TELLING MORGANTOWN'S STORY WE CELEBRATE A DECADE
HOUSES WE LOVE And you do, too, pg. 49
Restrictions unwind, pg. 45 COLLEGE COMEBACK
2 021 E D I T I ON
to go BACK TO SCHOOL? READY pg. 38
MARILYN'S DISHES IT OUT GAME DAY STAYS
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Prepare Your Child for Going
Our program helps children combat: •Peer Pressue •Bullying •Child Abduction All while having fun and staying fit! $99 for 10 lessons Special Introductory Program
Fun catching up, after a long pandemic, with Andrew Rhodes and Carissa Herman during a Friday Growler Fill Night at their Neighborhood Kombuchery on Pleasant Street. I recommend the totally surprising Aussie Gold: pineapple, yellow bell pepper, and ginger.
N ow this is more like it! Right? Indoor dining, relaxed shopping, parties and live music and festivals—I, for one, have a renewed appreciation for the day-to-day stuff of life in Morgantown. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. And it’s all just in time for us to celebrate a New South Media milestone: Morgantown magazine’s 10th birthday. In this issue, we revisit topics from our inaugural issue and from issues over the years. You’ll also find the appreciations for businesses and people that always fill our magazines, along with overviews of what back to school is like for both Mon County Schools and WVU in this post(ish)-COVID-19 re-entry. Watching all of the comings and goings so closely for 10 years, we’ve developed high respect for the people whose visions and efforts literally create our town. So for this anniversary issue, we’re recognizing 10 of those
people as Movers and Shapers. Some of their names will be very familiar to you, while others try to work behind the scenes. But they’re all making a difference in this town we love to call home. We feel a lot of things on the occasion of our 10th: a little giddiness, some wonder, and a good measure of pride. But mostly we feel appreciation for you—our readers, our friends on social media, our advertisers—for being part of the lively flow of ideas and commerce that gives a citypub, and its city, snap. We can’t wait to see what the next decade brings. Stay lively!
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volume 11 • issue 1
PUBLISHED BY New South Media, Inc. 1135 Main Street, #279, Granville WV 26534
PUBLISHER/EDITOR- IN-CHIEF Nikki Bowman Mills, nikki@newsouthmedia.com
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10 Who’s This
City Manager Kim Haws is finding his groove.
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10 Hear This Catchin’ up on Appalachian podcasts. 12 Love This Get ready to see fish in Deckers Creek. 13 See This
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24 Across County Lines
Three Wright houses you can visit this weekend.
New Deal community Arthurdale welcomes a Smithsonian exhibit.
46 The U
13 Book This
How WVU is unwinding its COVID-19 measures.
MORGANTOWN is published by New South Media, Inc. Frequency of publication is subject to change without notice. Double issues may be published, which count as two issues. We reserve the right to substitute gifts of equal or greater value. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher. © 2021 NEW SOUTH MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WHO ARE WE? The mission of New South Media is to change perceptions of West Virginia—not just outside the borders but, more importantly, in how West Virginians look at themselves—by telling positive stories about the peopleand places that make West Virginia a great place to live. Our products are community builders. We value responsible, accurate, and inspiring storytelling delivered in high-quality products that showcase great design and photography. We make a difference, one story at a time.
New and refreshed options for game day overnighters.
49 House and Home
14 Know This
Morgantown abodes we’ve featured, revisited.
The team at Omni Organics makes CBD their way.
64 Dining Guide 72 Calendar
16 Read This
Hometown funnyman Don Knotts through his daughter’s eyes.
Features 29 A Decade in the Making 38 The Post-COVID Classroom 57 Movers & Shapers
19 Cheer This Businesses across town welcome the return of WVU sporting events.
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10 Years of BOM 10 We started Best of Morgantown in the very first year of Morgantown magazine, and it has turned out to be one of the biggest, funnest things we do. Each year brings more buzz, more contenders, and more nominations and votes. We can’t wait to see where it goes next!
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12 THINGS TO EAT RIGHT NOW The ultimate Morgantown must-try list, pg. 62
GET OFF THE BENCH! Coach’s becomes the new go-to place to watch the game, pg. 30
PERIPHERAL VISION The Oake twins make their mark on the US art scene, pg. 54
Christmas with the Clements Sneak a peek at history and tradition inside WVU's Blaney House, pg. 44
Holiday Cheer Area cocktail experts share their best recipes, pg. 51
Chestnut Mountain Ranch Boys find peace in a place where they can be themselves, pg. 67
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MORGANTOWNMAG.COM 9 Nominations for BOM22 will run September 27 through October 10—keep up with the latest by following @morgantownmag on FB. BOM By the Numbers 6 10,480 903 Most votes in a category Best Bakery, BOM20 winners in 10 years 10-time winners in BOM21. Let's see if they can keep it up in BOM22!
