Posts Tagged ‘Northern Virginia’
First Night Report: Good Stuff Eatery Opens in Crystal City
Posted by Sally Traynham / Thursday, May 10th, 2012
Chef Spike Mendelsohn outside Crystal City's Good Stuff Eatery. (Photo by Sally Traynham)
Last night, while the team at Good Stuff Eatery finished up last minute preparations, Spike Mendelsohn‘s dad was outside chatting up the crowd of about 20 anxiously awaiting burger lovers. Inside, Chef Spike Mendelsohn, former Top Chef contestant, joked with his staff and hung out with his mom and sister amid rolling cameras. Mendelsohn once again joins the cast for a BRAVO show, this time capitalizing on his growing restaurant empire in Life After Top Chef. (Projected 2013 air date.)
As the clock reached 5 p.m., this family operation opened the doors of its second location on the commercial strip of Crystal Drive.
Be Gentle! (Photo by Sally Traynham)
Regardless of the sign outside, or because of it—warning all Good Stuff eaters that they might be captured on film—there was a constant flow of hungry people on opening night. With new items like the Steakhouse burger, American Wedge salad and Salty Caramel Kiss milkshake, customers appeared eager and content waiting ten minutes for a burger and shake. (Perhaps the “Be Gentle With our Staff” signs helped calm the impatient.) Meanwhile, some scoured over the “dip bar,” which includes old bay mayo and mango mayo.
With his second GSE opened, and a third in Georgetown debuting this fall, Mendelsohn is all about expansion.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Thursday, May 10th, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Body found at Manassas rest stop on I-66
Centreville man arrested for waving gun at Ritz-Carlton
Post poll says Silver Line to Dulles not important to most Virginians
Fairfax County Police employee charged with forcible sodomy
NASA’s Langley Research Center to erect historical markers
President Obama airs new TV ad in Virginia
Longer commutes, expensive housing threaten NoVA economy
(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo courtesy of Shutterstock/carl ballou)
Posted by Matt Basheda / Thursday, May 10th, 2012
Mother’s Day and May flowers are a match made in heaven.
There’s no need to give a pre-made bouquet, though. Surround mom with swaths of flowers, and take her to one of this area’s bevy of Mom’s Day garden tours.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna is perfect for any time of year, but Mother’s Day is a special focus. They’ll even have a casual buffet in their atrium. The garden holds a guided tour from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This is Meadowlark’s peak season. The grounds are exploding with color and life–butterflies flash through the air, and choral birds put on a show. Admission for this event is $30 for adults, $15 for kids.
A slice of the Virginia State Arboretum's massive garden fair. Photo by Tim Farmer/State Arboretum of Virginia.
The massive Virginia State Arboretum, off Route 50 west in Boyce, is definitely worth the drive. In fact, this springtime road trip is the focus of our current issue’s May Getaway column. Mother’s Day adds yet another reason to make the hour drive to this profuse, manicured wilderness, with VSA’s enormous Garden Fair.
This year’s Garden Fair offers tours of the magnificent grounds, birding walks and kids events. But it also turns VSA into one of the biggest plant nurseries in the area, for two days only. Hundreds of plants–of every shape, size and variety–will be on sale, plus a sizable selection of gardening tools, supplies and even artwork.
The rain-or-shine extravaganza runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both Saturday, May 12, and Sunday, May 13. Admission is a bargain, at just $10 per car.
If city life suits your mom better, that’s no problem. In fact, luxurious downtown homes and picture-perfect gardens go hand in hand. Thus, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society holds a Mother’s Day home and garden tour of its own.
The tour features two flawless front gardens and 13 stunning homes, each an architectural marvel. This is the tour’s 55th year. Hours run Saturday, May 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 13 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $30.
The journey is short–only about a mile, so it’s definitely walkable, and a refreshing opportunity to walk off that heavy brunch. Additionally, tea will be served in association with the house tour at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Street.
If you’re looking for Mom’s Day destinations a little further from home, we’ve got a guide for that. But if you’re looking for a combination of everything in this blog, head to Richmond.
The Museum District Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour features eight beautiful southern homes and their gardens. Most of the houses are nearly 100 years old. Each has at least one incredible story, but the Floyd Avenue structure is the stuff of movies: the owners bought the house without knowing that it was built by ancestors.
Richmond is a balanced blend of country life and urban society. The houses sit on sizable plots brushed with greenery and all manner of flora, but cosmopolitan downtown Richmond is just a couple blocks away.
Tickets are $25. The tour’s hours run 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 13 only.
