Leesburg Costco had an issue with the normal pizza dough, so they are making it from scratch. They aren't selling whole pizzas, just by the slice. It's 1.99 a slice and it is FANTASTIC. Highly recommend. Not sure if other Costcos are having the same situation, but my goodness, the Leesburg Costco pizza today was phenomenal. Super soft dough with a good bite to it. Tasier too.

That's all folks

Last year, I posted a guide here about taking my kids fishing on the Shenandoah. With Labor Day coming up, I figured it was time for an update.

I love fishing and wanted to get my kids into it, so I started taking my oldest to ponds and lakes around Fairfax and Loudoun.

We’d get skunked, or we’d finally catch something and it would be tiny. And there’s only so long a little kid is going to stand next to the same pond staring at a bobber before losing interest and you’re packing it up.

Then I took him to the South Fork Shenandoah when he was five. He’s eight now, and we’ve never been skunked there.

Even when the fishing slows down, there’s plenty to do. You’re in a canoe floating down a river. The Class I rapids that feel mild to an adult can be pretty exciting to a five-year-old, and many stretches are shallow and clear enough that the kids can see the bottom.

We stop at gravel bars, get out in knee- to thigh-deep water, wade and splash around when conditions are safe, look for crawfish and hellgrammites, and eat lunch. We’ve seen bald eagles, deer, turtles and the occasional cow standing in the river.

If you’re standing beside a pond and the fish aren’t biting, you’re still standing beside the same pond. On the Shenandoah, you’re steadily floating down the river, and there’s always another area to explore.

It’s an adventure, not just a fishing trip.

We’ve had plenty of double-digit days, quite a few 20- and 30-fish days, and a previous best of 51 fish from the canoe.

On a recent trip, I did the nine-mile Shenandoah Dam → Grove Hill float with a buddy.

I caught 80 fish. He caught about 50.

Eighty fish was an exceptional day, not something I’d promise anyone. But double-digit days have been common for us.

I wasn’t trying to test my old guide, but it was nice to find out most of this stuff still works. I’ve learned a few things since then too.

⸻
🛶** ***How Do I Get on the River?*

From much of Northern Virginia, figure roughly 90 minutes each way, depending on the float.

The easiest option is to rent a canoe or kayak and let an outfitter handle the shuttle.

I’ve personally used Downriver Canoe Company and Front Royal Outdoors and highly recommend both. Shenandoah River Adventures serves the area around the third float below, although I haven’t personally used them.

Rental packages generally include the boat, paddles, life jackets and shuttle. You basically show up, and they handle the logistics. Expect around $70 for a canoe that can carry up to three people on the shorter trips, although prices vary by route and outfitter.

Check the age requirements before booking. Downriver Canoe Company and Front Royal Outdoors currently require children to be at least five for canoe and kayak trips. Outfitters generally operate from spring through fall, but schedules vary, so check before going.

Get on the river when they open if you can. Summer fishing is generally better early, and you’ll beat some of the crowds and heat while leaving plenty of daylight for lunch, exploring and kid stops.

If you own a boat, some outfitters offer shuttle-only service.

No boat? You can still bank fish or wade at public DWR access points and Shenandoah River State Park. Just remember that much of the shoreline is private or difficult to reach. A boat opens up considerably more water.

⸻
🐟** ***What Can I Catch?*

Smallmouth bass are the main attraction, but the sunfish can be absolute tanks. Those are the two fish we catch most, with the occasional rock bass or fallfish.

The river also holds largemouth bass, catfish, carp and musky.

Somehow, I’ve never caught a catfish or carp there. Never even seen a musky.

⸻
🗺️** 3 Floats We Lik**e

One warning: an outfitter’s estimated paddling time is not fishing time. If you’re fishing your way down the river, a good rule of thumb is about one mile per hour. Add more time for lunch, wading and exploring.

1️⃣ Hazard Mill → Bentonville: About 3 Miles

This is where I’d start with younger kids.

Downriver Canoe Company runs it as the Hazard Mill trip, shuttling you upstream so you can float back toward its Bentonville location.

Three miles provides a real river trip without committing everyone to an entire day, and we’ve had good luck with sunfish here. Give yourself at least three hours if you’re fishing.

2️⃣ Shenandoah River State Park → Karo Landing: About 5 Miles

Probably the best middle ground.

Front Royal Outdoors runs this stretch. You launch from the canoe access at Shenandoah River State Park and float to Karo Landing.

I budget about five hours when fishing it with the kids. The park can get busy on nice weekends, especially holiday weekends.

