In Country

Ari Post • September 25, 2013

Dry stacked stones run in walls along twisting roads that separate the chewed up asphalt from the rolling hillsides. Whitewashed fences cut through pastures of grazing horses, and their strong and slender bodies trot languorously, unconcerned with the raw power bubbling beneath their surfaces.

While this may sound like a scene from a 19th century English countryside, it is in fact present-day Middleburg, Virginia and its surrounding Loudoun County, the heart of America’s Horse Country.

Just an hour’s drive beyond Washington’s city limits, it can be hard to believe how quickly the neon cluster of the city falls away to sprawling farmland in the Middleburg area. And equestrian culture is the heartbeat of the community, replete with specialty horse shops along the main street, like the Middleburg Tack Exchange, which has an extensive inventory of saddles, riding boots, apparel and riding gear. The Journeyman Saddler is another tack store and workshop that makes custom-made leather goods such as chaps and saddles, where local riders frequently get repairs and adjustments for their gear.
Equestrian culture is not just a gimmick in Middleburg, but a way of life. And fall is the premier season in which to experience all the life it has to offer.

The colorful history and legendary stories of Loudoun’s long, rich equestrian history are housed in the National Sporting Library and Museum, where over 17,000 books dating back to the 16th century, as well as cycles of exhibitions and their permanent art collection, chart the county’s sporting traditions back to their roots.

The International Gold Cup
There are a great many seasonal equestrian events in the coming months, including a few highlights. The 76th annual Gold Cup on Saturday, Oct. 19 is the season highlight, and its world famous steeplechase races are not to be missed.
The first International Gold Cup was held in 1930 at Grasslands Downs, Tennessee, where the King of Spain placed a spectacularly beautiful gold trophy—the same one still awarded annually to the winner in competition that year. The location of the Cup moved around a bit, until 1984 when the International Gold Cup race and trophy were moved to Virginia, where they enjoy large crowds and international attendants to this day.

The 2013 International Gold Cup marks the 76th running of this prestigious race and maintains international interest both in the spectator venues as well as on course. Riders from across Europe and members of the International Federation of Amateur Riders compete with U.S. jockeys for the World Cup of Nations. The event is well attended by Washington’s diplomatic community as well as ambassadors and representatives from many nations, providing a unique venue for social entertaining and a great place to network in the midst of spectacular scenery.

The Greater Equestrian World
From Friday to Sunday, Oct. 4 through 6, Morven Park will host its annual Fall Horse Trials, a great place to kick off your experience of Virginia’s equestrian tradition. This free event provides the optimal spectator experience, offering opportunities to observe top riders from around the country perform in three major disciplines: dressage, show jumping, and cross country riding. This show traditionally attracts the top riders in the country, often including members of the U.S. Olympic Team.
The Morven Park Equestrian Center at Historic Morven Park in Leesburg, Va., holds a special place in the hearts of the equestrian community. Home to local, regional, national, and world-class equestrian events, Morven Park is built on 1,000 acres of open space and continues to operate as a multifaceted events facility that includes indoor and outdoor arenas, a beautiful series of cross-country courses, and sports fields that are utilized by more than 100,000 enthusiasts each year. For more information visit www.MorvenPark.org

That same weekend, Oct. 5 and 6, the Virginia Fall Races will host the Field Hunter Championships of America. Founded in 1989, this event brings together fox hunting enthusiasts from all across the U.S. and Canada to participate in the week-long trial. Mounted judges ride alongside the numbered contestants as they hunt with four area fox Hunts over a five-day period. At the end of each day’s hunting, the judges announce the horse and rider combinations selected to compete in the finals held Sunday at Glenwood Park. The finals are held prior to the start of the first race.

The Sunday finals of the Field Hunter Championship (Oct. 6) give racing spectators a unique opportunity to watch a mock fox hunt. The finalists then follow the Field Master and are judged on how their horse performs.

