Role call
Actor, director, and producer Matthew Modine appears at the 37th Virginia Film Festival for a screening of Alan Parker’s Birdy and the documentary I Hope This Helps!
Actor, director, and producer Matthew Modine appears at the 37th Virginia Film Festival for a screening of Alan Parker’s Birdy and the documentary I Hope This Helps!
To register for any of the below events scan the QR code, or type bit.ly/3YunFwZ into a internet browser
Film Festival:
Defenders of Democracy
10.31.24| 5p - 6:30p
Her Excellency Shaikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah
Ambassador of Kuwait to the U.S.
11.01.24| 2p - 3p
UVA Small Collections Library
An Evening with Professor Martin Luther King III
11.11.24| 6:30p Rotunda Dome Room
Charlottesville’s News & Arts Weekly CIRCULATION: 20,000 WEEKLY
P.O. Box 119
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
www.c-ville.com
Facebook: facebook.com/cville.weekly
X: @cville_weekly
Instagram: @cvilleweekly
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Caite Hamilton editor@c-ville.com
10 Hung Cao wants to unseat incumbent Tim Kaine
11 Presidential candidates aren’t the only ones on your ballot.
13 Real Estate Weekly: More homes, fewer businesses in new mixeduse development?
37 All You Can Eat: Pi-Napo serves up a slice of Napoli.
43 Galleries: What’s on view this month 45 Stages: Shaboozey plays the JPJ
Two-sentence Horror Stories: And the winner is..
Sudoku
Crossword
Free Will Astrology
Tovbis in The HotSeat.
CULTURE EDITOR
Tami Keaveny tami@c-ville.com
NEWS REPORTER
Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
CM Turner arts@c-ville.com
COPY EDITOR
Susan Sorensen
CONTRIBUTORS
Rob Brezsny, Dave Cantor, Matt Dhillon, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Claudia Gohn, Mary Jane Gore, Maeve Hayden, Andrew Hollins, Erika Howsare, Justin Humphreys, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Erin Martin, Kristin O’Donoghue, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Courteney Stuart, Paul Ting, Sean Tubbs
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
ART DIRECTOR
Max March max@c-ville.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Tracy Federico designer@c-ville.com
ADVERTISING
advertising@c-ville.com
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Brian Hrozencik brian@c-ville.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Stephanie Vogtman
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Gabby Kirk gabby@c-ville.com
Sarah Smith sarah@c-ville.com
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Faith Gibson ads@c-ville.com
BUSINESS
PUBLISHER
Anna Harrison anna@c-ville.com
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Debbie Miller debbie@c-ville.com
A/R SPECIALIST
Nanci Winter (434) 373-0429
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Billy Dempsey circulation@c-ville.com
C-VILLE HOLDINGS, LLC
Bill Chapman, Blair Kelly
C-VILLE is published Wednesdays. 20,000 free copies are distributed all over Charlottesville, Albemarle, and the surrounding counties. One copy per person. Additional copies may be purchased for $1.99 per copy.
Unsolicited news articles, essays, and photography are carefully considered. Local emphasis is preferred. Although care will be taken, we assume no responsibility for submissions. First-class mail subscriptions are available for $140 annually.
©2024 C-VILLE Weekly. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
MEMBER Virginia Press Association
WITH BEN KATZMAN’S DEGREASER 11-16 | SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE WITH SPECIAL GUEST TASHI DORI 11-19 | RATBOYS WITH YOUBET 11-22 | DRAG BONANZA (16+) WITH YOUR HOST CHERRY POSSUMS 11-23 | BILL FRISELL TRIO FT. THOMAS MORGAN & RUDY ROYSTON EARLY SHOW & LATE SHOW PRESENTED BY WTJU 11-29 | PALMYRA + RAMONA & THE HOLY SMOKES WITH CHARLIE SHEA PRESENTED BY 106.1 THE CORNER 12-06 | LA LOM
12-07 | WILLIE WATSON WITH VIV & RILEY 12-14 | ANDREW MARTIN STRINGBAND
12-21 | MAYDAY
2134 Barracks Road Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-295-0688 www.follycville.com
“I voted. I have never done what I’ve done today. No Rs tagged on ballot…none. … The only way to fix the GOP, is to annihilate it and remake it with the sane and rational. A real Conservative Party that cares about freedom.”
—Former
Republican congressman Denver Riggleman in a series of posts to X/Twitter on October 26
Darden Towe Park’s Free Bridge Lane will be closed to cars starting November 1 for a one-year trial period promoting walking, running, and biking. The pathway, located along the Rivanna River, serves as part of Albemarle County’s 2019 plan supplementing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Parking will still be available at the lot on the north end of the road.
Professor Emeritus Charles J. Goetz, an economist who taught at University of Virginia School of Law for more than 30 years, died October 16 at age 85. After earning his Ph.D. in economics at UVA in 1965, Goetz played a major role in expanding the influence of economics in the legal field. He is remembered by students and colleagues for both his groundbreaking work and generous spirit.
Charlottesville may add two new shelters after City Manager Sam Sanders recommended a $5.25 million budget with funding for the city’s rising homeless population. Projects planned in partnership with The Salvation Army would add 100 beds to the Ridge Street campus and a new 50bed low-barrier option at the organization’s Cherry Avenue thrift store. Sanders also proposed adding public bathrooms downtown.
On October 27, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling ordering the Youngkin administration to add more than 1,500 Virginians back onto voter rolls.
Both Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares said they will appeal the case to the Supreme Court, calling the decision an attempt at undermining election integrity.
The decision comes on the heels of a Department of Justice suit alleging an August 7 executive order by Youngkin ordering the daily removal of voters identified as noncitizens by Department of Motor Vehicles records, violates a provision of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The legislation prohibits the systematic removal of voters from rolls within 90 days of federal elections.
District Court Judge Patricia Giles of Alexandria ordered the commonwealth to reinstate the voters on October 25. The Fourth Circuit not only upheld Giles’ decision, but declined a request from Miyares to stop enforcement of the order.
While Miyares argued the order would add noncitizens back to voter rolls, the circuit court panel echoed Giles’ determination that, “‘neither the Court nor the parties ... know’ that the people ‘removed from’ the voter rolls
under the challenged program ‘were, in fact, noncitizens,’ and that at least some ‘eligible citizens ... have had their registrations canceled and were unaware that this was even so.’”
Charlottesville City Schools has partnered with Virginia Career Works on an effort to improve students’ career readiness and help fulfill future workforce needs, according to an October 23 press release.
As part of the collaboration, the district and workforce group plan to create programming for specific hiring sectors to create paths to employment, drawing inspiration from and expanding on existing initiatives at the Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center.
“The feedback from our industry partners has been invaluable to make sure that our students are prepared for careers,” said Stacey Heltz, principal of CATEC and career and technical education coordinator for CCS. “The partnership with VCW will expand the reach and depth of this advisory network.”
CCS Superintendent Royal Gurley also highlighted the importance and potential widespread benefits of the collaboration. “By working closely with industry leaders, Charlottesville City Schools is securing a bright future,” he said, “not just for high school students, or the adults who take classes at CATEC, but also for the city as a whole.”
of court
their names removed from rolls based on outdated or incorrect DMV records.
By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
Virginia is one of 33 states with a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs this November. Two-term incumbent Tim Kaine (D) faces a challenge from former navy Captain Hung Cao (R). In the lead-up to Election Day, C-VILLE reached out to both candidates via email.
C-VILLE: What are your top priorities if elected to the Senate?
Tim Kaine: The economy, affordable housing, and health care are issues I hear about all across Virginia.
I’ve proudly helped pass legislation to create good-paying manufacturing jobs, supercharge the green energy sector, and rebuild our infrastructure, but we must do more. Our American Rescue Plan ushered the strongest jobs recovery on record and expanded the child tax credit. … I’m working to bring that tax cut back and make it permanent. To grow our economy, we must also pass a comprehensive immigration reform package to both secure our border and enable companies to hire more skilled workers.
In 2017, I cast a deciding vote to preserve the Affordable Care Act, protecting the health care coverage of 1.3 million Virginians with pre-existing conditions. In 2022, I helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act to slash prescription drug costs. In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, I have introduced the only bipartisan bill in Congress that would guarantee all women the freedom to make their own reproductive choices.
I have spent my entire career, including 17 years as a fair housing attorney, fighting for fair housing and working to lower housing costs in Virginia. My LIFT [Low-Income First-Time Homebuyers] Act would help firsttime, first-generation homebuyers accelerate wealth-building through homeownership. We need to get this passed and signed into law. Hung Cao: Securing our open border. In fact, everything that’s going wrong in our country right now stems from our wideopen southern border, and Virginians across the commonwealth know it. … Our wideopen southern border is a huge national security threat.
How does your platform align with and support the best interests of Virginians?
TK: My campaign motto is “Standing Up for Virginia” because my entire campaign is entirely about Virginia. … If I continue to have the great honor of serving my commonwealth, I’ll keep building on my work and keep listening to Virginians and what’s on their minds.
I want to continue lowering costs for Virginia families by cutting the cost of
child care and slashing taxes for working families.
Communities across the country, but especially northern Virginia, are facing rising housing costs. I introduced the Fair Housing Improvement Act, which would protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination, the Low-Income First-Time Homebuyers Act, and am one of the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Housing Supply and Affordability Act. I support an expansion of the low-income housing tax credit, responsible for increasing the supply of affordable rental housing.
HC: We have to make the cost of living, goods, gas, and groceries more affordable. Under Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Tim Kaine’s radical agenda, Americans and Virginians are hurting from the increased cost of goods and prices, making the American dream no longer what it was when my family and I immigrated to this country. But we have to start with securing the border. That’s step one. … We need to put the American people and Virginians first and that begins with closing our border.
How do your policy positions differ from your opponent? How, if at all, do they overlap or intersect?
TK: Unlike my opponent, I trust Virginia women to make their own health care de-
cisions. After the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision, I got to work and introduced the only bipartisan bill in Congress that would codify the core holdings of Roe v. Wade and related Supreme Court cases to protect access to abortion and birth control.
I proudly helped pass legislation that is expanding high-speed internet, rebuilding roads and bridges, rail and public transit, ports and airports all over Virginia. I also worked to pass legislation that is bringing manufacturing back to America and easing supply chain issues. My opponent opposed all of these investments and the good-paying jobs they are bringing, and would vote against the reauthorization of our bipartisan infrastructure law in 2026.
… I believe health care is a right, which is why I’ve introduced a Medicare-X plan that which would give all Virginians access to a plan similar to Medicare. Furthermore, I will always fight to defend Social Security and Medicare and ensure that these programs are sustainable for generations to come.
HC: I am running for U.S. Senate to save the country that saved my life. I spent 25 years in Navy Special Operations with combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, while Tim Kaine spent 30 years in elected office. … In the U.S. Senate, I will always put Virginia first and protect the commonwealth.
If elected to the Senate, will you certify election results regardless of party outcome if the election is deemed free and fair?
TK: Of course!
HC: Yes.
What, if any, concerns do you have with your opponent, his campaign, or his platform?
TK: My opponent has insulted and talked down to the Virginians that he hopes to represent in the U.S. Senate. … He has also continued to insult Virginians by failing to show up for them, when he skipped 12 of 13 candidate forums in his Republican primary election. My favorite part of my job is traveling and meeting Virginians in every corner of the commonwealth. If someone won’t show up for you, they won’t stand up for you.
HC: After 25 years serving our country in the Navy, I’ve been all over the world. I’ve seen communism first-hand and know what it’s like to lose your country. We’re losing ours today and trust me, there’s nowhere else to go. I’ve spent my life trying to repay my debt to America, and I’m not done fighting for us. Tim Kaine is a weak man in a dangerous world and along with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, he is destroying Virginia’s way of life.
