Living

Wally Greeves • March 12, 2014

Being the same age as former Dominican-born baseball star Sammy Sosa, I found it a bit painful that my knowledge concerning the Dominican Republic — largely derived from reading cigar bands — was tripled solely by gawking out the airplane window on the way there.

Four days at the brand-new Westin Puntacana were an experiential windfall for me. With no shame, I admit, I ended up doing the retirement reevaluation thing, where you drive around with a realtor. A low-density community, knockout ceviche and ocean spray drifting over tee boxes from waves slamming into the island’s perimeter made this winter golf getaway something special.

La Cana Golf Club comprises 27 of the 45 resort holes, in three separate P.B. Dye-designed nine-hole tracts: Arrecife, Hacienda and Tortuga. Hibiscus hedges and Bougainvillea abound. Arrecife and Tortuga boast six holes along the gently frothing, splotchy blue Caribbean waters. Possibly having to yield your ball flight to kite surfers on Arrecife’s trifecta of ocean holes to finish the nine is a mesmerizing reality.

Tortuga’s ocean introduction by way of an absolutely beautiful par five #4 hole is followed up by a wickedly provocative par three over the ocean, easily my favorite hole at La Cana. The curvy and seductive shoreline cuts into just a little more than half of the approach and made me just a little uncomfortable. I blame the mental images of tottering seesaws, curve balls that don’t break and the recessionary pull of the ocean on my nine iron for the resulting ball theft. Unapologetically, the ocean belched away, hungry for more.

The implanted grassy knolls and lumpy, wide fairways of the newly designed Hacienda course could have been transported from the northwestern United States, and complemented the other nines well. The La Cana clubhouse had a great evening view and was completely relaxing. If I had found that it wasn’t, I could have walked down one flight of steps for any number of types of massages designed for everyone from golfers to grandmothers, if they were not already both.

Corales golf course was a consummately manicured, expansive piece of unpopulated greenery, bordered by limestone bluffs, and featured massive catcher’s-mitt-shaped Fazio trademark sand traps. Stretched to 7,650 yards at the tips, with forward tees of 5,123 yards, this course proves a challenge for any level golfer. We enjoyed it so much that we played it twice in a row. We had to, because while approaching the ocean on the par five hole #7, standing on the tee box and fairway at #8, playing the entire 9th hole and all the way through the “Devil’s Elbow” three finishing holes, we took more shots with cameras than with clubs. The humbly sized clubhouse alone atop the bluffs brought to mind a ranger station at a national park — a reminder that the real show is the venue that nature lets us borrow for a little while to play in.

From course management to cuisine, sustainability is a popular theme at Puntacana. The resort is on the forefront of irrigation techniques that utilize ocean water and fertilization methods that highlight the use of worm scat. That’s right! Turns out all those fishing worms you found in dark, rich soil didn’t migrate there, they were the reason it was there. A 1,500-acre ecological park that boasts 12 swimmable, freshwater lagoons and iguana habitat (not on the same acre) amongst a network of walking trails are good for eco-friendly exercise.

Without being too noticeably available, there was no shortage of anything that I could think of doing on vacation. Just the fishing and food options launched me into a mini panic attack halfway through my second day there, when I realized how much I would leave untouched on my visit.

The staff at the Westin, and at every other establishment within the resort, could not have been more welcoming without being intrusive. My room was right on the beach. I couldn’t wait to throw open the double doors each morning and watch the sun burn off the predawn gusts of warm wind rustling through the palm trees, leaving the tapered tips of their long-legged leaves tap dancing in the air.

Upon learning I was from Georgetown, the realtor who was unwittingly co-authoring the future of my daydreams, called local resort homeowners from Georgetown. A short time later, I was drinking lemonade in their backyard, which, by the way, is a few driveways away from P.B. Dye’s Puntacana house. Longtime Georgetown residents Sacha Knob and Anthony Van Eych couldn’t say enough about the merits of raising their son in Puntacana, exposing him to “a population base that really is only 20 or 30 percent American, with representation from all over the world.” With business partners like Oscar de la Renta and Julio Iglesias living at Puntacana, the resort’s pull is far-reaching but manages to maintain its rudimentary charm.

Talk of expanding the airport owned by the resort, which already flies directly to more than 98 cities worldwide, leaves the future development of Puntacana yet to be defined, although wall murals all over the resort promote the ownership’s desire for responsible growth over time. On talking over my recent trip to the Dominican Republic with my father, who is thinking of hosting a family get-together there, I couldn’t help but wonder aloud about the exploitation of the resort’s future potential. He summed this up perfectly by replying: “Well, it can’t all happen this year. So, let’s go there for Thanksgiving.”

