#TheScoutGuideCharlottesville

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The Scout Guide Charlottesville Has a New Website

We’re thrilled to announced that we’ve migrated over to SquareSpace where we have a much more robust website complete with an updated calendar, editor picks, and of course, our latest blog posts. Please stop by and visit us at 

https://www.charlottesville.thescoutguide.com

See you there! 

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Christmas lunch with forever friends @pippinhillfarm and let me just say, this place does not disappoint. Beautiful no matter the season or the weather. Thank you Pippin Hill Farms & Vineyard for a quality afternoon. We'll be back! ⠀ @eastonevents @eastonportergroup @tsgcharlottesville ⠀ #thescoutguide #thescoutguidelynchburg #tsglynchburg #tsgcharlottesville #thescoutguidecharlottesville #pippinhill #pippinhillfarms #eastonevents #eastsonportergroup #virginiaisformountainlovers #virginiaisforwinelovers #farmtotable #vinetowine #luckytobetsg #livelovelyh ⠀ @meaganhalpin @jodyjenski ⠀ ⠀ (at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards) https://www.instagram.com/p/Brq0MnEgrJR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3dmgiziw20gw

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#illustratedmap of #charlottesville This is an alternative version of the map included in the latest @tsgcharlottesville #thescoutguidecharlottesville (at Charlottesville, Virginia)

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As Charlottesville starts to open back up, we wanted to offer a reminder to get out there and support all of the small businesses in our community. They have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic. As a rule, small businesses always live on the margins, without corporate backing. So when times are tough, they suffer.

When you invest in a SMALL business you invest in a BIG dream.

Here at The Scout Guide, we believe that these businesses are what give our community it’s unique flare and we want to see all our big dreaming entrepreneurs not only succeed, but thrive. But that depends on YOU. So if you’re able, please offer all the support you can so Charlottesville’s independent business owners can continue to enrich our community.

In case any of you missed it, last week we launched Volume 12 of The Scout Guide Charlottesville (you can peruse it HERE and visit any of our advertisers to get your hard copy). We are excited to welcome back some old members and add quite a few new ones. I personally am thrilled to share their happenings with you over the coming year. We’ll be covering everything from wellness, fitness, skincare and fashion tips, to offering up garden and home styling advice, wine pairings, delicious recipes, book recommendations and so much more. Plus, we’ll do a deep dive with “My Charlottesville” profiles so you can really get to know the people behind the businesses. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter that comes out on Thursdays HERE so you don’t miss a thing.

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6 Books for Your Summer Reading List

Summer is upon us and one of the things we most look forward to are slower days that allow for more reading time. Here, we caught up with Sarah Crossland, marketing and communications director at New Dominion Bookshop, for the books on her must-read list, from fiction and non-fiction to a cookbook and collection of poetry— plus a few local writers. So whether you’re lazing poolside of finding a shady spot under a tree, there’s a little something for everyone here.

The Lost Book of Adana Moreau By Michael Zapata “The Lost Book of Adana Moreau is the worthy heir to the best fiction of the early 2000s. If you loved Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love, Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind, this is the book for you. Set in both the 1920s and 2005 in New Orleans, the novel swirls around the story of Adana Moreau, a Dominican immigrant and science fiction novelist who dies at a young age and passes into obscurity. In vibrant, mesmerizing prose, Zapata leads us on an adventure into a mystery of the past.”

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy By Jenny Odell “In true form, I have been too busy doing things to actually sit down and read How to Do Nothing, but it is at the top of my list for summer reading! Jenny Odell’s book breaks down the ways in which our attention has been infinitesimally divied up over time, and what we can actually do to recapture the brain space necessary to feel present in our lives again. Odell sees “the attention economy” as political and “doing nothing” as a kind of protest. She offers real-world solutions for a pervasive problem. Plus, have you ever seen a prettier book cover?”

