Tag: Best of C-VILLE

Vintage clothing store

Duo

Runner-up: Twice is Nice
Honorable mention: Low
Generally speaking, any clothing item from 20 years before the present day can fall into the “vintage” category. Which means that, while those denim flares you’ve kept since ’92 are cool again, you won’t be able to sell them to Duo, the new and used combo shop on the Corner. The second floor gently worn section only stocks contemporary used clothing up to two years old. But owner Greer Johnson curates the shop’s collection of used pieces, so you’ll always find something en vogue, vintage or not. Twice is Nice takes second place with an extensive selection of secondhand goodies for vintage (read: inexpensive) prices.

Consignment store

Darling

Women helping women
Newbie shop owners say fashion is esteem-building common ground
Linnea White was only half joking when she texted Megan Tiernan in the fall of 2014 about taking over Darling, this year’s pick for best consignment store.

“Hey! Want to buy a boutique with me?” she asked. Megan’s response? “Actually, I do! Let’s talk!”

They took ownership in early 2015 and have since put their own stamp on the downtown shop, bringing in local artisans and glob-al impact brands. Aesthetically, they created a new layout for the space and revamped the consignment process to achieve a more efficient turnover rate. Says Linnea, “All in all, it’s the same Darling with a new face!”

We asked the shop owners to tell us what it’s like being first-time retail owners, why consignment is better than brand new and what’s coming up for Darling.—C.W.

Had either of you ever owned a retail store before?

Megan: This is our first rodeo for owning a store! The way we do retail is the same way we strive to treat others every day, with integrity and by being authentic and personable. We want our store to be a place that is welcoming, inviting and encouraging—something Linnea and I both strive to do more of in and outside of the store.

Linnea: I’ve always been a fashionista. (I was called the “Bag Lady” as a little girl, always carrying a purse around with me—and freaking out if it was left at home.) In the past few years, as the editor of the local blog Cville Niche, I started a Dressing Up series, collaborating with local boutiques for regular features and photo shoots. As the owners of Darling, we’re taking our passions and wide range of experience to pour into our own business.

Were you Darling shoppers before you were Darling owners?

Linnea: I am a long-time Darling shopper and consignor! The conversation about buying the store started at a consignment appointment. I remember coming to the grand opening of Darling back in 2012. Many an item in my closet is a Darling find.

Megan: I remember the first time Linnea took me to Darling! I had a mixture of emotions, because I couldn’t believe the Frye boots that I had just bought full price were half the price at Darling. I knew from then on Darling was going to be my go-to.

What’s the best thing about consignment (as opposed to new)?

Linnea: I think of consignment as an extension of your own closet, allowing consignors to periodically refresh pieces in their closet in an affordable way. Darling Boutique is a network of women supporting women, sharing and recycling pieces to get rid of the old and find something new (to you). It’s about purging that dress you never wear to find a dress that makes you feel truly beautiful. Plus, finding a name brand item for a steal is easy on your wallet!

Megan: My favorite thing about consignment is the cycle of it. I think women often have too many items that just hang in the closet or sit in the back of the drawer. Consignment allows for those items to become new items to someone else, and, without spending more money on clothing, you can use the money (in the form of store credit) from items sold to buy new pieces. This means that you can continually get new items and get rid of ones you don’t wear without spending a dime.

What does the future of Darling look like?

Linnea and Megan: Expect new featured local artisans in the shop, exciting collaborations with local businesses on the blog and even Darling services like personal styling and private shopping events. We can’t wait to see our ideas and visions come to life. Being a small business owner is hard work! But we are so ready for this adventure, and so thankful for the amazing community that surrounds our little shop.

What’s the goal of Darling? What would you say its “mission statement” is, if there is such a thing?

Linnea and Megan: We are passionate about empowering women and inspiring strength through fashion to restore dignity and true beauty. We believe every woman deserves to feel truly beautiful. We believe we can be on mission in our own community by supporting women through consignment and by supporting local artisans. We can also be on mission in a global community and empower women around the world by supporting brands with a global impact mission. We believe personal styling is an expression of your inner beauty, and playing dress up is all a part of the process!

