The Piedmont Virginian’s blog

I am not sure about you but Cabin Fever is setting in, and I am ready to get out of the house.  Please also think about the toll that it’s taking on the small locally owned shops and restaurants on our Main Streets. Take this time off to go in and visit these shops. “Stop in at one of these great stores to buy a book, or a card, a candle or a new sweater!” says Genie Ford a Middleburg business owner. While I am not sure about you, but shopping makes me hungry so drop in to one of the local restaurants while you’re out and about. Have some breakfast, lunch or dinner, or even just a quick drink, appetizer or dessert. Use this opportunity to slow down and enjoy these many great stores and resturants that we have here, while you have the time.

Shop Local, support the Main Streets.

Posted under: Art, Artists, and Galleries, Gourmet Food, Local Products, News, Piedmont Regions, Restaurants, Shops and Boutiques on February 8th, 2010 | by Margaret McCann No Comments »

Register to win a special Valentines Gift from Reston Limo for Valentines Day. You can win an evening with Reston Limo at your service, Dinner for Two at Morton’s Steak House in Reston, a dozen Roses by Karin’s Florist and a box of Godiva Chocolates, and I almost forgot, a gift from Tiffany & Co. Hurry though, you must resgister by Tuesday February 9th send your name and contact phone number to atravers@restonlimo.com

Posted under: Events, Gourmet Food, Loudoun County, News, Restaurants on February 8th, 2010 | by Margaret McCann No Comments »

Are your kids writers, or have such creative minds you wish they were writers, then these creative writing workshops are perfect for your wordy ones. 2 workshops, taught by author, and recent Piedmont Virginian Contributor, Susan McCorkindale,  will begin this week at Tagaloo and include inspiration for every age of writer. I need the next generation of writers to keep this blog and magazine going, at some point I am going to want to retire and who is going to keep up my job?

WordyKidz is a Creative Writing Workshop for 9-11 year-olds. This once a week writing class is designed to foster creativity and self-expression in a supportive atmosphere, awaken participants’ power of observation, imagination, and language, and guide young writers through various projects which may include short stories, poetry, and book, movie, and music reviews. Students need to come with their favorite writing tools, a journel, pens, pencils and inspiration. These classes are taught Mondays 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Tagaloo 23 Smith Street in Old Town Warrenton.  To register, contact Kimberly Entrican at kmentrican@aol.com . The first class will begin Monday Feb 8th and end Monday, March 1st.

Posted under: Art, Artists, and Galleries, Events, Fauquier County, News, Shops and Boutiques on February 7th, 2010 | by Margaret McCann No Comments »

Thank you Leslie Dodge from Warrenton VA, for this wonderful shot from last weeks storm. I see it as a reminder to slow down and enjoy the snow!  Please post more of your snow photos on our Facebook Page.

Posted under: Art, Artists, and Galleries, Events, Fauquier County, Friday Photo, Land Conservation and Environmental Stewardship on February 5th, 2010 | by Margaret McCann No Comments »

Just a reminder that the Virginia Wine Showcase will take place despite of the weather forecasts! Plan on taking Reston Limo or gather your 4 wheel drive friends and get snowed in with Virginia Wine! The wine showcase is on February 6-7 with food seminars, giveaways and of course wonderful Virginia Wine Tastings. We have a special offer for discounted tickets on our website, or just click here! Also I will be giving away tickets today and tomorrow on our Facebook page. Just tell me your favorite Virginia Wine, and 10 lucky winners will win a pair of tickets to the Virginia Wine Showcase.

Posted under: Events, Gourmet Food, News, Piedmont Regions, Wineries on February 4th, 2010 | by Margaret McCann 1 Comment »

Movies on Mt. Pony - Schedule for February 2010 - Mt Pony is what I consider one the Piedmonts hidden treasures. Built into Mt Pony in Culpeper, it is a division of the Library of Congress, and houses miles and miles of priceless films and sound recordings. They have an amazing state of the art movie theatre that shows free films, and these films are for the whole family. From classics to kids, there is something for everyone on the Mt Pony schedule. All screenings are FREE. Reservations are encouraged as the shows can ’sell out’. Call (540) 827-1079 ext. 79994 or (202) 707-9994. Programs are preceded by an informative slide presentation about the film and music selected by the Library’s Recorded Sound Section. Short subjects will be presented before select programs. Titles are subject to change without notice.

