When you see those teal banners or plaques around town at your favorite restaurants, shops and destinations, those businesses deserve the bragging rights! This year in our annual Best Of Lynchburg contest, we logged more than 203,000 votes on our website. The businesses and people who made it onto the following pages have earned a spot on our 2019 list.
So sit back, prop up your feet and flip through to see who is the best of the best, according to our loyal readers.
The intermission is over, and The historic Academy of Music’s story picks up where it left off more than 60 years ago.
The first time Clifton Potter saw a woman sawed in half was at Lynchburg’s Academy of Music. As a child in the 1940s and ’50s, Potter spent many Saturdays there watching western movies on the silver screen. It was there, too, that he witnessed the magical marvel.
“I remember seeing a magician,” Potter, a longtime history professor at University of Lynchburg, told the Lynchburg News & Advance in 2015. “The first time I ever saw anyone sawed in half was at the Academy, which was kind of wonderful.”
In 1958, the Academy closed its doors and the magic ended. Urban sprawl and the popularity of television spelled the end for the Academy and other downtown theaters—the Paramount, Isis, Warner and a half-dozen others.
But in December of 2018, after 60 years, the marquee lights were illuminated again. Reborn as part of the Academy Center of the Arts, the Beaux-Arts–style theater was once again ready for magic.
The Beginning
The Academy of Music first opened its doors on February 1, 1905, on the site of an old tobacco warehouse at the corner of Main and Sixth streets.
It was largely the brainchild of Richard Apperson, president of a local streetcar and electricity company. He and about two dozen business partners purchased the old warehouse and within seven months, on February 1, 1905, the Academy of Music was open for business.
Lynchburg’s morning newspaper, The News, reported that about 800 people attended the opening night festivities, which included the musical comedy “The Show Girl,” starring vaudeville actress Stella Mayhew.
In a front-page article the following morning, The News called it an “auspicious occasion” attended by “a notable and representative assemblage of Lynchburg people.” Those who attended were not only “notable,” but reasonably affluent. The Baltimore Sun reported that those attending the opening night show paid $10 a seat—more than $280 today.
‘Prettiest in the entire South’
Designed by local architects Frye & Chesterman, the Academy of Music was described by The News as “the prettiest opera house in the State and among the prettiest in the entire South.”
According to The News, the Academy cost $45,000 to build—almost $1.3 million today. “Nothing has been spared to make the play-house a dream of beauty on the inside, while the exterior compares favorably with any other theatre in the State,” the paper reported, adding, “It must be seen to be appreciated.”
The News praised the theater for its “comfortable” seating and said there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. Fire safety, a common concern at a time when the words “theater” and “fire” graced many a newspaper headline, also was addressed.
“The stage is equipped with an asbestos curtain, which will be in use at all times, except when the other scenery is set for use during a play,” The News reported. “This curtain is hung on wires and cables, and will be so that it can be lowered instantly, should there be an occasion to protect the audience from a fire among the stage settings.
“There are fifteen exits in all portions of the main building, through which a large audience could quickly empty itself in cases of fire or panic. The balcony and gallery have ready access to fire escapes on both sides of the structure.”
The Fire
On April 20, 1911, a fire broke out at the Academy, presumably in resident manager Corbin Shield’s apartment. Under the headline, “Narrow Escapes in Theatre Fire,” the Richmond Times Dispatch reported that the Academy was “destroyed by fire … with a loss of $50,000.”
The writer went on to say that Shield and his family safely “made their escape through dense smoke and in scanty attire.” Two others weren’t so lucky.
While fighting the fire, a “hoseman” with Company No. 1 was “overcome with smoke and had to be carried from the building by two fellow firemen.”
While surveying the damage, Arthur T. Powell, the Academy’s vice president, fell through the floor, “dropping twenty feet into burned and twisted debris.” Powell suffered multiple fractures and a bruised hip, but at press time was expected to recover.
After the fire, some debated about whether to rebuild the Academy. The Times Dispatch reported in July of 1911 that rebuilding was “a question that is uppermost in the mind of the theatre-goer of the city, but at present there seems to be no way to restore the playhouse.”