After this “mock” hunt, the finalists are narrowed down once again and asked to negotiate a handy hunter course in the center of the racecourse, one at a time, for the championship title. The judges ask the riders to show each horse’s different hunting skills, and after these individual tasks are completed, a champion is chosen. Trophies are awarded to the Champion, Reserve Champion as well as Best Turned Out and Most Suitable Pair. For more information visit www.VaFallRaces.com.
Further events include the 7th annual Blue Ridge Fall Races at Woodley Farm in Berryville, Va. on Saturday October 12 (www.BlueRidgeFallRaces.com), The Jumper Show at Fox Chase Farms in Middleburg on October 26 (www.FoxChaseFarms.net), as well as the Montpelier Hunt Races hosted by the Blue Ridge Valley Foundation on November 2 in Montpelier Station, Va. (www.MontpelierRaces.org).

As you can see, there is a lot riding on this year’s equestrian season around Middleburg. Don’t miss this year in horse country.

Georgetowner •

The National Sporting Library & Museum hosted the Benefit Polo Match and Luncheon on Sept. 15, a spectacular day at the Virginia International Polo Club in Upperville. This popular event was expanded to include a number of activities celebrating country life. B. Tim and Michelle Brookshire served as event chairmen, Jacqueline Mars as honorary chairman and Ann Nitze as host committee chair.

The festive fund-raiser included an elegant luncheon under the tent catered by Occasions, a Ladies Hat Contest and an exciting NSLM Polo Cup match. Event planning was facilitated by the Webster Group, Inc., of Washington, D.C. The afternoon also featured a performance by the Washington Scottish Pipe Band and a parade of the Piedmont Fox Hounds. Excitement prevailed on both sides of the field with several carloads of people tailgating during the game. [gallery ids="101467,152947,152928,152933,152936,152946,152941" nav="thumbs"]

Patricia Daly-Lipe • August 15, 2013

May I introduce you to The Very Thing…For Her?

Yes, that is the name of a new place to shop in the town of Haymarket, Virginia. Truly, it is worth the drive from Washington, Maryland or other parts of Virginia.

The original store, The Very Thing, located next door, opened six years ago. Antiques, furniture, sports items, collectables of every kind are yours to find. There was another request, an upscale ladies consignment shop.

Next to The Very Thing was a historical building, one of the first houses built after most of Haymarket was burned to the ground during the Civil War. Named the Hulfish House, it was constructed in 1874 by George Andrew Hulfish, a very successful merchant who became the first acting mayor of Haymarket when the town was incorporated in 1882.

When the village of Haymarket was burned in 1862, Hulfish was only 15 years old and was working as a blacksmith in his father’s carriage shop. His father, Garrett Hulfish, a native of New Jersey, had moved to Haymarket in the mid-1840s. Sadly, it was Garrett’s house and carriage shop that were the first buildings set on fire by the Union troops.

This year, the town of Haymarket renovated the Hulfish house then leased it to the owner of The Very Thing, Doris Buck.
The Very Thing…For Her takes up the entire historical house. Lisa Dalby, the manager, along with her associate, Stacy Curran, tell me they are very particular about the clothes they consign from designer dresses, coats, sweaters to handbags, jewelry and shoes. Consignments are accepted by appointment only. Located at 6630 Jefferson St., Haymarket, Virginia, The Very Thing…For Her has parking and is easily accessed from Route 66’s Haymarket exit. Their phone number is (703) 743-1494. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

I strongly suggest you plan on visiting both stores, especially during the holidays. The perfect gift? Yes. The perfect attire for her? Yes. Unique and tasteful? Most certainly. [gallery ids="119363,119357" nav="thumbs"]

Sydney Marcuzzi •

Do you want a summer vacation in the winter season? Go to Sanibel Island in Florida. I went with most of my extended family over New Year’s. My family includes my mom, dad, little brothers, uncle and aunt, grandma, and other grandma and grandpa.

There was a divorce in the family, but everyone still gets along with each other (which is cool). It was special that everyone came to Florida to visit everyone else. This is one of the only times in the year that I see all of these people at once. Sanibel is a special place that brings together many families, including mine.

When we got to Sanibel, the first thing I wanted to do was go to Pinocchio’s, one of the best ice cream places in the world. Some of its signature flavors are Dirty Sand Dollar (it’s better than it sounds), Wedding Bells, and Sanibel Crunch. My absolute favorite flavor is Parrot’s Nest. It is vanilla-based with rainbow sprinkles and mini brown M&Ms mixed in. We went to Pinocchio’s almost every day and tried the different flavors. Most of the time, we biked because Florida is so much flatter compared to other places, and we lived only four miles away. Ice cream from Pinocchio’s is definitely one of the best parts of Sanibel.

