Notes From Behind the Wheel: Lynchburg’s NightLife Through the Eyes of a Rideshare Driver

It’s Friday night and I’m ready to head out for the evening. I’m off to meet new people, visit the local hot spots, and likely not leave the driver’s seat of my car for six hours. I’m not partying—I’m working.

I drive for a ridesharing service, taking people where they want to be. I experience Lynchburg’s nightlife, but one step removed, through the windows of my car. Most riders are friendly and want to talk, and I feel like I’m included in their conversations, at least for a few minutes.

The thing about ridesharing is; at the beginning I don’t know where the end will be. I know where the rider is when they request a pickup, but I only find out the destination when they climb aboard. The mystery keeps things interesting.

Any ride could be a three-minute hop over to Wal-Mart or a half hour trek to a residential neighborhood out in Appomattox. For some reason, those long drives always seem to come after I’ve decided “one more fare, then I’m going home.”

Tonight you will be included in my night’s roving to find out how much is happening in Lynchburg. I know I won’t see everything that’s going on, but it should be an exciting ride. Tipping is not required, but always appreciated.

At 8:25 p.m. I cruise past Cook Out on Wards Road. The parking lot is full, and the drive-through line stretches back to Wards. I want to stop for a burger and shake, but the wait is too long.

It’s nearly 9 p.m. and I’m on my way out to Wyndhurst to take a couple to Neighbors Place. This restaurant/bar is popular with college students, couples and families. On my way through, I see there are some more eateries open along Enterprise Drive. I’m sure I’ll be back around to them before long.

Just before 9:30 p.m. I’m cruising along Route 29 heading towards the Kemper Street station. I glance over as I pass Big Lick Tropical Grill and Phase 2. Fantastic—both parking lots are full. Must be an event or concert going on tonight. I’ll be sure to swing back around closer to midnight. New Year’s Eve and Halloween were big nights for me.

Heading in the opposite direction with two riders aboard, my destination is Buffalo Wild Wings, off Wards Road. “B-Dubs” is one of those places that always has a crowd. Whether it’s football, basketball or soccer, the big screens draw a lot of sports fans. Or it might be the wings.

At 9:43 p.m. I pass Cook Out again, and it looks like the line hasn’t gotten any shorter.

It’s 10 p.m. and I’ve just picked up a couple from El Jefe on Commerce Street. We chat about the town; the husband has lived here all his life. He tells me that Lynchburg is the largest city in the U.S. that does not have an interstate highway. Now I share that factoid with all of my out-of-town riders.

Rolling along Fort Avenue, I pass by City Stadium. The Hillcats are playing tonight! There’s a good crowd, and sure enough I get
a ride request. Four large fellows squeeze into my car. I get to hear about the game, and how the ’Cats are doing this year. Oh, and there’s going to be a music festival held at the stadium in a few weeks. Got to remember that, so I can be around when it closes. I pay much more attention to local events since I started driving.

Later, at 10:20 p.m. I’m finally taking a rider to Cook Out. We sit in the drive-through line for 20 minutes and I take him back home again, where I help him unload the four orders he picked up for his friends. Then it occurs to me that I should have ordered something for myself at the same time. Sigh. On at least two other occasions I have provided a rider with a round trip to a fast-food place for takeout.

It’s past 10:50 p.m. Shoemakers at the Craddock Terry Hotel is the next stop. I’ve only eaten there once myself, but it was a great dining experience. I’ve picked up several passengers from the restaurant, mostly taking them back to local hotels. It seems that’s the place for vendors and sales types to take clients out to dinner. Great place, all except for the cobblestone parking lot. I am not a fan of cobblestones. When I go by, I always scan the parking lot, though. I’m looking for that Lamborghini I saw once.

Now it’s after 11 p.m. and I’m pulling into the Holiday Inn on Main Street. There’s a group here in town for a wedding. It reminds me of a fellow I picked up a while ago and took to the Aviary at Miller Park. He was going there to play guitar at a wedding reception for a friend. Two couples I know held their receptions at the Aviary too—it is a splendid location.

