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Legendary Buddy Guy

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I’ll admit it right from the start: I have a crush on Buddy Guy. I have for years. Besides his mad guitar skills—which have inspired so many musicians and fans for decades—I admire his background and how hard he’s worked to not only keep the blues alive and relevant, but I also admire his humility with regard to other musicians and mentors as he’s come up in the industry. Then there’s that smile…and his sense of humor, which is pretty apparent when you see him perform. Anyhow, I digress.

Buddy has recently come out with his 28th studio album, Born to Play Guitar, which has been getting quite a bit of airplay on SiriusXM’s Bluesville. And at 79 years young he is touring in support of its release. I have been fortunate enough to see him perform at least six times at a variety of venues, from relatively modest theaters to the Memphis in May Music Festival and the Blues Music Awards. This past Monday night I was treated to another live performance at The Birchmere, in Alexandria, VA. Mr. Buddy Guy did not disappoint, and the Damn Right Blues Band was absolutely stellar as well. Buddy is the king of dynamics, where he gently plays and sings a few bars of soft, sweet notes. And then BAM! He kicks you in the face with an assault on the strings to make you sit up and take notice. The band is so tight and so tuned in on Buddy during the (mostly) improvised show. They were on it.

Born to Play Guitar, released by Silvertone/RCA in late July and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter Tom Hambridge, is a mixture of songs and artist collaborations proving Buddy Guy is still a leader at playing licks “so funky you can smell it.” Some highlights:

  • The title track and the third one, “Back Up Mama,” have a lot of similarities musically. I like them both. It may sound corny, but I find their melodies comforting.
  • “Wear You Out” is a gritty juke joint tune sung by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.
  • “Kiss Me Quick” is one of my favorite tracks. It’s a typical Chicago-style tune and accompanied by blues harp veteran Kim Wilson.
  • “Smarter Than I Was” has a cool beat and I liked the back and forth conversation with his guitar.
  • “Crying Out of One Eye” features Muscle Shoals Horns; I think Buddy has collaborated with them a couple of times prior to this album.
  • “Come Back Muddy” is another favorite of mine—there is an acoustic version as well as an electric, and the lyrics convey how much the friendship meant to Buddy.

Overall I noticed more than a few of the songs have a common thread of retrospect and reflection. Case in point: “Born to Play Guitar,” “Crazy World,” “Thick Like Mississippi Mud,” “Flesh & Bone” (dedicated to BB King and a vocal duet with Van Morrison) and “Come Back Muddy.” It got me to thinking that the man has been performing for more than six decades. He’s had so many stories to tell, and he’s made an impact on blues, rock, pop…even funk.

Monday’s Show

We arrived at the Birchmere before the doors opened, and picked up our guest passes. It was pretty cool to hang out with the band and talk about the tour, listen to sound check (I was loving the “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” jam) and then finally grab our seats front and center. The Damn Right Blues Band looked tired (they had played the night before…and the night before that…with a few more back-to-back shows coming up), but when show time hit, they were on. For two hours they played some of the new material as well as the old familiar ones and the show lasted about 30 minutes longer than expected. Buddy is a consummate performer…and is definitely a legend.

And as for my crush “issue”…it was validated when Buddy leaned over and handed me a pick.

Sincere thanks go out to my friend Roberta Polk—as a long-time friend with the band she was given the guest passes and invited me along. I want to give props to the guys in the Damn Right Blues Band, too. Phenomenal musicians (and good guys). I hope to see them in Chicago:

A few photos from the Birchmere

Marty and Buddy
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Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

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My husband, John, and I made a quick trip to the Tarrytown, NY, area last weekend, which is just outside of New York City along the Hudson River…beautiful area, I might add. We specifically went up because my husband ordered tickets for a 2-hour guided tour of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (with lanterns) Saturday night. Very cool experience.

We have family in and around the city, and a few cousins right outside of Tarrytown, so I did my research and it was decided that after touring their new house (most definitely a fixer upper, but will be spectacular when it’s completed) we went to check out a craft brewery barely two miles from their front door.

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company is located in an industrial park in Elmsford, NY. Interestingly enough, it was founded by a guy who first began homebrewing when he was in high school in that area of New York. Yes, high school. Scott Vaccaro was supposed to be on the collegiate-track to become an accountant, but he got the brewing bug after watching a friend’s dad make a batch of beer one Saturday afternoon in 1995. He was hooked. Months later he left for college, but after a couple of semesters at Villanova he followed his heart and (after probably convincing his parents he wasn’t out of his mind) went to California where he learned the science of brewing in a four-year Fermentation Science program at U.C. Davis.

Fast forward a few years: an internship in Great Britain at Adnams Brewery and graduating from U.C. Davis were followed by a couple of years learning even more as a staff member at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, but it was time to head back east. Vaccaro spent a few weeks in Europe visiting breweries before returning to the New York/Connecticut area where he briefly spent time as a brewer at Colorado Brewery in Connecticut that eventually had to close its doors. As they say, when one door closes another one opens. Thus Vacarro launched Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in 2005 in Pleasantville, NY—named after the street he grew up on—with a 20-barrel system. By 2006 they were awarded the Matthew Vassar Brewer’s Cup, which recognizes the best craft brewery in the Hudson Valley, and they have been earning awards ever since.

In 2011 Captain Lawrence moved to their current, bigger location with a 40-barrel brewing system, a bottling line, more fermentation capacity and seven smaller barrel systems for specialty brew batches. Their beers are available in New York, Connecticut and Northern New Jersey. Captain Lawrence beers are influenced by the traditional Belgian ales but with Vacarro’s interpretation, incorporating not only special flavors or aging systems (ex: Frost Monster is a malty ale aged in rum barrels), but also using wild yeasts and bacteria.

Captain Lawrence Pumpkin Ale

Saturday Tasting

When we got to the brewery, it was a typical New York fall day: colorful, chilly and blustery. And it was packed. The large outdoor area has a lot of tables, a bocce ball court, wood-fired pizza oven, and people were lined up for one of three or four sets of cornhole boards. Inside it was just as crowded. But it was worth the relatively short wait for beers. I didn’t really get a chance to get many photos—it was crowded, but trying to juggle my phone and a beer wasn’t going to happen because we stood almost the entire time. And despite how crowded they were (inside and out), the tasting room staff were awesome. Really friendly people.

Their website has a list of what they brew as well as what’s on tap. For tastings they sell a .5 oz tasting glass and poker chips to be used to “pay” for samples; most of the beers are one chip—we each got 12 chips. These are what I tried:

Pumpkin Ale | 5% APV
Anyone who has seen what I write or tweet about knows I love pumpkin. This was pretty good. Nice amber ale without too many spices to distract from the pureed pumpkin. Smooth finish with nice malts. I had a few samples of this one (and we bought a 6-pack to take home).

