Loudoun Now
JANUARY 2026
Tickets Available at:
WWW.TALLYHOTHEATER.COM 19 W Market St, Leesburg, VA (703) 777-1665
Coming to Town in
JANUARY ’26
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JIMMY KENNY & THE PIRATE BEACH BAND FRI 1/16 DOORS: 7PM
WANNABE SPICE GIRLS
BADFISH - A TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME THUR 1/22 DOORS: 7PM
RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS
SUN 1/18 - DOORS: 7PM
FRI 1/23 - DOORS: 7PM
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JANUARY 2026
Loudoun Now
20 HAPPENINGS The community will gather in downtown Leesburg on Jan. 19 for the 35th annual Martin Luther King Jr. march and celebration.
GET OUT LOUDOUN Get Out Loudoun is distributed monthly to entertainment, tourism, & hospitality venues throughout Loudoun County. For the latest news on the music & arts scene and other community events, go to getoutloudoun.com.
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ART SCENE
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HISTORY
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ON STAGE
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BEST BETS
CONTRIBUTORS Douglas Rogers Norman K. Styer
TO ADVERTISE Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com getoutloudoun.com
JANUARY 2026
The breath of Loudoun’s art community is on display this month at the County Government Center in an exhibit designed to build new connections.
During the celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday, residents and visitors alike are encouraged to learn more about local connections to American history with a new heritage site tour pass.
Pioneers of stand-up comedy reached larger audiences through vinyl records. Today, with the help of a Lovettsville comedian, recordings are making a comeback in the industry.
Loudoun’s pioneering farm-to-table venue is getting new life with foraged. Chef Chris Amendola expanding to The Restaurant at Potomwack Farm.
Get Out Loudoun’s best bets for January.
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Winemaker Shai Van Gelder holds a bottle of Petit Domaine’s Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine. Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
THE BIG 2026 Loudoun Bucket List
BY DOUGLAS ROGERS Visit Loudoun
C
hampagne flows during the holidays, but just because a new year is upon us doesn’t mean you have to stop imbibing the good stuff. Did you know that Loudoun has a winery specifically dedicated to bubbles?
Petit Domaine Sparkling Winery & Estate, which opened in October, is the first in Virginia to focus exclusively on sparkling wine and until its own barrels come online in 2027, visitors can order bottles of Brut, Blanc de Blancs and Rosé Champagne imported from France. The property resembles a St Tropez beach club – all clean lines, cool centerpiece bar and 4
spacious outdoor patio where you can recline under sleek cabanas in summer. An elevated small plates menu overseen by Michelin-star Chef Eric Ziebold enhances the wine without overpowering it. “We were going for a resort-style south of France feel,” said owner J. Bradley Snyder, a Loudoun native who moved back to the county during COVID. “We wanted to do something different and focusing on sparkling wine was certainly different.” So what other new finds or bucket list items should you put on your radar for 2026? Moving from bubbles to beer, LoCo Lion on a 26-acre farm in western Loudoun is the
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JANUARY 2026
brewery of UK transplant Nigel Rourke and his American wife Laura Starego. In the scenic two-floor tasting room, they offer a rotating seasonal mix of beers made by a former Sam Adams brewer. And, for a nod to Nigel’s roots, there are multiple British food items on the menu. Cornish pasties anyone? As for the unusual name, it’s a tribute to two African lions that once roamed a neighboring farm and are now buried on the brewery property. From unusual names to quirky events: on April 18-19 Crooked Run Fermentation in Sterling will partner with Blue Ridge Pickling to host the first Pickle and International Food Festival. The event will highlight local and regional pickle producers and vendors alongside a wide range of food trucks, craft and art vendors and music from a band called, well, Pickleback. Crooked Run is a purveyor of a range of fine Belgian-style mixed fermentation beers as well as hard cider – perfect for pairing with those pickles.
Leesburg businesses you might want to tick off if you’ve not been yet. Hotel Burg’s swanky Diana Lounge does impeccable martini service while at multi-floor restaurant Shutters on King up the street, start with the oysters from the raw bar before graduating to the juicy brioche bun cheeseburger. If you’re in the Middleburg area, Oak & Ember Market in Aldie will combine a neighborhood market with a wine-focused social hub. Expect handcrafted pasta, charcuterie, artisanal cheeses and curated flights of Loudoun wine. We can’t wait. Of course, 2026 itself is going to be a big year: the 250th Anniversary of America’s founding. Talks, exhibitions, readings, festivals, parades and other commemorations will take place throughout the year. Go to the Loudoun VA250 page at VisitLoudoun.org for details on new and upcoming anniversary events. Happy New Year!
