In search of a truly global experience? Want to travel without actually leaving your lovely hill city? The Omniterrum, a unique globe shop located on Main st., lets you travel with the tips of your fingers.  The store holds current and antique globes, from the 18^th to the 21^st century.

Omniterrum owner Kim Soerensen opened the doors of the shop in 2009 as a space to showcase her collection of vintage globes, with the hope of providing a place to inspire Lynchburg locals and teach a lesson in history with these three dimensional masterpieces. The shop was originally located on Church street, but swapped locations following Lynchburg’s first ever globe exhibit, held by Soerensen’s non-profit organization, the American Globe Preservation Society, in October 2010. Come visit the new location and browse through globes from different periods of time and mingle with the store mascot, a Boston terrier named Winston Churchill.

A destination location for globe enthusiasts, history buffs or curious shoppers, the Omniterrum is a unique piece of Lynchburg culture. Located at 1225 Main Street next to the community market, the store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5. Give the shop a call at 434-847-4788, visit them online or find them on Facebook.

Tucked away on Ashwood Park Road in Forest are The Shoppes at Ashwood, located in the historic Ashwood Manor and offering everything from Avon to Antiques.

For any history buffs out there, the land that Ashwood Manor stands on was once a part of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, gifted to his daughter Martha as part of her dowry.  The Shoppes at Ashwood provide a fun shopping experience in a unique setting, with a broad collection of new and used products including collectibles, gifts and gift baskets, books and children’s clothes. Be sure to visit the ladies boutique to sort through vintage clothing and accessories, shoes, designer labels and stylish jewelry. The historic mansion also houses a vast selection of home goods such as candles, rugs, furniture, paintings, photography and more. Bring your kids along and let them browse through the collection of toys, children’s books and dolls as you savor a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Shopping is not the only thing you can do at Ashwood Manor.  The shoppes also hold arts and crafts classes, including basic drawing, watercolors, mixed media and more and taught by talented art instructor Karen Mahanes.

Whether you’re looking to consign any gently used clothing, pick up a few new outfits for yourself or search for the perfect gift, The Shoppes at Ashwood provide a lovely escape from the everyday shopping experience.

The Shoppes at Ashwood are located at 1197 Ashwood Park Road and open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call them at 540-597-7396, find them on Facebook or visit them online to check for specials and events, like their upcoming wine festival!

Lots of Lynchburgers are taking advantage of this warm February weather by breaking out their sneakers and hiking boots to hit the trails at Blackwater Creek or mosey up a mountain for breathtaking views. For top-notch outdoor wear, gear and equipment, check out Outdoor Trails, Lynchburg’s premier outdoor equipment and clothier. Family-owned and operated since 1995, Outdoor Trails has locations in Lynchburg and Daleville, each offering a vast variety of hiking, climbing, backpacking,camping and canoeing gear and supplies.

The shop offers products by high-quality  brands like  Patagonia, Teva, Montrail, Mountain Hardwear, Birkenstock, The North Face, Vasque, Merrel, Keen, Chaco, Osprey, Gregory, Petzl, Mad River Canoe and Cloudveil. Whether you’re a steady walker, fearless climber, hiker, camper or paddler you are sure to find the gear, clothing and accessories to fully prepare you for your next outing. Have little outdoor fanatics? Fit your kids in the finest gear with a large selection of youth and infant clothing and accessories. Find your inner ohm with the shop’s selection of yoga-wear, check out their travel section for the perfect luggage, or snag a deal on their 40-50% off sale rack.

Visit Outdoor Trail’s Lynchburg location in the Boonsboro Shopping Center and chat with their experienced staff about premier local hiking and camping spots, or pay some special attention to the shop’s loyal mascots, two perky pups named Gizmo and Tigger.

Outdoor Trails Lynchburg is located at 4925 Boonsboro Road. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For questions about products or outdoor opportunities in the area, give the shop a call at (434) 386-4302. Check out specials and sales at www.outdoortrails.com, and don’t forget to like them on Facebook!

By Zoe Eisenberg

If you’re looking for something new to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon or happen to be sucker for handcrafted pottery, head over to Oxide Pottery, located on 1337 Main Street across from Robin Alexander.

Showcasing the work of three skilled potters, Joe Monk, Chatham Monk and Justin Rice, Oxide offers a selection of beautiful hand built and wheel thrown ceramics. Mixing bowls, serving platters, vases, plates and mugs available in a collection of shapes, sizes colors and prints are only some of the bounty offered at Oxide. The tiny storefront, which made its debut in 2009, also carries unique jewelry and specialty crafted kitchenware, such as carved wooden utensils and cast glass bowls.

