Simplifying the Simple Life

Sit & stay are overrated: dog friendly activities in Charlottesville

  Grace checks out the beach in North Carolina

-By Lisa

Lying on the couch seems to be the preferred activity of Grace, my SPCA rescue dog. Though admittedly it's high on my list, too, I think we get need to all get out and enjoy this weather.

Inspired by a recent trip to visit family in North Carolina (proof that some things that are worth getting off the couch for) I've been checking out all the fun, dog-friendly goings-on around our town. Here are my top picks for outings that are equally enjoyable for canine and human.

Carter Mountain Orchard - Offering fantastic views, apple cider donuts and pick your own apples and pumpkins. Leashed dogs are welcome in the orchards. The country store has lots of local crafts for sale, but pooch will have to wait outside for that part. 

Monticello - Even dogs appreciate a little history and culture. Well behaved, leashed pets are welcome on the grounds, but are not allowed in the buildings. 

Darden Towe Dog Park - For (responsible) running free, there is a fenced, 1-acre, off-leash dog park, which includes a doggie water fountain and picnic tables. 

Azalea Park - 23 acres located off Old Lynchburg Road. Dogs need to be on-leash at the park, except for the designated fenced-in area provided for off-leash doggie fun.  

Rivanna Trail Off Leash Area at Riverview Park - For those of us who are super-well behaved, off-leash days are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on the designated portions of the Rivanna Trail. Use caution, though, because it is not fenced.

Yappy Hour at Keswick Vineyards - Each Sunday dogs are allowed to visit the tasting room for daily specials and socializing with other proud dog owners. On select weekends, canine rescue agencies will bring adoptable dogs with them, just in case you drink enough to take another one home.

The Downtown Mall is a great place to take your dog out and about. Grace and I were strolling the mall recently and stopped off for a quick drink at Siips Wine Bar; they were kind enough to leave water bowls out for parched pups.  We’ve also eaten al fresco at Bizou , Eppie’s and Christian’s.

Beer Run - A great place for lunch or dinner with a dog. The picnic tables outside are particularly pet friendly.

Sammy Snacks - A wonderful C'ville company that uses human grade ingredients. Their products can be purchased at their store at the Millmont Shops or at a variety of places, locally and around the country. What I particularly love about these treats is that I can snack on them too, which makes me feel good - if not a little resentful - about sharing them with my dog. Grace and I both recommend the peanut butter flavor.

Animal Connection - My go-to place for all things pet-related. The owner, Pattie, is incredibly knowledgeable and has helped guide me thought the in-depth world of holistic and raw dog foods. They also do grooming.

We have done training classes at  All Things Pawssible and had so much fun! And if you feel like pup needs a little more time with canine friends, the doggie day care is a great way to socialize your dog, and make sure they don’t get lonely when you are away for the day.

If you have out-of-towners bringing a pet, there are many local options, such as The Red Roof Inn, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Doubletree Inn, Holiday Inn, Quality Inn, Residence Inn, and Sleep Inn Suites at Monticello. Double check the requirements before making reservations. 

No need to leave the four-leggeds at home! Get out there and enjoy!

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

 

Live music is good for the soul: Vusi, Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun

-By Lisa

Wintertime means exile for me. Glorious, self-imposed exile.

I stay home - lighting candles, making hearty soups and buckwheat heating pads and reading mountains of books. I look out the window at the beautifully dull grey light, then close up the shutters and delight in my quiet seclusion.

But on Sunday night I broke my wintertime isolation and ventured out.

And it was awesome.

We attended the Vusi Mahlasela concert at the Jefferson. If you are not familiar with Vusi, you only need to know that his devoted followers from South Africa and all over the rest of the world refer to him - simply and reverentially -  as "The Voice."

Opening up for Vusi was Morwenna Lasko and Jay Pun, incredibly talented local musicians who blew my mind and made me feel true remorse for the fact that I can't play the violin.

Live music is good for the soul.

The Voice

As we were out, having a tasty (and inexpensive) pre-show meal at Cinema Taco, walking hand-in-hand along the bustling Downtown Mall, unexpectedly running into friends and feeling the excitement and anticipation a live performance -- I was reminded of how fun "out" is. I noticed something else. Art! Music! Culture! All happening here in my community!

