When looking ahead to each issue of Lynchburg Living, we are always planning our content with a big question in mind—what will the cover be? With a feature about farmers markets underway, Editor Shelley Basinger and Art Director Chris Meligonis were drawn to the idea of a bright, farmers market scene for the 2021 Summer Issue.

Chris envisioned having some kids be a part of the action and even suggested Shelley’s 4-year-old daughter, Camille, as being a good fit. Shelley decided to ask Camille’s best preschool friend, Lennox, to join.

On a sunny Saturday in May, Shelley and the kids met up with photographer Ashlee Glen at the Lynchburg Community Market. Brick Goldman, owner of Goldman Farm in Cullen, was such a good sport when asked to be a part of an “action shot.”

Best of all? Brick gave Camille and Lennox that carton of strawberries to enjoy.

Read the full story about local farmers markets starting on page 103!

How do you define a top level attorney?

While a substantial number of wins or taking on high-profile cases can earn you recognition, it’s a lawyer’s reputation—both inside and outside of the courtroom—that really sets them apart.

For the fifth year in a row, Lynchburg Living has partnered with DataJoe Research Company to bring you Top Lawyers of Greater Lynchburg. This is a peer-to-peer survey—the lawyers included on this list were nominated by fellow lawyers, which speaks volumes about their integrity and professionalism.

Mark Your Calendars July/August 2021

Ladies Night Out: Paddle and a Picnic
July 22, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Need a ladies night out? Head to Ivy Creek Park for a one-of-a-kind experience with your besties! Enjoy nature while kayaking or canoeing on Clemmons Lake. Finish it all off with a peaceful picnic by the water. Food will be provided. Make sure to register by July 20. Learn more at www.lynchburgparksandrec.com.

Taylor Rodriguez: A Tribute to the King
July 23 & 24
Spend an evening with the King, Elvis Presley! Taylor Rodriguez has been dubbed one of the top five Elvis tribute artists in the world and his versions of country, rock ’n’ roll, and classic hits will have you dancing in your seat! This performance is a part of Endstation Theatre’s Summer Festival and will be held at the University of Lynchburg Pavilion. Learn more at www.endstationtheatre.org.

Hero Day
July 31, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Grab your friends and family (and your cape, of course) for Wolfbane Productions’ Hero Day, a celebration of all your fictional and nonfictional favorites. The Blended Soul Food Truck will be on site. Learn more at wolfbane.org.

Trace Adkins
August 9, 8 – 10 p.m.
Country singer Trace Adkins is making his way to Lynchburg! The Louisiana native has produced hit after hit for his fans, while accumulating Grammy nominations and CMT and ACM awards. If you are a country fan, you will want to be at the Historic Academy Theater for a performance for the ages! Learn more at academycenter.org.

Face the Forest
August 21, 7:30 a.m.- 12 p.m.
This 5K obstacle course run through Poplar Forest will have you flipping tires, climbing walls, balancing teeter-totters, and braving through mud with your team of friends or family members. All entry fees go to support children’s educational programming at Poplar Forest and the YMCA’s campaign to provide resources to family and youth in the community. Learn more at poplarforest.org.

Rising Stars
Two talented women with local connections are celebrating big success!

We knew her when…
Liberty University graduate Jane Marczewski (aka Nightbirde) was the talk of the town in June as she appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and got the coveted Golden Buzzer from judge Simon Cowell. She also moved the country to tears with her incredible optimism in the face of fighting cancer.

We have covered Jane’s story through the years—first in our September/October 2014 issue (she was even on the cover) and then again in July/August 2019, “The Resurrection of Jane,” after the singer-songwriter returned to Lynchburg and talked about fighting breast cancer.

On the show, Jane told the judges she still has traces of cancer in her body and also revealed she has a 2% chance of survival: “But 2% is not 0%” she explained, adding that “it’s important that everyone knows I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.”

Jane’s audition song, “It’s OK,” made it to the top of the Apple Music chart and a hashtag for her is trending: #seejanewinAGT. The live shows for AGT begin on August 10 and run through September 15.

Moving on up!
Local celebrity Mary Catherine Garrison will be taking her acting talents to new HBO comedy series “Somebody Somewhere.” She will play the role of Tricia Murphy, the co-owner of a hometown store in Kansas. The show is currently in production in Chicago.

