Weekend Roundup

Ari Post • January 17, 2014

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"]

Robert Devaney •

A mere two hours or so from the nation’s capital is one of the most historic areas of America: the Northern Neck of Virginia, the birthplace of George Washington, James Madison, James Monroe and Robert E. Lee. Because of its early influence on the new nation, this peninsula, which lies between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, has been called “the Athens of the New World” and “the garden of Virginia.”

Rich with tobacco exports, the plantation-owning society was a powerful leader with river transport so easily at hand, but the peninsula was left behind by the railroad and the nation’s expansion. This pause in time may prove in the years ahead to be beneficial for the region, which is gaining newcomers via retiring baby-boomers, second homeowners, boaters and water enthusiasts.

While the English explorer, Captain John Smith, discovered the land where eight Algonquian tribes lived in 1608, you can drive south of Fredericksburg, Va., turn off Interstate 95 and get on the main road, King’s Highway, and take it easy. This is Route 3, which has also been called Historyland Highway.

From Montross down to Irvington and perhaps checking out some places on the southern banks of the Rappahannock on the Middle Neck, as it is called, this can be a trip not merely down memory’s lane but an active adventure, whether boating, sailing, fishing, biking, hiking, antiquing, eagle watching, dining, vineyard exploring or just going to the beach.

Smith saw the Northern Neck “as a place heaven and earth never agreed better to frame man’s habitation.” Today, more and more people seem to agree with him, too.

The George Washington Birthplace National Monument on Popes Creek with home and farm (not the original) evoke the 1700s. Stratford Hall, home of the Lee family, is a lively place. It holds various workshops during the summer, and in other buildings on the grounds it rents rooms and cabins.

There are many historic attractions to see, but save time for the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, the Steamboat Era Museum in Irvington and historic Christ Church in Weems. Also consider the Mary Ball Washington Museum in Lancaster.

There are marinas and beaches for boating and water sports – it’s all about the water along this peninsula of eastern Virginia’s Tidewater that claims more than 1,000 miles of shoreline.

There is also Belle Isle State Park, Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve, Caledon Natural Area, Dameron Marsh Natural area and Westmoreland State Park. Along with the Northern Neck Birding Trail, these wildlife spots offer a chance to see bald eagles soaring in the sky above.

Although the Northern Neck seems like a great getaway secret newly revealed—its tourist board’s slogan is “Experience the Road Less Traveled”—there was a time when Washingtonians flocked to its Colonial Beach on the tidal Potomac. There were even barges where gambling was legal, as the Potomac is controlled by Maryland all the way to the Virginia shoreline. It was the time when steamboats crisscrossed the Chesapeake Bay.

Today, local connections continue. The Rappahanock Oyster Company, located in Topping, has an outpost in DC at Union Market on Fifth Street, NE. Chef Troy Clayton, owner of Geranio Restaurant on King Street in Alexandria, along with business Thomy Moore, formerly with the Clyde’s Restaurant Group, opened the Landing Restaurant and Waterfront Bar at Coles Point Marina in May.

The Northern Neck is justly proud of its wineries: Athena Winery near Burgess and Wicomico Church, Belle Mount Vineyards in Warsaw, Dog and Oyster Vineyard in Irvington, General’s Ridge Vineyard in Hague, Good Luck Cellars in Kilmarnock, the Hague Winery in Hague, Ingleside Plantation Vineyards in Oak Grove, Jacey Vineyards in Wicomico Church, Oak Crest Winery in King George and Vault Field Vineyards near Kinsdale. The region has an official wine appellation: Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace American Viticultural Area.

You may be visiting friends or family or just camping, but sometimes a great resort is required. The Tides at Irvington is that place. It is a world-class inn with a golf course, spa and marina at the southern tip of the peninsula. It often uses the sailing teachers from Norton’s Yacht Sales in Deltaville across the Rappahannock on the Middle Neck. Owned by Carolyn Norton Schmalenberger and Ken Schmalenberger, Norton’s sells, fixes and charters boats—and can teach you how to sail. Also not to be missed in Irvington are bed-and-breakfast Hope and Glory and Nate’s Trick Dog Cafe.

Back up in Montross, sample Angelo’s pizza. For great sandwiches and pastries, try Art of Coffee in Montross or the Daily, which is down the road in Warsaw. Local farms offer produce to weekenders as well as to restaurants in the District and elsewhere. Virginia ham? You know it, and someone mentioned Whitley’s peanuts and Joe Lewis’s tomatoes, to name but a few of the top items to bring home besides the history lessons. [gallery ids="99244,104149,104152" nav="thumbs"]

Ari Post • January 6, 2014

Middleburg, Va., has a quiet beauty. Driving down the winding farm roads outside of Washington, low-lying fences of stacked stone separate the asphalt from the rolling country beyond. Estates sit on expansive greenways shared with rustic, whitewashed barns and grazing horses and cattle.

Perhaps this is why Middleburg continues to be one of the most thriving real estate markets in the region and a favorite area for Washingtonians seeking a country lifestyle. A drive of 30 minutes to two hours from the city, depending on traffic, sprawling country homes are waiting to be bought up around Middleburg.

Because this holiday season is the perfect time to gain a foothold in the countryside, the “12 Ways of In Country Living” highlights some of the most persuasive reasons to think of Middleburg and its environs as more than a weekend getaway.

1. Virginia Wines
There is a rampant misconception that East Coast wines are sweet, simple and unrefined. Bandied about is the truism that our land is unsuitable for growing proper wine grapes. But the truth is that we just got a late start. We are California 30 years ago. Today, more and more of our winemakers produce high-quality dry wines and the world is taking notice. Among the many vineyards of distinction around Middleburg, Chrysalis Winery, Boxwood Estate Winery, Barrel Oak Winery and Linden Vineyards are all worthy stops on any wine enthusiast’s Virginia itinerary.

