By Bob Tagert For this month’s Road Trip we decided to stay close to home and visit two of our favorite places…Annapolis aka Naptown and Eastport aka MRE to the locals in Maryland. One of the reasons why we have such a close relationship with this area is because it is part of our marketing area…hence the moniker on our cover, From the Bay to the Blue Ridge. There are other reasons for our close relationship and one is sailing. I have a sailboat in Solomons and we occasionally sail to Annapolis. Annapolis is also considered the “Sailing Capital of the World”, home to the Naval Academy and home to the Annapolis Sailboat Show – the largest in-water boat show in the world. Annapolis has historical significance for many reasons. Most significantly it was the capital of Maryland as well as the country’s capital when the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War, was signed there. All four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence had impressive homes in Annapolis, which still stand today. Our intention was to take a nice day trip to visit some favorite places and maybe run into some old friends while discovering what is new. Our first stop was, of course, the waterfront. This is where you can find metered parking and Ego Alley. Ego Alley is not an alley in the traditional sense of the word; rather than a walkway, it is a narrow waterway that spills out into Spa Creek. The name “Ego Alley” comes from the queue of expensive boats that parade through the waterway on evenings and weekends. Yes, I have sailed in Ego Alley and tied up to the bulkhead to spend the night. It is a great front seat view of the incredible action on the waterfront. When we…
By Adrien Cotton As a women’s midlife wellness expert, I am often asked, “What is your secret to looking and feeling fit?” My answer is always, “The Wellness Wheel.” I created the Wellness Wheel, my proprietary approach to holistic wellness, after my two decades of experience as a wellness, nutrition, and fitness professional and the owner of a boutique gym. Throughout my work, I noticed specific strategies that best served my clients. These strategies, which I call the spokes to my Wellness Wheel, became the basis of my sustainable wellness practice–and frankly my own life. The spokes are designed to address all aspects of wellness instead of only tracking the number on the scale or our daily calories. They are so incredibly simple, yet they are also NOT what society wants you to believe is the recipe for success. They include: Ample and Quality Sleep Stress Resilience Movement Food as Fuel Calendar Management My Wellness Wheel is the product of witnessing the struggles of countless women who sought an improved quality of life (AKA look and feel better) while also taking care of their families and other obligations. Our diet and our movement are undoubtedly essential components of a healthy existence, but they are merely two pieces of a much larger puzzle. Success happens when our mindset about our own wellness overall shifts from what it was when we were in our teens, twenties, and thirties. Shifting our mindset to one that centers on the entire self rather than singular aspects, like solely focusing on diet and/or fitness which got us by before. Now, in our forties and beyond, we are more than the result of what we eat and/or our fitness. Our optimization relies on sustainability and consistency, and we can’t get that through diet and cardio alone. …
In the spirit of the month of March and one of the Old Town Crier’s favorite celebration days – St. Patrick’s Day – we bring you our annual column on growing shamrocks. We are sure you want to know the secret to growing these lucky plants! Stories have it that shamrocks won’t grow any place other than in Irish dirt. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. The word, “shamrock” is the English form of the Irish word “seamrog,” which means “little clover” and clover is something that grows just about everywhere. If you’d like to grow shamrock, also known as “white clover,” you’ll find it to be a fun and flowering, low maintenance plant. Read on to learn how to grow shamrock: Select a good plant by looking for one with new growth, a few flower buds just opening and more ready to bloom. You can grow shamrock from seed, but starting with a plant is much more reliable. While it can be grown outside, it does best indoors. Shamrock needs bright light (not full sun) and moist, well-drained soil until its two- or three-month dormancy period in the winter. That’s when you’ll need to keep the plant in a cool, dry area and the soil barely moist until spring when watering should resume. Place plants in trays or flower boxes for best results. Shamrock grows from the tip by sending out runners that take root. Being in containers allow the tips to make contact with the soil to produce the runners. Keep your plants cool at night, about 50 to 65 F and don’t let them get any warmer than 70 to 75 F during the day. Plants habitually exposed to warmer environments will go dormant quicker. Fertilize your shamrock once a month during the winter and…
