Charlottesville’s Cool Eats

Best Local Ice Cream, Gelato, & Frozen Yogurt

One of the best things about the Charlottesville area is the unique and diverse restaurant scene that provides a plethora of options. This extends all the way down to the final course: dessert. And in a Southern climate with average temperatures in the 70s or above from May to September, there are a multitude of concoctions to refresh and cool the palate.

Chaps Ice Cream

Charlottesville Ice Cream at Chaps Enjoy a retro, 1950s vibe at Chaps on the downtown mall. You can either sit outside on the patio or in the cool indoors, relaxing at a booth upholstered in turquoise vinyl while a classic black and white TV show plays overhead. Chaps ice cream is made in-house based on a family recipe that they have followed for over 75 years. The waffle cones are also made by hand, and the menu includes sundaes, shakes, and hand-dipped frozen yogurt, as well as a full lunch and café menu. Their summer hours keep them open to 9 or 11 pm, depending on the night. If you’re on the university side of town, you can also find a selection of Chaps ice cream in the café of Foods of All Nations.

Unique flavors: Birthday Cake, Chocolate Almond.

Splendora’s Gelato Café

Splendoras Gelato in Charlottesville In the heart of Charlottesville’s downtown mall, you can find 24-36 flavors of artisanal Italian gelato made fresh nearly every day! Gelato contains the same ingredients as ice cream, but in different proportions and therefore contains less fat than most American ice cream. It is also blended by hand with less air whipped into it so it remains dense. Splendora’s, which first opened in 2004, buys its hormone-free milk and cream from a Virginia dairy. They also offer sorbettos, which only contain fruit, sugar, and water but are surprisingly smooth and rich as well. Splendora’s encourages combining different flavors as a purchase of even their smallest cup comes with two scoops. A favorite combo of mine is mango and raspberry, perfect on a hot summer’s day.

Unique flavors: Pistachio, Hazelnut, Pumpkin Spice, Peppermint Stick.

La Flor Michoacana

Tucked into a storefront on Cherry Avenue you can find traditional Mexican paletas (whole fruit popsicles) at La Flor Michoacana. Some are made with cream while others are dairy-free, both made with pieces of fresh fruit. They have an extensive menu that also includes fresh fruity drinks, ice cream, flan, rice pudding, and other Mexican treats like piña loca (crazy pineapple), which contains fruit and chile sauce. If you’re lucky, you might also spot their mobile cart around town at community events, such as the Festival of Cultures.

Unique flavors: Cheesecake, Papaya, Avocado.

Timberlake’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain

Timberlake Drug Store Charlottesville Virginia With over 100 years in business, Timberlake’s is renowned for “the best milkshakes in town.” It’s located on the corner of 4^th Street and the pedestrian mall. It may look like a drug store at the front, but head to the back to sit on a chrome bar stool and check out the soda fountain and lunch counter offerings: milkshakes, sundaes, sandwiches, soups, and salads. While you’re back there, you can continue your travel through time by perusing photos of the original iteration of the shop.

Pantheon Ice Pops

If you’re looking for a refreshing vegan treat made with fresh, seasonal fruit and organic coconut milk, you can find Pantheon Ice Pops in a handful of locations around town. On Fridays from April to September they serve their pops at Fridays After 5, an outdoor concert series at the Sprint Pavilion. On Saturdays from April to October, they have a booth at the Charlottesville City Market. You can also find a limited selection at the charming Market Street Market, the only retail space that carries these fresh pops.

Unique flavors: Chocolate Sea Salt, Strawberry Hibiscus, Kombucha.

Wonderment Bakeshop & Creamery

Another mobile shop is the Wonderment Bakeshop & Creamery. Owner Stephanie Connock crafts beautiful gourmet ice cream sandwiches combining homemade French custard style ice cream with fresh baked cookies, all made with local ingredients and offering 65 flavors! On Wednesdays you can find her at Meade’s Park “Farmers in the Park,” and on Saturdays you can find her at the City Market. She also helps keeps folks cool in August at the Lockn Festival in Arrington. If you’re craving sweet but not cold, she also makes tarts inspired by the famous sweet breakfast tart.

Unique flavors: Toasted Marshmallow S’more, Apple Pie, Guinness + Chocolate.

Arch’s Frozen Yogurt

A nostalgic destination for many University of Virginia alumni, Arch’s Frozen Yogurt sits at the hub of student activity on “The Corner,” at 104 14^th Street NW. Open since 1994, it is owned and operated by Rob and Sandy Archer, both former track team members at the University of Virginia who went on to attend Darden School of Business. Arch’s is the only frozen yogurt shop on The Corner and it is open until 11 pm to satisfy late night sweet cravings.

Unique flavors: the Gooey Brownie topping.

Frost Bites

Located near Lake Monticello in Fluvanna County, this independently owned and operated shop offers frozen yogurt, Hersheys ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, and iced coffee.

