As milder weather boosts moods and blossoms brighten spirits, springtime events abound in Alexandria, Virginia, located minutes from Washington, D.C., on the Potomac River and recognized by Travel + Leisure among the Best Cities in the U.S. 2023 and a Condé Nast Traveler Best Small City in the U.S. 2023. Spring brings fresh happenings including a time-honored favorite, George Washington’s Mount Vernon Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour. For more spring events and activities in Alexandria, see the listings below and learn more at VisitAlexandria.com/Spring. Temporary Waterfront Public Art Installation: Interstellar Influencer (Make an Impact) Spring to November 2024 Admission: Free Waterfront Park 1A Prince Street visitalexandriava.com/public-art Coming this spring, Interstellar Influencer (Make an Impact) will be unveiled as the sixth annual temporary public art installation at Waterfront Park, on display until November 2024 as part of the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town series. Created by Brooklyn-based, award-winning artist/architect duo Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang of STUDIOKCA, the installation explores the impact of an asteroid that hit the earth 35 million years ago near what is now Alexandria. Interstellar Influencer uses metal, water and light to create a 1:1000 scale representation of the asteroid and the 85-kilometer wide, 1.5-kilometer-deep crater it left behind, that shaped the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed and the flow of water through its rivers and tributaries. May 18th 8th Annual Well Ray Festival 10 am – 2 pm Admission: Free Mount Vernon & Bellefonte Avenues The 8th annual Well Ray Festival showcases the wide variety of health and wellness opportunities in Alexandria’s Del R ay neighborhood. The outdoor event — featuring free fitness and dance classes for all ages, health demonstrations, 40+ vendors, and more — is free and open to all. For more information, including a full schedule of events and class registration information, visit www.wellraydelray.com. 17th – 19th George Washington’s Mount Vernon Spring…
By Caribbean Journal Staff It’s the most legendary place to stay in St Croix: The Buccaneer, the storied beach resort near Christiansted that’s home to one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Caribbean. If you’re planning a springtime vacation, the resort has unveiled a new program with significant savings for those who book four nights. It’s called “Spring Fling,” and the promotion gives guests a free fifth night if you book four. The offer is valid for bookings made now through May 31st, with travel dates through Dec. 20, 2024. So…what about getting to St Croix? Most major airlines fly nonstop between the US mainland and the largest US Virgin Island, with flights on carriers including Delta, American, Spirit and Frontier. You can also fly from Puerto Rico on smaller carriers like Fly the Whale and Cape Air. Fly the Whale also flies between St Thomas and St Croix. For more, contact reservations@thebuccaneer.com or call 800-255-3881. Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staff contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/website at caribjournal.com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean. About the Buccaneer The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort celebrates more than 75 years of Caribbean hospitality as it blends timeless charm and elegance with modern luxury. Owned and operated by the Armstrong family for three generations, The Buccaneer has received high honors from the travel industry and earned a multitude of “World’s Best” accolades. Most recently, the resort has secured the #4 spot among the Top 10 for Best Caribbean Resort in the highly coveted 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. This achievement reflects The…
By Ms. Gastronome What better way to celebrate Mom on her day than having a grownup tea party? Lady Camillia at the Waterfront is the place to do just that. Previously located in Georgetown, Lady Camillia moved to their waterfront location in Old Town on Strand Street in January of last year. I have to admit that I am sort of embarrassed that it took me over a year to patronize this lovely eatery. I love tea and the idea of getting a little dressed up to go someplace for a “tea party” is very appealing. Full disclosure, I made this decision sort of last minute and all of my lady friends were otherwise engaged so I talked Mr. Gastronome into accompanying me. Truth be told, I think he really liked being the only “guy” in the room. He even held his “pinky” out while drinking his green tea. Lady Camillia is a very pretty and very proper setting. The colors are muted pinks and mauves with touches of light blues. The seating is also very comfortable and I can’t say enough about the elegance of the place settings. When we arrived, we were seated at a table for two by the window next to a group of three sisters celebrating an early Mother’s Day with their mom. They were half way through their “Afternoon Tea” party and were having a fabulous time. We followed their lead with some of our choices for pastries. Since we were there on a rainy Friday, we opted for the “Weekday Afternoon Tea” Full Tea for two. This includes three tea sandwiches (we had the smoked salmon, egg salad and chicken salad), choice of three scones/croissants (we opted for a white chocolate cranberry scone and plain and pain au chocolate croissants) and four pastries….
