Carriage Rides Tonite...

You know there's nothing like a nice carriage ride around the holidays! Looks like tonite is the nite for a carriage ride. Downtown Front Royal will hold carriage rides from 5 p.m - 8 p.m. tonite... meet at the Gazebo :)

Happy Holidays!

SNOW...SNOW...SNOW...SNOW....

Well kids...looks like we're getting at least 5 inches of snow tomorrow....sounds like a great day to make snowmen and go sledding :)

xoxo

Wine Tasting...Murphy Beverage...Saturday, Sept. 26th - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Kermit Lynch Wine Tasting
Stop by Murphy Beverage for a tasting with Bill McKinney from Michael Downey Selections. They will feature the wines of Kermit Lynch, the first champion of terrior and small, traditional, artisanal producers. He was Food & Wine Magazine's 2007 "Importer of the Year" and nicknamed America's first hippie importer, he's my kinda man. We will feature Vouvray Champalou (chenin blanc) for $20.59, Cheverny Domaine Salvard (sauvignon blanc/chard) for $15.59, Cahors Clos la Coutale (mostly malbec) for $15.59 and Corbieres Fontsainte Gris de Gris (life changing rose) for $14.59. Their wine tastings are always free and you receive 10% off wines featured during the tastings. Cheers!

Halloween Night...

Burning Dirty Band Rocked the House...

For those of you who missed the Burning Dirty Band last Saturday nite... well you missed a great show! The Burning Dirty Band played in front of a packed house at the Union Jack Pub in downtown historic Winchester. But not to worry...they are playing again Halloween Night... Now try not to miss this one...

xoxo

Warren County Air Show...

Well hopefully you guys stopped by the Warren County Airport this past Saturday for their Air and Balloon Show.... this was a fun event that featured not only hot air balloons but vintage planes, a flying circus show, and a black hawk helicopter. They had skydivers and other stunt performances also! Check out the pics...

Busy Weekend Ahead...

Well you should have zero trouble finding something to do this weekend! There is the Wine Festival at Richards Fruit Market on Saturday from 12 - 3 p.m. Also its Apple Harvest Festival time at the Jim Barnett Park this Saturday and Sunday and Winchester's very own The Burning Dirty Band will be peforming this Saturday nite at the Union Jack Pub in downtown Winchester... Happy Fall everyone!!

Kick Off Your Heels...Ladies Only...

Hey ladies out there... looking for a great little happy hour??? Well then look no futher than the Working Women's Wednesday at the Half Note at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester, VA held every Wednesday! This looks like a great way to relax with live entertainment from 6 p.m - 8 p.m. and drink and appetizer specials from 5p.m - 7 p.m.

Cheers!

A Taste of the Valley...

What??? A Wine Festival that benefits charity??? I'm onboard! Stop by Richards Fruit Market for their 1st Annual Benefit Wine, Food & Craft Festival Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 11am - 5pm at Richards Fruit Market located at 6410 Middle Road in Middletown, Virginia. A portion of the proceeds from 1st Annual Benefit Wine, Food & Craft Festival will benefit the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation. The festival will feature local wineries, foods and artisans (pottery, gourd art, jewelry and more!). The Battlefield Foundation will also be hosting a Living History exhibit. There will be a silent auction, and music all day, including the Amanda Wilkins Band from Noon to 3pm. Adult Admission for Wine Tastings is $15. Free festival satellite parking with hay wagon rides through the orchards to the festival spot. Did someone say hay wagon rides?!? See ya there!

http://www.richardsfruitmarket.com/winefestival09.htm

Dancin Downtown...

Here's a fun event for the whole family... On Saturday, September 12th... head to downtown Front Royal for their "Dancin' Downtown" featuring Souled Out... Gates open at 6 p.m. and the band starts at 6:30 p.m. Festivities will be held on Main Street in downtown Front Royal, VA. Admission is $5.00 and children under 6 are free.. Check out the link...

http://www.downtownfrontroyal.com/

(Rain Date is Saturday, September 19th)

A Great Little Happy Hour...

