Behind the Scenes
Photographer RJ Goodwin visited sculptor Ken Faraoni’s studio inside Hill City Hardwoods/The Craft Crucible off Thurman Avenue. Full disclosure, according to Ken—he does not usually work wearing a suit jacket!
Read about our Artist Profile’s career on page 24!

Quotables
“I truly believe that the display of art in the community brings us together. The artist whose work is on display is giving something to the viewer and that person takes that something, whatever it may be—a feeling, a memory, an idea—and shares it with someone else. This begins a domino effect of communication, all starting with a piece of artwork.” – Kimberly Gibson-McDonald, E.C. Glass High School teacher.
Read more about outdoor art in Lynchburg on page 29!

#LynchburgLiving
Referencing the Bluffwalk steps,
@ariellanae wrote “Beautiful spot downtown. Had to capture all these wonderful textures and strong lines!”

@manndalynn posted a gorgeous summer sunset that’s reflected by standing water in the parking lot below.

Include the hashtag #lynchburgliving on your posts and your photo may be featured in an upcoming issue!

When you see it on paper, your brain makes the obvious connections. Summer=hot, sweat, beach, school’s out, vacation, etc.

But I did a little research (because I’m a vocabulary nerd) and learned about a hidden meaning. The word “summer” is from the Proto-Indo-European root “sam,” which means summer. “Sam” is a variant of the root “sem,” which means “together/one.”

So there it is. Hidden–but not shocking. Summer is the season of togetherness.

Maybe you find that togetherness over a big plate of juicy ribs, fresh off the grill. In our Taste department on page 107, we are sharing the stories of some of the best barbecue experts in the city. We also tracked down one of the most well-known pitmasters in the U.S., Lynchburg-native Tuffy Stone. You’ll learn a lot about your grill, marinades and much more in a Q&A with him on page 114.

Maybe you find that togetherness hitting the town to enjoy these warm summer evenings. Lynchburg is not New York City—but when it comes to our nightlife, there’s more going on than you might realize. On page 123, a rideshare driver handed over some of his “Notes from Behind the Wheel” to show how busy our city is… and where people are hanging out.

Maybe you find that togetherness through a shared appreciation for a work of art. On page 29, we are spotlighting several new outdoor art collaborations in different parts of the city. The organizer of one project, teacher Kimberly Gibson-McDonald, even explains how the display of art “brings us together.” (And it just makes the city better looking too.)

Or, maybe you find that togetherness visiting Smith Mountain Lake with friends or family. If you’re like me, you cruise by those gorgeous waterfront homes and daydream about what it must be like inside. Starting on page 34, tour a custom home that is a part of this year’s
SML Charity Home Tour in October. The view—absolutely breathtaking.

And for anyone wanting to pack the most fun they can into a short visit to the lake, we have two step-by-step travel itineraries for you to follow on page 50.

I hope you are enjoying this issue of Lynchburg Living beside a pool, on a boat or anywhere that helps you relax. And if you aren’t, I hope you are at least living out the hidden meaning of summer by spending quality time with the ones you love.

Stay cool,

Shelley Basinger, Managing Editor
Shelley@lynchburgmag.com

Local Dermatologists Debunk 9 Sunscreen Myths

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the most preventable risk factor for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. With hot weather in full swing, sunscreen should be a staple in your routine whenever you or your family spends time outside.

However, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding sunscreen, when it should be worn, and how often it should be applied. Several local dermatologists put these myths to rest, so you can be informed about your sunscreen choices this summer.

Myth: “I don’t need to wear sunscreen.”
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that everyone (all skin types) wear sunscreen, at least an SPF of 30, to protect their skin from the sun’s damage. The higher the SPF, the higher the protection from the UVB rays. Dr. Kappa Meadows of Dermatology Consultants recommends a broad spectrum sunscreen to her patients to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. “Because the sun is classified as a carcinogen, just like nicotine is, it’s recommended to protect your skin so that you won’t develop cancer,” she says.

