Living

Stacy Notaras Murphy • January 29, 2015

Dear Stacy:
I am exhausted. I feel this way all the time. It’s not a medical condition, I’ve been checked out. It’s because I do too much, too often, all the time. My calendar is out of control. A couple times a year I will splurge on a spa weekend. A few times a month I get a night away from the kids. But the good feelings never seem to last and I always wind up feeling exhausted very soon after. I just don’t know how other moms do it, and I find myself thinking about how they do it a lot, which is also exhausting. I know this makes my marriage harder than it needs to be, but I also don’t feel like he’s very supportive when I need time off.
– Mother of the Year

Dear Mother:
I hear you trying very hard to take care of yourself. You’re just doing it wrong.

You know you need time for yourself. In fact, a few times a year, you get an uninterrupted break for yourself. But you wonder why the results don’t last.

Let’s take that same view and apply it to something else: a diet. Imagine a person who wants to lose weight choosing one or two weekends a year to eat healthy, then expecting to feel energized every other day. That doesn’t work for dieting – oh, but if it did! – and it doesn’t work for self-care.

You have to make self-care into a habit, a lifestyle change. It has to be part of every single day: two minutes of meditation, morning stretching, emailing a friend, taking a walk at lunch, listening to a podcast about the Real Housewives – the list of personal self-care options is limitless.

I understand that you may not feel supported by Husband, but imagine it from his point of view. You are harried and exhausted much of the year, and then leave him with the kids so you can get relief, only to return to him and snap back into tired mode. I wouldn’t support that, either.

Once again, this needs to be something the whole family both supports and enjoys. A mom who builds healthy self-care into her weekly routine models healthy self-care for her family. You have to put yourself on that calendar, too.

Stacy Notaras Murphy (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
stacymurphyLPC@gmail.com.

Gary Tischler •

Back in December, when the Obama administration announced it would be normalizing relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba after 50 years of severed relations, the news sparked a renewed interest in All Things Cuba—cigars, music, tourism, food, baseball, history, culture—as well as flashes of old political battles.

For one Washington cultural leader, it could mean the fulfillment of a journey that began before he was born.

The son of an American sugar planter and his Cuban wife, Septime Webre has been the artistic director of the Washington Ballet for 15 years. Throughout his life, Cuba has been at the root of his coming to terms with a complex personal identity.

Sometimes, he seemed to imagine it in his head, even as he grew up in multicultural, often exotic, places: New Orleans (briefly), where he was born; the Bahamas, where his father conducted business; and Brownsville, in South Texas, just across the border from Mexico.

“I was the seventh son in the family. When my parents had to leave in 1959, all their property, including a sugar mill, their family home and all their financial assets, were taken after Fidel Castro toppled the dictator Fulgencio Batista.

“For a long time, I’d often wondered who I was in terms of my culture, because, growing up, I’d had all of these different influences, long before I got interested in dance in a serious way. Mexican food and music, the rhythms of the Islands and all those stories I would hear from my family, my mother and father, my sisters and brothers, cousins, about Cuba: the music, the land, the big ocean wall at Havana.”

To Webre, Cuba was part of his dreams, part of the way he thought and created.
“Some of my relatives in Miami, my brothers, cousins, they would say I had this Mexican way about me, from growing up in school in Texas,” he said. “And I’d think about the ocean in the islands and the music.”

By the time Webre had come to New York to begin a career in ballet, first as a dancer, then as a choreographer, he’d had plenty of time to think about it. When he became artistic director in Washington, he had his first opportunity to visit the country he thought of, in some sense, as home.

In 1999, he traveled to Cuba and met Alicia Alonso, the legendary cofounder of Ballet Nacional de Cuba. The meeting resulted in a historic trip to Cuba in 2000 by Webre and the Washington Ballet to appear in Ballet Nacional de Cuba’s 17th International Festival.

Webre brought the whole company, as well as then Mayor Anthony Williams and other officials, local arts leaders (including theater directors Molly Smith of Arena Stage and Joy Zinoman of Studio Theatre) and Washington Ballet founder Mary Day, who was in her nineties.

“That trip, that experience of performing there, bringing my company, that was a big thing for me,” he said. “It wasn’t until then that I really discovered how Cuban I really was, how much everything about Cuba was in my soul, in what I did, how I approached dance and ballet.

“It was a moment, a true moment—not just for me, but it was also a time were people were taking an interest in Cuba again. . . . This was the time when ‘The Buena Vista Social Club,’ which was about a number of great Cuban musicians, was very popular.”

Everywhere he went, he took in the sights, the sounds “and the smells. Cuban music is very lively and colorful, it’s soaked in all sorts of traditions: salsa, island rhythms, Latin American strains, the Spanish guitar and the music of Africa from the days of slavery here. But always, it’s about movement, everywhere.

“They say a Cuban child learns to dance before they can walk,” he said. “It’s in the soul of people, they walk in a very musical, stylized way.”

