C-VILLE Weekly | October 23 - 29, 2024

Who is Gloria Witt? We sit down with the 5th District candidate PAGE 10

Pizza, donuts, and wine: What's satisfying our cravings this week PAGE 29

Working with both parents and students, Price Thomas aims to end generational poverty

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Upcoming Events

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Your Vote Is Your Voice

10.24.24| 6pm

Rotunda Lower West Oval Room

Film Festival: Defenders of Democracy

10.31.24| 5pm

Violet Crown Cinema

An Evening with Robert Costa & Bob Woodward

11.10.24| 2pm

Venue TBD

An Evening with Professor Martin Luther King III

11.11.24| 6:30pm

Rotunda Dome Room

Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata

The Honorable Paul Harris

Delegate David Owens

Tara Setmayer Sergeant Aquilino A. Gonell.

Officer Danny Hodges

Robert Costa

Bob woodward

Professor Martin Luther King III

LOCAL. WEAR LOCAL.

Showing promise

of

NEWS 9

10 Meet Gloria Witt, the Dem who’s running in the 5th.

11 Bees best at Buckingham solar farm.

14 Real Estate Weekly: County comp plan adoption pushed to 2025.

CULTURE 25

27 Tried it in C’ville: Yes, and... at Big Blue Door.

Small Bites: Goodbye Blue Moon and Umma’s, and hello Sbrocco’s and Camellias.

Sudoku

Crossword

Free Will Astrology

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Hello, Charlottesville. Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.

This has been a big week for Charlottesville legacies—for worse and for better. Beloved local toy store Shenanigans celebrated 50 years in business. Blue Moon Diner announced its November 27 closing. UVA men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett shocked a legion of fans with the reveal of his immediate retirement. In many ways, it felt like the end of an era.

It got me thinking about what it means to create a legacy. Is it living a life of service to a greater good?

10.23.24

Is it contributing to the fabric of a place? Is it leaving a positive impression?

Maybe it’s a combination of all three. In which case, City of Promise (the subject of this week’s cover story, p.20) is well on its way. Executive Director (and Charlottesville native) Price Thomas is bringing the nonprofit into its next era, acting as a kind of facilitator as he connects underserved kids with local resources, aiming to lift them from generational poverty through access to education and opportunity. Talk about a lasting impression.

THE SUN 11-09 | STOLEN GIN WITH WIM TAPLEY & THE CANNONS 11-13 | HAPPY LANDING WITH ARTS FISHING CLUB 11-15 | KING BUFFALO WITH BEN KATZMAN’S DEGREASER

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“It’s just that when the whole world is targeting gender from birth … they’re stuck in a pigeonhole. I wasn’t what you would call a rabid feminist or anything, but I certainly thought, ‘Let’s open the door of possibilities for our children by not putting them in a box.’”

Kai Rady on opening Shenanigans (now owned by Amanda Stevens), 50 years ago, in an October 19 Daily Progress article

NEWS IN BRIEF

Not too much

Hometown rock group Dave Matthews Band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in a Cleveland, Ohio, ceremony on Saturday, October 19. Other inductees included Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Frampton, and Mary J. Blige. Matthews followed up the event with a social media post recognizing the band’s beginnings in Charlottesville and thanking longtime manager Coran Capshaw.

Almost there

The final phase of Biscuit Run Park—a 1,190acre state park off Scottsville Road—has begun. Heralded as Albemarle County’s largest park, Biscuit Run’s first phase has included the installation of the park’s eastern entrance off Route 20, a trailhead with 75 parking spots, and public restrooms. Construction crews are currently focused on the Route 20 entrance. Expect delays on Route 20 for the rest of the month.

Shooting death

Following what Charlottesville police have described as a “gang-related” shooting the night of October 19, one person is dead and another injured. Police were called to Rio Hill Apartments in the 1600 block of Rio Hill Drive around 8pm, where they found the deceased, 23-year-old Charlottesville resident Zerrion Eubanks-Warfield. “The incident involved multiple gunshots, with several vehicles and apartments struck,” police said in an October 20 statement.

Off court

Tony Bennett retired as head coach of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team after leading the program for 15 years.

UVA announced Bennett’s immediate retirement on October 17, shocking the Cavaliers faithful since it came just 20 days before the team starts its regular season and four months after the coach signed a contract extension that would have kept him at the university through 2030. For Bennett, the decision was made after months of deliberation and a growing discomfort with the changing world of college basketball.

“It’s not fair to these guys, and this institution that I love so much, to continue on when you’re not the right guy for the job,” a choked-up Bennett said during an October 18 press conference.

“I’m a square peg in a round hole. That’s what it is.”

Just the ticket

After a 45-day warning period, Albemarle County began issuing citations on October 21 for motorists caught speeding in the Hydraulic Road school zone. Drivers going 10 or more miles per hour over the speed limit are subject to a $100 fine, though the citations are not reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles. With the enforcement of citations, Albemarle County Police hope to see a decline in

In his time at UVA, Bennett, the winningest coach in program history, led the Hoos to a 364-136 record, with two ACC Tournament titles, six ACC regular season championships, 10 NCAA tournament appearances, and a 2019 NCAA championship. The three-time national coach of the year was also named ACC coach of the year four times. Ten Virginia players were selected in the NBA Draft during Bennett’s tenure at the university.

Associate head coach Ron Sanchez was named interim head coach for the 2024-25 season. Sanchez, who led the University of North Carolina Charlotte men’s basketball team from 2018 to 2023, is no stranger to the program, having been on Bennett’s staff for 12 years, including three years at Washington State and nine years at UVA.

“I’m at peace,” Bennett said during the press conference. “When you know in your heart it’s time, it’s time.”

speeding by the Lambs Lane campus that includes Albemarle High, Journey Middle, and Greer Elementary.

Between September 3 and October 11, ACPD reviewed and issued 4,902 warnings, according to a release from the county.

“With the transition to full enforcement, we aim to see improvements in driver behavior, ensuring a safer environment

for students, families, and staff as they travel to and from school,” the county said. “For school children and other vulnerable road users, drivers must stay alert and obey the posted speed limit. Driving too fast for certain conditions is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes.” For more information on the speed cameras and citations, visit the Albemarle County website.

atenjoy

Looking inward

Democratic candidate Gloria Witt on her priorities, platform, and opponent

By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

Voters in Virginia’s 5th District will choose a new congressional representative come November 5, with Democrat Gloria Witt and Republican John McGuire vying for the seat. Ahead of Election Day, C-VILLE reached out to both candidates to learn more about their local and national priorities.

C-VILLE: What are your top priorities if elected to Congress?

Gloria Witt: My top priorities are rooted in making sure that the people of the 5th District have opportunities to thrive. This includes ensuring access to quality health care, protecting Social Security and Medicare, addressing the affordable housing crisis, and expanding economic opportunities through job creation and workforce development. I also prioritize preserving democracy by protecting voting rights and accepting the outcomes of our elections.

On the national level, I am focused on safeguarding democracy, addressing income inequality, and expanding access to health care and affordable child care. I want to restore reproductive rights, strengthen mental health care, and ensure our veterans get the support they deserve.

Locally, I want to focus on revitalizing our small towns and rural communities by addressing the housing shortage, supporting farmers, and increasing infrastructure investments, especially in broadband access. Public education is a top priority. I will push for vastly expanded career and technical education programs.

How does your platform align with and support the best interests of constituents in the 5th District?

GW: My platform is based on the everyday needs of families, workers, and small-business owners in the 5th District. We need practical solutions for affordable health care, better-paying jobs, and ensuring our children receive the education and skills they need. We are failing our youth; they have to leave or they are stuck making a starvation wage. My goal is to lead the charge to make sure that our career and technical programs are producing enough workers for existing business and attracting new businesses with a skilled workforce.

How do your policy positions differ from your opponent?

GW: My opponent and I have very different visions for the future of this district. I believe in expanding access to health care, investing in public education, and making sure working families have the support they need. In contrast, my opponent supports policies that

roll back social programs like Medicare and Social Security. I also support a woman’s right to choose, while my opponent wants to restrict reproductive rights. Fundamentally, I believe in building a fairer, more free, inclusive future, while my opponent is focused on policies that benefit the wealthy and big corporations and restrict individual freedoms. I also accept that Trump lost the 2020 election.

How, if at all, do they overlap or intersect?

GW: We may overlap in wanting to create more jobs and spur economic growth, but we differ in how to achieve that.

Party control of the House of Representatives is anticipated to be decided by a narrow margin this year. How would Democratic control of the House benefit 5th District constituents?

GW: Democratic control of the House will ensure we continue to make progress on critical issues like health care affordability, protecting Social Security, and addressing income inequality. It also means ensuring that democracy and voting rights are protected from those who want to undermine them. A Democratic House will work toward policies that lift up all Americans, not just the wealthy few.

If elected to Congress, will you certify election results regardless of party outcome if the election is deemed free and fair?

GW: Absolutely. Our democracy is built on the foundation of free and fair elections. It’s

critical that all elected officials respect the will of the voters. … Refusing to do so threatens the very fabric of our democracy.

What, if any, concerns do you have with your opponent, his campaign, or his platform?

GW: My main concern with my opponent is his alignment with far-right extremists who undermine our democratic values. He has shown a willingness to support dangerous conspiracy theories, and that worries me greatly. He has also supported policies that strip people of their health care and phases out Social Security. … His opposition to common-sense gun reform and his stance on reproductive rights are extreme.

Why should Virginians choose you to represent the 5th District?

