By Leonard Shapiro Country ZEST It’s official. The iconic Middleburg Training Center (MTC), built by Upperville philanthropist and Thoroughbred breeder Paul Mellon in 1956, has been sold to the U.S. Army’s Caisson Detachment, best known as “The Old Guard,” that will re-purpose the 149-acre facility to train horses used in military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. The sale closed on Thursday, August 6, the same day the Army had already scheduled an evening town hall m

The Middleburg Community Center welcomes Alchemy Ballet's Pop-Up Company’s Midsummer Nocturne on Saturday, August 22 at 3 p.m. The one-hour performance will be followed by a reception with light refreshments. Presented as the culmination of Alchemy Ballet's week-long Pop-Up Company intensive, “Midsummer Nocturne: Minkus to Mingus, Chopin to Copland,” celebrates the extraordinary talents of young dancers and special guest artists in a vibrant program that moves seamlessly from

Photos by Leonard Shapiro The Middleburg Museum sponsored a lively and informative program recently at the Middleburg Community Center to celebrate the 289th birthday of Lt. Col. Leven Powell (1737 –1810). Powell was the founder of Middleburg as well as a Virginia planter, merchant, Continental Army officer and Federalist politician who served several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates. Some of Powell’s living descendants were in the audience for an event that included

Patricia “Pat” Reilly, a widely respected journalist, Peace Corps volunteer, civic leader, historian, tireless champion of Irish arts and culture whose vision supported and strengthened countless organizations and good causes, passed away on Saturday, June 6, at her home in Middleburg, VA. She was 78. Pat had an unwavering commitment to communities devoted to democracy, human rights, public service, and social justice. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend and

An elegantly attired crowd gathered recently at the Middleburg Community Center to celebrate the 32nd annual donor appreciation with the Swan Lake Holiday Ball. It was black or white tie for the men and elegant evening wear for the ladies on a magical night that included a cocktail hour, delicious dinner and of course, dancing and more dancing, even a bit of ballet. Past and present board members and those that produced the magical evening at the Middleburg Community Cent

Lisa Rackle Ben-Dov, whose life spanned a distinguished professional career in New York with a deeply rooted philanthropic presence in Virginia’s hunt country, died unexpectedly on December 7, 2025, only months after defying cancer. Born in Atlanta on March 21, 1945, to Eugene Emile Rackle and Mabel Claire Moody Rackle, Lisa grew up in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans. She graduated from St. Martin’s Protestant Episcopal School in 1962 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Bus

The evening will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a private champagne reception and tour of Woodside Farm for benefactors and platinum sponsors...

June 13, 1930 – August 14, 2025 The Thoroughbred industry mourns the loss of renowned international bloodstock agent Michael G. Motion...

Middleburg Architect of Neumann Lewis Buchanan Architects APRIL 28, 1956 - APRIL 14, 2025 Mark Steven Buchanan, 68, passed away...

Country ZEST & Style officially has a podcast. Hosted and produced by our very own Ronen Feldman, we'll be bringing stories from our...

The stately gated entrance at Bolinvar on the prestigious Mountville Road outside of Middleburg opens to the gently winding drive that...

A Lifelong Interest in Art Keeps Zimmerman at Her Easel

Event planner Montana Lanier Ruffner recently orchestrated a memorable evening for the Piedmont Environmental Council’s Farm-to-Table...

The Warrenton Horse Show celebrated its 125th edition in high style over Labor Day weekend. A magical party was set up in the iconic...

Horses With Middleburg Owners Will Compete at Paris Olympics By Emma Boyce

In other local news, According to the Radnor Hunt: “Nominees for the award represent the sport of steeplechase with professionalism,...

DocWeek Middleburg concluded on a high note after five fabulous films with MUSICA! The film brought Cuba to town. The musicians of that...

The Fox & Pheasant in Boyce hosted a laun ch party recently to celebrate Alicia Cahalane Lewis’ release of her third book, “The Faeries...

In our upcoming June edition of Country ZEST, read all about local football star Blake Corum and enjoy the exclusive photos from his...