Deacon King Kong By James McBride “I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to open up James McBride’s new novel—his first since his National Book Award winner, The Good Lord Bird—and find a new world just as engrossing and absurd. Set in the late 1960s in a housing project in Brooklyn, Deacon King Kong is full of ghosts and mobsters, sinners and supplicants. McBride’s storytelling is as intricate as a stained glass window. After the shooting that opens the novel, each chapter spirals out with characters so real, it feels like they could be sitting right beside you.”

Pie Squared: Irresistibly Easy Sweet & Savory Slab Pies By Cathy Barrow “Every month this year, I’ve been making a new slab pie from Cathy Barrow’s innovative cookbook Pie Squared. What is a slab pie, you ask? It’s basically regular pie’s cooler, sloppier cousin, baked in a standard 9x13 sheet pan. The recipes are forgiving and insanely delicious. One of my favorites, the Cheesy Cauliflower Rarebit Slab Pie, uses a toasty rye crust. Another, the Ham and Gruyere Slab Pie, is out of this world if you fill it with Edwards Virginia ham. Cathy Barrow’s recipes have definitely been one of the highlights of my year!”

Half By Sharon Harrigan “Sharon Harrigan’s debut novel, Half, has a fascinating conceit: it’s the story of identical twin girls, told through their collective perspective, as they look back on their lives from the vantage point of their father’s funeral. Author Porter Shreve has called it “a high-wire act of a novel” and author Bonnie Jo Campbell writes that it is “mesmerizing, a bright and inventive novel like no other.” Harrigan lives here in Charlottesville, and New Dominion Bookshop is partnering with local nonprofit WriterHouse for a virtual event with her this July. More details here!”

White Blood By Kiki Petrosino “Even if you don’t normally read poetry, Kiki Petrosino’s poetry collection White Blood should be on your reading list this summer. Petrosino graduated from the University of Virginia, and her deft, pulse-quickening poems examine our landscape, history, and university through her experiences as a Black, feminist woman. In one poem about the enslaved people who lived, worked, and died at Monticello, Petrosino writes, “I live in language / on land they left.” These are haunting poems that you will come back to again and again.”

To order books through New Dominion Bookshop, please send your order as an email to staff@ndbookshop.com or call the shop at 434-295-2552 during business hours (M-F: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Sat: 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Sun: Closed). The shop is currently offering curbside pickup, contactless home delivery (within 5 miles of the shop), and shipping (normal rates apply). Shop local and support your community bookstore!

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New Online Art Exhibit  // Light in Darkness at Les Yeux du Monde

Russ Warren, Night Fishing at Moms, acrylic, fishing line, fish hooks on canvas, triptych, 60 x 48" each panel, 60 x 144" 

These quarantine times are naturally keeping us at home,but that doesn’t mean we have to lack for culture and art. Local art gallery Les Yeux du Monde is pleased to present a new online exhibition, Light in Darkness, now through July 2020.

At the beginning of the 20th century artists from Kandinsky to Mondrian were attempting to represent the spiritual and a deeper reality through their art, thus leading art historian and artist Lydia Gasman to define Modernism as a “quest for new forms of the sacred.” Over 100 years later, the artists in this exhibition also subscribe to this goal, albeit in varying ways.

Lydia Gasman's Angel of History, based on an essay by Walter Benjamin about a watercolor by Paul Klee of the same title, announces our theme. Gasman, a Jewish Romanian immigrant with first-hand memories of the horrors of World War II, transforms the theme of an angel witnessing the destructive path of history behind it to one of hope, as her weighty citron yellow angel with massive celestial blue and white wing seems to triumph over the dark explosions painted on airplane aluminum behind it. 

Also featured are gold leaf multi-media paintings on paper and on panels of shimmery golden chub fish and clouds by Dean Dass, and light filled still life paintings of bottles and their infinite reflections by the consummate painter and scholar of light, David Summers.

In Russ Warren's huge triptych Night Fishing at Moms, several brilliant spiraling lemon yellow orbs illuminate the subterranean aquatic world below the surface. Michelle Gagliano’s Raffaello’s Pallette, intended for a celebration of Raphael’s life in Urbino, Italy that was cancelled because of the pandemic, glows with the pigments and materials used by the Renaissance master along with her own non-toxic colors and shimmery golds.

