A-C
Alterations:
Got those post-pregnancy pants still hanging in the closet? Can't part with the pants you shrunk in the wash? Give them new life with an alteration. Most shops will lower the hem, fix the zipper, or do minor repairs for around ten dollars.
- E Tailor Alterations: (434) 923-8500, 112 Main St. (York Place, Downtown Mall)
- Heidi's Perfect Fit: (434) 295-8777, 1311 Wertland St. Suite C (near the corner parking garage)
Appliances
The important thing to look for when purchasing appliances is energy efficiency. Find out from Consumer Reports or www.energystar.gov.
Architects (see Home section)
Art:
- Skylight Studio: (434) 293-3908, 108 2nd St NW. Skylight Studio is an art studio that showcases local and emerging artists. The studio/gallery also is a working art studio and offers art classes to both adults and children. Saturday "craft-cycling" classes for kids are offered where children can make an eco-friendly craft. Skylight also sells t-shirts printed with waterbased inks on organic cotton. The Studio is also involved in various charity work with the "Haven" as well as charitable work in Haiti. Email: skylightcville@gmail.com
Auto parts/repair:
- AutoZone: (434) 963-2655, 910 River Rd. AutoZone store accepts used car batteries for recycling (most stores accept used motor oil and other used fluids as well). Last year, AutoZone recycled more than 6.5 million batteries and 20 million quarts of oil.
- Advance Auto Parts: (434) 974-6165, 1452 Seminole Tr. Advance accepts your used motor oil and used car batteries. They offer incentives for bringing in your old car battery, and replacing it with a new one from their store.
Bakeries:
- Albemarle Baking Company:
(434)293-6456, 418 West Main Street. Gerry Newman's baking skills are sublime! And who can forget the beautiful bread he baked for our "Bread for a Better World" event?
info@albemarlebakingco.com
- Breadworks: (434)-296-4663, 923 Preston Avenue
- Chandlers: (434) 975-2253, 202 Albemarle Sq
- From Scratch Baking Company: (434) 970-2253. Creativity, Energy, and Personal Attention are the focus of this charming Euro-Style Bakery (chef/owner Erica Hall) for you north side folks (with amazing pastries and gorgeous cakes).
- Great Harvest: (434) 202-7813, 1701 Allied Lane. www.greatharvestcville.com
Barter Networks:
What is a barter network? It's a collection of people who have decided to exchange their time, skills, talents, expertise with other like-minded peeps and instead of exchanging money, you exchange "scrips" or, like Charlottesville's network, RBN hours:
Batteries:
- Batteries Plus: (434) 964-1999, 55 Albemarle Square. With their current recycling program, they will take, for FREE, car batteries and rechargeable household types batteries for recycling, as well as any small electronics (phones, calculators, digital cameras).
Bikes:
- Blue Wheel Bicycles: (434) 977-1870, IX Center, 941 2nd St. SE. www.bluewheel.com
- Community Bike Shop: (434) 882-1516, just off West Main St, behind the Hampton Inn. Fri and Sat 2-5pm. You may find a recycled bike here or repair your own. cvillecommunitybikes.blogspot.com
- Performance Bike Shop: (434) 963-9161, 234 Zan Rd (Alb Sq Shopping Ctr. The front door sticker touts this as the first outdoor retailer to use 100% renewable wind energy to run its stores. The staff is helpful and friendly.
Biodiesel:
- Cville Biodiesel: Call Woodfin at 1-800-430-FUEL, available at 1156 River Rd.
- 5th Street Market: 1154 5th Street
Books:
Betty is a bibliophile, no doubt, but what about all that dead tree?? With all the great used book stores in Charlottesville, the library collection, and online used bookstores and book swaps, there's no need to buy new paperbacks.
