Five Questions with Nayef Al Shubuki

Five Questions with Nayef Al Shabuki of Al Ryan

Nayef Al Shabuki at his Restaurant

Having worked in and owned restaurants in other cities for many years, Chef Nayef Al Shubaki is new to Downtown Lynchburg.  His restaurant, Al Ryan Mediterranian Cuisine, is located at 817 1/2 Main Street.  When you stop in, try the seating area upstairs, where you can relax and enjoy the company of your friends in the Middle Eastern style!

What brought you to owning a restaurant in Downtown Lynchburg?

I first came to Lynchburg in 2011.  I had cooked in and owned restaurants in other cities like Richmond, VA and Charlotte, NC.  My first restaurant in Lynchburg was called My Favorite Things, which was on Old Forrest Road.  We came to Downtown this summer.  Many of our customers from My Favorite Things come Downtown now. 

What interested you in Mediterranean Cuisine?

I am from Petra, in Jordon.  I studied cooking in Jordon after I lived in the United States.  I like to share the food from the Mediterranean.  The meat is always very lean and delicious.  The food is very fresh.  I serve only halal meats and travel to Maryland to get halal lamb to serve.   I make everything fresh every day.  At Al Ryan, we serve dishes from across the Mediterranean, including Jordon, Libya, Greece, Italy and Lebanon.  The food from the region is very special.  It takes time.  For example in Lebanon, if you go to a restaurant they will bring you a plate of olives, some hummus ... things to eat while you sit and enjoy the company you are with, to have a conversation.  We need to sit and take time in America as well. 

What does Al Ryan offer that is different from other food in Downtown?

We offer food that is different for this area.  In fact, someone came to the restaurant from Roanoke, because they had heard that our food is so authentic.  This would be dishes like Shawarma, which is an Arab dish.  It is thinly sliced, marinated lamb or chicken that is fire roasted.  It is served with a special sauce.  I am hoping to add a dish called zerb to the menu.  Zerb is stuffed lamb that has been roasted in a pit. 

What is your favorite dish that you serve?

I could never pick one!  I love them all!  That is why I make them.  A Jordanian dish that we serve that reminds me of home to me is mansaf.   Mansaf has yogurt, meat and nuts, served over rice.  We also serve Makloubi.  It is an "upside down" dish.  It has eggplant, meat and potatoes.  It is cooked in a dish in layers.  Then you turn it upside down when it is served and it comes out so the meat is on top. 

What have you enjoyed about being in Downtown Lynchburg?

We love being in Downtown, there is such a variety of people.  I like to be in the older parts of the city.  We like to see our customers from before, but there are new people as well.  It is a social place!  

Al Ryan is located at 817 1/2 Main Street.  Hours are Monday - Friday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and  Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.    Find it on-line at:  

http://www.alryanmediterranean.com/

Lynchburg Bluffwalk Project Creates Public Art Opportunity

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Summary:

Revised Issue Date:                 November 8, 2013

Project Name:                         Downtown Lynchburg Bluffwalk Ramp/Stair Enhancement Project

Application deadline:               January 2, 2014

Project Budget:                       $12,000.00

Completion Date:                    To be determined; projected unveiling June 2014

Organization Description

Lynch’s Landing is a national Main Street™ program, accredited by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street™ Center, and a designated Virginia Main Street community.

A winner of the 2006 national Great American Main Street Award, our mission is to identify opportunities and develop resources that position and sustain downtown and the riverfront as a vital economic, cultural, historic, recreational and residential center for our community. We envision a downtown environment where people, businesses, organizations and events can be successful.

The Main Street Approach® is a unique preservation-based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets - from historic, cultural, and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride. It is a comprehensive strategy that addresses the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional commercial districts.

Project Description

In 2010, the City of Lynchburg designated the James River Arts & Culture District to celebrate and promote the arts in Downtown Lynchburg, with an understanding that when theatres, performing arts centers, museums, art galleries, and artist’s studios locate in the same district, the neighborhood becomes a magnet for revitalization, attracting restaurant and retail, commercial enterprises, downtown residential spaces, and the general public.

This grant will support artwork – murals or other artistic media – on the stairs at 11th Street leading from Jefferson Street to Commerce Street. The ADA ramp and stairs is the first completed section of Lynchburg’s Bluffwalk project, a pedestrian street located between the buildings that face Jefferson and Commerce Streets.  The Bluffwalk will create opportunities for an entirely new environment for the existing and proposed buildings along its path and is envisioned to be a spine for a new, mixed use cultural district with galleries, shops, cafes, courtyards and overlooks. The public investment in this transformative improvement is timed to support the current momentum of private development, creating links to active public places that provide routes to the riverfront area.

The winning design will incorporate elements of Lynchburg’s culture and history and compliment the vision of the Bluffwalk, Jefferson Street, and Riverfront Park improvements. The selected artist will be encouraged to involve or educate the public and/or students during fabrication and installation (through artists’ talks, open sessions, other methods to be determined).

The grant is supported by funds from Lynch’s Landing Foundation, Virginia Main Street, CSX, and the James River Arts & Culture District Grant.

Artwork Location & Specifics

The approximate size of the proposed public art space is 1,300 square feet in size and will be highly visible to Jefferson Street traffic, Riverfront Park, railroad tracks and the James River. The primary scope of work should include the stairs and walls. The adjacent ramp is not included in this request for proposals, but artists may include the ramp if possible. Images attached for clarification.

Eligibility

This art commission is open to all professional artists, artisans, architects, or landscape architects, or a team thereof, capable of designing the piece and also arranging for installation. There are no geographic limitations; however, housing and transportation costs are not included in the overall project budget.  

