun." President Trump's Golden age has collapsed, for many reasons! If I said Smithsonian benefactor; Indiana U.S. Representative and Smithsonian founder Robert Dale Owen is disappointed would you agree? Exercise your hard-earned right to vote. November 's mid-term elections are upon us. 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. October 2026 13
HIGH NOTES
RON POWERS
Zombie by The Cranberries
we hear the slow rumble of a driving bass line along with percussion composed of kick drum, toms, and hi hat. Additionally, the clean guitar shimmers with chorus effects adding a slight dreaminess to the mix. Just before the chorus begins, Lawler blasts out another powerful snare fill to get things cooking. This gives way to the full band moving into high gear with classic grunge guitar tones and pounding mid-tempo drums. On top of the music O’Riordan unleashes a raw and honest vocal performance, pushing her voice into a register that gives expression to the grief and anger that inspired the song’s creation. Her elongated delivery of “Zombie” becomes the defining moment of the chorus, with each repetition carrying a mixture of melody and emotional outcry. This year The Cranberries released anniversary editions and stereo mixes for their classic album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?. The new additions are available in both CD and vinyl formats and you can also hear the new mixes on streaming services. If you would like to listen to “Zombie” or any of The Cranberries other music, you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you’d like to learn more about The Cranberries, you can find information on Wikipedia, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, 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.
I
n 1994, The Cranberries unleashed one of the most powerful and haunting protest songs of the alternative rock era with “Zombie”, a furious anthem that transformed grief and outrage into one of the defi ning rock statements of the decade. Built around a slow, brooding rhythm, distorted guitar riffs, and Dolores O’Riordan’s raw, unmistakably Irish vocals, the song marked a dramatic departure from the softer sound of the band’s earlier work, replacing wistful melodies with a visceral sense of anger and despair. Written in response to the 1993 Warrington bombing, which killed two young children, “Zombie” became more than a song about the violence. It was an anguished rejection of the cycle of hatred and political aggression that had consumed generations. Decades after its release, its stark message and unforgettable chorus continue to resonate as a timeless cry against the human cost of conflict. Guitarist Noel Hogan gets things started with clean chords played on his Fender Telecaster processed with chorus effect. After a few measures we hear a thunderous snare fill by drummer Fergal Lawler just before the full band is introduced. The sound of a heavily distorted Gibson Les Paul with humbuckers takes center stage here with blown out and ripping power chords. Part way through the intro the clean guitar chimes in with a melodic lead line adding a touch of poignant emotion. All these elements join together to create a massive and powerful sound that creates a pleasing contrast to the quiet and moving feeling of the verse. The verse begins with a distortion-saturated guitar slowly fading into the background, while the glassy, clean tone of the second guitar continues to ring beneath it. As the distortion fades completely, the guitar pulls back from its gritty texture and delivers a brief, melodic lead line that quickly dissolves into the mix, setting the stage for Dolores O’Riordan’s exquisite vocal entrance. Lyrically O’Riordan reflects on the devastating human cost of violence through emotionally charged imagery and a melody full of somber and introspective tone. Musically 14 October 2026
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. fishmarketoldtown.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.
dates and cover charges. Check our advertisers’ websites. These establishments offer live entertainment. Call to confirm show times,
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.
Old Town Crier
LAST WORD
MIRIAM KRAMER
NEVER SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE: MIRIAM R. KRAMER
LAST WORD
Negotiating Beyond C
GETTING TO YES
hris Voss’s Never Split the Difference is a lively, practical successor to Fisher, Ury, and Patton’s classic Getting to Yes. Both reject the idea that negotiation means overpowering an opponent, but they begin from different assumptions. Getting to Yes emphasizes interests, standards, and rational problemsolving. Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, starts with a blunt truth: people are emotional and unpredictable. Effective negotiation must work with that reality. Published in 1981, Getting to Yes became the bestknown modern guide to negotiation. Its principles remain useful: separate people from the problem, focus on interests, invent options for mutual gain, and use objective criteria. Its famous orange example shows that discovering underlying needs produces better outcomes than splitting the difference. Two people want the same orange. The obvious compromise is to cut it in half. But if one needs the peel for baking and the other wants the fruit for juice, discovering what each actually wants produces a better result than simply splitting the difference. Voss agrees that demands conceal crucial information, and his contribution is a set of techniques for uncovering it. His central idea, tactical empathy, means recognizing how the situation feels from the other person’s perspective and showing that recognition. People who feel understood talk more, and talking reveals what matters. This point leads to one of his most practical lessons: listen longer than feels natural. Instead of preparing counterarguments, listen for fears, pressures, and small clues. His hostage stories are dramatic, but the technique works in everyday situations with contractors, employees, or board members who often reveal real obstacles only after obvious arguments fade. To keep conversations going, Voss recommends mirroring—repeating key words as a question—and labeling, which puts emotions into words. Even incorrect labels generate useful corrections. His calibrated questions, especially those beginning with what or how, expose weaknesses without confrontation. “How am I supposed to do that?” places the problem back in the other person’s hands. Voss also reframes the value of “no.” People often feel safer saying it because it restores control. A no can mark the beginning of real negotiation rather than its end. “Never split the difference” is best understood as a warning. Midpoints between arbitrary numbers are themselves arbitrary. Here Getting to Yes remains essential: its BATNA concept (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) provides rational boundaries. Voss excels at guiding the conversation; Getting to Yes clarifies the structure around it. Voss also offers a lesson that extends beyond negotiation: do not confuse being heard with getting your way. People often become more cooperative once they believe their objections have been understood. Yet his techniques can feel manipulative if applied mechanically; they work best when they become habits of attentive listening. Perhaps that is the book’s most valuable takeaway: before persuading, find out what you do not know. Listen for the problem beneath the stated problem. Ask “what” and “how” rather than issuing challenges. Put concerns into words. Do not fear no, and do not compromise merely because the midpoint looks civilized. Getting to Yes provides the map. Voss focuses on the unpredictable travelers. The best negotiator is often the one who listens well enough to discover what everyone else has missed. About the Author: Miriam Kramer worked at Olsson’s Books & Records before it closed in 2008, welcoming Old Town, Alexandria, residents to a unique place where employees with encyclopedic knowledge of literature and music enriched the community. As a global nomad, she has lived, studied, or worked in diverse countries overseas. With her experience writing and studying international affairs, she has promoted democracy, international media, the arts, peace building, and citizen diplomacy during her career. Old Town Crier
October 2026 15
ON STAGE
MARK EDELMAN
ONSTAGE:
As Fall rolls in, the beautiful foliage matches the impressive work now on view in theaters all across the DMV. If you want more local color, check out some of these multi-hued productions:
SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER Atlas Performing Arts Center Now through Oct 18
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Signature Theatre Now through Nov 1
Mosaic brings back Brian Quijada, one-half of the award-winning duo who brought us Mexodus, which premiered over on H Street and went on to two successful off-Broadway runs. Inspired by the true story of his mother’s immigration in the 1970s, Quijada takes us on another musical journey, this time from El Salvador to America to the tune of cumbia, Mexican mariachi boleros, rock and hip hop. Like Dorothy in that “over the rainbow” musical, Reina faces down dangers as she strives to build a better life for su familia. Tickets at www.mosaictheater.org.
COME FROM AWAY Ford’s Theater Now through Oct 18
Sondheim’s most melodious—albeit misunderstood—musical gets a top notch revival from Signature Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner and a really wellcast company of many of D.C.’s finest. Jake Loewenthal, Maria Rizzo and James Whalen stand out among the locals and Melanie Field makes a deep impression as bff Mary. But it’s Broadway guest artist Jason Gotay as Franklin Shepard who hits the home run, singing gorgeously and acting the backwards storyline as effectively as I’ve even seen it played-- including Jonathan Groff, who won a Tony® for the role. As always, musical director Jon Kalbfleisch and his orchestra—twelve strong in this production - perform the gorgeous score smoothly. See it while you can— the opportunity doesn’t come up very often. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org. 16 October 2026
The heart-warming true story of how a small Canadian town cared for 6,579 airline passengers stranded there on 9/11 gets a new production at Ford’s. Tickets at www.fords.org.
THE SCORE
Harman Hall Now through Oct 18
Brian Cox, star of HBO’s Succession, limns the role of Johann Sebastian Bach, a reluctant visitor to the court of Frederick II, then Europe’s most ambitious and dangerous leader (sound familiar?). Sir Trevor Nunn—the man who gave us Cats and Les Miserables-- helms this production, direct from the UK. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org. Old Town Crier
OCTOBER EDITION
OLD TOWN
CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM Imagination Stage Now through Oct 18
FRIDA…A SELF PORTRAIT Oct 8- Nov 8 Klein Theatre
Based on the popular children’s books, your kids will celebrate letters, words, and imagination with infectious rhythms, funny puppets, and lively dancing. Tickets at www.imaginationstage.org.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Folger Library Theatre Now through Nov 1
Human nature collides with the letter of the law with potentially life-threatening consequences in this moral tale from the Bard of Avon. Tickets at www.folger.edu.
WISH YOU WERE HERE Studio Theatre Now through Nov 1
On the eve of the Iranian Revolution, a group of tight knit friends deal with a wedding and their futures in a moment of upheaval. Tickets at www.studiotheatre.org.
THE SECOND BEST SCHOOL SHOOTING
Next Stop Theatre Now through Nov 4
As two best friends try to make sense of a school shooting, they confront a question for our times: how do you grieve when the world has mostly moved on. Tickets at www.nextstoptheatre.org.
BEATRICE LIKES THE DARK
Adventure MTC Oct 2- Nov 1
When Beatrice casts a spell for endless darkness, she discovers that even the things we fear most can become beautiful when brought into the light. From the acclaimed children’s book. comes an imaginative blend of magic, music, shadow play, and storytelling and a celebration of curiosity, courage, and connection. Tickets at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
MAYBE HAPPY ENDING October 6-11 National Theatre
Yes, it’s a show about South Korean robots. But it’s also a deeply moving of a chance encounter that sparks connection, adventure, and maybe even love and the winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Tony ® Award-winning director Michael Arden helmed this totally original new musical adventure that explores what it means to be human, even if you’re not. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com.
THE FLYING LOVERS OF VITEBSK Oct 7- Nov 1 Theatre J
Before the paintings, poems and fame, Bella and Marc Chagall were two young dreamers whose love transformed the world around them. In this new musical, their journey from Jewish shetl into the vivid landscape of imagination, devotion and resilience takes shape, remining us how art and love can lift us beyond the gravity of everyday life, just like a Chagall painting. Tickets at www.edcjcc.org/theater-j.
On the eve of Frida Kahlo’s death, the pain and passion of her extraordinary life are laid bare, cracked open by Brazilian writer and performer Vanessa Severo. The powerful portal between Severo and the celebrated Mexican painter brings a sensual physicality and raw honesty to this portrait of one of the world’s most iconic artists. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org.
ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN Oct 17- Dec 6 Arena Stage
Tony ® Award winning director Anna D. Shapiro helms this revival of Eric Bentley’s distillation of the real life tragedies visited upon a group of important American artists facing an impossible choice—defend their integrity, protect their livelihoods or betray their friends and colleagues. Sadly, the self-righteous stain of the House Committee on Un-American Activities continues to shine its ugly glare beam on the good people of this nation. Tickets at www.arenastage.org.
SHE LOVES ME
Oct 17- Nov 7 Little Theatre of Alexandira Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick – the team that gave us Fiddler on the Roof -contributed music and lyrics to this charming story set in a fancy European perfume shop circa 1930. Unbeknownst to one another, co-workers Amalia and Georg both respond to an anonymous lonely hearts ad in the local newspaper, falling in love with their mystery correspondents. What happens when they discover the identity of their true loves makes for a most entertaining trip to the theater. Tickets at www.thelitletheatre.com.
MAMMA MIA Oct 27 – Nov 15 National Theatre
ABBA fans rejoice! The musical that made “Dancing Queen” an earworm returns to the DMV on its current national tour and 25th anniversary. Will Sophie find out who her real father is just minutes before she does or doesn’t get married herself? Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com.
BETRAYAL October 8-25 1st Stage
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.
As her marriage to Robert comes to an end, Emma reconnects with Jerry, her former lover—and her husband’s best friend—as the action unspools backward in time. Domestic and dangerous, Harold Pinter’s startling play uncovers hidden truths, revealing how little we know about those we think we know so much about. Tickets at www.1ststage.org.
Photo credits: Merrily We Roll Along photo by Chistopher Mueller; Somewhere Over the Border photo by Chris Banks; Maybe Happy Ending photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman; Frida photo by Michael Brosilow; Come From Away photo by Scott Suchman.
Old Town Crier
October 2026 17
y a i TheV n t Gallery GALLERY BEAT
F. LENNOX CAMPELLO
“Running an art gallery around here was a heroic act!” - John Pancake, former Arts editor of the Washington Post Art galleries are easily one of the key components of any city’s art scene – if not the crucial component when it comes to exposing the area artists’ works to the public.
