Pick: A Christmas Carol

If you’re feeling a little Grinchy, the American Shakespeare Center’s production of A Christmas Carol is sure to turn that frown upside down. The immersive show follows miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he gets a visit from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Audience members should arrive early so they have time to take […]

Pick: 15th Annual Xmas Jam

Deck the halls, throw back some eggnog, and cut loose at the 15th Annual Xmas Jam. The evening features a lineup of local musicians performing old favorites, new surprises, and holiday hits, and the gig benefits The Front Porch. Hosts Tucker Rogers and BJ Pendleton keep the festivities rolling between sets by Andy Waldeck, Joe […]

Pick: Holiday Music Series

Seasonal classics are revitalized with dazzling virtuosity and merry fervor at the Quirk’s Holiday Music Series. In this weekly installment, violinists Minchae Kim and SoHyun Ko, violist Jerome McCoy, and cellist Dilshod Narzillaev of the Heifetz International Music Institute perform a seasonal program. Highlights include glittering solo pieces, Baroque gems, chamber masterworks, and some special […]

Pick: National Anthem

One-hit-wonder Clint has fallen on hard times in National Anthem, a new full-length experimental feature from local filmmaker Will Goss. Through a blend of animation and live action, the movie follows Clint as he receives an email from another planet, Rena Lara, that asks him to come visit and write its national anthem. Goss, who […]

Put a twinkle in your eye

It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to celebrate than with festive holiday lights. Let There Be Light  PVCC’s annual outdoor exhibition returns for one night only on December 9, with light-filled artworks, performances, hot chocolate, and warm apple cider. lettherebelightpvcc.com Veritas Illuminated  Make it sparkle at an immersive […]

In brief

Warrenton Police Department Chief Michael Kochis will be Charlottesville’s next police chief. During the December 5 City Council meeting, interim City Manager Michael Rogers announced that he had chosen Kochis after a months-long community engagement, recruitment, and selection process led by POLIHIRE. After receiving 19 applications, Rogers formed a screening committee, which narrowed down the […]

Pick: Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night

The streets of Charlottesville are alive with the sound of music at Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night, an interactive soundscape designed specifically to be heard outside during December. Bring your walking shoes and a speaker (phone, bluetooth, boombox) for a luminous promenade through downtown Charlottesville. Each participant will play one of four tracks, creating a moving […]

Pick: Women in Film

The Indie Short Film Series returns with the Women in Film edition, bringing a new slate of stellar flicks to the big screen. This installment features up to seven domestic and international shorts, written or directed by women from a variety of genres. Stick around after the credits for a panel discussion with the filmmakers […]

Pick: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Psychedelic funk band Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has played more than a thousand shows across 44 states since its inception at the University of Maryland over a decade ago. “When touring shut down in 2020, we gained immense perspective,” says guitarist and vocalist Greg Ormont. “Now more than ever, we recognize that you only get […]

Sound choices

Mariana Bell  Still Not Sleeping (self-released)  In the 19 years since her debut album, Mariana Bell has matured. On her eighth studio LP, Still Not Sleeping, Bell’s voice, production, and songwriting talent shine as she blurs the lines of vintage pop and country rock in songs that celebrate life. Bell’s new songs evolved as she […]