But my favorite place in the old neighborhood was Meyer Delicatessen. It was an old world German deli filled with countless types of German sausages, cold cuts and food products. After I moved from Chicago, every trip back would require a stop at Meyer’s to fill a cooler to bring home.  Just walking in the door and smelling the rich flavors that permeated the walls over the years, reminded me of my regular visits as a young child and walking in while holding my grandfather’s hand.  Sadly, it closed a couple years a go.

But recently, I may have found a replacement. It’s the German Gourmet, in suburban Falls Church, Virginia.

Walking in is like taking a quick trip to Germany. Not only is it a German gourmet and food store, but it sells a variety of German products that you don’t normally see outside of Germany. 

The deli counter offers a nice variety of meats, cheese, wieners, brats, and sausages.  So you can pick up some pickled herring salad, beet salad, double-smoked speck (ham), a few knackwursts, a pound of veal and pork Gelbwurst, and don’t forget a bit Head Cheese (which is not actually cheese, but made from pork snouts – yum!!).  Grab a loaf of old world brot (bread) and you’re ready for a German feast.

A hearty selection of German beers and wines are also available to complement your meal.

And to end things off, try something from their bakery counter, such as an elegant German cake (anything with chocolate should work) or one of the daily made fresh strudel. The poppy seed is my personal favorite.

Have a sweet tooth?  Bags of German candies, marzipan or liquor-filled chocolates can’t miss.

They even offer the traditional Christmas wine, Gluehwein, a spiced mulled wine.

German language music CDs and magazines, as well as many German gift items line the shelves as well.  So if you need a German doll, a unique toy, or even a small cuckoo clock, German Gourmet is the place to go. 

Want to host your own authentic Octoberfest? Check out their wide selection of German beer steins, mugs and glasses.

The family-run original store, located in suburban Falls Church for over 45 years, is a small but friendly place.  The new larger store, about 5 miles away, which opened last August, is considerably larger, has a wider range (1,500+) of products and offers much more free parking.

Add they have hot brats to go available, all the time, so when you have a hankering for Bratwurst sandwich with German potato salad, and a slice of strudel, the German Gourmet should be at the top of your list.

Click here for a slide show of some of the store’s products.

German Gourmet (original location)
7185 Lee Highway
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-534-1908   (map it)

5838 Columbia Pike (new larger location, near Baileys Crossroads)
Falls Church, VA 22041
703-379-8080   (map it)

Dates and Times – Monday & Saturday 9-6, Tuesday – Friday  9-7, closed on Sunday

Nearest Metro Subway Station – line, then a  block walk or use the

Parking – free parking

Images – Original location exterior, from personal collection © 2008 – Jon Rochetti, bread rack, cheese counter, sweets,     ___________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

National Memorial Park

The parks many acres of mostly open a rolling hills, in nearby Falls Church, Virginia are tranquil and relaxing. And with all the sculptures, if you aren’t paying attention, you might think you were transported to the National Gallery of Art sculpture garden or the Hirshorne sculpture garden.

There are numerous benches where you can sit and reflect, and I assume no one would mind if you brought a blanket to relax on the grass.

I recently took a drive through the park and found some great pieces of art including the: 

- Four Chaplains Memorial, resembling a flying white bird at the top of the park’s entrance driveway, by abstract expressionist, Constantino Nivola.

- September 11, 2001 Memorial – a 7-panel marble memorial surrounding a fountain dedicated to those who died as a result of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.  Six of the panels list all of the names of the people who died, including victims in the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and the passengers and crew members aboard the three airline flights.

- Babyland, a small heart-shaped grove dedicated to infants and small children who died before their time.

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- Sunchaser by Carl Milles, who worked in Auguste Rodin’s Paris studio, and has over a dozen major fountains and statues across the United States. 

- A piece very similar to the famous 15th-century white marble sculpture of the dead Jesus lying in the arms of his mother,  Michelangelo’s Pieta.