Runner-up: ReThreads
Honorable mention: Second Hand Rose

Women’s clothing store

BitterSweet

Runner-up: Anthropologie and LOFT (tie)
Honorable mention: Eloise
BitterSweet was founded on a dare —and we double dare you to visit the Downtown Mall store and leave empty-handed. Besides the best selection of TOMS and Frye boots this side of well, anywhere, the perennial winner in this category also stocks heaps of other popular labels, including Free People, Angie, BCBGeneration, Blue Bird and Fifty Street. And if you’re looking for a pair of earrings or a necklace to complement your new kicks and duds, BitterSweet won’t disappoint. Across-the-street Barracks Road neighbors Anthropologie and LOFT tied for second place this year, which comes as no surprise to anyone who’s ever needed a last-second wardrobe pick-me-up.

Men’s clothing store

Men’s & Boy’s Shop

Runner-up: Banana Republic
Honorable mention: Beecroft & Bull
“Service,” says Men’s & Boy’s Shop owner Mike Kidd, is the secret to the longtime success of his Downtown Mall store. “We want to make everyone’s shopping experience as pleasant as possible,” he adds, which is probably why the shop is your fave place to buy men’s clothing. With everything from a boy’s size 4 to a men’s size 70—plus same-day service on tuxedos (“We own our tuxedos,” Kidd explains) —in stock, there’s clearly something for everyone here. Runner-up Banana Republic offers one-stop shopping for guys who’re looking for linen shorts and a polo shirt. Or a shawl-collar cardigan and skinny jeans. Or a seersucker suit. Or a…you get the idea.

Jewelry store

Keller & George

A true gem
When it comes to jewelry stores, Keller & George has a nice ring to it
Layered delicate chains and stacked rings may be the current trend in women’s jewelry, but Keller & George knows the fads don’t last long. And it should know a little something about that—the Millmont Street shop has been in business since the 1800s. As it turns out, customers now are looking for the same thing as customers then.

“Beautifully designed and crafted pieces that reflect their personal style and tastes,” says store manager Charleen Pfaff. Take, for instance, engagement rings: Most shoppers want a beautiful diamond that’s responsibly sourced—and one that will leave their wallet intact.

“Traditional solitaires and three-stone rings are always popular,” while halo styles have become a new classic, she says.

They say a diamond is forever, but we can’t discount the jewelry industry’s revolving trends altogether.

“Designers are working with more colored gemstones like lapis lazuli, garnet, opal and turquoise,” Pfaff says, “and cutting [stones] like geodes or in other unconventional ways.”

She expects notable industry changes in the future, especially with regard to engagement rings. Not only will diamonds be set in new ways, but colored gemstones will be used in lieu of the traditional diamond. New materials like titanium, palladium, ceramics and metal overlays will become more prevalent, and once-semi-precious stones will be more attainable.

But what’s the best advice when it comes to making a purchase you’ll be happy with for years to come? Pfaff says to go with your gut. “It’s all about individualism; choosing rings that fit your personal style.”—K.S.

Runner-up: Angelo
Honorable mention: Andrew Minton Jewelers

Kids’ clothing store

Whimsies

Posh threads
Whimsies is where kids dress for success
Just because Prince George is royalty doesn’t mean he’s the only baby who dresses up, and the parents of Charlottesville’s well-heeled tots to tweens say their babes look best when they’re donning duds from Whimsies in the north wing of Barracks Road. The store, owned by Betsy Lynn, is in its 29th year and Lynn says shoppers keep coming back through phases of life.

“I love seeing my generation parents now coming in for grandbabies,” she says.

We checked in with a regular Whimsies shopper, 10-year-old Olivia Stockhausen, who picked out some of her favorite things.—C.S.

Indigo skinny jeans ($54), two-tone purple sweater by Autumn Cashmere Kids ($116) “The sweater is really soft, and the jeans are very comfy,” says Olivia. “I’d wear this to school.”

Catalina cowboy hat by Wallaroo ($54) “I’d wear it at the beach,” says Olivia.

Runner-up: Petit Bebe
Honorable mention: Target and Kid to Kid (tie)

Place to buy wine

Market Street Wineshops

Runner-up: Trader Joe’s
Honorable mention: Market Street Market
What can we say about Market Street Wineshops? Plenty, actually. And so can C-VILLE readers, who have voted them the best place to buy wine more than a dozen times. With two locations —downtown and up 29 North—you’ll find more than 1,200 wines and 400 beers, plus a selection of specialty foods, coffees, teas and gifts. And if you’re like us and you enjoy tasting before you buy, Market Street’s Wines of the Week are open for your drinking pleasure every day. Like last year, Trader Joe’s, with its Three Buck Chuck, Coastal line ($4.49 a bottle) and Trader Moon collection (under $6 per bottle), is your back-up plan.