This is a complex relationship between an independent business (the gallery) and an individual (the artist). Around the DMV, most fine arts, independent galleries often operate by the skin of their teeth when it comes to finances; John Pancake, who a long time ago was the Arts editor of the Washington Post, once told me “That running an art gallery around here was a heroic act!” And because most artists are eagerly seeking to show their works at galleries, that introduces various “models” of galleries apart from the standard model of selling your art on consignment and getting a commission if the artwork sells. What is a “vanity gallery”? A vanity gallery is an art gallery that “rents” its space to artists in order for the artist to have a show – as
18 October 2026
well as often ALSO charging a commission if/when the artist sells at the show. Thus, the main driver in having a show at a vanity gallery is not necessarily the quality of the artwork, but the artist’s ability to pay the gallery to host his/her artwork.
New York is crawling with vanity galleries, and a significant number of European galleries are vanity galleries. In the US, however, vanity galleries are often looked down upon by everyone, since they are essentially a “rental” gallery. A knowledgeable art critic or curator knows which galleries in his/her town are vanity galleries, and often ignore them, much like book critics ignore most self-published writers, who use “vanity publishers.” An interesting fact, at least here in the DMV, is the fact that I have seen “reputable” galleries which sometimes cross the line and become “charge the artist” galleries or vanity galleries once in a while, as the mighty dollar (or lack thereof) calls. Sometimes, when I was part of Fraser Gallery and we had two gorgeous physical spaces in Georgetown and in Bethesda, we’d get a phone call from an embassy, or from the agent of a Hollywood actor who’s also a
“painter” or “photographer,” or from an individual “artist,” and they’d ask us how much would we charge to host a show by their “artist.” When we’d inform them that we did not rent the gallery for artists to have shows, they’d thank us and hang up. Then a few months later I’d see that “Hollywood artist” or “embassy artist” exhibiting in one of the area’s “reputable” art galleries, and immediately recognize that - at least for that month - that gallery is making ends meet by renting the space to someone. And it’s not just commercial art spaces. Several years ago, our local press profiled a then local non-profit, which inadvertently admitted charging a multinational corporation a hefty fee to put up an art show at the “reputable” non-profit art spaces. One can even make the case that even some museums sometimes cross the line and become “vanity museums.” A few years ago, I was astounded when a culture minister from one of the embassies in DC told me that they had finished a deal with a local museum to host the first ever retrospective of one of that country’s
Old Town Crier
artists for a fee of four million dollars! To him, it was “business as usual,” while to me it was distasteful and dishonest and left a bad taste in my mouth about that museum for the longest time. The success and exposure that art fairs often give artists has created a new form of “vanity art galleries” that now have refined the vanity process to make a profit off the back of artists at art fairs. How did the vanity gallery refine the process just for art fairs? If you submit your work or respond to their aggressive outreach: you will be offered an “artist agency” or “career development” contract where they will charge you substantial upfront fees (often ranging from hundreds to several thousands of dollars) to secure wall space in New York pop-up art fair, or a small slice of a booth at “bottom of the food chain” commercial art fair in New York or during Art Basel Miami Beach week of art fairs (about 25+ of them) in the Greater Miami area in December. They justify these fees as “strategic career-building services,” marketing packages, and logistics management rather than rent, and I’ve witnessed (at art fairs) where these “galleries” actually rotate the artists every few hours – they are in fact showcasing dozens of artists, rather than focusing and showing 3-4, as most galleries do during a fair. Traditional galleries either invest their own money to take your work to art fairs because they believe they can sell it and make a 50% commission on those sales (and thus take ALL the financial risks); or they share the brutal costs of a booth at an art fair by inviting selected artists to split the cost of the booth, and get a portion of the booth, and keep 100% of their sales – nearly all cooperative galleries work in this model. This latter model thus gives their artists “access” to the “real” fairs via the gallery and lets the artists keep 100% of sales. Because the other and “new” art fair vanity gallery profits from your upfront fee – often from dozen or more artists per booth per fair, they bear no financial risk if your work fails to sell AND also make a huge profit even before the art fair starts! 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.
Exclusively representing the works of "Woman
“A woman F.aLennox Campello balancing on in love with Price and additional images upon request. Jackson Pollock abstraction” landscape", - Lennox 2021 2026 F.
“Campello. ONE OF 32x40 16x20 watercolor on THE MOST paper with embedded inches, mixed electronic images that INTERESTING rotate every 5 seconds. media PEOPLE OForiginal WASHINGTON, painting on 600 Exclusively representing the works of DC”
weight paper. F. Lennox Campello Syreni Caledonii (Northern Atlantic Mermaid). Watercolor,
– Washington City Paper
charcoal and Conte. 2019, 12x36 inches. 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 Choose your style, your your size style, and color, you can order online. Choose your including the tie dye blue (but no size and color, including the tie dye blue (but FromChristopher Christopher Calvin. nobrushstroke). brushstroke). From Calvin.
Jane Seymour by Walleroo. Jane Seymour Hat Hat by Walleroo. JewelryJewelry by by Sarah Cavender Metalworks. Sarah Cavender Metalworks. Handmade in Handmade Oxford, Alabama. in Oxford, Alabama.
We are –offi cially11am an– online Monday Sunday, 5pm store only. Check us out at 1124www.imagineartwear.com King Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 l
703-548-1461 l www.imagineartwear.com (703) 548-1461 // csimagine@aol.com csimagine@aol.com
Old Town Crier
Photo by Bev Dietz
October 2026 19
FROM THE BAY
ADAM TREMPER
The Story Behind the Horse Drawn Buggy A Glimpse into Southern Maryland's Amish Community Maryland and Virginia are home to twenty-one Amish communities. By far the largest is in Southern Maryland. Many of us in Southern Maryland are familiar with the Amish families who live in St. Mary’s and Charles Counties. Several new construction projects on my own street in Calvert County are Amish-built, and the gorgeous black walnut dining room table in my home was made by the Amish in St. Mary’s County. But who are the Amish, and why are they here? The story begins centuries before they arrived in Southern Maryland. Both the Amish and Mennonites grew from the Anabaptist movement of the Protestant Reformation in 16th-century Europe. Anabaptists rejected infant baptism, believing baptism should follow an individual’s profession of faith. The Mennonite tradition emerged from this movement and took its name from the influential Anabaptist leader Menno Simons. In 1693, disagreements among Anabaptists over church discipline and separation from the surrounding world resulted in a group following the teachings of Jakob Ammann. His followers became known as the Amish. While the Amish and Mennonites share the same religious roots, they are distinct groups. Mennonites came first, and the Amish developed as a more rigorous branch of that tradition. Both the Mennonites and Amish came to Pennsylvania after William Penn made offers of land to these groups to escape religious persecution in Europe. One of the biggest misconceptions about the Amish is that they believe electricity, automobiles and other modern inventions are evil. It is considerably more complicated than that. Amish communities follow an Ordnung, a German word meaning “order.” It is a set of rules and expectations governing everyday life, and the Ordnung can differ from one Amish community to another. Technology is considered partly in terms of what effect it will have on the family, church and community. Something that encourages excessive independence, brings too much of the outside world into the home, or reduces people’s dependence upon family/community may be restricted. That is why an Amish craftsman may use certain powered tools, batteries or other modern equipment while still not connecting his home to the public electrical grid or owning an automobile. The technology itself isn’t necessarily considered sinful; what matters is how it affects their way of life. So how did this community end up in St. Mary’s County? One reason they came was simple: Pennsylvania was getting too crowded. The first Amish family arrived in 1939, with six additional families following in early 1940. Those first 20 October 2026
seven families purchased 1,950 acres for less than $30,000. Comparable land back in Lancaster County was reportedly selling for around $500 an acre. Stephen F. Stoltzfus, a 74-year-old clergyman and one of the leaders of the migration, specifically cited the crowded conditions around Lancaster. One of the early settlers later recalled hiring a truck to move the family’s possessions south. Traveling Route 5 from Waldorf toward Mechanicsville, they encountered no other traffic. Imagine that journey in 1940. You have left increasingly crowded Lancaster County looking for open land, and as you travel deeper into Southern Maryland, the highway seems deserted. They apparently took it as a very good sign. The newcomers were experienced farmers, and Southern Maryland had plenty of farmland that had been neglected or exhausted. Contemporary accounts credited the Amish with transforming thousands of acres of rundown land into productive farms. They quickly developed a reputation as excellent farmers. Schooling was another major factor for their move to Southern Maryland. The Amish believed formal education beyond the elementary grades was unnecessary for the life their children would lead. According to the local history, when the families moved to Maryland, they said they had received a written assurance from Maryland Governor Herbert R. O’Conor that their children could discontinue formal schooling after the seventh grade. That document was apparently lost. In 1947, Maryland changed its compulsory schoolattendance laws, requiring children between seven and sixteen to attend school. The Amish maintained that the governor’s earlier promise exempted their community. The St. Mary’s County Board of Education disagreed. What followed was a long standoff. Local education officials repeatedly tried to persuade the Amish to comply with Maryland law. The Amish continuing to remove their children from school after completing the seventh grade. Both sides believed they were acting in the children’s best interests, and despite their fundamental disagreement, mutual respect apparently prevented the dispute from becoming an open confrontation. The issue was finally addressed locally in 1967, when State Senator Paul J. Bailey of the Charlotte Hall area introduced legislation recognizing Amish schools as bona fide parochial schools. The larger constitutional question surrounding compulsory education and the Amish would eventually reach the U.S. Supreme
Photographer A. Aubrey Bodine circa 1952
Court; in Wisconsin v. Yoder in 1972, the Court held that Wisconsin could not compel Amish children to attend formal high school in violation of their religious beliefs. On August 2, 1941, Stephen F. Stoltzfus died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown from “tick fever.” Shortly afterward, Mrs. Sam R. Stoltzfus and her twoyear-old son were hospitalized at Johns Hopkins with the same illness. The three cases reportedly caused considerable concern, and county health officials administered inoculations. Despite that early loss, the settlement survived and grew. By the mid-1950s, the original Amish church district had already grown large enough to divide into two districts. Farming remained central to the community, but over the decades Amish families also became well known in Southern Maryland for construction, woodworking, furniture making, produce, baked goods and other businesses. The Amish didn’t come to Southern Maryland intending to become Southern Marylanders in exactly the same way as everyone else. Their faith places enormous importance on maintaining their religious community and way of life. Yet, more than 85 years after those first families arrived from Pennsylvania, they have unquestionably become part of the history and culture of St. Mary’s County. They are, in a sense, part of our community while intentionally remaining somewhat separate from it. Today, I love visiting their markets. I admire the work of Amish builders throughout Southern Maryland. And, as the beautiful black walnut dining room table sitting in my house attests, I certainly appreciate their furniture makers. About the Author: Adam Tremper is the owner and tour guide at Spooky Solomons, a year-round historical ghost tour in Solomons Island Maryland. Sharing Southern Maryland history, legends, and lore is a passion of his. Old Town Crier
FALL HAS FINALLY ARRIVED IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND!
“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” — A. Einstein
WHAT BRINGS YOU
JOY?
For Chuck Floyd, it was 5 Carmen Gambrill paintings! Welcome to abstract art. See what you want to see.
Welcome to abstract art. See what you want to see, find your JOY along the way.
That’s the fun of it! No two people see the same thing because everyone’s experiences are different. Find YOUR joy.
Available by appointment 14550 Solomons Island Road Solomons, MD 20688
www.carmengambrillart.com 410.610.4075 (Celebrating 40 years on Solomons Island)
Ben Connolly
Live
in Solomons “The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” — A. Einstein 6-9 pm
J WHAT BRINGS YOU
For Chuck Floyd, it was 5 Carmen Gambrill paintings!
Time is to just Get around That Spring Boat in Water! TRANSIENT the corner! Time to the GetSLIPS That
Welcome to abstract art. See what you want to see.
WE HAVE A SLIP WAITING FOR YOU!
AVAILABLE FALL Boat in theFOR Water!
l y b s u t visi
DEEP WAITING WATER ANDFOR YOU! WE HAVE A CRUISERS SLIP COVERED SLIPS AVAILABLE DEEP WATER ANDRoad 14485 Dowell COVERED SLIPS AVAILABLE
Solomons, MD 20629 14485 Dowell Road 410.326.4251 Solomons, MD 20629 calvertmarina.com 410.326.4251 calvertmarina.com
Photo Credit: David Sites
OY?
a n d or s e a
Gorgeous Waterfront Dining in St. Mary’s County
N ! OPEROUND R
YEA
Clarke’s Landing
24580 Clarke’s Landing Ln. Hollywood, MD 301-373-3986
STONEYSSEAFOODHOUSE.COM
That’s the fun of it! No two people see the same thing because everyone’s experiences are different. Find YOUR joy. Tuesdays- CD Café/Next Door Lounge 14350 Solomons Island Road 410-326-3877 Wednesdays- Coast to Coast 14442 Solomons Island Road Available by appointment 410-231-2105 14550 Solomons Island Road ThursdaysBugeyeMD Restaurant & Grill Solomons, 20688 14470 Solomons Island Road www.carmengambrillart.com 443-214-2516 410.610.4075 FridaysRuddy Duck (Celebrating 40 years on Solomons Island) 13200 Dowell Road 410-975-7421
TO THE BLUE RIDGE
W
MEG MULLERY
Gimme a Nother for the Win!
hen Gimme a Nother enters the starting gate to compete at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup races in Kentucky, it will be another stop in the horse’s remarkable journey that began in South Africa and includes a flight across the Atlantic Ocean, enduring a long layover in New York, a second home in Virginia, and a shout-out to New Jersey. The six-year-old mare bred in South Africa, Gimme a Nother arrived in the U.S. in late 2024 after an unbeaten seven-race career and being named South Africa’s Equus Champion three-year-old filly. Owner/breeder, Jessica Jell, and her husband, Stevie, determined the next logical step was to prove the mare could do it on the international stage. Gimme a Nother’s arrival in the United States required a 60-day quarantine period; the norm for all horses coming from South Africa. It meant two months standing in a stall at a special facility at JFK International. All super athletes of any species faced with that amount of time with no exercise or training require months of work to return to a competitive fitness level. Clearly, Gimme a Nother got her mojo back.
a young age. She produced one foal, Nother Russia, who continued the champion tradition and passed the genes on to her foal, Gimme a Nother.
during her childhood. When Newstead Farm, an established horse farm in Upperville, became available in 2020, it checked more than all of the boxes.
