Weekend Roundup

Georgetowner • December 19, 2011

Winter Wonderland Sponsored by the Citizens Association of Georgetown

DECEMBER 2nd, 2011 AT 7:00PM | TEL: 202-337-7313| EVENT WEBSITE

The Georgetown Gala will take place on Friday, December 2nd at the Embassy of the Russian Federation from 7 until 11pm. Ambassador and Mrs. Sergey Kislyak are honorary chairs for the black tie evening which brings together over 400 residents, businesses, organizations and government leaders to highlight CAG’s mission of historic preservation and improving the life of the community. Gala Co-Chairs Nancy Taylor Bubes, Michele Evans and Patrice Miller are planning a Winter Wonderland which will include Russian vodka & caviar, an elegant dinner, a live auction, and dancing. Georgetowners John Richardson and Franco Nuschese will be the honored.

to purchase tickets please visit www.cagtown.org or at CAG offices located at 1365 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20007. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Address

The Embassy of The Russian Federation

2650 Wisconsin Ave NW

Washington DC 20007

The Nutcracker, the Washington Ballet

DECEMBER 1-24th, 2011 AT 07:00 PM | UPPER BALCONY SEATING: $90. ORCHESTRA SEATING: $31 – $90. MID-BALCONY SEATING: $56 – $90. | TEL: TICKETMASTER, 202-397-7328 | EVENT WEBSITE

The Washington Ballet performs a very special version of The Nutcracker for the 50th time this year. With PytorIlych Tchaikovsky’s music and choreography, this performance takes you back to Georgetown in 1882, stars George Washington as the heroic Nutcracker, King George III as the villainous Rat King and introduces you to Anacostia Indians, frontiersmen, and many other all-American delights.

December 1-24, 2011?11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3.30 p.m., 7 p.m.

Address

The Warner Theatre?

513 13th Street?

Washington, DC 20004

Christmas in Middleburg, Virginia

DECEMBER 3RD, 2011 AT 08:30 AM | ORGANIZER@CHRISTMASINMIDDLEBURG.ORG | TEL: 540-687-8888 | EVENT WEBSITE

A quaint town in Virginia celebrates the holiday with a day-long festival featuring Breakfast with Santa at 8:30am, followed by the Middleburg Hunt Review parade at 11:00am, and the Christmas Parade down Washington Street at 2:00pm. Kids activities all day.

Address

Middleburg, Virginia

Swedish Christmas Bazaar

DECEMBER 3RD, 2011 AT 11:00 AM | FREE | PERNILLAE.JONSSON@GMAIL.COM | TEL: 571 338 5240 | EVENT WEBSITE

SWEA Washington DC (Swedish Women’s Educational Association) supported by the Embassy of Sweden; holds its annual Christmas Bazaar from 11 am to 5 pm, December 3, at House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW (Georgetown waterfront). Foggy Bottom is the closest metro station. Find Swedish artwork, crafts, crystal, textiles, books and traditional foods for sale. Visit the Swedish Café. There is also a raffle. Santa Lucia Procession is singing Swedish Christmas carols. Activities room for children.

Address

2900 K Street NW?

Washington, DC 20007

Flamenco Men

DECEMBER 3RD, 2011 AT 08:00 PM | $18-$30 | INFO@GALATHEATRE.ORG | TEL: (202) 234-7174 | EVENT WEBSITE

Edwin Aparicio, who appears regularly at national and international dance festivals, has created a stunning new work featuring male dancers only.

Address

GALA Hispanic Theatre

?3333 14th St., NW?Washington, DC 20010

American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras presents “Russian Rhapsody”

DECEMBER 4TH, 2011 AT 03:00 PM | TICKETS: $7 ADULT, $5 SENIOR/STUDENT, FREE FOR AGES 5 AND UNDER | EVENTS@AYPO.ORG | TEL: 703-642-8051 | EVENT WEBSITE

American Youth Concert Orchestra – J.D. Anderson, Conductor
?
American Youth Symphonic Orchestra? – Carl J. Bianchi, Conductor

Program:
?Rimsky-Korsakov: Procession of the Nobles?
Bach arr. Calliet: Fugue in G Minor?
Alfred Reed: Greensleeves – A Symphonic Setting
?Del Borgo: Hatikvah
?Hershey Kay: Pat-A-Pan?
Delibes arr. Isaac: March and Procession of Bacchus
?Glinka: Russlan and Ludmilla
?Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kiji Suite?
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien

Address

Vienna Presbyterian Church,

124 Park Street N.E., Vienna, VA 22180

Messiah Sing!

DECEMBER 4TH, 2011 AT 04:00 PM | $15, STUDENTS UNDER 18 FREE | MUSICINMCLEAN@GMAIL.COM | TEL: (703) 560-0670 | EVENT WEBSITE

Join us for a wonderful holiday tradition: A sing-a-long performance of one of Handel’s most moving and memorable works, the ‘Messiah’. This beautiful work celebrates the promise of redemption and peace for all mankind. Choir, soloists and orchestra will be under the direction of Cheryl Branham. Bring along a $10 deposit (refunded at the end of the performance) to receive a scorebook with your admission and sing along. Or, simply come and enjoy the music at this family friendly event!