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city and city-involved projects include the Spruce Street pocket park and several murals. Regular power washing of downtown facades and sidewalks is also under discussion. And outdoor dining downtown remains to be hoped for. The city is working with Gibbie’s on High Street, he says, to install a demonstration “pedlet”—a solution that temporarily allocates some parking as pedestrian pathway, preserving sidewalk for dining. “We’re hoping that, once people see the pedlet at Gibbie’s, others will request them.” Haws’ one-year goals include the specific— make ready for the airport runway extension, develop a strategy for one-time federal stimulus resources—and the general—establish the foundation that
➼ SPENDING ANOTHER MORNING COMMUTING down that curvy back road? Take a break from talk radio and tune in to one of these insightful podcasts that give both Appalachian residents and expats a deeper understanding of the area’s past and present. What’s Happalachenin’? Each Wednesday, two Point Pleasant next door neighbors and city council members, Gabe Roush and Cody Greathouse, trade conversational stories that highlight the perks of living in the Mountain State and challenge some of the stereotypes that plague the region. Black in Appalachia Cohosts Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin, a sociologist, and Angela Dennis, a journalist, invite listeners to learn more about the experiences of Black families who call the region home. In the recent episode “Struggle, Resilience, and Art,” singer– songwriter Walter DeBarr, originally from the small West Virginia town of Kedron in Upshur County, details his memories growing up in a predominantly white community and how it shaped his identity. Appodlachia Chuck Corra and Big John Isner, natives of the Mountain State, serve up equal parts honesty and humor on the misconceptions of the Appalachian region and muse about why the region is misunderstood. Episodes over the past year and a half have touched on topics ranging from coal mining and education to the opioid crisis and politics. Appalachian Monsters & Mysteries This podcast, hosted by West Virginia residents Belle Brunty and Myleigh Stewart, uncovers some of Appalachia’s most famous and lesser known stories and legends. In their more than 30 episodes so far, the pair has covered everything from haunted houses and famous serial killers to unsolved Tales from the Hills Open your ears and your imagination to these Appalachian podcasts.
A Well-Oiled Machine Checking in with City Manager Kim Haws. WHO’S THIS
Morgantown is a friendly and professional place to do business. In two years, he plans for completion of updates to Marilla Pool and the Morgantown Ice Arena. Other 2022 objectives are the dry stuff that makes a city hum: revise personnel policies, streamline purchasing. And still others are an elevation of important values: ensuring the city is an integral, ongoing part of reducing unsheltered homelessness and revitalizing downtown. To businesses that are considering locating downtown, Haws touts the close community of entrepreneurs and professionals, the vibrant student culture, and the Main Street feel—as well as Opportunity Zone and Facade Improvement Program incentives. To residents who haven’t visited downtown in a while, he says the city and businesses are working together to make downtown safe, clean, and fun, and, by supporting downtown businesses, you can be part of it. “What are you waiting for?” written by pam kasey
➼ KIM HAWS JOINED MORGANTOWN CITY administration in December 2020, fresh off a run as city manager of Bridgeport that earned him respect across the state. We caught up with Haws to learn about his first eight months’ challenges and his upcoming goals. On top of coming on during a pandemic, Haws arrived at a time when the city and a broad coalition of social services groups had gotten serious about finding solutions for unsheltered homelessness and problem substance use. The city took the lead in developing the Hope Hill Sobering Center, where a user can safely come down from drink or drugs and be evaluated for referral. The search for an executive director is underway, Haws says, and the sobering center should open in the fall. The city is also working with Milan Puskar Health Right to site sharps containers for the disposal of used needles. Downtown beautification is rebounding from the pandemic, Haws says. Visible recent
mysteries and UFO sightings. written by kaylyn christopher
10 MORGANTOWN FALL 2021
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Metals like iron and aluminum that have dissolved in the acidic water create the rusty and milky colors, and it’s all especially bad for fish: The organization’s Clean Creek Program fish surveys have routinely found plentiful fish upstream of Richard over the past two decades— bass, white suckers, green sunfish, and others— but many fewer below Richard, at Sabraton. But things are about to change. In fulfillment of a decades-old FODC dream, a treatment system will be installed this fall that will help to reverse the damage in lower Deckers Creek. The project is a partnership between the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Northeast Natural Energy. Similar to a municipal wastewater treatment system, this system will dose the polluted water with hydrated lime and raise the pH. The dissolved metals coming from the mine will settle from the water and be removed, taking the orange appearance and sulfuric smell with them. The Richard Mine is by far the biggest source of pollution in this lower part of the creek, according to Clean Creek Program reports. So once treatment begins, sometime in 2022, the creek through town has the potential to recover to a healthier state than anyone’s seen since at least the 1950s—including, most excitingly, fish. Deckers Creek through town links upper Deckers Creek with the Monongahela River, both of which are healthy fisheries. After treatment begins, Hurley says that fish and other creek organisms will make their way back. “I have people saying, ‘I just want to catch a fish downtown,’” Hurley says, “It’s a simple request.” Larger pollution-intolerant species above and below town, such as trout and walleye, could make their way into the Morgantown stretch of Deckers Creek rather quickly, making fishing in town a good possibility. Along with new fishing spots, Morgantown residents should be most prepared for the visual transformation that will take place. “It will be striking,” Hurley says. “Seeing orange streams is not really thought of. There is an acceptance of that being how streams are, which breaks my heart.” This transformation will also lead to an increase in property and recreation values in the area. Cyclists, runners, and Morgantown explorers will enjoy the scenic views through the Deckers Creek portion of the rail-trail once again, no orange tones except West Virginia’s awe-inspiring fall leaves to distract from the nature surrounding them. written by devin lacy
LOVE THIS
Iron and Lime Morgantown’s fishermen and fisherwomen may soon have a new place to fish—and it’s right downtown.