GW: Virginians should choose me because I’m focused on real solutions that put people first. I grew up on a small farm carrying water and canning food, I know this district, and I’ve lived the challenges many of us face. I’m committed to creating a future where every family has access to health care, where seniors don’t have to worry about their Social Security, and where our children receive the education and skills they need to succeed. I’ll fight for everyone, not just the wealthy or well-connected, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

As of press time, John McGuire had not responded to any of C-VILLE’s requests for comment. This interview has been edited for length.

Democratic candidate Gloria Witt grew up in Amherst County, which is located in Virginia’s 5th District.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Bee power

The buzz on a Buckingham County solar farm

By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

As part of its effort to go green, Do minion Energy is exploring the potential for honey-bee hives on solar farms through a pilot program at Black Bear Solar in Buckingham County.

In operation since 2023, Black Bear So lar covers roughly 13 acres, producing enough energy to power nearly 400 homes. The site is a small part of Dominion En ergy’s expansion of solar farms, prompted by the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act. In line with the legislation, the power com pany will move to completely renewable energy sources by 2045.

“About a decade ago, we didn’t have a single Dominion-owned solar farm in op eration,” says Tim Eberly, senior commu nications specialist. “Now, we have more than 60 solar farms around the state and they generate enough power to power more than 650,000 homes.”

For farmers, the rapid expansion of solar farms in Virginia presents potential chal lenges due to competition for ideal land.

Dominion started its venture into agri voltaics—the joint use of land for agricul ture and solar farms—with sheep, which are still used to help maintain grass at some solar sites in the commonwealth. By bring ing in honey bees, the power company hopes to bolster the local pollinator popu lation, and, as a result, agriculture.

Not every solar farm is a good fit for honey bees, though. Before moving forward with the pilot program, beekeeper Chuck Burden examined the area of Black Bear Solar to make sure the site could support new hives.

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“These honey bees have a three-mile foraging radius, so they’re seeking out pollinator plants and crops … looking for nectar

Closer to Charlottesville, Dominion is working to establish a new solar farm at the former site of the Ivy Solid Waste & Recycling Center. No feasibility studies for any agrivoltaics programs at the site have been conducted yet, but there are plans to evaluate the location for appropriate initiatives.

UVA MUSIC EVENTS

Date/Time/Place Event

Friday, 10/25, 3:30pm 107 Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 10/25, 6:30pm Carr’s Hill Field

Friday, 10/25, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 11/1, 3:30pm 107 Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 11/3, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 11/8, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 11/9, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 11/10, 8pm Rotunda Dome Room

Sunday, 11/10, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 11/15, 1pm

Music Library in OCH

Saturday, 11/16, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

* denotes free events

Jade Conlee Colloquium *

Sonic Cartographies in Hawai‘i Exotica

Cavalier Marching Band * "Vogue" Open Rehearsal

UVA Choral Showcase

U. Singers, Chamber Singers, Glee Club & Women’s Chorus

Giorgio Biancorosso Colloquium * Pasolini, World Music, & the Demise of the Film Composer” Baroque & Beyond * Italian à la mode

UVA University Singers Fall Concert

Directed by Michael Slon

UVA Jazz Ensemble - New Beginnings Directed by John D’earth

UVA Flute Ensemble * Directed by Kelly Sulick

Free Bridge Quintet with Nicole Mitchell, flute

Making Noise in the Library * presents Corey Harris, guitar

Chamber Seminar Recital * Directed by David Sariti

To find out more about these and all our other events, subscribe to our weekly “Music at UVA”

About 180,000 honey bees live at Black Bear Solar, which is part of Dominion Energy’s venture into agrivoltaics (using land for both agriculture and solar energy production).

Job change?

Job change?

Job change?

Whether retiring or changing jobs, you’ll want to know your retirement account options.

Whether retiring or changing jobs, you’ll want to know your retirement account options.

Whether retiring or changing jobs, you’ll want to know your retirement account options.

There are four potential options for your 401(k) when leaving an employer:

Fall Harvest Beer Pairing Dinner

Saturday, November 9 | 6:00 pm

Our executive chef and brewmaster will guide you through a five course dinner, each paired with a Mount Ida Reserve farm brew.

• Leave it in your former employer’s 401(k) plan, if allowed by the plan.

There are four potential options for your 401(k) when leaving an employer:

• Leave it in your former employer’s 401(k) plan, if allowed by the plan.

Tickets and menu at www.mountidareserve.com/event-calendar info@mountidareserve.com | 434-960-4655

There are four potential options for your 401(k) when leaving an

• Move it to your new employer’s 401(k) plan, if you’ve changed employers and your new employer plan allows for it.

• Move it to your new employer’s 401(k) plan, if you’ve changed employers and your new employer plan allows for it.

• Leave it in your former employer’s 401(k) plan, if allowed by the plan.

• Roll the account over to an individual retirement account (IRA).

• Roll the account over to an individual retirement account (IRA).

• Move it to your new employer’s 401(k) plan, if you’ve changed employers and your new employer plan allows for it.

• Cash it out, which is subject to potential tax consequences.

• Cash it out, which is subject to potential tax consequences.

• Roll the account over to an individual retirement account (IRA).

• Cash it out, which is subject to potential tax consequences.

We can talk through your financial goals and find the option that works best for you.

We can talk through your financial goals and find the

We can talk through your financial goals and find the option that works best for you.

best for you.

Joan M Carlson

Joan M Carlson

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

1010 Ednam Center Suite 102

IRT-1948M-A

Annie Gould Gallery

Shifting boundaries?

Albemarle supes resume

Comprehensive Plan review with discussion of growth area

By Sean Tubbs

Adelay in the completion of a new comprehensive plan for Albemarle County means adoption won’t happen until at least summer 2025, a time when half of the Board of Supervisors may be up for re-election.

Among other things, the update, known as AC44, will reaffirm rules about what can be built in Albemarle and where.

S. Main Street, Gordonsville, VA • (540) 832-6352 anniegouldgallery

“Currently, the development areas are approximately 37 square miles, or 5 percent of county land, and the rural area is 95 percent of county land,” says Tonya Swartzendruber, a planning manager in Albemarle.

Virginia code requires localities to update their comp plans every five years and Albemarle’s document was adopted in the summer of 2015. The county began what was to have been a two-year review in late 2021, but staff put the project on hold earlier this year to make the document easier to read.

The Board of Supervisors has decided the current boundaries will remain in place for now, but staff inquired earlier this month as to whether the update should direct them to review conditions every two years to see if there’s enough land to support additional people expected to move here over the next 20 years.

Supervisor Mike Pruitt of the Scottsville District, the youngest and newest member of the board, said he supports monitoring land use trends but is open to expanding the growth area. He was elected last year with no opposition.

“At some point, if our growth patterns do not change, I think the whole board recognizes that the development area will have to change,” Pruitt said at the October 16 BOS meeting. He suggested the coun ty identify a new place where dense de velopment could occur rather than “nib bling at the edges.”

Supervisor Ned Gallaway’s Rio District seat is one of the three up for election next year. He pointed out that the county’s growth area around Glenmore in eastern Albemarle is developing at about one unit per acre because of opposition from people who live in the area.

places in the county.

First elected in 2017, Gallaway has never faced an opponent on the ballot.

Diantha McKeel’s third term as supervisor for the Jack Jouett District expires at the end of 2025. She supports Gallaway’s idea.

“If we can look at somehow … trading land without expanding but looking at where there are possibilities to do some trade where it’s actually going to happen,” McKeel said.

The final seat up for election is that of Jim Andrews, who was unopposed in his 2021 race for the Samuel Miller District. He cautioned anyone against thinking expansion is inevitable.

“It may be that a shift of development areas may be the more appropriate way in which we handle this initially,” Andrews said.

Supervisors Ann Mallek and Bea LaPisto-Kirtley were both re-elected in 2023 and both faced opposition. LaPisto-Kirtley said she doesn’t think the boundaries need to be adjusted for decades.

“I think we need to make use of what we have,” she told her colleagues.

Mallek said she was willing to have as many meetings as possible to complete the Comprehensive Plan.

“If we’re not getting the density out of a Village of Rivanna, can we get that density back somewhere else that’s reasonable without necessarily changing the 5 percent?” Gallaway asked.

“We’re going to have to keep stirring the pot until we get it just right,” Mallek said.

The county’s growth advisory committees will get the new information on AC44 at a joint meeting on October 30 in Lane Auditorium.

Many residents of the Village of Rivanna growth area have protested the idea that residential density be more than one acre per unit, prompting some members of the Board of Supervisors to explore swapping out the land with other

EDGEMONT

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 15 miles south of Charlottesville, is this rare 572-acre historic estate whose design is reputed to be the only remaining private residence attributed to Thomas Jefferson. $15,000,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700 www.HistoricEdgemont.com

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; 125-135 acres of open land; mature hardwood forests. Under conservation easement. MLS#651411

$2,985,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

NEWPRICE

HISTORIC STAUNTON

Meticulously renovated National Historic Register home, blending modern amenities with remarkable charm. 5-bedrooms with hardwood floors, stained glass windows, and trim. Quartz kitchen, magnificent primary suite, terrace apartment. MLS#653080 $1,195,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD

Cabell Ave was solidly constructed in 1956 as an over/under duplex. The 5-BR home (3 up, 2 down) is leased until June for $4,390 a month to UVA students. There is a closeable stairway between the units offering max flexibility as a sing le family residence, a house with lower apartment or a duplex. MLS#657404 $840,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124

BENTIVAR MANOR

Exquisite brick home on 88 acres less than 5 miles from city limits. Residence is in excellent condition, 7-BR & 11,000+ sf. Property is a mix of pastures & woods with long frontage on the Rivanna River, & miles of trails. MLS#652353 $4,875,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

NEWLISTING

WESTERN ALBEMARLE!

