In Country

Kelly Byrnes • August 17, 2015

Loudoun County, Virginia, has no shortage of local breweries, combining water, barley, yeast and hops in ways that are sure to please anyone’s palate. With the 7th annual D.C. Beer Week bubbling up Aug. 9 to 16, it’s the perfect time to try some of the crispest, most authentic and best-crafted beers in the region.

Pinpointing a single top-notch brewery in Loudoun County is nearly impossible given the 19 contenders. But, to get you started, the following establishments are well worth checking out:

Lost Rhino Brewing Company offers an extensive selection of year-round and seasonal beers to visitors, who can tour the brewery on Saturdays. Tours run every hour from 1 to 5 p.m. For $8, participants get a souvenir tasting glass and four sample fillings. Those unable to trek to this Ashburn establishment aren’t out of luck, since Lost Rhino is among the 25 regional breweries participating in D.C. Beer Week’s Blind and Bitter event on Aug. 14. Scion Restaurant, at 2100 P St. NW near Dupont Circle, will host the event, in which patrons blindly taste a hoppy brew from each of the breweries and vote for their favorite. Lost Rhino opened a second Ashburn location this year, the Lost Rhino Retreat, with a full food menu. Both have live musical entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays.

Another Ashburn establishment, Old Ox Brewery, utilizes over 9,000 square feet of its building space for beer production. Old Ox has three core beers that are brewed year-round, plus a rotating selection of seasonal and experimental drinks. Tours of the production space take place Saturday afternoons on a first come, first served basis. The tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday. Though no food is served at Old Ox, visiting food trucks are on the premises most weekends.

In Fairfax County a selection of 22 local and regional craft beers are in store for those who visit Barrel and Bushel, an American-style restaurant and bar located in the Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner. Barrel and Bushel’s drink menu consists of lagers, stouts and ales, as well as wines and bourbon. For those looking to sample a variety of brews, flight trays are offered with four glasses of beer. Choose from one of five flights on the menu or create your own from the beers on tap.

If hard cider, with its crisp, smooth taste, sounds more appealing than beer, Loudoun’s latest micro-cidery is not to be missed. Wild Hare Cider, which officially opened its Bluemont doors last month, specializes in transforming the ripest apples from Shenandoah Valley orchards into a fresh drink to be enjoyed any time of year. Wild Hare’s tasting room is open on weekends; Saturday hours vary and Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m.

Peter Murray • July 16, 2015

Since vacations are for taking a step back from day-to-day life, take advantage of your time off this summer and retreat into nature. Follow our suggestions below or blaze your own path. Whatever you do, spend your trip enjoying the environment — and be sure to unwind, decompress and unplug along the way.

Moab: In the Land of Extremes
Moab is hard to get to. But hauling it from a distant airport — Las Vegas, in my case — is worthwhile, not only because of the destination’s otherworldly beauty, but also for the geological diversity that haunts and amazes during the drive: mammoth mountains, precipitous canyons and rivers plunging through gorges.

The town itself isn’t much — T-shirt stores here, Mexican restaurants there, motels marking the main drag — but it’s sandwiched between two of our country’s preserved treasures, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. These two parks offer some of the best hiking trails and most spectacular views of nature in the world. Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park, is a must-see for visitors of any experience level. The hike is short (two miles), but steep, so get ready to work those calves. The view of Delicate Arch, at the end of the hike, is breathtaking, making any scrambling up the trail’s slick sandstone well worth it.

Experienced hikers, on the other hand, should head to the Syncline Loop at Canyonlands. Why the park is called Canyonlands becomes obvious a few hours into the hike, as sharp red walls rise above the trail and one canyon leads to the next, on
and on. Sometimes you’ll hike through massive round boulders; other times you’ll need to be on the lookout for sharp crags jutting into the trail.

About halfway through the eight-mile hike, you’ll be greeted with the Island in the Sky, a brilliant geological feature offering many photo ops. But no matter what, pay attention to pylons guiding the path and bring lots of water on this trip. (You can thank me later for the water tip, as you make your way to the top of false peak after false peak, trying to get out of the canyons.)