This New Year’s Eve was the first time I stayed up until midnight! My uncle kept trying to keep me from falling asleep because he could see my eyes slowly slipping down. One thing that we did to make the night special was watch the ball drop in New York. It was cool to see the different performances between the showings of the tower. Taylor Swift, my favorite singer, performed in it along with many others. That New Year’s Eve will be one that I will never forget.

There are many fun things to do in Sanibel. We would usually go for a bike ride in the morning, and in the afternoon we just chilled out by the beach or pool. One fun thing you can bike to is the Ding Darling Nature Preserve. One day, my uncle and I rode up to Captiva for brunch. It was fun to have time with just him. I would go chill out by the pool or beach after a big bike ride.

One of my favorite things we did was go fishing. That day, we got up early to go to Jenson’s Marina in Captiva. Our captain and first mate, Roy and Graham, were really nice and very helpful. Some of the fish we caught were white grunt, mangrove snapper, porgie, and red and black grouper. My seven-year-old brother, Jake, caught the first and largest number of groupers by far even though he was the youngest. After four tiring hours of fishing, we headed back to the dock. As we looked out on the water, we saw a dolphin pop up in the water. It was cool to be that close to a wild dolphin without it noticing us that much. The best part of the fishing trip was getting to eat our most amazingly tasty fish for dinner that night at Wendy and George’s. That fishing trip and dinner will be one that I will remember forever.

Sanibel will always be an excellent place to spent time with my family. Every year when I go down, I understand how important it is to spent time with your family even if they live far away. I’m so excited to see what happens next year in Sanibel because there is a lot that can happen there. [gallery ids="102577,119894" nav="thumbs"]

Rachel Scola •

The Oaks
8600 John Mosby Highway
Upperville, Va. 20184
www.upperville.com

TWILIGHT POLO SATURDAYS:

Twilight Polo is back and here to stay until Sept. 7. Every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. in The Plains enjoy a polo match, hosted by Aspen Dale Winery. The polo matches are perfect for a family night out, with events like tug-of-war for the children, but can also be a fun date night for all couples. After each match, dance awaywith a DJ set in the pavilion. Tickets are $30 a carload.

Great Meadow
5089 Old Tavern Road
The Plains, Va. 20198
www.greatmeadow.org/events/twilight-polo/

7TH ANNUAL VAN METRE POLO CUP:

If you need another filling of polo besides twilight Saturdays, the Van Metre Polo Cup will take place on June 15 at Great Meadow. The celebrity polo players this year include Ignacio Figueras from Ralph Lauren and John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted. The Cup benefits Capital Caring and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Come to watch the celebrity match, dressed in your best pastels and sun hats, of course, knowing that you’re helping a good cause. General Admission tickets are $30.

Great Meadow
5089 Old Tavern Road
The Plains, Va. 20198
www.vanmetrepolocup.com

WEEKLY SAILBOAT RACES:

Wednesday Night Sailboat Races at Annapolis Harbor will run until August 28. Sit dockside to view the some 150 boats race to the finish line at the Annapolis Yacht Club. Continue to kick off your weekend early with their post-race party. Races start at 6 p.m. and last until around 8 p.m.

Annapolis Harbor
2 Compromise Street
Annapolis, Md. 21401
www.annapolisyc.com [gallery ids="101321,151345" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

In the May 8, 2013 issue, our In Country section featured Celebrating Equestrian Life which celebrated the equestrian lifestyle of Virgina. In continuing the celebration, meet Kate Samuels and her horse, Nyls du Terroir. Watch as they tackle the Advanced cross country course at The Fork Horse Trials in 2013, finishing clear with 8.4 time penalties to finish the class in 5th place.

Check out the video of Nyls and Kate riding the course. Kate is fitted with a helmet mounted camera that allows the viewer a great perspective the ride.

Nyls & Kate: The Fork Advanced from Kate Samuels on Vimeo.

Kate Samuels In 2009 had the honor of being named the Young Adult Intermediate Rider of the year, as well as being listed in the Developing Riders program for the past three years. Kate is currently seeking students in the Charlottesville, Virginia area, as well as pursuing both corporate and private sponsorship in her journey towards Olympic competition.

