By Mark Edelman With our local theater companies getting ready for the 2025-26 season beginning next month, here’s a look at the new shows that came to Broadway last season and continue to draw fans and earn plaudits on the Great White Way this month. It’s NYC– not DMV—this time around for Onstage Old Town: OPERATION MINCEMEAT Golden Theatre 45th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave Direct from London—with its British cast intake—this Olivier Award‑winning musical romp dramatizes the true WWII tale of the Allies’ deception to disguise a corpse with fake papers and identity, fooling Hitler in thinking the invasion of Sicily was going to happen five hundred miles away. Five energetic actors portray some fifty characters in this clever musical comedy. Tickets at http://www.operationbroaday.com BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB Schoenfeld Theatre 45th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave Based on the legendary Cuban ensemble and album, this new musical chronicles the making of the iconic record and the history behind the effort. Two sisters who love performing have to make the awful decision to stay in Castro’s Cuban or face the uncertainty of emigrating to the US. Musical supervision by Tony ® Award winner David Yazbek contributes to the vibrant rhythms that made this music a Grammy ® Award winning journey. Tickets at www. Buenavistamusical.com JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VIILLAIN Booth Theatre 45th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave Now thru August 31, this provocative new comedy set in a contemporary Georgia high school English class re‑examines The Crucible through teen perspectives on identity, scandal, and myth. Sharp, witty, and reflective, it offers a timely reinterpretation of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, drawing conclusions not often associated with the classic. Tickets at http://www.johnproctoristhevillain.com MAYBE HAPPY ENDING Belasco Theatre 44th Street between 6th and 7th Ave If I told you the…
The July issue of the Old Town Crier made the trek from Luray, Virginia to Stockholm, Sweden via Iceland last month. Karen Riddle, who, along with her husband Ralph, is the proprietor of Shadow Mountain Escape located near Thornton Gap in the Shenandoah’s, packed her copy and was showing it off in what she says is “the most beautiful spot in all of Stockholm!” 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.
By Lori Welch Brown My husband had a birthday last month. He loves a good celebration—especially if it involves cake. For every year I’ve known him, it’s been strawberry shortcake which he starts talking about in May. “You’re gonna make me strawberry shortcake, right? You know it’s my favorite, right?” Yes, dear. How could I forget with all these subtle hints, I think to myself. This year he threw me for a loop with a request for banana cake. What the h-e-double-toothpicks. A ‘well-meaning’ friend brought one to a pot luck a few months back and it was love at first bite. Thanks, friend. Not being a ‘baker’ per se, I was not thrilled by his new request, but I accepted the challenge because I try to be a good wife, and my husband deserved a good birthday. While XXL loves a good celebration, remember, especially when cake is involved (even better with ice cream—he’ll be the first to notice its absence), he’s not so keen on aging. He pretty much hates everything about it. I assure him that none of us is super excited by creaking joints or crepey skin, but as they say, it beats the alternative. I remind him that he’s already lived three more years than my brother Phil, 17 more than my friend Holly, and a lot more than my friend Betty. I don’t mention those sweet little campers who won’t see their ninth birthdays. To be alive, is a gift. To be alive and healthy is a treasure. XXL is one of those manly-men types. He spent most of his career doing manual labor, has captained many vessels, and has a 100-ton master’s license—a fact he’s recited to everyone from Uber drivers to Safeway cashiers. He’s proud of it, and rightfully so. There’s no one I feel…
By Erin Shackleford This month the AWLA wants to highlight their adoptable guinea pigs. They have quite a few available for adoption right now, but also have a lot more becoming available for adoption in the coming weeks. They had numerous pregnant female guinea pigs surrendered to us that has substantially increased their numbers. Pictured here are three of their favorites and each is loaded with their own little personalities –we are guessing that they are both “sweet and salty” judging from their names. A Note from Erin at AWLA: With a “wheek and a squeak”, a guinea pig will wiggle its way into your heart! If you’ve ever considered adding a piggie pal to your pack, now is a great time. The AWLA has many guinea pigs available for adoption. Here are a few things to consider and remember with guinea pigs: – Guinea pigs are social – we urge you to consider adopting them in pairs (of the same gender, for obvious reasons). – They can live between 4-8 years, so they’re a long-term commitment. – Their teeth never stop growing, so a fresh well-stocked supply of hay must always be available. – They need an adequately sized enclosure for all their piggie activities — approximately 10.5 square feet for two. You can find these furry friends and all our available animals at www.AlexandriaAnimals.org/adopt.
