1. art and entertainment
2. movies and tv
3. television

May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Rappahannock
FREDERICKSBURG | SPOTSYLVANIA | STAFFORD
Magazine
Creators
Rural Childhood Inspires
Artist’s Focus on Nature
Explorations
Wildlife Trails Explode
With Spring Activity
Connections
Johnny P. Johnson Reflects on
Art, Teaching, Family, Community
Audio File
Dancer Explores New
Styles and Forms
www.rappahannockmag.com
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
ARTof BALANCE
YOGA STUDIO
4300 Plank Road, Suite 170, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
(Salem Village shopping center opposite 7-11 near Edward Jones)
Rockin’ Fredericksburg • JUNE 6, 2015
The event combines activities from various communities
who benefit from, are inspired by, and enjoy their time on
the Rappahannock River. Adventure with a multi-sport river
and foot race, outdoor activities for grown-ups, kids, and
their furry friends, a display of unique art and crafts, as
well as the enjoyment of great craft beer, tasty food, and
live music throughout the day.
Art of Balance Yoga
Studio offers Yoga and
Pilates classes to students
of all levels and abilities
seeking to bring more
balance to their lives in a
comfortable, welcoming
environment.
Take advantage of our New
Student Special - $40 for an
unlimited month of classes.
Learn more and register at
www.artofbalanceyoga.com
Free Admission For All
Kids, DOGS, And River Lovers!
thank you to our partnering backers
COME GROW WITH US!
look what’s happening this May at
The Kenmore Inn!
Join us for live music every Thursday at 7:30!
featuring new drink specials at our copper top bar!
LESSONS - APPRAISALS - REPAIRS
5.7 • Karen Jonas & Tim Bray • alt country + Tim’s birthday!
5.14 • Bud’s Collective • fresh bluegrass from DubbyaVA.
5.17 • Kylie Westerbeck • local songwriter sweetheart, Sun 5-8
5.21 • Alan Parker • RVa Guitarist duo in the pub.
5.28 • The Transmitters • rocksteady reggae from Fburg’s finest.
Also, Chef Jacquie cooks up a fabulous WINE DINNER the first
Wednesday of every month. May’s dinner features MORELS! Call for
reservations and come see what it’s all about.
Exercise your art muscles at ARTE & Vino! Anna will guide you on
your way to making a masterpiece, you probably already know how
to drink the wine. 5.6 & 5.17 at 2pm and 5.12 & 5.26 at 6pm.
On 5.10, don’t forget to grab your mom and run on down to our
mother’s day brunch! She’ll be a happy mama.
Call us at 540.371.7622 for details & reservations, we’ll see you soon!
2 Rappahannock Magazine
Tuesday -Thursday: 11 am - 7 pm
Friday: 11 am - 8 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday:12 pm - 6 pm
Features
Art Beat 5
Regional galleries announce their shows and events for
First Friday and the current month.
Local, Independent, Veteran-Owned and Operated
We carry a wide selection of equipment and apparel
to outfit you for any outdoor pursuit.
PADDLING
FLY FISHING
Whitewater & SUP Instruction
CLIMBING
Techniques & Anchors
Casting, Guided Trips & Fly Tying
HIKING
Backpacking 101 & Pack-Out Nights
915 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA | 540-372-8708 | www.riverrockoutfitter.com
Creators 6
Joelle Cathleen Gilbert has taken a long and winding
road to success as an artist.
Explorations 8
Birding and wildlife trails abound with activity as Mother
Nature’s creatures rise from their winter rests.
Connections 10
Johnny P. Johnson has played many parts during his
life as an artist, teacher, and community leader. But
husband and father have been his most loved roles.
Inside The Issue
Store Hours:
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
Audio File 12
For Esther Servais, dance in all its forms is a celebration
of life and love as well as a gift to share with others.
Departments
Arrival Lounge 4
Pauline’s jaunt about the region convinces her that
spring has finally arrived and it’s brought Flamingos.
Wine and Design Stafford
556 Garrisonville Rd. Ste 206 • Stafford, VA 22554
540-628-2098 • www.wineanddesign.com/stafford
Wine and Design Fredericksburg
We bring the party to you
540-809-0899 • www.wineanddesign.com/fredericksburg
Life Hack 14
Farmers’ markets reopened in April across the region,
so fresh, locally sourced foods are readily at hand.
Last Call 15
Pho Saigon in Spotsylvania is the local go-to spot for
authentic, simple, Vietnamese offerings.
Grapes & Grains 15
Edwin visits with the father and son team at Poppy Hill
Tuscan Kitchen to see what’s on the menu for summer.
Book Wyrm 16
Every night, we feature a new painting
that a local artist will teach you how to paint.
So now, all you have to do is:
Sign Up • Show Up • Sip Up & Paint
Would you like to throw a more
exclusive wine and painting party?
No problem! Perfect for business outings,
girls night out, birthday parties
or any other special event.
We also offer ART BUZZ KIDS classes,
join us to make memories with your
children in a family-friendly atmosphere!
Save $5
Coupon Code RAPMAG15
The Rosie Project’s Professor Don Tillman, the literary
equivalent of TV’s Sheldon Cooper from The Big
Bang Theory, is a man looking for love in the all the
scientifically right places...
Screentime 17
Wild is the story of a twenty-something woman who has lost
her way. Unfortunately, viewers might lose their way, too.
Past Tense 19
Scottish refugees and revolutionaries left their indelible
stamp on Fredericksburg’s history and culture.
Calendar 20
Find regional events and activities to feed your mind, body,
and spirit.
Rappahannock Magazine 3
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Arrival Lounge
Pauline Felder
Flamingos: An Absolutely
Necessary Lawn Ornament
S
ometimes the best part of traveling is coming back home.
When I left town, the trees were still bare; after the unseasonably weird snow and cold temperatures we had in March, winter seemed an eternal
inevitability. It was late at night when I returned from my trip a few weeks later. The next
morning provided much confusion—this wasn’t the dead-looking backyard I had left
behind. This backyard is alive with shocks of pink and purple petals scattered throughout a lush green. Wondering what else could become so different in such a small time, I
wiped the thick layer of pollen off my windshield, sneezed repeatedly, and headed out to
explore.
Bursts of spring are everywhere—a season of rebirth, of newness, of possibilities.
Trees are blossoming with explosions of white and pink petals. The air smells fresh of
nature and compels you to take a deep breath as automatically as the pollen compels you
to sneeze. Flannel shirts and fishing poles indicate a nip in the air that won’t stop people
from fishing along the river. White canopies in yards announce that the season for outdoor celebrations is upon us. The Fredericksburg Canal Path is busy with folks who stroll,
folks who run, and folks who sit down along the side for a rest and thoughtful meditation.
House restorations and remodels are in full force, and painters on ladders are a common
sight.
As I was driving throughout the region, because, well, that’s what I do, I kept my eyes
open for pink flamingos. The North Stafford Rotary Club is “flocking” yards through May
15 to raise money for the Stafford Food Pantry and the Stafford Education Foundation,
among other charitable organizations. For only $25, they will put a flock of twelve plastic
pink flamingos (you know, the classy kind) in the location of your choice for 24 hours.
One of the first Flocked was The Free Lance-Star, and I must say the flamingos really
brightened up the flowers in front of the building. I’m thinking of having myself flocked.
It’ll visually brighten up my front yard and leave my neighbors to wonder if that, too, is a
part of my ongoing home renovation project.
This time of year brings fabulous free outdoor activities of all kinds. Tree Fredericksburg is on the move doing seasonal plantings throughout the area. If you’re looking for a
Saturday morning with a guaranteed sense of accomplishment, sign up for their May 16
planting on Fall Hill Avenue near the Friends of the Rappahannock in Fredericksburg.
They’ll provide the shovel, teach you all about tree planting and care, and might even let
you name your tree.
I totally get the whole “spring fever” thing now. I want to wake up in the morning,
throw open the door, and greet the day with a song Disney-style. I want to stroll through
the Farmers’ Markets, peruse the flea markets, and scrutinize the yard sales. I want to luxuriate on a blanket at outdoor movies and concerts. I never want to waste another moment
inside again! Well, at least until the mosquitoes completely thaw out and those 100 degree/100 percent humidity/bright sunny days set in. In the meantime, I have schematics
and choreography plans to draw up for some plastic pink visitors I’ll be scheduling soon.
Publisher
Avalon Media, LLC
Managing Editor
Peter S. Willis
[email protected]
Marketing Director
Ann Claiborne Willis
[email protected]
Art Director
Roxie Bowie
[email protected]
Webmaster
Robert Mann
[email protected]
Assistant Marketing Director
Chelsea Kopf
Contributing Editors
Hope Racine
Pauline Felder
Staff Photographer
Vincent Knaus
Hannah Osorio
Contributing Writers,
Photographers, and Artists
Alice Baldys
Patrick Michael Clark
Drew Gallagher
Kimberly Leone
Christopher Thomas Limbrick
Mike Richards
Meg Samonds
Jennifer Springsteen
Kimberly Stewart
Edwin Wyant
Rappahannock Magazine is a free lifestyle magazine published
monthly and distributed throughout the City of Fredericksburg and
Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. We invite the digital submission
of query letters, manuscripts, photographs, and art. Rappahannock
Magazine compensates writers, photographers, and artists for work
accepted by the magazine’s editorial board. Please direct queries
and submissions to [email protected].