Myth: “One good burn each season will protect me.”
There is no scientific data to support the claim that a base tan or burn will protect your skin from future damage. “Every bit of sun damage increases your risk for skin cancer,” says Dr. Sonni Carlton of Dermatology Consultants. “Sunburns are definitely a known risk factor for melanoma.” According to Dr. Meadows, a base tan will give you a protection equivalent to an SPF of 3, so you should apply sunscreen for optimal protection.

Myth: “All sunscreens are the same.”
“All sunscreens are certainly not the same,” says Dr. Kristen Kuk of Ridgeview Dermatology. “One way to categorize sunscreens is into chemical and physical sunscreens, which have different properties. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing and essentially deactivating ultraviolet rays as they reach the skin. The advantage of chemical sunscreens is that they are more easily made to be colorless and odorless, which makes them more appealing to most. However, they are also the most likely to cause allergic reactions. Physical or barrier sunscreens most commonly contain titanium and or zinc oxide. They work by reflecting ultraviolet radiation and therefore often have the more opaque appearance that is less popular, particularly in facial sunscreens. However, physical sunscreens are better tolerated by people with sensitive skin.”

Myth: “I can apply at the beginning of the day and I’m covered.”
The AAD recommends reapplying sunscreen at least every two hours. When doing so, apply generously to all areas of skin that will not be covered by clothing. Adhere to the guideline of “one ounce, or enough to fill a shot glass,” which the AAD considers enough to cover all exposed areas of the body.

Myth: “The SPF in my makeup is enough.”
In general, most people do not apply makeup heavily enough to give them adequate sun protection. “The recommendation is a moisturizer with an SPF of 30 or greater under makeup,” says Dr. Alexis Chantal of Ridgeview Dermatology.

Myth: “Last year’s bottle is still okay to use.”
Before being made available to purchase, sunscreen is put through rigorous tests. In order to be placed on store shelves, sunscreen must be able to survive three months in the laboratory conditions, which simulate three years in the real world. This means your sunscreen should be good for three years from the production date. However, be sure to check all sunscreen containers for an expiration date, and throw it away once that date has passed. Dr. Megan Allison of Ridgeview Dermatology says, “For optimal sun protection as well as texture, stability, and sterility of the product, use the sunscreen prior to the date listed on the bottle. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used generously and frequently.” If used correctly, a bottle of sunscreen should be used before the end of summer.

Myth: “I need sun to get vitamin D.”
This is perhaps one of the most common misconceptions.

Dr. Kamal Chantal of Ridgeview Dermatology explains, “You do not need sun to get the vitamin D your body needs. You can get all the vitamin D you need through your diet or a vitamin D supplement negating the need for unprotected sun exposure. In fact, many people who are exposed to a tremendous amount of sunlight, such as surfers in Hawaii, have been proven in medical studies to be vitamin D deficient.”

Myth: “The chemicals in sunscreen are more dangerous than sunburn.”
The FDA regulates sunscreen ingredients and holds them to the same standard as any other over-the-counter drug. “The American Academy of Dermatology strongly emphasizes the need to wear sunscreen,” says Dr. Carlton. “Just because the internet says sunscreen isn’t safe doesn’t mean that it’s true.”

Myth: “I only need sunscreen when it’s sunny.”
“Forty to 80 percent of UV rays penetrate clouds,” says Dr. Carlton, meaning you are still very likely to get burnt under cloud cover. Continue to follow the same guidelines for sunscreen application that you would on a bright, sunny day.

By Leah Jones

Lynchburg’s Cutest Pet
We need your help determining which furry friend should receive the title of Lynchburg’s Cutest Pet. After receiving dozens of nominations, we narrowed down the list to 10 finalists. Click Here to vote on your favorite! Voting ends July 31.

Lynchburg Restaurant Week
A huge thanks to the 23 restaurants that participated in our 6th annual Lynchburg Restaurant Week (June 10-17). We enjoyed seeing photos of delicious dishes on Instagram through the hashtag #LRW2017!

