Why more Charlottesville families are embracing the chilly waters—and slower pace—of the historic Blue Ridge Swim Club
A UVA clinic is transforming care for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome P.9
Private school brings new life to Hillsdale Drive office building P.13
August's quieter gallery calendar still has plenty worth seeing P.30
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
NOW THROUGH – AUGUST 8, 2026
Escape to the Forest of Arden, where Rosalind takes charge, Orlando carves love into trees, and Shakespeare lets comedy run wild with moments that remind us sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself.
TOWN BY THORNTON WILDER NOW THROUGH – AUGUST 9, 2026
Life, love, marriage, loss—and the moments in between. In Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, the people of Grover’s Corners remind us that the smallest details often carry the deepest meaning. A timeless American classic that asks: Do we ever realize life while we live it?
Hello, Charlottesville.
Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.
8.5.26
How is it we’re just one week away from the first day of school and, for families with kids, the end of summer? This weekend is tax-free, so we’ll be buying my daughter’s school supplies, labeling her belongings, and lugging the giant pencil prop from the basement (I make her pose next to it every year on the first morning of school and she’s extremely cooperative and the whole thing always goes exactly how I envision).
There have certainly been moments over the last couple of months when I felt very ready for summer to be over (see above: uncooperative little rascal), but for the most part, I’ve enjoyed the lax bedtimes, the ice cream cones, the sunscreen-scented rides to camp. I only get 18 summers with my girl, as that completely unhelpful saying goes, so I’m trying not to spend too many of them wishing ahead to the next season.
But summer isn’t technically over when school starts, which is why we’re squeezing every last drop out of it with this week’s cover story (p.21), a look at one of Charlottesville’s best-kept-not-so-secret secrets: the Blue Ridge Swim Club, where the water stays cool, the phones stay tucked away, and time seems to slow down just a bit.
It’s the reminder I needed this week: Don’t rush it. The backpack will be packed soon enough. For now, I’m choosing one more week of summer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I enjoyed your recent article celebrating the 50th anniversary of the C&O Restaurant [“Still serving,” July 22]. It captured the vision of its founders and the remarkable evolution of one of Charlottesville’s most beloved institutions.
However, one person whose contributions helped shape the C&O’s identity was notably absent from its history: my father, Barry Umberger. Originally hired as a carpenter, he went on to spend more than 30 years behind both the “Club” bar and the “Downstairs” bar. His dedication was so significant that the restaurant permanently honored him with a plaque recognizing his three decades of service—a tribute to both his years tending bar and his craftsmanship throughout the building. His influence extends far beyond being the bar manager. Barry built the “Downstairs” bar and handcrafted the bar stools that generations of patrons have rested upon. He created the iconic stained glass Dutch
This week’s contributors
doors, the tiled patio tables, handrails, ledges, and countless other details that have become part of the C&O’s character. Even this year, at 78 years old, he rebuilt the restaurant’s front entrance.
The article rightly highlighted the chefs, sommeliers, and owners. But institutions like the C&O are also shaped by the people who quietly dedicate decades to making them run and giving them their distinct identity.
As your piece noted, “everyone in this town has a C&O story.” Many of those stories happened across a bar built and worked by a man whose connection to the restaurant spans nearly half a century. Barry Umberger’s labor and craftsmanship deserve recognition in that 50-year history.
Erin Umberger Greene Albemarle
Shea Gibbs is president of public relations and marketing firm Gibbs Communications and has been a working journalist for more than two decades. Gibbs’ work has appeared in trade and consumer publications across the country and internationally. Read his work on page 21.
Sean Tubbs moved to Charlottesville in 2002, and has sought to understand why development occurs the way it does. Since 2005, he’s helped innovate information gathering to try to help people know they belong and how they can have their say. Read his work on pages 13.