Cooktoberfest Märzen Ale | 5% APV
This Märzen/Octoberfest-style beer was one of my husband’s favorites. I typically like something more hoppy than malty, but it was pretty good. Nice color.

Brown Bird Brown Ale | 5% ABV
Another really good one (I had a couple samples of this). Rich mouth feel, a bit nutty with medium body and subtle hops. I remember it was good with each of the wood-fired pizzas we had outside.

Effortless Session IPA | 4.5% APV
Now we are getting to my hoppy faves (I had a few of this one). They use a variety of hops both in the kettle as well as in the fermenter. It was very good: light-bodied and easy on the finish. We bought a 6-pack of this one for home (the IPA below was a bit too much for John).

Hop Commander IPA | 6.5% APV
My favorite. Hands down (saved the best for last?). Citrus hops on the nose and taste, medium body and a bit of tart hops and grapefruit on the finish. Nice golden color. Had a few samples of this. By far the one with some kick to it, also. Glad I wasn’t driving. This was also one I enjoyed with pizza.

I’m sure we will be returning to Captain Lawrence whenever we visit family. I might have to push that we make a trip around the holidays because I am intrigued by the winter brews they will release.

If you are located in the Northeast, check them out with a visit. For those of you in New York, Connecticut and Northern New Jersey you can get some of their regular brews by the bottle.

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company

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Nation of Patriots

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Nov. 11 is Veterans Day—a day dedicated to those who have fought for our freedoms and liberties, both past and present. I thought it appropriate to highlight an organization that was founded only about six years ago. It stands for those who fight for this country, but often come back from battle needing assistance and not finding it in an overwhelmed system of red tape.

Nation of Patriots logoNation of Patriots was formed by a group of relatively young men, led by Bill Sherer. Their mission is to promote awareness of wounded veterans and what they—and their families—face every day, and to raise funds to distribute to veterans needing help. I recently spoke to him, to find out more.

About eight years ago, Bill Sherer was a college grad working in a nice office in Chicago. But he had friends who had gone into the military, and one in particular left college, enlisted into the Marines and was deployed to combat overseas. According to Sherer, his friend “had gotten banged up pretty good, and he came back different from how he had been.”

For Sherer, that was a wake up call, of sorts. He noticed that soldiers were coming back from combat and needed help. “The VA Hospitals were severely unprepared for the aftermath of wounded soldiers as well as those dealing with psychological trauma. People are waiting for care,” he told me, and he “couldn’t comprehend these people being out of work, losing their homes, with spouses or family members having to become caregivers.” So he decided to do something.

Sherer contacted a lawyer, got some friends together, looked at how other nonprofit groups functioned and in 2008 Nation of Patriots was born—they became an official 501(c)3 organization in 2009, based outside of Madison, WI. According to Sherer, “[our] audience is about 30- to 70-year olds, but the focus of our messaging is to reach younger people showing what veterans really face. We want to share respect of armed forces with younger kids who are buried in their phones and devices….”

Raising Funds

The individuals who work for Nation of Patriots are 100% volunteers. Every penny that is collected goes directly to veterans needing help. They raise funds in a few ways: through corporate/business sponsorship opportunities, by selling merchandise and through events. Says Sherer, “We challenge groups to raise up to or more than $1,000. If they meet that goal we work with them to find a family to support in their area. If they don’t, the funds are usually distributed across the country. No matter what the amount, each location sends their donations to our central bank where we log, track and monitor every penny that comes in. October 1st is our deadline to send in donations. At that point we tally everything up and start working to give it all away!”

The main event they do every year is referred to as The Patriot Tour. The American flag symbolizes the states within our country and the struggles through the centuries to fight for what our constitution represents. How appropriate that one flag embarks on a motorcycle tour of 48 states, bringing awareness to combat veterans as it rolls across the country escorted by groups of bikers.

A Flag’s Journey

On the first flag tour in 2009, Bill Scherer essentially carried the flag himself, stopping at various Harley-Davidson dealerships. He raised $2,100 that year. In 2010 the organization implemented new methods of messaging, planning and execution. But the biggest change was that now groups would escort one singular flag, officially passing it on to the next group at the end of their segment of the ride. “There is a shock and awe value of one flag being transported from one group to another” across the country, Scherer notes. This year they have raised approximately $140,000 and it will be distributed to about 60 families across the country. Groups may be aware at the local level of someone needing help, but overall the Veterans Administration works with Nation of Patriots to identify veterans/families in need of assistance.

The Patriot Tour begins each year on Memorial Day weekend in Madison, WI, and covers 48 states for about 100 days, returning back home to Madison on Labor day weekend. The flag is escorted mostly by groups of motorcycle riders to the next location where the flag is officially handed to the next group. I say “mostly” because this past August Nate Waldera, an Army veteran, completed a 100-mile paddle board journey with the flag from Chicago to Milwaukee (and he raised almost $7,000 for his segment of the flag’s itinerary).

Looking to the Future

Sherer states that initially he and his friends weren’t taken that seriously, due to their relatively young ages. I think the funds raised and efforts moving forward prove that they are more than serious about this organization’s mission and who they serve. Our soldiers continue to come home from deployment and they face real struggles. As a biker myself, I’ve volunteered at Walter Reed for events such as serving breakfast on Christmas morning to soldiers in long-term care along with their families, I’ve been to funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, and I’ve ridden in Rolling Thunder and been to The Wall. The struggles are real. Consider reaching out to Nations of Patriots and see how you can help.

To those who are or have been active duty military, THANK YOU.


Nation of Patriots website

Contact Nation of Patriots: Here you will find individual email addresses for board members as well as contact info. for regional commanders.

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Acala Farms Cottonseed Oil

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ManGrate is proud to announce a partnership with an established and impressive American company, Acala Farms. After careful research as to the best type of oil for seasoning ManGrate’s cast iron grates, Acala Farms’ cottonseed oil became the clear choice as our “official” seasoning oil. And just this week a special griller’s bundle was added to ManGrate’s product line, which includes Acala Farms’ oil and a discounted price point—perfect for gift giving! Find it here. 

What makes cottonseed oil superior to other types of oils (like vegetable, canola or olive) for seasoning the grates? The oil has a high smoke point, tolerant of temperatures of 425 or more degrees—ideal for permeating and filling the pores of the iron, creating a virtually non-stick surface and added durability without burning, scorching or odd flavor. We were also impressed with the health benefits and science behind cottonseed oil—zero trans fat, zero cholesterol and Acala Farms assures pesticide-free farming methods, so the oils are pure with a natural long shelf life.