On my way to see Robert E. Lee...John Brown... Lighting the Fuse... I made my way to a cute little Irish pub about a block up from the Wayside Theatre in historic Middletown, VA. I was pleasantly surprised to walk downstairs into their small but quaint Irish bar which happened to be well stocked with a selection of beer... In fact it is one of the few pubs in the area that has Guiness and Boddington Beer on tap which happens to be two of my favorites! Also I was able to enjoy listening to some Irish music by owner Brian Coughlan and friends... all in all a great experience for a happy hour! They have good happy hour drink specials every Tuesday-Friday from 4-7PM. So if you are looking for a taste of Ireland... look no further than The Irish Isle located on Main Street in Middletown, VA.. Check out the link below...
http://www.theirishisle.com/index.htm

Robert E.Lee and John Brown, Lighting The Fuse

Well last nite I was fortunate enough to get my hands on two tickets to Wayside Theatre's Robert E. Lee and John Brown...Lighting The Fuse. This play was written by Warner Crocker and the music by Steve Przybylski. John Alcott (John Brown) and John Dow (Robert E Lee) were the main actors in this along with a handful of talented actors as well. This was a well written and well performed performance that told the story of the raid of Harpers Ferry and the events leading up to the Civil War. The acting was dead on and not one slip in peformance. I would definately recommend this to any civil war enthusiast. Robert E. Lee and John Brown...Lighting The Fuse has tickets available thru September 26th... Check out the link below...

http://www.waysidetheatre.org/

(Photo courtesy of John Westervelt Photography)

First Friday in Downtown Winchester...

Here's a fun thing to go to! Tonite stop by First Friday in downtown Winchester and check out these events.. you're sure to find something you like!..

Friday Fish Fry Celebration
4:00:pm - 8:00:pm
Annual fundraising event for local non-profit. Event features fried catfish with all the fixings, beer served, live music, children's activities and information booths. Location: Our Health Community Campus, between 301 and 329 North Cameron Street. Sponsored by: Concern Hotline, Inc.

Guided Civil War Tours
6:00:pm -
Guided Civil War tours will be offered on First Fridays in downtown Winchester from June through October. The tours will begin at 6 pm and guides will meet in front of the Kurtz Building at 2 N. Cameron Street. Reservations are required and should be made in advance by calling 540-542-1326. The fee is $5 per person.

THIS IS HANDS DOWN THE ONE I WANNA DO! I love doing this tours!

First Friday Celebration of the Arts
6:00:pm - 9:00:pm
The arts are alive in Old Town Winchester on the First Friday of every month (except January and May). Enjoy an evening of drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, photography and other visual art. Locals and visitors are invited to stroll teh historic streets at their leisure, visit galleries, meet local artists, view new works and exhibits, and listen to live music. Don't forget the exceptional shopping and dining Old Town Winchester has to offer as part of First Friday. First Friday events are free and open to the public unless specified otherwise. Sponsored by Shenandoah Arts Council. Contact: http://www.shenarts.org/ or phone (540) 667-5166.

I'm Lookin' For A Taste of Ireland Tonite...

On my way to see Wayside Theatre's play Robert E Lee and John Brown.. I'm gonna make a stop to the local Irish pub in Middletown, The Irish Isle... I can't think of a better way to start an evening than with a pint of Guiness at a traditional Irish Pub which is a rare find in the Shenandoah Valley... Who knows I might run into the resident pub ghost "George" while I'm there... Either way its a great start for a great evening of fun! Check out their website...

http://www.theirishisle.com/index.htm

Slainte (Cheers)!

Great Little Wine and Beer Shop in Front Royal....

