Pick: The Looking Glass

For art’s sake: Let your imagination run wild at Arts Underground, a night of free-flowing creativity inside The Looking Glass. Grab a drink from the colorful bar as you descend into Dripstone Cave for artmaking (materials are available for a la carte purchase). Feeling blocked? Wander through the immersive museum for inspiration, or loosen up […]

Pick: Blue Ridge Bards

Fast friends: Local musician Matthew O’Donnell treats every performance like it’s a gathering of close friends. His band, Blue Ridge Bards, plays traditional Celtic folk with a modern energy, infusing it with rock, pop, country, and jazz. The group’s live show mixes things up between accordion, kick drum, bouzouki, and tin whistle, and includes a […]

Pick: Dailey & Vincent

Screen to stage: Duo Dailey & Vincent have been performing their medley of traditional country, gospel, and bluegrass for audiences for over 10 years. Recently, Dailey’s tenor and Vincent’s harmonies were broadcast nationwide on their weekly RFD-TV series, “The Dailey & Vincent Show,” which boasts five seasons. The Grand Ole Opry members will perform songs […]

Pick: Puddles Pity Party

Clown around: He’s tall, wears white face paint, and…he’s really sad. Puddles Pity Party features a morose seven-foot-tall clown with a hidden talent—he sings. Puddles’ booming baritone and operatic rendition of Sia’s “Chandelier” earned him a trip to the quarterfinals on the 12th season of “America’s Got Talent,” and his “Still Sequestered” streaming show has […]

Pick: The Nutcracker

On pointe: Christmastime favorite The Royal Ballet’s HD broadcast of The Nutcracker follows Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll as they battle the Mouse King, journey through the Kingdom of Sweets, and dance with a delightful array of characters. Tchaikovsky’s beloved music accompanies Peter Wright’s production of the Russian classic. Thursday 12/30. $11–15, 7pm. The […]

Pick: Chamomile and Whiskey

Cheers to the next one: Count down the last hours of 2021 with local favorite Chamomile and Whiskey at A Heartbreaker New Year’s Eve. The band rings in the new year with its signature blend of roots, rock, and Americana, and promises a fun night full of surprises, including a special Tom Petty tribute set […]

Pick: Studio 51

Party on Earth: E.T.s have crash-landed on Earth just in time for Studio 51: An Out of This World New Year’s Eve party. The Studio 54-meets-Area-51 event will feature dangerous intergalactic art installations, dancing, and a champagne toast at midnight. And the evening wouldn’t be complete without alien queens emerging from a wrecked UFO to […]

Pick: WinterSong

S’mores-gasbord: It’s time to celebrate, and WinterSong has everything you need to get the revelry started. The festive gathering features holiday caroling, gourmet food trucks, shopping, and more. Stay warm—and make s’mores—at one of the crackling fires and enjoy your choice of beverage at this family-friendly event. Artisan gifts from local and regional vendors will […]

Pick: Robert Earl Keen

Holiday roots: Raised on classic rock and Willie Nelson, singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen likes to take the road less traveled. Steering clear of mainstream country, Keen is lauded as an outlaw of the Americana music style and became a grassroots sensation thanks to his poetic musings, razor wit, and killer live band. With 21 records […]

Pick: Let There Be Light

Twinkle, twinkle: Let There Be Light returns for two evenings of whimsical illumination ahead of the longest night of the year. The outdoor exhibition includes a variety of light-centered art installations and performances. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Artmobile traveling gallery will be set up on opening night, and hot cider will be available […]