C-VILLE Weekly | February 26 - March 4, 2025 by C-VILLE Weekly

Albemarle County embarks on a $2 million plan to connect the Blue Ridge Tunnel to Charlottesville

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Hello, Charlottesville.

Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.

2.26.25

Our cover story (p.18) this week takes a look at the Three Notched Trail project—a vision for a 25-mile shared-use path that will connect Charlottesville to the Blue Ridge Tunnel (and, perhaps eventually, create a connection from the Blue Ridge Mountains all the way to the Chesapeake Bay). With a recent $2 million state grant, Albemarle County is investing in outdoor infrastructure, recognizing the value of accessible recreation and the long-term benefits of such a project. Meanwhile, on the national stage, priorities are shifting in the opposite direction. Around the time I sat down to edit Sean Tubbs’ story, the Trump administration was slashing thousands of forestry service jobs— positions dedicated to maintaining public lands, managing wildfire risks, and preserving the very landscapes that projects like the Three Notched Trail want to showcase. While one government invests in expanding access to the outdoors, another is pulling back from protecting it. Progress, it seems, depends on where you look.

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Towns Ackerman

Lori Balaban

Timothy Bambury

Catherine Barnes

Jennifer Beachley

Mayanna Bean

Denise Benson

Anne Bergamesca

Kim Biasiolli

Paddy Bowman

Paul Brewer

Claudia Murray Brindle

Sumner Brown

Colette Brown

Jack Brown

Kate Buford

Cathleen Burgess

Michael Callahan

Brian Carlton

Karen Collins

Emily Currier

Maria-Eugenia Dalton

Martha Donnelly

Charlotte Drummond

Louise Dudley

Lee Elberson

Jane Elmore

Karen Emmitt

Ken Engebretson

Elizabeth Engle

M. Fife

Lavonne Fitts

Barbara Fornoff

David Gies

Stephanie Goodwin

Madeleine Hawks

Mary Haynes

Chris Hellings

Stephen Herrick

John Heyser

JoAnn Hofheimer

Lisa Hogan

Laura Horn

Christina Horton

Garth Jensen

Nina Johnston

Nicole Jones

Diane Jones

Janet Jospe

Brian Kelly

Tom Kirk

Kathryn Kluge

Julie Lacy

Marcia Langsam

Jacalyn LaPierre

Aaron Lawrence

Eric and Diane Lawson

Elizabeth Lawson

Frances Lee-Vandell

Sean Libberton

Angeline Lillard

Jessica Lino

D. Little

Phillip Long

Rob Lynch

Jeff Martin

Erin Mayer

Kieran Mcdowell

Mary McIntyre

Ruth McWilliams

James Mernin

Nicolas Mestre

Parthy Monagan

Hilary Moorman

Michael Morency

Harold E. Morgan

Michael Moriarty

Karen Myers

Monica Newby

Dennis O’Connor

Cynthia Van Osch

Annette Osso

Annette Owens

Elizabeth Perdue

Joann Peters

Damon Pettitt

Elayne Phillips

Anne Price

Leslie Quenichet

Sarah Ratcliffe

Stots Reele

Marjorie Rein

Cindy Richards

Kevin Richardson

David Robinson

Julia Rubarth

Carol Gilbert Sacks

Audrey Sarate

Joan Schatzman

Sandra Schmidt

Eric Schultz

James Seitz

Elaine Shaw

Chuck Shelton

This week’s contributors

Sean Tubbs moved to Charlottesville in 2002 and has since sought to understand why development occurs the way it does. Since 2005, he’s helped innovate information gathering to try to help people know they belong and how they can have their say. In addition to writing a C-VILLE Weekly column on real estate, Tubbs is also the person behind Town Crier Productions, which seeks to rebuild journalism for the rest of the 21st century.

Paul Shettel

John Smith

Kristina Smith

Meredith Smoot

Mickey Speck

Maria Spence

Nichole Taylor

Emily Thiede

Reid Thompson

Prue Thorner

John Titus

Erica Toy

Susan Uland

Rick Vergot

Christina Walker

David Waters

Chris Waugaman

Kelly West

Jay Wildermann

Marcia Wilds

Andrew Wolf

Natalie Yancey

Suzanne Yeaman

Nura Yingling

Kelly Zalewski

Kathleen Zenker

BJ Poss is a writer, photographer, winemaker, and fly-fishing guide. Poss found his voice and palate on journeys through the briny slosh of the Chesapeake Bay. His articles and essays are found in Blue Ridge Outdoors, Southern Culture On the Fly, Chasing Tides Co., and Edible Blue Ridge. He is in tireless pursuit of a worthwhile story, a slow-cooked meal, and the finishing touch to his first novel. He encourages all barbecue recommendations and secret fishing spots. Follow along for more food, fish, and ferments at bjposs. com or on Instagram @billyjp.

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Winsome Earle-Sears

UVA Board of Visitors voted to continue care for trans youth, but the future remains

UVA | POLITICS | REAL ESTATE | CRIME

NEWS UVA

TCONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

he University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted February 21 to continue providing gender-affirming care for youth “in a manner compliant with existing law”—with some caveats.

Trans rights and health care have been at the forefront of national political debate, with the Trump administration and conservative lawmakers stripping protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. For trans community members and allies in Charlottesville, Trump’s executive orders have started to have tangible effects, including UVA’s decision to pause, then reinstate, care for trans youth.

UVA and Virginia Commonwealth University were among the first hospital systems in the country to stop gender-affirming care for minors, following a January 30 memo from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. UVA reversed course after Judge Brendan Hurson issued a temporary restraining order February 13 that blocked enforcement of Trump’s order.

The executive order—“Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation”—was issued in January and prohibits federal coverage and funding for institutions providing patients under 19 years old with access to puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, and surgical procedures.

The BOV’s decision to allow current youth patients continued access to gender-affirming care was a better outcome than many activists anticipated, but it’s not a complete victory. Under the resolution, providers can continue to treat existing patients, but all “new

patients seeking gender-affirming care of the nature described in the presidential executive order should be referred to alternative private health-care providers until further notice.”

Though access to gender-affirming care for current patients will continue for now, the back and forth at UVA has unsettled members of Charlottesville’s trans community.

“If I lost my access to [hormone replacement therapy], it would be horrible,” says Senlin Means, co-owner of The Beautiful Idea, a trans-owned bookstore and queer makers’ market on the Downtown Mall. “I’m older, so I’ve lived longer without it, but … now that I’ve got it, and I’ve experienced this joy, it’s like, ‘God, I don’t want to go back.’”

While she was not personally affected by the pause of gender-affirming care at UVA, Means emphasizes that efforts against the trans community will not stop at the younger trans population.

“They’ve been targeting the youth, which, I think, could make it easy to feel overly comfortable as an adult,” says Means. “When they do something about trans people that doesn’t affect you, it’s easy to forget that it’s a wedge issue, that they’re not going to stop there.”

Immediately after the January announcement pausing care for trans youth at UVA, more than 100 demonstrators, including Means, showed up outside the university hospital. A similarly sized group gathered outside the Rotunda during the closed-session portion of the February 21 BOV meeting, chanting and carrying signs.

“All of these members of our community deserve health care and deserve to feel safe in their homes.” DANIEL CARMELO, UCWVA MEMBER

Several members of the UVA chapter of United Campus Workers were in attendance, showing solidarity with LGBTQ+ groups that have supported its own organizing efforts.

“This administration has demonstrated animus in its executive orders against gay people and against immigrants and refugees and Black people,” says Daniel Carmelo, a union member and graduate student worker. “All of these members of our community deserve health care and deserve to feel safe in their homes.”

Less than 1 percent of the U.S. population identifies as transgender, something that makes political enmity toward trans people more potent and palatable, according to Carmelo and other activists.

“Youth trans health care is an easy target because most people don’t know trans youth—most people don’t know any trans person,” he says. “We can’t have any sacrificial minorities.”

Dozens of area health-care workers also came to show their support, emphasizing that decisions about health care should remain between patients and providers.