Acala Farms brands itself as the “new generation of cottonseed oils.” Historically cottonseed oil has been in our kitchens for a century—even as the vegetable shortening CRISCO®—and the oil has been used in commercial kitchens and bakeries all over the country. Cottonseed oil has also traditionally been used in the south, and I assume due to its high flash point, is favored for frying. Acala Farms not only offers plain oil to consumers, but they are the first to bring flavor-infused cottonseed oil directly to consumers.

I have used three of the flavored oils, incidentally: The Fresh Roasted Garlic is fantastic to sauté chicken as well as mushrooms and onions; the Fresh Cilantro made a fantastic salad dressing whisked with white balsamic vinegar and ground black pepper; the Jalapeño Lime was good drizzled on toasted baguette slices with sliced tomato and crumbled Queso blanco (soft cheese).

Acala Farms Plain Cottonseed Oil

Cottonseed Oil Trailblazer

Sarah Botham is the president and founder of Acala Farms. She is also the owner/founder of Botham, ink. (an established marketing and public relations firm), is a faculty associate at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is the VP and director of marketing at Botham Vineyards & Winery. Extremely accomplished professional, right? But as I’ve been working with her I’ve also come to not only respect her, but I really like her.

Botham agreed to share some information on the Acala Farms story and cottonseed oil itself with me.

Grate Bites: You and your husband, Peter, run Botham Vineyards & Winery, just west of Madison, WI. How did it come about to produce cottonseed oil (particularly in the north, which I would have thought wasn’t an ideal climate for growing cotton)?

Sarah Botham: My husband founded Botham Vineyards before we were married. I became involved in 1991 after Peter hired my firm to develop the brand identity, packaging and marketing strategies for the vineyard. We were married in 1995.

Cotton Incorporated (recognized by the ‘The Fabric of Our Lives’ tagline) has been a client of my marketing and PR firm, Botham, ink., for about 10 years. My work with Cotton Incorporated, however, centers on the agricultural side of things, most specifically working with the Agricultural Marketing Research division whose charge it is to find new uses for all parts of the cotton plant and develop new products and markets for it. As a non-profit organization that is funded by the cotton growers, however, Cotton Incorporated cannot earn commercial revenue, so when a new product is far enough along in the development process to be ready for commercial release, it needs to find commercial partners.

In about 2010 or 2011 though, we started focusing on ‘Cotton as a Food Crop’ and identified cottonseed oil as the first and best place to start. Since it was already a commercial product widely used and distributed in restaurants and in food production, we looked for new ways to introduce it to a more mainstream market. Thus, the flavor-infusion idea was born. Access to a new generation of cottonseed oil that is free of trans fats, cholesterol and is certified pesticide-free made the product all that much more appealing.

Once the infusions were perfected, so to speak, it was time again for Cotton Incorporated to seek out a commercial partner. Since my husband, Peter, and I already had bottling, branding, distribution and beverage marketing experience via the wine business (as had several of my other clients), it seemed a natural leap to get on board and say yes to the opportunity. We launched Acala Farms in January 2012 and started selling product in August of the same year.

GB: So you were tapped for the marketing and distribution experience, not for the expertise in growing grapes?

SB: The seed for our oils comes from cotton grown in Texas and Louisiana. Wisconsin is definitely too cold for growing cotton. We worked with a food lab to develop the flavor infusions for the oils and then chose a co-packer located in Tennessee to bottle the product for us. Oil is a substance that requires skill and care to infuse and bottle; the conditions must be just right during the bottling process. That’s the reason we work with a co-packer—some things are just best left to the pros. The infusion process actually happens just as the product is bottled, so it’s a pretty efficient process.

GB: Can you explain a little bit about the agricultural and processing methods (including being pesticide-free)?

SB: Cotton grown in the U.S. today is actually subject to less pesticide than either corn or soybeans—not many people know or understand that. Cotton also uses very little water and can survive in near-drought conditions. It is a miraculous little plant that provides fiber, food and inputs for a long list of other products. Every part of the cotton plant has a purpose and new uses for it are identified and brought to market nearly every year. Our cottonseed oil is certified pesticide-free (any residues are removed in the pressing and refining process), an important part of what makes it such an incredible product from every perspective: flavor, performance, and health.

GB: ManGrate is excited to share Acala Farms cottonseed oil with our customers and feel confident in recommending it as the official seasoning oil for our grates. Can you share your thoughts on why you think the science behind cottonseed oil is beneficial over other types of oils (ex: Canola, olive, vegetable)?

SB: I can’t point to specific science to back cottonseed oil’s extraordinary culinary performance, but I do know that its high smoke point (425+ F) and light body are a powerful combination in any high-heat setting. Unlike so many other oils, cottonseed oil doesn’t break down (other oils actually become rancid) in high heat conditions and the Acala Farms flavor-infused oils also retain their intense flavor under these same conditions.

GB: There are health benefits of the oil, and despite being unhydrogenated—unlike some oils and packaged foods—it has a long shelf life…naturally.

SB: From a health perspective, hydrogenation is the downfall of any oil, cottonseed oil included. Hydrogenation adds trans fats and cholesterol, and while it may have a place in the baking world, it isn’t the best choice for much of anything else. Acala Farms oils are not hydrogenated and are thus free of trans fat and cholesterol and the incredibly light body means it is easy to add rich flavor to favorite recipes without adding a heavy, oily or greasy texture.

GB: Besides CRISCO (which I personally don’t use often…I am not a baker nor do I fry much), I was not really aware of cottonseed oil. From what I’ve read, a lot of commercial kitchens and chefs use it. Can you expand on that?

SB: While CRISCO was originally made using cottonseed oil (CRISCO is actually an acronym for Crystallized Cottonseed Oil), it hasn’t been made from cottonseed oil since the second World War, when the demand for cotton in the war effort drove up the price and the producers opted for another input. I believe it is currently a soybean oil product.

But, professional chefs have long understood cottonseed oil’s powerful culinary performance and the many benefits of its use. In its pure form, cottonseed oil is flavor-neutral and virtually tasteless. It also generates no flavor transfer, which is an important characteristic for deep frying—fish and potatoes, for example, could be deep fried in that order and the potatoes won’t come out tasting like fish. Really. Additionally its flavor-neutral characteristic makes cottonseed oil the perfect base for flavor infusion because the infused flavor doesn’t have to compete with the flavor of the oil (think garlic flavored olive oil, for example, which tastes like garlic, but also presents an olive flavor halo). The Acala Farms Flavor-infused Oils present intense flavor, clean and simple, with no oil-flavor halo.

Finally, professional chefs understand cottonseed oil’s high-heat capabilities and rely on it for no-fail searing, stir-frying, sautéing and frying.

GB: Is Acala Farms one of the only distributors of cottonseed oil to households/consumers?

SB: Acala Farms is the only U.S. producer of flavor-infused cottonseed oils. We sell direct to consumers via our website and through select retail outlets throughout the country.