2. The National Sporting Library and Museum
The colorful history and legendary stories of Loudoun’s long, rich equestrian history are enshrined in the National Sporting Library and Museum. On its shelves and in its galleries are more than 17,000 books dating back to the 16th century. The permanent art collection and special exhibitions chart the county’s sporting traditions back to their roots. NSL.org

3. The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
In the town of Paris, Va., one finds the Ashby Inn and Restaurant. This popular travel destination offers respite for jaded city dwellers seeking nature’s tranquility. A small inn with 10 double rooms, its charming 70-seat restaurant fills up every Saturday. For adventurous couples, nearby Sky Meadow State Park offers hiking and outdoor activities. Looking for less strenuous quality time? The antique shops, tack stores and restaurants of Middleburg are just next door. Another option is to combine exploration and relaxation with a trip to any number of the more than 20 wineries located within 30 minutes of the inn. AshbyInn.com

4. The Salamander Resort
Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg formally opened last August on 340 acres just outside Middleburg. The 168-room hotel is built to evoke a country estate, with a pale plaster facade, a stone courtyard, terraces and wrought-iron balconies. At Harrimans, the main restaurant, the menu includes locally harvested delicacies such as blue crab, Rappahannock River oysters, Angus beef from the Plains and Berkshire pork from Pennsylvania. Seasonal, local vegetables star on every plate, many grown in the kitchen gardens or at nearby farms. SalamanderResort.com

5. The Inn at Little Washington
No discussion of luxury dining and accommodations in Virginia is complete without admiration for the Inn at Little Washington, the life’s work of renowned restaurateur Patrick O’Connell. A self-taught chef and pioneer of the local, organic movement, O’Connell is often accused of having “perfect taste.” The Inn is one of the most highly decorated restaurants and hotels in the country – and just about the only one nationally lauded for offering both fine dining and sumptuous guest rooms. TheInnAtLittleWashington.com

6. The Kennedy Estate, from Atoka Properties
Wexford, the iconic John F. Kennedy family estate just west of Middleburg, is for sale for the first time in 22 years. The property was custom-designed by President and Mrs. Kennedy as a family retreat in 1963. Originally 39 acres, the property today comprises 166 acres. The main residence is a beautiful stucco home filled with light with views of the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains. The Kennedys’ first visit to Wexford after completion was Oct. 25, 1963; they visited again on Nov. 10. Mrs. Kennedy sold the property a year later. Located in Orange County Hunt territory, the property offers riding trails, peaceful surroundings and dramatic views. The property still contains an underground bunker and areas used by Secret Service personnel. $10,995,000. AtokaProperties.com

7. Blue Spring Property, from Long & Foster
Blue Spring, designed by longtime Georgetown resident and architect Robbi Cooper, was created as a rural escape close to Georgetown to accommodate weddings, anniversaries and family holidays. It comprises three buildings around a small formal courtyard. Centrally located in Loudoun County and surrounded by hills, valleys and a stream, it’s a short drive from Washington. On 12.99 acres for $525,000 and on 23.99 acres for $720,000. (The separate approximately 11 acre lot is priced at $195,000.) LongAndFoster.com

8. Scawfell Farm, from Washington Fine Properties
This is a charming and elegant home with the original section dating to c. 1860 and the most recent renovation and additions to 2003. On 58 acres, the house has sweeping views down to the Rappahannock River and past fenced pastures to a cascading stream, pond and two-bedroom log cabin. The home has a beautiful pool, five bedrooms, five baths and two half-baths. There are also several barns, run-in sheds and paddocks with water. $2,195,000. WFP.com

9. Liberty Hall, from Thomas and Talbot Real Estate
Nestled just below Paris, Va., Liberty Hall, c. 1770, is a lovely stone and stucco farmhouse that sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on 20 acres surrounded by protected lands. A dream property for lovers of antique homes, it offers captivating views of the countryside and features meticulous exterior renovations. County records indicate that the residence provided room and board for soldiers during the American Revolution. $1,950,000. Thomas-Talbot.com

10. Signal Mountain, from Sheridan MacMahon Realtors
Located in The Plains, Va., the 160-acre Signal Mountian estate sits on the western slope of Bull Run Mountain. Used by the Confederate cavalryman, Colonel Mosby, the estate is rich in beauty and history. The property is entered through an automated gate system built of stone walls and gate piers that support hand forged iron gates. The private drive passes a civil war era stone chimney/foundation, a well, and a spring house. On the property sits a stocked pond and a two-story carriage house. Several main home sites are available to build out the estate. $1,950,000. sheridanmacmahon.com

11. Creighton Farms and Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course
Conveniently located on Route 15 in the scenic Route 50 corridor, Creighton Farms is ideal for those who want the luxury and privacy of a first-rate community without an hour’s drive outside the city. Creighton Farms has a large handful of homesites with dramatic views of woods, meadows, mountain ranges and a spectacular golf course. The 900-acre landscape on which the course sits was designed by Jack Nicklaus who is currently building a home behind the ninth green. CreightonFarms.com

12. New Long & Foster Real Estate Office in Purcellville
The growth and development in Loudoun County continues to drive the real estate west of the District. Many already consider the area surrounding Purcellville, just north of Middleburg, to be an up-and-coming area with more modestly priced homes than its sister town. “This site in Purcellville was specifically chosen to give us centralized access to the community and a brand new state-of-the-art facility,” said Michele Stevens, managing broker of Long & Foster’s Middleburg office, who is leading the team at the new Purcellville sales office. [gallery ids="101587,147509,147506,147502,147494,147498" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • November 25, 2013

Once upon a time in America, a boy left Georgia to become a Virginia Military Institute cadet, then a soldier, and later an aluminum siding salesman. He turned to selling real estate in Washington’s booming suburbs in the 1960s and now commands the largest privately owned residential real estate company in the United States. The story of P. Wesley Foster, Jr., is the story of 20th-century American success.

Foster is the chairman and CEO of Long & Foster Companies, headquartered in Chantilly, Va. His easy manner tells a tale of an American life we hope can still happen today. Georgetowner editors got a chance to sit down with the real estate legend.
As his executive assistant offered us coffee, Foster greeted us in his modest—at least by Donald Trump’s standards—office. The space immediately telegraphs his main loves — real estate, VMI, America, football, art, his family and especially his wife, Betty.

Feeling casual with Foster’s disarming charm, one of us flippantly began, referring to Long & Foster. “I know all about you guys.” Foster shot back, “I doubt it.”

No doubt, Foster has built a real estate and financial services empire step-by-step, agent-by-agent and office-by-office for longer than four decades. Who has not seen a Long & Foster sign somewhere during a daily drive? Such effort to build the top independent real estate company in America is not for the faint of heart, short of time or low of aim.