But rebuild they did, thanks again to determined local investors, among them prominent merchant Charles Guggenheimer. This time, architect C.K. Howell, who designed theaters all over the South in the early 1900s, transformed the Academy into a Beaux-Arts showplace.
It reopened in December of 1912.
Ms. Boonie
In its early days, the Academy hosted an A-list of performers, among them concert violinist Efrem Zimbalist Sr., actors Douglas Fairbanks and Ethel Barrymore, cowboy-humorist Will Rogers, and W.C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues.”
It presented vaudeville shows and lectures, and Floyd Ward, who taught generations of Lynchburg children to dance, held her annual revues at the Academy. The theater also screened silent movies and, starting in the late 1920s, “talkies.”
Because the Academy operated at the height of the Jim Crow era, though, African Americans had to enjoy these events from nearly atop the rafters. African Americans entered through a side door and sat in a segregated balcony.
It was from a tiny booth outside this balcony that a woman named Lottie Payne Stratton made Saturday mornings magical for many of Lynchburg’s African American children.
For 30 years, Stratton, an African American herself, was the cashier for the segregated balcony. Somewhere along the way, she started letting children in for free. Stratton, who the neighborhood kids called “Ms. Boonie,” didn’t have children of her own.
Perhaps it was kindness and a mothering instinct that led her to smuggle children into the theater. Perhaps it was civil disobedience. Regardless of the reason, when restoration of the Academy’s historic theater began in earnest a few years ago, Stratton’s ticket booth was preserved as a sacred space.
“Everyone knew that it was a special part of the Academy’s history,” lead architect Amanda Adams, of local architecture firm CJMW, said. “It’s rare for it to be intact. Most of that [sort of thing] disappears as theaters evolve.”
The Academy’s opening week of events celebrated the full integration of the theater. It started with a sold-out concert, featuring gospel legend Mavis Staples, blues artist Devon Gilfillian, and the Diamond Hill Baptist Church choirs. It concluded with a black-tie affair with Wynton Marsalis.
Also, awards also were given to people who had contributed to Lynchburg’s art and culture scene. One was named for Stratton, who passed away in 1965.
The Phoenix
After the theater closed its doors in 1958, there were numerous attempts to save it. In the 1960s, the Friends of the Academy of Music saved it from the wrecking ball.
In 1969, it became the first structure in Lynchburg to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hope was that the designation would make the Academy eligible for federal grants and lead to its restoration.
Still, it remained dormant.
In the 1990s, after a windstorm destroyed the theater’s fly tower, there was another surge of activity. Geoff Kershner, executive director of the Academy Center of the Arts since 2015, remembers visiting the Academy with his father around that time.
“My father was involved in some of the early efforts to save the theater,” Kershner said. “He’d gone there to see the theater with a couple of other community members. He took me along because he thought it would be interesting to see.
“I remember going in with him. I don’t remember how old I was. We went in with flashlights. It’s a little surreal. As a kid, it was interesting and clearly stayed in my memory, but I had no clue as to how much it would be attached to my adult life.”
In the early 2000s, after what remained of the Academy of Music organization combined with Lynchburg’s Fine Arts Center, a restoration effort started to gain momentum. “There was a leadership team, community leaders and philanthropists who had really, behind the scenes, made a decision to push this rock up the hill,” Kershner said.
“They committed a fairly large amount of money, but that triggered the city having a belief that it was worth investing city funds as well. Then the city came in, along with the Economic Development Authority. … That was really a tipping point, along with a grassroots effort.”
When the Academy restoration was complete, Potter was one of the first people to see it. “[We] went down for the soft opening for those of us who had contributed, and dreams really do come true,” he said.
“It’s just amazing, more beautiful than I remembered it. It was like going into a theater in Vienna. It’s very Beaux-Arts. It’s like stepping back into 1912. It’s gorgeous. It’s just amazing…
Dreams really do come true.”