Three artists living and working in New York’s Hudson River Valley are also included. Recently celebrated in Sculpture Magazine, Millicent Young uses luminous white horse hair atop and surrounded by lead and iron, in her cantos 11-13, as a moving meditation about the fragility of our constructed systems and interdependence on this small earth. Kurt Steger, similarly highlights the delicate balance of humanity and our buildings and environment in his sculpture, while Dorothy Robinson paints rich textural abstractions that continuously morph into awe-inspiring natural or architectural scenes, prompting contemplation about the worlds we humans co-create and inhabit throughout our shared history on the planet. Other artists’ shining works will be added as this online show continues.

Check out the exhibit by visiting the gallery at www.lydm.co.

Les Yves du Monde | Instagram | Facebook | LYDMGallery@gmail.com | 434-973-5566.

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Wellness Wednesday // Red Light Therapy from Rivanna Cryotherapy Recovery Center

This year Rivanna Cryotherapy Recovery Center added Joovv Full-Body Red Light Therapy to their arsenal of healing tools and they are excited to share its benefits with you. Red light therapy has many healing benefits, from recovering from an injury, to reducing inflammation triggered by autoimmune disease to easing the effect of depression. Additionally, it can help with weight loss, athletic performance, and various skin issues, including anti-aging.

If you’re unfamiliar with red light therapy, the treatments supercharge your cells with the natural light they need to make more energy. Just like our cells need water and nutrients from food, they also need natural light to function. Red light therapy allows you to supplement the light you get from your environment with concentrated wavelengths of red and near infrared light.

Red light therapy works by boosting your energy production at a cellular level. Healthy, natural light stimulates the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, and enhances the cellular respiration process that makes ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy. Humans make ATP every day, and it fuels everything we do. The more energy our cells can make, the better our bodies look, heal, feel, and perform.

Red light therapy has also been found to enhance blood circulation, reduce the body’s inflammation, and encourage antioxidant production. Rivanna Cryotherapy Recovery Center has worked with Robert Abbott, MD, the medical director of Resilient Roots. Dr. Abbot is a functional medicine physician and he’s created protocols based on scientific research for the areas of performance, weight loss, skin health - anti-aging, skin health - active disease, autoimmune thyroid, seasonal affective disorder or depression. Though not required, Dr. Abbot is offering  15-minute virtual or in-person red light therapy consultations. During the visit he will review your medical history, clarify your interest, and assess your timeline for therapy. He will then create a treatment recommendation.

Rivanna Cryotherapy Recovery Center has been closed due to the pandemic, but they do plan to reopen on Monday June 1. For the time being they will only offer red light therapy and cryotherapy. These two services allow the center to be run completely no touch. They will allow one client in the center at a time and everyone will be required to wear a clean mask and gloves upon entering, which will be provided at the hand sanitizing station outside the front door. Clients will be asked to lock their personal belongings such as purses in their cars. They are very excited to welcome clients back. Call or text to book your appointment today. 

Rivanna Cryotherapy Recovery Center | 1745 Allied Street, Suite B | 434-989-0538 | info@rivannarecovery.com

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Our Week Scouted // 1.17.20

Ann Lyne, Still Life with Compote, 2018. Oil on linen, 36 x 48”

This week we’re scoping out all the things that make us feel good in January— enriching art, nourishing eats, a good workout, and that wonderful activity of local shopping. 