- The highlight is probably, The Fountain of Faith, also by Carl Milles. With its many human figures dancing in the spay of numerous water fountains, its make for a tranquil place to stop.

There are other statures and monuments around the park – some Victorian, others modern, and a few, a bit gaudy and ostentatious. 

The list of notable internees includes four U.S. Congressmen, two professional baseball players, three pro football players, and Frances Foster, the actress who played Vera on the soap opera The Guiding Light from 1985 to 1994. But the focal points of the park is its many memorials and statues.

National Memorial Park
7400 Lee Hwy
Falls Church, Virginia (map it)
703-573-8800 

Dates and Times – Weekdays – 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. , weekends 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – West Falls Church – Orange line, then a 2-mile walk.

Parking – Free.

Images – from personal collection © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

At The Birchmere, check out:

• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy plays 100 years of Cab Calloway. Monday, June 16, 2008 at 7:30 – $35.00
• Smooth jazz singer Michael Franks with Genevieve. Saturday, June 21, at 7:30 - $45.00
• For something different, Trixie Little will be staring in Dial ‘P’ for Pasties, an original burlesque who-dun-it that combines striptease, acrobatics and some naughty fun.  Trixie will be coming from her recent competition in Las Vegas at the Grand Prix of Burlesque. Sunday, June 22 at 7:30 – $20.00

Etta James and The Roots Band brings her sultry blues and R&B voice and her classic hit “At Last”. Sunday June 29, 7:30 – $105.00

The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22305 (map it)

The State Theatre’s line up in Falls Church includes:

• The intense acoustic guitarist and singer Monte Montgomery. Sunday, June 8, 8:00 – $15.00
• Former Allman Brothers guitarist Dicky Betts & Great Southern brings his southern rock sound including hits such as “Ramblin Man”, and “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed”. Sunday, June 15, 8:00 – $30.00

State Theatre
220 Washington Street
Falls Church, VA
703-237-0300 (map it) 

At Blues Alley:

• Pianist David Benoit delivers his five-time Grammy nominated smooth jazz sound to the intimate Blues Alley. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 27-29, 8:00 and 10:00 – $32.50

Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007 (map it)

9:30 Club is hosing some fun:

• For people who can’t sing or even lip sync, it’s the 2008 Air Guitar Championships, the last hurdle before the finals in San Francisco. Expect some performers to be so lane, that they’re laughable.  Wednesday, June 14, 7:30, $15.00

9:30 Club
815 V Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-393-0930

At the Black Cat on 14th Street:

Mission of Burma brings it rebellious post-punk energy that influenced many bands to come. Saturday, June 28 at 9:00 – $15

Black Cat
1811 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-667-7960

Live at the Ram’s Head in suburban Annapolis, MD catch:

• The soft jazz of Acoustic Alchemy. Friday June 13 at 6:30. $29.50
• The sexy sax of David Sanborn. Friday June 20 6:30 and 9:30. $50.00
• The Neville Brothers as they bring their jazzy New Orleans R&B sound led by Aaron Neville singing hits like Everybody Plays the Fool and Tell It Like It Is. Monday, June 30 7:00 – $75.00

Ram’s Head Tavern
33 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401 (map it)
410-268-4545

At the Belmont Country Club in Ashburn, VA, after a shaky start with rain canceling the season’s first show, it looks like they are Riding the Storm Out.

• With four consecutive Grammy for “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, 1980-83, Pat Benatar was an early 80s vocal powerhouse.  I wonder…Is love still a battlefield? Sunday, June 22, gates open at 5:00. $17.00 and $30.00
• REO Speedwagon was another big late 1970s-early 80s hit maker, with hard driving music and power ballads. Saturday, June 28, gates open at 5:00. $17.00 and $35.00

Belmont Country Club
19661 Belmont Manor Lane
Ashburn, VA 20147  (map it)
703-726-8867

Images – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Dickey Betts, Acoustic Alchemy

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Post from: The DC Traveler

In May, there’s lots of great music in and around Washington, DC,  including the first shows at Wolftrap and lots of classic bands. So lets take the highlight tour.

