LIVING Picks: Week of December 14-20

Family Holiday tours Friday, December 16-Friday, December 23 Take a tour of the Frontier Culture Museum by lantern light and enjoy holiday traditions of the past. $8 kids, $15 adults, 6-8pm. Frontier Culture Museum, 1290 Richmond Rd., Staunton. Reservations required: (540) 332-7850. Nonprofit Kiwanis Christmas tree sale Through December 21 For the 84th year, the […]

ARTS Pick: The Lightmare Before Christmas

Moody times call for moody tunes. Locally stacked triple bill The Lightmare Before Christmas featuring the darkwave of Jaquardini speaks volumes to our need for something darker than the blues with the cathartic space beats of This Hollow Machine and the Brickbats’ Corey Gorey in a goth solo set. Saturday, December 10. $7, 9pm. Twisted […]

ARTS Pick: ‘Let There Be Light’

Despite the short days and early nightfall, there’s light on the horizon at the 10th annual “Let There Be Light” installation. James Yates curates an eye-dazzling array of work from area artists that challenges the senses and offers magical perspectives, including Yates’ “Luminous Egg Hunt,” which he says is “drawn from the writings of Carlos […]

In brief: Screwdrivered, Uber option and more

And the next election cycle begins Charlottesville Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania says he’ll seek his boss’ job in 2017. Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman plans to retire after 24 years as the city’s top prosecutor. And state Senator Bryce Reeves officially threw his hat into the lieutenant governor’s ring, vying with two other Republicans who […]

LIVING Picks: Week of December 7-13

Family Monticello gingerbread house workshop Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 Feast on cookies and hot chocolate as you create a colorful new addition for your holiday décor. $55 for a four-member family pass, 2-4pm. Smith Woodland Pavilion at Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org Nonprofit Santa Pancake Breakfast Sunday, December 11 Enjoy breakfast […]

In brief: Best of Bellamy tweets, surreptitious sheriff filming and more

Quote of the week “I really #hate how almost 80% of the black people here talk white…#petpeeve. #itstheniggainme. #dontjudgeme.”—Wes Bellamy tweet, March 30, 2010. Read related story, “Tweetstorm: Bellamy apologizes for ‘inappropriate’ posts.” Korte in court Former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte appeared in court November 28 and waived a preliminary hearing on the […]

ARTS Pick: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

A sparse Christmas tree, a roundheaded kid who questions holiday spirit, a jazz soundtrack and a stirring read of the nativity story combined to make history when “A Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered in 1965. To the dismay of its creators, Charles M. Schulz and Bill Melendez, the animated TV show (ironically commissioned by the Coca-Cola […]

ARTS Pick: Family Holiday Concerts

Among the finest local traditions is when the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia and UVA’s University Singers join forces for the Family Holiday Concerts conducted by Michael Slon. This year’s program includes “Carol of the Bells,” “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” as well […]

ARTS Pick: Fruit Bats

Since the release of Fruit Bats’ 2001 debut, Echolocation, music critics have stuck some pretty obscure labels on Eric D. Johnson’s four-track-recording-project-turned-full-band: “bootgazer,” “rustic pop,” “zoology rock.” But no matter what it’s called, the group’s brand of indie-folk rock has held steady through six records (and a recent five-year hiatus), including its latest, Absolute Loser, […]

Arts Pick: Dry Branch Fire Squad

For more than 40 years, Ron Thomason’s intricately woven and hilarious stories have been at the heart of the old-time, Southern gospel and bluegrass songs of Dry Branch Fire Squad. The longtime Prism Coffeehouse favorite’s keen sense of humor and small-town country wisdom, combined with skilled musicianship, launches pointed—and sometimes scathing—observations of the hypocrisy of […]