Written and Photographed by: Abby Price

Greenville, a small city in the northwestern part of South Carolina, has been rising in popularity over the last few years. Its adorable downtown area is filled with shops, restaurants, bars, and breweries. Greenville’s abundant charm and nature-filled downtown is only enriched by its outstanding performing arts center, beautiful parks, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

After hearing so much about Greenville and seeing amazing photos, I decided to visit the city myself. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Greenville not only met but exceeded my expectations. The city is overflowing with southern hospitality, scenic views, and plenty of activities to enjoy, making it the perfect getaway not too far from the state of Virginia.

Traveling To Greenville, South Carolina

You have a few options for reaching Greenville, South Carolina. The city has a decently sized airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, which makes flying in and out convenient. The airport is just a 15-minute drive from downtown, which is very convenient for those wanting to avoid being in a car for long stints of time.

If you prefer a road trip, like I did, the drive is very pleasant. From Lynchburg, you can take I-29 towards Greensboro, then switch to I-85 past Charlotte and head towards Spartanburg, which leads to Greenville. The drive takes about 5 hours exactly and is well worth it for the charming city and all it offers.

Where To Stay

I chose a hotel in downtown Greenville because the area is so walkable! Staying downtown means you can easily explore the vibrant dining and shopping scene without driving. Plus, you avoid the hassle of finding parking, which can be tricky near popular restaurants, stores, and venues.

I recommend staying at the Hyatt Place Greenville Downtown. The rooms are spacious, and it’s conveniently located near many restaurants. Plus, it’s close to Falls Park on the Reedy, a 32-acre park in Greenville’s Historic West End, where the Reedy River flows through. It’s perfect for strolling, admiring the waterfall, and enjoying nature in a downtown setting.

Experiences Worth Having

A visit to Greenville isn’t complete without stopping by Falls Park on the Reedy. This massive park is perfect for walking around, appreciating the water features, and enjoying its lovely suspension bridge. It’s an excellent spot for outdoor activities and taking memorable photos of your time in the city.

I loved that the park has plenty of seating, including picnic tables, porch swings, and chairs for visitors to enjoy. My husband and I spent a few hours strolling around the park, and it was nice to sit in different areas and take in the soothing sound of the cascading waterfall.

For live entertainment, I recommend heading to Bon Secours Wellness Arena. They host concerts, wrestling matches, and Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey games. My husband and I attended a wrestling event there and enjoyed the lively atmosphere, excellent facilities, and convenient location. Since we stayed downtown, we could walk to the arena, which made the experience even better!

Another worthwhile experience, especially for animal enthusiasts or those traveling with children or grandchildren, is visiting the Greenville Zoo. It has a variety of animals, such as giraffes, red pandas, alligators, and more, making it an enjoyable and educational experience for everyone. I appreciated its downtown location, making it another fantastic place to walk to if you stay downtown.

Outdoor Activities You Shouldn’t Miss

Greenville boasts 39 parks spread across 500 acres of its land, offering plenty of green spaces to explore. Each park has its unique charm, making choosing just one to visit hard. Although Falls Park on the Reedy stands out as my favorite due to its proximity to downtown and our hotel, the city’s array of parks makes it effortless to step outside and spend time in nature. 

Fluor Field offers another fantastic outdoor experience with minor league baseball games featuring the Greenville Drive team. It’s a perfect spot to spend a summer day soaking up the sun while enjoying the game.

If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, consider venturing just outside of Greenville to Chimney Rock State Park, located approximately 55 miles north. It’s an ideal spot for hiking, offering many different trails suitable for all skill levels. Try the nearly 2-mile Hickory Nut Falls Trail for an easy yet stunning hike leading to a majestic 400-foot waterfall. This trail is perfect for beginners or those searching for a leisurely stroll with beautiful scenery.

Check out the Exclamation Point and Skyline Trail to Hickory Nut Falls for a more challenging workout. Although this route is less than 3 miles, it includes numerous steep stairs. However, the breathtaking views from the summit, overlooking the mountains, water, and towns below, make the effort well worth it.

Expert Recommendations

My favorite thing to do in Greenville is stroll through downtown and explore the diverse range of restaurants, breweries, cafes, and shops. For a unique place to dine, I highly recommend Trappe Door, a Belgian restaurant known for its delicious Belgian beer, short ribs, steak frites, and other tasty specialties that are sure to impress.

Another great tip I have for you is to explore the city’s coffee scene. Greenville is packed with coffee shops offering amazing variations, and if you enjoy specialty coffees, it’s a must-try. I recommend visiting Coffee Underground. They have a quirky atmosphere and serve scrumptious coffee and food. And don’t miss trying a slice of their strawberry cake with your coffee. It’s an unexpected but delightful combo that you’ll love.

My last tip is to consider scheduling your trip for spring, summer, or fall. I recommend avoiding winter since Greenville’s charm lies in its scenic beauty, views, and outdoor parks. Opt for a time when the weather is warm and ideal for outdoor activities. This way, you can fully appreciate Greenville’s unique appeal, including its mountains and abundant green spaces.  

The Transportive Power of the James River Batteau Festival

By Emily Mook | Photos Courtesy of Holt Messerly & Faye Smith

There are no right or wrong answers to the question, “What makes Lynchburg Lynchburg?” but the annual James River Batteau Festival (JRBF) is undoubtedly a compelling and comprehensive candidate. It is integral to Lynchburg’s history and culture, it bridges Lynchburg’s past and present in both tangible and intangible ways, and it inspires enthusiastic participation in many and an impressive level of dedication in some. Since the inaugural JRBF in 1986, this annual living history reenactment has evolved to allow for advancements and increased community involvement while also staying true to its roots. This effort to strike a balance between tradition and innovation is much like a batteau’s journey down the James River: a delicate dance that requires collaboration, patience, diligence, fortitude, passion, and adaptability. This year’s Festival, which will run from June 15 through June 22, promises to be another dynamic celebration of Lynchburg’s history and of the river that runs through it.

