Issuu

Young leaders on UVA's BOV prioritize coed needs, concerns P.12

Louisa coalition asks for rule change on churches as shelters P.15

Every person has a (funny) story at PVCC's One Mic Stand P.37

Change, amplified

The Tom Tom Festival embraces transformation as its guiding theme—and its greatest strength

Tree Sale

Saturday April 12, 2025, 10am to 12 noon

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

Please follow Detour Signs through Fontaine Campus construction, then turn left onto Natural Resources Drive.

Choose from 37 varieties of primarily native plants, priced from $6.00- $15.00 Quantities Limited to 10 per household.

Friends

JMRL BOOK SALE

Tree Basic Classes and Tree Walks

Free zoom classes on tree id, pruning, invasives and more. Join us at on of our tree id walks, held throughout our area. Visit the home page of our website to view a list of “Upcoming Events.”

Arbor Day

April 25th at 10:00am

Celebrate the magnificent Shumard Oak, our 2025 Landmark Tree, on the 250 Bypass near the Rugby Avenue exit ramp. Parking is available in the adjacent McIntire west ball fields lots.

Become a Certified Tree Steward Volunteer!

Online training sessions and field activities begin August 5th. View class details and syllabus on our website. Registration opens May 1st.

www.charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org

April 2nd-10th 10am-7pm each day 1/2 price days: April 9th & 10th

1/2 price days: April 12th & 13th

...and much, much more!

300 Albemarle Square Shopping Center Charlottesville (at the old Northside Library location) Restocking throughout the week!

Thanks for your support!

What:

The Friends thank Albemarle Square for their continued support. info@jmrlfriends.org • (434) 977-8467

300 Albemarle Square Shopping Center, Charlottesville (at the old Northside Library location) (434) 977-8467

LPs/CDs/DVDs ...and much, much more!

The Friends thank Albemarle Square for their continued support.

Singing Alleluia,

Saturday, April 19

8:00 p.m. | The Great Vigil of Easter (incense will be used)

Easter Sunday, April 20

7:30 a.m. | Traditional Easter Service

9:00 a.m. | Family Service with Children’s Homily

10:00 a.m. | Children’s Easter Egg Hunt

11:00 a.m. | Traditional Easter Service with Choir and Trumpet

Sing out the first Alleluias of Easter with us at the biggest celebration of the church year,

The Great Vigil of Easter!

This dramatic and beautiful service is the first Eucharist of Easter. Following the service, join us for a festive reception.

On Easter morning we will continue our celebration with three worship services, the flowering of the cross, and an Easter Egg Hunt for children. We hope you’ll join us!

Schedule

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE 22 Thinking bigger

Tom Tom takes on Charlottesville’s future.

NEWS 11

Student leaders in the room with UVA’s Board of Visitors.

Over, under, through? Railway tunnels proposed.

Real Estate Weekly: ouisa looking to expand shelter options for local unhoused.

CULTURE 31

Stages: Cowboy Junkies at The Jefferson.

All You Can Eat: Micah LeMon’s food (and drink) fight.

TORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Caite Hamilton editor@c-ville.com

ART DIRECTOR

Max March max@c-ville.com

CULTURE EDITOR

Tami Keaveny tami@c-ville.com

NEWS REPORTER

Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

NEWS CONTRIBUTOR

Sean Tubbs

ASSOCIATE CULTURE EDITOR

CM Turner arts@c-ville.com

COPY EDITORS

Susan Sorensen, James Sanford

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, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Kristin O’Donoghue, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Paul Ting

35 Stages: Dweezil Zappa at The Paramount.

37 Extra: Ty Cooper’s One Mic Stand.

50 Sudoku 51 Crossword

?? Looking for astrology? The stars took the week off—back next issue.

CLASSIFIEDS 52

P.S. 54

The Big Picture

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advertising@c-ville.com

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Tracy Federico designer@c-ville.com

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BUSINESS

PUBLISHER

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C-VILLE HOLDINGS, LLC

Bill Chapman, Blair Kelly

C-VILLE Weekly is Charlottesville, Virginia's award-winning alternative newspaper. Through our distinctive coverage, we work to spark curiosity and enable readers to engage meaningfully with their community.

NEWS UVA

The University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors has made more than its fair share of headlines recently. At the end of March, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin fired his own appointee, Bert Ellis, just weeks after the Board made the controversial decision to dissolve the University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

As UVA leadership navigates an increasingly polarized political climate, one longstanding position—the student member of the Board—is designed to ground the Board’s actions with perspectives from the student body. While the student representative cannot vote on policy, the Board’s rules recognize their voice as equal to those of the 17 voting members.

Lisa Kopelnik, outgoing student member of the BOV, says she applied to the role knowing it was a “pivotal moment in higher education.” During her one-year term, which ends June 1, Kopelnik focused on promoting accessibility and affordability, civil discourse, and safety on Grounds. The fourth-year was present for historic moments, including the resignation of UVA Health CEO Craig Kent and the back-and-forth over the presence of gender-affirming care for patients under 19.

Youngkin’s March 26 decision to fire Ellis, who was originally appointed in 2022, followed public debates over Ellis’ “anti-woke” stances on DEI, alleged code of conduct violations, and reportedly confrontational behavior toward students and local officials. While Youngkin initially asked Ellis to step down, the Board member was fired after he refused to cooperate with a public resignation statement.

When the environment became challenging, Kopelnik says she fell back on her duty to represent students.

“It was a difficult term, and it was a difficult period,” says Kopelnik, noting that she cannot speak for the Board as a whole. “I never stopped trying to portray this full, nuanced picture of the student experience, working with students from all walks of this

university’s life, and really trying to voice students as much as I could through my role.”

The Board’s March 7 vote to shutter the university’s DEI office came after the Trump Administration’s January 21 executive order threatening funding cuts for public institutions that maintained DEI programming. When the Board reconsidered DEI at UVA, Kopelnik shared stories from a variety of students to humanize the issue and illustrate the ways policies impacted her classmates.

“It’s important that we are compliant with [the] federal government, but it’s really important that we are committed to our values as a university,” she says.

Kopelnik will be succeeded by third-year Gregory Perryman, who joins the Board after a two-year term on the advisory committee to the UVA Investment Management Company. Like Kopelnik, a major focus of Perryman’s platform is building stronger communication between students and Board members. He also aims to support UVA’s tradition of student self-governance, to address affordability concerns, and to incorporate student perspectives into decisions on emerging issues, like artificial intelligence and Name, Image, and Likeness policy.

As part of his work to strengthen connections between students, faculty, alumni, and community members, Perryman plans to hold open office hours and engage with a wide range of student organizations.

“I want to make sure that the student who knows nothing about the Board and has no idea what the Board of Visitors even does has opportunities to engage with me as a student,” Perryman says.

Some students have voiced criticism of the Board’s decisions to dissolve DEI and continually raise tuition. To reach those communities, Perryman says he will prioritize common ground.

“What I believe in is keeping those lines of communication open, being honest with one another, but also making sure that we don’t lose sight of our shared values,” he says.

In addition to Perryman, the BOV is slated to add another new face—former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Youngkin tapped Cuccinelli as Ellis’ replacement in a March 26 statement.

As attorney general, Cuccinelli defended outdated laws banning same-sex marriage and led investigations into climate researchers at UVA. He also unsuccessfully appealed to the Supreme Court to revive Virginia’s anti-sodomy law.

The General Assembly must vote to approve Cuccinelli’s appointment. In January’s session, it greenlighted the vast majority of Youngkin’s picks but blocked nine appointees from various board positions.

