Tip Your Glass to Locally-Sourced

One of the most popular culinary trends in recent years has been the localization of food. Restaurants now import ingredients from as small a radius as possible—in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint—and they gladly boast their sources right on their menus.

Washington, D.C. is quite aligned with this trend, with many of the top restaurants in the area using only locally-sourced items. The numerous farms located in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania makes this easy. But one part of the menu often escapes this theme.

When restaurateurs draft their alcohol menu, the options for picking local-brewed beer are slim. At least that was the case up until the past two years. Since then, this area has seen an explosion of breweries, producing kegs, bottles and cans that compete on the national scene.

There’s Starr Hill Brewery in Charlottesville, Virginia; DC Brau Brewing Company in Northeast, and in a residential neighborhood where you’d almost never expect to find it, Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, VA.

Port City Brewing is best known for its darkest beer, Port City Porter, which is served in hundreds of restaurants across the District, Maryland and Virginia.

Like DC Brau, Port City Brewing traces it lineage to older brewers in the area, ones that disappeared in the 20^th century, but are now being revived by artisanal brewers.

Port City Brewing’s grandfather and inspiration was an Alexandria brewer, the Robert Portner Brewing Company, that opened the year after the Civil War ended. At its zeitgeist, the brewery was one of the largest in the South. But when Prohibition came about, it closed its doors.

Almost a century later, in January 2011, the doors reopened when Port City Brewing revived the tradition. In the past year, the company has been churning out beers that are as popular locally as any national brand.

If you’d like to witness the brewing process first hand, Port City Brewing offers tours that are a fun trip for any alcohol enthusiast.

The brewery is located right off Duke Street, at 3950 Wheeler Avenue, in the Western part of Alexandria and is situated in a residential neighborhood. Heading there, you pass townhouses and front lawns before reaching a low-slung brick building that looks nothing like a traditional brewery, but rather a data center.

Appearances are deceiving, especially in this case, because once you step inside, you see the sleek, modern, industrial design. Tours of the brewery are offered only on Saturdays, three times a day, at 12:30, 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. and they are inexpensive for what you get. A $7 ticket earns you a half-hour tour of the entire brewing process from steeping: hops to bottling finished product. After that, you are taken to the tasting room, where you can sample everything you’ve watched the company craft.

Among the choices are Port City’s Monumental IPA, Essential Pale Ale, Optimal Wit and the aforementioned Port City Porter. When you are finished tasting everything the brewery has to offer, you’ll receive a complimentary Port City pint glass.

The brewery also sells inexpensive growlers. You can buy a reusable glass jug for $4, which holds four pints, and can be filled for just $11.

If you can’t make it to the tour on a Saturday, the tasting room is also open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 5-8 p.m. on the weekdays and 12-5 p.m. on the weekends.

Or if you live further from Alexandria and can’t visit in person, simply keep your eyes open, because Port City’s Beers can be found just about anywhere in the area.

And then you can tip your glass a to locally-sourced beer.

- David

Ring in 2012 with a Local New Year’s Eve

Many people insist the best way to spend New Year’s Eve is to go to Times Square in New York City. But why leave Washington, D.C. when there’s plenty to do here!

In the greater Washington, D.C. area, there are many unique ways—different from what you may be used to—to ring in 2012.

One of the most all-encompassing celebrations, with plenty of entertaining events for adults and kids, is First Night Alexandria, which occurs all throughout Old Town Alexandria and includes scavenger hunts, live music and a ball drop at midnight.

The party begins at 1:00 p.m. on December 31^st with the third annual Fun Hunt, a search throughout Old Town that all attendees are eligible to participate in. Clues take you around the area and lead to answers on quiz sheets everyone is given. The hunt runs until 4:45 p.m., but only takes around an hour-and-a-half to complete, so scavengers can maintain a leisurely pace.

Anyone that completes the hunt correctly is eligible for the prize drawings, with first prize taking home an overnight stay at the Lorien Hotel & Spa in Old Town, free personal training sessions, gift certificates galore from many of the shops in Old Town and passes for a cruise on the Potomac. Second and third place also receive bounties, with overnight stays at other Alexandria hotels as part of the prize packages.