This interview has been edited for length.
By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
It’s election season, and presidential candidates aren’t the only ones vying for your vote. From the federal to the local level, here are some of the other candidates Charlottesville-area voters will see on their ballots.
In addition to selecting a U.S. senator (see pg. 10), Virginians will elect their next batch of congressional representatives.
Following redistricting in 2022, area residents will vote in either the 5th (Charlottesville, Nelson, Fluvanna, and most of Albemarle) or 7th (Greene, Orange, a portion of northern Albemarle) district races. In the 5th, John McGuire (R) and Gloria Witt (D) are running to replace incumbent Bob Good, who was knocked out of the race in the June Republican primary. With Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s decision to run in the 2025 gubernatorial election, either Derrick Anderson (R) or Eugene Vindman (D) will be elected the next representative of VA-7.
Across the commonwealth, voters will also weigh in on an amendment to Virginia’s property tax exemption for veterans and surviving spouses. The proposed amendment would change language in the state constitution from “killed in action” to “died in the line of duty.” Changing the wording would extend the current tax exemption to all surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty, including those killed in action who are already eligible.
In Albemarle County’s Rio Magisterial District, ballots will be cast in a special election for either Jim Dillenbeck or Chuck Pace to serve the remaining year of nowDel. Katrina Callsen’s term on the board. Pace was appointed to the position by the
school board last year, and is seeking formal election to the body.
Albemarle and Fluvanna residents in the Town of Scottsville will cast their ballots in mayoral and Town Council elections. Current Scottsville Mayor Ronald Smith is seeking reelection, with Vice Mayor Edward Payne also tossing his hat in the ring. This year’s election is abnormal as there are three seats open on the Scottsville Town Council, but only one candidate on the ballot—current council member Alex Bessette.
Outside of Scottsville, Fluvanna County has no local races on the ballot this year.
In Nelson County, Neely Hull is the sole candidate in the special election for treasurer.
A special election for treasurer is also on the ballot in Greene County, with Dawn Marshall the lone candidate.
In the Stanardsville District, voters will elect a Board of Supervisors member, with Stephen Catalano the only non-write-in candidate. In Stanardsville proper, there is a special election for a Town Council term expiring at the end of 2026.
In Gordonsville, residents are voting in several local races, with the mayorship and two seats on Town Council up for grabs. Town Councilor Ron Brooks III is the only candidate for mayor, with current Vice Mayor Emily Winkey, planning commission member Stevean Irving II, and Mary “Cyd” Black running for council.
The Town of Orange also has two Town Council seats on the ballot. Four newcomers are running for the positions: James Cluff, JL “Jeff” Crane, Delmer Seal Jr., and Rita Carroll.
For more information on local elections or to view sample ballots, visit elections. virginia.gov or your respective city or county website.
By Sean Tubbs
When Albemarle supervisors approved a rezoning of 277 acres north of Polo Grounds Road in November 2016, Riverbend Development got the green light to build up to 1,550 residential units and develop 130,000 square feet of commercial space.
Eight years later, Riverbend has asked Albemarle for permission to build 300 more homes as part of a plan that will likely result in significantly less non-residential space.
“This request is made in recognition of the ongoing housing crisis in our region and the need to construct more units at a variety of price points and especially more units that are affordable to households in the area,” reads a narrative filed earlier this month.
This application follows another one made last year by Great Eastern Management Company to allow for an increase in the number of units there from 893 to 1,548. Public hearings for that change have not yet been scheduled. The developers of the Albemarle Business Campus on Fifth Street Extended are also seeking to trade out commercial space for more residential.
All are responses to a housing policy Albemarle supervisors approved in July 2021 that calls for ways to “increase the supply of housing to meet the diverse housing needs of current and future Albemarle County residents.”
The amendment to Brookhill’s previous rezoning requires a new traffic study, which describes the changes to the commercial space. According to that document, the new plan halves the proposed amount of retail to 50,000 square feet and office space is no longer proposed.
So far, Riverbend has completed 595 of the 1,550 units allowed according to Abbey Stumpf, the county’s director of communications and public engagement.
The new units will be built in what had been billed as a town center during the rezoning. At one point there was a proposal to build an ice rink but that project never materialized, despite an active fundraising effort.
The binding “code of development” for the project requires a minimum of 50,000 square feet of non-residential to be constructed in the town center. The new study indicates a 20,000 square feet brewery tap room is planned.
The study indicates the mix of residential units will be changing as well. The original rezoning anticipated 550 single family homes but the new study only anticipates 120. There would be 700 townhomes instead of 200 and 960 apartments instead of 600. The new study reflects that a congregate care facility has already been built.
At some point, Riverbend will be required to hold a community meeting for the public to learn about the plan before it goes to the Planning Commission. That has not yet been scheduled.
The amendments also come at a time when work has resumed on a Comprehensive Plan that is being updated to guide the county to accommodate projections from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service that Albemarle will have over 155,000 people living there by 2050.
Many residents of the Village of Rivanna growth area have protested the idea that residential density be more than one acre per unit, prompting some members of the Board of Supervisors to explore swapping out the land with other places in the county.
119 Peliso Avenue
$679,000
Gracious home built in 1902, showcasing quality craftsmanship and timeless beauty. This stunning residence offers 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms, situated on a spacious town lot adorned with mature trees, perennials, and ornamental plants. Over 3300 square feet of above-ground finished space, the home includes high ceilings, tall windows, and beautifully maintained hardwood floors.
23077 Constitution Hwy
$529,900
Sitting on 9.5 acres. This 3 BR and 3 BA home offers ample space for starting a farmette with a large garage/workshop. The home provides spacious main level living.conveniently located near Orange, Lake Anna and Culpeper.
This 4 BR, 2.5 BA contemporary, country concept with over 3,000 sq ft of living space is situated on 2.63 private acres. This custom build was originally designed by architect Nick Medlin and re-engineered by Robert F. Nelson of Engineering Design Associates.
The exterior consists of two types of absolutely stunning unique sealed wood: Okoume African hardwood and Bannack brown Montana ghost wood, reclaimed wood from old barns in the Montana area.The decks and outside slate stairs were custom designed and the roofing material is GAF Timberline, guaranteed for 30 years. The siding requires no maintenance and should improve in color with age.
The interior has 9 ft ceilings and it is well insulated for sound and energy efficiency. The basement has 12-inch reinforced insulated concrete and a brick facade leading out to a gorgeou outdoor living space. All kitchen appliances and the washer and dryer convey.
Built near the prestigious and historic location of the old train tracks from the July 31, 1942 collision of two Chesapeake & Ohio trains at Ballenger Creek, this property offers stunning views of the Rivanna River and the Rivanna Bridge. Very close to the Fluvanna County Courthouse Historic District and Zion Crossroads is nearby providing numerous dining and shopping options.
Offered at $799,000 (limited to cash or pre qualified buyers)
Shown by appointment only (540) 903-8687
bo@cowboys-llc.com www.cowboys-llc.com
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
Designed by renowned architect Milton Grigg, this is a rare opportunity to own a piece of Charlottesville’s architectural history on over an acre of land in a coveted residential City neighborhood. Timeless elegance but comfortable living in 4436 finished square feet. MLS#658170
$2,900,000 Charlotte Dammann 434.981.1250
Meticulously renovated National Historic Register home, blending modern amenities with remarkable charm. 5-bedrooms with hardwood floors, stained glass windows, and trim. Quartz kitchen, magnificent primary suite, terrace apartment. MLS#653080 $1,195,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700
Exceptional brick, end-unit home in popular Cherry Hill! Walk to UVA Hospital & Grounds. This 3-level townhome features a beautiful gardener’s fenced yard. Elegant hardwood entry, open floor plan, owner’s suite, and 2 additional guest bedrooms. First-floor bonus room and garage! MLS#655503
$499,950 Katherine Leddington, 646.593.0333
Exquisite brick home on 88 private acres less than 5 miles from town. Excellent quality throughout, spacious, over 11,00 sf. Beautiful views, tranquil setting, trails, long frontage on the Rivanna River. MLS#652353 $4,875,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
Spectacular contemporary home privately situated atop nearly 17 serene park-like acres in the highly desirable Ivy area with Blue Ridge Mtn. views! Truly a special & unique offering with a wealth of opportunities to enjoy! This 4-5 BR home with spacious rooms is an entertainer’s dream! $2,235,000 MLS#657960 Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
Exceptional 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo, located just steps from the historic Downtown Mall. Luxurious living spaces, spacious floor plan, fully loaded kitchen, hardwood floors, a private balcony, and secure parking. Enjoy vibrant downtown living! MLS#656160 $1,178,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
This lovely 3-BR, 3-BA residence is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in the desirable Mill Creek neighborhood, and just a few short minutes to Downtown Charlottesville! Offering one level living, this property is in great condition and features numerous upgrades & improvements by the current owner. MLS#657969 $499,000 Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
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
WESTERN ALBEMARLE!
Newly renovated 5,700 sq. ft. brick home on 5 acres between Charlottesville and Ivy in Western Albemarle. With 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and garage apartment, this home offers elegance and comfort. Enjoy 10 ft ceilings, three fireplaces, and a gourmet kitchen with dual appliances. MLS#657678
$1,950,000 Jennifer Von Reuter, 202.957.3465
WEST MAIN STREET CORRIDOR
Investment/Assemblage opportunity between University of Virginia and Charlottesville’s dynamic Downtown Mall. Property is being targeted to be classified to RX-5 in the new city zoning ordinance. Don’t miss this chance to invest in a prime location! MLS#657199 $900,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124
KESWICK ESTATES
Discover Keswick Estate, a gated community near Keswick Hall, offering a 2.10± acre building site harmonizing country life and resort living in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Create your dream home close to golf, dining, tennis, and more. MLS#650785 $470,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700
www.cvillesantarun.com
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024
Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall (Course: 1 mile)
All proceeds from this event go to support the programs and services at The Arc of the Piedmont for people in Charlottesville and the surrounding community living with developmental disabilities. This year we ask companies, families, and individuals to get together with some of their closest friends, family, and co-workers and raise money for The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission of serving people with developmental disabilities.
you to our sponsors!
This year the Virginia Film Festival coincides with Halloween, and along with some great horror movies, the five-day program offers the escape of comedy, journeys to the unknown, classic stories retold, cautionary technology tales, and documented accounts of war, redemption, and environmental peril, plus invaluable on-stage discussions. After exiting your seat, you can offer your opinion by casting a vote at a kiosk to rate the film you’ve seen (the people and projects on the following pages get our vote). And when the festival goes dark, you’ll leave the theater with roughly 36 hours before voting begins in the most consequential election of our time. So watch, listen, and vote, vote, vote—especially on November 5!—TK
By Justin Humphreys, Tami Keaveny, Lisa Provence, Kristie Smeltzer,
November 2
Production design is an integral aspect of filmmaking that largely defines the look and feel of the world on screen. Working closely with directors and cinematographers, production designers are responsible for developing the aesthetics of sets, locations, props, costumes, and more that allow viewers to immerse themselves in cinematic stories.
This work is essential in communicating mood and driving narratives and character arcs established in a film’s script.
Tyler Coates, an editor at The Hollywood Reporter, moderates a panel featuring 2024 VAFF Craft Award-winner Kalina Ivanov (“The Penguin,” “Lovecraft Country,” The Boys in the Boat ) and Richmond-based Academy Award-nominated production designer David Crank (Knives Out, The Master, Inherent Vice).