Jessica determined it was time to add a North American base to complement her South Africa breeding/racing operation. The horse and hunt country of Northern Virginia appealed for obvious, and not so obvious,
Successful Thoroughbreds often have attitude and some quirks. Secretariat’s handlers observed he knew he was a superstar and acted accordingly--not always in a charming way. “Gimme” exhibits coyness and demands privacy away from people and horses when time for saddling up prior to a race. It’s clearly an act. Once on the track, the shyness disappears and changes to a “let the competition begin” demeanor. Jessica is thinking about what the future holds for Gimme a Nother and considering expanding her North American operation by bringing more horses to the U.S. from South Africa. “Gimme,” according to Jessica, “has worked and trained brilliantly and given it her all during her racing career. The time will come for her to retire the saddle, at which point she’ll don a new hat as a stay-at-home mom and transition to life as a brood mare.”
She has earned more than $1.13 million with 11 wins in 15 starts, including the Grade 2 Beverly D. Stakes at Virginia’s Colonial Downs and, most recently, the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes in Canada. Her E.P. Taylor victory secured her a spot in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on October 31st.
Gimme a Nother and her mother Nother Russia reasons. Virginia’s location, beauty and history of horses played a major role in decision making. But perhaps the most important was availability of Graham Motion, a top-tier Thoroughbred horse trainer who trained Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and multiple other high-profile stakes winners.
Jessica belongs to one of South Africa’s legendary Thoroughbred racing families. Her loyalty and love for “Gimme” have history. Mother Russia was an elite South African champion who tragically died at
The shout-out to New Jersey part of the journey? The preferred Virginia location kept Jessica in close proximity to New Jersey where she still enjoys fond memories of visiting extended family many times
22 October 2026
Gimme in the lead at E.P. Taylor (G1)
But first Gimme a Nother will join her peers, an elite group of international horses holding numerous titles and winning records, at the Breeders’ Cup where it is almost certain she will give us another. About the Author: Meg Mullery is a contributing writer and Blue Ridge distribution “assistant” to the OTC and just a great all-around person. She is a Middleburg resident and spends some of her valuable time volunteering at Sprout – a therapeutic riding program in Aldie - and has been known to place a modest wager or two on the ponies.
Old Town Crier
Y R T N U O C T N U H
ROAD TRIP
BOB TAGERT
The Amazing Harpers Ferry!
For this month’s Road Trip we decided to combine two events into the trip. We started our trip by going to Morven Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Virginia on September 19 to enjoy the last match before the close of the Polo Season, with Team USA vs Thailand. The Old Town Crier has been a proud sponsor of this event for the last two years. As usual, the place was packed with folks out for an evening of first-class Polo. After the event we decided to spend the night in Leesburg and head out in the morning for Harpers Ferry...our Road Trip destination. Harpers Ferry is relatively a short distance from Leesburg right up US Rt. 340. The drive through the mountains of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia was beautiful. By the time you read this, the leaves will have begun to change into their fall wardrobe. It is a perfect time of the year to take that drive. Harpers Ferry is noted for its beautiful terrain as it is set between the junction of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. Harpers Ferry lies at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people. Here you can explore John Brown’s raid against slavery. Enjoy a walking tour of the town and find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights at Storer College. There are also miles of trails in the Blue Ridge and along Civil War battlefields. Originally named “Harper’s” Ferry after an 18th-century ferry owner, the town lost its apostrophe in 1891 in an update by the United States Board on Geographic Names. Besides being a quaint town that is nestled between the two rivers, Harpers Ferry gained fame in 1859 when abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the Harpers Ferry Armory
24 October 2026
in a doomed effort to start a slave rebellion in Virginia and across the South. During the American Civil War, the town was the northernmost point of Confederatecontrolled territory, and changed hands several times due to its strategic importance. The Shenandoah and Potomac rivers were of significant importance for navigation during the war,
although the ‘steps’ or white water portion of the Shenandoah was difficult passage. Today, these steps attract whitewater enthusiasts year-round. Harpers Ferry, an antebellum manufacturing hub, has long since oriented its economy around tourism after being largely destroyed during the Civil War. Harpers Ferry is home to John Brown’s Fort, the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail, whose midpoint is nearby, the former campus of Storer College (a historically black college established during Reconstruction), and one of four national training centers of the National Park Service. Note: John Brown’s Fort is West Virginia’s most visited tourist site. As one can imagine, much of the lower town, which was in ruins by the end of the Civil War and ravaged by subsequent floods, has been rebuilt and preserved by the Harpers Ferry National Park Service. On October 25, 1783, Thomas Jefferson visited Harpers Ferry as he was traveling to Philadelphia. Viewing “the passage of the Potomac through the Blue Ridge” from a rock that is now named for him as Jefferson’s Rock, he called the site “perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature” and stated, “This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.” That scene remains today and you can sit on Jefferson’s Rock and enjoy the same view. Jefferson County, in which Harpers Ferry is located, was named for him on its creation in 1801. Lots of history here folks. Now that you’ve been given a brief history lesson, let’s talk about the fun side of Harpers Ferry (HF). The OTC actually had distribution in Jefferson County for a few years in the late 90’s so naturally our fi rst stop was the Jefferson County Visitors Center. I
Old Town Crier
highly suggest that if you haven’t already made the trek to this amazing part of WV, that you make this your first stop as well. Patrick Perfetto was behind the desk on the Sunday we were there and he got us caught up on local happenings. I hope you are lucky enough to have him manning the desk during your stop! We are familiar with the area, and the parking situation in the heart of town during the week isn’t too bad but we weren’t going to risk wasting valuable time looking for a space on a beautiful fall Sunday so decided to take advantage of the plentiful parking and shuttle located at the National Harpers Ferry Park Service Visitors Center located just across the road from the Jefferson County VC. Since this is a National Park, entrance fees are charged - $20 per car, $15 per motorcycle, $10 per person walking/biking. The parking and the shuttle are included in the price of the park entrance fee. If you choose to park in “Lower Town” the fee is automatically charged via your license plate/EZPass. The upside of the shuttle, other than not having to look for parking, is that they run continuously throughout the day and drop you off where the historic buildings that house the historical artifacts begin in Lower Town. This places you in a great position to make a loop on foot through the history related stops as well as take in some shopping, eating and drinking throughout. The downside, is if you have issues with doing a fair amount of walking you may want to opt
Old Town Crier
for parking closer to the action at the train station. There’s a lot of up and down terrain and some places that aren’t meant for someone with balance issues to navigate. In fact, I am one of those people and, even with a cane, it took me a long time to get from point A to point B. I really hadn’t taken into consideration the amount of walking I would be doing. However, my other half was very happy about the choice. She logged a little over 12,000 steps that day! There isn’t enough space on these two pages to give you the highlights of all of the historic buildings, quaint shops, art galleries and eateries that abound in this small place. I hope the photos accompanying these words give you a bit of an idea of what to expect. Some of the highlights of our SunDay FunDay started on lower High Street. High Street is considered the main drag and is flanked by Shenandoah and Potomac Streets. All three of these streets have points of historical interest intermingled with the retail. I was ready to sit down and we were both hungry so, at the recommendation of a very fun woman named Linda that we met on the street who works in one of the retail shops, we stopped for a really good lunch at the Coach House Bar & Grill. They have a nice menu, good Bloody Mary’s and both indoor and outdoor seating with entrances from both High and Potomac Streets. The smoke puffing train engine that sits on the bar intrigued my other half!
I chose to remain seated and catch some Sunday NFL action since while she went exploring. She went in search of a few of her favorites from when we were frequenting HF on a regular basis and was happy to find that the Vintage Lady that sells all things West Virginia is still flourishing. There are so many shops with a plethora of goods including coffee, jewelry, artwork, clothing, candles, home goods, etc. that keeping track of the names wasn’t in the cards this Sunday. Restaurant choices and ice cream shops abound on High and Potomac Streets. The Rabbit Hole restaurant was our go to in the 90’s so we will definitely stop in there on our return. One of the highlights of her trek was walking the original steps of the Appalachian Trail from High Street up to St. Peter’s Catholic Church at the top of “Church” Street. Read more about it in “On the Cover”. I didn’t mention much about the outdoor activities but they abound here. I have kayaked the rivers in the past and it was phenomenal. For all information about all things Harpers Ferry log on to www. experiencingharpersferry.com. I hope this piece gives you some incentive to make your own FunDay trek to Harpers Ferry this fall. I suggest that you make in during the week if you can and that you schedule your trip around rush hour traffic.
October 2026 25
CARIBBEAN CONNECTION CAITLIN SULLIVAN
ambergris caye It’s Easy to Fall in Love with This Place
Ramon’s Village Resort is hidden behind a wooden entrance just off one of the busiest streets in San Pedro; The Phoenix Resort sits directly on the waterfront a little farther north, with enormous residential-style suites and the center of town outside its door. Those two hotels tell you quite a bit about Ambergris Caye: this is a place where you can have an old-school Caribbean beach vacation and a spacious residential resort stay on the same little island.
and cruising around the island in one is one of the pleasures of being here. That means heading north of town, stopping when somewhere looks interesting, turning toward the water whenever you find another dock and keeping the day loose. It is Caribbean island-hopping reduced to the size of one long, narrow caye.
Melva Miralda, summed up San Pedro’s food culture even more simply: “It’s just different. And diverse.” That diversity is the key. Belize draws from Maya, Mestizo, Garifuna, Caribbean, Central American and Mexican culinary traditions, and on Ambergris Caye you can move among them in a few blocks.
Ramon’s Village is roughly 1,300 feet from the San Pedro airstrip. There are very few Caribbean trips where you can take an international flight, connect to a tiny island plane and then be at a beachfront hotel so quickly. That accessibility is an important reason Ambergris Caye makes so much sense for a shorter Caribbean vacation now.
But the hotels are only the beginning. After multiple CJ trips here, our read is that Ambergris Caye is the Caribbean for people who already love the Caribbean — the travelers who plan vacations around beach bars, boats, rum, seafood, golf carts, local restaurants and the chance to spend as much time as possible near the water. There is nothing quite like it in the region. San Pedro has a level of energy that is difficult to duplicate: golf carts streaming through narrow streets, boats pulling up to docks, restaurants packed into seemingly every block and wooden piers leading out to bars over the Caribbean Sea. That experience is especially appealing heading into fall. A CJ rate check on Sept. 4 found published standard-season beachfront rates at Ramon’s Village at $340 per night, with that rate running through Nov. 20.
the caribbean’s overwater-bar capital You could spend an Ambergris Caye vacation almost entirely exploring its bars, and we have come pretty close. CJ has called Ambergris Caye the Caribbean capital of overwater bars, and repeated visits have only reinforced that conclusion. San Pedro has an extraordinary concentration of openair drinking spots perched on docks and sitting directly above the sea, the sort of places where arriving by boat can feel every bit as normal as arriving by golf cart.
Belize’s Ambergris Caye combines the energy of San Pedro, a remarkable collection of overwater bars, seriously good street food and two very different beachfront stays at Ramon’s Village and The Phoenix. the food is a huge part of the trip Then there are the pupusas. If you have not eaten one on Ambergris Caye, put it near the top of the itinerary. San Pedro’s street-food scene is one of the reasons we keep coming back, and the pupusas — hot, griddled corn cakes stuffed with cheese, beans, meat or combinations of all three — are among the island’s great pleasures.
That is part of the essential Ambergris Caye formula. You are constantly moving between land and water: taking a golf cart to lunch, walking down a dock for a drink, getting on a boat for an afternoon on the reef, then coming back into town for dinner.
CJ explored that side of San Pedro extensively on a Belize Food Tours walk through Ambergris Caye, going from ceviche at Lily’s Treasure Chest to grouper at Elvi’s Kitchen, rum cream, fish empanadas, salbutes, Mayan-style tacos and the pupusas at Original #1 Pupuseria Salvadoreño.
