C-VILLE Weekly | October 16 - 22, 2024

9

Eleni Stecopoulos traverses geographies of healing in new book PAGE 33

Stride Finding their

With social media to spur them on, a wife-and-wife team builds a horse rescue nonprofit

Ally Smith and Colby, the horse she rescued in 2020, who later became an internet phenom.

October Custom Seating Sale

October 15th through October 31st

thursday

friday

$5/ticket

saturday

READ LOCAL. WEAR LOCAL.

V.36, No. 42

FEATURE 22

Sanctuary city

Colby’s Crew has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of horses since 2021.

9

Can’t we all just get along politically?

UVA football suffers its first ACC loss of the season.

Real Estate Weekly: Venable apartment building to be replaced with threestory structure.

CULTURE 29

Jonathan Richman plays the Southern.

“Picasso, Lydia, & Friends, Vol. V.” at LYDM.

33 Pages: Eleni Stecopoulos’ essays examine illness and healing

35 Extra: An Iliad and What the Constitution Means to Me open Live Arts’ season.

40 Sudoku

41 Crossword

43 Free Will Astrology

CLASSIFIEDS 44

P.S. 46

Comedian Brian Regan in The HotSeat.

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MEMBER Virginia Press Association

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

I just pulled myself out of a rabbit hole, having spent 30 minutes on TikTok watching videos from Colby’s Crew, the subject of this week’s cover story.

The women behind the nonprofit, which rescues abused horses from slaughter and rehabilitates them, Ally Smith and her wife Olivia, have created an online community of nearly 3 million followers. They started in 2020 with the story of Colby, a then-4-year-old chestnut stallion who’d been badly abused and, as a result, was practically feral. Undeterred, Ally committed to gaining his trust and within a month, he was letting her ride him, all while Olivia filmed and posted the progress on social media.

10.16.24

Colby’s Crew has leveraged this internet attention to rescue hundreds of abused, neglected, or otherwise unwanted horses over the last four years, and it was the community the organization built online that encouraged them to turn the hobby into a nonprofit. Read the full story on page 22, then log on to see Colby, Sterling, Big John, and the gang @ohkaytacos.

UVA MUSIC EVENTS

Date/Time/Place Event

Thursday, 10/17, 7pm Ruffin Hall, 103

Friday, 10/18, 3:30pm 107 Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 10/18, 5pm B12 Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 10/18, 8pm Visible Records

Saturday, 10/19, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 10/20, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

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

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

Friday, 10/25, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

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

uvamusic

* denotes free events

Technosonics Immersion * Installation at Ruffin Hall

Technosonics Immersion * colloquium with Rohan Chander

Zsolt Szabo, trombone masterclass *

Technosonics Immersion Concert 1* with Rohan Chander

Technosonics Immersion Concert 2* with Rohan Chander

UVA Chamber Music Series Faculty Chamber Ensembles

Jade Conlee Colloquium * Sonic Cartographies in Hawai‘i Exotica

Cavalier Marching Band * "Vogue" Open Rehearsal

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

Giorgio Biancorosso Colloquium * Pasolini, World Music, & the Demise of the Film Composer”

All artists, programs and venues are subject to change. 434.924.3052 | music@virginia.edu | https://music.virginia.edu Arts Box Office: 434.924.3376 | artsboxoffice.virginia.edu

JANUARY 23-ON SALE FRIDAY ZOSO

To find out more about these and all our other events, subscribe to our weekly “music at UVA” 10-26| HOT IN HERRE-2000s DANCE PARTY (18+) PRESENTED BY HOT 101.9 11-01| CLUB XCX (18+) 11-02| KITCHEN DWELLERS WITH SHADOWGRASS 11-03| ELI YOUNG BAND 11-08| ILLITERATE LIGHT WITH TWEN 11-09| TYCHO - INFINITE HEALTH TOUR 11-13| BRUCE COCKBURN SOLO 11-14| THE STEWS WITH HARVEY STREET 11-17| YOKE LORE WITH RUNNNER 11-19| ODIE LEIGH- CARRIER PIGEON TOUR WITH ANGELA AUTUMN PRESENTED BY 106.1 THE CORNER 11-20| DAVID CROSS FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST SEAN PATTON 11-21| MIPSO JEFFERSONTHEATER.COM

“We think that whatever the test is for discrimination, it should apply equally across groups and across individuals.”

Xiao

Wang, University of Virginia law professor, on the Supreme Court’s decision to hear an appeal in Ames v. Ohio Department of Social Services in an October 14 comment to UVAToday

NEWS

Get out the vote

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Virginia on October 11 for violating the National Voter Registration Act. The suit is a response to an August 7 executive order by Gov. Glenn Youngkin that calls for daily updates to voter registration lists through comparison with Department of Motor Vehicles data identifying non-citizens. The DOJ suit alleges Youngkin’s EO violates the “quiet period” provision of the act, which prohibits systematic purging of voter rolls within 90 days of federal elections. Youngkin responded to the suit, calling it an attempt by the Biden-Harris administration to undermine election integrity.

Care package

Region Ten has received a one-time $3 million grant from the Youngkin administration, according to an October 14 press release. The funding is part of a larger Right Help, Right Now initiative investing in emergency room alternatives. The nonprofit plans to use the funds to expand services at its Crisis Receiving Center at the Region Ten Old Lynchburg Road campus.

’Tis the season

With Halloween around the corner, it’s not only spooky season, but flu season, too! The Blue Ridge Health District is offering free vaccinations on October 16 from 5 to 7pm at Charlottesville High School. Vaccines are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those ages 3 years old and up. More information about upcoming vaccination clinics can be found at vdh.virginia.gov/blue-ridge.

Welcome home

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville celebrated the area’s newest homeowner, Binta Rose, with a dedication ceremony on October 12. The four-bedroom house was built by Habitat in 2016, repurchased at market value, and renovated for the Rose family. Rose, who works at the University of Virginia Student Health and Wellness Center, is a longtime Charlottesville resident. After the death of her son Rahmean Rose-Thurston in a motorcycle accident in 2020, Rose lost her rented home and moved in with family. Her

Mending the gap

Two experts talk political polarization

By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

With Election Day less than a month away, political tension and stress abound both locally and nationally. Polarization is definitely a contributing factor to the anxiety, but two

experts with Charlottesville ties say we may not be as divided as we think.

Now a faculty member at the University of California Santa Barbara, Tania Israel credits growing up in Charlottesville for shaping her work to bridge the political divide.

“I got into this work in Charlottesville,” she says. After organizing a discussion of pro-

choice and pro-life locals in the ’90s, Israel was inspired to continue exploring ideological divides. “It didn’t change anything about how I felt about reproductive rights, but it changed so much about how I felt about people who disagreed with me.”

sister, also a Habitat homeowner, encouraged her to apply to the program. Moving forward with the purchase of the home was a difficult decision for Rose and her family, with the site of her son’s fatal accident close by. “Even when I didn’t think it was time for me to take [the house in the] Burnet [neighborhood], I think God said, ‘No Binta, it’s time for you now,’” she told Habitat ahead of the dedication. “God gave me the strength to pick me up. I feel like I could write a book about how I overcame so many obstacles in my life that tried to stop me or knock me down and I got back up.”

Tania Israel

Miles Coleman

Maria Cardona

David Ramadan

Tara Setmayer

“It’s really hard for us to even think about or want to approach people who have different views, if we have skewed perceptions about who they are.”

TANIA ISRAEL

Rather than taking the political science approach, Israel’s examination of polarization draws on her expertise as a doctor of counseling psychology. Her last two books, Beyond Your Bubble and Facing the Fracture (published this August), have focused on understanding and approaching political polarization.

In her work, Israel has found that “we are not nearly as divided as we think we are, our views are not as far apart as we imagine them to be,” but affective polarization remains a critical issue for American democracy and interpersonal relationships.

Diversity of opinion is an important element in maintaining a healthy democracy, but increasing affective polarization—a positive association with one’s own political party and negative feelings toward the opposing party—diminishes the ability for productive dialogue and solution-making.

In a 2022 study, the PEW Research Center found “increasingly, Republicans and Democrats view not just the opposing party but also the people in that party in a negative light. Growing shares in each party now describe those in the other party as more closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent than other Americans.” Further, the amount of respondents holding a negative opinion of both major parties has sharply risen, sitting at 27 percent at the time of the survey.

Miles Coleman, an associate editor for Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, has also noted an increase in both partisan and affective polarization.

“There used to be … more people willing to entertain either side, give their votes to either side. That is not as much a thing anymore,” he says. “Coalitions are more firm now, there are fewer moderate to conservative Democrats or liberal Republicans, so you tend to have more people being … locked into either side.”

Split-ticket, swing, and undecided voters still exist, but misunderstandings around these voters and their positionality is rampant, according to Coleman.

“You do have some voters in the middle who are still willing to vote for either side, but that segment, I feel, is increasingly a smaller and smaller segment of the electorate,” he says. Rather than a moderate portion of the constituency evenly positioned between Democratic and Republican political platforms, numerous swing voters have varying policy positions that contrastingly align with either party.

Conversely, the key undecided group to watch this election cycle is the “double haters,” says Coleman. “These are voters who have unfavorable views of both Harris and Trump. … Those voters who maybe don’t

like the high prices, the inflation that we see under Biden, but might not want to go back to the days of Donald Trump.”

Coleman attributes some of the current political climate to media ecosystems. “I blame a lot of this on asocial social media,” he says. “It’s increasingly easy for one side to get kind of their own media ecosystem, their own facts. Both sides, really, to some extent, aren’t even on the same page.”

In her work to bridge this political chasm, Israel has also argued that media and tribal politics have exaggerated and exacerbated polarization.

By design, media are created to attract and maintain engagement, frequently employing tactics to amp up consumer emotions to increase and keep interest. Social media in particular relies and thrives on algorithms, which feed users curated content based on prior activity. Consumers receive and interact with content that incites either strong positive or negative feelings, resulting in ideological “bubbles” of media echoing existing beliefs and combative presentations of opposing viewpoints.

“It’s really hard for us to even think about or want to approach people who have different views, if we have skewed perceptions about who they are,” Israel says. “Study after study for decades has shown that we exaggerate the other side’s views, thinking that they are more extreme than they are, thinking that they are hostile.”

For many Americans, having a political conversation with family and friends across the aisle can be a daunting inevitability, but there are ways to have a civil and meaningful dialogue, according to Israel.

“One of the main reasons people tell me they’re interested in having a conversation with someone who is on the other side of the political divide is because they have somebody who they’re close to, a family member or a friend who they want to stay connected with or repair a relationship with, but it’s really challenging because of the different views,” she says. “Approach with the intention to create a warm and caring connection, where your goal is to understand the other person.”

Through her work, Israel has found listening and trying to understand someone’s perspective to be a key step in holding a productive conversation.

“We think that what we should do is lay out all of the facts and figures and arguments to show the other person that we are right and that they are wrong. It turns out people don’t respond very well to that,” she says. “If we’re listening with the intention to understand, rather than the intention to respond … if we can share our stories ... how we came to care about an issue, or if there was somebody or something that shifted our view about it, that’s a much more effective way to share our perspective.”

Tree Sale

Saturday, October 19, 2024 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Please join us at the Virginia Dept of Forestry, 900 Natural Resources Drive.

Choose from young native trees and shrubs for homeowners, priced from $6.00 to $15.00

Rain or Shine.