The James River was the site of the first permanent English colony at Jamestown in 1607 and is recognized by Congress as the founding river of the United States. Incidentally, the James is also the founding river of Lynchburg.

“Lynchburg started as a depot for storing goods to be shipped on the batteaux and later the canal down to the markets in Richmond,” explains Robert Campbell, Upper James Senior Manager of the James River Association and longtime JRBF participant. “Over the years a settlement grew up on the hillside above the James where John Lynch ran his ferry across to the north bank on the Amherst County side. This little spot would eventually become Lynchburg, and it all had to do with geography and its position by the river.”

JRBF’s 120-mile, eight-day journey from Lynchburg to Richmond is full of visible reminders of the James River’s rich history.

“There are aqueducts spread down the River which are beautiful examples of stonework from the early 1800s and which carried the canals over the creeks and rivers entering the James,” notes Ralph Smith, Owner of High Peak Sportswear and former Festival Chairman (a position he held for 15 years). “There are also multiple sluices, which are places where the batteaumen—many of whom were slaves—cleared the rocks in particularly shallow places in the River. Many of these sluices are still functional today and are the only way to get a batteau around a ledge or shallow.”

It is important to recognize that many African American men—both enslaved and free—operated the batteaux that made Lynchburg the large city that it is today.

“In January 1854, Frank Padget, a slave and head boatman, lost his life in the process of saving others after the canal boat Clinton’s tow rope broke in the flooded James River at Balcony Falls,”
says Diane Easley, Archivist for the VA Canals and Navigations Society. “Lynchburg resident Sydnor Royall was on the Clinton and successfully swam to shore. Sam Evans, another African American boatman, rescued the rescue party the day after Frank Padget drowned. We need to appreciate the work these men did and learn more about their lives.”

Batteaux are 45 to 50 feet long, six to eight feet wide, flat-bottomed boats made of white oak. They are stored in lakes and ponds and kept submerged underwater to preserve the wood. Campbell, Smith, and Easley have all led or been part of batteau building crews. 

Building and operating batteaux are no simple feats, but dedicated crews happily take on these arduous tasks for JRBF year after year.

“Maneuvering a boat that large and heavy using the same methods that would have been used in the 1700s is truly a unique skill in this world that only a few have mastered,” Campbell remarks. “Wooden poles are used to give the boat momentum and on the other side of that to help slow the boat down. Large sweeps at each end of the boat are used to maneuver the vessel as it shoots through rapids. Batteaux cannot take too many big hits on rocks, so the whole idea is to navigate through a rapid—however long, narrow, curvy or shallow it may be—without having the batteau strike a rock. It is extremely challenging, but for those of us who like a challenge, it is a truly amazing thing to take part of.”

Luckily, when hiccups inevitably occur during the Festival, many hands are on deck to assist.

“More times than I can count, batteaux have gotten hung up on the rocks of this rapid [Goosby Falls] and required sometimes 40 people to be in the water to free the boat,” Smith says. “It’s a great sense of community and nobody needs to be asked to help.”

Although traveling by batteau makes for the most authentic Festival experience, “a trip down the James is great no matter what boat you’re in,” as Campbell says. Those looking for a more laid-back experience may choose to travel by canoe or kayak and to join for a day or two rather than the full eight days. After launching near Percival’s Island, the batteaux and accompanying boats travel to a new camp each day, located respectively in Stapleton, Bent Creek, Wingina, Howardsville, Scottsville, Slate River, Cartersville, and Maidens Landing.

JRBF’s singular sense of community is further bolstered by shared meals and stories and impromptu concerts at the camps and on the River.

“One of the hidden gems of the festival is the fantastic, authentic music that usually comes out while a couple batteaux are hiding in a creek on the side of the James River underneath a 250-year-old aqueduct that has better acoustics than a lot of famous music halls,” notes Campbell. “Those are some of the magical moments that happen while we’re on the River that can never be planned, but end up being as perfect and unique as they are elusive and irreplaceable.”

Of course, in order to provide a framework for these serendipitous moments, the Festival itself must be meticulously planned. Longtime leaders and innovators are looking to the next generation to take the helm. Easley works closely with Dr. William E. Trout III, the Founder of the VA Canals and Navigations Society and one of the founders of the Festival, and she observes that “as we are coming up on the 40th anniversary of the JRBF, we need to recruit younger people for it to continue another 40 years.”

Fortunately, this necessary passing of the torch is already well underway. Smith’s two sons are both longtime participants in the Festival, and his eldest son is the co-founder of the James River Batteau Company.

“My son Will, along with his close friend Will Cash, started the James River Batteau Company in 2022,” Smith remarks. “They give tours out of Scottsville on batteaux.  The business is doing very well, and they were booked for most of last summer. I always dreamed of finding a way to make a living being a batteauman but thought it was impossible. But now my son and his friend are actually making it happen, which is tremendously exciting and gratifying for me.”

JRBF’s success is a direct reflection of the people who plan, run, and participate in it with care—perhaps confirming that what ultimately makes Lynchburg Lynchburg is the people.

“The people who gather to run the river every year are some of the most amazing people that you’ll ever meet,” Campbell says. “There are people from all walks of life. We all put our lives aside for a week to run these big boats down the River with our friends and family and experience living history. We are all in it together while we’re out there. We look out for each other, help each other off of rocks, and help repair each other’s boats, and we laugh and have a good time while we’re doing it!”

A Story of Resilience, Tradition, and the Allure of Classic American Diners

By Olivia Carter | Photos by Ashlee Glen

On Main Street there is a culinary institution with a blue roof where time seems to stand still. You know it.