“We are taught to take care of all people,” says James Pengram, a family nurse prac-

titioner in his final semester at the UVA School of Nursing. “What I’m being taught currently is that gender-affirming care is health care, and so it’s a shame to see politics come into the picture and interrupt that provider-patient relationship, because we are the only ones that have the education and the training to make the clinical judgment and determine the risk and benefits of specific treatments for specific patients.”

Pengram reports that there has been a significant increase in trans-care patients presenting with “varying amounts of distress and uncertainty regarding the future,” prompting further need for “mental, emotional, and psychological care.”

Among both the public and decisionmakers, Pengram thinks there is a fundamental misunderstanding about what the process of providing and receiving genderaffirming care actually looks like.

“When we find people with gender dysphoria or body dysmorphia, there’s a lot of communication that happens with these patients, and understanding and making sure that we are leading them down the pathway that’s going to be more beneficial for them,” he says. “What we do know is that gender-affirming care saves lives, and that this is a group of patients that have higher rates of depression, higher rates of eating disorders, higher rates of suicide, and so understanding these benefits of care, it’s not a light decision. It is something that is well thought [out], and there’s so many variables that go into that decision-making.”

While there was not an opportunity for public comment, providers and organizers alike waited for hours to attend the BOV meeting once it re-opened to the public.

Board members were already in the process of voting as local media and the crowd were allowed back in the room. Brief remarks about the board’s discussion were given, indicating there was a heated and divided conversation at some point during the closed portion of the session.

The BOV concluded its meeting approximately five minutes after returning to open session, with most of the time spent voting. Many members of the public were not even in the room yet as board members exited without speaking to the media.

For local organizer and co-owner of The Beautiful Idea Ellie Picard, the BOV’s decision doesn’t alter any of her efforts in launching the Rivanna Area Queer Center, slated to open in early March.

“The space is the mission in a lot of ways, and that’s our priority … making sure that there is a safe and accessible open space for all the queer folks in town to use,” says Picard. “There’s a lot more power in unity and cooperation and connection and with all of the threats and the challenges that we are facing as queer people, we need as much queer people power as we can muster.”

Protesters gathered outside the Rotunda on February 21, while the UVA Board of Visitors debated whether the university hospital should continue to provide gender-affirming care for youth.

New generation of leadership

Local activist Zyahna Bryant has spent more than a decade fighting for monumental causes, beginning in 2012, when, at age 12, she organized a rally for Trayvon Martin. In 2016, she wrote a letter to Charlottesville City Council calling for the

removal of the Robert E. Lee statue from a downtown park that was then named for the Confederate general. Now, she wants to continue working for social justice and accessibility as a member of the Charlottesville School Board. She joins three other candidates vying for three seats in November on the sevenmember school board.

Her campaign focuses on amplifying student voices, enhancing support for Charlottesville City School staff, and facilitating equitable access for all students, according to a press release.

Born and raised in Charlottesville, Bryant’s commitment to social justice grew while a student at Charlottesville High School and the University of Virginia. By the time a towering crane hoisted the Robert E. Lee monument off its platform in 2021, she had become a widely known young organizer. Inspired by disruptions to education during COVID-19, Bryant created the Support for Black First-Gen College Students initiative, which helps students transition from high school to college. As of last year, the fund had raised more than $34,000.

“I believe in pouring back into the people, places, and things that we value the most. As a proud alumna of Charlottesville City Schools, I understand it to be necessary to empower the voices and visions of those who are from this community,” Bryant said in her campaign announcement.

Bryant did not respond to a request for more information on her platform at press time.

School board members serve four-year terms that begin the January following elections. Responsibilities include approving the school division’s budget, setting policy, and hiring the superintendent.

Incumbents Emily Dooley and Lisa Torres said in January that they are running for reelection, and Dashad Cooper, who ran for both Charlottesville City Council and the Charlottesville School Board in 2023, also entered the race. Incumbent Dom Morse, whose seat is up for election too, has not yet indicated his plans.

Bryant’s team will officially launch her campaign during a March 1 event at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. All are invited to attend starting at 4:30pm.—Merrill Hart

Living legacy

Charlottesville is mourning the loss of its former two-term mayor Satyendra Huja, who died on February 14. He was 83 years old.

A prolific figure in local government, Huja held numerous leadership positions during his more than three decades of work for the City of Charlottesville. One of his most notable projects was opening— and keeping open—the now-iconic Downtown Mall in 1976.

Huja was elected to City Council in 2008, then as mayor in 2012. He was the first Indian Sikh mayor of an American city. He also served as the city’s director of planning and director of community development. Beyond his professional life, Huja was a prolific author, a familiar face at numerous community events, and an avid volunteer. His family encourages donations be made in his honor to Meals on Wheels or the Charlottesville Band.

A celebration of life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Rugby Road on March 1 at 3pm. Catie Ratliff

IN BRIEF

All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less) City of Charlottesville names Leon Henry as new director of social services. University of Virginia says it will release report on 2022 shooting in mid-March. Charlottesville approves 12-story student housing development, The Verve, to be built on Stadium Road. President Donald Trump gives schools two weeks to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives or risk losing federal funding. Crozet Baptist Church hosts vigil for victims of Harris Teeter shooting February 21. Bunker Bistro in Fluvanna cancels drag brunch after Lake Monticello Owners’ Association receives threats of violence. Madison-Greene Humane Society rescues dozens of cats from abandoned Ruckersville trailer. Unoccupied vehicle catches fire near Pantops Mobil gas pumps. More than 20 wineries and cideries in the Monticello AVA receive a gold medal in the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup. Indivisible Charlottesville holds family-friendly rally February 24 at Albemarle County Office Building. UVA women’s swim team nabs sixth consecutive ACC title. UVA goes on lockdown February 25 while police look for a suspect with a criminal history who fled after an off-Grounds traffic stop near Ivy Road.

If elected to the school board, Zyahna Bryant will be the youngest non-student representative member.

Satyendra Huja, who served as mayor of Charlottesville from 2012 to 2016, passed away on February 14.

REAL ESTATE NEWS

Walk this way

More trails in the works for the city and county BY

SEAN TUBBS

Unlike in some communities, there is no one entity responsible for building and maintaining trails in the Charlottesville area.

The Rivanna Trails Foundation has a mission to “promote, create, and protect pathways, trails, and greenways in the Rivanna River Watershed that connect communities and people to one another and nature,” but it is a volunteer organization.

The group raised less than $100,000 in 2023, according to filings with the Internal Revenue Service. The documents state that officers spend around two hours a week on behalf of the RTF.

Most of the planning work is now done by staff at one of the many local or regional governments in the area, and each staff member is paid for by a budget approved by elected officials.

The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department describes itself as having “nearly six miles of paved trails and about 30 miles of nature trails.”

A master plan currently underway calls for a lot of expansions. Natural trails and paved trails were the first and third highestranked priorities, according to a survey conducted to inform the master plan. The draft calls for more interconnectivity between city parks, and points to a finding that there are 7,311 households that do not feel they have enough paved trails. This is extrapolated from a survey that had 392 responses.

A consultant is putting together a new master plan for the City of Charlottesville that calls for expanding the network. Specific ideas for new trail connections include putting one on top of the sewer line between Fifth Street and Jordan Park, acquiring disused rail corridors, and an off-street access point to the Ragged Mountain Natural Area.

The draft plan notes that 84 percent of city residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park. The national median for cities is 55 percent. City Council is expected to take up the plan in March.

Albemarle County’s draft Comprehensive Plan calls for more parks to increase the number of development-area residents that live within 15 minutes of a public parkway or a greenway. That’s defined as any “linear natural open space” open to the public.

Albemarle County’s capital improvement budget for the current fiscal year includes $635,000 to bring a trailhead at Woolen Mills up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In 2019, Albemarle planning staff updated a list of transportation priorities in

the county. There are 89 separate projects with several greenways and shared-use paths. The overall Three Notched Trail project is not listed as a single project (see story on page 18). This list was meant to have been updated last year to reflect new priorities, but that has not yet occurred.

