Slippers, Stories, Songs & Sweets!

Every family has a ritual that revolves around bedtime.

"Read it again Dad!" (In our house the favorites were "Goodnight Moon" and "Where The Wild Things Are". Though I'm, not sure how "Where The Wild Things Are" is supposed to make a child want to be left in a dark room all alone to fall asleep!)

"One more song Mom - pleeeeeease." (OK - this wasn't the routine in our house. I can't sing. But I know houses where they sing great nighttime songs.)

"Bless Grandma and  Grandpa and Johnny and Susie and  Muffin and Snoopy and and and . . ." "Yes, son it's great to bless the mailman, but it's time for bed!"

On Saturday, the Vienna Choral Society offers the opportunity for a family outing you've probably never experienced before. And it just might give you some fresh ideas for YOUR sleepytime ritual at night.

At least once a year, VCS does a "family-friendly" concert. This year's concert theme is "Lullabies". Not only will the performers be dressed in their jammies, but YOU and your kids can come in your slippers & pajamas too! How fun is that?!

And - VCS puts it right out there that they WANT kids to leave their seats. So no worries if your son or daughter is a wiggle worm! They say, "We go all out to engage the kids. Or at least get them to leave their seats, come to the front, and let the parents of the really young ones have a good five to ten minutes sans squirmy child in lap."

This year, in addition to the amazingly talented performers from VCS, you will hear the Mosby Woods Mustang Singers. And best of all, there will be a storyteller! Because no bedtime ritual is complete without stories.

The show will take place Saturday, March 15th from 4:30PM - 6:30PM at VBC (541 Marshall Rd SW in Vienna). You can buy tickets online & skip the line at the door. (Youth 14 and below are free with a ticketed adult. Adult tickets are $25. Seniors $20.)

And we hear they'll have cookies afterward.

Slippers, stories, songs & sweets. You can't beat it!

Concert For A Cause

If you're looking for a fabulous interlude in what can often be a season of craziness, we've got a good one for you!

Once a year, the Vienna Choral Society does what they call "Concert For A Cause". This year's concert is done in partnership with a wonderful local organization, The Women's Center of Vienna. Though they have been around for a number of years, you may not have heard of the Women's Center - unless you have experienced some sort of loss or challenge. And then they were likely a light for you in a time of great darkness.(Read more about The Womens's Center).

That brings me to this month's concert. VCS always comes up with clever themes for their concerts and this year's Concert For A Cause is called "SOLSTICE: Light And Dark".

The concert will take place on Saturday, December 21st - which is the shortest day of the year. VCS's tag line is "We raise voices and spirits". And so at this holiday time, when many are celebrating, they are aware that there are others for which this may be a time of sadness & struggle. VCS's aim (and we think it's a good one) is to make this a time of "great community, coming together & raising hope".

We invite you to join in that mission - to either be community and hope for someone else - or to come and be lifted by others.

Their shows always offer a variety of music - something for the casual listening novice, as well as for the most discerning afficionado. This time, you might hear everything from a 17th century carol, to a modern American classic like Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque," to the Appalachian folk song "Bright Morning Stars."  And there will be an after-show reception catered by Vienna Whole Foods.

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, December 21

Time: 4:30PM to 6:30 PM

Where: Vienna Baptist Church (541 Marshall Rd SW in Vienna)

Tickets:  $20-$25 (youth under 14 FREE with a paying adult)

Buy your tickets now & skip the line at the door!

Vienna Choral Society - just another hidden secret of why WE LOVE LIVING IN VIENNA!

The Beatles, A Good Beat and a Great Buzz!

The Beatles

A Good Beat,

And a Great Buzz.

It's NOT what you think.

You can even bring the kids!



Cuz we're talking about the season opener of the Vienna Choral Society (VCS) with their "Coffee House Concert".

VCS is one of those "hidden secrets" of Vienna. The musical quality rivals anything you'll hear at Jammin Java, Wolftrap, The Barns or even The Kennedy Center!  And their sense of fun & sense of humor are unparalleled.

