Valentine's Day Ideas ...

It’s that time of year again…red roses, chocolates, those cute little heart shaped candies that say ‘Be Mine’, for happy couples to exchange. That’s right it’s time for Valentine’s Day!

This year, couples who are still experiencing the “red” from the holidays are wondering, “What to do about Valentine’s Day?”It’s no secret that we need to demonstrate our love on this most romantic of holidays. Just because the economy is in a slump doesn’t mean your Valentine’s Day has to be any less romantic. Here are some recession proof tips to enjoy your Valentine’s Day...and keep it real!

1. Indoor Picnic – Although it’s cold outside, keep things warm with an indoor picnic. Pack a basket with some of your mate’s favorite treats and toss a blanket on the floor and enjoy listening to tunes.

2. Stay in for dinner – pull out that special china you use when you have guests or only for the holidaysand enjoy dinner for two.

3. Buy one rose (about $1 at any grocery, convenience store, or street vendor) and write your special someone a love letter. Leave love notes all over the house (bathroom, kitchen) or write one and put it in their car or handbag/briefcase.

4. Since Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year –lunch and a matinee movie won’t break the bank.Matinee too much??? Stop at the Red Box at Giant or visit your local video store (or Netflix) and pop some popcorn and enjoy a movie in – together.

So you say “Hey, I’m single! What’s there for me to do?” Well I’m glad you asked! Here's a… “Single in the City Recession Proof Valentine’s Day Plan”

1. Remember when Valentines were sent in grade school? Then, it wasn’t for committed love but just a way to tell friends you care. Your never too old to tell friends, parents and siblings that you still care for them.

2. Hit the nail salon for a manicure and pedicure (package about $35). Men don’t frown it’s not just for the ladies anymore! I flew into a salon last week and met a postal worker getting a pedicure. He said after a long day on his feet it made him feel so much better – he only wished he started 10 years ago!

3. Have dinner in or enjoy takeout from your favorite place. There’s no rule that says you can’t enjoy a dinner for one with your fine china and candles. So pull out that china and light the candle and enjoy dinner.

4. Spend time with family or friends. Get together for a “Single and Loving It” game night.Ask family and friends to bring games over to your place or to bring a dish. Play the nightaway!However, you spend Valentine's Day ... Enjoy!

Check out today's WE ARE ONE concert ...