By Doug Fabbioli One of our mobile bottling lines that Chris Pearmund and a few other folks have run over the decades will retire this year. A key reason our industry has blossomed as well as it has over the last 3 decades has been because of this bottling line and a couple others like it. The trailer housing the bottling line is large and heavy, the equipment is sensitive, and winemakers are finicky about how our wine is treated in this critical stage of its life. Hats off to all the folks that own, manage and work these lines in order to get our wines into the bottle and our labels on straight. These operators are a rare breed, and we can’t do our job and get the product to our customers without them. Hail, really? The other day, in the middle of our bottling run, we had a heathy hail storm roll through. The vines were just budding out so the damage was not devastating, but it did knock off some of the buds. In the process of pruning and training our grapevines, we eliminate a portion of the buds that the plant grew last year. So losing some buds is ok, but we want buds in certain positions to maintain the structure of the vine and keep the fruit in the fruiting zone for training and protection. The photos bellow are of a hail damaged bud and an untouched healthy bud. We were fortunate to be only grazed by this damaging storm. One more thing for farmers to worry about. Our pear trees have set their fruit. The pear blossoms come out just about the same time the cherry blossoms bloom in DC. Yes, it does seem to happen a bit earlier each year. This is an…
We’re all looking for ways to put money back into the family budget. Sure, you can eliminate streaming services, cut back on snacks, or eat out less often. But, one of the often-overlooked ways of reducing monthly expenses is to refinance your auto loan. Here’s how to know if a refinance could work for you. You Recently Bought Your Vehicle at a Dealership Did you buy your current vehicle using dealership financing to get special incentives or cash-back offers? Chances are your rate was higher to offset those special deals. As long as today’s rates are lower, you could save money every month. Additionally, by extending the terms of the loan (the total number of monthly payments), you could lower the amount you spend every month. You Have Less than 12 Payments Remaining Paying off your vehicle feels great and can be a boost to your overall financial life with one less car payment. But, if you’re looking for ways to add money back into the budget, refinancing to a longer term might help, even if rates haven’t changed much. That’s because you’ll be spreading out the remainder of what you owe over several more years. In some cases, your monthly payments could be cut in half. Your Credit Has Improved Anytime your credit score improves, it increases your chances of securing a better rate—especially with an auto loan. If your credit score has risen dramatically since you first financed your vehicle, check with your credit union about a better rate and extending the term of the loan. You could see a reduction in your payments. Additionally, you might not spend much more on interest. When to Avoid a Refinance As long as the savings on the monthly payments are worth the cost, refinancing can help with the monthly budget….
By Kim Putens It is that time of year…Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching and the outdoor activities will be getting into full swing. This means donning shorts, tank tops and a swimsuit so…you don’t want the glare off of those white limbs outshining your outfit. Learning to apply self-tanner is as much about patience and perseverance as it is an art form. It does not have to be an uphill battle, like learning how to paint the Mona Lisa. It is achievable and a few tricks of the trade will have you looking as stunningly bronzed as ever. Even if you seek out a professional for help, it is important to know what and what not to do. Remember, regardless of your self-tanning fate, it is still better to get that fake bake than to bake in the sun or in a wretched tanning bed. Step 1 – Exfoliate. You must get off all that dead skin before even attempting to point that bronzing bottle at your body. If you do not slough, the tanner will blotch. Pay particular attention to rough spots like knees, elbows, heels, and hands. When choosing an exfoliant, be sure to choose one that is oil-free. Oil prevents tanner from properly penetrating. Step 2 – Prep Yourself. To avoid turning green, orange or any other color of the rainbow, it is extremely important that you prep your skin. Remove deodorant – it can react to the self-tanner and turn your underarms green. Put moisturizer on your eye brows – the tanner can turn them orange. Finally, rub a thin layer of body lotion onto chronically dry areas such as elbows, hands, heels and hands to keep them from turning darker shades of brown. All this will ensure that the tanner absorbs nicely without splotching…
Experience the rich maritime history of the Chesapeake Bay at the Solomons Maritime Festival! Be sure to check out Wm. B. Tennison cruises, educational programs, special events, and the first month of openings for Cove Point Lighthouse and Lore Oyster House this season! Explore how the prehistoric past, natural environments, and maritime heritage come to life and tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay. The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11.00 for adults; $9.00 for seniors, military, and veterans with valid I.D, AAA and AARP members; $6.00 for children ages 5 – 12; children under 5 and museum members are admitted free. Proud participant in Museums for ALL. For more information about the museum, upcoming events, or membership and to purchase tickets for all events, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Wednesday, May 1 – Lore Oyster House 2 – 4 p.m. Join us for the first official open day of the season at the newly refurbished Lore Oyster House. Located six-tenths of a mile south of the main museum campus on Solomons Island Road, this 1934 seafood packing house offers exhibits that explore all aspects of oyster processing. No admission required. Visit our website for all summer dates. Wednesday through Sunday, the month of May – Wm. B. Tennison Public Cruise 2 p.m. Relax and enjoy a leisurely one-hour sightseeing cruise on the river aboard the Wm. B. Tennison, a log-built bugeye. Capacity allows for 40 guests. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children, infant through 12 years. *Please note: May 4 will follow the event schedule for the Solomons Maritime Festival and a May 19 cruise will not be available due to the Blessing of the Fleet event. Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, in the month of May – Cove Point Lighthouse grounds and…