At press time, the General Assembly has not released a timeline for the vote on Cuccinelli’s appointment.

IN BRIEF

Global impacts

UVA issues new alerts to international community

The University of Virginia has issued updated guidelines and recommendations to international students, following the revocation of at least one student’s visa by the Trump administration.

In an April 4 email with the subject line “A Message to UVA’s International Community,” UVA’s Global Affairs Office shared that “one current student’s visa has been canceled,” and it is monitoring the latest developments surrounding immigration enforcement. According to the email, UVA is in touch with and offering support to the affected student.

The university’s federal information website was updated earlier the same day, acknowledging that “students and faculty at American universities have been detained and threatened with deportation on the basis of activities that the federal government believes undermine U.S. foreign policy, including participating in protests, writing opinion pieces, posting on social media, and other expressive activities.”

The site further cautions all members of UVA’s international community to “carefully consider all potential risks of any planned international travel.”

This is a developing story.—Catie Ratliff

All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less) Virginia State Police helicopter rescues injured hiker on Old Rag Mountain March 31. Longwood University head coach Griff Aldrich joins UVA men’s basketball as associate head coach. Ting Pavilion announces April 18 return of Fridays After Five. Virginia Business magazine names Crutchfield one of the “best places to work in Virginia” for the sixth time. Following delays caused by mechanical issues at Signature Aviation’s fuel farm, Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport resumes service. Charlottesville Police investigate shots fired incident between Sixth and Avon streets April 4. Deion Taylor awarded $580K from Virginia for serving 11 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. UVA announces Jason Winston George (aka “Grey’s Anatomy”’s Dr. Ben Warren) as Valedictory speaker for Finals Weekend. More than 1,000 participants run in the 22nd annual Charlottesville Marathon. Friends of JMRL hosts 60th book sale.

Gregory Perryman will succeed Lisa Kopelnik as the student member of the Board of Visitors on June 1.

Doggone it

THE 2025 CHARLOTTESVILLE DOGWOOD Festival has been cancelled. Organizers hope to bring the celebration back in 2026, but the future of the 76-year-long tradition is murky.

Founded as the Apple Harvest Festival in 1950, the Charlottesville Dogwood

Festival got its current moniker in 1958. Beyond the name change, the festival has seen a multitude of evolutions over the decades—including the scaling-down of the event and its offerings.

While fireworks, amusement rides, and “local royalty” are mentioned on the Dogwood Foundation website, the attractions have been notably absent from the celebration in recent years. The Dogwood Foundation, the local nonprofit that runs the celebration, has cited a decline in attendance and increased costs as contributing to changes to—and this year’s cancellation of—the festival.—CR

Call to action

THOUSANDS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE

residents turned out to the Shops at Stonefield on April 5, joining in the nationwide “Hands Off” protest. The crowd spilled out from the shopping center itself, with demonstrators flooding the area to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

A toolkit created by “Hands Off” lists three primary demands: “an end to the billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration,” “an end to slashing federal funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs working people rely on,” and “an end to the attacks on immigrants, trans people, and other communities.”—CR

DEVELOPMENT NEWS Going under

Several plans call for tunnels beneath area railways, but none under active consideration BY

SEAN TUBBS

Last week, Norfolk Southern periodically shut down three at-grade railway crossings in Charlottesville to perform maintenance on the underlying tracks. While the closure was temporary, it raises questions about how to make it easier to get across the linear barrier of the railroad.

In all, there is a distance of 4,500 feet where the railroad bisects the Fifeville neighborhood from the University of Virginia without a pedestrian or vehicular crossing, between Shamrock Road and Roosevelt Brown Boulevard.

Collisions between vehicles and trains are not unheard of. In January 2018, a trash truck failed to clear a crossing near Crozet in time for an Amtrak train carrying members of the United States Congress to an event in Southwest Virginia. One of the passengers in the truck was killed.

Early growth patterns in Charlottesville were influenced in the late 19th century by the presence of two crossing railroad lines. At least one neighborhood plan aims for improvements to make the area more walkable in the 21st century.

“The expansion of Charlottesville’s railroad system in the mid-1800s brought development to Starr Hill,” reads a vision plan for the neighborhood adopted by City Council in 2021. “Because of its prime location at the junction of two railroads in the center of town, the neighborhood served as a dynamic transportation hub through the first half of the 20th century.”

Charlottesville’s Comprehensive Plan doesn’t have much to say about railroads other than a vague direction to upgrade the existing Amtrak station to the east of the point where the two railways cross.

The east-west tracks now owned by the Virginia Passenger Railway Authority continue to divide neighborhoods along the West Main Street corridor with at-grade crossings at Seventh Street SW, Fifth Street SW, First Street S, and Second Street SE.

The north-south tracks owned by Norfolk Southern have fewer at-grade crossings. The 2015 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan includes a map that suggests tunnels underneath this railway line to connect the Greenbrier neighborhood with the John Warner Parkway trails. This plan also called for one to connect the Fifeville neighborhood with Jefferson Park Avenue neighborhood just south of UVA.

A developer seeking a special use permit for additional density on Grove Street Extended used the existence of that plan six years later in their application.

It referred to “sidewalk improvements along the new parcel frontage along Valley Road Extended that ultimately may be incorporated into a more robust pedestrian and bicycle improvement network if the multi-use tunnel under the railroad right of way, as called for in the [2015] Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan.”

According to Afton Schneider, the city’s director of communications and public engagement, there are currently no active plans to build either tunnel.

The Starr Hill Vision plan created by the New Hill Development Corporation suggests another location for a third grade-separated crossing. There is a passageway east of Seventh Street, just north of the Amtrak station, that is currently overgrown. The plan also calls for a seldom-if-ever used railway line to be converted into a trail. A spur from the main Norfolk Southern line splits from the main line and runs across Preston Avenue toward Schenk’s Greenway.

“Opening the tunnel and creating accessible paths along the abandoned section of railway spur would allow residents of several neighborhoods to access businesses, social venues, and needed services more safely and easily than currently available,” the plan continues.

There have been efforts to eliminate atgrade crossings before. The city converted a portion of Roosevelt Brown Boulevard into an underpass in the 1990s to eliminate conflicts across both lines.

Looking east from the Norfolk Southern crossing at Shamrock Road with the UVA Medical Center. The nearest spot to legally cross the tracks is just under a mile away.

JACK LOONEY (LEFT), SUPPLIED PHOTO (RIGHT)

The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival celebrated its 75th anniversary last April.

pvcc.edu/summer-momentum

REAL ESTATE NEWS Gimme shelter

Coalition seeks zoning change in Louisa County to allow churches to be used for overnight stays in winter

BY SEAN TUBBS

The arrival of spring brings the end of the season for PACEM, a network of churches that provides overnight shelter for hundreds of unhoused individuals in the Charlottesville area each year. Since 2004, the group, officially known as People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry, has since 2004 operated cold-weather shelters across a rotating set of churches.

To prepare for next winter, one group is petitioning Louisa County to amend its land development regulations to allow more potential warm places for people to sleep.

“The current zoning codes create an overwhelming obstacle to offering this ministry to our unhoused neighbors,” wrote David McWilliams, pastor of the Zion United Methodist Church, in a letter to Louisa Planning Commissioner James Dickerson. “Not only has our team identified several Louisa County families sleeping in their cars, but we have personally spent funds to temporarily house people at the Loyalty Inn.”

The Planning Commission meets on April 10 and on its agenda is another set of potential changes to land use rules. Such amendments are fairly commonly approved by the Board of Supervisors, including a recent change that put a cap on the amount of property that can be covered by solar panels.

