C-VILLE Weekly | December 4 - 10, 2024

Local activists and astronomers are fighting the increasing threat of light pollution New from council: ARP funds, housing budget, parking debate—oh my!

Feeling fancy at The Clifton, where we spend a scrummy autumn evening PAGE 33

MAST ER PLA N RESU LTS

YOU ARE INVITED TO A PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF:

Key Technical Findings

Preliminary Recommendations

Concept Plans

COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS:

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

6:30 PM

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

605 East Main St Charlottesville, VA 22902

Scan to view the community engagement results and presentations online

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

6:00 PM

CARVER RECREATION CENTER

233 4th St NW Charlottesville, VA 22903

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

LOCAL. WEAR LOCAL.

Fighting light pollution in the city and surrounding 9

City Council discusses udget, housing, and ansportation.

Hokies dominate Hoos to win Commonwealth Cup (again)

eal Estate Weekly: UVA Foundation moves ard with North Fork velopment.

CULTURE 31

33 All You Can Eat: Making the most of dinner at The Clifton’s 1799 restaurant.

34 Stages: LA LOM brings West Coast cool to the Southern.

35 Galleries: What’s on view this month.

40 Sudoku

41 Crossword

43 Free Will Astrology

CLASSIFIEDS 45 P.S. 46 The Big Picture

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Caite Hamilton editor@c-ville.com

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

NEWS INTERN Merrill Hart

CONTRIBUTORS

Rob Brezsny, Dave Cantor, Matt Dhillon, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Claudia Gohn, Mary Jane Gore, Maeve Hayden, Andrew Hollins, Erika Howsare, Justin Humphreys, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Erin Martin, Kristin O’Donoghue, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Courteney Stuart, Paul Ting, Sean Tubbs

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MEMBER Virginia Press Association

Michael Slon, Conductor

Tuesday, December 10, 8pm

Old Cabell Hall

Singers and instrumentalists invited! Scores & orchestra parts available, or bring your own.

*Instrumentalists:

Please register in advance: https://bit.ly/messiah-orchestra-sign-up

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

SATURDAY, 7, 2024 on Downtown (Course: 1 mile)

Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall (Course: 1 mile)

Run Begins at 10 AM

BE A CLAUS FOR A CAUSE! Register here!

Run Begins 10 AM Adults $25 12 $15 BE A CLAUS FOR A CAUSE! Register here!

Adults 12+ $25 Children Under 12 - $15

All proceeds from this event go to support the programs services at The Arc of in Charlottesville community living with developmental

All proceeds from this event go to support the programs and services at The Arc of people in Charlottesville and the surrounding community living with developmental

This year we ask companies, families, and individuals together with their friends, family, and co-workers and money

The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission of serving people developmental disabilities.

This year we ask companies, families, and individuals to get together with their closest friends, family, and co-workers and raise money for The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission of serving people with developmental disabilities.

All proceeds from this event go to support the programs 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. Santa

Thank you to

Thank you to sponsors!

Thank you to our sponsors!

Hello, Charlottesville. Thanks for reading C-VILLE Weekly.

The day before Thanksgiving, Blue Moon Diner closed its doors for good. It was a community staple for nearly 20 years under the stewardship of Laura Galgano and Rice Hall, the latest in a line of owners that began with Buzzy and Allison White in 1979. I have only a few memories of the place, though they’re happy ones: posing for a photo with C-VILLE staffers in support of Cathy “The Punctuator” Harding’s turn in the Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers and, more recently, introducing my in-laws to the diner’s famous stenciled pancakes while my daughter tried her best to snuggle her cousin in the corner of the booth (she’ll be ready for CLAW in no time!).

On that last visit, I snapped a picture of the wall behind the bar—a beautiful mess of stickers, toy cars, stacked mugs and Trager Brothers Coffee bags, black and whites of Blue Moon’s past, and, naturally, a bust of Elvis resting on his side. I’m glad I got the photo, a bit of ephemera for posterity when so much of life is fleeting.

12.4.24

This week, Erika Howsare writes about Piedmont Dark Skies (p.22), a local group fighting light pollution. In it, she details its efforts to cut down on light pollution, which is increasing rapidly with urban sprawl and unshielded lights. It struck a chord with me as I thought about the diner’s departure—a reminder of how vital it is to cherish and protect the things that connect us to a sense of place, whether it’s a star-filled night or a beloved community hub.

DECEMBER 31-ON SALE NOW SWEET PICKLES PRESENTS: A Y2K NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE & DRAG PARTY!

JANUARY 24-ON SALE NOW BOXED LUNCH & TYLER DICK BAND

FEBRUARY 22-ON SALE FRIDAY PENELOPE ROAD

POCKET CHANGE

12-21 | MAYDAY WITH PAXTON HENDERSON AND THE MISFIT TOYS

12-27 | LIVE AT THE FILLMORE ‘THE WORLD’S GREATEST ALLMAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE BAND’ 01-17 | EMO NIGHT KARAOKE

01-21 | CHUCK PROPHET & HIS CUMBIA SHOES

01-22 | TALL HEIGHTS- SOFTLY SOFTLY TOUR WITH LAU NOAH 01-28 | CERTAINLY SO WITH BRIE STONER 02-08 | CARSIE BLANTON 02-25 | ARTS FISHING CLUB

02-28 | CHATHAM RABBITS

03-01 | VANSIRE WITH SPECIAL GUEST TOLEDO 03-08 | TIM O’BRIEN WITH JAN FABRICUS 03-11 | RON POPE

beauty of light and the whimsy of nature intertwine harmoniously at Virginia’s premier holiday light show at Boar’s Head Resort. Experience the nature of our rolling landscape during this illuminated lakeside stroll as an extraordinary palette of colors blanket the natural surroundings.

Local Author William A. James, Sr. has done it again.

HIS NEWEST BOOK IS...

LUCY CAT IN A CAT BOOK, is primarily for children five to eight years old kindergarten through third grades. It’s main focus Is on getting children to relate to each other in a positive manner regardless of their cultural and diverse origins. The Book consists in two parts: One is pictorial-cartoon depictions showing how Lucy Cat is able to befriend everyone around her in a very convivial manner.

The Second part is Lesson Planning Suggestions giving the Teachers or Instructors ideas about how to reinforce the messaqe each cartoon presents.

OTHER BOOKS BY JAMES ARE:

In, A MURDER ON FIFTH AND DICE AND THE RUIN OF FIFEVILLE, James shows how drugdealing and gang violence led to the condemnation, demolition, and gentrification of Fifeville. It is a Sequel to his IN THE STREETS OF VINEGAR HILL, 2007. (He is writing a play based upon this latest Book)

In, HARD TIMES AND SURVIVAL: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN AFRICANAMERICAN SON, James relates His Story and the Reader learns what He means when He Says: “Do not GiveIn to Adversity, but overcome it by Steady and Constant Perserverance.”

IN THE STREETS OF VINEGAR HILL, James reveals how fear and misunderstandings caused The Charlottesville City Council to condemn and Demolish a 20 Acre Tract (30 Black businesses and 600 residents) from the Downtown area from 1958-1964.

Local Author

William A. James, Sr.

Call or Write, William A. James, Sr. 434-985-8987

PO Box 6991, Charlottesville, VA 22906 Wjpublications@aol.com

BOOKS SOLD AT:

The University of Virginia Bookstore

400 Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA 22904 (on UVA Grounds).

Patsy Goolsby, Manager, 434-924-1075 | bookshop@virginia.edu

2nd Act Books

214 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Daphne Spain, Owner, 434-202-0754 | daphnespain@gmail.com

Amazon.com

“I’m like, ‘You stole my van, get out of my van,’ beating on the door. And at this point, I see her very clearly. I saw her buzz cut and face tattoo.”

—Ground Zero Church of the Nazarene’s Kent Hart in a December 1 Daily Progress article on Wynonna Judd’s daughter allegedly stealing the church van

NEWS IN BRIEF

So far so good

University of Virginia men’s basketball interim Head Coach Ron Sanchez held his first Coaches Corner at Dairy Market on December 2, after taking over the program from former coach Tony Bennett weeks before the start of the 2024-2025 season. Despite Bennett’s sudden departure, the Hoos have had a respectable 5-2 start under Sanchez’s leadership. The Cavaliers’ next big test comes on December 4, when the team will face the undefeated Florida Gators in Gainesville. Tipoff is at 7:15pm.

Big discovery

Construction crews uncovered a literal pillar of history while working near the Rotunda at the University of Virginia on November 26, according to UVAToday. The stone pillar was unearthed near the building’s lower north plaza and is believed to have been buried by workers in the early 20th century. The pillar was previously part of a wall along University Avenue.

Christmas pun

Spruce Lee is the official name of Charlottesville’s 2024 holiday tree. The tree will be lit December 6 during the annual Grand Illumination at Ting Pavilion, where it will remain throughout the holiday season. Beyond the fun, this year’s naming contest also served as an informal introduction to ranked-choice voting, which will be used in the 2025 Democratic Charlottesville City Council primaries. Spruce Lee won with 59 percent of the vote, coming out ahead of runner-up Boots with the Fir.

Feeding frenzy

Local food equity nonprofit Cultivate Charlottesville launched a fundraising campaign to help cover a $500,000 budget shortfall. Without the donations, the organization may close as soon as spring 2025, according to a November 26 social media post.

“Cultivate Charlottesville is at a critical funding crossroads,” shared the organization. Among other challenges, the nonprofit cited staffing changes, depleted savings, and grants falling through as contributing factors to possibly closing. “Our work is focused on the local food system, and we’re calling on the local community to help us reach our fundraising goal.”

The potential closure of Cultivate Charlottesville puts a strain on already under-resourced food equity efforts. While it terminated Fresh Farmacy deliveries in July, Local Food Hub will shut down entirely at the end of the year. Cultivate Charlottesville was one of the nonprofits expected to help bridge the offerings lost with the closure of LFH.

Through its partnership with Charlottesville City Schools, Cultivate has worked with 20,500 students in its community gardens since its launch in 2007. The nonprofit has also grown and distributed more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce to community members in public and subsidized housing.

To donate to Cultivate Charlottesville, visit cultivatecharlottesville.org/donate.

Follow the money

The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the financial records of former United Way president and CEO Kristi Williams after the nonprofit paused operations in early November.