Honorarium

The total project budget, including site preparation, supplies, artist fee, signage, and marketing materials, is $12,000.00.

Lynch’s Landing Foundation will provide a $1,000.00 prize to the selected artist(s), who will grant all rights to the image to Lynch’s Landing Foundation and the City of Lynchburg. A maximum budget of $11,000.00 for project’s execution has been established, but artists are encouraged to think about sustainability and reuse when planning this project. This budget covers all expenses associated with, but not limited to, the design, labor, materials, tools, contracted services, operations and meetings, and travel required to complete the artwork plus installation. Any expense that exceeds the contracted amount will be the artist’s responsibility.

Application Requirements

• Resume with current contact information
• Artist Statement (1 page maximum)
• Statement of proposed work, including a draft materials list, cost breakdown and timeline.
• Up to 10 images of previous artwork formatted at 300 dpi resolution with a maximum file size of 1 MB.
• A corresponding list of any previous work with title, media, dimensions, locations, brief description, date of the work, project budget, and project partners, if applicable.
• Optional: Additional support material, including press clippings or other relevant information on past projects (1 PDF file maximum).

Electronic submission preferred.

Deadline

All submissions must be received by 5 p.m. EST on January 2, 2014.

Selection Process

Lynch’s Landing staff, volunteers from the Lynch’s Landing Design Committee, representatives from Lynchburg Parks & Recreation, the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development, the James River Council for the Arts & Humanities, and other downtown stakeholders, will convene to choose the artist and project.

Contact

Please direct all questions and submissions to:

Anna Bentson

Executive Director, Lynch’s Landing

anna@downtownlynchburg.com

901 Church Street 

Lynchburg, Virginia 24504

Phone (434) 485-7250 

Fax (434) 528-3169

About Lynch’s Landing Foundation

Lynch’s Landing is Lynchburg’s leader for downtown revitalization. Lynch’s Landing is a non-profit volunteer and membership organization dedicated to the development and revitalization of downtown Lynchburg. The mission of the organization is to identify opportunities and develop resources that position and sustain downtown and the riverfront as a vital economic, cultural, historic, recreational and residential center for our community. Learn more at

www.downtownlynchburg.com

. 

The James River and Kanawha Canal

The James River and Kanawha Canal

At the founding of the city in 1757, the James River was the heart of Lynchburg commerce. John Lynch himself operated a ferry on the river, transporting goods and passengers across the river. European exploration of the North American continent had confirmed that there was no waterway which flowed across the Appalachian Mountains, making access from the colonies to what we now consider the Ohio Valleys difficult at best. In order to improve commerce between the areas, a canal system through Virginia, and what is now the state of West Virginia, to the Ohio River was conceived. A project proposed by George Washington, it was begun in 1785 near Richmond.

The Lynchburg section of the canal greatly improved river traffic between Lynchburg and Richmond. The James River and Kanawha Canal was complete to Lynchburg by 1840, and regular traffic began to flow along the system. The canal was traversed by packet boats, as opposed to the low drafting batteaux which had previously been the main boat to travel the James. Packetboats were long and elegant, with an enclosed cabin and top deck that ran nearly the length of the boat. The canal packetboats were pulled along a towpath along the river by teams of horses or mules. It took approximately 33 hours to travel by packet boat from Richmond to Lynchburg. The fare of $7.50 included meals and sleeping accommodations.

The canal was damaged by flooding over the years. During the Civil War, the canal was again damaged and, in the economic depression following the war, not sufficiently repaired.  It did gain fame during that period, however, as General Stonewall Jackson's body was carried upriver on the canal.  The final blow to the Canal system came as railroads became the more dominate transportation mode in the region. In 1880, the James River and Kanawha Canal System was sold to the Allegheny Railroad Company. The towpaths, once used by the horse and mule team, were then used for railroad track. 

The remnants of the canal can be seen today.  The beautiful flower bed that runs along the Jefferson Street side of Riverfront Park is part of what remains of the canal.  The best preserved section, however, is located at the bottom of Ninth Street, where the Canal once passed under the arched bridge located between Amazement Square and the Depot Grille, photo below.  

For more about the Canal System:

Click:

Envision the James, The Founding River

, article on the James River and Kanawha Canal System

Read:

The Canal on the James: An Illustrated Guide to the James River and Kanawha Canal

 by T. Gibson Hobbs, Jr. Published by

 Blackwell Press 

Planning Something Special? Think DOWNTOWN!

Special Events in Downtown Lynchburg are just that:  special.  Downtown is equipped for any kind of celebration or meeting.  From an elaborate wedding reception to a small business meeting, you'll find something appropriate for your celebration.  Check out these great event venues:

The Academy of Fine Arts' Joy and Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre

The Warehouse Theatre is a flexible event space with state of the art sound and projection  capabilities.  The historic warehouse space can accommodate a variety of events, from special business event to galas to weddings and cocktails.   

http://www.academyfinearts.com/rentals.asp

CityView by the James and Terrace View by the James

  For dramatic views of Downtown Lynchburg as a backdrop to your special event, look no further than these two unique spaces.  CityView is located on the 20th floor of the Bank of the James Building, overlooking Downtown Lynchburg.  TerraceView is an inviting outdoor space on the 8th Floor of the Bank of the James Building, offering a one-of-kind back drop for any event or ceremony. 

http://www.terraceviewbythejames.com

Craddock Terry Hotel

  With over 4,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space at the Craddock Terry Hotel Event Center in Lynchburg, VA, all within an impressive setting of heavy timber beams and beautiful stone and brick walls, we are the premier venue in Central Virginia to host wedding receptions, special events, and corporate functions.

http://www.craddockterryhotel.com/

Holiday Inn Select

  Boasting the largest ballroom in Central Virginia, the Holiday Inn Select can accommodate up to 900 guests.  Located on Main Street, the Holiday Inn Select's event faculties can host large business meeting and other special events.   

