By the Gastronomes “Coffee by day, cocktails by night. Welcome to SOCIAL, Leonardtown Maryland’s neighborhood coffeehouse and cocktail bar! Over the years, we’ve created a welcoming space for our community to hangout, study, party, and be social. But we’re more than just a place to gather. SOCIAL is built on the “Buy Local” philosophy, and artfully combines local ingredients into mouth-watering espresso, cocktails, and cuisine.” After being “Home for the Holidays” all December long, we decided it would be fun to take a drive to one of our favorite Southern Maryland spots – the “not-so- small-anymore” town of Leonardtown to be more specific. Located on Route 5 about an hour and fifteen minutes (depending on Beltway traffic) from Alexandria, Leonardtown is a lively, vibrant waterfront town of about 4500 people. It has really come into its own in the last 10-15 years. Definitely a much different place than it was when we first traveled through there on a regular basis in the mid 90’s on our way to the marina where the boat was docked. One of the shining stars on the restaurant scene in L-Town is the SOCIAL Coffee House and Cocktail Bar. What started out in a much smaller location down the street from where it is now as a coffee shop with a “secret” speakeasy behind a bookcase that opened like a door, is now a full-time coffee roaster serving breakfast, brunch, lunch/dinner and cocktails. The brain child of Sean Coogan, who said in a previous interview that he didn’t even like coffee when he started the business but loved the community, working with people and building and growing things, SOCIAL has morphed into a major community hub where locals from all over the county stop in on a regular basis for a good cup of Joe and a bite to…
Pictured above: Carrie Garland and Alexandria-based artist Rich Moore By F. Lennox Campello After restaurants, according to the US Chamber of Commerce, an art gallery is the “second most likely to fail business in the Unites States. And running an art gallery is not an easy task – as Washington Post former and legendary Arts editor John Pancake once told me, it is a “heroic act.” In fact, opening and running an independent, fine arts gallery ethically and properly is an act of love and passion for the arts. And once open and running, cracking the code and getting people to actually buy a piece of original artwork is a very difficult process, and unfortunately for the galleries and for artists, they only control a small part of it. The most difficult part is getting people to actually know that there are galleries, and openings, etc. Getting the potential buyer to the gallery, or aware of the gallery or artist, is the key, and of course the most difficult part. There are parts of the world where you haggle the price of everything and every time! And to add insult to injury, there are apparently only two things in American culture that people seem very adept at haggling for: cars and art. I once walked to a line of taxis in Bahrain and asked the first cabbie on the line how much to take me to the Souk (market place area of the city). I had been advised that it should be about 20 dinars. “100 dinars”, he responded dragging deeply from his cigarette. After 10 minutes or so of animated haggling, we settled for 20 dinars. The next day, I wanted to go back to the market place, and seeing my cabbie again on the line, I walked…
By Lani Gering Can you believe that we are starting a brand-new year already? Truth be known, I am happy to see 2025 hit the bricks. It has been a hellava year on the political front and living this close to the “heart of the beast” just seems to amplify things. That, coupled with my very favorite spot in the Harbor, Bond 45, closing its doors at no fault of its own on the 1st is why I am looking forward to a better 2026. January is historically a slow month pretty much everywhere. The Harbor may be quieter than most since the Gaylord convention traffic slows down with the exception of Super MAGFest happening January 8th to the 11th. According to their website, “Super MAGFest (short for Music and Gaming Festival) is a four-day long event dedicated to the appreciation of video game music, gaming of all types, and the gaming community. The event runs 24 hours – yes, you read that right – a day and offers consoles, arcades, tabletop, LAN, live video game cover bands, chiptunes, vendors, guest speakers and much more.” I have been a witness to a couple of these “gatherings” over the years and I must say that just people watching the attendees is very entertaining in itself. People come from all over the USA and possibly other countries to stay up all night drinking water and using creative methods of relieving themselves on and above the use of Depends. Tack on to all of the music and gaming, the Cosplay. I never fully understood what cosplay meant until I joined a good friend for a couple of Bloody Mary’s at Old Hickory while her youngest daughter and friend participated last year. I wish I had taken some photos. According to the google definition,…
