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WORK
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4830 Southpoint Drive • Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407 540.898.3242 • Fax 540.735.1056 • www.wjvakos.com
9/21/10 11:48 AM
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 1
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2 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2010
Contents
27 Made in Central Virginia Your ideas are important to us, so if you’d like to recommend a story or send an event for Out&About, drop us a line at:
Our first annual review of the best products found in our region.
34 In the Running Jockey Danni Hodsdon’s arduous road to compete in horse racing.
Virginia Neighbors 520 William Street, Suite B Fredericksburg, VA 22401
38 The Dairy King
Or, email us at: editor@vaneighbors.com
Fourth generation dairy farmer, Ken Smith, shows small farms can still be successful.
Potluck
Observations
25 Fall for one of the joys of small
9 P otluck
Oktoberfest
10 T rends
Taking TV to the third dimension
10 B its&Pieces
Cloud Computing, Safety Tats
10 ECO 411
Conservative lawn care
12 B EST OF Tailgating
14 TR AVEL
Floating across the Potomac
16 H UMOR
Homemade Halloween
Around Town 19 A round Town S econd Street School
20 O ne ON ONE
Student activists key to solving inequality and other worldly ills
22 F ocus
The Mann Memorial Hunt in memory of 1st LT. Jason Mann
towns: Friday night football
Applause 43 c ulture
Community comes together to bring performance center plan to reality
45 m usic
George Mason Alumni, Jukebox the Ghost
46 w riter’s block
A serving of Bourdain and Crosby
46 P RESS PLAY
Steve Miller Band Gets Bingo!
Best Bites 50 R eview
The Hibachi-style Fujiya House offers fresh food and relaxing atmosphere
50 C HEERS
This dark brown ale asks beer lovers to rethink what “Terrible” means to them.
52 R ecipe
Update classic caramel corn with chili, chocolate or bacon for a grown-up treat.
53 F oodie Profile
A 1954 Ford truck and an old filling station set the stage for a thriving bakery
Out&About 57 Girls Night, Stomp like Lucy,
Pumpkin picking and much more
Cul-de-sac 64 Father-daughter ritual reborn
« Large Men Throwing Things. See page 57.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 3
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It’s more than where we live, it’s who we are.
Co-Publisher Kendall Childress Co-Publisher / Creative director Don Saucier Managing Editor John Budd Editor Susan Tremblay Contributing Writers Drema Apperson, Anna Billingsley, John Budd, Robert Burke, Ted Byrd, Candice Carver, Lisa Chinn, Austen Dunn, Kirk Evans,Julie May, Sam Protich, Anita Sherman, Nicholas Addison Thomas Graphic Designer Candice Carver Contributing Photographers Jamie Haverkamp, Dwaine D. Snyder Advertising and Circulation Director Gerald Childress Account executives Kelly Flynn, Alan Hunter, Ryan Lott, Annie Pates
Virginia Neighbors is published every two months by:
520 William Street, Suite B Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-3999 E-mail: editor@vaneighbors.com
Festival of KitchensTour
To subscribe visit:
www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
October 2nd
Need Ideas for a New Kitchen? A Fun Day Out? • Cabinetry • Counters
• Appliances • Cooking Demo
• Designer Tips • Wine Tasting
Details at www.KitchenWorksVa.com
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• Design • Counters • Cabinetry • Installation
All editorial, advertising, reprint, and/or circulation correspondence should use the above address or visit the website. Virginia Neighbors welcomes but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and art. © 2010 by Willow Publishing, Inc.
4 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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The
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F RO M T H E EDITOR
W
henever I go anywhere, even if it’s just 50 miles from home, someone always seems to ask me where I’m from. Maybe it’s my accent, a mixture of western Tennessee with a big dollop of Virginia. Or, maybe it’s because I’ll strike up a conversation with just about anyone. But as soon as they learn I’m from Fredericksburg, they’ll ask me if I know so-and-so. Sometimes I do; more often, I don’t. And if they have any familiarity with my town, they’ll mention Carl’s, Fredericksburg’s famous frozen custard shop. Now, Carl’s, I do know quite well.
I never tire of the do-you-know-so-and-so conversations I have with strangers. As I see it, people are just looking for a connection with others, a bond, a familiarity, something that ties one to another. And nowadays, when extended families are scattered across the country or around the world, it’s understandable. Here at Virginia Neighbors we are expanding our coverage to the counties of Fauquier, Prince William and Loudoun. We hope to introduce our readers to new people and places. In this issue of Virginia Neighbors you’ll learn about a longtime Fauquier County dairy farmer who is adapting in order to remain relevant as a businessman; a renowned baker who has a bustling business in Warrenton, and a band comprised of George Mason University students whose latest album will be released this fall. The issue also includes a special section on products made in Virginia and columnist Anna Billingsley’s observations on the ties high school football fans form on Friday nights in the fall. We hope you enjoy this issue of Virginia Neighbors, and we look forward to hearing from you. If you know a neighbor we should feature, give us a call at (540) 899-3999 or drop by our office at 520 William Street. We’d love to hear from you.
Susan Tremblay Editor
CORRECTIONS: In our July/August issue we mistakenly listed the Pon Shop’s web address. The correct address is www.PonShopStudio.com. We’d also like to point out that K Pearlman Photography (www.kpearlmanphotography.com) was not given proper credit for her photo of Rick Hurley.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 7
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Potluck
DISHING UP TRENDS, TRAVEL, IDEAS & FAMILY
2010 Marks the 200th Anniversary of
OKTOBERFEST
"O'zapft!"
For sixteen days from late September to early October, people form around the world and don their lederhosen to celebrate Oktoberfest. Originating in Munich, Oktoberfest has been held for the last 200 years in Theresienwiese (or d'Wiesn for short). It was first celebrated on October 18, 1810 to commemorate the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese (hence Theresienwiese).
liters of beer drank in Munich
German for “Its tapped!”
6,940,600
Celebrations in our area: LOVETSVILLE 9/20 to 9/26/2010 17th Annual Lovetsville Oktoberfest Enjoy four days of live music, authentic food, crafts, and entertainment along the Town’s historic streets In celebration of Lovettsville’s German heritage. There will be a pancake breakfast, a community church service on Sunday, and a Scramble Golf Tournament on Monday. www.townoflovettsville.gov FREDERICKSBURG 9/24 to 9/26/2010 8th Annual Oktoberfest Family fun, music, food, song and dance. Enjoy samples of newly released authentic Oktoberfest Beer and Hefeweizen from Blue & Gray Brewing. Beer for sale in commemorative stein (sign up on brewery homepage for 1/2 off coupon) www.blueandgraybrewingco.com
6.2 million visitors to the German festival
1892
the year beer was first served in glass mugs
WWI&WWII prevented Oktoberfest from being celebrated
SPOTSYLVANIA 10/10/2010 Oktoberfest at Lake Anna Winery Enjoy the bounty and beauty of fall in the country. Come join us for an evening of wine, a hearty authentic German meal and dance to the music of Mike Wheelehan. Help benefit Habitat for Humanity. www.lakeannawinery.com
12
gun salute to start off the festival,
NOON
time of the tapping of first keg (by the mayor of Munich).
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Potluck
TRENDS
Bits&Pieces
“The Tat That Brings Kids Back”
A New TV Turn-On 3-D TV packs a punch, but do viewers think it’s a hit?
From attaching leashes to toddlers to dressing your tween in fluorescent clothing at the mall, parents will go to extremes to keep their children safe. With more than 2,000 children lost in the U.S. every day, SafetyTat has developed a way to better the chance of a safe return. The custom temporary tattoo acts as a form of identification that can feature phone numbers, allergies or other medical conditions to help when a child is lost. For more information and some TatTips, please visit www.safetytat.com.
The phrase “reach out and touch someone” isn’t just for phone companies anymore. With all the hype over 3-D viewing, it seems the screens – both big and small – are using the ploy, as well. With the success of James Cameron’s recent blockbuster, Avatar, theaters are bursting with three dimensional offerings. Major television manufacturers, like Sony, Panasonic and Samsung, are packing their own 3-D punch, with special sets that bring the in-yourface action straight to your living room. Networks including ESPN and the Massachusettsbased CatholicTV have already begun to offer programming to match the demand. An estimated 4.2 million 3-D TVs will be purchased this year, according to the Studio Daily Blog. Despite a hefty price tag (a 55-inch Samsung set sells for nearly $3,500 and eyeglasses required for 3-D viewing can run more than $100 per pair), some believe the new technology is the greatest thing to happen to television since Technicolor but this trend has been around for quite some time. Often touted as the first American color feature to be filmed in 3D, Bwana Devil promised “a lion in your lap” and “a lover in your arms,” and sparked a flurry of threedimensional films in the early 1950s. The genre made even more static in the 1980s, when a flurry of frightening flicks like Jaws 3-D, Amityville 3-D and Friday the 13th Part III had moviegoers peppering each other with popcorn as they ducked and bobbed to avoid the razor-sharp teeth and splattering blood that seemed to spill from the screen. All of these effects can be explained by the principles of stereoscopic photography. Three-dimensional movies play tricks on our brain, enhancing the illusion of depth by merging images captured by the left and right eyes and fooling us into thinking we’re seeing a single picture. High definition TV relies on special software to refresh alternating frames more than 100 times per second and shutters in the lenses of special specs that open and close to help produce images that pop off the screen. Even with all the new advances, experts say it’ll take years before we can ditch the glasses. Goofy goggles aside, 3-D viewing is a turn-on to tons of TV viewers who have discovered a passion for a different dimension … even if not everyone is sold. “I had one customer tell me that [3D TVs] are just a fad,” said Sony representative Jessica Brow, who’s stationed at Spotsylvania Towne Centre. Whatever its future, three-dimensional television has eye-popping potential. Surround sound, widescreens, plasma and a slew of high-tech tricks have been pulling viewers in for years. 3-D TV is reaching out to grab them! —Lisa Chinn
ECO 411 Your Green Lawn The way we maintain our lawns impacts waterways and wildlife all the way to the Chesapeake Bay. Fortunately, choosing between a beautiful lawn and a healthy environment is not necessary. Protecting local waterways and keeping a vibrant lawn can be achieved by following these simple tips. A lawn needs about one inch of water per week. Measure the quantity of water with a tin can. In general, it’s better to apply less water every three to four days to prevent runoff. Position sprinklers to shower areas of vegetation and not paved surfaces. Watering in the heat of the day wastes
10 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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You Want Me to Put My Music Where? “Cloud computing” allows users not to fret about damaging or losing their music collection In late 2009, Apple acquired the Internet-based music service, Lala, amidst a host of investor speculation regarding their motives for the purchase. What puzzled analysts was that prior to the sale, Lala executives had said that the site’s primary model of selling access to streaming music would not be profitable in the near future. But many music industry insiders believe that Apple’s takeover of Lala was an effort to capitalize on the growing trend of “cloud computing” and may redefine how audiophiles everywhere hear their music. With the success of internet radio sites like Pandora, music lovers are faced with a growing number of choices when it comes to how they access their collection. There is the traditional proprietary model made popular by iTunes, in which
consumers purchase a song or an entire album and can play it from their MP3 player or PC. Then there is the streaming model where listeners can hear music in much the same way that they listen to the radio but with greater room for customization and mobility. The idea of “cloud computing” is a hybrid of these two notions in which consumers buy the rights to songs that are kept on a third party server allowing them to play their music from any mobile device or computer with internet access. Lala allowed users to purchase the rights to songs and store them in an online “locker,” a feature that many believe attracted Apple to the small company. So where does this leave listeners? There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to buying access to music
water and damages the leaves. Each water droplet acts as a magnifying glass, boiling away when it evaporates and cooking that spot on the leaf. So water in the morning. Before fertilizing, complete a soil test. Proper timing of nitrogen application is different for warm-season and cool-season turf grasses. Do not fertilize when the grass is brown and dormant. Spread compost or use a drop-type spreader to apply a slowrelease fertilizer. Applying half in one direction and the other half in a perpendicular direction helps to ensure even coverage. More fertilizer is not better. Excess fertilizer washes into waterways stimulating algae growth, depleting oxygen, and killing aquatic life. Sweep spilled fertilizer off pavement before it is washed into a storm drain or ditch. Conscientious mowing is also important for a healthy lawn. Keep your mower blade sharp to minimize damage to the leaves. Cool season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fescues should be kept 3 inches tall and warm-season grasses like bermuda grass and
in the “cloud.” Some listeners may become nostalgic over not being able to place the needle down on the A-side of their worn copy of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or unzip the fly on the cover of The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers; for these listeners, sites like Rhapsody, Lala, and Slacker Radio aren’t the answer. But with remotely stored music, listeners no longer need to worry about losing their prized albums when their computer breaks or their iPod falls victim to an unforeseen accident. “Cloud computing” can protect your rare Duran Duran deep cuts even if you drop your MP3 player during an air guitar battle; every second of “Hungry Like the Wolf” will be safe in the “cloud.” — John Budd
Deep watering and proper mowing foster a healthy root system and help reduce weeds. Healthy turf needs less pesticide and will be better able to take up fertilizer. Pesticides and herbicides are potent chemicals so read labels and use as indicated to minimize harm to yourself and our environment. These small changes to your lawn care routine will reduce pollution in local streams and the Chesapeake Bay while providing a lush, green lawn. Check with your locality to find out about proper chemical disposal. Visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at www.cbf.org for comprehensive lawn care information. Author Julie May is an Analyst for the Rappahannock Regional Solid Waste Management Board. For more information about R-Board programs, visit www.r-board.org.
zoysia grass can be mowed to 1 inch. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn after you mow to return nutrients to the soil.
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Potluck
B EST O F
SCORE BIG THIS TAILGATE SEASON
Hot Sauce Planet, a planet where the sun is only the second hottest part of your day, and every meal is served hot off the grill! Find the following selections and more at www.hotsauceplanet.com
Our scouts have found these performance-enhancing products to help you win the parking lot playoffs!
The best BBQ Sauce this side of the Mason Dixon. Lynchburg Tennessee Hot N Spicy BBQ Sauce With Jack Daniels is great for the NASCAR fan who throws the best infield BBQ before the race.
Etch-it Cups are here to save the day. (Or should we say, save the drink) Simply etch your name with your fingernail and instantly, an individual masterpiece. And for those classy ladies, etch-it also carries individual stickers perfect for your wine glass (or box). www.etch-it.com
For the true fan only. Dave’s Insanity Hot sauce is sure to spice up any backyard BBQ or a rivalry football game this fall.
This BBQ Sword Spatula is flippin’ great. Now you can fearlessly chargrill chops and sear steaks with your trusty BBQ Sword protecting you from flames. Includes a Musketeer’s Mask when you need to keep your identity a secret. For example: when the sausages get burnt. www.Neatoshop.com
Flattery will get you everywhere. Virginia Gentleman 90 proof small batch bourbon is the special ingredient in this barbecue sauce. Sweet and smooth with a hint of heat that makes this gentleman a truly refined sportsman.
Become a fan on RecyCooler’s facebook page by 11/7 and mention Virginia Neighbors in a wall post to be entered to win a free cooler.
