Celebrate Your City at the Manassas Heritage Railway Festival and Taste of Historic Manassas This Weekend

June 4, 2015 by greystar

This weekend, historic downtown Manassas will have more to offer than just sightseeing. A pair of festivals are gearing up to take over the Harris Pavilion, located a few minutes from The Courts at Historic Manassas.

The first is the 21st Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival on Saturday. Dedicated to commemorating the history of the railroad not only in the area, but also across the country, this festival boasts everything from rides aboard real trains to exhibits displaying train memorabilia. Live music by local country and bluegrass bands round out the itinerary.

On Sunday, the Taste of Historic Manassas switches gears from historical modes of transportation to current cuisine. Local eateries including Okra's, Monza, and C.J. Finz put their fresh takes on Southern fare, international eats, and seafood on display at the food fest's many booths. Try a taste of the various cuisines while you enjoy live entertainment at the Taste of Historic Manassas.

21st Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 6
visitmanassas.org/event/20th-annual-manassas-heritage-railway-festival/?instance_id=

Taste of Historic Manassas
12 to 4:30 p.m. June 7
visitmanassas.org/event/taste-of-historic-manassas/?instance_id=6704

Both held at Harris Pavilion
9201 Center Street
Manassas, VA 20110

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr basykes

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Manassas Attractions, Manassas Heritage Railway Festival, Taste of Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

The Taps are Always Changing at BadWolf Brewing Company

May 28, 2015 by greystar

For Jeremy Meyers, a trip to Germany drastically altered the course of his life. It took about a decade afterwards for the impact to really be felt, though. He spent that time learning how to brew craft beer at home and virtually perfecting the art. Finally after 10 years of home brewing, Jeremy decided to take advantage of wife Sarah's business prowess and offer his beer to the public. And so BadWolf Brewing Company was born in the summer of 2013, only about a mile from The Courts at Historic Manassas.

Still a family-run endeavor, BadWolf has expanded to include some extra staffers to help with the brewing and pouring process. They churn out a huge variety of beers in the tap room, from pilsner ales to stouts. The tap list changes constantly, so come back time and time again for a new sip. Depending on the season, you might find a light Kolsch ale like Ruth's Ginger Pear or the heavier Skoll, a bold Belgian ale tinged with flavor tones of fruit. Bring your own food along or just enjoy the complimentary popcorn served.

BadWolf Brewing Company
9776 Center Street
Manassas, VA 20110
(571) 358-9774
www.badwolfbrewingcompany.com
www.yelp.com/biz/badwolf-brewing-company-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr KJGarbutt

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: BadWolf Brewing Company, Manassas Attractions, Things to Do in Manassas

Shop for More Than Just Produce at the Old Town Manassas Farmers Market

May 26, 2015 by greystar

Variety. This is one of the reasons why Old Town Manassas Farmers Market is considered one of the best in the region. It’s open twice a week all year-round, but during late spring, summer, and early fall is when it really shines. You can find some real gems here beyond the usual produce.

Case in point: Artisan pickles sold in mason jars. Once you’ve gobbled up all of your pickles, bring back the empty jar for a discount on the next batch. Also keep an eye out for potted herbs, local honey, fresh baked goods including cookies, bread, and muffins.

But the highlight of the Old Town Manassas Farmers Market is still the fresh fruits and vegetables. The sheer variety is staggering, so take your time wandering around. On Thursdays, the market is located in the Harris Pavilion in Historic Downtown Manassas and on Saturdays it’s in Parking Lot B behind Harris Pavilion. Thursday is strictly local farmers, and Saturday it’s a mix of local and regional. So, visit both and see what the vendors have to offer. Since it’s not far from The Courts at Historic Manassas, it makes for a convenient trip.

