Issuu

B E S T O F C -V I L L E 2 0 2 6

2026

Take a bow

The artists and entertainers earning your standing Os

Winning team The local pros who always come through

Prize possessions

Taste of victory

Your picks for the best bites, sips, and tables in town

No buyer’s remorse here! Your top spots for shopping

Ring leaders

You say “I do!” to these big-day vendors—they take the cake

Little champs

Big fun for the small set, from food to shopping

Picked by you: 361 people, places, and businesses that give Charlottesville its sparkle

Locally known for our consistently excellent food, great value and local ingredients. Weekdays, we serve lunch and dinner with daily specials and happy hour from 3-6. Weekends, we serve our famous Saturday breakfast tacos on and our award-winning Sunday brunch.

DRINK

EAT

BEST RESTAURANT BEER LIST

Our shop offers a vast selection of craft and small-production boutique beer, cider, and mead. Our back room hosts our large wine selection that is unique, well-priced, with a focus on organically grown and dynamically produced wines.

www.BeerRun.com  434.984.2337 156 Carlton Road  Charlottesville  22902

SHOP

With 19 rotating taps, full bar with specialty cocktails and wine served by the glass, we are sure you will find something tasty!

Open Daily. Join us!

From your everyday beers, cocktails & dinner, to your post-work meetings, weddings and more, Kardinal Hall has you covered. Come enjoy innovative, locally-sourced cuisine in our European-inspired beer hall & spacious outdoor beer garden. Our 28 draft lines & carefully curated bottle list includes a vast array of local, national & imported craft beers sure to satisfy any beer lover. We also offer hand-crafted cocktails & a wine list focused on thoughtful wines from sustainable producers.

WINNER

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME

BEST RESTAURANT BEER LIST

722 Preston Ave. | 434-295-4255 3 KardinalHall.com | events@kardinalhall.com

one, the enjoyment of a great burger and a beer with friends. This is America, after all… a delicious burger is your right – perhaps even your responsibility.

WELCOME CITIZEN – THE PEOPLE’S BURGER BAR. We’ve teamed up with aTO few nearby farms, and they keep it simple – no hormones, nothing artificial, There are certain basic freedoms we hold dear. For one, the enjoyment of a great we’re talking happy grassfed cows and free-range burger and a beer with friends. This is America, after all… a delicious burger is your chickens here. We hope you’ll agree: if you’re going – perhaps toright eat meat, that’s the even way toyour do it. responsibility.

WELCOME TO CITIZEN – THE PEOPLE’S BURGER BAR.

We Serve: local grassfed & finished beef (beyond organic) local produce, often delivered by the farmer local cheese from pastured cows & family farms local bread, with nothing artificial ingredients that are house made and farm fresh

We’ve teamed a few nearby farms, and they keep it simple – no hormones, While we’re proud ofup thewith menu, we must say the bar is no slouch, either… Our wise and benevolent nothing artificial, we’re talking happy grassfed cows and free-range chickens here. bar staff canThere recommend theif perfect libation to are certain basic freedoms wethat’s holdthe dear. We hope you’ll agree: you’re going to eat meat, way For to do it. complement your meal or your mood – just ask ‘em.

one,proud the enjoyment greatsay burger and a beer with While we’re of the menu,of wea must the bar is no slouch, either… Our wise

Our vision is anything but complicated: we believe bar staff can recommend the perfect libationburger to complement your friends. This is common America, after all… a delicious inand goodbenevolent food, cold drinks, and ground. meal or your mood – just ask ‘em. We know we’re not alone on that – and that’seven how your responsibility. is your right – perhaps Citizen This is the people’s burger bar. Our came visiontoisbe.anything but complicated: we believe in good food, cold drinks, and

teamed upwe’re withnot a few nearby and they commonWe’ve ground. We know alone on thatfarms, – and that’s how Citizen came to keep it simple – no be. This is the people’s burger bar.hormones, nothing artificial,

Your local favorite for over 13 years! (in the center of the Downtown Mall) we’re talking happy grassfed cows and free-range chickens here. We hope you’ll agree: if you’re going to eat meat, that’s the way to do it.

THE PEOPLE’S BURGER

We Serve:

WE SERVE:

LOCAL BUNS

While we’re proud of the menu, we must say the FRESH PRODUCE • and localbenevolent grassfed & finished either… Our wise we can, we ocal grassfed & finished beef (beyond organic) bar is no slouch,whenever beef libation (beyondtoorganic) use ingredients found bar staff can recommend the perfect in our local markets local produce, often delivered by the farmer and farms • local produce, complement your meal or your mood – just ask ‘em. often cal cheese from pastured cows & family farms HERITAGE delivered by the farmer FARM BACON Our vision is anything but complicated: we believe from NC, family owned, localVIRGINIA bread, with nothing artificial • local cheese from pastured no hormones, no steroids,and common in good food, cold drinks, ground. CHEESES no animal byproducts, ingredients cows & family our signature that are house made We know we’re nothing not artificial alone on that – and that’s howfarms cheese is made and farm fresh locally and naturally GRASSFED • local bread, Citizen came to 100% be. This is the people’s burger bar.with nothing at Mountainview LOCAL BEEF Farm in Fairfield, VA. artificial all of our beef is grass our house burger buns are locally made just down the road at Albemarle Baking Company

finished and comes from all-natural, organically raised cows from about about 5 miles away

• ingredients that are house made and farm fresh

Your local favorite for over 13 years! (in the center of the Downtown Mall) HAND-CUT FRENCH FRIES

our fries are made in-house every morning and we fry using 100% ultra-refined peanut oil, which is trans fat and cholesterol free.

THE PEOPLE’S BURGER

Your local favorite for over 14 years! (in the center of the Downtown Mall)

OCAL BUNS

our house burger buns are locally ade just down the road at Albemarle Baking Company

FRESH PRODUCE

whenever we can, we use ingredients found in our local markets and farms

HERITAGE FARM BACON VIRGINIA CHEESES

our signature cheese is made cally and naturally at Mountainview rm in Fairfield, VA.

from NC, family owned, no hormones, no steroids, no animal byproducts, nothing artificial

IN THE HEART OF BELMONT www.BelleCville.com 100% GRASSFED LOCAL BEEF bellecville@gmail.com all of our beef is grass finishedALL andDAY, comes from MON-SAT BREAKFAST all-natural, organically LUNCH STARTING AT 11AM raised cows from about SUNDAY BRUNCH 8AM-2PM about 5 miles away

HAND-CUT FRENCH FRIES

DINNER 5-10PM WED-SAT

our fries are made in-house every morning and we fry using 100% ultra-refined peanut oil, which is trans fat and cholesterol free.

Women In Motion Physical Therapy & Wellness Thank you Charlottesville, for choosing us Best of Cville Physical Therapy 6 years in a row!

WINNER

2024

WINNER

We are a speciality rehab clinic with specialties in Orthopedics, Obstetrics, Pelvic Health (all genders), Midlife, Oncology (Breast and Pelvic organ), and IBCLC Lactation services. We treat all genders through all phases of life. We pride ourselves on taking a full-body, holistic approach to your rehab care to get to the root cause of your symptoms for lasting relief. Come see us!

www.WomenInMotionPT.com

434-202-2295

WomenInMotion_Wellness 5

Helping 434-293-9793 www.cvilleteeth.com

“I want to th wonderful p community our amazing -John

Comprehensive Orthodontic Services | Invisalign Teen & Adult | Full F Most Insurances Accepted | Financing A “I want to thank all of our wonderful Helping patients and community for recognizing our amazing dental team! -John H. Knight,Jr. DDS 434-293-9793 www.cvilleteeth.com

Comprehensive Orthodontic Services | Invisalign Teen & Most Insurances Accepted

FINALIST

Best Dentist and Best Orthodontist

RUNNER UP

FINALIST

BEST DENTIST BEST ORTHODONTIST

BEST DENTIST

2024

Helping

FINALIST

BEST DENTIST BEST ORTHODONTIST

FINALIST

BEST DENTIST BEST ORTHODONTIST

2024

BEST DENTIST BEST ORTHODONTIST

BEST ORTHODONTIST (WINNER)

BEST ORTHODONTIST (FINALIST)

BEST DENTIST (RUNNER UP)

BEST DENTIST (FINALIST)

FINEST DENTIST

FINEST COSMETIC DENTIST

FINEST ORTHODONTIST

FINEST DENTIST FINEST DENTIST

Enhancing Smiles Through Innovative Dental Solutions

C H A R LOT T E SV I LLE ’ S

BEST ROOFTOP VIEWS

VOTED #1 ROOFTOP by C-VILLE Weekly

3 YEARS IN A ROW! ELEVATED EATS _ CRAFT COCKTAILS _ STUNNING SUNSETS Come see what everyone in town is talking about.

www.eatUPdrinkUP.net

view our hours, menus + more!

499 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22903 | (434) 290-0644

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Best Museum Best Historical Tour Best Walking/Hiking Trail Visit the mountaintop and see for yourself! monticello.org

Become a Monticello Member Local discount available monticello.org/member

Award-winning Wines, Stunning Views. Just minutes from Monticello, Jefferson Vineyards offers a taste of some of the region’s finest wines in a charming setting with mountain views.

jeffersonvineyards.com

JEFFERSON VINEYARDS AT MONTICELLO

WH E R E LUXU RY M E E TS

Care

Live well, every day, at The Blake at Charlottesville. Enjoy elevated, resort-style living with chef-prepared dining and engaging experiences. Plus, with personalized, 24-hour support, our community is designed to keep you feeling connected, comfortable, and inspired.

CALL (434) 326-5018 TO LEARN MORE!

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE 250 Nichols Court, Charlottesville, VA 22901 blakeseniorliving.com/charlottesville

Connection EXCIT EMEN T A ND

Discover a lifestyle that feels relaxed, comfortable, and beautifully elevated at The Barclay at Charlottesville. Here, every amenity helps you connect, engage, and feel truly special. Indulge in restaurant-style dining, unwind in the pool, or treat yourself to the salon. Our daily activities calendar keeps life full and rewarding, and our compassionate team is here around the clock to support you every step of the way. Embrace it all. Call today to learn more!

Call (434) 218-4670 today to schedule your tour and discover The Barclay!

THE BARCLAY AT C H A R L O T T E S V I L L E

Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care 343 Archer Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22911 charlottesville.barclayseniorliving.com

NEW QUICK START BREAKFAST ITEMS NOW AVAILABLE

MONDAY-FRIDAY | 9AM TO 11AM ENJOY NEW SOUTHERN-INSPIRED MENU ITEMS SERVED QUICK! JUST PANCAKES TRADITIONALLY SOUTHERN BREAKFAST BACON & CHEESE OMELETTE themilkandhoney.com

PROTEIN WRAP EGG & CHEESE BISCUIT FRESH POUND CAKE SLICES @milkandhoney_dmv

By popular demand B

Health + Fitness Here’s who guides you toward wellness, strength, balance— and easy living. P.37

Services When the job matters, readers turn to these trusted professionals. P.95

Food + Drink The folks who are filling tables, glasses, and hungry tums across town. P.55

Weddings The experts helping you get hitched (without a hitch) on your big day. P.123

Shopping Locally owned, reader approved: your favorite spots to spend your dough. P.81

MATT RILEY

RYAN TROTT

TRISTAN WILLIAMS

AMY MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Entertainment These are your go-tos for unforgettable cultural experiences. P.17

EZE AMOS

TRISTAN WILLIAMS

EZE AMOS

est of C-VILLE is, at its core, a popu- a business owner who took a risk, a staff memlarity contest. ber who went the extra mile, or a team that There. We said it. consistently delivered on its promises. RecEvery year, thousands of readers cast votes ognition may start with popularity, but it’s for their favorite restaurants, shops, service usually built on something deeper: quality, providers, performers, and more. The busi- trust, and a connection to the community. That’s why we love this issue. Yes, it’s fun. nesses and people with the most votes win. That’s how popularity contests work. Yes, there are surprises. But it’s also a snapshot But popularity doesn’t happen by accident. of who and what Charlottesville values and Nobody becomes Charlottesville’s favorite the places people return to again and again. If coffee shop, fitness studio, or florist by luck that’s not worth celebrating, we don’t know alone. Behind every winner in these pages is what is.—Caite Hamilton

Kids + Family The pros making childhood a little sweeter—and parenting a little bit easier. P.137

Best for last America’s founding document returns to the university its author built. P.154

COVER PHOTO: Tristan Williams took on the tricky task of taming our tower of trophies—and triumphed!

SPECIALIZING IN INTERIOR DESIGN, DECOR AND RENOVATIONS

540.256.2516 stushekdesign.com @stushek_design Stushekdesign

WINNER

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

Class A General Contractor leading all renovations 13

FINALIST

TRY YOUR FIRST WORKOUT

FREE! FREE!

SCAN TO GET STARTED

434-295-9000 | 1956 Abbey Rd Charlottesville, Virginia 22911 ART DIRECTOR Max March. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tracy Federico.

DIRECTOR OF SALES

PUBLISHER Anna Harrison. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Debbie Miller. A/R SPECIALIST

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Faith Gibson.

30-MINUTE TRAINER-LED KICKBOXING WORKOUTS

P.O. Box 119, Charlottesville, VA 22902 bestof.c-ville.com

YOU NEED YOU NEED 9ROUND 9ROUND

Bianca J. Johnson. ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brian Hrozencik, Jacob Philips, Stephanie Vogtman. DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Rob Davis.

Ron Paris, Matt Riley, Tristan Williams.

Boo Agee, Eze Amos, Dan Chung, Meredith Coe Photography, Hawkins Dale, Kari Lamb, Bill LeSueur, Jack Looney, Amy Mitchell Photography,

Tami Keaveny, Ella Powell, Catie Ratliff, James Sanford, Sarah Sargent, Susan Sorensen, Paul Ting, Sean Tubbs. PHOTOGRAPHERS 3 Cats Photography,

BEST OF C-VILLE EDITOR Caite Hamilton. COPY EDITOR Susan Sorensen. CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Alderman, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs,

YOU DON’T NEED ANOTHER GYM

Where Guest Meets Grounds More than a place to stay, the Virginia Guesthouse is your gateway to UVA. From conferences to celebrations, we’re proud to be your home away from home. Your UVA experience starts here. 2107 Ivy Road | Charlottesville | 434.400.2100 | virginiaguesthouse.com

TAINMENT

ENTER

EN TE RTAIN MEN T

STORIES BY: Nathan Alderman Caite Hamilton Ella Powell James Sanford Sarah Sargeant Sean Tubbs Art gallery  Arts and crafts classes  Band  Classical music group  Drag venue  Dramatic arts venue  Festival  Free little library  Gallery artist  Historical tour  Karaoke night  Live performance  Local actor  Local author  Local influencer  Local radio personality  Local radio station  Local TV personality  Museum  Music venue (large)  Music venue (small)  Open-mic night  Party  Performance troupe  Place for billiards and bar games  Place to watch a movie Podcast  Public artwork  Queer space/event  Rooftop view  Solo musician/musical duo  Trivia night

Photo: Joyce N. Boghosian

Benjamin Rous, Music Director

Douglas Hargrave, Music Director Laureate Kate Tamarkin, Music Director Laureate

2026-27 Season The Firebird

Friday, September 25* Sunday, September 27 David Sariti, violin RAVEL “Five O’clock Foxtrot” from L’enfant et les sortilèges LIGETI Atmosphères VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Violin Concerto STRAVINSKY The Firebird Suite

Bach Violin Concerto

Daphnis et Chloé

Saturday, March 20 Sunday, March 21 UVA University Singers MOZART Overture to The Magic Flute UVA CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER TBA DELIUS “Pale amber sunlight falls across” SCHUMANN Nachtlied GJEILO “The Spheres (Kyrie)” from Sunrise Mass RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2

Saturday, November 7 Sunday, November 8 Benjamin Rous, violin BACH Violin Concerto in D minor HANDEL Music for the Royal Fireworks BRITTEN Four Sea Interludes ENESCU Romanian Rhapsody No. 1

Brahms Symphony No. 1

Love, Beethoven

Family Holiday Concerts

Saturday, February 13 Sunday, February 14* Ken-David Masur, guest conductor Melinda Lee Masur, piano BEETHOVEN Fidelio Overture BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, Pastoral

Saturday, April 10 Sunday, April 11 Clara Rottsolk, soprano SCHUMANN arr. Rous Fantasie in C SAARIAHO Quatre Instants BRAHMS Symphony No. 1 (non-subscription) Saturday, December 5 Sunday, December 6 Michael Slon, conductor UVA University Singers Both Holiday Concerts are held at Old Cabell Hall. BEST CLASSICAL MUSIC GROUP

LOCATIONS AND TIMES

Saturdays,7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall Sundays, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School *Friday, September 25, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall *Sunday, February 14, 3:30pm, The Paramount Theater Programs, artists and venues are subject to change.

Special Thanks to

TICKETS

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Symphony Office 434-924-3139 SINGLE TICKETS: UVA Arts Box Office artsboxoffice@virginia.edu 434-924-3376 Scan for more info



EN TE RTAIN MEN T

READERS' PICKS!

Big picture thinking

ART GALLERY

McGuffey Art Center mcguffeyartcenter.com

Second Street Gallery secondstreetgallery.org

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASSES

The Scrappy Elephant scrappyelephant.com

McGuffey Art Center mcguffeyartcenter.com

BAND

Chamomile & Whiskey

chamomileandwhiskey.com

Ramona & the Holy Smokes

ramonaandtheholysmokes.com

CLASSICAL MUSIC GROUP

Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia cvillesymphony.org

Oratorio Society of Virginia

“I’VE BEEN DRAWING SINCE AROUND THE AGE of 2,” Jae Johnson says. “Growing up, I had an infatuation with drawing cars. Actually, my aunt still has probably 80 percent of my work from when I was around that age.” Today, Johnson’s moved on to bigger things—literally. You can find his mural art gracing walls around Charlottesville, including IX Art Park and the Barracks Road Shopping Center. “Whenever I can, I incorporate butterflies, because I always believe they symbolize growth,” Johnson says. “I like bumblebees because they’re pivotal to life and our existence. I also try to have a variety of colors outside of yellow. For some

reason, I don’t like yellow, but any other color, I’m good, I’m cool with.” Johnson, who initially created portraits in charcoal and marker, began painting murals in the summer of 2019. The change in scale means he has to constrain his color palette to keep costs down, and make sure his sketches translate well to wall size. “What could look good small could not [have] a nice and tidy uniform look on a larger scale,” he says. Despite his artworks’ grand dimensions, Johnson says the job doesn’t feel too big. “After you get rolling, you’re getting this vibe, this mood, and you just knock out stuff,” he says. “Once you get the hang of being on a lift, it’s all a piece of cake.”—NA

oratoriosociety.org

DRAG VENUE

Bar Botanical

botanicalfare.com/crozetmenu

Firefly Restaurant + Game Room fireflycville.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 EZE AMOS (TOP), BILL LESUEUR (BOTTOM)

IN FULL BLOOM It took 30 volunteers ranging in age from 6 to 80, 390 sheets of paper, and 300 hours to create the nearly 400 handmade flowers that graced the stage of Live Arts’ Emma. Kate Hamill’s lively take on the Jane Austen classic opened in early March of 2026, bringing the titular character’s charming matchmaking mishaps—and several gardens’ worth of paper blooms—to the stage.—CH

Michael Slon, MuSic Director

Thank you, Charlottesville!

BEST CLASSICAL MUSIC GROUP

Creating inspiring choral music since 1968! Explore more at oratoriosociety.org

Movies. Music. Comedy. Theater. Opera.

Mary Jae Abbitt • Brown and Eure Households • Patti Cary and Todd Stansbury • Pam and Frank Edmonds • Janna and David Gies • Julie and Geoff Montross • Margaret and Chris Noland

Box Office: 215 East Main Street | Mon-Fri 10am to 2pm | 434.979.1333 | theparamount.net

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

DRAMATIC ARTS VENUE

The Paramount Theater theparamount.net

Live Arts livearts.org

FESTIVAL

Virginia Film Festival virginiafilmfestival.org

Rivanna Roots Festival (The Front Porch) frontporchcville.org

FREE LITTLE LIBRARY

Meade Park Pen Park

GALLERY ARTIST

Ryan Trott @ryanetrott

Meg West

megwestoilpainting.net

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

HISTORICAL TOUR

Monticello monticello.org

Jefferson School African American Heritage Center jeffschoolheritagecenter.org CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Popular opinion CHARLES LEWIS, MAXICELIA ROBINSON, TROY (Razor) Robinson (pictured above), and Aaron Simmons have a lot to say about local issues, and they put it all on the air with “In My Humble Opinion,” their local talk show/podcast. Topics tackled by “IMHO” include gun violence, race and media responsibility, the consequences of free speech, incarcerated mothers, and the risks of taking advice from friends who may or may not have your best interests at heart. The conversations are lively, thoughtful, sometimes hard-hitting, and often humorous.

“IMHO” grew out of a class project Robinson undertook as a student at Vienna’s Columbia School of Broadcasting 14 years ago. The show’s website notes that “IMHO” “became a sounding board for issues that affected the local Black community. Its mission has always been to encourage, enlighten, inform, and change.” Catch the show on 101.3 Jamz (and online at 101jamz.com) from noon to 3pm on Sundays, on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram and through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and other platforms.—JS

SIMPLE PLEASURES Good things come in small…galleries? That must be true, because The Little Museum of Art—an effort to reach more viewers during The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia’s shutdown in the summer of 2021—is a tiny treasure. Artists submit works no bigger than a square foot, which get displayed (and then traded out in the Free Museum Store à la Free Little Libraries) in one of the six mini galleries. Art for all!—CH SUPPLIED PHOTO (TOP), EZE AMOS (BOTTOM)

SONOSYNTHESIS

beneﬁt concert series

Season Nine | 2026-2027

November 21, 2026: Magnus Moza Cari Shipp, Audrey Gray, Danielle Wiebe Burke, Schuyler Slack

CELEBRATING

39 YEARS OF FILM &

COMMUNITY March 5-6, 2027: Move | with ORH Dance Alanna Mahon Photography

Solo ﬂute meets original modern dance choreography

tickets, newsletter, and more:

www.carishipp.com/sonosynthesis WINNER

Best Music Lessons Best Open Mic Night (Potter’s)

RUNNER UP

Best Small Music Venue Best Festival (Rivanna Roots)

THANK YOU CHARLOTTESVILLE! 22

https://acrobat.adobe.co

OCT 21-25 2026

WINNER

BEST FESTIVAL

Enjoy. Connect. B e In spi r ed.

