Living Organic

My new lifestyle is causing me to be friendlier to my body and my world. One of my new favorite hangouts is Organic Grounds in Harrisonburg.

As proof that email marketing works, I stopped in one week this afternoon after receiving an email (yes, I voluntarily signed up for their email list) that they were serving a new soup: spinach and mushroom. Sounded too good to pass up, and the day was a bit gray.

Owners Lee Ann and Barry Jeffer guarantee everything fresh and organic, from the coffee to cookies. By the way, gotta try their harvest nut cookies–they are to die for–organic or not.

Anyway, my son was having fun with the video camera, so here’s my trip to Organic Grounds for a cup of delicious spinach and mushroom soup with a three cheese grilled sandwich on something that’s not bread, but really good!

–Toni

Fridays in the ‘Burg

As promised, here’s more on what’s happening in downtown Harrisonburg this Friday.

In addition to First Fridays (schedule below), Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance kicks off Fridays on the Square at the Courthouse. Picnic dinner starts at 6 p.m. (BYOD-bring your own dinner) and music starts at 7 p.m. with the Charlottesville Drum Choir. From HDR: “A fun evening guaranteed for all with this community drumming group that shares the wonder and power of the West African drumming traditions through performance. Sponsored by Joshua Wilton House Inn & Restaurant and Downtown Wine & Gourmet”

Go downtown early for First Fridays and take a walking tour to view local art:

Arts Council of the Valley, Smith House, 311 S. Main

June: Robert Llewellyn, Photography

The Virginia Quilt Museum, 301 S. Main

June: Floral Abundance

The Hardesty-Higgins House, 212 S. Main Street

June: George Lange, Works of Art in Wood

Harrisonburg League of Therapists, 312 S. Main

June: Steven David Johnson and Anna Maria Johnson, Photography, Mixed Media, Fibers

Ameriprise Financial, Linda S. Hoover, CFP®, 165 S. Main Street, # E (exhibitions in Denton Park)

June: Greg Versen, Photography

You Made It Pottery, 163 S. Main

June: Pottery Demonstration on the Sidewalk

OASIS Gallery, 103 S. Main Street

June-July: David Copley, Sculpture

150 Franklin Street Gallery

June:  Jauan Brooks, Prints; Segal, Glass Works; and Jane Ritchey, Paintings.

Clementine Café, 153 S. Main Street

June-October: Art Exhibitions and Music (further details pending)

Artful Dodger, 47 Court Square

June: Robert Gravelin, Painting

Downtown Wine and Gourmet, 41 Court Square

June-October: Wine Tastings and (periodically) Music

Cally’s Restaurant and Brewery, 41-A Court Square

June-October: Beer Tastings

Laughing Dog

June: Dana Flynn, Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry; Keith Mills, Paintings

First Fridays Starts This Week in the ‘Burg

This Friday the Arts Council of the Valley kicks off its annual First Fridays in the ‘Burg. And despite having a brand new director whose still getting her feet wet (Welcome Celia!), this year’s lineup appears to have more variety and plenty of appeal. More about that later.

In addition to movies and music, some of the downtown merchants are getting involved, and the council is teaming up with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance to offer historic walking tours.

This Friday, in conjunction with First Fridays and to kick of their 6-year anniversary, You Made It! Pottery Studio is offering wheel-throwing demonstrations in front of the store from 5-7 p.m. According to co-owner David Miller, the studio has opened a new wheel-throwing room, where you can take lessons, or practice your own throwing. And at a good price, I may add. Practice for one hour costs only $8. I have a feeling the pottery room is going to be very busy.

Dave says later this month they are also opening a new glass warming room. Design your own jewelry, bowls, etc. and they will fire them on site in their new glass kiln. And several summer camps for kids are planned at the studio, featuring work in clay and glass. One week camps are $175 and held Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sounds like a fun place to be. If you’ve never experienced  You Made It!, here’s a nifty video to give you a visual taste of their offerings.

H’burg Downtown Hot Spots - You Vote

Thanks to Alexis Morehouse of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance for sharing the following info about the DN-R’s Best of the Valley awards. LEAVE A COMMENT. Tell us your FAVs in the Valley. . .

You may or may not have noticed the theme in this year’s Best of the Valley awards.  Once again, Daily News-Record readers have shown their overwhelming support of downtown Harrisonburg shops, restaurants and other businesses with their votes in the annual Best of the Valley survey. These independently-owned businesses have gained increased local, as well as state-wide, attention over the last year with feature articles in the Washington Post, Virginia Living, ShenandoahValley.com, Virginia Explorer and Travel Virginia.

Running away with the most of the valley honors is one-year-old restaurant, Clementine receiving EIGHT awards, including best renovation and best place to be seen. Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market made its first appearance on the list as the best place to take visitors, likely aided by its new location under the Turner pavilion constructed since the last poll. “Downtown Revitalization” was also catapulted from the category of worst use of tax payer money in 2008, to best use of tax payer money in 2009.

Some voter-favorites, like the Little Grill Collective, James McHone Jewelry, and Jess’ Quick Lunch, retained their titles as best vegetarian/breakfast, jeweler, and cheap eats, respectively, while the Artful Dodger showed its expanding versatility by winning the best dancing and best karaoke titles. Downtown services also got a shout out on this year’s list, with the Studio winning best salon and the Beauty Spa taking best day spa. Congratulations to other downtown businesses listed below – 16 in total!

DNR’s “Best of the Valley” Winners: Downtown Highlights

Hurrah for Mainstreet

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance received a Virginia Mainstreet Milestone Award last week. The award was presented at a ceremony held in Richmond March 20.  The downtown revitalization organization boasts more than $15 million in private investment and 45,000 volunteer hours contributed toward revitalization.

Virginia Mainstreet also recognized Winchester and Staunton for excellence.

“Through the revitalization of Virginia’s downtowns, jobs are created, and the quality of life for those in the community is enhanced,” said Patrick O. Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia, who spoke at the awards luncheon.

Congratulations to Valley cities and their efforts toward revitalizing and preserving downtowns.

–Toni Mehling

Business & Schools Partner to Beat the Money Crunch

by Toni Mehling

Yesterday a local business man said to me, “Everything in on the table.” In these tough economic times, business organizations and even individuals are rethinking business as usual and looking for new ways to save money and make money.

There is a silver lining to the economic crunch. The pressure is causing folks to think creatively and collaborate in new ways.

One Harrisonburg business is teaming up with local schools and organizations to help raise needed funds to support student learning. You Made It!, a do-it-yourself pottery shop in downtown, is sponsoring painted plates for auction.

Linville Edom Elementary students raised $3800 at their plate auction. Using the children’s fingerprints, classes painted themed plates and labeled them with the year and class name.

Co-owner of You Made It!, Joan Clasbey, is a former teacher from Stone Spring Elementary. She says this approach to fund raising was used by parents to raise needed money for the school.

“Every year the PTA sponsors an auction as their main money maker for the year. We started painting class plates to sell at these auctions. To make a class plate, all the children in a class put a fingerprint of paint on the plate. The plate is then embellished with the name of the school, teacher, classmates and then dated and painted,” says Clasbey

Classes have different themes that their plates portray such as “Hooked on Learning” where all the fingerprints are fish and “Egg-cellent First Graders” where all the fingerprints become eggs in an Easter basket. On the “Garden of Learners” plate, the fingerprints become flowers in a flower pot.

Clasbey says You Made It! is also involved in fundraising projects and business partnerships with sororities and other student groups at JMU, area churches, scout troops, A Dream Come True Playground Fund, Susan G Komen Foundation and more.