Mike Appleby figured he’d keep his big city job when he moved to Charlottesville. Appleby’s Boston-based employer kept him on to run a development team when he moved to C’ville to get married. But Appleby quickly came to love the area—“it’s the nicest place I’ve seen anywhere,” he says—and five years later he hatched a […]
In The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Herdman kids—a bunch of foul-mouthed smokers, thieves, and drinkers—are uncontestedly the worst choices to cast in their church’s annual Christmas play. Other children are shocked at the news of their involvement: There’s no way these six unruly delinquents can lead the production to success, short of a miracle. Released […]
When Rufus Wainwright’s second album, Poses, came out in 2001, the singer-songwriter extraordinaire was in the throes of critical adoration, collecting awards and accolades, but lacking commercial success and struggling with addiction. Good pal Elton John helped him into rehab, and Wainwright quickly got back on track, defining himself over the next 15 years through […]
After a couple of years of contention over Albemarle County’s threat to move its courts from downtown Charlottesville, elected officials in the two jurisdictions have finally decided to jointly locate their lower courts in a downtown building both localities purchased together in 2005. “We have reached agreement on the expansion and renovation of the Albemarle […]
Drawing lines in the leaves It’s that time of year, when the natural cycle of trees becomes a source of controversy, lighting up Nextdoor. One neighbor’s decision to let them lie to decompose and enrich the soil—either through environmental conscientiousness or sloth—is another’s annoyance when leaves drift into a meticulously raked yard. Some go the […]
Orgon and his wife Elmire face a disastrous spiritual crisis, and the swindler Tartuffe is definitely not helping. Orgon’s children understand the truth: that the supposedly pious man doesn’t actually possess divine ability, and when a wounding announcement takes the stunt too far, the family must dislodge the impostor before more damage is done. Tartuffe […]
It’s been 30 years since the release of Copperhead Road, an album that revived the gritty rebelliousness founded in the early days of country music. Steve Earle & The Dukes pay homage to his Austin, Texas, roots with a special anniversary set that, in addition to celebrating the album, offers a retrospective of Earle’s career, […]
Southern duo Sarah and Austin McCombie have a bright soulful love for old-time music. It’s the reason they formed Chatham Rabbits, a name inspired by a string band out of their hometown of Bynum, North Carolina. The couple crafts lively melodies and lyrics ripe with metaphors—picking through the U.S. as they live a musical life […]
From African gospels to American pop songs, the uplifting music of the Soweto Gospel Choir has something to put a smile on anyone’s face. Formed in South Africa in 2002, the group is praised for its international reach, and has earned two Grammys. The singers aren’t in it for the fame, though: all they aim […]
Here’s what readers asked for: Charlottesville is fairly unique in having its own pension plan. Just about every other jurisdiction in the commonwealth uses the Virginia Retirement System, which offers employees the ability to transfer retirement accounts to any other VRS jurisdiction. [Does] the fact that the city has its own plan discourage experienced employees […]