In my travels this week I discovered this little gourmet wine, beer, cheese and speciality food store in downtown Front Royal on Main Street...Vino E Formaggio. It is collocated with the shops at Main Street Passage. Once inside I found a great selection of fall beers and of course wine! Christian Failmezger runs the specialty shop was very helpful in describing the new selection of fall beers to me. If you are looking for a low key weekend event, stop by their weekly beer and wine tastings... Wine tastings are every Friday and Saturday from 2 pm-7pm and their beer tastings are every Sunday from 1 pm-4p.m. Cheers!

Hob Nob in the Valley... September 10th...

The Burning Dirty Band...Live at Union Jack in Downtown Winchester....

Come out and see the hottest band in the area at Union Jack in downtown Winchester.... sure to be a great show! So...kick off your Fall with some independent Virginia rock and a frosty pint or four.....

Warren County Balloon and Airstravaganza Event...

Looking for something to do next Saturday???? Well I've got an event for you... the Warren County Balloon and Airstavaganza Event. This will be held on September 12th from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Front Royal-Warren County Airport in Front Royal, VA (rain date is Sept. 13th). Activities like the Tuskegee Airmen, Bonanza V-Tail Club, Civil Air Patrol Glides/Flight Demos and much much more including hot air balloon rides! Looks like fun for the whole family! Check out the link..

http://warrencountyairevent.com/index/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

35th Annual Apple Harvest and Crafts Festival...Enjoy Fall in the Country...

Here's another event to show you that Fall is definately here! (Who cares what the calendar says)... The 35th Annual Apple Harvest and Crafts Festival will be held Sept. 19th-20th at the Jim Barnett Park in Winchester, VA. There will be 180 arts and crafts vendors, ethnic foods, the Virginia State Apple Butter Making Championship, regional apple pie baking contest, Ole Time Apple Growers Exhibit and more! And to think that there are people who say there's nothing to do in Winchester....

V2 Piano Bar and Lounge... Friday and Saturday Night Entertainment...

While walking in the historic old town Winchester mall I discovered that V2 will have pianist Seth Fromal performing every Friday and Saturday night from 8 p.m until 11 p.m. Not only am I a fan of V2 for the atmosphere and menu but its great to see them having live music to further that lounge experience which is hard to find in the Shenandoah Valley area. I for one plan on stopping by on Saturday night to check it out! Check out the link below...

http://www.villagesquarerestaurant.com/pages/events.html

Is Fall Here???

I don't know about you but I think Fall is definately here! I am enjoying the cooler days and crisp mornings... This is definately my favorite time of year with the changing of leaves, cooler temps and of course my fav holiday...Halloween! Soo Happy Early Fall to everyone!

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley... Masters of Modern Art Exhibit...

Well on Sunday I took a stroll through the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley's Masters of Modern Art Exhibit and must say I was very impressed! I got to see works by Matisse, Picasso, and other masters of modern art. The Exhibit was well put together and was a great showing of modern art. This was definately a great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon! Check it out..below is the link...

http://www.shenandoahmuseum.org/calendar/calendar_item.php?group_id=143

New Me...

Well I guess some of you are curious as to why I haven't posted in a few months.... well after much thinking and to a degree soul seaching I have decided to come back to my hometown and live a quieter lifestyle.. I have settled into the Shenandoah area and currently am working for a great radio station... 95.3 The River... My occupation isn't the only thing that has changed... I am now a brunette..somthing that I haven't been in over 13 years! I must say that I do love being a brunette! I feel the need at 31 to live a somewhat quieter lifestyle... now that doesn't mean that I won't have fun! This blog will now feature events and happenings in the Shenandoah Valley area. And to my DC/NOVA friends... I hope you check out my new blog and discover that the Shenandoah Valley area has much to offer and who knows... might inspire you to take a drive in the country...

PS... new photo coming...but must say the cartoon pic is dead on for the length and color of my hair...but I have green eyes ;)

Skinny Girl Drinks....

Ok ladies, I don't know about you but for me its very hard to lose weight if you are a social drinker.. The average Margarita has around 1,000 calories. But no worries now...thanks to our Real Housewife of New Yorker Bethenny Frankel we can diet and socially drink.... She has created the 100 calorie Skinny Girl Margarita.... I have listed the recipe below...Cheers!

