Celebrate the Fourth of July with a bang

The best thing about staying in town for the long July 4th weekend is that you can’t wave a sparkler without hitting a parade, concert or fireworks display. What follows is a list of some our favorite Independence Day happenings. July 1-4 July 4th Jubilee: The United States is having a birthday, and Wintergreen Resort is […]

The Power Issue

Discussions for this year’s list of the most powerful in Charlottesville turned not toward one particular person but an entity that truly affects Charlottesvillians’ daily lives—the Virginia Department of Transportation. Don’t worry, you’ll still see some familiar faces (last year’s power-topper Mark Brown remains embroiled in a battle with the city over the Water Street Parking Garage), […]

Living Picks: To-do this week

Family     Happy birthday, America A community celebration for America’s birthday includes food, cider, wine, a bike parade, games and live music. The orchard will remain open late for viewing fireworks. Monday, 7/4. Free, 9am-9:30pm. Carter Mountain Orchard, 1435 Carters Mountain Trl. 977-1833. Nonprofit 4th of July at Monticello Larry Sabato, founder and director of the UVA […]

Local rosé is a refreshing summer choice

Rosé wine can be made a few different ways. Some winemakers harvest grapes specifically for rosé and press them, keeping them on the skins for a short period. Other winemakers press their red wine harvest, and bleed off some of the initial pink-colored juice to ferment separately as rosé. This technique, called saignée, a word […]

ARTS Pick: Jason Ring

Growing up in southwestern Virginia with no shortage of bluegrass influences to choose from, Jason Ring didn’t see the need to pick just one. Since the age of 5, Ring has been putting his own twist on the blues using the fast, smooth scat of his “mouth trumpet” and flaming fingers on guitar, banjo, mandolin, […]

The Bebedero evokes the true flavors of Mexico

Comedian Jim Gaffigan claims that Mexican restaurants seem to take the same combination of ingredients and repackage them under different names. Tortillas, cheese, meat and vegetables, he says, combine to form nachos, tacos, burritos, chimichangas and more. At many so-called Mexican restaurants, this is sadly true, giving Mexican food an undeserved reputation as slop to […]

Michael Shaps Wineworks opens new facility and other restaurant news

Wegmans hasn’t opened its hallowed doors yet, but at least one new business nearby is up and running. Located at 1585 Avon St. Extended, Wineworks Extended is the newest iteration of local custom contract winemaking operation Michael Shaps Wineworks. The warehouse was originally scouted out as a bottling facility, and owner Shaps says he figured […]

Jonesing for juice: The latest food fad makes a splash

We’re all guilty of it—a cupcake for a snack…an entire Benny Deluca’s pizza for dinner. It happens. Charlottesville, however, has embraced the perfect antidote for indulging in all the tantalizing foods the city has to offer: plenty of juice options. Whether found in a bottle, such as the locally owned Lumi juice, or made fresh […]