When John Neal’s son joined Charlottesville High School’s tennis team, the local father of two agreed to help out during practices, thinking he’d use his own experience and love of the game to support the Black Knights on the court. He did not foresee the winning match ahead of him. Seven seasons later, the elder […]
After more than a decade of planning, fundraising, and community conversations, the future botanical garden at McIntire Park is starting to feel less like an idea and more like an inevitability. The Botanical Garden of the Piedmont announced in late 2025 that it surpassed $10 million in fundraising for the long-awaited project—Central Virginia’s first botanical […]
At Weiler Orthodontics and Invisalign, starting orthodontic treatment now comes with an unexpected perk: a new pair of Nike shoes. The Braces for Laces program offers families a tangible kickoff to what’s often a long process, pairing clinical care with a lifestyle hook. The campaign reflects a broader push to make orthodontics feel less clinical—and […]
Lewis Nelson needed some peace in his life. He says he’d “gone through a rough time” after two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army, and three deployments to Afghanistan as a “federal civilian intelligence officer.” Then he saw—and heard—his first singing bowl. Made of metal or crystal, singing bowls are thought to originally come […]
Neal Piper watched his son Noah trying to play with his twin sister and thought there had to be a better way. Noah was diagnosed with cancer when he was 3 years old. His treatment required him to go on enteral nutrition, often called tube feeding. The feeding devices available were an IV pole or […]
“I’ve been drawing since around the age of 2,” Jae Johnson says. “Growing up, I had an infatuation with drawing cars. Actually, my aunt still has probably 80 percent of my work from when I was around that age.” Today, Johnson’s moved on to bigger things—literally. You can find his mural art gracing walls around […]
Founded by veterans, Aerial Resupply Coffee Roasters approaches coffee with both precision and purpose. The roaster supplies private-label blends and retail packaging for other coffee businesses, but its identity is equally shaped by community ties: donating coffee to deployed service members and offering discounts to military families, teachers, first responders, and public employees. The result […]
C’est Bon Bone Broth has become un succès instantané—and Allie Redshaw couldn’t be happier. The veteran local chef has been making and distributing her locally sourced bone broth for “I guess about six months,” she says, and she’s already built up a devoted customer base. “I have a subscription that I offer now,” Redshaw says. […]
Cue the giant peach jokes. In September of 2025, Chiles Orchard announced it had a record-breaker in its branches: a 1-pound 13-ounce peach. Fifth-generation farmer Henry Chiles told local news outlets the spring and summer growing conditions were just perfect to bear the juicy fruit, which was officially certified by the Guinness Book of World […]
What began as Carrington Kernodle Epperson’s home bakery has grown into Chanterelle Cafe, a vegan- and allergy-friendly cottage bakery rooted in the idea that celebration food should include everyone. Through custom orders and occasional pop-ups, the Black- and woman-owned business offers cookies, cupcakes, croissants, and other treats designed so dietary restrictions don’t mean missing out. […]