These days, however, Foster can take it a little easier: “I get up around 7 a.m. and read the paper,” he said. He doesn’t arrive at the office until just before 9 a.m. Foster and his wife—a sculptor who taught at the Corcoran and was on its board—moved to a townhouse in Old Town, Alexandria, after spending 32 years in their McLean, Va., home with almost four acres. “I go for a walk with my wife when the weather is good in the afternoons,” he continued. “So, I leave the office around 3:30 or 4 p.m. … I’ll be 80 in November. I don’t work as hard as I used to.”

Fair enough. He deserves that, although he still visits the branch offices and sales meetings as often as he can. In Foster’s early years, the opposite surely was the case. His long hours involved a six-day work week.

It’s this sort of discipline that Foster needed to build his company, but he has had some vices along the way. The first of which has been a sweet tooth. He manages his love for chocolate, and even turned to candy while he quit smoking when he was 30. “I was dating my wife and carried around a little bag of chewing gum and lifesavers,” he said.

As to the impact of the recent economic recession on the housing industry, Foster is clear. “We went through about five years of challenges in the market. Our production went down from 2005 to – I don’t know where the low point was, 2008 or 2009 . . . and now we are fortunate to see growth once again. As tough as it was to do, we continued investing in our company and our people. That’s what makes us so optimistic going forward.”
Not that Long & Foster itself was immune from such miscalculations. Its huge Chantilly headquarters building is an unexpectedly imposing Williamsburg-style building that has a similarly styled garage with more than 1,000 parking spaces, which Foster has dubbed “the best-looking parking garage in Washington.” He is pleased that the company has just negotiated a lease for 50,000 square feet and looks forward to welcoming new tenants to the building. “It’s a beautiful building and we are quite proud of it,” he said. “I think our headquarters represents the stability and confidence of our company and our agents.”

Still, the economy appears in recovery—with the stock market hitting an all-time high and unemployment numbers lowering March 8—but Foster remains cautious: “I’m not sure that it’s going to be that great [a recovery] because the Federal government has to get its house in order. The good news is that our company is well positioned to succeed in any scenario. I learned early on that if we lead our team to focus on the basics – really taking great care of every single client, one transaction at a time – then together as a team, we can weather any kind of market and emerge even stronger.”

Regarding the economy, Foster added: “We still have some work to do.” And as far as a true recovery in real estate? “We are working our way through and are beginning to see a real shift in the market.”

For Foster, such an approach illuminates his life. At VMI, he was on the football team. “My playing wasn’t that great,” he said. “But I played, played all four years. I was a slow, small guard.” Working his way through, even then. Foster has never truly left his beloved VMI. “I’m on the board there,” he said. “I go down there three or four times a year …” In 2006, VMI’s football stadium complex was dedicated as the P. Wesley Foster, Jr., Stadium.

So, what brought Foster to Washington, D.C., and specifically, its suburbs?

“When I graduated from VMI, I took a job,” Foster said. “I didn’t go directly into the military. You could take a year off and work in those days. So, I delayed my military duty for one year, and worked for Kaiser Aluminum. They put me in the Chicago office. When I got there I hated it. I mean, it was a place a little southern boy didn’t want to go to. But, by the time I left the next spring, I nearly left with tears in my eyes. I had a great time.”

Foster served his military duty as many young American men do and served for two years in West Germany. He was in the 8th Infantry Division—“Pathfinder”—and served as a special weapons liaison officer to the German III Corps. (Begun in World War I, this army division was inactivated in 1992.)

When his time was up, Foster said he toured Europe, thus igniting his love of travel. “They’d let you get out of the army over there and for up to a year, they would send your car and you home for free,” Foster recalled with a smile. “You could get out and travel if you wanted to. . . . Well, I got out, and a buddy and I … drove my Volkswagen to Moscow. The United States had an American exhibition that year and [Vice President Richard] Nixon was over there speaking. Got tears in my eyes watching him speak.” (This was the famous “kitchen debate” between Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in July 1959.)

Soon enough, our American GI returned home, with no money to his name. Foster got his old job back at Kaiser Aluminum and sold aluminum building products to homebuilders in 15 cities across the United States. Foster ran the program for a year. “Boy, did I get tired of that. I’d get up in the morning and have to think for a while about which city I was in that day.”

Nevertheless, one thing does lead to another. “All the guys I had been working with at Kaiser Aluminum got interested in the real estate business because we were working with builders, and I thought I’d become a builder,” he said.

This English major seemed still to be undecided on his career path. “I thought about law school,” Foster said. “My two brothers were lawyers, and had I never made it in real estate. . . . I would have probably gone onto law school and become a mediocre lawyer.”

So, why think that way and why the success in real estate? We asked.

“The guys that really tear it up are very bright. … I think I have a knack for this [real estate] business and see things that other people don’t see. In college, I graduated in the middle of my class. I may not have graduated at the top of my class, but I think I was the most persistent and worked the hardest – that’s what, after all of these years, has driven the growth and success of Long & Foster.”

Foster admitted that he sees “opportunities that other people don’t pick up,” and said a large part of his success was due to the “companies we acquire, and the people we hire and team up with. We choose to associate with people that share our values – teamwork, integrity and a drive for results. A team like this can be magical.”

Before that powerful recognition was a beginning: “I happened to meet a young fellow by the name of Minchew, who was also from Georgia and was a good builder here in Northern Virginia,” Foster recalled. “I went to work for him selling his homes. Worked for him for three years.”

Foster lived in Annandale, “sold a lot of new houses . . . and met my wife here,” he said.
“I had a roommate at VMI who was a Navy SEAL doctor and had come to Washington to do his deep sea diving training, if you can believe it, at Andrews Air Force Base,” Foster said. “He went skiing one weekend and rode up the ski lift with a pretty girl who became my wife. He introduced me to her and said, ‘Man, I’m leaving town, call her.’ ”

From Connecticut, Foster’s future wife moved to Virginia to be near her brother, an Episcopal priest. “We raised our family right here in Virginia,” Foster said. He is a father to three, and now a grandfather to six, ranging in age from teenagers to a four-year-old, all boys, and all of whom he takes delight, especially the youngest.

