This weather is so crazy, I don’t know what month it is. It is definitely going to be an early year for the Cherry Blossoms to bloom. Among the nearly 4,000 Yoshino cherry trees near the Tidal Basin, there is one that consistently flowers a week to ten days before the others. It is so reliable, National Park Service officials call it the “indicator tree,” and use it to predict when the rest of the trees will bloom. The 200 Okame cherry trees lining the shoreline of National Harbor are already in bloom. Read about the in the National Harbor column. Spring is on the way folks. Lots of good stuff in this first edition of spring. If you are looking for an excuse to head to the islands this June, check out Rum Week in the Caribbean Connection. If Rum isn’t your thing, Matt Fitzsimmons went exploring the wineries of the Northern Neck in Virginia in his Grapevine column. Ingleside Vineyards is one of the wineries visited and the first winery we wrote about 36 years ago. Owner Doug Flemer has been a good friend for many years. In Exploring VA Wines, Doug Fabbioli laments on the challenges of warm weather for the farmer while winter weather might not be all gone. In Let’s Get Crafty, Tim Long asks if you are Irish – I think we all have a bit of Irish in our souls. In From the Bay, Molly Winans explains her reluctance to burn her socks at the Annual Eastport Sock Burning – a ritual celebrating the vernal equinox. In To the Blue Ridge, Julie Reardon brings us the spring guide to hunt country steeplechase racing. Gallery Beat author Lenny Campello explains the true value of the Trawick Prize. Lori Welch Brown coaches us on how…
By Bob Tagert Here we are in February of 2023 celebrating the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras and President’s Day. It is also the start of Six Nations Rugby – way more important to me than American football. You can check out all of the action in real time at O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar in Old Town – see their ad in the Dining Out Section. If you have never watched rugby before, no worries, there will be a fan there who will be happy to explain the game to you. Fascinating sport. Lots of great “stuff” in this month’s issue. Doug Fabbioli writes about life on the land in Exploring VA Wines. In Grapevine, Matt Fitzsimmons explains the art of chocolate and wine pairings. Our Dining Out column features a visit to Via Veneto Italian Restaurant, a hidden gem off of Fort Hunt Road. Alexander Britell writes about a new way to own a vacation home on St. John for less in Caribbean Connection. In Business Profile Lani Gering visits the Freedom House Museum on Duke Street. Tim Wheeler tells us about an innovative Oyster Co-op in southern Maryland in From the Bay while Julie Reardon discusses the absence of a cell tower in a wealthy part of Virginia in To the Blue Ridge. In Gallery Beat Lenny Campello explains why he thinks the Compass Atelier is the best artist school in the DMV. Sarah Becker takes a historical look at immigration and emigration in her popular History column. In High Notes, Ron Powers revisits AC/DC’s “Through the mists of Time”. To enhance your Super Bowl experience this year, Tim Long suggests a bourbon tasting as well as a nice cigar pairing in his Let’s Get Crafty space. Lori Welch Brown laments about being single, dating and…
By Bob Tagert 1988 – Present With the printing of this issue we celebrate our 35th year in print and our 27th year of being both in print and online. Little did we know when I secured “oldtowncrier.com” it would be such a sought after moniker. We did find out that there are quite a few Old Town Criers out there in the “world” that we beat to the url registration punch. We have come a long way since my late partner David Underwood and I started out. Thirty five years ago Old Town Alexandria pretty much ended at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub in the 700 block of King Street. There was no metro then and the west end of King Street was abandoned warehouses, odd car dealerships and a hub for hookers on the corner of King and Henry. The footprint was quite different then and when we distributed our very first issue in January 1988 it was a couple hour process not a 2-3 day one. We distributed to the shops and galleries in Old Town as well as the bars and restaurants. Many of those businesses are gone now, but what a grand time it was back then. Parking was easy to find and everything was in a short walk. While I remain nostalgic for “back in the day”, Lani welcomes the renewed vibrance of the waterfront and the energy that it is bringing to Old Town with open arms – parking be damned. As we developed the OTC into the early 90’s, we became a Regional publication when we expanded our content as well as our distribution to cover destinations into the Blue Ridge and near the Chesapeake Bay. These new markets gave us the opportunity to market Old Town – our Heart and Soul –…