Stay tuned for even more exclusive coverage on the many moods of Mother’s Day. If my list was too specific for you, check out fellow Game Planner Lorin’s loaded brainstorm of activities. And don’t neglect our food and drink guides–after all, eating is the second most important aspect of the day. As if that wasn’t enough, we have Mother’s Day shopping guides, too.
Festival Spotlight: 1st Annual Chantilly Day
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Celebrate a great NoVA town on Saturday, May 12.
By Lindsey Leake
Shutterstock/J.D.S.
Remember yesterday, celebrate today, embrace tomorrow. These tenets outline the mission of Chantilly Day, an annual festival crafted by the Chantilly-Centreville Chamber of Commerce (CCCC)—a division of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce—that aims to foster a sense of community in the area. The inaugural affair is set for Saturday, May 12 and promises to be “the biggest and best event Chantilly has ever seen!”
CCCC Chairwoman and Chantilly Day creator Saharnaz Farivar knew from the get-go that she wanted the western Fairfax County event to stand out from other festivals and community events of its kind.
“Chantilly Day had to be an annual festival to showcase [the] best of our minds in motion while rebuilding its image of being a fragmented and mostly industrial city,” she says. “Chantilly Day brings [a] sense of community and promotes business, arts, science and education.”
Kicking off Chantilly’s special day is a parade featuring local high school bands, antique cars, local politicians, Civil War reenactments and more. Throughout the day over 100 community businesses will come together to form the festival’s Business Expo, live entertainment will blare from the center stage and patrons can view remarkable rides during the car show. The afternoon will bring an awards ceremony honoring local citizens, educators, businesses and community groups.
Chantilly-area students won’t be left out of the recognition ceremony; the event is sponsoring a youth essay contest asking elementary, middle and high school students to reflect on the festival’s “Remember Yesterday, Celebrate Today, Embrace Tomorrow” theme.
“We are encouraging intellectual and artistic participation of our schools primarily,” Farivar says. “We want to create an environment for our younger generation to be inspired and excited.”
The Taste of Chantilly segment of the day offers attendees the opportunity to sample the region’s finest fare, while the youngest visitors will relish all the Children’s Corner has to offer: face painting, a rock-climbing wall, and bouncing balloons. The celebration will come to a rocking end at the Sunset Concert featuring The Merchants of Cool.
In addition to local politicians like Congressman Frank Wolf and Supervisor Michael Frey, delegates from sister city Chantilly, France, including Mayor Eric Woerth, will be in attendance.
Photo courtesy of the Centreville-Chantilly Chamber of Commerce
Though the 1st Annual Chantilly Day looks to be a great success, plans are already in the works to improve upon the event in future years.
“We will learn much from this year’s experience,” Farivar says. “Our committee, our chamber, our event organizers and our sponsors will be in much better shape for future events, as we try vigilantly to stay on the message and true to our vision and mission statement.”
The celebration will be held on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend each year.
“We believe Chantilly Day will strengthen this incredibly dynamic community in new and exciting ways and build an increased sense of identity among residents and businesses whose interests, talents and activities make Chantilly such a wonderful place to live and work,” says Heather Gray, communications manager of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber anticipates thousands will attend this free event, enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine that is full of laughter, smiles and fun for all ages.”
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday, May 12, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Free
Babies R Us parking lot on Metrotech Drive
9:30 – 10 a.m. Parade
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Business Expo
10 – 11 a.m. Celebration of the Bands
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Car Show
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Taste ofChantilly
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Main Stage Entertainment
Noon–3 p.m. Chamber Awards
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Children’s Corner
4 – 6 p.m. Sunset Concert featuring The Merchants of Cool
CHANTILLY DAY MOTTO
“Paying homage to our heritage and the patchwork quilt that is our community. Events will include reenactment of historical events.
Showcasing local businesses, civic, art and scientific organizations, recognizing those with highest growth and contribution to the local economy.
Recognizing the best in our educational institutions. Identifying and rewarding the high-achieving students who are the best opportunity for creating a better future.”
For more details, visit www.chantillyday.com or contact the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce at 571-323-5304 or info@chantillyday.com.
(May 2012)
For Your Momma: Breakfast in Bed for Mother’s Day
Posted by Sally Traynham / Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
joingate/Shutterstock
Turn the house into a cozy bed and breakfast, perfect for treating you mom to a special morning of relaxation. Here are some easy, no-mess recipes that will win over any mom—and are ideal for in-bed eating.
