Photographs provided by Alexandra Gibson; Top right: photo provided by IStockphoto.com
Above left: Alexandra Gibson, President and CEO of Gibson Design Management, and author of this guide to Charlottesville, VA; Above right: Adirondack chairs poised at a Charlottesville lagoon
Steeped in presidential history and approximately 100 miles from Washington, DC, Charlottesville, Virginia is an intellectual and cultural gem located in Central Virginia. Home to the University of Virginia, and nestled against the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville attracts a community that is interested in educational pursuits, outdoor activities, cultural advancements, and business start-ups. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello overlooks the city of Charlottesville, while James Monroe’s Ash Lawn and James Madison’s Montpelier are within short driving distances. More contemporary residents of the area have included John Grisham, Sissy Spacek, and NFL Hall-of-Famer Howie Long. Charlottesville also launched the Dave Matthews Band and has since developed a sizable indie-music scene.
Nearby Shenandoah National Park provides a haven for hikers and naturalists. For those with less athletic desires, Skyline Drive winds through the park and shows the beautiful mountains and foliage by car, which is especially breathtaking in the fall. If you are interested in the Arts, Charlottesville boasts a lively scene that includes Ash Lawn Opera, large concerts at John Paul Jones arena or at the outdoor Charlottesville Pavilion, and the renovated Paramount Theater that hosts Broadway shows and other musical events.
In the summertime, enjoy a free concert for Fridays After Five at the Charlottesville Pavilion (on one end of the Downtown Mall, the city’s pedestrian walking mall). Also during the summertime, all of the downtown art galleries open their doors for First Fridays to display the work of their artists and invite the public through their doors for wine and socializing.
An area of approximately 100,000 people, Charlottesville’s restaurant and bar scene is divided into three areas. The Downtown Mall is one of the longest outdoor pedestrian malls in the nation and is flanked by bars, restaurants, and shops. The Corner is a distinctively college area of town and is where to go for Cavalier (UVA’s mascot) paraphernalia and cheap beers and burgers. Belmont is the burgeoning area that is currently undergoing gentrification and is home to several nice restaurants and bars.
Wine Tours
King Family Vineyard
Nestled in the western section of Albemarle County, King Family is a favorite amongst locals and tourists alike for its premium wines and super-premium views. Outside the tasting room, the landscape includes an expansive polo field, a beautiful white and green 8-stall barn, and a farm house backed by a surreal drop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Kings, originally from Texas, keep the vineyard boutique in size and family run, specializing in small productions of about 5,000 cases per year. Go on a Sunday during the summer to see a polo match after you’ve selected a favorite wine from the tasting.
6550 Roseland Farm
Crozet, Virginia 22932
Phone: (434) 823-7800
Fax: (434) 823-7801
E-mail: info@kingfamilyvineyards.com
Above: Polo players at King Family Vineyard (photo by Elizabeth Chomas)
Veritas Vineyard & Winery
A short distance from King Family Vineyard, Veritas Vineyard & Winery’s tasting room feels more like a mountain lodge than the typical Virginia farmhouse. Tastings are performed either standing at the long mirror-backed bar or sitting in one of the many leather upholstered and enveloping seating groups. During the summer and fall months, take a bottle of wine out onto the decks to enjoy the vineyard views. Check the website for the Starry Nights events during the summer which include live music, wine, and picnicking. The picturesque property makes also Veritas a popular choice for a winery wedding.
Veritas Vineyard & Winery
145 Saddleback Farm Afton, Virginia 22920
Phone: (540) 456-8000
Above: Wedding shot at the Veritas Vineyard & Winery (photo by Jen Fariello)
Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard
On the eastern side of Albemarle County, wine tasters can enjoy the wines of Kluge Estate in a more intimate, yet sophisticated, classic country store ambiance. Surrounded by trees and circled by a woodland walk, the tasting room features a range of delicious wine and cheese pairings, including a sparkling wine pairing. If the weather permits, sit on the front porch that boasts seating groups of loveseats, armchairs, and cocktail tables.
3550 Blenheim Road, Charlottesville, Virginia
Phone: (434) 984-4855
Above: Rendering of Farm Shop at Kluge Estate
Eat & Drink
C&O Restaurant
Featuring six dining areas, each with their own distinctive feel, yet the same menu, C&O can be a restaurant for a special occasion or just for another Monday. The restaurant has been featured in Food & Wine magazine and Bon Appetit magazine for its innovative cooking and varied and versatile menu. For a more casual experience, make reservations for the bistro, which is downstairs from the entrance; for a cold winter night, sit in the mezzanine with the wood-burning stove; for a special date, sit upstairs where the tables are more generously spaced. There is also a covered patio and an urban terrace for dining al fresco. The steak chinoise with fresh ginger and tamari scallion cream sauce is a celebrated favorite. To find the perfect wine to accompany your meal, ask to speak with Elaine, C&O’s sommelier-extraordinaire. C&O is also notorious amongst the locals for the meanest fresh-squeezed greyhounds; they bite!
