It’s almost time for Lynchburg Garden Day! April 26, 2022

From unique architecture to stunning landscapes, Lynchburg is home to some truly beautiful homes and gardens. Every April, in coordination with the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week, a group of local homeowners sign up to make their abodes open to the public for a self-driving tour known as Lynchburg Garden Day.

Whether you are a veteran to this event or brand new to the excitement, here is a preview of the homes and events this year, as described by the Lynchburg Garden Day co-chairs:

236 Irvington Springs Road:
(Kaye and Ben Moomaw)
Situated on 120 acres that was once the site of a working dairy farm, the Moomaw farmhouse was built in 1997 to accommodate a busy family of eight. While part of the property known as Irvington Spring Farm has welcomed tour visitors in the past, this is the first time the family’s home and personal garden has been showcased on Historic Garden Week.

1912 Quarry Road: (Becky and Bobby O’Brian)
Located on a quiet street, on land that was once a quarry, this elegant Cape Cod, built by Bobby O’Brian’s parents in the early 1950s, remains a loving family home. Tastefully decorated throughout and filled with an extensive collection of family antiques, portraits, and art from their travels, the homeowners have created a home that is both welcoming and highly functional for entertaining three generations of family and friends.

4941 Locksview Road: (Lisa and Jim Richards)
Based on the George Wythe House in Williamsburg, this home was designed by the homeowners and built in 1995. The two-story, brick Georgian honors colonial architecture while incorporating modern conveniences. The homeowner’s artistic eye is evident in collections of porcelain as well as French and English antiques throughout the home. An extensive display of paintings by Lisa Richards—a skilled portrait, landscape, and botanical artist—provides a connection to the garden beyond.

1503 Langhorne Road:
(Manisha and Hunter Wynne)
Gracefully situated on an estate lot, this Tudor house, built in 1928 as one of the first homes on Langhorne Road, opens its doors to Historic Garden Week for the third time. The home is an excellent example of this medieval style of architecture with its steeply pitched slate gabled roof. Asymmetry, handmade textured brick, embedded half timbers and a brick barrel arched entryway dominate the façade.

Special Exhibit at Randolph College
Your tour ticket also includes a floral exhibit at Randolph College’s Maier Museum. The College and members of both the Hillside and Lynchburg garden clubs have collaborated to showcase a must-see exhibition of floral arrangements interpreting four selections from the private collection at the Maier. Ticketholders are also encouraged to stop by the Dorothy Crandall Bliss Botanical Garden while on campus.

Find tickets at vagardenweek.org/tickets and stay connected by following Historic Garden Week Lynchburg on Facebook and Instagram.

Mark Your Calendars

March 12, 13
Opening Weekend at Poplar Forest
In anticipation of Poplar Forest’s official “Opening Day” of the season on Monday, March 14, there is a full weekend of activities planned at Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home.

Come out on March 12 for a day of family-friendly fun including “Historic Candy Talks,” quill pen writing, and archaeology demonstrations. On March 13, Poplar Forest is hosting an afternoon trail hike. Learn more at poplarforest.org.

March 18-20
Kiss Me Kate
Renaissance Theatre and the Academy Center of the Arts are collaborating to bring this iconic musical by Cole Porter to the local stage. First performed in 1948, Kiss Me Kate centers around the production of a musical version of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew and the conflict on and off stage between the show’s star and his leading lady. For ticket information, visit academycenter.org.

April 23, 8 a.m.
Run 4 Their Lives 5K Run/Walk
Join together with local nonprofit
Freedom 424 at this hopeful event to raise awareness about human trafficking and encourage continued advocacy. The run starts at 8 a.m. at Liberty University. Learn more about the race at freedom424.com.

April 23, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The Appomattox OysterFest
Foodies won’t want to miss this event at DeVault Family Vineyards, hosted by the AxM Community & Disaster Relief Organization. It features not only oysters but also seafood, barbecue, and regular
fare, as well as live music and alcohol tastings.
For more information, visit www.AppomattoxOysterFest.com.

April 4, 10 a.m.
Senior Putt-Putt Begins!
Lynchburg’s Senior Putt-Putt League, a program of Lynchburg Parks and Recreation, kicks off their season April 4 at the Putt-Putt Fun Center on Timberlake Road. They will meet every Monday at 10 a.m. (changing to 9 a.m. during the hot summer months). Participants play at a discounted rate, and volunteer leaders keep track of everyone’s scores all year long!

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to Mizumi Japanese Bistro on Main Street.

Goodbye to Trio Brick Oven Eatery
in Forest.

Hello! to a new location of Chick-fil-A at Candlers Crossing (formerly on Candlers Mountain Road).

Hello! to 5th Street Vitos, a NY-style pizza shop on 5th Street.

Hello! to Chef’s Store on Wards Road in the former OfficeMax location.