These images are a part of Eye for Ebony, a collection of African American stock photos created by Lynchburg entrepreneur LaShonda Delivuk. As the owner of a marketing business, she saw a need for more diversity in stock photos and took action. Since creating Eye for Ebony, her photos have been viewed over 30 million times, with this photo of a mother and daughter becoming a global favorite.
Learn more at eyeforebony.com.
Photos by LaShonda Delivuk
Behind the Scenes
We never know what the weather will be when scheduling Lynchburg Living photo shoots weeks in advance. Although it was a drizzly morning on October 10, the rain held off during our shoot outside of Daughters and Sons Pizza on 5th Street. Arnulfo Jacinto was there putting the finishing touches on his mural.
Jason Arbusto, owner of Daughters and Sons, says they were used to dealing with wet weather. “There would be only a 30 percent chance of rain and Arnulfo would be out there ready to paint. Then the sky would turn grey and it would pour down on him,” Arbusto explains.
According to Goodwin, it started pouring right after Jacinto completed his signature at the bottom of the mural.
Read about the numerous outdoor art projects on 5th Street starting on page 25!
Aliases: Jeff Taylor, Old Fuzzy Face
Hobbies: Making Lists, Beard Grooming, Reindeer Games, Chimney Climbing, Expert Cookies and Milk Taste Tester
While we all know the real Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, he has plenty of substitutes out and about around the holidays—taking present requests and polling kids on their “naughty or nice” track record for the year.
A local Kris Kringle shares how he got into the role and why he looks forward to breaking out that red suit each year.
Did you always know you wanted to be Santa Claus?
When my daughter Season was about four or five years old, we asked her what she did at school. She said, “We talked about what we are going to be when we grow up. I said veterinarian or a ballerina.” She asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said, “Santa Claus.” Well, she is a vet tech now… and I’m Santa Claus. It worked out for both of us.
When did you first become Santa?
Back in the ’60s, I was working at a department store and their scheduled Santa got sick. They had a really expensive suit on hand and it fit me perfectly. I went into the hair department and they sprayed a white spray on my long beard. I was just a kid, a hippie with long hair and a beard, and I got to be Santa for a few days as a fill in—it was fun.
And did that experience sort of pique your interest?
I got to the point where I would fill in here and there. I filled in one weekend at River Ridge Mall a year or two after the mall opened. I did it as a joke for a winter fashion show in Lynchburg once. I filled in for folks in Lexington who couldn’t find a Santa for an event.
When did you decide to go all in?
Everybody kept telling me… “You need to do this, you need to do this.” So, two years ago, I went in full force. About two-thirds of my appearances in town are pro bono. I was also Santa in Jamaica at Beaches Resort last Christmas.
Maintaining your Santa status—that must take some effort!
Let’s put it this way, I have more products for my beard than I do for my hair. You really have to take care of it and groom it and trim it. I have a style team that helps me out as well.
Do you have any consistent things you tell children when they sit on your lap?
One thing I always tell kids is to brush their teeth. And I say, “If you need a new toothbrush, maybe I should bring you one.” I also hand out cards to kids to give to their parents so that mom and dad can get in touch with me if they misbehave.
What is your word of advice for those who don’t believe in Santa anymore?
Everybody is Santa Claus. When kids get older and don’t believe in Santa anymore, they should become Santa Claus. They should find somebody who needs something and do their best to get it for them without them knowing.
Mark Your Calendars November/December
Turkey Trot 5K
Nov. 22
Before you put on your fat pants for Thanksgiving dinner, strap on your running shoes for this annual event to benefit HumanKind. The family-friendly run/walk starts at E.C. Glass High School bright and early at 8 a.m.—so you have plenty of time to get home and back to the kitchen.
Virginia Christmas Spectacular
Nov. 30-Dec. 2
From dazzling lights to precision dancing, this iconic Thomas Road Baptist Church performance has been a holiday attraction in Central Virginia for more than four decades. This year’s show is “Christmas Comes to Love”—centering around a small town called Love Valley that is not lacking in Christmas spirit. Find ticket and show time information at trbc.org/vcs/.