As for bucket list items, there are two new
www.visitloudoun.org
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Laura Starego and Nigel Rourke pose in the tasting room of LoCo Lion, a new brewery near Hillsboro. JANUARY 2026
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ART SCENE
Get to Know
the Arts in Loudoun
T
he Loudoun County Art Advisory Committee and Parks, Recreation and Community Services are
presenting “Get to Know the Arts in Loudoun County,” a special exhibition showcasing more than 30 arts organizations and groups.
arts groups to meet one another, get the latest updates on the Board of
The exhibition, which runs through Jan.
Supervisors’ Comprehensive Arts Plan,
30, features groups from a variety of
enjoy music and light refreshments,
artistic disciplines, including perform-
and provide feedback on the arts the
ing arts, literary arts, visual arts, and
county.
arts education. Each piece reflects the
Those unable to attend can learn
vision and mission of the organization it represents.
more about the Comprehensive Arts Plan at loudoun.gov/arts or by email-
Patrons can learn more about those
ing PRCS to join the arts mailing list.
featured in the exhibition during a re-
The Loudoun County Art Advisory
ception starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 at Gallery One, located in the lobby of the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison St. in Leesburg. The free event will be an opportunity
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for the public and representatives of
Committee, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, works to promote local artists and preserve the county’s art collection. Learn more at loudoun.gov/ advisory-art.
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JANUARY 2026
Photo Exhibit Puts Lens on Area Artists The artists featured in the exhibit were selected for the quality of their work. The portraits were made in a collaborative effort during 2025, using a 4x5 sheet-film camera.
A portrait of sculpture Jeff Hall by Philip Ulanowsky.
“A
rtists & Artisans,” an exhibit of 15 environmental portraits of local fine artists and crafts experts by Loudoun photographer Philip Ulanowsky will open for two days—Jan. 24-25 at the Artists in Middleburg Gallery.
JANUARY 2026
A black-and-white film photographer for decades, Ulanowsky crafts each traditional silver-gelatin print by hand in the darkroom. He will be at the gallery both days and at 3 p.m. will give a brief presentation and answer questions about the project and his work. The exhibit will be open from noon to 5 p.m. each day. The gallery is located at 102 W. Washington St. in Middleburg.
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TOURING LOUDOUN’S HERITAGE SITES:
Get the Pass HISTORY
Photo by Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
Dodona Manor, George C. Marshall’s home in Leesburg, is among the historic sites included in the new Loudoun Heritage Pass tour.
BY NORMAN K. STYER GetOutLoudoun.com
A
s the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States during 2026, Loudoun’s museums and cultural destinations are teaming up to offer the Loudoun Heritage Pass, a new multi-site ticket package highlighting the county’s role in the nation’s founding and history. The program, continuing through July 4, invites visitors to explore “The Stories that Shaped America” and “Loudoun’s Living Landscape” with discounted admission to Morven Park, Oatlands Historic House & Gardens, George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor, National Sporting Library & Museum and Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. In addition, visitors can receive a 15% discount on hotel stays through a partnership with the B.F. Saul Hospitality Group. The Loudoun Heritage Pass Program is supported by a $25,000 tourism grant from 8
Loudoun County, intended to boost out-oftown visitation as part of the semiquincentennial celebrations. “We are grateful to Loudoun County for supporting this initiative, which showcases the important role our communities have played in the American story for more than two centuries,” stated Marshall Center Executive Director Valérie Beaudoin. “Visit Loudoun has been a terrific partner on this exciting collaborative effort to welcome residents and travelers to the places where history happened— from founding-era estates to the home of General George C. Marshall, whose visionary leadership helped shape the modern world.” The pass may be purchased online at georgecmarshall.org/heritagepass. The cost is $50 with discounts for seniors and students. Each heritage site requires advance tour reservations. Upon purchase, pass holders will receive booking instructions and hotel discount information by email. Some locations are closed during January and February.
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JANUARY 2026
Talk:
WWII Volunteer Ambulance Drivers and Lafayette’s Influence flowed to southern ports.
BY NORMAN K. STYER GetOutLoudoun.com
J
oin historian Larry Roeder on Jan. 11 for an afternoon talk on his research involving the volunteer ambulance services that operated in Europe during World War II.