Annie Gould Gallery

S. Main Street, Gordonsville, VA • (540)

The current definition of “religious assembly” allows for “related incidental activities,” but does not allow people to stay overnight. There is an existing definition of “emergency shelter” for people temporarily or permanently unhoused.

However, most zoning districts require a conditional use permit for “religious assembly.” The Louisa Homeless Coalition wants to modify the definition to expand the scope of “religious assembly” for churches that currently hold permits or are otherwise authorized to operate.

Earns Esteemed Angie’s List Super Service Award

“A religious assembly may operate an emergency shelter … for the duration of a State of Locally Declared State of Emergency, or to provide hypothermia shelter from November to March, without benefit of a conditional use permit,” reads a suggestion sent at least three times to Dickerson.

In his letter, McWilliams said Charlottesville’s PACEM locations sometimes hit capacity because residents from Louisa travel there for services. PACEM’s service area also includes Fluvanna, Nelson, and Greene.

Roofcrafters Inc. has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of customer service to members of the local services marketplace and consumer review site in 2016.

PACEM used nearly two dozen spaces in the current season, according to the group’s website. The final night of PACEM service for men this season was April 4. The final night for women will be April 18.

Now, a group called the Louisa Homeless Coalition wants the county to change the zoning code to accommodate its desire to use churches as shelters.

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2016 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The SSA winners must also be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2016 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include

an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The SSA winners must also be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Another item on the Planning Commission’s agenda on April 10 is the proposed deletion of a provision that allows for additional lots on agricultural land, if affordable

“Here at Roofcrafters, in addition to the BOCA Building Code, we adhere to our own set of in-house specifications developed during my

units are provided.

Shingles, “Eco-Star” faux slate, and “Firestone” EPDM for flat roofs.

years as a Roofing Contractor. With over one million squares installed,we have adopted the motto of the sage, “Think like a raindrop.” Whether you’re thinking about replacing your old roof, performing a thorough roof maintenance, or merely fixing a pesky leak, think Roofcrafters Inc” —Damon Galeassi, President

forty years as a Roofing Contractor. With over one million squares installed,we have adopted the motto of the sage, “Think like a raindrop.” Whether you’re thinking about replacing your old roof, performing a thorough roof maintenance, or merely fixing a pesky leak, think Roofcrafters Inc” —Damon Galeassi,

Trinity Presbyterian Church, where PACEM shuttles unhoused men for overnight stays, often hits capacity as it also provides services to Louisa residents.

A unique art gallery located in the heart of historic Gordonsville.

109

UVA MUSIC EVENTS

Date/Time/Place Event

Thursday, 4/10, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Friday, 4/11, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 4/12, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 4/13, 1pm Rotunda Dome Room

Sunday, 4/13, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 4/13, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Thursday, 4/17, noon Robertson Media Center

Friday, 4/18, 6pm Amphitheater

Saturday 4/19, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Monday, 4/21, 7:30pm Hunter Smith Band Bldg

uvamusic

Danielle Wiebe-Burke * guest viola recital

Baroque Orchestra directed by David Sariti

Jazz Ensemble 6th Annual Jazz 4 Justice

UVA Flute Ensemble * Directed by Kelly Sulick

Alexander Suh, piano * Distinguished Major Recital

Ellen Woodard & Andrew Heil * Composition Distinguished Majors

Nathaniel Star * Making Noise in the Library Concert Band *

Undergraduates Composers Concert *

Wind Ensemble Spring Concert *

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

UVA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA

8:00 PM

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 Old Cabell Hall

music by Avison, Handel, Telemann, WF Bach & more

music.virginia.edu/baroque-orchestra-spring-2025

Ancient Teachings for Modern Times

APRIL 8

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

APRIL 9–13

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

APRIL 14–17

Tibetan Yoga , with Alejandro Chaoul.

MAY 17–19

Foundations of Dzogchen Meditation , with Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche.

JULY 12–26

Serenity Ridge Annual Summer Retreat, with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and honored guest, His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche, the spiritual head of the Bön tradition.

TOM TOM TAKES ANOTHER BIG SWING BY SHEA

WAY OUT THERE

The Tom Tom Festival is doubling down on inclusivity while the rest of the country seems to be betting against it.

The theme of the 2025 festival’s opening day is “civic futures,” and the idea, according to organizer Paul Beyer, is to bring the most influential local minds together to talk about their “big vision” for the community.

Billed as “a multi-sector gathering designed to ignite visionary thinking and inclusive regional storytelling,” this is peak intersectionality—at a time when many folks are turning away from the idea that hidden, systemic forces are driving our experiences.

“This is a new program for us, and I think of it as an opportunity to explicitly bring out some of the biggest topics and conversations that are facing the future of our community,” Beyer says. “It’s not just people talking on a stage.”

Beyer, who founded the Tom Tom Foundation in 2012, has never settled for what everyone else is doing. Over 13 years, he’s built the brand and festival into a central driver of Charlottesville’s intellectual direction through a determination to help craft a better community. Since the festival launched, it has grown steadily more expansive and aspirational, year after year.

Opening the Evolve Conference wing of the festival on April 16 will be leaders in multiple disciplines— University of Virginia President Jim Ryan, Monticello President Jane Kamensky, Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade, and Telus Digital

Solutions President Tobias Dengel, along with 13 others—exploring “a story about the future that includes everyone.”

“You can’t just give the megaphone to the university, or to leaders in biotech, or to historians,” Beyer says.

Instead, you can bring them all together and see what happens. Following is a look at several topics Beyer’s band of bigwigs plans to address.

Democracy at 250

The United States will reach its 250th birthday next year, and Tom Tom is out front. The “Reflecting on the Past, Imagining the Future: American Democracy at 250” forum features Kamensky and Melody Barnes, executive director of the UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy, and intends to “reflect on the bumpy road that got us here and, more importantly, the road ahead.”

Organizers say Monticello’s unique role in shaping local history and beyond is of particular interest. Naturally, Kamensky agrees.

“Charlottesville’s Black community gets its start from the freed slaves at Monticello,” she says. “I would love to talk…about how 2026 can change the story Charlottesville tells about itself.”

Storytelling is set to have a central role in the Evolve Conference’s civic futures track, and the underlying message is that

“I would love to talk…about how 2026 can change the story Charlottesville tells about itself,” says Monticello President Jane Kamensky.

the community’s outward-facing tale has in some ways been hijacked by the Unite the Right rally of 2017 and its fallout. But Kamensky, who moved to C’ville in January

2024 to direct Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, has an optimistic view of the storyline outsiders see.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

“I think we have an extraordinary collection of cultural contributors—writers, artists, community engagement workers— drawn by the university and beyond. What if we viewed 2026 as a civic storytelling moment for all of us?” she asks. “Can we mobilize ourselves as a village of storytellers?”

The innovation economy

Technology, research, workforce development, and investment stand to be critical to the future of local innovation, Evolve organizers say—but none of it will thrive without collaboration among the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and UVA.

“The Innovation Economy: A Coalitional Model for Building the Region’s Future for Technology and Entrepreneurship” will explore the idea, with contributions from Ryan, former U.S. House of Representatives member L.F. Payne, Albemarle County executive Jeff Richardson, and City Manager Sam Sanders.

With input from all levels of government, the forum intends to consider how previous successful municipal and University of Virginia projects might serve as a roadmap for cultivating innovation going forward. “UVA has a responsibility to be a good neighbor in the Charlottesville/Albemarle region,” Ryan says. “But we can’t do that work alone; the only way for us to build a bright future

During a civic futures forum, entitled “Charlottesville’s Narrative: Who Shapes Our Story,” Vinegar Hill Magazine’s Sarad Davenport hopes to includes voices that aren’t necessarily part of the “mainstream social narrative.”