PLANT TREES IN THE FALL!

Tree Talks & Walks

October 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Tree ID Hike with Emily Ferguson

October 22 at 7 p.m.

Tree ID by Season (Zoom) with Emily

October 29 at 7 p.m.

How to Select, Plant and Care for Trees

Check our website for more information and to register

We support rural and urban forests and promote knowledge and understanding of the value of trees for present and future generations.

Volunteers from the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards work on a multitude of projects and educational activities benefiting our community.

In addition to teaching about trees, Tree Stewards work to improve the environment by planting trees, pruning and caring for trees in public places, removing invasive plants, documenting amazing specimens in our area, and offering young, native trees to plant.

RED OAK photo by Bill Sublette

Highs and lows

UVA football team falls to Louisville in first ACC loss

By Evan Massauro

The University of Virginia football team suffered a tough loss to Louisville Saturday, on an otherwise perfect fall afternoon at Scott Stadium. The Cavs, whose October 12 defeat was their first in the ACC this season, had a couple of memorable special teams miscues and questionable play calls in the red zone that sank what were otherwise solid performances from many Hoos on both sides of the ball.

The highs

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea was once again solid in the passing attack with 279 yards, one touchdown pass, and no interceptions on the day. But it was his legs that kept things moving for UVA. With a season high 15 carries for 89 yards he looked dynamic scrambling out of the pocket when necessary, and picked up multiple key first downs to extend drives.

On offense, fourth-year wide receiver (and Monticello High School standout) Malachi Fields (nine receptions for 129 yards) and Harvard tight-end transfer Tyler Neville (seven receptions for 64 yards), have clearly become two of Colandrea’s preferred targets as the season has progressed. Expect to see more of Neville, especially in the offensive game plan from here on out. He has great rapport on the field with Colandrea and has been an invaluable asset in mid-range third-down situations. Just about the only thing neither Fields nor Neville managed to do Saturday was find the end zone, as UVA stalled out on multiple drives in Louisville territory.

On the defensive side, safety Jonas Sanker, a Covenant School grad, continued to impress. With 11 tackles, eight of which were unassisted, Sanker seemed to somehow be everywhere all at once. He brings an explosive energy to a UVA secondary that, to be fair, was overall pretty solid given its tall task on Saturday. It limited a strong Louisville receiving core (which includes former four-star recruit and recent Alabama transfer Ja’Corey Brooks) to just one TD and 231 receiving yards.

The lows

UVA’s control of the Louisville run game was abysmal. Louisville running back Isaac Brown ran wild all game long, picking up two TDs on 20 carries for 146 yards from scrimmage. This is something the coaching staff must address before the team’s next matchup, on October 19 at noon against No. 10 Clemson, whose fourth-year running back Phil Mafah has consistently shown he’s more than capable of doing similar damage against a porous defensive line.

Some of Saturday’s play-calling, particularly on short-yardage downs and in the red zone, was a bit suspect. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one scratching my head about a fourth-down passing attempt instead of kicking an easy field goal before the half. Perhaps the result of an aggressive coaching philosophy, or potentially a lack of conviction in the run game (or some other aspect of the offense), but there’s certainly something to be said for having the lead going into the locker room at halftime. Even if it’s only by three points instead of seven.

Special Event!

“History of the French Restaurant”

with Paris-based chef and travel guide, Allison Zinder

Tuesday, Oct. 29

Apples, Apple Butter, Jams, Jellies, Cider, Gifts & More!

SHED OPEN DAILY: October 1 - 31

APPLE BUTTER MAKIN’ FESTIVALS

Oct 5 & Oct 19 10am -4:30pm

Featuring: fresh apples for selection, homemade apple butter, live music, food vendors, crofters, pick your own pumpkins, corn maze

5529 CRABTREE FALLS HWY IN TYRO, VIRGINIA

Details at: SCSO.CO

The Cavaliers’ Saturday game against Louisville resulted in the team’s first ACC loss of the season.

Annie Gould Gallery

Trigger averse

Five-unit Venable apartment building to be replaced with nine-dwelling structure

By Sean Tubbs

The future of land use in Charlottesville will be determined parcel by parcel as property owners make decisions about whether they will build units that are required to be sold or rented at levels below the market value.

The relatively new owners of 1609 Gordon Ave., an LLC who bought the property in December 2021 for $600,000, have decided not to pursue affordability when replacing a two-story 1963 apartment building with a three-story structure with nine units.

That is one unit less than would trigger the city’s mandate that 10 percent of units in non-residential neighborhoods comply with affordability requirements. This is known as inclusionary zoning.

“Rents for affordable homes are set relative to the Area Median Income (AMI), the household income for the median household in a region,” reads a portion of the Affordable Housing Plan adopted by Charlottesville City Council in March 2021.

The maximum monthly rents are established in the city’s affordable dwelling unit manual and must be reserved for households with incomes below 60 percent of AMI. At that level, the current monthly caps are $1,416 for a two-bedroom, $1,582 for a three-bedroom, and $1,732 for a fourbedroom. Developers must submit a form showing how they will comply with the rules, but the Gordon Avenue project is exempt and does not have to provide any information about projected rents.

Located in the Venable neighborhood, 1609 Gordon Ave. has the RX-5 designation

that allows for as much density as can fit within a seven-story structure, as long as 10 percent of units are affordable or the developer contributes to a city fund. The new rules increased these amounts substantially to $368,303 for a two-bedroom unit and $547,339 for a three-bedroom unit.

The new zoning eliminates the role City Council plays in such developments, but the Board of Architectural Review still has to sign off on the design. It had an initial review on Tuesday, October 15, a discussion that had nothing to do with affordability but everything to do with how the new structure will fit in with the surrounding architectural design control district.

That district has been changing with certificates of appropriateness, having recently been approved for a new four-story apartment building at 1532 Virginia Ave., a three-story sorority house at 503 Rugby Rd., and a three-story apartment building at 605 Preston Ave.

But one remaining question is whether anyone will take advantage of the higher densities allowed and submit to the inclusionary zoning. Charlottesville’s Housing Advisory Committee will discuss potential proposals on Wednesday, October 16. These include measures to provide tax rebates to subsidize the cost to the developer.

Meanwhile, the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority continues to proceed with a plan to purchase more units across the city and use federal housing vouchers to subsidize their cost. In September, the CRHA Board agreed to spend $2.8 million to purchase three more properties, comprising more than a dozen units, around the city.

The proposed apartment building at 1609 Gordon Ave. will include nine units.

E HIGH STREET

Charming Boutique Building in coveted downtown location. Unique, light-filled condo located just one block off Court Square. Opportunity to have an office and/or residence in this immaculate property. Bright, large rooms with a tremendous amount of flexibility of how to use the space. Front and rear entrances with cute deck in the back. $615,000

LOCUST AVENUE

Charming 1929, classic brick home located in north downtown. Tastefully renovated and updated without losing the original character. 9’ ceilings, built-in bookcases, beautiful woodwork, trim and crown Professionally landscaped yard with mature plantings offers room for relaxation, play, and entertaining. Private, off-street parking. Walkable community with wide streets and sidewalks. Quick access to major roadways, UVa and Downtown. Recent upgrades include: new roof 2022, replacement windows, renovated bathrooms, exterior painted 2022, and new Plantation shutters $900,000

STONEY CREEK DRIVE

Fabulous home in Mill Creek South. Set on an elevated lot with fenced backyard and a side deck that overlooks the woods. Unique floor plan includes a first floor primary suite with a walk-in closet; a half bath and a full laundry room. The living room features a masonry gas fireplace. The bright kitchen opens to both the living room and dining room. 3 nice sized bedrooms on the second floor and another full bath. Property includes a large storage shed and a semi-circle driveway. $519,900

EDGEMONT

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

MEADOW FARM

436+ acre parcel of land in Southern Albemarle! 4 division rights; complete privacy; lush, gently rolling terrain; long road frontage; stream; 3-acre lake; 125-135 acres of open land; mature hardwood forests. Under conservation easement. MLS#651411

$2,985,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

THE HOLSINGER

Exceptional 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo, located just steps from the historic Downtown Mall. Luxurious living spaces, spacious floor plan, fully loaded kitchen, hardwood floors, a private balcony, and secure parking. Enjoy vibrant downtown living! MLS#656160 $1,200,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

NEWLISTING

UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD

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

BENTIVAR MANOR

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

HIGH FIELDS

Scenic 42-acre farm 10 miles from Charlottesville. Features pastures, woodlands, serene creek, antique farmhouse, updated kitchen, 3-BA, 4-BR, and panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain vistas, and substantial barn. MLS#651245 $1,695,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

FRAYS MILL

Wooded 81.395-acre preservation tract near Frays Mill Subdivision in Albemarle Co., 6 mi from Charlottesville Airport, shops, restaurants. Ideal for recreation, agriculture, and private home with mountain views. MLS#651664 $995,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

KESWICK ESTATE

Nestled near Keswick Hall lies Keswick Estate, a gated community offering a 2.10± acre building site blending country life with resort living in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Build your dream home minutes from amenities like golf, dining, tennis, and more. MLS#650785 $470,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

FIELDS OF BOAZ

A country French estate on 24 acres 6 miles from the University of Virginia. Timeless charm and modern luxury with soaring ceilings, spacious primary suite, home office, wine cellar, guest quarters, and private pond. MLS#652608 $3,995,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

HISTORIC STAUNTON

Meticulously renovated National Historic Register home, blending modern amenities with remarkable charm. 5-bedrooms with hardwood floors, stained glass windows, and trim. Quartz kitchen, magnificent primary suite, terrace apartment. MLS#653080 $1,295,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

NEWLISTING

EAST HIGH STREET

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

UNDERCONTRACT

SCARBOROUGH PLACE

Private, end unit townhome with easy access to the University of Virginia and Interstate 64. HOA covers: exterior paint, roof, grass cutting and trash. Neighborhood playground and basketball court. Includes 2 parking spaces. Previously used as a rental. MLS#657430 $325,000 Jeremy Fields, 434.270.1220

R ide On

Two horse-lovers mobilize social media to save animals from slaughter

Colby’s Crew started with one horse and one decision from the heart.

Colby, a 4-year-old chestnut stallion with white markings, had run out of options. Allison (Ally) Smith, an experienced equestrian studying nursing and training horses on the side, saw an online post about him: “Bound for slaughter. Needs experienced handler.”

“He was flashy and beautiful, and they were only asking $875,” Ally recalls. She bought him, sight unseen.

Ally’s wife Olivia, who is active on social media, posted a video on Facebook of Colby in the kill pen (where animals are held before being shipped to slaughter). “This was July 2020, the middle of the pandemic, when TikTok was just taking off,” she says, “and the video blew up.”

Thirty days later, the shipper arrived at Ally’s family’s Warrenton farm with Colby. The horse was spirited, she had been told; in reality, he was almost feral. The truck driver was afraid to go into the van, so Ally walked in with a lead rope and brought Colby out. “The shipper’s mouth dropped open,” Olivia recalls. “Ally was yelling at her father, ‘Close the gate! Close the gate!’ because she knew if Colby got loose in the field we’d never catch him.”

That’s when Ally turned to Olivia and said, “I’m going to ride him.”

Draft horse Big John stands at an imposing 20 hands tall (that’s 6'8").

Like Colby, he lives on the farm as an “organization ambassador,” and won’t be put up for adoption.

