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With Staunton’s proximity to fresh locally sourced ingredients, the city is fast becoming a destination for professional chefs who want to be on the leading edge of locavore and sustainable culinary trends. Access to locally sourced, grass-fed, free-range pork, poultry and beef and freshly-picked produce from Shenandoah Valley farms is helping to put Staunton on the foodie map. Chef Ian Boden of Staunton Grocery has been profiled in numerous publications such as The New York Times, Southern Living and Atlantic Monthly. Executive Chef Michael Lund at Zynodoa hails from The Inn at Little Washington, ranked the #1 hotel restaurant in the world by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Chef Lund recently moved to Staunton to get closer to the local food movement and spread his culinary wings after six years training under culinary icon Chef Patrick O’Connell. Staunton’s newest restaurant, Mockingbird123 features Chef Lee Gregory, formerly of Six Burner Restaurant in Richmond’s historic Fan District. For breakfast or lunch, stop by Cranberry’s Grocery for healthy eat-ins or take-outs, or venture a bit further to Newtown Baking to sample artisanal bread and pastries from Chef Bill Willet. These chefs, in partnership with local farmers like Joel Salatin, who achieved national recognition in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, are helping put Staunton at the center of a burgeoning local food movement in the Shenandoah Valley.
The New York Times refers to Staunton as the place “Where History Lines the Streets.”Known for its historic architecture packed into six National Historic Districts, Staunton is best explored by foot. We invite you to immerse yourself in the eclectic urban experience of a heritage destination. Poke in local shops and investigate historic sites.If you prefer something organized, Historic Staunton Foundation offers a free two-hour guided walking tour every Saturday morning at 10 am from May through October.Enjoy a walking tour from Staunton Guided Tours or download a map of architectural landmarks by district for a self-guided exploration.
Staunton offers one of the best collections of Victorian era architecture in Virginia. The city escaped destruction during the Civil War, and then survived an even greater threat from development pressure in the 1960 and 1970’s. At the time, more than 30 downtown buildings were demolished in the name of urban renewal. A group of preservation activists created the Historic Staunton Foundation, which is still active today. There are too many architectural landmarks to list, but don’t miss the Marquis Building, Clock Tower Building, Masonic Building, Valley National Bank (Beaux Arts), Augusta County Courthouse, Switzer Building (Venetian Revival), Wharf warehouses, Trinity Church (with Tiffany windows), C&O Train Depot, Old Main Hall at the Virginia School for the Deaf & the Blind, The Masonic Temple (Classical and Medieval influence) and the new Blackfriars Playhouse (the only recreation of Shakespeare's indoor playhouse in the world.)
A 2002 winner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Great Main Street Award, Staunton’s downtown boasts hundreds of structures that have been restored during the past 20 years.In the last 10 years, more than _?_million has been invested in the adaptive use of vacant, underutilized buildings for new purposes.The biggest turning point for the city’s revitalization was the rehabilitation of the C&O Train Depot in 1990.Recent successes include the R.R Smith Center for History & Art, The Old Y Lofts, American Hotel, and the fascinating Villages at Staunton (which served as both an asylum and a prison before its most recent reincarnation as
a new urbanism mixed use development.)
Locally grown food is a more environmentally friendly and healthy way to eat. The best-selling book The Omnivore's Dilemma has catapulted the local food movement to a new level. Book contributor Joel Salatin owns nearby Polyface Farm, which is a family owned, multi-generational, pasture-based, and local-market farm. With a rich agricultural legacy, Staunton is evolving into a locovore hub in Virginia.Don’t miss the The Staunton/Augusta Farmers' Market, which has been a "producer only" market since it was founded in 1993. The emphasis is on homegrown and homemade. Every item originates from within a 50-mile radius of the market. Dozens of local producers supply the region’s restaurants with fresh produce and pasture-raised meats. If you are downtown, wander in to local green grocers Cranberry's Grocery & Eatery and George Bowers Grocery for fresh and healthy alternatives.
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