Kirt’s Homemade Ice Cream

Off of Route 29, at the Albemarle Square Shopping Center, you can find Kirt’s Homemade Ice Cream, which uses local ingredients and also offers creamy milkshakes. Their homemade ice cream can also be found in Carpe Donut’s ice cream sandwiches. And get this: you can order a cup, pint, quart, or even ice cream cake for delivery through OrderUp!

Chandler’s Ice Cream

Chandlers Ice Cream Charlottesville VA If you’re in the Pantops area and need ice cream on the go or want to enjoy a dessert picnic outdoors, you can find Chandler’s Ice Cream at 921 River Road. Contained within a trailer and offering picnic table seating, Chandler’s is a throwback to summer carnival days with its soft serve ice cream and generous sundae portions.

Wherever you land in the area, and whatever you’re craving, you will easily find some sweet and creamy delectable to delight your taste buds!

Health Rankings for Albemarle County

Here at Gayle Harvey Real Estate, we care about your health. Simply by virtue of being on this site, you probably know that we sell property in central Virginia. This is the first installment in a county-by-county health ranking series. Today we look at health statistics for Albemarle County.

Albemarle County is ranked 4th overall for healthiest counties in Virginia:

Years of potential life lost before age 75/100,000 people: 3,900 (compared to a state average of 6,100, and 5,200 among the “Top U.S. Performers*” nationwide.

Albemarle County is ranked 11th overall for quality of life:

12% of people report having poor/fair health, consistent with the average percentage of Top U.S. Performers (12%) and slightly lower than the state Average of 17%.
3 days was the average number of physically unhealthy days and the average number of mentally unhealthy days per month, as reported. This is slightly lower than the state averages (3.5 and 3.3, respectively) and only slightly higher than the national average for Top U.S. Performers (2.9 and 2.8, respectively)
7% of live births were low birthweight (<2,500 grams, <5.51 lbs) compared with 6% for the Top U.S. Performers and 8% for the state average

Albemarle County is ranked 10th overall for health factors:

15% of adults identify as regular smokers, compared to 14% for the Top U.S. Performers and 20% for the rest of the state
23% of adults are considered obese (body mass index of 30 or more), compared to 25% for the Top U.S. Performers and 27% for the rest of the state
The food environment index is a confluence of factors that influence good eating habits, on a 0 (worst) to 10 (best) scale. Albemarle has a food environment index of 8.6, slightly higher than Virginia’s average and the average of Top U.S. Performers, both 8.3.
20% of adults over 20-years old report not engaging in physical activity, a percentage consistent with the national percentage of Top U.S. Performers (20%) and slightly lower than the state percentage (22%).
74% of the population has access to adequate exercise opportunities, compared to 91% among Top U.S Performers and 81% for the state of Virginia.
18% of adults report heavy drinking or binge drinking, compared to 12% for the Top U.S. Performers and 17% for the rest of the state.
39% of driving deaths in Albemarle involved alcohol, compared to 14% for the Top U.S. Performers and 31% for the state overall.
Albemarle County reported 212.5 sexually-transmitted infections per 100,000 people, compared to 134.1 in 100,000 for Top U.S. Performers and 407 in 100,000 for the state of Virginia.
Albemarle County reported 11 teen births per 1,000 teenage females (ages 15-19), compared to 19 for the Top U.S. Performers and 27 for the state overall.

Albemarle County is ranked 4th overall for clinical care in the state:

13% of the population under 65 is without health insurance, compared to 11% for the Top U.S. Performers and 14% for the state of Virginia. It should be noted that this percentage has been steadily decreasing across recent years in Albemarle County.
The ratio of population to primary care physicians in Albemarle County is 610:1, compared to 1,040:1 for the Top U.S. Performers and 1,330:1 for the state of Virginia
The ratio of population to dentists in Albemarle county is 1,070:1, compared to 1,340:1 for the Top U.S. Performers and 1,570:1 for the state of Virginia
The ratio of population to mental health providers is 980:1 in Albemarle County, compared to 370:1 in the Top U.S. Performing Counties and 680:1 for the state of Virginia overall.
There were 37 preventable hospital stays in Albemarle County, compared to an average of 38 for the Top U.S. Performers and 49 for the state overall.
88% of Medicare enrollees ages 65-75 received diabetic monitoring, compared to 90% for the Top U.S. Performers and 87% for the state of Virginia.
72% of female Medicare enrollees ages 67-69 received mammography screening, compared to 71% for the Top U.S. Performers and 63% for the state overall.

Top 5 Pizzerias in Charlottesville

Or, more accurately, top five pizzerias in the Charlottesville area. Despite the modern pizza’s roots in Naples, Italy, the delicious combination of flatbread, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and various toppings has long occupied a place in American hearts, notable for its status as “the only thing my kid will eat.” We can’t live without pizza; it’s good for sporting events, birthday parties, and getting people to come to interest meetings. Enough already…you know what pizza is. But do you know where it is? Now you do. Take a look at our picks for five of the best pizza joints to land in the Charlottesville area! Many of these spots get bonus points for sourcing their ingredients from central Virginia farms. Note: We’ve only included local spots, but you probably already know that Cville has a laundry list of all your favorite pizza chains. Anyway, let’s get started!