Moab Adventures is a one-stop shop for other extreme activities, including rock climbing, rappelling, canyoneering and rafting on the Colorado River. Trip leaders will bring you to hidden local gems like Corona Arch in your search for outdoor thrills.

The store also rents mountain bikes to ride on nearby Slickrock Trail, a mountain biker’s paradise, hailed as some of the best terrain anywhere for off-road cycling. To call it a trail, though, is a bit deceiving. It’s more like round-topped sandstone hills that grip a mountain bike’s tires. Riding can be strenuous, not to mention dangerous, when you’re riding up and down, up and down, with unending hard slopes under your wheels.

Bald Head Island: A Different Kind of Beach
Escape the boardwalks, chain stores and tattooed tourists with a beach trip to Bald Head Island in North Carolina. A photo of the island’s South Beach, with its long stretches of sand and homes on stilts, make Bald Head look like many other shore destinations on the East Coast. But Bald Head’s special qualities include a diverse natural landscape, tons of outdoor activities and, best of all, no cars. Visitors can rent golf carts and bikes to navigate the island after disembarking from the ferry that leaves from the town of Southport.

Once you’re on island, you can lay low at tranquil South Beach or head to East Beach for larger waves, suitable for surfing and boogie boarding. The island’s country club offers golf, tennis and swimming for the family — but watch out for alligators in nearby bodies of water.

Want to get even closer to nature? Take a stroll through the Maritime Forest Preserve, where beautiful Spanish moss climbs up ancient oaks. Or check in with the Bald Head Island Conservancy and schedule a visit to see endangered loggerhead turtles. The turtles lay their eggs in May and June and the little hatchlings emerge from their shells and waggle their way to the Atlantic in August and September.

Fishing is big on Bald Head Island, and there are lots of ways to do it. The easiest way is to bring your rod to one of the beaches and surf fish. You can also charter a boat from one of the outfitters and go searching for the giants of the deep. Or why not rent a kayak or paddleboard and go fishing or crabbing on the marshes around Fishing Creek?

With so much to do, it’s helpful to have a guide. The luxury vacation company Natural Retreats has a host of them. Not only will their people help you nail down accommodations, they have a team on site to take care of all your needs. Natural Retreats runs trips to destinations all over the world, but Bald Head Island is their top trip this summer.

Primland: View from the Treetops
Want to spend a few days living in a luxury treehouse? How about riding a horse or an ATV through verdant pastures? Have you ever contemplated playing 18 holes in the mountains or disc golf in the wilderness? Or just climbing tall trees in the Blue Ridge and stargazing from a mountaintop?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, Primland is the vacation destination for you.

Primland is an eco-friendly luxury resort nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, almost as far south as you can go in Virginia, and it’s the perfect place to take a break from the speed and anxiety of city life.

The resort has been lauded in the Washington Post, Town & Country, Golf Magazine and many other publications — and for good reason. Primland is one of the most dynamic yet secluded resorts in the country. The 12,000-acre resort is well stocked with magnificent mountain views and out-of-the-box outdoor activities. With upgrades to the classic resort offerings, like golf, swimming and spa treatments, this resort provides a country escape both luxurious and contemporary.
[gallery ids="102109,133839,133841,133835" nav="thumbs"]

Sallie Lewis •

The tastes of summer reveal themselves in a number of ways, from the sugary juices of a watermelon to the berry-colored stains on a farmer’s fingertips. Here in Washington, chefs around the District are taking full advantage of summer’s bounty — and, even better, much of it is local.

Robert Wiedmaier of RW Restaurant Group (Marcel’s, Brasserie Beck, Mussel Bar and Grille, Wildwood Kitchen, etc.) believes in the importance of putting faces to food, knowing the people behind certain products and, ultimately, being able to buy with confidence.

“I’d much rather talk with the farmer or the cheese maker or the guy who caught my striped bass on the Chesapeake,” he said, as opposed to buying from a commercial, faceless source. “The romance goes away when you buy in a package.”

Wiedmaier buys from roughly 15 different vendors from surrounding states, including Congressional Seafood for blue catfish and striped bass from Chesapeake Bay. For the best local mushrooms, he frequents the Irwin Mushroom Company, a second-generation family-run business in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (known as “Mushroom Capital of the World”).