These are the effects of acid mine drainage. The Richard Mine, located a mile east of Sabraton along WV Route 7 and abandoned in 1952, pollutes the creek’s lower five miles by leaking hundreds of pounds of acid mine drainage into it daily. “The flow is huge,” says Brian Hurley, executive director of Friends of Deckers Creek (FODC). “The pH of the water is extremely low, very acidic.”
➼ FOR AS LONG AS even longtime Morgantown residents can remember, Deckers Creek through town has been less than appealing. The creekbed and water are often orange in color, rusty almost, with the occasional milky thread weaved in. There are few signs of life, and the air is sometimes filled with a metallic bite.
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Fans Welcome New and refreshed options for game day weekend lodging written by wendy holdren
This Rural Life A traveling Smithsonian exhibit highlights life in rural America. SEE THIS JUST A HALF-HOUR’S DRIVE from Morgantown, Arthurdale was one of the nation’s first New Deal communities. Today’s Arthurdale understands the importance of its place in history. To help residents better connect with that history, the team at Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. will feature a traveling Smithsonian exhibit focused on the uniqueness of rural America. “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide, offers small towns a chance to reflect on the nation’s rural population shift and the changes that followed. “We want to involve the community in telling our story, to show how the history and present are intertwined,” said Meredith Dreistadt, head of interpretation at Arthurdale Heritage. The exhibit will visit seven locations across the state and will be housed at Arthurdale in early 2022 for roughly a month. This fall, leading up to the exhibit, Arthurdale will host screenings of Appalachian-centered films that touch on the same themes. Ann Pancake, an American fiction writer and essayist focusing on Appalachian perspectives, will lead discussions after the screenings. Also in the lead-up, an AmeriCorps member will record oral histories of marginalized voices throughout the state. The project will explore why some folks choose to leave, why others choose to stay, and how their Appalachian upbringing impacted them. “This exhibit isn’t just about presenting history, it’s about introspection,” Dreistadt says. “You’ll be involved in the exhibit—not just walking through it, but experiencing it, connecting yourself to the histories.” arthurdaleheritage.org . written by wendy holdren
➼ ANTICIPATION MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN GREATER for a game day stay in Mountaineer Country. Morgantown-bound fans can enjoy both the familiar and the new with a stay at one of these recently renovated hotels.
Hotel Morgan is a revitalized historic hotel right downtown on High Street, “the perfect balance between new and nostalgic.” Featuring a 3,200-square-foot, two-story grand ballroom with a fireplace as well as a cocktail bar and cafe, Hotel Morgan invites students, parents, and alumni to experience the 1920s-era luxury space. 127 High Street, hotelmorgan.com
Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa enjoys 500 acres of scenic views of Cheat Lake as well as two championship golf courses. Guests can dine at the full-service restaurant, Fusion, or the Legends sports bar, or find live entertainment and cocktails on the Tiki Deck. The renovated property is now part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham. One Lakeview Drive, lakeviewresort.com
The Cranberry offers “the conveniences of home with upscale comforts” at its boutique space near Cheat Lake. This pet-friendly hotel sits 10 minutes’ drive from the Morgantown Municipal Airport and 15 minutes from downtown. Guests enjoy free hot breakfast and an onsite cafe and bar in the relaxing contemporary rustic decor. 2700 Cranberry Square, cranberrywv.com
Scholar Hotel welcomes guests to “the next best thing to on-campus housing” with 41 renovated rooms and suites. Hop on the campus transportation system—the PRT—for a quick ride to the stadium and walk to popular eateries such as Tin 202, Iron Horse Tavern, andMorgantown Brewing Company. 345 Chestnut Street, scholarhotels.com/scholar-hotel-morgantown
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➼ WHEN YOU SELL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, you have a good idea what people are interested in taking. “At some point I started noticing a lot of customers coming in asking for CBD. I had no idea what it was,” says Dane Morris, who started his first of several nutritional supplement stores in 2014. One customer said he took it for stress and anxiety, another for better sleep, others to relieve pain and inflammation. One even gave it to his dog for anxiety when he left the house. With a little research, Morris learned what many of us now know: that “CBD,” for “cannabidiol,” is the casual term for the family of products made from cannabidiol and other compounds extracted from hemp—and that users report relief from a wide range of symptoms without the high of marijuana. He learned that people took it as drops under the tongue, gummies and other edibles, and topical creams, and even vaped it. Morris talked about CBD with two friends from his years at WVU, Mike Shimko and Allen Lowther. They all brought expertise to the conversation: Shimko was a Ph.D. pharmaceutical scientist, Lowther had an MBA, and both had been in the pharmaceutical industry for 15- plus years. “We had a four-hour plane ride together, and we talked about it the whole time. We basically started Omni Organics right there.” That was 2018. After experimenting in Shimko’s basement, they researched and bought equipment and set up a lab in Morgantown. CBD is not all the same Purity, flavor, absorbability, potency—they matter, and they vary. Just as a baker’s skill affects the crustiness of the loaf and a brewer’s preferences determine the strength of the pint, the choices that chemist-creators make in the lab shape the qualities of hemp products. Purity The trio at Omni Organics say they chose ethanol extraction over the other industry standard, CO2, because it can process higher volumes of hemp in a given time while still leaving most of the unwanted Fun With Chemistry The entrepreneurs at Omni Organics are making small-batch CBD products their way.