Address

Saint Luke Catholic Church

?7001 Georgetown Pike?McLean, VA 22101

Gary Tischler • November 29, 2011

Twenty five years ago, an unlikely phenomenon and juggernaut burst on the Broadway musical scene. It had a huge set including a giant barricade from which young revolutionaries battled the powers that be in a sort of Occupy Paris spectacle. It was based on a classic novel by Victor Hugo, it had enough death scenes to make Dickens weep, it had a brave and saintly hero named Jean Valjean and a relentless pursuer named Javert and it ran just about forever, unstoppable in spite of some critics who sniffed sentimentality in the air.

It was called “Les Miserables,” a big three-hour-plus musical and spectacle with an operatic score and plot, a Cameron MacIntosh production with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and a book by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel.

Complete with a logo of a revolutionary waif, the show actually made its American and pre-Broadway debut at the Kennedy Center and it was a huge smash for all concerned, sparking perpetual U.S. and world tours and an amazing Broadway run.

And now it’s back in a 25th-Anniversary production that’s revved up, half an hour shorter, kinetic, energetic and replete with a youngish cast, some of whose members were likely not born when “Les Mis” first exploded on the scene.

For the younger members of the cast who play the parts of the dashing revolutionary leader Enjolras, the tragic Fantine, the student Marius, Cosette and Eponine, “Les Mis” may be a legend, but it will also be as fresh as “Spiderman” in terms of size and impact.

But for Richard Vida, a born-to-be-on-Broadway performer if there ever was one, “Les Mis” is a dream come true—again.

Vida, who started dancing and performing when he was still a kid, always wanted to be on Broadway and in musicals. And he’s got one of the juiciest parts in “Les Miserables,” that of Thenardier, the disreputably opportunistic, shameless landlord, gang leader and party crasher of the show.

“God yes, he’s vile, he’s disgusting, he’s a terrible human being,” Vida said in a phone interview. “That of course is what makes him a wonderful character to play, and I’ve played him before, but he never gets old. He’s a survivor—master of the house indeed, and when he’s on he tends to steal the show. You can’t help but be fascinated by him.”

“Les Miserables” arrives just in time to add a little musical flavor to the current goings-on in Washington and all over the city. Revolution is once again in the air as tent cities full of people with grievances sprout up everywhere, modern-day barricades as rebukes to the contemporary power structures.

“I think it’s all very fresh,” Vida said. “The digitalized backgrounds make for a very electric set, much different than before. It all moves a lot faster.”

“I do think I provide a little bridge for some of the younger people in the cast,” Vida, who is in his forties, said. “They don’t haves the context of the show’s history and why it had such an impact at the time. But we’re all family in this production—everybody helps everybody out. I really am enjoying this. You had that feeling at the curtain call that we had done it once again.”

Vida played Thenardier in the 1990s both as an understudy and in performance for a time on Broadway so he’s thoroughly familiar and steeped in “Les Mis” lore. “I was also very much aware of it when it first came to Broadway, it was a show everyone was talking about,” he said.

“I’m back at the Kennedy Center,” he said. “I was here with a revival of “Forty Second Street,” the one that had Dolores Gray in it.”

“I never wanted to be anything else except to be performing on Broadway, in theater, in musicals,” Vida said. “

Vida is used to the vagaries of the business—“I’ve always been performing, and you do all kinds of things—the perennial ‘Law and Order’ parts, which all actors in New York miss tremendously, voiceovers, shows that succeed, and shows that don’t.”

One of those that didn’t was a fairly recent mounting of “The Best Little Whore House Goes Public,” a sequel to “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” It didn’t go very public. “It ran for 11 performances,” he said. A very original and interesting show called “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which has not been seen in the Washington area, was very successful. “It was very unique; a kind of musical-within-a-play and it did very well.”

More than likely, the 25th anniversary production of “Les Miserables” did and will do very well. For Vida, he’ll remain the master of the house, the beggar at the feast and what a feast it is.

(You still have through this weekend to try and catch the 25th anniversary production at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House.)
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Georgetowner • November 28, 2011

Authors on Deck: Uncommon Valor By Dwight Zimmerman BY DWIGHT ZIMMERMAN and John Gresham: A SPECIAL VETERAN’S DAY EVENT

November 11th, 2011 at 12:00 PM | Free and open to the public | mweber@navymemorial.org | Tel: 202-737-2300 | Event Website

In honor of Veteran’s Day and as part of the U.S. Navy Memorial’s “Authors on Deck” book lecture series, authors Dwight Zimmerman and John Gresham will present Uncommon Valor: The Medal of Honor and The Six Warriors Who Earned it in Afghanistan and Iraq. Uncommon Valor identifies six young warriors, the dramatic details of their life-or-death situations and why they responded to those situations as they did. The book also explores the history of the Medal of Honor.