Williams left her role with United Way of Staunton, Augusta County & Waynesboro just before the nonprofit shut its doors temporarily. She worked with the organization in various roles since October 2018, according to her LinkedIn profile.

While rising operating costs were previously cited as the reason for the closure, questionable transac-

tions that occurred during Williams’ tenure raised concerns for investigators and board members.

In a November 20 filing obtained by The Daily Progress, ACSO requested a search warrant for Williams’ financial records with DuPont Community Credit Union going back to January 2023. The warrant application also includes an affidavit with copies of checks totaling more than $20,000 written and signed by Williams.

For information about resources and updates on the operational pause of UWSAW, visit united waysaw.org.

UVA men’s basketball interim Head Coach Ron Sanchez held his first Coaches Corner on December 2.

Kristi Williams

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Travel costs

City Council talks budget and everything road-related

By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

At its penultimate meeting of 2024, Charlottesville City Council received its second budget briefing from City Manager Sam Sanders. In addition to the budget, the December 2 session focused on everything transportation—including the Virginia Department of Transportation portfolio, parking rules, and scooters.

In his briefing, Sanders outlined and affirmed council’s housing and infrastructure priorities for what’s expected to be a jampacked budget.

Under housing, top items included the land bank, tax abatement programs, and the city’s commitment to housing accessibility.

Earlier this fall, $500,000 in funds previously allocated for the land bank, which aims to help with the area’s affordable housing crisis, were shifted to the purchase of Carlton Mobile Home Park, leaving the fund empty.

Sanders proposed a $12 million investment in affordable housing for FY25, part of the city’s 10-year, $100 million commitment.

Sanders also emphasized the importance of funding work on the city’s long-overdue Americans with Disabilities Act transition.

“We’ve added a $2 million a year commitment. … I am not convinced that that’s enough to really, really demonstrate best effort. … The ADA is law, therefore it’s not optional,” said Sanders. “Let’s check our work and make sure ... we’re getting these things done, and we’re checking things off the list. … Our prior transition, I can’t say that we did that.”

Under a Department of Justice settlement, Charlottesville would need to sideline or substantially reduce its spending on other priorities to quickly improve ADA compliance.

Transportation and accessibility were the focus of the council’s 6:30pm session, starting with a review and extension of the city’s permit agreement with micromobility company Veo.

As the only e-scooter and e-bike company permitted in the city, Veo has almost 7,000 users in Charlottesville and more than 250,000 rides annually. Over the past year, the city has worked with Veo to address persistent parking problems. Changes include more proactive issuance of violations and fines by Veo, the creation of recommended and mandatory parking zones, and added education and speed restrictions for new users.

Despite pressure from some constituents to eliminate scooters and e-bikes, council expressed support for extending Veo’s permit. Council also decided to push back its vote updating the city’s parking rules after a contentious discussion and confusion over the legal definition of the word “truck.” Changes in the proposed ordinance include a ban on covering a vehicle’s identifying information with a tarp and a prohibition on street parking of vehicles with more than two wheels per axle.

“It’s fair for people to be disappointed that we had to make changes. It is fair to be angry that we’re canceling projects.” SAM SANDERS, CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY MANAGER

In addition, councilors voted to right-size the city’s VDOT portfolio, canceling two projects and reducing the scope of others.

“We did not arrive at this conclusion very easily. This is not without a lack of consideration,” said Sanders. “It’s fair for people to be disappointed that we had to make changes. It is fair to be angry that we’re canceling projects.”

Though councilors inquired about potential ways to save the scrapped projects on Emmet Street and Fifth and Ridge streets, Sanders and Deputy City Manager for Operations James Freas said there is no wiggle room.

“While we have a very close working relationship with VDOT, VDOT has made it clear that this is the deal,” said Freas.

“VDOT district office has gone to bat for us, and secured the ability for some flexibility in the movement of money that is unheard of. … That gives us the best possibility for us delivering on what remains of our portfolio,” said Sanders.

One topic that was not addressed by City Council was the allocation of remaining American Rescue Plan funds.

In 2021, Charlottesville received $10,428,843 in ARP funding. On top of interest generated by the money, the city still has more than $3 million to allocate before the end of the year. Council’s last opportunity to appropriate the funds is on December 16, during its final meeting of the year.

“This is the last allocation, so everything else has been reviewed previously and presented,” Sanders told C-VILLE after the meeting. “This is just a cleanup action for what the remaining balance is.”

According to the city manager, decisions are still being finalized, but funds will likely go to projects supporting the unhoused.

“We recognize that when the federal government made the funding available, it was, ‘Let’s do what you can to [overcome] the impacts of COVID, but also do something significant in your community,’” said Sanders. “Addressing homelessness is a top priority.”

City Manager Sam Sanders, who previously served as Charlottesville’s Deputy City Manager of Operations, has been working to fix the VDOT portfolio for three years.

NEWS

There’s always next season

Hoos once again fall short in Commonwealth Cup

By Evan Massauro

The University of Virginia football season came to an ignominious end November 30, when the team lost 17-37 in the Commonwealth Cup game against Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium. UVA has now ceded the cup to Virginia Tech in 19 of the last 20 matchups (UVA’s victory came in 2019 at home in Scott Stadium).

But the bigger storyline is that both teams entered the night in line to become bowl eligible. Over the last few years the NCAA has become more lax with bowl eligibility requirements in reaction to the growth and popularity of college football, meaning far more “bowl” games have come into existence. Still, the achievement of bowl eligibility is seen as a milestone.

Bowl eligibility not only means the obvious—a potential invitation to a postseason matchup—but also brings a higher expected standard of play and a new level of respect to a program as a whole. Recruits who may have previously been out of reach may now be a possibility, and a team also has a chance to show its stuff (so to speak) to the nation, helping to draw additional recruiting interest. Despite the disappointing end to their season, the Hoos have made strides from the previous two seasons under Head Coach Tony Elliott. However, without maintaining a winning (or at least even) record, and eventually achieving bowl eligibility, any progress the program has begun to enjoy may stagnate.

Speaking of stagnation (and not to be totally doom and gloom here), some important things are happening this off-season for the Hoos. First, second-year quarterback Anthony Colandrea has officially announced that he will enter the transfer portal on December 9, as many had already suspected. Additionally, Tony Muskett, who started at QB in 2023 before being replaced by Colandrea for much of the 2024 season, will become ineligible to play for the team after finishing the season as a fifth-year senior. His absence leaves UVA with no quarterback on the roster with many college snaps under his belt (backup

UVA’s loss to Virginia Tech in the Commonwealth Cup means the team misses bowl eligibility for the third straight year.

QB Gavin Frakes started five games for New Mexico State in 2022 before transferring to UVA). That’s a big problem, one that will likely need to be addressed via the transfer portal in the offseason.

Another issue: A large number of current UVA football players are either seniors or grad students. This includes standouts like wide receiver Malachi Fields, who led the team in receptions and receiving yards, the excellent safety duo of Jonas Sanker (whose praises I’ve been singing all season long) and Corey Thomas Jr., as well as much of the current offensive and defensive lines.

In addition to the losses from graduation, I also expect a handful of underclassmen to opt into the transfer portal in the coming week. This leaves Elliott with a potential turnover of 40 to 50 players going into the 2025-2026 season.

On the bright side, Fields, Sanker, Thomas Jr., and others made their way to UVA and improved it over the past few years. And they did it in a program that was in far worse shape than it is now. Who’s to say that there aren’t a few new gems coming the Hoos’ way this offseason? No matter what happens, Elliott, Offensive Coordinator Des Kitchings, and Defensive Coordinator John Rudzinski will need to put the new pieces together and keep things moving in the right direction.

Despite the disappointing end to their season, the Hoos have made strides from the previous two seasons under Head Coach Tony Elliott.

Virginia Glee Club

Frank Albinder, Conductor

Celebrate the holiday season with a cherished musical tradition at UVA

University Baptist Church

Saturday, December 7, 2024 8:00 p.m.

Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, December 8, 2024 8:00 p.m.

Tickets available at the door or through the UVA Arts Box Office

artsboxoffice.virginia.edu 434-924-3376 VirginiaGleeClub.org

SERENITY RIDGE RETREAT CENTER

Ancient Teachings for Modern Times

DECEMBER 4 FREE!

Dharma talk and guided meditation: Finding Inner Peace , with Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso at the Jefferson Library, downtown Charlottesville

DECEMBER 7 FREE!

Open House at Serenity Ridge 9:30 am—12 noon

DECEMBER 15

Bringing Clear Awareness to All Aspects of Life , with Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso

DECEMBER 27—29 & DECEMBER 27—JANUARY 4

Three or eight day Dzogchen Meditation Retreat, with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

JANUARY 5—11

Tummo Practice Retreat, with Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso

JANUARY 5—11

Personal Practice Retreat, from one to seven days

Learn More and Register: SERENITYRIDGEVA.ORG

Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, Shipman, VA

December 14, 15, & 16 - 10 am to 4 pm daily Details & Photos - estatesales.org/Red Horse Estate Sales (434) 296-7906

is proud to present our 5th Annual 12

Days of Christmas Specials!

Join us in the serene foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and in Charlottesville this December and January! Stickley - Henkel Harris - Gat Creek - Sherrill Waterford - Wedgwood - Kate Spade - Coach Brown Jordan - fine art - Persian & oriental rugs elegant Christmas decorations

We are looking to give back to our community while spreading cheer this holiday season! Twelve days in December, there will be a new, single-day special. These specials are good for orders placed on the day of the deal, and can be applied to same-day or future-date orders.

For more information on any of these specials, please call us at 434-365-9200 or stop by at 2171 Ivy Rd. Suite 8 (In the University Shopping Center with Papa John’s)

Monday, December 2: Donate a toy to us for Toys for Tots on this day, get a 20% OFF COUPON CODE-Good for one use until the end of December.

