LoudounPedia - Recently Updated Pages

Sports and Recreation

bmason — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:29:58 CDT

Loudoun County offers recreational activities that range from Golf to Horseback Riding to Hiking, Go-Cart Tracks, Water Parks, and Sports Leagues, Fishing, Rafting, and so much more.

Begin your stay in the county by visiting the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association Homepage. On the website, you can view the Calendar of Events, get information on Things to Do, where to stay, where to shop, where to dine, and find venues for meetings.

Be sure to request a Visitors Guide. Visitors Guides can be picked up at any of the Loudoun County Public Library Branches.

Wedding Reception Sites

bmason — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:09:24 CDT

Unique

Aldie Mill (100)
Aldie, VA
Contact: Brenda Branscome
703-327-9777
bbranscome@aldiemill.org
www.virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.org

Algonkian Regional Park Meeting Center (160)
Sterling, VA
Contact: Marianne Tommasone
703-450-4655 Ext.102
www.nvrpa.org

Audubon Naturalist Society Rust Nature Sanctuary (125)
Leesburg, VA
703-669-0000
www.audubonnaturalist.org/rustsanct.htm

Breaux Vineyards (300)
Purcellville, VA
Contact: Fiona Harrison
540-668-6299 800-492-9961 Ext. 202
www.breauxvineyards.com

Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast (200)
Middleburg, VA
Contact: Ellen Goldberg
703-327-5911, 866-327-5911
info@briarpatchbandb.com
www.briarpatchbandb.com

Chrysalis Vineyards (350)
Middleburg, VA
540-687-8222, 800-235-8804
www.chrysaliswine.com

Creek Crossing Farm (25)
Lincoln, VA
Contact: Barbara Baroody
540-338-7550
www.creekcrossingfarm.com

Eiffel Tower Café (130)
Leesburg, VA
Contact: Madeleine Sosnitsky
703-777-5142
msosnitsky@aol.com
www.eiffeltowercafe.com

Goodstone Inn & Estate (200)
Middleburg, VA
540-687-4645, 877-219-4663
information@goodstone.com
http://www.eiffeltowercafe.com

Hidden Brook Winery (100)
Leesburg, VA
Contact: Deborah Hauck
703-737-3935
www.hiddenbrookwinery.com

Inn at Stringfellow Farm (200 outside)
Round Hill, VA
Contact: Mick Mallon
540-554-8652, 877-409-4449
innkeeper@innatstringfellowfarm.com
http://www.hiddenbrookwinery.com

Lightfoot Restaurant (350)
Leesburg, VA
Contact: Carrie Gustavson Whitmer
703-771-2233
www.lightfootrestaurant.com

Loudoun County Public Library

bmason — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:46:24 CDT

Welcome! This site is a place to find, to add, to contribute information regarding Loudoun County. Loudoun County Public Library invites you to share, contribute and enjoy this site.

Loudoun County Public Library Branch Locations

?Ask A Librarian?
Use the Chat box to talk to us or add us to your buddy list.

Newspapers and Magazines

Dadministrator — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:16:33 CDT

Loudoun Newspapers and Magazines:

I Am Modern Mom Magazine for Loudoun Moms and Women
http://www.iammodern.com

Loudoun Independent - Loudouni.com
Loudoun Independent Newspaper

Leesburg Today
http://www.leesburg2day.com/

Loudoun Easterner
http://www.easterner.com/

Loudoun Times Mirror
http://www.loudountimes.com/

The Blue Ridge Leader
http://www.blueridgepress.com/

The Loudoun Connection
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/paper.asp?paper=67

The Observer
http://www.observernews.com/index.shtml

Loudoun Magazine
http://www.loudounmagazine.com/

Middleburg Eccentric
http://www.middleburgeccentric.com/

Middleburg Life
http://www.sungazette.net/middleburg_life/front/

Purcellville Gazette
http://www.thepurcellvillegazette.com/

Dog Parks

Argonaut15 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:50:44 CDT

Currently, there are no public off-leash dog parks in Loudoun County. The Washington Post reports that Leesburg officials have reached a tentative agreement with the owner of Morven Park to lease 28 acres for the county's first dog park. If the Leesburg Town Council approves the agreement, the park could open in five to seven months. UPDATE: Leesburg Town Council has abandoned plans to open an off-leash dog park at Morven Park. Click here for the full story reported in the Washington Post.

As an alternative Performance Dogs Off-Leash Fitness Park is open to the public on Sundays (there is a $5.00 per person event fee).

The Leesburg Canine Country Club offers access to one of four dog-friendly areas at Falcon Ridge Recreation Center for an annual fee.

