C R O Z E T ’ S TA S T Y T U R K E YS
p. 21
| THE TILEMAKER OF LOUDOUN
p. 59
| D I N N E R AT K E S W I C K ’ S M A R I G O L D
p. 46
TASTE
the Season
Coming home to comfort and joy
W W W.V I R G I N I A L I V I N G .C O M
DECEMBER 2021
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INTERIOR OBSESSIONS WHAT HOME DESIGNERS LOVE NOW p. 64
MADE IN VIRGINIA AWARDS THE YEAR’S 34 WINNERS p. 96
LOVELY LYNCHBURG A WEEKEND OF HILL CITY HAPPINESS p. 31 10/21/21 11:56 AM
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Celebra te the Se with Vir a so n ginia A BC!
Please celebrate responsibly.
Explore our holiday gift guide
www.abc.virginia.gov
SpiritedVirginia
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Contents NOV E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1
photo by robert radifera
ON THE COVER: Holiday charcuterie platter by Debi Shawcross. Photo by Tyler Darden.
FEATURES
Holiday Dress Rehearsal page 90
For their first Christmas in this historic home in The Plains (above), this couple’s trusted interior designer decks the halls.
Made in Virginia Awards page 96
We tested, we tasted, and we were tempted by hundreds of Made in Virginia entries. Now, drumroll, please! Meet this year’s 34 winners.
p. 90
IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT: VIRGINIA LIVING (USPS) ISSN 1534-9984 Virginia Living is published bimonthly by Cape Fear Publishing Company, 109 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219. Periodical postage permit 021-875 at Richmond, VA.
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T H E ART OF F INE HOMES
NORTH END VA. BEACH
Virginia Beach Kate Marks 757-469-4690 Jessica Miller 757-739-7109 $4,800,000
SHADOWLAWN
Virginia Beach Aimee Brennan 757-650-1914 $850,000
RIDGELY MANOR
Virginia Beach Tom Duckett 757-620-8781 $755,000
NORTH END VA. BEACH
Virginia Beach Ann Malbon 757-647-0044 Susan Shaughnessy 757-714-6246 $739,000
LIBERTY RIDGE
ELIZABETH CITY
LAKE SITES
Williamsburg Tom Coffey 757-236-0659 $1,125,000
Elizabeth City Lynn Bulman 252-339-6517 $995,000
Suffolk Robin DiBuono 757-328-8000 $945,000
NORTH END VA. BEACH
OCEAN WAY CONDOMINIUM #511
OCEAN WAY CONDOMINIUM #506
Virginia Beach Anne Marie Burroughs 757-478-5605 $850,000
GHENT
Norfolk Mary Block 757-286-1192 $750,000
HERITAGE HAMLET
Seaford Joanie Gummo 757-509-0257 $735,000
Virginia Beach Patricia Zuraw 757-373-8601 $799,900
STONEHOUSE
Toano Holly Rolley 757-345-1466 Steven Van Kirk 757-291-3332 $749,999
GHENT
Norfolk Kathryn Kramer 757-535-7111 $715,000
Virginia Beach Pamela Schmidt 757-288-8564 $779,000
HERITAGE PARK
Virginia Beach Jennifer Keenan 757-272-4199 $744,900
HANBURY WOODS
Chesapeake Susie Edmunds 757-718-1970 $699,900
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Contents
NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021
Yara Acker, Head Gardener at Keswick Hall.
RETIREMENT LIVING
75 The high-tech tools enhancing senior living now. clockwise from top left by tyler darden, sera petras, shaw nielsen, mali azima, fred + elliott
76 A mover just for seniors? Meet the specialists.
83 Breaking the ice:
Cultivating friendships in retirement living.
87 Bose introduces groundbreaking hearing aids.
p. 48 9 EDITOR’S LETTER
UPFRONT
11 TAKE NOTE
A gospel singer’s miracle, a rare peace medal in Williamsburg, and Roanoke’s historic renovations.
17 EVENTS
Our picks for festive holiday happenings around the state.
HOMEGROWN 21 SPOTLIGHT
Meet the man who brought the Rolls-Royce of turkeys to Crozet.
25 VIRGINIANA
The surprising history behind our Christmas Mother tradition.
29 NATIVES The puss caterpillar looks like a “walking toupee”—but beware.
>
See VirginiaLiving.com Exclusive: TOP RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
p. 46 31 DESTINATIONS
Seen Lynchburg lately? Come along on our glorious Hill City weekend.
GOOD TASTE 37 STARTERS
The Buttery, a winning taco, and Richmond’s Brunch Market.
43 DRINK Goosecup’s clarified cocktail, gifting a bottle, and seasonal sips. 46 DINING OUT Marigold by Jean-Georges is Keswick Hall’s new standout. 48 COOKING
Artful charcuterie platters for delicious entertaining.
HOUSE + GARDEN
59 MAKERS Joan Gardiner’s custom tiles spread joy in Loudoun and beyond.
p. 66
62 DÉCOR Our picks for the best gifts from museum shops around the state. 64 TRENDS We asked interior designers around the state: “What’s hot now?” 66 DESIGN A 300-year-old Powhatan house gets a mod-ish makeover (at right). 70 GARDEN DESIGN ’Tis the season for bringing in the greens. But first, what to know. 128 DEPARTURE One boy’s snowy ride on horseback to chop down a memorable tree.
p. 96 Made in Virginia Awards D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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Visit VirginiaLiving.com VOLUME 19, NUMBER 7 December 2021
PUBLISHED BY
Cape Fear Publishing Company
Waterford sheep farmer Linda Landreth checks on her flock.
109 East Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-343-7539, VirginiaLiving.com
PUBLISHER
John-Lawrence Smith EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR Constance Costas
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One year - $36, two years - $64. Send to 109 East Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219; visit VirginiaLiving.com; or contact AngelaShapiro@CapeFear.com
The Daily Post Get the scoop on Staunton’s Zynodoa, Richmond’s Cobra Burger, upland bird hunting, and Merrie Mill’s “maximalist wonderland.” Virginia Living Store Gorgeous gifts, striking accessories, unique decor, and down-home food favorites all artisan-made and curated for you. Destinations The popular Waterford Fair brings thousands to the historic village of Waterford in Loudoun County, where locals live happily in both the present and the past. Natives The Sheepshead fish is good eating, but watch those teeth. As our writer, Caroline Kettlewell puts it, they’re “an orthodontist’s fever dream.” Bird Recipes Pheasant, quail, and duck demystified. Find out how Primland’s Executive Chef Ryan de Rieux works delicious magic with his game bird recipes. Directories Find Virginia's top architects and landscape designers in our "Top of the Trades" online directory. You'll also find "Top Retirement Communities," our carefully-curated list of the Commonwealth's best in senior living.
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Contributors
waterford photo by scott suchman
STEPHANIE GANZ answered
our call to dine at Marigold at Keswick Hall, the newest restaurant in Chef Jean Georges’ global collection. See her mouthwatering review in this issue. A former chef, she now serves up delicious food writing. @salganz
FRED TURKO + ELLIOTT SHAFFNER met in Los Angeles
in 2011 and quickly joined forces romantically and creatively after realizing a shared passion for food, photography, and crossword puzzles. FredAndElliottPhoto.com
ASHLEY HUNTER loves all things food, wine, and spirits. The former digital editor of Virginia Living, she’s a Virginia Tech graduate who now contributes food and drinks news. Look for Ashley in our "Starters" pages.
STACEY VAN BERKEL focused
her lens on Lynchburg for our Destination story this month. Based in Greensboro, she has a passion for shooting travel, food, lifestyle, and interiors—both locally and around the world. StaceyVanBerkel.com
SHERRY MOELLER asked interior designers statewide to share their "Current Obsessions" for this issue. The former editor-in-chief of Washington File magazine and editorial director of Washington Spaces, Moeller now heads Moki Media. @sherrymoeller TYER DARDEN shot the fabulous
charcuterie boards with food styling by Debi Shawcross. A nationally recognized food and lifestyle photographer, he recently completed a short family film. TylerDardenPhotography.com
LEGALISMS Virginia Living is a registered trademark of Cape Fear Publishing Company, Inc. Copyright 2020, all rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.
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CUSTOM FURNITURE • AREA RUGS • DECORATIVE LIGHTING • HOME ACCENTS INTERIOR DESIGN • WORLDWIDE DELIVERY • 40% OFF TOP MANUFACTURERS Williamsburg, VA | www.carolina-furniture.com | 757.565.3000
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Editor’s Letter
Plenty to Celebrate
From Marigold to Manakin with turkey and trimmings along the way.
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300-year-old “Manakin” now shines with a mix of contemporary and antique pieces: Can you guess from this photo what’s old and what’s new? our writers, I’m getting an education. Take turkeys for instance. Our annual Made In Virginia Awards are back with 34 winners from When writer Kinsey Gidick called to tell me that the finest turkeys across the state. We received nearly in the country are raised in Crozet, I 300 entries this year, and our picks will was curious. Prized by cooks from New check some boxes on your gift-giving list York to L.A., these birds sell for $200 this season. and up. The story of how they landed in Speaking of winners, we asked six Virginia is one you’ll want to tell over Virginia-based interior designers to tell Thanksgiving dinner. us what they’re obsessed with these Just up the road at Keswick Hall, days. If you’ve got a design project in our writer Stephanie Ganz slipped into your future, you’ll be delighted to see the newly-opened Marigold for a dinwhat these pros are predicting. ner that is nothing short of sublime. The We’ve also got a beautiful house in Jean-Georges restaurant joins this chef’s The Plains, dressed for the holidays by global collection which includes The designer Jamie Merida. And for deckMark in New York and Jean-Georges ing your own halls, look to master garBeverly Hills. I’ve seen Marigold’s magdener Madeline Mayhood, who shares nificent dining room—and now I can’t her secrets in our “Gardener’s Guide to wait to get there for dinner. Greens.” You don’t have to be crafty, but Like most Richmonders, I’ve crossed a little moss and chicken wire helps. the Huguenot Bridge a thousand times, When it comes to making garlands and without thinking about the origin of the wreaths, I’m all thumbs. But with Madname. But the story of the first French eline’s pointers, this could be my year. Huguenots, who settled south of the And, I sincerely hope it’s yours. James, is a fascinating one. I discovered it while writing about “Manakin,” the historic house that traces its origins to Pierre Chastain, a leader of the original French Huguenot settlers. (Actress Jessica Chastain of Modern papier-mâché botanicals Constance Costas, Editor The Help is a direct descendant.) Thanks complement the antiques at Manakin. ConstanceCostas@CapeFear.com to interior designer Janie Molster, the THOUGHT I KNEW VIRGINIA INSIDE-OUT BUT, THANKS TO
Letters to the Editor Wellesley the English setter
PRECIOUS MEMORIES I wanted to let you know how pleased my family and I are with your October article about the hunt at Orapax Shooting Preserve (“The Thrill of the Hunt”). Clarke Jones accompanied my daughter (9 at the time), my brother, father, and me on a hunt guided by Tom Petrie and his fine Brittany spaniels. The photographs are great, and he did a first-class job on the article. We made some precious memories that day and it’s especially nice to have those memories preserved in such a fine publication.
PUMPKIN MAGIC Parrish Pumpkin Patch has put Dundas, VA on the map! We were so excited to see the Parrish family featured in Virginia Living (“If You Plant It, They Will Come”). We want our kids to have this magical farm etched in their childhood memories. Because of Parrish Pumpkin Patch, all of southside Virginia can welcome friends to a place fit for a magazine photoshoot. —Kristin & John Hite, Kenbridge
BABY LOVE I loved the piece on Sunny Goode’s LOVE swaddles for newborns (“Swaddled in Love”) but did you also know that her LOVE scarves landed on Oprah’s faves list? Now that she’s set up her LOVEVOLVE showroom in Richmond, I hope you’ll share more of her work with your readers.
photo by mali azima
—Michael A. Sisson, Farnham
THAT’S MY DOG! I recently read your article in Virginia Living about preserve hunts (“The Thrill of the Hunt”) and realized that the setter that Neal Kauder was training on the main page is mine! What a small world. —Zane Moody, Richmond
MERRIE THANKS Huge thank you to Virginia Living for coming out, hearing our story, and so wonderfully putting that story and our vision to paper (“Smitten with Keswick”). We love the spread. —Elizabeth and Guy Pelly, Merrie Mill Farm and Vineyard, Keswick
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Drop Us a Line LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We love hearing from our readers! Have a comment about something you read in this issue? Drop us a line at ConstanceCostas@CapeFear.com.
—Nona Collin, Richmond
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VIRGINIA LIVING
10/21/21 9:00 AM
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UPfront > Take Note > Events
photo by doug graham
Tria Pell Dove walks her horse back to her barn along Greengarden Road in western Loudoun County.
Take Note TRAVEL BY GRAVEL When the pavement ends, let the fun begin. By Jill Devine
Some historic treasures don’t fit inside a museum. Take the 300 miles of gravel roadways that wind through Loudoun County’s pastures and ridges. “These are the same paths traveled by early colonists, Revolutionary War soldiers, and George Washington when he surveyed the Shenandoah Valley,” says Douglas Graham, an award-winning photojournalist who is among those spearheading their preservation. “They represent the beginning of the rural economy of the United States, and they are worth saving.” Graham and a team of volunteers formed America’s Routes to save the back roads and their living history, a challenging mission in Loudoun, where development has already paved over many of these historic roadways. America’s Routes encourages people to experience Loudoun’s gravel roads, whether by hoof, foot, bike, or car. Says Beth Erickson, CEO of Visit Loudoun, “These roads force us to slow down and connect with the history, villages, farms, wineries, and breweries that make Loudoun so special.” AmericasRoutes.com D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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UPfront Take Note Virginia Zoo visitors get a sneak peek of a larger-than-life tomato frog at a GrowlFest event.
A PARADE ALL DAY Virginia Zoo brings animals to life with light.
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photots (from top) courtesy of: virginia zoo, billy gaines, barbour usa
IGHTS, ANIMALS, ACTION! The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is lighting up the season with its first ever ZooLumination, a showcase of giant inflatable animals. Executive Director Greg Bockheim says the winter exhibition—which includes a trio of 30-foot giraffes—“furthers our mission by educating people about wildlife.” Visitors can walk or drive through the exhibit, by day or at night. Look for a blue crab, sloth, red panda, and crocodile among the 29 “animals” in the lineup. The merry menagerie was designed by Landmark Creations, the company behind custom, over-the-top inflatables for clients like Ariana Grande and General Mills. As with Richmond’s GardenFest of Lights, ZooLumination promises to delight visitors of all ages while also providing educational audio on the animal kingdom. Nov. 19 through Jan. 9. VirginiaZoo.org —By Konstantin Rega
A DIVINE APPOINTMENT
Kathie Lee Gifford and Billy Gaines in the studio working on the song “The God Of The How And When” for her film The Way.
Gospel singer Billy Gaines lands the role of a lifetime. GOSPEL SINGER AND SONGWRITER Billy Gaines is eagerly awaiting the theatrical release of his firstever film The Way, written and directed by former Today Show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford. “I just saw the finished movie and it feels surreal,” says Gaines, who landed the role of Moses after a chance meeting with Gifford that he calls, “a divine appointment.” Gaines grew up in Richmond where he attended Mt. Tabor Baptist Church and sang at Open Doorway Coffeehouse. When he met gospel legend Danniebelle Hall at Gospel Fest in Hampton, she invited Gaines and his band to accompany her on tour. Together, they played Front Royal’s Fishnet, America’s longest running Christian music festival. Propelled by local success, Gaines moved his family to Nashville in 1984, where six gospel albums and two Dove awards—the Grammys of gospel music—followed.
But it was a picture-hanging job for the company Takl that led Gaines to the role of a lifetime. When he showed up at the client’s home, he was greeted by Angie McCollum, wife of Takl’s CEO, who said, “I’d like to introduce you to Kathie.” “I turned and there was Kathie Lee Gifford,” Gaines recalls. “I was in shock. Angie asked my last name; then she said, ‘I love your music. Don’t you play piano?’ The room was empty except for a grand piano, so I sat down, played, and sang. It wasn’t long before Kathie Lee joined in.” The impromptu singalong led Gaines to the role of Moses in Gifford’s film, The Way. When filming wrapped, he thanked her profusely for casting him. “I didn’t choose you,” Gifford told him. “I asked God to show me who He had chosen.” “The whole thing was an incredible experience,” he marvels. “I give God the glory for that.” Check @virginaliving for updates on theater release dates. —By Audrey T. Hingley
WAX ON!
Barbour’s rewaxing service celebrates 100 years.
FAVORED BY HUNTERS, coveted by fashionistas, and originally designed for watermen, the Barbour coat marks a milestone this year: It’s the 100th anniversary of the company’s popular rewaxing service. Each year, Barbour rewaxes and repairs more than 60,000 of its own jackets for customers. The process restores the waterproof finish and helps maintain the jacket’s good looks. To showcase the process, Barbour opened pop-up Rewax Factories in five Nordstroms across the country—including Tyson’s Corner— this fall. Missed it? You can send your beloved
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Barbour coat to the company at any time for rewaxing, repairs, or alterations. Barbour’s waxed cotton finish is a moden version of a technique traced to 15th-century mariners, who applied oil and grease to heavy sailcloth to create a waterproof finish. The rewax centennial celebrates the British company’s commitment to excellence. In this era of fast fashion, it’s a refreshing reminder that some companies really do stand behind their products. Barbour.com/US/Repair-Rewax —By K.R.
VIRGINIA LIVING
10/21/21 9:21 AM
S E N TA R A NOR FO LK G E NE R A L HOS PI TA L
Top 50 Nationally Ranked in Urology When our neighbors are healthy – we all win. Sentara considers it a privilege to provide highquality healthcare in our community. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 nationally ranked hospital in Urology. We are proud to work side-by-side with our clinical partners at Urology of Virginia, Eastern Virginia Medical School, the nationally accredited Sentara Cancer Network and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital providers, nurses, and clinical care teams. Thank you for your continued dedication to the patients and families you care for each day.
Providing high-quality urological care and keeping you safe at Sentara by: • Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to caregivers & patients • Screening providers & office staff • Ongoing cleaning & sanitizing of all areas • Screening patients for fever & symptoms at the front door
Sentara.com/USNews
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UPfront Take Note
PEACE PIECE Colonial Williamsburg acquires “incredibly rare” Indian peace medal.
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The George Washington Indian Peace Medal was crafted and engraved by hand by a Philadelphia silversmith in 1792.
recorded from that year. Expertly crafted and engraved by an unknown Philadelphia silversmith, the 5-inch medal depicts Washington extending a peace pipe to a Native American warrior, who has put down his hatchet. The flip side presents an early version of the Great Seal of the United States. “I can’t put into words how thrilled I am to be adding this incredibly rare medal to Colonial Williamsburg’s holdings,” said Erik Goldstein, Colonial Williamsburg’s senior curator of mechanical arts & numismatics. “I never thought it would be possible, and the fact that it’s of the finest style is just icing on the cake.” See it and learn more about U.S. relations with the Native American tribes of the southern states at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. ColonialWilliamsburg.org —By Markus Schmidt
Y THE TIME GEORGE WASHINGTON
assumed the Presidency in 1798, “peace medals”—made of silver and engraved by hand—had become valuable diplomatic currency. Presented by the colonists to American Indian tribal leaders during treaty signings and other ceremonial events, these symbols of allegiance were so highly prized that the recipients often took them, quite literally, to their graves. Of the medals crafted in 1792—the first year they were awarded primarily to southern chiefs—perhaps a dozen are known to exist today. The George Washington Indian Peace Medal, newly acquired by Colonial Williamsburg, is considered the finest of about six small-sized medals
ONE HOUSE AT A TIME...
photos (from top): courtesy of the colonial williamsburg foundation, by meagan williams photography, by digital precision photography
Historic renovations bring housing to Roanoke’s needy. ROANOKE’S RESTORATION HOUSING is breathing new life into blighted historic-district properties while helping those in need of stable housing. Founded in 2014 by Isabel Thornton, a preservationist and affordable housing developer, the nonprofit has transformed five homes, now occupied by local nonprofits and low-income residents looking for homes in safe neighborhoods. The Queen Anne and Victorian houses in Roanoke’s Southeast neighborhoods, where three of their projects are located, were once home to Norfolk & Western Railway workers around the 1900s. “They deteriorated due to lost industry,” Thornton, a Roanoke native, explains. “It’s a great neighborhood, close to downtown, but has not received a lot of attention from public and private developers.” The extensive repairs these homes need is far beyond the scope of even the most starry-eyed developer or home buyer. But their nonprofit status allows Restoration Housing to access historic tax credits, grants, and donations to fund the work. The group just restored an 1818 house—left boarded-up and neglected after a devastating fire—to its former beauty. “It’s a beautiful, classic Virginia house,” Thornton says. Now fully modernized, the home now boasts nonprofit offices and four Permanent Supportive Housing units serving residents who were previously homeless. RestorationHousing.org
—By Elizabeth Cogar
LEGENDS THAT LINGER Virginia’s history includes stories of sasquatch sightings and pirate gold. George Washington’s secret son, the origins of Chincoteague’s wild ponies, the hiding place of the mysterious Beale Treasure? Virginia is full of strange and intriguing tales that beg to be unraveled. In his new book, Virginia Legends & Lore (The History Press), Charles A. Mills explores the Commonwealth’s strangest stories from pre-colonial days through the 20th century, to separate myth from fact. Did Bigfoot actually set foot in Spotsylvania? Did Edgar Allen Poe die of drink—or was it something more sinister? What twist of fate allowed a slave, Henry “Box” Brown, to survive the trip when he climbed into a crate and shipped himself to freedom in Philadelphia? Mills sheds a clear light on these legends and brings our rich past vividly to life. Facebook: @CharlesAMillsAuthor —By Konstantin Rega
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Left: The foyer of Villa Heights, an 1820 Classical Revival house, after extensive fire damage. Above: The renovated building now serves as a nonprofit hub.
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November 19, 2021–March 6, 2022 Discover exceptional recent and promised gifts of art to the Museum’s collection.
FREE ADMISSION | CHRYSLER.ORG Jiha Moon (South Korean, b. 1973), Springfield – Butterfly Dream (detail), 2010, Ink and acrylic, fabric, and embroidery patches on hanji (mulberry paper), Gift of Andrea Pollan, Curator’s Office, and Jiha Moon, Bethesda, MD, 2019.12 © Jiha Moon
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UPfront Events
Winter Calendar
Frank Clark, master of Historic Foodways at Colonial Williamsburg, brewing beer at the Governor’s Palace Kitchen.
35 great places to go and things to do this season.
CENTRAL NOV. 13, 14TH ANNUAL BRIGHT LEAF BREW FEST Carrington Pavilion, Danville 434-793-4636, BrightLeafBrewFest.com
NOV. 13 THOMAS JEFFERSON WINE FESTIVAL Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, Forest 434-525-1806, PoplarForest.org
NOV. 17–21 CHRISTMAS AT GRANNY’S CRAFT SHOW The Virginia Cliffe Inn, Glen Allen 804-382-0500, ChristmasAtGrannys.com
NOV. 19 HOLIDAY ILLUMINATION Historic Pole Green Church, Mechanicsville 804-730-3837, HistoricPoleGreen.org
NOV. 19 –21 VISUAL ARTS CENTER’S CRAFT + DESIGN SHOW (VIRTUAL) 804-353-0094, VisArts.org
NOV. 20 APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL Bryant’s Cider Tasting Room, Roseland 571-723-3260, BryantsCider.com
DEC. 5 ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
photos (from top) courtesy of: colonial williamsburg, poplar forest
Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, Brookneal 434-376-2044, RedHill.org
NOV. 11 – J AN. 2 WINTERFEST ON THE WISCONSIN Nauticus, Downtown Norfolk 757-664-1000, WinterfestOnTheWisconsin.com
NOV. 20 MISTLETOE MARKETPLACE Downtown Smithfield 757-357-5182, GenuineSmithfieldVa.com
NOV. 30 THE ELF ON THE SHELF: A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL
GRAND ILLUMINATION Colonial Williamsburg 888-965-7254, ColonialWilliamsburg.org
25TH ANNUAL LIGHTED BOAT PARADE Yorktown Waterfront 757-890-4970, VisitYorktown.org
NORTHERN NOV. 2 – J AN. 2 RENT Signature Theatre, Arlington 703-820-9771, SigTheatre.org
NOV. 17 STORM LARGE IN CONCERT
NOV. 5 – 6
NOV. 20
URBANNA OYSTER FESTIVAL
FREEZE YOUR GIZZARD 5K AND 1 MILE FUN RUN
TIDEWATER VETERANS DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY Virginia Beach Oceanfront 757-485-1245
Ida Lee Park, Leesburg 703-777-1368, LeesburgVa.gov
NOV. 27
Marc Meltonville, on topics such as “Brewing Beer in Roman Britain” and “Beer and Roses,” respectively. For a deeper dive into beer history, virtual attendees can participate in speaker Q&A panels following each lecture. The conference will be available for online viewing through Nov. 30 and virtual attendees will receive a 7-day Colonial Williamsburg ticket voucher, valid through March 2022 to visit Virginia’s favorite historical pubs, like Chowning’s Tavern on East Duke of Gloucester Street. While in the area, take a quick trip down the road to sip modern-day brews at the Virginia Beer Company. Grab your favorite pint, get cozy at home, and raise your glass to Beer History Week. Pre-registration is required. Your pint from the past is waiting for you! ColonialWilliamsburg.org
—By Kaitlyn Hilliard
A VERY VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS Cherry Hill Historic House & Farm, Falls Church 703 248-5171, CherryHillFallsChurch.org
Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival at Poplar Forest.
DEC. 4 75TH ANNUAL GREATER MANASSAS CHRISTMAS PARADE 703-928-3993, GMChristmasParade.org
DEC. 4
SHENANDOAH VALLEY NOV. 12 – D EC. 31 ARTS FOR GIFTS HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AND CAROLS
Staunton Augusta Art Center 540-885-2028, SAArtCenter.org
Old Town Square, Fairfax 703-385-7855, FairfaxVa.gov
NOV. 22 – J AN. 1
DEC. 11 HERNDON WINTERMARKT
CELEBRATION OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS Gypsy Hill Park, Staunton 540-886-8660, CelebrationOfLights.org
Downtown Herndon HerndonWinterMarkt.com
SHARE THE DATE To tell us about your upcoming event, send an email to Editors@CapeFear.
com with the word “Events” in the subject line. Include the event name, date(s), location, sponsor, admission price, contact info, and a brief description. Plus, submit your event to our online calendar at: VirginiaLiving.com/Events/Submit.html..
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AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, a European Colonist, and a hipster walk into a bar, and they all order…a beer? So what’s the punchline? Throughout history, these three groups have had one thing in common: their shared love for a pitcher of brew. Whether you drink Budweiser or a fruity IPA, few “hopheads” know that our colonists saw ales as a safe alternative to often-tainted water. To fill this beer-knowledge gap and celebrate Beer History Week, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is partnering with the Chicago Brewseum for its Ales Through the Ages conference Nov. 12-14. Consider this year’s virtual event a tasting flight. Tune in to hear from some of the world’s top beer scholars, like keynote speaker Pete Brown, author of Miracle Brew, Hops Barley, Water Yeast and the Nature of Beer, and food and drink historian
DEC. 4
Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Vienna 703-255-1868, WolfTrap.org
NOV. 11
Fill your glass with brews that made history.