Ally went out to the paddock 10 times a day, working to build Colby’s trust. He was in poor condition and had clearly been mistreated, kicking and biting at any touch. But Ally’s patience and calm won out, as she and Colby developed a deep bond. Within a month he was letting her ride him. Olivia filmed and posted the whole process, and created an internet phenom. By early 2021, Ally and Olivia decided to take on another rescue; then came two more. And then they met Big John.

“We went to an auction in West Virginia one weekend in April 2021,” Ally recalls. “We were just going to look, strolling around, and I went by this stall and said, ‘Oh my God!’ I hadn’t been around draft horses before—this guy didn’t even fit in the stall.” She ran to get her wife, and when they came back a girl was riding Big John around.

“I looked up, and up, and up,” Olivia says. (Big John is a Belgian, the second-largest draft breed, and he’s 20 hands—which is 6'8" at the shoulder.) “He was so lame, and he was exhausted. His feet were in terrible shape, he had scars, he had sores, but he was trying to do whatever was asked of him.”

This time it was Olivia who said, “I’m going to buy that horse.”

She started posting Big John videos and pleas for donations, and her online followers responded: “We had $5,000 pledged in 15 minutes.” Fortunately, their trailer was large enough for Big John (“I was scared at first, but he was so gentle,” says Ally), and a neighbor had a field available for his quarantine. When he was released into the field, the giant Belgian who had been worked almost to CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

“We raise all our money online, through donations—we don’t do solicitations, we don’t have corporate sponsors.

death took a long roll and then a good look around. “Then he kind of collapsed,” recalls Olivia. “He had been drugged to get him through the auction.”

That was when the pair decided they wanted to save horses that had reached the bottom.

“We hadn’t started out thinking of this as a career,” Olivia says. “But the internet was pushing us along, saying, ‘You need to start a 501(c)(3).’” Colby’s Crew Rescue was founded in 2021, and in 2022 the couple moved to Keswick to build the organization, while Ally continues her graduate nursing studies at UVA. This year CCR saved more than 600 animals, buying them before slaughter or through owner surrenders.

The two women began going to kill pens as well. They never knew what they would find there. They once discovered 13 Belgians waiting to be shipped. (Draft horses bring a good price when you’re selling meat by the pound.)

Olivia had had it. “I said, ‘We’re buying all of them.’ I went online and stayed online until we had raised enough to pay for the first four to six months of care for every one of those horses.”

That has become CCR’s methodology. Getting a rescue horse from purchase through quarantine, vet evaluation and routine treatment, rehabilitation, and training costs on average $4,500; CCR’s online ask is calculated to cover both the animal’s purchase price and its maintenance cost through adoption. Clearly, that figure can increase substantially if the animal has serious injuries or illness, is pregnant, or needs extensive training, so CCR also charges an adoption fee. Still, some animals are just not suitable for adoption, and at any one time, CCR has about 50 animals in sanctuary farms, whether for hospice or retirement. And then there are the 10 or so equines that will stay at CCR as “organization ambassadors”—like Colby and Big John.

Equine rescue, while heartwarming, takes an enormous amount of labor and expert help. CCR works closely with vets at Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia, and the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. (One of the largest kill pens is in New Holland, Pennsylvania, close to Lancaster and Amish country, where a large percentage of the rescue animals come.)

CCR arranges for a vet to be on site to triage animals as soon as they are purchased. Unless they need emergency care, the animals are sent to one of five quarantine farms CCR contracts with for 60 to 90 days of quarantine and further evaluation. If humane euthanasia is necessary, it’s done by a licensed vet.

Every animal gets a vet check weekly (more often if needed); a farrier visit every six weeks for hoof care; and a full wellness check including grooming and lots of love every day. Once it’s fit, the animal is brought to the Keswick facility to be evaluated by Ally and Olivia, who assign the horses to one of CCR’s network of trainers for at least 30 days of training to get them ready for adoption.

Every CCR adopter gets vetted, including home photos and veterinarian references. The adoption contract is strict. Every animal has been microchipped, and will be tracked by CCR; monthly photo updates are required; the adopter has to keep CCR informed of any sale or transfer; and there’s a $10,000 penalty for breaking the contract. For its part, CCR will take back any animal for any reason, and if that animal requires surgery or humane euthanasia, CCR will help cover the cost.

Ally’s equine expertise and ability to bond with weary, sick, and traumatized animals is at the heart of Colby’s Crew, while Olivia’s impressive social media skills and ability to capture the pathos and triumphs of its work have made CCR famous. The Crew has almost 4 million followers on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram who donate, share, and devotedly follow the rescued horses. “We raise all our money online, through donations—we don’t do solicitations, we don’t have corporate sponsors,” says Olivia. “Ninety-five percent of the money we take in goes back into buying and caring for our rescues.”

CCR gets some online criticism claiming it is supporting kill pens by buying from them, but the couple doesn’t see it that way. They see their job as saving sentient beings that deserve better than a truck ride to a cruel death. Eliminating the slaughter pipeline will likely take public pressure and political action; last year, the U.S. House of Representatives considered a bill to ban equine slaughter or export for human consumption, and this year animal advocates in Canada are pushing for a ban on the export of live horses for food.

Animal-lovers, of course, know that CCR’s equines are actually rescued. Online scammers post kill-pen photos with pleas for donations to “save this animal” when the horse has already been sold, or killed, or never existed.

Happily, in the last few years CCR has built an enormous community that is invested in Colby, Big John, and all their equine friends. Sure, these fans respond to calls for money—but they also clamor for updates on Sterling, a young mare facing severe medical issues; on Dudley, the newborn donkey who needed emergency care for deformed legs; and Onyx, the big black draft mule whose brother Obsidian was rescued as well. Visitors and adopters who come to the Keswick farm ask to say hello to Big John and his understudy, Big Sam, who is only 18 hands (6' tall). And they are excited to see each and every animal that will be rescued next.

Ninety-five percent of the money we take in goes back into buying and caring for our rescues.” OLIVIA SMITH

… IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Perhaps this area’s best-known equine rescue is Hope’s Legacy, also named for a special horse. “Hope was an off-the-track thoroughbred,” says Maya Proulx, Hope’s Legacy executive director. “She’d been off the track only six months, and I was her fifth owner. She was one of the sweetest mares I ever met.” The organization’s name honors Hope and all the horses that might easily have been written off.

A Nelson County native and lifelong horse person, Proulx founded Hope’s Legacy as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2008. All its rescue animals have been donated. About half are “owner surrenders,” animals at risk of being auctioned off when their owners die, or face serious illness or financial setbacks, while the rest have been seized by law enforcement in cases of neglect or abuse.

“Most animal control offices don’t have facilities for large animals,” Proulx says, “so if

Every Colby’s

gets a vet check weekly, a farrier visit for hoof care, and a full wellness check before being brought to the

there are horses involved, they have to scramble. I wanted to serve as a resource for them.” Hope’s Legacy has taken in neglected animals from the 2015 Peaceable Farm raid in Orange County; a 2016 Nottoway County seizure that included pregnant mares; and a 2023 Shenandoah County case involving 98 neglected thoroughbreds.

The organization also runs twice-yearly training sessions that are open to animal control officers from all over the state. “Virginia has no requirement for equine training for these people, and many don’t know anything about handling horses,” says Proulx.

At the moment, Hope’s Legacy has 74 horses in rescue—35 living on its 172-acre primary farm in Afton, and the rest in foster homes. Proulx credits the organization’s network of vets, fosterers, and trainers, as well as “120 incredibly dedicated volunteers” who do everything from feeding (two shifts every day) and barn care, to working with the horses on being haltered, led, and handled. One of the feeding shift volunteers has fundraising experience, and now works full-time raising money for Hope’s Legacy and its equines.

Hope’s Legacy runs a variety of activities to build community awareness and generate donations, as well as educational programs for kids (including the popular Books at the Barn). “Part of our mission is to end neglect and abuse,” says Proulx, “and that starts with education.”

Left: A young mare facing severe medical issues, Sterling recently underwent eye and dental surgery.

Right:

Crew Rescue horse

Keswick facility to be evaluated by Ally and Olivia.

Co-create the festival with us, learn how you can get involved!

13TH ANNUAL A FESTIVAL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY TOMTOMFOUNDATION.ORG/GET-INVOLVED

CULTURE

SUNDAY 10/20 PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASING

Everybody’s buzzing over caffeinated pop princess

Sabrina Carpenter

Brandishing a bevy of hit songs and a stage show to swoon over, Carpenter brings her Short n’ Sweet Tour to town with plenty to wig out about. Fabulous fits and funny bits abound, framed within a ’70s-era variety show aesthetic. The Disney Channel alum shows off her skills in both singing and acting in this high-energy performance that features big set pieces and plenty of pink. Prices vary, 7pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com

SATURDAY 10/19

FANG FICTION

Halloween is just around the corner, and spooky vibes are swirling in the autumn air. Fans of fangs will want to sink their teeth into the fine historical fiction of Stanley Stepanic The local author teaches courses on the Polish language and Eastern European film at UVA, as well as the history of vampires. Stepanic will discuss his novel, A Vamp There Was, a story set in 1920s Fredericksburg that blends fact and fiction in a tale of self-discovery, vengeance, and, well, vampires. Don’t worry, this counts as an invitation to enter the event. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

THURSDAY 10/17 – SATURDAY 10/19

HEARD AROUND TOWN

Electronic music and intermedia art collide at the annual TechnoSonics Festival. With the theme of immersion, the 2024 iteration explores aspects of the world that envelop minds, bodies, and spirits. Sounds that surround, and environments that encapsulate, are all fair game at events on UVA Grounds and at Visible Records. The featured work in electronic music, intermedia, and sound art comes out of UVA’s composition and computer technologies program. Special guest artist Rohan Chander—aka BAKUDI SCREAM offers a presentation covering his creative process on Friday afternoon, followed by performances on Friday and Saturday nights. Free, times and locations vary. music.virginia.edu/technosonics-2024

Jonathan Richman

In many ways, Jonathan Richman has traveled far from the emotive rock ‘n’ roll where he made his original splash with The Modern Lovers in the early 1970s. Emotive, jubilant, and at times, the lonesome reflections of a sensitive young man, the originality of the Boston-based quintet he led bore legendary fruit that would later be covered by the likes of David Bowie (“Pablo Picasso”), the Sex Pistols (“Roadrunner”), and Siouxsie and the Banshees (“She Cracked”). After Richman eventually turned the page on The Modern Lovers, his career gave him the leeway to create even more honest-sounding music: gingerly strummed guitar, and his inimitable, unassuming nasal voice chuckling through his playful lyrics—some of which could just as easily be the stuff of children’s books.

In the last decade or so, Richman has opted for an acoustic guitar, and expanded his local scope about driving past the Stop & Shop and celebrating the virtues of “Cold Pizza” (2022) into a journey that leans spiritual, physical, and globally multilingual, as evident by last year’s “Yatasamaroun” and “En La Discoteca Reggaeton.”