GB: Have some favorite recipes you’d like to share?

SB: Easy (and unforgettable) recipes:

Favorite Hummus

  • 3 cans garbanzo beans (drained, reserving 1-2 T of the juice)
  • 3 T Acala Farms Chili Cumin* cottonseed oil
  • Kosher salt to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor for two minutes or until it reaches a thick and creamy consistency.

Garnish with roasted red peppers or sliced avocado and serve with fresh veggies, crispy crackers or breadsticks for dipping.

* Fresh Roasted Garlic, Smoky Chipotle, Jalapeno-Lime, Toasted Cumin or any of the Acala Farms Flavor-infused oils may be used.

Maple-Roasted Cumin Sweet Potatoes

  • 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 T Acala Farms Chili Cumin Cottonseed Oil
  • 1/3 c pure maple syrup
  • 2 T lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a large bowl, combine syrup, lemon juice, Acala Farms Chili Cumin Cottonseed Oil, salt and pepper. Toss sweet potatoes in mixture, coating thoroughly.

Arrange potatoes and remainder of sauce in a 13×9 baking pan. Cover and place in over.

Check potatoes every 15 minutes and toss until tender, about 45 minutes to one hour.

Seared Filet Mignon with Shallot Oil

  • 2 T black peppercorns
  • 1 t salt
  • 4 filet mignon steaks
  • 3 T Acala Farms Fried Shallot Cottonseed Oil
  • 2 shallots minced (optional)
  • 2 T cognac
  • Crumbled bleu cheese (optional)

Using a mallet, rolling pin or mortar and pestle, crush the black pepper and combine with salt. Coat the filets with the mixture.

Place a large cast iron or heavy-duty skillet over high heat until a drop of water sizzles on it. Add half of the Acala Farms Fried Shallot Cottonseed Oil, allow it to get very hot and add the steaks.

Cook over a high flame for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes for rare, 3 minutes for medium rare. Flip the steaks, drizzle remaining Fried Shallot oil over them and cook for another 2 1/2 to 3 minutes for rare or 3 minutes for medium rare. They should be nicely seared on both sides.

When the second side is finished, leave the steaks in the pan over high heat, pour the cognac over them and simmer on high for one minute. Remove the steaks to a heated serving platter, scatter raw shallots and crumbled bleu cheese on top and pour remaining liquid from the pan over all.

Serves 4

Adapted from a recipe by Katherine Kinsolving and Leslie Brenner, Essential Flavors.


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Moreland & Arbuckle to Release Album in May

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I have been a fan of this band for the past few years. It started when I heard the track “The Legend of John Henry,” but then I really got hooked when I heard “Pergutory,” “White Lightning,” and “The Brown Bomber.” The sound and energy coming out of this trio is amazing. Their style is raw, it’s gritty, it’s dirty, it’s high-powered and I. Love. It.

Moreland & Arbuckle is comprised of three guys from America’s heartland: Aaron Moreland (guitar); Dustin Arbuckle (harmonica, vocals, occasional bass); and Kendall Newby (drums). They have built a respectable fan base that began with filled-to-capacity venues around Witchita, KS, then extended to tours around the United States, Canada, Europe and beyond. And last fall one of the most respected independent blues labels, Alligator Records, signed them—which seems to have accelerated the marketing and publicity efforts of their latest album, Promised Land or Bust. I have seen them live at least three or four times and look forward to their next tour of the Mid-Atlantic.

Besides their high-powered, electrified roots sound, what really drew me in was that Moreland plays a cigar box guitar (my husband builds them, which I featured here) and almost all songs are done without an additional bass player. Moreland typically carries the bass line with one string while he plays lead guitar, but occasionally I’ve seen Arbuckle show his versatility by playing a few songs on bass. All the while Newby keeps a solid attack on drums.

Their style of music is categorized as roots rock/blues, but essentially they blend Delta blues, Mississippi Hill Country blues, rock, folk and country into electrified versions of something fresh. Essentially it’s a blend of roots rock turned up to eleven. The New York Post describes them as having “a raw juke joint exuberance with a dirt-under-the-fingernails garage band attack.” I couldn’t have said it better. Check them out, from earlier releases to the upcoming new disk.

The New Album

Moreland & Arbuckle cd cover: Promised Land or Bust

Promised Land or Bust is their sixth album and is expected to release May 6th. I cannot wait. From what I’ve read, it was produced by Matt Bayles (a highly regarded sound engineer, producer and musician based in Seattle) and will have a somewhat traditional sound compared to their last couple of releases, but will still maintain some of their self-described grit and power.

And to read more about this talented trio, check out the Moreland and Arbuckle website. Their back story is interesting and you can get previous releases as well as their tour schedule.

“The Legend of John Henry” show-closer, The Hamilton in Washington, DC on Aug. 19, 2014.

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Super Chikan—One of a Kind Delta Artist

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When it comes to the blues, there are musicians referred to as trailblazers and legends. Anybody who knows something about the blues has heard the story of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil to become a better guitar player. Then there’s Lead Belly, who had a talent for playing a 12-string guitar, piano, harp and accordion—and a taste for moonshine, women and trouble. And Muddy Waters migrated from the fields of Mississippi to the streets of Chicago and is one of the first to electrify the blues when he plugged into an amp.

James Johnson is another legend in the making. He was born in the delta region, living and working with his family as sharecroppers. As a young boy he developed an appreciation for the chickens, often talking to them as he did his chores. Thus he got the nickname “Chicken Boy” (shortened to just “Chicken”). Music was a huge influence in his early years. His grandfather, Ellis Johnson, played the fiddle and his uncle was Big Jack Johnson, another Delta blues guitarist. He got his first instrument, a diddley bow (a piece of wood with a piece of baling wire stretched from one end to the other) and spent the next several years coming up with ways to make that diddley bow sound better. He finally got his first real guitar at age 13 from the Salvation Army. It had only 2 strings. By his 20s he was gigging regularly, playing guitar as well as bass at local clubs.

Eventually Johnson worked as a truck driver. It was on long stretches of road behind the wheel that he began writing his own songs. Friends convinced him to get into the studio and record (including Bobby Rush). He also realized his unique style wasn’t exactly a fit with other bands. Unwilling to change his musical style to adapt to others, he struck out on his own. It wasn’t until 1997 that he released his critically acclaimed debut album, “Blues Come Home to Roost,” which garnered three Handy Awards and a nomination in 1998 as Best New Artist Blues Music Award (BMA). He has since recorded six more albums, including the award-winning “Chikadelic” in 2009, which won the Traditional Blues Album of the Year at the BMAs, and has been nominated for BMAs several more times, as well as earning five Living Blues Critics Awards.

