DENNIS
YUM!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
They
Springsign joins the list of popular games with Charlottesville ties
NEWS 11
13 Shooter pleads guilty to 2022 murders on Grounds.
15 UVA launches new national security institute
18 Real Estate Weekly: Will Violet Crown be demolished anytime soon?
CULTURE 39
41 Small Bites: Swift Market’s coming, Grit’s moving, and the Doyle’s Elf’d UP.
43 All You Can Eat: There’s something for every appetite at Foods of All Nations.
Sudoku
Correction Two eagle-eyed readers wrote in to point out that Caite Hamilton incorrectly began her November 20 “This Week” column with the egregious double-negative, “I didn’t know hardly anything.” As she agrees this grammatical misstep is “as clumsy as they come” and “why this country is sliding into authoritarianism,” she’d like to officially correct the sentence to “I knew hardly anything.” She deeply regerts the error.
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EDITORIAL
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Hello, Charlottesville. Thanks for reading C-VILLE Weekly.
Well this is certainly going to be an interesting Thanksgiving, amirite? I feel lucky to be traveling to California for the holiday to visit like-minded family I only get to see once or twice a year. We’ll watch cheesy Hallmark movies (my cousin is in charge of the viewing list), take turns entertaining the kids, and negotiate how early is too early to bring out the wine (my uncle Steve will say there is no such thing as “too early”).
11.27.24
But I know there are plenty among us who are dreading the holiday, and the inevitable dramatic moments (not of the Hallmark variety) that togetherness will bring, in an election year especially. So, for those folks, here’s my advice: games!
We’ve had games on the brain this week already, with a cover story about Springsign, a board game from local shop The End Games (p. 23). Its successful Kickstarter campaign (now closed, but still accepting backers) earned more than $7,000 over its goal, proving the concept of a game development division for the store and perhaps cementing Springsign’s place among other popular games with ties to Charlottesville (like Settlers of Catan and Chickapig). Bring out your favorite as soon as the green bean casserole goes cold and, if all else fails, it’s never too early for wine.
12-14 | ANDREW MARLIN STRINGBAND
12-15 | SONGWRITER SHOWCASE HOSTED BY THEOCLES HERRIN
12-19 | DJ WILLIAMS/ ERIN & THE WILDFIRE
12-20 | HASH WITH POCKET CHANGE
12-21 | MAYDAY WITH PAXTON HENDERSON AND THE MISFIT TOYS
12-27 | LIVE AT THE FILLMORE ‘THE WORLD’S GREATEST ALLMAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE BAND’
01-17 | EMO NIGHT KARAOKE
01-21 | CHUCK PROPHET & HIS CUMBIA SHOES
01-22 | TALL HEIGHTS- SOFTLY SOFTLY TOUR WITH LAU NOAH
02-08 | CARSIE BLANTON
02-28 | CHATHAM RABBITS
03-01 |
We
believe the holidays are a special time, a time for giving.
We try to give in lots of ways throughout the year, but sometimes an act of kindness can feel separating, especially to children, and often times the simple things can be missed. A night out with your family can be just that, and many in our community are unable to do this.
For 20 years now, during the holidays we offer family nights out, on us. It’s an evening of stress-free dining where nobody needs to worry about what the cost is, or what they can and can’t get, or what the tip should be. It’s hopefully a great memory. It’s hopefully great fun. It’s hopefully a great holiday experience.
Maybe you know a family that could use this.
In the past we have sought recommendations from places like PACEM, the Salvation Army, and others. In our 20th year, we thought we would open it up to a wider audience.
Email us with a family that you think could benefit from a night out together. A family that hasn’t been able to do this in the past, or isn’t going to be able to do it this year. Email us with a family that needs a break. It’s a simple act, but it can be a powerful one.
There aren’t many rules, we ask that the family have children 16 or under. We ask that you list their names and ages in the email, and how to contact them (or you can contact them with the info we send). If room is still available we will make a reservation for that family. The family comes in for dinner just like anyone else would. It is not an event. It is not special, and maybe that is what makes it so special.
Thank you and happy holidays from our family to yours. citizenburgercville@gmail.com
“We didn’t shoot the ball well as a team. We can’t be a team that just depends on three-point shooting in order for us to be in a game. We got to be able to score inside.”
—University of Virginia men’s basketball interim Head Coach Ron Sanchez on the Hoos’ 64-42 loss to the University of Tennessee at a post-game press conference on November 21
NEWS IN BRIEF
Self improvement
Diving back into the headlines, UVA swimmer Gretchen Walsh bested her own American record with a time of 47.35 seconds in the women’s short course 100 butterfly at the Tennessee Invitational on November 21. An Olympic medalist, Walsh made waves earlier this year when she set the world record in the long course 100-meter fly during the U.S. Olympic trials semi-finals. She won four gold and two silver medals at the Paris Olympics, where she competed on Team USA alongside her sister Alex, also a UVA student-athlete. UVA second year and fellow Olympic medalist Claire Curzan set another American record on the last day of the meet, with a time of 1:46.87 in the 200-meter backstroke.
Location TBD
The Salvation Army is looking for a new spot for its thrift store ahead of the anticipated conversion about turning the site into a lowbarrier shelter, according to a November 20 Charlottesville Tomorrow article. The creation of a low-barrier, year-round shelter has long been a top priority for city and local nonprofit leaders amid a rising unhoused and housing insecure population. Work on the shelter could begin as early as next year.
Zones of interest
In a bonus newsletter released November 21, Charlottesville City Schools shared updates about its ongoing elementary rezoning project, including the extension of the feedback period through the end of 2024. More information about potential phasing of the rezoning will be available once the community advisory committee reaches a final recommendation, according to Superintendent Royal Gurley.
Big RIIG
Acybersecurity and risk intelligence firm founded by former Republican congressman Denver Riggleman recently secured $3 million in seed funding. His company, Riggleman Information and Intelligence Group, said in a November 19 press release that the money will go toward the launch of AI solutions and expanding its workforce and client support.
RIIG specializes in open-source intelligence, using AI technology to offer security and risk management for organizations across government and business sectors. In an evolving cybersecurity landscape, the firm boasts access to 17 intel agencies and collaborations with commercial and academic partners.
Funding was led by the Felton Group, a family office of Charlottesville-based hedge fund manager Jaffray Woodriff.
Welcome Home (Depot)
An increasing number of shopping centers have struggled over the last two decades, creating a “dead mall” phenomenon across the U.S. Charlottesville’s Fashion Square is no exception, and is trying to buck the trend— starting with a Home Depot set to open in summer 2025.
The home-improvement retailer announced plans for a July 2025 opening following the purchase of the shuttered
Sears in September 2022. The new store will create more than 100 jobs, according to Albemarle County, and marks the first Home Depot in the area.
Although foot traffic has declined, Fashion Square sits at the busy intersection of U.S. 29 and Rio Road. Home Depot has agreed to support the county in its Rio29 plan to create a mixed-use, walkable hub at the site. In addition to the former Sears location, Home Depot
“RIIG applauds the support of Felton Group and their appreciation of the vision laid out for advanced AI, cyber threat identification and analysis products set for delivery in 2025,” Riggleman said in the release.
For Riggleman, the firm represents a return to his business and technology roots. He co-founded a contracting company in 2007 that supported the intelligence community and Department of Defense programs.
The Felton Group invested earlier this year in two other companies with local ties—Caju AI, a platform offering customer engagement solutions, and DoorList, an event-management application. Woodriff, a University of Virginia alum, donated $120 million to establish the university’s School of Data Science in 2019.
purchased much of the remaining spaces in the mall for a total investment of more than $26 million.
“This public-private partnership jumpstarts the first development with speed, cleans up environmental contamination present at the site, and significantly contributes to transportation connectivity through the Rio29 area,” Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Andrews said during an August meeting.
Former 5th District Congressman Denver Riggleman is expanding his Riggleman Information and Intelligence Group.
Claudius Crozet Park - 1075 Claudius Crozet Pk, Crozet, VA 22932
Details emerge Plea agreement reached in 2022 shooting on UVA Grounds
By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
Less than two months before the start of his trial, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and seven additional charges in connection with the November 13, 2022, fatal shooting of three University of Virginia student-athletes on Grounds. New details of the incident emerged during the November 20 hearing at Albemarle County Circuit Court.
As part of the plea agreement, aggravated murder charges—which carry a mandatory sentence of life without parole—for the deaths of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry have been dropped.
In Virginia, first-degree murder is a class 2 felony, with a sentencing range of 20 years to life imprisonment. While Jones also pleaded guilty to two counts of malicious wounding and five firearms charges, the commonwealth declined to prosecute those seven charges at this time.
The UVA and Charlottesville communities continue to process the information revealed during the plea hearing.
According to a proffer filed by the state, Jones was “excited and happy when he arrived at the bus,” but his mood “turned irritable after the football players arrived.”
There is no indication that Jones knew any of the victims prior to November 13, 2022. While he was briefly on the UVA football roster, his time on the team did not coincide with Chandler, Davis, Perry, or Mike Hollins, who was injured in the shooting.
Most of the people on the bus were current or former students in a theater class on its way to Washington, D.C., to see The Ballad of Emmett Till, but Jones and three other students, who were enrolled in a seminar with the same professor, were invited because there was extra space.
During the ride to D.C., Jones sat alone and texted family members, including a
“cryptic message that something might happen today,” sent to his younger brother. He also sat alone at the performance.
The group of students reboarded the bus around 7:30pm to return to Grounds. Witness accounts describe the mood as “jovial,” with people chatting and Chandler playing music over the bus speakers.
Several survivors recall Jones sitting alone and “frequently looking towards the back of the bus.” Earlier in the trip back to Charlottesville he “accused another student of staring at him, but that student chose not to engage with him,” according to the filing.
Another student heard Jones speaking to himself, saying things like, “I’m sorry if I offended you. I didn’t mean to offend you,” “I’ve been through so much in my life,” and “I don’t have any weapons.”
Around 8:19pm, Jones texted an adult mentor and told him to contact a criminal defense attorney who had previously represented Jones. He then wrote, “This entire trip these boys been fcking wit me… tonight I’m either going to hell or jail. I’m sorry.”
The mentor asked Jones to call him, and for his location. Rather than respond, Jones
Clover Fine Art Restoration
Cecile Wendover Clover Conservator
said people were “talkin about killin” and he asked the mentor to “Just tell my story. I was a good guy I never meant or initiated any harm to anyone.”
At 8:36pm, Jones sent his last message: “They not getting off this bus.”
Sitting in front of Jones, Marlee Morgan was seated next to Davis, who called his aunt to talk about the play. Perry called his mom to share his “excitement over seeing his first live play.” Chandler slept.
As the bus approached Culbreth Parking Garage two hours later, students were mostly sleeping and doing homework, with some scattered conversations. Jones and Davis briefly talked about video games.
Jones abruptly said, “Y’all been fucking with me all day,” and shot Davis “through the gap in the seats.” As other students reacted to the sound, Jones and Davis struggled in the aisle of the bus. Jones stood over Davis and shot him in the back of the head after he collapsed. Morgan was shot in the right hip during the struggle.
After shooting Davis, Jones “stalked towards the back of the bus … methodically checked each seat until he reached the back
of the bus where [Perry] and [Chandler] were.” He shoved over a female student crouching by Perry, then shot Perry once. Chandler, who had noise-canceling headphones on, was still asleep when he was shot. While fleeing the bus, Jones passed the professor, who was trying to evacuate students, and then fell out of the bus to the ground.
