It's Raining Men! Really? Where?

One of the great things about living in Vienna, VA is the wide array of cultural options available - especially when it comes to music. (For example, we recently shared "Vienna's Best Kept Music Secret" and we've also written about "Rock N Roll Royalty in Vienna" , "Kyllopalooza" and "Byrds In The Barns".)

Well, this month there is another great musical opportunity! On Saturday, March 16th, the Vienna Choral Society will present "Music of the Storms".

Vienna Choral Society has an entire array of concerts each year. This season's schedule features a number of genres with shows like October's "Swing! Music You Can Dance To" and "Opera For The People" coming up in May.

Each year they designate one concert as their "Concert for a Cause". So not only can you enjoy a wonderful performance, you can help raise awareness for science education and disaster relief. Vienna Choral Society has partnered with the American Red Cross (National Capital Region), Ideaventions & the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network to bring you a great show!

I asked Vienna Choral Society President Karen Akers for a "sneak peek" into the show and here is what she said:

"The concert runs the spectrum from music that explores the emotional aftermath of devastation (Requiem was written for the 2004 Tsunami, and After the Storm for the residents of Joplin, Missouri following the 2011 tornado) to the lighter side of weather (Singing in the Rain, and the weirdly satisfying National Weather Report). The choir will create an African rainstorm on the risers, throw in a few pop numbers (It’s Raining Men, Dust in the Wind) and perform in styles ranging from 12^th century to jazz to full-on choral."

OK - that sounds just plain fun to me. What a FABulous way to introduce your family to great music! Or it would make a great date night for you & your sweetie. Or even a much needed Mom's Night Out (you know, for Moms who really just need a break & some adult entertainment!). Plus it's incredibly affordable. Family tickets are just $35. (Single tickets are $20, Students & Seniors are $15).

"Music of the Storms" will take place at the Fairfax Unitarian Church located at 2709 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton. You can buy tickets ahead of time online or at the door.

Vienna Choral Society - - - Just another reason we WE LOVE LIVING IN VIENNA!

A Princess In Vienna

Would you have the guts to do THIS??

Design & purchase a gorgeous $10,000 engagement ring. Fly to the Caribbean. Hire a boat captain to take you out to sea. Hide the ring under the ocean. Go back to your hotel. Wait til the next day. Invite your girlfriend to go snorkling. Wait for her to find the ring. And propose!

That's one of the stories that Lee Nguonly, owner of Princess Jewelers, shared with me yesterday. Isn't that just mindboggling?

You see, I stopped in to Princess to thank Lee again for designing two rings for me recently. Here's a photo of the rings. I wear them every single day.

One is my wedding ring. It's not big or flashy. But it means the world to me. This year my husband & I will celebrate our 30th Anniversary. We married when we were 21, just out of college and we did not have much money. But my husband scrimped & saved to get me a ring that had diamonds "all the way around". It was a surprise on our wedding day since we had picked out basic gold bands. I still remember crying when I saw the ring. And looking into his eyes and seeing how proud he was that he had pulled this off.

Over the years, the ring broke a few times. It was so delicate that it just wouldn't stay intact. Several times, I took it in to another jeweler in town. They fixed it, but eventually it would break again. So this time, I went to Princess.

Why had I not gone there in the first place? I'm not really sure. Location was not an issue. It's in an easy to access spot in the shops at The Village Green (at the corner of Maple Ave & Nutley St). But I think perhaps I was intimidated. There are not many stores in Vienna where you have to get buzzed in. And where there's a guard on duty. This isn't Manhattan after all. And I wasn't there to spend thousands of dollars.

BUT.

My ring symbolizes so much of what is important to me. And I was determined that someone could help me. So I ventured in and met Lee.

Lee treated me like I was a princess. Literally. He was so patient & very skilled at his craft. I had brought with me my broken wedding ring, as well as some other diamonds I had from my mother and from my grandmother's wedding ring. I had always wanted to do something with them, but they were not substantial and I had never had the courage to ask someone to look at them. Lee spent time talking to me and together we re-created my wedding ring. AND created a second ring. The wedding ring incorporated my mom's diamonds. And the heart incorporates the chips from my original wedding ring and my grandmother's ring.



