Finder’s keepers

Look closer. All around you, in the thick of the city and the wide-open expanse of the county, you’re missing something wonderful. It’s right in front of your eyes. You just have to stop and see, really see, what you can find. That’s the idea behind “You Are Where?” Sure, it’s a popular visual trivia […]

Beating the heat

Dear Ace: I’ve got central air in my house as well as a car that dips down to Kelvin if need be, and I’m hardly surviving this summer. Tell me, how are the homeless dealing with the heat wave?—Sympathetic Sweater Sweater: Heat wave?!? What heat wave? Then again, when you’re as ice cold as Ace, […]

The Best of C-Ville 2005

Once again, you’ve answered our call. More than 600 people sent in C-VILLE’s “Best Of” ballots, providing invaluable assistance to our Native Guide as he sought out the greatest among the great, the best among the brightest here in Charlottesville. Naturally, there are many familiar favorites along with a few new faces, some select puns […]

In the dog house

Dear Ace: It’s been a year since the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA moved into the new building. How are things going over there? Is the new facility paid for?—Puppy Love Pup: To respond to your question about the building’s financial status, Ace can offer you two answers. The first answer is: Yes, the $6 million building has […]

Return of the queen

It seemed like the perfect end to an era. Loretta Lynn, played by Sissy Spacek, and her husband, Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn, played by Tommy Lee Jones, driving away in their Jeep CJ before the backdrop of a Tennessee sunset. Cue the final number.    The movie, 1980’s Coal Miner’s Daughter, would go on to win Spacek […]

Present tents

Dear Ace: Why is the Albemarle County Fair set to happen in August this year?—Fairly Confused Fairly: Ace also wonders about this unexplained change in date. He knows when he wants his funnel cakes and farm animals, and that’s in September, darn it! But nooo…this year Ace has to book his partying for August 2-7, […]

The play’s the thing

As a great man once said, “School’s out for summer.” Aside from the pool, the obvious place to take kids during the dog days of summer is to the park. Make that, to the playground, where the kids can entertain themselves on swings, slides, or by just looking up at the sky, as their caretakers […]

The sound and the fury

Dear Ace: I live within ear-shot of the railroad, so I have to know, what is going on with all of the railroad whistling?—Not Whistlin’ Dixie Whistlin’: All Ace can say is it’s about time someone asked about these railroad horns! Ace is fed up with late-night train horns unexpectedly interrupting his beauty sleep.    Puffy-eyed, […]

High-chair anxiety

Dear Ace: Why do so many restaurants not have high-chairs? My wife and I discovered five that didn’t—and could have kept looking. Shouldn’t high-chairs be standard equipment? Is this town so pro-student that it can’t permit serving more people with children?—Sourpuss in Booths Sourpuss: Ace immediately posed your question to the experts, seasoned local parents. […]

How do we get out of here?

So far, the Aughts have been a rough decade for the airline industry. Domestically, combined losses be-tween 2001 and 2004 add up to more than $30 billion.    US Airways, which handles half the traffic to and from Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, stepped to the brink once again last September, entering bankruptcy protection for the second time in […]