ARTS Pick: MarchFourth!

In a world toppling with conformity, the internationally acclaimed performance troupe MarchFourth! makes its own rules. No less than 20 musicians, dancers and artisans combine jazz, salsa, hip-hop and rock to create a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, trailblazing musical spectacular. Enhancing the experience are the stilt walkers, hoopers and vaudeville dancers who successfully combine art forms for […]

Mix masters: Charlottesville’s MMA Institute

It’s 5:30pm and the gym of Charlottesville’s MMA Institute is alive with the leathery crackle of boxing gloves and the muffled, scuffle-thud rhythm and squeak of bare feet on padded flooring. There is the litany of sharp nasal inhalations and grunts as well as the barked instructions of a squadron of coaches. Housed in the […]

Opinion: Deadly numbers and weak laws

A year ago in April, a UVA student nearly shot his neighbor, a UVA law student, when he accidentally fired his AK-47 through his wall and into the next apartment. Because the judge didn’t find enough evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that it wasn’t simply an accident and not a criminal act, charges were dismissed, but […]

ARTS Pick: Shakespeare

Almost 400 years later, the world is still enraptured by the lovers, heroes, fairies and deviant minds that dominate tales penned by William Shakespeare. In tribute to the approaching anniversary of his death (April 23, 2016), a statewide collaboration of arts organizations formed the Virginia Shakespeare Initiative to promote a series of Bard-honoring events and […]

ARTS Pick: Pavel Haas Quartet

Hailed as “the world’s most exciting string quartet” by Gramophone magazine, Prague’s Pavel Haas Quartet features two violins, a viola and violoncello. Thanks to its rich, vivid sound, the group has collected an array of awards including the top prize at the prestigious Paolo Borciani competition in Italy and Best Chamber Music Recording at the […]

ARTS Pick: People’s Champs

Brooklyn-based septet People’s Champs artfully fuse West African and South American dance rhythms with futurist synths to create a unique sound endorsed by various music scenes from indie rock to funky soul. The talented ensemble features members of Superpower Horns, the Grammy Award-winning horn section for Beyoncé, as well as powerhouse vocalists. Thursday 10/15. Free, 8pm. […]

Food and Drink 2015

It’s a mouth-watering time to be a food-lover in Charlottesville. The solid foundation of our dining landscape—built by C&O, Mas, Fleurie and others—has paved the way for a new generation of culinarians. Now, we’re reaping the benefits of past and present as we head into our foodie future with scene-stealing newcomers like the little Neapolitan […]

Brewing battle: Pork fuels the culinary competition at Starr Hill’s Oktoberfest

In an effort to do justice to the tradition of Oktoberfest—that much-beloved historical occasion enjoyed by generations of brewski connoisseurs the world ’round—Crozet’s Starr Hill Brewery will, for one day only, transform its taproom into a brauhaus replete with musical entertainment, culinary extravaganza and a smorgasbord of German-influenced beverages. “Germany’s incredible beer history has been […]

ARTS Pick: Cabinet

Formed in eastern Pennsylvania in 2006, Cabinet is a band that honors Appalachian tradition by channeling bluegrass, country and folk into a hard-driving style that’s been deemed slamgrass. Through steady harmonies, soaring vocals and storytelling, the group’s music takes the long way home, inviting its listeners to sit back and relax on a virtual ride […]