Nicole Cusick • February 27, 2014

What could be more “New Year,
new you” than a spa visit? It’s
time to plan your getaway for a
long weekend, Valentine’s Day,
or just a simple reward for surviving the polar
vortex. Venture out of Washington and take some
time to enjoy life outside of the city and inside
of a cozy spa.

Family Friendly
Hershey, Pa., is known for being rich in
farmland and in chocolate. It calls itself “the
sweetest place on earth.” The Spa at Hotel
Hershey indulges the body with their specialty
coca massages, chocolate sugar scrubs and many
other candy inspired treatments. The Spa offers
different customized treatments for women, men
and teens. Check out their complete menu,
www.chocolatespa.com/treatments/. While you
are in Pennsylvania with the kids visit the spa
at Nemacolin Woodlands resort in Farmington.
They offer a variety of kid-friendly services in
the Kidz Spa great for ages 5-15. There are lots
of other treatments available for parents as well,
www.nemacolin.com/spa/.

Wine & Body in Virginia
The mind and body will become completely
relaxed with The Keswick Reserve at the
Keswick Club Spa. After a red wine greeting,
grape seed oil massage, shiraz body scrub and
pinot noir facial you will see why Keswick Hall
has so much to offer. To book appointments, visit,
www.keswick.com/spa_body_treatments.aspx .

The Wonders of Water
The luxurious Aqua Thermal Suite at the
Homestead of Omni Resorts in Hot Springs,
Va., takes advantage of the natural powers of
water. They offer several hot and cold hydro
experiences to relax and refresh. Find out
about their Thermal Heated Lounges and The
Chill treatments and other ways to relax here,
www.thehomestead.com/aqua_thermal_suite.
The spa at The Greenbrier also specializes in
Hydrotherapy. At the West Virginia destination
indulge in their specialties like the Mineral
Mountain Bath. Check out their other spa
options at www.greenbrier.com/Spa/Treatments/
Hydrotheraphy.aspx .

Spa Package Deals
While many other spas offer spa bundles,
Spa Minérale at the Landowne Resort is an
ideal getaway for those who enjoy group getaways.
They offer several spa package deals for
weekends with a significant other, girlfriends
or golfing partners. For those who like to make
their travel plans simple these package deals
might save some money and help plan the perfect
weekend in just minutes. Check out their
options here, www.lansdowneresort.com/vacations/
virginia-spa-packages.

Me-Time in Maryland
Enjoy the gifts of the Chesapeake Bay at
the Sago Spa and Salon at the Hyatt Regency
Chesapeake Bay. The spa offers several different
treatments that feature sago, a strong underwater
grass found in the Chesapeake Bay, which
provides nourishment to the bay and your body.
Look at the other sago and salon treatments here,
chesapeakebay.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas/about/
features.jsp. Linden Spa at The Inn at Perry
Cabin also makes use of Maryland’s natural treasures
with their linden trees that grow right on
the premises. The Linden Intensive is a natural
massage that could involve one therapist for a
longer massage experience, or two therapists for
a shorter massage. They have a comprehensive
list of massages on their treatment menu that
includes deep tissue, hot stone and herbal to
name a few. www.perrycabin.com/web/omic/
linden_spa.jsp. [gallery ids="101602,147116,147114" nav="thumbs"]

Richard Selden • February 15, 2014

Paul Warhola, Andy Warhol’s older brother, died last month at age 91.

On Pennsylvania Avenue in Pittsburgh, painted on the side of a garage-like building of buff-colored brick, are the words: “PAUL WARHOLA – WE BUY SCRAP METAL.”

That a hometown junk dealer and a world-famous artist were brothers says a lot about the city of their birth, which a recent book calls “the Paris of Appalachia.” Soaking up immigrant labor and smoking up a picturesque landscape of rivers and hills, Pittsburgh’s industries made fortunes for Carnegie, Mellon, Frick, Phipps and Heinz, who became the city’s cultural benefactors.
Carnegie – Pittsburgh’s other Andy – launched an international art exhibition in 1896 (see article on page 28) and founded the Carnegie Technical Schools a few years later. The schools evolved into the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now part of Carnegie Mellon University), where a coal miner’s son, Andy Warhol, studied commercial art.

In 1949, this shy, church-going gay man with prematurely white hair moved to Manhattan. (His widowed mother joined him and stayed for two eye-opening decades.) Shoe ads and record album covers somehow led to paintings of Campbell’s soup cans, vivid silkscreened portraits of Marilyn and Jackie and an approach to art far ahead of its time.

The Warhol Museum – seven floors of paintings, ephemera, movies and taxidermy, entered through a hallway of cowhead wallpaper – opened 20 years ago on the north side of the Allegheny River. The largest single-artist museum in the country, it symbolizes the city’s pride in its contemporary art scene.

