The Middleburg Mystique: A Peek Inside the Gates of Middleburg, Virginia - Softcover

Moon, Vicky

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0961768312 ISBN 13: 9780961768317

Publisher: Waverly Lee Media LLC, 2016

Synopsis

To the passerby, Middleburg, Virginia looks like just another pretty country town, with rolling fields and a quaint downtown. But writer Vicky Moon, shows that this village just 50 miles west of Washington, D.C., is not your ordinary country hamlet in THE MIDDLEBURG MYSTIQUE: A Peek Inside the Gates of Middleburg, Virginia.

“The town has always included a cast of local characters, “ Moon says. “And as one resident aptly notes, ‘We have one of everything here.’” That everything includes politicians (the Kennedys, Harrimans), Hollywood celebrities (actors Robert Duvall, Elizabeth Taylor), philanthropists (Paul Mellon, the Firestones), as well as a cast of local residents that once prompted a visitor to ask, “What is it about you people out there in Middleburg? Is there something in the well water?”

THE MIDDLEBURG MYSTIQUE is an inside look at the people, places, and mystique that surround this horse-crazy Virginia village. “I often tell people that I have my finger on the pulse of Middleburg,” Moon says. “From my second floor office on West Washington Street, I can see the brick post office out my front window. The post office is the heartbeat of this village. It’s here that the news of the day—good news and bad – some of it true and the rest vaguely true—originates. There are 1,856 mailboxes. The zip code 20118 is so highly sought after, that there is a waiting list of 20-60 names at any given time.”

THE MIDDLEBURG MYSTIQUE reveals why “20118” is such a desirable zip code. Through the years, there have been scandalous stories of divorce, such as when actor Robert Duvall’s wife ran off with the “hunky” pool man; and murders among the rich, like when arms heiress Susan Cummings shot her Argentinean polo-playing lover.

Moon also tells stories of other less notorious, but still fascinating residents, such as 77-year-old Anna Beavers, who has spent her life collecting clothing for poor children, namely the employees of wealthy farm owners. There’s the freelance bartender who drinks his own mistakes—and often needs a ride home. And the party hostess who refused to call the rescue squad when her bartender died just as the guests were arriving—the poor soul couldn't be helped anyway, so why ruin the festivities? The same woman taught her 13-year-old grandson how to make a perfect Whiskey Sour on the theory that it was a necessary part of his liberal arts education, along with art appreciation and opera.

Moon’s book is not just a collection of stories about the wealthy and their quirks, though. Scattered throughout are recipes for dishes served at traditional Middleburg events, such as the annual Hunt Breakfast (usually held at 2 PM). In these pages you learn how to tailgate Middleburg style—as well as make TV weatherman Willard Scott’s famous Strawberry Pie, and the ham biscuits served at Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding to Senator John Warner. Another chapter is devoted entirely to the gardens of Middleburg—and the four garden clubs that serve the area. And no description of Middleburg would be complete with some attention to the most important events in this horse-obsessed town: the fox hunts and steeplechase races.

About this title

About the Author

Vicky Moon has chronicled prominent and powerful personalities in Washington, D.C. for People Magazine, The Washington Post and Town and Country. She is a columnist for the influential Washington Life magazine. Through the past several decades she has covered inaugural balls, interviewed members of Congress and White House insiders. Her contacts include ambassadors, well-known fellow journalists and behind the scenes handlers and consultants in the Nation’s Capital who strive for smooth landings and happy endings at all costs. Ms. Moon lives in the nearby posh horse country of Middleburg, Virginia, made famous when President John Kennedy and his equestrian-enthusiast wife, Jackie, discovered the rolling, verdant countryside where their children, Caroline and John, romped on long weekends. Ms. Moon’s book, The Private Passion of Jackie Kennedy Onassis: Portrait of A Rider, portrayed the vital role horses played throughout the life of the iconic First Lady. This pocket of posh, one hour west and a lifetime away from the stress and mess of petty politics, campaign strategy and intrusive lobbyists, has been home to Senator John Warner, who married his second wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor, at his Atoka Farm. (For those counting he was her sixth husband.), television journalist Brit Hume and Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall. Presidents Johnson, Reagan and Clinton have all spent time here. All of which led to Ms. Moon’s best-selling The Middleburg Mystique: A Peek Inside the Gates of Middleburg, Virginia. A lifelong equestrian, Ms. Moon has written articles on racing, polo, steeplechasing and show jumping. As a garden and design aficionado, her articles on homes and gardens have been published in Southern Accents, Veranda and House and Garden. Ms. Moon was a co-founder, publisher, editor and consultant for The Middleburg Life, a monthly publication in the Virginia horse country. Her eight books include: The Official Middleburg Life Cookbook, Best Dressed Southern Salads, A Sunday Horse: Inside the Grand Prix Show Jumping Tour, Equestrian Style, Golf Style and The Stylish Life: Equestrian. Ms. Moon was a producer and appeared on Dominick Dunne’s “Power Privilege and Justice” about the murder trial of arms heiress Susan Cummings and also appeared on A&E City Confidential. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Middleburg, VA with her husband, sportswriter Leonard Shapiro. She can be reached at vickymoon.com or vickyannmoon@aol.com.

Review

"Nothing tells you more about what goes on behind the fences, homes and storefronts of Middleburg than the Middleburg Mystique. Vicky Moon has a finger on the pulse and captures what makes Middleburg tick in the “Middleburg Mystique”. It's a must read for anyone interested in finding what is unique about this little community." (John Blackburn)

"It keeps equestrian nostalgia alive! You can't help but want for a horse property in Middleburg when reading!" (Melissa-Angel Carbonell)

"I have read Middleburg Mystique twice -- and love it." (Dulcy Hooper)

"For its horsy tradition and pomp, Moon’s continuous stream of anecdotes is a jaunt." (Newport News Press)

"Moon’s book ...is 224 pages of choice stories locals have been telling for years..." (Sarah Greenhalgh Fauquier Times-Democrat)

"There’s enough dish about high-society goings-on to titillate the reader..." (Ann Lloyd Merriman Richmond Times-Dispatch)

"Titillating tales of divorce, murder, mayhem, and madness among the owner-squires of exquisite hunt-country estates." (Washington Times)

Edition details

• Publisher: Waverly Lee Media LLC
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0961768312
• ISBN 13: 9780961768317
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 196