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By Katie Bianco, Jess Feldman, Holly Gambrell, Michele Kettner and Jennifer Zeleski
A lot to wine about
Hello, week nine of quarantine. In between working from home and practicing social distancing, we all have to find ways to keep ourselves entertained. Throughout these two-ish months, I’ve tried to mix having fun at home with supporting local businesses as often as I can. This past weekend, I went to Sonoma Cellar in Alexandria to pick up a few wine bottles that I’ll be sampling with winemaker Ryan Zapaltas via a virtual wine tasting on Tuesday. We’ll be sampling three Copain Wines, including a chardonnay, rosé and pinot noir. Now I just have to figure out what in my fridge I can pair these with. -Holly Gambrell, Digital Editor // Sonoma Cellar: 207 King St., Alexandria; May 12, 6-7:30 p.m.; free
Let’s get physical
There is nothing like springtime in the DMV. With the trees in bloom, a breeze in the air and the weather warming up it, is truly a sight to behold. Even though we are approaching month two in quarantine, it’s the perfect time to take in the beautiful scenery. I’m going to take advantage of the rain clearing out with the Occoquan “Virtual” 5K. Unlike your usual 5K, this event allows participants to run, bike, kayak, canoe or paddle board to complete the race. Luckily for me, I just got my bike repaired for the spring season. I’ll be trading in my daily walk for a ride around town on the bike as I take in those stunning views. –Michele Kettner, Editorial Assistant // through June 10; $25
But first, coffee
This will likely sound weird to those of you who have been dependent on coffee ever since you got your first sip as a young adult, but I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was well into my 30s. My mom was a Coke drinker, so that was always my caffeine of choice (even in the morning!). But, my husband is a coffee aficionado and, when my in-laws gifted us a super fancy coffee machine for our first wedding anniversary, I found myself coming over to the coffee side. Now, I make a latte at home nearly every morning (sometimes two while we’re dealing with quarantine exhaustion) and it’s a delight to try new coffee brands, especially when they’re local. We’ll be giving both the new Lorton-based RAKO a try, as well as relative newcomer Lambda Coffee in Alexandria. But I’m still married to my afternoon Coke for my caffeine fix. -Katie Bianco, Editor
Fighting the cooking blues
If there’s one thing I miss about pre-pandemic life, it’s the normalcy of the grocery store. The added stress of wearing a face mask, waiting in line to get in, and maybe not finding everything on my list adds to the existential dread I feel as I push a disinfected cart around. I really just miss the inspiration. Going to the grocery store each week was a time I got to be creative, finding fresh produce and fun items to make new, exciting dishes. Now? Get in and get out, I tell myself. Then, I end up making meals that seem lackluster for the week. Sigh. But I’m changing my approach by shopping at Founding Farmers Market & Grocery this week. The nearby Tysons location has everything from handmade pasta to fresh produce (available for delivery too!), and I’m eager to add the products to my weekly meals. Next up: dinner with a side of creativity. -Jennifer Zeleski, Editorial Assistant // Founding Farmers Tysons: 1800 Tysons Blvd., McLean; pickup and delivery hours vary
Still adjusting … nine weeks later
Now that my home and my office have physically become one, it’s been challenging to mentally separate the two concepts. I started meditating at the beginning of the quarantine and have added weekly baths to my self-care regimen, but I’m still constantly trying new ways to keep my head clear and calm throughout the day. And, as I recently moved back into my apartment in Arlington with my four roommates, I’ll be keeping my headphones in from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get work done. Thankfully, our May issue (now on newsstands) features 40 ways to find your Zen right now, one of which includes several peaceful playlists to keep me focused Monday through Friday. Then, when the weekend comes around, I plan on testing out local dietitian Carlene Thomas’ Frozen Aperol Spritz Shandy recipe, which features CBD oil (a component I’ve been embracing for years) as the key ingredient. I’m hopeful I’ll find my balance in the chaos in no time. -Jess Feldman, Editorial Assistant