BEYOND EVOLUTION

Intellectual ambition anchors the Tom Tom Festival, but the five-day event isn’t short on recreational opportunities. This year’s fest features 190 events, performances, and sessions, most of which are free or offered as pay-what-you-can. “It’s important to be accessible,” Tom Tom founder Paul Beyer says. Here are four can’t-miss festival events.

Zero on Zero

Zero on Zero, from 5pm to 7:30pm April 17, is a non-alcoholic dance party at downtown’s Central Place geared toward sober and sober-curious individuals. “We wanted to highlight that there are more and more spaces for people interested in a mindful approach to drinking,” Beyer says. “We want to offer real social opportunities outside of an alcohol-focused setting.”

In addition to the flagship Zero on Zero dance party on Thursday night of the festival, Beyer says other events throughout the week will include bars dedicated to non-alcoholic bevvies.

Prom Prom

for this community is by partnering with our neighbors and organizations in the community and working together on the challenges that we face.”

Ryan says he’s made working with local government agencies a priority since he became university president in 2018; the Innovation Economy forum will give him, as well as Payne, Richardson, and Sanders, a chance to say more.

Charlottesville’s narrative

Dengel will join Jayme Swain of Virginia Public Media Corporation and Vinegar Hill Magazine’s Sarad Davenport in a conversation moderated by Michael Lenox of UVA Innovates just before the civic futures track lunch break. The panelists indicate they will formally address the ways the local region can shape its own story for the rest of the world.

“I want us to ask, ‘How do we tell a fuller story, a broader story that includes people who may not necessarily be a part of the mainstream social narrative?’” Davenport says. “And that all plays into economic development.”

Davenport points out that Charlottesville’s story isn’t just beset by what outsiders saw in August of 2017. It’s a complex story that—in fact as well as in fable—hasn’t always embraced inclusivity. From the razing of the historically Black neighborhood

that is Davenport’s magazine’s namesake, up to the present, the community has racial, ethnic, and economic divides that deserve deep consideration.

“I do think we have some things we can do and build upon,” Davenport says. ”But it’s not a secret that housing costs are an issue. How are we going to build the social infrastructure we need for all the growth that is projected to happen?”

Davenport hopes the forum, “Charlottesville’s Narrative: Who Shapes Our Story,” will allow speakers and attendees to think about what he sees as a window of opportunity closing—an ever-shrinking portal for addressing wealth gaps that population growth may soon close forever.

In addition to traditional media, technology has taken a growing role in storytelling, and Dengel will provide the conversation with insight from his experience throughout the tech sector. Before taking his current positions as president of Telus Digital Solutions and WillowTree, Dengel built his career by helping companies like AOL International and Leads.com keep up with the changing digital landscape.

What’s next

To close out the civic futures track, Beyer will join United Way of Greater Charlottesville CEO Ravi Respeto, Friends of Charlottesville Downtown Executive Director Greer Achenbach, and MindSalt, Inc. cofounder David Deaton for a capstone con-

versation. After a full day of tackling sweeping ideas from iconic local influencers, what are the key themes? And more importantly, what are the next steps?

“There is a kind of summit component to this,” Beyer says. “Tom Tom has always—if you look at every day of the festival—asked, ‘Who are the leaders who are making change, and how do we catalyze that?’ Civic futures is just a more formalized approach.”

Indeed, Beyer says the new festival track embodies what the Tom Tom Foundation does year-round, outside the bounds of the annual festival: summits, forums, and conversations designed to build community and sculpt the future.

“Don’t just listen—lead,” the capstone forum description instructs, and Beyer thinks that’s a message that will resonate with a lot of people these days.

“I would say that, in this moment of social unrest, we really are seeing that local issues matter a lot,” he says. “I think that over the years, these kinds of localized conversations that focus on areas where communities can come together as neighbors—where there is relationship capital to build trust and friendship—have faded. But these ideas have been very important for a long time.”

The annual Tom Tom Festival and its concept-focused conference have always been forward-looking. Now, Beyer wants to rekindle some of those old ideas.

“Our differences are not insurmountable,” he says. “We can find a way to make people talk and bridge divides.” C

Another rhinestone in the Tom Tom dance series, Prom Prom caps the festival’s Saturday events from 9pm to 1am. Organizers say they hope the party will give folks all the fun of prom—the dress, the dance, the drinks—with none of the teenage awkwardness. The soiree will feature hip-hop DJs on the first floor of Common House and house music on the second.

After the Block Party

The two-day Block Party is Tom Tom’s musical cornerstone and for the first time ever, Starr Hill Presents will add a slate of official After Parties to the festival, with national talent performing at the Jefferson Theater and Southern Cafe & Music Hall. Fridays After Five will also join the jam, launching its season at Tom Tom with a parade and performance by Elby Brass and the Elite Empire Dance Team.

The Block Party begins on April 18 at 5pm and spans three main stages and a family stage along the Downtown Mall, with dance and variety shows sprinkled in with the tunes.

Brave Hearts, Calm Minds

From 1pm to 4pm on Tom Tom’s final day, the Brave Hearts, Calm Minds event will honor our past and present servicepeople. Eastwood Farm and Winery will host the inaugural event, which aims to give those who serve and those who love them a space for “camaraderie, healing, and mutual support.” Highlights include wellness workshops, info sessions with veterans affairs representatives, and live music by Vietnam veteran Roy Hughes.—SG

Telus Digital Solutions President Tobias Dengel will join Davenport and Jayme Swain of Virginia Public Media Corporation to address the growing role of technology in storytelling.

APRIL 16—19, 2025

How can we adapt the ways we think, live and lead?

This April we’re bringing together civic leaders, visionaries, and changemakers to explore the intersections of technology, storytelling, business, society and wellness.

4.16

Inspiring big vision and meaningful action for the region.

4.17

Embracing the promise and evolution of technology… for good.

1 DAY AND 4 DAY BADGES AVAILABLE

4.18

Exploring how businesses start, grow, and flourish.

All conference badges have a Pay-What-You-Can scholarship option available for attendees in need of financial assistance.

4.19

Creating a healthy, mindful, and connected community.

This year, everyone in the community is able to support the Block Party by making a donation and grabbing a Block Party Passport! Enjoy amazing special offers at local businesses throughout the event - and beyond, and help keep the Block Party going. Get yours early online or stop by a Passport and ID station during the event.

NEW THIS YEAR: THE BLOCK PARTY PASSPORT SEE ALL

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

Cowboy Junkies

Any music act that’s been writing, recording, and touring over the course of 40 years deserves respect. For Cowboy Junkies, the unwavering dedication to their craft equates to more than 20 studio records and countless other contributions to a pioneering style of what jerks like me in music journalism have lazily called alt-country, or folk rock.

The Toronto-based quartet created a singular vibe early on with whispery instrumentation supporting remarkably moving but sedate vocals; the original combination undoubtedly helped them to stand out from the brash tumult that defined many of their late-‘80s contemporaries. The quiet jazzy blues famously captured via a singular expensive ambisonic microphone on their debut record, and its revered follow-up, The Trinity Session, spurred the group’s success. The latter collection spawned CJ’s widely known track, a soft and sleepy cover of Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane,” which embodies that tiptoe approach.

