As a local-turned-expat now living in Amsterdam, visiting downtown Harrisonburg after two years away was such a treat. It’s as if I traveled for only a month and came back home. Everything felt the same, but the momentum for it to evolve into an even more amazing place to live or spend a day continues. more
When you walk into Scott Whitten and Valerie Smith’s home, you’ll be greeted by Felipe, a papier mache lizard wearing a heart necklace and Elton John glasses. He seductively reclines on an end table, signaling visitors to relax and be embraced by the warmth of this home. And that I did, when Cara Walton and I dropped by for dinner. more
After 50 years of housing Hess Furniture, the historic building at 139 N. Liberty Street has entered a new phase. Renovated by Matchbox Realty, the space now houses Immerge Technologies, Edward Jones (Gannon Irons), IT Decisions, Big Valley Law, and Journey Counseling, and The Frame Factory & Gallery – a business new to downtown but local to Harrisonburg for 38 years. more
After graduating from Bridgewater College with a degree in art, Amanda Tutwiler got a job in a floral shop and started experimenting with the flowers in front of her. Her mother and grandmother loved flowers. She always remembers being surrounded by them and appreciating their beauty, but never imagined she would become a florist. To her surprise, when she started arranging, she created exceptional work. The self taught artist is now the owner of Sparrow’s Flowers, a name that stemmed from her love of birds. more
Suzanne McCahill Perrine, owner of The Center Yoga Studio, and Rebekah Girvan Budnikas owner of Breath Pilates Studio have joined forces and moved to the Ice House! They like to think of themselves as roommates—they are still keeping separate businesses; however, the facility will be a partnership. According to Suzanne, “Ice House studios is like the umbrella for all these people coming together to work as a team” A little less than 2 years ago, Suzanne heard the Ice House space would be available in the future and planned to move her business there. “I thought about all these studios around and realized it would be more powerful if we worked as a team. So I called Rebekah, who hadn’t yet been in business more than a year, about the idea to bring our talents, people, and passion for what we do together,” says Perrine. more
Larkin Arts is a little oasis located in the Southwest corner of Court Square. I walked in on a rainy, windy day; the soft music and comfy chairs couldn’t have felt better. I met with Valerie Smith, the welcoming owner of Larkin Arts store. Calling Larkin Arts a store is an understatement though. Offered there are classes for the public—inexperienced and experienced alike, studios for local artists to rent, and galleries for the public to enjoy. Valerie encourages people to wander in to the cozy gallery space during First Fridays downtown. more
The community has a new primary point of interface with James Madison University at the Ice House, an innovative redevelopment project in downtown Harrisonburg. more
It was a hot and hazy September morning when Justine picked me up from the airport in Burbank. I had spent the last week attending the first annual Lockn’ Music Festival in Nelson County with friends from my days at JMU, and then visiting my little brother (a sophomore at JMU) in Harrisonburg. I remember looking at the San Gabriel Mountains as the plane descended and thinking that while they were certainly beautiful, they couldn’t quite hold a candle to the Blue Ridge Mountains I had just left. more