Locally owned grocery store

Market Street Market

Runner-up: Feast!
Honorable mention: Foods of All Nations
Pay no attention to your friends and neighbors who tell you downtown doesn’t have a grocery store. Exhibit A: Market Street Market, on the corner of Fourth and Market streets, your pick for the best locally owned grocery store. In addition to plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, you’ll find an assortment of local meat, cheese, bread and baked goods. And don’t even get us started on the deli sandwiches—but since you asked, you’d be a fool not to order the prosciutto and blue cheese with sliced pears on ciabatta. Second place vote-getter Feast! was described by the New York Times as “an artisanal cheese shop, charcuterie and gourmet market that could easily be found in Paris.”

Chocolate shop

Gearharts Chocolates

Runner-up: Lindt Chocolate
Honorable mention: My Chocolate Shoppe
They had us at Criolla. And Michigan Cherry, Raspberry Zin, Mint Julep and Vanilla Bean Brulee. Pretty much everything in Gearharts Fine Chocolates’ Signature Line is a winner. Just like the store itself, your pick for this year’s best chocolate shop. In addition to being in the tasting good business, Gearharts has also been doing good: For the last three years, the Main Street Market biz has featured artwork from Virginia Boys & Girls Club kids on its Mother’s Day chocolates. Headquartered further from home, but located locally in Barracks Road, Lindt takes the 2015 red ribbon.

Toy store

Shenanigans

Runner-up: Alakazam
Honorable mention: O’Suzannah
Shenanigans’ owner Kai Rady once said she considers “almost everyone to be a potential customer.” Which might explain why she’s been in business for more than 40 years—and carries over 300 lines of children’s merchandise. It certainly explains why her West Main store is your choice as the go-to vendor of games, books, dolls, puzzles, stuffed animals and pretty much anything else that keeps tiny—and not-so-tiny—tots occupied. Your second favorite place for birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah or just-because gifts for the little ones is Alakazam. (After you finish shopping here, don’t forget to take a stab at answering the joke of the day on the chalkboard outside the Downtown Mall shop.)

Independent bookstore

New Dominion Bookshop

One for the books
Print is alive and well at New Dominion
Some people think bookstores are doomed. They point to online shopping, e-readers and a list of brick and mortar shops that have bit the dust. What they neglect to mention, though, is that no website or personal electronic device beats browsing at a bookshop. When was the last time those people discovered their new favorite author thanks to a suggestion from a literature-loving clerk? Or settled into a quiet store corner to read a first chapter because they couldn’t wait to get home and start their new book? Oh, and Amazon’s calendar doesn’t seem to have a single upcoming author reading or book signing.

Lucky for us, New Dominion Bookshop, the oldest independent bookseller in Virginia, hosts plenty of author events. Plus it’s flush with comfy corners and brainy employees—and it certainly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

But Carol Troxell, owner of the downtown institution for more than 30 years, claims she’s the lucky one. “Charlottesville is a strong, diverse intellectual community,” she says. “With UVA, PVCC and the school systems, it’s a reading community that fosters authors and the arts. Think about what we have here—the writers, artists, theaters, musicians, not to mention all the scholars in the area.”

And she says it’s thanks to a very loyal community of book lovers that New Dominion has been in business since 1924. Being on the Downtown Mall helps too. “We support each other,” explains Troxell from behind her desk in an office where every surface, and a good portion of the floor, is stacked with books. “I would hope we’d always have a copy of Gatsby, but if we don’t, there are several other possibilities downtown.”

“We’re always directing people to the used bookstores,” adds Melissa Lockwood, a recent UVA grad who’s worked at New Dominion for five years. Or a restaurant, stationery, gift or secondhand shop.

“The locally owned businesses bring people down to the mall,” Troxell explains, adding that residents and out-of-towners alike often stop by the store before meeting friends for coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks. And she’s seen a bump in business thanks to the shop local movement, which has “brought a much better awareness to all communities. People have told us that they could have bought the book at [a chain store], but they wanted to get it from the local place. When I started here, people weren’t saying stuff like that.”