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/lynchburg/lyhcp/hoteldetail

The James River Conference Center  

Located on Court Street, just off of Fifth, The James

 River Conference Center plays host to many events.  From concerts to weddings, the JRCC can adapt to your needs in their large and flexible space.  They have played host to large galas, wedding receptions, and small meetings and can accommodate groups from 6 to 1500.    

http://www.jamesriverconferencecenter.com/

The Parlor Ballroom

  This event space, located on Main Street, includes such amenities as large screen projection and a state of the art sound system.  This beautifully renovated historic space welcomes weddings, receptions, business meetings and other special events. 

http://www.parlordowntown.com/

The Red Shoes

  Located on the historic Fifth Street Corridor, The Red Shoes Dance Studio is available for special events.  The main dance studio boasts two storefront display windows, refinished heartwood pine floors,  magnificent baby grand piano, and the elegance of black & white decor waiting for you to  a bit of color.  Parties, galas and wedding parties will all feel at home in The Red Shoes. 

http://www.theredshoes.us/

Riverviews Art Space G3 and Reading  Room

  G3 is Riverviews most raw programming space.  A simple and spacious renovated warehouse space with moveable panels, the space can be  used for parties, dance performances, and DIY theatre performances.  The Reading Room can accommodate smaller meetings and gatherings and is ideal for workshops and seminars. 

http://www.riverviews.net/category/rentals-2/event-rentals/

Tresca on 8th

 This event space boasts over 5500 square feet of space in a renovated historic building at Commerce and 8th.  Beautiful columns, hardwood floors, and a dramatic staircase add to the ambiance of any special event.  Tresca on 8th is available for weddings, parties, corporate functions and retreats.  

www.trescaon8th.com

Community Focus Five Questions with Jennifer Kennedy of the Community Market

The Community Market is one of Lynchburg's most important places.  Not only is it celebrating its incredible 230th anniversary this year, but it serves as one of Downtown Lynchburg's favorite social gathering spaces.  Here, we chat with Jennifer Kennedy, the Market's manager about the past and the future. 

The Community Market is a Lynchburg fixture.  How old is it?  

The Lynchburg Community Market is the third oldest continuous running market in the United States. This year, we celebrate our 230th anniversary which makes the market three years older than the city itself.   It is believed that because the market created a commercial center on the riverfront that was heavily involved in tobacco trade, the incorporation of the city naturally followed.

Are you planning any special events to celebrate the Market's incredible milestone?

 On June 1, 2013 we will celebrate the 230th anniversary of the market from 7am-2pm. On this day, we will pay homage to the market's history with a livestock and heritage craft section along with various memories to be shared by members of the community for whom the market has played a very special part in their life or the life of their family. We will also have demonstrations by all of our artisans inside and will be kicking off the farmer high season that day as well. A new feature at the market is our Music at the Market series, and on this day we will feature bands throughout the day that celebrate the many sounds of our region.

In that many years, the Market has certainly made an impact on Lynchburg.  Can you tell us about a special story of how the Community Market has made a special impact recently? 

There are so many special stories about the market -- both recent and historical  -- which will be recounted at the celebration.  So, instead of sharing those I will share what never ceases to excite me and that is the personal responses I will get in conversation with new customers. Be it college parents delighted to come to the market because it gives them a true sense of the community to which they are releasing their child 'into the wild', a new resident to Lynchburg who is trying to get a sense of their new home and they feel like they have found pieces of it at the market, or perhaps my favorite being a native, the stubborn Lynchburger who has refused to go downtown only to come down to the market on a thriving Saturday and say that they had no idea that our downtown had so much going on and so many people enjoying it. These stories never get old, and I am humbled that I get the chance to intercept many of those delighted with the market.

 Located in one of Downtown Lynchburg's oldest sections, can you tell us anything about the special building that is home to the Market?

The market has actually had many homes in its rich history. First started as an open air market on Water Street  -- now 9th Street -- it was quick to become the central place of commerce and town gathering spot for the Hill City.  In 1814, it found a new home in the center of Water Street as it had outgrown its original home.   It remained in this location from 1814-1872 when it then relocated to Main Street between 11th and 12th Street as this allowed for an auditorium space ample for commerce as well as a livestock yard.  It remained there until it moved to its current location in 1932. This location has served the market well and has seen many transitions. In 1987, improvements were made to the facility including an enclosure to create an interior space, as well as central heat and air, outside farmer's stalls and parking. The market is now home to over 100 vendors a year including farmers, crafters, artisans, bakers, restaurateurs, boutique owners, and cheese mongers.  It continues to be a downtown staple in revitalization, commerce central, and a gathering place for the community.

What's is new and coming up on the horizon?

This season, we are excited to open our demonstration kitchen. Beginning when farmers come back in to high season, we will offer demonstrations by local chefs of how to utilize local ingredients that can be found at the market. These demonstrations will take place in the Demonstration area inside next to Irene's. Also exciting about this space is our development of cooking and culinary classes also offered by local chefs and farmers alike that will give the community the opportunity to learn in depth skills and recipes useful in our region.   Also beginning this year, we will begin accepting SNAP benefits at the market. All eligible products will be available to beneficiaries of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as we will have personnel and staff available to accept benefits in exchange for tokens to be used with the farmers at the market. We are so excited to have these local products available to everyone in the community.