The panel will discuss the development of visual concepts, scouting and choosing locations,
Juvenile: Five Stories
November 2 | Violet Crown 5
Three million young people are arrested every year, says Juvenile: Five Stories director Joann Self Selvidge. “Not all of them end up incarcerated, but all of them end up entangled in these systems that weigh them down, and keep them from realizing their potential.”
Selvidge didn’t start out to be an award-winning documentary filmmaker. The UC Berkeley comparative literature major just liked to tell stories.
Returning to her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, she found plenty of stories to tell, starting with WLOK, the first Black-owned and -operated
the manufacturing of physical sets, historical research, and defining the aesthetic environments for film and television productions.
Crank has worked behind the scenes in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years, coming to film and television sets after designing scenery for theater productions from high school through his graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University. As a former studio art student, Crank says the skills needed for drawing and painting are the same as those needed for production design, with the two disciplines constantly influencing each other within his practice, “either in intent or in skills.”
radio station in Memphis. “I had been doing oral histories,” she says, and she realized the WLOK story would “make an amazing documentary.”
Inspiration for Juvenile: Five Stories came from a public defender friend who was working on a jail diversion program for people with serious mental health issues. Selvidge was drawn to those stories. “I had personal experience with mental health institutionalization when I was in high school,” she says. And she wanted to explore how young people get access to care and “navigate these systems set up to criminalize them.”
Forming the relationships to make the film took years. “Things have changed dramatically in the world of documentary filmmaking,” she notes. There were always ethical practices, especially when dealing with minors. “Now there are equity practices to give [the young people] more agency in how their story was told.”
Through a Twitter callout to her connections with youth justice leaders across the country, Selvidge and her co-director Sarah Fleming found Romeo, Ariel, Michael, Shimaine, and Ja’Vaune. They came from different parts of the country and they all had different paths into the system: violence, sexual abuse, home instability, mental illness, substance abuse.
Designing for directors such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Paul Greengrass, Rian Johnson, and Terrence Malick, Crank is drawn to working with filmmakers who write their own material, and are thus primarily concerned with storytelling. “That is where the meat of the script is,” Crank says, “and as a designer, good storytelling is what gives you the most room for imagination and creating.”
Crank has also worked with two Academy Award-nominated production designers with Charlottesville connections: Jack Fisk (Killers of the Flower Moon, The Revenant, There Will be Blood) and Ruth De Jong (Oppenheimer,
Nope, “Yellowstone”). “I think we three have a very similar way of hands-on working and certainly the same sense of humor,” says Crank. “We each have continued on successfully with our own styles without each other, but that is hugely due to Jack’s influence and guidance.”
Living in Virginia has afforded the production designer a unique experience that’s shaped his life as much as his career. “It’s given me a life full of friends who mostly aren’t in the same industry as me, which makes for very interesting dinner conversations,” Crank says. “I think it has also contributed to a certain outsider mentality, which for me is fine.”—CMT
Finding Michael, the only white kid of the five, was the most difficult because “wealth and whiteness keep you out of the system,” says Selvidge. The five were between 18 and 23 when they told her their stories. She hired young actors to tell their backstories in impressionistic, cinematic sequences. “We were dealing with histories of extreme trauma,” she explains. “We had to make decisions about how we’re going to portray that … We were very intentional for this film not to be, like, trauma porn.”
The five young people whose stories Selvidge documented seem to be doing amazingly well. “They’re all strong because they survived,” she says.
Two of them—Shimaine Holley, founder of Change Is Inevitable, and Romeo Gonzalez, a re-entry specialist and mentor—will appear with Selvidge at the November 2 Violet Crown screening.
“If there’s one thing I learned over and over and over again,” says Selvidge, “the best way for systems to reduce their harm and to change their policies and practices is when young people are given the power and resources to be in positions where they’re heard and can hold groups accountable. That’s when things start to change.”—LP
With discussion
OCTOBER 31 | CULBRETH THEATER Memoir of a Snail, the newest film from Australian writer-director-animator Adam Elliot, promises to be as challenging, deeply human, and character-driven as Elliot’s touching Mary and Max (2009). Filmed meticulously in labor-intensive stop-motion animation, Memoir of a Snail follows a twin brother and sister on their thorny path through childhood into adult life. Elliot’s adult-themed animation is full of pathos and wry humor, and is not recommended for small children. Listen for voice performances by outstanding talents like Dominique Pinon and Nick Cave.—JH
NOVEMBER 2 | VIOLET CROWN 1 & 2 Director-animator-composer Usman
Riaz’s The Glassworker is not only his first feature, but also Pakistan’s first full-length, hand-drawn animated film. The influence of master animator Hayao Miyazaki is vividly apparent in The Glassworker’s overall style and design—there are few better living animators to draw inspiration from. This anti-war allegory is a reminder of the respect mature animation receives outside of the United States, and with handdrawn animation being under-represented worldwide, let’s hope The Glassworker gets a broad American release.—JH
NOVEMBER 1 | VIOLET CROWN 3 In 1984, director Milos Forman lavishly brought Peter Shaffer’s play Amadeus to the screen, and it caused a sensation with audiences and at the Oscars. It tells the largely fictionalized story of a rivalry between the manic but prodigiously brilliant Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Salieri (F. Murray Abraham). The two leads give arguably the signature performances of their careers, and are backed by an excellent supporting cast including a young Cynthia Nixon, Simon Callow, and the late Vincent Schiavelli. Among the film’s many other virtues is the extraordinary old-age makeup by the incomparable Dick Smith.—JH
Luther: Never Too Much With discussion
NOVEMBER 1 | CULBRETH THEATER Dawn Porter’s documentary Luther: Never Too Much chronicles the life of R&B legend Luther Vandross. The film’s title is derived from the eponymous track of Vandross’ first solo album—the first of 11 Vandross records to go platinum. Porter traces the late “Velvet Voice’s” career, from his beginnings as a backup singer for David Bowie, Chaka Khan, and Chic, to his own highly influential and successful career. Among many other topics, she explores why he was so private about his homosexuality, and the criticism he endured for gaining weight. The rich retrospective reveals how the popular image of public figures is often deeply skewed.—JH
NOVEMBER 2 | VIOLET CROWN 5 The Not Ready for Prime Time Players broke into the cultural zeitgeist when “NBC’s Saturday Night” premiered on October 11, 1975, with George Carlin as the host, and musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night dramatizes the backstage chaos, personality clashes, and wild antics that led up to the moment when Chevy Chase looked into the camera and shouted, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” for the very first time. Jon Batiste is behind the film’s music, Matt Wood stars as John Belushi, Dylan O’Brien is Dan Aykroyd, and Emmy Award-winner Lamorne Morris who plays Garrett Morris (no relation) will be on stage for a post-screening discussion.—TK
Thursday, November 28th
Seatings beginning at 11am Last seating at 4pm
Roast Turkey
Maple Glazed Spiral Ham
Raw Bar with Oysters and Shrimp Cocktail
Beet Salad
Mixed Greens Salad
Brussel Sprout Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Crawfish Mac and Cheese
Parker House Rolls
Assorted House Desserts
$70 per guest / $26 per child age 5-12, children 4 and under are free. Tax and gratuity additional. To make reservations, scan the QR code or call 434-823-1841
Reservations Twilight Rate available through 11/2
golf outing. Pro Shop, Driving Range, Putting Green, and indoor Swing Simulator complete the full service facilities offering at Old Trail. Call 434-823-8101 to book a tee time, scan the QR code or visit our website www.oldtrailclub.com/golf
You’ve worked with an impressive list of directors. Who stands out?
Many of the directors I’ve had the pleasure of working with are still living. So I wouldn’t want to pick favorites. Suffice it to say, I’ve learned something useful from each of them.
From his first film, Baby It’s You, directed by John Sayles, to his recent role as Dr. Martin “Papa” Brenner in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and a star turn in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Matthew Modine’s accomplishments in film, television, and on stage define the range of his talent. In addition to Sayles, the Golden Globe Award-winning actor has also worked with directors Oliver Stone, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Altman, Spike Lee, and Jonathan Demme, to name a few. He’s been directing since the ’90s, and is the co-founder of the production company Cinco Dedos Peliculas. At the Virginia Film Festival, Modine will participate in discussions following the screening of 1984’s Birdy, and the documentary I Hope This Helps!. He answered a few questions for us by email ahead of his appearances.—TK
C-VILLE Weekly: What attracted you to produce the documentary I Hope This Helps!?
Matthew Modine: My producing partner at Cinco Dedos Peliculas, Adam Rackoff, knows that I am curious about consciousness. What is it? When did we become conscious of our consciousness? When did humans become self-aware of our existence?
These are impossible questions to answer and a fascinating subject to delve through. I believe human consciousness has slowly evolved over millions of years. By contrast, artificial intelligence is pretty much brand new, and something that is evolving way, way, way too fast. If we get this wrong—if we don’t have guardrails in place—we will not be able to put this horse back in the barn.
If you have concerns about the consolidation of power, the distribution of news and current events, ‘deepfakes,’ the freedom of movement, you should watch this movement closely.
There’s no way to know what countries the U.S. is continually suspicious of—aren’t already way ahead of the west in this space. “Artificial General Intelligence” is already happening. For sure. This means AI is now able to improve itself—with no human intervention. That should concern all of us. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to sound the bell of caution. I Hope This Helps! humorously illustrates where we are, and where this AI shop is headed.
What role has had the most personal effect on you?
Maybe Louden Swain, from Vision Quest. It’s a coming-of-age story about a high-school wrestler. I learned from the experience how important it is to maintain focus and that whatever it is we hope to accomplish demands effort and self-determination. Some folks are gifted with natural genius and athletic abilities. But even those who are blessed have to put in the effort to master a craft.
How did you prepare to play Dr. Martin Brenner in “Stranger Things”?
First off, I do not enjoy playing “bad” guys. I get no pleasure from it. The Duffer Brothers, Ross and Matt, wrote terrific scripts and gave me space to create a person that is a conundrum. Someone the audience would be confused by. His look, clothing, hair, speech pattern, that was good fun to pull together with the show’s creative team.
In 1985, New York magazine noted that you and Matthew Broderick were fine actors, but not part of the Brat Pack. Did the Brat Pack label have any effect on your roles or social engagements at the time?
Matthew and I, simply by living in NYC, would have been 3,000 miles away from that silliness. Matthew is a very talented and disciplined theater actor. If he was going out in those days, I’d bet it was with legends from the theater world. I was busy going from film project to film project, two years in England with Stanley Kubrick, during the height of the Brat Pack era. There wasn’t any time in our lives for being in a club.
You are known for your work as an environmental activist. What is your current focus?
Being an environmentalist isn’t a hobby. It’s a demanding commitment to protecting the entirety of nature. The world is like a spider’s web and what we do to a single thread has an impact upon the entire web.
An oil tanker sinking doesn’t just affect the place it sunk and spilled its millions of gallons.
The repercussions are far-reaching. The nuclear disaster at Fukushima is an example of how a nuclear explosion in a considerably small location can affect the entire Pacific Ocean and all the creatures within it.
So my focus is global. We have searched the universe looking for “Goldilocks” planets— places that resemble our home—and so far found none. This should magnify our responsibility to protecting all life on the earth and the soil, air, and water, and demanding peaceful resolution through diplomacy to or momentary differences.
What was your reaction when you discovered that the Trump campaign used clips of you from the movie Full Metal Jacket in an online post?
I think my statement on the subject covers how I felt.
[In his statement published in Entertainment Weekly, Modine said, “... Trump has twisted and profoundly distorted Kubrick’s powerful anti-war film into a perverse, homophobic, and manipulative tool of propaganda.”]
With such an accomplished career, what would you change?