Initial Talent Line-up Confirmed for Today's Lincoln Memorial Event

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is pleased to announce the producers and initial talent lineup for WE ARE ONE: THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, the Opening Celebration for the 56th Presidential Inaugural, to be presented exclusively by HBO on Sunday, January 18 (7:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT). The event will be free and open to the public, kicking off the most open and accessible Inauguration in history.The special will be executive produced by George Stevens, Jr. (The Kennedy Center Honors), and produced by Don Mischer (Olympic Ceremonies) who will also direct the special, and Michael Stevens (The American Film Institute Salutes) who is also writing the special, and will be a production of The Stevens Company in association with Don Mischer Productions.Musical performers scheduled for the event include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington. The Rt. Reverend V. Gene Robinson will give the invocation. Rob Mathes will be the music director and arranger for the backing band, which will support all of the artists. Additional performers will be announced as they are confirmed.“Our intention is to root the event in history, celebrating the moments when our nation has united to face great challenges and prevail,“ observed George Stevens, Jr. “We will combine historical readings by prominent actors with music from an array of the greatest stars of today.““This is a great opportunity to capture an historic event in a very meaningful setting,“ noted Don Mischer. “We will have the statue of Abraham Lincoln looking down on our stage and a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people lining the mall—a tableau any director would relish.““We have found that the great artists are eager to take part and each one is working with us to find music that expresses the optimism and hope that people bring to the Obama inauguration,“ said Michael Stevens.Televised to the nation, the Opening Celebration will be a declaration of common purpose and new beginnings. The Sunday afternoon performance will be grounded in history and brought to life with entertainment that relates to the themes that shaped Barack Obama and which will be the hallmarks of his administration.HBO will televise the event on an open signal, working with all of its distributors to allow Americans across the country with access to cable, telcos or satellite television to join in the Opening Celebration for free.The 56th Inauguration promises to be the most inclusive in history, and the Opening Celebration is one of a series of inaugural events that reflect that commitment. On Saturday, the President-elect, Vice President-elect and their families will journey to the nation’s capital via train, holding events that are free and open to the public along the way. They will be joined by a group of everyday Americans they met along their road to the White House. On January 19th, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President-elect Obama will call on all Americans to make an ongoing commitment to serve their communities and their country. A new website, USAservice.org, makes it easy for Americans to organize service events or find existing events to participate in. To date, nearly 5,000 events have been organized across the country. That evening, Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and their families will host a free “Kids’ Inaugural” concert to honor military families, broadcast live on the Disney Channel and Radio Disney.This spirit of openness will continue on Inauguration Day, when, for the first time in history, the entire length of the National Mall will be open to the public for the swearing in ceremony. Local D.C. students have also been given the chance to receive tickets in front of the White House for the Inaugural Parade for themselves and their family members based on the submission of essays answering the question, “How can I contribute to my neighborhood through community service?“On the evening of Inauguration Day, the first ball that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will attend will be the first-ever Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. The ball will be broadcast live on ABC and over the Internet, bringing together neighborhoods across the country in the spirit of unity and celebration.The sum of these public events is an Inauguration that allows more Americans than ever before to come together as one nation and one people, united in our resolve to tackle our greatest common challenges and move this country forward together.For the latest information on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, please visit http://www.pic2009.org/

Inauguration Day Schedule

Inauguration is exactly one week away. Here is a run down of of Inauguration Day.

Tuesday, Jan. 20 -- Inauguration Day:
The president-elect and vice president-elect will participate in the traditional inaugural ceremonies and events. For the first time ever, the length of the National Mall will be open to those wishing to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Festivities will commence at 10 a.m. on the west front of the U.S. Capitol and will include:
Musical Selections: The United States Marine Band, followed by The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus
Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Invocation: Dr. Rick Warren
Musical Selection: Aretha Franklin
Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will be sworn into office by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable John Paul Stevens
Musical Selection: John Williams, composer/arranger with Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet)
At approximately 12 p.m., President-elect Barack H. Obama will take the Oath of Office, using President Lincoln's Inaugural Bible, administered by the Chief Justice of the United States, the Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.
At approximately 12:05 p.m., Obama will deliver his Inaugural Address.
Poem: Elizabeth Alexander
Benediction: The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
The National Anthem: The United States Navy Band “Sea Chanters”
After Obama gives his Inaugural Address, he will escort outgoing President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony before attending a luncheon in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. More Details
Starting at about 2 p.m., the 56th inaugural parade will then make its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House with groups traveling from all over the country to participate.
In the evening, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host 10 official Inaugural Balls, including:
Youth Inaugural Ball – Young Americans aged 18-35; Washington Hilton
Obama Home States Inaugural Ball – Illinois and Hawaii invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Biden Home States Inaugural Ball –Delaware and Pennsylvania invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Eastern Inaugural Ball - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, PR, and USVI invited guests; Union Station
Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball - MD, VA, DC, NY, NJ, WV, Dems Abroad, and invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Midwest Inaugural Ball - KS, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, and MO invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Southern Inaugural Ball - AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, and TX invited guests; National Guard Armory
Western Inaugural Ball - AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, OK, GUAM/AS invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Neighborhood Inaugural Ball – DC residents, additional guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball – Enlisted active duty and reserve military; National Building Museum

A Little Inauguration History ...