In-House Theatre Productions Live Music, Performances & Presentations Film Series Studio Wayne Arts Education Classes and A Full Calendar of Diverse Programming

Scan to

EXPLORE! 521 W. Main St Waynesboro, VA (540) 943-9999

WAYNETHEATRE.ORG

ACOUSTIC GUITAR • VOCALS • HARMONICA

Live Music For Memorable Occasions

Weddings • Corporate Events • Private Celebrations @maxmandu

themaxmandu.com

maxvmohr@gmail.com

571-260-8891

BE ST OF C-V I L L E

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

KARAOKE NIGHT

91.1 WTJU

Dürty Nelly’s

91.9 WNRN

wtju.net

durtynellyscharlottesville.com

wnrn.org

Rapture

rapturerestaurant.com

LOCAL TV PERSONALITY

LIVE PERFORMANCE

Travis Koshko (Newsplex CBS 19)

Sweeney Todd at Four County Players

Steve Rappaport (NBC29)

fourcp.org

“Swing into Spring” Albemarle High School Jazz Band

MUSEUM

Monticello

albemarleband.org

M CAT ULTIWINEGORY NER !

monticello.org

LOCAL ACTOR

Virginia Discovery Museum

Sissy Spacek

vadm.org

Denise Stewart

MUSIC VENUE (LARGE)

The Jefferson Theater jeffersontheater.com

Ting Pavilion

tingpavilion.com

LOCAL AUTHOR

John Grisham jgrisham.com

MUSIC VENUE (SMALL)

The Southern Café & Music Hall thesoutherncville.com

Rita Dove LOCAL INFLUENCER

@dank_cville @cville.foodie LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

Samantha Federico (106.1 The Corner) Fontana Mercury (91.1 WTJU)

SUPPLIED PHOTOS

Imagining Edith Hern Fossett

LOCAL RADIO STATION

The Front Porch frontporchcville.org

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

OPEN-MIC NIGHT

Potter’s Craft Cider (hosted by The Front Porch) potterscraftcider.com

The Southern Café & Music Hall thesoutherncville.com

An important Monticello figure gets a likeness

t would be hard to find a better example of the resiliency of the human spirit than Edith Hern Fossett (1787– 1854). Born into slavery at Monticello, Fossett was taken to Washington, D.C., when she was 15 to cook for Thomas Jefferson at the president’s house. She received instruction in French cuisine from Honoré Julien, George Washington’s former chef. Fossett would remain in Washington through Jefferson’s two terms, receiving a monthly $2 gratuity ($50 today). During her tenure, she bore three children with her husband, Joseph Fossett, the son of Mary Hemings, Sally Hemings’ much older halfsister. The couple saw each other rarely as Joseph remained at Monticello where he was head blacksmith. The position allowed him to keep a small percentage of the smithy’s profits. In 1809, Edith returned to Monticello where she would remain the chief cook until Jefferson’s death. Jefferson’s will granted Joseph his freedom effective July 1827, but Edith and eight of their 10 children were put up for auction in January of that year. Joseph arranged for his brother-in-law, Jesse Scott, a free man of color, to purchase his wife

and the two youngest children for $505. It took 10 years, but by 1837, Joseph, Edith, five children, and four grandchildren were all free. The family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they flourished. Two more children, who’d gained their freedom, eventually joined them. Two sons set up a successful catering enterprise and family members became actively involved in the abolitionist movement, helping numerous enslaved African Americans escape through the Underground Railroad. Fossett was the only one of four Monticello inhabitants selected for a show currently installed at Monticello’s visitor center who didn’t have a likeness. So, the staff commissioned Jabari Jefferson, a Washington, D.C.-based artist and

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descendant of Monticello’s enslaved community, to create one. Jefferson approached the commission, which can be viewed by appointment until the completion of the Daniel P. Jordan Archaeology, Research, and Collections Complex in 2027, with “care and delicacy,” determined to show Fossett’s full humanity. “She had a very rich life with a lot of joy,” says Jefferson. “She found love with someone who stood by her. She had 10 children, she learned a valuable skill, she experienced proximity and praise from the country’s elite. She was able, not only to gain her freedom, but also saw nearly all her children gain theirs.” Using repurposed material— paper, jewelry, clothing—he gathered primarily from Monticello’s staff, Jefferson created a dazzling surface. To produce the volume, depth and luminosity of Edith’s radiant face, he applied multiple layers of oil glaze. Gold is associated with the divine, in both African and Western traditions. Jefferson uses it in much the same way an Italian Renaissance or Russian icon artist would: to exalt his subject and endow her with a sense of divinity. What’s so striking about Jefferson’s portrait is how full of life it is—seeming almost to vibrate with energy. The gold, the bits of colored material that flash like jewels, and Fossett’s beaming face all animate the work and convey a sense of the powerful life force that existed within this remarkable woman. “It’s not that I’m exaggerating her happiness; I’m opening up the conversation and going further,” Jefferson says. “You normally don’t see people who’ve experienced enslavement presented in portraits with any joy, charisma, or vibrancy. If I can create something that presents the humanity of a person, it can change how you view the institution of slavery.”—SS

A statue reimagined EVER SINCE IT WAS AWARDED the statue of Robert E. Lee by City Council in December 2021, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center has been laser focused on its “Swords Into Plowshares Recast | Reclaim” initiative, which will transform the two tons of bronze rendered from the statue into a public artwork. The piece will embody Charlottesville’s shared sense of equity as it honors the enslaved population of the area, and stands as a rebuttal to the day in August 2017 when white nationalists descended on Charlottesville to protest the Lee statue’s proposed removal. The JSAAHC was determined to create an inclusive process, antithetical to the one surrounding erection of the Lee monument. Following a national juried design competition from which three semi-finalists were chosen—MASS

Design Group, PUSH Studio, and Hood Design Studio—their proposals were exhibited at JSAAHC for public comments. With the winning team selected, JSAAHC is asking Charlottesville residents for help again, this time co-creating the final design by getting involved. The goal is to produce a design by the tenth anniversary of the August 2017 Unite the Right rally. “We’ve been guided by this idea that Charlottesville can heal itself,” says Andrea Douglas JSAAHC executive director. “We can create a multiracial democratic process that grapples with the fact that something horrible happened in 2017 and then come up with a set of communal values that exists beyond that to produce something that articulates Charlottesville’s current social values and will have resonance for future communities.”—SS

PARTY

Tom Tom Festival

tomtomfoundation.org

Best of C-VILLE (C-VILLE Weekly) c-ville.com

PERFORMANCE TROUPE

Bent Theatre

benttheatrecomedy.com

Goat Rodeo Comedy Co.

goatrodeocomedy.com

PLACE FOR BILLIARDS CAMTEUGLTIAND BAR GAMES WINNEORR! Y

Firefly Restaurant + Game Room fireflycville.com

Miller’s

millersdowntown.com

PLACE TO WATCH A MOVIE

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Charlottesville drafthouse.com

Violet Crown Charlottesville

charlottesville.violetcrown.com

PODCAST

“Well That Was Awkward” awkwardsagemedia.com

“I Love CVille” ilovecville.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29 MASS DESIGN GROUP

Main Street Festival Madison, VA

Saturday, September 5, 2026 • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

of BE to the readers

ST OF C-VILLE

e for voting us th

DRAFTHOUSE.COM/CHARLOTTESVILLE ALAMOCHARLOTTESVILLE

Arts • Crafts • Bands • Food • Pony Rides Family Fun • Wine Tent Free Parking • Free Shuttle

Madison Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center 110 N. Main Street, Madison, VA 22727 Phone 540/948-4455 • Fax 540/948-3174 www.madisonva.com

ALAMOCVILLE

WINNER ERFORMAN BEST P E T ROUP

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Best Live Performance

SWEENEY TODD The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Your AMERICAN JOURNEY

STARTS HERE ST

Central virginia’s longest-running community theater

EXPERIENCE. DISCOVER. LEARN. SPECIAL EVENTS Year-round fun for the whole family EXHIBITS Step into history through Old World & American Exhibits

Live Theater! God, That’s Good!

SEASONAL COSTUMED INTERPRETERS Meet costumed interpreters and experience the stories, customs, and traditions of the past

General admission tickets and annual passes available

1290 Richmond Rd, Staunton, VA 24401

(540) 332-7850

Thanks for making Four County Players your community theater!

frontiermuseum.org 27

Things are looking up! You say UP on the Rooftop at the Doyle Hotel is the best rooftop view in town.

TRISTAN WILLIAMS

EN E N TE RTAIN MEN T

Leading ladies

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

PUBLIC ARTWORK

IX Art Park ixartpark.org

Fence mural (Avon Street and Monticello Avenue) QUEER SPACE/EVENT

Firefly Restaurant + Game Room

TIMULGORY E CAT NER! WIN

fireflycville.com

The Beautiful Idea thebeautifulidea.gay

ROOFTOP VIEW

UP on the Rooftop at the Doyle Hotel eatupdrinkup.net

Bar Botanical

botanicalfare.com

SOLO MUSICIAN/ MUSICAL DUO

Local group preserves Violet Crown by arranging building purchase

he future of the Violet Crown cinema seemed bleak in February 2025 when the Board of Architectural Review granted Heirloom Development approval to demolish the structure for a residential building. The company filed plans in fall of 2024 for a building that sought to maximize the new zoning code, which theoretically allows an 184-foot-tall structure in downtown zoning. Heirloom’s Jeffrey Levien argued that the city needed housing and told the BAR that the Violet Crown was “outdated.” But he walked away from the project after a special exception permit request faced steep opposition. In October 2025, a trio of local cinephiles announced they had been working behind the scenes in recent months to secure the purchase of 200 W. Main St. “The Violet Crown is a crucial asset to the Charlottesville community, a jewel of the Downtown Mall, a tentpole of the Virginia Film Festival, and the cornerstone of our arts-and-culture corridor,” said writer and editor Rachel Baker in a press release announcing the sale. Baker was joined by audio producer Annie Galvin and theater and events producer Lindsay Meck. The trio negotiated a lease extension with Es Vedra Cinemas, the Austin, Texas, company that operates the Violet Crown franchise. Galvin said the theater is a reason she loves being a Charlottesville resident, pointing to her daughter’s first experience watching a movie at a cinema when they both attended a cat-themed film festival.

Rachel Baker, Annie Galvin, and Lindsay Meck saved Violet Crown from demolition.

“The Violet Crown screens indie and foreign films that don’t always play at other local venues, so this theater greatly expands the city’s cultural offerings,” she said. Meck, who grew up seeing films in the theater, said she’s “thrilled to be a small part of continuing Charlottesville’s remarkable cultural legacy by preserving this physical manifestation of Charlottesville’s creative spirit, and to help ensure that it will continue to be a forum to inspire and entertain audiences of all ages for years to come.”—ST

Sally Rose

@cowboisweetheart

Matthew O’Donnell matthewomusic.com

TRIVIA NIGHT

Trivia with Olivia triviawitholivia.com

Firefly Restaurant + Game Room fireflycville.com

TRISTAN WILLIAMS (LEFT), SUPPLIED PHOTO (TOP), TRISTAN WILLIAMS (BOTTOM)

PAGING ALL ARTISTS Halle Kate was just a 19-year-old preparing to enter college when she published her first coloring book. Now, two books under her belt, she’s turning her pen toward Charlottesville, with a 28-page compilation that will have myriad local landmarks, including the Rotunda, The Paramount Theater, and The Clifton. It drops in fall of 2026, so get your colored pencils sharpened.—CH

Changing lives, one word at a time.

RUNNER-UP

BEST DRAMATIC ARTS VENUE

Literacy Volunteers provides free basic education, citizenship and English tutoring to area adults.

Donate

VISIT THE ART MUSEUMS at the University of Virginia

Detail of BUGAI WHYOULTER (b.1939, Kartujarra), Wantili, 2014, acrylic on linen. Gift of Agatha and Stephen Luczo, 2017, Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, 2017.0006.015. Courtesy of the artist and Martumili Artists.

kluge-ruhe.org

Literacyforall.org

Volunteer

View our dynamic exhibitions. Participate in our exciting programing. Admission is free.

Detail of WILLIAM MARLOW, (b. 1740, London, England; d. 1813, Twickenham, England), The Amphitheater at Nimes, undated, watercolor, ink, and graphite on paper. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1977.14.4101. Courtesy of the Yale Center for British Art.

uvafralinartmuseum. virginia.edu

EN TE RTAIN MEN T

Crate expectations Hello Goodbye adds DIY vinyl to the retail record scene

Lindsay and Daniel Fitzgerald founded Hello Goodbye Records with the intention of supporting and promoting area musicians.

n Fourth Street, around the backside of Tavern & Grocery restaurant, a sign with large type reads “vinyl records.” A thick arrow at the bottom points to the doorway of Hello Goodbye Records, an independent record shop that offers a selection of new and used vinyl. Inside, you’ll find welcoming smiles from co-owners Daniel and Lindsay Fitzgerald. In 2023, the Fitzgeralds opened Hello Goodbye Records across town in Market Square, “an iconic little Charlottesville place that’s had recording studios and all kinds of little artsy spots,” says Daniel. With community support, the store quickly outgrew its “little Chateau,” says the owner, and moved to a larger space at 108 Fourth St., where the couple could expand their business and be closer to the heart of downtown.

TRISTAN WILLIAMS (LEFT), SUPPLIED PHOTO (RIGHT)

Passionate about physical music media, the Fitzgeralds always knew they wanted to get into the business of selling records and collaborating with local bands. Daniel opened his first record shop in 2005, but couldn’t compete with the surge in digital distribution. Ironically, it was the pandemic

shutdown that motivated another attempt at opening a brick-and-mortar store. “During COVID, I did a huge deep dive back into vinyl—like a lot of people did—and Lindsay and I decided from that point on, it was something we wanted to do professionally again,” says Daniel. Inside HGR’s modern space, the Fitzgeralds’ affinity for vintage comes across in fun decor like an old jukebox displaying a 45 of The Beatles’ “Hello Goodbye.” In the crates is an eclectic, affordably priced vinyl selection ranging from experimental Japanese music to Diana Ross and Portishead. Music lovers can explore dozens of genres and subgenres—grunge, blues, jazz, vintage folk, modern indie, and electronic music like Slow Pulp’s Big Day or Magdalena Bay’s Imaginal Discs. The shop also sells books, band merch, vinyl care products, and a quirky selection of handmade dog collars designed in rock ‘n’ roll themes. The majority of the Hello Goodbye’s retail inventory is sourced through major and independent distributors with some pickups from community collectors. In an effort to expand support of local music, HGR recently partnered with Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, North Carolina, to help Charlottes ville-area bands press their inde-

CREATION STATION There’s a restaurant, a coffee shop, an intimate music venue, a gallery, work spaces, and now: a creator hub. Opened in the winter of 2025, Vault Virginia’s Creator Hub offers rehearsal and recording space for everyone from music groups to wannabe podcasters, at $50 per month. As Vault founder James Barton said after its inception, “With the launch of CreatorHub, we’re deploying even greater opportunities for local creators to collaborate and grow together.”—CH

pendent albums affordably. Üga Büga, Kendall Street Company, Kai Crowe-Getty, Raised by Sheep, and Amminal have released tracks through this channel. “We help educate bands on the process and make it comprehensible, approachable, and then more eco-friendly [because] carbon footprint is big with us at Hello Goodbye,” says Daniel. A recent project to emerge through HGR’s support is Half Sweet, an album from local poppunk emo band Pinkish. The record was pressed on clear bio vinyl, a completely recyclable material, splattered with a purple luminescence at its center. As the success of Hello Goodbye Records has grown, the Fitzgeralds’ commitment to local music has become even more evident. In support of the Pinkish record release, the store co-promoted a Third Rail concert at IX Art Park as part of a live series hosted by WTJU. Other efforts include a reissue with Metrozine founder and documentary filmmaker Scott Crawford, notable for chronicling the Washington, D.C., punk scenes of the ’80s and ’90s. “I think that people are always looking for the vinyl,” Daniel says. “You know, the local stuff, starting from Dave Matthews right on down the line to Pinkish.”—EP

YOUR SOURCE FOR

c i s u M e v i L

ON THE DOWNTOWN MALL

Use QR Codes to access venue calendars.

Playing host to local, regional and national touring artists over 150 nights per year, this subterranean club is small and intimate, with a capacity of up to 300. Locals know it’s also the popular place to catch artists on the rise: Billy Strings, Marcus King, Black Pumas, SOJA, Caamp, Gary Clark Jr. and Chappell Roan have all graced this stage early in their careers.

WINNER Best Large Venue

WINNER, Best Small Venue RUNNER UP, Best Open Mic Night

Tristan Williams

Tristan Wiliilams

This historic Vaudeville theater turned movie house just celebrated 15 years as a premier music venue. Recent national artists like Yo La Tengo, Trampled by Turtles, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Bruce Hornsby, Illiterate Light and Shane Smith and the Saints – along with other regional and local acts – routinely play to audiences of up to 800 people.

RUNNER UP Best Large Venue

Jack Looney

Tristan Wiliilams

Anchoring the east end of the Downtown Mall, the 4,000 capacity venue has been welcoming national touring acts to its stage since 2005. Recent popular and sold out shows include Trombone Shorty, Noah Kahan, Lake Street Dive, Jason Isbell, Goose, Vampire Weekend, Ray LaMontagne, Whiskey Myers and many more! Ting Pavilion is also home to the popular free concert series, Fridays After Five, now in it’s 38th season.

Tristan Wiliilams

Dylan Aker

Tristan Williams

Thank you Charlottesville for your support!

FINALIST

BEST LAWYER OR LAW FIRM

Michael La Fratta Call/Text

434.260.6772 114 Old Preston Ave Charlottesville, VA 22902

www.LaFrattaLaw.com

WINNER BEST ORTHODONTIST

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BEST NAIL SALON

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John A. Hancock Watercolor (Traditional, Contemporary, & Experimental) Drawing (Classical & Modern, w/Graphite, Inks, & Mixed-Media) Sketching (Urban, Plein-Air, & Studio)

. introductory classes & workshops for beginners . classes, workshops, & coaching for intermediate/advanced students . (adults & very mature older teens)) contact: 34

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WINNER

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WINNER

BEST DAY SPA AND MASSAGE

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Thank you C-Ville! We’re honored to be named Best in C-VILLE for the second year in a row and the 2026 Best Cosmetic Surgery Practice in Charlottesville. This award is especially meaningful because it comes from the patients who have entrusted us with their care. Your confidence, loyalty, and support inspire everything we do. “This recognition is more than an award—it reflects the trust my patients place in me every day. It is a privilege to create beautiful, natural results and to serve a community I am proud to call home.”— Maria Kirzhner, MD Specializing exclusively in eyelid and facial aesthetics, we combine advanced surgical expertise with refined artistry to deliver natural-looking, personalized results. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. WINNER

BEST COSMETIC SURGERY PRACTICE

600 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 170 • Charlottesville, VA 22911 connect@eyeplasticsmk.com • (434) 244-8610 • www.eyelidsbymk.com 35

CHAMPIONS DON’T STOP AT FIVE

THANK YOU, CHARLOTTESVILLE — SIX TIMES OVER

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HEALTH

& FITNESS

STORIES BY: Nathan Alderman Shea Gibbs Caite Hamilton Tami Keaveny Susan Sorensen TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Alternative medicine practice  Big gym  Birthing center  Chiropractor  Cosmetic surgery practice  Dance studio  Dentist  Dermatology practice  Fitness cycle studio  Foot race/fun run  General practitioner  Golf course  Martial arts school  Mental health professional  Mountain-biking trail or park  Niche gym  OBGYN  Optometrist  Orthodontist  Personal trainer  Physical therapist  Pilates studio  Walking/hiking park or trail  Wellness center  Wellness coach  Yoga studio

We have been committed to helping central Virginians improve their spinal and overall health with professional, natural, research-based chiropractic care since 1982.

WINNER

2010

2011

RUNNER-UP

Thank you Charlottesville for 43 years of support!

Best Chiropractor

RUNNER-UP

WINNER

2024

RUNNER-UP

Accepting New Patients 1006 East Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 434.293.6165 | www.coxclinic.com

thank you charlottesville!