The Texas Inn, affectionately known to locals as the T-Room, is more than just a diner, it’s a cherished icon, an institution deeply woven into the fabric of the community’s history and culture.

Dave Saunders, the current owner, looks back on its history beginning in 1935 of how it started with Isaac “Nick” Bullington, a former employee of Ringling Brothers Circus, and how it now has three sister locations not only in the Hill City in Cornerstone but in Harrisonburg and, most recently, Richmond.

“The Texas Inn is kind of Texas in name only,” he said. “It really is a Virginia institution. And it certainly is a Lynchburg institution.”

Originally opened in Lynchburg, the T-Room had only ten stools and a to-go window, yet it quickly became a local hotspot, drawing in crowds with its signature dish— the Cheesy Western.

The Western was on the menu originally at the Lynchburg location and at Roanoke’s Texas Tavern, but in the late 1940s and early 1950s, people began asking for cheese on the burger.

While some items have been added and removed over the years, the core essence of the T-Room remains unchanged with its offerings of hot dogs, cheesy westerns—a hamburger with relish, a fried egg, and cheese—and chili, better known as a “bowl.”

“Basically, you could get a Western and you’d say, ‘Add cheese,’” Saunders said. “In the ’70s when they moved locations and they put up the menu board, they had a Western and they had a Cheesy Western. And then basically the lingo for the servers was just shortened to ‘cheesy.’ So it was just like the shorthand that the servers used to call back to the cooks.”

Over the decades, the T-Room evolved from its humble beginnings across from the Academy Theater to its current location on Main Street. In 1971, a relocation transformed a former gas station into the popular diner we know today. Renamed the Texas Inn to distinguish itself from its Roanoke counterpart, the T-Room retained its iconic charm, complete with the legendary blue roof proudly displaying its name to passersby.

Saunders said what truly sets the Texas Inn apart besides its history is the commitment to quality and tradition. Soon after Saunders bought the business in 2018, he spent not only time but money perfecting the famed chili recipe, a labor of love that involved months of collaboration with food scientists.

“I’ve described our business model as ‘good, fast, and cheap,’” Saunders said. “You’re not going to get people to fall in love with you until you get all three and the Texas Inn does. People love it. I mean, they don’t just like it, they love it. They have an emotional attachment with the experience and with the food.

I get notes all the time saying, ‘Thank you for buying it. Thank you for returning it to its former glory. It tastes as good as it did in 1950.’ And I think that’s important. I think the proof is in the numbers. We serve twice as many people today as we did five and a half years ago,” he continued.

Beyond the food, there is a power of community and nostalgia in the diner. Saunders said there are patrons who have traveled from all over to the T-Room, including Governor Glenn Youngkin,
who never fails to make a pit stop to order two Cheesys and a Dr. Pepper whenever he visits Lynchburg.

Every dollar earned is reinvested into the diner, Saunders said, making sure that it remains a strong landmark for generations to come. From meticulous attention to cleanliness and compliance with regulations to the curation of Sunday Stories on social media, Saunders makes it a part of his job to honor the T-Room’s rich history and the characters that populate its stools.

A Lynchburg native, Saunders remembers his father, a fire marshal, would tell stories about his friends in the health department conducting inspections at the establishment downtown.

“They were really mean because they showed up at the same time. They used to scare the bejesus out of people,” Saunders laughed. “I can’t imagine today having an inspector and the fire marshal at the same time. But my dad said everybody at the fire department and everybody in the police department knew the cleanest place in town to eat was the Texas Inn and to see it fall on such rough times… I’m proud that we’re in compliance with everything.”

Saunders said when he first purchased the business, the parking lot had holes in it, the ceiling tiles were hanging down, the lights were flickering, and parts of the restaurant were broken and dirty. 

Yet, nostalgia, as Saunders points out, is a double-edged sword. While it fosters a sense of connection and belonging, he said it can also cloud judgment, leading to unrealistic expectations and comparisons with a bygone era. 

“On the one side, it’s wonderful and people really do connect with it,” he said. “I got a picture a guy sent me of three generations sitting at the counter in Cornerstone. But on the other side, people will go in and say, ‘Well, gosh, I remember when I could get a Coke for a nickel,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, yeah, that was before I was born, and gas was 35 cents a gallon.’”

What was once a male-dominated establishment, now a more inclusive community hub, the Texas Inn has shifted to a staff of more women than men and a commitment to fostering an environment of respect and inclusivity.

“It’s the community dining table regardless of what neighborhood you come from,” Saunders said. “You can be in Boonsboro, or you can be on Diamond Hill, or you can be on MLK Boulevard, it doesn’t matter. You’re all sitting there and at that counter, you’re all sitting on the same stool, you’re all getting the same treatment, and you’re all eating the same food. And that closeness of those stools gets people talking.”

It may not offer a gourmet dining experience, but it does provide something far more valuable: a sense of belonging and tradition and a slice of Southern hospitality that keeps patrons coming back, time and time again.

“I think we’re very comfortable with what we are,” Saunders said. “And I think we’re very comfortable with what we’re not. We’re not a gourmet dining experience, we’re a good, fast, cheap dining experience where the intangible value of dinner and a show is really what keeps people coming back.”  

Experience Lynchburg Restaurant Week June 15-22, 2024!

Lynchburg Living magazine’s Lynchburg Restaurant Week is a delicious way for locals and visitors alike to connect with the local flavors that make our community unique. We have an incredible line-up of participants this year with nearly thirty restaurants for you to try. They may be old favorites or new-to-you experiences, we just hope you get out there and enjoy their hard work and delicious meals.

From June 15 to June 22, a full roster of restaurants will be opening their doors and serving up fixed price menus with three-course meal options specially created for this culinary week. During Lynchburg Restaurant Week, you’ll have the chance to sample inventive appetizers, delectable entrees, rich desserts—and maybe even a beverage or two. 

