On this Friends of Old Town edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael and Brady Cloven are joined at Hideaway Café by Stephanie Novak — owner of Ritual Spa at the George Washington Hotel and Coven Salon on Millwood Avenue — for a wide-ranging chat about pampering, pirates, and a packed June in Old Town Winchester.

Steph shares what's behind Ritual Spa's nearly-two-year run inside the historic GW (lymphatic drainage, customized facials, hot tub access, and 24/7 online gift certificates) and how its sister salon Coven brings the "wilder and edgy" side. Then Brady runs through everything coming up downtown — the newly (almost) completed childhood literacy mural by the splash pad, First Friday's return, Hop Blossom, KidzFest, Juneteenth, and the laser-light VA 250 Downtown Jubilee. Plus an honest update on why the splash pad is sidelined for the summer and what Friends of Old Town is doing about it.

WHO'S ON THIS EPISODE

• Brady Cloven — Executive Director, Friends of Old Town Winchester
• Steph Novak — Owner, Ritual Spa (at the George Washington Hotel) and Coven Salon (on Millwood Avenue)

IN THIS EPISODE

Hideaway Café check-in + the new castle exhibit at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum

Meet Steph — how Ritual Spa came to live inside the historic GW Hotel

What's on offer — massage, facials, and access to the hotel pool and hot tub

Why a great facial can be just as relaxing as a massage

Specialty massage — lymphatic drainage, zero balancing, and post-surgical healing

For people who don't love being touched — how a good service provider makes it work

24/7 online gift certificates (and why you can't buy one at the front desk)

Coven Salon — hair, lashes, permanent cosmetics, massage, facials, and a whole lot of social media chaos

Hours and websites for both locations

The new childhood literacy mural by the splash pad — a year in the making

New public art guidelines for Old Town — the lasting win behind the mural

Meet artist Annalise Buono, plus local collaborators Jill Savry and Alyssa Ruby

The next mural at Taylor Pavilion — "past, present, performance" — open call

Why the splash pad is closed this summer (and what's being planned in its place)

First Friday returns June 5th — band, Artist Alley, vendor fair, Sip and Stroll

Hop Blossom on June 6th + the Newberry building after-party

KidzFest June 13th — dunk tank, free ice cream, free kids meals, and 30 vendors

Juneteenth weekend with Hood Love

VA 250 Downtown Jubilee — an all-day July 4th event with three laser-light shows

Main Street Masterpieces — local artists in vacant storefronts

Memorial Day weekend drone show at Jim Barnett Park (250 drones)

New downtown openings — Revival Vintage, Winchester Tavern, Please Boutique, Mood and Moss

OLD TOWN WINCHESTER — JUNE AT A GLANCE

First Friday — Friday, June 5 • 5 PM onward • Raised on Analog 6:30–8 PM • Artist Alley curated by Tin Top Art • Moon Phase vendor fair

Sip and Stroll Hop Blossom (13th annual) — Saturday, June 6 • Newberry building hosts the after-party with live music and merch

Kids Fest — Saturday, June 13 • 30 vendors • dunk tank • face painting • street performers • free ice cream from Uncle Beehive's (first 200 kids) • free kids meals from Snow White Grill (first 200)

Juneteenth weekend — Saturday, June 20 • event hosted by Hood Love (details on social)

Memorial Day weekend — Jim Barnett Park drone show (250 drones) — follow Winchester City Parks on Facebook for weather updates

VA 250 Downtown Jubilee — July 4 • all-day event • three 20-minute laser-light shows

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Ritual Spa: theritualspawinchester.com
• Coven Salon: thecovensalon.com
• Friends of Old Town: friendsofoldtown.org
• Friends of Old Town on Facebook: "Friends of Old Town"
• Friends of Old Town on Instagram: @friendsofoldtownwinc
• Taylor Pavilion mural — open call for submissions (details on friendsofoldtown.org)
• Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum — castle exhibit running all summer
• Winchester City Parks on Facebook — drone show updates

THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations.

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