We cannot change the past. So it’s a total waste of time to live in regret. I’m here. I’m here now. Believe it or not, 99 percent of life is trying to accomplish something so that we are appreciated, maybe even loved, for what we happily give to others. That means for me, joyfully and gleefully doing for others.
November 2 | The Paramount Theater With discussion
Screenwriter and director Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, adapted from Rachel Yoder’s 2021 debut novel of the same name, chronicles the days of Mother (Amy Adams), a professional artist who pauses her career to be a stay-athome toddler mom in the ‘burbs while Husband (Scoot McNairy) travels frequently for work. Mother also happens to be turning into a dog.
Billed as a blend of comedy and horror, the film uses magical realism to take the transformations of a mother’s experience a step further than what most—if word on the street is to be
believed—go through. However, the extended metaphor at Nightbitch’s heart seems apt. While not a mother myself, a year-long stint as a nanny to three boys under 6 had me eating scraps off others’ plates, sniffing butts, and occasionally barking at the moon. But here’s the thing: I could clock out—something Mother seems desperate to have the chance to do in Nightbitch’s trailer as she aggressively washes a cat’s bum in the tub, bemoaning, “Nobody in this family can clean their own butts!”
In Nightbitch, the audience sees a woman grappling with the messy aspects of parenting, which differ from the joys of motherhood—if greeting cards are to be believed. The film relies on voiceover (as novel adaptations are wont do) and alternate versions of moments (fantasy vs. reality) to show the tension between Mother’s interior and exterior selves. But her transformation doesn’t seem to be all bad, with moments of authenticity ensuing as Mother embraces her new, more feral, self. Early reviews laud sixtime Academy Award-nominee Adams’ performance, praising her bone-deep commitment to the role. That feedback bodes well for the film, because the audience’s belief in Mother’s transformation hinges on Adams as the foundation they’ve built this tail, I mean tale, upon.—KS
November
With discussion
Academy and Emmy Award-winning independent filmmaker Paul Wagner has directed many amazing documentaries that shed light on subjects in American culture. His new film, Georgia O’Keeffe: the Brightness of Light, will screen at this year’s VAFF with a panel discussion, followed by a post-screening reception with the filmmakers at The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA.
Completed over two years during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the film was shot in nearly every location in the United States where the “mother of American modernism” lived and worked. Through diligent efforts in researching and interviewing, Wagner and his team, including Ellen Casey Wagner, uncovered rare instances of the artist in
archival film footage that bring O’Keeffe to life for a new generation of fine-art enthusiasts.
One of the most significant artists of the 20th century, O’Keeffe is known for her contributions to the Modernist movement, including her radical depictions of flowers and scenes set in the American Southwest. However, it’s O’Keeffe’s connections to Charlottesville that Wagner believes will leave the largest impact on local audiences.
In 2018, The Fralin mounted the exhibition “Unexpected O’Keeffe: The Virginia Watercolors and Later Paintings,” covering the five summers the artist spent in Charlottesville between 1912 and 1916. “Not only was this of interest as a largely unknown local story, it turned out that her time in Charlottesville attending and teaching at UVA marked a very important moment in her development as an artist,” Wagner says. “It was here at UVA that she discovered the theories of Arthur Wesley Dow that liberated her approach to art from the strictures of 19th-century European realism.”
Wagner was drawn to O’Keeffe as a subject because of the local connection, but also because of the enormous amount of information now available about the artist. Since director Perry Miller Adato released his 1977 documentary Georgia O’Keeffe, countless articles, exhibitions, and books have been produced covering her oeuvre and contributions to culture. “For these reasons,” Wagner says, “we now have a completely different, and deeper, understanding of who O’Keeffe was as an artist, as a woman, and as an American.”—CMT
His breakthrough realization: “Violence translates into every language.” And that the appetite for horror is insatiable.
riter and director Teddy Grennan doesn’t like blood. While living in Los Angeles, he wrote an animated feature called Holy Cow, about a bull who realizes his future is on the grill and with the help of a caterpillar, attempts to escape to India. The film, full of goodwill and karma, didn’t get made and the experience was frustrating, says Grennan.
After “boohooing into my drink, I wanted to move into bloody thrillers,” says Grennan. He shot Ravage in Virginia with Bruce Dern, and says the movie has done well financially.
“I knew going into this if I was doing a lo-fi film, it was not going to be about my first break-up or my mom or my dad,” he explains. “I was going to make it about blood and guts, and I knew I could get people’s money I’ve known for years and make enough to pay it back.”
In the opening montage, the addresses of crime scenes seem vaguely familiar: Elm Street. Amityville Circle. Christine Street. Not surprisingly, the movie’s wannabe detective and horror buff Otto soon begins to connect the dots on the trail of a serial murderer.
Catch a Killer, Grennan’s fourth film, is also a story of “star-crossed lovers,” he suggests. Winsome actors Sam Brooks and Tu Morrow play Otto and his pregnant girlfriend, Lex, as they set up house and try to figure out what’s next in the grisly tableau of murders.
Viewers will recognize a couple of notable Charlottesville locations, but the setting is an anonymous city. And as a bonus for horror fans, can you spot Joshua Leonard from The Blair Witch Project?
Twelve years ago Grennan and his wife moved to Somerset in Orange County, next door to the scene of the notorious alleged 2001 poisoning of Ham Somerville by his wife, known as Black Widow, at Mt. Athos.
He’s made four movies in Virginia, including Wicked Games, but his fifth film will be shot in Kentucky, because he had a tough time rounding up a film crew here. “This was a bear,” he says. “After COVID, the crews went away,” at least from central Virginia.
He describes his next effort, The Growing Season, as Witness meets The Blind Eye, with a good dose of Training Day
Catch a Killer has already garnered accolades: the audience award for Spotlight Feature at the Nashville Film Festival, and Best Thriller Feature at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival.
“I knew it would be good business—if I didn’t botch it—doing thrillers,” he says. And one of these days, maybe he’ll get to make that lo-fi movie about his first girlfriend in Vermont.—LP
PREMIER SPONSOR OF THE VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL FOR OVER 10 YEARS
ON THE DOWNTOWN MALL
– PROUDLY OPERATED BY HARVEST MOON CATERING & SERVING UP:
Organic Tri-Color Quinoa $3.99/lb (SRP $5.99) Organic Walnuts $9.99/lb (SRP $14.99)
Organic Dried Cranberries $11.99/lb (SRP $14.99) Organic Pecan Halves $15.99/lb (SRP $19.99)
Muir Glen Pasta Sauce
23.5 oz
$5.29 (SRP $6.59)
Kettle Chips
7.5 oz
$5.99 (SRP $7.19)
Tofurky Gravy
14 oz
$8.99 (SRP $10.99)
Cascadian Farms Frozen Veggies 25% Off
Tofurky Vegetarian Roast
26 oz.
$18.99 (SRP $25.99)
Planetary Herbals 15% Off
Source Naturals 15% Off Herb Pharm Tinctures 15% Off
Humble Deodorants 15% Off Dr. Bronner’s Soaps & Lotions 15% Off
MON-FRI 8AM-8PM, SAT 9AM-6PM, SUNDAY 10AM-6PM
THURSDAY 10/31SATURDAY 11/2
Local artist Jeff Dobrow and The AV Company return for another year of The Great Rotumpkin, a ghoulish good time celebrating the spooky season. Skeletons, pumpkins, cauldrons, and more appear on the exterior of UVA’s Rotunda as projected vignettes, accompanied by haunting music, cycle through scenes that send shivers down the spine. This year, Kiki and Celeste join the festivities following the puppets’ incredible appearance at the Festival of the Moving Creature. Free, 7pm. UVA Rotunda. arts.virginia.edu
THROUGH SUNDAY 11/24
Drac is back in a sexy and sarcastic off-Broadway production making a regional debut that’s bound to be A-positive. Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors takes Bram Stoker’s titular Count and turns up the camp with gender-bending, nonstop antics that’ll have you screaming with laughter. This riotous reimagining follows the basic beats of the Gothic novel and parodies the prose with pop-culture references sharper than a wooden stake. Due to strong sexual content, adult humor, and simulated sex scenes, this performance is recommended for patrons aged 14 to undying. Times and ticket prices vary. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
FRIDAY 11/1
Exploring geographies that produce distinctive flavors, the Terroir Tapes Listening Sessions—Act II blends hip-hop history with wine-tasting in a bold and vibrant manner. Hosted by Emmy Award-nominee Jermaine Stone of the Wine and Hip Hop podcast, the sessions inform guests of the environmental factors responsible for shaping the flavor profile of a particular wine region, while also discussing the characteristics of classic hip-hop regions. Local chef Antwon Brinson of Culinary Concepts AB provides small bites to complement the selection of Virginia wines sampled during this Two Up Wine Down festival event. $25, 6pm. Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, 233 Fourth St. NW. twoupwinedown.com
By BJ Poss
Naples, Italy, the pizza capital of the world, is sprinkled with more than 800 pizzerias, with styles varying from the thin ruota di carretto to a denser crust-forward a canotto. And all still uphold the Neapolitan spirit in the harmony of ripe tomato, fragrant basil, and the kneading of the dough. It was on a trip to Naples that Onur Basegmez found inspiration in a pie whose essence would become the dough that rose into Pi-Napo, Fry’s Spring’s slice of Napoli.
“We are not just selling pizza,” Basegmez insists, standing over buckets of spicy Italian salami and cherry Vesuvian tomatoes. “We are selling a cheap flight to Italy.”
Pi-Napo has revitalized the old Fry’s Spring Station into an open-kitchen pizzeria of twirling dough, imported gelato, and handmade cannoli. It’s equipped with two Italian pizza ovens made of volcanic ash, which maintain a temperature of more than 800 degrees. These ovens, smoldering with local white oak and hickory, impart a crusty spice on artisan pizza delivered to the table in sold-by-the-slice time.
Basegmez’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that no matter how you dress it, pizza is a simple dish that leans on quality ingredients and attention to detail. “I don’t eat pizza every day, but I taste pizza every day,” he grins.
Through several trips eating along the narrow streets of Italy, Basegmez and his Italian partner tinkered with the nuances of hand-crushed sauces to craft a menu that your Nonna would be proud of. “Pizza must be balanced,” he says, with a touch of spice, the subtle sweetness of a sauce, and not too loaded with toppings that it buries the delicacy of the crust.
Pi-Napo’s menu offers a dozen pies, and a beautiful dollop of buffalo mozzarella drizzled with olive oil, basil, and cherry tomato. The pizzas range from mushroom with white truffle to spicy Italian salami and Calabrian peppers, with a nod to Basegmez’s choice—a classic margherita with a sprinkle of garlic and cherry tomato. The restaurant has 10-inch pizzas during the week as a lunch
special and shifts to strictly 16-inch sheet pan pies on Saturdays and Sundays.
Along with a wheel of Italian gelato, Pi-Napo leans on an in-house family recipe to stuff the cannoli that anchor the dessert window. “We’re bringing Italy to town,” says Basegmez.
If you drove through the Fry’s Spring neighborhood in late August, you might have noticed Basegmez. On Pi-Napo’s opening weekend, he stood at the traffic lights between Pi-Napo and Dürty Nelly’s and handed out free slices to passersby. “We want to be a part of the neighborhood,” Basegmez says. He
Pi-Napo’s Pomodori features fresh cherry Vesuvian tomato, buffalo mozzarella, basil, and garlic.
appreciates the history of Fry’s Spring Station, standing since 1933, and revels in customers who share that they used to get their oil changed right where the two-ton wood fired pizza ovens now sit.