Hollins and another football player had been sitting at the front of the bus and already evacuated. When Hollins realized there were still people on the bus, he went back toward the doors. As he approached, Jones exited the bus with a gun in hand. Jones shot Hollins in the back as he ran toward the parking garage for cover.
Police were on scene within minutes of the first 911 calls at 10:16pm. All three victims died from gunshot wounds to the head.
UVA went into lockdown as Jones ran through Grounds toward his car, which was parked at Scott Stadium. He tossed evidence, including a firearm, as he ran. He was arrested the next day in Henrico County.
After the shooting, police found two additional firearms—a semi-automatic pistol and a Ruger AR-15 semi-automatic rifle—in Jones’ dorm.
Though the commonwealth’s proffer offers more insights into the shooting than was previously known, UVA refuses to release the attorney general’s independent report of the incident.
In an emailed statement, UVA Deputy Spokesperson Bethanie Glover told CVILLE, “The University’s position hasn’t changed, we are committed to release the reports at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, which will end with sentencing.” Jones waived his right to appeal and admitted guilt as part of the agreement, but sentencing has been left to the discretion of Judge Cheryl Higgins. Sentencing has been set for February 4 through February 7, 2025, with a pre-sentencing report scheduled for 9:30am the first day.
Virginia Glee Club
84TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
Frank Albinder, Conductor
Celebrate the holiday season with a cherished musical tradition at UVA University Baptist Church Saturday, December 7, 2024 • 8:00 p.m.
Old Cabell Hall Sunday, December 8, 2024 • 8:00 p.m.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Former UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder for the fatal November 13, 2022, shooting of D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler, and Lavel Davis Jr. on Grounds.
Data driven
UVA launches new institute in collaboration with the Director of National Intelligence
By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
University of Virginia and intelligence community leaders celebrated the official launch of the National Security Data and Policy Institute on November 21. The institute is a collaboration between the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and UVA.
“My belief is that this institute also fits squarely within UVA’s longstanding condition of public service,” said university President Jim Ryan at the event, which was held at the Rotunda. “Even if Thomas Jefferson would never have imagined artificial intelligence or a field called cyber security, I believe he would have been thrilled to learn that the university he founded would play a role in protecting the freedom and safety of American citizens from new kinds of threats and challenges.”
Funded through a two-year, $20 million contract, NSDPI is the realization of a joint effort by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“We all recognize the growing importance of data in our world, and it is nowhere more important than in the intelligence community,” said Haines. “Data and our ability to manage it properly is fundamental to our work and to maintaining an advantage in an increasingly complex and interconnected global security environment, and increasingly important to our competitive edge in that environment.”
While figures vary, whatsthebigdata.com estimates that more than 320 million terabytes of data are generated every day as of 2024. For comparison, Edge Delta estimates that watching YouTube videos uploaded at 1080p generates approximately 2.5 to 4.1 gigabytes per hour—or 0.0025 to 0.0041 terabytes.
By bringing together public, private, and academic research into data analysis, the institute will employ developing technologies
like artificial intelligence to identify potential national security threats. Professor Philip Potter will lead the NSDPI, drawing on his experience as founding director of the Batten School’s National Security Policy Center.
“It really takes that policy acumen and knowledge,” says Potter. Beyond the initial tasks of determining how to quantify metrics and prioritize known challenges within the intelligence community, the institute is, at its core, about building predictive models. “Our policy folks are often really good at identifying the right questions. Our data science folks are really good at knowing how to predict patterns. Bringing those two things together presents really exciting opportunities.”
A major advocate in the creation of the NSDPI, Warner emphasized both the potential for the institute to advance American intelligence-gathering capabilities and the importance of protecting the independence of the intelligence community amid the transition of power.
“The value of the intelligence community must be that it speaks truth to power, and it must speak truth to power with independence, without fear of retribution, because that’s the only way policy makers can come to a judgment that makes sense,” says Warner. “I worry at times, some of that independence may be threatened. As long as I have a seat in that room, I’m going to do everything I can to maintain that independence.”
Come January, president-elect Donald Trump has said he will appoint Tulsi Gabbard as the new Director of National Intelligence. Despite the change in leadership, Potter does not anticipate any major impacts on the NSDPI.
“Transitions are a normal part of democratic governments, and they always involve change,” says Potter. “We’re going to put our heads down. We’re going to do important work that is moving things forward for the nation and for the university, and that’ll be our process through every part of the democratic cycle.”
Experience the Magic!
The beauty of light and the whimsy of nature intertwine harmoniously at Virginia’s premier holiday light show at Boar’s Head Resort. Experience the nature of our rolling landscape during this illuminated lakeside stroll as an extraordinary palette of colors blanket the natural surroundings.
Wander in Motion & Drone Shows! On Select Nights
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Real Estate Weekly
Code test
Should a downtown movie
theater
be
demolished to build new housing?
By Sean Tubbs
Crowds rarely attend meetings of the Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review, but quite a few people showed up for a November 19 preliminary review of a potential 184-foot-tall building at the Downtown Mall site of the Violet Crown movie theater.
“I completely understand the magnitude of the importance of this property cannot be overstated,” said Jeffery Levien of the firm Heirloom Development.
Levien has a contract to purchase the site, so he was allowed to ask the BAR for its initial thoughts on the height and massing of the proposed structure. He said the current building underutilizes a location that would be used to support the new Comprehensive Plan goal of providing more housing.
“It’s a very important first test of our code,” Levien said.
The BAR will eventually be asked to approve a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the building because it is a contributing structure to the Downtown Architectural Design Control District. It would also have to approve plans for a new building.
Jeff Werner, the city’s historic preservation planner, said little remains of the original building constructed on the site in the late 1800s. He said the BAR has approved projects with height before, such as the CODE Building, which rises to nine stories in some locations. What matters is context.
“BAR’s review is not just the building, but its relationship to the historic district as well,” Werner said.
Under the city’s new development code, the building can be up to 10 stories or 142 feet by-right. There is also a bonus provision if additional affordable units are added above the 10 percent required by the code’s inclusionary zoning provision. If the city is satisfied, the building could be 184 feet or 13 stories.
So far, Levien has not demonstrated how he would fulfill those requirements. The
Office of Community Solutions would be responsible for ensuring compliance.
“The Violet Crown is a jewel,” Levien said. “But it’s a jewel that’s just become outdated as far as a business model in the world of theaters. That’s my opinion based on a lot of fact.”
In a statement released after The Daily Progress reported that closure was imminent, the company that operates Violet Crown said it is still in business and plans to continue operations as long as it has a lease.
The president of the group Preservation Piedmont reminded those in attendance that the Downtown Mall is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“As the members of the BAR, in effect, you’re the curators of the Mall, which is our city’s special space,” said Genevieve Keller.
Keller said any demolition of a property on the Downtown Mall must be considered very carefully. She said this location, as well as a proposed hotel at 218 W. Market Street, are in what used to be the Vinegar Hill neighborhood. Levien is the principal owner of that project, which he was previously planning to develop as a nine-story residential building.
‘When an application comes in for a demo there, just down from McGuffey School, that would be taking out the last fabric left of Vinegar Hill,” Keller said.
The BAR took no action because the discussion was a pre-application conference.
“The Violet Crown is a jewel, but it's a jewel that's just become outdated as far as a business model in the world of theaters. That’s my opinion based on a
Heirloom Development is seeking BAR approval for demolition of a Downtown Mall movie theater so design can proceed for a 184-foot-tall building under the city’s new zoning code.
Jim Faulconer 434.981.0076 jfaulconer@mcleanfaulconer.com
BENTIVAR MANOR
$4,875,000 | MLS 652353 | Charlottesville, VA
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GRASSMERE
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FIELDS OF BOAZ
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GONE AWAY FARM
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Concerned about a loved one?
It may be time for a conversation
You show up at your parent’s home for the holidays. You haven’t seen them in person in a while, but you try to talk to them on the phone every day. You have never been worried about your parents, but after a few hours at their house with them, you can’t help but have concerns. Mom forgets what she is doing during small tasks and Dad always uses furniture to help him walk around. When you checked the kitchen, you didn’t find anything to eat that wasn’t expired.
It’s slightly nerve-wracking. Your parents never mentioned anything about this during your phone calls. Why didn’t they tell you? Do they think they are fine? What’s next? What will happen when you go back home?
It can be challenging to know when aging loved ones need our help, whether we live states away or in the next room. Sometimes our loved ones are not upfront about the problems they are experiencing because they do not want to cause worry or admit they are struggling — they may not even be aware there is anything wrong.
Recognizing the signs that a loved one needs extra support is the first step in getting them the help they need.
While around your older loved ones this holiday season keep an eye out for out-of-the-ordinary behavior — a change in mood or personality, confusion, weight loss, a messy home, or dirty appearance. Look out for a lack of social engagement when around the family. Are your loved ones keeping more to themselves this year? Do they get frustrated or annoyed at things that never used to bother them?
If you do find cause for concern, it is time to have a conversation. It is important to stay compassionate and patient and remember this is a big change for them as well. Mention you are worried, but
try not to sound judgmental. Say something like, “Dad, you don’t have much food in the house. Are you having trouble getting to the store?”
Next, try to fulfill your loved one’s wishes as best as you can. Dad may want to keep cooking for himself, so you could set up groceries to be delivered, but sometimes the solution isn’t that easy. Dad may still want to cook for himself but has trouble remembering to turn off the stove. In this case, pre-prepared food may be a better option as he can heat the meals in the microwave instead of using the stove.
“One of the things that makes it stressful is that people wait to have hard conversations until they are sort of imminent, and decline is happening,” said Louise Aronson, a geriatrician, and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, during a recent discussion on KQED public radio. “And so the person who is declining is feeling more threatened. If you begin sooner, then they’re more part of the process, and they feel a sense of control.”
This can be a difficult time for you and your loved ones as you figure out what works best for your family. It can be overwhelming to suddenly become a caregiver so it is important to take care of your own well-being while supporting your loved ones. Make sure to schedule regular time for yourself, whether it’s through hobbies, exercise, or simply relaxing.
Seeking professional help, such as counseling or therapy, can be beneficial for managing stress and maintaining your mental health.
Balancing caregiving responsibilities with self-care ensures you can provide the best support for your loved ones while also taking care of yourself.
November is National Family Caregiver Month — a month to recognize that being a caregiver, especially for a loved one is physically and emotionally draining and takes hard work. However, that does not mean this is your battle alone. JABA has many support services for caregivers like support groups to vent and get advice, Aging Services Coordinators who can help with your loved one’s needs, or JABA Respite & Enrichment Centers (JREC) which provide a safe, uplifting environment during the week for adults with dementia or other disabilities so caregivers can have much-needed respite.
Ty Mynes is a writer and marketing specialist at JABA.
New
“Moving to Our Lady of Peace was the best decision I could have made for myself. If you are considering making the move, do it. I promise you will be so happy here.”
Resident Jenny Ryalls
• Transportation and errands
• Meal preparation
• Medication reminders
• Housework and laundry
PERSONAL CARE SERVICES
• Bathing and personal hygiene
• Toileting and incontinence support
• Dressing and grooming
• Assisting with transfers and ambulation
•Assistance with eating
•Coordination and oversight of health services
• Medication management
• Long-term care insurance partnership
•Attending medical appointments and procedures
• Obtaining medical equipment
SPECIALIZED CARE PROGRAMS
• Total or "24/7" care
•Alzheimer's and dementia care
•Hospital-to-home support
•Hospice care
Contact our team today for a free in-home consultation. We can typically begin providing care within 24 to 48 hours.
