Righting wrongs

In 1968, two doctors at the Medical College of Virginia performed one of the first heart transplants in the United States—unbeknowst to the man whose heart was transplanted. In The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South, journalist Chip Jones peels back the layers of the entire saga, […]

Unfair advantage

After reading a book in graduate school that discussed how enslaved women sold goods in South Carolina and Barbados, Justene Hill Edwards became fascinated by the economy of the enslaved. In the American South, slaves engaged in their own economic enterprises, buying and selling goods and earning wages for their work. What started off as […]

Herstory in a glass

Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, Martha, wrote to her own daughter, Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, on the occasion of Ellen’s marriage. Postmarking her letter to Boston from Virginia, Martha said she would not be sending Ellen the family’s beer recipes. A fine young woman like Ellen wouldn’t need them, as Martha didn’t “presume” Ellen would ever […]

Book looks

Rust Belt Vegan Kitchen cooking demo  March 18, 2pm | Virtual event When Meredith Pangrace decided to go vegan as a teenager, her grandmother made sure she was still included at family dinners. “She didn’t judge me, didn’t criticize,” writes Pangrace in her new community cookbook, Rust Belt Vegan Kitchen, “and she lovingly accommodated my […]

Pick: Cider Saunter

It’s your lucky day: Throw on something green, lace up your tennis shoes, and continue your St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Albemarle CiderWorks’ Cider Saunter. Power walk, prance, or stroll to four different tasting locations scattered around the orchard, stopping to sample ciders selected by popular vote during the Cider Madness bracket showdown. Pair your […]

Pick: Soccer Mommy

True colors: “I wanted the experience of listening to color theory to feel like finding a dusty old cassette tape that has become messed up over time, because that’s what this album is: an expression of all the things that have slowly degraded me personally,” says Sophie Allison, aka Soccer Mommy. color theory is Allison’s […]

Pick: A Fairy Tale Gathering

Tiny dancer: Introduce your tots to the art of ballet at A Fairy Tale Gathering, an original production from Charlottesville Ballet that’s specially designed for children and their families. Join Fairy Godmother and her whimsical friends, played by local students, for an afternoon tea party with famous fairy tale characters, including Cinderella, the Sugar Plum […]

Pick: Richmond Ballet

Splendor on stage: In four distinctive works, the Richmond Ballet showcases what ballet can be in the 21st century. The State Ballet of Virginia executes classical choreographies alongside new works beginning with George Balanchine’s joyous and sprightly Allegro Brillante, followed by Ben Stevenson’s intimate Three Preludes and Colin Connor’s romantic Vestiges. The company finishes with […]

Pick: A Promise to Grow

Growth spurt: Local author Marc Boston writes stories for young people that emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion. His newest picture book, A Promise to Grow, was created in partnership with area nonprofit City of Promise, which works to end generational poverty and foster a culture of achievement in all kids. Set in Charlottesville’s […]

Pick: Swing Into Spring

Jazz helping hands: The Albemarle High School Jazz Ensemble returns to The Jefferson Theater for its fifth annual Swing Into Spring benefit concert. The award-winning 35-piece ensemble, led by Director Andrew LaPrade, comes out to play in support of The Haven’s mission to end homelessness in the greater Charlottesville community. The evening features appearances from […]