EXPERIENCE. Mark your calendars. On Saturday, January 25 from 4-6PM Les Les Yeux du Monde  welcomes its newest exhibit, Time: Ann Lyne, John McCarthy, Ana Rendich, with an opening reception. Kicking off 2020, LYDM is celebrating its 25th year and will do so by looking back to their past and honoring the future. The Time show will showcase the works of John McCarthy and Ann Lyn who have been a part of the gallery from the beginning. Alongside newcomer Ana Rendich’s innovative resin work will be featured. This show will run through March 1. The gallery is open Thursday - Sunday 1-5PM.. For more information, consult their website, LYDM.co or call 434.973.5566. Les Yeux du Monde | 841 Wolf Trap Road | 434.973.5566

EAT. You probably haven’t ever had dinner at Oakhurst Inn but now’s your chance. During Restaurant Week at the end of January the Chateau Lobby Bar at Oakhurst Inn is hosting a reservation-only pop-up winter bistro. Receive a three-course meal for $29. Or make a staycation of it and spend the night for $99 a night. Valet parking included Oakhurst Inn  | 122 Oakhurst Circle | 434.872.0100

SWEAT. If you’ve been wanting to try out a new workout in the new year, pop on over the Club Pilates in Barracks Road Shopping Center. With classes using the reformer machine, pilates is for everybody, no matter your fitness level or age. Book your free intro class HERE. 

SHOP. We just got word that two new businesses are coming to Barracks Road Shopping Center. Spring Street Boutique, which has a location on the downtown mall, is opening a second location early this year this year in the space between Athleta and The Happy Cook. And feeding our insatiable appetite for healthy bowls, Mahana Fresh is opening up its first Virginia restaurant in February in the space between Penelope and Lily Pulitzer. They will offer bowls appealing to a wide variety of diets with tons of healthy options like cauliflower rice, sweet potato ribbons, yummy veggies and meats plus delicious house-made sauces. We can’t wait to check them out. 

SEE. On Friday, January 17 head to Uva’s Fralin Museum of Art for Fralin After Five. This after-hours gathering is free and open to the public. Hosted by The Fralin Student Engagement Council, with local station WTJU, DJs will spin a great selection of vinyl while guests enjoy this hang session amongst great art. Listen to tunes, enjoy snacks, and make requests. The Fralin will be open on Friday, January 17 from 5-8PM.  Fralin Museum of Art | 155 Rugby Road

BROWSE. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the Cville Farmers Market. The Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the IX Art Park all winter long on Saturday mornings. Starting at 9AM, come browse the vendors you know and love hawking Virginia-born fruits, veggies, meats, cheese, prepared foods, as well as artisan crafts from local makers. 

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My Charlottesville // Loring Woodriff of  Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates

In our latest installment, we asked  Loring  Woodriff, owner of Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates, for all of her Charlottesville favorites. Her real estate expertise makes her an authority on the city and surrounding areas and we’re excited to share her favorites about town.  Photo by: Jen Fariello

Your Charlottesville story. I grew up on a farm in Somerset and after a decade spent in NYC in fashion advertising in my twenties, I was ready to head home to what was becoming an increasingly vibrant Charlottesville!

Now for a list of favorites…

Favorite thing about the town. Its physical beauty, history and vibrant mix of people, some natives, some not.

Season. Fall, when the Blue Ridge views emerge from the summer haze.

Neighborhood. Hard to choose… When I lived Downtown there was nothing I enjoyed more than being able to stroll to dinner or a movie. Now with 10- and 13-year-old children, I relish the room to play and explore nature that our Ivy home allows.

Spot for a drink. The Lost Saint, the lovely cellar bar at Tavern & Grocery.

Breakfast. Special brunches at Mas.

Lunch. Brasserie Saison

Special night out. Prime 109; the sexiest steak house I know of, anywhere.

Bakery. MarieBette.  Everything there is just beyond!

Event. The Montpelier Races

Day trip. Washington, D.C. to shop or visit the museums.

Road for a scenic drive. Route 22 from Pantops, to Route 231 all the way until Somerset, then pick up 20 North for the drive back to town.

Winery. Pippin Hill

Hair. Moxie

Vet. Ivy Animal Hospital

Dentists. Swett Dentistry!