Concert
August 12, 2026 | 4:00 PM
At The Barclay at Charlottesville, experience resortstyle living defined by exceptional hospitality, exclusive activities, and chef-prepared cuisine. Get a taste of this elevated lifestyle at our Signature Concert on Wednesday, August 12, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Enjoy live music and the vibrant atmosphere that makes our community so special. Call (434) 218-4670 today to RSVP.
INDEPENDENT LIVING, ASSISTED LIVING, & MEMORY CARE 343 Archer Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22911 charlottesville.barclayseniorliving.com
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Aug 19: Dominic Fike
SEPT 5: WNRN Presents: Charley Crockett Age of the Ram Tour with Nat Myers
SEPTEMBER 8:
Sierra Ferrell
A WNRN 30th Anniversary show Support from The Brudi Brothers
SEPTEMBER 10:
WNRN Presents: Dark Star Orchestra
SEPTEMBER 22:
Rainbow Kitten Surprise with Cigarettes @ Sunset
SEPTEMBER 24:
Sam Barber with Josiah & the Bonnevilles and Wild Horses
October 4:
Whiskey Myers with Special Guests The Ransom Brothers
AUGUST 7
FRIDAYS AFTER FIVE:
ALLIGATOR Vintage Grateful Dead w/ DON'T LOOK UP 5:30-8:30
Starting at 5:30pm THROUGH SEPT
OCTOBER 16-ON SALE NOW WEEDEATER WITH ZEKE,
ALT ROCK TRIBUTE
08-15| MERAKI RECORD RELEASE WITH WORK WEAR 08-19| HAPPY LANDING WITH THE BAND SOLSTICE
08-22| THE SOUTHERN DRAG SHOW HOSTED BY DARLING NIKKI & CHEDDAH | FT. VELVET LOVE, YOU'NEEK NU'YORK, & MILKA MAGNESIA
08-27| ABBIE CALLAHAN
08-28| CUMBERLAND ROAD90S COUNTRY TRIBUTE
08-29| MARIANA BELL WITH HOUSTON ROSS AND JAY PUN
09-02| JOHNNY MULLENAX/BRONWYN
09-04| FOXTIDE WITH THE BRAYMORES 09-06| THE LOCAL HONEYS 09-09| OLD MERVS 09-12| TWO RUNNER 09-13| PARLOR GREENS
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BY NATHAN ALDERMAN
NEWS HEALTH
Many Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome patients seem to tell the same story: For years, even decades, doctors would tell them the symptoms they reported were all in their head. But the real problem lurked deeper in their bodies, often in places where doctors don’t and can’t look. A new UVA Health clinic, one of less than 20 nationwide, is offering EDS patients across Virginia and surrounding states new hope for better care and healthier lives.
“It’s a good thing to be offering care for these conditions,” says Margaret, in her 70s, who lives with EDS and hopes to get treated at the clinic. “People living with them are famously slow to be identified and [diagnosed]. It can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging.” (Like all patients interviewed for this story, she requested anonymity to protect her privacy.)
EDS is “a problem with the connective tissue,” says Dr. Ina Stephens, 62, the clinic’s founder and associate medical director. “Every single part of your body is made up of connective tissue, so every patient may actually be affected differently.”
In some forms of the disease, doctors have identified particular malfunctioning genes that can affect various key collagen proteins. But its most common form, hypermobile EDS, isn’t yet linked to any gene. In any type, EDS may afflict any of a panoply of organs and systems: circulation, digestion, nerves, eyes, teeth, and more. Many, but not all, patients demonstrate hyperflexibility—super-stretchy limbs or skin that, over time, accrue joint damage or wounds that won’t heal right.
Stephens herself lives with EDS, having first noticed symptoms in her teenage years. The disease is heritable; all three of her sons have it. “Some days my joints hurt so bad that I need to take medication just to get up and go to work,” she says. “Some days I’m just lightheaded. Some days I just feel fine.” She credits daily yoga sessions with strengthening her muscles to better protect her joints, and giving her the focus she needs to help others.