At 11:19 p.m. I’m waiting to pull out onto Timberlake Road. I almost get my front end torn off by a car that burned through the red light. I see a lot of that.

Just on the other side of midnight, people are beginning to look homeward. I’m pulling up beside Kegney Brothers Irish Pub on Main Street. Turns out my fare is a group of Lynchburg College girls. On the way back to campus, they talk about the karaoke that evening; the good, the bad, and the badly off-key.

Returning downtown, I know just where to go—Jefferson Street. Not only is there Riverfront Park, where they held Lynchstock, but there’s also the Glass House event space. If there’s a party going on there tonight, I’ll be sure to have lots of business. Across the street is The Water Dog, another very popular spot. I don’t know what it is, but whenever I have a lull in activity, I drive down to Jefferson and park by The Water Dog. I get a ride request within 10 minutes. Sometimes I barely have enough time to stretch my legs.

Jefferson Street is bracketed with nightspots. Near Ninth Street is the Emerald Stone Grille, which I only realized was there a few weeks ago. At the Washington Street end up on a hill is Bootleggers. I wonder why most folks have me drop them off at the back entrance, an alley off Commerce Street. Could it be all those stairs?

It is almost 1:30 a.m., and I finally get a call to pick up someone from Rivermont Pizza, next to Randolph College. It’s not a weekend without stopping here. I can hear the music coming from inside and as always there’s a crowd of folks just relaxing on the sidewalk outside.

2 a.m. has come and gone, and most places are closed. It’s late, or early, depending on your view of it, but it’s time for me to head home. Sorry if I didn’t get around to pick you up,
but I’m sure I’ll be out again next weekend.

See you then!

By “Bob”

The Question
It was May a year ago. With eyes glazed and jaw dropped, my mouth mumbled, “What? You’re inviting us to open our new home and garden for Garden Day?”

Lynchburg’s enthusiastic event co-chairman Courtney Alford repeated her invitation. In a split second, her contagious smile melted my guard and “Well, sure!” slipped out. It would take a tougher woman than I to say “no” to my friend and fellow Hillside Garden Club member, Courtney.

Besides, our club serves as local event co-sponsor of Historic Garden Week in Virginia, along with Lynchburg Garden Club. Both clubs are among the 47 statewide member clubs of the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV) committed to a common purpose and legacy.

The event highlights Virginia’s hospitality, history, and beauty, and proceeds fund the restoration and preservation of more than 40 historic public gardens and landscapes statewide, including Point of Honor here in Lynchburg, as well as a research fellowship program and a GCV centennial project with Virginia State Parks. Meg Clement, state Chairman for this 84th annual event, reported that “approximately 26,000 attendees across the state contribute economically and culturally. Recent surveys indicate that over
$11 million is spent across Virginia…with a cumulative impact of $425 million over the past 45 years.”

And the GCV members have a track record for impeccable organization and support of homeowners on the tour. So, of course, I’d do my part. Commitment made, I had less than a year to prepare.

Then It Sinks In…
Soon my own questions came flooding: Why would Garden Day visitors want to tour a second-floor condominium? (I couldn’t recall a condo ever being on the tour.) Will our small communal garden sport anything but weeds on April 25th? (I hadn’t yet seen it in spring.)
Will our Homeowners Association approve? (I didn’t know my new neighbors.)

Oh, and the Big Question: Will we have time for order to arise from the chaos of our move from our farm in Bedford County to our new home in The Woodstock? (We hadn’t even scheduled our move-in date yet!)

I wasn’t willing to concede being overwhelmed even though my mind was loaded to capacity with figuring out what to do with our accumulation of 43 years of treasures and junk that decades of living, loving, and space at the farm encouraged. With time to Garden Day (G-Day) ticking away, we stepped up our game with the help of our sons and my sister Jan Dow, who hauled a truckload to Richmond to distribute to family there.

With only Tim, Mama Cat, and me living under our roof, I counted on preparation being less stressful than the first time I opened my home and garden for G-Day in 1985 while managing a house full of teenagers, a four-year-old, and a menagerie of dogs and cats.

