A Staunton couple envisions a surprising downtown home

For Katie and Ty McElroy, the white-picket-fence, manicured-lawn version of the American dream wasn’t appealing. Preparing in 2010 to move to Staunton from Lexington, the couple set their sights on something different: an urban loft-style space, a home that would indulge their interest in design while allowing them to participate in a walkable, downtown lifestyle. […]

ARTS Pick: John Cage Mushroom Walk

Wednesday 9/5 The sound of shroomin’ The work of John Cage can hardly be categorized. A revered audio experimentalist, sound pioneer, writer, and insightful painter, he is lesser known as a mycologist. The Bridge PAI’s Audio September series pays tribute to Cage’s posthumous centennial with a walk in the forest and an unintentional “natural concert” composed […]

Small Bites: This week’s restaurant news

Moving haus The transformation of the Random Row and Sweethaus building into a Marriott is in the offing, but fear not, cupcake-lovers. Tara Koenig’s moving her halcyon days-inspired sweets shop to the old Charlottesville Tire space at 843 W. Main St. It’s bigger (3,000 square feet to be exact!) and better (a new HVAC system […]

Canine performers steal the show at American Shakespeare Center

The first thing they teach you in theater school is…well, don’t go to theater school, because you won’t make any money. But, the second thing they teach you is to avoid getting on stage with a dog. And the reason has nothing to do with dogs being difficult or unpleasant; it’s just that no matter […]

Live at the DNC: Houston, We Have Landed in Charlotte

I arrived in Charlotte last night amidst hordes of bubbly convention-goers. Before I begin covering the week’s events in earnest, I’d like to say a few words about my own perspective. Those of you who are familiar with my comics know I have fairly strong political convictions, and I’m going to let ’em rip as […]

ARTS Pick: Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears

Monday 9/3 Greasin’ the groove In an age of dub step and rap versions of ’80s new wave, Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears stand apart with gritty, funky, dirty-picking, soul-howling blues. But don’t mistake Joe’s crew for a novelty act. This band is puttin’ hands on hips, lettin’ backbones slip, and establishing themselves as […]

My other kitchen: Chef Chris Humphrey’s common ground

Restaurant people know that the best way to avoid passing your spouse like a ship in the night is to marry another restaurant person—double points if she works in the same restaurant. Rapture’s Executive Chef Chris Humphrey and longtime waitress, Sarah, tied the knot last fall and now see one another at work six days […]

ARTS Pick: Rebirth Brass Band at the Jefferson

Second lining is a tradition that stretches back through centuries, thought to have originated as the outer circle, or second line, of West African circle dances. The tradition evolved from jazz funerals to choreographed, brass band, dance party parades that are inextricably associated with the life and spirit of NOLA, the city that incubated them. Get […]