Laura Foner, former executive chef at Duner’s Restaurant, opened Siren in the former Shebeen space, where she’s serving up Mediterranean cuisine with a seafood focus. Photo: Eze Amos
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Charlottesville has lost more than 20 restaurants. And while we mourn the losses, there’s plenty to be excited about, too. The year has seen 30 new restaurants and a bustling food court open. As we tally things up at the end of another tumultuous year, all signs point to a culinary comeback.
From well-established brands to visionary new ventures, there’s plenty to dig in to. But before we roll out the red carpet for our newcomers, let’s take a moment to thank the local spots that weren’t able to weather the slowdown, but still left a lasting impression on the culture and taste buds of our city.
Charlottesville staples Tokyo Rose and The Shebeen Pub & Braai closed their doors this year after a combined 29 years of service.
We lost some newbies in Kama, a modern Japanese venture, and Glaze Burgers and Donuts. And some hot spots have moved on in less permanent ways. Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria and Keevil & Keevil Grocery and Kitchen both offer online-only ordering, while hoping to get back to in-person service in the future. Moe’s Original BBQ closed its downtown branch, but continues serving Southern soul food at its Ivy Road location. Junction in Belmont has put its accessible Southwestern plates on pause. All these restaurants have been important cultural touchstones for the community over the years. (One, Tokyo Rose, even moonlighted as a goth nightclub).
The biggest foodie boon this year might be the opening of Dairy Market, a modern food hall that began serving hungry customers in December of 2020. With 16 eateries and two retailers, visitors can score a cone at Moo Thru, a burger at Citizen Burger Stand, lumpia at the food truck-turned-brick-and-mortar restaurant Manila Street, and mac ‘n’ cheese at Angelic’s Kitchen—or hit South and Central Latin Grill, an upscale, casual full-service restaurant. And across the street is Cou Cou Rachou, a new French bakery from pastry chef Rachel De Jong.
The Shops at Stonefield introduced Akira Ramen & Sushi and Torchy’s Tacos, and the “coming soon” Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery.
The Downtown Mall welcomed Crush Pad Wines, an intimate location to sample fine wines from all over the globe, and Café Frank, a casual eatery with a classic French style by the notable chef Jose de Brito. In addition, a familiar place got a new look when a rebranded Citizen Bowl became Lucky Blue’s Bar, with a menu update that keeps customer favorites intact.
Some old favorites offered new options this year. The Monsoon Siam team expanded to two new locations—in Crozet, Coconut Thai Kitchen boasts many of Monsoon’s popular dishes, and Pineapples Thai Kitchen is a welcoming bright spot in the former Timbercreek Market space in the Coca Cola building. Al Carbón added a second location at 5th Street Station.
Laura Foner. Photo: Eze Amos
The debut of Laura Fonner’s first restaurant, Siren, had food followers buzzing, as Fonner, the former executive chef at Duner’s Restaurant, revealed her culinary vision of Mediterranean cuisine with a seafood focus. Next to Siren, Vision BBQ offers classic smoky goodness and comfort sides from former Maya cooks.
Students on the Corner are enjoying new options at Inka Grill Peruvian Cuisine and Sammy’s On The Corner. You’ll find upscale dining at The Ridley (modern Southern cuisine), Keswick Hall’s Marigold by Jean-Georges (“rustic chic”), and The Wool Factory’s Broadcloth (elegance in a historic textile mill).
Finally, we have hearty sandwiches from Taste Shack and good ol’ surf sammys and baskets from Skrimp Shack—and love it or hate it, the new Chick-Fil-A is now open at the Barracks Road Shopping Center.
The Royal Ballet's broadcast of The Nutcracker features the fan-favorite magical growing Christmas tree. Supplied photo
On pointe: Christmastime favorite The Royal Ballet’s HD broadcast of The Nutcracker follows Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll as they battle the Mouse King, journey through the Kingdom of Sweets, and dance with a delightful array of characters. Tchaikovsky’s beloved music accompanies Peter Wright’s production of the Russian classic.
Thursday 12/30. $11–15, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Clown around: He’s tall, wears white face paint, and…he’s really sad. Puddles Pity Party features a morose seven-foot-tall clown with a hidden talent—he sings. Puddles’ booming baritone and operatic rendition of Sia’s “Chandelier” earned him a trip to the quarterfinals on the 12th season of “America’s Got Talent,” and his “Still Sequestered” streaming show has welcomed Jack Black, Howie Mandel, Patton Oswalt, and others. Puddles’ mostly mute live show mixes silent prop comedy, audience participation, and soulful renditions into an absurdly enjoyable evening.