Tuesday, December 3: 25% OFF ALL HOLIDAY GREENS- includes loose greens, wreaths, and garlands

Wednesday, December 4: All STUFFED ANIMALS 50% OFF

Thursday, December 5: 20% OFF GIFT BASKET ORDERS

Friday, December 6: FREE DELIVERY, up to 10 MILES

Saturday, December 7: 50% off all CUSTOM DESIGNED FLORAL WRAPPED BOUQUETS

**JOIN US 12/7 FOR HOT COCOA, COFFEE, AND GOODIES ALL DAY!***

Monday, December 9: 25% OFF all HOLIDAY CENTERPIECES

Tuesday, December 10: Buy a $100 gift certificate, get a $50 gift card FREE

Wednesday, December 11: 20% off ANY Flower Bar Subscription (Custom Subscriptions Included)

Monday, December 16: 25% OFF ALL Floral Arrangements

Tuesday, December 17: 30% OFF ALL HOUSEPLANTS (Excludes Poinsettia)

Wednesday, December 18: BUY ONE Floral Arrangement or Centerpiece, GET ONE for 50% OFF (Same or lesser value

Jim Faulconer 434.981.0076 jfaulconer@mcleanfaulconer.com Court Nexsen 646.660.0700 court@mcleanfaulconer.com

EDGEMONT

$15,000,000 | MLS 576150 | North Garden, VA Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

GONE AWAY FARM

$3,450,00 | MLS 658352 Charlottesville, VA

Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

$1,950,000 | MLS 657678 | Charlottesville, VA Jennifer Von Reuter, 202.957.3465

$1,178,000 | MLS 656160 | Charlottesville, VA Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

BENTIVAR MANOR

$4,875,000 | MLS 652353 | Charlottesville, VA

Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455

$2,235,000

FIELDS OF BOAZ

$3,995,000 | MLS 652608 | Ivy, VA Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

CEDAR RIDGE

$1,950,000 | MLS 658780 | Esmont, VA Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700 Katherine Leddington, 646.593.0333

$489,950

Annie Gould Gallery

New neighbors

UVA Foundation moving forward with North Fork residential development

By Sean Tubbs

When the University of Virginia Foundation purchased hundreds of acres of land by the Charlottesville Regional Airport in 1986, the intent at the time was to create a research park to support business and commerce.

Decades later, the foundation is prepared to turn a section of the 562-acre site into a place where hundreds of people can live, and has issued a request for interested developers to submit their qualifications.

Earlier this year, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning allowing for homes to be built there.

“The residential program’s updated Master Plan will create housing for those working in North Fork, adjacent properties, and the broader community,” reads the request for qualifications.

In all, up to 1,400 homes can be built at North Fork, but this particular phase would involve up to 600 units. The RFQ calls for a mixture of market-rate, workforce housing, and affordable units, with the latter defined as being at prices at 80 percent of the area median income.

“The goal is to offer mixed-income housing opportunities that support live/work/ play environments at North Fork, while addressing the area’s housing needs,” says Fred Missel, the foundation’s director of development.

North Fork is one of three locations where both UVA and the Foundation seek to provide income-restricted housing as part of an initiative called for by a committee UVA President Jim Ryan formed soon after he took office in 2018.

An exact breakdown of income levels for the 600 units is not required in the RFQ, but the document does say “an optimal number of affordable units guided by best practices for successful mixed-income

communities that support community and economic development initiatives.”

Missel says the Foundation hopes to identify a developer who would build something unique to Albemarle.

“Qualified development teams will be expected to present a vision that incorporates elements of sustainability, resilience, superior community design, economic development, and affordability, tailored to create a unique community that stands out in the area,” Missel says.

North Fork is in the Hollymead neighborhood as classified by Albemarle County, and the 1,400 units allowed under the recent rezoning are among the 5,221 approved but not yet built, according to the county’s development dashboard. Just over 1,000 units are under review in this area, including an additional 655 at North Pointe.

While there is no date for construction in the RFQ, UVA’s website on the affordable housing initiative estimates it will happen in the spring of 2027.

Missel says there is no specific date at this time, but the zoning is now in place and the Foundation has made investments to prepare for the additional residents. To support the county’s infrastructure, the Foundation spent $6 million in 2020 to connect Lewis and Clark Drive to Airport Road. Eventually, that roadway will connect with Berkmar Drive, creating a parallel road to U.S. 29. That’s a core principle of the Places29 Master Plan adopted by county supervisors in February 2011.

UVA has previously selected a nonprofit entity called Preservation of Affordable Housing to develop a two-acre site at 10th and Wertland streets, and that project is listed as going to construction in the summer of 2026. The Piedmont Housing Alliance was selected to develop a 12-acre Fontaine Avenue site, expected to move dirt sometime in 2027.

Up to 1,400 units can be built at the North Fork Discovery Park, but this phase anticipates up to 600 new places to live.

UVA FOUNDATION

WEST LAKE FOREST DR. 2409

We are thankful for you, our customers and clients for putting your trust in Montague Miller & Co. for your real estate needs over seventy years.

Let there

HOW LOCALS ARE FIGHTING LIGHT POLLUTION—AND

We’re in a dark field—a few hundred of us. There’s no moon. Voices rise and fall in the darkness; the Milky Way sweeps overhead; the land is black and the sky is navy, a forest of stars. It’s 8:30 or so at night. I put my eye to a telescope. In the floating circle, a planetary nebula looks like a tuft of cotton, gliding slowly upwards with the motion of the earth.

I wander away, passing dim outlines of people, toward a different scope. The operator here is a bit of a showman. “I’m taking requests,” he says to the small queue of people gathered in the grass. “The request line is open!” He points a laser into the sky, outlining the Summer Triangle. His scope is trained on the Andromeda Galaxy—“the haze of a trillion stars!”

We’re looking at the enormous universe with our feet planted on the ground at James River State Park, in southern Nelson County. This is a star party featuring the expertise and equipment of the Charlottesville Astronomical Society, and it’s happening here because James River is an official International Dark Sky Place, as listed by the advocacy group DarkSky International: a site far enough from any town to offer clear views of what’s out there, beyond our atmosphere.

In other words, we’re all here to get away from light.

Yet we’ve brought light with us. There are flashlights, headlights, and a video presentation under the pavilion. Of course there are cell phones. There are even digital displays on the bases of some of the telescopes. Our eyes adjust to the darkness, catch a flash of brightness, and adjust again. The stars stay steady.

Wherever there are humans, it seems, there is artificial light, and the amount of light we pour into the world has grown incredibly fast.

be dark

POLLUTION—AND WHAT’S AT STAKE

BY ERIKA HOWSARE

According to a study published last year in Science, global sky brightness has increased 9.6 percent every year between 2011 and 2022. That is, light pollution doubled in less than eight years.

Seeing is believing

“I’ve only seen the Milky Way twice before,” I hear a man say at the star party. I feel lucky that I can see it from home, anytime the sky is clear—and I am lucky; 80 percent of the world’s population lives under sky glow, that pervasive, cumulative effect of house lights, store lights, billboards, tennis courts, streetlights. This is a loss for amateur astronomers and all humans—our species evolved under dark skies and has been enriched in countless ways by our view of the cosmos—but it’s more than an aesthetic problem.

Light pollution can disrupt bird migrations or lure birds to fly into tall, lit-up buildings. It can lead baby sea turtles astray and attract insects to lights, where predators gobble them up. The presence of nighttime lights fundamentally changes the rhythm of day and night that has given essential cues to animals and plants for millions of years: when to hunt, mate, sleep, and grow.

Artificial light affects human health, too. “When people are exposed to blue light in the evening, whether it’s a cell phone or a streetlight spilling into the bedroom, that’s a sleep disruptor,” says Christine Putnam with Piedmont Dark Skies.

Along with Peggy Cornett and Carol Carter, Putnam began the loosely affiliated group in 2022 after the three of them, already active in local environmental issues, realized they shared a concern about dark skies. They’ve been trying to raise public awareness and to urge local governments, especially the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, to make light pollution a priority.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

The Charlottesville Astronomical Society regularly captures the night sky—like this picture of the Ghost of Cassiopeia by CAS astrophotographer and president Jeff Ridder—and posts the images to its Instagram, @cvilleastro.

Let there be dark

Kevin Fitzpatrick, president of the Charlottesville Astronomical Society, says that newer technologies make it possible to get stunning photos of the universe even in light­polluted skies, but dark skies are still key “if you just like laying out in the chair in the fall looking up a the night sky.”

“We’ve done a bunch of tabling events to see, does this have legs in the community?” says Carter. “There were a lot of people who responded yes. The more we learn, the more concerned we are about the subject.”

The group has encouraged local governments to sign proclamations in support of reducing light pollution, but they also want to see binding language in local municipal codes. Albemarle, for one, is currently updating its Comprehensive Plan, and Putnam, a member of Albemarle’s Natural Heritage Committee, has advocated for strong language in that plan to set the stage for an improved ordinance in the future.

“I think the political will is there and the planners want to see that

language in there,” she says. “[When it’s time to write regulations], it’s going to be important for astronomers and dark sky advocates to be involved in those discussions, to get the best possible ordinance, one that is effective and enforceable.”

Something big has changed since the county’s last Comprehensive Plan update: the new prevalence of LED lights. “That’s been the biggest game changer,” says Putnam. While LEDs are a great way to meet climate action goals—they’re much more energy-efficient than traditional outdoor lights—the light they emit is also more blue. “This has big implications for our health and all living animals,” she warns. “A shorter wavelength impacts our hormonal systems. And it’s more powerful in terms of creating that dome of light we have over

our cities. By 2035, practically all of our outdoor lighting will be LED. If we’re not careful about how we select it, we’re really going to be in trouble. We’ll have a dramatic increase in the brightness of the sky.”

The light side

The good news: As Putnam implies, not all LED lights are created equal. “There is still time to make choices,” she says.

In fact, the City of Charlottesville is currently navigating those very choices, as part of an initiative, just begun this fall, to replace all the streetlights in the city. The lights come in a range of color temperatures and brightness, and DarkSky International provides recommendations about which of those are least harm-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Sky-certified fixtures,” he says. “With more pressure from the public on Dominion, that could help.” Charlottesville is part of a group of Virginia municipalities, the Virginia Energy Purchasing Governmental Association, which negotiates collectively with Dominion and can also exert pressure on the company to make protecting dark skies easier for localities.

Dominion spokesman Craig Carper, in an email, says that Dominion offers “many dark-skies friendly options” and adds, “We have been in communication with a representative from the Virginia chapter of the Dark Sky organization and will continue to have discussions about light offerings.”

The public lighting initiative is expected to take around three years and cost $600,000. “It’s a big investment,” Putnam says, pointing out that the new lights could last a quarter-century.

