In the months leading to the opening of VOLT we spent countless hours talking over the details. Every detail that you notice, no matter how small, rest assured, we spent hours talking about. There is a reason for everything and there is a story behind it all.

A while back, Aaron posted about the wine tasting party that helped us determine our initial wines by the glass list. Along the same lines, we also had a water tasting party to determine which bottled water to use. Not nearly as fun as the wine party but important nevertheless.

We grappled for days about European or American, bottle or glass, taste, carbonation. We researched recycling options for businesses downtown (none that we could find) and we looked into glass crushers to cut down on the waste.

In the end we decided to not add to the growing landfill problem (it still pains me to see wine and liquor bottles in the trash and we are looking into starting a co-op with other businesses to pay for an outside recycler to come and take the glass).

We decided to just use Frederick’s finest (plain tap) and we looked into carbonating our own water with CO2 canisters.

Just in time we learned about Natura Water system. Natura is a water purification system that provides chilled sparkling or still water. The system is the size of a microwave with taps for the water. The signature glass bottles are dishwasher safe, reusable and most importantly do not add to the landfill. The water is also absolutely delicious. My favorite treat mid-day is a tall glass of chilled still water–no ice. Since the ice is not treated through the filtration system it ruins the pure, sweet flavor of the Natura water.

Oh the ice…another long story but when ordering iced tea take note of your ice. It is actually frozen ice tea cubes. We didn’t want the ice to dilute the tea. And the tea. Serendipity. I can just go on and on.

You can read more about Natura on their website. Natura

Its that wonderful time of year again– first Saturday in October and our first ITS. Kitchen is geared up with an array of street food and we are in the middle of setting up the beer and wine garden in the courtyard. Make sure to stop over the VOLT tent for a bite and come in off the street to enjoy a glass of something frothy in the courtyard. We will have tables and chairs, music and our cigar menu to enjoy as well.

Celebrate Frederick

Checking on the food

Posing before the beer rush

The beer rush