By Jane Koska Roughly 1 in 3 pet owners will experience the scary event of a missing pet during their pet’s lifetime. Pets can slip out an open door, jump out of a car, wriggle out of their collar and leash, or jump out of their person’s arms. Pets can be stolen, too. During natural disasters animals that are always indoors can end up outside and scared and run off. One of the best ways to find a missing pet (in addition to a collar and ID tags) is to have your pet microchipped. According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), research shows that microchipped pets are three times more likely to be reunited with their families. Similarly, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) cites research showing that animal shelters were able to find the owners of almost three-fourths of stray pets with microchips. For anyone concerned about the microchipping process, rest assured that it’s a safe and routine procedure that can be done during a general vet visit. The vet uses a needle to place the microchip—about the size of a grain of rice—under the pet’s skin. Although the needle is slightly larger than needles used for injections, no surgery or anesthesia is required. If your pet is already undergoing anesthesia for a procedure, such as neutering or spaying, the microchip often can be implanted at that time. Or you might opt for a low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic, like the one offered by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) on the first Wednesday of every month. By the way, your adopted pet often came to you with a microchip. Many shelters, including AWLA and King Street Cats, microchip animals before adoption. The research shows, however, that not all microchipped animals can be returned to their owners. Why? The…
By Bob Tagert Here it is, the middle of summer and it sure is hot! The air temperatures have consistently been in the mid to upper 90’s and there are days that the humidity is back to the norm of 30 years ago here in NoVA. You may pick up on a bit of a theme going into this issue as we are trying to keep it “cool”. Probably our best effort is taking you on a Road Trip to the subterrestrial world of Luray Caverns located in the Shenandoah Valley in Luray, Virginia. This is a worthwhile discovery for all ages. It is truly another world and worth the drive. Think about strolling among stalactites and stalagmites for an hour or so in 54-degree temps. Very cool… A bit closer to home we thought featuring Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream here in Old Town in the Dining Out column was only appropriate since at least you can keep yourself “cool” on the inside with a scoop or two. We also list the other ice cream/custard/gelato centric businesses in Old Town proper in tandem with the column. In Business Profile we welcome a new contributor, Elizabeth Hughes. She comes to us with an extensive background in entertainment journalism in conjunction with editing in national, regional, and community publications. We are looking forward to more contributions from her. Elizabeth profiles the shops participating in the annual Sidewalk Sale this month (see calendar for details). Make sure you tell them that the Old Town Crier sent you when you are out there getting all of the good deals. In From the Bay, we are happy to spotlight (no pun intended) Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, one of the most visible (pun intended) landmarks in the Chesapeake Bay just south of Annapolis. Our thanks…
By Julie Reardon As the saying goes, only mad dogs and Englishmen venture out in the hot midday sun of the dog days. This tale from a few years ago should more properly titled rabid wildlife, crazy dogs and Virginia girls. One sunny summer morning during the dog days, my three resident Chesapeake Bay retrievers chased and killed a rabid fox. The drama unfolded behind my back as I was outside finishing some gardening chores before it got too hot and oblivious to the drama unfolding. However, from the upstairs bathroom window my husband Doug saw it unfold in the big pasture. He noticed what he thought was a small dog chasing our youngest retriever Der, then about 18 months. He thought that was strange as we almost never have strange dogs venture on our farm. As he watched, he could almost imagine Der thinking, “What’s wrong with this picture?” as she turned on the afterburners, circled around and began chasing the smaller animal. They ran toward the house with Der in hot pursuit, passing barely 20 feet behind me, but silently. Shortly after, Der came over to where I was gardening and flopped down by the older two retrievers, older females aged 8 and 9, and Doug came outside to ask me if I’d seen it. “Seen what?” I asked. He relayed that he’d watched Der chase a small animal under the little deck, and that they’d passed right behind me. Two humans and the three dogs walked over to the little back deck, only about 2 feet off the ground. “Sic-sic-sic, git ‘em girls!” we egged the dogs on when they showed no interest and they looked at us like we were crazy. Their actions told us plainly they thought it was too hot for such madness. Doug…