Please visit Rappahannock Magazine on the Web at www.
rappahannockmag.com for display advertising rates and
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email [email protected].
Copyright 2015 Avalon Media, LLC All Rights Reserved
4 Rappahannock Magazine
www.rappahannockmag.com
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
Cover Artist
Art Beat
Galleries Announce First Friday Events, May Exhibits
A
rtFirst gallery is featuring
a series of abstract photographs by artist Adam Desio.
“KINETIC,” New Photographic
Work by DeSio, is a series of
abstract landCompiled by
scape photograAlice Baldys
phy depicting a
departure from
the hyper-realistic, fast moving
reality of life. ArtFirst Gallery is
located at 824 Caroline Street.
The annual featured artists for
the May exhibition now at Artful
Dimensions Gallery will include a showcase of artist Judith
Dios fabric art from May 15-17.
Dios is a fabric artist based in
British Columbia who creates
hand-painted and felted pieces
in a watercolor pattern of dyes.
The opening reception is on May
1 and will feature artwork from
students in the studio. The artists
who contribute and practice in
the classes at Artful Dimensions
create sculpture, jewelry, fabric
art, and other three-dimensional
mediums. Artful Dimensions is
located at 911 Charles Street.
Brush Strokes Art Gallery
is featuring “Picturesque,” by
Penny Parrish, a painter and
photographer whose still-life
depictions include local scenes
around Fredericksburg. Parrish
previously worked in journalism and law enforcement, The
downtown gallery is open for
viewers and features works from
a diverse group of artists. Brush
Strokes Gallery is located at 824
Caroline Street.
The Fredericksburg Center for
the Creative Arts will be featuring “Different Perspectives,” a
national juried art exhibit during
the month of May that will
feature artists from the surrounding community. It is currently
Christopher
Thomas Limbrick
C
ArtFirst Gallery will display the works of photographer and painter Adam Desio
beginning on First Friday (May 1) and running through May. ArtFirst is located at
824 Caroline Street in Fredericksburg.
housed at 813 Sophia Street at
the Silversmith house and is
open 12-4 p.m. daily, including
weekends.
The Eleventh Annual “The Art
of Recovery” art show will open
on First Friday, May 1, from 5-9
p.m. at Ponshop Studio and Gallery. The exhibit features original
artwork by adults with mental
illness. The show is organized
by members of Kenmore Club, a
psychosocial rehabilitation program operated by Rappahannock
Community Services Board. The
exhibit coincides with National
Mental Health Month and will
be on display locally through
May 24. “The Art of Recovery”
show will feature approximately
50 pieces representing several
art mediums. Artwork includes
original drawings, paintings,
three-dimensional artwork
(sculpture), textiles, and mixed
media. All of the pieces will be
available for purchase.
To correspond with the First
Friday opening, there will be
spoken word, poetry, and live
music in the gallery’s back
courtyard at 7:30 p.m.
Sophia Street Studios will host
a special celebration on May 1,
First Friday. Potter Trista Chapman will be celebrating 20 years
as a potter and 20 years since she
moved to Fredericksburg and
came to Sophia Street Studios.
There will be live music, food
and drink, giveaways, and a raffle of a collaborative piece that
Trista made with her late husband, Phil Chapman. The event
is 6-9 p.m. at 1104 Sophia Street
in Fredericksburg.
Water Street Studio, Writing
and Arts will give visitors an opportunity to show their work in
the gallery on May 1. For $10 to
cover supplies, visitors will get
a 6×6 piece of canvas and paint
to create their own masterpieces.
When dry, the works will hang
in the gallery for the month of
May.
hris was born in 1970 in
Fredericksburg and grew
up in rural Stafford County,
where he spent his days playing outside. At an early age he
developed a love for the great
outdoors and gained a sincere
appreciation for the boundless
beauty that is the natural environment.
He received a BA from Mary
Washington College in 1995
and in 2010 graduated from the
New York Institute of Photography. After a decade working in
business as a real estate entrepreneur, he decided to return to
his creative roots and to dedicate
his life to what truly brings him
happiness. While creating fine
art through photography and
painting brings its own personal
rewards to Chris, he most likes
that his work allows him to share
with others the world as he envisions it.
He creates by incorporating
a human feeling of a particular
moment as he explores the natural elements of the Earth.
His work has been exhibited
locally and in New York City,
included in regional and national
juried exhibitions, published and
collected. For more information,
visit christopherlimbrick.com.
Rappahannock Magazine 5
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Creators
Artist Follows Winding Road to Success
A
ll that Joelle Cathleen Gilbert has ever
wanted to do is make art for others.
Ever since the Fredericksburg artist was
a girl, she has been constantly creating and
sharing her work with friends and family
members. From homemade birthday cards to
paintings, her mission is simple: to capture a
tiny moment of escape which teeters on the
edge of reality and share them with others.
“Have you ever had a
By Hope Racine
bad day and everything
Photos by
is going wrong, and then
Vincent Knaus
something small and
beautiful happens?” Joelle
asks. “You see a wonderful sunset or a misty
meadow after a rain, and for just a moment
everything is okay, the stress is gone. I want
to capture those moments and share them
through my work. Kind of like a doorway to
escape from whatever’s stressing you, even
if it’s just for a moment.”
Though her road to success has been
bumpy, Joelle’s desire to share emotions and
memories has always been the same. Joelle
began studying art during high school, where
she first discovered how emotional art can
be. “We were studying Georgia O’Keefe,
and I was struggling to understand how people could find sexual connotations from just
a painting of flowers,” Joelle says. “For me
it was very literal. But then we began studying Andrew Wyeth, and it just clicked. It was
a revelation. I was like a deer in headlights
when I first experienced his work. A true
connection. I wanted to bend reality and step
into those paintings, to pet the dog, brush
away the curtains from the window, smell
the air. It was amazing and I instantly wanted to do the same with my own art.”
From there, Joelle threw herself into her
art, getting her associates degree in studio
art at Northern Virginia Community College.
“Life got in the way a bit, and I stopped
school for a while and started working to
sustain myself,” Joelle says.
But at 25, Joelle felt compelled to return
to school and finish what she had started.
She enrolled at Mary Washington College
as a sociology major, focused on becoming
a guidance counselor. “I like helping people
6 Rappahannock Magazine
and I’m good with people, and I wanted to
do something with that,” she says.
But Joelle quickly realized that the art program was where she wanted to be. “I walked
into the senior art show one day to check it
out, and I knew immediately: Screw practicality, I needed to be doing art. It was what
made me happy, and it was where I wanted
to be,” Joelle says. After graduating as the
first BLS student to hold a senior art show,
Joelle began looking for places to show her
work, which was comprised largely of nude
portraits. “I painted nudes because that’s
what I was taught, not because I was called
to do them,” Joelle says. After one showing,
she began to experiment and expand her
portfolio, finding her niche.
Today, the majority of Joelle’s paintings,
many of which are landscapes, feature
recurring themes such as trees, farms, and
cloud filled skyscapes. Much of the work
focuses around either dormant trees or quiet
landscapes. “For a long time people called
me the Dead Tree Artist,” Joelle says. “I
guess there are worse things to be known
for.” According to Joelle, her tree paintings
were a natural progression from her earlier
nude work. “Trees are complex and like the
human body. There are no two trees alike. In
the winter, when the leaves are gone, they’re
naked and exposed, and it can be really
beautiful to gaze upon. I love to capture
that,” Joelle says.
While all her paintings reflect different
emotions and memories, the trees are always
special. “I grew up in a farming community
in Maryland with not a lot of entertainment…so I spent a lot of time exploring in
the woods,” Joelle says. “The trees soon
became my playmates. I would climb them,
color their trunks with pastel crayons, and
talk to them,” she admits. “The woods were
somewhere I felt really safe and protected.
So when I started painting trees, they were
really my first self-portraits set in scenes that
I wanted to be in. And still today, I am the
tree in a lot of my paintings.”
Though she derived pleasure and captured
emotion from painting, for a long time it
was never a priority or a pursuit that Joelle
imagined she could do professionally. To pay
the bills, she worked as a bartender at restaurants near her home in Garrisonville as well
as in Fredericksburg. “It’s kind of a dual
passion,” Joelle says. “I love the restaurant
industry, and I’ve been in it since I was 15.
Today I fantasize about painting full-time
and being able to support myself through
that, and I’m taking steps. But I’ll always
love the customer service industry.”
Joelle learned that her two passions
weren’t mutually exclusive. “I was given the
opportunity to have a studio at LibertyTown
Arts Workshop (in Fredericksburg) and I
set myself a goal of residency for one year
to see if I could gain more exposure. It was
a great experience and really forced me out
of my shell and start marketing my art and
treating it like a business,” Joelle says. “But
it was tough. I wasn’t used to selling myself
and the competition was enormous. I was
surrounded by so many people with incredible talent, I kept asking myself, ‘How did
I get here again?’ Painting for yourself and
for friends is a lot different than painting to
live.”
Just when she thought her art career wasn’t
meant to be, Joelle got a call from Fredericksburg restaurant La Petite Auberge,
asking her to be the main artist featured
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
on the restaurant’s
walls. “They said
that they had decided
to feature one artist
instead of several
and asked if I could
provide them with
enough paintings to
fill the entire dining room,” Joelle
says. “It was so
unexpected and I felt
honored.” La Petite
Auberge has kept her
busy with a steady
stream of customers.