FINALIST FOR BEST

434 975 3800 trupilates.com 38

PILATES STUDIO

WINNER

HEALTH & FITN ES S

READERS' PICKS! ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRACTICE

Castro Integrative Medicine

castrointegrativemedicine.com

The Elderberry

elderberryherbals.com

Game of throws Local disc golfers battle Mother Nature, each other to help feed the hungry

BIG GYM

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

ACAC acac.com

Brooks Family YMCA piedmontymca.org

BIRTHING CENTER

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital sentara.com

UVA Health University Medical Center uvahealth.com

CHIROPRACTOR

Wayne Fusco (Cox Chiropractic) coxclinic.com

Michelle Heppner (Heppner Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center)

heppnerfamilychiropractic.com

COSMETIC SURGERY PRACTICE

Oculofacial Surgery & Aesthetics eyelidsbymk.com

The Center for Plastic Surgery at Sentara Martha Jefferson mjhplasticsurgery.org CONTINUED ON PAGE 41 EZE AMOS

he Ice Bowl, to be honest, seems like two excellent ideas surrounded by a lot of terrible ones. The excellent ideas: Tossing a disc into a basket for fun, and raising money for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank while you do so. But you’re tossing that disc out in the woods, surrounded by razor-sharp laurel bushes, poison ivy, and any number of potentially unfriendly creatures. You’re trying to steer your disc to that basket around blind curves and through thick stands of trees. And you’ll do all this for hours, in whatever nightmare mix of winter weather—rain, sleet, snow, freezing cold—Virginia feels like inflicting on you. The local disc devotees of the Blue Ridge Disc Golf Club braved the elements on February 28, as they’ve done every year since 2004. They played for charity. For

bragging rights. And, perhaps most importantly, for a little engraved piece of metal about the size of a silver dollar. “The sport of disc golf had this huge influx after COVID,” says 2026 club president Kerry Finnegan. During the pandemic, it provided a relatively safe outdoor activity—and a reason to get out of the house. Andrew Lamont started playing at 8 years old and now competes at a high level. The 31-yearold physical therapist won both the 2024 club championship and the 2025 Ice Bowl. Like many players, Lamont says there’s something uniquely satisfying about mastering a throw. “When you get to a point where you can manipulate the disc’s flight based on the characteristics of that disc, and you understand it deeply and it works the first few

times, it is the greatest feeling in the entire world.” “When a throw goes right, it’s a great feeling, very euphoric,” longtime club member Peter Vines says. “And you quickly forget the previous two or three trees that you hit.” Each year, the club issues numbered metal tags based on players’ Ice Bowl finishes. Throughout the season, players challenge each other and swap tags with whoever shoots the better score. The most coveted is the oversized No. 1 tag. “You want to defend it,” Finnegan says. “You don’t want to hold on to it for two weeks just because you dodged everybody.” The Ice Bowl began nationally in 1987 and started raising money for food banks in 1996. Locally, the tournament has been held for more than two decades. Historically, it has only been postponed twice—once during 2010’s “snowpocalypse,” and earlier this year when ice made courses unsafe. “Cold drizzly rain is probably the worst conditions,” Vines says. “Everything gets wet.” “You know the Ice Bowl motto,” Vines says. “No wimps, no whiners.” The tournament raises roughly $750 to $1,000 annually for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank through entry fees, mulligans, and food donations. This year, players say, the cause felt especially important. “Eating is a basic right that shouldn’t be a choice for families,” Finnegan says. “We know it’s not the biggest donation they’re going to get all year,” Morgan Clark says. “But we do know that it’s something.” As club members headed into this year’s Ice Bowl, uncertain of the elements, they had that charitable thought—and a bowl or two of chili—to keep them warm.—NA

Flotation Therapy Massage Therapy Infrared Sauna Therapy Red Light Therapy

Ask us about free services for Veterans and their families

WINNER

2024

WINNER

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Providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for surgery recovery, sudden hearing loss, radiation injury, concussions and more Accepting most insurances including Medicare Ask us about free treatment for qualifying veterans! 925-A East Jefferson Street • 434-214-4847 info@charlottesvillehyperbarics.com charlottesvillehyperbarics.com 40

RUNNER-UP

WINNER

HEALTH & FITN ES S

Match made

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

DANCE STUDIO

Charlottesville Ballet charlottesvilleballet.org

Blue Ridge Irish Music School brimstunes.org

DENTIST

Charlottesville Dental Associates

charlottesvilledentalassociates.com

Avalon Dental

avalon-dental.com

DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

Charlottesville Dermatology cvillederm.com

Albemarle Dermatology Associates albemarledermatology.com

FITNESS CYCLE STUDIO IMULT RY O CATEG ER! N IN W

ACAC acac.com

pūrvelo cycle purvelocycle.com

FOOT RACE/FUN RUN

Women’s 4 Miler

WHEN JOHN NEAL’S SON JOINED Charlottesville High School’s tennis team, the local father of two agreed to help out during practices, thinking he’d use his own experience and love of the game to support the Black Knights on the court. He did not foresee the winning match ahead of him. Seven seasons later, the elder Neal is still at CHS as director of tennis, and he’s coached the boys team to back-to-back state championships in ’24 and ’25. In 2026, the boys placed second while their teammate Sean Frank took home the state title in singles. Neal was recognized as the National Coach of the Year by the United States Tennis Association in 2025, and this spring the girls tennis team went 11-5 in its first season under his direction. Neal’s simple approach makes it easy for players at all levels to pick up a racket. “Tennis can feel intimidating at first, but I use what I call the universal language of tennis—a teaching approach that helps every player understand exactly what they are trying to accomplish and what the goal is with each stroke,” he says. “When you simplify the game that way, players make real progress quickly and that progress is what keeps them coming back. My goal is to make sure that from the very first ball they hit, they feel like they belong on that court.” Neal, who’s been playing since the age of 6, says he’s seen the sport deliver more than aces and match

points. He describes the court as a classroom for personal growth, a way to find community, and build lifelong friendships. Intent on playing these lessons forward, Neal shares advice that guides him: “Stay present. Whether you’re on the court, in the classroom, or navigating life’s biggest challenges—the only point that matters is the one you’re playing right now.”—TK

Prolyfyck Run Crew prolyfyck.com

GENERAL PRACTITIONER

Deirdre Donovan (Downtown Family Health Care) myprivia.com/downtownfamilyhealthcare

Cassie Martinez (Family Medicine of Albemarle) fmoa-online.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 45 SUPPLIED PHOTO (TOP), TRISTAN WILLIAMS (BOTTOM)

SWEAT LODGING Perspire with pals at the Rivanna River Co.’s Riversong saunas. Participants can book 90-minute schvitz sessions in one of a pair of wood-fired steam rooms. Bathing suits are mandatory for community sweats; post-sauna cold plunges in the nearby river, or snacks at the on-site Tea Room, are optional.—NA

e l l i v s e t t o l r a h

C VOTED: , u o y Thank #1 Best Cycle Studio

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WINNER

BEST DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

WINNER

BEST MEDICAL SPA

COMPREHENSIVE CARE

• General & Restorative Dentistry • Professional Teeth Whitening • Same-Day Emergency care • Most PPO Insurance Plans Accepted What our patients say about us: “Very friendly, well educated staff. Immaculately clean clinic. New modern equipment. Doc was quick but very concise with the direction of my dental plan. This is the first time I actually look forward to getting dental treatment!” “Great experience for me and my family (my wife and 5 kids). Bri was great to work with on getting everything setup for our first visit. Nice new clean place and looks like they have all the updated equipment. Everyone very friendly and professional. My hygienist Stephanie really did a great job, she took her time and explained what she was doing along the way. Dr. Delph is great and very knowledgeable. My wife & kids gave them a thumbs up :) “ “First appointment today with Dr Delph went very well. Thought I needed a filling but turned out needing a crown. Was amazed that this could be taken care of right away. Very efficient and personable staff. Highly recommend!”

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HEALTH & FITN ES S

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

GOLF COURSE

Keswick Hall keswick.com

Birdwood

birdwoodgolf.com

MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL

Gracie Charlottesville graciecharlottesville.com

Fight Like A Grrrl Club fightlikeagrrrl.org

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

Virginia Andersen (Andersen Psychotherapy) andersenpsychotherapy.com

Dee Keller (Sunnyside Counseling) sunnysidecville.com

MOUNTAIN-BIKING TRAIL OR PARK

Walnut Creek Park Biscuit Run Park NICHE GYM

MADabolic madabolic.com

Blue Ridge Barbell

Growing momentum AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF PLANNING, fundraising, and community conversations, the future botanical garden at McIntire Park is starting to feel less like an idea and more like an inevitability. The Botanical Garden of the Piedmont announced in late 2025 that it surpassed $10 million in fundraising for the long-awaited project—Central Virginia’s first botanical garden. The roots of the effort stretch back to 2009, when Charlottesville residents gathered for public input sessions about the future of McIntire Park after construction of the John Warner Parkway displaced the golf course there. A botanical garden quickly emerged as one of the community’s most popular ideas, and the nonprofit Botanical Garden

of the Piedmont—founded just a year earlier— eventually became the city’s official partner in bringing it to life. Though the full garden has yet to be built, the site has already become a lively public space. Since opening the reserve to visitors in 2020, the organization has hosted hundreds of programs and events, drawing thousands of people for walks, workshops, art, and outdoor gatherings. The ongoing Botanical Art Festival is just the latest example of how the space has evolved into a community destination well before construction crews arrive. With construction expected to begin next year, the garden’s long slow bloom appears to be entering a new phase.—CH

blueridgebarbellgym.com

OBGYN

Kelly Owens (Jefferson OB/GYN) jeffersonobgyn.net

Emily Huffstetler (Jefferson OB/GYN) jeffersonobgyn.net

CONTINUED ON PAGE 47 EZE AMOS (TOP), FILE PHOTO (BOTTOM)

BIG SMILES At Weiler Orthodontics and Invisalign, starting orthodontic treatment now comes with an unexpected perk: a new pair of Nike shoes. The Braces for Laces program offers families a tangible kickoff to what’s often a long process, pairing clinical care with a lifestyle hook. The campaign reflects a broader push to make orthodontics feel less clinical—and a little more personal.—CH

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YEAR ‘ROUND

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Non-profit offering FREE self-defense workshops

M A D A b o l i c

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SEPTEMBER

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HEALTH & FITN ES S

Striking tone

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45

OPTOMETRIST

Michael Henderson (MyEyeDr.) myeyedr.com

Stephen Basic (Drs. Bare, Basic, & Rohm Optometrists)

Lewis Nelson’s Bodhisattva Trading Company seeks to spread harmony through Nepalese singing bowls

eyesoncville.com

ORTHODONTIST

Charlottesville Orthodontics

charlottesvilleorthodontics.com

Mill Creek Orthodontics millcreekortho.com

PERSONAL TRAINER

Jojo McDuffie (MADabolic) madabolic.com

Vanessa Bullard (Sweatset) sweatsetcville.com

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Michelle Little (Women in Motion Physical Therapy) womeninmotionpt.com

Sara Hegemier (Longevity Physical Therapy & Wellness) longevityptw.com

PILATES STUDIO

Club Pilates clubpilates.com

Posture Studio Pilates & Physical Therapy posturestudio.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 49 SUPPLIED PHOTO

ewis Nelson needed some peace in his life. He says he’d “gone through a rough time” after two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army, and three deployments to Afghanistan as a “federal civilian intelligence officer.” Then he saw—and heard— his first singing bowl. Made of metal or crystal, singing bowls are thought to originally come from China, though today you can also find them in India and Nepal. More bell than bowl, they produce pure, lingering musical tones when struck or swirled with a mallet. “I just thought it had such an amazing sound,” Nelson says. “It was so neat. And it just felt like I kept running into singing bowls after that.” In summer 2024, in pursuit of his own business, Nelson learned that the Los Angeles-

based Bodhisattva Trading Company was seeking a new owner. “And I was just like, that’s it. That’s the one. I’ve got to do it.” Nelson now makes regular trips to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to buy newly made and antique bowls from vendors who’ve made or collected them for generations. These metal bowls begin with a proprietary alloy that is heated and beaten into shape around a mold. A bowl’s thickness, shape, and the height of its walls all determine the precise note it creates. “The wider the bowl, typically the deeper the sound,” Nelson says, “The height of the bowl might dictate what we call the sustain. After you hit it, how long does it play for? If you’re a professional practitioner, you want a bowl that you can strike for over a minute. And I can almost know by looking

at a bowl if you’re going to get that, because it’s going to be about the thickness of the metal, how wide it is, how heavy it is.” Nelson says he’s picky about the bowls his vendors offer, choosing only those with rich, harmonious overtones. “If they open a bag for me, and it has 500 bowls in it, I will just hit all 500, and I might pick out, like, these 25 sound really good.” He’s especially fond of “concert pitch bowls,” whose notes are precise enough to match a tuned piano. Bodhisattva also offers crystal singing bowls made in Utah, with quartz mined from North Carolina. “Crystal singing bowls will give you one steady note, and it’s very easy to play. It’s fairly loud.” “Nothing’s machine made,” Nelson says of his shop’s crystal and metal offerings. “They’re all very professional grade, master quality bowls.” Though Bodhisattva’s based in Charlottesville, Nelson says the majority of his sales still go to California. Virginia represents about 5 to 10 percent of the bowls he sells, with international orders providing another 20 percent. Those interested in a singing bowl of their own can check Bodhisattva’s website, bodhisattva.com, where Nelson includes recordings of each bowl’s precise musical tone. “Find a bowl that resonates with you,” he says. “If you play the recording, and that sound is like, ‘Oh my gosh, that is a beautiful sound. It makes me feel wonderful,’ that means that bowl is resonating with you.”—NA

BE ST OF C-V I L L E

FlyDog Yoga, Charlottesville's best yoga studio, has the win in the bag—or at least on the mat. EZE AMOS

HEALTH & FITN ES S

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47

WALKING/HIKING PARK OR TRAIL

SaundersMonticello Trail Shenandoah National Park WELLNESS CENTER

AquaFloat

aquafloatcville.com

Well Room

wellroomva.com

WELLNESS COACH

Kelly Cox (Kindred Cville/Now Yoga) kindredcville.com

Eliza Whiteman (FlyDog Yoga) flydogyoga.com

YOGA STUDIO

FlyDog Yoga flydogyoga.com

Hot Yoga Charlottesville hotyogacville.com

Freedom of nutrition NEAL PIPER WATCHED HIS son Noah trying to play with his twin sister and thought there had to be a better way. Noah was diagnosed with cancer when he was 3 years old. His treatment required him to go on enteral nutrition, often called tube feeding. The feeding devices available were an IV pole or bulky backpack, neither ideal for a boy who wanted to get on the floor and play with his sister. Piper, an accomplished health care systems leader, worked with medical device experts to free Noah from his tether. The Luminoah Flow Enteral Pump is a handheld device about the size of a smartphone; the nutrition packs it uses aren’t much larger. It’s the first feeding device for people who need enteral nutrition outside hospitals—people who want to live Neal Piper and his son Noah turned a tough diagnosis into a bright idea. their lives and play with their toys. “We wanted to create a brighter future for people The Luminoah story is also about collaboration— who need tube feeding,” Piper says. “This story is among engineers, innovators, oncologists, investors— about a father that had an unmet need and had the and hope. “When our son was sick, we had a mantra: courage to say, ‘Let’s learn from the needs of the milsunny days ahead,” Piper says. “When Noah started lions going through the same thing and build a comgetting better, we realized we could help a lot of pany to solve the problem.’” people.”—SG

IN HIS COURT The University of Virginia dedicated the John Paul Jones Arena court to former men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett during a pre-game ceremony in late February. In his 15 years at the helm, Bennett led the Hoos to the 2019 national championship, two ACC tournament titles, six regular-season conference championships, and 10 NCAA tournament appearances. Among the Cavalier hoops standouts who returned to the JPJ to honor Bennett were Malcolm Brogdon, Joe Harris, Anthony Gill, London Perrantes, and Jay Huff. Following the dedication, Bennett, who retired before the start of the 2024-25 season as Virginia’s all-time winningest men’s basketball coach, watched the No.14 Cavs defeat the Miami Hurricanes 86-83.—SS EZE AMOS (TOP), TRISTAN WILLIAMS (BOTTOM)

Thank You, WINNER

Charlottesville!

VOTED BEST

DAYCARE!

We’re honored to be named Best Daycare in the Best of C-VILLE 2026! Our Early Learning Centers give children a strong start with safe, nurturing care, engaging learning experiences and a community where every child can belong and thrive.

PIEDMONT FAMILY YMCA

EARLY LEARNING CENTERS

YMCA Early Learning Center Jefferson School 233 4th Street NW

YMCA Early Learning Center Sentara Martha Jefferson 475 Martha Jefferson Drive

Something For Everyone Whether your family is looking for swim lessons, youth sports, afterschool care, camp adventures, teen programs, or time to connect, you’ll find it at the Y.

RUNNER UP

RUNNER-UP

BIG GYM

Brooks Family YMCA 50 151 McIntire Park Drive

434-974-9622

2024

RUNNER-UP

BIG GYM

PiedmontYMCA.org

RUNNER-UP

BIG GYM

RUNNER-UP

BIG GYM

Organic Local Superfood Mexican Fusion

Cafe, food truck and caterer:

Our menu is centered on clean, whole foods made with intention and integrity to nourish your body and satisfy your cravings.

Thanks for voting, Charlottesville!

WINNER

Samantha Federico BEST RADIO PERSONALITY

RUNNER-UP

BEST FOOD TRUCK

FARMACY.GURU • 222 W. Main St. Charlottesville • 434.722.5805

LISTEN TO SAMANTHA 10-3 ON 106.1 THE CORNER!

Thank you for your vote Best Kids Menu + Best Restaurant Beer List

CHARLOTTESVILLE | 1035 Millmont Street 434.296.2337 | sedonataphouse.com 51

MODERN JAPANESE CUISINE

WINNER

BEST THAI FOOD

RUNNER UP

BEST CURRY

2024

BEST THAI FOOD

WINNER

BEST THAI FOOD

WINNER

BEST THAI FOOD

WINNER

BEST THAI FOOD

BEST CURRY AND PAD THAI

WINNER

BEST PAD THAI

WINNER

BEST THAI FOOD

BEST CURRY

BEST THAI FOOD

We are truly humbled and grateful to receive this year’s Best of Cville Award, and for all of the continued support from our guests over the past year. Love, The Team at Ten Open for Dinner Every Tuesday - Saturday at 5:00 PM Reserve your table today by calling us at 434 295 6691 or by finding us on OpenTable

Thank you Charlottesville! WINNER

BEST THAI FOOD

www.monsoonsiamcville.com (434) 971-1515 WINNER BEST SUSHI

120B E. Main Street on the Downtown Mall

www.ten-sushi.com

RUNNER-UP BEST PIZZA

Open for dinner Thurs-Mon Reserve at RESY WINNER

Best New Restaurant

thejervey.com

Bar seats are first come 434-202-2206

FOOD

& DRINK

STORIES BY: Nathan Alderman Carol Diggs Caite Hamilton James Sanford Paul Ting

Bakery  Bartender  BBQ  Breakfast/brunch  Brewery (large)  Brewery (small)  Burger  Chef  Chinese food  Cocktail menu  Coffeehouse  Dietary- or allergy-friendly  Fancy dinner spot  Farmer’s market vendor  First date  Food truck  French cuisine  Fried chicken  Frozen treat  Grown-up birthday party spot  Indian food  Italian food  Korean food  Local cidery  Local distillery  New restaurant  Outdoor dining  Pizza  Place to watch the game  Restaurant  Restaurant beer list  Restaurant Week participant  Restaurant wine list  Sandwich shop/deli  Service  Soul food  Steak  Sushi  Tacos  Takeout window  Thai food Winery (large)  Winery (small)  Wings TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Thanks!

for supporting us during our 13 years in Charlottesville!

RUNNER-UP

BEST SANDWICH/DELI

Breakfast • Lunch • Catering 2206 Ivy Road | Charlottesville eatativp.com | (434) 202-1308 56

FOOD & DR IN K

READERS' PICKS!

Into the woods

BAKERY

MarieBette Café & Bakery mariebette.com

Albemarle Baking Co. albemarlebakingco.com

BARTENDER

Alyssa Wacharamai (Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint) John Lindsey (Public Fish & Oyster) BBQ

Barbeque Exchange bbqex.com

Mission BBQ mission-bbq.com

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Bodo’s Bagels bodosbagels.com

Guajiros Miami Eatery guajiroscville.com

BREWERY (LARGE)

Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery threenotchdbrewing.com

Blue Mountain Brewery bluemountainbrewery.com

BREWERY (SMALL)

Högwaller Brewing hogwallerbrewing.com

Selvedge Brewing selvedgebrewing.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 59 EZE AMOS (TOP), FILE PHOTO (BOTTOM)

AT THE END OF GLENMORE WAY IN KESWICK is a cabinet that appears to be made by wood gnomes. Like magic, it’s filled each morning with delectable baked goods, cut flowers, farm-fresh eggs, and colorful veggies. Welcome to Goods in the Woods farmstand. Jamie Lynn Fincham (who is not a wood gnome) is the spirit behind Goods in the Woods. She and her partner moved to a cabin on a friend’s eight-acre property outside Glenmore after fires in Los Angeles drove them out. “[Our friend] said, ‘Do what you will with the land,’ and we wanted a slower life,” recalls Fincham. She’d grown up rural in West Vir-

ginia, so before you know it there were dogs and chickens and flowers and vegetables. The couple built a farm stand on wheels out of spare lumber, and started out offering cookies, bread, and firewood while the flowers and vegetables were growing. Social media helped—Fincham did informal surveys on Instagram and Next Door to gauge interest and find out what people wanted. She also tapped into a few Glenmore friends who are mothers. They tapped into their networks, and as a result, Glenmore residents can now stroll to the end of the street to pick up some fresh Goods in the Woods.—CD

MODERN ALTITUDE Founded by veterans, Aerial Resupply Coffee Roasters approaches coffee with both precision and purpose. The roaster supplies private-label blends and retail packaging for other coffee businesses, but its identity is equally shaped by community ties: donating coffee to deployed service members and offering discounts to military families, teachers, first responders, and public employees. The result is a brand rooted as much in service as in the ritual of a good cuppa.—CH

FOOD & DR IN K

Beefing up

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57

BURGER

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint jackbrownsjoint.com

Riverside Lunch

a2pizza.kwickmenu.com

CHEF

Travis Burgess (Luce, Bizou, Bang!)

SugarBear Gourmet Ice Cream

Patrick Darin (Tavola) CHINESE FOOD

Taste of China

tasteofchinavirginia.com

The Red Lantern

redlanterncharlottesville.com

COCKTAIL MENU

The Alley Light alleylight.com

Bang!

bangrestaurant.net

COFFEEHOUSE

Grit Coffee gritcoffee.com

Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters shenandoahjoe.com

DIETARY- OR ALLERGYFRIENDLY

Botanical Plant-Based Fare botanicalfare.com

Burtons Grill & Bar burtonsgrill.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 62 TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Allie Redshaw’s bone broth brims with benefits

’est Bon Bone Broth has become un succès instantané—and Allie Redshaw couldn’t be happier. The veteran local chef has been making and distributing her locally sourced bone broth for “I guess about six months,” she says, and she’s already built up a devoted customer base. “I have a subscription that I offer now,” Redshaw says. “And so, people are starting to subscribe, and they’re getting weekly deliveries. … If you don’t have time to sit down and eat a super caloriedense meal that’s protein-heavy and is a great collagen source, bone broth checks all of those boxes. And if you want to just use it as a base, if you’re making something that’s heartier and you want to add things to it that have more sustenance or calories … it’s an incredible source of so many good nutrients and vitamins and minerals.” The broth is primarily sourced from beef bones, and it’s seasoned with spices she can customize to her clients’ needs: cardamom and black peppercorn for some buyers, “or if I’m doing something that’s specifically for postpartum or maternal healing, then I’m definitely using … fennel seed, mustard seed, things that will help with lactation, with rest and recovery.” The business grew out of what Redshaw saw as a “desire in the community,” as well as something she could prepare fairly easily by herself: “something that could be nourishing, that didn’t seem like it took a whole lot of time out of the day. Really, the timely portion of bone broth is

in the making, or kind of the forefront of it. I feel like if I can really put labor and love into that process with passion, it’s also something in the kitchen that I can do more independently.” In 2017, Redshaw lost her right hand while working with a meat grinder at Lampo. The tragedy could have ended her career but, over time, she found new ways to tackle kitchen work. She and her husband, Ian, own a catering company called Sumac Supper Club, which handles everything from elegant 10-person dinners to supplying food for University of Virginia soirees. “When Ian and I are running the catering business, inevitably, as much as I don’t want to, I have to ask for help with a task or two—or 18. And so that is really frustrating to my ego, because I think having independence in your craft is important.

