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It’s urban and bucolic, historic yet modern. There are boundless hiking trails, wedding venues, wineries, breweries, boutique retail shops, and theaters (not to mention more restaurant seats than there are people to fill them). It’s for the limitless adventurer, the wine-taster, the music-seeker, and the family searching for a new experience.
At Charlottesville Insider, our goal is simple: to showcase Charlottesville by curating our ideas about what makes it unique. Follow our insiders to see what’s new, find exclusive deals, or simply figure out how to spend your day in our favorite city.
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5 UNIQUE BOUTIQUES FOR A TRULY C’VILLE STAY
Gotta get away? Charlottesville’s array of inns, hotels, and unhotels (just wait for it) provide lots of options for your home away from home. Here are five of our favorites unique and boutique, locally owned hotels.
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EVENTS
🎿🥃🔥 Introducing the @matterhorncville, the new pop-up alpine ski bar atop Common Haus! We stopped by after the Grand Illumination for cocktails, apps and all the Après ski vibes as the party was just getting started! The Matterhorn is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday starting at 5pm, for a $10 cover (free to @common__house members). Come for the charcuterie and a hot specialty drink after work, or stop in late night - just be sure to bring 3 buddies who are prepared to hit the “shotski’! Either way, you’ll definitely need to check out this unique rooftop experience on the downtown mall!
🛍️🎄🥂 Shop local this holiday season! We've compiled your master list for holiday market shopping (and sipping!) in the upcoming weeks. Skip the mall - shop boutique merchant stands and one-of-a-kind locally made gifts!
🗓️ December 1st
Grand Illumination market 5-8pm
🗓️ December 2nd
First Street Fair Downtown 10-3pm
Castle Hill Cider 9am-3pm
Eastwood Winery 12-5pm
Pro Re Nata 11am-6pm
Wintersong at Rivanna River Co. 3:30-7pm
Charlottesville Waldorf School Holiday Bazaar 10am-4pm
Scottsville Market 9am-1pm
🗓️December 3rd
King Family Vineyards 10-4pm
(🎅🏼Santa 11-3!)
Pro Re Nata 11am-6pm
Albemarle Ciderworks 1-5pm
🗓️December 9th
The Wool Factory 12-6pm
Be Just 12-6pm
Bluebird and Co. 12-4pm (Crozet)
Market Street Wine 1-4pm
🗓️December 10th
The Wool Factory 12-4pm
🗓️December 16th
Merrie Mill Farm and Vineyard 11-5pm
🎶✨Bundle up and revel in the magic and spirit of the season at the 3rd Annual WinterSong event put on by @rivannarivercompany and @frontporchcville this Saturday!
Here are the details...
🔥 The whole event is 3:30-7pm
🇮🇪 Live Irish Music from 4:30-6pm
🎶 Sing-A-Long Caroling 6p-6:30pm
🥘 Hogwaller Brewing will be setting up on-site to serve delicious food!!
🍺 Local Beer and Wine
🎁 Gift Shopping
☕️ Hot drinks
📸 @rivannarivercompany
@hogwallerbrewing
🦊🎄🥃 Flying Fox Winery and Vineyard has brought all the tacky holiday vibes to their tasting room with "Flying Fox Christmas Vacation"! Stop by to get in the spirit of the season - laugh, drink and mingle with friends while admiring their over-the-top festive decor, specialty drinks, and overall efforts that would make Clark Griswold truly proud! We love the creative drink menu featuring specialty cocktails like "Eddie's Eggnog", the "Mele Kalikimaka" (order it, if not for the drink for the glassware it comes in!), and "Good Ol' Fashioned Family Christmas" made with @raggedbranch Rye Whiskey. Catch all the Christmas Vacation action up until December 23rd, most Thursdays-Saturdays with hours extended until 10pm! Festive wear/ugly sweaters are highly encouraged. We recommend making an evening of it and stopping by Veritas Illuminated (holiday walking trail of lights) just 5 min up the road, and closing the night out on the way home at @flyingfoxwines!