Hello! to the Yellow Submarine on Old Forest Road, which has reopened with new owners.

Hello! to a brick-and-mortar location of Nomad Coffee at the Ed Page entrance of the Blackwater Creek Trail.

What happens when you’re giving the local magazine a tour of your home and your dog won’t stay out of the way? You invite her into the photo shoot, of course!

Victoria Bartholomew and Jordan Reeves have lots of pets (five cats and two dogs), but Ida, their two-year-old Great Dane, is definitely the most social of the bunch.

When photographer Ashlee Glen attempted to get a portrait of the homeowners on their couch, Ida jumped into the middle of the shot and decided she was staying put.

There were a couple of times Ida had to be corralled into the kitchen while Ashlee took photos of the rest of the home.

Editor Shelley Basinger distracted her with her treats—and also snapped a few selfies.

Go inside their modern eclectic Rivermont Avenue home starting on page 59!

Built in 1939, Bank of the James stadium is the fifth oldest ballpark in all of minor league baseball. Formerly called City Stadium, the name changed in 2020 when the city entered an agreement with Bank of the James. The field itself is named after Calvin F. Falwell, the man who brought Carolina League Baseball to Lynchburg in 1966 when he formed and became president of the Lynchburg Baseball Corporation.

The Hillcats home opener is Tuesday, April 12. The season will continue through Labor Day weekend.

Photo courtesy of Lynchburg Hillcats

Mark Your Calendars | January/February 2022

January 29
Back to the Best
Our widely popular Readers’ Choice awards come to life at Lynchburg Living’s Best Of Lynchburg Party, which will return to the Virginian Hotel after a hiatus in 2020. We are excited to get “back to the best” and hope you will join us to celebrate the best businesses, restaurants, and people that make our region so great. Learn more at lynchburgbestof.com.

February 4
Big Apple Ballet
The Academy Center of the Arts will host Dance Theatre of Harlem, a leading dance institution founded in New York City in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook. Find more information about tickets at www.academycenter.org.

February 5
Ice, Sweat and Tears
Bundle up and head to Hydaway Outdoor Center for this challenging “Arctic 5k” race that takes runners down a single track trail intermixed with some forest roads. Find more race details at runsignup.com.

February 11-13, 18-20, 25-27
Shakespeare and Coffee
James River Theatre Company presents A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream at one of Lynchburg’s newest small businesses, La Vida Coffee & Market on Langhorne Road. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.jamesrivertheatre.com.

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to a new location of Mi Patron Mexican Restaurant in the Boonsboro Shopping Center.

Hello! to Skincare by Blaire, opening in January on Leesville Road.

Hello! to the newly relocated TaleTellers Fly Shop at the corner of 10th and Main streets in Lynchburg.

Hello! to Lynchburg Treasure Hunt on Lakeside Drive, selling discount overstock or open-box items.

Goodbye to The Nested Magpie inside ElectricCo Market in Bedford.

Hello! to a newly relocated Batter Bar on Main Street beside the Community Market.

Hello! to The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar, expanding to Lynchburg in early 2022.

Hello! to The Taco Wagon food truck located in Appomattox.

Hello! to a second location of Bean Barn on Memorial Avenue.

When New York natives Andrew and Kim Mather moved to Central Virginia in 2013 to be closer to their adult son and daughter, they had no idea that they were one step closer to fulfilling a 40-year-old dream of owning their own business. On Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, they opened the doors of the first New York–style bagel shop in Lynchburg—The Bagel & I.

“I think you have lofty dreams in college, and maybe somewhat unrealistic, however that’s okay,” Andrew Mather said. “I’m sixty [years old], so here we are 40 years later, and the dream has come to fruition.”

A few years after moving to Lynchburg, the Mathers spent a six-month period accompanying their youngest son on trips to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he received invasive health treatments. This required the family to stay in the city for a week at a time each month.

It was during one of these trips to New York that the idea for The Bagel & I was born.

“While [in New York], of course, we ate a lot of bagels,” Andrew Mather said. “I remember so specifically, I [was] on my knees praying and it just [hit me]. The Lord just [gave me the idea]… bagels.”

After several years of planning and brainstorming, the couple put their plan into action in December 2020, when Andrew Mather came across a listing for the building on Timberlake Road that was formerly Country Cookin restaurant. After having his initial offer turned down, he was able reach a lease agreement with the building’s new owners in April 2021 and got right to work on transforming the 5,000-square-foot space into a unique, multi-faceted bagel shop.

The Mathers enjoy the versatility the larger building provides, and their vision was to create a welcoming environment for all ages. The space includes a private conference room, relaxing fireplace room, booths, high-top tables, outdoor seating, a drive-through, and a “bagel process room” where guests can view how a traditional New York–style bagel is crafted.

The Bagel and I offers 14 bagel flavors—from everything to French toast to whole wheat.