Each time a painting
is sold, Joelle provides the restaurant
with another one to
hang. In addition to
La Petite Auberge,
Joelle’s work hangs
at the Sunken Well
Tavern, The Kenmore Inn, and her current
workplace, The Colonial Tavern.
Because of her success selling in restaurants, Joelle doesn’t feel a calling to show in
galleries. “La Petite Auberge and the other
restaurants have opened so many doors for
me. If I didn’t have them, I would probably
have tossed in the paintbrushes by now and
just be known as ‘Joelle the Bartender.’ I
have a show coming up at Sunken Well Tavern in August, and things are going great.”
According to Joelle, selling work out of
restaurants is more enjoyable as well. “At
a restaurant, people aren’t looking for you
or looking to buy art. So it’s so much more
special when they do,” Joelle says.
Restaurants also allow her to have more
feedback on her work. “I once had someone tell me that one of my paintings made
them uncomfortable to look at,” Joelle says.
“They commented that my rickety barn and
stormy clouds in this particular painting
frightened them. At first I was a little taken
aback, but then I realized that at least I made
them feel something. There’s a reason why
they became emotionally affected by my
painting, why they responded to my art the
way they did. And that’s so much better than
Joelle Cathleen Gilbert draws
inspiration for her work from her
love of the woods, a love that
arises from her early childhood in
rural Maryland. La Petite Auberge
in Fredericksburg displays
many of her works, which she
creates in her home studio near
Garrisonville. Joelle’s art often
features trees set in minimalist
landscapes, which she describes
as self-portraits in scenes that she
envisions inhabiting.
no response.”
For now, Joelle’s main focus is expanding
her business and working toward painting
full-time. Her second goal is to get her paintings exposure outside of Fredericksburg.
“This town has been very good to me, but I
want to branch out and get more work across
the country and build a larger audience, so
I have an opportunity to connect with more
people,” Joelle explains. “My ultimate goal
as an artist is to suspend reality and time for
the viewer for just a moment. To encourage
an emotional response in others. To forget
where and who you are for even a second,
forget about the day-to-day stresses and
breathe in my painted world.”
Rappahannock Magazine 7
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Nature Abounds
On Birding and
Wildlife Trails
I
8 Rappahannock Magazine
t’s the time of year when things start moving. Plants are moving upwards, waistlines
are moving inwards (begrudgingly), birds
are moving northward, and
Story and
people are moving out and
Photos
by
about, looking for action
Mike Richards
in the increasing sunshine. This month I’m on
the move myself, looking
for the spring bird migration, and it just so
happens the greater Fredericksburg area has
a state-designated loop to assist me in my
efforts, The Virginia Birding and Wildlife
Trails, Fredericksburg Loop. The loop covers
a broad area with differing ecosystems ranging from open wetland marshes to mixed
hardwood and pine forests and everything
in between. Several stops along the trail
also allow folks to take in the area’s history
while enjoying their nature watching in the
beautiful gardens and grounds of places like
Ferry Farm, George Washington’s boyhood
home, Chatham Manor, and Belmont, home
of artist Gari Melchers.
I focused my explorations around these
particular areas to take advantage of their
closeness to each other and to bask in the
glory of the beautiful spring blooms. In all
seriousness, trying to make a day of the
whole loop would leave little time to enjoy
looking for wildlife, and anyone who pursues wildlife knows that it usually takes time
for Mother Nature to accept your presence
and offer up her bounty.
My first stop of the day was at Ferry Farm,
and it didn’t take long after closing the car
door to find what I came for. Almost immediately I was greeted by a pair of radiant
Eastern Bluebirds that were hawking for
insects on the rustic split rail fence between
the parking area and the back gardens. In
fact, the action around the gardens was fast
and furious thanks in part to its bird-friend-
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
Explorations
A House Finch gazes about the grounds at Ferry Farm (opposite). A Palm Warbler projects a fierce demeanor. A
Chipping Sparrow preens at Ferry Farm. Tulips display their petals at Belmont (clockwise from above).
ly setup, including feeders, bird boxes, and
carefully selected plantings. The birds here
were set in their purposes, busily flitting
over visitors’ heads to grab a seed or two
only to fly off to a secure perch until they
found it safe enough to repeat the exercise.
I saw plenty of rosy red House Finches and
Chipping Sparrows with their rusty caps
who seemed to hang close by in the shelter of the nearby fruit trees. Along with the
Chickadees, these were the easiest to spot
within the garden area. A college of Northern Cardinals passed through while I was
there, but their shy nature kept them on the
periphery and mostly hidden in the canopy
of the nearby trees. The only other birds of
note that I was able to catch at this location
was a group of Brown-headed Cowbirds
that seemed to be having an argument in the
tree line near the back of the property, and
a pair of Mourning Doves that were resting in a large tree directly behind the main
house. When you’ve trained your eyes on
spotting the quick actions of birds through
the thickness and confusion of a tangled
forest, hardly any sign of movement escapes
your attention, and just before leaving I was
able to witness a plump groundhog foraging
through the woods and resting lazily in front
of its burrow, which was a definite bonus
points scenario after spending much of my
time craning my neck skyward.
The next stop along the way was the river
frontage along River Road just in front of
Chatham Manor and down toward the Route
1 bridge crossing. This area isn’t quite as
easy to navigate as there are no trails, only
a turn off or two. I stayed only briefly to
admire the abundance of geese and crows in
the grassy flats that flank the Rappahannock.
I was also lucky enough to see a couple of
Pileated Woodpeckers hunting through the
high boughs of the sycamores and other
large trees on the river’s edge.
Belmont was my last stop and a place that
I had promised to visit again once the spring
blooms were in full effect. It did not disappoint me in regards to its blossoming beauty
nor in my hopes to find some of the harder
to find migrating birds. The garden floor was
an absolute explosion of tulips and daffodils
and other spring flowers, which accented the
buildings and walkways like colorful sentinels, while the beautiful flowering redbuds
seemed to fill the once dead spaces like visions of cotton candy in a young child’s eye.
After a leisurely stroll through the wonderful
main grounds, I was pulled toward chatty
avian conversations that led me down the
hillside pathway toward the river. It was
here I found a place to rest and sit back, a
perfect perch on a stone wall. I pointed my
camera into the foliage and just watched as
Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers danced
through the flowering trees. This was my
spot and it was a perfect one to end a great
afternoon of enjoying nature.
Rappahannock Magazine 9
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Artist, Teacher,
Volunteer, Leader:
Johnny P. Johnson
Has Been Them All
F
redericksburg’s iconic Johnny P. Johnson had but two goals when he ventured
from his small home town in North Carolina
to his alma mater, Virginia State University. “I wanted to be a
competent teacher and By Kimberly Stewart
Photo by
competent artist,’” he
Vincent
Knaus
says when reflecting
upon a career spanning
over sixty years. “And I think I’ve accomplished both of these things.” Although he
is quite modest in manner, Johnny’s accomplishments in the art world and contributions
to the community are anything but modest.
Thankful that his high school homeroom
teacher and guidance counselor encouraged
him to apply to VSU’s art program, Johnny
was destined to stake his future in the art
world. “My homeroom teacher, who would
eventually become my guidance counselor,
told me that I had to do something in the art
world or I would not be happy,” he says. But
his passion for art developed much earlier
than that. “I was always drawing, sketching,
creating, on anything I could write on. Any
white space in any book was filled.” In his
day, textbooks were rented and expected to
be turned in relatively unscathed and with
only minimal wear. Students were given
erasers toward the end of the school year
to remove any marks from their textbooks.
Johnny’s parents always ended up buying
his textbooks, because, from cover to cover,
every margin on every page was filled with
his creative doodles and drafts.
Once Johnny moved on to his formal
post-secondary studies at VSU, another
passion would soon enter his life. Johnny
would come to be a noted point guard on the
university’s basketball team. He would be a
standout and team captain, eventually earn-
10 Rappahannock Magazine
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
Connections
ing a spot in the VSU Sports Hall of Fame
– this from the fellow who did not make his
high school team the first time he tried out.
“When I first tried out for my high school
team I didn’t make the cut. I tried again in
my sophomore year and ended up doing well
enough to become team captain,” he says.
Johnny laughs and notes that he always felt
he should have made it the first time. He
often shared that story with his students as a
lesson in perseverance and dedication.
As Johnny entered the teaching world in
Fredericksburg City Schools, art was not a
core academic subject but an extracurricular
elective. Because of this, he taught the core
subjects and physical education as well. He
recalls that his classroom was not exactly
conducive to art instruction – there were no
art tables and insufficient supplies. He would
make do by moving desks around and being
imaginative with lackluster art supplies. He
would win teacher of the year in 1977, but
even that recognition would take a backseat
to what he describes as his greatest teaching
commendation: former students who credit
him with their successes. “I am most moved
by students who tell me that I am the reason for their success in life, that I inspired
them,” he says.
Johnny has devoted himself to his family
as well as his art and teaching. His wife,
Jean, caught his eye over fifty years ago. He
says of the woman who was the future Mrs.
Johnson, “I met her in 1959 and I fell in
love in 1960.” They would marry and start
a family, having two sons, Shelton and John
Patrick. Family life and being a father would
be the hat Johnny would be most proud to
wear. “I loved starting a family and being a
father. It is my greatest joy. I always wanted
to be the one who got up in the middle of the
night for my children,” he says.