@veritaswinery 🥂✨
✨🌲🎅🏼🍺 Charlottesville's Grand Illumination is happening this Friday 5-8pm downtown at the @tingpavilion! The count down to the lighting of the tree will start at 7:30pm - watch as 20,000 LED lights transform City Hall Plaza into a glowing wonderland! The event also features a special visit from Santa, music, food, games, prizes, special guests, and plenty of holiday fun for all ages! Kids will enjoy bounce houses, face painting, games, photo-ops, and goodies and raffle prizes from local businesses. For the adults, browse over two dozen Holiday Market vendors for tasty treats, holiday crafts, hot food and beverages, while our friends at Charlottesville Ale Trail serve up a great selection of local craft beers and wine! 🍻 @charlottesvillealetrail
🎟️🚙 Admission is free and parking is complimentary at the Market and Water Street garages from 5-9pm!
🌲✨The Market at Grelen is looking festive! Come for your Christmas tree, wreath, planters and seasonal greens while making memories with your family. Cut down your own tree (or select from the pre-cuts), then relax at the cafe with some lunch, a glass of wine or some cider, or a flight of homemade ice cream! Browse the shop for holiday decor, ornaments, and gifts while the little ones play in the sandbox or explore the trails. 🎅🏼 Santa stops by on the weekends from 11am-2pm. Grelen puts on wreath making workshops (check their calendar), and will unveil a pop-up local vendor show December 9th and 10th featuring pottery, jewelry, artwork, and more. @marketatgrelen, just a 30-40 min drive from Charlottesville, is a charming holiday wonderland that will make for a special outing for the entire family!
🍳 Black Friday Brunch at @blue_moon_diner! This is one of those local establishments you may forget about, but you really shouldn't! This folksy, casual diner is perfect for that Sunday brunch scramble or breakfast burrito, or weekday lunch burger or salad. We ordered the Hogwaller Hash (three eggs scrambled with bacon, sausage, ham, homefries, bell and jalapeño peppers), and the Mediterranean omelette with homefries which were delicious and totally hit the spot! Other fun menu options include morning cocktails, chamomile and whiskey, Abita Root Beer Float, "Grillswith" (Krispy Kreme donut grilled, with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce 🤤). Blue Moon Diner has been in existence since 1979! In its transition through many owners, workers, and phases, the Diner has remained constant in providing good food, good music, and a cozy meeting place for the community. We love the vibe and character of this spot! Open for take out and dine in 7 days/week - Monday-Friday 8am-3pm, and Saturday and Sunday brunch 8am-2pm!
🥃 Have family in town today and want to get out of the house? Bring them out for the Thanksgiving eve “Drinksgiving” festivities this evening! We recommend the Cicchetti Bar at Tavola to enjoy a classy yet welcoming and cozy ambiance, and top notch drinks. Ask Ryan, our featured bartender for the month of November, for “dealer’s choice” if you’re unsure of what you want to order - he’ll fix you up something special! He’s been working at the Cicchetti bar for 2.5 years now, so you can put your trust in him. We tried “Ryan’s drink”, appropriately named after the man who invented it, an impressive bourbon based concoction made with Yellow Chartreuse. The bar has a full service menu, featuring some of our favorite food in town. First come first served!
🗓️ Upcoming at Tavola...
🍽️ December 4th - Seasonal dinner with chef’s tasting menu
🥂 January 31st - NYE dinner
✨🎄🍷Experience the magic of the season at @veritaswinery this year! Veritas Illuminated is back for a second year, with a bigger and brighter display; the half mile walking trail features over 100,000 twinkling lights, and multiple new installations. We loved the new massive illuminated sleigh, perfect for photos of your crew! Cozy up by the fire with a glass of wine, mulled wine or hot cocoa in their beautifully decorated tasting room. Their new menu includes French onion grilled cheese, truffle fries and peanut butter pie. All of it was decadent, and the perfect treat to enjoy after a brisk winter walk!