Address

United States Navy Memorial

Navy Heritage Center

701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

New Prints by Jake Muirhead Opening Reception

November 11th, 2011 at 05:00 PM | Free | info@oldprintgallery.com | Tel: (202) 965-1818 | Event Website

Jake Muirhead’s solo show New Prints by Jake Muirhead will open at The Old Print Gallery on November 11, 2011 with a nighttime reception, from 5-8pm. Muihead will at teh gallery to discuss his art. The show presents over 20 etchings and aquatints, featuring still lifes and figurative work. Muirhead’s prints exude a rare intensity and liveliness, which can be attributed to his working and reworking of his intaglio plates.

Address

The Old Print Gallery

1220 31st Street NW

Washington, DC 20007

National Philharmonic Performance Celebrates Women Pioneers in Law and Music

November 12th, 2011 at 08:00 PM | $32-$79 Kids under 17 are free | deborah@nationalphilharmonic.org | Tel: (301) 581-5100 | Event Website

Thee National Philharmonic, under Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski, presents Women Pioneers, dedicated to women pioneers in law and music. The program is centered around Amy Beach’s Grand Mass in E-flat Major.

The Honorable Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, is hosting this event. All proceeds will go toward the Maryland Women’s Bar Association Foundation’s (MWBAF) scholarships and the Finding Justice Project, which makes record of the history of women lawyers in Maryland.

Address

National Philharmonic

The Music Center at Strathmore

5301 Tuckerman Lane

North Bethesda, MD 20852

Homage to Modern Classics

November 13th, 2011 at 04:00 PM | $15-$65 | choralarts@choralarts.org | Tel: 202.785.9727 | Event Website

The Choral Arts Society of Washington presents its season opener, “Homage to Modern Classics.” The first concert in the final season of retiring Founder Norman Scribner, the performance features celebrated works from some of the greatest composers of the 20th Century: Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna and excerpts from Sergei Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky.

Address

Kennedy Center Concert Hall

2700 F Street, NW

Washington DC

The Annual Georgetowner Holiday Benefit and Bazaar

November 17th, 2011 at 06:00 PM | $75.00 | rsvp@georgetowner.com | Tel: (202) 338-4833 | Event Website

Join us to kick off the holiday season with an evening of shopping and merriment as we honor and give back to three shining stars of our community: the Citizen’s Association of Georgetown, Hope for the Warriors and Hyde-Addison Elementary School. EagleBank and Georgetown Media Group present the 2nd Annual Georgetowner Holiday Benefit and Bazaar to at the historic George Town Club Nov. 17 from 6 to 10 p.m.

Come browse for holiday gifts for your friends, family and for yourself at our unique vendors’ booths, featuring local Georgetown businesses. Highlights for attendees this year include Holiday Portraits by Philip Birmingham, an array of cocktails by Beam Global Spirits, a marvelous menu compliments of The George Town Club and a fabulous gift bag.

Address

The Georgetown Club

1530 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Washington DC 20007

Georgetowner •

Alliance Francaise Celebration of Beaujolais

November 18th, 2011 at 6:00 to 9:00PM | $ 40.00 members, $ 50.00 admission VIP: $120 | Tel: 202-234-7911 | Event Website

Kick off the beginning of the French wine harvest with a formal celebration at The Washington Club hosted by Alliance Francaise. This event will offer the greatest variety of entertainment, in a building that was used as a temporary White House during the Coolidge administration. During this evening, guests will enjoy the beautiful building, a live jazz band, fashion show, silent auction, DJ and dinner buffet from a local Franco-inspired restaurant. An open bar will be set with their traditional red and white beverages.

Address

The Washington Club

15 Dupont Circle

Washington DC

The Washington Harbour Food Drive

November 17-22nd, 2011 All Day | Tel: 202-944-4230 |

The Washington Harbour is now collecting non-perishable food items for donation to the Food Drive for SOME (So Others Might Eat). From now until November 22, donation boxes will be located in the East and West office lobbies at 3000 and 3050 K Street NW, Washington, DC at The Washington Harbour. The lobbies are open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The collection will be donated to help stock the food pantry at SOME, which provides meals to those in need in the Washington, D.C. area. Suggested food items include: nutrition bars; cereal; pasta & sauce; rice; beans; macaroni; canned meat/soup/vegetables; peanut butter/jelly; evaporated milk; instant potatoes; instant oatmeal; ground coffee.

Address

Washington Harbour Condominium

3030 K St NW

Washington DC 20007

“Masters of Illusion: Impossible Magic”

November 19th, 2011 at 8:00 PM | Event Website

The illusionists from TV’s “Masters of Illusion: Impossible Magic” come to Strathmore for two nights for a live magic show. Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. Masters of Illusion Live!, which NBC Radio declares is the “best non-stop family entertainment anywhere!” features a cadre of talented showstoppers –Mark Kalin, Jinger Leigh, Farrell Dillon, Darren Romeo, Kevin James and Aaron Radatz.