Newly renovated 5,700 sq. ft. brick home on 5 acres between Charlottesville and Ivy in Western Albemarle. With 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and garage apartment, this home offers elegance and comfort. Enjoy 10 ft ceilings, three fireplaces, and a gourmet kitchen with dual appliances. MLS#657678

$1,950,000 Jennifer Von Reuter, 202.957.3465

NEWPRICE

THE HOLSINGER

Exceptional 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo, located just steps from the historic Downtown Mall. Luxurious living spaces, spacious floor plan, fully loaded kitchen, hardwood floors, a private balcony, and secure parking. Enjoy vibrant downtown living! MLS#656160 $1,178,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

HOLLY HILL

Charming cottage on 3+ acres in Ivy! Light-filled with living, dining, kitchen, sunroom, study, primary BR, bath, second BR on main floor. Lower level has bonus room, BR & bath. Recently updated floors, roof, sunroom tile. Private deck, mature landscaping, pond, Fiber Optic available. MLS#655171 $598,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

FIELDS OF BOAZ

A country French estate on 24 acres 6 miles from the University of Virginia. Timeless charm and modern luxury with soaring ceilings, spacious primary suite, home office, wine cellar, guest quarters, and private pond. MLS#652608

$3,995,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

NEWPRICE

HIGH FIELDS

Scenic 42-acre farm 10 miles from Charlottesville. Features pastures, woodlands, serene creek, antique farmhouse, updated kitchen, 3-BA, 4-BR, and panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain vistas, and substantial barn. MLS#651245 $1,565,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

EAST HIGH STREET

A highly visible location on a main City Entrance Corridor combined with the new Charlottesville Zoning Ordinance make 1114 East High Street an interesting property and future opportunity. The site property includes a parking lot with 12 spaces. MLS#657521 $950,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124 or Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

BAILEY’S QUARTERS

One level living with full basement, two acres and a spectacular view of Buck Mountain and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Home is 10 miles northwest of Charlottesville near Free Union. MLS#654595

$525,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

LEARNING CURVE

City of Promise’s Executive Director

Price Thomas talks about his hopes for the nonprofit

BY CATIE RATLIFF

CURVE

As the executive director of City of Promise, Price Thomas is working to improve education access in Charlottesville. But for the born-and-raised local, this job is more than a profession—it’s personal.

“This is Charlottesville, a part of my story,” he says, “and I want the next chapter to be marked by something better than the one previous.”

Located in the heart of the 10th and Page neighborhood, City of Promise has been working toward interrupting local cycles of generational poverty through education for more than a decade.

“A lot of what we’re experiencing are reverberations of issues that are going on around the state, around the country,” Thomas says. “But those aren’t sidewalks I’ve walked, those aren’t people I know, those aren’t schools that I went to.”

“There is a piece of this that is objectively personal for me … I can’t do this and go home, because this is home for me.”

The son of two local educators, Thomas attended Charlottesville City and Albemarle County schools. After graduating from William & Mary, where he was a four-year starter on the soccer team, Thomas played professional soccer in Europe before returning stateside to work as a copy editor. Over the last several years, he’s set down roots in Charlottesville, where he is raising two children with his wife, Caitlin.

Thomas’ work with City of Promise is only his latest position in nonprofits. Prior to joining COP in May 2023, he worked with The Montpelier Foundation and United Way of Greater Charlottesville.

“Charlottesville is a small town, and the nonprofit world of Charlottesville is even smaller,” he says. Through his work with The Montpelier Foundation and United Way, he met and learned from other nonprofit leaders, including previous directors of City of Promise. In his 18 months on the job at COP, he’s been figuring out what unique “flavor” he brings to the organization.

City of Promise “started way before me, will live on and succeed far past me,” he says. “But in this moment of time, what is my flavor? … I want us to be both taken very seriously and also very approachable.” Transparency and authenticity between City of Promise and the community are all priorities for the executive director, but not at the expense of agency. “We’ll walk alongside [community members], but we’ll also hold them accountable.”

In the beginning

Inspired by a work group of the Charlottesville Dialogue on Race in 2010, City of Promise developed through a Department of Education Promise Neighborhood planning grant of $470,000 that was awarded to Children Youth and Family Services in 2011. The national, place-based initiative bolsters communities experiencing barriers to education success, including economic hardship and disparity, through funding and recommending strategies and solutions.

City of Promise did not receive implementation funding through the DOE Promise Neighborhood program, but the initial grant was enough to get the nonprofit off the ground. Over the last decade, COP’s focus on improving education access and outcomes has remained at the core of its mission— especially in the area of literacy.

Despite district reading scores hovering near the state average, Charlottesville City Schools have one of the high-

City of Promise takes a “whole family” approach to education, and believes that one of the first steps to improve education access (and disrupt generational poverty) is to meet families’ needs by providing resources or connecting people with the appropriate nonprofit.

est literacy gaps in Virginia. As a district, 65 percent of its students achieved proficiency in reading for the 2023-2024 school year, compared to a state average of 73 percent. The data breakdown shows a more striking achievement gap: During the 2023-2024 school year, 40 percent of Black CCS students passed English reading testing, compared to 89 percent of their white peers.

Coming into City of Promise, Thomas took the opportunity to refocus the nonprofit’s offerings, taking a “whole family” approach to education access.

“It’s a mindset of helping our community members—parents and students—to feel both supported and challenged to that level of excellence,” says Thomas. “I don’t care where you came from, or how much money you have, or the car you drive, or the clothes you wear, the color of your skin—your job’s to be great. My job’s to help you be great. But ultimately, you’re going to leave the school reading the same books as that kid from Rugby Road, full stop. Period. The way you get there might be a little different, and that’s okay.”

City of Promise cornerstone programs include the Pathway Coaching, Dreambuilders, and LaunchPad Initiative, a pilot program in partnership with CCS and the University of Virginia education school that deploys the Virginia Community School Framework. The LaunchPad Initiative addresses non-academic barriers to support under-resourced students and families, thus improving outcomes. While currently only at Trailblazer (formerly Venable) Elementary, COP hopes to expand the initiative to the remaining CCS elementary schools.

The LaunchPad Initiative is the earliest direct (that is, not accessed through a parent already receiving coaching) program offered by City of Promise.

“It’s about quality at every developmental level. … Starting earlier is critically important,” Thomas says. “Often our theory of intervention is a little too late. We’re starting a little too late, and we’re working uphill. As we start to shape ourselves as an organization, as we start to partner with other nonprofits and for profits, there’s always that little bell that goes off that’s like, we’ve got to do this quicker.”

Similar to the LaunchPad Initiative, COP also offers support through Pathway Coaching. Both offerings aim to bolster students’ academic and socioemotional growth. Coaches employed by the nonprofit mentor students between fifth and 12th grade, helping with access to academic and extracurricular opportunities.

Dreambuilders, City of Promise’s only program that requires an application, fosters family and student success by providing parents and their children with tools for self-sufficiency, including tailored instruction and microfinancing of $5,000. The program utilizes evidence-based resources like the National Center for Families Learning frameworks, but takes an individualized approach tailored to participant needs.

“Everything should feel like it fits together; these are not intended to be three distinct programs. They are really intended to be kind of three self-reinforcing pieces of the same whole,”

SUPPLIED

PHOTOS

says Thomas. “If our adults are more efficacious and more confident, that’s great for our kids, who are receiving a whole host of high-quality services.”

Beyond programming, students and families involved in the LaunchPad Initiative, Pathway Coaching, or Dreambuilders can access resources through City of Promise’s Gateway Services. While the application-based financial support service is a critical component of COP’s network, the nonprofit is also helping community members by acting as a convener of resources.

Getting resourceful

Meeting participants’ basic needs, whether through directly providing resources or connecting people with the appropriate nonprofit, is a key first step in improving education access and disrupting generational poverty.

Navigating Charlottesville’s expansive network of nonprofits can be confusing, but Thomas says City of Promise is uniquely positioned, literally and strategically, to help community members locate and access the right resources. The nonprofit’s location in the 10th and Page neighborhood allows not only more convenient access for many of the students and families it serves, but for the organization to more effectively build relationships and trust within the community.

“City of Promise remains an intimate, proximal organization that is able to be nimble and is able to have more of a finger on the pulse,” says Thomas. “That is what’s most important to us.”

Addressing barriers beyond the classroom is a key part of COP’s work to improve education access. While the nonprofit can’t fully resource every program participant alone, it can help connect people with other local organizations—including ReadyKids for teen mental health, Network2Work for jobs and job training, and Cav Futures Foundation for mentoring. By more intentionally utilizing the large nonprofit community in the Charlottesville area, City of Promise hopes to collaboratively help families access resources in a way that is both more effective and more expansive.

“For these kids, for these families, it’s not just housing, it’s not just workforce development, it’s not just child care, health care; it’s everything altogether all the time,” he says. “We have to understand that we can’t isolate these tenants in this constellation of care. … We have to figure out how to link arms with other community organizations.”

Meeting participants’ immediate needs while simultaneously building a more proactive support network is a difficult balancing act for any organization, including City of Promise.

“We’re fighting this battle between people with immediate needs that we need to react to, but also not doing that at the expense of being thoughtful about what happens tomorrow,” he says.

“For these kids, for these families, it’s not just housing, it’s not just workforce development, it’s not just child care, health care; it’s everything altogether all the time.” PRICE THOMAS

At the end of the day, the quantitative, simple answer for how the nonprofit can most effectively help community members is money. Whether through funding for programs or resources, everything boils down to cash flow. But to make a meaningful dent in disrupting cycles of generational poverty, Thomas says City of Promise needs community buy-in and feedback.