A one-handed eating system that is dishwasher safe and reusable- Drink n’ Plate. Just be cautious to not get a little over zealous with that drink and tip the whole tray back for a food fumble. www.pioneerplastics.com 12 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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Styrofoam is so 80s. Recycooler™ is a green/earth friendly cooler made from postconsumer product and printed with soy-based ink. If you take care of your recycooler™ it will last for a long time, but when you are finished, just discard it in a recycling bin and buy a new one. www.recycooler.com
Pour your drink, attach your drill and pull the trigger! The DrillBlender is a totally portable blender attachment for your cordless drill/ power driver. www.drillblender.com Every adult will love this juice box, The Original Disposable Flask™ It’s durable, compact, collapsible and lightweight; holds about 7.5 fl oz and is available in multiple designs and colors. www.DisposableFlasks.com
WARNING: Unless you’re a 17th century Musketeer, trained and certified in the art of swordsmanship, do not use this spatula to settle a duel.
Jaime Haverkamp Photo
9/21/10 9:15 AM
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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 13
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T r av e l
Ride Across The River Malcom Brown’s Old-Fashioned Ferry is the Last of Its Kind
W
hite’s Ferry is a relic, that much is certain. For $4, this old-fashioned river crossing just a few miles west of Leesburg, will take you and your car across the wide and shallow Potomac River, a ride that only takes a few minutes. The ferry boat, the Jubal A. Early, named for a Civil War general, glides across the few hundred yards of slow-moving water almost every day of the year, unless the river freezes or floods. Of course if you’re in a hurry, you can take the Capital Beltway and cross the river in a few seconds, but who would want to do that? This river crossing, the last operating ferry on the Potomac, is not for people in a rush, which is a big reason why it’s worth the trip. It does have a few hundred regular commuters from around Leesburg in Virginia and Poolesville in Maryland. But most people ride it just for the fun of it. “People go out of their way to ride a ferry, because it’s different,” says Malcolm Brown, whose father bought the ferry business in 1946. “And kids love it.” The first commercial crossing here opened in 1828, and was named Conrad’s Ferry. Right after the Civil
War, a Loudoun County resident named Elihjah White bought it. Though several others have owned it since then, White’s name has stuck. Malcolm says that on a busy summer weekend the ferry can attract as many as 1,400 vehicles. Pedestrians cross for 50 cents, and bicyclists pay $1. On the Maryland side, there’s a nice picnic area under shady trees, and a small store. Visitors can also rent boats or canoes. The Maryland side also has another piece of transportation history: the C&O Canal passes just a few hundred feet from White’s Ferry. The C&O is maintained by the National Park Service and is a great place to explore by bicycle or on foot. The pathway that follows the canal runs 184.5 miles from Georgetown to Cumberland, Md. White’s Ferry is at the 35.5 mile marker. As it always has been, the ferry is at the mercy of the river. In fact, when Malcolm’s father, Edwin Brown, bought the business in 1946 it had been closed for four years, after the previous ferry boat was destroyed by floodwaters. Back in 1972, the year Malcolm Brown took over operating the ferry for the family, the remnants of
14 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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When Feeling Great Can’t Wait!
Hurricane Agnes sent the river so high that water reached the second floor Active Families and Individuals: MIGRAINE on the buildings there. Last winter’s BUMPED • See an experienced, compassionate heavy snows and cold temperatures HEAD medical provider TODAY! (STITCHES) kept it closed for weeks at a time, and • Available evenings and weekends floods this spring had water 5 feet when you can’t get in to see your regular doctor. deep in the small grocery store that EARACHE • WAHOO!™ – call or register online Malcolm also operates. and wait at home or office; we’ll call Despite the natural hazards, there’s when your exam room is ready. probably never going to be a bridge • All major insurance is accepted, here, Malcolm says. On the Maryland including Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare, or a medical discount side, Montgomery County preserves program is available. the land for agriculture and won’t support a bridge crossing at White’s Ferry; this suits Malcolm, whose family has been there for generations. Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm “It’s all still farmland, and nobody’s Woodbridge 12581 Milstead Way, Ste. 103 going to let anyone build a highway Dumfries through it,” he says. 3990 Fettler Park Dr. There are probably some who Fredericksburg 5825 Plank Rd., Ste. 105 would like a bridge. Malcolm says he 330 White Oak Rd. nextcare.com/neighbors got chewed out this winter by one 15 S. Gateway Dr., Ste. 101 regular customer, a woman who was tired of the ferry being closed by ice VA_neighbors_4c_01010.indd 1 7/28/10 5:57:10 PM and high water. “She said, ‘Come on, you guys. There’s no reason that ferry shouldn’t be running. Get back to work.’ And that is the polite version of what she said,” he says, laughing. Malcolm’s family will keep running the ferry for now but he’s not sure if it will make it to the next generation. “I’ve got two daughters and a son, and When you subscribe I don’t think any of them are really for 1 year (6 issues) interested in running the ferry,” he at only $12! says. “But for now I’m just going to keep doing what I do.” — Robert Burke
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Editor’s Note: From the Virginia side of the river, White’s Ferry can be reached by road just a couple of miles north of Leesburg. Take U.S. 15 North to State Route 655 (also known as White’s Ferry Road) and turn right, and follow it to the ferry landing.
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HUMOR
A Homemade Halloween The search for a costume even the not-too-crafty can make
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chool supplies purchased? Check. Lunch box treats bought in bulk? Check. Physical forms all filled out? Check. Looks like it’s time to add some fun to my autumn to-do list like what to be for Halloween. I told my children I wanted to wear something other than my trusty ol’ witch’s hat for trick-ortreating. So, when the costume catalog arrived in the mail, my 7-year-old turned to the Star Wars page and pointed to a Princess Leia outfit. “You’d look pretty in this, Mom,” he said sweetly. The belly-baring outfit might have been on my Halloween shopping list a couple of decades ago but the sight of me wearing it now would surely scare my neighbors away. “I think I’d like something warmer,” I told Jay. “Besides, wouldn’t it be fun to make our costumes this year?” At that suggestion, he crinkled his nose and shook his head. I’m sure he was remembering the great furry cape fiasco. When Jay was a pre-schooler, he wanted a cape. That sounded simple enough to make so I purchased fabric—yellow, feathery fabric. I think it had to do with some sort of duck superhero request. Anyway, the material was made of millions of wispy, yellow fuzzlets that flew off when I cut it. Or when he wore it. Or when we even looked at it. That cape left a trail of feathery fluff on the floor, furniture, and on my pre-schooler. When he played with it, we’d all get fuzz in our hair and mouth and nostrils. On those days our house should have had an air quality warning. I actually stored it in a sealed plastic bag to minimize closet de-fuzzing. No wonder he played with it only a few times before it found its way to the trash. I couldn’t risk a potential respiratory problem trick to accompany the treats.
On the other hand, I have wonderful memories of the costumes my mom made for me. But she was a professional seamstress. I don’t sew—at least not since seventh grade home economics class with a very patient Mrs. Jenkins. Now, I couldn’t tell you how to thread a bobbin any more than I could tell a quarterback sneak from a flea flicker. Still, I wanted to make a costume, even if it was my own. Not easily discouraged, I turned to Google for help. The answer to my “no-sew homemade Halloween costume” Internet search was the Martha Stewart web site from the goddess of homemade herself. The first costume on the list was a “coffee filter fairy godmother.” Seriously. Martha and her talented minions managed to turn 150 white coffee filters from flimsy disks into an intricately folded Elizabethan-era marvel. I was in way over my head. Perhaps it was “no-sew,” but that costume had “origami expert” written all over it. I moved on to the “umbrella bat” costume. That looked doable, until I read details that included words like bolt cutter, pliers, 28-gauge wire, harness, stapling, underarm point, wrist ties, safety pins and sharp points. I wanted to make a costume, not a weapon or a booby trap. And I’d prefer to make it without a trip to the hospital for stitches. Clearly, I had to lower my expectations even more. Then I saw it—“garbage-bag witch.” The photo showed a shroud of shredded bags complete with a smartly belted draw-string tie around the waist. I successfully use garbage bags on a daily basis, and I already had the hat. A quick scan of the supply list included non-deadly things like tape. It’s not Princess Leia, but I’ll be waterproof if it rains. — Lisa Ferreira
16 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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NEWS | HISTORY | BUSINESS | PEOPLE
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m Waterford's Second Street School, 15611 Second Street, Waterford, VA In 1866, Quaker Reuben Schooley (1826-1900) sold his Second Street property to the local African-American population, who with financial help from the Quakers, promptly erected a school building they could also use for church functions. This is one of the oldest one-room schoolhouses in Loudoun County and may be the oldest African-American house of worship. The school finally closed its doors in 1957. Since 1984, third- and fourth-grade students from Loudoun County and neighboring areas have been recreating a school day in 1880 by taking on the roles of the African-American children who actually attended the school at that time. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 19
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AroundTown
ONE ON ONE
UMW Grad Shines A Light On Honduras After only three years, Students Helping Honduras has raised over $1 million
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tudents Helping Honduras was formed in 2007 after founder and University of Mary Washington graduate Shin Fujiyama traveled to Honduras and began raising money for education, environmental and water projects. Shin was born in Niigata, Japan in 1983 and eventually settled with his family in Falls Church before attending UMW. He’s appeared on Larry King Live and in 2009 was named a CNN Hero. VN: Y ou were born in Japan and educated in the
U.S., so where did the interest in Honduras come from? SF: I went on a 10-day volunteer trip when I was a sophomore at Mary Washington and kept going back every break. It was more fun and exciting than anything else going on back home. And more challenging. I mean, I did well in school, but writing papers and talking in a classroom about the bad things going on in the world wasn’t very satisfying. Growing up, I was exposed to the huge Latino population in Northern Virginia. I played on Bolivian, Salvadoran, Honduran and Peruvian soccer teams throughout high school and college, and I traveled extensively through Brazil. VN: You’ve raised more than $1 million for
projects in Honduras—from bake sales to
charitable grants. Most has been spent in Progreso, a city of about 100,000 not far from the Caribbean Sea. How did you decide on that city? SF: I happened to stumble across the city when a philanthropist from Milwaukee invited me there to be his translator for a week and I made a ton of contacts with local villages, schools and orphanages. We’re looking to work in other cities as the organization grows. You can never underestimate the power of small fundraisers like bake sales. I only raised $26 during my first bake sale at UMW, but imagine if 100 or even 1,000 students held bake sales in their respective campuses? We want to have 1,000 chapters of SHH by the year 2020. VN: What kind of projects do you focus on? SF: Mainly education, especially for girls. We build schools, libraries, computer labs and provide scholarships. I encourage all of our volunteers to read Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea and Nicholas Kristof’s Half the Sky to understand why this is so important. We also provide small loans to women to help them start businesses. And, we’re creating a branch of our organization that will specifically aid orphaned and abandoned children.
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VN: One of your projects is a “biodigestor” which
breaks down weeds or other organic material into cooking gas and fertilizer. How does that work? SF: The biodigestor uses the methane gas produced by rotting organic material. It will provide all of the cooking fuel for a soup kitchen for 100 kids, saving hundreds of dollars a year in firewood. We also do other environmental projects—planting trees, turning trash into crafts for sale, and installing fuel-efficient cooking stoves. All of them aid the environment and people’s health. Plus they cut the organization’s carbon footprint. VN: You have five fellows in Honduras for the
summer to teach organic farming. How did you select and educate them for that? SF: Based on their experience, maturity and language skills. They read many books prior to coming to Honduras—like Thomas Friedman’s Hot, Flat and Crowded—and took classes at an organic farm. VN: College kids aren’t always thought of as charity
minded. Is it difficult to find volunteers or are students more socially conscious than their image suggests? SF: Today’s kids aren’t as interested in working 80-plus hours a week to accumulate material wealth like their parents. They realize the old way of doing things—which just demanded more and more things –isn’t working. Just look at the 2008 economic collapse, environmental disasters caused by global warming, an ever-increasing global wealth gap, and the rise of terrorism. I’m not saying we caused it all, but someone needs to figure out a solution, and quickly. High school and college kids don’t just want to see change, they want to play a part in it—and a big part. Whether it’s a young entrepreneur with a social project or top college graduates working with Teach for America or the Peace Corps—they’re passing up well-paying banks or consulting firms. We actually had to create a wait list for our volunteers, even though we’re increasing them by 30 percent each year. Students today would rather spend $750 to go build a school in Honduras than go on some island-hopping cruise. VN: What was it like being named a CNN Hero? SF: The recognition was for our staff members—especially my sister Cosmo (who co-founded SHH)—and volunteers who work so hard to make this happen. I’m a small slice of the pie. — Ted Byrd
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AroundTown
FOCUS
Not Just A Fallen Hero Shannon Mann talks about her husband’s commitment to the things he loved
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t’s always hard for me to reply when people ask, “Tell me about your husband.” To give you some background, my husband, 1st LT. Jason Mann, was a Marine Scout Sniper Platoon Commander serving in Garmsir, Afghanistan, and defending our freedom. On July 17, 2008, he was killed as a result of a roof collapsing. That is his death, but how do you describe all the life such an amazing man had in only a few sentences? How do you express the amount of love that he gave so willingly to our little girl, me-his wife, his family, his friends, his Marines, and his country? I can write a whole book about Jason, and it still wouldn’t do him justice; he was that amazing of a man. As a Marine, Jason was a leader. He had a strong command presence and could always be counted on to go above and beyond what was required. He could say exactly what was needed even during trying times, and he was respected by all of those around him. To this day, his Marines and Marine friends will tell me how they still think of Jason on a daily basis; he was that Marine. As a father and husband, Jason always made sure “his girls” came first (second of course to God) in his life. His “tough Marine façade” fell when he was with us; he was a teddy bear, caring, silly, and goofy. He was always making us laugh and smile. Whether it was hide-and-seek, go fish, or just being a human jungle gym, Jason would jump at the opportunity to play with our daughter, Bella. He loved
us with all of his heart, and it showed in everything he did. Only later did I find out that it also showed in every conversation he had with people; he was that kind of family man. I don’t want him to be remembered just as a fallen hero because Jason left such an impact on those around him. He was such an honorable man that I want to remember and share his life, what he meant to us, and how his memory continues to live on and help people. As a tribute to Jason, I have joined with the Families of the Wounded Fund to hold the 1st Lieutenant Jason D. Mann Memorial Hunt on October 30th. I know that Jason can still help Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen, even though he has passed. With this in mind, the proceeds from the hunt will go to supporting the Families of the Wounded Fund, Inc., a charity that raises funds for families caring for severely wounded relatives at McGuire Veterans Hospital’s and in the Fredericksburg area. The event will be held at the Rose Hill Game Preserve and will feature a traditional European Tower Shoot in Jason’s honor. Participation is limited to the first 20 hunters that sign up. — Shannon Mann To participate or for more information on the event or the Families of the Wounded Fund, please contact me via email at shanmann@gmail.com or by phone 540-207-7265.