Drinks
Blueberry Soda[food network]
Iced Caramel Macchiato [tasty kitchen]
Ginger and Honey Iced Tea [real simple]
Pastries/Sweets
Banana scones with Whipped Honey Butter [raspberri cupcakes]
Berries with Citrus and Vanilla Mascarpone [sundaysuppers]
Chocolate-Chocolate Chunk Muffins [browneyedbaker]
Savory Mains Read the rest of this entry »
Bacon, Egg and Arugula Pizza [the year in food]
For Your Momma: Edible Gifts for Mother’s Day
Posted by Joey Hernandez / Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Flowers are great and all, but what can’t be eaten isn’t really worth it, right? Here are some edible gift ideas for mom on Mother’s Day.
Ayrshire Farms, for charcuterie, cheese, herbs, jam and jellie gift baskets and more.
Mom’s Apple Pie Company, for rhubarb pies, macarons, sunflower crunch bread and more.
Cupcakes Actually, for a 4 pack of flower cupcakes.
Rumored Creations, for customized gourmet gift baskets.
Karin’s Florist, for chocolate, gluten free, kosher gift baskets and more.
Edible Arrangements, for chocolate covered fruit arrangements.
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Queen Elizabeth pens a letter to Governor McDonnell
NoVA’s poor have been hurt disproportionately by recession, new economic analysis says
Virginia publishes 2012 hurricane evacuation guide
Boy struck by car while walking to school in Manassas
Alexandria man competing in London Olympics
Middleburg Fire Department claims $500,000 embezzled by former treasurer
Virginia hurricane-prep sales tax break starts May 25
(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Atlaspix)
Chicken Chatter: The Most Extreme Comments from the Arlington Urban Farming Debate
Posted by Sally Traynham / Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Mark Lorch/Shutterstock
After months of discussion, the backyard chicken debate is on hold.
In January, Arlington County Board’s new vice chair, Walter Tejada, announced his focus for the year: creating sustainable and affordable food options, including the possibility of changing zoning ordinances allowing backyard chickens. Currently, Arlington’s code states that residents can raise poultry on residential property only if the hen house is located 100 feet from the lot-line in each direction. In densely packed Arlington, very few residential lots offer this much space.
There are interest groups sprouting up on each side of the urban-meets-farm discussion.
And after a recent meeting, the Arlington County Civic Federation tabled the chicken debate for another month. Jim Pebley of the Waycroft-Woodlawn Civic Association and Ed Fendley of the Arlington Egg Project debated the issue, but now it’s reached the world of nasty online comments. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting/opposing/angry/ugly/funny comments from the readers of ARLnow.com
Want more background info? Check out our past coverage about the backyard hen debate and the opposing points-of-view.
Pro-Chicken:
E2DAV says:
I am assuming Jim Pebley has never been around chickens…they smell no more than dog waste. It’s not like anyone is proposing a factory chicken farm…And, only a true suburbanite would think Arlington will get louder because a handful of chickens are around.
Zoning Victim says:
I was around farms where people raised most kinds of livestock (cows, pigs, goats, chickens and sheep) for their own food for most of my childhood, including living on one for years. None of them have ever smelled for blocks or even five yards. Giant farms can be smelled from a long way away; a few chickens don’t smell at all unless you lock yourself in the chicken coop. Since you’re deathly afraid of sickening the masses, I assume you wouldn’t do that to yourself…If you have to make up a bunch of inane garbage and call it fact to make a point, you never had one in the first place.
Anti-Chicken:
Elmer says: Read the rest of this entry »
This illustrates why the chicken proposal is not a good idea. If we can’t trust dog owners to be responsible enough to pick up and properly dispose of their dog poop, why compound the public “pooper problem” by trusting chicken owners to properly remove and dispose of their chicken poop?
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
McDonnell: Obama better organized in Virginia than Romney
NOVA Woodbridge campus closed due to bomb threat
Violent crime declines in Virginia in 2011
Loudoun would suffer crushing economic blow without Silver Line
HOV Hybrid Exemption Extended in Virginia
(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Vepar5)
Mother’s Day Guide: How to Plan The Ultimate Day
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Happy Mother's Day! / Photo credit: Shutterstock/ Nuzza
Yesterday we brought you some fantastic options for celebrating Mother’s Day with out-of-town trips. But what if you won’t be leaving NoVA this weekend? No problem. After all, no two moms are exactly alike. Well unless they’re twins. But you get the picture.
Here are a few ideas for embracing what truly makes your mom happy on her special day.