Celebration of Lights
Dec. 7-31
You don’t have to burn up a tank of gas to enjoy some twinkling holiday lights—Lynchburg Parks and Rec has made it easy with this free, drive-through attraction. It opens nightly in Riverside Park and includes light displays from various businesses and organizations.
Lynchburg Christmas Parade
Dec. 2
Local organizations and businesses will show off their best floats in this 59th annual Hill City event with a “Home for the Holidays” theme. Bring the family to Memorial Avenue at 4 p.m. and be prepared to leave feeling in the Christmas spirit.
Charlottesville Ballet presents: The Nutcracker
Dec. 15
What better way to celebrate the newly opened Historic Academy of Music Theatre than with this classic fairy tale ballet featuring Clara and her magical nutcracker doll? Local dancers join Charlottesville Ballet’s professional company onstage with live music by the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. Find show times and ticket information at academycenter.org.
Local Openings & Closings
Hello! to BitterSweet Boutique on Fifth Street.
Hello! to BUNNS Gourmet Hot Dogs in Madison Heights.
Hello! to Meeples, a board game café in Cornerstone.
Hello! to In The Attic, featuring products by local artisans, in Forest.
Goodbye to Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on Wards Road.
Goodbye to Steak and Shake on Candlers Mountain Road.
Hello! to Wyndhurst Salon in Wyndhurst.
Expert advice for parents on how to tell the difference and, most importantly, how to react.
It’s not uncommon for a child to complain about a “mean” classmate from time to time. But for some parents, the abuse or attacks at their child’s school seem relentless and could be categorized as bullying.
As explained on StopBullying.gov, bullying affects everyone—the bullies, their targets and those who witness it—and is linked to many negative outcomes on mental health.
To gain insight on bullying and what parents should know, we sat down with Linda Grubba, MEd., SB-RPT, an adjunct professor of counseling at University of Lynchburg. She spent 37 years in education, 27 of those years as a school counselor.
First, how would you define bullying?
I’m glad you asked that. I think right now we have some misconceptions about bullying because there is so much attention paid to it. There should be attention paid to it, but it has almost gone to an extreme. If some parents hear that another child was unkind to their child, they think that is bullying. Bullying is more complicated and has three major components: it is a repeated pattern of behavior, an intent to cause harm (either physical or emotional), and there is a clear unbalance of power where one of the individuals doesn’t feel like they can defend themselves.
If a parent suspects their child is being bullied at school, what should they do?
Parents should first ask the child some questions such as: “How did you handle this?” or “Have you told anybody?” You should get a feeling right away about whether the child feels powerless. Also, look at how often the child talks about it. If your child is coming home every day for a number of days talking about this same other child, or situation, then you might have a bullying problem.
What should parents not say to their children?
“Just ignore it” is one thing I would avoid. Or, “They are all just jealous of you.” Not always! In some cases that might be accurate but sometimes it’s not. I had the parent who told their child to, “draw blood” and punch the other child. That’s not a good idea.
What’s the next step?
Ask your child, “Have you talked to your teacher or your counselor?” Help empower the child to take the first steps to solve the problem. We can’t always be with our children so we have to teach them how to ask for help. We don’t want them suffering in silence.
If a child sees a counselor, what can they expect?
School counselors are trained at assisting children to develop a variety of coping skills. They will meet with the child, assess the situation, possibly do some investigating, and formulate a plan of action. The purpose will always be to help the targeted child feel safe and have the situation come to a positive resolution.
What if that doesn’t seem to be enough?
The next step is for the parent to talk to the school. Parents can be great partners in problem solving; they bring an additional perspective. The school is in a prime position to do some investigating, observing and intervention. I remember when I was a counselor going out to the playground to watch certain students or sitting in the cafeteria to do the same. We want all children to be functioning at their best.
Some parents might wonder if calling the school means they are intervening too much? Being one of those “helicopter moms”?