Today, of course, some of the family is involved in the business: son Paul Foster looks after offices in Montgomery County and D.C.; son-in-law Terry Spahr runs the New Jersey and Delaware offices; and nephew Boomer (Larry) Foster oversees offices in Northern Virginia and West Virginia. “Even as a large company, it’s important that we remain a family company. That way, our commitment to our agents and their success is unwavering,” Foster said.

Before all these company positions were possible, Foster had to meet Long. While working in Annandale on a new development, called “Camelot,” a name which Foster still dislikes to this day, he met Henry Long, an Air Force bomber pilot. The two worked together in a firm and then decided to start their own. And what of those good-looking homes in “Camelot”? They sold very well despite that name.

“We both went to military schools,” he said of Long. “He went to VPI [Virginia Tech]. I’d gone to VMI. He had flown B-47s. I shot rockets. He was commercial, and I was residential. We’d start a company, and we flipped a coin. He won and got his name first. I got to be president. We took off. We were partners for 11 years until 1979. Merrill Lynch came along and wanted to buy us, and he wanted to sell and basically do what he was doing and that was being a developer. So, I bought him out of the company.”
Foster has been asked the question again and again. We asked again, too, if he would sell the company. He folded his arms, leaned back and said: “I don’t want to sell . . . We have brought together some of the best business minds from inside and outside real estate to take our firm to the next level, and that gives us a solid succession plan as a family-owned company. Not many firms like ours can say that.”

“Family members play an instrumental role in the company,” Foster said. “I’ll be a large part of this as long as I can, but my three children own practically all of the company now. So, that’s all set. They will keep the family company spirit and leverage our management team to make sure we are on the right path.”
Things may be set internally, but elsewhere, competition remains for Long & Foster. In one of the nation’s hottest residential markets, that’s a given. “Good competitors drive us to better ourselves every single day,” Foster said. “It’s a great incentive to stay on top of your game and advance your business.”

“For example, luxury real estate, particularly in the D.C. area, is huge. Everyone out there today is vying for luxury business – and while we do sell more million-dollar-plus homes than anyone, our competitors keep us on our toes. That’s why we leverage our affiliation with Christie’s International Real Estate for our agents and their clients. The Christie’s brand really matters – it’s immediately recognizable as ‘high end,’ and it gets us in front of the most exclusive buyers and sellers from around the globe. Only our agents can market with the Christie’s brand.” Indeed, the biggest D.C. sale in 2011—the Evermay estate in Georgetown – was sold by Long & Foster.

How do you deal with all the egos? We asked. “The best you can,” Foster wryly replied. “We give them all of the tools and the backing of a great brand – and they do what they do best – work with buyers and sellers.”

“I will tell you this,” he said. “What we look for, especially in managers, is good empathy and a drive for results. When we achieve this, it is a winning combination for our company, and most importantly, for our agents and their clients. That is the key.”
From start to finish, Foster can easily detect that. “I grew up fairly poor and went to college on a scholarship, and my brothers also went to college on scholarships,” he said. “We’ve had a fair amount of drive. Two were lawyers and one is a developer now in Atlanta. I am truly humbled by the success of the company and my team. It is an honor that so many clients put their trust in Long & Foster and our team of agents.”

At a Glance:
Long & Foster is the largest independent residential real estate company in the United States.

Long & Foster represents more than 10,000 agents at approximately 170 offices across seven Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states, plus the District of Columbia.

For 2012, Long & Foster’s sales volume exceeded $24.8 billion and with more than 74,000 transactions; this is up from $22 billion and 69,000 transactions in 2011. 2012 marked a year of significant growth for Long & Foster, seeing an increase in volume of 14 percent and a 9-percent increase in unit sales.

While Long & Foster was founded as a real estate company, today its family of companies offers everything customers need as it relates to buying selling, or owning real estate – including mortgage, insurance, settlement, property management and corporate relocation services.

Long & Foster Companies’ combined sales volume and equivalents for 2012 were $48.7 billion, a $6-billion increase from 2011 figures.
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Georgetowner • November 18, 2013

Celebrate Scottish Heritage with Dumbarton House

November 7th, 2013 at 07:00 PM | $30.00 | Event Website

Dumbarton House receives its name from the Rock of Dumbarton, located near Glasgow, Scotland. In 1703, Scottish immigrant Ninian Beall was awarded 795 acres of land of what is now the Georgetown neighborhood and named it after his homeland. Join us for one or more of our fun programs celebrating Scottish Heritage!

Address

Dumbarton House; 2715 Q Street, NW

Waterfowl Festival of Easton MD

November 8th, 2013 at 09:00 AM | $12 per person. Children under 10 are free. | facts@waterfowlfestival.org | Tel: 410-822-4567 | Event Website

Observe the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore. Running November 8 through 10, this event offers a gaggle of exhibits including wildlife paintings and sculptures, World Championship Calling contests, as well as fly-fishing and dock dogs demonstrations. And what’s more, the event helps to raise money for the conservation of wildlife on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Take wing to Harrison Street for a celebration the whole family can enjoy.

Address

Waterfowl Festival; Easton, MD 21601

Superlative Jazz & Brazilian Emy Tseng LIVE at Twins Jazz Nov. 8 & 9

November 8th, 2013 at 10:00 PM | $16.00 | emytsengbooking@gmail.com | Tel: 202-812-1165 | [Event Website](http://twinsjazz.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=218:emy-tseng&Itemid=18&page=5

Those seeking superlative jazz music must experience Emy Tseng on Friday/Saturday November 8th & 9th at Twins Jazz DC. Her performance is sure to make for an incredible evening through her rejuvenated and incisive interpretations of authentic modern and Brazilian jazz, delightfully complemented by her elegant voice and delicate delivery. Tseng showcases an exquisite fusion of the genre and eclectic arrangements of standards. Tseng explores the works of Brazil’s most sophisticated composers.

Address

Twins Jazz; 1344 U St. NW

United Soldiers and Sailors of America Presents: In Gratitude For Their Service

November 9th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | Free | chris@usasoa.org | Tel: 202-815-0284 | [Event Website](http://www.usasoa.org/)

Military Appreciation Night

Supporting our combat wounded who are currently rehabilitating in Walter Reed Military Hospital

Live music performance by: Drew Stevens; a basket of cheer raffle;and a silent auction. The keynote address will be delivered by General Tammy Smith.