22 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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Observations
Fall, Fridays, and Football Bright lights, small town = All-American ritual
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hortly after we moved to Fredericksburg, we started observing a mysterious phenomenon on Friday nights. Bright lights projected toward the sky in an area near downtown, and occasional roars emanated from the lighted area. Mingled with the bellow of the crowd were the peppy sounds of cymbals, saxophones, trombones, and trumpets. A sense of nostalgia stirred within me. I was flooded with memories of the weekly fall highlight of my childhood years in a small Southern town. Having lived as an adult in large cities, where neighborhood kids attended scores of different high schools and most of the football games were held in consolidated stadiums, I had not realized how much I missed Friday night high school football in a small town. My husband and I, along with our two young daughters, felt a pull toward Maury Field, the source of the lights and sounds, to watch the James Monroe High School games. We became fans of the Yellow Jackets long before our children became a part of the orange-and-black contingent. In Central Virginia, it’s not just Maury. The same scene unfolds on Friday nights at dozens of high schools throughout the region. When the sun goes down on Friday evenings, our area becomes a pigskin paradise. If it’s not the orange and black of the JM Yellow Jackets, it’s the blue and silver of the Courtland Cougars or Mountain View’s maroon and orange Wildcats or the yellow and royal blue of the King George Foxes. Everybody turns out to root, root, root for their home team. In small-town America, it’s a civic duty. Even if you don’t attend the game, you know the outcome. When you encounter your neighbor on Saturday morning, there’s either a shared sense of giddiness (“How ’bout those Wildcats?) or a somber shaking of the heads (“If only he had caught that pass,” or “Wait till next week!”). When we attend games at Maury, I see pastors, doctors, lawyers, retirees from nearby neighborhoods, young couples with kids in strollers, and colleagues from work— all sorts of people who have no direct connection to the school, though some may be alumni. Then there are the most visible and most vocal attendees—the students, teachers, and parents of the players.
Gridiron gazers cross geographic, gender, class, political, ethnic, educational, religious, and age lines. Where else do you find so many people rallying behind a single cause? Once the opening kick-off is in the air, people in the stands feel themselves caught up in the fervor that is Friday night high school football. You feel a kinship with the people seated around you; with each first down, you’re high-fiving strangers. Just as no other event seems to unite so many diverse individuals, no other sport seems more perfectly connected
with its natural season. Football is made for the crisp, cool air of fall. A sweater or jacket is de rigueur; beyond that, most anything goes, although you can count on a sea of sweatshirts and t-shirts in team colors. And for some people, their eyes are more focused on fashions than on the field. Think high school football isn’t a ritual that defines fall and a phenomenon that touches virtually every aspect of American life? Witness Friday Night Lights, a television show that takes its inspiration from a book titled Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream and the 2004 film based on it. The book details the 1988 season of the Permian Panthers, a high school football team in Odessa, Texas. Hey—save the book for a rainy day and TiVO the show. Come Friday night, just listen up, look for the lights, and head to the nearest football field to witness the drama first hand. —Anna Billingsley SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 25
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Chocolate & BBQ?
LOUDOUN
Those are the two things that come together in iProBBQ’s Chipotle Chocolate Dry Marinade. A gourmet dry marinade that adds intense flavors of spicy chocolate to beef, pork, poultry, seafood and vegetarian foods. // iPro BBQ, www.iprobbq.com
A Slice Of Virginia
Three Light Photography Photo
There’s a reason you can only find five star reviews for this Loudoun County eatery. After having the chance to sample one of Market Salamander’s best known and top selling bakery items, “ButterscotchPecan Scones,” you will want more. Pastry Chef Jason Reaves came up with the scone recipe after an innocent suggestion that pecans and butterscotch would go well together. Baked fresh every morning, you would imagine a sweet biscuit, instead you get a heap of pecans and butterscotch chips with just enough “scone” to keep the dessert from falling apart. Although best known for their fresh baked goods, Market Salamander also has a menu that would make any foodie take notice. Many of their items can be ordered off their website and shipped to you, but if you happen to pass through Middleburg, you should definitely stop in. // Market Salamander, 200 West Washington Street, Middleburg. www.marketsalamander.com
Who knew Virginia had a state pie? The Peanut Supreme Pie was recognized in 1990 as the winning Virginia State Pie and has held the title for the last 20 years. The bottom layer of the pie has a Peanut/Peanut Butter Fudge made from scratch. The middle layer is a rich smooth Peanut Butter Mousse covered with finely chopped Virginia Peanuts, all matched with “melt in your mouth” Pie Crust. The recipe was created by Violet LaBrecque, recognized in Good Housekeeping Magazine the same year as one of the Nation’s top pie bakers. Having competed in numerous baking championships you know any pie you order/pick-up from this home-based boutique bakery will be a winner. // 1st Ave. Bakery, 11294 Russell Rd, Purcellville. www.1stavebakery.com
gin is produced entirely by hand by Scott and Becky Harris (A true Momn-Pop operation). The products are organic and kosher, produced from local produce when available. The Harris’ started with three basic liquors: Roundstone Rye whisky, Mosby’s Spirit whisky, Organic Watershed Gin, and Pearousia Pear Brandy (out this fall). Mosby’s Spirit already won the bronze medal at the 2010 American Distillers Institute Whiskey Competition in Louisville, KY. You can grab your own swig or bottle at restaurants and bars throughout the northern Virginia area, and in Virginia ABC stores statewide. // Catocin Creek Distillery, 37251-C East Richardson Lane, Purcellville, www.catoctincreekdistilling.com
Prince William Micro-brew of BBQ
“Hey, let’s start a distillery.” In business since September 2009, Catocin Creek has only been in production since January 2010. Every bottle of brandy, whisky and
A rare, whole grain mustard from Louisiana, blended with Chardonnay wine, and Sweet Hog sauce, slowly simmered to blend the flavors; since 2006 BBQ Brothers have been brewing this sweet and spicy sauce, Golden Hog. Golden Hog won 1st place NBBQA Award of Excellence in 2007 (TX) and 5th place in 2008; 2007, 5th place overall Wild Pig & Pepper Jam (FL). // BBQ Brothers, Manassas, www.hogsauce.net
Market Salamander sent us 5 scones, or 10 half scones if you ask the sales team. 28 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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You can’t go wrong with chocolate
but we describe the temperatures as a slow drink-some-milk burn, a fan yourself boil, and the tear inducing sear. All her peppers are grown sustainably at her home, and I bet she has no trouble with pests as they’d probably melt after having a bite of her garden. Special orders are welcome. janesjelly@gmail.com. Return your jars to the pick up site and Jane will gratefully pick them up. // Jane’s Jellies, Nokesville
especially not german chocolate perfected since the 1700s. In 2006 Wilhelm and Melanie Wanders opened Chocolaterie Why wait to go Wanders, Inc. and using mostly local to the islands to ingredients, the handmade confections have an island have grown in popularity and are experience? featured in many retail stores including Whole Foods. They offer 15 different This sweet treasure flavors that change with the seasons, uses the finest ingredients and as well as specialty holiday items Premium Award Winning Whaler’s including our Boo! truffle introduced Original Rum, creating a fullin the Fall of 2009, and Caramelized flavored Rum Cake with a unique Almond Christmas Trees. island flair. Each cake is A sampling of the hand finished with a 2010 Fall/Winter special glaze for a Collection The Wanders family has smooth moist flavor features flavors been in the hospitality industry and real ingredients like: Printen since the early 1700’s in throughout the Germany. Since that time, (Gingerbreadall of the male members of cake, not just spiced the family have been either sprinkled ganache chefs, pastry chefs, or bakers on top. This with chestnut and have been named either will be the marzipan), Wilhelm or Theodor. best rum cake Cranberry Orange, you have ever had!! // Rum Raisin, and Plum Island Treasures Gourmet, www. Armagnac. // Chocolaterie Wanders, 11486 islandtreasuresgourmet.com Robertson Dr, Manassas, www.chocolateriewanders.com Sticky, sweet
dark amber color and toasty flavor is reminiscent of having the sun on your shoulders while picking wildflowers. Drop by, visit, taste, and see what real food is made of. // Burnside Farms, 4905 James Madison Hwy ,Haymarket
Bonus: The best bag of “skittles” we’ve ever had came from Burnside in the form of mulit-colored heirloom cherry tomatoes.
Fun Fact:
Feel the Heat her jelly “rocks,” Jane boasts The jellies are created in 3 temperatures: Mild-a slow gentle warmth; “Rockin’ Hot”-a spicy, hot jalapeño jelly; Habanero-searing heat-will blow your mind and fry your brain! After trying Jane’s Jellies, we all agree they rock
A family run operation, Burnside Farms has been around for three generations. They specialize in ecoganically grown specialty cut flowers, vegetables and fruit, farm fresh eggs and our favorite, fresh honey from seven hives. The wildflower and golden rod the bees feed off is present in the sweet aromatic taste of the honey. It’s
The day the rum cakes arrived an emergency staff meeting was called to “review the editorial calendar.” SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS
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RECIPES Hot Smoked Salmon Dip 8oz cream cheese, softened 1/2 c mayonnaise 1 tbls horseradish 1 tbls Chocolate Chipotle Dry Marinade 1 tsp dill weed 1 tsp Worcestershire 16 oz smoked salmon 1/4 c chopped green onion 1/4 c chopped red bell pepper Preheat oven to 375F. Mix cream cheese and mayonnaise well. Blend in horseradish, marinade, dill, and Worcestershire. Flake smoked Salmon with a fork and blend in remaining ingredients.
Place mixture in 9 inch pie plate. Bake for 20-25 min until heated through.
Lavender-Lemon Pound Cake 1 ½ c butter 3 c sugar 5 eggs 2 tbls lavender flowers 3 c sifted all-purpose flour 6 oz lemon-lime soda (not diet) 1 tbls fresh lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla extract
Southern Potato Salad 3lbs potatoes skin on 1 c chopped celery 1 c finely chopped onion 1 c mayonnaise 1 c GOLDEN HOG GOURMET BBQ SAUCE 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp granulated garlic Boil potatoes for 30 min. Cool & rinse under cold water, then cube. Combine other ingredients and mix with potatoes gently. Cool for 1 hour in fridge and serve.
FAUQUIER
Grease and flour 10” bunt pan. Preheat oven to 325F. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each. Add lavender to flour. Add to batter, alternately with soda, beating well. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla extract. Pour into prepared
vs. brood, etc.) making these candles completely additive free and clean burning. // Colonial Candles, www.fernhillapiary.blogspot.com
BEE’s WAX
Simply Pure
Started as a hobby, the couple at Fern Hill Apiary have been offering hive products including local, raw liquid honey, creamed and comb honey, and several styles of pure beeswax candles for the past 7 years. The candles are created from wax found exclusively from the hives they manage. The best part is that beeswax has a fresh natural scent and colors, derived from the age and/or initial use (by the bees) of the wax (honey capping
If you’ve never looked at the label on your favorite beauty products, be afraid. Many of the chemicals in the products we use have been found to cause illnesses, disorders, and even cancer. So, the creators of Simply Pure products embarked to make products that we could feel safe about. After creating their first bar of soap in October 2009, their product line has steadily increased to include everything from
pan. Bake 1 to 1 ¼ hours. After cake is removed from oven cool 10 min and invert carefully on plate.
Lavender Syrup 1 c sugar 1 c water 2 tbls lavender flowers 1 small piece of lemon rind, all white removed Combine water and sugar and boil until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, add lavender and lemon rind. Steep for 20 minutes and strain. Refrigerate. Makes 1 cup. Great used as a tradional syrup, or added to lemonade or tea.