So, while home is where my heart is, I also realize that our hip little college town has some opportunities that I’d be a fool to pass on.

Here are some upcoming events things that make me want to pry myself out of my house and hit the town.

(And then I get to come right back home again.)

Viva C’ville!

Randy Newman  - March 1st at the Paramount. He is the guy behind all those songs in Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. that made the grown ups cry.

Ra Ra Riot - March 4th at the Jefferson. Great Indi Rock fun. Prepare to jump up and down. 

Maltese Falcon -  March 7th at the Paramount. If you haven’t seen a movie at the Paramount – now’s the time to see a classic. And only $6!

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - March 16th at the Paramount. They combine traditional South African spiritual tunes with some gospel beats all put together to promote peace and love. (You know Paul Simon’s Graceland? He worked with these folks on it.) 

Festival of the Book  - March 16 - 20th . It’s my favorite C'ville event of the year (tied with the Vegetarian Festival) Too many wonderful events to list. Just go check out the site. 

Cirque de Soleil’s Alegria  - March 30 - April 3rd at the John Paul Jones Arena. Go be jealous/freaked out by those amazingly bendy people.

Toad the Wet Sprocket -  April 10th at the Jefferson. I miss the early 90’s. I must still have some flannel around here somewhere...

David Sedaris  - April 11th at the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center. The only thing more hilarious than reading David Sedaris, is being read to by David Sedaris. I saw him a couple years ago. My abs still ache.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival  -  April 13th at the Paramount. A fun way to celebrate our beautiful planet for earth week! 

Six Degrees of Separation - May 20 - June 19 at Live Arts. Wonderful play about race, class, sexuality and what connects us all. And it’s more than just the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

Where's that card again? Check out the Cardagin app!

-By Lisa 

Here’s some stuff that we love here at STSL:

• simplifying our daily tasks
• saving money
• supporting local business so we can keep money in our own community
• cutting down on clutter
• being environmentally conscious

Here are some things that the Cardagin Network believes in:

• all that stuff that I just mentioned.

Clearly, we are birds of a feather. But maybe I should back up, in case you have no clue what I’m talking about.

Here’s the deal.

Customers who sign up for free at Cardagin.com or download the free mobile app have virtual access to more than 120 local businesses offering mobile promotions and loyalty cards. That means no more having to clip coupons or carry reward cards; all the info is held within your smart phone. To redeem coupons, just launch the app and show the ad to the cashier! Businesses that use a loyalty card can just scan your phone at checkout.

This program saves paper, plastic and the hassle of carrying cards, which I think is awesome all around. No smart phone? No worries. You can still sign up and use your phone number at checkout to participate in loyalty programs.

Rob Masri, the founder of Cardagin is a C’ville townie and double UVA alumn. He’s an advocate of local businesses and wanted to create a company that supports them, but is also a win for consumers. “Repeat business is the lifeblood for helping local business stay in business” he says. Masri strives to “empower local businesses by providing them with a self-service ad platform to build, publish and push mobile advertisements to loyal consumers.” And our loyalty as customers is rewarded by making saving a little easier. “Streamlining coupon usage is long overdue” says Masri.

Rob Masri and Mayor Dave Norris 

On Tuesday, the Cardagin Day launch was held on the Downtown Mall and was a flurry of activity, as local participating businesses gave out samples and folks signed up for the program. Mayor Dave Norris spoke and participated in a ribbon cutting, but what I liked best about the event was the sense of community. I am a sucker for that whole kinship thing, and I loved that the crowd included family and friends of the enthusiastic Cardagin crew. Masri introduced his father and said that watching him run the family restaurant for 30 years instilled in him the values of customer loyalty and sustainability; those things are the basis of his company now. The event felt so fun; little kids danced to the great music, dogs ran around, people hugged and chatted. It was festive and friendly and so very C'ville in its spirit. Personally, I love a company that digs that vibe.

Mayor Norris spoke about the fact that patronizing local business is the backbone of bolstering the Charlottesville economy after the nationwide downturn. I feel great supporting local people like Rob Masri and the whole Caragin staff, who are getting involved and encouraging growth in our community. And I get to support them for free by playing with cool new technology?