THE FRALIN MUSEUM OF ART
CURRENTLY ON VIEW: Conversations in Color: New Print Acquisitions
Holly Wright: Vanity
Barbara Hammer: Evidentiary Bodies
Celebration
Structures
Scan to plan your visit today.
Charlottesville’s comprehensive art museum uvafralinartmuseum.virginia.edu
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
KLUGE-RUHE ABORIGINAL ART COLLECTION
CURRENTLY ON VIEW: Our Unbroken Line: The Griffiths Family Shifting Ground: Prints by Indigenous Australian Artists from the Basil Hall Editions Workshop Proofs Collection the only museum dedicated to Indigenous Australian art in the United States kluge-ruhe.org
Image (top): Installation photography of Our Unbroken Line: The Griffiths Family on view at Kluge-Ruhe. / Image (bottom) Jonathan Green, American, b. 1955. Venus, 1997. Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm). Collection of The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia. Gift of Ellen A. Hennessy, 2010.14.11. © Jonathan Green. On view at The Fralin in the exhibition, Celebration
Charlottesville’s game store rolls a nat 20 with its homebrewed board game
BY ANDREW HOLLINS
Game stores can be intimidating. For the layman, walking into The End Games and hearing someone discuss their level 18 Halfling Rogue in Dungeons & Dragons or their Warhammer 40k Space Marine Army is like listening to an advanced trigonometry lesson given entirely in Urdu. That’s why, while building his crowdfunded board game Springsign, Andreas “Andy” Mangham wanted to avoid making just another entry into the crowded field of math-heavy table-top role playing games, or collectible-focused trading card games like Magic the Gathering. “I wanted to make something that families could play,” he says. “In fact, it’s designed to be kind of an accessible gateway game that can introduce some cooler game concepts/mechanics to less experienced, ‘entry-level’ gamers.”
et to describe Springsign as a simple board game like Monopoly or Chutes and Ladders is inaccurate. The game, at its core, is a popularity contest, where several fantasy archetypes—like the strong, silent Soldier, or the wily Smuggler—complete tasks to win the affection of the townspeople for the highly coveted office of Mayor of Springsign, while an invisible third player—anarchy—competes against them all. Therefore, popularity becomes your scoreboard.
When you sit down to play, you’re given a reversible player card, and both sides contain your character’s picture, spaces for your inventory, and directions on what choices you can make during the action phase of the game. While one side is for beginners (with a more basic and streamlined experience), the other side of the card has more complex and deeper mechanics for the experienced gamer. The game is designed so that both the beginner and adept sides are balanced and can be played at the same time. This asymmetric gameplay style offers a lot more accessibility for families who want to have a game that’s fun for their kids, while also giving adults and experienced players a product that is engaging and strategic.
However, Mangham goes out of his way to make sure people understand one thing about his game: “This is not a cooperative game,” he says.
The project is part of The End Games initiative to branch out from its strictly retail focus and embrace Mangham’s skills as a game creator. The store’s co-owner Sam Fogelgren says that, once they discovered Mangham’s imagination and creativity, they decided to capitalize on his talents and let him chase his dream of game design.
“Andy started off as a front-of-house employee behind the counter,” Fogelgren says. “Once we all talked about his passion for making games, we moved him into that role to attempt to create a game. Retail is great and we love hosting events, but [we wanted to create] something new with The End Games that could be enjoyed by people around the world and we could leave our mark that way.”
Mangham is a local who grew up in the Shadwell area and graduated from UVA’s literary prose program in 2020.
“It’s a fancy way of saying creative writing,” Mangham says. “Not a very marketable skill set, some would say, but I’m pleased to say I’ve been using my education a lot. Right out of
college, I wanted to work for The End Games. I knew I wanted to design games for a living.”
It took a couple years for Mangham to “pay his dues” and for the store, which Fogelgren describes as “a community where players and staff come together and share their passion in a welcoming environment … and create unforgettable experiences,” to be in the right position to back him and take the plunge on a project. But when the time was right, the tight-knit crew decided it was time for their adventure to begin.
“About a year into working there, my bosses approached me. They told me they knew I was into game design and wanted to experiment with starting an in-house game dev department, and was wondering if I could make that happen,” Mangham says. “So now, I’ve switched to only doing game development stuff. Springsign was proving to be like three or four jobs rolled into one, and I just wasn’t able to make meaningful progress on it with my time and attention divided. When you self-publish games, what most people don’t talk about is that making the actual game is only a third of the job; the rest is
marketing, logistics, community-building, manufacturing, and budgeting.”
Fogelgren says they “had talked about if this went well and Andy was successful, we would love to continue spreading the word of Springsign and would look into supporting Andy and maybe other designers in creating more successful Kickstarter campaigns and new games.”
Endangered species?
Endangered species?
Thanks to the boom in popularity from TV shows like “Stranger Things” and popular online shows like “Critical Role,” gaming has started to become more mainstream. What once was considered a niche market with eroding margins has seen a boom in recent years, and Charlottesville’s gaming scene has been no exception.
“Tabletop gaming is a growing market [in Charlottesville],” Mangham said. “The End Games used to be the only game shop in Charlottesville, and now two others have opened around C’ville in the past two years.”
As the world emerged from the pandemic, the desire for more social interaction led to increased popularity in the gaming scene, communities were reforged at local gaming stores around board games, table-top role playing
Springsign creator Andy Mangham “wanted to make something that families could play,” he says.
games, and trading card games like Magic The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh. Early gamers congregated at the game store as a shelter from the insults and jabs of their peers, and an escape from pearl-clutching parents caught up in the “satanic panic” of the ’70s and ’80s. This was back when the word “nerd” was a pejorative, and religious conservatives were convinced that playing Dungeons & Dragons would have their kids summoning Cthulhu in the basement.
Times have changed, however, and as the teenagers from those early days have kids of their own, there are tabletop gaming groups that are into their second generation.
The End Games’ current owners—Fogelgren, Shane Borrelli, and Brian Roberts—bought the business 14 years ago and have since grown it into a viable mecca for fellow local nerds who now wear that title with pride. Though the popularity of game stores may no longer be waning, it still feels unique to find the same discussions about magic decks with like-minded individuals who find nothing strange about a five-hour argument over whether their lawful neutral paladin could beat your chaotic good elven mage in a karaoke contest.
“Because of amazing community support, we’ve been able to grow and provide so many people with a second home,” Fogelgren says.
“That’s what we love about The End Games; it’s an inclusive fun atmosphere [where] you can come in and play for hours and not spend a dime. We do sell games and accessories for the games people play, but joining your friends to play or many of our events are free.
crowdfunding campaign (if the project did not meet its goal, all of the hard work would have been for the friends they met along the way) was still flying short of its $18,000 ask.
We also have bigger tournaments with prizes for our more competitive players. We call it a second home because you can always come in, there’s a good chance our staff know your name, and we all try to make sure it’s a safe and fun environment for everybody.”
Mangham needn’t have worried. A week later, with 23 days left on the clock, Springsign had reached its goal.
All or nothing
All or nothing
Springsign’s October launch party at the store quickly became a crowded affair, with eager players gathered around two boards while Mangham explained the mechanics of the game for what must have been the 100th time that night.
“I also had about three hours of sleep last night,” he said over the crowd. The game had occupied his brain for so long, and not knowing whether it would be popular had cost him many nights’ sleep. Not to mention that, as of the launch party, the all-or-nothing
A reversible player card contains your character’s picture, spaces for your inventory, and directions on what choices you can make during the action phase of the game.
“We hit our funding goal of $18k last night, so we are definitely making the game,” Mangham said via email. “Any further funding will go to our ‘stretch goals,’ which lets us unlock upgrades, better stuff for our backers, and improve the game in other ways.”
With the success of the crowdfunding campaign, the likelihood of The End Games branching out into developing other games increases tenfold, according to Mangham.
“My hope is that Springsign will not only pay for itself, but raise the capital we need to further invest into our game dev department,” he says. “Springsign is an experiment for us, on every level. Once our campaign ends and we can look at how much we raised, my bosses and I will be able to unpack everything we’ve learned from this project and figure out what comes next for us.”
The game centers on the fictional town of Springsign, where players complete tasks to win the affection of the townspeople for the highly coveted office of Mayor.
PHOTOS: TRISTAN WILLIAMS
434-984-5046
, page at What gift will stand out this holiday season, and be treasured for years to come? A gift of fine jewelry from Andrew Minton Jewelers.
Holiday Market
100 Water Street
November 30 – December 21
Holiday Market
Saturdays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Holiday Market
100 Water Street
100 Water Street November 30 – December 21 Saturdays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
November 30 –December 21 Saturdays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Phone: (434) 970-3371
Email: citymarket@charlottesville.gov Online: charlottesville.gov/citymarket
STOP & SHOP LOCAL
The Holiday Market hosts over 100 unique, local vendors that offer a wide range of arts, crafts, and specialty foods. ONE HOUR OF FREE PARKING at the Water Street parking garage.
The Holiday Market hosts over 100 unique, local vendors that offer a wide range of arts, crafts, and specialty foods.
Phone: (434) 970-3371
ONE HOUR OF FREE PARKING at the Water Street parking garage.
Email: citymarket@charlottesville.gov
Phone: (434) 970-3371
Online: charlottesville.gov/citymarket
Email: citymarket@charlottesville.gov
Online: charlottesville.gov/citymarket
SHOP LOCAL
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity. Our global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Get In The Mix
As 2024 comes to a close, we invite you to contribute to the nonprofit IX Arts Foundation. With the generous support of donors like you, we will continue to bring creativity and art to our local C’ville community.
$25–$1000 helps provide art supplies, community outreach, exhibit enhancement, guest artist series, and the conservation, restoration, and innovation of our artwork and exhibits.
$2,500–$5,000 funds facility upgrades and improvements, including inclusive and adaptive accessibility.
$10,000 supports community engagement initiatives, such as cultural festivals, public art installations, and events that bring art to the heart of our community.
Give the Gift of Music!
2024-25 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Romeo and Juliet
Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
Benjamin Rous, Conductor
Jack Siegel, Bass-baritone HAUGE Morning Overture
Opera Arias
PROKOFIEV Excerpts from Romeo and Juliet
LOCATIONS
SATURDAYS,7:30pm, UVA’s Old Cabell Hall; SUNDAYS, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mozart Requiem
Saturday, March 22
Sunday, March 23
Benjamin Rous, Conductor
A.D. Carson, Rapper
Clara Rottsolk, Soprano
Patrick Dailey, Countertenor
Gene Stenger, Tenor
Andrew Garland, Baritone UVA University Singers
BARBER Adagio for Strings
CARSON & metaphors
MOZART Requiem
Rachmaninoff Piano
Concerto No. 3
Saturday, April 26
Sunday, April 27
Benjamin Rous, Conductor
Anna Han, Piano
DEBUSSY Clair de lune
SAARIAHO Asteroid 4179: Toutatis
BORODIN Polovtsian Dances
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3
Our mission is to spark creativity in people’s everyday lives.
How can the community become involved with you/what volunteer opportunities do you have?
The IX Art Park never sleeps--but we can’t do it alone! We are a community arts space that is built by and for our community. Want to paint? Want to build a stage? Want to help at events? Grab a friend and sign up today to lend a hand and leave your mark on the art park.
