Bright spots

It’s hard to be a humbug when you’re looking at a twinkling display of festive lights. Here’s where to gawk at the glow:  Let There Be Light PVCC’s annual outdoor exhibition returns on December 8. Bring your flashlights, grab a warm cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy glowing sculptures, floating artwork, and interactive installations. pvcc.edu  […]

The emperor strikes out

Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon covers the well-worn territory of the titular French emperor’s monumental military conquests and eventual downfall. Scott’s battle sequences are undeniably extraordinary, and it’s gorgeous overall, but mediocre dialogue and Joaquin Phoenix’s dull title performance noticeably weaken the film. Scott opens Napoleon with a climax: a bold sequence depicting the beheading […]

Mary’s Christmas

Family gatherings during the holiday season are a universally acknowledged experience. You know, the simultaneous dread and excitement, dodging probing questions about your love life, gossiping about family members who’re in the other room, rehashing old dramas, and adding fire to new feuds.  In Live Arts’ holiday offering, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, characters new […]

December galleries

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library 2450 Old Ivy Rd. “Their World As Big As They Made It: Looking Back at the Harlem Renaissance” showcases the visionary works of writers, artists, and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance, plus other permanent exhibitions.  Angelo Jewelry 220 E. Main St. “Sentiment in Place,” landscapes by V-Anne Evans. […]

Messiah Sing-In

Spread some Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear at the 56th annual Messiah Sing-In. Conductor Michael Slon leads community singers, members of the Charlottesville Symphony, and other local professionals through Handel’s nativity oratorio. Minstrels from the University Singers, the UVA Chamber Singers, Virginia Glee Club, and Virginia Women’s Chorus help round out […]

Lewis Black

If you get under Lewis Black’s skin, prepare to be dragged. The stand-up comic, who’s known as the King of Rant, skewers his subjects with comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing. Black’s diatribes blaze through the absurdities in current events, media, and politics. Also a talented voice actor, Black famously voiced Anger in Pixar’s Inside Out, […]

Go for baroque

When accomplished local violinist Fiona Hughes says she loves music that “transcends the divide between high art and popular,” she ain’t talking about the divide between Brian Eno and Bryan Adams. Hughes is into the type of sounds that would’ve made the rounds in Colonial Virginia, specifically post-Renaissance baroque tunes. In other words, her favored […]

Nutcracker

Get an early start on the holiday spirit at Talmi Entertainment’s Nutcracker. The Christmas classic is full of falling snow, growing trees, handcrafted sets and costumes, and acrobatic moves. An international cast featuring Ukrainian principal artists jetés and pirouettes across the stage as beloved characters like the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Mother […]

Friendsgiving Revue

Enjoy a night of companionship and song at Chamomile and Whiskey’s Friendsgiving Revue. The local band headlines with its signature blend of roots, rock, and Americana, and invites an array of guests on stage for a song or two. Richmond singer-songwriter Deau Eyes brings her alt-indie tunes, and Rebecca Porter, who’s known for her commanding, […]

100 Proof and Ebony Groove

Dance off the food coma with jazz and soul sounds from 100 Proof and Ebony Groove. Known for its high-octane pace and nonstop music sets, 100 Proof brings together a lineup of local musicians that blends funk, R&B, jazz, and neo soul with Latin conga into a collective sound. Ebony Groove has been performing its […]