Troxell also credits the annual Virginia Festival of the Book for delivering both area and far-flung readers to New Dominion. “We always have two or three events here each day during the festival,” she says. “It’s a lot of fun, and we meet some interesting authors. We try to sell their books, and our customers are introduced to very good writers.”

When it comes down to it, “the only reason we’re still in business is because of our customers,” Troxell says. That, and she thinks running an independent bookstore is a perfect job.—S.S.

Runner-up: Daedalus Bookshop
Honorable mention: Blue Whale Books

Nursery/garden store

Fifth Season Gardening

Runner-up: Ivy Nursery
Honorable mention: Charlottesville City Market
The folks at Fifth Season Gardening say it best themselves: “With the threat of GMOs and other contaminants in our food supply, it is now more important than ever to know how to grow your own.” Which is why they’re at your service with all the organic seeds, plant starts, soil amendments, fertilizers, pest control supplies and advice you’ll need to find your way down the healthy gardening path. Ivy Nursery, established in 1975 by a couple of UVA landscape architects, offers a wide variety of fresh, healthy and unique plants.

Florist

Hedge Fine Blooms

Runner-up: University Florists
Honorable mention: cville BLOOMS
To paraphrase Donkey from the Shrek movies: Everybody likes flowers. Ain’t nobody don’t like no bouquet of flowers. Just ask Karen Walker, owner of Hedge Fine Blooms, who believes “fresh flowers are a vital ingredient to a happy life.” We couldn’t agree more —nor, it seems, could you, which is why this purveyor of a European flower market experience is again your pick for the best florist in town. Over at University Florists, the goal is to “exceed our customer’s expectations with quality, value and professional service.” Clearly, our readers think it’s doing just that.

Place for pet supplies

Pet Supplies Plus

Runner-up: Pet Food Discounters
Honorable mention: Animal Connection
When it comes to our furry, winged and scaly BFFs, nothing’s too good. And nobody knows that better than Pet Supplies Plus, where they believe pets own people, not vice versa. They also make certain the goodness starts the second you and Spot strut through the door of this supermarket-style food and supply emporium. And don’t miss the store’s frequent adoption events or visits from its Solution Specialist, who can answer all your pet-related questions. In addition to basic necessities, runner-up Pet Food Discounters on Woodbrook Drive has you covered in the chameleon cantina and Bio Bubble Dome fish tank departments (and more).

Place to buy a new car

Brown Automotive

Ticket to ride
Brown Automotive always provides a good buy
John Hulburt and his wife, Mary Pat, moved to Charlottesville from Northern Virginia in 1997 to open The Foxfield Inn and, a few years later, decided they wanted a Mercedes-Benz. On the recommendation of friends, they went to Brown Automotive, where John says car-buying was—and continues to be—“easy, no hassle.”

John retired from corporate finance in 2003 and retired the Benzes shortly thereafter in favor of more economical cars. But he and Mary Pat went back to Brown, purchasing over the next few years two Toyota Priuses and a RAV4, which they still have.

“Being a financial person, I look for great deals and Brown has met this requirement each time,” says John, who now teaches business courses as an adjunct professor at UVA, and photography courses at UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. For him, the buying process is always fairly quick. Once he knows what make and model he wants, he contacts Brown and the car is ready in short order.

With all that enthusiasm for getting behind the wheel, we had just one question: Any speeding tickets? “Very rarely,” says John. “I’m a careful driver.”—C.W.

Runner-up: Jim Price Automotive
Honorable: Volvo of Charlottesville

Place to buy a used car

CarMax

Runner-up: Brown Automotive Group
Honorable mention: Edgecomb’s Imported Auto
Known for its set prices and no-haggle policy, CarMax is the nation’s largest seller of used cars —and your preferred place to drop a few thousand of your hard-earned dollars on a new-ish set of wheels. But before heading up to the Pan-tops showroom to test drive the merchandise, peruse the chain’s extensive offerings at carmax.com. Brown Automotive Group comes in close second when you’re looking to buy a gently used Toyota, Subaru or Honda, among others.

 

Place to splurge

The Happy Cook

‘We’ve got inexpensive stuff, too’
The $2,999 Jura J9 coffee center can whip up your cappuccino at the touch of a button. But Happy Cook owner Monique Moshier says some of the store’s most popular gadgets are under $10.