deodorant and lotion to makeup and cologne. Every product is created by hand in their local workshop and they are in the process of growing and using their own herbs and supplies. // Simply Pure, Bealeton, www.simplypureproducts.com
Get your pick the tops of the Blue Ridge, next to Sky Meadows State Park, is spotted this time of year with orange. A fourth generation family farm, Hollin Farms is located here, about 45 minutes from the Washington, DC beltway. They specialize in grass-fed natural beef but also offer heritage “Gloucestershire Old Spot” pork,
Index fingers, the fastest way to get a taste of the Queen Anne’s Lace Jelly no one had tried before. 30 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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fescue-free hay for horses, and pickyour-own strawberries (starting in late May) peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn, blackberries, and raspberries in the summer. But, in the fall their biggest draw is the big pumpkin patch and corn maze. Hollin Farm is not like Disney Land as most pumpkin patches claim. No, they build their reputation on visiting their patch as the experience of visiting an actual farm. // Hollin Farms, Delaplane, www.hollinfarms.com
FEELING LUCKY BEST OF LUCK Horseshoes and Nails Shortbread Cookies were introduced in 1986 and were received with enthusiasm. The uniqueness of the presentation and the traditional, all-natural delicious taste of the shortbread have created a loyal following nationally and internationally over the past 25 years. They have been used as a gift by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as a fundraiser for the Canadian Olympic Equestrian Team. // Best of Luck (Hunt Country Foods), www.send-best-of-luck.com
A BITE OF THE PAST Over 40 years of searching and compiling family recipes has resulted in the creations from Heirloom
Edibles. The jellies, granolas, cookies and breads are from recipes passed down through many generations using only natural and organic ingredients. Queen Anne’s Lace Jelly—A sweet lemony taste without the sourness of an actual lemon. This recipe has been in the family since the 1700s, believed to have originated with the Shakers. // Heirloom Edibles, Orlean, www. farmergirls.net
LAVENDER DREAMS Mother and daughters, Edith and Deborah Williamson and Dianne Bignoli, are the lavender farmers at the scenic Seven Oaks Lavender Farm. The farm has a historic home built in 1860 and is situated on acres of beautiful countryside surrounded by large ancient oak trees. A gray Cape Cod on the hilltop, adjacent to the historic home, offers a shaded porch to sit and dream with a lavender view. For 7 years they’ve been harvesting their lavender and the interest in our culinary lavender has grown exponentially. // Seven Oaks Lavender Farm, Catlett, www.sevenoakslavenderfarm.com
you visit and learn about sustainable agriculture and even help out. Regular delivery to Fredericksburg, Northern VA, and Washington, DC areas. Farm pickup by appointment only. // Croftburn Farm, 16190 Germanna Hwy, Culpeper, croftburnfarm@gmail.com
It’s all about the taste Melanie Herbert won’t settle for hearing “it’s good,” her product has to be outstanding. Her cakes, cheesecakes, and desserts are all made to order using the freshest and finest ingredients. From imported Belgian chocolate to real liqueurs that help heighten the flavor for the adult palette. The Unbridled Bakery is a certified and insured home-based bakery. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, event gathering, or just because you want an attractive centerpiece that’s not only beautiful and charming, but tastes delicious. Her creations are the perfect ending to any gathering. // Unbridled Bakery, www.theunbridledbakery.com
culpeper Do you know where your meat is from? Croftburn Farm is a family farm operated by 3 generations who raise and sell All-Natural Grass-fed and Grain-finished beef and lamb, free range eggs, honey, a variety of seasonal vegetables, wool, and prepared meat products like Summer and lamb sausage. Just want to spend a day on the farm? Contact Meg and she will be more than happy to have
SPICE IT UP Hand crafted in limited quantities by native Virginians,
50% of the staff was able to try a cheesecake from Unbridled Bakery, the other 50% regretted leaving early that day. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 31
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Boston Spice and Tea Co. produces truly boutique products. Their bagged spices are salt free and let the flavors of the garden really shine and work well when paired with sour cream or yogurt as a dip on their own. The teas are equally as flavorful with no additives. // Boston Spice and Tea Co, Boston
Spotsylvania
PERFECT FINISH
Wearable art
A buttery graham cracker crust Artist and designer Lisa surrounds this sweet and tart custard Latendress handcrafts jewelry made from the juice of using silver precious metal clay fresh Floridian key (PMC) in a way that is described limes, drizzled with as “organic” and “rustic.” your choice of Each piece of silver is freeCapt. Jack’s Crab glaze. Captain formed, hand-carved, or Shack 4th Annual Jack’s Crab created from one of her Crab Eating Contest Shack’s key lime hand-crafted mold designs; will be on Sunday, pie is the perfect many of her one-of-a-kind October 17th finish to a great designs bear words of wisdom seafood dinner. You and inspiration. // Refined may have heard of them, Creations,www.refinedcreations.com since they’ve won several awards for their local seafood, and delicacies imported from Alaska, Florida, Louisiana & New England. Almost as impressive as the great plates they dish out, is the expansive shop of locally made and old fashioned products. Leader of the Paca // Captain Jack’s Crab Shack, 6330 Morris Rd. (Rt. 606), across from Indian Not only can you visit with the Acres and ‘on the way to Lake Anna’, Alpacas, there are also free range Spotsylvania, www.welovecrabs.com animals on the farm—it’s like a petting zoo. Here at The Garden, you will find unique alpaca creations and many one of a kind pieces handcrafted from the fiber of the herd. From raw fiber to wearable garments and the most incredible Teddy Bears you’ll ever touch, The Alpaca Coop FRESH BAKED offers the most popular alpaca products in all of the best colors and textures. // Alpaca Garden, 26501 Stonesiffer Lane, Come in the shop and travel back Unionville, www.thealpacagarden.com in time to when this historical home was built in 1853. Have a seat in the garden or carry out one of the tasty cupcakes you will find inside. Chocolate,vanilla, prange, raspberry, apple spice, carrot, red velvet, key lime and more; the flavors change every week but you’re sure to find a cupcake that suits your taste buds. It’s sweet, it’s Made fresh every day on site with natural, salty, it’s crunchy, local ingredients all the cakes here are it’s nutty transfat free and peanut free.// Colonial Cupcake, 611 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, It’s destined to be your www.colonialcupcakes.com favorite. Rocking Chair Mix™ is
EVENT:
Orange
Fredericksburg
SATISFY YOUR CHOCOLATE CRAVING Spice Rack Chocolates is changing the way the world eats chocolate. Each of their chocolates is handmade from pure dark chocolate and an infusion of herbs, fruits, spices, liquors, coffees, and teas. Currently they produce 29 different flavor combinations including: Celtic Smoked Sea Salt and White Ground Pepper, Japanese Wasabi, Butterscotch Brandy, and Sweet Peach and Dill. If you think the flavors are exciting, you’ll love to learn all the chocolates are Vegan and lactose friendly. // Spice Rack Chocolates, www.spicerackchocolates.com
Louisa
Our Graphic Designer consumed 7 pieces of chocolate at Spice Rack Chocolates, 8 less than the the record. 32 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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an extraordinary blend of cereals, nuts and pretzels that have been individually coated with a creamy, smooth, and perfectly sweet white chocolate. Produced by Red Rocker Candy, LLC, a company that started with a desire to make the best toffees and brittles as gifts for friends and family has turned into the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Each batch of candy is hand-made using only the finest ingredients: pure butter, the best nuts money can buy and the finest chocolates available on the market. // Red Rocker Candy, 92B Industrial Drive, Suite 6, Troy, www.redrockercandy.com
SALT & PEPPER TIME When that salt craving hits you, you should reach for Whitley’s Peanuts Salt and Pepper peanuts. The only downside is after you’ve tried these peanuts, your salt craving will keep returning until the can is empty. Whitley’s only uses “super-extra large” size peanuts grown in Virginia. All of their peanuts have a wonderful, crunchy freshness and distinctive flavor made the old-fashioned way-hand cooked, and slowroasted to perfection. On their website you can also find raw, boiled, and candied peanuts as well as other nuts and made in Virginia products. // Whitley’s Peanuts, 2371 Hayes Road, Hayes, www.whitleyspeanut.com
not too far off SKIN CANDY High up on the Massanutten Mountain overlooking the beautiful Shenandoah Valley all natural gourmet soaps are made by hand using luxurious ingredients from around the world. Total Bliss Gourmet Soap has created their own skin-loving formula of olive oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, goat milk, cocoa butter and herbal extracts to create gourmet soaps that are truly Skin Candy. Treat yourself and those you love to their all natural gourmet soaps // Total Bliss Gourmet Soap, P. O. Box 456, New Market, VA 22844, www. totalblissgourmetsoap.com
Add Milk & One Egg! Nutritious and delicious, yet simple and fast. Started in 2007, Granny Roddy’s Irish Soda Bread mixes come from authentic, generations-old, Irish family recipes. Manufactured in the beautiful state of Virginia, these premium bread mixes contain only the finest natural ingredients. // Granny Roddy’s, Fairfax, www.grannyroddys.net
Wholesome foods made from local ingredients Fresh Flours creates healthy, nutritious, wholesome and flavorful food from the best ingredients available by utilizing regional, organic, seasonal, sustainable foods. Ingredients come from Fresh Flours home garden, local farmers and producers. // Fresh Flours, Winchester, www.farmergirls.net It took less than 4 days for the staff to eat an entire can of Whitley’s peanuts. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 33
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It’s strapping a saddle to a lightning bolt; one thousand pounds of muscle and bone tamed by one hundred and seventeen pounds of heart and determination. The electricity between a horse and its jockey is deep, dynamic and borne from months of rigorous training. by Nicholas Addison Thomas | photography by Dwaine D. Snyder
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You can’t see it when the jockeys mount their horses or when the thoroughbreds blur by in rapid succession. It’s deeper, more dynamic, and born from a trust that can only be formed through months of expert training. It takes years of experience to recognize this synergy and leverage it on the race track. This skill separates a good rider from a great one, and it’s what drives jockey Danielle “Danni” Hodsdon to participate in competitive horseracing. “The relationship you have with your horse is the single biggest indicator of your success in racing. The connection you establish while conditioning, it’s one of the most rewarding parts about riding,” said Danni. “When the race starts, you and your horse are on the same page, and you’re working toward that end goal together. It’s like you’re one being with a single focus. It’s exhilarating!” As one of the only female equine athletes on the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) circuit, Danni has developed a connection with countless thoroughbreds over the years, many of whom have helped her cross the finish line and into the record books. Since she started competing in 2000, the 33-year-old has notched more than 100 wins, earning victories in several Virginia races and becoming one of only two female jockeys to win NSA championships. Based in Camden, SC, Danni races for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, and competes in 60 to 80 steeplechase and flat run events a year. A formidable foe on the racetrack, her journey into professional racing began on a whim. “I always knew I’d have horses in my life, but racing wasn’t something I had planned on doing at a young age. When I started riding, I was doing it just for fun,” said Danni. “The more I rode and learned about the sport, the more I realized I had a hidden passion for racing.” As passionate as she is about racing, Danni’s true joy stems from training race horses. Every morning, as the sun rises over the Sheppard farm and the neighing of horses reverberates throughout the stables, Danni is hard at work lining horses up for traditional fitness programs. As an exercise rider and assistant trainer, she is responsible for developing a horse’s instincts and ensuring that their skills mature. To achieve this, she puts horses through jump schooling and dedicated time on a flat track. This type of training lasts for hours, and ensures that each horse is conditioned for the racing mind set. As an event date nears, select horses are given a more thorough routine, which consists of a half-hour jog or a mile-and-a-half gallop on a field or track every day, among other exercises. “Our daily training varies depending on the fitness level of the horses and their education. For example, we have babies learning to gallop, young horses learning to jump logs and older horses preparing for all levels of racing,” said Danni. “I really love training. I ride the same horses all the time, and I enjoy getting them ready, knowing where they’re at—it’s very rewarding. It’s the trainer’s job to ensure that their horses are prepared and ready to perform,”
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Danni said. This starts with pairing the right rider with the right horse. Once a rider is chosen, determining the potential and character of a horse is next. Like any athlete, it is not always the fastest or most athletic horse that wins the race; it is the horse with the most drive and heart for competition. The personalities of individual horses can differ drastically, so the rider has to know how to finesse them in order to get results. For the horse to be victorious, he must learn to out-power the competition by following his jockey’s every command. This intimate connection is cultivated through months of training, and is finally put to the test when it’s race time. “Your preparation and the development of the
horse come together during the race. When it’s all said and done, you have to rely on the work you put in, and have confidence in your horse. At some point, the horse will take over and make you proud,” said Danni. For Danni, her next test will be on November 6 during the 76th Annual Montpelier Hunt Races, a historic steeplechase and flat run competition held on the newly restored estate of James Madison’s Montpelier. The event has served as a local institution for eight decades, known primarily for its stunning groundwork, unique courses and passionate fan base. An estimated 15,000 people will attend this year’s event, eagerly anticipating the explosion of athleticism that occurs when two dozen jockeys vie for victory. A hallmark of the races is its up-close nature— fans are encouraged to stand by the fences and watch as the horses fly by within inches of their bodies. The ground shaking, hooves hitting the dirt, the visceral harmony of horses breathing and jockeys yelling—it’s the kind of experience few fans or jockeys can forget. “Coming to Virginia and participating in a historic race like this, it makes all of my training worth it. I’ve worked so hard to get here, and I know I’ll leave everything on that track,” said Danni. “It’s especially rewarding knowing I get to give something back to the racing community. Even if I don’t take first place, I know I’m creating life-long memories for the fans, and that’s a victory in my book.” d
To get your tickets for the 76th Annual Montpelier Hunt Races, visit www.montpelierraces.org.
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Cool Lawn Farms in Fauquier County boasts a fourth generation farmer who has the scoop on keeping his dairy successful— homemade ice cream.
The
Dairy King by Anita Sherman photography by Jamie Haverkamp
The morning air hangs heavy as the sun beats down relentlessly on acres of farmland near Remington in southern Fauquier County. Throaty moos resonate from pens and water troughs as swishing tails and large, soft ears fan away bothersome flies, the entire scene set against a backdrop of cornfields and towering silos that frame the black and white milking cows. Dressed in his daily uniform of a T-shirt, blue jeans, baseball cap and sunglasses, Ken Smith has been up for hours. “It all comes naturally…this is the habitat I live in,” said Ken who owns 500 acres of land and 500 cows. “Those are extra-care cows,” he said as he points out a small group that have been isolated. “They are under observation...you get to know them... if they are sick or under stress or aren’t producing, we single them out from the rest until they are well.” Doing just fine are several dozen calves ranging from four to sixmonths-old. They are inside a large-roofed building with half-opened walls. The cross ventilation affords a cooling breeze from the harsh heat. The calves stand bright-eyed and curious with their young ears perked out, a sign of good health. Ken shakes his head as he looks at his latest charges. “This has been SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 39
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“We’re caregivers...that’s what we do.” one of the longest, hottest and driest summers on record,” he said. “Just like us, they can die of heat stroke and suffer from heat exhaustion.” The stifling heat of this past summer has played havoc with Ken’s efforts to keep his cows comfortable. A normal cow will consume nearly 50 gallons of water a day. “With this heat, they’ve been drinking closer to 70 gallons a day,” said Ken. “We also use evaporative cooling which involves keeping them sprayed with water.” Ken had to invest in a larger water pump that could handle greater output to keep up with the cows’ continuous demand for fresh water. “We’re caregivers...that’s what we do,” Ken said as he explained in scientific detail the cow’s ability to digest food and water and turn that into milk. “The more comfortable they are, the more they produce,” said Ken noting that in addition to milking cows the farm breeds and sells bulls. Managing a large milking herd, keeping them happy and healthy and producing milk is Ken’s livelihood. It’s often an uphill battle exacerbated not only by what mother nature dishes out, but also by the changing economics of the marketplace. In recent years, milk prices have plunged while the cost of owning and keeping a cow has steadily risen. The disconnect has put many dairy farmers out of business.
“It’s highs and lows in milk producing,” said Ken. “The question is can you manage the low times?” It’s often a harsh learning process but one that Ken knows well. “I attribute my success now to two earlier failures.” He remembers his first attempt in the early ‘80s. “My first attempt, I was very young; the second I had two years of drought that did me in.” Ken’s decision to be a dairy farmer didn’t come easily. He tried college for a few years and was determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps. “He was hard on me,” admitted Ken “and I fought it.” It was a visit to his uncle’s new milking parlor as a young boy that convinced him to follow what has become his passion. Hailing from the rural countryside surrounding Baltimore, Ken worked on his father’s farm when they relocated to Fauquier County. Assuming full control of the farm assets in 1985, Ken moved quickly to increase the size of the herd from the then 120 to the present herd of 500. His father, Charles Smith, lives and continues to work on the farm. Sporting a purple plaid shirt and weathered cap, at 85, the elder Smith chuckles. “It’s hard for him. He’s in and I’m out.” The respect between the two men—father and son—is evident. “He still gives me advice,” said Ken who takes a break to check in on his own milking parlor that can milk 24 cows at a time. During a day, 300 cows are moved through the
Three generations of Smiths—Ken, son Ben and father Charles—maintain Cool Lawn Farms.
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Moo Thru is located on James Madison Highway in Remington, Virginia. Tasty treats include hand dipped/scooped ice cream in 18 flavors with regular or waffle cones, soft serve ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, sundaes, ice cream cakes and fresh regular and chocolate milk in glass bottles.
sophisticated setup three times, filling a 6,000 gallon steel tank that is kept at 34 degrees. The elder Smith breaks into a smile. “You know, there’s nothing that makes a father prouder than when his son decides to keep on with the family business. That’s what you want, but when it happens you don’t always agree with the decisions. Ken’s got a much bigger operation than I did...more to handle. For me, I keep busy. That’s what you have to do. You want to die doing what you love.” Ken feels the same about the life that he has come to embrace. “I’m blessed, you know. Lots of guys only get to see their families on weekends. For me, you’re working where you’re living.” Over 20 years ago, Ken realized that he would need to take his raw product and extend its value into the retail market. A visit to a North Carolina drive-through convenience store gave him the idea for what now has become a reality—Moo Thru—real ice cream from real dairy farmers. Milk for his ice cream operation comes from 200 animals in his herd. The cows are grass fed and graze on farmland near his home Painted apple red with brilliant white trim, Moo Thru opened in early June to immediate fanfare. Located on Route 29 and the intersection of Route 28, you can’t miss its gaily hung lights at night and the colorful black and white cow that decorates the front during the day. Ken’s wife, Pam, and daughter, Taylor, are an integral part of the Moo Thru’s operations.