In the meantime, dog training books and videos from Loudoun County Public Library can help your dog get ready to play at the park.

Unusual Places to Visit & Things to Do

Argonaut15 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:59:02 CDT

Beyond your typical fare of shopping centers, battlefields, and historic homes, Loudoun offers plenty to see and do that you would be hard press to find elsewhere.

Find more extraordinary facts about Virginia with these books at the Loudoun County Public Library.

Allsports Grand Prix. Indoor go-kart racetrack located in Dulles, VA.

Indoor Moonbounces.

Sports Bounce in Ashburn offers weekday open gym (Monday -Friday). Age range is 18 months to 5 or 10 years and toddler time for children 18 months to 3 years. Click the link for available times.
Pump It Up in Leesburg offers open gym (Pop-in Playtime) (Monday-Thursday). Age range is 1 to 10 years and toddler equipment for children under 2 years of age. Click the link for available times.

Paintball.

Pev's Paintball offers two Pro Shops in Loudoun (Sterling and Leesburg) and a paintball field in Leesburg (known as Pev's at AG).
Hogback Mountain also located in Leesburg. Walk-ons every Saturday and Sunday.

Bull Run Castle. "A man's home is his castle," they say and for John Roswell Miller, his home IS a castle. Located at the Prince William County and Loudoun County border on Route 15 (click here for pictures from Flickr.com). You cannot go in, but there is plenty to see from the road.

Indoor rock climbing.

Arcola Community Center in Aldie.

Claude Moore Recreation Center in Sterling.

Sports Rock in Sterling.

Raft / Tube / Canoe / Duckie (inflatable kayak) on the Potomac River at BTI in Purcellville. If you hear people mention Butts Tube, this is the place.

Crux Gloria. A 37 foot tall steel cross with the image of Jesus cut out of the middle is located at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville. The cross can be seen from northbound Route 7 (Harry Byrd Hwy), just west of the exit for Hwy 287/Berlin Tpke. At night the cross is illuminated for a greater effect.

The Mighty Midget Kitchen. A Leesburg landmark made from a fuselage of a B-29 bomber in 1947.Formerly the home to B'z BBQ Company, the Kitchen will soon serve German food from Hamburg Doener.

Aldie Mill. This 200 year old mill offers milling demonstrations Saturdays and Sundays during the operating season.

The Smithsonian's Natural Center. Located in Leesburg, Virginia, invites visitors ages 10 and older to use its 36.000 object hands-on collection of natural history objects, 6,500 books, and scientific equipment. Identify natural objects and curiosities, draw work on school projects, or just browse. For additional information, click here.

The British Pantry. Located on Route 50 near the Route 15 in Aldie, native Brits sell authentic British grocery items. Adjacent to the store is a small dinning room serving popular dishes and full afternoon teas.

Goose Creek Bridge. What makes this 200 year old bridge interesting is the fact that: (a) it is no longer in use, so you don't have to worry about cars; and (b) the creek is a fraction of its former self, so you can walk up to and under most of the arches without getting your feet wet.

White's Ferry. In operation since 1786, White's Ferry is the last ferry operating on the Potomac River. Located just north of Leesburg, the cable ferry contacts to Maryland six miles from Poolesville. You don't need a car to use the ferry, pedestrians and bicycles are welcome.

Indoor train and carousel. Located inside the Dulles Town Center Mall, the carousel is on the upper level in the Food Court and the train departs from the Consumer Service Desk located on the lower level, center court. Times for the train are Monday through Saturday: 10:00am - 7:00pm, Sunday: 12 Noon - 5:00pm.

The MAiZE at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park. Temple Hall Farm in Leesburg offers many attractions including a giant corn maze in the Fall. The park is open from April to November with the MAiZE open starting in September.

Old fashioned soda fountain. Home Farm Store in Middleburg is a traditional butcher shop and grazier (plus you can find wine and gifts) in a former bank. Upstairs, Home Farm has recreated an old fashioned soda fountain where you can purchase drinks, ice cream, and candy from yesteryear.

Carriage Museum. Located at historic Morven Park, home to two governors: 19th century governor of Maryland, Thomas Swann (1864-1867) and Virginia governor Westmoreland Davis (1918-1922). The Winmill Carriage Museum's collection of 120 antique vehicles. Notable carriages include the miniature Road Coach once owned by "Tom Thumb" and an antique Hearse.

Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America. Also located at historic Morven Park, the museum displays and exhibits art, artifacts and memorabilia of a centuries-old sporting tradition. NOTE: the museum is currently CLOSED during renovations to the mansion.

