By Sarah Sargent According to Greek mythology, Hades, lord of the underwold, fell in love with Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. Hades kidnapped Persephone and pulled her down to his subterranean kingdom, until Zeus intervened and freed her. During her time in the underworld, however, Persephone ate a handful of […]
By Julia Stumbaugh The majority of Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s adult population have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine—and we may have an enslaved Black man from modern-day Libya to thank. Onesimus, who helped introduce the idea of inoculation to the West, is one of many enslaved Africans and descendants whose societal […]
Back to the Bard: Shakespeare knew something about quarantines, having lived through several during the plagues of the early 1600s. The urge to break out is palpable as American Shakespeare Center launches its season with safely distanced, outside performances that encompass the Bard’s work in tragedy, history, and comedy, starting with Macbeth. Actor-manager Chris Johnston […]
Dish the dirt: Your Friday wine downs just got better. On select dates throughout the spring and summer, local growers will be at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards for Featured Farmers Friday, a pop-up mini farmer’s market paired with a farm-to-table dining option. It’s an opportunity to get some quality time with area farmers such […]
Mountain pose: If you’ve been doing YouTube yoga while squeezed between your couch and TV, you might need a change of scenery. Zen at Swannanoa offers a wild alternative to your living room flow. The class is held at the Swannanoa mansion, built by millionaire Virginia lawyer James Dooley in 1912 and styled after Rome’s […]
Art bargain: One of the best bangs for your art world buck is the annual Gallery Rally, when more than 20 local artists create work on site to be purchased to support Second Street, one of the oldest nonprofit contemporary art spaces in central Virginia. Book an appointment and score an original piece from Michael […]
By Alana Bittner I’m cooking along with local chef Janey Gioiosa’s “A Kind (of) Cooking Show” on YouTube, and get halfway through the video before I realize I’ve overlooked something on the list of ingredients—yeast. This recipe is a brave choice for me. As far as I’m concerned, pretzels come from Auntie Anne’s at the […]
By Mary Jane Gore The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round—until COVID hits. And since the start of the pandemic, city and county bus systems have encountered many bumps and unexpected curves. Before COVID, the city averaged about 2,600 bus riders per day. Currently, that number is down to 1,033, and some buses […]
Break out: Part visual album, part queer drama, and part live experience, The Wandering is a new way of experiencing theatrical art. Created by Charlottesville native and Albemarle High School alum Jeremy Weiss, the production is inspired by the music of Franz Schubert, and uses a queer lens to examine the love and pain that […]
Hot chocolate: Food nourishes the magical realism in the 1992 international sensation Like Water For Chocolate. When Tita is forbidden from marrying her true love Pedro due to her place in the family lineage, he marries her older sister. Tita becomes a cook, and channels her undying passion for her brother-in-law into meals with special […]