Sign me up. 

Download the Cardagin app and make a profile. Then head on over to Eppie’s, Baja Bean, Take It Away, Maharaja, Petit Bebe, Young Men’s Shop, Meineke, Barrack Road Shell, McGrady’s, Mona Lisa Pasta, Trinity Irish Pub, Albemarle Angler, Specialty Guitars Plus, Bounce –n- Play, Littlejohn’s, Holiday Exxon, Dunkin’ Donuts, Main Street Arena, and a growing list of Charlottesville establishments and keep your money local! 

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

Back to school: PVCC workforce services

-By Lisa

The University of Viriginia looms large around here. We also have other impressive institutions like William and Mary, VCU and that other one down in Blacksburg.

But smaller colleges are wonderful, too. Piedmont Virginia Community College here in Charlotesville offers classes for community members through their Workforce Services. It's a great chance to persue interests or learn a new skill. The fees range depending on the length of the classes, but I see it as a very worthwhile investment in yourself and your self-reliance.

They have many classes that fit in with our simple living ideals, so below you can find a listing of the offerings that caught my eye. Many start in mid-January, so there is still time to join in the scholastic fun!

Maybe 2011 is the year for me to get some welding skills?

Simple & green classes at PVCC

How to make it as a farmer

Soil preperation and planting

Exploring the small farm dream

Seed saving

Introduction to beekeeping

Vegetable production for profit

Introduction to sustainable living

Blacksmithing beginner

Introduction to welding

Precious metal clay

Book binding

Weatherization and home performance

Applied energy efficiency technologies for residential retrofits

Reflexology

Medicinal herbs

Tai chi for health

Introduction to traditional decorative woodcarving

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

Thanks and stuff

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” -William Arthur Ward

-By Lisa

It would be more convenient if there was a milestone that was the impetus for this burst of gratefulness. We are not at 100 posts (just 91) or an anniversary (we have not yet been blogging for a year) or any other traditionally significant event.

However, what we find immensely significant is that y’all are coming to check out our site. Through the creepy-yet-informative Google tracker, we see you visiting from right here in our little haven of C’ville, and every other state in America. Canadians are stopping by, as are Europeans, Africans and Australians; it’s always thrilling to see the different corners of the world represented.

We are flattered that you come to read about our - occasionally ridiculous - attempts at sustainability and simplicity. Thank you.

Katherine and I hope that you are getting something out of your visits here – be it information, encouragement or just the reassurance that you are not alone in your desires to have less and not more. Now you know about us and our desire to live authentically, and we would love to know more about you. We want to know who you are and why you are exploring this path.

If you are new – welcome! What brought you by?

If you have been with us a while – thanks! What sorts of things are you hoping to see from STSL in the future?

Email us (the link is in the top right corner) leave a comment or ask a question and let’s have a conversation about what is really important in life.

Besides, Katherine is not sleeping much with a newborn and she needs some new reading material – so please share your story!

The Parking Lot Movie

-By Lisa

The Parking Lot Movie really is a movie about a Charlottesville parking lot.

But because this particular parking lot happens to be in our unique little corner of the world, the parking lot attendants are…well…documentary worthy.

What happens when you have a group of highly educated graduate students, philosophers and professors working at a low level service job? They think about it. A lot. They wax poetic and more than a tad cynical about the plight of the world and all of us suckers on it. They consider it an opportunity to contemplate impermanence, detachment and the concept of fundamental self. All that while taking your ticket and double parking your car – which they quietly judge you for having in the first place.  

They view the parking lot as a microcosm of the western world - with all it's trappings. They analyze the ongoing class struggle, car culture and the making or breaking of nuanced social contracts. They deal with sorority sisters and Suburbans, public puking and people who drive off without paying. They question a consumer culture in which the possession of money gives you the right to get whatever that money can buy. 

And then they play Flip Cone and write obscure phrases on the gate.

The attendants are an elite group; getting a job at the Corner Parking Lot means knowing someone connected. It's not a career for most of these guys, just a temporary stop-over in the humble attendant's booth which they view as "the type of building Jesus would have collected parking fees from." At some point, they move on to a variety of fields, one is a professor of philosophy, one is a law school student and another is the Senior Librarian at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

This movie is a fascinating commentary on cultural assumptions and the complicated social dynamics in Charlottesville. It examines humanity and the existential implications of a job - any job. The Senior Librarian in New York is still the same guy who was parking cars on the Corner, but now people look him in the eye when he does his job. So, what do our jobs really say about us as human beings? 