1. Dr Ho’s Humble Pie

Our #1 pick for sure. The self-described “Alternative Pizza” has been a personal favorite for as long as this author can remember. It was love at first bite. The spot is located just south of Charlottesville, in North Garden , a small “town” in Albemarle County. It’s been around since the late 90s (which makes it older than you’d think, at first), adopting an artisanal, handcrafted approach to good pizza. This means housemade dough, local beer, and a whole bevy of fresh ingredients locally-sourced from a plethora of farms in the Charlottesville area…places like Belair Farm, Double H Farm, Caromont Farm…the list goes on. It’s also worth stopping in to Dr. Ho’s to eat your pie there; they cultivate an open, inviting atmosphere. Don’t be surprised to see a bluegrass quartet pickin’ away while you sip a beer and wait for your pizza. A comfortable, delicious affair.

Favorite pie: A two way tie between the Popeye (spinach, caramelized onions, artichoke hearts, roasted garlic, mozzarella, cheddar) and the Lil Mermaid (shrimp, house-made basil pesto, roasted tomatoes, cheddar, feta, and mozzarella)

2. Lampo

If you are Lampo, and you’ve somehow been imbued with consciousness, and are reading this, please know it wasn’t an easy decision and that you are a close second. Lampo is Italian for “lightning,” probably one of the more appropriate descriptions of a place that churns out a pie in 90 seconds. But “churns” make it sound like fast food, which it certainly is not. The folks at this authentic Neapolitan pizzeria are steeped in culinary tradition, taking their cues from the great pizza makers of Italy. That means San Marzano tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella…if you doubt their commitment, check out the 3-ton brick oven. They keep wood burning throughout the day, making sure the oven gets up to 1000 degrees…whoa. A lot of their producers are Charlottesville farms: Free Union Farm, JM Stock and Provisions, and Wolf Creek Farm just to name a few.

Favorite pie: Technically it’s a panuozzi (a sort of pizza/sandwich hybrid) but the muffuletta (prosciutto, salami, mortadella, giardiniera, provolone). Also can’t go wrong with a good margherita pizza.

3. Crozet Pizza

This spot has a lot of history in the area around Charlottesville and Crozet. In a way, it epitomizes the small-town charm of a place like Crozet. We’ll explain: In 1977, Bob and Karen Crum bought an unoccupied building in Crozet. The original Crozet Pizza was pretty small…it had only five tables, all of which were handcrafted by Bob himself. The couple teamed up to build a successful pizza place from the ground up. Karen perfected Crozet Pizza’s inimitable dough recipe while Bob concocted the sauce from scratch. Pretty soon that tiny, five-table restaurant started getting calls for orders days in advance. The same recipes are in use today, under the ownership of Colleen, their daughter, although the wait time is considerably shorter. There’s also a location on some prime real estate in Charlottesville proper, steps away from UVa’s campus. We can’t tell you exactly what makes Karen Crum’s secret dough recipe so delicious, but we’re willing to go broke trying to figure it out.

Favorite pie: The “Meet Me in Crozet” (Pepperoni, sausage, and meatballs)

4. Christian’s Pizza

Charlottesville pizza purists might agree with the order of this list, but even they would agree that Christian’s is the most ubiquitous name in Cville pizza. That comes from over one-and-a-half decades of hard work by the titular Christian Tamm himself. The franchise started with a location in downtown Charlottesville, at the heart of the pedestrian mall. It soon opened up locations in Pantops, on the UVa Corner, and in Richmond, VA between West Franklin and West Grace Street. The secret? Fast, fresh, delicious pizza at affordable prices. We’ll let you in on a little secret…each Christian’s is different. The Corner location is great for a quick slice of cheese after a night out. The downtown location is perfect for lounging and people-watching, especially from its elegant patio. If you’re grabbing a few pies for a group/party/event, hit up Pantops. Either way, you’re in for a treat!

Favorite pie: Spinach and feta (spinach, feta, sauteed mushrooms, diced tomatoes, garlic)

5. College Inn

Bringing up the rear is the almighty College Inn (not to be pronounced like or confused with collagen), a place that has transcended typical “restaurant” status and become an institution. It’s been around since 1953! This place is older than the president! Some of the delivery drivers have stories about delivering hundreds of pizzas to UVa libraries and fraternities during Finals Week…and this was before cellphones mind you. This place keeps its lofty place in our hearts because it delivers, rain, snow or shine until 2am every single day. College Inn, you’re playing a dangerous game, but we love it. In fact, this is the only delivery joint on our list. It’s the only one you need, whether you’re lounging at home or planning a tailgate. They’re here for you, long after Domino’s and Papa John’s have closed their doors.