Southern Café and Music Hall

Wednesday 10/16

Wednesday 10/16 music

Beleza Duo. Funkalicious samba soul sung in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Jonathan Richman. The Modern Lovers founder performs an intimate show of newer music. Featuring Tommy Larkins on the drums. $25, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesouthern cville.com

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

Open Mic Night. Open to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. Hosted by Nicole Giordano. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Ramona Martinez. Mariachi and country music sung by a local favorite with Tejano roots. Free, 6pm. Guajiro’s Miami Eatery, 114 Tenth St NW. guajiroscville.com

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

When he played the Southern back in 2018, he was surprisingly less the awshucks inoffensive wisecracking character and more of an introspective poet-guru from another age. Floating under the lights with his guitar not hanging about him with a strap, but propped up in hand and arm, he strummed softly, quietly, and, at points, hypnotically. But then he chastised an audience member for filming him on a phone (“If you want to watch TV, you should have stayed home”). He also included a couple of his bigger solo numbers, such as the good time “I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar,” but the overall feel veered toward a more philosophical place, with musings about the nature of suffering and the depth of love. For the upcoming return to the venue, he’ll once again be accompanied by drummer Tommy Larkins, who keeps Richman’s songs in line without confining them to a backbeat. His rippling rhythms are brushed out with intuition, giving the feel a jazz combo-like exploration. These are still very much Richman’s well-crafted songs, treated with the air to soar, the room to amble, and the delicate hands to work intricate, intimate magic.—CM Gorey

stage

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

words

Author Amor Towles in Conversation with UVA President Jim Ryan. Mr. Towles’ novels and short stories have collectively sold more than six million copies. Books will be available for purchase, but there will be no book signing. Registration required. Free, 6pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

classes

Embroidery Basics. Learn some basic embroidery stitches by creating an abstract embroidery sampler. Ages 12+ (or younger with an assistant). $25, 5:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Paint + Sip: Colors of Fall. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a composition using the colors of autumn. $45, 6pm. Starr Hill Brewery Tap Room, 5391 Three Notched Rd, Crozet. blueridgebrushes.com

SUPPLIED PHOTO

CULTURE LAST LOOK

Eyes on inspiring art

‘Picasso, Lydia, & Friends, Vol. V.’ at LYDM

By CM Turner arts@c-ville.com

Opportunities to see works by a modern master of art in an intimate gallery setting do not often arise in our part of the world. Les Yeux du Monde provides just that with its current exhibition, “Picasso, Lydia, & Friends, Vol. V.”

The show brings together six prints by Pablo Picasso with contemporary works from eight artists influenced by the aesthetics and academic contributions of the Spanish artist and the acclaimed Picasso scholar Lydia Csato Gasman, respectively. The collected work functions as a way to share world-class masterworks with the Charlottesville public, while also honoring the legacy of Gasman, LYDM founder Lyn Bolen Warren’s late mentor.

“Apart from Picasso—whose work is included in the exhibition, given it was the focus of Gasman’s scholarship—each of the exhibiting artists personally knew Gasman, many having been her colleagues in UVA’s art department,” says Les Yeux de Monde Director Hagan Tampellini. “Each credits Gasman or Picasso with influencing their work or thought in some way, which can be felt in the experience of the show.”

Picasso’s prints present the viewer with unexpected images. Three still-life lithographs—atypical examples from the artist’s

etc.

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

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

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

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

The Shining Check into the Overlook Hotel and prepare for a long, long stay; Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall star in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the Stephen King chiller. $10, 6pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Trivia Night. Test your knowledge with up to six players per team. Four rounds with prizes for first and second place and a second-to-last-place prize to boot. Free, 6pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

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

“Picasso, Lydia, & Friends, Vol. V.,” on view at Les Yeux du Monde through October 27, features works by William Bennett, Anne Chesnut, Dean Dass, Rosemarie Fiore, Lydia Csato Gasman, Sanda Iliescu, Megan Marlatt, Pablo Picasso, David Summers, and Russ Warren.

oeuvre—depict fruit, flowers, and glassware, with evidence of the artist’s hand used to manipulate the ink. Two lyrical etchings, illustrating Picasso’s muse Marie-Thérèse Walter with delicate line work, flank a visually heavy aquatint portraying a goat skull. The juxtaposition of youth and vivacity is striking against the weight of inevitable decay.

The goat skull is complemented by Russ Warren’s “Faces,” a large-scale acrylic painting featuring dozens of skull-like visages. The notion of death is echoed again in Gasman’s “The Angel of History,” which employs

Thursday 10/17

music

Berto and Vincent. Join Berto and Vincent for a night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Jam with Steve Lanza. Steve hosts a gathering where you are invited to play along. Free, 8pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com

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

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

Songwriter’s Open Mic. An evening of local talent featuring original songs only. Hosted by Front Porch teacher Erynn Legna McLeod. All levels, styles, and ages welcome. Amps and mics provided. Signup at 6:30pm. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

TechnoSonics Festival. A presentation of immersive multimedia installations and performances by members of the composition & computer technologies community. Free, 7pm. Ruffin Hall, 179 Culbreth Rd. music.virginia.edu/technosonics-2024

Winyah. A distinctive blend of indie and Southern rock, featuring electrifying guitar

thick impasto, gestural marks, and a saturated palette of colors. A sheet of aluminum serves as both the sky and a stand-in for aircraft engaged in wartime bombings. The depiction of angels is carried over in a suite of elegant ink drawings by Sanda Iliescu, which also connect beautifully to Picasso’s etchings through similarity in line weight and simplicity of form.

Another exciting example of curation occurs between print and painting, where David Summers’ “New Light on Picasso’s Snack, plus Water” hangs next to Picasso’s “Pommes, Verre, et Couteau” (Apples, Glass,

and soulful vocals. With Split Decision. $12, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Work Wear x Shagwüf. This one is mega. SuperFly celebrates one year of live music with a double header to rule them all. Be there. Free, 7:30pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave., Ste. 2. superflybrewing.com

stage

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

Dart Night. Weekly luck-of-the-draw doubleelimination games. Throwers get $1-off pints during play. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St. Firefly Karaoke. Sing karaoke with us every Thursday. Free, 8pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

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

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

and Knife). Here we see how the artists attune to the same subject matter: Summers the painter traffics in the representation of light, while Picasso as printmaker is far more concerned with form.

Throughout the show, pops of vibrant color punctuate the visual rhythms produced by monochromatic prints, drawings, and paintings—alluding to acts of both love and violence. LYDM presents a balanced exhibition design keeping the viewer engaged, and seeking out both formal and thematic connections, in the disparate yet related works that grace the welcoming gallery space.

Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party Restoration of director Cameron Crowe’s 1983 documentary covering Tom Petty’s tour. $15, 7pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Friday 10/18

music

Chickenhead Blues Band. Sunset soirée featuring Charlottesville’s premier boogiewoogie, upbeat, rhythm and blues dance band. Free, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

Dylan Benjamin. Virginia singer-songwriter provides an evening of sweet, soulful sounds. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com

Eli Cook Band. Songs from the crossroads of blues, the highways of rock, and the backroads of country. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

G.G.R.H. Featuring four Charlottesville musical institutions—guitar slinger Ian Gilliam, harmonica player Gary Green, bassist Steve Riggs, and Eddie Hall on drums. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com

Haze & Dacey. Acoustic duo plays a variety of folk, alt-country, roots-rock, and countryblues, with a hint of jazz and swing. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

CULTURE THIS WEEK

Holly Renee Allen and The Road Dawgs. Great pickin’, soulful harmonies, and a grand time for all. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. bates villemarket.com

TechnoSonics Festival. Technosonics guest artist Rohan Chander—aka BAKUDI SCREAM—presents on his creative process and use of technology in his work. Free, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall 107, Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu/technosonics-2024

TechnoSonics Festival. A concert of electronic music, intermedia performances, and immersive art-making practices in action. This concert features special guest artist Rohan Chander—aka BAKUDI SCREAM. Free, 8pm. Visible Records, 1740 Broadway St. visible-records.com

stage

Charlottesville Opera Duets Concert Series. Featuring songs from Carousel, La Traviata, The Pirates of Penzance, and songs of old with Jeni Houser, soprano and David Blalock, tenor. $10–75, 7pm. First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park St. charlottesville opera.org

What the Constitution Means to Me. See listing for Wednesday, October 16. $28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

classes

Paint + Sip: Dark Sunset. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a dark sunset scene. $38, 6pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. blueridgebrushes.com

words

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

Saturday 10/19 music

Bailey Hayes. Music in the mountains by a local singer-songwriter playing an eclectic range of music—from country to classic rock, pop-soul, folk, original music, and more. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com Berto Sales. Come enjoy the sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America with Berto Sales. His unique fingerpicking style and contagious energy will have you tapping your feet. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com

John Craigie. Humorous storytelling, serious folk music. With Tré Burt. This is a fully reserved seated show. $30–35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Kate Bollinger. Intimate, stream-ofconsciousness lyricism with classic instrumentation inspired by touchstones of 1960s folk-pop and 1990s indie rock. $18–20, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Melissa Hansen. A blend of blues, pop, country, and soul borne out of life experiences. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Technosonics Festival. A concert of surround sound electronic music, video, and electroacoustic performances. This concert also features special guest artist Rohan Chander—aka BAKUDI SCREAM. Free, 8pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu/ technosonics-2024

Author Event: Eleni Stecopoulos. Join us for an evening with Eleni Stecopoulos, who will speak about her new book of essays, Dreaming in the Fault Zone: A Poetics of Healing. A conversation with author Brian Teare will follow. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

CreativeMornings Charlottesville. A monthly breakfast lecture series for the creative community. Hosted by Jeremy Stern, Emma Terry, and Maureen Brondyke. Free, 8:30am. Location forthcoming. ComeToCharlottesvilleVA.com

etc.

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

Friday Night Improv. Big Blue Door’s fall improv groups perform in Studio 20. It’s 90 minutes of long-form improv comedy. $10, 7pm. McGuffey Art Center, 201 Second St NW. mcguffeyartcenter.com

LYAO with Josh Pray. Born and raised in southwest Florida, Josh Pray quickly proved that his type of comedy was far-reaching. $25, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St., VA, 22902, US.

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

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 17. $15, available noon-8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

The Michael Elswick Gathering. Jazz, blues, ballads, and Latin tunes. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

stage

An Iliad See listing for Thursday, October 17. $28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Met Live in HD: Grounded Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s powerful new opera wrestles with often-overlooked issues created by 21st-century warmaking. $22–26, 1pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

words

Author Event: Stanley Stepanic. Join us for a book talk with Stanley Stepanic, who will speak about the history of vampires in literature and his new historical fiction novel, A Vamp There Was. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

dance

’80s Dance Party. ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s tunes to get you busy on the dance floor. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com

classes

Creative Writing Workshop. An afternoon of writing inspired by art. Participants will explore this year’s Writer’s Eye selections through close looking and thoughtful writing prompts. Ages 16+. Free, 3pm. The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, 155 Rugby Rd. virginia.edu Embroidery Basics. Come join us to learn some basic embroidery stitches. $25, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com

Anniversary Pop-Up Market. Celebrating one year of SuperFly with our friends Hello GoodBye Records, the Charlottesville Poem Store, Chelsea’s Macaroons, and Penny’s Imperfect Pizza. Free, 1pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. super flybrewing.com

Charlottesville Zine Fest. A multimedia community engagement project amplifying diverse voices through the creation and celebration of zines. Free, noon. Visible Records, 1740 Broadway St. visiblerecords.com

C’ville Pie Festival. Anyone who bakes can submit. Pies are judged on flavor, presentation, crust, and originality/tradition. Public pie tastings and live music by E.J. & ‘Em. Free, 10am. Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, 233 Fourth St. NW. jeffschoolheritagecenter.org

Farm Day. Family-friendly event with exhibitors celebrating the past, present, and future of farming. Free, 10am. Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm, 1780 Earlysville Rd. ivycreekfoundation.org

Karaoke with Lane. Karaoke is back— come show off your singing skills with your friends. The stage here is yours. Free, 7pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com

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

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 17. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzled bee.com

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

The Rocky Horror Picture Show In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry). $12–20, 9pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

The Rusty Iris Fiery Fundraiser–Part Trois. Rusty’s fiery friends of Bad Hat Fire present an immersive extravaganza of fire performances, belly dancing, a labyrinth of multimedia art, and a blacklight body paint afterparty. $35, 6pm. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. marketcentral.org

Who’s Who & Brews Interactive Scavenger Hunt. Are you new to the area, or just looking to expand your social circle? Join us for a night of meeting new people— scavenger hunt style. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing Co.,1740 Broadway St.