Meanwhile, she says, municipalities need to enforce lighting ordinances already on the books. Putnam and her PDS co-founders can rattle off a list of sites that seem over-lit, from planter islands on the Downtown Mall to fast-food joints to sports fields. (Notice a too-bright spot? Read Brodhead with the city’s zoning office says you can complain through the MyCville app, phone, or email, and his department will investigate.)

Cornett also points out that individual choices matter—turning outdoor lights off when not in active use, opting for fixtures that point downward instead of out or up, choosing warmer-color and dimmer bulbs.

Carter adds, “People think uplighting the façade of a house makes it look really nice. They just aren’t aware of the negative effects that is having on wildlife and on themselves.”

Before the dawn

ful. But surprisingly, the city is limited in its options by the inventory of energy giant Dominion.

“We lease all of our lights from Dominion,” explains Kirk Vizzier, the city’s energy management coordinator. “They are the ultimate owners of all of those lights. Their inventory is all we have to work with. We are trying to work with them to expand that, but they are being resistant.” Vizzier says that the city is specifying the lowest color-temperature lights Dominion offers. “If we can get them to go lower at some point we will start to go lower,” he says.

Pierce Harding, an urban planning grad student at UVA, has been documenting existing light pollution levels in Charlottesville. He echoes Vizzier’s comments about Dominion. “There’s not an extensive inventory of Dark-

Back at the star party, the showman aims his scope at Saturn. Someone looks and emits a guttural “wow,” and then a woman looks and says, “The crazy thing is, it looks fake!” Another person: “That’s cool…” Pause. “That’s really cool.” The showman enthuses: “That’s a crisp view right now! Isn’t that awesome?”

There’s a term for sadness over the loss of night sky views: noctalgia, or “sky grief.” It’s the other side of that joy and awe we feel in the dark field, looking at planets and comets.

Beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the cosmic wonders continue. This December 7, Jupiter and its moons are at their most visible all year. A week later, the “king of the meteor showers”—the Geminids—takes place. The stars stay steady. Whether we can see them or not, it seems, is our choice.

TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Piedmont Dark Skies activists Peggy Cornett, Carol Carter, and Christine Putnam point to this lamp at Friendship Court as an example of good street lighting.

A severe geomagnetic storm triggered the aurora borealis in early October, making it visible in many dark skies across North America.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

CULTURE

THURSDAY 12/5 THROUGH SUNDAY 12/29

GHOST ROAST

There are plenty of reasons why Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has spawned so many adaptations. And whether you prefer the lead miser be played by Michael Caine surrounded by Muppets, Bill Murray learning lessons about 1980s corporate greed, or an animated Jim Carrey in Disneyfied 3D, the main plot point stays the same: Can Ebenezer Scrooge change his ways before his proverbial (and literal) goose is cooked? In a tale of supernatural transformation, the American Shakespeare Center mounts this holiday classic where Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future haunt the dreams of a mean old man and work to thaw his icy heart. Ticket prices and showtimes vary. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

SATURDAY 12/7

FOLK MEDICINE

SATURDAY 12/7

THE FUN IN FUNDRAISING

The scene is set for a sideshow spectacular at this year’s Gallery Rally. Showcasing an eclectic collection of local artists creating works live in the gallery, the event gives visitors an opportunity to meet creators, witness the artistic process, and purchase freshly made pieces on the spot. All artworks are priced at $100, and all proceeds support upcoming exhibitions and programming. This annual fundraiser also features raffle prizes, DJ sets, caricatures, an afterparty, and entertainment inspired by acts staged alongside the big top circus tents. Free, 5–9pm. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org

Willie Watson, Americana singer-songwriter and founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show, brings more than 30 years of musical experience to the stage with songs exploring torment and redemption. Through stories of heartbreak, hurt, hope, and growth, Watson channels old-time American folk, weaving in contemporary reflections on loss, love, addiction, and burdens in a complex world. Expect tunes that function as testimonials to life’s tough times and resilience, and effectively pull on your heartstrings as Watson strums his guitar and banjo. $25–30, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 First St. S. thesoutherncville.com

CULTURE THIS WEEK

Wednesday 12/4

music

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

Berto & Matt. Latin guitar night. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

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

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

stage

The Wizard of Oz Featuring the catchy musical score from the 1939 classic film, this enchanting RSC stage adaptation sweeps us from the Kansas prairie way up high and over the rainbow. Directed by John Gibson. $29–35, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Ivy Talk: Shaping Justice. Join Dr. Kimberly Fields, an assistant professor of African and African American studies at UVA, for a talk on environmental justice policies and grassroots activism. Free, 6:30pm. Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm, 1780 Earlysville Rd. ivycreekfoundation.org

classes

Paint and Sip: Holiday Ornaments. Follow step-by-step instructions for creating three customizable wooden ornaments. Ages 21+. $25, 5:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Bent Theatre Improv. A hilarious evening of improv comedy where you make the show by making suggestions for the players to act out. Free, 7pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St. decipherbrewingco.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

Paris, Texas Wanderer Harry Dean Stanton tries to get his life back on track in director Wim Wenders’ 1984 masterpiece, co-written by Sam Shepard. $10, 6pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

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

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

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

Wreath Workshop. Join our expert team of floral designers and gardeners to create a stunning door wreath made with natural, locally sourced plants. $95, 9:30am. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org

Thursday 12/5 music

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

Boy Named Banjo. A genre-bending band with Americana and bluegrass roots. $15–20, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Brian Franke. An independent award-winning singer-songwriter and cover artist plays a set of originals and old favorites. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Get the Led Out. From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out capture the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and bring it to the concert stage. $34–79, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

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

Joel Streeter Band. An inconsequential birthday extravaganza featuring Joel Streeter Band, Boxed Lunch, Emily Gardiner, and 2 of Us. Free, 7pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

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

Popular Music Group Voice Class Recital. The University of Virginia Department of Music presents a recital by the students in Stephanie Nakasian’s popular music group voice class. Free, 7pm. Ern Commons , 567 McCormick Rd. eventplanning.odos.virginia.edu

Tea Time Recitals. The UVA Department of Music presents a varied menu of musical delights performed by talented UVA students. Free, 1pm. Old Cabell Hall. music. virginia.edu

stage

The Wizard of Oz See listing for Wednesday, December 4. $29–35, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

classes

Holiday Sewing for Kids. Join us for some open studio time and hands-on lessons to make holiday-themed items. Good for both

beginners and those with some sewing experience. Ages 10+. $35, 4:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com

Paint + Sip: Snowy Sunset. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a snowy sunset scene. No experience necessary. $45, 6pm. JAX’s Bar & Grill, 325 Four Leaf Ln. #8. blueridgebrushes.com

Wooden Ornament Painting. Follow stepby-step instructions for creating three customizable wooden ornaments. Ages 18+. $25, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Dart Night. Weekly luck-of-the-draw double-elimination games. Throwers get $1-off pints during play. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St. 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 12/6 music

Brandon Wayne & His Lonesome Drifters. This powerhouse quartet is a modern-day blast from the past, a banquet of early to mid-20th-century vintage hillbilly boogie, Western swing, surf instrumentals, and rockabilly. Free, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com Chickenhead Blues Band. Charlottesville’s premier boogie-woogie, beat, rhythm and blues dance band. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Coastal Futures Festival. The UVA Department of Music presents Coastal Futures Festival, featuring David Rothenberg from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Free, 2pm. University of Virginia. virginia.edu Gavin Adcock. Country music from a former college football player. Ages 18+. $20, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Jen Tal Band. A collaborative of versatile and creative musicians mixing classic soul and R&B, rock, funk, reggae, and jazz. Free, 10pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com

LA LOM. The Los Angeles League of Musicians are an instrumental trio that blend the sounds of Cumbia sonidera, ’60s soul ballads, and classic romantic boleros. $25–30, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Lama and the Hound. Americana, bluegrass, outlaw country, and classic rock. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com

Schubert Cello Quintet. An incredible chamber music experience with Cville All-Stars. Free, 7:30pm. Music Resource Center, 105 Ridge St. musicresourcecenter.org

Speidel, Morrison, and Burris. Country tinged roots rock with a nod to Texas blues and a good pop hook. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Tea Time Recitals. See listing for Thursday, December 5. Free, 1pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

Virginia Women’s Chorus Candlelight Concert. Enjoy “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten, the voices of the Virginia Women’s Chorus, and harpist Anastasia Jellison. $10–25, 6pm. University Baptist Church, 1223 W. Main St. virginiawomenschorus.org

Zuzu’s Hot 5. Stomps, Dixieland, blues, and ballads from the 1900s to the early 1930s. Think Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong’s Hot 5s and 7s, and Bessie Smith. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

stage

Coney Island Christmas Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies weaves together nostalgia, music, and merriment in this seasonal story. A holiday show for people of all ages and all faiths. $10–20, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org

The Wizard of Oz. See listing for Wednesday, December 4. $29–35, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

etc.

Bad Santa. Alcoholic sex addict Billy Bob Thornton is a most unlikely department store Santa in this black comedy. $10, 9:30pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Bored Teachers. The Bored Teachers Show is a comedy powerhouse that anyone who’s ever been in a classroom can relate to. $34–67, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Cookies with Santa. Santa Claus is coming to town for a special holiday event including storytime, photos, and special treats. $25–40, 5:45pm. Tasting Room and Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve, 5600 Moonlight Dr., Scottsville. mountidareserve.com

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, December 4. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail, Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com

Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started. Prizes to be won and fun to be had. Free, 6–8pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, December 5. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Wreath Workshop. See listing for Wednesday, December 4. $95, 4pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org

The Wizard of Oz

Saturday 12/7 music

A Holiday Rock Party. Breaking The Chain will start this show with 45 minutes of Christmas music, including renditions of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, White Heart, Elvis, and other Christmas classics. $10, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Berto Sales. Come enjoy the sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America. Sales’ unique fingerpicking style and contagious energy will have you tapping your feet. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernand grocery.com

Berto Sales and Vincent Zorn. Spicy rhythms, zesty beats, and sizzling sounds from this Latin and flamenco rumba guitar duo. Free, 2:30pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com

Blue Ridge Chamber Orchestra. A classical string ensemble of roughly two dozen musicians. Suggested donation $10, 3pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 120 W. High St. christchurchcville.org

C’ville Jazz Congregation. A collective of local musicians that have been playing together since 2005. Hear your favorite jazz standards in a new light. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Family Holiday Concert. Michael Slon leads the University Singers through a show of seasonal favorites. $11–59, 7:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

Gina Sobel. A natural improviser and accomplished on multiple instruments, Sobel brings together elements of funk, jazz and American folk music. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Goth Takeover. Come dance and celebrate all things spooky. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

Perennial Collection. Music to please the ear and move your feet featuring female-led vocal covers of jazz, soul, R&B, and hip-hop. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Preservation Hall Jazz Band. It’s a Creole Christmas as the band performs New Orleans classics as well as some of the bestloved holiday selections with a twist. $29–54, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Sam Barber. Country music singer-songwriter from Frohna, Missouri. $20–25, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St. jefferson theater.com

Sue Harlow. Heart-touching songs that lay down the essence acoustic Americana folk. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Virginia Women’s Chorus Candlelight Concert. See listing for Friday, December 6. $10–25, 3:30pm. University Baptist Church, 1223 W. Main St. virginiawomenschorus.org

Willie Watson. Americana singer-songwriter, guitarist, banjo player, actor, and founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show. $25–30, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

WinterSong. The fourth annual WinterSong where music, community, and festive spirit come together in the best possible way.