Marriage and family are important to me. And these rings remind me of my priorities every single day. Thank you Lee for your role in that.

As Lee & I chatted yesterday, he shared several other stories. One of the boy who used to come shopping with his Mom. He wasn't even tall enough to see the pretty jewels under the glass counters. And he would just sit on the floor and read while she shopped. Many years later, this same "boy" would come in to buy an engagement ring. And he's now happily married. This is a story that repeats itself over and over. Princess Jewelers has been in Vienna for about 25 years; and they see many second generation shoppers there.

Lee also told me about the guy who bought a beautiful engagement ring and took his girlfriend to New York. They went to a park and decided to go horseback riding. He volunteered to go get things arranged and left her on a park bench. Only to return on horseback and clad from head to toe as a knight in shining armor! And you know the rest . . . he got down on one knee and asked for her hand.

Valentine's Day is coming up. So whether you are looking for a $25,000 custom heirloom piece of jewelry - or something so simple as getting that wedding ring repaired so you can wear it again, stop in to Princess Jewelers and say hi to Lee for me! He will make your wife, mother, girlfriend (or you!) feel like a princess too!

Vienna's Best Kept Music Secret

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”

This quote from Roald Dahl (you probably remember reading his books as a child: "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory", "Matilda" and "James & the Giant Peach") is the perfect description of one of Vienna's best kept secrets - Jammin Java. 

Tucked away in a small strip mall on Maple Avenue, you've probably driven by Jammin Java a million times. Because of its name, many people who have not stepped through the doors think it's just another coffee shop. And after all - don't we have a million of those in Northern Virginia? Who needs one more?!

Well, they do serve coffee there, but what they REALLY serve is DREAMS!

The truth is - it's one of the premiere music venues in all of the Washington D.C. area. We were reminded of that recently when we attended a show there and once again were surprised by the fact that most of the people in attendance drove from miles & miles around to see the show. We, on the other hand, drove all of a mile and a half.

As always, we arrived early so we could have dinner before the show. Not only do they have aweome chili (four different kinds!), but it's a great time to chat with the other folks who attend and oftentimes the musicians are around as well. This particular night we were there to see Pete & Maura Kennedy - national performers who are very popular locally - and Pete was out front before the show taking song requests. As we chatted with various people before the show, it was apparent that this audience was very similar to almost every audience we have ever experienced at Jammin Java.

What was the common thread? They were really knowledgeable not only about The Kennedys, but about music in general - super tuned in to the local music scene. We happen to be "oldies but goodies" and it's always fun to chat with other folks our age and share stories about all the shows we've seen dating back to the 70's. You see, the Northern Virginia-Washington D.C. area has a rich music history. (You'd be surprised by the legendary groups who performed in local community centers, churches & roller rinks back in the day - but that's another blog post!)



Take The Kennedys for example. Pete & Maura are well established musicians. Each has had a solo career in addition to touring together. They have toured nationally, as well as internationally, and have recorded & played with amazing folks like Nanci Griffith, Nils Lofgren, Roger McGuinn, Charlie Byrd, Mary Chapin Carpenter & Kelly Willis (just to name a few!). They have performed at places like Royal Albert Hall in London, Jack's Tracks in Nashville, Carnegie Hall, Wolftrap, Central Park and even The Tonight Show. And they currently host a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio (channel 70) called "Dharma Cafe".

Pete & Maura used to live here locally (in Reston). They started performing together in 1993 and back in the early days we had the pleasure of seeing them more often. They're now based in New York, so this recent visit was a real treat for us. After the show, we had the chance to chat with Pete for a bit. Pete actually grew up in Northern VA. He went to O'Connell High School (my alma mater and the school across the street from where my husband grew up). Turns out that his Mom "Mrs. Kennedy" was the head of the Guidance Department for many, many years at O'Connell. What a small world!