Indeed, there is something sensual about indulging in a local product, a richness of flavor and color. “Normally it’s a better product if it’s local,” Wiedmaier said, adding, “That’s not always true, but we try to buy as much locally as we can.”
This philosophy is put into practice at the Chapel Hill Farm in Berryville, Virginia, where Wiedmaier sources whole Randall Linebacks, the oldest and rarest cattle breed in America. The farm — a registered Virginia Landmark and National Historic Landmark — is situated in the Shenandoah Valley; conservation and tradition are at the heart of the program.

Another chef who’s incorporating local products into his menu is David Guas of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar and Eatery, with locations in Arlington and Capitol Hill. Chances are you’ve seen chef Guas on the “Today Show” or the Food Network, or even as a co-judge on the Travel Channel’s “American Grilled” program. The New Orleans native is a big proponent of using local foods at Bayou Bakery, where he is working to cultivate a culture and invigorate a taste for Southern style.

At Toigo Orchards in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Guas finds a rainbow assortment of fresh produce: apples, pears, sweet nectarines, watermelons and award-winning peaches, among other stone fruits. The farm has over 21,000 trees solely for fresh-market apple production, and the orchard uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) growing methods, which eliminate chemical residue.

While Toigo Orchards has Guas covered with the best in local fruits, Potomac Vegetable Farms fulfills his vegetable needs. Cabbages, spinach and radishes; collard, mustard and turnip greens; bell, chili, jalapeño and shishito peppers — these are just a few of the goods he and his team pick up from the Saturday farmer’s markets. “Everything they do is top-notch,” he said, adding that Bayou Bakery also buys their okra there (which they then pickle for their bloody Marys).

The Bayou bloody Mary was recently mentioned in Washingtonian, and for good reason. Served in a 16-ounce Mason jar with a creole-seasoned rim, it’s loaded with pickled vegetables, green olives and fresh lime.

Venturing into farmer’s markets and stocking up on seasonal fruits and vegetables give Guas and Wiedmaier an opportunity to color their menus in creative ways. However, this practice also fosters friendly, trusting relationships, one of the great gifts of doing business locally. And just as foods have their own flair and personality, so do the people who grow, harvest and sell them.
“I love doing business with good people,” said Guas. “It starts with that.” And good people he has found, including Jamie Stachowski of Stachowski Market and Deli on 28th and P in Georgetown, who makes all kinds of sausages for him, including boudin and andouille. Tom and Susan Hunt of Westmoreland Berry Farm in Oak Grove, Virginia, are another example. Guas waits in long lines at farmer’s markets to get his week’s worth of their fresh asparagus and berries, including their award-winning strawberries.

Back at Bayou Bakery, Guas’s accumulation of local ingredients shines through in many of the menu items, including beverages. One of the most popular cocktails at Bayou Bakery (aside from the bloody Mary) is the NOLA Backyard Swinger, a grapefruit-based beverage with bourbon, local honey, jalapeño and fresh rosemary. The jalapeño, sourced from Potomac Vegetable Farms, adds a nice heat. The honey used is lovingly called “Holly’s Honey,” named after a grade-school student (she and her father bring it to Guas from Ashburn, Virginia). In addition to the NOLA Backyard Swinger, this honey is also available at the chef’s “Sticky Station,” which features an array of honeys for guests to sample by stirring it into their tea, folding it into their oatmeal or spreading it through the insides of a hot, flaky biscuit.

Washingtonians are lucky to be surrounded by such strong agricultural communities. Artisans and farmers from Pennsylvania to Virginia and Maryland are passionate about their products, and chefs in the District are increasingly interested in sourcing the best ingredients they can. “That’s what we do as chefs,” said Wiedmaier, “we source.” For the rest of us, all that’s left to do is eat and enjoy. [gallery ids="102128,133730,133732,133727" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • June 22, 2015

June 6
Twilight Polo at Great Meadow
Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for Twilight Polo, with the first match beginning at 7. Great Meadow hosts Twilight Polo every Saturday night through Sept. 19, except June 20 and July 4. 5089 Old Tavern Rd., The Plains, Virginia.

