C-VILLE Weekly | January 25 - 31, 2023

Charlottesville’s News & Arts Weekly

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Richard DiCicco richard@c-ville.com

NEWS REPORTER

Brielle Entzminger reporter@c-ville.com

CULTURE EDITOR

Tami Keaveny tami@c-ville.com

COPY EDITOR Susan Sorensen

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Maeve Hayden

CONTRIBUTORS

Rob Brezsny, Amelia Delphos, Matt Dhillon, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Mary Jane Gore, Will Ham, Erika Howsare, Justin Humphreys, Kristin O’Donoghue, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Courteney Stuart, Eshaan Sarup, Paul Ting, Sean Tubbs, David Levinson Wilk

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

ART DIRECTOR

Max March max@c-ville.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tracy Federico designer@c-ville.com

ADVERTISING advertising@c-ville.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Gabby Kirk (434) 373-2136 gabby@c-ville.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Annick Canevet annick@c-ville.com, Lisa C. Hurdle classyexec@c-ville.com, Brittany Keller brittany@c-ville.com

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & MARKETING Stephanie Vogtman

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY Theresa McClanahan theresa@c-ville.com

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Faith Gibson ads@c-ville.com

PUBLISHER Anna Harrison anna@c-ville.com

CHIEF FINANCIAL

debbie@c-ville.com

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Hello, Charlottesville! Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly. I’ve been watching a lot of HBO Max lately—though not for “The Last of Us” (I hear it’s good). One of the latest original series on the service is “The Big Brunch,” which pits 10 accomplished chefs against each other (and themselves) for a $300,000 grand prize. All the chefs have a passion project they hope to fund with that money, from plans to expand their business to dreams of starting their first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Local chef Antwon Brinson joined the competition to grow Culinary Concepts AB, his cooking school in Charlottesville. But, as this week’s feature shows, Brinson ended up learning a lot about himself in the process (p. 26).

1.25.23

I spoke with Brinson in the teaching kitchen at Culinary Concepts AB, a beautiful creative space that seemed to have everything a student would need to learn the art of cooking. Brinson talks a lot about the mindset he hopes to foster in his students as they take his five-week, five-days-a-week, five-hours-a-day culinary boot camp. He believes that much of his students’ success relies on their mindset. What do they want to accomplish? How will they get there? Case in point: though students of any skill level are welcome to apply, only those with passion are accepted, and the ones with the clearest goals tend to succeed.

I love to cook. It’s a therapeutic experience for me. But watching Brinson cook on TV, and listening to the way he and his fellow competitors talk about their profession, made me reevaluate my relationship with food. Food brings people together, it creates common ground. And cooking can be a way to share the most precious and vulnerable parts of yourself with the people you care about. So, bon appétit!—Richard DiCicco

“We just really miss him and we want him to come home.”

IN BRIEF

Juvenile shot

On January 24, the Charlottesville Police Department responded to a shots fired report in the area of Sixth and Garrett streets at around 10pm. Officers discovered a juvenile male who had been shot, just before more than 2,400 households in the area lost power. The victim is in stable condition. It remains unclear if the shooting and power outage were related.

Slain pedestrians identified

Police have identified the person struck and killed by a driver on Ivy Road on January 12 as Isidro Casandro Martinez, 52, of Albemarle County. Martinez had been walking a bicycle across the road in the rain when the crash occurred at around 10:55pm, though the Charlottesville Police Department previously reported Martinez had been riding a bike without a helmet, had on dark clothing, and did not have bicycle lights. Corey Abdella, 54, of Charlottesville has been charged with reckless driving in connection with the crash. County police have also identified Harry Steven Allen, 53, of Charlottesville as the pedestrian struck and killed by a driver on Route 29 on January 13 at around 6:50pm. Allen and two other pedestrians had been walking outside a crosswalk when he and another person were hit. No charges have been filed against the driver.

Brackney’s lawsuit dismissed

AU.S. district court judge has dismissed former Charlottesville police chief RaShall Brackney’s $10 million lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville—and 10 current and former city officials—alleging she was wrongfully terminated based on her sex and gender in September 2021.

In an August 30 court filing, the city’s attorney David Corrigan argued that Brackney’s suit, which she filed in June, did not prove she was discriminated against, and should be dismissed. The attorney claimed that former city manager Chip Boyles terminated Brackney, Charlottesville’s first Black police chief, “to ensure the viability” of the CPD, which was plagued with “chaos and upheaval” under her leadership. “The imminent threat of departures of important CPD leaders [and] the ongoing strained relationship between Brackney, City leadership, and community stakeholders” also fueled Boyles’ decision, Corrigan wrote.

Judge Norman K. Moon agreed with the city, and threw out the lawsuit on January 20. “Because Plaintiff does not allege sufficient facts to support [her] claims, Defendants’ motions to dismiss are granted,” wrote Moon in a 39-page memorandum.

Brackney accused the city of firing her in retaliation for her efforts to reform the CPD, including disbanding the SWAT team and disciplining and firing officers for severe misconduct. She claimed two defendants created an internal officer survey to elicit negative responses about her, and other defendants later used the survey results to get her fired and harm her reputation.

Crowded race

Former Charlottesville mayor Dave Norris has thrown his hat into Virginia’s District 54 House race. Albemarle County School Board chair Katrina Callsen, former mayor David Brown, and city social services assistant Dashad Cooper are also running for the Democratic nomination.

In addition to the city, Brackney listed the following people as defendants in the suit: Boyles; current and former City Council members Lloyd Snook, Sena Magill, and Heather Hill; Mike Wells, president of the Police Benevolent Association; Bellamy Brown, former chair of the Police Civilian Review Board; former assistant police chief Jim Mooney; current acting Police Chief Tito Durrette; former City Attorney Lisa Roberts; and former city communications director Brian Wheeler.

Moon ruled that Brackney lacked enough evidence to support her claims regarding

the alleged conspiracy and malice, among other allegations. The judge also stressed that the former chief was an “at-will” employee, meaning “either the City Manager or Plaintiff [had] the unconditional right to terminate her Employment Agreement, without giving cause, after giving 90 days’ advance notice.”

Brackney’s attorney Charles Tucker says her legal team is “prepared to finish this fight to vindicate Dr. Brackney.”

“The legal standard for our complaint at this early stage in the case was two-fold: Put the defendants on notice as to why they were be-

ing sued, and plead the facts supporting a plausible claim,” Tucker said in a public statement. “We submitted an extensive—not exhaustive—complaint with supporting exhibits, showing [that] we in fact met the standard.”

“Prior to the benefit of discovery, the standard for such a motion should have been afforded,” said Tucker. “The court should have examined the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. The judge failed to do so.”

“Our advice to the defendants: Don’t go whistling Dixie yet, because we have only just begun to battle,” Tucker said.

— Missy Folan, sister of 60-year-old John Milton Harris III, who was reported missing on July 9. Harris, a 5-foot-8-inch white man with brown hair and eyes and medical issues, was last seen wearing a blue shirt and camo pants, and was living at a campground on Monticello Road at the time of his disappearance.

Even though a judge dismissed former Charlottesville police chief RaShall Brackney’s $10 million lawsuit, her attorney says the battle’s just begun.

Dave Norris announced he’s running for the District 54 House seat.

STAFF PHOTO

FILE PHOTO

Money woes

Jail renovation costs divide authority board

By Brielle Entzminger reporter@c-ville.com

For years, the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail has been plagued by a host of health and sanitary issues, including black mold, faulty wiring, leaky ceilings, poor plumbing, freezing temperatures, and bug infestations. Jail leadership has begun taking steps to renovate the 48-year-old facility, which serves the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle and Nelson counties. But the project’s $49 million estimated price tag—plus over $20 million in interest—has sparked division on the ACRJ Authority Board.

“[I] urge you to think long and hard before approving this project,” jail board member Lisa Draine, Charlottesville’s citizen representative, told City Council during its January 17 meeting. “Is this expenditure a good investment in our future? Does this align with our stated community values of equity and opportunity for all? I would answer, ‘No.’”

In addition to upgrading and replacing the HVAC units, electric systems, lighting, and air filtration, the proposed renovations will create an outdoor recreation space, larger visitation area, and dedicated mental health unit, as well as add more classrooms, programming space, and administrative offices. Housing areas will be revamped with larger common spaces, natural sunlight, sound-deadening materials, plexiglass, and more showers and private toilets.

Last week, Davenport & Company, the board’s financial advisor, detailed the project’s proposed finance plan to the councilors. The Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails—as well as the jail’s member jurisdictions—has recommended the state cover 25 percent of the renovation costs. The General Assembly should approve or reject the funding request by late April.

In May, the member jurisdictions and authority board are expected to approve the project’s interim financing, which will fund architecture and engineering services to fully design the renovations and prepare it for the bidding stage. In summer 2024, the jail authority will issue an estimated $35.5 million bond—with a 5.5 percent interest rate and 27-year term—to fund the remaining project costs and pay off the interim financing loan. The authority will also take out a grant anticipation note to fund costs eligible for the state reimbursement. The note will be paid off with the reimbursement, which the state will not issue until the renovations are completed.

When the bond is fully paid off in 2051, the project’s total estimated cost will be nearly $72.9 million. Each locality will pay a portion equivalent to their jail bed usage— Albemarle will pay around $33.3 million,

while Charlottesville will pay nearly $30.1 million, and Nelson almost $9.5 million.

Draine urged the councilors to find more cost-effective ways to improve the jail’s poor conditions, such as by replacing or repairing “mechanical systems causing problems.”

“You would be saddling our children and grandchildren with a debt of over $1.1 million a year for the next 27 years,” said Draine. “The criminal legal system disproportionately affects Black and brown people and those in the lowest income brackets. I urge you to put money into areas that address racial inequity and poverty in our community: affordable housing, education, food insecurity, lack of opportunities for our youth, and especially access to mental health treatment.”