Watch The Parking Lot Movie online, or in the Charlottesville area, watch this Friday, October 22nd at 10PM on Independent Lens on WVPT. Check here for your local listings in other cities or rent it on itunes.

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com 

Brainy Charlottesville: Miller Center of Public Affairs

-By Lisa

Did you see that Charlottesville was rated one of the brainiest cities in America? I think the Miller Center can take some credit for keeping us all so sharp; it is a perfect venue for expanding the mind without having to pay that pesky tuition.

The non-partisan Miller Center of Public Affairs promotes Thomas Jefferson’s vision of public service for his University. They offer a place for students, citizens and government officials to come together and discuss the issues. Each year, they offer more than sixty discussions, presentations and forums on a variety of issues regarding national and international matters. These events are free of charge and open to the public. 

Yesterday, I attended The Significance of Africa to U.S. Global Policy with Michael Battle, the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union. Mr. Battle offered an overview of the African Union's goals and the future of the relationship between the U.S and Africa. He fielded questions from the audience, spanning a variety of topics ranging from private sector growth and the integration of consistent trade policies to piracy prevention.

I'm really exited about this forum on October 25th at 11AM,  Food Security, National Security with Alan Bjerga, a journalist covering agricultural policy for Bloomberg News. He will be discussing food safety, food policy and the impact of climate change on farming. 

Here are a few other interesting uncoming events:

Friday, October 15, 2010 - 5:30 PM

Gulf Oil Spill with David Haye. A discussion of the crisis and the long term impications of the spill for the environment. 

Monday, October 18, 2010 - 11:00 AM

How to Save the Schools with E.D. Hirsch. U.S. students are falling behind their international peers, so what can we do about it?

Friday December 3, 2010

Barack Obama and the Burden of Race  with award winning author and professor Thomas J. Sugrue. (RSVP required to 434.243.8726 or gage@virginia.edu)

Check out the Miller Center events page for the full listing of events.  And if you don’t live in Charlottesville or you just prefer doing your learning while still wearing your pajamas, you can watch video recordings of past forums.

These events, along with other local goings on, are listed on the STSL Charlottesville Events Page - be sure to check it often for the latest in simple, green fun!

Let's stay brainy, C'ville!

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

Ladies who do a lot more than lunch: Iris & UVA women's center

-By Lisa

Last week, I spent a wonderful evening at the UVA Women’s Center, celebrating the release of the fall issue of Iris magazine.

The UVA Women’s Center does some great work in our community, promoting gender equality through various education and support services. They cover a variety of women's issues, offering lectures such as “Words Not Swords: Iranian Women Writers and the Green Movement”  and hosting vigils for the promotion of a healthy body image. They also provide counseling for individuals and groups, including a sexual assault recovery group.

The hot-off-the-press issue of Iris contains a variety of stories, from a profile of Cheryl Mills (Secretary Hillary Clinton's Chief of Staff) to book reviews and memoir excerpts. Subscriptions to the magazine are just $10 for the year, or you can pick up a copy at the Women’s Center on 14th street. 

The highlight of the evening was a reading from UVA alumna and “local literary luminary" Emma Rathbone (I'm sorry, but I just had to quote that awesome alliteration from the invite.) Rathbone read from her witty and sarcastic new book, The Patterns of Paper Monsters. She discussed her inspiration and creative process but in the interest of maintaing good writing ju-ju, she remained tight lipped about the novel she is currently working on. Because seriously... you don't want to mess with the ju-ju.

If you are interested in obtaining help from the UVA Women’s Center or want to support the center and the 20,000 people they serve annually, please check out their website. 

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

Simply good work: Tyler Spencer & The Grassroot Project

-By Lisa

When I began simplifying, I found there to be an almost automatic reordering of my priorities and values. I moved away from consumerism and gravitated towards minimizing my negative impact on the world and increasing my positive influence.

