How does your garden
Local schools respond to threats of DEI-based funding cuts P.11
Scottsville looks to reverse declining population with new development P.13
Access to fresh food may mean taking matters into our own hands
Reopen after lengthy repairs, Silk Thai rises from the ashes P.25
REED ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING AWARD
SOLD OUT IN-PERSON EVENT
VIRGINIA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
You’re invited to join SELC virtually as we celebrate our Reed Environmental Writing Award winners as part of the Virginia Festival of the Book. Don’t miss your chance to hear from author Jonathan Mingle, and ABC News journalists Jared Kofsky, Maia Rosenfeld, and Steve Osunsami as they share reflections on their awardwinning work.
Tim Kaine — current U.S. Senator, author and longtime outdoor enthusiast — will be this year’s featured speaker, reflecting on his new book Walk Ride Paddle. Jonathan Mingle BOOK AWARD
Register for the virtual event
March 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The first 400 event registrants receive a FREE copy of Jonathan Mingle’s book, Gaslight: The Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Fight for America’s Energy Future.
Register for the virtual event by scanning the QR code or visit southernenvironment.org/reed-award-registration
Hello, Charlottesville.
Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.
3.5.25
This week, we’re talking about food—growing it, sharing it, and making sure everyone has access to it. Our cover story (p.17) dives into how you can produce your own food and the local resources available to help you get started. Whether you’re planting a backyard garden or joining a community plot, cultivating your own food can foster self-sufficiency, sustainability, and a deeper connection to what nourishes us.
But access to fresh, healthy food isn’t a given. The farm bill, which expires in September, will play a critical role in determining how food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) continue to serve those in need. If the bill isn’t extended, it could hinder many families’ ability to obtain fresh, nutritious food—a concern we must all take seriously.
That’s where local organizations like Cultivate Charlottesville come in. It raised over $100,000 in its winter appeal—an amazing show of community support— but it’s still working to hit a $500,000 goal by April. And local businesses are stepping up—Citizen Burger ran a February matching campaign, and Petit Pois donates part of every Tuesday’s sales to Cultivate.
Growing your own food is powerful, but making sure everyone has access to fresh, healthy food takes a village. Let’s keep working to keep our community fed—whether through policy, donation, or simply a meal shared.
These generous benefactors of C-VILLE have supported our work through our Save the Free Word campaign. If you’d like to contribute, follow the QR code.
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
Diggs “retired” to Charlottesville in 2016 after a career in public relations while freelancing off and on. Now also working part-time as a tour guide at Montpelier, Carol writes about whatever and whomever sounds interesting, from Swannanoa and bobcats to death doulas and Colby’s Crew. Career highlights include seeing her byline in The Wall Street Journal, asking Beverly Sills a question she had never heard before, and writing a profile on reproductive health advocate Amy Hagstrom Miller as her very first C-VILLE assignment.
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
Ella Powell is a student journalist at the University of Virginia who’s set to graduate in May 2025 with a BA in media studies and English. She’s interested in freelance writing and other media jobs, such as advocacy work for nonprofits. She has written for The Cavalier Daily as a life columnist, interned at Iris Magazine through the UVA Women’s Center, and is a former C-VILLE Weekly intern. Her work primarily engages with arts and culture events and music, but her academic interests extend to the health of media ecosystems.
Date/Time/Place Event
Saturday, 3/22, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Sunday, 3/23, 3:30pm MLK Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, 3/25, 4pm The Robertson Media 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
Sunday, 4/6, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Thursday, 4/10, 8pm Old Cabell Hall
Friday, 4/11, 8pm Old Cabell Hall
uvamusic
Charlottesville Symphony Mozart Requiem
Charlottesville Symphony Mozart Requiem
Making Noise in the Library * The Hard Modes
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 * Four small groups
Danielle Wiebe-Burke * guest viola recital
Baroque Orchestra directed by David Sariti
To find out about these and all our events, subscribe to our weekly “Music at UVA”
All artists, programs and venues are subject to change. 434.924.3052 | music@virginia.edu | https://music.virginia.edu ArtsBoxOffice:434.924.3376|artsboxoffice.virginia.edu
Filmmakers
CoolTone® is a noninvasive solution that tones, firms, and strengthens muscles. It's FDA-cleared for enhancing your: Abs Thighs Glutes
Schedule your free consultation today and take the first step towards a stronger, more defined you! Treatment must begin in March to qualify.
COPY EDITOR
Susan Sorensen
NEWS INTERN
Merrill Hart
CONTRIBUTORS
Rob Brezsny, Dave Cantor, Matt Dhillon, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Claudia Gohn, Mary Jane Gore, Maeve Hayden, Andrew Hollins, Erika Howsare, Justin Humphreys, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Erin Martin, Kristin O’Donoghue, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Courteney Stuart, Paul Ting, Sean Tubbs
ADVERTISING
advertising@c-ville.com
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Brian Hrozencik brian@c-ville.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Gabby Kirk gabby@c-ville.com
Sarah Smith sarah@c-ville.com
Candace Stevens candace@c-ville.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Tracy Federico designer@c-ville.com
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Faith Gibson ads@c-ville.com
BUSINESS
PUBLISHER
Anna Harrison anna@c-ville.com
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Debbie Miller debbie@c-ville.com
A/R SPECIALIST
Nanci Winter (434) 373-0429
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Billy Dempsey circulation@c-ville.com
C-VILLE HOLDINGS, LLC
Bill Chapman, Blair Kelly
The City of Charlottesville unveiled a new historical marker on March 3, recognizing the sales of enslaved people at Court Square. The event was held on the city’s Liberation and Freedom Day, which commemorates the 1865 liberation of more than 14,000 people who had been enslaved in and around Charlottesville. “Between 1762 and 1865,” reads the plaque, “auctioneers sold enslaved men, women, and children at various locations in Court Square: outside taverns, at the Jefferson Hotel, at the ‘Number Nothing’ building, in front of the Albemarle Co. Courthouse (where sales were then recorded), and, according to tradition, from a tree stump.” Mayor Juandiego Wade and UVA Associate Professor Jalane Schmidt each spoke at the unveiling. “The work of history doesn’t end,” Schmidt said. “As we learn more, as we unsurface more, as we interpret better, our stories about ourselves hopefully become more inclusive.”
City and county schools hold firm on inclusionary policies despite federal pressure BY
CATIE RATLIFF
Charlottesville City and Albemarle County Public Schools remain committed to their current curriculum, despite federal pressure to end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Opposition to DEI has emerged as a cornerstone of conservative policymaking, and has been frequently used as a justification for sweeping change by the Trump administration. Courts are weighing the legality of several executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, including “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.”
In a January 29 executive order, Trump said he would “cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.”
A White House fact sheet issued the same day accused Albemarle County Public Schools of teaching critical race theory, which the administration labels an “inherently racist policy that teaches students are to be judged by their racial or ethnic background, rather than as an individual.”
As part of its effort to crack down on DEI in schools, the Department of Education launched an official portal (enddei. ed.gov) for reporting curriculum and practices on February 27. According to the department’s webpage, the portal can be used by anyone to flag “illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning,” and aims to keep schools “free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination.”
Despite the call-out by the Trump administration, ACPS stands behind its existing policies. In February’s Connections newsletter, Superintendent Matthew Haas
“We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow or next week in D.C., but what we do know is that we have educators who care, we have a community who cares, and we have students who need to learn,” said Zyahna Bryant at her March 1 campaign kickoff.
reaffirmed his commitment to students and families.
“Our schools have always been and will continue to be safe and welcoming places for all who enter our facilities,” Haas wrote.
“We are committed to upholding our values of equity, excellence, family and community, and wellness. … Working together as a team, we will end the predictive value of race, class, gender, and special capacities for our children’s success through high-quality teaching and learning for all. We seek to build relationships with families and communities to ensure that every student succeeds.”
CCS similarly said, “Charlottesville City Schools will continue to ensure that all our students receive what they need to
develop their full academic and social potential,” in an email. “Our families are accustomed to—and can continue to count on—a curriculum that stimulates and supports all students.”
Both districts have school board elections on the ballot this November, with the CCS race gaining momentum. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programming is likely to be a focus for candidates, especially given the impact cuts to federal funding could have.
Four candidates are currently running for the three open seats, with long-time local activist Zyahna Bryant the latest to announce her candidacy.
At her March 1 campaign launch, Bryant spoke about the importance of CCS uphold-
All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)
ing its commitment to DEI amid federal fearmongering.
“Inclusivity is important, and people may think that that is a hot topic thing, but I would ask you, when is it okay to exclude people who need to be in certain spaces?” Bryant said. “It’s important for us to be bold as a district and to continue to hold true our values of wanting to be inclusive and wanting to make sure that all students feel like they have a safe place to learn.”
While diversity, equity, and inclusion are long-held priorities for Bryant, she acknowledged the potential difficulty and importance of maintaining a bold commitment to DEI.
“I think that it’s important that the people who are making the decisions look like the community, and I hope that the community feels like their voices are being heard by the board,” said Bryant. “I feel like as a young person, as a young Black woman, I have the opportunity to engage with folks who are often left out, who are often pushed to the corners and to the margins, and I hope to bring their voices to the center.”
CCS and ACPS could face potential federal funding cuts if Trump follows through on his promise to stop funding schools that continue DEI programming. Federal funds represent a small percentage of both districts’ draft funding requests for FY26, but are still significant sums of money. For FY25, ACPS and CCS received $618,000 and $8,069,946 from federal funds, respectively.
Both school districts are still in the process of finalizing their draft budget requests, but they have each reduced anticipated federal funding estimates compared to previous years.
Former UVA professor John Casey dies February 22 at age 86. One-time UVA assistant coach Danny Wilmer dies February 26 at 77. UVA third-year Simone Marijic auditions for “The Voice.” Albemarle Career Exploration Academy breaks ground. Charlottesville Department of Utilities offers free trees to city residents for Arbor Day program. Greene County Board of Supervisors approves special use permit for ice rink in Ruckersville. UVA student tests positive for meningococcal disease. Charlottesville Area Transit temporarily detours Routes 5, 7, and 11, effective March 1. Charlottesville’s Board of Architectural Review approves demolition of Violet Crown Cinema building. City prohibits overnight street parking beginning March 1 for tarped cars, RVs, boats, and other vehicles with more than two wheels per axle.
Nearly $10 million in funding for Phase II of Kindlewood was finalized last week, supporting the multi-year, resident-led redevelopment effort to transform the affordable-housing community formerly known as Friendship Court.