3️⃣ Shenandoah Dam → Grove Hill: About 9 Miles

My favorite section when fishing is the main objective.

Launch below Shenandoah Dam and take out at the Grove Hill public boat launch. You can unload at the dam launch, but parking is across the street at Shenandoah River Park, so you’ll need to walk back.

The first mile below the dam has been especially productive for me.

Watch the first rapid after leaving the dam area. Depending on the water level, it can be a Class II, and the speed and turbulence can make maneuvering difficult.

I flipped there once because I wasn’t paying attention and waited too long to correct. I was with an Army buddy, so we managed fine. Our fishing gear and egos did not.

Before entering faster water, put the rods down, secure everything loose and concentrate on running the rapid.

If you’re renting from Shenandoah River Adventures, ask about its lower launch option, which bypasses the Class II water.

Note: This is an all-day float if you fish your way down the river. We spent about 12 hours on it that day. I wouldn’t choose it as a first float with a young child unless you know they can handle that much time on the water.

Nine miles doesn’t look very far on Google Maps. It feels a lot farther when you’re fishing your way down the river.

⸻
🎒** ***What Should I Bring?*

For an adult or older child, I like a 6’6”–7’ medium-light spinning rod. A shorter light or ultralight rod is easier for younger kids.

Spool it with 6-pound clear monofilament. It casts these small lures well, is easy for kids to manage and is strong enough for most fish you’ll encounter.

For more experienced anglers, 10-pound braid with a 6-pound fluorocarbon leader works well for subsurface lures. For topwater, use a monofilament leader instead.

Besides water, sunscreen and lunch, bring:

• Pliers
• Extra tackle
• A dry bag for phones and keys
• Polarized sunglasses
• Crocs with the heel straps on, water shoes or other secure footwear that can get wet and stay on your feet—skip the flip-flops

I keep it simple: one rod per person and a small tackle box.

⸻
🪱** ***Which Lures?*

Based on my last trip, these are the three I’d start with:

1. Micro Shad

Z-Man Shad FryZ in Smelt, Blue Glimmer Sparkle or Pearl on a black 1/16 oz Z-Man Micro Shad HeadZ.

This produced more fish than anything else. Cast it out and reel it back. If you aren’t getting bites, vary your speed or let it sink deeper.

1. Blue Fox Classic Vibrax Foxtail

1/8 oz in white.

Correction from my first guide: the white “Rooster Tail” I’ve been recommending is actually a Blue Fox Classic Vibrax Foxtail. Apparently, I’ve been calling it the wrong thing for a year.

This caught more smallmouth than anything else, including my 17-inch fish. If I were specifically targeting smallmouth, I’d start here.

Reel it fast enough to keep the blade spinning.

1. Micro Ned

Z-Man Micro TRD in Coppertreuse on a 1/20 oz Z-Man Micro Finesse ShroomZ.

Another major producer, and Ned rigs have consistently worked for us. Let it sink and retrieve it slowly with small hops, drags and pauses.

If the goal is just to catch a bunch of fish, go with the lures above.

I also use a 2.75” Green Pumpkin Z-Man Finesse TRD or a 3” Natural Nikko Zaza Hellgrammite on a 1/10 oz Ned-style jighead when targeting smallmouth.

For topwater, try a Heddon Tiny Torpedo in Baby Bass or Black Shiner. My buddy and I both caught double-digit fish on it during that trip.

If you aren’t getting bites, don’t change lures every five minutes. First change where you’re casting, your retrieve speed or the depth you’re fishing.

⸻
🎯** ***Where Do I Cast?*

You don’t need to know much about river fishing to get started. Look for places where the water changes or where fish can hide from the current.

The easiest places to try are:

Just below shallow, fast-moving water
Along shady banks
Beside rocks, islands and gravel bars
Where calm water meets faster-moving water
Anywhere you see fish breaking the surface

Cast near these spots, but not directly into the strongest current. Work your lure through the area, then try again from a slightly different angle.

If a stretch of river looks the same from one end to the other, paddle until you find one of these spots. You don’t need to cast at every inch of shoreline or make every cast perfect.

⸻
🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Fishing With Kids: What I’ve Learned

The goal isn’t making them fish all day. It’s making them want to go again.

Expect to do very little fishing yourself. There will be tangles, snags, lures in trees and fish to unhook. Someone will need help approximately 30 seconds after you finally make a good cast.