Performances from BRIMS, and a carol singalong. Free, 3pm. Rivanna River Company, 1518 E. High St. frontporchcville.org dance

Swing Dancing. Beginner-friendly swing dance lessons and live music by Zuzu’s Hot 5. Free, 4:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Do it

Advice for dining at The Clifton’s 1799

By Sarah Golibart Gorman

Included in the 2024 Michelin Green Guide USA East, The Clifton was built in 1799 as a home for Thomas Jefferson’s daughter Martha and her husband. The property currently houses a boutique hotel and restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Matthew Bousquet. On a crisp November evening, I decided to see what all the excitement was about. The experience inspired me to put together a guide of my own—a few tips to make the most of your meal.

Do arrive early and get a drink at the bar.

Located in the heart of 1799, The Copper Bar—named for the copper piping supporting shelves of alluringly illuminated bottles—sets the tone for the evening.

Try one of bartender Chris Wellen’s handcrafted cocktails. Leaning into autumn flavors, I ordered the Maple Walnut Manhattan, scented with black walnut bitters, sweetened with maple syrup, and served old-fashioned style on a single, sizable ice cube. My husband opted for The Harvest, a blend of local Ragged Branch bourbon, cinnamon apple syrup, and rhubarb bitters.

Don’t fill up on the bread.

This might seem obvious to anyone who’s ever arrived pleasantly hungry to a restaurant and been tempted by a basket of rolls. But here, there are no baskets, and these are no ordinary rolls. Instead, a Staub cast-iron cocotte appeared, filled with steaming, buttered rolls studded with mustard seeds. Hearty wheat crackers ribboned with red onion offered a crisp contrast. A pat of softened butter completed the offering.

You may wonder what you’re meant to dip the crackers into. The answer? Nothing. And you’ll like it. This first offering stands entirely on its own.

Don’t order the bone marrow escargot.

Unless, of course, you’re ready for the rest of your meal to live in its shadow. This appetizer has officially joined my “last supper” list. From the moment the server set down the marrow spoon, I knew I was in for an experience.

This dish is a balancing act in every sense. Narrow slices of crisp toast teeter against halved bones, interiors shimmering with luscious marrow. The entire dish is drizzled with Pernod butter, greened with parsley,

and dotted with a generous scattering of tender escargot. The dish invites a perfect bite: Tear off a piece of toast, spread on the creamy marrow, top with buttery escargot, and dip into one of the artful dollops of tangy lemon gel scattered across the plate.

For my husband, the star of the show was his entrée: the Kunz short rib. Naturally, I stole a forkful. Resting in a silky pool of celery root purée, the tender beef was unexpectedly paired with ginger and mango, alongside familiar accompaniments of spinach and horseradish-dijon cream.

Be prepared to learn.

Not from books, though you’ll see many filling the floor-to-ceiling shelves of the library room where we were seated. Instead, learn from the dishes, your server, and maybe even from your phone (hello, Google).

I don’t pretend to know every ingredient and cooking technique. That’s the beauty of dining out: It challenges you. It teaches you how to taste, layer by layer. There’s meant to be some mystery, some velvet curtain between us and the alchemy of the kitchen.

I couldn’t help but wonder: Who is Kunz, whose name graces the short rib dish? Not the 1799’s Michelin-starred Bousquet, but Gray Kunz, the celebrated chef behind Manhattan’s now-closed Lespinasse. The recipe lives on, skillfully adapted by Bousquet into a dish that feels very at home on 1799’s menu.

Do choose

Virginia wine.

I opted for a glass of Lovingston’s 2022 Rotunda Red, vibrant with ripe red fruit, soft

tannins, and a hint of black pepper on the finish. If that doesn’t suit your taste, the wine cellar features an array of award-winning Virginia vineyards alongside global vintages. Highlights were a viognier from Pollak Vineyards, and Barboursville Vineyards’ sauvignon blanc, Vermentino Reserve, and Octagon.

Ask about the ingredients.

Tucked among the grounds of The Clifton is a chef’s garden. The burrata, a first course that evolves throughout the year, showcases the garden’s ingredients. This version spotlighted Badger Flame beets, a unique variety tasting of honeyed sweet carrots. Nestled alongside burrata on a bed of tender lettuces, the salad was dressed with fennel pollen butter, a granola vanilla vinaigrette infused with Espelette pepper, and a white chocolate crumble. If a salad could flirt with being dessert, this one came deliciously close. Let’s revisit the number four. I researched Espelette so you didn’t have to. It’s a pepper cultivated in the French town of the same name, with a flavor somewhere between sumac and Aleppo pepper. Sumac I know— its tart, lemony brightness grows wild in my backyard. But Espelette? It’s new to me, and I love that.

Do order dessert.

The rhum savarin looked like a simple puff pastry but delighted us with its moist, tres leches-like interior. The chocolate lava cake, served in yet another charming Staub cocotte, delivered ooey-gooey bitter chocolate goodness, balanced by poached pears and toasted almonds. It was decadent, warm, and the perfect note to end the evening.

1799 at The Clifton showcases local ingredients and the talent of chef Matthew Bousquet. STEPHEN

CULTURE STAGES

LA LOM with The National Reserve

Lbe next to the fountain at Central Place. Free, beginning at 10am. Downtown Mall. friendsofcville.org

First Street Fair + Holiday Market. Enjoy live music while you shop 20+ local artisan and food vendors on First Street S. on the Downtown Mall. Free, 10am. Darling Boutique, 115 First St. S. shopdarlingx dashing.com

Movie Mayhem. A screening of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with free popcorn. All ages welcome. Free, 2pm. 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. newdominionbookshop.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, December 5. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Winter Open House. Explore Highland’s newly opened Community Research Center and Archaeology Lab and have coffee and conversation with an archaeologist. Free, 10am. James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe Pkwy. highland.org

Patrick & Aaron Olwell and Friends. Fine renditions of traditional Irish tunes all afternoon. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Santa is Coming. Join us for a special visit from Saint Nick. Holiday milk and cookies flights available for the kids and opportunities to take your own photos with Santa. Free, noon. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

The Charlottesville Band Holiday Concert. A family-oriented program featuring traditional holiday favorites, a sing-a-long, guest artists, and a visit from Santa. Free, 3:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net WTJU Vinyl Takeover. Your favorite WTJU Radio DJs are back for five full hours of vinyl that will keep you grooving and relaxing all day long. Free, noon. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potters craftcider.com

stage

Coney Island Christmas See listing for Friday, December 6. $10–20, 2:30pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org

A LOM, an acronym for the Los Angeles League of Musicians, floats out a dreamy-yet-driving instrumental soundtrack with West Coast cool. More of a three-piece than a league, per se, the band’s sound careens smoothly through adventurous, succinct tracks that lilt with well-placed, heartbreaking chords and trembling guitar riffs. Zac Sokolow’s lyrical lead guitar—reminiscent of Link Wray’s more lucid solos and a dry land Dick Dale—call to mind the best strains of sad ’60s pop ballads. The sensible, syncopated bass line color provided by Jake Faulkner is offset by the danceable heat from Nicholas Baker’s economical drum and percussion-based beats. Baker often opts for replacing the typical snare drum spot with conga hits while kicking the bass drum and riding the hi-hat for an undulating groove. It makes sense that LA LOM formed in 2019 for a nightly residency in L.A.’s Roosevelt Hotel lobby. Each song moves forward by constructing new scenes, deftly lit and advancing on a road mapped out by Latin music influences

(Mexican boleros, Cumbia sonidera, Peruvian chicha), leading to a distinctly SoCal simmer that carries the cinematic history and intrigue of the Roosevelt’s Hollywood Boulevard locale.

On this year’s self-titled debut, tracks like “Ghost of Gardena,” “Rebecca,” and “San Fernando Rose” are offset with piano, strings, and bells in the latter song that play up what could be the opening soundtrack to a West Hollywood-based, Mexican-American James Bond movie. Ultimately, it’s Sokolow’s inventive guitar lines that make the difference for a fully instrumental group such as LA LOM. His wizardry with genuine and passionate leads replaces the need for a vocalist, and captures a breadth of emotion that words often cannot.

The Southern Café and Music Hall

Friday 12/6

Saturday 12/7

stage

Coney Island Christmas See listing for Friday, December 6. $10–20, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org

The Nutcracker. Sweeten your holiday season with Charlottesville Ballet’s performance of this winter classic. $20–75, 11am and 4pm. Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center, 1400 Melbourne Rd. charlottesville ballet.org

The Wizard of Oz. See listing for Wednesday, December 4. $29–35, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

classes

Crafty Date Night. An instructor leads you and your partner through a fun and easy craft, designed to inspire and entertain. This week:

Openers The National Reserve represent the other coast’s media Mecca, as the Brooklyn-based five-piece that, ironically enough, flaunts its down-to-earth ’70s rock ‘n’ roll on its most-streamed Spotify track, “California.” The group’s not breaking any new ground but that hardly seems what it’s after.—CM Gorey

paint and sip. $40, 7pm. Pikasso Swig Craft Bar, 333 Second St. SE. pikassoswig.com Crochet for Beginners. Join Emma as she teaches you the basics of crochet. Leave with a bamboo crochet hook and a small crocheted washcloth. Ages 12+. $25, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com etc.

