By Bob Tagert

Well here it is, the last month of 2020 and the end of the worst year I can remember in my 73 years, except possibly my motorcycle accident in 1968. As the Corona virus has tightened its grip on the nation lately, the inclination is to stay at home and definitely wear that mask when going out. Going along with this protocol, our Road Trip this month is “Home for the Holidays” and is about Old Town, Alexandria. The whole community has rallied around our merchants and restaurants in a gallant effort to help them maintain a decent customer base. Most of the restaurants are in the process of installing outdoor heating for their dining customers.

Our Business Profile this month is only two months old and right next door to our office. Welcome to town Regis and the crew at Nerds To Go! In the Last Word column this month Miriam Kramer gives us a glimpse into four new books. In Gallery Beat Lenny Campello closes out the “brutal year of 2020” with some introspective artwork. Even though the weather is turning cooler, Matt Fitzsimmons takes this opportunity to avoid the crowds and checks out the sparkling wines of Virginia in Grapevine. In Take Photos and Leave Footprints Scott Dickens teaches us about “Traveling for Bleisure!” Although I am a Cruzan Rum fan, the Caribbean Connection introduces us to the new epicenter of Caribbean Rum…St. Barth. Long-time friend Julie Reardon takes us on a trip down Leeds Manor Road to the town of Orlean To the Blue Ridge and Lori Welch Brown reminds there are some things to be grateful for in this horrific year in her popular column Open Space.

With this issue we have completed 33 years of bringing you the Old Town Crier or 396 issues. I am very proud of the fact that even though we took a major revenue hit this spring we didn’t miss an issue. We felt we owed it to our loyal readers and advertisers to press on. We appreciate each and every one of you more than you know and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!