By Ken Wilson – A person could spend all day poring over online menus, but a friend’s testimony that “I’m never eating anywhere else” is worth any number of five star reviews on Yelp. When the elated friend (“I could taste the butter!”) has just eaten a “Feuillete chicken”—tarragon chicken baked in puff pastry—at Patisserie […]

By Celeste M. Smucker – If you are dreaming about fabulous renovations for your home, you may also wonder how much they will add to its value when it’s time to sell. While economic factors are not the only reason to renovate, they are a good place to start.  Once you know how much of […]

By Ken Wilson – Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C major, D. 956 is one of the greatest works of the art form called chamber music, sorrowful but sublime, “a stirring paean to the indomitability of the human spirit” composed shortly before the Austrian master’s death in 1828. John Adams’ whimsically titled Road Movies for […]

By Marilyn Pribus – Hard to believe, but some trees are actually starting to lose their leaves for winter. You should be thinking about getting ready, too.  Here are some pointers to prep your property for cold weather. Don’t wait for winter storm warnings. Outdoors Inspect the outside of your property, looking for cracks in […]

By Celeste M. Smucker– Commercial real estate  is still a hot commodity in both Charlottesville and the Shenandoah Valley.  Agents report the phone is ringing and they are cautiously optimistic that the upward trend will continue.  A recent article in Forbes magazine expressed similar confidence in the national market stating: “the industry is expected to […]

By Ken Wilson– Taste of the Mountains Main Street Festival is what’s it’s called, but there are so many different tastes to try as you stroll down Main in the beautiful and historic town of Madison. You could start with the barbeque from Pig ‘N Steak, real pit-cooked, hickory smoked pork and ham the locals […]

By Celeste M. Smucker – Welcome to the annual article featuring our amazing, public schools. If you plan to relocate to Charlottesville or the Shenandoah Valley, or will be moving to the perfect house in a different, nearby location, you can learn all about the public schools right here. Read about educational opportunities available in […]

By Celeste M. Smucker – Parents wanting a private school education for their children have much to choose from in the Charlottesville area. If finding the right private school is a priority for your family, take time to review these overviews from a variety of local institutions describing the remarkable opportunities offered by each.  Blue […]

By Ken Wilson – It’s a lotta music for a little city, but then the Staunton Music Festival is no local secret or merely local affair. With a hashtag #RethinkClassical and everything from a period-instrument performance of Handel’s rarely-heard operatic masterpiece Hercules to a concert performance of Kurt Weill’s “sung ballet” The Seven Deadly Sins, […]