515 East Water Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 971-7044
Above: The casual bistro level at C&O
Ten
Generally regarded as one of the most contemporary and well-styled restaurants in Charlottesville, Ten features a full menu of modern Japanese cuisine. As you walk up the candle-lit, grey-painted brick staircase, you know that you are leaving Jefferson’s colonial Virginia outside and are about to enter a more cosmopolitan loft. While the sushi is terrific, do not overlook the other appetizer-size dishes on the menu. A Ten meal would be less than its numerical name without the waygu beef and calamari tempura (start with the seaweed salad). Bring people that you like to share with; this is not a private plate kind of place.
120B East Main Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Phone: (434) 295-6691
Above: Interior shot inside Ten
Zocalo
Across the Downtown Mall (Charlottesville’s brick walking mall) from Ten, Zocalo, Spanish for “center of town”, offers a great place to meet friends for a late night drink or dinner. During the summer, Zocalo has a large outdoor patio that seats more than 70 people. Sitting inside can be loud, so it can be difficult for a more intimate dining experience. While chicken may seem like a pedestrian order, you have not had chicken until you’ve eaten Zocalo’s key lime free range chicken (spicy!). Be sure to start with the adobo romaine caesar as the polenta croutons are particularly interesting. For a spicy twist, drink a Mezcal old-fashioned. If Joya is bartending, ask her to make it extra spicy.
201 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 977-4944
Above: A view of Zocalo bar
Mas
On the other side of the Avon Street bridge from the Downtown Mall lies the Belmont neighborhood. Belmont was one of the nation’s earliest planned neighborhoods. It was created in the 1890’s and was centered around the woolen mills (the area declined severely when the mills shut down in the 1960s). Now undergoing gentrification, Belmont is the home to rising property values and some great restaurants and bars. Central in this neighborhood is Charlottesville’s tapas staple, Mas. Equipped with a large outdoor patio, Mas is the perfect place to enjoy a pitcher of sangria in the summer. All of their dishes are served family-style and come in two sizes—tapas, for a smaller order, or raciones, for a larger order. The bacon-wrapped dates are a personal favorite. Also try the salchichas a la parilla (grilled chorizo) and the carne asada (marinated grilled hanging tenderloin with smoked tomato aioli). The typical friendly, Southern service can be hard to find here, but it is still a fun dining experience.
501 Monticello Rd
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 979-0990
The Old Mill Room
For a traditional four-star dining experience in a historic setting, The Old Mill Room, located in the Boar’s Head Inn is a great choice. Especially charming in the colder months, the restaurant focuses around a large fireplace and its ceilings are adorned with antique timbers that date back to 1834. Feast on an angus beef tenderloin medallion or the atlantic seafood mélange.
200 Ednam Drive in Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
Phone: (434) 227-4044
Above: The Old Mill Room, Boar's Head Inn
X Lounge
When meeting up with friends for a late night drink or for enjoying a seasonal menu, consider the X Lounge which is located right off of the Downtown Mall across the train tracks. Situated in the Glass Building, the X Lounge’s distinctive contemporary architecture and interior makes it a yuppie and graduate student haven for a more cosmopolitan experience. DJs play Thursday through Saturday nights, spinning mostly top 40 music. Try one of their specialty martinis (a personal favorite is the eXpress that is mixed with Absolut Citron, pomegranate, raspberry puree, and lemon). For a bite to eat, you cannot go wrong with the macaroni and Cabot cheddar with white truffles or the braised short ribs.
313 2nd St SE
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 244-8439
Above: X Lounge, looking in
Other recommendations
Bluegrass Grill
313 2nd St SE
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 295-9700
Worth the wait for brunch; make sure to ask for one of their biscuits as your side. Located next to X Lounge in the Glass Building.
Horse & Hound
625 West Main Street
Charlottesviile, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 293-3365
You will feel like you are in Virginia horse country in this gastro pub. Foxhunting photographs adorn the walls, and it is located a few blocks off of the Downtown Mall.
Bang
213 2nd St SW
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 984-2264
All Asian-fusion dishes served family style. These dishes tend to have a lot of spice, and the restaurant has tasty, well-priced martinis.
Stay
Clifton Inn
This 18-room intimate inn is just minutes outside downtown Charlottesville and is a member of the esteemed Relais & Chateaux. The rooms and suites are very comfortably appointed and the hospitality is first-rate. Each suite is uniquely decorated and named (see the website for complete pictures and descriptions). Before hitting the town, enjoy one of the most delicious champagne cocktails in Charlottesville at the Inn bar. If you choose to stay in, Clifton Inn offers a beautiful three, four, or five course meal.