Big Blue Door Holiday Spectacular. Hosts Deb Arenstein, Keaton Ray, Rachel Showalter, and Joel Jones present 90 minutes of improv comedy with a holiday slant, just for you. $10, 7pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthouse studio.org

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, December 6. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Downtown Holiday Express. Take a merry trip around downtown to enjoy the festive sights. You may even spot one of Santa’s hiding elves. Pick up and drop off will

Wreath Workshop. See listing for Wednesday, December 4. $95, 9:30am and 2pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org

Sunday 12/8 music

A Renaissance Christmas. Music for Advent and Christmas by four of the most revered composers of the high Renaissance, Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Orlande de Lassus, and Tomás Luis de Victoria. $5–20, 3pm. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 410 Harrison St., Scottsville. zephyrus-va.org

Beleza Duo. Join us for an evening of funkalicious samba soul—music that moves you from the inside out—with Madeline Holly-Sales on vocals and keys and Berto Sales on guitar, voice, and loops. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Crozet Community Handbell Concert. A program of holiday cheer with traditional favorites featuring contemporary arrangements, with director Donald Dollins. Free, 3pm. Tabor Presbyterian Church, 5804 Tabor St., Crozet. taborpc.org

Family Holiday Concert. See listing for Saturday, December 7. $11–59, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

Jazz Connection. Jazz quartet playing jazz standards and occasion originals, with occasional guest performers. Free, 6pm. Kardinal Hall, 722 Preston Ave. kardinalhall.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

Ken Matthews. Jazz from the 1930s–40s with a nod to New Orleans, performed on the saxophone and clarinet. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Matty & Mirabelle Metcalfe. Enjoy holiday tunes with one of our favorite musicians and his daughter. Free, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

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

The Wizard of Oz See listing for Wednesday, December 4. $29–35, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

classes

Intro to Wire Wrapping. Learn about the tools and gauges of wire used in wire wrapping and make a simple wrapped natural stone necklace and pair of earrings. Ages 12+. $40, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, December 6. $18, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

It’s A Wonderful Life An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. $7–9, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, December 5. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Wreath Workshop. See listing for Wednesday, December 4. $95, 2pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org

Monday 12/9

music

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

John Doyle and Mick McAuley. An Irish Christmas awaits for you this December with this festive evening of music. Free, 6pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

dance

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

words

Profs & Pints. “The Twisted Roots of The Nutcracker,” on the strange origins of a beloved holiday tale. $13, 5:30pm. Graduate Charlottesville, 1309 W. Main St. profs andpints.com

ZANE RUBIN

etc.

Game Night. Meet up with others at the brewery, play a game, and have a chance to win prizes. Bring your favorite games from home. All board, card, puzzle games, and ages welcome. Free, 5pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. starrhill.com

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

The Conversation A world-class wiretapper begins to examine the consequences of his work when he records a conversation that may jeopardize lives. $10, 6pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Trivia Night. Hosted by Geeks Who Drink. Six players max 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

Tuesday 12/10 music

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

Messiah Sing-In. Charlottesville community members and singers from the University Singers, UVA Chamber Singers, Virginia Glee Club, and Virginia Women’s Chorus perform Handel’s glorious music. $5–15, 8pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

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

stage

Duets Concert Series. Charlottesville Opera invites real-life operatic couples and partners to share their favorite duets and solos. Featuring Caroline Worra, soprano and Leanne Clement, mezzo. $10–75, 7pm. First Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, 500 Park St. virginiaconsort.org

words

Animal Book Club. Meet at JMRL Central to discuss books about animals. This week: My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr. Registration requested. Free, 5:30pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org etc.

Batman Returns It’s Christmas time in Gotham City and things aren’t looking very pretty as the Penguin and Catwoman team up to do away with Batman. $10, 8pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com Bingo. Five rounds of this brew-tiful game. Family-friendly, so bring the whole crew. $20, 6pm. Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery - Charlottesville, 520 Second St. SE. threenotchdbrewing.com

Charlottesville Run Club. Meet at Decipher, do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners every Tuesday. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

Music Bingo. Music bingo is back and better than ever. Unique playlists and prizes to be won. Free, 7–9pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

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

December Exhibitions

The Center at Belvedere 540 Belvedere Blvd. “Small Works Art Exhibit,” featuring works under 13 inches by regional artists. Through December 18.

Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. In the micro gallery, “The Close and Holy Darkness,” sculpture and paintings by Aggie Zed. Through December. First Friday reception 5–7pm.

City Clay 700 Harris Street #104. The annual Holiday Sale featuring locally made decorations and functional pottery for your holiday gifts, gatherings, and table. Through December 19.

C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery 118 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. “Color, Pattern and Design: An Inspiration-sparked Creative Journey with Polymer Clay,” by Judith N. Ligon. December 6–31. First Fridays reception with the artist 5–8pm.

Dovetail Cabinetry 1740 Broadway St. Ste. 3. Monoprints, watercolors, and acrylic paintings by Judith Ely. Through December 30.

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.

Free Union Artisans Open House 4220 Free Union Rd. Handmade gifts from professionals in wood, pottery, basketry, weaving, jewelry, painting, and photography. December 7–8, 10am–5pm.

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. Through December 29. First Fridays opening reception 5–7pm. Artist talk November 21, 5–6pm.

CULTURE GALLERIES

Hello Comics 211A W. Main St, Downtown Mall. “Picture Show,” a cash-and-carry show of original drawings and digital prints by Todd Webb. Through January 8, 2025. Additional works available at Hello Comics Uptown location.

Infinite Repeats Gallery 1740 Broadway St. The Winter Market, featuring 20+ local artists and vendors. Through December 25.

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 paint swap party 7–8:30pm.

Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA 400 Worrell Dr. “Our Unbroken Line: The Griffiths Family,” screenprints on textiles, ceramic works, and paintings curated by Dora Griffiths. Through December 8. “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. “Milpa: Stop-motion animation by Spinifex artists,” animated films. December 13, 2024–March 2, 2025.

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. Through December 15. Holiday Soirée, December 4, 1–7pm.

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.

Mas Restaurant 904 Monticello Rd. “Negotiations With Gravity,” paintings by Kris Bowmaster. Through December.

McGuffey Art Center 201 Second St. NW. In all galleries, the annual Winter Market. Featuring original art, home goods, prints, ceramics, cards, fiber arts, ornaments, wearables, jewelry, and more. All purchases are cash and carry and support the artists and McGuffey Art Center. Through December 29.

WinterFest open house, December 8, 1–5pm. First Fridays, 5:30–7:30pm.

New City Arts 114 Third St. NE. In the Welcome Gallery, “Of the Earth,” abstract landscape paintings and works on paper by Christen Yates and wall-hung sculptures by Jacqui Stewart Lindstrom. December 6, 2024–January 16, 2025. First Fridays reception and artist talk 5–7:30pm.

Northside Library 705 Rio Rd. W. “Landscapes … Landscapes,” oil and pastel works by Julia Kindred. December 2–30.

The PVCC Gallery V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. In the Pottery Studio (D114), the annual Pottery Club sale. Offering handmade mugs, bowls, vases, plates, casseroles, pitchers, and works of art for purchase. Items will be added to the sale throughout the morning and are priced between $5–75. Sales are limited to cash or personal check only. December 7, 10am–2pm. On the grounds surrounding the V. Earl Dickinson Building, the annual “Let There Be Light” light-centered outdoor art exhibition. December 13, 6–9pm.

Quirk Gallery in The Doyle Hotel 499 W. Main St. “Color As Language,” oil paintings by Jennifer Esser. Through December 29. Please note, 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.

Second Street Gallery 115 Second St. SE. In the Main Gallery, “That Feels Good! Labor as Pleasure,” an interdisciplinary group show curated by Francisco Donoso. Artist Talk Bingo, December 7, 10:30am. In the Dové Gallery, “Hannah Diomataris: Sticker Work,” handcut sticker compositions by the Richmond-based artist. Both shows run December 6, 2024–January 24, 2025. First Fridays reception 5:30–7:30pm. Visible Records 1740 Broadway St. “Leaving My Eyelids Behind,” interdisciplinary works by Ali Eyal. Through December 13. “Direct Sow,” a group show of works by Visible Records studio members. December 20, 2024–January 25, 2025. Opening reception December 20, 6pm.

Hanna Diomataris at Second Street Gallery Julia Kindred at Northside Library Judith N. Ligon at C'ville Arts Cooperative Gallery IMAGES COURTESY OF THE GALLERIES AND/OR ARTISTS

UVA MUSIC EVENTS

Date/Time/Place

Thursday, 12/5, 1pm

Old Cabell Hall & livestream

Thursday, 12/5, 7pm Ern Commons

Friday, 12/6, 1pm

Old Cabell Hall & livestream

Friday, 12/6, 2pm

Contemplative Commons

Saturday, 12/7, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 12/8, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Tuesday, 12/10,

WINE DOWN

WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?

CHISWELL FARM WINERY

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Our Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect wine for the winter season with a full body and hints of spice, peppercorn, cedar, and dark rich fruit. Pair this with your Sunday roasts, chili, or even by the fireplace with friends and family!

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 shop at Carter Mountain Orchard. Visit chiswellwinery.com for our seasonal events calendar!

Dec. 7th – Holiday Cookie Decorating Workshop (advanced registration required)

Dec. 14th – Crown Club Ornament Exchange with snacks and live music. Not a Crown Club member yet? Ask our staff about joining!

Dec. 15th – Winter Floral Arrangement Workshop with the Dogwood Tree (advanced registration required)

Dec. 23rd - OPEN for special holiday hours

Dec. 24th - OPEN from 11 am – 4 pm for special Holiday hours

Dec. 25th – CLOSED for Christmas

Dec. 30th, 31st & Jan. 1st - OPEN for the holiday

Hours:

Wednesday-Sunday 11 am – 5:30 pm

430 Greenwood Rd, Greenwood, VA 22943 434.252.2947 • chiswellwinery.com

53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD

A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock

Relish the moment! The cool evenings have arrived, and the Holidays are coming up fast. So get your port glass ready. It is time to light up the fireplace, or firepit, or just take an evening to relax with a glass of our Chelsey Extended Aging or our Kelso port-style wine. Fortified with brandy, these wines are flavorful sippers, perfect for this time of the year!