To learn more about KateSamuels and Nyls, visit www.katesamuels.com

Ari Post •

Many drinkers have yet to acclimate to the regional texture and character of East Coast libations. Our terroir—the flavor of our land—is still new to the cultural palette, as opposed to wines from France and California or whiskey from Scotland, whose nuances of tastes and textures we know. The reputation of East Coast wines and spirits is gaining momentum in the arena of the national beverage community. Granted, there is a lot of ground to cover, and it can be difficult to know where to start sipping.
The bodies and flavors of wines up and down our coast are quiet and subtle, more comparable to offerings from Oregon’s Willamette Valley than to the bright peppery fullness of France or the dense richness of Napa Valley. But anyone in the Washington area with a passion for regional drinking now has the opportunity to develop a beautiful relationship with the fruit, the land and the distinct character of East Coast elixirs.

Unlike many regions around the world, whose well-established techniques have been honed over centuries of trial and error, East Coast regions offer us the opportunity to grow with the very drinks we sip. As the distinct nature of climate and soil composition are still being worked out by area distillers, cidermakers and winemakers, the flavors of our brews are developing and maturing noticeably with each harvest. In Virginia, there is no better combination of beautiful countryside beverage offerings and knowledgeable professionals to make a distillery or vineyard visit an unforgettable winter getaway. However, if you don’t feel like leaving town, you can always just pick up a bottle of the good stuff at your local wine store.

Catoctin Creek Distillery
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company was founded in 2009 as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. It is a certified organic distillery in the heart of the Loudoun Valley. Just a stone’s throw from the city’s outskirts, Loudoun County has dozens of successful vineyards and has become unofficially known as Washington’s wine country. Now, the District has a distillery to throw into the mix.

Catoctin’s grain and fruit, free of pesticides and chemical additives, are sourced locally as often as possible, and its quality is being recognized on a national level. Its whiskies have a laundry list of silver and gold medals from a number of different competitions, from Whiskey Advocate Magazine to the American Distilling Institute. A tour of their facilities, just an hour’s drive from the Washington, is worth the trip. Their Organic Mosby’s Spirit, a clear grain rye “white whiskey,” is incredibly versatile as a mixer, giving a new grainy sweetness to traditional vodka or rum cocktails. Their Organic Roundstone Rye, one of the only organic whiskeys in the nation, took home a silver medal at last year’s American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition.
Catoctin Creek 1757 is Virginia’s first commercial grape brandy since the establishment of the Commonwealth. Brandy, a traditional old world digestif most widely used these days to spice up eggnog, has long been favored for its soothing, warming qualities. Made from locally grown wine grapes, 1757 is distilled and aged in French Bordeaux oak barrels for a minimum of two years. Try some—this stuff warms the heart.
For more information, visit CatoctinCreekDistilling.com

Virginia Distillery Company
A small-batch, artisan distiller, Virginia Distillery Company (VDC) in Nelson County, just 25 minutes south of Charlottesville, has brought notoriety to the region with its award-winning selection of double malt whiskies.

Their Virginia Highland Malt Whiskey will appeal to devoted Scotch and single malt drinkers, and it invites bourbon drinkers to look at malt whisky in a new way. The process starts by acquiring aged and vatted Highland malt from Scotland, already complex and luscious with acacia honey and notes of ginger. To enhance its quality and to throw in a taste of the region, VDC then finishes the whiskey in French oak wine barrels used to age Virginia port-style wine from a local vineyard. The months spent in the port-style wine barrels added notes of dark chocolate and raspberry jam, transforming the whisky to a deep, copper color. Whether sipped neat, with a splash of water, or mixed into a cocktail, this whisky is a pleasure.

Named for their home in Eades Hollow near Lovingston, Va., the distillery’s Eades Double Malt Whiskies represent the quintessential malt whisky experience from each of Scotland’s major distilling regions: Islay, Speyside and Highland. The name Double Malt comes from the two single malts that are selected for their classic characteristics and complementary natures to make each expression of Eades. Some of these malts are rarely found in the US, but all represent the finest flavor profile of each region. First, the two malts are finished separately in fine wine casks, such as Chateau Lafitte, Grenache and Zinfandel. Then, they are paired to create the perfect flavor profile of their region, giving us the Eades Double Malt.