June 9
June Biz Buzz
At the June mixer of the Middleburg Business and Professional Association there will be a 10-minute Biz Buzz to bring attendees up to date. RSVP by emailing info@visitmiddleburgva.com. Nonmember admission is $5. Goodstone Inn, 36205 Snake Hill Rd., Middleburg, Virginia.

June 12
Sips and Snacks
Middleburg’s Home Farm Store invites visitors to a showcase of local artisan foods, at which they may taste and comment on wine, ciders or beer. There will be samples and recipe cards to take home. 1 East Washington St., Middleburg, Virginia.

June 13
Birding Banshee
On the second Saturday of each month, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Friends of Banshee Reeks run a bird walk at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, a birding hot spot. Participants are asked to bring binoculars if they have them. For details, contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org. 17263 Southern Plantation La., Leesburg, Virginia.

June 14
Middleburg Summer Concert
Soprano Medea Namoradez-Ruhadze, a professor of voice at Shenandoah University, will be one of several featured performers at the second concert in the Middleburg Chamber Music Concert Series at Middleburg United Methodist Church. Refreshments will follow the concert. Admission is by free will offering. 15 W. Washington St. (across from the Safeway), Middleburg, Virginia.

Carolyn Landes •

As every bride knows, once the excitement following the bending of the knee wanes, the reality of actually planning a wedding sets in — and one of the first and foremost decisions is figuring out where to do it.

With swamp air settling over the District, a potentially much cooler option lies nearby — in the pastoral beauty of the mountains of Virginia. Fortunately, the Commonwealth offers a number of options, particularly rustic venues that frame the pastoral setting so well.

Besides mountain views, Virginia’s countryside offers lush vineyards and bucolic meadows, all of which offer a natural alternative to incense-choking, high-arched cathedrals for the rustic wedding of your dreams. We’ve picked four of the best, within just a couple hours or so from D.C.

Goodstone Inn

Middleburg, Virginia

Middleburg’s Goodstone Inn offers a perfect balance of plush luxury and country coziness — a delightful setting for your rustic nuptials. Located in the heart of Virginia wine and hunt country, the inn combines an unhurried and intimate atmosphere with breathtaking views of the countryside and the Blue Ridge Mountains. With its historic guest residences restored in English and French country décor, an ivy-covered façade, an elegant pool and a restaurant serving farm-to-table gourmet cuisine, you and your guests will enjoy the finest of Southern hospitality and gracious service in a luxury retreat atmosphere.

Castle Hill Cider

Keswick, Virginia

This historic, award-winning indoor/outdoor venue offers couples endless possibilities to create a wedding pulled right from their imagination — from the intimate to the incredible. The property’s 11,000-square-foot, classically built post-and-beam barn provides an expansive year-round party spot. Terraced lawns with exquisite 360-degree views of Virginia’s countryside and the Blue Ridge Mountains create an idyllic backdrop for wedding receptions and photography. Castle Hill Cider received the 2014 Borrowed & Blue Honorable Mention Award for Most Desirable Wedding Venue in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area.

Trump Winery

Charlottesville, Virginia

While Trump Winery is relatively new, having opened in 2011, it has quickly established itself as one of the most sought-after wedding venues in gorgeous Charlottesville. The barn at Trump Winery is Virginia rustic elegance at its finest: high ceilings, expansive windows and French doors opening to a terrace with sweeping views of the vineyard, lake and lush countryside — make it the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable rustic wedding in high style. It is Trump, after all. And now the largest vineyard in Virginia, the winery offers a fine selection of sparkling, red and white wines to toast the new bride and groom.

King Family Vineyards

Crozet, Virginia

Another award-winning option, King Family Vineyards is tucked into the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers the rustic wedding planner the popular Carriage House: a warm, sophisticated room decked out with chandeliers, exposed beams, rough-cut oak floors and a large stone fireplace to keep the festivities going during the cooler months. The rural farm setting has panoramic mountain views that guarantee your wedding album will not disappoint. Nor will the wines, which helped the King Family win Borrowed and Blue’s 2014 Best Vineyard Wedding Venue for the Charlottesville area.