That was in Danville’s 1886 Penn-Wyatt House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This time it’s the 1917 Woodstock, designed by Stanhope Johnson and a Lynchburg Historical Foundation Merit Award recipient. Knowing that historic places with architectural appeal hold their own on Garden Day and draw the crowd reduced pressure even more.

Besides, we’re a foot stool and lap robe kind of family, comfortable surrounded by family memorabilia, including collections of folk as well as fine art from around the world. Some may consider our treasures tchotchke or worse, but we don’t have it in us to stage décor à la Architectural Digest or keep up with trend-setting decorators. So, we were ready to buckle down and prepare.

First things first, I appealed to our Homeowners Association for our neighbors’ blessing—and was warmly embraced.

Just the spark I needed to start hustling to place furniture, hang pictures, and figure out what to do with the garden.

Taking on an Established Garden
The idea of opening the Woodstock’s communal garden was daunting. I was still grieving my beloved farm garden we’d left behind and didn’t intend to start over with this one. But Meg Laughon, Elizabeth Hutter, and other trusted GCV friends convinced me that it had good bones and great potential. They, along with several new neighbors, garden guru Don Lee, and the Woodstock’s own professional landscaper Kenneth Robertson helped us take inventory, appreciate the work of previous gardeners throughout the Woodstock’s history, and consider what could and should be done to spiff up for G-Day.

We learned that previous residents were master gardeners who popped plants in every spot possible, especially plants found on sale that they nurtured into fine specimens. Ah, my kind of gardeners—more interested in rescuing plants than presenting a grand and cohesive landscape design.

Our feeling of kinship with the past century of Woodstock gardeners continued to grow. They’d planted and nurtured many of the same trees, shrubs, and perennials that we’d planted and loved at our farm, including Virginia favorites—magnolia, dogwood, maple, crepe myrtle, azalea, wisteria, lilac, snowball viburnum, tree and herbaceous peonies, and iris. A bonus was lovely mature camellias, which I’d never grown successfully before. My gardener’s heart began to beat a little faster.

I knew from my previous historic garden that when restoring an already established garden, it’s best to observe it a full year in every season before making radical changes—except for the obvious immediate tasks of removing dead, diseased or radically overgrown plant material.

Kenneth and crew removed dead tree limbs, shaped up shrubs, cleaned out debris, and started tackling a huge overgrowth of English Ivy, accumulated Magnolia leaves, and the dreaded poison ivy—which drove me out of the weeding business after a couple of wicked early spring bouts of allergic reaction.

Yet there was still much work to be done. The flower beds remained scruffy with winter and early spring bedhead, and I couldn’t tell whether some sticks were new-to-me shrubs just waiting to flesh out or last year’s perennial debris. So, patience was the order of the day.

As spring unfurled, the risk of frost diminished daily, neighbors pitched in to fill pots with boxwoods and plant annuals, and Tim and I transplanted tree and herbaceous peonies, hellebores, and more from the farm and planted a few additional varieties of Japanese maples. By then we were hooked.

Behind the Scenes
Courtney and her counterpart, local event co-chairman Lea Barksdale, epitomized GCV grace, organization and support.

They ably led an army of volunteers who aced every planning detail, including organizing the tour path, three shifts of hostesses to cover every critical juncture, and police presence. Flower chairmen, our cousins Patsy Wilkinson and Carter Bendall, orchestrated a committee of talented arrangers who created a profusion of gorgeous arrangements, upholding Lynchburg’s reputation for flower arrangements that put our G-Day on the map.

Club members answered questions, brought meals and gifts, and always showed great appreciation while I perked along happily hanging pictures, planting the garden, and enjoying stories by other Garden Day survivors. Elizabeth Hutter told me one of her garden’s matched pair of wisteria arches looked dead and dreadful the year she opened her garden for the tour. Her solution? Cut off blossoms from the other profusely blooming arch, put them in water tubes, and tape them on the barren plant. No one was the wiser, and the slow bloomer took stage center a week or so later, of course. Such are the vagaries of nature and tricks of the trade.

