Old Town Crier - April 2026

Treat yourself to some springtime fun on the Blue Ridge Whisky Wine Loop!

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

As I write these publisher's notes today on March 28, in major sections of America there are No Kings demonstrations going on to protest our current president and administration. There is a protest here in Alexandria on north bound Route 1 near Potomac Yards. Being a full supporter of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, I commend those who are taking the time to let others know how they feel. We can only hope the message gets through to those who need to hear it.

We celebrate Easter early this month on the 5th, Earth Day on the 22nd and Arbor Day on the 24th. After we finish off the contents of our Easter Baskets, it’s time to celebrate Mother Earth on Earth Day 2026.

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. I remember going to the mall in Washington, D.C. to join the early celebrations and John Denver was usually there to entertain. To learn more about Earth Day, read Sarah Beckers A Bit of History column. There is still cause to worry about the future of our planet today.

Right on the heels of Earth Day is Arbor Day. This is a day that probably goes unnoticed by the majority of our population. Celebrated on the last Friday of April, the first Arbor Day occurred on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska City, Nebraska. It’s estimated that nearly one million trees were planted on this day. By 1885, Arbor Day had become a legal holiday in Nebraska. On that day, thousands of Nebraska City citizens turned out for one big party, including 1,000 schoolchildren who formed a parade. Within 20 years of its creation, the holiday was celebrated in every American state except Delaware, which eventually joined in. One of the traditions has been to plant a tree in memory of a loved one. I think this is a great way to celebrate someone’s life.

As we get rolling into the heart of spring this month, let’s take a look at a preview of what is inside this issue:

April brings around the Annual Historic Garden Week celebrated throughout the Commonwealth. Old Town’s event culminates on the 18th with a tour of several of the beautiful homes and gardens in our fair City. For details, see the special feature on Garden Week submitted by Hunting Creek Garden Club member Kim Davis.

Arts and Entertainment

In High Notes Ron Powers travels back to 1997 and Karma Police by Radiohead.

In Last Word Miriam Kramer writes about the book on Agatha Christie... Agatha Christie:A Mysterious Life.

In On stage Mark Edelman recognizes that spring is here but the show must go on. Read his rundown on the live theater worth seeing this month.

Lenny Campello’s Gallery Beat column tells us to “Go See Some Art in Town!” as he discusses both the March exhibition at the Art League in Alexandria (on the ground floor of the Torpedo Factory) as well as their upcoming April exhibition.

From the Bay to the Blue Ridge & In Between

In From the Bay learn about the Calvert Marine Museum's new exhibit: Farmers, Patriots Traitors: Southern Maryland and the War of 1812.

Check out some spring happenings in Hunt Country in To the Blue Ridge followed by our Road Trip adventure to the Eastport and West Street areas of the Nations Sailing Capital – Annapolis.

In Guy Britton’s Caribbean Connection, we learn about the two faces of Barbados. A beautiful Island with the Caribbean Sea on one side and the mighty Atlantic Ocean on the other. I was lucky enough to be part of a rugby tour to play on the island many years ago. Beautiful people and place.

Dining and Wining with a Bit of Whiskey Between

The Dining Out column is a little different this month as it features four family-owned eateries – three of which have been favorites for years and one new experience-that are within a little under/over an hour from Old Town. Check them out and let us now if you have a favorite you would like us to try.

Chef Charles Oppman offers up his Pasta Primavera recipe in Let’s Eat, like he says, “Afterall, the word primavera means “spring” in Italian.”

In Let's Get Crafty, Tim Long writes Part One about his trip to Buffalo Trace Distillery with Tom Gale, the Director of Operations at Virtue Feed

and Grain in Old Town. The barrel of Bourbon that Tom bought will be available at Virtue in either June or July. You can also read about Tim's cigar and whiskey recommendations in the article.

Matt Fitzsimmons discusses the role of the Assistant Winemaker as he interviews Pollack Vineyard’s Jordan Demain and Zephaniah Farm Vineyard’s Emily Hatch in Grapevine

With the arrival of spring, Virginia wineries are also preparing for the invasion of the spotted lantern fly. In Exploring Virginia Wines, learn what Doug Fabbioli and other Virginia winery owners are doing to combat this deadly pest.

Beauty and Fitness

Kim Putens answers a few beauty questions including how to choose the correct moisturizer to the correct way to use dry shampoo in First Blush In Fitness, Nicole Flanagan explains some weight assisted exercises to start using in spring as Ryan Unverzagt explains the value of and how to begin using Plyometrics in your daily routine, proven to increase the muscle's ability to produce power in From the Trainer

Rounding out the issue are Steve Chaconas’ Go Fish and Lori Welch Brown’s Open Space columns. Read about the “Flushing the Potomac” as Steve discusses the clean-up of the Potomac after the massive sewer spillage that took place months ago. Steve also writes about early spring fishing in the Potomac.

In Open Space, Lori Welch Brown remembers a friend and reflects on the passing of some of the nations icons and on her own future with some tips from her personal experiences that may resonate with many of you.

Let me close by wishing all who celebrate a Very Happy Easter and encouraging you to take care of Mother Earth everyday and plant a tree on the 24th in memory of a loved one!

april‘26

ON THE ROAD WITH OTC

Mary Jane Scanlon enjoys her March Old Town Crier in the comfort of her home in Jupiter, Florida. This amazing 95 year-old is a long distance reader and avid fan of the OTC. We would venture to say that she is our oldest subscriber as well as being a big sister (and sister-in-law) to her brother Bob and his wife Kathy Condon. The Condon’s are longtime Alexandria residents and were on their annual trek to Jupiter to soak up some sun.

If you would like to see your photo in this space, take the OTC with you on your next adventure and take a high resolution photo or photos of you and yours checking us out and send it with information for the caption to office@oldtowncrier.com and put “On the Road” in the subject line.

Every day is Earth Day at the Old Town Crier! We have always supported causes that are geared toward taking care of our environment. We are believers in climate change and try to do our small part in keeping the air clean and the waste intact by recycling and conserving energy. The image gracing this month’s cover is one that was sourced from several images submitted by various photographers to a stock photo that depicted “Earth Day”. This image was submitted by "Nothing Ahead" which appears to be a username for a photographer on Pexels who shares photos featuring vibrant, natural scenes, including plant life and creative light. In year’s past, we have featured the striking Mother Earth themed paintings by Jim Warren. The April 2021 issue featured his “Don’t Mess with Mother Nature” seen below. It is probably one of our favorites. Look at it closely…

We may have actually stumped all of our “mural watchers” for the first time in quite a few months. There have been some “unusual” guesses for the current one and on the upside, gives us more ideas for future murals.

Remember, we expanded our “reach” to the West End of the city. This mural location is such that it is visible from the road only one way so we are guessing this remains a challenge. Another “snippet” of said mural is included this month.

If you are the first person to respond with the correct location, you will receive a $50 gift certificate to one of the best French eateries in the DMV-Bastille Brasserie & Bar

In order to participate and qualify for the gift card, you will have to Like and Follow us:

Facebook @oldtowncrier and

Instagram @otcregionalmag

Send a PM with your guess and we will contact the winner each month via PM to arrange for prize delivery.

Events Around Town – April 2026

The Cherry Blossoms have reached their peak but they will be on display for several more days if Mother Nature cooperates. In the meantime, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the fluffy pink and white wonders in Alexandria. Take a walk outdoors, discover local restaurants or get active on a guided bike tour or take a boat tour from Old Town Alexandria down around the Tidal Basin to explore endless flowering trees. Full list of events and contacts and www.visitalexandria.com.

Easter Egg Hunt

*11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Lee Fendall House Museum & Garden 614 Oronoco Street

Celebrate Easter in the Lee-Fendall garden with our popular annual egg hunt! In this family-friendly event, collect Easter eggs all around the Lee-Fendall garden during our popular annual egg hunt! Sessions also include crafts, games, a cupcake walk, special gift shop deals, and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

*Sessions are offered on Saturday, April 4th at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.

Attendance is limited and reservations MUST be made in advance. Tickets are $15 per participating child. Accompanying adults are $5 each and infants under 2 are free. Be sure to bring your own basket. Details at www. leefendallhouse.org/

10th & May 8th Grown-Up Field Trip: Black History Museum

6:30 – 8:00 pm

Alexandria Black History Museum 902 Wythe Street

For the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, venture out on a four-part field trip series for adults highlighting African American history around Alexandria. Explore objects and primary sources, dive into conversations, and be ready to be hands-on as you learn more about Alexandria and American history. All field trips are based on ones offered to school-age children, but with extra time, so we can go even deeper!

April 10: Hayti: Uncovering an African American Neighborhood at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum.

May 8: African American Stories at Alexandria’s Archives and Records Center. Details can be found at www.visitalexandria.com/events/grown-up-field-trip-blackhistory-museum/

10th & 11th Spring Garden Market

9:00 am – 3:00 pm River Farm 7931 East Boulevard Drive

Celebrate the return of spring at River Farm! Join us for our Spring Garden Market Browse our popular garden marketplace, seek advice from horticultural experts, enjoy delicious food, and tour River Farm’s beautiful gardens and manor house. The market features more than 30 vendors with plants, original art, specialty finds, and more. Floral designer Christin Geall is this year’s guest speaker. Christin will share her expertise during two special sessions during the event: Creating a Cutting Garden, on April 10 at 1:00 p.m., and Developing Floral Arrangements, on April 11 at 10:00 a.m.

Don’t miss this signature spring event – purchase your Spring Garden Market tickets today! Entry is $5 per individual (walkers or cyclists) or $20 per car, AHS members are FREE, the two special sessions with Christin Geall require separate tickets.

Our Spring Garden Market is one of the largest fundraisers for River Farm, a historic and horticultural treasure. www.ahsgardening.org/spring-garden-market/

11th

Alexandria Film Festival Presents “Becoming Wild” World Premiere

2:00 – 4:00 pm

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

201 S. Washington Street

Join the Alexandria Film Festival and Four Mile Run Conservancy for the world premiere of “Becoming Wild, a meditation on beauty in the natural world,” a feature documentary by award-winning, local filmmaker Jane Pittman. The event takes place on Saturday, April 11, from 2-4 pm at The Lyceum. Tickets ($15) are available at www. AlexFilmFest.com or call 703-549-5250

About the film: In an Alexandria neighborhood transformed by gentrification and loss of green space, a backyard becomes a sanctuary and a teacher – alive with creatures who ask for nothing more than a place to live. Through seasons of change, “Becoming Wild, a meditation on beauty in the natural world” explores how beauty survives – when we choose to nurture it – and how ordinary people can help rebuild the natural world right where they live. An audience Q&A with Jane Pittman immediately follows the screening. After the event, just outside the museum, join Jeremy Tidd, owner of Bon Terra, for a native plant talk and sale.

25th

Alexandria Spring Art Show & Craft Fair

11:00 am – 5:00 pm

John Carlyle Square

300 John Carlyle Street

Celebrate Mother’s Day early with a day full of creativity and charm at the Alexandria Art Show & Craft Spring Fair! Held at the picturesque John Carlyle Square Park, this event is the perfect way to enjoy spring while finding unique treasures for the special moms in your life or yourself!

Browse a curated selection of handmade art, crafts, and gifts, including jewelry, fine art, home decor, and more. Enjoy the park’s vibrant spring atmosphere, indulge in delicious food and drinks from local vendors, and make it a day to remember with friends and family. Whether you’re shopping for a one-of-a-kind gift or simply soaking in the creative energy, this event is the ideal spring outing. Celebrate moms, art, and spring with us in Alexandria!

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET

Tavern Square

100 Block of N. Royal St. Saturdays, 7 am – 12 Noon Year Round

The Old Town Market is thought to be the one of nation’s oldest continuing markets operating since 1753. It is said that George Washington sent his products from Mount Vernon to be sold here. Today the plaza is a mecca for farmers and artists to sell their wares. The Market is a primary source for meats, dairy, fish, fruits, vegetables and flowers for all those who visit.

DEL RAY FARMERS MARKET

Corner of Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues

Saturdays, 8 am to Noon Year Round

This market is strictly a producer grown market.  Lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and salmon, fresh mushrooms, baked goods, hard cider.  Farmers are within a 150 mile radius of Alexandria.  A non-profit is featured each weekend.

18th

Historic Old Town Home and Garden Tour

10:00 am – 4:00 pm Various locations around Old Town

The Hunting Creek Garden Club and The Garden Club of Alexandria hosts again this year. Overlooking the Potomac River with views of our nation’s capital, Old Town Alexandria radiates charm while safeguarding its rich historic roots.

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

OLD TOWN NORTH FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Montgomery Park 901 North Royal Street

Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm Year Round

Alexandria’s favorite dog friendly market! The Old Town North Thursday Market is a growers only market with a focus on produce from small family farms and local artisans. Products sold at the market include fresh fruits and veggies from Virginia’s Northern Neck, Micro Greens from an urban farm, Empanadas, Fresh baked pastries with a European flair and much more.

FOUR MILE RUN FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

4109 Mount Vernon Avenue

Sundays, 9 am – 1 pm Year Round

This market offers fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels and strives to reflect the diversity of Alexandria’s community. Local artisans display their arts and crafts as well.

Founded in 1749, Alexandria was a major seaport prior to the Revolutionary War, was occupied by Union troops during the Civil War, and was a torpedo production site during World War II. In 1946 Alexandria was the third city in the country to establish a historic district to preserve its architectural heritage.

This easy walking tour of Old Town Alexandria includes private townhomes and secluded gardens located along the tree lined streets of the historic district. In addition, the tour ticket includes admission to two Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects within a short driving distance of the tour area – George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Green Spring Gardens.

The Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week offers a unique chance in 2026, during the nation’s 250th anniversary, to visit many properties linked to early Virginians who helped shape American history. Details – oldtownalexandria@vagardenweek.org. Photo courtesy of Virginia Garden Week

LAYERS OF TIME…

Updated Old Town Residence Tells the Story of its 18th‑Century Roots

Spring signals the transition to one of our area’s loveliest times of the year. Even now, early blooming daffodils, crocus, and snowdrops thrust their stems above the soil. It also heralds the return of Old Town Alexandria’s annual Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week Tour. The leisurely walking tour is one of Virginia’s most beloved traditions, featuring historic homes and secluded gardens located along the tree-lined streets of the historic district. Organized by two local garden clubs, Hunting Creek Garden Club and The Garden Club of Alexandria, this year’s tour highlights five historic homes and two Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects: George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens and Green Spring Gardens.

Among the featured properties on tour, 317 South Saint Asaph Street stands out as a textbook example of the evolution of early Alexandria homes. According to the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), the ‘year of erection’ is ‘probably late 18th C,’ so the house likely dates from the later 1700s. The property today comprises a gracious late -18th- century flounder-style dwelling and a humble one -room structure tucked at the rear of the lot, reflecting layers of early residential use on the site. Like much of Old Town, the site’s history predates the present house, dating back to earlier colonial- era landholdings that were later subdivided as Alexandria developed after 1749.

The property’s history dates to 1669, when King Charles II granted the land to Sir Richard Berkeley, then Governor of Virginia. It would be another century before a home was constructed. Sometime between about 1750 and 1770, a simple “flounder” house was built at the back of the property, with one room and a fireplace on the ground floor and a bedroom above, reached by a wooden ladder. Flounder houses with narrow lots were common at the time. Built with a high, windowless rear wall, the single-sloped shed roof is simpler and cheaper to frame than more complex gabled or hipped roofs. They were often designed to skirt the period’s glass tax by minimizing the use of windows. Typically, one room deep, the Birch home is on a double lot and has a two -story, cantilevered porch along the left side.

During this era, homeowners expanded Flounder houses, gradually transforming a modest singlesloped roof, which is simpler and cheaper to frame than the more complex gabled or hipped roofs. 317 South Saint Asaph demonstrates this early building pattern’s evolution.

The den, tucked between the kitchen and dining room, is the oldest room in the house. It includes the original fireplace and is believed to date between 1769 and 1771. In 1820, what is now the dining room and living room were added. The stairs leading from the foyer are original to the 1800s

addition. In 1860, a bay window was added to add light and update the façade to 19th- century tastes. The original wood-plank staircase survives as a tangible link to the home’s earliest days.

Like many early Alexandria properties, the home once relied on a separate outbuilding for its kitchen. The original kitchen was situated in the old smokehouse before it was eventually connected to the main structure. A new kitchen was constructed in 1980, adding modern functionality while leaving earlier spaces intact. Throughout, the original wooden floors, five working wood-burning fireplaces, and early interior trim attest to the home’s 18th- century origins.

The property's architectural and historical significance is documented in the Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey, a recognition reserved for structures of particular interest and integrity. The house also falls within the Alexandria Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and appears in local preservation inventories as part of the city’s important stock of 18th- century domestic architecture. Together, these designations underscore the home’s place in Old Town’s historic fabric.

For current owner Ruthi Birch, that sense of history is part of the home’s appeal. Twelve years ago, she and her husband, Ron, left their Georgetown home, circa 1840, after deciding it was too small.