- Avocado Pit: (434) 817-0010, 310 E. Market St. www.theavocadopit.com
- Blue Whale Books: (434) 296-2194, 115 W Main St., (Downtown Mall)
- Daedalus Bookshop: (434) 293-7595, 123 4th St. NE (Downtown Mall)
- Heartwood Books: (434) 295-7083, 5 Elliewood Ave near the Corner district
- Jane's Attic: (434) 220-3490, Downtown Mal. This volunteer-run shop sells used book and artwork, with all proceeds benefiting Virginia neurocare, a non-profit that helps research, education and services for people who experience brain injury. They gladly accept book donations. Don't miss this bookshop with an important mission.
- Jefferson-Madison Regional Library: (434) 296-5544, Central, Grove, Northside, and Crozet are all wonderful. www.jmrl.org
- McIntire Recycling Center: You'll never know what you'll find at the free book exchange bin.
- Read It Again Sam: (434) 977-9844, 214 Main St. E (Downtown Mall). This is one of my favorite used book stores. I love the kids section!
- Quest Bookshop: (434) 295-3377, 619 Main St W. Great bookshop for the mindful reader - I loved the informative community bulletin board at the back! She does not sell used books, however.
- BookSwim is the Netflix for readers. Great concept! You rent books for as long as you want (no late fees) and send them back when you're ready for more. See www.bookswim.com.
- www.paperbackswap.com: Mail your book to the person and you'll receive a credit to chose your own book.
- www.titletrader.com
Car Wash:
If you must keep your gas guzzler clean, then please, use recycled water. (BTW: commercial car washers use less water than home jobs.)
- Clean Machine Car Wash: (434) 971-9274, Pantops, recycles over 50% of their water.
- Express Car Wash: (434) 978-1088, Rt 29, recycles 50% of their water.
Cleaning Service :
- Ellen Pearce: (434) 295-6586, eco-friendly housecleaner with over 30 years experience. She likes to use Bio-Kleen and Ecover brands and other green cleaning products. Affordable rates. (She can do some child care and pet care as well). Email: pearce.ellen@gmail.com
- Night-n-Day Cleaning: (434) 296-339, 610 B Preston Avenue, uses green and eco-friendly cleaning products.
nightndaycleaningservices.com
- One Clean World: (434) 220-7777. "Cleaning with a conscience." Lucille Weakley: "One Clean World is a full service cleaning company offering residential, commercial, carpet cleaning, and restoration services. We are making a difference by using products safe for your habitat and ours. Our staff members are trained and certified by the Institute Of Inspection, Cleaning And Restoration. One Clean World offers a 24 hour emergency service for restoration. We also take most major credit cards." www.onecleanworld.net
Clocks:
Time Marches On: (434) 984-2569, M, Tu, Th 10-6pm, Sat 8-12 and by appointment. They buy, sell, and restore old clocks.
Clothing:
Instead of running to the mall for your latest dose of retail therapy, hit the consignment shops! Charlottesville has a great selection of new and gently used clothing at several locations. The thrill is in the unique find - an embroidered belt for 10 bucks or a red-checkered 50's top, Betty style!
- Antics: (434) 293-9082, 105 5th Street SE. Sena Floyd and Tyler McGill are the owners of this great vintage clothing shop conveniently located on the Downtown Mall. Stylish 20th century and bric-a-brac.
- Blue Ridge Mountain Sports: (434) 977-4400, 1125 N Emmett Street (Barracks Rd Shopping). Jeff Smith has owned this store in Cville for 35 years and consistently supports many great environmental programs in and around the area. "Whether it’s on the trail, the water, or the rock, Blue Ridge helps people get outside and play. Consequently, protecting the places we play is integral to our business. We strive to link recreation with conservation by supporting grassroots organizations dedicated to protecting these places like The Access Fund, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and Appalachian Voices." www.brms.com
- Duo: (434) 979-1212, 101 Elliewood Ave. Greer Johnson recently opened this second-hand boutique on The Corner. She estimates 60% of her merchandise is "recycled." Green divas, she has plenty of designer labels. (She will pay cash for your gently/new clothing.) www.shopatduo.com
- Goodwill Industries: (434) 295-3967, 1242 Richmond Rd, Pantops. (434) 872-0171, 1720 Seminole Trail.