What you'll need:
2 oz of Clear Premium Tequila (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
Tiny splash of Orange Liquor
Juice of 4 Fresh Lime Wedges
Splash of Grand Marnier or BOLS Triple Sec
Combine all ingredients over a glass of ice and garnish with a lime wedgeMakes one serving

Miss Virginia St. Baldricks Charity Event...

This is the first in a series of blogs on this event. I just want so say what a pleasure and an honor it was to attend this wonderful charity event. This event was held at the Hudson Restaurant in Washington DC and featured the lovely Miss Virginia who happens to be just as pretty on the inside as the out and is a wonderful representative for the state of Virginia! Also at the event was a potential future Miss Virginia with the Miss Greater Piedmont (Veronica Rohrmoser), Miss Hampton Roads (Kristena Wright), Miss Alexandria (Shannon Beam - who happens to be a Winchester native) and Miss Springfield (Bethany Munt). But thats not all... Anchorman for DC's WJLA ABC TV Leon Harris was in the house along with our very own "resident bachelor" Dr. Andy Baldwin and of course the guests of honor, the lovely Breana Rowell, her sister Savannah and parents Rick and Darlene. Breanna is a very brave little girl who happens to be in remission from cancer. This was a fun filled charity event that ultimately went for such a worthwhile cause that being St. Baldricks Pediatric Cancer Research... Check back for more pics to come this week...

xoxo

Help Support Miss Virginia Lose Her Hair....

Check this out guys! Hope everyone can make it out!

Stephanie Clark... My Stylist...

Hey Guys...if you ever need a stylist or makeup artist for your special day... you should call my girl Stephanie Clark.. She is my stylist for photoshoots, appearances etc. I have attached a pic of her work... My hair is a short bob but this is what she did for me for a photoshoot using extensions.. she also did the makeup.. Check out her website...

http://www.stephanieclarkartistry.com/

Miss Virginia Shaving Her Head...WHAT???...

HELP MISS VIRGINIA GO BALD TO CURE KIDS CANCER! Thats right guys, Miss Virginia, Tara Wheeler, is partnering with the St. Baldrick's Foundation to raise money for pediatric cancer research and prove that "Beauty is as beauty DOES". Tara has set a fundraising goal of $500,000. If she reaches that goal, she will shave her head alongside other St. Baldrick's participants at an official shaving event at the Crystal City Sports Pub in Arlington Virginia on April 11th. Come on now... if this beauty queen is willing to shave her head for this charity...then I think we can all open up our wallets! Below is the link to donate...

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stbaldricks.org%2Fparticipants%2Fshavee_info.php%3FParticipantKey%3D2009-339663&h=7168fe526b1e9531b30d2acfa67b4b1a

The Millionaire Matchmaker...Part II

Well what a crazy day this has been! I received an email from Rachel from the actual show The Millionaire Matchmaker informing me that I need to send a more professional shot which obviously I obliged to. I figured that I would hear back from someone in a different office but nope heard back from the CA office! For those of you who don't watch the show... Rachel is the girlfriend of Destin (the guy with the spiked hair). She just joined the show this season and works in the CA office and is in charge of registration etc. Anyway, already a fun adventure so far.. lets see where this goes...

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

And a top of the mornin' to you! Happy St. Patricks Day.. A day to drink and be merry! Sláinte! (cheers in gaelic pronounced 'slawn-cha').

Millionaire Matchmaker...

Well yours truely has just signed up for the Millionaire Matchmaker Club. I love the show and do like the idea of someone matching me up with a well put together man..must say! Let's see where this goes..

An Ode To Nancy Sinatra

I must say...there is something to be said for a woman in a tall pair of boots. You can't beat it! Its classy, sexy and I know makes me feel very confident! A little extra omph in your step. So in creating this blog... I had to give a little ode to the quintessential blonde in the tall boots... Nancy Sinatra...