The Boys in the Boat By Miriam R. Kramer “When you get the rhythm in an eight, it’s pure pleasure to be in it. It’s not hard work when the rhythm comes—that ‘swing’ as they call it. I’ve heard men shriek out with delight when that swing came in an eight; it’s a thing they’ll never forget as long as they live—George Yeoman Pocock, racing shell builder “It’s the greatest eight I ever saw, and I never expect to see another like it.”—Jim Ten Eyck, Syracuse coach, eighty-two years old Daniel James Brown’s hit book, The Boys in the Boat, has been hovering at the top of the non-fiction bestseller lists for good reason. Brown met Harry Rantz, a member of the eight-man rowing crew that won gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, when Rantz was dying of congestive heart failure. Yet he happily told stories to Brown about his experience rowing in a boat that is often termed the best crew to ever row together in an eight-man shell. Their races happened during the backdrop of the Depression, when the American people needed someone to cheer and something to feel good about. When speaking to Brown, Joe implored him with tears in his eyes to write “[not] just about me. It has to be about the boat.” Brown realized that to Joe the boat meant more than the exquisite shell or the determined people in it, although they were part of it. The boat at its best was a mysterious moment of transcendence that caused Joe to adopt dependence on and trust in others while feeling a sense of timelessness. His experience as a rower proved a turning point in Joe’s difficult, independent life. In the book Joe serves as a symbol for the other kids in the…
By Chris Anderson The Monkees: Good Times! It’s safe to assume that, in 1966, no one could‘ve predicted that The Monkees would be a long-term concern. After all, it was just a silly TV show. Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork were hired for their personalities, not their artistry. They were great singers but rarely played on their records or wrote their own songs. Instead, their records included songs by the best writers of the time and featured some of the most celebrated session musicians L.A. had to offer. Regardless of who played on those tracks, they are among the greatest ever recorded. And so the Monkees were a hit, even if they were a sham. It soon became apparent, however, that they needed to tour. Rather than utilizing a backing band, they learned how to play. And they pulled it off. Frustrated by their lack of involvement, Nesmith fought and succeeded in gaining creative control for the Monkees. His argument was validated by 1967’s Headquarters, one of the finest albums the 60’s had to offer. Some albums that followed, including Pisces Aquarius Capricorn &Jones Ltd and The Birds The Bees & The Monkees were both groundbreaking and popular, while later albums like Instant Replay and The Monkees Present have more of a niche following. The show ended in 1968, after which they teamed with Jack Nicholson to create the surreal film, Head. Tork quit soon after; Nesmith left in 1969; and the band dissolved after 1970’s Changes. Cut to 1986. 60’s nostalgia was in full bloom. MTV celebrated the Monkees’ 20th anniversary by re-airing the series while Rhino Records reissued their catalog and assembled the first of many rarities compilations. Dolenz, Jones, & Tork reunited for a successful tour and single,…
By Bob Tagert Roseina’s in Hollin Hall Where can you go and order food for a special dinner, party or any social gathering and have it prepared by a former Executive Chef of the Ritz Carlton? In the Hollin Hall Shopping Center you will find Chef Uffe Mikkelsen and his dedicated staff creating a dazzling array of delicious food in a cozy store-front known as Roseina’s. Uffe Mikkelsen was born and raised in Denmark. He attended culinary school in Copenhagen and then worked at Restaurant Els in the Nyhaven area along the waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen. A century ago one of the regular clientele was Hans Christian Anderson. From here Mikkelsen took over the chef duties at Restaurant Scott in Copenhagen In 1986, Mikkelsen found himself in Boston were he became Executive Sous Chef at the Ritz Carlton. From there he moved to the Washington, D.C. area where he was promoted to Executive Chef at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, Tysons Corner and finally at Pentagon City. “I arrived in America at a good time,” he tells me, “the role of the Executive Chef was changing to being more incorporated into the whole dining concept, and the Ritz was one of the best.” “The Ritz’s philosophy was…Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen, and I have taken that idea to Roseina’s. After leaving the Ritz, Mikkelsen joined the company of Windows Catering as their Executive Chef. At the time this hugely successful catering company was located on north Royal Street in Old Town. After some time, Mikkelsen had a desire to open his own catering company, but with a twist. He could continue his desire to prepare excellent dishes while also preparing great sandwiches, entrees, soups and salads where folks could find “Good Food to Go”…Roseina’s….