Johnny’s artwork garners great attention
and is highly sought after. Today his work
resides in local businesses, including Mary
Washington Hospital. He has pieces in
Europe, Africa, and about 30 states nationwide. He says that he feels pretty good about
that. “For a country boy who has never
taken his work to a gallery, it’s not too bad,
I suppose,” he says. His mediums vary and
the twists and turns of his creativity appear
endless. He claims acrylics are his favorite
medium because he can do many different
things with them and approach them in so
many ways. He describes his style as primarily abstract, but it truly runs the gamut. In all
of his collections, the art piece he is most enamored with is his Homage to Fathers piece,
featuring his oldest son reaching for him.
Despite a teaching career, an art career,
a family, and his own studio, Johnny also
found time to be involved in his community
and church. He held leadership positions in
the local NAACP chapter, The Counsel on
Human Relations, his fraternity Omega Psi
Phi, and Old Site Shiloh Baptist Church.
According to Fredericksburg’s former mayor
and Reverend Lawrence Davies, Johnny was
instrumental in the Fredericksburg area’s relatively smooth transition into integration and
uniting the community during the civil rights
era. Johnny credits his mother, Viola, as the
muse who encouraged him to make a difference with a hands-on approach. “My mother
said to me that sometimes you have to go
beyond prayer and talk. Sometimes people
need you to do something,” he says.
Today Johnny enjoys a slower pace, having retired from teaching and reduced his
community activities. “I had to learn to say
no to some things. There was a time when
I would and could volunteer for just about
anything I deemed a worthy cause. But
being a bit older now, I’ve had to step aside.
And my wife would like me at home more,”
he says.
Johnny downplays his accomplishments
and recognition. He says the awards he’s
won over the years – far too many to count –
aren’t important. He puts it simply: “Just let
me do the right thing for the right reason.”
For more information about Johnny P.
Johnson and his work, visit his website at
www.johnnypjohnson.com.
“I loved starting a
family and being
a father. It is my
greatest joy. I always
wanted to be the one
who got up in the
middle of the night for
my children.”
Johnny P. Johnson
Artist, Teacher,
Volunteer, Community Leader
Rappahannock Magazine 11
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Audio File
Dancer Seeks Out Challenges With New Forms and Styles
“We should consider every day lost
on which we have not danced at least once.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche
E
sther Servais has likely never lost a day. Esther dances. Esther
ballroom dances. She hip hop dances. Esther can Lindy Hop
and fly from aerial silks or Lyra (hoop hanging from the ceiling a
la Cirque du Soleil). Esther can salsa. She can modern dance. She
dabbled in ballet and tap as a child, and her
By Kimberly Leone
moves with a chair would make Jennifer
Photos by Siobhan
Beals of Flashdance fame jealous. In short,
Young Photography
(above) and Drew
Esther dances.
and Sarah Kittredge
“When I dance, I feel God’s glory and
(opposite)
love the most,” Esther says. “I feel free. I
feel like this is what I was made to do.”
In making the most of what she feels she
was made to do, Esther seeks out challenges and dance forms that
push her limits and add variety to her skill set. Among the non-traditional dance forms she has added to her resume – pole dancing.
Shiny silver poles. Sexy club music. Mirrored walls. Sultry lighting. Beautiful women. And not a dollar bill in sight. Thursday evenings at the Dollhouse Pole Fitness Studio in Manassas have nothing
12 Rappahannock Magazine
to do with making it rain. Here, petite Von Brianna leads a standard
gym-style fitness class – warmup, cardio, stretch, cool down – the
cardio part just happens to require a shiny, silver pole. Esther joined
the pole fitness world about two years ago.
She and the other women taking to the poles during Von’s classes
prove this dance form has gone way beyond its stereotype of dollar
bills and G-strings. Even in the beginner class, their incredible gymnastic moves, power poses, and ridiculous abs, quads, biceps, back,
and shoulder muscles along with the complete absence of topless
women practically scream, “Not a strip club!”
“One of my biggest challenges of dancing is not compromising
myself,” Esther says. “Staying true to myself as an artist and staying
true to my personal beliefs.”
So for Esther, pole dancing isn’t about stilettos and sex.
“Pole is about strength, passion, and skill,” she says. “All ages and
any gender can do it. Any dance background and any physical skill
level can start it. You bring want you want to pole. That is why it is
so uniquely beautiful and different. You can express pain, love, joy,
anger, drama...in so many different ways.”
Esther sees pole as a creative way to build strength and confidence,
to experience the freedom to portray whatever character the dancer
wants, or to let go and just “be 100 percent you.” For her and Von,
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
the empowering style helps women get out of their own way.
“It seems like women are raised being told how they should look
and act and who they should become,” Von says. “Pole helped me
become my own woman, become myself, helped me take control of
my own life and be a strong woman not only physically but mentally.
“Lots of things you see on YouTube or TV look hard, but when
you nail those moves you feel a burst of excitement and happiness,”
Von says. “To those people who say ‘I can’t do that,’ you will be
surprised with what your body can do, if you let it.”
Esther’s body can fly.
“I have always wanted to fly!” she says. “I feel that freedom in the
aerial arts with pole, Lyra, and silks!”
When Esther isn’t “flying” she shares her creative spirit and many
talents with her students in drama classes she teaches as the director of the Theatre Arts Department at New Life in Christ Church in
Spotsylvania. The department under Esther’s leadership does everything from cantatas to one acts to full orchestra musicals.
“I knew I wanted to be in theater when my church’s music minister
gave me the opportunity to be a stagehand for one of our vacation
Bible school plays,” she says. “I fell in love!”
In addition to teaching drama and directing all of her church’s theater productions, Esther also sings and acts. She has appeared in productions for Riverside Dinner Theatre, Stage Door Productions, and
Fredericksburg Theatre Ensemble. She has brought to life characters
in Once Upon a Mattress, Dracula Flies Again, Shrek the Musical,
and Rumors, among others.
When she’s not inspiring young souls to explore their creativity
on stage, Esther trains and dances and dances and trains. Currently, she is training to compete in the Washington Open Dancesport
Championships, Virginia State Dancesport Championships, Capital
Dancesport Championships and SuperShag Boston Pole Fitness
Championships.
Her training regime includes two hours every day of dancing and
another hour a day for P90X workouts. She works in a lot of stretching too.
“As you gain strength, you lose flexibility and vice versa,” she
says. “So you always have to work for that balance.”
But some days the alarm goes off too early or shoulder muscles
don’t recover from a set of 50 pushups or traffic or a headache or a
headache because of traffic happens. What does Esther do on days
when things feel a little off balance and sleeping in calls her name?
“I think of all the people who want the opportunities that I have,
but are not allowed to either because of the country they live in and
Dancer Esther Servais has mastered many dance styles and works to expand her
the restrictions their government has put on them or because of their repertoire with aerial silks, Lyra, and pole (opposite). She also teaches drama to
physical limitations,” she says.
young people at New Life in Christ Church in Spotsylvania (above).
Esther never loses sight of how blessed she is and that’s what gets
“her butt to the studio” even when she’d rather hit the snooze button “Those dancers in Iran were willing to risk their very lives and freeone more time.
dom to do what I do every day. How dare I ever complain about this
“The movie Desert Dancer is a perfect example of that,” she adds. freedom, about this gift I have?”
Rappahannock Magazine 13
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Life Hack
Farmers’ Markets Provide Healthy Foods from Local Sources
N
ow that spring has arrived the surrounding area is “bursting with fruit flavor.”
But we’re not talking about Starburst candies; there are now an abundance of locations offering what you cannot resist, the
tastiest, sweetBy Elizabeth Howard
est, freshest
Photos by Hannah Osorio
local vegetables
and fruits the
region offers. Farmers’ markets opened in
April everywhere, and no longer do you
need to question whether an item is fresh or
vital. People love farmers’ markets, because
there is no label and the person who grew
it or crafted it stands directly before them.
Now is the time for the most valuable learning: going straight to the source and asking
any sensible question to which you are dying
to know the answer.
Excitement fills the air as you step into
the fresh outdoor markets or visit more
established fresh indoor markets in the area.
You breathe in the fragrance and your eyes
are feasting. Don’t forget to ask yourself
why you are really there; otherwise, you’ll
be tempted to overbuy. Fresh flowers, local honey, local meats, wonderful coffees,
herbs, teas free of spray, and, of course, a
rainbow of colors representing the array of
produce coming into season allow you to see
that anything is possible. (Well, maybe not
anything.) Which brings us to where you can
find those special items you seek and when.
Most regional farmers’ markets opened by
about the third week in April, and they offer
a variety of products from local producers
based on the time of the season and what’s
available. Produce in season includes: artichokes, scapes, garlic, cooking greens, and
seasonal vegetables including chard, carrots,
beets and asparagus.
The historic traditional farmers’ market
in downtown Fredericksburg known as
Hurkamp Park Farmers’ Market with approximately 28 vendors opened on Saturday
April 18t. By early May produce will be in
full swing at the market. The market is alive
on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. C &
T Produce is one farmer remaining at the
market beyond Saturdays and is available for
14 Rappahannock Magazine
Color abounds at Hurkamp Park Farmers’ Market. Farmers’ markets opened across the region in April and
offer locally sourced fruits, vegetables, flowers, breads, baked goods, and other items.
sales from Monday through Saturday 7 a.m.
until 2 p.m.. A variety of plants, vegetables,
fruits, cheeses, meats, honey, beeswax, eggs,
local wine, alpaca yarn, soaps, herbs, breads,
and homemade baked goods are sold at the
Saturday market. These are all items crafted by the producers themselves. Blenheim
Farms, a local supplier of certified organic
produce, is a leader at the market and Sprelly, our local source for nut butters, also sells
there. Walnut Hill Farm and Wild Hill Farm
are your local source for fresh meats, eggs,
and cheeses. James E. Headley provides
seafood, and you are encouraged to arrive
relatively early in the morning. Hurkamp
Park also offers Art in the Park the first and
third Saturdays of the month beginning in
May.