Another friend requested that closet doors remain closed.

Looking for the bathroom, a hostess accidently opened one of the off-limits closets to discover it piled high with sports equipment and other evidence of a full life. Facing the interloper was a big sign: “Don’t judge! I bet your closet looks like this too.”

Tales of innovative solutions to occasional G-Day glitches speak of devoted husbands schlepping guests around traffic snarls and of keeping homeowners’ floors clean and dry during pouring rain by issuing shoe booties or plastic bags at the front door, collecting them at the back door, and running them around front to reuse. I figured that no matter what the challenge, these ladies are up to it and can turn it into an amusing story!

Countdown
Glitches for us piled up the final week before G-Day: The front-room chair that for decades passed for shabby-chic suddenly degenerated into tattered-derelict. Window washing, an estimated 2-day project, turned into a complicated 5-day project. Touch-up paint didn’t match. Our old HVAC system chose an 84-degree day to die. And, the big one: Tim’s health took a turn for the worse.

Thanks to re-upholstery magic by interior decorator friend Marjorie Grabeel, multiple trips to paint stores by Love Painting’s Kameo Hunter, and rushed HVAC delivery and installation by Wooldridge Heating and Air, we slid in under the wire on G-Day eve. The chair arrived and looked great, windows were spotless and gleaming, and paint touch-ups were drying to match the walls. Half of the new HVAC was running in time to keep flowers and arrangers from wilting, with final installation complete by 9:30 p.m. Fears of G-Day visitors fainting from the heat evaporated, and Tim’s ticker was ticking. So, bring it on!

We even collected our own tale to add to G-Day lore:
As “Arranging Day” (G-Day eve) progressed, one of the arrangers commented, “You have the nicest men working for you. They were so helpful in bringing our card tables, buckets of flowers, and bags of tools upstairs for us. Did you bring them in town from your farm to help us?” It took me a minute to figure it out: Uh…no! She hadn’t noticed the pocket stitching on their shirts, “Wooldridge.”

The Big Day Arrived…
…along with chilly drizzle and rain. As hostesses reported for duty and we were leaving for the day, I flipped the AC off and gas logs on. After all, that’s what we do for a cozy day at home.

My parting words were, “Forget the plastic shoe bags. These rugs survived decades of living on our Bedford County farm with kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, dogs, cats—and red clay, food, and wine. Some are even welcoming their second Garden Day. A little rain won’t hurt.” And after 1,424 guests filed through that day, I was right. Tim and I—and our rugs, home, and garden—are all happy survivors.

My garden-loving friends know me well. We weren’t ready to say “good-bye” to gardening. The Woodstock garden and the community that shares and cares for it had found a place in our hearts. So, I’ll continue transplanting peonies, iris, hellebores, and my great-great-grandmother’s daffodils from their most recent home at the farm to The Woodstock. I know they’ll bloom where they’re planted. As will we.

New Books You Might Want to Check Out

For many adults, the phrase “summer reading” may conjure up childhood memories of required reading lists and time spent writing papers on days better suited for swimming. Luckily, summer reading as an adult means having your pick of countless books from countless genres to enjoy on a plane, in the car, on the beach, or anywhere and anytime you get a bit of time to yourself. Read on for some of my recent favorites!

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
by J.D. Vance
It is impossible to place this buzzworthy title into one genre—and that is a good thing. Vance’s harrowing and often touching account of his life growing up in Appalachia is autobiographical, but it is also an insightful sociological analysis of poverty and the struggles of the American working class, particularly in the Appalachian region. This is a very thoughtful, timely and well-written book.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
If you enjoyed Carl Sagan’s television series, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980), and/or Neil deGrasse Tyson’s follow-up series, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014), chances are you will love Tyson’s new collection of essays about such topics as the Big Bang and black holes. Tyson’s childlike wonder and sparkling wit come across just as clearly on the page as they do on the screen, and he is a master at explaining complex concepts succinctly and imaginatively.

Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002)
by David Sedaris
With his sardonic wit and predilection for blunt cultural criticism, David Sedaris is a somewhat polarizing author. I, for one, think he is a comedic genius, and I think Theft is his best work yet because it is his most personal. This is Sedaris at his most introspective, self-deprecating, observant and hilarious. I found myself noticing and appreciating life’s little moments and details more after reading this book.

Norse Mythology
by Neil Gaiman
From movies to comic books to action figures, superheroes are a ubiquitous and beloved part of pop culture. As Gaiman’s new retelling of Norse folklore proves, the origin stories of these heroes are just as entertaining and exciting as their modern adventures. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the mythology of Odin, Thor and Loki but makes the story his own with his characteristic dark humor, attention to detail and effortless prose.

Behind Her Eyes
by Sarah Pinborough
I will admit that the promise of a shocking twist ending piqued my interest in reading this thriller, but once I began reading it, I discovered that the entire book, in fact, is shocking and twisted. Single mom Louise falls for married man David, but she also becomes best friends with David’s wife Adele, who has some dark secrets of her own. The resulting drama was so unpredictable and addictive that I finished the book in two days!

Take any stereotypes you have about financial service industry professionals and throw them out the window as we introduce you to this issue’s Local Flavor.

Mike Sharrett works in Lynchburg and enjoys spending time with his wife and one-year-old son. When he’s not in front of his desk, he’s in front of the oven or grill—perfecting “Viking Style” meals that center around savory cuts of meat from beef ribs to pork tenderloin and beyond. (And when he’s not cooking, Mike lives life to the fullest as a licensed race car driver, high performance driving instructor, and competitive firearms shooter.)

Mike began experimenting with cooking and marinating at 16 years old when his parents went to the beach and he stayed home. After ruining all of his mother’s Teflon pans trying to cook steaks, he started to figure things out. Fast forward to now: Mike has a YouTube channel called “Cook Like Mike” so he can share his recipes with the world. (He also is a self-proclaimed “oversharer” of food photos on Facebook.)

His advice to you? For starters: “You can’t skimp on steak quality.” Mike says anything less than USDA Prime…isn’t worth your time. But more importantly, he reminds us all: “Life’s too short to eat bad food so sometimes you have to make it yourself.”
Take this lesson to heart and try out his dish today!

Reverse Sear Tenderloin

with Montreal Seasoning Roasted Potatoes and Sautéed Green Beans

Steak
1. Ideally, let your steak sit out so it can come to room temperature.
2. Preheat your oven to 250°. (Anything above 275° and the meat will sweat all your seasoning off.)
3. Liberally season both sides with sea and mineral salts. (I prefer Red Hawaiian, Pink Himalayan, and Mayan.)
4. Crack fresh pepper on both sides then pat the steaks so your “rub” doesn’t fall off.
5. Place steak on a wire rack with a cookie sheet below.
6. Insert a thermometer so you can monitor the temperature.
7. Bake in oven to desired internal temperature. (I prefer 115° for tenderloin and 120° for ribeyes.)
8. Remove from oven and let the steak rest on a plate for 15-20 minutes. You can’t skip this part!
9. While resting, bring a cast iron pan up to medium heat or turn a grill on high.
10. Once the 15-20 minutes has passed, place your steak on the pan or grill for one minute per side to sear the outside.

Potatoes
Peel Russet potatoes and cut into cubes. Toss in a bowl with olive oil and Montreal seasoning. Pour into a pan and cook while your steak is cooking. After the steak is removed turn the oven up to 375° and finish baking potatoes until lightly golden brown.

Green Beans
Wash beans and cut off the stems. During the resting period of the steak, place green beans in a skillet on medium heat with olive oil. As the oil gets hot, crack fresh pepper and sea salt over the beans (add crushed red pepper if desired). Sauté until crispy and cooked.

Serve & Enjoy!

Tour a Custom Home on Smith Mountain Lake

He was born in the land of a thousand lakes, but he chose the one with mountain views.