He recalled the strong visual impact. “I loved seeing the city and the countryside in detail for the first time. In those days, economically, things had been stale for a long time. You saw and still do a lot of old American cars, there was rust and decay, rusted old Chevrolets and Cadillacs, that sort of thing, those colors on the side of buildings. I love the colors of rust, what rust does to material.”

Cuba, said Webre, is “in the blood and soul. You listen to that music, the languages, the style.” He remembers the palm trees, the experience and sound of the ocean and how the sounds of the oceans infiltrate the music. “Some of that style, I think, has crept into my choreography, into my identity as an artist, no question about it.”

“To me, in spite of years under the economic and political hardship of Communism, the island, the people had retained their soul, their culture, their hearts. That’s what I responded to.”

During his tenure with the Washington Ballet, Webre has had several Cuban dancers in the company. This past year, two new members arrived, under quite different circumstances.

Gian Carlo Perez, from Havana, a member of Ballet Nacional, toured Spain with the company on its 70th anniversary. Emigrating legally with a work visa, he is now a member of the Washington Ballet.

Miguel Anaya, also a Ballet Nacional dancer, came to the U.S. and the Washington Ballet the hard way. Touring with the company in Mexico City, he took a bus to the Laredo border and walked across the bridge, seeking political asylum.

“They’ve certainly added a lot to the company, a rich flavor,” said Webre. “You saw that in how male dancers in Cuba perform. They have some of those classic moves you see in matadors. Both of them will be dancing leading roles for us, in the upcoming ‘Sleepy Hollow,’ for instance.”

Charlene Louis •

Don’t let the need for warmth overtake style when picking out sweaters as the temperature drops. While spring and fall fashion usually get the most attention each year, it takes real style to stay fashionable while braving the cold. From stripes to prints to cable-knits, we round up the coziest sweaters to help you bear winter’s coldest temperatures with hot fashion. [gallery ids="101978,135518,135514,135523,135510,135499,135495,135491,135507,135503,135520" nav="thumbs"]

Paul Simkin •

We’ve been married just a few months and reality got in the way of any sort of honeymoon – unless a quick trip up the Hudson Valley to meet the in-laws counts (it doesn’t). Romance for us has come in bits and bites, counted in hours snatched between deadlines and page designs.

What counts as a getaway for us is calling ahead to Moby Dick’s in Georgetown, stuffing down a sandwich, then running over to the Loews 14 for an action flick or settling in for an episode of “Bewitched” on Amazon.

When the opportunity to find a romantic B&B getaway for a 450-word story came up, my wife and I pounced. We shortlisted our choices based on several criteria: driveable in a couple of hours, a million cosmic miles away from our day-to-day grind, great food and a bathtub big enough for two.

A couple friends pointed us to Easton, Md., and Alice and Jordan Lloyd’s Bartlett Pear Inn on Harrison Street, said to be the ideal place to catch our breath and shake off the city. In less than two hours we were there.

Walking around the sleepy town a bit to get a sense of things, we stopped at an antique shop across the street. A nearby drugstore and soda fountain seemed straight out of the 1950s.

Then, making our way past a giant ceramic pear in the garden, we walked into the Inn. A quick look at the menu, and we quickly realized that the 30-seat restaurant on the first floor was the heart of the place and – as it turned out – the perfect place for the perfect meal.

The laid-back co-owner and chef Jordan Lloyd explained the restaurant’s holistic focus. “We try to incorporate our passion for all things fresh in everything we do: local, natural, wholesome. This philosophy allows us to stretch our imagination across all aspects of our business. Without the help of our local farmers, dedicated teammates and supportive families, we wouldn’t be who we are.”

Taking him at his word, we put our faith in the expert waitstaff, who guided us through the menu and wine choices. I tried the lamb loin, made with a light yogurt marinade and a natural mint jus. The sides were sautéed greens, burnt root vegetables and a parsnip puré. She went with the whole roast quail, stuffed and served with Swiss chard, D’Anjou pears, pecans and sugar-glazed butternut squash.

If ever there were a meal to foster romance, this was it. After the dessert of Alaskan s’mores made with graham crackers, roasted marshmallow meringue and white chocolate ice cream – well, if we weren’t already married, I would have asked her to marry me all over again.

For more information about the Bartlett Pear Inn, call 410-770-3300 or visit bartlettpearinn.

Stacy Notaras Murphy •

Dear Stacy:

I have a longtime friend from my mid-20s (I’m now in my 30s) and we’ve grown apart somewhat due to different places in life and age. I’ve tried to reach out with invitations for a year, with no real response. Our conversations are perfunctory, at best, and are more acquaintance-like than anything. Although we are now more in the “same place” life-experience-wise (new wives, new moms), my friend doesn’t seem keen on sharing or learning about what I’m up to. Do I just let this friendship go (I’m always the instigator of communication) or ask if I’ve done something that has pushed her away?