Since George Washington's appearance on the balcony of New York City's Federal Hall in 1789, the term of each American president has started with a single sentence:





I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
The affirmation of the oath is like the first line of a play, a national drama that's slated to run for four years – barring events which require an understudy to fill in. How that drama unfolds depends upon the person entering the executive office and the era in which he (or she) lives...but the oath remains the same.
Although many promises are made as presidential candidates vie for votes, the oath is the first one that really counts. It transforms a citizen into a president and, according to the second article of the Constitution, signals the beginning of a new administration.
Although the Constitution includes the inaugural oath, it does not dictate where that oath should take place. On April 27, 1789, the Senate's Inaugural Committee on Ceremony decided to hold the first oath in an "outer gallery adjoining the Senate Chamber." This gallery, part of a balcony in New York City's Federal Hall, overlooked Wall and Broad streets and provided the public with a chance to witness George Washington's inauguration.

For more information about inauguration history, etc. check out http://www.inauguraltickets.com/.

Gearning up for the Inauguration

With the inauguration 9 days away, several activities will be taking place, including the Inaugural Parade.

Parade Route Entry Points

The following public entry points will open at 7:00 a.m. on January 20, 2009, and will remain open until the parade route can no longer accommodate additional people.
2nd St. NW and C St. NW
3rd St. NW and C St. NW
Indiana Ave. NW between 6th St. NW and 7th St. NW
7th St. NW and D St. NW
10th St. NW and E St. NW
12th St. NW and E St. NW
E St. NW just east of 13th St. NW
13th St. NW just North of E St. NW
14th St. NW just North of E St. NW
12th St. NW between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave.
10th St. NW between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave.
7th St. NW between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave.
Constitution Ave. between 6th St. NW and 7th St. NW Access to the parade route from south of Pennsylvania Avenue, including the National Mall area, will only be available via 14th Street NW or 12th Street NW at Constitution Ave.Individuals attending the Inaugural parade may enter at any of the designated entry points on the north or south side of Pennsylvania Avenue. Between 7 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the following intersections will be open to the general public as crossover points:
3rd Street between Constitution Ave and Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Ave between 6th Street NW and 7th Street NW
Pennsylvania Ave between 11th Street NW and 12th Street NW

The following roads in Washington, DC will be closed and off limits to vehicles without a law enforcement escort 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20,2009.

Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 18th St. NW to the U S Capitol

I St. NW from 18th to 12th St. NW
H St. NW from 18th to 12th St. NW
G St. NW from 18th to 12th St. NW

F St. NW from 18th to 12th St. NW
E St. NW from 18th to 6th St. NW
D St. NW from 18th to 6th St. NW
C St. from 18th to 2nd St. NE
Constitution Ave. from 17th St. NW to 2nd St. NE
Madison Dr. NW from 15th St. NW to 3rd St. NW
Jefferson Dr. SW from 15th St. SW to 3rd St. SW
Independence Ave. from 14th St. SW to 2nd St. NE
Maryland Ave. SW from 6th St. SW to the U S Capitol
17th St. from I St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
Connecticut Ave. NW from I St. NW to H St. NW
16th St. NW from I St. NW to H St. NW
Vermont Ave. NW from I St. NW to H St. NW
15th St. from I St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
14th St. from I St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
New York Ave. NW from 18th St. NW to 12th St. NW
13th St. NW from I St. NW to Pennsylvania Ave. NW
12th St. from F St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
11th St. NW from F St. NW to Pennsylvania Ave. NW
10th St. NW from F St. NW to Constitution Ave. NW
9th St. from F St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
8th St. NW from F to D St. NW
7th St. from F St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
6th St. from F St. NW to Maryland Ave. SW
5th St. from D St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
4th St. from D St. NW to Independence Ave. SW
3rd St. from D St. NW to Independence Ave. SW

Restricted Roadways Access into Washington, DC will be limited on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 on the following roads.