🗓️ Open now through January 6th, most Thursdays-Sundays.
🎟️ Tickets range from $10-$15/person.
✨ Introducing a brand new event this winter at Foxfield...”Balloon Glow” presented by @monticellocountryballooning, Thomas Jefferson Hot Air Ballooning, and @blueridgeballooning. December 13th, 5pm.
"A balloon glow is just what it sounds like... but better! While tethered to the ground, hot air balloons inflate and the pilots light them from within. The sight of hot air balloons lit up like giant colorful light bulbs is breathtaking. Pilots also coordinate "all burns," illuminating all balloons at once as well as "countdowns," which are very crowd participatory events."
🥘 Food trucks will be on-site at this free event! Event may be cancelled due to inclement weather. Check social media and foxfieldraces.com for updates.
📸 @monticellocountryballooning
🌲Wreath workshops are a great way to get into the spirit of the holiday while spending quality time with friends or family members. There are just a few spots left in Pippin Hill's December 5th & 6th wreath workshops!
🥂 Learn the secrets to creating natural wreaths, as well as gardening and foraging tips, led by @pippinhillfarm Head Gardener Celina DeBrito. Craft your own evergreen wreath base with fresh pine, boxwood, and Fraser fir, and then use your creativity to garnish your wreath creation with dried citrus, flowers, and herbs that have been foraged and dried from their grounds and gardens. Take home your own 14-inch wreath—and skills to recreate your own natural wreaths for all seasons. Coffee, tea, and fresh breakfast pastries are included in each ticket.
🗓️ We've compiled a list of wreath workshop options around and just outside of town. While some have sold out, keep them in mind for next year!
🥂@pippinhillfarm
December 5th & 6th
🥂@eastwoodfarmandwinery
November 19th
🌱 @5scharlottesville
November 25th, December 2nd
🥂 @princemichelwinery
December 2nd
🥂Chiswell Farm and Winery
December 3rd
🍻 Three Notch’d Brewery
December 5th
✨Brigid and Bess, Dairy Market
December 6th
✨Cedarmere Farm
December 10th
🥂Hardware Hills
December 10th
🌷Market at Grelen - sold out
🏛️Monticello - sold out
☕️ Be Just - sold out
🥂Well Hung - sold out
📸 @pippinhillfarm
📸 @marketatgrelen
📸 @bejustcville
🦃🍁 Believe it or not, we’re one week out from Thanksgiving! Maybe you have your feast planning under control, but if you need a little extra help, we've compiled a little list that may support your efforts, with a few delicious shortcuts. Actually, the first option allows you to skip the cooking altogether!
@birchandbloomcville
🍽️ Thanksgiving Day Brunch and Dinner 11am-3pm & 5pm-9pm
@botanical.fare
🥂 Having a romantic meal for two, or a smaller group? Look no further than Botanical Fare for delicious sides and desserts prepped and ready for you the day before Thanksgiving at either their downtown or Crozet locations!
@bejustcville
🎁 Traveling to visit with loved ones? Be Just will help you find the perfect hostess gift before you head out!
@tilmanscheeseandwine
🧀 Order your Thanksgiving cheese and charcuterie board - they are beautiful and delicious, with multiple variations!
@boarsheadresort
🥧 No time to make your own pie? Pre-order with Boar's head by Nov. 20th - Bourbon Chocolate Pecan and Apple Fig pies will be prepared by their culinary team for pick-up Thanksgiving morning! Get in that Turkey Trot, then pick up your pie!
@earlymountain
🍷 Need the perfect wine for your Thanksgiving Feast? Check out Early Mountain's recent post (11/10) with Thanksgiving pairing advice by their director of wine and hospitality to help you choose! And, raise a glass to Charlottesville Virginia, Wine Enthusiast's Wine Region of the Year! 🎉
🙏 However you get there, we hope you enjoy a beautiful meal surrounded by your favorite people!
📸 1) @bejustcville
📸 2) @tilmanscheeseandwine
📸 3) @botanical.fare
📸 4) @earlymountain