– Old Friend

Dear Old Friend:

This sounds really frustrating, but also like a fairly natural occurrence in the cycle of friendships. Sure, Hollywood has given us the fantasy that my preschool best friend should remain an integral part of my life until she moves into an adjoining room at the rest home. But even in the age of Facebook, people do grow out of friendships. If this is what you think is happening here, then maybe you can move the relationship into the “Friendly Acquaintance/Holiday Card” category and move on.

Yet, if you suspect you have done something to warrant the cold shoulder, wouldn’t you really want to know what it is? In the absence of facts, our brains just fill in the blanks on a never-ending cycle of “What if?” How about asking – directly, peppered with love and curiosity?

If she’s actually mad because you did something wrong, you can apologize and get your friend back. If she’s mad because she thinks you did something wrong, and you disagree, you can work on it. If she’s mad because she thinks you did something wrong, and you conclude she’s delusional, then you can save money on the annual postage by moving her to the “Good Old Memory” column. My point is, there are questions on the table.

It often seems so much safer to write a person off without taking on the discomfort and vulnerability of asking the real questions. But when we do, we have the potential to deepen our relationships and to recognize which friendships can tolerate such honesty.

I can imagine you have some ideas about why this wouldn’t work in this particular instance. But do you want to be the person who made assumptions, kept safe and lost a friend – or the one who knew she tried everything she could?

Stacy Notaras Murphy (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 stacymurphyLPC@gmail.com.

Ari Post • January 16, 2015

Thanksgiving brings together everything we love about the fall season—the food, the colors, the warmth and intimacy, the cinnamon-flecked crispness of the cloudy, cool air—and consolidates them into one grand and often tumultuous evening, where family and friends come together simply to share their love, affection and gastronomic stamina.

Here on the East Coast, the spirit of Thanksgiving is arguably at its most consum- mate. I think we get spoiled in this part of the country around Thanksgiving—we take the luminescent hillsides and pumpkin-topped haystacks for granted and begin dreaming of warmer days before winter has even arrived. Try to imagine, for a moment a November family gathering, with a golden roast turkey, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, tannic red wines and pumpkin pie… in the 80-degree heat of Miami, Fla.

No thanks.

So, to best appreciate a true and spirited Thanksgiving around Washington, why not leave the city and take to the countryside? Whether searching for a quiet holiday escape with your better half, or gallivanting about with the whole family, there are a number of places just outside the city that offer the tranquility of the season in its quintessential form, as well as some traditional and brilliantly unique Thanksgiving dinners—and it takes the edge off cooking a 15-pound bird for those loved ones that never cease to offer their critique.

Here are a few of The Georgetowner’s favorite Thanksgiving lunch, dinner and weekend getaway opportunities. Make your reservations before they fill up.

The Robert Morris Inn Oxford, Md.

This small gem on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is the perfect waterfront setting for a traditional Thanksgiving. The culinary team, headed by chef Mark Salter, has put together a traditional and creative menu for this special occasion as an opportunity for regional produce to shine. For large groups, their Tred Avon Room is available for a family group booking.

Their Thanksgiving menu starts with dishes like spiced butternut squash soup with smoked bacon and cinnamon whipped cream, and red and yellow beets with crumbled goat cheese, toasted walnuts and mixed greens. The main event is free-range turkey and baked ham with roasted potato, onion and celery stuffing and seasonal vegetables, with cranberry, orange and ginger relish. There are also alternative main courses, such as oyster potpie, salmon on creamed sweet onions with kale, pancetta and baby potatoes, and beef tenderloin with a Burgundy-truffle sauce. Desert includes apple and blackberry crumble with Chantilly cream and pecan pie with bourbon ice cream.

Price: $58 per person, plus beverages and gratuity.

For more information or to make a reservation visit www.RobertMorrisInn.com, or call (410) 226-5111.

Keswick Hall Keswick, Va.

Keswick Hall is truly a luxury resort that overwhelms the senses. Their magnificent and secluded estate in the foothills of the Southwest Mountains outside of Charlottesville is itself enough to bowl you over—never mind the fact that Condé Nast rated them the number-one small resort in the country.

At Fossett’s, the resort’s award-winning restaurant, executive chef Aaron Cross will present a four-course tasting menu featuring traditional holiday entrees, as well as beef and fish options. Keswick Hall will also serve two Thanksgiving Day buffets, featuring all your holiday favorites and more ($55 – $65 per person).

Price: $75 person, $25 for children ages 4 – 12.

For more information or to make a reservation visit www.Keswick.com, or call (434) 979-3440.

Sherwood’s Landing St. Michael’s, Md.

St. Michael’s, an intimate, secluded waterside haven, rests along the “Bay Hundred” stretch that runs to Tilghman Island on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Inn at Perry Cabin is the town’s premier luxury escape, with a waterfront property that offers a gorgeous panorama of the Shore at its finest. The resort’s restaurant, Sherwood’s Landing, overlooks the Miles River, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily in a delightful waterfront setting.