Address

Music Center at Strathmore

5301 Tuckerman Lane

North Bethesda, MD 20852

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Opening

November 19th, 2011 at 10:00 AM | $8.00 for adults and $7.00 for children, students, and seniors | ngaicerink@guestservices.com | Tel: (202) 216-9397 | Event Website

The National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden Ice Rink is scheduled to open this Saturday at 10 a.m. despite warm-ish weather. Check it out for a chance to enjoy this winter activity while wearing only a light jacket. Call 202-216-9397 for more information and for conditions.

Address

7th St NW & Constitution Avenue

Washington D.C.

15th Annual Holiday Brunches with Santa

November 27th, 2011 at 10:00 AM | $39.95 for adults and $20.00 for children ages 4-11 | lisa@lindarothpr.com | Tel: 202- 416-8555 | Event Website

Santa Claus is flying into town early again this season, parking his reindeer and sled atop the world-famous Kennedy Center, as Roof Terrace Restaurant prepares for its 15th Annual Holiday Brunches with Santa. Families and friends are invited to gather amidst live jazz music and incomparable skyline views, while visiting with Old St. Nick to share their holiday wish lists.

When: Sunday, November 27; Saturday, December 10; Sunday, December 11; Saturday, December 17; Sunday, December 18.

Address

Roof Terrace Restaurant

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

2700 F Street

Washington, DC

Georgetowner • November 7, 2011

Friday, Nov. 4

St. Mark Orthodox Church Ethnic Food Festival & Bazaar

The Ethnic Food Festival serves homemade Russian food specialties such as piroghi, piroshky, halupki, blini, borscht, Chicken Kiev, kielbasa and side dishes. Candy desserts and drinks are available. Dine in or carry out. Shop for religious books, baked goods or Silpada jewelry. Visit the raffle and silent auction or take a church tour. Free admission and 10 percent discounts on meals for seniors. The festival is open Friday through Sunday at 11 a.m. Call 301-229-6300 for more information. St.
Mark Orthodox Church is located at 7124 River Road in Bethesda, Md. 20817.

Artist Reception: Sweet Tides Artworks by Alison Hall Cooley

A D.C. native, Alison Hall Cooley’s work depicts the natural world using overlapping techniques. Her show titled “Sweet Tides” is on view at Thos. Moser’s D.C. Showroom through December 31, 2011. She also has annual shows in Nantucket. Cooley studied at Sarah Lawrence College and continued at the Corcoran School of Art in D.C. She has also won several awards, including the Charles C. McDougall Award for Promising New Artists, and has been printed in several publications. The reception takes place at 6 p.m. at Thos. Moser’s D.C. Showroom, 3300 M St. NW. Call 202-965-4601 for more information.

Saturday, Nov. 5

The Vices that Made Virginia

Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture presents an “outdoor celebration of the region’s finest farmers and food artisans.” The fundraiser will take place on the historic site of the Arcadia Farms Woodland. Enjoy and evening filled with the best commodities Virginia has to offer prepared by some of the best chefs in the business. The proceedings of this event will go to the Arcadia Center for Sustainable food & Agriculture and their continued work. The event begins at 4 p.m. at Arcadia at Woodlawn, 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Va. 22309. Tickets are $125. Email info@arcadiafood.org for more information.

Fashion Show and After Party with Tim Gunn

Westfield Annapolis is hosting a fashion show and after party with Project Runway co-host Tim Gunn at the Nordstrom Court. Guests that have purchased a Lucky Brand product over $100 between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5 get the opportunity to be photographed with Tim Gunn and receive a signed copy of his NY Times best seller “Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work.” Nordstrom Court is located at 2002 Annapolis Mall, Annapolis, Md. 21401. The event begins at 1 p.m. and is free. Call 410-266-5432 for more information.

Sunday, Nov. 6

National Race to End Women’s Cancer 8K/1 Mile Walk

Did you know that D.C. has the highest ovarian cancer mortality rate in the nation? The National Race to End Women’s Cancer 8K/1Mile Walk on Sunday at 9 a.m. will raise awareness and crucial research funding to prevent, detect, tread and defeat these “below the belt” cancers – cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulval – that are not often talked about but that claim a woman’s live every 7 minutes. The race will begin at Freedom Plaza on 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Participation costs $40 for the 8/K and $30 for the 1 Mile Walk.

American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Presents “Orchestral Brilliance”

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center presents the American Youth Philharmonic with Daniel Spalding, Music Director & Conductor. Jeffery Jacob, piano, appears as a guest artist. A pre-concert lecture will be held at 2:30 p.m. with Jacob. The program includes Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80, Jacob: Wanderer Fantasy for Piano and Large Orchestra (Symphony No. 4) and the world premiere of Kodlay: Hary Janos Suite. The event will take place at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall, 3001 N. Beauregard St. Alexandria, Va. 22331 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Call 703-642-8051 for more information.

