Downtown Lynchburg Association highlights downtown restaurants & recipes

In November 2022, Downtown Lynchburg Association released a surprise for the Lynchburg community: A cookbook, meticulously created with love that features 35 of downtown Lynchburg’s beloved restaurants.

Titled Hill City Eats, the cookbook features recipes from participating downtown locations with the hopes of inspiring readers to whip up a few of their favorites, but to also give readers a moment of appreciation for the hard work and dedication that restaurants put behind those favorites.

“This book is a symbol of progress, born out of a deep appreciation and love for our city,” said Ashley Kershner, Executive Director of Downtown Lynchburg Association. “And most importantly, it is a celebration of the small businesses that are at its heart. Today, with over forty restaurants, many of which have opened in the last ten years, it is safe to say that we have become a culinary destination—a diverse restaurant scene that has breathed new life into this city.”

The cookbook highlights the places, food, and restaurateurs that make Lynchburg the culinary designation that it is—from new favorites like Bacon St. Bagels and Fratelli Kitchen & Wine Bar to local icons such as Dish and Hot & Cold Cafe.

Folks looking to purchase a copy of Hill City Eats—which at this time will only be available in limited quantities—can do so on the Downtown Lynchburg Association website or at select distribution locations, which are also listed online. downtownlynchburg.com/hill-city-eats  

Veritas Winery Launches Its Veritas Illuminated Holiday Walking Trail

Veritas Winery, known for its cozy tasting room and award-winning wines, has launched its holiday walking trail, Veritas Illuminated.

Tucked into the wooded grove that borders the tasting room, visitors can now get a unique, after-hours experience with a quarter-mile walking trail that is bedazzled with twinkling lights and holiday cheer. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for children—with the adult tickets including a souvenir Veritas Illuminated glass—and give the whole family a chance to walk through lighted tunnels and stroll passed glowing vines. The best part? The tasting room will remain open for these later hours, so this cozy stroll can be accompanied by a glass of fruit forward, soft-bodied Claret or a decadent cup of hot chocolate.

In addition to beverages, Veritas has developed a special late night snack menu that’s perfect for the whole family. Chili cheese fries piled high with toppings and kid-friendly, hand-held snacks like a hot dog box await guests before or after they walk through the trail. And, fire pits line the patio, making it the perfect spot to warm up after the trail—and roast a s’more or two, with s’more kits available for purchase in the tasting room.

The tasting room will be open until 9:00 p.m. during Veritas Illuminated, which will run until January 8, 2023. For a full schedule, be sure to visit their website. Guests are encouraged to bundle up, as the walking trail is entirely outdoors. As such, it’ll be open rain, shine, or snow. Guests at the Farmhouse at Veritas will receive complimentary tickets to Veritas Illuminated.

A power of attorney is a document that can make both your life and the lives of your family members much easier. A power of attorney allows your agent to act on your behalf. How and when your agent, or attorney-in-fact, can act depends on the type of power of attorney.

A general, durable power of attorney is the broadest type. It allows your agent to do almost anything you could do on your behalf, with the exception of making a will. It goes into effect immediately upon signing, and it remains in effect if you become incapacitated.

Executing a power of attorney does not mean you are relinquishing your right to conduct your own affairs. If you are competent, your power of attorney should only be acting at your direction. Occasionally, people worry about giving such broad power to another person, but Virginia law requires that an agent acting under a power of attorney must act in your best interest.

There is the option to add language to a power of attorney that makes it go into effect at a certain time or under certain conditions, called a springing power of attorney. For instance, someone may only want a power of attorney in effect if they are hospitalized or unable to make decisions for themselves. One problem with using a springing power of attorney is that it can be difficult for an agent to act easily and quickly.

There are times when a limited power of attorney can be helpful. This power of attorney only allows the agent to act for a specific purpose. For example, you may be out of town for a real estate closing and you want your spouse to be able to sign loan documents for you.

An advanced medical directive is similar to a power of attorney, but it names a healthcare agent. The healthcare agent can easily talk to medical providers and make decisions for your care if you are unable. It can also state what type of care you would like to receive in the event of a terminal illness.

“It is not legally required for the individual holding financial powers to also have the medical powers of decision-making,” explained Lisa Sprinkel, Vice President of Home Health and Hospice at Carilion Clinic. “The important thing is that the individual holding the medical powers knows the values and wishes of the individual for whom they are making decisions. It is likewise important for the medical providers to know WHO those medical proxies are and get that documented in the medical record.”