To create Eades Double Malt, VDC’s master distiller has borrowed techniques not just from lauded whiskeymakers, but from the world’s finest winemakers as well. Just as two grapes from a particular season can produce a wine far better than a single grape alone, Eades Double Malt Whiskies demonstrate that two malts can create an experience that actually heightens and refines each region’s flavor profile.

The Islay is robust with, with peat smoke and hints of sea spray, while the Speyside is smooth and mellow, with the sweetness of summer berries. The Highland, perhaps the most popular of Scotland’s distilling regions, is famously rich and malty, lingering with hints of toffee and vanilla.

The first batch of their authentic, double-distilled single malt whiskey is now aging, and will hibernate and mature for at least another year or two, turning from the clear spirit to the subtly aged amber whiskey we all know and love, with the added distinction of local flavor character. In the meantime, keep yourself warm with their double malts, and check back next year.
For more information visit VADistillery.com.

King Family Vineyard
King Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated boutique winery located in Crozet, just 15 minutes from Charlottesville at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The winery specializes in small productions of premium wine that showcase the remarkable qualities of nearly 100-percent estate grown fruit. Founded in 1998, the winery’s first vintage was only 500 cases. Today, the winery produces approximately 5,000 cases of wine per year. When beginning your love affair with Virginia wines, King Family Vineyards is the right place to start.

David King, owner of King Family Vineyards, is on a larger mission: to make local wine more accessible in the state of Virginia. “We sell everything we make,” says King. “Yet wine made here is only 4.5 percent of the wine consumed in the state. Our biggest goal right now is merely to make more wine.”

There is a large local market in Virginia and its bordering states that has yet to be developed, he says, but with the state legislators helping to promote local wines in more shops and fine dining establishments, consumers have more opportunities to support local growers. King hopes for more wine lovers to discover the burgeoning industry right in their backyard.

The 2010 Petit Verdot is a safe bet this time of year, guaranteed to send a warm shiver down your spine. Violet, blueberries, and a hint of cinnamon on the nose introduce a full textured wine with lots of tannin and spice. The finish is long and velvety, exhibiting ripe blackberries and plum. This wine is quite popular locally, so supplies are somewhat limited, so get your hands on a bottle while you can.

During the summer months, the veranda, expansive lawn, or brick patio are perfect for outdoor picnics. In the winter, however, the winery’s tasting room is home to a warm stone fireplace and rich, family-friendly seating areas. Bring your own goodies or pick from the tasting room’s gourmet assortments of chocolates, cheeses, salamis, spreads, and hot French bread.
KingFamilyVineyards.com. [gallery ids="101123,139569,139565" nav="thumbs"]

Gary Tischler •

The scene looked very familiar.

There she was, biographer Kitty Kelley on NBC’s “The Today Show,” managing to look elegant in black with pearls, blonde hair, while being interviewed about her latest book by current co-host Savannah Guthrie this Tuesday.

It looked familiar because Kelley writes big books about big people that generate controversy and buzz, people like the British Royal Family, the Bush family, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Reagan, Liz and Jackie Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey. Because of all that, it’s only natural that Kelly should be on a morning news show, right up there with the usual mix of the important issues of the day like the quickly mushrooming scandal over the startling resignation of CIA Director General David Petraeus and his mistress, alongside the presence of hunky movie star Bradley Cooper promoting a movie and the British boy rock group One Direction, filled the streets of still-reeling-from-Sandy New York with thousands of fans outside.

It was familiar, and then again not. Because the book wasn’t the kind of book Kelley is known for, big, onrushing bestsellers full of bombshell revelations, accompanied by threats of lawsuits and denials. It was something else entirely, a kind of love letter, a gift to his- tory, the nation and our own younger selves. This time the book is “Capturing Camelot,” subtitled “Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the Kennedys,” authored by Kitty Kelley and published by Thomas Dunne Books and St. Martin’s Press. On the cover: President John F. Kennedy walking outside at the White House with his young son John F. Kennedy, Jr., part of a commemorative Look Magazine cover in December 1963, called “The President and His Son,” photographed by Tretick.

