The Chester certainly has its collection of gentile good ole boys, country club and all. Heck, we even have an annual festival where everyone dresses in pink and green (men with sear suckers and bow ties, women in sundresses) and flock from cocktail party to cocktail party in the historic district. It's also got a quirky side -- indeed, the town elected an openly gay black man as mayor a few years back. Joe Bageant oversold the "redneck" qualities of the town quite a bit, I'm afraid. It's certainly got that side (and Frederick, Clarke and Warren Counties are as bubba as it gets), but it's no Shepardstown or Cumberland!

Figured you'd appreciate that reference. Actually had a long conversation with the former owners of the Royal about Bageant's book at the last Apple Blossom I attended. Their son is a friend of mine from back in the day and has the original "Royal Lunch" sign in his man cave now. They knew Bageant very well and got a kick out hearing that a whole message board full of UVA grads had read it and was name dropping their restaurant.

Re Fauquier, when was the last time you were back? It seems pretty NOVA-fied these days. Warrenton is essentially the end of the commuter line now, just past Gainesville (which has transformed from quasi country to a giant cluster of strip malls and subdevelopments). Fauquier even has a little row of yuppified wineries these days. :)