Let's eat, drink and put an end to prostate cancer!

I am so pleased to say that donated items have been coming in like wildfire from local businesses for silent auction and raffle items at this year's fundraiser on April 28! While my relentless prodding has proved very fruitful, I can't begin to explain how grateful I am to those who have not hesitated to help out the cause!

Keep an eye on this blog post for all of the food and drink establishments that will be represented!!  I'll also be spotlighting other businesses in upcoming posts that are non-food and drink related.


Ornery Beer Company and Public House

http://www.ornerybeer.com/

For those of you who are local Prince William County residents, you'll remember Hard Times Café in Woodbridge. The owner of Hard Times decided to get with the times and open Ornery just over a year ago. What a wonderful change! Ornery brews its own beer and serves elevated brew pub food - from beer bang shrimp, to flatbreads, to salads, burgers and entrees. It's quickly become one of my favorite new local go-to places! Thank you to Manager Brigitte for her gracious donation to help out Denny's Shotgun Riders!

Nandos Peri-Peri

http://www.nandosperiperi.com/

I am so excited that Nandos will be represented again at this year's event. Nandos has quickly become one of my family's favorite local places. The chicken is absolutely delicious, the garlic bread is the best I've ever had and the sauces are fabulous! Many thanks to Allie for supporting us again this year!! If you haven't been to Nandos, what are you waiting for? Take the whole family - it's inexpensive, good food and Stonebridge's best kept secret. There's one in Old Town Alexandria and National Harbor too!

Otium Cellars

http://www.otiumcellars.com/

Otium means leisure, peace and tranquility. Who doesn't appreciate such a place and such a feeling? Throw in excellent German-inspired wine in Purcellville and you've got it made. I'm happy to say that Tarah at Otium jumped at the chance to be a part of the fundraiser again this year!

  

Chateau O'Brien at Northpoint Vineyard and Winery

http://chateauobrien.com

Many thanks to Howard O'Brien for his gracious donation for this year's event. Located in Markham (Fauquier County), Chateau O'Brien is an experience that every wine lover should enjoy. Howard has outdone himself again with his donation by offering a certificate for an exclusive private cellar tasting and tour for four along with a box of delicious Irish chocolates.

  

Bistro l'hermitage

http://m.bistrolhermitage.com/



I couldn't be happier to have this exquisite French Bistro located between Woodbridge and Occoquan represented at my fundraiser this year!! Merci, Youssef!! I am still in awe of your contribution for this hidden gem!

Old Bust Head Brewery



https://www.oldbusthead.com/

With the theme, "New Brew, Old Soul", this right-over-the-Prince-William-County-line-in-Fauquier brewery is new to the fundraiser and I am honored to represent them. The winner of this item will receive a private tour and tasting at Old Bust Head for a few of your friends!! You'll definitely want to take advantage of that offer! No matter what kind of beer you favor, you're guaranteed to find something you love at this environmentally sustainable company.

Vint Hill Craft Winery

http://www.vinthillcraftwinery.com/

Across the parking lot from Old Bust Head is a unique winery located in ‘The Listening Post’ (aka Monitoring Station #1) on one of the nation’s most covert Army bases!! Lucky for us, both of these entities have donated items for the fundraiser!!

Confections Cupcakery
www.confectionsonline.com



Many thanks to Laura, the owner/baker of this delightful little shop, for donating to the fundraiser again this year! Unfortunately, she lost her father to prostate cancer a few years ago and didn't hesitate to be part of helping to find a cure with us again.  Confections is my guilty pleasure when I've had a really rough week at work. I am famous for getting a 4-pack and making it last an entire week - teaches me patience and will power! From Triple Chocolate (my absolute fave) to Red Velvet to Orange Creamsicle to Maple Bacon, Confections has something for everyone! This was one of the most sought after gift certificates at last year's event! I know it will be again!! Get your money ready to buy some raffle tickets - you won't want to miss out on this one!
Dixie Bones BBQ