Gary Tischler • November 3, 2011

A week ago Tuesday, Denyce Graves was in a car, talking on the phone, heading toward Dulles International Airport to catch a plane that would take her to Turkey.

Graves, the mezzo-soprano superstar of the opera and recital world, had just left the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, where she would be doing a recital on June 13, singing everything from Schumann to Handel to Gershwin.

Meantime, she would be jetting to Turkey to appear in the Mersin Music Festival where, accompanied by the Bikent Symphony Orchestra on May 28, she would sing arias from operas by Bizet and Handel.

The weekend before, she had just completed a grueling three-performances-in-a-row stint in Nashville with the Nashville Symphony’s production of Bartok’s one-act opera “Bluebeard’s Castle,” a production that included sets by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly.

“It’s something I don’t usually do,” she said in a phone interview. “It’s exhausting, it’s hard on the voice. I’m used to a busy schedule, but you have to be careful, you really do.”

Graves, in mid-career at full voice, busy with recitals and opera roles, is as close to an international performing icon as the world of opera and classical music has right now. It’s not just that — she all but owns the leading roles in “Carmen” and “Samson and Delilah,” and is the go-to voice and singer for historic and state occasions, such as the recent funeral for the renowned civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy Height at Washington National Cathedral. Her meteoric rise from what’s been described as an “under-privileged neighborhood” in Southwest Washington still resonates as a shining example of dreams-that-come-true success stories.

She’s a triple threat — local D.C. girl makes good, wows them in her debut as at the Metropolitan Opera, travels constantly all over the world to perform at renowned and classic opera houses and concert halls. She’s the proud mother of five-year-old Ella, and last year married (for the third time) Dr. Robert Montgomery, a renowned John Hopkins heart surgeon, in a spectacular five-day wedding, preceded by a traditional Masai blessing ceremony in Kenya.

She has grown into her fame and status, something that wasn’t always easy to handle. Being a role model is in the mix too: young African Americans look up to her as a measure of just how high you can reach. “That’s important, certainly,” she said. “I remember looking up to Leontyne Price in just the same way, or thinking of Marian Anderson, and everything she had to go through to persevere. And I love working with young people, and make sure they can come and see my performances.”

Probably the biggest role model for Graves remains her mother, now the doting grandmother, who you could hear her talking in the background.
“My mom raised us (there were three children) by herself, our father left us, she worked at UDC, she was the single mother, let me tell you,” she said. “There was no chance of us straying from the straight and narrow. I was a bit of a loner, kind of awkward, I wasn’t what you would call a cool kid.”

But getting into Duke Ellington School for the Arts changed all that. She blossomed there, discovering the wide world of opera and classical music.

“Duke Ellington and Judith Grove, one of my teachers there, was and is a huge part of my success. I discovered myself there, I am eternally grateful for that school,” she said.

Part of the last year’s wedding celebration, in fact, was a day-after picnic on the school grounds in Georgetown. She and her husband live in Bethesda.

She still seems to relish and enjoy compliments, or if someone has a memory of her performances, like seeing her at Mayor Anthony Williams inauguration, Dr. Height’s funeral or a production of “Carmen” at the Washington National Opera last year, where she was a vivid, fiery presence.

Other people’s memories are even better. Here’s a Washington Post response to Graves when she sang at the 70th anniversary celebration at Marian Andersen’s historic 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial “Many of the tourists seemed oblivious to the operatic royalty in the midst. But Graves’ voice was so powerful it drew gasps from the audience as she sang.” She sang at the National Cathedral in a stirring and powerful rendition of “America the Beautiful” at a memorial service honoring the 9/11 dead, only three days after the event.

“Mom spoils my daughter rotten,” she said over the phone. “Yes, mother, where’s that drill sergeant we all experienced?” she laughed. “She is a remarkable woman.”

Her summer schedule is hectic. Following the June 13 recital at Strathmore, there’s the Cincinnati Opera 90th Anniversary Gala Concert (June 19), a performance of “Carmen” in Warsaw, Poland, (June 26), and in July there’s the Hohentwiel Festival in Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany, followed by another “Carmen.”

If you start looking over her list of accomplishments, performances, honors and pit stops- — she lived in Paris for a time — you’d think she could even think about resting on her laurels a bit. “No, no,” she said, shaking off the suggestion strongly. “Let me tell you, I’ve got a very big wish list of things I haven’t done, things I want to do, performance-wise, and many other ways too, roles, music to explore, life experience.”

We wrap up the conversation quickly. “I have to go,” she said. “We’re at the airport.”

The Washington Performing Arts Society will present Denyce Graves at Bethesda’s Strathmore Center on June 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased here.

Ari Post •

When searching for an area’s freshest, local produce, farmers’ markets are likely the first places that come to mind. And why not? A congregation of local and regional farmers who harvest their produce at dawn, load it up in a pick-up, drive into town, and set up shop in a vacant parking lot or community space, creating a makeshift open-air market. Sounds just about perfect.