Sallie Lewis • May 22, 2015

Just 50 miles west of Washington, D.C., sits the historic town of Middleburg, Virginia, celebrated for its horse and hunt country. Driving west, the roads become slimmer as they thread through lush countryside; overhead, the treetops converge into a trellised canopy. Near and far, jagged rock walls and white fences section off sprawling estates.

Virginia’s communal culture prides itself on the state’s land, history and sporting traditions, all of which pervade Middleburg. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy the outdoors by hiking, biking and bird-watching, going to horse races and polo matches, trying local wines and shopping for antiques.”

In an age in which e-commerce and department store giants dominate, Middleburg’s quaint boutiques offer a welcome respite.
At [Foxfire Gallery and Antiques](http://www.foxfireantiques.com/), owner Kathy Alexander sits in a space that is itself a jewel box of precious European antiquities and objets d’art. In the center of the store, open for two years as of this month, a large skylight bathes the treasures below in natural light. Originally from New Orleans, Alexander seeks out these items in France and England: angel statues, heavy tapestries, trumeau mirrors and delicate tiaras, nesting amid old books on a shelf of carved wood.

The shop’s loveliness springs from its contrasts of color and texture: rosemary candles, green topiaries and boxwood wreaths, etched hurricanes and crystal chandeliers. It is a study in chalky whites and dusty blues. In the back, a large wooden armoire filled with Fortuny pillows stands adjacent to a beautiful 1920s French birdcage with white doves cooing inside.

The immensely popular women’s clothing and accessories shop [Lou Lou](http://loulouboutiques.com/) first opened its doors in Middleburg in the summer of 2004. Another town favorite is Crème de la Crème, a classic home-goods store that exudes comfort in the familiarity of its objects, from pretty mirrors and candles to colorful glassware and paperweights.

Crème de la Crème’s small paperie invites rummagers to peruse the walls of cheeky cards, journals, photo albums and coffee table books. Most popular? The store’s array of French linens and Italian pottery.

[J. McLaughlin](http://www.jmclaughlin.com/) is the newest shop to open for business on Middleburg’s charming streets.

For lodging, the [Red Fox Inn](http://www.redfox.com/) in the heart of town is not to be missed. For a more rural, yet luxurious experience, venture a few miles to the [Goodstone Inn](http://goodstone.com/), a country retreat set on 265 acres.

Goodstone’s owner, Mark Betts, a lawyer turned hotelier, bought the estate for his family in 1996. To maintain it, he began renting the property’s existing structures until he was eventually approached about starting a B&B. The inn formally opened in 1999, and their award-winning gourmet restaurant followed in 2005. Restaurant manager Mimi Schneider proudly says that much of the food – from eggs to vegetables and herbs – are culled daily on the property, keeping true to the farm-to-table concept.

“You’ve got to try the omelets here,” said Mark, touting Goodstone’s Sunday brunch. The team has also grown their wine program considerably over the years, with nearly 500 labels now available. Wine dinners are offered every other month. On June 23, the restaurant will host a dinner celebrating the wines of Bourgogne.

The team behind Goodstone Inn just opened a sister property in Costa Rica, an eco-lodge called Playa Cativo.

A short drive from Goodstone is the new Salamander Resort and Spa, a 340-acre equestrian estate in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The interiors are elegant and airy, yet there is a certain whimsicality, evidenced in the life-size chess set that stands on the back lawn. The resort – open since August 2013 – has 168 rooms, a world-class 23,000-square-foot spa, a private dining facility in a 150-year-old stallion barn, the Gold Cup Wine Bar, a full service equestrian center with instructional classes available and an attractive Virginia-themed restaurant called Harrimans.

With a new general manager, Reggie Cooper, [Salamander](http://www.salamanderresort.com/) is prepared for a full summer season. To start it off, every Friday from May 22 to Aug. 21, the resort’s Culinary Garden will host a Farm-To-Wine Summer Music Series with live music and food and wine from local growers.

