#Dining Out In Luray Virginia

[joehaupt]

The Speakeasy Bar & Restaurant At The Mimslyn Inn In Luray, Virginia - Mushroom & Butternut Squash Tart (November 2022) by Joe Haupt

[northshoregadgets]

The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians

Luray the Dalmatian may be a newcomer to The Inn at Little Washington, but the 3-year-old rescue dog isn’t the first of his breed to work there. The staff gifted chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell with his first spotted boy, Desoto, more than 30 years ago. A girl named Rose soon joined them at the Washington, Virginia, hotel.

Rose wearing her pearls outside The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy of The Inn at Little Washington.

“Rose worked the front door wearing her pearls,” Patrick recalls. “She was trained to walk guests from the front door to the entrance to the dining room and then go back for two more. Guests loved her. The boy showed up occasionally wearing his black bow tie, but if they were together, they required a handler. They were even sent to ‘reform school’ boot camp after an especially naughty period.”

A pair of rescue Dalmatians, Jobe and Pearl, followed in their pawprints. Luray came next, arriving in May after a 10-year absence of four-legged employees. His name comes from the town in which he was fostered, after his original family could no longer care for him.

“Meeting all the kitchen staff in their Dalmatian trousers made Luray feel immediately at home here,” Patrick says, referring to their uniform of black-and-white spotted aprons and pants.

The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

On-the-job training has begun, and Robert Fasce, director of business and brand development at the inn, as well as occasional petsitter, reports that Luray is doing quite well.

“He sits and shakes,” Robert says. “We’ve had him in the lobby to see people coming in and out of the front door so he can get used to that. He will eventually greet guests at the door.”

Luray will also say good night to those staying at the inn through a new turndown service in the works. It will include a card with his pawprint and a cookie shaped like a dog biscuit — for human guests, as The Inn at Little Washington doesn’t yet allow pets. There are plans to turn three cottages on the property into dog-friendly accommodations.

Also a possibility in the future: a companion for Luray. “Everyone keeps saying he needs a companion, so that’s under consideration for sure,” Robert says.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

Pamela Mitchell is a freelance writer specializing in pet lifestyle and retail. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her Boston Terrier, Spot. Friend her at http://ift.tt/2uISaj7. 

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

How Adorable Are These Pet Accessories From Puff Puff Paws?

How to Help Animals Affected by Hurricane Irma

6 Celebrity Chefs Who Love Dogs Just Like Us

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you! 

The post The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians appeared first on Dogster.

from Dogster http://ift.tt/2wGzX5b via http://www.dogster.com

[jeffreyrwelch]

The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians

Luray the Dalmatian may be a newcomer to The Inn at Little Washington, but the 3-year-old rescue dog isn’t the first of his breed to work there. The staff gifted chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell with his first spotted boy, Desoto, more than 30 years ago. A girl named Rose soon joined them at the Washington, Virginia, hotel.

Rose wearing her pearls outside The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy of The Inn at Little Washington.

“Rose worked the front door wearing her pearls,” Patrick recalls. “She was trained to walk guests from the front door to the entrance to the dining room and then go back for two more. Guests loved her. The boy showed up occasionally wearing his black bow tie, but if they were together, they required a handler. They were even sent to ‘reform school’ boot camp after an especially naughty period.”

A pair of rescue Dalmatians, Jobe and Pearl, followed in their pawprints. Luray came next, arriving in May after a 10-year absence of four-legged employees. His name comes from the town in which he was fostered, after his original family could no longer care for him.

“Meeting all the kitchen staff in their Dalmatian trousers made Luray feel immediately at home here,” Patrick says, referring to their uniform of black-and-white spotted aprons and pants.

The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

On-the-job training has begun, and Robert Fasce, director of business and brand development at the inn, as well as occasional petsitter, reports that Luray is doing quite well.

“He sits and shakes,” Robert says. “We’ve had him in the lobby to see people coming in and out of the front door so he can get used to that. He will eventually greet guests at the door.”

Luray will also say good night to those staying at the inn through a new turndown service in the works. It will include a card with his pawprint and a cookie shaped like a dog biscuit — for human guests, as The Inn at Little Washington doesn’t yet allow pets. There are plans to turn three cottages on the property into dog-friendly accommodations.

Also a possibility in the future: a companion for Luray. “Everyone keeps saying he needs a companion, so that’s under consideration for sure,” Robert says.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

Pamela Mitchell is a freelance writer specializing in pet lifestyle and retail. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her Boston Terrier, Spot. Friend her at Facebook.com/PamelaMitchell. 

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

How Adorable Are These Pet Accessories From Puff Puff Paws?

How to Help Animals Affected by Hurricane Irma

6 Celebrity Chefs Who Love Dogs Just Like Us

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you! 

The post The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians appeared first on Dogster.