Its Thanksgiving menu starts with a choice of soups: harvest quash veloute, with caramelized pistachios and popped corn mouse, or oxtail consommé with black trufle, Madeira, savoy cabbage and oxtail ravioli. The main courses, on top of roasted local turkey, include honey-glazed Virginia ham, pan-seared duck breast, roast wild rockfish and tomato tart tatin, all served with whipped sweet potatoes, caramelized root vegetables, sage stuffing, cranberry relish and natural jus. Desert include pumpkin pie flan with maple cream and caramel, caramelized apple and fennel tart with lemon and allspice creams, and cranberry walnut bread pudding with honey, bourbon anglaise and vanilla ice-cream.

Price: $74 per person, plus beverages and gratuity

For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.PerryCabin.com, or call (410) 745-2200, ext 213.

The Silver Thatch Inn Charlottesville, Va.

The Silver Thatch Inn is an intimate luxury bed and breakfast that seamlessly weaves culinary and historical experience. Its kitchen offers a special dining experience in its candlelit dining rooms, working with local farmers to ensure that the finest, freshest produce will reach dining guests, and holiday dining is one of its specialties.

The Thanksgiving menu includes seared scallops with warm radicchio and pancetta, carrot-ginger soup with candied orange peel, and fall greens with persimmons, goat cheese, hazelnuts and a Clementine dressing. The featured entrée is the legendary Turducken: a boneless turkey with cornbread and sausage stuffing, filled with a boneless duck with spinach and Parmesan stuffing, which is filled yet again with a small chicken with cranberry jalapeño stuffing. It is served with pan gravy, cauliflower and potato au gratin, braised kale and pear-apple chutney (good luck getting through that one). Other Thanksgiving entrees include Angus beef with onion-mashed potatoes and flounder with lobster stuffing and sweet potato risotto.

Price: $55 per person, children under 12 half price.

For more information or to make a reservation visit www.SilverThatch.com, or call (434) 978-4686. [gallery ids="101060,137051,137047,137042" nav="thumbs"]

Ari Post •

A two hours’ drive from the Washington area, Charlottesville, Va., is a city that was founded 250 years ago along a trade route that led from the Great Appalachian Valley to Richmond. Today, it still stands as a middle ground between natural bounty and urban vivacity, making it the ideal location to indulge in the apple-spiced luxury of the autumn and winter months.
Charlottesville is a city that stands out because it indulges visitors in the surrounding area, reminding them of the beauty and richness of Virginia’s history, from the Jeffersonian erudition to the rugged, rolling hillsides and farmland. And now is the perfect time of year to settle in for a cozy Charlottesville weekend, sitting fireside at a rural inn, dining at one of their classic or contemporary restaurants, or warming up from a wintry vineyard tour in a rustic tasting room.

WINE & SPIRITS
As we stand on the precipice of winter, vineyards and cideries may seem low on the list of worthy discussion topics. Now, of course, is the time where vines go dormant and production comes to a standstill until the spring. But while everyone else with the winter wonderland bug is waiting in line at the ski slopes, Charlottesville’s many wineries, cideries and breweries offer intimate afternoon getaways off the beaten path. In the seventh edition of “The World Atlas of Wine” that was recently published, authors Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson even devoted an entire section to Virginia wines, heavily focused on the Monticello and Charlottesville region.

Early Mountain Vineyards is a great place to begin a Charlottesville wine tour. It is not only producing impressive wines but maintaining their historic property with a commitment to biodiversity and sustainable farming. In its lovely tasting room, ranked second place out of 220 wineries by “Virginia Wine Lover” online, visitors can warm by the fire and enjoy the views after lunch with fare from the winery’s “eat local” marketplace, featuring cheeses, charcuterie and products from local area purveyors. It also keeps a selection of the best Virginia wines from other vineyards in house along with rotating featured selections.
www.EarlyMountain.com

Meanwhile, if you crave something slightly sweeter than wine, Virginia Cider Week (Nov. 15 to 24) is an upcoming event that should not be missed. In colonial America, fermented cider was the drink of choice. John Adams attributed his health and long life to a tankard of cider before breakfast, and Thomas Jefferson’s estate-grown cider, made with Hewe’s Crabapples, was his “table drink.” Throughout the 19th century, growing apples and crafting cider from cider apples was an integral part of every community, and Virginia cidermakers are working hard to revive this American tradition. It is the fastest growing segment of the alcohol industry, with more than 60-percent category growth in 2012. And nowhere is the cider revival more evident than in Virginia wine country.

