A greener view Some older PVC or vinyl blinds contain lead, so replace if installed before 1997. The windows in your home likely offer a beautiful view of the great outdoors, but did you know that they may be costing you as much as a fourth of your total heating/cooling expenses? So after you’ve caulked […]
When describing a person, hearty means vigorous, joyful, and full of heart, perhaps calling to mind a cheerful farmer plowing into a huge breakfast after having completed the morning chores. Heartiness in vegetables is a double-edged sword, as often the heartier vegetables are stored in a haphazard fashion, or tarry forever in the supermarket aisle […]
Let’s face it. ’Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions, and most of us are better at breaking them than making them. “I’m going to lose 25 pounds” or “I’m going to read more” are classics. Cut to a stack of unread books on the night stand and an elliptical machine that looks like a […]
Score me, baby Wouldn’t it be cool if your house came with a number that told you how energy-efficient it is? Charlottesville will soon be one of the first communities in the U.S. where such a thing is possible. We’ve been chosen by the federal Department of Energy to be one of 10 places to […]
Pitch-perfect platters Clockwise from top left: $355 from Caspari (100 W. Main St., 817-7880); $133 from Creme de la Creme (North Wing, Barrack Road Shopping Center, 296-7018); $150 from The Happy Cook (Barracks Road Shopping Center, 977-2665); $51.95 from Seasonal Cook (416 W. Main St., 295-9355) Just as you yourself are more appealing when not […]
Reach out for sprouts Brussels sprouts are often overcooked and underseasoned, but with the right treatment, they can be certifiably delicious. Take the case of cranberry relish, traditionally consumed just once a year at Thanksgiving but so often purchased in the can, processed and gelatinous, already defeated. But the cranberry is native to the United […]
With Jack Frost nipping at your nose and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season upon us, the need for home as a comfortable, cozy escape is at the top of our wish list. We tend to focus a lot of our time, energy, and resources on communal spaces—those that are most seen and […]
When Roulhac Toledano took over the vacant warehouse by the Downtown Mall nearly 30 years ago, she found abandoned tools, remnants of chicken coops (the site was once the Albemarle Grocery Co.), and a whole lot of pigeons. Armed with her experience as an architectural historian, artist, and former antique collector, Toledano also saw the […]
Southern hospitality Late autumn is propitious for shrubs. The extreme battles of summer heat and drought are over. Above ground all is still and undemanding; below, cool, moderate soil temperatures encourage root growth. Cut the grass high one last time, stow the mower, and turn your attention to the bushes. Azaleas have set flower […]
Small but powerful Renting a room with no good kitchen access? Want to really trick out a guest suite? Get in touch with your poetic side: Avanti’s compact kitchens are kind of like haikus—compact and contained, trim and thoughtful. The compact kitchens range from 2.4 to 3.8 cubic feet, and all units pack quite a […]