All donated items will be distributed to our wounded by the American Red Cross

Address

401 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, D.C., DC 20001

Legacy and Life: A Musical and Visual Reflection

November 10th, 2013 at 04:00 PM | $15-$75 | choralarts@choralarts.org | Tel: 202-244-3669 | [Event Website](http://www.choralarts.org/)

Legacy and Life begins with the East Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky’s “Take Him Earth,” written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem” follows. Enhanced by visual images, this performance honors the life and legacy of Kennedy. Experience this masterwork within a contemporary context.

To purchase:

Choral Arts – 202.244.3669 | choralarts.org

Kennedy Center – 202.467.4600 | kennedy-center.org

Address

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; 2700 F Street NW

DanceSport Endurance Viennese Waltz Funtensive

November 12th, 2013 at 05:30 PM | $140 – $395 | dancesportendurance@gmail.com | Tel: 202-361-8633 | Event Website](http://www.dancesportendurance.com/viennese-waltz-camp-nov/)

Join DanceSport Endurance for the annual fall Viennese Waltz Funtensive. This Funtensive features seven evenings of dance instruction in the elegant Viennese Waltz.

Immerse yourself in Viennese Waltz!Professional ballroom dance instructors will teach the basics of several styles of Waltzing, including Smooth, Standard, and social style!

No partner or previous experience necessary. November 12-14 and Novemer 19-22 from 7:30-10:00pm. Students may register for the whole camp or any 4 days.

Address

McLean Regency Sport and Health, 1800 Old Meadow Road, McLean Va. 22102

Georgetowner • November 7, 2013

Esprit de Noel Christmas Bazaar

Nov. 1, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitation Prep’s Esprit de Noel Christmas Bazaar is Nov. 1 and 2. This year’s event promises more than 60 specialty boutiques, treats, beautiful decorations and music, silent auction, a car raffle, and great opportunities to mingle with the school and local community.

Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 1524 34th St., NW — 202-337-3350

5th Annual fallFringe Festival

November 1st, 2013 at 06:30 PM | $20 or $15 with your 2013 Fringe Button | boxoffice@capitalfringe.org | Tel: 866.811.4111 | Event Website

FallFringe is a live performing arts festival that gathers the best talent from past summer Capital Fringe Festivals. This year, fallFringe welcomes back seven returning sell-out shows from the 2013 summer festival; and six production companies that participated in previous Capital Fringe Festivals are creating brand-new, contemporary performances. And, Fort Fringe will be lit up with two indoor bars and three indoor theatres.

Address

Fort Fringe, Festival Box Office, 607 New York Ave., NW

Giselle

November 1st, 2013 at 07:30 PM | Tel: 202.467.4600 | Event Website

Love, betrayal and forgiveness reign as The Washington Ballet takes on one of the world’s most beautiful and technically difficult ballets. From the time of its 1841 premiere in Paris, this dramatic and gorgeous ballet has inspired generations of dancers with its tale of a young peasant girl who has a passion for dancing and dies of a broken heart. One of Septime Webre’s all-time favorite classical ballets, Giselle has it all—romance, spirited peasant dances and ghostly spirits.

Address

The Kennedy Center, Eisenhower Theater; 2700 F St. NW

The Summoning of Everyman

November 1st, 2013 at 08:00 PM | $15.00 | UniversePlayers2@aol.com | Tel: 202-355-6330 | Event Website

During the month of November, the Edge of the Universe Players 2 will bring the medieval play The Summoning of Everyman to Washington, DC theatergoers. The play, directed by Steven Jarrett of Washington, DC, features the characters Death, God, Everyman, and many others. Joe Brack of Washington is cast in the lead role of “Everyman” in this 15th century work that has roots as early as the 2nd to 4th centuries.

Address

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; 641 D Street NW,

St. Mark Orthodox Church Ethnic Food Festival & Bazaar

November 1st, 2013 at 11:00 AM | Free admission | admin@stmarkoca.org | Tel: 301-229-6300 | Event Website

The annual Food Festival is known for homemade Russian and Eastern European food specialties, such as piroghi, piroshki, halupki, blini, borscht, Chicken Kiev, kielbasa,and spanakopita. Assorted side dishes, drinks and desserts are available. Dine in or carry-out. Shop for baked goods, cupcakes, candies, religious gifts, pottery, & Christmas items. Watch an egg decorating demo. 10% off on hot foods for seniors.
Open Fri, Nov 1 (11-8); Sat, Nov 2 (11-8); and Sun, Nov 3 (12-4).

Address

St. Mark Orthodox Church; 7124 River Road; Bethesda, MD 20817

24th Annual Fiber Art Show & Sale

November 2nd, 2013 at 09:30 AM | free admission | Tel: 703.548.0935 | Event Website

Annual sale of wearable art and fiber art supplies by members of the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery. Scarves, hats, garments, jewelry, yarn, fabrics, notions and gift items will be sold. Bargain tables include gallery-quality items and artists’ overstock of equipment, materials and supplies, books, and more.

Free admission, plenty of parking.

Address

St. Mark Presbyterian Church; 10701 Old Georgetown Road; Rockville, MD 20852

Pride and Prejudice Afternoon Tea

November 2nd, 2013 at 01:00 PM | $25-$30 | info@tudorplace.org | Tel: (202) 965-0400 | Event Website](http://www.tudorplace.org/calendar.html)

Enjoy a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Jane Austin’s best known novel, Pride and Prejudice. Join costumed interpreters for a spirited discussion of the author’s works during a lively period appropriate tea, complete with tea sandwiches, scones, and assorted desserts. Following the tea, tour the entertaining spaces of the historic mansion to learn about Federal period entertaining in America.

Address

1670 31st St

Opera at the Plaza – WNO performs at Shops at Wisconsin Place

November 2nd, 2013 at 03:00 PM | $10, suggested donation | info@shopwisconsinplace.com | Tel: 703-785-5634 | Event Website](http://www.shopwisconsinplace.com/)

Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists will perform Opera’s Best-Loved Arias and previews of the opera’s upcoming productions. Enjoy food, beverages, and shopping specials to benefit WNO. Opera at the Plaza will be held rain or shine, and all are welcome to attend – 3 pm until 5 pm on November 2 at the Shops at Wisconsin Place.