“Over the past 20 years, Pittsburgh has purposefully replaced its industrial smog with creativity in the form of world-class museums and festivals, coupled with neighborhoods infused with the arts,” explains Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.

The downtown cultural district’s 14 square blocks are home to seven theaters, including the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and a dozen galleries, notably Wood Street Galleries and SPACE. The Agnes R. Katz Plaza, located at 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, is nicknamed “Eyeball Park” for the three pairs of eye-shaped granite benches by sculptor Louise Bourgeois, who also designed a mini-mountain of a fountain.

In a once abandoned Sterns & Foster warehouse on the city’s Northside (not far from the Warhol Museum and the National Aviary) is the Mattress Factory, dedicated to installation art. Three light installations by James Turrell, who has been carving out an Arizona crater for more than 30 years, are encountered in disorientingly dark galleries. On another floor of the main building are two pop-inspired walk-ins by Yayoi Kusama, titled, “Infinity Dots Mirrored Room” and “Repetitive Vision.”

Across town at the Frick Art & Historical Center is “An American Odyssey: The Warner Collection of American Painting,” with works by Gilbert Stuart, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam and others. It’s on view from March 1 through May 25.

Two hotels provide glimpses into Pittsburgh’s Gilded Age: The Inn on the Mexican War Streets, built in 1888 for department store baron Russell H. Boggs; and the Mansions on Fifth, built in 1906 for Frick’s lawyer, Willis McCook. The Mansions on Fifth is a Historic Hotel of America, as is the landmark Omni William Penn downtown, built in 1916.

Near the Warhol Museum is the Priory Hotel, originally a Benedictine monastery. The city’s newest luxury hotel is the Fairmont Pittsburgh, which opened in 2010 in the Three PNC Plaza office building.

Several resorts and inns are located near Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, the two former residences designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the Laurel Highlands, about 90 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh.

Fallingwater is open for tours on March 1 to 2 and March 8 to 9, then daily, except Wednesdays starting March 15. [gallery ids="101631,146093" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • February 13, 2014

DEAR STACY:
My wife and I have a pretty great marriage.
We have been together for more than 10 years,
have kids and are each other’s best friend. But
Valentine’s Day always presents a dilemma for
me. She loves Valentine’s Day and I hate it. I
think it’s a manufactured holiday that forces
people to prove something that they already
prove on a daily basis. She loves all the silly
little parts of it (think teddy bears holding satin
hearts). Every time I think about celebrating
this stupid holiday, I get annoyed. I have tried
to explain this to her, but she is a textbook
hopeless romantic and always wants me to
play along. In recent years I have tried to show
her how useless a holiday it is by not really
acknowledging it at all, which of course leads
to a big fight. I’m not actually a jerk, but am I
supposed to fake it with her just to make her
happy? It doesn’t make any sense. We have the
same fight every year.
– Anti-Valentine’s Day

Dear Anti,
Well, you have certainly made yourself
known on this topic. Less than 200 words, and
I have absolutely no doubt how you feel about
Valentine’s Day, which probably means Wife
and Kids also know how you feel. And yet, she
continues to want to celebrate your love each
year, like clockwork. You poor, poor thing.
I actually do mean to be flip, but I will
explain myself. You are very clear about how
you feel about the holiday. Wife has done the
same. Now you are pouting because she doesn’t
agree with you. I’m not sure I don’t agree with
you, actually, but you aren’t getting anywhere
by grousing about it, not to mention the futility
of trying to teach your best friend a lesson by
ignoring her desire to celebrate your relationship.
Couplehood – partnerships of all kind, really
– demands that we spend a lot of time considering
things from the other person’s point of
view and then acting on that knowledge. You
haven’t described Wife’s Valentine’s wants as
being totally bizarre or even unmanageable,
just “annoying” (they sell those teddy bears
just about everywhere). What about focusing
on the positive–your best friend loves it
when you acknowledge her on Valentine’s Day.
That’s a very easy way to make her feel cared
for and loved. The memory of that feeling is the
fuel that gets us through the inevitable rough
patches in a relationship. Consider Valentine’s
Day (and the ubiquitous, cheesy options for
marking it) to be a foolproof, yet highly effective
boost to your relationship energy and just
get her the teddy bear.

Stacy Notaras Murphy www.stacymurphyLPC.
com is a licensed professional counselor and certified
Imago Relationship therapist practicing in
Georgetown. This column is meant for entertainment
only and should not be considered a substitute for
professional counseling. Send your confidential question
to stacy@georgetowner.com.

