2015 Year in Review

Looking back on the last year, it’s clear why Charlottesville was named the No. 2 most exciting city in Virginia (actually, we’d make the case for No. 1). Our town was propelled into the national spotlight for high-profile events such as Martese Johnson’s altercation with ABC agents and Jesse Matthew receiving three life sentences in […]

Hot in the kitchen: Blanc Creatives’ exceptional designs pan out

The founder of Charlottesville’s Blanc Creatives, Corry Blanc, won national attention recently when his hand-forged, carbon-steel cookware was named the winner of Garden & Gun magazine’s prestigious Made in the South awards. Out of thousands of applicants and nominees, Blanc’s products—made right here in Belmont—were selected as the best cookware fabricated by a blacksmith throughout […]

ARTS Pick: The Twelve Dates of Christmas

One-woman show The Twelve Dates of Christmas follows Mary, who discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her when she sees him kissing a coworker on national television during the broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She spends the next year navigating one luckless romance and dating disaster after another while working as an actress in […]

ARTS Picks: Eddie from Ohio

In 2016, the genre-defying Eddie from Ohio will celebrate 25 years of winning fans through a tight, balanced blend of four-part harmonies and instrumentation that includes guitar, bass and harmonica as well as hand and stick percussion. Internationally renowned, local folk singer-songwriter Ellis Paul opens. Friday 12/18. $27-30, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E Main St., […]

ARTS Pick: A Very Woolen Holiday

Grammy-nominated former “American Idol” contestant Chris Daughtry headlines A Very Woolen Holiday, a benefit event for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a nonprofit that funds research for less toxic treatment options. Presented for the first time by Woolen Writers’ Revival and hosted by local musicians Will Thomas Reed and Brian Craddock, the lineup also includes Keith […]

Anais Mitchell moves forward while looking behind

To say that Anais Mitchell shares commonalities with Orpheus, a character from ancient Greek mythology isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. Both possess the musical talents vital for swooning listeners and charming their way into remote realms. But while Orpheus’ journey to rescue his wife Eurydice ended in despair when he carelessly turned his […]

ARTS Pick: The Santaland Diaries

An unlikely holiday tradition took hold when David Sedaris told the sour, witty story of his experience as an unemployed writer who takes a job as an elf at Macy’s in The Santaland Diaries, which gained public recognition on NPR in 1992. Staged by the American Shakespeare Center, Sedaris’ sardonic tale offers an unvarnished glimpse […]

ARTS Pick: KnucklesCracker

Ballet meets burlesque in KnucklesCracker, a reimagining of the classic Nutcracker story, set in the bygone era of speakeasies and vaudeville entertainment. This whirlwind of ragtime rambunctiousness features an array of performers and live music by The Judy Chops. Vintage or cocktail wear encouraged. 18-plus. Sunday 12/13. $12-60, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., […]

ARTS Pick: Steep Canyon Rangers

Wild and crazy guy Steve Martin’s affiliation with the Steep Canyon Rangers may have led to wider recognition for the group when he invited them to tour as his backing band in 2009, but the North Carolina-based bluegrass act already held a stellar reputation among fans on the pick ‘n‘ grin circuit. With the release […]

Vintage reflections: Hang your hat on 2015 Virginia white wines

It’s that time of year again: The grapes have been harvested, and now they finish their ferments in the winery and await bottling. As winemakers taste these first wines of the year, they’ll start thinking about blending and bottling, and they might be surprised by some of the new pressing. How did 2015 work out […]