By Katie Mitchell / Photos by Philip Meador: If you’re a regular downtown, you’ve likely been to Beyond Restaurant Pho and Sushi by now, located in the space once occupied by Spanky’s, sharing West Water Street with other inspired restaurants like Bella Luna, Cuban Burger, Sabor a Mexico, and the Harrisonburg classic, Finnegan’s Cove. But before Beyond, there was Taste of Thai, located on South High Street. And what came before Taste of Thai is a long and moving story of a family from Laos. more
Bahir Al Badry’s art studio sits perched on the 2nd floor of Oasis Fine Art & Craft with a bird’s eye view of the gallery and shop below. Like any nest, it is a place of comfort and creation. Music drifted upwards as I climbed the stairs to meet Bahir, and on entering his space I found myself surrounded by color, meaning, and intensity. more
By Kyle Kirby / Photos courtesy of Rocktown Kitchen: Since opening on May 17th, 2017, Rocktown Kitchen has quickly become a downtown Harrisonburg staple. Owners Kristo and Mira Papa have paid meticulous care in ensuring that their guests feel right at home. more
Ahead of the upcoming Winter Wine Weekend at Hotel Madison February 21-23, we sat down with Bluestone Vineyard winemaker Lee Hartman to talk about his love for the process, why Virginia is the best place to make wine, and what he's most excited for at the Winter Wine Weekend (or, as he calls, it "a giant wine party")! more
By Katie Mitchell / Photos by Philip Meador: If you ask a small child what they want to be when they grow up, they often have very creative answers, like “ice cream taste tester” or “ninja mermaid.” I once had a dream of being a backup singer for Pat Benatar. Usually, however, we don’t wind up doing what we dreamed of as a child. If we’re lucky, we can earn a decent living and once in a while, taste a new ice cream or find a karaoke joint. Sara Christensen, the fantastic human behind The Lady Jane on S. Main Street, dreamed as a child of owning a shop, even though she knew she’d be a school teacher. more
By David Tremain — Located inside Hotel Madison on the corner of Grace Street and Main Street, grace+main coffee shop welcomes JMU students and faculty and city residents to their morning cups of happiness. more
Brothers Craft Brewing hosts their seventh annual Resolute Weekend this weekend, November 8-10—and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever! Supported in part by HDR’s Destination Downtown Grant, #TapintoResolute Weekend will be jam-packed with unique opportunities to shop till you drop, knock back a few brews, and celebrate well into the night with live music and entertainment. In fact, Brothers Craft Brewing has partnered with 30+ downtown businesses to offer exclusive discounts and promotions for Resolute Guide holders. more
By Kyle Kirby — This weekend, a 17-year tradition in the Valley will be carried out once more, thanks to Karen and Rich Ruozzi, proprietors of Horizon Gifts. more