Sushi is now a mainstream staple of many American diets. If you're new to sushi, it can still be a little intimidating, since it’s a complicated food with a great deal of cultural tradition behind it. Here’s a simple field guide:

1. Sushi does not mean "raw fish." Sushi is the product of combining a protein or vegetable with a special kind of rice, prepared with vinegar and sugar. Sticky, sushi rice is the real core of the meal, and it needs to be made fresh.

2. Nigiri is the most “pure” form of the food – a cut of the main ingredient – typically fish – on top of a small dollop of sushi rice. Nigiri is designed to communicate the essential flavors of the fish without any other tastes masking them, and is the best way to evaluate the freshness of a sushi bar.

3. Maki, also known as rolls, have become the most popular form of sushi from Americanized restaurants. Ingredients are wrapped in a layer of sushi rice, rolled into a cylinder and sliced. A number of other things can be added – traditionally, a sheet of seaweed is used to hold the roll together, but restaurants use tofu skin as well. Rice on the outside is called an “inside-out” roll. These rolls are often topped with sauces or other fish.

4. You don't have to eat raw fish to enjoy sushi. If eating raw fish isn't appealing to you, there are several cooked options such as crab, shrimp, or lobster. Or, you can always enjoy vegetarian rolls such as avocado and cucumber.

Today, family and friends are often scattered all over the globe. But, that doesn't mean we have to forgo closeness! With the cutting edge technology available today, staying in touch is easier (and more fun) than ever before! 

Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms on the web today. Make a private “group” page for your family where relatives can post updates, share photographs or talk about events. You can also invite your Facebook friends to "events" such as family reunions or holiday gatherings.

Skype offers free video chat and calling that allows you to both see and hear loved ones no matter their location. If certain family members do not have video chat capabilities, Skype allows you to make regular calls to phones for a fee.

Set aside a regular time each week to chat with your loved ones. Weekends, such as Sunday afternoons, tend to work well. Set your computer calendar or cell phone to remind you each week, and you’ll never miss a time to connect.

Preserving a 1930s farm, Frying Pan Farm Park interprets rural community living for Herndon families by adding fresh, appealing elements that will have visitors coming back again and again. Admission is free, which is a bargain considering the amount of interesting and invaluable things you’ll see here. In Kidwell Farm, you’ll see how farm families lived in the 1930s. You can also take a wagon ride and meet animals like chickens, peacocks, rabbits, and cows. Besides meeting animals, the Farm also offers beginning horseback riding lessons and horse shows. If you want to taste farm fresh products, venture to the Frying Pan Country Store, which sells locally grown products and baked goods. It also sells local history books for those interested in Herndon history as well as old-fashioned games and toys for the children for the nostalgic adult. However, the store is only open from May to October, and only on Wednesdays.

Frying Pan Park
2709 W. Ox Road
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 437-9101