Calling the school doesn’t mean you are filing a huge complaint. When you call the school, you don’t have to be angry and demanding. Just start small and try to get a handle on what is going on.
How has bullying become a bigger problem in recent years?
I think the area that is the most challenging at the moment is social media because of the lack of control. There is not that face to face accountability. People say horrible things to each other.
Even adults do!
Oh goodness, yes. We have a lot of adults who are engaging in bullying on social media. Then our children model that behavior—on social media and in real life.
Social media has definitely changed the dynamics. It used to be back in the day kids got a chance to go home and regroup.
Exactly. Our homes used to be the place where you got away from those stressors and got to refuel. But now, in just a split second, “There is another message on my phone.” They get so caught up in it. I’m not advocating that parents get rid of their child’s smartphones. But I think we really have to look at how they are being utilized and do we need more limits and controls? I don’t think kids necessarily have the judgment needed to navigate some of these social media platforms.
Looking at bullying in terms of mental health, what is the biggest concern for children who are dealing with it at school or online?
Bullying erodes the child’s confidence. So you want to intervene as soon as
you can with the school. We also need to help our children learn assertion skills.
If left unattended, it may lead to academic issues, school avoidance and more serious mental health concerns such as depression.
Assertion doesn’t come naturally for some kids, right?
Right. I could walk into a classroom and almost identify a student that would be a target. Some parents think aggression is assertion. And it’s not. Assertion is the ability to walk confidently and look at people when we speak, even if we are nervous on the inside.
What about the kids who are saying the mean things? There are concerns about their mental health, too.
When you label a child a bully, that’s such a negative label to carry. Bullying is something that many children often “try on” at different times of their life. We have to help them understand that’s not an appropriate way to get their needs met. We need to help the child who doesn’t have good assertion skills. We always need to help children who are using their power in a negative way learn how to get their needs met in a more positive way.
Bullying By the Numbers
28% of U.S. students in grades 6–12 have experienced bullying.
Approximately 30% of young people have admitted to bullying others in surveys.
70.6% of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools.
9% of students in grades 6–12 have experienced cyberbullying.
In one large study, about 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month, whereas 30.8% reported bullying others during that time.
When bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the time.
Source: Numbers found in surveys and studies compiled by StopBullying.gov.
7 Ways to Cope When Life Gets Overwhelming
School is in full swing. The busy holiday season is around the corner with its gift lists and get-togethers. It can be hard to find time to slow down—especially for women. In fact, since 2007, the American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America survey has found that women consistently report higher levels of stress than men.
According to Lynn Bufka, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Associate Executive Director for Practice Research and Policy with the American Psychological Association, here are seven stress-relieving suggestions with women in mind.
1. Track your stressors. Use a journal to identify which situations create the most stress and how you respond to them. Taking notes can help you find patterns among your stressors and your reactions to them so that you can develop a management plan.
2. Set limits. List the projects and commitments that are making you feel overwhelmed. Identify which commitments are priorities and cut back on anything nonessential.
3. Tap into your support system. Reach out to family or friends. Your friends or family members may have tackled similar challenges and have useful ideas and perspectives.
4. Make one health-related commitment. Do what you can to boost your health so that you have the energy and strength to tackle the challenges you are facing. One small step, like cutting back on excessive snacking, can have a positive effect.
5. Manage your devices. People who report constantly checking email or social media typically report more stress. Give yourself a break over the weekend and in the evenings. Put your phone to bed before you go to bed.
6. Enhance your sleep quality. Women who are chronically stressed often suffer from lack of adequate sleep and, in some cases, stress-induced insomnia. Begin winding down an hour or two before you go to sleep and engage in calming activities such as listening to relaxing music.
7. Seek additional help. If you continue to feel overwhelmed or are having trouble getting through your daily routine, seek help from a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist.
Small batch distilleries are more than just a flash in the pan. Bourbon has an especially rich history in the state.
