LIVING Picks: Week of December 20-26

FAMILY Gingerbread house making Thursday, December 21 Show your creative spirit by decorating graham cracker gingerbread houses. $15 (includes museum admission for one child and one adult), 4pm. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. 977-1025. NONPROFIT Gift Forest Through December 24 Holiday pop-up market features designers, makers and artists from across the […]

ARTS Pick: Country Christmas Show

Sarah White and her friends are back to deck the Southern Café and Music Hall with boughs of holly, twinkly lights, giant plastic peppermint sticks, Christmas cookies, Santas galore and so much more at the annual Country Christmas Show. The (All New) Acorn Sisters, Ian Gilliam, Charlie Bell, Ned Oldham and others strike the harp—er, […]

ARTS Pick: Ugly Sweater Party: Parts 1 and 2

Let the holidays unravel with Ugly Sweater Party: Parts 1 and 2, a musical experience exploring two different genres over consecutive nights. The Ugly Sweater fun begins with indie electronic tunes featuring Ethan Lipscomb, a classically trained pianist who combines samples with aggressive lyrics to create his own style of dance-rock. Duo Playdate also brings […]

In brief: No permits, no DP editor, no daycare license and more

Permission denied Minutes before a decision was due, City Manager Maurice Jones denied several special event permits for rallies and counterrallies proposed on the weekend of August 12 in Emancipation, Justice and McGuffey parks—ground zero for the summer’s Unite the Right rally that left three people dead and countless wounded. The first application was filed […]

LIVING Picks: Week of December 13-19

FAMILY Mrs. Claus Invites Wednesday, December 13 Mrs. Claus and her friends invite kids of all ages to enjoy singing, storytelling, craftmaking and more. Advance tickets required. $10, 4-6pm. Omni Hotel Charlottesville, 212 Ridge McIntire Rd. virginiagingerbreadchristmas.com NONPROFIT Bengali cooking class fundraiser Saturday, December 16 Mahabuba Akhter demonstrates how to prepare authentic Bengali dishes from […]

ARTS Pick: Robin and Linda Williams

Legendary duo Robin and Linda Williams (below, left) have played Americana music for longer than the genre has existed. Their musical beginnings trace to North Carolina, where Linda was a school teacher and Robin played full-time on the coffeehouse scene. Connecting through “a robust blend of bluegrass, folk, old-time and acoustic country,” the husband-and-wife musicians […]

ARTS Pick: The Nutcracker

Charlottesville Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a skillfully choreographed, engaging take on tradition for all ages. The story begins when Clara receives a wooden nutcracker as a holiday gift, and it comes to life along with other toys that accompany her on a journey through an enchanted land filled with dancing dolls and evil mice, guided […]

ARTS Pick: Christmas at The Paramount

Director Michael Slon conducts the 90-member strong Oratorio Society of Virginia for Christmas at The Paramount. Composed of some the area’s finest vocalists, the chorus performs English carols and traditional Spanish holiday compositions, as well as J.A.C. Redford’s Welcome All Wonders: A Christmas Celebration. Choirs from local high schools join in, and an audience sing-along […]

ARTS Pick: Second Draw

Charlottesville’s Second Draw has declared a new style of acoustic rock it calls “bluejam.” Founded in a raw, energetic style, somewhere between country and jam rock, the group’s self-proclaimed genre blends driving guitar with bluegrass instruments including mandolin, banjo and accordion. The desire to break new ground is evident on SD’s debut album, White Dog, […]

LIVING Picks: December 6-12

FAMILY Virginia Glee Club Christmas concert Saturday, December 9 The UVA Glee Club performs seasonal favorites with plenty of opportunities for the audience to sing along. $5-15, 8-10pm. First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park St. virginia gleeclub.org NONPROFIT Holiday Heritage Parade Saturday, December 9 The Downtown Business Association of Charlottesville parades local holiday cheer with floats, […]