The programs were developed under American and British leadership in response to the threat of Germany’s invasion of France and other countries in 1939 and 1940. Unarmed men and women drove under horrendous aerial attacks to rescue wounded civilians and soldiers as an exodus of millions of people JANUARY 2026
Roeder will discuss their exploits and motivations. He also will explore the influence of the Marquis de Lafayette, as American volunteers offered their services in the defense of France much as the Revolutionary War general did for the United States. The program will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 at Dodona Manor in Leesburg. It is co-sponsored by the George C. Marshall International Center and Loudoun VA250. Register for the free lecture at weblink.donorperfect.com/Ambulance.
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Exploring the History of Whiskey in Early America
W
hen George Washington left the presidency in 1797, his Scottish plantation manager, James Anderson, suggested using the resources of Mount Vernon—the crops, large water supply and gristmill—to make whiskey. The enterprise quickly—although briefly, ending after Washington’s death in 1799— became one of the largest commercial distilleries in the nation.
That’s not one of the lessons they taught us in history class, but Catoctin Creek Distillery co-founder Scott Harris will discuss that and other stories from the early history of whiskey in America during a Jan. 8 program in Purcellville.
During the program sponsored by Loudoun VA250, Harris will explore how whiskey played a significant role in shaping the nation’s identity and character, from its beginnings during the colonial period through the late 18th century, when American farmers, particularly on the western frontier, began producing whiskey in larger quantities. The combination of rich farmland and a growing demand for distilled spirits made whiskey a major industry in the young United States. Tickets are $20 and pre-registration is required at catoctincreekdistilling.com/ events. Catoctin Creek Distillery is located at 120 W. Main St. in Purcellville.
Check out
Loudoun’s Dining
FORDS FISH SHACK Consistently voted Loudoun residents’ favorite place for seafood, Ford’s offers fresh seafood in a family-dining atmosphere at three locations, as well as a catering arm and a food truck operation. Ashburn-44260 Ice Rink Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147 (571) 918-4092 • fordsfi shshack.com Lansdowne-19308 Promenade Dr., Leesburg, VA 20176 (571) 333-1301 • fordsfishshack.com Chantilly 25411 Eastern Marketplace Plaza #100, Chantilly, VA 20152 (703) 542-7520 • fordsfi shshack.com
SPANKY’S SHENANIGANS Known as one of the Loudoun’s favorite bars, Spanky’s Shenanigans is a popular destination from its morning breakfast menu to its ample roster of live music performers. 538 E Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176 (703) 777-2454 • spankyspub.com
LIGHTFOOT RESTAURANT Inside an historic bank building in downtown Leesburg, the Zagat-rated Lightfoot provides both a fine-dining experience and a gathering place for locals. Executive Chef Ingrid Gustavson serves up American cuisine with southern and ethnic accents. 11 North King Street Leesburg, VA 20176 703-771-2233 • lightfootrestaurant.com
TUSCARORA MILL Known by locals as Tuskies, the restaurant is located inside a restored 19th century grain mill in Leesburg’s historic district. Offering everything from locally sourced fine dining to a casual bar experience, it’s been a dining destination for more than three decades. 203 Harrison St SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 (703) 771-9300 • tuskies.com
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WINERIES 50 West Vineyards 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg 50westvineyards.com 2 8 Chains North Winery 38593 Daymont Ln., Waterford, VA 8chainsnorth.com 3 868 Estate Vineyards 14001 Harpers Ferry Rd., Purcellville 868estatevineyards.com 4 The Barns at Hamilton Station 16804 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton thebarnsathamiltonstation.com 5 Bleu Frog Vineyards 16413 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg bleufrogvineyards.com 6 Bluemont Vineyard 18755 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont bluemontvineyard.com 7 Boxwood Estate Winery 2042 Burrland Rd., Middleburg boxwoodwinery.com 8 Breaux Vineyards 36888 Breaux Vineyards Ln., Hillsboro breauxvineyards.com 9 Bozzo Family Vineyards 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro bozwines.com 10 Cana Vineyards of Middleburg 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg canavineyards.com 11 Carriage House Wineworks 40817 Brown Lane, Waterford chwwinery.com
