Open and honest: County campaign encourages frank discussions about alcohol

Albemarle County Project Director Alex London-Gross is leading a county-wide campaign to reduce drinking and driving, and is encouraging parents to talk to their kids. “Talk to them about everything: what’s going on, who their friends are, what they’re doing after school,” she said. “One of the best preventative factors is knowing you can have […]

Peter Chang sneaks back into town to say ‘thank you’

Very few things about prize-winning Szechuan chef Peter Chang are absolutely clear. He has a Wikipedia page, for instance, but it doesn’t list a birthday. Stanley Tucci is reportedly making a film about his life, but until it comes out, every story about him will likely continue to contain words like ‘elusive.’ In the meantime, […]

Iron man: Spotlight on blacksmith Corry Blanc

Corry Blanc can’t remember the first thing he ever made. “Making ‘things’ is all I’ve ever known,” he said. A native of Georgia (he grew up in the Appalachian foothills in the northern part of the state), the blacksmith began welding after high school when he took a job at his uncle’s welding and fabrication […]

Five Finds on Friday: Michael McCarthy of Dr. Ho’s

On Fridays, we and The Charlottesville 29 feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities.  This week’s picks come from Michael McCarthy, chef/owner of Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie.  McCarthy’s picks: 1)  Hot Sicilian sandwich at Durty Nelly’s Wayside Deli.  “Rye bread makes life better, plain and simple.” 2)  Fried Chicken at GOCO on […]

Pizza, pizza! Top slices, personal pies, and surprises around town

The New York pizza slice, for years the pizza gold standard, inspired a lot of wasted effort and money, what with people trying to reproduce NYC pizza parlors, replete with transported ovens, in places like Kansas or Albuquerque or (gack) San Francisco. Pizza everywhere was measured against some non-specific New York City pie. If you […]