March Events Downtown

Have you seen our March calendar? We are making our way to spring! Come Downtown to spread your Irish cheer through our various events we have going on this month.  Check the Downtown Events calendar for a complete line up (http://www.downtownlynchburg.com/events), but check these events in the meantime.

This Thursday, March 7 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Robin Alexander Bistro is having an APOCALYPSE ALE BEER DINNER. {RA} Bistro presents a three course beer dinner with a flight of beers that Apocalypse Ale Works currently offers. This will be followed by a full pint of your choice from Apocalypse Ale Works to enjoy with the brewmaster, Lee Johns. Take home a custom Apocalypse Ale Works pub glass. Please call {RA} Bistro for reservations (434) 845-1601.  Tickets are $35.00 This Apocalypse Beer Dinner will be a great start to bring you into the Irish spirit by drinking good old fashion pub ales.

Better late then never to get that Mardi Gras vibe. If the arts are more for you and especially blues music you should attend the event coming up Friday March 15th at the Academy of Fine Arts. 2013 GRAMMY NOMINEE SHEMEKIA COPELAND will be in town FRIDAY, MARCH 15TH AT 8pm

Tickets: $34 available in box office or website

For tickets call (434) 846-8499

Finally, if really spreading your Irish cheer is about *going* green,  then we have a perfect event for you! On March 20th in Riverfront Park from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm there is an event to spread your green and help Lynchburg be more environmentally friendly:  KICK IT, DON'T FLICK IT

Cigarette butt litter is unsightly, costly and harms the environment. Come hear Jeremy Hardison, M.D., pulmonologist, and David Truitt, M.D., cardiologist, discuss the health effects of smoking. Thomas Shahady, professor at Lynchburg College, will speak about the environmental impact of discarded cigarette butts.  After their presentation, please join us as we pick up cigarette butts in downtown Lynchburg. Bags and gloves will be provided. Centra will recycle the butts with Terracycle, which will turn the discarded butts into park benches.

African American History

February is a time to remember and appreciate those we love and the past we treasure.  This month, the Downtown Focus is proud to celebrate Downtown Lynchburg's rich African American History.  From the Batteaumen who navigated the James River in the 1700s to today's revitalization of  Fifth Street, Downtown Lynchburg has long been a part of the diversity that makes America a great nation.  This rich pageant reminds us that Downtown Lynchburg was once the setting for not only America's great changes, but our own small and important memories of those we love. As a designated program of Virginia Main Street, Lynch's Landing is, "a preservation based economic and community development program." Downtown Lynchburg's history makes it a great place to live, work, shop and be entertained.   

Main Street Businessman, Armistead Pride

This advertisement appeared in the newspaper on August 3, 1854, and proclaimed the triumph of Main Street Lynchburg businessman, Armistead Pride's hair tonic.  A free black man, Mr. Pride opened a barbershop in Downtown Lynchburg in either 1813 or 1814.  He died in 1858 a well respected and well to do man.  Learn more at www.gravegarden.org or visit the Old City Cemetery.  

Five Questions with Eddie Claiborne, 5th Street CDC

Fifth Street:  Ready to Be Great Again!

Five Questions with Eddie Claiborne, President of the Fifth Street Community Development Corporation

Founded to spearhead the effort to revitalize this important and historic street in Downtown Lynchburg, the 5th Street Community Development Corporation will be happy to see the construction completed sometime this summer.  On February 6, The News & Advance published a wonderful interview with Eddie Claiborne, President of the 5th Street CDC to discuss the construction and improvements along the corridor.  We recently caught up with Eddie to ask a few questions of our own.  

Question:  In the recent N&A article, you talk about spending a lot of time on 5th Street as a kid.  Can you tell us your favorite 5th Street Memory? 

Answer:  I have two favorites. The first was going to the Harrison Theater on Saturday mid mornings and staying all day long until the Manager, Mr. Fels, would run me out. The second was when I was lucky enough to get the price of one of the greatest sundaes from Dr. Reid's soda fountain at his pharmacy.

Question:  Along with the streetscape, some of 5th Street's buildings are and have undergone renovation.  Is there a particular one which you think is very cool?

Answer:  I remember the Kentucky Hotel as a building in great disrepair. I was always intrigued by the building for some reason, to see it restored is pretty cool.  

(Lynch's Landing:  The Kentucky Hotel, 900 Fifth Street, is one of Lynchburg's oldest structures.  Built prior to 1800, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was originally a private residence.  Later, The Kentucky Hotel became in an inn that served travelers along the "Lynchburg Turnpike.")

Question:  There are many building on 5th Street that have been lost.  Is there one that you remember that you regret is no longer on the street?

Answer:  The old "Sportsman Club" building on Fifth and Polk. It was a former dance hall but it brings back lots of memories of fun times. I wish that building could have been saved and restored. It offered a lot of possibilities for offices, businesses, or a boys and girls club.

Question:  Like you, we think that businesses will be successful on 5th Street as soon as the construction is finished, and there will be some beautiful space ready to go.  What kinds of businesses would you like to see open?  Are there any that reflect 5th Street's heritage that we might seek out?

Answer:   I would like to see a grocery store, a pharmacy, a good "soul food" restaurant, office buildings, a museum dedicated to telling the story of 5th Street. The History markers that we are installing in the round-about will tell the story also, but a museum could show action movies of the people as they live their lives on 5th Street.

Question:  When the construction is complete and the street is open, what is the first thing you are going to do? 

Answer:  The first thing I will do is go to each business that has survived and congratulate them for surviving and thank everyone that played a part in reviving 5th Street, especially Tom Martin, City Planner, and the 5th Street CDC.

More Information:

For the 5th Street CDC, 

click here

.