At the Birchmere this month, a couple great guitarists, a killer mandolin player and a smooth piano player.

• Smooth jazz guitarist, Norman Brown. Sunday May 4, 2008  at 7:30 -$45.00
• Another guitarist, this one acoustic, Leo Kottke, brings his unconventional folksy 6 and 12-string slide guitar picking sound. Tuesday, May 13, 7:30 – $35.00

• Sultry sounding jazz pianist, Alex Bugnon – Saturday May 24, 7:30 - $29.50
• Bluegrass mandolin player David Grisman – Sunday May 25, 7:30 - $37.50

The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22305 (map it)

At the State Theatre, it’s some great 80s and 90s sounds.

• On of DC’s favorite 1980s retro tribute bands, The Legwarmers, cover bands metal to pop, Brian Adams to the Go-Gos.  Friday and Saturday, May 16 & 17, 7:00 – $16.00
• The Gin Blossoms bring their big hits from the 1990s such as “Hey Jealousy”, “Found Out About You” and “Till I hear from You” to The Birchmere.  Thursday, May 22, 7:00 – $26.00

State Theatre
220 Washington Street
Falls Church, VA
703-237-0300 (map it) 

At Georgetown’s Blues Alley, a pop jazz great, and a band I loved in college and still enjoy today. 

Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC, 20007 (map it)

• In 1965, trumpeter Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass released two albums that swept America, Whipped Cream (and other delights) and Going Places. Both records became instant hits.  The cover of Whipped Cream, showing a female model dressed only in whipped cream was considered racy and quickly became a mid-1960s classic album cover. It also spurned a bunch of copycat album covers.  “Spanish Flea” and “Tijuana Taxi” are tunes just about everyone can hum. And one his tunes became the theme song for the Dating Game.  He’s performing with Bossa Nova singer, Lani Hall. Monday and Tuesday, May 12 & 13, 8:00 – $50.00
• The dynamic jazz-fusion of Yellowjackets – Thursday through Sunday, May 29 – June 1, two shows nightly, 8:00 & 10:00 – $32.50

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9:30 Club in DC is hosing a very unique and politically active artist, Serj Tankian.

• System of a Down singer and guitarist, and co-founder of musical artist-based political activist organization, Axis of Justice, Serj Tankian brings his unconventional and unique sound of his latest CD, Elect the Dead. Thursday, May 15, 7:30, $25.00

9:30 Club
815 V Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-393-0930

Along with nightly up and coming bands, the Black Cat brings back an experimental psychedelic band from the late 1960s. Who knew they were still playing?

• Not sure if you’ll ask your kids to go with you, or your kids will want to invite you to join them, but The Electric Prunes are back.  I Had Too Much to Dream and Get Me to the World on Time were their biggest hits in 1966. Too Much was later covered by the punk band The Damned almost 20 years late.  A couple of the Prune’s tunes ended up on the soundtrack of the classic film, Easy Rider.

Black Cat
1811 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-667-7960

The Ram’s Head in Annapolis brings a powerhouse, a fun singer and a forgotten member of the Beetles.

• Rock powerhouse Wishbone Ash inspired the aggressive sounds of band that would come years later, such as Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden. And was a staple of my high school record collection, with other bands like Uriah Heep, King Crimson and Deep Purple. Check out this 1973 clip of the band playing one of their classics, Blowin’ Free. Monday, May 5, 7:00 – $23.50
• Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard had a breakthrough when she was featured weekly performances on the hit television series Ally McBeal. Wednesday, May 7 – 7:00 & 9:30 – $35.00
• If you’re a Beatles fan, the band’s original drummer, Pete Best, was replaced in 1962 by Ringo Starr just a couple weeks before the band’s first recording session. For a few years he tried to recapture the magic of a new band, but failed. He worked as a government worker for over 20 years before deciding to get back into music.  He then formed The Pete Best Band and plays the classic early 1960s Liverpool sound. Thursday, May 29, 8:00 – $23.50

If you’re a Beatle’s fan, check out The Beatle Invasion, another great b5media blog.

