Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall on the National Stage

In a recent article in The Washington Post, C-ville’s Downtown Mall is described as “giving a pleasureable new meaning to the term ‘mall-walking.’ ” Lined with boutiques, the pedestrian zone is mostly chain-free, as most locals happily appreciate. The Post gives a shout-out to such lovely shops as Alakazam! (a toy store), the Cat House [...]

Made by Monks: Order Your Fruit Cake from Holy Cross Abbey

‘Tis the season. Taste an other-worldly fruit cake made by the monks at Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville. As featured in the Autumn 2008 issue of The Piedmont Virginian, the Monastery Fruitcake is quite the bestseller, causing a stir in magazines across the U.S. To place an order, call 540-955-4383 or order online.

What’s On: Christmas in Little Washington

Don’t miss the festivities this Sunday, December 7th. Kick off the holiday season with a jolly day exploring the artisans’ market, sipping local wines, and ogling the annual parade in Little Washington. Rumor has it that Santa will be on hand to hear the children’s Christmas wish lists. Kids can even have pictures taken with [...]

Learn to Feed Your Family and Friends Italian Style: Domenica Marchetti Cooks in Cville

Now there’s another reason to dawdle in The Seasonal Cook, the wonderfully-stocked kitchen shop located in the Main Street Market in Charlottesville. Besides ogling all the AllClad and Le Creuset cookware, you can learn some culinary tricks with Domenica Marchetti, cooking teacher and author of Big Night In: More than 100 Wonderful Recipes for feeding [...]

Countdown Over–Beaujolais Nouveau Has Arrived

Looking for the perfect excuse to drink in the harvest? That’d be at midnight tonight, November 20, marking the exact time that this year’s supply of Beaujolais Nouveau can be sampled. It is always the Thursday before Thanksgiving, and this tradition is often accompanied by special events. The Iron Bridge Wine Company is ready to celebrate [...]

Manassas Gallery Walk

So it is Friday night and with the weather report looking absoulutely fabulous, there is no reason not to get out and enjoy the art and fresh air– oh and why not throw in a good bottle of wine and dinner? Historic Manassas has a bustling arts community, and they are not afraid to let [...]

Going Home by Jim Meads: Book Signing at Horse Country Saddlery, Warrenton

Warrenton’s Horse Country Saddlery is hosting a book signing tonight at 7:00 pm. Jim Meads’ book Going Home is an amazing collection of photographs from his journeys with hunts in the US, Canada as well as the UK and Ireland. This is the 5th and final in the collection by Jim and would be a cherished gift for the [...]

Cheese and Charcuterie at Feast! Charlottesville

You can pick up some expertly selected cheeses (ripe and stinky) at one of the best cheese counters in the country at Feast! in Charlottesville. Named by Saveur Magazine as one of the Favorite 20 in the country, Feast! is a true connoisseur’s favorite, right in our neck of the woods. This gourmet food boutique [...]

The Habitat Store Presents “Green Matters” Series in Charlottesville

The Habitat Store in Charlottesville is hosting “Green Matters,” a series of workshops about making your home more environmentally friendly. On Wednesday, October 8, “Passive/Active Solar and Other Alternative Energy Sources”– the first in a 2-part series– will touch on all aspects of solar energy projects for your home. Learn the basics of value engineering, new technology and [...]

The Frenchman’s Corner: A Slice of France in Culpeper

The cat’s out of the bag about the town of Culpeper as a destination for foodies and history buffs, brimming with charm (and gourmet delights). No boutique embodies the town’s joie de vivre more fully than The Frenchman’s Corner. We stopped by on Friday (with a Frenchman in tow) and chatted with Marc Ast, the [...]