“And so, bone broth was something that … the only thing that I could really physically struggle with is straining it. So then I just got pots that have strainers like spouts at the bottom. And so now I can just strain without asking for help. I can do the entire process stem to stern by myself, which is awesome. And there are not very many tasks in the kitchen that I have found that are that way.” The bone broth business also allows Redshaw the freedom to pursue her other passions: spending time with her two children, teaching yoga, and participating in rock-climbing competitions. It’s something she discovered after the birth of her second daughter, Willow. “I’m actually headed to Austria with Team USA paraclimbing in two weeks to represent our country in the world of rock climbing,” she says.—JS

826 Hinton Ave • tavolavino.com

please r u st ic call • 434.972.9463 it a l i a n to• reserve fo o in d advance • wi ne c r aft co ck t a i l s • c i c c he t t i b a r

now accepting reservations for holiday parties in our new private dining room new private dining room forThank holiday parties in our You Charlottesville! now accepting reservations WINNER BEST RESTAURANT | RESTAURANT WINE LIST FANCY DINNER SPOT | SERVICE | ITALIAN FOOD

please call 434.972.9463 to reserve in advance

Reservations at826 tavolavino.com Hinton Ave • 434.972.9463 Hinton Ave •• 826 tavolavino.com

Breads, Pastries & Cof fee. Breakfast, Lunch & Br unch. MarieBette Café & Baker y 700 Rose Hill Drive, Charlottesville · 434.529.6118 Petite MarieBette 105 E Water Street, Charlottesville · 434.284.8903 mariebette.com

BE ST OF C-V I L L E

Growing strong

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59

FANCY DINNER SPOT IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

Tavola

tavolavino.com

C&O Restaurant candorestaurant.com

FARMER’S MARKET VENDOR

Bellair Farm bellairfarm.com

Caromont Farm

caromontcheese.com

FIRST DATE

Downtown Mall downtowncville.com

Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria lampopizza.com

FOOD TRUCK

Tacos Gomez

tacosgomez.square.site

FARMacy Food Truck farmacy.guru

FRENCH CUISINE

Fleurie

fleurierestaurant.com

Bizou

bizoudowntown.com TRISTAN WILLIAMS (LEFT), SUPPLIED PHOTO (RIGHT)

Winemaker Corry Craighill blends experience into a Gov Cup win

n a March evening at Richmond’s Main Street Station, the 2026 Virginia Governor’s Cup was presented to Valley Road Vineyards for its 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve. The award, now in its 44th year, is the state’s highest winemaking honor. It was the young Afton winery’s first Cup, and its winemaker Corry Craighill is only the third woman to win it. She is Virginia-raised, world-trained, and back home at a time when Virginia wine’s quality and reputation is surging. Craighill grew up in Lynchburg and studied religion and bioethics at the University of Virginia. Her entry into wine was at a job in the tasting room at Jefferson Vineyards during her senior year. She went for fun but stayed because she found “her people.” After graduating, she worked the harvest at Blenheim Vineyards under winemaker Kirsty Harmon, and her passion was clear. Eventually, after she had been splitting time between Blenheim and King Family Vineyards, mentor Matthieu Finot laid out the choice plainly: Stay and build here, or leave your comfort zone, explore, and learn more. Over the next several years, Craighill chased harvests across four continents, working in Australia, Oregon, New Zealand, South Africa, and Burgundy—each opportunity opening a connection from the last. “Traveling reminds me to stay curious,” she says. “I try to bring that curiosity to my own winemaking.” In 2016, she returned to Virginia for a permanent opportu-

nity as the head winemaker at Sunset Hills in Loudoun County, where outgoing winemaker Nate Walsh helped guide the transition. By 2019, Craighill was named Loudoun County Winemaker of the Year. In 2020, encouraged by nearby family, she came back to

the Monticello AVA as winemaker and vineyard manager at Septenary Winery, where she’s remained since. Today Craighill carries a full plate. At Septenary she makes estate-driven wines and produces wine for several other small

FOOD & DR IN K

Virginia operations, including Valley Road, Chisholm, and Southern Revere. And then there is Wound Tight, her own label launched in fall 2024, which is something else entirely. Wound Tight is where Craighill gets to be, as she puts it, as weird as she wants. The wines are smallbatch, low-intervention, and driven by genuine curiosity. Her sauvignon blanc, for example, is made by bundling dried grape stems in cheesecloth and steeping them in the wine like tea. Her husband Jake designed the labels. “There is room for both ends of the spectrum,” she says. “In my mind, in my cellar, and in the industry.” She sees the experimental impulse not as a departure from Virginia wine culture but as a reflection of it. “The opportunity to experiment is an expression of Virginia wine culture.” About the Governor’s Cup win, she is characteristically understated, noting that the fruit was perfect, the fermentation healthy and vibrant, and that she did nothing out of the ordinary. “I just ushered the wine towards its next step.” Even so, knowing when not to intervene may be one of the hardest things a winemaker learns. The response from industry peers following the award reflects something genuine about where Virginia wine stands. One colleague told her, “When you won, it felt like we all won.” That sentiment captures a sense of community that is not often highlighted but may be the industry’s greatest asset: A group that learns together, grows together, and celebrates success together. Winning the Governor’s Cup, she says, is less an arrival than an opportunity for “new knowledge, new people, and new ideas.” For Craighill, and perhaps for Virginia wine, that curiosity is the whole point.—PT SUPPLIED PHOTO (TOP), EZE AMOS (BOTTOM)

PEACH ON EARTH Cue the giant peach jokes. In September of 2025, Chiles Orchard announced it had a record-breaker in its branches: a 1-pound 13-ounce peach. Fifthgeneration farmer Henry Chiles told local news outlets the spring and summer growing conditions were just perfect to bear the juicy fruit, which was officially certified by the Guinness Book of World Records soon after its harvest.—CH

FRIED CHICKEN

Wayside Takeout & Catering waysidechicken.com

Michie Tavern michietavern.com

FROZEN TREAT

SugarBear Gourmet Ice Cream

sugarbearcville.com

Chaps Ice Cream chapsicecream.com

GROWN-UP BIRTHDAY PARTY SPOT

Eastwood Farm and Winery

eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Potter’s Craft Cider potterscraftcider.com

INDIAN FOOD

Milan Indian Restaurant

milan-indian-cuisine.com

Kanak Indian Kitchen kanakcville.com

ITALIAN FOOD

Tavola

INCLUSIVE BAKING What began as Carrington Kernodle Epperson’s home bakery has grown into Chanterelle Cafe, a vegan- and allergy-friendly cottage bakery rooted in the idea that celebration food should include everyone. Through custom orders and occasional pop-ups, the Black- and woman-owned business offers cookies, cupcakes, croissants, and other treats designed so dietary restrictions don’t mean missing out. It’s thoughtful baking shaped by community care—and flavor.—CH

tavolavino.com

Vivace

vivacecville.com

KOREAN FOOD

DOMA Korean Kitchen domakoreankitchen.com

MARU

marudowntown.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 65

MULT CATEG IO WINNERRY !

BE ST OF C-V I L L E

When it comes to Kardinal Hall, your pick for best place to watch the game, you say there's no such thing as too much screen time (or soft pretzels). TRISTAN WILLIAMS

FOOD & DR IN K

The next course

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63 MULTIRY CATEGO WINNER!

LOCAL CIDERY

Potter’s Craft Cider potterscraftcider.com

Bold Rock

nellysford.boldrock.com

LOCAL DISTILLERY

Ragged Branch Distillery raggedbranch.com

Devils Backbone Distilling Co.

dbbrewingcompany.com

NEW RESTAURANT

The Jervey thejervey.com

Red Rose Pub redrosepub.com

OUTDOOR DINING

Blue Mountain Brewery

bluemountainbrewery.com

Brazos Tacos brazostacos.com

PIZZA

Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie

drhoshumblepie.com

Pi-Napo Pizzeria pinapopizza.com

PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME

Kardinal Hall kardinalhall.com

Timberwood Grill timberwoodgrill.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 68 DAN CHUNG

PETER CHANG IS READY FOR its second act. Fourteen years after its launch, Peter Chang China Grill closed last October. But only seven months later, Peter Chang is back—and in the same location. It does not, however, look the same: The cozy 1960s-ish ambiance has been replaced by a sleek new look after a $455,000 renovation. “We changed everything,

from the kitchen to the front of the house; everything is brand new now,” says Jin Cai, food and beverage director for the Peter Chang restaurant group. It’s also under new management: Cai admits that after the pandemic reopening the Charlottesville location was neglected while the company focused on developing newer venues in other cities. “It was under our standards,” Cai says of the Bar-

racks Road spot. “We brought a whole new team from D.C.—from the front of the house to the back of the house” from Chang’s Herndon restaurant. The menu mixes old favorites like scallion bubble pancakes with a new assortment of dim sum and Chinese tapas selections. “Now,” Cai says, “we can trust our food, trust our service, and all the quality should be different.”—JS

WOW!

Thank you, Charlottesville!

Thank you

for 12 years of supporting Al Carbon, serving you from our only location at Merchant Walk.

Thanks for putting us in the you, Charlottesville! Check out our newWOW! 'Best of Thank the Best, Charlottesville!

“bols” collection!

WINNER

2026 - Breakfast/Brunch Sandwich Shop/Deli 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021

• Breakfast •Brunch •Sandwich shop/Deli • Best Sandwich Shop/Deli • Best Sandwich Shop/Deli • Best Kid Friendly Restaurant • Runner Up Cheap Date • Best Sandwich Shop/Deli • Best Specialty Food Made in Charlottesville • Best Cheap Date 2019 • Best Comfort Food • Best Brunch 2018 • Best of the Best Member 2017 • Best of the Best Member 2016 • Inaugural Hall of Fame Inductee WINNER2015 • Best Breakfast At 5th Street Station • (434) 284-5251 2014 • Best Breakfast 2013 • Best Sandwich Spot • Best Power Lunch Spot • Best Hangover Menu • Best Breakfast 2012 • Best Sandwich Spot • Best Hangover Menu • Best Meal Under $10 • Best Breakfast 2011 • Best Hangover Menu • Best Sandwich Spot • Best Quick Lunch • Best Meal Under $10 Read free. Give monthly. 2010 • Best Sandwich Spot •Inductee Best Quick Lunch - Inaugural Hall of Fame You don’t have to pay to 2018 read C-VILLE. • Best2016 of the Best Member • Best Meal Under $10 But if independent local journalism 2009 • Best MealBreakfast Under $10 2015 - Best 2017 • Best of the Best Member matters to you, a few bucks a month 2008 • Best Lunch • Best Meal Under $10 2016 it • Inaugural2007 Hall of Fame Inductee goes a long way toward keeping 2014 • Best • Best MealBreakfast Under $10 • Best Fast Food that way. 2015 • Best Breakfast 2006 • Best Lunch • Best Meal Under $10 • Best Fast Food 2013 • Best Sandwich Spot • Best Power Lunch Spot 2005 • Best Lunch • Best Fast Food • Best Breakfast Help save the free word. 2014 Scan to make • Best Hangover 2004 • Best Menu Lunch • Best Breakfast a recurring (tax deductible!) donation. 2013 • Best Sandwich • Best When Power SpotTo Make Rent 2003 •Spot Best Restaurant You Lunch Are Still Trying

alcarbonva.com

SAVE THE

FREE WO RD 66

“Best of C-VILLE” winner since 2003. 2018 BESTFood OF •THE Best Comfort BestBEST BrunchMEMBER (Runner-up)

2019 - Best Sandwich Shop/Deli

Best Sandwich Spot • BestBreakfast Hangover Menu •2012 Best•Hangover Menu • Best Best Meal Under•honored $10 • Best Breakfast 2012 • Best •Sandwich Spot Best Hangover We’re andMenu grateful! Best Hangover Menu • Best Sandwich Spot •2011 Best•Meal Under $10 • Best Breakfast 1418 Emmet Street • 505 Preston Avenue 2011 • Best Hangover Menu• •Best Best Sandwich Spot • Best Quick Lunch Meal Under $10 1609 University Avenue • Best Quick Spot Lunch •www.bodosbagels.com Best Meal Under 2010 • Best Sandwich • Best Quick Lunch • Best$10 Meal Under $10 2010 • Best Sandwich Spot • Best Quick Lunch 2009 • Best Meal Under $10 • Best Meal Under $10 • Best Lunch 2009 • Best2008 Meal Under $10• Best Meal Under $10 2007 • Best•Meal $10 • Best 2008 • Best Lunch BestUnder Meal Under $10Fast Food

WINE TASTINGS

Wine tastings Wednesdays & Fridays, 5-7

Swing by each week for our free tastings and explore the far corners of the wine world, sip by sip! Sample wines selected by award winning sommelier, wine writer, speaker, and Local wine Legend Erin Scala.

WINE CLUB Market Street Wine Club tells the story of wine around the world, accents the season, and refreshes your wine selection each month. Wine Club members also receive discounts of 15-20% on everyday purchases. Email hello@marketstwine.com to sign up!

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

RESTAURANT

Tavola

tavolavino.com

Public Fish & Oyster publicfo.com

RESTAURANT BEER LIST

Beer Run beerrun.com

Kardinal Hall

kardinalhall.com

RESTAURANT WEEK PARTICIPANT

Bang!

bangrestaurant.net

Pineapples Thai Kitchen

pineapplescville.com

RESTAURANT WINE LIST

Tavola

tavolavino.com

Ethos Wine & Tea ethoswineandtea.com

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

SANDWICH SHOP/DELI

MULTICATEGORY WINNER!

Pie for the people PSST! WANNA KNOW HOW to make a Pi-Napo pizza? First: Put together a group of eight to 10 people. Second: Call Pi-Napo and make an appointment between the hours of 11am and noon, or 2 and 4pm (three or four days’ notice is preferred).

Here’s what to expect, says owner Onur Başeğmez: “First of all, we talk about the history of the pizza, and we are introducing our ingredients and also giving some details about how we make our tomato sauce and what type of cheese we are using.” After that,

pizza pupils go into the cooking area to learn how to open their own crust, assemble the pies, and get an introduction to the woodfired oven. You’ll get a cooking lesson, a 12-inch pizza, and a fountain drink for $30 a person.—JS

Bodo’s Bagels bodosbagels.com

Ivy Provisions eatativp.com

SERVICE

Tavola

tavolavino.com

The Alley Light alleylight.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 71

BEAR MIGRATION SugarBear Ice Cream is going for a second scoop, adding an Ivy Road shop near U.S. MU CATEGLTI29 to its flagship Free Bridge-adjacent spot. O WINN RY ER! “While there’s never a perfect time for anything,” says founder Emily Harpster, “life is short, and we think that more ice cream (and fun) in the world is always a good idea.”—NA TRISTAN WILLIAMS

FOOD & DR IN K

Hot tomato summer Tomato Tomato Fest turned a popular fruit into Charlottesville’s favorite party

here was no shortage of tomatoes at last summer’s inaugural Tomato Tomato Fest—just not always in the way you’d expect. Held at The Little Market at Lampo, the one-day celebration of the humble summer fruit drew an estimated 800 to 900 people, many dressed in shades of tomato red, angling for one of the event’s free bumper stickers. Some attendees arrived in full costume. “My favorite outfit was the group of people who showed up as all the components of a BLT,” says organizer Olivia Gabbay. “I also was partial to the multiple young children in tomato berets.” The idea for the festival began in Nashville, where organizer Kendall King attended the city’s famous Tomato Art Fest during a pre-wedding trip with friends. “We attended an annual tomato festival there with a huge and awesome emphasis on tomato-themed art,” she says, “but we couldn’t find a single real tomato!” The joke quickly became a real plan. King and her husband run September Sun Produce and launched The Little Market at Lampo in 2025, making the venue a natural fit for a tomato-centered gathering. Soon, Lampo, New City Arts, and a roster of local farmers and makers signed on. “Voila,” King says, “Tomato Tomato Fest was born.” The event, now in its second year, embraced both whimsy and earnest appreciation for local agriculture. September Sun Produce, Whisper Hill Farms, and Bellair Farm arrived TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Let’s not call the whole thing off: Tomato Tomato Fest, now in its second year, celebrates summer’s best fruit.

with what Gabbay calls “the most beautiful tomato harvest,” while the women leading those farms judged the festival’s Home Gardener’s Competition. “It was really special to see three women who, on paper, might be competition, but have a history of collaborating and learning from each other celebrate the harvest of people’s backyards, porch pots, and community gardens,” Gabbay says. Lampo leaned into the theme with tomato-focused pizzas and a BLT sandwich Gabbay says she’s “still dreaming about.” Other vendors got creative, too: Splendora’s Gelato made tomato cupcakes,

Caromont Farms created a tomato cheese, and Little Gold Farm sold tomato-honey lollipops. The Pie Chest’s tomato pies sold out in less than an hour, while Yes& Candles offered heirloom tomato candles, and Emily Ruth Prints’ tomato-themed artwork developed “its own cult following.” The festival’s art show, organized with assistance from New City Arts, helped elevate the event from quirky market night to full-fledged community happening. Gallery manager Tori Cherry hung the show, which Gabbay described as “the perfect mix of beautiful and wacky.” Organizers printed 500 ballots for

the People’s Choice competition and received more than 480 votes. For King, the festival also offered an opportunity to acknowledge the labor behind Virginia’s tomato harvests, particularly on the Eastern Shore, where migrant laborers and advocates continue pushing for improved working conditions. Last year, organizers invited the Legal Aid Justice Center to participate in the event and share information about farmworker advocacy. “It was just good fun pulled off by a handful of people who have deeply invested in this community,” Gabbay says.—CH

Outstanding wines... now in a tasting room to match!

Proud to be the winner of the 2026 Monticello Cup! Open for tastings Thursday- Monday, and available for private events. 1465 Davis Shop Rd, Earlysville, VA 22936 www.harkvineyards.com 70

hark V I N

E Y A R D S

FOOD & DR IN K

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 68

SOUL FOOD

Wayfinder Farm is ‘a food forest’

Pearl Island Cafe & Catering pearlislandcatering.com

Wayside Takeout & Catering waysidechicken.com

STEAK

Black Cow Chophouse

blackcowchophouse.com

Aberdeen Barn aberdeenbarn.com

SUSHI

Ten

ten-sushi.com

Now & Zen

nowandzen.hrpos.heartland.us

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

TACOS

Brazos Tacos brazostacos.com

Tacos Gomez

tacosgomez.square.site

TAKEOUT WINDOW

Luce

lucepasta.com

Lampo2GO

lampopizza.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 73 TRISTAN WILLIAMS (LEFT), EZE AMOS (RIGHT)

YOU’D EXPECT GROWTH ON A FARM, BUT Shankari and Daniel Goldstein must truly have green thumbs. “We’ve been together since 2016, and we got our first set of chickens,” Shankari says. “That’s kind of our intro into farming in 2017. … And now here we are, nearly 10 years later in Scottsville with, you know, 257 acres—a much bigger operation than our little, tiny chicken coop.” Formerly called Waddle Om Farm and now known as Wayfinder Holistics—“We actually changed our name to Wayfinder Farm,” Daniel says—the couple’s operation has diversified over the years. “We raise cattle,” Daniel says, “and we have red angus, and we have sheep. We do Katahdin hair sheep.”

They also strive to do “a little bit of integration of holistic techniques in the way that we farm,” Shankari says. “One of the things that we do is we don’t focus on a monoculture. We have a lot of different enterprises happening here. … We also have herbal medicine that I grow, and we’ve really incorporated that into the landscape of our property.” Their vision: “Let’s try to produce something that we can have a sustainable model that’s actually good for the ecosystem and provide food for our community,” Daniel says. The back 80 acres of the property comprise native trees, perennials, and herbal plants integrated into the landscape. Says Shankari, “It’s almost like a food forest when you’re out here.”—JS

Dairy Market 946 Grady Ave (434) 982-5122

New Location! 8837 Seminole Trail Ruckersville, VA (434) 939-9183

FOOD & DR IN K

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 71

THAI FOOD

Monsoon Siam monsoonsiamcville.com

Pineapples Thai Kitchen pineapplescville.com

WINERY (LARGE)

King Family Vineyards

kingfamilyvineyards.com

Eastwood Farm and Winery

eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

WINERY (SMALL)

Glass House Winery & Brewery glasshousewinery.com

Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard merriemillfarm.com

WINGS

Asado Wing & Taco Company asadocville.com

Lazy Parrot Backyard BBQ

lazyparrotbackyardbbq.com

SUGAR CRUSH Inside York Place on the Downtown Mall, Vivi’s Cakes & Candy pairs handcrafted sweets with a heavy dose of charm. Owner Billy Koenig—who transformed years of local bakery experience into a shop named for his daughter—fills the pastel-hued space with cakes, cupcakes, and housemade candies. Pale pinks and teals, 1950s diner chairs, and vintage saucers make the bakery feel as carefully curated as the treats behind the counter.—CH

FLAVOR FORWARD After building a loyal following through his Order Up food truck, Troy Robinson has put down roots at the Jefferson School City Center with Order Up Eatery. The new lunch spot brings the same crowd-pleasing comfort food and rotating specials—like Wing Wednesday, with its signature Mabo Sauce and Fish Friday—into a permanent space designed for quick weekday meals, patio lunches, and community gathering.—CH TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Charlottesville Water Conservation Water Rebates and Free Incentives Available to the City Community!

weekly specials!

Half off wings on Wednesdays and half off margarita pitchers on Thursday!

Get a $150 rebate when you replace a waterwasting toilet with a WaterSense labeled toilet. Get a FREE Indoor Water Conservation Kit with water efficient fixtures and toilet leak detection dye tablets from City Hall. Get a $30 rebate when you purchase and install a rain barrel to help with watering your plants or grass.

winner best wings! WINNER

Charlottesville.gov/WaterConservation

1327 W Main St, Charlottesville (434) 234-3486 • asadocville.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 20+ YEARS OF LOCAL SOLAR EXPERTISE THOUSANDS OF INSTALLATIONS BACKED BY LOCALLY OWNED AND FAMILY OPERATED TIGER FUEL Residential, Commercial, Agricultural, Battery Backups, EV Chargers, and Service (even on systems we didn’t install!)

SCAN TO LEARN MORE!

TigerSolar.com

TigerSolarCo (434) 293-3763

2024

WINNER

WINNER · BEST OF C-VILLE 2026 BEST IT/COMPUTER REPAIR COMPANY

3 YEARS RUNNING 2024 - 2025 - 2026

WINNER

BEST COMPUTER REPAIR

Charlottesville’s Best IT. Again. Managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and computer repair for Virginia businesses and families since 1999. Three straight years, voted best by the people who actually use us.

Proactive Managed IT 24/7 Support, not fire drills

Cybersecurity

Built for your industry

Computer Repair Home and business

TOPNOTCHCOMPUTERS.COM - 434-220-9308 CHARLOTTESVILLE - RICHMOND - FALLS CHURCH

CHARLOTTESVILLE

AREA TRANSIT

FINALIST

PUBLIC TRANSIT & CITY SCHOOL BUS PROVIDER

WE ARE HIRING!

MULTIPLE POSITIONS AVAILABLE

CAREERS WE OFFER:

Transit Operator School Bus Operator Bus Technician Bus Maintenance

Transit Management And many other vital roles!

BEST VETERINARY CLINIC

Autumn Trails Veterinary Center, privately owned by Dr. Jennifer Cardoza, has been providing our community with exceptional animal care for more than ten years. Offering everything from general wellness and boarding to urgent care and surgery, our completely inclusive, compassionate staff always treat both you and your pets with dignity and respect. Open 8am-8pm seven days a week and conveniently located on Hydraulic Rd in Charlottesville, ATVC always welcomes new patients. We even accept walk-ins!

2407 HYDRAULIC ROAD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (434) 971-9800 • autumntrailsvet.com

Why work for CAT?