Blues Trailblazer: More Validation

Johnson’s style of playing and dedication to the music and culture of the delta Mississippi region has earned the respect of many over the years. In May 2006 he was a featured performer for the Library of Congress’ “Homegrown” series, which celebrates the best of American folk music and dance every year, and he also performed at the Kennedy Center as part of their Millennium Stage series.

Guitar Builder and Artist

According to Johnson, he grew up dirt poor, and they would use and then re-use things in different ways. “We was recycling before we knew what recycling was,” he states in a recent Living Blues* piece. In addition to his music, over the years he’s also become known as a respected visual artist. He not only builds his own guitars—out of just about anything (gas cans, toolboxes, ceiling fan motors, broomsticks…even a shotgun)—he then vibrantly paints and embellishes them with beads, marbles, dice and whatnot. His custom guitars, dubbed “Chikantars,” are actually prized pieces by art collectors. He also does acrylic and oil paintings on canvas. In 2004 he received the Mississippi Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, and in 2005 he was given an Artist Fellowship Grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission, which supports his continued artistic works.

Super Chikan

James “Super Chickan” Johnson performs solo as well as with his band, The Fighting Cocks, at clubs and festivals here in the states and all over the world. But he remains loyal to his home region and the state of Mississippi, playing festivals on a regular basis. As a regular at Morgan Freeman’s club Ground Zero (in Clarksdale), Freeman has been quoted as saying, “…an all-time favorite is one we get often: Super Chikan. He puts on a party and that’s what you want in a juke joint.”

Super Chikan’s website isn’t currently listing any shows, but I did find him on the lineup on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise this coming October. He’s a remarkable individual and I hope to make the trip back down to Clarksdale and catch a performance at a club or festival sometime soon. He’s not only entertaining, but he’s one of the respected Delta musicians keeping the blues alive and well—but with his own style.

***

*James Johnson offers a narrative of his life (including how his actual “Super Chikan” nickname came to be), which can be found in the Feb/March 2016 issue of Living Blues, #241. It’s a really good piece.

Also worth checking out: “Super Chikan: Last of the Delta Blues Legends,” by Bret Love on his blog Green Global Travel. This casual interview provides a window into his younger years and how he got into building instruments.

[Photo at top: PRX  / Beale Street Caravan]

More:

Super Chikan’s website

Library of Congress “Homegrown” webcast

Mississippi Roads, Mississippi Public Broadcasting piece

Super Chikan performing “Hookin’ Up” in 2007 in Cognac Blues Passions Festival

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Making a Difference

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It’s no secret there is a lot of serious, stressful and ridiculous information being thrown at us from every media outlet on the planet over the past several weeks. Drama stemming from the upcoming election to the breakup of Brad and Angelina (not that I really give a crap on that one…sorrynotsorry). Too much. Just too much…. So I have decided to scour the web and find inspirational people and share their stories.

These are all amazing people doing things for others. Not because they have to, but because as human beings it feels good. Please read. It’s worth it, I promise.

Dignity Project

Dignity Project

Lolly Galvin has a background in retail management, where she worked 70+ hours every week in Philadelphia. One evening she discovered Periscope, a social media platform that allows users to broadcast live video online, and she quickly had hundreds of people tuning in. She decided to use the platform for good: do random acts of kindness and share the experiences. She set up a GoFundme campaign whereby she would dedicate $50 for each “act,” and set the funds-raised goal to be a modest $500. She reached it in three days.

Her first act of kindness was locating a stranger, a homeless man named Tom, in Center City Philadelphia. She took him to lunch, had an engaging conversation, then handed him the balance of the $50 “act of kindness” fund and shared her experience on social media. Galvin did other acts of kindness, such as setting up a party at a nursing home. But her followers kept inquiring about Tom. She never saw him again, but he had clearly made an impact. But then so had she. Local media outlets covered what she was doing and other people shared their own experiences. Galvin decided to focus on helping the homeless in whatever way possible.

Galvin was inspired to assemble and hand out Dignity Bags—sacks filled with toiletries and things such as water, handwarmers, underwear, socks and sunscreen (depending upon the season), that people on the street desperately need. She walks through Philadelphia handing out dignity bags, buying people meals and sometimes even brings a stylist with her and offers haircuts and shaves. What she found is that she was touched by the conversation and stories these people had to express. All the while this was being shared via Instagram, Facebook and other social media outlets. The mission is to give and to share—which brings attention to the issue of homelessness in this country and tells the stories of the people who are experiencing it.

Many of her followers on social media asked if she would come to their cities. Thus, the “Dignity Tour” concept was born; she returned to GoFundme where she raised more than $10,000 and took a van across the country for a month, stopping in about 12 major cities handing out dignity bags, meeting people, and learning what other cities are doing to aid those living on the streets. According to Galvin, “My followers have helped me shape this into what I do. Their interest keeps me going.”

In April of this year The Dignity Project became an official 501(c)(3). TDBank recognized the work she’s been doing and as part of the #TDThanksYou campaign, made a significant donation to The Dignity Project for her community efforts. She continues to address homelessness and to acknowledge the people who are down on their luck with a smile, a greeting and a few things in a sack that can make all the difference in the world. Find Galvin on Facebook and Instagram to get personal glimpses of her activities.

“I once heard a statistic that a homeless person only hears their name once every three months…We all are people and we can do so many things for each other…not because we can, but because we should.” ~Lolly Galvin, The Dignity Project founder


Honour Ranch

Honour Ranch

Rick and Donna Wanless, both retired teachers, are an elderly couple who have lived on their 25-acre farm in British Columbia, Canada, for more than 40 years. Rick, a founder of the Kamloops Mounted Patrol, was out with one of his horses a few years ago when he got knocked over and broke his pelvis. Luckily he was discovered and first responders were able to get him the medical care he needed. He has never forgotten that.

They never had children, and after Rick’s accident and recovery, they decided to do something to give back. The Wanless’ farm is along the North Thompson river in Kamloops (northeast of Vancouver). They have offered the use of their property to be used as a facility, refuge and place of comfort for Canadian military forces and emergency first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Named Honour Ranch, counseling and treatment programs—which will include participants’ family members—will be free of charge. Says Wanless, “We’re hoping it will provide a bit of an escape from the rigours of everyday life, where people could come and camp and fish and do some boating.”

Working in partnership with Honour House, a local facility that provides free housing for out-of-town veterans and first responders who come to the Vancouver area for medical care (along with their families), Honour Ranch will essentially provide everything in a serene locale: housing, treatment programs and recreation. Rick and Donna will continue to live in the main house, but the guest house, stable, clubhouse and river-front gazebo will be shared with the treatment professionals and guests. Plans are in the works to begin building 300-square-foot cottages for guests, already being dubbed Honour Town. “At some point in the future, [the main house] may well become gifted to the first responders and to Honour House but at the present time we’re just sharing what we’ve got with them,” said Wanless. They are also encouraging surrounding communities to help with the vision. One company, Brentwood Enterprises, has already done work fixing the road leading into the property.