Mayfield Market is open on Thursdays
beginning in May from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30
p.m. at the corner of Tyler and Dixon streets
along Route 2 in Fredericksburg. This is an
off-shoot of the Hurkamp Park Farmer’s
Market location.
Gordon Road farmers’ market is the largest
market in the area, boasting more than 45
vendors at both the Gordon Road commut-
er lot location (12150 Gordon Road) and
Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center (4600
Spotsylvania Parkway). The Gordon Road
location is open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on
Saturdays and the Spotsylvania Regional
Medical Center location is open form 2 p.m.
until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
King George’s Farmers’ Market, which
opened on April 27, boasts growers from
both King George and Westmoreland counties. It’s also a producers-only market and
offers fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, breads,
and jams. Open Saturdays 8 a.m. until 12
p.m., this market is at King George Elementary School at the corner of Route 3 and
Route 205.
Quantico Farmer’s Market will open from
10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursdays beginning
May 22.
Don’t forget your local storefront markets!
Local storefronts such as Olde Towne Butcher on William Street, Kickshaw’s Market on
the corner of Williams and Sophia streets
and Harvest Market off of Courthouse Road
provide seasonal produce, local meats, and
other locally produced products important to
local consumers such as yourself.
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
Last Call
Grapes & Grains
Under the
Tuscan Sun
C
hef Scott Mahar is the kind
of guy you’d love to sit
down with and talk food. His
passion for the trade shines as he
describes the
By Edwin Wyant
farmers with
whom Poppy
Hill Tuscan Kitchen collaborates in order to bring diners the
healthiest, freshest, and most flavorful food they can get locally.
He likes to talk about dishes on
the menu and the inspiration that
got them there. But Scott is also
humble, relaxed, and not one to
market himself.
The flip side of this coin and
the front of the house is Scott’s
dad. Mike Mahar is fiercely
proud of his son and ready to
give you an earful of his accomplishments. I was glad to learn
more about Scott and what’s
underneath his impermeable
the garden (summer) rolls. The
chef’s coat. Scott graduated from
former were stuffed with minced Le Cordon Bleu at its former
pork, water chestnuts, carrots,
campus in New Hampshire, but
mushrooms, and rice noodles,
quite a bit of his experience and
wrapped in delicate rice paper
training came from other places.
and fried. Served piping hot and Scott spent time interning at the
perfectly crispy, they are ready
renowned Chanterelle in New
for dipping in the accompanying York City and then manned the
nuoc cham – fish sauce with lime kitchens at Galileo Restaurant
juice and chilies.
and the Ritz Carlton in D.C.
We chose shrimp and pork
Poppy Hill opened in Decemfor our garden rolls, although
ber of 2005, but the Mahars
they may also be ordered with
work hard to keep their menu
pork only or with tofu. The rolls modern and fresh. The menu,
are soft, wrapped with fresh
which has always been in evolusheets of rice paper, and along
tion, has gone to a fairly distinct
with your choice of protein, are
format for 2015. One half of the
stuffed with lettuce and rice
menu retains the Italian classics
vermicelli noodles. The housethat have been known and loved
made Saigon peanut sauce that
by gastrophiles for decades, but
accompanies them is worth
it’s the other half which provides
keeping on the table to use in the the edge in the kitchen. Every
next course.
week the menu offers a new prix
Two other favorite appetizer
Pho Saigon: Don’t Overlook this Hidden Gem
V
ietnamese food hosts so
many great flavors: there’s
the fresh herbs
Review and
and aromatPhotos by
ics – cilantro,
Meg Samonds
mint, Thai
basil, and
lemongrass – the anise scented,
gingery broths, the sharp, salty
funk of fish sauce, and those
spicy peppers!
Family owned and operated
since 2002, Pho Saigon is the
local go-to spot to seek out these
flavors, for authentic, simple,
Vietnamese offerings. Located in
a small strip mall abutting Salem
Church Road in Spotsylvania,
the popular destination is easy to
overlook, but don’t! It’s worth
seeking out for a quick solo
lunch or dinner with friends.
When you arrive you will be
greeted by owners Lisa or
Mervin Munoz, or perhaps one
of their many family members
who work with them. If multiple tables are available in the
small, sparsely decorated space,
you will often be offered your
choice. Choosing a table near the
well-kept fish tank will give you
an opportunity to observe the
beautiful swimming koi.
While you peruse the menu,
you can choose from a variety of
wine or beer, including the Vietnamese “33,” but I recommend
starting with a freshly made soda
chanh. Each soda is made to
order, with muddled lime, sugar
and club soda. Not too sweet or
too tart, the refreshing drink is
the perfect palate cleanser for the
flavors of the dishes to come.
On a recent visit, I tried both
the chao gio – traditional crispy
spring rolls – and the goi cuon –
Continued on Page 22
Continued on Page 18
Rappahannock Magazine 15
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Book Wyrm
Australian Author Adds Sequel to Comedic Masterpiece
P
erhaps it is fitting that this brutally long
winter of our discontent concluded in the
year that Richard III’s bones were finally
put to rest in ground more consecrated than
the ground under the asphalt of a carpark in
England. Summer is near,
Book Review
and with it the promise of By Drew Gallagher
beach and poolside reading. Australian author
Graeme Simsion has just the books for you.
The Rosie Effect, the sequel to The Rosie
Project, was released recently, but first we
must start at the beginning since there is a
need for more than one summertime read,
and you would want to progress in order.
The Rosie Project is now available in
paperback and comes with a sticker on the
cover that warns that consuming beverages
while reading the book may lead to unexpected spitting out of said beverage and rendering the pages illegible until dried. (Well,
it doesn’t have that sticker, but I believe that
the omission was simply to cut down on
production costs.) The Rosie Project is one
of the funniest books you will likely ever
read, and Professor Don Tillman, the literary
equivalent of TV’s Sheldon Cooper from
The Big Bang Theory, is a man looking for
love in the all the scientifically right places,
at least according to his finely tuned research
and his 16-page potential wife questionnaire
(including body mass index).
Professor Tillman decides he wants to get
married, but to this point in his life, the usual
dating techniques, as espoused by his friends
Gene and Claudia, have failed miserably.
“Gene and Claudia tried for a while to assist me with the Wife Problem. Unfortunately, their approach was based on the traditional dating paradigm, which I had previously
abandoned on the basis that the probability
of success did not justify the effort and negatives experiences. I am thirty-nine years old,
tall, fit and intelligent, with a relatively high
status and above-average income as an associate professor. Logically, I should be attractive to a wide range of women. In the animal
kingdom, I would succeed in reproducing.
“But there is something about me that
women find unappealing. I have never found
16 Rappahannock Magazine
it easy to make friends, and it seems that the
deficiencies that caused this problem have
also affected my attempts at romantic relationships. The Apricot Ice Cream Disaster is
a good example.”
The Apricot Ice Cream Disaster is
merely one of the socially awkward
situations that permeate Tillman’s
day-to-day life, and Simsion captures it all to wonderful comic
effect. And unlike many “comic” novels that fail to be funny
consistently throughout, The
Rosie Project is funny and
touching from cover to
cover.
Though the questionnaire and wife project
ultimately fail, Don Tillman does land Rosie
by the end of The
Rosie Project, and
everyone appears on
the verge of living
happily ever after...
until the sequel. There
was no indication at the end
of The Rosie Project that a sequel
was to follow, but I would assume that since
it achieved international best-seller status,
there was probably some dialogue with the
publisher coupled with a few promises of
mind-blowing royalties if Simsion could put
nose to grindstone and consider a follow-up.
In an apparent effort to not write himself
into a corner and leave open the possibility of retiring to his own tropical island,
Simsion leaves the conclusion of The Rosie
Effect open-ended and primed for a possible
third novel. If this does become the Rosie
Trilogy, there will be some criticism leveled
on book two in the trilogy because it suffers
from what many middle books in a trilogy
tend to suffer from — put simply, it’s not the
first or the last and suffers from middle-child
neglect. But in defense of The Rosie Effect,
the bar set by the first novel was at nearly
historic heights, so by just about any measure, it was going to lag behind the brilliance
of The Rosie Project.
With that qualifier aside, Tillman’s return
could not have been more welcome. Readers
who crack The Rosie Project are going to
find themselves wanting more of Tillman at
novel’s end. His presence makes the world
a better place, or at least a more amusing
place. And The Rosie Effect is funny and
clever, but just not on every page
like its predecessor.
In Rosie, Tillman
has found a woman
who appreciates his
quirkiness and brilliance and looks forward to the challenge
of life together. But that
was going to be a lot easier in their native Australia than in New York City,
where Don accepts a teaching position at a university in
an unfamiliar city. Add into
the equation Rosie’s pregnancy, and soon the scheduling and
compartmentalizing that Tillman
has built his entire existence upon
starts to crumble. He had always
assumed he would be a father, but
now that he’s faced with the prospect, his reaction is less euphoric than
Rosie would like.