PLUS! You can vote for your favorite restaurant! If you have a truly great experience at one of our participating restaurants, cast your vote at lynchburgrestaurantweek.com! The winning restaurant will receive some well-earned recognition and prizes.

Click here to view the 2024 Participating Restaurants and then Vote for your Favorite Restaurant!

Presented by Lynchburg Living, this event is unlike any other in our area, featuring only local, home-grown eateries and benefiting the important work of local, nonprofit organizations, we’ve found a way to provide the public with great food at unbeatable prices all while helping a great cause.

Lynchburg Restaurant Week brings fabulous food to the greater Lynchburg region. Don’t miss a thing and follow us on Facebook; you may even catch some giveaway opportunities!

Take us along with you! Tag @LynchburgLiving on Instagram or Facebook and use #LRW2023 to show us the delicious meals you’re having.3

Vote for your favorite restaurant!

Hill City Homebrewers Unites Beer Enthusiasts

By Jeremy Angione  |  Photos by Ashlee Glen

Virginia is home to hundreds of craft breweries (344 at the time of publishing) that have helped to craft a more positive culture around social drinking and an appreciation for the process that goes into making beer and other fermented or alcoholic drinks such as cider or mead.

In Lynchburg, dozens of craft beer enthusiasts over the last few decades have turned their appreciation into a hobby. The Hill City Homebrewers are a collective of members who trade ideas, recipes, and processes to create their own signature beers.

The club was cofounded by Doug John and Chris Molseed in 1998.

“I’m proud of the fact that it’s still going after all these decades,” John said.

Currently, Hill City Homebrewers is led by club president John Meade, who joined in 2012, due, in part, to Doug John’s tutelage. According to Meade, he was also gifted a homebrewing kit for Christmas by his wife, which helped to initiate his interest in the hobby.

“Doug was really good. He would come to your house and brew that first beer with you, and show you how to use all that equipment. He was instrumental in getting many, many people into the hobby.” Meade said.

For John, much of his life led to the formation of what would become Hill City Homebrewers. He moved from Florida to Lynchburg to earn his degrees in chemistry and biology from University of Lynchburg (then Lynchburg College). He would later return to his alma mater to earn his Master’s degree in business.

John stayed in the area and opened a homebrew shop in downtown Lynchburg called Pints O’Plenty in 1995.

“That kinda fueled my passion for brewing. That’s when the evolution of the club started,
or shortly thereafter in 1998. We were a little ahead of the curve when it came to homebrewing,” John said.

According to John, many of his frequent Pints O’Plenty customers would go on to be some of the first members of the Hill City Homebrewers.

John would later open Apocalypse Ale Works in 2013, the brewery that would become the primary location for the Hill City Homebrewers to meet
every month.

“The club was the foundation and the key to becoming a professional brewer,” John explained.

Meetings are held one Monday a month, and the club even hosts a quarterly competition for members to pit their brewing skills against each other creating their own versions of the same beer. 

Despite being the victor of many of these in house competitions, Meade insists that the club is mostly a place to socialize and learn.

“I think the purpose is to better yourself in the hobby,” he said.

Just as John passed on his expertise to the club, Meade also enjoys sharing his knowledge about the brewing process.

Although the club hosts members who enjoy a more scientific approach to brewing, Meade claims the process can be as simple as following instructions.

“It’s simply a matter of using all kinds of different grains that would soak in water for an hour or so,” Meade explained. “You’re getting the sugars out of those grains. Then, when that sugar is eaten by the yeast, that’s where your alcohol comes from.”

A brewer can also change their batch by adding ingredients like hops or fruit at different times during the process to yield different results.

“In most cases, it’s about a three-week process from your brew day to when it’s ready to drink. So, it’s a fairly quick turnaround,” said Meade.

For most homebrewers, a batch will be roughly five gallons, which could fill about 50 beer bottles. Meade says most homebrewers typically just share their batches with friends and family, rather than selling them, since there is “quite a bit of regulation on selling.”

Despite his name, Meade has yet to brew a batch of the honey-based drink, mead. He says it is a longer process that he simply has not gotten around to.

“I’ve written several recipes that I’ve wanted to do, I just haven’t made the leap yet. I’d like to do it one day. I’m what they would refer to as a ‘hophead’,” Meade said.

His favorite batch to brew is a hop forward West Coast IPA that has a clear look and bitter taste which Meade says is caused by adding hops early in the brewing process.

According to John, a friend brought him a beer from Belgium that smelled like raisins, had a ruby color, and was apparently brewed by monks. That beer would help inform his love for the drink and the craft.

“For me, the Belgian ales are near and dear to my liver,” he joked.

Currently, the Hill City Homebrewers hosts around 12 paying members who pay 35 dollars in membership dues annually. Both Meade and John agree that interest in homebrewing ebbs and flows, but it is currently declining.

“The fact that great beer is readily accessible at one of the 300 plus breweries in Virginia, homebrewing is less of a need,” John said.

Despite the level of interest in homebrewing from the local community, the current members remain dedicated to their craft. Aside from monthly meetings, the Hill City Homebrewers typically attend the Maker Faire at Randolph College where they can hand out samples of their personal brews and educate the community on the process of homebrewing.

If Meade and John are any indication, the community of homebrewers seem eager to share their knowledge and their beer with newcomers. 

More information about Hill City Homebrewers can be found at facebook.com/hillcityhomebrewers. To join the club, simply show up at their next Monday meeting (dates and times posted routinely
to Facebook).

When it comes to planning your family’s summer, balance is key. There is much to be said for the lazy, hazy days that find you laying outside with a good book and a glass of lemonade, but having too many of those days—especially when kids are involved—is a no-go. Luckily, adding structure to your summer also adds fun and excitement! The following pages are full of family-friendly events, outstanding organizations, and adventurous activities that will make your summer memorable—and the furthest thing from monotonous.

