Resolution revolution

As it’s only the first week of January, Turnopher, Ace’s resolve remains with him, firm as Clark Kent’s handshake. The real question is, Where will it go?  Ace has little in common with his fellow man, but sadly one of the few qualities he shares with the average schlub is an inability to stick to […]

Pucker up, glamour puss –

There’s that moment, right around 11:55pm on every December 31, when the partner-deficient, which of course does not include either Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, start to panic. In five minutes that gaudy twinkling ball will drop in Times Square, people will start singing that stupid song they don’t really know, and you’re supposed to […]

CHEAP SHOTS ’05

As the year draws to a close, at C-VILLE we find ourselves with a queasy feeling. At first we just thought someone spiked our egg-nog, but no. Our sick feeling is something media types know as a “news hangover.”    We’ve spent the past year covering the absurdity, scandal, crime and shameless self-promotion that goes on […]

Further notes on Trey

Dear Ace: Are you whack? What was all that crap last week about Dave Matthews and Trey Anastasio and Red Light? Every-body knows that Phish broke up because the band had lost its scales…—Sumthin’ Smelz Phunnie Let us take your questions in order, Smelz, as Ace is a rational fellow and likes nothing so much […]

SURROUND SOUND 2005

Two thousand and five was a lively year for music in our town, with CD sales down again, live music taking place at the theater level while struggling in the clubs, and being in a band, at least around here, seeming to be as much about music as about fame.   One rock band that has been […]

Here it comes!!

Growth. The word alone is enough to start an argument. We need more! We need less! Hardly anyone seems to think things are just right as they are.    Despite all the concern about growth, no one seems to know exactly how much new development is in store for Charlottesville and Albemarle County. But after poring […]

Herb appeal

Dear Ace: I heard Virginia has a new No. 1 cash crop. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned Jamestown tobacky?—Mary Jane Noes Dear Mary: Ace knows Virginians love tradition, especially in Mr. Jefferson’s neighborhood. But tobacco, the mainstay crop of the Commonwealth since the 1600s, has been steadily declining and this year a new top crop […]

Presents of mind

Come December, postmodern girls like Cool Honey realize that, frankly, they have better things to worry about than tribal alliances, which require commitment (at most) or a choice (at least) to celebrate either Jesus, the miracle of the oil lamp or Rama’s arrival. As if she wasn’t already overextended by the prospects of dry winter […]

Wheeling and dealing

Hey Ace,Where do these people get off charging me taxes for my car? What’s the big idea?—Axl Rhodes Dear Axl: So, here in America, we pay taxes. It’s part of this little deal we have with the government where we give them some money and they give us free enterprise, private property rights and other […]