Wednesday 12/22. $27–53, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Ever wanted to drink from a horse trailer? Now’s your chance: The Loaded Pony, a Staunton-based mobile bar, offers just that.
Combining her love of entertaining, creativity, and hospitality with a unique setting (a vintage 1960s horse trailer), owner Kimerly Crawford launched the business in 2019 after transforming the formerly pale pink structure into an elegant mobile bar.
Here’s how it works: Book your date (sooner rather than later, Crawford says) and Loaded Pony will help craft a menu that works with your event. The team offers beer, wines, and specialty cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic beverages like mocktails and coffee.
“We specialize in perfecting custom craft cocktails for your big day using fresh ingredients and custom simple syrups,” Crawford says. “And we offer personalized menu recommendations.”
Make it your own: Loaded Pony also offers add-ons like a 6-foot whiskey barrel bar, vintage ice tubs, and other décor.
“Our goal,” says Crawford, “is to be your best pour decision.”
As if offering guests a delicious cookie wasn’t enough, these three bakers up the ante with flawless custom designs. They make a great wedding favor, certainly, but you might also consider them for a fancy day-of treat while getting ready, an addition to welcome bags for guests, or an addition to a “Will you be in my wedding party?” care package. Whatever you decide, don’t forget to share (a few).
Carrie Lilly Cookie Co.
@carrielillycookieco
While planning a baby shower for her sister, Carrie Lilly kept noticing adorable themed cookies on Pinterest. “I thought, ‘These are amazing. I have to have something like this for this shower,’” she says. Trouble was, none of the local bakers in her hometown were able to do such a thing. So she decided to do it herself.
Down the rabbit hole she went, until she found herself with a full-on business decorating sugar cookies. Her signature flavor, vanilla almond, sells for $45/dozen.
Jaclyn’s Cookies
jaclynscookies.square.site
A scientist by trade, Jaclyn Shaffer always had in mind that she’d bake full-time and stay home with her children. She started her company while working for a biotech company, but the dream became a reality in 2013 when she moved to Crozet.
Each batch—custom-designed for every client to suit the look and feel of their event—starts at $55/dozen. Shaffer says she finds it hard to pick a favorite set she’s made, but that “most of my favorites involve some sort of floral element.”
One Creative Cookie
onecreativecookie.com
The OG of local cookie-decorating companies, One Creative Cookie specializes in everything from decorated cookies (with its signature vanilla-almond glacé icing) to printed cookies (read: sugar cookies with your engagement photo or custom wedding crest printed on its top).
Owner Kelly Trout estimates that she bakes anywhere from 250 to 750 each month, with the bulk of the baking in April to June and September to December (aka, order in advance!). More than a decade into her business, she says, “I’m baking and decorating more cookies per week than I ever would have thought possible.”
New weddings-and-more venue The Bradbury is open for business on the Downtown Mall—and the team behind the new spot is a who’s who of weddings and events experts: Harvest Moon Catering’s Mark Hahn, Ken Notari, and Anne Peterson, photog Sarah Cramer, Just a Little Ditty’s Dickie Morris, and Second Line Business Management’s John Spagnolo.
The group came together when heralded restaurant Prime 109 met its untimely demise last year due to the pandemic. Morris says she and Hahn had been talking for some time about creating a “venue collective,” and the newly opened spot at 300 E. Main St. checked their boxes.
“It’s just a beautiful space, and Mark put together a great group of like-minded people,” Morris says.
The Bradbury venue proper, which the group named after the architect who designed the building, offers room enough for a standing party of about 250 or 140 for a seated dinner. Hosts can also book the gallery space abutting the venue in the Vault, giving them at least another 150 standing or seated.
The planning supergroup has not made their new venue’s price list publicly available, but Morris assures it’s in line with similar event spaces.
In addition to booking events now—not just weddings but rehearsals, brunches, birthday celebrations, graduation parties, work gatherings—the group intends to launch a café in the space in front of the Vault. It’ll be a place “you could just come in through the front door and grab a coffee or a sandwich,” Morris says. The team has not yet decided on the café’s hours and offerings but is targeting a November 2021 opening.