Sunday 10/20

music

An Lár Traditional Irish Band. Seven musicians make up An Lár with fiddles, flutes, penny whistles, guitars, octave mandolin, tenor banjo, accordion, concertina, and bodhran. Free, 2pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

BRIMS Family Social and Beginner Session. An informal Irish music gathering hosted by the Blue Ridge Irish Music School. This session is geared toward musicians who are beginners and are new to sessions. All ages welcome. Free, 3pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Surviving together Exploring communal ways of healing

By Sarah Lawson

“Outside of biomedicine, relationships lie at the core of healing—between people and their ancestors, between microcosm and macrocosm, between qualities and elements,” writes Eleni Stecopoulos in her new book, Dreaming in the Fault Zone: A Poetics of Healing. A poet, essayist, editor, critic, and UVA MFA alumna, Stecopoulos’ previous books include Visceral Poetics, a work of criticism and memoir, and Armies of Compassion, a poetry collection.

Dreaming in the Fault Zone is a deeply researched and heady collection of essays on illness and healing, written through the dual lenses of family history and personal chronic health conditions. Stecopoulos writes, “For twenty years I’ve contended with immune reactions to substances in both natural and built environments, assigned the diagnostic code of ‘environmental hypersensitivity.’” It is seemingly, in part, this diagnosis that sends her on the path that eventually leads to this book.

The author dedicates an especially effective essay in the book to a defense of sensitivity, noting, “Sensitivity is suspect to a masculinist society that mandates constant productivity and disembodiment.” Also countering that assumption by exploring how, simultaneously, “sensitivity signifies an exception that might be assigned value as social power, sacred dispensation, or creative gift.” It is in the space of this type of paradox or cultural clash that Stecopoulos is the most riveting. She draws influences and cites widely, from Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine, to Freud and Jungian analyst C. A. Meier, as well as modernist poet H.D. and feminist writer Silvia Federici, among countless other physicians, therapists, and historians.

It is also in this space outside of Western, masculinist, capitalistic norms that she seeks alternatives for healing her own body. Stecopoulos writes, “My refusal came after living an extroverted life under capitalism, forced to compete when I did not want, to ignore my body’s needs and boundaries, to override my sensitivity to the point of damage.” As for so many others, it took pushing beyond her own limits to seek out new ways of healing as well as more connected ways of living in community. “You’re a person because of, and with, others,” she writes.

Her examination of and experiences with some of these alternative forms of healing shapes much of the book. “All over the world there were realities that contradicted the pathological strictures of health I knew,” writes Stecopoulos. Through lyrical passages that incorporate verse and mythology, the book offers a survey of healing approaches used throughout time and across the globe, cataloging practices used by Kazakh shamans and healers in Bali, Mexico, Bolivia, Guatemala, Egypt, Greece, China, and elsewhere. “Sacred or secular, secret or shared, many medicines exist and people are healed by them,” she writes. Later adding that, “It is possible to learn from the methods of other cultures without viewing them as precursors or simplifying them into alternatives that provide escape from the ills of the West.”

Stecopoulos will discuss Dreaming in the Fault Zone with poet Brian Teare on Friday, October 18, at New Dominion Bookshop.

Her examples tend to meander through these realms, mapping therapeutic landscapes, geo-mythologies, and geographies of healing, including spaces such as thermal baths, caves, natural springs, and other sacred spots. Alongside this, Stecopoulos offers insights into dream work and interpretation, rituals of purification, the laying on of hands, psychic surgery, somatics, remote acupuncture, and other methods of healing that are ultimately collective even as they appear to focus on an individual body. She also examines the healing properties of poetry, dance, music, theater, and experimental film, highlighting the idea that, like these artforms, medicine is a social practice. Considering the therapeutic properties of literature, specifically, she writes, “Words processed in the brain are felt in other organs.”

The COVID-19 pandemic is unapologetically woven throughout Dreaming in the Fault Zone as something that has changed and continues to change the patterns of society and our ideas of health and healing. She also grapples with immigration, incarceration, decolonization, ableism, medical racism, capitalism, and ecofascism, and does not shy away from documenting her own psychoanalysis and hypnotherapy as she navigates chronic illness, pain, and grief. These specifics are shared in service to the author’s larger argument against toxic individualism and Western concepts of medicine and cures. She writes this section of verse early in the book: “Healing is not an accomplishment. victory. the antithesis of illness. Healing cannot undo the disaster. reverse time.”

Stecopoulos is careful to distinguish between healing and cures, holding space for non-Western approaches that can be informed more broadly by the world we live in. “The plant speaking to the shaman is also empirical data,” she writes. Specifically, she positions healing as a continuum that is as nonlinear and collective as human life, in contrast to the idea of cures as an ableist construct that is unrealistically focused on eradicating illness and restoring a pre-illness self. The latter is often the primary focus of Western medicine, but Stecopoulos argues it is this steadfast focus on cures and quantitative data that ultimately harms many of the potential opportunities we have for the slower processes of holistic healing and building community. “Treating people requires, ultimately, treating the structures that form their person, tone their immune system, impoverish their gut flora, teach their nervous system a restricted set of responses,” she writes.

An enthralling, existential endeavor, Dreaming in the Fault Zone is notable in its range and the depth of humanity and community conveyed through the author’s examinations of the most universal experiences we share: illness and healing. As Stecopoulos writes, “Healing is not an attempt to change history but an ongoing practice endemic to life. Healing is our condition.”

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CULTURE THIS WEEK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Sunday 10/20

Central Virginia Blues Society. An Octoberfest jam with many of Central Virginia’s finest blues musicians. The afternoon gathering will be an acoustic jam featuring continuous performances. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshouse winery.com

Cville Band. The Band celebrates its 102nd fall concert with new works and old favorites. Free, 3:30pm. Monticello High School, 1400 Independence Way. cvilleband.org

DJ Ryan Wood. Celebrating one year of SuperFly with soul and funk music spun from Wood’s personal vinyl collection. Free, 5pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

Gia Ray Duo. After living in L.A. and traveling the world as a professional model, Gia decided to return to Virginia and begin her career as a singer-songwriter. Free, 2pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Faculty Chamber Ensembles. The UVA Chamber Music Series presents the second concert of the 2024-2025 Series. Free–$15, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music. virginia.edu

Jazz Jam. Join a rotating crew of local, regional, and national jazz musicians inviting guests to “join the jam.” Free, 6pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com

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

Scuffletown with Matty Metcalfe. Scuffletown with Matty Metcalfe will play live music for the Marty Whitlow Ovarian Cancer Research Fund benefit show. Donations accepted. Free, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

stage

What the Constitution Means to Me. See listing for Wednesday, October 16. $28, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

classes

Reserve, 5600 Moonlight Dr., Scottsville. mountidareserve.com

Paint + Sip: Moonlit Flowers. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a moonlit flower scene. $38, noon. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. blueridgebrushes.com

Watercolor Stationery Workshop. Tori Feaster reviews basic watercolor techniques culminating in participants using their skills to create watercolor paintings used to design custom notepads. $165, 1pm. Be Just Cville, 407 Monticello Rd. bejustcville.com

etc.

Brian Regan. Vanity Fair calls Regan, “the funniest stand-up alive.” $59–64, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Music Bingo. Listen to your favorite music, match the songs to the titles on your music bingo cards, and win gift card prizes. Fun for the whole family. Free, 2pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. east woodfarmandwinery.com

Paint By Numbers. Join us for a self-guided paint-by-number session to explore your creative side at your own pace. Tools, materials and one non-alcoholic beverage included in ticket price. Free, 11am. Cake Bloom, 705 W Main St. cakebloom.com

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

Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 17. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Role Playing Game Hangout. See listing for Thursday, October 17. Free, 3pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theend games.co

Monday 10/21 music

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

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

dance

Crochet for Beginners. Join Emma as she teaches 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

Halloween Macrame. Use cotton rope to create a macrame ghost or jack o’ lantern. This simple project is perfect for those who have never done macrame as well as those more experienced. Ages 12+. $30, 2:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Intermediate Watercolor Workshop. This portrait class is designed for those looking to refine their skills in capturing the essence and emotion of human faces. $40, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Paint and Sip Watercolor Class. Local watercolor artist and painter Juliette Swenson guides you through one of three images. All skill levels welcome. $45, noon. Tasting Room and Taphouse at Mount Ida

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

classes

Secret Society of Tinkerers. Join us in the Central Maker Lab after it closes as we build, craft, or code a new project each month. All materials provided. Registration required. Ages 11–18. Free, 4:30pm. JMRL: Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org

etc.

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

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

Shaun of the Dead A downtrodden London salesman is caught alongside his loved ones in a zombie apocalypse. $9, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

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

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

Tuesday 10/22 music

49 Winchester. Country music hailing from Castlewood, Virginia, in the desolate backwoods of southern Appalachia. $30–35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Barling and Collins. A legendary C’ville bar band. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjar cville.com

Breabach. One of Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary folk acts, uniting deep roots in Highland and Island tradition with the innovative musical ferment of their Glasgow base. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Nick Shoulders and The Okay Crawdad. Wandering whistler and warbler plays a variety of country styles with the crew. With Jack Studer. $18–20, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Tuesday Evening Concert Series: Richard Goode. A program of Beethoven on piano, featuring the composer’s late sonatas. $5–45, 7:30pm. Old Cabell Hall Auditorium. tecs.org

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

classes

Paint + Sip: Pumpkin Patch. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a pumpkin patch scene. $38, 6pm. Ellie’s Country Club, 16 Elliewood Ave. blueridgebrushes.com etc.

Board Game Night. Welcoming to all ages and backgrounds. Come in to play your favorite table top games. Use our board game library and/or bring your own. Free, 5pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theendgames.co

Charlottesville Run Club. Meet every Tuesday for a leisurely run before heading back to the taproom to hang out and enjoy beer specials. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Downtown, 946 Grady Ave., Suite 101. starrhill.com Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

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

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

Role Playing Game Hangout. See listing for Thursday, October 17. Free, 3pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theendgames.co

CULTURE EXTRA

Resonant perspectives

Live Arts stages compelling he-said, she-said plays

By Kristie Smeltzer

We humans are social animals, which is one reason why theater endures as a way for people to share space and feel something together. In a time when our nation feels quite divided (ahem: understatement), any opportunity to learn from history and engage with challenging subjects in thought-provoking ways is a good opportunity. The current Live Arts shows have us covered on that front with back-to-back chances to dig in to the depth of the human experience from two distinct yet resonant perspectives.