Though the renovations will not expand the jail’s capacity, it will increase its square footage. However, the jail’s newer wing is not currently in use, largely due to the facility’s low population and staffing shortage.

“[Why would we] want to spend millions on a facility with space that’s not being used and where the population has decreased below the rated capacity of 329 to its lowest level in 25 years?” said Draine.

Former jail board member Cyndra Van Clief also expressed concerns about the project’s hefty price tag. In March, the board passed a resolution asking the state jail board to consider approving the renovations, and requesting state reimbursement. Van Clief, a Republican and self-described fiscal conservative, was the only board member who voted against the resolution, citing a desire for more public input. In April, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors voted to remove her from the board for her “failure to act in the county’s best interest,” she told C-VILLE in May. (Though Draine voted in favor of the March resolution, she told C-VILLE in

December, “If I could do it all again, knowing what I know now, I would change my vote.”)

In response to concerns about costs, Mayor Lloyd Snook says he has “no way to judge” whether the proposed renovations are too expensive, but trusts the jail board “will be on the lookout for unnecessary expenses.” He stresses that the city is in a “really bad spot” regarding the jail.

“We are required to have a jail, and we are required to have a jail that meets the needs generated by forces over which we have no control. ... We have no control over who chooses to commit which crimes in Charlottesville. We have no control over the prosecutors ... [or] the judges,” says Snook. “What we do have some control over is whether we have programs available that offer alternatives to incarceration,” such as the drug court, therapeutic docket, and pretrial release.

“One major change in the new jail plans is to have more space that is dedicated to

rehabilitative programs,” adds Snook. “We want to make it easier for rehabilitative programs to be successful.”

Councilor Michael Payne agrees that member jurisdictions should explore ways to reduce the renovation costs. He expects the project’s price to be “significantly higher” than estimated, due to inflation, supply chain issues, and the facility’s age.

“Is there a way to reduce costs by renovating the newer, currently largely unused wings and closing the oldest out-of-date wing?” asks Payne. “Cost savings should not come from cutting corners and providing unhealthy, low-quality living conditions. … [But] can costs be reduced by decreasing the number of jail cells to reflect decreases in the inmate population?”

The city may also be able to save money by paying its portion of the renovation costs upfront with its own bond, Payne says. “Because we get better interest rates than ACRJ, we’d avoid the higher interest costs that would accrue over three decades.”

“I do support the jail improvements … [and] will always look for ways to make projects more cost effective,” says ViceMayor Juandiego Wade.

Councilor Brian Pinkston, who has replaced former councilor Sena Magill as council’s representative on the jail board, says he’ll be “taking a good look … to make sure I understand the costs and what we can do to reduce them overall,” but doesn’t think the 48-year-old facility will be able to repair or replace its systems without “significant architectural renovation work.” He is also wary of reducing its bed count—if Charlottesville or Albemarle ever elect “more reactive” prosecutors, or stricter laws are enacted, the jail’s population could rise one day.

“It’s unfortunate, but I think for a community of this size, the notion of investing $1 million a year for a jail that’s humane, it’s probably not unrealistic,” says Pinkston.

Jail board chairperson Diantha McKeel stresses that the selected architect will engage with the community, jail’s population, and other stakeholders to design the renovations. Costs can be further discussed throughout the engagement process.

“There is also a required ‘value engineering’ review component to the design, which determines the lowest possible construction cost,” says McKeel. “There will be another RFP to determine the construction company. … The actual cost to build will be determined by that bidding process.”

Additionally, the jail board authority’s bond will “have no impact on the three individual jurisdiction’s CIP programs and debt capacities,” says McKeel.

Construction is estimated to begin in August 2024 and finish in November 2025.

January 25 –31, 2023 c-ville.com @cville_weekly facebook.com/cville.weekly

“You would be saddling our children and grandchildren with a debt of over $1.1 million a year for the next 27 years.”

LISA DRAINE, JAIL BOARD MEMBER

The Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail renovation project’s nearly $72.9 million estimated price tag has sparked concern from some jail board members.

EZE

EZE AMOS

Jail board member Lisa Draine asked city councilors to find more cost-effective ways to improve the ACRJ.

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1010 Ednam Center Suite 102 Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-984-0345

M Carlson Financial Advisor

Joan M Carlson

Financial Advisor

1010 Ednam Center Suite 102 Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-984-0345

1010 Ednam Center Suite 102 Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-984-0345

Janasha Bradford Financial Advisor

1010 Ednam Center Suite 102 Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-984-0345

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Annie Gould Gallery

Low, high

Why some city neighborhoods could see big changes

By Sean Tubbs

Charlottesville is completely surrounded by Albemarle County, which means there are bound to be several areas where land-use decisions made in one place affect the other—or vice versa.

One of the places in the new Future Land Use Map where this comes into play is the conversion of around three dozen parcels in the city’s Greenbrier neighborhood from low-density residential to urban mixed use corridor, something that’s intended to encourage higher-intensity mixed use development.

Some of these properties are the only ones in the city that front Rio Road, where 35,000 vehicles pass a day according to 2021 estimates from VDOT. In all, that stretch is about 0.15 miles long.

Other properties with this designation are along Tarleton Drive, where other lots are among several dozen more that have been converted to medium-intensity residential. All of these properties are currently single-family.

The Zoning Diagnostic + Approach report released last summer envisions buildings up to five stories for some areas with this designation, though this is a rare example of land going from the lowest density allowed to one of the highest.

Some had suggested more density in this area during the Comprehensive Plan rewrite back in 2013, because of the existence of businesses directly across the street in Albemarle County in what’s known as Gasoline Alley. The Places 29 Master Plan adopted in 2011 describes the county properties as being a future “neighborhood service center.” Other county properties to the northwest are “neighborhood residential density.”

The city retained the lower density 10 years ago, but went much bigger in the new plan.

“One of the important concepts of the Comprehensive Plan is to promote walkability and the opportunity for the incremental growth of new commercial spaces,” says James Freas, the city’s director of Neighborhood Development Services. “To that end, the plan sought to identify locations where the land use map could show potential new commercial spaces that would be in a close/walkable proximity to existing neighborhoods with good overall transportation access.”

Someone walking from the intersection of Rio Road and Greenbrier Drive would have a half-mile journey to the Center at Belvedere. CATEC is a third of a mile away. Transit currently runs along the roadway. Albemarle County is likely to receive funding for improvements at Belvedere and Rio roads.

According to Freas, how development in this location actually occurs will depend on how the city’s new zoning code works. That process is underway now with the release of more detailed information happening later this month.

“As we work on the zoning ordinance to implement this plan, one of our objectives is a set of rules that help to manage the interface between neighborhoods and new mixed use and commercial use,” Freas says.

Only a few homes in the section up-zoned for urban mixed use have sold since the new plan was adopted in late 2021. All of those sales have been to couples or individuals, and not to private companies. None of the homes are currently on the market.

Other areas of the city designated as urban mixed use corridor include East High Street, West Main Street, Jefferson Park Avenue, Ivy Road, Preston Avenue, and Fontaine Avenue Extended.

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WESTWOOD ROAD

ONE LEVEL LIVING. The Water view dominates the interior spaces from most rooms in this fabulous, new, waterfront residence. Expansive views from two full length decks promise hours or days of relaxation. The front door opens to the great room with a wood burning fireplace and hardwood floors that flow through the first floor. A bright open kitchen with gorgeous countertops and appliances. Complete one floor living with master suite featuring a walk-in shower and double vanities. 2 additional bedrooms with a full bath, stack unit washer and dryer hookups. The terrace level offers more water views, even from the laundry room! A large family room, an additional bedroom and full bath round out the finished rooms. Large unfinished room can serve as storage, studio, or workshop. Includes a one-year builder warranty. $500,000

ROCK QUARRY ROAD

Unique building site overlooking a quarry lake. Serene setting for a home. Gated, private entrance. Road to home site in place. 3 private properties share lake and access, sandy beach, cabana and 20 acres of common land (including a large utility barn). Convenient to Zion Crossroads and Charlottesville. $350,000

A unique art gallery located in the heart of historic Gordonsville.

now designated for urban mixed use as shown in light purple. Currently there are single-family homes on those properties.

CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE

Impeccable country property with an attractive, well designed and self-sustaining 5,525 fin. sf residence on 38± acres with 3-car garage, barn and Blue Ridge Mountain views. A peaceful oasis easily accessible to Charlottesville and Washington DC. MLS#634846 $1,550,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

NEWPRICE

GIBSON’S HOLLOW

Ivy area! A 249 + acre hidden, private Arcadia controlling its own little valley up to the mountain ridge top building sites. Multiple parcels and subdivision rights make it a conservation easement candidate. MLS#634183 $3,250,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124 or Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

HATTON RIDGE FARM

A most tranquil and private 278+ acres with approximately two-thirds mile of James River frontage. The centerpiece of Hatton Ridge Farm is an impressive brick Georgian home, built c. 2000. The residence is constructed with expert craftsmanship, and many significant architectural details. It is in like-new condition - a testament to the architects, Stoneking/VonStorch. A spectacular offering: pastures and hay fields, surrounded by deep hardwood forest, along with fertile James River bottomland for gardens. MLS#634311 $3,675,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

PEA RIDGE FARM

317 acre estate that has it all: location, views, water, spectacular 5-BR residence, event center and more! 15+ acre lake is centered among lush rolling fields of rich grass and unparalleled views. Additional acreage available. 25 min. west of Charlottesville. MLS#631962 $8,875,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

10

EASEMENTS. MLS#634310 $1,995,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

Southern Albemarle estate with 1.5 miles of frontage on the James River with 540± acres of highly fertile, gently rolling landscape. Historic farmhouse dating to the late 1700s offers extensive views of the river. Under conservation easement with the VOF. MLS#630470 $4,865,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

WOLFCREEK FARM

Situated near the Blue Ridge Mtns. in Madison County on 333 acres. Currently runs as a grazing farm for beef cattle. There are 2 homes on the property and a complement of necessary farm buildings. NOT IN CONSERVATION EASEMENT! MLS#630435 $3,200,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

820 CONDO

Well designed efficient condo consists of an exceptionally light open great room with fully equipped kitchen, ample space for both relaxed living and dining, 1-BR and BA. Bright corner unit has high ceilings, bamboo floors, and windows with east, north and southeast views of the skyline and mountains. Enjoy the outside from the private balcony/terrace. The 820 building is secured twenty four hours a day. Steps to all the amenities of the Historic Downtown Mall, just a mile and a half to UVA, easy access the major arteries of VSH 250, 29, I-64. MLS#634496 $285,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

TURKEY SAG ROAD

33-acre property with beautifully constructed 3 to 4-BR home. Home features great room with dramatic stone fireplace and panoramic views and large master suite with private deck. Peace, privacy and tranquility unsurpassed, but close to town. MLS#635341 $1,875,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

BELMONT LOFTS

This 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath condo features extra high ceilings, a modern and open floor plan with huge windows and doors, and a large rooftop terrace with views of the Downtown Mall all the way around to Monticello. MLS#634149 $1,890,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

RED HILL

miles south of Charlottesville, a beautiful 283 acres, rolling to hilly, mostly wooded tract, borders Walnut Creek Park, with lake and miles of trails. This land has pastures, trails, creeks and a river! Many homesites, NO

RIVER LAWN FARM

BLACKBERRY HILL FARM

K’DEE FARM

Embodying the essence of country life! 214+/- acre farm with spacious main residence, 3-car garage with apartment, dependencies & farm buildings. Many agricultural & recreational uses. Easily accessible to Charlottesville,Orange,I-95&DCregion.MLS#636896 $1,975,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

RAGGED MOUNTAIN FARM

Two wonderful estate parcels comprised of 185.01± acres in coveted Ragged Mountain Farm. Excellent elevated building site, complete privacy, and beautiful views. Murray/Henley/Western school district. MLS#621083 $1,895,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

SOUTHWIND ESTATES

3 separate parcels with commanding Blue Ridge Mtn. views, level building sites 15 minutes from Charlottesville. Sites have been perked, have wells, and ready for your dream home. MLS#632482 $375,000 (7.8 acres), MLS#632490 $275,000 (2.4 acres), MLS#632487 $175,000 (2.0 acres), Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

SIMMONS GAP/ESTES RIDGE

10 acres of mature woods. Property has long road frontage and consists of two parcels being combined and sold as one. No homeowners association! Design and build your dream residence on this very wellpriced parcel. MLS#621178 $189,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

MISSION HOME ROAD

146.88 ac. in Albemarle & Greene County. Privacy & protection adjacent to the Shenandoah National Park! Full division rights & multiple home sites. Extraordinary timberland. Views of the mountains, along with easy access to trails & Skyline Drive. MLS#620276 $1,100,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

CROZET AREA

Beautiful building lot -3.3 acres, fronting on a quiet paved county road. Land is mostly in pasture, some woods, creek and elevated homesite with panoramic views of mountains, pond, and surrounding pastoral area. Less than a mile to Harris Teeter at Crozet. MLS#636349 $450,000 Jim Faulconer,434.981.0076

GARTH ROAD

11.73-acre, buildable lot in Western Albemarle! One of a kind location and a rare opportunity to purchase a large lot in an estate neighborhood 10 minutes to town. 2 division rights and is gently rolling with a small stream bisecting the property. MLS#628219 $795,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

SIMMONS GAP ROAD

5-acre lot with mature hardwoods. Great opportunity to build with no HOA. Private building site amongst beautiful woods. Located between Free Union and Earlysville but so convenient to Charlottesville & UVA. MLS#621177 $140,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

EDNAM FOREST

Wonderfully large 1.5+ acre building lot in Ednam Forest. Build your dream home on this elevated, wooded lot located in a single family community, minutes from UVA and within walking distance to Boar’s Head Resort. MLS#598537 $289,500 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

MEADOW FARM

436+ acre parcel of land in Southern Albemarle! 4 division rights; complete privacy; lush, gently rolling terrain; long road frontage; stream; 3-acre lake; 125135 acres of open land; mature hardwood forests. Under conservation easement. Owner/agent. MLS#634139 $2,985,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

MURPHY’S CREEK FARM

Wonderful gently rolling parcel of land with just under 26 acres, 18 miles south of Charlottesville. The land is wooded (mostly hardwoods) with an elevated building site, stream/creek, total privacy, and long road frontage. MLS#619394 $229,500 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

Great building lot in Ivy! Over 2.5 acres less than 6 miles to Charlottesville and UVA. Your future dream home could sit on this beautiful, wooded land, the perfect combination of country and city access.

Murray Elementary School District. MLS#634897 $165,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

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Residents Are Saying

Listen and Live: The Power of Music As We Age

Our relationship to music changes throughout our lives, from the self-defining and intense connection we have to new music in our youth, to the boarder appreciation we develop in adulthood, to the nostalgia it prompts as we get older. It is what becomes the soundtrack of our lives. Of course, it’s also something you don’t have to overthink. It just feels good. As we age, however, research shows it can stimulate the brain in ways that can also help maintain health and well-being, prevent loneliness, reduce anxiety, and can even allow people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia to communicate when speech and memory fails them.

Loneliness for older adults can be deadly, leading to sharp declines in mental and physical health, but music can connect us to each other in ways that transcend language, social status, generational differences, and the limits of discourse. While it might seem obvious to veteran concert-goers, the results of a 2020 study published in the journal NeuroImage actually showed that the brain activities of audience members and performers during concerts become synchronized, allowing the same pattern of emotions to be felt, and therefore a kind of telepathic and powerful sense of togetherness.

Regular exercise when you’re older, we’re constantly told, is important for maintaining your health and well-being, but for many people that’s easier said than done. Well, music can actually facilitate movement in unconscious ways. Studies have shown that music can naturally alter your biological rhythms, such as heart rate, and as anyone whose heard a catchy beat can tell you, lead to dancing. Listening to music while you workout also helps make it more enjoyable. Or at least provides a distraction from the grind!

It’s no secret that music stimulates the brain. But neurologists have discovered that deeply listening to mu-

sic, studying its layers and patterns, can amount to an actual workout for the brain. What’s more, playing or learning to play music provides even more cognitive exercise.

Music is stored differently in the brain, and is often the case among those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, music can unlock memories and communication. According to a 2020 review of 82 studies on the effectiveness of music therapy, while by no means a cure, regular sessions led “significant improvements in verbal fluency” and “significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and apathy.”

Emerging research also suggests that music therapy can help with stroke recovery by helping to improve negative moods, cognition and motor function.

Music can also provide peace and comfort at the end of our lives. Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, wellknown for her theory on the five stages of grief, noticed that music helped dying patients become less withdrawn and more engaged with others, and emerging research has shown that the use of music therapy in hospice and palliative care settings can increase spiritual well-being and ease tension.

Most importantly, perhaps, music can help us visualize, recall, and structure our histories as we look back on our lives. Indeed, the importance of music as a mnemonic device for preserving memory is as old as human history, as stories and spiritual traditions were often passed down orally using poetry and music. Today, neuroscientists know that words set to music are often the easiest to remember (think of the ABC song! or Schoolhouse Rock), and can actually imaginatively and emotionally transport us back to different period in our lives.

David McNair handles communications, media relations, and social media efforts for JABA.

A NEW BIOTECH INSTITUTE FOR VIRGINIA. A NEW LEVEL OF CARE FOR VIRGINIANS.

IT’S A BOLD MOVE that leverages our combined strengths to benefit Virginia and Virginians.

The University of Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Manning Foundation have formed an unprecedented partnership to create a new biotech institute to accelerate medical innovations that will revolutionize patient care.

The new Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology will serve those who suffer from rare diseases and the millions who live with chronic diseases for which new therapies are needed, such as cancer, epilepsy, and diabetes. It will improve access to advanced

care in the Commonwealth through research, testing, manufacturing and clinical trials of cutting-edge medicine and treatments.

The new Institute will also establish Virginia as a best-in-class biotechnology hub in this fast-growing industry, creating jobs while becoming an incubator for innovation and entrepreneurship for the region and the state.

At UVA, we strive to be excellent, but excellent for a purpose. Through the research, discovery and delivery of new medicine and treatments, the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology will serve the people of Virginia, and the world, for generations to come.

INTRODUCING the new Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology

A brunch to remember

Local chef Antwon Brinson talks about his appearance on HBO Max’s “The Big Brunch”

By Richard DiCicco richard@c-ville.com

The first episode of “The Big Brunch” opens on chef Antwon Brinson. He stands almost in silhouette over a hot pan, stirring a sauce that coats some delicious-looking meatballs. Brinson is framed by his steel teaching kitchen, an everything-you-could-need creative cooking space at his business Culinary Concepts AB, located just off Barracks Road. In this HBO Max reality series, Brinson’s voice is the first we hear: “As a chef, you wear three hats. You’re a mentor, you’re a coach, and then you’re a chef.”

That balance is a guiding principle for Brinson, whose culinary career has shifted from navigating the precise world of fine dining to running his five-week cooking program in Charlottesville. The bootcamp at Culinary Concepts AB is a cooking crucible that prepares novices and experts alike for a career in the restaurant industry, meeting a tangible need for qualified staff in town. But the culinary bootcamp does more than just teach students how to dice and sauté; it teaches them how to set goals and meet them.