Phase II of the Kindlewood redevelopment broke ground in January, with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2026 and total cost of $86 million. The four-phase project is slated to create 450 units across several income tiers. St. Louis-based investment firm Advantage Capital leveraged $9.6 million in Virginia low-income housing tax credits for the closing announced February 26—a significant portion of the estimated $68 million cost of Phase II.
Overseen by the Piedmont Housing Alliance, the project focuses on creating affordable housing in Charlottesville, where residents continue to experience a housing shortage. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, affordable rent should cost no more than 30 percent of a household’s income. For a family of three living at 50 percent of the area median income (roughly $34,500) in Charlottesville, that equates to $860 per month for rent—or $520 for the same family at 30 percent AMI (roughly $20,700).
The 12-acre Kindlewood site, originally developed in 1978 as Garrett Square, has a complicated history. The area was a majority-Black, working-class neighborhood, but in the early 1970s, the city, as it had done with Vinegar Hill in 1964, proclaimed Garrett Street blighted, and razed it under the guise of urban renewal.
As part of PHA’s commitment to zero displacement, new construction will eventually accommodate all 150 families currently living at Kindlewood. Phase II will create 100 affordable homes, with roughly half reserved as housing for existing residents. A learning center, a community center, and headquarters for the PHA are also in the works.
“Kindlewood Phase II is a crucial step in the progress toward reaching resident redevelopment goals for their community,” said Sunshine Mathon, Executive Director of Piedmont Housing Alliance, in a release. “We are grateful to everyone who has dedicated their lives, vision, and passion to this extraordinary work.” Merrill Hart
A Charlottesville Area Transit bus collided with three vehicles before crashing into a single-family residence in the 2500 block of Barracks Road on March 4. Details of the incident are still emerging, with Albemarle County Police and Albemarle County Fire Rescue responding to the scene Tuesday morning. The driver of the bus and a resident of the home were transported to UVA Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Catie Ratliff
UVA Health CEO Craig Kent resigned on February 25. His resignation comes after a months-long investigation into Kent and School of Medicine Dean Melina Kibbe, prompted by a publicly released letter of no confidence signed by 128 physicians in September of 2024.
Kent handed his resignation to UVA President Jim Ryan following a special session meeting of the Board of Visitors. During the closed session, board members were presented with the results of the investigation into allegations made in the letter of no confidence.
At press time, Kibbe has not resigned or publicly responded to the investigation or Kent’s departure.
Prior to his resignation, Kent was the highest-paid employee at UVA, with an annual salary of $1.6 million after receiving a $500,000 raise in 2024. C.R.
The University of Virginia went into lockdown twice in two days following a manhunt and stabbing near Grounds. The first lockdown occurred the morning of February 25, when UVA issued a shelterin-place order to all community members. The alerts went out after 19-year-old Nyeem Hill fled an attempted traffic stop on Fontaine Avenue, then jumped out of his still-moving vehicle and ran on foot through Grounds. Albemarle County Police allegedly initiated the stop due to an expired inspection sticker, but Hill is currently wanted under a warrant for failure to appear in court for an unrelated incident.
UVA lifted the shelter in place at 1:42pm after information indicated Hill had left the area. He remains at-large at press time.
The university went into lockdown again, issuing a “RUN HIDE FIGHT” alert, on February 27, when a stabbing occurred at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. The victim, Clayton William Donne, was transported to the UVA Medical Center with critical injuries, but is now in stable condition.
University Police arrested 44-year-old Edward Conlin Lee the same afternoon in connection with the incident. He has been charged with malicious wounding and is set to appear in Charlottesville General District Court on April 10. The UVA shelter-in-place order was lifted following Lee’s apprehension. C.R.
One purpose of urban planning is to determine appropriate places for people to live, but in many localities, elected officials have the final say.
For instance, the Town of Scottsville Comprehensive Plan calls for around 1,000 people to reside in that community by 2040.
“Growth of small towns more often occurs in periodic jumps, with specific development projects, than in a smooth linear fashion,” reads a plan last adopted by the Town Council in 2018.
Scottsville’s population has been declining, dropping from 566 in the 2010 Census to 522 in 2020. To try to reverse the trend and provide new residents with ways to walk to restaurants and shops, council adopted a small area plan during the pandemic for the property around the former Hyosung Tire Plant, which closed in 2009.
“We can look to our history to find a healthy and sustainable path forward,” reads the plan. “New homes to welcome new residents to share in our community, small business spaces to create jobs and wealth, and parks and trails for everyone to enjoy life on the James River.”
At least three proposals have been made in response to the rallying cry, and one of these broke ground last month. Southern Development and Scottsville Community Investments LLC began early site work for a new neighborhood of 36 single-family homes on Bird Street. The 12-acre West Village project is a few blocks away from businesses on Valley Street, the city’s main thoroughfare.
“There hasn’t been a cluster of construction like this in Scottsville since the 1960s,” said Mayor Ron Smith.
But not everyone is on board. When it came time for council to weigh in on this development, there were a pair of 4-3 votes. The first was in June 2021 to rezone the
land from Industrial to Village Residential and the second was a special use permit in March 2022. Opponents of that proposal felt the new development would go against Scottsville’s small-town character.
At one point, the Bird Street project had a maximum of 48 units, but that was reduced to help gain support. A second project on Blenheim Road—which would have seen 24 units—was working its way through town government but has been indefinitely deferred.
In January 2023, Town Council voted 4-2 to deny a rezoning for a portion of the tire factory that would have seen 205 apartment units in a project known as the Scottsville Lofts. Dozens of people spoke and while some expressed support, a majority were opposed, with at least one person warning against “the Charlottesville crowd coming to Scottsville.”
All three are on public water and sewer, often cited as a precursor for urban development.
Scottsville is not considered one of Albemarle’s designated growth areas, but the town is mentioned as a potential partner in contributing to the county’s housing needs. The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Services forecasts Albemarle’s population will grow from the 2024 estimate of 117,790 to 138,523 in 2040.
Meanwhile, Scottsville District Supervisor Mike Pruitt told the Board of Supervisors on February 5 that several businesses have recently closed their doors and he’s hopeful economic development efforts can be made.
“I have serious concerns about the economic vibrancy of that region and what we can do collectively between the Town Council and the board to really catalyze economic activity,” Pruitt says.
The two bodies are scheduled to meet on May 14.
anitadunbar1@gmail.com
March means longer days, warmer temperatures (hopefully!), and, for many in central Virginia, getting out the rake, trowel, and gardening gloves. Lovers of flowers, shrubs, and beauty anticipate the splendors of Garden Week, while those gearing up for soil and sun are looking forward to eating the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor. If you want to grow your own food, this area has a wealth of resources.
One of the most comprehensive is the Virginia Cooperative Extension. This state agency, affiliated with the commonwealth’s two landgrant universities (Virginia Tech and Virginia State University), is like Google with actual people who, if they don’t have the answer to your question, will find it for you.
Nick Saylor, VCE’s master gardener coordinator for our area, says that, starting during the pandemic, “we’ve seen a growing interest in gardening in general and in producing your
own food.” VCE’s extensive resources cover home gardening and horticulture assistance; consumer education programs, including a speaker’s bureau, free classes, and the 4-H program for youth; and the Master Food Volunteers program that helps local food banks and community gardens.
Piedmont Master Gardeners, the local chapter of Virginia Master Gardeners, provides volunteer staffing for a range of community programs, including VCE’s Horticulture Help Desk. While most of the help desk staff have broad knowledge, many also have additional specialized expertise in plants, insects, and diseases. Master Gardener Linda Blum, a soil scientist and retired UVA environmental sciences professor, is the help desk’s vegetable specialist. “I joined 4-H as a kid,” she says, “and have been vegetable gardening since the 1960s.” Blum claims to “know nothing” about ornamental plants or lawns, but loves doing research on any
horticultural question and providing accurate, scientific answers for help desk queries.
Blum says growing plants successfully “starts with building and conserving your soil.” For $10, VCE offers soil testing to check the nutrient levels and pH of your dirt. If you don’t have access to a yard (or your homeowners’ association says no gardening), there’s always container gardening on your patio or balcony—as long as you have sun, you can have fresh tomatoes, peppers, herbs, greens, and even eggplants.
Blum’s advice for beginners: “Many people start too big, and they become overwhelmed and give up.” Another common error is not adapting what you learned gardening somewhere else to this area’s much earlier and longer growing season. Also, in 2023 the USDA revised our hardiness zone designation from 7a to 7b as average temperatures have increased, which can affect what to plant and when. For those who don’t have a sunny backyard
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
or balcony, the next best option is community gardening. Albemarle County maintains a growing space at Western Park in Crozet, with plot rentals handled by the Old Trail Community Garden club. The City of Charlottesville has 120 plots available in community gardens at Meadowbrook Fairgrounds, Azalea Park, Michie Drive, and Rives Park, and there are proposals to create another garden at Booker T. Washington Park.
Justin McKenzie with Charlottesville Parks & Recreation says plots are currently given out via a lottery system, with city residents getting preference and paying slightly less annual rent. “About 40 percent of the gardeners have been gardening their plots for six years or longer,” he notes. “It appears to be people who are growing food for their own consumption—commercial use is prohibited—or just because they love growing things.”
There are a few other ad hoc garden spaces around Charlottesville, such as Common Fields and Solitary Gardens behind Visible Records and the PVCC Community Garden. But growing space is at a premium in a town where real estate pressures are soaring.
The largest non-city community garden is part of New Roots, a multi-faceted food and agriculture program run by the local office of the International Rescue Committee. The New Roots community garden offers plots to more than 100 gardeners—mostly IRC clients, but also some area residents—on five properties in the area. “We are limited by the amount of urban agricultural space available in Charlottesville,” says Cecilia Lapp Stoltzfus, IRC’s manager of food and agriculture programs. “Some landowners in the county have offered us space, but it’s hard to make a match, since most of our clients live in the city and transportation is [a challenge].”
This makes vegetable gardening sound like a lot of work. So why do people want to grow their own food?
Many vegetable gardeners grew up in a vegetable garden. “One of my first memories is planting tomatoes with my dad,” Blum recalls. “Growing
As both soil scientist and master gardener, Linda Blum says growing plants successfully “starts with building and conserving your soil.”
In addition to being fresher, more nutritious, more sustainable, and more environmentally sound, homegrown food is also a way for households to make the most of their food budget in a time when economic pressures continue to rise. But the obstacles to gardening for food are substantial: the city, county, and IRC community gardens all have waiting lists, and there’s the up-front costs of transportation, tools, seeds, and plants. Also, tending a garden is a significant time commitment for people who may be working two jobs, lack child care, or have health or mobility issues.
up, we didn’t have a lot—we gardened to have quality food.” And now? “I like growing vegetables because I like to eat,” she says. “And I like watching plants grow. Even weeding, it’s meditative.”