As Live Arts’ 2024/2025 Voyages season picks up steam, What the Constitution Means to Me and An Iliad share the Founders Theater and alternate performances. The choice of presenting the plays in repertory makes sense, because they are very much in conversation. Both shows feature powerful performances enhanced by the black box theater’s intimate staging conditions. Audience members feel essential to the storytelling.

In What the Constitution Means to Me, we find ourselves in an American Legion hall represented by a minimalist patriotic set. Enter Heidi, a character based on playwright/ original lead Heidi Schreck, who takes us to a scholarship speech contest about the U.S. Constitution that she competed in as a teen. Heidi, portrayed by Tovah Close the night I attended, invites the audience to play the cigar-smoking men who filled the American Legion halls of her youth. We were a predominantly female audience, and the first thing many did when invited to embody men was to take up more space, which resonates with the play’s central theme.

Through Heidi’s personal stories, and those of her grandmothers and mother, we come to understand how preposterous it is for Heidi to be speechifying about the personal relevance of a document that first explicitly mentions women in the 19th amendment, passed in 1919, that granted women the right to vote. As a woman, I found the play to be validating and emotionally challenging. Heidi’s statistics about rape and domestic partner violence against women landed pointedly. Just as the weight of the traumas became overwhelming, there was an intermission. Let me tell you: We hit the bar hard.

Fortunately, the play’s second act offers a respite from heartstring plucking (mostly) by featuring a debate between Heidi and an actual debater (Aafreen Aamir). The topic is whether we should keep or abolish the U.S. Constitution. Honestly, it never occurred to me that we could abolish our Constitution and institute a new one—one that

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protects the rights of Native Americans, people of color, queer folks, women, and other minorities with the same vehemence as in protecting the rights of white men like our founding fathers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a proud American, which is probably why the idea of abolishing the Constitution never occurred to me. I’m also a disheartened American, an American who sees that some things need to change as our country continues to evolve, just as the founding fathers envisioned it would.

The following night, I saw An Iliad, which blends sections of Robert Fagles’ translation of Homer’s epic poem with moments of modern contextualization. Two nameless, timeless poets—an elder and a younger— arrive and investigate the sparse set. For several minutes, the audience watches as the elder, portrayed by David Minton (also the director), and the younger by Jesse Timmons, set the stage before beginning the tale. I love that live theater has the power to get me to care about watching a man adjust the placement of a milk crate—and I did care!

The Iliad is a familiar tale to many, with ancient heroes Achilles and Hector leading armies during the Trojan War. The added context breathes life into this show. The Younger Poet likens (spoilers) ill-fated Patroclus’ bloodlust in battle to our modern experience of road rage. He begins by expressing a degree of anger relatable to anyone who’s been cut off in traffic. However, Timmons then takes his performance to an extreme that fills the room with discomfort, graphically describing physical violence, inappropriate as a reaction for a roadway mishap. The Elder Poet touches the younger, to snap him out of his fiery passion, and the younger apologizes, saying something like, “That’s not me. It’s not me.” Reckless uncontrollable rage does not define the man, or at least The Younger Poet doesn’t want it to. One of the play’s most affecting aspects is the tension created by the tenderness between the two characters juxtaposed against the horrors of the Trojan War and all the wars after, including those that are raging even now.

Live Arts kicks off its season with two thought-provoking shows, What the Constitution Means to Me and An Iliad, in repertory through October 28. Details at livearts.org.

WINE DOWN

WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?

CHISWELL FARM WINERY

2021 Meritage

Our velvety-smooth blend of estate-grown Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc was barrel-aged for 20 months. You’ll discover notes of black fruits and light smoke on the nose, with dark cherry and plum prominent on the palate. Enjoy with a perfectly cooked ribeye, braised short ribs, or rich dark chocolate!

A historic Jeffersonian estate nestled in the Virginia countryside, Chiswell Farm & Winery invites guests to delight in locally crafted vintages, panoramic views, and warm hospitality. With a glass in hand, savor the breathtaking scenery from a rocking chair on our covered porch. Gather with friends around a dining table on the lawn or get comfortable in the historic and inviting Greenwood home. Whether you want to come up to the bar for a chat or spread out a blanket for a private picnic, there are countless ways to enjoy the best that Virginia wine country has to offer.

We serve our award-winning wines by the glass, bottle, and flight, seasonal specialty beverages, and a tasteful selection of local and gourmet snacks. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food to enjoy with our wines.

Ages 21+ only, no dogs or other pets permitted on the property. For a family-friendly experience, visit our wine shops at Chiles Peach Orchard or Carter Mountain Orchard. Visit chiswellwinery.com for our seasonal events calendar!

Sundays - Sippin’ Sunday, 2–5 PM

Seasonal hours:

Wednesday 11 AM–6 PM

Thursday 11 AM–6 PM

Friday 11 AM–8 PM

Saturday 11 AM–7 PM

Sunday 11 AM–6 PM

430 Greenwood Rd, Greenwood, VA 22943

434.252.2947 • www.chilesfamilyorchards.com/chiswell

53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD

A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock Cabernet Franc fans, take note! Our 2022 Cabernet Franc is officially released. The wine is characterized by notes of dark cherry with a hint of minerality. Fruit forward, medium-bodied with moderate tannins and medium acidity. Delicious now, this wine will continue to improve with age for up to seven years.

October is Virginia Wine Month! In addition to our Cabernet Franc release, we have some very cool events planned.

October 18th - 2024 Harvest Party 5:30-7:30pm Join us to celebrate another very successful harvest! To view the menu and purchase tickets, please go to our website and click on Tock events.

October 19th - Wine Club PickUp Day 1: Live Music: Sue Harlow 12:30-4:30pm. Food Truck: Salty Bottom Oysters. We are planning an extra special tasting experience. Not a Wine Club member, no problem. For $17 per person, nonwine club members can enjoy the special wine club tasting and receive a food coupon for the food

truck.

October 20th - Wine Club Pick-Up Day 2: Live Music: Her Checkered Past Food Truck: Smashed Life Burger Truck. As always, we are planning an extra special tasting experience. Not a Wine Club Member, no problem. For $17 per person, non-wine club members can enjoy the special wine club tasting and receive a food coupon for the food truck.

October 26th - Live Music by the very popular Marc Carraway 12:304:30pm

October 27th - Norton Network Wine and Food Pairing. Experience a vertical selection of our exceptional Norton wine (a native Virginia varietal) to include released and not yet bottled wines paired with select bites by Sauce Catering. Our guest speakers, renowned viticulturist and Virginia native Lucie Morton and Fred Reno, 2023 Virginia Wine Person of the Year and Podcaster are Norton enthusiasts! Whether you are a Norton fan or just curious, this is one to not miss. See our website for details and to purchase tickets, $59/person Relish the moment! We are down-to-earth and love to share our enthusiasm with customers about our wine. Visit us at our meadow-like setting in rural Louisa County. Check our website www.53rdwinery.com or call 540894-1536 for more information. We look forward to seeing you at the winery! Your business and support

are appreciated.

Open 7 days a week, 11 am –Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm

13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com

DUCARD VINEYARDS

2023 Rosé

Our new Rosé is a classic, dry Provencal style wine with a gorgeous coral color. A perfect pairing for the patio, this wine exhibits a vibrant mouthfeel with notes of cranberry and citron.

October is Virginia Wine Month, and we’ll be celebrating in full swing at DuCard! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our series about everything we love about the Virginia wine industry. We will have live music every weekend, including our popular Friday Night Out series where we feature half price wine flights. All through the month we will be doing our annual Sipping for Saplings program – buy a bottle of wine and take home a sapling to plant. On October 20 we are hosting our Fall Chocolate & Wine Pairing, and the weekend of October 25-27 we will be doing a Norton Three Ways Tasting and Tour in partnership with the Norton Network – a collective of Virginia Norton growers, wine producers, and advocates.

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!

Oct. 20th- Fall Chocolate and Wine Paring (advanced ticket purchase required)

Oct. 25-27th - Norton Three Ways Tasting Tour with the Norton Network!

Open daily – Mon-Thurs. 12-5 pm Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm

40 Gibson Hollow Ln • Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com

EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY

October is Virginia Wine Month!

Join us in celebrating the 2024 grape harvest with wine & food specials in a beautiful setting, including our new release of 2022 Meritage Reserve. There is always something for the whole family to enjoy at Eastwood from our gold medal 2023 Petit Manseng to our new Oktoberfest beer and our popular juice flights for kids. Along with the Fall Oktoberfest menu, we will be hosting live music all month long and tasting bar takeovers that highlight local independent winemakers. Join us for festive fall days in Virginia Wine Country.

This Month at the Winery: Enjoy the views from the Tent and Terraces:

In addition to our main tasting room being open seven days a week, the Tent and Terraces (along with our food truck) will be open most Fridays and Sundays in October. Drive up for ample parking at the Tent. See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.

Harvest Party Celebration

| Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19

Our harvest party celebration features pop-ups & complimentary tastings from some of the best independent winemakers in Virginia. Enjoy some incredible wines along with delicious food, housemade beers & ciders, and live music all day.

Wine Wednesdays

10% off all bottle purchases on Wednesdays.

Oktoberfest (September 6October 27)

Introducing our new Oktoberfest beer and offering food specials including bratwurst, flammkuchen, pork schnitzel, loaded fries, and more. Join us every weekend for live music, great wine, beer, cider, and delicious food.

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 5-8 PM. Thursday “Thank You” Community Day at Eastwood— Select $5

Glasses of Wine, Beer, Cider and Wine Slushies All Day

Every Friday: Live Music 5-8 PM Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration 5-8PM

Every Saturday: Live Music 1-4 PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8 PM

Every Sunday: Music Bingo or Paint & Sip or Maker’s Market or Live Music (See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.)

What about the kids?

Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Winery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday (12-8 PM); Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (12-5 PM)

We look forward to welcoming you to our tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as delicious lunch and dinner menus. Enjoy lounging on the veranda with a glass of our gold medal 2022 Rosé.

Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal flatbread or baked brie. We also have juice flights and cheese boards for the kids. See the Winery Calendar for details. Escape to Virginia Wine Country, only five miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Open year-round, seven days a week. Pet friendly and large groups are welcome.  Ample indoor and outdoor seating.

Rt 20 near the intersection with Avon Extended (5 mi from Downtown Mall) Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 www.eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

GRACE ESTATE WINERY

2022 Slope of Grace Cabernet Franc

The ‘Slope of Grace’ is our premium vineyard block near the top of Mount Juliet. 100% of these Cabernet Franc grapes are harvested from the slopes, fermented without yeast additions, and aged 20 months in Italian-made oak botte. All production aspects are handled minimally to allow the purest expression of Cabernet Franc grown on the rocky gneiss bedrock of the ‘Slope of Grace. Enjoy with a variety of meats including roasted pork, duck, venison and lamb.  Keeping the upcoming holiday season in mind, we are all excited to try our Cabernet Franc paired with turkey and cranberry.

Experience the essence of Virginia’s Monticello AVA at Grace Estate Winery. Nestled in the serene mountains, our tasting room invites you to indulge in a captivating

journey through our meticulously crafted, small-production wines. Each pour reflects our commitment to environmentally conscious farming and traditional winemaking techniques, showcasing the unique terroir of our land.

Join us for an unforgettable wine sampling experience, where you can savor our award-winning varietals while surrounded by panoramic views that inspire relaxation and connection. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or new to the world of wine, our knowledgeable staff will guide you through our artisan selections, providing insights into each wine’s story and character.