“It’s not cheap, and I don’t think it should be. I don’t think we should pretend the folks who live in public housing and these kids and these families should have access to anything less than the rest of us, than your kids, my kids, and all these other little knuckleheads. … That’s [why] I’m here: to kick and scream for [it],” he says. “I think it’s my job now to be the loudest person in the room, but I don’t expect that to be the case for a long time. I don’t want it to be the case for a long time.”

An agentic community and participants not only boosts individual success, but helps City of Promise learn what is and isn’t working directly from the people it hopes to help.

“I think sometimes [nonprofits] say we’re the helpers, we know what the help is. … Feedback has to be incorporated and I want [people] to feel like that’s available,” says Thomas.

“The demonstration of success is not how I feel about it or whether people liked that I did it. It’s, does it work for the people for whom it is intended to work for? And at the end of the day, if we can’t say yes to that, we gotta find a way to make that happen.”

Thomas is under no illusions that City of Promise will end generational poverty in his time as executive director, but he is fighting to leave the nonprofit—and Charlottesville—better through his work.

“I want to make sure that we leave this in a way that we furthered the mission, that we’ve moved it forward, that we’ve gotten closer to whatever that huge goal is, that first pie in the sky—we’re going to end generational poverty,” he says. “We have to be very clear that it’s not going to happen today, tomorrow or next week. It’s going to happen by a mosaic of 1,000 little things every single day.”

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY 10/23

MOOD MUSIC

Are you struggling with life, love, stress, and setbacks? Are you well aware that the modern man must hustle? Have you been trying to find a balance since the aughts? Have you been a staple of the Midwest hip-hop scene and a defining force in Minneapolis music since the 1990s? Then you must be Atmosphere! The duo of emcee Slug and producer Ant have been churning out underground hits for more than 20 years, reveling in the unpopular and angsty. Nowadays, the lyrics weave in a little more positivity, but the ruminations on drugs, depression, and being ugly persevere with trademark witticism, wordplay, and self-awareness. $35–40, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

FRIDAY 10/25–SATURDAY 10/26

REQUIRED READING

With a bevy of book-centric activities to pique interest and inspire, the family-friendly Crozet Book Fest brings the rites of writing front and center. Friday features Bookish Trivia with Olivia to kick off a slate of events, followed by a Saturday full of panel discussions and more. Learn about the ins and outs of being a writer, enjoy s’mores around a campfire as YA authors share stories, and partake in dramatic readings of crowd-sourced Mad Libs. The authors of Charlottesville Fantastic—an anthology of unusual stories digging into the mystical qualities of the city—will discuss the book and draw connections between the ordinary and extraordinary in our region. Free, RSVPs encouraged. Times and locations vary. bluebirdcrozet.com

117 WAYS TO RAMP UP YOUR FALL

FRIDAY 10/25

SERVED WITH ROCK

Southern sounds abound in the setlists of Americana music purveyors Whiskey Myers Bridging country crooning and rock ‘n’ roll with a foundation of folk, this six-piece outfit from east Texas has been bringing its smooth, full-bodied blend of sonic spirit to stages since 2007. The band’s latest release, Tornillo, is self-produced on the group’s own Wiggy Thump Records—a testament to Whiskey Myers rugged individualism. This same temperament found the band on the “Yellowstone” soundtrack (and in a season-one cameo), serving straight up to a whole new crowd of the hit television series’ eager enjoyers. Tickets start at $45, 7pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

CULTURE THIS WEEK

Wednesday 10/23 music

Atmosphere. Songs about life, love, stress, and setbacks from a veteran duo that helped shape the sound of Midwest hip-hop. $35–40, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Berto & Matt. Latin guitar night. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Mike Rosensky Trio. Live jazz every Wednesday. Free, 8:30pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com

Open Mic Night. Open to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. Hosted by Nicole Giordano. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

Ramona Martinez. Mariachi and country music sung by a local favorite with Tejano roots. Free, 6pm. Guajiro’s Miami Eatery, 114 Tenth St. NW. guajiroscville.com

The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, and original tunes for your mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskey jarcville.com

stage

An Iliad A spellbinding, modern retelling of Homer’s classic, a play about war and rage, that resonates all-too-vividly today. $28, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Love Letters to Humanity Dance improvisation, theater, comedy, and audience interaction, uniting all through our hidden commonalities. With Conscious Dance Theatre founder Katie Wells. Free, 7:30pm. Piedmont Virginia Community College, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. pvcc.edu

classes

Watercolor Workshop: Autumn Leaves. Discover the beauty of watercolor in this beginner workshop focusing on painting vibrant, autumnal maple leaves. Ages 14+. $40, 4pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

etc.

Brick Masters. Drop by the Central Teen Zone to enjoy some chill building time. We’ll have Legos, Strawbees, and snacks. No registration required. Ages 11–18. Free, 4pm. JMRL: Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org

Family-Friendly Bingo. Free to play with prizes after each round. Four rounds total. Free, 6pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. firefly cville.com

Fiorano’s Karaoke. Sing your heart out at Fiorano’s Karaoke. Easy sign up and a booming sound system. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com

Rapture Karaoke. Downtown C’ville’s longest-running karaoke party. Hosted by Jenn Deville. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

SuperFly Run Club. Run around the city, then enjoy $5 pints. Raffles and exclusive merchandise to be earned. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

Trivia with Olivia. Olivia and Maggie bring you all your trivia needs. Come prepared to win with a team or meet folks here. First place winners get a $50 Starr Hill gift card and second place winners get $25. Free, 7pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com

Thursday 10/24 music

Benjamin Weimer. Singer-songwriter performs covers and originals. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Berto and Vincent. Join Berto and Vincent for a night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com Jam with Steve Lanza. Steve hosts a gathering where you are invited to play along. Free, 8pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com

John D’earth and Friends. Join us each week for live jazz with John D’earth and a rotating cast of local and national jazz musicians. Free, 10pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millers downtown.com

Matthew O’Donnell. The Blue Ridge Bard is a cornerstone of the C’ville music scene. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskey jarcville.com

Prabir Trio. Richmond’s finest India-inspired rock ‘n’ roll band melds eastern and western cultures together for a singular sonic experience. Free, 8pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

Vincent Neil Emerson. A torchbearer of the Texas songwriter tradition. With Korean-American blues poet Nat Myers. $20, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

stage

What the Constitution Means to Me Heidi Schreck’s multiple award-winning play dissects the document penned by our founding fathers over 200 years ago. $28, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org etc.

Boo Bash. Get in the Halloween spirit at this family-friendly carnival that’s too cute to spook. Registration required. Free, 5:30pm. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St. vadm.org

Dart Night. Weekly luck-of-the-draw double-elimination games. Throwers get $1-off pints during play. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.

Fall of the House of Usher. A screening of Jean Epstein’s 1928 surrealist adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s story with live piano accompaniment by Matt Marshall. $5, 8pm. The Looking Glass, 522 Second St. SE, Ste. D. ixartpark.org

Role Playing Game Hangout. Wizards and warriors unite. Jump into many RPG games including the ever popular D&D 5th edition. All experience levels are welcome. DM program available to earn store credit while running a game. Free, 3pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theend games.co

Trivia Night with Mike & Miranda. Put on your thinking caps for five rounds of fun questions. Play alone or bring a team of up to six players and let the good times roll. Free, 6:15pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Puzzle Hunt. Like an escape room but at a winery. Crack codes and unravel riddles while sampling Charlottesville’s best wine, beer and cider. Play when you want and go at your own pace. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Friday 10/25 music

Chickenhead Blues Band. New Orleans boogie-woogie, upbeat, rhythm and blues tunes. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com

Choral Showcase. Join the University Singers, UVA Chamber Singers, Virginia Glee Club, and Virginia Women’s Chorus for the traditional Family Weekend Choral Showcase. $5–15, 8pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

Ian Gilliam and The Fire Kings. Local rock ‘n’ roll, blues, rockabilly, and country. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Josh Mayo and Alex Bragg. Josh Mayo and his group of talented musicians provide music to enjoy with the sunset. Free, 6pm. Högwaller Brewing, 1518 E. High St. hogwallerbrewing.com

Lenny Burridge. A wide variety of musical styles, ranging from blues and jazz standards to current radio hits and alternative. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Matthew O’Donnell. A lively night of traditional pub music, incredible covers, and all-around good times. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Downtown, 946 Grady Ave., Ste. 101. starrhill.com

Mock Star’s Ball 2024 - Night 1. Your favorite local acts perform sets as your favorite bands of all time in Halloween spirit. To benefit Shelter for Help in Emergency in honor of Whitney French. $20–25, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Olivarez Trio. A sunset soirée featuring an acoustic blend of jazz styles mixed with eastern European folklore, waltzes, and more. Free, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

Pat Anderson. This singer-songwriter is a real roots rocker. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Symphonic Masquerade: An Evening of Wizards and Sorcery. The Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra presents wondrous and magical music from the films of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings The Chronicles of Narnia The Wizard of Oz , and more!. $10–90, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Thomas Gunn and Jason Pollock. An intimate evening of music, stories, and insights. $15, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Whiskey Myers. Experience a night of Southern rock magic. With JJ Grey & Mofro and Colby Acuff. $45, 7pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

stage

An Iliad See listing for Wednesday, October 23. $28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Author Event: Jeddie Sophronius. Join us for a reading and conversation with poet Jeddie Sophronius, author of Love & Sambal Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominion bookshop.com

etc.

Beetlejuice Screening of the cult classic inside an immersive exhibition venue. $5, 8pm. The Looking Glass, 522 Second St. SE, Ste. D. ixartpark.org

CULTURE TRIED IT IN C'VILLE

The glorious goat of improv

One of my favorite things to do is laugh. A hearty laugh makes a bad day a little less bleak and a good one golden. Live comedy has always been something I enjoy and have often fantasized about trying.