Feedback to the Editor
“The article about the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra in the May/June issue of Lynchburg Living is just simply awesome! It is so well written… . We are so appreciative to have this excellent story out to the community as we begin Season 35!”
– Linda Edwards, LSO President.

“I picked up the May/June issue of Lynchburg Living, and I want to compliment you and your staff on a job well done. The magazine is delightful. I have enjoyed reading the articles, especially the one about the Common Grounds Café… . [Who] knew what a wonderful community mission this is…” – Trish Conroy, Campbell County reader.

A new partnership focuses on fitness and wellness for new moms

I’m lying on a yoga mat, adjusting the placement of my hips and feet for the Pilates class that’s about to start. Andrea Neiman, the class instructor, comes over and gently rolls my shoulders backward to correct my posture. Before the class, Andrea covers variations for each of us—all women who have given birth in the last year or two—so that our movements are safe and effective whether we experienced a vaginal or cesarean birth.

The class is calm, slow, and just what I need after four pregnancies pushed my body to its limits. I created life, but in doing so, my body literally readjusted my skeletal structure, stretched my skin and left curves in new places (hello, underarms!?).

Ask any woman—regardless of the number of hours in labor/pushing or whether the c-section was emergency or planned—and she will tell you the ways in which her body was never the same.

Physically, women who have vaginal births can experience incontinence, discomfort during intercourse, abdominal muscle separation or other issues. For those who experienced a c-section, recovery can be lengthened and painful. For example, my best friend always kept a pillow nearby because clutching it to her abdomen was the only way to ease the pain and discomfort that sneezing or laughing would cause her healing incision.

Besides basic bodily functions, the postpartum weeks and months can come with depression or anxiety, and often mean lingering and sometimes surprising body and self-image issues. While mental health concerns should be treated by a trained professional, nurturing a healthy body can go a long way to ease some of the mood disorders postpartum women can experience.

To respond to the needs of local mothers, The Motherhood Collective, in collaboration with Lynchburg Parks and Recreation, has rolled out a new series of community classes and activities for new and expecting mothers. Mothers, like me, who just need a little help getting back on track.

My Story
I’m going to just put it all out there—after four vaginal births, my pelvic floor needs some serious help. Following my third pregnancy, I experienced what I now know was “urge incontinence,” meaning that it wasn’t a problem if I sneezed or laughed (unlike several friends, who leaked at every sneeze). Instead, if I felt the urge, my muscles would fail to hold it in before I could walk through the kitchen to my bathroom—obviously, this was not only humiliating but highly inconvenient.

I was embarrassed, but I brought it up with my provider, who pointed me in the direction of a pelvic health physical therapist, and she told me the muscles supporting my bladder were actually working too hard and clenching all the time, and gave me exercises to help calm them.

After my first child, the baby weight came off quickly with nursing and light exercise, so I was surprised when I ballooned after my second pregnancy. Life circumstances piled on more anxiety, and I turned to food for comfort more often than not. Needless to say, that number on the scale never came back down. I know I am the steward of my body, but a full-time job and growing family meant my own fitness and well-being took a backseat.

But eventually, I knew enough was enough: I couldn’t keep putting everyone and everything else first. I had already attended some of The Motherhood Collective’s conversation cafés and playgroups, so when I heard about their new wellness classes, I decided to finally prioritize my health and give it a try.

Postpartum Core Connections
Back in the Pilates class, called Postpartum Core Connections, Andrea walks us through gentle stretches, and builds up to light, repetitive toning exercises. She stresses this is not a traditional Pilates class, but a hybrid based on her training and the specific needs of the postpartum women she teaches.

For example, when working with a woman who has experienced a vaginal birth, Andrea focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor and bringing the hips and pelvis back to a new “normal” resting posture. For mothers who experienced a c-section, she will help gently strengthen the abdomen, which may still be recovering from major surgery.

Lauren Barnes, executive director of The Motherhood Collective, explains that the choice to expand into wellness was obvious when the organization began planning their 2017 programming calendar.