14th Street Bridge – Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
Roosevelt Bridge – Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
Memorial Bridge – Pedestrians and Emergency Vehicles Only
Key Bridge – Mass Transit Only
Chain Bridge - Authorized Vehicles and Mass Transit Only, no charter buses
South Capitol Street Bridge – Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
Southeast/Southwest Freeway – Emergency Vehicles Only
Rock Creek Parkway – Open to traffic from Beach Drive to Virginia Avenue NW
Clara Barton Parkway operating under Holiday schedule (2 way traffic all day)
11th Street Bridges – Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
Sousa Bridge – Open to all traffic from east of the river to security checkpoint in Capitol Hill; Barney Circle closed to all vehicles
East Capitol Street – Open to all traffic but roadways around RFK will be filled with tour buses
Benning Road – Open to all traffic
New York Avenue – Open to all traffic
3rd Street Tunnel – Closed to all vehicular traffic and restricted to pedestrian use only.Note: Authorized vehicles include taxicabs and limousines with valid licenses.
Virginia Restrictions

On January 20, 2009, personal vehicles will not be permitted into Washington, DC from Virginia.
I-395 north will be closed to general traffic. Northbound I-95 traffic will be diverted onto I-495 North (Inner Loop) or I-495/I-95 East (Outer Loop) at the Springfield interchange.
Eastbound I-66 lanes east of the Capital Beltway/I-495 will be closed to general traffic. Eastbound traffic on I-66 will also be diverted onto I-495.
Only authorized vehicles – emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and for-hire limos - will be permitted on I-395 North and I-66 East within the Beltway.
Memorial Bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic only. No motor vehicles will be permitted to cross the bridges.
Key Bridge is restricted to mass transit only.
Chain Bridge is restricted to authorized vehicles and mass transit only, no charter buses.
The Woodrow Wilson and the American Legion bridges will have no traffic restrictions.
North Washington Street at Montgomery Street (City of Alexandria City) to Reagan National Airport will be closed.

Looking for a good way to warrm up today?

Sat, Jan 10, 2009 - Looking for a good way to warm up this weekend. Stop by Breaux Vineyards.

Guests will enjoy 6 vintages of Breaux Cabernet starting with a barrel sample and ending with a reserve vintage. An introductory wine will start the day followed by a 90 minute educational, fun and interactive lecture with our winemaker, Dave Collins. A 3 course gourmet chefs pairing will accompany the wines and the day will end with a surprise course (chocolate & Cabernet anyone?) Discount prices on all Cabernets in tasting will be offered to vertical attendees only. This is a seated event that takes place in our tank room. Please call ahead to reserve.
Event Time: Seatings at 12pm, 2:15pm, and 4:30pm
Admission Fee/Ticket Price: $45/Club Member, $50/Non-Member
Breaux Vineyards36888 Breaux Vineyards LnPurcellville, VA 20132546-686-6299 ext. 203

http://www.breauxvineyards.com/

"Home is Where the Art Is ..."

The Homewood Suites Brand is supporting the local arts and communities by featuring piece of artwork by a local artist. There will be a small plaque with teh artwork diplaying the artisist's name, name of the piece and the finished size.

We are pleased to have selected "Outbound" by Martin Andres Paddock. We have displayed his piece just to the left of our front desk.

Last Minute Shopping Tips ...

Still shopping for the holidays? Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are getting those last minute items ...

Don't Panic

Avoid Piling Up Debt

Know When to Stop

Stick to Your Budget

Give somthing handcrafted

Give the Gift of Time

Consider Regifting

Happy shopping and Happy Holidays!

Take a Break from the Holiday Bustle ...

Looking for something to do this weekend. Take a break from the holiday bustle and warm up with a glass of wine.

Sun, Dec 21, 2008

Allow a glass of red to warm the midwinter chill while live jazz envelopes you fireside in the sounds of the season. Treat yourself to a break in the holiday mad dash and pick up last-minute gifts and trimmings for your tree and table.