The disease can affect patients physically and psychologically. “For me,” says Dan, 48, “there is chronic pain. I’ve had multiple joint and soft tissue injuries. And there’s also a constant state of—I don’t want to say anxiety, but more like vigilance, to try to make sure that I’m not doing something that injures myself.”
“You can’t go into the office and look at the connective tissue and say, ‘Ah, I see the abnormal protein.’ All you hear is that the patient doesn’t feel well,” Stephens says. “These are symptoms that you can’t see. You can’t measure them very well. So lab testing tends to be normal.”
“I actually cried in my first appointment with rheumatology,” says Rachel, 41, who’s received related care at UVA while on the lengthy waitlist for an appointment at the clinic. “Every other person that’s ever mentioned this to me has made me feel like I’m making it up, but [the doctor] was actually talking about [my symptoms] as though they were true symptoms of something that I was dealing with, and it was so validating.”
Initially funded by a generous gift from what Stephens describes as a grateful patient, UVA’s dedicated Ehlers-Danlos clinic opened December 1, 2025. UVA hired Dr. Dacre Knight from the Mayo Clinic’s EDS center in Jacksonville, Florida, to run its program. He works full time seeing adult patients, while Stephens focuses on pediatric cases.
They work alongside pediatrician Dr. Sarah Cohen Solomon, and soon an additional third, part-time pediatrician; at least one nurse practitioner; and support staff including a nutritionist, a genetic counselor, physical and occupational therapists, and a psychologist who specializes in helping patients manage chronic pain. Stephens says the clinic aims to have six physicians or providers on staff by the end of the year.
Stephens says the clinic also has a research operation, working with other institutions
“They know the right things to look for and ask about, so that even if I’m not aware of a problem, they’re able to figure out, hey, this is a thing that’s happening.” The clinic helped Dan find better medications to manage his symptoms. “It’s reduced my pain, and it has increased my capacity to do stuff day to day. I’m in better health overall. I’ve lost weight, and the medication side effects aren’t as severe.”
Rachel’s daughter is receiving treatment for EDS at the clinic. “Hopefully before she has any pain or sensitivity, she is being given ways to support herself.” When a prescribed medication gave Rachel’s daughter hives, “everybody just believed it and put it in her chart, and now she’s just not given that medicine again. It’s pretty wonderful.”
Rachel’s still awaiting an appointment of her own, after requesting treatment last October and getting referred to the clinic by other specialists in March. “I truly have no idea how long I have to wait,” she says. “I have not received a call from them even to put me on the schedule yet.”
to study better ways to diagnose and treat EDS. And it’s helping to educate medical students, residents, and other departments about what EDS looks like, so that fewer patients go undiagnosed. In May, the clinic received the international Ehlers-Danlos Society’s rare distinction as a Network of Excellence—one of just 19 such facilities in the United States, and 41 worldwide.
Dan estimates that he’s one of the clinic’s earliest patients; diagnosed a decade ago, he moved to Charlottesville from the Midwest after hearing that the clinic would open here. While he had access to a good hospital system in his previous home, Dan says UVA offers better care.
“My primary care [physician] is able to talk to [EDS clinic doctors and staff] and look at me in a more whole-person way, and have a better understanding of what’s going on and what things I might need,” he says.
“They told me … that they had a list of people waiting to get in, but that there was a second list of people who could get in line behind the people on the waiting list,” Margaret says. “They only gave people appointments six months out, and those had been filled up long ago.”
Stephens says the list of patients seeking care at UVA numbers in the thousands. “Unfortunately, it’s a long wait,” she says. “This is not so much a local problem, but a national wake-up call. People need doctors to be able to take care of these patients, and they are few and far between, and these patients have been suffering for years.”
“We’re hiring as fast as we can,” Stephens says, noting that the university is already helping the clinic seek a larger space. “No single institution is going to be able to handle this volume alone. These patients deserve the treatment. They deserve to be heard, and they need the care.”