According to the Virginia Distillers Association, Virginia became the birthplace of American Spirits when colonist George Thorpe distilled the first batch of whiskey made from corn in 1620. This first batch became the ancestor of all corn-made moonshine and bourbon. Roughly 180 years later, our Founding Father, George Washington, began commercial distilling using crops from his Mount Vernon estate. At the time, it was the largest whiskey distillery in the country, churning out almost 11,000 gallons of distilled spirits per year.
Today, Virginia is still a thriving area for craft spirits, with more than 50 small batch distilleries in operation, creating premium distillations ranging from gin, rum and vodka to whiskey and bourbon. In honor of Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher from Orange County—who is often credited with creating the first bourbon by aging whiskey in charred oak barrels, thus giving it a unique color and flavor—here’s a toast to bourbon and the many ways you can enjoy it.
Your favorite Virginia bourbon can be enjoyed year-round. In its simplest form, you can sip it straight or on the rocks. When the weather is warm, you can mix it with cola or ginger ale for a refreshing imbibe, or it can serve as the base for more complex cocktails such as a Mint Julep, Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Manhattan or in a variety of punches. Some diehard fans have been also known to drop a shot of bourbon (shot glass and all) into a mug of beer creating what has been called a Depth Charge or Boilermaker.
During the cooler months, a little bourbon mixed with honey and hot water makes a simple Hot Toddy that some claim is remarkable for curing colds and coughs. A little shot of bourbon in your holiday egg nog or hot chocolate is also good for whatever ails you.
Warm or cold out, here are a couple of recipes we think you may enjoy:
Tom and Jerry Batter
Ingredients
12 eggs (separated)
1 pound butter (room temperature)
3 pounds confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
Method
Beat chilled egg whites until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks to soft peaks. In a third, large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and vanilla to the butter mixture and mix. Stir in the nutmeg, cloves, allspice and egg whites and mix until fully blended.
Chill batter until ready for use.
To make a Tom and Jerry, add a heaping spoonful of batter to a mug, add boiling hot water and a shot of bourbon. Stir and sprinkle the top with fresh nutmeg.
Backyard Paradise
Ingredients
4 cups fresh pineapple (cubed)
1 cup bourbon
1 cup lemon sparkling water,
such as Perrier (chilled)
1/2 cup Southern Comfort
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
Process pineapple in a blender until smooth. Press mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a pitcher. Add remaining ingredients, stir and serve over ice in individual glasses. Makes about 4 cups.
Bourbon Marinated Hangar Steak
Ingredients
1/2 cup bourbon
6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated or minced)
1 teaspoon fresh garlic (pressed or minced)
1 tablespoon shallots (minced)
1 pound hangar or skirt steak (trimmed)
1/4 cup heavy cream
Method
Combine all ingredients except steak in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, then simmer one minute. Pour marinade into shallow dish large enough for the steak and let it cool. Add meat to the cooled marinade and coat thoroughly. Refrigerate overnight for no more than 12 hours.
Dry beef with paper towel. Heat a large pan/skillet on high. Sear beef about three minutes per side for medium rare. Remove from pan and let steak rest. Cook down remaining marinade and whisk in cream.
Cut meat into strips and drizzle pan sauce over strips.
Bourbon Bananas Foster
Ingredients
1/3 cup bourbon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
3 bananas, halved crosswise then lengthwise
4 slices pound cake
4 scoops vanilla ice cream
Method
In a large skillet, cook the butter and brown sugar over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Add the banana pieces and gently turn to coat. Once the sauce starts to bubble, add the bourbon and ignite the mixture using a long match or lighter. Cook until the flames extinguish.
Divide the cake among serving dishes and drizzle with bourbon sauce. Top with ice cream, followed by bananas and remaining sauce.
RECOMMENDED DISTILLERY:
Filibuster Distillery
Spirits of Distinguished Character
All you have to do is take one sip and you’ll discover something that may surprise and delight you. Filibuster is unlike any other bourbon. It’s handcrafted in small batches. Why? Because it’s worth it.
80 Maurertown Mill Rd. • Maurertown, VA 22644
(703) 350-7276 • www.filibusterbourbon.com