Local food educator and gardener Becky Calvert has similar memories: “My dad always had radishes growing. He’d say, ‘You can’t get good ones at the store.’ My mom had a vegetable garden, and each of us kids got our own little plot. In college, I missed digging in the dirt.” From her experience running cooking and gardening programs for young people, Calvert says, “Get your kids involved—they love messing around in the garden and they are excited to eat something they grew themselves.”
Cecilia Lapp Stoltzfus, IRC’s manager of food and agriculture programs, says that, beyond the fresh food it provides, “New Roots fosters a multicultural community across many ethnicities and languages, creating a stronger and more resilient local community.”
In the meantime, food insecurity is a growing problem in our area. In October 2024, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank logged almost 190,000 “guest visits”—“a new record,” notes Les Sinclair, BRAFB’s communications and public relations manager. Demand for hunger relief used to rise and fall with the unemployment rate, but that’s changed, mostly due to the end of pandemic-era benefits, continuing high food prices, and other economic pressures, he says. “In our area, unemployment is near record lows, while the food bank is serving record numbers of people and distributing record amounts of food.”
Organizations, nonprofits, and volunteers throughout the area have stepped up to try to address this growing need by growing food. Aleen Carey, co-executive director of food equity nonprofit Cultivate Charlottesville, notes that “Charlottesville’s level of food insecurity is higher than the state’s average, and was even before COVID.” The five community gardens in Charlottesville’s public housing neighborhoods, started by the Urban Agricultural Collective (an initiative that has been incorporated into Cultivate), are no longer being
The Piedmont Master Gardeners’ Share Your Harvest program invites growers to share their bounty, as do many food pantries in the area. Contact individual facilities to confirm what donations they can accept, and when.—CD
In Charlottesville
Church of Our Savior 973-6512
1165 E. Rio Rd.
Church of the Incarnation 973-4381
1465 Incarnation Dr.
Holy Comforter Church 295-7185
215 Third St. NE (donation location)
Loaves & Fishes 996-7868
2050 Lambs Rd.
New Beginnings Christian Community 996-9137
1130 E. Market St.
Thomas Jefferson Branch of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank 296-3663 1207 Harris St.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation 293-8179 717 Rugby Rd.
In Albemarle County
BF Yancey Community Food Pantry 286-2558
7625 Porters Rd., Esmont
Buck Mountain Episcopal Church 973-2054 4133 Earlysville Rd., Earlysville
Crozet United Methodist Church— Grace Grocery 823-4420
1156 Crozet Ave., Crozet
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Ivy 979-6354 851 Owensville Rd., Ivy
United Methodist Church— Bread of Life Ministry 409-6175 at Scottsville Community Center, 300 Page St.
maintained as these neighborhoods undergo resident-led redevelopment.
In the meantime, Cultivate/UAC operate three community gardens, the largest on a threeacre site at CATEC. Produce grown there by staff and more than 100 volunteers is distributed at UAC markets days around the city, and through BRAFB and other food pantries around town. (Cultivate is also a key participant in the City Schoolyard Garden youth education program and the Food Justice Network, a collaboration of organizations addressing food access, food insecurity, and food equity.)
Another asset is Virginia Fresh Match, which enables recipients of SNAP benefits to use them—at double their face value—to purchase fresh produce, seeds, and food plants at participating farmers’ markets (in our area, that’s City Market, Market Central at IX Art Park, and the markets in Stanardsville, Waynesboro, and Orange). Since 2015, the Fresh Match program has increased access to fresh foods for thousands of families (VFM estimates that 10 percent of Virginia residents rely on SNAP benefits) while helping to support the state’s small farmers.
Other organizations around town have been able to harness the enthusiasm—and commitment to healthy eating, sustainability, and social justice—of the gardening community:
Piedmont Master Gardeners and other volunteers maintain a community garden at Yancey Park in Crozet, and most of its produce is donated to local senior citizens and the Yancey Food Pantry, but community members are welcome to come and take some of the harvest, even if they haven’t helped tend it.
The Bread & Roses program at Trinity Episcopal Church operates a volunteer community garden that supplies free produce to in-
dividuals and organizations, as well as to its own community kitchen.
Holly Hammond, co-owner of Whisper Hill Farm in Scottsville, sells most of its organic produce through farmers markets and CSAs (an agreement in which an individual pre-pays for a season of produce), and she’s starting a program called Feed My Neighbor, which lets people do-
Virginia Cooperative Extension ext.vt.edu
Edible gardening section A comprehensive resource for anyone looking to start or improve their skills at growing food, from monthly graphic guides on what and when to plant, to the Get Gardening video series. All of VCE’s informational publications are also accessible online.
Horticulture Help Desk An excellent resource for personalized advice on growing your own food, understanding a soil analysis report, or detecting and treating garden/plant diseases. (460 Stagecoach Rd., 872-4583, albemarlevcehelpdesk@gmail.com)
Other VCE Programs
Soil testing and fertilization VCE offers soil testing services to help you understand the nutrient levels and pH of your soil in order to optimize your gardening.
Plant disease clinics If you’re dealing with plant pests or diseases, VCE provides diagnostic services and advice on how to manage them.
Home food preservation Learn from a family consumer science agent or a certified master food volunteer how to safely preserve your garden harvest through canning, freezing, and drying.
Youth gardening programs For kids and teens interested in gardening, VCE’s 4-H program offers gardeningrelated activities and educational opportunities.
Virginia Master Gardeners The Virginia Master Gardeners program is designed to provide individuals with in-depth knowledge of horticulture and gardening. A VCE-certified master gardener is a volunteer who has been trained to assist in educating the public on gardening, sustainable horticulture practices, and environmental stewardship.
Piedmont Master Gardeners
piedmontmastergardeners.com
The PMG maintains a website full of advice and resources to help you garden/grow your own food, as well as information on volunteer opportunities.
nate money toward buying CSA shares for lowincome households.
Sometimes it’s as simple as home gardeners sharing their bounty. Hanna Strauss, BRAFB partner engagement manager, says the food bank relies on fresh food donated by local farmers and gardeners, as well as packaged food from area grocery stores and food distributors. “We tell people, if you’re going to grow food, plant another row for us,” she says. Many other pantries will accept gardeners’ surplus.
Taste, nutrition, cost savings, sustainability … there are still more reasons to grow your own food. Stoltzfus says her organization surveys its gardeners, and has found some surprising results. The majority of respondents say they garden to have access to healthier foods (60 percent) and to supplement what they buy or be able to have foods from their cultural/ethnic background (55 percent). Fully 95 percent say the New Roots program has improved the quality of their diet (food that is organic/better-tasting/fresher/more familiar). And yes, they report saving on average $56 dollars a week on groceries.
Beyond these benefits, more than 90 percent of the gardeners report health improvements from working in the garden; 78 percent say they feel happier and less stressed; and 76 percent report being more active and getting more exercise.
Especially important for these new Americans— many of whom have endured tremendous hardship, suffering, and dislocation to arrive in Charlottesville for a new life—is the “impact on the social fabric” for its participants, says Lapp Stoltzfus. “New Roots fosters a multicultural community across many ethnicities and languages, creating a stronger and more resilient local community,” she notes in an email. “100 percent of garden members surveyed report a willingness to offer support to other members of the garden.”
Free gardening newsletter The Garden Shed is printed monthly, and is also available online.
Speakers bureau Your community group can request a master gardener to address topics about soil preparation, growing ornamentals/flowers/foods, insects, plant diseases, and more.
Master gardener annual spring plant sale A source for low-cost and often discounted stock. Come early! This year the sale is on May 3, 10am to 2pm at Albemarle Square Shopping Center.
Gardening workshops Choose from topics like vegetable gardening, composting, square-foot gardening, and sustainable gardening practices. Many of these are available to the public in Albemarle County and Charlottesville, at no cost through the Garden Basics project. Registration is now open for a series of classes called Foodscaping—The Edible Landscape, run in partnership with Bread & Roses food ministry. On March 30, the group will host Prepping and Planning Your Vegetable Garden, from 1-3pm at James Monroe’s Highland. Register on the PMG website.—CD
PERFORMING
Enigma Variations by
Edward Elgar
Abdelazer Overture by Henry
Purcell
DIRECTED
BY
PHILIP CLARK
VILLAGE SCHOOL AND ARIANA WILLIAMS COLLEGE CONSULTING PRESENT
5 STEPS TO HELP YOUR STUDENT GET GRITTIER AND BUILD RESILIENCE (BEFORE COLLEGE)
Many students never acquire the life skills needed to overcome adversity. They go to high school and graduate without the grit, resilience, and life skills needed to navigate the challenges ahead. New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen steps in and gives parents a framework to guide and support their children through all stages of life.
THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
MARCH 17 2025 • 7:30 PM
TEEN VOLUNTEER FAIR 6:30 - 7:20
FRIDAY 3/7
The good times roll at Boogie on the Bayou, the 10th-anniversary celebration of The Front Porch. The evening is packed with announcements of new programs, fundraising activities, food, and drink, while Jelly Street Jazz and Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience bring out the boogie. Try your luck in the steamboat-style casino room, silent auction, or raffle to benefit the nonprofit music school that works to make lessons inclusive, affordable, and accessible to all. Ages 21+. $150, 6pm. Fry’s Spring Beach Club, 2512 Jefferson Park Ave. frontporchcville.org
WEDNESDAY 3/5
Saturday,
More than 30 years have passed since three friends came together at the University of Buffalo to form the band moe.—and the party hasn’t stopped. Synergy of stellar showmanship and musical malleability coalesce into a wonderfully weird blend of synth funk, free jazz, country, classic rock, prog, new wave, calypso, pop, and mo’. Expect unrestrained improv as the band engages new fans and moe.rons alike. $39.50–45, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
BARBER – Adagio for Strings
– & metaphors with A.D. Carson, rapper, and Patrick Dailey, countertenor (Content Warning: Lyrics include strong language that may not be suitable for all
MOZART – Requiem
Clara Rottsolk, soprano, Patrick Dailey, countertenor
Gene Stenger, tenor, Andrew Garland, baritone UVA University Singers, Michael Slon, Director
Wednesday 3/5
Berto Sales and Matt Wyatt. Latin guitar night. Brazilian and Latin treasures to make you smile from the inside out. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Mike Rosensky Trio. Live jazz. Free, 8:30pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com
moe.. Genre-defying jammers with mesmerizing musical synergy, unfettered showmanship, and smart, resonant songcraft. $39–45, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
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 etc.