Who should you name as your agent in your power of attorney?

Often people name their spouse as power of attorney first, and then an adult child if their spouse is unable or unwilling to act as the agent. Others will ask a close friend or other relative. The main requirement for choosing your agent is that the person is someone you trust.

It is important to ask the person you intend to name if they are willing to take on this role. You should make sure they know where the power attorney is kept. It is best kept in a place where the agent can quickly and easily access it. If it is kept in a safety deposit box, your agent may have trouble retrieving it. The agent may even keep a copy of the power of attorney if you are comfortable with that. The agent should keep records of what they have done on your behalf and those records should be made available if you ever have a question about what your agent has done for you.

Finally, a power of attorney can be revoked, but it must be done so formally, while you still have capacity, and the agent must be given notice.

When should you consider getting a power of attorney?

You should determine a power of attorney before you need it. You must be able to understand the power and effect of the document you are signing. Having a power of attorney in place in case you are incapacitated can save you and your family money and time. If there are no legal documents in place to allow family members to act on your behalf, and you are in a position where you are unable to take care of your own personal or business needs, your loved ones would have to file to have a guardian and conservator appointed for you. This requires many steps, including a hearing in court. It will also require the person acting on your behalf to file regular reports with the commissioner of accounts and with social services. If a power of attorney has been executed, the person named as the agent may start acting without delay, and they won’t have the same reporting requirements.

If you wait until you need it, it may be too late. A power of attorney is a helpful tool, and it is often drafted alongside wills. It is best to have an attorney draft your power of attorney so that you end up with a document that will be valid if you are ever incapacitated.

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About the Author: Sarah W. Houck is a Family and Domestic Law attorney in Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black’s Lynchburg office, where she advocates for clients in custody, divorce, and support cases throughout Virginia.

Sweet Poppa’s Serves Up Southern Sweet Tea with a Hint of History

For the average Lynchburg Community Market visitor, Sweet Poppa’s Sweet Tea may seem to be just another local business (with some of the best sweet tea you’ll ever taste). For co-owner Ericka Ennis-Harris, however, it holds additional significance: furthering her father’s legacy.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Ennis-Harris held a strong bond with her father, David Ennis. As she reflects on her childhood, one fond memory she has is her father’s incredible sweet tea (a recipe that Ennis kept tightly guarded). “‘If I tell you [the recipe], I’ve got to kill you,’” Ennis-Harris said her father would jokingly tell her when she was younger.

Ennis-Harris did not learn the recipe herself until later in life from her stepmother after her father’s death. Since then, Ennis-Harris has perfected the recipe by adding fruit flavors to the original concoction. These flavors include peach, lemon (sweet or unsweet), raspberry, cherry, and mango—all of which are deliciously sweet, with a bright, fruity finish.

Prior to opening Sweet Poppa’s Sweet Tea, Ennis-Harris was hired as the director of security for River Ridge Mall. After an unforeseen disability, Ennis-Harris found herself in need of a new career. The solution arose when her children suggested she sell her sweet tea.

Harkening back to her father as inspiration for Sweet Poppa’s, Ennis-Harris takes a family-oriented approach in running the business. Ennis-Harris’ sister, Mariann Clark, co-owns Sweet Poppa’s, and her children work for the business.

While Ennis-Harris recognizes the importance of fiscal responsibility in maintaining a thriving company, she also acknowledges that money is not the sole purpose of her business. She emphasizes serving others and demonstrates this by donating any leftover tea to the Salvation Army.

“I still feel that community is important, and that God leads me to give back to those who need it,” Ennis-Harris said. “So, that’s why I donate to the Salvation Army. Every week, they expect it.”

In order to broaden her clientele, Ennis-Harris offers shipping options for those in Lynchburg as well as out-of-state. As an added incentive to purchase her products, Ennis-Harris often pays for overnight shipping out of pocket.

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At a Glance:
Sweet Poppa’s Sweet Tea
Customers can find Sweet Poppa’s by visiting their booth at the Lynchburg Community Market, or they can contact Ennis-Harris via email: sweetpoppas@gmail.com
and phone: (434) 329-2812.

LU Professor Brings Unique Ultramarathon into its 20th Year

When the clock strikes midnight on the second Saturday of December each year, there is no sign of bedtime for a group of runners at Camp Bethel in Fincastle. In fact, physical rest will only come approximately 18 hours later. Because the only way these athletes are getting back to where they started is via 66.6 miles of darkness, woods, steep elevation gains, and possibly—depending on the season—extreme winter weather conditions.