Throughout the week of events throughout Virginia, there are cheese and cider workshops, opportunities to learn about what pairs well with what, and cider flights at local vineyards. And the week culminates in Charlottesville on Saturday, Nov. 23, with the second annual CiderFest at Castle Hill Cider. The all-day event includes cider tastings from a wealth of Virginia cidermakers, food from lauded local chefs, and music from Love Canon, one of Charlottesville’s most popular bands.
www.CiderWeekVa.com

DINING
As hinted at by the wineries, local and regional produce plays a large part in Charlottesville’s culinary scene. A handful of restaurants are spearheading this movement, delivering innovative but comforting American fare, inspired with international flavors and rooted in the surrounding farmland.

Judging by its name alone, you can probably guess where The Local cultivates its culinary inspiration and resources. Since it opened in March 2008, The Local has provided a venue to showcase the abundant supply of small farmers, artisan cheese makers, breweries, distilleries and award wining vineyards in the Charlottesville area. They even support local craftsman and artisans, and much of what you see in the restaurant is fabricated locally. Try the roast Squash stuffed with Caromont goat cheese, quinoa, dried cherries and almonds over braised greens with a fresh tomato sauce, or their crispy duck breast with port wine and blackberry glaze, with a parsnip and cauliflower puree.
www.TheLocal-Cville.com

Mas is another champion of organic, artisanal food and wine, conceived by chef Tomas Rahal as an opportunity to emphasize simple, well-handled ingredients served in a casual neighborhood setting. Featuring a contemporary tapas-style menu, their menu options this season include tender leeks slow-roasted in duck fat and saffron over housemade brioche, as well as smoked beef tongue sliced thinly, grilled on the plancha, heaped on hearth-baked bread with spicy mustard, slaw and pickles. They also have an outstanding selection of Spanish wines for unforgettable pairings.
www.MasTapas.com

There is a gentle, serene beauty about the Virginia countryside that is perfectly tailored for those looking for an intimate but lively experience. Charlottesville is a quiet pinnacle of romance, culinary indulgence and relaxation, and now is the perfect time of year to fall into its warm and generous arms

CIDERWEEKVA
Nov. 15 to 24
Cider Week features multiple complimentary tastings and events featuring local Virginia ciders. For a complete schedule, visit CiderWeekVa.com.

Nov. 17
Hill & Holler Cider Dinner
Enjoy regional dishes prepared by top local chef Amalia Scatena from Pippin Hill Vineyard. Dishes will be served dim sum style and served with Virginia cider. Live music will also be featured. Tickets at $65 and can be reserved by emailing hill.holler@gmail.com. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Meriwether Vineyards, 1040 Owensville Road, Charlottesville, Va.

Nov. 19
Cider Y’all
Chef Jason Alley will cook Southern small plates paired with Foggy Ridge Cider at Pasture restaurant in Charlottesville. No entry cost. The Shops at Stonefield; 434-973-2270

Nov. 20
Home Cidermaking Workshop
Learn cidermaking basics from Tim Edmond of Potter’s Craft Cider and Chuck Shelton of Albemarle Ciderworks. Free workshop. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fifth Season Gardening, 900 Preston Ave., Charlottesville, Va. 434-293-2332

Nov. 23
CiderFest with Love Cannon
Music from Love Cannon wraps up the week with the all-day event at Castle Hill Cider. Tastings and food from area chefs will also be featured. Tickets $20; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 6065 Turkey Sag Road, Keswick, Va. 434-296-0047

CARTER’S MOUNTAIN ORCHARD
It’s apple season at Carter’s where you can spend a family-filled day “Picking Your Own,” buying apples from the Apple Barn or indulging at Aunt Sarah’s Bakery featuring home-made apple cider donuts, fresh-baked apple pies, apple caramel cookies and hand-dipped ice cream. The orchard also offers pumpkins and lunch foods in the Mountain Grill. Open through Dec. 1, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 to Dec. 22: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weather permitting. 575 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, Va. 434-977-1833

Ari Post •

With the first snow in what seems like well over a year, it is safe to say that we have a real winter on our hands. We tend to worry about the dog days of summer, but this is the time of year where cabin fever can really set in. If you want to defy the cold, now is the perfect time for those of us itching to take off on a relaxing weekend getaway. Pastoral bed & breakfasts and luxury hotels surround the D.C. area.

The landscapes of these mountain and riverside resorts are in a rare, hushed state of wintry serenity, and the weather, while perhaps brutally cold, can be a good excuse to cuddle up in front of a fire with the one you love.

The Ashby Inn and Restaurant

In the town of Paris, Va. sits The Ashby Inn and Restaurant. Just an hour outside the city, this popular travel destination offers a respite for those jaded city dwellers seeking nature’s tranquility. A small inn with ten double rooms, it has a restaurant with 70 seats that tends to fill up every Saturday.

For the adventurous couples, nearby Sky Meadow State Park, which can be seen from the porch of the Inn, offers great winter hiking. There’s nothing quite like stomping through the woods and hearing nothing but the rustling of bare branches and the crunch of snow under your feet.