“We want to produce a quality product,” said Pam. “We want our customers to be happy.” So far, that seems to be the case. Already selling 500 milkshakes a week, hundreds of gallons of homemade ice cream are going out in cones and sundaes in 18 different flavors. Fresh milk is also sold in old-fashioned glass bottles. “I plan on offering seasonal flavors,” said Ken, but already his coffee ice cream, butter pecan and blush colored peach are garnering rave reviews. Word of mouth has kept the lines long. Ken is an active spokesperson for the Southeast Dairy Association, a group that Pam calls, the ‘got milk’ people. He received a quality award from The Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative for all 12 months of 2008. That same year he was awarded Dairyman of the Year. His herd has earned top ratings from the Fauquier-Prince William District for the past 10 years by the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. Ken prides himself on being part of the rich heritage of dairy farming in this country. Out of his five children, he has one son—19-year-old Ben who worked on a combine farm in South Dakota this summer and has plans to study agriculture this fall at Virginia Tech. For now, Ben, like his father and his grandfather and great-grandfather before him, plans to eventually take up the reins of the dairy farm. For Ken, he couldn’t be happier. d
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concert series www.jeffersontheater.com
SEPT 3
The Glitch Mob
Doors at 8pm
with Marty Party
SEPT 10
with Daniel Hutchens A FooD Drive event
Doors: 6pm, show: 6:30pm SEPT 5
SEPT 18
Dungen
Doors at 8pm
on SaLE now
on SaLE now
Luke Bryan
SEPT 14
Continuing the Grateful Dead Concert Experience
SEPT 15
Dark Star Orchestra
Doors at 7pm
Wiz Khalifa with BIG K.R.I.T.
SEPT 22
on SaLE now
SEPT 22 Doors at 8pm
The
SEPT 9
Rodrigo y Gabriela
on SaLE now
Garrison Keillor's
on SaLE now
A PrAirie Home ComPAnion
Doors at 7pm
with Free Energy
Gaslight Anthem
OCT 2
with Rival Schools and Fake Problems
Doors at 7pm
OCT 3
RATATAT
OCT 5
The Books
OCT 7
Doors at 8pm
Corey Smith
Doors at 8pm
OCT 8
An Evening with
Summer Love Tour
SEPT 12
SEPT 19
Titus Andronicus
Doors at 8pm
oCT 15
Doors at 7pm
Keller Williams
on SaLE now
oCT 17
on SaLE now
with Grace Potter & the nocturnals
OCT 10
Doors at 6:30pm
Doors at 8pm
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
with Small Ponds and Roy Jay
OCT 16
Ingrid Michaelson OCT 21
Martin Sexton
Doors at 7pm
SEPT 17
on SaLE now
oCT 24
on SaLE FRIDay, SEPTEMbER 3 aT 10aM
TICkETS Can bE PuRChaSED VIa: www.charlottesvillepavilion.com, 877-CPaV-TIX, select Crossroads and Plan 9 locations and Downtown Visitor Center FoLLow uS on
FoLLow uS on
twitter.com/cvillepavilion
facebook.com/charlottesvillepavilion
www.charlottesvillepavilion.com 42 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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Presented by
starr Hill Presents
on SaLE now!
Doors at 8pm
Perpetual Groove
OCT 30 Doors at 8pm
Tickets can be purchased via www.jeffersontheater.com, by phone at 800-594-TIXX, at the Downtown Charlottesville Visitors Center, Crossroads and select Plan 9 Records locations. 110 E Main Street Located on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville
emmylou Harris noVEMbER 20 the Paramount theater www.theparamount.net
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ART | ENTERTAINMENT | MUSIC | DINING
s
6
ds
The Hylton Performing Arts Center–educating and entertaining local citizens with music, dance and theater. »
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CULTURE
Performance Center To Enrich, Entertain And Educate State-of-the-art performing arts center opens in the spring of 2010
I
n 1990, Prince William County, the city of Manassas, George Mason University and the Commonwealth of Virginia planned a performing arts center to serve local arts groups and bring international artists to the community. Twenty years after its inception, The Hylton Performing Arts Center opened this past May. Located on the Prince William campus of George Mason University, the center’s nine stories made of copper, glass, and stone have redefined the region’s cultural scene. The center appeals to arts organizations, schools and businesses with a variety of events. Anchoring the center is the 1,140 seat, Merchant Hall. Modeled after classic European opera houses, this theater boasts a copper ceiling and wood accents. The hall, along with Gregory Family Theater and Didlake Grand Foyer, are available for rent. As part of its goal to educate the community, The center is currently holding arts immersion programs and performing arts classes. While the programs are geared
towards the county’s youth, adults are welcome to attend pre-performance lectures as well. In addition to benefiting the arts, the center hopes to aid the county’s economy. It has already provided more than 200 jobs during construction, and it is estimated that 162,000 people will attend performances in the first year alone, bringing in $2.7 million. During the first decade in operation, the center is expected to generate a $70 million dollar profit for the surrounding community Not only have the state, city, county and university come together to bring the performance center to life, but individuals in the community have stepped in to contribute time, effort and funds to the center. Although the cost of the building’s design and construction totaled $44 million, individuals have helped to finance 40-50 percent of the center’s operating budget with donations including a $5 million gift by the center’s namesakes, Cecil and Irene Hylton. — Austen Dunn
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MUSIC
Everything Under the Sun Jukebox the Ghost’s eclectic new album sheds light on NoVA’s hardest working band
T
Performances of Note: September 16—25, 8 p.m. The Gregory Theater plays host to Shakespeare’s tale of revenge and murder, Hamlet. Ticket prices: $20 Adults, $15 Students & Seniors October 15 at 8 p.m. Country crossover legends Crystal Gayle and Larry Gatlin take the stage with Irish crooner Andy Cooney for a performance titled “American Voices” featuring their own signature hits and selections from America’s Songbook. Ticket prices range from $34 to $50. October 15—24, 8 p.m. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein presented by Prince William Little Theater. Adapted for the stage by Victor Gialanella, this dark gothic play steers clear of the modern stereotypes of one of literature’s most infamous “monsters” and will leave you haunted and amazed. Ticket prices: $15 Adult, $12 Students/Seniors/Groups (10+)/ Active Military, $8 Kids 11 and under.
here is something that is hard to place about George Mason University alumni, Jukebox the Ghost. With a sound somewhere between Queen and Scott Joplin, and a name plucked from the pages of a Vladimir Nabokov novel, it’s no surprise that the band has drawn comparisons as diverse as the group’s body of material. However, there is one thing that no one can deny about the band. Jukebox the Ghost blends a wide variety of influences to make pop music that is uniquely their own and unapologetically infectious. On September 7, the piano pop trio will release their sophomore album and their first major label release with Yep Roc Records. Everything Under the Sun is a collection of 12 original songs recorded over the past year with producer Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT. The album is bright and filled with the band’s signature, meticulously structured songs, but marks a departure from their 2008 debut Let Live and Let Ghost. Jukebox the Ghost’s sound is all grown up and much larger than their humble beginnings as a Northern Virginia college band, and if you don’t believe me, Everything Under the Sun is filled with the three-part harmonies, 80’s synthesizer lines and distorted riffs to prove it. The band’s new stadium-sized sound is no accident. Since the release of their first album in 2008, Jukebox the Ghost has been touring almost nonstop, quietly collecting critical praise and a loyal army of fans. In a June 2010 article, the notoriously hard-to-please critics at Paste Magazine wrote “There are at least three certainties in life; death, taxes and Jukebox the Ghost winning your heart.” The end result of the group’s relentless campaign to grow their audience is a record that is big enough to match their ambitions. From the opening chord to the closing lines, Everything Under the Sun is an album with a pitch perfect sense of where it is going and where it has been. Jukebox the Ghost’s new release is a highly addictive and engrossing second album and for these Mason grads, it marks the beginning of an even busier schedule. Following the release, Jukebox the Ghost will embark on a headlining U.S. tour including stops at DC’s Black Cat and Charlottesville’s Southern Café & Music Hall to solidify their standing as the most ambitious young rock group out there. — John Budd SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 45
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P R E S S P L AY
WRITER’S BLOCK
BINGO! Miller Back to Roots
Steve Miller Band Returns After 17 Years
Steve Miller is best known for his mid-70’s pop classics like “Jet Airliner,” “Fly Like An Eagle” and “Take the Money and Run.” But before that four-year run—from 1974 to 1978—he was a Chicago bluesinspired guitar virtuoso. That’s the spirit that underscores most of BINGO!, his first studio album in almost two decades. The songs aren’t original, but for most people they are probably fairly obscure. Miller brings a mellow R&B take to Otis Rush’s “All Your Love (I Miss Loving)” and a hard-charging bar-band approach to “Rock Me Baby.” *Weird facts: the album was recorded at film director George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch studio and co-produced by Andy Johns, of Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones fame.
Mellencamp Explores Musical History “No Better Than This” Proves True
John Mellencamp makes his 25th album a bow to history. Recorded in Memphis, Savannah and San Antonio—he nods to everyone from Elvis to Robert Johnson—he laid tracks down live using a 53-year-old Ampex tape deck and a single microphone. But his 13 original songs sound fresh as they smoothly slip from gospel to country to rockabilly. Produced by legend T. Bone Burnett, this is the 55-year-old Mellencamp’s freshest musical road trip in years. From all-out rockers to gentle folk songs, Mellencamp continues to explore and celebrate American musical heritage.
Cooked To Our Liking Anthony Bourdain, “Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and People Who Cook” Through the success of his 2000 memoir/ exposé Kitchen Confidential, and the even broader impact of his foodie travelogue “No Reservations” on the Travel Channel, Anthony Bourdain has cultivated a large and eager audience that intently tunes in to watch him sneer, shrug, and fight through hangovers, and riff on his surroundings with a literate sharpness that still won’t cramp his bar room style. In his latest book, Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and People Who Cook, the author veers through brief personal anecdotes, semi-polemical coverage of America’s bad culinary habits, critiques of the world of food television, and hyper-intense cuisine writing that Bourdain himself refers to as “food porn.” Medium Raw brings everything that his audience has come to expect from Bourdain and more. Pick up Bourdain’s newest volume of wry, incisive wit at your local bookstore. And for more of the chef, his palate, and his well-honed acerbity, hear Bourdain speak at the Fredericksburg Forum on September 23 at the University of Mary Washington.
Murder In Virginia Wine Country Ellen Crosby’s Series is “a fine vintage” Virginia Neighbors met Ellen Crosby to discuss her new book, The Viognier Vendetta, during one of the worst thunderstorms of the summer. Ellen, who was at Joseph Beth Booksellers to speak about her sixth novel set in Virginia’s wine country, said that this was not unusual. On her last book tour promoting The Riesling Retribution, storms, a power outage, and Michael Phelps winning his eighth gold medal could not keep eager readers from coming to hear her speak. It’s Ellen’s approach to writing that has created such a devoted following for her work. “People want to see themselves in the story”, Ellen explained and with the Wine Country Mysteries, Virginia readers are able to do just that. The series follows its protagonist, Lucie Montgomery through settings from Summerduck to Washington, DC on the trail of murder, conspiracy and all manner of intrigue. With painstaking research and a little help from some friends in the Fairfax Police Department, Ellen Crosby has been able to craft mysteries that are both realistic and acclaimed. Publisher’s Weekly called the latest installment an “addictive whodunit,” a piece of praise that Ellen is particularly proud of, and rightly so. Stop by Joseph Beth Booksellers and find out for yourself why the Sun-Sentinel called The Viognier Vendetta “a fine vintage.”
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NOW OPEN
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The Village at Spotsylvania Towne Centre Across from the new MUVICO & Splitsville 540.736.4560 · www.josephbeth.com
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Office: 540.373.9300 (ext.115) • Cell: 540.273.0129 davidsmith@mris.com • www.DavidSellsVirginia.com 774-A Warrenton Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406
540`371`5461 828 Marye Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401
www.carolynhelfrichinc.com SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 47
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FujiyaHouse a japanese steakhouse & lounge
Tired of the same old thing? Try our handmade sushi creations while you watch our highly skilled Hibachi Chefs entertain and grill your savory meal table side. Here every meal is an experience!
Check out our website for daily specials & Friday–Saturday evening events.
fujiyahouse.dropzite.com
1489 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540.785.0011
You’re Never Too Far From “The House” Handmade from scratch everyday. Whether you are after the classic Kolache, an iced or frozen drink, or our specialty football food lineup featuring poppers and mini meatball subs, you always “Score” BIG at Kolache House Bakery. *Every Friday is Bread day: Sourdough, Focaccia, Dipping Bread, loaded Potato Bread and more. Call today...540.322.1727
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It’s more than where we live, it’s who we are. bors.com
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| JANUARY
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www.Virg
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Each issue of Virginia Neighbors showcases the people, places, businesses and events in and around our region, reminding us all that our community and world is still a place of “good neighbors.”
www.virginianeighbors.com 48 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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“It was a no brainer. Old service station, old red truck, parking...” Brian Noyes’ Red Truck Bakery is worth a stop»
Matthew Lyons Photo
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review
Hibachi, Bento Boxes, Sushi & 25 Varieties of Sake Fujiya House restaurant in Central Park
L
inda Park’s regular customers sometimes don’t recognize her these days when they come into Fujiya House in Central Park. Pregnant at the grand opening of the restaurant in November, Linda and husband/ co-owner Young Son welcomed a little boy, Landen Jiwan Son, on June 19. Linda’s svelte frame is a surprise for those who lost track of the due date. “We have very loyal customers,” says Linda. “They’re amazing. They really care about the food, about us, about the baby” and it’s easy to see why. Linda and Young are exceptionally hospitable people, dedicated to putting customers at ease and making them feel like part of the family. The décor at Fujiya House is friendly and calming with an emphasis on fresh spring green colors, pale woods and a bamboo theme throughout. Uncluttered and serene, it provides a respite, a place to relax and unwind with friends.
When asked what prompted her to open Fujiya House, Linda says “I love food and always knew I was going to be in the restaurant business.” Linda’s family is in the food business in the greater Richmond area, with restaurants, fish markets, and grocery stores run by various family members. As she was growing up, Linda not only helped her family at these businesses but also worked in Japanese restaurants. But as is often the case for those who grow up in a family business, Linda chose to follow a different path for a while, exploring other options. After majoring in fashion merchandising in college, she worked as a junior executive for Clarins cosmetics in New York City before finally accepting what she considers her destiny. “I love to see people eating and drinking, being happy,” she confesses with a smile and a shrug. Linda knew she had the perfect team for opening a restaurant. Young, her husband, has 17 years experience and
CHEERS
When Terrible is Very Good The weather begins to cool and the beer drinkers’ fantasies turn from visions of plucking fresh lagers from an ice chest on the back porch, to snuggling up to a hearty, warming brew while sitting by a snapping fire, the air fragrant with the smell of wood smoke. When the leaves begin to turn, we look for beers that not so much quench the thirst as restore the spirit. The properties required for such a tonic are rich, full-flavored, full-bodied with a stiffer dose of alcohol than the 4% to 6% common to most beers. A dark color often accompanies these properties, but that does not necessarily have to be the case. One choice that meets the demand of cooler weather is the excellent strong ale brewed by Unibroue brewery of Montreal,
Quebec Canada. This superior brew goes by the unlikely name of Terrible. Despite its derogatory name, Terrible is delicious. Dark brown, almost black in color, a mug (a beer like this must be served in a mug) of Terrible is topped by a coffeecolored head of foam. The use of copious quantities of roasted malt gives the beer its hearty, toasty flavor: a little coffee-like with a hint of vanilla and caramel, and backed with a slightly herbaceous quality courtesy of the judicious use of fragrant, vaguely minty hops.