Bent Theatre Improv. A hilarious evening of improv comedy where you make the show by suggesting scenes for the players to act out. Free, 7pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St. benttheatre.weebly.com
Scrappy Crafty Hour. 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
Berto Sales and Vincent Zorn. Wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Dear Simone, C. Burrows, Another Mother. Folk, Americana, and singer-songwriter tunes from three local acts. Free, 7pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
John D’earth & Friends. Live jazz with a rotating cast of local and national musicians. Free, 10pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com
Tim Reynolds and TR3. Guitar virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist harnesses the pure emotion of simply being present and in-the-moment. With Joe Lawlor and Kristen Rae Bowden. $28–33, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com 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
Music Bingo. Fun for the whole family with gift card prizes for the winners. Free, 6pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.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
Boogie on the Bayou. Celebrate The Front Porch’s 10-year anniversary with dinner, drinks, entertainment, and two-time Grammy winners Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience. $150, 6pm. Fry’s Spring Beach Club, 2512 Jefferson Park Ave. frontporchcville.org
Charlottesville Opera Duets Concert Series. Real life operatic couples and partners share their favorite duets and solos in a new concert series. Featuring Keith Phares, baritone, and Katherine Pracht Phares, mezzo. $10–75, 7pm. First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park St. charlottesvilleopera.org Chickenhead Blues Band. Charlottesville’s premier boogie-woogie, beat, rhythm and blues dance band. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Far Away. This dynamic duo returns to the Hills for a great night of wine and music. Free, 5:30pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills.com
Jason Burke Band. Music informed by the songs of 1960s and 1970s American and British rock ‘n’ roll. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Jeremy Short. Appalachian space-funk artist brings their Let It Shine tour to town. $15, 8pm. Victory Hall Theater, 401 Valley St., Scottsville. scottsville center.org
Josh Mayo. Best of the best original rock and classic covers sure to get you moving. Free, 10pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Tophouse. Fast-paced, high-energy foot stompers whose ballads will make you cry. It’s kind of like a rock band married old-fashioned bluegrass and had a little baby. With The Wildwoods. $25–30, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
dance
Boot Scoot Square Dance Party. A beginnerfriendly square dance. Big Silo plays driving old-time favorites and teaches you how to move to the music. No experience necessary. Beginners and all ages welcome. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Joyride: A Kesha-themed Drag and Dance Party. Featuring your favorite pop hits from the 2010s. Come dressed to impress for the Kesha costume contest. Hosted by Sweet Pickles with drag performances by Katja Attenshun and Climaxx. Ages 16+. $18–20, 9pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com words
Friday Night Writes. An open mic for emerging musicians and writers performing their music, poetry, and short stories. We respectfully ask that writers read only unpublished work. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com
etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, March 6. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Scrappy Crafty Hour. See listing for Wednesday, March 5. Free, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival. An exhilarating cinematic journey packed with the world’s most heart-pounding action sports and awe-inspiring mountain storytelling. $25, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started by drinking beers and flexing your knowledge. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, March 6. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Acoustic Aubrey. Covers of classic R&B, jazz, acoustic rock, and more. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Berto Sales. Brazilian and Latin guitar to warm your spirit and satisfy your soul. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com
Crewe d’Bayou’s Mardi Gras Celebration. N’awlins funk and bluesy rhythms from Matty Metcalfe, Aric Van Brocklin, Michael Clem, and Jeff Louderback. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
26
After a fire closed Silk Thai in the summer of 2022, the beloved Charlottesville restaurant is finally welcoming diners back. The road to reopening was long, but owner Mongkhol Chinsetthagit, known as TK Chin, never lost sight of his vision. The fire, caused by a gas leak in the basement of the old building on Fontaine Avenue Extended (home to Thai 99 for nearly 30 years before Silk Thai took over), and damaged both floors of the restaurant, forcing Chin to close for extensive repairs. What should have been a straightforward renovation turned into a two-year ordeal, largely due to delays. His experience with the fire left him with one piece of advice for other restaurant owners, especially those in older buildings: “Do yearly inspections to prevent something like this from happening to you.” Throughout the closure, loyal customers kept the spirit of Silk Thai alive. Chin regularly posted renovation updates on Facebook, prompting comments about the reopening to flood in. When the restaurant welcomed diners back in December 2024, Charlottesville was ready.
“Thrilled to get takeout last night again from our favorite neighborhood spot!” Max Trone wrote on Facebook. Added Reddit user Boxybrown424: “I want to link hands and sing outside of it so bad. Long time coming!”
For Chin, Silk Thai is more than a business—it’s the culmination of a life shaped by food. He grew up in Thailand, surrounded by the scent of his mom’s home cooking and the palm sugar business his grandfather started after emigrating from China. “My mom can cook everything—all the Thai food, Chinese food,” Chin says. “But my favorite food she cooked would be pad kra pao with chili basil, drunken noodles, and also pad Thai.” As the oldest son, Chin was expected to take over the family palm sugar operation. Instead, he pursued a master’s degree in information systems in the United States, hoping to modernize the family business. But after a short stint at a data company, he realized entrepreneurship—like his grandfather’s path—was a better fit. He left palm sugar to his younger brother and shifted his focus to restaurants.
In 2008, Chin opened the first Silk Thai in Manassas, Virginia. The Charlottesville location is now part of a growing lineup, including Mashumen, his ramen and sushi spot next door. “I opened [Mashumen] because of my son and my wife,” Chin says. “My son loves ramen, and my wife loves Japanese food. We have a best friend who’s Japanese and a great cook, so we joined up with her on the recipes.” Chin also operates Mum Mum near George Mason University, another Silk Thai in Hagerstown, and his
SARAH GOLIBART GORMAN
newest venture in Martinsburg, West Virginia. His wife, Fern Chong, is an expert in northern Thai cuisine and Chin attributes the Silk Restaurant Group’s success to her. “She keeps improving the recipes and the restaurant all the time until it’s as close to perfect as possible,” he says.
While southern Thai food tends to be spicier and richer with coconut milk, northern Thai cuisine is known for its milder heat, earthy flavors, and herbal broths. Try Silk’s khao soi gai, a northern-style dish featuring chicken in a rich, curry-spiced coconut broth with egg noodles, red onion, pickled mustard greens, and fresh cilantro. The newly renovated Silk Thai features a sleek, modern interior with reclaimed barn wood accents and colorful Thai art. The menu remains true to its roots, with favorites like drunken noodles and pad Thai—Chin’s childhood go-tos—alongside a few new additions. Silk Thai wants to be known for its big portions, affordable prices, and bold flavors. “I want to make sure that [students] are full when they come to my restaurant,” says Chin. He refuses to water down the spice or flavor to fit American expectations. “Most of the time, when you open a Thai restaurant in this country, you Americanize it because you feel like people can’t handle the taste,” Chin shares. “But Charlottesville is familiar with Asian cultural food, so I make it taste stronger. I make it as close to our home as possible.” That said, don’t worry if you’re spice sensitive—the kitchen is happy to adjust the heat to your liking.
And Chin isn’t done dreaming. He envisions more restaurants, including a tapas-style Asian fusion concept and quick grab-and-go options, particularly for students.
FRIDAY 3/7 THROUGH SUNDAY 3/30
As if high school isn’t awkward enough, imagine having four eccentric Broadway stars with waning careers take on your private life as their personal crusade. In a story with many meta plot points, The Prom tackles small-town homophobia, self-obsessed stage performers, media narratives, and the overarching themes of love and acceptance. Based on the real-life story of a Mississippi teen who was barred from their senior prom for planning to bring a same-sex date, this fictionalized account employs humor, heart, and classic musicalcomedy moments to tell a deeply resonant story. $12–20, times vary. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
Donna the Buffalo. Since 1989, these roots rockers have played thousands of shows and countless festivals. Free, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Rock ‘n’ Roll Tribute Night. Fist-pumping rock ‘n’ roll to the max. Featuring For Those About To Rock: An AC/DC Tribute and Ounce Of Pain: Guns N’ Roses Tribute. $20–25, 7pm. Pro Re Nata Brewpub & Music Hall, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpk., Crozet. prnbrewery.com
Glass House Brewery Grand Opening and Mardi Gras Party. Celebrating Mardi Gras and the addition of the Glass House Brewery. Music from Midnight Buzz, Crewe d’Bayou, and Michael Clem. Free, noon. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Josh Davidson. A Shenandoah Valley local plays a mix of country, folk rock, Americana, and more. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com
Metal Mayhem. Get in the pit for a night of metal with Septic Vomit, Slaat, Lacking, 2toaroom, and the Get Off. $10, 8pm. Ace Biscuit & Barbecue, 600 Concord Ave.
Perennial Collection. Female-led vocal covers of jazz, soul, R&B, and hip-hop. Dynamic vocal harmonies and jazz infused arrangements. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Porch Dogs. Rock, pop, oldies, and country. You name it, they play it. Come bark with the Dogs. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
The Gladstones. Straight-up old-school rock ‘n’ roll. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
The Pollocks. Magic music every month. This is an indoor pub-style show with first-come seating, general admission standing, and plenty of room for dancing. $15, 7pm. Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, originals, and more. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarle ciderworks.com
Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius. Husband and wife duo with a guitar, a mandolin, and their two voices bring an intimate and warm acoustic roots music repertoire that’s both original and traditional. $40–44, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Green Gathering Book Club. Discussing the ideas in Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than–Human World, by science journalist and animal lover Brandon Keim. Free, 10am. James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe Pkwy. highland.org
classes
Sculpted Paper Painting. Learn how to repurpose scrap paper into beautiful things with texture and color. Ages 12+. $30, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Turn Your Garbage to Gold. An outdoor workshop on composting. Free, 10am. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1118 Preston Ave. trinity episcopalcville.org
Upcycled Journal Making and Beginning Book Binding. Put together a journal using up-cycled items such as fabric, paper, cardboard, and string. Ages 12+. $45, 3pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, March 6. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Family Studio Day. A free studio day which invites families with kids of all ages to spend time creating art together in the gallery. Free, 10am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. second streetgallery.org
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival. See listing for Friday, March 7. $25, 7pm. 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, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com
The Slasher Nurse. Come watch a Virginiafilmed creepy movie about a killer nurse—it’s gonna be a scream. $15, 6pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthousestudio.org
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, March 6. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Alash Ensemble. Masters of Tuvan throat singing (xöömei), a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. Free, 5:30pm. Potter's Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
John Benjamin. Full-time singer-songwriter performs covers and originals. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com
La Tramontane with cellist Catherine Monnes. Music of the Mediterranean and Latin America with vocal-driven acoustic guitar and cello renditions of French, Spanish, and Portuguese songs. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Music Open Mic. Open to musicians of all ages. Two songs or 10 minutes per performer, whichever comes first. P.A. and microphone provided. Hosted by Theocles. Free, 5pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam. Musicians gather in a circle to jam and the audience sneaks a spot to sit or stand to watch from the perimeter. Show up with instruments if you’ve got them. Free, 2pm. Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd. batesvillemarket.com
Sunday Jazz Jam. Live jazz featuring local, regional, and national musicians improvising with friends and strangers. Free, 6pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com dance
Beginner-Intermediate Salsa Class. No partner needed. Proficiency with the basic, turning, and partner connection required. Discounts available for multiple classes. $10, 4pm. The Dance Connection, 109 Second St. SE.
