March ABODE: Locals wait for green neighborhood dreams to come true

It was a strange form of pioneering. For a year after Frank and Linda Dukes moved into their new house in the Belvedere development in August 2009, Frank said, “there was no construction going on anywhere.” The Dukes’ house sat nearly alone in what had been envisioned as a 675-home neighborhood, stranded by the 2008 […]

March ABODE: By owner, beware?

 In a rough housing economy in which homeowners have to routinely lower their asking prices to sell their homes, it’s logical for a seller to want to save money wherever possible, making the For Sale By Owner property seem like a good idea. A For Sale by Owner (FSBO) is exactly what it sounds like: […]

March ABODE: Transplanted from Barcelona, a family puts art first

 When Spanish architect Iñaki Alday accepted his position as Chair of the Department of Architecture at UVA in 2011, it meant moving his family from a bustling life in the heart of Barcelona to a house surrounded by trees in Charlottesville. “Even though we love pedestrian spaces, we thought for the kids, maybe we should […]

Setting the bar: Bar food around town

Setting the bar Bar food’s come a long way from the petri-dish peanuts and popcorn put out to keep you thirsty. Pull up a stool at these spots in town for a unique and attractively priced menu that makes dining in the main room feel like a snooze. What’s more? You’ve got a bartender at […]

Intoxicated by St-Germain

Move over Campari, there’s a new liqueur in my life. I first had St-Germain, the elderflower liqueur years ago, but it was in some overpriced abomination of a cocktail, so I never noticed its bewitching delicacy until I had it on its own. 

C-VILLE Kids! The Mom Offensive: The many perils of parenting

Whenever my mom friends and I get together, even if it’s under the pretext of “book club,” we end up yapping about the kids—the good, the bad and the ugly. Mostly it’s the ugly, as it can be comforting to share your childrearing blunders—like that time you forgot to latch your daughter’s car seat after […]

C-VILLE Kids! On the mom front: Take a lesson

Kids may say the darndest things, but you could learn a lesson or two from your tot. When it comes to eating, exercising, and even beauty, they’ve got the right idea. Quick! Get a pen!   Make your pointe Mark our words: Ballet will be the next big thing in fitness. Its health benefits—the same […]

C-VILLE Kids! Save the date night: Getting out is good for your kids

It’s true what they say: Those who play together stay together. A recent report from The National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia reveals that couples who carve out time for each other (no kids allowed!) at least once a week are less likely to experience disappointment with their relationship. This is especially true […]