Christmas at the Paramount

Caroling goes next level at Christmas at the Paramount, the Oratorio Society of Virginia’s annual holiday show. Music Director Michael Slon and over 80 community singers perform choral arrangements of traditional favorites and holiday classics, including “The First Nowell,” “Jingle Bells,” and pieces from The Nutcracker and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The show climaxes with […]

Holiday Stories Playback

Someone ate the cookies meant for the reindeer while rockin’ too hard around the Christmas tree, and who was that kissing Santa Claus? Storytelling meets improv at Hamner Theater’s Holiday Stories Playback. Come prepared with a true holiday-themed story or story fragment, and the company of actors will perform it for the audience with humor […]

Brew & Buddy Run

Elves and cotton-headed ninny-muggins alike are invited to hit the town for the Brew & Buddy Run. Your adventure begins at The Paramount Theater, then you’ll journey through the seven layers of the Candy Cane Forest and the Sea of Swirly Twirly Gum Drops as you make stops at Three Notch’d and Kardinal Hall for […]

Family style

By Carrie Meslar In a location on Emmet Street that has seen many iterations over the years, Chang Thai restaurant may be the newest occupant, but the team inside, and the food they’re preparing, is a time-tested combination of experience and loyalty. A family-run business that puts an emphasis on authentic cuisine, Chang Thai’s menu […]

With a side of toffee sauce, please

Our local eateries and bakeries are going all out for the holidays. Here are a few of our favorite cozy spots, jolly eats, and festive treats. Try this For cozy mountain vibes, head to The Matterhorn, a tented alpine ski-bar atop Common House. The festive decor, crackling fireplaces, and themed cocktails will have you feeling […]

Growing excitement

Most of us check the weather forecast to decide how to dress, or evaluate the impact it has on our travel or events. For farmers who grow grapes and winemakers whose craft is innately tied to the whims and blessings of Mother Nature, the weather report is even more crucial. Vintage variation, the impact of […]

Pentatonix

It may not look a lot like Christmas, but it sure does feel like it when Pentatonix comes to town. The a cappella supergroup recently put out its seventh holiday album, The Greatest Christmas Hits, with 23 previously released tracks and eight new tunes for holiday carolers to belt out. Audiences have a chance to […]

Social Dance

Dancers and audience members move together by communicating through phones—no speaking, talking, or touching allowed—in Amanda Monroe Finn’s Social Dance. The four-minute short documents last year’s immersive performance experience at Mad Bowl Field, which featured choreography by Shandoah Goldman. Following the screening, audience members are invited to participate in their own social dance using their […]

Bright spots

It’s hard to be a humbug when you’re looking at a twinkling display of festive lights. Here’s where to gawk at the glow:  Let There Be Light PVCC’s annual outdoor exhibition returns on December 8. Bring your flashlights, grab a warm cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy glowing sculptures, floating artwork, and interactive installations. pvcc.edu  […]

The emperor strikes out

Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon covers the well-worn territory of the titular French emperor’s monumental military conquests and eventual downfall. Scott’s battle sequences are undeniably extraordinary, and it’s gorgeous overall, but mediocre dialogue and Joaquin Phoenix’s dull title performance noticeably weaken the film. Scott opens Napoleon with a climax: a bold sequence depicting the beheading […]