“I want you to walk away from this and feel like, ‘I’ve learned a lot about myself. And I feel confident going out into the workforce and with the skills that I’ve gained here,’” says Brinson. “And it may not even be cooking, it may be something else, but you found yourself through this journey.”

Brinson embarked on a new journey himself when he joined the inaugural cast of “The Big Brunch,” a new cooking show executive produced and hosted by Dan Levy that premiered last fall. The competition’s variously themed challenges tested Brinson’s culinary acumen by asking him to cook in a totally unorthodox way.

“When you think about cooking, you think about cooking from the context of, ‘What cuisine am I gonna cook? What protein am I gonna use? Is this a vegetable dish? Is it a seasonal menu?’” says Brinson. “You don’t think about cooking from the perspective of, ‘A dish that inspired you through your childhood,’ or, ‘A dish that speaks to where you are currently on your journey.’”

Those sort of abstract directives center each episode of “The Big Brunch,” which, true to its name, tasks contestants with reimagining brunch through their own personal lens—first with a starter item, and then with the main course.

“It challenged all of us to cook from a place that none of us had ever cooked from before,” says Brinson.

In that first episode, we meet chef after chef from across the country: a proud cook of Cantonese cuisine from Asheville, North Carolina, a sprightly Long Island baker, a

vegan auteur from El Paso, a self-taught Richmond restaurateur, and on and on. There are 10 in total (three from Virginia!), and it’s clear from the moment we meet the judges that these earnest chefs will be duking it out for cash—$300,000, in fact.

But this isn’t “Chopped,” despite the tears shed each episode. “The Big Brunch” is a big love-fest, a celebration of the art of cooking that specifically centers each chef’s community-focused passion project as the beneficiary of the grand prize. The leisurely timed hour-long episodes encourage the audience to get to know each chef, to learn about their drive and ambition and identity. And the production of the show allowed the chefs to get to know each other better, too.

“I would have never imagined that I would go on a show and meet people and say they’re gonna be my friends for the rest of my life,” says Brinson. “We’re cooking from a place of, ‘I want to change my community, I want to make this industry better.’ … To be in a room with nine other contestants that feel the same way that you do about their community, and they’re expressing themselves with food that way, it was remarkable.”

As the competition heats up and contestants get eliminated one by one, it’s evident the chefs are competing not against each other but against themselves. Each one has a comfort zone—like a tried and true banana bread or a predilection for mushrooms. Judges Levy, Sohla El-Waylly, and Will Guidara sniff this out quickly, and steadily push the chefs to refine or expand their repertoire. In

one brunch, the contestants play a challenge so safely that the judges call a mulligan and order them to start over from scratch, to really push themselves. As a result, the contestants return with dishes so outstanding the judges can’t bear to eliminate anyone. “That was a comeback for the ages,” says Guidara.

It’s in that same episode that Brinson very publicly embraces his love for Ethiopian food, a cuisine he cooks regularly at home but has shied away from professionally.

“In my career as a chef, in all the places that I’ve worked, I’ve never put Ethiopian food on the menu. Never,” he says in an interview segment on the show. “It was fear. ‘It’s not familiar. Will the guests like it?’ And being here, this competition has really helped me grasp an identity.”

“I love learning about my culture because I didn’t grow up with it,” Brinson told C-VILLE. “So I just started cooking Ethiopian food on HBO. … That’s what they [the judges] were able to do, they were able to pull this out from all of us, had us all cooking from a place of vulnerability.”

Originally from Niagara Falls, New York, Brinson says he didn’t grow up thinking he would be a chef. He didn’t have a strong culinary presence at home—but he did know that when his grandmother was baking desserts for the holidays, it brought the whole family together. He found that food was an equalizer: It’s at the center of many memorable moments in his life. That belief in the unifying power of food led him to join his

January 25 –31, 2023 c-ville.com @cville_weekly facebook.com/cville.weekly

Balance is a guiding principle for chef Antwon Brinson, whose career has included everything from fine dining to teaching a bootcamp cooking course at his Culinary Concepts AB.

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high school’s cooking team (where he made it to state competition on his first try), and eventually to the Culinary Institute of America, where he refined the skills he would use as a high-end chef in kitchens from the Virgin Islands and Hawaii to Palm Springs and San Francisco. His latest stop in Charlottesville saw him take on the role of executive chef at Common House, before leaving the restaurant biz entirely to open his cooking school.

Throughout his travels, Brinson held tight to the adage that food helps people connect and build communities. He immersed himself in each location’s culture to become a better chef—“I knew that if I understood the culture it would give me a profound understanding of the cuisine,” he says—which means he learned to cook food from a wide variety of culinary traditions. He came to “The Big Brunch” confident that he could pull a range of recipes from his pocket at a moment’s notice, but the competition’s time crunch and increasingly abstract expectations actually had him cooking much like he does at home: in a freeform, improvisational way. At home, Brinson opens the refrigerator without a plan, and takes stock of what he can cook with and what he can salvage

from leftover ingredients. It’s an experience that he says harkens back to his youth, when his mother always seemed to be missing one key ingredient he’d need to make a sandwich. He made do, and his quick thinking served him well on HBO Max as the timer marched on.

“Challenge three, the farm-to-table challenge, is really where I just changed,” says Brinson. “The challenge was, like, cook one vegetable. And I just literally went ham. I had four or five different techniques on the plate, I had mushrooms throughout it with different textures. … In that moment, I realized, I’m just gonna fucking cook. I’m gonna stop trying to dig deep. What is the food saying to me? What do I feel in this moment? And that’s what I’m gonna go with. That’s what got me through the competition.”

Though there are similarities between how Brinson cooks on TV and how he cooks at home, his tenure on “The Big Brunch” was anything but familiar. Cameras swooped around him as he prepared his dishes, and interview questions flew at him fast while he was working. He and the contestants were urged to only interact on set, so that their most authentic thoughts and feelings could be captured raw. And after each brunch, the chefs were subjected to 15- to 20-minute

critiques (often shortened to barely 30 seconds in the show).

There’s no TV magic on “The Big Brunch”: Each episode is a truncated version of a 12hour shoot, and every dish served up is exactly representative of what the chefs were capable of in that challenge. Things can and do go wrong, and when Levy rings the bell to signal everyone to stop cooking, the chefs better be ready to present whatever they have— even if it’s missing ingredients or portions.

“You got one shot,” says Brinson. “You literally have one shot to nail it. If you fuck it up, well, that’s what you get.”

As much as he enjoyed the experience, the Charlottesville chef isn’t dying to get on another cooking show.

“I was gone for a month,” he tells me, sitting at a table in Culinary Concepts AB. Brinson is surrounded by the stations that his students use in culinary bootcamp, the same kitchen that we see him cooking and teaching in at the beginning of the show. “I think that if I was to do another cooking show it would have to be more focused around what I’m currently doing, it has to be in line with my mission. Something that highlights the work, something that highlights the students, something that really highlights the outcome. I would want it to

be less about me and more about the inspiration that happens when you create a space like this.”

Brinson’s dedication to his new role as a business owner and teacher is an outgrowth of the tireless, laser-focused work ethic that powered him through his career in high-end resorts. He draws considerable inspiration from his mother, who was a foster parent while he was growing up.

His mom suffered from back pain, but “then she gets a foster kid that’s an emergency placement that could possible die because they’re on a ventilator,” says Brinson, “and all of a sudden she has no back pains, anything, and she is determined to make sure this kid makes it through the night.” Her hyperfocus and vigilance continues to inspire the chef to “find a focal point and go hard,” a lesson he passes on to his students.

“What we’re doing here, man—restaurants and food service providers all around the world need something like this,” says Brinson. “People need something like this. And our goal is to scale this thing across the nation. And that’s the vision.”

Want to see how Antwon Brinson did in the competition? Check out “The Big Brunch” on HBO Max, where all episodes now streaming.

“To be in a room with nine other contestants that feel the same way that you do about their community, and they’re expressing themselves with food that way, it was remarkable.” ANTWON BRINSON

Dan Levy (right), host, judge, and producer of “The Big Brunch,” pushed Brinson to refine and expand his repertoire.

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CULTURE

FRIDAY 1/27- SATURDAY 1/28

LIVED EXPERIENCES

“A migrant is perpetually unfinished. Instead of a living embodiment of one’s place of origin, a person is a work of art constantly in revision,” says David Cuatlacuatl, one of the artists participating in Aesthetics of Undocumentedness. The two-day symposium and exhibition highlights the kaleidoscope of ways individuals experience and are affected by undocumentedness. Day one begins with a community limpia, a type of spiritual cleansing, followed by a zine-making workshop and reception. Saturday includes a keynote from Erika Hirugami, a Q&A, and a screening of the movie COVER/AGE. Free, times and locations vary. art.as.virginia.edu

FRIDAY 1/27

SOUND UP

Illiterate Light is all about subverting expectations. The Virginia-based duo of singerguitarist Jeff Gorman and drummer Jake Cochran is gearing up to release its most ambitious album yet, Sunburned, a masterful record full of rich keyboard, programmed percussion, and anthemic choruses. The latest single, “Fuck LA,” is a melancholy, homesick song that features a real voicemail Gorman received from his wife while on tour. “It’s about wanting to be home,” he says. “It’s also a subtle middle finger to Atlantic Records, and taking pride in where you’re from. [It’s] nice to listen to when really stoned.” $15-20, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

SATURDAY 1/28

ENTICING TUNES

Singer-songwriter Jordan Tice combines witty, well-crafted songs with deft fingerstyle and flatpicking guitar. When not performing solo, Tice can be found working the guitar for acoustic bluegrass quartet Hawktail, and as a sideman for Dave Rawlings, Andrew Marlin (Mandolin Orange),Yola, Tony Trischka, and actor/comedian Steve Martin. His fifth solo record, Motivational Speakeasy, features stripped-down musings on life, relationships, and time. Tice is joined by openers Andy Thacker and Gabe Robey. $18, 7:30pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.org

January 25 –31, 2023 c-ville.com @cville_culture facebook.com/cville.weekly

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Federico Cuatlacuatl, founder and director of the Rasquache Artist Residency, speaks on January 28.

