Virginia lovers

What’s with the “company” in Kendall Street Company? If you know anything about the local band, an 8- to 9-year-old jam-rock outfit with a dedicated regional following, you know these guys are anything but stuffed shirts. Business casual for frontman Louis Smith and his colleagues doesn’t even come with socks and shoes. No, Smith says […]

It’s hotter here

By Chris Martin One of Charlottesville’s most buzzed-about restaurants in recent years, Guajiros Miami Eatery, arrived on West Main Street through a leap of faith, a series of coincidences, and, most importantly, a love of a mother’s recipes. “We have been dreaming of hospitality,” says the family-run business’ patriarch Harvey Mayorga Sr. “I have always […]

Belly up

Adapted from J.R. Moehringer’s memoir, director George Clooney’s The Tender Bar is story worth telling—and at times it’s well-told. But the film never fully coalesces, and it feels like a rough cut in need of further editing.  The Tender Bar has the makings of a truly touching story: Young J.R. Maguire (Daniel Ranieri) transcends his […]

Pick: Grease

Tell me about it stud: Cuff your jeans, grab your leather jacket or poodle skirt, and take it back to the ’50s for a Grease sing-along party. T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and beauty school dropouts should arrive early for a preshow hand jive contest, where a variety of props, including combs, ribbons, and salon caps, will […]

Pick: Gordon Lightfoot

Song and story: With a remarkable career surpassing 50 years, it’s safe to say that Canadian musician Gordon Lightfoot is a living legend. The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee has released over 21 albums, and had his songs recorded and performed by greats such as Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Barbra Streisand. In […]

Pick: Cory Wong

Wong does it right: Cory Wong is a Grammy-nominated musical maestro who’s always got something fun up his sleeve. Whether it’s shredding guitar in full hockey gear on a skating rink, or hosting his podcast Wong Notes, his creativity and upbeat presence shine through. Recently, Wong got the chance to flex his acting chops with […]

The big wow

A few months before she died, Asha Greer wanted everyone to wake up. We were sitting on the porch of her little house in Miran Forest, near Batesville, on a cool October day. She was reflecting on art and tea, life and death, and I asked the beloved artist, spiritual teacher, and longtime Charlottesville resident […]

Winning wine

Shannon Horton had a dream: “I wanted to make a white wine that would go with a steak.” As a member of the family dynasty that runs Horton Vineyards in Gordonsville, she had a good shot at achieving that goal. And last fall, her wine—Suil (pronounced sue-ELL)—became the first sparkling viognier and only the second […]

Galleries: February

Poetic prints Robert Schultz doesn’t need a camera to take photographs. The Roanoke-based poet and author uses a unique method of camera-less photography to create realistic-looking images on conventional and unusual materials. Many of Schultz’s works are driven by an appreciation for nature and the arts. “My writing and reading life has influenced my art […]

Pick: Mapping the Historic Green Books

Exploring our routes: During the era of Jim Crow laws, New York City mailman Victor Hugo Green created The Green Book, an annual publication that listed motels, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses considered safe for Black travelers. In 2016, a research group began a digital project to document and map the historyand status of […]