Pi-Napo has hit its stride on weekdays and game days. Just a walk from Scott Stadium, it’s already served as a rain shelter for a stormy home game and routinely shows Euro-league soccer on screens throughout the restaurant. In the coming months, the kitchen team is looking to add pizza-making classes to spread the joy of 0/0 flour blanketed in ladles of Mutti crushed tomatoes.
Wednesday 10/30
Beleza Duo. Funkalicious samba soul sung in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Jelly Roll. CMT Music Awards-winner with Tennessee roots and a criminal background. With ERNEST, Shaboozey, and Allie Colleen. $30–511, 7pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com
Mike Rosensky Trio. Live jazz every Wednesday. Free, 8:30pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com
Open Mic Night. Open to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. Hosted by Nicole Giordano. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
Ramona Martinez. Mariachi and country music sung by a local favorite with Tejano roots. Free, 6pm. Guajiro’s Miami Eatery, 114 Tenth St NW. guajiroscville.com
The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, and original tunes for your mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
Profs & Pints. “Ancient Magic and Witchcraft,” on beliefs in supernatural powers in the Greece and Rome of antiquity. $13, 5:30pm. Graduate Charlottesville, 1309 W. Main St. profsandpints.com
Beginner Embroidery. Join instructor Ari to learn the basics of embroidery materials and techniques while beginning a fun and flexible project stitching on patterned fabric. Ages 12+. $40, 5pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Paint + Sip Costume Party: Batty Moonrise . Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a spooky scene. Dress up, grab a free drink, and paint with us. $45, 6pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. blueridgebrushes.com etc.
Family-Friendly Bingo. Free to play with prizes after each round. Four rounds total. Free, 6pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fire flycville.com
Fiorano’s Karaoke. Sing your heart out at Fiorano’s Karaoke. Easy sign up and a booming sound system. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
Rapture Karaoke. Downtown C’ville’s longest-running karaoke party. Hosted by Jenn Deville. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
SuperFly Run Club. Run around the city, then enjoy $5 pints. Raffles and exclusive merchandise to be earned. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Trivia with Olivia. Olivia and Maggie bring you all your trivia needs. Come prepared to win with a team or meet folks here. First place winners get a $50 Starr Hill gift card and second place winners get $25. Free, 7pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com
Thursday 10/31
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
Halloween Organ Concert. Spooky organ music for all ages. Free, 4pm. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rugby Rd. westminsterorganconcertseries.org
Halloween with The House Sauce. Halloween night The House Sauce changes the veranda into rock ‘n’ roll venue. Josh and crew dress for the occasion, you should too. Free, 9:30pm. Vision BBQ & Catering, 247 Ridge McIntire Rd. visionbbqcville.com
Hard Rock Halloween. Bad Halen (Van Halen tribute) and Sex Type Things (Stone Temple Pilots tribute) tear up the stage. Costumes encouraged. Free, 10pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Jam with Steve Lanza. Steve hosts a gathering where you are invited to play along. Free, 8pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
John D’earth and Friends. Join us each week for live jazz with John D’earth and a rotating cast of local and national jazz musicians. Free, 10pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millers downtown.com
Matthew O’Donnell. The Blue Ridge Bard is a cornerstone of the C’ville music scene. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskey jarcville.com
Mini Pipe Cleaner Pumpkin. Make a fun sized pumpkin and watch it glow in the dark. Ages 13+. Free, 6pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org
Costume Karaoke. Dress as your favorite musician, or any character that strikes your fancy for karaoke in costume. Free, 8pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Dart Night. Weekly luck-of-the-draw double-elimination games. Throwers get $1-off pints during play. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.
Halloween Music Bingo. A high-energy game that’s fun for the whole family, with gift card prizes for the winners. Free, 6pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.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
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. Like an escape room but at a winery. Crack codes and unravel riddles while sampling Charlottesville’s best wine, beer and cider. Play when you want and go at your own pace. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Friday 11/1
music
Annie Stokes + Ebony Nicole. An extraordinary evening of female singer-songwrit ers. $10–12, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesville market.com
Chickenhead Blues Band. Charlottesville’s premier boogie-woogie, beat, rhythm and blues dance band. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E Market St.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39
Day of the Dead All Stars. Charlottesville’s Grateful Dead tribute supergroup. $15, 8am. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Jamie Deane and Friends. Guitar wizard fills a set with face-melting riffs. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com
Midnight Buzz. An eclectic blend of acoustic and electric classic rock tunes. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Sue Harlow. Americana singer-songwriter whose haunting vocals delve into the depths of what makes people real. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
The Barons. Booty shakin’ rock ‘n’ roll music. With Cougar Beatrice playing a distinct mix of indie rock, heavy metal, rap, and pop. $12–15, 7pm. Pro Re Nata Brewpub & Music Hall, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpk., Crozet. prnbrewery.com
dance
CLUB XCX. Calling all angels for a bratty night blasting the best of Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Kim Petras, Chappell Roan, Shygirl, and more. Ages 18+. $15–22, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St. jeffersontheater.com
stage
Absentee Ballad Politics will be mentioned, so bring your best sense of humor and be entertained with improv, singing, and satire. Free, 7:30pm. Piedmont Virginia Community College, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. pvcc.edu
Ghostbusters Parody. In the 20-year history of Bent Theatre Improv, the most crowd-pleasing and popular events have been the parody shows. Get ready for a show filled with ghosts, ghouls, and gut-busting laughs. $10, 7pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
words
Friday Night Writes. An open mic for emerging musicians and writers performing their music, poetry, and short stories. Unpublished works only. Sign-ups at 6:45pm. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com
etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. This puzzle crawl takes you to the breweries on Preston Avenue. Crack codes, solve puzzles, and enjoy some of Charlottesville’s best beers along the way. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Fiorano’s Karaoke. See listing for Wednesday, October 30. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
First Friday Improv. Join Big Blue Door for 90-minutes of Charlottesville’s smartest, funniest comedy. $10, 7pm. McGuffey Art Center, 201 Second St NW. bigbluedoor.org
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
Wine and Hip Hop Terroir Tapes. Emmy-nominee Jermaine Stone blends wine and hip-hop culture in an informative tasting event for the Two-up Wine-down Festival. $25, 6pm. Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, 233 Fourth St. NW. twoupwinedown.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 31. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Acoustic Aubrey. Join us in the foothills at DuCard Vineyards for Music in the mountains including covers of classic R&B, jazz, acoustic rock, 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
Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms. As pillars of the Northwest music scene, Caleb & Reeb carry the torch of their music around the world, whether touring as a duo, with the Foghorn Stringband, or with the Caleb Klauder Country Band. $27–32, 8pm. The Front Porch , 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com
Goth Takeover. Come dance and celebrate all things spooky. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
Josh Mayo and Friends. Fantastic originals and classic rock covers masterfully performed. Free, 8:30pm. Vision BBQ & Catering, 247 Ridge McIntire Rd. visionbbqcville.com
Kitchen Dwellers. tet redefining the boundaries of bluegrass, folk, and rock. With Shadowgrass. $25, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Down town Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Local Vocals.
a vast repertoire of favorites spanning the last nine decades. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Love Story: A Taylor Swift Tribute. Taylor Swift experience covering all the biggest hits of the iconic star’s career.
Brought to you by Beau and Blair, a hus band and wife duo with a five-piece back ing band. $20–25, 7pm. Pro Re Nata Brewpub & Music Hall, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpk., Crozet. prnbrewery.com
Stillhouse Sound.
shoes and get ready for your favorite funk, R&B, and soul tunes from the area’s pre mier soul and funk band. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Bates ville. batesvillemarket.com
dance
K-Pop DJ Night. BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, Super Junior, and more. Ages 18+. $17, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. the southerncville.com
stage
Absentee Ballad See listing for Friday, November 1. Free, 7:30pm. Piedmont Virginia Community College, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. pvcc.edu
words
Author Event: Sofia Samatar. Writer Sofia Samatar will speak about her new nonfiction book, Opacities: On Writing and the Writing Life. A conversation with author and professor Emily Ogden will follow. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com
Collecting coats in-store October 28 – November 8
In partnership with International Neighbors, we are donating new and gently used coats to local refugee families. Since our first coat drive in 2015, we have donated over 2,030 coats to families in our community. Children’s coats are in high demand. Please, no dry clean only.
This year, Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters will contribute a monetary donation of $5 for every child-sized coat donated. These donations will be put towards International Neighbor’s 2025 STEPS program (Support, Trust, Empower, Persevere, Strengthen). This is a women’s support group that meets monthly to help women in this community.
trips start here.
Collecting coats in-store October 28 – November 8
Collecting coats in-store October 28 – November 8
In partnership with International Neighbors, we are donating new and gently used coats to local refugee families. Since our first coat drive in 2015, we have donated over 2,030 coats to families in our community. Children’s coats are in high demand. Please, no dry clean only.
This year, Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters will contribute a monetary donation of $5 for every child-sized coat donated. These donations will be put towards International Neighbor’s 2025 STEPS program (Support, Trust, Empower, Persevere, Strengthen). This is a women’s support group that meets monthly to help women in this community.
In partnership with International Neighbors, we are donating new and gently used coats to local refugee families. Since our first coat drive in 2015, we have donated over 2,030 coats to families in our community. Children’s coats are in high demand. Please, no dry clean only.
This year, Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters will contribute a monetary donation of $5 for every child-sized coat donated. These donations will be put towards International Neighbor’s 2025 STEPS program (Support, Trust, Empower, Persevere, Strengthen). This is a women’s support group that meets monthly to help women in this community.
Artisans Studio Tour Various locations. A self-guided tour of artisans studios in central Virginia. Free and open to the public, with a passport program for audiences to earn store credit from participating creators. Map and directions available at artisanstudiotour. com. November 9 and 10, 10am–5pm.
The Center at Belvedere 540 Belvedere Blvd. “Landscapes and More,” featuring paintings and pastel works by artists Matalie Deane, Joan Dreicer, and Julia Kindred. Through November 15.
Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. “The Culture of the Earth,” landscapes by Isabelle Abbot, Fenella Belle, Lee Halstead, and Cate West Zahl. Through November 29. “Aggie Zed: The Close and Holy Darkness.” Through December 20.
City Clay 700 Harris Street #104. The annual Holiday Sale featuring locally made decorations and functional pottery for your holiday gifts, gatherings, and table. November 15–December 19. Opening reception November 15, 5–7pm.
Create Gallery at InBio 700 Harris St. “Pushing the Boundaries,” textile works by members of the Fiber and Stitch Art Collective, including Jane Fellows, Marijke Durieux, Robin Hamill-Ruth, Marcy George, Margaret Griffiths, Ellen and Moira MacAvoy, Mary Martin, Rozanne Oliver, C. Ann Robertson, Jo Lee Tarbell, and Alda Vidrich. Through November 30.
Crozet Artisan Depot 5791 Three Notch’d Rd., Crozet. Two-dimensional works depicting everyday scenes united through unique contour lines and a calm, earthy palette by Megan Davies. Mixed-metal jewelry inspired by movement and light and small abstract paintings by Anita Fontaine. Through November 12.
C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery 118 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. “Views from the Vineyards,” plein air oil paintings by Meg West. November 1–30. First Fridays reception with the artist 5–8pm.
Dovetail Cabinetry 1740 Broadway St. Ste. 3. Monoprints, watercolors, and acrylic paintings by Judith Ely. October 9–December 30. Reception with the artist November 2, 3–6pm.
