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Sunday, November The Washington Post M10 21, 2004 x ROADTRIP Tipsheet WHAT’S ON SALE WHEN Jeffersonian Thanksgiving Festival Everyone knows that the day after Thanksgiving offers some of the biggest bargains of the year, as stores slash prices in an effort to draw early holiday shoppers. But the obnoxious crowds and never-ending lines can be daunting for even the most dedicated bargain-hunter. Want the savings without the stress? Hold out instead for seasonal sales, when items are marked down for a number of reasons: Bathing suits are moved out to make room for fall sweaters, air conditioners are discounted to lure customers in balmy springtime, or cell phones go for a song simply because salespeople are desperate to meet their quotas. It’ll take a little planning, but the money you save will make it well worth your while. Here’s a month-by- month guide to help you on your way. — Sara Cardace NOV DEC JAN

Blankets and quilts; Cell phones (thanks Calendars for off-season real to holiday the new year, estate promos), end- holiday of-season decorations, women’s linens, shoes and televisions clothing, WHERE: Charlottesville, Va. baby furniture WHY: Quilts, aboriginal art and a jaunt back in time.

HOW FAR: About 115 miles, or 2 hours from the District. FEB MAR APR Furs, Air conditioners, Carpets and If you’ve ever wanted to rub elbows with the likes of bedroom frozen foods rugs, garden Thomas Jefferson or James Madison, now’s your chance: furniture, (March is tools, get-ready- This week, downtown Charlottesville turns back the clock sofas, Frozen Foods for-summer to the days of the American Revolution at the 11th annual winter Month!), house- Jeffersonian Thanksgiving Festival. From now through Sat- coats skis painting urday, you’ll find a plethora of authentic period activities. At supplies various encampments, kids can participate in military drills with American, British and Hessian soldiers. Adults can ask Patrick Henry what “liberty” really means as he and the rest of the founding fathers duke it out in constitutional debates. And on Thanksgiving night, you can munch on turkey or sit MAY JUN JUL down to a big-screen viewing of Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot.” Bedding, Bridal gowns; Electronics, major The trip there features plenty of history to get you in the housewares, Father’s Day- appliances like mood. At the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, you’ll spring appropriate refrigerators find displays of weaponry used against the British during clothing tools, and washer- the revolution, as well as a lesson on how the Second (during menswear dryers Amendment came into being. Next, travel to Gainesville Memorial and and fast-forward to the 1950s: The no-frills A&B Antiques Day sales) sporting of Buckland has just about everything, including mirrors, goods teapots, rocking chairs, vanities—even the proverbial kitch- en sink (stylishly vintage, naturally). Don’t sleep along the next stretch of Route 29—the fo- liage peppering the mountains may represent your last AUG SEP OCT chance to see autumn leaves. Before settling into the Jef- fersonian era, stop at a couple of favorite Charlottesville Summer leftovers Air conditioners, Post-Halloween such as garden golf equipment, decorations, haunts. Hot Cakes, a gourmet shop in the Barrack’s Row furniture, school supplies school-supply area, offers delectable sandwiches, salads and muffins for outdoor grills, (about a overstock, eating in or taking out. And at Shenanigans, filled floor to sunglasses week before bicycles ceiling with brightly colored toys, you’ll find board games, and school building blocks, dollhouses and more—a must for anyone swimwear; starts) playing the role of Santa’s little helper. — Kate Ghiloni warm-weather clothes Road Trip maps are available online at www.washingtonpost.com/ roadtrip, as are addresses and hours of operation. Have an idea BY JEROME COOKSON FOR THE WASHINGTON POST for a trip? E-mail [email protected]. LEFT TO RIGHT, STARTING WITH TOP ROW: PHOTODISC; ASSOCIATED PRESS; PHOTODISC; ROSSIGNOL; THE WASHINGTON POST; PHOTODISC; ASSOCIATED PRESS; COURTESY OF KAY HOME PRODUCTS; THE WASHINGTON POST

The Expert CHIP CHAMP Brock Parker, 23, professional poker player

CUTTING IN: Poker got big in my circle of all. My mom still doesn’t like it much. But once gas. I’m thinking about going to St. Maarten in a friends in 1998, when I was 18 and the card they saw me making money, they respected it a couple of days. People are like, “Oh, you get to shark movie “Rounders,” with Matt Damon and little more. Honestly, though, I don’t have big go here and there!” But I’ve gotten jaded. It’s Edward Norton, came out. A year later, I real- plans for the future. I just want to play. stranger now for me to be home in Silver Spring ized there was real money to be made—a friend THE BIG GAME: A couple of years ago, I decid- than to go on the road for a couple of months. I’ll of mine was playing online and making lots. ed to give live tournaments a try. The World Se- probably move out west soon—that’s where all When I started, I’d go online and consistently ries of Poker was perfect. It’s a month or so of the big tournaments and casino card rooms are. cash out $5,000 every 10 days or so—it’d be a se- tournaments—all different kinds, most for CHIP TIPS: Poker’s not as easy as it seems on ries of smaller wins, not just one big win. (The $2,000 to $5,000—leading to the main event. I TV. You have to play enough to gauge situa- way it works is that you buy in—it used to be ended up coming in third in “Limit Hold’em tions—what’ll be most profitable, basically. You with your credit card—and have money sitting Shootout” this May. I won $30,000. The tourna- have to manage your time and money well. To in your account. Once you win a certain amount, ment’s main event got like 2,500 people, so first play a high-limit game in a poker room, for ex- you can cash out.) Then it took me less and less prize was $5 million and second prize was $3.5 ample, you have to be really good and have a lot time to make the $5,000. million. But I tanked there. I was building up of cash. But sometimes people just play regard- BETTING HIS LIFE: I was going to the Universi- chips all day, then in one hand I lost them all. less. That’s usually a mistake. Once I knew there ty of Maryland, but I stopped after a year be- CARD TREK: There are so many poker tourna- was money in this, I went and read all the big BY NATE LANKFORD FOR THE WASHINGTON POST cause I wasn’t doing well. I was playing too ments now that if I feel like going, I’ll just up and books. But it doesn’t really substitute for playing Silver Spring high roller Brock Parker plays a lighthearted round. much poker. At first, my parents didn’t like it at go. This year I went to Bermuda, Aruba and Ve- long hours. — As told to Tony Sclafani

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