Excellent City Benefits Paid CDL Training Flexible Schedule Great Starting Pay Advancement Opportunities Charlottesville’s award-winning news and arts weekly

Learn More and Apply Today at CatchtheCAT.org The City of Charlottesville is an Equal-Opportunity Employer

Fine PROPERTIES

Best of C-VILLE

c-ville.com

AWARD WINNING DERMATOLOGY AND MEDICAL SPA PRACTICE. NURTURING CONFIDENCE AND POSITIVE CHANGE.

RUNNER UP BEST DERMATOLOGIST BEST MEDICAL SPA BEST LASER HAIR REMOVAL

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WINNER BEST MEDICAL SPA BEST ESTHETICIAN BEST LASER HAIR REMOVAL RUNNER UP BEST DERMATOLOGIST

LASERS • INJECTABLES • MICRONEEDLING •

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY AND EXPERIENCE THE SIGNATURE DIFFERENCE 3350 BERKMAR DRIVE • 434.923.4646 • INFO@SIGNATUREMEDSPA.COM • SIGNATUREMEDSPA.COM ALINA ZUFALL, MD • DOREEN SCHUETT, RN, BSN • CINDY SLAWSON, RN, BSN & OUR TEAM OF SKIN EXPERTS 78

• FACIALS • PEELS • BODY CONTOURING

novating Tradition, In Embracing Vineyard rince Michel P . re tu Fu e th omanud to be a w ro p is y er in &W four marking over s, es n si u b ed own culture. ceptional viti decades of ex itions ad e-honored tr Blending tim es h , we ive approac with innovat f wines se range o offer a diver sphere. viting atmo and an in f Prince e evolution o th ce n ie er xp E classic its roots in m o fr , el h ic M odern its rise as a m to g in ak em win us in ation. Join wine destin ition ad tr future where toasting to a and e g er elegantly m and progress . ry sip tells a sto where every

WNED O N A M O W A BUSINESS

Every Live Music day, Friday - Sun tings, Tours & Tas ery & Pub, Tap 29 Brew ents, orporate Ev Private & C es Luxury Suit s a week Open 7 day

INE 1-800-800-W

ichel.com www.priny Lacneem • Leon, VA 22725 154 Winer

SHOP

PING

STORIES BY: Carol Diggs Brian Hamilton Caite Hamilton Susan Sorensen

Antique or secondhand décor  Bike shop  CBD/Medical marijuana vendor  Chain grocery store  Eco retailer  Flower shop  Gift shop  Gourmet grocery store  Hobby and game shop  Independent bookstore  Jewelry store  Local furniture store  Local home improvement store  Men’s clothing store  Nursery/garden store  Outdoor gear store  Pet supply store  Place to buy a car  Place to buy a gift for an in-law  Place to buy an heirloom  Record store  Secondhand or vintage clothing shop  Wine shop  Women’s clothing store TRISTAN WILLIAMS

We’re nuts for you too! RUNNER-UP

BEST GIFT SHOP

RUNNER-UP

BEST GIFT SHOP WINNER BEST PLACE FOR IN-LAW GIFTS

GRANOLA. TAFFY. DOG TREATS. MIXES. PEPPER JELLY. PEANUTS. T-SHIRTS.MAGNETS. POTTERY. PHOTOGRAPHY. CHEESE STRAWS. JAMS. APPLE BUTTER. CANDY. CHOCOLATES. GREETING CARDS. TEA TOWELS. TOTES. HATS. SYRUPS AND HONEY. COOKIES. SEASONING. MARINADES. CHUTNEY. BBQ SAUCE. FUDGE. KEY CHAINS. GIFTS. RECIPE BOOKS. HANDMADE SOAPS. TRIVETS COASTERS.MUGS. NAPKINS. FLAGS. POST CARDS. GIFT BASKETS. NOTE CARDS. POTATO CHIPS. ORIGAMI. BRITTLE. BUTTER MINTS. FREE GIFT WRAP. APRONS. COOKIE CUTTERS. CARAMELS. JEFFERSON CUPS. WEDDING WELCOME BAGS. UVA STUFF. BUMPER STICKERS. VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS EVERYTHING. Barracks Road Shopping Center 1047-B Emmet Street • 434.977.0080 • TheVaShop.net

Fine art framing and thoughtful design in a fresh gallery setting! Serving Central Virginia’s Art Lovers since 2010. Wed - Sat • Frame design by appointment. (540) 832 3701

cavallogallery.com IG @cavallo.gallery

WINNER BEST ANTIQUE OR SECOND HAND

WINNER BEST LOCAL FURNITURE STORE

WINNER BEST PLACE TO BUY AN HEIRLOOM

1700 Allied Street • Charlottesville • 10:00 am - 5:30 pm • Closed Sun & Mon • 82

@circacville

SHOPPING

READERS' PICKS! ANTIQUE OR SECONDHAND DECOR

Circa

circainc.com

MULT CATEG IO WINNERRY !

Twice Is Nice

twiceisnicestore.org

BIKE SHOP

Blue Ridge Cyclery blueridgecyclery.com

Community Bikes cbikes.org

CBD/MEDICAL MARIJUANA VENDOR

The Hidden Leaf hiddenleafcville.com

Greener Things CBD Dispensary greenerthings.care

CHAIN GROCERY STORE

Wegmans wegmans.com

FRESH FIT

Trader Joe’s

traderjoes.com

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

Vintage Vinegar Hill Clothing Co. takes its name from a once-thriving Charlottesville neighborhood—first home to Irish immigrants in the early 1800s, later a historically Black business district. The brand draws on that layered past, nodding to a culture of local enterprise. Its aesthetic leans collegiate: Champion-style logos on soft sweatshirts, T-shirts, and beanies that feel casual, familiar, and rooted in place.—CH

ECO RETAILER

The Scrappy Elephant scrappyelephant.com

Twice Is Nice

twiceisnicestore.org

FLOWER SHOP

Hedge Fine Blooms

BEAUTY IN BLOOM MULT CATEG IO WINNERRY !

hedgefineblooms.com

Flowergirl Cville flowergirlcville.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 85 TRISTAN WILLIAMS (TOP), FILE PHOTO (BOTTOM)

Why are orchids so difficult to keep alive? It doesn’t matter—The Orchid Station has been mastering the art of the phalaenopsis since 1989, so houseplant-lovers don’t have to. The Barboursville-based greenhouse, which opens its doors to the public every Saturday from 9am-4pm, specializes in blooming plants. (Here’s a head start: This particular variety likes normal room temperatures and no bright light.)—CH

BE ST OF C-V I L L E

Design for living Caspari brings a touch of art to your table, your patio, your parties…

hat is the Caspari style? “There are certain themes,” says Gaea Rich, head of design, licensing, and product development for the store. “Our inspiration is international—Chinoiserie, classic French, botanicals, textiles from India and Asia, ceramics, European 19th century but also modern influences…” Mark Bergadon, director of marketing, retail and e-commerce, nods: “You know it when you see it.” Caspari’s wide range of products occupy a very specific niche: tabletop decor, from napkins to candles, flatware, and glassware; home and garden items; desk accessories; stationery for every possible occasion; gifts, cards, and wrapping paper. Rich points out that its Charlottesville shop—the company’s headquarters and flagship store; the only other brick-and-mortar location is in Paris—was specifically designed to reflect that perspective, with areas that customers move through like the spaces of their home—living room, dining room, library or study, porch or patio. All Caspari products are designed in-house and manufactured specifically for them. “We design more like a textile company,” Rich notes. “Our products may be paper, but they are designed to look like textiles or ceramics. We pay a lot of attention to texture and color.” In addition to its own designs, Caspari carries some complementary brands and licenses a wide

A little English inspiration: Designer Ben Pentreath’s layered, lived-in style fits right in with Caspari’s artful approach to home and entertaining.

selection from world-renowned designers, museums, and artists, including Maison Pierre Frey, Tillett Textiles, and Scalamandré; Colonial Williamsburg, the Huntington Library, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs; private collections; and independent artists. “We’re making art accessible to people,” says Bergadon. The Downtown Mall shop often holds events, from holidaythemed cocktail parties or book signings to gatherings that feature local artists and designers. More than marketing events, “these are

ways to keep us connected with our community,” says Rich. Caspari has a loyal and widespread customer base; fully half of its mailing list is people from out of town who come to Charlottesville intending to shop at the store. Caspari’s events tend to be “seasonal and local,” says Rich. There’s always something for Garden Week (“that’s big with our customers,” notes Bergadon), which makes sense because botanicals are a large and popular segment of the company’s designs. An event in June 2025 featured Art Chadwick of Rich-

mond-based Chadwick & Sons Orchids, talking about growing and decorating with orchids and signing two of his books, First Ladies and Their Orchids and The Classic Cattleyas. Early in 2026, noted British interior designer Ben Pentreath was in the States for a book tour, and Caspari invited him to a session at the store to talk about design and sign his latest book, An English Vision. Pentreath called the Q & A session “Ask Me Anything”—quite an invitation, since the designer has a considerable fan base among UVA architecture school students, who turned out with enthusiasm. In March, the store partnered with Foxfield Races and wellknown Charlottesville-based artist Cate West Zahl, creator of the race’s 2026 painting. The crowd that evening included Caspari’s customers and Zahl’s considerable local following; the event featured the first viewing of her painting and a 100-ticket raffle for a chance to take it home. And just to make sure all bases were covered, later that month Caspari hosted its second mahjong event. Last spring it was a tournament, this year a weekend of classes for both beginners and experienced players. And of course, while you’re there you can see how Caspari can help you lay out a truly beautiful table and sideboard for your fellow players. When it comes to entertaining, says Rich, “we’re here to solve your problems.”—CD SUPPLIED PHOTO

SHOPPING

LOCAL HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 83

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

GIFT SHOP

Martin Hardware

O’Suzannah

martinhardwareinc.com

osuzcville.com

The Habitat Store cvillehabitatstore.org

The Virginia Shop thevashop.net

MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

GOURMET GROCERY STORE

The Men’s & Boys’ Shop

Foods of All Nations

facebook.com/ MensAndBoysShop

Darling x Dashing Boutique

foodsofallnations.com

Feast!

feastvirginia.com

shopdarlingxdashing.com

HOBBY AND GAME SHOP

NURSERY/GARDEN STORE

The Scrappy Elephant

MULTI CATEGO RY WINNER!

scrappyelephant.com

Great things in store THE EARLYSVILLE EXCHANGE calls itself “a thrift store and more.” And while its shelves are filled with everything from dishes and other household items to clothes, shoes, toys, books, and jewelry— plus art and furniture in the annex next door—it’s the “more” that really sets the place apart. Members of Earlysville’s Chestnut Grove church opened the shop in the fall of 2014, and since then, the Exchange has donated more than $300,000 to area nonprofits, including the Charlottesville Free Clinic, International Neighbors, The Haven, Loaves & Fishes, PACEM, the Salvation Army, and All Blessings Flow, to name just a few. Retired minister Benny Clark, who spearheaded the Exchange after opening a similar thrift store several decades ago in Vail, Colorado, says it’s not just a spot for people to drop off their slightly used goods to be sold at very reasonable HAWKINS DALE

prices; it offers “employment and gives money away to nonprofit organizations—and we provide a welcoming space to come have a cup of coffee.” It’s also the place where children who attend nearby Broadus Wood Elementary School go when their families can’t afford winter jackets or school supplies. In addition, the Exchange, which is staffed by a handful of paid employees and dozens of volunteers, steps up when someone’s house burns down or an immigrant family with very little moves to the area. It recently donated thousands of dollars to help build the Salvation Army’s new Center of Hope. “It was really important for us to help people understand [that we aren’t] starting a thrift store,” Clark told The Daily Progress when the Exchange opened. “It’s building community.”—SS

The End Games theendgames.co

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE

New Dominion Bookshop ndbookshop.com

fifthseasongardening.com

Ivy Nursery

ivynursery.com

OUTDOOR GEAR STORE

Great Outdoor Provision Co.

greatoutdoorprovision.com

Daedalus Used Bookshop

High Tor Gear Exchange

JEWELRY STORE

PET SUPPLY STORE

@daedalusbookscharlottesville

Tuel Jewelers tueljewelers.com

Formia Design formiadesign.com

LOCAL FURNITURE STORE ILT MU RY

O CATEG ER! WINN

Fifth Season Gardening

Circa

circainc.com

The Habitat Store cvillehabitatstore.org

hightorgearexchange.com

Pet Supplies Plus petsuppliesplus.com

PetSmart

petsmart.com

PLACE TO BUY A CAR

Flow Automotive flowauto.com

CarMax

carmax.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 89

nity g, atch ging t

BEST JEWELRY STORE

s, y- Community

Serving the University Community

4k, Sterling, welry &Watch y ofRestringing arl placement –

sginia Cups,

wter Items ginia

Bulova watches, 14k, Sterling, Platinum Jewelry, Jewelry & Watch Repair, Engraving, Pearl Restringing, Watch Battery Replacement. Watch and Jewelry Repair Jefferson Cups, Virginia Cups, Revere Bowls, Pewter Items Made in Virginia

University of Watches – s - Earrings

We carry Authorized University of Virginia

TUEL JEWELERS

Since 1945

Jewelry – Watches – Charms Cufflinks — Earrings

Serving the University Community Bulova watches, 14k, Sterling, Platinum Jewelry, Jewelry &Watch Repair, Engraving, Pearl Restringing Watch Battery Replacement

Jefferson Cups,Family Virginia Cups,Jewelry Store Since 1945 Your Friendly Revere Bowls, Pewter Items -

Made in Virginia – on the downtown mall – We carry Authorized University of Virginia Jewelry – Watches – 319 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA - 434-295-4258 Charms – Cufflinks - Earrings

on the Historic Downtown Mall 319 East Main Street 434.295.4258 TuelJewelers@aol.com

BRICKS

minifigs

sets

everything else

2050 Bond Street, Suite 110, Charlottesville, VA 22901 86

(434) 956-4108

@BAMCharlottesville

WINNER BEST MEN’S CLOTHING

On the Historic Downtown Mall

Wedding Specialist Since 1920

THE

MEN’S & BOYS’ SHOP Sin

c e 1 9 20

410 E. Main Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 Downtown Mall

434.296.6924

Mon-Sat: 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

Tuxedo Sales & Rentals We are Charlottesville’s longest running men’s store and your dealer for Hart Schaffner Marx & Empire suits, sport coats, and tuxedos, both off the rack and custom.

1327 E. High St | 296-8131

1327 E. High St | 296-8131 M-F 8-5:00 M-FHours 8-5:30 Saturday Summer 9:00 am - Noon www.cssvac.com

New digs, old treasures: Twice Is Nice takes the best secondhand or vintage clothing shop category for its pre-loved styles.

88 EZE AMOS

SHOPPING

Nothing new

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 85

PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR AN IN-LAW MULTI-

CATEGORY WINNER!

O’Suzannah osuzcville.com

Caspari

casparionline.com

PLACE TO BUY AN HEIRLOOM

Circa

MULT CATEG IO WINNERRY !

circainc.com

Heyday Antiques & Vintage heydaycville.com

RECORD STORE

Plan 9 Music plan9music.com

Sidetracks Music sidetracksmusic.net

SECONDHAND OR VINTAGE CLOTHING SHOP

Twice Is Nice twiceisnicestore.org

Darling x Dashing Boutique

shopdarlingxdashing.com

WINE SHOP

Market Street Wine marketstwine.com

Crush Pad Wines crushpadcville.com

WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

Darling x Dashing Boutique shopdarlingxdashing.com

Twice Is Nice

twiceisnicestore.org SUPPLIED PHOTO

FROM NEW YORK CITY’S THEATER District to Miami’s Design District and Los Angeles’ Arts District, cities love carving out neighborhoods with a distinct identity. Allow us to make a nomination for Charlottesville’s

vintage district, located on or around First Street downtown. (Though we’d be remiss not to also mention OG Low Vintage, further down the Mall, and Three Wrong Turns in an actual former vault at Vault Virginia.)

Arsenic and Old Lace

105 S. First St. There’s a little something for everyone at Arsenic and Old Lace, which stocks beauties from 1920s flapper ’fits to silk suits from the 1950s. The shop regularly updates its Instagram with new inventory, and once caught the eye of celebrity stylist Law Roach, who messaged owner Angela Cook to buy a lime-green Mugler set for Zendaya. Talk about reaching for the stars.

Darling x Dashing

115 S. First St. The double-whammy secondhand shop offers a limited selection of vintage clothing for women and men, but what owner Linnea Revak does hang on the racks is a curated collection in the same vibe as the rest of her inventory: clothes that’ll make you feel your most, well, darling and dashing.

Old Flame Secondhand & Vintage

101 E. Water St. The newest addition to the First Street pre-owned scene, Old Flame stocks clothing, jewelry, and homewares from 15 to 20 vendors, including the sibling owners’ own line, Lucky T Thrift, which they’ve amassed from estate sales, storage unit buyouts, and Facebook Marketplace (aka they’ve done all the dirty work).

Neon Soul (above)

100 W. South St. #1C Owner Annie Drury lends her creative eye (she also works as an interior and photo set designer) to each of the pieces she stocks in her Pink Building shop, creating unexpected lewks in boundary-pushing color and pattern combos, and upcycling pieces with embroidery, beading, and other one-of-a-kind details.—CH

At Skooma Boutique Dispensary, we specialize in offering premium, Virginia-compliant hemp flower and recreational hemp derived products that deliver elevated experiences with style and care. Located on the Historic Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Skooma is your destination for high-quality, federally legal hemp goods — including top-shelf flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vapes, and more. 90

434-328-8573 301 E. Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia

skooma.com

FINALIST

BEST CBD/MEDICAL MARIJUANA VENDOR

SHOPPING

Shelf life The bookshop is dead. Long live the bookshop.

here’s a black-and-white photograph of Paul Collinge hanging over the doorway at Ginkgo Bookshop. It

EZE AMOS

looks like the kind of picture you keep of a dead relative. But Collinge is not dead; he comes in almost every day. When Molly Canipe asked him whether it felt strange to walk under a memorial portrait of himself, Collinge said, “It prepares me for what’s next.” What was next, it turned out, was four undergraduates. Collinge had run Heartwood Books at 5 Elliewood Ave. for 50 years, and when he decided to retire to a smaller rare-book trade next door, it looked like the big shop would retire with him. Max Fleisher, then still a rising thirdyear University of Virginia student working the register, asked if he might take it over, and Collinge said, well, no. “Which was the

logical answer,” Fleisher admits. But Fleisher kept working, learning the business, and meanwhile recruiting Canipe, Miles Miskill, and Margot Ross to his secret ambition. They put together a real proposal and eventually won Collinge over. Even after the outside funding they had hoped for fell through, they persisted, putting up their own money for the security deposit, the first month’s rent, and the books themselves, and they got themselves a credit card reader. On January 1, the day after Heartwood closed, Ginkgo opened. Then the work began. Jackson Landers, who runs Daedalus Bookshop downtown, taught them how to build bookcases

with shelves that angle slightly upward, so the books down low don’t get overlooked. They’re moving books by night, clearing the front of the shop for jazz nights and punk shows (all proceeds to local nonprofits). They’re learning to wrap dust jackets in mylar. They’re handing out the Wi-Fi password and pouring the occasional cup of coffee so students can sit and work, and maybe eventually buy a book (though many don’t). They’re inviting their professors and bonding with neighborhood business owners over their vision for a renewed Elliewood. They know the conventional wisdom. “We’ve read The New York Times articles—our generation isn’t drinking or reading or doing anything fun,” Canipe says. “We all know that.” But they’re betting against the pessimists. It’s a surprising thing to see undergraduates investing so much in a place they’ll soon leave. Canipe just graduated and moves to Indonesia this fall. Fleisher and Miskill will graduate in the spring, leaving Ross to carry the torch. Their intention was never to land themselves a permanent bookselling job in Charlottesville. Ginkgo will instead be a nonprofit run by a rotating board of students. “This is such a special place for students because it’s other students who run it,” Fleisher says—not 20-somethings who used to be students, not their TAs, but other students like them. They’re working overtime now so that the next group of students will have the hardest work behind them (“so they don’t have to also be part-time carpenters”) and the playbooks they’ll need to keep the shop running. Like Collinge, they’re preparing for what’s next.—BDH

Thanks for voting VMDO as Best Architecture Firm.

CHARLOTTESVILLE OFFICE 200 East Market Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 WASHINGTON DC OFFICE 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 7000

Celebrating 50 years of connecting people and place through design.

Washington, DC 20006 vmdo.com | 434.296.5684

KP VOTED BEST REALTOR® IN TOWN thanks to you!

I'm a Charlottesville local and a mom of five, so I know this town at street level - which neighborhoods have kids riding bikes until dinner, which commutes look easy on a map but aren't. I've helped first-time buyers, growing families, people relocating for work or military orders, and everyone in between. And because I've raised my own crew here, I don't just know the market - I know what it feels like to build a life here. My job is so much more than contracts and keys. It's making sure that when the dust settles, you look around and think, yes, this is home. Wherever you are in the process, reach out. I'm honored to be your local real estate expert and built-in friend here in Charlottesville, Virginia. What an honor it is to have been voted Best of Cville in Residential Real Estate! I’m thankful to serve our local community.

ATIE

EARL

CHARLOTTESVILLE REALTOR®

Mom of Five | Relocation Expert | Neighborhood Matchmaker

434-270-0950

katiepearl@kw.com katiepearlhomes

Built Around the Way You Live.

RUNNER-UP

BEST CONTRACTOR T H O U G H T F U L LY D E S I G N E D C U S T O M H O M E S

w w w. c v i l l e b u i l d e r s . c o m 94

hello@cvillebuilders.com

SER

VICES

STORIES BY: Carol Diggs Shea Gibbs Caite Hamilton Catie Ratliff Susan Sorensen

Activist/humanitarian  Apartment community  Architecture firm  Artisan (for the home)  Bank  Barbershop  Bereavement services/funeral home  Car repair shop  Cleaning service  Computer repair/IT company  Continuing education  Contractor  Custom printing  Day spa  Electrician  Flooring store  Hair removal  Hair salon  Heating/AC  Homebuilder  Home health/hospice services  Home inspector  House painter  Insurance agent  Interior designer  Internet provider  Landscaping/hardscaping company  Lawyer or law firm  Marketing/graphic design studio  Massage  Medical spa  Mortgage lender  Nail salon  Natural hair services  Nonprofit  Overnight stay  Personal styling  Pet services  Photography services  Place of worship  Plumber  Property manager  Real estate agent  Real estate company  Roofer  Renovation/remodeling company  Senior living community  Solar company  Tailor  Tattoo/piercing studio  Tax prep  Travel planner  Veterinary clinic  Wealth management company TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Cheers to all the Best of C’ville winners and finalists!