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serves as the head chef. Her nephew, Jae Jung, known as T.J., is the sushi chef and general manager, with ten years in the business and a talent for artful presentation. And of course there is the combined experience of her family to call on, especially that of her mother, whom Linda considers to be her best friend. When she found the location in Fredericksburg’s Central Park, Linda jumped at the chance to put it all into action. Fujiya House is a teppanyaki or hibachi-style restaurant, where customers typically sit at a common table surrounding a flat cook top and watch as the chef prepares their chosen dishes with much flourish and flair. At Fujiya, however, customers who prefer to forgo the theatrics have the option of sitting at a regular table. The extensive menu includes meat, poultry, seafood and vegetarian options as well as bento boxes, sushi, and more than 25 different varieties of sake. All of the food is made “from scratch,” prepared on the premises without MSG. “We use lots of fruits and vegetables.”
Linda emphasizes, “It’s healthy.” Open for lunch and dinner, there are daily specials and they also offer local delivery. Upcoming special events planned at Fujiya House include sake and wine tastings, with a selection of appetizers and small gifts for the customers. Consult the website for dates and times. Linda and Young will hold a traditional Korean “One Hundred Days” celebration for baby Landen in late September at the restaurant. They plan to invite their loyal customers who saw them through the days when they first opened and even showed up during the snowstorms of this past winter. Grateful for their steadfast support, Linda says “They give me so much courage.”
405 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11a.m.—9p.m., Sunday 11a.m.—6p.m., Closed Monday
For a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and great food visit Soup & Taco Etc. to dine in or carry out.
813 Caroline St., Fredericksburg
540-899-0969
You're Premiere Destination For The Best Wines From Virginia And Around The World
www.winestylesstore.com
4394 Kevin Walker Dr, Montclair, VA 22025 703-583-WINE (9463)
— Drema Apperson “Where Bistro Meets Diner” Fujiya House, 1489 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 540-786-0011 M–F 11:30 a.m.–2p.m. & 4:30–10 p.m.; Sat 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sun 12–9 p.m. See www.fujiyahouse.dropzite.com for menus, specials, coupons, and directions.
Open Daily 7-7, Sun 7-2, Closed Thanksgiving&Christmas
2100 Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg 540.372.1494
Jimmy The Greek
Greek, American & Italian Cuisine
540-657-9267 Tue-Sun, 7am–10pm 225 Garrisonville Rd,
Family RestauRant Stafford, VA 22554 www.JimmyTheGreekGarrisonville.com
Though strongly flavored, Unibroue Terrible is not bitter. With an alcohol by volume approaching 11%, the finish is long and a touch sweet, reminiscent of the dopplebock lagers of Germany, which are also traditional for the season. Unibroue Terrible comes in a lovely opaque 750ml glass bottle, with the name stenciled in silver paint. It’s cork-finished and bottle conditioned, which means that the beer is bottled flat, and a small dose of yeast and sugar are added before the cork is inserted. The yeast then dines on the bit of sugar and makes CO2, carbonating the beer in the bottle. This time-consuming process yields a brew with finer, denser carbonation than most beers. When the last lawn is mowed and the jack o’ lanterns begin to make their appearance, pull on a sweater, take a seat on the front porch, open a bottle of something Terrible and breathe in the fragrances of the season. — Kirk Evans
THE
VIRGINIA
WINE
EXPERIENCE
826 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-373-8878
www.virginiawineexperience.com
YOUR RESTAURANT BELONGS HERE!
540.899.3999 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 51
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RECIPE
Candy coated popcorn treat brings out the kid in all of us. Do you remember the first time that you tasted caramel covered popcorn? What about the way that its sticky sweetness clung to your teeth like adhesive? Now that you are all grown up (ostensibly) and responsible for your own dental coverage, you can make your own variation on this classic taste. For purists, the basic recipe will satisfy the craving. But add chipotle chili, chocolate, or even bacon and wow! Your inner child will be thrilled— and so will your dentist!
Crunchy-Sweet Caramel Corn 6 quarts freshly popped corn 2 cups mixed nuts, your choice 1 ½ sticks butter 2 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed ½ cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla Preheat oven to 225º F. Spread popped corn and nuts in a large roasting pan. Have ready two large rimmed baking sheets. Melt butter over medium heat in a 2 or 3 quart heavy saucepan. Add light brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture is at a full boil, stop stirring and allow to boil undisturbed for 5 minutes, to 250º F on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and quickly stir in the soda and vanilla. Pour immediately over popped corn and nut mixture and stir well to coat as evenly as possible with syrup. Divide the mixture between the two baking sheets and bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; cool completely. Break into pieces and serve.
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Variations: Chipotle - Combine 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon Mexican chili powder, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Add to sugar syrup with the soda and vanilla.
Chocolate – Combine 1 cup dark or white chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and heat for 30 seconds in microwave. Stir well. Continue to heat in 10 second intervals, stirring frequently, until completely melted. Drizzle over cooled caramel corn, the basic recipe or any of the versions. Bacon – Add 8 slices of crisp-cooked, crumbled bacon to the popcorn and nuts in the roasting pan in the first step. Proceed with the recipe as written. — Drema Apperson
Jamie Haverkamp Photo
9/21/10 11:03 AM
FOODIE PROFILE
Red Truck Bakery
F
ormer art director Brian Noyes has a passion for baking. When others vacationed, Brian took classes at the Culinary Institute of America or L’Academie de Cuisine. When he should have been relaxing on weekends at his Fauquier County farm, he was making breads and pastries to sell locally from the bed of his 1954 pickup truck. And when a former 1921 Esso gas station in Warrenton became available, “I hounded the landlord,” he says. “It was a no-brainer. Old service station, old red truck, parking…” After extensive renovation—the service bays are now the kitchen— Red Truck Bakery opened its storefront in July 2009. Brian and fellow chefs Kevin Powers and Leslie Cooksey fill the shop daily with fresh breads and pastries. You’ll find temptations such as rum cake, lemon chess pie, pastries, cookies, croissants, muffins, and whatever else the chefs feel like making that day. As part of the “Buy Fresh Buy Local” campaign, Brian notes, “We’re excited about entering our first full growing season so we can take advantage of things growing locally.” Look for season fruit pastries, jams and jellies when available. The bakery’s Harvest Wheat Bread, studded with cranberries and walnuts, is a customer favorite. Gruyere quiche is perfect to take home for dinner, and for dessert, grab one of the immensely popular Double Chocolate Moonshine Cakes, made with spirits from Copper Fox distillery in Sperryville. This is a real bakery, not a chain store, so when items sell out, that’s it for the day. Avoid disappointment and call ahead to have your selections reserved if you’re making a special trip. Lauded by the New York Times and numerous foodie blogs, Red Truck Bakery also does a brisk mail order business and ships nationally year round. Selections such as Pecan Pie and Havana Fruitcake are seasonal, so check their web site for availability and ordering information.
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540-899-0999
— Drema Apperson
Red Truck Bakery 22 Waterloo St, Warrenton, VA 540-347-2224 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays See www.RedTruckBakery.com for information, directions, and to order online
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2103 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Fredericksburg, VA 22401
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Pick up your copy today at & 54 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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Stacy L. Horner-Dunn, D.V.M. Gary B. Dunn, D.V.M. Sandi L. Pepper, D.V.M. Melanie M. Bell, D.V.M. Arlene M. Evans, D.V.M. Melissa A. DeLauter, D.V.M. 10 Walsh Lane Fredericksburg, VA 22405 Tel. 540/374-0462 Fax. 540/374-1798 www.woahvets.com SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2010 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 55
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No
in o Ra
N
Ba
all b e s
Lacr oss e
Join Us For
2010
Summer Camp
540.361.4717
Bug
s
Soc cer l bal t o Fo
www.FredFieldHouse.com
Field Hockey
Crickets chirping. Llamas bleating.
Here in this classic, natural setting you’ll find the State Fair of Virginia. Experience sights, sounds and sensations as never before. And you only pay for rides if you want them. Walk Around tickets are just $15 on weekends, $13 on weekdays and $10 after 5pm on weekdays. And there are two ways to ride: you can share ride tickets with family and friends or enjoy unlimited rides with a wristband. And parking is free. See the website for details. Only at the State Fair, naturally. YourStateFair.org
NEW LOCATION: I-95, Kings Dominion exit 56 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
117500115 CRICKETS 7x4.625 vn.indd 1
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Sept 23 - Oct 3 Doswell, Va Caroline County 8/3/10 12:36 PM
9/21/10 11:19 AM
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Out&About
Meadow Highland Games & Celtic Festival Girls Night The sixteenth annual Meadow Highland Games features two days of “Music. Food. Large Men Throwing Stuff,” October 23—24. Competition abounds with the best athletes from around the world in the North American Highland Games Championships, along with Dance, Fiddle and Harp Competitions. Celebrate Celtic heritage with a Parade of Clans and Societies, pipe bands, living history encampments, Dogs of the British Isles Parade, and genealogical information. Enjoy traditional music and Celtic Rock on two entertainment stages all weekend, shopping with over 60 vendors and authentic food and drink. Hours: Sat 9 a.m.—6 p.m. & Sun 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Admission: weekend pass $27, one day ticket $19 (save and purchase in advance), children 10 and under free; dogs $5. The Meadow Event Park is conveniently located off I-95 exit 98, 1 mile east of Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Visit www.meadowceltic.com/ for more information. 9/11/2010
Middleburg Fall Art Celebration Local businesses will be showcasing works of art in numerous mediums. Spend the day from 3–7 p.m. on the art walk and enjoy a meal at your favorite restaurant or stop in for a wine tasting at The Tasting Room. www.townofmiddleburg. org. Washington St., Middleburg 9/11/2010–9/12/2010
The Commonwealth Wine & Polo Event at The Plains Enjoy Great Wine, Great Food, Great Art & Great Polo with Great Britain at Great Meadow in The Plains from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. www.wine festivalattheplains.com. 5089 Old Tavern Rd, The Plains 9/11/2010
Goldvein Jubilee Games, entertainment, gold-
Candice Carver Illustration
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panning, pony rides, a petting zoo, silent auction, food and fun await. Our 1st annual car show from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is free with a small charge for individual event tickets. Proceeds will benefit Monroe Park and the Goldvein Volunteer Fire Department. www.goldvein.com. 14421 Gold Dust Pkwy, Goldvein 9/11/2010
the Fredericksburg Big Band. Allman’s Barbeque will be selling food & drinks beginning at 5 p.m. Women’s Auxiliary concession tables and Red Kettle donation stands to send area children to Camp HappyLand will be present. Concert time: 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs & blankets. Hurkamp Park, Fredericksburg
Out at Pearmund Cellars
This ladies-only evening, September 16th and October 14th from 6–8 p.m., will have a special guest offering a pampering service that ladies will love. If you plan to bring more than six friends, create your own Evite, then let us know how many guests will be arriving. Order limousine service if you would like to ride in style. $5 Tasting Fee. www.pearmundcellars. com. 6190 Georgetown Road, Broad Run
Orange Street Festival at Downtown Orange
9/11/2010
Hartwood Days Festival
9/11/2010
Food vendors, arts and crafts booths, and information kiosks line Main Street and Short Street for 8 hours of entertainment for the entire family (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) East and West Main St.. , Orange
This free event is held from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Hartwood Festival Grounds, in the historic district of Hartwood, VA. Take a “Walk Through Time,” grab a bite to eat, sample a Virginia wine, play one of the games, listen to a group, and check out all of the different booths and vendors. Lots of activities for youth, including the Trailblazer Adventure program. www. hartwooddays.org
Doggone Pool Party
9/11/2010
Music By Moonlight The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary sponsored annual community concert featuring
Loriella Pool has gone to the dogs from 9–11:30 a.m. Bring a favorite fetch toy, an updated shot record, and leash for when not in the water. Fee: $4 for County Residents/$8 for non-county residents. Rain date: September 12, 2010 No owners allowed in water (Lifeguards will be on duty) 10910 Leavells Rd., Spotsylvania
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Out&About 4th Annual Lucy Stomp From 12 p.m.–3 p.m. on September 18th, let out your Inner Lucy or Ricky! This is the original Northern Virginia Wine Country “Stomp Like Lucy,” competitive grape stomp event. Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel costume contest and musical entertainment. Registration opens on September 1. For more information visit www.threefoxvineyards. com. Three Fox Vineyards, 10100 Three Fox Lane, Delaplane 9/11/2010
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Featuring Philippe Bianconi, Piano Christopher Zimmerman, Conductor; Concert at 8 p.m., Pre-Performance Lecture at 7 p.m. www.fairfaxsymphony. org. George Mason University Center for the Arts
powerful brews. Five courses. Admission Fee: $80/person inclusive. www.magnoliasmill. com/SpecialEvents. Magnolias at the Mill, 198 North 21st St., Purcellville 9/17/2010
Constitution Day
“See Spot Swim” Curtis Park open to your four-legged friend for a swim. There will be paddle races, doggie swimsuit styling, bobbing for tennis balls, and pet vendor displays. Be sure to register early. $5 per dog, a minimum donation of a 3.5lb bag of dog food. 5—7 p.m. www. staffordparks.com . 58 Jesse Curtis Lane, Hartwood
Celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Constitution with a free visit to Montpelier, the home of James Madison: Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights and President of the United States. Visitors can see the progress of “A Presidential Detective Story: Rediscovering the Furnishings and Décor of James and Dolley Madison.” Enjoy hands-on activities, stroll the grounds; and other attractions. www. montpelier.org. 11407 Constitution Highway, Orange.