Food / Wine / Beer. Foods of All Nations

Music venue. Jefferson Theater

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Wellness Wednesday: Clear Aligners for Adults

Self care is a strong buzz word these days and one of the best ways to care for yourself is to invest in your smile. New trends in orthodontia provide the opportunity for a perfect smile without having to succumb to the classic adolescent fear of metal braces. The answer? Clear aligners. Dr. Weis and Dr. Stranix at Charlottesville Orthodontics detailed everything you need to know about this trend in teeth alignment. 

What’s the first step in getting fitted for clear aligners? The process begins with detailed digital scans of the top and bottom teeth, as well as the bite. These scans are then sent to a special lab and integrated into a software program. 

Next up, a customized treatment plan. This plan is created for each individual patient that looks at their chief concerns, alignment, gum heights, smile line, bite, and root positions. This planning process ensures that the final result is not only a beautiful smile, but also the best bite for the patient. 

Finally, your personalized series of trays are created just for you. Customized trays are then fabricated from the initial starting point all the way to the end result, with each tray being a little straighter than the last. 

Enjoy clear corrections. Aligners are worn for a prescribed amount of time that averages one week per tray, but varies for each individual case. The trays apply slight pressure to the teeth, aligning them to fit the current tray shape. As the trays are switched out, the teeth continue to align.

Additional correction may be necessary. Elastics can be utilized with aligners to provide a well-balanced bite. For the most predictable outcome, specially shaped attachments such as tooth colored “dots” of resin can be included in the patient’s plan. 

Maintain your gorgeous smile. After the ideal end result is achieved, all attachments are removed and the edges of the teeth are typically smoothed in a procedure called Enameloplasty. Retainers are then fabricated to maintain the new alignment. They are worn nightly to prevent any future shifting or wearing of the teeth and to ensure that your gorgeous new smile lasts! 

If you’re ready to finally get the smile you’ve always wanted, call Charlottesville Orthodontics to set up a consultation. Don’t forget to tell them that The Scout Guide sent you. 

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What We’re Making: Red Pump Kitchen Virginia Egg Nog

Take your holiday gathering to the next level with this Christmas staple from Red Pump Kitchen’s Restaurant general ganager, James Bonner. Rich, creamy, and with just the right amount of bourbon, this festive drink will put you and your guests in the mood for merry making. 

RED PUMP KITCHEN VIRGINIA EGG NOG

 Ingredients:

2 cups Whole milk

1/2 tsp. Fresh Ground Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Fresh Ground Nutmeg

1 Vanilla Bean

6 large egg yolks

1/2 cup Granulated Sugar

1 cup Heavy Cream

1 cup Bowman Brothers Bourbon, or a bourbon of your choosing

Instructions:

Take a small sauce pan and combine milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla and bring the mixture to a small simmer over low heat. Simmer for 5 mins. Do not let it boil over.

On the side, in a large bowl, mix egg yolks with sugar, until sugar is fully dissolved. Add hot milk mixture slowly to egg yolks in 3 oz increments to slowly cook the egg mixture and whisk constantly until all the mix is added.

Return the base to the sauce pan and cook over low heat until the base slightly thickens, do not allow the base to boil. (The base should reach 160º).

Remove from the stove and add in heavy cream.

Refrigerate until fully chilled then add the Bowman Brothers Bourbon.

Serve in a chilled rocks glass with no ice.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2019 // Design-Inclined

Design is all around us, from beautifully crafted serveware to inspired chairs and dreamy living spaces. Treat the one in your life with a keen eye for the beautiful things with what they really want, whether that’s a one-of-kind antique find or the kitchen of her dreams. Read on for the best local design gift ideas. 