But this is the Hellgate 100K—and the race roster is full yet again.

“I think Hellgate is appealing to people because it’s such a difficult race,” said Dr. David Horton, race director. “People are attracted to tough things, to unique things.”

Horton, a professor of health sciences at Liberty University for more than 40 years, has a lot in common with the men and women who come out each year to attempt Hellgate, the race he founded in 2002.

Despite his impressive athletic resume, the 72-year-old didn’t start running until he was an adult, attempting his first ultramarathon (a race longer than a 50K) in 1979, not long after he started teaching at LU. After that accomplishment, he was hooked—it was the first of about 30 marathons and 160 ultramarathons he would log in the coming decades. Horton also ran across the United States twice.

“Volkswagens are suited for mileage but not for drag racing. I’m suited for longer distance runs,” Horton said with a laugh. “I found the further I went, the better I did.”

Alongside this newfound passion, Horton felt called to bring more ultramarathon opportunities to others. He founded the Mountain Masochist Trail Run 50 Miler (Montebello) in 1983, the Holiday Lake 50K (Appomattox) in 1996, and the Promise Land 50K (Bedford) in 2000.

Through the years, he directed these races, and dozens of others, but over time has passed each one on to someone else to lead—all except Promise Land and Hellgate, his two favorites.

Hellgate has had the same course since it was created 20 years ago. While it’s a 100K, the exact distance down the Glenwood Horse Trail ended up, ironically, being 66.6 miles.

According to Horton, Hellgate seems to have the largest and strongest following in the ultrarunning world.

“Runners from 30 or more states come and run it,” he said of the approximately 150 participants who take part each year.

John Anderson, a 47-year-old father and veterinarian in Crozet, will mark his tenth Hellgate experience this December. He is hoping for his ninth top-10 finish.

“Hellgate is like a test at the end of each year—a life test,” said Anderson, who started running marathons once he turned 30. “Not only are you in shape to tackle this race, which is so hard, but also are you in a mental space where you can handle the race?”

Each runner has to train and prepare for 13,000 feet of elevation gain during the Hellgate course; that’s about 2.5 miles of hills. Much of the terrain is covered with leaves and very uneven.

As is typical in the Virginia mountains, the weather is a mixed bag from year to year.

“We have anywhere from nice weather in the 70s to 10 degrees with a foot of snow. But we have never canceled a race,” Horton explained. “Two years ago, it rained for 10 hours during the race. We called that race Watergate, instead of Hellgate.

There was also Snowgate one year.” There is also the dreaded Hellgate Eyes—a condition where your cornea literally freezes, causing blurred vision. About five or six athletes deal with this each year, Horton says.

The 12:01 a.m. start time means the first seven hours of the race are practically pitch black, with handheld flashlights or headlamps helping to guide the way.

Along the trail, Horton and his team set up nine aid stations that are manned by dedicated volunteers. These stations provide help to runners if they need it and also make sure they stay on course, especially during the nighttime hours.

All of the darkness is a prelude to Anderson’s favorite part of the race: “And then, the sun comes up. It’s like a rebirth, but right when things are getting tough,” he said.

In a way, the Hellgate race—with its demand for physical and mental fortitude— mirrors the life of its founder and director, who has been the subject of two movies, Extraordinary and The Runner.

After several knee injuries and surgeries left him unable to pound the pavement (or trail), Horton had to hang up his marathon days about a decade ago. But he didn’t take that as a reason to stop competing and quickly transitioned to distance biking.

This past summer, Horton completed a bike race from Portland, OR, to San Diego and finished it in just over 13 days. He has also biked across the United States twice.

“Did I want to switch to biking? Nope. I wish I were still running,” said Horton. “But you always look for different challenges. And since I teach at LU, I want to be an example to my students.”

Horton holds himself to a very high standard—and is equally as tough on the athletes that choose his races. This is one reason why Anderson keeps coming back year after year.

“David has been there for several 100-mile races that I have done, and when things are tough, and he knows they are tough, he doesn’t coddle you, or give you false bravado—he will say a comment or two that makes you realize that this is your race and what you choose to do with it is your decision,” said Anderson.

Last year, the fastest Hellgate runner completed the race in just over 10 hours. The average time is around 16 hours. There is an 18-hour time cap.