PTSD is something that can be triggered even years after military deployment or a tragedy occurs. “We’ve heard of military people who are committing suicide and are homeless. That shouldn’t happen in a prosperous society,” said Wanless. They feel honored to be able to help.

“We wanted to make [the property] a form of a legacy to some public group and there’s no one better than veterans and first responders.” ~Rick and Donna Wanless

More info. regarding Honour House


Safe Haven 4 Babies

Safe Haven 4 Babies

Cori Salchert, a wife and mother of eight biological children, had a career as a perinatal bereavement nurse in Sheboygan, WI. She was drawn to help grieving families who had experienced the loss of a newborn and eventually worked with the Hope After Loss Organization.

Some parents are completely overwhelmed with grief when an infant is diagnosed with a tragic or terminal condition, even giving up their parental rights. But around 2011 Salchert was the one with health issues, when she had to battle several autoimmune diseases. After multiple surgeries and complications, she found herself without a job.

In August 2012 she experienced a new focus to her life’s work after she received a call asking if she and her family would be willing to take in a 2-week-old infant girl with no name, no family and a tragic prognosis. Salchert and her family agreed. They brought home Emmalynn—who had been born without the right or left hemisphere of her brain—and provided much love and attention to this baby girl for about 50 days. Emmalynn took her last breath snuggled in the comfort of Salchert’s chest, cradled inside a warm robe.

According to Salchert, “She could have died in the hospital, wrapped in a blanket and set to the side because she was being sustained with a feeding pump. But we brought this beautiful baby home to live, and live she did.”

In 2014, four-month-old Charlie became part of the family. Charlie has a serious condition that severely limits oxygen reaching the brain, and he is essentially on life support. Most children with this condition rarely reach the age of two. Charlie reached that milestone this year!

Many “hospice babies” spend their short lives attached to feeding tubes and are rarely removed from their cribs or held. Salchert and her family have dedicated themselves to care for these infants—as well as other children needing foster care—when they are called upon, so no baby ends up dying alone.

For more updates, find them on Facebook

“We invest deeply, and we ache terribly when these kids die, but our hearts are like stained glass windows. Those windows are made of broken glass which has been forged back together, and those windows are even stronger and more beautiful for having been broken.” ~Cori Salchert


Adaptive Training Foundation

Adaptive Training Foundation

In 2008, David Vobora was picked dead last in the NFL draft (St. Louis Rams), a distinction that is typically referred to as “Mr. Irrelevant”. He worked really hard and became an anomaly in the league: a rookie who was starting. He was with the Rams for three seasons, then played with the Seattle Seahawks until a serious shoulder injury forced him to undergo multiple surgeries, ultimately leading to an addiction to painkillers. He checked himself into rehab and despite being given the all-clear to play again, came to the realization that multiple concussions and brain trauma would probably keep him from performing as he would like. So in 2013 he and his wife moved to Dallas where he opened Performance Vault—a gym with a focus on elite athletes and U.S. Special Forces. According to Vobora, “As I looked at what my life was [in the NFL] and where I saw my life going, I started this gym and realized that my gifts could match the needs of those in front of me.”

His true purpose became evident when he met retired Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, one of only five living quadruple amputees. Mills lost all four limbs while serving in Afghanistan, and he happened to be at an event Vobora was attending. Vobora was mesmerized by the mechanics of how Mills was walking and moving, and felt compelled to go and speak to him. “When was the last time you worked out?” Vobora asked. They struck up a conversation, which led to a relationship in the gym. Vobora wanted to push and see how far they could go—to get someone who had been injured to have the mindset that they can be physical again.

Thus, Adaptive Training Foundation (ATF) was born. ATF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to train, empower and encourage injured veterans and civilians who are living with spinal cord injuries, the loss of limbs and other degenerative diseases. ATF provides free personalized physical training programs that help people realize that their physical status does not define who they are as human beings and as athletes. There is also a sense of community that enables each ATF participant to feel as though they belong…that they aren’t different.

Vobora knew there were other people out there like Mills. Plenty. Rehabilitation only gets people so far in the healing process, and Vobora is driven to re-build their bodies and their spirits.

“Don’t let what you CAN’T do affect what you CAN do.” ~David Vobora


HeARTs Speak

HeARTs Speak

Animals in shelters across the world are often overlooked and scared in overcrowded facilities. There is a global movement that is hoping to change that. HeARTs Speak is a collection of creative individuals—photographers, writers, artists—as well as rescue staff, volunteers and animal advocates with a goal to bring attention to these animals and try to find them forever homes.

The mission brings together art and advocacy to increase visibility of shelter animals using three main programs:

  • The Perfect Exposure Project: This is a 2-day photography and marketing workshop for humane facilities, teaching staff how to take engaging photos of available animals and how to promote them to the public. Since 2014, more than 200 staff and volunteers have learned these skills, impacting approximately 100,000 animals each year.
  • Images with HeART: Essentially this is a stock photography platform whereby the licenses for the images supports the work of shelter photographers and saving animals. These images are high-res and while galleries include shelter pets, wildlife and landscape photos are also offered.
  • Artists Helping Animals: The foundation project of this organization, it’s comprised of more than 600+ artists, photographers, writers, etc. who offer their talents pro bono to animal shelters, rescues and advocacy groups worldwide. The number one goal is to improve the image of animal shelters and animals in need.

“Each year, this program impacts over 250,000 animals who are awaiting homes across the globe. Monthly, HeARTs Speak artist members are giving more than 15,000 hours of time and working in 1/3 of the animal shelters in the U.S. alone.” ~HeARTsSpeak


Live Fresh

Live Fresh

Chris Bentley and Carlos Miller have been friends since middle school and grew up in the West Palm Beach, FL, area. Both of them ended up in New York City for education and careers, but they also saw firsthand the extent of homelessness and poverty in the Big Apple and how those people were treated. They decided to do something about it. They returned to Florida, conducted a lot of research and in January 2016 were awarded a grant that made it possible for them to launch the mission-based nonprofit Live FRESH (Feeling Revitalized Encourages Sustainable Happiness).

Live Fresh provides showers to hundreds of homeless men, women and children in the Palm Beach area…at no cost to users. They converted a huge tractor trailer (air-conditioned in summer/heated in winter) with six shower stalls and toilet facilities, and provide all the towels, toiletries, and supplies people need to maintain their hygiene, while also helping to rebuild dignity to those who have fallen on hard times. The mobility allows them to travel around the area, often partnering with feeding centers at churches, so folks can get a hot meal along with a shower, shave, some toiletries and often some new, fresh clothing items.