The golf carts are not a novelty added for visitors. They are the central transportation experience of San Pedro,
The latter is anchored by Sara Rodas, who told us she had been making pupusas since she was nine. Our guide,
26 October 2026
A food tour is one of the smartest things you can do early in the trip because it changes the way you see San Pedro afterward. Places that can look like tiny storefronts or roadside stands suddenly become destinations you want to revisit.
why ambergris caye is so easy right now Part of the appeal is how quickly you can get here from the United States. The fastest nonstop trip from Miami to Belize City is about 2 hours and 15 minutes, according to current flight schedules, and nonstop service operates every day. Once you arrive in Belize, the domestic flight to San Pedro takes about 15 minutes. That short final flight is one of the great arrivals in the Caribbean, with the water and reef below before the plane drops into San Pedro. Then the transition from airstrip to vacation is absurdly quick.
You do not need to surrender a whole day to getting from the international gateway to the actual island experience.
ramon’s village is the classic choice We have stayed at Ramon’s Village more than once, and there is still no hotel quite like it in San Pedro. You enter from Coconut Drive and immediately find palm-thatched cabanas, dense tropical landscaping, sandy pathways, a lagoon-style pool and the beach beyond it. Its physical setting feels separate from the busy town outside, even though you are right in San Pedro. The hotel’s roots stretch back to 1981, when Ramon Nunez opened Ramon’s Reef Resort with 10 cabanas. After Richard Headrick acquired the property in 1987, it became Ramon’s Village; in 2009, the owners put $1 million into an
Old Town Crier
extensive upgrade that included larger verandahs, new interiors and other improvements.
Choose The Phoenix if you want space, kitchens, big verandas and an easy residential base in the middle of San Pedro. It is especially compelling when you are traveling with children or another couple and would rather share a multi-bedroom residence than book separate hotel rooms.
That history is a big part of the appeal. You are staying at a hotel tied directly to the rise of Ambergris Caye as a Caribbean tourism destination, not at a resort concept imported onto the island later.
Either way, do not spend the whole trip at the hotel.
The room choices range from more affordable garden accommodations to beachfront cabanas and larger suites. CJ’s Sept. 4 check found the published standard-season Beachfront category at $340, compared with a published $330 standard rate in the previous season — a $10 increase. Ramon’s is the choice if your idea of Ambergris Caye centers on thatched roofs, diving, sandy paths and an old-school Caribbean resort personality. The dock and dive operation add another dimension if the Belize Barrier Reef is a major reason for the trip.
Rent the golf cart. Take the food tour. Eat the pupusas. Find your favorite dock bar, get out on the reef and leave enough unscheduled time to drive around San Pedro with no destination at all. That is the part of Ambergris Caye that keeps bringing us back.
while larger configurations go up to three bedrooms.
the phoenix gives you a residential version of san pedro The Phoenix is very different, which is why we like having both choices.
That changes the vacation considerably. You have full kitchens, living rooms, washers and dryers and the ability to settle into San Pedro more like you have an apartment on the island than a conventional hotel room.
CJ stayed here and found just 30 residences, all with substantial living space and Caribbean-facing verandas. The one-bedroom suites alone have 1,325 square feet of interior space,
Its location is another advantage. The Phoenix is in the heart of town, with restaurants, bars and shops close enough that you can leave the golf cart parked when you want to explore on foot.
We particularly like it for families, longer trips or anyone who wants residential space without giving up the amenities of a resort. Two pools, a spa and Red Ginger restaurant are all on property, while San Pedro itself is immediately outside.
ramon’s or the phoenix? Choose Ramon’s Village if the image in your head is a classic tropical Caribbean resort: palm-thatch, beach, diving, a pool beneath the trees and a hotel with decades of history on the island.
k
There are Caribbean islands with grander resorts, quieter beaches and more formal luxury. Ambergris Caye offers something much harder to replicate: a whole Caribbean vacation culture concentrated into one fun, accessible island, with the golf carts, overwater bars, street food and salt life all connected by the streets of San Pedro and the sea just beyond them. About the author: We are happy to partner with Alexander Brittel and his staff at the Caribbean Journal. Caitlin Sullivan began her career with Caribbean Journal as Arts and Culture editor before shifting to travel full time. www.caribjournal.com
Ann Street Gardens
y
ey west getawa
FOLLOW US ONLINE www.oldtowncrier.com Instagram: otcregionalmag Facebook: Old Town Crier Regional Magazine
Key West Getaway One Block from Sloppy Joe’s Contact: historichideaways.com • 1-800-654-5131
Old Town Crier
October 2026 27
“A Washington Post Capitol Cuisine Favorite” The Very Best Alexandria has to offer in the Heart of Historic Old Town Famous for our She Crab Soup, Steaks and Crab Cakes
Fine Dining, Fine Wines, Casual Style…
Best Brunch in Old Town Saturday & Sunday 9am- 4pm
Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 7966 Fort Hunt Road (In the Hollin Hall Shopping Center)
703-347-7545 RiverBendBistro.com
28 October 2026
Old Town Crier
DINING GUIDE AMERICAN
1799 PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD 110 S. Pitt Street 571-404-6001 ADA'S ON THE RIVER 3 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1400 AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970 BLACKWALL HITCH 5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090 BOB & EDITHS DINER 1743 King Street 703-664-0043 bobandedithsdiner.com CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442 CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080 CITY KITCHEN 330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com COOPER MILL 10 Duke St. 703-566-1278 EDDIE'S LITTLE SHOP & DELI 1406 King Street 571-312-8615 EVENING STAR CAFÉ 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-549-5051 EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street 703-299-0894 FRANKIE'S KITCHEN & COCKTAIL BAR 823 S. Washington St. 703-512-2118 frankiesoldtown.com GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288 HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050 HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969 HOME GROWN 1600 King Street 703-705-4955 HOPS 'N SHINE 3410 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-566-1509 HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355 JACK'S PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372 JOE THEISMANNS 1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777 JULA'S ON THE POTOMAC 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644 JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-436-0025 junctionbakery.com KILN - HOTEL HERON 699 Prince St. 703-662-1900 Old Town Crier
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 MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street 703-548-8800 mason-social.com MURPHY'S GRAND IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032 OAK STEAKHOUSE 901 N. St. Asaph St. 703-840-3395 O'CONNELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 DanielOconnells.com PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-822-5699 THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street 571-257-8851 RAMPARTS 1700 Fern St. 703-998-6616 rampartstavern.com RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274 ROYAL RESTAURANT 730 N. St. Asaph St. 703-548-1616 RT'S RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266 SLATERS MARKET 1552 Potomac Greens Dr. 703-548-3807 SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649 SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550 SOUTH BLOCK 106 N. Lee Street 703-465-8423 SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222 SWEET FIRE DONNA'S 510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960
THE MAJESTIC 911 King St. 703-837-9117 THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street 703-838-8000 T.J. STONE'S GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com TOASTIQUE GOURMET TOAST & JUICE BAR 1605 King Street 571-312-1909 UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN 106 South Union St. 571-970-3669 VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & HI-TIDE LOUNGE 101 North Union St. 703-935-8890 THE WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL 214 King St. 703-683-6868 warehouseoldtown.com ASIAN
ASIAN BISTRO 809 King St. 703-836-1515 CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE 407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800 INDOCHEN 1625 King Street (571) 404-6050 KISSO ASIAN BISTRO 300 King Street 703-888-1513 MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710 MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600 NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848 RAILBIRD KITCHEN 804 North Henry St. 703-577-9023 SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458 SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154 TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878 UMIYA SUSHI 3000 Duke Street 703-564-1800
FRENCH
BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com BEN' YAYS 1028 King Street 703-495-3888 FONTAINE CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151 JOSEPHINE 109 South St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776 LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661 LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854 MAISON BREIZH AT BASTILLE 1205 Pendleton St. 703-863-0159 maisonbreizhva.com TWO NINETEEN RESTAURANT 219 King St. 703-549-1141 ITALIAN
ALDO'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 2850 Eisenhower Avenue 703-888-2243 ANDY’S PIZZA 107 N Fayette St 571-319-0497 BUGSY'S PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313 EPICURE ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090 HANDOVER BY THE SLICE 728 King Street 571-319-0794 IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833 LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com LENA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086 MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 100 King Street 703-997-5300 PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287 REDROCKS NEAPOLITAN BISTRO 904 King St. 703-717-9873 THOMPSON ITALIAN 1026 King Street alexandria@thompsonitalian.com
CONTINENTAL
MEDITERRANEAN
ALEXANDRIA BIER GARDEN 710 King Street 703-888-1951 CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665 OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361
BARCA PIER & WINE BAR 2 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1100 DELIA'S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. 703-329-0006 ELAINE'S 208 Queen Street 571-970-0517
TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com PITA HOUSE 719 King St. 703-684-9194 VALLETTA PORT 682 N St Asaph St. 703-512-4122 VASO'S MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1118 King Street 703-566-2720 VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747 SEAFOOD
HANK'S OYSTER BAR 818 N St. Asaph 703-739-HANK FISH MARKET 105 King St. 703-836-5676 fishmarketoldva.com THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834 INDIAN
BOLLYWOOD MASALA 211 King Street 703-512-0175 DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd. 703-660-6085 DIYA 218 North Lee, 2nd Floor 703-706-5338 NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615 MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN
CASA TEQUILA 1701 Duke 703-518-5312 CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438 DON TACO TEQUILA BAR 808 King St. 703-988-3144 LOS CUATES 1116 King Street 703-548-2918 LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290 LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167 MEXCORNER 104 N West St. 703-718-4870 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
October 2026 29
DINING OUT
THE GASTRONOMES
W
e are both fans of these slippery mollusks and readily admit they aren’t for everyone but sometimes I think if people knew a little more about them, they might give them a go. Oysters are one of the sea’s greatest delicacies, and mastering them is a true culinary art. That being said, even though November is billed “National Oyster Month”, we thought it would be fun to let those of you who aren’t already “in the know” in on how to prepare them our favorite ways now. This way you will be prepared for your November celebration! Whether you are serving them raw on the half shell or roasting them over an open flame, here is a pretty comprehensive guide to shucking, roasting, and eating oysters like a pro.
The Art of Shucking Shucking can be intimidating, but it is all about leverage and technique rather than brute force. You can see some samples of really great shucking and some pretty scary shucking at the Old Town Oyster Shucking competition in front of O’Connell’s on the 10th. Info about it and the other Oyster Week happenings are in the calendar section. Mr. Gastronome can hold his own in the shucking realm but prefers the ease of roasting them. You will see why in this write up. There are also videos available online that will be handy for those of you who are more “visual”. What you need - An oyster knife (heavy-bladed with a guard) and a thick kitchen towel or cut-resistant glove. Prep the oyster - Clean the oysters thoroughly under cold running water with a stiff brush to remove grit. Secure your grip - Wrap your non-dominant hand in a towel or wear a glove. Place the oyster flat-side-up on a stable surface, holding it firmly. The hinge (the pointed end) should face toward your dominant hand. Find the hinge - Insert the tip of your oyster knife directly into the hinge. Wiggle it gently with steady, forward pressure. You are looking for the sweet spot where the knife locks into place. Pop the hinge - Twist the knife firmly like a doorknob or a car key until you feel and hear the hinge pop open. Cut the muscle - Slide the blade flat along the inside of the top shell to sever the adductor muscle attaching the meat to the upper shell. Discard the top shell. Release the meat - Gently slide the knife underneath the oyster meat to sever the bottom muscle attachment. Be careful not to spill the “liquor”—the natural ocean juice inside the shell.
Eating Raw Oysters
The Ever-Popular
Bivalve 30 October 2026
Eating an oyster should engage all your senses. True connoisseurs treat oyster tasting much like wine tasting. The Presentation - Serve raw oysters over a bed of crushed ice. Classic accompaniments include fresh lemon wedges, a sharp mignonette (red wine vinegar and minced shallots), cocktail sauce, or a dash of hot sauce. Use these toppings sparingly so you don’t mask the oyster’s natural flavor. I personally like to put some fresh grated horseradish on mine with a dash of tobasco sauce while Mr. prefers cocktail sauce or mignonette. The Technique - Pick up the shell, lift it to your lips, and tilt it back. Let the oyster and its natural liquor slide into your mouth together. The Chew - Do not just swallow it whole! Chew the oyster two or three times. Chewing releases the full complexity of the flavor—moving from initial ocean brininess to a creamy, mineral, or sweet finish.
The Art of Roasting Roasting oysters mellows their intense brininess, plumps the meat, and offers a warm, savory alternative to raw serving. We have always done them on the grill so don’t have any experience with roasting them in the oven. Might be something we will try now that we are grill-less.
Old Town Crier
What you need: A grill, oven, or open fire pit, and a seasoned topping (like garlicherb butter).