- Glad Rags: (434) 979-1816, 1923 Commonwealth Drive (in the little shopping center off Hydraulic Rd). Owner, Tamar Pozzi, has a great selection of contemporary and vintage clothing. Funky shoes. I've shopped here for all seasons and the occasional costume party!
- Focus Flea: (434) 293-5458, located in the Old Albemarle Hotel at 617 West Main Street, W-Sat 10am-5:30pm. The Flea generates funds to support the services of FOCUS Women's Resource Center by recycling clothing and other household goods and "treasures" and selling them at bargain prices. focus.avenue.org/flea.html
- Green Olive Tree Thrift (434) 823-4523, Crozet Main Street.
- Natalie Dressed: (434) 296-6886, 1051 Millmont Street. www.nataliedressed.com
- Nature's Child: (434) 973-6930,
508 E Main S. Kristin has a nice selection of organic clothing and wooden toys.
- Salvation Army: (434) 973-1398, 1820 Airport Rd. and (434) 979-5230, 604 Cherry Ave.
- Schoolhouse Thrift Shop: (434) 973-2271, 1147 E Rio Rd. Kids clothing and toys, too.
- The SPCA Rummage Shop: (434) 293-8475, 943 Preston Ave. Nicely organized, big space, and a great cause. Check it out!
- Twice is Nice: (434) 293-8319, 923 Preston Ave. Sells and buys men's, women's and children's clothes, shoes, belts and purses. All proceeds go to the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA). twiceisnicestore.org
- Online: Ebay.com This worldwide flea market definitely reuses and recycles, but be wise: remember that your green is going somewhere else and don't forget to consider the carbon cost, depending from whence it comes.
- Freecycle.org is an excellent way to give stuff away and get free stuff locally!
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C-E
Coffee:
- Cville Coffee: (434) 817-2633, 1031 Harris St, owner Toan Nguyen. This place is an institution in the lives of new moms! Kid-friendly, healthy, and the informative archway is full of local info. Toan keeps customers' trash to a minimum by using dishes and not disposables.
- Java Java: (434) 245-0020, Downtown Mall, also (434) 220-0534, 2214 Ivy Rd, specializing in fair-trade, shade-grown, organic coffee, they also offer free wi-fi.
- Mudhouse: (434) 984-mudd. 213 W. Main St. It doesn't get much more local than this. They began pushing a coffee cart in '93 up and down the Downtown Mall. Their coffee beans come from the Lexington Coffee Roasting Company. www.mudhouse.com
Composting:
- Black Bear Composting: (888) 666-4172, Crozet, VA. Provides organics recycling services to local businesses and organizations, particularly those with food scraps. BBC has a turn-key commercial collection program that includes recycling bins, compostable bags, signage and staff training. www.blackbearcomposting.com
- Timbercreek Organics: (434) 295-7600, 2245 Garth Rd, Charlottesville. tcorganics.com
Consignment Shops:
Clothing:
- Glad Rags: (434) 979-1816, 1923 Commonwealth Drive (in the little shopping center off Hydraulic Rd). Owner, Tamar Pozzi, has a great selection of contemporary and vintage clothing and funky shoes. I've shopped here for all seasons and the occasional costume party!
- Here Wee Grow Again: Bi-annual consignment sale. www.hereweegrowagain.com
- Ike's Underground: (434) 295-6111 cell: 242-2656, 414 E. Main St., located on the Downtown Mall, under the Tea House/across from the Nook. Quality vintage clothing dating from the 40s thru the early 80s. Haggling welcome, but sometimes the answer is "no, that's already a fair price". Within the world of Strange Cargo you'll find vintage pulp books and magazines, old school pull-down maps, coconut heads for your tiki bar fetish, and some really neat furnishings and gifts. Love this place. Just got a fabulous belt and daisy-studded clutch.
