Crappy Dinner

This year in addition to village circle each month (stay tuned here or on our facebook page for dates, speakers, themes, etc) we are excited to open our homes in 2018 for irregular, occasional Crappy Dinners!

A meme that totally speaks to busy parents, Crappy Dinners may be absolutely scrumptious and indeed not super crappy at all, the point being we will not go to great measures to clean our homes, we will not be showing off or entertaining. We plan to pull out frozen meals, request attendees show up with something to share, order pizza or something similarly casual. 

Commensality - sharing a table, eating together - is an intimate and enlivening thing to do. We laugh, make a mess, nourish ourselves on so many levels when we eat together with other beloved grown-ups and kiddos. We may discuss our day, our concerns, what we've been binge-watching on Netflix, or just touch base with one another. We are looking forward to a year of deepening connections with each other and with you - if you are interested in hosting a Crappy Dinner at your place, let us know! 

*Thanks to Sarah Struckmann and the Moms and Babies group at the Women’s Initiative for reminding us of the notion of Crappy Dinners, and this article from Mothering!

Celebrating with cookies

As a vocation we all have the privilege of marking major events in the lives of our clients and we have seen one another through major celebrations as well. This week our website (and the business, technically) reached its 5 year anniversary. Tonight was the third year we've had a holiday party all together as a team of 4 doulas and we invited our community to join us for dinner and cookie decorating - it was super adorable. 

Thanks to all of our clients, our families, our children and our community who have made so many beautiful memories with us in 2017. We're moving into the new year with a stronger commitment to one another, to our own and each other's families, and to supporting the birthing (and parenting!) people of Charlottesville. Stay tuned for more greatness in 2018!

Storytime Success!

Thanks to the dozens of you who joined us for Storytime at Sweethaus over the past four weeks! Gwen and Sara had so much fun reading fabulous books and seeing so many adults and kiddos enjoying the treats that Sweethaus has to offer. It was a special bonus to have the gigantic Sweethaus Christmas tree up for the last two weeks and we're excited about hosting more storytime someday. 

When the new year rolls around we hope to see you at other local storytimes including all the great offerings at Jefferson Madison Regional Library branches, New Dominion Bookshop and elsewhere. 

Bluegrass Grill: Bright Spot #4

One of our family favorite’s is Bluegrass Grill, just a block off the Downtown Mall.  We seem to all get the craving at the same time.  Our five year old will wander into the bedroom and ask to head over there for breakfast.  Most of the time, we agree and probably find ourselves there once every couple weeks.  

We all love the kids’ play area and try to sit as close as possible.  My two year old makes phone calls and dumps out toys from the little red toy box.  My older son searches for dino toys and draws pictures.  Together, they cook up all sorts of delights in the little wooden kitchen, complete with stainless pots and pans, pancakes, and even pats of butter!  My husband and I REALLY appreciate that there are plenty of things for the littles to get into without being too disruptive.  

Although there is not a separate kids’ menu, there are lots of menu items suitable for your sweet wee ones.  For under $5, you could piece together a picky-eater breakfast from the a la carte menu or set them up with pancakes, granola, or oatmeal.  UNLESS, your too-smart-for-your-own-good five year old wises up to the fact that the Hungry Norman IS the most delicious breakfast possible and starts requesting the $12 parent pleaser in place of his usual short stack of honey-wheat pancakes.  Of course, adults can enjoy a solid variety of menu options, including vegan, vegetarian, and GF-friendly picks.  Currently, I’m totally stuck on P3-a mouth-watering mess of home fries, chorizo, peppers, and cheddar cheese...so, so good!  

We have found the BGG (our family name for our beloved fave breakfast spot) to be easy to get into most weekdays.  Weekends are a totally different story.  If you get there past the initial opening time   (and sometimes even then) plan to wait a while before a table becomes available.  There seems to be a bit of confusion around how waiting works.  I must say, we don’t do the waiting thing.  If there is a wait, we go straight to plan B.  However, I BELIEVE the wait list is on the wall and folks add their own names to the list and seat themselves when space becomes available.  

The BGG only takes cash or check, so be sure to prepare ahead of time, or you’ll be walking over to the mall to find an ATM to pay for your meal!

It isn’t always clear to me whether the staff is as happy to have us around as we are to be there.  I’ve decided to chalk it up to them being busy and the actual fact that kids in restaurants can be potentially disastrous for everyone involved.  Generally, the service is good enough, even if no one is smiling at us or gushing about how cute my kid’s drawings are.  

My biggest complaint is the ginormous pile of seasonings, condiments, and decor in the middle of each table, no matter how tiny.  There is the small vase with a single flower, the libations menu (good to know in case your trip really goes down hill!), salt & pepper, a variety of sweeteners, three types of jellies, a dish of single-serve margarine cups, two types of hot sauces, and I don’t even know what else!  This is like a gold mine of mischief for my children and ends up getting scooted to every corner of the table multiple times before we leave.  Exhausting.  