Step away from the everyday and immerse yourself in a charming atmosphere perfect for family gatherings, special occasions, or simply a tranquil afternoon among friends. Plan your visit today and discover why Grace Estate Winery is a cherished destination for wine lovers seeking sophistication and authenticity. Come taste the difference that passion and dedication make in every glass.

Fridays - Friday Night Live! See our website for our rotating live music.

Hours:

Wed/Thurs 12 – 6 pm

Fri/Sat 12 – 8 pm Sun 12 – 6 pm

5273 Mt Juliet Farm, Crozet, VA 22932 (434) 823-1486 • graceestatewinery.com

KESWICK VINEYARDS

Keswick Vineyards is excited to announce the grand opening of its new tasting room, designed to elevate your wine-tasting experience to new heights. This state-of-theart space features a retractable roof and glass walls that can be fully retracted, seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor environments. Imagine sipping your favorite vintage surrounded by panoramic views of the vineyard and rolling countryside, all while enjoying the perfect balance of fresh air and comfort. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, Keswick Vineyards offers

a range of tasting options to suit your preferences. You can enjoy wine by the glass, bottle, or explore a curated flight of their finest selections. The traditional tastings are available Monday through Friday, allowing you to experience their diverse portfolio of wines in a relaxed setting.

For those looking to unwind midweek, don’t miss “Wine Down Wednesday,” running from April to October. From 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, this event offers a chance to enjoy great wine and good company in a lively atmosphere. Additionally, every Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, you can take advantage of the $5 glass happy hour, perfect for a postwork escape or a pre-dinner treat.

As the seasons change, Keswick Vineyards continues to cater to your wine cravings with an extended Friday happy hour. From now until the end of fall, enjoy $5 glasses of wine from 5:00 PM until closing at 7:00pm, giving you extra time to savor their offerings and make the most of the crisp autumn evenings.

Come experience the innovation and charm of Keswick Vineyards’ new tasting room—a place where tradition meets modern luxury, and every visit feels like a special occasion.

Daily- Mini golf open and available!

Wednesdays - Wine Down Wednesdays start May 8th every Wednesday through October 5:30-

8:30pm

Weekends - Live Music from 12-4 pm (check out our website for the schedule!)

Hours:

Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm

1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947

Tasting Room: (434) 244-3341 ext 105 tastingroom@keswickvineyards.com www.keswickvineyards.com

MONTIFALCO VINEYARD

A Symphony in a Glass: The Art of Blending Chardonnay and Viognier

In the world of winemaking, blending is both a science and an art, a delicate balance of flavors that can elevate a wine to new heights. Our winemaker Justin Falco’s 2023 L’Espoir, 70% Chardonnay and 30% Viognier blend is a testament to this craft, offering a unique fusion of two beloved white varietals. Characteristics and Flavor Profile

The Vision Behind the Blend

Justin’s inspiration for this blend came from a desire to create a wine that embodies the elegance of Chardonnay while incorporating the aromatic richness of Viognier. Chardonnay, with its versatile character, brings structure, body, and a nuanced complexity, while Viognier adds a vibrant layer of floral and stone fruit notes. The result is a wine that is both refreshing and luxurious, perfect for those who appreciate the subtleties of a wellcrafted blend.

Tasting Notes: A Dance of Flavors

On the nose, this blend presents an inviting bouquet of ripe pear, white peach, and delicate honeysuckle, courtesy of the Viognier. The Chardonnay lends its signature aromas of green apple, citrus, and just a hint of vanilla, creating a harmonious interplay of scents. Upon tasting, the wine reveals a beautifully balanced palate. The Chardonnay provides a crispness and a backbone of acidity, which

is perfectly complemented by the lush, silky mouthfeel imparted by the Viognier. Flavors of lemon zest, apricot, and a touch of tropical fruit dance on the tongue, leading to a long, satisfying finish with a hint of minerality.

Food Pairing: Elevating the Dining Experience

This blend is a versatile companion to a wide range of dishes. Its bright acidity and rich texture make it an excellent match for seafood, particularly grilled shrimp, scallops, or a buttery lobster tail. It also pairs wonderfully with creamy pasta dishes, roasted chicken, and soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

For those seeking a more adventurous pairing, try it with a spicy Thai curry or a tangy citrus salad; the wine’s balance of freshness and richness will beautifully complement the bold flavors.

The Winemaking Process: Crafting Perfection

The journey to creating this blend begins in the vineyard, where the grapes are carefully selected at the peak of ripeness. The Chardonnay grapes are chosen for their balance of acidity and flavor, while the Viognier grapes are picked for their aromatic intensity.

In the winery, each varietal is fermented separately to preserve its unique characteristics. The Chardonnay is fermented in a combination of stainless steel and neutral oak barrels, enhancing its complexity and texture. The Viognier, on the other hand, is fermented in only stainless steel to retain its vibrant aromatics.

Once fermentation is complete, he carefully blends the two varietals, tasting and adjusting until the perfect balance is achieved. The wine is then aged for several months to allow the flavors to meld and mature, resulting in a blend that is greater than the sum of its parts.

A Wine for All Occasions

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or enjoying a quiet evening at home, this Chardonnay and Viognier blend L’Espoir is a wine that will elevate any moment. Its elegance, complexity, and approachable style make it a perfect choice for both seasoned wine lovers and those new to the world of wine.

In every sip, you’ll find the dedication, creativity, and passion that went into crafting this unique blend. It’s more than just a wine— it’s a celebration of the art of winemaking and the beauty of blending two distinct varieties into one harmonious experience.

1800 Fray Rd, Ruckersville, VA 22968 (434) 989-9115

montifalcovineyard.com

THE NORTON WINE TOUR 2024

with the Norton Network

Explore great wines made from Virginia’s native gem!

We, the Norton Network—a collective of Virginia Norton growers, wine producers, and advocates—are excited to announce the first-ever Virginia Norton Wine Tour taking place this October - November. This collaborative effort aims to highlight the exceptional qualities of this historically significant native grape across 22 Virginia wineries and vineyards that either grow Norton or feature it prominently in their wines. The tour will span a month, starting the weekend of October 18th and continuing through November 10th.

For the second weekend of the tour (October 25th - 27th), we shine a spotlight on the Central Virginia cluster: Chateau MerrillAnne, DuCard Vineyards, Fifty-Third Winery & Vineyard, and Horton Vineyards. During this leg of the wine tour, these wineries and vineyards will host special events, vertical tastings, or promotions, each offering a unique take on this versatile grape. From robust reds to elegant dessert wines, the Central cluster promises a diverse and exciting experience that showcases the full spectrum of Norton’s potential. Join us and discover the richness of Virginia’s native gem as you explore the Central Virginia cluster on this unforgettable weekend!

To learn more about the events, ticketed activities, and promotions happening during the Central Virginia Cluster’s weekend, scan the QR code below!

PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS

Rapidan River Peach

Join us this October in celebrating our Rapidan River Peach wine! As one of our top sellers, it features a fresh, crisp, and rich peach flavor that delights the palate. With its delicate peach aromas, medium sweetness, and bright acidity, this wine is perfect for the season.  It pairs beautifully with grilled chicken with peach salsa, Spicy Asian dishes and cheesecake with fresh fruit.

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 crowdfavorite Decadence Chocolate or a refreshing wine slushie for a delightful twist.  We have something to offer for every palate!

Live Music every Friday – Sunday! (Music lineup on our website)

Friday 5-8 p.m.

Saturday 1-4 & 5-8

Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Open 7 days a Week at 11 a.m.

154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA  22725 (540) 547-3707 • www.princemichel.com

A Woman-Owned Business

REVALATION VINEYARDS

2022 Merlot

With rich aromas of red plum, black pepper, dark cherry, licorice, chocolate and blueberry, this wine was made exclusively from estate-grown Merlot grapes. Soft, sweet and subtle tannins complement a well-round attack. Its fruity finish echoes the plum and cherry aromas of the nose.

All October Long - Exhibition of artwork by Richard Young.

October 17th - Sip & Learn at 6pm: The Black Tax by Dr. Andrew Kahrl. Come and mingle at 5:30pm.

October 18th - Sip into the Sunset @the Cabin from 12:00pm until sunset.

October 24th - Français with Françoise. An evening of French conversation starting at 6:30pm.

October 25th - Sip into the Sunset @the Cabin from 12:00pm until sunset; and Book Club @ The Vineyard starting at 6:00pm: Any book in Alexander McCall Smith series The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

October 25th & 26th - Wine Dinner at the Inn at Meander Plantation from 6:00pm. More information on our website.

October Hours: Friday 12pm to Sunset; Saturday 12pm to 6pm; Sunday 12pm to 5pm; Monday and Thursday by reservation only.

2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com

VERITAS

2022 Veritas Reserve

The blend is 50% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot, and 21% Petit Verdot. It is deep garnet in color and the bouquet is a deeply integrated balance of leather enveloped in an aroma of fresh black fruit. Luscious flavors of blackberry unfold with rich tannins on the palate leaving a structured and elegant finish

accentuated with complex flavors of caramel and mocha from barrel aging. Perfect for pairing with beef stews, roasted root vegetables, and a nice campfire with s’mores! Enjoy this wine on its own or as part of our Decanter Trio, a three-bottle bundle highlighting three Veritas wines that all received 90+ ratings from Decanter earlier in September. This trio will be available all Virginia Wine Month long for $99 online and in the Tasting Room!

Save the Date: Veritas Illuminated!

We’re bringing back our annual Veritas Illuminated on November 22! Tickets for the walking light trail will be on sale soon at www. veritaswines.com.

New Year’s Eve Masked Ball Tickets are now on sale for the Veritas New Year’s Eve Masked Ball on Tuesday, December 31. Ring in 2025 with a decadent five-course wine-paired dinner, dancing, and celebration! After the midnight toast, enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet to close out the festivities. Tickets are available for purchase online, and Veritas Wine Club members receive a discount on the first two tickets they purchase.

Spend those gorgeous Autumn afternoons at Veritas next to a reserved firepit with your favorite bottle of wine! Make your reservation today online or by calling us at 540456-8000. Our Tasting Room is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm!

Our Tasting Room is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm!

151 Veritas Ln, Afton, VA 22920 (540) 456-8000

PUZZLES

SUDOKU

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

#1

BY MATT JONES

ACROSS

1. Nearly boils, as water

7. “Drugs are bad, ___?” (“South Park” line)

11. Sea-___ Airport

14. Bruce Springsteen’s “Greetings from ___ Park, N.J.”

15. “Arrested Development” star Michael

16. Unexpected

17. The most fortunate member of the Scooby Gang?

19. Rank under cpl.

20. Last part of “Aida,” e.g.

21. Broadway star McDonald

23. ___ apso (small terrier)

26. Footwear with spikes

29. Meal component?

30. Half a Robert Louis Stevenson title character?

32. “I’ll just pop out for ___ bit ...”