And they are. Farmers’ markets have had a large hand in bringing around the local, organic revolution, and allow farmers to put more of their hard-earned living directly into their pockets by cutting out the costs of third-party distributors — a necessary, but often short-shrifting result of the modern, industrial-scale food industry.

By the same token, there is comfort and exhilaration in a customer being able to shake the very hand that plucked their food from the ground earlier that morning. There is a sense of ownership that comes with fresh produce, a shared intimacy in knowing that your food has been cared for from seedling to the harvest. The experience of eating a fresh beefsteak tomato becomes more than the entitled consumption, but a considerable gift, a sensory delight in the richness of your bounty.

However, living in a city as bustling and frenetic as D.C. often creates elephantine obstacles of mere daily routines. Farmer’s markets often come around at odd times of day, and weekends can find many of us booked full with the chores and leisure unafforded by the work week, leaving little time to focus on fresh produce on top of our regular shopping needs. It is easy to overlook the value of fresh produce when it’s not in plain sight.

CSAs — Community Supported Agriculture — are a form-fitted solution to the busy metropolitan who still craves the flavor, community and health benefits of local, organic produce.

The idea of a CSA is simple and efficient: Instead of the buyer coming every week to a farmer’s market to pick and choose among all the local harvest, they sign up to receive a weekly package from a farm, consisting of a wealth of the freshest and best produce from that week, selected by the farmers themselves.

CSAs were developed in Europe back in the 1960s as a way for people to be more involved with the foods they to eat. As Alan Alliett of Fresh and Local CSA explains, “It allows people to join in a partnership with the farmer and his farm — to produce food of higher quality that can’t be found elsewhere in the marketplace.” The customer is guaranteed to get a box of fresh, tasty fruits and vegetables each week, and all they need to worry about is cooking and eating it.

Beyond a greater convenience, the advantages still abound. CSAs were created so people could work cooperatively outside the American economic model, which doesn’t allow farmers to produce quality produce under the strain of such tremendous quantity requirements. CSAs aim to keep good farmers on the land to pass on their skills to the next generation, while allowing farmers the space to produce food naturally and of a higher quality.

For the farmers, there is the comfort in a guaranteed sale. They already know when they plant the seed that their produce is sold, which gives them more time to focus on tending the harvest. As almost every CSA is certified organic, this means a lot for quality assurance. It also gives them personal contact to their customers and to the community. Louise Keckler, who owns and operates Orchard Country Produce with her husband and children, even sends out weekly emails to keep her customers in touch with farm news and the harvest updates.

There are also many benefits for the buyer. “They are guaranteed to get certain produce,” says Keckler. “Some stuff there wouldn’t be enough of for us to sell it at the farmer’s market. So getting the CSA, you can show up and pick up your cooler and you’re guaranteed to get a delivery.” Farmer’s markets often give farms visibility, functioning as a platform to show customers what they can get through CSA shares.

While most CSA distributors also have stands at the local farmer’s market, the CSA packages open the doors to a greater variety than a customer might know to choose without the help of the farmers, who are naturally more tuned in to the ebb and flow of the growing season. “People like the idea of local fresh produce,” says Keckler, “and [the CSA shares] offer a variety of things that they probably wouldn’t have bought if they just came to the farmer’s market.”

For instance, according to farmers, most customers that show up to a farmer’s market buy fruit instead of vegetables. Fruit is more visually appealing, and it’s much easier to eat. If you buy an apricot, you can just eat it right where you stand. It’s easy to overlook the lush mounds of kale and blossoming clouds of cauliflower if you don’t already have a recipe in mind. But the vast majority of farms’ harvests are veggies. When you receive a box of summer squash, mesclun, zucchini, corn and gooseberries from your weekly CSA share, you may find yourself planning a loose meal schedule for the week, or perusing a cookbook to find new recipes that use an uncommon ingredient. It allows your diet to be more experiential, more interactive.

There is also a lesson to be learned in the CSA experience about the pace of agriculture. “It makes people realize that even if you take a vacation, vegetables don’t,” says Keckler. If you’re out of town, “you have a friend pick it up, or donate it to a soup kitchen. You can’t stop the vegetables.”

As a result, many CSA farms work closely with area homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Unused shares are regularly donated. CSA farmers don’t want to see their produce go to waste, and the leftover vegetables aren’t ever of enough abundance to be sold. They take the time to pick it, and it would be a shame to see it discarded or unappreciated. There’s only so much they can eat, so they give back to the community, knowing that it is being put to good use.

But with every successful, honest business model, there are bound to be a few dime store rip-offs. Middleman CSAs, or “fake CSAs,” as Alliett calls them, are merely in the business of selling produce, not growing it. Underneath the fine print, the careful shopper will see that a good number of self-proclaimed CSA farms don’t have farms or farmers at all.

“They’re just pushing produce,” says Alliett. “Buying and reselling, instead of producing.”

