Moving tributes

The act of running can be solitary and isolating—a way to get the recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day and nothing more. “To be honest, I don’t like running,” says Derrick J. Waller. “I’m not sure if I will ever like running.” Surprisingly, Waller is a member of the local Prolyfyck Run Creww. Prolyfyck […]

Fun house

House of Gucci, the second film released in the past two months from director Ridley Scott, is fun to watch. The movie isn’t great, and it isn’t terrible, but it’s full of eye candy. (Scott’s other recent film, The Last Duel, was delayed by the pandemic and released in October this year, and features Ben […]

Pick: Brew & Buddy Run

Calling all elves: Don’t be a cotton-headed ninny-muggins—treat yo’ elf to the Brew & Buddy Run followed by a screening of the holiday classic Elf. The three-mile run includes brewery breaks before heading to the theater for a journey through the candy cane forest, sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops, and the Lincoln Tunnel. Sunday 12/19. $5-25, […]

Pick: Christmas at The Paramount

Carols everywhere: The Oratorio Society of Virginia returns to the stage after nearly two years for Christmas at The Paramount. Directed by Michael Slon and composed of some of the community’s finest singers, the choral group will perform an assortment of seasonal favorites, including excerpts from Antonio Vivaldi, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Virginia’s own Adolphus Hailstork. […]

Pick: Potter’s Wassail

Spirits chasing spirits: Enjoy hot mulled cider, fire pits, and sing-alongs at Potter’s Craft Cider’s seventh annual Wassail, a British drinking tradition to bless the orchards and scare away evil spirits, ensuring a bountiful harvest in the year to come. The lively day-long celebration includes face painting, wreath crown crafting, live music by the Blue […]

Pick: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Merry Rockmas: Rock the silent night away with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a progressive rock band that takes holiday tunes to the next level. The group is celebrating 25 years since the release of its debut rock opera, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, with a live show featuring wailing strings, lasers, lights, and effects synchronized to […]

Pick: WinterSong

S’mores-gasbord: It’s time to celebrate, and WinterSong has everything you need to get the revelry started. The festive gathering features holiday caroling, gourmet food trucks, shopping, and more. Stay warm—and make s’mores—at one of the crackling fires and enjoy your choice of beverage at this family-friendly event. Artisan gifts from local and regional vendors will […]

Pick: Robert Earl Keen

Holiday roots: Raised on classic rock and Willie Nelson, singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen likes to take the road less traveled. Steering clear of mainstream country, Keen is lauded as an outlaw of the Americana music style and became a grassroots sensation thanks to his poetic musings, razor wit, and killer live band. With 21 records […]

Pick: Let There Be Light

Twinkle, twinkle: Let There Be Light returns for two evenings of whimsical illumination ahead of the longest night of the year. The outdoor exhibition includes a variety of light-centered art installations and performances. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Artmobile traveling gallery will be set up on opening night, and hot cider will be available […]

Extended play

By Dave Cantor The opening track of Julian Lage’s first Blue Note album is titled “Etude”—a nod, perhaps, to the lifetime he’s spent studying his instrument. The guitarist, who came to national attention in a short 1996 documentary focused on his prodigious talents called Jules at Eight, has been recording as a bandleader for just […]