Georgetowner • January 31, 2014

Mustique Island
By NIcole Cusick

Mustique Island is a private island
of the archipelago that makes up
St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
It is approximately two and half
square miles, covering 1,400 acres. At its highest
elevation the island has a view point of 500 feet
giving way to a series of small valleys leading to
pristine palm fringed beaches. The coconut tree
plantations, added more than 50 years ago, give
the island its thick and luscious vegetation. A
once hidden gem, Mustique is a growing tropical
destination.

Where to Stay:
The Villa Collection
Mustique has a collection of over a hundred
unique and individual houses. Many of the villas
are available to rent. House sizes range from
the intimate two bedroom cottages, suitable for
honeymooners and couples, to the 8-10 bedroom
private estates.

The Cotton House Hotel
The Cotton House Hotel, formerly the old
cotton warehouse is the oldest building on the
island. Converted by architect Oliver Messel,
who designed many structures on the island,
the Cotton House has 17 rooms, ranging from
a presidential two-bedroomed suite with private
pool and drawing rooms to single rooms.
Both locations offer a full hospitality staff to
help provide a relaxing experience. The team
includes a cleaning staff, a kitchen staff to stock
up on all of your favorite foods upon arrival,
child care and spa professionals trained in various
spa treatments.

Where to Eat:
The Firefly
The Firefly’s cocktail bar is famous for its
legendary sunset views over Britannia Bay.
Home to the Mustique Champagne and Martini
Clubs, favorites amongst the island’s regulars,
the restaurant serves a range of dishes using
fresh, local ingredients with a Caribbean flair.
They also serve pizzas, which can be delivered
to you on the beach.

Basil’s Beach Bar & Restaurant
In the heart of Britannia Bay, Basil’s Bar
extends over the water and has been hosting an
international crowd for over 25 years. In season,
Wednesday night features a barbeque buffet dinner
with live music. Sunday night features sunset
jazz, followed by á la carte dining. Basil’s is
home to the legendary Mustique Blues Festival
in late January and early February, where A-list
musicians come to play, offering guests the
opportunity to enjoy world class music.

What to do in Mystique:
Taking advantage of the beach is a must, but
there are many other things to do in Mustique.
For the adventurous, several water sports, nature
and fitness trails, bird watching and horseback
riding are all available. The island also supplies
entertainment through an open air movie theater,
local museum and island library.

Explore what else this hidden treasure has to
offer and more at mustique-island.com.

Caribbean Tourism
By Terry Robe

One of the most popular destinations for
winter travel, the Caribbean is a region
of surprising diversity. While the 30
members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization
– from Anguilla to Venezuela – share a sea, theircitizens may speak English, Spanish, French or
Dutch.
To gain insight into Caribbean travel trends,
The Georgetowner recently spoke with Sylma
Brown Bramble, director of CTO-USA, Inc.,
the New York-based subsidiary of the Caribbean
Tourism Organization.

The Georgetowner: How important is the
North American market to the region’s tourism?
SBB: North America has delivered the most
visitors to the Caribbean over the past several
decades. In 2012, the region welcomed over 21
million long-stay visitors (not including cruise
visitors) to its shores, 60 % of whom came from
North America. As product offerings such as
sports, faith-based, adventure, cuisine and multigenerational
vacations continue to gain popularity,
we expect to see an increase in the numbers.
The Georgetowner: Many people think of
cruise ships and all-inclusive resorts when they
think of the Caribbean, but is this an outdated
picture?
SBB: Absolutely. There is a wide variety
of hotel choices in the Caribbean, from guesthouses
to tony boutique properties to villas to
time-shares to elegant luxury resorts.
The Georgetowner: Is the Caribbean also a
cultural heritage destination?
SBB: Yes, our cultural heritage is intimately
relevant to the development of tourism. Its
authenticity and diversity can be found in no
other destination. There are music and cultural
festivals, such as the Music Festival in St. Kitts,
the Reggae festivals in Jamaica and the Creole
Festival in Dominica. Trinidad and Tobago is
well known for Carnival, but in the Bahamas
it is Junkanoo and in Barbados it is Crop Over.
Our cuisine is another area that reflects our cultural
heritage and in which there is much variety.
In the French and French-influenced territories
of Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Martin, there
is an unmistakable creole flair to the dishes. But
in all local fare in the Caribbean there is a delicious
infusion of locally grown ingredients with
the influences of European or African ancestry.
The Georgetowner: What is meant by
Leading Sustainable Tourism, CTO’s stated purpose?
SBB: Because the Caribbean is the most
tourism-dependent region in the world, we
have an immense challenge and opportunity:
to maintain tourist flows necessary to guarantee
economic stability; to ensure the proper use
of our resources for the benefit of visitors and
locals and to see that the resources that currently
attract visitors are protected and preserved
for future generations. The Caribbean Tourism
Organization, as the region’s tourism development
agency, is the leading advocate for development
issues, hence the purpose. CTO holds
an annual Conference on Sustainable Tourism
Development to share best practices and keep
our stakeholders updated. So we live our purpose
both in words and in deed.

