journey outside dc

Dear PoPville – Wondering about Virginia and/or Maryland Wineries

By Prince Of Petworth

virginia_maryland_winery
Photo by PoPville flickr user Lauren PM

Dear PoPville,

With the weather starting to turn and the days getting longer I’ve started thinking about planning a long overdue winery trip out to NOVA or Maryland. Do you have any good winery spots that might be worth looking into? I’m thinking of places within an hour or two drive from DC that I could go out to and back for a long afternoon. Thanks for any help you can provide!

In Feb. 2011 Kristi recommended some Virginia wineries. Do you guys know of any other Virginia or Maryland spots that are within an hour or two drive from DC?

Busboys and Poets – Not Just For Brunch Anymore – Announces Trip to Cuba

By Prince Of Petworth

From Busboys and Poets:

Cuba: Busboys and Poets “Cuban Culture, Business and Sustainability”

Country: Cuba
Dates: July 1, 2012 – July 7, 2012

After much planning and anticipation Busboys and Poets is proud to announce our upcoming trip to Cuba! We’ll be spending 6 days in Havana, Cuba exploring the arts and culture of the city and we hope that you will join us!

The trip’s theme and title is “Cuba Culture, Business, and Sustainability” and will combine opportunities to learn about the art and culture of Cuba by visiting sites and meeting people working in the arts, culture, and business fields. We will also share our business practices in these discussions and explore the intersection of sustainable business, good art, and service to the community.

First, a little background about our restaurant: Busboys and Poets is a community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted…a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul…a space for art, culture and politics to intentionally collide…we believe that by creating such a space we can inspire social change and begin to transform our community and the world.

The trip will be a first for the Busboys and Poets travel team! We are excited to be kicking off with an exciting and rare trip to experience the arts, culture, business, and people of Cuba!

Program Highlights may include:

• Meetings with Cuban architects and learn how Havana developed and take a tour of the city with various stops to promote lively discussions about urbanization.
• A meeting with UNEAC, Union of Writer and Artists to discuss the literary life and traditions of Cuba. We will be joined by poets and writers
• Visit the studios of local artists
• Evening performances with young classically trained singers, dancers and musicians—traditional Afro-Cuban music and dance, and more!
• Visit to the home studio of Jose Fuster, ceramic artist

Cost: $2,350.00

More details here.

Friday Question of the Day – What’s Your Favorite Autumn Activity?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

“Dear PoPville,

Now that fall is just around the corner, I would really like to visit an apple orchard of the pick-your-own variety. Do any of your readers have suggestions for ones that

1) are within 1 -1.5 hours drive from DC
2) pet-friendly
and bonus points for
3) include or are nearby wineries?”

The above “Dear PoPville” got me thinking about how much I love Autumn. So in addition to the specific questions above – I’d like to add a couple more – what’s your favorite Autumn seasonal beer. And more generally what’s your favorite Autumn activity in or near DC?

Dear PoPville – Beach Vacation Suggestions for a Family

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Faucetini

“Dear PoP,

I was hoping to get some reader input on a good beach to visit for a long weekend this summer (hotel recommendations as well, if folks have them). It will be my family traveling (me, my husband and our 11 month old) and we’re hoping to go somewhere that is within a couple hours drive (the closer the better). We’re looking for a nice relaxing vacation, not a place where the 20-somethings go to party.”

Any good places for young families on the Delaware shore?

Dear PoPville – Camping options for for drinking, cooking on a bonfire, with pets

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Gosia_K

“Dear PoP,

I’m wondering if any of your readers have any camping/cabining ideas, for drinking, cooking on a bonfire, with pets. We’re looking for a place within a two hour radius of DC. It seems impossible to find, I’ve always had to drive longer than two hours. Eats up a lot of “fun” time. Any suggestions would be great!”

We once looked at general camping recommendations back in Sept. ’10 but does anyone have specific recommendations for places where you can have a bonfire and take pets?

Half-Smoke Palooza May 1st at Domaso in Hotel Palomar

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Madame Meow

I’m thinking this is gonna be worthy of a journey outside DC…

From an email:

WHAT: Domaso, a Kimpton Restaurant, is hosting its first annual “Top Dog Half-Smoke Challenge” in which ten renowned area chefs will showcase their interpretation of DC’s iconic local dish, and compete for the title of Top Dog. Admission is $20 per person and includes samples of all 10 half-smokes, a signature Skyy Vodka cocktail, tax and gratuity. Additional food and beverage will be available at cost.

Domaso will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the event to benefit Brainfood, a non-profit youth development organization based in Washington, DC that helps build life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.

WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 3 PM

WHERE: The terrace at Domaso
Hotel Palomar*
1121 North 19th Street
Arlington, VA

*Hotel Palomar is located two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro, accessible via the blue and orange lines. Street and valet parking are also available.

WHY: The half beef, half pork, smoked sausage has long been considered the District’s signature dish. This challenge is a unique way for the city’s top chefs to honor the half-smoke, and engage in some friendly competition for a great cause. The list of participating chefs is included below.

Victor Albisu, BLT Steak
Nathan Anda, Red Apron Butchery
Danny Bortnick, Firefly
John Critchley, Urbana
Scott Drewno, The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Paul Healey, Domaso
Liam LaCivita, Liberty Tavern/Lyon Hall
Dennis Marron, Jackson 20/The Grille at Morrison House
Peter Smith, PS 7’s
Chris Watson, BRABO by Robert Weidmaier
Ed Witt, 701 Restaurant

Tickets for the half-smoke challenge are available online at www.domasotrattoria.com.

Dear PoP – Where Can I Get Pumpkins, Apples at a Local Farm?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love

“Dear PoP,

Maybe I missed a previous post about this, but I am wondering if you or your readers know of any great farms that are within an hour of DC? I am hoping to visit a local farm this weekend to grab some fall goodies (pumpkins, apples, squash), and I am wondering if anyone has a recommendation?”

Where’s the best place to go apple and pumpkin picking?


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

Dear PoP – Maryland Microbrewery Festival, Sept 25 in Carroll County

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love

I know lots of folks here, including me, enjoy cold beer so I thought I’d share the following festival from a reader:

“Dear PoP,

I wanted to send you information on the 5th Annual Maryland Microbrewery Festival: http://www.marylandmicrobreweryfestival.com/default.asp?iId=HILHG.  It’s a great opportunity to eat some good stuff, drink some good beer, and get to see a really beautiful part of the state.  It’s $18 for the tasting, which is hard to beat.

It’s happening out in lovely Carroll County this Saturday, September 25.  The leaves aren’t quite there yet, but this is a beautiful place nonetheless.  For those PoP readers who don’t know MD too well, Westminster is just 50 miles straight up north on Georgia Avenue.  There’s a bunch of ways to drive out there, but Rte 29 (aka Georgia) is the simplest and second prettiest (to Rte 27 after you get off I-270 and north of Damascus).

Anyway you get there, there’s lots of good food and beer:

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Dear PoP – Camping recommendations

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was hoping you could ask a question of your readers. As PoPville tends to include somewhat outdoorsy people, what are their favorite camping areas in the 2 hour away range? My friends and I are planning a trip and are looking for a real campground and not some KOA setup but something pretty rustic. I’ve been to Elizabeths furnace in the GW forest but was hoping to try somewhere new out.”

With the leaves getting ready to change this should be a particular nice time of year for camping. Anyone have specific Shenandoah recs? Other good spots within 2 hours of DC?

View More Stories