Pictured above: Former Alexandrian, L’Auberge Provencale’s Drew Chaney and the author on the porch of the Inn and Restaurant.
As I sit here and pen these notes, the former 10-foot stack of snow/ice left over from the mess Mother Nature dealt us earlier in February is down to a mere 4 feet. Woot! I don’t have a Farmers Almanac so no clue what is on the horizon for this month but sure hope it’s on the upswing. I have seen a few signs of life where crocus and snow drops were brave enough to pop up in the snow. Bring on the tulips.
I get a good amount of grief from my partner/quasi editor about my Publishers Notes writing style but I like to give you a heads up on some of what you can expect to see on the next 47 pages. This March recap:
What is in a name? Find out this month in the Business Profile as the popular store at 915 King street, Ten Thousand Villages, rebranded themselves late last month changing their name to The World Crafted on King. It remains an organization driven with a passion for fair trade but with a more locally owned flair.
In A Bit of History Sarah Becker writes that although we have come a long way in civil and personal rights…she wonders out loud…have we really?
In Last Word, Miriam Kramer reviews Victorian Crimes in a London Fog. The author weaves his memorable characters together with occasional super natural touches. In Gallery Beat, Lenny Campello congratulates Artists and Makers Studios for 11 years in business and the National Gallery of Art had an open call for local folks.
In From the Bay, Lani Gering writes about our favorite band and friends, the Eastport Oyster Boys, as they celebrate 30 years of musical mirth regaling the essence of the Chesapeake Bay. Julie Reardon gets us geared up for spring writing about the Spring Race season in Hunt Country in To the Blue Ridge.
For our Road Trip this month we ventured to the Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley for a visit to L’Auberge Provencale – a great destination and a beautiful drive. We had an amazing time and got to catch up with former Old Town Alexandrian Drew Chaney. In Caribbean Connection we get an over water look at the suites at Rosewood Mayakoba
In Dining Out, we visited our two Irish Restaurants in Old Town – Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub and Daniel O’Connell’s. Each has its’ own character and we invite you to visit them in March. In Let’s Get Crafty, Tim Long gives us a lesson in how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. In Grapevine this month, Matt Fitzsimmons gives us a look at some of the names who have helped keep moving the Virginia wine scene forward over the years. In Exploring Virginia Wines, winemaker Doug Fabbioli points out the good fortune that Virginia has had this year in the fields and winery. The heavier than normal snow fall this year has helped a lot to mitigate the drought of the last few years. Doug also reflects that the wine they are tasting at the winery is looking very good.
Captain Steve Chaconas gives us the scoop on the impact that the cormorants have on Potomac River bass fishing in his Go Fish column. It appears they are pretty hungry birds. In Open Space Lori Welch Brown examines the meaning of Luck of the Irish, and finds new meaning and understanding. All of this and much more inside.
Lots going on this month. Seems like we just put away all of our Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday paraphernalia just in time to get out the myriad of “green” stuff and anything that remotely says “Kiss Me I’m Irish” since the St. Patrick’s Day parade is always so early. This year it takes place on the 7th so it only has to sit around to get dug out again ten days later on the real day on the 17th! The first day of spring rolls around on the 20th this year and the Cherry Blossom hubub gets geared up toward the end of the month with the early trees blooming in National Harbor mid-March – several days before the Tidal Basin starts turning.
March is my birthday month. I turn 79 on the 14th and I can’t fathom that I am actually going to be 80 next year. Time is a fickle thing. In the meantime, I take one day at a time!
“May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
Slainte!