Drop-in Salsa and Bachata Basics. New beginner bachata and salsa basics, connection and turns. Learn how to dance the basics and how to dance with a partner. No prior knowledge or partner needed. $8, 3pm. The Dance Connection, 109 Second St. SE.
Intermediate-Beginner Bachata Class. No partner required. Proficiency with the basic, turning, and partner connection required. Discounts available for multiple classes. $10, 5:30pm. The Dance Connection, 109 Second St. SE. classes
Calligraphy 101. Learn the basic techniques and foundational strokes needed to start writing beautiful letters by hand. Leave with calligraphy knowledge and all the supplies you need to start your calligraphy journey. $40, 3pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Crocheted Granny Squares. Learn how to mix colors and make crocheted granny squares. Basic crochet experience needed. Leave with a bamboo crochet hook and a granny square. Ages 12+. $25, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com
Crochet for Beginners. Learn the basics of crochet. Leave with a bamboo crochet hook and a small crocheted washcloth. Ages 12+. $25, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival. See listing for Friday, March 7. $25, 3pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Beyond The Book Karaoke. You can sing anything we can find on YouTube. Let’s get weird. Hosted by Lex and Jessie. Free, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesouthern cville.com
A Girl Can Dream (EP), Self Release
Alt-pop singer-songwriter Niiasii’s star began to rise in 2020 with “I Wanna Get Out,” from The Art of Changing Form, with more than 100,000 streams on Spotify. On her new EP, the Suffolk, Virginia, native drops four groovy, hum-worthy tunes, which she describes on Instagram as a “genre-bending alt-pop soundscape dedicated to the dreamers of the world.” The title track shows off Niiasii’s smooth vibrato and impressive vocal range through original lyrics and production. In the music video for “Forbidden Fruit,” the fairy-tale princess vibe of the EP’s cover comes to life in a visualization of forlorn feelings and unattainable love. Niiasii, 21, began releasing music when she was 16 years old, and performs regularly around Hampton Roads with her band,
The Poppas. As she embarks on a new tour across Virginia, A Girl Can Dream reflects the reality of her artistic progression. (Release date: 1/24) niiasii.com
Forever Is A Feeling, Geffen Records
Following on the heels of her combined success with 2021’s Home Video and an album and tour with the indie supergroup boygenius, Richmond-based sensation Lucy Dacus has made the jump from Matador to Geffen Records. At first blush, Forever Is A Feeling, her first solo album in four years, confirms that Dacus’ knack for capturing emotional complexities in a whimsical fashion has matured. The singles “Limerence,” “Ankles,” and “Best Guess” explore the growing pains of moving into adulthood and peering back at a childhood that’s not too far behind. On “Limerence,” Dacus begins with
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, March 6. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Heart of Virginia Artisans Vendor Fair. Join us for a delightful spring sip and shop. Free, 11am. Hazy Mountain Vineyard & Brewery, 240 Hazy Mountain Ln., Afton. hazy-mountain.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, March 6. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Makers and Givers: Pysanky Eggs. Learn the traditional Ukrainian art of pysanky using real eggs, dyes, fire, and beeswax to create a keepsake egg. Ages 15+. Pay what you can, suggested donation $39. 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Comedy Open Mic. 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. thesouthern cville.com
Scrappy Crafty Hour. See listing for Wednesday, March 5. Free, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.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
a playful illumination about hiding feelings behind the mask of upbeat hangouts as she shovels popcorn into her mouth while “thinking about breaking [someone’s] heart.”
Fellow boygenius members Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker have guest appearances on the new album, along with Hozier, Madison Cunningham, Blake Mills, Bartees Strange, Jake Finch, Collin Pastore, and Jay Som. It’ll be fun to see who joins in when Dacus hits the road for a national tour in April and May. (Release date: 3/28) lucydac.us
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
Ron Pope. Nashville-based Americana singersongwriter. $28–93, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.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
Pursuits of Knowledge. Connect with authors and hear how they engage the past in the present through genres of biography, political history, and young adult fiction. $10–30, 5:30pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org
classes
Guitar Jam. Learn improv techniques and jam with fellow guitarists. Free, 7pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org 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
The Run Club. Do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.
Another Side of Lowland Hum, Daniel Levi Goans Music
Lowland Hum has been a mainstay of Charlottesville’s music scene since the release of BrotherStranger in 2011. After touring for nearly a decade, husband-and-wife duo Lauren and Daniel Goans have settled into a regular writing and production routine to fuel their DIY ethos, releasing two albums in 2024. Their ninth album, Another Side of Lowland Hum, is
a “forward-looking retrospective” that includes heartfelt duets from the couple, and a few revisited tracks from previous releases. The lovesick ballad “Sandrine?” paints an intimate picture of what it means to fall deeply for another while fearing the entanglements of love. Daniel sings, “O Sandrine / Hold my hand firmly / Don’t ever abandon me.” “I Won’t Hurt You” answers his plea, thoughtfully linking the two songs in conversation. (Release date: 1/30) lowlandhum.com Ella Powell
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.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. In the micro gallery, “Hothouse Phoenix,” an installation of found stick sculpture by Kelly Lonergan. Through March 28. In the Great Halls of Vault Virginia, “Kinship,” a photo journalist’s documentary on the contrasts of urban culture and politics in the ’60s and ’70s. Through March.
Crozet Artisan Depot 5791 Three Notch’d Rd., Crozet. “Earth to Art,” functional ceramic pieces by Jessica Heavner. “Harvested Stories: A Photo Exhibition of Local Farms and Their Bounty,” images capturing the essence of small farms by photographer and storyteller Daniel James. Both shows run through March. Meet the artists event March 15, 11am–1pm.
C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery 118 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. “Second Chances Are Here,” upcycled works by Allan Young. Through March. First Fridays reception with the artist 5–7pm.
The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA 155 Rugby Rd. “Structures,” a selection of 20th- and 21stcentury works exploring the ways that art can speak to or question the formal, physical, environmental, social, and institutional structures of our world. “Celebration,” features works by five African American artists highlighting the ways these artists honor history, culture, and heritage through various media. “Joan Mitchell: Uncovering 100 Years,” Abstract Expressionist paintings. “Between Hand and Scroll: Torah Pointers from the Barr Collection,” a selection of more than 80 Torah pointers (yads) made of gold, silver, pearls, jewels and additional materials. “O’ Powa O’ Meng: The Art and Legacy of Jody Folwell,” contemporary pottery from Kha’p’o Owingeh (Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico). Through June 15. All shows run through July 20, 2025 unless otherwise noted.
The Gallery at Studio IX 969 Second St. SE. “In the Eye of the Bee-holder,” film photographs capturing moments from the artist’s everyday life by Orion Redwolf. Through March 30. First Fridays opening reception, 5–7pm, live music performance 7–8pm.
Hello Comics Downtown 211 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. “Heroes & Villains: A Comic Art Show,” featuring digital works and prints by Will Cypser. March 7–30. First Fridays opening reception with the artist, 5–6:30pm.
IX Art Park 522 Second St. SE. “The Looking Glass,” an immersive art space featuring a whimsical enchanted forest and kaleidoscopic cave. Ongoing. “Art Mix at IX,” a fun night of art, music, and drinks where you can spark new ideas, make awesome connections, and celebrate the local art scene with fellow cool cats. First Fridays, 6pm–midnight.
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA 400 Worrell Dr. “Milpa: Stop-motion animation by Spinifex artists,” animated films from the remote Western Australian town of Tjuntjuntjara. Through June 15.
Jefferson School African American Heritage Center 233 Fourth St. NW. In the Contemporary Gallery, “807,” photographs documenting the artist’s former family home in the small Appalachian town of Clifton Forge, by Kori Price. Through April 23. Permanent exhibition, “Pride Overcomes Prejudice,” exploring the history of peoples of African descent in Charlottesville. Ongoing.
Phaeton Gallery presents “Understory,” an engaging exhibition of expressive nature paintings by Krista Townsend (Charlottesville, Virginia) paired with vibrant, layered written messages by Niki Hare (Tewkesbury, England) that invite viewers to immerse themselves in the splendor of the forest. “Understory” brings together a group of paintings that explore and promote the profound connection between art and nature. These works offer a new way of seeing this unique ecosystem—the lush world beneath the canopy—where plants adapt to low light, bloom in brief windows of opportunity, and play a crucial role in the health of a forest. First Fridays opening reception with the artists, on March 7 from 5–8pm. Phaeton Gallery, 114 Old Preston Ave. phaetongallery.com
Les Yeux du Monde 841 Wolf Trap Rd. “Tracing Hope,” a two-person exhibition featuring new watercolor and gouache works on paper by Sanda Iliescu and new three-dimensional works paired with painting and mixedmedia works by Ana Rendich. Through March 23.
McGuffey Art Center 201 Second St. NW. In the Sarah B. Smith Gallery, “Can’t See the Forest,” water-based media works by Jane Skafte. In the First Floor North Gallery, “Lessons In Art Learned at an Exhibition,” interdisciplinary sculpture works by Mark Stephen Chapman. In the First Floor South Gallery, “What’s Left? What’s Right?,” politically charged quilts, collage and installation by Dawn Hanson. In the Second Floor Galleries, “Between Fantasy and Biology,” abstract compositions influenced by biological patterns as seen through a microscope by Jurgen Ziesmann. All shows run March 7–30. First Fridays reception including Associate Members pop-up shop and live music and dance by the Lua Project, 5:30–7:30pm.
New City Arts 114 Third St. NE. In the Welcome Gallery, “Sketches of Home: Personal Considerations of Cherished Space,” an installation-based exhibition of works on paper, embroidery, found objects, and performance on video by Somé Louis. March 7–26. First Fridays opening reception 5–7:30pm, with an artist talk at 6pm.
The PVCC Gallery V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. “TRAD: Portraits of Irish and Scottish Traditional Musicians,” largescale photographs of traditional musicians by Christopher Bickford. Through March 29. Ruffin Gallery UVA Grounds, Ruffin Hall, 179 Culbreth Rd. “New Level Heads,” interactive kinetic sculpture by Christopher Cozier. Through March 28.
