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By Lynn Norusis, Rachael Keeney and Michael Balderston
Checking out blooms and bottles
I will admit that I’m a sucker for flowers, even if they stay alive for only a short period of time. Another thing I love, which you’ve probably picked up on by now, is enjoying a nice glass of wine on the weekend. This Saturday is opening day at the Purcellville Fields of Flowers, so after picking a bouquet of my own, my roommate and I will likely make a day of it by visiting a few vineyards while we’re out there. On our radar: North Gate Vineyard, Sunset Hills Vineyard and 8 Chains North, all under a 10-minute drive away. –RK // 37879 Allder School Road, Purcellville
Going back in time
When my children were younger they fell in love with the Renaissance Festival, being transported to a different world and seeing the Medieval games. My older son still has the picture of him, dressed in a knight costume, being knighted by the “king” when he was about 4 years old in his room. It’s been a while since we’ve been. But with my younger son just having learned about this time period in school it may be the perfect excuse to head back. The Virginia Renaissance Faire opens this weekend at Lake Anna Winery and runs weekends through June 10. –LN // Lake Anna Winery: 5621 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania
A free lesson in government
Considering that I can almost walk out of my house and be in our nation’s capital, I’m sometimes a little lost on all that’s going on at the Capitol. So seeing a screening of HBO’s upcoming documentary The Final Year will serve as a civics refresher through a behind-the-scenes look at President Obama’s foreign policy team in their last year in office. Any follow-up questions I may have can be answered during a post-screening Q&A with Rumana Ahmed, former senior adviser to Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes. –MB // George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government: 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington