“A Christmas Carol”

There are plenty of reasons why Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has spawned so many adaptations. And whether you prefer the lead miser be played by Michael Caine surrounded by Muppets, Bill Murray learning lessons about 1980s corporate greed, or an animated Jim Carrey in Disneyfied 3D, the main plot point stays the same: Can […]

Advice for dining at The Clifton’s 1799

Included in the 2024 Michelin Green Guide USA East, The Clifton was built in 1799 as a home for Thomas Jefferson’s daughter Martha and her husband. The property currently houses a boutique hotel and restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Matthew Bousquet. On a crisp November evening, I decided to see what all the excitement was […]

LA LOM with The National Reserve

Friday 12/6 at The Southern Café and Music Hall LA LOM, an acronym for the Los Angeles League of Musicians, floats out a dreamy-yet-driving instrumental soundtrack with West Coast cool. More of a three-piece than a league, per se, the band’s sound careens smoothly through adventurous, succinct tracks that lilt with well-placed, heartbreaking chords and […]

December Exhibitions

The Center at Belvedere 540 Belvedere Blvd. “Small Works Art Exhibit,” featuring works under 13 inches by regional artists. Through December 18.  Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. In the micro gallery, “The Close and Holy Darkness,” sculpture and paintings by Aggie Zed. Through December. First Friday reception 5–7pm. City Clay 700 Harris […]

Thankful Dead

As you prepare for the big feast this Thursday, why not start off with a side of jam? The table is set for an evening of Americana music at Thankful Dead, featuring early Grateful Dead tunes performed by local five-piece group Mama Tried, and covers of Jerry Garcia Band songs by Sisters & Brothers. It’s […]

Palmyra x Ramona & the Holy Smokes

Beat the Black Friday blues with a night of Americana holler-core and down-home honky-tonk. Palmyra (above) and Ramona & the Holy Smokes take the stage for a post-holiday double bill sure to shake you out of your tryptophan stupor and take the edge off holiday shopping. It’s always a foot-stomping, booty-shaking, sing-along good time when […]

“Coney Island Christmas”

Get into the holiday spirit early with Coney Island Christmas, a seasonal show that’s poised to become a classic. Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies has penned a story filled with memories and mirth that should appeal to folks of all ages and faiths. Centering on a young Jewish girl cast to play Jesus in her school’s […]

Chickadee spreads its wings, and Christmas is served

Somewhere is better than nowhere If Virginia had a flavor, it might taste like Fine Creek Brewing’s Somewhereness Festival. On Saturday, December 14, the brewery will host its second annual celebration of Virginia’s fields and forests. Featuring beer, cider, and wine made primarily with Virginia-grown ingredients, this event is a true toast to terroir. Sip […]

Lucinda Williams

Following the 2023 release of her 16th studio album Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart and candid memoir Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, Lucinda Williams and her band bring a unique stage show functioning as a career retrospective. Though Williams can no longer play the guitar in the wake of a […]