Second Street Gallery 115 Second St. SE. In the Main Gallery, “Liminal,” figurative and abstract mixed media works by Cassie Guy. In the Dové Gallery, “Signs of Life,” paintings and drawings exploring grief and the cyclic nature of being by Kirsten Hemrich. Both shows run through March 21. Artists in Conversation with Cassie Guy and Cate West Zahl March 5, 5:30–6:30pm.
Visible Records 1740 Broadway St. “Through Their Lens: Gaza Untold Stories,” features Gaza-based photographers documenting the realities of life under one of the world’s most violent genocides. Through March 28.
A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock
The Medalists from the Virginia Governors Cup Competition were announced recently. A broad array of winners suggests the quality of Virginia wines keeps improving and expanding! For Fifty Third Winery, we were awarded 3 Gold medals, 2021 Rock Ridge, 2021 Romulus (both red blends) and our 2023 Albarino. Our 3 Silvers medalists were 2023 Chardonnay, 2021 Merlot and 2021 Norton. Stop by for a taste and see how good Virginia wines can be.
We invite you to visit our serene, meadowlike location in rural Louisa County. We pride ourselves on being genuine and approachable, eager to share our passion for wine without any scripted lines or memorized facts—just a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Over the coming months, we’ll host several special tasting events. For more details, please check our website at www.53rdwinery.com or call us at 540-894-1536. We look forward to welcoming you to the winery, and we truly appreciate your business and support.
Upcoming events:
March 8th - our popular Low Country Shrimp Boil Event, a full-course feast of shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes and cornbread that is the perfect pairing for our release of our delicious 2024 Chardonel.
Reserve your spot soon.
March 15th - Rose the Day Away and taste the latest vintages of our Gentle Press and Barrel Aged Roses. Sauce Catering will be on site with their mobile kitchen with a specially selected menu to go with the Rose wines.
March 21st - our Woman in Wine, Winemakers Dinner. The dinner will start off with a special meet and greet with our winemaker, Chelsey Blevins followed by a curated meal, paired with our wine, by Sauce Catering. Ticketed event.
March 28th - we will have our Chambourcin vertical tasting and food pairing event. Will include a discussion on this much maligned grape and its rising prominence in the wine world. Ticketed event
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 Veni, Vini, Vino!
With aromas of pear and white flower followed by brightness and minerality, this white wine blend exhibits structure and a firm acidity. Pairs well with light cheese, seafood, and nothing at all. This wine is a Double Gold Winner in the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and is available in our tasting room and online.
We are open 7 days a week throughout the month of January, with live music every weekend! Make sure to keep an eye on our website and social media pages for the most up to date listings of our upcoming artists.
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!
March 30th - We are excited to welcome back Master Chocolatier Ann Czaja, DipWSET, to DuCard for a unique Chocolate and Wine Program. This class has become a beloved tradition at DCV. Ann and DuCard owner, Scott Elliff, select each pairing and share the reasons why they work. Head to our website to reserve your spot.
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
Women’s History Month
This March, we’re proud to honor Women’s History Month at Eastwood Farm and Winery, a women-owned business with a passion for great wine and community. Join us for an exciting lineup of events. Just 5 miles from Downtown Charlottesville, enjoy award-winning wines like our Best In Class 2023 Petit Manseng and Double Gold 2022 Petit Verdot, on tap beers and ciders, and delicious lunch and dinner menus all week, including our new warm crab dip, toasty flatbreads, chocolate fondue, and much more! Open seven days a week.
Upcoming at the Winery:
Low-Country Shrimp Boil | Fridays In March
Get ready for a delicious, flavor-packed Shrimp Boil Feast every Friday night in March! 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 hot and ready to enjoy in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm on the stage in our tasting room.
Rosé Blending Workshop | Wednesday, March 5
Join us for a hands-on workshop where you get to be the winemaker! You’ll sit down to a table with beakers, a flask, a large vessel and our winemaking team will walk you through the steps of making a great blend. Plus, there is some friendly competition involved and one of the team’s blends will be deemed the winner! Ticketed Event - Reserve Your Spot On Our Website
Paint & Sip | Wednesday, March 12
Grab a glass of wine (or your favorite drink!) and let your creativity flow in our relaxed and fun Paint & Sip classes. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a first-time painter, the talented instructors of Blue Ridge Brushes will walk you through the painting process as you create your own masterpiece. Ticketed Event - Reserve Your Spot On Our Website
Tasting Bar Takeover with Jake Busching | Friday, March 14
We are thrilled to welcome Eastwood’s Head Winemaker, Jake Busching, for a tasting bar takeover. Jake will be pouring wines from the Jake Busching Wines collection and free guided tastings will be happening on a rolling basis. Don’t miss an opportunity to try these great wines!
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend | Friday, March 14 - Monday, March 17
Thursday, March 13: Live Music: Eli Cook 5-8PM
Friday, March 14: Live Music by John Kelly 5-8PM & Friday Night Shrimp Boil 4-7:30PM, Free Tasting Takeover with Jake Busching 4-7PM
Saturday, March 15: Live Music All Day! Meisha Herron from 12:30-3:30PM and Mike Burris Trio from 5-8PM
Sunday, March 16: Music Bingo 2-4PM with a St. Patrick’s Day theme!
Monday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day | Open 12-5PM
Women Wine Trail Weekend | Friday, March 21 - Sunday, March 23
Friday, March 21: Women Winemaker Pop-Up with Free Tastings 5-8PM, Live Music by Lina SaRoza 5-8PM & Friday Night Shrimp Boil 4-7:30PM
Saturday, March 22: Live Music All Day! Jim O’Ferrell from 12:30-3:30PM and Stillhouse Sound from 5-8PM
Sunday, March 23: Women’s Day Maker’s Market 12-5PM, Live Music by Heidi Riddell 1-4PM, Meet The Eastwood Women In Wine Tasting Event with Free Tastings 12-5PM
Paint & Sip | Sunday, March 30
Grab a glass of wine (or your favorite drink!) and let your creativity flow in our relaxed and fun Paint & Sip classes. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a first-time painter, the talented instructors of Blue Ridge Brushes will walk you through the painting process as you create your own masterpiece. Ticketed Event - Reserve Your Spot On Our Website
MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!
Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights 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 5-8PM or Music Bingo 6-8PM
Thursday “Thank You” Community Day at Eastwood—$5 Taps (Beer & Cider)
Every Friday: Live Music 5-8PM Low-Country Shrimp Boil 5-8PM
Every Saturday: Live Music 12:303:30PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8PM
Every Sunday: Music Bingo, Paint & Sip, Maker’s Market or Live Music (See the Winery 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: Sunday-Wednesday (12-5 PM); Thursday-Saturday (12-8 PM)
We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Andrew Partridge that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Delight in lounging on our enclosed & heated veranda with a glass of our gold medal 2022 Meritage Reserve. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal toasty flatbread or our scrumptious Cast Iron Baked Brie. 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
Come Sip, Play, and Unwind at Keswick Vineyards!
Join us at Keswick Vineyards for an unforgettable experience! Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, we’ve got something for everyone.
Wine by the Glass, Bottle & Flight –
Explore our award-winning wines with the option to enjoy a glass, bottle, or a tasting flight. Perfect for discovering your new favorite!
Guided Tastings – Available 7 days a week, our knowledgeable staff will walk you through a tasting experience like no other.
Mini Golf & Dog Park – Bring the whole family (including furry friends!) and enjoy our scenic mini golf course and dog park.
Wine Slushies, Local Beer & Cider –Cool down with refreshing wine slushies or sip on local beer and cider.
Live Music – Every Saturday from 12-4 PM, enjoy live tunes while sipping your favorite Keswick wine. It’s the perfect way to spend your weekend!
Wine Club Exclusive: Consensus Wine Blending Party – Wine Club members, join us for a fun and exclusive Consensus Wine Blending Party this March!
Reserve your spot for one of three dates at keswickvineyards.com. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to create your own blend! Not a member join online or in the tasting room in person!
We can’t wait to share the beauty of Keswick Vineyards with you! Cheers to great wine, good company, and a whole lot of fun!
Wednesdays - Wine Down Wednesdays 5:30-8:30pm
Weekends - Live Music from 12-4 pm (check out our website for the schedule!)
March 15th - Consensus Wine Blending Party – Wine Club Exclusive 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
Tres Bien
2025 Governor’s Cup Gold
Our Tres Bien is delightfully sweet and crafted from late season Petit Manseng grapes, with a residual sugar content of 11%. Pouring a golden amber hue and shimmering with hints of honey and sunshine. The nose is vibrant and aromatic, offering intense aromas of ripe tangerine zest, apricot, honeyed citrus and tropical fruits. Rich and luscious with a velvety texture that coats the palate. Flavors of honeyed apricot, candied orange peel, and ripe peach dominate layered with notes of toasted almonds and exotic spices. The wine’s natural sweetness is beautifully balanced by a refreshing acidity, which ensures a clean but lingering 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 Cabernet Sauvignon 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
2019 Novum
This white port-style wine, made from Vidal Blanc (85%) and Viognier (15%), was aged for 58 months in cognac barrels. It is oxidized by design as the barrels were not topped off. Anticipate aromas of hazelnut, orange, caramel, and apricot. Aromatic with a dry alcoholic finish of candied fruit (raisins and candied citrus peel) and hazelnut. Enjoy on its own or add tonic and a slice of lemon for a delicious alternative to a gin and tonic.
March Hours: Friday 12pm to Sunset; Saturday 12pm to 6pm; Sunday 12pm to 5pm; Monday and Thursday by reservation only.
Until April 30th - Exhibition of artwork by Stephanie Mendlow.
March 7th - Book World Meets Wine World at 6 pm: Author Caroline Topperman will present her book Your Roots Cast a Shadow. A benefit for the Literacy Council of Madison.
March 21st - Sip & Learn: Jill Trischman-Marks’ presentation, Botanical Garden of the Piedmont (BGP): Building A 21st Century Public Garden for Now and the Future, will start at 6:00pm. Come and mingle at 5:30pm!
March 28th - Book Club @ The Vineyard starting at 6pm: This is Happiness by Niall Williams.
April 4th - Book World Meets Wine World at 6 pm: Author Elizabeth Massie will present her book Night Benedictions. A benefit for the Literacy Council of Madison County.
May 4th - En Plein Air: Artist Day at Revalation. Artists are invited to create art in the vineyard from dawn to dusk and exhibit their work from 5pm to 7pm. Artist tickets available on our website.