Islands at a glance:
Aruba
Language: Dutch
The 320-room Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, opened
in November.
The first international flights for Southwest
Airlines, announced this week, include flights
from BWI to Aruba (and also to the Bahamas
and Jamaica), beginning July 1.

Barbados
Language: English
The SoCo (for South Coast) Hotel, allinclusive
but intimate with only 24 rooms,
opened in 2013.
One of the newest and best-rated restaurants
– in one of the Caribbean’s top dining
destinations – is Chez Max.

Grenada
Language: English
Grenada’s carnival, SpiceMas, will begin
in May instead of June in 2014 as part of the celebration
of the 40th anniversary of the country’s
independence.
Spice Island Beach Resort is on Island
Magazine’s new list of 15 of the World’s
Greatest Escapes.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Language: English
Two islands in the Grenadines – Bequia
and Canouan – made a recent Huffington Post
list of Caribbean Islands You’ve Never Heard Of
But Should Visit.
Saint Vincent’s new Argyle International
Airport, designed to accommodate large jets, is
scheduled for completion late in 2014.

Trinidad and Tobago
Language: English
“Voluntourism” opportunities are available
between March and September, when up to
12,000 nesting leatherback turtles come to the
beaches of Trinidad.
Tobago recently launched a tablet and
smart-phone app. [gallery ids="101617,146745,146749" nav="thumbs"]

Wally Greeves • January 29, 2014

While on a family trip to Nicaragua
recently, I made sure to detour
for a night from the sustainable
farm we were staying at long
enough to play David Maclay Kidd?s newly
designed Guacalito Golf Course at Mukul
Resort along the country?s Emerald Coast . . .
twice. On the Pacific, the resort has been open
less than a year.

The picturesque 18th green that has rounded
the golf magazine circuit tops off an amazing
round of jungle golf that blends into its
environment so well that I got the feeling the
howler monkeys probably never left during
construction. Maybe they were as impressed as
I was that not one of their trees was chopped
down to create the tract. Fifteen hundred trees
were relocated safely on the property to make
the course easier for me, and the wooden beams
used in the resort?s construction phase were
expensively collected from the wakes of hurricanes
to help me sleep better at night.

Starting with number one, Genizaro (a rain
or monkeypod tree), every golf hole is named
for a native tree found on it, and the artwork
above my bed at night was weaved with reeds,
made from the leaves of Nicaraguan coffee
bean trees. The golf course and resort overflowed
with domestic pride at every turn. The
only thing that could have made each of thesegolf rounds more enjoyable would have been my
two black labs running down the fairways chasing
iguanas, while I played.

The first two holes are each par fours, and
250-yard shots down the middle of the fairway
leave you fair approach shots, the second
one being more uphill and over riskier terrain.
Architect Kidd is building a stunning home
overlooking the par three 3rd hole that, if he follows
owner Don Carlos Pellas?s tradition, will
be rentable while he is not in residence. Holes 4
and 16 are similar par five target golf holes, both
fairways crossed twice with shot-stealing scrub
ditches. The par five number 7 hole has some
kind of weird dense-air-looking visual spatial
effect that guarantees you will use too much club
on your approach shot. You will be angry about
this but will probably do it again the next day,
too. The 8th green is accessed by a cool, locally
fashioned suspension bridge that you will really
like, if your ball is on the green already.

Hole #11 is a challenging downhill tee shot
that leaves you, in my opinion, the hardest
approach shot on the course. We agreed it was
the hardest hole on the course, but it was rated as
the 14th. I almost made par the second round and
was elated. The par three 12th hole tee box was
spectacular, and that was before we were treated
to a flash visit from a troupe of howler monkeys.
The Scotland-inspired, Redan-styled par three
15th hole was punctuated with a swale-divided
Biarritz green (ha, ha, ha, ha . . . Golf Digest,
here I come). The 17th hole was my favorite,
and the 18th is a one of a kind treat, leaving you
on the surf.

Adam Scott purportedly loves this place
because he can be fairly anonymous and surf up
from the Pacific Ocean to his golf cart and play.
I scored well both rounds here. So, I would have
to say it was probably the toughest course I have
ever played. Joking aside, Kidd has made this
a beautifully playable experience I could enjoy
every morning of a vacation, however long.

The cliff-side bohio we were delivered to bygolf cart after our round was a top-five favorite for me. High ceilings, wood, balcony, whirlpool, marble, little pillows, and flat-out style showcased the unrealized tree fort of my adult dream life. The kind of place you ashamedly find yourself texting pictures of to relatives before you start unpacking your luggage.