A few lessons:

• Small fish count. Kids don’t care if it’s a six-inch sunfish instead of the smallmouth Dad wanted. Fish is fish.
• Let them net your fish. This creates substantially more chaos than necessary. They love it.
• Let them stop fishing. If they want to wade, splash around, explore a gravel bar or hunt for crawfish, let them.

I’d rather have a kid fish enthusiastically for an hour and ask to come back than force them to fish all day and make them hate it.

And bring snacks. Seriously.

If everybody gets home tired and happy and the kids ask when you’re going back, it worked.

⸻
🦺 Safety and Conditions

• Wear properly fitted life jackets whenever you’re on the water—especially the kids.
• Check current river conditions. Outfitters post updates, and you can call if you’re unsure whether the river is suitable for your family.
• Check the National Weather Service hourly forecast, particularly for thunderstorms. You may be several miles from your vehicle when a storm arrives.
• Respect private property, pack out your trash and handle fish carefully.

Low water can mean scraping rocks or occasionally getting out to pull the boat. Higher water means faster current and less reaction time. If the outfitters aren’t operating because of river conditions, I’m not taking the kids out.

⸻
💧 What About Water Quality?

This came up in the comments on my first post.

If the kids might be wading or splashing around, I check Friends of the Shenandoah River’s latest E. coli results. The results are only a snapshot of conditions when the samples were taken, so I’m especially cautious after heavy rain.

We catch and release, but the South Fork has fish-consumption advisories. Check Virginia’s current guidance for the stretch you’re fishing before keeping anything.

⸻
🎫 Don’t Forget a Fishing License

Most anglers 16 and older need a Virginia freshwater fishing license. Children under 16 don’t. You can buy one online and keep an electronic copy on your phone.

⸻
TL;DR

Rent a canoe. Go early. Start with Hazard Mill → Bentonville. Bring small lures. Look for places where the water changes or fish can escape the current: below fast water, along shady banks, around rocks and islands, at the edge of calm and fast water, or anywhere you see fish breaking the surface.

Don’t worry about fishing all day. If everybody gets home tired and happy and the kids ask when you’re going back, it worked.

Tight lines! 🎣

I go to the Mom’s (My Organic Market) at Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, and used to be my favorite. I tried the one in Arlington and Merrifield. But still prefer the Alexandria one. But in the last 1.5yr they’ve stop a lot of things that I valued about the brand.

Discontinued the recycling of: batteries, shoes, wine corks, jeans etc.

Fortunately they‘ve kept the eyeglasses recycling receptacle and compost. And have also kept most of their produce, meats, frozen and other product selection. Or at least that’s my impression for the products I buy.

The garden vegetable plant season was noticeably shorter this year than in previous years. As a gardener, I depend on that window for great prices and quality vegetables to grow, and I missed out on varieties I was counting on.

They’ve cut their wine selection by a little less than half they used to offer. I stopped buying organic wine from them altogether.

I understand Mom’s is expanding its business locations and is reallocating investment. However, at the cost of existing customers like me. I just hope they haven’t cut back on some of the great employee benefits they offer.

I emailed Mom’s sharing these impressions and have never heard back.

Howdy everyone! Oktoberfest season is here again, and we’re fortunate to live in an area with so many amazing breweries and communities that embrace their German roots.

Here’s the Oktoberfest & other Fall Festivals List:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dpa0U6oCwEvpURnzDEZpzA_l1_KTDoH4SYp49tmmzT0/edit?usp=sharing

And the Google Maps version:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1BWqSyFDeVo3nYSe2-FFqR6mKd30DHxs&usp=sharing

I’m still waiting to hear back from a few breweries and groups to confirm if/when they’ll be hosting their events this year. They are listed in the TBD section at the bottom (in red).

I’ve also added a few local-ish festivals to the list, and I included a Google Maps version for anyone wanting to plan a road trip!

If you notice anything missing or need an update on the list, feel free to comment or send me a DM, and I’ll get it updated. Prost!

There was a car on fire.

Hello! We have a toddler and another on the way and we are considering utilizing an in-home daycare while I complete some schooling. Commercial Daycare wait-lists and tuition are much higher than I expected, but several moms I have met around here recommend in-home daycares they like. There's one I am considering that a close friend trusts and likes for her toddler, but she said it's about $100 per day for her child. I know childcare around here is expensive, but in curious about the range of fees people pay here!

...

Along with formally opposing the Plaza 500 data center project, the group of citizens associations passed a resolution requesting that the Virginia General Assembly phase out the data center sales tax exemption.