2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com
1. Aromatic resin 7. Pose the question 10. Letters before gees 14. “Like sands through the hourglass, so ___ days of our lives ...” 15. “Got it!” 16. Spread on
52. Tiger noise, to the under-2 set
53. It may be tapped
54. Palindromic 1976 greatest hits album with the track “Ma-Ma-Ma Belle”
55. Jai ___ ( fast game)
56. Noteworthy stretch
57. Having an outer layer, like fruit
58. Tailless domestic cat
59. Shor test Morse code unit
60. Like some beer or bread
23. German ar ticle
24. Looking with no subtlety
25. 157.5 deg. from N
26. Luau garland
27. Take care of
30. ___ Raffer ty, “Baker Street” singer
32. Accept, like a coupon
33. Mixed drink with gin, vermouth, cheese, vegetables, and pastry crust?
36. Speechify
37. Groan-inducing
38. Malbec, for one
39. “Celebrity Jeopardy!” winner Barinholtz
40. Swab the deck
43. Hang on the line
47. “Brave New World” happiness drug
48. Scottish player who’s a hit at all festivities?
1. Low end of the choir
2. Belgian beer Stella ___
3. Grayson who was the title character in the Apple TV+ thriller “Servant”
4. “Funny Girl” composer Jule
5. Nautical hello
6. Collection of animals
7. Restaurant chain with root beer floats
8. Jolt
9. Healthy cereal brand
10. Reason for a siren
11. Something proven
12. ___ Festival 2 (recently announced sequel to a 2017 disaster)
13. Like some gummy candies
21. Irish actor Kristian of “Our Flag Means Death”
22. “Training Day” director Fuqua
By Rob Brezsny
(March 21-April 19): What can you do to show how much you care about everyone and everything that deserves your love? Now is a fantastic time to unleash a flood of gratitude and appreciation that takes very practical forms. Don’t just beam warm and fuzzy feelings toward your favorite people and animals, in other words. Offer tangible blessings that will actually enhance their lives. Find your own personally meaningful ways to nourish all that nourishes you.
(April 20-May 20): Ancient Egyptians loved the color blue. The mineral azurite and the semiprecious stones turquoise and lapis lazuli satisfied their fascination to some degree, but were rare and difficult to work with. So the Egyptians decided to fabricate their own pigment. After extensive experimentation, using copper, silica, and lime, they succeeded. The hue they made is known as Egyptian blue. I heartily endorse a comparable process for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Identify the experience, substance, or feeling you really, really want more of, and then resolve to get as much of it as you really, really want.
(May 21-June 20): Dandelions germinate quickly and grow fast. Because of their deep taproots, they are hardy. Once they establish their presence in a place, they persist. Dandelions are adaptable, too, able to grow anywhere their seeds land, even from cracks in concrete. Their efficient dispersal is legendary. They produce large quantities of lightweight seeds that are easily carried by the wind. Bees love dandelions in the spring when there are few other flowers yet to provide them with nectar. I propose we make the dandelion your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Gemini. Be like them!
(June 21-July 22): About 36,000 years ago, humans created remarkable drawings and paintings in the cave of Altamira, located in what we now call Spain. When an early discoverer of the art published his findings in 1880, he was met with derision. Experts accused him of forgery, saying such beautiful and technically proficient works could not have been made by ancient people, who just weren’t that smart. Eventually, though, the art was proved to be genuine. I propose we meditate on this as a metaphor for your life. It’s possible that your abilities may be underestimated, even by you. Hidden potentials and unexpressed capacities may be close to ripening, but they will need your full confidence and boldness. Don’t let skepticism, either from your inner critic or others, hold you back.
(Feb. 19-March 20): I’m not exactly sure where you are going, Pisces, but I’m certain you are headed in the right direction. Your instincts for self-love are at a peak. Your ability to see your best possible future is lucid and strong. Your commitment to gracefully serving all that gracefully serves you is passionate and rigorous. I will congratulate you in advance for locating the exact, robust resources you need, not mediocre resources that are only half-interesting.
(July 23-Aug. 22): In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager probes to study our solar system’s outer planets. Their original mission was designed to last a few years. But in 2025, they still continue to send back useful information from the great beyond, far past Uranus and Neptune, and into interstellar space. I suspect that now is also a good time for you Leos to seek valuable information from adventures you began years ago. Even if those past experiences have not yielded relevant revelations recently, they may soon do so. Be alert for ways to harvest new riches from old memories.
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): About 3,775 years ago, a Babylonian man named Nanni wrote a crabby letter to Ea-nasir, a merchant who had sold him substandard copper ingots. Nanni was also upset that his servant was treated rudely. It is the oldest customer complaint in history. With this as our touchstone, I remind you that maintaining high standards is always crucial for your long-term success. Others may be tempted to cut corners, but your natural integrity is one of your superpowers. Please redouble your commitment to providing highest value, Virgo. And ask for it from others, too.
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Blogger Yukiko Kisaki writes about the Japanese concept of ma. She says it’s “the emptiness full of possibilities, like a promise yet to be fulfilled. It’s the purposeful pauses in a speech that make words stand out; the quiet time we all need to make our busy lives meaningful; the silence between the notes that make the mu-
sic.” According to my analysis, Libra, you will be wise to make ma a central theme in the coming weeks. I invite you to research the power of pauses. Rather than filling up every gap, allow space for pregnant blankness. Trust that in being open to vacancy, you will make room for unexpected riches.
(Oct. 23-Nov.21): The literal meaning of the Japanese word yohen is “kiln mutation.” It refers to a type of glaze that undergoes unpredictable variations in color when baked in a kiln. The finished pottery that emerges displays patterns and hues that are blends of the artist’s intention and accidental effects created by the heat. I would love to see you carry out metaphorical versions of yohen in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Suggested meditations: 1. Collaborate to create beauty with energies that aren’t entirely manageable. 2. Undertake projects that require both careful preparation and a willingness to adapt to shifting conditions. 3. Engage with opportunities that will have the best outcomes if you relinquish some control.
(Nov. 22-Dec.21): A big party is underway in your astrological House of Self-Understanding and Self-Definition. The near future will be a favorable time to discover yourself in greater depth and bring your identity into clearer focus. I see this mostly as a task for you to carry out in intimate conversation with yourself. It’s also fine to solicit the feedback of allies who have insight into your nature, but I urge you to rely heavily on your private investigations. How can you deepen your knowledge of the reasons you are here on Earth? Can you learn more about your dormant potentials? Who are you, exactly?
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila was selected by his country to compete in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But the honor was offered shortly before the games began, and he had to scramble to get there in time. When he arrived for the main event, he couldn’t find any running shoes in local stores that fit comfortably. So he decided to go barefoot for the 26.2mile race. Success! He won, setting a new world-record time. I propose we make him your role model, Capricorn. May he inspire you to respond to an apparent scarcity or deficiency by calling on earthy alternatives. May you adjust to a problem by deepening your reliance on your natural self.
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): After being part of two journeys to Antarctica, Aquarian explorer Ernest Shackleton assembled a team to try what no one had ever done: crossing the entire continent on foot with pack dogs and motorized sledges. But the proposed 1,800mile expedition failed soon after it began. That’s when Shackleton did what he is most famous for. His leadership during the harrowing struggle to survive became legendary. I don’t think you will face anything remotely resembling his challenges in the coming weeks. But I suspect that your response to tests and trials will define your success. As you encounter obstacles, you will treat them as opportunities to showcase your resourcefulness and adaptability. You will inspire others to summon resiliency, and you will bring out their best as together you engage in creative problem-solving. Trials will become triumphs.
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
Friday at 5 PM for inclusion in the next
Rates
Join the Team at C-VILLE Weekly as an Account Executive!
For over 35 years, C-VILLE Weekly has been the go-to source for news, arts, culture, food, and events that make our city one of the best places to live. Now, we’re looking for a driven and dynamic Account Executive to join our advertising sales team!
Why Join Us?
• Be part of a powerful local brand that connects with every aspect of life in our vibrant city.
• Work in a fast-paced, creative environment alongside a hardworking and supportive team.
• Enjoy a hybrid, full-time role with competitive salary, great perks, and excellent benefits.
What We’re Looking For:
• A fearless self-starter ready to manage established client accounts and develop new business opportunities.
• Sales experience is a big plus (bonus points if you’re familiar with the local real estate scene!).
• Someone who thrives in a collaborative online and print publishing environment.
If you’re ready to help grow one of the most trusted and beloved local media brands, we’d love to hear from you!
Apply Today and take your next career step with C-VILLE Weekly. Send your resume to anna@c-ville.com
EOE
Email salesrep@c-ville.com
classifieds.c-ville.com
In execution of a certain Deed of Trust dated November 29, 2018, and recorded on January 31, 2019, in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, as Instrument No. 201900000950, as modified by Modification of Deed of Trust dated November 15, 2019, and recorded on November 19, 2019 in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, as Instrument No. 201900012777, default having been made in the payment of the debt therein secured and being required to do so by the noteholder, the undersigned Neal L. Walters, Trustee, will offer for sale at public auction in front of the Albemarle County Circuit Court building located at 501 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902, on Thursday April 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., the real estate with improvements thereon known as Parcel ID 05800-00-00-10100, 0340000-00-12900, and 03400-00-00-13000, one of which is known by common numbering as 350 Bloomfield Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, and more particularly described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust to which reference is hereby made.
Sale shall be made subject to all existing superior liens, easements, and restrictive covenants, if any, as the same may lawfully affect the real estate.
Terms of Sale: Cash. Settlement within ten (10) days after the sale. A bidder’s deposit of up to ten percent (10%) of the successful bid may be required. Additional terms will be announced at the time of sale and any such terms will prevail over the terms set forth in this notice.
Neal L. Walters, Trustee
For information contact:
Neal L. Walters
Scott | Kroner, PLC
418 East Water Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Telephone: (434) 296-2161
Fax: (434) 293-2073
Complainant v. NELSON R. DAVIS,
ERLINE DAVIS, aka EARLENE ELIZABETH DAVIS,
SHIRLEY RAGLAND, deceased, JANICE M. BARBOUR, EDDIE J. BARBOUR, deceased, KAREN L. JACKSON, deceased, CLARK JACKSON, aka
JAMES CLARK JACKSON, deceased, LINWOOD N. DAVIS, JR., aka LYNWOOD N. DAVIS, JR., CHRISTIE DAVIS, aka CHRISTY DA VIS, aka KRISTI ANN DAVIS,
Case No. CL24-1463
and any other heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns, if any, of Shirley Ragland, Eddie J. Barbour, Karen L. Jackson, Clark Jackson, aka James Clark Jackson, and any other named Respondents, as they may appear, proceeded against herein as PARTIES UNKNOWN,
Respondents
The object of this suit is to effect a judicial sale of certain real property, reportedly containing 7.57 acres, more or less, and designated as Tax Map Parcel No. 03400-0000-008300, and which is being assessed on the tax records of the County of Albemarle, Virginia in the name of Shirley Ragland or Nelson R. Davis, et al., in order to subject such property to the lien thereon for delinquent real estate taxes.
