Behind the Scenes
Photographer Jim Pile spent two days getting the best shots possible of our Best Of Lynchburg winners. While some photographers won’t show their work until after the editing phase, Jim doesn’t mind one bit. He invited the staff at Maven Salon to gather around his camera after their shoot! On page 93, check out the full Best Of listings!

Quotables
“Me and the ‘old girl’ [have] been together a long time. She’s an old girl, but she’s a beautiful girl.” – Kenny Gwin, Omni Homestead Resort staff member. Read about the iconic Virginia hotel starting on page 154!

#LynchburgLiving
We loved the simple solitude found in this Instagram photo taken by Jonathan Perkins, who enjoyed a cup of coffee and a game of chess as a way to relax. Learn by his example in 2017 and find a hobby that can help you unwind!

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

Mark Your Calendars November/December

Holiday Hoopla: Nov. 11, 5 to 8 p.m.
Get a jumpstart on your Christmas shopping! The downtown area’s shops and restaurants will be open late, offering holiday specials and activities all evening. You can even take the trolley from place to place!

The Nutcracker performed by The Charlottesville Ballet: Dec. 3 at 4 p.m.
Take your family on a magical journey with Clara and her wooden nutcracker. The Charlottesville Ballet will bring their professional production to Lynchburg’s E.C. Glass High School Civic Auditorium. Admission is $25/adults; $20 for children/students/seniors/military.

Lynchburg Christmas and Holiday Parade: Dec. 4 at 4 p.m.
(Pictured Above) The first Lynchburg Christmas Parade was hosted by the Jaycees in 1959. Now, over 50 years later, the Retail Merchants Association organizes this iconic Hill City tradition. This year, the parade with the theme of “Traditions Around the World” will take place in midtown Lynchburg starting at City Stadium, continuing down Fort, Oakley and Memorial avenues and ending at E.C. Glass High School.

Downtown Historic Church Open House: Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Get in the Christmas spirit by taking a tour of the downtown area’s nine beautiful historic churches that are decorated for Christmas and/or advent. The tour is hosted by the Interfaith Outreach Association. Cost is $20/person over age 11.

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to Timberlake Family Pharmacy on Timberlake Road at the Greenview Drive intersection.

Goodbye to Auburnlea Farms Corner Market in Cornerstone. The butchery and café closed its doors in September.

Hello! to The Manor at Locust Thicket, a new restaurant in a 226-year-old home that is now open on Old Forest Road.

Hello! to Ice Cream Dream, now open in downtown Lynchburg on Jefferson Street.
Hello! to Bean Tree Café’s new, bigger location in Cornerstone. (More on page 121)

When Cinemark Movies 10 left town in the fall of 2015, many were left wondering if they’d ever see a flick on the big screen again. The discount prices were a big draw for thrifty moviegoers—from large families to college students.

“I’ve got a family of five. We could go to the movies and pick something to watch and it wouldn’t kill us,” said Ralph Harrison, Jr.

Harrison, his brother and father joined together to open Venue Cinemas in the former Visulite Cinemas building in the Plaza shopping center.

The family has a background in the business. Harrison worked at Movies 10 in the 90s. His brother managed the theater until it closed last year.

“The biggest hurdle we had [with the Visulite building] was that all of the film projectors weren’t in great shape,” said Harrison.

They did a lot of research and invested in digital projectors. And as time goes on, their plan is to remodel the theaters one at a time, even the concession area.

Movie tickets cost $3/person, with discounts for college students and seniors as well as special deals certain times of the week.

Behind-the-Scenes

It’s a rough life for the Lynchburg Living team who took part in the photo shoot for this issue’s Taste feature, pictured above. After the photos were finished, they got to enjoy the holidays a little sooner than usual by sharing all of the dishes. Flip to page 125 for the recipes!

The Water Dog

One of Lynchburg’s newest downtown restaurants got some attention on Instagram. Michelle Snyder snapped this photo of her oyster tacos at The Water Dog. Read more about the restaurant (and three others that are opening up) on page 51!

#LynchburgLiving
Be sure to include the hashtag #lynchburgliving on your posts and your photo may be featured!

A Gem on Diamond Hill

Be sure to stop by this year’s Design House at 1418 Harrison St., a home recently purchased by Sterling Wilder, executive director of the Jubilee Center. It’s open for tours Nov. 12-Dec. 4 (Thursday – Sunday). Your $20 admission will go to the YWCA and its programs to combat domestic violence. Diamond Hill was developed in the late 19th century, soon becoming one of the most “elegant and desirable residential neighborhoods” in the area, according to the City of Lynchburg’s website.

Mark Your Calendars: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Scaremare 2016
Every year, thousands of people from across the region make the trek to Scaremare on Carroll Avenue, sponsored by Liberty University’s Center for Youth Ministries. See the cast of 300 college students in action Oct. 13-15, 20-22, 27-29.
Gates open at 7:30 p.m.

Haunted Harvest Cornfield
(Pictured Above) This frightening wagon ride at Layman Family Farms in Blue Ridge is not for the faint of heart! In fact, it’s not recommended for children under the age of 12, women who are pregnant or anyone with heart issues. Rides run 7:30-11 p.m. on weekends from Oct 1-29.

The Ghosts of Historic Lynchburg
If you love local history and a good spooky story, stop by “The Ghosts of Historic Lynchburg” tour Oct. 20-22 from 6-8:30 p.m. A guide will take groups through Federal Hill and tell stories of the haunts of days gone by.

Crawford Farm Ghost Tour
The night begins as a country hayride at Old Crawford Farm in Appomattox, with stories of the infamous family and their history. But hang on as trained actors from Wolfbane Productions bring the stories to life around you! Rides run Oct. 20-22, 27-29.

