Quiz show-off

I remember how, back in the day, at Charlottesville High School in Mrs. Ruffner’s ninth grade World History class, my favorite part of every week was our current events quiz. Whereas most everyone else would groan and make generally painful expressions, nine times out of 10 I aced those quizzes; nothing felt better to my […]

Body of lies

I always knew I wanted to create a deeply satisfying relationship where I felt really understood by my partner.

Devil in the details

When master brewer Jason Oliver uncrated all the brewing equipment purchased for Devil’s Backbone, a new brewery located in Nelson County at the base of Wintergreen Ski Resort,

December 08: Design, living and trends for home and garden

  Speed racers Neither Zack Snider nor Dan Zimmerman, co-founders and licensed contractor and licensed architect and contractor, respectively, of local design firm Alloy Workshop, won the 2008 IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge this year, but we’re proud of their lightning-fast drilling skills all the same. Snider and Zimmerman were two of 20 semi-finalists […]

December 08: Your Living Space

Fit for a king (or queen, or full) Question for Anita Davis, owner of Pillow Mint: What do I need to know about buying the right sheets to fit my mattress? Answer: In terms of length and width, Davis says, the simple twin/full/queen/king system for sizing sheets is fairly standardized: just find the right sheets […]

December 08: Your Kitchen

Lie down with lamb While the term “lamb” usually connotes spring, in this hemisphere we’re much more likely to have fresh, local lamb in the late fall and winter.  Technically speaking, baby lamb would The Shebeen serves Sosatie with green lentils and yellow rice; choose pastured lamb for a stronger characteristic flavor. be born in […]

December 08: Your Garden

Deck the halls This time of year, nothing marries indoors with outdoors more than the particularly human practice of bringing greenery in to spruce up the house. It reminds us that not everything is dead just because the trees are bare. The Yuletide tree has center stage, of course, but wreaths, garlands, swags and kissing […]

December 08: A cook in the house

Ashley Hightower is nothing if not driven. She’s got her own catering business, Dinner at Home; she and her boyfriend, Carter East, just started a second business as in-home personal trainers, Fitness at Home; and they’re both dedicated athletes who log miles running and biking. In their spotless house off Avon Street, where Hightower’s lived […]

December 08: A local holiday

Are you hoping for a kindler, gentler holiday season this year? Something that feels good AND looks good, no matter the temperature, and goes great with last year’s haircut? Trade the flashing lights for glimmering candles, and the plastic packaging for home-spun, hand-made gifts. While commercial messages may insist that season’s greetings are only available […]