Finally make that home bar nook a reality, like the one pictured above, with design services from FOLLY | 2134 Barracks Rd. | 434.295.0688 

Chapel Hill Lom knotted cotton rug from  IVY NURSERY | 570 Broomley Rd. | 434.295.1183 

Serene master bathroom redesign with design services from ANNE ALTIZER INTERIORS | INFO@ANNEALTIZER.COM | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Streamlined and stunning housewares at  BE JUST | 407D Monticello Road | hello@bejustcville

Mater bedroom that dreams are made of with design services from  AND GEORGE | 3465 Ivy Rd. | 434.244.2800

Antique treasures at  JOSEPH & JOSEPH ANTIQUES | 508 E Main St. | (434) 970-7998

Emerald green cut glass hurricanes at FOLLY | 2134 Barracks Rd. | 434.295.0688 

The perfect kitchen where everything has a place with Albion Cabinets | 434.974.4611

Turn dreams into reality with these great local shops and designers. As always, don’t forget to tell them The Scout Guide sent you! 

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This week we’re doing some vacation daydreaming, a little binge watching, and taking in all the art Charlottesville has to offer. 

This time of year we start thinking about and planning our vacations for the year. To that end, we asked travel expert Julie Arbelaez, owner of Peace Frogs Travel / Outfitters, what she has planned so far. “In late January, my husband and I are headed for a three-night getaway to celebrate our anniversary at the luxe resort Chablé Maroma in Mexico,” Julie reports. “Then in late February, I’m planning a weekend trip to NYC to catch To Kill a Mockingbird and hopefully see the newly reopened MoMA. I’m still debating a family vacation. Last year we spent two weeks in Colombia, including Nuqui, Guatape and Medellin.” 📷: Chablé Maroma 

“I have been coveting the Veja sneakers I’ve been spying on friends Instagram posts. They’ve the perfect weekend wear, but also hip enough for every day. I finally headed over to Quattro Tizi to buy myself a pair. Right now they have womens styles on sale. They will for sure get broken in on my upcoming trip to Costa Rica.” – Sarah Dawson

The IX Art Park just opened a wonderful immersive art space, The Looking Glass. It’s a 3,000-square-foot whimsical wonderful, designed to spark visitors’ imaginations and childlike sense of wonder. Fourteen artists work is displayed across various diverse mediums and styles. Visitors can relax in a hammock under a jungle canopy, travel through a 50-foot caterpillar, propelled by a resounding heartbeat, influence large digital projections with their presence, play music on golden goddesses, and get to know a friendly family of gnomes. When we visited we truly left all our cares at the door and entered an interactive alternate universe. The exhibit is perfect for all ages. Visit HERE to learn more and to purchase your advance tickets.”  

Have you watched The Morning Show on Apple TV+ yet? We were a little late to the party, but it’s well worth the time spent. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon give award-worthy, timely performances, as well as star turns by Billy Crudup and Steve Carell. As a matter of fact, Aniston just won a SAG Award for best performance by an actress in a drama series. And can we talk about her stunning John Galliano designed Christian Dior dress? We dare you not to hole away and watch all 10 episodes in one fell swoop. Thankfully, season two has been announced. Already we can’t wait. 

“On Megan Kingdon’s advice, my whole family has started taking Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health Daily Support. It’s a great adaptogen combo that is especially targeted for those that are stressed or overworked (who of us can’t attest to that?) to help sustain healthy energy and stress levels. Megan advised that instead of swallowing whole you bite into the capsule and let it release into your saliva for better absorption.” – Christy Ford 

From January to May Aboriginal Art takes over Cville. There will be eight exhibits of indigenous Australian art on view, four at Kluge-Rhue and four at other venues throughout the city — The Fralin, The Rotunda, Second Street Gallery, and New City Arts. This is a rare opportunity to experience this unique art in so many interesting locales. Also, don’t miss the opportunities to meet the artists.

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5 Key Things to Know About Going Solar

With the new year come a slew of resolutions. Along with enjoying a more plant-based diet and exercising more, perhaps leading a more sustainable lifestyle is on your list. To that end, we sat down with Tad Luttrell, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Sigora Solar. Here, he dispels some common myths and shares why converting to solar energy is a wise investment. 

You can be cash positive from day one.  “Our goal is to replace your existing electric bill with a new, lower, fixed rate payment,” Luttrell says. “The beauty of this payment is that you can also pay it off anytime you want with no prepayment penalty.” If you have to pay an electric bill either way, why not have it be lower, locked in, and able to be paid off. You never have the option to pay off your utility bill!