From the origins of “Auld Lang Syne” to traditional foods, find out more about the history of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. What does “Auld Lang Syne” mean? Why do we sing the song at midnight on New Year’s Eve? “Auld Lang Syne,” the title of a Scottish folk song that many English speakers sing at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, roughly translates to “days gone by.” The poet Robert Burns is credited with transcribing, adapting and partially rewriting it in the late 18th century. Its lyrics, which rhetorically ask whether “auld acquaintance” should “be forgot,” have been interpreted as a call to remember friends and experiences from the past. Though sung on New Year’s Eve since the mid-19th century, it became firmly cemented as a holiday standard when Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians played it during a radio broadcast from New York’s Roosevelt Hotel at midnight on December 31, 1929. The band went on to perform the hit every year until 1976, and loudspeakers continue to blast their rendition after the annual ball drop in Times Square. Who were the first to make resolutions for the new year? People have been pledging to change their ways in the new year—whether by getting in shape, quitting a bad habit or learning a skill—for an estimated 4,000 years now. The tradition is thought to have first caught on among the ancient Babylonians, who made promises in order to earn the favor of the gods and start the year off on the right foot. (They would reportedly vow to pay off debts and return borrowed farm equipment.) The age-old custom of breaking one’s newly formed resolutions within several months—a fate that befalls the majority of would-be reformers, according to statistics—probably originated shortly thereafter. When was the first New Year’s Eve…
By Erin Shackleford Are you looking for a most handsome companion? Max is ready to go home as your loyal and loving sidekick. This gorgeous guy with his perfectly mismatched ears weighs 73 pounds at 3 years old. Max is a social dog and is eager to please, already responding to the cues for sit and down. He is food-motivated and could learn more through the power of treats and loving attention. Max is playful and engages enthusiastically with chew toys and food puzzles. This smart guy would benefit from having a fenced yard where he could play, sun himself, and do some training. Max is a leaner and a cuddler! He frequently sidles up for some pets and scratches. Email adoptions@AlexandriaAnimals.org to arrange a meet and greet! Yang is ready to hop into your heart! This flopsy lady is sure to come over when you offer a timothy hay treat. Yang was transferred to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria from a different shelter, and we are still learning about her quirky personality. She may not have been treated kindly in the past and is learning to trust humans. A patient bunny-lover who could continue to offer Yang new treats and gentle attention would be ideal for her journey. If you pretend not to notice, Yang may even jump into your lap. She enjoys hanging out on the bed with her foster mom as they each do their own thing. Yang enjoys a good head scratch right now and definitely believes that she deserves the attention. Email adoptions@AlexandriaAnimals.org to arrange a meet and greet! Charlie is a two-year-old black cat with movie-star looks and the personality to match. His silky-soft coat and fluffy tail tend to stop people in their tracks, but it’s his lively, affectionate nature that truly wins hearts. Sweet, social, and endlessly…
By Cindy McGovern Don’t want to start the New Year with a cat not using the litter box? Things to Consider…Besides Panic! Cats are known for being clean and fastidious creatures. Sure, you may have one that throws kitty litter all over as they dig, but generally, they use the litter box for its stated purpose. But what happens when they don’t? Going outside the litter box or house soiling is the most common behavioral problem seen in cats and can cause stress for all involved. Finding a solution may take time to find and will depend on the cat and owner. The first step anytime you notice a change in litter-box behavior is to consult your vet to rule out health issues. Inflammation of the urinary tract or crystals in the urine can make urinating painful and the cat can associate the litter box with pain as a result. Kidney and thyroid diseases as well as diabetes are also considerations, as cats often drink more water with these conditions and in turn urinate more often. I had a diabetic cat who drank copious amounts of water and not surprisingly urinated a copious amount as well. I had to change the litter more frequently to keep up. Stomach or digestive issues may similarly make it painful for a cat to defecate or even decrease their bowel control. Mobility issues or cognitive decline can affect the cat’s ability to get to the litter box in time. And finally, stress from changes in daily routine, like a new work schedule; a new baby; or adding a new pet to the home can cause litter-box problems. Another consideration is what’s going on just outside the home that may be causing stress. Is there a stray cat or fox hanging around that your cat can see or…