- Lollipop Shop: Bi-annual consignment sale. www.lollipopshopsale.com
- Natalie Dressed: (434) 296-6886, 1051 Millmont Street. www.nataliedressed.com
- Plato's Closet: (434) 977-4722, 1836 Rio Hill Center. Buys and sells gently used clothing for teens and twenty-something guys and girls.
- Twice is Nice: (434) 293-8319, 923 Preston Ave. Sells and buys men's, women's and children's clothes, shoes, belts and purses. Shirley Ehrhardt has been working here for years and hand-picks the clothes. And they recycle everything - the price tickets are made from shoe boxes! All proceeds go to the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA). My little secret: the shimmery blue-camo-spaghetti-strap top I wore to Cville's best dance party (Live Arts Afterglow) was purchased HERE for ten bucks! twiceisnicestore.org
Household, Furniture and Antiques:
- Circa, Inc.: (434) 295-5760, 1700 Allied St.. This shop, owned by Jackie Binder, has an eclectic selection of a whole BUNCH of stuff (from cork lamps to kitschy cabinets) and the turnover is high, so you must check it out. If you are looking for something in particular, you can leave your name. They buy and sell. www.circainc.com
- The Consignment House: (434) 977-5527, Downtown Mall (across from Christian's).
- Cottage Consignments: (434) 293-6100, 617 W Main Street.
- Eternal Attic (434) 977-2667, 2125 Ivy Rd. Heavy on the crystal, china and flatware. You can still find interesting pieces (I found a beautiful trunk here).
- Lemons: (434) 977-1900, 1829 Seminole Trail (behind Three Amigos), Margaret has a nice selection of lamps, furniture and jewelry. www.lemonsconsignments.com
- Ebay www.ebay.com
Decluttering :
Ring out the old and bring in the new, SPACE. Trust me, you don't need all that STUFF! When we moved, our family gave our home a full-betty makeover by donating used items, reinventing a new home for old items, and keeping in mind that LESS is more.
- Clear Spaces Consulting: (434) 977-0837, 944 Cismont Ridge Rd, Keswick. Owner Susan Scott will help you rise above the clutter and keep things simpler. She has been in business since 2005. Member NAPO www.clearspacesconsulting.com
- Be Simply Organized: (434) 409-8588. Peggy Woodall, owner, offers free consultations. Member NAPO. www.besimplyorganized.com
Dining:
- Coming Soon! (Complexities abound- suggestions welcome)
Document Shredding :
- Document Destruction of Virginia : (434) 985-2296, recycles all shredded paper. www.documentdestructionva.com.
- KMX Shredding : (877) 563-4257. Get rid of your sensitive bank statements, old bills, etc securely AND guilt-free with this locally-owned on-site shredding company. Owner Kevin Martin recycles every thing down to the paperclips! www.kmxmobileshredding.com/
Dry Cleaner :
It wasn't until I began extensive research that Betty found out that dry cleaners are responsible for releasing 90,000 tons of toxic compounds into the air each year. Needless to say I started buying wrinkle-free, washing-machine friendly dress shirts! But for those of you whose dress code at work still necessitates a trip to the cleaner, spend the extra couple bucks on EverGREEN cleaners or the new EcoDry Cleaners.
 EcoDry Cleaners: (434) 244-3791, 801 West Main Street, #104, Charlottesville The CO2 cleaning process uses carbon dioxide as a non-flammable, non-toxic solvent as an excellent alternative to regular drycleaning which uses Perc (which is a huge polluter). Not to mention Ty, one of the owners, is always open to new green ideas for running his business. Read more at www.ecodrycleaners.net
Electricity:
- Virginia Dominion Power: Exciting news! Charlottesville is the first city in Virginia to receive smart grids (you don't have to do anything)! This will improve the efficiency of energy distribution by 4%. Also, sign up for GREEN POWER.
