Local Openings & Closings
Hello! to Nomad Movies, a spin-off of Nomad Coffee that offers a drive-in movie experience.
Hello! to Fratelli Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, located on the Bluffwalk.
Goodbye to longtime restaurant Carol’s Place in Forest.
Hello! to Kissed Cupcakes in Forest at the Gables of Jefferson Commons.
Goodbye to Shanghai Express on Wards Road after 30 years in Lynchburg.
Goodbye to Cheesy’s on Wards Road.
Hello! to Hill City Pub inside the former Cheesy’s restaurant.
Hello! to the rebranded Rivermont BierHaus, formerly Brauburgers of Rivermont.
Hello! to a new brick-and-mortar location of Rookie’s in Forest.
Hello! to the Pied Piper VA, a Forest food stand offering sweet and savory pies.
BEHIND the SCENES
Timing was everything for this issue’s Art feature. As Editor Shelley Basinger scrolled through Facebook one day, she found an old post on the Anne Spencer Memorial Foundation page about a painting in the historic home, The Cocktail Party, that was listed on an endangered artifacts list. That led to more research and a call to Shaun Spencer-Hester, Spencer’s granddaughter and executive director of the foundation. Spencer-Hester loved the idea of doing a feature about the painting—and better yet, she said a curator was going to be visiting the house the following week. In late-May, photographer Ashlee Glen and her daughter, Emeri, worked together to capture the scene as Mark Wittl inspected the painting.
Lighting was crucial due to the older home’s darker rooms. Read more about The Cocktail Party and the efforts to preserve it starting on pages 41.
When making photography assignments for the July/August issue, the Lynchburg Living team knew just who to ask for our Home feature. Not only is Woody Watts a versatile, easy-to-work-with photographer, he also has a drone! This glorious piece of technology came in handy at the Smith Mountain Lake home to capture gorgeous, sky-high views of the property. Take a tour of the home starting on page 47.
After a week of rain, the clouds parted one Sunday morning in late May just in time for our cover shoot in Downtown Lynchburg. Photographer Ashlee Glen insisted on an 8 a.m. start time to catch the perfect early morning glow. Patrick Hubble and Kim Soerensen, members of the Vespa and Lambretta Club, were great sports as Ashlee gave them instructions on where to ride. Read more about the unique local group starting on page 69.