chlorophyll, fats, and lipids behind. To remove the bit that does get through, they “winterize” and filter several times—think refrigerating a pot roast and skimming the coagulated fats. Passing the result through activated carbon eliminates off-flavors, and distilling several times along the way results in a pure full-spectrum hemp oil distillate. Flavor The pure distillate is nearly flavorless. So the partners did taste tests and found a palatable subset of terpenes—aroma and flavor compounds—to add back in. “We’ve been told our oil has a very pleasant citrusy flavor,” Shimko says. Their custom terpene blend gives their products a signature flavor and makes added sweeteners unnecessary. The terpenes are also thought to enhance the medicinal benefits. Absorbability The partners have heard more than one disappointed user say they tried other CBD products in the past but didn’t feel anything. So they chose highly absorbable C8 MCT oil as their carrier oil. “If you take 50 milligrams, your body is absorbing most of that,” Shimko says. Potency Another way they make sure customers feel the benefits of their CBD is by offering a high-potency product. “If people aren’t feeling anything, it’s because there isn’t much CBD in what they’re using,” Lowther says. CBD products on the market typically range from 5 or 10 milligrams/milliliter of CBD up to 100, with most falling in the 25 to 50 mg/ml range. Omni Organics’ formulations come in 25, 50, and a supercharged 200 mg/ml. “We take pride in the fact that you’re getting a high-quality and highly absorbable product, and you’re also getting a lot of it,” Morris says.
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From left: Mike Shimko, Randy Scott, Allen Lowther, and Dane Morris in front of one of the three different types of distillers Omni Organics uses to purify CBD for its KaKu and SKY’D products. Shimko, Lowther, and Morris started Omni Organics in 2018, and minority partner Scott brings graphic design skills to the team.
The company provides a QR code on each package that links customers to a third-party certificate of analysis. Omni Organics currently markets CBD oils, creams, and roll-ons under the brand name KaKu. They’re also marketing delta-8 THC gummies, vape cartridges, and oils under the name SKY’D. Delta-8 is a hemp-derived compound that does provide a high, one that’s milder than from marijuana and is entirely legal. More on the horizon Omni Organics employs three to five people in its lab at any given time, and the partners say they have the capacity to more than double their current production. Their products are sold in stores in states across the region, including several in Morgantown—check the website for the latest list. And they’re just getting started in this fast-evolving industry. Lowther, Morris, and Shimko are excited about the potential for hemp products to help West Virginians. “Both CBD and delta-8 products can help with the addictions that are rampant in our state—alcohol, opioids,” Shimko says. He knows people who take their CBD products for inflammatory conditions—his own parents, for example, find relief from arthritis. Military veterans in Lowther’s family find calming from PTSD without having to experience the high of medical marijuana. The partners have ideas for innovating new CBD products, too. No hints yet, but stay tuned. kakucbd.com, skydd8.com written and photographed by pam kasey
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The Don of Morgantown READ THIS
1920s and ’30s in Morgantown, his escape into comedy, and his growth as an actor in many dozens of television programs and feature films. She recounts behind-the-scenes stories of cast and crew and shares personal memories of household-name celebrities whose lives were touched by her father—including Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Tim Conway, John Waters, Barbara Eden, and Jim Carrey. Knotts told us that her father loved Morgantown—he spoke of it all the time and showed her around proudly during a visit when she was 9. Return the love by reading Tied Up in Knotts , due to be released in September. written by pam kasey
➼ WIDELY BELOVED FUNNYMAN DON KNOTTS , best known for his 1960s role as the hapless but lovable Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show , got his start as a ventriloquist right here in Morgantown—our Metropolitan Theatre was his hometown stage. In 2012, we caught up with his daughter, Karen Knotts, who followed him into acting. Her father had passed away in 2006 and, when we met her, she was touring with her one-woman variety show, Tied Up in Knotts , telling the story of growing up as the daughter of Don Knotts. Now Karen Knotts has gathered her recollections of her father in the book Tied Up in Knotts: My Dad and Me . In it, Knotts tells of her father’s difficult childhood years in the
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A Cause for Fanfare This fall, fans can expect a traditional game-day experience at Milan Puskar stadium. WHEN THE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS take the football field against the Long Island University Sharks at 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 11, fans will once again cheer from their seats inside Milan Puskar Stadium—a welcome contrast to the game-day experience a year ago. “I think, for the most part, what people are going to see is a return to ‘normal’ and what things were like prior to the pandemic,” says Matt Wells, WVU’s Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. WVU announced in June its plans to return to 100 percent capacity for all events at the start of the fall 2021 semester. For football fans, that means once again tailgating and bleeding blue and gold alongside 60,000 of their closest friends. “We came to this decision through a combination of looking at the progress we have made with vaccinations and the decline in the transmission rate of the virus locally and across the state,” Wells says. University officials will continue to monitor health and safety guidance and directives, and any changes to current plans will be communicated to fans in a timely manner. But, as this magazine goes to print, Wells says the intention to return to regular operations—no mask mandate, no social gathering restrictions—is full steam ahead. To secure your fall 2020 Mountaineer game-day experience, purchase tickets at wvugame.com .