Unlike, say, AC/DC, the band did not take the if-it-ain’tbroke-don’t-fix-it approach to a lengthy career, and experimented with putting together

Wednesday 4/9

music

records, the musical traditions they incorporated, and the personnel with whom they collaborated. The Cowboy Junkies are shockingly still the Timmins siblings (Margo on vocals; Michael on guitar; and Peter on drums) and Alan Anton on bass, but maybe the fact that the four are still at it is a testament to their regular use of guest musicians across many recordings and tours, folks who aided in keeping the ongoing musical relationship fresh.

Over the long discography, they didn’t always play as if the neighbors were about to complain (a reason given for their initially toned-down sound), but they’re not known for having turned into Throbbing Gristle at any point either.

classes

Galaxy Jewelry. Create your own starry night inspired jewelry using glass cabochons and nail polish. Choose between earrings, necklaces, or a cuff bracelet. Ages 12+. $35, 5pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Paint + Sip: Garden Walk. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a garden walk scene through step-by-step instruction. No experience necessary. $38, 6pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. blueridgebrushes.com etc.

Open Mic Night. Perform your original poetry, spoken word, or comedic act. Registration required for performing participants. Ages 16+. Free, 6pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org

Queer and Trans Open Mic Night. Share your original music. We’ll set up a mic, speakers, and a keyboard. Please bring your own other instruments. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

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

Thursday 4/10 music

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

Danielle Wiebe-Burke Guest Viola Recital. This concert explores compositions that bear the sonic imprint of our voices and asks how our experience of music is shaped by our lives as speakers and story makers. Free, 8pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

Flatland Cavalry. Nashville and Texas-based band plays country music. Free, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

classes

Paper Butterfly Garland. Make your own spring decoration. All materials provided. Please visit the website to register. Ages 11+. Free, 6:30pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org etc.

Bent Theatre Improv. A hilarious evening of improv comedy where you make the show by suggesting scenes for the players to act out. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

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

SATURDAY 4/12

The Jefferson Theater

Tuesday 4/15 & Wednesday 4/16

It will be interesting to hear what the setlist holds in our neck of the woods, considering the band’s hefty catalog. I was pleasantly surprised to see that earlier this year, the group dug deep into tracks from 2023’s Such Ferocious Beauty, including the brooding “Hell Is Real.” You can also be sure Cowboy Junkies will pull out a number of blues, country, and classic rock tracks alongside “Sweet Jane,” to interpret them in the inimitable way that has made the group so beloved.—CM Gorey

dance

Berto Sales and Matt Wyatt. Brazilian and Latin jazz treasures to make you smile from the inside out. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

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

Rosali. North Carolina-based songwriter plays songs and answers questions related to her art, artistry, and what it’s like to have a career in independent music. Free, 1pm. Robertson Media Center (RMC), 164 McCormick Rd. library.virginia.edu/rmc

The Unsuitables. Rock ‘n’ roll with a twist of funk and soul. Free, 5:30pm. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com

MOMIX: ALICE. Travel down the rabbit hole MOMIXstyle with renowned choreographer Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. $34–54, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Weekly Swing Dance. Beginner-friendly swing dance lessons teaching the Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, and blues. No partner needed. Stay for social dancing after the class. $10, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com

stage

The Trip to Bountiful Homesick and determined, Carrie Watts sets out on a bus-trip pilgrimage to the small town of Bountiful, Texas in this tender and deeply poignant play by one of America’s most celebrated playwrights. $28, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

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

Lina SaRoza. From smooth melodies to electrifying beats, Lina brings the magic of the sax wherever she goes. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

STRFKR. Energetic, danceable pop from mainstays of the hipster scene. $25–30, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jefferson theater.com

Yarn. Yarn keeps spinning their stories, drawing audiences into their vibrant musical web, and delivering clever and resonant lyrics in memorable songs that reverberate and linger. $22–25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesouthern cville.com

dance

UVA Spring Dance Concert. Featuring the work of student, faculty, and guest choreographers showcasing technical, creative, and artistic approaches to movement and composition. $5–7, 8pm. Ruth Caplin Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu stage

The Trip to Bountiful See listing for Wednesday, April 9. $28, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

One Mic Stand. A spoken-word open mic offering both seasoned artists and up-and-comers a platform to share stories, poetry, comedy, satire, and more. Free, 7pm. Piedmont Virginia Community College, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. pvcc.edu

ALL PRAISE

Alt-rock superstar St. Vincent comes to town, riding a wave of praise garnered by her most recent studio album. The multiple Grammy-winner earned three awardsthis year, including Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Alternative Music Album for All Born Screaming. With expressive vocals and impeccable guitar skills, St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) creates an eclectic brand of contemporary music that touches on many of the subgenres of rock with pop inflections. L.A.-based indie singer-songwriter Wallice opens. $39.50–55.50, 8pm. Ting Pavillion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

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

Friday 4/11 music

Butcher Brown. A seamlessly blended amalgam of sounds including jazz, hip-hop, rock, funk, R&B, alternative, soul, country, house, bossa nova, pop, and more. $22–25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Charles Owens Trio. Live jazz from a master tenor saxophonist, composer, and band leader. Free, 10pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com

Dweezil Zappa. This Grammy-winning guitarist and son of the iconic musician Frank Zappa has left an indelible mark on the music industry with over 2,000 concerts performed worldwide. $44–294, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Josh Mayo. Original rock music with some classic hits mixed in. Free, 6pm. Högwaller Brewing, 1518 E. High St. hogwallerbrewing.com

Josh Mayo. An up-close-and-personal show of original rock ‘n’ roll and classic covers. Free, 10pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Marcus King Band. Grammy-nominated fourthgeneration musician from Greenville, South Carolina sings about trials and triumph with signature vibrato. With special guests DOGPARK. $44–64, 8pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

The Wavelength. Vintage rock and jazzy blues vibrations. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

UPC Springfest Concert: A Boogie wit Da Hoodie. Multiplatinum rapper, singer, and songwriter A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie headlines this year’s event. Open to all UVA students and the general public. $25–50, 8pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com

UVA Baroque Orchestra Spring Concert. Presenting dynamic, vital performances of music from the 17th and 18th centuries with the instruments and performance practices for which it was written, without a conductor. Free, 8pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

dance

UVA Spring Dance Concert. See listing for Thursday, April 10. $5–7, 8pm. Ruth Caplin Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu

stage

Rosanie Soleil A psychodrama that brings together a quartet of women amid insurrectional events in 1870s Martinique. Performed by guest artists in residence, Écritures Théâtrales Contemporaines en Caraïbe. Free, 7pm. Helms Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu

The Trip to Bountiful See listing for Wednesday, April 9. $28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Storytime. Join us for a magical storytime adventure where the pages come alive and imagination knows no bounds. Free with admission to the museum, 10:30am. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. vadm.org

CONTINUED ON 35

ALL YOU CAN EAT CULTURE

Shaken, stirred— and sued

Micah LeMon’s cocktail guide returns to shelves under a new name

BY SARAH GOLIBART GORMAN

When Micah LeMon titled his 2017 mixology manual, The Imbible: A Cocktail Guide for Beginning and Home Bartenders, he wasn’t expecting a lawsuit. After nearly two decades behind the bar, a master’s in linguistics, an abandoned Ph.D., a Hollywood stint, and being part of the opening team at the James Beard-nominated Alley Light restaurant, LeMon felt ready to share his cocktail philosophy. In fact, when UVA Press approached him about writing a book, he already had a manuscript.

“I think they were surprised I had something to say, that I had a theoretical approach to making balanced cocktails,” he says.