Using lead-free glazes that are microwave and dishwasher friendly, a piece of Oxide pottery makes a beautiful and memorable gift. While browsing through the shop, be sure to take a peek at the small on-site studio where Oxide’s unique pottery is produced.

Oxide Pottery is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 5. For more information, call the shop at 434-845-5656 , visit them online or find them on Facebook.

“I love the relationships I get to build with the women who come to shop,” explains Montgomery, who has always been a fitness enthusiast. She opened the shop in August 2010 with the goal of providing comfortable, stylish clothing for women who lead active lifestyles. “Our clothes are really versatile and unique,” says Montgomery, who finds her products all over the country, from California to Canada. “We try to carry lines that you can’t find anywhere else around here.”

Lynchburg’s only exercise boutique, Shelly’s carries high-end activewear lines like Avani and Rese Pilates, offering a variety of tanks, tees, shorts, pants, sports bras and accessories. The merchandise at Shelly’s is not only for the avid exerciser; there is also a selection of comfortable loungewear and everyday wear perfect for hanging around the house or running errands.

With miles of scenic running and biking trails and hikes with breath-taking views of the Blue Ridge mountains, staying active in Lynchburg can be beautiful and fun. To help you look and feel your best while keeping fit and healthy, Shelly’s Women’s Activewear Boutique provides casual and workout wear suitable for walking, running, yoga and Pilates.

Shelly’s Women’s Activewear Boutique is located at 4119 Boonsboro Road, with hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Can’t make it into the shop? Browse Shelly’s online selection at www.Shellys-boutique.com, or call the store at 434-485-8222.

Ask any old-time Lynchburg local about the Dahlia, and you will get avarietyof responses, ranging from tales of barstool glory days to scrunched-face grimaces. “That was the type of place visited and didn’t tell your wife about,” notes one Lynchburg lifer.
Although the original Dahlia — first opened in 1947— was a staple of Lynchburg’s nightlife, it had the reputation of being a bit of a dive. The spot was closed in 2008 and spent a few years becoming a mossy Bedford Avenue eyesore. However, since being purchased by James West, owner of the neighboring Blue Marlin Seafood, the restaurant has been reopened and revamped.

Since its debut on Christmas Eve, the Dahlia has become a local hotspot. With a terrific feature in the Lynchburg News & Advance, the restaurant and bar has received even more traffic, from the working crowd dropping by for lunch to a rowdier bunch at night. With only eight tables and a handful of bar stools, the space is always packed and alive the buzz of laughter and conversation.

The Dahlia’s menu features unique choices ranging from Beer Cheese Soup to Organic Salmon, so whether you’re a lover of pub-grub, southern style fare (just what exactly is a hoe cake, anyways?) or high quality seafood, you are sure to find something appealing. With a fresh new face and glossy wood interior, the Dahlia is back in business and ready for action.

Stop by the Dahlia, located at 2221 Bedford Avenue, or them a call at (434) 846-0601.

Dolce Vita, located at 1102 Commerce Street downtown Lynchburg, is the premier spot  for any aspiring chefs or foodies. Store-owner April Wood Farmer, prior owner of Fresh, the healthy eatery previously located in the downtown community market, opened the tiny shop with the hopes of offering high-quality kitchen and home products to Lynchburg’s expanding crowd of gourmet food-lovers.

The shop, which opened November 19^th 2010, sells everything from candles to spices, including wine accessories, aprons, scarves and serving platters sure to impress the guests at your next party. Located above Shay’s Jewelry and Gifts, Dolce Vita carries both imported and locally made products, from Spanish pottery to Virginia jams, as well as fresh baked quiche and locally made bundt cakes.  Check out their unique selection of spreads, with flavors like Carrot and Peach Orange Clove.

With limited hours, make sure to plan a visit to the store, open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.For more information, visit www.yourdolcevita.com or call (434) 455-5510.

Kasey Forehand was having lunch with her husband in November, 2009, when they decided that what Lynchburg really needed was a high quality lingerie shop. Flash forward to October, 2010 and the opening of Boudoir, a lingerie and sleepwear boutique located in the Boonsboro Shopping Center, 4925 Boonsboro Road .

“My goal for our selection is to have at least one thing for every possible kind of woman who could walk into the shop,” Forehand explains. From your typical black lace negligees and hosiery to cotton loungewear, shapewear and pajama sets, Boudoir covers a large range of style and taste.

While robes and pajama sets were best sellers over the holidays, Boudoir’s designer bras fly off the shelf faster than any product in the store, and with Valentine’s day just over a month away, Boudoir is already stocking up.  For the holiday, the boutique will be transformed into a one-stop-shop with fresh flowers, homemade chocolates and spa certificates to Bodyworks Day Spa and Salon. The shop will hold extended hours from Friday, February 11^th to Monday, February 14^th.