Back to Business The time out is over — and WVU Athletics, local businesses, and Mountaineer fans look forward to the return to play. CHEER THIS
2017–18 academic year, it brought in over $246 million in visitor and fan spending and created more than 2,000 jobs. So when COVID-19 restrictions made fans trade in their sideline seats for spots on their couches and their freshly poured draft from concessions for cans of beer from the fridge, both social and financial struggles ensued. “The biggest loss was the benefit of gathering with 60,000 of our closest friends in gold and blue to cheer on the Mountaineers,” says Matt Wells, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. “But we can’t discount the revenue impact for the athletic department, the University as a whole, and certainly for the local and state economy.” With the Mountaineers now slated for a full football schedule and six home games this fall, fans can get back to supporting the home team in just a few weeks. “I think fans are excited,” says Wells. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from our ticket offices, and there’s also been a lot of interaction and engagement on social media.” That excitement is likewise shared amongst local business owners, who want to get back to doing what they do best—serving the community. And for many of them, like Livengood, it’s not just about the bottom line. It’s about the sense of pride and camaraderie that comes with being a Mountaineer at heart. “I’m looking forward to the atmosphere of a full stadium, a packed Coliseum, and swaying back and forth arm-in-arm with my fellow Mountaineers singing ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ at the top of our lungs.” written by kaylyn christopher
➼ THE BOOK EXCHANGE has long provided college students with textbooks and school supplies, but it’s also a place where Mountaineer fans find the perfect game- day attire and tailgate necessities. Its prime location between the Coliseum and the stadium buzzes with extra excitement during football season. “Home football games are obviously very important to us, just like the rest of the Morgantown area,” says Matt Livengood, manager of the store’s Patteson Drive location. “On a normal football game day, we will have hundreds of customers visit us in just a few hours before the game.” The excitement and spending spills over into area restaurants and bars, too. “Each fall, the six home football games hosted at Milan Puskar Stadium account for, without a doubt, our biggest weekends of the year. We always have a steady stream of customers from open to close,” says Jerry Lorenze, owner of Kegler’s Sports Bar. “Last fall was very much different. We were only open at 50 percent capacity, and masks were mandated. It really took away from the usual experience.” During the unprecedented pandemic season last fall, even West Virginia University and its athletic department were not spared. “We were devastated. The entire sports and entertainment industry was devastated,” says Simon Dover, WVU Athletics’ Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations. WVU Athletics is a major economic driver for the university, the city of Morgantown, and the state: According to a survey completed by economic impact research company Tripp Umbach during the
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Marilyn’s ofMorgantown Dine in and feel like family with heirloom offerings and a luxurious dining space.
22 MORGANTOWN FALL 2021
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Marilyn’s of Morgantown dishes it out TOMATO FRESCA LINGUINE 1 pound DeCecco or other linguine pasta* 1 pound mixed heirloom cherry tomatoes 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
F rom humble beginnings at local fair booths and Italian festivals to two full-service restaurants, the Marilyn’s team never tires of hearing customers say, “This is better than what my mom used to make.” Over the years at fairs and festivals, their booth lines grew longer and longer and their customer compliments continued. Patrons started asking where their restaurant was located so often that the team was finally inspired to find a permanent home for their beloved hand-rolled, hand-cut gnocchi and sauce. Marilyn’s co-owner Jim Cellurale says he, his brother John, and their business partner, Allen Crutchman, kicked off their restaurant endeavor in 2017 with Marilyn’s on Main in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Three years later, the trio came across an opportunity for space in Northpointe Plaza in Morgantown that they couldn’t pass up. “The market was ready for the freshness we bring to the table,” Jim Cellurale says. “Everything we do is scratch-made. We use the best ingredients we can find, and we use local when it’s available.” While the menu skews Italian, Marilyn’s borrows inspiration from other cuisines as well, as shown in the fan-favorite General Tso’s Cauliflower appetizer. Many of the recipes have been passed down for generations through the family, which hails from Abruzzo in the southern part of Italy. “The restaurant is named after my mother, Marilyn, an excellent cook in her own right,” Cellurale says. “The menu has many of her recipes, and recipes from my two grandmothers as well.” On the menu, diners