Runner-up: Scarpa
Honorable mention: Derriere de Soie

Music act

Sons of Bill

Runner-up: Love Canon
Honorable mention: Chamomile & Whiskey
They’ve been called Charlottesville “sonic royalty,” and nearly a decade after the Wilson brothers Sam, Abe and James formed the Americana band and named it in honor of their father, retired UVA theology professor William Wilson, they’re still going strong and gaining popularity far beyond Charlottesville with a fall 2015 European tour planned. Rolling Stone has called Sons’ latest album, Love and Logic, “lush and lovely,” and with a new manager pushing the band’s sound to reach new ears, you can be sure you haven’t heard the last of these guys. Runner-up Love Canon doesn’t just get the party started with its ’80s covers—it does it with a blue-grass twist, playing banjo, mandolin, dobro and fiddle.

Day trip

Nelson 151

Cruisin’ and boozin’
Wine, beer and liquor: Nelson 151 has it all
The scenic byway that is Route 151 is home to six wineries, three breweries, a cidery and a distillery to the east of the Blue Ridge. Together they make up Nelson 151—your pick for the best way to spend a lazy day. Just a word to the wise: Take a cab!—C.W.

Pollak Vineyards
330 Newtown Rd. (Greenwood)
(540) 456-8844
pollakvineyards.com
When the Dixie Chicks sang of wide open spaces, they must have had a place like Pollak Vineyards in mind. From the spacious, modern tasting room to the sprawling patio overlooking a gorgeous pond to the west and 27 acres of vines to the east, a visit to Pollak is a must.

Blue Mountain Brewery
9519 Critzer Shop Rd. (Afton)
(540) 456-8020
bluemountainbrewery.com
Known as much for its brews as for its views (check out that patio!), Blue Mountain is a perennial favorite among C-VILLE readers. Not only was it the first brewery in Nelson County, but all the hop-growing, brewing, bottling, canning and kegging happens on site in Afton.

Veritas Vineyard & Winery
151 Veritas Ln.
(540) 456-8000
veritaswines.com
In wine there is truth, and the truth is, Veritas is a winner. The petit verdot, sauvignon blanc and viognier are competition darlings regionally and nationally. Sip them on the sprawling deck or inside the light-filled tasting room.

Afton Mountain Vineyards
234 Vineyard Ln. (Afton)
(540) 456-8667
aftonmountainvineyards.com
With panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from its patio, it’s no wonder the owners of AMV (both Charlottesville natives) say “grapes don’t grow in ugly places.” Their wines run the gamut from festa di bacco to gewürztraminer.

Cardinal Point
9423 Batesville Rd. (Afton)
(540) 456-8400
cardinalpointwinery.com
Having developed a taste for riesling while stationed in Germany, Cardinal Point owners Paul and Ruth Gorman decided that, post-retirement, they’d open a winery. The resulting Rockfish Gap spot is known for its year-round patio and daring blends.

Silverback Distillery
9374 Rockfish Valley Hwy. (Afton)
(540) 456-7070
sbdistillery.com
Virginia grains, pure water and American craftsmanship account for the premium vodka, gin and grain spirits you’ll find at Silverback. Opened in April 2013, the distillery plans to add whiskey and bourbon (currently aging) to its roster in two or three years.

Flying Fox Vineyard
27 Chapel Hollow Rd. (Afton)
361-1692
flyingfoxvineyard.com
This limited-production winery from longtime grape growers Lynn Davis and Rich Evans offers merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, viognier and pinot gris. Pack a picnic (and your pup!) for an afternoon in the countryside.

Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery
2800 Berry Hill Rd. (Nellysford)
361-1266
hilltopberrywine.com
The bread and butter at this medieval-themed winery is the authentic honey meads and fruit wines. Makes sense, since Hill Top was originally a pick-your-own berry farm prior to its reinvention as a winery. (PYO blackberries are still available in July and August, too!)

Wild Wolf Brewing Company
2461 Rockfish Valley Hwy. (Nellysford)
361-0088
wildwolfbeer.com
The home of “howling good beer,” mother/son duo-owned Wild Wolf is as much about the brews (there are always 10-12 house and seasonal beers on tap) as the food, which is locally sourced and served in an outdoor pavilion all year long.

Bold Rock Hard Cider
1020 Rockfish Valley Hwy. (Nellysford)
361-1030
boldrock.com
One of the fastest-growing cideries on the East Coast, Bold Rock can be found on a grocery store shelf near you. But stop by the taproom and you can also take a self-guided tour of the production facility to watch the bottling process or even visit the Cider Museum.