Old Town Manassas Farmers Market
Harris Pavilion (Thursdays) and Parking Lot B Behind Harris Pavilion (Saturdays)
7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days
9431 West St.
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 361-6599
visitmanassas.org/listings/farmers-market/
www.yelp.com/biz/old-town-manassas-farmers-market-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr YellowGreenFarmersMarket

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Apartments in Manassas, Old Town Manassas Farmers Market, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

Find Out Why a Hearse Once Signified Hope at the New Protecting Manassas Exhibit

May 15, 2015 by greystar

In modern day Manassas, a hearse signifies a funeral. But 50 years ago, a hearse meant help had arrived. You see, back before the town had any formal type of rescue squad, the Baker Funeral Home's hearse served as a makeshift ambulance. It would respond to calls for help and transport people to the hospital. Before the 1950s, it wasn't just paramedics the town was lacking—it also had no fire response team and was seriously lacking in its police force.

You can learn all about the development of these important entities at Protecting Manassas, a new exhibit hosted by the Manasass Museum. The museum is a little less than a mile away from your apartment at The Courts at Historic Manassas, so you can easily visit in a single afternoon. While you're there, you'll likely develop a new appreciation for the formal firefighting, rescue, and police teams in place today after learning about how citizens were required to step in during emergencies in years past.

Protecting Manassas
Manassas Museum
Through July 15
9101 Prince William Street
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 368-1873
manassasmuseum,org

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr nan palmero

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Manassas Attractions, Protecting Manassas at the Manassas Museum, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

Heritage Brewing Company: A Veteran-Owned and -Operated Brewery in Manassas

May 8, 2015 by greystar

When it opened in 2013, Heritage Brewing Company in Manassas set itself apart from other area breweries in a few ways. First, it’s owned and operated by veterans. Second, the ingredients are 100 percent American, and most of the organic ingredients come from Manassas-area sources. Third, it has a social conscience — it’s committed to reusing, recycling, and reducing, plus 1 percent of all profits go to charity.

So, what about the beer? Beer lovers have embraced the flagship beers as well as its seasonal releases and experimental beers. The star of Heritage’s lineup is probably the King’s Mountain Scotch Ale, followed by the Freedom Isn’t Free IPA. The most recent flagship release is the American Expedition, a light wheat ale. Heritage is also starting to experiment with brewing its beer in oak barrels, with more varieties on the horizon.

The best way to learn about how Heritage makes its beer is by going on a brewery tour. Two tours are held every Saturday, at noon and 1 p.m. The taproom, which is just 15 minutes from The Courts at Historic Manassas, is open Thursday to Sunday, where you can have your feel of Heritage beer while hanging with friends.

Heritage Brewing Company
Brewery tours, noon and 1 p.m. Saturdays
9436 Center Point Lane
Manassas, VA 20111
(571) 358-8463
heritagebrewing.com
www.yelp.com/biz/heritage-brewing-co-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr brownpau

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Apartments in Manassas, Heritage Brewing Company, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

Enjoy the Serenity at Manassas National Battlefield Park Near The Courts at Historic Manassas

April 29, 2015 by greystar

You don’t have to be a Civil War buff to enjoy Manassas National Battlefield Park. It’s home to miles of walking trails that are teeming with wildlife, and with its rolling green hills and abundance of trees (not to mention its close proximity to The Courts at Historic Manassas) it’s an ideal setting for a picnic. But if you do have an interest in history, this park has plenty of places for you to explore.

The land where the park now stands was the site of the first major land battle of the Civil War, in July 1861. The Second Battle of Manassas took place the following year. Manassas National Battlefield Park memorializes these battles with features such as historic cannons, statues, monuments, and graves dotting the landscape. Feel free to wander around on your own, or sign up for a guided ranger tour. Many describe a visit to this park as a powerful one, so come prepared to learn about its history and remember those who lost their lives here.

Manassas National Battlefield Park
6511 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 361-1339
www.nps.gov/mana
www.yelp.com/biz/manassas-national-battlefield-park-manassas-2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr VinothChandar

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Apartments in Manassas, Manassas National Battlefield Park, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

See Historic Manassas by Bike

April 24, 2015 by greystar

Experience Manassas history on two wheels this Saturday at the latest installment of the Manassas Museum's monthly Bicycle Tour. It happens on the fourth Saturday of each month, and the next one's this weekend, April 25.

The event's meant to highlight some of the area's often-unnoticed historic spots. According to a flier on the City of Manassas website, April's event will ride to the west part of Manassas to see an old railroad junction as well as one of the area's oldest buildings. The trip's eight miles in total, and cyclists will encounter a few hills along the way.