CULTURE THIS WEEK

Wednesday 1/25 music

Beleza Duo. Funkalicious samba soul. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com Jim Waive. Classic country tunes from the man with a velvet voice and impressive beard. Free, 7pm. Blue Moon Diner, 606 W. Main St. bluemoondiner.net Karaoke. Jen DeVille hosts this weekly song party. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com Open Mic Night. Charlottesville’s longest running open mic night. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. 234-4436.

stage

The River Live Arts’ production of Jez Butterworth’s bewitching and mysterious play stars Steve Tharp, Christina Ball, and Caitlin Reinhard. $22-27, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

etc.

Bingo. Four games that increase in difficulty with prizes to match. Free, 6pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com Host Battle Comedy Showcase. Chris Alan and Winston Hodges banter back and forth and try out new jokes. $12, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Thursday 1/26 music

Baby Jo’s. Boogie tunes. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

Berto & Vincent. Wild gypsy rumba. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Silas Frayser Duo. A pop-up jam with draft bevvies and good times. Free, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

stage

The River See listing for Wednesday, January 25. $22-27, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

classes

Paint and Sip. Learn to paint a pair of sweet cardinals. $40, 6pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com etc.

Community MLK Celebration with Dr. Yaba Blay. Dr. Yaba Blay is a scholar-activist, public speaker, and cultural consultant whose scholarship, work, and practice centers on the lived experiences of Black women and girls. Free, 6pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Trivia & Thai. Play alone or bring a team and let the good times roll. Free, 6pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Friday 1/27 music

Erynn Legna McLeod. Enjoy wine, beer, and cider with a side of live music and food. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Full Moon Fever: Tom Petty Tribute. Members of Goldrush, Long Arms, Horsehead, and several other musical projects come together to give props and love to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. $12-15, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Illiterate Light. With special guests Palm Palm and Carl Anderson. $15-20, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

LockJaw. Classic rock and blues. Free, 8pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

Old Soul. Dara James and Jon Spear perform an acoustic mix of blues, rock, originals, and oldies. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

West of Wyatt. Jazzy tunes. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

stage

The River. See listing for Wednesday, January 25. $22-27, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Taije Silverman: Now You Can Join the Others Silverman reads from her poetry collection. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

outside

Playdates at the Playscape. BYO snacks and buddies and enjoy outdoor play. $20, 9:30am. Wildrock, 6600 Blackwells Hollow Rd., Crozet. wildrock.org etc.

Final Friday. A fun night of crafting. Free, 5pm. The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, 155 Rugby Rd. uvafralinartmuseum.virginia.edu

Saturday 1/28

music

Abby Bryant & The Echoes and Cris Jacobs. The two artists co-headline an evening of Americana and soul rock. $16-20, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Arcadia. Original Americana. $5, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Berto’s Latin Guitar Brunch. Enjoy the sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America with Berto Sales. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com

Cake Fight. Performing high-energy covers. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Jordan Tice with Andy Thacker. Jordan Tice of Hawktail, with special opener Andy Thacker. $18-20, 7:30pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.org

Railroad Earth. The New Jersey septet performs soulful bluegrass with rock ‘n’ roll spirit. $29-35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jefferson theater.com

Sue Harlow. Grab a glass and enjoy live tunes. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

dance

Ballroom Dance. Hit the dance floor for an evening of ballroom, Latin, nightclub, and swing dance. $5-10, 7pm. The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd. thecenter cville.com

stage

The River See listing for Wednesday, January 25. $22-27, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Aesthetics of Undocumentedness Symposium. Erika Hirugami delivers the keynote speech. Free, 9am. The Rotunda, UVA Grounds. art.as.virginia.edu

Hannah Loeb and Christian Schlegel. The poets read from their works. Free, 4pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

Storytime. Readings of recent favorites and classics. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

outside

Playdates at the Playscape. See listing for Friday, January 27. $20, 9:30am. Wildrock, 6600 Blackwells Hollow Rd., Crozet. wildrock.org

CULTURE SMALL BITES

The dining landscape

Restaurants we can’t wait to try, and some we’re gonna miss

By Will Ham

Charlottesville is always buzzing with news of the latest restaurant concepts, developed by old pros and fresh faces alike. Last year brought many new options, while some longtime favorites closed up shop. Here’s a roundup of (most) of what we gained and lost.

When North American Sake Brewery owner Andrew Centofante received a terrible fortune at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, he decided he would make his own luck by transforming the bitter prediction into a different sort of future. Pairing well with his American-made sake, ramen had fast become the most popular dish on the NAS menu—so slurp hello to Bad Luck Ramen Bar, dedicated to the craft of slow-simmered noodles and sake-marinated ingredients. As luck would have it, Bad Luck Ramen Bar held its grand opening on Friday, January 13.

On the Downtown Mall, Botanical PlantBased Fare gives vegans more choices. Rockfish Brewing Company serves brews right next to Mudhouse, and a permanent kitchen from Charlottesville’s food truck FARMacy Café is making Mexican fusion. Check out their Super Naan Taco, using garlic naan bread with al pastor pork.

Surf’s up at Brightside, a beach-inspired pub in The Bebedero’s former location above The Whiskey Jar. The sunny joint offers classic bar bites alongside an extensive tropical drink menu. Just off the mall is more exciting fusion

in the Japanese-Korean comfort food from Umma’s (formerly the Basan Food Truck).

On West Main Street, Smyrna is making a name as one of the hottest new dining places in town. The Quirk Hotel added the Bobboo Lounge, modeled after an estate cigar room, and Cake Bloom spoils us with elegant cake and champagne pairings. Dairy Market rolled out Basta Pasta by the team at Dino’s Pizza, and Birdhouse serves organic, free-range chicken dishes and creative sides in the Rose Hill neighborhood.

The Barracks Road Shopping Center welcomed Ralph Sampson’s American Taproom, and it seems the shuffle at 5th Street Station is beginning to settle down, with Pei Wei Asian Kitchen being the only new restaurant to open in the center last year.

Emmet Street welcomed Chang Thai’s fresh and sustainably sourced family recipes. Popito’s Pizza, another food truck origin story, popped up in the Rio Hill Shopping Center, and visitors to The Shops at Stonefield can now grab some Tex Mex at Torchy’s Tacos and leafy green bowls and juices at Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery

In other knead-to-know news, DIY Pie is entering the scene as the newest pizza shop, at the former Lelo’s Pizza space on Pantops. Have it your way with an entirely customizable pizza, pasta, and salad menu. Also on Pantops, The Donut Kitchen parked its bakeshop in a permanent space. Pick your dozen from traditional flavors like strawberry glazed, or the indulgent Bavarian creme.

Brazos’ second location at Barracks Road Shopping Center, and Black Cow Chop House, a new woodfired, meaty-good concept from the team at Public Fish & Oyster

Stick a fork in ’em, they’re done

Sadly, we lost some of our favorite go-to spots including Little Star, Peloton Station, Piedmont Bar and Kitchen, and, closing on Pi Day (March 14), The Pie Chest

Pie partners Rachel and Tina announced that they will step away from the rolling pins to pursue education and career goals, and we are just crustfallen. There’s a crumb of hope, though, because they’ll continue to offer some Pie Chest favorites at pop ups, and the entire Fourth Street space will be taken over by Lone Light Coffee

After a few short months of serving gourmet, grown-up grilled cheese sandwiches Ooey Gooey Crispy closed its doors last October. The fast-casual restaurant also offered juicy smashburgers and crunchy salads.

Say goodbye to cheddar bay biscuits, because Red Lobster is sleeping with the fishes, but you can still snag the catch of the day at Red Crab Juicy Seafood, a family-friendly spot known for its signature Cajun seafood boil.

January 25 –31, 2023 c-ville.com @cville_culture facebook.com/cville.weekly

We can’t wait to order from

Bad Luck Ramen Bar in the Ix Art Park is a lucky break for noodle lovers.

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etc.

Portrait of the Queen An original portrayal of the story of Queen Elizabeth II. $11-15, 2pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Silent Disco. Grab a pair of headphones and choose from three music channels. $10, 9pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

Sunday 1/29 music

Isabel Bailey. Folk rock. Free, 1pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Two of Us. The acoustic duo of Justin Storer and Joel Streeter perform well-loved Beatles tunes. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com

UVA Chamber Music Series: Jiyeon Choi. The clarinetist is an advocate for contemporary music, and specializes in standard solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire. Free, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds. music.virginia.edu

stage

The River See listing for Wednesday, January 25. $22-27, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org etc.

Spring Pop-Up Shop for Kids. Enjoy a warm beverage while you shop for vintage kids decor, gifts, books, and toys, and enjoy a free storytime and coloring crafts. Free, 9am. Mudhouse Coffee, 5793 The Square, Crozet. onceuponafindcrozet@gmail.com

Tom Papa. The comedian has found success as an author in film, TV, radio, and podcasts, as well as on stage. $29-49, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Monday 1/30 music

Gin & Jazz. The Brian Caputo Trio performs in the Château Lobby Bar. Free, 5:30pm. Oakhurst Inn, 100 Oakhurst Cir. oakhurstinn.com

Tuesday 1/31 music

Thee Sacred Souls. The San Diego trio is gearing up to release its self-titled debut. $2528, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

The Lint Collectors. Grooves and leads from resident shredder Evan Sposato and friends. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

Thunder Music Karaoke. Sign up to sing or just enjoy the show. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. 234-4436.

Vincent Zorn. Olé. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. the bebedero.com

outside

Playdates at the Playscape. See listing for Friday, January 27. $20, 9:30am. Wildrock, 6600 Blackwells Hollow Rd., Crozet. wildrock.org etc.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night. Teams of two to six people play for prizes and bragging rights. Free, 8pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

CULTURE TRIED IT IN

AQUAFLOAT, TAKE ME AWAY

I’ve lived in Charlottesville for almost 20 years, and there’s still so much I’ve never seen or done. We moved here in 2003, had our first and only (lovely, high-needs) child four months later, and the rest has been a blur of going to and from work, the grocery store, doctors’ appointments, schools, and, occasionally, Brazos Tacos.

Now that I’m an empty-nester, and lockdown is behind us, I can finally check out all the stuff I’ve seen in peripheral vision these past many years—the places and activities you hear people mention, or that you spy as you drive by thinking, “How long has that been there, and what even is it?”–Mary Esselman

What and why

AquaFloat, because ever since it opened I’ve wondered how soaking in (what I imagined to be) a coffin-shaped pod full of salty water could possibly help anyone feel relaxed.

How it went

Big reveal: no coffin-shaped pod! More like a large, gleaming oyster shell, filled with a tranquil, turquoise bath. And in the float room, an inviting 8'x10' pool, big enough for two.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Accompanied by my 19-year-old, I stepped out of the January gloom and into a Caribbean dream in the heart of downtown: aquamarine walls, lush plants, soothing music, a glass pitcher full of water with sliced lemons, and a warm greeting. I felt my shoulders drop down from their usual high clench.

First up, the massage.

Yes, AquaFloat offers massage, as well as infrared sauna and other services. Apparently, massage followed by a float maximizes stress reduction, pain relief, and muscle recovery. Considering all 2022 had served up, I went for it.

That’s how I found myself in the gentle, expert hands of AquaFloat’s Massage Manager Reggie Harrison, who carefully assessed my needs before working magic on my creaky, sore body. The kid, meanwhile, found massage a revelation, as therapist Ansley

Brubaker released knots related to hunching over a computer, art canvas, and phone. Goofy with relaxation, we made our way to the main event: the float.

Once Manager Alyson Abbate gave us clear instructions, the kid entered the one-person pod room (12 inches of body-temperature water mixed with 1,000 pounds of epsom salt), while I shuffled into the larger float room (18 inches of water and 3,000 pounds of epsom salt).

According to Abbate, many floaters—athletes, care providers, first responders—opt for a silent, closed-door, lights-out float. Fond of undeprived senses, I opted for the

door open, lights on, and music just loud enough to lull.

“What in the world am I doing?” I thought as I sank into the warmth, and felt my body bob up gently. Wow. Weightless, warm, and safe. On the ceiling, sparkling white lights mimicked stars, and down below I laughed like a baby in its crib, watching a mobile go

'round. This was fun! In my mind I was 5 again, though in reality I’m sure I looked like Wilford Brimley in Cocoon. I steered myself one way, then another, closed my eyes, and let myself drift.

When time was up, I bade a lazy farewell to my pool, took a hazy shower, dressed in a trance, and went to meet the kid, who, it turns out, had soaked in sensory-deprivation bliss, and declared the entire AquaFloat experience “sick.” Usually nocturnal, the kid went to sleep at 8pm and woke late the next morning, relaxed and elated.

Low-key, (relatively) affordable, convenient stress relief. I loved it.

This column is not an endorsement. Do your own research, and choose what’s best for you when it comes to your health and wellness.

January 25 –31, 2023 c-ville.com @cville_culture

A relaxing soak at AquaFloat is a great escape from the winter blues.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Mary Esselman is trying out new things.

Where our dreams meet action.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30THSUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH

THE HOW TO’S

MAKE THE MOST OF THESE SEVEN DELICIOUS DAYS!

The very first C-VILLE Restaurant Week had foodies buzzing and tables filling up faster than a top chef can slice a ripe tomato. Ditto for this one in winter 2023. Getting in on the fun is easy–but it requires a little planning. Here’s how.

STEP 1: Mark your calendar for Monday, January 30thSunday, February 5th

STEP 2: Peruse the menus from the participating restaurants to decide which ones suit your fancy. With so many participating, you can’t visit one every night!

STEP 3: Call each restaurant directly to make your reservation, and mention that you’re coming in specifically for Restaurant Week. Reservations are first-come, first-served and chefs report that interest has been running high, so don’t tarry.

STEP 4: Show up on time, and make sure you’re dressed to make your mama proud, since some of the participating establishments have dress codes.

STEP 5: Make sure you order off the special “Restaurant Week” menu, as some of the participating restaurants will also offer their regular—i.e. more expensive— menu. (Everyone will be dismayed, and you might end up washing dishes, if you order the $65 flaming surf and turf that’s not part of the special prix fixe menu.)

STEP 6: Savor your meal, and when paying your bill, please remember that drinks, tax and tips are not included.

Quick to setup, and even easier to use: Toast's restaurant-first platform is built with you in mind.

VISIT POS.TOASTTAB.COM TO LEARN MORE

Vorspeisen & Suppen

Winter Crunch Salat kale, Brussels sprouts, pistachios, tart apple & shaved parmesan w/ lemon poppyseed vinaigrette

Oxtail Soup

hearty beef broth w/ root vegetables, potatoes & sherry

German Potato Pancake “Nachos”

potato pancakes topped w/ pork belly, shredded jack & cheddar cheese, sour cream, pickled cabbage & banana peppers

Mini Sausage Wellington

Westphalian ham, Thüringer sausage, Sauerkraut & mustard, wrapped in puff pastry

Hauptspeisen

Beef Tenderloin Medallions “Hubertus” w/ wild mushrooms, flamed in Asbach & served over Spätzle

Kasseler Ripperl a thick, smoked German pork chop w/ whipped potatoes & Sauerkraut

Chicken Schnitzel Currywurst topped w/ Weisswurst & Bavarian curry catsup over pommes frites

Crab-stuffed Fillet of Salmon w/ béchamel sauce

Nachspeisen

Köstritzer Chocolate Mousse Torte layered chocolate cake baked with Köstritzer Bier

Crème Brûlée Cheesecake w/ fresh berries

Strawberry Napoleon layers of puff pastry w/ vanilla & strawberry Bavarian cream

Bavarian Nutball

vanilla ice cream rolled in vanilla spiced nuts & coconut topped w/ whipped cream and chocolate syrup

Family-style side dish selections:

Red cabbage, Spätzle, glazed carrots, creamed corn, string beans, whipped potatoes, German potato salad, potato dumplings or zucchini

Add a flight of beer or wine for $11 or a glass of Glühwein for $7

RESTAURANT WEEK

JAN 31–FEB 4, 2023

EXCLUDING SUNDAY AND MONDAY PRIX FIXE, $35/PERSON

facebook.com/cville.weekly

Caesar Salad romaine lettuce, caesar dressing, shaved parmesan, sourdough croutons, parsley | GF OPTION

Winter Greens Salad golden beets, chevre, candied cumin, carrot vinaigrette, radicchio, mix greens | V GF

Common House Salad escarole, pickled red onion, sherry mustard vinaigrette, sourdough croutons

Mushroom Pappardelle seared mushrooms, parsley, vegan butter sauce | VEGAN

Petite Ribeye 5 oz ribeye, buttered herb potatoes, glazed bourbon brown sugar carrots, horseradish crème fraîche Rockfish warm olive compote, risotto

Rigatoni Bolognese bolognese sauce, ricotta salata, sourdough bread

SALAD MAIN SWEETS

Apple Upside Down Cake caramel, whipped chantilly Citrus Chocolate Torte citrus marmalade, powdered chocolate S’mores chocolate meringue, graham crumb, toasted marshmallow ice cream, chocolate drizzle

206 WEST MARKET STREET, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

To make a reservation: (434) 566-0192 or conciergecville@commonhouse.com

Restaurant Week Menu

Winter 2023, $35

First Course

QUINOA SALAD

Organic kale, almonds, apples, dried cranberries balsamic vinaigrette.

CHARGRILLED OYSTERS

1/2 dozen oysters, garlic butter, homemade bread.

TRUFFLED MASH PIEROGIES

Homemade pierogies, stuffed with mashed. potatoes, truffle sauce.

LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

Carrots, onions, celery, black beans parsnip. Served with homemade bread.

Second Course

WALNUT CRUSTED SALMON

Mushroom r isotto sauteed organic spinach.

BASIL PESTO PENNE Tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, creamy basil pesto sauce.

VEGAN JAMBALAYA Rice celery, tomatoes, peppers, onions, vegan sausage, tofu.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN Chicken breast garlic mashed. potatoes red wine sauce.

Dessert

CHEFS BEIGNETS

French pastry dough dusted with cinnamon powdered sugar, raspberry sauce.

BREAD PUDDING

Chocolate chip, banana, honey bourbon sauce.

.

BAKLAVA

Flaky filo dough, walnuts, lemon sauce .

January 2531, 2023 c-ville.com

Ceviche de Pescado (Fish marinated in a special lemon-based sauce)

Shrimp and Calamari Marinated with an Anticucho sauce Tuna Tartare Tuna marinated in a Ponzu sauce Causa Limena Yellow potatoes, accompanied by chicken salad, black olives, and hard-boiled eggs.