DEC. 3 – 5, 10 –12, 17–19
EASTERN
804-758-0368, UrbannaOysterFestival.com 866-673-7282, VaOpera.org
HOP(S) INTO THE PAST
Chrysler Hall, Norfolk 757-664-6464, SevenVenues.com
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With so many beautiful destinations, Omni Hotels & Resorts makes it easy to get back out there and play during the holidays. Experience the spirit of the season with time-honored traditions and family-friendly activities. Your playlist is endless at The Omni Homestead Resort. Explore more at OmniHotels.com/TheHomestead
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UPfront Events NOV. 26
DEC. 24
NOV. 25 – J AN 2
ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL & LIGHTING OF THE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE
BUCHANAN CHRISTMAS EVE LUMINARIES
HIGH COUNTRY LIGHTS
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington 540-319-4181, MainStreetLexington.org
Main Street 540-254-1212, TownOfBuchanan.com
NOV. 11
46TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION: OVER 50 YEARS LATER THE ONE-MAN PLAY
DEC. 4 – 5 “FOLLOW THE STAR” - A LIVING NATIVITY
Piedmont Arts, Martinsville 276-632-3221, PiedmontArts.org
NOV. 20 STAR CITY HALF MARATHON & 10K
The Kernstown Battlefield, Winchester 540-450-7835, KernstownBattle.org
Roanoke Civic Center 540-343-0987, CommonwealthGames.org/StarCity
DEC. 10 –12, 17–19
NOV. 19 –21, 26 –28, DEC. 3 – 5
LUMINARY NIGHTS
HOLIDAY MARKET AT THE MARTHA
Natural Bridge State Park 540-291-1326, DCR.Virginia.gov
Galax Parks and Recreation 336-756-7529, HighCountryLights.com
DEC. 2 CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IN THE ART GARDEN
SOUTHWEST
DEC. 4 Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg 540-820-4626, VisitHarrisonburgVa.com
Martha Washington Inn & Spa, Abingdon 276-623-5266, VaHighlandsFestival.com
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, Martinsville 276-632-3221, PiedmontArts.org
DEC. 3 FRONTIER CHRISTMAS Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park, Tazewell 276-988-6755, CrabOrchardMuseum.com
DEC. 4 - 5 CHRISTMAS WREATH CLASS Beagle Ridge Herb Farm, Wytheville 276-621-4511, BeagleRidge.org All event listings were confirmed at press time, but may change without notice. Please check with organizers before traveling.
photos (from top) by: barbara batchelder / courtesy of virginia state parks, lindsey walters / miscellaneous media photography
Brandon Carter and Madeline Calais in the American Shakespeare Center’s 2020 production of A Christmas Carol.
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE! Celebrate the season with offerings from Virginia’s performing arts scene.
DEC. 3 -JAN. 2 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond The town of Bedford Falls comes to life in this stage version of the beloved story of George Bailey, performed as a live 1940s radio broadcast. Tickets start at $36. Va-Rep.org
DEC. 11 LESLIE ODOM JR. - THE CHRISTMAS TOUR
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SHENANDOAH VALLEY
THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS, DEC. 2 - JAN. 1
DEC. 4
LOQUACIOUS LUCY AND THE CHRISTMAS BOX
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS FILM SCREENING AND CONCERT BY THE ERIC BYRD TRIO
Colonial Williamsburg This musical play follows an enslaved child named Lucy as she tracks down the mysterious giver of a doll she receives for Christmas. Free with Colonial Williamsburg admission. ColonialWilliamsburg.org
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville Start the season with a viewing of this Peanuts classic, followed by a live performance of Vince Guaraldi’s jazz soundtrack from the film. Free admission; reservations required. BarnsOfRoseHill.org
DEC. 29
DEC. 10 - JAN. 2
THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Chrysler Hall, Norfolk Plucked from the 19th-century Germany of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet and transported to contemporary New York City, this spectacle blends modern dance with timeless music. Tickets start at $45. SevenVenues.com
Blackfriars Playhouse at the American Shakespeare Center, Staunton Spend an evening in Staunton with Scrooge and his ghosts onstage in Charles Dickens’ heartwarming story about holiday compassion. Tickets start at $33. AmericanShakespeareCenter.com
NORTHERN
SOUTHWEST
DEC. 17 & 19
DEC. 1- 23
ALEXANDRIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL
DEC. 2
The Paramount Theater, Charlottesville Fall for the Christmas croonings of this Tony- and Grammy-winner for his role as Aaron Burr in the original cast of Hamilton as he charms a Charlottesville audience. Tickets start at $58. TheParamount.net
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Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center (Dec. 17), George Washington Masonic Memorial (Dec. 19), Alexandria Get in the spirit with music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah. Bring jingle bells! Tickets start at $5. AlexSym.org
There are plenty of opportunities to revel in holiday happenings across the Commonwealth this year. We’ve rounded up our favorite festivities across the state to keep your yuletide calendar filled to the brim with concerts, musicals, and more.
CENTRAL
Luminary Nights at Natural Bridge State Park.
AN ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS WITH OVER THE RHINE The Barns at Wolf Trap, Vienna Folk duo Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist will put you in a Christmassy mood. Tickets start at $27. WolfTrap.org
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Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke Relive Ralphie Parker’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” This witty musical adaption of the beloved 1980s film is fun for the whole family. Tickets start at $20. MillMountain.org
DEC. 3 THE ROANOKE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S HOLIDAY POPS SPECTACULAR Salem Civic Center Ring in the most wonderful time of year with over 250 onstage performers representing the orchestra, RSO Chorus, Virginia Tech Chorus, & Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir. Tickets start at $32. PiedmontArts.org —By Vayda Parrish
VIRGINIA LIVING
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NEST CANDLES • JINGLE NOG • CONSUELA BAGS • NOLA WATKINS • JULIE VOS • STONEWALL KITCHEN • LOCAL RVA PRODUCTS
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HOMEgrown > Spotlight > Virginiana > Natives > Destinations
Judd Culver is surrounded by some of the approximately 4,700 wild turkeys on his farm.
Spotlight BIRD IS THE WORD Forget frozen. For this Crozet farmer, boutique turkeys are all the rage. By Kinsey Gidick | Photography by Kyle LaFerriere
As a boy, Judd Culver dreamed of growing up to be a fighter pilot or a chef. Instead, he became a turkey farmer. But the circuitous route that led to raising KellyBronze birds—often described as the “Rolls-Royce of turkeys”—makes sense the more you talk to him. Come to find out, becoming the only farmer outside of England to raise the prized gobblers—which will cost you $200 and up for Thanksgiving dinner—was a matter of preparation meeting opportunity while Culver and his family were living in Scotland. D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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HOMEgrown Spotlight
be wild. They spend their days outside on Culver’s Crozet farm and are allowed to grow for six months—twice as long as the average turkey, which is typically harvested at 12 weeks. The lengthy process is marked by battles with predators like snakes and coyotes, freerange follies (during Culver’s first year, 80 birds took off down the main road), and seven days of dry aging. But the effort pays off. KellyBronze turkeys are so remarkably flavorful they’re considered a holiday game-changer. “The fat content gives you the flavor and the juiciness and also the fast cook time,” Culver explains. “A 28-pound turkey will take just under three hours to cook, then you rest it for an hour.” By comparison, a supermarket bird of the same size would roast for nine hours. But don’t take it from him. Look across the pond to England—where this legendary bird originated—and you’ll find that KellyBronze is the Christmas turkey of choice for celebrity chefs like Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver. The breed hails from Danbury, Essex, where Derek Kelly started raising standard white turkeys in 1971. Business was good until the 1980s, when frozen grocery store turkeys cornered the market. Looking to differentiate their business, Derek’s son Paul, who had studied poultry science in Scotland, hatched a plan: why not raise rare breeds, like the bronze
Judd Culver with his wife Cari, who runs BeeWitched Honey Farm in addition to helping Judd with the turkey farm.
The Virginia outpost has proven that U.S. foodies are ravenous for boutique birds.
turkey that originated in Mexico? Easier said than done, of course. Despite a great product and the family’s years of experience in the poultry biz, it would take a higher power to convert British grocery-shoppers. Serendipitously, that happened in 1989, when KellyBronze turkeys earned star billing in Delia’s Christmas, a cookbook by British TV presenter and chef, Delia but that foodies here are ravenous for them. Smith. From there it was full feathers ahead with Beyond Crozet, KellyBronze turkeys are now expansions, shifts to organic methods, and megasold in New York’s Chelsea Market and at Eataly watt endorsements capped off by Queen Elizabeth locations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, DalII herself, who awarded Kelly the Member of the las, Boston, and Las Vegas. Order of the British Empire in 1998 for “services “Last year we sold out of small birds in Septo the farm poultry industry.” tember,” says Culver. “The rest were gone by the So how on Earth did a farmer in tiny Crozet, first week of November.” That’s why he’s added Virginia, come to launch the lone American an additional 1,000 to this year’s stock for a grand branch of this royally-recognized British brand? total of 4,700 available birds. That is, of course, if “It was a perfect storm,” Culver explains. you act fast. After meeting at Virginia Tech, Culver and his wife, Cari, moved to Dundee, Scotland, where she Kinsey Gidick is a freelance writer based in was completing her post-doctoral fellowship in Scottsville. Her work has been published in the immunology. Washington Post, the New York Times, and Judd, who’d graduated from Tech with a Garden & Gun magazine, among others. When not degree in animal science, had jobs at mega poulwriting, she can be found reading cookbooks and try producers, Butterball and Mountaire Farms menu planning. in North Carolina, on his résumé. So, while in the U.K., he took a sales gig A simply prepared KellyBronze Christmas turkey. with a poultry feed supplier, which Left: Curious turkeys pose for the camera. ultimately led him to ring up Paul Kelly at KellyBronze. “Paul met me and he was like, ‘OK, so you actually know how to do everything that we need to do. Do you want to start a business?” Culver recalls. “We didn’t even sign anything and we shook on it.” The timing was right as the Culvers’ son Afton had recently been diagnosed with autism. Knowing Afton neededsupport services beyond those available in the U.K., the couple decided to move back to the United States and found a piece of property in Crozet. Six years later, the KellyBronze Virginia outpost has not only proven there’s an American interest in boutique birds, VIRGINIA LIVING
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cooked turkey photo courtesy of kellybronze
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ELEGANT. CLASSIC. TIMELESS.
We share and keep strong connections among families, friends, and neighbors. Together, we are a hard-working and caring community. We love our local traditions and find joy in creating new memories while honoring those of the past. We invite you to visit our small town charm, share in our wealth of resources and discover what it’s like to be vINton! 540-983-0645 • VintonWarMemorial.com
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HOMEgrown Virginiana To unravel the rest of this mistletoed mystery, however, we must look back to 1902 and—here’s a surprise—the offices of the Chicago Tribune. That December, the paper published an appeal “to the ‘Good Fellows’ of Chicago” to rectify a tragic wrong: “Last Christmas morning over 5,000 children woke to an empty stocking—and the bitter pain of disappointment that Santa Claus had forgotten them.” But if the city’s Good Fellows would “address Santa Claus” in care of the Tribune, they would be supplied the names and addresses of one or more needy children to whom they might deliver gifts on Christmas Eve. The anonymous proposer of this scheme, the paper assured its readers, was an ordinary fellow who “takes a drink, cusses a bit, and even goes out at night with the boys for a mild good time”— not exactly 1902’s idea of matron material—but who each year took it upon himself to deliver gifts to 15 or 20 children, as he hoped other Chicago good fellows would do. And apparently they did, in droves. The Tribune needed a staff of 12 just to handle the volume of requests from Good Fellows looking to help. That first Christmas, the stockings of some 15,000 children were filled.
A MOTHER IS BORN
Soon, Good Fellow clubs began springing up around the country, often sponsored by a newspaper, and in December of 1914, the Richmond Times-Dispatch received its own anonymous letter to the editor—signed “Anxious”— that called for the formation of a Good Fellow Club “for the needy of this city.” By 1924, the wish of “Anxious” appears to have been fully realized; a December appeal in the Times-Dispatch called on the Good Fellows of Richmond to assure “every unfortunate child in the city a great Christmas.”
Yes, Virginia...
The Christmas Mother tradition is all ours. The suprising story of how it started. B y C A R O L I N E K E T T L E W E L L | I l l u s t r a t i o n b y VA N S A I Y A N
photo courtey of anne hardwick
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she is everywhere at once. Here she is smiling with the Kiwanis club president. There she is at the Rotary Club breakfast. She’s talking on local morning television and quoted in the paper. She’s at the Holly Ball, the Centennial parade—and look, here comes Santa and the marching band, and there she is again. She’s the Christmas Mother and she’s the public face of a holiday tradition peculiar to Virginia. Established in 1935 by the Richmond TimesDispatch as a charitable giving campaign, the Christmas Mother tradition has, since then, been adopted by charitable organizations throughout the state. So now, instead of one, there are at least a dozen Christmas Mothers in Virginia each year. And while the specifics vary on how she is cho-
sen, when you’re tapped for this gig, it’s all Christmas all the time. When Blanche Moore stepped into the role of Henrico Christmas Mother, she recalled the advice of former Mothers: get your own Christmas shopping done during the summer. After that, you won’t have time. Because who wants to be even busier in the heat of the holiday season? The Christmas Mother, that’s who.
SEEKING GOOD FELLOWS
But where did this tradition come from? And why a Christmas Mother? Do you even have to be a mother? On that point, the answer is: not always. In 2014, when Barry Vassar was voted Christmas Mother of Crewe-Burkeville, he joked, “I’m on a committee with nine women and they nominate the man.” D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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The first of the Christmas Mothers, Anne Traylor Larus, championed the opportunity for Richmond “to mother its poor at Christmas.”
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Right: Volunteers sort gifts of food and toys during the 1963 Henrico Christmas Mother campaign. Below, from left to right: Some of Virginia’s 2021 Christmas Mothers: Richmond’s Petra Glover, Henrico’s Blanche Moore, and Chesterfield-Colonial Heights’ Phyllis Poats.
By 1935, there was all too much uncoordinated good-fellowing going on and efforts were unified in an “intensive campaign of joy.” From Richmond, the tradition crept outward and planted itself further afield; there’s a Prince Edward Christmas Mother, an Essex County Christmas Mother, and an Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother, among others. Why the tradition has endured is easy to understand. The 2021 Richmond Christmas Mother, Petra Glover, told the Richmond TimesDispatch, “It’s heartwarming, especially when you see how everybody in the community comes together and supports it.” Glover brings plenty of experience to the role. Her husband, Gary, is President and CEO of Puritan Cleaners, which has sponsored the annual Coats For Kids campaign for three decades. Bath County’s Cherie Beale acknowledges she didn’t really know “how much work was involved” when she assumed the role in 2020—in the middle of a pandemic—while continuing with her full time day job with the county’s department of social services. But it was a “yes,” she didn’t regret, she says. “It was the best experience I have ever had.” Presents for children (grouped by age and gender) gathered by the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother program.
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Caroline Kettlewell is freelance writer whose insatiable curiosity has led her to stories about everything from endurance athletes to electric vehicles to the obsessive world of coffee competitions. CarolineKettlewell.com
photos (from top and left to right) courtesy of: Henrico christmas mother, petra glover, henrico christmas mother, chesterfield-colonial heights christmas mother (2)
By 1935, however, it seemed there was too much uncoordinated good-fellowing going on among multiple groups including the city’s other daily paper, the News Leader. In announcing that their various efforts would be unified in an “intensive campaign of joy,” the Times-Dispatch named the new initiative the “Christmas Mother” plan. “Its intention is the same as any individual mother’s on the day of days—to see that each and all of the family are made happy,” the Times-Dispatch wrote, introducing the first of the Christmas Mothers, Anne Traylor Larus, wife of Lewis G. Larus, vice-president of Larus & Brother tobacco company. And that, Virginia, is how we got a Christmas Mother. “What most people don’t know,” says Ann Parker Gottwald, the 2018 Christmas Mother, “is that every dollar the fund receives is passed on in full to charitable groups that provide gifts and food to families in need—the Richmond Times-Dispatch staff works on this campaign for months and they don’t keep a penny.”
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vintage vibes
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“A slice of heaven nestled in the mountains of Virginia.”
N I N E H OT E L L A N E, PA I N T BA N K, VA 24131 540-897-5070 • T H E L E M O N H OT E L.C O M
Photo courtesy of SCAD
November 14, 2021 - April 3, 2022
110 Salem Ave. SE, Roanoke, VA 24011 | TaubmanMuseum.org The Dorothea L. Leonhardt Foundation, Inc.
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The Dorothea Leonhardt Fund at the Communities Foundation of Texas, Inc.
Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo
Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust
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HOMEgrown Natives So as a caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis bristles—literally—with a defense system packing a punch so painful that the puss has earned a reputation as the most venomous caterpillar in the U.S. But then it holes up in a cocoon and emerges as a perfectly harmless fuzzy moth. It’s kind of like if Chucky the killer doll took a sabbatical and came back as Raggdy Andy. To look at, the puss caterpillar doesn’t exactly telegraph “danger don’t touch!” It’s a luxuriantly long-haired rounded hump with a tail, an ambling toupée, something like a furry dolphin or a very miniature cat (which is almost certainly how it got landed with the name “puss,” as in “in Boots”). Concealed within those long hairs, however, are sharp, hollow spines, each equipped at the base with its own reservoir of venom. Brush against the caterpillar, and those spines inject the venom into unfortunate you. And then? “The sting produces an immediate intense burning pain,” details a fact sheet from the University of Florida. Also good to know? The toxicity of the sting increases with the size of the larvae.
It looks like an ambling toupee, a furry dolphin, or a very miniature cat (hence the name “puss”).
Touch Not the Cat
The venomous puss caterpillar is no cuddly kitten. By C A ROLINE K ET TLEW ELL | Illustration by MIR I A M M A RTINCIC
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fall, a flurry of local news stories seized on the apocalyptic spirit of the season: “Weird-looking poisonous caterpillars are on the loose in Virginia,” one headline announced. “Alien hairball sends woman to emergency room,” another read. A third sounded like the trailer from a horror flick: “A bizarre little insect that looks like a walking toupée and squirts venomous pus from knifelike spines is terrorizing Virginia this year.” But were we really coming under assault from hordes of venom-squirting caterpillars? For the record, those walking toupées are puss (not pus) caterpillars. And they are, in fact, venomous. And, yes, one unlucky New Kent woman did land in the ER after a too-close encounter with a puss caterpillar left her with pain that felt, “like a scorching-hot knife passing through the outside of my calf.”
But extension entomologist Eric Day, director of the insect identification lab at Virginia Tech— and a guy who has seen a bug or two in his life— is here to tell you that, no, the caterpillars are not on the attack. “Sometimes the news cycle gets low, and scary bugs make a great story,” says Day. “In no way are we having an invasion of these things.” Still, what is the likelihood that you might come in contact with one? “Very rare,” says Day, who spends a lot of time outdoors yet nevertheless has never encountered a puss caterpillar himself, except when it’s been sent to his lab for identification. The puss caterpillar is the larval stage of the southern flannel moth, a small, innocuous furry yellow creature with a vague resemblance to the Pokémon character Píkachu. But to emerge into mothhood requires first surviving caterpillardom. And that means not getting picked off along the way by the Very Hungry Animal Kingdom. D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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In addition to inflicting severe pain, the touch of the puss can also leave a pattern of blistering red welts on the skin and induce a spreading allergic rash. Less commonly, it can bring on nausea, vomiting, rapid heart beat, low blood pressure, seizures, muscle spasms, and convulsions. Also numbness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and vision problems. “Other than that,” concludes a North Carolina State extension publication cheerily, “the sting is not troublesome.” The reason the puss caterpillar is sometimes erroneously referred to as a “pus” caterpillar seems to be a case of conflating the unfamiliarly archaic name “puss” either with the caterpillar’s venom or with the blistering rash it causes. It is also sometimes known as the “stinging asp,” which is certainly more on point—an asp being a venomous snake. Whatever you want to call it, as the caterpillar goes through its larval molts, it also eats its own castoff skin, including the venomous spikes. It further sustains this admirable efficiency by spinning itself a cocoon from its own hair, which doesn’t seem like a structural material that would pass the Big Bad Wolf test. But the cocoon is in fact quite tough and durable, to the point where empty cocoons can persist long enough to grow a layer of lichen. It seems like a lot of work, because as soon as the adult emerges it expeditiously goes about producing a new generation of venomous offspring and dies soon thereafter. But for a brief, burning moment of glory, the notorious puss caterpillar commandeered the headlines as the most feared and funny-looking venomous caterpillar in America. Caroline Kettlewell is a Richmond-based freelance writer with a particular interest in stories about science, health and the natural world.
VIRGINIA LIVING
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LYH WELCOMES YOU LYH Welcomes you with open arms and invites you to be part of our story. LYHLOVESYOU.COM
Chef Candace Vinson at The Water Dog & Glass House
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HOMEgrown Destinations
Hill City Charm
A flourishing downtown is just one reason to visit Lynchburg now. By PAU L A PE T E R S C H A M BE R S Ph o t o g r a p h y b y S T A C E Y VA N B E R K E L
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T’S GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED
for a weekend getaway: fantastic food, a thriving creative community, and an outdoorsy vibe. Toss in striking architecture, a rich history, and friendly locals, and Lynchburg— a city that boasts five colleges and universities— offers plenty to see and do. The Hill City nickname is no exaggeration. Downtown Lynchburg can feel like a compact San Francisco. Start in Riverfront Park and walk the quarter mile to Court Street. Along the way, you’ll ascend 200 feet—the equivalent of a 19-story building—with help on weekdays from the public elevator. From Court, take 9th Street to Monument Terrace, a 139-step memorial honoring locals lost in our military conflicts, from the Civil War to today. There, at midday on Fridays, you’ll catch the Troop Rally, a weekly gathering and show of support for veterans and active military, held on the bottom steps. Climb the stairs to visit the Old Court House, a Greek Revival building which houses the Lynchburg Museum, where you’ll see exhibits such as the tribute to NASA astronaut and local legend Leland Melvin.
Downtown Lynchburg viewed from across the James River. Above: Tarsha Joyner and her husband Roger of Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats with a platter of their Big AF chocolate chip and lemon cookies.
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A new downtown pedestrian zone, Bluffwalk, attracts the empty nesters and recent grads who’ve flocked to the upscale condos in the area’s renovated historic warehouses. And nearby neighborhoods, like Diamond Hill and Garland Hill, offer architectural eye candy in Federal, Georgian Revival, and Queen Anne homes.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STAYING
“Young people come for the colleges and they’re staying,” says Thorne McCraw, who operates McCraw’s Lamp Shop in the same Civil War-era building where his father once sold furniture. In fact, the influx of post grads has lowered Lynchburg’s average resident-age to a youthful 28.3. Now, McCraw adds, “there’s nightlife, pubs, and restaurants.” “Downtown has great walkability and great places to stay,” adds Rebekah Moody, whose Linen Provisions shares space in McCraw’s shop. It’s a proud comeback story for an area that languished after the city’s first suburban mall, Pittman Plaza, opened in 1960. Suburban housing soon followed, draining downtown’s foot traffic. But a revitalization plan adopted in 2001 has sup-
Michelle Wooldridge, a regular at the Lynchburg Community Market, with an armful of collard greens from Goldman Family Farm.
Thorne McCraw of McCraw’s Lamp Shop and Rebekah Moody of Linen Provisions. Left: LOVEwork by Lynchburg artist Paul Clements, located at the trailhead of Percival’s Island. Right: Aimee Patrick, manager of Live Trendy or Die, tidies a rack of new arrivals. Far right: Dried tea and herbs by the ounce at Live Trendy or Die.
ported business development and funneled more than $50 million into public park and infrastructure improvements. As a result, real estate values downtown have more than doubled over the last decade, according to the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism. You’ll see it in the city’s bustling Community Market, which dates to 1783. On busy Saturdays, market visitors line up early at Country Cooking by Irene, where owner Irene Revelry is famous for her comfort food. It’s also in shops like Ayven Avenue Boutique and Bittersweet, both of which offer stylish women’s clothing, and Spearman Artisanry, with its impressive array of fair-trade items. At Empire Fleet Vintage, a bright, open space tucked behind Greys, a Fifth Street restaurant, you’ll find fashions for everyone along with a selection of home accessories. Along Main, Enchanted Antiques specializes in English, American, and Continental antiques, as well as modern works from Virginia artists. The store’s inventory turns over so quickly that owner Mary Brockman says she “can’t get too attached” to any single piece. The same is true at L. Oppleman Pawn on Main, founded in 1890. Longing for a Fender guitar or an $8,000 aquamarine pendant? You can probably find it here. Also on Main, TaleTellers Fly Shop offers everything from rods and reels to lessons in casting and fly-tying, so you can try your hand at making intricate lures by hand. The folks at TaleTellers can also set up guided fishing trips to the many trout streams in the area. VIRGINIA LIVING
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After graduation, college students are putting down roots in Lynchburg, lowering the average age of residents here to a youthful 28.3 A RICH HISTORY
Named for John Lynch, who took over his family’s ferry boat business in the mid-1700s, this riverfront tobacco town was a hub of shipping and industry well into the 20th century. Back then, Lynchburg was one of the richest cities in the U.S. per capita, as the grand old homes along Rivermont Avenue attest. Thomas Jefferson wasn’t the first to note the area’s charms. But in a ringing endorsement, he built his summer retreat, Poplar Forest, in the nearby town of Forest in 1806. An architectural gem, Poplar Forest now offers living history demonstrations, an ongoing architectural dig, outdoor theater productions, and tours. Later, Lynchburg boasted the world’s fifth-largest shoe manufacturer, the Craddock Terry Shoe Company. Founded in 1888, in its heyday, the company produced 100,000 pairs of shoes a day. The factory closed in 1988, but in 2007, the building was transformed into a boutique hotel bearing the Craddock Terry name.
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HOMEgrown Destinations
Ethan Martin of TaleTellers Fly Shop ties a variation of a “boogie man” fly used to imitate baitfish. Above: Local honey at the Lynchburg Community Market.
Cookies, cupcakes, and a cinnamon roll from Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats.
The city attracts Civil War buffs, too, perhaps fascinated by the fact that Sandusky House served as Union Army headquarters for two days in 1864 during the Battle of Lynchburg. The city was also the South’s largest hospital outpost during the war, with trains delivering the wounded and sick to its 30 military hospitals. And 20 miles to the east, at Appomattox Court House National Park, you can visit the site where Robert E. Lee ended the war when he surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in 1865.
THE ARTS SCENE
At Riverviews Artspace’s rotating gallery shows, you can meet the artists in their studios. While you’re there, try your hand at the WordPlay Wall. Across the street, pint-sized artists and scientists can roam four floors of hands-on activities in Lynchburg’s award-winning children’s museum, Amazement Square. For live performances, check out Opera on the James. This local professional opera company performs Rossini’s Barber of Seville in November. At Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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the impressive collection of American art includes paintings by Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Mary Cassatt. Built in the 1950s under the code-name “Project Y”, the Maier was designed to provide a safe depository for the National Gallery of Art’s collection in the event of an attack.
WHERE TO STAY
Looking for luxury? The pet-friendly Craddock Terry Hotel greets visitors with a giant red shoe
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The Hill City nickname is no exaggeration: downtown Lynchburg can feel like a compact San Francisco.
on the building, a not-so-subtle nod to its factory history. Guest rooms are marked with footwear instead of numbers—so you might find yourself in the “loafer room”—and room service breakfast arrives in a shoe-shine box. At the other end of downtown, The Virginian Lynchburg, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, brings hospitality back to a 1913 building and offers great views from Skyline, their rooftop bar. If Airbnb is more your style, you can find downtown lofts, historic homes, and even a train car overlooking the river.