[stiles-wtf]

The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians

Luray the Dalmatian may be a newcomer to The Inn at Little Washington, but the 3-year-old rescue dog isn’t the first of his breed to work there. The staff gifted chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell with his first spotted boy, Desoto, more than 30 years ago. A girl named Rose soon joined them at the Washington, Virginia, hotel.

Rose wearing her pearls outside The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy of The Inn at Little Washington.

“Rose worked the front door wearing her pearls,” Patrick recalls. “She was trained to walk guests from the front door to the entrance to the dining room and then go back for two more. Guests loved her. The boy showed up occasionally wearing his black bow tie, but if they were together, they required a handler. They were even sent to ‘reform school’ boot camp after an especially naughty period.”

A pair of rescue Dalmatians, Jobe and Pearl, followed in their pawprints. Luray came next, arriving in May after a 10-year absence of four-legged employees. His name comes from the town in which he was fostered, after his original family could no longer care for him.

“Meeting all the kitchen staff in their Dalmatian trousers made Luray feel immediately at home here,” Patrick says, referring to their uniform of black-and-white spotted aprons and pants.

The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

On-the-job training has begun, and Robert Fasce, director of business and brand development at the inn, as well as occasional petsitter, reports that Luray is doing quite well.

“He sits and shakes,” Robert says. “We’ve had him in the lobby to see people coming in and out of the front door so he can get used to that. He will eventually greet guests at the door.”

Luray will also say good night to those staying at the inn through a new turndown service in the works. It will include a card with his pawprint and a cookie shaped like a dog biscuit — for human guests, as The Inn at Little Washington doesn’t yet allow pets. There are plans to turn three cottages on the property into dog-friendly accommodations.

Also a possibility in the future: a companion for Luray. “Everyone keeps saying he needs a companion, so that’s under consideration for sure,” Robert says.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

Pamela Mitchell is a freelance writer specializing in pet lifestyle and retail. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her Boston Terrier, Spot. Friend her at http://ift.tt/2uISaj7. 

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

How Adorable Are These Pet Accessories From Puff Puff Paws?

How to Help Animals Affected by Hurricane Irma

6 Celebrity Chefs Who Love Dogs Just Like Us

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you! 

The post The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians appeared first on Dogster.

[buynewsoul]

The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians

Luray the Dalmatian may be a newcomer to The Inn at Little Washington, but the 3-year-old rescue dog isn’t the first of his breed to work there. The staff gifted chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell with his first spotted boy, Desoto, more than 30 years ago. A girl named Rose soon joined them at the Washington, Virginia, hotel.

Rose wearing her pearls outside The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy of The Inn at Little Washington.

“Rose worked the front door wearing her pearls,” Patrick recalls. “She was trained to walk guests from the front door to the entrance to the dining room and then go back for two more. Guests loved her. The boy showed up occasionally wearing his black bow tie, but if they were together, they required a handler. They were even sent to ‘reform school’ boot camp after an especially naughty period.”

A pair of rescue Dalmatians, Jobe and Pearl, followed in their pawprints. Luray came next, arriving in May after a 10-year absence of four-legged employees. His name comes from the town in which he was fostered, after his original family could no longer care for him.

“Meeting all the kitchen staff in their Dalmatian trousers made Luray feel immediately at home here,” Patrick says, referring to their uniform of black-and-white spotted aprons and pants.

The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

On-the-job training has begun, and Robert Fasce, director of business and brand development at the inn, as well as occasional petsitter, reports that Luray is doing quite well.

“He sits and shakes,” Robert says. “We’ve had him in the lobby to see people coming in and out of the front door so he can get used to that. He will eventually greet guests at the door.”

Luray will also say good night to those staying at the inn through a new turndown service in the works. It will include a card with his pawprint and a cookie shaped like a dog biscuit — for human guests, as The Inn at Little Washington doesn’t yet allow pets. There are plans to turn three cottages on the property into dog-friendly accommodations.

Also a possibility in the future: a companion for Luray. “Everyone keeps saying he needs a companion, so that’s under consideration for sure,” Robert says.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

Pamela Mitchell is a freelance writer specializing in pet lifestyle and retail. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her Boston Terrier, Spot. Friend her at http://ift.tt/2uISaj7. 

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

How Adorable Are These Pet Accessories From Puff Puff Paws?

How to Help Animals Affected by Hurricane Irma

6 Celebrity Chefs Who Love Dogs Just Like Us

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you! 

The post The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians appeared first on Dogster.

[daddyslittlejuliet]

The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians

Luray the Dalmatian may be a newcomer to The Inn at Little Washington, but the 3-year-old rescue dog isn’t the first of his breed to work there. The staff gifted chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell with his first spotted boy, Desoto, more than 30 years ago. A girl named Rose soon joined them at the Washington, Virginia, hotel.