And that's why I call Jammin Java "Vienna's Best kept Music Secret". If the average person who lived in Vienna had any idea what kind of talent was on display there, the place would be packed with locals. Pete & Maura Kennedy are just one example of the level of talent that performs at Jammin Java.There's something for everyone. They have shows for kids, teens, Gen Xers, Gen Y and even Seniors. And there's a great mix of well-established talent (like The Kennedys) and up & coming talent that will soon be seen on the national stage. If you live in Vienna and haven't checked out Jammin Java yet - check it out. You'll be surprised with the magic you might find there!

(Oh - and if you do - make sure to say hi to the "Jammin Java Door Gal". Her name is Mei and she rocks!)

Hearts Of Gold

There may not be a yellow brick road down the main street of Vienna, VA - but you'll still find Vienna is full of gold . . . . that is, hearts of gold.

Three years ago, I started a blog about Life In Vienna. I called it "There's No Place Like Vienna (Dot Com)" because I really feel like there is no better place to live than Vienna, VA. I moved to Vienna when I was 10 years old, grew up here, was married here, raised my family here, and now my husband and I are empty nesters here. And so over the years, I have written about Vienna's history, Vienna restaurants, the schools in Vienna, the Vienna music scene, Vienna sports and more. (And I write about Vienna real estate on my "other" blog.) But truly, the absolute best part of Vienna is the people who live here.

My husband, Bill Grossman, works at St. Mark Catholic Church in Vienna. He's on staff as the Pastoral Associate and works with the various service & outreach ministries. This week he shared with me a little of what has been happening at St. Mark this past month. And I'd like to share it with you. It will give you an idea of what kind of people live here in this wonderful place called Vienna.

Here's what Bill said:

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"St. Mark was founded almost 50 years ago with the idea of service and outreach in our community as a core to our faith. So many great people paved the way back then, and it  continues today. I wanted to share with you what I shared with the St. Mark Staff today at our monthly meeting. 

 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL for making St. Mark the great church and community that it is!!!

In the past 4 weeks, YOU have done this:

Our Tithing Allocation Committee approved 6 grants to local organizations that will help low income families in our area, will help a men’s homeless shelter, will provide winter coats for homeless/low income children, will support a continuing adult education program, will support a bereavement organization and will help a home for abused women.

The Thanksgiving Clothing Drive brought in and moved out nearly 7 tons of clothing to 15 local organizations using the help of 150+ volunteers (many were teenagers!)

Our Hot Meals Ministry cooked, delivered and fed 125+ homeless/low income folks in Fairfax County.

Our Prayer Shawl ministry knitted 70 hats, 23 scarves and 7 baby blankets for the homeless and distributed them to FACETS, the Lamb Center, Hope Center and the Reston Homeless Shelter.

Our Gift of Peace ministry made and delivered dinner to the Gift of Peace House in Washington to help feed HIV clients.

Support Our Troops ministry put together over 90 packages of much needed goodies and mailed them to our Troops overseas.

ESL (English as a Second Language) concluded their Fall session with a wonderful Christmas party hosting many of the current ESL students. 12 Computers were given away at the party courtesy of our Computer Repair Ministry.

Our Funeral Reception Committee and Funeral Bakers Committee helped celebrate the beautiful life of Barbara Comi, hosting one of the largest Funeral Receptions ever at St. Mark.

Our Giving Tree Ministry helped bring in and then distribute to 12 local organizations a total of 2,408 Christmas gifts and $14,825 in Gift Cards

We collected 41 pints of blood at the Blood Drive.

Our Second Sunday Sustenance group made over 100 sandwiches and delivered to those in need.

Our M&M (Seniors) group held their annual Christmas party and were entertained by our wonderful St. Mark School choir.

Our Catholic Social Teaching Committee hosted a speaker presentation on the death penalty in Virginia.

Our Hypothermia Shelter ministry is in the midst of planning/helping the area churches that are hosting sites for the homeless throughout the winter."

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Note: the types of things Bill Grossman describes go on all year long, and not just at St. Mark Catholic Church. They happen at churches & schools & stores & homes all throughout our community - with big events like Kyllopalooza and Relay For Life and Toys For Tots and small ones too where neighbors help neighbors gently & quietly.

People who care about other people, who put their money where their mouth is, and tithe their time, treasure & talent - that's what I love about living in Vienna!

