Come home smelling like roses

Katie Dolac / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: April 26, 2007

Radishes and Roses becomes full-time smoke-free musical environment, Gilmore plays there tomorrow

Local musician David Leckie Gilmore is thrilled to sing Radishes & Roses Café into the official Culpeper music scene Saturday.

Gilmore has been waiting for something like this for a long time - an easy-going, smoke-free entertainment venue close to home. He's excited to kicks off the restaurant's musical debut.

"It's another place in Culpeper to hear live music, which I am all about," Gilmore said as he sat casually on his living room couch.

Radishes & Roses Café is jumping in the ring with a live music venue like those at The Hazel River Pub, Lord Culpeper Bar & Grill and East Davis Street Tavern. Its niche is, of course, being a haven for non-smokers.

Gilmore doesn't seem to fit into the other smoke-free venues around town. The Culpeper Rock Academy skews a little young for his gentle acoustic sound, which he calls a blend of classic rock, rock 'n' roll, blues and country.

He doesn't think the new Irish pub Brandon's Place would be a good fit for him either.

Gilmore's light-hearted and friendly demeanor seems to be a perfect fit for Radishes & Roses. His eye twinkles as he speaks and he's got a carefree, inviting smile that instantly turns strangers into friends. He's played almost every imaginable venue in central Virginia for the past 20 years, and even spent quality time in Nashville, but can't quite explain why he came back.

"I never just felt like it was home," he said.

The Culpeper native has known the Radishes & Roses owners for years, and once taught guitar lessons to their daughter Carley Chilton. She's grown up to be a singer-songwriter with her sights set on Nashville (as soon as she graduates from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., in May).

As spring warms into summer owner Scott Chilton said he plans to utilize the patio and gazebo areas, and invite bluegrass notables like The Courtney Hollow Band.

"I think they've got a really positive thing going," Gilmore said, describing how the dim lighting and candles will transform the ambiance of the simple Lovers Lane restaurant with the home-kitchen feel into an intimate after hours musical stage.

"I see a lot of potential there," Gilmore said with his trademark eye twinkle.

Katie Dolac can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .