PICK: Kat & the Travelers

Travel nearby: Kat & the Travelers are well into their second decade as a local music staple, serving up jazz with some country blues flavor. Kathleen Kraft’s vocals range from down-home grit to clear, pure balladry, and she’s backed up by Doug Hedstrom on guitar, Michael Haag on bass, and her son, Quintas Mills, on […]

A sweet win

By Paul H. Ting There’s something alluring and gratifying about continuing a best practice that originated in the ancient world, and the 2021 Virginia Governor’s Cup winner is a prime example. On March 9, Governor Ralph Northam presented the award to Barboursville Vineyards for its 2015 Paxxito. The Cup is given to the top-scoring wine […]

Painful truths

By Tami Keaveny Since 1973, Four County Players has been producing plays with community volunteers, teaching theater technique to aspiring actors of all ages, and entertaining central Virginia audiences in the charming town of Barboursville. When the pandemic closed venues in March 2020, the theater group pressed pause, initially hoping that waiting it out could […]

In brief

Slow train comin’ Last month, Governor Ralph Northam signed agreements with CSX railroad and other entities to complete a $3.7 billion investment in passenger rail in Virginia. The agreement will eventually add more train service to and from Charlottesville, but it will be at least a couple of years before passenger rail becomes available.  The […]

Shot out

By Emily Hamilton Early last week, UVA first-year Reese Alpher heard she could get a coronavirus vaccine if she drove two hours south to a community vaccination center in Danville—so she jumped at the chance.  “When I went, the word was that [the shots] were getting thrown out and that there were too many vaccines […]

PICK: Brighter Together

Light at the end: While a virtual Lighting of the Lawn was the safest option this academic year, we still missed being there when UVA turned the Rotunda’s holiday lights on in December. Brighter Together offers another chance to see the historic landmark dancing with color, as one of five pop-up art events tying together […]

PICK: Saw Black

Seeing Saw: Saw Black has that rare musical talent that makes listeners want more. With his lyrical delivery and production technique, Black seduces with soulful country-folk that is sometimes plaintive, sometimes weird and whispery. Many of the Richmond singer-songwriter’s tracks can be found on Warhen Records, including the sold-out 2020 cassette Horsin’ ‘Round. Black performs […]

PICK:Comedy Open Mic Night

It’s a laugh: As any comedian knows, there’s no rush like standing in front of a roomful of strangers and making them laugh. At the weekly Comedy Open Mic Night, hosted by local comedians Heather Kilburn and John Rad, you can work out all the material you perfected at home during the pandemic. Preregister, and […]

Farm fresh

By Paul Ting Spring is springing, in its Virginia way, with perfect breezy days becoming more frequent every week. For many locals, the annual return of chirping birds means rolling out of bed early on Saturday and heading downtown, to the City Market. The beloved market has been in action since 1973, providing an opportunity […]

Poets know it

By Alana Bittner When expressing the value of writing poetry, Valencia Robin references a quote by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo: “You begin to learn to listen to the soul, the soul of yourself in here, which is also the soul of everyone else.” Robin says that, when she was young, no one told her […]