“We are really trying to get more traffic through the space because it’s such a beautiful centerpiece,” Cramer says. “We would love to get more people enjoying that space, and not just for events and gatherings.”
Morris and Cramer say they know event hosts have many options in Charlottesville, but they think The Bradbury offers several things most other venues don’t. Harvest Moon provides their in-house catering, and they have a pastry chef onsite, a central downtown location, and a “breathtaking” main events room—not to mention that group of experienced planners bringing different expertise areas to the table.
“We all work together beautifully,” Cramer says. “We’ve worked together for such a long time, and we love it. This space just sounded like a fantastic idea. We love Charlottesville—all of us. We want to give back to the community and be a part of it.”
No doubt it’s fun to flip through magazines and gather inspo for your big day (we’re banking on it!). But sometimes it feels a little like sifting for outfits at a thrift store: The best parts take a little hunting. That’s where styled shoots come in.
What’s the purpose of a styled shoot? It’s three-fold: Yes, they’re meant to provide couples with plenty of inspiration during their own planning phase, but they can also serve as a way to see the possibilities.
“They provide your creative team a chance to design for themselves versus a client’s request,” says Just A Little Ditty planner Marilyn Speight, “so you can truly get a sense of the full scope and scale of talent that your planner/designer, florist, venue, etc. can offer.”
Photo: Jen Fariello
And, Speight says, they can help introduce you to an unfamiliar vendor. In the case of the styled shoot on these pages, Quirk Hotel, one of the area’s newer venues.
“The overall theme was modern, bold, and artistic,” Speight says of this winter shoot. “It was largely inspired by the whimsical setting of Quirk.” She and the rest of the team—which included Southern Blooms, Emerson James, and Commonwealth Cake Co.—aimed to take the idea of a winter wedding in a new direction, bringing in plenty of bright, vibrant colors, and playing up the increasingly popular idea of a microwedding (which, Speight says, “afford you the opportunity to get more creative with vignettes or up the luxe factor with your tablescapes since you have a lower overall quantity to factor in”).
Photo: Jen Fariello
In other words, use styled shoots to imagine the possibilities—from the big-picture vendor choices, to the fun touches you haven’t even thought about yet (read: luxe welcome boxes).
The bouquet is one of the most fussed-over details of any wedding, but it’s also the thing that often gets forgotten or—worse yet!—tossed at the end of the night. Self-professed “flower fanatic” Karly Murphy of Kmpressed offers a solution: Press them!
The artist began pressing plants in 2015 after working in weddings and events with Nature Composed, and suggests it’s a great way to hold on to your bouquet long after the sparkler exit.
As long as you get the flowers to her within four days of the event, the process is pretty straightforward: “I carefully press the flowers until perfectly dry before designing the artwork to represent and immortalize the bouquet,” Murphy says. “Apart from pressing, the flowers are kept in their natural state—no chemicals or dyes are added, so their form and character is preserved, but the exact color can evolve over time.”
The timeline varies, but for custom wedding artwork (Murphy creates all of the glass wall-hanging and tabletop art by hand, as well as cuts the glass to size in-house), expect a turnaround time of four to six months.
This one’s not for the album—it’s for the wall. In addition to her own still-life work, artist Sarah Miller accepts commissions for paintings of couples’ favorite wedding scenes, from candid engagement photos to their first look. It’s a great alternative for folks who want a more artful display of their big day.
She paints each work from high-res photography the couple supplies after the wedding, and turns around the keepsake piece in a couple months (“as far in advance as possible is always wise,” she says).
Meal-planning, traveling, party outfits—the holidays are stressful enough before you even start thinking about making a list and checking it twice. So if you’re stumped about what to buy your doesn’t-like-golf-or-beer (#holidaycliches) father-in-law or your already-has-everything best friend, we asked some local folks to give us their tried-and-true gift ideas, from home décor to sweet treats, plus a few things on their own wish lists. Happy holidays!