http://dixiebones.com/

Do you long for smoky, tender, preservative-free real pit BBQ? Well, then you better try Dixie Bones! Cooked over hickory logs for 12-14 hours means there's no excess fat and you can have delicious food at decent prices!! At Dixie Bones you can take out or dine in and there are two locations - Woodbridge and Fredericksburg! While I love pulled pork, my absolute favorite here is the beef brisket with a side of potato salad.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it!! Many thanks to Nelson, the Chairman of Dixie Bones, who lost his brother to prostate cancer!
Tin Cannon Brewing Company

http://www.tincannonbrewing.com/

This nano brewery located in Gainesville, is an ode to the past and a nod to humor! A newer brewery but one that has simple but delicious beer is one that I definitely enjoy frequenting. Many thanks to Sabrina for all her help with donating to the fundraiser this year!

Adroit Theory Brewing Company

http://www.adroit-theory.com/
A nano brewery located in Purcellville, Adroit makes beer one keg at a time and usually has 24 beers on tap at all times! The beers have an emphasis on barrel aging. Don't let Adroit's dark side scare you. The beer here is absolutely incredible! Concerned at first, it didn't take me long to be a huge fan of this brewery and "The Devil Made Me" is my absolute favorite!

Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery

http://bluevalleyvineyardandwinery.com/

The Zissios family, originating from the picturesque mountains of the Macedonia, Greece, own one of the newest Fauquier County wineries and what a sight to see! These friends of Arthur Lampros (the owner of my happy place) have built an absolutely stunning winery and everyone is sure to find something they enjoy on the tasting sheet! This is definitely a stop on the Delaplane wine trail you will want to check out.

Potomac Point Vineyard

http://www.potomacpointwinery.com/
Along with the wine tasting at this Stafford winery is an olive oil tasting and a wonderful gift shop. The landscape and tasting room is beautiful and the cellar and grounds are perfect for weddings and special events. No matter what vintage it is, I always seem to love the Chardonnay! The Norton is also a definite favorite in the red wine category.  Potomac Point is dog-friendly and the resident aussie shepherd, Chianti, will happily greet you. Spring and Fall are perfect times to visit and enjoy the rooftop terrace or courtyard while dining on delicious snacks from their on-site bistro! Many thanks to Cindi for her gracious donation in support of Denny's Shotgun Riders again this year!

Adventure Brewing Company

http://adventurebrewing.com/

Adventure, in Stafford, is by far, one of my absolute favorite local breweries! I've been there a few times and during my most recent visit I had the pleasure of meeting one of the brewers/owners, Tim, who was a super cool dude! I love when you meet someone and can tell they love what they do. His face lit up as he was talking about his latest beer concoction!

Mason Dixon Café

www.mason-dixoncafe.com

About two years ago, my favorite guy and I found out about this incredible little Old Town Fredericksburg café which happens to be right across from our tattoo shop and next to Carl's Frozen Custard! We will take any excuse to drive 40 minutes south just to eat at Mason-Dixon! I truly believe it's this area's best kept secret!

Bittersweet Bakery and Catering

http://www.bittersweetcatering.com/home

Jeffrey, the catering manager, and I go "way back" - to the days when I was suffering as a City of Alexandria employee. There aren't many things that I miss from working at City Hall but talking to Jeffrey daily and working with him on planning City Council meals sure is one of them. I'm fortunate to say that he and I have remained friends and he's supporting us in our fight against prostate cancer!

Occoquan Inn Restaurant

http://www.occoquaninn.com/

A huge thank you goes to the proprietor of this Occoquan restaurant, Gary, for being a part of this fundraiser.  Gary was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago but is doing well now. Amazing how things happen in life and who you come across, isn't it?

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
]ttp://catoctincreekdistilling.com/
In 2009, Scott and his wife, Becky, founded Catoctin Creek Distilling Company as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. Scott donated a bottle of Roundstone Rye (my favorite!) at last year’s event and it was an instant hit. I still remember the bidding war! Many thanks to Scott for helping us out once again!

