The Results Are In. Thousands of you visited our website last year to vote in our 2021 Best Of Lynchburg contest.
From your favorite spots to eat to your preferred medical providers, this list shows you who
Central Virginians recommend.
Flip through to see who earned gold, silver, bronze and honorable mention in numerous categories—and congratulations to this year’s winners!
Beginner
Sign up for your first 5K.
In a normal year, there is no shortage of race opportunities in Central Virginia, especially for those seeking a shorter distance such as a 5K. While the pandemic canceled many races or made them go virtual last year, we are hopeful that the 5K lineup will return to normal (or close to normal) at some point in 2021. Beginners can find a range of 5K training plans online, or seek out support from a trainer or friend with running experience.
Join an obstacle race with your family or friends.
From climbing walls to balancing teeter-totters, the Face the Forest race at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in partnership with the YMCA is the only family-friendly event of its kind in our area. All ages are welcome at this annual event that also includes lots of mud—so don’t wear your brand new running shoes!
Face the Forest
Date/time TBA
poplarforest.org.
Get out of your comfort zone with a new fitness activity.
Fitness amateurs can often catapult themselves into a healthier lifestyle simply by trying something new. A couple of ideas to get you started: try indoor rock climbing at Rise Up in downtown Lynchburg, play disc golf at one of the area’s numerous courses such as Peaks View Park, or rent a bike from Bikes Unlimited on Jefferson Street and explore the Blackwater Creek Trail.
Moderate
Dip your toe into the world of triathlons.
For active adults who are ready to try the challenge of a triathlon, the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon is a great place to start—but it’s also one that experts love competing in year after year due to the excellent conditions and mountain views. The swim features a sandy beach start and a crisp, clear lake.
The bike and run courses are rolling, but not too challenging.
Kinetic SML Sprint Triathlon
May 1, 2021
kineticmultisports.com/races/smithmountainlakesprint/
Hike a moderate/strenuous peak at sunrise.
We are beyond lucky to live in an area with so many gorgeous hiking opportunities. Typically, those boasting a level of moderate to strenuous have the best reward: a spectacular view of Central Virginia. A sunrise hike adds an extra layer of challenge because it likely requires an early weekend wakeup time—which we all know is difficult.
Tackle a long-distance bike race.
You don’t have to travel far to find a long-distance cycling opportunity right here in Central Virginia: the Storming of Thunder Ridge, hosted by Beacon Credit Union and the YMCA. With breathtaking views, this race has options for a range of abilities with a choice of 27-, 45-, 49-, 75- and 100-mile routes. The 27- and 45-mile routes are better for moderate cyclists, featuring rolling hills and back roads.
Storming of Thunder Ridge
May 23, 2021
ymcacva.org/storming-thunder-ridge
Advanced
Set a new long-distance running goal.
For those who have plenty of 5K T-shirts sitting in their dresser, and consistently beat your PR, it might be time to transition to a long-distance race. The Virginia 10-Miler is a great option because many local runners are already familiar with the shorter version. Or you could take a “racecation” to Richmond and join the city’s marathon, half-marathon or 8K.
Virginia 10-Miler
September 25, 2021
virginiatenmiler.com
Richmond Marathon
November 13, 2021
richmondmarathon.org
Take your running skills to the next level with a trail race.
The Mountain Masochist Trail Race is a 50-mile course through the Blue Ridge Mountains that is a physically challenging combination of roads, jeep trails, and single track. You must train hard for this race—both physically, mentally and even spiritually, organizers say. This year, the race will start and end at Camp Montebello in Nelson County.
Mountain Masochist Trail Race
November 6, 2021
eco-xsports.com/events/mountain-masochist
Start training for a long-course triathlon.
One of the most popular, and most difficult, long-course triathlon races is the Ironman—consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile run. We are fortunate to have an Ironman race in Roanoke that’s set for June of this year. If you haven’t started training yet, you may want to set your sights on the 2022 race to give yourself more time to prepare.