The Packard Campus Theater will be closed the weekend preceding President’s Day.

Thursday, February 04 (7:30 pm.)
MRS. MINIVER (MGM, 1942) A British family struggles to survive the first days of World War II. Selected for the National Film Registry in 2009. Directed by William Wyler. With Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon.

Friday, February 05 (7:30 pm.)
THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (Universal, 1957) When he mysteriously starts to shrink, a man finds a new world of danger in everyday creatures. Selected for the National Film Registry in 2009. Directed by Jack Arnold. With Grant Williams and Randy Stuart.

Saturday, February 06 (2:00 pm.)
THE MUPPET MOVIE (Associated Film, 1979) Kermit the Frog is persuaded to pursue a career in Hollywood by his agent. Along the way, Kermit picks up Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and a motley crew of other Muppets with similar aspirations. Selected for the National Film Registry in 2009. Directed by James Frawley. With Jim Henson and Frank Oz.

Thursday, February 18 (7:30 pm.)
GRAND HOTEL (MGM, 1932) Guests at a posh Berlin hotel struggle through scandal and heartache. Selected for the National Film Registry in 2007. Directed by Edmund Goulding. With Greta Garbo and John Barrymore and an all-star cast.

Friday, February 19 (7:30 pm.)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (Paramount, 1968)
A mail-order bride enlists an outlaw and a mystery man to help protect her land from a ruthless cattleman. Selected for the National Film Registry in 2009. Directed by Sergio Leone. With Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson.

Saturday, February 20 (7:30 pm.)
STARK LOVE (Paramount, 1927) Cast with amateur actors and filmed in the Great Smoky Mountains, this is an illuminating portrayal of the Appalachian people. Silent film with live musical accompaniment by Andrew Simpson. Selected for the National Film. Registry in 2009. Directed by Karl Brown. With Helen Mundy and Forrest James.

Thursday, February 25 (7:30 pm.)
THE LADY EVE (Paramount, 1941) A lady cardsharp tries to con an eccentric scientist only to fall for him. Selected for the National Film Registry in 1994. Directed by Preston Sturges. With Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.

Friday, February 26 (7:30 pm.)
THE T.A.M.I. SHOW (AIP, 1964) An unrelenting rock spectacular starring some of the greatest pop performers of the 60s. Filmed before a sold-out crowd at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Selected for the National Film Registry in 2006. Directed by Steve Binder. With Chuck Berry, James Brown, The Rolling Stones & more.

Saturday, February 27 (7:30 pm.)
BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (Columbia, 1957) The Japanese Army forces World War II POWs to build a strategic bridge in Burma. Selected for the National Film Registry in 1997. Directed by David Lean. With William Holden and Alec Guinness.

Posted under: Art, Artists, and Galleries, Culpeper County, Events, News on February 3rd, 2010 | by Margaret McCann No Comments »

OK, enough dreaming about wine. Time to indulge. This weekend, February 6-7, the VA Wine Showcase charms the crowds at the Dulles Expo Center. Local author (Gourmet Getaways) Joe David and cooking school chef Jill Prescott team up to discuss wines and food and wine pairing. Prescott is the founder of Ecole de Cuisine in Asheville, NC and a former PBS chef. They plan to pair VA wine and local foods and take the mystery out of dining and wining!

So many of our Piedmont wineries (check out this impressive list) will be pouring. Here’s an opportunity for you to sample a sizable number of wines and learn about these award-winning wines we so happily write about regularly. Plenty of time to restock your personal cellar as the wines will be available for purchase.

Seminars, pairings, wine tastings: All perfect reasons (and excuses) to cure the endless case of cabin fever. There will even be a blind tasting that matches VA against the world! Stay tuned for these results–watch out world; VA has some extraordinary wines!

