LIVING Picks: Week of March 15-21

NONPROFIT Cville Time Bank Repair Café Saturday, March 18 Bring up to three things for repair, including small appliances, clothing, bikes, jewelry, toys and other household items. Free, noon-4pm. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. facebook.com/events/332444857 149671/ FAMILY Paramount Theater tour Saturday, March 18 Learn about the Paramount’s beginnings in 1931, see the backstage […]

Small eateries are full of flavor

Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard it before: For a city its size, Charlottesville has a lot of restaurants. Like, a lot. In 2013, the Huffington Post ranked our city among the top 15 U.S. metro areas with the most eateries per capita, with 460 restaurants for 201,400 residents. With so many chow options at our fingertips, […]

LIVING Picks: Week of March 8-14

NONPROFIT Bracket breakfast Monday, March 13 Panelists including John Grisham, Barry Parkhill and Ricky Stokes give you inside tips and make their NCAA Final Four picks. Fundraiser for Piedmont CASA; includes prizes and surprises. $125 per ticket, 7am. Omni Hotel ballroom, 212 Ridge McIntire Rd. 971-7515. FAMILY Girls’ Geek Day Saturday, March 11 This fun, […]

Brasserie Saison crafts new options for the local beer scene

The idea of a restaurant and brewery on the Downtown Mall that specializes in Belgian cuisine and beers would have been completely absurd as few as five years ago. Today, with the mainstream dominance of craft beer culture in Charlottesville, it is practically a no-brainer. Charlottesvillians discuss new beers the way farmers talk about the […]

Smoked food cart returns to downtown

Remember how sad you were in August, when the Smoked BBQ Co. food cart ran out of ’cue on its last day on the mall, and how you had to wait until December to eat it again, after a drive to Smoked Kitchen and Tap in Crozet? Well, you can forget all about that, because […]

Chardonnay and petit verdot lead the 2016 vintage report

This is a good time to catch up with winemakers about the 2016 vintage, a year marked by frost events early in the season, and rain near the red grape harvest. By now, ferments have finished and some wines are in barrel or bottle. Wineries have a good idea about how their 2016s are tasting. […]

LIVING Picks: Week of March 1-7

NONPROFIT GenR: Charlottesville launch party Thursday, March 2 This organization’s inaugural fundraiser supports the International Rescue Committee’s work in helping refugees resettle here and rebuild their lives. $35-75; 6:30-9pm. Old Metropolitan Hall, 101 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rescue.org/event/genr-charlottesville-launch-party FAMILY ArtFest in the West Friday, March 3 This “magical medieval” fundraiser for arts education showcases […]

On the record: Baggby’s and Miso Sweet enjoy banner days

Temperatures topped 70 degrees on Saturday, February 18, and eager eaters descended on the Downtown Mall to enjoy a meal in the sun. And at least two downtown eateries—Miso Sweet and Baggby’s Gourmet Sandwiches—had record business days. Miso Sweet owner Frank Paris reports that his restaurant sold more than 450 donuts (all of which were […]

Sugar Shack to open West Main location

  The heavenly scent of handcrafted donuts, fritters and cinnamon rolls will soon waft up and down West Main Street: Charlottesville is getting a Sugar Shack Donuts, directly across the street from the Uncommon Building, this summer. Sugar Shack owner and self-proclaimed “donut nostalgia nerd” Ian Kelley opened his first shop in a small building […]