With four concerts scheduled between October & May, the new season kicks off with a coffeehouse concert. It's billed as "an eclectic evening of folk music and familiar tunes with a great caffeine buzz". We hear they'll be performing everything from The Beatles to Billy Joel to Cyndi Lauper and The Turtles. And no worries if your kids (or your parents) don't recognize the groups - they'll probably recognize the tunes from popular shows like "Glee", "American Idol" or even commercials!

As an added bonus, there will be nibbles from Whole Food AND coffee from Caffe Amouri. Who needs to go to Vienna Austria for great coffee, when we've got Caffe Amouri right here at home?!

The concert is on October 26th at 7:30. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors & students (15-18), and kids 14 & under are free with a paying adult. You can buy tickets for Vienna Choral Society's Coffee House Concert here.

Vienna Choral Society . . . making music fun  . . . and just another reason why we love Life in Vienna!

End of Summer Fun In Vienna

This weekend is Labor Day weekend. For many, this time of year signals "end of summer" and "back to school". (Show your sad face here.)

But we say - let's take summer out with a BANG! And if you live in Vienna - that's EASY!

SATURDAY:

Sing-A-Long Sound of Music

Head to Wolftrap & bring the whole family on Saturday, August 31st. Do you remember "Rocky Horror Picture Show"? It was the first audience participation movie "back in the day". Well, this weekend - you can share in that experience - except family style. (Rocky Horror wasn't quite family-style!).

The movie "Sound of Music" will be run on GIGANTIC screens both in house & on the lawn at Wolftrap. There will be a costume contest. The audience is invited to sing a long. AND your ticket will include a goodie bag of props. It's a fun, interactive event for all ages.

Here's a peek at what you can expect:

More Info about Sing-A-Long Sound of Music.


SUNDAY:

First Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bazin's on Church

Don't just treat your taste buds, but treat your ears as well at Bazin's First Sunday Jazz Brunch. Bazin's On Church (and that's Church Street - not a church building!) is one of our favorite Vienna restaurants. On the 1st Sunday of each month, they have live jazz music from Virginia Music Adventure's Chapel Square Combo. We say if you start your day off with a Pear & Cranberry Bellini & Bananas Foster French Toast - you just can't go wrong!


MONDAY:

W&OD Trail:

On Monday, it's time to work off all those treats from the weekend, get back in shape & get outdoors! The W&OD Trail goes right through Vienna. But which way will you ride (or skate or run or bike or stroll)? In one direction - you'll head toward Falls Church & Arlington. And in the other, you'll hit Herndon & (eventually) Purcellville. You never know what you might see along the trail, so keep your eyes wide open - not only is there gorgeous flora & fauna - but there is lots of wildlife along the way!

When you get home, put on Pandora, set it on The Beach Boys station. And BAM. You'll think summer is just beginning.

Happy Endless Summer!

5 Fabulous Ways To Celebrate Summer

"It's summertime and the living is easy" . . . at least it is for kids! If you're a grownup, I bet you wish you still got to have summers off too.

Well, you may not have a 2 month summer vacation, but how about welcoming the season in with Five Fab Summer Celebrations! If you live in or near Vienna - you're in luck!

 

1. Vienna's July Fourth Festival & Fireworks (FREE)

Vienna does 4th of July right! It's an old-fashioned kind of holiday and that's just up Vienna's alley. The Vienna Community Center is the site of the daytime activities (from 11AM to 4PM). The festival will include:

• Chili cookoff
• Arts & crafts sale
• Antique & classic car show
• Pooches on Parade!
• Oldies music
• Kid's crafts
• Vienna Community Band
• Presentation of the Colors by the Vienna Police Honor Guard

In the evening - head over to Yeonas Park for some great music by "Fat Chance" and the Vienna Fireworks show. Music starts at 7PM and fireworks are scheduled for 9:15PM. I've been watching the Vienna Fireworks since 1972. And truly, these are usually some of the best fireworks in Northern VA!