Still time to order tickets online. Price is higher at the door; lower-priced tickets for non-tasting attendees.

Posted under: Events, Gourmet Food, Local Products, News, Piedmont Regions, Wineries on February 2nd, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

All year we talk about what we can do for our local economy, and it comes down to one simple economic equation: Buy Local. The upcoming, major marketing holiday is no exception. Yes, I realize we have limited access to farm markets, but some still exist: Pick up a copy of the latest issue of the magazine for some overall ideas.

Simplest strategy: Go out to dinner at one of our fine restaurants. Time to make the reservations now as this is a major dining out event and people actually plan far ahead. If you can’t find a spot for the 14th, turn the Day into a weekend event and checkout Friday or Saturday evening–you can get ideas by visiting Open Table. No one wants to get in trouble on this Cupid holiday!

Or take it down a notch and bring food in from one of the nearby grocers who support the local community: Think IGA in Marshall, any of the Wegmans, or Whole Foods in Charlottesville. You can enjoy carrying in some of the products their chefs have prepared or grab a table and have a special lunch or dinner there. You never have to leave the store!

Maybe this is the weekend you’ve been thinking about for a winter escape. There are many wonderful inns and B&B’s that have Valentine’s Day Specials. For a shameless promotion, check out restaurants, inns, and wineries on our website!

No need to talk wine specifics, as we are blessed with so many local wines to enjoy for V-Day and, of course, year-round.

Don’t forget the chocolates and the flowers. There’s something for everyone.

It might just take a little advance planning.

Now.

Posted under: Events, Farms and Farmers, Gardening, Gourmet Food, Local Products, Piedmont Regions, Restaurants, Wineries on February 1st, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

Not only are competitive wine events, domestically and internationally, recognizing the bounty of goodness from Virginia wines, but well regarded wine publications have started to pay attention.

Congratulations to Veramar Vineyard for its 2007 Cabernet Franc which garnered one of the highest scores ever awarded a Virginia wine by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Recognized for its complex layers of blackberry, plum, and cinnamon, they called the wine “seductive” and gave it an impressive score of 87. This same wine earned a 90 from British wine writer Jaime Goode who commented on its ”lovely purity of fruit and real old world elegance.”

Winemaker Justin Bogaty believes that the wine’s great spice undercurrents will give it the potential to be an even more interesting wine with appropriate bottle aging. So stock up, enjoy a few bottles, and cellar the rest for future evenings.

Congratulations to Veramar and to the various wine writers who continue to find their way to the fine pours from Virginia.

Posted under: Clarke County, News, Wineries on January 31st, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

Join Clifton for a Haiti Benefit dinner Thursday, February 4th, 2010. 
All proceeds will benefit Earthquake victims the cost is only 

$45 per person (excluding beverages, tax and donated gratuity). The menu will be 



Clifton’s Comfort Food Menu, which includes a 

Cobb Salad with Organic Lettuces, Farm Egg, Avocado, 
Marinated Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Buttermilk Blue Dressing. Also on the menu is Slow Roasted-Fennel Rubbed Pork Shoulder with Gravy, or Roasted Free Range Chicken with Truffle Butter. These main dishes will be complimented with Gratin of Egg Noodles and Aged White Cheddar, Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes, Smoked Bacon and Onion Braised Greens and Potato-Rosemary Rolls, Jalapeno Cornbread with Honey Butter. The desert for this Comfort Food Menu will be a (take a deep breath) Coconut Crème Brulee with Raspberries (ahhhhh) and a Sticky Toffee Pudding with Shaved Pear and Medjool Dates.


The most important part of this benefit meal is that all the Clifton employees will be donating their time, effort, and gratuities in order 
to make this event a huge success.  There are also numerous donations from local partners, whose generosity will help make this event and even larger success. 

All the proceeds will be given to Oxfam America - 
Haiti Relief Fund (www.oxfamamerica.org) 

Please call the Clifton Inn 434.971.1800 for reservations today.

Posted under: Albemarle County, Events, Gourmet Food, Hotels and Country Inns, News, Restaurants, Sponsor on January 29th, 2010 | by Margaret McCann No Comments »