Favorite pie: Chicken alfredo (grilled chicken, sliced mushrooms, ham with mozzarella & parmesan cheeses, alfredo sauce base)

Dave Matthews Band Turns 25, Returns to Charlottesville

Other than Thomas Jefferson, it’s tough to think of a name more synonymous with the spirit of Charlottesville than Dave Matthews. Once a bartender at the city’s most prestigious dive bar, Dave (we’re clearly on a first name basis here) and his band of Cville locals rose to unexpected heights of fame, selling out arenas worldwide and earning two Grammy Awards for his anthemic vocal performances. Many of the guys in Dave’s band got their starts here…keyboardist Butch Taylor plays John D’earth’s weekly gig at Millers, the same bar where Dave worked and where saxophonist LeRoi Moore played before DMB had even started. On May 11, 1991, the Dave Matthews Band (DMB) played its first show. Now, 25 years later on May 7, they will return to town, playing an anniversary show at John Paul Jones Arena.

Matthews is known and celebrated in this town for more than just his music. In 1999, he bought 10 acres of land in Albemarle County, and his Blenheim Vineyards wine is a testament to not only the viticultural potential of land in the Piedmont region, but also his commitment to preservation and conservation. When the band hit it big, they gave back…they’ve donated an estimated $40 million to grants and charity in the Ville (and elsewhere) through the Bama Works Fund, administered by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. So it should come as no surprise that the proceeds from May’s show (an estimated $1 million) will go to charity. Face it, when it comes to Charlottesville heroes, Dave is starting to make even TJ look like a normal guy. In honor of the many gifts given, hearts won, and shows to come, we’ve picked out a couple of our favorite classic DMB songs. He’ll doubtlessly play some of these at the May 7 show at John Paul Jones Arena.

“Don’t Drink the Water”

The first single off of Before These Crowded Streets, “Don’t Drink the Water” opens with a murky, sludgy kind of bass groove, fleshed out by a frothing, bubbling banjo rhythm courtesy of Bela Fleck. Dave’s lead vocal is supplemented by the wailing cries of Alanis Morissette; together the two reach a fever pitch. Lyrics like “No room for both, just room for me” reflect Dave’s social consciousness. The song is about South African apartheid and the subjugation of Native Americans.

#41

#41 begins with a light, hip drum groove, heavily syncopated. The tune is a testament to Dave’s trademark style; drifting purposely through a myriad of rock landscapes. The subtle grooves of the intro merge and mesh into an open, unrestrained instrumental space, with violin, flute and sax solos over a deep pocket groove.

“Ants Marching”

This is a contender for most famous DMB song. It’s both a tribute to and a repudiation of what some affectionately call “the daily grind.” A musical celebration and a lyric denouement. It’s a song about getting up in the morning and doing the same darn thing you did the day before, an earnest, from-the-heart reflection from a guy who we sometimes forget was a bartender at a decidedly working-class establishment. Musically this experience is redeemed, while the lyrics have a distinctly existential approach.

“Best of What’s Around”

The textures of this song are porous, shimmering, inviting light into its depths. It’s got lush, full harmonic ideas, rife with substance and motion. It’s also got one of the most head-nodding, groovy backbeats in DMB’s catalogue. The vocal performance by Dave is rich, and at times even soaring.

Charlottesville: The New Capital for Venture Capital

The National Venture Capital Association recently ranked Charlottesville as the fastest-growing venture capital ecosystem in the United States.According to the organization, venture funding in Charlottesville increased from $250,000 in 2010 to $27.7 million in 2015.

The main reason for this astonishing growth is the cornerstone of the Charlottesville community, the University of Virginia.

There are 9 leading companies that were recipients of the $27.7 million, and 6 of the 9 worked with the UVA Licensing & Ventures Group to launch and grow their businesses using research from the University.

Another tool UVA has is the i.Lab, a competitive business incubator that offers coaching, workshops and a flourishing community of innovators. The i.Lab’s accelerator program is open to students and faculty, as well as anyone in the Charlottesville community. This program includes a workspace, grant funding, intensive guidance and support for budding entrepreneurs.

The UVA Health System is another key supporter of Charlottesville’s start-up culture.

It is exciting to see the incredible ideas, products, and companies that have been born from these initiatives and programs, and to see these dreams come to life to help the community of Charlottesville and beyond!

To read the full article click here.

Nelsonite to Become Virginia State Rock

Many great and beautiful innovations hail from the land of Nelson County…Wintergreen Ski Resort, the inspiration for the TV show The Waltons, the ginger gold apple variety, a sea of craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries, and now…Virginia’s state rock. The Virginia State Senate voted to make Nelsonite the Commonwealth’s state rock. On Friday, April 1 Governor McAuliffe signed off on the decision; the bill becomes law on July 1.

