Rick's BBQ

Waynesboro is what Charlottesville might have ended up like if it didn't have a University. There's old factories and a downtown commercial district with more than a couple vacancies. As we drove through town today the uniformed cadets of Fishburne were drilling on their field. Church was letting out.

A google search of Waynesboro barbecue turned up Kukri's which was closed for Sunday and Peck's which closed years ago. Fortunately, in searching the town for something homegrown and open, we happened upon Rick's on Broad Street downtown. This oasis of food made Waynesboro look a little more like Casablanca.

The owner was incredibly friendly and helpful in helping us map out our adventure to the blue ridge tunnel. The BBQ was North Carolina style with a sweet sauce. A smoker was going in the parking lot. For the rest of the summer they'll be set up on Saturdays in Nellysford and Sundays in Waynesboro. Try it at least once.

Catering available.
540-949-0010
Waynesboro, VA

Saucer Magnolia

Magnolia x soulangianaThis spring greeter is near the intersection of 12th Street and Wertland.

Calvino Cafe

Calvino Cafe joins the likes of the downtown Mudhouse and Shenandoah Joe's as good places to get a cup of coffee and read. Para is a close runner-up to these three places, but it's a little claustrophobic. I haven't yet tried Java Java under its new management, but like C-ville coffee, the space can't really be described as cozy.

Calvino Cafe is a perfect size for a coffeeshop. It has outdoor seating. It is conveniently located within the Main Street Market complex. There's parking if you need it. I wish they offered more in the way of pastries, Viz. croissants and scones. They do offer panini and other breakfast and lunch items. The food looked and smelled great. I only tried a cappuccino - superb. The staff was very friendly.

Run by the people behind Orzo, it's been open for a few months now. I am certainly going to add it to my weekend coffeeshop rotation.

408 W Main St
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 293-5696

Mon - Sat: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sun: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Check out other C-ville coffeeshops.

Charlottesville Cherry Tree

Prunus x yedoensis 'ivensii'

A couple weeping white flowering trees have caught my eye the last few weeks. Along with the daffodils and a few other trees and shrubs I hope to show later, spring is certainly here. The two flowering trees hang over JPA in the triangle of land bordered by University, JPA, and the train tracks. I'm not sure of the name of that tract, perhaps George Rogers Clark statue park.

I think it is an Ivensii cultivar of the Yoshino cherry tree, one version of what makes DC a tourist attraction in early April. There are a few other Yoshinos around town, but I walk by these two every day.

Here's a close-up of the flowers.

Hot Springs, VA

This town is the Homestead, a place very serious about the year 1766, so serious about it that they shave a bush for each numeral. Fortunately I'm a sucker for topiary. Otherwise I might find this number worship a little strange. The Homestead is old enough to expect a major fire to be part of its storied past and lo and behold a fire is commemorated on its old walls. Once you come out of the trees, the Homestead stands as a massive edifice, the Virginian version of The Shining hotel. The hallways are wide, the ceilings high; the prices match the largeness of scale.

For a little break from the stuffiness, we visited Lindsay's Roost on the main street. BBQ, check. Soap operas in the background playing above the bar, check. Overheard conversation about how a woman wondered why she was gaining weight until she woke up with a banana in her mouth, check. Must have been that darn Ambien.

The highlight was the guided tour of the Cascades, a gorge kept temperate by its constant flowing warm spring. Orchids live there. Having gone in February we missed all the flowers. Spring is supposedly the time to go. I was leery of a guided hike, but the guide was good. He peppered the stops with scientific curiosities, such as the allergy fighting ability of honey.

I am skeptical of a place so wrapped up in moneyed trappings, but having found myself there for a meeting, there is a lot to embrace and love about this place.

Devil's Backbone Brewing Company

This brewpub joins South Street, Blue Mountain Brewery, and Starr Hill on the local beer scene. Even Kegler's Lane sometimes makes this list as it also brews its own beer. Devil's Backbone is most like South Street in the way it's set up. As much a restaurant as a brewery, Devil's Backbone (DB, which unfortunately means douche bag in my world) doesn't bottle its beers for retail. It does offer refillable growlers for home consumption.

Catering to the ski crowd, a recent visit on a Saturday night proves that this place won't have any problem staying open. The large building looks like a western ski lodge. Inside, recycled wood and corrugated metal is decorated with stuffed local wildlife. They plan to have a fairly regular schedule of live music. The stage is a small eagle's nest like area at least 10 feet off the ground in the corner over the bathrooms. It's difficult to imagine more that two people playing up there. The brewing vats are behind the bar. They are not entirely sealed off from the restaurant so when we were there the place was infused with a beermaking smell.

They offer a couple lagers, a weiss, and IPA regularly. Currently they have a stout and I think a Belgian style ale, both with 8.5% ABV. I thought the tastes were less complex than Blue Mountain. A dining companion thought DB beers were better. The food was your typical pub fare but they also have entrees. I had fish and chips. The fries were great, not so hot on the fried fish.

For now, avoid the winter weekend crowds. This place will be a perfect country stop once the weather turns. It's the furthest of the local brewing ventures, but worth a trip to Nelson County.

Devils Backbone Brewing Co.
200 Mosbys Run
Roseland, VA 22967
434-361-1001

Check out other local breweries.

12th Street Taphouse

Taking its name from the one-block street it faces down, 12th Street Taphouse opened up in late January with little fanfare. With a short life as Spry's Barbecue, and before that Northern Exposure, the space has been renovated over the last few months. A couple weeks ago, a signboard appeared on the sidewalk out front when it was open but it took a while for a sign to appear on the building.

The front of the restaurant, truly a large space, was opened up by dropping a few walls. The stairs to the rooftop deck were removed. It was never a beautiful stretch of West Main to gaze upon while eating. Downtown mall rooftop dining would be a novelty.

There are 14 beers on tap, all served in 20oz. superpint glasses. The Guinness tastes the way it should. I'm not sure what makes Guinness so bad at some restaurants: old kegs or incorrect proportions of CO2 and nitrogen (an interesting topic). Whatever it is, it's good now. The menu is similar to Michael's Bistro. I enjoyed by spaghetti bolognese. My dining partner opted for the steak, but didn't love it. Hey, it's the first month, and it could be argued that steak should only be ordered in a steakhouse.

The few times I've been in, the bar has been bustling. It's a cozy spot and I think as more people realize it's open, it should be bustling by summer. It's proximity to the medical center will certainly keep it in business as long as the food is consistent.

The best part about this place is that there is now a bar on my walk home from work. An outdoor patio is coming this spring, and the rooftop may be functional next year.

Here is a photo of the patio when not open.As reported before, the rooftop space will reopen but probably not until next year.

West Main Street across from the Courtyard at Marriott
434-202-0764