As a small child, I enjoyed performing—ballet, school plays, living room magic shows. Then adolescence crash-landed and middle school happened to me (as it does to us all). Self-consciousness rooted and ran wild like the destructive weed it is. I forced myself to overcome stage fright in high school, but it’s a battle I still fight every time I need to appear in front of a group. Though I was a certified “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” addict back in the day, I thought I’d shelved my comedy dreams for good.

Then I entered middle age, and, along with all the less-fun parts like plantar fasciitis and hot flashes, I unlocked that adulting achievement of having far fewer fudges to give about getting embarrassed. And that’s how I ended up enrolled in a Big Blue Door improv class. Kristie Smeltzer

What

Taking a Big Blue Door improv class.

Why

To challenge myself to get outside my comfort zone (and hopefully laugh a lot doing it).

How It Went

I’m still laughing.

At the first class, anxiety and excitement duked it out in my guts—very first-day-ofschool vibes. The group members quickly realized we’d have little time to sit and think about our nerves though. Our intrepid instructor told us to “circle up,” and before we knew it, we stood playing a game to learn names and one true thing about each other. I didn’t realize how vulnerable and, to quote the introverted goddess Emily Dickinson, “public like a frog” the entire experience was going to be. But, golly, improv sure feels like the right kind of hard, the kind that comes from growth. Class continued through a series of group and partner activities. Trust grows quickly with classmates from absolute necessity. In my limited experience, improv demands that we’re 100 percent present in the moment— and 100 percent willing to look extremely foolish. Our instructor provided clear, concise directions to get us going, and gentle guidance as we went. He also shared a key insight: It’s really hard to upset people with what we say when performing, so don’t stress. Implied in that wisdom is the notion that what people co-create in real time, improvisationally, is ephemeral. That’s part of the beauty of it, and only the most memorable bits—which hopefully got laughs—will remain in folks’ minds.

Twenty minutes into the class, my nerves had mostly calmed. I was just having fun, and the activities—such as “name five things” in which participants call on each other to name five things in a category: “Francine, name five different sandwiches!”—demanded that I get out of my own head. If we got stuck, our teammates and the instructor moved us out of it. I won’t say much about my classmates because I promised them that what happens in improv class stays in improv class, but they’re awesome.

been

In its purest moments, the class felt like playing with friends as a child. Do you remember that—the act of co-creating a shared imagined reality with other kids in which anything was permissible? Don’t get me wrong, there were other moments, ones in which I wished the floor would open and swallow me whole to spare me further embarrassment. But those moments were fleeting, quickly erased from memory when the next laugh landed. At the class’ end, we finished with a game centered on a glorious goat. Circled

up, we all passed around a glorious imaginary goat and said a series of repeating lines about it. Writing that now, it sounds ridiculous, and it was, but that’s what made

it so marvelous. I’ve been walking around my house exclaiming, “I have the glorious goat,” and it never ceases to bring a smile to my face.

The Big Blue Door’s classes and shows have

a resource for storytelling, self-discovery, and hearty laughter in Charlottesville since 2012.

CULTURE SMALL BITES

Friday 10/25

Boo Bash. See listing for Thursday, October 24. Free, 5:30pm. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St. vadm.org

Puzzle Hunt. This puzzle crawl takes you to the breweries on Preston Avenue. Crack codes, solve puzzles, and enjoy some of Charlottesville’s best beers along the way. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Fiorano’s Karaoke. See listing for Wednesday, October 23. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com

Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started. Prizes to be won and fun to be had. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 24. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 10/26 music

Afrikan Drum Festival. Reuniting after 11 years, Afrikan Drum Fest is led by African drum educators and musicians Darrell Rose and William “Whit” Whitten. You can’t help but dance, dance, dance. Suggested donation $10, 8pm. Chimm, 365 Merchant Walk Square. chimmtaste.com

Beleza Trio. Our annual costume party with the intoxicating and infectious funkalicious samba soul music of Beleza Trio. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Berto Sales. Come enjoy the sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America with Berto Sales. His unique fingerpicking style and contagious energy will have you tapping your feet. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernand grocery.com

Goth Takeover. Come dance and celebrate all things spooky. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

Little Feat. California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country, and rockabilly mixed with New Orleans swamp boogie produces a powerful sound that has kept the audience dancing for decades. With The Hot Tomato Horns. $48–388, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Mike Proffitt. Singer-songwriter performs a mixture of original and classic acoustic rock. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Mock Star’s Ball 2024 - Night 2. See listing for Friday, October 25. $20–25, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Old Gems. Music in the orchard by Lua Project, a cultural pollinator bridging musical styles from different continents and different centuries. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarle ciderworks.com

Swamp Street. Female-fronted R&B, blues, and neo-soul. Free, 10pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

The Pollocks Howl-o-ween. A spine-tingling night of music and mayhem bringing you a chill, chilling, and fun Halloween party, including a costume contest. $15, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

The Spirit Ball. A dark and magical evening featuring goth chamber cabaret from Please Don’t Tell and the haunting and humorous theatrical musings of Charming Disaster. Free, 6pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Blue Moon going dark, Umma miss you, and donuts on a roll

Dine and out

Blue Moon Diner has us feeling, well, blue with the news of its closure after 18 memorable years. Owners Laura Galgano and Rice Hall announced on social media that they are closing the beloved diner, with its last day of service on November 27.

More than just a restaurant, Blue Moon Diner became a community hub. In a recent Facebook post, Galgano reflected on the special moments shared there—from being the birthplace of CLAW (Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers) to hosting live music and serving as a backdrop for films and music videos.

Famous for breakfast favorites like towering stacks of pancakes and the savory, melty Huevos BlueMooños, along with classic diner treats like pie slices, shakes, and floats, Blue Moon also offered standout non-alcoholic drinks such as the NoNo Negroni, Sober Storm, and Love on the Pebbled Beach.

Through every coffee poured, song played, and connection made, Blue Moon lived out its mission: to welcome guests, nourish bodies, comfort spirits, and strengthen community through food and music.

After two flavorful years, Umma’s officially closed its doors following its final dinner service on September 21. Celebrated as a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community and home to unforgettable dance parties (remember that time the bathroom sink came off the wall—but someone left a note and cash to cover it?), Umma’s was more than just a restaurant— it was a place filled with love, connection, and the kind of community that took care of each other.

Stonefield’s Duck Donuts is temporarily closed due to staffing issues. Originating in the Outer Banks, Duck Donuts is renowned for its generous saccharine toppings, held up by donuts.

Now open

While Duck Donuts takes a breather, everyone’s flocking to Sbrocco’s Donuts & Espresso to satisfy their sweet tooth. Opened September 27 in the former Anna’s Pizza spot in Fry’s Spring, Sbrocco’s pairs playful decor—Tiffany-style pendant lights, blue subway tiles, and a bold red spotted wall with a neon “donuts, donuts, donuts” sign perfect for selfies—with a menu worth the hype.

Owner Melissa Sbrocco teamed up with MarieBette Café & Bakery’s Jason Becton and Patrick Evans to round out Charlottesville’s pastry offerings. The menu features both yeast and cake donuts made with MarieBette’s signature brioche, milk bread doughs, and more. Highlights include the crumb bun—a nod to Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken and a tribute to Jason’s grandmother’s favorite treat. They call their simple vanilla bean-glazed donut “the benchmark for a donut shop,” designed to showcase the

quality of their recipes and ingredients. Don’t miss the seasonal offerings, including decadent maple bars.

Milli Coffee Roasters’ old roasting machine has a new master roaster at the helm: Kitty Ashi, known for her successful Thai restaurants across the area.

Camellias Bar & Roastery in the former Milli space takes its name from the flower symbolizing love, desire, and excellence, reflecting the care Ashi pours into every detail of her new cafe. Alongside housemade sourdough, focaccia, and pastries, expect unique offerings like the Ube Croissant, a sweet purple treat topped with a white chocolate and gruyère glaze. The creative, Thai-inspired drinks include the ChaChoc—a bright orange Thai tea topped with whipped chocolate.

After much anticipation, four pizza-loving brothers—who are not named Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, or Michelangelo—have finally opened Pi Napo in the former Fry’s Spring Station location.

Italian-trained chef Hunter Baseg ensures that the menu features a DOP-certified Margherita pizza, made with imported flour, cheese, and sauce from Italy, along with a rotating selection of nine other unique pies. The menu rounds out with homemade cannoli and a gelato carousel. Look out, Dr. Ho’s, Lampo, and Slice Versa: These guys are here to compete for a slice of the pie!

Little Manila Resto has officially opened its doors at 814 Cherry Ave., taking over the former Arepas on Wheels location after the Venezuelan restaurant upgraded to a larger space in June. Previously operating out of various locations throughout the week, Little Manila has been serving the community since 2014, and will continue to offer its services for events and private parties.

Some of this, some of that

Lance Lemon and Reggie Leonard, prominent figures on the Virginia wine scene, have teamed up to create something truly unique: The Parallax Project. Known for their passion and dedication to inclusivity, Lance brings his expertise from Richmond-based Penny’s Wineshop, while Reggie champions underrepresented voices in the industry through Oenoverse

As part of the Common Wealth Crush incubator, they’re crafting two incredible wines, “What’s This” and “What’s That,” showcasing the magic of the same grapes— tannat, chardonel, vidal blanc, and a touch of petit manseng, albariño, and traminette— transformed into red and white varieties.

Why Parallax? Lemon and Leonard utilized the Greek word parallaxis, meaning alteration or change, to represent shifting perspectives both in the wine they’re making and the wine community as a whole. Support their GoFundMe campaign to cover production costs for the first vintage and help bring more diverse winemaking to the table.