will find homemade pasta dishes, including scratch-made spaghetti; fresh seafood like The Colossal, colossal candied bacon-wrapped scallops and jumbo shrimp coated with cajun spice and blackened in cast iron; and black angus reserve and even higher-grade steaks. “We don’t skimp on anything,” Cellurale says, noting that a hulk of a steak, the 42-ounce Porterhouse, is back on the menu after a hiatus during the pandemic. Inspired by a trip to the Tuscany region of Italy, where every tavern or restaurant features a version of the Florentine steak, Cellurale brought the dish to Marilyn’s: a three-finger-thick cut steak served medium rare with olive oil, fresh cracked black pepper, and salt. Opening during the pandemic summer of 2020 was no easy feat, but Marilyn’s of Morgantown survived, thanks to outdoor dining on the patio and a large event space that allowed for social distancing. But finally opening at full capacity with no restrictions was especially exciting for the Marilyn’s team. Cellurale describes the Marilyn’s vibe as “upscale, but unpretentious,” with an urban chic design. Both locations offer extensive wine lists, cocktails with quality bourbons and tequilas, and draft beer, including local offerings. He says their restaurants are great for both casual dining and for special occasions. “We’re a family-run place, and we take pride in it. We treat our employees and our customers with that same mentality—like part of the family. The experience is just as important as the food.” marilynsrestaurant.com written by wendy holdren photographed by nikki bowman mills
Extra virgin olive oil Coarse kosher salt Butcher’s grind black pepper 10 fresh basil leaves 1 cup freshly grated aged asiago
1 Slice cherry tomatoes in half. 2 Roll basil leaves and chiffonade—slice very thinly into ribbons. 3 Cook pasta according to directions for al dente. 4 Drain pasta—do not rinse—and reserve 1 cup of pasta water. 5 In a saucepan over medium heat, add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Saute fresh minced garlic until it just starts to brown. Add tomatoes. Saute until the skin on tomatoes starts to wilt. 6 Add ¾ cup of asiago and a ladle of the reserved pasta water. Toss in the pan. Consistency should be creamy, not sticky. Add more reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency. 7 Add ¾ of the basil leaves and toss. Add salt and pepper to taste. 8 Serve and garnish with remaining basil leaves and a touch of the shredded asiago. * This dish works well with linguine but will hold up to almost any pasta shape.
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Wright Next Door Four Frank LloydWright homes are located within easy proximity of Morgantown. F rank Lloyd Wright is arguably the most famous American architect, with more than 1,000 structures to his name. While most people are familiar with Fallingwater, the house that is cantilevered over a waterfall, there are three other homes nearby—and you can stay overnight at two of them. So take a trip across state lines for an unforgettable “Wright” experience. written by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS
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ACROSS COUNTY LINES
Polymath Park
Polymath Park, a 125-acre resort in Acme, Pennsylvania, is a cool concept. Located about 20 miles from Fallingwater, it is home to two houses designed by Wright and two houses— the Balter House and the Blum House—that were built by one of his apprentices, Peter Berndtson. The original concept was to be a Usonian-style community development plan with shared common areas, but only two houses were ever built on the property. In 2000, the Papinchaks purchased the two homes and Polymath Park to preserve it. In 2002, the Duncan House, built in 1957 in the Usonian style, was moved to Polymath Park from Lisle, Illinois, to save it from destruction, and in 2019, Mäntylä, also known as the Lindholm House, was rebuilt on the site after being moved from Cloquet, Minnesota. And the best part is that they are among the few Wright homes available for overnight rentals. In addition to tours, Polymath Park also has a Wright-inspired restaurant called Treetops. Take a tour Remember to make reservations and buy your tickets ahead of time. Wright at Polymath Park tours run from March through November 21, except Wednesdays. You can book a three-house tour, overnight stay, or dining experience— or bundle them all together. Prices vary. franklloydwrightovernight.net Why we love it This is a unique and memorable opportunity to learn firsthand what it was like to live in a Wright-designed home. Little known tidbit Polymath means a person with encyclopedic learning. Eat Make reservations for dinner at Treetops Restaurant at Polymath Park for a Wright- inspired dining experience, or choose one of the lunch and tour packages. Stay Here, of course! Distance from Morgantown 55 miles
Fallingwater Completed in 1937, Fallingwater was commissioned by the Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh—the department store moguls— as their summer home, and it is considered to be his masterpiece, one of the finest examples of Wright’s concept of “organic architecture.” It is nestled into the landscape and overhangs a plummeting 30-foot waterfall as if it is suspended mid-air. This engineering feat is one of 24 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the United States, joining other iconic structures like the Egyptian pyramids and the Taj Mahal. If you haven’t visited, this needs to be on your must-do list. Take a tour Self-guided exterior tours are available, $18 per person, but you should really opt for the Guided Architectural Tour, $30, or Brunch or Sunset Tour, $150 per person, for a more memorable experience. Book online. fallingwater.org Why we love it It’s an architectural and engineering marvel. Fallingwater is the only
remaining home designed by Wright that still has its original furnishings and artwork. Only two colors were used throughout—a light ochre for the concrete and his signature Cherokee red for the steel. Little known tidbit Rumor has it that Wright designed Fallingwater in two hours. He visited the construction site with patron Edgar J. Kaufmann, requested a site plan, and then did nothing for one year—until Kaufmann called Wright informing him that he was on his way to Wisconsin to see the drawings. Eat & Drink Order a boxed lunch from The Fallingwater Cafe and reserve a table in the Meadow alongside Bear Run. Stay Looking to spend the night in a Wright-inspired location? Visit Nemacolin Woodlands Resort's Falling Rock. Distance from Morgantown 46 miles.