Albemarle County has trails and greenways across multiple parks, most of which are in the designated rural area. An exception is Humphris Park, which has 1.6 miles of paved trail.

One of the biggest infrastructure projects underway at the moment is at Biscuit Run Park, a space that finally opened to the public in December, with 8.5 miles of maintained trails.

Another player is the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which built the SaundersMonticello Trail and also offers the Hartman Orchard and Mountain Loop.

In addition, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission provides some support, such as coordination on grants. For instance, the government entity has taken the lead on trying to secure funding for a pedestrian bridge that would cross the Rivanna River at Woolen Mills. The TJPDC is also coordinating a project called the Moores Creek Trail and Trailhead Park.

The University of Virginia offers land on Observatory Hill for mountain biking and developed a map in collaboration with the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club, the Rivanna Trails Foundation, and other stakeholders.

Annie

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation added the four-mile Saunders-Monticello Trail to the list of local pathways in 2000.

Old Keswick

TRAILS AND PATHWAYS

Construction of infrastructure for places to walk and bike in the United States can take a long time as the political world goes through different seasons and as competing priorities demand funding and attention.

The Rivanna Trails Foundation, for instance, was created in 1992 to stitch together various stretches of trails and roadways to create a pathway for hiking around Charlottesville’s border. Over time, and for various reasons, the alignments, or exact placement, in some locations have shifted. Novice ramblers often lose the trail in areas where its passage is unclear.

“There are some places where we don’t have formal permission due to the railroad, and a few pretty major detours that are temporary during construction but might be a year or so before finalizing,” says Michael Holroyd, president of the RTF. “That said, many of our leases are revocable with 30 days notice so we are always very busy working with land owners to maintain trail access.

This year, Albemarle County has embarked on the creation of something just as ambitious and visionary— a 25-mile-long off-road pathway between the Blue Ridge Tunnel and Charlottesville via Crozet.

“Ultimately, the shared-use path will improve safety and accessibility while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering economic activity in the region,” says Jessica Hersh-Ballering, a planner with Albemarle County.

A shared-use path is intended to carry people for both recreation and commuting purposes and is generally paved. One local real estate agent and avid cyclist said people will use it to get around if it’s built.

“The e-bike market has seen significant growth over the past few years, and if we were to have a protected trail between Charlottesville, Crozet, and Afton, I expect that people will absolutely use it consistently,” says Jim Duncan.

In Albemarle, trails are in the works for people to walk (and bicycle) from here to everywhere

BY SEAN TUBBS

Federal support

In the summer of 2022, the United States Department of Transportation awarded $2 million to Albemarle County from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed in 2021 by former president Joe Biden, to study potential alignments for what would be known as the Three Notched Trail. That’s a nod to Colonial history, when settlers heading west followed a pathway with a similar name through Albemarle County to Jarmans Gap.

Albemarle County applied through the Rebuilding Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program, whose name has been changed back to the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program, noting that the project will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians by taking them off of roadways like U.S. 250.

In January, the county hired Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, whose previous work includes the Virginia Statewide Trails Plan, to conduct the feasibility study, for which public input efforts will begin later this year.

VHB, a civil engineering consulting and design firm, was hired in 1997 by the Virginia Department of Transportation to perform the feasibility study for Virginia Capital Trail, a 51.7-mile shared-use path that links Williamsburg and Richmond. Built in stages and crossing four counties, the trail generated $8.9 million in economic activity in fiscal year 2018, according to a 2019 study.

“With the opportunity to link with the Virginia Capital Trail to the east and planned trail improvements to the west, the Three Notched Trail has the potential to become part of a system of trails from the Shenandoah Valley to Hampton Roads,” reads promotional material for the upcoming kickoff of the study.

The alignment for the Three Notched Trail would travel through or near Yancey Mills, Crozet, Greenwood, and Ivy. And, eventually, may make it all the way to Waynesboro.

What’s in an alignment?

The extension of trails requires permission from landowners along the way. Many trails are on public land, opened only when local governments have staff to maintain them. Private landowners often give permission through a formal agreement known as an easement.

In the late 1990s, for example, the Rivanna Trails Foundation printed a map of the trail that included a portion crossing over land in the Locust Grove neighborhood. One property owner on Bland Circle objected and at first put up trespassing signs to stop people ambling through. After these were removed or defaced, Shirley Presley erected razor wire across her property. The city initially fined her for this action, but Presley filed a suit in federal court and eventually settled the case.

A shared-use path would require a formal easement in perpetuity in order for governments to justify spending money to install a permanent pathway.

A greenway is more rustic and is not paved, but may have portions that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

One such example is the Old Mills Trail on the Pantops side of the Rivanna River opposite Charlottesville. Albemarle County opened a three-mile trail in November 2012 and promotional materials at the time hinted at “great tourism value” due to a number of nearby historic sites, including the abandoned Port of Pireus and the remains of a canal lock.

There are plans to eventually connect Old Mills Trail to Fluvanna County’s Heritage Trail, and the relatively new Albemarle County Parks Foundation has developed a map with status updates on the extension of the greenway from Darden Towe Park to Milton.

The Old Mills Trail currently ends at I-64, but there are plans to extend it. The map states that easements are in place for stretches through Lego Farm and the Luck Stone quarry but they are not yet open. The map also claims other easements along the way are pending, such as one at Shadwell Farm.

The foundation website describes a project that would extend the existing Old Mills Trail one mile at a cost of $608,000. This project is not listed in the county’s capital budget for 2025, nor is it listed on a list of Albemarle County transportation priorities that was last updated in 2023. The foundation’s website claims this project may not happen if the design phase does not begin in the next fiscal year.

Tourism potential

The City of Waynesboro received $950,000 in federal funding in January 2023 for the Rockfish Gateway Trail, which would extend from the Blue Ridge Tunnel to Sunset Park. The city’s materials for the trail point out that the Blue Ridge Parkway meets the Shenandoah National Park nearby at the top of Afton Mountain.

“Waynesboro’s ideal location at the convergence of these two celebrated park systems, the world-renowned Appalachian Trail, two national forests, and an urban trout fishery, have made the city a hub for outdoor recreation,” reads promotional material written this January.

Waynesboro will use the initial funding to conduct preliminary engineering and begin to purchase right-ofway for the 3.5-mile trail. The full cost of construction may be as high as $15 million, according to a February story in the Crozet Gazette.

Waynesboro partnered with Nelson County on the Blue Ridge Tunnel, which opened as a tourist attraction in late 2020 after years of work to stabilize the 4,200-footlong mountain passage first built in 1858.

The government entity charged with promoting tourism in Albemarle and Charlottesville features outdoor recreation prominently in its marketing materials.

“Within the City of Charlottesville, you can bike, hike, and jog along paved trails and nature trails, including the 20-plus-mile Rivanna Trail loop,” reads the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau website. “When you head into surrounding Albemarle County, you’ll find 80 miles of maintained trails from the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, up Highway 29, and down to Scottsville.”

Local planning officials are hoping the cumulative length of local trails will increase in the near future as shared-use paths are built for locals and tourists alike. Some people who move here stick around because of the many places to walk.

Jerry Carchedi is an avid long-distance hiker who moved to Charlottesville to work for Jefferson-Madison Regional Library and decided to buy a house in the city. He calls the Rivanna Trail a treasure for the community. He also appreciates ongoing efforts to build more.

“The public agencies and nonprofits that oversee these areas are constantly challenged to maintain trails, acquire land and easements, be aware of abutter developments, provide accessibility to trailheads, and look for connections between natural areas,” Carchedi says. “There’s always room for improvement, but overall, there’s a great variety of quality hiking options compared to other places I’ve lived in and visited.”

The planned Three Notched Trail would travel through or near Yancey Mills, Crozet, Greenwood, and Ivy. And, eventually, may make it all the way to Waynesboro.

The Blue Ridge Tunnel opened as a tourist attraction in late 2020 after years of work to stabilize the 4,200-foot-long mountain passage first built in 1858.

CHARLOTTESVILLE TEN MILER

March 22, 2025

The Cville 10 Miler is a non-profit race that provides support to non-profit organizations in Charlottesville and neighboring counties.