“We were drawn to Alexandria’s walkable streets and historic charm,” Ruthi said. “When we discovered 317 South Saint Asaph, I never looked at another house. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to care for such a unique historic house and garden.”

Ruthi is a successful businesswoman, author, and speaker. She founded Ruthi Postow Staffing, a consulting and recruitment firm in Washington, D.C., serving many of the area’s top executives. Her husband, Ron, left Columbia Law School after graduation and moved from New York to Alaska, where he held numerous positions, including District Attorney and Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Stevens, before starting his law firm, Birch Horton Bittner and Cherot.

Since selling her business to her son, Alex, Ruthi has been busy building her next career as a cartoonist and illustrator. Her work can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and www.RuthiBirch.com.

The light-filled kitchen is Ruthi's workspace in the winter. Her computer sits on the counter where she creates cartoons. As soon as the weather warms, she will move her studio to the wrought iron table in the garden, where she and her adorable Wheaten terrier, Mr. Magoo, “live” till winter.

The garden is the showplace of the neighborhood, where apple-blossom trees, camellias, and roses bloom sequentially through spring and summer,

and into the fall. The millstone patio in the garden, as well as the built-in cupboard in the dining room, were brought from an estate in Hanover County, Virginia, in the 1800s. Behind the back wall are two raised vegetable gardens and three parking spaces — a rarity in Old Town.

As visitors step through the front door of 317 South Saint Asaph during Historic Garden Week, they will see an example of a centuries-old historic home, revealing how Alexandria families have lived, worked, and entertained across three centuries. It offers a rare opportunity to see the city’s architectural history not as a moment in time, but as a living, evolving story that continues to unfold with each new generation of owners.

Old Town Alexandria’s Historic Garden Week Tour will be held on Saturday, April 18th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance tickets are $55 online at gcvirginia.org and the Alexandria Visitor Center (211 King Street) and are $65 on tour day. The event includes five historic homes and complimentary refreshments at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 228 South Pitt Street, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A highlight of the tour is Hunting Creek Garden Club’s popular Spring Marketplace Boutique at the Atheneum, located at 201 Prince Street from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. It features an array of vendors, including two beautiful new coffee table books by local authors showcasing the history and preservation of our city’s finest historic homes, Georgetown Paperie stationary and personalized gifts, Heidi Wynne sumptuous cashmere, Charleston-based jewelry designer Janet Gregg’s classic, semi-precious statement pieces, independent jewelry designer Katherine Jones’s classic, handmade gemstone-designed necklaces, KT Bonacci hand-painted hats and bags featuring motifs and scenic, whimsical imagery, well known Alexandria jewelry designer Meg Carter’s beautiful hand-crafted jewelry, Scamps Toffee, a small-batch, buttery, boutique toffee, Virginia Donelson custom oil portraits, and much more.

About the Author: Kim Davis has resided in Alexandria since 1980. Originally from Louisiana, she majored in Journalism, Advertising, and Public Relations at LSU, managing a myriad of clients throughout the years. She and her husband, Randy, raised two children in Alexandria and now enjoy their four young granddaughters. She has been active in numerous community activities throughout the years, serving as President of St. Stephens & St. Agnes’s Parent Association, President of the Parents’ Council of Washington, managing PR for the National Race for the Cure, and served on the board of the Center for Alexandria’s Children. She is a member and former President of the Hunting Creek Garden Club, which biannually organizes the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Home and Garden Tour. Photos provided by the Garden Club of Alexandria and the owner of 317 S. St. Asaph.

Managing Your Investments During Difficult Times

Economic difficulties, political unrest, and natural disasters can all present challenges. Investors may wonder what effect these types of events, and others, could have on their investments. That’s why it’s helpful to focus on three fundamental actions that could help investors work toward their goals — know yourself, build a plan, and keep an eye on the long term.

Know Yourself

When stocks drop by 20% or more, some investors might ignore the drop, others might feel the urge to sell, while still others might see it as a good time to buy. This range of reactions illustrates different levels of risk tolerance, or how sensitive investors are to market volatility. Risk tolerance varies from one investor to another, and no level of tolerance is considered the “right” level — there’s only the right risk tolerance for each investor. Talking with financial advisors or completing online questionnaires can help investors determine their risk tolerance.

While understanding risk tolerance is essential, it should not be considered in isolation. Risk tolerance, goals, and time horizon all play a role in setting an investment plan.

Investing more aggressively may yield more rewards, but the length of time available for investing also plays a part. A longer time horizon could give investors the potential for compound growth. And setting specific goals can help to determine how much an investor should accumulate to support their goals.

Build a Plan

Dwight D. Eisenhower may have said it best — “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” Even though a plan may need to be modified to adapt to changes, the very process of setting a plan can help investors to discover and focus on their most important investment goals.

For a plan to be useful, it’s important for investors to clearly detail which goals they are trying to achieve. Some of an investor’s goals will be shorter term, such as building a rainy-day fund. Intermediate-term goals might include buying a house or paying for a child’s education. Longer-term goals might include planning for retirement and potentially leaving a legacy for charities or family. Investor assets can then be matched to those various goals.

For example, investors might own short-term bonds to meet a near-term expense, and a mixture of stocks and longerterm bonds to meet needs that are further in the future.

The investor’s risk tolerance will help determine the mix of historically more volatile assets — such as stocks — to less volatile assets, such as bonds.

Keep an Eye on the Long Term

Once a plan is in place, it’s important to keep an eye on it over the long term. This includes considering rebalancing the portfolio if allocations move too far away from targets, a task that can be automated. It also includes revisiting plans as an investor’s goals or situation change. A plan is meant to be a living document.

While market drops can be troublesome, unpredictable economic events have presented challenges in the past. With resilience and creativity, America’s businesses and households have managed to overcome them. While there are no guarantees that past performance will repeat itself, history has shown that sticking to investment plans and taking a long-term view of the markets can help investors work toward their goals.

This article was written by/ for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA.

You can contact hin with any questions at 800-247-8602.

Investment and insurance products are not insured by the FDIC or any federal government agency, are not a deposit or other obligation

of, or guaranteed by the bank or any bank affiliate, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

©2023 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

A BIT OF HISTORY

How on Earth…Day!

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. The same year President Richard Nixon [R-CA, 1969-1974] signed the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]. According to leading environmental groups Nixon, a former Alexandria resident was “history’s second greenest President, second only to Theodore Roosevelt [R-NY, 19011908]."

On January 28, 1969—eight days after Nixon’s inauguration—a California off-shore oil rig ruptured. It dumped millions of gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean. When President Nixon, a California Quaker “walked along the black-stained beach he knew things had to change."

In 2025 President Donald Trump's Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced reforms to modernize the federal environmental review process, "Our nation’s broken permitting process has been abused for decades to block affordable, reliable energy production,” Burgum said. “President Trump is fulfilling his promise to eliminate unnecessary regulation. [His] reforms will help unleash America’s full potential as a global leader in innovation, growth and development."

The revised National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA procedures, are pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] became operational on December 2, 1970. “The Environmental Protection Agency is an independent agency,” Administrator William Ruckelshaus [R-IN, 1970-1973] explained. “It has no obligation to promote agriculture or commerce; only the critical obligation to protect and enhance the environment. It does not have a narrow charter…[I]t has a broad responsibility with regard to five environmental hazards: air and water pollution, solid waste disposal, radiation, and pesticides.”

The Clean Air Act 0f 1970 became law on December 31.

The amount of future warming Earth experiences depends in part on how much carbon dioxide [CO2] and other Green House Gases [GHGs] humans emit. The term carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases industries like oil and gasoline release—Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) especially.

Unfortunately, President Trump prefers undeclared war [economic or other] to the reasonable regulation of oil, gasoline, and other natural resources. His bombastic power plays include Venezuela, Iran, and Denmark’s Greenland. Island. America’s ongoing war with Iran has been underway for weeks.

“President Trump opened the year with pledges to seize the Panama Canal, take control of Greenland and rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America,” The New York Times reported in

truth that has echoed throughout the ages, The United States will never waver in defense of our homeland, our interests, or the well-being of our citizens. Today, my Administration proudly reaffirms this promise under a new Trump Corollary to the [1823] Monroe Doctrine. That the American people—not foreign nations nor globalist institutions—will always control their own destiny in our hemisphere.” Monroe’s Presidency was known as the “era of good feelings.” Trump’s Corollary as the Donroe Doctrine.

"I was privileged to lead the U.S. COP delegation in 2015,” John Kerry former U.S Senator [D, 1983]; Secretary of State [2013-2017] and U.S. Special Envoy for Climate said in 2023, “The then 195 participating countries, plus the European Union, agreed that governments needed to do more to prevent the global average temperature from rising.'"

November 2025. “He is ending it by bombing boats from South America, stationing the world’s largest aircraft carrier in the Caribbean and exploring military options against Venezuela’s autocratic leader.”

From the White House, Trump’s 250 Corollary: “On December 2, 1823, the doctrine of American sovereignty was immortalized in prose when President James Monroe [the country’s fifth President] declared, before the Nation, a simple

John Kerry first criticized incoming President Trump's shift in U.S. environmental policies in 2018. Also, a broad coalition of health and environmental groups, the American Public Health Association and Sierra Club included, have sued those Trump supporters who claim GHG’s do not threaten public health. Public health is a, if not the primary, justification for climate regulations.

The real gagger: The Environmental Defense Fund and Union of Concerned Scientists have filed lawsuits regarding the secret assembly of climate skeptics to undermine climate science reports.

It was in Trump's second term that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth illegally changed his job title from Secretary of Defense to Secretary of War. Soon after, Hegseth began dropping bombs on Venezuelan cartel-types traveling in international waters. U.S surveillance remains strong, as Venezuela has not only a thriving drug trade, but also the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves.

"There is no good reason why we should fear the future,” President Theodore Roosevelt professed in 1905. If others disagree? President Trump’s changes in environmental regulations have resulted in a reduction of EV sales, War-torn Iran recently closed the Strait of Hormuz; the Middle East shipping crisis will likely result in a historic rise in U.S. oil and gasoline prices.

Locally. Alexandria city has more people per square mile than any other jurisdiction in Virginia. Rather than develop mass transit thoughtfully, city politicians prefer piecemeal analyses: especially when discussing increases in housing stock.

Wake up America!! The time to make meaningful change grows shorter.

About the Author: Sarah Becker started writing for The Economist while a graduate student in England. Similar publications followed. She joined the Crier in 1996 while serving on the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board. Her interest in antiquities began as a World Bank hire, with Indonesia’s need to generate hard currency. Balinese history, i.e. tourism provided the means. The New York Times describes Becker’s book, Off Your Duffs & Up the Assets, as “a blueprint for thousands of nonprofit managers.”

A former museum director, SLAM’s saving grace Sarah received Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award in 2007. Email abitofhistory53@gmail.com

Karma Police by Radiohead

After In 1997, Radiohead delivered one of the most haunting and enduring tracks of the alternative rock era with “Karma Police", a slow-burning anthem that became a defining highlight of their landmark album OK Computer. Built around a somber piano progression, subtle guitar textures, and Thom Yorke’s fragile, emotionally charged vocals, the song captured the band’s growing fascination with alienation, frustration, and quiet rebellion. Originally inspired by an inside joke among the band about “calling the karma police” on misbehaving people, the track evolved into something far more powerful: an eerie meditation on judgment and consequence that continues to resonate with listeners decades after its release.

Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood begin “Karma Police” with an acoustic guitar and piano arrangement that charges ahead with solemnity and a touch of midtempo sadness. After eight bars of intro music, the first verse kicks in with the addition of Colin Greenwood’s rumbling bass and Philip Selway’s steady drum beat. Thom Yorke’s authoritative and spooky vocals mix with these musical elements with the lines, “Karma police, arrest this man / He talks in maths / he buzzes like a fridge”. With its distinct melody, instrumentation, and artistry, the elements of “Karma Police” mix together to imprint the listener with the unique and unmistakable feeling that only Radiohead can produce.

For the chorus the band pulls back leaving piano and backing vocals that move through the mix like a winter breeze. We then hear Yorke, with a dry and cold tone, deliver the memorable lines “This is what you get / this is what you get / this is what you get / when you mess with us”. The final line of the chorus is punctuated with the

full band charging back creating an emotional boost before transitioning into the second verse.

After a couple of verses and choruses, the music shifts into a climbing progression that bursts into the bridge section. As the bridge begins, guitarist Ed O'Brien adds innovative musical color by running his guitar through a self-oscillating delay unit creating a fast rhythmic sound that flutters around the mix. Meanwhile, the piano, acoustic guitar, and bass switch up the chord progression and shift the emotional tone of the song. We also hear Thom Yorke repeat the lines, “For a minute there I lost myself / I lost myself” with a powerful emotional ache. The bridge section eventually grows into an outro section that maintains the same chord progression. Here, reverb-soaked background vocals shimmer, while the delay effects of the guitar gradually morph into a squelching chaos that popular music hadn’t really heard before “Karma Police”.

In spite of speculation of a new album being worked on, there is no official news about new music from Radiohead. However, after 7 years of not performing, the band completed 20 concerts in late 2025 making it clear that they are alive and well. If you would like to listen to “Karma Police” or any other part of Radiohead’s highly regarded body of work, you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you would like to learn more about Radiohead you can find more information on Wikipedia, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

About the Author: Ron Powers is an independent A&R specialist and music industry consultant and is constantly searching for, discovering and writing about new talent.

AFTER HOURS

Birchmere

703.549.7500

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. birchmere.com

The Blackwall Hitch

571-982-3577

5 Cameron St. theblackwallhitch.com

Chadwicks

203 S. Strand St.

703.836.4442

Evening Star Cafe

703.549.5051

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The Fish Market

703.836.5676

105 King St. fishmarketoldtown.com

La Portas

703.683.6313

1600 Duke St.

The Light Horse

703.549.0533

715 King St. lighthorserestaurant.com

Murphys Irish Pub

703.548.1717

713 King St. murphyspub.com

O’Connell’s

703.739.1124

112 King St.

Rock It Grill

703.739.2274

1319 King St.

Shooter McGees

703.751.9266

5239 Duke St. shootermcgees.com

Southside 815

703.836.6222

2300 Mt. Vernon Ave. Taverna Cretekou 703.548.8688 818 King St.

AGATHA CHRISTIE: A MYSTERIOUS LIFE

Dame Agatha Christie’s books consistently rank among the bestselling works of all time, alongside William Shakespeare and the Bible. How did a self-described “lowbrow” writer create a lasting template for the twentieth-century mystery novel and achieve global fame? And why does her work endure decades after her death? Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson offers compelling answers.

Rather than presenting a chronological biography, Thompson focuses on Christie’s psychological development. She offers a close reading of Christie’s fiction while advancing her own interpretation of the author’s famous eleven-day disappearance in 1926. Central to Thompson’s analysis is Christie’s childhood at Ashfield, her beloved home in Torquay, which nurtured her imagination.

Born in 1890, Agatha Miller grew up with little formal schooling but a rich inner life. Much younger than her siblings, she was raised almost as an only child in a comfortable, structured household. Surrounded by attentive parents and capable servants—the very types who populate her fiction—she developed a keen sense of observation and imagination.

This early stability helped sustain her after the death of her father, Frederick, which plunged the family into financial uncertainty. Her mother, Clara, sent her to a finishing school in Paris, where Agatha briefly considered a career in singing. A debutante season in Cairo followed, offering a more economical alternative to London society. Agatha’s life took a decisive turn when she met Archibald Christie in 1912. A charismatic but emotionally elusive pilot, Archie fascinated her. As Thompson suggests, Agatha was drawn to mysteries not only in fiction but in life. During World War I, while Archie served abroad, she worked as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse, gaining practical knowledge of poisons that later became central to her plots.

After their marriage, the couple traveled extensively through the British Empire, including South Africa, Australia, and Canada. These journeys broadened Christie’s perspective, though she remained attuned to the attitudes of a conservative British readership. Her novels often feature characters who express casual nationalism or xenophobia, yet she subtly undermines these views. Hercule Poirot, for example, plays up his foreignness to manipulate others’ assumptions, revealing both their prejudice and his own cunning.

Christie began writing detective fiction partly as a challenge from her sister. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introduced Poirot and established her reputation. Later, she created Miss Marple, another iconic detective. Christie’s characters often straddle the line between insider and outsider, reflecting a universal tension between belonging and alienation.

By 1926, Christie’s personal life had reached a breaking point. Her mother had recently died, and Archie revealed his affair with Nancy Neele, asking for a divorce. Devastated, Christie disappeared, abandoning her car near

a quarry. Thompson reconstructs this episode as a psychological crisis rather than a calculated stunt. Assuming the identity of “Mrs. Teresa Neele,” Christie checked into a spa in Harrogate, effectively erasing herself.

Thompson argues that this act reflected both emotional shock and a desperate attempt to reclaim control. Christie may have hoped to provoke Archie’s return, but events spiraled beyond her intentions. A letter she sent to Archie’s brother reportedly went astray, and the ensuing media frenzy transformed her disappearance into a public spectacle. When she was eventually found, the couple claimed amnesia—a story widely doubted.