Give them a minute or two to cool so you don’t burn your hands or mouth. Here is how to eat and enjoy roasted oysters like a seasoned pro:
On the Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high (around 400°F/200°C). Place whole, unshucked oysters flat-side-up directly on the grates. While not really necessary, Mr. Gastronome puts either a wet burlap bag (hard to come by sometimes) or a wet cotton towel (obviously use an old one since they have a tendency
Steady the shell - The shells will be hot and uneven. Hold the shell using a small cloth napkin or a kitchen towel to protect your fingers. Loosen the Meat - Unlike raw oysters, which slide right out, roasted oysters can sometimes stick to the bottom shell during the cooking process. The Tool - Use a small oyster fork, a regular cocktail fork, or even the tip of a butter knife. The Motion - Slide the fork gently underneath the plumped oyster meat to ensure the adductor muscle is completely severed from the bottom of the shell. Tilt and Slurp - Bring the shell to your lips, tilt the shell upward and slide the warm oyster, along with its savory juices and melted butter, directly into your mouth. Chew and Savor - Give it a couple of bites. Roasting changes the texture from slippery to tender and creamy, unlocking a deeply savory, slightly sweet flavor profile.
to get charred in the process) on top before you close the lid. Within 5 to 10 minutes, the shells will pop open slightly. Carefully remove them with tongs, pry the top shell off, add a spoonful of garlic/lemon butter, and let them bubble for another minute.
Classic Toppings to Try
In the Oven: Arrange shucked oysters on the half-shell on a baking sheet lined with crumpled foil or rock salt (to keep them steady). Top each with a compound butter, breadcrumbs, or cheese. Broil or bake at 450°F (230°C) for 7 to 9 minutes until the edges curl and the toppings are golden brown.
Eating Roasted Oysters Eating roasted oysters is pure comfort food. The heat plumps the meat, mellows the sharp ocean brininess into a rich flavor, and melts whatever delicious toppings you choose to add. Since roasted oysters are served hot off the grill or out of the oven, let them rest. We like to have people grab a plate and help themselves right at the grill as they are shucked. We let them put the melted garlic/lemon butter on themselves.
If you are looking to elevate your roast, these are the gold-standard toppings applied just before or during the roasting process: The Rockefeller - A decadent mix of spinach, butter, breadcrumbs, and a splash of anisette or Pernod. This topping is a favorite offering in most seafood restaurants. The Southern Backyard Style - A drop of hot sauce, a tiny pinch of Cajun seasoning (Old Bay works as well), and a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese that gets bubbly and golden brown. If you aren’t in the mood to DIY, there are several good restaurants in the area that will take care of the shucking for you. Landini Brothers/Fish Market and Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub here in Old Town are so dedicated to this bivalve that they have their own oyster beds they harvest from! MAKE A M MEMORABLE EMORA RABLE NIGH RA NIGHT HT WITH US!
823 8 23 S. S. W WA WASHINGTON ASHINGTON ST ST
LOCALS LO L OC CA AL A L LOVE
DINNER FOR TWO $25 INCLUDES 2 N/A BEVERAGES
STARTER CHOOSE ONE
HOUSE SALAD CAESER SALAD
ENTREE CHOOSE ONE
CHOICE OF 1 PASTA CHOICE OF 1 SANDWICH CHOICE OF 1 10” PIZZA
SCAN FOR WEBSITE DINING ROOM ONLY
M-F 4PM-6PM
Old Town Crier
October 2026 31
LET’S EAT
PUMPKIN NOOK
Pumpkin Isn’t Just for Pie Certainly, pumpkin recipes abound. After all, pumpkin is one of the favorite fruit flavor of Autumn. Consequentially, we have captured a fair share of them here thanks to family, friends, and many of you who have contributed to our ever-growing pumpkin cookbook collection. Our collection contains over 155 pumpkin and Halloween recipes. And the list continues to grow. Without a doubt, it’s the largest collection of pumpkin recipes anywhere. So, make sure to browse our collection. Without a doubt, you will find many new “favorites” to add to your personal recipe collection.
But, that’s not all. You’ll find Fall and Halloween recipes here, too! And, while you’re at it, send along your favorite recipe to add to the collection – pumpkinnook.com. Of course, we will give you proper credit and recognition. Please participate in the fun…take a recipe…and contribute your favorite recipe. Ps. Don’t forget to tell others about our recipes! Certainly, your family and friends will not want to miss it.
Grandma’s Favorite Pumpkin Cookies Recipe
Fried Pumpkin Slices
This pumpkin cookie recipe is Grandma’s favorite. It’s our favorite, too! Every Fall the kids look forward to Grandma’s visit. She brings us a whole container of fresh-baked pumpkin cookies. During her visit, she set out a plate of these cookies and they quickly disappear. Then, a few weeks later, we are rewarded with another visit from Grandma and more of these mouthwatering, seasonal goodies. It’s one of the things that makes us look forward to going “over the river and through the woods…”
As pumpkins ripen in the field, it’s time to search out tasty, new, and different pumpkin recipes. Usually, we think of baked pumpkin recipes. However, this fried pumpkin slices recipe certainly is a little different.
This is a moist cookie recipe. We don’t think there’s a better pumpkin cookie recipe than this one. Ingredients • 1 cup Shortening • 3/4 cup Sugar • 1 cup Cooked, strained Pumpkin (or canned) • 1 Egg • 2 cups Flour • 1 cup Raisins • 1/2 cup Molasses • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg • 1/2 teaspoon Salt Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375° F. 2. Cream shortening and sugar. 3. Mix in pumpkin, egg, and molasses. 4. Stir in dry ingredients, spices and raisins. 5. Drop cookie batter, by the spoonful, onto an ungreased baking sheet. 6. Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes.
32 October 2026
In this recipe, we’re using it as a vegetable. And a pretty tasty vegetable at that. Undoubtedly, you should try it this Fall. You’ll be glad that you did. Ingredients • 1 ripe pumpkin • 2 eggs, beaten • 1 Tablespoon milk • 1/2 cup flour • 2 Tablespoons sugar • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon • vegetable oil Directions 1. Clean out the insides of the pumpkin. 2. Halve the pumpkin lengthwise and peel. 3. Cut the pulp into 1/4-inch slices. 4. In a bowl, beat together eggs and milk. 5. In a separate bowl, mix flour, sugar and cinnamon. 6. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan. Dip pumpkin slices into the egg, then the flour mixture and fry in vegetable oil until browned, turning once. Serve the fried pumpkin slices hot. Publishers Note: These recipes and many more pumpkin concoctions can be found at Bob Matthews “everything you need to know about pumpkins and more” website at pumpkinnook.com. See his tips on selecting the perfect pumpkin in this month’s Urban Garden column.
Old Town Crier
lo Split Spli Split l t the li the G Competittion Competition Competi 3pm 3pm
Events - Parties - Dinner - Bar 121 S. Union Street Alexandria, VA 22314 www.unionstreetpublichouse.com (703)-548-1785
Old Town Crier
Drink Drink Specials Specials l ls
t
ooctober ctober 3311sstt
Facepainting FFa acepainting ainting 2-4pm -4pm
CCostume ostume Contest Contest Live Music Live Music
Driven to Driven to Clarity Clarity t ty 9.30pm 9.30pm
October 2026 33
LET’S GET CRAFTY
TIMOTHY LONG
Bewitched by Beer: The Ale Wife’s Story Craft Beer’s Original Witch Did you know that you’ve been drinking Witch’s Brew? I bet you didn’t. The beer industry has in its past a sad history that most people don’t know. It’s a story of how honest mistakes can ruin lives, how ignorance can destroy them, and how greed and the lust for power have no boundaries. If you love craft beer and Halloween, you may be spiritually closer to a medieval alewife than to the guy in the taproom explaining mouthfeel and dry hopping. Long before modern breweries were packing patios with IPAs, stouts, and dreaded pumpkin ales, women were brewing beer at home and selling it to the neighbors. They were basically the original neighborhood taprooms, minus the Edison bulbs and logo merch. These women were known as alewives, and brewing was often a vital source of income for their families. They malted grain, managed fermentation, experimented with herbs and spices, and made beer people actually wanted to drink. They were the original craft brewers, without stainless-steel fermenters, fancy tap handles, or a man-bun wearing guy named Kyle lecturing on how the hazy IPA is “super crushable.” When you look at the traditional image of a witch, what you are actually seeing is a twisted image of an alewife. A woman standing over a large bubbling kettle, surrounded by sacks of grain, strange-looking herbs, wooden barrels, and a broomstick. Today, we’d probably call that a pretty cool brewery setup. In medieval Europe, 34 October 2026
however, it could look downright nefarious. Brewing itself appeared almost magical. Grain and water went into a cauldron, fermentation somehow transformed the mixture, and several days later you had an alcoholic beverage. Add herbs and spices to the recipe, and the process looked like witchcraft. Without an understanding of yeast and fermentation, it wasn’t difficult for people of that time to believe there was something supernatural going on. So where does the broomstick come into play? I’m glad you asked. Alewives sometimes used a broom or broomstick outside their homes to advertise that beer was available for sale. It was often hung over the front door, the medieval equivalent of a “Beer Here” sign. Over time, the image of a woman, a broom, a cauldron, and a collection of herbs became associated with witchcraft. The brewing kettle could become the witch’s potion cauldron, the herbs became magical ingredients, and the knowledgeable woman brewing over the fire became sinister. We have all seen the movie The Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West truly represented this image. The costume designers did it without even thinking. The fact that this image represented an alewife probably never even dawned on them. To them, and to everyone, this is what a witch looked like. This image was also used for the character Witchy Poo in the children’s TV show “H.R. Puff n Stuff.” I always felt bad for Witchy Poo. All she
wanted was Jimmy’s magic flute. But no matter how many tricks or shenanigans she came up with, Jimmy wasn’t going to give it to her. I didn’t catch the sexual undertone of the shows plot when I was nine. But I love to giggle at it now. So, let’s get back to the alewife. As in today’s craft beer world, reputation was everything. A talented alewife could develop a loyal following due to the quality of her beer. A bad batch of beer could send customers down the road to the competition. Unfortunately, when beer went bad in the Middle Ages, people didn’t have a laboratory to check the yeast, sanitation, or fermentation temperature. Sometimes the explanation was simply, “The beer went bad.” Other times, it was assumed that the alewife had bewitched the brew. Brewing was a business, and competition could be fierce. Accusations of witchcraft could be severely damaging to a woman whose livelihood depended on selling beer. Brewing and selling beer could be profitable, and men took notice. And most of them were not happy about women succeeding in business. As commercial breweries and taverns became more established, independent alewives could find themselves competing with larger operations. Accusations and rumors were an easy way to damage the alewife’s reputation and lessen the competition. It wasn’t uncommon for a brewer to have a bad batch of beer. And it was easy to start a rumor that the alewife’s batch had been bewitched. Old Town Crier
Tim’s
Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations
This woman who was independent, knowledgeable, successful, and working outside of the traditional and expected roles easily found herself as the target of suspicion. Fast-forward several hundred years and the irony is amazing. Modern craft brewers have taken many of the same ingredients that once made alewives look suspicious—herbs, spices, unusual grains, fruit, and wild yeast—and turned them into some of the most creative beers on the market. Today’s brewers proudly experiment with ingredients that would have looked downright strange to our ancestors. We call it innovation. But to Medieval villagers, it was dark magic. Halloween has also become one of the best times of the year for brewers to embrace the connection. Walk into a craft brewery in October and you’ll find pumpkin ales, smoked porters, spiced stouts, dark lagers, sour ales, and beers flavored with cinnamon, clove, vanilla, coffee, and fruit. Some breweries even give their beers names that sound like they came straight out of a witch’s spell book. The modern craft beer industry has essentially taken the old brewing cauldron, put it on a stainless-steel brewhouse, and started charging $8 a pint. So, when you’re sitting at your local brewery this Halloween enjoying a pint of something dark, mysterious, and slightly dangerous, raise your glass to the alewife. She wasn’t a witch. She was a brewer, entrepreneur, and a craft-beer pioneer who understood the mysterious magic of fermentation long before anyone knew how yeast worked. The witch may have gotten the broom and the cauldron, but the alewife deserves some credit for craft beer. And honestly, I’d rather spend Halloween with her at the brewing kettle than with that man-bun wearing craft beer knowit-all bloviating at the bar. 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 fly doing in my soup? http://whatflyinmysoup.com
Blade and Bow Bourbon Yes, I’ve recommended it before, and I’ll do it again without hesitation. Blade and Bow Bourbon is a fall favorite for a reason. The aroma opens with notes of peaches, honey, and hay, while the palate delivers a refined balance of white pepper, vanilla, oak, and spice. Smooth, complex, and endlessly satisfying, this bourbon has earned a permanent place on my shelf. At 91 proof and around $50 per bottle, it’s a perfect companion for a fall day.
Ask about our amazing Pipe and Cigar Humidor Sale and Our Military and First Responders Plus Discount Program
AVO Ritmo Cigar The AVO Ritmo is a bright, lively, medium-bodied cigar that is full of flavor without becoming a heavyweight. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper delivers a smooth, slightly sweet opening with notes of cream, cedar, toasted nuts, and a touch of black pepper. About halfway through the smoke, I get espresso, baking spice, and leather with a little more pepper coming through. The finish is creamy and smooth, with most of the flavors lingering. This is not a cigar that demands your complete attention. It is more like a good piece of music playing in the background while you’re sipping your Blade and Bow bourbon after enjoying a round of golf. 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.