WHERE TO EAT
Downtown delivers on the food front, too. Start the day at My Dog Duke’s Diner, where breakfast, brunch, and lunch are so popular that lines routinely snake out the door. Downhill from the diner, the Water Dog offers river views with an impressive selection of seafood, including fresh oyster shooters, street tacos, and their signature Water Dog: an all-beef hot dog dressed with seasoned crab meat, scallions, diced tomato, and celery seed. Water Dog owner Dave Henderson traded a job in commercial banking to open this popular spot with his brother, Chris. “I could see what downtown Lynchburg was becoming, and I wanted to be part of it,” Henderson says. “I felt like all that existed was white tablecloth steak-andpotato restaurants. I wanted a place where we could hang out, a brewery feel with music, where kids could run around.” Clearly, Henderson got it right: The Water Dog was named Restaurant of the Year in 2019 by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association. Downtown also boasts No. 7 Rooftop Bar perched above the Bluffwalk with views of the James and the longstanding Depot Grille, located in a former (you guessed it) train depot. For your sweet tooth, visit Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats, owned by Tarsha Joyner, winner of the 2015 Food Network Christmas Cookie Challenge. When she opened her downtown shop in 2016, Joyner knew she “would have to bring the people to me.” And she has. Her cupcakes and ever-changing lineup of macarons proved pandemic-proof, with 2020 her best year
Bootleggers Bourbon + Burgers + Beer on the Bluffwalk. Right: Skyline rooftop bar offers fireside views of downtown Lynchburg.
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HOMEgrown Destinations Raspberry Point oysters with seasonal local apple mignonette and a flight of Virginia beers at Water Dog. Right: Owner Dave Henderson at the bar.
yet. Joyner is among Lynchburg’s biggest fans. “There’s so much to do and see here,” she notes. “It’s got everything you need—you just have to look for it.” Need a little ice cream? Pop into May Lynn’s Creamery—with locations downtown and in the Boonsboro shopping center. Or head to Rolled Cold Creamery for vegan and dairy-free options, even better when dizzled with their homemade rose petal syrup. For handcrafted ice cream sandwiches, stop in Rookie’s newest outpost on Rivermont Avenue. At Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts, the star attraction is made with apple cider sourced from nearby Nelson County. They’re served warm with an ever-changing array of coatings and dips, including maple, cinnamon, Nutella, and cream cheese. Or stop by Chestnut Hill Bakers on
Fort Avenue for a taste of old-school Lynchburg. They’ve been baking for 50 years. And for a true local favorite, grab a counter stool at the Texas Inn—the T-Room to regulars, who know to order the “Cheesy Western,” a cheeseburger topped with an egg and their “famous” homemade sweet relish. For finer dining, the newly remodeled Milano’s offers delectable Italian dishes with flair. And if if Mexican is what you’re craving, there’s always a debate as to whether La Carreta or Mi Patron serves up the best. Our recommendation? Head to Lynchburg and decide for yourself.
Spiked hot mulled cider with allspice berries, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, with a brown sugar and cinnamon-rimmed glass at Skyline rooftop bar.
Paula Chambers has written for Richmond Magazine, Discover Richmond, R-Home, En Forme, and Richmond Bride.
OTHER LYNCHBURG MUST-SEES
Hollins Mill Dam and waterfall, along the Blackwater Creek Trail.
Point of Honor, a former plantation home where historic interpreters capture life in the 19th-century. Old City Cemetery, site of a small collection of museums which tell the story of the 20,000 individuals buried on the grounds of this 27-acre public garden. Take a swing under the large pecan tree opposite the chapel. Anne Spencer’s House and Garden, home to the Harlem Renaissance poet whose garden, open free year-round, includes her private workspace and carefully tended plants and walking paths. Hollins Mill Tunnel, located along the Blackwater Creek Bike Trail, was cut through 508 feet of solid rock in 1852-’53 to make way for the Norfolk & Western railway. Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre, open year-round, offers skiing and snowboarding on snowless slopes.
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> Starters > Drink > Dining Out > Cooking
Starters MILLWOOD MELTS FOR THE BUTTERY
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A local favorite shines with expanding offerings. By Ashley Hunter Clarke County locals have long loved The Locke Store—a modern country store in Millwood offering fresh, made-to-go food along with wine, beer, and local goods—but the opening of the store’s restaurant, The Buttery, has brought even more foodie fanfare. “Millwood was in need of a sit-down restaurant where people could get really delicious, locally sourced food without having to travel out of town,” says Ruth Emma, who owns The Locke Store and The Buttery restaurant with her husband Max. The Buttery’s three-course menu rotates every three weeks. “Executive chef Ellie McMillen and Buttery chef Adam Steudler prepare a seasonally inspired menu, with a primary focus on D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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locally sourced ingredients,” says Emma. “Each menu is carefully paired with wine, beer, and cocktails by our beverage director, Jason Bise, and head bartender Marshal Middleton.” Past menus have included braised beef short rib with barley arancini, beet slaw, and chard, with cocktails like the Stableyard Smash with bourbon, honey-thyme simple syrup, lemon, and acorn bitters. The Buttery team will host a Burgundy Wine Dinner on Nov. 13 and introduce a new menu on the 18th. Diners can also look forward to Sunday Suppers on Nov. 28 and Dec. 19, along with an upcoming expansion of The Locke Store. TheButteryVa.com 37
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GOODtaste Starters
DOCK-TO-DISH Farmasea is making delicious waves in Gloucester.
Casa de Avila’s quesabirria tacos. Below: Al pastor taco plate.
TACO TOUCHDOWN This Herndon taqueria is FedEx Field’s newest vendor.
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HETHER YOU’VE GOT TICKETS
photos (clockwise from top): courtesy of mww group (2), courtesy of farmasea, by brittanny deraffele
on the 50-yard line, are tailgating, or watching from home, no gameday is complete without one crucial element: food. This season at D.C.’s FedEx Field, home of the Washington Football Team, fans can satisfy thirdquarter cravings with local fare. Herndon’s Casa de Avila Tacos is one of the stadium’s newest vendors as winners of the Washington Football Team’s Flavors of the DMV Showcase. Owner Abraham Avila, who opened the taqueria with his wife Stephanie, as well as his mother and sister, beat out entrants from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (aka, “the DMV”) after one of their customers suggested they enter the contest. The family business brings traditional recipes from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Virginia. At FedEx Field, fans can enjoy quesabirria tacos, which feature beef and shredded mozzarella, for an American twist, in tortillas painted with oil from the meat. “The trend of quesabirria is only getting stronger,” says Avila. The menu also offers carnitas tacos and a rotating option of al pastor with pineapple, chicken, or carne asada.
THE BRUNCH MARKET BROWSE AND BRUNCH at Richmond’s
most flavorful shopping experience: The Brunch Market. Founded in 2017 by Brittanny DeRaffele, the jeweler behind the Sun & Selene brand, this curated pop-up market allows visitors to shop local makers while sipping mimosas and enjoying delicious brunch fare. Now, after a 2020 hiatus, The Brunch Market is back with an upcoming date on Dec. 12. This year, market goers can enjoy French omelettes, toasts, and bowls in Pinky’s airy Scott’s Addition dining room and patio space while browsing popular vendors such as Lineage
Avila describes the opportunity of serving as a vendor at FedEx Field as a “huge responsibility,” and hopes to “elevate the game when it comes to concession food.” Facebook: @casadeavilatacos
THE BUZZ IN GLOUCESTER is all about Farmasea, the new restaurant nestled in the old Morgan’s Drug Store (pharmacy—get it?). “We wanted to capture old-timey Gloucester with a nod to Morgan’s,” says William Mitchell, Farmasea’s owner and executive chef, whose neo-Southern, farm-to-table-inspired dishes are earning raves. Mitchell’s kitchen cred includes stints in New York and Charleston, and his Farmasea menu features favorites like chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits. Mitchell’s own riff on Oysters Rockefeller includes off-the-boat Mobjack Bay oysters with Virginia Ham, sautéd kale, and his famous pimento cheese. And his sea scallops are unexpectedly and deliciously paired with an English pea vichyssoise. The trifecta of super-fresh ingredients, inventive presentations, and a thoughtfully curated menu is sure to guarantee Farmasea’s continued success. Stop in for dinner Thursday through Saturday or Sunday brunch. @farmasearestaurant —By Madeline Mayhood
—By Ashley Hunter
Tasty event supports local makers. Goods, Let’s Talk Towels, and Morris and Norris, along with newcomers Giant Lion, and L&M Company. “Being able to gather again and support small businesses that are still hustling to make a living is why we started this event in the first place,” says DeRaffele. “Our network of vendors and makers have really rallied together to stay in business, and we’re excited that we have the opportunity this year to celebrate that.” Get into the Christmas spirit while sipping and shopping. “Our December market is always a fun one with the holiday vibes and gift shopping,” says DeRaffele. TheBrunchMarket.com —By A.H.
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Oysters Rockefeller
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The first Brunch Market at Pinky’s in September.
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GOODtaste Starters
Chickens enjoy ample space and organic feed on Farmer Focus partner Deer Creek Farm in Bridgewater. Right: CEO Corwin Heatwole and his daughter Sierra.
HAPPY FARMERS — HEALTHY CHICKENS Farmer Focus brings better birds to your table.
D
O YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHICKEN
crossed the road? Unless you’re buying from a local farmer or specialty market, it’s hard to know where your chicken comes from. Farmer Focus is changing that. Founded in 2012 with 300 birds by Shenandoah Valley farmer Corwin Heatwole, the business partners with more than 60 like-minded independent farmers in a win-win model: Consumers get fresh 100% USDA organic chicken, while par-
ticipating farmers find a ready market for their wholesome birds. The founders of Farmer Focus handle the business of chicken processing, sales, and distribution, allowing participating farmers to devote their full attention to raising happy, healthy birds. You may have seen the brand in stores: Each package of Farmer Focus chicken includes a fourletter farm ID, tracing the chicken you’re buying to the humane-certified farm where it was raised.
To ensure a consistent product, all processing is centralized. You can find Farmer Focus boneless breasts, thighs, tenders, whole chickens, and more at Publix, Harris Teeter, Kroger, and Lidl supermarkets. Their butterflied and seasoned spatchcocked chicken is perfect for throwing on the grill, while their flavorful chicken livers are ideal in silky homemade pâté. Jason Daugherty of Pleasant Hill Poultry partnered with Farmer Focus four years ago. After raising chickens conventionally for years, he adopted their methods and mission of Happy, Healthy, and Humane farming and says the partnership has been life-changing— for him and his birds. “We continue to strive to be better caretakers for our birds and take great joy and pride in what we do. Healthy chickens are happy chickens. Happy chickens are Farmer Focus Chickens.” FarmerFocus.com —By John Haddad
photos (from top) courtesy of farmer focus (3), by jenna foti
THE SWEETEST THING A Richmond microbakery offers irresistible indulgences.
Winter spice bread with maple glaze. Right: Sourdough French boule.
ON MARKET DAYS, fans of Jenna Foti’s scones, cookies, cakes, and morning buns know to get there early before her supply runs out. Foti launched Richmond’s Saltncinnamon bakery in 2020, offering small batch baked goods made with high quality ingredients. “Our products are truly local and made with lots of love,” she says. Most popular are Foti’s slow-fermented sourdough and fluffy English muffins. “I have been told they are both ‘magical!’” she says. (She’s not exaggerating—we’ve tasted them.) “We have wonderful customers who pre-order every week or come to the market just to purchase these items.” For the holidays, Saltncinnamon’s seasonal specialties include pumpkin and cinnamon pecan scones, autumn tea biscuits, autumn spice cake with maple glaze, cardamom and pistachio morning buns, and an invention she calls, Panescones, “a play on the traditional Panettone holiday sweet bread,” says Foti. Want to give the gift of sweets this Christmas? You can find Saltncinnamon’s goods at Grit Coffee on Libbie Avenue as well as St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market (Saturdays) and Birdhouse Farmers’ Market (Tuesdays). Saltncinnamon.com —By Ashley Hunter
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GOODtaste Drink Goosecup’s day menu features coffee drinks made from beans roasted in-house. Below: Ahad and Zaara Raza.
Goosecup’s Caught in the Rain clarified cocktail.
DOUBLE FUN AT GOOSECUP This Leesburg outpost serves both coffee and craft cocktails.
photos (from top): by angela newton roy (3), courtesy of horton vineyards
W
HEN ZAARA AND AHAD RAZA
moved home to Virginia from Texas, they went searching for the coffee and craft cocktail bars they’d enjoyed in Austin. Coming up empty-handed, the couple decided to open their own. At Goosecup Coffee and Craft Cocktails in Leesburg, the Razas roast their own coffee and have now expanded their food and cocktail offerings. Here, one of Goosecup’s signature recipes, Caught in the Rain, a “clarified” take on the Pina Colada. What are clarified cocktails? The process involves batching a citrus cocktail with milk and allowing the mixture to curdle, which separates the ingredients, stripping away color, cloudiness, and bite. The technique dates back to the 18th century, when liquors were often harsh-tasting and refrigeration was scarce. Once separated,
the drink is fine-strained through a chinois lined with a coffee filter, resulting in a crystal clear, shelf-stable cocktail. Here’s how they do it at Goosecup:
CAUGHT IN THE RAIN In a large container, combine: 10oz Plantation Pineapple Rum 10oz Smith + Cross Jamaican Rum 2.5oz Arak (a traditional Lebanese spirit consisting of grape alcohol and anise) 10oz House Seven Spices Coconut Cream 7.5oz Fresh Lime Juice 10oz Fresh Pineapple Juice Add that mixture to a container with 6oz of whole milk and allow to sit refrigerated overnight. Strain the mixture through a coffee filter-lined chinois. For clearest results, pass through the filter a second time. Bottle your clarified cocktail and enjoy. —By Constance Costas
A passion for sci-fi informs Caitlyn Horton’s Gears and Lace wines. WINEMAKERS LOVE DREAMING UP SPECIAL BLENDS to please their own palates. For
Caitlyn Horton, the result is Gears and Lace, a line of steampunk-themed wines with names drawn from Victorian-era slang. The inspired theme earned Horton, the daughter of Horton Vineyard founders Dennis and Sharon Horton, a feature in Sci-Fi magazine. “Everything I learned about winemaking was on the job,” Horton says. “There was no formal education.” But at 27, she’s a quick study. Her sparkling red, sold under the name Knott and Shuttles (a lacemaking reference) is a personal favorite. “Sparkling reds are out there, but they’re underappreciated,” she notes. “People who don’t love reds, love this,” she says. It’s even attracted committed beer drinkers—an achievement for any winemaker. Her port-style dessert wine, Bone Orchard (2013), is fortified with brandy. After six years of barrel aging, it debuted in 2019, earning 95 points from The National Wine Review along with glowing praise: “It ranks among the finest port-style wines produced in Virginia.” “When we open a bottle for a tasting,” Horton acknowledges, “there’s always a fight over who gets to take the leftovers home.” Bone Orchard also came out a winner among our 2021 Made in Virginia entries. Find out more in our special section in this issue. HortonWine.com —By C.C.
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STEAMPUNK SIPPING
Horton Vineyards’s TitforTat dry red.
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VERULAM FARM
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There is always a great story when you talk to each of our residents. Theirs is a story of love, a fulfilling life, and living all over the country. Early on, these two knew that Lynchburg, Virginia was the right location, and Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg was the best retirement community choice for them. Life for them has never been busier: golf and more golf, pickle ball, weekly trips, swimming, and enjoying dinner with friends at one of three dining venues. Let Westminster Canterbury be your best decision by giving us a call today. Our beautiful, 42-acre campus and nationally recognized LifeCare program are ready to give you a place to tell your story and help you Discover Life Refreshed!
Call 800-962-3520
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501 V.E.S. Road, Lynchburg WCLynchburg.org
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GOODtaste Drink See our Made in Virginia Winner, Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Viognier, on page 97.
GIFTING A BOTTLE: Creative Wrappings
SPIRITED SIPS Craft cocktails and wine, all with the convenience of a can.
photos (from left): courtesy of colony cocktails, by fred + elliott photography
B
IARRITZ. TANGIER. CHARLESTON.
Alluring destinations, yes, but also the artfully composed flavor profiles of Colony Cocktails’ three canned wine creations. Philip and Jessica Miller developed the line, inspired by their travels. “We loved how food and drink had the ability to pull people together from different backgrounds and even languages,” says Jessica. Based in Middleburg, the Millers are “cocktail enthusiasts seeking that well-balanced and flavor-forward drink,” says Jessica, and aim to “give people a craft cocktail experience with the convenience of a can.” The Millers encourage customers to find the cocktail variation that best suits them. “We have three very distinct flavors by design,” says Jessica. “We wanted to create cocktails
that appealed to every palate.” The Charleston mingles wine with bitter lemon, lemongrass, and allspice, and has “stronger bitter flavors,” akin to a Negroni, says Jessica. The “clean and brightly flavored” Biarritz features juniper berries and lemon. The fruit-forward Tangier joins tart grapefruit with rosemary and cardamom. The wine-based cocktails are available at Whole Foods and other select retailers throughout the state. Colony Cocktails has also launched e-commerce and is available to ship to Virginia and across the nation. Through the company’s Sip to Give program, 10 percent of profits are donated to Feeding America and City Harvest. Take a taste to find your canned cocktail destination. ColonyCocktails.com —By Ashley Hunter
BEST BOTTLES FOR GIFTING
No matter how thoughtful, giving a “naked” bottle of wine can send an unintended message: “Here, I swung by Kroger just for you.” But because gift-wrapping a bottle with a giraffe neck can be tricky, we hit on a simple solution: Run a band of pretty gift wrap or scrapbook paper around the middle, tie a bow, add a few berries, and you’ve got a festive gift dressed for any occasion. A metallic Sharpie is ideal for writing on tags—and works directly on the glass, too. And for friends with a sense of humor? Try slipping your bottle into a holiday sock, tying it up with a ribbon, and finishing with a tag. —By Constance Costas
Virginia-made libations make quick but thoughtful gifts.
GIVING WINE OR SPIRITS over the holidays ensures you’ll always find
a perfect fit, especially when choosing special editions from Virginia’s wineries, distilleries, or breweries. Need it now? Check ABC stores, neighborhood wine shops, or visit VirginiaWine.org/Find-Wine.
BUBBLES: Locally
made sparkling wine is widely available, so it’s hard to pick a favorite. ThibautJanisson Winery and Trump Winery, both near Charlottesville, are among Virginia’s oldest producers of genuine methode champenoise bubbly. TJWinery.com; TrumpWinery.com
BEER: Many Virginia breweries make special holiday flavors, but the original Christmas beer is Gingerbread Stout by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond. A cult favorite since it debuted in 2011, Gingerbread Stout has inspired a dozen variations, including Christmas Morning (with coffee), Christmas Pancakes (with maple syrup), and Christmas Island (aged in rum barrels with coconut), which recently medaled at the Great American Beer Festival. Hardywood.com
WINE: A holiday label makes gifting local wine more fun. Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, James River Cellars Winery in Glen Allen, and Potomac Point Vineyard and Winery in Stafford are among the Virginia wineries offering festive bottles this season. FabbioliWines.com; JamesRiverCellars.com; PotomacPointWinery.com
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SPIRITS: Treat your cocktail-loving friends to something different this year. Belle Isle Craft Spirits in Richmond has distilled the flavors of the holiday season into two limited-edition varieties of moonshine, Pumpkin Pie and Peppermint Patty. Plus, look for the upcoming barrel-aged version of Belle Isle’s Honey Habanero moonshine. BelleIsleCraftSpirits.com —By Mindy Kinsey
VIRGINIA LIVING
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center portrait by amy and jackson smith
Crispy fried organic chicken. Clockwise this page: The Marigold bar; roasted cauliflower with tamarind tahini sauce; Robert and Molly Hardie flanking Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten; preserved cherry sour.
Marigold Blossoms at Keswick Hall The latest in Chef Jean-Georges’ global collection arrives in style.
By S T E PH A N I E G A NZ | Photography by SE R A PE T R A S
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HEN A WORLD-RENOWNED
chef chooses Keswick (population 4,304) for his latest outpost, it’s a coup. But after Keswick Hall’s extravagant renovations, the luxury resort makes a fitting home for Marigold, the newest showstopper
in Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s portfolio of 40-some restaurants, scattered across the world in cities like New York, London, and Tokyo. For Keswick Hall owners, Robert and Molly Hardie, Marigold is their gift to Charlottesville, one that’s equally suited for a casual dinner with VIRGINIA LIVING
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friends or a special celebration. With its stunning, panoramic views and seasonal Southern fare elevated by French and Asian influences, Marigold is more than a restaurant, it’s an event. Stepping inside, past the outdoor petanque court, I feel instantly transported, as though the day’s cares have been checked with my coat. The grand entrance, paneled in rustic wood, gives off a Pacific Coast vibe. Inside, the cathedral-like dining room seats 130 with room for 70 more on the patio, which twinkles with string lights and boasts a massive stone fireplace. But it’s the bluetiled bar, buzzing with French bistro energy, that beckons guests to start with a cocktail. Beverage Director Sean Rouch collaborated with the Jean-Georges team to create a cocktail menu that highlights local, seasonal ingredients, often plucked from the herb garden on the property. Special attention was paid to selecting Virginia and French wines that pair equally well with the dinner menu’s plant-based options, of which there
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GOODtaste Dining Out From left: Beverage Director Sean Rouch, Keswick Hall Executive Chef John Hoffman, and Marigold Chef de Cuisine Luther Dowdy.
Salted caramel popcorn ice cream sundae. Below: Ahi tuna tartare.
is a delightful abundance. I start with the fennel mezcalita cocktail, which combines a smoky fennel-infused Banhez mezcal with elderflower, tarragon, lemon, and cardamom for a surprising riff on a margarita. On the fruitier side of the drink menu, the raspberry lychee bellini is tart, sweet, and effervescent, with Crémant d’Alsace sparkling wine. Chef de Cuisine Luther Dowdy, who worked directly with Vongerichten to execute the menu, is a Virginia outdoorsman who takes an assured approach to familiar Southern ingredients. But you also sense Dowdy’s impressive technical skill, honed during his seven years as chef de cuisine at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery in Manhattan. Raw courses precede appetizers on the dinner menu, so we begin with the ahi tuna tartare. Impeccable ruby tuna is dressed in an aromatic ginger dressing and gilded with paper-thin radishes, arranged like fish scales. Service feels remarkably polished for such a new restaurant, evidenced by the arrival, tableside, of a white country loaf and an olive focaccia, both fluffy and supple. You can tell much about a restaurant by its bread, and this is a good sign. Asian influences are key to Vongerichten’s cuisine, and the crispy sushi dish is textured perfection—silky fish juxtaposed with crunchy fried rice. The sashimi with spicy white ponzu is all about the flavors of tart ponzu and peppery wasabi against the clean yellowfin tuna, hamachi, and Faroe island salmon. As we move on to the appetizers, we find four precisely seasoned corn and Thai basil potstickers swimming in soy-lime ginger dressing, a standout course. Next, a thin and chewy Neapolitan pizza comes bubbling and freckled with char from the wood fired oven. Ours was an expression of luxury presented simply: black truffles, mild fontina, a wee salad of dressed frisée on top, and nothing more. The pasta and pizza menu is where season-
Impeccable ruby tuna is dressed in an aromatic ginger dressing and gilded with paper-thin radishes, arranged like fish scales. ality is on full display. In fall and winter, squash, beets, and brussel sprouts from nearby Oakdale Farm take center stage. Marigold’s menu gives equal attention to vegetarian selections. No longer an afterthought for reluctant chefs, the plant-based offerings are some of the finest options on the menu. The roasted cauliflower is caramelized and piquant, with a bright yellow, lemony turmeric tahini sauce through D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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which each bite should be dragged. For our main course, we decide to revel in the magnificence of the moment, indulging in a whole roasted lobster with shoestring fries, and though the lobster was expertly prepared to bring out a deep, savory flavor, the chip-like fries were less satisfying. Batter-fried chicken feels like a French chef’s cheeky nod to the American South, and it’s unlike any fried chicken you’ve tasted—enrobed in a crispy tempura batter and paired with a delicately spiced sauce plus sautéed greens that are the surprising star of the plate. The dessert course is a study in classics—a warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream isn’t too far from the molten lava cakes Jean-Georges popularized more than 30 years ago. And it’s baked so expertly, it feels altogether new. All the fun is loaded into the salted caramel ice cream sundae, which tops the subtle ice cream with candied peanuts, popcorn, hot fudge, and whipped cream. It’s a celebration in a tall glass. Marigold has been a vision in the minds of the Hardies for years, and its opening comes with a multi-million dollar renovation and reopening of Keswick’s hotel, with Vongerichten overseeing the food for the entire operation. What brought this celebrated international chef to Keswick? Vongerichten was attracted to the gorgeous setting with its access to fresh, seasonal ingredients as well as the opportunity to bring people together. “In Marigold,” Vongerichten says, “we wanted to create a social experience where you can share great food with great friends. To me, that is one of the last great experiences in life.” Stephanie Ganz has always been obsessed with food—she cooked professionally—and she’s been writing about it all along. Now living in Richmond, she has been published in The Local Palate, Eater, and Bon Appétit. Follow her at @salganz.
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GOODtaste Cooking entertain. The food can be prepared in advance and keeps perfectly at room temperature. Hosts can even order individual tasting boards if guests don’t want to share. And, of course, everyone takes pictures. It’s this visual “wow” factor that’s driven their popularity: “The generation that grew up on social media is now of hosting age,” says Katie Huger, who owns Long Board.
“It hit quick,” says Emmie Lewis, owner of RVA Cheese Girl, of the recent charcuterie craze. Lewis offers large-scale graze tables, tasting boards, and individual charcuterie cones, pictured here.
The visual “wow” factor has driven the popularity of charcuterie boards. None of this is new, of course. In 15th-century France, local charcutiers produced a range of dried, salted, or cooked meats, rillettes, and pâtés, which varied by region. Italians, too, contributed a spectacular assortment of cured meats—prosciutto, pancetta, and soppressata—both pairing them with the world’s best wines. A successful charcuterie board is a work of art, says Huger. “If you really want it to be beautiful, practice,” she advises. “The more you do it, the better you’re going to get.” Here, we offer a paint-by-numbers guide to building a gorgeous charcuterie board with a tempting mix of ingredients that invites guests to mix and match, creating new flavors with every bite.
Party on a Platter Charcuterie boards are shareable, infinitely adaptable, and camera-ready.
By PH A E DR A H I SE | Photography by T Y L E R DA R DE N S t y l i n g b y D E B I S H AW C R O S S
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he bites we crave when sipping have been elevated to new heights, thanks to the proliferation of kaleidoscopic charcuterie “grazing boards” (remember when they were meat and cheese platters?). These artful arrangements now outpace restaurant #foodporn on social media. “It hit quick,” says Emmie Lewis, who owns RVA Cheese Girl. “When I started in March of 2020, I was the only one doing this. A year later there were 18 others just in Richmond.” The trend grew out of the spike in stay-at-home socializing in 2020, when home cooks suddenly had plenty of time to create elaborately patterned platters using cured meats, cheeses, fruits, olives, spreads, nuts—and whatever else they had on hand.