By Ryan Unverzagt Let me start by saying thank you to all of those loyal readers out there that have been following this column since its first appearance in the September 2009 issue of the Old Town Crier. Writing for this popular publication would not even be possible if it weren’t for the vision of its founder, Bob Tagert, and Lani Gering. Many thanks to you guys as well. My purpose is to educate as many people as I can about the importance of fitness and how to incorporate it into everyday life. I hope that my advice is as informative as it is fun to write! This article is the second of a two-part series about Plyometrics. In last month’s issue, I explained what plyometrics are and some important things to consider before trying this type of exercise such as age, strength, body weight, previous injuries, and training experience. Exercise safety is a top priority of mine because if you get hurt, that means you can not exercise! Where is the benefit in that? Before jumping right into the plyometric exercises, I would like to explain how it works. The body is an extremely complex machine, especially during exercise. There are thousands of chemical reactions going on that allow our bodies to even move. These reactions work in harmony with our nervous system, which essentially dictates how the body responds to stimuli. The nervous system is integrated within our muscles to help detect body position changes. This phenomenon is called proprioception. These proprioceptors are sensitive to tension and stretch of the muscles. Plyometrics work because of the body’s stretch reflex. The stretch reflex is an involuntary response (contraction) to any stretching of the muscle. When the muscle is stretched out quickly, this reflex will kick in to tell the…
By Adrien Cotton With summer just a calendar page away, many of us are thinking about a better body. We may be asking, “Do my shorts still fit? How will I look in a bathing suit? Will I be able to keep up with my children and grandchildren?” And, maybe, some of us are even wondering if we can buy a better body. Even with the wisdom of midlife, many of us still believe material things will make us happier. I can be just as guilty as anyone. From cars, to clothes, to vacations, it can be so easy to fall prey to the belief these items or experiences will bring us happiness. However, I’ve learned that the best way to find happiness is through true wellness, and I espouse a growth or abundance mindset to achieve it. This can be the difference between progress and, well…the same old roller coaster ride of calorie counting and chronic cardio. Let’s face it, our bodies are different at 45+, why wouldn’t our approach to our wellness be different? It used to be – in our 20’s and 30s – we could throw money at the problem, and we could “fix” our bodies – and frankly how we felt about ourselves. Maybe it was a new diet program, or we’d shrink calories to the bare minimum, try a fancy star- studded cleanse or a new personal trainer. We then squeezed into our jeans, felt less embarrassed in our bathing suits, and walked with more confidence. Of course, back then our heroic efforts led to a different read-out on the scale. It was two, three, or maybe even four pounds (!!), and you were ready to throw a party. Yet think about it: two to four pounds can be the difference between getting your…
By Melinda Myers Tuck them into the garden, pop some in a container or dress up a window box. Then water as needed, add a bit of fertilizer and wait for the color explosion. The showy heart-shaped leaves of caladiums come in combinations of pink, red, white and green. These heat-loving plants provide beautiful color all season long. Best of all, no deadheading is needed. Caladiums can be used to create a stunning garden almost anywhere around your home. These tropical beauties grow well in full to partial shade, and some varieties grow equally well in full sun. Choose varieties that will provide the color, size and look you want to achieve, and that match the light conditions in your yard. Compact caladiums, such as lime and dark pink Miss Muffet, grow about 12” tall and are perfect for lining a pathway, edging a flowerbed or dressing up a container. Florida Sweetheart’s bright, rose-pink leaves have ruffled green edges, and Gingerland has creamy white leaves that are decorated with splashes of green and red. All of these miniature varieties combine nicely with larger caladiums and elephant ears. Step up the color impact with caladium Red Flash. This full-size caladium grows about 20” tall and has brilliant red centers, decorated with pink dots that pop against the large, deep green leaves. Use these anywhere you want a big splash of color in a garden bed or container. Combine caladiums with shade-loving annuals like begonias, coleus, and mildew-resistant impatiens or other summer bulbs like cannas and elephant ears. Visit Longfield Gardens (longfield-gardens.com) for a bit of inspiration and container design ideas. You’ll find simple combinations that provide big impact on a deck, patio or entryway. When planting caladiums directly into the garden, wait until at least two weeks after all danger of frost…
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