JOIN US as we prepare to celebrate the 50th running of the iconic race - one mile at a time!

Let’s make this milestone year unforgettable

SERENITY RIDGE RETREAT CENTER

Ancient Teachings for Modern Times

MARCH 1

Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebration & open house.

MARCH 11–16

DU TRI SU Training Program with Geshe Denma Gyaltsen & Khandro Tsering Wangmo Khymsar. Learn the Du Tri Su Drip Jong , the Yungdrung Bön Ritual for escorting the consciousness of the deceased through the Bardo.

MARCH 11–16

Personal Practice Retreat, from 1 to 5 days.

APRIL 8

6:00 - 7:30 PM Public Talk by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche in Charlottesville at Unity Church, 2825 Hydraulic Rd, Charlottesville, VA 2290. Rinpoche will speak on the topic of our upcoming Spring Retreat, Awakening to Wellness: A Journey of Movement, Breath, Meditation & Nature , with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and special guests.

APRIL 9–13

Awakening to Wellness: A Journey of Movement, Breath, Meditation & Nature , with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and special guests.

APRIL 14–17

Tibetan Yoga , with Alejandro Chaoul.

SUNDAY 3/2

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1965

Celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music with a screening that’s unfortunately relevant. The Oscar-winning film set in pre-WWII Salzburg combines an unforgettable soundtrack by Rodgers and Hammerstein with incredible performances from Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer as the real-life story of the Von Trapp Family Singers plays out. Witness a powerful account of love and resistance as the “problematic” Maria advocates for the rights of women and children, and the anti-fascist Captain von (Thirst) Trapp verbally skewers goose-stepping goons before the whole family decides to get the hell out of Austria. $7–9, 2pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Together in Song presents Music & poetry

UVA MUSIC EVENTS

Date/Time/Place Event

Saturday, 3/1, 3:30pm Brooks Hall

Saturday, 3/1, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 3/2, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 3/22, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 3/23, 3:30pm MLK Performing Arts Center

Saturday, 3/29, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 4/4, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 4/5, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 4/6, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

CULTURE STAGES

Vansire W/ Toledo

Sunday, 4/6, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Francesca Hurst, solo piano recital * Reflections

Julia Totten, flute * Distinguished Major Recital

Faculty Chamber Ensembles part of the UVA Chamber Music Series

Charlottesville Symphony Mozart Requiem

Jack Siegel * Distinguished Major Voice Recital

UVA Chamber Singers 20th Anniversary Concert

UVA Percussion Ensemble 20th Anniversary Concert

Kelly Peral, Oboe, UVA Chamber Music Series

Jazz Chamber Ensembles

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

uvamusic * denotes free events

dance

Weekly Swing Dance. Beginner-friendly swing dance lessons followed by a social dance. Teaching the Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, and blues. No partner needed. $10, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com

affair as much as it is nostalgic and freeflowing. Vansire dabbles in keyboard parts that bounce out jazz chords, the lightest funk guitar possible, and bass that would otherwise kickstart a dance floor—but the way these tracks swing, that’s not going to happen with the slightest hint of aggression. Vansire’s take is bred with Midwestern kindness that leans into a valium-infused yacht rock, despite having some slightly off-brand rap spots on its last full-length, The Modern Western World (2022). It’s difficult to predict who will be on stage for this tour stop, as the duo has a habit of bringing along a full outfit in order to maintain depth in a live setting.

Openers Toledo, another act driven by two youngish dudes, run a decidedly indie business with a whispery touch. On first blush, they’re the perfect pairing for the headliners, as they too, are deft creators of an equally hazy world framed in reverb and lost in dreams of summer.—CM Gorey

Marys Seacole. Based on the real-life Mary Seacole, 19th-century Jamaican nurse, adventurer, and entrepreneur, this play sets sail on a kaleidoscopic voyage across oceans, time-shifting through the centuries. $25–28, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Studio Apartment. Touring production of a new queer tragedy centered on an artist and their live-in portrait model. Mature themes. $10–15, 7:30pm. Visible Records, 1740 Broadway St. visible-records.com classes

Artist Workshop: Cultivating Creative Momentum. A unique opportunity to unblock your creative momentum and feel inspired through readings, meditations, and journaling. Led by

exhibiting artist Kirsten Hemrich. Registration required. $23–27, 5:30pm. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org

Paint + Sip: Frosted Pines. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a frosted pines scene. One beverage included with ticket. Paint, sip, snack, repeat. $42, 6pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. blueridgebrushes.com

etc.

Lunch Time Library Events: Crochet and Slay. Bring your project, grab a cup of tea, and hang out in the library with other hookers. Free, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com

Oscars Trivia Night. Seven rounds of questions about this year’s nominees and Oscars history. Compete solo or in a team of up to six people. Prizes to be won. Free, 7pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthouse studio.org

The Path Forward: Film Screening and Dialogue. Join us for a film screening of The Path Forward followed by a conversation between directors Julie Cohen and Mo Husseini. Free, 5:30pm. Nau Hall, Room 101, 1540 Jefferson Park Ave. jewish studies.as.virginia.edu

Thursday 2/27

music

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. Two-time Grammy winners often cited as “the best Cajun band in the world.” $35–40, 7pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmand winery.com

Berto & Vincent. Lively flamenco rumba duo with Latin and Cuban influences. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

John D’earth & Friends. Live jazz with a rotating cast of local and national jazz musicians. Free, 10pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com

Kendall Street Company. Genre-fluid, eclectic rock ensemble with elements of crowd participation, off-the-cuff comedic bits, haphazard choreography, musical improvisation, and surprise musical guests. $15–22, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com Mamma Mania! New York City’s premier ABBA tribute brings dazzling costumes, flawless harmonies, and a captivating stage presence. $20–25, 7pm. Pro Re Nata Brewpub & Music Hall, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpk., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Prabir Trio. Richmond-based rock ‘n’ roll outfit infusing its tunes with sounds from India in an Eastmeets-West mashup of musical stylings. With new electronic duo Obelus. Free, 7pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com stage

Marys Seacole See listing for Wednesday, February 26. $25–28, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

New Works. UVA student actors, directors, and designers bring new plays written by students to life. $5, 8pm. Helms Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu

words

Paul and Dorothy Grob Memorial Lecture: Riv-Ellen Prell. University of Minnesota Professor Emerita Riv-Ellen Prell discusses claims of vitality for American Jews after the attacks of October 7 and explore what a vibrant Jewish life means in 2025 and beyond. Free, 5:30pm. Newcomb Hall Commonwealth Room, 180 McCormick Rd. virginia.edu

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

INTERVIEW CULTURE

Mystical undergirding

Ed Park explores metafiction and the nature of reality

BY SARAH LAWSON

Afinalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park is a complex kaleidoscope of a book that explores Korean history and diasporic identity, the nature of reality and dreams, and the drive (and dry spells) that are inherent in creative and political work.

The book offers an imagined history that overlaps with our own, unfolding over the course of multiple intricately interwoven narratives that each bring a different tone and style to the novel as a whole. Park is also a founding editor of The Believer, a former literary editor of The Village Voice, and the current Rea Visiting Writer for the UVA creative writing program. His debut story collection, An Oral History of Atlantis, is forthcoming in July. C-VILLE spoke with him about Same Bed Different Dreams

C-VILLE Weekly: In Same Bed Different Dreams, the character Soon and his doppelganger Echo are both writers of a novel titled, The Sins. There’s also Parker Jotter, a Korean War veteran and pulp novelist, whose sci-fi series plays an integral role in your book. As you crafted these characters’ writer-selves, how much did your own experiences in publishing inform them?

Ed Park: I’ve always enjoyed books that have other books inside them, and likely would have included such an “invisible library” in Same Bed even if I’d never worked in publishing. But my experiences as an editor (books, magazines, newspapers) and writer definitely added to the texture of these characters’ lives; I found this metafictional aspect relatively easy (even fun) to devise.

