Beautiful Blue Ridge
Monday morning is just a little bit harder to take this week, due to an incredibly short but enjoyable weekend trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains. As an anniversary gift (13 years today - YAY), we treated each other to a stay at the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Bedford, Virginia. I could tell you we enjoyed the stay, but that would be an understatement. The denizens of Bedford are some of the most genuinely friendly people — as Tim would say, ‚Äúright regular folks‚Äù — and the scenery is fantastic. The lodge is nestled in between the peaks on Abbott Lake, which was like a mirror reflecting the surrounding peaks. You could even see the bream and small mouth bass swimming in the clear water. Unfortunately, they weren‚Äôt biting, the few times we tossed a line in — such is life.
One of the high points of our visit was the result of a happy accident. Having never had the experience of taking a one-ton truck (our Excursion) down a very steep and winding mountain road, we found out very quickly how hard the laws of physics work against you and your vehicle’s brake system. As we ventured back down into town to explore, we very quickly found ourselves overcome by the distinct odor of smoking brakes. (Thank goodness Tim had just changed them last week!) So, he decided to give them cool down breaks after every major decline. After the first two stops, I could sense his nerves were wearing thin. Like me, he shows his emotions openly. So, for our third stop, we pulled over for a longer break at this quaint little gift shop situated off the main road, near nothing in particular. The owner, Rebecca Ravenshaw, was the most lovely woman, and a former opera singer. We hung out at her place for the longest time, enjoying the conversation and exploring her shop. She even sang us Happy Anniversary with her incredible opera trained voice (how often does that happen) before we carried on down the mountain with a few very nice gourmet vinegars and wine.
One other memorable experience from our trip is watching the brazen little deer that come out to feed at dusk. They would walk slightly beyond arms reach without the slightest care. I had three of them within one step and a reach of my touch. We sat out on the balcony of our room long after sunset, drinking mojitos and watching the deer come right up to the buildings foraging for food. There were lots of apple trees around the lake so they had plenty to eat.
All in all, it was a great trip. One we’ll make again, soon.
Longstreet’s
One of my most favorite lunchtime venues has to be Longstreet’s Deli in on Sycamore Street in Olde Towne, Petersburg. Their food is always spot-on and the service is excellent. They also sell specialty wines and beers and have a great selection of imported and local vintages to choose from. The atmosphere is very laid back. It’s not unusual for the owner to prepare your food and there has been many a time that his wife would bring it out to you on roller skates (She’s a champion skater so don’t worry about wearing your lunch entr√©e.)
When my work and life took me south of Richmond (too far to warrant a lunch in the Fan or Shockoe Bottom every day), I missed the eclectic, quirky, yet relaxed atmosphere of the eateries in our capitol city. Longstreet’s filled that gap and continues to provide my friends and family with it’s blend of unique charm and excellent edibles as it has for years now. If you are ever in the area, I highly suggest checking them out.
This was sketched at Longstreet’s Deli, very quickly, in my little Moleskine book while waiting for our food last Friday.
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Cultural Renaissance
The city of Petersburg, Virginia has long been in something of a cultural slump. Once a renowned commercial center for transporting and processing cotton, tobacco and metal, produced and shipped from the region, the city boasted a thriving ironworks industry whose remnants can be seen in the antebellum architecture that remains. I can think of several examples of incredible architecture just in the space of a few square blocks that inspire me. Of these, a highlight would have to be the Petersburg Courthouse, a gem in the skyline of Petersburg and a magnificent specimen of Classical Revival of from what I understand, is the or one of the oldest operational courthouses in the country. Also, of my favorites, is Battersea, a colonial era Palladian mansion and Blandford Church and Cemetery (where many a Traylor lies in eternal rest) that boasts an impressive collection of Tiffany stained glass windows.
I tend to head down to the city when I am looking for some external inspiration. The Olde Towne District is one of my favorite haunts. It’s the city’s hub of the arts renaissance. TT and I can often be found gallery hopping on Second Friday for the Arts. We frequently visit the Petersburg Regional Art Center (PRAC). It’s a fantastic date night with loads of great restaurants and things to do. I’ll post links to a few of our fave eateries next time.
TT
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