Ironman 70.3 Virginia’s Blueridge
June 6, 2021
ironman.com/im703-virginia-blue-ridge
Pinterest. Instagram. Weddings. Taking up their own endcap at the grocery store.
The charcuterie board business is booming right now.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence that these boards began to explode about the same time as the pandemic. They serve as a fun way to eat anything (fun moments are important during a pandemic), a good way to gather and share with your “quaranteam,” and can even be made into single servings for socially distanced gatherings.
The term “charcuterie” refers specifically to the process of curing meat products such as salami, bacon, and ham.
Most traditional charcuterie boards are spilling over with meats, various types of cheese, and other accoutrements. However, themed boards with more eclectic choices—see sidebar on page 137—are becoming popular as well.
Michelle Ayers, owner of Purple Door Gourmet Kitchen, has been making charcuterie boards for a decade but has seen their popularity rise this year along with their larger counterpart: the grazing table.
“I have done very large displays as long as 18 feet for an event for 300 people to small trays for two to 20,” she says. “This is my absolute favorite part of my work. I always dreamed of playing with food for a living and now I get to do it every day.”
The Purple Door Gourmet Kitchen and Catering
Food Checklist
Every board is unique, but Michelle says the checklist in her head for a charcuterie board always includes color, texture, flavor, and variety.
“Every board needs to have assorted cheeses, cured meat, olives, nuts, chutney, crispy bread and chocolate,” she says.
Personal chef and health coach Megan Current, of The Current Dish, also receives numerous requests for charcuterie boards. She always starts with the “forward points”: the meats and cheeses.
“The rule of thumb for cheeses is making sure to have an aged cheese, such as cheddar, and a
soft cheese. I like brie. Then a hard cheese such as gorgonzola,” she explains. “For the meat,
I include a variety of favorites such as prosciutto, peppered salami, and capicola.”
From there, Megan likes to include local jams and honeys, pickles, olives and fruit. But she will branch out depending on the season or occasion—for example, a caramel dip for apple slices or cake pops for a birthday board.
The Current Dish
Building Your Board
Once you’ve gathered your items comes the trickier part for amateurs. Part of the appeal of a charcuterie board is the way it looks. As Michelle explains: “I believe you eat with your eyes first.”
First, decide what will be your focal point.
A brie or goat cheese log works well, or use folded meats in a creative way.
“Some people like to make a prosciutto river, sort of a swivel line down the middle of the board,” Megan says.
Folding or rolling meats will not only allow you to pack more items onto your board, but it also looks nice. Depending on your types of cheeses, mix it up and have one sliced and another cubed, for example. For accoutrements such as olives, fruit or nuts, put some into small bowls and others directly on to the board.
“Rosemary or mint sprigs are a pretty way to fill in any holes and add some greenery,” says Megan.
Better Than Dip
For those with new fitness goals in the new year, charcuterie boards can also be a smarter appetizer choice. “You have an option of foods that are whole and less processed, many with single ingredients,” Megan says. “Also, it’s so much easier to fill up on these foods compared to something like chips and dip.”
Better yet, it’s the one-size-fits-all appetizer for family members or friends with various dietary preferences. You can order or create a board with a little bit of everything on it and let everyone pick and choose what they want.
Whether you make your own, or let a professional such as Megan or Michelle take control, the sky is limit when creating a charcuterie board. Have some fun and be sure to share your photos with us on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag, #LynchburgLiving.
Take it further
Not-Your-Average Charcuterie Board. While lacking the traditional cured meats, these boards
pull from the idea of arranging your food in a “choose-your-own” display.
TACO Board:
Chips or Shells, Small Pitas, Salsas, Cheese, Guacamole, Veggies
VEGAN Board:
Carrot “Bacon,” Tomato “Ham,” Assorted Fruits and Vegetables
BRUNCH Board:
Bagels, Capers, Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, Red Onion, Fruit
Imagine waking up and sipping your morning coffee while taking in this picturesque view of downtown Lynchburg.