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12 Casanel Vineyards
17952 Canby Rd., Leesburg casanelvineyards.com 13 Chrysalis Vineyards 39025 Little River Turnpike, Aldie chrysaliswine.com 14 Corcoran Vineyards & Cider 14635 Corkys Farm Ln., Waterford corcoranvineyards.com 15 Creek’s Edge Winery 41255 Annas Ln., Lovettsville creeksedgewinery.com 16 Domaine Fortier Vineyards 13235 Miltown Road, Lovettsville domainefortier.com 17 Doukenie Winery 14727 Mountain Rd., Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com 18 Droumavalla Farm Winery 14980 Limestone School Rd., Lucketts droumavalla.com 19 Eagletree Farm & Vineyards 15100 Harrison Hill Lane, Leesburg eagletreevineyards.com 20 Endhardt Vineyards 19600 Lincoln Road, Purcellville endhardtvineyards.com 21 Fabbioli Cellars 15669 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg fabbioliwines.com 22 Farm de Vine 15960 Short Hill Road, Hillsboro farmdevine.com
23 Firefly Cellars
40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton fireflycellars.com 24 Fleetwood Farm Winery 23075 Evergreen Mills Rd., Leesburg fleetwoodfarmwinery.com 25 Good Spirit Farm Winery 35113 Snickersville Turnpike, Round Hill goodspiritfarmva.com 26 Greenhill Winery & Vineyards 23595 Winery Ln., Middleburg greenhillvineyards.com 27 Hidden Brook Winery 43301 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg hiddenbrookwinery.com 28 Hiddencroft Vineyards 12202 Axline Rd., Lovettsville hiddencroftvineyards.com 29 Hope Flower Farm & Winery 40905 Stumptown Road, Waterford hopeflowerfarm.com 30 Kalero Vineyard 36140 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro kalerovineyard.com 31 October One Vineyard 7 Loudoun St., SW, Leesburg Octoberonevineyard.com 32 Old Farm Winery 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie oldfarmwineryhartland.com 33 Otium Cellars 18050 Tranquility Rd., Purcellville otiumcellars.com
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34 Petit Domaines
38 Three Creeks Winery
1 Adroit Theory Brewing 404 Browning Ct., Purcellville adroit-theory.com 2 Barnhouse Brewery 43271 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg barnhousebrewery.com 3 Bear Chase Brewing 33665 Bear Chase Ln., Bluemont bearchasebrew.com 4 Black Hoof Brewing Company 11 South King St., Leesburg blackhoofbrewing.com 5 Crooked Run Fermentations Central 22455 Davis Dr., Sterling crookedrunbrewing.com 6 Crooked Run Fermentations Market Station, Leesburg crookedrunbrewing.com 7 Dirt Farm Brewing 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com 8 Dynasty Brewing Company 101 Loudoun St, SE, Leesburg dynastybrewing.com 9 Eleven Eleven Brewing Company 725 E. Main St., Purcellville bellylovebrewing.com 10 Flying Ace Farm 40950 Flying Ace Ln, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com
11 Harper’s Ferry Brewing 37412 Adventure Ctr. Lane, Hillsboro harpersferrybrewing.com 12 Harvest Gap Brewery 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro facebook.com/HarvestGap 13 Honor Brewing Company 42604 Trade West Dr., Sterling honorbrewing.com 14 Lark Brewing Co. 24205 James Monroe Hwy., Aldie larkbrewingco.com
37938 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville thepetitdomaine.com 35 Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., Leesburg stonetowerwinery.com 36 Sunset Hills Vineyard 38295 Fremont Overlook Ln, Purcellville sunsethillsvineyard.com 37 Terra Nebulo 39892 Old Wheatland Rd., Waterford terranebulo.com
BREWERY & WINERY 1 Bluemont Station Brewery and Winery 18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont bluemontstation.com
2 Hillsborough Brewery & Vineyards 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro hillsboroughwine.com
3 Notaviva Brewery and Winery 13274 Sagle Rd., Hillsboro notavivavineyards.com
4 Quattro Goomba’s Brewery & Winery 22860 James Monroe Hwy., Aldie goombawine.com