His fascination with drinks began in an unlikely place: Liberty University, where alcohol was forbidden for students. LeMon and a few friends took jobs bussing tables at a country club run by a Liberty alum and, before long, he found himself working at the bar. “It was a bizarre experience for us,” he said. “We didn’t understand why people drank things we thought were gross and disgusting.” That experience sparked a curiosity that still drives LeMon to this day: “Why do people drink alcohol? Is it possible to make it good? If so, how?” Named one of the country’s top 100 bartenders in 2022 by the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild—and with one of his drinks on the cover of Garden & Gun in 2021—he’s found some answers.

LeMon saw The Imbible as a nod to his Pentecostal upbringing and Liberty roots. “Bibles are handbooks for doing things the right way,” he says. And he tried to do things the right way when he realized a Broadway play had the same title: The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking. LeMon flagged it to UVA Press, even suggesting they check with the play’s creator. “They were like, ‘Don’t worry about it. It’s a play. This is a book. It’s not a big deal,’” LeMon remembers.

It turned out to be a big deal.

The book hit shelves just in time for the December holidays, and it sold well. Hoping for a James Beard Award nomination, LeMon hired a publicist, inspired by mentors like José de Brito (The Alley Light, The Inn at Little Washington, Fleurie) and Ian Boden (The Shack, Maude & The Bear).

Then, the obstacles started piling up. Once the first print run sold out, bookstores weren’t restocking. “University presses are quirky publishers,” LeMon says. “They’re attached to institutions of learning, which means that quite frequently, they are not beholden to some kind of, like, profit incentive.” When the press head LeMon worked with died suddenly, so did the press’s interest in drink-related books.

Then came the lawsuit. In 2019, the creators of the Broadway play sued LeMon, his photographer, and UVA Press for “defrauding customers of the lawful Imbible materials.” UVA settled and, according to LeMon, the settlement cost was enough to deter them from reprinting his book. Also, if he wanted to publish another edition, it had to be under a different title.

Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. At-home mixologists were thirsty for in-depth manuals like LeMon’s, but couldn’t get their hands on a copy. “I really wanted to have it be successful, and hopefully have it be some kind of launch pad to some larger career developments in my life,” saysLeMon.

Known for his foraging cocktail practices, Micah LeMon pushed through various branches of law and bureaucracy to regain the rights to his book. It has been republished as Ounces, Drops, & Dashes.

Beaten, but not broken, he spent four years fighting to regain the rights to his book. In 2024, when new press director Eric Brandt took over, LeMon finally got them back.

On the advice of a friend of an Alley Light regular who happened to know the head of Oxford University Press’s North American branch, LeMon decided to self-publish on Amazon. His book, now titled Ounces, Drops, & Dashes, went up for sale at the end of 2024.

“The moral of the story for me,” LeMon says, “is learning how university presses work, understanding the economics of food celebrity in the U.S., and realizing it’s probably better to be really good at your job than to have a bunch of books.”

But why not both? In addition to continuing to craft inventive cocktails with foraged regional ingredients—pawpaws, maypops, sassafras, black birch, spruce tips, black walnuts, hardy oranges, ramps, and wormwood—LeMon is already working on another book. He’s in no rush. “I’m hoping it’s just a fun thing I get into over the next couple of years.”

Blues Blues

classes

Paint + Sip: Spring Vines Wineglass. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a spring vines design on a beautiful wineglass through step-by-step instructions. No experience necessary. $35, 5pm. Darling Boutique, 115 First St. S. blueridgebrushes.com

etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 10. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Scrappy Crafty Hour. See listing for Wednesday, April 9. Free, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started with beers and trivia. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 10. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 4/12

music

3rd Annual Harambee for Makindu featuring Mighty Joshua. Including performances by The Near Passerines, Jay Pun and Friends, Betty Jo’s Boogie Band, The Pollocks, and Dropping Julia, plus kids’ activities, games, community raffles, and live auctions. Free, noon. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Acoustic Aubrey. Covers of classic R&B, jazz, acoustic rock, and more. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Boot Scootin’ Boogie Nights. Supergroup Neon Rainbow, a collective of some of the best musicians in Tennessee, takes fans on a raucous journey through all the biggest country hits of the ’90s. $15–18, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Josh Davidson. A Shenandoah Valley local plays a mix of country, folk-rock, Americana, and more. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com

Kat & The Travelers. Featuring an extensive songbook of roots, jazz, blues, swing, and country, along with original songwriting. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com

Marbin. Fiery fusion from a Chicago-based progressive jazz-rock band. Free, 10pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

Midnight Buzz. An eclectic blend of acoustic and electric classic rock covers. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Nicotine Dolls. A Nicotine Doll is a person or persons who choose to spend a party overwhelmed with anxiety, outside, smoking. It is also a band from NYC. $25–30, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Porch Dogs. Rock, pop, oldies, country. You name it, they play it. Come bark with the Dogs. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

St. Vincent. Grammy winner for Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Alternative Music Album at this year’s awards. With Wallice. $39–55, 8pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

The Pollocks. Jason Pollock, founding member of multi-platinum rock band Seven Mary Three, shares the creative process with fellow band members. $15, 7pm. Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

UVA Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert. Works from the songbooks of the Count Basie Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, and more, directed by Mike Rosensky. Recently retired Director of Jazz John D’earth performs. Free, 8pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

Willie DE. Blending blues, jazz, and rock (mostly rock) to create a fresh, original sound. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

dance

UVA Spring Dance Concert. See listing for Thursday, April 10. $5–7, 8pm. Ruth Caplin Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu

stage

The Trip to Bountiful. See listing for Wednesday, April 9. $28, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Author Event: Gabriel Fried. Writer Gabriel Fried reads from his new poetry collection, No Small Thing. A conversation with writer Lisa Russ Spaar follows. Free, 4pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominion bookshop.com

classes

Intro to Cyanotype. Welcome to the wonderful world of cyanotypes, a place where science and magic meet to make some seriously beautiful art. Ages 10+. $30, 11pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Mosaic 201: Pretty Planter. Challenge your skills and creativity with shaping, placement, and intentional design, making a personal planter with outdoor-proof materials. No prior experience is necessary. Ages 12+. $68, 10:30am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Needle Felted Owls. Learn how to make a soft little owl figure using a specialized notched needle to sculpt dyed wool. Suitable for beginners or intermediate students. Ages 12+. $40, 1:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 10. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards Tree Sale. CATS maintains its own tree nursery, entirely run by volunteers, concentrating on native trees, some of which are hard to find from commercial sources. Free, 10am. Virginia Department of Forestry, 900 Natural Resources Dr. charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org

Family Studio Day. April’s event features project reflecting themes in the Main Gallery exhibition “HOME,” a group show on view from April 4–May 23, 2025. Free, 10am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org

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

Tea & Tales. Join us for a delightful escape into the world of adult fantasy as we sip tea and immerse ourselves in magical stories. This month: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. Free, noon. Crozet Library, 2020 Library Ave., Crozet. jmrl.org

CONTINUED ON 36

TO-DO LIST CULTURE

Dweezil

Zappa plays Frank Zappa

Maybe it’s unfair to say that Dweezil Zappa has made a lifelong career of being the child of a legendary musician. At 55 years old, he has amassed a decent list of solo records and even won a Grammy for his guitar playing, a good deal of which he’s lent to other people’s music. Going back to the ’80s, he wailed on tracks from hairy fake metal bands like Winger and the group’s sleazy hit “Seventeen,” and likeminded practitioners including Extreme, parody act Steel Panther, and comic metal originators Spinal Tap. Yet it’s the complex, inimitable humorous music of his father Frank that Dweezil has committed to recreating live, particularly over the last 20 years.