“Our two go-to gifts are Allens Scottish Shortbread and Trager Brothers Coffee. Both are locally owned and Allens is a Black-owned business, which makes me want to support them even more.”—Robert Radifera, photographer
“My sister is weirdly into tawny port so of course I’ll be consulting Market Street Wineshop humans for their opinions. If she lived in town, I would get her a wine subscription curated by the good minds there.”—PK Ross, owner of Splendora’s Gelato
Photo: Eze Amos
“We love getting our kids things from Alakazam and Telegraph Comics—our kids just tear through graphic novels and manga. I think one place people might not visit enough is The End Games on 29 across from Telegraph; they’ve got a pretty insane selection of board games, table top strategy games, and of course role playing games and all the manuals and accoutrements that go with. The “Stranger Things” fan in your life deserves a D&D starter guide crash course—definitely bought my family some sanity through COVID. The best thing I can imagine is getting Catan 3D from them.”—Hunter Smith, Ten Course Hospitality
“I could buy everything inside of Whimsies, but every time we walk in the store the giant Schylling lava lamp catches my and my daughter’s eye. It has that beautiful OG purple glow to it and it is the perfect size to make any playroom look super funkadelic and vibe great energy.”—Allie Redshaw, owner of Sumac
“La Vache Microcreamery caramels are my go-to gift for the holidays. The fleur de sel is my favorite flavor: a perfect balance of chewy and creamy, with a hint of salt, but the bourbon + vanilla are a close second. They are all locally made by hand, and come in stylish packaging so you don’t have to wrap anything. These make great gifts for teachers and coworkers, and are great to have around as a sweet treat for company.”—Joy Ting, research enologist and exchange coordinator at Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange
“I can’t wait to gift my husband the extra chic Oliver Spencer sweater from our friends at Quattro Tizi! He’s been wanting a half-zip one for a while now, and I always know I can find him something special that he’ll love and wear over and over again from Quattro.”—Linnea White, owner of Darling
“I’m planning on getting my mother a gorgeous Thunderbolt Dessert Plate from Louise. She collects fun and unique dessert and salad plates and this vibrant plate would be a perfect addition to her collection and features some of her favorite colors.”—Alexandra Bracey, Bracey Designs
“My wife Amanda loves jewelry! But more than that she loves things that are vintage, beautiful, and have a story to them. Roger at The Jeweler’s Eye always has something that seems to fit her taste, and it’s always fun to chew the fat with that ageless gent. That’s usually my first stop when doing Christmas shopping.”—Micah LeMon, bar manager at The Alley Light
“We love to give foodstuffs, especially as stocking stuffers, host gifts, etc. Some ideas: Jam According to Daniel, La Vache Microcreamery caramels (I pick them up at Be Just), rosemary shortbreads from Found Market, local wine from King Family Vineyards, Early Mountain, and Veritas, as well as Thibaut-Jannison bubbly, and gift certificates to Feast!, The Pie Chest, and Stock Provisions are always popular.”—Andrea Hubbell, realtor at Nest Realty Group
“This year I’m getting the book lovers in my life copies of Jocelyn Johnson’s My Monticello from New Dominion Bookshop. It is an amazing collection of stories from a local author. It is a storytelling feat that challenges the heart and mind.”—Eboni Bugg, director of programs at Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
“I think the best gift anyone can give another person is knowledge. For Black people it should be specific to their lineage and development within the context of being a people whose development was interrupted due to the transatlantic slave trade and the continuing consequences of that. So I have a list of books I need to read, and that I think every Black person should read.”—Leslie M. Scott-Jones, assistant curator of education and public programs at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
“I like to go to Angelo to see what Lee Marraccini has that would be a treat for my wife. I don’t go looking for anything specific, though the earrings are usually a winner.”—Gerry Newman, owner of Albemarle Baking Co.
“I plan on scooping up some Cocoa & Spice assorted chocolates as gifts for my family, as well as some Allens Scottish Shortbread. I love being able to shop small minority-owned businesses (Allens) as well as local small women-led businesses (Cocoa) to provide my loved ones with a little taste of where I get to call home. And who says no to delicious chocolates and flaky shortbread?!”—Ashley Reynolds Marshall, J.D., deputy city manager for racial equity, diversity and inclusion
Photo: Eze Amos
“I’m planning on purchasing more Playmags from Shenanigans for my kids because it seems like they can never have enough of them. They love building houses with them. Here’s a little mom hack for ya: I give them little battery-powered lights that they can use as lights in their houses. They illuminate the Playmags beautifully.”—Britt Davis, artist
“I’ll be buying gifts at Be Just in Belmont. Almost everything there makes a great gift, but I’ll be focusing on their sketchbooks and notebooks. Terrific colorful design and really handy for capturing ideas throughout the day.”—Jeff Bushman, Bushman Dreyfus Architects
“Boy Smell candle at the Quirk Hotel gift shop. When did hotel gift shops get to so cool? This place is my go-to when I need to get a gift for someone or myself. Super hip little gallery and gift shop off the hotel’s lobby. I love all the art and unique gifts.”—Darryl Nelson Smith, box office manager at Live Arts
“A gift certificate to Keswick, starting with the gem by Jean-Georges. To say we’re obsessed is an understatement. From the local art by Kiki Slaughter, to the incredible views and the sustainable and seasonal menu, we can’t get enough!”—Marilyn Speight, just a little ditty
“I’m choosing a pair of season tickets to the UVA women’s soccer team. Women’s soccer is perennially overshadowed by other sports (including men’s soccer), but the UVA women are consistently in competition for the No. 1 rank in the country and not enough locals know or appreciate this fact. I’d love to see more seats filled in Klöckner Stadium when they play. Let’s do this, Charlottesville!”—Dave Norris, general manager of Charlottesville Parking Center
MAKING A LIST…It’s always better to give than to receive, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t treat ourselves. These folks know what they want (and aren’t afraid to share it).
