PICK: Calie Garrett and Gary Green

Soulful revival: Charlottesville musicians Calie Garrett and Gary Green give us a chance to celebrate the welcome—and long awaited—return of warm weather and dogwood blossoms with an afternoon of much-needed soulful jams in an outdoor setting. On the piano, Garrett draws upon her background of gospel and soul to play both familiar favorites and originals. […]

PICK: Oscar Shorts

Short your investment: Release dates and streaming access make it a challenge to see every movie nominated for a best picture Academy Award this year. But serious Oscar pool competitors know the short film category is a more easily achievable viewing list. Enter Violet Crown’s Oscar Shorts series, part of the theater’s RSVP Cinema program. […]

PICK: Kat & the Travelers

Travel nearby: Kat & the Travelers are well into their second decade as a local music staple, serving up jazz with some country blues flavor. Kathleen Kraft’s vocals range from down-home grit to clear, pure balladry, and she’s backed up by Doug Hedstrom on guitar, Michael Haag on bass, and her son, Quintas Mills, on […]

A sweet win

By Paul H. Ting There’s something alluring and gratifying about continuing a best practice that originated in the ancient world, and the 2021 Virginia Governor’s Cup winner is a prime example. On March 9, Governor Ralph Northam presented the award to Barboursville Vineyards for its 2015 Paxxito. The Cup is given to the top-scoring wine […]

Reflecting the past and staring down the future

Matthew E. White & Lonnie Holley Broken Mirror, A Selfie Reflection Spacebomb/Jagjaguwar For his latest solo effort, the mastermind behind Richmond’s Spacebomb Records has teamed up with 70-year-old Alabama singer Lonnie Holley. Before pursuing music, Holley was known for his work as a visual artist, crafting sculptures and environments from found objects. When Matthew E. […]

Titans gone wild

When it comes to monster movies, the bigger the better. The monsters should be huge, the action fantastic, the budgets sky-high, and the melodrama immeasurable. Godzilla vs. Kong steps into the colossal shadow cast by the cinematic history of both titular creatures, and leaves its own gargantuan mark on the franchises. Taking the helm to […]

Painful truths

By Tami Keaveny Since 1973, Four County Players has been producing plays with community volunteers, teaching theater technique to aspiring actors of all ages, and entertaining central Virginia audiences in the charming town of Barboursville. When the pandemic closed venues in March 2020, the theater group pressed pause, initially hoping that waiting it out could […]

PICK: Brighter Together

Light at the end: While a virtual Lighting of the Lawn was the safest option this academic year, we still missed being there when UVA turned the Rotunda’s holiday lights on in December. Brighter Together offers another chance to see the historic landmark dancing with color, as one of five pop-up art events tying together […]

PICK: Saw Black

Seeing Saw: Saw Black has that rare musical talent that makes listeners want more. With his lyrical delivery and production technique, Black seduces with soulful country-folk that is sometimes plaintive, sometimes weird and whispery. Many of the Richmond singer-songwriter’s tracks can be found on Warhen Records, including the sold-out 2020 cassette Horsin’ ‘Round. Black performs […]

PICK:Comedy Open Mic Night

It’s a laugh: As any comedian knows, there’s no rush like standing in front of a roomful of strangers and making them laugh. At the weekly Comedy Open Mic Night, hosted by local comedians Heather Kilburn and John Rad, you can work out all the material you perfected at home during the pandemic. Preregister, and […]