Stay tuned for more restaurants, breweries, distilleries and wineries!! Start saving your money for raffle tickets and silent auction bids now!! I'm in awe of the gracious establishments who haven't hesitated to help out the cause!



Save the Date - Thursday, April 28, 2016!

Well, it's 24 days into 2016, I just survived a blizzard with 25 inches of snow here in Northern Virginia and it's time to start talking up the 2016 ZERO Run/Walk and the second annual Denny's Shotgun Riders Kick Cancer's Ass Fundraiser!

At this time last year, my dad's prostate cancer had reared its ugly head again and chemotherapy was about to begin. I was angry and at a loss for how to help. One night, I found a non-profit called ZERO online and I signed up for its Father's Day Run/Walk. All I knew was I needed to "do something". I had no idea this would end up being the start to a monumental year and would set fire to my passion.

Thanks to such generous people, and I suppose my relentless prodding, I am proud to say that I was the top fundraiser for the 2015 race at just over $12,000. $4,000 of that $12,000 was raised at my fundraiser that Arthur Lampros so graciously let me hold at his place of business, also known as my happy place, Winestyles of Montclair.

I am happy to say that Arthur has allowed me to continue the spectacular time we had last year and hold the second annual Denny's Shotgun Riders fundraiser at my happy place this year on Thursday, April 28 from 7 to 9pm.  You will NOT want to miss this event! We had over 80 people in attendance last year!

For those of you who don't know the origin of my team name, check out the post I wrote last year when I came up with the name: http://dennysshotgunriders.blogspot.com/2015/01/why-dennys-shotgun-riders.html  It is my hope that the team I created last year will stay intact and that others will also join! I'll post the link on this blog for race registration as soon as it's on the ZERO website which should be before the end of January.  Thanks to Jason and Maurine for already committing to be part of the team again and helping to put an end to prostate cancer by supporting and honoring my dad.

I'm excited to say that I've already had commitments from many businesses and individuals for raffle and silent auction items for this year's fundraiser! Stay tuned to this blog for spotlight posts and all the details you need to know for the race and the fundraiser. Let's make this one the best yet!

For those of you who want info on ZERO, go to www.zerocancer.org. Not only has ZERO become part of my family but I have become a huge advocate for this national non-profit who is headquartered on King Street in Alexandria! If you want to make sure your donations go to a cancer organization who will use it wisely (and not like the big powerhouse cancer non-profits - you know who I'm talking about) then you can rest easy with ZERO. As passionate as I am, I would never attach my name to an organization I didn't believe in 100%. 97 cents of every dollar donated to ZERO goes to education and activities aimed at finding a cure for prostate cancer!

Are you a man? Then you are at risk for prostate cancer just by the pure fact that you are a man. Are there other factors that put you at risk? Well, of course there are but some of them you can't control. My dad is a good example. No doubt being subjected to Agent Orange in Vietnam is what caused his prostate cancer. If you're not a man, then you know a man. Prostate cancer affects our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, sons, cousins, boyfriends, partners, husbands and friends. It used to be considered an "old man's disease" but that couldn't be farther from the truth. My dad was only 47 when he was first diagnosed 20 years ago! My "South Carolina cousin" was diagnosed at an even younger age!!

ZERO is about putting an end to prostate cancer.
ZERO pain. ZERO suffering. ZERO cancer.

My friends at ZERO are working tirelessly every day to create Generation ZERO - the first generation of men free from prostate cancer. I am proud to be a part of that mission and pray that I see the day it comes true!

Stay tuned to this blog for updates on the race, the fundraiser and Dad's battle. For now, please mark your calendars for the evening of April 28. It's going to be an incredibly fun and powerful night!!

My favorite love story

It was March 1969.

A beautiful 21 year old brunette was on her way home from work in her burgundy 1966 Mustang. She stopped at the corner of Luray and Dewitt Avenue in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. Standing on the corner was a 20 year old lanky boy waiting for his friends to stop by so they could decide what their plans were for the night.