The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA 155 Rugby Rd. “Barbara Hammer: Evidentiary Bodies,” features an immersive multichannel video installation. Through January 26, 2025. “Structures,” a selection of 20th- and 21st-century works exploring the ways that art can speak to or question the formal, physical, environmental, social, and institutional structures of our world. Through July 20, 2025. “Celebration” features works by five African American artists highlighting the ways these artists honor history, culture, and heritage through various media. “Vanity,” black and white photography by longtime UVA arts instructor Holly Wright. “Conversations in Color,” new print acquisitions curated by M. Jordan Love. All shows run through January 5, 2025 unless otherwise noted.
The Gallery at Studio IX 969 Second St. SE. “Pieces Of Color: A meeting of color, texture and time,” works by Kim Boggs and Rachel Thielmann. November 1–December 29. First Fridays opening reception 5–7pm. Artist talk November 21, 5–6PM.
Grace Estate Winery 5273 Mount Juliet Farm, Crozet. “Painting Along the Way,” oil and pastel works by Julia Kindred. Through November 30.
Hello Comics 211A W. Main St, Downtown Mall. “Picture Show,” a cash and carry show of original drawings and digital prints by Todd Webb. November 1, 2024–January 8, 2025. First Fridays reception with the artist 5pm. Additional works available at Hello Comics Uptown location.
Infinite Repeats Gallery 1740 Broadway St. “Party Wave,” works by Pino Supay, Jon Del Rosario, and Anthony Childs. November 1–28. First Fridays opening reception with a book release party for Pino Supay 6–9pm.
IX Art Park 522 Second St. SE. “The Looking Glass,” an immersive art space featuring a whimsical enchanted forest and kaleidoscopic cave. Ongoing. “Art Mix at Ix,” a fun night of painting, music, and cocktails at the outdoor art park. First Fridays, 6pm. Ticketed mini fairy house painting workshop 6:30–8pm.
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA 400 Worrell Dr. “Shifting Ground: Prints by Indigenous Australian Artists from the Basil Hall Editions Workshop Proofs Collection,” curated by Jessyca Hutchens, featuring work by 22 Indigenous Australian artists. Through March 2, 2025. “Our Unbroken Line: The Griffiths Family,” screenprints on textiles, ceramic works, and paintings curated by Dora Griffths. Through December 8.
Jefferson School African American Heritage Center 233 Fourth St. NW. In the Contemporary Gallery, “Beyond Boundaries: The Sculpture of Alice Wesley Ivory,” metal sculptures of animals by an award-winning African American artist. Through December 14.
Les Yeux du Monde 841 Wolf Trap Rd. “Small Works,” featuring interdisciplinary artworks from more than 40 artists. November 15–December 15. Opening reception November 15, 5–7pm.
Loving Cup Vineyard 3340 Sutherland Rd., North Garden. BozART presents pastel, acrylic, and photographic works by Judith Ely, Brita Lineburger, and Andy Stafford. Through December 15.
McGuffey Art Center 201 Second St. NW. In the First Floor Gallery, “Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead,” memorial altars created by individuals, families, friend groups, artists, and non-artists. Organized by Lua Project. November 1–17. In the Smith Gallery, “Bodies of Work,” large-format photographs of body paintings by Russell Richards. In the Second Floor Gallery North, “Fragments Beneath: The Drift of Time and Tech,” mixed-media works reflecting on our relationships with outdated technology and the environment by David Borszich. In the Second Floor Gallery South, “House Party,” mixed-media works explore the chaos, joy, and hardships of being a fulltime caregiver by Heather Owens. In the Associate Gallery, “Landscapes,” a group show of works from MAC associate art members. All shows run October 4–November 17, unless otherwise noted. First Friday reception 5:30–8pm.
New City Arts 114 Third St. NE. In the Welcome Gallery, “The Value of Dirt,” large paintings and an installation of dirt and abstract wood sculptures by Autumn Jefferson. November 1–20. First Fridays reception and artist talk 5–7:30pm.
Phaeton Gallery 114 Old Preston Ave. “Soundings,” an exploration of the intersection of creativity and spirituality, featuring pastels, photographs, and mixed-media works by Donna Ernest, Blakeney Sanford, and Daniel Tucker. Through November 15.
The PVCC Gallery V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. “Those Who Teach Can: Practicing Artists Who Teach in Charlottesville City Schools and the PVCC Art Department.” An interdisciplinary exhibition of works by local arts educators. Through November 5.
Quirk Gallery in The Doyle Hotel 499 W. Main St. “Color As Language,” oil paintings by Jennifer Esser. Through December 29. This is Quirk Gallery Charlottesville’s last exhibition before the space is repurposed by The Doyle.
Ruffin Gallery UVA Grounds, Ruffin Hall, 179 Culbreth Rd. “New Growth: Ten Years of ArtLab at Mountain Lake Biological Station,” celebrates the mission and history of UVA’s ArtLab residency, merging art and science. Featuring interdisciplinary works by Nancy Blum, Sara Bouchard, Gregory Brellochs, Rob Carter, Zehra Khan, Meredith Leich, Chris Mahonski, Nathalie Miebach, and Ash Eliza Williams. Through December 6. Artist panel discussion, November 8, 4–5pm. Opening reception November 8, 5–7pm.
Second Street Gallery 115 Second St. SE. In the Main Gallery, “Out of Context,” paintings and drawings that underscore visual art’s ability to communicate as a unique language, featuring works by Paul Brainard, Miriam Carothers, Hyunjin Park, Jean-Pierre Roy, Michael Ryan, and Amber Stanton. Artist talk November 2, 10:30am. In the Dové Gallery, “What’s Coming Is Already On Its Way,” oil paintings depicting a subculture of queer autonomy by New York-based artist Barnaby Whitfield. Both shows run through November 22. First Fridays reception 5–7:30pm.
Visible Records 1740 Broadway St. “Leaving My Eyelids Behind,” interdisciplinary works by Ali Eyal. November 8–December 13. Opening reception November 8, 6pm.
Shaboozey may be third on the bill for award-winning country rap headliner Jelly Roll, but he’s already proven to have much of what mainstream music fans want: a No. 1 track (“A Bar Song [Tipsy]”), big name collabs (Beyoncé), and the strength of a heady country-hip-hop mix capable of pulling fans from multiple musical neighborhoods to meet in the middle. NoVa-born to Nigerian parents, and as a teen schooled in his family’s homeland, Shaboozey, aka Collins Obinna Chibueze, steps over genre barriers without hesitation or hangups. You want f-bomb-infused tirades over Appalachian-flavored fiddle and acoustic guitars supported by a stompy trap beat? Dude’s got it. It all comes through as radio ready, pristine enough for Hollywood music supervisors, and sung with an emotional overshare that likely appeals to people under the drinking age and those beyond it who’ve got real problems that you couldn’t possibly understand.
Above all else, the authenticity that colors Shaboozey’s voice seems
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41
Saturday 11/2
etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 1. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Movie Mayhem. A film screening of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children with free popcorn. All ages welcome. Free, 2pm. JMRL: Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org
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
Two Up Wine Down Festival. The Veraison Project and Oenoverse are back for year three of bringing together Virginia’s finest wines and a community that’s all about good times, great connections, and cele-
10/30
to be the real selling point. It’s likely the true reason for his success, which lifted off in 2018 when he blasted into the public ear with the heavily aggro crowd-frenzy-whipper “Start a Riot” (with Duckwrth). That track could be considered a type of red herring, as a good chunk of the singles that followed are a steady stream of depressed, regret-laden glimpses into the fallout from partying too hard and the mistakes that come with it.
The lonesome whistle that leads in the loss of morality that is “Vegas,” the self-destructive boozing of “Drink Don’t Need No Mix,” and “Highway,” the latest single from Shaboozey’s questionably punctuated record Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, offers a not-so-subtle suicide threat on the heels of a hard breakup. He shows the tortured soul of classic country greats with production that hooks itself squarely in this century. Can’t be sure if he’ll hit up JPJ backed by a full band or singing over playback, but the choice may reveal what he values most about his musical contributions.—CM Gorey
brating uniqueness. $45–85, 3pm. Jefferson School City Center, 233 Fourth St. NW. jeffersoncitycenter.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 31. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Baroque and Beyond: Italian à la mode. A program for large string ensemble which explores a wide range of music both Italian and Italian-inspired. Free, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu
Eli Young Band. Veteran band brings a Texas-rock edge to modern country. $35–40, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
At Mejicali, we believe in creating a sense of community around the joy of good food. We invite you to join us in our passion for Mexican cuisine, where each dish tells a story, and every bite is an adventure. From our family to yours, we welcome you to savor the true essence of Mexico right here at Mejicali. ¡Buen provecho!
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.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 the heat and move. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101. fioranomediterranean.com
Sunday 11/3
Field Guide. Melody is what makes words fall out of the mouth of this intimate vocalist with tender instrumentals. $18–20, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Gina Sobel and Matt Draper. Multi-instrumentalist duo performing bluesy American arrangements. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
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
Mojo Pie. Harmonies abound when these singer-songwriters and veterans of the C’ville scene get together. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarle ciderworks.com
Mo & Mary Mac. Music in the mountains from local singer-songwriters. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Floral Design Workshop. Shawn Cossette guides you through the process of creating your very own unique floral arrangement. An array of florals, foliages, and botanical ele ments will be provided. $150, 1pm. Be Just Cville, 407 Monticello Rd. bejustcville.com
etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 1. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Fall Fest. An occasion to enjoy the finest Virginia weather and indulge in exceptional local food and beverages. Featuring live music, kids activities, and so much more. Free, noon. The Wool Factory, 1837 Broad way St. thewoolfactory.com
Role Playing Game Hangout. for Thursday, October 31. Free, 4pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theend games.co
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 31. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. East wood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
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
etc.
Comedy Open Mic. Showcase your talent, try out new material, and take in the best local comedy that C’ville has to offer. Hosted by Chris Alan. Ages 18+. Free, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Game Night. Meet up with others at the brewery, play a game, and have a chance to win prizes. Bring your favorite games from home. All board, card, puzzle games, and ages welcome. Free, 5pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com
Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Seven rounds of audio, visual, and live trivia for teams of up to six with prizes for answering bonus questions and gift cards for top teams. Hosted by Audrey. Free, 6:30pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.
Trivia Night. Hosted by Geeks Who Drink. Maximum of six players per team. Free, 7pm. Selvedge Brewing, 2415 Ivy Rd., Ste 190. selvedgebrewing.com
Trivia on Tap. Five rounds of themed trivia for teams of up to six competitors. Hosted by Olivia. Reservations recommended. Free, 7pm. Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery - Charlottesville, 520 Second St. SE. threenotchdbrewing.com
Do you enjoy helping others? Are you detail-oriented, caring and compassionate? You belong at UVA Health. We’re looking for Access Associates to play a vital role in patient registration, scheduling, office administration, and call center support. Qualified candidates may be eligible for a $3,500 sign-on bonus
Join our Access Associate Fall Hiring Event on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 2420 Old Ivy Road.
Build your future with us. To learn more about opportunities, visit careers.uvahealth.org.
brewing.com
Poker Night. Test your luck and skill at our hold ’em poker night. Free, 7pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101. fioranomediterranean.com
Friday, 11/1, 3:30pm 107 Old Cabell Hall
Sunday, 11/3, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Friday, 11/8, 8pm Old Cabell Hall
Saturday, 11/9, 8pm Old Cabell Hall
Sunday, 11/10, 8pm Rotunda Dome Room
Sunday, 11/10, 8pm Old Cabell Hall
Saturday, 11/16, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Saturday, 11/16, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Sunday, 11/17, 3:30pm MLK PAC at CHS
Sunday, 11/17, 7pm Old Cabell Hall
Monday, 11/18, 5:30pm UVA Chapel
Monday, 11/18, 7:30pm Hunter Smith Band Bldg.