“We looked for gaps in ways we were serving women,” says Barnes. “We saw severe disparities specifically regarding women’s pelvic floor health and other muscular post-birth issues.”

She says research shows 1 in 4 women experience post-birth pelvic floor or abdominal injuries.

“We saw that women were physically not doing well, and we partnered with excellent instructors and Parks & Rec to offer this class to truly nurture the mother to grow the child,” she explains, referring to the organization’s mission statement.

Aside from helping women physically, the partnership also reduces the financial barrier by making the classes much more affordable than what they would cost at private practices. The entire six-week Pilates class is just $18 for city residents.

Mamas on the Move
Also offered through this collaboration is Mamas on the Move, a free, regularly scheduled stroller walk at local parks, so new parents can meet for a casual workout that’s gentle and social, while still getting women moving.

First-time mother Courtney Sinha, 35, is a social worker in Lynchburg who’s been attending the Mamas on the Move stroller walks even before she was pregnant. As she planned to conceive, she says, “I needed to lose weight and I did that by walking. I kept motivated by thinking that one of these days I would have a baby, and we could go walking together.”

Courtney now attends every session with her wife, Kim, and newborn baby Nora. Like many working mothers in the group, the Saturday option was perfect as she headed back after maternity leave. Even if she doesn’t want to get out of bed, she says, “The baby wakes up early so there’s really no sleeping in.”

While it’s advertised as a stroller walk, many parents bring an infant carrier to walk with their babies close to them.

Healthy Mama Self-Care Series
The self-care series launched because Barnes says women were not taking time for themselves. “So we thought… why not make a time? It will be on their calendar.”

The five-class course leads women through a different healthy living topic each week, and then at the end of each session there are
30 minutes of silence and candlelight. “Watching women come out of there, it’s like they’re coming out of a spa. It’s amazing,” says Barnes. “We love nothing more than helping to create outlets for community that also cultivate healthy habits or positive self-care.”

And the community agrees: the first round of new programming this past spring sold out, and more programs are being added. “It’s been an overwhelming response.”

As far as my own journey goes, the Pilates class is just a small piece in what I hope will be a lifelong practice of caring for myself in my role as mother and provider for my family. During the whirlwind of the preschool years I will have to be diligent about my own wellness, but my mind and body deserve it. And I believe that my kids will reap the benefits (because they can already tell you that a stressed-out mama is no fun!).

For now, you can find me on a yoga mat somewhere, breathing in and out, learning to love and care for this new version of the body I’m in—and thankfully, it’s only getting stronger with each Pilates leg lift.

By Meridith De Avila Khan

Fresh, Fast and Fulfilling Veggies Take Center Stage

Originally from sunny California, Vince and Vanessa Gomez have been living in Lynchburg for over a decade. During this time, they noticed a void in healthy, fast casual options around town. This observation led to them to open The Leaf Creative Salads, a healthy and surprisingly fresh spin on fast food with fruits and vegetables as the main attraction. (They even wish their space in Cornerstone could have allowed for a drive-through window.)

Salads are the specialty at Leaf and Vanessa tells me the reason is simple. She says not only are they are a good way to work a couple of servings of fruits and vegetables into your meal, have many health benefits, and help you cut calories—they also just taste good and are fun to eat.

In a Leaf salad, you get a little bit of everything, including healthy fats like nuts, avocados and fresh proteins. Vanessa sources some of her ingredients locally and buys organic as much as possible. Plus, half of the salad dressings are made in house, specifically the vinaigrettes.

On a recent visit, I loaded up my organic greens with roasted sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, feta and grilled chicken, all of it topped with the house-made lemon vinaigrette. Everything was delicious. (And I was excited to learn the sweet potatoes are here to stay as Vanessa says they are her husband’s favorite.) You can find just about anything you can think of to top your salads. And if you don’t see what you want, just ask—Vanessa will likely have it for you on your next visit.

