Fan favorites: Charlottesville’s signature dishes and drinks

By Nathan Alderman, Shea Gibbs, Jackson Landers and Caite White Much in the way that giving directions to a newcomer will never not be thrilling (or is that just us?), recommending an essential dining experience is also a rite of passage: It ups your townie cred and, if you’ve steered the novice correctly, shows off […]

Local restaurants were on the rise in 2017

We’ll admit it: Last year’s end-of-year restaurant wrap-up was tough to write as we bid farewell to our beloved Spudnuts and to Brookville’s baked egg breakfasts. Little did we know that 2017 would be a boon for eatery openings. This might finally have been the year that convinced us that our eyes are, in fact, […]

Restaurants open on Christmas Day

By Sam Padgett Contrary to popular belief, for the holidays, you can beat home sweet home. While the world seems to shut down on Christmas Day for family bagel breakfasts and traditional roast beef dinners, there are still a few places to eat for those who either don’t celebrate Christmas or want a temporary respite […]

At the Table: Revamped restaurant shows off Virginia’s riches

Is there such a thing as “Virginia cuisine”? It’s an old question, and one I found myself revisiting after learning that Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar has a new motto: “modern Virginia cuisine.” What is Virginia cuisine—modern or otherwise? And, is Commonwealth’s any good? To help answer these questions, I called Dr. Leni Sorensen, who may […]

Restoration effort: The rebirth of the American chestnut

Nestled in Nelson County’s Lovingston hill country lie the orchards of one of the East Coast’s newest nut-growing operations, Virginia Chestnuts. Spanning 45 acres, the farmstead rests at the end of an isolated stretch of unpaved backroads that culminate in a steeply winding mile-long gravel driveway. Overlooking a series of knolls carved into the mountainside […]

Family ties: Fifeville diner feels like home

On a recent Tuesday morning, a frigid wind whipped through Charlottesville, but all was warm and cozy inside the Cherry Avenue Diner at 820 Cherry Ave. in Fifeville. Sparkly snowman decorations hung from the wall sconces lighting each wooden booth, and two waitresses bustled about behind the counter, one wearing a green elf apron and […]

LIVING Picks: Week of December 20-26

FAMILY Gingerbread house making Thursday, December 21 Show your creative spirit by decorating graham cracker gingerbread houses. $15 (includes museum admission for one child and one adult), 4pm. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. 977-1025. NONPROFIT Gift Forest Through December 24 Holiday pop-up market features designers, makers and artists from across the […]

LIVING Picks: Week of December 13-19

FAMILY Mrs. Claus Invites Wednesday, December 13 Mrs. Claus and her friends invite kids of all ages to enjoy singing, storytelling, craftmaking and more. Advance tickets required. $10, 4-6pm. Omni Hotel Charlottesville, 212 Ridge McIntire Rd. virginiagingerbreadchristmas.com NONPROFIT Bengali cooking class fundraiser Saturday, December 16 Mahabuba Akhter demonstrates how to prepare authentic Bengali dishes from […]

Converted van is city’s newest coffee spot

Strung with holiday lights and equipped with an espresso machine and other warm drink-making accoutrements, a 1974 cherry red Citroën H Van parked inside Main Street Market will start serving early-morning beverages and snacks this week. Coffee expert and Feast! employee Sara Goldsmith will be running the show, selling locally roasted coffees and coffee drinks, […]

Thoroughly Vetted: Tips for managing a teething puppy

So you’ve got a happy new puppy scampering around the house, and all the joy that goes with him. Your days are suddenly full of impromptu playtimes and snuggly naps, and your fingers are completely lacerated and bleeding—it can’t all be joyous. Why must these delightful little creatures come with a face full of sewing […]