It can be aesthetically pleasing. “Many people are surprised to see how solar panels actually look now,” Luttrell shares. “They often have a mental picture of the old blue-purple panels that are not only unattractive, but obtrusive.” The panels Sigora Solar installs are all black and sleek, often blending into the roof. They possess a much more clean and appealing appearance than people are envisioning.

Increase your property value and stay competitive in the real estate market. Solar makes a huge impact in the equity and resale value of the home. Not only does it help to sell your home when you have a lower electric bill than every one of your neighbors, Sigora has exclusive Pearl Certification for all of their installs. Pearl is linked with the US Department of Energy, The Appraisal Institute, National Association of Realtors and others, and ensures that your home is properly appraised in order to reflect the value increase. Sigora has a unique and proprietary system known as their Produce and Reduce package. This package combines solar with energy efficiency improvements in order to bring maximum value to the homeowner. Pearl recognizes the value of the solar, as well as the energy efficiency improvements, in order to ensure that the full value of these improvements is recognized.

Commit to sustainability. Solar provides a fantastic opportunity for someone to lead by example and produce clean energy for themselves at a cheaper rate than they can buy it from the utility company. Solar is one of the fastest growing industries in the US for good reason. It makes financial sense, it makes environmental sense, and it’s needed for a better cleaner future for ourselves and the environment.

It’s not just for residential. Sigora does a huge amount of residential work,  but they do a great deal of commercial business as well. Many people don’t realize how many businesses have solar installed already because you typically can’t see the roof! Many businesses find that going solar is a great way to differentiate themselves from the competition, establish themselves as a forward thinking leader in their field, and save money on something that they’d have to spend money on anyway which is electricity!

Give the pros at Sigora Solar a call for a consult and don’t forget to tell them that The Scout Guide sent you! 

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On the Market: Charlottesville December Real Estate Report

Take a break from your holiday merriment to scope out these spectacular properties that have come onto the market — from coveted in-town addresses to stately estates. 

Bramblewood – 5600 Turkey Sag Rd. // Keswick, Virginia // Contact: Murdoch Matheson, Frank Hardy Sotheby’s International Realty, 434.296.0134 The details: 6 bedrooms | 7.5 bathrooms | 15, 156 square feet | 522 acres Features we love: There simply are not words to describe this stunning private sanctuary. Built in 2008, every detail of this opulent home was constructed with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. The Italian plaster walls and ceilings, cut limestone floors and molding, six fireplaces, his and her studios, and custom and antique lighting, add an exotic and unique blend to the interiors. On the lower level, we were smitten with the exercise room and the home theater with reclining chairs for eight. Outside, copious bluestone patios, gardens, and views drive home the certainty that this is a rare, coveted offering. 

COMING SOON! 2016 Spottswood Road // Charlottesville, Virginia // Contact: Loring Woodriff, Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates, 434.466.2992 The details: Old school meets new school in this dazzling 4 bedroom in a coveted city location.

0 Springdale Drive // Keswick, Virginia // Contact: Frank Hardy, Frank Hardy Sotheby’s International Realty, 434.981.0798 The details: 23.02 acres Features we love: This idyllic, pastoral, 23.02 acre home-site set in the heart of Keswick, will not be available for long. Set among the gently rolling hills, with a beautiful stream running along the side of the property line and directly across the street from Keswick Hall. If you are looking for the perfect land to build your next home, this is the site. Only minutes to Downtown Charlottesville and yet maintains the best of Virginia country living.

1932 Blue Ridge Road // Charlottesville, Virginia // Contact: Loring Woodriff, Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates, 434.466.2992 The details: 5 bedrooms | 6.5 bathrooms | 7, 652 square feet |1.01 acres Features we love: This lovely stone and stucco c. 1931 home features plenty of space for a boisterous family and house guests, including a guest or nanny apartment on the terrace level. We adore the beautiful new kitchen and mudroom by Karen Turner and marble bathrooms are stately and stunning. Tucked away in one of our favorite neighborhoods in town, this residence is close to UVA, Barracks Road, and in Venable School District. 