Olympic Riders, Air Acrobatics, Outdoor Concerts and the County Fair By Julie Reardon For the first time ever, the U.S. will host the best equestrians in the world at an FEI Nations Cup for the Olympic sport of three day eventing July 8 – 10, the Land Rover the Great Meadow International. And it’s right in Fauquier County, at Great Meadow in The Plains. A brand new, million-dollar arena has been constructed for this FEI Nations Cup, the first one ever held outside of Europe. FEI is the International Equestrian Federation, the international governing body for eventing and other equestrian sports. Three day eventing is the most complete and rigorous equestrian discipline, originally developed as a means to train the complete cavalry horse and rider. In fact, in its early days as an Olympic sport, three day event teams, including our own, were fielded from the military. Today, horses and riders still compete in three different disciplines: dressage, which literally translated means training and is a series of precise tests on the flat; cross country jumping, a timed event of several miles length with usually 20 to 25 obstacles that the horse must jump, including ditches, banks and water; and finally stadium jumping, also a timed jumping event but held in an arena. This last phase shows control and stamina because having completed the exciting but often grueling cross country part, the horse and rider must then successfully negotiate a tight course of show jumps. These jumps, unlike the solid cross country obstacles, have flimsy rails and poles that are easily knocked down by a careless ride or tired horse, resulting in faults. At a Nations Cup, teams of horses and riders representing their country have their overall scores averaged together and gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the winning country’s teams; there…
Frazier (A067039): “Hey, baby, I hear the blues-a-callin’, tossed salad and scrambled eggs” …and a boxer named Frazier will surely cure your blues this summer! Frazier is a neutered male boxer, estimated to be about seven years old. He loves giving big, sloppy kisses to his friends and is truly a lap-dog at heart. Frazier doesn’t technically have a PhD or a talk-show, but what’s better therapy than the unconditional love a dog gives? We have learned that Frazier is reactive to other dogs and will need to be the only pet in his new home. If you think Frazier could be the one for you, he’s ready to leave the building with you today! Riley (A067573): Ever wanted your very own Grumpy Cat?! Look at RILEY’s ridiculously adorable scrunched face! Despite the sour look, Riley is as sweet as can be, and is looking for a forever family to give lots of love to! Riley is 10 years old, so is considered a senior here at the shelter, but don’t let him know that! He is one of the most active and playful cats in the adoption room, and will even play fetch with a mouse toy! If you are looking for a great cat with a fantastic purrsonality, that will always keep you on your toes and laughing, Riley is definitely your guy! Julia Rabits (A066868): Meet Julia Rabits! She catches the gaze of everyone’s eye, and it’s not hard to see why! On top of her large size and beautiful white fur, this spayed female bunny LOVES to greet all visitors at the AWLA! She is best known for standing on her hind legs against her cage, begging for affection, much like our dogs do. She loves pets and human interaction, but tends…
By Joann Foltz Annmarie Sculpture Garden Hosts Special Summer Art Project Annmarie Sculpture garden & Arts Center’s Artist-In-Residence, Hannah Jeremiah Summer is here and Annmarie Garden announces an exciting community art project entitled, Inflatable – Images & Inspirations. The project will continue throughout the summer and will be led by artist-in-residence, Hannah Jeremiah. Visitors are invited to participate in something bigger than themselves with the creation of this work of art that will inspire and delight. The Public Art Project at Annmarie began in 2005 in an effort to engage the public and celebrate art and creativity. Hundreds of guests participate each year in projects such as the Wish Mandala, made of hundreds of wishing flags, designed to create harmony in the community and last year’s Modern Petroglyphics, a stone carving installation featuring drawings from the community. Jeremiah is an artist who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. She was born in Arkansas and grew up in the Connecticut suburbs. There she developed a curiosity about overabundance, waste, and the unwanted–one earring in the stairwell, a pyramid of empty Snapple bottles, two leftover sleeves. For Hannah, discarded objects act as catalysts for flexible sculptures, installations, and performances. A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, she has exhibited work at Artscape, Maryland Art Place, and MICA’s Annual Benefit Fashion Show. For the Inflatable project, she will sew together scraps to create an inflatable that interacts with the outdoor environment. Visitors can help this project come to life by drawing a picture or writing a message on pieces of scrap plastic and vinyl in the artLAB at Annmarie Garden. Inspiration can come from what you are grateful for, a person who makes you happy, or something you love to do. “It’s great to see so many people contributing to this…