Devils Backbone Brewing Company
200 Mosbys Run (Roseland)
361-1001
dbbrewingcompany.com
About 20 years ago, a taste of true “craft” beer in Cortina, Italy, planted the seed for owners Steve and Heidi Crandall to start Devils Backbone. Today, the 100- acre Basecamp Brewpub is more than just great beer (though it’s definitely that): There’re bike races, trail run races, festivals and camping, too.
Runner-up: Blue Ridge Parkway
Honorable mention: Shenandoah National Park

Local radio station

106.1 The Corner

Runner-up: 91.9 WNRN
Honorable mention: Hitkicker 99.7
When C-VILLE readers turn their radio dial, they stop it at 106.1 The Corner, where new music is introduced regularly, local artists get airtime and you just might hear a big name act in town for a show who’s stopped by the station to chat and play a few songs for the Corner Lounge. And don’t miss the periodic release of The Corner Music Sampler CDs, which can help you be hip to the newest and coolest songs around. Longtime favorite independent music station WNRN is runner-up, and loyal listeners turn there to enjoy shows like “Acoustic Sunrise” and “Grateful Dead and Phriends.”

Art class

Wine & Design

Drink and draw
Creating art in a relaxed environment
In a studio on East Market Street, people of all ages gather for the best art class in Charlottesville. And for this one, they wrap themselves in stylish black smocks and bring several bottles of their favorite wine.

Becca Lewis, an artist and in-structor, stands on a small stage to give her introduction. She assures people attending the class that mistakes happen and they can be painted over. And when she asks the group of about 25 if they have ever been to a Wine & Design art class, she is surprised when eight people raise a hand. Lewis says about 70 percent of people who attend her classes have never painted before.

And on the topic of making novice mistakes, she says, “If you’re drinking, just have another glass of wine—it makes every-thing better.” To that, the whole room giggles, says “Cheers!” and clinks cups with their neighbors. Pop music fills the studio and, a few glasses of wine later, the sound of lively chatter is louder than the Backstreet Boys classic that pours from the stereo.

For a private event, the whole group receives instruction for just one piece of art. But tonight’s class is an open studio, when buddy artists can choose from nature scenes and lighthouses to rainy days and American flags. Open studio nights have less instruction, too, so guests are able to push their creative boundaries.

Tyler Howerton, for instance, paints a pink elephant while her sister, Alex, paints a sunflower and their mom works on an outdoor scene nearby. Tyler says they’ve never painted before, but were looking for a way to celebrate her sister’s last week in Charlottesville, and decided to give Wine & Design a try.

“Having the instructors here is really helpful,” Tyler says, noting Lewis’ and owner Katie Painter’s ability to tend to her, individually, while also giving attention to the rest of her family and the other new artists.

Painter, a former elementary school teacher, offers plenty of options for families, with themed “Daddy/Daughter” or “Mommy and Me” painting sessions on the weekends and, for kids, summer and holiday art camps. Kids are fearless when it comes to painting, she says.

For adults, Painter says people come out to socialize and often find that they really enjoy painting.

“It’s not so daunting,” she says, comparing Wine & Design to other art classes. Though people may be nervous when they walk in, she says it doesn’t take long for them to relax and enjoy themselves.

And maybe a few glasses of wine helps with that, too.—S.B.

Runner-up: Glassblowing at McGuffey Art Center
Honorable mention: City Clay

Local TV personality

Norm Sprouse (NBC29)

Weather or not
The sky’s the limit for TV man Norm Sprouse
It’s safe to say longtime NBC29 weatherman Norm Sprouse is walking on air (quite literally) over his victory as best local TV personality. “They had a lot of good choices and for some reason they chose me,” he says with a self-deprecating chuckle and a big thanks to his fans. “That’s what I get for 25 years in this market doing the same thing.”

It’s true, Sprouse has been help-ing 29’s Central Virginia viewers plan for the weather since January 1990, when he was hired to report the forecast for the station after working in radio for 20 years in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. The shift to TV came with a tough schedule in the early days: Sprouse would rise at 1am and arrive to work around 2:30am. Recently, he’s keeping more regular hours, and viewers can catch him week-days at noon, calling for rain, shine or snow, always with good humor.
We caught up with Sprouse on a sunny afternoon to find out what makes this weather guy tick.—C.S.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Helping people plan their days because weather seems to be the most important thing people are concerned about in the morning. News is so often full of less-than-cheerful things. I try to look on the bright side.