This episode marked a turning point. The romantic young woman gave way to a more guarded figure. Her second marriage, to archaeologist Max Mallowan, was stable and affectionate, though less romantically passionate. Christie accompanied him on expeditions to the Middle East, combining companionship with her writing career. However, her relationship with her daughter, Rosalind, remained more distant, revealing a complex maternal dynamic.

Thompson’s psychological approach contrasts with Jared Cade’s more traditional biography, Agatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days Where Cade emphasizes chronology and social relationships, Thompson delves into Christie’s inner life. She also challenges some of Cade’s claims, particularly those based on anecdotal sources. While Thompson’s analysis is often persuasive, her relative neglect of Christie’s friendships—highlighted in Cade’s work—creates a somewhat narrower portrait.

Christie’s literary strengths lie in her mastery of dialogue and characterization. She brings to life a wide spectrum of voices, from servants to aristocrats, with remarkable precision. I never fail to hear her characters speaking in my head. Even their mundane observations are compelling. Her ability to construct believable conversations often

surpasses that of her biographers’ analyses. At the same time, her work reflects the limitations of its era. Some characters rely on racial or national stereotypes that appear jarring today. Certain early works, such as The Big Four, verge on melodrama. Yet at her best, Christie explores the psychological motivations behind crime— jealousy, desperation, greed—with insight and subtlety.

Her enduring appeal lies in this blend of simplicity and complexity. Christie presents crime as a puzzle that can be solved through careful observation of human nature. Characters like Miss Marple succeed not through physical prowess but by understanding patterns in behavior. Readers are invited to participate in this process, creating a sense of engagement and satisfaction.

Thompson suggests that Christie’s apparent reliance on stereotypes is more complicated than it seems. Often, these characterizations are deliberately misleading, encouraging readers to question their assumptions. Christie’s fiction repeatedly demonstrates that appearances deceive and that identity is fluid—a theme reflected in her own life. If these points are now whodunit cliches, she is the twentieth-century detective novelist who created that template.

Miss Marple, for instance, is frequently underestimated because of her age and demeanor, only to reveal sharp intelligence and moral clarity. Through such characters, Christie subtly critiques social biases, including ageism and sexism. Her novels offer ingenious plots and familiar archetypes, but they also reveal the darker undercurrents of ordinary lives. Beneath polite society lie ambition, resentment, and vulnerability. Christie’s detectives expose these hidden truths, restoring order while acknowledging the chaos beneath.

As Thompson observes, Christie’s life itself was often untidy and unresolved. Yet in her fiction, she transforms this messiness into structured narratives that deliver both resolution and catharsis. By simplifying reality without denying its complexity, she creates stories that are both comforting and intellectually satisfying.

In the end, Christie’s genius lies in her understanding of human nature and her ability to shape it into compelling puzzles. Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life illuminates this process, revealing the intricate connections between the author’s experiences and her work. It is no mystery why her stories continue to captivate readers: they reflect, with deceptive clarity, the enduring enigmas of human behavior while providing tidy endings that we wish existed in real life.

About the Author: Miriam Kramer worked at Olsson’s Books & Records before it closed in 2008, welcoming Old Town, Alexandria, residents to a unique place where employees with encyclopedic knowledge of literature and music enriched the community. As a global nomad, she has lived, studied, or worked in diverse countries overseas. With her experience writing and studying international affairs, she has promoted democracy, international media, the arts, peace building, and citizen diplomacy during her career.

ONSTAGE:

Spring is upon us in all its color and warmth. Great to be outside, I know— but let’s not forget all of the sparkling theater to be had inside our performing arts venues. Check out some of these shows, all in bloom around the DMV this month:

AS YOU LIKE IT

Folger Theatre

Now thru April 12

Some of the Bard’s most beautiful language—“all the world’s a stage..” and the Seven Ages of Man speech—bejewel a rather complicated plot wherein two cousins are banished from court by mean old Duke Frederick (their uncle/ father), only to find love and merriment in the nearby forests of Arden, where Frederick’s kindly brother Duke Senior (their father/uncle) presides over a mellow, more laid back life than royals enjoy. It wouldn’t be Shakespeare without a little gender switching, so cousin Rosalind dons boys’ clothing to escape Frederick and find the handsome Orlando who—wouldn’t you know it—befriends her lad-attired self, while he/she gets chased around the stage by the lusty Phebe. Folger Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels envisioned this modern take on the proceedings, frenetically staged by Director Timothy Douglas and a rollicking cast led by the handsome Manu Kumasi as Orlando and Tsilala Brock and Sabrina Lynne Sawyer as cousins Roz and Celia. Ahmad Kamai’s Touchstone applies the Fool-ishness, engaging the audience all the way, and Jefferson A Russell does a nice job assaying both Dukes--- one menacing, the other a sweetheart—though the doubling prevents the onstage reconciliation playwright Will had in mind. With everything else going on, it wasn’t missed. Tickets at www. folger.edu.

INHERIT THE WIND

Arena Stage

Now thru April 5

Based on the real-life Scopes “Monkey” Trial, this electrifying courtroom drama pits two towering legal minds against each other in a small-town battle over science, religion, and the right to think freely. As the town becomes a stage for national attention, personal conviction clashes with public opinion in a trial that transcends its time. Inherit the Wind, the American classic by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is a searing, deeply human portrait of a country still wrestling with the cost—and courage—of progress. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

National Theatre

Now thru April 5

Be their guest at this beloved Tony® Award winning musical, the show that brought Disney to Broadway. A wonderful score by Alan Menken and smart yet lush, romantic lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice—Tim finishing Howard’s work after the former passed far too young—makes this the family musical the kids will love and mom will swoon over. You can’t beat that combo, Dad. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com

EDDIE IZZARD IN THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET

Klein Theatre

Now thru April 11

STC presents the Prince of Denmark’s tragic tale of revenge, told onstage, alone, by the remarkable Eddie Izzard, who perfoms all twenty-three roles-men, women, ghosts, scholars, tyrants, courtiers, lovers, and fools – direct from triumphant engagements in Chicago and London. Find out why Eddie’s buddy Dame Judi Dench calls Izzard’s performance “spectacular.” Tickets at www. shakespearetheatre.org

HAMNET

Harman Hall

Now thru April 12

The esteemed Royal Shakespeare Company visits STC’s Harman Hall with this stage adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel about parent Will and Agnes Shakespeare whose eleven year old son is taken by the plague. “Life of Pi” playwright Lolita Chakrabarti crafted this moving tale of love and loss, proving that out of great suffering, wonder can emerge. Tickets at www. shakespearetheatrecompany.org

TRAVESTY

Woolly Mammoth

Now thru- April 12

Actor, theater maker, drag queen Sasha Velour takes us on a one person journey through secret queer history, one spot at a time. We meet a witch burning in a field, a clown building a theater, and an underground gay bar rising up against the police as Velour channels each character through the cycle of existence, resistance, and camp that IS drag. Counting on lip synching, too. Tickets at www.woollymammoth.net

OLD TOWN

SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED

Signature Theatre

Now thru April 12

Curious about a classified ad inviting readers to go back in time-- “bring your own weapons; you’ll get paid after we get back”—journalist Darius sets out to find its author. When she agrees to take the writer up on his offer, Darius finds herself in way over her head on a time-traveling odyssey. Indie-rocker Ryan Miller of Guster fame joins actor/playwright Nick Blaemire to craft this new musical based on the hit movie. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER

Little Theatre of Alexandria

Now thru April 18

The 1967 romantic comedy, directed by Stanley Kramer, gets the Little Theatre treatment. When an Upper East Side affluent (need I say “white”?) family welcomes daughter’s new boyfriend, social constraints and unearthed prejudices rock an otherwise predictable dinner party. Sidney Poitier played the bf in the movie, which coincidentally came out the same year the Supreme Court decided Loving v Virginia, striking down our anti-miscegenation laws. Tickets at www.thelittletheatre.com

JONAH

Studio Theatre

Now thru April 19

Ana is on her own, a scholarship student at a boarding school, until she meets day-student Jonah. What begins as an exploration of new and joyful desire shifts into more complex negotiations of intimacy and survival, covering decades in one woman’s life. A story of rage, resilience, and the radical possibilities of trust, playwright Rachel Bonds returns to the Studio for this DC premier. Tickets at www.studiotheatre.org

A GOOD DAY TO ME NOT TO YOU

Arena Stage

Now thru May 3

Drama Desk Award-winning actor Lameece Issaq teams up with Obie-winning director Lee Sunday Evans on Issaq’s new play, which centers on the chaotic life of a 40-something dental lab tech who gets fired and moves into a woman's rooming house run by nuns. While there, she must come to terms with her unfulfilled path to motherhood and the untimely death of her younger sister, all while fending off her unpredictable and sometimes deranged cohabitants. Tickets at www.arenastage.org

1776

Ford’s Theatre

Now thru May 16

Just in time for the country’s 250th, this musical is an insightful, often humorous take on our founding fathers’ determination to do the right thing for their fledgling nation. As members of the Second Continental Congress struggle to reach consensus, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson debate the issues that will define our country. Who knew that the composer of “Johnny Get Angry” would win the Tony® Award for Best Musical with this Broadway hit? Tickets at www.fords.org

THE MINUTES

Keegan Theatre

April 4- May 3

Tony ® and Pulitzer prize winning playwright Tracy Letts’ dark comedy about a small town City Council that’s got more on its mind than stop signs and sewer leaks. As their meeting unfolds in real time, tensions rise, alliances shift, and a routine agenda veers into chaos. What begins as civic procedure spirals into a chilling question: how far would you go to protect your version of the truth? Tickets at www. Keegantheatre.com

CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA

April 9 – May 3

Undercroft Theatre at Mt Vernon Place United Methodist Church

Celebrating its fortieth anniversary, Washington Stage Guild offers up its take on George Bernard Shaw’s historical drama, adapted by WSG artistic director Bill Largess. A riveting exploration of power, politics, vengeance and mercy (not the one four block south at the DOJ), Shaw introduces the aging Caesar to the teenager who would become queen of Egypt under his tutelage. Managing the headstrong Cleo turns out to be more than he can handle. Tickets at www. stageguild.org

44: THE MUSICAL

April 15 – May 10

Klein Theatre

A wacky send-up of our 44th president’s special place in history. If you miss Barak crooning “How Black Is Too Black” over a Motown groove, Sarah Palin screaming “Drill Me Baby” like Ozzy Osbourne, or Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz rapping “Green Eggs and Ham,” this is the special engagement for you. Not for fans of Alex Jones or Stephen Miller. Tickets at www. shakespearetheatre.org

About the Author: Edelman is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony® voter. Catch his monthly podcast at www.onstagedmv.org.

Photo credits: As You Like It by Brittany Diliberto; Hamnet by Kyle Flubacker; Eddie Izzard’s Hamlet by Amanda Searle; Safety Not Guaranteed by Christopher Mueller. Pictured below: Inherit the Wind by Daniel Rader.

National Gallery of Art Happenings & Beyond

This month I’m going to discuss both the March exhibition at the Art League in Alexandria (on the ground floor of the Torpedo Factory) as well as their upcoming April exhibition.

Over 20 years ago, in 2005, I had the honor to jury one of the monthly shows at the Art League – which as I’ve noted before, is one of the crown jewels of the DMV A art scene – Back then about 600 works in all genres and medias were submitted for my review and I selected 120 of them for exhibition in the Art League Gallery on the first floor of the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria.

Jurying an art show is a very time consuming, and arduous task. In this case, there were some absolutely brilliant works, a lot of OK work, and a few head scratchers. But the sublime pleasure of being surrounded by artwork from artists of all ranges, ages and skills, is unequaled. This is what the love of visual arts is all about!

As I've noted, seldom is the task of jurying an art show an easy task, and even though I have juried many shows over the last forty plus years,

I always approach the task with the realization that a lot of effort and work must be delivered in order to do a proper job.

Back to the present: The March Open Exhibit was juried by Fanna Gebreyesus and was on display through April 6, 2026. As you constant readers know, I like to re-jury shows, and offer my own picks for prizes – never knowing who the juror picked for a prize.

My top prize goes to a gorgeous work title Light Air by Ellyse Stauffer, who tackles a very popular subject (flowers) and delivers a work worth of not only a prize, but also space on some collector’s wall. It is a display of quite spectacular artistic skills! On the same subject of flowers, I also like the polar opposite: a very fluid and beautiful work by Alexandra Tolstoy titled Irises 2

Those two works are perfect examples of the sublime nature of painting at the hands of two skilled artists who could not be any more different in painting approaches to the subject, yet both equally good at delivering memorable work!

The April show is themed to the subject of “Savor” and will be on exhibit through April 26.

Another fine arts crown jewel is Multiple Exposures Gallery (MEG), also located inside the Torpedo Factory. Multiple Exposures Gallery represents 15 fine art photographers whose work is featured in thoughtfully curated rotating exhibitions often developed in collaboration with nationally recognized jurors and curators – I have also had the honor of curating multiple shows for MEG over the years, and they are without a doubt one of the top photography galleries in the nation. The gallery also offers an exceptional selection of original fine art photographs and photography books.

Through April 19 they have a show title “Ambiguity” by Alan Sislen, a well-seasoned and immensely talented fine arts photographer whose footprint in the photographic scene of the DMV spans many decades.

In this new body of work, Sislen explores the "moment when perception pauses"— described by MEG as “a fleeting second when the eye recognizes a form, but the mind cannot yet

Ellyse Stauffer

Curved Perspectives by Alan Sislen

define it. Through reflection, repetition, and abstraction, his images of familiar places unsettle orientation, disrupt our sense of space, and blur the line between what is seen, felt and understood.”

Finally, also on the ground floor of the Factory is the Target Gallery, and yes: I’ve also juried multiple shows for them over the years.

Currently on exhibit is the Nikki Giovanni: Immersive Experience, a exhibition presented by the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts and Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology.

We’re told that “The Nikki Giovanni Immersive Experience” combines her poetry (as recorded by Giovanni at different times in her life) with audio soundscapes and motion graphic projections. This is an interdisciplinary collaboration between a composer, designers, literary experts, embodied performance artists, and creative technologists, converging to create a multisensory experience. Each projection will be

Spring Forward !

Springtime is coming ... really!

Springtime is coming...really!

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

crafted to capture the essence of Giovanni’s poetry, drawing inspiration from its themes, imagery, and rhythmic cadence. Additionally, we utilized the library’s motion capture studios in collaboration with faculty and students from the School of Performing Arts to develop visual avatars featured in select final motion graphic works. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the art on a deeper level, allowing themselves to be enveloped by the interplay of sight and sound, word and image.”

Go see some art in town!

About the Author: F. Lennox Campello's art news, information, gallery openings, commentary, criticism, happenings, opportunities, and everything associated with the global visual arts scene with a special focus on the Greater Washington, DC area has been a premier source for the art community for over 20 years. Since 2003, his blog has been the 11th highest ranked art blog on the planet with over SIX million visitors.

Fast and Fabulous Art Exhibit April 3–25

Del Ray Artisans gallery in the Colasanto Center / 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue

From the first blueprints for the Model T to Warhol and Dali to the Ferrari 250, legally a work of art in Italy, cars have inspired and embodied art. The Fast and the Fabulous exhibit features artwork exploring cars and car culture. Be it Fords, Ferraris, or flying cars, Del Ray Artisans’ interpretations of cars as well as motorcycles, trucks, and other fast/fabulous forms of transportation will impress, amuse, and delight. Visitors of driving age and those visitors still dreaming of their first time behind the wheel will love this exhibit.

“I am an artist, the track is my canvas and the car is my brush.” —Graham Hill, Grand Prix and Indy 500 champion.

Gallery hours are Thursday 12-6pm (First Thursday 12-9pm), Friday 12-9pm, Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-6pm (closed April 26). The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible. Del Ray Artisans, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote art for the benefit of artists and the community.

“A woman in love with abstraction” - 2021

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Price and additional images upon request.

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

16x20 watercolor on paper with embedded electronic images that rotate every 5 seconds.

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

Exclusively representing the works of F. Lennox Campello

Price and additional images upon request.

Alida Anderson Art Projects, LLC, Washington, DC www.alidaanderson.com / info@alidaanderson.com

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

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

We

Heading Into Our Nations 250th at the Calvert Marine Museum

It has been quite some time since we have featured information about one of our favorite places in Solomons, Maryland. I have had a love affair with the otters at the CMM for many years. They bring so much joy to the experience every time we visit and if I lived in Solomons, I would definitely attempt the Otter Trot. – Lani Gering, Old Town Crier.

The Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) invites the public to take part in a dynamic lineup of programs, performances, and exhibitions honoring Maryland’s 250th commemoration. Through immersive storytelling, live music, community events, and public art, the museum will explore the region’s rich and complex history while celebrating the people and traditions that have shaped Calvert County.

New Exhibit Now Open: Farmers, Patriots & Traitors:

Southern Maryland and the War of 1812

Now open at CMM, this compelling exhibit examines the difficult choices faced by Southern Maryland residents in the years following the American Revolution. Visitors are invited to consider: Were local citizens defending their homes and families, standing firm as patriots, or risking accusations of treason to protect their livelihoods?