If you are looking for less strenuous quality time, the nearby town of Middleburg is well known for its antique shops, equestrian culture and, of course, the National Sporting Library and Museum, where you can take in the beauty of the wilderness through paintings without shivering in the cold. If it’s warm enough, stop by Middleburg Common Grounds, just across the street. They have great coffee, a cozy atmosphere, and a great chicken salad sandwich. Another great activity for those who want to relax but explore is a trip to any number of the over twenty local wineries located within 30 minutes of the Inn—the tasting rooms at Chrysalis Vineyards and Barrel Oak Winery are open year round, and their wine is worth stopping in to try.

This resort is quite popular—they are often fully booked—so call to see what’s available. www.AshbyInn.com

The Greenbrier

The Greenbrier has the hallowed distinction as “America’s Resort”. Way out in West Virginia, The Greenbrier has entertained guests for generations. Under the ownership of Jim Justice, the hotel has built new amenities offers more entertainment opportunities for visitors, including a casino, live music, and its own PGA Tour event, the Greenbrier Classic, July 2-8, an event that will also feature a concert series with Toby Keith, Rod Stewart featuring Lionel Richie, Bon Jovi.
All this may seem far away, but The Greenbrier now has its own place in Washington. The Greenbrier Upper Lobby, at 1427 H Street NW, is a space where travelers can book vacations at the Greenbrier. Decorated by Carleton Varney in his signature, colorful style, the Upper Lobby transports individuals to the halls of the hotel. The Greenbrier is offering a special getaway package that includes transportation to the hotel. Read more about it at www.greenbrier.com.

The Homestead

Resting on 3,000 acres of Allegheny Mountain terrain, The Homestead is a luxury mountain resort that has been spoiling their guests since before the American Revolution. This National Historic Landmark of a retreat is ranked among the world’s finest spa destinations, and has enough activities to keep you busy through the entire winter.

There are a variety of suite accommodations from which to choose, including pet friendly rooms. Their world-class spa alone would nearly be worth the trip—even more so in the winter months, when the brittle cold leaves skin is particularly sensitive.

After you revitalize the body and spirit with a hydrotherapy treatment, you can go see a movie at the in-house theater, or swim in the naturally heated indoor pool, play tennis on the indoor courts. Go ice skating, bowling, or even snow tubing. You can pretend it’s any season you want! The Homestead understands how to make the most out of every time of year.

With nine restaurants to choose from, guests can dine in almost any manner they please. Put on your evening’s best to enjoy French American cuisine at 1766 Grille, or enjoy a poolside lunch wrapped in a beach towel with a view of the snowcapped mountains just outside the window. www.TheHomestead.com

Goodstone Inn and Estate

Close to The Ashby Inn and Restaurant, you can find The Goodstone Inn in Middleburg, Virginia. It is a luxurious, romantic country inn and gourmet restaurant set on 265 acres of rolling pastures and woodlands in the heart of wine and hunt country. Breathtaking vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding countryside appear from every vantage point. At Goodstone, the finest hospitality, dining, personalized service and attention to detail ensure that every visit is a special and memorable occasion. With 18 rooms spread about the rustic estate, it is a choice romantic destination—and it is at its most intimate during the winter months.

There are many different activities available at The Goodstone. The estate grounds hold possibilities for hiking, biking and canoeing, all of which are included in the rates. For explorers, The Goodstone Inn can arrange activities such as hot air ballooning, horseback riding and history tours, while the many wineries in the area are a good choice for those seeking a more gastronomic experience.

The Restaurant at Goodstone features a farm-to-table menu and uses only the finest, fresh ingredients available — mostly sourced from Goodstone’s own organic herb and vegetable gardens and the finest purveyors in the country. They Inn and Restaurant are currently offering winter getaway packages, so indulge in a special winter retreat while it still counts. www.Goodstone.com

The Inn at Willow Grove

Moving south, The Inn at Willow Grove is located close to the town of Orange, Virginia. Just under two hours’ drive from Washington, this eclectic country inn presents itself as an upscale, luxury retreat. Recently renovated, the Inn has eleven rooms and a gourmet restaurant. The surrounding scenery combined with the beauty of the Inn attracts guests throughout the year.

With heated floor tiles, soaking tubs and fireplaces, the accommodations are worth the trip alone. You might find yourself not wanting to leave the room—which is exactly the point of wintering away. But should you want to explore, there are plenty of things to do. Guest favorites include wine tours to the various wineries in the area. www.TheInnAtWillowGrove.com

Keswick Hall at Monticello

Just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, lies Keswick Hall at Monticello. A little more than two hours away from Washington, this Hotel is a great combination of a romantic Inn and a large resort. Guests travel here from all over the world to stay at this intimate haven, rated the number-one small resort in the country by Conde Nast. Located in the heart of Virginia, it is the perfect spot for a long weekend getaway.

