VIVA Pottery
If you're looking for an exciting date night or night out with the girls, VIVA Pottery is the perfect destination. VIVA Pottery holds classes for all experience levels and is a great way to connect with your loved ones while learning something fun and new. Adrian Quintanar, owner of VIVA Pottery, has created a space where everyone is welcome and supported, no matter their skillset.
Quintanar’s interest in pottery began while he was attending art school at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He felt ecstatic to be taking a ceramics class, as he had already been working with porcelain in his previous years at a dental lab. He fell in love with pottery and knew that becoming a full-time artist was his dream. Quintanar earned a residency at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and began teaching classes while learning to run an art studio on his own. He did this for four years before returning to Texas, where he taught art and sculpture at a high school; he then pivoted and opened VIVA Pottery in 2023.
With his years of experience, there is no doubt Quintanar is a phenomenal teacher. What makes his studio so successful is his commitment to his craft and to guiding those who are curious to learn. There are consistently new students attending VIVA, and Quintanar notes he can always feel the genuine excitement and curiosity in the room. “I think being honest with my students about the amount of time it takes to get good at this is the best guidance I can give. Learning how to use a pottery wheel is a challenge, and you simply can't be an expert in a short amount of time. Learning to enjoy the process is a big part of the journey.”
Valentine's weekend is the perfect weekend to attend a VIVA Pottery class because you’ll be learning with your loved ones. Valentine's weekend has many available spots for a beginner wheel-throwing class.
VIVA Pottery is not just an art studio, but a full-fledged community. “The community of potters at VIVA Pottery has continued to grow since day one,” exclaims Quintanar. VIVA brings people from all walks of life together and engages them with those of similar interests, as well as creates a bonding experience between friends or significant others. Not only will you be learning something new, but you’ll also be creating a new experience with someone you love. You can also commit to a six-week class, regardless of experience, where you will learn the process of creating fully functional pottery. “The process of making a single piece of pottery can take weeks, and a student must focus every step of the way. Most potters say it’s like Christmas morning every time the kiln is opened and you see your pots for the first time. I want them all to feel that excitement,” says Quintanar.
Along with the classes at VIVA Pottery, you can also purchase unique gifts at the studio’s Art Gallery. Here, you will have the opportunity to indulge in handmade pottery and paintings, which can be a meaningful gift to a loved one or to treat yourself. VIVA Pottery also offers workshops by visiting artists and children's classes on Sunday afternoons. For more information on getting into a class or to keep up with the studio and its events, you can visit https://www.viva-pottery.com/.
Anna’s Tiers of Joy
Buttercream frosting, a fluffy and sweet interior and intricate details are words a person would use to describe cake. Add romance and a couple to the description, people will think of a wedding cake. But, Anna Anthony, owner of Anna’s Tiers of Joy, wants people to see her cakes as an ode to the smaller celebrations. Whether it’s a graduation, promotion or Valentine’s Day, there’s a cake waiting to be cut into.
“I really like to focus my energy on smaller birthday cakes or smaller celebrations,” Anthony said. “Because I feel like when people think of cakes, one of the first places you go to is wedding cakes. But, there's also these smaller cakes that you can also celebrate and make it a big deal.”
Anthony has seen cakes and celebrations go hand in hand all throughout her life because her mom used to make all of her birthday cakes from scratch. When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country, Anthony found herself bored, so she asked her mom if she could play around with her cake tools. Nostalgia and a love for cake inspired Anthony to start making her own. She grew her business quickly and began to have several cake orders in one week.
“I remember during April, May, June (of 2020) it was a whole bunch of grad students who didn't get to walk down the aisle, or actually get to graduate with their class,” Anthony explained. “I had so many graduation cakes, and it was cute that people got to celebrate intimately with their families as well.”
Although business was doing well, Anthony also had some intimate moments with her family during this process.
“It was stressful, it was crazy. I took over my parents' kitchen,” Anthony said. “I think I shed a few tears somewhere in there, which was why the Tiers of Joy really was born."
Five years later, Anthony has become a mom of two and moved to a new state, but she still has kept her cake business with her. When asked what her mother thinks of her business, Anthony immediately said “She’s so proud.”
“When I was making these cakes last night, she was watching me, and she was talking about how the techniques are so different,” Anthony said. “We were chatting and reminiscing about all the different ways cake has grown and has changed.”
But what hasn’t changed is the sacredness of this dessert in her family, because Anthony is carrying on the tradition of homemade cakes for her daughters. So whatever milestone or relationship is being celebrated, rest assured Anna’s Tiers of Joy will bring happy tears with her attention to detail and heart poured into every ingredient.
Flowers and chocolates are great starter gifts for a Valentine or Galentine, but a personalized cake is on another tier of sentimentality. Anthony offers as small as 4-inch cakes that are perfect for a couple to share or, go all out for friends with a larger cake. To order, DM Anthony on her Instagram @annastiersofjoy.
Oak & Main
The owners of Oak & Main, Dave and Mary Garner, knew that they wanted to be a larger part of their amazing community in Roanoke. Through this desire, they created a polished American Grill experience and Oak & Main began to come alive. “When we found the perfect building right on Oak Street, the inspirations followed. We wanted to be what Roanoke was missing, a hidden gem. The perfect addition to a city steeped in foodie culture to help put Roanoke on the map as the unique dining capital of Texas,” says Mike Jones, operating partner of Oak & Main.
Jones began working in the restaurant industry at age 16. What started as a way to make money with his friends turned into a career that he loves. “The people that we interact with every day. From the friendly and attentive staff to the bar regulars that might as well have their own stools, to the first-time guests who want to have a nice date night to remember for years to come. It is the people in the community that have made Oak & Main what it is today, and we couldn’t have done it without them,” Jones expresses.
Oak & Main is meticulous about its service, and that is one of the characteristics that make this restaurant so great for special occasions. “At Oak and Main, we strive for a lively and polished atmosphere that makes you feel both at home and like you are out for a fancy dinner date,” says Jones.
The staff at this restaurant is knowledgeable and engaging in order to create an exceptional dining experience. One small touch done by the staff that makes a larger impact is creating hand-drawn cards for special occasions. These cards will be made when the staff is expecting a party for an event such as birthdays, anniversaries, newlyweds, or other milestones. Things like this are what build community and keep guests coming back to Oak & Main.
If you’re wanting to treat your date to a notable Valentine’s Day, the details and extra care from the staff at Oak & Main are what make it the perfect place. For the month of February, Oak & Main will have a special “His & Hers” cocktail, as well as offering a special menu for the weekend of Valentine's Day. If you’re looking to order something from the regular menu, some suggestions given by Jones are the steak frites and wood grilled salmon, or the hand-cut filets paired with garlic butter green beans and their signature cream cheese whipped potatoes. Oak & Main’s high expectations are what guarantee the quality of food when it comes to ingredients and their cooking methods. The standards of the food and their hospitality are what give the establishment its astounding reputation, and their guests agree.
Oak & Main remains a top-tier establishment for date nights and celebrations of all kinds. For more information about Oak & Main, or to see their menu, visit their website at https://www.oakmaintx.com/.
"Learning how to use a pottery wheel is a challenge ... Learning to enjoy the process is a big part of the journey," Quintanar says.
“I think I shed a few tears somewhere in there, which was why the Tiers of Joy really was born," Anthony said.