Photo: Eze Amos
“I’m pretty boring and mostly like tech, video games, and books, so the headphones and home theater sections at Crutchfield are pretty safe for me, plus gift cards to my favorite restaurants that I don’t work at, like The Shack, The Ivy Inn, Lampo(2Go), and the ABC store for a good bottle of old rum.”—Hunter Smith, Champion Hospitality Group
“I could make it a one-for-you-one-for-me shop, and hit up Greenwood Gourmet and grab tins on tins on tins of fish for myself, splurge on a Ramon Peña tin of cockles or Scout Canning mussels while checking out their wine selection. Nina and Dave support tons of local producers, so putting together a Virginia gift basket would be a snap.”—PK Ross, owner of Splendora’s Gelato
“When I have time for ‘hobbies,’ I like to count flower-arranging among them. I’ve given this vase from Louise as a gift and have been eyeing it for myself. The way the light hits the facets is spectacular and it really fits with any décor.”—Alexandra Bracey, Bracey Designs
Photo: John Robinson
“A few thoughts: A Furbish needlepoint pillow from Brigid & Bess, Spiegelau champagne coupes from Bottle House (or some great vermouth/bitters), a vintage quilt (or quilt coat) from Folking in Gordonsville. I also love a good gift card/certificate to a nursery for a tress or plants.”—Edward Warwick White, assistant dean of the full-time MBA program and student affairs at University of Virginia Darden School of Business
“I hope to get classes at AKT Charlottesville. They offer dance, tone, bands, and circuit classes that are such incredible workouts. It’s a fun, uplifting community located on Pantops.”—Britt Davis, artist
“Landlocked” by Sarah Boyts Yoder
“I love asking for artwork as a group gift from my family. My collection of work by Sarah Boyts Yoder, Seth Bauserman, and Kevin Sabo has slowly grown over the years. I enjoy looking at our collection and remembering specific years and events surrounding that work of art. I also appreciate a local wine club membership to either a Virginia winery or from our local wine shop, Market Street Wine. It’s nice not to have to make all of the decisions about what to drink and instead leave it to the professionals.”—Tracey Love, Holding Forth
“Kind of boring, but I want a new bathtub for Christmas.”—Deborah McLeod, Chroma Projects Art Laboratory
“Having a December birthday near Christmas (the 21st!) means I often have to really know what I would like or need since the time is so hectic. If my husband or family reads this, I would love to receive letterpress monogrammed stationary from Rock Paper Scissors and a vintage pen from Circa to go with it, and tickets to see both Leslie Odom Jr. and Whitney Cummings (we went to high school together!) at the Paramount.”—Ashley Reynolds Marshall, J.D., deputy city manager for racial equity, diversity and inclusion
“We barbecue all the time and shish kabobs are my favorite thing to grill. I’ve been using the same skewers from my childhood and they have seen better days. This skewer set from Blanc Creatives looks amazing and it supports a local craftsman.”—Jen Fariello, photographer
“Any item from The Barn Swallow. This store is a true décor dream. From all of the handmade local pottery pieces, to the nature-adorned, hand-pressed carved lamps that will take your breath away, to the local bouquets of flowers fresh every day, pick up anything in the artisan gallery, gift it to your best friend or yourself and all will be as it should. The pure Virginia maple syrup by the register makes for a perfect stocking sweetener as well.”—Allie Redshaw, owner of Sumac