Indulge and give back

Do you have $1,815 burning a hole in your pocket? Book your spot at Harvesting Hope this November 8-10 at Keswick Hall, where a weekend of exquisite dining awaits. With proceeds benefiting No Kid Hungry, you’ll indulge in a champagne reception and a six-course dinner at Marigold, prepared by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, with access to the resort’s amenities, including an 18-hole golf course, spa, pool, and fitness center. Sarah Golibart Gorman

Blue Moon Diner’s Laura Galgano announced that she (along with partner Rice Hall) is closing the beloved food and music venue on November 27.

thursday

$5/ticket

friday the 1988 cult classic

$5/ticket | BYO blankets, pillows & chairs

saturday costumes encouraged

A day of paranormal performances, fantastical cosplay, vendors artistry and interstellar live music suggested donation $5-$25 admission to the looking glass included fantasy fest after party presented by neorave nation inside the looking glass

thurs-sat

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Saturday 10/26

dance

Ballroom Dance and Costume Party. USA Dance Charlottesville presents a monthly ballroom dance. Beginners welcome. No partner required. Come for the class and stay for the dance. $5–10, 7pm. The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd. thecentercville.org

Ghouls Night Out. A spooky Halloween-themed costume rave. The official Fantasy Fest afterparty. Ages 18+. Free, 8pm. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. ixartpark.com Hot in Herre. Dope DJs behind the decks and aughts visuals transport you back to the days of blinged-out flip phones and trucker hats. Wear your best 2000s-era gear. Ages 18+.

$15–20, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

stage

What the Constitution Means to Me See listing for Thursday, October 24. $28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Justene Hill Edwards. Join us for a book talk with Justene Hill Edwards, author of Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman’s Bank. Free, 4pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

classes

Jodi Meadows. Fantasy author Jodi Meadows discusses her books and writing process. Registration recommended. Free, 2pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org Autumn Photography. Learn how to capture the beauty of autumn on a walk led by experienced photographers from the Charlottesville Camera Club. All levels of experience and all types of cameras welcome. Free, 4pm. Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm, 1780 Earlysville Rd. ivycreekfoundation.org

Making Fact Into Fiction: Utilizing History and Geography Ethically and Effectively in Fiction. This workshop will guide writers on how to utilize the places, people, and history we know in a responsible, respectful, and effective way when it comes to our short stories, novellas, and novels. $60–65, 10am. WriterHouse, 508 Dale Ave. writerhouse.org Mosaic 101. Beginner workshop focusing on tools, materials, and the basics of cutting tile and glass, how to properly adhere mosaic bits to a substrate, make a curve from a square, and grouting. Ages 15+. $56, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com

etc.

Bellair Farm Fall Festival. A weekend of local food, music, crafts, vendors, and family-friendly farm activities. $10, 10am–4pm. Bellair Farm, 5290 Bellair Farm. bellairfarm.com

Dismember the Alamo 2024. The annual marathon of mysterious movies: You won’t know what you’re going to see until showtime–but thrills and surprises are guaranteed. $24, 11am. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Fantasy Fest. Hop dimensions with us for a day full of paranormal performances, fantastical cosplay, otherworldly digital projections, vendors, artmaking, and interstellar live music. Suggested donation $5–25, 3pm. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. ixartpark.com

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, October 25. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 24. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Samhuinn Fest. Celebrate the coming of winter with Celtic music, dancing, drinking, feasting, tarot readings, fire ceremony, workshops, and more. Music from the Donnybrooks, House of Hamill, and others. $15–45, children ages 5 and under free, 2pm. Thistlerock Mead Company, 3075 Gables Run Rd. thistlerockmead.com

Storytime. Featuring readings from recent storybooks and the classics kids know and love. Rain or shine. All ages welcome. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

Sunday 10/27

music

Beleza Duo. Funkalicious samba soul sung in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Free, 1pm. Southwest Mountains Vineyards, 5185 Stony Point Pass, Keswick. smvwines.com

Bill Collins. Folk, Americana, bluegrass, and originals from the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. Free, 3pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

David Wilcox. Revered folk musician with an effortless talent for spinning lyrics that quietly cut deep and crafting melodies that seamlessly ride plot twists and turns. $30–35, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Gina Sobel. A natural improviser and accomplished on multiple instruments, Sobel brings together elements of funk, jazz, and American folk music into a fresh and compelling sound. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Louis Smith. Versatile acoustic rock ‘n’ roll chameleon of Kendall Street Company plays originals and covers. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Michael Elswick Gathering. Jazz, blues, Latin, swing, ballads, and, of course, Cambodian surf rock. Free, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

Michael Johnson. Dinner as usual with some live music. Michael Johnson has been playing country, worship, rock, and a range of music for the last 20 years. Free, 1pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fiorano mediterranean.com

Pergolesi Stabat Mater. The Westminster Organ Concert Series begins its 44th season with Italian baroque music for soprano, countertenor, and strings. Free, 4pm. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rugby Rd. westminsterorganconcertseries.org

Stephan Crump. One of the world’s most acclaimed jazz bassists performs a rare solo concert. Featuring selections from Crump’s latest release, Rocket Love. $15–18, 4pm. The Front Porch , 221 E. Water St. frontporch cville.com

The Wavelength. Vintage rock and jazzy blues vibrations at a pre-Halloween party. Try out your costumes and join us for some tunes and wines on the lawn. Free, 1pm. Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard, 594 Merrie Mill Farm, Keswick. merriemillfarm.com

dance

BRIMS Creepy Ceili. This family-friendly event is open to all. No dance experience or partner needed. Costumes are encouraged and cider is highly recommended. Free, 3pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

CULTURE THIS WEEK

stage

An Iliad See listing for Wednesday, October 23. $28, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

classes

Learn to Knit. Beginner-friendly class. Leave with a pair of knitting needles, the beginning of a scarf, and enough yarn to finish it. Ages 12+. $25, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Printmaking Workshop. Learn the basics of linocut printing and have the opportunity to make countless prints and cards. Ages 15+. $35, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Bellair Farm Fall Festival. See listing for Saturday, October 27. $10, 10am–2pm. Bellair Farm, 5290 Bellair Farm. bellairfarm.com

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, October 25. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 24. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Role Playing Game Hangout. See listing for Thursday, October 24. Free, 3pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theendgames.co Silent Book Club. Sip cider and read in quiet camaraderie. No assigned reading, no obligations. Bring your own book of choice. Free, 12:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarle ciderworks.com

WTJU Family Radio Day. Bring the family for a peek into WTJU’s broadcast studios. Kids experiment with sound equipment, enjoy a radio themed storytime, and participate in a MIMA led activity. Free, 10am. WTJU 91.1 FM, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

Yappy Howl-O-Ween. Dress up your furry friend in their finest Halloween costume for a puppy parade through the Tasting Room followed by a costume contest at our annual Howl-O-ween event. Free, 1:30pm. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com

Monday 10/28 music

Betty Jo’s Boogie Band. Live boogie band with a horn section. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com

DG3. Gin and jazz series welcomes trio playing modern takes on classics and standards. Free, 5:30pm. Oakhurst Inn, 100 Oakhurst Cir. oakhurstinn.com

dance

Salsa Dance Night. DJ Rafa spins the latest in salsa and Latin-inspired dance cuts in the dance floor area of the bar. Come feel the heat and move. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com etc.

Comedy Open Mic. Showcase your talent, try out new material, and take in the best local comedy that C’ville has to offer. Hosted by Chris Alan. Ages 18+. Free, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Game Night. Meet up with others at the brewery, play a game, and have a chance to win prizes. Bring your favorite games from home. All board, card, puzzle games, and ages welcome. Free, 5pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com

Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Seven rounds of audio, visual, and live trivia for teams of up to six with prizes for answering bonus questions and gift cards for top teams. Hosted by Audrey. Free, 6:30pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.

Trivia Night. Hosted by Geeks Who Drink. Maximum of six players per team. Free, 7pm. Selvedge Brewing, 2415 Ivy Rd. Ste. 190. selvedgebrewing.com

Trivia on Tap. Five rounds of themed trivia for teams of up to six competitors. Hosted by Olivia. Reservations recommended. Free, 7pm. Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery - Charlottesville, 520 Second St. SE. three notchdbrewing.com

Tuesday 10/29

music

Cameron Whitcomb. Singer-songwriter weaves personal tales into compelling musical narratives. $12–40, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Texas Cello Quartet. Embark on a musical journey through time with the renowned Texas Cellos playing a delightful collection of repertoire that journeys through the Renaissance and Classical. $29, 7:30pm. King Family Vineyard, 6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet. kingfamilyvineyards.com

Vincent Zorn. Vincent Zorn performs solo wild flamenco rumba. Must say “olé!” Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

words

A Brief History of the French Restaurant. Join Speak! and Paris-based chef, tour guide, and food historian Allison Zinder for this special French culinary history event. Allison will also share her tips for the best eats in France. Free, 5:30pm. Vault Virgina, 300 E. Main St. vaultvirginia.com

Poetry Reading: Sumita Charkraborty. UVA’s new poetry faculty member reads from her work. Free, 5:30pm. Monroe Hill House (Brown College), 252 McCormick Rd. creativewriting.virginia.edu

Pursuits of Knowledge. Connect with authors and hear how they engage the past in the present through genres of biography, political history, and young adult fiction. $10–30, 6pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org

etc.

