Recreation

On Point: Crossing Swords at DC Fencers Club

By Molly Golubcow | Photo courtesy of DC Fencers Club When you think of fencing, swashbuckling heroes like Zorro or The Three Musketeers come to mind. Although sword dueling is not how we settle scores today, modern fencing is very much alive and practiced all over the world. In fact, fencing has been an Olympic sport since the first modern games in ...

Defining Summer Fun: It’s All About Camp

By Pamela Schipper Camp is a funnily flexible word. Versatile and volatile it jumps here and there before arriving at some sort of intense or passionate meaning—you know, something that requires hard work, determination and/or buckets full of enthusiasm. You can camp outdoors, embark on a new program of study or recreation, or train in an athletic ...

Soaring Above It All in My Beautiful Balloon

By Molly Golubcow At the end of “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy is heading home in a wicker basket attached to a giant balloon. That one scene has always stayed with me; how fun it looked to float through the sky. I recently decided to try it myself and called the Friendship Hot Air Balloon Company. Scheduling a ride was easy! And the best part ...

Raising the Stakes in West Virginia

Big Improvements and Hot Technology Elevate Gaming at Charles Town By Carrie O'Brien | Photography courtesy of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races West Virginia might be wild and wonderful, but Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is wonderful in a decidedly different way—it’s a bastion of silver-screen glamour and gaming technology. In ...

Thriller!

Ever wonder what it takes to put on a Halloween haunt—the kind with big production value that packs truly creepy, knock-your-socks-off special effects and frightening fun? Montgomery County has some really creepy Halloween attractions, and they’ve grown scarier this year. Two purveyors of Halloween horror shared some of their secrets with us. E.T. ...

Cast a Spell for Summertime Magic: Visit a Waterhole

By Pamela Schipper Photography by Moyra Schauffler Tucked away somewhere at the edge of time is the waterhole, shimmering still with recollections of friendships made and adventures had in the cool and deliciously green. This was before we became frightened of nature. Before the pressures of modern and urban living curtailed childhood freedom and ...

Tee Time: Rockville’s RedGate Is Better Than Ever

By Pamela Schipper Despite reports detailing financial difficulties and the possibility of outside management taking over, RedGate Municipal Golf Course remains an asset to residents, and it is up and running well with longtime city staff. Rockville’s championship 18-hole, par-71 course opened in 1974 to offer golf to players of all levels. This year, ...

Escape to Virginia Wine Country

Get Lost in the History and Romance of Barboursville Vineyards By Carrie O’Brien | Photography courtesy of Barboursville Vineyards If you’ve been searching for a relaxing retreat filled with rich history, fine dining and exceptional wine, look no further. Barboursville Vineyards in Orange County, Virginia, offers the complete experience. About ...

Want to Walk on Water? Just Get on Board!

By Molly Golubcow | Photography by Jeff Greenough I’ve always wanted to walk on water. It’s nothing spiritual, just the desire to get a cool perspective on my world. Yes, I can sit in a kayak and look around, but wouldn’t it be neat to stand up and see it all? I recently saw an ad for Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) lessons at the Valley Mill ...

In the Stars July/August 2011

JULY CANCER (June 22–July 22) Now is the time to face your anxieties and let go of the past. Evolutionary forces could dramatically change the way things happen at home, at work and in relationships. The stars are stirring up both your need for fundamental change and your natural reluctance to rock the boat. LEO (July 23–Aug 23) Until July 23, ...