Address

5310 Western Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

Choral Evensong for the Sunday After All Saints

November 3rd, 2013 at 05:00 PM | FREE | music.redeemer@verizon.net | Tel: 3012293770 | Event Website](http://www.redeemerbethesda.org/music/documents/MARBrochure2013-14-Interior.pdf)

Dr. Martin Neary, former Organist & Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey, leads Redeemer’s Adult and Youth Choirs in singing the evening office. Music includes works by Edgar Bainton, Herbert Howells, Martin Neary, and Tomas Luis de Victoria. A brief organ recital precedes the liturgy. Reception to follow.

Address

6201 Dunrobbin Drive; Bethesda, MD 20816

Christie’s One Day: Preview: George Washington’s Original Thanksgiving Proclamation

November 4th, 2013 at 10:00 AM | Free and open to the public | [Event Website](http://www.christies.com/)

Christie’s presents to the public a rare public viewing of George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. Signed on October 3, 1789 by George Washington to establish the first federal Thanksgiving Day, this foundational document will be on view in Boston for one-day only, as part of a national tour prior to its November 14 sale (estimate: $8-12 million).

Address

The Jefferson Hotel, 1200 16th St., NW

Waterfowl Festival of Easton MD

November 8th, 2013 at 09:00 AM | $12 per person. Children under 10 are free. | facts@waterfowlfestival.org | Tel: 410-822-4567 | [Event Website](http://www.waterfowlfestival.org/)

Observe the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore. Running November 8 through 10, this event offers a gaggle of exhibits including wildlife paintings and sculptures, World Championship Calling contests, as well as fly-fishing and dock dogs demonstrations. And what’s more, the event helps to raise money for the conservation of wildlife on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Take wing to Harrison Street for a celebration the whole family can enjoy.

Address

Waterfowl Festival; Easton, MD 21601

Georgetowner • October 31, 2013

Opening Reception: Found Meditations

October 25th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | FREE | gallery@callowayart.com | Tel: 202-965-4601 | Event Website

Please join us for the opening of Found Meditations, on view October 25 through November 16, featuring the recent abstract canvas and paper works by K Silve. Built out of structures of colors interacting with one another, Silve’s work, which may at first appear to be spontaneous combustion of color and aggressive brushwork, is rather a contemplative method of building a new language about an experience; how we respond to and interact with nature.

Address

Susan Calloway Fine Arts; 1643 Wisconsin Ave NW

Shaw Halloween Bar Crawl

October 26th, 2013 at 12:00 PM | advance tickets $20 | [Event Website](http://shawmainstreetsbarcrawl.eventbrite.com/

Join Shaw Main Streets for our 2nd annual Halloween Bar Crawl benefiting the work of Shaw Main Streets in our community.

[Get your tickets today:](http://shawmainstreetsbarcrawl.eventbrite.com/)

$20 online early bird special/$25 day of at the first venue (Duffy’s)

Participants will get food and drink specials at a number of favorite Shaw spots, including: The Brixton, Shaw’s Tavern, Duffy’s, Nellie’s, Bistro Bohem, American Ice Company and Etete.

There will be prizes and giveaways throughout the afternoon, you don’t want to miss this!

Costumes welcomed.

Schedule

12-1pm-Duffy’s

1-2pm- American Ice Company

2-3pm- The Brixton

3-4pm- Shaw’s Tavern

Bistro Bohem

4-5pm- Etete

5-6pm- Nellie’s

Address

Crawl begins at:

Duffy’s; 2106 Vermont Ave NW,

Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show

October 26th, 2013 at 10:00 AM | 5.00 | austrpr@si.edu | Tel: 888-832-9554 | [Event Website](http://www.craft2wear.smithsonian.org/)

Representing the finest of American wearable-craft artists, all 50 exhibitors have been juried into previous Smithsonian Craft Shows. The exhibitors will offer items for women and men in all price ranges, from one-of-a kind jewelry and custom shoes to many items under $100.

Address

National Building Museum; 401 F Street NW

Washington Concert Opera’s Verdi Birthday Brunch

October 27th, 2013 at 11:00 AM | $60-200 | [Event Website]((http://concertopera.org/index.php/current_season/about_opera/verdis_brunch_october_27_at_11am))

Washington Concert Opera presents a brunch in celebration of the 200th anniversary of renowned Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s birth. This event will take place in an elegant manor setting and features Italian food and drink, a small silent auction and a live performance of some of Verdi’s most beloved arias under the direction of Maestro Antony Walker. Tickets range from $60-$200 and can be purchased at: www.concertopera.org

Address

Josephine Butler Parks Center

Thomas Circle Singers – I’ll Sing, I’ll Be

October 27th, 2013 at 05:00 PM | $20 in advance or $25 at the door, with a $5 discount for students and seniors. | info@thomascirclesingers.org | [Event Website](http://thomascirclesingers.org/)

On October 27, 2013, the Thomas Circle Singers will perform its first concert of the 2013-14 season, I’ll Sing, I’ll Be. TCS will explore the varied ways in which music speaks to us and allows us to express our thoughts and emotions. Featured works include Ola Gjeilo’s Luminous Night of the Soul and Across the Vast, Eternal Sky, Blake Henson’s August Moonrise, Robert Convery’s To the One of Fictive Music, and other selections from composers Morten Lauridsen, Gerald Finzi, and Frank Ticheli.

Address

First United Church of Christ, 945 G Street, NW

(Metro Center, parking available)

America Abroad Media Washington Awards Dinner

October 28th, 2013 at 06:00 AM | $350 | jcrain@skdknick.com | Tel: 202-464-6608 | [Event Website](http://www.americaabroadmedia.org/awardsdinner)

Washington Post film critic Ann Hornaday will moderate the event honoring three outstanding leaders in television and film whose work exemplifies the power of media to inform, educate and empower citizens. The honorees are Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, India’s acclaimed actor/director and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2013 Aamir Khan, and 2013 Nobel Prize nominee the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict.

