Another fabbbbulous reason why we moved here! Endless culture!
On the First Friday of every month, all of the art galleries here in town throw open their doors and hold receptions to celebrate their latest exhibitions. Our plan tonight was to take in the art and fill up on reception food and wine while we did. Scratch that. Reverse it!
After a quick afternoon snack (one of Diana‘s Chic Bars!)…
We headed downtown on bike. The age-old debate is what to wear when you’re biking in the summer. I tried to dress up some bikable shorts as much as possible
I really, really enjoyed the evening! Downtown was PACKED and the art was amazing.
We went to three galleries, each a bit more booming than the last.
Gallery I
Enjoyed a few bites here – I focused on fruit! I didn’t take any photos inside because it didn’t seem appropriate.
Gallery II
I asked a few of the artists here what the etiquette was for photography at art galleries, and they said to just ask the artist. Luckily both said I could share with you all my favorite pieces of the night.
Cynthia Burke created these intriguing animals that remind me of the professors from Wicked. I love their seriousness and poise. My mom would love these!
Nancy Bass’s cows are totally awesome. I want them in my house!!
The food was great too! And vino!
Glass O wine and lots of veggies! Don’t get me wrong – I ate a bunch of cheese + crackers too!
Gallery III
The show here was word art, which I LOVE. R. Luke Dubois’s “Hindsight Is Always 20/20” takes Presidential State of the Union addresses and pulls the top uttered words into an eye chart – emulating the “vision” leaders portray. So interesting to read what each president’s top word was and how they evolved over time.
Corwin Levi’s “Marks and Remarks” was the second exhibition that was created from doodles and notes he took during his graduate degrees. The most intricate pencil work I’ve ever seen!
The food here was incredible and catered. And I STILL can’t stop thinking about the gingerbread-topped brie with gingerbread crackers…!!!
The kielbasa (or what it seemed like) with mustard was also amazing!!
Then we knew where we could find more free wine – Beer Run! Of course our favorite spot! We headed there on our bikes for a free tasting.
Was excited to see Murphy-Goode! (Hi Jenna + Adam!)
Once we were back on the mall (more biking!) we were greeting by loud noises, drum rolls and …the UVA marching band! Today was “Paint The Town Orange” day and they’re gathering spirit for the first football game in the middle of everything. Such fun!!
Matt and I walked up and down the mall for a while, unsure if we were hungry, thirsty for water, thirsty for alcohol or just tired. We ended up finding a great outdoor seat at Enoteca to have a taste of vino and a few bites. It ended up being just the right amount.
I couldn’t decide between red and white, so I ordered a Rose, which was dark and JUST what I wanted! White on the nose, red on the finish.
To eat, we shared [it was really dark 🙁 ]
dates, gorGonzola dolce, speck
fig-rosemary-pine nut paste, prosciutto crudo [Mi favorita!]
sundried tomatoes, mozzarella fresca, basil pesto
White Bean Pesto Dip, Ciabatta
It was all incredible!!
Such a fun night. My skin smells like sweat from all the biking + walking!
Tomorrow should be a good one – much cooler [in more ways than one 😉 ]
Alaina says
Wow, I love all of the little daily excursions you get to go on! And the food throughout the day looked so tasty (as well as the wine). I think a trip to Charlottesville is in order for me! 🙂
Emily G. says
Oh how I wish my town was more like that! Totally jealous!..and those dates. OMG. They look beyond amazing!
lauri (RedHeadRecipes.com) says
WHat a FUN evening!! Cville looks SO awesome! I especially liked he football pep rally–> A ‘real’ sign that fall is almost here!! We had a BLAST tailgating at the USC game yesterday!!
Steph says
How lucky to be in a town that offers you so much culture! I wish Albuquerque had more little things like that. Santa fe, NM is more that feel, but Albuquerque is more commercialized so we don’t have fun galleries, foodie fests or anything like that.
…nor do we gingerbread topped brie 🙁
What a great way to start off the Labor Day Weekend!!
Megan says
Hey Steph,
I work for the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau and I challenge you to experience all that your own city has to offer! There are a bunch of great events happening in your backyard – the first Friday of each month there’s an event called ArtsCrawl that sounds quite similar to what’s described with galleries hosting open houses in various neighborhoods around the city. We also have two great brew festivals coming up in October. Check out our calendar for details: www.ItsATrip.org/events. The rest of you should come visit too!
Amelia says
Looks like a fabooooo evening!!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
I am SO excited for football season!
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
What an incredible evening! It looks like so much fun. 🙂
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
How fun! What a great place to live!
Caitlin (EatFeats) says
Yesss! Free food and art is the best! This looks like a wonderful night!
Kate says
It looks like such a fun night out! I love going to arts and culture events like this. I’m going to a Greek Festival this weekend and I’m so pumped for the art, the dancing, the food, everything! All that food looks really wonderful… I wish I could reach into my laptop screen and grab a bit of the gingerbread-brie appetizer.
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
What a lovely evening! I love the Cows! Those paintings are right up my alley.
The best is the Cynthia Burke paintings — my sister has a painting (not Burke’s) of a rooster with a shirt/tie/jacket on — it is hysterical, and very close to Burke’s paintings!