What are your plans and/or events for 2025? Our 4 signature events: Cville Arts Festival, Fae Festival, Soul of Cville, Fantasy Fest plus more!
info@ixartpark.org
522 2nd St. SE #D Charlottesville VA
434-207-2964
www.ixartpark.org
The Charlottesville Symphony Society engages audiences of all ages in Charlottesville and beyond through exceptional musical experiences, imaginative community collaborations and inspiring education programs, independently and in partnership with the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia.
What is a pivotal moment in your organization’s history?
The Charlottesville Symphony is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season - a half-century of presenting great symphonic music and free music education programs across a nine-county region.
What are your plans and/or events for 2025?
2025 will bring a continuation of the Charlottesville Symphony’s 2024-25 50th Anniversary Season with more concerts, the world premiere of a newly commissioned work for rapper and orchestra, Open Rehearsals and a grand culminating benefit celebration in May, 2025.
Symphony@virginia.edu
Charlottesville Symphony Society, P.O. Box 4206, Charlottesville, VA 22905 434-924-3139
www.cvillesymphony.org
Benjamin Rous, Music Director Kate Tamarkin, Music Director Laureate
Charlottesville Symphony Society
THE LIGHTNING THIEF, July 12-28, 2024, at Live Arts Theater in Charlottesville.
Live Arts
What is your organization’s mission?
Forging Theater and Community
What is a pivotal moment in your organization’s history?
Live Arts is celebrating 34 years of spellbinding storytelling, educational programming, provocative dramady, and bringing new voices to the stage. The shows in the 2024/25 season share a tingling feeling of adventure, taking us far, far away through the centuries and around the globe, ending up back at home, quite changed.
How can the community become involved with you/what volunteer opportunities do you have?
Live Arts is proud to be a volunteer-powered theater, meaning everything from designers and performers, to ushers and set builders are volunteers. There are endless ways to get involved, just check out the volunteer page on our website livearts.org/ volunteer or subscribe to our volunteer newsletter to stay up to date on opportunities.
What are your plans and/or events for 2025?
Live Arts kicks off 2025 with the Virginia Premiere of MARYS SEACOLE by Jackie Sibblies Drury. In March Horton Foote’s THE
VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment
VIA strives to empower people to embrace the strengths and meet the challenges related to autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities by providing compassionate, evidence-based services throughout their lives. We envision a world in which individuals, families, and communities support, embrace, and celebrate the differences related to autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities so that all lead more fulfilling lives.being
What are your plans and/or events for 2025?
VIA is presenting a “Continuing the Conversation” event on February 12, 2025 at our 491 Hillsdale campus to discuss issues surrounding autism led by a panel of experts. Each of the four talks will review a key advocacy area related to autism as a follow up from our fall screening of the film In a Different Key. VIA also offers multiple family-friendly and educational events throughout the year, including our community engagement program during Autism Acceptance Month in April.
Additionally, an autism diagnosis can be isolating to individuals and families, but VIA’s mission builds bridges into the broader community by creating a network of support. We envision a community with a multitude of open doors to supported employment, inclusive playgrounds and recreational spaces, first responder education, and a growing acceptance of people of all abilities, right here in Charlottesville. Visit our website to learn more, viacenters.org.
Botanical Garden of the Piedmont
Jill Trischman-Marks, Executive Director
The mission of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont is to welcome all community members and visitors to engage in nature, to inspire learning through the beauty and importance of plants, to advance sustainability, and to promote human and environmental well-being
What are your plans and/or events for 2025?
In 2025, we will finalize the construction documents for both the landscape and buildings. We are on track to begin Phase I construction in 2026 and will intensify fundraising efforts to meet that goal. Meanwhile, we are activating the Garden area on the south side of the stream to continue offering the community the same programs, events, and activities while the north side undergoes Phase I construction.
info@piedmontgarden.org
Photo by JLA Photography.
Photo by
Jeff Dreyfus
Live Arts Theater | Forging Theater and Community Since 1990
BUILDING GOODNESS FOUNDATION
Everyone should have access to education, a safe home, and opportunities to thrive.
Help us build schools in Guatemala, homes and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti, and a strong community of nonprofits, homeowners, and small businesses in Charlottesville.
128 Carlton Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
info@buildinggoodness.org 434-973-0993
Scan to build goodness with us!
BEFORE AND AFTER: AHIP home rehab project in the10th and Page neighborhood completed in 2024
AHIP (Albemarle Housing Improvement Program)
What is your organization’s mission?
Our mission is to ensure safe and affordable homes for our neighbors in need. AHIP has served Albemarle County since 1976 and the City of Charlottesville since 1995. We have provided critical home repairs and rehabs to more than 4,900 households in our community. How can the community become involved with you/ what volunteer opportunities do you have?
We invite anyone interested in supporting AHIP to become an AHIP ambassador and providing the gift of time and testimony. Learn more at an upcoming Lunch and Learn on December 12th at CitySpace - RSVP required, please email kkieffer@ahipva.org
donations@ahipva.org
2127 Berkmar Drive Charlottesville, VA 22901 434-817-2447
www.buildinggoodness.org
Our mission is to build community and improve lives. As the construction industry’s outreach to the world, we envision a future in which all communities have the buildings they need to thrive What are your plans and/or events for 2025?
In 2025, we’re going to keep on building and keep on growing. We’re on track to finish two schools in Guatemala, several homes in Haiti, and forty projects here in Charlottesville. Our project pipeline is full with new partners and projects that will increase access to essential services like education and healthcare, boost local economies, and support affordable housing. We’ve launched the Keystone Fund to support us as we grow, allowing us to increase our staff and programs, take on more projects, and build our impact.
We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary! Since 1999, we’ve built 31 community-serving buildings internationally – that’s 17 schools, 8 medical clinics, 4 community centers, 2 sanitation projects, and over 1,200 homes. And we’re still building! We have staff, crew, and volunteers currently building three schools in Guatemala, plus Incentive Kays (“homes” in Haitian Creole) and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti.
info@buildinggoodness.org 128 Carlton Road, Charlottesville, VA 434-973-099
Our mission is to build and provide high quality services and supports to advance and enhance inclusion, respect, and appreciation for all people with developmental disabilities and their families.
The Arc Studio is a visual arts program and studio space located at The Arc of the Piedmont in Charlottesville, Virginia. Started in the summer of 2021, The Arc Studio program provides a supportive, open studio environment where adult artists with developmental disabilities can create, experiment, explore, and connect through authentic art making experiences.
The Arc Studio program supports artists at every stage of the art making process, from experimentation, play, material exploration, and skill building, to the development of individual styles, artistic visions, and the display and sale of artwork.
bharrs@arcpva.org
1149 Rose Hill Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-977-4002
Building Goodness Foundation Courtney Polk, Executive Director
The Arc of the Piedmont
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024
Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall (Course: 1 mile)
Run Begins at 10 AM Adults 12+ $25 Children Under 12 - $15 BE A CLAUS FOR A CAUSE! Register here!
SATURDAY, 7, 2024 on Downtown (Course: 1 mile)
Run Begins 10 AM Adults $25 12 $15 BE A CLAUS FOR A CAUSE! Register here!
All proceeds from this event go to support the programs and services at The Arc of people in Charlottesville and the surrounding community living with developmental This year we ask companies, families, and individuals to get together with their closest friends, family, and co-workers and raise money for The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission of serving people with developmental disabilities.
All proceeds from this event go to support the programs services at The Arc of in Charlottesville community living with developmental This year we ask companies, families, and individuals together with their friends, family, and co-workers and money The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission of serving people developmental disabilities.
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall (Course: 1 mile)
Run Begins at 10 AM
Adults 12+ $25
Children Under 12 - $15
All proceeds from this event go to support the programs and services at The Arc of the Piedmont for people in Charlottesville and the surrounding community living with developmental disabilities. This year we ask companies, families, and individuals to get together with some of their closest friends, family, and co-workers and raise money for The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission of serving people with developmental disabilities.
Thank
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to sponsors!
Service Dogs of Virginia
We raise, train and place Service Dogs with individuals challenged by disabilities to help them achieve greater independence and a better quality of life. Service Dogs of VA exists because, as we know, “life can change in an instant.” We invite you to engage with us to support our very important mission.
How can the community become involved with you/what volunteer opportunities do you have?
There are many! We rely on many volunteers to help with night and weekend care for our dogs in training, occasional respite care when our regular volunteers are not available, puppy raising for pups 8 weeks to 1 year. Additional opportunities include helping with general public awareness opportunities and special events.
By sponsoring a dog, you directly fund the training, supplies, and veterinary care needed for these amazing dogs to become lifechanging service dogs.
What You’ll Receive:
Choose from a selection of thoughtful gifts as a thank you for your sponsorship. You and your giftee will receive quarterly updates on the dog's progress!
Make a meaningful impact this season— sponsor a service dog in training and help transform lives!
Scan the QR code to start your sponsorship!
Service Dogs of Virginia
Because life can change in an instant
Our mission is to provide a volunteer-driven, community-based health system for uninsured and underinsured individuals in the greater Charlottesville area. What is a pivotal moment in your organization’s history?
A major milestone in our history is the recent expansion of our services at The Wellness Center on Preston Avenue. For over 30 years, the Charlottesville Free Clinic has adapted to meet the evolving health needs of our community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our medical clinic and pharmacy moved to The Wellness Center, while our dental clinic remained at the health department.
impact our community by creating opportunities for healthy
through social engagement, physical well-being, civic involvement,
and lifelong learning.
What is a pivotal moment in your organization’s history?
As we approach our 65th year of supporting healthy aging, there are plenty to choose from, but perhaps the most pivotal in recent years was building— with community support—The Center at Belvedere, which has allowed the
needed to serve more people. Thousands of adults
Monday through Saturday for the more than
every week that help them increase their years in good health.
5,000
www.pefca.org
THANK
Bama Works
Caplin Foundation
The
Great Eastern Management Company
Hilltop Foundation
Learning Ally
Roudabush, Gale & Assoc., Inc.
United Bank
Woods Rogers 20 YEARS OF SUPPORTING PUBLIC EDUCATION!
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. Make Your Tax-Deductible Donation Today to support Public Education in Charlottesville and Albemarle County!
CULTURE
FRIDAY 11/29
A DOUBLE HELPING
Beat the Black Friday blues with a night of Americana holler-core and down-home honky-tonk. Palmyra (above) and Ramona & the Holy Smokes take the stage for a post-holiday double bill sure to shake you out of your tryptophan stupor and take the edge off holiday shopping. It’s always a foot-stomping, booty-shaking, sing-along good time when these local faves do their thing. Is there a better way to celebrate the festive season than by sweating out your Thanksgiving meal under low ceilings and stage lighting with your loved ones? Probably not.
$15–18, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 First St. S. thesoutherncville.com
THROUGH 12/15
ENLIGHTEN THE SEASON
Get into the holiday spirit early with Coney Island Christmas, a seasonal show that’s poised to become a classic. Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies has penned a story filled with memories and mirth that should appeal to folks of all ages and faiths. Centering on a young Jewish girl cast to play Jesus in her school’s Christmas pageant, at its core, this is a tale about what it means to be an American during the holidays.
$12–20, times vary. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
WEDNESDAY 11/27
GRATEFUL GROUPS
As you prepare for the big feast this Thursday, why not start off with a side of jam? The table is set for an evening of Americana music at Thankful Dead, featuring early Grateful Dead tunes performed by local five-piece group Mama Tried, and covers of Jerry Garcia Band songs by Sisters & Brothers. It’s a testament to the lasting legacy of the Dead and JGB that these tribute shows continue to draw fans eager to experience the folksy blues-rock and psychedelic sounds of the ’60s.