According to Live Fresh CEO Chris Bentley, “It’s not expensive [to implement], but the impact you can provide to individuals is priceless.” And people are noticing. The media attention has been beneficial—both locally and nationally—as many organizations have contacted them to see how the concept can be rolled out in other communities. Recently Bentley had an opportunity to meet Richard Campillo, a retired Fortune 100 senior executive who was impressed with the Live Fresh concept and its mission. With Campillo’s help, Live Fresh Inc. has been launched, providing a model for other communities to create their own Live Fresh program.

Back on the local front, in July 2016 Live Fresh was able to secure funding for a second mobile shower/hygiene unit to be built and deployed in Florida. Quite an accomplishment during their first year in operation.

“So many things in our country are negative. To be able to counter it with things that are so positive, it’s a gift in disguise because it starts to dilute that [negative] message. When there are people who care and when a community starts to care, then a community starts to change.” ~Chris Bentley

 

If you have an inspirational story about someone or an organization doing things to make a difference in their community, I’d love to hear it. ~Julie

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Thirty Years of Thunder

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I don’t often write about my personal thoughts in this blog. Sure, a lot of bloggers tend to share their opinions, their latest recipe triumph (or failure), a recent how-to project or the trials and tribulations of parenting. I get it. But when I started this I wanted to highlight other things, like fascinating people or noteworthy beers or BBQ events or independent music that some folks might not otherwise be aware of.

This Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of Rolling Thunder®, the Ride for Freedom. Those of us in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area know that means an influx of at least half a million motorcycles into our region. But this year also marks the 20th anniversary of my father-in-law’s passing. These two things are connected because my father-in-law was a multi-tour Vietnam veteran serving in the Navy and flying planes in treacherous situations. He is one of the fortunate ones to come home from battle, although he wasn’t necessarily made welcome upon his return.

For anyone who may not be aware of the purpose of Rolling Thunder, the organization—yes, it’s a national organization with about 90 chapters across the country—was founded in 1987 by Artie Muller and Ray Manzo. Both Vietnam veterans, they were concerned about the thousands of POWs/MIAs from the Vietnam war and the lack of motivation and action by the U.S. government to attempt to bring those soldiers home.

So Muller and Manzo spread the word and organized a peaceful demonstration in DC, held on Memorial Day weekend. They wanted to show lawmakers, the media and American citizens that all soldiers who serve our country should be accounted for and provided support should they need it when they return. Many who came rode on motorcycles. According to the Rolling Thunder organization, “Their arrival would be announced by the roar of their motorcycles, a sound not unlike the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam dubbed Operation Rolling Thunder.” That first year they had an estimated 2,500 participants. It is now estimated that about 900,000 riders and people come to Rolling Thunder’s Ride to Freedom to DC and to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall (aka: Ride to the Wall).

I’ve ridden in Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom numerous times. It’s inspiring to see people and veterans of all ages lining both sides of the street waving flags, cheering and saying thank you. Once you leave the Pentagon parking lot, loop around the back side of the Lincoln Memorial and prior to making the right turn onto Constitution, there is a United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant, Tim Chambers, who stands in full dress uniform saluting every…single…biker for more than 4 hours. It sends chills down my spine. I’ve seen bikers stop, stand and return the salute, often wiping tears from their eyes. One year we rode into DC, parked the bikes and watched the procession of bikes very close to where Chambers held his salute. Inspiring. He has been doing this since 2002; there is a great interview with Chambers via HistoryNet. Find it HERE. Amazing story.

Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers

I was a member and officer of Fairfax Harley Owners Group (F.H.O.G., sponsored by Patriot Harley-Davidson in Fairfax, VA) for quite a few years, and I have done the Ride of the Patriots many times as well. This is a police-escorted ride of more than 4,000 bikes (and growing) that departs from Patriot H-D at 9:00 am and travels along roads and highways temporarily closed to all other motor vehicles, and meets up with bikers for Rolling Thunder at the Pentagon parking lot. Riders can also safely break away from Ride of the Patriots and head into DC to visit the Wall and other memorials and watch Rolling Thunder—rather than going into the Pentagon parking lot. This year marks the 19th Ride of the Patriots and is the largest open ride to Rolling Thunder. If you live in northern Virginia, grab a coffee and head to one of the overpasses on I-66 from Nutley Street to Rosslyn. It is truly a memorable sight.

The entire ride towards DC is lined with people waving flags, honking horns, clapping and cheering—parents, little kids and even elderly veterans wearing some part of their dress uniforms, camo or hats.

Julie: Rolling ThunderOur country is more divided in recent years than it has been for decades. It’s sad, really. And globally there is a lot of aggression and suffering. But as we enter into the Memorial Day weekend it’s appropriate to not only honor those who died for our freedoms, but to cherish those around us as we fire up our grills or watch NASCAR or head to the beach. I will do just that as we head into DC on Sunday as the thunder rolls.

I toast our veterans (and the memory of my father-in-law, John R. Fanning) as well as those in uniform currently protecting us offshore.

Have a safe weekend.

Additional Information:

In 2015 I profiled Nation of Patriots, an organization founded to promote awareness and to provide support for wounded veterans and families (read about it HERE). Their main fundraising event is an annual ride called The Patriot Tour, which is the journey of one American flag across all 48 lower states as a tribute to honor past, present and fallen soldiers. This weekend is the official launch of the flag’s 100-day journey, from Madison Harley-Davidson in Wisconsin. Follow the tour to see if it is coming near you.

Also in 2015 I did a story on Dog Tag Brewing (read about it HERE). Essentially this began as a craft beer company founded by veterans that focused on honoring military members who died in battle. Dog Tag Brewing works with Gold Star Families by printing brief bio’s of fallen soldiers on the side of beer cans (known as“Dedication Cans”), as a way of honoring them. The organization has now grown into a full-fledged foundation (Dog Tag Brewing Foundation), providing financial grants and no-cost services and consulting, honoring the memories of loved ones.

Rolling Thunder, Inc. National, continues to be a voice and advocate for POWs/MIAs and for veterans benefits and issues

Ride of the Patriots, based in Fairfax, VA. There are four days of events at the Patriot Harley-Davidson dealership, and the ride that meets up at the Pentagon occurs Sunday morning of Memorial Day weekend.

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Effingham Manor Winery

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New Chapter for Established Vintner and Property

There has been much talk here in Virginia about a new winery opening on a centuries-old property in Prince William County. Much of the discussion is about who is launching the winery, but just as much chatter has been about the delays in getting the operation open. What’s amazing is that despite not one drop of wine being served on that property, the winery has already begun racking up awards.