This exhibit was created by Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum and adapted by CMM. The exhibit features interactive elements and locally significant artifacts that bring these stories vividly to life.

Maritime Performance Series: Music of the American Revolution Friday, April 17 | 7–9 p.m. (Doors

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s War for Independence with a special musical performance by renowned historians David and Ginger Hildebrand. Performing in period attire, the Hildebrand’s will present patriotic songs, ballads, dance tunes, and theatrical pieces known by figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.

The performance will feature a variety of historical instruments, including hammered dulcimer, violin, and Spanish and English guitars, offering audiences insight into both the refined and everyday musical traditions of early America. Tickets are $20 online (through the day prior) and $25 on the day of the event or at the door. Beverages will be available for purchase. Maritime Performance Series 2026 | Calvert Marine Museum, MD - Official Website www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/231/MaritimePerformance-Series

Otter Trot 5K: Celebrating Maryland’s 250th Saturday, April 18 | 8 a.m.

The Calvert Marine Museum Society will host the third annual Otter Trot 5K, welcoming runners and walkers of all levels for a fun morning along the waterfront. This year’s race embraces the theme of Maryland’s 250th, combining fitness, community spirit, and celebration.

Registration is $35 for museum members (with discount code) and $45 for non-members, plus service fees. Whether participants are racing competitively or enjoying a leisurely stroll, all are invited to join in this “otterly” fun event supporting the museum. Official Website www. calvertmarinemuseum.com/488/Otter-Trot-5K

Community Mural Project Celebrates Calvert County’s Story

Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

In partnership with the Arts Council of Calvert County and supported by the Maryland Two Fifty Commission, CMM is proud to debut a new public mural honoring the county’s history, people, and natural environment. Developed through community input and grounded in historical research, the mural reflects a shared vision of telling inclusive and representative local stories. About the Museum: Explore how the prehistoric past, natural environments, and maritime heritage come to life and tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay. The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11 for adults, $9 for seniors, military, and veterans with valid I.D, AAA and AARP members, $6 for children ages 5 – 12, children under 5 and museum members are admitted free. Proud participant in Museums for ALL. For more information about the museum, visit the website at www. calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042.

April In Virginia’s Hunt Country

Publishers Note: This month’s column is brought to you courtesy of AI. Our contributing writer was unable to submit a column but we were unaware of that right up until deadline day and there wasn’t time to go to a Plan B. While our opinion of the merits of AI are on the fence, I did find enough information to give you all an idea of what there is to do in this pretty part of the Commonwealth this month. I have no idea how to give credit to the AI Gurus sources but I am guessing it consists of a major google search of sorts. For what it’s worth:

Hunt County is the region surrounding Middleburg, Upperville, and Delaplane. This area awakens with its most iconic equestrian traditions and garden tours. The month is headlined by worldclass steeplechase racing and the bloom of spring gardens.

Signature Equestrian Events

These events are the heartbeat of Hunt Country in April, featuring high-speed racing, elaborate tailgates, and traditional spring attire.

Middleburg Spring Races: Saturday, April 18, 2026. This is Virginia’s oldest steeplechase tradition, held at Glenwood Park. It features world-class thoroughbreds competing over hedges and timber, drawing thousands for its competitive racing and festive tailgating scene.

Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point: Sunday, April 26, 2026. Also held at Glenwood Park, this event offers a more community-focused atmosphere with heart-pounding races and lively social circles. Gates typically open at 10:00 AM, with the first race at 1:00 PM.

Garden & Estate Tours

April marks the peak of spring blooms, celebrated through exclusive access to private historic estates.

Historic Garden Week takes place throughout the Commonwealth April 18–25th. This statewide event includes specific tours in the Middleburg, Upperville, and Fauquier/Loudoun areas.

The Hunt Country Tour is scheduled for April 26th, featuring historic properties near Middleburg.

Oak Spring Garden Foundation offers specialized workshops and tours, such as Conservation Land Stewardship on April 11th.

Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival: April 18–19th - Downtown Leesburg transforms into a parade of floral designers, landscapers, and plant vendors.

Nature & Community Activities

Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane offers several guided nature programs in early April, including: Moo’s Who? Cattle Talk & Dairy Barn Tour: April 2nd.

Ranger Beads: Pacing & Orienteering: April 4th.

Barnyard Buddies: April 4th - Feed the farm animals.

Art Exhibitions & Festivals

The Byrne Gallery in Middleburg features the "The Happiness of Color" exhibit throughout April, showcasing local artists' perspectives on the season.

National Sporting Library & Museum hosts "Foxes, Hounds, and Horses in the Virginia Hunt Country," an exhibition running through late April.

SperryFest held on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Just a short drive from the heart of Hunt Country, this festival in Sperryville features the Great Rubber Duck Race, live music, and local artisans.

Food & Wine

Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery in Delaplane hosts festive weekend events including Easter Egg Hunts (with a 21+ "Golden Egg Hunt") on April 4–5.

Rappahannock Cellars Wine & Duck Dinner will be held on Sunday, April 26th. This is a familystyle meal paired with local wines. Obviously, the above is representative of only a portion of the springtime activity in and around Hunt Country. There are several other wineries that have ongoing events during the month and we are sure there are many other springtime festivals taking place in addition to SperryFest , which is one of the coolest small-town events we have attended over the years. We encourage you to take a drive on one of the upcoming sunny spring days and treat yourself to some time in Virginia’s part of the Blue Ridge.

VISIT HUNT COUNTRY

East Side, West Side, All Around Town!

Over the years we have made many trips to Annapolis...by automobile and by boat. The sail into Annapolis is beautiful. Coming up the Chesapeake Bay, you make a port run into Spa Creek. On the starboard side is the capitol of Maryland, Annapolis. On the port side will be the town of Eastport and the Spa Creek Bridge connecting the two vibrant towns, and fittingly, the name of the street is Compromise Street. A bit farther “inland” and not in view from the water is West Street – a lessor visitor-frequented side of the town even though that is where the Visitors Center is located.

East Side…

The town of Eastport was established in 1868 and annexed into the town of Annapolis in 1951. Eastport continued to wallow under the shadow of Annapolis proper until the uprising on Independence Day, Sunday, January 25, 1998.

Like any great movement, the concept for the Maritime Republic of Eastport began in a local pub over a couple mugs of beer. The prime mission was to find a creative way to promote and encourage the patronage of Eastport businesses that were destined to be hurt by a three-week closing of the Spa Creek drawbridge that connects the two towns while much needed maintenance took place.

What started as a stunt to draw attention to the town of Eastport, became a labor of love as the community rallied around the town and fundraisers were started to benefit the residents. Today that spirit is still celebrated with the annual Tug of War across Spa Creek between Annapolis folks and the Eastportaricans. They even have their own flag emblazoned with a coat of arms flanked with “rampant retrievers” and the motto, "We Like It this Way!"

Once in Eastport, Severn Avenue is one of the main drags and leads to some of the best restaurants in Eastport. While three of the areas popular chain restaurants – Blackwall Hitch, Charthouse and Ruth’s Chris – are located on the Eastport side of the creek, we prefer to frequent the locally owned eateries. The iconic Davis Pub on Chester Avenue and the Boatyard Bar & Grill - the local sailors gathering spot remain our favorites. Other popular locally owned places the likes of Lewnes' Steak House, O'Learys Seafood Restaurant and Carrol’s Creek Café welcome locals and tourists alike with prime steaks and seafood and lots of atmosphere. On this trip we noticed “new to us” Adam’s on Fourth (opened in 2023) and Forward Brewing (opened in 2020). How in the world they just got our eye on this trip is amazing since we’ve driven by them more than a few times these last 6 years.

In addition to great places to eat and drink, there are also some very cute shops and on the other side of Eastport on Back Creek, you can entertain yourself at the Annapolis Maritime Museum – very well worth the stop! The streets in Eastport are pretty narrow so bring the compact car if you have one or be prepared to pull your sideview mirrors in on occasion. Everywhere you look there is water from the creeks or the Chesapeake Bay itself. It is beautiful and very, very dog friendly.

West Side…

The main purpose of this Road Trip was to see the Eastport Oyster Boys perform their musical magic at the beautiful Maryland Hall off of West Street in Annapolis. The EOB’s are a very popular Annapolis/Eastport-based band known for their "modern maritime music" celebrating Chesapeake Bay life,

history, and culture with folk, Celtic, and rock influences. Officially appointed as Musical Goodwill Ambassadors for Annapolis and the Maritime Republic of Eastport, they entertain with witty songs and stories, promoting a philosophy of " a good hat, a good dog, and a good boat". The event we attended was the band celebrating its 30th anniversary with a "Shuck it Tour" and benefits for local musicians.

Like many of you, we haven’t spent a lot of time on the West Side over these last 38 years so our first-hand knowledge of the many eateries and shops in this part of Annapolis is very limited. Basically, Ram’s Head Tavern and Stage - for food and to watch a show - and the Visitors Center were the only two destinations we seeked out. This time, however, we spent the night at The Westin Annapolis at 100 Westgate Circle (we usually stay at the B&B above

Chick & Ruth’s on Main Street near City Dock) located quite aways up West Street but near Maryland Hall. It is much the same as any luxury hotel and a nice place for an elegant, quiet stay – not usually our M.O. when we are in town – and we enjoyed every bit of our evening there and treated ourselves to breakfast at Miss Shirley’s Café just around the corner from the hotel. More on it in the “Dining Out” section of this publication.

While I’m not sure how I feel about AI generated info, I believe what I found to be good information. I find it quite interesting and it gives me a different perspective on the importance of this street.

Historically, West Street was the only land-based entrance into the "city of sails" for travelers arriving by horse or carriage from Baltimore, Philadelphia, or Washington, D.C.

Even though we have been in the Visitors Center several times, I guess I didn’t pay any attention to its story. The Claude House, located at 26 West Street, is the circa 1767 building that serves as the Annapolis Visitors Center. It was originally owned by Dennis Claude and is a key marker of the street's colonial industry and commerce. Lots of other historic buildings in this area as well.

which ran through what is now Amos Garrett Boulevard.

In the segregated 1950s, the first block of West Street became a unique cultural intersection. It functioned as a commercial sanctuary where African American residents could shop at Jewish-owned stores during an era when many other merchants refused them service.

The surrounding area, originally farmland, was incorporated as the town of West Annapolis in 1890 before being annexed into the city in 1951. This annexation led to several street name changes to avoid duplication (e.g., Severn Avenue became Melvin Avenue).

Like many downtown areas, West Street's commerce suffered following World War II due to the rise of suburban shopping malls. It began a significant recovery during the 1990s boom. Today, the first few blocks are known for a vibrant mix of art galleries, restaurants, and entertainment venues, maintaining their historical brick-covered aesthetic while serving as a center for local nightlife and tourism.

We encourage you to take the time to check out what the West Side offers the next time you are in Naptown!

All Around Town…

When planning this trip, our concentration was on Eastport and West Street since they are “around” Annapolis. Much like Alexandria, Eastport compares to Del Ray and The West End compares to West Street with Old Town in the middle. However, there’s no way we could avoid heading down to City Dock and hitting up a couple of our favorites before we left.

On par for a nice weather day, the waterfront was bustling. With construction going on in the major parking lot, we were unsure we would be sticking around but lady luck was with us and we found a spot in the heart of lower Main Street. We didn’t have a lot of time but split what we had between two long time favorites - Middleton Tavern and O’Brien’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Tavern

We have a lot of history with both places and there is still always a friendly face when we show up. Had to have a Natty Bo oyster shooter at Middleton and some crab dip and a couple of sailor drinks at OB’s. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that one of our former Bond 45 servers – Sierra – is now working here! Another good reason to go back!

City Dock, Eastport and West Street are all doable in a long day trip but I encourage you to spend a night if you can. Lots of great places and as the weather grows nicer, go in the middle of the week to avoid the crowds!

This Barbados Beach Has Tall Cliffs, Brilliant Blue Water, and a Haven for Slow Travel

at Foul Bay - photo courtesy of Barbados.org

Last month we published a piece about a very luxurious and very pricey slice of Caribbean heaven so we thought it a good idea to let you in on a more laid-back piece of paradise in Barbados. While I have never been, this island has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I would definitely stay where the action is but after reading Guy’s piece below, Foul Bay just might be a good place to spend a day away from it all.

The first time I drove out to Foul Bay, I thought I’d taken a wrong turn. The road narrowed, the houses thinned out, and then there was only wind coming off the Atlantic and a strip of coastline that didn’t look arranged for anyone in particular. You park on the edge of the bluff, step out of the car, and the island changes in a single instant. And no — while you do encounter myriad roosters walking around here, it’s not that kind of fowl. It’s Foul, as in the bottom of a ship.

Down below, the beach runs in a long, uninterrupted line, white sand meeting a restless Atlantic that never settles. The water carries a deeper blue here, streaked with white as waves break in steady sets. There are no umbrellas, no beach bars, no one directing where you should go or how long you should stay. You walk down the worn path in the cliff, the sound of the surf getting louder with every step, and by the time your feet hit the sand, you understand exactly why this place stays with you. Maybe you stop at a picnic table. Maybe you just find a corner of shade under an almond tree.

It’s a place for slow travel.

A Different Barbados Barbados has its well-known edges. On the west coast, you get calm water, fine sand, and a string of hotels that feel close to one another. On the south coast, there’s energy, movement, restaurants, and beach bars that fill up by late afternoon. Foul Bay sits apart from all of that, facing the open Atlantic on the island’s southeastern side, and everything about it feels more exposed.

The wind doesn’t stop here. It moves across the beach in a steady current, lifting the tops of the waves and pushing the sound of the ocean inland. The water comes in stronger, with a pull that reminds you this isn’t a place to drift out casually. You watch the surf instead of walking straight in. You time your steps. You pay attention. That difference is the point.

At Foul Bay, it’s another side of the island. You’re stepping into a coastline that holds its own patterns, whether you show up or not.

The Walk That Stays With You

I don’t come here to sit still. Foul Bay is a place to walk.

The beach stretches long enough that you can keep moving without doubling back, the curve of the shoreline pulling you forward. The sand is firm near the waterline, easy underfoot, and the wind keeps the air from ever feeling heavy. You pass driftwood, patches of seaweed, the occasional fisherman standing with a line cast into the surf. Most of the time, you pass no one at all.

There’s a rhythm to it. The crash of the waves, the wind moving through the trees above the bluff, your footsteps marking a quiet path along the edge of the water. It clears your head in a way that doesn’t feel forced. You don’t need to plan anything here. You just keep going.

At some point, you stop looking for landmarks or checking how far you’ve gone. You walk until you feel like turning around, and even then, there’s no urgency. The beach doesn’t change to accommodate you. You adjust to it.

What You Notice Here

Without the usual distractions, small details start to stand out.

The color of the water shifts with the light, from deep blue to a lighter, almost translucent shade near the shore. The foam from the waves leaves thin white lines that disappear as quickly as they arrive. The sand carries a mix of textures, soft in some places, packed and smooth in others where the tide has passed.

Up on the bluff, the grass leans in one direction, shaped by the wind over time. The casuarina trees make a quiet, constant sound as the air moves through them, a soft rush that sits behind the louder crash of the surf. Every now and then, a bird cuts across the sky, low and fast, riding the same wind that keeps the beach in motion.

There’s nothing here trying to pull your attention away from those details. That’s what I keep coming back to.

Swimming on the Atlantic Edge

You can swim at Foul Bay, but you don’t take it lightly.

The water moves with force, and the currents shift depending on the day. You watch for a while before stepping in, reading the sets as they come through. When you do go in, you stay close, letting the waves break around you instead of pushing out too far.

There’s a clarity to it. The water feels cooler than on the west coast, fresher, and every wave carries energy. You dive under, come up, and immediately look back toward shore, keeping

your bearings. It’s not about floating for long stretches. It’s about being present in every second you’re in the water.

Most days, I’m just as content to stay on the sand and watch.

Why It Stays Quiet

Part of what makes Foul Bay special is what isn’t there.

There are no large hotels lining the shore. No rows of beach chairs waiting to be claimed. No steady flow of vendors or music drifting across the sand. You might see a couple of cars parked up on the bluff, a small group making their way down the path, but the beach never fills in the way others do.

That absence changes how you move through the place. You’re not navigating around crowds or adjusting to someone else’s plan. You choose your own spot, your own pace, your own direction. You can sit near the cliff, where the wind is stronger, or walk down toward the far end where the beach narrows slightly and the waves feel closer. It leaves room for the kind of experience that’s harder to find on the island’s busier stretches.

Coming Back Again

I’ve been to Foul Bay more times than I can count, and it never feels exactly the same. Some days, the wind is stronger, pushing the waves higher and faster. Other days, it softens just enough to make the walk feel slower, the sound of the ocean less urgent. The light changes everything, too. Early in the day, the water carries a brighter blue. Later, it deepens, picking up darker tones at sunset.

What doesn’t change is the sense of distance from everything else. Even though you’re only a short drive from other parts of Barbados, it feels like a separate stretch of coastline entirely.