For the February 6 article in the News and Advance, 

click here

.

A New Grocery Store Downtown? Yes!

1300 Main Street, left, will soon be the home of a new grocery store!

The Depot Grille's Dave Poole is one of Downtown's busy and entrepreneurial business owners, but we managed to get Dave to answer a few questions about a new project in Downtown Lynchburg.  Poole and Dan Hague of Rise Up Climbing are teaming up to bring Downtown a new business in 2013: a full service grocery store.  To be located at 1300 Main Street, the new grocery will be a welcome sight in Downtown!

Question:  We're excited about a grocery on Main Street.  Can you tell us a few of the features that you are considering?

Answer:  We are planning on a full line of groceries with emphasis on local, natural and organic products.  We'll be open seven days a week.

Question:  What made you decide to pursue this kind of project at this time?

Answer:  The growing downtown residential population makes this timing perfect.

Question:  It's a new project, but the building is old.  What do you know about the history of 1300 Main Street?

Answer:  Most likely, the original use was a garment factory.  It was also a publishing house and a paint and wallpaper store. Of course, most recently it was Estate Specialists.

Question:  You and Dan Hague are both well known as owners of other Downtown Businesses (in Depot Grille and Rise Up Climbing), how did the two of you come together on this project?

Answer:  We both have a deep rooted belief in the Downtown.  We saw this property as an ideal opportunity to offer a much needed service to downtown.

Question:  Any other projects on the horizon?

Answer:  NO!  We strongly believe in concentrating our effort for maximum success!

Downtown Walking Tours -- Coming Soon!

One of my projects this summer was to update the architectural walking tour for Lynch's Landing. This was my first experience with working on anytime of project that was architecturally related so naturally I was a bit hesitant to start. However, Anna suggested that I begin my project by drawing ideas from other cities walking tours. This was a great idea because once I began researching, I was able to see the structure and format of tours that were given in similar cities. The most helpful information came from pamphlets I received from Historic Columbia. These were relevant because like our walking tours, they are broken up into several different tours by districts. I continued looking at information sites online and picked up the idea for a tour focused on the oldest buildings Lynchburg. For the last two, Anna suggested the walking tour and collaborating with the Academy of Music and the Church tour seemed to be pretty plausible seeing all the church's that decorate Court Street.

First Baptist Church

Lynchburghistory.com

The Church tour and Lynchburg Getting Started took me the least amount of time to research because of the information accessibility I had using the Al Chambers book, "Lynchburg, An Architectural History". The Churches I decided to use in the walking tour are the ones that I believe had the most historical significance in Lynchburg. I found all of the Churches listed on the tour very interesting in the fact that they all shared that similarity of starting at a different location before they ended up at their current location.

The Lynchburg Getting Started tour I found very interesting to research some of Downtown's oldest buildings that are still in use today. It really changes ones perspective of Lynchburg when you are able to recognize buildings that once stood as the first of their kind in Downtown and are still in use today.

The last tour I've worked on this summer was the Theater tour. This was my favorite to work on because I had no idea Lynchburg once had so many theaters right here in Downtown. When I began researching, I turned to the Chambers book for help. I found some information on theaters but nothing too substantial to aide in advancing the tour.

Paramount Theater

Lynchburghistory.com 

My next step was to do some work in the Jones Memorial Library. I had never been to this library so I pleased when I told the librarian what I was looking for and ten minutes later I had a fully stocked cart with information on Lynchburg's theaters. I began shifting through scrapbooks full of frail newspaper clippings from the 1920's and up. Eventually, I was able to collect enough information and start to narrow down theaters that would go on the tour. The theaters I choose for this tour were the ones that played a prominent role in the social and cultural history of Downtown Lynchburg. It is unfortunate that so many of these theaters disappeared around the 60's and 70's and have been replaced by parking garages and other commercial buildings. However, I close the tour with Lynchburg's most influential theater, the Academy of Fine Arts. The history behind this theater is a bit overwhelming and the fact that it is still standing and still has such a large role in Downtown today. I was fortunate enough to tour the old theater in the Academy. It was incredible to stand on the stage and see what used to be, especially after researching everything that had taken place right there.

Creating the new walking tours was definitely my favorite task this summer. It was a great way to learn about Downtown in a creative and fun manner. As aforementioned, I have never been presented this type of task, but I am happy that I had the opportunity to learn something new and utilize my major at the same time. I look forward to coming back and the Fall and giving some of the tours I helped put together for Lynch's Landing.

-- Sarah Woll, Sweet Briar College Intern

Summer Experience

Back in early April, I had not given much thought about what I had planned on doing with my summer. I knew I wanted to do something, but I did not narrow it down to anything specific. However, when my friends started announcing their recent success at scoring internships, I began to want to participate in that with them. I went to our career services and told them that I was looking for an internship that I could utilize my major, history. Lynch's Landing was the first place they suggested. I had no prior background in historical preservation, so naturally I was a bit hesitant in pursuing the internship. Eventually I want to teach high school history, but the more I thought about it, the better it seemed to pursue this internship because it would widen my historical background as well as introduce me to something new and challenging. I met with Anna a few weeks later and we discussed ways in which I would be able to use my major to help further Lynch's Landing. I was so pleased to be given the opportunity to intern here this summer following my interview.

My first task involved Lynchburg Historical Foundation. I was responsible for collecting ghost stories from Downtown shops that would go in the ghost tour in the fall. I was given a list of places that seemed promising and I began to check them out. Unfortunately, I did not have much luck with several places on the list. The two places I had success were Market on Main and Catalano's. It was fun interviewing the owners and hearing their stories about their ghostly encounters. I also used this week to get my footing on where everything is located in Downtown. During my past 3 years at Sweet Briar, I had only been to Downtown about 3 or 4 times, so I had no idea where anything was located. However, the first week I immediately began walking back and forth on Main learning the location of all Downtown businesses.