By Melinda Myers All your hard work is paying off with a bountiful harvest. Fresh produce is filling your garden, countertops, and refrigerator while the garden keeps producing more. Preserve some of your harvest to enjoy throughout the winter with some tried-and-true or updated variation of food preservation techniques. Hanging bundles of herbs to dry is a long-time practice that works. Harvest herbs in the morning just after the dew has dried off the leaves. Rinse, allow them to dry, and remove any damaged or dried leaves. Gather the dry herbs into small bundles and secure with a rubber band. Use a spring-type clothespin to hang the bundles from a clothesline or hanger in a warm, dry, airy place out of direct sunlight. A modern twist on this tradition is the space-saving drying rack hung from the ceiling. You will be able to dry large quantities of herbs in any narrow, out-of-the-way space. Extend the life, flavor, and nutritional value of squash with proper harvesting and storage. Only store blemish- and damage-free fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk of mold and decay developing during storage. Harvest zucchini when the fruit is six to eight inches long and scalloped squash when three to six inches in diameter. Store these in a plastic bag inside the vegetable crisper drawer in your refrigerator for several days. Wait to harvest winter squash when the fruit is full-sized, and the rinds are firm and glossy. The portion touching the ground turns from cream to orange when the fruit is ripe. Use a pruner to harvest the fruit, leaving a one-inch stem on each fruit. Cure all winter squash, except for acorn, in a warm, humid location. Then move to a cool, dry, well-ventilated area to store for several months. In the past, gardeners stored…
By Ron Powers After releasing two singles with meager success, the Liverpool band A Flock of Seagulls struck gold with “I Ran (So Far Away).” Released in 1982, “I Ran” reached #1 in Australia, broke into the top 10 in the US, and helped define the sound of a decade. The song’s low-budget music video also enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV, further boosting its rise in popularity. With its lush synthesizer textures, echo-soaked guitars, and angular melodies, “I Ran (So Far Away)” stands as a pillar of the synth-pop and new wave genres. For the intro music, the Flock deliver a full-band musical arrangement. Here, the music consists of guitar chord strikes that echo in time with the drums, along with a bass synth that has a fuzzy texture and swirling effect. Additionally, the bass guitar tiptoes around the mix alongside smooth drums processed with plenty of reverb. As the band approaches the first verse, the energy of the music increases with organ-like synth chords and additional overdrive effects on the electric guitar. For the verses, the band tone things down, creating an energetic contrast in the music. Here, extended bass synth notes fill the stereo field with a new wave vibe, while the lead guitar comes in and out with a galloping lick. Additionally, drummer Ali Score precisely executes his pattern, giving the music its airtight feel. All these elements create a tasteful sonic design that perfectly supports singer Mike Score’s melody and pulls in the listener with that unmistakable synth-pop sound. Seamlessly transitioning to the chorus, the band adds glistening synth chords, creating more height in the music. Additionally, the lead guitar loosely follows the vocal melody, while guitarist Paul Reynolds and bassist Frank Maudsley provide backing vocals. These additions to the arrangement give the chorus an energetic…
by ©2025 Sarah Becker Disease surveillance “is the continuing scrutiny of all aspects of occurrence and spread that are pertinent to control.” The increase in today’s measles epidemic boggles the mind. Measles, for example, are transmitted by droplet spread including oral contact (sneeze, cough) and hands (touch and contaminated surfaces). Disease occurs when cells in the human body are damaged as a result of infection. Infectious diseases are caused by living organisms including the measles virus; bacteria, fungi, protozoa and parasitic worms. Infectious diseases spread by direct contact: via vectors like the mosquito; contaminated food, water and blood; and airborne droplets. “Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old,” the CDC confirmed. “If one person has measles, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.” Measles affects multiple body systems, including the respiratory system—pneumonia being one of the most lethal complications. Beginning in 1861, concurrent with the Civil War, Louis Pasteur developed his germ theory of disease. In 1861 U.S. Army bacteriologist George Sternberg isolated the pneumococcus bacterium “that is responsible for pneumonia.” Sternberg’s announcement of his discovery “came almost simultaneously with Louis Pasteur’s statement of the same.” Infectious diseases account for a quarter of the deaths worldwide. As air travel continues, as weather patterns change; as food is now traded, as water and sanitation practices fail infectious diseases will spread. The city of Alexandria understood as early as 1810 excreta contaminated its groundwater. Revolutionary War General George Washington understood the maladies associated with infectious diseases. He survived smallpox as a youth. Washington favored smallpox inoculation, so much so he countermanded the Continental Congress and ordered the Continental army immunized. “Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the…
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