Local Openings & Closings
Hello! to Emerald Stone Grill, expected to open on Jefferson Street by September
Hello! to Timberlake Family Pharmacy, opening this fall on Timberlake Road
Hello! to Bootleggers, a new restaurant expected to open on the Bluffwalk in November
Hello! to the newest location of Moore’s Country Store, now open on Graves Mill Road
Hello! to the Appomattox location of Joe Beans, located in the Triangle Plaza Shopping Center
Hello! to the Rivermont Makery, a creative art space on Rivermont Avenue
Hello! to Iron and Ale, a restaurant opening in Cornerstone this fall

Ready to Run?
Whether you are a seasoned runner or a Virginia Ten Miler newbie, how do you keep your running motivation going strong? Jennifer Richardson, membership director at the Downtown YMCA, shares five tips.

Make It Fun!—Change up your playlist, grab a friend or your pet, run your normal route “backwards,” run for a cause, or get a team together to run an “obstacle” style race!

Set a Goal…Any Goal—Never done a race? Get registered for a 5K! Running the same speed on every run? Push yourself to improve your time by 30 seconds! To quote Fred Devito, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”

Treat Yourself—For every mile you run, pay yourself $1.

Just think, if you were to run only three miles two times per week, by the end of the year you could have $312. This could get you a nice pair of new running shoes and some running gear!

Ditch the Stuff—To contradict tip #3, ditch all of the gadgets that many runners are now bogged down with and just GO RUN! Leave the watch, heartrate monitor or cellphone/iPod at home. Take a few laps around town and enjoy the sights and sounds.

Make an Appointment—If you are struggling with getting your run in, schedule it on your calendar! You certainly wouldn’t miss an important meeting or “dismiss” other appointments, so when your reminder pops up that it’s “run time,” start lacing up!

The Buzz: Behind-the-Scenes
Photographer Jim Pile had an extra production assistant in the room as he took photos of this issue’s Artist Profile, Kevin Chadwick. 6-year-old Buster (or Buster Boy Brown) escorted the Lynchburg Living team from room to room. The Italian Greyhound was super energetic but always made sure to get out of the way and wait patiently. Read more about Chadwick’s talents on page 22!

#LynchburgLiving
Meanwhile at Bold Branch Beef in Evington, another dog was caught on camera doing good work. Apparently Miss Pawley is very good at “keeping those cows in line.”

Tag your photos on Instagram and you may see them in a future issue! Just use #LynchburgLiving in your post.

Embrace Your Individuality at Dirt Road Treasures in Bedford

This original art creation, named Daisy, beckons to visitors of Dirt Road Treasures on Bridge Street in Bedford. Store owners Michael and Virginia Johnson sell these pieces, along with other works of art, in the store. They make each one from second-hand metal, and no two are alike. Daisy is constructed from a lamp candlestick, metal flowerpots, kitchen pots and a salad serving set.

Photo by Jim Pile

Mark Your Calendars: July/August

Paws in the Pool
Bring your furry friend to the Miller Park pool for a special event to close out the summer swimming season. On Aug. 20, from 12-3 p.m., dogs will be allowed to swim with their owners in the pool following its last day open for humans. Admission is $25 for each owner and their dog; $5 for any additional dogs. This event is a fundraiser for the Lynchburg Dog Park.

Smith Mountain Lake Guinness World Record Challenge
(Pictured Above) To continue celebrating the 50th anniversary of Smith Mountain Lake, the Franklin County YMCA is challenging the community to help break the Guinness World Record for the most people floating in a human chain. (The current record is 634 established in Taiwan on June 28, 2014.) The event is Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. If you want to join, you must pre-register by July 15. Cost is $5 per person or $10 per family. More information at www.franklincountyymca.org.

Family Day 40s Festival
Take the family back in time at this unique and fun history event on July 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The National D-Day Memorial’s annual “family day” event features life in the 1940s. Visitors will have the chance to meet with World War II veterans, view artifacts, see demonstrations and more. Adult admission is $10: 18 and under free. Discounts for veterans and active military.

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to Fifth and Federal Barrel Station restaurant offering a Whiskey bar, craft beers and Southern fare. Expected to open late July/early August.
Hello! to Kathleen O’Byrne’s Irish Tearoom, open in the Boonsboro Shopping Center since late April. More on page 144.
Hello! to discount grocery store Aldi, open on Lakeside Drive since May.
Hello! to Café Bliss, now serving a variety of foods, gourmet coffee and organic drinks at the base of the Bank of the James building downtown. More on page 143.
Hello! to The Water Dog, a Riverside Taphouse coming to Jefferson Street in early August.
Hello! to Benny’s, set to bring “New York style” pizza to Main Street in late summer.
Hello! to The Hills, expected to open in the former Blue Dahlia on Graves Mill Road in July.

Behind-the-Scenes
There were plenty of spontaneous moments during our approximately 40 “Faces of Lynchburg” photo shoots. Photographer LaShonda Delivuk didn’t have to do too much directing when she visited Custom Structures. She arrived to find the group with a variety of props and a sketch showing her the funny photo they wanted to take! See all of this year’s Faces starting on page 83!

Safety first for photographer Jim Pile, who wore a welding mask during a shoot at Vector Space. Read more about the non-profit starting on page 69.

#LynchburgLiving
Lynchburg’s Percival’s Island is a popular spot for photos, from the picturesque bridge over the James River to the eye-catching “LOVE” artwork along the trail.

Tag your photos on Instagram and you may see them in a future issue! Just use #LynchburgLiving in your post.