I’ve been writing fiction for a long time—well before Personal Days came out (in 2008)—so I’ve lived their emotions; there’s part of me in Soon, in Echo, in Parker. My work as an editor perhaps gave me a more objective view of the lives and ambitions of writers. And it certainly helped, at certain points in the novel’s construction, to put on my “editor’s cap” and straighten out the writerly mess I’d put on the page. I could become a stern taskmaster to myself!

The themes throughout the book suggest a certain self-reflexiveness, creating an internal mythology that mirrors and layers on top of some aspects of actual history. How would you describe your process to create this intertextual reality? This book took a long time to write. I didn’t set out to write a book involving a lot of research, but the characters and situations that were developing tapped into certain obsessions of mine, some of which were historical. When I finally realized that I wanted to not just explore but highlight these historical events and figures, I realized that these could all be part of a book-within-a-book—Echo’s Same Bed, Different Dreams (with its comma included!).

I would say that my research was determined by my preexisting obsessions: the poet Yi Sang, the rise and fall of Syngman Rhee, various pop culture artifacts (“M*A*S*H,” Friday the 13th, etc.), ice hockey, etc. That is, at a certain point, I knew I wanted to include these obsessions, and would then research more deeply into these topics. Some people have told me they searched up various topics as soon as they finished the book. I certainly understand the urge. But I also think, as a novel, it can be enjoyed on its own terms, without further confirmation. (And besides, in this age of A.I.-powered search—are you sure that what the computer returns is “true”?)

How long did you work on the book? Nine years is my standard answer. But I recently found some notes in which I sketched out some characters for future use, dated nearly a year before I started writing. And then, even more recently, I found a notebook from 1991 in which I contemplated a character named Echo.

Anagrams, codes, and other puzzles pop up throughout the book, suggesting the unknowable nature of history and reality while also underscoring selfhood and identity as mutable concepts. Was wordplay an interest of yours already or something that was inspired through the writing process? I’ve always been attracted to anagrams and other linguistic games, both as diversions and occasionally a glimpse into some mystical undergirding order—the “word golf” in Nabokov’s Pale Fire seemed to me a key to understanding this novel’s aesthetics and metaphysics.

The Korean Provisional Government is a core structural element of the novel, combining real and imagined aspects of the Korean independence movement. What can we learn from the KPG in our current political moment?

I hesitate to draw any direct connection to the current moment, but I suppose what’s attractive about the notion of a provisional government is that it’s partly fiction—a state of mind, a metaphor for hope.

Same Bed Different Dreams was a Pulitzer finalist in fiction. How has that changed your approach to your work, or not? In one sense, nothing’s changed. I’m still working on the novel that I started about five months before Same Bed was published; being honored was wonderful, but it doesn’t magically make the act of writing any easier! I’m still agonizing, drafting, walking around, taking up and scrapping and refining ideas. But I hope that at the very least the Pulitzer nod attracts more readers to my work—to Same Bed, and to everything before and after.

Ed Park will give a fiction reading at the UVA Bookstore on March 4.

Thursday 2/27

etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. An escape room meets a pub crawl. Visit the Preston Avenue breweries, crack codes, unravel riddles, and sample Charlottesville’s best brews. Players get $1-off pints at each brewery. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Leaving Our Imprint. Join Writing Black @ The House for an evening of creativity, connection, and conversation designed to inspire and uplift Black creatives. Free, 6pm. Common House, 206 W. Market St. commonhouse.com

Patrice: The Movie A “disability documentary rom-com” about a couple who want to get married but risk losing their public benefits if they do. Registration requested. Free, 6pm. Visible Records, 1740 Broadway St. visible-records.com

Trivia Night with Mike & Miranda. Five rounds. Play alone, or bring a team of up to six and let the good times roll. Free, 6:15pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.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

Friday 2/28 music

Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Chatham Rabbits’ Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. $25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Chickenhead Blues Band. New Orleans boogiewoogie, upbeat, rhythm and blues sounds. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Ian Gilliam & The Fire Kings. Rock ‘n’ roll, blues, rockabilly, and country. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E Market St.

Lúnasa. The Blue Ridge Irish Music School and WTJU FM present Irish super-group Lúnasa. $30–35, 8pm. Piedmont Virginia Community College, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. pvcc.edu

Marc Broussard. Acclaimed singer-songwriter with a unique gift of channeling the spirits of classic R&B, rock, and soul into contemporary terms. $30–45, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Richard Will & Adam Larrabee. Stalwarts of the local music scene, Larrabee (Bluegrass Destroyers, Love Canon) and Will (Bluegrass Destroyers) take their duo to the far reaches of acoustic music and improvisation. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

WEDNESDAY 2/26

HOME WORK

A touring production of the new queer tragedy Studio Apartment is coming to Charlottesville’s most socially engaged artist-run gallery space. The play, set in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1995, centers on an eccentric middle-aged painter named Dave and their youthful live-in portrait model Monty. When Dave brings home a new model and roommate—a young Filipino named Gabe who is desperately seeking stability—things begin to shift within the curated confines of the small domestic space. As Monty and Gabe’s interactions escalate, will the entire arrangement fall apart? Mature themes and content warnings abound. $10–15, 7:30pm Visible Records, 1740 Broadway St. visible-records.com

ALL YOU CAN EAT CULTURE

Comfort food refined

Signature Soul brings ‘cuisine with character’ to downtown BY BJ POSS

Soul food is more than just a meal. It’s kinship and history piled high on a plate. It’s about the people who make it and the community it brings to the table. That’s the philosophy behind Signature Soul, Shaun Jenkins’ new restaurant in the former Umma’s location.

As the eclectic sister to Jenkins’ Soul Food Joint on Rio Road, Signature Soul offers the same essence of down-home dishes, with origins rooted in the walkup window, but here they’re elevated in an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of a rustic home.

“We missed being downtown and thought Charlottesville could use our soul food again,” says Jenkins, referring to Soul Food Joint’s former home on Market Street.

Jenkins, who takes great pride in running a familyowned restaurant in Charlottesville, has been hanging around his family’s kitchen since he was “hip-height,” and credits his mother, Chef Honey, who has her hands in the recipes. “It’s like I inherited her taste,” he says. “I’ve eaten this food my whole life.”

Jenkins wants to expand his menu, but for now Signature Soul is leaning on the Soul Food Joint classics—fried fish and chicken, collards and candied yams—to anchor the menu while experimenting with daily specials. Fried chicken Alfredo, creative sliders, Cajun fried deviled eggs, and jambalaya are dishes that could become staples. “When people think of this kind of food, they think of the meats, like collard greens with ham hocks,” he says, going over a full menu of vegetarian sides. “We want everybody to be able to come in and find something they’ll like.”

The new soul-food speakeasy offers a happy hour in a loungey decor that invites

you to stick around. And the bar brings a new late-night option to downtown, a place where Jenkins hopes patrons will stay to enjoy local music, DJs, and comedy shows. Come spring, the patio will open with a brunch menu that includes signature drinks, chicken and waffles, and brisket and eggs. “If I could choose ribs or pulled pork over bacon, that’s what I’m getting,” Jenkins laughs, “I don’t care what time of day it is.”

Standing over a bowl of brined chicken broken down by hand, Jenkins pulls back the skin of a drumstick and dunks it in Chef Honey’s seasoning, sure to get every bit dredged. “Soul food is infused in every dish in the world, because that’s how all food started,” he says. “If you’re missing something in your life, if you’re missing something in your food, you’re missing soul food.”

“We missed being downtown and thought Charlottesville could use our soul food again.” SHAUN JENKINS

Shaun Jenkins adds new dining and late-night options with the opening of Signature Soul in the former Umma’s space.

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

Friday 2/28

Savvy at Offbeat Roadhouse. From jazz to blues, rock to soul, or funk to psychedelia, the three musicians co-captain a sporadic flight through the vast array of music that inspires them. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

stage

Marys Seacole See listing for Wednesday, February 26. $25–28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org New Works. See listing for Thursday, February 27. $5, 8pm. Helms Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama. virginia.edu

words

Author Event: Brian Teare and Aditi Machado. Join us for a reading with poets Brian Teare and Aditi Machado. Teare will be reading from his recent poetry, and Machado will read from her new collection, Material Witness. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com etc.