Event Time: 11am-6pm, Live music 12-4pm
Admission Fee/Ticket Price: Free event, tasting fees apply
Tarara Vineyard and Winery13648 Tarara Ln.Leesburg, VA 20176703-771-7100

http://www.tarara.com/

Holiday Activities in Loudoun County

There’s no better time to enjoy beautiful Loudoun County than during the holiday season. Festive events, stately historic homes decorated with fine greenery, and the spirit of holidays past and present warm visitors with their hospitality.

Check out Christmas in Middleburg! A holiday tradition in the heart of Virginia’s horse country, the day includes a parade led by the Middleburg Hunt club with their horses and hounds, caroling and an arts and crafts show. Spend time browsing the quaint shops, or warm up with some hot tea or hearty soup as you experience holiday life in the Piedmont’s hunt country capital.

December Art Show

Dec 1-Dec 31: Barns and Farms of Loudoun County Art Show

Sunday, November 16-Wednesday, December 31, 20089am-5pm Mon-Fri & Weekends during performances. Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center, 17501 Franklin Park Dr, Purcellville, VA 20132

Come see artwork from artists throughout Loudoun County. Presented by the Franklin Park Arts Center, this show is dedicated to the visual power of Loudoun's agricultural heritage. All work will be offered for sale. Original artwork by local artists makes a unique and memorable holiday gift! Admission is free. For more information, call 540-338-7973 or visit the Franklin Park Arts Center website.

Bull Run Festival of Lights

Come and experience Northern Virgina's Festival of Lights at Bull Run Regional Park. Drive through 2 1/2 miles of festive light displays enjoy the Holiday Village complete with an ice skating rink, food, gift vendors and carnival rides.



November 26, 2008 - January 4, 2009



Admission per car Monday - Thursday: $15



Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: $20



for more info check out http://www.nvrpa.org/



Bull Run Regional Park- 7700 Bull Run Drive - Centreville, VA 20121 703-631-0550

December 6th Virginia Food and Wine Excursion Weekend

Check out http://www.goodtastetours.com/ for more information on the Virginia Wine Tour Weekend Package December 6th.

Depart for the day and enjoy 3 wine tastings at Bluemont Vineyard, Notaviva and Sunset Vineyards and enjoy a gourmet boxed lunch in between stops. .

Spend an extra night and enjoy all that the Homewood Suites Dulles - North has to offer. After you check-in, take advantage of their indoor pool or whirlpool located at the connecting sister property, the Embassy Suites Dulles-North or just enjoy some down time in your spacious one bedroom or studio suite. Before you head off on your Saturday wine adventure, enjoy Homewood's complimentary Suite Start Breakfast with some scrambled eggs or make your own Belgian waffle.

Don't wait, book your package now at http://www.goodtastetours.com/

Package Price: $315 per couple + 5% tax; Single person - $225 + 5% tax

Trick or Treat?

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat.Although the term "trick or treat," appeared in print only around 1939, its origins could be traced back over 2000 years. Among the Celts - as well as among the Chinese, the Egyptians, and even the Aztecs - it was thought that the spirits of the dead required food and drink. During the festival of Samhain (discussed in greater detail in the article on Halloween History), the people would leave various articles of food outside to placate the spirits. This was very important, for only the finest mutton legs, vegetables, eggs and poultry - as well as honey and wine - were left outside for the spirits to consume on their way to the netherworld. To supply nothing meant that the hungry and possibly irritated spirit might intrude upon one's house and help itself to one's belongings. Leaving out food that had spoiled was also considered an open invitation to disaster. Therefore, families who faced uncertain diets, often of very low quality, gave what was most precious to them: food. This takes on added implications when we recall that, at that time, food was very difficult to preserve. Moreover, Halloween marked winter's beginning, when food was at its scarcest, and starvation not uncommon. Thus the roaming from door-to-door demanding treats can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of Christianity when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and around, along with fairies, witches, and demons. Food and drink were left to placate them. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing as these dreadful creatures and performing antics in exchange for offerings of food and drink. This practice, called mumming, evolved into our present trick or treating. To this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton figures of the dead are among the favorite disguises."Although the Celtic traditions seems to be the main root, there are probably several origins, mostly Irish. An old Irish peasant practice called for going door to door to collect money, bread cake, cheese, eggs, butter, nuts, apples, etc., in preparation for the festival of St. Columbus Kill. Yet another custom was the begging for soul cakes, which can be traced back to the early celebrations of All Soul's Day in Britain. The poor would go begging and the housewives would give them special treats called "soulcakes". This was called "going a-souling", and the "soulers" would promise to say a prayer for the dead. Over time the custom changed and the town's children became the beggars. As they went from house to house they would be given apples, buns, and money.As European immigrants came to America, they brought their varied Halloween customs with them. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as the American Indians, meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition.Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday. (information courtesy of http://www.funmunch.com/)