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
Role Playing Game Hangout. See listing for Thursday, October 31. Free, 3pm. The End Games, 390 Hillsdale Dr. theendgames.co
Date/Time/Place Event uvamusic
* denotes free events Giorgio Biancorosso Colloquium * Pasolini, World Music, & the
Baroque & Beyond * Italian à la mode
UVA University Singers Fall Concert Directed by Michael Slon
UVA Jazz Ensemble - New Beginnings Directed by John D’earth
UVA Flute Ensemble * Directed by Kelly Sulick
Free Bridge Quintet with Nicole Mitchell, flute
String & Piano Chamber Music * Directed by David Sariti
Charlottesville Symphony Masterworks 2: Dvořák Symphony No. 8
Charlottesville Symphony Masterworks 2: Dvořák Symphony No. 8
Jazz Small Groups * four student jazz groups
Aeolus Quartet Masterclass * with pre-selected student performers
UVA Wind Ensemble * directed by Elliott Tackitt
To find out about all our events, subscribe to our weekly “Music at UVA”
This Halloween, we asked you to submit your creepiest, spookiest, most nightmare-inducingest two-sentence horror stories and you delivered a collection nothing short of terrifying. One thing’s for sure: Kids make great fodder for scary tales (and mirrors, too!).
We gathered our 11 favorites, which will be performed by Live Arts actors on our social media pages. (Follow us so you don’t miss it!)
As I walked out of the empty theater that night, my phone buzzed with an unknown text: “So you like scary movies?” I glanced around into the darkness, heart racing, when the next message arrived: “You’re about to star in mine.”
By Eduarda Hackenhaar
As she tucked her daughter into bed, she heard a whisper from the closet, “Mommy, there’s someone in my room.” Turning to reassure her, she froze—her daughter was still fast asleep, but the voice continued, “Mommy, I’m scared.”
By Lee Moore
Casper came running, tail wagging, something large and flesh-colored in his mouth. “Bad dog,” the woman scolded, “digging up Daddy’s hand so soon.”
By John Ruemmler
After the pilot came over the intercom to tell the packed plane that we were going to have sit on the tarmac for at least four hours, the man seated next to me turned and extended his hand. “Hello,” he said, “I’m Bob Good.”
By Michael Cordell
When she awoke she could not move nor raise her head, but felt something cold and hypodermic pierce her inner arm. Her mother’s voice, a whisper of warm breath against her ear, said, “It’s only because I love you.”
By Don O’Neal
Son, don’t pick your teeth at the table with that finger. You don’t know where your father found that body.
By Mark Lawton
I look in the mirror and smile. My reflection doesn’t return the grin.
By Lynne DeCora
Mommy, is that A.I.? MOMMY?!?
By Carolyn O’Neal
Oh God, we had to be home before dark but now we’re stuck in this snowbank, covered in shattered glass. I see my wife stuck in the passenger seat with blood dripping down her head; moonlight bleeding through the pines—and she looks delicious.
By Matthew Hepler
Her stomach twisted and her face grew pale as she watched her own reflection slowly back away from the full-length mirror, with a malicious grin. She was on the wrong side!
By Jasmine Williams
In the dead of night, waking from a deep Stage 3 sleep, I felt the cat moving on my bed, walk across my chest, scratch and sniff the covers, and finally snuggle at my side. Eyes popping open, terrified to move, I realized, “I don’t have a cat!”
By David Gladden
When it comes to Medicare Open Enrollment this year (October 15 to December 7) there’s good news and bad news for older adults. The good news is that for the first time ever, thanks to Congress passing a new prescription drug law in 2022, out-ofpocket drug costs will be capped at $2000 annually AND you can pay that in monthly installments. This is HUGE for anyone who has had to pay thousands for their needed prescription drugs.
In addition, the new law limits insulin costs to $35 a month and gives Medicare the power to negotiate with drug makers to lower prices. In the first round of negotiations, which is expected to involve 10 popular drugs available at reduced cost in 2026, Medicare beneficiaries are expected to save as much as $1.5 billion in out-ofpocket expenses.
However, the bad news is that insurance companies are responding to the changes by trimming and/or cutting benefits and increasing charges elsewhere, which could prove costly (and complicated) for Medicare beneficiaries.
“This year’s Medicare marketplace will be more chaotic than ever,” said Vijay Kotte, chief executive of Medicare marketplace GoHealth, told USAToday. “With fewer options, higher costs, and diminished benefits, older adults will be forced to navigate one of the most disruptive enrollment seasons in recent memory.”
Local experts agree. “There are a lot of moving parts this year, so it’s more important than ever before to look at your options during open enrollment,” says Randy Rodgers, who manages JABA’s Insurance Counseling program.
Indeed, Rogers, JABA CEO Marta Keane, and representatives from the UVA Health System had
“Moving to Our Lady of Peace was the best decision I could have made for myself. If you are considering making the move, do it. I promise you will be so happy here.”
Resident
Jenny Ryalls
a round-table discussion earlier this year with one of the lawmakers who helped pass the new law and voiced their concerns. The lawmaker took notice.
“Overwhelmingly, what I hear is, ‘Thanks for the reductions in prescription drug price, but it’s still too complicated,’” Virginia Senator Tim Kaine later told The Daily Progress. “There’s a lot of deceptive, or at least confusing, marketing that comes to seniors when they’re about to become Social Security-eligible, and that leads people to choose plans that aren’t the best plans for themselves. So there’s a heavy kind of consumer protection theme to this conversation that I’m going to take back with me.”
Fortunately, Medicare beneficiaries in our area, and those new to Medicare, have JABA’s Insurance Counseling program to turn to for free, unbiased, confidential counseling and assistance for people with Medicare. They are part of The Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), which itself is part of a national network of programs that help people understand Medicare. Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol (Virginia SMP) also helps Medicare beneficiaries avoid healthcare fraud and abuse.
“Last year we helped over two thousand people during Medicare open enrollment,” says Rogers, “... and fifty percent of those people changed plans because they were going to save money on their premiums or prescriptions. Throughout open enrollment last year we helped people save nearly two million on their prescriptions. So, it’s important to look at your options during open enrollment.”
David McNair handles communications, media relations, and social media efforts for JABA.
• Transportation and errands
• Meal preparation
• Medication reminders
• Housework and laundry
PERSONAL CARE SERVICES
• Bathing and personal hygiene
• Toileting and incontinence support
• Dressing and grooming
• Assisting with transfers and ambulation
•Assistance with eating
•Coordination and oversight of health services
• Medication management
• Long-term care insurance partnership
•Attending medical appointments and procedures
• Obtaining medical equipment
SPECIALIZED CARE PROGRAMS
• Total or "24/7" care
•Alzheimer's and dementia care
•Hospital-to-home support
•Hospice care
Contact our team today for a free in-home consultation. We can typically begin providing care within 24 to 48 hours.
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
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.
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.
Nov. 2nd – Live Music with Michael Tice
Nov. 3rd- Virginia Women in Wine Food & Wine Pairing!
Nov. 9th – Shrimp Boil and Live Music with Vintage Silk Open 7 days a week, 11 am –Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm 13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com
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!
Nov. 9th- Murder Mystery Dinner (advanced ticket purchase required)
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
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.
Wine Wednesdays 10% off all bottle purchases on Wednesdays.
MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!
Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights 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!
Virginia Women in Wine Celebrations Nov1-3: Join us for a festive fall weekend featuring a full round up of programming including a women winemaker event, a holiday market with handmade goods from local artisans, housemade mulled wine, daily raffles, complimentary tasting events, delicious food including chocolate fondue and toasty flatbreads, live music and music bingo!
Friday, November 1
Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration 5-8PM
Live Music: Sue Harlow 5-8PM
Women In Wine Tasting Event: Julie Linker, Delve Wines 5-7PM Daily Raffles
Saturday, November 2
Live Music: Jim Richardson 1-4PM
Live Music: The Near Passerines 5-8PM
Daily Raffles
Sunday, November 3
Holiday Market 12-5PM
Music Bingo 2-4PM
Meet The Eastwood Women In Wine Tasting Event 12-5PM
Daily Raffles
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
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.
Nov. 2nd – Beyond the Board, Charcuterie Class (advanced ticket purchase required)
Nov. 8th – Wine Down Trivia Night
Nov. 9th – The Art of Wine supporting the Arc of the Piedmont 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 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 5:308:30pm
Weekends - Live Music from 12-4 pm (check out our website for the schedule!)
Nov. 2nd – Women in Wine event, build your own dried lavender wreath with Aisling Flower Farm!
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
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.
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 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.
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
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!
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
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.
Nov. 1st - Book World Meets Wine World at 5:30 pm: Betty Joy Nash will read from her book Everybody Here is Kin
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
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
Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
BY MATT JONES
1. “Ivanhoe” author Sir Walter ___
6. Scar y Spice’s other nickname
10. Mar.-to-Nov. period
13. Prefix with pod
15. “Bob Wehadababyits___” (fake collect call name in a 1990s Geico ad)
16. Shout of realization
17. Nonsense, to a religion that advocates world unity?
19. Comedian Mayall of “The Young Ones”
20. Direct, as a relationship
21. Martini garnish
23. Garr of “Young Frankenstein”
24. Assertion upon recognizing the peninsula linking Africa with the Middle East?
27. Picnic bug
29. What may make NATO neato?
30. Cuban dance
34. Sea-___ Airport
35. “Pericles, Prince of ___”
39. Series of interlinked Hawaiian verandas?
42. Greek vowels
43. Makeshift dwelling
44. Slight difference
45. Roswell sightings
47. Giants Hall-of-Famer Mel
48. Instruction on how to get to the Burj Khalifa?
52. Arena cheers
56. Completely
57. Forms a line, to Lineker
60. Send a question
61. Humble response from an Alaskan peninsula?
64. Jeans brand
65. March Madness org.
66. Respectable
67. Waze lines, for short
68. “___, Interrupted” (1999 film)
69. Twill weave
1. Wooden shoe
2. Construction zone lifter
3. Multiple-choice choice
4. “Not ___ know of”
5. Threesome
6. “Speed-the-Plow” playwright
7. Regress
8. Rocker Reed
9. “Golly!”
10. “Beyond the Sea” singer Bobby
11. Hindu god of destruction
12. “Oh Myyy!” author
14. “What have we here?”
18. Cohesive group
22. “Goodfellas” actor Ray
25. “Game of Thrones” actor Bean
26. Impersonator ’s challenge, sometimes
27. Poke bowl fish
28. Ballpark trayful
30. Cavs, on a scoreboard
31. Porkpie, e.g.
32. Actress de Armas
33. Fast ___ (restaurant category for Chipotle and Wingstop)
34. Sticks for blasts
36. Chinese principle with a counterpart
37. Mythical flyer
38. Suffix with ethyl
40. Drive out
41. “Freedom, ___ me loose” (line from the BeyoncÈ song used for Kamala Harris’ campaign)
46. Type of workplace cabinet
47. Work for an orchestra
48. Older TV features
49. Not yet solidified
50. Makes a Battenberg
51. Matching
52. Shearsmith who co-created and co-stars in “Inside No. 9”
53. “Up” voice actor Ed
54. Celebrit y chef Eddie who wrote “Fresh Off the Boat”
55. Ill will
58. Abbr at O’Hare
59. Ualapue strings
62. 13, converted to binary, then converted to Roman numerals
63. Pickle holder
all started with an injured crow.
founder, Nathou Attinger, earned her rehabilitator's permit in 2004 and cared for hundreds of wildlife patients over the next decade. What began as a one-woman show has grown into a staff of 10, a standalone modern facility on 22 peaceful acres, and over 50 outdoor enclosures that can cater to most native species.