I recently sat down to talk with esteemed vintner, industry leader, entrepreneur and history buff Chris Pearmund on a rainy day at the property of his future winery, Effingham Manor. Actually, the skies literally dumped rain as soon as I parked, but the estate was no less stunning despite my making a run for cover to where Pearmund was sitting.

Chris Pearmund has a pretty impressive resumé with regard to his involvement in cultivating grapes and winemaking; he has launched no fewer than 15 wineries in the Mid-Atlantic (about 11 of them in Virginia), and many of them with particular attention paid to properties’ historical integrity. Effingham Manor dates back to approximately 1767, when it was built by William Alexander, great grandson of John Alexander (namesake of Alexandria, VA) and a lieutenant colonel in the Prince William militia during the Revolutionary War. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, and besides the manor house the property includes a brown sandstone blacksmith building, a smokehouse and slave quarters, and supposedly the first terraced garden as well as concrete pool (now a fully stocked koi pond) in Virginia.

Every detail has been thought out: The design and the selection of stone used on the newly built patio and structure where visitors will do tastings, lounge by a fireplace and in seating areas or view the fermentation and barrel room has all been done to match or closely resemble other structures on the property. Inside the manor house floors have been refinished, antique artifacts and furnishings are in place. Chambourcin vines have been planted just behind the main buildings and are doing well. And Pearmund has utilized winemaker Ashton Lough, who is integral in the top-notch wines produced at Pearmund Cellars and Vint Hill Craft Winery.

Effingham Manor wines

Virginia’s Wine Roots Run Deep

According to Pearmund, some of the earliest known vinifera “vines were brought over from Europe in the 1600s to make wine—thereby eliminating the need to ship alcohol across the Atlantic as well as to generate tax revenue from the sales of wines.” In fact, starting as early as 1619 laws were passed whereby landowners were required to plant specific minimums of grape vines along with their other crops. But it wasn’t easy. For a couple of centuries farmers struggled with the humid climate, soil conditions, diseases, etc. But the colonists were persistent!

By the 1800s real progress took place, from the discovery of the native Virginia grape, the Norton (one of my favorite varietals), to the grafting of European vines to make them more resilient to Virginia’s harsh growing conditions. A wine industry was born. Fast forward through the 20th century, from struggles during prohibition to the second act of Virginia’s wine industry starting in 1967 and really taking off in the ′80s…. This is where Pearmund enters into the Commonwealth’s wine story.

Besides launching multiple wineries, Chris Pearmund has spearheaded many wine industry programs, such as barrel ownership for wine club members and the Virginia Vineyard Insurance program; he has held prestigious positions (such as president of the Virginia Vineyards Association for approximately four years and board member of the Virginia Wineries Association) and is a nationally certified wine judge by the American Wine Society. Additionally, Chris Pearmund has unequivocally been one of the biggest advocates for Virginia winegrowers and Virginia farmers/agriculturalists.

I tell you some of his backstory because it is so relevant to Effingham Manor’s existence.

I won’t go into all of the details of the issues Pearmund has experienced trying to open the winery, but a major roadblock has been pushback from a few very vocal (and seemingly deep-pocketed) homeowners in the Alexander Lakes HOA—a subdivision in which Effingham Manor sits. Based on positive experiences with his other historical winery ventures (Winery at La Grange, Winery at Bull Run and Vint Hill Craft Winery) as well as wineries within proximity to residential properties (La Grange, Pearmund Cellars, Paradise Springs) it seems counter-intuitive to block such a venture because according to Pearmund’s experience “wineries have always increased residential property values” when in close proximity to each other. And I can find no documentation proving that wineries are detrimental to communities and road safety.

Furthermore, what fascinates me is that back in 2007 (years before Chris Pearmund and his partners expressed an interest in purchasing Effingham Manor), a Special Use Permit was granted for the property and as such it would have been licensed to operate as a B&B and allowed up to 300 guests to attend tented, outdoor events with portable toilets and live music on the property. Chris Pearmund has tried to work with the county and appease any pushback from residents by improving the property visually, limiting events to indoors with a maximum of 150 guests, and prohibiting porta-potties and outdoor music.

Preserving Tradition for Future Generations

One thing that Pearmund stated is that Effingham Manor Winery, which at one time was comprised of approximately 30,000 acres, will continue the agricultural tradition of the estate. When I asked him what he envisions for the winery in the future, he remarked that there are approximately 15 acres adjacent to the property and he would like to purchase the land and plant grapevines—ensuring that no future development of structures would go there and maintaining the rural aesthetic for residents. Sadly a few opposing neighbors are stopping that.

As if on cue, the rains subsided and John Memoli, General Manager at Pearmund Cellars as well as Effingham Manor, joined the conversation and then offered to give me a tour of the manor and property. Worth noting is that both men remarked that Effingham Manor will soon be accessible to the public, so visitors will be able to explore the historic property. At this time no wine will be poured by staff and sampled in the manor house, but rooms will be public so that guests can purchase wine in the events building and enjoy it in the house, on the porches and on the grounds.

About six weeks ago the courts ruled in favor of Pearmund and Effingham Manor Winery and as of press time they are awaiting the formal ABC license. Hopefully it will not be much longer until the doors open to the public and we can finally enjoy the fruits of so much labor.

More info: Effingham Manor Winery

Awards in 2016

  • Rose—Country’s #1 rose at the Indy International Wine Competition
  • King’s Ransom (red blend)—Gold medal, State Fair of Virginia wine competition
  • Meritage—Gold medal, State Fair of Virginia wine competition
  • Traminette—Silver medal, State Fair of Virginia wine competition
  • Label design (King’s Ransom)—2nd place
  • Overall winery and design presentation—3rd place

Gallery

Seating area in the events building and tasting room
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Effingham Manor Winery: Open!

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In July I was fortunate to have met with established Virginia vintner Chris Pearmund, and we discussed his latest wine venture in Virginia for a “Grate Bites” feature. At the time they were months and months (…and months) into the legalities of opening Effingham Manor Winery, located on an historic property in Nokesville (full story and the property’s history can be found here). Then a few weeks ago I happened to be at his flagship winery, Pearmund Cellars, when he received the news that his ABC license had been granted and they finally got the green light to open Effingham Manor to the public.

As a follow up, I wanted to pass along their announcement: This Saturday, Sept. 30 at 11:00 am there will be a dedication at Effingham Manor Winery whereby the historical marker (for the manor house and property) will be celebrated and the winery will officially open. These activities also serve to launch the 29th annual Virginia Wine Month, which occurs the entire month of October across the Commonwealth.

In the meantime, barrels are in place, grapes are harvested and more award-winning wines are on the way. If you are in the Virginia/DC area, do yourself a favor and savor some top-notch wine in a beautiful and storied location.

Effingham Manor Winery is open to the public daily from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

14325 Trotters Ridge Place
Nokesville, VA
703.594.2300

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