9/16/2010
9/17/2010—9/19/2010
Troegs Brewing Dinner
Our Living Legacies
Mechanicsburg, PA’s own Trogner Brothers welcomes you for the September Beer Dinner at 7 p.m. See what Chef Mark concocts to match up with these
Mary Washington House, Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, and Rising Sun Tavern open to feature exhibits and demonstrations honoring the
9/11/2010
3rd Annual Drool in the Pool Dog Swim
crafts of the 18th and 19th century, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Fri. & Sat, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun. Block ticket for 3 sites $10 Adult/$5 age 6-18. www.preservationvirginia.org. 1200 Charles St., Fredericksburg
are suggested. This is Stafford County’s largest fund raiser supporting local charities and grants. www.staffordrotary.org. 75 Aviation Way, Fredericksburg
9/18/2010
Bird Migration: Nature’s Incredible Journey
Children’s Program by James Prosek Nationally-acclaimed artist and author, James Prosek will read from and sign copies of his illustrated children’s book, “Bird, Butterfly, Eel” at National Sporting Library & Fine Art Museum beginning at 2 p.m. Following the presentation Prosek will be working on an original painting, which the public is invited to observe. www.nsl.org/jamesprosek. 102 The Plains Rd, Middleburg 9/18/2010
Teatime This tea series is for the young at heart. Tea Time offers house-made finger sandwiches, tarts and light desserts. From 1–3 p.m. on the Potomac, at Lansdowne Resort. Admission: $25/person. www.lansdowne resort.com/Dining/On_The_ Potomac. 44050 Woodridge Pkwy, Leesburg 9/18/2010
Applefest We’ll be making fresh apple butter in the orchard. Pick apples and enjoy music, our popular B-B-Q, crafts and more. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.stribling orchard.com. Stribling Orchard, 11587 Poverty Lane, Markham 9/18/2010
6th Annual Stafford Regional Airport Fly-In This festival features an aircraft fly-in and car show, and lots of family entertainment. Aircraft rides available for kids ages 8 to 18 years. Huge raffle prizes. Attendance is free–but donations
9/18/2010
10 a.m.–12 p.m. Andrew Dolby, UMW Associate Professor of Biology, will give an illustrated talk followed by bird watching on the grounds and in the woods. Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg 9/18/2010
8th Annual Barn Dance Enjoy Fall on the farm. Open at 10 a.m., take a tour, get lost in the corn maze, enjoy displays and demonstrations. At 5 p.m. enjoy an all-you-caneat Roast Beef Dinner, and the Bull Run Cloggers, and at 7:30 p.m. dance ‘til your feet get tired at our old fashioned barn dance. www.cows-n-corn.com. 5225 Catlett Road, Midland (off Route 28) 9/18/2010
20th Annual “An Evening Under the Stars” Gala Starting at 8 p.m., this fundraiser for the Partnership for Warrenton Foundation, boasts tastings from over 30 of the area’s top restaurants and caterers, dancing in the street to the beloved Daryl Davis and his band, and the fabulous Silent Auction Under the Tent. Proceeds benefit the continued revitalization and preservation of Old Town Warrenton. Tickets: $40 in advance; $50 the evening of the event; $400 for a table of eight. www. partnershipforwarrenton.org. 9/18/2010–9/19/2010
Colonial Market & Fair Mount Vernon re-creates a lively early-American marketplace.
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Artisans from across the nation will demonstrate their trades and sell their wares. Two stages of family entertainment such as Signora Bella the Equilibrist, Otto the Sword Swallower and more. Free Potomac River sightseeing cruises. Admission: $15/adults; $7/child. www. MountVernon.org. 9/18/2010—9/19/2010
Bluemont Fair Experience an authentic country fair. Enjoy live music, over 100 juried crafters, artisan demonstrations, antiques, local art, wine tastings, pie and pickling contests, and more. Kids will enjoy the children’s fair, pony rides, and caboose. A 10K race kicks off the event at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Admission: $5/person, $5/person for wine tasting, free/child under 10 years. www.BluemontFair.com. Village of Bluemont, 33846 Snickersville Tpk, Bluemont
Falmouth” (and Confederates too). Activities include an encampment, firing demonstrations, story-telling, Civil War artifact displays, and the reading of actual soldiers’ letters from Falmouth. Self-guided walking tours are available of the historic sites in Falmouth including the historic Moncure Conway House—open for this special two-day event. www. moncureconway.org/events. 305 King Street, Falmouth 9/19/2010
Fall Bulb Planting
9/24/2010—11/21/2010
At 2 p.m. Beate Jensen, Building and Grounds Preservation Supervisor, will show how to use bulbs in formal gardens and for naturalizing. Sponsored by Roxbury Farm & Garden Center. www.umw.edu/gari_ melchers. Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg
Cabaret–The Musical
9/18 2010—9/19/2010
9/22/2010–9/26/2010
Annual Cider Festival
Middleburg Classic Horseshow
We will celebrate the start of the cider pressing season with tastings of this season’s best sparkling cider blends including peach, cherry and raspberry. From 10 a.m.–4 p.m. enjoy lunch from our Roosteraunté which will be serving up Apple Dumplings, BBQ, and Kettle Corn. Our 100% Natural cider slushies are sure to hit the spot. The pumpkin field will be open. Admission Fee: $10/person, Free/child under 2 years of age, CSA members, and Fans of the Farm members. www. greatcountryfarms.com. 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont
close and personal with over 5,000 farm animals in ‘Virginia’s Largest Outdoor Classroom.’ Celebrate the Commonwealth of Virginia’s heritage while enjoying eleven days of fun for the whole family. Experience the best in blue ribbon competitions, animals, agricultural, historical and commercial exhibits, midway rides, shows and thrills. There’s daily entertainment on the MusicFest Stage and the Classic Amphitheater. It’s a Virginia tradition. www.statefair.com
The Middleburg Classic, one of the premier hunter competitions in the country, features top horses and trainers. New this year is the World Champion Hunter Rider $10,000 Handy Hunter Classic to be held on Saturday. Bring a picnic and join us on the hill overlooking the show rings. We will feature hunt country vendors, wine tastings, and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit Food and Friends. Admission Fee: $5/person. www. middleburgclassic.com. Morven Park Equestrian and Event Center, 41793 Tutt Ln., Leesburg
Set in the 1930s, this musical tells the tale of scandal and romance in a German nightclub. Enjoy the music, dance, and comedy after dinner at a private candlelit theater table. Time: Wed 11:30 a.m. dinner, 1:30 p.m. show; Th-Sat 6 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. show; Sun 1p.m. dinner, 3 p.m. show. www.rsdinnertheater. com. Riverside Center Dinner Theater, Fredericksburg 9/25/2010
9/25/2010
Annual Fredericksburg Welsh Festival This beloved street festival, celebrates President James Monroe’s Welsh heritage with food and crafts vendors; live Celtic music by local band Moch Pryderi and national acts IONA & Jodee James; Welsh language and history lessons; Welsh folk tales; and much more. www.welshfred.com. 908 Charles Street, Fredericksburg
Black Arts Festival
9/25/2010
Held at the Walker-Grant Cultural and Educational Center, Gunnery Road in Fredericksburg. The festival begins at 12—6 p.m. For thirty-one years, Harambee 360o Experimental Theatre, Inc. has provided the community with an event that highlights the richness of African American culture. This event is free and open to the public. The festival will feature gospel, jazz, drama, stepping, children’s activities, crafts and food.
Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival
9/23/2010–10/3/2010
9/25/2010
9/18/2010 to 9/19/2010
State Fair of Virginia
Yankees in Falmouth
It’s the Big Red Barn, Racing Pigs, the State Fair Animal Nursery, the famous State Fair Duck Slide and more. Get up
Warrenton-Fauquier Heritage Day
Return to the historic port of Falmouth for the third annual arrival of “Yankee’s in
Warrenton’s National Designation as a “Preserve America Community”. Begin at 10 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. Parade and Grand Review including cavalry riders in “A Ride with Mosby’s Men” on Main St... in Old Town Warrenton. Living historians, hands-on demonstrations, period entertainment, historic lectures in the John Barton Payne Building, a children’s activity table, town tours, and heritage displays will be located in and around the Old Court House Square. visit www. mosbyplayers.com.
Honor the 250 years of extraordinary history in Fauquier County and
Visit a fabulous array of vendors in our historic area. Tour the Lanesville House, watch old-time craft demonstrations, and enjoy live music while the children have fun making scarecrows, painting pumpkins, and playing games. Begins at 10 a.m.–4 p.m., rain or shine. Admission Fee: Free. www. loudoun.gov/claudemoorepark. Claude Moore Park/Lanesville Heritage Area. 21544 Old Vestal’s Gap Rd., Sterling 9/25/2010 to 9/26/2010
Via Colori Fredericksburg Hundreds of artists will fill the city streets creating and
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Out&About performing. Other activities include a children’s area, artist market, two entertainment stages and local food vendors. www.viacolori.com/city-index. asp?cityid=41. Riverfront Park 9/25/2010
Champagne, Curves, and Corsets From 6–10 p.m., join us for an evening of fun as we show off our line of corsets, chemises and more for the full figured diva. www.champagnecurvescorsets. eventbrite.com. 9/25/2010–10/31/2010
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Come visit the largest u-pick pumpkin patch in Northern Virginia, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Do a little “dino-flossing” with P-Rex our pumpkin munchin’ dinosaur and cheer on the Infamous Oinkintucky Derby Pig Races. Play on our 2800 sq ft. Pumpkin Jumpin’ Pillow, The Double Barrel 60’ Slide, or Rubber Ridge—our tractor tire mountain. Challenge each of our 5 Mazes. Zip down the 60’ Saddlehorn Slide, swing on the rope swings. Have a close encounter with our farm animals and do a little catch-and-release fishing with your own pole. Visit our Country Store brimming with farm raised and homemade goodies. Our Roosteraunté is open each weekend. Admission: $8/person on weekdays (excludes holidays); $10/person weekends and holidays; free/ child under 2 years of age, CSA members, and Fans of Farm members. www. greatcountryfarms.com. Great Country Farms,18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont
Concert Association at Culpeper High School, in the auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The critically acclaimed Richmond Symphony will open our season with an engaging range of spirited selections. Admission: $20 adults/$5 children; subscription rates also available. www.stagealive.org/concerts. htm. 14240 Achievement Drive 10/1/2010–10/3/2010
Fall Wine Festival, Sunset Tour & Gardens Join us for an extraordinary evening of wine, live blues music, candlelit tours of the Mansion and a visit with hosts “George and Martha Washington.” Sample offerings from 16 Virginia wineries and stretch out on the lawn overlooking the Potomac River. Fruit & Cheese Boxes serve two, advanced purchase only. www.MountVernon.org. Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy
10/1/2010
First Fridays in Old Town Warrenton—Last one of the season Enjoy a summer evening 6—9 p.m. with live entertainment, art, the farmer’s market, activities for the kids, and more. Shops will be open late. For more information call (540) 349-8606. Main Street in Old Town, Warrenton
10/1/2010–10/3/2010
10/1/2010–10/3/2010
Conference on the Art of Command in the Civil War
“Stomp and Chomp”
The conference features lectures, panel discussions, book signings, and an all day bus tour of the Fredericksburg Battlefield. Full registration for the conference includes a reception Fri evening, Sat meals (coffee, snacks, lunch and dinner), and lunch on Sun. Fri 4-7:15 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission: $400/person full program and meals, $190/person Fri evening & Sat day lectures (includes lunch), www.mosbyheritage area.org/event. Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg
9/30/2010
10/1/2010–10/3/2010
Stage Alive Presents the Richmond Symphony Masterworks Concert
66th Annual Waterford Homes Tour& Crafts
Join Stage Alive Community
craftspeople with hands-on demonstrations, activities for children, traditional music and dance, Colonial-era militia encampments, marching fife and drum corps, and Civil War re-enactors with skirmishes all weekend, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; rain or shine. Admission: $15/person advance purchase, $17/person at gate, $26/person for two day ticket in advance. www. WaterfordVA.org. National Historic Landmark Village of Waterford, Downtown Waterford
The fair offers historic homes tours, 160 juried heritage
Weekend of Harvest Fun, at Barrel Oak Winery; Fri & Sat, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Between 12 and 5 p.m. Sat and Sun. get grapes between your toes and stomp to great music all weekend and dance with eNVee from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday. Each person that donates 3 cans of food for Fauquier’s neediest families will get a full free tasting! www.barreloak.com. 3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane 10/2/2010
3rd Annual Culpeper Cycling Century Benefit The ride will be held rain or shine. Helmets are required on all rides. This bicycle ride is fast becoming a tradition boasting great scenic beauty and paved road riding in Culpeper County during the most colorful season–Fall. You can choose
between several distances. Proceeds benefit the Culpeper Recreation Foundation. Departs at 8:30 a.m. from The Bike Stop. www.culpepercyclingcentury. com. 120 West Culpeper St. 10/2/2010
Tour ‘Ga Franc and The Livestrong Foundation at Barrel Oak Winery We will be releasing our 07 Tour’Ga Franc on 10/02. It is a lovely wine and a significant date: 10/2/96, the date Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer. We donate $2 from every bottle sold to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. www.barreloak.com. 3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane 10/2/2010–10/3/2010
Norton Wine and Bluegrass Festival From 10 a.m.–6 p.m. enjoy the bluegrass pickings of Jackass Flats, Hickory Ridge, and A Good Natured Riot throughout the weekend; food for sale from local “BBQ Catering King;” Virginia producers; exquisite jewelry and artifacts; hay rides and vineyard tours; a special 9-wine tasting that includes all of our Norton wines with a commemorative souvenir glass. Admission Fee: $20/person at the door; $15/person in advance; Free/VIP Club member. www.ChrysalisWine. com. 23876 Champe Ford Rd, Middleburg 10/3/2010
Fall Motorcycle Day & Air Show Gates open at 11 a.m. Ride your motorcycle to The Flying Circus and receive a 50% discount on admission. Picnic and enjoy the air show which begins at 2 p.m. Admission Fee: $10 /adults; $3 / children 3-12; www. flyingcircusairshow.com. 5414 Ritchie Road, Bealeton
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10/2/2010–10/3/2010
13th Annual Culpeper Harvest Days Farm Tour Visit a variety of farms growing everything from herbs and cut flowers to cattle and bison. You may even want to try to milk a cow. Begin tour at 10 a.m. at the Visitor Center. www.culpeperag. org. 113 S. Commerce St. 10/4/2010 to 10/9/2010
St. James’ House Fall Opening This small, gambrel-roofed house is a fine example of an 18th-c gentlemen’s cottage. It contains a collection of period furnishings, including silver, glass, porcelain, and furniture. It was built by James Mercer, the first judge of the General Court in Fredericksburg. 1–4 p.m. 1300 Charles Street, Fredericksburg 10/9/2010
11th Annual Culpeper Airport Air Fest Tour the airport and meet the pilots. Aircraft from restored antiques to modern jets will be on display. Activities include demonstrations, arts & crafts, face painting and the model airplane simulator. Kids ages 8—17 can sign up for free airplane rides. www. culpepercounty.gov. 12499 Beverly Ford Rd, Brandy Station 10/9/2010
and enjoy interpretive tours, animal exhibits, a petting zoo, horses, farm machinery, hayrides, a corn maze, a winery, and more. www.fauquierag.com. 10/9/2010 to 10/10/2010
Fredericksburg Area Wine Festival Award Winning Virginia Wine tasting, food vendors, artisans, beer garden, children’s entertainment, musical talent by 3 DaddyO. Reserved and Corporate VIP tables available. www.fredericksburgwine.com. 10/10/2010
Taste of Culpeper Featuring the very best in local cuisine from Noon–5 p.m. Virginia wineries and microbreweries will be represented offering tastings and displays. Other entertainment of the day will include live music featuring a Battle of the bands, children’s activities, and artist displays. www.culpeperdowntown.com. 109 S. Commerce St., Culpeper 10/14/2010
UMW Philharmonic Masterworks Concert opening the 40th anniversary classical concert season. The event is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. Event features community and university musicians. Dodd Auditorium, Fredericksburg
Stonewall Jackson 20-mile Run
10/16/2010
Starts at 7:15 a.m. and travels through part of the route used to transport Jackson after he was wounded. For further information call 540-507-7529. 8800 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania
