It has been about three years since I saw my roommates from college, Jenna and Sarah, so we were due for a reunion. On Friday after work, I packed a weekend bag and headed down to Jenna’s house in Ashburn, Virginia. Forgetting it was a holiday weekend, I found the roads were more congested than normal but not as bad as if I were headed to the shore.

As good friends do, we picked up exactly where we left off: laughing, joking and telling one another what we have been up to in the past few years. The first night we had pizza and played some games before heading to bed.

The next morning we embarked on a three-mile hike through Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. We encountered more wildlife than I expected, from birds, toads and a snake to lots of ticks. The trails were mainly grass with bumps of rocks and mud in the mix. The weather was perfect as it had just rained the day before, so the humidity cleared and we were gifted with a breezy but sunny morning. It was a perfect mini workout before we showered and headed to our next destination: Fleetwood Farm Winery,

just a quick drive around the corner from Jenna’s house. Her boyfriend Blake dropped us off to ensure nobody drove while tipsy. Sarah and Jenna split a bottle of white wine while I went for a flight consisting of six of the white wine offerings along with an accompanying charcuterie spread. The wind picked up, and half of my flight literally flew off the table. I tried to save any drops that were left, but we just laughed, as this is something that would happen to me. The wines were crisp and refreshing. I purchased another bottle to bring home to Philadelphia, and we did a mini photo shoot through the vines. A trip to a winery is never complete without one.

As the winery closed, Blake picked us up to head to dinner at Lost Fox Hideaway. The rooftop bar and restaurant had trendy décor and seating with overhead views of the busy town center below. To start, I ordered the Aloha cocktail. A bright and colorful combination of a pineapple martini and a pina colada, this drink was perfect for my personality. I enjoyed two and placed an order of the seared duck with grits and bourbon-glazed pork belly. As we waited for our food, we ventured over to the corridor where the bathrooms are located to jump into a photobooth to snap some memories. When we returned to the table, the food arrived. My selections were tasty and, as they were from the small-plates menu, were the perfect portion size.

After dinner, we bar hopped a bit for additional cocktails and small plates before returning to Jenna’s house. Sarah downloaded Jackbox.tv, an online game you can play through a computer or Xbox with the participant’s phone. We played a couple of games before crawling into bed.

The next morning, we visited a local farmers market. I purchased fresh tomatoes, cherries and homemade bratwurst and andouille sausages. The quick weekend reunion ended after the market, as I had to make my way back home. I said my goodbyes, but I know we will link back together soon. It is always good to reconnect with friends.

— Audrey Lee, assistant editor

Fleetwood Winery

Fleetwood Winery