By Rob Brezsny
By Rob Brezsny
(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.
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys, is one of the most innovative and imaginative songwriters ever. Many of his compositions have become bestselling hit tunes. But he had a rough start in his craft. The first song he ever wrote was “Surfin.’” He submitted it to fulfill an assignment in his high school music class, but his teacher gave it an F, the lowest possible grade. Fifty-eight years later, Wilson returned to the school for a visit, and the new principal changed his original grade to an A. I foresee a comparable event occurring in your life sometime soon: a vindication, restitution, or reparation.
(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.
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Earlier this year, 79-yearold rock singer Rod Stewart performed his greatest hits during a multi-city tour in many countries. “I shall never retire!” he proclaimed. Can you guess what astrological sign he is? Capricorn, of course. Many members of your tribe age very well, displaying stamina and vitality into later life. I bring this to your attention because I think you are close to discovering new secrets and tricks that will serve you well as you ripen. Here are some meditations that might be helpful: 1. What haven’t you been ready to do before, but might be soon? 2. What fun things would you love to be doing years from now, and how could you seed their future growth?
(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.
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Scientists have discovered the fossil remains of over 700 dinosaur species buried underground. But the experts agree there are many more down there. Previously unknown species are still being unearthed every year. Let’s use these facts as a metaphor for your life in the coming months. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you could learn a host of fresh truths about your history. You may have imagined that your past is finished and finalized, but it’s not. I encourage you to have fun hunting for revelations and investigations that will transform the story of your life.
(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.
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the life cycle of a butterfly, the earliest stages are larva and pupa. As a larva, the future beauty crawls around as a caterpillar, cramming itself with nutritive substance. After it transitions into the pupa state, it’s inert for a while, working on the inside of its cocoon to transform itself into its ultimate form. I don’t want to be too literal about the comparison, but my sense is that your time as a larva will last another two months, whereupon you will begin your pupa phase. When will you emerge as a winged creature? It depends on how earnestly you work as a pupa, but I expect no later than March 2025.
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.
talents and aptitudes within you may still be at least partially dormant. It’s even possible that some of your future powers are so foreign to your self-concept that they will feel like magic when they finally come into full expression. Now here’s the very good news: The coming months will be an excellent time to figure out what you need to do to express a more complete version of yourself.
(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.
(March 21-April 19): I rarely recommend acquisitive behavior. But my analysis of the astrological omens tells me you now have cosmic authorization to indulge in a sublime version of voracity. We might also refer to it as a license to practice a spiritually correct variety of greed. Here’s the fine print: You should not interpret this as permission to amass materialistic treasures and status symbols. Instead, the things you gather will be rich feelings, encounters with inspiring beauty, epiphanies about your divine purpose, and exquisite states of consciousness. You can also ask for and receive colossal supplies of love and affection.
(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): You haven’t fully tapped into all of your vast potentials, Pisces. Latent
(Feb. 19-March 20): For many years, I didn’t earn enough money to pay taxes. I was indigent. Fortunately, social programs provided me with food and some medical care. In recent years, though, I have had a better cash flow. I regularly send the US government a share of my income. I wish they would spend all my tax contributions to help people in need. Alas, just 42 percent of my taxes pay for acts of kindness to my fellow humans, while 24 percent goes to funding the biggest military machine on earth. Maybe someday, there will be an option to allocate my tax donations exactly as I want. In this spirit, Pisces, I invite you to take inventory of the gifts and blessings you dole out. Now is a good time to correct any dubious priorities. Take steps to ensure that your generosity is
(April 20-May 20): The last time I ate a hamburger was in 1994. I doubt I will ever eat another. Why? The taste is not enjoyable to me, and no matter how well I chew it, my stomach always rebels. There’s an additional problem: For several reasons, cattle farming is a significant factor causing the climate crisis. I would rather not contribute to that decimation. Does my attitude toward hamburgers mean I am a judgmental, closeminded zealot? No, it doesn’t. I don’t proselytize to those who relish burgers, especially if they take other measures to reduce their carbon footprint. In this horoscope, dear Taurus, I am illustrating an approach I hope you will cultivate in the coming weeks. Be extra zealously devoted to your
going where it’s most needed and appreciated. What kind of giving makes you feel best?
ideals and proclivities without condemning and dismissing those who don’t share them.
(May 21-June 20): There are numerous approaches to getting good results from meditation. One is to sit silently and still in a tranquil sanctuary. Another is to lie on the ground under a dark sky and beseech the stars to bestow inspiration. One of my personal favorites is to sing rowdy hymns to birds, insects, and trees while hiking vigorously in nature. How many other varieties can you imagine, Gemini? The coming weeks will be a favorable time to develop and expand your meditation skills. Here’s a key consideration: How can you achieve maximum fun while meditating? I recommend you free your mind to experiment with a host of interesting approaches.
(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.
(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.
(June 21-July 22): If there was ever an appropriate time for you to indulge in creatively rowdy thoughts and inspirationally unruly behavior, it would be now. Life is giving you license to de-emphasize decorum and formalities—and to emphasize boisterous enthusiasm and plucky adventures. For the sake of your mental health, I believe you need to engage in experimental improvisations that include maverick expressions. What areas of your life need liberation? What feelings need to be released from their constraints? What wornout old theories and opinions should be abandoned?
(July 23-Aug. 22): Are your talents even slightly underrated and overlooked by others, Leo? Have your gifts received less than the full appreciation they deserve? Could you be of greater service and inspiration to your fellow humans if only your offerings were
(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.
better known? If you answered yes to any of those questions, I’m pleased to tell you that the coming months should bring remedies. Life will be conspiring with you to help spread your influence and boost your clout.
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I wish it were true that the forces of darkness are lined up in opposition to the forces of light. Life would be so much easier for you. But I’m afraid it’s not that simple and clear. In my view, a more accurate metaphor might be that the energies of smokey grey are squaring off with the energies of dusky beige. Each side has a touch of both wrongness and rightness, a bit of ugliness and beauty. So what is the most honorable role you can play in this showdown? My suggestion is to develop a third side, an alternate way.
(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.”
(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.
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the early part of his career, Libran author Mario Puzo wrote short stories and novels, but never a screenplay. At age 49, he was asked by director Francis Ford Coppola to co-write the script for the film The Godfather. It turned out to be a sensational rookie effort. He was ultimately awarded an Academy Award for it, and later garnered another Oscar for his screenplay for The Godfather Part II. It was only then that Puzo realized he had found his calling and decided he should study the art of screenwriting. In the first chapter of the first book he bought about the subject, he read with great amusement that the ideal screenplay was the one by Mario Puzo for The Godfather. I bring this story to your attention, Libra, because you are approaching a time with resemblances to Puzo’s situation before Coppola solicited his work. Trust your rookie instincts!
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
Expandedweeklyaudiohoroscopesanddailytextmessagehoroscopes:RealAstrology.com,(877)873-4888
Friday at 5 PM for inclusion in the next Wednesday’s paper.
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALBEMARLE COUNTY
IN RE: ESTATE OF ELISE C.J. WEGENER ZWANG
Case No.: 2022-183
Show Cause Order Against Distribution of Estate
It appearing that a report of the accounts of Brunette B. Zwang and April R. Fletcher, personal representatives of the estate of Elise CJ. Wegener Zwang, deceased, and of the debts and demands against her estate, has been filed in the Clerk’s Office, and that six months have elapsed since the qualification, on motion of Brunette B. Zwang and April R. Fletcher, personal representatives.
IT IS ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the estate do show cause, if any they can, on the 18th day of November, 2024, 9:00am, before this Court at its courtroom, against the payment and delivery of the Estate of Elise CJ. Wegener Zwang, deceased, to the distributees, with or without refunding bonds as the Court prescribes.
I ask for this:
April R. Fletcher, Esq., VSB No. 35649
April R. Fletcher, PLC One Village Green Circle, Suite 100 Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-293-9241
Counsel for Brunette B. Zwang and April R. Fletcher Administrators, c.t.a. of the Estate of Elise C.J. Wegener Zwang
110 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA 22902
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY
Performing Arts Facility, Beer and Wine and Mixed Beverage and Specialty Liqueurs, On and Off Premises
Joseph Hall, officer authorizing advertisement
NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be Submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.
Overseeing the programming of more than 120 films and nearly 100 guests as artistic director of the Virginia Film Festival, Ilya Tovbis knows how to curate a celebration of cinema. He’s worked with the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, and the Mill Valley Film Festival (organized by the California Film Institute), among other accomplishments. Tovbis spent 10 years as the artistic and managing director of JxJ: The Washington Jewish Film and Music Festivals in Washington, D.C., and served as a guest programmer for the VAFF beginning in 2019, curating selections of Jewish, Israeli, and other international films before joining the festival full time in 2022. Prior to the opening of the 37th annual VAFF, we put the film aficionado in the HotSeat.
Name: Ilya Tovbis
Age: I have to count the rings … will get back to you.
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Odessa, Ukraine (born) / New York, New York (raised) / Charlottesville (current)
Job(s): Artistic director, Virginia Film Festival
What’s something about your job that people would be surprised to learn? Taste and film knowledge are important, but are only a small fraction of the actual job.
What is acting/performing to you? Acting is about lending real human dimension to the role as written on the page. Giving parts of yourself—warts and all—to the character.
Why is supporting the arts important? Especially in our ever-more polarized society, I believe the arts are our best, most honest, and most direct way of connecting to, and understanding, those different from ourselves.
Favorite city to work in: I go to Toronto every year for the film festival there. Incredible city.
Favorite venue to watch movies in: Walter Reade Theater (Lincoln Center, New York City)
Favorite movie and/or show: His Girl Friday
Favorite musician/musical group: Leonard Cohen
Favorite book: The Defense by Vladimir Nabokov
What are you currently watching? TV-wise: “Veep,” “Shrinking,” “Disclaimer,” “The Penguin”
What are you currently listening to? Karol G, DakhaBrakha, Nina Simone
Go-to karaoke song: “Total Eclipse of the Heart” Best advice you ever got: Embrace your quirks.
Proudest accomplishment: Starting defender on my unscored-upon seventh-grade soccer team. More recently, helping to bring Ava DuVernay to Charlottesville for the U.S. premiere of her knockout film Origins
Celebrity crush: Aubrey Plaza
Who’d play you in a movie? Neil Patrick Harris
Who is your hero? Victor Jara
Best part of living here: Nature, MarieBette, and UVA basketball
Worst part of living here: Not enough stand-up comedy.
Favorite Charlottesville restaurant: Guajiros
Favorite Charlottesville venue: The Paramount
Favorite Charlottesville landmark/attraction: Blue Ridge Mountains
Bodo’s order: Everything egg bagel with horseradish and muenster cheese.
Describe a perfect day: Walk by the Rivanna River with my wife Jennie-Maire and our dog, Luna, bowling, and then a movie at Violet Crown.
If you could be reincarnated as a person or thing, what would you be? A common swift (live months at a time in the air without landing) or Vince Carter (see: common swift).
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? Six more wishes
Most embarrassing moment: Hand-making a teddy bear for a high-school valentine, who dumped me the next day.
Best Halloween costume you’ve worn: Paper shredder or toothbrush
Do you have any pets? Only the cutest puppy in Charlottesville, Luna Rellanova Tovbis.
Subject that causes you to rant: Capitalism
Best journey you ever went on: Traveling around Taiwan, especially the Alishan forest.
Next journey: Austin, Texas
Most used app on your phone: Outlook
Favorite curse word? Or favorite word: Aestival
Hottest take/most unpopular opinion: John Wick is high-end cinema.
What have you forgotten today? Hard to say.