100 Proof and Ebony Groove

Dance off the food coma with jazz and soul sounds from 100 Proof and Ebony Groove. Known for its high-octane pace and nonstop music sets, 100 Proof brings together a lineup of local musicians that blends funk, R&B, jazz, and neo soul with Latin conga into a collective sound. Ebony Groove has been performing its […]

C’mon, get happy at the Brooks Family YMCA

Let’s say you hate going to the gym, i.e., dragging your flaccid, corporeal form over to that place where, when you walk in, you’re supposed to stride toward a bunch of metal contraptions and cables and bars, as if you know exactly what you’re doing — all while avoiding eye contact with a Noah’s Ark […]

Guajiros grows, coffee gets a new Future, and Bowerbird bows out

Cool beans It’s all about the flavor at Cumbre Bakery, a culture-fusing concept on East Jefferson Street. Owners Tito and Juanchi blend flavors from Italy and Argentina in their mouth-watering alfajores, medialunas, and empanadas, served alongside aromatic coffees. It’s easier than ever to get your caffeine fix on the go with the opening of Future […]

Thomas Jefferson & Bill Barker in the HotSeat

Thomas Jefferson—you love him, or you love to hate him. Either way, wouldn’t it be interesting to ask ol’ TJ some questions? We thought so, so we spoke to historical impersonator Bill Barker, Monticello’s resident Thomas Jefferson. A veteran historical actor and interpreter, Barker portrayed Jefferson in Colonial Williamsburg for 26 years before coming to […]

Graham Nash

With six decades of songs, two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, and membership in supergroups like The Hollies and Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Graham Nash has solidified himself as a seminal part of rock history—and he’s not done yet. His latest solo effort, Now, is a 12-song folk-rock observation of the human experience, […]

Thompson Springs

Young blues meets old-school country in Thompson Springs, a Chicago-based six-piece led by singer-songwriter Matt Smith. The band worked with Wilco’s Pat Sansone on its debut album Undertones, which blends dreamy songwriting with indie-rock influences on songs like “Slightly Sexy.” Smith and his bandmates are gearing up for their sophomore release, Standby, an eight-song EP […]

Outer World, Taffy, New Boss, and Light Beams

Treat your ears to a sonic sampling of genre-fluid sounds from four bands at Music at VR. Richmond’s Outer World spins psychedelic pop with a fuzzy garage feel on its debut record, Who does the music love? Then, get amped for two local bands, punk rock ‘n’ roll outfit Taffy and power-pop rockers New Boss. […]

Mirth making

In Tea Leaves, a new collection of short stories, Baltimore-based author Jacob Budenz invokes a queer cast of fantastical oddballs making their way in the world we share. From an aspiring magician filled with regrets related to student debt, a deadbeat demon who practices astral projection to compete in speed-eating contests, and a televised semi-psychic […]

Learning curves

Director Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers is a love letter to 1970s cinema. An avowed cinephile, Payne affectionately evokes the era’s character-driven and frequently dark films with this wry comedy-drama. Payne’s Sideways’ star Paul Giamatti delivers a rich, funny performance in the lead, helping The Holdovers stand out as one of 2023’s best American movies. Set […]

Charles Zimmerman in the HotSeat

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—holiday baking shows are hitting the air. This year, one of Charlottesville’s own chefs is making his TV debut. Charles Zimmerman works as assistant pastry chef at Farmington Country Club, where he whips up everything from delicately frosted wedding cakes to small-but-sweet seasonal bites. Zimmerman is currently showcasing […]