What’s the hardest thing?
In the summer, it’s predicting when and where thunderstorms are going to strike and in the winter it’s predicting how much snow we are going to get.

What’s the most memorable weather event in your tenure?
Two of them. One was the blizzard of ’93—it hit late March of ’93. Two feet of snow, 40mph winds. It was nasty. The other one happened a few years later in the mid-’90s. We had a sleet storm come through here, and we got 6″ of sleet. I think everyone was surprised by the amount.

Memorable bloopers?
Once, I was doing an interview and the person I was interviewing was talking about an event. I went to say, “It sure sounds like a great idea,” and for some reason my mind decided to change it to, “Sure, it sounds like a good idea.” I only got the “sh” part of the sure and then the word “it.” It sounded like something else.

What do people say when they see you out and about?
They always comment on the weather. ‘Why’d you make it so hot? Why’d you make it so cold? When is it going to stop?’ It’s al-ways been good natured.

Have you always had a beard?
I started growing it when I was in radio, about the time I turned 21. I’ve had it since then.

Runner-up: Coy Barefoot (Newsplex)
Honorable mention: Henry Graff (NBC29)

Local radio personality

Brad Savage (106.1 The Corner)

Runner-up: Anne Williams (91.9 WNRN)
Honorable mention: Coy Barefoot (107.5 WCHV)
When it comes to capturing local listeners, Brad Savage has “cornered” the market, somewhat literally. The programming director of 106.1 The Corner is a perennial pick for best local radio personality, and it’s not hard to understand why: The guy’s a self-described music nerd who has a proven knack for recognizing (and playing) the next big thing before it gets big. Beyond music, he keeps listeners engaged by interviewing local politicians and reporting on local news, not to mention hosting big name musical acts for informal sessions in the Corner Lounge before shows. Runner-up Anne Williams catches listeners’ ears on 91.9 WNRN by easing them into mornings with her “Acoustic Sunrise” show from 5:30-10am, featuring acoustic, folk, bluegrass and Celtic tunes.

Arts organization

Live Arts

All grown up
Live Arts celebrates 25 years
Live Arts co-founder Fran Smith wanted to be able to do a play with profanity in it. She’d spent 11 years working with the more family-friendly Four County Players, and when she sold her Barboursville farm and moved to Charlottesville, she was ready to spread her thespian wings with edgier fare.

The idea that would become Live Arts was conceived during a production Larry Goldstein or-ganized of Sam Shepard’s A Lie of the Mind at Charlottesville High’s Black Box theater. Smith remembers a what-if conversation with Michael Parent about having their own theater. Goldstein says he thought they were crazy.

Then landlord Gabe Silverman came into the picture in 1989 and gave Live Arts a sweet, first-year-free lease on the Michie Building.

Smith describes Live Arts as an umbrella organization for other performing arts, like Jazz Czar Aaron Zatcoff and the Kerner brothers’ acid house dances.

“It was a big coup bringing in Will Kerner and Thane Kerner,” says Goldstein, “because they knew how to make money on their raves. This was a coup for them to have a space to do them in.”

The theater group took an existential leap for its first production in 1990, with Smith directing Jean Paul Sartre’s No Exit. The group’s first review in the Daily Progress: “New group brings its version of hell to stage.

Smith remembers when she had a production on a Friday night, having to strike the set by 9:45pm so the Kerners could have their dance. “It makes me exhausted to think about,” she says.

And one night, she recalls, there was a line out to the police station for a performance by jazz trumpeter Don Cherry.
Another early-years venture was the coffeehouse that featured plays written by local people and with actors perhaps sitting in the audience at a table.

Then, as now, Live Arts was volunteer driven—and “crisis driven,” says Smith. “Thane car-ried us through. He made Live Arts run like a business,” and didn’t seek grants and donors in case that dried up.

The break-out show, says Goldstein, was his and Mike Parent’s production of Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends (A Final Evening with The Illuminati), which sold out a five-week run in 1991. “That’s when we realized we could depend on ticket sales,” he says.

That show was also the one that brought longtime artistic director John Gibson into the Live Arts fold, recalls Goldstein. The pro-duction’s set director left and Gibson showed up at the door. “This guy new to town wanted to know if he could help,” says Goldstein. “We said we needed a set, and he said, ‘I can do that.’”

