The little touches that make Culpeper its own

Some places have a style all their own. Around Culpeper, you’ll find it in a hand-lettered sign, an old building given a fresh purpose, or a dining room that makes you want to linger a little longer.

This week, we’re spending time with the people who give those places their character. Meet Crystal Burnham, whose creative work is becoming part of the local landscape, then pull up a chair at Vintage, where the setting is part of the reason to make an evening of it.

Consider this your invitation to take the scenic route, look a little closer, and enjoy the details that make this corner of Virginia feel like itself.

Crystal Burnham started Cwitto Design Studio as a graphic design business. Then friends began asking for small chalkboard signs, and the work moved from the computer to walls, windows and other surfaces around town. In this week’s feature, she talks about the downtown that shaped her art, why hand lettering involves more than good handwriting, and the restaurant bathroom she would still love to paint.

The painted Yowell Hardware Co. sign at 195 East Davis Street is part of Culpeper’s downtown mural program. Artist Walter W. Burton refreshed the historic lettering in June 2018, preserving its vintage character.

It’s a fitting companion to Crystal’s story: lettering can identify a business and give a whole street some personality. On your next downtown walk, look up. Some of Culpeper’s character is written right on the walls.

Source: Culpeper Downtown

Dinner was over. We weren’t ready to leave.

At Vintage Restaurant in Orange, a historic manor house, a memorable meal, and a staff who made us feel like their only guests turned a short drive from Culpeper into an evening we didn’t want to end.

The food was wonderful. But it wasn’t the only reason we’re already looking forward to going back.

Halloween gives downtown plenty of personality this week, followed by another reason to pull up a chair: Fall Restaurant Week begins Monday.

Halloween at the Library

October 30–31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Culpeper County Library, 271 Southgate Shopping Center

Children and teens can make the library’s desks part of their trick-or-treat route.

One Last Market Morning

October 31, 7:30 a.m.–noon | 318 South West Street

Bring a shopping basket and a costume for treats and local finds at the final regular-season downtown farmers market.

Downtown Gets Dressed Up

October 31, 5–6:30 p.m. | 100 and 200 blocks of East Davis Street, downtown Culpeper

Merchants and community partners welcome trick-or-treaters along the 100 and 200 blocks of East Davis Street. Families can join anywhere along the route.

Restaurant Week Begins

November 2–8 | Participating restaurants in downtown Culpeper

Explore participating downtown restaurants’ specials, treats, and three-course menus. The event begins within this edition’s coverage and continues into the following week.

Good food is better around a shared table. Join the Culpeper HQ Dinner Club to hear about upcoming dinners and gatherings before the seats disappear.

Know someone worth featuring, or have a tip, event, place or idea we should know about? Send it our way.

These three have found a good spot to watch the world go by. With Halloween almost here, even the balconies are getting into the spirit. Here’s to a week of little surprises, friendly faces, and neighbors who give us a reason to look up and smile.

With ❤️ from Culpeper - Malinda & Tim