Dr. Ina Stephens, 62, applies her own experience living with EDS to help her patients living with the syndrome.
IN BRIEF NEWS
Lower floor
City permits posted July 29 reveal how Charlottesville intends to adapt 2000 Holiday Dr., the site of a proposed low-barrier homeless shelter, to meet the urgent needs of residents of the soon-tobe-closed Rivanna encampment.
The city has set a September 1 deadline for moving an estimated 50-plus people from their tents along the Rivanna Trail, amid growing safety concerns for people in and near the encampment.
In March, a coalition of city officials and local groups presented plans to renovate Holiday Drive as a permanent, low-barrier shelter. Those blueprints reserved the first floor for common areas, kitchens and dining rooms, and offices for on-site staff. The second floor included 80 beds for men, women, and gender-neutral residents, in semiprivate rooms sleeping no more than eight people each.
In contrast, the new emergency plan involves only the first floor, allowing second-floor renovations to proceed. Residents will sleep in large common spaces, with men’s and women’s wings separated by a combination lobby and dining area. Though the blueprints don’t label them, the women’s wing appears to have semiprivate areas; the men’s wing does not. Blueprints do not specify how many residents the emergency shelter could house. The only indoor restrooms in the new plan appear reserved for staff,
with a proposed outdoor restroom trailer for residents parked behind the building.
Encampment residents C-VILLE spoke with said the emergency design won’t meet many people’s needs, citing its lack of accommodation for couples or people with companion animals, and the difficulty of sleeping soundly in big, open, all-hours rooms.
At an August 3 City Council meeting, City Manager Sam Sanders said the shelter would eventually offer those accommodations once it’s fully renovated. Council voted 4-0 at that meeting to allocate a further $4 million for emergency shelter services.
Nathan Alderman
Blood crisis
The American Red Cross has declared its second-ever blood crisis, with nationwide reserves of O positive blood—most frequently used in emergency transfusions—at one day or less.
“We’ve seen a 25 percent drop in collections in the month of June,” says Bill Brent, executive director of the Red Cross’ Central Virginia chapter. His organization is the sole source of donated blood for area hospitals. Brent urges anyone with any blood type who hasn’t given blood in the past 56 days to do so.
Book a donation appointment at the Red Cross’ Albemarle Square collection center by visiting redcrossblood.org or downloading the organization’s mobile app. NA
IN BRIEF
All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)
Spill out At-large Albemarle County School Board member Allison Spillman, target of frequent attacks for her criticism of a right-wing student group at Western Albemarle High School, announces her resignation August 4, saying the job has taken a toll on her family and mental health. Spreading wealth The Cavalier Daily reports UVA spent $250,000 on federal lobbying in 2025—up 25 percent from previous years—as it and other universities increasingly struggle for research and aid funding amid Trump administration cuts. Killer frost Indivisible Charlottesville hosts July 31 vigil for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Johan Sebastian Guerrero, and Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, each allegedly murdered in early July by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement officers. Unkindest cuts
New data from Virginia’s secretary of health and human resources suggest that nearly 300,000 Virginians and more than 3,800 people in Charlottesville/Albemarle could lose health care under new Medicaid restrictions, supported by 5th District Rep. John McGuire, that take effect January 1, 2027. Stock response The Haven at 112 W. Market St. is running its annual Stock the Shelter campaign to replenish items its guests need; get details at thehaven.org/give-supplies. [Dr. Evil voice] VDOT installs the first mini-roundabout in Albemarle County at the intersection of Hillsdale and Greenbrier drives—finished in less than a week, it’s a relatively cheap way to slow traffic and hopefully reduce crashes.
REAL ESTATE NEWS
Office to education
Three-story Hillsdale Drive building to be site of special education private school
BY SEAN TUBBS
One of the goals of the extension of Hillsdale Drive from Greenbrier Drive to Hydraulic Road was to help encourage redevelopment of shopping centers designed for the 20th century.
