I am a native of Northern Virginia, and a current resident of Loudoun County; as well as a real estate consultant.
Whether you currently live in Loudoun (affectionately referred to in my family as LoCo), or if you're considering moving to the area, I hope you'll enjoy the information you get here! For information on our local real estate market go to http://therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/
Leesburg and Loudoun are all a-buzz! This Friday, Fox 5 News will be broadcasting live from our courthouse lawn between 6am and 10am. Visit Loudoun is working with Fox 5 on the things that will be featured... and I don't have details on that. What I do know is they want an audience! So, if you can, join us Friday morning on the courthouse lawn.
This Friday is ALSO First Friday in Downtown Leesburg. The First Friday of every month there are live concerts, art exhibits, wine tastings and all sorts of special events...FREE. Festivities get kicked off at happy hour, and businesses stay open late. It's a great time every month.
And, to add to the excitement, this is a holiday weekend... and Leesburg KNOWS how to celebrate it.
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I am working with local downtown businesses to bring some extra exposure to their businesses and these events... and will be doing some fun giveaways via social media on Friday. Stay tuned to this blog and to our Facebook fan page to learn more as things develop.
This summer's gonna be "hot-hot-hot"! But wherever you are in Loudoun, there's sure to be cool music playing. Check out this list of outdoor music series offered throughout the county.
Thursdays
BRAMBLETON'S SUMMER SIZZLIN CONCERTS
Location: Brambleton
Live concerts bi-weekly on Thursdays, Jul 1- Aug 26
Cost: FREE http://www.brambleton.com/towncenter/
SUMMER MUSIC SERIES BY COCA-COLA
Location: Leesburg Premium Outlet Mall, Leesburg, VA
Live concerts 6 different Saturday afternoons (check schedule), June 12 to Aug 28
Cost: FREE http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/sales.asp?id=14
ACOUSTIC ON THE GREEN
Location: Town Green, Historic Leesburg (25 West Market Street)
Live concerts Saturday evenings June 12-August 28
Cost: FREE http://www.acousticonthegreen.com/
BLUEMONT CONCERT SERIES (Middleburg)
Location: Middleburg Community Center, Ballfield (300 W Washington St)
Live concerts Saturday evenings in July (check schedule)
Cost: $2-5 http://www.bluemont.org/Concerts/Middleburg.html
Sundays
BLUEMONT SUMMER CONCERTS AT DADONA MANOR
(previously located at the Courthouse Lawn)
Location: Historic Leesburg
Live concerts Sunday evenings June 28-August 30
Cost: Admission $2 for kids; $5 for adults http://www.bluemont.org/Concerts/Leesburg.html
LOUDOUN SUMMER MUSIC FEST
(Previously the Belmont Concert Series)
Location: Belmont area, Ashburn, VA
Live evening concerts begin in May: Mostly Sunday evenings, but some Saturdays, too.
Cost: Season passes from $150; Prices for individual concerts start at $12.50 http://loudounsummermusicfest.com/
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And more!
'Happenings!' is a list of upcoming art shows, theatrical and musical exhibitions, show and performances in and around Loudoun ~ Check there often for new updates! http://www.loudounarts.org/happenings.html
There are new laws - "Emergency Laws" - in effect now in the state of Virginia which regulate the maintenance and legal operation of so called "alternative septic systems".
Alternative septic systems are anything that are not "conventional" systems. Some common types include: Advantex, Delta Whitewater, Puraflo, Eco-flow and Sandfilter. If you have one of these types of system (available only for the past 20 years), then these laws DO apply to you.
Under these new regulations, HOMEOWNERS:
Must maintain an Operations and Maintenance Manual.
Must maintain a relationship with a licensed operator. In most cases this means that you have to have a service contract, unless you are or you directly employ a licensed operator.
Assure that the licensed operator visits, collects samples and makes adjustments as needed for proper maintenance of system and to be in compliance with the regulations.
Make these records available to anyone who purchases the property.