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ACROSS COUNTY LINES
Kentuck Knob
As someone who has visited many Wright- designed buildings around the country, this is one of my favorites. It is just seven miles southwest of Fallingwater, yet it is not overrun with legions of visitors. This was built later in Wright’s career, at the age of 86, for Bernardine and I.N. Hagan, and is a small, one-story Usonian home built on a hexagonal module. The house was purchased by Lord Palumbo of England in 1986. Palumbo, who sat in the House of Lords, is the former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain and chairman of The Pritzker Prize for Architecture. The surrounding gardens and grounds showcase his wonderful sculpture and art collection from around the world. The grounds themselves are a work of art, with breathtaking views of the Youghiogheny River gorge. Take a tour Guided House Tours are $25– $28 per person—or splurge for the 90-minute In-depth House Tour, $70. Reserve your ticket by purchasing in advance online. Make sure you allot time for a self-guided tour of the grounds and gardens. Why we love it It’s small, smart, and functional. Wright believed that furniture should be multipurpose. The kitchen sits at the core of the home and, since it did not have much counter space, the stove burners flip upright against the wall to free up space. The burners are even detachable so you can take them outside. The roofed terrace is an extension of the dining and living area, making it a great space for entertaining. Little known tidbit The home has only two right angles. Eat Head to nearby Ohiopyle and enjoy lunch at one of the charming eateries. Stay There are several vacation home rentals in the area. golaurelhighlands.com Distance from Morgantown 37 miles
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735 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD STEFANOSWV.COM 304. 581. 6930 Stefanno’s FINE DINING
VOTED BEST SPORTS BAR IN MORGANTOWN
Kegler ’ s Sports Bar & Lounge
735 Chestnut Ridge Rd keglerssportsbar.com 304.598.9698
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A DECADE IN THE MAKING Morgantown has changed some since our first issue, 10 years ago. A decade ago, Tutto Gelato was still in that cute little building that used to sit all by itself on High Street. CVS and Panera hadn’t yet opened downtown. There were no Vietnamese restaurants, no Art Museum of WVU, no Monongalia County Ballpark or West Virginia Black Bears. It’s been an eventful 10 years! Yet, this place is as Morgantown as it ever was. We circled back to some of the people, places, and things we were excited about in the fall of 2011 to find out what’s happening with them today. WRITTEN BY PAM KASEY AND HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON
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Ten years ago we celebrated Tailpipes. The beloved burger and shake establishment has fallen victim to COVID-19, but a few other local places have filled the void in its absence. Check ‘em out. Hit Black Bear Burritos on Wednesday nights and sink your teeth into some of the most inventive burgers around—like the recent “Banh Mi? No, Banh YOU!” Burger, or the “Ate/teen Strings” Burger. Iron Horse offers a delectable burger selection. Try the namesake burger topped with a smoked poblano pepper, the After Hours Burger complete with fried egg, or the Impossible burger— a crowd favorite. The perfect amount of imagination goes into each recipe at Morgantown Brewing Company . Try the tasty variations like Nutty ’Nanners—honey peanut butter, sliced bananas, peppered bacon, and cheddar cheese piled high on a beef patty. Where’s the Beef?
And the Bands Play On We loved 123 Pleasant Street in our first issue, and we love it even more now.
core of the business. At the same time, 123 regularly schedules events for a workingman’s crowd. And its deep commitment to local and aspiring bands and community causes generates a lively schedule of open mic nights, all-ages shows, PopShop performances of young musicians, and fundraisers. During the pandemic, the 123 team and their wide network of musician friends went to creative lengths to make sure live music didn’t die in Morgantown. They put on stage performances, rooftop shows, and behind-the-bar cameos of crowd favorites and pushed it all to Facebook for an appreciative housebound audience. 123 celebrated its 22nd birthday in December 2020 with a six-hour livestream of performances in spots all over the storied venue—including the couch, the piano in the front window, and even the walk-in refrigerator. And in 2021, the club won Best of Morgantown Best Music Venue for the fourth time in a row. @123pleasantstreet
Ten years ago, we celebrated 123 Pleasant Street as the hub of the downtown music scene. And for good reason. The 1800s rowhouse it operates in had once housed a series of beloved nightclubs, starting in the early 1980s with the locally legendary Underground Railroad that hosted everyone from an up-and-coming Red Hot Chili Peppers to blues man Bo Diddley and jazz great Wynton Marsalis—an eclectic mix that drew an eclectic community. But by the late ’90s, several nightclubs had come and gone and the building was condemned and near demolition. Westover native L.J. Giuliani rescued it, and in 2011 his gritty, big- hearted 123 Pleasant Street was carrying the Underground’s legacy forward in style. The club’s following only grows with time. “Serving the community and local bands—that’s the foundation,” Giuliani told Morgantown magazine in 2018. “We try to maintain a balance of genres: jam bands, punk rock, bluegrass, all kinds.” As for any college- town nightclub, the late-night crowd is the
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Great Gifts In our first issue 10 years ago, we sang the praises of downtown gift shop Elegant Alley Cat—which, unfortunately, is no longer with us. But it’s wise to keep a great shop where you can count on finding the perfect gift. Ten years later, here are our downtown favorites.