Ram’s Head Tavern
33 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401 (map it)
410-268-4545

And finally, the outdoor season opens at Wolftrap at the end of the month.

• The fast-footed Celtic dancers of Riverdance start things off with a bang. Thursday – Sunday, May 29 – June 1, Lawn – $20.00, Reserved seats – $40.00-$65.00 – 8:00, plus 2:00 shows on Saturday and Sunday.

Wolf Trap
1551 Trap Road
Vienna, VA 22182 (map it)

Images – Gin Blossoms, Leo Kottke, The Electric Prunes, 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

At the Birchmere, in suburban Arlington, VA, there’s jazz, country, a 1960s folk icon and a bit of comedy:

• Smooth jazz saxophonist Candy Dulfer brings her cool sounds to the Birch – Thursday, April 3, 2008 – $39.50    
• Flamenco guitarist Otmar Leibert will play solo and host a conversation with the audience – Sunday, April 6 – $29.50
• Country music legend Roy Clark – Sunday  April 20 – 45.00
• Jazz from The Rippingtons with Russ Freeman on Wednesday, April 23-  $39.50
• 1960s era folk music icon Judy Collins – Friday. April. 25 – $49.50
• The always funny comedy of Paula Poundstone – Saturday, April 26 – $39.50

Judy Collins – “Both Sides Now“

The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA 22305 (map it)

Over at the The State Theatre in Falls Church check out the classic reggae and a Led Zeppelin tribute band:

• Don’t let the “Pressure Drop” on your “Punky Reggae Party” with Toots and The Maytals – Thursday April 17 – $26.00
• The all-girl tribute band, Lez Zeppelin – Friday, April 18, 2008 – $16.00

State Theatre
220 Washington Street
Falls Church, VA
703-237-0300 (map it) 

At Blues Alley in Georgetown:

• The classic big band sounds of The Duke Ellington Orchestra – 2 shows nightly, Friday, April 18 – Sunday, April 20 – $37.75    

Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC, 20007 (map it)

9:30 Club is hosing some fun and unique sounds, including:

• The BoDeans – Wednesday, April 2 – $25.00 
• “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” Joe Jackson – Thursday, April 10 -$40.00

BoDeans – “She’s a Runaway”

9:30 Club
815 V Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-393-0930

At the Black Cat in DC’s U Street district:

• Chicago alternative rock band Urge Overkill. Their remake of the Neil Diamond’s hit “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” was featured in the hit movie Pulp Fiction – Sunday, April 27, $15.00

Black Cat
1811 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-667-7960

A couple sets of brothers, plus more are playing at the Ram’s Head in Annapolis, MD:

• Alan Parsons Live Project, Tuesday, April 1 (two shows) – $79.50

Alan Parsons Project – Time Machine

• The folksy sound of The Bacon Brothers  (yes, actor Kevin and his brother Michael), Saturday, April 5 (three shows, including a 2 p.m. all ages show) – $49.50
• 1960s flashback counterculture comedy and folk duo, The Smothers Brothers, Monday, April 14 – Wednesday April 16 – $79.50 (retro is getting expensive)
• A personal favorite, virtuoso rumba flamenca guitarist Jesse Cook, Sunday, April 20 – $33.50

Jessie Cook – “Rattle and Burn”

Ram’s Head Tavern
33 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401 (map it)
410-268-4545

Images – Flickr – Paula Poundstone – mjkmjk, Candy Dulfer – bartjanvanvugt, Bacon Brothers – Steve Lacey

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Post from: The DC Traveler