For the month of December, we have a shipping special. Ship 6-11 bottles for a flat rate of $10 and 12+ bottles ship for free. We also added several new states we can ship to. Send a gift of Virginia wine.

We also reintroduced our 2021 Two Springs Bordeaux Blend to the tasting room. It was a Gold Medal Governor Cup winner earlier this year. Stop by and give this gold medal winner a try. Visit us at our meadow-like setting in rural Louisa County. We’ll have several special tasting events over the next 6 months. Check our website www.53rdwinery.com or call 540894-1536 for more information. We look forward to seeing you at the winery! As always, your business and support are appreciated.

Dec. 7th – Live music with Matty and Mirabelle Metcalfe 1-4p.

Dec. 8th - Sign up for Mo’s Charcuterie Workshop. Starts at 1pm Dec. 14th - Stop by for our all day wine and cheese event, $25/person Dec 21st & 28th - Sign up for our Taste the Future event. This is a 90 minute special wine tasting of white and rose wines for the 2024 harvest and barrel tasting of 2023 red wines to be bottles later this year. Visit our website for the Tock signup.

Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm

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

DUCARD VINEYARDS

2020 Dorothy’s Slippers

Sparkling Norton Rosé

The DuCard Vineyard’s 2020 Dorothy’s Slippers is the first vintage of the latest addition to our line of sparkling wines - a sparkling Rosé.

Virginia Native Norton and 10% Viognier. Tiny bubbles, very elegant and refreshing sparkler.

This month we will be selling a Norton Holiday Pack that includes one bottle each of our 2021 Norton, 2020 Dorothy’s Slippers Sparkling Norton, and 2021 C’est Trop Norton dessert wine. Visit or shop online to purchase. Throughout the month we will be hosting live music every weekend, and look forward to welcoming guests all month long! We will be open every day, except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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!

Dec. 24th, 25th , & Jan 1st – CLOSED for the Holidays Open daily

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

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

EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY

‘Tis The Season For Festive Gatherings

Join us all month long for awardwinning wines, a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Andrew Partridge, live music, special events & more!

This Month at the Winery: Fall & Winter At The Winery Seasonal specials including our 2022 Meritage Reserve, housemade mulled wine, and chocolate stout. Food specials including hearty flatbreads & soups, grilled cheese, pretzel bites, chocolate fondue & much more. Firepits & s’mores available 7 days a week. Check our website or join our mailing list for updates.

Low-Country Shrimp Boil | Every Friday - NEW!

Get ready for a delicious, flavorpacked Shrimp Boil Feast every Friday! We’re bringing the best

of Southern tradition right to your plate with succulent shrimp, juicy sausage, tender corn on the cob, and perfectly seasoned potatoes –all served up hot and ready to enjoy in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm every Friday night.

Santa Is Coming To Town | Sundays: December 15 & 22

Join us for a special visit from Santa! Plus, we’ll have holiday milk and cookies flights available again this year (back by popular demand!) for the kids. This is an indoor event with opportunities to take your own photos with Santa. There is no cost to visit Santa.

Holiday Market | Saturday, December 14

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit with beautiful decorations and a warm, joyful atmosphere. Discover unique gifts from local artisans and vendors - perfect for everyone on your list! While you shop, enjoy our full menu, including flatbreads, soups, and seasonal favorites like crab dip and chocolate fondue, award winning wines (including mulled wine); small batch beers (including our popular chocolate stout), and hard ciders from our winery. Relax and enjoy the sounds of the season with live music throughout the event.

Wine Wednesdays 10% off all bottle purchases on Wednesdays.

MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!

Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights from 5-8pm (in addition to our more mellow Saturday afternoon music program). Eastwood also hosts a range of live performances by talented local and regional musicians every Thursday and Friday night. See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

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

We look forward to welcoming you to our tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as delicious lunch and dinner menus. Enjoy lounging on the veranda with a glass of our gold medal 2022 Rosé. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal flatbread or baked brie. We also have juice flights and cheese boards for the kids. See the Winery Calendar for details. Escape to Virginia Wine Country, only five miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Open year-round, seven days a week.

Pet friendly and large groups are welcome.  Ample indoor and outdoor seating.

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

KESWICK VINEYARDS

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

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

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

As the seasons change, Keswick Vineyards continues to cater to your wine cravings with an extended Friday happy hour. From now until the end of fall, enjoy $5 glasses of

wine from 5:00 PM until closing at 7:00pm, giving you extra time to savor their offerings and make the most of the crisp autumn evenings.

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

Daily- Mini golf open and available! Wednesdays - Wine Down Wednesdays start May 8th every Wednesday through October 5:308:30pm

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

Dec. 25th – CLOSED for Christmas

Hours: Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm 1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947

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

MONTIFALCO VINEYARD

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

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

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

Tasting Notes: A Dance of Flavors

On the nose, this blend presents an inviting bouquet of ripe pear, white peach, and delicate honeysuckle, courtesy of the Viognier. The Chardonnay lends its signature aromas of green apple, citrus, and just a hint of vanilla, creating a harmonious interplay of scents. Upon tasting, the wine reveals a beautifully balanced palate. The Chardonnay provides a crispness and a backbone of acidity, which is perfectly complemented by the lush, silky mouthfeel imparted by the Viognier. Flavors of lemon zest, apricot, and a touch of tropical fruit

dance on the tongue, leading to a long, satisfying finish with a hint of minerality.

Food Pairing: Elevating the Dining Experience

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

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

The Winemaking Process: Crafting Perfection

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

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

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

A Wine for All Occasions

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

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

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

PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS

Symbius

During the month of December celebrate with Prince Michel’s Symbius! A blend of classic

Bordeaux varietals, Symbius is a lightly oaked and complex and medium bodied red blend. Unveiling a bouquet of dark berries with hints of cedar and wild violets.

Symbius has a velvet like texture and showcases exceptional tannic structure with a lingering finish. Pair this iconic blend with hearty meals of grilled or roasted meats such as beef, lamb or wild game.

Discover Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery, an iconic East Coast estate. Family and pet-friendly, it’s 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!

Don’t miss our Holiday Open House with a visit from Santa on Saturday December 7 th , from 12-4!

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

Friday 5-8 p.m.

Saturday 1-4 & 5-8

Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Open 7 days a Week at 11 a.m.

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

REVALATION VINEYARDS

Mulled Wine

There is nothing better to warm you on a cold winter’s day in the mountains than a hot aromatic mug of mulled wine. Made with our own Radiant Rosé and a custom blend of spices, this mulled wine is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Enjoy it by the mug with a mini Belgian waffle or take a bottle home to enjoy by the fire.

Until January 5th - Exhibition of artwork Nancy West.

Dec. 6th - Book World Meets Wine World at 5:30pm: Devlyn D’Alfonzo will read from her book Tethered Kites.

Dec. 7th - Arts & Vines from 12:00pm until 6:00pm. Holiday market with Christina Boy (wood), G.M. Grant (paintings), Robert Turner (hot sauces), Phineas Rose Studios (jewelry), Rachana Ink Art (watercolors), Grabinska Studio (jewelry, scarfs), Elizabeth Bennett (barn quilts), Chocolatesville, and Cousins Maine Lobster food truck.

December Hours: Friday 12pm to Sunset; Saturday 12pm to 6pm; Sunday 12pm to 5pm;

Monday and Thursday by reservation only. Closed December 23 – January 2. 2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com

VERITAS

2016 Scintilla

The aroma and flavors are extremely fresh and crisp, reminiscent of acidic fruits such as lemon, green apple and pear, accented by a touch of yeast and toasted brioche. The finish is clean, long and showing beautiful acidity which is heightened by creamy overtones. Scintilla is the perfect holiday addition to your table for dinner, parties, or just because!

Cyber Week Deals:

$40 Chardonnay Duo: Chardonnay lovers rejoice, this deal is a steal and is only around for a limited time! Get both of our Chardonnay bottles for a low price of $40—that’s more than 25% off this fantastic white wine duo. Our 2021 Saddleback Chardonnay is medium-bodied and layered with ripe tree fruits, soft impressions of spice, and a backbone of minerality. In contrast, the 2023 Reserve Chardonnay is barrel-aged in oak and fills the mouth with a fullbodied, luxurious feeling of depth and complexity, and a finish that lingers with memories of apples and custard. Both are the perfect pairings for your holiday dishes!

Reserve Reds Duo for $75:

Fans of our fuller-bodied reds and reserve wines can take home this duo or have it shipped directly to you for $75! Enjoy our 2022 Petit Verdot, aged for 16 months in 80% new French oak, adding to the complexity and integration of the smooth and assertive tannins, while

lingering into a long and sumptuous finish. Followed up by our flagship of Veritas red blends, the 2022 Reserve is made through an intense sampling process of all the barrels in the cellar to decide the perfect master blends. The 2022 vintage was fabulous for Cabernet Franc; therefore, it sits in the leading seat of this wine—50% Cabernet Fran, 29% Merlot, and 21% Petit Verdot. Drink now or age beautifully until 2037!

*This offer is available online until midnight EST and inside the Tasting Room until 5 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2024. Original value for Chardonnay Duo: $54. Original value for Reserve Red Duo: $95. This offer is not eligible for additional promotions or discounts.

Upcoming Events:

Veritas Illuminated Walking Light Trail: Open now through January 4, 2025, join us for the third annual Veritas Illuminated! This holiday season, we are back and brighter than ever, celebrating 25 years of Veritas. The grove and wines of Veritas will come alive, sparkling with lights and decorations. The walking path will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights throughout the holiday season. Extended hours December 19th - 30th. Tickets are purchases for timed entry to help manage the number of guests on the trail at one time.

December 12th: Industry Night at Veritas Illuminated, Wine and craft beverage employees and owners are invited to join us on Thursday, December 12, for Industry Night from 5:30 - 7:30 pm! Provide proof of employment and get FREE entry for you and one guest to the Veritas Illuminated walking trail, and enjoy 25% discount inside our tasting room on food and wine! We can’t wait to see you there! Industry members should email contact@veritaswines. com to receive the RSVP link.

December 20th: Christmas Carols with Waynesboro Choral Society from 6-8 pm, Back for the third year in a row, Veritas is excited to welcome back the Waynesboro Choral Society as they serenade us with all of your favorite holiday hymns and songs. Entry into the Tasting Room to enjoy the singing is free, tickets for Veritas Illuminated are required for entry.

