By Jonathan Haynes The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library was the unexpected beneficiary of a nearly $1 million bequest from one of its Friends of the Library Endowment Fund patrons earlier this year. The donation came from the estate of Nancy Swygert. Despite the large sum, Swygert and her husband lived a frugal life, never having children […]
By Sam Padgett As a lifelong Virginian, it’s hard to be surprised by the versatility of bacon. The meaty treat is used like salt around here—it sneaks its way into almost any dish. I’ve even found it in one of my all-time favorite dishes, shrimp and grits, a dish that by its very name precludes […]
By Sashank Sankar For most of us, we never think about synchronized swimming outside of the Summer Olympics, when we watch in amazement as swimmers dive, kick and pose in perfect unison. But for Samantha Elhart, synchronized swimming is more than just a passing interest—it’s her passion. Elhart started swimming in high school and pursued […]
Infighting implodes council The hiring of an interim city manager, an event that usually takes place behind closed doors, has become heated and public, with reports of shouting at a July 20 closed City Council session. Mayor Nikuyah Walker has gone on Facebook Live twice to express her concerns that the process is part of […]
Alternately imagined as a musical, Disney film and an opera, Into the Woods is itself a reimagining of classic Brothers Grimm stories and other fairy tales. Charlottesville Opera pulls together performers from Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic to play characters like Cinderella, the Wolf and the Witch. The lives and problems […]
What if Dr. Frankenstein’s kid didn’t want to continue the family business? That’s the question posed in Young Frankenstein, the stage adaptation of the campy Mel Brooks classic film of the same name. Join Frederick “Fronk-en-steen” and his trusty assistant “Eye-gore,” who convinces the scientist to go a little mad and create the famed monster. […]
You may not know Claire Lynch by name, but if you’ve ever listened to Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris or Linda Ronstadt, you likely know her voice. Lynch has provided backing vocals for musical greats while working on her solo career, penning innovative tunes that push the boundaries of what bluegrass is and can be. In […]
Nonprofit Gearharts Chocolates Summer Open House Saturday, July 28 Tour the local chocolate purveyor’s production facility and get a taste of chocolates and other locally made treats. A portion of the day’s sales will benefit the CASPCA. Free, 11am-5pm. Gearharts Fine Chocolates, 243-B Ridge McIntire Rd. 972-9100. Food & Drink Brews with a View Wednesday, […]
Frontwoman Frances Quinlan of Hop Along is the modern-day musical equivalent of Walt Whitman. Her poetic lyrics jump from brilliant and obscure to shockingly relatable in the space of a few notes. “Pale as a banshee sun / Think I should stop checking myself out in the windows of cars,” sings Quinlan on “How Simple,” […]
Mansion sweet mansion Wondering what to do with the extra millions you’ve got lying around the house? Buy a new one! Edgemont, a Palladian-inspired pad built in 1796 and surrounded by 570 acres of farmland, “is a home whose design is reputed to be the only remaining private residence attributed to Thomas Jefferson,” according to […]