This time around, under the terribly worded tour name Rox(postroph)y, Dweezil continues what he started last year—commemorating the half-century anniversary of two Frank Zappa records, Apostrophe and Roxy & Elsewhere. The former boasts one of his visionary dad’s minor hits (“Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow”), and the latter is a live album recorded with The Mothers of Invention.

Keeping your father’s music alive to share with new audiences is all well and good—perhaps it’s even admirable, especially when the man was such an original and influential figure. But I’ve yet to meet a single person who’s said that Dweezil Zappa is one of their favorite

musical artists, favorite guitarists, or even that they liked how he played. I’ll admit I don’t know that many people, but I do know someone who has the logo of halfnaked barbarian metal band Manowar tattooed across his back, so…

The question remains as to how long anyone can toil in the imposing shadow of his widely respected and beloved ancestor. Long enough to keep the money rolling in, I suppose. Though Dweezil did make music with his siblings over the years, he’s apparently never fully reconciled with them after a schism left him cold-shouldered from a stake in the family trust. He’s also had public battles connected to a divorce, and accusations of unpaid legal fees.

The Paramount Theater Friday 4/11

Such troubles may be far in the past for him now, and admittedly, this type of gossip has no bearing on the man as a musician or his abilities to entertain, but I’ll say this: The Ultimate Experience Package for what’s being billed as a premium ticket that comes with entry to soundcheck, a Q&A, and a Dweezilled tour of the stage and gear, a photo op with one of Frank Zappa’s guitars, and a commemorative pick, signed postcard, and VIP laminate, costs just shy of $300—before any fees. If people are ponying up for that, it’s got to be enough to keep someone convinced to borrow the shine of a relative’s much brighter spotlight.—CM Gorey

Tyler Childers. Country musician blending neotraditional style, bluegrass, folk, and honky-tonk to tell stories of rural experiences. With special guest S.G. Goodman. Prices vary, 8pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com

UVA Flute Ensemble Spring Recital. Talented student musicians majoring in all areas of study perform music from all eras and styles, including pieces for larger flute ensemble and smaller chamber works. Free, 1pm. University of Virginia Rotunda Dome Room, 1826 University Ave. rotunda.virginia.edu

words

Pursuits of Knowledge. Connect with authors and hear how they engage the past in the present through genres of biography, political history, and young adult fiction. $10–30, 5:30pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org etc.

Scrappy Crafty Hour. See listing for Wednesday, April 9. Free, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

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

Tuesday 4/15

music

Billy Strings. Genre-bending bluegrass-based tunes played at high velocity. Prices vary, 7:30pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpaul jonesarena.com

Cowboy Junkies. A career-spanning show from Canadian alternative country and folk rock mainstays. $75, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St. jeffersontheater.com

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

Melissa Etheridge. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singers for more than two decades. $60–235, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

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

words

Poetry Reading: Airea D. Matthews. Matthews’ memoir-in-verse Bread and Circus, which contends with the realities of class and race, was awarded the 2024 LA Times Book Prize in Poetry. Free, 5pm. Newcomb Hall Commonwealth Room, 180 McCormick Rd. virginia.edu

classes

Paint + Sip: Wildflower Pint Glasses. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a wildflower design on pint glasses with step-by-step instructions. No experience necessary. Ticket includes one free drink. $42, 6pm. Ellie’s Country Club, 16 Elliewood Ave. blueridgebrushes.com etc.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Teams of two to six people compete to win prizes like gift certificates and pint glasses, plus bragging rights. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com The Run Club. Do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.

EXTRA CULTURE

Beyond the laughs

Ty Cooper’s One Mic Stand is about free expression BY JAMES SANFORD

“This stage is for you. You don’t have to be an artist to share a story.”

This is Ty Cooper’s message to anyone attending his One Mic Stand shows, a live series staged for more than 10 years at Piedmont Virginia Community College. “We just wanted to provide a platform for artists to express themselves and do what they do,” says the veteran promoter, comedian, writer, and filmmaker.

Having found success with the United Nations of Comedy tour in the early 2000s, Cooper was considering a new project. He noticed there were occasional open mic nights in the Charlottesville area, but they weren’t happening on a regularly scheduled basis.

“We didn’t want to oversaturate the market, but we did want to do something,” Cooper says. “So, we started doing two shows per semester.”

One Mic Stand is free and open to the public: You don’t have to be a PVCC student or faculty member to attend or to participate. There’s no time limit on sets. Cooper says participants are typically able “to read the room and respect the time” to determine when to wrap it up. Usually, people perform for about five minutes.

The showcase attracts musicians, storytellers, poets, and sometimes comedians. “That’s a special treat,” says the founder. “I lean toward comedy. I’m a comedy writer, I teach comedy-writing workshops, and I’ve been promoting comedy shows for years.”

Cooper couldn’t attend the February show—he was attending a conference in Florida—but he would be pleased to know there were plenty of jokes.

Guest host Brad Stoller, PVCC associate professor of theater arts, reminisced about his time working as a waiter in a French restaurant. He confessed he did not know the language and tried to compensate by memorizing the menu items. The tactic worked— at least until patrons tried to strike up conversations with him in French.

PVCC student Alex Laheb did an edgy set about questionable proposed recipe changes at Panera Bread. A stand-up routine from David Heins of Charlottesville reflected on his accident-prone childhood and adolescence (“I might have been the original Burning Man”).

Inside humor for theater people? Stoller had that covered. “How many actors does it take to change a lightbulb?” he asked. “One hundred. One to climb up the ladder and change the bulb, and 99 to stand around, saying, ‘That should be me up there!’”

Even audience members got into the act, supplying some intentionally cheesy hu-

mor: “How do you wake up Lady Gaga from a nap? Poke her face.”

Beyond the laughs, One Mic Stand veteran Serell Blakey from Ruckersville brought intensity and gravitas to his dramatic readings of two poems, “A Colored Stock” and “Letter from a Runaway.” Similarly, Stoller gave an emotionally charged recitation of Jane Hirshfield’s “For What Binds Us.”

There was music, a loose and lively sampling of songs from Colombia, Argentina, Puerto Rico and other countries, provided by guitarist/singer Argenis Torres, who was born in Venezuela. By the time he visited Cuba (“Guantanamera”) and Mexico (“La Bamba”), Torres had the audience singing and clapping along.

“On Earth, we are all immigrants,” Torres told the audience. “The only passport should be love.” Following through on that theme, he wrapped up his set with a completely out-of-left-field surprise: Announcing he would sing in English in public for the first time, he closed with the very American “Summer Nights” from Grease According to Cooper, One Mic Stand becomes poignant at times, when artists

perform material drawn from first-hand experience.

“These people come up with stories about their lives, and sometimes it gets really, really deep, you know?” he says. “Sometimes people become really vulnerable and they leave that on the stage. When it’s something from deep within and they’re willing to share it, that’s always a special moment. That means that we provide a safe space for them to do that. … I get real joy out of it, every time that happens.”

Registration opens one hour before showtime, and the format is flexible. Cooper says even attendees who don’t plan to step into the spotlight at the beginning of the evening sometimes end up sharing their insights or their work.

“I know people who come into this space, this small black-box space, and they’ve got something,” he says, with a grin. So, he tells them, “‘Hey, no pressure, but this is a safe space if you have something—I know you weren’t planning on being on the stage.’ Quite often, it works. I gotta pull, but when the pulling is successful, they get up there, man, and they bring that.”

The next One Mic Stand is scheduled for April 10 in the Maxwell Black Box Theater. A word of advice: Show up early if you want a seat in the audience!