Minnesota native Dennis Mischel and his wife Gayle have lived in North Dakota, California and Washington D.C., but Gayle admits, “I’ve never lived in a place as welcoming as Smith Mountain Lake.”

And this year, all settled in to their new life, the Mischels are returning the favor as they take part in a major community event—the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour.

From the Pentagon to the Blue Ridge
The Mischels left the Washington, D.C. area in 2014 when Gayle retired from a career in corporate insurance and private consulting, and Dennis retired from his work as a mechanical engineer with the Pentagon.

Prior to retirement, the Mischels spent time investigating different locations in order to find their ideal community.

“I wanted somewhere warm year-round; he wanted a lake,” Gayle explains. Since they knew they wanted to be on the water, they began looking at lakes here on the East Coast because both of their grown children, along with their families, lived on the East Coast at that time. The Mischels had never heard of Smith Mountain Lake until one of Dennis’ co-workers at the Pentagon suggested they explore this area. “It took us three times of getting lost before we finally found the place,” Gayle admitted, but the journey was clearly worth it.

“This is an active community and it’s like a small town—it’s what we were looking for. We just fell in love with it,” Gayle gushed.

Once they agreed on Smith Mountain Lake, they began weekend trips to explore the various neighborhoods and find a new home. The Mischels enjoy the amenities and convenience that the Westlake area offers and hired Peggy Hodges from Wainwright Realtors to help them with their home search.

After seeing over 30 homes and finding nothing that met their requirements (including a four-car garage, an open floor plan and a view), Hodges told the Mischels they’d need to build.

“My husband and I looked at each other and said, ‘Okay, well, then find us a lot!’” Gayle remembers. “We were actually looking at another lot in this area and we came down this street, turned around this cul-de-sac, and this lot was for sale.”

A Back Lake
When arriving at the Mischels’ home, visitors can expect to see water, lots of water—the first impression upon driving up to the house is that there’s a back lake instead of a backyard. There is a yard out there (but you just can’t see it).

“I wanted the house to be like you’re on a large bluff overlooking the water, so one of my criteria when we built the house was you don’t see anything but water when you walk through the front and on the main level. I think our architect did a wonderful job in designing that.”

As you walk through the foyer, you notice instantly that the Mischels achieved the wide, open-concept plan they were longing for thanks to Dennis Cooper (Cooper Contractors in Hardy) and architect Eric Buck (Comprehensive Home Design). The rows of windows that span the back wall of the living room, dining area and keeping room showcase the one-of-a-kind lake and mountain views that the Mischels’ frontage (over 100 feet) offers.

The views above are equally impressive: Gayle chose to use various ceiling designs to help define the different living spaces within her open-concept floor plan. For instance, the tray ceiling shares the same shape and dimensions of the island in the gourmet kitchen whereas the keeping room features an octagonal ceiling.

The living room is the first gathering area past the foyer, whose fireplace commands attention as its rock façade reaches up to the full height of the cathedral ceiling. Matching built-in bookcases flank the fireplace, containing a pristine display of beloved items, such as a ceramic coffee urn Gayle’s mother gave her on her 18th birthday to mark her entrance into adulthood.

When you have an open floor plan, you want a sense of cohesion with your décor and furnishings. To achieve this, the Mischels first used the same paint color throughout the home (Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige). They also opted to repeat the look of the rock fireplace in the kitchen backsplash, which helps to create contrast and texture in an otherwise sleek space. Custom cabinetry by Montgomery Woodworkers incorporates shades of ebony, chestnut and auburn into a custom color; the eight-inch hardwood planks contain the same custom color because Gayle wanted the grain to match. The Mischels chose to have a casual dining area instead of a formal dining room, where even if you aren’t facing the water directly, you still enjoy the same vistas as captured in the stained glass piece by Shelly LaTreill that replicates the view from the deck.

Lake living often seems to be all about the lake itself; it’s equally about being there with family and creating memories beside the watery backdrop.

“We built it for our kids and three grandkids and I wanted a lot of space so the little ones can run around,” explains Gayle.

