Enjoy rousing Gospel music and a delicious gourmet brunch on November 19 at the X Lounge, 10-12pm. Music by Art Wheeler and Barbara Edwards. Accompanied by piano and drums, Charlottesville’s first lady of gospel will traverse 20th century gospel styles, with a couple of surprises!

Bill of fare: Virginia Ham Eggs Benedict; Spinach and Sun Dried Tomato Frittata; Sourdough Raisin French Toast with Grilled Bananas and Vanilla Maple Syrup; Applewood Smoked Bacon; Country Sausage; Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary and Caramelized Onions; Freshly Baked Morning Pastries (Croissants & Assorted Muffins); Homemade Granola and Vanilla Yogurt Parfaits and Sliced Seasonal Fresh Fruit. Beverages: Fresh juices, Tea, Coffee, Mimosas and Bloody Bulls.

To make a reservation call the Virginia Discovery Museum at 977-1925 and ask for Louise or Peppy.

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Where in the heck is Barboursville, Grandpa?
PUBLICITY PHOTO FOR THE WALTONS

In today’s Travel section of the New York Times, Charlottesville is featured for its culture, history, cuisine, and entertainment.  It comes through that writer Joshua Kurlantzick found exactly what I hope any visitor would in our city: there is something for everyone.

Of course, this is hardly the first time we’ve caught the eye of papers with national markets.  In May, the Washington Post said, quite boldly, “If It Tastes Good, It’s in Charlottesville.”  Jane Black paid her dues to Rev Soup, the businesses of the Main Street Market, Mas, Ten, Hamilton’s, Bang, the Tea Bazaar, Timberlake’s, Aroma’s, Hot Cakes–forgive me for my colloquial names–there were just so many worthy recipients yet still just a sampling of all we have to offer.  I reveled in visits from Travel+Leisure and Wine Spectator, too.  My reaction to their coverage was simply an exhilarated, “Yes, I know!”  (Unfortunately, I was given the news about the WP coverage while driving outside Louisville and nearly off-roaded.)

So did the NYT use its 36 hours in Charlottesville wisely?  I’ll say this: Kurlantzick’s got stamina.  He pays visits to Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland, the University of Virginia Grounds, and Barboursville. He recognizes Virginia wine, the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, and the views from Skyline Drive.  Miller’s, our symbolic cornerstone of local music, gets a nod.  And I have to agree with Kurlantzick that the Clifton Inn feels as Kentucky as an old-fashioned (but try their lavender martini!), and I can’t help but smile as I wonder how he’d characterize the spring Foxfield Races.

However, Kurlantzick appears less wise when he identifies Route 20 North and the Barboursville area as the “the fictional locale for “The Waltons” on TV.” Actually, the fictional locale for the popular TV show is in Nelson County, on the opposite side of Charlottesville–in Schuyler, Virginia to be exact–where the actual house that Waltons creator Earl Hamner Jr. and his family lived in is located. In fact, the real Jim “Jim Bob” Hamner, Earl’s brother, was still living in the house when it was auctioned off in 2003.

Still, you are welcome back any time.  And that goes for, well, everyone.

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Missing the Tropical Smoothie Café that used to be on University Avenue? Well, listen up…a new location will open in the Rio Hill Shopping Center, between Dick’s and Kroger, this Thursday, October 23.

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The Associated Press reports that Stafford County sheriffs arrested three men yesterday for operating an illegal moonshine operation out of their kitchen, each with counts of manufacturing alcohol without a license, conspiracy, keeping distilling equipment, and “maintaining a common nuisance.” As the Hook reported in a January cover story, the popularity of both legal and illegal moonshine is on the rise, and state liquor agents are cracking down on those ’shiners without a license. However, as a state ABC agent indicated to the Hook, those busts have mostly been confined to “the ones making millions of gallons.”

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Local publisher Melissa Harris launched Flavor this summer.
PHOTO MAGAZINE COVER

As local publisher Melissa Harris prepares to launch her second issue of Flavor, the quarterly magazine on local food and wine culture that debuted over the summer, she’s reeling from a blow delivered by the company she almost partnered with, a Santa Fe-based firm that sued her in federal court accusing her of copyright infringement, unfair competition, and breach of contract. And you thought the local food movement was a quaint, idealistic grassroots affair.

On October 8, Edible Communities Inc got Harris to agree that Flavor won’t use, among other terms, such feature headings as “imbibe,” “in the garden,” and as well as the seemingly stock phrase “What’s in Season.”

It seems that before Harris launched Flavor, she flirted with the idea of partnering with Edible Communities, a small magazine empire that began as a single publication in 2002, covering the local food scene in Ojai, California. Edible has since grown into a publishing company that claims a total readership of over 13 million with over 54 locally-based titles across the country, such as Edible Cape Cod, Edible San Francisco, and Edible New Jersey and so on.

According to a 2007 New York Times article on the franchise publishing company, it costs around $90,000 to set up an Edible outpost– $30,000 up front and $60,000 financed over five years. Fledgling publishers gets help with editorial content, production, training, ad sales, and (more)

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