Thank you to all my clients and community for the support of both my family and business. We couldn’t have asked for a better realtor. From start to finish, Paul went above and beyond in every possible way. His professionalism, attention to detail, and tireless work ethic truly set him apart. He helped us stage and prepare our home for stunning listing photos that made a huge impact — and he made the entire process feel smooth, clear, and stress-free. More than that, he was kind, honest, and incredibly easy to work with. He treated our home like it was his own and always had our best interests at heart. It’s rare to find someone who brings both such warmth and such sharp professionalism to the table. As a veteran, Paul brings a sense of integrity and dedication that is both evident and inspiring. We are beyond grateful for everything he did for us, and we can’t recommend him highly enough. If you’re lucky enough to work with him, you’re in excellent hands. - Stephanie K Paul is an outstanding realtor! He is incredibly knowledgeable in all aspects real estate and has outstanding knowledge on finance and what’s happening within our communities. Paul goes waaaay above and beyond for his clients! He helped with so many home selling aspects that he did not have to but he did because that’s just who Paul is. He is honest and straightforward and does not hesitate to give honest feedback. He is an absolute professional and I would highly highly highly recommend Paul for your buying and selling needs! You’re the BEST Paul! - Michelle I.

Price Drop!

Under Contract

1544 Sawgrass Ct

434.305.0361 Complete 1st floor living, lg MBR & BA w/laundry.

pdmcartor@gmail.com paulmcartor.montaguemiller.com/575169 paulmcartorrealtor.com Hardwoods on main floor. Gourmet kitchen & loft open to LR. Outside patio. $410,000

Open House

2142 Avinity Loop

WINNER

Sunday 1-3 pm 2808 Magnolia Dr

Beautifully upgraded 4 BR townhouse w/mountain views! Open floorplan, perfect for entertaining with private patio. $365,000

Peace & tranquility less than 15 minutes from Downtown! Enjoy this wonderful house on over an acre with beautiful mature trees. $469,900

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paulmcartor.montaguemiller.com/577468

Buyers & Sellers!

Paul was amazing. He was recommended by a friend in the area. From starting our search to looking at houses to the closing process, he was with us every step to help. He communicated through any medium we needed including email, text or call. Any questions we had nt in 6 days!in a very ractanswered Co were Under and timely manner, we had a lot of questions since we were to be first time house owners. When we eventually have to sell, he’ll be the one we call.

434.305.0361

Call Me Today!

WINNER

pdmcartor@gmail.com FINALIST HONORABLE MENTION

GE T YO UR HO ME

RUNNER UP

- Erin C. 2357 Middle River Rd

Come enjoy the peace and tranquility of your own lake front retreat! Single floor living home includes both MB & laundry on the main floor. $240,000

paulmcartor.montaguemiller.com/576182 BUYERS & SELLERS ! ice Drop! N e w L is ti n g CALL MEPr TODAY!

2024

WINNER

350 OLD IVY WAY STE 200 CHARLOTTESVILLE VA 22903

S E RV IC ES

READERS' PICKS!

A fixture in the community

ACTIVIST/HUMANITARIAN

Allison Spillman Kari Miller (International Neighbors) APARTMENT COMMUNITY

Reserve At Belvedere

liveatbelvedere.com

Lakeside Apartments

liveatlakeside.com

ARCHITECTURE FIRM

VMDO Architects vmdo.com

Alloy Workshop alloyworkshop.com

ARTISAN (FOR THE HOME)

Alex Pettigrew

pettigrewwoodworks.com

Christy Baker (GreenYellowBlue) greenyellow.blue

BANK

UVA Community Credit Union uvacreditunion.org

Bank of America bankofamerica.com

BARBERSHOP

Chung’s Barber Shop

chungs-barber-shop.poi.place

Lee’s Barbershop CONTINUED ON PAGE 99 TRISTAN WILLIAMS

FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES, local folks knew who to call with their plumbing problems: Mr. Faucet. From his first forays into pipes and toilets, Mr. Faucet gradually branched out to become a general bathroom handyman. And his success was all word of mouth (and lately, Nextdoor). “I never had to advertise,” says Mr. Faucet, aka Patrick Crowley. “If you do a good job, you get on that

referral list, and it just grows and grows.” Back in 2002, Crowley wanted something different than his career in sales. So, at age 51, Mr. Faucet was born. Early on, a profile in The Daily Progress gave him the tagline he’s used ever since: “Mr. Faucet stops leaks.” Crowley (at times with his son Daniel) has worked in new homes, old homes, and mobile homes in neighborhoods all over

the area. He’s earned a reputation as a responsive, dependable, and affordable guy (“My clients keep telling me I should charge more,” he admits). But 25 years of crawling under sinks has taken a toll on his knees, so Crowley is retiring. He has two people to whom he can refer former clients, and they are, of course, guys he trusts. “When you want a plumber,” Crowley says, “it’s all about expertise and reliability.”—CD

THANK YOU

for nominating

VNB!

It's all about people ... and always will be.

Learn more at VNB.com. 98

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BEREAVEMENT SERVICES/ FUNERAL HOME MULTICATEGORY WINNER!

Hospice of the Piedmont hopva.org

Hill & Wood Funeral Service hillandwood.com

CAR REPAIR SHOP

Peacock Auto Service

peacockautoservice.com

Bob’s Wheel Alignment bobswheelalignment.net

CLEANING SERVICE

Rudy’s Rug Cleaning rudysrugcleaning.com

The Cleaning Company thecleaningcompanyva.com

COMPUTER REPAIR/ IT COMPANY

Top Notch

topnotchcomputers.com

PJ Networks Computer Services pj-networks.com

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Piedmont Virginia Community College pvcc.edu

UVA School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies scps.virginia.edu

CONTINUED ON PAGE 103

SUPPLIED PHOTO (TOP), FILE PHOTO (BOTTOM)

Trivia pursuits FOR 10 YEARS, DEBRA WEISS WORKED AS A game-show producer at a company that provided a network of live, online trivia games in bars, hotels, and restaurants. So when Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle wanted to pivot from an adult spelling bee to a different annual fundraiser, Weiss had some ideas. “I know a lot about live multiplayer games,” she says, “and was pretty confident I could come up with something appealing for Literacy Volunteers,” which helps immigrants, refugees, and native-born adults improve their reading, writing, English, and U.S. citizenship skills. Nearly two decades later, Wordplay, a team-based competition that’s held every spring at The Paramount Theater, continues to be the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser. And Weiss, who does all the research, writing, and presentation creation for the evening, isn’t slowing down. It takes about four to six months

to design the event, she says. “But I’m always thinking about it. There are usually seven or eight rounds and 10 to 15 questions per round.” When she encounters a “tidbit,” she tries to come up with 10 more similar things, and “then I know I have a round.” She recalls looking at coins and noticing that all the heads except Lincoln’s faced the same way. “How many times have I seen coins and not noticed that?” Weiss wondered. “So I started looking for other things we see a lot. Like the Statue of Liberty. Does she hold the torch with her left hand or her right hand? I have done a round like that twice, and it’s really fun.” But Worldplay isn’t just about facts and trivia, Weiss says. “It’s about broad, general knowledge of the world around us. … It’s my contribution to raising money and awareness for an organization that does something I care deeply about.”—SS

BIN THERE, DONE THAT Not to stress you out, but have you peeked inside your garbage can lately? It’s gross. Months of trash crumbs and leaky bags have built up and baked in the hot sun. Charlottesville Bin Cleaners aren’t bothered—the cleaning company rolls up to the curb and hits that stinky can with 200-degree pressurized water to remove odor-causing germs and bacteria. One less thing to worry about.—CH

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Consistently chosen year after year as a finalist for Best REALTOR® in the Charlottesville Area!

KATELYN MANCINI REALTOR®, ABR, GRI, RRS, CSA 703-203-3388 katelynmancini.com

2025-2021 Office Top Producer 2023 CAAR Sales Associate of the Year Top 1.5 % of Agents Nationwide

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John Smith, CIC bearinginsurance.com

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“Thank you for consistently voting me one of Charlottesville’s best insurance agents!” 101

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 99

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

CONTRACTOR

NOLA Build & Design nolabuilds.com

Charlottesville Area Builders cvillebuilders.com

CUSTOM PRINTING

T&N Printing t-nprinting.com

Blue Ridge Graphics brgtshirts.com

DAY SPA

Silver Lining Day Spa silverliningdayspa.com

The Spa at Keswick Hall keswick.com

ELECTRICIAN

Robertson Electric robertsonelectric.com

W.E. Brown, Inc. webrown.com

FLOORING STORE

Carpet Plus

carpetplusonline.com

Floor Fashions of Virginia floor-fashions.net

HAIR REMOVAL

The Brow House waxcharlottesville.com

Signature Medical Spa signaturemedspa.com

HAIR SALON

MU CATE LTIG WINN ORY ER!

Moxie Hair Lounge moxiehairlounge.com

Elevate Salon + Spa elevatesalonva.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 105 TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Grrrl power SALLY ROSE IS A FIGHTER. AS A MUSICIAN, they front the defiant rock band Shagwüf. As an activist, they’re a vocal supporter of marginalized communities. They’re also, like, an actual fighter. In 2019, Rose fused their love of martial arts and feminism into Fight Like a Grrrl Club, a nonprofit organization offering free self-defense workshops in Charlottesville and beyond. Inspired by the 2013 disappearance of Alexis Tiara Murphy in Nelson County, Rose and martial arts expert Joshua Copson embarked on the project just two years after the 2017 Unite the Right Rally and just as COVID-19 began springing up around them.

The idea was that self-defense could be more than just fighting back against assailants. It could be empowering for people who felt powerless. Seven years after its founding, the club’s hosted 58 workshops in nine cities for at least 830 attendees. “We are still going strong!” Rose says. “We’re hyperaware that violence is prevalent.” Rose thinks F.L.A.G.’s message is as important now as it’s ever been. In its seven years of existence, the club has doubled the size of its board and is now training new instructors to offer more programming, including for verbal de-escalation and safety planning. The effort has been helped by multiple grants and countless grassroots donations.—SG

WINNER

Best Marketing & Graphic Design Studio Thank you for choosing us four years in a row, Charlottesville!

HOSPICE/HOME HEALTH & BEREAVEMENT SERVICES

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

(434) 817-6900 | hopva.org Caring for those navigating serious illness, dying and grief. 104

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Lighting the way How Charlottesville is supporting its immigrant neighbors

mmigration has long been an expensive and confusing process in the United States, something made more stressful by the ongoing crackdown on pathways and people. At a difficult moment in immigration history, Charlottesville-based organizations have found routes to protect some of our community’s most vulnerable neighbors. Since launching as an independent nonprofit in January 2026, Camino, a former Charlottesville Albemarle Bar Association pro bono project, has focused its efforts on connecting vulnerable immigrant youth with legal and everyday resources. Founded by immigration activist Kristin Clarens, Camino works entirely on Special Immigrant Juvenile cases. All of Camino’s clients are pursuing SIJ Status, an immigration pathway for children who are unable to reunite with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment in their country of origin. Many come to Charlottesville to rejoin a parent, or other relative, from whom they were previously separated. “We’re really focused here on getting … what’s called the predicate order, that’s the part that we’re kind of teed up to do en masse,” says Camino founder Kristin Clarens. “We’re scaling up our operation every week, seeing more kids. … The goal is to use the existing network we have to identify these kids, connect them with pro bono attorneys at this first stage, and then help refer them on at the second stage.”

TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Organizations including the Legal Aid Justice Center successfully lobbied for Virginia to raise the age limit for SIJS to 21 years old, a change that took effect July 1. Camino has around 20 clients ranging from 4 to 20 years old. “We have a really high success rate with these cases,” says Clarens. “That, truly, is more a testament to the courts and the pro bono attorneys.” Tanishka Cruz, who has worked in local immigration law for years, recently exited private practice to serve on the bench for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the 16th Judicial Circuit. She is the first Latina judge to serve on the bench. Two of her former clients, both of whom received SIJS and eventually green cards, spoke at her May 2026 swearing-in ceremony. Cruz and Clarens previously collaborated on pro bono work. For Camino, Cruz’s appointment is exciting not just because of the familiar face, but also her fluency in Spanish. Most of Camino’s clients speak Spanish as a first language, making Cruz’s ability to explain court proceedings in that language invaluable. But Camino’s work with these children and their families doesn’t stop at the courtroom door. Amid a turbulent federal immigration climate and a multiyear backlog for SIJS visas, Camino is focusing on immediate support for its clients by matching them with everyone from tutors to physicians to drivers’ ed instructors. “If it enriches the value of my [own children’s] lives … then we’re hoping to replicate those

Kristin Clarens and Tanishka Cruz (below) have each spent years helping Charlottesville’s immigrant community navigate the legal system.

forms of support and energy for these kids as well,” Clarens says. “If you have a family and you’ve relied on a type of service provider, then we’re trying to build our team of that type of service provider, so that these kids get the best standard of care that we can offer in our community.” With her decade of experience in the pro bono space, Clarens has amassed a network of volunteers ready to work with these children and their families. Any remaining gaps reflect a communitywide shortage rather than a lack of people willing to work with Camino.—CR

BEST OF C-VILLE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 103

HEATING/AC

Albemarle Heating & Air albemarleheating.net

The Otter Guys calltheotterguys.com

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

HOMEBUILDER

NOLA Build & Design nolabuilds.com

Southern Development Homes southern-development.com

HOME HEALTH/ HOSPICE SERVICES

Hospice of the Piedmont

M CAT ULTIE WIN GORY NER !

hopva.org

Trinity Hospice trinityhospice.com

HOME INSPECTOR

Alex Rayfield (Virginia’s Choice Home Inspections) vachoiceinspections.com

Tim Robinson (WIN Home Inspection) wini.com

HOUSE PAINTER

Rachael Karpo (The Singing Painter)

facebook.com/thesingingpainter

TIE! P&C Painting & Tom Breeden EZE AMOS

Singing Painter Rachel Karpo hits all the right notes, never misses a spot, and earns your vote for best house painter.

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INSURANCE AGENT

Beth Towe Heck (Towe Insurance Service) toweinsurance.com

Gary Albert (State Farm) garyalbert.com

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Stushek Design stushekdesign.com

Nina Crawford (MSS Design) You say Terrie Godfrey of Salon 7 is the bestest for your tresses.

INTERNET PROVIDER

MASSAGE

NATURAL HAIR SERVICES

Ting

Silver Lining Day Spa

Firefly Fiber Broadband

Oasis Day Spa & Body Shop

Salon 7 Natural Hair & Braiding Suite

ting.com

fireflyva.com

silverliningdayspa.com/home.html

oasisspacville.com

facebook.com/terrieg1hair

Stone Fox Wellness and Beauty Project stonefoxproject.com

LANDSCAPING/ HARDSCAPING COMPANY

Dos Amigos Landscaping

dosamigoslandscaping.com

Van Yahres Tree Company vytc.com

LAWYER OR LAW FIRM

Tucker Griffin Barnes tgblaw.com

Royer Caramanis rc.law

MARKETING/GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO

MEDICAL SPA

Nua Medical Spa nuamedspa.com

Signature Medical Spa

signaturemedspa.com

MORTGAGE LENDER

Jamie Yowell (Bank of the James) bankofthejames.bank

Katie Shiers (Guild Mortgage)

branches.guildmortgage.com

NAIL SALON

Tips & Toes

Hive Creative Group

tipsandtoesnailsalon.org

Katie Cox Consulting

weisnailandspa.com

hivecreativegroup.com

EZE AMOS

Wei’s Nail and Spa

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! N IN W

NONPROFIT

CharlottesvilleAlbemarle SPCA caspca.org

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry cvillefoodpantry.org

OVERNIGHT STAY

Keswick Hall keswick.com

Boar’s Head Resort boarsheadresort.com

PERSONAL STYLING

Styled In Worth styledinworth.com

Crystal Napier (Renee’s Boutique) reneesboutiquellc.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 110

MU CATE LTIG WINN ORY ER!

Nothing but Insurance since 1934.

WINNER

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

WINNER BEST PROPERTY MANAGER

2024

RUNNER-UP

Marigold Residential Management is a family owned & operated Property Management Brokerage offering full service Residential Management to Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Our team provides comprehensive services including tenant placement, maintenance coordination & financial reporting while keeping our property owners & tenants in the loop every step of the way!

1135 Rose Hill Drive, STE #100, Charlottesville info@marigoldmgmt.com

434-917-7079 www.marigoldmgmt.com

108

Towe Insurance Service, Inc. – Local, Independent, Trusted. We are family-owned, soon to bring on the 4th generation! We are a full-service independent insurance agency committed to advocating for our clients. So, while we sell insurance plans, more importantly, we’re in the business of building lasting relationships and offering sound advice and guidance for whatever direction life takes you. Towe Insurance Service, Inc. has served the greater Charlottesville area with integrity and dependable service for over 90 years. We have locations in C-ville, Ruckersville and Appomattox Virginia.

Auto Insurance • Home Insurance Business Insurance • Life Insurance

434-295-5191 304 E. Jefferson Street Charlottesville, VA 22902

434-985-7654 8726 Seminole Trail #3 Ruckersville, VA 22968

www.toweinsurance.com

WINNER BEST ROOFER

Your local roofing partner, trusted, proven, committed. For more than 25 years, Roof Top Services has proudly served homeowners and businesses throughout Charlottesville and the surrounding communities. As a locally owned and operated company, we’ve built our reputation one roof at a time through exceptional craftsmanship, dependable service, and a commitment to doing every job right. We believe in honest recommendations, quality materials, and treating every property with the care and respect it deserves. Whether you need a minor roof repair, a complete roof replacement, or a roofing solution for your commercial property, our experienced team is ready to help. • Roof Repairs • Complete Roof Replacements • Commercial Roofing

Our Services

• Asphalt Shingle Roofing

• Standing Seam Metal Roofing • Flat Roofing Systems

• Cedar Roofing • Slate Roofing • Preventive Roof Maintenance

When you choose Roof Top Services, you’re choosing a company that lives here, works here, and stands behind every project long after the work is complete. Experience the difference of working with a local roofing company that’s been earning the trust of our community for more than 25 years.

Call today for your FREE estimate! Quality Roofing. Honest Service. Lasting Protection.

434-975-2051

www.rooftopservicesva.com 109

BE ST OF C-V I L L E

New metal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 107

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

PET SERVICES

CASPCA

Local blacksmith Edward Pelton finds art in industry

caspca.org

Old Dominion Animal Hospital

olddominionanimalhospital.com

PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES

Alisa Foytik (PuraPhoto) puraphoto.com

Sarah Cramer Shields sarahcramershields.com

PLACE OF WORSHIP

Congregation Beth Israel cbicville.org

The Point Church thepointva.com

PLUMBER

The Otter Guys calltheotterguys.com

W.E. Brown, Inc webrown.com

PROPERTY MANAGER

Marigold Residential Management marigoldmgmt.com

Braden Property Management bradenproperty.com

REAL ESTATE AGENT

Katie Pearl (Keller Williams) katiepearlrealtor.com

Brentney Kozuch (Story House Real Estate) storyhousere.com

lacksmithing is an ancient craft, but metalworker Edward Pelton has carved out a modern niche during his three decades in the studio. Pelton Metalworks produces architectural sculpture ranging from the functional to the ornate for contractors and designers, homeowners, and art aficionados. Pelton, who lives in the Charlottesville-area home where he grew up, spoke to C-VILLE about finding his way to the trade for which he was destined.

C-VILLE: You’re in a trade that seems to be dwindling. Is that a concern? Edward Pelton: I would push back on that and put forward the idea that the rarer something is, the more valuable it becomes. My oldest daughter, who’s a business major, told me that around 1900 there were 236,000 blacksmiths employed in America. Within about 20 years, that dwindled to about 12,000. But while the Industrial Revolution mechanized what we would traditionally call a black-

smith, people like me, in our own niche way, are flourishing. How did you learn the trade? I owe a great debt to people like Nol Putnam, Tom Joyce, and Francis Whitaker. The generation before me rediscovered the knowledge required for blacksmithing and rescued it for the next generation. What about blacksmithing is appealing to you? I basically walked into a blacksmith shop in the early ’90s and never left. JACK LOONEY

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I fell in love with the ring of the anvil and the smell of the coal right from the get-go. Over 30 years, it’s never occurred to me to leave. When you work with clients, do they have a design in mind, or do you get to be creative? It happens both ways. I often get a drawing from an architect, but I like to say that 85 percent of the design is done on the face of the anvil. A two-dimensional drawing on paper is not real. I also have private clients who come to me with ideas and ask, “What do you think?” Those are the times when I get to do the bulk of the designing. But I almost always have creative involvement on a practical level. Function always comes first. It can’t just be pretty. If it’s a table, it can’t shimmy. If it’s a railing, it has to take lateral thrust. If it’s a gate, it has to swing. What’s your favorite thing to make? The short answer is gates. I have a love/hate relationship with railings. It’s incredibly satisfying when a complex railing is done, but it’s a different mindset. With gates, you have this big, beautiful palette. For some reason, that’s the thing that really resonates with me. Do your pieces fit better in traditional homes than they do in modern homes? I think that’s one of the misconceptions about blacksmithing. Forge work can be amazingly sculptural and ornamental, but it can also be contemporary and clean. I have one particular customer that always says to me, “I don’t want any curlicues.” The thing is, I think blacksmithing is actually pretty good for you. The movement and the fact that I stay on my feet has generally been good for me. Plus, I’m engaged in something that, even now, I still love.—SG TRISTAN WILLIAMS

LADIES ONLY There’s work, there’s home, and then there’s…a third place. Third Place Thursdays offers a monthly gathering built around a simple idea: a space beyond home and work. Hosted at Bar Botanical by Lynsie Steele, the meetup invites women to drop in, connect, and share experiences. The 6pm start is loose by design—arrive, order via QR code, and settle into conversation shaped by whoever walks through the door.—CH

REAL ESTATE COMPANY

ROOFER

Nest Realty

Roof Top Services

Story House Real Estate

Cenvar Roofing

rooftopservicesva.com

nestrealty.com

cenvarroofing.com

storyhousere.com

nolabuilds.com

Alloy Workshop alloyworkshop.com

Tiger Solar tigersolar.com

Sun Tribe

suntribesolar.com

RENOVATION/ REMODELING COMPANY

NOLA Build & Design

SOLAR COMPANY

MULT CATEG IO WINNERRY !

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

WestminsterCanterbury of the Blue Ridge westminstercanterbury.org

The Colonnades

sunriseseniorliving.com

TAILOR

Yady’s Alterations

yadysalterations.com

Kim’s Alteration CONTINUED ON PAGE 113

INTENTIONAL HAIR

C U S TO M C O LO R

K-T I P E X T E N S I O N S

Building Your Business by Building Your People Human Capital is your most important asset Learn how to hire right, train right, lead, manage and motivate your Team with RSTMM®

w w w. mya m et h o d .c o m

Residential Inspections Commercial Inspections Structural Inspections

info@corporateconsulting.com

Virginia’s first choice for home inspections We believe that you deserve the very best. Founded by a licensed Structural Engineer (P.E.), we bring unparalleled expertise and excellence to the inspection process. Our mission is to bring peace-of-mind through thorough and quality inspections, unwavering dedication to the client and task at hand, and vital education to the homeowner leaving them feeling empowered moving forward.