Old Town Crier
215 King St. Alexandria, VA 22314 sales@johncrouch.comcastbiz.net johncrouchtobacconist.com (703) 548-2900 | (703) 739-2302 (703) 548-2900 October 2026 35
GRAPEVINE
MATTHEW FITZSIMMONS
NOVA’s Newest Wineries
For many Virginians, NOVA is their gateway to exploring local wine. Over 100 wineries are in this part of the state, most within an hour’s drive from DC. NOVA’s status as one of the wealthiest areas of the United States influences the wine experiences that are available. While traditional farm-style tasting rooms are still the norm, newer wineries are introducing more specialized experiences, including a focus on sparkling wine or food pairings.
One drawback of Wagyu is that it’s not easy for nonchefs to cook. To compensate, Ovoka bred its Wagyu cattle with traditional American Angus. Its 400-head herd is now comprised of ‘F1 Wagyu,’ a 50/50 cross with the best traits of both.
This isn’t by accident. Owner Eric Gronning explained he deliberately picked a site near Jim Law of Linden Vineyards, one of his inspirations for Virginia wine.
In early 2026, Ovoka expanded its operations to include a winery. They don’t yet have vines at the farm, but Bull Run winemaker Kendell Anderson now makes Ovoka’s wine on the property.
Eric purchased this 18-acre hilltop farm in 2018 from a local attorney. Not only did the farm come with steep slopes and higher elevation, but it already had an acre of vines. The winery also plans to add a fullservice kitchen.
The region’s relative wealth also facilitates new winery investment, despite the challenges facing the broader wine industry. In NOVA, even wineries that change hands often find owners willing to upgrade facilities and hospitality experiences. Here is a summary of wineries that have opened (or are about to open) in NOVA since 2025. Catamaran Hills Vineyard 39775 Wenner Road Lovettsville Visitors familiar with Virginia wine country will recognize the intimate, owner-operated atmosphere at Catamaran Hills Vineyard. Owner Harish Kunshetty is likely to personally guide visitors through a tasting of his wines, a rarity in today’s wine industry. Harish is an avid wine enthusiast who decided to open his own winery in 2025. Knowing he needed an experienced hand in the wine business, he turned to Virginia ‘wine godfather’ Doug Fabbioli for assistance. Doug helped Harish find his new property, a hillside north of Leesburg. Together, they established several acres of vines, which now form the basis of Catamaran’s wines.
Visitors can also enjoy Ovoka’s wines at its wine and produce store or at one of its Wagyu & Wine tasting events. Petit Domaine 37938 Charles Town Pike Hillsboro Petit Domaine opened in October 2025 with one goal – to make high-quality bubbly. They remain the only Virginia winery tasting room dedicated to traditionalmethod sparkling wine (although they do sell some still wine from partner labels). Their focus on traditional-method bubbly (the same process used in Champagne) isn’t a coincidence. Winemaker Shai Van Gelder explained it this way: “Champagne is the world’s gold standard for sparkling wine. Petit Domaine is making wine this way precisely because it’s difficult, not despite it.” In keeping with its status as a premium destination, Petit Domaine also has some of the fanciest events in
Ovoka Farm Winery 750 Ovoka Farm Lane Paris Anyone who’s hiked Sky Meadows State Park has seen Ovoka Farm in the distance. Situated on the northern end of the park, the farm’s red-roofed manor home and grain silos have long been magnets for local photographers. Ovoka started as a farm raising Wagyu beef. Wagyu is prized for its fine marbling and tenderness, the result of a low-stress life. Chefs love it, and Ovoka sells its beef to an assortment of local restaurants and through its on-premises food truck.
36 October 2026
OH’s Vineyard 35246 Leesburg Pike #190 Round Hill OH is Virginia’s newest winery, scheduled to open in early October (as of the time of this writing). Husband-and-wife owners Waldo Ortiz and Ana Hirsbrunner purchased the former Bogati Bodega space in 2026 while searching for a home for their future tasting room. “We fell in love with the space as soon as we saw it,” Ana exclaimed while giving a tour of the premises. While the tasting room is still undergoing its finishing touches, their wine is already available for purchase (courtesy of their partnership with Nate Walsh of Walsh Family Wine). OH also has plans for a line of sparkling wines. Calling the space a ‘tasting room’ may be an understatement, as their ‘Salon’ will be a winery/ restaurant combination. The restaurant wasn’t originally planned, but is a natural extension given Waldo’s culinary background.
The vineyard is planted with varieties familiar to Virginia wine country. One exciting exception is Carménère, a Bordeaux grape now better known for its new home in Chile. The winery offers outdoor seating only, so call ahead to confirm its opening status and make a reservation. Be sure to check out their sparkling Petit Manseng and Cabernet Franc, both of which earned Gold at the 2026 Loudoun Wine Awards.
Silver Dog aims to produce around 1,200 cases/ year, using exclusively estate-grown fruit. While their current lineup focuses on more traditional French grapes, one unusual addition for Virginia is Sagrantino, a high-tannin, medium-acidity Italian grape indigenous to Central Italy.
Virginia. These range from a test drive experience in an Aston Martin to caviar pairings. Petit Domaine’s own sparkling wines won’t be ready until 2028, but guests can enjoy traditional-method sparkling wines that serve as inspiration for the winery’s future releases. Silver Dog Vineyards 139 Feathers Lane Linden In July 2026, Silver Dog Vineyard joined what is arguably the best ‘winery neighborhood’ in Virginia, with neighbors including Linden Vineyards, Capstone, Crimson Lane, and Accord (former Fox Meadow).
Guests will be able to sample OH’s lineup, but Waldo also wants patrons to enjoy a farm-to-table experience featuring local food and wines from other Virginia producers. 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/
Old Town Crier
EXPLORING VA WINES
DOUG FABBIOLI
Harvest Time Has Arrived!
I
t has certainly been a challenging year. A hard frost in late April reduced our wine grape harvest, but we still need to care for the vines, manage disease pressure, and keep spotted lanternflies under control. Even so, much of the fruit coming in appears well on track to produce some spectacular wines. Varieties such as Tannat, Merlot, and Chardonnay have no crop this year, while Cabernet Sauvignon, Vidal Blanc, and others are showing a fair amount of fruit and should produce solid wines from the 2026 vintage. This year, with the lower yields, I am spending more time teaching the winemaking process. I have 4 people that I am training on crush pad and cellar operations. The skills it takes for the operation are a wide range. There certainly are simpler jobs such as cleaning, sorting fruit and moving stuff around, but there is plenty to learn about why we do things, the options we can do to make each wine a little different and stylistic. Also, I will pause when something breaks to show how things work, how to diagnose the problem and the steps needed to repair it. Plenty is above my head but having been doing this for 45 years, I have learned a thing or two. Also, we are running some different experiments on the fruit we bring in. It is fascinating how many winemaking options we have with the same grapes. This year we have an experiment going of carbonic mace ration which means that the red grapes are not crushed and an intracellular fermentation happens inside the berry. We have one batch regular crush, one batch 1/2 crush and half whole berry, and one batch completely whole Old Town Crier
berry. Part of the challenge is maintaining good scientific procedures in a real-world scenario. Things do not always happen the way you want them to. That is a great learning lesson as well. Many wineries will have educational tours during harvest so guests can see, smell, hear and taste the experience of turning grapes into wine. Having worked on busy crush pads over many decades, I always try to emphasize the urgency of processing fruit for freshness, quality and for the grapes in line to process behind them. This year we do not have that heavy push, but cleaning the press takes just as long if you pressed 2 tons that day or 20 tons. So, the take home message this month is that we continue to share the knowledge even with less fruit. That fruit looks great and will be well tended by our team. My team is gaining experience and knowledge by doing jobs that may be overlooked in past years. Please make a visit this season and celebrate Virginia Wine Month 2026 with us or your local winery or Cidery as they process their fruit into your special sipper! 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.
real people. earth friendly. fabulous wines. 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
October 2026 37
FROM THE TRAINER RYAN UNVERZAGT
It's All About B-A-L-A-N-C-E!
B
alance is the foundation for nearly every movement. We rely on it so much without even thinking twice about it. Balance is utilized during sitting, standing up, walking, climbing stairs, running, and not to mention... exercise, which is why I want to share a few ways to test your balance this month. Let me start off by explaining about the two types of balance, static and dynamic. Static balance is the ability to hold a position without excessive movement for a certain amount of time, such as standing on one leg. Dynamic balance is being able to maintain control while performing a movement, such as walking a tightrope. Now, I don’t expect you to be able to actually walk a tightrope, you can leave that up to Barnum & Bailey’s Circus performers! Here is the first exercise to test your static balance: Stand upright with your feet together and arms at your sides. Slowly lift one foot off the ground by flexing your hip and knee and hold that position for at least 30 seconds. Switch feet to find out which leg has better control. The goal is to feel comfortable on each side in order to progress to more challenging exercises. The second balance exercise starts just like the first except that you will be looking over your left and right shoulders to increase difficulty. Start by looking at the wall in front of you then slowly scan the room toward your left shoulder without looking down at the floor. Once you’ve looked over that shoulder, scan back to the right side until you’ve
38 October 2026
looked over the other one. Repeat this 10 times on each leg. Once you’ve mastered this exercise, try scanning from your toes, along the floor and up the wall to the ceiling directly above you and back down. Sounds easy, right? This third exercise will test your dynamic balance: You will need something to set in front of you such as a cone or basketball. Stand about two feet away from your object and start by lifting one foot off the ground. Lean forward toward your object by bringing your opposite leg behind you and keep your stance leg straight (knee not locked out). Bend from your hip and avoid rounding the back by keeping great posture. Continue to reach until you are able to touch the object with your opposite hand and slowly come back to the start position. Your back leg should also remain straight to help counter-balance your torso during this exercise. Try 10 reps on each leg. You can increase the challenge by grabbing a dumbbell. These are very basic exercises to test your balance skills. Remember to keep movements slow to remain in control. If you lose your balance at any time during the exercise, just place the opposite foot on the ground to regain control. Do not hop around on one leg. You can always find ways to up the difficulty level by adding an unstable surface such as a BOSU trainer or Dyna-Disc. If you don’t have access to equipment or want the ultimate challenge, try these exercises with your eyes closed. The best time to perform balance exercises is at the very beginning of your workout or as part of your warm-up routine before you get too fatigued.
Types of Balance • Static balance: The ability to stay stable while you are still, such as standing on one leg. • Dynamic balance: The ability to stay in control while you are moving, such as walking or running.
How the Body Controls Balance Your brain uses three main systems to track where you are and keep you from falling: • Vision: Your eyes see your surroundings and your position relative to them. • Vestibular system: Organs in your inner ear sense motion and head position. • Proprioception: Sensors in your muscles, joints, and skin tell your brain where your limbs are. You can learn more about how balance definition and beaning applies to daily health and movement. Hingehealth.com/resources/glossary/ balance. 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.
Old Town Crier
FITNESS
NICOLE FLANAGAN
Looking for Added Workout Incentive? The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Trainer
Many people today are making the decision to include exercise as part of their healthy lifestyle. After all, it has been recognized that a balanced exercise program of cardio, strength and flexibility can help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, manage weight, strengthen bones, improve sleep and make you look and feel great. Beginning an exercise program should be fun and motivating. In order to keep up the good work a person should be seeing results and feeling great, right? For those who are new to exercise, starting a program can be a bit overwhelming. If the last time you stepped foot in a gym was is PE class in high school it may be a good idea to hire a trainer just to get you started. Personal Training today is much more available and much more affordable than it’s ever been. Many sports clubs even offer a free introductory lesson as part of a membership. Know that this is not always an actual personal training session, but more of an introduction to the facility and the equipment. During this session session a personal trainer may also conduct a full baseline assessment that includes a health questionnaire, body composition, movement analysis, health and lifestyle analysis, and a discussion of long and short range fitness goals. The trainer will also talk a little bit about the importance of nutrition and show the new member how to use the equipment. This is a great way to get back to the gym and learn about new equipment and how to use it safely. One of the great benefits of having a certified Personal Trainer is that he or she will set up a personalized program that is designed to fit your lifestyle and goals. Some people do not have all day to spend in a gym, while others have nothing but time. A personal trainer will be able to make a program that works no matter what your busy schedule holds. Most importantly your personal trainer will show you how to work out safely. The goal of Old Town Crier
beginning a workout program is to feel great and keep up the motivation. Your personal trainer will use your initial base line assessment of weight, blood pressure, and body fat measurements as the starting point for the exercise program, from which they will modify and record your progress. Working with a trainer will make you accountable and keep you motivated. Results are generally just on the other side of your comfort zone and that extra push is what you need to get the results you want. Mixing up your program will help to speed up results and keep you from getting bored. The human body was meant to adapt to new things, therefore to keep your body from hitting that “plateau” you need to try new challenges. To get exactly what you want, it is important that you choose the right fitness trainer. If you have a clear goal such as weight loss it would be advised to meet with your potential fitness trainer fi rst to make sure he or she has the expertise in the area of diet and weight loss. Read testimonials and ask for a client case study. Experience and skills vary in the personal training and fitness industry, so by asking questions you should be made to feel more comfortable about using a particular fitness trainer. Not only does your fitness trainer need to be results orientated, it is important that you get along, especially if you are going to be spending some considerable time with them. Depending on an individuals’ goals and budget, personal training works differently for everyone. You may be interested in using a personal trainer several times a week, or it might be more economical for to see your personal trainer once every other week. Either way, using a personal trainer with some form of regularity will give you clarity, support, motivation, consistency, information, structure and accountability. October 2026 39
FIRST BLUSH
GENEVIEVE LEFRANC
Look Me In the
F
ewer things leave us feeling more refreshed than the first signs of autumn. Cold, foggy mornings with frosted grass; air that smells smoky, woodsy and crisp; and that tingling excitement that comes in anticipation of the holiday season and time spent with family. While we briefly mourn the loss of summer, not one of us will miss the days of makeup dripping off our faces under the summer sun, or hiding behind massive sunglasses because of the former. Fall is the time we unpack those boxes of chunky knits and nubby knee socks, and begin to embrace the glittering, sumptuous jewel tones that dazzle this time of year. Autumn gets better as the days get shorter, and colors begin to unfold before our eyes. From the fiery foliage of morphing leaves, to the earthy palette of pumpkins and gourds, no other season embraces rich, refined colors quite like fall. So, give your makeup bag an autumnal revamping that will rival the most colorful throngs of Halloween trick or treaters. Eyes are the stars of fall so don’t be afraid to give them the vibrant attention they deserve this time of year. Bold, striking brows, sleek liner, thick lashes, and mesmerizing
40 October 2026
palates turned up on the runways at Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, and Prada. The best way to execute a colorful eye look is to work with what you got! Use the natural color of your eyes, using complementary colors to guide you.
