Welcome to Just Outside DC — the only local newsletter with more hot tips than a nail salon.

THE BIG IDEA

This is the absolute longest “turkey trot” you’ve ever heard of.

​​Turkey? India? Wait, what?

As Virginians gathered around the table to gobble down their Thanksgiving turkeys, the state's first shipment of frozen fowl is waddles its way to India. And we have our U.S. senators to thank for this unexpected culinary adventure.

Earlier this month, Sen. Mark Warner announced that India would be receiving a flock of frozen birds, thanks to some tariff-trimming magic.

"Obviously, you've got a big turkey industry in the Shenandoah Valley," Warner said. "We've been fighting for some time to get the markets of India and Turkey (the country, not the bird) open."

Virginia, it seems, is a true turkey titan. According to the USDA, the state ranked a respectable sixth in the nation for turkey production in 2023, with a whopping 15.5 million birds.

But how did this cross-continental turkey trot happen, you ask?

It all started when Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative, worked her diplomatic magic and persuaded India to reduce tariffs on frozen turkey, duck, blueberries, and cranberries. (Talk about a Thanksgiving feast!)

Warner and Sen. Tim Kaine even sent a letter to Tai before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's U.S. visit, urging her to make it happen. And voilà! The tariff on turkey products dropped from a hefty 30% to a more palatable 5%.

But why the sudden demand for turkey in India?

Apparently, India's population is so big at this point, that they have a shortage of viable domestic alternatives for protein (meaning they need to start importing them).

The first shipment of frozen turkey products, raised by the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, has already left the U.S. from the Port of Virginia. They're expected to arrive in India in the coming weeks, ready to strut their stuff on Indian plates.

Bulletin Board 📌 

Reader Restaurant Recommendation: One of our readers, Chad, recommends you guys check out Lightfoot. This elegant location used to be a bank, but now serves up inventive American cuisine in Leesburg.

QUICK HITS

• Arlington was ranked the 17th most desirable “city” for renters (a 128 spot jump from last month) 🏙️ 

• Great American Restaurants is opening a new BBQ concept in Springfield next week 🍖 

• Apparently, 1 in 4 DC home sales in 2024 were paid for entirely in cash 😳 

LIVE EVENT LOWDOWN

• Celebration of Lights | kick off the holidays at Great Falls Village field on Sunday evening 🥳 

• The Nutcracker | Virginia National Ballet performs tonight and tomorrow at Hylton Performing Arts Center 🩰 

• Santa Firetruck Parade | a tree lighting and holiday parade tonight at Mosaic 🚒 

• Holiday Craft Show | eighty seasonal artisans, food, Christmas music, and family activities tomorrow in Manassas 🎅 

• $5 Comedy | a great lineup of local comedians at The State Theatre in Falls Church tomorrow night 🎙️ 

• Holiday Carriage Rides | a magical horse-drawn ride through Downtown Manassas available on the first three Sundays of December 🐴 

• Casino Night | a holiday evening of gaming fun at Bluemont Vineyard tomorrow night 🎰 

• Elf in Concert | watch Elf on a giant screen while the National Symphony Orchestra plays the score live (this weekend at the Kennedy Center) 🎞️ 

• Christmas Tree Market | the debut Christmas market kicks off this weekend at Camp Wharf in DC 🎄 

• Winter Glow | stroll Mount Vernon’s festively lit estate, and meet Aladdin the camel 🐫 

• Holiday Bricktacular | a winter wonderland at the DC Lego Discovery Center (it’s actually in Springfield) 🧱 

Thanks so much for reading today’s issue of Just Outside D.C.

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