If you'd like to participate, check out visitmanassas.org or the City of Manassas site. Tickets are priced at $5 per person, and attendees must bring their own bikes and bike helmets. Enjoy the outdoors and learn something new about the area near The Courts at Historic Manassas!

Manassas Bicycle Tour
Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. til 11 a.m.
www.manassascity.org/index.aspx?NID=1183
visitmanassas.org/event/bike-tour/?instance_id=56495

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr huubvanhughten / www.hollandfiets.de

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Apartments in Manassas, Manassas Bicycle Tour, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

Shop near The Courts at Historic Manassas at the Downtown Sidewalk Sale

April 10, 2015 by greystar

Shop near The Courts at Historic Manassas at the upcoming Downtown Sidewalk Sale! It happens next Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and highlights some of the most interesting stores in Downtown Manassas.

Find something new to read or an old tome to treasure at Prospero's Books. Grab a gift for yourself or someone else at The Things I Love. Social Butterfly has fashions and accessories, while the Nova Music Center can help you begin or continue to play a musical instrument. Other shops offer vintage coins, vinyl records, crafting materials, and antiques.

While you're out and about, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the many Downtown Manassas restaurants. Coffee, craft beer, comfort food, classic barbecue, and Continental fare inspired by French cuisine are just a few of the options you'll find.

Historic Downtown Manassas Sidewalk Sale
Manassas, VA
visitmanassas.org/event/historic-downtown-manassas-sidewalk-sale/?instance_id=57002

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/cobblucas

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Apartments in Manassas, Historic Manassas Downtown Sidewalk Sale, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

McKay Used Books: A Bookshop near The Courts at Historic Manassas

March 27, 2015 by greystar

Located in Manassas, Virginia, McKay Used Books is held in high regard by local readers. Many visitors praise the store's huge selection, as it has aisles and aisles of gently-used and affordably-priced titles to browse. If fiction's your thing, you'll find genres like crime novels, westerns, thrillers, sci-fi, literary fiction, and more here. Prefer non-fiction? The store offers a variety of subjects from philosophy and history books to books about business, gardening, music, math, and science. According to the shop's website, they add somewhere between eighty and a hundred thousand new items to the inventory each month. That means you're likely to see something new each time you visit.

In addition to books, the store has DVDs, CDS, and video games. As you might expect of a used bookstore, McKay Used Books buys books or accepts them for store credit to use on other items. Reviewers note that items sold here are typically in great condition. Judging from praise this place has earned, it may be one of the most popular bookshops in the area.

If you'd like to see it for yourself, McKay Used Books is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and it's just a short drive from The Courts at Historic Manassas.

McKay Used Books
8345 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109
http://www.mckayusedbooks.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mckay-used-books-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/quattrostagioni

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Apartments in Manassas, McKay Used Books, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas

Tasty Sweets near The Courts at Historic Manassas at HighGrain Bread Company

March 10, 2015 by greystar

Fresh scones, cookies, Challah bread, pastries, and even sandwiches are on offer near The Courts at Historic Manassas at the HighGrain Bread Company. This unassuming little bakery is just a short trip away, and it pairs its numerous baked goods to go with a few delights you can enjoy right in the space. If you visit for lunch, for example, you can try a grilled cheese sandwich on fresh bread, or a turkey, bacon, egg, and gouda sandwich.

The place serves coffee and tea, too, giving the space a bit of a coffeehouse feel with its high ceilings and bright interior. Of course, if you'd like to pick up a loaf of bread to bring back to The Courts at Historic Manassas, HighGrain bakes them fresh each day. A rotating set of options includes both traditional classics and some inventive creations like kale and collard green bread and cheddar loaves.

If you'd like to learn more about this Manassas bakery, check out HighGrain's Facebook page.

HighGrain Bread Co.
10695 Sudley Manor Drive
Manassas, VA 20109
https://www.facebook.com/pages/High-Grain-Bread-Company/225576864305716
http://www.yelp.com/biz/highgrain-bread-co-manassas

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Nic McPhee

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Apartments in Manassas, HighGrain Bread Company, The Courts at Historic Manassas, Things to Do in Manassas