Alex Berr & Friends: An Evening of Comedy. A fun comedy show full of friends. Free, 8pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 27. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Jackie Brown. Jackie Brown is a middle-aged airline stewardess who supplements her income by smuggling arms for crime kingpin Ordell Robbie. $9, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Stitch and Bitch. Bring your project, grab a cup of tea, and hang out in the library with other stitchers. Free, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Trivia Night. Three rounds of questions plus a picture-based clue round for teams of up to six players. Winnable prizes. Free, 6pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 27. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 3/1

music

Berto Sales. Brazilian and Latin guitar to warm your spirit and satisfy your soul. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com Blake Hunter Band. Local singer-songwriter and guitarist. Sip. Dance. Repeat. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potters craftcider.com

Boxed Lunch. Indie pop/rock band led by a melodic songwriting duo known for their high-energy live shows and killer harmonies. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Francesca Hurst. Dynamic and engaging pianist delights audiences with a mix of classical and contemporary music. Free, 3:30pm. Brooks Hall. music. virginia.edu

Goth Takeover. A monthly event filled with alternative spookies and a variety of gothy DJs and bands. All ages welcome, those under 18 need to have an accompanying adult after midnight. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Hallie Grace. Nashville-based pop singer-songwriter with themes of courage, perseverance, and devotion running through their music. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

SATURDAY 3/1

HULL-A-BALOO

Two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sierra Hull’s bona fide bluegrass excellence is defined by her impeccable picking skills. A six-time International Bluegrass Music Association Mandolin Player of the Year—the first woman to receive the honor—Hull hails from Byrdstown, Tennessee, with an Americana sound rooted in acoustic inventiveness. Her unification of the traditional and innovative has landed her at Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, the White House, and festivals across the country. Supporting act Stephanie Lambring brings a sort of synth-country sound and explorations of life’s setbacks that ultimately set us free. $20–35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Jackson, Pendergrass, & Townsend. A threepiece outfit featuring Denise Jackson on vocals, Marcus Pendergrass on keys, and Kenneth Townsend on guitar play original music in the jazz/blues tradition. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com

Jen Tal Band. A collaborative of versatile and creative musicians with varied backgrounds and influences, including classic soul and R&B, rock, funk, reggae, and jazz. Free, 10pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millers downtown.com

John Kelly. Local singer-songwriter with more than two decades of solo acoustic performing experience. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Josh Mayo and Friends. Fantastic originals and masterfully done classic rock covers. Free, 8pm. Vision BBQ & Catering, 247 Ridge McIntire Rd. visionbbqcville.com

Mardi Gras. All day music from Baby Jo’s Boogie Band, Red and the Romantics, The Dadgers, and debuting The Greenhorns. With a custom Creole menu, face painting, and a kid’s costume contest. Free, 1pm. Ace Biscuit & Barbecue, 600 Concord Ave. acebbq.com

Matt Johnson. Local favorite from NBC’s “The Voice.” Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com

Pat Wictor and Scuffletown. Rural blues and gospel guitarist Pat Wictor joins acoustic duo Scuffletown. $20, 7pm. Unity Church, 2825 Hydraulic Rd. unitycharlottesville.org

classes

Crochet for Beginners. Learn the basics of crochet and leave with a bamboo crochet hook and a small crocheted washcloth. Ages 12+. $25, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Expressive Watercolor and Ink Florals: Spring Daffodils. Create a vibrant floral painting that combines loose watercolor with the structure of ink. All materials provided, beginners welcome. Ages 15+. $35, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Learn to Knit. Learn the basics of knitting. No experience needed. Leave with a pair of knitting needles, the beginning of a scarf, and enough yarn to finish it. Ages 12+. $25, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

The Art of Losing: Poems on Love and Loss. In this one-day seminar, we will look at how poems can reflect love and loss, whether that is the loss of a person, a place, or another part of our lives. $62–67, 1pm. WriterHouse, 508 Dale Ave. writerhouse.org etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 27. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Sacred Cosmic Gathering 2.0. Journey within with Akashic readings, astrology, and healing vibes. Feel seen, heard, and held by the universe. Your homecoming awaits. Preregistration required. $177, 11am. Bridge Between the Worlds , 2395 Paddock Wood Rd., Keswick. bridgebetweentheworlds.com

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

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, January 27. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Ron Gentry. Tunes influenced by the sounds of Motown and classic rock. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducard vineyards.com

Sierra Hull. This two-time Grammy nominated artist and songwriter is a pioneer for acoustic music with a unique sound rooted in bluegrass. $20–35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Vansire. The chillwave-inspired project of multi-instrumentalists Sam Winemiller and Josh Augustin features dance-imbued earworms, vintage synthesizers, and ambient soundscapes. $20–25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Zephyrus Presents: Our Lady of Sorrows. Music by Josquin, Isaac, and Senfl. Free, 4pm. St. Paul’s Memorial Church, 1701 University Ave. stpauls memorialchurch.org

stage

Marys Seacole See listing for Wednesday, February 26. $25–28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

New Works. See listing for Thursday, February 27. $5, 8pm. Helms Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama. virginia.edu

words

Author Event: Elle Cosimano + Megan Miranda. NYT bestselling authors celebrate the launch of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, the anticipated fifth book in the Finlay Donovan mystery series. Ticket price includes a copy of the book and one drink. $40, 7pm. Veritas Vineyards and Winery, 151 Veritas Ln., Afton. veritaswines.com

Sunday 3/2 music

Calie Garrett and Gary Green. Enjoy beautiful music by soulful piano-based singer-songwriter Calie Garrett and harmonica wizard Gary Green. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Mike Henry. Local singer-songwriter with a unique blend of Americana as pop, rock, show tunes, blues, and bluegrass with a healthy dose of humor thrown in. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Music Open Mic. Two songs or 10 minutes per performer, whichever comes first. All ages welcome. P.A. and microphone will be provided. Hosted by Theocles. Free, 5pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Sunday Jazz Jam. Local, regional, and national jazz musicians improvising with friends and strangers. Free, 6pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com

UVA Chamber Music Series #5. This concert features faculty chamber ensembles. The repertoire includes works by Baroque and contemporary composers, such as Kenji Bunch and Heinrich Biber. $5–15, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu stage

Marys Seacole See listing for Wednesday, February 26. $25–28, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org classes

Needle Felted Sheep. Learn how to make a cute and fuzzy little sheep using a specialized notched needle

PAGES CULTURE

to sculpt dyed wool. Beginners and intermediate students welcome. Ages 14+. $40, 11:30am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Needle Felted Veggies. Learn how to make soft and colorful carrot, radish, onion and/or turnip decorations using a specialized barbed needle to sculpt dyed wool. Beginners and intermediate students welcome. Ages 14+. $35, 3pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Paint + Sip: Wildflower Pint Glasses. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a wildflower scene on a pair of pint glasses. $38–42, 1pm. Hazy Mountain Vineyard & Brewery, 240 Hazy Mountain Ln., Afton. blueridgebrushes.com

etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 27. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

The Sound of Music. A tuneful, heartwarming story based on the real-life account of the Von Trapp Family singers. $7–9, 2pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Monday 3/3

etc.

Comedy Open Mic. An opportunity to showcase your talent, try out new material, and take in the best local comedy that Charlottesville has to offer. Hosted by Chris Alan. Ages 18+. Free, 7pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Astronomy on Tap. Join UVA astronomers for talks, trivia, and prizes aimed at a general audience. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.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

Tuesday 3/4

music

CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band. Creole music royalty brings soulful vocals along with jawdropping, masterful accordion-driven rock, zydeco, and blues. $20–23, 7pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Gary Hawthorne. Expressive, melodic, and powerful originals and covers from one of the region’s most enduring voices. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

Vincent Zorn. Lively flamenco rumba with a unique percussive technique that incorporates a diverse range of strumming styles, rhythms, and taps. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com words

Fiction Reading. Join us for an evening with acclaimed writer Ed Park. His fiction, essays, and reviews have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, Harper’s, The Atlantic, Bookforum, McSweeney’s, and many other publications. Free, 5pm. UVA Bookstore Mezzanine , 400 Emmet St. S. creativewriting.virginia.edu etc.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Teams of two to six people can compete to win prizes like gift certificates and pint glasses, plus, bragging rights. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com Milpa Film Screening. Stop-motion animation by the Milpa Project (Tjuntjuntjara, Western Australia) and short films by UVA students. Free, 5:30pm. Campbell Hall, Room 158, 110 Bayly Dr. kluge-ruhe.org

The Run Club. Do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.