A chauffeured golf cart ensured that we were on time for our evening trip to the five-star resort?s award-winning spa. Each of the six spa buildings that make up the relaxing compound boast ultra-unique motifs, personal post-treatment pools, outstanding smells, and extremely knowledgeable masseuses. I am nowhere near spa-educated enough to tell you just how good this one was, but I had the best foot rub I have ever had there, and it turned my wife into a noodle.

Dinner in the formal dining room was elegant. The mural-sized black-and-white photos of owner Don Carlos Pellas?s parents wedding gave us the feeling we were celebrating with the owner in delivering a legacy resort that Nicaraguans can be proud of. Ninety-five percent of the workforce hails from within two miles of the resort, and the Mukul team spent years training them to five-star standards — another testament to the owner?s interests in the future of Nicaragua.

A breakfast decided upon the evening before magically appeared on our balcony table around seven, and we struggled with how to allocate our only hour left in a much too hurried visit. My wife chose a walk on the beach, and I finished a primo cigar from the evening before and scoured the ocean horizon hoping to see a whale. A shiny black sedan from Mukul?s fleet delivered us to the airport in Managua, and another Mukul team member stayed with us until we arrived at our gate.

A short flight later and an arrival home to roughly the same time zone we left from made the experience feel like a daydream. The only reminder of the recent past was the faint smell of cigar in my clothes, and the good taste it left in my mouth.

Wandergolf will be a frequently appearing golf column in The Georgetowner that will be reporting on the golf interests of Washingtonians. If you have suggestions for columns or comments, please email them to [wally@wandergolf.com](mailto:wally@wandergolf.com)

Rachel Scola • January 17, 2014

Some of the best days of summer are those spent bumming it at the beach, the lake or the pool. Soak up some rays, maybe enjoy some light reading, and definitely enjoy the nice tousled waves that can come from a day by the water. Unfortunately, the beach-y look comes at a price, and summer can damage hair more than help it. Thankfully, there are experts out there who hear our cries for help and have answers. Here are some products to help keep your hair clean and protected from the elements, and they can all be found nearby.

Bumble & Bumble Surf Foam Wash Shampoo & Conditioner:
It only makes sense that a product with the words “surf foam” would be a good choice for hair cleansing in the summer. This fresh-scented shampoo and conditioner clear out your scalp and hair and leave it feeling soft, but not flat. The cleaning duo also works together to make your hair prepared for other products that help create beach-y hairstyles. An 8.5-ounce bottle of either costs $25 and can be found at either Sephora or Bluemercury.

Tresemmé Climate Control Collection: Tresemmé’s full collection (shampoo, conditioner, spray and mousse) uses Keratin and olive oil to prepare hair for the weather and prevent frizz. Both the finishing spray and mousse hold hair in place while still maintaining smooth and soft locks. Shampoo and conditioner come in 15- and 32-ounce bottles for prices less than $5 online or at Target. Spray and mousse are sold at CVS for around the same price.

Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo: As if some of us needed another reason to be a beer fan, this shampoo is made from organic vegan beer that leaves hair with a shine and lemon scent. Chlorine can leave hair dry and frizzy, and the cognac and lemon juice in this shampoo replenishes the shine and moisture that your hair is missing. Lush has three sizes to choose from, the 3.3 ounces for $10, 8.4 ounce for $20 and 16.9 ounces for $30.

Fair Trade Honey Shampoo: Boasting an ingredient list of almost 50-percent honey and 20-percent linseed, this is perfect for those looking for a natural way to help themselves and the world. The shampoo is preservative free, but the fair trade honey is what helps prevent frizz, locks in moisture, and gives your hair an extra boost of shine. Three sizes ranging from $10 to $30 can be bought at Lush.

Alterna Bamboo UV+Color Protection Masque: Masks are not confined for only the body or face. This organic hair masque not only protects the color in your hair but also against UV rays. The bamboo extract hydrates your hair while the melon extract leaves your locks silky smooth. Find it at Sephora for $26.

Fekkai After-Sun Daily Mask: This is a brand new product for Fekkai, and the only one to promote detangling as a benefit. It also protects from UV rays and color fading and is best used with Fekkai’s Anti-Frizz Cream. Both products are $25 at Blue Mercury.

