Features

Paradise Springs Winery represents Fairfax Global Wine Showcase in Paris

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Visit Fairfax]

The winery, already the first bi-coastal wine brand in the United States after opening a second location in Santa Barbara, CA, will showcase several of its key blends, including last year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup Case Winner, the 2021 Petit Verdot, at the Wine Paris Vinexpo event. The renowned international wine and spirits exhibition, one of the largest wine shows in the world, is scheduled from February 12 – 14 in Paris, France.

In addition to the Petit Verdot, the winery will also be pouring the Cabernet Franc Petit Manseng and the specialty PVT (50% Petit Verdot/50% Tannat), which will also be served at the U.S. Ambassador’s home during the U.S. Ambassador Dinner this week.

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Prince William County Service Authority $200 Million Mooney Water Reclamation Facility upgrade underway

By Uriah Kiser

The start of the construction for the H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility-Wide Improvements Project, known as the Mooney Design-Build Project, signals a significant milestone for the Prince William County Service Authority.

With an investment nearing $200 million, this multi-year initiative is poised to revolutionize the plant’s wastewater treatment processes, paving the way for enhanced operational resiliency.

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Locals Only: The first dish sold at Bob & Edith’s Diner in Manassas

By Uriah Kiser

Bob and Edith’s Diner, a beloved establishment synonymous with classic American dining, proudly announced the grand opening of its latest location in Manassas on January 31.

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Exclusive: Fredericksburg’s Historic Kenmore Inn reimagined as Ironclad Inn and Bourbon Tasting Room; Soft Opening Set for Feb. 20

By Uriah Kiser

Ironclad Distillery Co., renowned for its bourbon whiskey production in Newport News, has made waves in the hospitality industry with its recent acquisition of the historic Kenmore Inn in Fredericksburg.

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Fredericksburg prepares for annual ‘Coldest Night of the Year’ fundraiser to support homeless

By Kelly Sienkowski
Participants gather for "Coldest Night of the Year" 2023 in Fredericksburg. [Photo: Clay Murray]

Area churches and local supporters will gather on Feb. 24, 2024, for its annual fundraiser, “Coldest Night of the Year,” a family-friendly walk to benefit Micah ministries. Micah is a coalition of area churches dedicated to helping Fredericksburg city residents with unmet needs.

According to its website, city congregations have supported the homeless since the 1980s. They banded together in 2005 to establish a permanent location and organization to continue serving the community. Micah and its partnering churches address the community’s needs by offering a hospitality center, meals, job assistance, cold weather shelters, and housing options to residents in need.

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Mammoth pancake, not Civil War, celebrated at Battlefield Restaurant

By Mike Salmon
Deadman’s Curve on one side and a genuine artifacts store on the other. [Photo: Mike Salmon]

The Battlefield Restaurant has a pancake on the menu that’s the size of a medium pizza and more than enough for a breakfast entrée. The question is, how do you flip it on the grill?

“I can do it with one spatula,” said diner owner and operator Cindy Jenkins, who claimed it’s all in the wrist. “My son uses two.”

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Exclusive interview: Taylor family welcomes I-66 Express Lanes miracle baby, thanks emergency crews for roadside assistance

By Mike Salmon
Baby Audrey and “Trooper Teddy,” a gift from Virginia State Police. [Submitted photo]

“It was crazy,” said Brandon Taylor, the father who helped with his wife, Joan, as the express lanes traffic whizzed by. “You hear the stories, but you never know someone that went through it.”

It all started about 5:45 on Tuesday morning, January 30, 2024, when Joan could feel the baby stirring. She woke up, woke Brandon, and he went into his pre-rehearsed motions, grabbing the baby bag they had ready and getting their three-year-old son out of bed. “Twenty minutes later, we were on the highway, and it was happening,” Brandon said.

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Harmonies and high notes: Behind the scenes of ‘Jersey Boys’ at Riverside Center, with a hit cocktail to match

By Uriah Kiser
"Jersey Boys" at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts. [Photo; Suzzane Carr Rossi]

Bloom plays Bob Gaudio, who Gaudio wrote or co-wrote and produced the majority of The Four Seasons’ music, including hits like “Sherry” and “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night).” Cooper plays Nick Massi, the band’s bass singer, songwriter, and bass guitarist.

Both cast members talked about the challenges of singing the iconic Four Seasons songs, the intricate harmonies, and the unique voices each cast member brings to the performance.

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Coffee, tea and Huntley make up the aura at Katora

By Mike Salmon
Musicians gather in the sound room upstairs. [Photo: Mike Salmon]

From the front, the Katora Coffee Shop looks like an inviting place to come in, have a cup of joe or a pastry, and converse with whoever is around. Once inside, though, there’s more to it.

The walls are adorned with local art, and a small stairway leads to a back room that doubles as a sound studio for local musicians, including Michael Huntley, who made national news on December 19, 2023, as the winner of Season 24 on NBC’s “The Voice.”

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McDade named Region IV Schools Superintendent of the Year

By Uriah Kiser

Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade has earned the title of Region IV Superintendent of the Year. The district covers school divisions in Northern Virginia: Prince William, Stafford, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier, and west to Orange.

Region IV Chair Dr. Shannon Grimsley, Superintendent of Rappahannock County Public Schools, admired Dr. McDade’s inspirational leadership and commented on her unanimous nomination. “This award is a testament to Dr. LaTanya McDade’s exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence. She is an inspirational leader very much admired by her colleagues, and she will represent Region IV well in the running for Superintendent of the Year of the state of Virginia.”

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