“I was happy in the way that I would be
happy if the captain of an aircraft in which I
was traveling announced that he had succeeded in restarting one engine after both
had failed. Pleased that I would now probably survive, but shocked that the situation
had arisen in the first place, and expecting a
thorough investigation into the circumstances.”
As one might imagine, this form of happiness may not be exactly what the motherto-be was hoping for in the father-to-be, but
such is life with Tillman.
There is always a time for serious literature, but Dostoevsky in summer seems incongruous. You want to smile and enjoy the
sun, the summer, and life. Graeme Simsion’s
Rosie books are the perfect companion for
such a season and such a life.
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
Screen Time
Wild: Grueling Journey Leaves Viewers Flat and Unfulfilled
I
magine my hand doing that shaky wrist
twist and the voice of a preteen saying in
the tone they reserve for questioning adults,
“Um, sort of.” I liked Wild like that: sort of.
Wild is the story of a twenty-something
woman who has
Film Review
lost her way. Her
By Jennifer Springsteen
mother has died, her
marriage has been
ruined by her many affairs, she’s becoming
addicted to heroin, and she needs to get her
life on track. Pulling herself completely out
of the norm and pushing her own boundaries
are the only ways she can imagine separating her old self from the self she needs to
become. It’s an awesome plot premise. The
fact that not many people, especially not
many women, take on the Pacific Crest Trail
(or the PCT, as the cool kids say) raises the
stakes for the tension we hope lies ahead.
The movie starts as does the book: Somewhere on a trail, Cheryl Strayed removes her
too-tight boots and also a toenail (hope you
weren’t putting popcorn in your mouth), and
then the boot tumbles off the side of the cliff.
She throws the second boot after the first.
And there she is, in the middle of nowhere,
with no boots. It doesn’t look good for our
hero.
There is a grainy home-movie quality to
the filming that makes it rich and real. The
lighting was beautiful, start to finish: magical when the sun was out and when the rain
hit the windshields. Both effects served to
create a closeness for the viewer, an insidethe-tent feel throughout the film. And speaking of inside the tent, we continually revisit
Strayed, eyes open in the tent. The camera
turns to a patch inside of the tent so we see
what she sees when she first wakes and when
she goes down for the night. It’s just a small
addition, but a lovely treatment of the internal mood. It reminds us of the repetition of
her days and the time she has for reflection.
Because of the extensive flashbacks in the
book—so many, in fact, that I grew weary
of them and finally gave up the read—I felt
skeptical of how well the crucial backstory
would be portrayed in the film. But most of
the flashbacks were seamlessly woven into
Wild, the movie, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée,
written by Nick Hornby, and based on the
2012 memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the
Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. It stars
Reese Witherspoon as Strayed and is billed
as a biographical drama. Available on Amazon
Instant for $4.99.
the PCT scenes. And I appreciated that not
all flashbacks were completely fleshed out.
The treatment of these flashbacks gives the
viewer some credit that we can parse out the
emotion of these disjointed scenes and understand that they brought Strayed to where
she is now on the path. The real path. The
PCT. The end-of-the-record needle scratch
that concludes each flashback is brilliant.
The climax of the movie, the death of
Strayed’s mother to cancer, happens in
flashback. The scenes are choreographed
beautifully in real time, PCT time, where
we witness again, with new significance,
Strayed losing her boot and then chucking
the other over the cliff edge.
The ongoing conversation in Strayed’s
head and the music’s mimicry of her reflectiveness created a closeness to Strayed’s
mental state on the trail. But throughout the
film, the Witherspoon voice-overs and dialog
were whispery, like two heads in a sleeping
bag. Some of it worked with the mood, but
some of it seemed too quiet. Too, “Eh? Come
again?” Or perhaps too precious, maybe.
While I’m complaining about my hearing,
let me complain about the on-screen lettering. One aspect of the PCT are mileposts:
Hikers sign in at markers on the trail. It’s fun
to see who’s on the trail with you, but it’s
also a way to keep track of who is where on
the trail and determine whether they’ve been
eaten by a cougar. Signing the mileposts
serves as a group journal, like those you
find at a quaint B&B, only more important.
Strayed leaves quotes as her check-ins. And
Vallée adds them in six-point font on the
screen. I needed rewind and my opera glasses to read them. After the third one, I didn’t
care anymore.
The bottom line is this: How does Strayed
change? What’s different at the end of the
trail? Is it that she accepts who she is?
Maybe. There was a certain joy in the denouement as Strayed enters the lovely town
of Ashland, Oregon. But the sex scene at
this point (other than a means to peek at the
ageless Witherspoon) admits to the audience
that her character hasn’t changed. She didn’t
do drugs, but this scene did nothing to add to
the creation of a dynamic and changing (or
ruthless and never changing) character, and it
certainly did nothing for the plot.
The book-turned-movie, A River Runs
Through It, ends with the line: “I am haunted
by the waters.” Oh, how I cried. Wild, on the
other hand, fell flat. There is Strayed, at the
Bridge of the Gods, a magical bridge spanning the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge.
She is proud of finishing the trail, and her
whole life is before her. All in voice-over,
she questions all the sex and drugs and what
she learned from them, she declares her future, (married with children) and says, “How
wild it was, to let it be.” I pressed rewind,
but it was the same the second time: flat.
Rappahannock Magazine 17
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Grapes & Grains
From Page 15
fixe option that involves three
courses. First Scott has to work
with his cohorts at the Fredericksburg Farmers’ Market and at
the sustainable farms he collaborates with for poultry, meats, and
vegetables. Once Scott has seen
the various seasonal produce and
has a grasp of all the products
and their qualities, he uses those
qualities to draw inspiration.
Now I had to run through my
curiosities before I let them
off the hook. First question up:
What region of Italy makes the
wine that brings you the most
enjoyment? Scott: “I love the
Sicilian wines. In fact we have
two Nero D’Avolas on our wine
list right now, and that happens
to be my favorite type of wine
from the region.” At a glance,
said list is considerate of the
consumer and very favorable to
my palate. It mostly consists of
wines from Italy in an affordable
price range, yet still boasts a
good number of local wines such
as the world famous juice from
Barboursville Vineyards. Papa
Mike also had a distinct favorite
region and grape type. Having
known him for a little while
now, I could have guessed at
his tendencies, and so I was not
shocked to learn that his favorite
wines hale from Barolo. These
wines are made from a very
distinct grape variety known as
Nebbiolo a grape that you’d be
hard-pressed to find growing
outside of the Barolo region.
Nebbiolo does well here due to
the region’s high elevation and
steep slopes, but most experts
will tell you that it thrives because of the dense fog regularly
experienced in the area. Mike
also admitted that he liked most
of the various wines from the
Piedmont region in Northern Italy. Barolo just happens to be the
most prestigious and most dear.
Lastly, I asked the pair to give
me the scoop on their dish du
jour or their hot menu item.
They both jumped to exclaim:
“Wild Boar Bolognese”! I didn’t
ask how “wild” the boar was,
and Scott expounded on the ripe
tomatoes he uses for the base,
the white wine, the fennel seed,
and the honey that provides a
sweetness on the finish. So get
by Poppy Hill for a taste of this
deliciousness, and pair it with
a glass of Barolo. After all, the
two run together like any classic
duo, hand in hand. Chinchin!
Fredericksburg’s Mind & Body Oasis
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EXERCISE STUDIO| ATHLEISURE BOUTIQUE | LOUNGE
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WWW.PITAIYO.COM 540-412-8366
Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged
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Store Hours:
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606 Caroline Street • Fredericksburg, VA 22401
gemstonecreations.org • 540.373.7847
facebook.com/GemstoneCreations
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Offering 20% off highlights when you mention this ad.
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1111 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, Virginia
Ashley Vessels (540) 621-2820 or Kathryn Campana (540) 693-0771
Juice Bar, Cafe &
Nutrition Spot
Creative
Juices
A fusion of
whole foods
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915 Lafayette Blvd • Fredericksburg, VA 22401
www.lizzcreativejuices.com • (540) 371-2931
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18 Rappahannock Magazine
Upcoming Events
Spa Week:
$25 Spa Meal
May 2-9th $50 Rejuvenation
Nutrition Consult
Eagle Village Shopping Center
1223 Jefferson Davis Hwy • Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 373-8878 • hopandwineshop.com • facebook @ HOP.WINE
GI Nutrition Tips
May 4th $10 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm
Mother’s Day Fruit Tart Demo
May 10th $25 10-11:30 am
Healthy Happy Hour: 6-8 pm
May 21st $14 Adults / $8 12 & Under
RSVP to events are requested but not required
10% off any purchase
While supplies last. Does not combine with any
other offer or coupons. No further discounts apply.
Expires 4.17.15
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
Past Tense
Scottish Character and Legacy Live on in Fredericksburg
I
t was on Burns Night, the
age-old commemoration of
the Highland Poet, that I found
myself rediscovering into the
uniquely Scottish character of
my hometown. I was by chance
looking through John T. Goolrick’s
1922
By Patrick Michael Clark
work,
Photo by Hannah Osorio
Historic
Fredericksburg: The Story of an Old
Town. I discovered this grand
old book some time ago and
was pleasantly surprised to find
Goolrick’s name attached to it.
Yes, the same Goolrick whose
name is eternally fixed to the
venerable lunch counter and its
magnificent milkshakes.
Goolrick undoubtedly did
more than serve Coke floats.
