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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Director Ti Ames is booked and busy. The lifelong thespian, who first encountered musical theater at Live Arts as an 8-year old, is directing the community theater’s production of Crumbs from the Table of Joy, a touching memory play about a Black family, told through the eyes of 17-year-old Ernestine Crump as she comes of […]
Nowadays, it seems like current lighting trends lean more toward minimalist shapes and neutral palettes. While a slender floor lamp or simple pendant chandelier can certainly tie a room together, they sure can be boring to look at. Tired of basic lighting options, artists Abby Kasonik and Kiki Slaughter pooled their talent to create a […]
When First Fridays rolls around, Visible Records is a must-visit for gallery hoppers looking for compelling, distinct works in a variety of mediums. Every month the artist-run gallery and studio space collaborates with an impressive lineup of local and visiting artists, including Fumi Ishino, Dana Washington-Queen, Jackie Sumell, and the February 2023 artist, Kevin Jerome […]
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center opened its doors. It’s a milestone achievement that wouldn’t be possible without the steely determination of Executive Director Andrea Douglas, whose hard work has solidified the historic school firmly in the heart of Charlottesville. Under Douglas’ leadership, the JSAAHC […]
Tucked away in a quaint little storefront in Gordonsville is Folkling, an oasis of vintage clothing, heritage textiles, and American-made goods. Folkling is a sustainable venture dedicated to finding old things new homes, creating quality goods with makers, and taking life slow. The mastermind behind it all is Leney Breeden. Breeden grew up in the […]
Hailey Ballard has an unusual job. When she’s not teaching first grade, she brings a bit of magic to local kids as a princess. Well, a queen, to be precise. Back in 2020, Ballard started working for the Albemarle County Public School District in the middle of the pandemic. The district organized a drive-by character […]