Horton is proud to say that 90 percent of the people who start the Hellgate race finish it within that time frame.

“It’s not about who wins, it’s about challenging yourself to do something you aren’t sure you can do,” he said.

As for his personal finish line, Horton has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Retirement isn’t on the table just yet, and the Hellgate and Promise Land races will continue “indefinitely,” much to the delight of ultramarathon runners like Anderson.

“Virginia arguably has the best ultrarunning community on the East Coast, and I would argue, the nation. It’s a tight knit group, and this is OUR race,” Anderson said. “Everyone respects Hellgate and takes some pride in it.”

Legacy Keeper Artist Hannah Burnside Is Keeping a 700-Year-Old History Alive

In August, tattoo artist Hannah Burnside woke up in Jerusalem. After long layovers, even longer flights, and hassles through airport security, she walked through the streets of the Christian Quarter and found herself in front of a solid metal door. On the door, no other markings were clear besides a phone number written in permanent marker.

“I called the number and this dude just rolled up in an old Harley,” Burnside, a Savannah native who has been living in Lynchburg since college, recounted. “His leather jacket had ‘Holy Land Bikers’’ on the back, which is a Christian biker club in Jerusalem.”

Stepping off of the bike was Wassim Razzouk, a 27th generation tattoo artist and the current owner of
Razzouk Tattoo.

For the week following that phone call from the crowded streets of the Holy City, Burnside worked alongside the Razzouk family, learning their tattoo styles and, more importantly, the legacy that they represent.

“The Razzouk family immigrated from Egypt 700 years ago and followed a similar path to Jerusalem that folks take on pilgrimages to the Holy Land,” Burnside explained. “To commemorate their pilgrimage, people would get a tattoo of a particular saint or something that represented the pilgrimage. If they returned, say a year later, they would get the date tattooed underneath the original tattoo. So, some people would have dates stretching down their arm that marked their annual pilgrimages.”

Wooden carved stamps were used as stencils for the tattoos—stamps that are still used some 700 years later at Razzouk Tattoo.

“There are some stamps at the shop that they believe are older than that,” Burnside said. “But they just can’t date them back that far.”

During her apprenticeship at Razzouk Tattoo, Burnside immersed herself into the culture and worked tirelessly alongside the Razzouk family as they helped people memorialize a significant journey.

“One day, we had a group of 20 or 30 Armenian pilgrims come by the shop and ask for cross tattoos to mark their journey,” she said. “It was really cool seeing all of these groups who have different takes on religion, but whether they were Christian, Jewish, or any other religion, Jerusalem marks the Holy Land for all of them. Knowing that they all didn’t believe the exact same thing, but still gathered for the same goal, was really beautiful.”

Despite the language barriers—folks travel from all over the world to get tattooed at Razzouk—Burnside noted that she still found such deep bonds with the people she was able to tattoo.

“They have full trust in you even though you can’t understand each other,” she explained. “That’s a really powerful thing and a really amazing experience to have.”

That level of trust is something that Burnside has worked to cultivate since she began tattooing in 2020. A tattoo apprentice at Caspian Tattoo in Lynchburg, Burnside puts a big emphasis behind comfort and trust with the people she tattoos.

“I understand that a lot of people come into the shop with body image issues, or not loving a certain part of themselves and I just want our time together to be a time of complete ease and confidence,” she said.

After returning home from her Razzouk Tattoo apprenticeship, Burnside is now an official Razzouk ambassador, which means she is in possession of some of the antique tattoo stamps and has expressed approval to tattoo those designs in Lynchburg. As one of only nine current ambassadors—all of whom are situated around the globe—this is an incredible privilege and honor.

“I even had the opportunity to design my own stamp before I left,” Burnside explained. “So now my stamp sits in the shop at Razzouk and they will tattoo my stamp for folks all over the world. And I can tattoo it here in Lynchburg, as well.”

Burnside shared a Ram Dass quote that she felt was particularly poignant in commemorating her journey to Jerusalem—her own pilgrimage in a way. “The quote is, ‘We are all walking each other home.’ I can’t think of a better way to describe what this experience has been like, or what these tattoos mean, than that.”

Be Kind Gallery 101 Cultivates a Caring and Inclusive Community for Creatives

Viewed from different lenses, a single work of art can tell innumerable stories.

Art possesses a singular ability to speak to different people in different ways, and that is part of its power. That being said, there is also great power in an artist’s intent, in the often deeply personal message they seek to share. At Be Kind Gallery 101, both interpretation and intent are given space, thus creating an atmosphere where creativity, conversations, and connections thrive.

