Photos by Crowell Hadden

by Leonard Shapiro As a youngster growing up on the St. Louis road near Middleburg,…

by Leonard Shapiro Katie Brennen got the word from school principal David Larson on a…

They werebest pals at Loudoun Valley High School and now they are the three young partners in a fledgling, foamy craft beer business located in Leesburg that is definitely not your grandfather’s favorite watering hole.

In addition to the town of Middleburg, I visited many of the area’s inns, restaurants, equestrian events and some of the wineries. I’d been blogging about Virginia wine for some time and had been to all the local wineries except one. Leaves of Grass near Aldie seemed to be perpetually closed. So when I drove by and saw an “Open” sign, I pulled off of Route 50 and drove up the twisting, rutted gravel path that passed for a winery lane.

by Leonard Shapiro If you happen to run into Joan Symansky on a back street…

The second annual Side Saddle Chase will take place April 17 at the Loudoun Point-to-Point races at Oatlands Plantation. The brainchild of local sidesaddle rider Maggie Johnston, this year’s race is part of a three-race triple crown that is attracting international attention.

Grandale Vintner’s Table marks something of an evolution in the fine dining experience. Known as the Grandale Restaurant for the past ten years, a shift from the formal to the more casual atmosphere has left new and old patrons thrilled.