I can’t recall if there is a changing table in the bathroom because i never actually go in there.  I don’t know why my husband and I haven’t actually started to plan for this phenomenon, but EVERY time we go pretty much, my two year old has a massive bowel movement AND we leave the diaper bag in the car.  So….the kid gets changed in the back of the car and I cannot report on the presence or absence of a changing table.  Maybe if you take your diaper bag in with you, you can find out and let us know!  

Overall, the BGG feels fun and easy for our crew!  We love the food, our kids are entertained, and we feel like the prices are reasonable.  It is a bright spot that we look forward to pretty often and love to share with visiting friends and family.  And they have chocolate covered bacon.  Bloody Mary’s, a play kitchen, and chocolate covered bacon.  Winning!

Splendora's: Bright Spot #3

My daughter was largely built of gelato. While I was pregnant and for her first few months out of the womb we were living on the downtown mall and during that time Splendora's became my favorite local business. It was where I went to celebrate by myself the day I legally changed my name. It was where Matilde received one of her first nicknames (thanks to GM Kelly), and when Splendy's owner PK announced their amazing Pint Club - an awesome, exclusive flavor creation every month - I was all about it. Next time she's enrolling you should definitely sign up. Each month we receive an email detailing the inspiration and process of flavor creation and when we pick up our pint there's a free scoop of any flavor or a coffee included.

I've been to Splendora's dozens of times for a caffeine fix, to use their changing table, to buy bananas, to speak to another adult... so many reasons. Now that my daughter is in love with gelato it is a pleasure to share tiny spoonfuls together as we people-watch. They have comic books, coloring books, crayons and colored pencils! I am constantly entertained by the social media presence they keep (follow them both on Instagram and Facebook for serious farmers' market love, PK's adorable dog Gypsy and the shop's resident grabber-dino!), I admire and appreciate how they support other local businesses, I resonate with their politics, I have fun with their holiday decorations and PK's creativity, I am always impressed by the staff and I have never met a flavor of their gelato I didn't dig... even the weird ones.  

Pro-tip: Members of the Virginia Discovery Museum get a free bambino cone with any purchase (i.e. latte for you).

Indoors at Ix: Bright Spot(s) #2

The Ix Art Park is basically my favorite place in Charlottesville. The fundraising for the art park coincided with my first year here and I remember looking at the plans and feeling so grateful that a community space like that could arise in this small town. Over the past five years I have only fallen deeper in love with the murals, sculptures, events and businesses that have blossomed there. My kiddo adores the free ranging she can do in the outdoor portion of Ix and our family made it to nearly all of the Free Fall concert series Saturday evenings this year, but this post is really about three excellent indoor spots to enjoy Ix during the cold months ahead.

Brazos Tacos recently celebrated the first anniversary of the changing table in one of their Either/Or bathrooms, deserving of kudos on several fronts. Other than the changing table, there’s a stack of kids’ books for borrowing, and wee toddler-sized table with chairs in primary colors. Their guac and creamy black beans were some of my daughter’s first solid foods and it just so happens - since we used to live within walking distance - that Brazos was the first place I nursed in public. Their kids’ menu is sweet, simple and to the point, but there are also endless delicious possibilities for adults including margaritas. Coming from California, “queso,” was not part of my Mexican food experience before this setting, but I can hardly go there without ordering it now, I love it that much. I’ve come around on Tex Mex. Pro tip: order ahead via their website or by calling the Taco Phone to avoid the lunch rush line!

Sweethaus is a bit controversial as its sugary goodness may not be everyone’s idea of a healthy snack, but they always have gluten-free options and I swear I order carrot cake there just because there’s a vegetable. For many months I got away with going there to play and have a coffee without even purchasing a cupcake, but my wee one is now in love with them and I can hardly blame her. A mini cupcake for around $1 and a decaf Americano for mama is totally worth it for their adorable play area, whether your kiddo is crawling or running around. We don’t have stairs in our apartment and Matilde enjoys practicing climbing up and down to the cute lofted sitting area, where I’ve also attended a lovely gathering of mamas who all peered down on our kiddos happily playing below. Head’s up: a dozen or two mixed mini cupcakes will impress folks at any gathering.

Three Notch’d is a recent addition to the Ix space and the build-out is remarkable. The night we were there for dinner there were several parties including balloons and lots of revelry - while the noise level was above my comfort zone, my kiddo had so much fun playing in their kids’ area where there were crayons, books, toys galore and lots of playmates. The children’s menu hummus platter served us as an appetizer (since Matilde was mainly into playing rather than eating) and they could stand to have smaller spoons if they’re going to serve apple sauce to toddlers, but we would happily go back...if friends invited us!