The girl stopped to say "hi" because she hadn't seen the boy in a while. They knew each other from growing up in the same neighborhood and attending the same high school but she had graduated a year before him. He had been a drummer in the marching band and she was a pom pom girl at GW High School. Something made her stop the car that day and talk with the boy for a while. Neither of them knew it would change their lives forever.

The boy had always thought the girl was "cute" but she always had a steady guy in high school so he never asked her out. The girl was a year ahead of him in school and he had lost track of her after she graduated. He was pleasantly surprised she had driven by and stopped to talk that day.

After they talked for a while, the boy realized the girl wasn't dating anyone so the light went off in his head and he called her the next day and asked her out. She said "yes" and that upcoming weekend they went on their first date to the Old Stein Restaurant in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, they went to Bassin's at 20th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

The boy and girl went out a lot over that month and started to get really close. Although it was only a month that they had been dating, they felt as if they'd been together for years. Along with the mutual physical attraction, they were amazed at how much they had in common and how comfortable they were together. She loved his honest, sweet and considerate nature. He loved the way she looked at him.

One month later, April 1969, the boy was drafted.

The boy had feelings for the girl but also knew he wouldn't be around long so he wouldn't make a commitment because he thought it wouldn't be fair to the girl.

The girl didn't want to be with anyone else. She would wait for him.

The girl went with the boy's parents to Ft. Benning, Georgia, when the boy graduated from Army Basic Training.  She missed him so very much and at Ft. Benning is when she knew for sure she wanted to be with him and only him. He was the one.

The girl also went with the boy's parents to the Atlanta airport when he was scheduled to go to Ft. Polk, Louisiana for advanced infantry training. The boy came home in September 1969 and the girl went to Dulles airport with his parents to meet him.

The boy was home for a couple of weeks and then the girl and his parents took him back to Dulles to head to Oakland, California. The boy's next stop would be Vietnam. The girl would continue to wait for him.

The boy and girl would keep in touch through U.S. mail. The boy was able to call once from Vietnam.  The girl had no desire to date anyone else. She knew they were meant to be together.

After spending a year fighting for his country in Vietnam, the boy knew what he wanted but didn't know what to expect when he got home. He found out the girl hadn't gone out with anyone while he was away and even when his brother invited her to parties, she wouldn't go. Being away from the girl for a year, the boy knew how much he loved her and missed her. He often thought about coming home to her, getting married and starting their life together. Those thoughts kept the boy sane while he was at war.

On Friday, March 13, 1970, the boy was wounded in Vietnam.  He wrote the girl and told her he was wounded but it "wasn't a big deal". The girl took the letter to the boy's parents who contacted his uncle who contacted a friend at the American Red Cross. The girl was very worried until the boy called home and she heard his voice.

While the boy was recovering, he auditioned for the U.S. Army Band. He was discharged from the Infantry and reenlisted in the Band.  In June 1970, the boy left Vietnam, came home for two weeks and then was reassigned to Germany for two years.  With each passing day the boy and girl continued to grow closer.

The girl was excited because she would now be able to visit him in Germany. The boy's father told him not to expect the girl to wait another two years for him because she had already waited one year while he was in Vietnam. The girl would continue to wait.

After being in Germany for a almost a year without the girl, the boy realized she was definitely the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. In Spring 1971, the girl went to Germany for two weeks to visit the boy. It was the first time she had flown. The girl and boy started talking marriage.

The boy wanted to get married in Germany but the girl knew that would upset her parents. Plans were made for the girl and boy to get married in Alexandria when the boy came home on leave for Christmas in 1971.

On January 8, 1972, the girl and the boy got married at First Baptist Church of Alexandria on King Street. On January 15, the girl went back to Germany with the boy, as his wife, to finish out the remainder of his tour in the Army.

To have and to hold

from this day forward

for better for worse

for richer for poorer

in sickness and in health

til death do us part.

 Today, January 8, 2016, this boy and this girl are still happily married and very much in love!

Happy 44th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Thank you for being the best parents and friends a girl could ask for and for being my love role models.  

There's a place for us
A time and place for us
Hold my hand and we're halfway there
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Somehow
Some day
Somewhere