National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Located next to the Dulles International Airport, hundreds of aircraft are on display including the SR-71 Blackbird, the Concorde, the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, and the space shuttle Enterprise. The Donald D. Engen Tower offers a 360 degree view of the airport and countryside. In addition, the Center has the only IMAX theater in the area.

The Flying Circus. Located in Bealeton in neighboring Fauquier County, "watch antique 'Flying Machines" perform feats of daring and skill." Open cockpit biplane rides are available before and after the show. Sundays, May through October with a Hot Air Balloon Festival in August.

Dinosaur Land. Located in White Post in neighboring Clarke County. Over 30 life-size animals roam this attraction that has been open since the 1960s. More than just dinosaurs, see a shark, an octopus, King Kong, and more. And, yes, there is a gift shop. Closed January and February.

Trinity Episcopal Church. If you enjoy good architecture, take Route 50 to the hamlet of Upperville in Fauquier County. In the early 1950s, the church was built with cutting tools made in a forge on the grounds. The architect, H. Page Cross, freely adapted French country church architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries. To read more about the church's origins, click here. While you are visiting the church, be sure to check out what is possibly the smallest library you will ever lay eyes on.

Perils of the Lost Jungle miniature golf. Located in Herndon in neighboring Fairfax County, Perils of the Lost Jungle offers a unique miniature golf experience. Rated one of the top five mini golf courses in America by Newsweek Magazine.

Panther Family Fun in Dulles offers lazer tag; an arcade; and "cosmic golf" an indoor, 9-hole, black light miniature golf course.

Family Drive-In Theatre in Stephens City (Frederick County) located on Route 11 South is one of eight surviving drive-in movie theaters in Virginia. The Family Drive-In has a playground and is the only "twin" (two screens) drive-in in the Commonwealth. Open April through September.

Youth Sports Leagues

Jessica.W — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:50:30 CDT

Looking for a team to join? Many types of youth sports leagues have formed in Loudoun and are looking for players. Check out the list below to see what teams are available in your area.

Want to brush up your skills? Check out books and DVDs from your local Loudoun County Public Library branch. How about some soccer or lacrosse help? Maybe you're looking for tips on baseball and softball. Don't forget to read up on basketball, football and cheer leading. Need advice on volleyball, golf or hockey? Coaches need help too so ask your librarian to help you find books and DVDs just for coaches. Learn new drills for your players and motivation techniques. The library has information on all types of sports so stop by next time you're looking to improve your game!

Baseball:

Central Loudoun Little League
http://clll.sportslink.ws/Default.aspx?PID=108161
Dulles Little League
http://www.dulleslittleleague.org/
Registration Site
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=1&EVENT_ID=1498926&RESET=0
Eastern Loudoun Babe Ruth

http://eteamz.active.com/elbr/
Loudoun South Little League
http://eteamz.active.com/Loudounsouthlittleleague/
Lower Loudoun Little League
http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=llbaseball
Upper Loudoun Little League
http://ulll.org/

Basketball:
The 2 Ridges Basketball League

http://www.erhoops.org/
Central Loudoun Basketball League
http://www.clbl.org/
Dulles Youth Basketball
http://www.erhoops.org/DYB.htm
Eastern Loudoun Basketball League
http://www.elbl.org/
Farmwell Station Basketball League

http://www.fsbl.org/
Loudoun County Travel Basketball League
http://eteamz.active.com/lctbl/index.cfm
Mercer Basketball League
http://www.mercerhoops.com/
Spartans Youth Basketball League

http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=sybball

Western Loudoun Basketball League
http://wlblhoops.com/index.asp

Cheer-leading:

All Star Legacy
http://www.allstarlegacy.com/
Ashburn Youth Football League

http://www.ayfl.org/ (also cheerleading)

Dulles South Youth Sports - Cheerleading

http://dullesyouth.com/Page.asp?n=656&snid=37338863&org=dullesyouth.com

Virginia All-Star Angels

http://eteamz.active.com/allstarangels/index.cfm

Field Hockey:
Loudoun Field Hockey Association
http://www.loudounfieldhockey.org

Football:

Ashburn Youth Football League

http://www.ayfl.org/
Cascades Flag Football
http://www.youthflag.com/cascades/
Central Loudoun Youth Football
http://www.cmiregistration.com/user/splash__org__720.htm
Dulles South Youth Sports - Football
http://dullesyouth.com/
Lower Loudoun Boys Football League
http://www.llbfl.org/
NOVA “NFL” Youth Flag Football League

http://www.novaflag.com/
Upper Loudoun Youth Football
http://www.ulyfl.com/
Youth Pro Flag
http://www.youthproflag.com/