Now, these “adult Lunchables”—as Business Insider dubbed them—have spawned a subset of charcuterie (pronounced “shar-ku-tuh-ree”) purveyors: There are caterers, like The Cornichon in Ashburn, and wedding specialists like The Honey Brie in Virginia Beach. Restaurants like Grisette, in Richmond, are built on a charcuterieand-cheese concept. Small shops like Long Board Charcuterie in Virginia Beach sell not just premade boards and ingredients, but picnic accesso-
ries. There are even food trucks, like Graze Charcuterie in Hampton and Kass and Cure Board Co. in Charlottesville, which make the rounds from wineries to local festivals and backyard events. Hosts can buy ingredients and create a board, purchase one ready-made, or order one online from companies like Boundless Boards in Wytheville. Partying solo? Lewis, of RVA Cheese Girl, makes single-serving charcuterie “cones.” Today, grazing boards are a low-stress way to VIRGINIA LIVING
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1. Sketch in the underlying structure Start with one to three cured meats and one to three cheeses in a mix of flavors, textures, shapes, and sizes. For example, the silkiness of mild prosciutto contrasts well with spicy dry-aged salami, or large slices of pale capicola with small circles of dark red pepperoni. For cheeses, a soft brie works well with a firm aged gouda or stout wedge of aged parmesan. Selecting a mix of goat, cow, and sheep’s milk cheese also builds in flavor variety. Arrange these in lines or groups on the board in a balanced format, leaving gaps. In general, slice the meats and harder cheeses, leaving softer cheeses intact, and experiment with folding or rolling larger slices of meat. PRO TIP: TAKE PHOTOS AS YOU GO TO GET A CLEARER PERSPECTIVE OF THE ARRANGEMENT.
2. Fill the outline with color and texture Dab in dots and blocks of color. Citrus segments, berries, figs, grapes, dried apricots, olives, shelled pistachios, and pickled vegetables all introduce fresh colors, flavors, and textures. Slice or cut ingredients into bite-sized servings and cut grape stems to create small bunches. Splash on mustards, preserves, or honeycomb— firm condiments directly on the board, runny ones nestled into small containers. Got a holiday gift jam or chutney buried in the cabinet? Open and add it to the mix. PRO TIP: AIM TO INCLUDE SOMETHING SWEET, SOMETHING SPICY, AND SOMETHING SOUR.
3. Dot the masterpiece with final highlights Time to accessorize. Set out a companion plate or basket of crackers and breads (keep the flavors simple so they won’t compete with board ingredients). Add small knives, spreaders, spoons, and picks as needed, and include a waste bowl for
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Stock Provisions paté de campagne.
The Virginia Chutney Company mango chutney.
Goats R Us garlic and dill chevre.
Olli Salumeria sopresseta pepperoni and calabrese.
Meadow Creek Dairy Appalachian cow’s milk cheese.
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GOODtaste Cooking pits, stems, rinds, and peels. If desired, top cheeses with edible flower petals like marigolds, nasturtium, or violets. You can also add a few herb sprigs like dill, fennel, basil, rosemary, or chives. Serve with a stack of small plates, if desired, and plenty of napkins! PRO TIP: PREP ANY EXTRA MEATS AND LEAVE EXTRA CHEESES AT ROOM TEMPERATURE TO REPLENISH THE BOARD AS NEEDED.
When it comes to charcuterie boards, practice makes perfect. Invite friends over to help you develop this new skill—fortunately, any artistic “mistakes” are tasty. Phaedra Hise is the former food editor for Virginia Living and writes frequently about food and restaurants. She lives in Richmond, enthusiastically gardening things that her chef-husband cooks.
A grazing board is a creative way to showcase Virginia’s deep farming history. Hubs peanuts.
Mountain Branch Creamery’s Greenfields cheese.
THE GRAZE CRAZE A grazing board is a creative way to showcase Virginia’s deep farming history. Consider featuring a few of these local ingredients at your next gathering, along with a Virginia wine. Pâté and cured salami from Stock Provisions, CHARLOTTESVILLE StockProvisions.com Cured meats from Olli Salumeria, MECHANICSVILLE Olli.com Appalachian or Grayson cheeses from Meadow Creek Dairy, GALAX MeadowCreekDairy.com Goat cheese from Caromont Farm, ESMONT CaromontCheese.com
Robin Apiary honey.
Aged gouda, cheddar, or Camembert from Locksley Farm, LOUDOUN COUNTY TheAgDistrict.com
Olli Salumeria salami.
Plum or mango chutney from the Virginia Chutney Company, FLINT HILL VirginiaChutney.com Honey from Elysium Honey, which manages 175 hives across Virginia. ElysiumHoney.com Salted peanuts from Hubs, SEDLEY HubsPeanuts.com
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Caromont Farms raw goat cheese.
Stock Provisions pastrami and headcheese.
The Whole Ox chorizo.
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HOUSE+Garden > Makers > Décor > Trends > Design > Garden Design
Makers FOR TILE ARTIST JOAN GARDINER, ANYTHING GOES Clients covet her fanciful custom designs. By Jill Devine | Photography by Ryan Donnell “I love a fun challenge,” says tile maker Joan Gardiner, looking up from a set of oversized Van Gogh prints and smiling in anticipation. “And these will be gorgeous.” Gardiner is the most sought-after designer of custom tile in Loudoun County. Here, those who patiently wait for her commissions have one thing in common: an appreciation for “the beauty and irregular imperfections of handcrafted art,” she notes. There’s fun, too, in the collaborative process. “Sometimes they have an image or theme in mind, but they aren’t sure how to express it with tile. I offer ideas and, together, we create a design that is completely their own.” For clients Jacqui and Jacob Porter, Gardiner will capture Van Gogh’s irises in large clay panels for their poolside space in Upperville. Her Tree of Life panel, complete with birds, already graces their summer kitchen. Gardiner’s work, which often features the foxes, hounds, barn owls, and pickup trucks of rural life, “adds warmth and character” to a room, Jacob says.
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> Makers
NLESS YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO
wrangle an invitation from a homeowner, the best place to see Gardiner’s work is in the libraries, schools, and community centers of Loudoun. Her favorite, she says, adorns Leesburg’s Rust Library teen room, where her tiles trace a timeline of historic events with depressed-bowl tiles highlighting the life of library benefactor, A.V. Symington. “I was given enormous artistic freedom,” says Gardiner, who considers these works her greatest accomplishment. “It was a dream experience.” Chang Liu, director, Loudoun County Public Library, says she’s “a huge fan of Joan’s work,” adding, “I am inspired by her boundless creativity and so proud that we feature her unique tiles—they are truly a focal point of our libraries.” Gardiner’s studio, Unison Pottery and Tile, is cluttered with the remnants of her work—a blue and white delft flower tile here, celadon panels of horses and rabbits there, and hundreds of dusty, ceramic molds stacked everywhere. When designing for herself, Gardiner unleashes her imagination: an enormous clay pterodactyl soars through the ceiling above the fireplace in her house, while a throng of camera-wielding paparazzi line a shower stall. Gardiner was 22 when she moved to tiny Unison (population, 30) from Washington, D.C. “I wanted a place where I could be near horses and build a kiln.” A dashing neighbor, writer John Rolfe Gardiner, won her heart when he flexed his carpentry skills to resurrect a dilapidated blacksmith shed on her property. “He gave me a studio for my kiln, so I knew I must marry him,” she laughs. Before long, Gardiner was making ceramic platters, mugs, soap dishes, and teapots. “I don’t get excited about creating art unless it has a practical purpose,” she explains. But when she made her first tile, she was enchanted. Tiles, she realized, were the perfect marriage of art and purpose. Enter Steuart W. Weller, beloved founder of Weller Tile and Mosaics in Ashburn, now long closed. “If it wasn’t for Mr. Weller, I would not
be in business.” When Gardiner called Weller to install a series of alphabet tiles for her kitchen, he saw a market for Gardiner’s designs and introduced her to philanthropist John Dana Archbold of Standard Oil. The somewhat eccentric Archbold was building a “spooky tower” at his Foxlease Farm in Upperville and commissioned spider tiles for a bathroom. Gardiner, who loves horses, connects easily with hunt country clients looking to personalize their homes while waving off thoughts of resale value. She also makes a popular line of handcrafted cicada vases for local boutique Crème de la Crème. “She’s a Virginia treasure who deserves recognition,” says Dana Reuter, owner of the Red Fox Inn & Tavern in Middleburg. After meeting Gardiner through their shared beekeeping hobby, Reuter and her husband Turner commissioned three celadon panels for their kitchen and bar. In one, a girl casts a fly rod while a man shoots pheasant. Turkey and grouse line a backsplash along with a sprinkling of dogs, corks, and corkscrews. “Joan’s work is personalized,” says Reuter. “The fly fisher in the panel is my daughter; the hunter is my husband. Joan designed it based it on a photo I showed her.” When she expanded her Upperville kitchen, Laura Campbell, a retired Library of Congress librarian, knew just who to call. “I wanted something that honors my husband’s love of vegetable gardening,” she says. Campbell pulled fresh garlic bulbs from the garden to show Gardiner what she had in mind. The resulting tile backsplash so closely matched the garlic’s subtle textures that it took her breath away. “Right down to the fine tangle of roots, it was absolutely perfect,” says Campbell. “I look at it when I’m cooking and smile every day.”
When she made her first tile, Gardiner was enchanted. It was the perfect marriage of art and purpose.
Jill Devine is a freelance writer who has lived in and shared stories about Virginia for most of her life. She formerly worked as a kindergarten assistant for Loudoun County Public Schools. VIRGINIA LIVING
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HOUSE + Garden
Gum Spring Library
WHERE TO SEE JOAN GARDINER’S ARTFUL TILES In her public art, Gardiner celebrates the history, nature, and culture of Loudoun and nearby areas. See it for yourself at these locations: Ashburn Library Four fossil panels. Gum Spring Library, Stone Ridge. Wildlife mural. Middleburg Library Panel featuring wildlife and a man sowing crops. Purcellville Library A tile wall in the lobby tells the town’s history. Alphabet tiles in the children’s section, with original rhymes by author John R. Gardiner. Rust Library, Leesburg. Murals in the lobby, teen and children’s rooms, study rooms, and more. Sterling Library A mural tells the story of the area’s diverse local population and how they traveled there. Loudoun Valley Community Center, Purcellville. Native animals and beloved community members. Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville. Barn history and a donor wall. Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. Community project including works of other artists. St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Purcellville. Baptismal font tiles. All Souls Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C. Stations of the cross. Tabard Inn, Washington, D.C. Bar and bath tiles include donkeys, elephants, and “Tabard Man.”
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BRYAN RAMSEY DESIGN As a Virginia native and garden designer, Bryan knows the vast selection of plant species unique to the Mid-Atlantic region. He has designed gardens across the U.S., guided by a deep understanding of plant culture. Bryan’s extensive design experience provides a wealth of ideas and tricks of the trade. His portfolio includes an endless list of high-end residential and custom commercial design utilizing contemporary and rare plantings, distinctive classic design, garden structures, gates, fencing, follies, and more.
Bryan Ramsey Owner/Landscape Designer
Bryan Ramsey Design celebrates the natural beauty of the environment, blending detailed garden artistry with sound sustainable horticultural practices.
“Life is too short for ugliness”. —BRYAN RAMSEY
Let us lead you down the garden path.
bryanramseydesign.com
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Imagine the possibilities of entertaining in a new and beautiful space.
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Custom Cabinetry and Design 1913 Commonwealth Drive Charlottesville, VA 22901
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Victoria Bombardieri idealcabinets.com 434-220-6092
10/16/21 4:29 PM
The Gifting Muse Museum shops yield inspired holiday gifts.
I
f you prefer your shopping with a side-order of art and history, museum gifts shops around the state yield some great giftable home-decor finds. From local art to tableware to historic reproductions, we’ve scoured Virginia’s museums and historic sites to bring you a few of our favorites.
WISE CHOICE
Alabaster has been prized by artists through the centuries for its translucence and softness, which lends itself to intricate carving. With gold leaf detailing and glass eyes, these Alabaster Owls from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts make striking additions to any decor and are made by a family who have been working in alabaster for generations. $88-$225. VMFAShop.com
PRESIDENTIAL SNUFFER
Candle snuffers kept wax from dripping on 18th-century dining tables—and they’re just as handy today. This one from Mount Vernon is adorned with the “flying griffin”—a winged lion with an eagle's head—from George Washington’s family coat-of-arms. The handle on the Classic Pewter Flying Griffin Candle Snuffer is marked with “MV”(for Mount Vernon) and measures 5½ inches. Made in the U.S.A. by Salisbury Pewter. $39.95. Shops.MountVernon.org
SPLISH SPLASH
Add a twist to your holiday decor with this shimmering sequined Mermaid Tail Stocking from the Mariner’s Museum in Norfolk. With fake fur trim, a quilted fin and flannel lining, this unique take on a Christmas tradition also features reversible, metallic sequins that change color. Available in Green, Royal Blue, or Light Blue. $19.95 each. Shop.MarinersMuseum.org
JUST PEACHY
Thomas Jefferson so favored this low-slung Campeachy Chair, he called it “that kind of easy chair.” With its leather seat, x-frame, generous arm rests, and serpentine crest rail, the Campeachy looks just as stylish today. Find it at the Monticello Shop. $2,025 MonticelloShop.org
PLUSH PILLOW
Celebrate Virginia with Cat Studio’s hand-emboidered pillow featuring the state’s cities, historic figures, and landmarks. It’s available from The Valentine’s museum store, which offers a Richmond version, too. Made of 100% organic cotton and finished with a three-button colsure, each 20x20-inch pillow can take up to a week to embroider and is signed by the artisan on the tag. $196. TheValentine.org
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> Décor
DECK YOUR TREE
From Dolley Madison to Alexander Hamilton, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass, eight historical figures are represented in hand-embroidered ornaments available from James Madison’s Montpelier Museum Shop. Each six-inch-high ornament features charming handmade detailing and embellishments. $14.99 each. Shop.Montpelier.org
PERFECT PLANTER
Fashioned after a pattern inspired by the dining room chairs in the Governor’s Palace, this oval Bamboo Trellis Planter, in bright meadow green-on-cream porcelain, is perfect for showcasing fresh flowers or multiple plants. Available from the Colonial Williamsburg shop Brick & Trellis and reminiscent of the Chippendale style, this handsome vessel is equally at home on a sideboard or table. $399.99. Shop.ColonialWilliamsburg.com
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
This Bumblebee Door Knocker from Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond is cast in solid brass and hand finished. A charming addition to any door, it guarantees a hearty welcome. $145. Shop.LewisGinterBotanicalGarden.org
BLACKBIRD FLY
Crafted of steel, this Bird Sculpture from artist Sally Myers was inspired by folk art, African art, and the nature surrounding Myers on her Shenandoah Valley farm. “Though the steel is now rigid,” she says, “I hope you have a feeling that you might suddenly see one of these birds turning its head or taking flight.” Find it at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester. $135. TheMSV.org
STROKES OF BRILLIANCE
Brighten your table with the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Brushstrokes table runner ($50) and coordinating dinner napkins ($25, set of 2) inspired by the exuberant abstract paintings of artist Alma Thomas. These artful table linens are handcrafted in Norfolk of 100% cotton. Shop.Chrysler.org
FIREFIGHTING HISTORY
Hand-Stitched Leather Fire Buckets held water or sand at the ready in 18th-century homes and remained a crucial firefighting implement for three centuries. This reproduction from George Washington’s Mount Vernon shop is handcrafted in Virginia and neatly emblazoned with Washington’s name. Perfect for storing kindling by the fire. $475. Shops.MountVernon.org
SWELL SIPPING
Modern wildlife artist Charley Harper’s colorful geometric illustrations often turned up on the cover of Ford Times, the Ford Motor Company magazine. This Set of Four Glasses, from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, features Harper’s conic cardinal with berries, blue jay, green jay, and Western tanager. $60. VMFAShop.com
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HOUSE + Garden
> Trends
Current Obsessions Six designers share their favorite finds for 2022. By SHER RY MOELLER
W
ITH AN EYE ON THE LATEST
photos (from left): by stacy zarin goldberg, by greg powers, courtesy of page bond gallery, by laurey glenn
colors, finishes, and furnishings in the world of home décor, six interior designers from across Virginia share the design finds they’re loving now and what’s on trend for 2022. One thing is certain— wallpaper is here to stay. From wood veneer to large scale to classic block prints, it’s a quick way to refresh any space. Artisanal wares and chinoiserie-style elements, as well as statement lighting, are also in the limelight. Find out how these pros are incorporating their current obsessions into home design around the state.
1. WOOD VENEER WALLCOVERINGS Pamela Harvey, of Pamela Harvey Interiors in Oak Hill, says she is “more than a little obsessed with wood veneer wallcoverings,” such as the Facet line by Innovations. “Wallpaper overall is still running hot,” she says. “For those who can’t commit to a busy pattern or who may want something that feels more organic, the wood veneer makes a smart choice,” Harvey adds. When used as a wallpaper, a veneer—or paper thin cut of wood—is easier to install and more sophisticated than shiplap, says Harvey, plus it pairs well with over-scaled, colorful art. PamelaHarveyInteriors.com
2. LARGE SCALE WALLPAPER “Lately I’ve been obsessed with large-scale papers that have lots of movement,” says Lucy Williams of Lucy Williams Interiors in Norfolk. She incorporated the classic Brunschwig & Fils Bird and Thistle toile wallpaper in beige, into a centrally located dining room with no windows. “This wallpaper has an organic look and feel that will not only bring the outdoors in, but will also take away the weight of the walls, creating a light and airy feel and a beautiful space for dining and entertaining,” Williams says. Layer a striped rug over a sisal and a room becomes even more warm and welcoming. LucyWilliamsInteriors.com
“Lately I’ve been obsessed with largescale papers that have lots of movement.” —Lucy Williams, Lucy Williams Interiors
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3. CLASSIC BLOCK PRINTS In a recent butler’s pantry refresh, Lizzie Cox, of Richmond-based Lizzie Cox Interiors, incorporated all the things she is loving right now—block print wallpaper, saturated paint colors, and pretty printed linen. “I never tire of a classic block print wallpaper,” says Cox, who used Soane Seaweed Lace in Leaf Green linen wallpaper, in this project. “I love to layer different patterns, too.” To finish the space, the designer painted the older cabinets in high-gloss Sherwin-Williams Marea Baja, SW9185, a rich, saturated blue that coordinates with one of her all-time favorite whimsical fabrics by Radish Moon called Radish for a total transformation. “It’s easier to update a kitchen or butler’s pantry than one may think,” she adds. LizzieCox.com 4. ARTISANAL WARES Namay Samay, an artisanal fabric house with globally appealing hand weaves, embroideries, and prints, is producing “some of my favorite fabrics in Bhutan and India using native weavers and embroiderers,” says Josh Hildreth of Josh Hildreth Interiors in Flint Hill. He is especially keen on the woven stripes with textures and colors that are so different from machine-loomed products.
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Piero Fenci, Barge #1, 2019. Low fire ceramic. Left: Innovations wood veneer wallcovering with statement art, by Pamela Harvey. Right: Butler’s pantry with Soane wallpaper, Radish fabric, and Sherwin-Williams Marea Baja paint, by Lizzie Cox. Below: Entry foyer with Tetra light, by Tracy Morris.
Another favorite find is the work of ceramicist Piero Fenci, which Hildreth spotted at the Page Bond Gallery in Richmond. For a bit of whimsy, he also suggests in-stock lampshades by British fabric maker Fermoie, to add character and soul to a room. “I plan to add red or green shades to a chandelier in my home this holiday season,” he says. JoshHildrethInteriors.com 5. CHINOISERIE-STYLE ELEMENTS Some design elements never go out of style. For Edith-Anne Duncan of Edith-Anne Duncan Design, in Blacksburg, chinoiserie-style furnishings are classic and approachable. “I love the chinoiserie style for its sophisticated, casual elegance and motifs,” the designer says, including the elements of bamboo and colorful frames. “I’m currently obsessed with the bamboo-inspired Step Ottoman from Fursatile,” says Duncan. Handcrafted in Italy, this three-in-one, multi-purpose ottoman features bamboo turnings and classic chinoiserie styling. The Chelsea House Tidewater Cabinet is another one of Duncan’s chinoiserie-style favorites featuring a white-painted wood frame with antique mirror-backed doors. EdithAnneDuncan.com
6. STATEMENT LIGHTING With lighting being such an important part of the home, Tracy Morris, of McLean-based Tracy Morris Design, says her goal is always to provide the best quality lighting in the most interesting manner. “Many of my clients love a lanternstyle light fixture; however, they can be a bit traditional or don’t have enough interest,” says Morris. “That is not the case with The Urban Electric Co. Tetra fixture.” While the materials are classic, the shape has a much-needed transitional edge. “Also, you can select the finish,
accent, and glass options based on your preferred style,” adds Morris. If considering painting, too, Morris suggests going with a brighter, whiter tone, such as Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak, OC-20. TracyMorrisDesign.com Sherry Moeller is a D.C. native and has served as editor in chief of Capitol File magazine and editorial director for Washington Spaces. She earned a journalism degree from the University of Maryland at College Park and now heads MoKi Media. @sherrymoeller
Fursatile’s bamboo-inspired Step Ottoman in ivory and shiloh white.
“I love the chinoiserie style for its sophisticated, casual elegance and motifs.” —Edith-Anne Duncan, Edith-Anne Duncan Design
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HOUSE + Garden
> Design
The Magic in the Mix
portrait by adam ewing
A 300-year-old Powhatan house gets a contemporary update. By C ONS TA NCE C O S TA S | Interior photography by M A L I A Z I M A
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UILT IN THE MID-1720 s, Manakin, located in Powhatan County, traces its origins to Pierre Chastain, a leader of the area’s earliest French Huguenot settlers. “In its 300-year history, the house has had only four owners,” says Cheryl Goddard who, with her husband Steve, became the fifth when they purchased it in 2014. To update the interior while honoring its rich history and classic architecture, the couple enlisted the help of Richmond interior designer
Janie Molster. “I wanted the home to exude warm Southern elegance with light and cheerful modern elements,” says Cheryl. “But as a Virginia native, I also appreciate its history and wanted to respect that.” She’d never worked with a professional interior designer before, but Goddard found a collaborative partner in Molster. “I’m pretty traditional,” she says. “I didn’t want to go too modern. But Janie opened up a world of possibilities to me.” No stranger to historic home projects, Molster In the living room, an antique Gustavian wall screen pairs with portrait medallions made of papier mâché.
Cheryl and Steve Goddard
says the magic lies in the mix—with antiques living happily alongside contemporary fabrics and artwork. “Without a good mix of old and new, a room falls flat,” she says. “With it, you’re intrigued.” “Once we saw the property, we were thrilled to be a part of it,” Molster adds. “The house is spectacular, with 12-foot ceilings and lovely millwork. They had furnished only a couple of rooms, so we were starting with an empty shell.”
WHERE TO START? “FALL IN LOVE”
Armed with photos, Goddard was a dream client who’d done her homework, Molster says. “She knew her taste, so we hit the ground running.” But where to begin? “When you’re faced with an empty space, you’ve just got to fall in love with something—it could be a wallpaper, a piece of furniture, a painting,” says Molster. “There’s no right or wrong place to start.” Here, it was the settee in the front hall—which Molster stripped down to the muslin for an informal feel—that got the design ball rolling. “The settee dictated the height of the trumeau mirror, which led us to the wallpaper and the painting,” says Molster. “Everything flowed from there.” A pair of antique French barometers in the foyer honors the home’s original owner, while an abstract painting by artist Steven Cushner adds a contemporary touch. To invoke the warm feeling Goddard had in mind, they added antique Turkish carpets and velvet pillows in soft shades of pink and salmon. An antique Swedish sideboard anchors the space, while the patterned wallpaper by Nina Campbell unites the gracious front and back hallway spaces. The carriage lantern in the front hall feels traditional but, historically, Molster notes, these were limited to exterior use. “Interior lanterns are a modern invention that came later. We chose this one as counterpoint to the crystal chandelier in the dining room. It’s not prissy—it’s an architectural fixture that adds weight to the room.”
SNAP DECISIONS BASED ON TRUST
Although the homeowners had antique pieces of their own, the formal rooms were unfurnished. “They came to the table knowing that it would be important to add some significant antique pieces,” Molster explains. She scoured antique fairs and markets to find pieces that would look as if they’d VIRGINIA LIVING
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In the entry hall, an 18th-century settee pairs with an abstract painting by artist Steven Cushner and antique French barometers—reflected in the trumeau mirror— a nod to the home’s French Huguenot history.
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Below: The dining room features a custom hand-painted wallpaper mural by Gracie. Opposite page, exterior: The house sits near the original French Huguenot settlement, “Manakintowne,” established in 1700.
A view through the front door from the rear hallway’s seating area.
been there forever. “When we go on the hunt, we’ll text a photo when we find a great piece and say, ‘now, we need a decision now.’ That takes a lot of trust,” Molster says. Goddard says that trust was established at the outset of the design process. “When Janie sits down with you, she asks, ‘What’s your vision? What are your colors? What do you want your home to reflect?’ Then she curates a selection of
MANAKIN’S FRENCH HUGUENOT HISTORY They fled France after King Louis XIV outlawed their Protestant faith and, on July 12, 1700, Virginia’s first French Huguenot settlers arrived by ship from London. Granted 10,000 acres on the site of an abandoned Monacan Indian settlement, they named their new home Manakintowne. Pierre Chastain, a leader in the settlement’s Episcopal church, later built “Manakin,” the original frame house on the Goddard property, in the 1720s. One year after Chastain’s death in 1728, his son deeded the house and property to Edward Scott, reportedly to pay a gambling debt. The house remained in the Scott family for 200 years. Mr. and Mrs. Collins Denny purchased the house in the late 1940s and re-named it “Monacan” to avoid confusion with the Manakin area north of the James River. The current owners, Cheryl and Steve Goddard, have restored the home’s original name, “Manakin.”
“Without a good mix of old and new, a room falls flat,” Molster says. “With it, you’re intrigued.” fabrics and wallcoverings and paint colors that fit that vision. She very much includes you in the process, so I developed that trust and rapport with her early on.” For Molster, forging the client relationship is a critical part of the design process. “Sometimes a ‘no’ is more helpful than a ‘yes’,” she explains. “It helps us zero in on a client’s preferences. It’s so special when you know you’ve nailed it,” Molster adds. “That’s how we got gorgeous pieces like the chandelier in the dining room, the 1920s wheelback chairs, and the Italian mirror. When you’re in sync with a client, they’re prepared to make a snap decision.”
ONE STAR IN THIS SHOW
For the dining room, Molster looked to capitalize on its grand proportions. “In a room with 12-foot ceilings, you want to enhance that—you always want to maximize what you’ve got.” She chose a custom wallpaper from Gracie, known for their hand-painted murals. “We picked the color and the pattern,” she notes. But when the wallpaper went up, the mural pattern stopped short on the walls. “The world just isn’t used to rooms with 12-foot ceilings,” Molster sighs. To remedy the situation, Molster proposed an VIRGINIA LIVING
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elegant solution: “Our decorative painters came in and painted directly on the wallpaper to extend the mural pattern a little higher toward the ceiling.” Problem solved. The mix of periods and styles—from Italian to English to French—works in the room, Molster says, “because the proportions are consistent.” She’s especially delighted with the French chandelier from the early 1800s, which turned up on a market trip. “The beautiful pink and green florets are original, ”Molster notes. “They add a little playfulness to an otherwise formal room.” A simple sisal rug completes the space because, she says, “Everybody can’t be a star in the show,” she says. “Here, it’s about the wallpaper. The curtains are luxurious, but they’re solid.”
