The 7th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival was held at the Blue & Gray Brewery on Saturday. Despite the cool weather and threat of rain, the festivities were well-attended. Folks arrived early to enjoy Irish music, a corned beef, potato, and cabbage lunch, along with plenty of Blue & Gray beer. The rain started falling at about the same time the parade began, but that dampened the enthusiasm of neither the participants nor the spectators. Folks were having a good time despite the cool weather. Tables and chairs were set up under a heated tent so people could stay dry while enjoying their lunch.

Another batch of Minor Dementia Stout was ready in time for the celebration. While many folks enjoyed this limited, occasional release, I enjoyed an old favorite, the Blue & Gray Stonewall Stout. The stout was just the ticket to accompany the corned beef, and help ward off the chill.

As always, proceeds from this event go to charity. Many worthy organizations, such as Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts were on hand as well. This parade is very popular with the kids, and there are always many families in attendance. Hats off to the folks at Blue & Gray, along with the many volunteers, for putting together another fun-filled day.

A few photos from the festivities here.

The Fredericksburg area Friends Of the Rappahannock has posted their 2009 calendar of events. Please visit their website for full details. Their descriptions have backup dates and more information on contacts.

Here are the highlights of activities:

March 14 Lauck’s Island Tour & Picnic - $20 individual/ $60 family
March 28 Operation Spruce-Up 2009 - Free
April 4 Spring Wildflower Hike - $5 individual/ $15 family
April 11 Weed Warriors - Free
April 25 Spring River Cleanup - Free
May 14 Annual Meeting - Free
May 16 Embrey Dam-Fredericksburg Canal Tour - $10 individual/ $30 family
June 6-7 Celebrating the Rappahannock River - VA Outdoor Center
June 13 Civil War Canoe Float - $30 individual/ $75 family
June 20 Family River Safety and Tubing Trip - $15 individual/ $45 family
June 27 River Easement Hike and Float -$15 individual/ $45 family
July 11 Nighttime Canoe Float - $15 individual/ $45 family
July 18 Lightning Bug Canoe Float - $15 individual/ $45 family
July 25 Crow’s Nest Float - $30 individual/ $75 family
August 15 Sunset Canoe Float -$15 individual/ $45 family
September 19 Rappahannock RiverFest
October 9 Volunteer Appreciation Cookout - Free
October 17 Rappahannock Fall Colors Float - $15 individual/ $45 family
October 24 Fall River Cleanup - Free
November 7 Fall Birding Hike - $5 individual/ $15 family
December 11 Holiday Open House - Free

The largest breweriana show in the East celebrates its thirty-year anniversary this week. I stopped by the Blue Gray Show for a few hours Thursday evening. It seems as if every flat surface, horizontal or vertical, is covered with cans, bottles, glassware, signs, bottle openers, you name it. If it's related to beer or breweries, you'll see it here. I walked through about thirty guest rooms full of breweriana from private sellers and traders. The hotel lobby is also full of dealer tables. A few hours just isn't enough time to take it all in. Next year I think I'm going to have to make plans to actually stay at the hotel for a few days, even though the event is held right here in Fredericksburg.

I spent some time in the hospitality room where many kegs of beer are put on tap throughout the event. I enjoyed several samples of tasty beers, including a Pale Ale dry-hopped with East Kent Goldings - hand pulled from a real beer engine. This tasty treat was provided by Jeff Browning of the Bru Rm in New Haven, Connecticut. The hospitality room seemed like a good central place to run in to folks. And it was. I got to catch up with some old friends, and meet some new ones. Despite many email conversations I'd never had the pleasure of meeting, in-person, Jason Oliver from Devils Backbone Brewing. We finally hooked up and had a really nice conversation. Jason's very excited about the new brewpub and has many plans for fun events to look forward to. More to come on that. I was also very happy to run in to Blue Gray organizer Ray Johnson. Ray's been recovering from some health issues and it was great to see him looking so well. Ray said he's finally able to enjoy a bit of beer now and then. I also picked up some great news regarding the Fredericksburg area beer scene. I don't mean to be cloy, but watch this space in the coming months for more news.

It seemed as if the party was just getting started when I had to leave, but there's still plenty of time to get to the Blue Gray show this week. The event runs through Saturday. Your $10 registration fee gets you in to all of the trading room and displays, not to mention the beer tastings, on all days of the show. Perhaps I'll get back before it ends this year.

Just a reminder, the Blue Gray Breweriana Show takes place this week. The show runs Wednesday, February 11 through Saturday, February 15, in Fredericksburg. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of "the biggest breweriana show in the East." In addition to loads of breweriana, there's a hospitality room that offers opportunities for tasting a wide variety of beers, including special brews sent in just for this event. I've got a busy schedule this week, but I hope to get by the show at least once.

See the Blue Gray Show web site for more details.

Looking for a way to excite the taste buds this weekend? Mocha Mo's next to the train station is bringing in their grinder and doing a coffee tasting from 10 to 12. This is by far my favorite morning stop.

Capital Ale House in Fredericksburg held a Dogfish Head Beer & Cheese Tasting Wednesday evening. Devin Arloski of Dogfish Head Brewery, and Jacab Brunow, Director of Beverage Operations for Capital Ale House, were the hosts for the evening. Five Dogfish Head beers were paired with 5 cheeses.

The Menu

• Dogfish Head India Brown Ale with Smoked Gouda


• Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre with Stilton


• Dogfish Head Red and White with Maytag Blue Cheese


• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA and Aged Sharp Cheddar


• Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron and Grand Crew Reserve Gruyere

During the hour long tasting, Devin shared details about the beers and their history, along with many interesting tidbits about Dogfish Head Brewery. About twelve folks attended the informative tasting. This is the second beer and cheese event at the Fredericksburg Capital Ale House. The events are not highly publicized, yet. Jacob tells me they want to be sure they have everything running smoothly before more widely publicizing them. Similar events at the Midlothian location can draw 50 or people. Of course, there is something to be said for the intimacy of the smaller audience.