434 Fun

At 434 Fun, our aim is to provide a play-filled and active environment that encourages physical movement, enhances social interaction, and promotes creativity while making special memories with the whole family. 434 Fun offers an inflatable playground for ages 10 and under, family friendly arcade, a delicious take on concessions, and party rooms and tables for every occasion! Sign up at our website today for news about our grand opening dates. 434fun.com

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GhostStop & Lynchburg Ghost Tours

GhostStop HQ Moves to LYH

The world’s prominent ghost hunting equipment store and manufacturer is now headquartered in Lynchburg following 16 years in Orlando.

Whether you’re a pro ghost hunter or curious novice, GhostStop has everything needed to explore the paranormal from spirit boxes and sensors to cameras and full kits for all levels of interest. Plus, a ‘BOOtique’ of spooktacular gifts.

Owner, Shawn Porter has been featured on shows including GHOST HUNTERS and Ghost Brothers working with many more including GHOST ADVENTURES and Kindred Spirits.

Follow @GhostStop for more including classes, investigations, speakers and events. GhostStop.com

How about a Ghost Tour?

Lynchburg Ghost Tours takes you on a curious and spirited journey of Historic Downtown.
Visit LynchburgGhostTours.com and follow @lyhghosttours for year-round tour dates. 

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Johnson Health Center

Johnson Health Center’s newest location will open in June 2024!

The newly constructed Amherst County Community Health Center will provide primary care for adults and pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy with drive-thru, and a fitness and wellness center, with a teaching kitchen.

Join us on Saturday, August 3, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. for our 10th Annual Back to School Care Fair and Community Open House to tour our new building, meet staff and celebrate National Health Center Week!

The new Amherst County Community Health Center is located at 109 Clearview Road in Madison Heights, Va. 24572. jhcvirginia.org

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Patrick Henry’s Red Hill

Patrick Henry’s Red Hill is the final home and burial place of Virginia’s first governor and celebrated orator, Patrick Henry. Spanning nearly 1,000 acres of pastoral beauty, Red Hill has something for the whole family. Travel to the 18th century through guided tours, exciting public programs, historic buildings and artifacts, and much more. Join us in person or at www.RedHill.org.

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Putt-Putt Fun Center^® 

Time for the ULTIMATE SUMMER STAYCATION! And we’ve gota hole lota fun for your crew! 

Feel the Breeze 
Jump into the driver’s seat and zoom around our track for a rush of pure adrenaline. We have karts for single riders, as well as karts that can accommodate a parent and child.

Get Wet
A cool splash on a water ride is a great way to beat the summer heat. Battle it out with friends during a whirling, twirling and wet ride on our bumper boats equipped with water cannons.

Indoor Fun 
Escape the heat and challenge friends to a game of laser tag. Guaranteeing nonstop excitement, our laser tag arena is the only two-story arena in Lynchburg. With neon lights and dark colors, our arena is the place to escape sunburn and see who really the ultimate champion is.

Be Cool
Our arcade is the place where “cool” kids hang and parents come to “cool off.”  Test your gaming skills with all sorts of arcade games from classic air hockey to Brand new merchandisers and cranes! After you’ve won all the points you can, turn them in at the redemption counter for awesome prizes.

Loop the 18
Our two 18-hole Putt-Putt® Golf courses are the perfect way for the family to stay active, on their feet, and soak in the Vitamin D. You may even get lucky and ace your shot on our skill-based par 2 courses!

Experience a summer packed with fun, competition, and a hole lota together time! puttputt.com/lynchburg

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Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

Join Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest for family-friendly events this summer! 

This May 24th and 25th, Playwright Teresa Harris’s original drama, The Day is Past and Gone, returns to Jefferson’s south lawn for two performances only. Drawn from real-life experiences of the men and women who were enslaved at Poplar Forest, the trilogy explores the complexity of their lives and their struggles to survive. 

From June 27th to the 29th, revel in the revolutionary spirit of America’s Founding Fathers at Poplar Forest’s presentation of 1776—the Tony Award-winning comedy by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone based on the events leading up to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Tickets for both events are available at poplarforest.org/events.

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Wolfbane Productions

BIG NEWS: Wolfbane is expanding into Downtown Lynchburg this Fall as they open the Wolf Den – Downtown, located at 723 Jefferson Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504

Kick off your Halloween festivities with an in-your-face telling of Wolfbane’s Dracula, the “Audience Choice Poll” Winner for the 2024 season. Wolfbane is thrilled to present their own unique take on the Father of all Universal Monsters, which will be as witty as it is horrifying. September 27-October 26, 2024.

Then, create a new holiday tradition for the whole family with Wolfbane’s A Christmas Carol. Experience this timeless classic full of magic, heart, and redemption, done in Wolfbane’s signature immersive style. December 5-22, 2024.

For tickets, membership information, and FAQs, please visit www.wolfbane.org

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YMCA of Central Virginia

The YMCA of Central Virginia is Lynchburg’s cherished destination for families and youth, offering diverse programs for all. From enriching swim lessons to empowering outreach initiatives, the YMCA provides a welcoming environment for all ages to thrive. With a legacy of promoting wellness and community involvement, the YMCA fosters connections, growth, and personal achievement. Committed to instilling Christian Principles through programs that nurture spirit, mind, and body wellness, the YMCA of Central Virginia remains a vital part of Lynchburg’s fabric. Cherished across generations, it embodies enduring dedication to community strength. ymcava.org

Erica Kerns’ Signature Style is Instinctual and Beautiful

Photos by Daryl Calfee

In every single room, the foundation has to be a vintage rug,” Erica Kerns said.