The Mischels’ son and his family recently moved out to California while their daughter and her family live in Virginia.

With family in mind, Dennis and Gayle purposely separated the sleeping quarters from the gathering spaces. They also elected to add an ensuite bathroom to each bedroom for additional privacy.

A hallway beside the kitchen displays oversized metal plates as well as a cutting board with Norwegian rosemaling, a nod to Gayle’s heritage. The hall leads to a closet-turned-office for Gayle, a guest bedroom, a drop zone, and ultimately to the master suite. With lakefront views and a cozy reading area, the room calls for relaxation.

Places to Play
Still, when the family comes to visit, the Mischels spend most of their time downstairs or out on the dock. Outfitted with a pool table, card table and flat screen TV, the downstairs den provides plenty of spaces for entertainment. There’s another fireplace to cozy up to, framed by Gayle’s cherished Norwegian spinning wheel and tine box. Tucked behind the family room is the children’s playroom that houses toys, video games and a sleeper sofa. This room and another guest room share a spin on a Jack and Jill bathroom (a children’s side, a parent’s side and a shower in between).

Behind the den is Dennis’ office—a man cave with a waterfront view—and an indoor sauna. “Dennis really wanted one of these—coming from Minnesota, he likes anything that’s warm!” Gayle joked. Dennis explains that it’s not just the warmth—his father always chose to stay in hotels with saunas, and he has fond memories of traveling with his dad and enjoying the saunas with him. “Plus, yes, it’s warm and relaxing,” he agrees.

A tile path leads from the outside door to the half bath all the way to a mini-fridge stocked with beverages and to the outside perimeter of the family room—this is a sign of careful planning.

“When they come in from the dock, they’re wet and they stand here and drip and then they go back out again,” Gayle says. The tilework makes cleanup a breeze.

The outside door leads out to the Mischels’ dock. They have everything they need for maximum enjoyment of the lake: a kayak, Jet Ski, pontoon boat and wakeboard. The dock also has a storage room with a tile counter and a remote-controlled shade that helps keep the pontoon clean and covered; it also provides an extra level of privacy.

Whether at home with family or out in town, the Mischels simply love where they live, and they are committed to supporting their community. “When we moved here, we were not aware of the large number of people who were in need,” Gayle admits.

As a way to give back, the Mischels chose to open the doors to their home for the upcoming SML Charity Home Tour this October. “This is the largest community fundraiser for a charitable giving on the lake, so if we can give back and can help people who are in need by just opening our front door, that’s what we’ll do.”

The 2017 Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour
October 6-8
For the past 27 years, the volunteer-driven Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour has helped charities that provide services to those in need around the Lake area. People travel by boat, car or shuttle to tour eight different homes; eight charities split the majority of the proceeds generated from the tour’s ticket sales.

DebraLee Hovey, publications director for the tour, explains that organizations undergo a rigorous, competitive process in order to be one of the participating charities. In addition to their mission statements lining up with that of the home tour, the charities must also commit to raising $5,000 themselves and providing all of the volunteers for the tour. “Most of these charities would have not have access to this kind of funding—it’s vital to their programming,” Hovey adds.

Likewise, the SML Home Tour Board strives to find different properties each year that will spark public interest. In addition to contractors, builders and architects suggesting homes with unique or compelling designs, the Board welcomes recommendations for future tours since being on the tour is a one-time-only experience.

Hovey points out that the tour not only hopes to support the charities involved but also the economic vitality of the region.

“A lot of the Lake goes [the] Lynchburg way,” she says.

“We go to your restaurants, your shops—my dentist is actually in Lynchburg!” she laughs.