Alamo Drafthouse: Bright Spot #1

This morning, my family went to a showing of the PBS Kids’ series, Wild Kratts, at Alamo Drafthouse.  I was so excited about our experience there that I feel inspired to dedicate our first BRIGHT SPOTS blog post to Alamo.  

It turns out that every month, PBS KIDS AT THE ALAMO, “Your PBS Kids favorites on the big screen” is offered for a donation of $3 per ticket.  All ticket sales benefit local PBS stations.  The website is very clear that these screenings serve as an opportunity for young folks to have their first movie theatre experiences and “squirming is allowed”!  Thank goodness, since I went with a 5 year old and a 2 year old.  

It turns out that every Tuesday, Alamo also offers the “ALAMO for All” program.  Every showing before 2:00 pm features lights turned up and sound turned down.  Infants are welcome and adaptive technology is invited.  They even allow chatter and will let you into the theatre if you’re running late.  If you’re like me, you can count on running late!

Here’s what I loved about our trip to Alamo:

• Mega kid/parent/family friendly-It was noisy, kids were running up and down the aisles, popcorn was everywhere.  I enjoyed not feeling like the only circus act at the theatre.  It was really fun to be there with other families!

• The kids’ menu featured affordable and healthy options-$1 french fries, $2 yogurt with fruit, $1 house made apple sauce

• Running into TONS of sweet people I know

• A family restroom

• Very easy to order food and drinks from your seats

• They have good coffee

• Did you KNOW it is a DRAFTHOUSE (wink wink!).  I mean, if a bloody mary helps your children’s movie morning go down easily, I’m all for it!

Of course there’s room for improvement.  I did not find a changing table in the women’s room.  I didn’t ask about the men’s (assuming there was not one there as well).  Also, the service wasn’t stellar.  We had to order the same water refill with a few different servers before it actually arrived.  Same with popcorn (but refills are a plus).  They did discount our bill, though, in recognition of the not-so-great service.  I really feel like they did what they could to help us feel good about our experience.  

I must admit, I feel sad that my first Bright Spot is featuring a chain kinda place instead of a locally owned operation.  But hey!  I’m just going with what inspired me today!  There are plenty more Bright Spots to come!  What are your Bright Spots in town?!

Bright Spots

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I’m constantly amazed at the many, many great opportunities for family fun in C’ville.  It seems like every family I meet has favorite activities, often for free or on the cheap, that I’ve never even heard of.  And I feel like I know what’s going on!  

We want to dedicate blog time to some of the spaces and faces that delight Charlottesville parents because of their family friendliness.  Thus, the conception of BRIGHT SPOTS!  These places, people, and activities truly brighten the days of many weary, loving parents, grandparents, sitters and kiddos!  And let’s face it, sometimes it doesn’t take much.  A little effort to make an outing easier can go a LONG way!  So, maybe it’s a restaurant with a great kids play space, and unexpected changing table in a retail establishment….something that helps put a caregiver at ease when out and about with wee ones.  

Every now and then, we’ll feature Bright Spots on our blog!  We’re super excited to help folks identify kid-friendly options around town.  We’d love to hear about your Bright Spots as well!  Please give a shout out to your favorite B.  They might Bright Spots even end up on the blog!

Keep an eye out for Bright Spots in the weeks and months to come!  

Thank You, Laura Salvatierra!

Laura Salvatierra, RN, BSN, CCE

I often reflect on and gush to others about how much I love our sweet little town.  C’ville is a great place to become a parent and to raise children.  As a doula, one thing I have learned about Charlottesville is that there are supportive, caring opportunities for prenatal care, labor & delivery, and postpartum support.  There are doctors, midwives, hospitals, and birth centers.  Yoga classes, meetups, facebook groups, childbirth education, and community gatherings.  Wonderful options abound!  However, I believe that for more parents-to-be to feel that they are having wonderful birth experiences, these many providers and services need to be working together and communicating amongst themselves about how to better serve birthing people!  

This is exactly why I am so very thankful for Laura Salvatierra, Team Coordinator of Maternity Education at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.  She gets it!  Recently, she created a Labor Support Collaborative to: “encourage all areas of birth support to come together with the common goal of supporting women who choose to have hospital births in the absolute best ways possible”.  YES, Laura!  That’s exactly what we want too!  

So on Monday evening, we gathered with Laura, local doulas, and MJH hospital staff to connect with each other with the purpose of better serving the birthing folks of C’ville.  My favorite thing about this gathering was the clear intention to work together to make hospital birth better!  Birth workers of all sorts from all corners were welcome, INCLUDING other hospitals.  We reviewed some of the hospital’s new policies, which I found to be super helpful.  Then, Laura and other nurses from L&D answered some questions from the group.  The tone was so supportive and uplifting.  It truly felt like we were all there working toward that common goal of making birth experiences better.  

A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to Laura!  I deeply appreciate you taking initiative and providing space for these conversations to take place.  It is so exciting to know that we will continue to work together in support of beautiful births!