LIVING COMFORTABLY
Even for formal living rooms, Molster believes in comfort: “We have a pretty settee in the front hall, certainly. But the club chairs in the living room are comfortable, and the sofa is long enough to stretch out on and take a nap. We don’t want clients to poke their head in and wave at these rooms,” she says. “We want them to live in them.” Comfort, in fact, is behind her preference for coffee tables with a bit of height. “It’s easier than reaching down to put a glass on a low table. And it’s better suited to the period.” Perhaps less visible is her commitment to practicality and durability. “We now have beautiful performance fabrics—velvets and linens. We’re no long limited to awning-stripe Sunbrella,” she notes. The goal, she says, is a room that will look fresh, not frayed, for years to come.
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exterior by gordon gregory
HOUSE + Garden
> Design
JANIE MOLSTER ON HISTORIC HOMES
The living room was designed for comfort. “We don’t want clients to poke their heads in and wave at these rooms,” says Molster. “We want them to live in them.”
“I enjoy visiting historic houses where the rooms are preserved down to the last detail, but would I want to live that way? No,” says Janie Molster, in her new book, House Dressing, Interiors for Colorful Living (Monacelli Press). “A mix of old and new shows the individual pieces off to better advantage.” Here, a few of Molster’s design principles for historic homes: ■ “Antiques are a must for an evolved formal room. An antique piece can magically elevate the sense of place you feel in a room.” ■ “Densely knotted carpets, timeworn gilding, glistening crystal, and luxurious fabrics never go out of style.” ■ “Curtains don’t need to be silk taffeta, but they do need to be expertly constructed. We fabricate them at two-and-a-half times the window’s volume and add dressmaker detailing to enhance the ethereal effect.” ■ “People feel a reverence toward historic houses. They worry they’re going to mess them up. But there has to be something a little irreverent and playful in a room. I want people to have fun in their homes.”
portrait by tasha tolliver
Janie Molster
MIXING ON THE WALLS
Goddard has loved Rose Medallion porcelain ever since she received her first pair of plates in the pattern as a wedding gift. “I’ve collected it over the years, buying pieces at estate sales,” she says. “Janie had the brilliant idea of grouping the entire collection together on the living room wall,
which made more of an impact.” But look closely at the portrait medallions hanging in the front hall. “They look old, don’t they? But they’re not,” says Molster, who stumbled across the contemporary works of papier mâché in a Palm Beach design shop. “I love their 3-D quality.” D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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While the house remains a work in progress, the Goddards feel grateful to Molster for striking the right chord. “She pushed my comfort zone a little bit,” says Cheryl, “but I’m so glad she did. I love the balance she achieved in our home.” Constance Costas is the editor of Virginia Living.
VIRGINIA LIVING
10/21/21 11:37 AM
HOUSE + Garden
> Garden Design
The mantel garland features spiny chestnuts, magnolia, fir, cedar, bald cypress, arborvitae, and hypericum berries; moss helps hide the chicken wire frame. Opposite page: The writer, ready for action with clippers and buckets of conditioned greens.
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To extend the life of greens, condition fresh-cut stems in water overnight before starting a project. GATHER & CONDITION
A Gardener’s Guide to Holiday Greens Simple ways to bring the festive bounty inside.
By M A DE L I N E M AY HO OD | Photography by A DA M E W I NG
I
T HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. WE GET BIG,
crafty ideas about homemade wreaths and fresh-cut garlands gracing mantels and winding up staircases, just like the pictures in decorating magazines. But when the pine boughs zag where they should zig, leaving fingers sticky with sap—or worse, singed by glue guns—we throw up our hands and ask what went wrong? As a lifelong gardener, I know it takes a team of design pros to pull off these ambitious projects. But there’s an easier approach that’s every bit as stunning and stylish. With a few tricks of the gardening trade, anyone can achieve the inspired holiday looks we’ve outlined here.
BEYOND PINE
For gardeners like me, it’s a joy to bring the
bounty of the garden inside. I’m always scouring the landscape, on the lookout for greens that transcend the ordinary. In Virginia, garlands that are typically available are made from Eastern white pine or Fraser, balsam, or (sometimes) noble fir. But look past these usual suspects to the stunning blue-gray-silver needles of a Cunninghamia, (also called Chinese fir), prized for its graceful movement and unusual color. Another favorite, Cryptomeria (sometimes called Japanese cedar) is both delicate and substantial. And good old Southern magnolia is especially beautiful when you flip some of the leaves to reveal the luscious, velvety brown underside. These less-traditional greens bring unexpected color, texture, and scale to wreaths and garlands—and they look wonderful as simple bunches tied up in ribbon. D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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Plant material is best harvested either early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Head out armed with sharp, clean clippers and gather an armload or two. Before launching into any greens project, don’t skip the important step of conditioning your cuttings. Fill clean 5-gallon buckets with fresh room-temperature water, then make diagonal cuts at the bottom of the stem to allow greens to have a good drink overnight before working with them. Once they’re on display, use a fine mister to prolong freshness.
THE BOXWOOD BAN
As much as we love it, heed this word of warning about fresh boxwood greens: steer clear of them this season. The current boxwood blight, which is devastating and highly transmissible, can take out well-established plants within days. And it moves easily from landscape to landscape; shoe soles have reputedly been carriers. It’s especially destructive to the beloved English box and, with no effective treatment, it’s best to leave the boxwood wreaths sold at roadside displays, no matter how tempting.
CREATIVE EMBELLISHMENTS
Ribbons, cones, seed pods, berries, even vegetables and fruit—like pomegranate slices—dress up wreaths and greens in delightful ways. Tomatillos, chilis, Thai eggplant, rambutan, bitter melon, and sliced lotus root, found in Asian and Latin markets, can trick up a garland or wreath in seconds. Instead of the cones of the ubiquitous loblolly pine, look for cones from deodar cedars or a bald cypress, especially pretty when they’re still green. I also prefer green berries: hypericum, nandina, and holly look festive. A guaranteed show-stopper are the tiny purple berries from a beautyberry;
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HOUSE + Garden
> GardenDesign
make sure to strip the foliage first. And yes, your fruit- and berry-filled wreath will attract a bird or two when hung on an outside door, but that’s part of the pleasure. Ribbon makes the perfect finishing touch, so don’t skimp on quality or quantity. Wired ribbon is easiest to shape into lush bows. Consider skipping the red and green ribbons and going for non-traditional colors. This season, I’m mixing blues with chartreuse. Don’t be shy about experimenting; if bright pink polka dots strike your fancy, or you’re gravitating toward turquoise, give yourself permission to think outside the box.
BUILDING ON A FRAMEWORK
To make a wreath from scratch, you’ll want to start with a wire or grapevine wreath form from the craft store. But if you’re looking for a shortcut, you can purchase a ready-made evergreen wreath, made of cedar or fir, and customize it, attaching embellishments with floral wire, floral
For gardeners like me, it’s a joy to bring the bounty of the garden inside. picks, or even pipe cleaners. Start by adding small evergreen branchlets. Cones, seed pods, berries, and nuts can be secured in the same way, although smaller items might call for glue dots or a glue gun. Nestle a craft-store bird’s nest in among the greenery or wire pomegranate slices to the wreath form. Chicken wire makes a wonderful foundation for building a garland to decorate a mantel. Shape it into a sleeve, and adjust the width and length to suit your space. Secure it in place with glue dots or weights (a must). Then begin tucking branchlets in the wire layers to build out the garland. When filled with your favorite combination of greens, embellish it with spikey chestnut pods, berries, cones, fresh blooms in floral picks, even ribbons or twinkle lights. Moss is invaluable for hiding mechanics. Forest moss—sold in sheets or loose—is one of my staples and can hide just about anything. It’s perfect for spot-camouflaging a mantel garland. Once you’ve got the shape going—and the garland is firmly secured—you can nestle bulbs, like narcissus and amaryllis, among the greens and the chicken wire frame. Tuck in a little moss as needed.
SIMPLY STUNNING: NO ARRANGING REQUIRED
Even simpler, an armload of greens stashed in a decorative bucket can look wonderful near an exterior door or on the hearth. And it takes no skill to gather a bundle of branchlets, tie them up with a beautiful ribbon, and hang from a doorknob or wall hook.
Mint julep cup with arborvitae, fir, and cones.
For a simple but effective centerpiece, fill a low, long container (I’m partial to dough bowls) and heap with osage oranges, limes, and magnolia. Scatter a few tiny cones, and voila, a perfect holiday statement, no green thumb required. Indoors or out, I’m not one for rules on decorating with greenery. So go ahead and hang stockings from a staircase garland or build a wreath that’s square-shaped, instead of round. It’s all about what brings a smile to your face this holiday season. A master gardener, Madeline Mayhood has contributed to Garden Design and Southern Living magazines, as well as Historic Virginia Gardens (University of Virginia Press). Additionally, she edits magazines published by the Garden Club of America and the Garden Club of Virginia.
Magnolia leaves, small cones, osage oranges, limes, and moss in a dough bowl. Left: A bark wine tote with fir, cedar, and hypericum berries.
TRADE SECRETS: A DESIGNER’S TOOLKIT The right tools and supplies make holiday decorating easier. ■
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Sharp, clean clippers are essential for cutting plant material. Clean, 5-gallon buckets for conditioning greens after harvesting. Floral wire helps secure embellishments onto wreaths and garlands. Use wire-cutters to avoid ruining a favorite pair of scissors. Floral picks can be used to showcase fresh blooms on a wreath or garland. Glue dots and a glue gun come in handy, too. Just keep fingers safely out of the way. Chicken wire makes a wonderful framework for a mantel garland. Shape it into a sleeve that suits the length and width of your space. Then secure it in place before adding greens and embellishments. Moss is wonderful for filling in gaps, hiding mechanics, and adding a lush look to garlands. Look for sheets of forest or reindeer moss in craft stores or sold online.
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Blue at the side door. Berries, rambutan, pomegranate slices, magnolia, and a bird’s nest embellish a cedar wreath.
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Retirement Living B y E L I Z A B E T H C O G A R a n d M I N DY K I N S E Y | I l l u s t ra t i o n s b y S H AW N I E L S E N
Good news for seniors: As the fastest growing segment of the population—with nearly twice the average spending power in the U.S.—businesses are taking notice. Tech companies are mobilizing their best and brightest to develop new products for the over-60 set. Retirement communities are investing in upgraded amenities like on-staff
nutritionists and continuing education classes. And when it’s time to make a move, specialized “senior move managers" assist with downsizing and offer extra T.L.C. during the transition. Here, we’ve rounded up a few of the innovative products and services for seniors that we think are just swell.
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See VirginiaLiving.com Exclusive: TOP RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
TECH TOOLS FOR SENIORS Even in memory care, “nana” technology is winning fans.
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ECHNOLOGY IS HELPING OLDER
adults stay sharp and expand their horizons in surprising new ways. At The Virginian, a continuum care community in Fairfax, tech tools are being fully integrated into the resident experience from independent living to memory care, where tech-focused games and activities keep brains and hands busy. “Our goal is to be ‘high touch high tech,’” says Virginian executive director Andrew Carle, who worked with Georgetown University to develop a
graduate-level Senior Living Administration concentration—the only one of its kind in the country. Says Carle, who has been designing memory care programs for more than 25 years, “We’ve got the perfect demographic here in Northern Virginia because many of our residents had careers in technology.” Carle strives to address what he calls “the ABCs of dementia—apathy, boredom, and communication.” A new gaming system, Obie for Seniors, tackles all three, he says, and it was recently D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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installed at The Virginian. “It’s fun, engaging, and fosters communication.” Projected onto a wall, table, or floor, games cover four skill levels—from easy (“popping” bubbles) to paint-by-numbers and bingo which require a higher cognitive skill set. Up to four people can play. "This has really improved our ability to connect with our memory care residents," says Lisa Semonick, director of life enrichment at The Virginian. “They are having fun but so is the staff, which enhances the positive feel of the therapeutic milieu, even as we gather important engagement data.” Obie is part of a wave of innovations designed specifically for older adults. Carle coined the phrase Nana Technology™, a play on the scientific
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Retirement Living term nanotechnology for the grandparent generation. Microchip-based Nana Technology, like Obie, aims to enhance quality of life for older adults by keeping their minds and hands active with technology that’s accessible.
At The Virginian in Fairfax, residents play interactive video games using the awardwinning Obie for Seniors.
“They are having fun, but so is the staff.” —Lisa Semonick, director of life enrichment, The Virginian Carle is excited about The Virginian leading the way in technology applications for seniors. “We want to be recognized nationwide and set an example for the industry.” LiveAtTheVirginian.com —By Elizabeth Cogar
For Independent and Assisted Living Residents: Tesla SUV: Electric vehicle transportation on campus MyndVR: Using a virtual reality headset, residents can “travel around the world," from cruising Route 66 to visiting Roman ruins. Keyless Room Entry: Residents carry a fob to open apartment doors versus a key.
Golf Simulator: Residents can hit the links without leaving the building.* Fitness Mirror: Allows participation in fitness classes with a virtual instructor.*
Obie: Interactive gaming console projects hand- and motion-cognition games for up to four players onto tabletops, floors, and walls.
Movie Theater: Bluetooth-enabled sound system provides amplification that syncs with hearing aids.*
SingFit: A music therapy app that improves brain health, socialization, and mood.
Touchtown resident communication technology: Digital displays show activity calendars, announcements, and updates, which family members can also access online. Touchtown also connects to Alexa, so residents can ask questions like, "Alexa, what's on the dinner menu tonight?" *
LifeBio: An online portal for families to create resident biographies.
Below: Wayforth's moving team will take pictures of photo groupings to duplicate in your new home.
A SMOOTH MOVE Packing up? Senior moving specialists make a tough task easier. and made the decision—either for yourself or a parent—to move. Now you’ll need the right team to handle the job. In the past, your choices were a) rent a truck and do it yourself or b) call a mover and hope for the best. But now, a better option is available.
YOU’VE FOUND THE RIGHT SENIOR COMMUNITY
The growing field of “senior move management” specializes in navigating this transition seamlessly and with extra care. Richmond-based Wayforth is one of about 1,000 companies accredited by the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (NASMM). Wayforth's Pete Shrock defines move management as the VIRGINIA LIVING
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For Memory Care Residents:
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Circadian Lighting: Regulates natural biorhythm to create "peaceful days and restful nights"* * Coming soon as part of renovation.
“entire white glove end-to-end service.” Their menu of services encompasses all phases of a move—from downsizing a lifetime of belongings, to space planning, to helping clients settle in once they’re in place. Wayforth’s team can help you get rid of unwanted items, pack, move, unpack, and arrange things to look just like “home.” Prior to your move, they’ll take photos of your home to document furniture and photo groupings, so they can duplicate the look in your new living space. They’ll even make your bed for a cozy first night. Because moving is stressful, Shrock says Wayforth trains their moving team to be sensitive to clients' emotional or cognitive issues, whether they’re grieving the loss of a spouse or developing dementia. “We emphasize flexibility and emotional responsiveness when training our movers,” says Shrock. Mary Kay Buysse, NASMM executive director, notes that moving seniors is a huge growth sector in the moving industry. “We’re on the threshold of this thing exploding,” she says. “The oldest baby boomers are 75 and there are many more to come.” With that in mind, Wayforth is positioning to expand beyond their 15 markets from Boston to Florida at a rate of three markets a quarter, Shrock says. “Our big opportunity is to build a nationwide platform of services.” With more than 70 million boomers, born from 1946 to 1964, there’ll be plenty of moves to manage. Wayforth.com, NASMM.org —By E.C.
photos (from top): christopher prosser, courtesy of wayforth
Tech tools enhance quality of life at The Virginian in Fairfax
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EN ER NIRCI H C IHNI G NG E N R I C H I NG L ILFIEF’ES’ S I FREN’ SE Y J OL U JO URNEY JOURNEY
LLOOVVIINNGG LIVING EVERY
LIVING LIVING EVERY EVERY MINUTE MINUTE OF IT! MINUTE OF OF IT! IT!
It’s It’s community. It’s lifestyle. It’s Cedarfield. It’saaacommunity. community.It’s It’saaalifestyle. lifestyle.It’s It’sCedarfield. Cedarfield.
With a focus onon active aging, Cedarfield is aisLife Plan Community designed with your independence and With a focus active aging, Cedarfield a Life Plan Community designed with your independence and With a focus on active aging, Cedarfield is a Life Plan Community designed with your independence and future in in mind. future mind. future in mind. Imagine a continuum of of care community that offers you a lifetime of of security and first-class amenities Imagine a continuum care community that offers you a lifetime security and first-class amenities Imagine a continuum of care community that offers you a lifetime of security and first-class amenities including our tranquil resident gardens. Our Lifecare Program provides you peace of of mind, with easy access including our tranquil resident gardens. Our Lifecare Program provides you peace mind, with easy access including our tranquil resident gardens. Our Lifecare Program provides you peace of mind, with easy access to to Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing — at no additional monthly cost. Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing — at no additional monthly cost. to Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing — at no additional monthly cost. Located in in Richmond’s West End neighborhood with beautiful grounds, endless programs, and opportunities Located Richmond’s West End neighborhood with beautiful grounds, endless programs, and opportunities Located in Richmond’s West End neighborhood with beautiful grounds, endless programs, and opportunities forfor new adventures, you won’t have to to change thethe way you livelive —— just thethe address you call home. new adventures, you won’t have change way you just address you call home. for new adventures, you won’t have to change the way you live — just the address you call home.
EXPERIENCE THE LIFESTYLE FOR YOURSELF. EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE THE THE LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE FOR FOR YOURSELF. YOURSELF. SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY! SCHEDULE SCHEDULE YOUR YOUR VISIT VISIT TODAY! TODAY!
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What’s your Life Lived Forward?
Donald and Vivian Doolittle came to Willow Valley Communities for the exceptional lifestyle our senior living community is known for. But the unusual challenges of the past year have made them appreciate so much more. Expert information, dedicated team members, and concierge services from Willow Valley Communities give them a feeling of security and well-being. “We’re not on our own,” say the Doolittles. “We’re enjoying our lives with peace of mind. Our family appreciates that.”
Find your Life Lived Forward. Explore Willow Valley Communities today.
800.770.5445 | WillowValleyCommunities.org | Lancaster, PA
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We are Here for You Independent Living
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Promoting independence in a safe, home-like setting
24/7 dedicated care and support
757-886-2200
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OLD ENOUGH?
you L I F E R E F R E S H E S AT 5 5 . A R E
You need a certain amount of life experience to truly appreciate Birchwood at Brambleton. But that doesn’t mean you’re slowing down—you’re just getting started! Birchwood is a walkable community—to open spaces, daily activities, a lifestyle full of inspiration, and our fabulous amenities, including:
options
· The Clubhouse · Indoor & Outdoor Pools & Bars · Demonstration Kitchen · Health & Wellness Center · Pickleball & Bocce Courts · Greenhouse & Garden Area · Miles of Walking/Biking Trails
LOW-MAINTENANCE, N E V E R - B E F O R E - B U I LT HOMES BY: Van Metre Homes–Condos and Single-Family Homes from the Upper $400s to Mid $800s Tri Pointe Homes–Craftsman Bungalows from the $700s Knutson Homes–Condos Coming Soon Miller & Smith–Townhomes & Single-Family Homes Coming Soon
Single family home? Luxury apartment? Cozy duplex? You have options. Cookie cutters are for baking, not retirement living. If you want options, look closer at Bridgewater Retirement Community. Stretch out in our beautifully landscaped neighborhood of singlefamily homes and duplexes. Or choose one of our distinct apartment communities. You’ll have ready access to the fitness center, credit union, library, salon, dining venues, and more. You can bring your pet in most cases. And you can even plant tomatoes in our community garden! If you’re looking for a retirement community that’s beautiful, welcoming, and full of options, come visit us. We think you’ll find BRC is for you.
BirchwoodAtBrambleton.com Information Center: Open Daily from 11am–5pm Temporary Model Hours: Open by Appointment Only 42840 Beaver Crossing Square Brambleton, VA 20148 703.721.4983 Prices and builders’ home availability are subject to change without notice.
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IS FOR
Independent Living | Assisted Living Memory Support | Nursing Households 302 North Second St. | Bridgewater, VA 22812 800.419.9129 | brc-energy.org
10/16/21 4:44 PM
The lifestyle you want. The support you need. Potomac Place is nestled in a quiet, wooded neighborhood, just minutes from all that Prince William County has to offer. Plus, vibrant activities, licensed nurses, and delicious dining are only steps away from your spacious apartment! Spend your quality time doing the things you love. We’ll take care of the rest. Call 703-494-3817 today to schedule your tour.
2133 Montgomer y Ave • Woodbridge • potomacplace.com Coordinated Services Management, Inc. Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981
GOOD. BETTER . LAKEWOOD. Our capital city will charm you with historic architecture, beautiful weather, tranquil green spaces, and a vibrant cultural scene. It’s the perfect setting for one of Virginia Living Magazine’s 2021 top retirement communities. Lakewood sits on 128 wooded acres in the heart of the West End, giving active seniors the means to enjoy every moment of retirement, secured by the many advantages of Life Care. What does it mean to be a top retirement community? At Lakewood, it means you could be living your best years right here.
Come tour an apartment or cottage with a smart home package. JUST CALL 804.829.0816 TO SCHEDULE.
1900 LAUDERDALE DRIVE RICHMOND, VA 23238
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Meaningfully CONTRIBUTE
TOP
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 2021
You may have heard Kendal at Lexington residents “are an accomplished group of thoughtful, friendly, engaged, and active neighbors who inspire the best in all of us,” or perhaps that Kendal’s “resident-driven” process is said to create a “vibrant and thriving community,” that can “enrich our lives” while being “well-taken care of on a daily basis.”
Don’t take our word for it: current Kendal residents were recently asked, “If someone was considering a move to Kendal, what would you want them to know?” The quotes provided here are a few of the over 100 responses received, and there was clear consensus. Kendal is a friendly, engaged, and safe community where residents become like family. “Kendal cares.”
Find out more about Kendal at kalex.kendal.org and call us to schedule a tour today at 888-923-3155
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Retirement Living
SAILING PAST THE 'NEWCOMER' DAYS
BREAKING THE ICE Welcome programs help newcomers feel at home in new surroundings.
photos (from top) courtesy of: shenandoah valley westminster canterbury, naborforce
B
EING NEW IN A SENIOR LIVING
community can feel a little like the first day at a new school. Your surroundings are unfamiliar, and you haven’t yet made a new circle of friends. Don’t worry. Senior living communities offer a range of orientation programs to help you get acclimated. At Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury in Winchester, a welcome committee oversees a program designed to ensure newbies get comfortable. “Each resident is assigned a mentor who keeps in close contact with their new person over the first couple of months,” Kitty Zuckerman, communications and marketing specialist, explains. “They invite them out for meals and introduce them to other residents with whom
they think they might have something in common.” A mini bio sheet announcing new folks is distributed campuswide, so longtime residents can be on the lookout for newcomers and offer a warm welcome. Zuckerman notes that “new residents say how friendly everyone is and how welcome they feel.” At Brandon Oaks in Roanoke, new residents are assigned a floor representative to help set up cable channels and voicemail, says Beth Herndon, resident services director. And “resident ambassadors” guide newcomers through a three-week welcome program. “They meet with the new person, give them a tour, introduce them to residents, have dinner and invite them to participate in activities,” Herndon says. —By E.C.
Attend events and performances. Sit next to someone else who is alone and say hello. At meals, find a table with empty chairs and introduce yourself to others. People are happy to include you in their conversation. Be a joiner. Check the activity schedule for fitness classes, discussion groups, and special events to meet like-minded people. Ask others for help finding places like where to mail a letter or get a snack. Simple conversation starters can open the door to new friendships.
NABORFORCE LENDS A HELPING HAND Filling the gap with "backup sons and daughters." RICHMONDER PAIGE WILSON says that America is experiencing an “age wave.” As the number of older adults increases each year, elders will need helpful services to support the lives they enjoy living. That’s why Wilson created Naborforce in 2018, a service dedicated to helping seniors maintain connections to others, a sense of independence, and an engaged, productive lifestyle. “We call ourselves ‘backup sons and daughters,’” Wilson says. In the past, immediate family members were caregivers for their elders, but today’s adult children and grandchildren are scattered farther afield and leading busy lives. Naborforce fills the care gap by employing “Nabors” to help their clients “live a life of joy,” Wilson says. Whether it’s a trip to the store, taking a walk, changing a smoke detector battery, or wrangling a fitted sheet onto the bed, Nabors provide the companionship and assistance older adults need. When clients—or their children—line up a Nabor visit online, Naborforce will dispatch one of nearly 1,000 Nabors across their current
markets, which now include Richmond, Charlottesville, Raleigh, Durham, and Bethesda. For families who live far away from their elderly parents, a service like Naborforce gives them peace of mind, and for those who live nearby but are not always available, Wilson says, “It’s okay to ask for help. Four hours a week can relieve caregiver burnout.’” Naborforce client Pat Patterson, 89 and living on her own, sees it that way, too. While her son and daughter live in Richmond, Patterson says, “They’ve got their lives and they help out as much as they can, but I call Naborforce ‘my security’...if I didn’t have them, I would be sitting around with a long face.” While Patterson no longer drives, she loves to get out of the house; so she calls Naborforce for trips to the hair salon, medical appointments, shopping trips, or even just to drive around. “They are wonderful. The service means a lot to me and to my children.” Naborforce.com —By E.C.
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VIRGINIA LIVING
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Elevated Living. Engaging Amenities. Expert Care. Assisted living and Memory Care now open and leasing. A modern community for seniors in the Metro West neighborhood of Fairfax, The Providence offers elegant residences, exceptional amenities, and elevated wellness programs to go with extraordinary personalized care. Just minutes from restaurants and shopping in the vibrant Mosaic District, here it’s easy to live well—and stay well. providencefairfax.com 9490 Sprague Ave., Fairfax, VA 22031 | 571-487-9285 ASSISTED LIVING
·
THE BRIDGE
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MEMORY CARE
A SILVERSTONE/WATERMARK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Live happy. And Well. IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
Our premier retirement community offers metropolitan amenities in the midst of small-town charm. It is a place that caters to your needs. There are numerous residential options from apartment homes to cottages. Call us at 800.728.7898 to learn more.
• • • •
Lifecare: a continuum of high-caliber care, providing asset protection Rich cultural and intellectual opportunities Casual and gourmet dining venues Fitness center with indoor heated pool and much more
250 Pantops Mountain Road | Charlottesville, VA | westminstercanterbury.org | 800.728.7898
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The way living should be.
T
A TA S T E OF W IN T ER Winter isn’t just for red wines. Stay cozy with Virginia’s diverse white wines perfect for pairing or enjoying on their own. From fullbodied to sparkling and cider, your new favorite glass awaits.