By Bob Tagert As I write the December Publishers Notes the outside temperature is 62 degrees and sunny. It looks like we may be in for a mild winter but I do have my fingers crossed for some snowflakes on Christmas. Only time will tell. As we do every December, we bring our Road Trip “Home for the Holidays”. My hope is that you will take some time and read it and catch up with what is in our own backyard. This is really valuable information for you readers who live in our distribution area outside of Alexandria. Come visit. We are the center of “From the Bay to the Blue Ridge.” For this Christmas season we are sharing a very poignant piece that delves into the history of a holiday favorite – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. This was an eye-opener for me and definitely worth the read. In keeping with the season, Lani Gering made the trip out to Mount Vernon to visit our old friend Aladdin – the Christmas Camel – for Personality Profile. This camel is quite a character and definitely has a unique personality. Visit him this holiday season. This weather is perfect for spending the day at one of Virginia’s fine wineries. Some of the best advertise in the Old Town Crier. Visit them for some good wine and a good time. In Exploring Virginia Wines this month, Doug Fabbioli teaches us what it takes to be a wine judge. Grapevine was penned by our former columnist, Nancy Bauer, and she lets us know where to find some holiday fun and some good deals at the wineries this winter. Tim Long pontificates about the nuances of “Holiday Beer” in Let’s Get Crafty. If Virginia wines and holiday beers don’t take the stress out of…
By Bob Tagert As I write this on the last Thursday of October the temperature is 66 degrees and a bright sunny day. Days like this are perfect for grape harvest in Virginia’s wine industry and they should be pretty much done by the time the issue comes out. Read in Exploring VA Wines by Doug Fabbioli how this year’s harvest is turning out. In Grapevine, Matthew Fitzsimmons shares the results of the 2022 Loudoun Wine Awards. As the weather gets colder, your thoughts may turn toward the Caribbean. In Caribbean Connection, we learn that St. Maarten has removed testing and vaccination rules. Our Road Trip took us to the beautiful Swanendele Inn in Ridge, Maryland with a stop at the True Chesapeake Oyster Company. My new favorite bivalve is the Skinny Dipper. In Gallery Beat Lenny Campello gives a shout out to “Support your local Artists’’ Sunday on the 27th! In High Notes, Ron Powers Flashback article is about Devo. Miriam Kramer explores the “family” Bridgerton in Last Word. Let’s Get Crafty’s Tim Long takes you through religion on his way to a good bourbon and cigar and we checked into the hype of “Pizza by the Slice” in Dining Out at Old Town Alexandria’s newest slice hot spots – Handover By The Slice and Andy’s Pizza. Sarah Becker lets you know what you didn’t know about Thanksgiving in her History column while Open Space columnist Lori Welch Brown talks about “An Act of (Self) Gratitude”. If you don’t live in Old Town and/or shop at the Social Safeway on Royal Street or never played volley ball at the court on South Union Street, you probably aren’t familiar with the image on this month’s cover. This tunnel is only four blocks south of King Street and most folks who…
By Bob Tagert As I write this on September 21st the temperature today is 86 degrees and beautiful. A cold front comes through tomorrow and the high for the 23rd is to be 69. By the time you read this we will be in the comfortable 70’s every day. Fall is here. October is Virginia Wine Month so take a drive to one of over 300 wineries in the state. Have a glass or a bottle and take a case home with you. Check out how to Celebrate Virginia Wine Month in our Virginia Wine section. In this month’s History column Sarah Becker takes a break from her hard hitting articles and explores Whiskey, Wine & Beer. Dining Out found us remembering when and living young at The Light Horse Restaurant & Bar. In Grapevine, Matthew Fitzsimmons will give you a chill with Haunted Wineries and Ghost Tours. In Take Photographs, Leave Footprints Scott Dicken visits the Temples of Taipei. In Get Crafty, Tim Long goes down the path of IPA. With fall upon us and leaves changing color, join us on the Potomac Eagle in Road Trip. After going back in time with his reviews, Ron Powers brings us up to date with Alchemy of Earth in High Notes. Sailing is a passion and in From the Bay it is “Show Time”. In Go Fish, local angler Steve Chaconas teaches us that “Fishing is Better with Kids”. Lori Welch Brown laments about her childhood home in Open Space. This has been a brutal summer and hopes are for a pleasant fall. Chances are good that winter may be tolerable as well because global warming is real. I can remember ice skating on the Potomac River in the early 60’s. In recent memory I can think of a thin sheet…
Thank the Lord that the month of August spared us the intense heat that July did. As I write this at 11 a.m. on August 23 it is a very nice 81 degrees outside. Might just be able to get a day of sailing in this weekend before September distribution starts on the 30th. Let’s see what’s in store for you in this issue. With Virginia Wine Month on the horizon (October), in Exploring VA Wines, Doug Fabbioli talks about the fine balance between the wineries and the many vineyards that count on the wineries buying their fruit every year. In Grapevine Matthew Fitzsimmons writes a great article about Greenhill Winery (formerly Swedenburg) and mentions how my late friend Juanita Swedenburg went to the Supreme Court to secure out of state shipping for Virginia wineries. He goes on to explore the quality of the present day Greenhill. In History Sarah Becker reveals the gauze that lawmakers use to protect us from military style guns and the damage they do. On a lighter note in Take Photos/Leave Footprints, Scott Dicken takes us on a tour of the Piedmont Region in Northern Italy. In From the Trainer, Ryan Unverzagt reminds us of the value of Bodyweight Training and Open Space’s Lori Welch Brown, not just a pretty face, reminisces about XXL on her birthday/anniversary month. Our Road Trip this month took us to Spacious Skies Campground in the Shenandoah’s near Luray, Virginia for a “Glamping” experience. A bit of a drive but with a stop at Pearmund Cellars on the way out and a stop at Barrel Oak Winery on the way back, it made the drive very pleasant. In and Out of Town: if you are hanging in Old Town make sure you check out the balcony at Chadwicks. Great craft…