By Bob Tagert As I write my publishers notes on February 26th, the temperature tomorrow is forecast to be 64 degrees and windy. Makes me wish my sailboat wasn’t still winterized. Would be a good day to be on the water! Remember the old saying “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”? If the current weather holds out, that isn’t going to ring true. In any case, this month we feature the art work of Lee Jaworek on our cover celebrating the month of March coming in like a lion. To learn more about Lee and his “Artism®” read about him in the Personality Profile. Our very talented contributing writers have hit it out of the park with their columns again this month. We are truly blessed. We would also like to introduce you to a new column – Wellness Woman. Penned by local transformation wellness coach, Adrien Cotton, the column will cater to the health of women with a concentration on those who are approaching middle age. We feel very fortunate to have her on board. Here is a sneak peek in to some of what you have to look forward to in this issue: A Bit of History, Sarah Becker celebrates History Month with Clara Barton. High Notes, Ron Powers highlights some of the up-and-coming acts in the music world. Last Word, Miriam Kramer explores the writing of Killers of the Flower Moon. Grapevine, read about the warm, dry year we had in 2023 and how it affected Virginia’s wine vintage. Dining Out, I highlighted our two amazing Irish Restaurants in town – Murphy’s and O’Connell’s. Stop in for a perfect pint of Guinness. “Slainte!” Exploring VA Wines, Doug Fabbioli explains how his winery got started and flourishes today. Let’s Get Crafty, Tim…
By Cindy McGovern Auggie is a 90 pound all American dog with folded ears and a stubborn streak. He is also prone to dry and itchy skin that has sent him and his mom to the vet on multiple occasions. He has dry skin on his elbows and has had allergic dermatitis on his stomach caused by an allergy to potatoes of all things. He has tried limited ingredient food, medication and prescription shampoo. Auggie is not unique, and many dogs suffer from a host of skin conditions, caused by many factors. How do you know if your dog is suffering from a skin condition? Itching is one of the most obvious symptoms and it’s normal for occasional scratching. But frequent or prolonged itching will manifest in behavior like excessive licking or rubbing the affected body part against furniture or other objects. Be on the lookout for sores or lesions, dry, flaky or scaly skin, rashes, lumps, redness, or bumps. If you notice these symptoms, it’s always best to consult your vet. Left untreated, an easy to treat condition can quickly lead to an infection or something more serious. Not only that, but chronic itching can be just as debilitating and distressing as chronic pain. Ultimately, skin problems can cause great discomfort and irritation leading your dog to be irritable, withdrawn, or restless. Some of the most common skin problems in dogs are due to allergies and allergic dermatitis caused by environmental or food allergies. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from allergies to pollen, grass and dust mites, but rather than having watery eyes and a runny nose, dogs will develop irritated, itchy skin. The most common areas affected are the face, feet, chest and stomach. There is a blood test to help determine if your dog has a…
By Erin Shackleford While dogs and cats remain the popular choice for companion animals, rabbits can make amazing and loyal friends. Here’s just a few reasons why: They’re quiet and don’t take up much room – perfect for city living. Rabbits form strong bonds with their guardians. They can be as cuddly as a dog or cat. Rabbits can be litter box trained. Their schedules match ours. They’re most active at dawn and dusk. They are full of personality and character. Despite their small size, they live longer lives – around 10 years is their estimated life span. We usually have a number of loveable rabbits available for adoption. Pictured are Mallow, Sonic, and Poppy. You can find them all at www.AlexandriaAnimals.org/adopt. Mallow Sonic Poppy
By Lani Gering w/F. Lennox Campello Many of you who are faithful readers of the OTC may remember that this phenomenal artist was the subject matter of our Gallery Beat column in the July 2017 issue. Fast forward to 2023, were happy to be invited to the opening of his exhibit at the Nepenthe Gallery in Fort Hunt last fall and had the pleasure of meeting Lee and his parents in person. It was a very enlightening experience and opened our eyes to what is possible if you really put your mind and talents to work no matter the obstacles. We are always looking for interesting art and cool photos for our covers and decided we should feature on of Lee’s originals. When I saw the image of “The Lion Family”, I immediately thought of our March issue since we all know that “March comes in like a lion…” We also thought it would be a good idea to feature Lee in this column since it ties in with the cover image. In doing my research, I ran across F. Lennox Campello aka Lenny’s aforementioned Gallery Beat column. After reading it again after almost 17 years, I decided I could no way trump what he wrote. He was very happy to do some updating for us and we offer you the following: This month I want to use this forum to discuss the work of a highly talented DMV area artist whose singular work came across my attention 7 years ago – Lee Jaworek. Quoting from his own website (http://www.leejaworek.com/), Lee Jaworek “calls his art Artism® – seeing the world through the prismatic lens of Autism. Lee is a young artist with Autism who tries to express his perception of the world through his art; the challenges — the triumphs…
