By Bob Tagert

This Publishers Notes isn’t going to be quite like my others. In fact, I have never lived through a more unsettling time in my life, including the unrest during the Vietnam War. Like some of you, I grew up here in the Washington D.C. area. First in Oxon Hill, Maryland and now in Alexandria. We learned about our constitution and the Bill of Rights. We saluted the flag and recited the Pledge of Allegiance each morning before class began.

Like most, I frequented Georgetown in its early years. Watching John Denver and others perform at the Cellar Door and dancing at the clubs in Georgetown. A long neck bottle of beer cost 75 cents. I was in chemistry class when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Quiet and tears. I watched Washington D.C. 14th street burn when Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered. I have volunteered to work at Presidential Galas even though it was for the other party. I have visited the Lincoln Memorial at night, listened to the National Symphony on the west lawn of the Capitol and watched the fireworks on the Fourth of July. I have seen a lot in this beautiful City…the Capitol of the Land of the Free!

Our Capitol city has been under attack several times over the years and it continues to this day in the halls of Congress. On November 5th we will be faced with one of the most consequential elections in American history, and we are writing that history. Early voting has already started in Virginia and other states. Get out and do your duty as an American. VOTE.

Getting off of my soap box…this issue of the OTC is our 442nd issue. That means we have a little under 5 years to hit the 500 mark. Hopefully in that time we have some new blood infused into the publication and I will be sitting on a sailboat sipping rum somewhere in the islands. Until then, we continue on.

The October issue is always a fun one for us. Fall weather is in full swing and more importantly, Halloween awaits at the end of the month. That’s why we decided putting Jack Skellington on the cover was a good idea. For those of you who live near Old Town, you know that the residents in the lower blocks really know how to decorate and celebrate for the season. Last year on my drive around to check out the 2023 displays, I was blown away by the creativeness and the detail in them. Lots of skeletons of various shapes and sizes and more animation – think moving and talking werewolves and witches – and more lighting than I have seen in years past. It is going to be fun to see if Halloween 2024 can top last year.

Inside the following pages, in addition to info about events, etc. you will find a fun Halloween related feature on Dia de los Muertos, a profile of a prominent Alexandrian, some great advice on keeping in shape as well as how to enjoy some good eats and drinks, some info on the history of Virginia Wines as we celebrate Virginia Wine Month, an insight to growing up in the Trump family, everything you need to know about the 2024 Annapolis Boat Show and happenings in the Blue Ridge, taking a road trip to Culpeper, VA and picking a villa on St Barth and much more.

As the weather- hopefully – cools off, dig out those jeans, boots and sweaters and hit up a football game or take a drive to the Blue Ridge and do some leaf peeping. It’s time to get that fire pit all squared away for fall evenings and start brewing up some spiced apple cider!