$15–18, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
CULTURE THIS WEEK
Wednesday 11/27 music
Beleza Duo. Funkalicious samba soul sung in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. 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.
Thankful Dead. An evening of music by the Grateful Dead, with tribute groups Sisters & Brothers and Mama Tried. $15–18, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.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. thewhiskeyjarcville.com stage
Really Good Friends. A comedy show with Winston Hodges and Chris Alan featuring jokes, stories, crowd-work, and hilarity. Ages 16+. $20, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.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. 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. fireflycville.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 11/28
music
Jam with Steve Lanza. A gathering where you are invited to play along. Free, 8pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.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. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
Friday 11/29
music
Baby Jo’s New Orleans Band. Led by Betty Jo Dominick on keyboard and lead vocals, this eight-piece band covers classics of New Orleans origin. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
Brian Franke. Independent award-winning singer-songwriter playing originals and covers. Free, 8pm. Ace Biscuit & Barbecue, 600 Concord Ave.
Brisk. Playing the ‘90s–’00s classics that defined grunge, alternative, emo, and poppunk while mixing in deeper cuts. With special guest fiddler Cecilia Garvey. Free, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com
The Pollocks
Friday 11/29 | Potter's Craft Cider SUPPLIED
Homecoming: Gratitude. A Thanksgiving weekend double header with hometown musicians and ride-or-die friends The Zip Band and Hunter & The Gatherers. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Ian Gilliam & The FireKings. Blues, rockabilly, honky-tonk, and rock ‘n’ roll sounds. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Jamie Deane and Friends. This guitar wizard fills the night with face-melting riffs. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com
Matthew O’Donnell. Traditional Celtic folk music and more. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Palmyra x Ramona & The Holy Smokes. An evening of Americana and honky-tonk music. With support from Charlie Shea. $15, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
South Canal Street. Bring your Thanksgiving guests and your dancing shoes and come out for South Canal Street, playing top hits from the golden era of music, the late-1950s–70s. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
The Pollocks. An acoustic trio show. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
dance
Gimme Gimme Disco. A DJ-based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA hits, plus plenty of other disco tracks from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Era-appropriate attire encouraged. $17–20, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jefferson theater.com
stage
The Wizard of Oz Featuring the catchy musical score from the 1939 classic film, this enchanting RSC stage adaptation sweeps us from the Kansas prairie way up high and over the rainbow. Directed by John Gibson. $29–35, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org
etc.
Brewery 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, Noveber 27. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
Rotunda Planetarium Public Viewing. View the night sky Thomas Jefferson envisioned for the Rotunda’s Dome Room, and enjoy musical performances by the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia. Free, 5:30pm. The Rotunda, UVA, 1826 University Ave. rotunda.virginia.edu
Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started. Prizes to be won and fun to be had. Free, 6–8pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Vineyard 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
CULTURE SMALL BITES
Chickadee spreads its wings, and Christmas is served
Somewhere is better than nowhere
If Virginia had a flavor, it might taste like Fine Creek Brewing’s Somewhereness Festival. On Saturday, December 14, the brewery will host its second annual celebration of Virginia’s fields and forests. Featuring beer, cider, and wine made primarily with Virginia-grown ingredients, this event is a true toast to terroir. Sip your way through offerings from local favorites like Selvedge
Brewing, Mount Ida Reserve, Barboursville Vineyards, and Blenheim Vineyards, all while soaking up the “somewhereness” of Powhatan’s rolling hills.
A Grit-y move
After a decade of grinding on the Downtown Mall, Grit Coffee is relocating to 201 W. Water St. The fresh digs promise even more cozy corners for caffeine lovers. Don’t worry—Grit will keep its Mall location open until the move in early 2025.
Where to feast & be merry
A nest next door
From the team behind Chickadee—the Glass Building brunch and lunch spot that’s made mornings fly by with clever memes and crave-worthy eats—comes Swift Market, opening soon right next door. While Chickadee keeps its cozy sit-down vibe, Swift is all about grab-and-go convenience, with snacks, novelty gifts, and ready-to-eat fare. Expect everything from Doritos and Red Bull to salads, wraps, and premade eats with a gourmet touch. Swift Market is set to open before the end of the year. Until then, keep full on Chickadee menu staples such as The Cronchy Boy—a breakfast masterpiece topped with a double-fried hash-brown patty.
Off the shelf
The Doyle Hotel transforms its Rooftop for Elf’d UP, a winter wonderland where you can relax with a spiked hot cocoa, hum along and sip a Rum, Rum Rudolph, or swing your bling and swig an All the Jingle Ladies spritz—now through the holiday season.
Old Tom, new tricks
Spirit Lab Distilling is making Old Tom gin new with its amped-up holiday blend. A twist on the classic 18th-century recipe, this version is richer, darker, sweeter, and stronger—barrel-aged and unfiltered for extra depth. Distilled with rice and green bananas fermented with koji mold (think sake), it bursts with exotic citrus and spice. Perfect for a holiday Tom Collins or your favorite festive cocktail. Swing by the red door at 1503 Sixth St. SE to grab a bottle, or order for pick-up or delivery at spiritlabdistilling. com.—Sarah Golibart Gorman
Whether you’re dreaming of gingerbread, cozy comfort food, or globally inspired holiday menus, here are a few spots where you can gather while someone else sets the table.
Restoration at The Clubs in Crozet Serving up a three-course Christmas Eve dinner that’s as charming as its mountain views, this spot makes sure your holiday is both cozy and indulgent. oldtrailclub.com/restoration
Multiverse Kitchens For those who prefer Christmas at home without sacrificing flavor, Multiverse Kitchens has you covered. The virtual food hall’s decadent holiday menu features starters like fried Scotch eggs, mains such
as beef Wellington or pork belly, and desserts that’ll make your guests swoon. multiversekitchens.com
Marigold by Chef JeanGeorges at Keswick Hall
Enjoy a three-course prix-fixe Christmas Day menu. Full of classic comforts and global inspiration, dishes include Japanese mushroom risotto, applewood smoked butter beans, and indulgent desserts like white chocolate bûche de Noël. marigoldjg.com
1799 at The Clifton 1799 Restaurant, located in the historic hotel, will offer three-course menus for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, blending elegance and charm befitting its late 18th- and early 19th-century surroundings. the-clifton.com
The Pie Chest Though the brick-and-mortar shop may be closed, pie lovers rejoice—you can still order pies for Christmas! The Pie Chest’s Thanksgiving
pre-order sold out in four days, so don’t delay when the next menu drops. eatdrinkbewordy.com
Mill Room at Boar’s Head Resort Breakfast with Santa? Yes, please! Join St. Nick and his elves for magical Sunday mornings in December (8, 15, and 22). Prefer a hands-on holiday? Sign up for one of the resort’s gingerbread workshops. And if you’re not up for cooking, the Christmas dinner will leave you feeling jolly. boarsheadresort.com
Chickadee customers will have lots of grab-and-go choices when Swift Market opens next door.
SERENITY RIDGE RETREAT CENTER
Join us in the serene foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and in Charlottesville this December and January!
DECEMBER 4 FREE!
Dharma talk and guided meditation: Finding Inner Peace , with Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso at the Jefferson Library, downtown Charlottesville
DECEMBER 7 FREE!
Open House at Serenity Ridge 9:30 am - 12 noon
DECEMBER 15
Bringing Clear Awareness to All Aspects of Life , with Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso
DECEMBER 27-29 & DECEMBER 27 - JANUARY 4
Three or eight day Dzogchen Meditation Retreat, with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
JANUARY 5-11
Tummo Practice Retreat, with Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso
JANUARY 5-11
Personal Practice Retreat, one to seven days
CULTURE THIS WEEK
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41
Saturday 11/30 music
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. tavernandgrocery.com
Buzzard Hollow Boys. A musical landscape somewhere between the Dust Bowl and the Mississippi Delta. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
FarAway. Featuring the singer-songwriter couple Brian Franke and Sara Davenport. Folk and pop-rock sounds punctuated by amazing harmonies. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Friendsgiving Revue. A night of collaboration between Chamomile and Whiskey and some of the area’s best musicians. $16–19, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St. jeffersontheater.com
Grateful Duo. Groove to your favorite Dead tunes with Andy Tichenor and Rob Lord. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Jimmy O. Music in the mountains from an accomplished guitarist with a unique blend of classic rock, oldies, and rockin’ country. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Ron Gentry. Solo acoustic singer-songwriter with an eclectic catalogue of covers. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, originals, and more. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com stage
Coney Island Christmas Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies weaves together nostalgia, music, and merriment in this new seasonal classic. A holiday show for people of all ages and all faiths. $10–20, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St. Barboursville. fourcp.org
The Wizard of Oz See listing for Friday, November 29. $29–35, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org classes
Crochet for Beginners. Learn the basics of crochet. Leave with a bamboo crochet hook and a small crocheted washcloth. Ages 12+. $25, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 29. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Wreath Workshop. Join our expert team of floral designers and gardeners to create a stunning door wreath made with natural, locally-sourced plants. $95, 9:30am and 2pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org
Sunday 12/1
music
Jazz Jam. Join a rotating crew of local, regional, and national jazz musicians inviting guests to “join the jam.” Free, 6pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com
Michael Johnson. Dinner as usual with some live music. 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. fioranomediterranean.com
Music Bingo. Fun for the whole family. Gift card prizes for the winners. Free, 2pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
The Pollocks. Enjoy great wine and awesome acoustic music with friends and family. Open to all. Families, picnics, and well behaved leashed pups are welcome. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
stage
Coney Island Christmas See listing for Saturday, November 30. $10–20, 2:30pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
The Wizard of Oz See listing for Friday, November 29. $29–35, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org
classes
Art For The Soul. Discover the transformative power of art in our candle painting workshop. No experience necessary. $30, 4pm. Pikasso Swig Craft Bar, 333 Second St. SE. pikassoswig.com
Wreath Making Party. A wonderful way to spend time with friends and family. Led by Leap Frog Flower Farm. $45, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, Shipman, VA
Gelli Printmaking. Learn to use a gelli plate to create custom paper designs for display, collage, or scrapbooking and card-making. For beginner and intermediate artists. Ages 16+. $30, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 29. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Snapshots with Santa & Classic Holiday Shorts. Celebrate the holiday season and have your picture taken with Santa, then enjoy short films on the big screen. Free, 10am. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net Storytime. Featuring readings from recent storybooks and the classics kids know and love. Rain or shine. All ages welcome. Free,
etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 29. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Love Actually Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Keira Knightley star in the ultimate holiday romance. $10, 6pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com
Winter Craft Market. Step into the magic of Christmas with local vendors stocked with everything you need to make this holiday season truly special. Free, 1pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com Wreath Workshop. See listing for Saturday, November 30. $95, 2pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org
CULTURE ALL YOU CAN EAT
Monday 12/2
music
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.
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. Gremlins Don’t feed them after midnight. No bright lights. And don’t get them wet. Those are the rules—but rules were made to be broken. $10, 8pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com
Trivia Night. Hosted by Geeks Who Drink. Six players maximum 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. threenotchdbrewing.com
Wreath Workshop. See listing for Saturday, November 30. $95, 4pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org
Tuesday 12/3
music
Blue Healer. Classic blues, classic rock, and some of the good stuff in between. Served with a side of jam. Free, 8pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Ragged Mountain String Band. Live bluegrass. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskey jarcville.com
Vincent Zorn. Zorn performs solo wild flamenco rumba. Must say “olé!” Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com etc.