First class

Women coeducate last all-male public university BY LISA PROVENCE

The University of Virginia has many storied traditions. One, that of the Virginia gentleman, contributed to UVA being the last public university—aside from military institutions—to allow women. Spurred by a lawsuit, the school admitted its first class of female students in 1970.

Gail Burrell Gerry was a member of that class of 367 women, and she had no idea what she was getting into. She documents the experiences of the class of ’74 in her book Here to Stay: The Story of the Women Who Coeducated the University of Virginia, published by the University of Virginia Press in March.

Gerry, a “proud Michigander,” didn’t realize UVA only admitted men when she applied in late 1969, nor did her high school counselor in Ypsilanti. Her first clue was receiving an acceptance letter from Mary Washington College, then the women’s college for UVA, to which she had not applied. “My first acceptance letter didn’t make any sense,” she recalls. Shortly after, she received one from UVA.

An educator and researcher, Gerry is well-equipped to tell the story of the first coed class, about which even getting the exact number took a deep dive into the archives. “I wanted to find the primary documents,” she says. “My goal was to show the human side of institutional transformation.”

Edgar Shannon was president of the university during the tumultuous ’60s, when the Vietnam War, civil rights, and equal rights were roiling college campuses. “He truly believed you couldn’t have a great university without the diversity of races, ethnicities, religions, and genders,” Eleanor Shannon, one of the president’s five daughters, told Gerry.

UVA didn’t admit Black students until 1950, the result of another lawsuit, this one brought by Gregory Swanson, and even then, it was only a handful of men.

As early as 1964, Gerry discovered, university officials knew that its men-only policy was discriminatory. Women in Virginia were well aware they could not study at the commonwealth’s flagship university, and in 1969, Charlottesville resident Virginia Scott and three other women sued in federal court for admission to the College of Arts and Sciences.

So why did it take so long? “I really think it was discrimination,” replies Gerry.

“Many men were resistant,” she says, and some wore buttons that said BBTOU—Bring Back the Old University.

She recalls a public-speaking class in which a male classmate, wearing a tie, khaki pants, and a BBTOU button, explained that women had ruined the university and its long tradition of the Virginia gentleman. “Our faces were burning,” she says. “We were told over and over that most men didn’t want women there.”

She stewed about his presentation, and a couple of weeks later, showed up in class wearing hot pants and gave a “provocative” speech detailing how she was only there to find a husband—a common stereotype from those who wanted to keep UVA a male bastion. Her classmates laughed.

“At 19, I could laugh about it,” she says. “I’m not now.”

She found that among the 367 female first years and 301 women who transferred from Mary Washington, who were already allowed to study nursing and education at UVA, there were 100 pregnancies. She points out that birth control pills were not legal in 1970, and there was no student health for women. “To see a gynecologist, you had to go off campus.” She notes, “We didn’t have transportation,” and the bus system didn’t exist at that point.

Safety was a big issue for the women, and “almost everyone had stories about feeling unsafe,” says Gerry. “We had to walk everywhere.”

Even before women arrived, Annette Gibbs, associate dean of student affairs, pointed out to university officials how dark the Grounds were. The response was that the aesthetics of Mr. Jefferson’s college had to be protected. “That was very discouraging,” says Gerry.

She initially wasn’t going to broach the topic of rape. But it came up during interviews and reunions, and if it wasn’t a firsthand experience, everyone seemed to know a roommate or classmate who’d had an unwanted sexual encounter. Gerry had vowed to report what she found.

“We didn’t have the language about date rape in 1970,” she says. “The image of a rapist was a scary stranger. It wasn’t someone you knew.”

The idea of writing about her pioneer class first occurred to her in the run up to the 2016 presidential election, in which Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton. ‘I became aware of the sexist language being used,” says Gerry, “and it was very concerning to me.”

By the time she finished writing, the U.S. Supreme Court had overturned Roe v. Wade, and “women lost the right to choose and have control over their own bodies,” she says, an unwelcome flashback to 1970.

Many of her classmates cite the strong friendships they developed while at the university, and said that was the best part of their higher education. Gerry points out that her class was the first generation of women to work full time while raising families. “My years at UVA were foundational to my later life.”

And while she did not attend UVA to find a husband, Gerry, in fact, did meet her husband there, and they’ve been married more than 50 years. “Part of my UVA story,” she says, “is a love story.”

Gail Burrell Gerry (top left, above) details the experiences of female students in the class of ’74 in her book Here to Stay: The Story of the Women Who Coeducated the University of Virginia.

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FOR FUN PUZZLES

#2 #5

ACROSS

1. En ___ (with full attendance, as a court)

5. Fundamental end?

8. Blew a gasket 14. The whole A to Z 16. Cynthia’s costar

17. With “The,” 1987 Michael Cimino epic adapted from a Mario Puzo novel

18. Fairly new

19. Yacht post

20. Coin-op opening

21. “Carpe ___!”

23. Pasty luau dish

24. Airpor t counter name

28. 1999 comedy about kids trying to get to a KISS concert

32. Tabula ___ (blank slate)

33. ___ Lanka

34. “Dune” star Isaac

35. City renamed Tokyo in 1868

36. First musical to win Best Picture since “Oliver!” in 1968

39. “I Like ___” (‘50s campaign slogan)

40. Gp running Sarah McLachlan-backed ads since 2007

42. More than vexation

43. “Fargo” family name

44. 1944 musical starring Judy Garland

48. Without

49. Cleaning cloth

50.Part of MIT, for short

51. Ocean Spray name starter

53. “___ Stop the Music” (1980 movie)

55. Channel Tunnel terminus

58. Classic Disney cartoon with some questionable depictions of Native Americans

62. On the double

63. Culinary knife cut that’s finer than julienne

64. Chem lab vessels

65. Punch from Pacquiao

66.Geneva, for one

DOWN

1. ___-relief (sculpture style)

2. Frazier foe

3. Video game figure not controlled by the gamer (abbr.)

4. Mythical hybrid

5. Sacred bird, to ancient Egyptians

6. Airline assignment

7. ___ Dew (brand with a Baja Blast flavor)

8. Breadstick seasoning

9. Cookie brand

10. Mints in a little case

11. “___ Mar tin: SAP” (2023 Netflix standup special)

12. Columnist Landers

13. “Who ___?” (New Orleans Saints chant)

15. San Antonio mission, with “the”

20. Phillipa of “Hamilton” and “Doctor Odyssey”

Hills, 90210”

Soap star Springfield

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By Rob Brezsny

Aries

(March 21-April 19): The world’s darkest material is Vantablack. This super-black coating absorbs 99.96 percent of visible light, creating a visual void. It has many practical applications, like improving the operation of telescopes, infrared cameras, and solar panels. I propose we make Vantablack your symbol of power in the coming weeks. It will signify that an apparent void or absence in your life might actually be a fertile opportunity. An ostensible emptiness may be full of potential.

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): Among their many sensational qualities, rivers have the power to create through demolition and revision. Over the centuries, they erode rock and earth, making canyons and valleys. Their slow and steady transformative energy can be an inspiration to you in the coming months, Taurus. You, too, will be able to accomplish wonders through the strength of your relentless persistence—and through your resolute insistence that some old approaches will need to be eliminated to make way for new dispensations.