The boutique’s atmosphere is pure girl, from its hot pink and black décor to its plush sofas and a floor space just begging for a fashion show. Looking to spoil the special woman in your life, or searching for the perfect location for your next girly pow-wow? Boudoir After-Hours, the shops private event service, allows you to host your next bridal shower, baby shower, lingerie shower, private fitting or girl’s night out at the boutique. You can choose from pre-packaged events or pick options a la carte, from sweet treats to champagne and photo packages.

The shop holds hours Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call them at 434-384-2722, visit them online, find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @votreboudoir.

Inklings Bookshop and the White Hart Café, home to a selection of books, coffee and  food, opened its doors for the first time in 1995. Located on Main Street in downtown Lynchburg, the shop’s name was inspired by the informal literary group known as “the Inklings,” which consisted of C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and several other writers. Founded as merely a bookstore, the shop quickly expanded to include the adjoining White Hart Café.

The store’s vision is to promote “the good, the true, and the beautiful,” and the bookstore boasts a selection of hard to find, out of print, used, and rare books, which can be browsed online at www.inklingsbooks.com. While the shop’s book collection hangs heavy on topics like philosophy, literature, history and religion, they also offer a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, as well as health, wellness, children’s books and classical education.

With free wi-fi, an outdoor patio and cozy couches perfect for lounging on rainy afternoons, the White Hart offers organically grown and fairly-traded coffee and house-made pastries. The café’s selection of coffee and espresso are roasted to order by Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, NC, and their vast selection of loose-lead teas hail from Teasource in St. Paul, MN. Arguably more exciting than excellent coffee and tea, the White Hart also carries beer, including imports and microbrews. Wine, both red and white, can be ordered by the glass or bottle.

Offering sandwiches with interesting names like the Fitzwilliam, the Mugwumper and the Pequod, the café also serves breakfast with choices ranging from free-range eggs and bacon to turkey sausage and grits. Options like Fish and Chips, Fried Mushrooms, Beignets and Cajun style red beans and rice spice up the menu.

Inklings Bookshop and the White Hart Café are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and host a bi-monthly Celtic music open jam and a monthly old-time music session, with live music performances most Friday and Saturday nights, and a monthly open mic night. For a schedule of events, visit them online at www.inklingswhitehart.com. For more information call 434-455-1659 or stop by the shop, located at 1208 Main Street, downtown Lynchburg.

Are you a runner, biker or swimmer? Are you looking for a new pair of sneakers or searching for the perfect gift for the running fanatic in your family? If so, ditch your next trip to Dick’s and head to Riverside Runners, a specialty running, walking and swimming store.

Carrying name brands like Saucony, Brooks, Speedo, Montrail and Adidas, the store recently celebrated their 10^th year anniversary. With a wide variety of footwear, apparel and accessories, Riverside Runners is ideal for “runners, walkers, triathletes, swimmers and anyone who enjoys comfortable shoes,” says owner Jeff Fedorko.

The store is located on Rivermont Ave, nestled along the route of the  historic Virginia Ten Miler. Standing alone and free of commercial neighbors or strip-malls, the shop has become a destination location, and the perfect place in Lynchburg for a specialty running store; “anyone who runs in Lynchburg knows that Rivermont is a beautiful place to run,” notes Fedorko.

Great products and unique location are not the only reasons to visit the store. The staff at Riverside Runners are passionate about their products and trained to custom fit individuals for running and walking shoes that function for their feet, providing maximum cushioning and support. Employees are trained by a physical therapist specializing in feet and ankles, and many of Riverside Runners’ customers are not runners at all. “We have many customers who are referred to us by their doctor or physical therapist,” explains Fedorko, “because proper footwear is necessary for their recovery.”

“Motivating the Lynchburg Community to stay fit and active is a definite goal for us,” says Fedorko. Riverside Runners is heavily involved with a variety of road races in and outside of Lynchburg, such as the Virginia Ten Miler, the Lynchburg Half Marathon, and the Water for Life 5k held at Lynchburg college, which benefits Gulu, a city in Northern Uganda. The shop also maintains a close relationship with the Lynchburg Road Runners, a running club that has been in existence since the early 70s. Being involved in races has allowed the store to support fantastic causes, draw in new customers and help build and support a healthy community in Lynchburg.

There is a very active part to the Lynchburg population, and Fedorko and the rest of the Riverside Runners staff hopes that the shop can serve as a support team for those who want to be active and fit.  Store hours are Monday–Friday, 10:3o a.m.–7:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. For more information, stop by the store at 2301 Rivermont Avenue, call them at 434- 846-7449, visit them online at www.riversiderunners.com or send an email to info@riversiderunners.com.