Charlottesville Run Club. Meet 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., Suite 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, 7–9pm. 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
For all
You can find a little of everything at
Foods of All Nations
By Carol Diggs
Is it a gourmet shop? A neighborhood grocery? A stop-by convenience store? A deli? A gift store? A coffee shop? A lunch spot? Foods of All Nations is all these things—and a Charlottesville institution that’s has been serving local customers for almost 70 years.
Stroll through Foods and you’ll find a range of quality produce and birthday cards, fresh sushi and baby gifts, a bottle of wine and dish soap, handmade chocolates and pet food, MarieBette baked goods and Caspari paper products. The store covers all these categories because its customer base runs the gamut, heavily influenced by its location next to UVA and on the west side’s main route in and out of town.
“We see lots of UVA athletes and students, faculty on their way home from UVA, parents picking up their kids from St. Anne’s-Belfield, and then there’s the Farmington/Bellair/Boars Head crowd,” says Butch Brown, Foods’ interim store manager. The outdoor seating is mobbed during nice weather, especially on UVA football game days. And, he adds, “This is a food town.”
Foods caters to foodies. Jams, jellies, and condiments from mustard to harissa fill one side of Aisle 4; Aisle 5 features foods from Greece, Indonesia, Asia, Spain and Mexico, the Middle East, India, and Africa. Toma, the sushi chef, draws a devoted clientele. The selection of wines, cheeses, and chocolate is amazing—many of them local (Foods stocks products from dozens of local businesses and “the widest selection of Virginia-made food and products” in town, says its website).
Many customers come in every Sunday for their New York Times or Washington Post. Foods was launched in 1955 by local businessmen Don King and Watt Jones; their first store, on Preston Avenue in Rose Hill, was called the Seven Day Shopping Center. A few years later, the store moved to Meadowbrook Shopping Center, and by 1970 it had settled at its current location in Ivy Square, with a new name. There was a metal sign on the roof, Brown recalls, proclaiming “Foods of All Nations: An Asset in Any Community,” although he doesn’t recall where that name or slogan came from.
A company associated with the UVA Foundation bought the Ivy Square Shopping Center in 2021, but Brown is confident that Foods will be around for a while yet. “The Foundation has been very supportive,” he says, including of the breakfast-and-lunch spot Foods operates at UVA’s North Fork Discovery Park.
That eatery is one of several adaptations that Foods has made over the years. A 1994 renovation expanded the back office and bakery space and turned the store’s original entry into a café offering tea, coffee, and pastries. The new entry and the space next to it became the flower and gift shop. In a nod to promoting local, that space is shared between Caspari products (the company is based here and its president is a Foods customer) and Alight Flower Farm in Keswick, which stocks the fresh flowers, indoor plants, and gifts.
“Foods was our main market when we started the farm in 2016,” says Alight’s owner Liz Nabi, “so when their florist left in 2020, Foods asked us to take over.” When it comes to the gift selection, she says, “I pick things that I like and am drawn to—colorful, often nature-themed.” Shoppers find it convenient
to pick up hostess gifts, Christmas stocking stuffers, baby gifts, and birthday presents. “Because Foods has such consistent repeat customers, we always want to offer something new,” Nabi says.
While the store has adapted over the decades, one of its consistent features is its longterm staff. Brown has worked there for 35 years, Cindy Barker, the grocery manager, for 30 years, and deli section employees know customers by name—or by their favorite prepared food, specialty cheese, or cut of meat.
One long-time customer says he and his wife have been shopping at Foods for 50 years plus. “They carry real specialty European stuff,” he says. “It’s the place to go in Charlottesville for that. And it’s like a coffee house or café in Paris, or an English pub— you see students, grad students, faculty, elderly people, all the locals.”
Grocery manager Barker says she’s always looking for new products that her customers might be interested in: “I like to carry local products—our customers like to buy local— but I also try to get products from other countries.” Customers often ask her for specific products, and she does her best to oblige because she appreciates their loyalty. “We have the best customers ever,” she says. And Foods’ clientele seems to reciprocate. The long-time customer we spoke with recalls picking a German hot chocolate mix off the shelf, but he couldn’t tell how much sugar was in it. “One of the staff came over and checked the German label ingredients for me—not many stores where that could happen,” he says.
This story originally ran in Knife & Fork, on stands now.
“It’s like a coffee house or café in Paris, or an English pub—you see students, grad students, faculty, elderly people, all the locals,” says a longtime Foods of All Nations shopper.
STEPHEN BARLING
THE WINE DOWN -
WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?
CHISWELL FARM WINERY
2021 Merlot
Our velvety Merlot has plenty of dark rich stewed fruits on the palate, with plenty of structure to enjoy with a variety of foods. It’s the perfect wine to sip on around a fire pit with during the cool November evenings. Pair with Sunday pot roasts, beef stews, or a rich chocolate cake.
A historic Jeffersonian estate nestled in the Virginia countryside, Chiswell Farm & Winery invites guests to delight in locally crafted vintages, panoramic views, and warm hospitality. With a glass in hand, savor the breathtaking scenery from a rocking chair on our covered porch. Gather with friends around a dining table on the lawn or get comfortable in the historic and inviting Greenwood home. Whether you want to come up to the bar for a chat or spread out a blanket for a private picnic, there are countless ways to enjoy the best that Virginia wine country has to offer.
We serve our award-winning wines by the glass, bottle, and flight, seasonal specialty beverages, and a tasteful selection of local and gourmet snacks. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food to enjoy with our wines.
Ages 21+ only, no dogs or other pets permitted on the property. For a family-friendly experience, visit our wine shops at Chiles Peach Orchard or Carter Mountain Orchard. Visit chiswellwinery.com for our seasonal events calendar!
Nov. 28th – CLOSED for Thanksgiving
Nov. 30th – Artisan Pop-up: Laura Chatterson Jewelry and Pottery
Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday 11 am – 5:30 pm
430 Greenwood Rd, Greenwood, VA 22943
434.252.2947 • chiswellwinery.com
53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD
A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock
Relish the moment! The cool evenings have arrived, and the Holidays are coming up fast. So get your port glass ready. It is time to light up the fireplace, or firepit, or just take an evening to relax with a glass of our Chelsey Extended Aging or our Kelso port-style wine. Fortified with brandy, these wines are flavorful sippers, perfect for this time of the year!
The last of our wines from 2024 were barreled a few days ago. Our winemaker, Chelsey, can slow down a bit from the hectic pace of the last 90 days. To sum up our feelings about this vintage…we are excited about the quality.
We are down-to-earth and love to share our enthusiasm about wine with customers. Simply put, we are authentic. No rehearsed lines or memorized facts about wine. Just how we feel.
Visit us at our meadow-like setting in rural Louisa County. We’ll have several special tasting events over the next 6 months. Check our website www.53rdwinery. com or call 540-894-1536 for more information. We look forward to seeing you at the winery! As always, your business and support are appreciated.
Nov. 28th – CLOSED for Thanksgiving
Nov. 29th – Live Music with Denise O’Meara
Nov. 30th – Live Music with Jerad Romero and Taste the Future food truck
Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm 13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com
2022 TANA Chardonnay and 2022 Cabernet Franc
Our 2022 TANA Chardonnay is produced exclusively from our TANA vineyard. This Mâcon-style wine shows aromas of green apple on the nose and pleasing minerality on the palate with a hint of oak on the finish. The 2022 Cabernet Franc has bright and beautiful characteristics shining
in this Bourgueil-style wine. Fermented and aged primarily in stainless steel, this wine exhibits a floral nose, red fruits, and fresh, sweet herbs.
Black Friday Music in the Mountains – South Canal Street will be playing live from 2-5, merchandise will be on sale so that you can get an early start on holiday shopping. Get out of the house with your family the day after Thanksgiving and have some fun!
Fridays- Friday Night Out! Every Friday night through the summer we feature half price wine flights, live music, food for sale, and grills available for use until 8:00pm.
Weekends- Live music all weekend long! Check out our lineup on our website!
Nov. 28th – CLOSED for Thanksgiving
Dec. 1st - Meet the Author and Talk Baseball with Rob Hilliard, author of “The Circus Is In Town: A Baseball Odyssey” from 1-2pm Open daily – Mon-Thurs. 12-5
pm Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm
40 Gibson Hollow Ln • Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com
EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY
‘Tis The Season For Festive Gatherings
Join us all month long for awardwinning wines, a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Andrew Partridge, live music, special events & more!
This Month at the Winery: Fall & Winter At The Winery Seasonal specials including our 2022 Meritage Reserve, housemade mulled wine, and chocolate stout. Food specials including hearty flatbreads & soups, grilled cheese, pretzel bites, chocolate fondue & much more. Firepits & s’mores available 7 days a week. Check our website or join our mailing list for updates.
Low-Country Shrimp Boil | Every Friday - NEW!
Get ready for a delicious, flavorpacked Shrimp Boil Feast every Friday! We’re bringing the best
of Southern tradition right to your plate with succulent shrimp, juicy sausage, tender corn on the cob, and perfectly seasoned potatoes –all served up hot and ready to enjoy in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm every Friday night.
Santa Is Coming To Town | Sundays: December 8, 15 & 22
Join us for a special visit from Santa! Plus, we’ll have holiday milk and cookies flights available again this year (back by popular demand!) for the kids. This is an indoor event with opportunities to take your own photos with Santa. There is no cost to visit Santa.
Holiday Market | Saturday, December 14
Immerse yourself in the festive spirit with beautiful decorations and a warm, joyful atmosphere. Discover unique gifts from local artisans and vendors - perfect for everyone on
from 5-8pm (in addition to our more mellow Saturday afternoon music program). Eastwood also hosts a range of live performances by talented local and regional musicians every Thursday and Friday night. See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.
Every Thursday: Live Music 5-8 PM. Thursday “Thank You” Community Day at Eastwood— Select $5
Glasses of Wine, Beer, Cider and Wine Slushies All Day
Every Friday: Live Music 5-8 PM Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration 5-8PM
Every Saturday: Live Music 1-4 PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8 PM
Every Sunday: Music Bingo or Paint & Sip or Maker’s Market or Live Music (See the Winery
your list! While you shop, enjoy our full menu, including flatbreads, soups, and seasonal favorites like crab dip and chocolate fondue, award winning wines (including mulled wine); small batch beers (including our popular chocolate stout), and hard ciders from our winery. Relax and enjoy the sounds of the season with live music throughout the event.
Wine Wednesdays 10% off all bottle purchases on Wednesdays.
MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!
Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights
Calendar on our website for details.)
What about the kids?
Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards!
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Winery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday (12-8 PM); Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (12-5 PM)
We look forward to welcoming you to our tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as delicious lunch and dinner menus. Enjoy lounging on the veranda with a glass of our gold medal 2022 Rosé. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal flatbread or baked brie. We also have juice flights and cheese boards for the kids. See the Winery Calendar for details. Escape to Virginia Wine Country, only five miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Open year-round, seven days a week.
Pet friendly and large groups are welcome. Ample indoor and outdoor seating.
