The Shoppes at Ashwood

By Zoe Eisenberg

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!

The Dahlia

By Zoe Eisenberg

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

By Zoe Eisenberg

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.

Lynchburg's Beer and Wine Festival

Do you love great food, music, and wine sampling? Well, then the Lynchburg Beer and Wine Festival is just for you. The Lynchburg Beer and Wine Festival

will be held in the Riverfront  Festival Park

in Downtown Lynchburg, on Saturday September 18^th from 10:00-5:00. There will be lots of entertainment and fun that you won’t want to miss out on.

Sampling admission is $15 in advanced or $20 at the gate. A general admission (non sampling) ticket is $5 and tickets for children 10 and under are free.

You can purchase tickets in advance at Lynch’s Landing, Accent Flags and Gifts, Travel Lovers, The Basket Case, Virginia Handcrafts, and Hill House Interiors or you can purchase them online at www.LynchburgTickets.com.

There are more than 18 breweries and wineries with sampling, PLUS, there will be artisans and craft businesses along with other local businesses. There are many different types of foods, such as coconut shrimp, sweet potato fries, pizza, burgers, gyros, and much more.

There will be many wineries such as Bright Meadows Farm, Tomahawk Mill Winery, Brooks Mill Winery,

and Hickory Hill Vineyards and Winery. Some of the breweries who are participating in this events are Jefferson Street Brewery, Century Beverage, Tuppers,

and Starr Hill Brewery. Plus, vendors such as Blue Ridge BBQ Company, CoCo’s Jewelry Boutique, Koto’s Grill, Little Treasures, Ned’s Beer Shop, and Pints O Plenty

will also be there. To learn more about the other breweries, wineries, and vendors participating in this event, go to http://www.lynchburgshows.com/beer-wine-festival/participating-vendors/.

This is a great opportunity for those in sales who are looking for potential customers and to show them your products and services; to increase sales and drive quality leads. In addition to this, you can learn about sponsorship opportunities to help your marketing strategy. For more information about vendors, you can go to http://www.lynchburgshows.com/beer-wine-festival/vendor-information/http://www.lynchburgshows.com/beer-wine-festival/vendor-information/.

There will be great music and entertainment feature Dragonfly, The House Band,

and Jerry Wimmer. Dragonly will perform at 10 with a mixture of country, rock, and dance hits. Do you love some of the 70’s great hits? Then, you will love The House Band

who will perform hits from people such as The Temptations, Stevie Wonder

, Jeffrey Osbourne

, and many more.

Jerry Wimmer is very talented and has been the featured tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah

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when he was a student at Radford University and he did solo acoustic shows entertaining thousands in The Worx. He has done bluegrass and jazz and gospel quartets in his first band called Southern Breeze.

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He will be performing an acoustic show at 3:00.

So, come on out and join the fun! You can get directions from Charlottesville, Danville, and Roanoke on the lynchburgsshows website, plus find close hotels near the downtown Lynchburg area.

The Little Dinner Theater Players

Are you looking for fun entertainment on Saturday night in Lynchburg?  Then, you should come see The Little Dinner Theater Players. It’s a professional acting troupe, which has done a lot of different murder mystery plays. Some of the plays they have done are The Altos, Virginia Jones and The Inca Revenge

, Colonial Spirits

, A Deadly Briefcase

, and many others.