Baby Blues
Blue-eyed beauties should stay in the amber to bronze range. Other than that, feel free to explore this color range. If your eyes are a deep, denim blue, try a rich amber, a luxe copper, or a shimmery rust shade to provide a beautiful contrast. For pale, icy blue eyes, try a warm gold or a shade with fine shimmer. If you are a bit more conservative, simple earth tones look mesmerizing as well, like a taupe or slate gray. No matter what shade your baby blues, stay far away from blue shadows and liners. The hue will dull the luminosity of your eyes, and anything in the purple family will only make you look bruised or tired. Pull inspiration from a glowing harvest moon, rich caramel apples, or the glow from a crackling fire.
Green with Envy
With the right makeup, green eyes can be the most beautiful shade to
Eyes
play up with gemstone palates. The complimentary color to green is red, so choose shades with a red base, such as purples, violets, and mauves. The same goes for hazel eyes. A velvety, intense purple will instantly make either eye color pop, and the striking contrast makes your eye look more dramatic, perfect for evening. A rich plum is absolutely beautiful for autumn, whether in a matte shade or reflective pearl finish. Purple looks sexy, striking, and flattering with nearly every eye color, so don’t think green-eyed beauties get all the fun!
Brown Eyed Girl
Brown eyed girls, such as myself, can really have the most fun since we do not have an opposite or complementary color, meaning we can make nearly any color eye makeup work. Play around to discover some tried and true colors you can incorporate into the season. If you’re feeling experimental and funky, find a sparkling amethyst hue. For an easy day-to-night shade, choose a smooth olive green or a festive emerald. I rely on a cultivated arsenal of tried and true earthy browns for a natural go-to look. It’s comfortable and appropriate for all occasions, naturally enhancing, and can be casual or sexy and smoky without muddying
your doe eyes. For my brown eyes I absolutely love metallic bronzes and deep, shimmering chocolates. Autumn is a season full of exciting possibilities and prospects—we are in that blissful limbo after the sticky hot months of summer but before the biting winter cold and holiday chaos, and everyone seems to be in high spirits thanks to the gorgeous weather and riot of color around us. Don’t let the kids have all the fun this October with the face paint and costumes— decorate your eyes with luxurious, opulent tints and tones. Experiment with jewel tones with shadows, liners, or even colored mascaras. Intensify and deepen colors of powder shadows for special occasions or evening by wetting your makeup brush with distilled water. You can also use rich pigments, highly concentrated loose color powder that is easy to blend, long lasting and can create a subtle wash of color or an intense, dramatic effect. Polish off your perfect look with shapely brows and black, fringed eyelashes. Autumn is the time to be bold and have confidence. Don’t limit yourself to rich, intense color with just a festive scarf—don the breathtaking palate of fall on your eyes and turn heads this season.
Old Town Crier
URBAN GARDEN
BOB MATTHEWS
“Leave No Pumpkin Unturned”
It is time for the annual “how to pick out a pumpkin column. Bob Matthews knows it best, see below. - OTC
Some like ‘em tall. Others, like ‘em round. Selecting the shape is a matter of personal preference.
Going out to a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, is a fun filled rite of the fall season. Whether you go out to a field filled with pumpkins, or get them from a roadside stand, we want to be certain that you get the absolutely best pumpkin for carving, decorating and eating!
Pick your pattern before you go. Often, people select shapes to fit the carving patterns they will use.
Pumpkins are called “Long keepers”. A healthy, uncarved pumpkin can last to Thanksgiving and beyond. How to Select the Perfect Pumpkin: Select a pumpkin that is completely orange. A partially green pumpkin might not ripen any further. Size is an important factor. Medium pumpkins are best for pumpkin carving. Small pumpkins are better for cooking. Do not pick a pumpkin that is too big for you to carry. This is especially important if you have back problems. Does the shade of orange matter? If so, there are hundreds of varieties, some with different shades of orange.
Do not lift or carry a pumpkin by its stem. The pumpkin stem gives it character. A ripe pumpkin has a hard shell. Look for one that does not dent or scratch easily when pressing on it with a thumbnail. Do this on the back or bottom of the fruit.......never on the face. Examine the entire pumpkin carefully for soft spots. If you find even one soft spot, go on to the next pumpkin. Check the pumpkin for cracks and splits. If you find one, examine it to be sure it is not turning into a soft spot or has mold inside of the crack. Look for bugs and insects. Specifically, look for holes in the pumpkin, which are indicative of insect problems. If you are out in the pumpkin patch picking a pumpkin: Bring a small wagon with you. It’s easier to haul tired kids and pumpkins. Wear boots or old sneakers. It could be wet and muddy in the pumpkin patch. Pick a pumpkin that you can carry back with you. If smaller children are carrying pumpkin, pick smaller pumpkins. Remember those little arms will probably get tired before reaching your car. Bring a sharp knife or pruner. Cut the vine on either side of the stem. After you get it home, you can trim off the remaining pieces of vine, and cut the stem at the perfect spot. We intend to bring you both the serious and the humorous side of pumpkins. Our website, pumpkinnook.com, has been developed to be informative, but in a light hearted way. As a shrine and library to pumpkins, we seek to be both comprehensive and unique. To borrow a phrase, our Motto is: “We will leave no pumpkin unturned in our research efforts.” About the Author: Bob Marshall has been growing pumpkins since he was a wee little lad. Which, by the way, was a long, long time ago. Friends and family members will attest that Halloween is his favorite holiday. The website is the direct result of two hobbies running amuck, as he is both an avid gardener and a fanatic on the internet. He does not profess to know everything there is to know about gardening, but continues to read, experiment, listen and learn as much as he can about gardening and especially pumpkins. It is with this knowledge and a whole lot of fanatical intensity that he created this site and share with visitors a little of what I know. For everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins and more, log on to pumpkinnook.com. Marshall also maintains a website about gardening in general – gardenersnet.com. Look for more excerpts from Bob in upcoming Urban Garden columns.
Old Town Crier
October 2026 41
POINTS ON PETS
CHERYL BURNS
Kissing (African Dwarf) Frogs: A Fur-Free Pet Option I wasn’t always a cat mom. Heck, I wasn’t SUPPOSED to be a cat mom—though saying yes to my late motherin-law’s cat (five months after marrying a man who was allergic too!) was among the best decisions I’ve made. Still, once upon a time, we wanted pets that wouldn’t require a cabinet of allergy meds. We’d had a freshwater fish tank for a while and were looking for a new friend when we spotted something different—a tiny aquatic frog—amid the usual pet store fare. I couldn’t resist. The coin-sized critter needed a big name: Rumpelstiltskin.
the last laugh. One day, she looked a tad plump. And Two Fish (a single, small fish) was missing. I texted my husband: “Rumpy ate Two Fish!” He assured me I was mistaken. Until he came home.
Early Days (and a Surprise)
Rumpy and Jumpy—Patches sometimes caught air when coming up for a breather or snack—became family. (A tip: Keep a lid on their tank. They can leap out but can’t survive long out of water.)
Per the tank attendant, Rumpelstiltskin was an African dwarf frog. As a kid, I enjoyed fishing at day camp (we used bread, not worms) but I wasn’t plodding through the mud trying to catch frogs. A frog was an odd choice, but these are fully aquatic—though they do surface to breathe air—so no worries about waking to find her sitting on my pillow. We added Rumpelstiltskin to the tank, following the same acclimation process as with fish. We fed her frog pellets, available at any pet supply store. Rumpelstiltskin thrived. Sometimes the fish seemed to enjoy “sitting” on her head—Rumpelstiltskin got 42 October 2026
Rumpelstiltskin, no doubt quite pleased with herself, got relocated that night. We added a second tank friend and a new friend, Patches. Learning that the frogs like same-species companionship made Two Fish’s passing a bit of a happier tale. Frog Life
African dwarf frogs don’t have teeth. They grab food between their front claws, pull it in, and swallow it whole—I call it the “froggy dance.” They can’t see all that well, so they grasp on to anything that seems edible. We taught ours to associate a tap on the tank with feeding time. Quite by accident, we learned they’d latch on to your finger in search of food. It didn’t really hurt, kinda like a paperclip on the fingertip, and they’d hold on for a moment as we pulled them out
of the water. It isn’t wise to really handle these guys, but it made for a fun trick!
We occasionally purchased small feeder fish. We’d never catch them hunting, but the “treats” disappeared in a few days and the froggies seemed content. Though, after one fish survived several weeks, he got upgraded: Squiggly was moved to the fish tank and became my personal favorite. Honestly, we enjoyed our fish. I named them (shocker, I know). My husband took pictures of every single one. We mourned their passing (I shed tears over Squiggly). Still, the frogs were a tad more interactive than the fish, so we bonded with them. My husband even tried to put a live camera feed of their tank onscreen at our wedding reception! When we had to say goodbye, we buried them in a flower bed, so they live on in spirit. We eventually adopted a second set (also since passed) but that first duo were special. Some Important Details An important caveat: African dwarf frogs are legal in the DMV. Virginia requires a permit for African clawed frogs, because they are invasive and can pose
Old Town Crier
a risk to native species if released. Both are legal to own in Maryland, but D.C. law is unclear. The two species are often confused, even by sellers, so use care. Aside from size (clawed get up to five to six inches, dwarfs stay more like two), dwarfs have eyes on the side of their heads and four webbed feet. Clawed frogs have eyes on top of their heads and “fingers” on the front legs. Albino frogs are almost certainly clawed. It’s hard to tell their sex when they are tiny, but grown females are larger and have a bump between the back legs. Males develop spots near their front armpits. Also, and this is what confirmed our second pair were males, the fellas will start to “sing.” My husband’s description of a “drowning cricket” isn’t far off (luckily, it’s not constant!). African dwarf frogs are certainly easier to care for than a dog or cat, but they can be finicky. They need a tank with a lid, preferably at least five to ten gallons. A gentle filter and heated water are wise. Clean water,
a steady temperature, and a well-maintained Ph level are crucial. In addition to pellets, frozen bloodworms are an easy food choice. They don’t require daily feeding, but we found tablets that dissolved slowly for when we travelled. A couple of tank decorations that can double as hiding spots are nice. Check out the resources below for more details. I love my cats—the one with us now and the two waiting at the Rainbow Bridge—but African dwarf frogs are a great fur-free choice. Maybe it’s time to dust off that tank!
Sources: Lana Van de Mark, “https://reptilesmagazine.com/ caring-for-the-african-dwarf-frog/,” Reptiles Magazine (Oct. 26, 2021) “African Dwarf Frogs – Detailed Guide: Care, Diet, and Breeding,” Aquarium Breeder (accessed Aug. 22, 2026) “https://www.petassure.com/maxscorner/africandwarf-frog-care/,” Max’s Corner (May 3, 2022)
About the Author: Cheryl Burns is a Senior Legal Editor and Subject Matter Expert with BARBRI, a legal education company. She lives in quiet Central Pennsylvania but remains a proud King Street Cats supporter (and not just because Sweet Potato Bailey Burns (f/k/a just Bailey) is an alum!).
PETS
OF THE
MONTH 4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 703-746-4774 alexandriaanimals.org Mon-Tu-Th-Fri, 12-7 pm Wed- Closed Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm
Old Town Crier
Stallings
Frankie
Snow and Flake
Stallings is a beautiful senior girl who weighs 48 pounds. Some of her favorite activities include napping, sleeping in, gently chewing and playing with squeaky toys. She has immaculate house manners and loves to spend time in her crate. She also gets along with other dogs and cats. Her adoption fee has been sponsored!
Frankie is equal parts beauty and brains. She is a 7-year-old calico kitty with beautiful markings. Frankie also knows some cool cat tricks, like spin and shake. She is gentle, sweet, and a delight with people, including kids. She prefers to be the only animal in the home because she's a star ... and she knows it!