The photographs themselves were taken over a period of days in October 1963, only a month before the president’s assassination. They include the iconic, endlessly remembered shot of the two-and-a-half-year-old son of JFK snuggled under the Resolute Desk, while his father seems to be rifling through some papers, although you see the hint of a fatherly smile on his face.

“Stanley said, ‘When I shove off, that’s probably the only shot I’ll be remembered for,’ ” Kelley told us in an interview at her office in Georgetown.

“Stanley was my friend, my mentor, my buddy, he was brave and a pal ever since I met him,” she said. “When he suffered a series of strokes late in his life, I took care of him and had his power of attorney, and I was with him when he passed away in a home.

“See, this all came about with his trunk. Stanley had this trunk, and I asked him what was in it. He sort of grinned and said ‘nude pictures.’ He left it to me. After he passed away in 1999, my husband John said, ‘Aren’t you going to open it? Don’t you want to see what’s in it?” So, we opened it, and it was like a treasure chest of Kennedy memorabilia” There was a PT 109 tie clasp and a lucite box with a gold airplane that was given to those people who had flown with him on the Caroline during the harrowing, exciting and historic 1960 campaign for the presidency against Richard Nixon. There were signed pictures, campaign buttons and bumper stickers.”

Eventually, with all the material in the trunk and elsewhere—including an oral history made by Tretick for the Georgetown Public Library—Kelley decided to do the book. All her profits from it will go to the D.C. Public Library Foundation. It is, as noted, not a Kelley book in the sense of what anybody who knows only the Kelley books knows about her. In some ways, there are similarities—looking at the pictures of crowds reaching out wildly to touch JFK during the campaign and well as during RFK’s campaign. You can see the beginnings of the idea of political leaders as part of an emerging celebrity culture.

Kelley’s writing in this book puts the gifts she displayed in her best-selling biographies to good use. She moves the book along with her storytelling gifts. Her writing is the engine of the book, and it’s a thoroughbred engine of telling tales, illustrating and illustrative.

“He was my friend, he was a photographer, a cranky breed, sometimes,” he said. “Sometimes, he made me so mad I wouldn’t speak to him for days on end,” she said. In what she called a loving and intended good deed in “the sweet service of friendship,” he sent the Washington Post book critic who had panned her book on Elizabeth Taylor fishheads—mafia style—wrapped in elegant paper in stout defense of Kelley.

There was also the occasion when he worked with her on an interview with Frank Sinatra, Jr., who had whispered to her that he knew where Jimmy Hoffa was. “Here was Stanley, shooting like the pro he was, unobtrusively, when suddenly he jumped in and said ‘Well, out with it, man. What the hell happened to Hoffa?’ ” In the book, and in person, Kelley tells the story. “Sinatra reared back as if he’d been shot.” The upshot was that he bolted out of the interview because of Tretick’s shouting. She never got her answer, and Sinatra had denied ever doing the interview. “That’s where Stanley saved the day—he shot a picture of me with pencil and notebook, talking with Sinatra. It was the proof. But I was furious, my God, I was mad at Stanley.”

In her office, which is filled with her books and posters, a place that has a kind of quiet, gentle and genteel atmosphere, she obviously loves telling stories about her friend Stanley. In any conversation with Kelley, her love of Georgetown as place, idea and home also comes through—“Stanley when he came over said that’s the Brennan (Supreme Court Justice William Brennan) house. ‘It still is,’ I told him.”

This is, as she said, a kind of love letter, an homage to Tretick, a man with a craggedly handsome face and eager eyes which seem to fulfill legendary photographer Walker Evans’s admonition: “When you go out in the world, go out with hungry eyes.” When she talks about the book, about the Kennedys (and it should be remembered that one of her first subjects was Jackie Kennedy, herself), about the pictures in the trunk, old friends and losses, you get a real appreciation of the rich treasures of history that are “captured” in this book. It’s not just Camelot, frozen in warmth and energy, but ourselves over time.

When Kelley met Tretick, a veteran UPI and Look Magazine photographer in his day, she was working on a book about Elizabeth Taylor, and he apparently had some anecdotal information about Liz and Dick. There is a picture of them in the East Room of the White House in 1982, preened over by chandeliers, Kitty in curls, Stanley with big, black eyebrows, a “Hi, there” smile on his face.