Jacob says there are many more beer events in the works for the Fredericksburg location. Watch the Capital Ale House events page and this blog for more information as it becomes available.

A few pictures from the Dogfish Head Beer & Cheese Tasting here.

From the WoundedEODwarrior.org website:

Are you willin' to be chillin'?? If so, please join in for the Wounded EOD Polar Bear Plunge!! Saturday, February 7, 2009, City Dock, Sophia Street - Fredericksburg, VA. More details to follow - look for registation, sponsorship forms, and additional information coming soon!! We look forward to seeing you there!

Polar Bear Plunge Flyer
Registration Form
Corporate Sponsors Form
Sponsorship Form
Accident Waiver Release of Liability Form

For that matter, why don't you get a group of friends, dress in some crazy costume, and come down and go for the best outfit award. As you can see from the pictures from last year, there were a variety of costumes!

Here is my post from this event last year:
Brrr... The Rappahannock is 41F

Images from 2008:

We've known for some time that May 17th is going to bring the 2nd annual Marine Corps historic half marathon to Fredericksburg, VA. Registration is now open, but limited to the first 9000 registrations. To register, visit the official race website http://www.marinecorpshistorichalf.com/

Here are some important changes from last year. No running on canal path this year. To make up for the lost mile, the course changed a little bit in the college terrace area of town. Looks like there will be two doglegs out to William street this time. The course will also go around the back of MWH for the last major hill instead of using Sam Perry Blvd. It's still going to be the most challenging hill of the course.

For those that arrived at this page from outside the area, here are a few tips from last year:
1 - If traveling from DC/MD or points north on Friday afternoon, consider coming down 301 to RT3. Don't follow your GPS down I-95 on Friday afternoon unless you feel like being a commuter for the day.
2 - Don't push yourself too hard by driving down from north of about Dale City on the morning of the marathon. The city does a lot to support this activity, and you'll find more places to stay this year. Consider coming Friday night and staying through Sunday. It's an interesting city to explore. Most any of us bloggers will happily point you to our favorite spots around town.

Here are the road closures:
6:50 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. Carl D Silver Parkway (CDSP) southbound from Convention Center to Cowan Boulevard.
6:50 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Traffic control point (TCP) at Fall Hill Avenue and CDSP.
6:50 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Cowan Boulevard (eastbound) from CDSP to Keeneland Road.
7:00 a.m. - 8:05 a.m. Woodland, Keeneland and Westwood Roads from Cowan Blvd to Route 3.
7:05 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. Route 3 (westbound lanes) from Westwood Rd to William Street.
7:10 a.m. - 8:55 a.m. William Street (westbound) from Blue/Gray Parkway to Sunken Road.
7:10 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Sunken Road northbound from William Street to Fitzhugh Street.
7:15 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Fitzhugh Street between Sunken Road and Franklin Street.
7:15 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Franklin Street between Fitzhugh and Madison Streets.
7:15 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Madison Street between Franklin Street and Littlepage Street.
7:15 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. Littlepage Street between Madison and Grove Avenue.
7:15 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. Grove between Littlepage and Kenmore Avenue.
7:20 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. Kenmore Avenue between Grove and William Street.
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. William Street between Kenmore Avenue and Washington Avenue.
7:20 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. Washington Avenue between William Street and Maury Street.
7:20 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. Maury Street from Washington Avenue to Fall Hill Road.
7:25 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. Fall Hill Road/Canal Street from Maury to Princess Anne Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Prince Edward Street from Canal Road to William Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. William Street between Prince Edward Street to Princess Anne Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Princess Anne Street between William Street and Charlotte Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Charlotte Street between Princess Anne and Caroline Streets.
7:30 a.m.- 9:50 a.m. Caroline Street between Charlotte and Van Buren Streets.
7:35 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Amelia Street between Caroline Street and Sophia Street.
7:35 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Sophia Street between Amelia Street and Pitt Street.
7:35 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Riverside Drive from Woodford Street to Fall Hill Avenue.
7:35 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fall Hill from Riverside Drive to US Route 1.
7:40 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. US Route 1 (southbound) from Fall Hill to Mary Washington Boulevard.
7:40 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Mary Washington Boulevard from Route 1 to Hospital Drive.
7:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Hospital Drive from Mary Washington Boulevard to Cowan Boulevard.
7:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Cowan Boulevard (westbound) from Hospital Drive to CDSP.
7:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CDSP northbound from Cowan Boulevard to Fall Hill Avenue.

Here is a google terrain map of the course:

View Larger Map
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2512580

Help the local economy, support your local restaurant.  This week begins the 2009 restaurant week (actually a little longer than a week).  From now until the end of Jan, you can experience lunch for $10.09 and dinner for $20.09 at many of your favorite dining establishments.  Call it our local bailout.  Call it a good time.  The specialized menus are sure to delight.  Last year we at at several, but the specials at Bistro seem to come to mind.  We’re going out tonight and the sample menu from Jake & Mikes looks particularly appealing to me.

Get your own special at any of the 12 venues:

 

Basil’s Italian Market and Pizzeria
Bistro Bethem
Blarney Stone Public House
Capital Ale House
Caroline Street Café
Claibornes
Frederick’s
Jake and Mike’s
Kenmore Inn
kybecca Wine Bar & Shop
Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen
TruLuv’s

Visit the Visitor’s Center website for more info.

To see sample menus, click here.