Five Finds on Friday: Brian Helleberg

On Fridays, we feature five finds selected by local chefs and personalities. Today’s picks come from Brian Helleberg, the chef who owns Fleurie and Petit Pois. Next week Fleurie is participating in Charlottesville Restaurant Week, which is an excellent chance to try a three-course menu of Fleurie’s modern French cuisine for just $36.  Menu here. Helleberg’s picks: 1) Marrow from Ham Hocks […]

State of the vineyard: Local winemakers look forward to what 2014 will bring

Every year around this time, our nation’s president makes a State of the Union address reflecting on the challenges and accomplishments of the previous year, while also looking ahead at the agenda for the upcoming year. While the president’s address typically includes legislative proposals and government-related issues, this State of the Union address is written […]

Burger bash: The Korner quietly serves up a crosstown rivalry

Almost nothing upsets me more than a poorly constructed sandwich. I’m not kidding. This may show my crazy a bit more than is appropriate for general audiences, but I have literally coldcocked a sandwich for falling apart in my hands. Yep. Dropped it on the plate, and decked it. If you’re anything like me (God […]

Perfect pairings: Finding the right combination of food, drinks, and personalities during Restaurant Week

  The Francophiles Tempo and Fleurie This is the classic battle. The lines are drawn so clearly, it’s almost cartoonish. Fleurie is everything Americans think of when they envision a traditional French restaurant: white tablecloths, classical techniques, measured head chef. Tempo is the France Americans don’t know: quirky décor, fusion techniques, flashy head chef. Chef […]

Overheard on the restaurant scene: This week’s food and drink news

Been wondering what’s going on with all that construction in the Barracks Road Shopping Center? As of Thursday, January 17, Zoës Kitchen, located at 973 Emmet St. N, Suite D, is officially open for business. Offering a Mediterranean-inspired menu created by founder Zoë Cassimus, Zoës has locations in more than a dozen states nationwide, and […]

Start to finish: Checking in with Architect Bruce Wardell

We asked brwarchitects principal Bruce Wardell to give us insight into the state of architecture in the area, what inspires him, and why he chooses to practice in Virginia. Here’s what he had to say. Why architecture? When we describe the best cities in the world, they are filled with places that have been intentionally […]

Through the years: With the family grown, a home evolves

As children grow up, change is a constant. So it’s appropriate that their surroundings would continually evolve along with them. In the case of Kirk and Cathy Train, the process of raising two children has been intertwined with the process of building, rethinking and rebuilding their house. “Buildings and houses are living fabric,” said Kirk, […]

Big screen: Two walls make a porch for three seasons

Upgrading a stoop to a screened porch is roughly like trading a cot for a California king: It really does make your life better. The owners of one 1940s-era house in Charlottesville knew they’d reap many benefits from investing in the outdoor space behind their home. Justin Heiser of the design-build firm STOA said it […]

Cabin in the wood: Rustic and modern mingle in this mountain home

In Dick and Sandi Averitt’s kitchen, beauty lives in the details. And the details in this mountain home are all wood: beams across the ceiling, paneling on the walls, and rich red oak floors running throughout the space. The Averitts’ cabin, their second home, underwent a complete renovation over the last 14 months that focused […]

Getting the look: A postwar kitchen joins the new century

When Jon and Lauren Thompson bought their Rugby neighborhood house three years ago, it was more than 60 years old and “in need of significant updates” throughout, said Jon. “The kitchen was the low-hanging fruit.” Besides aqua-hued formica countertops and a “gross” linoleum floor, the old kitchen suffered from layout problems. An exterior door to […]