Be Kind Gallery 101 was founded by Stability X, an artist and veteran who sustained traumatic brain injuries after jumping out of airplanes during her service in the 82nd Airborne Division in North Carolina. When she decided to leave the military so she could better care for her daughter, X was met with little support.

“I sustained multiple traumatic brain injuries doing those jumps and decided, as a single mother, that I needed to stop so that I could have some cognitive abilities to take care of my daughter,” X said.

“She is, overall, top mission. I needed to do what was best at that time for my health and for my daughter’s safety. I did not get a positive reaction from my leadership when I made that decision. I could no longer perform human resources work, which had been my job for nine years, to the best of my abilities because traumatic brain injuries affect your executive functioning skills. I ended up getting disability compensation, but it wasn’t enough to take care of my daughter and me.”

X started a stationery notebook company to bring in some more income but discovered that the burnout resulting from being an entrepreneur with brain trauma made the situation untenable.

In addition to dealing with financial struggles due to lack of support, X was also dealing with isolation.

“When you’re in the military, you’re part of a team of soldiers,” she remarked.

“You are rarely isolated. When you’re a veteran out in the community, if you’re not with a company that has six or seven other employees in your immediate vicinity, you can feel immediately isolated… What I want people to understand about veterans, especially those recovering from injuries, is that it’s important
to reach out. Talk to them, ask them about their journeys, and see how you can help introduce them to different resources and organizations.”

These experiences, paired with X’s long-standing love of and talent for art, led her to open Be Kind Gallery 101 in March. She currently invests her disability compensation into the gallery, and her ultimate goal is to attain 501(c)(3) status.

“I wanted people to know that I was trying,” she said of her decision to open the gallery. “I wanted to say, ‘This is how I’m trying. Come in and ask me questions, and let’s talk about it.

See how I’m still working.’ Veterans who are injured don’t get enough compensation nine times out of ten, and they still have to work. This is how I choose to work.”

X and her partner, John Rose, are both artists with unique styles. Rose likes to incorporate found objects that are often perceived as trash, such as empty beer cans, into his art, thus giving them new life. “I feel like I’m still discovering myself as an artist, and I feel like you always need to be open to evolving as an artist,” he noted. “It’s an ongoing process.”

X is a mixed-media artist. “Including pictures that are already made can give more of a story to a piece and inspire more conversation about a piece,” she said. “I enjoy doing the ‘unordinary’ when it comes to art. Often when you go into galleries—to this day—you’re just seeing paintings. I want the mixed-media niche to expand.”

In addition to showcasing a wide array of styles and mediums, Be Kind Gallery 101 invites artists of all skill levels to share and sell their work as space allows. “I want to bring awareness that this is a space that’s not going to say, ‘We’ll consider your work when we do another exhibition,’” X noted. “Bring in your work, and as long as we have the wall space, we will hang it up.”

Providing a safe and welcoming space for artists to share their stories through their work and for visitors to browse, talk, and shop is the gallery’s primary mission. Rose says that he “would like to help people find confidence in who they are as artists and as people,” and X hopes that coming to the gallery will provide people with a sense of refuge.

“Coming into this space is a break from what’s going on out there,” she remarked. “There is so much consumption and consumerism. You don’t have to buy anything when you come in here. You can just look and explore. I think we need more spaces like this where you don’t feel pressured. Giving that refuge is so rewarding to me, as is having people ask questions about the art.”

X can personally attest to the triple-fold power of creating, sharing, and talking to others about one’s own art. One of her pieces took 18 hours to create. “Every hour that I spent making it, I knew that it was helping me to get it all out and not keep it bottled up,” she said. “I want my art to get me in good trouble.”
With its intentional and inclusive approach, Be Kind Gallery 101 is undoubtedly fostering invaluable connection and bringing much-needed awareness to talented local artists.

“I want people to know more artists the way that we know Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber,” said X. “We need to know painters and sculptors. Our experiences need to be shared and spoken about.”

Whether you choose to enter the gallery as a storyteller or an interpreter, you will likely empower others to share their stories. Together, our stories paint a beautiful picture—or perhaps, more accurately, create a dynamic and powerful mixed-media piece.