Pictured Above: Bob, Lani and Dave in the late 1990’s. Photo by Chester Simpson Well, here it is, New Years Eve 2025 with 2026 rolling right in. It is dark out and we are still trying to get this new issue to the printer. By the time you read this you will already know we were a few days late. This January, we begin our 38th year of bringing the Old Town Crier to readers literally “From the Bay to the Blue Ridge”. It seems like just yesterday that David Underwood and I started the Crier. We had grand ideas…and little know how. However, it all worked out with a LOT of help from our friends. Dave was a fantastic traditional graphic artist and he took on the role of learning that new technology…the personal computer. He was responsible for the majority of the layout each month and we started with dry mounting print galleys to paper “boards”. If you want some clarification on that process, give us a call and we can run you through it! We did our first layout in Dave’s dining room and we made a mess. We were lucky enough to procure office space on North Henry Street and moved the production there. It was very time consuming to say the least and required a decent amount of space and several pieces of equipment. Today, our designer, the talented Erin Koons, puts the pieces of the puzzle together digitally in her home after Lani “supplies” her with the text and some of the images. All done remotely with smart phones and laptops from our apartment that serves as the “office” or anywhere we might be that has access to wifi. A short time after that first issue hit the streets, we got a call at…
By Bob Tagert As most of our readers know that we go on and write about a Road Trip every month. Over the years, our trips have ranged from a day trip around the DMV to two weeks as far away as the island of St. John in the USVI to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. With each January issue we do a brief recap of last year’s trips just to remind you where we’ve been. Let’s get started. FEBRUARY – Shadow Mountain Escape, Luray, Virginia February took us back to one of our favorite destinations where “Love is in the Air” – the couples only Shadow Mountain Escape. Over the years that we have known Ralph and Karen Riddle, they and Shadow Mountain have become one of our favorite destinations. You will find SME about two miles on the Luray side of the Thornton Gap entrance to Skyline Drive on Jewell Hollow Road. The brainchild and lifelong dream of Karen and Ralph Riddle, the name SME comes from the name of the tracts (Shadow Mountain tracts) of land that were originally subdivided within Jewell Hollow. The Riddles added the term “Escape” to invoke a sense of the underlying purpose behind their effort. In an attempt to provide an environment conducive to happiness and fulfillment, they focused on exposing the beauty and spirit of the natural landscape and the remarkable life that flourishes there. There are four cabins located on the fifteen-acre property. In celebration of the abundant wildlife, all of the cabins were given indigenous “bug names”. The Bear Dance Lodge was the first rental built on the property and the two cabins were named Dragon Fly and Bumble Bee. The Butterfly loft was opened in 2003 and the final rental, the Ladybug, was completed in 2011. For added…
By Melinda Myers Gardeners know the benefits of digging in the soil. It elevates a person’s mood, improves mental and physical well-being and the outcome is always good – added beauty or tasty nutritional food. But many of us are stuck indoors for the winter, have a lack of space to garden outdoors or just can’t get enough of this healthful activity. Adding greenery indoors expands our gardening opportunities and provides the many benefits of living with and tending plants. Let’s start with the kitchen. Boost the flavor and nutrition of winter meals by growing leafy greens and herbs in a sunny window or under a cabinet with the help of a Growbar LED light fixture. Start plants from seeds or purchase transplants to grow indoors. Place your indoor kitchen garden in a brightly lit location, free of cold drafts and with easy access to harvest and use. Then enlist the whole family and even your guests into harvesting greens for their salad and herbs to season their meals. This is sure to turn family and friend gatherings into unique and memorable experiences. Include plants in your home or work office. Greenery helps reduce stress even when working at your desk or tackling homework at the end of a long day. Set a few plants on or near your desk or other workspace. And don’t let a lack of light stop you from growing a bit of green stress relief. Stylish energy efficient full spectrum plant lights, like the Felt Pendant Grow Light (modsprout.com), fit any décor, direct light where it is needed and promote healthy plant growth. Take advantage of your bathroom’s high humidity. Grow ferns, orchids, bromeliads and other humidity-loving plants in this space. Consider these and other low light plants like cast iron, pothos and philodendron if…