18548 Harmony Church Road, Hamilton 3creekswinery.com 39 Two Twisted Posts Winery 12944 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro twotwistedposts.com 40 Village Winery 40405 Browns Lane, Waterford villagewineryandvineyards.com 41 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd., Leesburg willowcroftwine.com
BREWERIES
15 Loco Lion
36577 Hesketts Lane, Hillsboro whitesferrymanor.com 16 Lost Barrel Brewing 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg lostbarrel.com 17 Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Rd. #142, Ashburn lostrhino.com 18 Loudoun Brewing Company 310 E. Market St., Leesburg loudounbrewing.com 19 Ocelot Brewing Company 23600 Overland Dr., #180, Dulles ocelotbrewing.com 20 Old 690 Brewing Company 15670 Ashbury Church Rd., Hillsboro old690.com
CIDERIES 1 Henway Hard Cider Company 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont henwayhardcider.com 2 Loudoun Cider House 43376 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg loudounciderhouse.com 3 Mt. Defiance Cider Barn 495 E. Washington St., Middleburg mtdefiance.com 4 Wild Hare Hard Cider Cabin 106 South St., Leesburg wildharecider.com
42 The Wine Reserve at Waterford
38516 Charles Town Pike, Waterford waterfordwinereserve.com 43 Walsh Family Wine 16031 Hillsboro Rd., Purcellville northgatevineyard.com 44 Williams Gap Vineyards 35785 Sexton Farm Lane, Round Hill williamsgavineyard.com 45 Zephaniah Farm Vineyard 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd., Leesburg zephwine.com
21 Route 7 Brewing
20051 Riverside Commons PL, Ashburn route7brewing 22 Solace Brewing Company 42615 Trade West Dr., Sterling solacebrewing.com
23 Stockyard Brewery
12428 Mountain Road, Lovettsville stockyardbrewery.com 24 Sweetwater Tavern 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling greatamericanrestaurants.com 25 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery 42245 Black Hops Ln., Lucketts vanishbeer.com 26 Water’s End Brewing 1602 Village Market Blvd SE #120, Leesburg watersendbrewery.com 27 Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery 38506 John Wolford Rd., Waterford wheatlandspring.com
28 Whites Ferry Brewery
42484 Whites Ferry Rd. Leesburg, Va. whitesferrymanor.com
DISTILLERIES 1 Catoctin Creek Distillery 120 W. Main St. Purcellville catoctincreekdistilling.com 2 Cool Spring Distilling
37871 Nicewarner Lane, Lovettsville coolspringdistillery.com
3 Flying Ace Farm
40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com
4 Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery 495 E. Washington St., Middleburg mtdefiance.com
MEADERIES 1 Stonehouse Meadery
36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com
JANUARY 2026 2026 JANUARY
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ON STAGE
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Lucas Bohn performs during a Christmas week show at Solace Brewing in Sterling, one of many local performances he organizes with other members of the stand-up comedy community.
Getting Laughs on The Record BY NORMAN K. STYER GetOutLoudoun.com
F
or pioneers of stand-up comedy, albums offered the best chance for performers to break out from the small club stages to a broader audience. Bob Newhart’s album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” topped the Billboard charts for 14 weeks in 1960 and prompted the Grammys to create a special award category for the genre. Well-worn vinyl records introduced millions to the likes of Lenny Bruce, Rodney Dangerfield, Henny Youngman, George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Steve Martin during the ’60s and ’70s.
in more recent times, albums are making a resurgence, and Lovettsville comedian Lucas Bohn is helping industry colleagues tap into the opportunities with his own recording company. His BOJO Entertainment records live comedy sketches and edits them into CD tracks that are posted on streaming sites and pitched to comedy channels like Sirius XM’s Laugh USA. In addition to the increased exposure the recordings offer the comics something to sell to audiences after club shows. For the record company, the albums can generate money through streaming. Amid the grind of national touring, a not insignificant influx of mailbox money provides important stability.