A Confederate artilleryman
turned-lawyer who made his
name in postbellum Fredericksburg, he turned to writing in his
later years, after serving as a
local judge and meeting Warren
G. Harding on one occasion.
The Story of an Old Town was
written as a popular history, featuring more personal reminisces
than raw data. Still Goolrick
covers well-known historic sites,
while giving insight into the personalities associated with them.
His particular love for the Rising
Sun Tavern is best remembered
in his description of, “Where Famous Men Met; and Mine Host
Brewed Punch and Sedition.”
It was after revisiting Goolrick’s love letter to the city of
his birth that I realized the Burns
Night connection. The town at
the falls of the Rappahannock,
known for its Washingtons
and stalwart Civil War memories, was more Scottish than I
thought.
The mid eighteenth century
was a time of great Scottish
presence in Fredericksburg. An
immigrant from Kirkbean, Scotland named William Paul kept a
grocery in town and rose to local
prominence before dying in 1773
on the eve of the Revolution. His
famed brother John Paul Jones
came to live in Fredericksburg
at the time of his brother’s death
and often kept company in the
Rising Sun Tavern with Hugh
Mercer.
Though Mercer is popularly
remembered for his apothecary shop and association with
leeches, he was a firebrand for
independence. According to
Goolrick, Mercer “hated England since he had felt defeat
at the disaster of Culloden and
crept from Scotland a hunted
man.” No doubt he was able to
find friends among the Scots
of Fredericksburg and patriots
of the Revolution. In the early
twentieth century he would be
memorialized with a statue on
Washington Avenue, an impassioned figure readying his sword,
as if facing the redcoats at the
Battle of Princeton.
Lesser known Scotsmen of
Fredericksburg included Archibald McPherson, an eighteenth century philanthropist
who left his sizable income and
property to the poor of the city
at his death in 1854, though
whose only monument is a worn
tombstone laid beneath a tree in
St. George’s Episcopal churchyard. Rev. E. C. Murdaugh,
another Scotsman, presided over
similar burials in the hallowed
old cemetery until he became
the founder of Trinity Episcopal
Church in 1877. Murdaugh’s
replacement at St. George’s,
Robert J. McBryde, was also of
similar ancestry. It seems suitable that memories of a green
and wild homeland might have
inspired the lovingly overgrown
churchyard where the “Founders
of Fredericksburg Sleep.”
Of course there are many
more obvious connections to the
ancient land of Burns and Queen
Mary. The Presbyterians have
had a presence in Fredericksburg
since before the Revolution, as
have the Scottish Rite Masons.
Both have prospered along the
Rappahannock, with the historic church at Princess Anne and
George streets now over two
hundred years old. And there
might be hoards of Masonic gold
buried on Scott’s Island yet to
be found, and I am still fervently searching. Just walking the
city’s cemeteries, one finds the
tombstones of Scottish families,
merchants, and tradesmen vital
to the city’s economic and cultural past.
These first Scots were immigrants, undoubtedly seeking
the wealth, opportunities, and
freedoms that a New World
promised. They became patriots
in the days of the Revolution,
Confederates in the days of
national disunion, and keepers
of the legacy of both. They are
the names upon the graves in the
churchyards and fallen-in plots
of the town they helped build.
So in honor of Burns Night, a
holiday so obscure on this side
of the Atlantic that it hasn’t yet
been ruined by mass commercialism or green beer, I raised a
glass to the memory of the Scots
of my hometown. Though I
think my own Scottish ancestors
might have bit their thumbs at
Hugh Mercer, a Fredericksburg
Scotsman known more for his
apothecary than for his revolutionary
zeal, is memorialized on Washington
Avenue in Fredericksburg.
the gesture, as it was Old Crow
I toasted them with and not their
beloved single malt. Still, as I
communed with various spirits
in hearkening back to the proud
Scots of Fredericksburg, the
words of Burns resounded all the
same.
“Farewell to the mountains
high cover’d with snow;
Farewell to the straths and
green valleys below:
Farewell to the forests and
wild-hanging woods;
Farewell to the torrents and
loud-pouring floods.
My heart’s in the Highlands,
my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands
a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild deer, and
following the roe-My heart’s in the Highlands
wherever I go.”
Rappahannock Magazine 19
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Art/Music/Nightlife/Stage & Screen/Community/Education
MELCHERS’ THE CRIMSON RAMBLER
AT GARI MELCHERS HOME AND STUDIO
Through June 7
Gari Melchers built a reputation painting the
human figure, but in the second half of his career
he sometimes ventured into landscape painting.
The Crimson Rambler, on loan from a private
collection, exemplifies how the garden as subject
matter was ideally suited to Melchers’ adoption
of impressionistic painting.
224 Washington St.
Falmouth, VA 22405
Included with Museum Admission
BRICKS AND BOARDS IN THE ‘BURG
Through October 10
The Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural
Center and Hallowed Ground Tours present
walking tours of historic downtown Fredericksburg. Bricks and Boards in the ’Burg will
highlight four centuries of history and architecture, the historic influence of the Rappahannock
River, the Spire and Steeples of Princess Anne
Street, Fredericksburg’s Town Hall/Market
House and the history of Market Square. Tours
begin and end in Market Square, located behind
Town Hall, and run every Saturday, April 4–
October 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Participants
will receive a discounted entry fee into the
Museum. 907 Princess Anne Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
$5 adult, $2 child, $2 student, FREE for Museum members
ART IN THE PARK
May 2, 2015, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
May 16, 2015, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In conjunction with the Fredericksburg Farmer’s
Market, Art in the Park is an amazing showcase
of local artists and their talents.
Mediums have included photography, woodworking, knitting, jewelry, mixed media, books,
paintings and more.
500 Prince Edward St. Hurkamp Park
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
WINDOWS INTO MARY’S GARDEN
May 2 to May 9
Windows into Mary’s Garden gives visitors a
chance to interact with the Mary Washington
House in a new way. Mary Washington is said
to have been an avid gardener, and this outdoor
tableau is a connection to space where she spent
much of her time.
1200 Charles Street
Fredericksburg, VA
CONCERT OF HOPE
May 2, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Concert of Hope featuring renowned vocalist
Deborah Silver
A benefit for Loisann’s Hope House. All
proceeds go toward shelter and services for
homeless women and children.
James Monroe High School
20 Rappahannock Magazine
2300 Washington Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
RELAY FOR LIFE OF SPOTSYLVANIA
May 2
This family friendly event benefits the American
Cancer Society. It will feature live entertainment,
vendors, a special twist on a beauty contest,
games and activities as well as a luminaria ceremony to honor those who have battled cancer.
6975 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania , VA 22551
FREE
THE PAINTED GARDEN: A FAVORITE
MOTIF IN AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM
May 3, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
An illustrated presentation by Belmont Curator
Joanna Catron shows how early 20th century
American impressionist painters demonstrated a
preference for gardens as subjects, as well as an
appreciation for the art of gardening itself.
224 Washington St.
Falmouth, VA 22405
FREE
PICNIC IN THE PARK
May 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
May 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
May 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Picnic in the Park formerly “Lunch at Hurkamp”
started in 1997 and has grown into one of the
community’s most popular events. Each concert
serves as a meeting place and opportunity for
community groups, business people, friends,
families, seniors, and preschoolers to gather
together and enjoy music, downtown Fredericksburg, and each other. Bring a picnic lunch, a
blanket, and come relax.
FREE
THE LIFE AND FILMS OF JOHN FORD
May 7, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This free lecture will examine director John
Ford’s life and work in films. Called the most
influential director in film history, Ford was
responsible for elevating Westerns into high
art form and making stars out of John Wayne
and Victor McLaglen. We’ll show clips from
his most famous films such as Stagecoach, The
Searchers, and The Quiet Man. Film lecturer and
expert Gary Olsen will discuss Ford’s personality and his work.
1201 Caroline Street Central r
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
FREE
UMW GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
May 8, 7:30 p.m.
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT
May 9 (All day)
Come out to Lake Anna’s Anna Point Marina
for the Annual Youth Fishing Tournament. Cash
and prizes will be awarded for the largest bass,
crappie, sunfish, and catfish. There will also be
a Grand Champion for the largest fish overall.
Anglers can fish from the shore at Anna Point
Marina or from a boat. Contact Chris Craft or
Dave Fauntleroy at 540-895-5900 ext. 5.
Three Age Divisions: 3-9; 10-12; 13-17
13703 Anna Point Lane
Mineral, VA 23117
$10 per angler
UMW UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT
May 9, 9 a.m.
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
4TH ANNUAL JACEY’S WALK FOR WILLIAMS SYNDROME AWARENESS
May 9, 2015, 10:00am to 3:00pm
5700 Smith Station Rd Pavilion behind main
YMCA building
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Donations welcome
BASICS OF FLOWER ARRANGING IN
COLONIAL AND MODERN STYLES WITH
FLORIST CAROL CALDWELL
May 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Florist Carol Caldwell will be showing the basics
of flower arranging using seasonal flowers and
greenery. Colonial arrangements differ greatly
from modern ones.
1304 Caroline Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
“JAMES MONROE’S FREDERICKSBURG” WALKING TOUR
May 16, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Explore Fredericksburg as Monroe knew it with
G. Scott Walker, director of Hallowed Ground
Tours. Tour starts at 301 Caroline Street, the
home where the Monroe family lived, with
stops at Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge #4 and
St. George’s Episcopal Church, ending with
a reception at the museum. This program is
co-sponsored by the Historic Fredericksburg
Foundation, Inc. Advance registration is required
to 540/654-1043 or [email protected]
James Monroe Museum
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
$25/person ($15/Friends of JMM)
. UMW’S ATHLETICS GALA
May 21, 6 p.m.
