Staging the psyche

In the plays collected in his new book, Peter Coy includes a range of extreme human behavior, from fears most dreaded to murders most foul, from rank dishonor to impish perversity. He also infuses characters with love, hope, forbearance, and sometimes forgiveness. A House in the Country and Other Plays gives its audience a shot […]

Punishing words

Satire feeds on the contemporary. As new social issues and interests arise, satire helps us inspect them and make sense of their value in our changing world. Satire can disarm or emasculate through humor, but it can also be twisted into horror and used to heighten danger. The Columnist does both. First, the film makes […]

Drooling over new pastries, steak, and wine tastings

Hello to Cou Cou Charlottesville croissant connoisseurs and Danish devotees are buzzing about the debut of Cou Cou Rachou, the new bakery from Rachel De Jong. After receiving her pastry chef certification from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, De Jong spent the last 12 years refining her skills in expert kitchens, including Gearharts Fine Chocolates […]

PICK: Sincerely Iris

Ramblin’ Man: Having called Colorado and Georgia home, Todd Murray of Sincerely Iris is now based in Richmond, Virginia. He’s spent a fair share of time on the road, and his songs, which he describes as “road trip music,” evoke dusty drives down Southern backroads, hand tapping on the wheel, heading toward a distant horizon. […]

PICK: Hobby Horse Derby

Hold your horses: Get off your high horse and grab a pool noodle pony at the Hobby Horse Derby. All ages are welcome to saddle up and try their luck in racing or dressage. Winners will have a chance to compete in a stick horse race at the Foxfield racetrack in the fall. Spectators can […]

PICK: The Nature of Oaks

Solid oaks: Of all the trees in all of our yards, the mighty oak is extra special, according to Doug Tallamy, professor of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Delaware. In his latest book, The Nature of Oaks, Tallamy explains how oak trees support more life forms than any other tree genus in […]

PICK: We Are Star Children

Starry eyed: Prepare to blast off with longtime Charlottesville favorite We Are Star Children. The band boasts peppy beats, catchy lyrics, and a sparkling smatter of horns, not to mention the vocal power of an eight-piece lineup. The performance benefits Roots and Wings, a program that provides comprehensive music education to kids throughout Charlottesville. Sunday […]

Dancing our way

By Alana Bittner As we fumble our way back to normal, Edwin Roa has a suggestion for reconnecting with other humans and gaining a new understanding of each other: social dancing.  Roa says social dance can cure everything from partisanship and close-mindedness to existential crises. We are “at the risk of being so logical, we […]

Seeing Charlottesville

Most days, Charlottesville artist Edward Thomas could be found with his folding easel, set up on a sidewalk, by the river, or at a construction site, engaged in capturing “what the world looks like from where I stand,” he’d say. Thomas died May 8, 2021, at the age of 49. “Edward had an extremely good […]

Stream Sequence

Ivan Christo and Trevor Chase were headed to a themed party—a post- apocalyptic themed party, of course. So they invented two characters, vigilantes Ace Fondo and Lex Blazer, “a couple of badass guys” who “fought in every war, flexing their biceps while smoking cigars.” Now years later, “Ace & Lex: American Heroes, Elite Commandos” anchor […]