The Hook pointed it out last November in its cover story, “Is our town the Little Apple?“—Charlottesville is a gay-friendly refuge in a largely gay-unfriendly state. While Virginians voted overwhelmingly (58%) to approve the state’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman last November—which essentially amounted to a ban on gay marriage—Charlottesville voters rejected the amendment by the largest margin in the state, nearly 80 percent.

In a Washington Post article today, that reputation for tolerance received a further boost, as writer Gary Lee called the Inn at Court Square “one of the most gay-friendly hotels in Virginia.” The article goes on to profile the inn’s owner Candace DeLoach, who says she’s “thrilled” by the special attention. The popular Inn has been featured in high-profile magazines and newspapers before, she says, but never from a gay-friendly angle.

“The Post writer said he visited a number of gay-friendly places in Virginia,” says DeLoach, who is gay, ” but he chose to feature the Inn at Court Square…I was very honored.”

Of course, the article mentions our blue politics in a largely red state as a reason for our tolerance, but it also focuses on the Downtown Mall’s urban culture, where same-sex couples can be seen strolling and dining, and where clubs like Gravity Lounge and Club 216 cater to gay clientele. (more)

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Look out Mudhouse, another Internet enabled coffee lounge is coming to the Downtown Mall. Featuring organic, fair-trade coffees, 1800 square feet of space with wooden tables, comfy chairs, and a long, roomy coffee bar, the new Java Java on the Mall is set to corner the East end java junky market. Located in the old Glaze and Blaze spot, right next to the Nook, Java Java will be the Downtown version of its already popular Townside East Shopping Center location on Ivy Road (two doors down from Zazus).

Apparently, Downtown Java Java owner/manager Ervin Santiago cut a local franchising deal of sorts with Ivy location owner John Leschke, a plan that’s been in the works for awhile.

“About a year ago, we decided to branch out,” says Santiago, who worked for Leschke for two years. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

According to Santiago, Java Java Downtown will make its debut on Monday, January 8. After he gave us a small tour today, it was hard to believe he’ll have the space finished by Monday, but he’s determined. Still, the place looks beautiful–more like a fancy bed and breakfast that a coffee house–and so we’re quite willing to wait.

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With relatively little fanfare, a full-service salad bar run by the growing national franchise Salad Creations has opened on the downtown mall on Fifth Street, around the corner from The Melting Pot. Workers say they’re in the middle of a “soft launch,” with the four-day grand opening tentatively scheduled for later in January.

Think Subway, but lose the bread and add delicacies and oddities like Gorgonzola cheese and cucumber wasabi dressing. Chunked vegetables and amorphous leafy heaps are combined and eventually pulverized in enormous metal bowls designed to withstand the beating, resulting in a $7 to $12 salad which is large enough to feed a small sauropod. Be warned: this may be lighter fare, but the portions are definitely not for the casual munchies. Luckily, there’s also a full complement of soups, smoothies, and other assorted healthy foods to choose from as well.

Risking your cardiovascular health on those addictive Five Guys fries just got that much harder to justify. Brace yourself for the occasional chorus of workers shouting out “thank you!” in unison to a departing customer, though; it’s almost startling enough to make you choke on your artichoke hearts.

It’ll be interesting to see if the giant self-serve salad bar at nearby Blue Ridge Country Store, which is located right on the Mall, feels any effects.

The new joint’s phone number is 434-984-4700.

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