My next task was getting acquainted with the architectural walking tour. I took the tour by myself and I must admit, I felt like a huge tourist walking around Downtown with a pamphlet in hand, turning in circles trying to find the building that matched the picture on the brochure. I took note of some of the buildings that caught my eye, and some buildings that were not mentioned on the walking tour. I then began to research buildings that were not on the walking tour, but had a substantial historical background. One of my favorite buildings that was on that list was Bragassa's Candy Store. I liked this building because of its story and long family history the building contained.

This project began to morph into updating and adding to the tours that Lynch's Landing offered. Lynch's Landing had a preexisting tour, the self-guided, architectural walking tour. I really did not have any idea how cities came up with tours. I have taken several in historic cities, but have never really given much thought as to how they became a public tour. Anna suggested that I first begin looking at other cities and gathering ideas from what they offered. Some of the most popular tours I kept coming across were Main Street tours, church tours, and African American history tours. A majority of the inspiration I gathered was online, but I did receive walking tour brochures from Columbia, SC in the mail. These brochures were such a big help because I was able to see the layout and organization of successful tours. They had also sectioned their tours off by districts, similar to what Anna had suggested. From there I began to create list of tours and add the buildings that would make up them. Anna narrowed the list down to three; Church, Lynchburg Getting Started, and Theater.

The first tour I started was the Church tour and I mostly obtained my information from Al Chambers book, "Lynchburg, An Architectural Guide". I also used the same source in completing the Lynchburg Getting Started Tour. That one was a bit more tricking considering some of Lynchburg's oldest buildings are no longer standing as many of them were demolished in the 60's. However, I was able to add buildings that once served as the first of its kind in Downtown. The theater tour was a working progress because I had to go to the Jones Memorial Library and shift through their collection of old news paper clippings and play bills. I like this kind of research with primary sources because I feel like it is much more hands on and connecting than it is reading it from a source book. I was also fortunate enough to tour the Academy of Fine Arts which was one of my favorite things I was able to do this summer.

After I had completed the written part of the walking tours, I began looking for photos that could go along with the tour and/or be placed online. I very much look forward to giving some of the walking tours in the Fall.

The tours were the main part of my summer at Lynch's Landing, however I did work on a few other task such as updating the kiosk which I was glad to do since I am a big kiosk user and it was severely out of date. I also was able to get acquainted with the store owners on Main Street because I often was popping in and out of several business dropping off papers. My other ongoing task was to help Stephanie with Trivia Tuesday. I liked this a lot because I enjoyed going through the old photos of Lynchburg and helping Stephanie pick out interesting ones. It was also interesting to see how many people were so well acquainted with their city. Some of the photos we posted seemed like they would be difficult to guess, but with in minutes several residents of Lynchburg had already guessed correctly.

Overall, I have really enjoyed my experience at Lynch's Landing this summer. It has been so nice learning how to do something that was completely new to me. I also liked how I was able to use my major and make it applicable to something other than writing term papers. Before starting this internship, I did not know anything about how rich in history Lynchburg is. When I came to Downtown for the first time, I looked at it like it was just like any other small city and did not think much of it. After completing this internship, I now see the Downtown community as one big family. Everyone in the area is so dedicated to bettering and furthering the city and it is really inspiring to see how much effort and time goes in to up keeping the area. I will truly miss working with Anna and Stephanie this fall and I am so thankful to be a part of the Downtown family for the past two and a half months.

Participating in Restaurant Week!

As many of you know, this week is Lynchburg Restaurant Week. Many Lynchburg restaurants are participating by offering special deals on their menus and showcasing their best dishes. For my lunch break today, my fellow Lynch's Landing intern and I decided to break out of the everyday brown bag lunch, and participate in Restaurant Week! We went to Catalano's for our first course.  I got the Greek Salad (no olives) with the Green Goddess dressing.  My friend got the Charlie Boy sandwich.  It was DELICIOUS! My salad was colorful and crisp and the dressing was a great compliment to the veggies and feta.  I am also a sucker for pepperocini peppers, which are featured in this particular salad. My friend really enjoyed her sandwich as well. She said the meat tasted very fresh and she liked the fact that there was no cheese or dressing, and she could focus on the taste of the meat.  We loved our meals there, but no lunch outing is complete without a little desert! So, we scooted down Main Street to Taste Selects for a cupcake. The selection was overwhelming and we stood there for what felt like ten minutes trying to pick the perfect cupcake when they all looked so good! I picked the Creme Brulee and my friend picked the Red Velvet.  Mine was so tasty, and the vanilla custard filling really hit the spot and made the cupcake special; something I couldn't whip up at home.  My friend really loved her Red Velvet cupcake as well! It was a great outing for us interns and now my belly is full and I have two new favorite restaurants Downtown.  Check out Lynchburg Restaurant Week and enjoy some of the unique restaurants Lynchburg has to offer!

Have a great week!
Lynch's Landing

Batteau Festival

This Saturday, June 16, 2012, marks the 27th annual James River Batteau Festival, beginning at 9am.  The festival is put on by the Virginia Canals and Navigation Society, who has been working with Lynch's Landing to put on the Lynchburg Launch.  Entry is free and open to the public. At 11:00am, approximately 20 historically accurate batteaus will launch from Percival's Island on an eight day journey, ending at Maiden's Landing.  The batteaus commemorate a period in the late 1700s and early 1800s when Virginia goods, such as tobacco and flour, were transported by water from Lynchburg to Richmond.