The bill’s passage is the result of a community effort which germinated at Piedmont Virginia Community College. PVCC’s political science and geology departments came together in what was initially supposed to be an exercise, a way to experience firsthand the process of introducing legislation to Virginia’s Congress. But the Nelsonite State Rock Initiative had other plans. The group demonstrated steadfast tenacity, and so what began as an innocuous attempt to illuminate students about the mechanism of legislative government became a community-driven initiative, supported by people from all over land in central Virginia. All due to the hard work of three honors geology students and one political science student (who happens to be a 54-year old woman headed to UVa to complete her bachelor’s degree in the fall!)

Nelsonite (named after Nelson County, Virginia, naturally) is a fairly scarce intrusive igneous rock, consisting of mostly ilmenite, rutile, and apatite. It’s mostly black or dark grey, with white and tan speckles. It was deposited on land in Nelson, Roseland, and Amherst over a billion years ago, and is considered a rare earth element. It also occurs in Washington State, Quebec, China, and Canada. It’s got a rich economic history in the 20th century, having been mined a lot by the banks of the Piney River (on land in Nelson County) and other similar areas. It provided an ample source of titanium for paint pigments and steel alloys, and for the calcium phosphate used in artificial teeth and fertilizer. Many historians credit the rock with boosting Virginia’s economy in the early 20th century. It’s still very economically viable in both China and Canada, where they too refer to it as Nelsonite. The movement to officially recognize Virginia’s love affair with Nelsonite gained a steady stream of momentum after Virginia State Geologist David Spears supported the choice. At the annual 2015 Virginia Field Geologists Conference, it won a unanimous vote to be chosen as the state rock.

The Nelsonite bill’s passage was fairly prompt due to more contentious issues before the Congress, such as the difficulty of Virginia’s State Senate to choose a new VA Supreme Court Justice. If you think there are more important issues in front of Congress than rocks, you’re probably right. But the Nelsonite State Rock Initiative asks a rhetorical question that rings true. “With the severity of the problems in the world and the ever-growing demand to face and resolve these issues, is it a waste of time to be focusing on symbolic elements such as state beverages, state flags, state mottos, or even state rocks? Absolutely not.” No matter how symbolic, actions like these are a reflection of community and a celebration of Virginia’s rich heritage. We here at Gayle Harvey Real Estate have to agree.

Solar

The solar panel industry has yet to find a strong home in central Virginia, despite Charlottesville’s reputation as a forward-thinking, cautiously modernizing mid-size town. It’s estimated that around half a million homes are solar powered (probably with a higher concentration in west coast cities). The fact is that any avenue which diminishes a reliance on fossil fuels is an avenue worth exploring, especially in light (that pun was very much intended) of ever-changing weather patterns. Springs and summers are the best seasons for stockpiling photovoltaic energy, simply because the sun is out more. Solarenergy.net claims that a combination of PV cells and energy efficient appliances can cut your home energy costs by more than 66%! By the way, check that site out for handy applications like their Solar Calculator or Solar Power Cost.

A brief discussion on how it works. Photovoltaic cells are comprised of silicon and other semiconductor materials. Together with other elements, they stimulate the movement of electrons. There are a few different options for harnessing this energy. The prevailing image of PV technology is probably the flat solar panels, typically seen on the roofs of green buildings. In the past, the construction and design of these panels was seen as aesthetically unappealing. PV engineers and providers have started to make the panels more muted colors like black, which blend well with the look of modern roofs. There are still building permits for which you’ll have to apply, and you should definitely check with your resident Homeowner’s Association before getting started.

One of the most enduring narratives about solar energy (and solar panels in particular) is that it’s no good for property values. While it might be easy to believe that the huge, rectangular structures which dominate the roofs of solar-powered houses would repel potential buyers, this has been proven false. An interdisciplinary team comprised of universities, appraisers, and scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Sandia National Labs has discerned that there is an average premium of $15,000 for homes with a photovoltaic system. They looked at the sales of 22,000 homes (4,000 of which were solar-powered), in eight different states between the years of 1999 and 2013. The data says that homes with photovoltaic systems sell at a rate 20% faster than homes without. The homes also fetch an average price 17% higher than their coal-powered counterparts. Depending on where you live, there may also be government rebates and incentives for installing/maintaining a photovoltaic system in your home. Wouldn’t it be pretty nice to get a full or partial property tax exemption for converting sunlight into energy?

At this point you may be thinking about solar power for your Charlottesville home. There are several factors to consider, and the majority of people who decide to invest in photovoltaic technology consult some sort of outside party, known as solar installers. A little research online will bring up a list of solar energy providers and installers in your area. Here at home in Charlottesville, SolarizeCville and Dasolar appear to be prominent names, but there are likely several others, especially with major cities like Washington, D.C. and Richmond nearby. These installers will evaluate your home, needs (are you retrofitting a pre-existing house or building one from scratch?) and budget. The more research you do, the better. Think and ask your installer questions regarding the quality of the input components used by the recommended solar companies. Have a look at the claims rates; they shed much light on the experiences of other customers and are indicative of how well the hardware holds up over time.