An elegant evening for a meaningful mission,
Join President Richard Hurley, Director of Athletics Ken Tyler, and special guests for a night to
remember, including silent auction, live auction,
and plated dinner; Jepson Alumni Executive
Center; 6 p.m.; for price: umweagles.com or
(540) 654-1039
Jepson Alumni Executive Center
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Visit umweagles.com for price
EVENING WITH AN EXPERT
May 21, 7 p.m.
Art, Music, and Wine: The Legacy of Annie Jean
Arnaud, at the FAMCC. Local historian Nancy
Moore will discuss her research on the intriguing
life and legacy of local 19th century painter
Annie Jean Arnaud and her equally intriguing
family. Evening with an Expert is free and open
to the public, but RSVPs are required. Please
RSVP by calling 540-371-3037 x400 or to [email protected]. All lectures will be held in the
Catherine W. Jones McKann Center beginning
at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is
limited. A members’ only reception will follow
in the galleries
1001 Princess Anne Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
NEIGHBORHOOD TOURS - HISTORY OF
OUR HOMES
May 23, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural
Center, along with Hallowed Ground Tours,
presents a special walking tour on May 23, 2015.
Participants on this walking tour, titled Neighborhood Tours - the History of Our Homes, will
explore the homes and history of one Fredericksburg’s oldest neighborhoods, Lower Caroline
Street. For more information on this event, or
for additional programming information, please
either contact Hallowed Ground Tours at 540809-3918, the Museum at 540-371-3037 or visit
us at www.famcc.org.
Corner of Caroline and Frederick Streets
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
$5 adult, $2 child, $2 student, FREE for Museum members
LAKE ANNA SUNSET CONCERT SERIES
May 23, 2015, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Live bands and the best views of Lake Anna’s
famed sunsets and live bands every 4th Saturday
evening from April through August. Visit the
Lake Anna Sunset Concert Series Facebook page
for the band lineup. Food, wine and beer are
available for purchase. Come by boat or land! Great fun for the whole family. Badminton and
Corn Hole too.
13703 Anna Point Lane
Mineral, VA 23117
Free
TRIPAWDS PAWTY
May 23, 6 p.m. to May 24, 7 p.m.
An event to raise money for canine cancer
research. This will be a new, unique event for
Greyhounds Rock Fredericksburg that will
include such activities as a trail walk and scavenger hunt, dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers,
kiddie pools and fenced in area for your four
legged pals and later in the evening enjoy a
bonfire and memorial name reading.
10617 Piney Branch Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
$20
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
806 William Street
Fredericksburg VA 22401
We’re a cozy, neighborhood bistro
in the heart of historic, downtown
Fredericksburg. Casual and warm,
we invite you to join us for a glass
of wine and an appetizer, a business
lunch, a relaxing Sunday brunch or
a family dinner with the kids.
CREATE PHOTOGRAPHICS
AND ODDBOX STUDIOS
Are teaming up to help
Fredericksburg’s
photography community
learn, create and thrive.
For more information visit:
CreatePhotographics.info/
OddBox-Studios
FIRM PARTNERS:
Bob Bishop
Elaine Farmer
Harry Dickinson
Helping clients with the following services:
• Tax and Estate Planning
Tuesday - Saturday: 11am to 9pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Monday: Closed
(540) 899-0941
Like us on Facebook
• Assistance with Estate Administration
• Individual and Business Tax Preparation
• Business Valuations
Fredericksburg Office | 540-373-8973
1207 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
• Small Business Accounting and
Bookkeeping
• Financial Statement Services for Businesses:
Audit, Review and Compilation Services
Stafford Office | 540-720-2606
233 Garrisonville Road, Stafford VA 22554
www.bfccpa.com
FREDERICKSBURG
CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE
fccava.org
Frederick Gallery
A PARTNER OF THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Demand More From
Your Workout!
Located in Eagle Village and online @
ww.dancetrancefredericksburg.com
Mention this AD and your first class is FREE!
Different Perspectives
National Juried Exhibition
Members’ Gallery
Josie Osborne & Lynne Mulhern
813 Sophia Street 373.5646
Sun-Fri 12-4, Sat 11-4, Closed Tues
Brent Hunsinger
Certified Horticulturist
Serving the Fredericksburg Region
Beautify your yard the
pollinator-friendly way.
443.655.3410
[email protected]
Native Plant Landscaping • Pollinator Gardens
Ecosystem Restoration
Rappahannock Magazine 21
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
Last Call
From Page 15
choices are the tom hoa tien –
rocket shrimp – jumbo shrimp
wrapped in wonton wrappers
and deep fried, and the Saigon
salad with chicken. The salad is
a light option, served with your
choice of protein, thinly sliced
cucumber, tomatoes, carrots,
radishes, basil, cilantro, and
peanuts and tossed in a tangy
dressing.
For main courses, I’ll start
with the star of the show: the
pho, of course. With over 20
flavor and ingredient combinations to choose from, this classic
savory Vietnamese soup (pronounced “fuh”) can appeal to
anyone. If you prefer something
simple, the Pho Ga is chicken
broth loaded with shredded
white meat chicken. If you’re
feeling more adventurous, go for
the Pho Saigon Dac Biet, with
beef broth, three kinds of beef,
tendon and tripe. Bo Kho –
Vietnamese beef stew – is another great option, although it takes
a few extra minutes to prepare
in the kitchen. There are many
available additions to your bowl
– extra veggies, meat, noodles,
or broth to suit your fancy. Pho
is served in two sizes – a regular
bowl, which is a very generous
portion, and a Saigon bowl, a
gigantic serving guaranteed to
give you copious leftovers for a
midnight snack and lunch tomor-
row. Each bowl is served with
crunchy fresh bean sprouts, Thai
basil leaves, fresh lime wedges, and spicy jalapeño slices.
Along with the spicy chili sauce
and hoisin sauce on the table,
you can dress your pho to your
tastes, achieving your perfect
balance between heat and sweet,
sour and bitter.
If pho isn’t your proverbial
cup of tea, fear not! Pho Saigon
has an extensive menu, and the
entrée choices are varied. The
Com Dia (rice platters), and
Bun (rice vermicelli), both come
with a variety of grilled meats,
shrimp or vegetables. There are
several sauced dishes, served
with rice or noodles, which
vary from mild and creamy to
fiery hot. The Que Toi, basil and
garlic, ordered with chicken, and
the Ca-ri Vang, a golden curry
that we ordered with bean curd,
were both mild and packed with
flavor. The Cay Do Doc Biet, a
“dragon hot” red curry, comes
with a warning on the menu, not
to order this entrée “if you can
not (sic) take it spicy – extremely spicy!!” Despite my love for
all things extra spicy, we haven’t
gotten to that item in our visits
yet, but it’s certainly next on the
list.
You won’t find any super
sugary dessert choices at Pho
Saigon. Instead, the clean, fresh
“Find It” at...
flavors continue even into the
after-meal sweets. We tried the
Xoi – sticky rice with shredded
coconut, peanuts, and sesame
seeds, which was unexpectedly delicious, and the Saigon
ice cream. Available in mango,
avocado, jackfruit, and “purple”
(made from purple yams), it is
• Delivering Spring 2015
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22 Rappahannock Magazine
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(540) 371-5684
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thru 9009 John Myer Street/Northe
Call Address
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Delivering
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2015
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2601 Salem Church Road, 105
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
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not too sweet and ultra creamy,
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Address & Location: 9001 thru 9009 John Myer Street/Northern quadrant of Brock Rd and Old Battlefield Blvd
near Robert E. Lee Elementary School and the Spotsylvania Post Office.
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Property Managed by: Arista Management Group
Call Alaina or Daniell
Vol. 1, Issue 8 May 2015
2553 Cowan Boulevard, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401
www.untangledpurls.com • 540.479.8382 • Facebook @ UntangledPurls
Mother’s Day Dinner
Sunday, May 10, 2015 • Noon - 5PM
menu:
Untangled Purls is a local yarn shop whose goal is
to be a premier gathering place for yarn, education,
fellowship, and laughter in Central Virginia. We offer
a wide array of classes, contact us for more details.
Choice of ½ Cornish Game Hen or Roast Pork
Sides: Duchess Potatoes, squash medley, rolls
Choice of either house or pasta salad
Adults: $15.99
Children under 10 years of age $9.99
Desserts also available (not included in the price)
Reservations are required for parties
of more than 4.
We are also available for private parties,
catering on and off site.
ABC License full catering menu.
Call us today for your event,
540-582-3663
Knit and Crochet Groups
Sunday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
1:30-5:00pm
1:00-3:00pm
10:00am-Noon
5:30-8:00pm
[email protected]
Located at 7610 Heth’s Salient Street #104
in the Spotsylvania Courthouse Village
YOUR FUTURE. OUR COMMITMENT.
Register NOW for Summer and Fall 2015 classes at Germanna
In-person or Online at www.germanna.edu
For a list of current course offerings visit www.germanna.edu or call 540-891-3000 for more information.
Culpeper • Fredericksburg • Locust Grove • Stafford • Online
Rappahannock Magazine 23
May 2015 Vol. 1, Issue 8
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www.CapitalCaring.org
1-855-571-5700
24 Rappahannock Magazine