Izabelly Gleed in the HotSeat

Izabelly Gleed started ballet when she was 4 years old. “A doctor suggested [dancing] for my feet instead of correction boots,” says Gleed. “I actually wasn’t thrilled at first and often would try to escape ballet classes early on!” Now, Gleed is rounding out her seventh and final season as a company artist with Charlottesville […]

Olivia Brown in the HotSeat

Charlottesville is full of smarty-pants who love to work their brains at trivia night. And you’re guaranteed to find a gathering nearly every night of the week, like Random Row’s Sunday evening battle of wits, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Thursday night get-together for “Jeopardy!” wannabes, and Starr Hill Downtown’s Wednesday evening extravaganza, where host Olivia Brown […]

Courteney Stuart in the HotSeat

If you’ve read or watched local news over the last 25 years, you’ve probably come across Courteney Stuart’s name. An investigative journalist who covers everything from murder and sexual assault to prison reform and immigration, Stuart has been a reporter at several news outlets, including Style Weekly, The Hook, CBS19, and C-VILLE Weekly. She currently […]

Thomas Jefferson & Bill Barker in the HotSeat

Thomas Jefferson—you love him, or you love to hate him. Either way, wouldn’t it be interesting to ask ol’ TJ some questions? We thought so, so we spoke to historical impersonator Bill Barker, Monticello’s resident Thomas Jefferson. A veteran historical actor and interpreter, Barker portrayed Jefferson in Colonial Williamsburg for 26 years before coming to […]

Charles Zimmerman in the HotSeat

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—holiday baking shows are hitting the air. This year, one of Charlottesville’s own chefs is making his TV debut. Charles Zimmerman works as assistant pastry chef at Farmington Country Club, where he whips up everything from delicately frosted wedding cakes to small-but-sweet seasonal bites. Zimmerman is currently showcasing […]

Joe Lawlor in the HotSeat

There’s always a special energy in the air when musicians play their hometown stage. Guitarist Joe Lawlor is usually on the road with Dave Matthews Band, where he works behind the scenes in the audio crew. An accomplished musician in his own right, Lawlor is a founding member of several progressive funk and rock bands, […]

Rachel Brown in the HotSeat

Charlottesville is home to many dedicated and hardworking nurses who make a difference in their patient’s lives every day. One of those nurses is Rachel Brown, who supports patients with cancer or blood disorders in UVA’s acute hematology/oncology and stem cell transplant clinic. Brown was recently recognized with a 2023 DAISY award, a nomination-based national […]

Bebe Gunn in the HotSeat

If you haven’t been to a Bebe Gunn drag show, what are you waiting for? The queen regularly rocks stages all across Charlottesville, and wows audiences with her dazzling dance moves and impressive routines. Catch her performing brunch shows at Common House on June 24 and South and Central on June 25, and don’t miss […]

Gabe Silver in the HotSeat

When you read this week’s summer guide (p. 26), you’ll see that floating down the Rivanna River is among our favorite warm-weather activities. Whether you want to paddle, float, or take a guided tour, the Rivanna River Company is there to help. Gabe and Sonya Silver founded RRC to help connect locals with the beautiful […]

Sylvia Chong in the HotSeat

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the second annual VeryAsian celebration is coming to 5th Street Station on May 13. The day-long event, co-organized by Jay Pun and Sylvia Chong, is jam-packed with music, art, food, and community. Chong, a professor and director of the minor in Asian Pacific American Studies at UVA, […]