A Cold War Relic

Photos Courtesy of The Maier Museum of Art

Many Lynchburg residents are unaware of the Cold War relic humbly nestled on the campus of Randolph College. As one of Lynchburg’s staple art locations, the Maier Museum of Art’s history is as rich as its unique collection of original paintings and photographs.

In wake of the Nazi escalation of power, which pinnacled in 1938, Adolf Hitler confiscated thousands of European artworks, paving the way for a new kind of art—one that emphasized the Volksgemeinschaft (the racial community).

This menacing operation, titled Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, confiscated more than 20 percent of Europe’s art collections, making it the most detrimental heist of art in the world.

It robbed its own citizens and countless galleries and museums throughout Europe.

While some of these stolen treasures were eventually recovered following World War II, thousands were either lost or destroyed. Many items included works from Van Gogh, Michelangelo, and other celebrated, world-renowned artists.

But the conclusion of WWII ushered in another period of foreboding conflict—the Cold War, which stretched from 1947-1991. Fearful of the disastrous art robbery from the previous decade, the United States government knew it needed a backup plan for the nation’s art collection should the Cold War escalate and eventually manifest on U.S. soil.

The National Art Gallery in Washington D.C. devised a strategy to transport its valuable collection of art 150 miles Southwest, to Lynchburg, onto the campus of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (R-MWC).

The college, founded in 1891, had built a strong reputation of art appreciation. Louise Jordan Smith, one of the first five resident professors at R-MWC, wanted students to be submerged in art, regardless of degree program. She taught Art and French and was the pioneer in building the college’s art program, even launching one of the first American Art History survey courses in 1913. Randolph’s annual exhibition of contemporary art, approaching its 111th uninterrupted show, was also Smith’s brainchild.

“She thought it was really important for all students to be surrounded by high-quality original artwork everywhere,” said Martha Johnson, who has served in various roles at the Maier Museum of Art since 2002. She now serves as director. “Where they ate, where they studied, where they socialized. It had to be a part of every aspect of their lives.”

The National Gallery board of trustees took notice—among other reasons—of the college’s powerful emphasis on the visual arts and authorized an emergency project to guarantee safety of its art collection should the Cold War turn dark. The National Gallery would transport its valuable collection of American art to R-MWC.

The confidential feat was dubbed “Project XYZ” (the “Y” referring to the college).

In 1951, the U.S. government funded a storage building between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet, with roughly 25,000 square feet of vertical space for sliding screens.

The fireproof structure, costing just under a quarter million dollars, was finished in the spring of 1952. Steel-reinforced concrete made up the building’s roof and floor; all aspects of the project were constructed in accordance with industry-standard codes for museum creation.

“There was a sense of urgency in getting this structure built quickly,” Johnson said.

Additional features included more than 60 rows of steel and aluminum sliding screens, a loading dock, and ample space for security.

The agreement would last for 25 years, and it was specified that R-MWC would have complete agency over the building unless the National Art Gallery needed it for its intended purpose. Given the confidential details surrounding the building, the college advertised it as space to house an outstanding collection of campus and American art.

A test evacuation drill occurred in 1962 to sample the abilities of the truck drivers and to ensure the trucks fit into the new building’s loading dock.

In March of 1976, the agreement was renewed for an additional 25 years.

The renewal included a $12,500 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to fund renovations, which included additional gallery spaces, fresh paint, and other miscellaneous upkeep expenses.

Thankfully, America’s prized art collection never made its way to the college. Instead, the building now houses Randolph College’s astounding collection of paintings, photography, and more.

The museum welcomes thousands of guests every year. Prior to COVID-19 regulations, the museum brought in around 7,000 annual guests. The galleries are open to both students and members of the public.

The museum features five distinct galleries, each presented in chronological order. Upon entering, a portrait of Louis Jordan Smith greets visitors. Walking through the galleries, spectators can enjoy art pieces from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. While two galleries are devoted to changing exhibitions, three remain relatively consistent, featuring the best from the permanent collection, such as pieces by Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Thomas Hart Benton, and a multitude of other artists throughout the centuries. The museum even shows a piece by Gilbert Stuart, who painted George Washington’s official portrait.

Randolph College’s Maier Museum of Art carries a rich collection of art and a fascinating history, even floor markings from the original sliders, but it also serves the Lynchburg community by boasting one of the greatest stories of art preservation.

“You have people who come in here and don’t care about art at all, but they love this story,” Johnson said. “There is a lot of history to try to live up to. We do our best to honor that. It’s a proud history to be a part of.”