These aren’t the only products out there, of course. Bumble and Bumble offers an entire line of color protection sprays and washes, and Lush has a jasmine and henna mask to help control fluffy or frizzy hair. Any shampoo with coconut will help hydrate your hair. If you’re looking for summer hair but don’t want to risk the harm on your hair, try Not Your Mother’s Sea Salt Spray (CVS) for texturized waves or Rita Hazen’s Foaming Gloss (Sephora) for enhanced gold tones in any hair color. [gallery ids="101374,153213" nav="thumbs"]

Ari Post •

s I write this column, Hurricane Sandy approaches our coast from the Atlantic. The eaves and branches outside my window, now a patchwork of green-flecked rust and yellows mopped in a thick gray mist, will soon be divested of its foliage by torrential winds. On the television, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie reports that the Jersey coastline is already flooding, and the storm is still 200 miles from shore. Things are looking grim on the Northeast coast. It’s hard to imagine planning any outdoor activities right now.
However, in an odd twist of perspective, hur- ricanes have their important place in the complex ecology of coastal wetlands, and all the natural wildlife they inhabit. Healthy marshes consist of dense grasses and other wetland vegetation interspersed with small ponds, lakes, and bay- ous. If unchecked, however, marsh vegetation can choke out open-water areas over time. This natural process eventually forms a “closed marsh,” which holds little value for waterfowl and other wildlife.

Hurricanes can set back the incursion of closed marshes by breaking up dense stands of vegetation and scouring new ponds and lakes. Additionally, accompanying storm surges can push salt water inland; the lengthy exposure to salt water kills salt-intolerant vegetation, creating more open-water areas. These new ponds and lakes created by hurricanes are prime habitat waterfowl, as well as prime duck foods like wild celery, which flourish in the shallow, open water.

Why all the talk about ducks? Because, come rain or come shine, the annual Waterfowl Festival is coming to Easton Md., Nov. 9 through 11. Sportsmen and art connoisseurs alike should find interest at this regional tradition, founded by a group of ambitious enthusiasts who envi- sioned an event that would share with visitors the unique Eastern Shore heritage that they treasured. The festival also helps to preserve the ecosystem, raising funds to protect the wildlife and habitats that are integral to the area’s way of life. This event captures the true romance and excitement of the area’s wild birds and the hunting sport they create.

From decoy exchanges to art exhibits, and from a children’s fishing derby to wildlife photography classes, as long as you are interested in the great outdoors, Easton’s Waterfowl Festival has something for you.

Art and Photography

The festival’s photography exhibit, set up in Easton Middle School, will feature a wide array of striking images captured by some of the nation’s foremost nature photographers. Every photograph has a story to tell, and the artists are eager to share them. These are the shots that demonstrate why photography is an art in itself. The pieces are affordable and often may be purchased framed or unframed. Many photographers also offer specialty items featuring their images. The gallery opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday for the “Best in Show” Award at 9:30 a.m. Vote for your own favorite photo with the People’s Choice Award, presented Sunday at 11 a.m.

One of the original Waterfowl Festival gal- leries, the Art at the Armory Painting Gallery presents an array of exceptional artists offer- ing a variety of work encompassing a wide range of subject matter and style. In addition to waterfowl, wildlife and sporting art, the artists present landscapes, florals and maritime scenes, both as original paintings and prints. Exhibitors welcome the opportunity to share their artistic talent with guests, both experienced collectors and those simply touched by one of the artists’ images.

While other galleries showcase the artwork, the festival’s Artists Gallery & Workshop put the artists in the spotlight. Visitors enjoy the rare opportunity to see artists at work, demonstrating the techniques and skill required to create the artwork so admired in its finished form. Working artisans are willing and eager to discuss their work and tricks of the trade. Demonstrationsthroughout the day make this exhibit a delight for many and an educational must for all aspiring artists and carvers.

At the Masters Gallery, a col- lection of exceptional 19th- and 20th-century sporting and wild- life paintings and sculptures by internationally acclaimed wildlife and nature artists will be on view. Outside of museum exhibits, it is rare to see a collection of works by such renowned masters gathered together and offered for sale.

At the Sculpture Pavilion, attendants have the opportunity to view a variety of sculptural forms ranging from exquisite miniatures to dramatic life size renditions of wildlife subjects. Created by art- ists from across the country, the sculptures are of bronze, steel, clay, stone and other expressive three- dimensional media. Sculptors enjoy interacting with visitors and look forward to the opportunity to discuss their work.

For those interested in wild- life preservation, the Waterfowl Chesapeake Pavilion is the home for the festival’s sister conser- vation organization, Waterfowl Chesapeake, Inc., during the festival weekend. Inside, guests will find more information about Waterfowl Chesapeake and its projects and ini- tiatives, as well as a presence by partner conser- vation organizations and green businesses, such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Maryland Environmental Service.

