The Omniterrum

By Zoe Eisenberg

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.

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!

Oxide Pottery

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.

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.

Lynchburg's Underground Supper Club

Do you want a fun eating experience? Then, you should come and find out more about Lynchburg’s Underground Supper Club

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. This is really unique because it is in non-restaurant locations with people you may not know. You will enjoy a 5-7 course meal at a place the chef will choose with people that you will meet that you might not have known before.

Chef Preston Cravey III makes all of his foods from locally and organically grown meats and vegetables. He’s from Charleston, SC. He has learned a lot from Chef McKee and has won the highest award for cooking from the Charleston Food and Wine Fest

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as well as the James Beard House

. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of Charleston

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He is a certified chef with the American Culinary Federation and has been a judge for two high school culinary programs, which are the VICA and FCCLA. He has also been a personal chef to Robert McNair who is the NFL owner of the Houston Texans, has worked with celebrity chefs, and local authors of different cookbooks.

After leaving Charleston, Chef Preston, was the Campus Ex Sous Chef for UNC Chapel Hill until arriving in Lynchburg to take over as Executive Chef at Liberty University. A knee surgery in 2009 ended what was to be his last stop before returning to North Carolina, as a Regionial Chef. He took a job as an Instructor at Culinas, and taught his way of cooking. In keeping with his Southern background,in 2010 started running his Famous Underground Supper Clubs.

The Supper Club announces its next meal online once a month a week ahead of the event. The next event is August 7^th Dancing Leaf Premier Dinner Party, welcoming the special guest, Mayor Joan Foster. You can purchase tickets online at http://lynchburgsupperclub.com/tickets/.

You can contact Chef Preston at pcravey1021@gmail.com. To learn more you can go to http://lynchburgsupperclub.com and by following Lynchburg’s Underground Supper Club on Twitter. It will be a fun experience with the most incredible food! You don’t want to miss out.

Old Tunnel in Lynchburg, VA

There are a lot of different things about Lynchburg that a lot of people don’t know about. A lot of people have lived here their whole lives and don’t know some of Lynchburg’s Best Kept secrets.