Address

Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium; 1301 Constitution, NW

Georgetowner • October 21, 2013

SAVE THE DATE

Shop Smart! With Heart! Care For Kids Cards

October 18th, 2013 at 12:00 PM | annehpolk@verizon.net | Tel: 202-368-7165 | Event Website

Long and Foster, offical banner sponsor, events you to help support Children’s NAtional Medical Center. With the purchase of your Care for Kids Card, You can Shop and Save 20 percent, Friday, Oct 18 to Sunday, Oct 27. The Care for Kids Card program is one of Washington’s most popular fall shopping events, bringing merchants, restaurants and YOU together for the benefit of Children’s National Medical Center.

The card entitles you to 20-percent discounts at participating merchants

Shop and Eat! From October 18th – 27th, 2013, use your card at participating merchants and restaurants and save 20 percent.

Address

List of participating merchants

AJC ACCESS DC 13th Annual Young Diplomats Reception

October 10th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | $20-$50 | bogdanowa.fellow@ajc.org | Tel: 202.785.5489 | Event Website

ACCESS DC’s flagship event provides the unique opportunity for young Jewish professionals to interact with members of the diplomatic community. The panel’s topic is: “The Turbulence of Transnationalism: Today’s Challenges of Global Migration” and will feature Manuel Orozco, Senior Associate at Inter-American Dialogue, Anne C. Richard, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration at U.S. Department of State and Michael Werz, Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress.

Address

1777 F Street NW

FAD Georgetown 2013

October 11th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | events@georgetowndc.com | Event Website

Celebrate Fashion, Art and Design with a brand new neighborhood-wide event, FAD Georgetown, from October 10-12, 2013. Spanning over three days and nights, FAD fuses all components of Georgetown’s art, fashion and design communities for a variety of events, including progressive style parties, interactive public art projects, street style, gallery walks, design showroom activities, red carpets and more.

Thu, October 10th 2013 – Sat, October 12th 2013

Address

All over Georgetown

Civil War Georgetown Tour

October 12th, 2013 at 10:30 AM | $8-$15 | info@tudorplace.org | Tel: (202) 965-0400 | Event Website

Join us for an inside tour of the historic house, which was operated as a boarding house for Union officers and their families.
Then you can join docents for a walking tour of Civil War Georgetown. Visit the final resting place of three renowned Civil War spies, a Union hospital, the residences of Union military leaders, and a site associated with the Pearl escape.

Address

1644 31st St NW Washington, DC 20007

Russian Fall Bazaar at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington DC

October 12th, 2013 at 11:00 AM | Event Website

Everyone who is interested in Russian food, music and culture come and join this annual Russian bazaar on October 12th & 13th. Two days rain or shine, you can enjoy Russia’s homemade cuisine, live music presented by many groups and bands, wide assortment of unique handicrafts, free tours of the St. Nicholas Cathedral and lots of activities for children.

Address

3500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,

Roses Three Ways with Tobie Whitman

October 12th, 2013 at 11:00 AM | 0 | info@heinercontemporary.com | Tel: 202-338-0072 | Event Website

In conjunction with Georgetown’s Fashion Art & Design weekend (FAD), Heiner Contemporary will host a flower arranging demonstration with Tobie Whitman of Allan Woods Flowers. The rose is one of the most celebrated and gifted flowers in the world. Please join us at the gallery on Saturday, October 12th, at 11 AM to learn several design techniques to bring novelty to this classic bloom.

Rachel Farbiarz: Take Me With You will remain on view through November 9th.

Address

1675 Wisconsin Ave NW

Hockey Games To Benefit Washington Navy Yard Survivors Fund

October 12th, 2013 at 07:00 PM | 50 | smcfarland@navyleague.org | Tel: (703) 528-1775 | Event Website](http://www.navyleague.org/hockey/)

The NHL’s Washington Capitals, DC Fire, DC Metropolitan Police and the Navy League of the United States have joined forces to offer a night filled with hockey and fun at the Verizon Center that will benefit the Washington Navy Yard Survivors Fund, established by the Navy League in the wake of the tragic events of Sept. 16.
See the Caps take on the Colorado Avalanche at 7 p.m. and then see the DC Fire and DC Metropolitan Police take to the ice in a charity game.

Address

Verizon Center, 601 F St NW

The Washington DCJCC Literary Festival, The Great Children’s Read: Bringing Books to Life

October 13th, 2013 at 10:00 AM | $12, Discounted $10 per family | litfest@washingtondcjcc.org | Tel: 2027773251 | [Event Website](http://washingtondcjcc.org/center-for-arts/literary/jewish-literary-festival/)

Celebrate books with crafts, folktales, a sing-along and story-time with Pamela Mayer, author of the 2013 Sugarman Family Children’s Book Award-winning Don’t Sneeze at the Wedding. We’ll also have a book fair with a wide selection of Jewish and other children’s books and a special guest: Elmo! We are collecting new or gently used books to donate to Reading Partners, an organization that helps children become lifelong readers.

Address

DCJCC, 1529 16th Street, NW

Chris Collat Album Release Party: The Road Home

October 14th, 2013 at 07:30 PM | 10 advance / $15 at the door | chris.collat@gmail.com | [Event Website](https://jamminjava.com/events/chris-collat)

Chris Collat is thrilled to announce the release party for his new album, The Road Home, Oct. 14 at 7pm at Jammin Java. This is an all-ages show. Tickets are $10 advance / $15 at the door.

Chris’ new album, The Road Home is available Oct 14, or Pre-order NOW on iTunes

Chris Collat – Put the words, “Red Hot” before you pronounce his last name and you will get it right every time. He is a soulful singer, guitarist, and songwriter who has been writing music since picking up the guitar at the early age of five. His gentle nature and soft spoken demeanor are a striking contrast to the performer who often leaves his audience surprised at the power and soul he conveys on stage.

Address

Jammin Java; 227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180

Gary Tischler • October 3, 2013

Now we know how Cinderella felt—that is, before she put her foot in the right shoe.

When the clock struck midnight, we the people pretty much turned into pumpkins. The much dreaded, much-warned-about, much afeared, much debated U.S. government shutdown had occurred. After three attempts by the House of Representatives to get the Senate to accept three different attempts to do something , almost anything bad to Obamacare while also keeping the government open meant to create a budget agreement and avert a shutdown, the government did indeed shut down, although not totally, and hopefully, not for long and certainly not permanently. The Senate rejected—as promised—any budget agreement involving Obamacare.