Sporting and Hunting

A must for the sophisticated sportsman, the new Sporting Arms Exhibit makes its debut in 2012. This exhibit brings the sporting heritage of the Eastern Shore to downtown Easton. While the exhibit will focus mostly on antique and contemporary guns, displays will also showcase the development of the hunting culture of the Chesapeake Bay region with decoys, art and other memorabilia.

Haggling is encouraged at the Buy, Sell, Swap traders’ bazaar, with a staggering array of decoys, hunting and sporting memorabilia, sport- ing books and more. Prices range from pocket change to the thousands of dollars. Whether a dedicated collector, first time buyer or browser, most any visitor will find something of interest.
On the subject of “something of interest,” the Waterfowl Festival is also home to an annual Calling Contest. Each November, proud duck and goose callers, representing at least 16 states and Canada, make the journey to Easton for the coveted titles of master caller, where they perform their best calls in front of more than 600 spectators and listeners. Anyone, novice or master, is welcome to try their hand. Attendance at the preliminary rounds is free, and admission to the finals on Saturday evening is $10, or $5 with a Waterfowl Festival ticket.

One of the most popular festival events is the Retriever Demonstrations. Both new and returning visitors make it a point to head to the ponds to see the dogs each year. The Retriever Demonstrations are entertaining and hugely impressive, as these exceptionally skilled canines show off by leaping into the pond to fetch a thrown or hidden dummy. You don’t have to be a hunter to appreciate the intelligence demonstrated by the retrievers and the training skills of their handlers, who are members of the Talbot Retriever Club.

Another canine-crazed event is the Dock Dogs Competition, where the stands fill quickly to watch dog after dog race down a dock to splash into a pool of water. The competition is to see which dog can remain airborne the farthest or highest, depending on which event is being contended. Any and all breeds are eligible to participate. While registration for contenders is mainly done online in advance, there generally are a few spaces reserved for those wishing to enter their dogs on the day of the event.

There is all this and more at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Md,—and though the weather is rough now, it is sure to clear up by Nov. 9. So, brush up your duck calls, shape up your pups and get on out there. [gallery ids="101044,136322" nav="thumbs"]

Rachel Scola •

Say hello to garcinia cambogia, a plant indigenous to the southeast of Asia and a proven appetite suppressor and energy producer. Garcinia cambogia has been a popular ingredient in yogurts and soups for several decades in countries like Sri Lanka and India, a fact that excited researchers and proves that this fruit is, so far as we know, not harmful to your health.

One of the premier doctors researching this fruit is Georgetown University’s Dr. Harry Preuss. Preuss started as a hypertension researcher but soon became fascinated with blood sugar and nutrition. In the early 2000s, Georgetown University conducted a study of 90 people in India on the effects of garcinia cambogia on their body weight. The results were astonishing, showing weight loss, decreased BMI and an increase in the body’s ability to burn fat.

The fruit, known as a tamarind, looks like a small green pumpkin and has a sour taste, but its extract holds the secret. It contains a hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which blocks the conversion of carbohydrates into fat and instead forces them to convert directly into energy. Hydroxycitric acid can either be active or inactive. The active form is what brings in the results, but it can easily become inactive if mixed with a fluid to form into a lactone.To prevent this, HCA is converted into a salt—usually calcium, but it can be potassium or magnesium.

So why not just take in a calcium salt? Taking only calcium would require extremely high doses to see minimal results. The best intake would be a supplement with at least 50% HCA in the calcium salt form that includes potassium or magnesium. Dr. Preuss also suggests taking a supplement that includes chromium, a mineral that helps to digest food but, when part of an eating regimen, would help lead to fat loss without muscle loss. Supplements can be beneficial, but Preuss wants to remind users that people want to make money and will sometimes put false products on the market. In general, always double check ingredients and dosages, and talking to a doctor before trying anything is always a good idea.

The study in India tested a brand called Super Citrimax through InterHealth Nutraceuticals, which is 60% HCA and contains both potassium and chromium. While this particular brand cannot be found in our local CVS, it can be ordered online and is reasonably priced (between $10 and $20). A dosage would entail 1.5 grams (two capsules three times a day) of the calcium salt taken on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating.

Dr. Preuss stresses that these are aids in weight loss. Your metabolic rate will naturally lower when you suppress your appetite and Preuss suggest a green tea or coffee extract to increase metabolism again so that your body doesn’t plateau. “It’s a program,” he says. “Be reasonable about it. It won’t work in two or three days.”

So garcinia cambogia isn’t exactly the miracle fat burner that we might be waiting for, but it is definitely one of the biggest advancements in weight loss in the past several years. Like most things, it works best when balanced with exercise and healthy eating, but in the words of Dr. Preuss, “If you don’t comply, don’t complain.” And be sure to stick to the correct dosages for the best results. [gallery ids="101351,152339" nav="thumbs"]