It appearing from the Complaint and by the Affidavit filed according to law that the Complainant has used due diligence to ascertain all of the owners of the subject property but has been unable to do so and that there are or may be persons unknown who claim or may claim an interest in the property, namely the heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns in and to the title and interest of Shirley Ragland, Eddie J. Barbour, Karen L. Jackson, Clark Jackson, aka James Clark Jackson, and any other named respondent.
It is therefore ORDERED that the heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns in and to the title and interest of Shirley Ragland, Eddie J. Barbour, Karen L. Jackson, Clark Jackson, aka James Clark Jackson, and any other named respondent, as they may appear, proceeded against herein as “Parties Unknown,’’ appear on or before March 29, 2025, and take such action as they deem appropriate to protect any interests they may have in the abovedescribed property.
It is further ORDERED that the foregoing portion of this Order be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the C-Ville Weekly, that a copy hereof be posted on the door of the Courthouse and that a copy be mailed to the last known address, if any, of the Respondents.
The Clerk is hereby directed to send this Order to the C-Ville Weekly by email to sarah@c-ville.com and to make the aforementioned posting and mailings. Endorsement of parties and counsel of record is dispensed with for good cause shown including the nature of these proceedings, the relief granted, and the time and expense associated with acquiring said endorsement.
ENTER: Cheryl V. Higgins DATE: 2/20/2025
I ASK FOR THIS:
JONATHAN T. WREN, VSB #40304 MARTINWREN, P.C.
400 Locust Avenue, Suite 1 Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 (434) 817-3100 (phone) (434) 817-3110 (fax) wren@martinwrenlaw.com (email) Counsel for the County of Albemarle
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE, Complainant v Case No. CL24-1462
HELEN V.S. DUDLEY, aka HELEN V. DUDLEY, TRUSTEE UNDER THE HELEN V.S. DUDLEY LIVING TRUST. DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004. believed deceased, GARY ALAN DUDLEY,
and any heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns, if any, of Helen V.S. Dudley, as Trustee under the Helen V .S. Dudley Living Trust dated December 21, 2004, or otherwise, or Gary Alan Dudley, and any other Respondent, as they may appear, proceeded against herein as PARTIES UNKNOWN, Respondents
The object of this suit is to effect a judicial sale of certain real property, reportedly containing 5.72 acres, more or less, and designated as Tax Map Parcel No. 054B0-00-00-01100, and which is being assessed on the tax records of the County of Albemarle, Virginia in the narne of Helen V.S. Dudley, Trustee, or her successor(s) in trust, under the Helen V.S. Dudley Living Trust dated December 21, 2004, and any amendments thereto, in order to subject such property to the lien thereon for delinquent real estate taxes.
It appearing from the Complaint and by the Affidavit filed according to law that the Complainant has used due diligence to ascertain all of the owners of the subject property but has been unable to do so and that there are or may be persons unknown who claim or may claim an interest m the property, namely the heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns in and to the title and interest of Helen V.S. Dudley, Trustee, or her successor(s) in trust, under the Helen V.S. Dudley Living Trust dated December 21, 2004. and any amendments thereto.
It is therefore ORDERED that the heirs, devisees. personal representatives, successors, or assigns in and to the title and interest of Helen V.S. Dudley, Trustee, or her successor(s) in trust, under the Helen V.S. Dudley Living Trust dated December 21. 2004, and any amendments thereto, as they may appear, proceeded against herein as ‘’Parties Unknown,” appear on or before March 29, 2025, and take such action as they deem appropriate to protect any interests they may have in the above-described property.
It is further ORDERED that the foregoing portion of this Order be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the C-Ville Weekly, that a copy hereof be posted on the door of the Courthouse and that a copy be mailed to the last known address, if any, of the Respondents.
The Clerk is hereby directed to send this Order to the C-Ville Weekly by email to sarah@c-ville.com and to make the aforementioned posting and mailings.
Endorsement of parties and counsel of record is dispensed with for good cause shown including the nature of these proceedings, the relief granted, and the time and expense associated with acquiring said endorsement.
And this cause is continued.
I ASK FOR THIS:
JONATHAN T. WREN, VSB #40304
MARTINWREN, P.C.
400 Locust Avenue, Suite 1
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(434) 817-3100 (phone) (434) 817-3110 (fax) wren@martinwrenlaw.com (email) Counsel for the County of Albemarle
ENTER: Cheryl V. Higgins
DATE: 2/20/2025
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE, Complainant
v Case No. CL24-1456
MINGDAR HSIEH, believed deceased,
and any heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns, if any, of Mingdar Hsieh, as they may appear, proceeded against herein as PARTIES UNKNOWN, Respondents
The object of this suit is to effect a judicial sale of certain real property, reportedly containing 6.41 acres, more or less, and designated as Tax Map Parcel No. 060G0-00-00-00500, and which is being assessed on the tax records of the County of Albemarle, Virginia in the name of Mingdar Hsieh, in order to subject such property to the lien thereon for delinquent real estate taxes.
It appearing from the Complaint and by the Affidavit filed according to law that the Complainant has used due diligence to ascertain all of the owners of the subject property but has been unable to do so and that there are or may be persons unknown who claim or may claim an interest in the property, namely the heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns in and to the title and interest of Mingdar Hsieh.
It is therefore ORDERED that heirs, devisees, personal representatives, successors, or assigns in and to the title and interest of Mingdar Hsieh, as they may appear, proceeded against herein as “Parties Unknown,” appear on or before March 29, 2025, and take such action as they deem appropriate to protect any interests they may have in the above-described property.
It is further ORDERED that the foregoing portion of this Order be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the C-Ville Weekly, that a copy hereof be posted on the door of the Courthouse and that a copy be mailed to the last known address, if any, of the Respondents.
The Clerk is hereby directed to send this Order to the C-Ville Weekly by email to sarah@c-ville.com and to make the aforementioned posting and mailings.
Endorsement of parties and counsel of record is dispensed with for good cause shown including the nature of these proceedings, the relief granted, and the time and expense associated with acquiring said endorsement.
And this cause is continued.
ENTER: Cheryl V. Higgins
DATE: 2/20/2025
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
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.
I ASK FOR THIS:
JONATHAN T. WREN, VSB #40304
MARTINWREN, P.C.
400 Locust Avenue, Suite 1
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(434)817-3100 (phone) (434)817-3110 (fax) wren@martinwrenlaw.com (email) Counsel for the County of Albemarle
Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535.
Be prepared before the next power outage. Call 844-947-1479 to schedule your free quote!
The eighth-generation Louisiana Creole musician Terrance Simien has been at the forefront of traditional zydeco music for more than four decades. The two-time Grammy Award-winner has dedicated his time to preserving the unique cultural expression of Creole sounds through concerts and education programs. Ahead of his performance with Zydeco Experience at Boogie on the Bayou, the 10th-anniversary celebration of The Front Porch (see p. 23), we put Simien in the HotSeat.
Name: Terrance Matthew Simien
Age: 59
Pronouns: Peace/love
Hometown: Mallet, Louisiana
Job(s): I’ve had the best job for over 40 years and it may sound cliché, because you know what they say, if you love what you do, it’s not really a job! I’m a singer, accordionist, performing artist, and band leader. But my main gig isn’t a job at all, but instead a life commitment—that’s being Cynthia’s husband and Marcella’s dad.
What’s something about your job that people would be surprised to learn? That I drive most of the time when we’re on tour! What is music to you? My spiritual practice and my main method of healing whatever is hurting in my soul, and hopefully yours.
How do you define the spirit of zydeco? The spirit of zydeco comes from deep in the Creole ancestral DNA—mostly it’s the joy in the bloodline of our people. The spirit of zydeco is also informed by their pain and struggles but even more by their victories. The ancestors used the music to heal their pain when times were hard. We have a saying, “Danse les miserables,” that loosely translates to “dance away your miseries.”
First concert you attended: I played one before I ever went to one … I grew up in a very remote rural community and were kinda insular during the 1970s. Technically my first “concert” was the Lawtell High School jazz band when I was 7. A legit club concert came a few years later in 1977 when I snuck into the Triangle Club, Frilot Cove,
to see Joe Tex. But that life-changing concert was in 1984 when I was 19 and my band performed at the World’s Fair in New Orleans. It’s where I first saw the Neville Brothers in concert.
Why is supporting music education important? To cultivate the next generation of musicians, songwriters, and performers who make American music that influences the world. To also create a deep sense of music appreciation for diverse
music genres that have shaped the music identity of our country.
What are you listening to right now?
The voice of my wife talking to me on the phone because we’ve been on tour for two weeks now and the sound of her voice gives me so much life when I’m away. I’ve been listening to and really diggin’ the new album from my daughter, Marcella Simien. West African and reggae music are always on my playlist.
Favorite musician: Art Neville, Taj Mahal, Sam Cooke, Dylan, Paul Simon, and Tom Waits.
Proudest accomplishment: My daughter, Marcella, my 35 year marriage, and [my] 40year career in music—three-way tie again and a trifecta!
Describe a perfect day: At home with family, cookin’ a li’l sumthin’ Creole in my kitchen and sleeping in my own bed.
If you could be reincarnated as a person or thing, what would you be? Sam Cooke
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? For all people who are struggling to be lifted out of poverty. For people suffering with health problems and illnesses to be healed. For all of the world to unite with genuine respect for one another. I am a dreamer.
Most embarrassing moment: Please don’t make me re-live them.
Favorite movie and/or show: Tie: Dances with Wolves and Pulp Fiction, obviously for two very different reasons.
Favorite book: The Stand, Stephen King What’s your comfort food/meal? Peking duck, gumbo, and pasta—not all at once. Subject that causes you to rant: It’s a three-way tie again: racism, inequality, and misinformation.
Best journey you ever went on: The one I’m still on—the never-ending journey of being a full-time touring artist in roots music.
Favorite curse word: I leave the curse words to my wife, she’s much better at that than me! Good moms say bad words. Sure, I partake sometimes, when I get all worked [up] about certain subjects; see above. Most of the time though, the Catholic guilt kicks in and I check myself.
What have you forgotten today? Pretty much everything right now because I’ve been playing around with this virtual reality headset I just bought and I am legit tripping out. Wow, I had no idea!
A hidden gem nestled in one of Charlottesville’s most charming historic neighborhoods, Oakhurst Inn is an intimate boutique hotel conveniently located just steps away from the University of Virginia. Experience luxurious accommodations, delectable cuisine, an inviting ambiance, and picturesque surroundings. A place connecting visitors and locals alike.