After the Fun Hunt, the party really gets started. All across the city, restaurants and bars will host live bands. One of the most popular acts performing is Curtis Blues, an interactive one-man blues band. He will be playing half-hour shows every other half-hour at Bittersweet, on King Street, from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.  For kids, at Nickells & Scheffler, on Duke Street, 16-year-old sensation Keira Moran will play half-hour shows as well.

At midnight, after all the events are over, participants at First Night Alexandria gather on the lawn of the George Washington Masonic Memorial for a ball drop, which includes over 6,000 inflatable balls, and a dance party that lasts until 12:30 a.m.

Tickets for First Night Alexandria cost $20 per person and allow admission to all events.

If you’re looking for another way to share New Year’s with your family, but can’t expect your children to make it all the way to midnight, then Maryland Science Center, in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is the place to go. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Center hosts its annual Midnight Noon celebration, where, when the clock strikes 12:00 p.m. on December 31, the Science Center’s ball drops and kids celebrate with noisemakers and balloons.

The entire Maryland Science Center is open during the exhibit, which means that alongside celebrating the New Year, kids can visit the great exhibits. Among the most popular are “Dinosaur Mysteries,” which includes full scale models of many dinosaurs and “Newton’s Alley,” where hands-on physics exhibits are geared toward kids.

Admission to Midnight Noon is free with paid admission to the Science Center  - $15 for adults and $12 for kids under 13.

For a more adult celebration of New Year’s Eve, Glen Echo Park, in Maryland, has just the event. The New Year’s Eve Swing Dance, held at the park, is a throwback to celebrations from America’s Big Band Era. The event begins at 8:00 p.m. with lessons for beginners, so when the Tom Cunningham Orchestra takes the stage at 9:00 p.m., everyone will be ready to roll and have a swinging New Year’s. Tickets for the dance are $25 per person.

So this New Years, instead of the typical party and midnight ball drop, head out of the house and try something totally different.

- David

Alexandria, VA Market Report –12/09/11

With all the uncertainty and conflicting reports about how and when the housing market will return to some form of normalcy, Alexandria has remained an attractive option for first time buyers, and investors.

While many local areas have seen the market rise and fall, Alexandria has remained stable and the most recent statistics show that year over year, and relative to the previous month, there has been little change with the exception of the average sold price.

Inventory of homes has decreased from the previous month perhaps indicating a reluctance of sellers to put their home on the market over the holiday period. Expect to see this pick up after January 1^st as preparations for the spring market happen very early. Interest rates are remaining low and prices are still low so there are sure to be many opportunities for serious buyers.

Market data and commentary by Charlie Carroll, Managing Broker at Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in the City of Alexandria, and the rest of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

MyLife in Metro DC: An Old Town Theater Treat

Thanksgiving week has arrived and most of us are ready to wrap up our short workweek and enjoy a long weekend filled with turkey feasts, football and family.

If the tryptophan doesn’t leave you in a lazy nap filled coma, and you’re looking for an excuse to get out of the house this weekend (besides Black Friday deals of course), I’ve discovered a hidden gem in Old Town Alexandria.

The Old Town Theater was originally built in 1914 as the Richmond Theater and was the first permanent theater constructed in Alexandria. Over the years the theater was opened and closed a number of times for renovations and various changes. The last renovations took place in December of 2002, when the second screen was added to allow an additional movie to be seen in the theater.

I recently ventured to Old Town Theater with three friends for a “girls night out.”  Located at 815 ½  King Street, the theater is nestled between shops and restaurants, which made it easy for us to catch a bite to eat at Red Rocks before the show.

We found driving to the theater to be our best option. There is street parking all long King Street as well as the surrounding blocks that is free after 7pm.  Or if you’re up for a walk, the closest Metro stop is the Alexandria King Street Stop (Blue or Yellow Line) and is about eight blocks away from the theater.