**Upcoming Events:**

• 56th Annual Hunt Country Stable Tour, May 23-24

• Zip Line Under the Stars with Empower Adventures, May 22-24 and June 5-6

• 162nd Upperville Colt and Horse Show, June 1-7

• Greenhill Wine and Vineyards Concert on the Lawn Series, Fridays from May 8 to Sept. 25

• Great Meadow Polo Club’s Twilight Polo, Saturdays from May 9 to Sept. 19
[gallery ids="117605,117615,117612" nav="thumbs"]

Caitlin Franz • May 21, 2015

“Welcome to Tysons. America’s Next Great City.” So reads the sign as you enter the Fairfax County, Virginia, revitalized commercial and business center on the border of McLean and Vienna.

The Plaza

Metrorail’s new Silver Line runs directly to the hub of activity. An overpass allows visitors to cross to The Plaza, with entrances to the Hyatt Regency, which opened in April, and the Tysons Corner Center mall. The Plaza itself is an entertainment venue, with a playground, Giant Jenga, a large chessboard and cornhole. It also hosts live music and a farmers’ market.

The Stores

Tysons is home to a wide variety of stores, including Lord and Taylor, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstorm, L.L. Bean, Old Navy, the Gap, Victoria’s Secret and Everything But Water. Some highlights for children include American Girl and the Disney and Lego stores. Dining options are scattered throughout the mall: Haagen-Dazs Café, Coastal Flats, Shake Shack, Luciano, Chipotle, Brio Tuscan Grille and more. Visitors can top off the experience by catching a movie on the third level of the complex at the AMC Theatres’ Tysons Corner 16 near the food court.

The Hyatt

“We were built as an amenity to the mall, but it goes well beyond that with all the businesses coming into the area,” says Dan Amato, general manager of the Hyatt Regency, who has worked for Hyatt for 39 years. This is his 15th hotel and his fifth opening.
Many elements of the hotel’s design are inspired by fashion and the close proximity to the mall. The glittering light fixtures in the lobby, leading from the check-in desk to the elevators, are modeled after women’s tennis bracelets. A series of hanging lights by the ballroom incorporate pearl-like orbs to mimic earrings.

Amato takes prides in the unique characteristics of this hotel. “There’s not one like it in our portfolio,” he says. The hotel features a large ballroom perfect for conferences, as well as several other meeting rooms.

The corporate lounge area is cozy with books and knickknacks surrounding comfy chairs and coffee tables. Coffee and drinks are available all day long; breakfast foods are served in the morning and hors d’oeuvres in the evening.

Bushel and Barrel, the restaurant inside the Hyatt, was created specifically for the Tysons location. The menu offers classic American favorites with a twist, as well as 22 craft beers from local breweries. “There’s a lot of character in every dish,” Amato says.

The interior is modern and clean with just a touch of rustic charm. High glass ceilings and transparent walls create an open and relaxed environment. Beer kegs are on display. The wood tables have stools that swing out on a hinge for seating, but otherwise remain invisibly tucked underneath. Terrace dining, which looks out on The Plaza, is also available and a private dining room can be booked for events.

Vita

Vita, a new luxury apartment building, is opening at Tyson’s Corner Center. The 30-story building is filled with studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and penthouse apartments. There is a rooftop pool with cabanas, a sky lounge with an indoor/outdoor cantina and an all-season outdoor terrace with grills. The official opening will take place by the fall, but leasing has begun.

Georgetowner •

To experience the Tower Club Tysons Corner, go to the Towers Crescent building and take the elevator to the 14th floor. Then – if you’re a Tower Club member, a ClubCorp member, a member of D.C.’s City Club or attending a private event – take a second elevator to the 17th floor.

General Manager Kara Carmichael discovered only recently that the Towers Crescent architects added that separate trip to the top by design – as a symbolic ascent to the building’s exclusive upper floors.

That “you have arrived” feeling was recently taken up a notch with the completion of the Tower Club’s $2.2 million renovation. But don’t call it a renovation around Carmichael. To her, it was a “reinvention.”

The grand reopening of the 25-year-old club was Jan. 8, with work continuing. The Reinvention Celebration took place April 16.
Gone are the staid hues of an earlier time. The former color scheme of dark woods and fabrics has been swapped out for a palette of light, contemporary colors. New furniture – and upgraded Wi-Fi – is suited to the modern business environment.

