Things To Do In Leesburg

The colorful walls of Bella Ballerina’s studio echo with the patter of little feet springing across the wood floors. Classes welcome tiny dancers aged 18 months to 10 years, with ballet barres only a couple of feet off the ground and story time at the beginning of each session. The teachers, all professional dancers with years of performing and teaching experience, lead their students through basic ballet moves while sprinkling in jazz and tap. In addition to the classes, Bella Ballerina also hosts birthday parties that combine the things kids love: cupcakes, ballet, goodie bags, and another day lived without meeting whatever lives under the bed.

As the promoter of antique shows across the East Coast, Dordy Fontinel's career is almost as storied as the pieces of vintage Americana she vends. A collector since her teenage years, Dordy first started in the antiques business in 1978, eventually moving into promotion in 1992. She was joined in her new venture by her husband, Stillie Mason, an auctioneer with 18 years of experience. Together, the pair helps dealers display their wares to new crowds of collectors, filling their events with vintage home decor, jewelry, and accessories—many of which date from the 1760s to the 1960s.

A 2,000-year-old game from Asia. An Argentinean polo player. A farm in northern Virginia. What may seem like the openings to three different stories is actually the description of one place: Middleburg Polo Academy. The scenic farm ground originally set the scene to a polo boarding and training facility by seasoned polo player Daniel Tognini and his wife, Ilene. These grounds morphed into an academy in 2007, thanks to the Tognini children, who had become enraptured with polo and the eponymous collared shirts the horses wore. Striving to inspire other youths with the game he first mastered in his native Argentina, Tognini fills Middleburg’s calendar with classes, camps, and private tutorials, teaching the history of polo and techniques to help students eventually compete in the sport.

Along with Middleburg Polo Academy, Daniel runs Amigos Outback Adventure and specializes in rustic outdoor activities. Families gather together to enjoy authentic adventures such as trail rides, canoe and river boat trips, and outdoor wine tastings.

Cuisine Type: Distilled Spirits—Whisky, Gin, and Brandy
Established: 2009
Reservations: Required
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Parking: Free street parking
Most popular offering: Roundstone Rye
Alcohol: Full bar
Delivery / Take-out Available: No
Outdoor Seating: No
Pro Tip: Bottles may be purchased on site directly from the distillery.

Q&A with Scott Harris, Owner

What is one fun, unusual fact about your business?
The building we call home was built in the first year of Prohibition in a town known for it's support of the Temperance movement.

Is there anything else you want to add that we didn't cover?
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company was founded by Becky and Scott Harris in 2009 as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. We are located in Purcellville, Virginia, in the heart of the Loudoun Valley. Loudoun County, often called D.C.'s Wine Country, is home to more than twenty vineyards and wineries, and it now has a distillery.

The name "Catoctin" is a regional name. Pronounced Ka-TOCK-tin. The name derives from the Indian tribal name "Kittocton" which, legend has it, meant "place of many deer". Catoctin describes a range of mountains and the creek which flows picturesquely into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Watershed.

At Catoctin Creek, we believe in high quality food and spirits. Organic means higher quality: grain and fruit, sourced locally when possible, free of pesticides and chemical additives that would come through in the spirits we produce. Sure, it is more difficult to produce organically, but the results speak for themselves. And kosher is another way to respect the tradition of high quality foods.

Décor can say a lot about the type of food a restaurant serves. How does your décor inform or reflect your culinary practice?
Industrial chic. This working distillery is in a beautifully renovated 1920's era Buick dealership. Exposed brick, huge windows and open ceilings give a spacious and inviting feel to the tour experience.

In your own words, how would you describe your distillery?
Visit the first family-owned distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. See this working distillery in production, including our custom-made Kothe potstills and condensers. Tours will highlight the process of making distilled spirits, including fermentation, distillation, aging, and bottling.

Often, depending on the day, you may see much of this equipment in operation and meet and speak with the owners.

ATA Elite Martial Arts operates as a branch of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA), an organization with more than four decades of teaching experience. At the Elite Martial Arts facility, instructors sharpen students young and old into physically fit, self-confident protégés. Tae kwon do for adults classes blend traditional disciplines into intense cardio workouts, and krav maga classes teach usable, real-life self-defense methods to fend off attacks. For younger practitioners, the facility offers several programs, including Karate for Kids sessions that instill healthy habits and self-confidence at a young age.

Running on a treadmill and bench-pressing roommates aren't the only ways to get a good workout. Enter Pole Pressure, a studio dedicated to pole fitness. Here, students use fitness poles to tone muscles, strengthen midsections, and improve balance with spins, kicks, and twirls in a variety of classes. Each class tackles specific skills—for instance, Pole Level 1 introduces the basics, and Pole Trix includes advanced moves, such as choreography performed upside down.