This two-hundred year old village presents a harvest festival featuring food, entertainment, vendors, crafts, bake sales, grinding and blacksmithing demonstrations, and more. Families will enjoy the fun fest and a historical tour of the Aldie Mill. Event times 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Admission: Free; optional $5 parking donation. www. villageofaldie.com/harvestfest. John Mosby Hwy, Aldie
10/9/2010
Fauquier County Fall Farm Tour Held from 10 a.m.–5p.m. Visit any or all of the farms on the tour
Aldie Harvest Festival
Temple Hall Fall Festival Starting September 24, it’s back—bigger and better than ever. The 2010 Temple Hall Farm Corn Maize and Fall Festival will open on September 24—October 31, 2010. In addition to the ever popular pony rides, corn cannons and cow train, Temple Hall has cooked up a few new features this year sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. Want to launch a pumpkin 100 yards through the air? Then we’ve got the perfect toy for you—Pumpkin Blasters. Meanwhile, see how high you can jump on the massive jumping pillows! There’s even a smaller one just for the little guys. When you’re finished, don’t forget to head over and catch the next pig race! And don’t forget about the Maize! This year’s maize is 24 acres, celebrating the 100 year anniversary of scouting. There’s also Pick your own Pumpkin Patch, hayrides and plenty of great food! Please, NO PETS in the park. Tue-Thu 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Admission Fee: $12/adult, $10/child ages 3-11 and senior citizens, free/child age 2 and under. Discounts available for groups and evening admissions. www.nvrpa.org/park/ the_maize. Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15789 Temple Hall Lane Leesburg
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Out&About The Exchange Hotel Ghost Walk Recently, the hotel has had many visitors interested in the “permanent residents” inhabiting our premises. There have been numerous reports of apparitions as well as the many unexplained sounds described by past visitors. October 23rd and 24th, from 7-9 p.m., enjoy a fun tour of the Hotel. Don’t come alone because you’ll need a hand to squeeze when someone comes to visit from the Civil War. Children welcome. Admission: $15 (family), $6 (adults), $5 (seniors), $4 (6-15 years); under six free. www. hgiexchange.org 400 South Main Street, Gordonsville 10/16/2010
10/23/2010-10/24/2010
Rappahannock Fall Colors Float
Fall Harvest Family Days at Mount Vernon
Join us for a colorful trip down the Rappahannock. Meet at Fredericksburg City Dock. Bring a bag lunch. Minimum age 6 years. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Backup date: October 17. Pre-registration required, call 540-373-3448. www.riverfriends.org. Fredericksburg
Free horse-drawn wagon rides, a straw bale maze, an opportunity to meet “General Washington,” and the chance to learn how to dance 18th-century-style. Outdoor cooking demonstrations and concessions start at 9 a.m.—5 p.m. www.MountVernon.org Admission Fee: $15/ adults; $7 child. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
10/18/2010
International Gold Cup At 10 a.m. 35,000 spectators will gather at Great Meadow to celebrate the 73rd running of the International Gold Cup Races. This event will provide a full day of entertainment and five nationally sanctioned races. www.vagoldcup.com. Great Meadow, The Plains 10/23/2010
6th Annual Autumn Apple Festival Visit our exhibit “Virginia Apples for Flavor: The Story of Hill High Orchards.” See historic orchard tools at work. Visit with local orchardists and browse locally made apple products. Event Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $5/ adult, $4/senior, $3/child. www.heritagefarmmuseum. org Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling
10/23/2010-10/24/2010
Harvest Open House at Alpaca Full Moon Farm Spinning demonstrations, the Full Moon Shop, cider and autumn refreshments, fireplaces aglow, marshmallows roasting and the usual...apples, pumpkins and alpacas, oh my. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. www. alpacafullmoon.com. 9247 Ramey Road, Marshall 10/29/2010- 10/30/2010
Pumpkin Glow Night From 6-9 p.m., over 1500 Jack-o-lanterns are displayed. Bring your carved Jack-o-lantern to enter in our carving competitions. Jack-o-lanterns are judged for Best in Glow, Scariest, and Funniest in 3 classes: children grades K-5, youth in grades 6-8, and adult carving. Warm yourself by the bonfire and roast some marshmallows. Admission: $10 / person, children under 2 years,
free. www.greatcountryfarms. com. Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont 10/30/2010
Kids in Costumes at The Virginia Bazaar Ghouls and goblins 12 years old and younger will have a chance to win “Monster Money” good with any vendor at The Virginia Bazaar during the annual Kids in Costumes Raffle. Raffle tickets will be given to every child in costume; a safe environment for children to “trick-or-treat.” www.vabazaar.com. 8436 Ladysmith Road, Ladysmith 10/30/2010
Haunted Hike with the Winemaker Join our resident winemaker as he hosts a local hike, lunch, and special tasting of Willowcroft Wines at 9 a.m. Reservations required. Admission fee: $10 per person. www.willowcroftwine. com. Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd, Leesburg 10/31/2010
Sunday Brandy Station History Lectures Mr. Richard Deardoff presents, “The Memory of the Civil War” at 2 p.m. This is a free lecture, sponsored by the Brandy Station Foundation, and the Graffiti House. (540) 727-7718. 19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station
10/31/2010
Culpeper Downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treating Get your little ghosts, goblins and witches ready for the annual downtown merchants trick or treating. Join us from 5—6 p.m. in Historic Downtown Culpeper for fun and festivities. www.culpeperdowntown.com. 11/6/2010
Montpelier Hunt Races Experience the thrill of steeplechase horseracing at the 76th running of the Montpelier Hunt Races on the historic grounds of James Madison’s Montpelier. www.montpelier. org. 11407 Constitution Highway, Orange 11/06/2010 – 11/07/2010
Smore’s and Hot Chocolate Weekend at Willowcroft Farm From 1—5 p.m., join us for a sweet weekend with s’mores, hot chocolate, and a special wine tasting. Admission is $7 a person. www.willowcroftwine. com. Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd., Leesburg 11/5/2010
Re-gifting for the Warrior Golf Scramble The event will include a 4-person scramble, box lunch and awards receptions following the golf. Admission Fee: $125 for
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Ongoing an individual, $500 for a team of four. Starting at 8:30 am. www. mccs.org. The MCCS/ Medal of Honor Golf Course, Quantico. 11/6/2010
Spotsylvania Fall Festival A free, fun-filled family event. Craft Fair, live music, entertainment, kids activities. Held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 8800 Courthouse Rd., Spotsylvania 11/6/2010 - 11/7/2010
Heart of Virginia Wine Trail Buy a passport ticket for only $10 and you get a souvenir wine glass and wine tasting at the four Heart of Virginia Wineries: Lake Anna, James River, Cooper and Grayhaven. During our special wine trail weekends you will get to graze on munchies at each winery and check out special promotions. www. lawinery.com/ Lake Anna Winery, Spotsylvania 11/6/2010 - 11/7/2010
Merry Market— Holiday Boutique &Gift Market This holiday shopping event features exhibitors from Virginia and surrounding southeastern states. Sat 10 a.m—5 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m.—4 p.m. at the Jepson Alumni Center at The University of Mary Washington. An exceptional mix of custom jewelry, handbags, apparel, quality crafters, original artwork and decorative accessories for the home and garden. Live choral music for your enjoyment. Funds raised from Merry Market will benefit local children’s charities such as FASL Books in Hand, Hospice Camp Rainbow, Summer Scholars and High School Scholarships. www. faserviceleague.com. 1119 Hanover St., Fredericksburg
Every Weekend
Second Saturdays
Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 12:30-7 p.m. Take a farm tour, visit cow class, enjoy hand-dipped ice cream and homemade cheeses. Corn maze, “Play Pasture” and more! www.cows-n-corn.com
Join the Museum as we celebrate our history with family friendly activities, from 1-3 p.m. In addition architectural walking tours of downtown Fredericksburg. www.famcc. org. 1001 Princess Anne St...
Every Thursday
Weekends in October
Corn Maze at Cows-N-Corn
Gardens at Sunset From 5:30-7:30 p.m. relax and enjoy live music from John Ware. Wine, beverages, and snacks available for purchase. You’re welcome to bring a picnic (no alcohol may be brought). No pets please. www.oatlands.org . Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Ln, Leesburg
Yappie Hour at TruLuv’s Bring your dog to Yappie Hour on the patio. Great food, great drinks, make a donation to the SPCA. www.truluvs.com. 1101 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg
October Fall Farm Fest From 10 a.m.—5 p.m., live music, interpretive programs, living history demonstrations, a corn maze, and old- fashioned children’s games. Tour Mount Bleak house and sample historic cuisine. The pick-yourown pumpkin patch will be open daily. www.virginia stateparks.gov. 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane Through 10/31/2010
National Treasure Tour Visitors can take an hour-long walking tour that includes behind-the-scenes information
about areas where National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets filming took place. Admission Fee: $5. www.mountvernon.org Through 12/31/2010
Fredericksburg Area Battlefields
“Old Times They Are Not Forgotten.” Post war images of local battlefields, photos of erected monuments, and objects never publicly displayed before. 1001 Princess Anne St. Through 10/30/2010
There’s a Monster in My Closet (Musical) Emily is having a sleepover with her best friend Stephanie when they discover a “monster” in her closet! Find out how friendship, ingenuity, and a sprinkling of magic solve Emily’s monster problem. Lunch and show enjoyed from private tables. Riverside Center Children’s Theater, Fredericksburg
Tuesdays through 9/28/2010
Lunchtime at Hurkamp
Free, live lunchtime concert in Hurkamp Park. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring a lunch or purchase one while enjoying music by local performers. 900 Prince Edward St.., Fredericksburg Saturdays through 10/30/2010
The Montpelier Enslaved Community
Guided tour of archaeological sites of slave living quarters, the historic mansion, the slave cemetery, and the basement kitchen. Tour included in regular admission. www. montpelier.org. Every Second Saturday
National Capitol Squadron Open Hangar 9 a.m.—4 p.m. visit the hangar/ museum equipped for the maintenance and display of a fleet of aircraft known as the Ghost Squadron. www.national capitolsquadron.org. 12499 Beverly Ford Rd, Brandy Station
Lives of Dogs Viewed Through Literature, Art and Ephemera Lives of Dogs provides a glimpse into the richly complex topic of the relationship between dogs and humans. The exhibit features books and objects that span four centuries and are selected from the Library’s holdings as well as those of private collectors. Open to the public May through December 11, 2010. A public one-day symposium, Lives of Dogs: Origins & Evolution of Hunting & Sporting Breeds, is planned for October 23, 2010. Admission is free; Tue-Fri 10 a.m.–4p.m.; Sat 1-4p.m. www.nsl. org. National Sporting Library 102 The Plains Rd., Middleburg
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Cul-de-sac
Shelling Out Tradition: Oyster Festival is a Homecoming Highlight By Lisa Chinn I could practically taste them from way out in landlocked Colorado, where my family lived for the past two years. Soon, though, I won’t have to imagine that briny, straight-from-the-sea flavor. The shortage of fresh shellfish in the Centennial State is only one drop in an ocean of reasons my family moved back to Virginia this summer, and just in time for the Urbanna Oyster Festival. I can’t wait! The timing of our homecoming is especially sweet not only because I’ve missed the bounty of seafood that comes from the Eastern shore, but also because, before I left, the oyster festival had become an annual tradition for my dad and me. For years, there was no need to check the calendar; we knew what we’d be doing on the first Friday of November. We’d each take the day off from work, hoping to beat the bulk of the crowd that flocks to the festival on Saturday. Nearly 75,000 people attend the two-day event, held the first weekend of November. Dad and I would get a laid-back start, setting out around noon from his house near King George County. We’d head east toward the place where the waters of the Rappahannock River lap the craggy Virginia shore, just off the Chesapeake Bay. The hour-plus drive gave us plenty of time to catch up on the latest events of each other’s lives and to soak up the breathtaking views. The leaves are on fire in Virginia’s Northern Neck at festival time, and we’d chat as we drove along tree-lined roads. Serenity gave way to excitement when bits and pieces of the beautiful Rappahannock began to slide into view, telling us we were nearing our destination and making our tummies growl.
Urbanna, Va., is home to fewer than 550 people, but the tiny tidewater town bustles with activity when the first days of November roll in. Scores of seafood vendors set up shop along the festival’s main drag, hawking a bounty of fare from the sea. There are clams and mussels to pull from their shells, chowders and gumbos to slurp with a spoon, crab cakes and spiced shrimp to make your mouth water. But, mostly, there are oysters. Fat oyster fritters and steamy oyster stew. Oysters that are fried, smoked, roasted, steamed and served the way I love them most – raw! The action spills onto the side streets, as well, where there are children’s activities, live music and plenty of country fair type-goodies, like roasted sweet corn, gooey funnel cake and fried pork rinds. The festival also features a fireman’s parade, antique car show, arts and crafts, and so much more. As many things as there are to see and do – and eat – Dad and I aren’t ones to dawdle. We know what we like and we know where to find it. We’d crunch, munch, slurp and gobble until our bellies were full and our bodies were tired, then we’d allow ourselves one last treat. We’d stroll down to the water’s edge, where there are conservation displays, boat tours and my forever-favorite attraction – the Rappahannock. The sight of the sunlight sparkling on the surface of the taupe-tinted water has never failed to take my breath away. I might have missed a few festivals, but I know that the view – and the oysters – will fill me and Dad up again this year, now that I’m home. I can’t wait! _________________________________________________________ Lisa Chinn recently moved back to Fredericksburg and is looking forward to spending time with her father and her two boys at the Oyster Festival.
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Located only one hour from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia, the Spotsylvania Courthouse Village is perfectly positioned for local employers and commuters. It also strategically sits in the heart of Spotsylvania County— one of the nation’s fastest growing localities.
CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON. ARE YOU READY?
9010 Old Battlefield Blvd., Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
www.spotsyvillage.com
Amenity-filled, 1-2 bedroom apartments starting at
$825
We’re facing a new economy, like none we’ve ever seen before. Changes on the horizon in the new tax code cannot be handled in the same old ways. With our cutting edge approach and personal year-round services, Dominion Eagle Tax and Accounting will help you build a tax plan not just for today but into the future. Are you ready for change? We are.
For Office & Retail Leasing
(540) 898-3242 Apartment Leasing
(540) 412-2940
LIVE
Our apartments range in size from 800 to 1,300 SF. Conveniently located over the shops, you can walk to dinner and shop downtown along wide, tree-lined brick sidewalks, park benches and street lamps. Condos for sale and townhomes coming soon.
WORK
The Village offers streetlevel shops, offices, on-site multi-office complexes, many nearby schools and municipal buildings. Approximately 8,600 persons already or soon will work within the Village.
PLAY
As Spotsylvania’s new— and only—downtown, the Village draws residents from throughout the county. The Village Pavilion hosts concerts and community festivals…a long-sought gathering place for the 41,000 residents within its trade area.
540.548.8588 / 800.825.3094 / 1107 Heatherstone Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Dominion EaglE Tax anD accounTing is an prouD mEmbEr of ThE Dominion EaglE financial group inc, which proviDEs ThE financial Tools, proDucTs, anD sErvicEs ThaT builD brighTEr Tomorrows ToDay.
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4830 Southpoint Drive • Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407 540.898.3242 • Fax 540.735.1056 • www.wjvakos.com
9/21/10 11:48 AM
in the running for a victory at the Montpelier hunt races Homemade caramel corn with a twist
$3.95
Naming names and dishing dirt: Anthony bourdain Draft these new toys & Score big this tailgate season
SEP | OCT 2010
www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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