“I stitch for my family,” says Lauren Ryan, owner of Poppypointe, Charlottesville’s source for all things needlepoint. “A lot of what I do is inspired by them and for them.” Coming from a long line of skilled craftswomen and embroiderers, Ryan sees needlepoint as a bridge across generations. She learned to stitch at a young […]
“I stitch for my family,” says Lauren Ryan, owner of Poppypointe, Charlottesville’s source for all things needlepoint. “A lot of what I do is inspired by them and for them.” Coming from a long line of skilled craftswomen and embroiderers, Ryan sees needlepoint as a bridge across generations. She learned to stitch at a young […]
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, […]
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 […]
his year, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center marks its 10th anniversary. Since 2013, it has provided educational programs, cultural events, and commemorations for Charlottesville’s Black community—and revived the role of the original Jefferson School. “From its founding, the Jefferson School held the cultural practices—the gatherings, performances, the festivals—of the African American Community,” says […]
Derek Brown’s sculpture is all about fun. The Palmyra resident started making quirky clay figures because he wasn’t having fun at his day job. He wants people to see his pieces and think, “That’s fun.” And if he stops having fun making the tchotchkes, he’ll give it up. “Basically, I hated my job so much—being […]
Podcasts are the fastest-growing audio entertainment platform in the country, according to the Radio Agency—more than one-third of Americans listen to them regularly. Charlottesville is home to some of the most engaging, from lighthearted chats to compelling true crime investigations. Give these five a stream.—Laura Drummond “Bold Dominion” “Bold Dominion” covers all things Virginia state […]
With the Virginia Festival of the Book already on our calendar (March 23-26), we reached out to Kalela Williams—the Center for the Book’s new director—to tell us what she’s most looking forward to reading from this year’s lineup. See her picks below, and visit vabook.org for the full festival schedule.—CH Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel I […]
Here’s one way to get the creative juices flowing: Rose’s Inspiration Station. The mobile arts and crafts studio comes right to you, infusing imagination into kids’ birthday parties, weddings, and even work events. Book online by selecting a predetermined theme—fantasy world, for example—or reach out with a one-of-a-kind idea of your own. On the day […]
Jen Deibert doesn’t care much for categories. “I would not call myself a potter,” she says, although her cozy cluttered studio is packed with ceramic pieces. (It actually looks like a vintage shoppe and a crystals booth got married in a kiln and had children.) Asked about her art, Deibert simply says, “I make things.” […]
It’s the most wonderful time of year. Of course, for a lot of us, it’s also the most stressful, most exhausting time of year. It’s gift-giving season, and to take some of the pressure off, we’ve tapped local gifting gurus in varying arenas—like food, motherhood, drama, science—and asked them to pick a gift for the […]