Culture Entertainment

Brett Dennen brings the audience into his act on new tour

Brett Dennen is a fan of great songwriters, and it shows in his work. His ability to tell a story—sometimes whimsical, sometimes heartbreaking—and deliver it wrapped in infectious hooks defines Dennen’s facility as a student of folk and rock music. His unique style launched a fandom of more than 75 million streams on Spotify for […]

Tami Keaveny | September 23, 2026

Best of C-VILLE 2026 Health + Fitness

Match made

When John Neal’s son joined Charlottesville High School’s tennis team, the local father of two agreed to help out during practices, thinking he’d use his own experience and love of the game to support the Black Knights on the court. He did not foresee the winning match ahead of him. Seven seasons later, the elder […]

Tami Keaveny | August 26, 2026

Culture Extra

A local spin on Record Store Day

Ask vinyl enthusiasts what’s special about their collection—and then order another drink because you’re in for a passionate lesson on record-bin diving, rare releases, cover art, reissues, mint ratings, analog vs. digital audio superiority, and the nuances of the recording and pressing process.  Every year, on the third Saturday of April, audiophiles get their own […]

Tami Keaveny | April 15, 2026

Culture Feature

The Virginia Film Festival brings filmmakers, stars, and audiences together for a five-day celebration of cinema

Big-deal film fests are synonymous with location. Toronto, Telluride, Cannes, and Sundance evoke industry accolades and red-carpet credentials. Our own Virginia Film Festival has gotten pretty buzzy over the years, with marquee names, tentpole previews, and movie deals cut on the Downtown Mall. The VAFF has become “one of the nation’s leading regional film festivals […]

Tami Keaveny | October 22, 2025

Arts Culture Entertainment

VAFF 38 kicks it off with Boss biopic

Virginia Film Festival Executive Director Jody Kielbasa and Artistic Director Ilya Tovbis appeared on the Paramount stage on Tuesday evening to announce the 38th Annual Virginia Film Festival. The 2025 VAFF program features more than 120 films from Hollywood giants, Virginia and international filmmakers, plus topical documentaries, and a wide range of special guests across […]

Tami Keaveny | September 24, 2025

Arts Culture

Actor, director, and producer Matthew Modine appears at the 37th annual Virginia Film Festival

Birdy, November 1, The Paramount Theater I Hope This Helps!, November 2, Violet Crown 3 From his first film, Baby It’s You, directed by John Sayles, to his recent role as Dr. Martin “Papa” Brenner in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and a star turn in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Matthew Modine’s accomplishments in film, television, and on stage define the range […]

Tami Keaveny | October 30, 2024

Arts Culture

No blank pages

Shannon Spence awoke to her calling as a cartoon artist while pursuing a fine arts degree focused on printmaking at University of Virginia. In her fourth year, she took a course in sequential art–and she saw her future. “I realized what incredible potential comics were as an art form, and it just clicked for me,” […]

Tami Keaveny | June 12, 2024

Culture Food & Drink News

Dining adventures

Small and unassuming, the original Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, has served classic cocktails to celebrities and locals since 1931. The Alley Light restaurant owners, Chris Dunbar and Robin McDaniel, say it inspired Charlottesville restaurateur Wilson Richey when developing their intimate spot on Second Street SW. “Will went to Europe a lot, and … Harry’s […]

Tami Keaveny | March 6, 2024

2023 Best of C-VILLE Staff Picks

Relics to relish

Ever been torn between the purchase of an official, vintage mug fromThe Lion King and a seven-piece Victorian cruet set? Or maybe it’s that Cypress driftwood sculpture, which would fit your decor perfectly. Heyday Antiques & Vintage is a charming, well-curated indoor marketplace with plenty to offer. The store is a collective of 18 vendors […]

Tami Keaveny | August 23, 2023