Since they opened in February, the most popular menu items are the Fiesta Salad, the Popeye wrap, and the chicken salad sandwich, but customers love the experience of creating their own salad or wrap like I did. And while this is just the first location for Leaf, the couple hopes to expand as long as Lynchburg embraces this healthy and fast option.

The Leaf Creative Salads
112 Cornerstone St., Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 534-3119
Find them on Facebook

Mark Your Calendars July/August

Plein Air Painting at Randolph College:
July 9, 2 – 4 p.m.
Summer is the perfect time to unwind by getting in touch with your creative side. Spend the afternoon on the lawn of the Maier Museum learning the French painting technique of en plein air, or the act of painting outdoors, as a local artist shares their tricks of the trade then cuts you loose to create a masterpiece of your own.

Virginia Dare Pirate Cruise: July 15, 16;
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Come walk the plank and spend an afternoon living like a pirate on Smith Mountain Lake. This cruise on the Virginia Dare is a guaranteed good time for all ages. Maybe you’ll see Jack Sparrow!

Glow Ride on Percival’s Island: August 5, 8 – 9 p.m.
Forget dancing in the moonlight—let’s bike! All ages and skill levels are welcome to join this 6-mile roundtrip cruise around Percival’s Island. Don’t forget to get decked out for the occasion—there’s a prize in store for the most festive bicycle!

Annual Riverfront Chalk Festival: August 19,
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The streets of downtown Lynchburg become your canvas at Amazement Square’s Annual Riverfront Chalk Festival. Watch the riverfront area come to life as members of the community splash chalk onto the streets to create a smorgasbord of inspired doodles. With live music, food trucks, activities, and a chalk art contest, this free event has something for the whole family to enjoy!

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to Beale’s Brewery and BBQ on Grove Street in Bedford.

Hello! to Craft Beer Cellar on Wards Road, expected to open in June.

Goodbye to Hill City House on Timberlake Road, which was torn down for a new roundabout.

Hello! to a new location of Mister Goodies in the Village Courts Shopping Center in Boonsboro.

Goodbye to Rivermont Makery on Rivermont Avenue.

Hello! to Mookie’s, now serving homemade ice cream sandwiches next to Aylor’s in Forest.

Summer is here and with it comes endless dreams of vacation, sun, ice cream and poolside lounging. But instead of planning a long-term summer vacation—one that requires time off from work, a specific budget and loads of logistics—spend these next few months whisking off to weekend destinations. Short weekend trips allow you to really explore the area in which you live and challenge you to be creative with the time you have. Plus, instead of using up all of your vacation time at once, you’ll have an entire summer of adventure and exploration to look forward to.

Start with a trip to Smith Mountain Lake. This manmade reservoir covers over 20,000 acres and its shores contain everything you need for a weekend, or even a day, away.

We’ve compiled two helpful itineraries to jumpstart your travel planning. Whether you’re spending the weekend with your family or are taking a day trip with your significant other, Smith Mountain Lake will deliver endless memories and adventures.

A Day Trip for a Couple
11:30 a.m.—Take a lunchtime cruise on the Virginia Dare. This legendary cruise will take about two hours and allow you to see many of Smith Mountain Lake’s best sights, including private islands, osprey nests and even an antique carousel!

2 p.m.—Once you’ve docked, hit up a local brewery or vineyard. Depending on your beverage fancy, you can visit Sunken City Brewing Company (try their popular Dam Lager!) or one of three vineyards: Ramulose Ridge Vineyard, Hickory Hill Vineyards and Winery, or Brooks Mill Winery.

4 p.m.—Catch a matinee movie at Westlake Cinemas. Guys, bonus points if you let her pick.
6:30 p.m.—Enjoy a romantic waterfront dinner at The Landing at Bernard’s Landing. Here’s a tip: Try the fresh clam linguine! You may even find a wine or beer you sampled earlier in the day on their menu.

An Overnight Trip with the Family:
Day 1
10 a.m.—Arrive at Bridgewater Plaza and head to Bridgewater Marina to rent a pontoon boat (or, if your crew is particularly adventurous, a Wakeboard Boat or a few Waverunners!). Enjoy a few hours out on the water.