Rose wearing her pearls outside The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy of The Inn at Little Washington.

“Rose worked the front door wearing her pearls,” Patrick recalls. “She was trained to walk guests from the front door to the entrance to the dining room and then go back for two more. Guests loved her. The boy showed up occasionally wearing his black bow tie, but if they were together, they required a handler. They were even sent to ‘reform school’ boot camp after an especially naughty period.”

A pair of rescue Dalmatians, Jobe and Pearl, followed in their pawprints. Luray came next, arriving in May after a 10-year absence of four-legged employees. His name comes from the town in which he was fostered, after his original family could no longer care for him.

“Meeting all the kitchen staff in their Dalmatian trousers made Luray feel immediately at home here,” Patrick says, referring to their uniform of black-and-white spotted aprons and pants.

The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

On-the-job training has begun, and Robert Fasce, director of business and brand development at the inn, as well as occasional petsitter, reports that Luray is doing quite well.

“He sits and shakes,” Robert says. “We’ve had him in the lobby to see people coming in and out of the front door so he can get used to that. He will eventually greet guests at the door.”

Luray will also say good night to those staying at the inn through a new turndown service in the works. It will include a card with his pawprint and a cookie shaped like a dog biscuit — for human guests, as The Inn at Little Washington doesn’t yet allow pets. There are plans to turn three cottages on the property into dog-friendly accommodations.

Also a possibility in the future: a companion for Luray. “Everyone keeps saying he needs a companion, so that’s under consideration for sure,” Robert says.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

Pamela Mitchell is a freelance writer specializing in pet lifestyle and retail. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her Boston Terrier, Spot. Friend her at http://ift.tt/2uISaj7. 

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

How Adorable Are These Pet Accessories From Puff Puff Paws?

How to Help Animals Affected by Hurricane Irma

6 Celebrity Chefs Who Love Dogs Just Like Us

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you! 

The post The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians appeared first on Dogster.

[grublypetcare]

The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians

Luray the Dalmatian may be a newcomer to The Inn at Little Washington, but the 3-year-old rescue dog isn’t the first of his breed to work there. The staff gifted chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell with his first spotted boy, Desoto, more than 30 years ago. A girl named Rose soon joined them at the Washington, Virginia, hotel.

Rose wearing her pearls outside The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy of The Inn at Little Washington.

“Rose worked the front door wearing her pearls,” Patrick recalls. “She was trained to walk guests from the front door to the entrance to the dining room and then go back for two more. Guests loved her. The boy showed up occasionally wearing his black bow tie, but if they were together, they required a handler. They were even sent to ‘reform school’ boot camp after an especially naughty period.”

A pair of rescue Dalmatians, Jobe and Pearl, followed in their pawprints. Luray came next, arriving in May after a 10-year absence of four-legged employees. His name comes from the town in which he was fostered, after his original family could no longer care for him.

“Meeting all the kitchen staff in their Dalmatian trousers made Luray feel immediately at home here,” Patrick says, referring to their uniform of black-and-white spotted aprons and pants.

The Inn at Little Washington. Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

On-the-job training has begun, and Robert Fasce, director of business and brand development at the inn, as well as occasional petsitter, reports that Luray is doing quite well.

“He sits and shakes,” Robert says. “We’ve had him in the lobby to see people coming in and out of the front door so he can get used to that. He will eventually greet guests at the door.”

Luray will also say good night to those staying at the inn through a new turndown service in the works. It will include a card with his pawprint and a cookie shaped like a dog biscuit — for human guests, as The Inn at Little Washington doesn’t yet allow pets. There are plans to turn three cottages on the property into dog-friendly accommodations.

Also a possibility in the future: a companion for Luray. “Everyone keeps saying he needs a companion, so that’s under consideration for sure,” Robert says.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy The Inn at Little Washington.

Pamela Mitchell is a freelance writer specializing in pet lifestyle and retail. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her Boston Terrier, Spot. Friend her at Facebook.com/PamelaMitchell. 

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

How Adorable Are These Pet Accessories From Puff Puff Paws?

How to Help Animals Affected by Hurricane Irma

6 Celebrity Chefs Who Love Dogs Just Like Us

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you! 

The post The Inn at Little Washington Greets Guests With Resident Dalmatians appeared first on Dogster.

[joehaupt]

The Speakeasy Bar & Restaurant At The Mimslyn Inn In Luray, Virginia - Beet & Virginia Ham Salad (November 2022) by Joe Haupt

[suitcasetales]

Race Day!