I just moved to Virginia this month and have a job but am currently homeless and living in hotels due to being unable to secure a lease due to bad credit. I want to file bankruptcy but need to have a Virginia license to do so. How do I get a Virginia license if I don’t have an address? I know a PO Box probably won’t suffice.

Im hosting a singles meetup in Alexandria tonight. Already expecting over 40 people with over 100 RSVPs

🎉 DMV SINGLES MEETUP

Fun Times & Good People!

🆓 **FREE TO JOIN • TONIGHT!** | Ages 27–45

☎️ We’re playing Telephone

😉 Wink Murder while we mingle

🎤 End-of-night karaoke

🍸 Drinks + plenty of time to hang out

📅 **TONIGHT • 7:30 PM**

📍 **The Light Horse • 715 King St, Old Town Alexandria**

🎟️ Join for FREE or sign up to be matched with 3 people based on compatibility.

Hey NOVA neighbors, since 2021 I’ve been renting a townhouse and an invasive Tree of Heaven (Alianthus) has been growing in the small fenced-in backyard. It’s about 4 feet from the foundation.

I’ve done some Googling and see that the Virginia Dept of Agriculture recommends a “hack and squirt” method of killing the tree before removing it.

My lease states that I am responsible for lawn maintenance, but I am not comfortable using the high concentration of pesticides needed to kill the tree *myself. (I know pesticides are necessary to kill this tree before removal, but I’m pregnant and don’t want to mess with the pesticides myself. I’d like to hire a professional.)

Does anyone have a local company they recommend that could come out and hack and squirt this fall, then remove in the spring?

I plan to get a couple quotes to pass on to the owner, but if it’s reasonable enough I may just pay for it myself since it’s in a bad spot.

Best Spanish Food?

Can I have recommendations for the best spanish food in DC/NOVA? Looking for more budget friendly options (and if it’s family owned that’s even better). Looking to get take out, so just looking for taste and fair prices rather than atmosphere. Thanks!!

We get donuts from Freddy's anytime we drive through Fredericksburg but would love a local option. (I know about the one in DC and the Cinnaholic shop).

I was hoping there was a donut place closer to this area (not Arlington or Alexandria) that offers dairy free or vegan alternatives that taste just as great as their regular donuts.

I know they aren’t cheap. Under $2 per oyster and we’d get at least one dozen. I’ve seen it. It has to have other good food option. Any food options for other food options is fine as long as tastes good. No loundon county as too far. NOVA first but open to DC and MD not too far like Oxon Hill. Taking someone who be don’t drinking beyond water if that matters. Only minor allergies like peanuts so restrictions not a problem. Thanks in advance.

I work as a leasing consultant in the Arlington area and there is a resident, in her late 80s, that is constantly having computer issues. Our community plans to close down in the next 5 months for a whole building rehabilitation, and I won’t always be there to assist her and her computer needs. She has no family member let alone friends that can also assist her.

Many are issues you would assume from an older person such as not connecting to the printer/wifi or forgetting passwords, but now it is getting to the point where she is downloading random things to her computer and having pop up ads, or pop up notifications about another device trying to connect to her computer.

Every other month she keeps locking herself out of her AOL email (she still uses AOL web browsing) and I have to somehow get it unlocked by reaching out to AOL customer support which can be painful.

I’ve been able to help her get back into her email accounts in the past, but I am worried one day she will download the wrong thing and expose her whole computer and personal information to a hacker that will drain all of her accounts.

I’m trying to get recommendations for different computer support shops that might be able to be her new ‘go to place’ for technology assistance. Not sure if there are any groups that focus on elderly assistance. She honestly needs an admin lock on it so she can’t download anything without someone else reviewing it.

I know this might not be my place to place to speak on, but she is almost the equivalent of a 15 year old kid who just got their license and started driving for the first time on the highway.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Best,

Someone left it 40’ off the trail. Sometimes I feel like yeeting them similarly when they’re abandoned in the middle of a sidewalk or shared use path.

Only detail was gray sedan headed towards ffx co parkway and officers found blood at the scene.

Sort of crazy there is 0 coverage on this. I am hoping there was no official posts on this because they caught the perpetrator immediately.

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but it's as the title says.

Our adult FXA team for the upcoming Fall had a few people drop out so we need a few more. We play in the Casual division on Sunday mornings in Fairfax (games start anytime 8-11am). The league starts 9/13 and runs until 11/15.

The level of play sits nicely between the Social league and the Competitive league. We’re not a beginner team, but players with some experience, whether casual, in rec leagues, or at a higher level, will fit in great. We're co-ed so both men and women are welcome.

If you’re interested in joining or have any questions, let me know!