In honor of another school year ended, we, who call ourselves permanent residents and bona fide Charlottesvillians, undertook the task of revisiting the neighborhood we usually dare not mention, neither as drinking spot, nor acceptable hangout. We are referring, of course, to the Corner.
Sophomoric as it may be, the block has its draws in the form of lower-priced beverages and superb walkability. Besides, we assured ourselves, our irritation is moot, given the departure of the hordes of Cavaliers, with their reckless use of bright-colored apparel. So, we set out for the Biltmore Grill, in hopes the student haven would show us new character.
Yet instinctively, the pulse quickened and the breath was short when we pulled onto 14th Street, as the mind braced for the swath of polo-clad dawdlers and poorly maneuvered, ill-deserved SUVS that normally crowd the roadways.
 Ah, is that silence we savor? The Corner gains new appeal when the Cavs pack up and leave for the summer. |
But the senses relaxed when we realized that summer had begun. Parking, while not abundant, was not the nightmarish struggle of cooler days. The streets were downright quiet. And Elliewood Avenue took on the feel of one’s own private biergarten.
Sure, the bartender was yawning, and our waiter at Biltmore had the desperate look of a mutineer stranded for the summer. But the brews were cold and the “Bilt’s” trademark thumbs and toes (boneless chicken wings) were satisfyingly saucy, despite their small audience.
Even with the refreshing accommodation, we quickly realized Bilt is more a “place we like” than a “place we love.” The restaurant’s divey affect and worn dustiness were unconcealed by the absent crowd, and without Wahoos, Bilt’s orange and blue walls kind of, well…mourn.
“In a perfect world,” we thought as we clinked our glasses, “the reduced demand would mean they’re giving drinks away for, like, 30 cents.” But we Charlottesvillians satisfied ourselves merely with the salve of silence.
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