Wishing everyone a very safe and Happy Halloween!

Looking for a good scare this evening?

Looking for a good scare this evening?

Come enjoy a frightful walk this evening in the Halloween Forest at Algonkian Regional Park. Tours run 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM. The last tour starts at 9:30 PM. Cost: $13.00

Air and Scare

4th Annual Air and Scare

Discover the strange and spooky side of aviation and space at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center's Fourth Annual Air and Scare. Hear stories about bugs in space, flying animals, and androids. Meet your favorite Star Wars and Star Trek characters. Take control of a creepy-crawly robot and a Mars rover. Create a spider finger puppet, a Halloween glider, witch rocket and other items to take home. There will also be face painters, story tellers, free simulator rides and activities just for tots.

Event Time: 4-8pm

Admission Fee/Ticket Price: Free admission, $10/car parking

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy

Chantilly, VA 20151

202-633-1000

http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy

Select Your "suite" Home Away from Home

Make your stay with us even more enjoyable by selection your suite at Homewood Suites Dulles - North! The process is simple:

View the hotel floor plan

View an image of your suite

Choose the exact location of your suite

Choose your suite number

Check-in online BEFORE you arrive at the hotel!

For more information and other great tips for the extended stay traveler, check out the demo at http://www.suiteliving.com/

Good Taste Tours ... The Way to Experience Loudoun County

Looking for a unique food and wine experience in Loudoun County?

Then I must recommend Good Taste Tours. They offer a variety of tours that will food and wine enthusiasts at all levels. This is not your standard wine tour. Some tours also include cooking classes or enjoy some regional cuisine at one of Loudoun County's restaurants.

The website lists all of the various options for groups, a schedule of upcoming tours and some great recipes!

For more information check out their website ...

http://www.goodtastetours.com/

Look for hotel packages coming soon ...

Have you met Lewis?

Lewis is a navigational genius and travels great distances and finding the perfect place to stay. He has an uncanny ability to find a second home no matter where it is he's traveling to. Lewis is a responsible bird. He has a family. A home. A job. Lewis is proud, noble and respectable. He has a great sense of humor but he is extremely dedicated to his work, which is to help people find their way home. He's credible and serious but he understands that travel should be fun and something to look forward to.

Check out more information about Lewis at:

http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/promotions/hw_lewis/index.jhtml

or email him at:

LewisTheDuck@hilton.com

Celebrate Leesburg's 250th Birthday

Looking for something to do this Saturday? Check out downtown Leesburg.

Saturday, October 18, 2008 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: Downtown Leesburg
Take a step back in time as we embrace and celebrate Leesburg history at this annual event. Stroll the streets of historic downtown Leesburg and visit the many traders and demonstrators on hand or watch the court case reenactments. Children's activities, food vendors and live entertainment will be part of this family-based event.

Join us for this milestone event in the year-long celebration of Leesburg's 250th birthday.

For more information, please contact Ida Lee Park Recreation Center at 703-777-1368.