After being overtaken by cable television 14
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COMEDY FROM PAGE 14
Bohn started doing stand-up as a hobby while attending Coastal Carolina University and honed his entertainment skills working in a Myrtle Beach reptile park. One day he walked into a local comedy club to ask how people get started in the business. The owner put him on stage to work a set with three jokes he wrote out on a napkin. “I can’t tell you what any of those three things were, but I got one laugh. That’s all that I remember,” he said. He went on to work as the club’s house emcee. He left there to teach fifth graders with Loudoun County Public Schools in Sterling. He spent six years at Rolling Ridge Elementary School, but did not lose the itch for performing comedy. “I would teach during the day, and then I would do stand up at night, weekends and summers,” he said. “There were so many times I’d get in my car and drive to Atlantic City. I do a show at the Comedy Stop at the Tropicana then I’d turn around and drive back home. I’d teach the next day, and then I drive right back again.” He quit teaching and went on the road full time in 2010. Today, he works for cruise ship lines and performs at about 40 theaters around the country each year. He launched the record label in 2018. After three of his albums landed airplay on Sirius XM, others on the comedy club circuit asked how he did it—and then asked if he could do it for them. “We’ve recorded about 85 albums. About 40 of them have been picked up on some way, shape or form on Sirius XM comedy channels,” Bohn said. Specialty streaming platforms like Comedy Dynamics also help comics connect with audiences. The BoJo Entertainment Comedy Albums playlist on Spotify showcases album recorded JANUARY 2026
for comedians including Dan Gabriel, Tony Esposito, and Steve Shaffer. If an album hits, the record company makes money through streaming revenue. If it doesn’t the comic can sell it directly to fans, extending connections made with audience members at shows. Many of the albums are recorded in non-traditional venues around the DC. region—breweries, distilleries, and small opera houses. He also puts together comedy night performances to highlight local talent and feature seasoned performers passing through the area. “I used to call it a desert of live entertainment options,” he said. “You can go watch a game at a bazillion places, or you can go do karaoke at a bazillion places, but if you want to see someone who’s actually touring and making money only doing this one thing. You have to go to DC.” Still, landing airplay with a successful recording isn’t a highway to stardom, Bohn said. “Honestly, the way to break out nowadays is you have to have a social media following, or you have to tour with someone who is already big, like a Nate Bargatze, or one of the bigger guys as an opener,” he said. “I would say social media is very important. You have to have a lot of content, which I do, and you have to have a way to get it out,” Bohn said. “I live in Lovettsville. I’m nowhere near New York or LA, but I perform with New York and LA comics all the time at theaters, on ships and things like that. It’s just fun. You don’t need to be in New York or LA anymore.” “And I think it’s less and less about breaking out, and more and more about having a great life—I have a great life.” Bohn’s next local comedy showcase will be Saturday, Feb. 14 at Solace Brewing featuring headliner Sid Davis. For details, go to the BOJO Entertainment Facebook page.
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Chef Amendola Expands to Loudoun Venue
nnovative Baltimore chef Chris Amendola is bringing his ingredient-driven cuisine to a long-celebrated dining destination in Loudoun County. The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is reopening with Amendola guiding the next chapter of the farm-to-table dining experience championed by founder Beverly Morton Billand over the past two decades.
JANUARY 2026
Since 2017, Amendola has built a following among diners for hyper-seasonal offerings at his restaurant, foraged. He also built relationships with farmers and producers committed to sustainable growing practices. The enterprise has earned him a James Beard Award nomination. He said the opportunity to expand to the
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northern Loudoun farm restaturant is a dream come true. “To be entrusted with stewarding the next chapter of Patowmack Farm is an honor. Our goal is to preserve what makes this place extraordinary while bringing our own voice- one grounded in seasonality, craft, and a genuine connection to the land,” he stated in the announcement of the new 18
venture. While full operations won’t ramp up until spring, some patrons got preview of what is to come during a New Years Eve celebration on the farm. “This reopening represents continuity, not change in spirit. This transition marks a
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significant and thoughtful passing of the culinary legacy that has defined the restaurant for decades,” Billand said. “It is deeply rewarding to see the restaurant move forward in the hands of someone who understands its values while bringing new energy and perspective. Patowmack Farm was always meant to grow and evolve. As this next chapter begins, knowing the restaurant will be in capable and talented hands is deeply gratifying.” Additional details, including the official opening date, reservation information, menus, and hiring announcements, will be announced in the coming months. Learn more at foragedeatery.com.
JANUARY 2026
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Get
loudoun happenings 01.2026
35TH ANNUAL MLK MARCH: ‘THE DREAM CONTINUES’ Community members will gather at the Loudoun County Courthouse starting at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19 for the 35th annual celebration honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme of this year’s program is “The Dream Continues: Our History, Our Voice, Our Impact,” with a focus on efforts to achieve racial equity and harmony in our community and nation. The event includes a symbolic march from the courthouse to the Douglass Community Center, which was the last segregated high school in Loudoun County until it was closed in 1968. At the community center, there will be musical performances, presentations, and
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speeches Maryland Del. Gabriel Acevero will be the keynote speaker. Attendees are encouraged to participate in a food collection drive to support area charities. Donations will be collected at the Frederick Douglass Elementary from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The program is organized by the MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation. Learn more at mlkleesburg.org. HAPPENINGS CONTINUED ON
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JANUARY 2026
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SYMPHONY PRESENTS ‘PETER AND THE WOLF’ The Loudoun Symphony’s Woodwind Quintet will present the classic “Peter and the Wolf” on Jan. 17 at Woodgrove High School.