Three award-winning Thre Life Plan Communities in Virginia Life Plan C • Established communities offering affordable • living choices
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• Located in regions of the state rich in history, • culture and diversity
Located in re SUNNYSIDE c Harrisonburg, VA Surrounded by area • Surrounded • by area attractions such as parkways, national 800.237.2257 parks, battlefields, m parks, battlefields, museums and performing arts centers KING’S GRANT Martinsville, VA •internationally Recognized loc • Recognized locally, nationally, and 800.462.4649 for whole -p for whole-person wellness programming SUMMIT SQUARE
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Meet Me at
Resident since 2020 • Born Texan • Long-time Northern Neck lover • Married to Diane • Second-generation RWC resident • U.S. Naval Academy grad • Passionate about music
804-438-4000 | info@rw-c.org | www.rw-c.org
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IT ’ S TIME TO EN J OY
a remarkable senior lifestyle
Anthology Senior Living is the perfect setting to continue your life story. Lavish amenities, classic cuisine, and uplifting activities combine with uncompromising care for a senior lifestyle beyond compare. Come build an aspirational future where you can have it all on your own terms. Let’s take the next step together. CHARLOTTESVILLE
434-218-5102
INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING / MEMORY CARE
MIDLOTHIAN
804-215-8447
ASSISTED LIVING / MEMORY CARE
NOW OPEN
TUCKAHOE
804-554-5966
INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING / MEMORY CARE
AnthologyVirginia.com Continue Your Life Story With Us
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Retirement Living
model brings the benefits of assisted living— including healthcare coordination, social connection, and wellness activities—to those who'd rather live at home. “Lakewood at Home is designed specifically for healthy and independent older adults who prefer to age in place,” says executive director Tammy
Mackey. Launched in 2019, the program is affiliated with the Lakewood retirement community in Richmond’s West End. In Alexandria, Goodwin House offers a similar model. Members pay an initiation fee followed by monthly maintenance fees, which are used toward their care, if and when it’s needed. A personal care coordinator then arranges services at home or, if the need arises, at the Lakewood residential campus. “Our members don’t have to worry about being a burden to their family and friends. They don’t have to worry about finding skilled nursing care. And they won’t have to spend all of their hardearned assets in order to pay for their care,” Mackey says. “Lakewood at Home offers the financial protection of long-term care insurance while also removing the stress of arranging and paying for care.” Member Gary Grove, 84, discovered the benefits of his membership when he needed help recovering from a fall last spring. His care coordinator arranged for a nurse and physical therapist to visit Grove at his home. A few months later, when Grove gave up driving, his coordinator set up transportation services. Grove says the extra help gives him peace of mind, adding, “I’m very pleased with my decision to join Lakewood at Home.” LakewoodAtHome.org —By M.K.
“In the United States alone, approximately 48 million people suffer from some degree of hearing loss that interferes with their life. But the cost and complexity of treatment have become major barriers to getting help,” said Brian Maguire, category director of Bose Hear. “The Bose Hear app lets owners set up and customize their SoundControl™ Hearing Aids from home—in less than an hour—to reconnect with the moments that matter. That’s an amazing advancement the industry has been missing and is nothing short of a breakthrough.” Developed by Bose scientists, audiologists, and engineers, the Bose SoundControl™ Hearing Aids are the combined result of over 30 years of research in mobile audio, mobile sound management, and advanced data science. Weighing 3 grams each, the devices feature a behind-theear, receiver-in-canal design and contain two microphones, one tiny speaker, and a standard 312 zinc-air battery.
For personalized help, users can book a video appointment with a Bose Hear Product Expert at no extra cost. What’s the downside? If there is one, it’s only this: Unlike other Bose products, their hearing aids don’t stream music. Bose.com —By Constance Costas
NO PLACE LIKE HOME A new program brings the perks of assisted living to those living at home.
A
LTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF
seniors plan to age at home, most will need some help to do it. To the rescue, a new concept known as continuing care at home (CCaH) now makes this possible. First developed in Pennsylvania, CCaH is now available in Richmond through Lakewood at Home. This hybrid
D.I.Y. HEARING AIDS A new direct-to-consumer model from Bose wins FDA approval. IN A SEISMIC SHIFT to the hearing-aid market, the new Bose SoundControl ™ Hearing Aids are the first to be cleared by the FDA for direct-to-consumer sale. At $849.95, the new SoundControl™ Hearing Aids are priced far below the $2,300 average cost of conventional hearing aids, and they don’t require a prescription, doctor visit, or hearing test. Paired with the Bose Hear app, the devices allows users to fit, program, and control them for natural, lifelike sound. Using two simple controls, users can personalize audio settings to achieve hundreds of hearing options in about 30 minutes.
15.93
Percentage of Virginians over age 65 in 2020.
SENIORS: BY THE NUMBERS
18.89
70
Percentage of older adults who are sexually active. Most say they’re just as satisfied—or more satisfied— than when they were younger.
Percentage of Virginians over 65 projected for 2030.
42
Percentage of museum visitors who are 55 or older.
85+
18
Fastest growing age-group of the U.S. population.
65
Percentage of adults who plan to work beyond age 65.
Percentage of Virginia seniors who are employed.
$52,594
Median annual income for seniors in Virginia, the seventh highest rate in the country.
$1,600,000,000,000 Spending power of the senior market. The net worth of older adults in the U.S. is nearly twice the national average.
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15,000,000
Number of older adults who perform formal volunteer work. Nearly half of all seniors volunteer informally.
Sources: SuddenlySenior.com, Pew Research Center, Virginia Public Access Project
VIRGINIA LIVING
10/21/21 10:15 AM
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Get out of your retirement at Ashby Ponds! Here, you gain a community filled with extraordinary benefits—at a value that may surprise you! • Get MORE for your money with a host of amenities just steps from your door. • Make your spending MORE predictable with a single, streamlined monthly bill. • Experience MORE peace of mind with a variety of health and well-being services.
“For the cost and all that the community offered, this was the best value for the money.”
– John and Dawn S., Community Residents
Get your
free brochure!
Call 1-800-917-8202 or visit AshbyPonds.com today.
120805
Ashburn, VA AshbyPonds.com
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Dive
into it all! IMAGINE. EXPERIENCE. ENGAGE.
Enjoy Retirement Living at Its Best Well•Spring is home to the best dining choices in Greensboro. From an elegant dining experience to casual pick-up service, you’ll always enjoy an outstanding meal.
Weaver Dining Room
Bauman Bistro
Southern Oak Bar & Lounge
Take a tour today! 336.962.2443 Greensboro, NC WELL-SPRING.ORG
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At The Village at Orchard Ridge A National Lutheran Community, we know your next chapter will be the most exciting one yet. Our philosophy, inspired by the energy and experience of our residents, is incorporated into every aspect of our community and inspires our residents to get the most out of every day. Our residents are engaged in life and want to engage with the community, and experience all that retirement has to offer. At The Village at Orchard Ridge, imagine where your retirement can take you.
www.thevillageatorchardridge.org
540-306-5682 400 Clocktower Ridge Drive Winchester, VA 22603
The Village at Orchard Ridge is affiliated with National Lutheran Communities & Services, a faith-based, not-for-profit ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving people of all beliefs.
10/20/21 3:57 PM
The main tree in the front parlor is adorned with pheasant tree toppers; pine cones and other organic elements; and a delightful mix of coppery gold ornaments and fairy lights. The fox painting is by Middleburg artist Anthony Barham.
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All Dressed Up is historic mansion is decked out for Christmases present and future. Te x t a n d S t y l i n g b y C H A R L O T T E S A F AV I | P h o t o g r a p h y b y R O B E R T R A D I F E R A
portrait by ryan donnell
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Donna and Garon Stutzman made a seemingly improbable leap when they traded a Chesapeake Bay waterfront farm in Maryland for the historic Old Denton estate in prime Orange County hunt country, in the heart of The Plains. However, history repeats. “I once had a farm in Middleburg 30 years ago. I always loved the area and enjoyed mule-riding and foxhunting,” recalls Garon of his earlier days. “Donna and I met on the Eastern Shore later and renovated a farm on the water in Centreville, Maryland. We were once avid boaters, but when we gave up boating, looking at an empty pier wasn’t for us. Why stay there?” Garon’s return to Virginia with Donna, his wife and soulmate for a decade, was simply fated. The couple share joint passions for horses and mules, fox-hunting, and gracious country living.
Garon and Donna Stutzman in their mule barn.
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HE ALLURE OF THE HISTORIC OLD DENTON
manor house, set on 58 acres, proved irresistible, and the couple purchased it in 2019. In addition to the brick manor house, with its 1860s Greek Revival and Italianate style, the property also includes its original 1820s farmhouse, now a guesthouse; a meat house from the era; along with stables, barns, and tenant lodging. (The couple now operate a horse-and-mule boarding and training facility on the property called the Old Denton Stables.) “This was our first Christmas here,” says Donna, who enlisted Jamie Merida and his lead designer Melanie Donahue of Jamie Merida Interiors to furnish the home from scratch and deck it out for the holidays. “We thought of it as a Christmas dress rehearsal,” continues Donna. “We have had small gatherings during the season, but we hope to open up our house for holiday home tours, or host Christmas parties for local organizations in the future.” Merida, who has worked with the couple on several prior properties, was excited to take this one on. As Donna divulges, “This place is Jamie’s sweet spot. He loves historic homes and old architecture, and he knows our taste.” Turns out Merida also loves Christmas. Every year, his team of elves at Bountiful Home, his design emporium in Easton, Maryland, get to work, decking out grand houses all across the D.C. metro area. He takes his design cues from his homeowners and the style and setting of their homes.
Swags of greenery, with touches of red berries and ornaments, travel up the stairs in the front foyer.
A large dough bowl layered with antlers, dried flora, and magnolia leaves is a centerpiece in the dining room. The mantel holds a mix of the homeowners’ silver and pewter riding and hunting trophies (detail below), interlacing with an evergreen garland, with silvered pines, quail feathers, and faux white berries.
In addition to books and a collection of duck decoys, the library is decked with a simple evergreen and berry mantel, and layers of green pears and pine needles.
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“I told Jamie I don’t like glitter or glitz; I wanted something appropriate and old timey to reflect the history of the home,” says Donna of her holiday decorating wish list. “Of course, I trusted him completely,” she adds. “I understand Donna and Garon’s aesthetic,” says Merida. “This is our third or fourth project. For Christmas, Donna wanted a muted equestrian vibe that’s in —Jamie Merida keeping with the décor, as well as with the heritage of the house.” Old Denton (and the original farmhouse in faux evergreen garlands, layered with pine cones and red berries, and lit and meat house) was built from bricks fired from red clay dredged from from within with twinkling fairy lights. Meanwhile, a variety of antique iron ponds on the property. It has a sublime Greek Doric front porch, with four urns, vintage French laundry baskets, and other curated containers are filled fluted columns, all set on brick piers, accessible by central stairs. The porch with a mix of faux and natural bounty. Both front and side doors, of course, ceiling is painted pale blue in the classic Southern manner. have wreaths. “The house—and its period—dictated how to decorate it for the holidays,” “We took our cues from that incredible front porch, with the antique says Merida, who began the decorating project outdoors, working with faux whippet statues and those fabulous columns,” continues Merida. “The estate greenery and what he could scavenge from the foliage on the property. gave us access to lots of magnolia, holly, and other evergreens, which we The pair of Doric columns on either side of the front door are wrapped
“In addition to the seasonal reds and greens, it’s all burnished metals, nothing shiny: warm coppers, aged golds, patinaed silvers.”
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Left: Seasonal fruits and evergreens add layers of holiday joy to the kitchen. Right: The front porch features a classic Southern pale blue ceiling. Vintage French laundry baskets hold evergreens clipped from the grounds.
interspersed with the best quality artiDetail of Jamie Merida's ficial greenery crafted to withstand the custom-designed horse seasons and the test of time.” saddle mirror frame. These elements are carried indoors onto the grand center hall staircase that holds deep swags of the same greenery, with fairy lights, up to the upper landing. Beneath the foyer console table, vintage French laundry baskets are brimming with fragrant fresh-cut evergreens. “We repeat the rhythm of the outdoors into this space—and beyond,” adds Merida. There are two main salons on either side of the foyer hall in the front of the house: the parlor and the dining room. These are the home’s more formal spaces and decorated for the season accordingly. The holiday decorating palette shifts slightly in both of these rooms; more warm-toned in the parlor, which houses the Christmas tree, and more cool-toned in the dining room, where the Stutzmans keep their silver and pewter riding and hunting trophies from over the years. “I’d say the color palette for the holiday décor, like that of the regular décor, is subtle. In addition to the seasonal reds and greens, it’s all burnished metals, nothing shiny: warm coppers, aged golds, patinaed silvers,” says Merida. The tree in the parlor fits beautifully with the overall equestrian feel of the home, with its plaid sofa, cognac leather accents, and fox oil painting above the mantel. The tree is tall and fireside, with feathery pheasant tree-toppers, quail plumage, pine cones, and a variety of burnished and flecked ornaments. The garland over the fireplace garland echoes these themes. “In the dining room, we used quail feathers, silvered pine cones, and faux white berries, integrating them with the old silver and pewter trophies on the mantel,” says Merida. “The antique chandelier and sconces here are also silver so we picked up on that.” Above the mantel hangs a custom-designed mirror frame by Merida made of horse saddles. The centerpiece is a simple one of magnolia leaves, deer VIRGINIA LIVING
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“We took our cues from that incredible front porch, with the antique whippet statues and those fabulous columns.”
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—Jamie Merida
antlers, chartreuse and ochre-dried flora, all piled in a large trough. Traveling through to the kitchen, the look becomes more casual and country. The kitchen was a later addition to the home, featuring marble countertops and an eat-in area for home-cooked meals. The back entrance is frequently used during the holidays, as it connects easily to the guest house. (The couple has a blended family with two grown children who like to visit.) On the paned-glass back door is another ribboned wreath with red berries and pine cones. “We also used fresh fruit where we could,” says Merida. “Pomegranates, green pears, citrus. All in all, the holiday decorating we did here is not unlike what would have been done in a bespoke country estate such as this 150 years ago,” he adds. The Stutzmans are delighted with their new home. The holiday décor was the icing on the cake. “We managed to host small gatherings over the holiday season,” adds Donna, who loves to cook. “This home is so much bigger than our last home, and it was great to have Jamie run with it and with its holiday decorating. The result feels like the perfect recipe.” Charlotte Safavi’s work appears regularly in national publications including Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV Magazine, Southern Home, and more. Together with photographer Robert Radifera, she creates magazine-quality interior and architectural photography. info@stylishproductions.net D EC E M B E R 2 0 2 1
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VIRGINIA LIVING
10/21/21 9:01 AM
CHRISTMAS IN JULY? As we coordinated this year’s Made In Virginia feature from Virginia Living’s office in downtown Richmond over the summer, the doorbells were ding-donging nonstop as samples of Virginia-made products arrived from across the Commonwealth. Over one delicious month, our team sampled nearly 100 food and drink submissions, and the Art and Editorial staff filed through piles of product photos to select
the most thoughtfully made and gorgeously crafted items that the state has to offer. Consider these pages a celebration of Virginia’s makers and small businesses. and their creativity, resilience, and passion. We hope you love our picks and their stories as much as we loved putting them together—and perhaps you’ll get a holiday gift idea or two. Share your favorites by tagging us on social media @VirginiaLiving and #VirginiaLiving.
made va i n
awards
P r o d u c e d a n d e d i t e d b y VA Y D A PA R R I S H | Ph o t o g r a p h y b y F R E D + E L L I O T T
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Cocktails made with Virago Spirits’ Kali Hibiscus Gin; Three Crosses Distilling’s Black Chevron Vodka and tonic; MurLarkey Bootlegged Lemonade Boxed Whiskey Cocktail. Apron by Blue Skies Workroom.
see p. 102.
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see p. 101.
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Drink
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By M IN DY K INSEY and M A R K US SCH M I D T
1
Black Chevron Vodka
Three Crosses Distilling
POWHATAN
Launched in 2017 by husband-and-wife team John and Michelle Davenport in Powhatan, family-owned Three Crosses Distilling Co. has since built an impressive portfolio of awardwinning spirit flavors, including their signature American Whiskey. For two and a half years, they have also been making their popular corn-based Black Chevron Vodka, which is distilled 10 times, then slowly filtered through three feet of activated carbon—a process that takes days to complete for each batch. For the Davenports, their 80-proof vodka had been high on their wish list since the beginning. “When we were coming up with products before the distillery opened, we had several people ask us to make vodka,” says Michelle, one of only a handful of female distillers in Virginia. Boasting a
crisp, clean slate, this spirit should be at the top of every bartender’s list. $21.99 ThreeCrossesDistilling.com —MS 2
Kali Hibiscus Gin
Virago Spirits
visually stunning and quite unusual.” Kali adds complex flavor and gorgeous holiday color to any cocktail. $42.99, ViragoSpirits.com —MK 3
RICHMOND
Brothers Barry, Bart, and Brad Haneberg say Virago Spirits focuses on “misunderstood and forgotten” spirits, such as rum, brandy, and gin, many of which have historical ties to Virginia. The Hanebergs use a French still to make nuanced, sophisticated products and then create variations by aging them in finishing barrels, sometimes trading used barrels with other producers to layer the flavors. Kali is an alternate version of Virago’s gin made “to appeal to adventurous consumers,” says Brad. “Hibiscus and orange is a classic combination in spirits, and …we were not shy with either the hibiscus or the orange peel, but we feel that the resulting product is
Bootlegged Lemonade Boxed Whiskey Cocktail
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits
BRISTOW
Founded in 2015 by cousins Tom Murray and Mike and Jim Larkin, MurLarkey Distilled Spirits was named the No. 4 distillery in the country by Travel + Leisure this year. MurLarkey recently introduced boxed cocktails, “the first of their kind, as far as we know,” says social media coordinator Josh Luckenbaugh. MurLarkey pivoted from cans to boxes last year when demand for eco-friendly packaging coincided with an aluminum can shortage. Luckenbaugh calls the boxes “more environmentally friendly and easier to enjoy.” The first offering, Bootlegged Lemonade, features MurLarkey’s popular Lemon Whiskey
4
mixed with all-natural lemonade. Bootlegged Tea (Three Tea Whiskey and lemonade) and Bootlegged Cider (Cinnamon Whiskey and apple cider) are coming soon. Plus, look for MurLarkey’s first bourbon, called Birthright™, later this year. $18.99, MurLarkey.com —MK
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5
Tantalus Rex
Tantalus
6
NEWPORT NEWS
Historically, a tantalus was a small wooden cabinet designed to hold two or three decanters under lock and key while also showcasing them. While the original 1881 patent dates back to Dutch cabinet maker George Betjemann, Shawn Ellis, an aficionado of fine spirits from Newport News, has revived this clever display case. Aptly named Tantalus Rex, Ellis handmakes his creations in a workshop in Tidewater. The liquor displays are crafted entirely from the oak staves used in making bourbon barrels and equipped with a threaded T-handle that raises and lowers to accommodate bottles of varying heights. $175-$450 TantalusRex.com —MS 6
Ragnarök Rye
Catoctin Creek
4
PURCELLVILLE
Internationally renowned metal band GWAR has been dabbling in the spirits game since opening their own hipster bar in Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood in 2015. But things got scaringly serious when they teamed up with Purcellville’s Catoctin Creek Distillery to create Ragnarök Rye (that’s old Norse for “Fate of the Gods”). The 92-proof whisky is aged in charred new white oak, then sugar maple and cherrywood. “This is an exciting release, but we were quite surprised when GWAR showed up at our distillery,” says Catoctin Creek founder and general manager Scott Harris. “We had to constantly keep an eye on them to keep them from breaking stuff, and they even tried to eat our dog, Otto. The only way we could get them to leave was to agree to bottle their whisky for them.” $99 CatoctinCreek.com —MS
2019 Viognier
Jefferson Vineyards CHARLOTTESVILLE Jefferson Vineyards has dedicated nearly a quarter of their vineyard to Viognier vines (from a white wine grape originating from the northern Rhone region of France), and has produced multiple iterations in the past 20 years. Their 2019 edition is masterfully crafted, with a bouquet of peach, apricot, and lychee that gives way to a vibrant acidity, followed by peach and pineapple on the palate, before a round and lengthy floral finish. The Viognier has won double-gold in the 2020 San Francisco International Wine Competition among other national awards. $31.95 JeffersonVineyards.com —MS
“Awesome design. Smooth taste and overall very memorable” [Ragnarök Rye]
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Drink
“Super drinkable and has more nuance than your typical cider.”
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7
[2020 Virginia Hewes Crab Single Varietal]
7
2013 Bone Orchard
Horton Vineyards
10
GORDONSVILLE
A while back, Horton Vineyards made some port-style wine using tannat grapes, intending to blend it into the company’s Vintage Port; tannat is often used to add color, tannins, and structure to other wines. Something went incredibly well with the batch, though, and after it had aged for six years, the family “found these two barrels to be exceptional and felt they needed to be showcased on their own,” says general manager Shannon Horton. The result is Bone Orchard, a smooth, rich, not-overly-sweet dessert wine with notes of dark fruit and chocolate. In 2019, National Wine Review ranked it among Virginia’s best port-style wines. Part of winemaker Caitlin Horton’s steampunk line, each limitedrelease, hand-numbered bottle features a metal image of the winery’s front gates. $65, HortonWine.com —MK
8
Verjus
Revalation Vineyards
MADISON
Since 2014, Françoise Seillier-Moiseiwitsch and her husband, Julian, of Revalation Vineyards, have made a variety of award-winning wines in Madison County’s picturesque Hebron Valley, including their signature “Verjus” (green juice in French), an acidic, non-alcoholic juice used in gourmet cooking that has been gaining popularity in the United States due to its versatility and flavor profile. Verjus is produced by pressing unripe (green) grapes. The light acidity formed by the lower sugar content allows the juice to have a fresh, tart flavor that adds zest to sauces, dressings, and marinades, without overpowering other delicate aromas, making Verjus a valuable commodity for chefs and mixologists alike. Revalation Vineyards sells the only Virginia-made verjus. $32 for 1 liter. RevalationVineyards.com —MS 9
2020 Virginia Hewes Crab Single Varietal Big Fish Cider Co.
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MONTEREY
A cidermaker for 28 years, the past six of them commercially, Kirk Billingsley says he makes cider professionally the same way he made it at home, using nothing but fermented apple juice. The owner and “Chief Cider Evangelist” at Big Fish Cider Co., Billingsley says his dry Virginia Hewes Crab Single Varietal cider, “came about unintentionally. I have never been a fan of single varietal ciders. That is, until I fermented this apple. I pressed this juice from 100-percent Virginia apples for fermentation in 2019. It was supposed to go into a blend of other apples, but the depth of flavor and intensity fascinated
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me, and I felt like I had to bottle this variety by itself to showcase its excellent qualities.” $19.50, BigFishCider.com —MK 10
Shenandoah Blue Tea
Dominion Tea
PURCELLVILLE
Hillary and David Coley founded Dominion Tea in 2013. “We both love the product and its history. Providing a great product to customers requires travel and strong relationships across Asia and Africa, and it provides the challenge of building a brand that retail consumers and wholesale customers love,” says Hillary. At Dominion Tea’s tasting room, customers can “explore tea—learning where it comes from, how it’s produced, and finding the right teas based on their preference and experience,” she says. A longtime favorite, Shenandoah Blue is a smooth blend of black tea, blue cornflowers, and dried blueberries inspired by Virginia’s native blueberries and named for the Blue Ridge Mountains. $9.99, DominionTea.com —MK
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Colombia Las Brisas Whole Bean Coffee
Grit Coffee
RICHMOND
Richmond’s Grit Coffee began with a vision, a little bit of grit, and a whole lot of beans. Today, their journey has led them to six shops (and counting), an expansive roasting operation, and a flourishing e-commerce business. Grit’s Colombia Las Brisas Whole Bean Coffee embodies the roaster’s philosophy of top quality, freshness, and the best ingredients, sourced from a group of almost 50 growers in Rioblanco, Colombia, which is famous for its steep mountains, abundant water, and deep valleys. This relationship allows Grit to source green coffee at a fixed price for the long term. With notes of lemon candy, almond, and cocoa powder, Grit’s Las Brisas is a perfectlybalanced brew. Starts at $16 for 12 ounces. GritCoffee.com —MS
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food
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By STEPH A NIE G A NZ
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Frozen Burritos
Sous Casa
RICHMOND
Created by Richmond chef Jim Hamilton, Sous Casa burritos pack massive flavor in a tidy tortilla parcel. Having cooked for touring musicians from Beyoncé to Phish, Hamilton understands the demands of life on the go and has created a freezer-friendly option that truly rocks. Sous Casa’s “freshly frozen,” made-inRichmond burritos, represent a diverse crosssection of cuisines, from the classic Frollo Verde with chicken and salsa verde to a Saag Paneerito, with curried spinach and paneer cheese. More options include vegan, glutenfree, and low-carb alternatives, and recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And these are burritos that give back. The company makes a local donation with every order; over 10,000 burritos to date have been provided to Virginia food pantries, churches, and nonprofits. $3.25-$5.75 EatSousCasa.com
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Misty Point Oysters
Cherrystone Aqua-Farms CAPE CHARLES
Cherrystone calls their Misty Point oysters the “filet mignon” of their offerings, and that’s fitting for this meaty delicacy, with a high meat-to-shell ratio and a brilliant salinity with every slurp. Plucked straight from Virginia’s Eastern Shore waters around Cape Charles, Misty Points are ideal on the halfshell with a squeeze of lemon. “The Ballard family has raised oysters in the pristine waters surrounding Virginia’s Eastern Shore since 1895—and we absolutely love it!” says director of marketing Caitlin Hart. “Today, the fifth generation continues this fine tradition using sustainable farming and harvesting practices to produce the best tasting oysters in Virginia.” Cherrystone’s oysters and clams ship from the Eastern Shore straight to your door. Starting at $52 ClamAndOyster.com
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Grass Fed Beef Biltong
Ayoba
SPRINGFIELD
The van Blommestein family is NorthernVirginia based, with strong South African roots. Their family has been producing the beef snack biltong, a delicious, meaty muchie with a uniquely tender texture, since 2017. But please, don’t call it jerky! Ayoba’s traditional South African biltong is marinated in spices and air dried to create a soft and chewy mouthfeel with explosive flavor. The protein-packed meat has hints of coriander and rosemary, but their grass-fed beef biltong is as special for what’s in it as what they leave out—namely sugar, nitrites, and artificial flavors. In South Africa, the word ayoba expresses delightful approval—a fitting term for a snack with a lot to love. $7.99-$23.99 AyobaFoods.com
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“So Much More Tender Than The Big Brands. This stuff is Elegant!” [Grass Fed Beef Biltong]
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Lucha Crunch Bar
Gearharts Fine Chocolates CHARLOTTESVILLE
CIA-trained chocolatier Tim Gearhart masterfully combines bold and, at times, unexpected flavors with premium chocolate in his Charlottesville-based flagship shop and production kitchen. It’s all about contrasting flavor and texture in Gearharts’ Lucha Crunch Bar, which was inspired by Lucha Libre, otherwise known as Mexican wrestling. Creamy and tart lime caramel goes toe to toe with crunchy bits of half-popped popcorn within a milk chocolate shell, with spicy red chili sprinkled on top. There’s milky sweetness, salty surprises, and subtle heat. You can’t miss the bright, punchy (no pun intended) colored packaging of this total knockout of a chocolate bar. Available online and also in Gearharts’ Charlottesville and Richmond storefronts. $8 GearhartsChocolates.com
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“This stuff is addictive. The perfect snack!