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): Centuries before European sailors ventured across the seas, Polynesians were making wide-ranging voyages around the South Pacific. Their navigations didn’t use compasses or sextants, but relied on analyzing ocean swells, star configurations, cloud formations, bird movements, and wind patterns. I bring their genius to your attention, Gemini, because I believe you are gaining access to new ways to read and understand your environment. Subtleties that weren’t previously clear to you are becoming so. Your perceptual powers seem to be growing, and so is your sensitivity to clues from below the visible surface of things. Your intuition is synergizing with your logical mind.

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): The Maeslant Barrier is a gigantic, movable barricade designed to prevent the flooding of the Dutch port of Rotterdam. It’s deployed when storms generate surges that need to be repelled. I think we all need metaphorical versions of this protective fortification, with its balance of unstinting vigilance and timely flexibility. Do you have such psychic structures in place, Cancerian? Now would be a good time to ensure that you have them and they’re working properly. A key factor, as you mull over the prospect I’m suggesting, is knowing that you don’t need to keep all your defenses raised to the max at all times. Rather, you need to sense when it’s crucial to assert limits and boundaries—and when it’s safe and right to allow the flow of connection and opportunity.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN

(Feb. 19-March 20): No cars drove through London’s streets in 1868. That invention was still years away. But the roads were crammed with pedestrians and horses. To improve safety amidst the heavy traffic, a mechanical traffic light was installed—the first in the world. But it had a breakdown a month later, injured a police officer, and was discontinued. Traffic lights didn’t become common for 50 years after that. I believe your imminent innovations will have better luck and good timing, Pisces. Unlike the premature traffic signal, your creations and improvements will have the right context to succeed. Don’t be shy about pushing your good ideas! They could revamp the daily routine.

Leo

PISCES

(July 23-Aug. 22): The authentic alchemists of medieval times were not foolishly hoping to transmute literal lead and other cheap metals into literal gold. In fact, their goal was to change the wounded, ignorant, unripe qualities of their psyches into beautiful, radiant aspects. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to do such magic. Life will provide you with help and inspiration as you try to brighten your shadows. We all need to do this challenging work, Leo! Now is one of your periodic chances to do it really well.

Virgo

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Cosmic rhythms are authorizing you to be extra demanding in the coming days—as long as you are not frivolous, rude, or unreasonable. You have permission to ask for bigger and better privileges that you have previously felt were beyond your grasp. You should assume you have finally earned rights you had not fully earned before now. My advice is to be discerning about how you wield this extra power. Don’t waste it on trivial or petty matters. Use it to generate significant adjustments that will change your life for the better.

Libra

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In North America, starlings are an invasive species introduced from Europe in the 19th century. They are problematic, competing with native species for resources. They can damage crops and spread diseases that affect livestock. Yet starlings also create the breathtakingly beautiful marvel known as a murmuration.

They make mesmerizing, ever-shifting patterns in the sky while moving as one cohesive unit. We all have starling-like phenomena in our lives—people, situations, and experiences that arouse deeply paradoxical responses, that we both enjoy and disapprove of. According to my analysis, the coming weeks will be prime time to transform and evolve your relationships with these things. It’s unwise to sustain the status quo. I’m not necessarily advising you to banish them—simply to change your connection.

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov.21): Buildings and walls in the old Incan city of Machu Picchu feature monumental stone blocks that fit together precisely. You can’t slip a piece of paper between them. Most are irregularly shaped and weigh many tons. Whoever constructed these prodigious structures benefited from massive amounts of ingenuity and patience. I invite you to summon some of the same blend of diligence and brilliance as you work on your growing masterpiece in the coming weeks and months. My prediction: What you create in 2025 will last a very long time.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec.21): Bioluminescence is light emitted from living creatures. They don’t reflect the light of the sun or moon, but produce it themselves. Fireflies do it, and so do glow-worms and certain fungi. If you go to Puerto Rico’s Mosquito Bay, you may also spy the glimmer of marine plankton known as dinoflagellates. The best time to see them show what they can do is on a cloudy night during a new moon, when the deep murk reveals their full power. I believe

their glory is a good metaphor for you in the coming days. Your beauty will be most visible and your illumination most valuable when the darkness is at a peak.

Capricorn

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn-born Shah Jahan I was the Emperor of Hindustan from 1628 to 1658. During his reign, he commissioned the Taj Mahal, a magnificent garden and building complex to honor his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This spectacular “jewel of Islamic art” is still a major tourist attraction. In the spirit of Shah Jahan’s adoration, I invite you to dream and scheme about expressing your devotion to what you love. What stirs your heart and nourishes your soul? Find tangible ways to celebrate and fortify your deepest passions.

Aquarius

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Over 2,100 years ago, Greek scientists created an analog computer that could track astronomical movements and events decades in advance. Referred to now as the Antikythera mechanism, it was a unique, groundbreaking invention. Similar machines didn’t appear again until Europe in the 14th century. If it’s okay with you, I will compare you with the Antikythera mechanism. Why? You are often ahead of your time with your innovative approaches. People may regard you as complex, inscrutable, or unusual, when in fact you are simply alert for and homing in on future developments. These qualities of yours will be especially needed in the coming weeks and months.

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

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SOUL FOOD JOINT, LLC

200 W. Water Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a restaurant or caterer wine, beer, mixed beverages consumed on and off the premises license to sell or manufacture alcholic beverages

Shaun Jenkins, Owner

Legals Services

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

P.S. FOR A GOOD DAY, CALL... Reggie Leonard

Parallax Project and Oenoverse (co-founder), UVA School of Data Science (associate director of career connections and community engagement)

When I think about my perfect Charlottesville Day, I’ll give myself the constraint of a weekday/workday. I love unexpectedly warm days, when I’m working from home (which is generally on Fridays). On these days, I’ll wake up a bit later than usual, start my morning with a pour-over and some sort of oat-based breakfast (sometimes it’s overnight oats, sometimes it’s homemade muesli, and other times it’s a Kind bar). I’ll do the rest of my morning routine, which generally involves listening to podcasts while I’m making coffee, reading, catching up on text messages and personal email, and mentally preparing myself for the day.

From there, I’m setting my tone and intentions, listening to music, and essentially triaging emails before diving into meetings and projects.

Since I live downtown, I love to sneak little walks in throughout the day, particularly if I can shift a Zoom meeting to an actual phone call. I often find myself walking to the Downtown Mall around lunch time, and either grabbing something to go from Revolutionary Soup, or a sandwich from Market Street Market. On the best days, I’m also popping into Lone Light Coffee for a quick afternoon espresso (no sugar, no milk/dairy).

Sometimes, remote days allow me to take meetings in-person at places like Common House or MarieBette. On the MarieBette days, when I find myself in the Rose Hill neighborhood, I’m likely also popping around the corner to The Wine Guild to snag a few bags of Rancho Gordo beans to get started for dinner.

When I’m back at the house, I’m back to working until the end of my day.

Since we’re talking about a Friday, I’m likely plotting one of two options for an evening wine tasting: back to Wine Guild (for a tasting) and then Cou Cou Rachou for a glass or flight, or to Market Street Wine (you’re allowed to dump wine at a wine tasting, so challenge yourself to try it sometimes!). When I’m at my best, I’m also running over from Market Street Wine to the Welcome Gallery for a First Fridays exhibit.

After wine tasting, I’m either coming back to the pot of beans I cooked earlier to finish making a meal around them or, if I’m being honest with myself, putting them in the fridge and changing clothes to go out. I’ll either grab dinner at Birdhouse and hang out there for the evening, or to Crushpad for Luce pasta, and then a nightcap at either The Alley Light or Lampo, depending on how much walking I’m feeling up to. While I love making plans with friends, my favorite kind of evening is when I’m solo, bopping (or, more accurately, ambling) around from place to place, and serendipitously spending time with different groups of friends while making new friends at each spot. For me, late nights are the best nights.

When I get home, I’m plotting whether or not I want to spend time at the City Market in the morning, or if I’ll swing by J.M. Stock Provisions for ham (their Tasso is fire, but their Stock ham is a twin flame). At this point in my Friday night, I feel like I’ve packed in another week’s worth of days, and I’m looking forward to sleeping tomorrow morning.