By Mark Edelman March may not come in like a lion, but you’ll still be roaring with laughter at some of these theater offerings in the DMV: Through March 10th MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Keegan Theater Stephen Sondheim’s problem musical—albeit with his most gorgeous, touching score—gets a solid production on this intimate DuPont- area stage with fine performances from Ryan Burke and Harrison Smith as “the next Rodgers & Hammerstein.” But it’s Sarah Chapin’s Mary—the unrequited love interest—who will melt your heart. She did mine. Hats off to co-directors Christina Coakley and Jennifer Hopkins, who made the story congeal for me with the clever addition of a simple prop—one I’d never seen in Merrily before. Projections by Jeremy Bennett guided us through the show’s awkward timeline in another inspired Keegan addition. The band did a nice job with Jonathan Tunick’s popping orchestrations, which the ensemble performed admirably. All in all, a very nice job—and for 1/8 the 400 bucks they’re charging on Broadway (okay, you do get to see Harry Potter in that one). Tickets at http://www.keegantheatre.com. PRIVATE JONES Signature Theater Inspired by the true story of a deaf Welshman who becomes a celebrated World War I sniper, this new musical affirms the importance of friendship and the cost of war. Tickets at http://www.sigtheatre.org. WHERE WE BELONG Folger Theatre Writer/actor Madeline Sayet’s compelling tale about her Mohegan people and the trials they faced over centuries of betrayal and displacement. Tickets at http://www.folger.edu Through March 17th DESPERATE MEASURES Constellation Theatre Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, set to music and relocated from 15th Century Vienna to the Wild West. Tickets at http://www.constellationtheatre.org TEMPESTUOUS ELEMENTS Arena Stage The story of Anna Julia Cooper, a visionary Black feminist and educator, and her herculean efforts to keep Black education alive, despite the racism, gossip and sexism…
By Lori Welch Brown I was very driven in my 20s, 30s—even my 40s. I had dreams and goals. I wanted things, nice things. I wanted to be a homeowner by the time I was 30. I wanted a new car vs. a used clunker. I wanted to go out to nice restaurants and sip dirty martinis at fancy bars. So, I worked hard and I chased pots of gold so I could use it to pay off my AMEX—which, funny enough, if you make many big, timely payments; attain an above-average credit score; and agree to a large annual fee—will in fact turn to gold. That’s the American dream, right? Want, work, get. I didn’t come from wealthy, blue-chip stock. There was no trust fund and/or daddy with deep pockets. And, frankly, I’m glad. I earned my way. No regrets. It is important to note, however, that not everybody is running the same distance at the same speed. And, my chase wasn’t as long or riddled with as many hurdles as others. I was jogging through my ‘chase’ at a comfortable clip on a path lined with safety nets, silver-lining opportunities, and easy access. Of that, I am aware. Even though at the time, it sure didn’t feel that way. While I never achieved crazy wealth aka Real Housewives of Name Your City, I managed to pay my bills and live quite comfortably. Maybe the gold you’re chasing isn’t money. Maybe it’s a person or an ideal—whatever that one thing is that is going to change your life. The ‘thing’ that will magically transform your bah hum life to the stuff of movies. The thing that is going to be like winning the lottery—your pot of gold. Whatever it is that you are chasing. When you’re young, you don’t…
We love it when our subscribers take the time to put the Old Town Crier in their bags and take it on their travels. Celebrating her 70th trip around the sun, the Allin’s – who reside in Grand Junction, Colorado – sought out a couple of weeks of fun in the sun in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to celebrate Linda’s big day. We like this sexy pose of her on Medano Beach in front of the Riu Palace resort in Cabo. We also think the image of the her with the rocks in the water behind her is pretty cool. Said rocks are the southern tip (cape or cabo) of the Baja Peninsula and the water beyond is all Pacific Ocean. These photos of Linda were taken by her husband, Dave.
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