r/Charlottesville

Hi,
we’re four guys, and we’ve put together Westminster’s restaurant scene in an app called Vota. The concept is simple: you see two places side by side (for example Famille vs. Kachina Southwestern Grill), you choose the place you’d rather go to, and the ranking updates instantly. The more people vote, the more accurate the list gets over time. There are still a few duplicates here and there, but I’m continuously cleaning up the data.

Here’s the iPhone version, with categories that actually fit Westminster’s food scene:
https://apps.apple.com/app/vota-restaurant-ratings/id6744969212

And here’s the Android version (finally live):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vota.app

P.S. I’m not from Westminster (I live in Gothenburg). I’m not collecting data, not selling anything, and the app does not use AI-generated content. I’m posting in a few different subreddits because we now support more regions, and I genuinely want honest feedback from people who actually know the area.

I captured the accident on dashcam just as I was pulling out of the ACAC parking garage. A young couple got out of the car that did it (which also took some rear right bumper damage), and walked up to it, probably looking for the driver. I didn't have time to stick around to see if they left contact or insurance info, but if they didn't and you see this post, let me know as I can probably get their plate from the dashcam vids.

According to cbs news

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/spanberger-revokes-hallmark-youthcare-license-aug-19-2026

Hey guys!
We are kicking off a tour with tons of amazing bands at the foundry in just a few weeks, bring the family, friends, and even grandma! It is all ages and always a ton of fun!

During Monday night's city council meeting, while talking about allocating funds to the Salvation Army shelter, one of those living at Free Bridge said this:

“We live how we want to live, and this is how we want to live. You can not control this by putting us into a shelter,” said Jennifer Grant, who lives at the Free Bridge encampment. (original article: City council approves $3 million for homeless shelter expansion)

What exactly is the solution to the unhoused population, then? You cannot possibly think allowing a giant encampment in a city park is a permanent solution?!

Sure, you could "build more housing" (which takes time), but greedy landlords are not going to lower rent prices to a reasonable level, so long as there are people willing to pay the outrageous prices (they make more money charging high rents and having empty units than lowering the prices).

Shelters are the most logical, humane and immediate remedy, yet somehow that's now not good enough for you?

Cville Litter Pickers is a community volunteer group that runs cleanups most Saturdays around Charlottesville and Albemarle. This weekend we took on the former Kmart lot at Hydraulic and Hillsdale, and it turned into our biggest haul of the year.

A few folks found us through this sub a couple weeks ago and turned up at our Main Street cleanup the Saturday before this one — 45 bags off that site. Thank you, genuinely.

This one was fifty bags. Plus a list of dumped items I'm still trying to make sense of:

- a stripped-down hotel-style AC unit

- the front panel off a convenience-store coffee machine

- a bag of windshield wipers blades

- three pallets

- two tires

- car parts, old signage, and construction debris including pressure-treated wood old enough that I didn't want to guess at its age

We worked the lot itself, the Route 29 roadside, the Hydraulic Road side out to Brandywine, part of Hillsdale Blvd, and the buffer behind Whole Foods. Behind Whole Foods it was almost entirely cans and bottles — heavy foot traffic, no dumping.

A lot of what we picked up wasn't really recognizable anymore. Coffee cups, drink lids, two-liters, plastic bags — far enough gone that they came apart as we picked them up. That's material that's been sitting through more than one season.

That lot is a few hundred yards from Meadow Creek and drains straight to it, so what doesn't get picked up eventually ends up in the water.

One thing we left alone: the alley behind the old Kmart is badly overgrown and we called it a safety issue. We'll go back in winter when the leaves are down.

Next one is this Saturday, Aug 22, 2–4 PM at Tonsler Park — meeting in the main lot at 500 Cherry Ave. That one's family-friendly, all ages, and all equipment is provided. Details and upcoming cleanups: cvillelitterpickers.org

With Dairy Market Central Phase 3 project to begin sometime in the next year, Rockfish Brewing will be closing their Preston Avenue location and moving to the old Ace Biscuit & Barbecue / Wine Guild space at 600 Concord Ave. this fall. Social media post below...
___________________________________________________________________________

"A NEW CHAPTER FOR ROCKFISH

After nearly seven years, we’re excited and a little bittersweet to officially announce that Rockfish Brewing Company will be moving our Preston location down a couple blocks to Concord and Harris this fall. For now, nothing changes, both our locations are open as usual so come have a beer!

We opened in 2019, knowing redevelopment of the property was to begin by the end of 2025 (now 2027), so we’re grateful that we have had Preston longer than expected. We began looking for our next space this year and wanted to find a place where we could preserve what has made Preston special rather than simply replace it.

Preston has meant a tremendous amount to us as a forum to brew handcrafted, small-batch, true-to-style beer and share it with our community. Even more importantly, it became a neighborhood gathering place filled with people who appreciate great beer, conversation, and the kind of atmosphere that can only develop organically over time. That is what made Preston special, and it's what we intend to bring with us.

The new location gives us the opportunity to keep that neighborhood brewery feel while offering more room for customers, events, and awesome food without losing sight of the focus on fresh beer. There is something fitting as Rockfish celebrates its 7th anniversary this year and we want to say a proper goodbye to Preston, a place that has been such an important part of our story. We are currently building out the Concord location and are targeting a move this fall. As things progress, we’ll share more details about the timeline, our final days on Preston, and the opening of Concord.

Thank you to everyone who has made Preston what it is. We hope you’ll help us give it a proper sendoff — and then join us for the next chapter."

Description in the link:

“Homelessness in Charlottesville is increasing, with more people than ever now experiencing a lack of secure housing, and the harms and challenges that come with it. The Free Bridge and 0 E. High Street encampments are shining a light on the negative human impact of the area’s affordable housing shortage and testing how our community and local government respond.

“This webinar is intended to help us all gain a better understanding of the current state of homelessness in Charlottesville, what is being done to address it, and what needs to happen to achieve workable solutions for those most impacted.

“We will discuss the city’s plans to close the encampments and open an emergency shelter. We will also be introduced to Central Arizona Shelter Service, a homelessness service organization based in Phoenix that the City of Charlottesville is in discussions with about operating the shelter.

“We will conclude with Q&A to help further our understanding of this complex situation.’

Speakers

Shayla Washington, Executive Director, Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH)

Jen Fleisher, Charlottesville City Councilor

Brittnie Stanton, Chief Program Officer, Central Arizona Shelter Service

https://events.humanitix.com/webinar-homelessness-in-charlottesville-whats-the-plan