Mother Nature cooperated beautifully for the August Biz Buzz at Bluewater Cocina on South Pendleton Street, as MBPA members and guests gathered for the monthly networking event.
Tacos, margaritas, chips, salsa and good cheer filled the garden, which the Cocina shares with Nature Composed. Christina Kozich, owner of Bluewater Cocina and Bluewater Kitchen (just down the road in Upperville), and Punkin Lee, MBPA President, welcomed everyone on a perfect summer evening.
“Welcome everyone to Bluewater Cocina,” said Christina. “We feel the Cocina is a great addition to the community, and we hope that you all feel the same way!”
Bluewater Cocina is open Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 9 pm. They offer an array of breakfast burritos, light bites, tacos, margaritas and more! Everything is farm-to-table fresh and cooked right in the fabulous garden kitchen behind Nature Composed.
“The Bluewater Kitchen in Upperville is now re-opened after extensive renovations,” Kristina continued. “So, we are happy to have you and hope to see you here at the Cocina and at the Market in Upperville again soon.”
“Talk about a buzz,” Punkin laughed. “Middleburg businesses have been appearing everywhere. Boxwood Winery and Slater Run Vineyards got huge amount of print and pictures in the Wall Street Journal while Vogue Daily featured Middleburg in their Best Week-end getaways and mentioned Middleburg Books, Creme de la Creme, Red Fox, NSLM, and Goodstone Inn.”
In addition, Loudoun Now’s annual Loudoun Favorites included Goodstone Inn and Bank of Charles Town, which garnered multiple wins, including favorite bank! The King Street Oyster Bar, The Market Group and Amanda’s Regal Canine all finished second in their respective categories. Congratulations!
TOWN UPDATES
Middleburg Oktoberfest is quickly approaching! It will be Saturday, September 21 on South Madison and West Federal Streets from 11 am to 7 pm (the same day as Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany).
Oktoberfest features two biergartens, traditional German food, live music, and festival games. Local beer, wine, cider, and traditional Oktoberfest foods will be available for purchase from local vendors. Artists’ Alley, coordinated by the Middleburg Arts Council, will exhibit artwork from local and regional artists that will be available for purchase. Regional artisans will also be present throughout the day with exhibits of fine art, pottery, jewelry, wearable art and more. This year, there will be Corgi Races!
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Ali MacIntyre.
The Milli Miglia returns to Town October 22-27! More information to follow!
Dickens of a Christmas is already in the works, with Holiday Carriage Rides through Town beginning November 30 to December 31. The Town will send out a carriage ride discount code for locals a week prior to the start of the rides, so be sure to purchase your tickets! Dickens of a Christmas Celebration is December 14 and Dickens of a Dog Show is December 21. Stay tuned for more information!
Mandatory Water Restrictions are still in place. They will be reviewed every two weeks at Town Council and the Town will notify residents of any changes. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter!
MBPA UPDATES
“Despite temperatures meeting or exceeding 100* and late afternoon storms, the 18th annual Middleburg Summer Sidewalk Sale went off as planned and brought out a lot of folks for the good sales in spite of the weather,” Punkin announced. “That event was followed by another fun evening of National Night Out – thank you to all the outstanding members of our police department for another successful community event. Many MBPA members donated raffle prizes, and of course, the best hot dogs were grilled by Highcliffe Clothiers’ Mark Metzger!”
MBPA will be doing a Kids’ Coat Drive September 6-27. Bring new or gently used, clean coats to Robin Klombers at Posh Pixies on South Madison Street. Robin is ready to make you a new jacket deal when you bring in your donation, so it’s a win-win for all!
Preparations have begun on plans for the Middleburg Christmas Tree Lighting at The Pink Box/Middleburg Museum, which will be held Friday, December 6, 2024! The Town and MBPA are finalizing staff parking areas for Christmas in Middleburg Parade Day, Saturday, December 7, 2024. More information will be sent by email in early November.
Remember to get your creative wheels turning for the Holiday Window Display contest! In addition to the regular categories (Most Festive, Best Dickens Themed, etc.) a Peoples’ Choice award for Favorite Window Display will be voted on via QR code from December 4-31, 2024. MBPA will provide all Holiday Window Décor contest businesses with a poster with the QR code. All your customers need to do is scan and vote!
“The monthly MBPA Board Meetings have always been open for members to attend, and we certainly appreciate your input,” said Punkin. “As we have experienced a great deal more interest in the meetings, the Board will utilize public comment just like Town Council. Anyone who joins us will have three minutes for comment, which will go on record to be discussed later. We encourage folks to come; communication is always the best way to make change and make things better!”