12 p.m.—Anticipate a few grumbling stomachs after a morning on the water. Head back to Bridgewater Plaza, dock your boat and visit the Pizza Pub for a delicious slice of pizza. Here’s a tip: Get the Boardwalk Fries with malt vinegar!

1 p.m.—Look right off of the deck at the Pizza Pub and onto the miniature golf course at Harbortown Miniature Golf. You’ve found your next stop. Play an 18-hole round.

2:30 p.m.—Treat the kids to an ice cream cone at the Ice Cream Cottage, right in the plaza. While they’re savoring their sweet treat, walk down to where you docked your boat and pay a quarter to feed the fish. The kids will love it!

3:30 p.m.—Drive to Halesford Harbour Inn and check in to your room. You’ll love the lake access, complete with a beach to relax on and boats to rent. Spend some time on the beach. Read a book or soak up the sun while your children play.

6 p.m.—Wash up and grab dinner nearby at Jake’s Place, a local favorite. It’s built out over the water and dining on the deck will be an incredible experience for the entire family.

Day 2
9 a.m.—Visit Old Oak Café for breakfast. The kids will love all of the short stack options!
10:30 a.m.—Check out of Halesford Harbour Inn, but rent a boat from them for the day. Spend a few more hours relaxing (or playing!) on the water before you head home.

12 p.m.—Point your boat in the direction of Bridgewater Plaza and visit Moosies for a lunchtime sandwich. (Here’s a tip: Try the Bridgewater Bagel!)

1:30 p.m.—After lunch, work off the calories at the Fun-N-Games Arcade. Parents will find some beloved classics and the kids will love the goodies they can get with their tokens.

3 p.m.—Take your boat back to Halesford Harbour Inn and head home with a weekend full of memories.

By Megan Norcross

Fantastic furniture is just the beginning of your visit to Farmville.

I didn’t plan to buy a rug. I have a house full of rugs. It was my sister, Theresa, who needed a rug—three to be exact—for the hallway of an old church she’s renovating into a house. It was she who’d said, “Let’s go to Farmville and look at rugs.”

And by “Farmville,” she really meant Green Front Furniture, the family-owned company that, by all appearances, owns most of the old tobacco warehouses and former department stores in downtown Farmville.

In addition to furniture and accessories from all over the world, Green Front sells rugs. Lots of rugs. Indian, Turkish, Persian, Chinese, cowhides. Rugs of all descriptions and price points. While I didn’t need a rug that day in early May, when we drove the hour or so from Lynchburg to Farmville, I should’ve known I’d be coming home with one.

I’ve been to Farmville many times. I’ve perused the antique shops. I’ve perched on a stool at Walker’s Diner. On my most-recent visit, I had my first “cronut”—a croissant/doughnut hybrid—at Uptown Coffee Cafe.

I’ve ridden my bike on the High Bridge Trail, a 31-mile-long, walking, biking and horseback path that gets its name from a 125-foot-tall bridge spanning the Appomattox River.

After returning home from my recent Farmville trip—toting a red Persian rug, no surprise—I was already thinking about my next visit. Here are some of the things I’d like to check out:

Arts
Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, part of Longwood University, hosts exhibits and events throughout the year. From August 25 through mid-October, the gallery will exhibit work by John Parra, illustrator of “Waiting for the Biblioburro,” “Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes” and other children’s books.

And a plus: There’s an Art-o-mat in the lobby of the LCVA. For those unfamiliar with the Art-o-mat, it’s a converted, vintage cigarette machine from which, for five bucks, one can purchase tiny, original artwork.

There are Art-o-mats all over the U.S. and beyond. On my recent visit to the LCVA, I purchased a landscape painting by a California artist.

For theater buffs, Waterworks Players, Farmville’s community theater, has been performing shows for more than 40 years. Its next production, the Agatha Christie murder mystery “And Then There Were None,” opens August 4.