When we visited, two first run major motion pictures were playing, one of which grossed $139.5 million this weekend alone. But don’t let this blockbuster’s presence fool you, this is not your typical AMC or Regal cinema. Old Town Theater channels a much more vintage feel, similar to the Byrd Theater in Richmond or the Lyric in Blacksburg – two of my all time favorite local theaters.

The lobby is small and the last design renovations appear to have occurred sometime in the late 1980s, but don’t let this discourage you. The snack bar is equally understated but provides the usual expected snacks as well as a small panini selection. When we arrived, we were actually directed there to purchase our tickets as that was the only cash register – a far cry from the wall of kiosks at most chain theaters.

Tickets cost a mere $9, but there is a catch.  A recent theater policy change states that you must purchase at least one beverage to accompany your ticket.  A soda is $5, beer is $6-$7 dollars and wine runs $8 a glass or $28 for a bottle.  That’s right, they serve alcohol in the theater – a pleasant surprise added to a fun and relaxing girls night out and not your usual find at the movies!

You do have the ability to purchase tickets on the Old Town Theater website, however I advise against this.  There is a $5 dollar service charge PER TICKET on the website and for that added cost you might as well at least get a soda with your ticket for the same price in the theater!

Once we entered the actual theater, we were pleasantly surprised that while the movie was selling out at many locations (Yes, if you haven’t figured me out yet, we saw Twilight – don’t judge!) there were ample seats to choose from here.  We sat near the back and even there the picture quality and sound were great.

At the end of the movie, there was no mass of people to funnel through or confusing hallways to navigate; we simply walked right out of the theater, were thanked by the two kind employees for our visit, and got in our car.  It was a welcomed change from the large theaters we usually visit and all of us agreed we’d be back for another visit to the Old Town Theater soon!

To share your favorite Old Town or Old Town Theater stories, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures please “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

- Kristin

An All American Weekend in Washington D.C.

When enjoying America’s birthday on the Fourth of July, there is no better place to be than the nation’s capital.

Washington, D.C. and its surrounding areas take this holiday seriously, with a multitude of events and celebrations throughout the three-day weekend, culminating with many Monday night fireworks displays.

Kicking off the holiday weekend on Saturday, is one of the area’s more somber traditions, a concert and fireworks show held an hour-and-a-half northwest of the city.

At Antietam National Battlefield, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra holds its annual Salute to Independence. Antietam is the site of the deadliest one-day battle on U.S. soil, with over 23,000 people perishing on September 17, 1862. The Civil War historical site is open all day and visitors can arrive as they please. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and ends with a fireworks display at 9:45. It’s best to arrive early, as the show routinely attracts upwards of 30,000 people.

On Sunday, a unique opportunity occurs. Locals know that the annual “A Capitol Fourth” concert on the National Mall attracts massive hordes of people. This year’s concert, featuring singers Josh Groban, Little Richard, Jordin Sparks and Glee’s Matthew Morrison and comedian Steve Martin, will be no different.

What many people don’t know is that every July 3^rd, the day before, a rehearsal with all the same performers is held. It’s open to the public and free of charge.  At eight p.m., visit the stage located on the West Lawn of the Capitol, where you can see almost the full performance, minus the wave of people there to catch the fireworks.

On Monday, fireworks are what everyone wants to see. The biggest display is, of course, the one put on in concert with “A Capitol Fourth,” with fireworks exploding high above Washington, D.C.’s white marble monuments.

For the best view, head to the National Mall. There, it’s free to set up blankets, pack a cooler and spend the day reveling. Be sure to arrive early, because the Mall is easily the most popular place in the area to go. It fills up fast. If you do go, take the metro, because there are numerous street closures due to the event.

If heading into the city and fighting crowds isn’t to your liking, there are great spots outside of the district to catch the main display. All along the George Washington Parkway, especially at Lady Byrd Park near the 14^th Street Bridge, there are places to pitch a tent, fire up a grill and catch the show. Also in Arlington you can set up near the Iwo Jima Memorial, which provides perfect perspective. It’s also popular, so again, be sure to arrive early.