Board Game Night. Open to all ages and backgrounds. Come in to play your favorite table top games. Use our board game library and/or bring your own. Free, 5pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theendgames.co Charlottesville Run Club. Charlottesville Run Club meets every Tuesday for a leisurely run before heading back to the taproom to hang out and enjoy beer specials. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Downtown, 946 Grady Ave., Ste. 101. starrhill.com

Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

Music Bingo. SuperFly Music Bingo is back and better than ever. Unique playlists and prizes to be won. Free, 7pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superfly brewing.com

Poker Night. Test your luck and skill at our hold ’em poker night. Free, 7pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com

Role Playing Game Hangout. See listing for Thursday, October 24. Free, 3pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theendgames.co

PUZZLES

SUDOKU

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

#1

BY MATT JONES

ACROSS

1. “Pulp Fiction” star [*November 4 marks the 30th anniversary of my professional crossword debut, so here’s a throwback to that first puzzle!]

11. SALT concerns

15. “No, you got the wrong number, this is ___” (Chief Wiggum quote on “The Simpsons”)

16. Devonshire cream lump

17. Vehicle in a 1967 thought experiment

18. Old board game that means “I play” in Latin

19. Garfunkel and ___ (musical comedy duo)

20. To some degree

22. Jellied delicacy

23. Abbr after Cleveland or Washington

25. Baltic Sea tributary

26. Dominant Mexican political party for most of the 20th century

27. Moliere play segment, maybe

30. “Benevolent” group

32. Alter

34. It’s also called a “majestic plural”

36. First human in space

38. Gets at

39. Struggle

40. Hard hitters of ancient literature?

41. Specialized vocabularies

42. Dash instruments

43. Words before “I say!”

45. Even ___ (chance of Kamala Harris winning the election)

46. ___ streak

47. Romanov ruler

49. Taco Bell’s Live ___ Scholarship

51. Trucker’s ID need

52. “Hoo boy ...”

54. Croupiers’ equipment

58. CT scan units

60. Surgical protection

62. Vet school subj.

63. Compliment, for some

64. Chat signoff

65. Engaging

DOWN

1. “Once more ___ the breach ...”

2. Paul Sorvino’s daughter

3. In ___-so-distant future

4. Video visits with a doctor e.g.

5. His most famous work opens with “Mars, the Bringer of War”

6. “Ceci n’est pas ___ pipe”

7. Co-authors Margret and H.A., for instance

8. New Zealand’s highest peak

9. Party after prizes?

10. Sur ’s opposite

11. Letters often on an injury report

12. 1901-1904, in art history

13. Got with the times

14. Impassivity

21. Zaragoza’s region

24. “Ratatouille” setting

27. Noble

28. “Police Academy” head rank

29. Norm’s time to shine?

31. What shields allow you to take, in RPGs

33. Dip with fruit, onions, and salt

35. Snows

37. Workplace antidiscrimination focus

44. Talented talker

48. Lug

50. Laser gas

53. Cardinals’ beaks

55. “Today” host until sometime in 2025

56. First name in jumping

57. Sun-baked

59. 2011 World Series hat letters

61. “Hollywood Squares” block

#5 solution #3

#6 solution

This beautiful city has kept us up and running through advertising support since 1989, but now we also need you, readers of the free word, to help us keep telling local stories. If free, independent news is important to you, please consider a gift of $35 to keep the lights on—in our office, sure, but also the light we will continue to shine into every corner of Charlottesville. Depending on the size of your gift, you could receive a digital copy of C-VILLE every Tuesday evening (before it hits stands Wednesday), a tote bag, and two invites to the Best of C-VILLE party in August 2025. Support the work of C-VILLE Weekly.

By Rob Brezsny

By Rob Brezsny

Libra

Sagittarius

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Many people living in the Napo province of Ecuador enjoy eating a dish called ukuy, which is a Kichwa word for large ants. This is not an exotic meal for them. They may cook the ukuy or simply eat the creatures alive. If you travel to Napo anytime soon, Libra, I urge you to sample the ukuy. According to my reading of the astrological omens, such an experiment is in alignment with the kinds of experiences you Libras should be seeking: outside your usual habits, beyond your typical expectations, and in amused rebellion against your customary way of doing things.

Scorpio

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian Keith Richards, guitar player for the Rolling Stones since 1962, is a gritty, rugged man notorious for his rowdy carousing. Lots of observers predicted he would die at a young age because of his boisterous lifestyle, yet today he is 81 years old and still partying. But here’s his confession: “I never sleep alone. If there is no one to sleep next to, I’ll sleep next to a stuffed animal. It makes me feel secure and safe. It’s a little embarrassing to admit it. It’s important to me, though.” I bring this up, Sagittarius, because I feel that no matter how wild and free you are, you will be wise to ensure that you feel extra secure and supported for a while. Halloween costume suggestion: a stuffed animal or a lover of stuffed animals.

Capricorn

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The theory of karma suggests that all our actions, good and bad and in-between, send ripples out into the world. These ripples eventually circle back to us, ensuring we experience events that mirror our original actions. If we lie and cheat, we will be lied to and cheated on. If we give generously and speak kindly about other people, we will be the recipient of generosity and kind words. I bring this up, Scorpio, because I believe you will soon harvest a slew of good karma that you have set in motion through your generosity and kindness. It may sometimes seem as if you’re getting more benevolence than you deserve, but in my estimation, it’s all well-earned.

Sagittarius

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Halloween offers us a valuable psychological opportunity. We can pretend to perform our shadowy, wounded, and unripe qualities without suffering the consequences of literally acting them out. We can acknowledge them as part of our make-up, helping to ensure they won’t develop the explosive, unpredictable power that repressed qualities can acquire. We may even gently mock our immature qualities with sly humor, diminishing the possibility they will sabotage us. All that’s a preamble for my Halloween costume suggestion for you: a dictator or tyrant. If you have fun playing with your control-freak fantasies, you will be less likely to over-express them in real life.

Aquarius

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I encourage you to buy yourself fun presents that give you a boost. Why? Because I want you to bring an innovative, starting-fresh spirit into the ripening projects you are working on. Your attitude and approach could become too serious unless you infuse them with the spunky energy of an excitable kid. Gift suggestions: new music that makes you feel wild; new jewelry or clothes that make you feel daring; new tools that raise your confidence; and new information that stirs your creativity.

Capricorn

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Virgo

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio painter Pablo Picasso has been described as a “masterfully erratic pioneer.” He influenced every art movement of the 20th century. His painting

“Guernica” is a renowned anti-war statement. Though he was a Communist, he amassed great wealth and owned five homes. Today, his collected work is valued at over $800 million. By the way, he was the most prolific artist who ever lived, producing almost 150,000 pieces. I nominate him to be your role model in the coming weeks. You are due for a Season of Successful Excess. Halloween costume suggestion: an eccentric, charismatic genius.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When an infant giraffe leaves its mother’s womb, it falls six feet to the ground. I suspect that when you are reborn sometime soon, Virgo, a milder and more genial jolt will occur. It may even be quite rousing and inspirational— not rudely bumpy at all. By the way, the plunge of the baby giraffe snaps its umbilical cord and stimulates the creature to take its initial breaths—getting it ready to begin its life journey. I suspect your genial jolt will bring comparable benefits.

Pisces

dents. Three years later, he was proficient enough to teach advanced students, and five years later, he was an expert. I am not advising you, Capricorn, to quit your job and launch your own quixotic quest for supremely gratifying work. But if you were ever going to start taking small steps toward that goal, now would be a good time. It’s also a favorable phase to improve the way your current job works for you.

Aquarius

(Feb. 19-March 20): I like how you are opening, widening, and heightening! Keep up the good work, Pisces! I am cheering you on as you amplify, stretch, augment, and burgeon. Here’s a small alert, though: You may be expanding so fast and so far that it’s a challenge for less expansive people to keep up—even your allies. To allay their worries, be generous in sharing the fruits of your thriving spaciousness. Let them know you don’t require them to match your rate of growth. You could also show them this horoscope. Halloween costume suggestion: a broader, brighter, bolder version of yourself.

Aries

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Three years ago, an Indonesian man celebrated his marriage to a rice cooker, which is a kitchen accessory. Khoirul Anam wore his finest clothes while his new spouse donned a white veil. In photos posted on social media, the happy couple are shown hugging and kissing. Now might also be a favorable time for you to wed your fortunes more closely with a valuable resource—though there’s no need to perform literal nuptials. What material thing helps bring out the best in you? If there is no such thing, now would be a good time to get it.

Pisces

(March 21-April 19): Many people believe in the existence of ghosts. If you’re not yet one of them, you may be soon. The spirit world is more open than usual to your curiosity and explorations. Keep in mind, though, that the contacts you make might not be with ghosts in the usual sense of that term. They might be deceased ancestors coming to deliver clues and blessings. They could be angels, guardian spirits, or shapeshifting messengers. Don’t be afraid. Some may be weird, but they’re not dangerous. Learn what you can from them, but don’t assume they’re omniscient and infallible. Halloween costume suggestion: one of your ancestors.

Taurus

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): On a Tuesday in August in 2012—one full Jupiter cycle ago—a Capricorn friend of mine called in sick to his job as a marketing specialist. He never returned. Instead, after enjoying a week off to relax, he began working to become a dance instructor. After six months, he was teaching novice stu-

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Paganism and astrology have key affinities. For instance, they both understand that our personal rhythms are connected with the Earth’s cycles. I bring this to your attention because we are in the season that pagans call Samhain, halfway between the equinox and solstice. For Aquarians, this festival marks a time when you are wise to honor and nurture your highest ambitions. You can generate fun and good fortune by focusing on lofty goals that express your finest talents and offer your most unique gifts. How might you boost your passion and capacity to make your mark on the world? Halloween costume suggestion: your dream career.