Ice Hockey:

Ashburn Xtreme Hockey Club

http://www.ashburnxtreme.org/page.php?page_id=794
Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League
http://www.nvshl.org/

Inline Hockey:
Ashburn Inline Hockey

http://www.ashburninlinehockey.com/

Leesburg Inline Hockey
http://www.lilhl.org/

Golf:

Loudoun County Junior Golf Association
http://www.loudounjuniorgolf.org/

Lacrosse:
Eastern Loudoun Lacrosse

http://www.easternloudounlacrosse.org/
FuZe Lacrosse
http://www.fuzelacrosse.org/
Western Loudoun Lacrosse
http://www.westernloudounlax.org/

Soccer:
Ashburn Premier League

http://www.myspace.com/ashburnpremier

Ashburn Soccer Club
http://www.ashburnsoccer.org/
Loudoun Soccer
http://lysa.com/
Old Dominion Football Club

http://www.olddominionfc.org/index.html
Sterling Youth Soccer Association

http://www.sysa.net/

Softball:
Ashburn Girls Softball League

http://www.agsl.org/

Leesburg Girls Softball
http://leesburggirlssoftball.org/
Lower Loudoun Girls Softball League

http://www.llgsl.com/

Swimming:
Curl-Burke Swimming
http://www.cubu.org/claudemoore/
Franklin Park Stingrays
http://www.franklinparkstingrays.com/
Snow Swimming
http://www.snowbirdaquatics.com/

Track & Field:
Loudoun Track & Field Club
http://www.loudountrack.org/
Special Forces Track Club
http://www.sftrack.org/

Volleyball:
Loudoun Boys Volleyball (High School)
http://www.loudounboysvolleyball.com/
Loudoun Youth Volleyball (Middle School)
http://www.nvva.com/loudoun/loudoun.html

Wrestling:
Loudoun Matmen
http://www.loudounmatmen.com/
Sterling Wrestling Club
http://eteamz.active.com/sterlingwrestling/index.cfm

Local Music

Argonaut15 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:54:09 CDT

Loudoun County Public Library. The library offers a variety of music programs throughout the year. Check out the Calender of Events for information on upcoming events. For Middle School and High School students, come to library's award winning Teen Center Friday nights 7:00pm to 10:00pm for activities and DJ nights.

Bluemont Concert Series. Since 1976, the Bluemont Concert Series has presented more than 5,000 high-quality events to a combined audience of more than 2 million in 68 communities in northwest and central Virginia. With steady growth, Bluemont has become a major public-private coalition of communities in the region.

Loudoun Chorale. The Loudoun Chorale was established in 1991 as an off-shoot of a small ensemble called "Music in the Valley". Today, the Chorale is Loudoun County's largest vocal ensemble, consisting of about 60 mixed-voice singers. The Chorale sings both traditional and contemporary works.

Loudoun Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony was formed in the fall of 1990 to provide musicians from Loudoun County and the surrounding area with the opportunity to present fine music to Loudoun audiences and to enrich the cultural climate of Loudoun.

International Youth Music Perservation and Promotion Association. With the mission of creating international understanding through music and with the vision that "an orchestra is not just about making music, but rather about a community of people creating something beautiful together", is born the International Youth Orchestra in 2004. A program of the Youth Music Preservation and Promotion Association, the IYO gathers every year a symphonic ensemble of 140 young musicians representing many different countries around the world. The IYO's official home is the picturesque town of Leesburg, Virginia, USA.

Blue Ridge Thunder Cloggers. Blue Ridge Thunder Cloggers dance to all types of music including: traditional bluegrass, country, pop rock, Irish, orchestral. We perform at many local festivals, school functions, community events, retirement centers, malls and private parties.

Loudoun Ballet Company. The Company’s nine month performing season, September through May, typically begins with a children's story ballet. Winter brings the critically-acclaimed, full-length ballet, "The Nutcracker". The season concludes with an annual Spring full-length ballet performance.

Loudoun Jazz Ensemble. The LJE is committed to performing a wide variety of the big band music, from the '40s through today in the style and excellence expected of such an organization.

Loudoun Lyric Opera. Founded in 2007, Loudoun Lyric Opera is the resident opera
company of Loudoun County in Northern Virginia.

Loudoun Symphonic Winds. The Loudoun Symphonic Winds has become one of the area's most exciting musical ensembles since its formation in 1993. Play and hear the best of yesterday's and today's concert band music. LSW's members give you a spectrum of music from classic marches to Broadway songs to holiday favorites. The band showcases new compositions from the best of today's band composers and brings you exciting guest soloists.