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[Coconut Brittle]
Coconut Brittle
Bakefully Yours
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MANASSAS
“I created this company because I could not find great tasting handmade grain-free, dairy-free, and soy-free treats at grocery stores,” says Bakefully Yours founder Sarah Seligman. “And now, five years into this business, many customers enjoy these treats and appreciate the high-quality, allergy-friendly ingredients.” Seligman’s allergy-friendly bakery, Bakefully Yours, produces cookies, brownies, and brittle from their gluten-free facility in Manassas. Their three-ingredient, organic coconut brittle is a perfectly balanced sweet and salty indulgence with just the right amount of crunch. Try it as a topping on ice cream, with yogurt, or enjoy snacking on it right out of the bag. Bakefully Yours treats are available online and at stores nationwide. $10.25 Bakefully.com 17
Sweet Potato Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
M Catering
RICHMOND
Chef Michael Hall has been perfecting his barbecue sauce for years, and the result is one that perfectly balances sweet and savory flavors. Chef Hall’s Sweet Potato Chipotle Barbecue Sauce marries the spice of smoky chipotle peppers with the sweetness of sweet potatoes and brown sugar. Hints of honey, molasses, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hickory smoke round out the complexity of this delectable dressing. Hall originally concocted the recipe in 2015 as the chef and owner of Spoonbread Bistro in Richmond. That year, it took home honors at a Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Savor event. Now the chef at Tavern 19 at the Independence Golf Course in Midlothian, Hall sells the bottled sauce at the golf course gift shop. $10.99 IndependenceGolfClub.com/Tavern-19
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Premium Ice Cream Pints
Richlands Creamery
BLACKSTONE
Made from milk sourced directly from the family’s third generation dairy farm, Richlands Creamery ice cream pints are at the top of their class. From classic flavors like vanilla and strawberry to creative options like banana pudding and lemon cream, Richlands has something for everyone. “We pride ourselves on the care that we give to our land and animals, and we think you can taste the goodness in every bite of ice cream,” says owner Coley Drinkwater. Opened in June of 2019, Richlands offers all manner of milky good-
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ness, from two percent, whole, and chocolate milk to heavy cream; but it’s the ice cream that puts a smile on the faces of visitors to their Blackstone ice cream parlor. $4.99$5.29 RichlandsDairyFarm.com 19
Heavenly Kettle Corn
VIRGINIA BEACH
Available in five mouth-watering flavors, like tangle of lime, sweet heat, and crab corn, Heavenly Kettle Corn is an addictive, salty snack with a mission. The company donates five percent of sales from every bag to nonprofits that benefit children, veterans, and families of law enforcement. Owner Jeremy Bigler says he started the business to teach his children real-world skills, and the family-run operation pops each variety in small batches from their Virginia Beach home. Each bag has a resealable zipper so you can save some for later, if by chance it’s not eaten in one sitting! Look for this “corn with a cause” at farmers markets, stores, and breweries around Hampton Roads. $8 HeavenlyKettleCorn.com 20
Applesauces
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This Morning, Thornhill soon began selling in retail stores like Southern States, The Market at 25th Street, and Pole Green Produce. Mrs. Marcy’s ultimate mission? To make all of her products “happy, healthy, and homemade.” $5-$9.50 MrsMarcysHomemades.com 21
Summer Winter Crest di Galle
Foggy Mountain Pasta
HERNDON
Founded in the mountains of Appalachia in 2016, Foggy Mountain Pasta is all about wheat. They source sustainably grown heirloom varieties to imbue each bite of pasta with a distinct flavor. In the Summer Winter Crest di Galle, sweet and tender summer wheat combines with nutty, firmer winter wheat in a tubular mohawk shape that holds its own against bold sauces. “Truly farm to fork, our pasta proudly features the unique flavors, colors, and textures of each grain, how it’s milled, and where it’s from,” says owner and pasta maker Gabriel Key. Key’s Foggy Mountain artisan handmade pastas are available to order online and for sale at farmers markets across Northern Virginia. $10.99 FoggyMountainPasta.com
Mrs. Marcy’s Homemades NORTH CHESTERFIELD
Finding herself with an abundance of time and apples from her home garden, serial entrepreneur Marcy Thornhill launched Mrs. Marcy’s Homemades from her Chesterfield home during the height of the pandemic. Thornhill says she was interested in preserving the bounty from her garden while creating a healthy snack for her family. With a variety of flavors available, including classic apple, strawberry, blueberry, and orange, the product line grew quickly. Thanks to an appearance on Virginia
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“It’s Perfectly Spiced And Reminds Me of my Grandma’s.” [Homemade StrawApple Sauce]
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Linen Towels and Aprons
Blue Skies Workroom PROVIDENCE FORGE
In her kitchen and studio, Alyssa Salomon always relied on simple linen towels for cleanups and wipe downs. So in 2016, after founding her Blue Skies Workroom project in Providence Forge, she decided to design and print her own line of linen towels for the kitchen, table, and bath. “Linen is a fantastic material—durable, naturally stain resistant, washable, absorbent, and satisfying in hand,” Salomon says. The towels ($25) measure 26 by 16 inches and are available in six designs. Blue Skies’ coordinating, cross-back aprons ($175) are hand sewn with French seams and a shaped patch pocket, and come in three sizes. The towels and aprons are printed with eco-friendly, water-based, upholstery-grade ink. BlueSkiesWorkroom.com 23
Hidden TV Credenza
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Spugnardi Furniture
ARLINGTON
Jeff Spugnardi designs and builds gorgeous custom furniture from his Arlington workshop
By M A R K US SCHMIDT
using sustainable East Coast hardwood. His mantra? Authentic. Functional. Furniture. “I combine classical and modern woodworking techniques to ensure lifetimes of form and function in these pieces,” he says, adding that his use of local hardwoods gives trees “a second life as functional art.” Take Spugnardi’s Hidden TV Credenza. Its cantilevered sides and louvered doors give it a mid-century vibe. Inside, the rear of the cabinet is fitted with a lift, which raises a television when needed, then lowers to store it discreetly out of view. $8,000 Spugnardi.com 24
Porcelain Pendant Lamps
Parlour Pottery
COPPER HILL
In 2020, Parlour Pottery owner and ceramist Josh Manning designed lamp shades to hang over a client’s dining room table. Soon after, he began making pendant lamps, which mimic Song Dynasty dinnerware, as one-offs of the initial commission. “These are semi-transparent drop pendant lamps that are hand-cast and fired to extremely high temperatures, which helps achieve both the strength and translucency of the shade,” Manning says. Fully wired and ready to install, the lamps come equipped with a 16-inch nickel-colored
cord with an on-off switch three-feet from the plug. No chain support is needed—just knot the cord to hang the pendant from a hook. $97-$136 ParlourPottery.com 25
Items Made from Recycled Skateboards
Scene 3 Designs
LYNCHBURG
Downtown Lynchburg’s Scene 3 Boardshop has been selling and repairing bicycles and skateboards since 2001. There, artist Jeff Gray upcycles scraps from old boards and bikes to handcraft everyday pieces, like his minimalist slim wallet ($25). A band on the wallet, made from bicycle inner tubes, keeps cash and credit cards secure. After sanding with strips of leftover grip tape, Gray applies a coat of clear protective enamel to bring out the former skateboard’s vibrant colors and provide a protective finish. Gray also offers a money clip ($23), match striker ($24), bottle opener ($14), and more from his Etsy shop. Scene3Designs.com
photo by jason callaway / courtesy of spugnardi furniture
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Virginia Mammals Home Fabric
Sara Hillery Interior Design RICHMOND Since opening her interior design firm in 2011, Sara Hillery has delighted clients with her family-friendly spaces that also feel elegant and timeless. Over time, Sara—a mother of three whose clients are all over the country—has also launched a series of products, including her Virginia mammals line of home textiles. Available in a range of colors, the fabric features the Virginia black bear, rabbit, deer, beaver, fox, and others. Both playful and classic, the toile-like patterns are perfect for children’s as well as grown-up spaces. Since its launch in 2018, the fabric has been featured in the Richmond Symphony Orchestra League’s Designer House and countless other inspiring spaces. $90 per yard SaraHillery.com/Textiles
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Clockwise: Wallet; match striker; money clip; bottle openers.
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Cigar Box Candles
Sweet Heat Candles
SANDSTON
For Shannon Bragg, candle-making is soul soothing. So, in 2016, she decided to turn the craft she learned in Girl Scouts into a business. She repurposes used and vintage cigar boxes for her candle vessels, transforming them into gorgeous works of wax and wood that do double duty as beautiful pieces of home decor. Bragg then hand pours, hand scents, and hand wicks each candle in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Customers can even pick their scent of choice: Her signature scent, “Pipe Dreams,” is a luscious blend with notes of vanilla, cherry, and tobacco. Bragg also offers succulent peach, lemon pound cake, honeysuckle jasmine, and lavender chamomile. $30-$80 SweetHeatCandles.com
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“Completely unique and creative, never seen anything like it!” [Cigar Box Candles]
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style & beauty 28
Blue Mountain Sweater
Calluna
ARRINGTON
Countless artists have been inspired by the Appalachian Mountains, and Heather Gonzalez, founder and owner of Calluna, can be counted among them. “When I saw the pattern, I knew I had to make it,” she says of her label’s Blue Mountain Sweater. Gonzalez sources her fabrics from a woman-owned business that uses organic cotton milled in the U.S., and she looks to smaller operations for her patterns, such as the one found on the Blue Mountain Sweater, as well. The cozy knit is available in both adult and grow-withme children’s sizes—making it the perfect uniform for a family photo, perhaps during a mountain getaway. Available online, or at The Heart of Nelson Shop in Lovingston. $68-$145 CallunaByHeather.com
more than 20 years, her enthusiasm for her signature bracelets has never waned. Starting at $125 OnUJewelry.com 30
Olive Oil Soaps
Mieka Olive Oil
LOCUST GROVE
When registered nurse and entrepreneur Charity Norton was presented with the opportunity to purchase Mieka Olive Oil Soaps just over four years ago, she saw more than a chance to create well-scented suds. “I have several clients with skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, that have found my soaps to be helpful and healing,” she says. Using a traditional Mediterranean recipe taught to her by eponymous brand founder Mieka, Norton crafts soaps using honey and oat for exfoliation (featuring raw honey grown in the Shenandoah Valley), peppermint for rejuvenation, and lavender for relaxation, each with
By EDEN ST UA RT
antioxidant-rich olive oil at the heart of the formulation. The soaps are available on the brand’s website, and, says Norton, “in retail stores up and down the East Coast.” $5.99 MiekaOliveOil.com 31
The Jefferson
Handley Watches
RICHMOND
Jay Carpenter just didn’t have the time—literally. While training for a triathlon, Carpenter—who started building watches with wife Alexis in late 2019—was looking to squeeze quick training runs into his lunch breaks. But
he was finding it difficult to source a timepiece that could stylishly keep his day on track. “I realized there wasn’t a single watch that I could wear while training for triathlons or playing golf that could transition to a board meeting or entertaining clients at night,” says Jay. Thus Handley Watches was born. The brand specializes in pairing classic dials with safe, silicone bands. The Jefferson—which features a Miyota quartz 2115 battery, flat sapphire glass, and stainless steel case—is its most polished offering, says Carpenter. $225 HandleyWatches.com
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Antique Button Bracelets
on u designs & finds
RICHMOND
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If you’re looking for a statement piece that you won’t see on anyone else, you’d be hardpressed to find a better option than on u designs & finds’ antique button bracelets. Each piece is one of a kind and handmade with care. Owner and designer Donna Silvestri sources her wares from around the world, creating one of a kind bracelets featuring vintage buttons ranging from glass and celluloid to mother of pearl. “I have many customers who have 10 pieces apiece,” she says. Art is the family business for Silvestri, a former fabric designer who grew up with a painter father, fabric stylist aunt, and fiber artist grandmother. Though Silvestri has run on u designs & finds for
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“So cool. These are at the top of my list.” [Sterling Crochet Leaf Earrings]
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Sunflower Tote Bag
Third Branch Leather
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STAUNTON
Like many Virginians, Berkeley Harner spent the early months of the pandemic picking up a new project. He tried his hand at leather arts and has since turned the hobby into an official business: Third Branch Leather. The brand’s Sunflower Tote Bag is among its newer offerings, consisting of American oil-tanned leather and Italian suede and featuring a wide opening and 12-inch strap drop—making it the perfect choice for elevating a trip to the market or quick weekend getaway. “There are so many cool designs in nature and I like to use these in my leather work,” Harner says. The totes are available on the Third Branch Leather website and Etsy store, and locally at the Made Shop in Downtown Staunton. $245 ThirdBranchLeather.com
Sterling Crochet Leaf Earrings
Spearman Artisanry
LYNCHBURG
Jannett Spearman, the owner and designer behind Spearman Artisanry, aims to make jewelry that you (or your sweetheart) can wear forever. She took up jewelry making while attending artisan school in Lima, Peru, where she was teaching technology at an international Christian school. “I learned various techniques, but fell in love with wire crochet,” Spearman says. After initially offering her wares at the Lynchburg Community Market, she set up a permanent shop in 2015, landing at her current location—on Lynchburg’s Main Street—in 2017. The label’s Sterling Crochet Leaf Earrings fall right in line with the designer’s classic ethos. Inspired by one of the most timeless things of all, Central Virginia’s fall foliage, the wire crochet earrings “can be made to order in any fall shade.” $80 SpearmanArtisanry.com
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Shampoo and Conditioner
Raindrops in Virginia
GORDONSVILLE
If Virginia had a state scent, it might just be found in a bottle of Raindrops in Virginia’s shampoos and conditioners. Husband-andwife team Adam and Kathryn Krehbiel started formulating the hair products after noticing that Kathryn was frequently switching out brands, hoping to preserve some of the natural oils in her hair. Using ingredients like
aloe, shea butter, and jojoba, the duo creates shampoos and conditioners in delectable scents like Summer Dreams, Herb Garden, and the popular Virginia Hyacinth, which captures “the very particular subtleties of Dutch hyacinth here in Virginia,” says Kathryn. While Adam handles the chemistry, Kathryn steers scent design, tapping into the Old Dominion for her profiles. The products are available on the brand’s website. $26 for set RaindropsInVirginia.com
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EASTERN
FACES of Virginia
The Faces of Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula Real Estate When thinking about a river home in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula areas, it is not uncommon to know this leading firm. IsaBell K. Horsley Real Estate has been guiding clients in buying and selling in these areas since 1975. The family owned, non-franchised company is now being led by third-generation brokers, David and Katie Horsley Dew. The Dews promote new technologies and innovative ways in real estate and marketing, while keeping true to the roots that Katie’s grandmother established within the company—personal connection, trust, and going above and beyond in client satisfaction. “We want the heritage of our boutique real estate company to be that Horsley Real Estate is the firm to work with since they know the area and make transactions easy for clients, while negotiating the best on their behalf,” says Katie. Horsley Real Estate listens to their clients’ needs, as each family has a different story. Katie says, “We sell a lifestyle, not just a home and so much of what we do is finding the perfect property for you, or by helping someone sell their memories of a property they have cherished with family and friends. We have many unique and special areas around the Chesapeake Bay, so we do help guide and educate on our locations.” Horsley Real Estate has four offices: Urbanna, Deltaville, Mathews, and White Stone. We cover from the York to the Potomac Rivers
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and everywhere in between with a wonderful team of 35+ knowledgeable agents, many of whom have won Platinum and Diamond Awards. The firm sells in all price ranges and is a top-producing company in these areas. Virginia Living readers have voted Horsley Real Estate “Best of Virginia” for real estate in Eastern Virginia for eight consecutive years. And many Horsley agents have also won Virginia Living’s “Top Realtor” award. David and Katie are a dynamic real estate duo with nearly 20 years of sales experience. Not only do they help manage the family firm with marketing, training, recruiting, and agent guidance; they also work with their own buyers and sellers. “Our goal is that our clients are so pleased with our work, they let all our family and friends know we are their Realtors. We love what we do!” says David. Whether you are looking for a family getaway or retirement home, our area is a perfect hidden waterfront destination with small towns, great seafood, and friendly faces.
Horsley Real Estate 804-436-3106 | 804-436-6256 HorsleyRealEstate.com
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C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • NORTHERN • S O U T H W E S T • C E N T R W E S T • NORTHERN • C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • W E S T E R N • NO E A S T E R N • NORTHERN • S H E N A N D O A H • C E N T R A L • E A S T T E R N • S O U T H W E S T • C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • NORTHERN • C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • NORTHERN • W E S T E R N • C E N T R A L T E R N • NORTHERN • C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • W E S T E R N • NO E A S T E R N • NORTHERN • S H E N A N D O A H • C E N T R A L • E A S T T E R N • W E S T E R N • C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • NORTHERN • C E C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • NORTHERN • S O U T H W E S T • C E N T R W E S T • NORTHERN • C E N T R A L • E A S T E R N • S O U T H W E S T • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia At Virginia Living we celebrate all things Virginia, including the many towns and neighborhoods that are the backbone of our state. We want to recognize the professionals and businesses that work to make Virginia’s communities so strong and vibrant.
Faces of Virginia 2021 features the neighbors and friends from a variety of industries— banking and finance, construction, manufacturing, law, healthcare, retail, education and more—who are making an impact in our communities every day. These are the folks we count on in this great Commonwealth.
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CENTRAL
FACES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Tax, Accounting, and Advisory Services In a time continually dubbed the new normal, Jennifer Lehman, CEO of Hantzmon Wiebel LLP, has led her team of approximately 100 team members to push beyond the norm to provide their clients customized, data-informed CPA and advisory services. The firm has embraced the technological shifts within the accounting industry in order to streamline processes and provide clients with a more robust selection of advisory services. The firm provides faster, more accurate information than ever before in order to assist clients in making responsive and timely plans. Because of the speed with which information is accessible and the mass of data available, individuals and businesses need trusted advisors more than ever. Hantzmon Wiebel analyzes information to develop findings, conclusions, and recommendations for client consideration and decision making in areas such as operational improvement and strategic planning. “The landscape for accounting and many other professions is changing. We are excited about leveraging the technologies available now, and those to come, in order to help our clients plan, execute, and excel. It’s an exciting time to be in accounting and advisory services,” says Lehman. Since 1928, Hantzmon Wiebel has worked as trusted advisors to individuals, entrepreneurs, family businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Their years of experience combined with the ability to analyze real-time data allows the team to give clients individualized attention to help them develop plans customized to suit their specific objectives. They know the right questions to ask, and they listen intently to client needs. Lehman says, “I believe we continue to stand out and grow because we focus on service and relationships. We walk side-by-side with our clients and help guide them in order to maximize their success.”
Hantzmon Wiebel 434-296-2156 | HWLLP.cpa Photo: Mason Martin
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FACES
CENTRAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Central Virginia Education Sweet Briar College, a women’s college in Central Virginia known around the world for graduating women leaders, is a natural fit for Meredith Woo. An expert on international political economy and East Asian politics, Sweet Briar’s thirteenth president is a noted scholar, author, liberal arts advocate, teacher and leader, with a passion for increasing women’s access to educational opportunities. Woo believes that leadership can be defined and taught. That belief led her to launch a women’s leadership core curriculum at Sweet Briar. The core provides a liberal arts foundation through an interdisciplinary approach, teaching the skills of problem-solving, decision-making and ethical thinking, as well as the logical and expressive ability to persuade. The core prepares women to address the problems of the 21st century by instilling a style of leadership that is democratic, collaborative, and humanistic. But Woo’s innovative ideas didn’t stop there. Under her leadership, the College was one of the first institutions in Virginia to enact a decisive tuition reset, with the result that a Sweet Briar education is affordable and accessible, as well as relevant. Over the last three years, the College reactivated its heritage farmlands, launching an apiary; 21 acres of vineyards, which produced their first commercial crop this fall; and a 26,000-square-foot greenhouse, which provides produce to Sweet Briar’s dining program, the local community and area foodbanks. These initiatives also provide educational opportunities. Faculty have integrated these resources into the curriculum, students are learning to manage agricultural operations, and engineering students are putting their creative minds to work in the hydroponics bay. These innovations have proven to be inspiring to prospective students. Enrollment at Sweet Briar continues to grow; the incoming class this fall was the largest in nearly a decade. The future is bright for both Sweet Briar and President Woo.
Sweet Briar College 434-381-6142 | SBC.edu Photo: Cassie Foster Evans
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
The finest agents. Always. We are proud to recognize our agents as the faces of Luxury Real Estate in Central Virginia
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Learn more and search our listings today joynerfineproperties.com | 804-270-9440
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FACES
CENTRAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Faces of Luxury Real Estate in Central Virginia Joyner Fine Properties has established a reputation as Richmond’s premier real estate company, delivering unparalleled guidance and market expertise. Attentive professional service has been at the heart of our business since our founding in 1973, and it remains a critical component of our working relationships today. The key to Joyner’s success is simple. We build lasting relationships by knowing our agents and understanding their priorities. With Joyner, you get a trusted partner and advocate committed to providing realistic solutions to your needs. It all starts with our brand promise – we have the finest agents, we deliver the finest service, and we represent the finest expertise. We have over 180 associates who represent sellers, buyers, landlords, tenants, builders, developers, and community associations. The agents of Joyner Fine Properties represent more than the area’s most desirable homes. Our agents represent unmatched dedication to helping our clients get the finest from their homes, in the ways that matter the most. As Joyner has grown, we have become a “family” of companies, including Residential Sales & Leasing, Relocation Services, Commercial Sales & Leasing, and Property Management Services. Joyner Fine Properties represents the finest level of service for our clients. We take great pride in making every interaction the finest possible – and making buying or selling a home the most satisfying experience. We are proud to have been voted a Best Real Estate Firm in Central Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine, 2015-2021, and we will continue to provide the best for our clients. Joyner Fine Properties has been the area’s authority on home and real estate for nearly 50 years. Our historical knowledge goes hand-in-hand with accessing current technologies that help make the process as Joyner Fine Properties stress-free as possible.
804-270-9440 | JoynerFineProperties.com Pictured: Residential Managing Brokers Wayne Gauthier, Bonnie Cosby, Page Booth, Wes Atiyeh, and President John Stone
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CENTRAL
FACES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Inspiring and Preparing the Next Generation of Exemplary Citizens and Visionary Leaders If medical science and healthcare professionals are the brains behind COVID-19 recovery, and frontline workers are the hands ensuring people are fed and infrastructure holds, teachers are the heart of society during this pandemic. They provide children with a safe harbor in an unstable world. They partner with parents who struggle with managing social isolation, increased screen time, and the many unknowns of COVID-19 for children. Teachers nurture and continue to connect with this generation of resilient, adaptable, and empathetic young people. Teachers do this, all while managing their own realities during the pandemic.
St. Anne’s-Belfield School 434-296-5106 | STAB.org
One place where this is especially true is St. Anne’sBelfield School in Charlottesville. In the spirit of the School’s founding headmistress, Mary Hyde DuVal — who opened the school in 1910 and insisted it remain open for students during the flu epidemic of 1918 — when COVID-19 shut down the world, St. Anne’s-Belfield reinvented school in a manner unmatched by other schools in the region. The Pre-School program moved outdoors, accelerating its planned expansion of the natural classroom and building simple, open-air cottages. Kindergarten– Grade 12 teachers worked through the summer of 2020 to build and deliver a hybrid, in-person, and online learning model. Arts programs practiced and performed distanced and masked, and athletics reimagined training, athletic development, and competitive play. The result? School happened. Students were safe, happy, well known, and well educated.
The academic leaders of the school (pictured, from left): Francis Atemo, Lisa Keeler, Hunter Price, Dr. Autumn A. Graves (head of school), Marie Reed, Jimmy Zunka ’00, and Beth Miller, could tell you about the sheer exhaustion of teaching in yet another COVID year. Or the complexity of making decisions where there is no roadmap. But mostly they’d like to tell you about their firm belief that students deserve to be educated, known, nurtured, and nudged. And that before COVID, during COVID, and after COVID is gone, there is no school that serves students better than St. Anne’s-Belfield, where everyone is all in for all Saints.
Photo: Kellis Photography
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FACES
CENTRAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Funeral Service and Custom Life Celebrations Lacyn Barton has been the President of Woody Funeral Homes and Cremation Service since 2019 and is the first female to hold that position since the funeral home was established in 1905. A Licensed Funeral Director working in the industry for 18 years, Barton has witnessed a great deal of evolution in funeral service. “There’s endless opportunity for creativity when personalizing life celebration ceremonies,” says Barton. Barton manages Woody Funeral Homes and Nelsen Funeral Homes, leading a team of 70 funeral service professionals on a mission to create funeral and memorial services as special and unique as the lives they celebrate. “From small, intimate gatherings to larger traditional services and even grand life celebration banquets, the families entrusted to our care have many different ideas about what they want in a funeral service,” Barton says. “We are excited to customize those special events, providing both traditional and modern venues, unique catering options, as well as complimentary livestreaming of services.” Woody and Nelsen Funeral Homes are dedicated in their service to the community. Their annual American Flag Exchange program, for instance, provides members of the community the opportunity to exchange their worn American flags for new ones, culminating in the dignified retirement of more than 14,000 worn American flags in the past 5 years. Barton is proud of the work her team continues to do to advance the impact of meaningful life celebration ceremonies. Barton holds degrees in Mortuary Science, a BA in Business, and an MBA in Healthcare Management. She was recently appointed to the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers by Gov. Ralph Northam. She is a proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. In her spare time, Barton enjoys riding her Vespa, painting portraits, and visiting Virginia’s many historical sites with her husband and three daughters.
Woody Funeral Home and Cremation Service 804-288-3013 | DignityMemorial.com Photo: Will Schermerhorn
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CENTRAL
FACES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
BEFORE AFTER
The Face of Central Virginia’s Home Improvement Industry When Bruce Wiegan launched BNW Builders in 2004, he already had nearly two decades of experience in the home improvement industry. Since 1989, he had been the vice-president of one of Virginia’s largest replacement window companies. At the time, winning accolades and awards was, perhaps, the last thing on his mind. Rather, Bruce was intent on taking his years of experience in the industry and assembling a dedicated, experienced team who shared his passion for expert workmanship, quality products and exceptional customer service. “I was determined to do things the way that I felt was the right way,” he says. However, when you consistently offer that degree of workmanship and quality products, along with a warranty that goes way beyond that which is offered throughout the industry, such accolades tend to come along naturally. And, along the way, BNW has received such honors. What is especially gratifying, Bruce says, is when the company, which has grown to be one of the highest rated full-service home improvement companies in the United States, receives recognition from its peers. For instance, BNW has been inducted into Remodeling Magazine’s exclusive “Big 50 Remodelers” list and has been selected by Professional Remodeler Magazine as one of their market leaders.
BNW Builders 804-346-3300 | BNWBuilders.com
Furthermore, in 2012, BNW Builders was one of only 28 contractors throughout the country to achieve the honor of receiving the President’s Club award from GAF, the nation’s leading roofing manufacturer. BNW has continued to receive this most prestigious award, which goes to only the “elite of the elite” in the industry, every year since then. Residents of Central Virginia have learned that when home improvements are on their list of needs or desires, they can put their trust in BNW Builders for windows, decks, screened porches, roofs, siding, doors, and more. In order to emphasize and effectively promote two very important facets of the home improvement industry, Bruce subsequently formed Windows of Richmond and Gutter Shutter of Richmond. But of all his endeavors, the one for which he has the most passion is his nonprofit division, Building Needs and Wishes, which he created in 2007. “That’s my baby,” he says. Building Needs and Wishes provides free home improvements to Central Virginia families in need. Bruce says, “There is no better feeling than being a part of positive change in your community, and we’re so proud to be able to help our neighbors live in safer, more comfortable homes.” Expert workmanship, high-quality products, a commitment to customer service, plus a dedication to giving back to the community makes BNW a name to remember when you’re contemplating turning your home into your dream home.