Find out the efficiency percentage…all solar panels should have one readily available. This percentage is simply the ratio of “raw” sunlight hitting the roof to converted energy. The higher efficiency, the less surface area required to power a home. You definitely want at least 10% efficiency…aim for the 15-20% range if it’s within your means. Look up reviews from panel owners who live in climates and situations that are similar to your own. Read assessments from unbiased third-party organizations. If you’re considering a specific company, ask the manufacturers for test results from different climates, environments, and installation circumstances. Most people agree that a photovoltaic array lasts an average of 25 years, and most warranties reflect this. Read the terms of the warranty carefully and make sure you’re covered every step of the way. For example, you’re going to want efficiency minimums that reflect wear, tear, and years. Good luck on your quest…to greener pastures and lower electricity costs! If you are looking for a green home in Charlottesville, check out our website www.CharlottesvilleGreenHomes.com.

Guide to Starting a Farm Brewery, Winery, or Distillery

zxltgiathCwWK0bEdJFhtdrB3551G78MrROB1GIK8iw You might as well refer to the land outside Charlottesville as beer/wine country. The rolling hillsides of Albemarle County and beyond are incredibly well-suited to breweries and vineyards. The past few years especially have seen an explosion of craft breweries like Blue Mountain Brewery in Nelson County, the brand spankin’ new Pro Re Nata in Crozet, or the flagship Starr Hill which was founded in 1999, technically on Charlottesville land (though now in Crozet). Wine aficionados will appreciate knowing that central Virginia land has robust, exquisite terroir…many compare the farms and pastures of the Piedmont region to southern Italy for this reason. Barboursville Vineyards in particular has become a formidable winery whose influence is not relegated to just Virginia…they move 35,000 cases of wine a year, and Queen Elizabeth II herself has sampled their fares.

If you own land in Albemarle County, a brewery or distillery would be an excellent use of your property. Charlottesville’s farm-to-table aesthetic reaches out to many places in central Virginia, bringing farmers, restaurateurs, and local breweries/vineyards together for a culinary culture that is inclusive and community-based. Brewing beer lends itself especially to retired life…there’s lots of cleaning, record-keeping, maintenance, and beverage-tasting. Wineries are kind of the same deal. As a pet project, it’s the kind of endeavor that requires time and a meticulous attention to detail. But as a landowner, it’s an investment in space, resources, and possibly potential. It’s not hard to find passionate young amateur brewers, or even seasoned vets who know the ropes. The old joke is that brewing is 90% cleaning and 10% paperwork. If you’re looking into this process and you just so happen to live in Albemarle County, we’ve got that last 10% covered for you here.

First off, we advise you to meet with a staff member from the Albemarle County Zoning board. It’s not necessary, but is a helpful first step. You’ll also have to get a Virginia farm winery, limited brewery or limited distillery license from the ABC and be up-to-date on all zoning regulations. In certain cases you’ll also need to acquire a special permit. You don’t need a permit to grow or harvest any of the barley or grapes necessary for production; you don’t even need one to sell or store your finished product. However you’ll need a special use permit for events with over 200 attendees at a time. For multiple events, attendance is cumulative; so if you have two events with over 100 attendees each, you’ll need to have acquired a special use permit.

Getting a special use permit requires a legislative review process wherein the Board of Supervisors considers the impacts on adjacent properties and the effects of multiple uses on the community. It costs $2,500 and takes a minimum of six months to process. To be safe and ready, contact the Community Development Department (CDD) a few months in advance. The special use permit application should include information about the proposed uses/events, and the frequency/duration of these events. You’ll also need a sketch plan: a schematic, to-scale drawing of the site. There are minimum setbacks (a setback is the distance of a building from the road, a river, a flood plain, etc.) The front of any building must be 75 feet from public roads and 25 feet from internal public or private roads. The side setback is 25 feet and the rear setback is 35 feet, although you can appeal these minimums to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

You’ll need zoning clearance if you’re planning on having outdoor amplified music, or any gatherings that will generate over 50 vehicle trips a day or take place on sites under 21 acres. Zoning clearance costs $54 and usually has a 2-3 week processing period. Most events are subject to the 50 vehicle trip/21 acres rules, but just for good measure, we’ll list some common events to which these rules apply:

Wine/brewery/distillery festivals, showcases etc.
Club meetings
Tasting seminars and luncheons
Business meetings
Gatherings intended to promote sales
Hosting guest winemakers, brewers, and distillers
Hayrides
Exhibits, historical functions related to beer, wine, liquor
Kitchen and catering activities related to wine, beer, and distilleries
Agritourism
Weddings/wedding receptions
Tours

You also need to allot one 9’ x 18’ parking space for every 2.5 customers and one parking space per employee at these special events. Contact the Land Use permitting office at VDOT for info regarding access points and entrances.