In addition, if you have an "alternative" system in Loudoun County, you are required to have have an annual "1067" inspection. The inspector must be approved by Loudoun County to conduct such an inspection (see link below of approved inspectors).
The costs of a maintenance contract and the various inspections vary depending on your system, but shouldn't be more than a few hundred dollars a year. In most cases it will still be less expensive than paying a public utility for sewage services.
A note about contractors:
Please note that all contractors are not equal. In Virginia, there are separate licenses issued for installers and operators. Although one may carry both licenses, not all do. Further, Loudoun has specifically provided a list of approved inspectors to be in compliance with their law... approved inspectors may or may not also be licensed operators or installers. Personally, I suggest one stop shopping... hire someone that is a licensed 1067 inspector, a licensed operator and even a licensed installer, in case you need a new tank or drainage lines. In my opinion, this will usually offer more seamless service and overall better maintenance. Companies that can offer you all relevant services may even offer you discounts on larger repairs that fall outside of the normal maintenance realm. On local company that offers this "one stop shopping" with licensed operators and installers and are approved to conduct 1067 inspections for Loudoun, is http://www.ses-company.com/.
If you're moving to Loudoun, you may wonder what there is for kids to do... well, the list is so plentiful, we have to break it down into segments. Here's a list we compiled on the Leesburg, Va Facebook fan page of area sports opportunity for kids. If you're moving here, you might just want to "fan" that page on Facebook... you'll get a real feel for the heart of the community there.
In the meantime, enjoy this list of places where your kids can get involved in local sports!
Did you know that Loudoun has a distillery now? It's true... the first legal distillery in Loudoun since prohibition! And, in keeping with the times, it's a certified organic product.
Catoctin Creek Distillery is located in Purcellville, VA. It's family owned and operated...and the "local" feel of this company really has the community pushing for their success.
Available in Virginia ABC stores, and now available in Maryland, too, they currently have 3 products on the market... a rye whiskey, Roundstone Rye; a light whiskey, Mosby's Spirit, and a gin, Watershed Gin. They're aging some Brandy - a product made by partnering with local wineries - and we can't wait to until the holidays to see how it turns out!
Many local restaurants boast menus featuring locally grown produce, meats from local farms, and local wines... and now, one by one, they are adding products from Catoctin Creek Distillery to their menus!
The distillery uses local friends to help bottle the product, and volunteers are encouraged to sign their names to the labels. I happened to buy a bottle from their very first batch, one bottled and autographed by their teenage son. There's just something special about buying a bottle with a person's signature on it - perhaps even someone you know!
You are encouraged to stop in for tours during the week, and from time to time they're open on the weekends, too. Bring in a bottle of the stuff you've picked up at the local ABC store and they'll even autograph it for you!
Curious about the distilling process? CCD even offers distilling workshops where they will teach you their craft. Catoctin Creek Distillery offers shot glasses, Tshirts and other fun products... all available at their Purcellville location or online. Visit their web site to learn more and visit often for updates on this next up and coming Loudoun business!
If you're bored this weekend in Loudoun, THAT is a personal problem... because there's no lack of things to do - inside or out, and for every budget or interest!
Or just campout in your backyard... and be part of the 'Great American Backyard Campout' night on Saturday (designated by the National Wildlife Federation). No backyard? Check out a local campground, or head to grandma's house.
It's such a great action packed weekend here in Loudoun, you might not even be able to sleep....maybe you should try reading or watching a movie. So, head back over to that book sale - it's going on all weekend long ....or, maybe we forgot to tell you that if you have FIOS from Verizon, you get free HBO and Cinemax this weekend!
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With a weekend like this, you might sleep all the way through Monday; and who wouldn't want that?!?!?!
* * * * * * * Do you live in or near Loudoun? Join us on Facebook where you can keep up to date on all the events going on - check our wall and our Events page... and join the conversation.
On the Leesburg VA Fan Page (www.facebook.com/leesburgva), you can tune in on Wednesday afternoons between 4pm and 5pm, and try your hand at local trivia! You just might win a prize if you're the first one that gets the answer right!