Since the idea of a CSA is to be getting quality local goods, it doesn’t seem logical that a customer in Washington would want tomatoes and corn imported in bulk from the Carolinas that could just be gotten from the grocery store for less.

So, when picking a CSA, be sure to do a bit of research. Talk to the farmer, figure out where the farm is, even take a weekend drive to visit. Here’s a list of A-grade CSAs that distribute around the D.C. and Downtown area. Some only have a few shares left for the 2010 season, so it’s best to act fast.

CSAs Around Washington:
—

Bull Run Mountain Vegetable Farm
The Plains, VA
[www.bullrunfarm.com](http://www.bullrunfarm.com)

Clagett Farm
Upper Marlboro, MD
[cbf.typepad.com/clagett_farm](http://cbf.typepad.com/clagett_farm)

Fresh and Local CSA
Shepherdstown, WV
[www.freshandlocalcsa.com](http://www.freshandlocalcsa.com)

Orchard Country Produce
Gardners, PA
[www.orchcountry.com](http://www.orchcountry.com)

Potomac Vegetable Farms
Vienna, VA
[www.potomacvegetablefarms.com](http://www.potomacvegetablefarms.com)

Radix Farm
Upper Marlboro, MD
[radixfarm.wordpress.com](http://radixfarm.wordpress.com)

Kathy Corrigall •

A Spectacular Stable Tour

Just after midnight on March 30, 1970, a large chestnut colt was foaled on a horse farm in Caroline County, VA. Three years later, this colt would become nothing short of a celebrity, electrifying the horse racing world and becoming the ninth horse to win the coveted Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. His name was, of course, the legendary Secretariat. While many often think of Kentucky as the epicenter of thoroughbred racing, it’s important to remember that many racing champions began their careers and were trained right here in the Commonwealth. There’s no doubt that future champions will also trace their beginnings back to some of Virginia’s most impressive farms and training facilities.

On the weekend of May 29, a handful of Virginia’s top farm owners invite you down their cozy drives and into their stables and training facilities as the Hunt Country Stable Tour celebrates its 51st year. Presented by the Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, this self-guided tour is a once-a-year opportunity to visit some of the most remarkable hunter and show jumper barns, breeding farms and polo facilities.

Tickets may be purchased at any of the venues, with the exception of the Stone Bridge over Goose Creek. Be sure to visit the Trinity Episcopal Church and browse the wares of the many vendors at the country fair on the church lawn. Next, follow the map provided with your ticket and make your way through the Middleburg and Upperville area to the various venues on the tour.

One stop on the tour you won’t want to miss is the Middleburg training track, but you’ll have to get there early on Saturday to catch all the action. Bring your camera and grab a rail-side spot as you watch young thoroughbreds rounding the 7/8-mile track during their training sessions. Several champions, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Spectacular Bid, began their training here. Come early, as the horses run before 9 a.m. — and only on Saturday.

Not far from the training track is the Northern Virginia Animal Swim Center and Stables. We all know how beneficial water and swim therapy can be when recovering from surgery or an injury. The same holds true for our equine and canine friends, and what a unique facility they have for just that purpose. The swim center will be open Saturday only, with equine demonstrations throughout the day.

In addition to these training facilities, be sure to make your way to the many beautiful private stables on the tour, including Willow Bend Farm, Windsor Farm, Rock Hill Farm, and Rokeby, just to name a few.

For more information and a complete listing of all venues on the tour, check out www.huntcountrystabletour.org.

A Delicious Festival

Strawberries: sweet and delicious, they’re one of the first treats of summer and a definite reason for celebration. This delectable snack derived its name from the berries that are “strewn” about on the foliage of the plants. “Strewn berry” eventually became “strawberry,” and the rest is history. In fact, strawberries actually date to medieval times where they symbolized prosperity, peace, and perfection. Today, it’s tradition for spectators to enjoy strawberries and cream between tennis matches at Wimbledon.

This year, beautiful Sky Meadow State Park is once again host to the Delaplane Strawberry Festival on May 29 and 30. Celebrating its 17th year and presented by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Delaplane, this festival has something fun for everyone. Catch a hayride through the park, then grab a bite to eat from one of the many food vendors and have a seat on a hay bale as you enjoy some great musical entertainment. Car enthusiasts will enjoy looking at the beautifully presented antique cars from the Bull Run Antique Car Club of America. And of course, there will be strawberries. Buy some to enjoy at the festival, and be sure to pick up some extra to take home. There’s no shortage of fun for the young ones either. Pony rides, a 4-H petting zoo, puppet shows, jugglers, clowns and children’s games are just some of the activities on tap to make this a special day for the kids.

For additional information about the festival, visit www.delaplanestrawberryfestival.com.