AREA FILMMAKERS FEATURED AT FRANKLIN PARK The ninth annual Cabin Fever Film Festival will be held Jan. 30-31 at the Franklin Park Arts Center. Co-hosted with the Purcellville Arts Council, the program highlights films made by Loudoun County residents. The theme of this year’s festival is independence. The selected films will be announced in mid-January. The films will be shown in two sessions, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday Jan. 30 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. Prizes will be awarded following Saturday’s screening.
Follow Peter through the sound of orchestral instruments as he sets out into the deep forest to catch a wolf. Each character is brought to life by the sounds of a distinct instrument in a story narrated by music educator and bassoonist, Matt Ogden. The interactive event is intended as an introduction for children in their musical journey. The concert begins at 2 p.m. Starting at 1 p.m. there will be concert-themed activities including a Meet the Instruments program and crafts. The program is sponsored by NOVEC and the Purcellville Arts Council. For tickets and more information, go to loudounsymphony.org.
For details and tickets, go to franklinparkartscenter.org. JANUARY 2026
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get out loudoun 01.10 JED DUVALL AS ELVIS
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best bets 01.2026
Two Twisted Posts Winery Saturday, Jan. 10, 2-5 p.m. twotwistedposts.com Professional tribute artist Jed Duvall returns to the tasting room for an afternoon celebrating the king.
01.24 THE BROKEN HEARTS
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Tally Ho Theater Saturday, Jan. 24, 8 p.m. tallyhotheater.com
JIMMY KENNY AND THE PIRATE BEACH BAND Tally Ho Theater Friday, Jan. 16, 8 p.m. tallyhotheater.com
Celebrate the legacy of Tom Petty with this nationally touring tribute band assembled by his Mudcrutch band mate Charlie Souza.
Need a little beach party? Warm up with tunes from Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band.
01.31 01.21 QUENTIN WALSTON JAZZ TRIO Franklin Park Arts Center Wednesday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m. franklinparkartscenter.org
THE KODY NORRIS SHOW Lucketts Community Center Saturday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m. luckettsbluegrass.org Enjoy an evening of bluegrass with a show that draws inspiration from Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, the Grand Ole Oprey, and a bit of vaudeville.
The Quentin Walston Jazz Trio returns for an evening of memorable melodies and striking rhythms with adventurous improvisations.
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JANUARY JANUARY 2026 2026
Check out
Loudoun’s Attractions
CATTY CORNER CAFE A place where cat lovers can come together, spend time in our cozy lounge, drink coffee, and get the chance to meet our amazing rescue cats. With the option of even being able to adopt and give them their forever home.
CATS - COFFEE - COOKIES 116 E. Market Street, Leesburg VA703-944-4158 cattycornercafe.com DOUBLE X ARCHERY Northern Virginia’s Premiere Archery Pro Shop and Indoor Range ARCHERY SERVICES - LESSONS - RENTALS 500 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 540-206-0041 doublexarchery.com
LOUDOUN HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM Travel through time to meet the 10 generations of Loudoun County residents who built this county and left their mark on the land. Exhibits include a schoolhouse, general store, Native American artifact display and the American Workhorse Museum Collection. 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, VA 20164 (571) 258-3800 • heritagefarmmuseum.org
MORVEN PARK Morven Park is a 1,000-acre historic estate on the edge of Leesburg that was home to Virginia governor and agricultural pioneer Westmoreland Davis. Tours of the Greek Revival mansion include 16th century Belgian tapestries, Spanish cassones, hundreds of silver pieces, Hudson River Valley paintings, and Asian treasures. The estate also features the Winmill Carriage Museum, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting of North America, formal boxwood gardens, miles of hiking and riding trails, and athletic fields. 17195 Southern Planter Lane Leesburg, VA 20176 703-777-2414 • morvenpark.org
JANUARY 2025 2026
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Not to miss in 2026 There is always something waiting to be discovered. A fresh festival on the calendar, a new craft beverage to try, a hidden trail, a revived landmark or a story you haven’t heard yet. This is the year to take your time, take a breath and pour yourself into something different. @VisitLoudoun | #DCsWineCountry | #LoveLoudoun
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Salamander Middleburg
JANUARY 2026