1296 Clifton Inn Drive . Charlottesville, VA 22911
Phone: (434) 971-1800
Above: The Carriage House Suite, Clifton Inn
Keswick Hall
Situated on a 600-acre private estate, Keswick Hall epitomizes the lap of luxury in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While the architecture is more reminiscent of an Italian villa, the surroundings are all Virginia. The estate includes an 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course, luxurious spa, infinity pool, and multiple options for dining. Located a few miles outside of Charlottesville in Keswick, Virginia, Keswick Hall can provide a tranquil setting for a complete weekend or it can be a home base for greater Charlottesville excursions.
701 Club Drive
Keswick, VA 22947
Phone: (888) 778-2565
Above: An exterior shot of Keswick Hall
Inn at Court Square
This beautifully restored Federal period home is the oldest existing house in downtown Charlottesville. Built by Edward Butler, a signer of the Albemarle Declaration of Independence in 1785, the property served many purposes before its latest incarnation as the Inn at Court Square. Candace DeLoach, the current innkeeper, worked as an interior designer in New York City and every piece of furniture in the inn is for sale. There is also a neighboring antique store with additional treasures to be found from DeLoach. The small inn is centrally located right off of the Downtown Mall and houses seven guestrooms. Breakfast and lunch are served in the dining room off of the entry.
410 East Jefferson St
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 295-2800
Above: A view of Inn at Court Square
Shop
And George
Located just minutes from the University, And George’s mother-daughter team brings a stylish approach to interiors and offers a collection of antiques, custom furniture, accessories, and lighting in their store. This story is near and dear to my heart, as I am also part of a mother-daughter team with a love of dogs (George, the store’s namesake, is their bulldog).
3465 Ivy Road Charlottesville Virginia 22903
Phone: (434) 244-2800
Above: George the bulldog sitting inside the And George shop
Kenny Ball Antiques
A favorite stop for Washington designer Barry Dixon, as well as New York designers Bunny Williams and Charlotte Moss, Kenny Ball Antiques shows treasures in an unpretentious shopping center about a mile from the University. The shop specializes in 18th and 19th century French, Italian, and English pieces. While small, the shop showcases an ever-changing collection of fine antiques that are hand-picked by Kenny Ball, who has over 18 years of experience as an antique importer.
2125 Ivy Road #7 Ivy Square
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 293-1361
Above: A hand-painted French armoire from Kenny Ball Antiques
Caspari
Charlottesville is one home of only two retail locations for the fine papier, Caspari. The beautiful showroom will leave you longing to host elegant garden parties, to decorate your desk in toile accessories, and to possibly write an old-fashioned note instead of an email! The copper-clad façade and full-length windows showcase beautifully designed vignettes for entertaining and lifestyle. The shop is located directly on the Downtown Mall and is a perfect stop for before dinner shopping.
100 West Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 817-7880
Above: An interior shot of the Caspari showroom
Feast
For the best cheese shop in town, visit the Main Street Market where you will find Feast, a shop known for its knowledgeable staff and extensive selection of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. For lunch, order a sandwich from the café window (the grilled cheese sandwich with roasted tomatoes or sweet onion jam is delicious).
416 West Main St. Suite H
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 244-7800
Above: The cheese counter at Feast
“Two roads diverged in a wood and I–I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” - Robert Frost
Alexandra’s experience in business, love for the interior design industry, and innate entrepreneurial spirit led her to found Gibson Design Management in January 2008. Growing up as a professional interior designer’s daughter, and working as a partner in her family’s interior design firm, has shown Alexandra a great deal about the challenges that small design firms face in business.
Alexandra started her career in a corporate training program for sales and marketing for one of the largest homebuilders in the country, NVR, Inc. She excelled in NVR’s program by developing a working knowledge of blueprints, site plans, general construction practices, and mortgage financing. Alexandra marketed and sold over $10.8 million of new construction in two residential developments in Prince George’s County, Maryland for Ryan Homes, NVR’s subsidiary and was nominated for Rookie of the Year in 2003.
In 2005, Alexandra joined Gibson Design Group as the Director of Business Development and in 2006, she became a partner in the firm. Her main undertakings have been the development of marketing and public relations for the company, as well as creating and fine-tuning business systems and contract administration. In addition to serving as President and CEO of Gibson Design Management, Alexandra is the CEO and founder of BuildWorth., Inc., a construction consulting and outsourcing company that specializes in working with small to medium-sized builders. She is also the president of Gibson Investment Group, a real estate investment firm that seeks to develop a mixed portfolio of real estate assets for its investors, and a partner in Foxfield Investment Group, a group of investors that owns several pieces of real estate in the Charlottesville area.
Alexandra graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Economics and a minor in Finance. When not staying busy in the business world, Alexandra enjoys spending time competing her horse and giving back to the community.
To contact Alexandra Gibson:
E-mail: alexandra@gibsondesignmanagement.com
Website: www.gibsondesignmanagement.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gibsondm
Written by Alexandra Gibson