MAR MAR MARVELOUS!

Last Saturday was one of those days you just dream about. . . . where you wake up, you have no pressing business, and you think "Hmmm, maybe we should go out for a leisurely brunch." So that's just what we decided to do.

But where should we go? Since we live in Vienna, we like to stay local. But even confining our search to the Town of Vienna meant we still had a lot of choices. Should we head to Bazin's? Maplewood Grill? Amphora?  Breakfast burritos at Anita's? Patisseries & coffee at Silva's? Bagels at Panera?

All good options, but not this time. You see, every time we go to Panera, we peer across the street and into the windows at Maple Ave Restaurant and wish we had the time to sit down and have a really civilized meal. So that's what we did.

And boy are we glad we made that choice. A fabulous menu greeted us. At first glance, you might think the prices a bit high and the fare not that different from any other restaurant. But that's where you'd be wrong. Because every detail from the hand crafted cola, to the homemade mayo, to the French pressed coffee (a special brew from Caffe Amouri) to the gorgeous presentation was well worth it. We lingered and chatted and felt so thoroughly cared for that the rest of the day just went by in a dream. Seriously. It was THAT good.

I'm not a professional photographer, so my photos don't do justice, but here's what we enjoyed. My husband had the fried egg sandwich (with sliced Olli coppa, gruyere cheese, piquillo peppers) accompanied by killer home fries and a mustard vinaigrette salad. Mmmmmm!

I went the simple route with a panko crusted chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese & truffle mayo (that was to die for!) and seasoned fries. (If they had served an extra side of truffle mayo, I'd have dipped my fries for some extra goodness. But then they probably would have had to wheel me out!) This dish sounds simple, but the freshness of the organic ingredients, the seasoning and the execution made it simply spectacular.

Next time we go, we promised ourselves we would try the 6 course brunch tasting menu. It often includes an egg dish, a crepe, charcuterie, lunch plate, salad & dessert. It changes with the seasons, but based on my other meals there, I know it would be fabulous. AND they even have bottomless cocktails for $15 (mimosas, bloody marys & poinsettias). What's not to like?!

MAR (Maple Ave Restaurant) is MAR MAR MARVELOUS in my book and just another reason we we love living in Vienna. Here's to you Chef Tim Ma & General Manager Joey Hernandez. You guys rock!

(This edition of TheresNoPlaceLikeVienna.com was contributed by Christy Belt Grossman, Chief Operating Officer with The Belt Team. Christy has lived in Vienna since 1972 and enjoys the small town feel that Vienna has to offer !)

Sometimes You Just Need A Little Taste of Heaven

Wasn't it great when the sun came out today?! After coming through 3 days of rain, "hunkering down" at home, and then picking up the debris today - it was really nice to see the sun peeking through the clouds.

And that's how I always feel when I go to Silva's.

Silva's Patisserie is another one of those small, local businesses in Vienna that I have grown to love. It's nestled in the same shopping center and right around the corner from another one of my favorite local places, Jammin Java.



When you go in, you are sure to find one of the owners there - either Silva herself or her son Harry. Harry is a pastry chef (formerly of the Kennedy Center) and he named the patisserie after his mother Silva. They will give you a friendly greeting and then wait patiently while you decide what to order.

And that's where the problem arises. What to order?!



You see, while they of course have all the usual specialties (cakes, bread, croissants, cookies, cupcakes & the rest), plus gorgeous wedding cakes, macaroons & marzipan works of art; my favorite thing to order at Silva's is one of their miniature pastries. And the varieties are ENDLESS.



So Harry waits patiently - while I ponder . . . lemon meringue or key lime . . . chocolate lolly or cheesecake lolly . . . a fruit bavarian or a swan . . . a red forest lolly or chocolate mousse . . . a vanilla eclair or a rum ball . . . creme brulee or a mille feuille . . . coca cacao or dulce de leche . . . a caramel lolly or pistachio . . . raspberry linzer or strawberry tort . . . a mint chocolate lolly or a belgian truffle.

And Harry is still waiting patiently! LOL!