The new facilities include a Work Zone; the Touchdown Rooms, for four-to-five-person meetings; and the Crescent Lounge, a new “anytime bar.” The Lobby Lounge has been refreshed and the outdoor terrace dining area – with 360-degree views – expanded.
The name of the club’s new upscale restaurant, Reserve, is a play both on restaurant reservations and the term for a specially aged vintage. The wine selection is extensive and impressive.

Judging from social media, the reinvention has been a hit: “awesome” (the renovation), “stellar” (the menu), “top notch” (the experience). “The only downside was that I’m more accustomed to this in Los Angeles than Northern Virginia…made me homesick,” wrote one reviewer.

Of course, one of the goals was to add members, especially younger and female. The club has more than 1,200 members and, gratifyingly, those who have joined in the past year include a higher percentage of millennials and women than the overall membership.
Another attraction for younger business people and entrepreneurs is the ramped up calendar of events. Coming up, among others: a Bourbon & Bacon Dinner on May 27; Network After Work, hosted by the Young Executive Society on June 3; and a Harvest Cooking Class with Executive Chef Marc Wilson on June 15.

Carmichael, who came to the Tower Club in May 2014 from nearby Chef Geoff’s, pointed out the appeal in today’s business world of giving back. The club is raising money to buy 500 backpacks from Stillbrave, the club’s charity of the year for 2015, for Fairfax County kids with a cancer diagnosis.

Two private events directors are on staff to build that side of the business, including wedding receptions. The Tower Club received five stars in the Weddingwire 2015 Couples’ Choice Awards.

As noted above, the Tower Club has reciprocity with D.C.’s City Club, and members have access to clubs nationwide through its affiliation with Dallas-based ClubCorp, the owner-operator of more than 200 private golf, country, business and alumni clubs, which recently acquired Sequoia Golf.

All in all, the 26 members of the Tower Club’s Advisory Board of Governors should congratulate themselves on a job well done. Transported to the reinvented club, Don Draper of “Mad Men” would probably approve of everything but the business casual dress code.
[gallery ids="102085,134279" nav="thumbs"]

Sallie Lewis • May 11, 2015

With Washington, D.C., in my rear-view, I drove east, watching as the terrain became sparser, yet more vibrant. Wide fields of gold were scattered with grain mills and dandelions. In the distance, a small plane flew low over the countryside.

Talbot County is located on the Delmarva Peninsula, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, facing more than 600 miles of tidal shoreline. Cassandra Vanhooser, Talbot County’s director of tourism, is a woman who understands both the historical impact and the present-day attraction of the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary.

“The word ‘Chesapeake’ resonates around the world,” she said. Agriculture is an important component of the county’s identity, evidenced by the many farm fields, yet what struck me most were the countless boats outside people’s homes and businesses – symbols of pride and purpose that bind the communities of Talbot County together.

Since the late 17th century, the region has been inextricably linked to the water that surrounds it. That sentiment hasn’t changed, according to Vanhooser. “The maritime history is still alive and well,” she said.

At just under two hours from D.C., Talbot County’s culture exhibits a more relaxed, nostalgic filter than its bustling, politically charged counterpart. People craving the quiet allure of small, historic settings love traveling here, as do boatmen, artists and cyclists.

I stopped in Easton first. Established in 1710, the town remains the county seat, in addition to being a center for arts and culture. I went straight to the Academy Art Museum, where the exhibition “From Rubens to the Grand Tour,” on view through July 5, focuses on two paintings by 16th-century master Peter Paul Rubens. In addition, colorful portraits by California artist Ray Turner brighten the Museum’s Lederer Gallery.

Talbot County’s titillating natural backdrop is celebrated in festivals and events throughout the year. This summer, from July 11 to 19, the town will host the 11th annual Plein Air Festival. Named for the French term for ‘open air,’ the festival is the largest outdoor painting competition in the nation. In 2015, 58 of the world’s premier plein-air painters will compete for over $25,000. Another event is the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, when it will take place from June 7 to 21.

From Easton, I traveled south to the quaint town of Oxford. Since colonial times, Oxford residents have wrapped their yards with signature white picket fences of varying designs. These fences are blanketed in rose bushes, lavender hydrangeas and other flora. My visit wasn’t complete until I sampled homemade ice cream from Scottish Highland Creamery. The owner, Victor Barlow, and his wife, Susan, use local ingredients, fresh milk and cream, along with Italian flavorings. In Oxford, I felt as if I’d jumped into a chalk drawing, a la Mary Poppins.