Jewelry on High The past decade has seen Bead Monster evolve into the artisan jewelry design studio Silver Pennies.
Hoot and Howl highlights handmade goods from artisans in West Virginia and across the country. You’ll also find vintage goods curated by the shop’s owner, Stephanie Swaim.
Creative customers still find at Silver Pennies a selection of beautiful beads and gemstones and all the findings they need, plus assistance with design and assembly. At the same time, the shop is a lush display of finished pieces that celebrate natural materials: polished and unpolished stones and gems entwined in leather, set in lustrous metals, dangled from glistening chains, often asymmetrically but just as often in symmetries that are surprising in some way. Now the largest selection downtown of jewelry design and crafted by West Virginia designers and artisans, Silver Pennies promotes a simple aesthetic grounded in organic colors, shapes, and textures. Silversmithing is a recent expansion of the shop’s creative scope. Dallas has been a downtown merchant for 17 years now. “We really like the proximity to the university, and then there’s the history behind downtown and the businesses,” she says. “It’s such a community—we all promote each other and enjoy each other.” silverpenniesjewelry.com, @silverpenniesjewelrydesignstudio on FB
In 2011, Bead Monster was an oasis of creativity on High Street, a shop filled wall to wall with irresistible hand-picked beads and a wealth of findings: the clasps, earwires, and such that turn great beads into favorite wearable art. The shop had been helping customers design and assemble their own pieces since 2004. Bead Monster offered workshops in jewelry-making, too. “I mentored people, and we had a growing number of artisans who had great designs,” says shop owner Robin Dallas. To present their designs, she launched a catalog of finished jewelry she called Silver Pennies—and, in the first issue of this magazine, we welcomed that beautifully photographed and designed catalog. Times were changing. Major craft supply chains were adding mass-produced beads and findings to their shelves. Dallas responded by evolving her store in the direction of the catalog, showcasing unique, handcrafted jewelry in a beautiful setting. She renovated the shop and re-opened it in time for the 2013 holiday season, changing to the name she’d borrowed for the catalog from a book of poetry.
Old Stone House, run by the Service League of Morgantown, supports many outstanding projects in the community. Browse the collection of West Virginia–made items and unique gifts.
River Fair Trade is committed to selling socially conscious, eco-friendly, and fair trade products. Find the boutique downtown and browse the shelves of gifts, décor, fashion, and more.
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OUR FIRST ISSUE checked in with then-Mountaineer Marching Band drum captain Justin Kline. Now Alisha Pinti, a senior from Bridgeport, West Virginia, heads up the Pride of West Virginia’s 2021–22 corps of seven bass drums, five quads, 11 snares, and 11 cymbals. Here’s your best way to identify Pinti on game day: During the pre-game show, after the drum line marches out to its tunnel cadence and as the announcer introduces the Pride, she’ll be the one out in front of the drum line marking time for the boogie cadence. And when you see that, know that they’ve already been on the field for six hours. The drum captain is motivator, resource, and role model for the drum line, Pinti says. She aims for a balance during field shows. “You have to stay focused, but you also have to take a second to look up at the crowd and hear everybody screaming for the drums and the band,” she says. “It’s a lot to take in, but it’s always very fun.” Rhythm and Boogie
Brown’s Back WVU head coach Neal Brown thinks this could be the year.
two years with the culture within our football program.” The upcoming season’s schedule is
In the first issue of Morgantown magazine, then–WVU football coach Dana Holgerson chatted about the upcoming season. The quirky coach moved on to Houston in 2019, and optimism permeated the air in Morgantown with Neal Brown’s arrival. It’s taken some time for Brown to find his groove, with a 5–7 record in 2019 and a 6–4 record in 2020. This year, Brown says the team’s leadership is better than at any point since he took the job. “As a program, we continue to climb,” he says. “We're making progress. And if you think about it, off the field, we just finished up $5 million worth of program enhancements. That's really had a positive effect. We've got a lot of momentum in recruiting right now, and we’ve made tremendous progress over the last
challenging, with match-ups against 11 Power Five teams. Sportswriters and broadcasters picked WVU to finish sixth in a pre-season poll released July 8. Brown says his team is looking forward to the challenge and predicts success. “If you look at the improvement offensively and defensively, we were one of the most improved units on both sides of the ball. It's like I tell our players: You either prove them right, or you prove them wrong. Our goal this season is to prove them wrong.” The season’s first snap takes place September 4 at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium—home to the University of Maryland Terrapins.
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