By Bob Tagert The Dog Days of Summer arrived in full force. As we close out July and move into August the weather has been brutal with very high temps and thunder storms popping up almost every afternoon. My sailing adventures over the years in the lower Potomac River and Solomons, Maryland has shown that July is always the hot month with August offering more pleasant temperatures. I hope that trend holds true. Our Road Trip this month took us to Mountain Lake Lodge and the New River in southwestern Virginia. The cover photo features just a small portion of the beauty of the river. Read the column and learn more about the river, the lodge, the lake and the home of the iconic movie, Dirty Dancing’s filming location. In Let’s Get Crafty, Tim Long reminds us of one of summer’s treats…the Shandy. He also takes a taste of SelvaRey Rum, one of the hottest new rums on the market as well as a great cigar recommendation to compliment it. Grapevine author Matthew Fitzsimmons introduces us to a few of Virginia’s assistant winemakers, how they got there and their mentors. In Exploring VA Wines Doug Fabbioli laments on training and retraining after a pandemic. Miriam Kramer does the research for the best in Beach Books 2022 in Last Word. In High Notes, Ron Powers continues his Flashback series and shines a light on Chuck Berry. Sarah Becker’s Bit of History column takes a look at Roe v. Wade and the Law of Coverture. There is some eye-opening information in this piece. In Caribbean Connection Bob Curley introduces us to a few of the Best Caribbean Rainforest Accommodations. It is a tradition to leave our area in the winter and head to the islands. With constant mid to upper 90’s this…
By Bob Tagert Summer has arrived and the 4th of July is just around the corner. Time to fire up the grill, throw on some burgers and dogs and relax with the cold one as we say Happy Birthday to the USA and our very own Alexandria! Our fair city turns 273 years old this month – see the calendar for information on the celebration taking place on the 9th. The fireworks are not to be missed. They do a great job every year. I plan on spending some quality time on my sailboat this month. I see some fun cruises up the Patuxent River on the horizon. I hope you all have some summertime adventures planned in your future. Speaking of which, you might want to put a trek to one of our very favorite parts of “Charm City” aka Baltimore on your calendar. Our Road Trip took us to the cool little enclave of Fells Point on the southeast corner of the city. There is a lot of fun to be had in this little waterfront neighborhood. We also want to thank David Sites for the image of the Pride of Baltimore that graces the cover. She is a must see in the Inner Harbor. If the waterside isn’t to your liking, head into the mountains to Rappahannock County and check out Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, pick up a bottle of their award winning spirits and head over Thornton Gap into the Shenandoah’s and stay at the Mimslyn Inn in Luray – see their ad in the Blue Ridge Section. Also in this issue, Doug Fabbioli explains the secrets of growing good grapevines in Exploring VA Wines while Matt Fitzsimmons reveals the future of Spain’s signature grape – Albarino – in the Commonwealth in his Grapevine column….
By Bob Tagert First of all I want to apologize to our readers and advertisers. You all may have noticed that the paper quality on the May issue is inferior. Our printer took it upon themselves to print us on a lower grade paper without discussing it with us. Two months in a row they have been out of the paper we normally use so we are forced to accept a lesser grade. The pandemic made us move from a glossy cover to a 50 pound bright and now this. My apologies for the paper but be assured that the content is the same “quality” content that you have come to depend on. A recap of said content is below. As Old Town Alexandria ponders about the future of the emerging pedestrian walk in the 100 block of King Street, we took a Road Trip to check out the Loudoun Walking Mall in Winchester, Virginia. Let’s hope that the results of our endeavor on lower King Street ends up like this Walking Mall. Sarah Becker takes us back to the Democratic Convention of 1924 in her History column. The Business Profile takes on a different vent with a piece about the Murals of Del Ray. The mural on the cover is no longer and wasn’t in Del Ray. Does anyone remember this one? Watch for info about an upcoming contest on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Meg Mullery introduces you to “Sophia” the Little Yellow Sofa in this month’s Personality Profile column. Sophia gets around and is very special to those in the Blue Ridge area. Doug Fabbioli discusses “Agritourism” in his Exploring Virginia Wines column while Matt Fitzsimmons highlights one of the Virginia’s “Forgotten Wineries” in Grapevine. In Let’s Get Crafty Tim Long checks out St. Barths, Rhum, Ti’…
View More