Pandemic dwellings

Drawing inspiration from The Decameron and One Thousand and One Nights, Fourteen Days is a “collaborative novel,” which brings to mind thoughts of exquisite corpses and shared Google Docs with a slew of anonymous animals. However, it is effectively a collection of short stories by 36 American and Canadian authors, edited by Margaret Atwood and […]

April galleries

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library 2450 Old Ivy Rd. “Their World As Big As They Made It: Looking Back at the Harlem Renaissance,” plus other permanent exhibitions. Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. In the Micro Gallery, “Topography: Travis Childers with Ashe Laughlin.” In Vault Virginia’s Great Hall Galleries, “David Copson: […]

When fur flies

Described as a gross-out comedy, Sasquatch Sunset follows a family of Bigfoots for a year, documenting their wild behavior including poop flinging and a psychedelic trip that results from eating wild berries. Behind the furry costumes and makeup lurk accomplished actors including Riley Keogh and Jesse Eisenberg, in performances that tell a story that turns […]

Extra terrestrial

What popular radio show is hitting the road for a night of comedy that’s not subject to FCC scrutiny? It’s the Wait Wait Stand-Up Tour, hosted by show regular Alonzo Bodden. The audience can snark and snicker along with some of the show’s regulars, and really get to know what their favorite “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell […]

Shining a light

Growing up, Tony Keith Jr. felt the boogeyman was always chasing down his internal monologues—his Blackness, his desire for higher education, and his feelings for boys over girls. His YA memoir, How the Boogeyman Became a Poet, details his battle through poverty, racism, and homophobia to become an openly gay first-generation college student. Keith will […]

Army of the ordinary

Director James Hawes’ One Life does justice to the moving, true story of modest World War II hero Nicholas Winton, a London stockbroker who rescued hundreds of children from the Nazis. Based on the book, If It’s Not Impossible… The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton, by his daughter Barbara, the film is deeply compelling, even […]

Timeless and seasoned

We first heard The Zombies in 1964 when the hit single “She’s Not There” crossed the pond from UK pop charts and gave the group some stateside bona fides. The band, featuring founding keyboardist Rod Argent and lead singer Colin Blunstone, is still delivering its hits on stage, including “Time of the Season” (What’s your […]

What love has to do with it

Directed by Ti Ames and set in 1963 at the beginning of the civil rights movement, Fireflies (above), the second part of Donja R. Love’s trilogy, delves into the lives of Reverend Charles Emmanuel Grace and his wife, Olivia. The couple, whose marriage is in trouble, wrangles with secret queer love, infidelity, and alcohol abuse […]

Trading the lead

If you know banjo, you know Tony Trischka (right). As one of the most influential pickers of the last 50 years, Trischka has followers throughout the bluegrass genre, from Béla Fleck to Steve Martin and Billy Strings. His latest project involves transcribing rare and unreleased Earl Scruggs’ recordings for a touring show he’s named EarlJam, […]

For the rest of us

Festival Friday is a fest within a fest, with area shops staying open late to spotlight the Virginia Festival of the Book. The evening’s events include readings, tastings, comic-book signings, a bookmaking workshop, and a poetry critique circle. Stop in at trans-owned antifascist bookstore The Beautiful Idea to hear writer, musician, radio host, and all […]