Oftentimes when I stop in to Silva's, it's on the way to a potluck or a ladie's gathering. I like to offer to bring dessert because I know that when I bring desserts from Silva's - it will "wow" everyone (even the guys!). I usually pick up a variety of mini pastries. Silva's always wraps them in a lovely box decorated with ribbon and as soon as people see it, they want to know what's inside.



The anticipation grows and as I plate the desserts one by one, I start to hear "oohs" and "aahs" and "That's my favorite!" and "I have dibs on that one!". And because they are mini pastries - EVERYONE has one - even those who are on a diet say "Oh I can have just one little pastry." (And then they can't help but have another and another . . . !)

The other times I stop into Silva's, it's because sometimes I just need a little taste of heaven. Having a hectic week? Kids driving you crazy? Did you volunteer for too many activities? Is your job really stressful? Stop into Silva's for one little mini pastry - and for just a few moments it all slips away.

Silva's is located at 167 Glyndon Street SE and is just another reason why I LOVE living in Vienna!
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(This edition of TheresNoPlaceLikeVienna.com was contributed by Christy Belt Grossman, Chief Operating Officer with The Belt Team. Christy has lived in Vienna since 1972 and resides with her husband Bill and dog Cody. And Silva's even has a treat that looks just like her dog!)

Vienna "Gentrification"

 

This week, Washington Post writer, John Kelly, shared the story of the upcoming sale of a 1 1/3 parcel of land in the heart of Vienna.   Three sisters who grew up in the house that their father built in the 1940’s own the land, which is likely to be sold to developers. 

The sisters each report their memories in the home.  They detail the home building expenses and receipts saved by their parents - including the cost of the bricks, $364 for 16,000.   

This story fascinated me for two reasons.  First, as a Realtor serving the Vienna community, this story is reflective of so many stories I hear across our town.  Older homes full of memories and love are being torn down to make way for newer and larger homes that will meet the needs of families today.  Some residents see it as welcomed progress; while others resist it and worry about the implications for their street or community.  Construction can feel invasive to neighbors who still live in homes nearby, taxes can increase with increasing property values of adjacent properties and larger homes can feel intrusive to the owners of smaller homes built in the middle of the last century.  “We need newer, modern homes” conflicts with “We need affordable homes where those who serve our town can live”.  Both sentiments ring true but how do we reconcile them? 

The second reason for my connection to this story is that I, too, sold a parcel of land this summer.  My grandfather, Carl Williams, bought almost 76 acres of land in a rural part of southeast Texas in 1918.  Our family has owned this undeveloped parcel since then; but after my father’s death in 2009 we have not been able to oversee it, to care for it the way it had been cared for in the previous 90 years.  Like the sisters in John Kelly’s story, I have memories there. The history of it is meaningful to me; but my practical, realistic sensibilities said that it was time to let it go. It wasn’t easy and even after the deed has transferred to the new owner, I still feel that I have an investment there.  I care how he treats the land and wonder what it will become. 

"Gentrification" is the term used to describe this process of the renewal of communities and properties by letting go of the old and embracing the new.  It doesn’t quite capture all that happens in the process.   But those of us who are touched by gentrification, whether selling or buying, know the issues, the emotions and the inevitability of it.   What I’ve learned as a Realtor and as a land owner is that the process matters.  It matters that we honor and respect the history of the land and the families who still live nearby.   

Change is difficult and our natural tendency is to favor the familiar.   The familiar component here is families.  Vienna families in the 1940’s needed homes and they had land as a resource.  They could move out to Vienna and find undeveloped land to purchase and build a home.   In 2012, Vienna’s land is rarely undeveloped, but increasingly valuable to families wanting to build memories in a home, for some, a newly built home.   

One of the things I love about Vienna is that it feels like a small town.  You get to know folks.  You see them at events around town.  People are friendly and seem to share common community values.  As we continue to gentrify our neighborhoods, those community values will guide us in maintaining our Vienna community and honoring its history.

 

(This edition of TheresNoPlaceLikeVienna.com was contributed by Susan Hussey. Susan, a Texan at heart, loves living in Vienna, where she resides with her husband and two young children.)