As I turn onto US-460 N Main St going 25 MPH, I can’t help but look to either side of me at the historic Victorian style homes. I’m reminded of an American sitcom series based on a small southern community where everyone knows…well, everyone. I see neighbors talking in their front yards, one of which has taken a break from their yard work to join in on the conversation. Time seems to slow down here and takes you back to when things seemed simpler, quieter.
Blackstone is a town located over an hour south west of Richmond, and they have two LOVE signs – One at Clay’s Garden Center and one in the heart of their twee downtown. This was my first visit to Blackstone and this time I was fortunate to bring along a friend for the adventure.
Clay’s Garden Center is more than just a working greenhouse. In addition to the beautiful array of perennials, annuals and garden supplies, it also has items you would find in a general store (many locally sourced) with a nice small selection of Virginia wines and beers. Their LOVE sign is located to the right of the store, with a beautiful large yellow Adirondack chair beside it.
Gary, who is a native of Blackstone and is celebrating his 30th spring owning Clay’s (with his wife), shared how owning the greenhouse has always been a dream of theirs. You could feel the love and pride in the place and I couldn’t help purchasing a magnificent hanging ivy plant, and some shade perennials for home.
Our next stop was lunch at the Farmer’s Cafe, a diner-style restaurant offering traditional Virginia/ southern type meals. I’m not joking when I say, it was one of the best fried catfish I’ve had in my entire life. And when you see stewed tomatoes on the menu (which were delicious), you know you’re going to have a meal just like grandma would make. They also offer a selection of beers and occasionally have Bluegrass and Country music on Friday nights. It seemed like a true gem of the town.
A few minutes walk away, you’ll find a lovely one-room gallery called In Town Art. “Housed in one of the oldest commercial buildings in Blackstone”, you’ll find paintings, photographs and handcrafted items done by local artists. They also host piano lessons and various art classes for all ages. I can imagine this spot offers many in the town an outlet to explore their creative sides…something that every community should have.
While you’re still walking Main St, stop into Blackstone Antique’s and Craft Mall, where they have a large selection of furniture, collectibles and other vintage items for purchase. They also have a sizable section dedicated to lighting where you can build your own lamp, or replace items to chandeliers and other lighting fixtures. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know I have a soft spot for old items – and this place didn’t disappoint. I left with a beautiful and uniquely tall luggage rack that I can’t wait to place in a guest bedroom.
On these journeys, I have learned that conversations with the locals can teach you more than the internet. A staff member of the antique mall suggested we stop by the Blackstone College for Girls. Though it hasn’t been active since 1950, it provides a super fun fact – Bea Arther is an alumnae of the school. Who knew a Golden Girl (Dorothy) went to school in VA (I know I didn’t)?! While we stopped only to take a picture of the outside, it had me smiling as it was just another reminder that Virginia has so many interesting things to learn and discover. After further research, renovations are being made to create a place to stay and host events – called The Inn at Blackstone.
On the way home, we stopped by The Brew House, a restaurant and bar that is ready to serve you cold drinks and some of the best burgers around. We asked to have our margaritas made spicy (which the bartender was happy to do), and enjoyed the Bourbon Street Brussel Sprouts and the Wisconsin Cheese Curds. The staff made time to talk and connect with us which made the stop that much more enjoyable. It also looked to be another place to offer live music and entertainment. When I come back, this is another spot that I’ll make sure to visit again.
Blackstone is a place to love…
If you can hear a specific whistling tune to that American sitcom I mentioned earlier (with father and son walking down a dirt road with their fishing rods), then you can visualize the town of Blackstone. It’s a place where if it’s a nice day, you’ll be inclined to sit in a vintage garden chair with an iced-cold lemonade, enjoying the surroundings. If your travels ever take you towards this area, please take that turn off the highway and experience Blackstone – I’m sure a certain Golden Girl would agree.
*Thank you Margaret for joining me on this LOVE sign adventure. You made this trip that much better. Can’t wait for the next one with you💕.
| VA ♥️ Signs Now Visited | Official VA ♥️ Signs |
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Other points of interest in Blackstone:
- Robert Thomas Carriage Museum
- Blackstone Emporium
- Blackstone Herb Cottage
- Nelson’s Mexican Restaurant
- Schwartz Tavern Museum
- The Grey Swan Inn
- The Deco Den & More
Is this your first Leah LOVES Virginia blog post read? Thank you for taking the time to visit. If you’re wondering how this adventure got started, check-out my first blog post and my about page. Want to stay connected? It’s super easy and you’ll only hear from me when a new blog gets posted. You can also follow along by friending me on my Leah LOVES Virginia Facebook page.
Important note: I always do my best to ensure anything I include in my blogs is factual and that I also give credit and use quotations when pulling information from sources. If you believe there is something included here that needs to be addressed, please email me directly as I want to be sure it is fixed. Thank you and happy LOVE sign hunting.
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