Says Goldstein, “John Gibson was essential to Live Arts.” Gibson directed the theater for the next 18 years, and now one of the Water Street theaters bears his name.

“He was innovative, and he pushed the organization,” says Smith. “He was instrumental to getting us to the new building.”
Twenty-five years later, Live Arts has a gorgeous, permanent home that houses two theaters, Second Street Gallery and Light House Studio, with Live Arts still the umbrella organization.

“Live Arts is my creative home,” says Smith, who continues to direct a play each season. “I wanted to do theater without people telling me how to do it.” And as the oldest of five children, she says she was used to telling people what to do.

“Michael Parent and I said, ‘Who’d have ever thought we’d see this in 25 years?’” says Smith.

“It was a convergence of creative energy,” says Goldstein. “It was a lot of positive energy of people working together who had a lot of talent.”—L.P.

Runner-up: Tom Tom Founders Festival
Honorable mention: Virginia Film Festival

Music venue

The Jefferson Theater

Runner-up: nTelos Wireless Pavilion
Honorable mention: The Paramount Theater
With a year-round schedule that brings big name acts to a still-intimate-feeling historic space, the Jefferson Theater on the Downtown Mall is C-VILLE readers’ top pick when it comes to catching a show. The past year has brought sold-out performances from Brandi Carlile, Ben Folds and Houndmouth, and the good times keep rockin’ and rollin’ in summer and fall with shows including Blues Traveler, Sturgill Simpson and Carbon Leaf. Down the bricks a few blocks and anchoring the east end of the mall, runner-up nTelos Wireless Pavilion hits the right notes with acts like Willie Nelson and Wiz Khalifa.

Live entertainment

Tom Tom Founders Festival

Innovate this!
Five reasons you should have gone to Tom Tom
There’s no shortage of festivals in Charlottesville—books, film, music, food—and some of them have been going for decades, which is why the Tom Tom Founders Festival victory in the live entertainment cat-egory is pretty darn impressive. Just four years ago, a guy named Paul Beyer had an idea for an event that would celebrate and support in-novation. It seemed a little wacky and vague at first—just how do you do that, and how would this festival differentiate from all the other events Charlottesville offers? In its fourth year, with Beyer having secured state grants and a partnership with UVA, the Tom Tom festival has become a signature Charlottesville event with nationally recognized speakers and enter-tainment that fills a weekend to overflow. If you didn’t make it out to Tom Tom this past April, here are five things you missed. And let this serve as a reminder that you should plan ahead for next year.

1) Talks and panels with Alexis Ohanian. The Reddit website, known as the “front page of the Internet,” allows its gajillions of users to post and then vote on newslinks to promote them to the site’s own home page. Ohanian, a 2005 UVA grad, is the site’s co-founder who invests in and advises hundreds of tech start-ups. This visionary was back in Charlottesville, offering words of wisdom to anyone looking to break into the start-up game.

2) The Belmont Bridge graffiti wall near Cham-pion Brewing Company got a colorful façade as master graffiti artists battled it out in a competition judged by the public.

3) Six sous chefs from some of Charlottesville’s top restaurants innovated with ingredients from City Market at the Iron Chef at City Market com-petition. Local ingredients never tasted so good!

4) For the fashionistas in town, Tom Tom was never better than when UVA grad and avant-garde designer Becca McCharen spoke about her innovative fashion designs that blend architectural concepts with an S&M flair.

5) There might never be more music playing in town than during Tom Tom. From the hip-hop of Damani Harrison to the swing and blues Americana of The Judy Chops to the neigh-borhood-wide Porchella event (different musicians performing on the front porches of Belmont), there was an act for everyone.—C.S.

Runner-up: The Whiskey Jar
Honorable mention: The Garage

Gallery

McGuffey Art Center

Runner-up: Second Street Gallery
Honorable mention: Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection
Downtown Charlottesville is dotted with galleries, and while some have closed their doors in recent years, leaving artists with fewer places to show their work, the McGuffey Art Center remains the beating heart of the local arts scene. Member artists don’t only show their work in the old school on Second Street NW, they work on-site in studios, offer classes to the public and host talks and other events. A few blocks away, runner-up Second Street Gallery offers shows by artists of national and international renown.