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

SUPPORT OUR WORK

Students

Counselors

Preparing for Camp:

Tips for Campers (and Parents!)

love those rare moments of parenthood when I am not preparing for the next thing. Most of the time as a parent, I feel as if my day is full of getting something ready. Small things like breakfast, sack lunches, and backpacks. Big things like preparing my children to become productive adults. Our job as a parent is to prep!

It’s spring, and summer camp is on the horizon. Here are some things that you can do to prepare your camper and yourself for camp.

Camper

• Plan several sleep overs. Resist the urge to pack their bags for them or to check on them while there. If they have a phone, have them leave it at home. This is a good way to practice not having direct or constant contact.

• Have them write a good ol’ letter to someone. You will thank me when you receive a letter from camp!

• Gear up physically. If you have purchased hiking boots, break them in with a long walk.

• Especially for teenagers, have them take a mini-vacation from their devices. A couple of hours or a weekend.

• Have them write a statement for their social media pages. “Peace out Facebook, I won’t be sharing my day-by-days with you, I will be at camp.” Your teenager may not post that, but maybe something like it.

• Have them write down their goals. Make a homesick plan:

• Homesickness isn’t entirely bad. It’s great to love your home. It’s sometimes part of the process, and it’s a confidence booster when a camper gets through it.

• Make a happy place plan and write it down. This is an amazing

opportunity to learn a life skill. Today’s youth go to technology to escape, and studies show this increases their stress. Some ideas might be: taking 10 deep breaths, traveling to a happy place in your mind, packing a certain stuffed animal, shooting hoops, or tossing a football. They are capable of this independence.

• Your plan should NOT be, “Give it a couple of days and if you don’t like it, we will come get you.” This will set them up to give it a couple of days and knock the confidence right out of them.

• Let your camper know what to expect with correspondence. You don’t need to write everyday, but let them know what to expect.

Yourself

• You are giving your child an incredible gift. I cannot promise you that they won’t lose some socks, that they will love every meal or activity, and that they will adore every counselor. But you are preparing them for college and beyond; you are giving them the freedom to gain confidence, independence, and leadership skills; and you are instilling in them that they can do it.

• What do YOU want during their time at camp? Think about a vacation, time to organize, time to have one-on-one time with your other children, or some “date nights” with your spouse or friends.

• If you have apprehensions, work to resolve them. If you are worried that your camper is not going to know anyone, set up a precamp get-together. If you are worried about your camper’s medical needs, become friendly with the camp nurse. If you are anxious about their food allergies, talk to the camp’s head cook. Make a camper-sick plan for yourself. :) Make sure there is only excitement and optimism coming from you, and share your anxiety with another adult.

• Pack self-addressed envelopes in their luggage.

• Whether they are flying or driving, refrain from bawling until they can’t see you. Take a deep breath, trust, and remind yourself that you are giving them an awesome gift.

Brooke Cheley-Klebe is the 4th generation to operate Cheley Colorado Camps. She is the proud mom of three girls, Ellie, Kate, and Samantha, and loves being involved in the camp industry.

Half day writing

camps

that focus on creativity, community, and collaboration!

Are you ready to bring your stories, poems, and ideas to life? Join us this summer for a fun and inspiring writing camp designed just for middle and high school writers! Whether you’re into fiction, poetry, non-fiction, or songwriting, this camp will help you develop your skills, find your voice, and connect with other young writers who share your passion.

Location: WriterHouse classroom and local field trips

Dates: Session 1, Rising 6th-8th Grades -- July 14-18

Session 2, Rising 9th-12th Grades -- July 21-25

Time: 11 AM to 3 PM

SUMMER CAMP

• Eligibility:

•

We are a genuine camp camp

We can seek shelter when necessary, but our kids spend their days in the outdoors, playing field games and board games, doing crafts, getting dirty, swimming, and so forth. We have no electronics, and we tend to thrive in trying to find ways to make things happen and get things done with what we have, in true camp fashion.

Camp Poplar is an intensive version of Field Camp, for campers who want to immerse themselves more in a full-time camp environment for one or two weeks.

FOR FUN PUZZLES

SUDOKU

Astral error

Looks like we’ve been seeing the future—literally. Our astrology column has been running a week ahead, but the planets (and our production schedule) will be back in alignment next week.

#1 solution

#2 solution

#3 solution

#2 #5

#4 solution

ACROSS

Poet Lazarus

20. “Return of the Jedi” moon

21. Angr y cat noise

23. 2006 dramedy starring Ben Affleck

30. Parfait ingredient

32. ___ Mae ( loan company)

33. Word before la la

34. Grammy-winning jazz singer/ pianist Diana

36. Simple question style

37. At ___ end (perplexed)

39. 1983 comedy starring Michael Keaton

41. Actor Cole of “Angie Tribeca” and “black-ish”

42. Brand used in potato chips in the 1990s

44. ‘60s skir ts

46. Greek consonants

47. Trick-y student, so to speak?

49. Most creepy

51. 2019 auto racing movie starring Christian Bale

53. Seem imminent

54. Block, legally

58. Avocado, e.g.

61. 1985 sci-fi comedy starring the late Val Kilmer

65. “The Handmaid’s Tale” streamer

66. Newsperson of yore

67. “Frozen” character

68. Sound from a pound

69. Entertainer Gorme

70. “Round and Round” band

DOWN

1. Hur t

2. Actor Hayes

3. Overly dry

4. Daughter of Pablo Picasso

5. “It just hit me!”

6. “Born,” in a bio

7. “___ the season”

8. Wyoming neighbor

9. XM merger partner

10. Went to the mat

11. Croque monsieur ingredient

12. Pitcher’s asset

13. Steeped drink

18. Mouse Trap starter part

22. Stick around

24. “Cheers” regular

25. Notification set on a phone

26. Milder as weather

27. Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley

28. Triumph in the end

29. Vegas lights

30. “Boss Level” star Frank

CLASSIFIEDS

SIZES AVAILABLE

PRICING

Email salesrep@c-ville.com

classifieds.c-ville.com

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Charlottesville Case No. 25-209 315 East High Street, #317 Charlottesville, VA 22902

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Joi McGhee v. Eric Washington

The object of this suit is name change for minor.

It is ORDERED that Eric Washington, appear at the above named Court to protect his interests, if desired on or before April 21, 2025.

3/24/25

Claude V. Worrell, II

DATE JUDGE

TLC KNEADED LLC TRADING AS GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY 1701 Allied Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22903

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Restaurant, Wine, Beer. Consumed On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Tracy Crowley, Owner

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

CROZET CREPE COMPANY, LLC

TRADING AS CROZET CREPE COMPANY

325 Four Leaf Lane, Suite 7&8, Charlottesville, VA 22903

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application - Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Matthew & Julia Franz, Owners

P.S. THE BIG PICTURE

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

HIS TWO NEWEST BOOKS ARE...

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.

Based on LUCY CAT IN A CAT BOOK, 2024, By William A James, Sr., LUCY CAT IN A COLORING BOOK includes all of the characters in LUCY CAT’S neighborhood

Sounds relaxing

Community members gathered at Dell Field April 5 for Meditation from the Dell, an afternoon of mindfulness, music, and reflection hosted by the University of Virginia’s Contemplative Sciences Center, which officially opened over the weekend. The event featured a guided meditation from Mindfulness Teacher Rhonda Magee, a restorative sound bath led by Susy Schieffelin of The Copper Vessel in Los Angeles, live performances, and the presentation of the first-ever Contemplation in Action award to Grammy-nominated artist Maggie Rogers, honoring her commitment to mindfulness and creative intention.

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