As far as food is concerned, you can’t operate a restaurant at your Albemarle farm winery, brewery, or distillery, but you’re permitted to prepare and sell finger foods and appetizers. You can also offer prepared/pre-packaged foods. Check out this Winery Food Service Form or this Food Service Fact Sheet for information on providing your own food. You’ll need a food service permit from the Virginia Department of Health. Food trucks are allowed and should have their own Mobile Food Vendor Zoning Clearance. Caterers are also permitted, but must have their own food service permits.

You can have amplified outdoor music, so long as it stays within 60 decibels by day and 55 by night. You need a zoning clearance for outdoor amplified music, which may necessitate examination of the equipment to be used and/or access to a calibrated sound level meter.

Signs are permitted if you follow the guidelines described in the table below:

Type of sign	# permitted	Max area	Height	Setback
Wall	N/A	40 sq ft	20 ft	N/A
Free standing	2	24 sq ft total, for all the signs	12 ft	5 ft
Agricultural product	2	32 sq ft total, for all the signs	12 ft	5 ft
Temporary	1/street frontage	24 sq ft.	10 ft	5 ft

So there you have it, a comprehensive look at all the zoning regulations that go into owning and operating an Albemarle County farm brewery, farm winery, or farm distillery. Whether you have a singular passion for delicious beverages or you plan to enlist the services of a veteran brewmaster or sommelier, this guide contains much of the information you need with regards to building clearance, food regulations, music regulations, and advertising, but definitely check with the county authorities early on to see how their regulations impact your goals. Good luck in your ventures! Call Gayle Harvey Real Estate for any questions about land in Charlottesville or farms in Albemarle County or the Greater Charlottesville area.

History of the Charlottesville Dogwood Festival

Who doesn’t love a local carnival and parade? If you’ve ever spent the spring in Charlottesville, you may be familiar with The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival, either through attending it yourself or hearing it described by locals and through media coverage. This pleasant event full of diverse activities has a rich local history, dating back to 1950. This years festival will be held April 7-24th. Read on to learn more about how The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival came about, some of its important milestones, and how it has evolved through the years.

The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival is a popular two-week long springtime event and tourist attraction in Charlottesville, VA, featuring multiple festive happenings and celebrations, including the parade, fireworks, and a carnival. The festival, first carried out in 1950 as an Apple Harvest Festival, aims to exhibit the Charlottesville and Albemarle areas’ cultural and historical heritage and rich natural beauty, and succeeds in doing so to this day.

The Apple Harvest Festival in 1950 was originally held in the fall and was instituted to celebrate and draw attention to Charlottesville’s vibrant culture and booming trade, and specifically to the local apple production industry. Like the current Dogwood Festival, it involved a grand parade and carnival and the choosing and honoring of an annual festival queen. Nancy Hughes was the first Apple Harvest Queen and after her coronation a Queen’s Ball in her honor was thrown at the conclusion of the festival.

The festival’s first president, Sol Weinberg, was a prominent business leader at this time and played many roles in Charlottesville. He was born in nearby Staunton, attended UVA, served on the Charlottesville School Board, and was elected to Charlottesville City Council. He financed the first festival and was appointed mayor of Charlottesville in 1954.

Dogwood Parade The early years of the festival were exciting and successful. The Charlottesville Municipal Band was a staple of the early Dogwood Festival parades. The Charlottesville Municipal Band was formed in 1992 and has been performing continually ever since. You can still expect to see them at the festival. In 1951 the Belmont Bridge was closed because of the immensity of the festival parade and observers stood in the street intersections near the bridge to watch. Businesses took advantage of the massive parade crowds and both supported floats and ran advertisements on wagons in the parade. Local scouting and civil service organizations also traditionally participated in the parade. Awards were and still are given out for parade floats. In 1951 and again in 1953, a team of acrobats performing in the street without nets were a popular parade attraction. In 1956, a pet show was incorporated into the festival and sponsored by the Charlottesville Kennel Club.

In 1958 the name of the festival was changed to The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival in honor of the Virginia state tree and flower. Variations of the Virginia dogwoods (which are woody plants of the cornus species) grow widely in Eurasia, North America, and Canada. The Dogwood is also the state flower of North Carolina. Dogwoods are known for their abundance of white and pink blossoms.

Wallace McDowell was the first president of the newly named festival. Each new Dogwood Festival has a queen; originally she was a paid actress or model who was chosen from a more urban area like Washington D.C. or New York, but later in 1968 the title was instead given to a local princess. The modern festival includes both a full dogwood court and junior court of young women comprised of pageant participants from the surrounding counties, as well as the crowned queen.

