Woman in wine

Horton Vineyards has long been recognized as one of our area’s most innovative wineries, starting in 1991 when the late Dennis Horton planted viognier grapes against the advice of many in the industry. It was one of the Madison County winery’s great successes, owing to Dennis’ wife, Sharon, who meticulously nurtured each vine and this […]

Cup of kindness

Katie Kishore’s vision—to create a welcoming and inclusive space where adults with cognitive disabilities could flourish—came to life at the height of COVID, when she opened Kindness Café in the lobby of the Brooks Family YMCA. Serving Grit coffee and treats from found., the coffee shop employs eight workers with disabilities and big hearts.

Even sweeter

Jennifer Mowad knows from chocolate. The Cocoa & Spice owner handcrafts each of her treats—truffles, toffees, barks, and brownies among them—using chocolate made in-house straight from the cacao bean. In 2019, Mowad took her operation from a small spot on Stewart Street to a shop in York Place. The new space is a far cry […]

Look at that

Given Charlottesville and Albemarle’s proximity to the mountains, a list of must-haves for a wedding venue often includes a view. Say hello to Eastwood Farm & Winery. Inside Charlottesville city limits, Eastwood includes three photo-worthy spots to say “I do”: The Mountaintop, situated at the top of a forest of ancient trees; The Terrace, framed […]

They’ve got the goods

Anyone in the event industry knows: Even the best-laid plans sometimes go awry. It’s a little bit like that in the retail space, too. But Dani Antol and Heather McNulty-Haynie have enough experience at this point—having owned Downtown Mall paper goods store Rock Paper Scissors for 12 years—to make lemonade from lemons. The two have […]

A perfect ending

T he return to playing his trumpet in front of a live audience was emotional for John D’earth—and for the crowd that had gathered once again for Thursday Night at Miller’s earlier this year to see him perform.  “The minute we played the first notes, they were yelling and cheering,” D’earth says. “And we were […]

Getting to know: Tori Cherry

T ori Cherry’s work with New City Arts started long before she was hired as its Welcome Gallery Manager. The 2021-2022 Aunspaugh Fellow at UVA worked at a co-instructor for Summer Studio @ The Fralin, which culminated in a week-long show at New City. In November of 2021, she exhibited her own work, a collection […]

Gathering a nest

Every day on fast-paced Route 250 between the towns of Ivy and Crozet, countless drivers may pass The Barn Swallow without even noticing. Only a small sign points it out. Shielded by a line of thick bamboo and tucked into a barn by a trickling creek, the boutique artisan gallery is an oasis from hurry […]

Maker spaces

So you wanna be able to say, “I made that!”? These four spots are helping you craft something brag-worthy, from floral arrangements to beaded earrings.  Be Just407 Monticello Rd.bejustcville.com What do pizza, pillows, and flowers have in common? They’re all workshops held by this Belmont home goods shop. The thoughtfully curated class list focuses on […]

Xs and Os

Cody Lester has been a woodworker since 2012, but one day on his way into work (he keeps a day job as quality improvement analyst for the UVA Transplant Center), inspiration struck: He’d been trying to dream up a new product for his business, The Fine Grainery, that would allow him to combine mediums and […]