Not into traveling down the river to Richmond? The fair at Percival's Island is a great way to participate! There will be demonstrations, exhibitions on the history surrounding the batteaus, educational opportunities, children's activities, and information on the James River conservation efforts.  Camp Kum-Ba-Yah will be sponsoring a fishing tournament and canoe race as well! The fair will continue after the batteaus launch until 3pm.  For a complete day schedule, click here.  This is a wonderful chance for Lynchburg area residents to support a local organization working to preserve a tradition that has shaped this city's atmosphere and to learn about the trade business that helped to establish Lynchburg.  Here is a recent article about the festival featured in the Lynchburg News and Advance.  The weather is supposed to be wonderful and all of us at Lynch's Landing are expecting a great event! If you have any questions or would like more information, please check out our website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Have an amazing weekend!

Lynch's Landing

Lots of Love for Downtown

The weather forecast for this weekend is looking very promising for an adventurous Downtown excursion. As always there are so many fun things to do and places to see and this weekend just so happens to be a very special one for a few of our local businesses.

Today marks the 14th anniversary of Main St. Eatery and Catering Co. In celebration of their special day, Main St. Eatery is offering a night full of fun starting off with entertainment from their son's Bluegrass Band, "The Buddies". Music will begin at 7pm and carry on throughout the night. In order to show appreciation to their loyal patrons, they will be offering a complimentary Anniversary Cocktail for everyone who wishes them a happy anniversary. So show some love and head down to Main St. Eatery for a night full of music, friends, and delicious food.

On Saturday, April 14 starting at 8am- 3pm, CASA will be hosting their 13th Annual Heart & Sole Shoe Market at the Lynchburg Amory of 1200 Church Street. This is the perfect opportunity to get some fabulous shoes at incredible prices. There will be a variety of new, name brand shoes for women, men, and children starting at prices as low as $5-$30. Stylish accessories and other fun products will also be on sale to complete your one stop bargain shop.

This Saturday is also the one year anniversary of Catalano's Delicatessen. Catalanos will be celebrating their special day by having special drawings and live music from 12-2pm for all. Great food, prizes, and entertainment, sounds like too good of a deal to pass up.

Urban Merchant has an anniversary coming up this week as well! On Thursday, April 19, Urban Merchant will be celebrating four years of success in Downtown Lynchburg. Urban Merchant will be hosting the Hodgepodge and Such Trunk Show, featuring incredible recycled and re-purposed jewelery and other accessories. The store will stay open until 7pm for this special occasion!

So be sure to make it Downtown this weekend and show your local businesses some love. They will definitely appreciate and thank you for it!

For more information about great Downtown events be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or check out Lynchs Landing website.

Have an amazing weekend,

Lynchs Landing

Weekend Adventures In Downtown Lynchburg

This weekend Downtown is booming with events that will keep you healthy, happy, and feeling great! On Saturday, March 24 the MARCH ON LITTER will be taking place. What a great way to help out the environment by making your community trash free. The event takes place from 9am-12n, starting at the Community Market. Refreshments and all supplies needed will be provided.

After you have finished cleaning up the community, make your way over to Catalano's Delicatessen for the Urban Art Show from 10am-6pm. Six local artisans will be selling their pieces during the day and there will also be music from a local DJ. This is a great opportunity to relax, enjoy beautiful art, and get to know some new faces in the community.

If you are searching for some great entertainment and a break from the outdoors, the Opera on the James and Academy of Fine Arts will be presenting The Three Little Pigs from 2-4pm. This is a fun performance that friends and family of all ages will be able to enjoy. Showtime is at 3pm and tickets are $5 each.

Later in the day James River Yoga on Jefferson Street will be hosting 108 Sun Salutes from 6-8pm. This event is a charity benefit for the Matenwa Community Learning Center in Haiti. If you are not very familiar with Yoga, a Sun Salute is a combination of 12 postures performed in a fluid and graceful movement. It is not required that those who attend complete the 108 Sun Salutes, just as many as your heart desires. Following the practice a vegetarian feast catered by Rivermont Pizza will be provided. A suggested donation of $15 would greatly be appreciated. For more information contact Donna Everhart at (540) 875-9642.

On Sunday, March 25 The Academy of Fine Arts Joy and Lynch Christian Warehouse Theater will be showing The Elixir of Love, a comedy by Donizetti. This fun, energetic, and love filled performance will capture your heart. Be sure to check it out and invite your friends to join you!

So gather your friends and family and head Downtown this weekend! There is lots to do and endless fun for all.

For more information on Downtown events follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Lynchs Landing

St. Patricks Day Weekend in Downtown

This weekend is a great time to get Downtown. Along with catching some fresh air and admiring the trees as they begin to blossom, there will be an endless amount of fun and excitement taking place! On Saturday, March 17th from 10 am - 4pm, The Lynchburg Women's Show will be hosted at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Lynchburg. Admission is only $5 and the show will have an amazing variety of vendors with just about everything your heart desires (and even some goodies that you didn't know you needed). There will be great entertainment from Robotic Jive and awesome prizes to win throughout the day. Centra will be sponsoring the event and providing important information on Women's Health to those who attend, fun and educational!

The local Downtown businesses will also be participating in some St. Patrick's Day festivities. Many of Lynchburg's amazing restaurants and stores will have mind blowing deals taking place. All businesses that are participating in the St. Patrick's Day discounts will have a green SHAMROCK hanging in their window. The trolley will be running for free on Saturday, so you can give your feet a little break without missing out on any of the excitement. Once you have given yourself a breather be sure to stop by Church St. to check out the Home Builders Association of Central Virginia's Home and Garden Expo, just $3 for admission.