Snow and Flake are 3-year-old bonded English Spot rabbits. They are gentle, affectionate, and well-mannered. They are very social with people and will quickly hop right over for some attention or a welldeserved vegetable treat. They do need to find a home together in order to live their happiest lives.
October 2026 43
GO FISH
Y
ou can lead a child to water, but you can’t make them fish. Introducing youngsters to the outdoors is a road blocked by television, the internet, and video games. The key to opening the outdoors is education.
Leading a team of wildlife research biologists and educators providing programs at the District of Columbia Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC), Teresa Rodriguez brings decades of fishing experience and program development. As Wildlife Management Branch Chief, Rodriguez oversees programs to expand outdoor and environmental education, recreation, and conservation. The AREC campus has an aquarium and is home to free programs to schools, community groups, and the public. There are lessons for pre-kindergarten through high school as well as requested customized lessons for colleges and adults. DC’s wildlife biologists create interactive lessons to educate AREC visitors about local aquatic wildlife and how to get involved in conserving these valuable resources. Only a few can truly claim to promote the future of fishing. Rodriguez successfully passes the fishing rod to the next generation without bass fishing tournaments or flashy boats decked out with cubic feet of electronics. She executes a proven plan to introduce kids to the outdoors with AREC field trips for pre-K-12 grade students. Kids become fascinated with the unseen underwater world and how they are connected to it. Large well-lit aquariums display over 40 species of local fish, amphibians, reptiles, and aquatic plants. A children’s Discovery Room offers hands-on classroom lessons. Boat tour field trips encourage outdoors participation. AREC staff then makes a handoff to teachers, providing them with knowledge and curriculum to continue to educate and excite the kids. The AREC staff offers free professional development training workshops for teachers to lead wildlife and conservation activities in their schools. The curriculum was developed by Fish and Wildlife biologists to meet DC Public Schools (DCPS) next generation science standards. Rodriguez and her staff also work with teachers to develop customized lessons that meet the current science standards. AREC tours are a part of the lesson along with hands-on classroom or field trip activities. Aquatic education and exposure to the outdoors lead to fishing. Rodriquez participated as a fishing instruction on several National Fishing Day events where she taught hundreds of kids to fish. She knows how to fish and, more importantly, how to teach kids to fish. School fishing field trips include a tour, a casting lesson and actual fishing. While many kids go through school programs, most of the fishing occurs during free Fishing in the District community fishing events, open to all ages. All equipment and bait are provided. Expert instructors are on hand to teach beginner anglers everything they need to know to catch their first fish. Instructors are experienced anglers who truly enjoy initiating kids into the lifetime sport of fishing. Not widely known are the many fishing opportunities in several different areas of the District including Anacostia Park, Diamond Teague Park, the Tidal Basin, Haines Point, Fletchers Cove, and Kingman and Heritage Islands. These programs have evolved over the past 14 years. This includes renovations to AREC exhibit rooms and additional exhibits. Advanced lessons in watersheds, river wildlife, food webs, human impacts, and pollution prevention and conservation have been created. This allows schools to advance their curriculums to reflect DCPS science standards for each grade goal. Constantly seeking new ways to invite kids into the outdoors, Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) biologists have incorporated Wildlife Forever’s State Fish Art Contest into the curriculum. Over the last 3 years, this art project has provided a fun 44 October 2026
Fish In Schools
STEVE CHACONAS
opportunity for youth to learn about fish as staff provide fish anatomy lessons and then practice drawing fish. The programs at AREC connect youth with the natural resources in their community while teaching them about the watersheds in the District and that they merge in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The connection is established that human activities affect the plants and animals living in this watershed. This includes native, non-native, and invasive species. Partnering with Maryland DNR, the Reel Invasion Fishing Tournament during National Fishing and Boating Week increased awareness of invasive species such as blue catfish, flathead catfish, and Northern Snakeheads and their effect on watersheds. They take the show on the road as a stocked fishing trailer from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation allows them to conduct fishing clinics across the District. There’s more to DC than monuments and AREC will continue to grow to reach even more residents with programs and activities. The 4 AREC staffers attend local outreach events to partner and collaborate with other DOEE colleagues as they reach thousands of students and visitors each year. The program has grown from 800-1000 students reached in 2012 to over 8,000 in 2025. Fishing trips begin with a single cast and an educational step. The AREC programs hook kids up with fishing, but more importantly with a connection to the outdoors. Anyone in the DC Metro area can register for a free program but transportation is limited and only provided for DCPS schools. Check out their current offerings at: www.doee.dc.gov/arec About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fishing guide & freelance writer. Potomac river reports: nationalbass.com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide. Potomac
line. Black/blue, craw patterns,
River
and white. Snap out of grass
Bassing
and crawl through wood cover.
in OCTOBER
Buzzbaits are a good choice on
Fish are moving
30-pound Gamma Torque braid.
and relating to
grass
remnants, docks, and wood cover. Mann’s Baby 1-Minus tied to 14-pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line can be snapped out of grass or deflected off wood cover. Firetiger, red and shad patterns. Bladed jigs produce on the same
Cast over cover and along docks. Replacing skirts with soft plastic toads make it more buoyant, slowing the retrieve. Mizmo tubes, Texas rigged on 3/0 hooks with 3/16-ounce weights can be pitched to cover. Use drop shots around docks and drops with 15-pound Torque braid for main line and 12-pound Edge leader.
Old Town Crier
I
celebrated my 60th in September. It’s truly a privilege to make it to that milestone. Trust me when I say that I’ll celebrate just about anything as long as there’s cake involved. I’ve always been a big birthday person because I think people should be celebrated—and hello—cake. But it really is a big deal. Why? Because not everyone gets to sit around with their nearest and dearest and blow out candles and create memories. It is a privilege to have another trip around the sun. Sadly, I know too many people who didn’t make it to 60—and some by a long shot. Not only did I make it to 60, but I got there being able to use my own two legs. And I could read my birthday cards and blow out my candles (well, maybe with some help—there were A LOT). I could talk to friends and hear their well wishes. I could hug them with my own two arms and take in the scent of the evening air. I am blessed beyond measure. It’s easy to take life for granted, but I was recently reminded of how fleeting and fragile life can be as one of my sweetest, dearest, and oldest friends had the horrific happen to her on one of those random nights that people talk about. Life is zipping along, and out of the blue—BAM. You are knocked off your feet by a bitter jolt from the fairness gods. Out to dinner with friends, her body began to betray her as she raised her glass to toast. A 9-1-1 call was placed, EMTs dispatched. Tests were performed, scans taken, and a tumor detected.
OPEN SPACE
LORI WELCH BROWN
The Fiction of Fair
To maintain her privacy, I’m only going to say that the results were far from good and a helluva long way from fair. We—her family and many, many friends—are shocked by the news and devastated. Lost. Helpless. Frustrated. Angry. Confused. A myriad of emotions have engulfed us all. Personally speaking, my faith has been on shaky ground, but this is topsy turvy world. God—have you left the building? On vacation? What is going on? I need an explanation of some kind here. I need to know what the ‘big plan’ is because, quite frankly, I think someone needs to head back to the drawing board. Words cannot adequately describe what this human means to me—and I am but one in a sea of many. She has always answered my calls and listened—I mean really listened— when I felt sad, angry, betrayed, lonely, confused, inadequate, and scared. And that was just on any given Monday morning before coffee. Not only would she listen, but she picked me up and encouraged me to stand up and fly. She is a true role model for women—confident and comfortable in her skin. Beautiful and sexy coupled with kind and compassionate. Spiritual, and yet wicked funny. Open and transparent. Vulnerable, and yet fiercely independent. Vibrant. Strong and soft. And always, ALWAYS, fully authentic—f*bombs and all. Of course, there is hope. We will not give that up without a fight. As long as there are breaths to take, there is hope. And, if anyone can endure what she’s about to go through with grace and grit, it’s her. She’s a fighter and has defied the odds countless times, but if anyone deserves to sit back and rest on their laurels a bit, it’s her. But…I don’t get to make the rules. I just have to play by ‘em. So, friends, here’s what 60 years on the planet has taught me. Fair is a fiction sold to us in fairy tales and movies and books. Fair is something your prized pig wins a ribbon at in July. Fair is a skin color. Fair is something boaters hope for when crossing water ways. It is not life. Life is not fair. Some days, it is a million miles from it. I guess at my age, I should know this by now, but it still feels challenging to accept. And yet—that’s the only real choice we have—acceptance. Accept the cards life deals us and pray like hell for a winning hand—or at least to be able to stay at the table for a few more rounds. And in the meantime, enjoy every blessed moment surrounded by all your loves. We can’t count on life to be fair, but we can count on love. And friendship. And community. And sometimes kindness and compassion. If anything can get us through when life isn’t fair, it’s LOVE. And maybe some ice cream. And cake. Always cake. About the Author: Lori is a local writer, painter and pet lover who loves to share her experiences and expertise with our readers. She has been penning a column for the OTC for over 25 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this. Old Town Crier
October 2026 45
NATIONAL HARBOR
SunDay FunDay at the Harbor! A Few Must Stops for a SunDay FunDay this fall…
From brunch to shopping, attractions and more, here’s how to spend a Sunday on the Waterfront. Looking for a great way to spend the day? Head to National Harbor.
Osteria Coast’s brunch buffet. Explore National Harbor’s brunch options: https://www.nationalharbor. com/blog/capitalize-on-brunch/.
Located along the Potomac River just minutes from Washington, D.C., National Harbor offers plenty of ways to turn the last day of the weekend into a mini getaway. Start with a waterfront walk, browse the shops, take in an attraction, stop for brunch while overlooking the Potomac.
Take a Ride on The Capital Wheel
Whether planning a day with friends, a family outing, a date or simply looking for a change of scenery, here are some ways to do Sunday right at National Harbor. Start the Day with a Waterfront Stroll Get your steps in along the 1.2 miles of shoreline. With views of the Capital Wheel and Alexandria, VA, it’ll be sure to get the juices going. Veer off the path and explore more than $11 million in public outdoor art. https://www.nationalharbor.com/things-to-do/artsculture/guide-by-cell/ Brunch Sundays are meant for brunch and with National Harbor’s wide selection of restaurants, you’re sure to find the perfect spot. Friends, family, whoever can find everything from all day brunch at Silver Diner to lobster benedict at Walrus Oyster & Ale House. Nobody will leave hungry at MGM National Harbor’s
46 October 2026
See the Potomac from a completely different perspective aboard The Capital Wheel. Rising 180 feet above the river, the observation wheel offers sweeping views from climate-controlled gondolas. After the ride, stop at Flight Deck for a beverage and spend some time by the firepits and enjoy the waterfront views. Make Your Own Candle For a more relaxing hands-on activity, visit Wigenton Candle Co. and create a custom candle. Choose a favorite scent and make a personalized candle to take home as a reminder of the day. Sing Your Heart Out Make Sunday a little more entertaining with a stop at Live-K Karaoke. Family-friendly karaoke is available during the day on Saturdays and Sundays, making it an option for visitors of all ages. Ladies, grab your crew and head to Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano for their monthly Boozy Brunch. Move the Chains Catch all the NFL action with hundreds of screens at Tom’s Watch Bar. The 360 degree viewing
experience makes every seat the best seat in the house. Game day eats are elevated from fan-favorite classics to bold flavors, the menu is crafted to satisfy every craving. Games are also aired on the big screen in the Plaza. Shop and Stroll Then, head down to the vibrant Waterfront District, where you can stroll along the water and discover a collection of unique local boutiques and specialty shops. If you are looking for major chain store with big discounts, discover exceptional deals on the designer brands you know and love at Tanger Outlets just up the road from National Harbor. With restaurants, shops, waterfront events, attractions and entertainment all within walking distance, National Harbor makes it easy to spend an entire Sunday doing as much—or as little—as you like. You may want to treat yourself to watching the sunset before you head home. For more information and to plan a visit, go to NationalHarbor.com. Publishers Note: This piece was written by Kimbery Jordan at Bendure Communications. If you have a version of what you consider a SunDay FunDay in the Harbor, send it to us at office@oldtowncrier.com.
Old Town Crier
Old Town Crier
October 2026 47
The Best of Every Season Right at Your Door
N E W H O M E S I N O U T S TA N D I N G FA I R FA X C O U N T Y Move-In Ready Home Available!
Huge Limited-Time Incentives!
Luxury Estates on Acreage in Lorton, VA
New 3-4 Level 2-Car Garage Townhomes
From the $1.7Ms | Ask about Limited Time Incentives! Model Home: 9600 Peniwill Drive, Lorton, VA 22079
From the Mid $900s | Decorated Model Now Open! Model Home: 11663 Vantage Hill Road, Reston, VA 20190
Visit: CraftmarkHomes.com/FairfaxCo
Open Daily 11 AM - 5 PM | Email for Appointment Sales Manager | Lori Windsor | 703-507-6882 | LWindsor@CraftmarkHomes.com | Please Email! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR AWESOME INSIDER INFO! Brokers Warmly Welcomed. Must register and comply with policy terms. All artist’s renderings are concepts, may show optional features and are subject to change without notice. Ask Sales Manager for details. Property is impacted by aircraft noise as disclosed in the sales agreement and HOA disclosure package.