The Keswick Hall at Monticello offers a range of activities designed for couples. From couples massages and private cooking classes, to fireside billiards and couples tennis matches, there are countless activities to suit any mood. For wine enthusiasts, Keswick Hall has its own private vineyard, and offers tours of the other renowned Charlottesville vineyards nearby. Having all the amenities of a large resort with the intimacy of home, you can spend an entire weekend exploring the wondrous fall terrain of Keswick Hall. www.Keswick.com

The Inn at Monticello

Just a stone’s throw from Monticello proper, The Inn at Monticello is a five-acre bed & breakfast, and a convenient base of operations while exploring all that nearby Charlottesville has to offer. Just far enough outside the city to enjoy the rolling landscapes from your private porch or cottage, and down the street from a handful of vineyards, the Inn is still only a ten-minute drive from the center of town.

Once in Charlottesville, across the street from the UVA campus, visit the Corner. A stretch of coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores and nightspots frequented by the local academic community, the Corner is a cultural watering hole, and a perfect place to enjoy a simple cup of coffee with a good book, grab dinner, or have a few drinks. Among the scenery, UVA’s historic chapel and the “Academical Village” are noteworthy sites.

Restaurants to check out around Charlottesville include The Ivy Inn Restaurant and Hamilton’s at First and Main. Producing cuisine inspired by seasonal and locally grown ingredients, The Ivy Inn offers classic American fare with modern twists, such as pumpkin ravioli or veal osso buco with sautéed bok choy. At Hamilton’s at First and Main, inventive pairings such as roasted halibut stuffed with chèvre, or crab cakes with lemon-basil aioli are the highlights of the menu. www.InnAtMonticello.com

The Inn at Little Washington

When discussing luxury dining and accommodations in Virginia, The Inn at Little Washington garners the same reactions that one gets if mentioning Disney World to a four-year-old. The lovechild of renowned restaurateur Patrick O’Connell, a self-taught chef often accused of having “perfect taste” and a pioneer of the local-organic movement, The Inn at Little Washington is one of the most highly decorated restaurants and hotels in the country—and just about the only nationally lauded two-for-one.

This time of year, O’Connell’s celebrated kitchen is hunkering down and making some of the most innovative and delicious comfort food you could ever imagine, using the hearty ingredients and earthy flavors of winter. www.TheInnAtLittleWashington.com. [gallery ids="101146,140744,140727,140739,140734" nav="thumbs"]

Ari Post •

Come rain or come shine, Easton, Md.’s annual Waterfowl Festival is on the horizon, Nov. 8 to 10. A regional tradition that dates back more than 40 years, the Waterfowl Festival is an ode to the natural history, untamed beauty and landmark conservation efforts of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, featuring our favorite animals in its surrounding ecosystem.

Sportsmen and art connoisseurs alike will find something to admire at this festival, founded by an ambitious local community who envisioned an event that would share with visitors the unique heritage of the Eastern Shore they so treasure. 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. The nonprofit organization, which initially raised just a few thousand dollars a year, now totals more than $5 million in conservation grants to hundreds of projects by more then fifty organizations. The festival’s new conservation arm, Waterfowl Chesapeake, was founded in 2011 to further enhance the organization’s ability to support waterfowl and the environment.

This event captures the true romance and excitement of the area’s wild birds, while tipping a hat to the sport they create that has so long intoxicated hunters and birdwatchers. From decoy exchanges to art exhibits, and from a children’s fishing derby to wildlife photography classes, Easton’s Waterfowl Festival truly has something for everyone.

SPORTING, HUNTING, CALLING AND TASTING

Each November, proud duck and goose callers from across the country and Canada journey to Easton to vie for the coveted title of “master caller.” At the Festival’s annual Calling Contest, men and women perform their best calls in front of more than 600 spectators.
One of the most popular festival events is the Retriever Demonstrations. The Retriever Demonstrations are entertaining and impressive, as these 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. 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 measures which dog remains airborne the farthest or highest.

The Wine, Beer and Tasting Pavilion will host an array of local food and beverage vendors, offering a true taste of the region. From locally brewed craft beer to famous Maryland crabs, it is the perfect pit stop amidst the veritable flurry of Festival activity. Tastings are free after a $10 entry fee, and drinks may be purchased separately by the glass or bottle to take home.

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

During the festival, a series of galleries and exhibits will be open throughout the day, featuring art and artists devoted to the local waterfowl culture. One of the original Waterfowl Festival galleries, the Art at the Armory Painting Gallery presents an array of exceptional artists offering a variety of work encompassing a wide range of subject matter, style and price. In addition to waterfowl, wildlife and sporting art, the artists present landscape, floral and maritime scenes, both as original paintings and prints.