The Krise on Ninth Street was built in 1907 as the city’s first skyscraper. After renovation and restoration work, the impressive architectural building has been converted into luxury loft-style apartments.
Take a virtual tour at www.thekriseluxurylofts.com.
Playwright and Performer
• JLP Productions, owner
• DC Black Theatre Festival, committee member
Lynchburg Living Editor Shelley Basinger: Jennifer, you have a very long history in the area’s theater community—particularly writing your own original plays. When did you first develop a love for the stage?
Jennifer Petticolas: I worked behind the scenes doing set design and building sets while attending Livingstone College
in Salisbury, North Carolina. When I declared my English major, my dean said, “Are you sure you don’t want to do theater?”
He saw something in me then that I didn’t see. But I chose English because I have always enjoyed writing and especially creative writing. That love started at Dunbar High School in Lynchburg, with Mrs. Jordan and Mr. Watson.
SB: Where did life take you with that English degree?
JP: After finishing college, I got a teaching job at a junior high school in Baltimore.
I had been teaching three or four years when the faculty wanted to do a play about the history of our country and incorporate some dance into it, so I volunteered to write it. That was the first play that I wrote, and it really piqued my interest.
SB: When did you return to Lynchburg? And did you get involved in theater right away?
JP: I came back to Lynchburg in 1976. I remember my oldest daughter was trying out to be in Annie and told me, “Mom, I want to be Annie.” I told her I didn’t know if they would cast her in that role, and she ended up being casted as one of the orphans. She said, “Well, if I can’t be Annie, I’m going to be the best dancing orphan up there.” I thought if she can do it, I can do it too! Later on, I was cast in For Colored Girls and started getting involved with the Fine Arts Center (now Academy Center of the Arts).
SB: Since then, you’ve written numerous plays that have gotten acclaim both locally and beyond. What are some of your favorites?
JP: One piece that I was most proud of focused on suicide awareness. A friend, Kim Kittrell, came to me and told me about how her daughter, a former E.C. Glass student, had committed suicide at college. She wanted to get the message out that there is help for people who are struggling with depression. I did an interview with Kim, which was a very difficult process. She talked about her daughter being a dancer and how her daughter always felt like every woman should have a little black dress. I titled the play that, Little Black Dress, to symbolize a sophisticated woman and also, depression. I also got help from the medical community to make sure we were giving out the right message. This play has been performed in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. The Campbell County Branch of the NAACP presented us with an award for the play.
Another favorite is Sunday’s Child, a play I wrote for Johnson Medical Center about the life of Dr. Robert Walter Johnson.
I did a lot of research for that one, including interviewing about 30 or 40 people on the telephone and visiting his grandson’s house in Maryland.
SB: You also have focused on black history through the years. Most recently, “People Died: The Struggle for African American Voting Rights” was shown at the Lynchburg Museum.
JP: That was a little different than a play, six short monologues highlighting six real-life individuals who died fighting for African American voting rights in the ’60s. After we did that Lynchburg City Council Member Sterling Wilder came to me and said, “That lit a fire under me.” It just feels good to know that you are making a difference, causing people to think differently. That has been my whole purpose.
SB: Could we see anything new from you in the coming year?
JP: Suga is a play I started working on a few years ago. It’s about a husband and wife—the husband has diabetes and high blood pressure—and how his health affects their sex life. I’ve thought about taking that off the shelf. When George Floyd was killed, I started working on a piece about Floyd and Emmett Till.
It feels like I’m always working on something!
SB: Finally, what advice do you have for aspiring playwrights?
JP: Just keep pushing. You have a story in you, I think we all have stories in us. Write those stories. If you need help, reach out.
Get in Touch:
Email Jennifer at jlp7139@yahoo.com
or send her a message on Facebook.