Also on the menu are breakfast sandwiches and cold and warm lunch sandwich options that are named after parts of town (e.g. “The Timberlake”: an everything bagel with tomato, avocado, bacon, arugula, and red pepper schmear).

Despite having to push back the shop’s opening date due to delays in the shipping of their bagel equipment, the Mathers have remained confident and thankful for their new business.

“For [God] to work things out, He is the Grand Weaver,” Andrew Mather said. “What He did to make this [dream] come to fruition is absolutely amazing. Yet that is confirmation that He is in it. It’s His and not mine.”

At a Glance:

The Bagel and I
20584 Timberlake Rd, Lynchburg

Hours:
Tues. – Fri., 6 am – 2 pm
Sat., Sun – 7 am – 2 pm
www.thebagelandi.com

Veterans Approve

Following our feature story “The Troops Rally” by Logan Smith (Nov./Dec. 2021), Editor Shelley Basinger received numerous emails from Lynchburg’s veterans community, thanking the magazine for highlighting this iconic downtown gathering. Here are a couple of those kind comments:

“I’m a military veteran and I have attended many of these gatherings,” wrote Joseph Arnold, TSgt (Ret.), USAF. “I enjoyed the write up and I thank you for doing that.”

“Thanks for writing the article about Monument Terrace and what it stands for both here in Lynchburg and across the USA. Excellent writing and coverage!” wrote Judy Bowman, USAF Veteran, Vietnam.

Correction

We made an error in our Best Of Lynchburg Hall of Fame list, featured in the July/Aug. 2021 issue of Lynchburg Living. Lynchburg Chiropractic was unintentionally omitted and should have been listed as a winner in the Best Chiropractor category. We apologize for this error and appreciate Lynchburg Chiropractic for bringing it to our attention.

For All Ages

Maybe this is proof we should add a baby and kids section to the magazine? Reader Aimee Cochran shared this photo with us on Facebook. She said her 14-month-old is obsessed with books and enjoyed looking through our “book” (the recent Nov./Dec. issue) too!

Remember to stay in touch with us on Facebook. We would love to hear what you are reading and enjoying!

Send us an e-mail to shelley@lynchburgmag.com. Correspondents must identify themselves; names may be withheld on request. Lynchburg Living may edit or condense.

When planning out photography for our cover story, “Cocktails by Neighborhood,” we had our hearts set on capturing the iconic drink “splash” photo.

The splash made the most sense for the cocktails served with ice. At these restaurants, photographer Ashlee Glen made sure to capture all of the other shots she needed on her checklist first, including photos of each bartender making the drink and the finished product with garnishments.

After those were completed, Ashlee requested a new drink, with no ice, since having ice already in the glass would hinder a dramatic splash.

Then, Ashlee’s daughter, Gareth, was tasked with dropping ice cubes into the glass on cue (3, 2, 1, go!). It took a few tries, and some aim correction, but usually by the third or fourth drop, we had it down!

Our takeaway: splash photos are a blast—but also, very messy!

Check out the full Taste feature starting on page 146!

Photo By Ashlee Glen

Year after year, Old City Cemetery claims the number one spot in our annual Best Of Awards in the category of Lynchburg’s Best Kept Secret—and for good reason. Although the cemetery is widely known as a local historic destination, it’s likely considered a “best kept secret” due to how photogenic the grounds are—and not only in the spring. Old City Cemetery has become a popular wedding venue as well.

Here, photographer Ashlee Glen captured a unique winter perspective of the cemetery. This statue,
known as “Lady”, was donated to Old City Cemetery by Nancy Shank. Lady presides over the Early Memorial Shrub Garden, which is across from the chapel. Prior to being moved to the cemetery, her home was in one of the gardens off Rivermont Avenue, according to Old City Cemetery staff.

Bottom line—you don’t have to wait until spring to enjoy Lynchburg’s Best Kept Secret. Old City Cemetery is open from dawn to
dusk every day of the year.

Learn more about Lynchburg’s Best Kept Secret at gravegarden.org.

Stealing the Show

After having to reschedule once due to heavy downpours and storms, we were more than ready to hit the ground running at our cover shoot at Woodruff’s Café and Pie Shop in late September.

The most memorable part of the shoot was a four-legged “extra” who really, really, really wanted to be in the spotlight. The local dog is known to spend some time around Woodruff’s, but they told us they had never seen him be quite this clingy before. (It probably didn’t help that shop owner Angie Wilson was holding a delicious pie in front of her while posing for a photo outside. What dog could resist that?!)

He was particularly fond of editor Shelley Basinger, partly because she spent most of the shoot petting him while holding him back as photographer Ashlee Glen took photos.
He even tried to get in Shelley’s SUV when she left!

Turn to page 133 to see our cover story about Woodruff’s in our Taste department!