I am telling you, these races are not for weenies......and not just for the racers but for the race staff, the volunteers and the athletes' supporters. We had to set our alarm for 4:30am....and of course, neither of us slept well, knowing we had to get up so early! I also was worried about blisters, my toenails, my hips and the weather, dreading walking 13.1 miles in the rain. I went from wearing my long-planned outfit of short girly running shorts and my Virginia Tech well-ventilated tank top to my hiking pants, two shirts, a rain coat and a plastic poncho. (All this, of course, with my brown Folk Festival cap -- it, unfortunately, has had plenty of practice getting wet!).

From our lovely room -- excuse me, from our lovely suite ("You have been given a complimentary upgrade") at the Mimslyn Inn (circa 1931), we had about a fifteen minute drive out to the finish line at Lake Arrowhead park. Once there we had to park our car in a big field and then catch a Page County school bus to the Start at the Town Park in Stanley. If you were not in line for a bus by 5:30, you had to drive yourself to the start line.

So far, so good, on the weather. It was a little chilly but there was only a light rain falling -- almost just a mist -- and at times, it wasn't raining at all. There was hot coffee, hot chocolate, bananas, a table full of medical stuff (Vaseline, sunscreen - ha ha - bug spray) and they were drawing for prizes....all this and it was still dark. A light rain began to fall and then all of a sudden, a huge downpour. Everyone scattered, best they could, under the sponsor tents and trees. We had to scramble to get our ponchos on and the Bag Drop pens and plastic bags got so drenched we couldn't write our number on our bag. (Not surprised at all to get to Bag Drop after the race and to hear them say, "oh, yours must be that bag over there under the tree with no number on it." Sure enough, it was.)

The mayor of Stanley welcomed us and, unbeknownst to us, we had actually talked to him at the Expo Friday. We had planned to go to Stanley on Saturday afternoon and/or evening because, bless their hearts, they had planned a whole day of live music and food at the Town Park there with its swimming pool and the evening was going to end with fireworks. However, due to the dreary forecast, on Thursday they had decided to cancel the entire event. He was sure to invite us all back next year when they would try again. We felt so sorry for him and his little town.

By 7am, and the start of the race, the heavy rain had stopped and for the rest of the morning, we had a good mix of light rain and even some sunshine. The course, described as "challenging," wasn't too bad for us walkers. I definitely think hills are harder on runners. The Vacation Races website had made it very clear that walkers were welcome as long as you could finish in four hours. We were happy to see that we were not the only people walking the course -- that is always our fear. Early on, we  started walking and talking with Alicia and Chucky from the D.C. area and ended up walking with them the entire time. Although we both agree we could have pushed ourselves more, having new folks to talk with was a good distraction.

So how did we do? Our finishing time was 3:28:22, which is a 15.54 pace. That included several stops -- for example, it was a "cup-less race" so water and a sports drink were available at the aid stations but you had to stop and fill your container, not quite as quick as the usual grab-and-go at races. We also had a few other short delays and distractions but we still beat by 77 seconds our time at our first ever half that we did in March at Pocahontas State Park. The course was nice; all on back country roads, we passed by some beautiful old homes and large farms. It was an "open course" so the roads were not closed but the vehicular traffic was very light. At several houses, homeowners waved from their front porches. The funniest thing was when we were talking about our preference for shopping at farmers markets and a lady yelled "there's a farmers market in Luray on Saturday mornings!" Thanks, lady, good to know!

We actually beat 54 other people (out of 1110 finishers) and Janet was pleased that she beat 6 other ladies in her age group. I, on the other hand, finished 32nd in my age group, which was last place and it wasn't even close. We decided I must have been the only walker. Lots of folks had already left as us stragglers trickled in. But they had plenty of the Race Recovery & Hiking Food boxes and the official photographer was still shooting photos of finishers with their medals so we did not feel abandoned.

Driving back in to town, we found the aforementioned farmers market -- all three vendors -- and bought a quart of yellow tomatoes and a loaf of bread. We stopped at a deli and bought tuna fish salad before heading back to the Mimslyn Inn.  After enjoying our "eat local" lunch, we each took long baths in our jacuzzi tub; again, we were so grateful for the upgraded room.

And so, you ask, what does one do in a small town after a half-marathon? You go for a walk to hopefully stave off the inevitable stiffness expected the next day! We discovered the beautiful restored Luray Train Station and Museum, stumbled upon the Warehouse Art Gallery (where of course we bought earrings and pottery), sniffed around an antique store and market and popped in to one more shop on Main Street because they had a "welcome runners" sign and Janet ended up buying a pretty top. By this time our 35,000 steps were definitely catching up with us so we drug ourselves back to the Mimslyn Inn where we dined in the downstairs Speakeasy Restaurant.

What a long and rewarding day it had been. As it turned out, the weather was a non-factor and the post analysis of my feet and my knees was not too bad. We loved everything about the Shenandoah Half Marathon and will do it again next year, Lord willing and if the creek don't rise. Stanley, Virginia, we shall see you next year. Luray, we will be back. Now if we could just figure out how we swung that upgrade.