E4A71888-2E66-4841-8215-8842C499CAC2 The carnival was and is the widely attended centerpiece of the festivities and is held in McIntire Park. McIntire Park has been a large, popular outdoor recreation venue since the 30’s. Paul Goodloe McIntire financed the land acquisition in the 20’s. McIntire also provided land to the City of Charlottesville for Lee Park, Jackson Park, and Belmont Park. McIntire Park was designed with a rolling, pasture-style layout as well as sports fields, nature trails, playgrounds, and picnic shelters, and during the carnival, it serves as a fair ground. In 1966 the nations’ first Vietnam War Memorial was dedicated during the Dogwood Festival at McIntire Park. The memorial features a gun, helmet, and a pair of boots, and holds a plaque that lists the names of 23 local men who gave their lives in service. It was founded by Jim Shisler and is re-dedicated yearly at the close of the festival with honorary music, the placement of 23 new flags honoring each fallen hero, a relevant speaker, and a 21-gun salute.

The popular Dogwood Track and Field Meet began the tradition of the festival’s skilled running competitions in 1966. The US Army Golden Knights Parachute team were also a big hit of the festival in the 60’s and 70’s. Other notable highlights of the festival throughout time have been the BarBQ, Dogwood tree sale, Benefit “Breakfast in Charlottesville,” movie in the park, the flower show, and the many carnival rides loved by young and old such as the classic, colorful carousel and ferris wheel. As well as providing festivities and commerce for the local community, the festival has carried out and promoted community service through the volunteer activities of the county princesses and queen.

There are other popular dogwood festivals that occur in several cities across the US, including the annual International Dogwood Festival in Winchester (in Franklin County, Tennessee). The Charlottesville version of the Dogwood Festival continues to thrive. Parades, carnivals, good food (including funnel cake), games, prizes and good music continue to please visitors and bring crowds of participants from near and far. For the 65^th festival in 2014, hundreds attended the festival kick-off in McIntire Park. For over half a century the Charlottesville Dogwood Festival has ridden the waves of social and cultural change and continues to stand the test of time. As Elizabeth D. Wood Smith, author of The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival and member of the Dogwood Festival Board of Directors, wrote, “The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival takes pride in being a long-standing part of an area rich in tradition and heritage.”

Sources:

http://www.charlottesvilledogwoodfestival.org/index.php
Smith, E. D. (2005). The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival. Charleston SC: Arcadia.

The 5 Best Pancake Restaurants in Charlottesville, Virginia

For an indulgent breakfast, warm, rich pancakes are hard to beat. While Stone Age cooks were believed to be grinding flour and cooking it in hot patties as long as 30,000 years ago, the first American pancake, or “Johny Cake” as they were once called, appeared in a cookbook in 1796. If you’re looking for modern day pancakes in Charlottesville, VA, be sure to try the wonderful pancake dishes offered at the 5 restaurants below:

1. The Nook

The Nook in downtown Charlottesville is a popular weekend breakfast and brunch spot for good reason. Their breakfast portions are tasty, hardy, and skillfully prepared. With lovely, aged mahogany booths, a bar, and an outdoor café, The Nook, which has been in operation since 1951, is a great breakfast spot (and is open for other meals as well). Their fluffy buttermilk pancakes and full breakfast menu are available all day.

2. Tip Top Restaurant

Tip Top on Pantops also serves breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner. With retro diner décor, ample seating, and quick service, Tip Top is a great choice when you need to scratch an itch for old-fashioned, traditional breakfast. Also, if you’re looking for a wide variety of pancakes, they offer buttermilk, buckwheat, corn, chocolate chip, strawberry, banana nut, and pecan.

3. Blue Moon Diner

With breakfast all day and weekend brunch specials, the old school and eclectic Blue Moon Diner on Main St. does breakfast right. They offer their delicious buttermilk griddle cakes in a three-stack or as one single on the side. For a fun surprise addition, the pancakes come topped with powdered sugar that is stenciled into images and portraits from retro and contemporary pop culture. They are also open for lunch and dinner and regularly have local live music in the evenings.

4. Bluegrass Grill and Bakery

Just across the train tracks from the downtown mall lies Bluegrass Grill and Bakery, in The Glass Building, and they’ve been open since 2011. It’s made from scratch fare is very savory, plentiful, and popular; on a weekend morning you may want to get there early and be prepared for a possible short wait. But planning ahead is well worth it, because their rich buttermilk or honey wheat biscuits in stacks of two or four won’t disappoint. Their website shares this description from a review in The New York Times: “hearty southern comfort fare.”

5. The Flat: Takeaway Crêperie

If you prefer thin, sweet crepes to thicker pancakes, The Flat specializes in delicious, warm crepes offered with a variety of savory and sweet fillings. They are located on the Water St. side of the downtown mall and are open at 11 Friday-Saturday and at 10 on Sunday. Their “Greene Eggs” and “Hangover Relief” breakfast crepes are served all day. The Flat is a charming, compact space and has limited seating, so you may be taking your crepes to go.

Because Charlottesville has such a diverse and thriving restaurant scene, this list is certainly not exhaustive. But hopefully it will give pancake breakfast fans and connoisseurs some good ideas of where to start exploring Charlottesville’s pancake offerings. Enjoy!