Wisdom from the wells 

By Carrie Meslar Bartenders have long been relied on as secret keepers and unofficial therapists. There in times of joy and times of sorrow, observing real life at one of the last true gathering places in our increasingly tech-driven world. In the current era of sitting down at the bar, more and more conversations are […]

The balance of power

By Maeve Hayden, Tami Keaveny, Eshaan Sarup, and Courteney Stuart Power is defined as “the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.” Keeping that in mind, we put together our annual list of the people and organizations that are leading the charge in our community. From […]

In brief: New state budget, JMRL name change, and more

Budget Amendment yays and nays Virginia has a new two-year state budget after the legislature reconvened last week and passed several of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed amendments. Three Democrats defected and voted in favor of an amendment that restricts the number of people eligible for early release under the expanded earned sentence credits. That vote […]

Brackney comes out swinging

By Brielle Entzminger and Courteney Stuart A week after tweeting that a city employee had been at the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 insurrection and faced no consequence, former Charlottesville police chief RaShall Brackney has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville and 10 individuals alleging she was wrongfully terminated from […]

Pick: Jeremy Joyce

Mapping the journey: The road wasn’t easy for Jeremy Joyce, but it was formative. The musician grew up on indie rock and alt-country in his hometown of Philadelphia, before the death of his brother drove him to New York and jazz. He found psychedelic folk and rockabilly after a stint in St. Louis, until he […]

Pick: M.K. England

Love and laughter: You might know M.K. England from their YA fantasy and sci-fi novels—or maybe they helped you pick out your next read while they were working as a teen librarian at JMRL. The fandom expert was even entrusted with writing the official Guardians of the Galaxy prequel novel, and the seventh original Firefly […]

Sound choices

By Samantha Federico darzo Single Cell (self-released)  Adar Seligman-McComas is darzo. Over the past two years, the band had a name change and Seligman-McComas went solo, yet darzo held on to release its debut record. The eight-track, 30-minute Single Cell packs a powerful punch in a swell of horns and drums that complement Seligman-McComas’ vocals. […]

In brief: New leadership at Montpelier, call for library name change, and more

Montpelier gets new leadership With more than half its members now representing the descendants of enslaved workers at Montpelier, the Montpelier Foundation Board is moving quickly to undo actions taken by previous leadership during a months-long dispute over control of the board. First on that to-do list: rehiring high-level staffers who’d been fired for speaking […]

Summer Guide

From polo and swimming holes, to sunsets and weed, here’s our guide to the season’s hottest happenings. 1. Flix at IX Remember the good ol’ days of drive-in movies—basking in the warm summer air, holding your portable radio close, munching on snacks? If you’ve never experienced the magic of outdoor cinema in the summer, IX […]

Sound choices

By Greg Walker Kate Bollinger Look at it in the Light, Ghostly International Look at it in the Light, Kate Bollinger’s debut release on Ghostly International, is a soul-searching expedition. “Pleases me to know I might be wrong / if only I had known it all along,” the Charlottesville, Virginia, native sings on “I Found […]