I don’t come here for variety in the usual sense. I come because it holds steady in the ways that count.

The Kind of Place You Keep to Yourself

There are beaches you recommend right away, the ones with easy access, calm water, and places to eat within a few steps of the sand. Foul Bay isn’t that kind of place.

It’s the one you mention more carefully, to people who are looking for something quieter, something less arranged. You tell them about the wind, the long walk, the way the Atlantic moves here. You tell them to bring what they need and to expect very little beyond the beach itself. And then you let them decide.

Every time I leave, I take one last look from the bluff before getting back in the car. The line of the shore, the steady motion of the waves, the empty stretch of sand — it all stays with you in a way that doesn’t fade quickly.

That’s what makes Foul Bay different.

Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and Guy Britton for contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/website at caribjournal. com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean.

DINING GUIDE

AMERICAN

1799 PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD

110 S. Pitt Street

571-404-6001

ADA'S ON THE RIVER

3 Pioneer Mill Way

703-638-1400

AUGIE’S MUSSEL HOUSE 1106 King Street 703.721.3970

BLACKWALL HITCH

5 Cameron St. 703-739-6090

BOB & EDITHS DINER 1743 King Street

703-664-0043 bobandedithsdiner.com

CHADWICKS 203 Strand St. 703-836-4442

CHART HOUSE One Cameron St. 703-684-5080

CITY KITCHEN

330 South Pickett St. 703-685-9172 fatcitykitchen.com

COOPER MILL 10 Duke St. 703-566-1278

EDDIE'S LITTLE SHOP & DELI 1406 King Street 571-312-8615

EVENING STAR CAFÉ

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave.

703-549-5051

EXECUTIVE DINER & CAFE 1400 Duke Street 703-299-0894

FRANKIE'S KITCHEN & COCKTAIL BAR 823 S. Washington St. 703-512-2118 frankiesoldtown.com

GADSBYS TAVERN 138 N. Royal St. 703-548-1288

HARD TIMES CAFE 1404 King St. 703-837-0050

HEN QUARTER 1404 King St. 703-684-6969

HOME GROWN 1600 King Street 703-705-4955

HOPS 'N SHINE 3410 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-566-1509

HUMMINGBIRD 220 South Union Street 703-566-1355

JACK'S PLACE 222 North Lee St. 703-684-0372

JOE THEISMANNS

1800 Diagonal Rd. 703-739-0777

JULA'S ON THE POTOMAC 44 Canal Center 571-800-6644

JUNCTION BAKERY & BISTRO 1508 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-436-0025 junctionbakery.com

KILN - HOTEL HERON 699 Prince St. 703-662-1900

KINGS RANSOM 728 King Street 571-319-0794

LAPORTAS 1600 Duke St. 703-683-6313

THE LIGHT HORSE 715 King Street 703-549-0533

LOST DOG CAFE

808 North Henry St. 571-970-6511

MACMILLAN'S SPIRIT HOUSE 500 Montgomery St. 703-665-6690

MASON SOCIAL 728 Henry Street 703-548-8800 mason-social.com

MURPHY'S GRAND IRISH PUB 713 King St. 703-548-1717 murphyspub.com

NORTHSIDE 1O 10 East Glebe Rd. 703-888-0032

OAK STEAKHOUSE 901 N. St. Asaph St. 703-840-3395

O'CONNELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 112 King St. 703-739-1124 DanielOconnells.com

PORK BARREL BBQ 2312 Mount Vernon Ave. 703-822-5699

THE PEOPLES DRUG 103 N. Alfred Street 571-257-8851

RAMPARTS 1700 Fern St. 703-998-6616 rampartstavern.com

RIVER BEND BISTRO 7966 Fort Hunt Rd. 703-347-7545 riverbendbistro.com

ROCK IT GRILL 1319 King St. 703-739-2274

ROYAL RESTAURANT 730 N. St. Asaph St. 703-548-1616

RT'S RESTAURANT 3804 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com

SHOOTER MCGEES 5239 Duke St. 703-751-9266

SLATERS MARKET 1552 Potomac Greens Dr. 703-548-3807

SMOKING KOW BBQ 3250 Duke Sttreet 703-888-2649

SONOMA CELLAR 207 King St. 703-966-3550

SOUTH BLOCK 106 N. Lee Street 703-465-8423

SOUTHSIDE 815 815 S. Washington St. 703-836-6222

SWEET FIRE DONNA'S

510 John Carlyle Street 571-312-7960

THE MAJESTIC 911 King St. 703-837-9117

THE STUDY 116 South Alfred Street 703-838-8000

T.J. STONE'S

GRILL HOUSE & TAP ROOM 608 Montgomery St. 703-548-1004 tjstones.com

TOASTIQUE GOURMET TOAST & JUICE BAR 1605 King Street 571-312-1909

UNION STREET PUBLIC HOUSE

121 South Union St. 703-548-1785 unionstreetpublichouse.com

VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN 106 South Union St. 571-970-3669

VOLA’S DOCKSIDE GRILL & HI-TIDE

LOUNGE

101 North Union St. 703-935-8890

THE WAREHOUSE BAR & GRILL 214 King St. 703-683-6868 warehouseoldtown.com

ASIAN

ASIAN BISTRO

809 King St. 703-836-1515

CAPHE BANH MI VIETNAMESE

407 Cameron St. 703-549-0800

INDOCHEN 1625 King Street (571) 404-6050

KISSO ASIAN BISTRO

300 King Street

703-888-1513

MALAYA 1019 King St. 703-519-3710

MAI THAI 9 King St. 703-548-0600

NASIME 1209 King St. 703-548-1848

RAILBIRD KITCHEN 804 North Henry St. 703-577-9023

SIGNATURE THAI 722 King Street 707-888-2458

SISTERS THAI 503 Montgomery St. 571-777-8154

TOKYO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 66 Canal Center Plaza 703-683-8878

UMIYA SUSHI 3000 Duke Street 703-564-1800

CONTINENTAL

ALEXANDRIA BIER GARDEN 710 King Street 703-888-1951

CEDAR KNOLL GW Parkway at Lucia Ln. 703-780-3665

OLD HOUSE COSMOPOLITAN 1024 Cameron Street 703-717-9361

FRENCH

BASTILLE 606 N. Fayette St. 703-519-3776 bastillerestaurant.com

BEN' YAYS 1028 King Street 703-495-3888

LE REFUGE 127 N. Washington St. 703-548-4661

FONTAINE CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 S. Royal St. 703-535-8151

LA MADELEINE 500 King St. 703-729-2854

JOSEPHINE 109 South St. Asaph St. 703-683-1776

TWO NINETEEN RESTAURANT 219 King St. 703-549-1141 ITALIAN

ALDO'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 2850 Eisenhower Avenue 703-888-2243

ANDY’S PIZZA 107 N Fayette St 571-319-0497

BUGSY'S PIZZA RESTAURANT 111 King St. 703-683-0313

EPICURE ON KING 703 King Street 703-838-9090

HANDOVER BY THE SLICE 728 King Street 571-319-0794

IL PORTO RESTAURANT 121 King St. 703-836-8833

LANDINI BROTHERS 115 King St. 703-836-8404 landinibrothers.com

LENA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & TAP 401 East Braddock Rd. 703-960-1086

MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN 100 King Street 703-997-5300

PIECE OUT 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue 703-398-1287

REDROCKS NEAPOLITAN BISTRO 904 King St. 703-717-9873

THOMPSON ITALIAN 1026 King Street alexandria@thompsonitalian.com

MEDITERRANEAN

BARCA PIER & WINE BAR 2 Pioneer Mill Way 703-638-1100

DELIA'S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 209 Swamp Fox Rd. 703-329-0006

ELAINE'S 208 Queen Street 571-970-0517

TAVERNA CRETEKOU 818 King St. 703-548-8688 tavernacretekou.com

PITA HOUSE

719 King St. 703-684-9194

VALLETTA PORT 682 N St Asaph St. 703-512-4122

VASO'S MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1118 King Street 703-566-2720

VASO'S KITCHEN 1225 Powhatan Street 703-548-2747

SEAFOOD

HANK'S OYSTER BAR 818 N St. Asaph 703-739-HANK

FISH MARKET 105 King St. 703-836-5676 fishmarketoldva.com

THE WHARF 119 King St. 703-836-2834

WHISKEY & OYSTER 301 John Carlyle 703-567-1533

INDIAN

BOLLYWOOD MASALA 211 King Street 703-512-0175

DISHES OF INDIA 1510A Bellview Blvd. 703-660-6085 DIYA 218 North Lee, 2nd Floor 703-706-5338

KISMET MODERN INDIAN 111 North Pitt Street 703-567-4507

NAMASTE 1504 King St. 703-970-0615

MEXICAN LATIN SOUTHWESTERN CASA TEQUILA 1701 Duke 703-518-5312

CHOP SHOP TACO 1008 Madison Street 571-970-6438

DON TACO TEQUILA BAR 808 King St. 703-988-3144

LOS CUATES 1116 King Street 703-548-2918

LOS TIOS GRILL 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-299-9290

LOS TOLTECOS 4111 Duke St. 703-823-1167

TAQUERIA POBLANO 2400-B Mt. Vernon Ave. 703-548-TACO (8226)

TEQUILA & TACO 540 John Carlyle Street 703-721-3203

URBANO 116 116 King Street 571-970-5148

Dining Out

This month we stepped a bit outside of our “normal” Dining Out M.O. and decided to feature a few of the cool little places we dined in over the last few weeks on our travels in Maryland. Three of them we are very familiar with –Davis Pub in Eastport, Gordy’s and Adam’s Taphouse and Grille in and near Prince Frederick - as we have stopped in these places several times and one that we experienced for the first time while doing the R&D for this month’s “Road Trip” column, Miss Shirley’s Café just off of West Street in Annapolis. All four of these eateries are either under or just a bit over an hour away from Old Town Alexandria and are surrounded with lots of other things to do and places to see.

Davis’ Pub

400 Chester Avenue

Eastport

Davispub.com

Out of the four joints featured here, Davis’ Pub is probably our favorite. We have many memories going as far back as the 80’s. It has gone through a couple of “spruce ups” over the years but the vibe pretty much remains the same – small, local, the clientele doesn’t suffer fools and if you’re a “tourist” try not to act like one. The décor is geared toward sailing and sports and is best described as eclectic. The food at Davis’ has remained constant – great burgers and sandwiches,

crab cakes and lots of crab-based items and the daily specials board never disappoints. At the top of our list is the Baltimore Style Steamed Shrimp – ½ pound of gulf shrimp smothered in onions and Old Bay, steamed, with drawn butter and cocktail sauce on the side. We have often been tempted to ask for extra onions because they are mighty tasty. It can get crowded on the weekends during peak lunch time but with the added outdoor seating, there is room for lots of warm bodies. We suggest a mid-week visit to get a great spot at the bar. They are open 11 am – 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday and 11 am – 11 pm Friday & Saturday.

Miss Shirley’s 1 Park Place

Annapolis Missshirleys.com

Miss Shirley’s Café is part of a small chain that originated in Baltimore that has four locations in Maryland. We wouldn’t put the word “chain” on Miss Shirley’s since we were treated just like all of the locals that were partaking in breakfast when we were following suit. Miss Shirley’s only serves breakfast, lunch and brunch all week long from 8 am – 3 pm. The menu is extensive and they really go all out on the Bloody Mary front. They are famous for the biscuits that are served with pretty much every entrée on the menu and while neither of us are big biscuit eaters, Miss Shirley’s are wayyy good. This is a great spot to stop in when you are on the West side of Annapolis.

Gordy’s

135 West Dares Beach Road

Prince Frederick

Gordysplace.com

This little place is located right across the street from the Safeway in Prince Frederick just off of Route 4 S. We discovered it a few years ago when Sir Gastronome was recovering from a knee replacement at a friend’s home on the Patuxent River and doing PT a short distance from Gordy’s It is another small locally owned place with lots of personality and a lot of outdoor seating. If you are lucky enough to visit during one of the major holidays, they go all out on the decorations. The food here is primarily bar oriented and their wing and fries selections are massive. Neither of us has a particular “go-to” dish at Gordy’s

anD abOut

but everything we have ever ordered – BLT’s, tacos, melts, wings, salads – has been stellar. They have a large selection of adult beverages and are heavy on the craft beer scale as well. The prices are a pleasant surprise as well. Gordy’s is open Sunday thru Thursday 11:30 am – 8:30 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm.

Adam’s Taphouse & Grille

2200 Solomons Island Road S Prince Frederick Adamsgrilleprincefrederick. com

A few miles down Route 4 S aka Solomons Island Road, you will find Adam’s Taphouse & Grille. Oddly, we have called it by the name on the menu

- Adam’s the Place for Ribs – for many years. In any case, it is another great place to experience some local color and flavor in Southern Maryland. We have probably had more of their food via take out with those same friends referred to above and that has enabled us to try several items. Obviously, the fan favorite are the ribs and they are some of the absolute best we’ve had over the years. We like ours to fall off the bone with just the right amount of BBQ sauce. Add in the fact that the coleslaw at Adam’s is just like mom made-a bit sweet and tangy-it’s all you need. We have heard many good things about the fried chicken here but it is only served as a special on Wednesdays! BONUS – it was a Wednesday the last time we were in the area. The rumors were true…crispy outside and moist inside and served with mashed potatoes and gravy and your choice of applesauce or slaw -$15.99 for a large breast and thigh, a wing and a drumstick with a couple of rolls tossed in. It was enough for two meals. The menu is pretty extensive and all of the prices a nice change from those here in the city. Next time we are going to try the 16 oz New York Strip for $23.99. We can’t forget to mention our bartender

fried Peggy who has been serving adult beverages at the 10-seater bar for over 32 years. We ended our meal with a trip up to the bar to have a few with her! Always a treat.”

If any of you have a fun, locally owned place in our distribution area that you like to frequent and want to share the good news with other readers, let us know and we will see if we can include them in a future “round up”. Email us at office@oldtowncrier.com.

A Rite of Spring –Pasta Primavera

Now that spring is in full swing, we’re likely to see the seasonal springtime dish pasta primavera on Italian restaurant menus across America. It just makes sense―the word primavera means “spring” in Italian. But what is pasta primavera exactly, and what’s its culinary history? Let’s begin with the heart of the dish, the pasta. Long before they invented the mechanical clock, gunpowder and paper, the Chinese invented noodles, which would come to be called pasta, “dough” in Italian.

Although the origin of pasta evokes much speculation, many historians credit the 13th century explorer, Marco Polo, with bringing pasta to Italy from China. During his 17 years in China the Venetian merchant probably dined with the likes of Kublai Khan, Polo must have sampled a variety of Asian pastas, which were generally made with rice flour or millet. The Chinese began using wheat for noodles about 3000 BC. The medieval Chinese didn’t eat dry strands of pasta like we do today. Instead, they cooked fresh pasta. Pasta primavera is an Italian-American dish― created in New York City in the 1970s― consisting of pasta and fresh vegetables. There is no one recipe for this dish. It may contain almost any kind of vegetable, but cooks tend to stick to firm, crisp vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, peas, onions and green, red or yellow bell peppers, with tomatoes. Pasta primavera is usually highlighted by light flavors, aromatic herbs and bright colors. A seasonal addition would be fresh asparagus, which is inexpensive and plentiful during the spring season.

Chicken, sausage or seafood may be added, but the star of the dish is always the vegetables. A Classic primavera sauce is based on a soffritto (the Italian version of a French mirepoix) of garlic and olive oil, and finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Rich Alfredo-style cream sauces may be used to enrich the dish. The choices of pastas with this dish are typically smaller shapes, such as penne, farfalle, rigatoni and fusilli. If using longer, like spaghetti or fettuccine, the vegetables are cut in julienne style, or thin strips, to match the shape of the noodles.

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water

• 1/2 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1/4 lb green beans (preferably French haricots verts), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

• 3/4 cup frozen baby peas, thawed

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

• 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 pint grape tomatoes

• 1 lb farfalle pasta

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter

• 2/3 cup heavy cream

• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest

• 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

• Garnish: Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings

Preparation

1. Blanch green beans in boiling, salted water for 3 minutes. Cook beans first since they take the longest. Add peas and asparagus and cook until just tender, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Immediately strain vegetables and transfer to a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process, reserving hot water in pot for cooking pasta. Drain chilled vegetables in a colander.

2. Cook 1 teaspoon garlic and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes in 2 tablespoons oil in a large, heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring just until garlic is wilted, about 1 minute. Stir garlic and add drained vegetables and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, 2 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Reserve skillet.

3. Cut tomatoes lengthwise. Cook remaining teaspoon garlic and remaining red pepper flakes in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, just until garlic is wilted, about 1 minute. Add halved tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste and simmer, stirring occasionally. Add cream and simmer until sauce is thickened and halved tomatoes are softened, 3 to 4 minutes.

4. Boil water and cook farfel until al dente Drain in a colander. Immediately add butter and zest to skillet with tomatoes and simmer gently, uncovered, 2 minutes. Stir in cheese and add pasta, tossing to ensure pasta is well coated. Add green vegetables, parsley, basil, and salt and pepper to taste and toss gently to combine. Serve dish topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings. Serves 6 guests.