But becoming aware and waking up to life can be glairing. There is so much bad news in the world, so many people are pointing fingers and highlighting the problems that it is easy to wallow in the muck. I am not saying we should minimize the injustices in the world, rather, I think it is important to notice the folks who are doing good work – so the rest of us can gain inspiration and hope from their journey and be reassured that one person really can make a difference.

One of these people is Tyler Spencer.

Tyler is a University of Virginia alum who graduated in 2008. During his time at UVA he spent two summers volunteering in South Africa, setting up HIV prevention programs in diamond mining communities. Tyler did an incredibly valuable thing with those trips: he absorbed the experience of another culture and used that understanding to improve life where he lives.

And so The Grassroot Project was born.

Tyler knew that HIV was a significant issue in Washington, DC-- with a staggering 1 out of 20 adults having the virus-- and he realized the sports-focused curriculum he used in South Africa could be adapted to fit the specific needs of DC youth. Tyler is a sports enthusiast and he uses that to guide the work he does, “I am a very competitive person…growing up, I channeled that through sports, but now I love applying that edge to a cause that is so much greater.” 

Being just a couple years out of undergrad and founding your own non-profit can be a tad hectic. Add to that his recently earned Rhodes scholarship and plans to study at Oxford -- and the guy has a full plate. But Tyler’s passion both motivates him and gives him a chance to slow down, “sports have always been my way of changing pace. I am really looking forward to going back to rowing while at Oxford.”

This year, Tyler launched the Team Up campaign, a sports-based HIV/AIDS education program uniting 15 at risk youth in Washington, DC and Soweto, South Africa. Each student in DC was partnered with a teammate in Soweto, and for six weeks they participated in the same program. The campaign culminated in June 2010 with a ten day trip to South Africa where the teammates were united. The partners participated in an AIDS awareness event and even attended a World Cup Soccer match. “To be able to see our kids from DC interact with South African kids their own age—who are facing many of the same struggles as they are—was unbelievably powerful.”

As with any complicated global problem one of the biggest obstacles to change is apathy. “The more you learn about any given issue, the more insignificant you can feel. For me, I’ve always continued doing public service because I genuinely enjoy it, and I feel that if people just quit when they get frustrated and discouraged, the problems we are working to alleviate will only get worse.” So Tyler focuses on the reciprocity between his organization and the kids he works with and keeps a clear goal in mind, “I simplify my approach by just trying to constantly remind myself that listening and responding to our youth is going to be the most important thing in making any gains in HIV prevention.”

So, what’s next? Closing the loop. Contingent on funding, he hopes to bring some of the kids from Soweto to visit the US.

 “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” –Dr. Seuss

We know it might seem silly to have a quote from Dr. Seuss be the mantra for your website, but we are true believers in it. The issues – about how to deal with everything ranging from HFCS to HIV, childhood obesity to global hunger -- are complicated. But, as Tyler found, when you can break it all down to a simpler answer that is manageable and effective – that’s where we make a real change.

If you want to know more about Tyler and his organization, check out the Grassroot Project website, and the Team Up blog that the kids wrote about their visit to the World Cup in South Africa.

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

Volunteer opportunity: UVA Child Development Laboratories

By Katherine

My life is consumed by children at the moment. A newborn who feeds around the clock and a rambunctious three-and-half-year-old who talks around the clock are all I can handle for near future. It's at these child-centered times that I'm reminded how grateful I am for the people who research child behavior and cognitive development and then write about it.

Thank goodness for the psychologists at the UVA Child Development Laboratories (CDL) who can let lay people like me in on the secrets of baby and kid brains so we know how best to rear and nurture them, especially when we're juggling the rest of our busy lives and often running on little sleep (two three-hour stretches for me between feedings last night--hooray!)

These little people are the ones who are next to solve our myriad cultural and environmental problems so we best figure out how to help them reach their highest potential. 

I wrote about my own experience volunteering for one of the CDL's fascinating research studies starting on page 68 of the September issue of Albemarle Family magazine. Read to find out how you can volunteer with your children for a study.

Or head to the CDL's next Open House scheduled for this Saturday, September 18, 9am-2pm, at 1023 Millmont St.  There will be entertainment, refreshments and prizes. See the CDL's website for more information.