Share your harvest
As summer fades into fall, area food banks are looking for more ways to secure meals for Charlottesville’s neediest residents. Thankfully, local institutions are stepping up and finding creative ways to give back to the community.
Piedmont Master Gardeners, an organization dedicated to empowering people with the knowledge and skills required to grow their own produce, wants to share the wealth and reduce food waste at the same time. By connecting gardeners with food banks that accept homegrown fruits and veggies, the Master Gardeners ensure bumper crops and excess produce don’t end up as compost.
Ralph Morini, president of the organization, encourages home gardeners to plant an extra row at the start of the season, knowing that it will be put to good use. “It’s always satisfying to give what you grow,” he says. If you’re interested in donating your crop—or picking up some gardening tips—check out PMG’s website at piedmontmastergardeners.org.
If you want to give back while having some fun, check out Meals on Wheels’ Restaurant BINGO. Purchase a bingo card for $10, then visit participating local restaurants throughout September to get a square filled in. The more restaurants you go to, the better your chance to win: Every line you complete counts as one entry into the raffle. Plus, you can double your chances by posting a selfie from each restaurant on social media. Prizes include a full week in a Chesapeake Bay cottage or four tickets to a show of your choice at the Jefferson, but the real prize is the satisfaction of giving.
Sports fans, too, can get in on the action. The C’ville Buffalo Bills Backers Club is hosting a raffle in partnership with the Chris Long Foundation’s Waterboys. The foundation was created to help bring potable water to struggling communities in Kenya and Tanzania. Visit cvillebillsbackers.com and enter to win one of the signed team helmets up for grabs this year. All proceeds from this event go directly to Waterboys.
München on pumpkin
Party-lovers the world over were gutted to hear that Oktoberfest would once again be canceled thanks to the pandemic. Fret no more, revelers: Devils Backbone Brewing Company is here to make sure we can still celebrate with friends and family this fall. In addition to its, award-winning Vienna Lager, DB’s lineup includes O’Fest, a malty, golden ale, and München Pumpkin, a modern reimagining of German brews with a kick of pumpkin spice flavor. Cheers! (Or, as they say in Bavaria: Prost!)
Get schooled
Red Pump Kitchen has announced a series of limited-capacity cooking classes, offered once a month by Chef de Cuisine Brandon Ripberger. In September, students will learn how to knead tender ricotta gnocchi before sitting down to enjoy the meal they’ve prepared. “We have such a beautiful space here, and that makes it a great hands-on experience for everybody,” says Ripberger.
Book your reservation now for October’s Pizza 101, or learn how to make a chicken parm in November.
Feeling Mari-golden
World-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has touched down in Charlottesville, and his upscale eatery Marigold is now open at Keswick Hall. Marigold promises culinary excellence in an elegant and graceful setting. The restaurant, which has 130 indoor seats, 70 outdoor seats, and 20 barstools, features produce from its own farm, and locally sourced meat, fish, and dairy. Reservations are available via RESY.—Will Ham
Correction, 10/1: An earlier version of this story misstated Brandon Ripberger’s name.