Kathy Corrigall •

I look forward to the first full week of June every year. My colleagues automatically know I will be out of the office that week — on vacation, but not out of town. I’ll be where many horse lovers and enthusiasts will be: in beautiful Upperville, VA, just an hour outside of Washington, at the one and only Upperville Colt and Horse Show. For me, this event is nothing short of a full blown therapy session — but without all the psychobabble. The sights and sounds of the hustle and bustle around the show grounds renew my spirits and senses like nothing else can — the smell of the fresh horse stall bedding, the sound of the farrier’s hammer carefully shaping a horse shoe, and the gentle non-verbal conversation between horse and rider as they make their way through the course. It is truly magical and makes me anxiously anticipate my arrival at the barn every evening to tend to my own horses.

Celebrating its 157th year, the oldest horse show in the United States is set to run June 7 through 13. Attracting competitors from all over the United States and abroad, Upperville boasts seven full days of exciting hunter, jumper and breeder competitions.

Hunters and Jumpers
The term “hunters” refers to horses that participate in the sport of fox hunting, including their manners, ability to jump and how well they maintain a steady pace as they encounter each jump or “fence.” The criteria they are judged upon in the various hunter competitions or “classes” relates to the traits they must demonstrate to be successful in the hunt field. With hunters, it’s all about their style and stride. Some hunter classes also judge the horse’s body structure, which is referred to as its “conformation.”

Speed, stamina, and the ability to clear the course obstacles are what count in the various jumper classes. This is no easy feat, considering many of the jumps are three feet six inches to five or more feet tall, with spreads of up to six feet. Unlike the hunter classes, style, pace, and manners are not important, and are not judged. What matters is that horse and rider complete the course in as little time as possible without knocking down any of the obstacles.

A Week Under the Oaks
This year, the competition begins Monday, June 7 on what many refer to as “locals’ day” at the show, with the majority of hunter classes offered that day restricted to horses owned by residents of counties within a 60-mile radius of Upperville. Compared to the rest of show week, it’s a somewhat quieter day, perfect for kicking back in the newly renovated grandstand and taking it all in as the horses and riders leap through the hunter course under the beautiful and majestic hundred-year-old oaks of Grafton Farm. It’s also a great time for shopping. While some vendors are in the process of setting up their displays for the week, there are many that are already up and running and ready for business. It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up that one-of-a-kind item before it’s scooped up by other shoppers later in the week.

A full schedule of hunter classes are on tap for Tuesday, and the action kicks into high gear as the jumper classes begin across the street amid the rolling green terrain of Salem Farm. In the afternoon, the Founder’s Cup, restricted to horses bred and foaled in Virginia, honors the memory of Colonel Richard Henry Dulany — an avid horseman and the driving force behind the establishment of the Upperville Colt and Horse Show. One of the many highlights on Wednesday’s schedule of events is the “Paul and Eve Go as You Please Handy Hunter” class, held in memory of Paul and Eve Fout, two of Virginia’s most prominent and accomplished equestrians. On Thursday, the ponies come out to strut their stuff. Unbelievably adorable and the dream of many little girls, you won’t want to miss these pint-sized equines with over-the-top personalities. Don’t worry if you miss the ponies on Thursday — you’ll have the opportunity to catch them on Friday and Saturday too.

The weekend, of course, tends to draw the largest crowds, so plan to come early and spend the day. There’s plenty to see and do, and once you get there, you won’t want to leave soon anyway. Saturday morning features the Cleveland Bay breeder classes, and the ever-so-elegant ladies’ side saddle classes. Come see Upperville’s youngest riders (ages one to six years) make their appearance in the leadline competition on Saturday afternoon. With an adult handler keeping the pony in check, you won’t be able to stop smiling as you watch these young riders — dressed in proper attire, of course — make their way around the ring. On Sunday morning, additional breeder classes are scheduled, including those featuring the Irish Draught breed. The classic sport of carriage driving also takes center stage on Sunday with the Carriage Driving Grand Prix and the Concours d’Elegance.

The week-long event culminates Sunday afternoon with the Budweiser Upperville Jumper Classic. Not to be missed, this challenge features many of the top riders in the world. Bring a picnic of your own, or pick up something to eat from the food vendors at the show. Then grab a spot on the lawn overlooking the course and get ready for an exciting, hold-your-breath type of contest amid a colorful and extremely challenging course. It’s the perfect way to end an extraordinary week of competition. The only downside? Well, the show is held only once a year. But, like me, I’m willing to bet you’ll be looking forward to next year’s show before you leave your parking space.

For a complete schedule of events and information, check out their Web site at www.upperville.com.

Upcoming Events
The summer season in hunt country is kicking into full gear. Here’s just a few of the many upcoming events you may want to consider adding to your calendar.

Vintage Virginia Wine Festival
June 5 and 6, 2010
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bull Run Regional Park Special Events Center
Centreville, VA
www.vintagevirginia.com

Magnolias at the Mill Beer Festival
June 17, 2010
Magnolias at the Mill
Purcellville, VA
www.magnoliasmill.com

Twilight Polo at Great Meadow
Every Saturday through September 18, 2010
6:30 p.m.
The Plains, VA
www.greatmeadow.org

Fourth of July at Great Meadow
July 4, 2010
The Plains, VA
www.greatmeadow.org
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