Food + Beverage

Virginia Wines to Share This Season

Keswick Vineyard's winemaker Stephen Barnard on the perfect wine for autumn. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers Fall in Central Virginia is full of harvest flavors -- what wines do you think best capture the feeling of the season?  I am such a fan of Virginia wines. It’s a little cooler, colors are changing, so for me, a fuller-bodied white wine. I love Viognier -- Jefferson Vineyards makes a good one and King Family Vineyards’ [White Plains] has a blend...

Travel

Waterfront Views and Upscale Comfort

Experience a vibrant waterfront, top-notch restaurants, and a serene hotel retreat. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers If you dream of waking up to sparkling panoramic water views with access to amazing amenities, food, and drinks, look no further than the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore. Only a few hours away, this waterfront destination is a luxury spot with everything you need for a weekend getaway or a mid-week trip.  Situated in Harbor East, the...

Arts + Culture

Gratitude in Focus

Artist Stacey Evans reflects on gratitude and finding inspiration in seasons, light, and everyday moments. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Stacey Evans As a child growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, Stacey Evans says she was inspired by the scene through her bedroom window of hills, trees, cows, a pond where geese landed during migration, and the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now she brings similar landscapes and nature to life through her photography. What are you most...

Home + Design

Creating Joy with Fall Flowers

Karen Walker of Hedge Fine Blooms offers suggestions for filling your house with autumnal charm. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers Whether you’re looking to bring the colors of fall inside or you want to spruce up your Thanksgiving table, there are plenty of ways to add autumnal color to your home. Karen Walker of Hedge Fine Blooms suggests starting with seasonal flowers. “I really like the fan cockscomb and coral cockscomb, and of course the ever-amazing...

Life + Culture

Exploring Change, Capturing Culture

Michael O. Snyder captures Appalachia's evolving traditions and its people. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Michael O. Snyder Michael O. Snyder spent much of his younger life in Appalachia, where he took note of how the mining industry affected the land he called home. It was that inspiration that led him to pursue a career as an environmental scientist with an eye on tackling climate change. However, he ultimately pivoted to film and photography to marry his passion for affecting...

Life + Culture

The Gift of Community

How the Arc of the Piedmont builds inclusion, dignity, and opportunity for all. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers It was in the 1950s, a time when information about Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) was scarce, that a group of parents spearheaded the founding of Arc, an organization with a mission of supporting individuals with IDD. Since then, locations have opened around the country, and activists have worked diligently to push forward...

Arts + Culture

Music that Tells Stories

Lua Project turns community histories into music that bridges heritage and identity. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers Estela Diaz Knott and David Berzonsky met through music nearly three decades ago and have traveled extensively around the globe. One location that they've traveled extensively is Central America, from where Knott’s mother hailed before she moved to Appalachia, where Knott was raised. Both Knott and Berzonsky have Appalachian heritage as...

Food + Beverage

Where Culinary Craft Meets Community Growth

Inside Charlottesville's shared kitchen fueling food entrepreneurs' success Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers For several years, New Hill Development Corporation operated the BEACON (Black Entrepreneurial Advancement & Community Opportunity Network) Pilot Kitchen across the street from the James Monroe Library in Charlottesville. After helping a multitude of food entrepreneurs to start and build their businesses, New Hill looked to expand the operation...

Life + Culture

Family-Friendly Spots to Dine and Sip

Experience family dining redefined with charm, flavor, and thoughtfully designed spaces. Article by Maryury Padilla and Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers Charlottesville and the surrounding areas have a plethora of places where adults can settle in for food and drinks with children. However, there are a few that stand out as particularly ideal destinations, with entertainment or activities for little ones while grownups dine and sip. Keswick Vineyards This...

Food + Beverage

Butchery with Purpose and Care

Alex Import shares Stock Provisions' philosophy on sourcing and serving the community. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Alex Import and Jason Lappa How would you describe Stock Provisions’ philosophy when it comes to sourcing and preparing meats? For sourcing, it’s respect, nutrition, and quality. The respect -- it all starts with the ground, the earth, the ozone layer -- and treating that well. We have to respond to the canvas that we’re painting on. And that ties in with the...