The Seven Loaves Lunchbox Drive was a smashing success! Last month at Slater Run Vineyards, Tami collected over $300 towards the Lunch Box Drive and to top it off, the community responded with vigor, and she received over 500 total lunchboxes for the children to take to school! Thank you all and congratulations on a job well done.
Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery is celebrating ten years in Middleburg and Country ZEST & Style celebrates five years of providing us with great reading material. To celebrate Country Zest’s anniversary, Len Shapiro is offering a tremendous advertising rate that everyone should take advantage of! For the next two issues of ZEST, Middleburg businesses can take advantage of a 10% discount on all ads placed with ZEST. To place an ad, contact Len or Vicky Moon.
The 125th Warrenton Horse Show, a United States Equestrian Federation Heritage Horse Show, will be at the Warrenton Show Grounds on Shirley Avenue from August 28 to September 1. This historic competition will feature everything from hunter breeding, ponies and leadline, to Cleveland Bays, Irish Hunters and even some exciting show jumping! “Hunt Night” is scheduled for Sunday, September 1, so be sure to come out and support the members of our local hunt clubs at this very special competition.
The Land Trust of Virginia’s Bike the Gravel Tour de Land Easement will be held Saturday, September 28 at the MARE Center. This annual event is a one-of-a-kind ride on scenic gravel roads through gorgeous private properties of Loudoun and Fauquier Counties that are all in conservation easement and only viewable on this day! To register, please click here.
On September 5 at 7 pm at the Community Center, the Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) in conjunction with the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure are conducting a public meeting to solicit public feedback on Mickie Gordon Park. This feedback will be used to inform the funding request to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to create a future capital project to design, permit and construct these amenities.
At the meeting, three concepts depicting potential park features will be shared for public input. Beginning Thursday, August 22, 2024, three concepts will be posted on the PRCS site for your review and comment via an online form. Online comments must be submitted by September 20.
Click here to submit your comments on Mickie Gordon Park.
The inaugural Rokeby Community Festival will be held on September 28 at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, featuring a pickleball tournament on the Rokeby Airstrip, a plant Sale, live music, scavenger hunts, food trucks and more! Click here for more information!
Two pillars of the Middleburg Community are retiring at the end of the month: Peggy Simmons and Mark Metzger.
Peggy has done everything from driving the rural route and staffing the counter during her 38 years with the Middleburg Post Office.
“Peggy is always helpful; she knows everyone and is always glad to see you,” Punkin said. “Plus, she is always smiling. If she is handing you a bill or a birthday card, she always has that big smile. You know your question will be answered, your parcel will be found, and she always takes the time to help.”
“We know Jackie and Mark will miss her, as will we all, but never fear, when you attend functions catered by Back Street Catering, Peggy will be there helping Tutti, Babette, Wendy and Philip and she will still be smiling.”
Mark Metzger arrived in town about 17 years ago, straight from Washington, DC and all that doing business in the city entailed, first renting the front part of Journeymen where Punkin had has retail for 35 years.
“He wanted to make a solid wall between us, he felt the need to lock everything all the time,” laughed Punkin. “He wanted renovation to happen yesterday, couldn’t understand why I didn’t need a 30-page lease – a handshake and the verbal rent worked for me!”
Mark soon realized that doing business in Middleburg was slower, easier, safer and everything would be just fine.
“Five years later, Mark moved to Town and moved his business to Washington Street. He still drives a truck, now walks every morning, gave up smoking, got new lights for the Town Christmas tree, established the annual menorah lighting, brought the rabbi and cooks the hot dogs at National Night Out.”
At the end of August, he will be out of the rag business, having already bought a house in Florida near his parents and his brother, will pack up his fishing gear – of which there is a lot!
“While it is sad for all of us – friends and customers alike – he, like Peggy, will not be a daily presence in our lives,” she continued. “We have enjoyed his humor, what he has contributed to the town, the big screen tv in the shop on cold Sundays in the winter to watch football and just the very special person that we have come to know.”
Thank you, Peggy and Mark!
Over the weekend, Middleburg lost Kayse Small, owner of LeBoudoir Fits. Kayse was a wonderful woman who loved her shop here in town. Her special light and huge heart will be missed greatly.
Congratulations to our Door Prize Winners
BCT Gift Bag: Colleen Yarger
Parking Pass to Twilight Jumpers from Merry Design: Tori Sullivan
Parking Pass to Twilight Jumpers from Merry Design: Vicki Mashaw
Local Organic Honey from NoVa Deershield: Dee Ann Jeremiah
Gift Bag from Lost Barrel Brewing: Kira Aubrey
Gift Bag from Lost Barrel Brewing: William McCollough
Certified Humane Gift Bag: John Kiernan
The next Biz Buzz is Tuesday, September 10 at Foxcroft School. See you then!