The Artists Gallery and Workshop, hosted by Easton Elementary School, allows visitors 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, from carving to painting and photography techniques. Demonstrations throughout the day make this exhibit a delight for many and an educational must for all aspiring young artists.
There is also a myriad of special programming throughout the weekend, from classes and demonstrations to competitions and performances. For children and families, the art activities at Easton Elementary School feature carving and miniature painting classes. There are also beginning and advanced digital photography workshops with photographer Will Hershberger, as well as a pastel painting workshop hosted by renowned wildlife and landscape artist Clive Tyler.

The Buy, Sell, Swap event at Easton High School is a popular festival staple, getting collectors together to haggle and bargain with their wares. This traders’ bazaar focuses on decoys, hunting and sporting memorabilia, sporting books and much more, with prices ranging from pocket change to the thousands of dollars. Whether a dedicated collector, first time buyer, or browser, any visitor will find something of interest.

There is all this and more at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Md. So, brush up your duck calls, shape up your pups and get on out there.

For more information, visit www.WaterFowlFestival.org.

Paulina Phelps •

Whether you are looking for easy-going year-round living or a vacation home to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, country homes can complement any lifestyle. Resting on 30 acres of beautiful Virginia countryside, Windrush Farm is nothing short of a dream country home. Named after a river in England near which current owners Timothy Dunn and Ellen Stofan previously owned a cottage, views of the countryside, including endless mountain ranges and rich green pastures make this a beautiful home in the heart of Virginia’s horse and wine country. In a sea of emerald, the home sits perched on a slope, overlooking acres of verdant rolling hills.

First built in 1850 as a manor house, Windrush Farm is located in the historic district of Rectortown, Va., just minutes from Middleburg.

Known for its Civil War history, with historic battle and grave sites, many of its residences date back to the 18th century.
“The home sits right on the edge of Rectortown where there are little hamlets people aspire to live in because it’s very quaint with very historical homes,” said Dunn.

The home is extremely versatile. With seven bedrooms and three stories it is perfect for an extended family vacation. The guest rooms have beautiful wood floors. Wood burning fireplaces are located in the den, library, living room and master bedroom making it a cozy home for the winter months.

It is also perfect for the warmer months with most main levels opening to the outdoors. The breathtakingly beautiful views can be taken in from the comfortable smooth stone foundation of the terraces. Meals can be enjoyed half outside half inside with a dining table surrounded on three sides by the house walls, and the fourth wall a screen door. A large outdoor patio is ideal for barbeques or cocktail parties on warm summer nights. Unlatch a door and you can easily step into a lush paradise in the garden.
With an attached two-car garage and an additional three-car garage as apart of the barn complex, parking is no problem for grander events.

Aspects of the historic home still resemble the Manor style with its traditional floor plan, front entrance foyer, and the butler’s pantry. Updates to the home were made by Bill Turnure, an architect from Middleburg, who did the redesign and renovations for both the current and previous owners.

Turnure’s expansions over the years have included a 40-by-18-foot indoor pool with a Jacuzzi; tennis courts; pavilions with an outdoor kitchen and lounge area; a green house with a gardener’s room; an extensive garden; a barn used as an office-studio; and an exercise room with access to the pool deck.

Dunn and Stofan have also consulted interior designer Beth O’Quinn, owner of O’Quinn designs in Middleburg, to refurbish aspects of the estate. They’ve also added many of their own pieces bought during their time in England.

The couple bought the home in 2000 from Michael Sullivan and his late wife Beverly Biffle, both prominent socialites in Georgetown.

The home is a sanctuary sitting off the main road. Driving down the private lane of the estate you feel as though you are entering a secret oasis. Drive slowly as you’ll want to take in the beautiful views of the countryside. “The most compelling thing besides the house itself are its views and privacy,” Dunn said.

Dunn retired in 2009 as senior vice president and portfolio manager of Capital Research Global Investors.

For more information visit www.thomasandtalbot.com

The Pelham property is a traditional brick home with forest green painted shutters and roof.

Built in 1878, this home is a historically significant brick home, recognized officially by the Preservation Society of Loudoun County in 1992 for its authentic preservation. This home is praised as an “exceptional example” of a Virginian manor home. Known for its magnificent scale with its high ceilings, nine-foot tall doorways, and floor-to-ceiling windows, the home serves for both easy living and entertaining.

For more information visit www.thomasandtalbot

The exquisite Oakfield estate sits an hour away from D.C. in Upperville, Va. With 86 acres of land, this estate is surrounded by natural beauty with stone walkways and terraces winding through the perennial gardens. The home is built in a traditional style combining the classic details of an older home with up-to-date features.

On the first floor, the foyer opens up to a breathtaking circular staircase winding all the way to the third floor, where more stairs lead to a finished attic.

Other features of the home include a solarium to take in the stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding countryside.

For more information, visit [www.sheridanmacmohon.com)(http://www.sheridanmacmahon.com/index.cfm?action=properties&sub=property&p=203) [gallery ids="101632,146087,146091" nav="thumbs"]