Culture

Tried it in C’ville: Cville Dance Co-Op

Every time a period film comes on, I bemoan that community dances are no longer a thing. I love dancing and find there are not enough opportunities to dance in the company of others (especially now that I’ve entered my midlife renaissance). While clubs were fun back in the day, I recently sought a different […]

Kristie Smeltzer | February 25, 2026

Culture

Tried it in C’ville: Glass-blowing at Studio 1050°

What do you give people who have everything—especially if they’re decluttering? Experiential gifts have been the answer to that question for some in my family. We did a paint-n-sip night once andhad a lot of laughs, made memories, and left with our own (kinda) matching piece of art. Studio 1050°, a local flameworking and glass […]

Kristie Smeltzer | December 17, 2025

Culture Entertainment

Tried it in C’ville: Blue Ridge Mountain Maze

While some mourn summer’s passing, I’m dancing in my sweater. These brisk mornings conjure fond memories of attending fall festivals and carving jack-o’-lanterns. Searching for a way to celebrate my favorite season led me to the Blue Ridge Mountain Maze. I’ve wanted to venture through a legit maze ever since seeing Labyrinth in 1986, so […]

Kristie Smeltzer | October 29, 2025

Culture Recreation & Fitness

Heed the call of foam-covered battle

For those of us who grew up dueling with long cardboard tubes from the center of wrapping paper rolls, our days of swordplay needn’t be over. (My nephew dubbed those tubes “DOOT-da-doos” because they also double as instruments.) In my mid-life renaissance, I’ve leaned harder into my weirdo ways. I play Dungeons & Dragons weekly […]

Kristie Smeltzer | September 24, 2025

Culture

Get caught pink-handed

Part of summer’s joy is its bounty of seasonal produce. When wild blackberry bushes in the yard of my childhood home presented their delicious fruit, I knew we’d reached the pinnacle of summer. While store-bought berries are tasty, nothing beats ’em fresh from the vine. For a local delight, Chiles Peach Orchard, on the outskirts […]

Kristie Smeltzer | August 13, 2025

Culture

Retracing and rethinking

I’m a sucker for a historical walking tour. Treading where our forebears trod to see current spaces through their historical context reshapes our understanding of places that we thought we knew. Such experiences enable us to learn, in greater detail, about people of the past whose lives were very different from our own. The Albemarle […]

Kristie Smeltzer | July 23, 2025

Culture Living

Healing within and beyond

Living in a college town comes with challenges (think crosswalks on the Corner between classes). It also comes with wonderful benefits, such as access to the expertise and research of renowned faculty members through UVA Lifetime Learning programs. What Participating online in UVA Lifetime Learning’s Meditation, Altered States, and After-Death Communication event. Why Interest in […]

Kristie Smeltzer | June 11, 2025

Arts Culture

Live Arts’ Waterworks is packed with fringy fun

From May 15 through May 31, Live Arts’ third annual Waterworks celebrates new work, while featuring original performances and diverse voices.  “When I describe the festival,” says Live Arts Artistic Director Susan E. Evans, “[I say] it’s Charlottesville’s response to the Fringe. It’s not exactly a fringe festival in some ways, but it has that […]

Kristie Smeltzer | May 21, 2025

Arts Culture

Throwing as a creative act

A special kind of satisfaction can be found in making something useful. As one of the oldest human crafts, pottery still employs techniques that have changed very little from those used thousands of years ago. Ever since City Clay opened in the Silk Mills Building, I’ve wanted to take a class there. This spring, I […]

Kristie Smeltzer | May 14, 2025

Arts Culture

All hail the queens

It’s not every day that one gets to meet stage royalty. In that respect, drag shows offer a unique opportunity to connect with multiple monarchs at once. I’ve always been intrigued by drag, but had never attended a live show. I voted for drag diva Shangela on the reg when she performed on “Dancing with […]

Kristie Smeltzer | April 16, 2025