Photos: James Haskins Photography
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No matter the size or scope of your project and property, let BNW Builders’ transformative expertise, turn your ordinary to extraordinary.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
AFTER BEFORE
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CENTRAL
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of Virginia
The Face of Beauty in Central Virginia Recently voted by Virginia Living readers as a “Best of Virginia” spa in Central Virginia, Sugar & Hive Beauty Bar has won acclaim for its modern approach to beauty and self-care. Summer Layton, Founder of Sugar & Hive Beauty Bar, began with a simple mission: To offer aesthetic treatments that are results-driven and non-invasive while leading the way for a more accessible and approachable experience. With two locations and a third in the works, Summer and a team of highly skilled clinical providers aim to deliver the very best aesthetic treatments available in a warm and inviting setting that exudes Southern charm. They have merged the traditional spa world with the clinical side of aesthetics and created a space like no other—from the gorgeous open concept facial bar to beautifully appointed treatment rooms that offer privacy and complete solitude. In addition, they thoughtfully integrate services and products that deliver results with no downtime, such as HydraFacial, chemical peels, spa facials, the acne clinic, laser treatments, injectables, and more. Summer says, “It is my dream and mission to create beautiful spaces, provide an elevated experience that is warm and approachable, services and treatments that leave you rejuvenated and confident, and to leave a lasting impact on the industry as a whole. One aspect of the industry that I have targeted is inclusivity. It is important to our team and me. From the beginning, I have seen this component missing in our industry. Fortunately, we are in an environment where the spotlight is on providing a more inclusive and diverse experience in the world of aesthetics. If we can leave a small part of the industry better than we found it, I will feel like we have accomplished what we set out to do. Our comprehensive approach to skincare and our focus on education set us apart and are why we have been successful. I am so proud of what we created.”
Sugar & Hive Beauty Bar 804-491-4111 | SugarAndHive.com Photos: Lexi Hanrahan Photography
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FACES
CENTRAL
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of Virginia
The Face of Beautiful Smiles in Central Virginia Dr. Gus Horsey is a native of Richmond, VA and proudly performs award winning orthodontic treatment for children and adults throughout Central Virginia and beyond at Horsey Orthodontics. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Dentistry and completed his post-doctorate master’s of science degree and Certificate in Orthodontics from there as well. He has appeared in several national magazines including: Parents Magazine, Oprah Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Vogue, Entrepreneur Magazine, Allure, Women’s Day Magazine, and Redbook. Customized treatments offered by Dr. Horsey include: Clear Aligner Treatment InBrace Hidden Braces Esthetic Adult Treatment Orthodontic Care for Children Clear and Metal Braces
Dr. Horsey has also won several awards from his dental peers and the community. These include: Top Orthodontist and Top Instructional Dentist, Richmond Magazine, Best Orthodontic Practice, Virginia Living Magazine, and Best Orthodontist, Richmond Times Dispatch. As a faculty member at the Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program, he teaches growth and development and clinical orthodontics to residents. Dr. Horsey lectures nationally on several topics in orthodontics including digital technology and lingual orthodontics. He is committed to excellence in patient care and enhancing his patients’ oral health, esthetics, and function. Dr. Horsey stays active in local and national dental organizations and volunteering in the community. Horsey Orthodontics supports several charities and community organizations in the Richmond area annually with donations and free services.
Horsey Orthodontics is the only Center of Excellence in Central Virginia for hidden braces. Dr. Horsey was also one of the innovators of InBrace, a hidden braces system delivering the ultimate in esthetics and efficiency. InBrace utilizes 3D technology to create custom treatment for each individual patient.
Horsey Orthodontics has two convenient locations in Henrico and Midlothian offering free smile consultations. Learn more about Dr. Gus Horsey and Horsey Orthodontics at HorseyOrthodontics.com. Also feel free to contact Dr. Horsey with any questions at g.horsey@horseyorthodontics.com.
Horsey Orthodontics 804-672-3030 | HorseyOrthodontics.com Photography by Nicole Johnson
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EASTERN
FACES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Orthopaedics For more than 30 years, Dr. Anthony Carter has been practicing as an orthopaedic surgeon in Hampton Roads. Dr. Carter is a native of Peabody, Massachusetts, where he attended Boston University, graduating summa cum laude with distinction. He was recognized as a Commonwealth Scholar and became an inductee of Phi Beta Kappa. He gained early acceptance into Boston University School of Medicine, graduating with honors and as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. After graduating, Dr. Carter began his orthopaedic career at NYU, serving as chief resident before beginning his service at Langley Air Force Base in 1992. While at Langley, he served as a staff orthopaedic surgeon which included a tour of duty overseas as part of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Dr. Carter joined Hampton Roads Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in 1995. A pioneer in his field, he introduced many firsts in the Hampton Roads area, including the direct anterior approach to total hip replacement (Jiffy Hip) as well as robotic knee surgery (Makoplasty), both of which he has performed more cases than any other surgeon in the area. He is constantly seeking new and innovative techniques including improved pain management and accelerated patient recovery and outcomes through advanced outpatient total hip and knee replacements. Dr. Carter recently completed his third book chapter on total hip replacement. Recognized by his peers as a “Top Doc” of Hampton Roads, Dr. Carter is also a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). His leadership skills, honed during his military service at Langley Air Force Base, prepared him well for his role as chief of surgery at Mary Immaculate Hospital. He also serves on the board of directors of the Anterior Hip Foundation. In addition, Dr. Carter is passionately invested in philanthropic causes within his community as well as internationally, dedicating his resources, time, and talents to medical missions across the globe. Most recently, Dr. Carter traveled to Honduras with a medical mission team to perform a total of 55 joint replacements for those in need.
Hampton Roads Orthopaedics Spine & Sports Medicine 757-873-1554 | HROSM.com Photo: Sara Harris Photography
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FACES
EASTERN
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of Virginia
The Face of Virginia’s Antiques Established in 2004, The Goodman Home has become one of the south’s premiere retailers of fine art, antiques, home furnishings, and estate jewelry. The business model was a combination of the willingness to preserve the treasures of yesteryear and promote their integration into modern living. Lisa Kidd-Goodman holds a degree in art history from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently working towards a master’s/Ph.D. in history. Retail has been a passion for Lisa since the young age of 15, when she landed her first job at Thalhimer’s Pappagallo shop. After graduating college she was hired as one of twelve visual display artists for the beloved Miller & Rhoads department stores. By 25 she owned Anthurium... The Boutique in Richmond’s West End. Later she combined this passion for retail with her love of history which evolved into the creation of The Goodman Home. Alan Goodman became fascinated with collecting coins as a small child. This seemingly simple hobby eventually grew into an extensive knowledge of numismatics and proficiency in the market of precious metals. With a master’s degree in engineering, Alan’s passion project eventually realized into an invaluable addition to The Goodman Home. The very first “antique purchase” was acquired on a brutally cold, rainy, November day in Love, Virginia. That’s when Lisa Goodman spotted the 19th-century Empire buffet, with its feet buried in two inches of mud under an auctioneer’s tent. And so began the 20-year-and-counting treasure hunt for the finest crystal, porcelain, art, rugs, and antiques that continue to fill their showrooms today. Pieces from The Goodman Home have even been featured in period dramas such as Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln, and the AMC television series Turn, and Mad Men. The legacy of The Goodman Home is carried on by second generation, Hollis Mugford, daughter of Alan and Lisa. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Hollis went on to have a four-year career in advertising and social media across several major cities such as Nashville, Los Angeles, and most recently, New York, where she worked for iHeartMedia. Hollis has broadened the reach The Goodman Home of the business globally with The 804-824-9383 | TheGoodmanHome.com Goodman Home’s online store. Photo: Hollis Mugford
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EASTERN
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of Virginia
The Face of Smokehouse Flavor for over 50 Years Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que opened on Oct 15, 1971 when Jay Pierce was 15 years old. Jay along with his parents cleared the land and helped build the building that then was a walk-up window with soda vending machines in the gravel parking lot.
The pork is still cooked over hickory and oak same as it has always been made. Most of the menu sides and desserts are all made from scratch on site daily. Produce is brought in from local farms and we are proud to be as clean and green as we can be.
The doors opened then with no employees, just family. Jay worked after school for the first two years helping with cooking, cleaning, and cashiering. The business has grown from cooking one 60 lb. case of meat a week to 3,300 lbs. of meat weekly today on five large pits in the smokehouse behind the restaurant.
The business has met many obstacles through the years, managing to keep the highway signage in place and bringing public utilities on site along with the addition of fire hydrants. This year Pierce’s helped get underground wiring for the restaurant and neighborhoods behind it to avoid power outages that were all too frequent over the years. Covid taught us all how to adapt to changes and we have navigated well keeping our staff and guests safe.
Jay still runs the show with second and third generation employees of the original staff. Our staff today is diverse and generational. Our General Manager and Director of Operations have been here for over 30 years Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que each along with a handful of 757-565-2955 | Pierces.com employees as well.
Mr. Pierce is proud to have accomplished the 50-year anniversary and staying privately owned. He is looking forward to celebrating with the staff and guests as the Virginia tradition continues!
Photo: Corey Miller
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FACES
NORTHERN
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Oculofacial Plastic Surgery for Northern Virginia Soheila Rostami, MD, FAAO, FAACS, is a double board-certified oculofacial cosmetic plastic surgeon with more than 21 years of experience. She is much sought-after for her precise technique and skill level with finesse eyelid surgery, dermal filler, and neurotoxin injections. She is highly knowledgeable about cutting edge anti-aging laser and radio-frequency technologies available today. She is also a national trainer for cannula, microneedling, dermal filler, and neurotoxin injection protocols. Dr. Rostami is a graduate of the Howard University School of Medicine in Washington DC, where she was elected by her peers as chief resident of ophthalmology. She then went on to complete her oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the University of Maryland. Dr. Rostami is board certified with the American Board of Ophthalmology (FAAO) and American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. She also serves as the chair of oral examination committee for the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS) & American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS). Dr. Rostami is the former Section Chief of Ophthalmology at Reston Hospital Center, the current Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at The George Washington University, the adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at State University of New York (College of Optometry), on the Board of the Medical Society of Virginia, the Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Howard University, and she is the President of the Medical Society of Northern Virginia. She has received numerous awards over the years including Dean’s Honor Roll, Beta Kappa Chi Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Dr. Charles I. West Award, Trustee Scholarship, Member of AOA Medical Honor Society Gamma Chapter, peer-voted Northern Virginia Top Doc, voted Best Eyelid Surgeon of Modern Luxury DC 2021, and voted one of Modern Luxury’s Dynamic Women 2021 Having performed thousands of cosmetic and medically necessary eyelid surgeries, Dr. Rostami is known as the surgical eyelid expert in the DC metro area. She is honored that other physicians trust her with their own eyelid surgeries and with those of their patients. Dr. Rostami is also accomplished with facelifts, brow and forehead lifts, mid-face, as well as neck rejuvenation surgery. She is well-known for her natural and never overdone aesthetic results. Dr. Rostami is the CEO and Medical Director of Rostami Oculofacial Plastic Consultants, a medical/cosmetic practice in Reston, VA with focus on Ophthalmology and Oculofacial plastic surgery. She is also the CEO and Medical Director of Sanctuary Cosmetic Center with locations in Tysons Corner, and Dulles, VA that excels in facial plastic surgery and body rejuvenation treatments of all kinds. She is also the CEO and Medical Director of her en-suite AAAHCaccredited surgical center that operates at the highest standards.
Sanctuary Cosmetic Center 703-893-3937 | SanctuaryCosmeticCenter.com Photo: Sarah Marcella
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NORTHERN
FACES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Modern Barbering in Northern Virginia John Hall has always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Over the years, he has pursued various business ventures, but he’s always returned to barbering. Even when he was working toward a finance degree in college, he ended up being the campus barber to many. Then one day he had a realization: stop thinking of barbering as just a hobby and embrace the industry as a full-time profession. Hall founded The Ultimate Barber brand in 2010. His vision was to provide an efficient haircut experience for clients from all walks of life, from scheduling appointments to checkout. He describes it as “a new-school barbershop with an old-school feel.” The brand was voted “Best Barbershop” by Virginia Living readers in 2012 and it’s been voted “Best Barbershop” and “Best Men’s Haircut” every year since. The business model and structure have been key factors in the growth and success of the brand. The Ultimate Barber now has franchises across 36 states including Virginia, and Hall is discussing a partnership with the NFL. In his many years of experience in the barber industry, Hall has found that the typical client wants a traditional barbershop setting, so that’s what he provides along with the top amenities that customers desire. From students to working professionals—to anyone with a head of hair—The Ultimate Barber offers all the top amenities that you desire and require.
The Ultimate Barber 571-483-0032 | TheUltimateBarber.com
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FACES
NORTHERN
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Faces of Multifamily Real Estate Investing Viking Capital Investments was founded in 2015 by Dr. Vikram Raya and Dr. Ravi Gupta to acquire, hold and, manage real estate assets. Viking Capital Investments is a premiere multifamily investment boutique with agile investment sourcing, structuring, execution, and asset management capabilities. Viking is a highly skilled and deeply focused real estate investment firm with the flexibility to scale and cater to investor preferences. We invest in top-tiered assets in secondary and tertiary markets across the United States. Since its 2015 inception, Viking Capital has acquired 5,035 units valued at over $600M and created multi-generational wealth for investors, all while aligning with our core values and triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit. Vikram Raya and Ravi Gupta formed Viking Capital to release themselves and others in the medical industry from the “golden handcuffs.” Growing tired of working 12-14 hour shifts and punching in for a W-2, they dreamed of becoming passive and active investors, generating enough revenue to practice medicine on their own terms. In the process they have helped thousands of tenants live comfortably while creating luxurious and green-friendly living quarters for all. Join Viking and begin your multifamily investment journey.
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Vikram Raya is the CEO and Managing Partner of Viking Capital Investments. He is a trained cardiologist and functional medicine physician. Prior to forming Viking, Vikram was the Co-Founder and CEO of Dare Investments, where he was instrumental in the start-up of a real estate investment firm, acquiring numerous single-family and commercial assets across the state of Georgia. Vikram has developed a high-level repertoire of real estate investment strategies in single-family, multifamily, and commercial properties. He is an international speaker, highperformance coach, and avid real estate investor. Ravi Gupta is the COO and Managing Partner of Viking Capital Investments. Prior to forming Viking, Ravi was the Founder and CEO of MMG Capital, where he managed numerous multiplexes and single-family assets that make up a multi-million dollar portfolio within the greater Washington, D.C. area. Ravi directs operations for Viking Capital, and his expertise focuses on value-add renovations, construction oversight as well as asset management. Ravi graduated Viking Capital Investments from University of Virginia, where he 202-480-9849 | VikingCapLLC.com also received his medical degree. Ravi Photo: J. Klein Photography aids and directs Viking’s Asset Management team, charitable arm and is instrumental in our Green Energy vision.
10/21/21 11:09 PM
SHENANDOAH
FACES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Faces of Advanced Implant Dentistry in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley Virginia Dental Implant Institute (VDII) is Virginia’s premiere Dental Implant Center. Jeff Dickson, DMD, MS, MS and his amazing team work hard providing patients the highest level of advanced dental care anywhere in Virginia. Formerly known as Shenandoah Valley Implant Institute – Winchester, this office opened in 2014 with the goal of being the most modern and advanced dental implant center anywhere in Virginia and nearby states. Since then, Dr. Dickson has amassed a patient base far beyond the Shenandoah Valley, making him one of Virginia’s top dental implant specialists therefore rebranding to VDII. He has been consistently recognized as a Top Doctor (2018 – present), recently voted by his dental peers as one of Virginia’s Top Dentists in 2021, and over 100 5-star Google reviews.
Virginia Dental Implant Institute
A specialist in tooth removal, dental implants, sedation, and laser gum treatment, Dr. Dickson practices a full scope of advanced dentistry including the life changing All-on-4 service (Teeth in a Day). The All-on-4 process at VDII has changed hundreds of lives by substituting a denture for teeth that are fully screwed in and supported with dental implants. After careful planning, this process is usually completed in one day, making it a life changing experience. The process at VDII begins with a free consultation so finances do not prevent gathering information about your dental issues, proposed solutions, and cost. This initial act of kindness aims to help perspective patients through education with the incorporation of the most advanced technology, which in turn results in minimal discomfort with predictable treatment outcomes.
VDII is the culmination of the ongoing vision for a center of excellence to practice state-of-the-art dental implant and periodontal work. VDII is conveniently located across from Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, VA in the Gateway Professional Center. What Sets VDII and Dr. Jeff Dickson Apart? • Free consultation • New dental building and office • State-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies • Dr. Dickson—Top Doctor Award Winner and recently voted by his peers as one of Virginia’s Top Dentists in 2021 • Over 100 5-star Google reviews • Ask about 10% treatment discount for military veterans, first responders, and teachers
540-662-6400 | VAImplants.com Photo: Will Schermerhorn
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FACES
SOUTHWEST
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Compassionate Dog Training in Southwest Virginia Hope Sisitsky Cogen has a superpower: dog training. Hope has owned High Hopes Dog Training in Roanoke, Virginia for 21 years, embodying a unique style of training that is evident the moment she starts interacting with her clients. There is an authenticity that Hope shares with her canine students—she connects with them from a place of respect and compassion. She listens to dogs in a distinct way: to their energy, their behaviors, and their experiences. Most dogs are confused by how their humans interact with them. Humans talk and move so much, which sends mixed signals to dogs. This can result in behavior problems, as dogs are left wanting to please but unsure of their parents’ expectations. When Hope steps in, problem behaviors start improving immediately. While High Hopes Dog Training exists to help dogs, Hope’s teaching style involves a great deal of “people training.” Hope helps dogs’ family members understand how their dogs learn and communicate, and how past experiences can contribute to present behaviors. She shows families how to use their voices and bodies as integral components of interacting with their dogs, explaining how dogs are constantly interpreting human verbal and nonverbal cues whether we recognize that or not. Once humans and dogs have a greater understanding of one another, they are both eager to learn and work together. High Hopes believes in using positive reinforcement to shape and reinforce behaviors we want our dogs to model. This method works High Hopes Dog Training for long-term success and is fun 540-343-3849 | High-Hopes.net for everyone Photo: Hoprich Photography involved. Hope and her trainers are busy assisting in the most successful, compassionate dog/human relationships! They train all ages and breeds and address all behavior concerns. High Hopes offers both group classes and private lessons. At High Hopes Dog Training, they believe there’s Hope for every dog!
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10/21/21 11:15 PM
SOUTHWEST
FACES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Agritourism Farming—it’s just not inherently exciting, Susan Sink muses pragmatically. While agriculture is the Commonwealth's largest private industry, and always has been, it’s simply not very sexy. “I don’t think people are knowledgeable or excited about agriculture in general. Farmers like us, the new transformational farmers, have to create energy in this niche.” According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, approximately 36% of Virginia’s primary farm operators are female. And Sink, owner of Sinkland Farms in Christiansburg, is one of them. Sink, who has had an “off the farm” career, was catapulted into full-time farming with a huge lifetime investment of 125 acres, barns and facilities, when her husband died suddenly in 2007. “With the death of my husband, everything was thrown into my lap instantly, and I had to figure out a path for the future. I knew I had to transform the farm to fit the current times to be successful.” The couple had already inaugurated a pumpkin festival in the early 1990s for supplemental revenue (a census fact: less than 15 cents of every consumer food dollar goes back to the farmer). But now it was up to Sink to not only sustain the festival tradition but also expand on its footprint. Now in its 30th year, Sinkland Farms welcomes over 30,000 people every October to cozy up with farm animals, board a bucolic hayride to a hillside pumpkin patch, visit arts and crafts pop-ups, and listen to live music. There is a fun game zone for children with pony rides and horseback trail rides. Food trucks provide cuisine from southern comfort to Oktoberfest and adults can enjoy craft beer and local wine. There truly is something for every age, making Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival a top-ranking festival in Virginia. Sinkland Farms has also gained recognition as a premier wedding venue, being acknowledged as a top 10 epic wedding venue. New in 2021, a summer sunflower festival brought thousands of guests to enjoy the farm with the backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains. Sinkland Farms has regular live music events replete with craft beer and food trucks as well as hosts university and company events, meetings, reunions, dances, along with birthday parties, baby showers, and life celebrations. Sink is proud of offering educational agricultural programs to school children. Prior to the pandemic, the farm hosted more than 100 school field trips, serving over 8,000 children. This year, these popular school field trips are returning, and children are enjoying experiential learning outdoors. It’s called agritourism, this new face of farming. It allows the rigor and frenzy of farm life to be accessible and enjoyable, through a veneer of family-friendly activities. It connects people directly to their food source and nature and educates amid entertainment worth traveling for. “Agritourism helps preserve rural lifestyles and landscapes. It strengthens the local economy and creates job opportunities. It keeps us connected to our roots, culture and origin, and preserves them. It is a way that farmers can diversify and add an income stream to keep their land,” Sink says. “During our festivals and events, many will seek me out to say thanks for opening up the farm and making it real,” Sink concludes. And, indisputably, there’s nothing sexier than experiencing something real.
Sinkland Farms 540-382-4647 | SinklandFarms.com Photo: Keeland Griffith Photography Text: Nancy S. Moseley
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FACES
SOUTHWEST
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
of Virginia
The Face of Girls’ Education For Rachel Avery Connell, leading a girls’ school is a culmination of her life’s work. Prior to beginning her tenure as Rector of Chatham Hall, she worked in key positions at leading boarding schools including Phillips Exeter Academy and Emma Willard School and consulted for many more as a senior consultant and principal with renowned firm Marts & Lundy. With extensive experience in both secondary and higher education, she can say with confidence that girls’ education is what truly captures her interest and heart. “When I attended an all-girls high school, the whole idea of exploring how girls learn differently and uniquely was really just beginning,” says Connell, a graduate of National Cathedral School and Wellesley College. “We know so much more now, and that is a good thing because so much is asked of girls and young women today. Chatham Hall is proud to be a girls’ school. We understand how to create an environment for girls to thrive today and we strive to influence and lead the environment of tomorrow.” Under Connell’s leadership, Chatham Hall has emerged as a leading girls’ school in the southeast. Its unique Living Well model is the foundation for the 24/7 nature of its boarding school life. With this model, the school ensures that nine aspects of health and balance are taken into account: social, emotional, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, occupational, physical, financial, and inclusive. Says Connell, “Living Well at Chatham Hall means aligning our belief and commitment that health, wellness, and balance should be at the center of all we do. This mindset allows us to infuse our nine dimensions of wellness into campus life to develop exciting opportunities in all areas. Living Well grows alongside our students as it assists them in learning more about themselves, their communities, and ultimately their world, giving them the perfect foundation to build lives of their choosing.” With its mission to equip curious thinkers to lead lives of impact, Chatham Hall serves girls in grades 9-12 as both day and boarding students. This year, it has welcomed 150 students from 11 countries and 22 states.
Chatham Hall 434-432-2941 | ChathamHall.org Photo: Will Schermerhorn
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Departure and stacked the dishes by the sink, my brother and I bolted to the front hall, where my father crouched next to the closet, sorting leather gloves. For the longest time, he did not look up. Then he stood and said, “Come on, boys. Get your riding boots on—double socks.” I was going! As we got to the barn, my father said with a sidelong smile, “Ty, you’re on Elvis, and Jimmy—try not to crush Shannon, will you?” He lifted down the tack and sorted it out for us. Like my father’s leather armchair, the Western saddle was too big for me, but with the stirrups cinched high, I climbed up into it and checked my tie-downs. My father carried the five-pound felling ax in a leather sheath. He mounted Josie, looked into the western sky, and led us across miles of snow-streaked fields to cross the Shenandoah River over Low Water Bridge. As we climbed into the snow fields of Pine Ridge, the horses slowed and snorted thick steam into the cold air. “Let’s take a look there,” my father said, turning Josie toward the tree line. There, in a grove of smaller trees, stood a 25-foot-tall long-needle pine, perfectly shaped. “What do you say, boys?” he said. We both nodded and reigned toward the grove. My father dismounted and unsheathed the heavy ax while I tied the horses to a sapling. In minutes, By JA M ES N. DILL A R D, M . D. | Illustration by PHIL he’d chopped a large notch in the trunk while Tyree and I threw ropes over mid-height branches and pulled them up the side of the mountain. With N THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR, I sat waiting in the a few more strokes on the downhill side, the tall pine crackled and tipped as enormous leather chair near the door of my father’s Clarke we ran uphill, pulling on the ropes. It was a perfect drop. County law office. This year, my feet could touch the floor. Ty chopped through the trunk, and I tied half-hitches to the lowest “Just sit still and be good,” Mrs. Burwell said, typing loudly branches as darker clouds drifted over the far Alleghenies. “Hurry up, without raising her head. The office had been a clothing shop in the 1880s. boys,” my father warned. “Snow’s coming in.” We lashed two ropes to our Now, poinsettias filled the bright bay storefront windows. I studied the saddle horns and, with a jolt, dislodged the tree from the snow. I almost pressed tin ceiling as afternoon sunlight angled through the wide panes and fell off Shannon as we turned down through the snow fields. Hours later, across the polished floorboards. snow had begun to sweep across the river at Low Water Bridge and I “Wasting time, Jimbo?” my father joked as he emerged from his office, a couldn’t feel my toes. worn leather satchel in his hand. I leaned forward over Shannon to hide my numb face “He’s been still as a stone,” Mrs. Burwell said, from the wind on the last mile home. As the light faded, finally looking my way. “I think he wants to go my father took my rope and lashed it to Josie’s saddle. somewhere tomorrow.” Finally, through the dark trees, pale amber lights blinked “Think you’re ready?” my father asked, narrowing from the house. his eyes at me. My mother stood in the porch light, eyes gleaming “Oh, yes, Papa!” I blurted, leaping from the chair. at the magnificent pine. “James, did you cut down that “I’ve been practicing with the ropes.” big tree?” she asked with a smile. I just smiled back and “There may be a blizzard coming in,” he said as he curled rope. For the first time, I had ridden up to Pine turned to wish Mrs. Burwell goodnight and I flashed Ridge to get the tree. her a quick grin. “We’ll see in the morning.” Adorned with white lights and my mother’s finest A bushel of McIntosh apples sat on the back seat ornaments, our perfect long-needle pine stood in our of our white Rambler station wagon, next to a new front hall, stretching upward through the spiral staircase. Candles lit the horse bit. I sat in front and gazed out the window, watching the bare trees mantels and guests filled the house with festive commotion. Our yearly party drift by as we drove south through the rolling valley farmland, bordered by was under way, and everyone was dressed up, just like the tree. to the east by the slate-blue curves of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As I sat with my father by the fire, he gave me one sip of his hot buttered Once home, I had just time to pitch hay to the cattle, brush down the rum before I had to go up to bed. horses, and wash up before supper. Later, I snuggled under the covers in Tonight, he said, I was old enough. flannel pajamas and watched the tops of the maples dance slowly before a quarter moon through the window. I couldn’t sleep. Saturday morning brought pale, streaky clouds of blue and silver over the James N. Dillard, M.D. served as a clinical professor at Columbia University’s Allegheny Mountains, but no snow. I wore my lined wool pants down to College of Physicians and Surgeons and was Medical Director of Columbia’s breakfast because I was going today. I knew I was going. Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He grew up in It was the slowest breakfast of my life. Finally, after we’d cleared the table Clarke County, Virginia, not far from Berryville.
The First Tree
“For the first time, I’d ridden up to Pine Ridge to get the tree.”
O
As we climbed into the snow fields of Pine Ridge, the horses slowed and snorted thick steam into the cold air.
VIRGINIA LIVING
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A NATIONAL DEVELOPER
Breeden Construction is a full-service general contracting firm. Effective general contracting requires industry expertise, an acute eye CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS | 560 LYNNHAVEN PARKWAY, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | (757) 486-1000 TTY 711 for detail and excellent communication. We oversee all construction projects with a meticulous level of supervision and ensure all work proceeds according to plan. Both on the ground and in the office, we work with a calculated approach,, executing every project with razor-sharp precision. This is the Breeden Construction way.
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BreedenConstruction.com Brian Revere, President of Breeden Construction Brian Revere,
A NATIONAL BUILDER
President of Breeden Construction
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