33. What a flag made up of green, white, grey, and black stripes represents

34. Battery terminal, for short

35. Old sitcom’s new chance?

37. Bite-sized Chinese dishes

39. ___-Lytton Fiction Contest

42. Map section

44. Birthplace of Albert Einstein

45. “Much ___ About Nothing”

46. “Free Willy” creature

48. Instructions before weeping?

50. Comedian ___ Lina

51. Completely reliable

53. John on the Mayflower

55. Bit of a giggle

56. Traffic sign verb

58. Prefix meaning “upon”

59. Vegan block for Laura Ingalls Wilder?

65. Hairstyling stuff

66. Shredded

67. Stewed fruits

68. NPR’s Shapiro who hosted the latest season of “The Mole”

69. Booty

70. Quaking trees

DOWN

1. “Do the Right Thing” pizzeria owner

2. Fort Collins sch.

3. “Doctor Odyssey” network

4. Haas of “Inception”

5. University that doesn’t allow alcohol

6. Pt. of DOS

7. James of “X-Men” movies

8. Ale container

9. Braz. neighbor

10. “Get Yer ___ Out” (Rolling Stones album)

11. Direction to put in laundr y, in some machines?

12. Like most paid streaming accounts

13. Music holder in a tower, once

18. Stock market peaks

22. Rental truck brand

23. Mutual fund charge

24. Comedian Kondabolu

25. Super-spicy pepper?

27. CEO, for instance

28. Lacking force

31. Joker portrayer Cesar

36. Scrapyard scourers

38. Chinese zodiac animal

40. Nurse Jackie portrayer Falco

41. “Hot To Go” singer Chappell

43. No. on a business card

44. Bovine milk source

46. “High School Musical” director Kenny

47. Ebert’s partner after Siskel

49. Trying (for)

52. Back-to-school mos.

54. Slacken

57. Daytime TV host Kelly

60. Sudoku section

61. Old Notre Dame coach Parseghian

62. Number ___ Obser vatory Circle (current residence of Kamala Harris)

63. Boggy land

64. Letters on some battleships

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

By Rob Brezsny

By Rob Brezsny

Scorpio

Libra

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

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): As a teenager, I loved the music of Jefferson Airplane. I recall sitting on the couch in my New Jersey home and listening to their albums over and over again. Years later, I was performing on stage at a San Francisco nightclub with my band, World Entertainment War. In the audience was Paul Kantner, a founding member of Jefferson Airplane. After the show, he came backstage and introduced himself. He said he wanted his current band, Jefferson Starship, to cover two of my band’s songs on his future album. Which he did. I suspect you will soon experience a comparable version of my story, Scorpio. Your past will show up bearing a gift for your future. A seed planted long ago will finally blossom.

Sagittarius

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

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): My horoscopes are directed toward individuals, not groups. Yet it’s impossible to provide oracles about your personal destiny without considering the collective influences that affect you. Every day, you are impacted by the culture you live in. For instance, you encounter news media that present propaganda as information and regard cynicism as a sign of intellectual vigor. You live on a planet where the climate is rapidly changing, endangering your stability and security. You are not a narrow-minded bigot who doles out hatred toward those who are unlike you, but you may have to deal with such people. I bring this to your attention, Sagittarius, because now is an excellent time to take an inventory of the world’s negative influences—and initiate aggressive measures to protect yourself from them. Even further, I hope you will cultivate and embody positive alternatives.

Capricorn

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

Capricorn

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Virgo

Libra

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

(Sept. 22-Oct. 22): Let’s review the highlights of the recent months. First, you expanded your perspective, blew your mind, and raised your consciousness. That was fabulous! Next, you wandered around half-dazed and thoroughly enchanted, pleased with your new freedom and spaciousness. That, too, was fantastic! Then, you luxuriously indulged in the sheer enjoyment of your whimsical explorations and experimentations. Again, that was marvelous! Now you’re ready to spend time integrating all the teachings and epiphanies that have surged into your life in recent months. This might be less exciting, but it’s equally important.

Aquarius

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

Aquarius

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Do you fantasize about being a masterful manager of your world? Have you imagined the joy of being the supreme sovereign of your holy destiny? Do you love the idea of rebelling against anyone who imagines they have the right to tell you what you should do and who you are? If you answered yes to those questions, I have excellent news, Aquarius: You are now primed to take exciting steps to further the goals I described. Here’s a helpful tip: Re-dedicate yourself to the fulfillment of your two deepest desires. Swear an oath to that intention.

Pisces

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

Pisces

(Feb. 19-March 20): The Liberation Season is here. How can you take maximum advantage of the emancipatory energies? Here are suggestions: 1. Plan adventures to frontier zones. 2. Sing and dance in the wilderness. 3. Experiment with fun and pleasure that are outside your usual repertoire. 4. Investigate what it would mean for you to be on the vanguard of your field. 5. Expand your understandings of sexuality. 6. Venture out on a pilgrimage. 7. Give yourself permission to fantasize extravagantly. 8. Consider engaging in a smart gamble. 8. Ramble, wander, and explore.

Aries

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I suspect you will be extra attractive, appealing, and engaging in the coming weeks. You may also be especially convincing, influential, and inspirational. What do you plan to do with all this potency? How will you wield your flair? Here’s what I hope: You will dispense blessings everywhere you go. You will nurture the collective health and highest good of groups and communities you are part of. P.S.: In unexpected ways, being unselfish will generate wonderful selfish benefits.

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

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

(March 21-April 19): Secrets and hidden agendas have been preventing you from getting an accurate picture of what’s actually happening. But you now have the power to uncover them. I hope you will also consider the following bold moves: 1. Seek insights that could be the key to your future sexiness. 2. Change an aspect of your life you’ve always wanted to change but have never been able to. 3. Find out how far you can safely go in exploring the undersides of things. 4. Help your allies in ways that will ultimately inspire them to help you.

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

Taurus

Aries

(April 20-May 20): From the early 1910s to the late 1920s, silent films were the only kind of films that were made. The proper technology wasn’t available to pair sounds with images. “Talking pictures,” or “talkies,” finally came into prominence in the 1930s. Sadly, the majority of silent films, some of which were fine works of art, were poorly preserved or only exist now in second- or third-generation copies. I’m meditating on this situation as a metaphor for your life, Taurus. Are there parts of your history that seem lost, erased, or unavailable? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to try to recover them. Remembering and reviving your past can be a potent healing agent.

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

Gemini

Taurus

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

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): An old proverb tells us, “You must run toward the future and catch it. It is not coming to meet you, but is fleeing from you, escaping into the unknown.” This adage isn’t true for you at all right now, Gemini. In fact, the future is dashing toward you from all directions. It is not shy or evasive, but is eager to embrace you and is full of welcoming energy. How should you respond? I recommend you make yourself very grounded. Root yourself firmly in an understanding of who you are and what you want. Show the future clearly which parts of it you really want and which parts are uninteresting to you.

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): Early in his musical career, Cancerian innovator Harry Partch played traditional instruments and composed a regular string quartet. But by age 29, he was inventing and building novel instruments that had never before been used. Among the materials he used in constructing his Zymo-Xyl, Eucal Blossom,

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

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

Cancer

and Chromelodeon were tree branches, light bulbs, and wine bottles. I’m inviting you to enter into a Harry Partch phase of your cycle, Cancerian. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to express your unique genius—whether that’s in your art, your business, your personal life, or any other sphere where you love to express your authentic self.

Leo

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

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): Life’s unpredictable flow will bring you interesting new blessings if you revamp your fundamentals. Listen closely, Leo, because this is a subtle turn of events: A whole slew of good fortune will arrive if you joyfully initiate creative shifts in your approaches to talking, walking, exercising, eating, sleeping, meditating, and having fun. These aren’t necessarily earth-shaking transformations. They may be as delicate and nuanced as the following: 1. Add amusing words to your vocabulary. 2. Playfully hop and skip as you stroll along. 3. Sample new cuisines. 4. Keep a notebook or recorder by your bed to capture your dreams. 5. Try novel ways to open your mind and heart. 6. Seek fresh pleasures that surprise you.

Virgo

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In an old Irish folk tale, the fairies give a queen a crystal cauldron with special properties. If anyone speaks three falsehoods in its presence, it cracks into three fragments. If someone utters three hearty truths while standing near it, the three pieces unite again. According to my metaphorical reading of your current destiny, Virgo, you are now in the vicinity of the broken cauldron. You have expressed one restorative truth, and need to proclaim two more. Be gently brave and bold as you provide the healing words.

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

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

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

CLASSIFIEDS

VIRGINIA: ALBEMARLE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

LESTER SMITH,

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

V.

WILLIAM MILLER RHODES, JR., and UNKNOWN HEIRS

PUBLICATION ORDER

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

ENTERED This 19th day of September, 2024

I ASK FOR THIS:

J. Addison Barnhardt

GRISHAM & BARNHARDT, PLLC

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

Telephone: (434) 293-2939

Fax: (434) 293-0691

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

Cheryl V. Higgins Judge

Creating Color Harmonies & Mastering Color Design

McGuffey Art Center

Saturdays, 1:30 - 4:00 pm

3 weeks, starting Oct. 19th

more info: johnahancock.com hancockjohna.artist@gmail.com 434-939-7445

Beverly Street Studio School Tuesdays, 9:30 am -12:30 pm

4 Weeks, Starting Oct 15th register: BSSSchool.org director@BSSSchool.org

Sundays, 1:30 - 4:30 pm

5 weeks, starting Oct. 27th info: HancockJohnA.Artist@gmail.com register: johnahancock.com 434-939-7445

Name: Brian Regan

Hometown: Las Vegas

Job(s): Comedian/actor/ salad chef

What’s something about your job that people would be surprised to learn? I’m not funny every waking moment. And I’m not funny at all when I’m asleep.

Favorite movie and/or show: Amadeus. The theme of the movie is not one usually touched on by storytellers—jealousy of talent.

F. Murray Abraham plays Antonio Salieri, a composer, who is envious of the brilliance of Mozart. Abraham’s performance is beautiful. My second favorite movie is Porky’s II

Best advice you ever got:

“Earn your sips.” Years ago, John Fox, a comedian I was working with in a comedy club, told me when I got off stage that I should only take a sip of my beer if my previous joke had gotten a laugh. He said it was awkward to watch me tell a joke, have it not work, then watch me go over to the stool, pick up my

beer, take a sip, then walk back to the microphone. He said, “Only take a sip while people are laughing.” “Earn your sips” is bigger than just stage advice. It is really a metaphor for life.

Proudest accomplishment: Being a good dad.

Who’d play you in a movie? Me

Who is your hero? My dad

Best Halloween costume you’ve worn: A book. When I was a kid, I took a big cardboard box, and made a big book out of it. Unfortunately, I drew the lines for the pages on the wrong side

Standout standup

Visiting close to 100 cities each year on a nonstop theater tour, comedian Brian Regan has built a 30-plus-year career through lots of laughs. A costar in three seasons of Peter Farrelly’s TV series “Loudermilk,” Regan has also starred in his own Netflix sketch comedy and stand-up series “Stand Up And Away! With Brian Regan.” With eight hourlong comedy releases to his credit and appearances at legendary venues including London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Radio City Music Hall, Regan is a vetted veteran of stage and screen. Ahead of his October 20 show at The Paramount Theater, we put the funnyman in the HotSeat.

Most used app on your phone: Backgammon. I have played thousands of backgammon games against nobody. It is my small way of raging against the machine. Favorite curse word? Or favorite word: This isn’t really answering the question, but I’ll share it anyway. I once

saw the “F” word written in an article. They used all the letters except they put an asterisk for the letter “C.” I found it funny that apparently the letter “C” is what makes the “F” word offensive. What have you forgotten today? To answer this question.

Jack & Wendy Brown