Hanging at E. Main’s Vine & Leaf – wine, chocolate and much more

Under a new name – Vine & Leaf – the wine bar and chocolate shop at 124 East Main Street is maintaining a tradition of a snug, comfortable and quiet meeting place for women’s groups, the humane society (“Yappy Hour”) and now for a commercial presentation on essential oils Feb. 19 and 20.

Last year, Craig Laird, well known owner of Royal Oak Computers, acquired the former chocolate shop across from his computer business and turned himself from a computer geek during the day into a sommelier, chef and confectioner during the evenings. It appears to have been an up-and-down ride but Craig is a prominent Main Street booster and it appears his venture is paying off as it is becoming better known as a social and business enterprise.

Katie Abel will present ‘Essential Oils’ and non-toxic living classes at the Vine & Leaf on Sunday and Monday, Feb. 19 and 20.

Returning to Front Royal to use the Vine & Leaf as a sales promotion venue later this month is Katie Abel (known when she lived in the town by her married name, Kathryn Pierron) who now lives with her son, Jacob, 12, in Orange County. Jacob attended Hilda J. Barbour elementary school where his mom briefly subbed on the teaching staff.

Katie, on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 4 p.m., will hold a class on Young Living essential oils, explaining how to “harness the power of the oils for well-being and how to kick the toxic chemicals out of your home.”

She promises “an evening of fun” and there are free refreshments as well as an “oil education.” There is a second class on Monday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m.

While in Front Royal, Katie ran Simple Organizing Solutions (we hired her to clean out our closets!) and did a bit of part-time teaching. Since moving, she has worked at Friends of the Rappahannock, a small conservation non-profit, then returned to (closet, garage, office, you name it) organizing full time. Currently she serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Community Food Connection, a non-profit that expands fresh food access and affordability for residents and creates a steady revenue stream for local farm business in her region of the commonwealth.

Welcome back, Katie!