Pick: Summer of Drag

Dragging your heels: The Summer of Drag celebration at IX Art Park features Virginia queens such as London Bacall, Christina Doll, and Enya Salad, who bring the glitz, glam, and body-ody-ody, as well as awe-inspiring death drops you never would have thought possible in stilettos. With hearty doses of lip syncs and laughs, summer is […]

Pick: Pride Party Happy Hour

Rally around the rainbow: Every day is pride day, but especially on Thursdays in June at Vitae Spirit’s Pride Party Happy Hour. The bartenders serve up rainbow-colored cocktails as they bop to a fabulous playlist, and you can peruse a selection of queer prints and artwork made by staff or enter a raffle benefiting the […]

Pick: La Bohème

Living on love: There’s something timeless about cash-strapped bohemians in love, which may be why La Bohème, first staged in 1896, has become one of the most performed operas in the world. Charlottesville Opera’s outdoor performance is updated to occur during the profound social changes of 1960s Paris, and the 90-minute abridged production features Charlottesville’s […]

Pick: Flower Party

Friendly arrangement: It’s hard to make a vase of flowers look bad, but an expert floral arranger can take your bouquet to another level. Debi Burdick of Fawn Over Flora leads a sunset gathering filled with flowers, wine, music, and friends at Flower Party at Cardinal Point Winery. Local farms provide the blooms, and copies […]

Galleries: June

Atlas Coffee 2206 Fontaine Ave. Colorful, abstract paintings by Kris Bowmaster. The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative 209 Monticello Rd. “Pa(i)n(t)demic,” an exhibit from Jum Jirapan that explores art as therapy and painting as a way to begin anew. Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. “The Frequency of Roses,” featuring nine egg tempera paintings […]

Take it from the top

When Sally Rose and her band Shagwüf take the stage for Fridays After Five at the Ting Pavilion on June 18, they’ll be the first musicians to play the venue since Jeff Tweedy and Wilco came to town on November 8, 2019. Wait, the what pavilion? A lot has changed in 19 months—including C’ville’s largest […]

Straight talk

Want to know what to order from the new Café Frank, acclaimed chef Jose de Brito’s newest proving ground? Don’t ask acclaimed chef Jose de Brito. “I am never happy with my dishes, and I usually do not taste my finished plates,” de Brito says. “I am way too scared to find out how bad […]

Emergency expedition

There is no keener view into family and friendship than a road trip movie. The Blues Brothers were on a mission from god, Thelma and Louise were running from the law, and the Griswold family just wanted to meet Marty Moose—but whatever the quest, there’s a unique bond that comes from spending many days together […]

PICK: Barkodz

Check ’em out: Barkodz: An Urban Experience features local artists working to honor hip-hop’s past while forging its future, using rhythm and words to address oppression, progression, and political expression. The lineup includes Kush Gang, Keese Allen, Equally Opposite, and more. Lights, sound, stage effects, and a “transport cube” make the event a multi-sensory experience […]

PICK: Juneteenth

Art felt: This is the first year Virginia has officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday. The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center continues its tradition of commemorating the event with art, food, and music emceed by Ike Anderson. Tobiah Mundt and Lisa Woolfork of Black Women Stitch will lead a creative “non-sewing sewing” session; […]