Rt 20 near the intersection with Avon Extended (5 mi from Downtown Mall) Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 www.eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
GRACE ESTATE WINERY
2022 Le Gras Nouveau
Made from 100% Malbec that was harvested and fermented in the spirit of a lighter, fresher red wine. This juicy and fresh Malbec was made entirely in stainless steel and with limited skin contact. The wine remains an expression of fruit, place and vintage, without the distraction of oak. This is always a favorite fall wine for us, the light-body and low tannin makes it the perfect red to serve with a variety of dishes found around the Thanksgiving table.
Experience the essence of Virginia’s Monticello AVA at Grace Estate Winery. Nestled in the serene mountains, our tasting room invites you to indulge in a captivating
journey through our meticulously crafted, small-production wines. Each pour reflects our commitment to environmentally conscious farming and traditional winemaking techniques, showcasing the unique terroir of our land.
Join us for an unforgettable wine sampling experience, where you can savor our award-winning varietals while surrounded by panoramic views that inspire relaxation and connection. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or new to the world of wine, our knowledgeable staff will guide you through our artisan selections, providing insights into each wine’s story and character.
Step away from the everyday and immerse yourself in a charming atmosphere perfect for family gatherings, special occasions, or simply a tranquil afternoon among friends. We now have wood-fired pizza from Slice Versa to enjoy with your wine in our tasting room! Plan your visit today and discover why Grace Estate Winery is a cherished destination for wine lovers seeking sophistication and authenticity. Come taste the difference that passion and dedication make in every glass.
Fridays - Friday Night Live! See our website for our rotating live music.
Nov. 28th – CLOSED for Thanksgiving
Nov. 30th & Dec. 1st – Curated and Crafted Winter Weekend Pop-up Market!
Hours:
Wed/Thurs 12 – 6 pm
Fri/Sat 12 – 8 pm Sun 12 – 6 pm
5273 Mt Juliet Farm, Crozet, VA 22932 (434) 823-1486 • graceestatewinery.com
KESWICK VINEYARDS
Keswick Vineyards is excited to announce the opening of its new tasting room, designed to elevate your wine-tasting experience to new heights. This state-of-the-art space features a retractable roof and glass walls that can be fully retracted, seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor environments. Imagine sipping your favorite vintage surrounded by panoramic views of the vineyard and rolling countryside, all while enjoying the perfect balance of fresh air and comfort.
Whether you’re a connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, Keswick Vineyards offers a range of tasting options to suit your preferences. You can enjoy wine by the glass, bottle, or explore a curated flight of their finest selections. The traditional guided tastings are available Monday through Friday, allowing you to experience their diverse portfolio of wines in a relaxed setting.
For those looking to unwind midweek, don’t miss “Wine Down Wednesday,” running from April to November. From
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, this event offers a chance to enjoy great wine and good company in a lively atmosphere. Additionally, every Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, you can take advantage of the $5 glass happy hour, perfect for a post-work escape or a pre-dinner treat.
As the seasons change, Keswick Vineyards continues to cater to your wine cravings with an extended Friday happy hour. From now until the end of fall, enjoy $5 glasses of wine from 5:00 PM until closing at 7:00pm, giving you extra time to savor their offerings and make the most of the crisp autumn evenings.
Come experience the innovation and charm of Keswick Vineyards’ new tasting room—a place where tradition meets modern luxury, and every visit feels like a special occasion.
Daily- Mini golf open and available!
Wednesdays - Wine Down Wednesdays start May 8th every Wednesday through October 5:308:30pm
Weekends - Live Music from 12-4 pm (check out our website for the schedule!)
Nov. 28th – CLOSED for Thanksgiving Hours:
Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm 1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947
Tasting Room: (434) 244-3341 ext 105 tastingroom@keswickvineyards.com www.keswickvineyards.com
MONTIFALCO VINEYARD
A Symphony in a Glass: The Art of Blending Chardonnay and Viognier
In the world of winemaking, blending is both a science and an art, a delicate balance of flavors that can elevate a wine to new heights.
Our winemaker Justin Falco’s 2023 L’Espoir, 70% Chardonnay and 30% Viognier blend is a testament to this craft, offering a unique fusion of two beloved white varietals.
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
The Vision Behind the Blend
Justin’s inspiration for this blend came from a desire to create a wine that embodies the elegance of Chardonnay while incorporating the aromatic richness of Viognier. Chardonnay, with its versatile character, brings structure, body, and a nuanced complexity, while Viognier adds a vibrant layer of floral and stone fruit notes. The result is a wine that is both refreshing and luxurious, perfect for those who appreciate the subtleties of a wellcrafted blend.
Tasting Notes: A Dance of Flavors
On the nose, this blend presents an inviting bouquet of ripe pear, white peach, and delicate honeysuckle, courtesy of the Viognier. The
Chardonnay lends its signature aromas of green apple, citrus, and just a hint of vanilla, creating a harmonious interplay of scents.
Upon tasting, the wine reveals a beautifully balanced palate. The Chardonnay provides a crispness and a backbone of acidity, which is perfectly complemented by the lush, silky mouthfeel imparted by the Viognier. Flavors of lemon zest, apricot, and a touch of tropical fruit dance on the tongue, leading to a long, satisfying finish with a hint of minerality.
Food Pairing: Elevating the Dining Experience
This blend is a versatile companion to a wide range of dishes. Its bright acidity and rich texture make it an excellent match for seafood, particularly grilled shrimp, scallops, or a buttery lobster tail. It also pairs wonderfully with creamy pasta dishes, roasted chicken, and soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert.
For those seeking a more adventurous pairing, try it with a spicy Thai curry or a tangy citrus salad; the wine’s balance of freshness and richness will beautifully complement the bold flavors.
The Winemaking Process: Crafting Perfection
The journey to creating this blend begins in the vineyard, where the grapes are carefully selected at the peak of ripeness. The Chardonnay grapes are chosen for their balance of acidity and flavor, while the Viognier grapes are picked for their aromatic intensity.
In the winery, each varietal is fermented separately to preserve its unique characteristics. The Chardonnay is fermented in a combination of stainless steel and
neutral oak barrels, enhancing its complexity and texture. The Viognier, on the other hand, is fermented in only stainless steel to retain its vibrant aromatics.
Once fermentation is complete, he carefully blends the two varietals, tasting and adjusting until the perfect balance is achieved. The wine is then aged for several months to allow the flavors to meld and mature, resulting in a blend that is greater than the sum of its parts.
A Wine for All Occasions
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or enjoying a quiet evening at home, this Chardonnay and Viognier blend L’Espoir is a wine that will elevate any moment. Its elegance, complexity, and approachable style make it a perfect choice for both seasoned wine lovers and those new to the world of wine.
In every sip, you’ll find the dedication, creativity, and passion that went into crafting this unique blend. It’s more than just a wine— it’s a celebration of the art of winemaking and the beauty of blending two distinct varieties into one harmonious experience.
1800 Fray Rd, Ruckersville, VA 22968 (434) 989-9115
montifalcovineyard.com
PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS
Cabernet Sauvignon
Join us this October in celebrating Join us this November in celebrating our Prince Michel Cabernet Sauvignon wine! This classic and robust expression of this esteemed varietal offers depth and complexity in every sip. Pouring a deep, inky red, this wine immediately captures the eye. The bouquet is rich and
layered, with aromas of black currant, blackberry and plum. On the palate, our Cabernet Sauvignon is full bodied and well structured, presenting a harmonious blend of dark fruit flavors, including black cherry and cassis. Firm tannins provide a solid backbone with a balanced acidity that ensures a long, elegant finish.
Discover Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery, an iconic East Coast estate. Family and pet-friendly, it’s one of the oldest and largest wineries in the Commonwealth. Also, home to Tap 29 Brew Pub, serving local craft brews and delicious pub-style food seven days a week!
Located in the heart of Virginia Wine Country, our elegant winery on Route 29 between Charlottesville and Washington DC offers wine tastings, tours, shopping, and scenic picnic spots daily from 11am.
At Prince Michel Indulge in a spectrum of wines, from luxurious craft picks such as Petit Verdot and Petit Manseng, to distinctive options like our Sweet White Reserve from our Rapidan River series. Don’t miss our crowd-favorite Decadence Chocolate or a refreshing wine slushie for a delightful twist. We have something to offer for every palate!
Live Music every Friday – Sunday! (Music lineup on our website)
Friday 5-8 p.m.
Saturday 1-4 & 5-8
Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Open 7 days a Week at 11 a.m.
154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA 22725 (540) 547-3707 • www.princemichel.com
A Woman-Owned Business
REVALATION VINEYARDS
2022 Haywood
Made from Viognier, Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, Albariño and Petit Manseng, this orange wine is perfect for light seafood and nonspicy chicken dishes. For maximum enjoyment, drink it at room temperature or slightly chilled. Let the wine open up and evolve, and you will be rewarded with delicate dried
herbal aromas and classic Viognier apricot bouquet. A bright and direct mouthfeel with light citrus, herbal and dried fruit notes – a real quaff.
Until January 31st - Exhibition of artwork Nancy West.
Dec. 6th - Book World Meets Wine World at 5:30pm: Devlyn D’Alfonzo will read from her book Tethered Kites.
Dec. 7th - Arts & Vines from 12:00pm until 6:00pm. Holiday market with Christina Boy (wood), G.M. Grant (paintings), Robert Turner (hot sauces), Phineas Rose Studios (jewelry), Rachana Ink Art (watercolors), Grabinska Studio (jewelry, scarfs), Elizabeth Bennett (barn quilts), Chocolatesville, and Cousins Maine Lobster food truck.
November Hours: Friday 12pm to Sunset; Saturday 12pm to 6pm; Sunday 12pm to 5pm; Monday and Thursday by reservation only.
2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com
VERITAS
2022 Veritas Reserve
The blend is 50% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot, and 21% Petit Verdot. It is deep garnet in color and the bouquet is a deeply integrated balance of leather enveloped in an aroma of fresh black fruit. Luscious flavors of blackberry unfold with rich tannins on the palate leaving a structured and elegant finish accentuated with complex flavors of caramel and mocha from barrel aging. Perfect for pairing with beef stews, roasted root vegetables, and a nice campfire with s’mores! Enjoy this wine on its own or as part of our Decanter Trio, a three-bottle bundle highlighting three Veritas wines that all received 90+ ratings from Decanter earlier in September. This
trio will be available all Virginia Wine Month long for $99 online and in the Tasting Room!
Save the Date: Veritas Illuminated!
We’re bringing back our annual Veritas Illuminated on November 22! Tickets for the walking light trail will be on sale soon at www. veritaswines.com.
New Year’s Eve Masked Ball Tickets are now on sale for the Veritas New Year’s Eve Masked Ball on Tuesday, December 31. Ring in 2025 with a decadent five-course wine-paired dinner, dancing, and celebration! After the midnight toast, enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet to close out the festivities. Tickets are available for purchase online, and Veritas Wine Club members receive a discount on the first two tickets they purchase.
Spend those gorgeous Autumn afternoons at Veritas next to a reserved firepit with your favorite bottle of wine! Make your reservation today online or by calling us at 540456-8000. Our Tasting Room is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm!
Our Tasting Room is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm!