The Maier Museum of Art is open Wednesday through Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For additional information or to browse the current exhibitions online, visit maiermuseum.org, or call (434) 947-8136.

5 Yorktown Weekend Getaways to Satisfy Many Types of Visitors This Season

From foodie excursions and girls’ weekends to art aficionados and history buffs, imagine a destination a short distance away that caters to all sorts of travelers. 

If you haven’t made a trip to explore Yorktown lately, fall is the perfect time to explore. You’ll find world-class amenities and attractions nestled in a place that maintains plenty of small-town charm and hospitality. 

A day spent in Yorktown is always worthwhile, but to truly experience all it has to offer, set aside more time in your schedule to explore. We’ve curated a few trip agendas with suggestions on places to stay, play and eat that will make ideal autumn escapes for all. 

ART AFICIONADOS 

Event: Yorktown Art Stroll, Sept. 25 

Stay: The former residence and gallery of well-known contemporary folk artist Nancy Thomas now serve as private cottages available to rent. Art lovers will appreciate looking for the many tributes to Thomas’ career featured throughout both cozy and eclectic accommodations. 

Play: Hop on the Yorktown Trolley and head up the hill to Main Street to discover treasures at On the Hill Gallery and Gallery at York Hall, featuring the works of more than 300 Yorktown-area artists—paintings, pottery, jewelry, quilts, photographs, holiday ornaments, stained glass and more. 

Eat: Dine al fresco next to the York River at Water Street Grille. Take your time and share seasonal craft cocktails and appetizers of local oysters, crab cakes and scallops casino, particularly on a Thursday night while listening to the sounds of the Rhythms on the Riverwalk Concert Series.

GIRLS’ WEEKEND 

Event: Yorktown Wine Festival, Oct. 1 

Stay: There is plenty of space to laugh, talk and reconnect over breakfast or in the lovely outdoor spaces at Marl Inn Bed & Breakfast. A variety of guest rooms and suites can host several friends. 

Play: Stroll the mile-long pedestrian waterfront walkway and then linger as long as you’d like in Riverwalk Landing shops like Gangsta Dog, Viccellio Goldsmith or Auntie M’s American Cottage. 

Eat: Relax and chat at the casual and welcoming Yorktown Pub. Large plates are perfect for sharing with friends, including the 1/2-pound burger and the steamed seafood sampler. Walk to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in Riverwalk Landing for a sweet reward to end your evening. 

FOOD ENTHUSIASTS 

Events: Yorktown Market Days, September and October Saturdays (excluding Oct. 1); Yorktoberfest, Oct. 23 

Stay: Enjoy a breakfast feast served by innkeeper Bill Cole at the York River Inn Bed & Breakfast. He prepares decadent dishes like glazed sausage cakes, spinach and artichoke pie and corn pudding. 

Play: Work off your meals by renting bikes, kayaks or paddleboards from Patriot Tours & Provisions. Rentals are launched from the private beach at the Watermen’s Museum. 

Eat: Journey beyond the Yorktown waterfront to The Edge District for innovative cuisine and gourmet tacos at Casa Pearl, locally roasted coffee flights at Column 15 or a double IPA at The Virginia Beer Co. 

ROMANTIC GETAWAY 

Event: Rhythms on the Riverwalk Concert Series, Thursdays in September and Oct. 6 and 13 

Stay: Relax on your beachfront balcony at Yorktown Beach Hotel with a cup of coffee or glass of wine and enjoy the view as you toast the opportunity for a couple’s escape. 

Play: Romance and sunsets go hand-in-hand, and being on the water aboard a Schooner Alliance sail enhances the allure. 

Eat: Share a beautiful plate of fresh sashimi at Umi Sushi and then indulge in dessert at Carrot Tree Kitchens. Homemade cakes and pastries are impossible to pass up—and you shouldn’t.

 HISTORY BUFFS 

Event: Yorktown Day, Oct. 19; York County Vintage Market, Nov. 5 

Stay: History aficionados will appreciate the story of The Hornsby House Inn. The colonial-style home was built in 1933 by John William “JW” Hornsby and has remained in the family for three generations. 

Play: Immerse yourself in Yorktown’s world-class museums. Experience 18th-century living history at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown through a Revolution-era farm and Continental Army encampment. Of course, history lovers can’t miss the Colonial National Historical Park, where they can ask questions during a tour of Yorktown Battlefield and watch a film about the Siege of Yorktown at the Visitor Center. 