And she would know. Co-owner of BEFound Collective, a shop that sources one-of-a-kind, handwoven vintage and antique Persian and Turkish rugs, and Vice President of Merchandising and Product Development for Moore & Giles, Kerns has a penchant for finding just the right piece to tell a story and pull a space together.

Walking through her home with her foster-turned-adopted dog Nora, Kerns exudes an effortless style, and her home is an extension of that. Her 1937 Dutch Colonial home is a nod to the era—with its galley kitchen and wood paneled rooms. But Kerns, who purchased the home in 2021, has brought new life to the space while maintaining some of the home’s defining quirks.

“The smoking room is one of the things that sold me on the house,” Kerns said, referring to the wood-paneled room that connects to the galley kitchen via the pass-through window. 

While she could have easily painted the wood paneling from the walls, Kerns instead opted to keep them intact to allow the room to maintain its rich dimension. Art, light fixtures, and natural elements adorn the walls, giving the room a Ralph Lauren–esque feel while the textiles—vintage rug, handwoven fabrics—make the space entirely her own.

It’s this type of layering that is Kerns’ signature style. Throughout her home, trinkets and oddities are stacked on top of vintage furniture. Sweeping Monsteras sit in beautifully textured vessels. Seashells act as paperweights atop children’s books or high school physics books from the 1930s. It’s a curation that seems instinctual to Kerns, who is constantly collecting items for her home.

“It doesn’t matter where I am, I’m hunting,” she said. “Ninety percent of the things in my home are secondhand. As long as you mix everything in the right way, there is balance.
If it’s all new, it doesn’t have soul. If it’s all old, it can lack the edge needed to feel fresh.”

Kerns credits her travels for many of the eclectic pieces in her home, including her most recent work trip to Genova, Italy, when she came home with a treasure trove of art. Kerns purchased extra suitcases, painstakingly wrapped the art in her clothing, and hauled the bags from train stations to hotels to airports just to get them all home.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Kerns moved to Richmond after college.

In 2005, she moved to Lynchburg, holding a number of positions at J. Crew, including senior director of customer care; senior brand manager; and director of training, quality, and communications. In 2011, she moved to San Antonio, where she became a regular at a local auction house.

“Auctions weren’t as well-known as they are today,” she remembered. “It was the place to go. I would go to the auction house almost every single week. Sometimes I wouldn’t buy anything. One time, though, it was the end of the night, almost everyone else had left, and a lot of 100 pieces of art came up. I got the lot for $75.”

Walking through Kerns’ home, there is a mix of art that feels effortless but unrepeatable. Still life oil paintings share walls with paint-by-numbers (a favorite pastime of Kerns’). Vintage portrait paintings give way to ink sketches. Text art creates a platform for wildlife paintings.

“You don’t have to feel so tied to a theme or a palette,” she said. “I love taking nods from nature. Nature shows you how to mix tones and elements in a compelling way.”

Indeed, nature is abundant in Kerns’ home. She’s an avid seashell collector, whether they’re found on a beach or in a secondhand shop, and her collections are diverse enough for any scientific repository. Moose antlers dramatically frames a full-body mirror in the living room, antler mounts sit above doorways, and, of course, each space is layered with leather and shearling textiles from Moore & Giles.

“Texture and layers influence every room in the house,” Kerns said. “It’s intentional and it’s about layering light and color and texture in the right way. That’s what I want my home and future Palmera House to feel like. A space with interest in every corner and be something that you want to interact with and touch.”

Kerns’ newest venture, Palmera House, is an ode to her love of nature, textiles, beautiful art, and interesting details and the perfect amalgamation of her work and life experiences. It will be a shop for vintage home items, plants, and rugs. But Palmera Bodega, tucked inside the shop, is a reason to linger, have a bite and beverage, and enjoy a quiet moment in one of the many available nooks.

“It will be a multi-use space,” she explained. “With Palmera’s home decor and rugs being vintage or unique, each visit will feel like a new shopping experience. Mornings and lunch hour at the Bodega are sure to have a certain life and buzz. The space’s energy and ambiance will transition to a cozy, low-lit lounge after hours, where friends can gather and unwind from the day. Palmera Bodega will have a daily ‘Golden Hour’ serving aperitivos and distinctive snacks.”  

Kerns’ signature style is a beautiful collection of her travels, work, love of design, and vintage decor. Palmera House promises to be an extension of that hallmark. Palmera House will open on Bedford Avenue toward the end of this year.

“I hope Palmera House will be a favorite stop on the ever-changing Bedford Avenue,” Kerns said. “A place to feel inspired and a space you never want to leave. With short- and long-term rentals in the two floors above the shop, you’ll be able to stay for as long as you like—with Palmera House as your second living room.”  

Being a teacher is more than just a job. It’s more than a just career. It’s a calling.

Our annual Top Teacher Awards are a way to honor deserving educators who have not only answered this call for public service, but they also go above and beyond to make sure their students are thriving.

This list—made up of various school districts, grade levels and subjects—is only a snapshot of the incredible teacher talent we have in our region.

Downtown Cairo is a Lesson in Taking Chances and Having Faith

Photos by Ashlee Glen

I always had a dream of opening a brick-and-mortar place,” Samir Elazazy said. 

The owner of Downtown Cairo—a Mediterranean food-truck-turned-restaurant that serves authentic Egyptian, Greek, and Middle Eastern food—Samir and his wife, Emily, opened their new, permanent location in December 2023.

“We opened our food truck in May 2021,” Emily explained. “We were in Appomattox for about six months and got an offer to go to The BackYard [in Forest] in November 2021.”

The journey from food truck to restaurant, which is located in Graves Mill Shopping Center, has been quick, with the Elazazys embracing every step.