Pescado a lo Macho Grilled fish accompanied by a seafood sauce

Lomito Andino Risotto with Filet Mignon and a Huancaina sauce

Trigotto w/ shrimp wheat with Shrimp and an Anticucho sauce Aji de Gallina Chicken in a yellow Aji pepper sauce.

Maru Downtown

RESTAURANT WEEK

JANUARY 30, 2023 - FEBRUARY 5, 2023

STARTER

GIMBAP

Korean maki roll with seasoned rice and vegetables (GF/V)

NOKDU JEON

Korean savory pancake made with ground mungbean, kimchi and vegetables (GF/V)

MODEUM TWIGIM

Shrimp and vegetable tempura (V option available)

KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN

Traditional | Naked | Soy Garlic | Spicy Gochu

ENTREES

GALBI

Fire-grilled sweet soy marinated beef short ribs. Served with a side of rice, & banchan

KOREAN BBQ PLATE

Bulgogi Beef | Spicy Pork | Chicken | Pork Belly Served with rice, lettuce wraps and & banchan. For (V) option, Tofu Gangjeong w/ or w/o cheese. Served with rice.

DOLSOT BIBIMBAP

A bed of rice, topped with a medley of vegetables in a sizzling hot stone bowl with your choice of beef, spicy pork, chicken (GF) OR tofu (V/GF).

DESSERT

TTEOK AND TEA AFFOGATO

Korean sweet rice cake with flavored filling served with hot tea

Sweet vanilla ice cream and hot roast espresso topped off with Khaluah coffee liqueur and chocolate coffee bean

January 2531, 2023 c-ville.com

APPETIZERS

Fried Green Tomatoes

ENTREES

Crawfish Beignet

BBQ Jackfruit Platter

Chicken & Dumplings

DESSERT

Blackened Wild Caught Catfish

Country Fried Steak

Biscuit Basket

Sides

$35 PER PERSON

113 W Market St, Charlottesville, VA 22902 monsoonsiamcville.com • (434) 971-1515

C-Ville Restaurant Week l $45 Per Person

FIRST COURSE:

Spinach & Artichoke Dip: mozzarella, garlic, house made tortilla chips

Kale Caesar Salad: romaine, kale, creamy caesar dressing, garlic croutons, parmesan

Deviled Eggs: applewood smoked bacon, paprika

SECOND COURSE:

Shrimp & Grits: white stone ground grits, peppers, onions, celery, bacon, red eye gravy, scallions

Seared Salmon: veggie cajun rice and spicy tomato vinaigrette

Bistro Steak Frites: grilled flat iron steak, garlic butter, grilled asparagus, parmesan truffle fries (+$5)

THIRD COURSE:

MAIN COURSES

Filet mignon of Berkshire pork

DESSERTS

Please choose one cheese fondue. Served with artisan breads and seasonal fruit and veggies for dipping.

Bourbon Bacon Cheddar

Aged Cheddar, Emmenthaler, Lager Beer, Bacon, Dry Mustard, Garlic, Worcestershire, Bourbon

Choose one cheese fondue from our dinner menu.

Spinach Artichoke Butterkäse, Fontina, Parmesan, Spinach, Artichoke Hearts, Garlic

Our selection of premium cured meats, artisan crackers and accompaniments. $14.95

All entrées include seasonal vegetables and signature dipping sauces.

Land and Sea

Garlic Pepper Steak, Herb-Crusted Chicken Breast, Shrimp, Atlantic Salmon

Bourguignonne

Canola Oil, Panko, Sesame Tempura Batter

The Garden Pot

Impossible™ Polpettes, Red Onion, Asparagus, Zucchini, Mini Sweet Peppers, Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Artichoke Hearts

• Add a lobster tail to your entrée. 14.99 •

Our entrées can be prepared with any of the premium cooking styles listed below.

Coq au Vin Burgundy Wine, Mushrooms, Scallions, Garlic

Mojo Caribbean-Inspired, Garlic, Cilantro, Citrus

Cast Iron Grill Tabletop Grilling

Please choose one chocolate fondue. Enjoy fresh strawberries, blondies, bananas, pineapple, marshmallow treats, pound cake and brownie for dipping with your choice of the following chocolate fondues.

Berries & Cream

Wildberry purée and mascarpone cheese are melted with the rich flavor of dark chocolate.

Choose one chocolate fondue to complete your meal. See our dessert menu for all the decadent details.

Wild Berry Crunch

The smooth, creamy flavor of milk chocolate comes together with crunchy peanut butter and wildberry purée

Cream Puffs, Macarons, Cheesecake $3.50 Each | $9.50 For All Three

$45 per person Tax and gratuity not included.

C-Ville Restaurant Week

$45 Per Person

FIRST COURSE:

Loaded Potato Soup: creamy potato soup, sour cream, chopped bacon, aged cheddar, chives

Poached Pear Salad: red wine poached pear, mixed greens, spiced pecans, radish, pickled red onion, blue cheese, balsamic vinaigrette

Deviled Eggs: chopped bacon, chives, paprika

SECOND COURSE:

Half Chicken: roasted half chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens, chicken gravy

Spaghetti Alla Calabria: roasted garlic, grilled chicken, mushrooms, spinach, calabrian chili vodka sauce, truffle breadcrumb, parmesan

Seared Salmon: pan seared salmon, crispy parmesan fingerlings, with spinach, fennel, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, lemon beurre blanc

THIRD COURSE:

NY Cheesecake: cheesecake, strawberry coulis, whipped cream, mint

Brownie Sundae: double chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream, chocolate & caramel sauce, salted peanuts

Sorbet: chef's seasonal sorbet

Chef’s

Butternut

Citrus

Butternut

Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

BY DAVID LEVINSON WILK

ACROSS

Kutcher of “Dude, Where’s My Car?”

Cat Socializers

Cat socializers allow our cats to receive one-on-one attention and interact with other cats. The socializers get to know each cat and talk about them with potential adopters.

Dog Handlers

Our dogs need volunteers to help them get all of the exercise and affection they deserve! Dog Handlers are responsible for taking dogs on walks, to playgroups and other activities.

SPCA Rummage Store

All proceeds from the SPCA Rummage Store go to support our homeless animals in need. We need help sorting through donations and setting up displays at the store.

Offsite Adoption & Fundraising Events

Our animals attend many fundraising and adoption events. If you like being out and about and around animals, this gives you the opportunity to do both!

By Rob Brezsny

By Rob Brezsny

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Aquarius

Pisces

(Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean educator Parker Palmer has a crucial message for you to meditate on in the coming weeks. Read it tenderly, please. Make it your homing signal. He said, “Solitude does not necessarily mean living apart from others; rather, it means never living apart from one’s self. It is not about the absence of other people—it is about being fully present to ourselves, whether or not we are with others. Community does not necessarily mean living face-to-face with others; rather, it means never losing the awareness that we are connected to each other.”

Aries

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In addition to my career as a horoscope columnist, I have written novels and other books. I have worked as a singer-songwriter in rock bands and performed a one-person show in theaters. As I survey my history, I always break into sardonic laughter as I contemplate how many businesspeople have advised me, “First, you’ve got to sell out. You’ve got to dumb down your creative efforts so as to make yourself salable. Only later, after you have become successful, can you afford to be true to your deepest artistic principles.” I am very glad I never heeded that terrible counsel, because it would have made me insane and unhappy. How are you doing with this central problem of human life, Aquarius? Are you serving the gods of making money or the gods of doing what you love? The coming year will, I suspect, bring you prime opportunities to emphasize the latter goal.

Capricorn

Aquarius

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In accordance

with your astrological omens this year, I’ve chosen a quote from Capricorn storyteller Michael Meade. I hope you will make it one of your core meditations in the coming months. He writes, “All meaningful change requires a genuine surrender. Yet, to surrender

does

and redeem the

up;

In

to touch the origin of our lives again. Only then can

and behavior. And the people we know well have even more profound transformative effects. I encourage you to celebrate this truth in the coming weeks. Thrive on it. Be extra hungry for and appreciative of all the prods you get to transcend who you used to be and become who you need to be.

Pisces

(March 21-April 19): Noah Webster worked for years to create the first definitive American dictionary. It became a cornucopia of revelation for poet Emily Dickinson. She said that for many years it was her “only companion.” One biographer wrote, “The dictionary was no mere reference book to her; she read it as a priest his breviary—over and over, page by page, with utter absorption.” Now would be a favorable time for you to get intimate with a comparable mother lode, Aries. I would love to see you find or identify a resource that will continually inspire you for the rest of 2023.

Taurus

(Feb. 19-March 20): I‘ve chosen a sweet taste of advice for you to keep referring back to. It’s in rapt alignment with upcoming astrological omens. I suggest you copy my counsel out in longhand on a piece of paper and keep it in your wallet or under your pillow. Here it is, courtesy of author Martha Beck: “The important thing is to tell yourself a life story in which you, the hero, are primarily a problem-solver rather than a helpless victim. This is well within your power, whatever fate might have dealt you.”

Aries

(April 20-May 20): “The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.” So declared Taurus philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in his book Philosophical Investigations Luckily for you Tauruses, you have a natural knack for making sure that important things don’t get buried or neglected, no matter how simple and familiar they are. And you’ll be exceptionally skilled at this superpower during the next four weeks. I hope you will be gracious as you wield it to enhance the lives of everyone you care about. All of us non-Bulls will benefit from the nudges you offer as we make our course corrections.

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): Poet Carolyn Kizer said the main subject of her work was this: “You

(March 21-April 19): “My life was the best omelet you could make with a chainsaw,” observed flamboyant author Thomas McGuane. That’s a witty way to encapsulate his tumultuous destiny. There have been a moments recently when you might have been tempted to invoke a similar metaphor about your own evolving story. But the good news is that your most recent chainsaw-made omelet is finished and ready to eat. I think you’ll find its taste is savory. And I believe it will nourish you for a long time. (Soon it will be time to start your next omelet, maybe without using the chainsaw this time!)

