The Lord of the Rings

Settle in and order extra popcorn, because the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring clocks in at just under four hours. Peter Jackson’s fantasy classic is back for a special screening to ring in the new year. Follow along as Frodo and the fellowship battle terrifying orcs and […]

Sarah White’s Country Christmas Show

Sarah White’s Country Christmas Show returns for a festive evening filled with twinkling lights, decorated trees, delicious cookies, and, of course, honky-tonk tunes. The Virginia-based singer-songwriter began her career in the late ’90s, and has since performed with Merle Haggard, Justin Townes Earle, Earl Scruggs, and Dave Matthews Band. For her Christmas show, she brings […]

Golden Hour

Welcome in the New Year with some good vibes at indie folk duo David Wax Museum’s Golden Hour, a rejuvenating and restorative live music experience. Listeners are invited to wear blindfolds during the unique concert, which features no stage, no applause, and no distractions. The musicians play a variety of instruments as they weave their […]

Unseelie

Get an early start on your New Year’s resolution to read more, and pick up a copy of Virginia-based author Ivelisse Housman’s debut young adult novel, Unseelie. The first in a swoony, high-energy duology, Unseelie follows two sisters on a magical journey of love, discovery, and acceptance. Housman’s writing is inspired by her own lived […]

Curtain call 2022

Watching the film industry transform in 2022 has been more fascinating—and alarming—than anything currently playing in theaters. The hammer blow COVID dealt to movie theater attendance became more obvious than ever: Heavy-hitters like Steven Spielberg and George Miller delivered box office duds, while viewers stayed home en masse and binged on their favorite streaming series.  […]

A year in reading

The past year was a continuation of a period of mostly escapist reading, during which I found pleasure in re-reading old favorites, and really took my time with books that I sped through in the past. Taking refuge in joy-infused, thoughtful, and imaginative books occupied most of my time as a counterbalance to the heavier […]

Heard that

By Samantha Federico The live music scene is better than it’s been in the last few years, and 2022 felt like a new era for music creators, with area artists being no exception. Fewer songs are being inspired by the pandemic, and it’s back to existential quests to wring something meaningful out of this world, […]

By the glass

As the year draws to a close, I wanted to gain some insight into what wine consumers are drinking by asking local shops what their best-selling beverages were in 2022. While many were reluctant to name specific bottles or producers, the information they provided reveals some interesting trends. Rosé all day It appears that local […]

Pick: The Nutcracker

At Charlottesville Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Clara and her Nutcracker embark on a magical Christmas Eve journey, during which they battle the vicious Mouse King, dance with merry snowflakes, and enter the enchanting Land of Sweets. CB’s professional company brings the holiday classic to life with the help of over 100 community dancers, Tchaikovsky’s treasured score, […]

Pick: A Christmas Carol

If you’re feeling a little Grinchy, the American Shakespeare Center’s production of A Christmas Carol is sure to turn that frown upside down. The immersive show follows miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he gets a visit from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Audience members should arrive early so they have time to take […]