A good read

Whatever you’re looking for in a summer read—whether it be a laugh-out-loud feminist tale, a small-town mystery, or a nonfiction adventure—area authors have you covered. Dive into the pages of these books and find the perfect warm-weather read for any mood. Sara Read, Johanna Porter is Not Sorry (fiction) What do you do when your […]

Heads ‘n’ tails

Why is there no fun underwear in the world? Joan Kovatch and Dylan West were sitting on their couch one day, pondering this, lamenting the lack of undergarments covered in prints of furry, feral creatures (flowers aren’t really their thing). Struck by a burst of spontaneous inspiration, the couple decided to do something about it, […]

Sylvia Chong in the HotSeat

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the second annual VeryAsian celebration is coming to 5th Street Station on May 13. The day-long event, co-organized by Jay Pun and Sylvia Chong, is jam-packed with music, art, food, and community. Chong, a professor and director of the minor in Asian Pacific American Studies at UVA, […]

Zach Miller in the HotSeat

This Saturday, Zach Miller will be one of many jockeys competing for a win at Foxfield Races, Charlottesville’s bi-annual steeplechase event. It’s a meaningful homecoming, years in the making, for the Charlottesville native, who’s raced, and won, at Foxfield numerous times—Miller even met his wife after a 2005 win. Foxfield has been hosting steeplechase races […]

DJ Rush in the HotSeat

DJ Rush is one of the newest baristas at Kindness Cafe + Play, where he serves up perfectly brewed beverages and delicious eats. The mission-driven coffee shop provides meaningful employment for adults with cognitive disabilities, and features items from many local businesses, including Found.Market, Allens Scottish Shortbread, Grit Coffee, and Innisfree Village (hello, granola bars). […]

Katen Reynolds in the HotSeat

Katen Reynolds has served as director of advancement at The Front Porch for nearly five years, and this summer she’ll step into a new leadership role when founder Emily Morrison completes her tenure as executive director. Before joining The Front Porch, Reynolds worked as a gardener, dance teacher, and most recently, an elementary school teacher. […]

Read on

A Romance Salon: American Royalty Tracey Livesay’s steamy rom-com American Royalty is the first in a new series inspired by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s real-life love story. Rapper Danielle “Duchess” Nelson turns the palace upside down when she falls for reclusive Prince Jameson. Livesay will discuss her work, answer questions, and sign copies at […]

Candy unlimited

Writing a book is an admirably impressive feat in its own right, but adapting an Old English epic—that happens to be quite violent—into a tale palatable for children? Yeah, Zach Weinersmith did that. Bea Wolf (pronounced Bee-wolf) is Weinersmith’s illustrated, comedic retelling of Beowulf that follows a gang of troublemaking kids as they defend their […]

HotSeat: Kalela Williams

Last fall, Kalela Williams hit the ground running as the new director of the Virginia Center for the Book—she only had six months to organize the Virginia Festival of the Book, a process that usually takes well over a year. Williams came to the festival from Philadelphia, where she previously worked for Mighty Writers and […]

Pump, pump, pass

How do we feed our babies? It’s a question Kelly Cox has been fielding from new parents for over a decade. Cox, a licensed clinical social worker, registered prenatal yoga teacher, and birth doula, has hands-on experience helping moms through every stage of pregnancy. After six years of working as a therapist with mainly domestic […]