December 31st: New Year’s Eve Masked Ball, 7:00 pm - 1:30 am, Ring in 2025 at Veritas with a decadent five-course wine-paired dinner, dancing, and celebration! Gather your friends, masquerade masks, black tie attire, and dancing shoes for a memorable way to welcome the New Year. After the midnight toast, enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet to close out the festivities. This ball is open to the public, and tickets are selling fast, be sure to buy yours early! View the menu and more details at our website at www. veritaswines.com.

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

SUDOKU

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

#1

#3

BY MATT JONES

ACROSS

1. Sound designed to wake you up

6. Sweetie ___ (term like “darling” or “Baez”)

9. “Hey, over here!”

13. Put your prioritizes toward

14. Quartz division

15. Chain that may sell Linzer

16. Zin ___ (stuck)

17. Only state with a threeword capital city

18. Unlike products of Aziz?

19. Hauler bound to wake you up in the morning

22. Fitz as a fiddle, for instance

25. Poet’s palindromic “before”

26. “Thanks for ___ memorizes”

27. Word after “lazyaway” or “lesson”

28. Hailed czars

31. Felt like yelling “zowie,” but for longer

33. Where GAZ, PAZ, and WIZ are located

34. Singer McEntire

35. Miracle-___ (garden brand)

36. It may wake you up energetically

42. Insect in colonizes

43. Letters before a URL

44. The day before

45. “I hear Yaz!”

48. Rappers’ feud

49. “I’ve ___ zit before”

50. Securities trader, for Shortz

51. Onze, in Spanish

53. They grow into large trezzes

55. Animal noise that’ll wake you up on a farm

59. Pitchfork point

60. Native Zandezan

61. Landlocked Asian republic

65. “Law & Order: SVU” actor

66. Accessorizes

67. Prez-Nintendo console

68. “___ Bridges” (TV show with Johnson and Marzin)

69. Word before nail or nob

70. Caffeine pill brand to keep you awake (or, when respaced, instructions on how to handle many of the clues)

DOWN

1. “Queen Sugar” creator DuVernay

2. Theorizes Getz tested here

3. “Greatest” boxer

4. Welcomed, as the new year

5. Rizzo award in 2016

6. Pocket bread

7. Since who-knows-when 8. Early anesthetic

9. Fezline noise

10. Sherlock Holmes, notably

11. ZZ Top lip feature, informally

12. Had discussions

14. Zazzle ordering site

20. Not so long ago

21. React at the end of Hot Zones, perhaps 22. San Antonio player

23. “Casablanca” character Lund

24. Queenly address

29. “Alizas” network

30. Use the tub

32. Relative of romazine

34. Lapse

35. Was a success

37. Chinese steamed bun

38. Suffix with “Manhattan” or “Brooklyn”

39. ___-reviewed journal

40. Like shares that are split halfsizes

41. Two-digit playing cards

45. Maze of Canadian comedy

46. Beethoven’s Third Symphony

47. Ribeye alternatives

48. Brunezzi’s island

49. Johannesburg township

52. Mister Zed’s sound

54. Host after Jazzy

56. Adam’s third son in the Zotz

57. Bozo/Bozo reminder?

58. Buzzy on a lot

62. Word meaning frizzed, in Thai cuisine

63. The ZA before + might mean this

64. Dick Cheney’s daughter

#5

By Rob Brezsny

Capricorn

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The world’s longest tunnel is over 35 miles long. It’s the Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps. I’m guessing the metaphorical tunnel you’ve been crawling your way through lately, Capricorn, may feel that extensive. But it’s really not. And here’s even better news: Your plodding travels will be finished sooner than you imagine. I expect that the light at the end of the tunnel will be visible any day now. Now here’s the best news: Your slow journey through the semi-darkness will ultimately yield rich benefits no later than your birthday.

Aquarius

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Would you like to avoid wilting and fading away in January, Aquarius? If so, I recommend that during the coming weeks, you give your best and brightest gifts and express your wildest and most beautiful truths. In the new year, you will need some downtime to recharge and revitalize. But it will be a pleasantly relaxing interlude—not a wan, withered detour—if in the immediate future you unleash your unique genius in its full splendor.

Pisces

(Feb. 19-March 20): My treasured Piscean advisor, Letisha, believes it’s a shame so many of us try to motivate ourselves through abusive self-criticism. Are you guilty of that sin? I have done it myself on many occasions. Sadly, it rarely works as a motivational ploy. More often, it demoralizes and deflates. The good news, Pisces, is that you now have extra power and savvy to diminish your reliance on this ineffectual tactic. To launch the transformation, I hope you will engage in a focused campaign of inspiring yourself through self-praise and self-love.

Aries

(March 21-April 19): If you were walking down the street and spied a coin lying on the sidewalk, would you bend down to pick it up? If you’re like most people, you wouldn’t. It’s too much trouble to exert yourself for an object of such little value. But I advise you to adopt a different attitude during the coming weeks. Just for now, that stray coin might be something like an Umayyad gold dinar minted in the year 723 and worth over $7 million. Please also apply this counsel metaphorically, Aries. In other words, be alert for things of unexpected worth that would

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I don’t recommend burning wood to heat your home. Such fires generate noxious emissions harmful to human health. But hypothetically speaking, if you had no other way to get warm, I prefer burning ash and beech wood rather than, say, pine and cedar. The former two trees yield far more heat than the latter two, so you need less of them. Let’s apply this principle as we meditate on your quest for new metaphorical fuel, Sagittarius. In the coming months, you will be wise to search for resources that provide you with the most efficient and potent energy.

require you to expand your expectations or stretch your capacities.

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): The Taurus writer Randall Jarrell compared poets to people who regularly stand in a meadow during a thunderstorm. If they are struck by the lightning of inspiration five or six times in the course of their careers, they are good poets. If they are hit a dozen times, they are great poets. A similar principle applies in many fields of endeavor. To be excellent at what you do, you must regularly go to where the energy is most electric. You’ve also got to keep working diligently on your skills so that when inspiration comes calling, you have a highly developed ability to capture it in a useful form. I’m bringing this up now, Taurus, because I suspect the coming weeks will bring you a slew of lightning bolts.

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): My upcoming novels epitomize the literary genre known as magical realism. In many ways, the stories exhibit reverence for the details of our gritty destinies in the material world. But they are also replete with wondrous events like talking animals, helpful spirits, and nightly dreams that provide radical healing. The characters are both practical and dreamy, earthy and wildly imaginative, well-grounded and alert for miracles. In accordance with your astrological potentials, I invite you to be like those characters in the coming months. You are primed to be both robustly pragmatic and primed for fairy-tale-style adventures.

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): In December 1903, the Wright brothers flew a motorized vehicle through the sky for the first time in human history. It was a very modest achievement, really. On the first try, Orville Wright was

in the air for just 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. On the fourth attempt that day, Wilbur was aloft for 59 seconds and 852 feet. I believe you’re at a comparable stage in the evolution of your own innovation. Don’t minimize your incipient accomplishment. Keep the faith. It may take a while, but your efforts will ultimately lead to a meaningful advancement. (P.S.: Nine months later, the Wrights flew their vehicle for over five minutes and traveled 2.75 miles.)

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): During the rest of 2024, life’s generosity will stream your way more than usual. You will be on the receiving end of extra magnanimity from people, too. Even the spiritual realms might have extra goodies to bestow on you. How should you respond? My suggestion is to share the inflowing wealth with cheerful creativity. Boost your own generosity and magnanimity. Just assume that the more you give, the more you will get and the more you will have. (P.S.: Do you know that Emily Dickinson poem with the line “Why Floods be served to us — in Bowls”? I suggest you obtain some big bowls.)

Virgo

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The term “cognitive dissonance” refers to the agitation we feel while trying to hold conflicting ideas or values in our minds. For example, let’s say you love the music of a particular singer-songwriter, but they have opinions that offend you or they engage in behavior that repels you. Or maybe you share many positions with a certain political candidate, but they also have a few policies you dislike. Cognitive dissonance doesn’t have to be a bad or debilitating thing. In fact, the ability to harbor conflicting ideas with poise and equanimity is a sign of high intelligence. I suspect this will be one of your superpowers in the coming weeks.

Libra

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Amazing Grace” is a popular hymn recorded by many pop stars, including Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, and Willie Nelson. Created in 1773, it tells the story of a person who concludes that he has lived an awful life and now wants to repent for his sins and be a better human. The composer, John Newton, was a slave trader who had a religious epiphany during a storm that threatened to sink his ship in the Atlantic Ocean. God told him to reform his evil ways, and he did. I presume that none of you reading this horoscope has ever been as horrible a person as Newton. And yet you and I, like most people, are in regular need of conversion experiences that awaken us to higher truths and more expansive perspectives. I predict you will have at least three of those transformative illuminations in the coming months. One is available now, if you want it.

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov.21): “Thinking outside the box” is an American idiom. It means escaping habitual parameters and traditional formulas so as to imagine fresh perspectives and novel approaches. While it’s an excellent practice, there is also a good alternative. We can sometimes accomplish marvels by staying inside the box and reshaping it from the inside. Another way to imagine this is to work within the system to transform the system—to accept some of the standard perspectives but play and experiment with others. For example, in my horoscope column, I partially adhere to the customs of the well-established genre, but also take radical liberties with it. I recommend this approach for you in 2025.

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

@ McGuffey Art Center

Tuesdays, 6:30-9:00 pm 8 Weeks, Starting Jan. 21st johnahancock.com 434-939-7445

@ McGuffey Art Center

Saturdays, 1:30-4:00 pm

6 Weeks, Starting Jan. 25th johnahancock.com 434-939-7445

sponsors:

Saturday, December 7th, 2024 12-5 pm

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Claudius Crozet Park - 1075 Claudius Crozet Pk, Crozet, VA 22932

Pancakes for the memories

Blue Moon Diner—the beloved West Main breakfast and lunch spot—served its final plate of Huevos Bluemooños on Wednesday, November 27, after 18 years in business. The diner, which also served as the original stage for Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers and countless local music acts, announced its closing in October. Current owners Laura Galgano and Rice Hall said in a post on social media, “Our regulars go well beyond the borders of Albemarle County and whether you visit us once a year or once a week, we are glad to see you.” Indeed, the day before Thanksgiving, patrons lined up for one last beignet.

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