The best local bars for each drinking decade

By Pen + Knife bloggers eatdrink@c-ville.com For generations, authorities have buried the lede when warning us about alcohol killing brain cells. Omitted from the tired mantra is the truth that some of our deepest seeds of wisdom are sewn at watering holes and colored by booze. Bars are like classrooms, just more practical, and the […]

Cheers for charity: Drink up during Negroni Week

Ordering a classic aperitivo Italian cocktail will give you a new buzz starting June 5: a chance to donate to charity. Negroni Week, a fundraising event from June 5-11 revolving around the bright, bitter citrus drink, has Charlottesville bars signing up to give a portion of their sales of the drink to a partner charity […]

Cookie-focused company settles into new home

Calling all cookie monsters: Found. Market Co. at 221 Carlton Rd. (the former Kathy’s Produce spot) is here for all of your cookie needs. In addition to functioning as a gathering space and remade furniture workshop, Found. is a bakehouse specializing in cookies—pick up some salted rosemary shortbread, a batch of classic cookies or frozen […]

Seasonal drinks to keep you jolly

Watering holes all over town are getting into the Christmas spirits—er, spirit—this week, decking the halls and pouring festive drinks galore. The Whiskey Jar’s Christmas pop-up bar will feature an all-Christmas cocktail list created by bar director Leah Peeks and assistant bar manager Reid Dougherty. “We’re going to tacky the place up, play Christmas music, […]

Local artisan launches bitters company out of necessity

Bitters are back, baby, and one local is looking to get in on the action. Wait, bitters? “The traditional recipes for a cocktail up to the late 1800s were all the same—bitters were a part of almost all cocktails,” says Kip McCharen, founder and owner of McCharen’s Bitters. “It’s a seasoning. It serves the same […]