(434) 202-6420 vachoiceinspections.com Alex Rayfield, P.E. WINNER BEST HOME INSPECTOR

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a Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Virginia specializing in structural engineering, and a Virginia licensed home inspector.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 111

TATTOO/PIERCING STUDIO

Acme Tattoo and Piercing

acmetattooandpiercing.com

Magnolia Tattoo Studio magnoliatattoostudio.com

TAX PREP

Huey & Bjorn Tax & Accounting hueybjorn.com

Wills and Associates willscpas.com

TRAVEL PLANNER

Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters peacefrogstravel.com

Skye’s the Limit Vacations skyesthelimitvacations.com

VETERINARY CLINIC

Old Dominion Animal Hospital

olddominionanimalhospital.com

Georgetown Veterinary Hospital gvhvets.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Morris & Wells Wealth Management morrisandwells.com

Taylor Associates (Northwestern Mutual) taylorassociates.nm.com KARI LAMB

HOOKED ON A FELINE When Kari Lamb tried to coax Foster, Piedmont CASA’s resident skittish stray cat, closer to her one afternoon, she had an aha moment: This is what foster-care children often go through. “Despite the compassion and consistency offered … some kids remain understandably hesitant to trust or connect,” says Lamb, the nonprofit’s recruitment and training coordinator. And that’s what prompted her to write Foster: the CASA Cat, a children’s book “that uses our cautious, beloved office cat [of 10 years] as an allegory for the emotional journey of children in foster care.”—SS

SOLD!

Start with a trusted local REALTOR®. JENNIFER VON REUTER 434-400-9835 jvonreuter@mcleanfaulconer.com

FA R M , E S TAT E A N D R E S I D EN T I A L B RO K ER S

Rooted in service. Driven by innovation. Architecture with lasting impact. 802 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville,VA 22902 434-806-8365 www.designdevelopllc.com

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VA 22902

cville.weekly Rooted in service. Driven by innovation. Architecture with lasting impact. 802 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville,VA 22902 434-806-8365 www.designdevelopllc.com

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@cvilleweekly

Five years.

One incredible honor. Endless Gratitude.

Because of you, we've been voted Charlottesville's Best Veterinary Hospital for the fifth year in a row. Every wagging tail, every happy purr, every nervous first puppy visit, every difficult goodbye— you've trusted us to care for the pets who mean the world to you. That trust is something we'll never take for granted. Thank you for making us part of your family.

WINNER BEST VETERINARY CLINIC

PERSONALIZED, PASSIONATE, PROFESSIONAL CARE. 811 PRESTON AVE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. 1263 PARKVIEW DRIVE CROZET, VA.

434-971-3500 434-823-4300 115

nt e m n g i l A l e e h W s Bob’

BEST CAR REPAIR SHOP

Alignment Specialists VA state inspection Foreign and Domestic vehicles

Featuring

Family owned and operated since 1981

(434) 296-4523 923 E. Market Street • M-F 8-5 • FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

Thank You ! To our homeowners, trade partners,

neighbors, friends, and Charlottesville

community for voting us Charlottesville’s BEST Local Homebuilder in the Best of Cville! We are honored to be a favorite local homebuilder and extremely proud of the relationships we have built. - Your Builder, Your Neighbor www.southern-development.com

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND SUPPORT CELEBRATING THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF BEST OF C-VILLE RECOGNITION

TRIPP DUERSON, CFP®

GARY TAYLOR, CFP®

MICHAEL JOYCE, CFP®

Clarity About the Future Leads to Confidence Today Proud to support families and businesses throughout Virginia!

TAYLORASSOCIATES.NM.COM | (434) 295-2700

CHARLOTTESVILLE: 215 Wayles Ln, Ste 200, Charlottesville, VA 22911, LYNCHBURG: 409 Court St, Suite A, Lynchburg, VA 24504 Members of Taylor Associates use Taylor Associates as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group is a select group of NM advisors and representatives. Taylor Associates and Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group are not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency, federal savings bank or other legal entity. Investment advisory and trust services are offered through Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and a federal savings bank. CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, AND CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list research and ranking provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Based upon data as of June 30th of the preceding year. Forbes Best-in-State Top Financial Security Professionals list research and ranking provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Based upon data as of December 31st of the preceding year. Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams research & ranking provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Based upon data as of March 31st of the preceding year. Northwestern Mutual and its advisors do not pay for placement on 3rd party rating lists but do pay marketing fees to these organizations to promote the rating(s). Rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success. Best of C-VILLE published August 2026. Results were determined by online nomination and votes in June 2026. No compensation was provided to participate.

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WINNER

Sadie's Rules K9 Training Helping your dog be the best behaved member of the family

Leadership, Respect, Trust jess@sadiesrulesk9training www.sadiesrulesk9training.com sadiesrulesk9training

FINALIST

BEST PET SERVICES

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3 Communities. 1 Commitment to Excellence.

HONORED TO BE VOTED

YEAR AFTER YEAR! Discover three award-winning, resort-style, non-undergrad apartment communities located across Charlottesville. One tour may just change your address!

runner-up

first place

BEST APARTMENTS

Lakeside Apartments liveatlakeside.com 434-984-5253

The Reserve at Belvedere liveatbelvedere.com 434-296-6200

Carriage Hill Apartments carriagehillapts.com 434-971-8439

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OPEN HEARTS. OPEN MINDS. STRONG VALUES.

We are grateful for YOUR VOTE as Charlotteville’s best place of Worship 2026! Whether you’re Jewish, have a Jewish partner or spouse, are raising Jewish children, or are interested in learning more about Judaism, Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) is a place for you! CBI was founded in 1881 and is Virginia’s oldest continually operating synagogue. We are a vibrant, growing Jewish community in which people can study, worship, socialize, and share in helping others. CBI strives to address the spiritual needs of a diverse membership with a broad range of religious, educational, social action, and community events for people of all ages. At CBI, we focus on joy, connection, learning, spirituality, and deep engagement with Jewish traditions and culture in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Learn more at WWW.CBICVILLE.ORG

Inside. Outside. Home. Get an up-close look at the best homes, landscapes and architecture in our area. PUBLISHED QUARTERLY

FU N F OR AL L MEANS... N A TURE E XP LO R ATION O UTDO O R A CTIVITIES CO M M UNITY E V ENTS AF F O RD ABL E R E C R E AT I O NAL & F I TNE S S PRO GRAMS F O R ALL AGES AND AB I L I T I ES 120

W W W .CH A R L O T T ESV IL L E.G O V / P A R K S AND RE C

Discover the Recipe for Healthy Aging at Commonwealth Senior Living at Charlottesville

Healthy aging doesn’t happen by coincidence. It happens by design. At Commonwealth Senior Living, the recipe for a vibrant life begins with purposeful engagement and meaningful connections. These key ingredients help add a little spice to everyday life, inspiring residents to stay active, build lasting relationships, and savor each day with confidence and purpose.

Is your loved one ready to spice up their life? Schedule a Day in the Life and get a taste of the lifestyle we offer. 434-510-8055

Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care 1550 Pantops Mountain Place, Charlottesville, VA 22911

www.CommonwealthSL.com

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DESIGN Store & StudioMia - Downtown Mall Goldsmith van Beek Redesign

formiadesign.com 420 e. main st. charlottesville, vavan22902 Master Goldsmith Mia Beek established Formia® Design in 2004. Together with her daughter Josephine she runs a small jewelry studio in the heart of Charlottesville.

434-981-8389 info@formiadesign.com Custom

After 37 years of experience in her trade, she specializes in custom fine jewelry design and wearable art with a full-service work shop.

420 E. Main St. 434-981-8389 info@formiadesign.com

RUNNER-UP BEST JEWELRY STORE

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DINGS

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STORIES BY:

Carol Diggs

Caite Hamilton

Cakes and desserts  Caterer  Ceremony musician  Event rentals and management  Florist  Hair stylist  Makeup artist  Pre-wedding activity  Proposal spot  Rehearsal dinner venue  Transportation  Wedding music  Wedding photographer  Wedding planner  Wedding venue (large)  Wedding venue (small) TRISTAN WILLIAMS

HUNTER AND SARAH PHOTOGRAPHY

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WINNER

2024

RUNNER-UP

WINNER

BEST CAKES & DESSERTS

WINNER

W E DDINGS

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READERS' PICKS! CAKES AND DESSERTS

Cake Bloom cakebloom.com

Albemarle Baking Co.

albemarlebakingco.com

CATERER

Harvest Moon Catering hmcatering.com

The Catering Outfit cateringoutfit.com

CEREMONY MUSICIAN

The Bloom Trio thebloomtrio.com

Charlottesville High School Band cvillebands.com

EVENT RENTALS AND MANAGEMENT

MS Events

mseventscville.com

Festive Rentals festiverentals.com

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

Small big day

FLORIST

Hedge Fine Blooms

hedgefineblooms.com

Willow Branch Flowers flowerswillowbranch.com

HAIR STYLIST

MULTI CATEGO WINNERRY !

Moxie Hair Lounge moxiehairlounge.com

Posh Bride

poshbrideva.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 127 AMY MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY

GETTING MARRIED HAS BECOME A REASON to go all out with a huge event—often the bigger the better. For couples who want to celebrate their commitment without months of decision-making and a five-figure price tag, Albemarle CiderWorks has developed a less-is-more option: your very own microwedding. This year, on June 6, the cidery hosted its inaugural Day of I Do’s, celebrating the big day for two venturesome couples. It’s the complete package: Each couple had their own 30-minute slot for vows under the peach orchard arbor, officiated by local interfaith minister Rev. Kate Adamson; their own reception tent for a small group of family and besties; a professional photographer, so no one got delegated to

cell phone camera duty; and a mini wedding cake and bottle of cider. Total tab: $750. Then, the couple and their guests were welcome to stay for an afternoon of live music. If this sounds more like your dream wedding than the extravaganzas on Instagram, Albemarle CiderWorks plans to hold a similar Day of I Do’s in November. Manager Effie Nicholson says she did event planning for large-scale weddings in a previous position in Northern Virginia, and saw “lots of stress and lots of waste.” She hopes A Day of I Do’s will become a regular offering. “I’d love to see this idea picked up in more places,” she says, “so people have a more affordable option.”—CD

Exposed brick, candlelight, and view of Belmont set the scene for romance at The Local, your pick for best rehearsal dinner spot.

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MEREDITH COE PHOTOGRAPHY

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MAKEUP ARTIST

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On the record

Posh Bride poshbrideva.com

Moxie Hair Lounge moxiehairlounge.com

PRE-WEDDING ACTIVITY

Veritas Vineyards and Winery veritaswines.com

SunPins

sunpins.fun

PROPOSAL SPOT

Shenandoah National Park Keswick Hall keswick.com

REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE

The Local

thelocal-cville.com

The Wool Factory thewoolfactory.com

TRANSPORTATION

Albemarle Limousine

albemarlelimousine.com

Easy Riders Bus Company easyridersbuscompany.com

WEDDING MUSIC

Big Ray and the Kool Kats

bigrayandthekoolkats.com

Prime Time Event Group

pteventgroup.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 133 EZE AMOS

IMAGINE THAT AN AVERAGE DAY IN YOUR JOB includes processing felony criminal cases, civil legal actions, deeds, mortgages and refinancings, wills, concealed-carry permits—and marriages. When people ask what you do, what would you say? Llezelle Dugger’s response: “I’m Clerk of Court for Charlottes ville Circuit Court.” “There are 850 duties in the job description,” she says. Previously an attorney in the public defender’s office, Dugger is finishing her second elected eight-year term as Clerk. Can one person handle all that paperwork? She has a staff of eight, many of whom are deputized to sign for the Clerk’s office. When it comes to marriage licenses (last year the Charlottesville court issued 746), Dugger says she likes to sign them if she’s

available, or if the people getting married are friends or relatives. And she made sure to execute the first marriage licenses issued in Charlottesville for samesex couples—“I signed six of them the first day [it was allowed].” In Virginia, couples can get a marriage license from any court in the state, but they have to get married in Virginia and return the license signed by the officiant to the court that issued it. Dugger says couples sometimes go off on their honeymoon and forget that step, which causes surprises (and more paperwork!) later on. And don’t fudge what you attest under oath to the clerk. Dugger points out that in Virginia, perjury and bigamy—if you’re applying for a marriage license—are both felonies.—CD

FLOWERSWILLOWBRANCH.COM @WILLOWBRANCHFLOWERS 128

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12 PASSENGER TRANSIT LIMOUSINE

The Transit Limousine has all the luxury you have come to expect from a standard limousine, but with enough room for everyone. This is the perfect vehicle to enjoy Charlottesville’s many wineries and breweries with friends and family.

47–55 PASSENGER MOTOR COACH

The Motor Coach is the largest vehicle type in our fleet. We have two sizes of Motor Coach, 47 Passenger and 55 Passenger, both of which are ideal for large groups. These vehicles enable you to transport a significant number of passengers at one time

Thibaut-Janisson was born from a long friendship that began in a Grand Cru village in the Champagne region of France and continues today in Blue Ridge Mountains of Charlottesville, Virginia. Thibaut-Janisson Winery | Charlottesville, Virginia (434) 996-3307 | claude@tjwinery.com

25 PASSENGER MINI BUS

Our Mini Buses are great vehicles for medium sized groups. These 25 Passenger vehicles, with their large viewing windows and individual seating, are a great way to tour the local area or shuttle guests from one location to another.

RUNNER UP

RUNNER-UP

2024

RUNNER-UP

BEST TRANSPORTATION

Call Us at:

(434) 973-5466 (888) 725-5466 (LIMO) www.ambassadorlimos.com

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FINALIST

W E DDINGS

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Edible delights “I

Cakes by Rachel designs sweet goodies to make your special day special

was fond of my Easy-Bake Oven as a child,” admits Rachel Willis. So it’s not a big leap to learn that she grew up to become founder, owner, and chief baker of Cakes by Rachel. There was a little preparation along the way. Willis attended the New England Culinary Institute and spent several years cooking in France before settling in Charlottesville in the early 1990s. Over the next 15 years, she worked at Metropolitain, was opening chef at Continental Divide—where her Red Hot Blues, Santa Fe Enchilada, and tuna tostada remain on the menu— and served as sous chef and executive chef at The Clifton, as well as chef at L’Avventura. The next big change came in 2007, when Willis and her husband had their first child. “I thought I would do some small-scale catering from home— that would offer more flexibility [while my son was young],” Willis says. “A friend asked me to make her wedding cake and I thought, ‘Okay, I can do that.’ And then someone else asked …” And Cakes by Rachel was born. Willis ran the business from her Crozet home until 2015, when she purchased a nearby cottage to house the growing operation. She later added Laura Grice, a UVA studio arts graduate, and Laurel Fortier, a Hokie and home baker who helps keep the business running smoothly. “We do make other things, but wedding cakes are the core of our

3 CATS PHOTOGRAPHY

business,” says Willis. “Handling weddings takes a specific structure as a business, and requires booking very far out. But we will do jobs for special occasions, and have offered a selection of sweets for Valentine’s Day for the last 10 years.” Making the leap from chef to baker required a shift in mindset. “Baking uses a different part of your brain,” Willis says. “Cooking

is a lot about being in the moment, flexing with the ingredients—you can add and change as you go along. Baking takes more mental discipline—it’s more precise. Everything has to be part of the plan from the get-go.” While making a cake requires patience, baking for weddings is an organizational and performance challenge.

“It is sort of an extreme sport,” Willis says. “My motto is, there is no ‘almost’ in wedding cakes.” Still, the creative side is what she loves most. It starts with getting to know clients—their tastes, style, backgrounds, and expectations. “We love to personalize,” she says. “Basically, we’re a customer service business, and you get a cake at the end!” Cakes by Rachel tries to source ingredients locally whenever possible. The bakery specializes in filled cakes featuring seasonal fruit compotes made fresh for each order, while also offering vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Beyond the ingredients, wedding cake trends are constantly changing. “There are few things trendier than wedding cakes,” Willis says with a laugh. Sugar flowers remain popular, as do vintage-inspired cakes decorated with bows and ornate piping. More recently, couples have embraced millefoglie, an Italian dessert made with layers of puff pastry, vanilla custard, and fresh fruit. Then there are groom’s cakes, where tradition often goes out the window. Willis has created cakes resembling everything from a giant pistachio statue to a steak, a mountain, a burger and fries, a beaver, and a Scrabble board. “I’m very grateful to be able to spend every day creating,” says Willis. Whether it’s three tiers decorated with macarons or a smiling giraffe, you can only wonder what’s next.—CD

RUNNER-UP

BEST WEDDING MUSIC

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 127

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Meredith Coe Photography

meredithcoephotography.com

Jen Fariello Photography jenfariello.com

WEDDING PLANNER

Hannah Rose Design

hannahroseeventdesign.com

Little Acorn Events littleacornevents.com

WEDDING VENUE (LARGE)

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards pippinhillfarm.com

King Family Vineyards kingfamilyvineyards.com

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

WEDDING VENUE (SMALL)

Potter’s Craft Cider potterscraftcider.com

Hardware Hills Vineyard hardwarehills.com

BE GOOD In a town with no shortage of picturesque places to pop the question, Shaniece Bradford offers a way to take things up a notch: personalized picnics. Just Be Picnic offers an intimate experience for two (or a group—for pre-wedding parties!) anywhere you can think of: your home, Airbnb, favorite park, or local winery. Bradford, whose mission is to help people “just be,” handles everything, from the pillows to the candlesticks (and, of course, the picnic blanket).—CH

COLLECTED OVER TIME When Erin Kinsey launched her wedding planning business in 2020, she became immersed in celebrations—and noticed how trends can make weddings feel similar. That realization led to Skylark Vintage, her Afton-based mobile bar cart. Inspired by Stevie Nicks, the venture blends softness and edge through curated vintage details. Kinsey renovated the trailer herself and offers customizable experiences, with flexible booking, travel, and plans to expand with a champagne wall.—CH SUPPLIED PHOTOS

B E S T C AT E R E R providing quality food & service at area venues and our flagship downtown location, The Bradbury

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winery, brewery, kitchen.

Natalie Jayne Photography

t h e t a s t in g ro o m a nd ta p ho use a t

mo unt ida reser ve

Located just south of downtown Charlottesville, the Tasting Room + Taphouse is situated atop Mount Ida’s

3,000 acre Reserve. We are unique, in that we offer both a brewery and vineyard experience in our tasting room. Each of our small production wines and innovative craft beers pair with our culinary offerings.

mountidareserve.com

@mountidareserve 135

Charlottesville Area Transit Your Local Fare-Free Public Transit System 12 Routes & MicroCAT make getting around Charlottesville easy and stress-free.

100%

FAREFREE!

Just hop on and ride. It’s that simple. No ticket, no pass, no payment needed! Fixed-Route Buses and MicroCAT are Free to Ride!

How to Ride Fare-Free Transit in Cville With the ETA SPOT app, you can see where your bus is, bookmark your favorite routes, and discover route alternatives. Find a link to our app on our website at CatchTheCAT.org or search in your phone’s app store for “ETA SPOT”. Visit CatchTheCAT.org and select “CAT Schedules & Maps” from the left-hand column on the home page. Once the page loads, choose from a variety of options, including our downloadable fixed-route schedule, accessible real-time route map, convenient trip planner, and more! Plan Your Trip with Apple Maps or Google Maps. Enter your destination, then select the transit train icon to see available CAT routes, bus stop locations, and walking directions to and from each stop. Call CAT’s real-time arrival line at (434) 970-3649 and press 0. When prompted, enter the 5-digit bus stop number associated with your stop. If you don’t know your stop number or need assistance, press 3 to reach CAT customer service. MicroCAT is our on-demand, shared ride service. Book your ride by downloading the MicroCAT app, or call 434-442-2466 to schedule a trip by phone.

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KIDS &

FAMILY

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STORIES BY:

Nathan Alderman

Caite Hamilton

Catie Ratliff After-school activity  Daycare  Family photographer  Kids’ clothing store  Kids’ menu  Kids’ park  Kids’ sports league  Music lessons  Pediatrician  Place for first ear-piercing  Place to buy a birthday gift  Place to throw a kid’s birthday party  Play space  Preschool  Private school  Summer camp  Tutoring or learning center TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Motherhood Family Maternity Newborn Weddings Ch a r l ot te s v i l l e, Virg in i a

RUNNER-UP

B e s t Fa mi l y Photo g raph er

AmyMitchellPhotography.com

USE THE QR CODE ABOVE TO BOOK

For nearly 10,000 families * in our region ** working 40+ hours/week isn’t enough. United Way of Greater Charlottesville helps local, working families access high quality childcare, personal financial services, and more on their journey towards becoming not only financially stable, but resilient. DONATE TO HELP US EMPOWER LOCAL FAMILIES TO THRIVE AT UNITEDWAYCVILLE.ORG/DONATE

*Source: United Way of Greater Charlottesville FY2025 Annual Report **United Way of Greater Charlottesville’s service region includes Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange

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K ID S & FAMILY

READERS' PICKS!

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Sharing lesson

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY

IMULT RY O CATEG ER! N IN W

The Scrappy Elephant scrappyelephant.com

STEAM Discovery Academy steamda.com

DAYCARE

Early Learning Center (Piedmont Family YMCA) piedmontymca.org

Rita’s Bright Beginnings

ritasbrightbeginnings.com

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Graceful Perceptions gracefulpics.com

Amy Mitchell Photography

amymitchellphotography.com

KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE

Kid to Kid kidtokid.com

Whimsies

whimsieskids.com

KIDS’ MENU

Brazos Tacos

MULTI CATEGO WINNERRY !

brazostacos.com

Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery threenotchdbrewing.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 141 BOO AGEE

Sunrise Elementary students put in the miles for the Walkathon, its PTO’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AREN’T CREATED EQUAL. Neither is their funding. Charlottesville’s new citywide PTO aims to even out those highs and lows. “Our school parents are just spread pretty thin,” says Emily Harding, a PTO leader at Summit Elementary. Recent redistricting means Summit’s pupils come from newly housing-dense neighborhoods, but the school’s funding hasn’t kept up with that surge in students. And with parents often facing food insecurity, employment struggles, or language barriers, “our PTO does not have the same bandwidth as even the next closest school,” Harding says. “We were raising around $4,000 a year, and there was another school in town raising upwards of 20,” she says. “What you can do for your teachers, or what you can do to help with field trips or school supplies, it’s gravely different between the schools.”