Garrison has plenty of Broadway and television credits to her name already, including her recurring role in, “Veep,” an HBO political satire. She has called Lynchburg home since 2017 after moving to the Hill City with her husband and son.

We featured Garrison and her home in the March/April 2019 issue of Lynchburg Living. “The Creative’s Haven” highlighted her eclectic and artistic style. The actress also makes original ceramics, paintings and jewelry.

Speaking about her new gig on Instagram, Garrison said: “If I had sat down and drawn up the EXACT perfect dream job it would be *exactly* this show. … Do dreams actually come true?????!!!”

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to 7 Rooftop Bar on the Bluffwalk in downtown Lynchburg.
Hello! to Adams Clocks and Repair in downtown Bedford.
Hello! to Buff City Soap on Wards Road.
Goodbye to Fit Body Boot Camp in Forest.
Hello! to Peak Athletics taking their place.
Hello! to VR Play, offering a virtual reality experience, in Wyndhurst.
Hello! to Wyndhurst Nutrition, serving meal replacement shakes and loaded teas.
Hello! to Ahh, Smash It on Linkhorne Drive.
Hello! to a new location of Fusion Salon on Route 221 in Forest.
Hello! to two new Appomattox-based food trucks: Downtown Cairo and Iceland’s.
Hello! to a brick-and-mortar location of Sweet Indulgence Bakery on McConnville Road.
Goodbye to the Baby Giraffe on Forest Road; they hope to move online soon.
Hello! to a bigger location of LuLu’s Closet taking their place.

Senior Putt-Putt League celebrates 15 years of fitness, fun and friendship on the green
Photos by Ashlee Glen

Lois Mason may be 91 years old, but she hasn’t let that keep her from enjoying two of her favorite things: “I love sports. Anything to do with a ball. I’m also an outside person.”

The Senior Putt-Putt League, a program of Lynchburg Parks and Recreation that’s run by two faithful community volunteers, lets her do both.

2021 marks 15 years since this spunky, close-knit group started meeting at the Putt-Putt Fun Center on Timberlake Road. It’s advertised for anyone 50 or older, but most participants are over the age of 65.

Willie Perry decided to form the league upon his retirement. He had previously worked with children in the Junior Putters of America organization for 23 years.

“So when I retired, I said I want to start working with these older kids,” he laughed.

The group meets every Monday morning from April through October and typically averages about 30 participants each time. They start at 10 a.m. but then shift the time to 9 a.m. when the summer heat settles in.

Putt-Putt Fun Center opens the facility up for the group to enjoy exclusively and offers a reduced rate to participants, which Perry says is important for seniors on fixed incomes.

“They also get outdoors, get some sun and some exercise,” he explained.

However, the most important benefit, he believes, is the socialization with other seniors.

“We have some who come just to be around other people. Some widows who have lost their husbands. It helps fill in some times of loneliness for them,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean the game isn’t taken seriously. There also are plenty of members who are slowly improving their putting scores and come to compete—including Mason, whose younger partner says the 91-year-old will sometimes ask for a do-over on a putt.

“She doesn’t respect her elders!” Mason joked.

The top ranking elder of the league is Gladys Cantrell. At 95 years old, she still makes her weekly putt-putt outing a priority. She also is a true champion off the course as well;
Cantrell contracted COVID-19 last year, was hospitalized, but managed to beat the virus and come back to join her beloved putt-putt group just as strong and spirited.

“Some days I’m better, other days I’m not,” she laughed. “But I love playing, I love all of the people. It’s just fun.”

Want to Join?
All you have to do is come to the Putt-Putt Fun Center on Timberlake Road and you can be a part of the fun! They meet every Monday at 9 a.m. during the summer months.

Every year in our sister publication Lynchburg Business, we feature 20 young professionals who are making big strides in their careers and the community. Be sure to check out our July 2021 issue of Lynchburg Business to learn more about each of these incredible individuals.

Photo By Dave Henderson

Every Tuesday at 6 p.m., cyclists of all ages and skill levels gather downtown for what’s become a beloved Hill City tradition: Pints After Pedals. After meeting at Bikes Unlimited on Jefferson Street, the group takes an hour-long ride on the Blackwater Creek Trail before coming back to the Glass House for food and beverages.