Eat: Mobjack Coffee Roasters and Petite Café offers coffees, espressos, sandwiches, sweets, beer and wine in the circa 1726 Cole Digges House on Main Street. The eatery also partners with Colonial National Historical Park on Stroll with a Historian history tours. 

For more information about Yorktown weekends and to check out the complete events calendar, check out VisitYorktown.org.

For a lot of people, their dogs are their children and when they leave for work for the day or have a laundry list of errands to run, they want their fur babies to have the best quality of life while they’re away.

That’s where K-9 Cloud 9 comes in.

Theresa Bryan was working in corporate sales and had two dogs that she wanted day care for. When she found nothing available in the city, she decided to take matters into her own hands and open her own facility.

“I was successful in my corporate career and thought I could be successful for myself instead of a corporate company,” she said.

She opened the business in March 2019 in The Plaza Shopping Center on Memorial Avenue. She wanted it to be a place where there would be exceptional customer service, care, and straightforward pricing.

The business provides boarding services, dog day care, nail trims, and WebCam viewing so owners can watch their dogs having fun playing with their furry friends.

Bryan believes there’s no place like home, but should you need to leave your dog overnight, the K-9 Cloud 9 team is trained to pamper your dog so time away from home is as comfortable as possible.

Bryan said she is also working on hiring a groomer in the future.

K-9 Cloud 9 is an indoor center, which Bryan said is great for dogs because it’s safer and cleaner.

“Our format is a little different than most daycares because the dogs do play out most of the day, versus being caged most of the day with short potty breaks,” she said. “That’s what most centers do and our dogs are just out the whole day and they really get the chance to make friends and be very rambunctious and get all their energy out.”

She said it’s ideal for owners who want their dogs to be more social with other dogs and can learn proper manners.

“Dogs have a lot of energy and unless you’re going to take your dog on a 45-minute run every day, you’re never going to exhaust your dog,” she said. “So dogs that have an opportunity to socialize and be in a structure-free environment are generally happier dogs.”

The business also offers early drop off and late pick up for those who are working 12 hour shifts like nurses and doctors, Bryan said.

“Their dogs can have just as much fun and they don’t have to worry about not being able to take their dog anywhere because their shift work doesn’t allow that,” she said.

Jordan Miller, a Lynchburg resident, has been taking his lively lab-mix, Ruby, to K-9’s daycare for four days a week since it opened.
Every morning, he says “You want to go play with friends?” and Ruby’s ears perk up because she knows that she’s about to go play all day with other doggos.

Miller said 5-year-old Ruby has a phenomenal personality and is the best dog he’s ever had, so just like most other owners who have full-time jobs, he wanted to make sure she was in a trusted and safe environment while he’s away from her.

“We wanted a safe, happy, and convenient place that we could take Ruby because you want to make sure they’re going to a very, very nice place,” he said.

“We wanted a safe, happy, and convenient place that we could take Ruby because you want to make sure they’re going to a very, very nice place,” he said.

As soon as Miller walked into K-9 Cloud 9 in 2019, Bryan offered a tour and informed Miller about the company’s practices.

“She made us feel extremely comfortable with leaving Ruby,” he said. “I trust them completely. They have a great team and when I drop off Ruby I know she’s going to be in a good place and I can just have that completely off my mind while I go to work.”

By Friday, Ruby sleeps all day because she’s gotten all of her energy out between Monday and Thursday, Miller said.

“If dogs don’t use up their energy at doggy daycare, they will use it in a disruptive way,” he said.

Miller has been so pleased with the services at the daycare, he has referred multiple people there because it’s been such an ideal place to drop his fur baby off each week.

“It’s been very integral to my family’s lifestyle,” he said.

Just like daycare for children, K-9 Cloud 9 does activities like nose prints for Mother’s Day and photo magnets for Christmas. In August, the dogs will pose for back-to-school photos.

Owning a business has taught Bryan to stay flexible, be willing to make changes, go with the flow, and listen to employees.

“We have such a fabulous team and being the owner of a business is so much easier when I have great employees and I have such a great team working there,” she said. “I’ve been really lucky in the fact that I’ve been able to hire people who have a lot of experience in veterinary and shelter work.”

She said her team loves the dogs like they are their own and she knows she can rely on them to know the best interest and safety of the animals.

“Our team is so dedicated to the dogs coming there, being safe, and having a great time, and I think the owners can really tell that when they pick up their dogs that their dogs love it.”