Before starting the food truck, Samir had worked for Cook Out for 10 years in various positions, including General Manager. As he worked his way up within the chain, he learned the intricacies of running and operating a growing and successful restaurant—knowledge that proved invaluable when the food truck opened for business nearly three years ago.

“We started the truck because of the kids,” Samir and Emily said nearly in unison referring to their three daughters, ages three, five, and eight.

“It’s a really beautiful journey because I’m able to share a lot with them,” continued Samir. “My oldest comes to events with us. It was really cool to have them alongside us and sharing our dreams together. It’s an important message to them to do what you love and don’t be afraid.”

When the Elazazys decided to transition from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar location, they knew it would be a leap of faith.

“I didn’t have any money saved up to open a store,” Samir said. “So I asked God to lead the way. I called a real estate agent just to look.”

The realtor showed the Elazazys two locations, but neither gave them a confident feeling. On a whim, the agent showed them a third location that day.

“It was the perfect one,” Samir remembered. “We came here, and I said, ‘This is it.’”

With little money saved but a lot of gumption, the Elazazys were challenged with figuring out how to make their dream a reality. They offered their truck up for sale with the terms that they keep it until the end of the year with money up front and they approached the owner of the Graves Mill location with an ambitious offer.

“I knew there was no way either would be accepted. But they were,” Samir said with a gracious smile.

From the moment the dotted line was signed for 18013 Forest Road A03, it took three weeks to open. The steps for retrofitting the space into a functional counter-service restaurant fell together seamlessly and on December 21st they opened their doors.

The menu is almost identical to that of the former food truck, with customer favorites like the shawarma plate and gyros wrapped in fluffy pita. 

“We like our small menu,” Samir explained. “It gives customers the opportunity to pick and choose, but not overwhelm.”

Samir was born in Alexandria—the second largest city in Egypt and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast—and moved to the Lynchburg area when he was 15. Alexandria is a melting pot for cultures and flavors, with Greek, Italian, and Egyptian influences weaving themselves into the local cuisine. But at the heart of Downtown Cairo is Egyptian food.

“I developed my passion for cooking from my mom,” Samir said. “When I left home, I didn’t know how to cook, so my mom would tell me what ingredients to get and I would FaceTime her for hours going step-by-step making everything.”

Many of the recipes found on Downtown Cairo’s menu are derived from those FaceTime cooking lessons, though Samir is quick to admit he still hasn’t cooked for his mother, who still lives in Egypt.

“I can follow her recipes exactly and they still won’t taste as good as hers,” Samir laughed.

Samir says his mother is very proud of the journey Downtown Cairo has taken, and it’s a journey he and Emily have enjoyed sharing with their children, as well.

“There are a lot of challenges out there,” he said. “A lot of things could have stopped us, but we don’t believe in that. And, of course, God is always in the center of our lives. We want our kids to make decisions based on what God guided them to do.”

The Elazazys hope that their new Graves Mill location is just the next chapter in a long story for Downtown Cairo. In the next four or five years, they hope to expand to three locations all within the Lynchburg regional footprint. But, for now, Samir and Emily are content running one growing location side by side and creating a working environment for their staff that is uplifting and healthy.

“God will open those doors when it’s time,” Samir said.  

A foodie-centric weekend includes the Bluegrass Brunch at Patrick O’Connell’s latest addition to
the Inn at Little Washington empire and stops at the famed Red Truck Bakery and nearby wineries

By  Leona Baker / Photos by Greg Powers, Leona Baker and courtesy of Patty O’s Cafe & Bakery

They say the devil is in the details. And legendary Virginia-based chef Patrick O’Connell is known to take devilish delight in not letting even the smallest details go under-delivered in the service of a transcendent and unapologetically whimsical dining experience. 

“It’s either art or garbage,” O’Connell says in the 2023 PBS-produced A Delicious Documentary, which chronicles his renowned Inn at Little Washington’s quest for an elusive third Michelin star, a near-Herculean feat he and his team achieved in 2018 after 40 years in business—making it one of just a handful of 3-star Michelin restaurants in the country.

“Anything we do has to be extraordinary,” says O’Connell, whose tireless pursuit of culinary excellence is famously delivered with a side of quirky irreverence. Say, serving world-class, triple-crème cheeses on “Faira,” a rolling cheese cart that looks like a cow (and really moos) or populating the Inn’s dining room with well-dressed mannequins for social distancing during COVID.

I got my first taste of O’Connell’s commitment to extraordinary fun on a recent girls’ getaway, which I affectionately dubbed the “Bougie Brunch, Bubbly, and Bread Weekend.” At the generous invitation of my friend’s sister and her husband, who live nearby the Inn, top billing for our food-fueled adventure was a Sunday morning reservation at Patty O’s Café & Bakery, the long-awaited casual cousin of the Inn at Little Washington. Our trip also included stops at the much-celebrated Red Truck Bakery and some nearby wineries. 

Housed in a restored 1950s-era gas station and situated catty-corner to the Inn, Patty O’s is the latest addition to O’Connell’s microcosmic empire in the small, historic village in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains known as Little Washington, about an hour’s drive from D.C.

While dining at the Inn’s main restaurant or Patty O’s, visitors are free to stroll the 26-acre campus, which includes a hotel with more than 20 guest rooms. There are also shops, cottages, gardens, special event spaces, a small farm, farm animals, beehives, O’Connell’s restored Victorian manor house, and even a stylish chicken coop that may or may not be more architecturally notable than your own home. 

For my traveling companions and me, that walk around the grounds was much needed after indulging in Patty O’s singularly charming Bluegrass Brunch featuring live bluegrass music on the sidewalk café’s open-air patio (weather permitting). O’Connell has quipped that he opened Patty O’s so that he would have a place to eat lunch during the day when the Inn’s restaurant is closed. 