I crossed the Tred Avon River on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, America’s oldest privately owned ferry (1683), and drove to St. Michaels. The town is home to a cluster of lovely shops and restaurants, in addition to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The museum, which sits on 18 waterfront acres, has 12 exhibit buildings, a working boat barn, the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse and the world’s largest collection of traditional Bay boats. It’s a place designed to share the heritage of the region, from oystering to waterfowling and boatbuilding. This year marks the institution’s 50th anniversary; from May 22 to 24, the community will commemorate the history of the Chesapeake Bay with activities and events, including a party on May 23.

Before driving back to D.C., I had lunch at the town’s famous Crab Claw restaurant, overlooking St. Michaels Harbor. Also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the restaurant will have food and drinks specials, music, trivia and giveaways on May 22.

Still farther south is Tilghman Island, accessible via the Knapps Narrows Drawbridge, the nation’s oldest operating drawbridge. Tilghman Island is home to a working watermen’s community, with sport fishing, charter cruises and lighthouse tours available to visitors.

Whether you have a whole weekend or just a day, Talbot County is a premier escape, one that recalibrated my mind and relaxed my soul. It can do the same for you.
[gallery ids="117824,117787,117818,117808,117795,117801,117812" nav="thumbs"]

Peter Murray • April 23, 2015

District restaurants may boast menus featuring local, organic foods, but if you want the real thing, the freshest food out there, head to the source (or close to it) in Middleburg, Virginia. Artisanal food is plentiful there and in nearby Upperville and The Plains, all about an hour from Washington, D.C. These small towns offer not only an abundance of country charm, but also a plethora of fresh foods in their quaint restaurants, inns, groceries and butcher shops.

Here are a few highlights of the artisanal and organic food offerings in the Middleburg area:

The Hunter’s Head Tavern

The Hunter’s Head is a must-see – and must-eat – attraction in Upperville. Originally built as a log cabin in 1750, this English pub-themed restaurant maintains all the charm and character of the 1700s in its ambience and décor, with original log-cabin walls, fireplaces, floors and mantels. While those are the most striking features when one enters, the food is the real selling point here.

The menu leans heavily toward English fare: meat pies and sausage dishes, sometimes with an American twist (sweet-potato biscuits with gravy, for instance). There are also a number of internationally-inspired dishes, including vegetable curry, whole-wheat pizza, risotto bites and stroganoff (topped with melt-in-your-mouth veal). The menu uses icons to tell patrons which items are made with organic and local ingredients, the large majority falling into one or both categories. The Hunter’s Head team prides itself on the local-ness of their food, even displaying a map of vendors by the restaurant’s entrance to show customers where their food is coming from.

The Hunter’s Head Tavern, 9048 John S. Mosby Hwy., Upperville. Monday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (opens 11 a.m. on Sunday for brunch). 540-592-9020

The Whole Ox

Housed in an old train station, the Whole Ox is owned and operated by Derek and Amanda Luhowiak, two impressively badass characters living their dream of butchering humanely-raised local meat. “We carry humanely raised, antibiotic and hormone free meat from our neighboring farms and various small distributors around the country,” the duo says on the company website. Their offerings include beef, lamb, chicken, turkey and a huge, ever-changing selection of sausage.

6364 Stuart St., The Plains. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
540-253-5600

The Home Farm Store

The Home Farm Store, the outlet for meats and produce from nearby Ayrshire Farm, is becoming as much of an institution as the former bank that it occupies. Located in the heart of Middleburg, the store sells Certified Humane and Certified Organic pork, beef, veal, chicken and turkey. Larger orders for special occasions include succulent meats and delicious, inventive side dishes. The Home Farm Store also sells local wines, ciders, honeys, jams and fresh-baked goods, and sandwiches for lunch.

1 E. Washington St., Middleburg. Seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (until 7 p.m. on Friday). 540-687-8882 [gallery ids="102024,134912" nav="thumbs"]