Thieving Bourbon (Part One)

Most great adventures begin with a phone call. And I had just missed this one.

Tom Gale, the Director of Operations at Virtue Feed and Grain, a great local restaurant, had called. Tom’s affectionately known in Old Town as Big T. Virtue has one of the best bourbon programs on the east coast, and Tom is the man who built it. He never calls. I usually text him when I want a table at the restaurant. What’s the sense in having friends if you can’t take advantage of them?

It must be a bourbon emergency. I listened to the voicemail.

“Why isn’t anyone answering their phone’s today? I hate voicemail. Call me back. I got something big we need to discuss.”

I called him back.

After a quick hello, Tom jumps right into the details. He had been offered the opportunity to do a bourbon barrel pick from Buffalo Trace Distillery Buffalo Trace is one of the best distilleries in Kentucky. It’s located in Frankfurt, KY, not far from Louisville. Tom was going to be in Louisville for the Bourbon Classic and knew that I would be there also.

A bourbon barrel pick is when a specific barrel of bourbon is chosen and bought by one person or a company. Most bourbons are made by blending whiskey from many barrels to keep the flavor consistent from batch to batch. With a barrel pick, however, a group, often a restaurant or bar, tastes samples from several individual barrels at the distillery. They select the one they like best based on its unique flavor profile. That single barrel is then bottled separately and labeled as a “barrel pick,” or “private selection.” Tom was asking me to be on a barrel pick committee to help select the bourbon he would buy. I was flattered. This was quite an honor.

It was actually a bigger honor than I realized.

“Which bourbon are we picking? Buffalo Trace?”

“We’re picking a barrel of Elmer T. Lee” he replied. I was silent.

“Are you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here” I was in shock. “Are you kidding?”

“Nope. We’re either going to wear diamonds or go to jail. But either way it’s going to be fun!” The number of witty quips in Tom’s verbal arsenal is amazing.

Any bourbon that is hard to find is referred to as a unicorn. And Elmer T. Lee is one of the Holy Grails

Carefully choosing the barrel

of the unicorns. Buffalo Trace was only releasing six barrels this year. Two of the barrels had already been purchased. We would be tasting the other four to choose which one Tom would purchase.

I loved reading adventure stories as a kid. I fought Thanos with the Avengers, crossed Middle Earth with Frodo and Samwise, and sat at the baccarat table with James Bond. I have also been on several fun real adventures; my Oktoberfest articles offer proof. But this one was a dream come true. I was about to jump into the bat mobile and go on a bourbon adventure with Batman.

My wife Leigh and I arrived in Louisville on Thursday night. At nine thirty the next morning, we were in a car and headed to Buffalo Trace with Tom, his wife Lisa, and Emily Bisset, Virtue’s Event Coordinator.

During the ride, Tom explains that he prefers doing a barrel pick in the winter. The colder air causes more of the bourbon to come out of the wood. This affects the flavor profile. There is nothing wrong with making a barrel pick in the summer. The winter just produces a different profile. As with many other things in life, it’s a matter of preference. Upon arrival, we are greeted by Freddie Johnson, Buffalo Trace’s Global Whiskey Ambassador. Freddie is not only a legend at Buffalo Trace, but across the entire bourbon world. Freddie is the third generation of his family to work at the distillery. He’s 80 years old but bounces around the grounds of the distillery like he is 30. His enthusiasm for bourbon is contagious. Freddie will be guiding us on a VIP tour of the distillery, and through the barrel pick.

Three other barrel pick committee members now join us for the tour: Shawn Golden, Virginia State manager for Sazerac, the company that owns Buffalo Trace; Clay Smith, Virtue Feed & Grains Bourbon Steward; and Maggie Kimberl, Whiskey Writer and Content Editor for American Whiskey Magazine

As we walked together, I mentioned to Maggie that this was my first time participating in a barrel pick. She no doubt detected my rookie excitement, smiled at me, and said, “It’s the best way to ruin the rest of your day.” I chuckled. Nothing could have ruined this day for me.

Freddie took us through the entire process of making bourbon. The delightful aromas of sweet corn, porridge, and fresh bread dough filled the air as we walked the grounds. Those aromas remained until we were standing by the fermenter, then my nose detected not just the expected alcohol, but

malt, and fruity smells of ripe banana, green apple, and apricot. This was an experience for the eyes and the nose.

The tour ended at the famous Warehouse H. This is the warehouse where they store Blanton’s and other rare bourbons. This warehouse is not part of most tours. The other members of the committee were standing out front waiting for us. Adam Wilkins, Senior Brand Manager at Buffalo Trace; Matt Pittman, CEO of the Meat Church, a great BBQ company out of Texas; and Ciara Lesko, Senior Associate Brand Manager at Buffalo Trace.

In the front is a rather rustic tasting room; in the back is where the bourbon is stored. The only four barrels of Elmer T. Lee available in the world were displayed before us. The four barrels that we would be tasting. I paused and took in the moment. Tom walked up beside me.

“We’re making history today.”

Eight tables were set up for us with tasting sheets, pens, water, and four glasses of Elmer T. Lee bourbon, one from each barrel. The glasses are labeled A, B, C, and D, as are the barrels.

Freddie begins to lead us through the tasting. We sniffed the contents of our four glasses. He has us use one nostril, then the other. Did you know that you have a dominant nostril? Humans have a nasal cycle, where airflow alternates between nostrils approximately every 2 to 6 hours. My left nostril was the dominant one.

Freddie had instructed us not to add water to the glasses. The bourbon in the glass was not to be contaminated. We tried each glass neat, no ice or water. The bourbon was barrel strength and proofing at around 126. So, it was a tad hot, but you could still detect flavors.

Freddie then had us put and hold water in our mouths, then taste the bourbon. It was another new experience. But the bourbon opened right up in my mouth.

After about 20 minutes of tasting and note taking, we took our first vote. Barrels A and B were eliminated. They were not bad barrels. We just preferred barrels C and D.

After another round of tasting, Freddie sequestered us in the back of the warehouse. He then switched some of our two remaining glasses. So, when we came back, we had no idea if he had switched our glasses or not.

We tasted them again. Then Freddie had us take both glasses in our hands and turn around and face the wall. He asked us to hold up the glass we chose

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Old Forester “The

117

Series” Prohibition Era Still Proof

You may have to go to Louisville, KY to find this one. But the trip is worth it. On your nose, it’s bold and nostalgic, you get dark caramel, molasses, charred oak, and baking spices. On the palate it delivers deep flavors of toffee, burnt sugar, black pepper, and cinnamon. The finish is long and warm with lingering spice and just a touch of dark chocolate bitterness. If you’re in the mood for something unapologetically big and historically inspired, this one really delivers. But be careful, its smooth taste hides the fact that it’s a 130-proof bourbon.

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender

This cigar is wrapped in an all-natural smooth, oily Ecuadorian Habano leaf over Dominican binder and filler. From the first draw, this full-bodied cigar delivers a rush of pepper and earth, with rich notes of leather, cocoa, and espresso that give it an almost chewy profile. By the final third, the strength ramps up, delivering a crescendo of baking spices, oak, and lingering leather with just enough sweetness to keep it from going over the edge. Enjoy.

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

and turn back around. The vote was six out of eight. Barrel C won. Freddie had written the letter of his favorite barrel on his hand. He held it up to reveal a letter C. The main deciding factor is that it had a longer finish. It laid on the tongue the way a good bourbon should.

The bourbon from barrel C will be proofed down to 90, bottled, and be available in the restaurant in either June or July. Virtue will be the only restaurant in the world with bourbon from that particular barrel of Elmer T. Lee.

In 2024, Maggie Kimberl wrote an article, Hidden Gems: Virtue Feed & Grain, in American Whiskey Magazine praising the restaurant and its whiskey selection. Offering barrel pick bourbons is a big part of the reason why Virtue is a hidden gem. I’m honored that Tom asked me to be part of this amazing adventure. Taking whiskey from a barrel to taste is known as “thieving” it. The instrument used, a type of syphon, is called a whiskey thief. So maybe Tom and I are more like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid than Batman and Robin. A couple of thieves on an adventure with the Wild Bunch riding with us. Either way, we wore diamonds instead of going to jail.

I can’t wait to taste the results of our labor. Cheers!

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@ belmarinnovations.com . Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that fly doing in my soup? whatflyinmysoup.com

Meet the Assistant Winemakers for Pollack and Zephaniah Farm Vineyards

Winemakers are often the ‘face’ of the winery they work for. That said, they are backed by a team who help them craft the best wine possible.

One of the most important members of this team is a position that usually gets limited fanfare – their Assistant Winemaker.

Assistant winemakers typically run day-to-day operations in the cellar, focusing on tasks such as monitoring fermentation, conducting lab analyses, and ensuring the workspace is fully sanitized. These responsibilities are unglamorous but crucial to a winery’s success.

While few of Virginia’s Assistant Winemakers have name recognition outside industry circles, this can quickly change as they move to new roles.

Corry Craighill was in her first Head Winemaker position (at Sunset Hills Vineyard) for only a few years when she was recognized as Loudoun County’s Winemaker of the Year in 2019. This past March, she was awarded the top prize at the 2026 Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition for her Valley Road Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve.

Corry’s success underscores the importance of keeping tabs on the people filling Assistant Winemaker roles. These winemakers may be “Assistants” today, but they are also tomorrow’s leaders.

Jordan Demain, Pollak Vineyards

How did you get into winemaking?

“It was my dad that planted the seed for my interest in winemaking. I just fell in love with wine, learning how it reflects a sense of place. I was born in Philly and grew up in southern New Jersey. For years I worked in the New Jersey wine industry, learning about wine and just finding my passion. In 2016, I applied for an internship at King Family Vineyards and got to work with their winemaker, Matthieu Finot. It wasn’t long before Matthieu recommended me for a position at Pollak. By the end of the year, I was working full time there.

I’ve been an East Coast winemaker my entire career. I think it’s more challenging here, but that makes it more rewarding. It also makes me want to elevate the game of the region I’m from.”

Describe your role as Pollak’s Assistant Winemaker

“I do all the hands-on winemaking, seeing it from grape to bottle. The cellar isn’t just my domain, it’s my home-away-from-home. I take care of the barrels, clean tanks, do bottling, and perform maintenance.

You can say that our winemaker Benoit Pineau makes the plan, and I execute the plan. But our owners Margo and David Pollak also make sure the winery has a very family-like atmosphere, where everyone has a role.

We’re also growing. Pollak’s estate vineyard has 35 acres of vines, but we now have a second vineyard with another 50 acres. That will increase our production to maybe 12,000 cases a year, so there will always be something to do.”

What’s your favorite grape to work with?

“Merlot! Our cabernet franc also does well, but merlot has been the most consistent grape for us. It was our 2023 Merlot Reserve that was selected for the 2026 Governor’s Case (recognizing the top 12 wines of the event). But nebbiolo is climbing up that list. It has the potential for some really age worthy wines, and this year we released our first nebbiolo.

I’m thinking of doing a side-project of my own but haven’t gotten to that part yet. But I would make a riesling if I could.”

Emily Hatch, Zephaniah Farm Vineyard

How did you get into winemaking?

“I was the accidental catalyst for my family becoming involved in winemaking and winegrowing.

In 2001 I was a sophomore studying agro-archeology (the study of ancient agricultural practices) in Northern Italy when my dad visited me. His time in Alto Adige was his first real exposure to wine, and he became hooked. Not knowing anything yet about viticulture, he asked one of my professors what it takes to plant a vineyard. The professor’s response? ‘Bill, it’s farming. Just plant the damn grapes!’ My family installed our first vineyard a year later and opened the winery in 2007.

I came back to Virginia in 2010. I didn’t return with the intent of becoming a winemaker; being a social worker is still my ‘day’ job. But one thing about my family is when it comes to working on the farm, we’re all hands-on deck.

For me, being a winemaker has been mostly on-the-job training. I’ve taken winemaking classes at Virginia Tech but have never taken a chemistry class in my life! But according to my friends, I’m a ‘super taster’; someone with an especially sensitive sense of taste and smell”.

What parts of the business are you in charge of?

“Our sparkling wine, ‘Possibilities,’ is my pet project. It uses chardonel grapes and is made in the traditional method. We’re now making its 3rd edition. I went to my family and said ‘This is what I want to do. Are you ok with it?’ and they were all on board. I picked chardonel because I love working with this grape, and it’s a reflection of the ‘possibilities’ that hybrid grapes offer in winemaking.

I have the title of Assistant Winemaker, but when you’re in a family business, all roles get blended since we do everything together. So being ‘Assistant’ is really a broad term.”

Tell me about your wine that took Gold in the Governor’s Cup

“Most of our reds are quite blended since I’m really picky with winemaking. Zephaniah’s top-scoring wine in the Governor’s Cup was our 2023 Cabernet Franc (which has some merlot). It was from our first vines, planted in 2002. 2023 was initially a tough growing season because the leaves kept dying because it was such a dry year. But that drought really pushed the vines to make amazing wine.”

About the Author: Matthew Fitzsimmons is a blogger who has visited nearly every winery in Virginia – most of them twice. Follow his progress at https:// winetrailsandwanderlust.com/.

They’re Baaccckkk!

I thought I would take this space to update you on the status of the spotted lantern fly (SLF), how they are affecting the vines and what we are doing to address them. We (Fabbioli Cellars) have been dealing with the spotted lantern fly since 2025. Many other vineyards in Loudoun County have been fighting them for 3-5 seasons. A brief rundown on the SLF: They arrived here from China, most likely hitchhiking on wooden pallets of cargo. They have a one-year cycle meaning eggs are laid in the fall, hatch in the spring as nymphs and as the season goes on, they grow larger and sprout wings. They are starting to feed on other trees and plants now, but one of their favorite plants is still our grapevines! There are a few ways that these bugs damage our vines. By feeding on the vascular system of the plant, the SLF is sucking out vital nutrients and moisture needed for the productivity of the plant. In addition, they can introduce pathogens into the plants system that can cause other diseases and problems. The other issue is that their excrement, a sweet sticky clear liquid, causes a black mold on the plant. This mold will block the photosynthesis on the leaves and restrict the energy the plant can absorb. All this adds up to a crop that is smaller and may not be ripe as well as keeping the plant from building the energy reserves needed to survive the cold temperatures and push bud for the next season. Eventually the negative flow of energy will kill off the plant.

So, what can we do about it? Well, the information from other regions has shown that there is a front wave of invasion that settles down a bit after a few seasons. Removing Tree of Heaven from your property which is a favorite plant of them, will help a lot as well. We had quite a few volunteers come out and “Scrape for the Grape.” They killed the egg masses on the vines before they hatched. Thanks to them, we believe over 250,000 eggs were destroyed in

just our vineyards! On our vineyard posts, I was able to use the propane torch to pop the eggs like popcorn. We apply a horticulture oil to smother any eggs that are left. We then apply another round when the nymphs are out and on the vines. We continue to monitor and spot treat as needed.

I noticed last year that they went hiding about mid-season until it was close to harvest. Then they showed up en masse as you see in the other photo. Scouting for these little pests is a key part to keeping our vines alive and healthy.

We will continue to apply compost, irrigate through the drought periods and attack pests when it makes most sense. With the long cold period this past January and February, we are hoping that a good percentage of the eggs were frozen and will not hatch this spring. But as you can see by our game plan, we are not taking any chances.

You Spot ‘em, You Swat ‘em!

As you are sitting on the deck in the fall enjoying your glass of Virginia wine, be sure to squish any of those brazen Spotted Lantern Flies that would dare to interrupt your moment of bliss, or our effort to deliver quality wines. Farmers rarely get to rest, and this pest is just the latest one to bite into our plants, efforts and business plan. Thanks for squishing and supporting your local fruit farmer!

About the Author: Farmer, winemaker, entrepreneur, educator, and leader, Doug Fabbioli has been accelerating the growth and quality of Virginia’s wine industry since 1997. With his wife Colleen, Doug is the owner/ operator of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. He is the founder and director of The New Ag School, which focuses on teaching the next generation of farmers and agriculture-related leaders. No wonder they call Doug Fabbioli the Godfather of DC's Wine Country.

THROUGH MONDAY 11-5

Do It for the Birds and the Bees! Twelve Must Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers

Fill your garden with colorful annuals you and the pollinators can enjoy all season long. Look for outstanding varieties chosen by All-America Selections (AAS), a non-profit plant trialing organization, to brighten your garden, attract pollinators and outperform other varieties on the market.

Attract hummingbirds and second looks from passersby with the vibrant bright orange flowers of Canna South Pacific. This compact variety can be started from seed and was selected as a 2018 AAS winner for its vigorous, full and uniform growth habit.

Whether it’s spikes of lavender, pink, white or red your garden and container need, you’ll find them in the Salvia Jewel series. Watch the butterflies and hummingbirds stop by for a sip of nectar and the finches feast upon the seeds later in the season. Add more vertical interest and pollinator appeal in the garden and large planters with Asian Garden Celosia. The bright pink blooms hold their color all season long atop sturdy stems 31 to 40 inches tall.