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): Here are my four decrees for you, Taurus. 1. You are cleared to be

greedy if it’s in service to a holy cause that fosters others’ well-being as well as yours. 2. It’s permissible to be stubborn if doing so nourishes versions of truth and goodness that uplift and inspire your community. 3. It’s proper to be slow and gradual if that’s the best way to keep collaborative projects from becoming slipshod. 4. It’s righteous to be zealous in upholding high standards, even if that causes less diligent people to bail out..

Virgo

Leo

Cancer

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): Many interesting lessons will arrive via your close relationships and collaborations. You will have the potential to learn more about the art of togetherness than you have in along time. On occasion, these lessons may initially agitate you. But they will ultimately provide more pleasure and healing than you can imagine right now. Bonus prediction: You will have an enhanced talent for interweaving your destiny together with the fates of your allies.

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): Here are some projects

(June 21-July 22): If you have any interest in temporarily impersonating a Scorpio, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to play around. Encounters with good, spooky magic will be available. More easily than usual, you could enjoy altered states that tickle your soul with provocative insights. Are you curious about the mysteries of intense, almost obsessive passion? Have you wondered if there might be ways to deal creatively and constructively with your personal darkness? All these perks could be yours—and more. Here’s another exotic pleasure you may want to explore: that half-forbidden zone where dazzling heights overlap with the churning depths. You are hereby invited to tap into the erotic pleasures of spiritual experiments and the spiritual pleasures of erotic experiments.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Shakespeare’s work has been translated from his native English into many languages. But the books of Virgo detective novelist Agatha Christie have been translated far more than the Bard’s. Let’s make Christie your inspirational role model for the next four weeks. In my astrological estimation, you will have an extraordinary capacity to communicate with a wide variety of people. Your ability to serve as a mediator and go-between and translator will be at a peak. Use your superpower wisely and with glee!

Libra

(July 23-Aug. 22): Mystic teacher Terence McKenna said, “You have to take seriously the notion that understanding the universe is your responsibility, because the only understanding of the universe that will be useful to you is your own understanding.” This will be key advice for you. You will be wise to craft an updated version of your personal philosophy. I suggest you read a lot of smart people’s ideas about the game of life. Make it quest to commune with interesting minds who stimulate your deep thoughts. Pluck out the parts that ring true as you create a new vision that is uniquely your own.

Virgo

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): The circle can and will be complete—if you’re willing to let it find its own way of completing itself. But I’m a bit worried that an outdated part of you may cling to the hope of a perfection that’s neither desirable nor possible. To that outdated part of you, I say this: Trust that the Future You will thrive on the seeming im-

I’d love to see you pursue: 1. Teach your allies the fine points of how to cherish you but not smother you. 2. Cultivate your natural talent for appreciating the joys of watching and helping things grow: a child, a creative project, a tree, a friendship, or your bank account. 3. If you don’t feel close to the family members that fate provided you with, find others you like better. 4. As you explore territories that are further out or deeper within, make sure your Cancerian shell is expandable. 5. Avoid being friends with people who are shallow or callous or way too cool. 6. Cultivate your attraction to people who share your deepest feelings and highest ideals..

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): How should we refer to your romantic adventures? We could be whimsical and call them “Ritual Mating Dances on the Outskirts of History.” We could be melodramatic and call them “Diving into the Deep Dark Mysteries in Search of Sexy Treasures.” Or we could be hopeful and call them “A Sacred Pilgrimage to the Frontiers of Intimacy.” I think there’s a good chance that all three titles will turn out to be apt descriptors of the interesting stories ahead of you—especially if you’re brave as you explore the possibilities.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran musician Franz Liszt was a prolific and influential genius who created and played music with deep feeling. He was also physically attractive and charismatic. When he performed, some people in the audience swooned and sighed loudly as they threw their clothes and jewelry on stage. But there was another side of Liszt. He was a generous and attentive teacher for hundreds of piano students, and always offered his lessons free of charge. He also served as a mentor and benefactor for many renowned composers, including Wagner, Chopin, and Berlioz. I propose we make Liszt your inspirational role model for the next 11 months. May he rouse you to express yourself with flair and excellence, even as you shower your blessings on worthy recipients.

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): This may risk being controversial, but in the coming weeks, I’m giving you cosmic authorization to engage in what might appear to be cultural appropriation. Blame it on the planets! They are telling me that to expand your mind and heart in just the right ways, you should seek inspira-

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Coddiwomple” is an English slang word that means to travel resolutely and dynamically toward an as-yet unknown destination. It’s not the same as wandering aimlessly. The prevailing mood is not passivity and vagueness. Rather, one who coddiwomples has a sense of purpose about what’s enjoyable and meaningful. They may not have a predetermined goal, but they know Get to know Follow us on Instagram to view art, schedule a tour, or learn more about our amazing artists

what they need and like. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the next six months will be an excellent time for you Libras to experiment with coddiwompling.

Scorpio

tion and teaching from an array of cultures and traditions. So I encourage you to listen to West African music and read Chinese poetry in translation and gaze at the art of Indigenous Australians. Sing Kabbalistic songs and say Lakota prayers and intone Buddhist chants. These are just suggestions. I will leave it to your imagination as you absorb a host of fascinating influences that amaze and delight and educate you.

Sagittarius

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the theater of ancient Greece, the termanagnorisis referred to a pivotal moment when a character discovered a big truth they had previously been unaware of. Another Greek word peripeteia, meant a reversal of circumstances: “a change by which the action veers round to its opposite.” I bring these fun ideas to your attention, dear Scorpio, because I think this year could bring you several instances of an anagnorisis leading to a peripeteia How would you like them to unfold? Start making plans. You will have uncanny power to determine which precise parts of your life are gifted with these blessings.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “All the world’s a stage,” Shakespeare wrote, “and all the men and women merely players.” That’s always true, but it will be even more intensely accurate for you in the coming weeks. High-level pretending and performing will be happening. The plot twists may revolve around clandestine machinations and secret agendas. It will be vital for you to listen for what people are not saying as well as the hidden and symbolic meanings behind what they are saying. But beyond all those cautionary reminders, I predict the stories you witness and are part of will often be interesting and fun.

Capricorn

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In this horoscope, I offer you wisdom from Capricorn storyteller Michael Meade. It’s a rousing meditation for you in the coming months. Here’s Meade: “The genius inside a person wants activity. It’s connected to the stars; it wants to burn and it wants to create and it has gifts to give. That is the nature of inner genius.” For your homework, Capricorn, write a page of ideas about what your genius consists of. Throughout 2023, I believe you will express your unique talents and blessings and gifts more than you ever have before.

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Winters are cold in Olds, a town in Alberta, Canada. Temperatures plunge as low as 24 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. But an agronomist named Dong Jianyi has built a giant greenhouse there that enables him to grow vegetables year-round. He spends no money on heat, but relies on innovative insulation to keep the inside warm. In 2021, he grew 29,000 pounds of tomatoes. I propose we make him your inspirational role model, Sagittarius. My guess is, that like him, you will be a wellspring of imaginative resourcefulness. What creative new developments could you generate? How might you bring greater abundance into your life by drawing extra energy from existing sources? How could you harness nature to serve you even better?

Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888

Expandedweeklyaudiohoroscopesanddailytextmessagehoroscopes:RealAstrology.com,(877)873-4888

January 25–31, 2023 c-ville.com facebook.com/cville.weekly

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis was nominated nine times for the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature, but never won. He almost broke through in the last year of his life, but French author Albert Camus beat him by one vote. Camus said Kazantzakis was “a hundred times more” deserving of the award than himself. I will make a wild prediction about you in the coming months, Aquarius. If there has been anything about your destiny that resembles Kazantzakis’s, chances are good that it will finally shift. Are you ready to embrace the gratification and responsibility of prime appreciation?

not simply mean to give

more to give up one’s usual self and allow something other to enter

lesser sense of self.

surrendering, we fall to the bottom of our arguments and seek

we see as we were to see, from the depth of the psyche where the genius resides, where the seeds of wisdom and purpose were planted before we were born.” (The quote is from Meade’s book Fate and Destiny, The Two Agreements of the Soul.)

PART-TIME HELP WANTED

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Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. to assist with morning routine of two adult disabled young women.

Must have valid VA driver's license, reliable vehicle, proof of insurance, and driving record. More hours are possible.

Reply to barbara.whary@gmail.com

Hoos the best

Stay tuned for more back page content, including HotSeat, The Big Picture, and You’ll be Happy to Hear. To respond to the Question of the Week, submit HotSeat suggestions, feel-good stories, or The Big Picture images, email arts@c-ville.com

Meet Ryan.

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital is dedicated to improving the health of our community and it shows through the compassionate care provided by the people that work within our walls.

Ryan Thompson, RN, BSN, is one of those people. From the moment you meet Ryan, you know that you are in the hands of a dedicated caregiver focused on helping you feel better.

“When you serve in the community in which you live, these people stop being strangers but people you will see again.”

Hear more from Ryan in his own words at

Nothing draws a crowd in Charlottesville like a UVA-Virginia Tech game, and the courtside seats at John Paul Jones Arena on January 18 contained some familiar faces. Former UVA player and 2019 NCAA National Championship winner Ty Jerome (middle) returned to his old stomping Grounds, and brought along his Golden State Warriors teammate Steph Curry (left). The pair saw the Hoos beat the Hokies 78-68 in the Commonwealth Clash.

MATT RILEY

SENTARA MARTHA JEFFERSON HOSPITAL

Sentara.com/MarthaJeffersonPeople.