While Patty O’s shares the Inn’s playful spirit, its aesthetic is a little less Old World maximalism and more “Howdy, partner!” jollity. Think ice-cold water served from metal pitchers shaped like cowboy boots and adorned with colorful bandanas or cream for coffee dispensed from little white porcelain cows imported from France, both for sale through the Inn’s Tavern Shops, of course.

Approachability is deliberately baked in here with brunch, lunch, and even dinner prices akin to those at any mid-range to upscale eatery—compared to the Inn’s main restaurant, which only serves dinner and features a luxurious fixed-price, tasting menu starting (and I do mean starting) at around $375 per person.

Appetizers, soups, sandwiches, salads, burgers, Southern comfort food, and brunch faves share menu space at Patty O’s with seasonal main dishes in the evenings like Wild Mushroom Bolognese with artisanal pasta and freshly grated parmesan; Pan Seared Swordfish with white wine, tomatoes, black olives, and toasted couscous; or Momma’s Mammoth Meatball with creamy garlic polenta. Dinner entrée prices range from about $22 to $52.

A delicious assortment of muffins and breads, served with coffee and tea and handcrafted in the adjoining retail bakery, kicked off our brunch experience. We proceeded to sample our way through the menu including an elegant and memorable amuse-bouche—Ribbons of Smoked Salmon and Celery Root Remoulade with dill-mustard sauce and crispy caraway flatbread, served on fish-themed China. 

We also tried the Classic Quiche Lorraine served with a roasted cherry tomato topped with toasted breadcrumbs; the spicy Shrimp and Grits featuring North Carolina Shrimp and stone-ground Virginia grits with Tasso ham; the Classic Eggs Benedict with champagne brined ham and hollandaise; a decadent French Toast with blackberry sauce and mascarpone-whipped honey butter; and the Half Pound Beef Burger from Snake River Farms with crispy onions and comté cheese, cooked to pink-center perfection.

From Patty’s O’s gorgeously appointed bar, with its signature happy hoedown mural, we sipped from a craft cocktail menu including the Venetian Lace with Tito’s, Aperol, Cointreau, and lime. Other tempting libations such as the Cavendish Old Fashioned with raisin-fixed bourbon and rye and the Bloody Mary with dill potato chip–infused vodka are on the wish-list for a second visit.

Our shared dessert was a theatrical triumph when our server presented Patty O’s famous house-made Butter Pecan Ice
Cream in a beautiful silver ice cream coup. When we couldn’t decide on whether we wanted it with the accompanying caramel drizzle on top, he performed a precision 50/50 pour as if choreographed by Balanchine himself. Indeed, all the service felt like a well-rehearsed ballet, attentive but not overbearing—no doubt perfected through decades of experience at the Inn, only in a more laid-back environment.

The “bread” portion of our “bougie” weekend was actually bread, pies, cakes, pastries, coffee, sandwiches, and more at not one but both nearby locations of The Red Truck Bakery, which has been touted by everyone from Oprah to Garden & Gun magazine. Red Truck has become nationally known not only for its baked goods “made with love and butter in the Virginia Piedmont,” but for its cookbooks, including the latest, The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook, released in 2022.

Both the main location in Warrenton, home to the photo-op namesake 1964 Ford truck, and the larger Rural Bakery in Marshall (right across the street from another foodie destination, Field & Main Restaurant) are worth the 20- to 30-minute jaunt from the Inn at Little Washington. We fueled our Saturday with savory breakfast croissants and other pastry-case goodies, their signature java roasted and blended by Counter Culture Coffee, and even a whole apple cake to take home to devour later.

Any road trip to Virginia’s Blue Ridge ought to necessitate a visit to at least a winery or two. We had a fine time sipping and noshing at two of them within easy driving distance, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery and Barrel Oak Winery and Brewery, both in Delaplane. 

Three Fox’s spacious modern tasting room, complete with foxy artwork, is perched on the top of a small hill and offers tasting flights, brick oven pizza and visiting food trucks along with a covered patio and café tables with umbrellas situated one by one at the ends of some of the vineyard’s grapevine rows (table reservations available).

I happen to be a big fan of sparkling wine, and Three Fox offers two—not very common for Virginia wineries. I enjoyed both on that “bubbly” weekend, the 2022 Sparkling Seyval Blanc and the 2022 Duality Rosé. You’ll find a Cab Franc, a Sangiovese, and a Petite Syrah among their reds and a barrel-fermented Viognier, a Pinot Gris and a Vidal Blanc among their whites.

Over at Barrel Oak, we also ordered tasting flights and took in the lovely scenery from their sloped, grassy picnic area. We were lucky enough to land there on a day when they had live music and an oyster truck called Nomini Bay Oyster Ranch. With our Barrel Oak Tasting Flight of their Vidal Blanc, stainless steel Chardonnay, BOWHaus red and white, Merlot and a Norton, we happily paired plates full of both freshly shucked raw oysters and Oysters Rockefeller and made a sunny afternoon of it.

Both wineries we visited are also breweries, so there is plenty to slake your thirst no matter your taste or mood. There are also many wineries to choose from in that area of the state, of course, including Pearmund, Philip Carter, Naked Mountain, RdV, Slater Run and more. 

While we stayed overnight with friends, there are also some nice B&B and boutique options if you’re not going for the full Inn at Little Washington experience, or it’s booked up. Some of those include The Foster Harris House, The Middleton Inn and Gay Street Inn in addition to your readily searchable Airbnb, Vrbo, and chain hotel reservations.

Patty O’s Café takes reservations with a $35 deposit for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch but also offers a walk-in waitlist (probably not worth the risk if you’ve planned a special trip, so make those reservations).

The bar, lounge, and patio are available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Reservations for the Inn itself and the main restaurant are an absolute must and often book up as far as a year in advance. However, dinner reservations are guaranteed for overnight guests of the inn.