151 Veritas Ln, Afton, VA 22920 (540) 456-8000
SUDOKU
Complete
BY MATT JONES
ACROSS
1. McEntire of “Happy’s Place”
5. Backup idea
10. Racetrack gait
14. Alternatives to lagers
15. Indian currency
16. Water conveyor
17. Group of British whales covered in Band-Aids?
19. “You ___” (Burger King ad campaign)
20. Outdoor dining arrangement
21. Chinese zodiac sign
23. Accelerated
24. Dog-walker’s item
25. Prescription sleep aid
28. Word sung before “dear [insert name here]”
31. “La ___” (Debussy opus)
32. Celer y portion
34. Spine-tingling
35. ___-Z (old Camaro model)
37. Swung around a pivot
39. Take time off
40. Head & Shoulders target
42. Inherited factors
44. Actor Mahershala
45. Secluded spot
47. “___... on the side of my face” (line from “Clue”)
49. Cow, in Cannes
50. Equipment
51. Pyongyang’s country, in some headlines
53. Shout at some parties
57. Overnight ___
58. What to do in the search bar to get the latest scores?
60. One T of “ST:TNG”
61. Tiniest bit
62. Vacillate
63. Crafter’s website
64. Cowboy’s catcher
65. Till filler
DOWN
1. “Mean Girls” star Reneé
2. Late “First Lady of Children’s Folk Songs” Jenkins
3. Rhythm
4. St. Francis’s home
5. Puts forward
6. Drawn in
7. Scheduled mtg.
8. “The Matrix” protagonist
9. Two-___ (apartment spec, slangily)
10. Classic skateboarding magazine
11. Nightmare that keeps you tossing and turning?
12. 1952 Olympics host city
13. Prom attendee, usually
18. Overdrinks
22. Taxi posting
24. Compare (to)
25. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “___ Paradise”
26. Thanks, in Quebec
27. Ballots using really wide sheets of paper?
28. Bandit’s kid
29. Supermarket section
30. Some coolers
33. Aquarium growth
36. Cloudless forecast
38. Lets have the last word
41. Treasure hunter’s step
43. Acronym for a lawsuit filed to silence or intimidate opponents
46. “___ it be?”
48. Dr y creek bed
50. Shot
51. Memo
52. Mario ___ (Nintendo series)
53. Aquatherapy locales
54. Press clothes
55. Eyelid nuisance
56. Those, to Jose
59. “Motion approved”
UVA MUSIC EVENTS
Date/Time/Place Event
Friday, 11/29, 6:30pm Carrs Hill Field
Monday, 12/2, 5pm Student Health Lobby
Tuesday, 12/3, 7:30pm Newcomb Hall Theater
Thursday, 12/5, 1pm Old Cabell Hall & livestream
Thursday, 12/5, 7pm Ern Commons
Friday, 12/6, 1pm Old Cabell Hall & livestream
Friday, 12/6, 2pm Contemplative Commons
Saturday, 12/7, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall
*denotes free events
Cavalier Marching Band * Open rehearsal
Clarinet Ensemble * Directed by Jiyeon Choi
Voice Recital * Students of Stephanie Nakasian
Tea Time Recital * in person & live stream
Group Popular Voice Class Recital * Taught by Stephanie Nakasian
Tea Time Recital * in person & live stream
Coastal Futures Festival * featuring David Rothenberg
Family Holiday Concert with University Singers & Charlottesville Symphony
Holiday Concerts are Sold Out - visit artsboxoffice.virginia.edu for released seats
Sunday, 12/8, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Tuesday, 12/10, 8pm Old Cabell Hall
Family Holiday Concert with University Singers & Charlottesville Symphony
Messiah Sing-In Directed by Michael Slon
To find out about all our events, subscribe to our weekly “Music at UVA”
artists, programs and venues are subject to change.
uvamusic
434.924.3052 | music@virginia.edu | https://music.virginia.edu Arts Box Office: 434.924.3376 | artsboxoffice.virginia.edu
By Rob Brezsny
Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The name of my column is Free Will Astrology because I aspire to nurture, inspire, and liberate your free will. A key component in that effort is to help you build your skills as a critical thinker. That’s why I encourage you to question everything I tell you. Don’t just assume that my counsel is always right and true for you. Likewise, I hope you are discerning in your dealings with all teachers, experts, and leaders—especially in the coming weeks and months. You are in a phase of your cycle when it’s even more crucial than usual to be a good-natured skeptic who poses exuberant, penetrating questions. To serve your soul’s health, refine your practice of the art of creative rebellion.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be like a beautifully made fountain that people love to visit, Aquarius. Not like a metaphorical geyser or stream or waterfall out in the natural world, but a three-tiered marble fountain. What does that entail? Here are hints. The water of the fountain cascades upward, but not too high or hard, and then it showers down gently into a pool. Its flow is steady and unflagging. Its sound is mellifluous and relaxing. The endless dance of the bubbles and currents is invigorating and calming, exuberant and rejuvenating. Be like a fountain.
Pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20): Around this time of year, persimmon trees in my neighborhood have shed their leaves but are teeming with dazzling orange fruits. Pomegranate trees are similar. Their leaves have fallen off but their red fruits are ready to eat. I love how these rebels offer their sweet, ripe gifts as our winter season approaches. They remind me of the current state of your destiny, Pisces. Your gorgeous fertility is waxing. The blessings you have to offer are at a peak. I invite you to be extra generous as you share your gifts with those who are worthy of them—and maybe even a few who aren’t entirely worthy.
Aries
(March 21-April 19): Blaming others for our problems is rarely helpful. If we expend emotional energy focusing on how people have offended and hurt us, we diminish our
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In his song “Voodoo Child,” Sagittarian musician Jimi Hendrix brags, “Well, I stand up next to a mountain / And I chop it down with the edge of my hand.” I encourage you to unleash fantasies like that in the coming days, Sagittarius. Can you shoot lightning bolts from your eyes? Sure you can. Can you change water into wine? Fly to the moon and back in a magic boat? Win the Nobel Prize for Being Yourself? In your imagination, yes you can. And these exercises will prime you for an array of more realistic escapades, like smashing a mental block, torching an outmoded fear, and demolishing an unnecessary inhibition or taboo. To supercharge your practical power, intensify your imagination’s audacity.
motivation to heal ourselves. We may also get distracted from changing the behavior that ushered us into the mess. So yes, it’s wise to accept responsibility for the part we have played in propagating predicaments. However, I believe it’s also counterproductive to be relentlessly serious about this or any other psychological principle. We all benefit from having mischievous fun as we rebel against tendencies we have to be dogmatic and fanatical. That’s why I am authorizing you to celebrate a good-humored Complaint Fest. For a limited time only, feel free to unleash fantasies in which you uninhibitedly and hilariously castigate everyone who has done you wrong.
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): What you are experiencing may not be a major, earth-shaking rite of passage. But it’s sufficiently challenging and potentially rewarding to qualify as a pivotal breakthrough and turning point. And I’m pleased to say that any suffering you’re enduring will be constructive and educational. You may look back at this transition as a liberating initiation. You will feel deep gratification that you have clambered up to a higher level of mastery through the power of your intelligent love and feisty integrity.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20): You are now about halfway between your last birthday and next birthday. In the prophecy industry, we call this your Unbirthday Season. It is usually a time when you receive an abundance of feedback— whether you want it or not. I encourage you to want it! Solicit it. Even pay for it. Not all of it will be true or useful, of course, but the part that is true and useful will be very much so.
You could gather a wealth of information that will help you fine-tune your drive for success and joy in the months to come.
Cancer
(June 21-July 22): Legend tells us that the Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath the Bodhi Tree in Bihar, India. He was there for many weeks. At one point, a huge storm came and pelted the sacred spot with heavy rain. Just in time, the King of Serpents arrived, a giant cobra with a massive hood. He shielded the Buddha from the onslaught for the duration. Now I am predicting that you, too, will receive an unexpected form of protection and nurturing in the coming weeks. Be ready to open your mind about what help looks and feels like. It may not be entirely familiar.
Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22): In written form, the Japanese term oubaitori is comprised of four kanji, or characters. They denote four fruit trees that bloom in the spring: cherry, plum, peach, and apricot. Each tree’s flowers blossom in their own sweet time, exactly when they are ready, neither early nor late. The poetic meaning of oubaitori is that we humans do the same: We grow and ripen at our own unique pace. That’s why it’s senseless to compare our rate of unfoldment to anyone else’s. We each have our own timing, our own rhythm. These ideas are especially apropos for you right now, Leo.
Virgo
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I hope you will hunker down in your bunker. I hope you will junk all defunct versions of your spunky funkiness and seek out fresh forms of spunky funkiness. In other words,
Virgo, I believe it’s crucial for you to get as relaxed and grounded as possible. You have a mandate to explore ultimate versions of stability and solidity. Shore up your foundations, please. Grow deeper roots. Dig down as deep as you can to strengthen and tone your relationship with the core of your being.
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Every one of us is a hypocrite at least some of the time. Now and then, we all ignore or outrightly violate our own high standards. We may even engage in behavior that we criticize in others. But here’s the good news for you, Libra. In the coming weeks and months, you may be as unhypocritical as you have ever been. According to my analysis of the astrological, omens, you are likely to be consistently faithful to your ideals. Your actual effects on people will closely match your intended effects. The American idiom is, “Do you practice what you preach?” I expect the answer to that question will be yes as it pertains to you.
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov.21): Author George Orwell advised us that if we don’t analyze and understand the past, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past. Alas, few people take heed. Their knowledge of our collective history is meager, as is their grasp of recurring trends in their personal lives. But now here’s the good news, dear Scorpio: In the coming months, you will have exceptional power to avoid replicating past ignorance and errors—if you meditate regularly on the lessons available through a close study of your life story.
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
Friday at 5 PM for inclusion in the next Wednesday’s paper.
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CHARLOTTESVILLE
MOUNT ZION FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, Plaintiff, Case No. CL24-564-00
v. PARTIES UNKNOWN, CLAIMING ANY INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY REFERENCED HEREIN, ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of the above-styled suit involves the heirs of Joseph Thomas Bowles and their interest in a parcel of property known as Parcel ID 260004000, 210 Lankford Avenue, in the City of Charlottesville, Virginia.
The legal description of the property is as follows: All that certain tract or parcel of land, being a strip 50 feet on Lankford Avenue in the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, and running back between parallel lines to the property formerly of Robert A. Potter and Bonnie Jewett on the south, the property hereby conveyed being on the south side of Lankford Avenue.
An affidavit having been filed that due diligence has been used by the Plaintiff to ascertain the identity and address of the all possible defendants, without success; that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of all known defendants; and that the number of defendants upon whom process has been served exceeds ten and it appears that such defendants represent like interests with the parties not served with process.
Pursuant to Virginia Code Sections 8.01-316 A .1. b.; 8.01-316 A 2; and 8.01-316 A 3, it is hereby ORDERED that all interested parties appear by December 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., to do what is necessary to protect his interest.
ENTER Claude V. Worrell, II
11/04/2024
Judge Date
I ASK FOR THIS:
Mary Ann Barnes, Virginia Bar No. 29779
Tucker Griffin Barnes
307 West Rio Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
(434) 951-0871
(434) 951-0870 fax
MBarnes@tgblaw.com
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.
Winter wonderful
Magic on the Mall—a Friends of Charlottesville Downtown event—means one thing: the start of the holiday season. This year’s festivities kicked off Thursday, November 21, with free rides on the Downtown Express, a map to the Peppermint Trail, and an elf scavenger hunt. The fun continues through the beginning of January with Santa selfies, holiday movies, and extended hours for downtown retailers. For information about other festive downtown happenings, go to friendsofcville.org/events/magic-on-the-mall.
Tis the Season for Gatherings at Restoration Crozet
Whether you're planning a holiday happy hour or a more formal gathering, Restoration has you covered with festive cocktails and several menus to choose from. Call 434-823-1841 or scan the QR code to learn more.
Reservations