Some early bicycle riders were off to work who knows where, the furloughed federals perhaps asleep in their beds, as well as the baby panda, although we could not be sure, the Panda cam having no one to monitor it, being part of the furloughed workers at the Smithsonian National Zoo, including many of its (and the country’s) national parks and museum. There was no tumult and shouting on the block.

There was in the Washington Post—”SHUTDOWN,” the front page screamed—”Congress stuck in funding stalemate.”

By dawn’s early light, a city full of disappointed tourists and workers. The other side, plus a rundown on the fate of federal agencies, federal workers—some 700,000 furloughed nationally, local impact (you know the drill) and key dates, all inside. None of which quite matched the pungency and awful impact of the New York Daily News front page with a photo illustration of House Speaker John Boehner—who did not have his finest hour(s) during the political wars leading up to the shutdown—sitting at the Lincoln Memorial with the headline: “HOUSE OF TURDS.”

Be all that as it may, the shutdown—which will be even more partial with the planned legislation to restore help for veterans and keeping bigger national parks (but not the Panda cam and zoo and museums) open—will haves its impact locally. The longer it goes on, the bigger the impact on the local tourist industry in the city, not to mention the absence of furloughed workers, costs that some predict to be in the hundreds of millions on a daily basis. It should be remembered that the last major government shutdown over which President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich sparred and presided last three weeks.

The city will continue to function and operate, as promised by Mayor Vincent Gray, who has declared city workers as essential, defying federal rules. Gray promised to go to jail rather than relent. That means trash will be picked up and other city services will continue to be provided. On the bright side, it will feel like a weekend without tourists, or park rangers, which is to say only modestly crowded. You might even find a legal parking space. But illegal spaces will still be ticketed.

Another thing that did happen: Ford Theater’s planned opening night for “The Laramie Project”, the high-profile play about the murder of a gay man in Wyoming and its aftermath, had to be moved to the rehearsal space of the downtown Woolly Mammoth Theatre, a mostly-for-press opening because theater officials were informed today that all-stage productions in the building would not be allowed to continue until the shutdown ends, because the theater is funded partially by the federal agency.

While the big news of the federal government shutdown Oct. 1 is that non-essential government workers stay home, the shutdown also affects the minor things of everyday living: like going to the theater, jogging along the towpath in Georgetown or visiting the Jefferson Memorial.

While most essential federal services continue, such as the military, police, fire, U.S. mail, schools, Social Security and disability benefits, food stamps, planes and trains, Metrobus and Metrorail, tickets from speed cameras.

What is closed? The U.S. Capitol except for members, Smithsonian buildings (hope you did not have a party planned there today or tomorrow) and all national parks across America. No National Gallery of Art, no National Zoo. No applications for Social Security and several other programs.

You see, Ford’s Theatre is closed because it is part of the National Park Service as is the C&O Canal National Park which runs through Georgetown near the Potomac. And so is Georgetown Waterfront Park, where the fountain is turned off at Wisconsin Avenue and K, that intersection named Charles Percy Plaza. (Sen. Percy from Illinois would be most disappointed at his Republican Party.)

Even the nearby Kennedy Center, part private and public, has cancelled tours but continues its performances along with the box office, restaurants, parking being open. It opens at 5 p.m. but stated: “Due to the government shutdown, the Kennedy Center’s public hours will be curtailed. However, all performances will go on as scheduled and the Box Office, the Gift Shops, the Roof Terrace Restaurant, KC Café, parking, and the Metro shuttle will be operating. Building tours will not be available.”

There is not much space to launch a canoe. Along with others, the Key Bridge Boathouse is closed, as access to the Potomac River along Georgetown is National Park Service land.

An email from Mike Nardolilli, president of the C&O Canal Trust, had this news alert:

“As you may be aware, our Federal Government has shut down for an indeterminate amount of time. What you may not have realized, however, is that the closure of the Federal Government means the closure of the C&O Canal National Historical Park and all other National Parks. For the C&O Canal, this means:

THE TOWPATH IS CLOSED

• Visitor traffic, whether on foot, bike, or horse, is strictly prohibited.

• Bicyclists planning rides from Pittsburgh to DC on the GAP and C&O Canal should plan to turn back at Cumberland.

• All Visitors Centers are CLOSED.

• Hiker/Bikers and campgrounds are CLOSED.

• The Canal Quarters lockhouses are CLOSED.

• All restroom facilities, both permanent and portable, are CLOSED.

• Handles have been removed from all well pumps.

• The only Park staff that will be on duty will be law enforcement rangers.

• The portion of the Capital Crescent Trail that runs parallel to the towpath in DC is managed by the C&O Canal NHP and is CLOSED.

• All access roads to the Park are CLOSED. This means you will not be able to trailer boats to boat ramps along the towpath.

• Interpretive and educational programming in the Park will be temporarily suspended. School field trips to the Park will need to be rescheduled once Park staff has returned.

• Volunteer events and events requiring special use permits will not be able to take place.

• All volunteers working in an official capacity should cease volunteer activities immediately and not enter the Park’s premises.

After working side-by-side with the wonderful staff of the C&O Canal NHP for many years, it’s heartbreaking for the Trust to see them closing the doors, given no choice but to turn away thousands upon thousands of visitors seeking to recreate and rejuvenate along the canal’s towpath.

While the Park staff has no choice but to stand idly by, we as civilians can take action:

• Educate yourself and others on how the shutdown affects National Parks.

• Be vocal on social media and use #KeepParksOpen.

• Use any means of communication you can – letter, email, phone call, social media, or even a carrier pigeon – to appeal to Congress. Find your US Representatives and Senators on the National Park’s Conservation Association’s Legislative Lookup.

• Send notes of encouragement to the Park staff through our Facebook, Twitter, and email. To say this is a rough time for them is an understatement. We’ll forward your notes on and post them on social media, letting our Park Rangers know how much we appreciate them and are anxiously awaiting their return.

• Last but certainly not least, respect the closure. While we don’t like it one bit, we have to respect it. Disregarding the closure can create potentially unsafe and hazardous situations, damage Park resources, and create undue work and stress on the few staff left standing.”