(Feb. 19-March 20): For many years, I didn’t earn enough money to pay taxes. I was indigent. Fortunately, social programs provided me with food and some medical care. In recent years, though, I have had a better cash flow. I regularly send the US government a share of my income. I wish they would spend all my tax contributions to help people in need. Alas, just 42 percent of my taxes pay for acts of kindness to my fellow humans, while 24 percent goes to funding the biggest military machine on earth. Maybe someday, there will be an option to allocate my tax donations exactly as I want. In this spirit, Pisces, I invite you to take inventory of the gifts and blessings you dole out. Now is a good time to correct any dubious priorities. Take steps to ensure that your generosity is

(April 20-May 20): When you were in kindergarten, did you ever share your delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich with friends who didn’t like the broccoli and carrots in their lunch boxes? If so, you may be well-primed to capitalize on the opportunities now in your vicinity. Your generous actions will be potent catalysts for good luck. Your eagerness to bestow blessings and share your resources will bring you rewards. Your skill at enhancing other people’s fortunes

may attract unexpected favors. Halloween costume suggestion: philanthropist, charity worker, or an angel who gives away peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

going where it’s most needed and appreciated. What kind of giving makes you feel best?

Aries

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): For you, dear Gemini, the coming weeks could be the least superstitious time ever. There will be no such thing as bad luck, good luck, or weird luck. Fears rooted in old misunderstandings will be irrelevant. Irrational worries about unlikely outcomes will be disproven. You will discover reasons to shed paranoid thoughts and nervous fantasies. Speaking on behalf of your higher self, I authorize you to put your supple trust in logical thinking, objective research, and rational analysis. Halloween costume suggestion: a famous scientist you respect.

(March 21-April 19): Although there are over 7,000 varieties of apples, your grocery store probably offers no more than 15. But you shouldn’t feel deprived. Having 15 alternatives is magnificent. In fact, most of us do better in dealing with a modicum of choices rather than an extravagant abundance. This is true not just about apples but also about most things. I mention this, Aries, because now is an excellent time to pare down your options in regard to all your resources and influences. You will function best if you’re not overwhelmed with possibilities. You will thrive as you experiment with the principle that less is more.

Cancer

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): Taurus comedian Jerry Seinfeld, now 70 years old, has testified, “As a child, the only clear thought I had was ‘get candy.’” I encourage you to be equally single-minded in the near future, Taurus. Not necessarily about candy—but about goodies that appeal to your inner child as well as your inner teenager and inner adult. You are authorized by cosmic forces to go in quest of experiences that tickle your bliss.

Gemini

(June 21-July 22): Which sign of the zodiac is sexiest? Smoldering Scorpios, who are so inherently seductive they don’t even have to try to be? Radiant Leos, whose charisma and commanding presence may feel irresistible? Electrifying Aries, who grab our attention with their power to excite and inspire us? In accordance with current astrological omens, I name you Cancerians as the sexiest sign for the next three weeks. Your emotional potency and nurturing intelligence will tempt us to dive into the depths with you and explore the lyrical mysteries of intimate linkage. Halloween costume suggestion: sex god, sex goddess, or the nonbinary Hindu deity Ardhanarishvara.

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): In ancient Egypt, onions were precious because they symbolized the many-layered nature of life. Just as some modern people swear oaths while placing a hand on a Bible, an Egyptian might have

(May 21-June 20): I’m not saying I would refuse to hire a Gemini person to housesit while I’m on vacation. You folks probably wouldn’t let my houseplants die, allow raccoons to sneak in and steal food, or leave piles of unwashed dishes in the sink. On the other hand, I’m not entirely confident you would take impeccable care of my home in every little way. But wait! Everything I just said does not apply to you now. My analysis of the omens suggests you will have a high aptitude for the domestic arts in the coming weeks. You will

be more likely than usual to take good care of my home—and your own home, too. It’s a good time to redecorate and freshen up the vibe.

Cancer

pledged a crucial vow while holding an onion. Would you consider adopting your own personal version of their practice in the coming weeks, Leo? It is the oath-taking season for you—a time when you will be wise to consider deep commitments and sacred resolutions. Halloween costume suggestion: a spiritual initiate or devotee.

Virgo

(June 21-July 22): These days, you are even smarter and more perceptive than usual. The deep intelligence of your higher self is pouring into your conscious awareness with extra intensity. That’s a good thing, right? Yes, mostly. But there may be a downside: You could be hyper-aware of people whose thinking is mediocre and whose discernment is substandard. That could be frustrating, though it also puts you in a good position to correct mistakes those people make. As you wield the healing power of your wisdom, heed these words from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Misunderstandings and lethargy produce more wrong in the world than deceit and malice do.”

Leo

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Two of the world’s most famous paintings are the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.” Both were made by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the world’s most famous painters. Yet the brilliant artist left us with only 24 paintings in total, many of which were unfinished. Why? Here are two of several reasons: He worked slowly and procrastinated constantly. In the coming months, Virgo, I feel you will have resemblances to the version of da Vinci who created “The Last Supper” and the “Mona Lisa.” Some of your best, most enduring work will bloom. You will be at the peak of your unique powers. Halloween costume suggestion: Leonardo da Vinci or some great maestro.

Libra

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “When you are faced with a choice between two paths, it’s always better to take the most difficult one.” What!? No! That’s not true! A shamanic psychotherapist gave me that bad advice when I was young, and I am glad I did not heed it. My life has been so much better because I learn from joy and pleasure as much as from hardship. Yes, sometimes it’s right to choose the most challenging option, but on many occasions, we are wise to opt for what brings fun adventures and free-flowing opportunities for creative expression. That’s what I wish for you right now. Halloween costume suggestion: a hedonist, a liberator, a bliss specialist.

(July 23-Aug. 22): Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had an older sister, born under the sign of Leo. Her nickname was Nannerl. During their childhoods, she was as much a musical prodigy as he. Supervised by their father, they toured Europe performing together, playing harpsichord and piano. Nannerl periodically got top billing, and some critics regarded her as the superior talent. But misfortune struck when her parents decided it was unseemly for her, as a female, to continue her development as a genius. She was forcibly retired so she could learn the arts of housekeeping and prepare for marriage and children. Your assignment in the coming months, Leo, is to rebel against any influence that tempts you to tamp down your gifts and specialties. Assert your sovereignty. Identify what you do best, and do it more and better than you ever have before.

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

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

21 –27, 2024 c-ville.com

Direct

LEGALS

VIRGINIA: ALBEMARLE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

LESTER SMITH, BARBARA ANN STEPPE, and Case No.: CL24-1347 LLOYD SMITH

V. WILLIAM MILLER RHODES, JR., and UNKNOWN HEIRS

PUBLICATION ORDER

By November 1, 2024, any heirs of Ferrill and Annie Lee Smith, or their children (namely, Ferrill Smith Jr., Susie Perry, Roberta Smith, Benjamin Lewis Smith, Charles Stewart Smith, Rachel Smith, Annie Smith, Sampson Smith, Lillie Smith Harris, and Marshall Smith) who may be interested in the object of this suit to partition real estate located at 498 Rocky Hollow Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22911, known as Albemarle Co. Tax Map No. 06200-00-00-07900, shall file an appropriate document with this Court or forfeit their interest in the property. This Order shall be published weekly for four consecutive weeks in C-Ville Weekly.

ENTERED This 19th day of September, 2024

Cheryl V. Higgins Judge

I ASK FOR THIS:

J. Addison Barnhardt

GRISHAM & BARNHARDT, PLLC

310 4th Street, NE, Suite 104 Charlottesville, Virginia 22902

Telephone: (434) 293-2939

Fax: (434) 293-0691

Email: jab@grisham-barnhardt.com Counsel for the Plaintifft

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALBEMARLE COUNTY

IN RE: ESTATE OF ELISE C.J. WEGENER ZWANG Case No.: 2022-183

Show Cause Order Against Distribution of Estate

It appearing that a report of the accounts of Brunette B. Zwang and April R. Fletcher, personal representatives of the estate of Elise CJ. Wegener Zwang, deceased, and of the debts and demands against her estate, has been filed in the Clerk’s Office, and that six months have elapsed since the qualification, on motion of Brunette B. Zwang and April R. Fletcher, personal representatives.

IT IS ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the estate do show cause, if any they can, on the 18th day of November, 2024, 9:00am, before this Court at its courtroom, against the payment and delivery of the Estate of Elise CJ. Wegener Zwang, deceased, to the distributees, with or without refunding bonds as the Court prescribes.

I ask for this:

April R. Fletcher, Esq., VSB No. 35649

April R. Fletcher, PLC

One Village Green Circle, Suite 100 Charlottesville, VA 22903

434-293-9241

Counsel for Brunette B. Zwang and April R. Fletcher Administrators, c.t.a. of the Estate of Elise C.J. Wegener Zwang

JEFFERSON THEATER PRODUCTIONS LLC

110 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA 22902

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY

Performing Arts Facility, Beer and Wine and Mixed Beverage and Specialty Liqueurs, On and Off Premises

Joseph Hall, officer authorizing advertisement

NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be Submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

Pie me a river

More than 200 people brought their hearts and hungry tums to the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center on Saturday, October 19, for the Charlottesville Pie Festival, “a celebration for a community that likes pie.” Organized by WTJU in partnership with JSAAHC, the event recognized the best entries across five categories—fruit (Greg Ochsenschlager, with a Mai Tai Key Lime pie), pumpkin (Christy Kiser, with a classic pumpkin pie), savory (Ochsenschlager again, with a Midnight Train Steak and Ale pie), nutty (Kate Scales, with a Virginia peanut pie), and “surprise us!” (Ashton Wirt, with a plum hazelnut tart)—for a range of prizes like WTJU swag and gift cards to the event’s sponsor businesses. Wirt’s tart impressed the panel of judges (which included Cou Cou Rachou’s Rachel De Jong, Albemarle Baking Co.’s Gerry Newman, MarieBette’s Patrick Evans, and Royalty Eats’ Nakesha White, among others) so much that it took home the grand prize.