The owners of The Water Dog/The Glass House and Bikes Unlimited started the event series four years ago as a way to build community in the downtown area. Now, anywhere from 50-90 people come out for the ride each week.

Want to join? It’s easy. Just show up with your bike and get ready to ride!

Take Paws

We have to chuckle just a little as we apologize for an error in our May/June feature, “The Heritage Meal.” Writer Mikael Blido thought he heard Gail Pond, from Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, say Jefferson’s cook used cat paws to extract natural gelatin to make a wine jelly. But she said calf. Thankfully, you can buy gelatin packets at the grocery store so no cats should have been harmed due to this misunderstanding!

Voting Begins
It’s that time again! Voting for our annual Best Of Lynchburg Awards starts July 27 and runs through September 9. Be sure to visit our website, lynchburgliving.com, to vote for your favorite restaurants, destinations, people and more. The results will be published in the January/February 2022 issue of Lynchburg Living.

Bridal Showcase Success
Wedding season is back—and we couldn’t be more thrilled for couples and the local wedding industry. We held our annual Bridal Showcase on June 6, 2021, at the Kirkley Hotel; approximately 70 brides and their families came out to talk with vendors about their big day. Be sure to check out our sister publication, Central Virginia Bridal Guide, at vabridal.com or find one at local stands with Lynchburg Living.

We Want To hear From You!
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 it comes to planning and executing a styled shoot, you have to be prepared to roll with the punches.

While we had planned to photograph a historic-meets-modern tablescape outdoors, mother nature decided otherwise. March 27 was looking clear as a bell up until the morning of our planned shoot; out of nowhere, it seemed, the forecast called for heavy rain and thunderstorms that afternoon/evening and that’s exactly how it played out.

Nevertheless, the Lynchburg Living team made it work, thanks to the extremely hospitable Mikael (Taste contributor) and Traci Blido who helped us carry out our vision in their sunroom and even let us forage for extra fresh greenery in their backyard.

Most of the props—from the plates to the old books to the linens—were rounded up from everyone’s houses. Art Director Chris Meligonis lead the way in assembling the table from the first piece of greenery to the last lighting of a candle.

Photographer Ashlee Glen traded her usual step ladder for a much taller version to help us capture the best overhead angles of the heritage-inspired recipes created by Mikael.

Meanwhile, Editor Shelley Basinger sat on the couch watching everyone work while drinking wine. (Kidding. She helped too. But there was one small wine break.)

Read the full feature, learn some local fare history and get a little hungry, starting on page 96!

2021 marks 10 years since our very first Lynchburg Restaurant Week, marking a decade of delicious dishes and great deals at diverse eateries across the region.

Even during the height of the pandemic last year, we kept this beloved community event going strong. Now, as restrictions are slowly lifted and many are returning to in-person dining, we hope you will join us to continue supporting Lynchburg’s thriving restaurant community June 12-19, 2021.

We are thrilled to showcase 13 local restaurants this year, each with its own handcrafted menu specifically for Lynchburg Restaurant Week.

Flip through the following pages to see what’s cooking and start planning out your stops today.

You’re Welcome
It was a delight working with Lonnie Hoade and Paul Webster, of T.C. Trotter’s Moose Mix for Bloody Marys, on our March/April feature, “Lynchburg is for Bloody Mary Lovers.” Lonnie sent a message to Editor Shelley Basinger after seeing the article in print for the first time: “Oh my goodness Shelley. I just saw the article. It’s amazing. And you two (photographer Ashlee Glen) did a fantastic job on those pictures. Thank you so much!” – Lonnie Hoade

Private School Omission
We unintentionally left a local private school off of our listing in the Lynchburg Area Private School Guide included in the March/April issue. World Community Education Center is located in Bedford, offering a Montessori education to children in grades pre-K through 12th grade. Learn more about the school at worldcommunityedu.org.

Social Media Buzz
Our 2021 Idea House had some of you chatting online: “Swoon!” said Hill City Mom @heireysays on Instagram. “Exquisite,” wrote FUSE Electrical, LLC on one of our Facebook posts. It was even prettier in person! Check out the recap of our Idea House open house weekends on pages 23 and 24.

We Want To hear From You!
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.