A lot has changed just about everywhere you look. Kelley, in the process of chronicling uniquely and with great, heart-blasting originality the lives of the biggest celebrities, leaders and players in the world, became a celebrity herself, the object of prying eyes, and public resentments, a status she still seems not entirely comfortable with. She has always had courage—a quality she shared with the Korean veteran and marine Tretick and friends like the pugilist and actor Tom Quinn—under fire, but she has endured losses, like everyone else, and those uniquely hers.

It’s easy to tell she’s still in shaken mourning over the death of her second husband Jonathan E. Zucker, M.D., from a heart attack in late December 2011. “He was the love of my life,” she will tell you, and you could see that if you saw them out together. Singly, they were both impressive people with unique gifts and bearing— together, out and about as a couple they lit up a party, brightened up a room like a high-energy candle and flower setting.

The book has Kelley’s energetic writing. It brings to life not only Camelot but also the man who captured it with his lens. Tretick had a warm connection to the Kennedys which continued after JFK’s death through Bobby and Jackie. He had an exclusive connection through Look magazine.

In his last years, in which Kelley took care of him, she got John Kennedy, Jr., who was then editor of George Magazine and 37 years old, to sign a copy of the famous under-the-desk picture that she brought to his room. In July 1999, Tretick took has last breath with the television in his room showing images of the search for John Kennedy, Jr.’s body near Cape Cod. “Days later,” she writes, “John Kennedy, Jr., was buried at sea and Stanley’s ashes were placed in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery not far from the Kennedy grave sites and the glow of the eternal flame.” Tretick was 77 when he died.

The book is also a loving ghost story—memories and losses are on display here. The book is dedicated to Kelley’s husband “who made dreams come true.” It is a pane to the gifts of Tretick, his work fully and richly on display. More than that, it is, of course, about “capturing Camelot,” the times of our lives, the days of glory for wire services, daily newspapers and weekly picture magazines like Look and Life, the Kennedys alive in the cold memories of November, in the streets of Georgetown.

In the end, “Capturing Camelot” is a gift book, a history book, a picture book with marvelous stories. Mostly, it’s a gift to all of us. [gallery ids="101061,137070,137049,137065,137060,137056" nav="thumbs"]

Ari Post •

Oysters occupy a unique intersection on the cultural and culinary map. The salty little pearls bring us together, bridging the gap between working class bar fare and high-society gastronomic opulence. As far back as ancient Rome, where an oyster would fetch its weight in gold, the seduction of these bivalve delicacies is proven to be irresistible to coastal dwellers. And for a Washingtonians, it’s in the blood.

Going back to the turn of the 20th century, Washington had more than 150 oyster bars, which were frequented by all members of society. Fueled by the oyster populations of the Chesapeake Bay, it is part of our city’s cultural heritage. Unfortunately, Chesapeake Bay oysters had dwindled to about one percent of their population from the late 19th century due to overfishing, bay pollution and disease. Thankfully, due to population restoration efforts, sanctuary reefs have been set up to redeem the species, and more efforts are in the works. The reefs, set up almost a decade ago, are now home to over 180 million native oysters.

Washington is full of places to indulge oyster cravings, from Old Ebbitt Grill—where tickets for their Annual Oyster Riot last year sold out in ten minutes flat—to Hank’s Oyster Bar, which offers a half-priced raw bar every night from 10 p.m. to midnight. Now is the time of year that the surrounding area holds its most popular oyster festivals. From wine and beer pairings, to barbecuing and shucking contests, there are plenty of ways to enjoy oysters in the next few weeks. So
don’t waste these prime “R” months, and make sure to catch these seaside festivals for all the shucking oysters you could ask for.

Old Ebbitt Grill’s Oyster Riot
Washington, D.C.
November 16 & 17
Back for the 18th consecutive year, the Oyster Riot is one of Washington’s most anticipated annual events. Traditionally held on the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving, each night sees nearly 1,000 guests devour tens of thousands of oysters, paired with the gold medal winners of the International Wines for Oysters Competition, which selects the best “oyster pairing” wines from over 200 entries from vineyards worldwide. And, of course, there will be some righteous tunes.

The Saturday afternoon Matinee Riot, a recent addition to the festival, will be from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the oyster restoration efforts of the Oyster Recovery Partnership. The music won’t be quite as riotous as the evening before, so those who want to slurp and taste without the usual cacophony of sounds are free to do so. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.Ebbitt.com.

