Dear Ace: I’m confused. UVA’s mascot is the cavalier, but the students are all called “hoos,” which, to me, seems to have more to do with a big-eyed nocturnal animal than some dude on a horse. What’s up with that?—Lee Harvey Owlswald   Lee: It’s quite natural to be confused. Ace has always said, confusion […]

Dear Ace: I’m a Charlottesville native who moved away for 10 years during that time a controversy over the Nativity Scene at Lee Park began. I’m wondering, what became of the statues/figures/stable/fencing, etc.?—Mary Anne Joseph Mary Anne: Oh, how Ace loves a controversy. If there’s a conversation brewing about genetic engineering, Ace will be there. […]

Dear Ace: What are the best items to donate to the food bank? Some people patronizingly donate uber-healthy items that they think the recipients should eat; I like to drop in a 3 lb. can of SpaghettiOs for the kids. What to do?—Gerald Food Gerald: You know, this question sounds suspiciously like you’re wanting Ace […]

Dear Ace: I saw that a local school was offering chances for locals to get hunting licenses. Where does one go hunting in Charlottesville? Or, where do hunting enthusiasts in Charlottesville travel to?—Tara Palin Tara: It would probably be a cheap shot to go through the duration of this article and drop all of Ace’s […]

Dear Ace: I saw that a company called Cavalier Films produced a new movie that’s premiering at the Regal theater Downtown. Are they affiliated with UVA?—Phil M. Buff   Phil: It’s easy, in this town, to think that anything with even the slightest hint of orange (and/or blue) is something UVA has its hooks in. […]

Dear Ace: I heard Shenanigans is outselling Toys R Us! Can it be true?—Meryl Lynch Meryl: At first, Ace thought maybe this was a rouse. A rumor. Idle gossip, perhaps. Or maybe just a flat-out lie started to stir up trouble. (He’s nothing if not a dubious investigator.) And so, after a straight shot of […]

Ace: I’m gonna have to ask you again. Who is “Rives” of Rives Park?—Parker Nosey Parker: Ace has never told you this, but he has a brother. A younger brother, to be exact. One who is mildly successful in his own right; he has a job, he’s in decent health, and he always drives the […]

Dear Ace: Based on trends from the past few years, what’s the projection for leaf peepers this year? I think it’s going down.—Ray King-Leeves Ray: Last week, with cold weather quickly approaching, Ace busted out his fall wardrobe and carefully packed away (read: threw stuff in a box) his spring/summer accoutrement. Mother Atkins bought him […]

Dear Ace: Who is “Rives” of Rives Park?—Parker Nosey Parker: In these uncertain political times, it’s kind of comforting to be reminded of Virginia’s—and Charlottesville’s—rich historical, you know, history. It’s also kind of comforting for Ace, on a personal level, when he’s able to dispense a morsel of his intelligence simply by reaching into his […]

Dear Ace: A few months ago, you said you’d investigate the possibility of there being a “Vineyard Church” in Charlottesville. Ever find out anything about it?—Dee Cantor Dee: Ace has never considered himself a religious man. In fact, in the August 12 article to which you refer, Ace specifically remembers shying away from any denominational […]