Include a few Cupheas, also known as Mexican Heather in containers, borders and mass plantings. FloriGlory Diana has more and larger flowers than its counterparts. The season long bloom of intense magenta flowers made this a winner.

Incorporate beauty even in challenging locations with EnduraScape Pink Bicolor Verbena. As the name implies it is tough as nails, tolerating drought, heat and temperatures in the low teens. Use this spreader in large containers and baskets where you can appreciate the soft pink blooms with their darker center.

Wow visitors and lure pollinators to your garden and containers with Vinca Mega Bloom Orchid Halo. The bright purple blooms with a white eye stand up to heat and humidity without succumbing to disease.

Grow winning varieties of a traditional favorite, zinnia. These low maintenance sun-loving

annuals can be started from seed directly in the garden. Add vibrant color to the garden with Queeny Lime, Zowie! Yellow Flame and Magellan Coral. Include smaller scale beauty with Profusion and Zahara varieties.

Gardeners and pollinators love purple coneflowers (Echinacea). Two colorful winning varieties, Cheyenne Spirit and PowWow Wild Berry will fill your garden with color for seasons to come.

Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower produces a mix of purple, pink, red and orange flowers along side lighter yellows, creams and white. This compact plant stands tall in wind and rain and is drought tolerant once established.

PowWow Wild Berry Coneflower lives up to its name. The vivid deep rose-purple flowers retain their beautiful color all season long. You’ll enjoy continual bloom without deadheading or grooming.

Add more perennial beauty with Twizzle Purple Penstemon. The spikes of vibrant purple blooms are favorites of hummingbirds and other pollinators. Include them in containers for added height or high-impact color anywhere in the landscape.

Extend your budget and increase perennial plantings next year by starting these three winners indoors by late January. Your efforts will be rewarded with flowers that same season. Don’t let shade stop you from inviting pollinators into the garden. Bounce Pink Flame Impatiens has all the flower power of common impatiens but is resistant to downy mildew. Plus, they are a bit more forgiving if you allow them to wilt. Just add water and they bounce back.

Plant Sunpatiens Spreading Shell Pink in full sun or shade. Enjoy the season long, soft pink flowers even in high heat, rain and humidity. This variety has all the low maintenance beauty of impatiens but is resistant to downy mildew.

Once you’ve added these beauties to your landscape, sit back and enjoy. You and the pollinators will reap the many benefits of these winning additions to your gardens and containers. Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening for Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by AAS for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.

FIRST BLUSH KIM PUTENS

Answers to Frequently Asked Beauty Questions

How do I choose the right moisturizer for my face?

Believe it or not, the most important thing about choosing a moisturizer is the weight, not the fancy ingredients. The wrong weight of moisturizer can actually cause as many, if not more, problems than the ingredients. If too heavy, it can clog your pores and cause breakouts. If not heavy enough, the lack of moisturizer can lead to premature aging.

In choosing the right weight, apply a normal amount to your jaw line. Wait a few seconds and check the area. If the moisturizer feels sticky or greasy, it means that it hasn’t absorbed into your skin and is too heavy for your complexion. If the moisturizer soaks in and still feels dry and your skin feels taught, then the moisturizer is not heavy enough. Look for a moisturizer that soaks in to your skin, but your skin feels relieved and looks plump. Everywhere I look, all the makeup has shimmer and glitter. How do I embrace it without looking like a teenager?

Shimmer can actually be your friend. Glitter, not so much. Leave glitter to stage performances. A bit of shimmer can actually make old skin look young. And, it is the easiest and cheapest way to freshen up your skin and bring about a youthful glow. But, if you over do it, you could end up looking like an over-aged teenager. Keep in mind, dry and dull looking skin exacerbates looking old. So, the best thing to do is be strategic about your placement and amount. The best place to get the most bang for your buck is to apply a bit of shimmer along the base of your eyebrow along the brow bone. It gives the illusion of an instant lift to a sagging eye (which happens to all of us as we approach 40).

Another good place for a bit of shimmer is along your cheekbone. Again, it gives the illusion of an instant lift to the face but it also gives a punch of glow and dewiness that is associated with youthful skin. It is okay to go for broke and put a bit of shimmer along the brow bone and the cheekbone. You’ll be amazed at how your friends will compliment your new youthful appearance.

I’m 40, should I be wearing foundation?

Not necessarily. Determining when to wear foundation has nothing to do with how old you are. In fact, I would argue, that if your skin looks good, you should avoid foundation because it can make you look older than you are. Using foundation has more to do with the condition of your skin. If your skin is blotchy and uneven, you may want to consider wearing foundation. If not, skip it all together and apply a good moisturizer.

Remember, foundation’s primary goal is to even out your skin tone to create a monotone surface in which to apply color. Think of foundation as the canvas before applying the artwork – eye shadow, cheek color, lipstick, etc.

What is triple milled soap?

A triple milled soap is actually three soaps milled into one. The process of milling three soaps into one is a lengthy process taking months to produce a single bar of soap, but it provides users with a soap that lasts much longer than its counterparts. A triple milled soap usually lasts a month or more.

Also, the French have the oldest and best-known milling process which is why triple milled soaps are often known as French triple milled soaps. Do I need a lip liner with my lipstick?

Most of the time lip liner is a personal preference. For some, they do not feel complete without lip liner. The only time lip liner is absolutely necessary is if (1) your lipstick tends to bleed, no matter the color and (2) if you are wearing a deep and dark color like red, which bleeds on everyone.

I would not recommend lining your lips when wearing lipgloss. What you can do, however, is use a lip liner to fill in your lips to add more color and staying power to your lipgloss.

What are hair powders or dry shampoos?

Hair powder and dry shampoo are actually the same thing but referred to differently. These are essentially talcum powders that have been colored to match your hair color. By applying the hair powder/ dry shampoo to your scalp, the powder will soak up the excess oils and freshen up your hair as if it was washed. Basically, the powders give life to second day hair without having to wash your hair.

Spring Into a New Workout

As March rolls into April and the nicer weather starts to make a more permanent appearance it is time to give your workout a make-over. Warmer weather means we get to ditch the long pants and jackets and trade them in for shorts and t-shirts. If you are not feeling quite like you are ready, don’t worry, you still have about six weeks to do a quick over-haul on your existing workout. Many times, all we need to bust that plateau is a new workout! If you feel like you are still holding onto a few extra pounds from the winter try some of these exercises and amp up the cardio to get the results you need for the spring.

The idea of this workout is to use minimal equipment to get maximum, total body results. All you will need are a set of 5-12lb dumbbells and either a stability ball or workout bench. Sumo Squat with Tricep Extension: Stand with feet more than shoulder width apart, toes turned slightly out with a dumbbell in each hand. To get in the start position, bend elbows 90 degrees and bring them beside your ears so the weights are behind your head, palms should face each other. Maintaining arm position, lower into a wide squat, return to standing position and extend right arm toward the

ceiling. Lower the dumbbell to start position. Repeat the squat, this time extending the left arm toward ceiling as you return to standing. Do 12-15reps

Single Leg Squat and Bicep Curl: Holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by your sides, palms facing forward, stand with back to a stability ball with feet hip-width apart. Reach leg behind and place your shin on the stability ball. Lower yourself to the ground for a single leg squat. As you stand up, do a bicep curl. Do 8-10 reps on each leg

Side Lunge with Shoulder Raise: Holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by side, stand with feet hip-width apart. Lunge to the right side with right leg, toes should be pointing toward the right. Keeping your left leg straight, raise your left arm directly out to the side with palm facing the floor. Then step back to start and lower your arm. Do 8-10 reps each direction.

Hamstring Curl on the Stability Ball: Start by lying face-up on the floor with your arms by your sides, palms flat on the floor. Place your right heel on the stability ball and left knee bent in toward the chest. Dig your right heel into the ball and bend the knee 90 degrees to lift your hips off the floor and roll the ball towards your butt. Slowly lower your body to the ground as

you extend your right leg to the start position. Chest Fly on Stability Ball: With a dumbbell in each hand start lying face up on a stability ball with upper back resting on the ball, knees bent 90 degrees and feet flat so your torso is parallel to the floor. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, palms facing each other. Keeping your arms slightly bend lower your arms toward the floor until they are parallel to the floor. Then return to the starting position. Do 12-15 reps.

Reverse Fly: Lie face down on the stability ball, holding a dumbbell in each hand with elbows slightly bend and palms facing in. Extend your legs behind you hip-width apart to balance on toes. Maintaining a slight bend in your elbows raise dumbbells out to the side up to shoulder level with palms facing the floor, then lower to start. Do 12-15 reps.

The success of any good strength workout is to include as much calorie blasting cardio as you can. Make sure you are getting at least three 40-minute cardio workouts per week. A good way to add a difference to your cardio routine is to take what you do inside, outside. Walking on the trail can be more of a challenge than the treadmill and riding your bike through Old Town will be just as beneficial, but much more interesting than a spin class.

Plyometrics: Is it for You?

Spring is in the air and hopefully that “snowsleetfreezingrain” storm that plundered the east coast a month or so ago is a distant memory. April is one of my favorite months because the weather is usually making a turn for the better (my birthday is in April too!). If you like the warmer weather, chances are you will be spending much more time outside, which means less time at the health club; but don’t let your fitness routine melt away like the winter snow!

If you are a weekend warrior who loves to compete in various sports throughout the year, or just an Ordinary Joe who’s looking for something new, you should consider adding plyometrics to your exercise program. Plyometrics is a form of jump training that has been proven to increase the muscle’s ability to produce power. Why is this important? An increase in power results in an increase in speed, strength, or a combo of the two, which means you will have an advantage over your competition and be lighter on your feet. Another benefit of plyometric training is it can be performed outside (where it will soon be nice) with minimal equipment needed.

There are a few things to remember before even trying plyometric exercises - age, strength, body weight, previous injuries and training experience. Because of the intense nature of plyometrics, the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) recommends a lower-body strength prerequisite before starting any jump training. A person must be strong enough to free-weight squat at least 1.5 times their own body weight. For example, a 180 lb person must be able to squat a minimum of 270 lbs! Don’t worry; you will need about six months of progressive resistance training to reach this strength guideline.

The minimum age requirement depends on the physical and mental maturity level of the adolescent. Please check with your family physician to help determine if your child is physically ready to start with basic plyometric training. The maximum age relies heavily on current health conditions such as obesity, arthritis, or past joint surgeries. Several studies have shown that low-level plyometrics can help increase bone density in older participants.

The NSCA recommends those who weigh more than 220 lbs should not depth jump from a height higher than 18 inches. Depth jumps are one of the most advanced techniques in which a person stands on a higher surface, steps off, lands on a lower surface and jumps as high as possible. This should only be performed after a solid strength base and previous training experience has been established.

Besides having a solid strength base, you must also have great technique, especially upon landing from a jump. Most injuries happen during the landing and rarely on the takeoff. Landing mechanics need to focus on proper foot placement and flexion of the hips, knees and ankles. Foot placement should be shoulderwidth apart with hips flexed about 130 degrees, knees flexed to 110 degrees, and ankles flexed about 75 degrees. I always teach my clients to “land softly” as to absorb the impact by pushing the hips back and flexing the knees, similar to sitting in a chair. Your torso should be leaned slightly forward at the waist with good posture in the low back. Avoid slamming your feet down on the landing surface. A correct landing should be as quiet as a mouse. About the Author: Unverzagt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wellness Management from Black Hills State University. He is a certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

LISA VELENOVSKY

One of the worst nightmares a pet parent can experience is a lost pet. A gate or door accidentally left open, a pet sneaking by an owner on the way out – no matter the circumstances, the result is panic and fear.

The good news is there are tools and steps to help recover a lost indoor cat or dog. And owners won’t be alone! In Alexandria’s animal-loving community, neighbors and friends often go out of their way to help. There also are many cat- and dogsavvy volunteers willing to help owners find their lost pets. I am one of those volunteers, and I’m here to tell you that there is hope and help. If pet parents act quickly on multiple fronts, the chances of bringing a beloved pet home increase dramatically. Here are some general tips:

1. Get the Word Out

2. Start Your Search Immediately

3. Implement Multiple Available Tools

4. Be Proactive, Patient and Persistent

Get the Word Out

Trying to Find a Lost Pet? Be Proactive, Persistent and Patient

The sooner you spread the word, the better.

Contact the microchip manufacturer if your pet is chipped; make sure your information is up to date.

Contact local organizations.

• If your pet was adopted from a shelter or a rescue, contact the organization, and file a lost pet report. They may be able to offer resources.

• File a lost pet report with the animal shelters in your area. Many can be done online. If possible, visit in person regularly to check new intakes.

• Post to local groups like:

o Community groups and listservs.

o NextDoor

o Facebook local lost pet groups.

o Pawboost (www.pawboost.com) Note: A known issue with Pawboost is scammers contacting owners for money/gift cards for safe return or emergency vet treatment of lost pets.

Start Your Search Immediately

Begin searching your yard and neighborhood immediately and alert your neighbors as you search. Dogs. Walk or drive around your neighborhood calling their name. Ask friends and neighbors to help.

Go to your nearest local shelter to see if your dog has been reported, found, or surrendered. While searching, have a friend or family member check NextDoor, Pawboost, and local community lost pet groups to see if your dog has been posted as Found.

If your dog isn’t found on Day 1, it may become a matter of following up on sightings to determine the best search area.

Cats. Indoor cats generally stick very close to home. If you know where your cat got outside, start there and move outward. If you didn’t see your cat escape, start from logical exit points. (NOTE: If you didn’t see your cat get outside, continue searching indoors. Cats are masters at hiding.)

Check the closest hiding places using a flashlight (cat’s eyes reflect light): inside drainpipes or storm drains, heavy brush, garages, sheds, basement crawl spaces, and under sheds, decks, and stairs. Ask your neighbors to check as well.

Indoor-only cats are often found hiding on their own property or within one or two houses. Cats also move so you may need to check the same places multiple times.

3. Implement Multiple Available Tools

This is where local cat- and dog-savvy volunteers can be a big help, especially if owners aren’t certain where to begin. They are active in many groups and owners can also reach out to local rescues for help.

Create and post flyers in your neighborhood quickly Make flyers with maximum impact: bold colors, large letters at the top stating Lost Cat or Lost Dog, a large image of the lost pet, identifying information, and a contact number in large numbers. State in large letters, “DO NOT CHASE.” Dogs and cats on the run are in flight or fight mode. Chasing or approaching, even by owners, can cause the pet to flee further.

Use waterproof paper/insert into clear plastic sleeves and post in high-impact areas, such as street intersections, where they can be seen by cars/foot traffic.

For cats, put items outside with smells your cat know, such as their bedding and owner’s clothing. If possible, crack open a door/window near the items after dark for your cat to get back in if they return.

Put cameras to work.

Check your Ring cameras and ask your neighbors to check theirs.

Set up food/water stations near escape points, and place trail cameras on the food stations and nearby areas to capture the direction your pet is coming from. Cats generally come out late at night when they feel safest.

When your pet is caught on camera, you can plan how to get them into your house, including anything from leaving open a door or using a humane trap, depending on circumstances. Many volunteers lend traps and trail cameras and show owners how to correctly set them and monitor food stations.

Trained Dog Trackers. Our area is home to several reputable trackers whose dogs are scent-trained to search for lost pets: using them early is best.

Remember: Be Proactive, Patient and Persistent Available research shows that between 71- 97% of lost dogs are recovered and between 53-84% of lost cats are found

PETS OF THE MONTH

4101 Eisenhower Avenue

Alexandria, VA

703-746-4774

alexandriaanimals.org

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

Wed- Closed Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm

Yet many pet owners believe that if their pets are missing for more than a few days, they are gone forever. While some pets are found or return home on their own quickly, others may take longer before being sighted, located, posted on social media, or captured. Don’t give up. Often, they are just waiting for you to find them and be their hero. So be their hero. (https:// lostpetresearch.com/2019/03/lost-pet-statistics).

Resources:

SPCA of Northern Virginia: https://spcanova.org/resources/lost-a-cat-or-dog/ Animal Welfare League of Alexandria: https://alexandriaanimals.org/findinga-lost-pet/

Lisa Velenovsky is a long-time volunteer with King Street Cats and has also been helping owners recover their lost indoor cats for the past 5 years.

*Note: If your pet isn’t microchipped, please consider doing so. A microchip isn’t a tracker; it’s used to identify a pet’s owner. If your pet is found and surrendered to a shelter or rescue without a microchip, you may never be reunited. Collars and tags can be lost, but a microchips live permanantly under the skin.

Leo is a distinguished older gentleman seeking the companionship of a loving person. He is a very sweet dog who weighs 77 pounds at eight years old. Leo loves meeting new people! Since he is a little older, he is quite chill and would make a great lounge buddy. He grew up with children of varying ages. Leo is a playful pup and a favorite game is fetch. He can be very affectionate and loves being petted. He also knows the cues for sit and paw. Thanks to a generous donor, Leo’s adoption fees have been paid.

Mario is a handsome black and brown male dog with a rugged zest for the outdoors. He is one year and two months old, and he weighs about 47 pounds. Mario loves being outside and would enjoy access to sniffy walks or a nice yard. As a young dog, Mario would also benefit from training to help him develop. He's looking for a friendly human companion to share his life with as the seasons turn. Mario is ready to leave winter behind and embrace springtime outdoor activities! He would also love to accept some tasty treats from you, of course.

Bruno is a four year old furry boy who is looking for a home where he can get lots of love, exercise and cuddles galore! He is a friendly guy who loves everyone he meets. He has lived harmoniously with children in his previous home, has pretty good house manners and is crate trained. He is a very fun dog who loves to play fetch and tug, chase balls around and going on walks. Bruno has lived with other dogs in a previous home, but he would benefit from the chance to meet any potential canine siblings before he goes home.

Flushing the Potomac

January’s 250-million gallon raw sewage leak into the Potomac River was a result of DC’s aged infrastructure. Like many older American cities, DC combines sewage systems where rainwater and snowmelt drain into pipes holding sewage. Anything more than light precipitation, the system can get overwhelmed, forcing sewage to back up into streets. To prevent this, DC’s sewage system deposits overflow wastewater into the Potomac. These spills add up during the year to be as much as three times the amount of this sewage spill.

In 1810, Washington’s sewer system was constructed to dump waste into the nearest streams. This was the beginning of the end of a prolific Potomac herring, rockfish, and sturgeon fishery. In the mid 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson called the Potomac a “national disgrace”. In the late 1960s, the river was deemed a severe health threat for anyone contacting it. Legislation was pushed to clean up waters with a goal of swimmable and fishable waters. In the 1970s, largemouth bass reappeared. By the early 1980s, subaquatic vegetation returned and water quality improved. However, since then, sewage spills became routine as population densities increased dramatically while infrastructure lagged and aged.

In 1964 the 54 mile Potomac Interceptor began carrying Northern Virginia and Montgomery County Maryland sewage to the DC Blue Plains sewage treatment plant, built in 1938. The Potomac RiverKeeper taking the lead on sewage spill says the federal government recognized concerns with the Interceptor several years ago and the National Park Service identified pipe corrosion as early as 2022. They point to the lack of funding, nearly $2 billion, to upgrade existing systems.

As millions of gallons of raw sewage poured unabated into the Potomac for several weeks, not much was done as weather and the spill magnitude showed how unprepared local jurisdictions were. DC, MD, VA, and the Federal Government eventually stopped the blame game long enough to execute a plan to bypass the hole and store sewage in a canal.

Jurisdictions began testing, primarily for E. coli bacteria. Recreational advisories were posted to avoid contact with the water. However, in addition to bacteria, there are other harmful chemicals and toxins in raw sewage. Among them, synthetic estrogen in birth control pills can affect fish reproduction by causing male fish to develop female

characteristics leading to population declines and even extinction of certain fish species.

Just as disturbing as the lack of an immediate sense of urgency were a few guides who downplayed and disregarded potentially dangerous water borne issues. One guide was persistent in challenging news stories reporting government data, maintaining he was open for business. He claimed the river would just flush out the bad stuff and it would be over. He was oblivious to the drought conditions, frozen water, and tidal flows slowing the sewage exodus.

Also curious was the lack of concern with the commercial harvesting of blue catfish. Consumption advisories have been in place for several years, however, through statistical mumbo jumbo, commercial harvesting is just fine. While advising people and pets to avoid contact with the water, commercial harvesting continues. If there’s no concern with fish consumption, perhaps there should be for the health of watermen.

To be on the safe side, several tournament groups have postponed or cancelled Potomac events. Tournament directors are considering using rubber gloves and face guards to prevent contact with Potomac water.

Officials maintain there’s no threat to drinking water, however environmental advocates and scientists have serious concerns about the spill’s effect on the river’s ecosystem and aquatic life. Potomac RiverKeeper Dean Naujoks says wastewater chemicals and E. coli bacteria contaminate river sediment and impact fish and bird reproduction, kill insects, and contaminate soil.

Harmful pathogens and excess nutrients can lead to diseases in animals and harmful algae blooms. These blooms, typically occurring in August and September, deplete oxygen and cause fish kills and disrupt the balance of aquatic habitats, ultimately threatening biodiversity.

"This is not only a

blow to the Potomac River, but a blow to the Chesapeake Bay." Unlike oil spills, sewage cannot be removed from the water. DC Water’s environmental restoration plan is a collaboration with federal, state, and local regulators that will cost $20 million and be paid for by MD and VA residents. To stem the tide of raw sewage entering the Potomac, as part of its Clean Rivers Project, DC Water is building an 18-foot-diameter tunnel to catch nearly all wastewater by 2030.

Making matters worse, rapid urbanization in the Potomac Watershed has created more impervious surfaces, roadways and parking lots that are treated with salt and chemicals due to snow and ice conditions. Ultimately these end up in the river. Salinization is extremely harmful to animals that live in the rivers as well as vegetation.

This year’s Potomac River bass fishing season will certainly be impacted by the Interceptor spill but also exasperated by “routine” spills and farm and lawn runoff. In a tough year, the Potomac can’t afford a continued loss of SAV’s and fish kills. The fix comes with a high price tag, an investment in replacing aging infrastructure and new technology which may be coming late as overdevelopment isn’t reversable.

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fishing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide.

Photo courtesy of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network.

Longer days and early spring temperatures are warming the river into the mid 50 degree range. Subaquatic vegetation is in growing and bass are moving into grass flats.

Lipless crankbaits are search baits covering all depths. Red patterns show up in early spring water. Tie to 12 pound test GAMMA Edge

fluorocarbon line, slowly retrieve along gravel banks. Focus on spots with grass and snap baits free and pause. Also try red squarebills. Upgrade hooks to short shank wide gap hooks.

With shallow wood cover and around docks, try Colorado/ Indiana gold bladed spinnerbaits. Slow retrieves while bumping cover with hesitations. In shallow water, try 3/8 ounce sizes. Deeper move up in weight.

The Old Guard

There are many of you who are going to read this and not get it and/or not care. No hard feelings as I was young once too. If you’re at the age where 35 is ancient to you, you’re probably not even reading a paper so no harm/ no foul. You’re busy buying Bitcoin or watching K-pop toks. For you older folks like me, please note that K-pop is not shorthand for cake pops. Which are also very good so keep reading. You’re in the right spot. Last week a dear friend passed. I feel very fortunate to have met Dave shortly after I met my now husband, XXL, approximately 14 years ago. It was one of those really random, small world things you don’t forget. I went to meet my then boyfriend, XXL, at a local yacht club he belonged to—which was foreign to this landlubber. As what happens in many groups, subsets form, i.e., garden clubs, ladie’s clubs, and in this case—a five o’clock club— was XXL’s subset of choice. They were a group of (mostly) gentlemen who gathered to drink beers, shoot the sh*t, and smoke the occasional cigar. It wasn’t that women weren’t allowed—I think they preferred to avoid it.

I would come to learn that the five o’clock club had become a ritual begun long ago by the ‘old guard’ of the club of which XXL’s father belonged to “back in the day”. Given the stories I’ve heard, I’m sure he was a ring leader of a lot of the group’s adventures. Anyhow as father time wore on and the elders of the club passed, XXL’s father among them, Dave and his contemporaries found themselves in the role of the new ‘old guard.’

On a summer evening, XXL suggested I meet him after work at their gathering place. I jumped at the chance—curiosity getting the better of me. I had imagined top secret handshakes, decoder rings, and passwords, but it really was as XXL had described it—a bunch of dudes standing around drinking beers and BS’ing. I was offered a beer and stood awkwardly trying to keep my heels from sinking into the soft grass while trying to make chit chat—

which I am horrible at, btw. So, I nervously did what I always do in these situations—I compliment and/ or try to make a connection. In this case, I did both.

“Hey—nice sweatshirt,” I said pointing to a white-haired gentleman sitting in a lawn chair wearing a tattered sweatshirt with the Capitol Police insignia. “Were you a Capitol policeman? My uncle ran a body shop back in the 70s and 80s. He had a contract to repair their vehicles.”

Most random factoid ever, and I don’t even know where it came from. I was a kid back then, but somehow that bit of intel had stuck in my peanut brain and some forty-odd years later, it made its way to my tongue.

“Who was your uncle?” the whitehaired man asked.

“Jud Welch,” I replied and thought, what are the odds, Lori? How stupid was that—like asking if someone from California knew your friend from California. A one in a billion chance. Duh. My face began to turn red with embarrassment when the man jumped up out of his chair and said, “Jud was your uncle? Oh my God! How is he? I haven’t seen him in decades!”

That spark ignited a friendship that would last another decade. Sadly, I had to report that Jud had passed many years before from pancreatic cancer, but I loved hearing Dave tell stories about my uncle and their shenanigans—which were many. Years passed and another connection evolved. XXL and I, now a married couple, purchased a property in Emerald Isle, NC. Dave loved EI and had owned properties and businesses there dating back decades before our toes ever touched the sand there. In his efforts to downsize and settle into beach life, Dave ended up consolidating and buying a home within walking distance to ours.

I was thrilled. Nothing made me happier than turning onto our street after a long drive and seeing Dave with his beloved retriever Maggie in the makeshift dog park/communal gathering area between our homes where we often gathered over beers,

wine, and tall tales. A new five o’clock club of sorts. Different state, but Dave assuming the role of old guard and wearing it proudly. There was something about Dave— maybe because he was always laughing and smiling. Or because he was always ready to cut up—often at XXL’s expense, which I found humor in. Or maybe because Dave became more of a presence in my life after my own father (Jud’s brother) passed. Whatever the case, Dave quickly became one of my faves. Whenever I saw him and Maggie, my whole insides would light up. I’d pull over and chat. No longer in a hurry, free to stand and shoot the bull. We would text each other, “Where you at? What state are you in? When are you coming to the beach?” He made me feel special—but he made everyone feel that way.

I went to visit him in the hospital after he suffered a stroke, and there were a flock of women gathered around his bedside, his table overflowing with the treats they had snuck in for him. Two of us outfitted Maggie in a service dog uniform before sneaking her in. We joked that it was Dave’s blue eyes and pheromones that made him so irresistible, but really it was the fact that we all knew Dave would give you the shirt off his back, his last beer, and would do anything for you if you were lucky enough to be counted among his friends— of which there were many. He was beloved by women, men, and dogs alike. His pockets were always filled to the brim with treats which he doled out liberally making him a fan fave among the neighborhood fur babies.

After that stint in the hospital, Dave’s daughters made the difficult decision that their dad would probably be best served living closer to them. I had to make that decision with my own dad years ago so I understood, but it was tough. I felt a pang in my chest every time I turned the corner into my happy place—which was a little less happy without seeing Dave and Maggie.

It’s hard to lose people like Dave for many reasons. They hold the memories of the generations before you. I loved to hear Dave tell the story about ‘raiding' my uncle’s shop for running a poker game (another ritual) and arranging for him to be tossed into the back of a paddy wagon and hauled off. It was my uncle’s birthday. What better way to celebrate than with a faux arrest? I loved hearing him talk about XXL’s father. When they were running around the yacht club, Dave was the young gun. Trust that there were many, many pranks involved. I loved hearing him talk about his beloved wife whom I never got a chance to meet, but I can only imagine what a special lady she was and now they are reunited.

Almost a week after learning of Dave’s passing, I was watching the Academy Awards—which are like my Super Bowl. As the camera panned the front row, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia. Gone are the golden oldies—the true legends, the old guard—Robert Redford, Jack Nicholson, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart. Don’t get me started about losing Diane Keaton and Catherine O’Hara. No words. And Rob Reiner. Ugh. Painful.

And then the realization hit that my generation is now the old guard— George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep. The front row, Jacob Elordi, a Kardashian or two, Timothy Chalamet—would be unrecognizable to me were it not for my People magazine subscription.

Losing these icons and legends hits hard. I’m so glad I was around to feel their glow. They will not be forgotten and it will be impossible for the new guard to fill their shoes, but let’s hope they try.

About the Author: Lori is a local writer, painter and pet lover who loves to share her experiences and expertise with our readers. She has been penning a column for the OTC for over 25 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this.

Celebrate Cherry Blossom Time at the Gaylord National

I was way behind the Eight-ball during deadline for this issue and was almost ready to tear my hair out when I received a very informative press release from our friend Havila at Maven PR. We published some of the Cherry Blossom events in the March column but didn’t include what is happening at the Gaylord. Looks like this is a great one stop shop for most things Blossom related. See below:

Each spring, travelers and locals alike flock to the Washington, D.C. region in search of peak cherry blossom moments. In 2026, Gaylord National Resort redefines the experience, pairing its coveted waterfront location with immersive spring programming, culinary artistry, and—for the first time ever—cherry trees in bloom inside its iconic Garden Atrium.

New this season, the resort’s, glass- enclosed Garden Atrium hosts indoor cherry blossom garden, offering guests a weather-proof, crowd-free way to experience the beauty of spring. Located at the heart of National Harbor—an official participant in the National Cherry Blossom Festival—Gaylord National places guest’s steps from waterfront events, early-blooming trees, and seasonal celebrations:

Walk Through a Blooming Cherry Blossom Garden— Indoors

For the first time ever, cherry trees are blooming inside Gaylord National’s Garden Atrium. Guests can view blossoms and capture iconic photos—no weather worries required.

Immerse Yourself with the Cherry Blossom Escape Package & Cherry Blossom Suite

Experience cherry blossom season at its fullest with a stay at Gaylord National. The Cherry Blossom Escape Package includes overnight accommodation, a $50 nightly food and beverage credit, welcome drinks, morning yoga sessions, and complimentary rides on the National Harbor Circulator Bus. Packages begin at $259 per night.

For an even more luxurious retreat, the Cherry Blossom Suite offers a romantic, luxurious escape with soft pink tones, floral accents, and sweeping views of National Harbor and the D.C. skyline. This elevated experience includes Celebrity Service check-in, a $150 food and beverage credit, and valet parking. Suite stays begin at $1200 per night. Guests are placed at the center of National Harbor’s Spring programming, without the congestion of downtown D.C.

Explore National Harbor’s Official Cherry Blossom Festival Programming

As an official National Cherry Blossom Festival participant, National Harbor hosts its own slate of waterfront performances, family-friendly events, seasonal pop -ups, and public art installations—all just steps from the resort. To learn more about the festival line up, visit the National Harbor’s website here

Discover Hands‑On Cherry Blossom Classes Inside the Atrium

This spring, Gaylord National invites guests and locals to go beyond simply viewing the blossoms, offering immersive, hands-on classes designed for food lovers and spirits aficionados. Hosted within the intimate Atrium Houses, these ticketed experiences blend creativity, flavor, and seasonal inspiration.

Cherry Blossoms & Buttercream Cake Class

April 11 | Capital Confectionery

Perfect for baking enthusiasts or anyone who loves sweet artistry, this handson decorating class is led by the resort’s pastry chef and who teaches guests how to craft their own cherry blossom–inspired cake using floral piping, pastel palettes, and buttercream techniques.

Sakura Spirits: Japanese Whisky Tasting

April 30 | The Whiskey Revolution

A one -night- only, ticketed experience featuring rare Japanese whiskies and refined spring flavors, guided by expert hosts in an intimate setting. This experience is ideal for whiskey lovers and curious sippers looking to explore craftsmanship, culture, and nuanced flavor profiles.

Stroll Early‑Blooming Cherry Trees Along the National Harbor Waterfront

More than 200 Okame cherry trees line National Harbor’s waterfront promenade, often blooming earlier than the Yoshino trees around the Tidal Basin—offering a quieter, earlier opportunity to enjoy vibrant pink blossoms.

Indulge in Cherry Blossom–Inspired Spa Rituals at Relâche Spa

Relâche Spa welcomes spring with a limited-time cherry blossom treatment menu designed to restore balance and glow. Seasonal highlights include the Cherry Blossom Balancing Massage, featuring custom pressure and cherry blossom essential oils, and the Cherry Blossom Berry Facial, a hydrating, radiance -boosting experience ideal for spring skin renewal. Guests can also opt for a seasonal body ritual or nourishing nail service for a head-to -toe refresh.

Sip Sakura‑Inspired Cocktails Across the Resort

Many of the resort’s dining outlets debut limited-time cherry blossom cocktails, including the Cherry Blossom Spritz at Belvedere Bar, Blooming Margarita at Harbor Social, and Sakura Ume at The Whiskey Revolution.

The resort’s award-winning pastry team unveils whimsical cherry blossom desserts, from macarons and gelato to Sakura Cheesecake and Matcha Mousse, complemented by handcrafted, seasonal display windows.

Savor the Cherry Blossom Princess Cake at Old Hickory Steakhouse

Old Hickory Steakhouse introduces a refined, blossom-inspired Cherry Blossom Princess Cake, offering an elegant seasonal finish to spring dining. For more information on cherry blossom experiences, seasonal packages, and spring events at Gaylord National, visit gaylordnational.com

Luxury Living in Bloom