2033 Hessian Road // Charlottesville, Virginia // Contact: Loring Woodriff, Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates, 434.466.2992 The details: 5 bedrooms | 4.1 bathrooms | 6,418 square feet | 0.99 acres  Features we love: This coveted home is the Meadowbrook Hills neighborhood is a rare gem: the personal residence of renowned architect Milton Grigg, who oversaw the restoration of Monticello. Thoroughly renovated and expanded, no detail has been overlooked in this dramatic brick Georgian. An elevator serves all three floors and there’s also a guest suite or office over the two-car garage.  There are dramatic entertaining spaces, but we really love the abundant open, light-filled casual living areas, too. The one acre parcel features stunning, lush gardens w/ endless specimens,  including mature boxwood hedges, magnolias & expansive blue stone terraces, walkways, all making this home a true treasure. 

632 Park Street // Charlottesville, Virginia // Contact: Loring Woodriff, Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates, 434.466.2992 The details: 5 bedrooms | 4.5 bathrooms | 4,701 square feet | .30 acres  Features we love: Though this classic 1920s home has its roots in a bygone era, it has  been thoroughly reinvented to suit the more casual way we live today. The expansive family room opens to the stunning kitchen, making clear that no stone was left unturned in this dramatic renovation and expansion. Ideal for entertaining, the large bluestone terrace is accessed from the kitchen and overlooks a  level rear yard that’s perfect for afternoon and evening recreation. The family-friendly mudroom, off-street parking and proximity to Downtown make this home a true gem.  

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Wellness Wednesday: Holiday Party Prep at Nua Medical Spa

‘Tis the season of soirees. Completing your look is more than a pretty pair of shoes and the perfect dress. We spoke to the experts at Nua Medical Spa who shared the top treatments to give you a wonderful party glow. So whether you’re popping by open houses, settling in for a Christmas dinner, or planning to ring in the new year, there’s a treatment that will have you looking your absolute best.  

If you only have a day or two to prepare:

Book a HydraFacial to look your dewiest best. HydraFacial treatment uses three actions that contribute to the exfoliation, resurfacing, and nourishment of the skin. First, exfoliation of the skin using water pressure and a textured tip. Second, chemical exfoliation of the skin from acids such as glycolic and salicylic. Third, suctioning the dead skin cells off the surface. Finally, the skin is infused with hydrating serums using the pressurized device.

Go in for an eyebrow wax, plus eyebrow and eyelash tinting. Give yourself an instantly bright-eyed look and prep your canvas for festive evening makeup look. You can have all three done in under an hour.  

If you plan a week in advance: 

Go in for neuromodulator injection. Botox Cosmetic, Dysport and Xeomin all contain botulinum toxin. When injected into muscles, the toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine and inhibits muscle contraction. Limiting this movement not only relaxes facial wrinkles and lines, but it can also lift the corners of the mouth. Each of these three neurotoxins is formulated slightly differently, but all work to paralyze the same dynamic muscles, thus preventing dynamic wrinkles. They last about 4 months. They are cleared for use in the glabella (the “11’s” between eyebrows), the crow’s feet, and they are used off-label in the forehead and the depressor muscles beside the mouth. 

Visit for facial fillers. Juvederm and Restylane are hyaluronic acid fillers. Hyaluronic acid (HA) attracts water in the skin, which plumps the skin. Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring substance in the skin. It helps keep skin plump and hydrated. HA fillers are typically soft and gel-like. The results are temporary, lasting 6 to 12 months or longer before the body gradually and naturally absorbs the particles.

Book your appointment at Nua today. And don’t forget to tell them that The Scout Guide sent you!

NUA Medical Spa |  600 Peter Jefferson Pkwy, Suite 270 | 434.956.4835