Urbanna Oyster Festival
Urbanna, Va.
November 2 & 3

The official oyster festival of the Commonwealth, the Urbanna Oyster Festival is a celebration of the town of Urbanna and the oyster’s role in its economy. The festival has grown steadily over the years, and so have the crowds, which no approach nearly 75,000 for the two-day event. Food and craft booths number well over 100, and the Oyster Festival Parade has become the focal point of the weekend. With numerous marching bands, all the bizarre oyster
costumes you could dream of, and the crowning of a “Queen” and “Little Miss Spat” (a “spat” is a baby oyster), this is an annual tradition that cannot be missed. Let’s not forget the food. Over fifty vendors will be there to deliver the goods, in ample supply and in a variety of presentations: raw, roasted, fried, smoked, steamed, in fritters, in a stew and everything in between. For more information, visit www.UrbannaOysterFestival.com.

St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival
Leonardtown, Md.
October 20 & 21
On the weekend of October 20 the St. Mary’s County fairgrounds, just an hour and a half outside of Washington, turn into an oyster lover’s Mecca. Among the annual festival events, there is the National Oyster Cook-Off, where nine finalists from all over the country compete for the $1,000 prize. There is also the National Oyster Shucking Championship Contest, held both days of the festival, featuring the fastest shuckers representing ten states and the fastest local tidewater shuckers. On Saturday, at 2 p.m., an amateur oyster-shucking contest will also take place. As far as eating goes, “Oysters any way you like ‘em” has always been the trademark of the festival: served up raw, scalded, grilled, on bread, on the half shell, stewed, nude, cooked in savory sauces, in salads, even in desserts—just about every way imaginable, and a few more to boot. Other seafood lovers can feast on fried clams, scallops, softshell crab, crabcakes, shrimp, fried fish, seafood chowder and more. For more information visit

www.USOysterFest.com.
OysterFest
St. Michael’s, Md.
November 3
In St. Michael’s, Md., the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s (CBMM) OysterFest will celebrate the local oyster heritage. The event features live music, oysters and other food, children’s activities, boat rides, oyster demonstrations, harvesting displays, an oyster stew competition among regional chefs and more. Festival-goers can join in or just watch an oyster slurping contest, while others enjoy sampling the oyster stew by local restaurants, who will also perform cooking demonstrations of signature oyster dishes throughout the day. This festival also boasts plenty of family-friendly waterfront activities designed to help kids get to know the oyster and its importance to the Chesapeake Bay. You can explore an oyster nursery, learn how oysters clean the Bay by building your own filter, participate in a scavenger hunt or face painting, or watch dip-net making and knot-tying demonstrations. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org/ OysterFest. [gallery ids="102488,120247" nav="thumbs"]

Nico Dodd •

The National Sporting Library and Museum in Upperville, Va., hosted the 2012 Benefit Polo Match and Luncheon Sept. 23 as the cap to its POLO! Weekend.

On Sept. 22, the library hosted a symposium, “The Evolution in Polo in America,” which featured prominent experts in the sport. Panelists included H.A. Laffaye, Michael H.S. Amato and Charles Muldoon.

Sunday’s main events were a benefit luncheon and polo match at the Virginia International Polo Club in Upperville. A two-course luncheon was paired with Dusky Goose Pinot Noir, donated by Rambouillet Vineyard in Oregon. The match was between Beverly Polo club and Right At Home polo club and was officiated by German Noguera.

In addition to the polo match, festivities included a parade of the piedmont foxhounds, a performance by the Washington Scottish Pipe Band, a ladies hat contest and a release of doves. An awards ceremony followed the match. The event was chaired by Jacqueline B. Mars.

The art exhibition, “Chukkers, The Sport of Polo in Art,” runs through Sept. 30 at the National Sporting Library and Museum. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

To learn more about the The National Sporting Library and Museum, click here. [gallery ids="100999,132985,132992,133000,133007,133016,133023,133032,133040,133046,133054,133061,133067,133074,133083,133090,133097,132979,132971,133130,133125,132878,133119,132888,133113,132897,132904,132912,132919,132928,132934,132942,132949,132957,132964,133105" nav="thumbs"]