John Kenneth Zwerling It is 1965; Ensign John Zwerling is on active duty with the Navy in Vietnam commanding his landing craft. Bullets are flying and explosions are ringing in your ears. Sweat, anticipation and fear gripped everyone. “Vietnam was like being in a movie,” Zwerling tells me. “You know, I always wanted to be a Navy guy!” Talking from behind a slightly disheveled desk that looks like it gets a lot of use sits a bear of a man…John Kenneth Zwerling, champion for the underdog! Zwerling was born in Brooklyn New York and grew up in Yonkers. He attended a private high school and was captain of his school’s football team and swim team. He was a contract ROTC candidate that meant that after high school he owed the military two years of active duty. He thought about joining the Army but chose instead the Navy. “Good thing too,” he tells me. “The casualties of that year’s class of Army Junior Officers was very high.” While stationed in San Diego he was the Division Officer and had to look after and discipline his men. It came to his attention from a higher authority that there was some grumbling from the area merchants that his men were not paying their debts. Zwerling took it upon himself to look into the matter and he found out that most of the complaining was coming from the jewelry merchants. Upon further investigation he learned that it was cheap jewelry and poorly made. The shops also employed lovely ladies to greet and entertain the sailors with companionship and drink. Zwerling realized that his men were getting ripped off and approached his JAG officer (military attorney) about the problem. The JAG officer wrote a letter to the merchants. The outcome was that…
By Lori Welch Brown Summer Camp I missed out on summer camp as a kid. Not sure if my parents couldn’t afford it or it just wasn’t a ‘thing’ in their social circles or maybe it was a Northern thing. I don’t think I even knew what I had missed out on until I was in my twenties and overheard some coworkers from NY reminiscing about their experiences at swim and tennis camps. All I know is that it sounded magical–spending a week with virtual strangers who shared a common interest. Sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows, sharing stories and swapping secrets. Oh the bonding and lifelong friendships that I had missed. My husband loves telling tales about his summers spent sailing at Camp Seagull. It was a tradition he was able to pass down to his son. The closest thing I’ve come to that was what I’m calling my adult summer camp. I recently spent three days in beautiful, sunny Florida with a room full of addicts and their families. I kid you not. I would like to say I was there by choice, but nobody is selecting Camp Addiction on purpose. No flashy brochure or shiny marketing materials are sucking anyone into that destination. Each morning I awoke early, dressed in my camp attire of comfy clothes and flip flops, took the elevator down to the hotel lobby, walked through the beautifully appointed lobby, past the Grecian style pool with water falls, poolside bar and spa. My fellow camp mates and I breathed in the ocean air while we waited for the van to pick us up for the ten minute drive to the treatment center where we would join our loved ones (treatment residents) for ‘family week.’ While I am not a parent in that I…
By Bob Tagert Staying home for a Road Trip! Over the years we have taken many road trips for this article with some of them being a great distance. With nice weather finally and the beginning of summer, we decided to spotlight a few of our favorite places near Alexandria. We will start off by heading south. When was the last time you visited George Washington’s Mount Vernon? Have you ever been? Although July is a huge tourist month and the crowds will be large, there is plenty of land to spread out. Mount Vernon is an iconic American landmark – an enduring reminder of the life and legacy of the Father of Our Country, and today, these reminders are more important than ever. Once a vibrant plantation in the 18th century, the estate is now one of the nation’s most visited historic sites. Tour the mansion, out buildings housing trades of the day, gardens and landscapes, the tombs of George and Martha and much more. Be sure to visit the newly constructed boat shed where our friend Howell Crimm and his crew are building a replica boat ` Back down the GW Parkway towards Old Town you can find Belle Haven Marina and Dyke Marsh located on the west bank of the Potomac River. Dyke Marsh consists of about 380 acres of tidal marsh, floodplain, and swamp forest. Formed 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, Dyke Marsh is one of the largest remaining pieces of freshwater tidal wetlands left in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area. The marsh contains a wide array of plant and animal life. “Haul Road” is a trail that leads visitors into the marsh. Here the fresh water of the upper Potomac mixes with the salt water for the lower Potomac. The fresh water tends to…
Cedar Knoll Restaurant The latest re-opening – December 2015 – of this iconic place was long over-due. Brothers Andrew and Chris Holden, Charlie Blevins, and Neil Wadhwa now head up the new generation of culinary experts that have energized this prime spot. Cedar Knoll had been closed for a few years until recent renovations were made and a lease was signed by this close-knit group of daring culinary artists. They definitely brought their unique talents to a truly unique property. Cedar Knoll is the perfect spot for a dining establishment looking west over the Potomac River and an absolutely fabulous spot for outdoor dining as the moon pops over the trees. A bit of history – In 1760, George Washington purchased the property, becoming River Farm, the northernmost of the five farms that made up Washington’s 18th century estate. The building was originally opened as the Mount Vernon View Antique Shop and was first operated as an inn and restaurant in 1941. Currently, there are three separate dining rooms at Cedar Knoll, and each room has a different feel. The Botanical Room is wrapped in windows and old scientific illustrations of plants and flowers. The Presidential Room with lush curtains, dark wood, which gives the room a 19th century parlor feel. Then there is the original part of the building, the Log Cabin, which has the most natural character, with logs and chinking, a huge stone fireplace, and our first president keeping watch over the room. And don’t forget about the aforementioned patio where full service dining is available! After entering the front door, the first difficult choice you have to make is which of these entirely different rooms fits your fancy. The second difficult choice is what to order. This was the dilemma we faced on our recent…
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