The 2017-18 season opens in October with “Shrek, the Musical.”

Adventure
The High Bridge Trail isn’t the only game in town for outdoorsy people, but it might be the most popular. According to the folks at The Outdoor Adventure Store, which rents bikes for use on the trail, on some weekends bikes are rented out again as quickly as they’re returned.

“Our mainstay is bike rentals,” said Erica Venter, whose daughter and son-in-law own the store. “During the week, people can just arrive, but certainly on weekends—Saturdays for sure—reservations are encouraged.”

A few miles out of town in the community of Rice, Sandy River Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of outdoor activities for people ages 7 and up. Sandy River has 17 zip lines, 60 high-ropes obstacles, canoe and kayaking trips, and boat rentals.
For those who would like to do some “glamping,” there are rental cabins and what park manager Maddie Corwin described as “luxurious tipis” on site.

Eating, Drinking, Shopping
Farmville has a variety of restaurants, everything from the popular Charley’s Waterfront Cafe, where you can dine with a view of the Appomattox River, to Walker’s Diner, where you can sit, shoulder-to-shoulder with locals, for a bacon-and-eggs breakfast, a burger and fries or other casual fare.

Farmville’s first brewery and taproom, Third Street Brewing Company, opens its doors in August. “We’re just excited to bring this to Farmville,” John Dudley, one of Third Street’s founding partners, said, adding that he’s seen “how craft breweries have become a destination in communities.

“We’re right on the High Bridge Trail [and] hope to get a lot of bicyclists, horseback riders and runners. We hope to get lots of people who utilize that trail. … There’s a lot going on in Farmville and we’re happy to be part of it.”

Farmville also has a wine tasting room, The Virginia Tasting Cellar. It opened last year and features wineries from across Virginia—as many as 12 at a time—along with Buskey Hard Cider, out of Richmond.

The tasting room is located in a building once used to house mules during Farmville’s tobacco trading days. This fact is reflected in the way The Virginia Tasting Cellar calls its individual tasting areas “stables.”

“Mules brought the tobacco on bateaux down the Appomattox River,” general manager Megan Martin said. “They were kept [where] we are now. We’re trying to stay historically true to our area.”

In addition to the one million square feet of retail space that makes up the aforementioned Green Front Furniture, Farmville has a variety of antique shops, boutiques and specialty stores.

Along with renting bikes, The Outdoor Adventure Store sells high-end outdoor gear and clothing, including High Bridge Trail T-shirts. At Farmville’s farmer’s market, on Saturdays, you can buy local produce and meat, baked goods and handmade items.

History
Farmville, which prides itself as “America’s First Two-College Town”—Longwood, founded in 1839, and nearby Hampden-Sydney College, founded in 1775—is chockablock with history.

The last major battle of the Civil War was fought nearby at Sayler’s Creek, after which Gen. Robert E. Lee retreated through Farmville. Along the way, the Confederates attempted to burn down the original High Bridge.

The current bridge was built around the turn of the 20th century.

It and several sites along the route known as “Lee’s Retreat” are part of the Virginia Civil War Trails system.

Farmville and Prince Edward County also played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly the fight against school segregation.

The museum at Robert R. Moton High School tells the story of how, in 1951,16-year-old Barbara Johns and her classmates
began a student strike that paved the way for Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled school segregation was unconstitutional.

“We tell the civil rights history of Prince Edward County between 1951 and 1964,” Cameron Patterson, the museum’s managing director, said, adding the strike was “one of the first student-led movements of the Civil Rights era.”

The museum, which has free admission, sees visitors from all over the U.S. and can be an “eye opening” experience, Patterson said. “I think one of the reasons is that it didn’t happen that long ago and we’re so fortunate that a lot of the folks who lived this history are still here with us and actively engaged in the museum. They help us tell the story.”

Patterson said visiting the museum also can be a “powerful” experience for young people, “for them to see that Barbara Johns and her classmates were not much older than [they]. That resonates with them and hopefully helps to let them know that they, too, have a voice.”