In Alexandria, the hill on the George Washington Masonic Memorial is also available to the public, with its high perch offering excellent views of the city below.

Because the mall is so far south in D.C., viewing options in Maryland for the Mall fireworks are limited. However, there are plenty of excellent displays north of the city to enjoy.

In Gaithersburg, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, there is live music at 7:00 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. The same goes for Rockville, where entertainment also starts at 7:00 p.m. and the fireworks shoot off around 9:30 p.m..

Much farther north, in Annapolis, there is a fireworks display at the city’s main dock. A parade kicks things off at 6:30 p.m., music is played by the Naval Academy Band, and fireworks are sent into the sky around 9:15 p.m..

So whether you are in Virginia, Washington, D.C or Maryland this Fourth of July, opportunities abound to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

-David

At Top Golf, You Don’t Need to be a Master to have Fun

The Masters teed off today, signaling the unofficial start of golf season for the general public. The weather is warming up and it’s time to hit the links.

Of course, most people’s golf clubs have been in storage somewhere for the past six months. And golf requires a level of practice that people just don’t get in the cold snowy months. Anyone that’s headed straight to the course after a winter off, knows it’s better to hit the driving range a few days beforehand.

But heading to any old driving range and smacking hundreds of golf balls can be a tedious affair. So if you are looking for a way to jazz up your warm up, then Top Golf in Alexandria is just the place to visit.

Top Golf is located directly across from the Kingstowne Towne Center at the corner of Kingstowne Boulevard and South Van Dorn Street. The massive facility is the perfect place to hone your game before the season kicks off.

What exactly is Top Golf? Well, in essence, it’s a game of competitive practice.

To play at Top Golf, one must first become a member of the range. But that’s simple to do. Top Golf has all sorts of membership deals for first-timers and friendly staff members are there to explain it all. A membership can be purchased for as little as five dollars, with a game (twenty balls) costing six dollars after that.

Top Golf staff member, Ian, explaining all the package options.

The higher level of membership you purchase, the cheaper games become. If you plan on going frequently, be sure to explore the multi-visit options. To play competitively, everyone in your party must purchase a membership.

After signing up, you’ll head to an electronic golf ball dispenser and receive a bucket of balls, each containing an undetectable computer chip inside.  These balls are assigned specifically to you and the system uses the chip to track your shots.

Insert your Membership Card into the electronic ball dispenser to receive your golf balls

With a bucket of balls in hand, you are now ready to head to the two-story range, find a bay and start golfing. When it’s your turn, place your balls in the holder and drop one ball at a time through the dispenser so the scanner can read the ball and record your score after you hit it.

Throughout the range are a number of targets varying in size. Targets close to the driving range are smaller, approximately five yards wide. The further away the targets get from the golfer, the wider they become. In the middle of each target is a pin. The closer you get the ball to the pin, the more points you can score. The targets farther away are naturally worth more points. For example, the target farthest from the range, simply landing anywhere within the zone scores the golfer six points, whereas getting very close to the pin in one of the shorter targets will only net a golfer four.

View of the targets from a second story bay.

There’s also extra points offered throughout the golfer’s round. The 11th ball of every game is a bonus ball. If you get your ball in a certain area of a certain target, the score for that shot doubles. Additionally, making shots in a row helps increase your score.

Top Golf can be fun for all golfers, no matter your handicap. There are all sorts of contests to level out the playing field. There are accuracy games you can play on the closest targets; consistency challenges for hitting the same targets consecutively; and of course, for the big hitters, driving contests aimed at the range’s farthest target.

Throughout your games, servers stroll through the area, offering food and drinks at reasonable prices.

If you are looking to make your visit to Top Golf a family affair, the facility also has one of the biggest miniature golf courses in the area. There are two different 18-hole courses. To play, it costs just six dollars for kids under 13 and seven for adults.

So while you may not be able to play with the pros in Augusta this weekend, you can feel like one, competing with your friends at Top Golf.

-David