This is definitely a great opportunity to round up the gals for a Downtown outing. It will be a day full of amazing finds, friends, and fun. Don't forget to wear your GREEN, this will help deter any unnecessary pinching throughout the day!

For more information about the Lynchburg Women's Show and local deals, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Click the following links for a list of participating vendors, businesses, and the trolley map : http://www.lynchburgshows.com/lynchburg-womens-show/participating-vendors/

http://lynchslanding.com/documents/St.PatsMapandInfo.pdf

Have a sunny day,

Lynchs Landing

March on Litter

All of us are lucky to live on this beautiful Earth and enjoy nature's gifts, so now is the time for everyone to give back. On Saturday, March 24, 2012, the City of Lynchburg and Citizens for a Cleaner Lynchburg will be hosting the March on Litter event to help rid our community of unwanted trash. This event is part of Great American Cleanup for Keep America Beautiful, a national organization that helps individuals give back to their communities and keep the environment clean.

Many studies have been done to determine how many planet Earths it would take to sustain our everyday lifestyles. Results as high as 3-5 Earths have been calculated and only continue to increase. So why not be part of the solution? The March on Litterevent will take place from 9am- 12 pm on Saturday, March 24 at the Community Market. Each volunteer will receive a designated clean-up site, safety vest, gloves, orange trash bags, and great appreciation from the members of your community. Refreshments will be provided as well.

This event is rain or shine. Call (434-455-4469) to volunteer in the March on Litter event or show up at the Community Market by 9am. It will be rewarding to yourself, your community, and your Earth. Stay up to date with more information on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Here are some everyday tips from Keep America Beautiful on how to be more environmentally friendly:

• Pick up a piece of litter every day
• Keep a litter bag in your car or your recreational vehicle so you dispose of litter properly
• Work with the local civic groups to identify and eliminate eyesores, and beautify the local environment
• Help your local schools conduct recycling drives and clean-up projects
• Donate your old computer equipment or dispose of it properly
• Recycle your old tires
• Donate gently used clothes to needy organizations and shelters and identify other items that you can reuse

Have a bright and happy day,

Lynchs Landing

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children".

~Native American Proverb

Check out the O-Foe!

Hello Friends,

If any of you are familiar with or attended the annual GetDowntown! event this past fall, then you were sure to see the catchy "O-Foe" tee shirts. The man behind these shirts and other special items is Lynchburgs very own Tony Camm. His main mission is to get people Downtown enjoying the atmosphere and supporting local businesses. In an online article featured in Burg Weekly Entertainment guide, Camm shares his future plans to branch out with local businesses such as Taste Selects, Catalanos, and Bikes Unlimited (just to name a few) to start making these shirts a local trend!

What a fun a wonderful way to branch together both consumers and business owners in the Downtown district. So keep a look out around town for these catchy tee shirts, and make sure to support your local businesses! They are counting on you.

To find out more about the "O-Foe" click here. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more information on whats happening Downtown.

-Lynchs Landing

National Heart Month

Its seems that February and hearts have become synonymous. Naturally, Valentines Day is the obvious culprit for this association, but there may be more reasons than you think. The month of February is in fact National Heart Month and it is amazing all of the simple activities you can add to your life and improve your heart health. This year the American Heart Association has dedicated February 2012 to raising awareness towards women's heart health. Today we will focus on the different locations and services Downtown Lynchburg has to offer that will help everyone get their heart in great shape!

One great way to improve your heart health is by practicing yoga. Yoga is a wonderful way to exercise your body as well as providing you with stress relieving relaxation and meditation techniques. And lets face it, the less stress the better! Dowtown Lynchburg has got you covered in all directions featuring classes provided by James River Yoga and Bikram Yoga of Lynchburg. Both studios have a list of different classes that they provide, that will make fitting exercise and relaxation into your busy schedule a breeze!

Another fun activity that is great for the whole family is indoor rock climbing. Rise Up Climbing, on Church St, has tons of offers for individuals, parties, and the ever deal searching college student. This is a fun and interactive way to get your heart pumping and have a blast doing it! The YMCA and Iron Grace also have a long list of classes, gym equipment, and other amenities to get you on the road to a healthy heart. You might just be surprised at how fun working out can be! http://downtownlynchburg.com/play/Fitness.html

These are just a few fun and exciting suggestions! Keep a look out on our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date on more information about Downtown Lynchburg, and PLEASE share your stories and ideas with us! We want to hear all the things you love about Downtown Lynchburg!! Don't forget to wear red in support of National Heart month!

Have a healthy and happy day,

Lynchs Landing

Downtown Valentines

Although the weather seems to be playing tricks on us lately, that LOVELY time of year has crept up on us once again. Luckily, Downtown Lynchburg has an unlimited amount of restaurants, shops, and entertainment to make your Valentines Day plans unforgettable!

The Art Box will be hosting a Valentines Day card making workshop on Saturday, February 11 from 1:00-2:00 pm. What better way to impress your significant other and show them how much you care than with a hand made card? There are also tons of amazing deals going on that you should definitely keep a look out for. Tastes Selects has an irresistible offer of $5 off of their gourmet chocolate covered strawberries, when you order on or before Wednesday, February 8, 2012. It is a chocolate lovers dream come true!

Also going on right now, is a Groupon deal for Jimmy on the James. Spend $15 and receive a value of $30 for your meal. What a great way to "jazz" up your evening out this Valentines Day! These are just a few of the many amazing features of Downtown Lynchburg, so make sure you get downtown and check out all it has to offer! Please share with us your favorite Downtown Valentines Day plans, and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all of the latest Downtown events!

Lynchs Landing