Loudoun Border Guards Fife & Drum Corps. The Loudoun Border Guards Fife & Drum Corps was founded in 1996. Since 1996 we have performed all over the east coast of the United States, including the Kennedy Space Center and New York City. Our uniforms are of an 1855 militia style. Every other year we host a muster in Leesburg where we invite other Fife & Drum Corps from throughout the world to come to our hometown to perform.

Waterford Concert Series. The Waterford Concert Series, a program of the Waterford Foundation, aspires to present classical music of the highest calibre and attract an audience from near and far. Proceeds and contributions to the Concert Series have been used to improve the Old School and support the Foundation in its mission to preserve buildings and open spaces within the Waterford National Historic Landmark District.

Bluegrass & Folk Jam Sessions at the Round Hill Arts Center. The Jam Session is a multi-generational event where people can play their instruments or just listen to all styles of acoustic music. It’s a a family-friendly, organic mix of music and fun.

Master Singers of Virginia. The Master Singers is the premiere mixed choral ensemble in Northern Virginia, thirty musicians who are dedicated to bringing the highest quality choral music to the people of the Washington, D.C. region. Concentrating primarily in 20th- and 21st-century music, the Master Singers use their concerts to enrich, educate, and entertain their audiences.

Loudoun Summer Music Fest. Loudoun Summer Music Fest rocks Northern Virginia with a series of LIVE concerts that entertain over 50,000 adults and children at a series of magical summer concerts under the stars. For four months everyone’s favorite bands from the 70s, 80s, and 90s play their greatest hits, live on the lawn at Toll Brother’s Belmont Country Club in Ashburn, VA.

Potomac Celtic Festival. Enjoy Celtic and folk music at the annual Potomac Celtic Festival in Leesburg, VA.

Belly Dancing at the Silk Road Afghan Cuisine. Great food and belly dancing Friday and Saturday nights. NOTE: Silk Road Afghan Cuisine currently is not performing belly dancing.

The Bungalow. Located in the Cascades Market Place (next to the Cascades Library), The Bungalow offers live music every Monday night from 8:00pm to 2:00am.

Potbelly Sandwich Works. Live music at this great sandwich and ice cream shop. Three Loudoun locations: Ashburn (Corner of Farmell and Ashburn Village Blvd), Dulles (next to Wegman's), and the Dulles International Airport.

Shenandoah Acoustics Coffeehouse Series. "Since 1994, our mission has been to provide a relaxed, comfortable and intimate listening experience which brings together artists and communities to share in folk music and stories, the way it was done in olden days before radio and iPods. Our smoke and alcohol-free concerts have been held monthly from October through April each year in various venues thoughout the region, and now solely in our home base at the beautiful and historic Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun near Leesburg, Virginia. We feature acoustic acts from the singer/songwriter, bluegrass/old-time, world and traditional folk music fields."

Mountain Song Studio. Interested in recording your own music? Check out Mountain Song Studio "a digital project recording studio located along the historic Snickersville Turnpike, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge and the heart of northwestern Virginia's pastoral Hunt Country near Middleburg."

Vineyards in Loudoun County. Many vineyards in Loudoun County hold events with live music throughout the year. Have a glass and enjoy the music!

Fairfax-Loudoun Music Fellowship. Piano Ensemble Festival is a concert presented annually by Fairfax Loudoun Music Fellowship in the winter season. The Festival is open to the public.

King's Court Tavern in Old Town Leesburg offers traditional English favorite dishes and live music Tuesday through Saturday.

Arts & Leisure

Argonaut15 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:39:59 CST

Begin your stay in the county by visiting the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association Homepage or stop by the Visitor Center in Leesburg. On the website you can view the Calender of Events and get information on Things to Do.

Be sure to request a Visitors Guide. Visitors Guides can be picked up at any of the Loudoun County Public Library Branches.

Loudoun artists, museums and happenings.

Featured LCPL Employee:
We will try and feature our own staff and their varied talents here. Currently we are featuring our own Christyna Hunter in support of her first published novel.

Christyna Hunter

Christyna Hunter has conquered many challenges since the day she was born with a mild disability. She graduated from college and became a freelance writer. Her freelance work has appeared in such periodicals as Careers & the disABLED, The Newport (R.I.) Daily News, and Parks & Recreation. The Butterfly’s Dance is her first work of published fiction.

Visit her website at http://www.geocities.com/christynawrites/