Trapdoors, from both sides now

Something enchanting happens when we cross the threshold between illusion and what lies behind it. That’s a fancy way of saying that I’m a sucker for a behind-the-scenes experience. I’ve always been a huge theater fan, to the point of becoming the president of my high school’s International Thespian Society chapter. As you can imagine, […]

In brief

Bill-ding blocks Virginia’s state legislature adjourned on schedule March 9, with members saying they’d balanced the budget and passed a swath of bipartisan legislation. The session—which ran for 60 days—was the first time Democrats held control of the legislature since the election of Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The governor signed 64 bills into law, amended 12 […]

Upon this rock

By Yasu Shinozaki The neighborhood of Preston Heights is deeply linked to the legacy of one man: Charles Hunter Brown. Brown was one of the first Black contractors in the Charlottesville area and built many of the houses in the neighborhood located between Preston and Grady avenues. He also built Holy Temple Church of God, […]

March galleries

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library 2450 Old Ivy Rd. “Their World As Big As They Made It: Looking Back at the Harlem Renaissance,” plus other permanent exhibitions. Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. In the Micro Gallery, “As I Found It: My Mother’s House,” Russell Hart’s selected photographs from his book […]

Jump shots

Seeing is sometimes unbelievable at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour short film screenings. Take to the mountains, the sea, and uncharted terrain as you ride along with the outdoor action, defying gravity from your seat while enjoying soaring moves and dizzying views. The event benefits the Shenandoah National Park Trust. $25, times […]

What’s shakin’

It’s impossible to deny the Grateful Dead’s place in the rock music zeitgeist. From Steal Your Face and dancing bears artwork, to concert tape trading and tie-dyed T-shirts, love for the Dead spans multiple generations—all stemming from the reliably mind-blowing live shows the band pumped out over the course of 30 years. John Brackett puts […]

Illiterate Light

Illiterate Light ends the year on a high note in a year filled with high notes for the Harrisonburg duo. The band’s critically acclaimed album Sunburned came out in January. In summer they played to sellout crowds as openers for The Head and The Heart. With Jeff Gorman on synth bass pedal and guitar, and […]

Sarah White’s Country Christmas Show

Sing along among the trees at Sarah White’s Country Christmas Show, a festive evening full of twinkling lights, tons of ornaments, and honky-tonk holiday tunes. The Virginia-based singer-songwriter is joined onstage by a sleigh full of local musicians, including Michael Clem, Ian Gilliam, Charlie Bell, Matty Metcalfe, Anna Matijasic, and The (All New) Acorn Sisters. […]

Loss of local culinary leader

Restaurateur Wilson “Will” Richey died in a single-car accident in the early morning of Tuesday, December 12, according to a statement from the Albemarle County Police Department. First responders were dispatched to the 1300 block of Owensville Road at approximately 1:21am, and Richey, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene. For decades, Richey was an […]

Heating and cooling system

By Greg Roberts I first noticed the wooden cylindrical pod at the Ix farmers’ market. Weird, I thought. What is that thing? Some new age-y meditation tube? A hipster’s repurposed RV, like the ones I’d seen on Instagram during the pandemic? A few weeks later I saw two seemingly sane people emerge from the pod […]