More info about Vienna's 4th of July celebration


2. Vienna's Summer on the Green Concert Series (FREE)

Grab a chair or a blanket & head down to Vienna's Town Green for free concerts every Friday & Monday (early May through early September). You'll hear a variety of groups - with everything from country to jazz to rock to bluegrass.(One of my favorites is Tommy Lepson Band!) You can picnic (no alcohol though) and if you have kids, they'll love it too.

Vienna Town Green Concert Schedule


3. Nottoway Nights (FREE)

One of Vienna's many parks is Nottoway Park. And during the summer, they also host a concert series. It's on Thursday nights throughout June, July and August. And it's also free! Groups like The Seldom Scene & The Hula Monsters can be found there this year. This is another great picnic location.

Nottoway Nights Schedule

4. Five After Five (Thirty) at Whole Foods ($5)

Pretend you're on vacation, head to Happy Hour & let someone else do the cooking! Whole Foods often has an event called "Five After Five Thirty" - also called "Thirsty Thursdays." Each event has a different theme. For example, tonight's event is "Backyard Celebrations". For $5, you get a wine glass, 5 pours of wine to taste and 5 small plates of food that might be served at summer cookouts. What a deal!

Whole Foods Vienna Events

5. Summer Stories and Sprinklers (FREE)

At 1 PM each Wednesday, Historic Vienna, Inc sponsors Story Hour (actually - story HALF hour) at the Historic Vienna Little Library (behind the Freeman House). Then at 1:30 the kids are invited to run through the sprinklers. This is a perfect way to beat the heat!




Just because you don't get the whole summer off like your kids do doesn't mean you can't celebrate summer. Especially if you're lucky enough to live in Vienna, VA!

Opera in Vienna (Virginia, Not Austria!)

Why go all the way to Vienna, Austria to hear opera when you can hear 150 fabulous voices right here in Vienna, Virginia?!

This Sunday, May 19th, The Reston Chorale joins our very own Vienna Chorale Society in presenting "Opera For The People".

I love the name they've given the show. And Vienna Chorale Society President Karen Akers wrote a hilarious article ("Opera: 18th Century Metallica") where she talks about what the typical listener thinks about opera and then challenges our thinking.

I have to admit, I am one of those people who thinks (or should I say thought) opera is just weird. Big ladies, singing in another language, wearing costumes & wigs. And that's supposed to be culture?!

But after reading Karen's article, I just might have to re-think. (Sample quote: "Opera is the bad boy of the classical music world").

As a Mom living in Vienna, I love having the opportunities that are so often afforded us for family events - whether that is with my own children or with multiple generations. And Vienna Chorale Society is great at offering these types of events. Growing up, my kids had to try every food at least once before they could say they didn't like it. So why not apply that same philosophy to music? You know your kids love country (or rock or rap or metal or whatever), but maybe they just might like opera too!

The show on Sunday takes place at 4PM at DeSales Hall at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. (If you can't make that show, you can catch "Opera For The People" on Saturday night, May 18th, at 7:30PM at Reston Community Center in Hunters Woods.) Ticket prices range from $15-$25 and children 15 & under are free with a ticketed adult. (Tickets available here or at the door.)

Opera in my hometown . . . just another reason why THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE VIENNA!

Pace of Vienna Real Estate Market Quickens

We normally keep our blog posts about Vienna real estate separate from our "Life In Vienna" blog, but sometimes the news just needs to be shared. A lot of folks who follow along on this blog are people who are thinking about moving to Vienna and many are people who already live here. And since home values & real estate seem to be part of every dinner party or baseball game conversation, we figured we'd post a quick update.

In the past 30 days, homes in Vienna went under contract at the fastest pace we’ve seen this year.

In a “Balanced Housing Market", there is about 6 months of housing inventory. Current supply in Vienna is only 1.1 months!

Statistics show we are almost to the point where for every home listed, a home goes under contract!

In the past 30 days, there were 114 new listings – and 105 homes went under contract. With home sales moving so swiftly, it's pretty obvious that we are not the only ones who LOVE LIVING IN VIENNA!

For more info on the Vienna real estate market, follow our weekly, hyperlocal updates on our Northern VA Real Estate blog.