Annie@stronghealthyfit says
Sounds like an awesome night. Wish I lived somewhere more like that!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
That looked like an amazing night. You put together a really cute outfit. I just got a bike, and I’m so excited to be able to bike places. Have a great weekend!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
You and Maat were made for that city! It’s perfect for you two. 🙂 Love the variety of nibbles, my favorite.
Jenn
Leianna says
What a fun evening, I wish I lived in a town like that. So much fun things to do + see. I would just soak all that up and just people watching would be awesome!
Christine | Money Funk says
I LOVE the Cynthia Burke paintings. Very whimsical, but serious, dark and edgy at the same time. I will have to explore the Internet for more of her works. Where could they fit on my walls? Hmm…
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
You two make such an adorable couple, seriously!
Everything looks amazing and super tasty (we all forgive you for flashing in the dark!) and now I want wine….but still have to wait til I have this baby.
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat says
What an awesome night! The food and drinks all look delicious! Your outfit was very cute, by the way!
Alex says
Oh this is tugging at my heart strings… I guess I miss the ville more that I thought! There was a time when 1st Fridays was getting kind of lame, no wine and very little snacks! Glad they are back on they ball, the spreads look awesome! We should meet for the October one and do it up!
Also, I miss the days when UVA kids got all dressed up in nice dresses and collared shirts and ties for football games. It wasn’t that long ago, I graduated in 03! Then there was the whole Orange revolution thing, blech! Bring back the tradition! See you very soon in glorious fall C-ville! PS: I need to take you to Dr Hos Humble Pie- you’ll love it!
Hannah says
Cows and cheese, cows and cheese! I want those paintings and those platters, particularly because they really do correlate to each other 😉
Danielle says
What a fun place to live!
I also live in a city that has great culture and a “1st Friday” event where all of the art galleries open up and give you wine and display their art work.
Portland, Maine.
Any foodies would fall in love!
Cara Craves... says
Looks great!
Gingerbread and Brie, you woulda thought! Sounds like a great combo.
I think you were very successful in dressing up your bike shorts…very cute outfit…especially the necklace.
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
Your town looks so awesome and pretty!
Plus I didn’t know Diana had her own special bars too!? Gah!
Anne@ Food Loving Polar Bear says
What a fun night! You look very chic in your outfit 🙂
Kath@eatingforliving says
I love that black dress with the white flowers on it!
What a great day you had! Food looks delicious, as always! 😀
Simply Life says
what a fun event!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
How fun!!
Lauren @ 40Apples says
Open gallery nights are so much fun! I love meeting all the people.
Those animal paintings are awesome!
Nicole says
What an awesome Friday night! I wish I lived in a town like that! And I’m still stuck on the brie topped with gingerbread oh my.. Two of my favorite things!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
You really managed to dress up a biking-appropriate outfit, Kath! Love it! 😀
And I can see why you guys wanted to move there. Everything is so *alive* and full of culture, food, people. What an awesome town! 😀
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
Looks like so much fun and I love your necklace!
laine @ beets, butter and mountaintops says
What an amazing town! I love art galleries. What a fun night.
You could practice biking in a skirt and see if it works.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
so fun – what a lovely lively town you live in! there are gallery nights in downtown la but definitely no marching bands!
Heather says
wow that looks like so much fun!!! jealous as usual!
Lauren says
What a fantastic evening! You’re right, such culture and it really seems as though it truly embodied the essence of your entire town. Everything from the galleries, to the wine, to the football game. How charming! 🙂
Mom says
Love all the art, and word art is a cool idea. I just might try that with my English composition students. Thanks to the artists and you for the idea!
Diana says
What a neat town you guys found! So fun to have so much around you to do! And yay for Chic Bars! Hope it was as good as the first time. 🙂
Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story says
That truly looks like am amazing place to live. Such great pictures!
Kel says
I love the picture of the Dad holding the child’s hand! So cool that you were out viewing art and created some of your own!
You look precious in your ensemble!
Kath says
Haha – that’s my hand with Matt’s!
Kel says
Ha! I don’t know if I should be embarrassed or not! Even cuter now!
j says
wow, Matt has a hairy hand! 🙂
Csville should pay you guys for all the exposure because it looks like an amazing place!
faith @ gracefulfitness says
Thanks for this post. I had a very overwhelming day yesterday trying to move to C’ville and the whole time I kept thinking “I am not even sure I like this town”. But EVERYONE I talk to has amazing things to say about it and biking to gallery strolls has always been one of my favorite activities.
I am sure that C’ville is going to grow on me and your post made me excited about moving there on Tuesday.
Kath says
We should be friends!
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) says
What a wonderful evening! Brian and I could totally get into that. Love your downtown!!
Also, your biking shorts dressed up looked SO cute. Nice work!! 😉
Wendy @ Seriously Sassy says
Beauty-full SIAB, seriously funky coffee mug. You are such a photography inspiration, Kath. Thank you for your ongoing gorgeous photos!
I love reading your blog. It kinda transports me into this “charmed life” state of mind. You do such unique things and go to such great places. What a blast! 🙂
Gree says
That looks like such a fun night, what a great evening filled with wine, art and food!
Ryan says
I’m moving! Don’t I wish….Charlottesville looks absolutely adorable! Since reading your blog, my husband and I decided to take a weekend trip to celebrate our anniversary mid September. Can’t wait!