The City-wide PTO Fund, relaunched for the 20252026 school year after a yearlong pandemic-era pilot, pools donations from across Charlottesville, then parcels out funds based on how each school’s number of economically disadvantaged pupils differs from the city’s average. It supplements, not replaces, what’s raised by the schools’ existing PTOs. And it provides a convenient one-stop donation spot for companies and organizations that might otherwise juggle multiple contributions to different schools. The fund’s first disbursement of around $20,000 in February 2026 included more than $2,700 for Summit. That’s helping to fund snacks for hungry kids, buses for field trips, and supplies for teachers. “A teacher just came in asking for microscopes for her fourth graders, mainly in preparation for next year,” Harding says. “We got them today. We dropped them off immediately. And I mean, she cried.”—NA

The Front Porch is instrumental in keeping Charlottesville in tune, earning your vote for best music lessons.

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KIDS’ PARK

Pen Park Bennett’s Village Treehouse bennettsvillage.org

KIDS’ SPORTS LEAGUE

SOCA

socaspot.org

Central Little League centralll.com

TIMULGORY E CAT NER! WIN

MUSIC LESSONS

The Front Porch frontporchcville.org

Blue Ridge Irish Music School brimstunes.org

PEDIATRICIAN

Paige Perriello (Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville) charlottesvillepeds.com

Heather Roberts Quillian (UVA Health) uvahealth.com

PLACE FOR FIRST EAR-PIERCING

Rowan

heyrowan.com

HONEY, LET’S GO OUT In 2022, the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project conducted a survey of 2,000 straight married couples and found that 83 percent of wives and 84 percent of husbands who had regular date nights were very happy in their marriages, compared to 68 percent of wives and 70 percent of husbands who did not have regular date nights. Heed the data and take advantage of the Virginia Discovery Museum’s regular date night opportunities: For less than the cost of a babysitter, the children’s museum will take your kid off your hands while you go to dinner. You’ve been warned.—CH

Acme Tattoo and Piercing acmetattooandpiercing.com

PLACE TO BUY A BIRTHDAY GIFT

Shenanigans shenanigans.toys

O’Suzannah osuzcville.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 143 SUPPLIED PHOTOS

FLIGHTS SO FANCY There’s only one thing kids like better than juice: many juices. And at Eastwood Farm and Winery, while you’re sipping on a tasting of its Governor’s Cup award-winners, your little one can enjoy a sampling of her own with the winery’s popular juice flights. The $5 lineup includes fruit punch, grape, apple, and berry lemonade (and a few extra minutes of peace while you swirl, sniff, and sip).—CH

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Perception s

Tutoring or Learning Center

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BEST SUMMER CAMP THANKS FOR A GREAT SUMMER!

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Academic Success Health & Well-Being

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Generous donations from our community help keep membership costs affordable at only $15-$35 per year.

Show your support today!

Experience Edutainment! At STEAM, we cultivate a passion for all aspects of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Activities are presented by combining education and entertainment, allowing students to learn concepts through play. Students learn to think on their feet, evaluate challenges, and experiment their way to solutions.

Our programs are designed to nurture leadership from the inside out— empowering students to build confidence, strengthen communication, practice teamwork, set meaningful goals, and develop real resilience. Leadership isn’t just taught here—it’s lived every day.

STEAM Incubator • (434) 987-3918 206 Albemarle Square, Charlottesville, VA, USA www.steamda.com

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Pediatric Associates of CharlottesvillePLC Office Hours By Appointment Evening & Weekends until 9pm Urgent Care Available One of Our Physicians On Call After Hours Onsite Lactation Consultant Downtown Office & | 296-9161 Adolescent Center | 971-9611 1011 E. Jefferson St

Open 365 Days A Year until 9pm

West Office 2411 Ivy Rd | 296-8300 North Office 29N at Hollymead (1522 Insurance Lane, A) | 974-9600 ZION CROSSROADS OFFICE 71 Jefferson Court off I-64 Exit 136 I 540-406-4100

CharlottesvillePeds.com

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Comprehensive care from infancy to young adulthood WINNER

Paige Perriello

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

K ID S & FAMILY

Heat beaters

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PLACE TO THROW A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY IMULT RY O CATEG ER! WINN

The Scrappy Elephant scrappyelephant.com

Get Air Trampoline Park

Where to find spray grounds: Belmont Park 725 Stonehenge Ave. Forest Hills Park 1022 Forest Hills Ave. Greenleaf Park 1598 Rose Hill Dr. Benjamin Tonsler Park 500 Cherry Ave.

getairsports.com/charlottesville

PLAY SPACE

Wildrock wildrock.org

Get Air Trampoline Park

getairsports.com/charlottesville

PRESCHOOL

CBI Forest School cbiforestschool.com

St. Anne’s-Belfield School stab.org

PRIVATE SCHOOL

St. Anne’s-Belfield School WHEN SUMMER SCORCHES CHARLOTTESVILLE, the city’s spray grounds provide an excellent antidote to record highs. Located in four public parks, these structures gush, dump, and drizzle H2O to keep kids and their parents cool. Admission is free, everyone’s welcome, and the parks are open every day from 10am to 7pm, from May 16 through September 20.

Unlike pools, spray grounds pose no drowning hazards, making them safer for tiny toddlers and not-quitestrong swimmers. Worried about water waste in drought conditions? The city says each park collects, cleans, and reuses its water for maximum efficiency. Just remember to bring a good sunscreen, since there’s little to no shade around the water features themselves.—NA

stab.org

Tandem Friends School tandemfs.org

SUMMER CAMP

Triple C Camp tripleccamp.com

The Living Earth School livingearthva.org

AIR TIME Charlottesville skaters go deck to deck each fall during a length and height tournament at the Charlottesville Skate Park. Competitors test their speed and lift for prizes and bragging rights, while spectators enjoy free food and a brisk fall evening. In 2025, Mohamed Nour claimed the top spot, clearing eight decks with a high Ollie to set a new event record. Organizer Edgar Batcheller says skateboarding “provides kids, teens, and adults a great outlet.”—CH RON PARIS (LEFT), TRISTAN WILLIAMS (RIGHT)

TUTORING OR LEARNING CENTER

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia bgclubcva.org

Crozet Speech & Learning Center

crozetspeechandlearning center.com

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here.

WEAR LOCAL. READ LOCAL. WEAR LOCAL.

At St. Paul’s, Ivy Episcopal Church, you’ll find a welcoming community where you can belong, grow, and serve. Through meaningful worship, inspiring music, fellowship, outreach, and programs for all ages, there’s a place for everyone here. Whether you’re new to the area, returning to church, or simply searching for connection, we invite you to come as you are and discover a community rooted in faith, hope, and love.

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K ID S & FAMILY

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Locally sourced From student rep to school board member, Zyahna Bryant on her journey with Charlottesville City Schools

o say Zyahna Bryant is active in the Charlottesville community is an understatement. At just 25 years old, Bryant has (among other achievements): written a petition that helped spark a nationwide reckoning with Confederate monuments, served as a high-school student leader, been a youth representative to City Council, and, most recently, become the youngest person elected to the Charlottesville City School Board. At the start of the 2026-27 school year, C-VILLE spoke with Bryant about her passion for local education. C-VILLE: How did your experience as a kid growing up in Charlottesville and Charlottesville City Schools prepare you to serve on the school board? Zyahna Bryant: I think that being from this community gives me a deeper connection to the work. … I am deeply invested in wanting to see all students thrive and wanting to see all students have equal and equitable access to a quality education. I know that I would not be where I am academically, professionally, without Charlottesville City Schools. Being the great niece of two of the first 12 students to integrate schools here in Charlottesville makes it even more personal. … I come from a lineage of people who dared to see something better, to see some-

EZE AMOS

thing greater to be a part of a larger collective action toward ensuring that all students had access to an equitable and equal educational experience. Do you hear a lot from students as the youngest member of the board, especially compared to your peers? How does the experience of current CCS students mirror your own? I love hearing from students. Something that mirrors my own experience is that we still have issues with equity. We still have achievement gap issues, and Charlottesville City Schools is not the only school division that’s facing this challenge. … I don’t think there’s any singular person or singular administration to blame for that. I think that this is a long, deep structural issue. What’s different is that we have a superintendent who is interested in listening and doing the work and being creative and innovative in the ways that he addresses these topics. … Dr. Gurley is very co-creative, and he’s willing to hear what board members think, and [what] community members think, [what] parents think. That community engagement is very different from what I experienced when I was in CCS, so I think that there’s a real opportunity to continue making positive change for our students and our community.

You bring the experience of a lifelong Charlottesville resident to the board. Has it allowed you to engage with the community in any new ways? The biggest way that I’ve been able to shift my engagement is … to be on the inside and to help shape policies and protocols that can actually help students. It’s one thing to give a public comment and to send an email, but it’s another thing to actually be on the inside and to still have that community knowledge and to be a part of helping to make the decisions. I’ve been really intentional about continuing to prioritize being out in the community. … I don’t think that you can do local government well without being

in the local community, and I think that the best way to be able to make the best decisions is to be present and to show up. Do you have a favorite local event that you’ve enjoyed this year? West Haven Community Day. I think it’s a great opportunity to see so many community organizations come together, neighbors coming together, folks from across our community. I’ve been going to West Haven Community Day since I was young, so it’s something that I definitely look forward to. It’s your traditional block party. It’s a great time, there’s good music, good laughter, good vibes. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.—CR

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@cville.foodie.......................................... 24 @dank_cville............................................ 24 91.1 WTJU.................................................. 24 91.9 WNRN................................................ 24 Aberdeen Barn......................................... 71 ACAC.....................................................39, 41 Acme Tattoo and Piercing........113, 141 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Charlottesville.......................................... 25 Albemarle Baking Co....................57, 125 Albemarle Dermatology Associates......41 Albemarle Heating & Air.....................150 Albemarle Limousine...........................127 Alex Pettigrew.......................................... 97 Alex Rayfield...........................................105 Alisa Foytik..............................................110 Allison Spillman....................................... 97 Alloy Workshop.................................97, 11 Alyssa Wacharamai................................ 57 Amy Mitchell Photography.................139 AquaFloat.................................................. 49 Asado Wing & Taco Company............. 73 Avalon Dental........................................... 41 Bang!....................................................59, 68 Bank of America...................................... 97 Bar Botanical.....................................19, 29 Barbeque Exchange............................... 57 Beer Run..................................................... 68 Bellair Farm............................................... 62 Bennett’s Village Treehouse...............141 Bent Theatre............................................. 25 Best of C-VILLE......................................... 25 Beth Towe Heck.....................................107 Big Ray and the Kool Kats..................127 Birdwood................................................... 45 Biscuit Run Park...................................... 45 Bizou............................................................ 62 Black Cow Chophouse........................... 71 Blue Mountain Brewery.................57, 65 Blue Ridge Barbell................................... 45 Blue Ridge Cyclery.................................. 83 Blue Ridge Graphics.............................103 Blue Ridge Irish Music School......41, 141 Boar’s Head Resort...............................107 Bob’s Wheel Alignment......................... 99 Bodo’s Bagels....................................57, 68 Bold Rock................................................... 65 Botanical Plant-Based Fare.................. 59

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia......................................145 Braden Property Management...........110 Brazos Tacos.............................65, 71, 139 Brentney Kozuch...................................110 Brooks Family YMCA............................... 39 Burtons Grill & Bar.................................. 59 C&O Restaurant....................................... 62 Cake Bloom.............................................125 CarMax........................................................ 85 Caromont Farm........................................ 62 Carpet Plus..............................................103 Caspari........................................................ 89 Cassie Martinez....................................... 41 Castro Integrative Medicine................ 39 CBI Forest School..................................145 Central Little League............................141 Cenvar Roofing......................................111 Chamomile & Whiskey........................... 19 Chaps Ice Cream...................................... 63 Charlottesville Area Builders.............103 Charlottesville Ballet.............................. 41 Charlottesville Dental Associates....... 41 Charlottesville Dermatology............... 41 Charlottesville High School Band.......125 Charlottesville Orthodontics............... 47 Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia................. 19 Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.................................................107, 110 Chung’s Barber Shop............................. 97 Circa...............................................83, 85, 89 Club Pilates................................................ 47 Community Bikes.................................... 83 Congregation Beth Israel....................110 Crozet Speech & Learning Center.......145 Crush Pad Wines..................................... 89 Crystal Napier........................................107 Daedalus Used Bookshop.................... 85 Darling x Dashing Boutique..........85, 89 Dee Keller................................................... 45 Deirdre Donovan..................................... 41 Denise Stewart......................................... 24 Devils Backbone Distilling Co.............. 65 DOMA Korean Kitchen........................... 63 Dos Amigos Landscaping...................107 Downtown Mall........................................ 62 Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie............................... 65

Dürty Nelly’s............................................. 24 Early Learning Center..........................139 Eastwood Farm and Winery.........63, 73 Easy Riders Bus Company..................127 Elevate Salon + Spa..............................103 Eliza Whiteman........................................ 49 Emily Huffstetler..................................... 45 Ethos Wine & Tea..................................... 68 FARMacy Food Truck.............................. 62 Feast!........................................................... 85 Fence mural.............................................. 29 Festive Rentals.......................................125 Fifth Season Gardening........................ 85 Fight Like A Grrrl Club........................... 45 Firefly Fiber Broadband......................107 Firefly Restaurant + Game Room.............................................19, 25, 29 Fleurie......................................................... 62 Floor Fashions of Virginia..................103 Flow Automotive..................................... 85 Flowergirl Cville....................................... 83 FlyDog Yoga.............................................. 49 Fontana Mercury..................................... 24 Foods of All Nations............................... 85 Formia Design.......................................... 85 Gary Albert..............................................107 Georgetown Veterinary Hospital........113 Get Air Trampoline Park......................145 Glass House Winery & Brewery.......... 73 Goat Rodeo Comedy Co........................ 25 Graceful Perceptions............................139 Gracie Charlottesville............................. 45 Great Outdoor Provision Co................ 85 Greener Things CBD Dispensary........ 83 GreenYellowBlue...................................... 97 Grit Coffee.................................................. 59 Guajiros Miami Eatery........................... 57 Hannah Rose Design............................133 Hardware Hills Vineyard.....................133 Harvest Moon Catering.......................125 Heather Roberts Quillian....................141 Hedge Fine Blooms.......................83, 125 Heyday Antiques & Vintage................. 89 High Tor Gear Exchange........................ 85 Hill & Wood Funeral Service................ 99 Hive Creative Group.............................107 Högwaller Brewing................................. 57 Hospice of the Piedmont.............99, 105

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Hot Yoga Charlottesville........................ 49 Huey & Bjorn Tax & Accounting........113 “I Love CVille”........................................... 25 Ivy Nursery................................................ 85 Ivy Provisions........................................... 68 IX Art Park................................................. 29 Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint........ 59 Jamie Yowell...........................................107 Jefferson School African American Heritage Center................... 21 Jen Fariello Photography...................133 John Grisham........................................... 24 John Lindsey............................................. 57 Jojo McDuffie........................................... 47 Kanak Indian Kitchen............................. 63 Kardinal Hall......................................65, 68 Kari Miller.................................................. 97 Katie Cox Consulting............................107 Katie Pearl...............................................110 Katie Shiers.............................................107 Kelly Cox..................................................... 49 Kelly Owens............................................... 45 Keswick Hall...........................45, 107, 127 Kid to Kid.................................................139 Kim’s Alterations...................................111 King Family Vineyards..................73, 133 Lakeside Apartments............................. 97 Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria.................. 62 Lampo2GO................................................ 71 Lazy Parrot Backyard BBQ.................... 73 Lee’s Barbershop..................................... 97 Little Acorn Events................................133 Live Arts...................................................... 21 Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry............107 Luce............................................................. 71 MADabolic................................................. 45 Magnolia Tattoo Studio.......................113 MarieBette Café & Bakery.................... 57 Marigold Residential Management..........................................110 Market Street Wine................................. 89 Martin Hardware..................................... 85 MARU.......................................................... 63 Matthew O’Donnell................................ 29 McGuffey Art Center............................... 19 Meade Park............................................... 21 Meg West................................................... 21 CONTINUED ON PAGE 151

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IYKYK (Our “Mod Pod” now travels for weddings

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Meredith Coe Photography................133 Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard............... 73 Michael Henderson................................ 47 Michelle Heppner.................................... 39 Michelle Little........................................... 47 Michie Tavern........................................... 63 Milan Indian Restaurant....................... 63 Mill Creek Orthodontics....................... 47 Miller’s........................................................ 25 Mission BBQ.............................................. 57 Monsoon Siam......................................... 73 Monticello...........................................21, 24 Morris & Wells Wealth Management..........................................113 Moxie Hair Lounge............103, 125, 127 MS Events................................................125 Nest Realty..............................................111 New Dominion Bookshop.................... 85 Nina Crawford........................................107 NOLA Build & Design.........103, 105, 111 Now & Zen................................................. 71 Nua Medical Spa....................................107 O’Suzannah...............................85, 89, 141 Oasis Day Spa & Body Shop...............107 Oculofacial Surgery & Aesthetics...... 39 Old Dominion Animal Hospital.110, 113 Oratorio Society of Virginia................. 19 P&C Painting...........................................105 Paige Perriello........................................141 Patrick Darin............................................. 59 Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters............113 Peacock Auto Service............................. 99 Pearl Island Cafe & Catering................ 71 Pen Park...................................................141 Pet Supplies Plus..................................... 85 PetSmart.................................................... 85 Pi-Napo Pizzeria....................................... 65 Piedmont Virginia Community College........................................................ 99 Pineapples Thai Kitchen.................68, 73 Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards.............133 PJ Networks Computer Services........ 99 Plan 9 Music.............................................. 89 Posh Bride.....................................125, 127 Posture Studio Pilates & Physical Therapy...................................................... 47 Potter’s Craft Cider.........24, 63, 65, 133

Prime Time Event Group.....................127 Prolyfyck Run Crew................................ 41 Public Fish & Oyster............................... 68 pūrvelo cycle............................................ 41 Rachael Karpo........................................105 Ragged Branch Distillery...................... 65 Ramona & the Holy Smokes................ 19 Rapture....................................................... 24 Red Rose Pub............................................ 65 Reserve At Belvedere............................. 97 Rita Dove.................................................... 24 Rita’s Bright Beginnings......................139 Rivanna Roots Festival.......................... 21 Riverside Lunch....................................... 59 Robertson Electric................................103 Roof Top Services..................................111 Rowan.......................................................141 Royer Caramanis...................................107 Rudy’s Rug Cleaning.............................. 99 Ryan Trott.................................................. 21 Sally Rose................................................... 29 Salon 7 Natural Hair & Braiding Suite...........................................................107 Samantha Federico................................. 24 Sara Hegemier......................................... 47 Sarah Cramer Shields..........................110 Saunders-Monticello Trail..................... 49 Second Street Gallery............................ 19 Selvedge Brewing.................................... 57 Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital...... 39 Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters......... 59 Shenandoah National Park.........49, 127 Shenanigans...........................................141 Sidetracks Music..................................... 89 Signature Medical Spa...............103, 107 Silver Lining Day Spa.................103, 107 Sissy Spacek.............................................. 24 Skye’s the Limit Vacations..................113 SOCA..........................................................141 Southern Development Homes........105 St. Anne’s-Belfield School...................145 STEAM Discovery Academy...............139 Stephen Basic........................................... 47 Steve Rappaport...................................... 24 Stone Fox Wellness and Beauty Project.......................................................107 Story House Real Estate......................111 Stushek Design......................................107

Styled In Worth......................................107 SugarBear Gourmet Ice Cream........... 63 Sun Tribe..................................................111 SunPins.....................................................127 Sweeney Todd at Four County Players........................................................ 24 “Swing into Spring,” Albemarle High School Jazz Band.......................... 24 T&N Printing...........................................103 Tacos Gomez......................................62, 71 Tandem Friends School.......................145 Taste of China........................................... 59 Tavola............................................62, 63, 68 Taylor Associates...................................113 Ten................................................................ 71 The Alley Light...................................59, 68 The Beautiful Idea................................... 29 The Bloom Trio.......................................125 The Brow House....................................103 The Catering Outfit...............................125 The Center for Plastic Surgery at Sentara Martha Jefferson.................... 39 The Cleaning Company......................... 99 The Colonnades.....................................111 The Elderberry......................................... 39 The End Games........................................ 85 The Front Porch..............................24, 141 The Habitat Store.................................... 85 The Hidden Leaf...................................... 83 The Jefferson Theater............................ 24 The Jervey..................................................65 The Living Earth School......................145 The Local..................................................127 The Men’s & Boys’ Shop........................ 85 The Otter Guys.............................105, 110 The Paramount Theater........................ 21 The Point Church..................................110 The Red Lantern...................................... 59 The Scrappy Elephant....................19, 83, 85, 139, 145 The Southern Café & Music Hall........ 24 The Spa at Keswick Hall......................103 The Virginia Shop.................................... 85 The Wool Factory..................................127 Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery.........................................57, 139 Tiger Solar...............................................111 Tim Robinson.........................................105

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Timberwood Grill.................................... 65 Ting............................................................107 Ting Pavilion............................................. 24 Tips & Toes..............................................107 Tom Breeden...........................................105 Tom Tom Festival..................................... 25 Top Notch.................................................. 99 Trader Joe’s............................................... 83 Travis Burgess.......................................... 59 Travis Koshko............................................ 24 Trinity Hospice.......................................105 Triple C Camp.........................................145 Trivia with Olivia...................................... 29 Tucker Griffin Barnes...........................107 Tuel Jewelers............................................ 85 Twice Is Nice......................................83, 89 UP on the Rooftop at the Doyle Hotel................................................ 29 UVA Community Credit Union............ 97 UVA Health University Medical Center.......................................................... 39 UVA School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies...................... 99 Van Yahres Tree Company..................107 Vanessa Bullard....................................... 47 Veritas Vineyards and Winery..........127 Violet Crown Charlottesville................ 25 Virginia Andersen................................... 45 Virginia Discovery Museum................. 24 Virginia Film Festival.............................. 21 Vivace.......................................................... 63 VMDO Architects..................................... 97 W.E. Brown, Inc...........................103, 110 Walnut Creek Park.................................. 45 Wayne Fusco............................................. 39 Wayside Takeout & Catering.........63, 71 Wegmans................................................... 83 Wei’s Nail and Spa................................107 Well Room................................................. 49 “Well That Was Awkward”................... 25 Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge...................................111 Whimsies.................................................139 Wildrock...................................................145 Willow Branch Flowers.......................125 Wills and Associates.............................113 Women’s 4 Miler..................................... 41 Yady’s Alterations..................................111

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Rare air This past Presidents’ Day, the Rotunda played host to a genuine piece of American celebrity: a very rare surviving copy of the Declaration of Independence. UVA’s McGregor Dunlap broadside—one of just 26 known copies still around—was printed in Philadelphia in July 1776 and rushed across the colonies as the 18th century’s version of viral news. The copy itself had an unlikely journey, too: It was discovered wrapped around attic documents in the 1950s, arrived at UVA badly damaged, and was later painstakingly restored. Nearly 250 years after independence was declared, the broadside briefly stepped back into the spotlight as part of UVA250. 154 MATT RILEY / UVA COMMUNICATIONS

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