Energy Audits (see Home section)
Environmental/Conservation Organizations:
There are Bettys and Baldwins in and around the Charlottesville area doing incredible things for the environment! If you find you are too busy to get involved, they would love your financial help. If I had to pick only one, it would be the Piedmont Environmental Council, but check out the list.
- Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population: (434) 974-6390, 3570 Brinnington Rd., Charlottesville. Their mission is to increase knowledge and awareness about the effects of population growth on our natural environment and quality of life, and to encourage policies that allow our region to maintain a sustainable population size. see www.asapnow.org
- Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation: (434) 295-6654. This network of citizens and groups promotes "balanced transportation options, sustainable land-use, transit-oriented communities through education and leadership in the Charlottesville area." see www.transportationchoice.org
- Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards: cville.area.tree.stewards@gmail.com Founded in June 2008, supported by the VA Urban Forest Council (Trees Virginia) and by the VA Cooperative Extension offering training, supported rural and urban forests, increase public awareness of the intrinsic value and beauty of trees, educating the community on trees and tree care. I can't wait to sign up for a training! (I LOVE trees.)
- Charlottesville Tomorrow.org: With its user-friendly community updates via email, this is a great way to keep abreast of the double D size development that is trying to be implanted here in town. www.charlottesvilletomorrow.org
- Ivy Creek Foundation: (434) 973-7772, Their mission is simple, yet important: "To preserve and manage the Ivy Creek and
Ragged Mountain Natural Areas for education and appreciation." ivycreekfoundation.org
- LEAP: (434) 227-4666, 608 Ridge Street. Established in 2009, the Local Energy Alliance Program's mission is to lead the effort in our local community to conserve energy in buildings to promote cost savings, job creation, sustainability, local economic development, and environmental stewardship. leap-va.org
- The Nature Conservancy: (434) 295-6106, 490 Westfield Rd, Charlottesville, 22901 This is an international organization with an office here in town whose goal is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. They use an approach called " Conservation by design, which helps [them] identify the highest-priority places- landscapes and seascapes that, if conserved, promise to ensure biodiversity over the long term." Membership of $25 includes a publication. See www.nature.org.
- Piedmont Environmental Council: (434) 977-2033, 410 E. Water St. Suite 700 , Charlottesville. The Piedmont Environmental Council is a 34-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Piedmont's rural economy, natural resources, history and beauty. If you live here, you really owe it to yourself to become a part of this organization. $25 membership (actually ANY dollar amount is welcomed!) www.pecva.org
- Rivanna Conservation Society: (434) 977-4837. RCS’s mission is to safeguard the ecological, recreational, historical, cultural and scenic resources of the Rivanna River and its tributaries. www.rivannariver.org
- Rivanna Trails Foundation: (434) 923-9022, P.O. Box 1786, Charlottesville , VA 22902. RTF is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 by local citizens with a dream to create a trail system throughout the greenbelt of the Rivanna River and its tributaries. The goal is to establish a footpath encircling Charlottesville. www.rivannatrails.org
- Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club: P.O. Box 5531. Their mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environments; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. www.virginia.sierraclub.org/piedmont
- Southern Environmental Law Center, regional headquarters: (434) 977-4090, Using "the full power of the law" SELC conserves clean water, healthy air, wild lands, and livable communities throughout the Southeast. www.southernenvironment.org
- Wild Virginia: (434) 971-1553, P.O. Box 1065 Charlottesville. A private non-profit agency whose focus is any issue(s) related to the national forest, its protection and preservation. They host a hike every month to encourage your enjoyment of our nearby national forests - George Washington National Forest and Thomas Jefferson National Forest. Membership cost $25. www.wildvirginia.org
Eyeglasses :
- LensCrafters: (434) 973-7766, Fashion Square Mall. Bring your old glasses in and they will donate them to a pair of needy eyes.
- Dr. Clark, Covert and Mueller: (434) 973-5361. Excellent local optometrists, Dr. Clark was one of the first optometrists from the area to travel to devastated areas struck by hurricane Katrina. They will give your old glasses to the Lions Club for donating to the needy.
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