The 2017 SML Charity Home Tour will take place rain or shine on Columbus Day weekend (October 6th- 8th). Tickets are good for all three days (no refunds). For more information, visit www.smlcharityhometour.com

Photography by Michael Patch

Title: Sculptor | Age: 50

When did you first discover your passion for art and sculpting?
I was really little. My parents were divorced and when I was six years old I got to spend a summer with my father in California. He took me to Disneyland, and I was amazed—but not for the reason most kids are. I just wanted to know how they built it. I went on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I knew they weren’t real people, but they looked like real people. Before we left the park, my dad bought me a magazine and it had pictures of the original Disneyland Imagineers as they were sculpting. Then, he gave me $20 for allowance, and I went to the hobby store and bought every piece of clay they had. I spent the rest of the summer sculpting all of the characters in that magazine. I was only six years old, but I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

Once you graduated from high school, did you receive any formal training?
I was mostly self taught. I had my own little mask business—making rubber Halloween masks and dentures. And then Dick Smith, who was the undisputed master or “Godfather” of special effects makeup, started a mail order course. I sent him a couple of pictures of my work and within three days I got a letter back that said, “Your work is fantastic. You can take my course at any time.” I was about 18 or 19. That was the only kind of training I had.

Where did your career take you next?
In my 20s, I moved to Colorado to work for this huge mask and prop company. I worked for them for a year and I absolutely hated it because I had to run everything by a committee. It got so tedious. I didn’t know at the time I moved… but the town I lived in, Loveland, had the highest rate of sculptors per capita than anywhere in the world. The world’s best bronze foundries were right there in town. So I left the mask company and started working at a foundry creating huge, monumental pieces. I stayed there for three years, then started working as a freelance sculptor for independent projects. I would get hired by these independent companies and I would sculpt something, then they would put their name on it. People don’t realize this but there are so many “sculptors” out there who haven’t sculpted anything in their lives. For years, I made really good money doing that.

Did you encounter any major setbacks?
When I worked for a company in Connecticut I got really sick on the job with toxic chemical overload. Doctors told me I would never sculpt like I used to ever again. But while I was recovering and couldn’t get out of bed, I worked on little pieces that ended up becoming some of my best sellers.

What did that teach you?
After all of that, I said I would never work for anyone else. So I started taking part in fine art shows and worked my way up to better shows all while learning how to market and brand myself. And the rule for me now is I won’t create something I wouldn’t have in my own house. There is no amount of money that’s enough… because it’s like selling a part of your soul.

You first came to Lynchburg in 2010 to visit a friend. What made you stay?
It took only two days for me to fall in love with the city. First, the historic district—I think every artist is a secret architecture nut. I just fell in love with the whole design of the town and architecture. And I started meeting so many nice people. Everybody was just so nice. I love it here.

Now you’re a key player in the community and one project in particular has you very busy.
Oh yeah—the M.W. Thornhill statue on the Fifth Street roundabout. It will be nine feet tall in bronze. Thornhill was the first African American mayor back in the 90s, and he did so many good things in this town…he stirred stuff up and worked hard for equal rights.

How are you making it look like him?
Multiple photos. The News & Advance was a huge lifesaver for me. They let me go through their archives and scan tons of photos of him. It’s a really challenging project because once I put it out there…this will be how Mr. Thornhill will be remembered by future generations —it’s a lot of pressure. And his family has been a part of the process.

You’re also doing some work for the owners of the Villa Maria?
They have commissioned me for a dream project to create some sculptures they want. I came up with a series of designs and they picked one and said, “Let’s start with that one.” They are great to work with. They don’t put any pressure on me and just let me do my thing.

So—what’s next for you?
I would like to have a facility where I could have interns and train them in this type of work. Ideally, I can foresee teaching the particular skill set I’ve learned over the last 35 years to someone who is interested in the process so that I can eventually step back a little bit from the production aspects and be able to focus more on just creating the sculptures. I’m doing almost all of it at the moment and it gets a little overwhelming at times. I’d love to find the time to get back to oil painting too; I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it.

What’s your vision for Lynchburg’s arts community moving forward?
I’d love to help turn Lynchburg into a sculpture mecca, with a sculpture garden located somewhere in town. I’ve seen them in a few places that I’ve lived and they seem to be a popular tourist destination. If you build it, they will come.

How can people get in touch with you?
Faraoni Studios on Facebook
Ken Faraoni on Instagram
www.kenfaraoni.com