“The new street alignment will begin to break down the block structure east of U.S. Route 29 and shape future development parcels in the area toward a more urban form,” reads a section of the Hydraulic Small Area Plan adopted by Albemarle and Charlottesville in 2018.
Since then, the Great Eastern Management Company has moved ahead with plans to redevelop the Seminole Square Shopping Center by converting retail spaces into destinations for recreation, such as the cvilleSmash pickleball complex now open for business and the soon-to-open Cocos Adventure Factory. The company has an approved site plan for 300 apartment units on the site of a now-vacant grocery store and is seeking to secure financing.
A private school that specializes in students with mental health and behavioral challenges has decided to invest in the same area to expand its offerings. Elk Hill Farm purchased a three-story office building at 321 Hillsdale Dr. for $3.4 million on May 29.
“Families need help to navigate and find solutions to the challenges they face on a daily basis, and our school desperately needed more space to expand our services,” said Laura Easter, chief executive officer of the Elk Hill Charlottesville School and Family Center, in a press release announcing the purchase.
The additional space will allow Elk Hill to serve around 50 students, an increase over what it has been able to offer at a series of other locations in Charlottesville. The school has other programs across Virginia, including in Staunton and Goochland County.
Services offered at the Elk Hill Charlottesville School include mentoring, parent coaching, and therapeutic monitoring. Easter said other locations were considered but the Hillsdale site can easily be converted for educational use.
“The natural daylight which streams into the interior provides a burst of energy and hope, which matches the tenor of the important work we do,” Easter said.
The deal was brokered by MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate. Executive Vice President Sam Orr said the site’s proximity to other businesses was part of the appeal.
“321 Hillsdale is in move-in ready condition, and will require a minimal investment to retrofit the interior in time for the start of the school year,” Orr said. “The building has strong curb appeal and provides the space to accommodate the school’s current needs and planned growth.”
In March, staff in the city’s Neighborhood Development Services signed off on the proposed use in a zoning verification letter. “General education” is allowed under the property’s Node Mixed use zoning. Orr also said the site’s grounds offer space for outdoor learning.
The property also is close to a future recreational amenity mentioned in the Hydraulic Small Area Plan. The Meadow Creek Trail is a linear park that would span from Meadow Creek Gardens to Greenbrier Park, providing key pedestrian bridges to improve accessibility.
Cost estimates for the project have kept increasing and now stand at $4.9 million.
In May, Charlottesville City Council agreed to allocate an additional $1.5 million. The project has not yet gone out to bid.
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The three-story office building at 321 Hillsdale Dr. will require little retrofitting to become the new site Elk Hill Charlottesville School.
Jim Faulconer 434.981.0076 jfaulconer@mcleanfaulconer.com
$549,000 | MLS 676693 | Charlottesville Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124
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National Farmers Market Week
When: August 8th 8:00-12:00
Where: Ix Art Park
Activities:
Food Demos- Market Central & Elena Day
Greener Markets Booth
Market Civic Booth- “The Table”
Market- Themed Temporary Tattoos
Good as gold
An evening celebrating the Best of C-VILLE winners and runners-up.
Good company, great food, flowing drinks, and just enough gilt to make the trophies feel at home.
INVITATIONS WILL BE SENT TO THIS YEAR’S HONOREES.
Saturday, August 29 (7-11pm)
INVITE ONLY (21+)
Featuring a performance by Chamomile & Whiskey
DJ music from Ryan Wood of Kendall Street Company
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“It’s
like a magical oasis in the woods.”
Ivy’s Blue Ridge Swim Club is having a moment, like it or not BY SHEA GIBBS
TThe Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Texas, attracted more visitors last year than it had during any year in the previous decade. The storied natural swimming area with a view of downtown Austin drew nearly 1 million aquaphiles in 2025, up from the shallows of 2020, when 300,000 or so defied the pandemic to take a dip.
The appeal of natural pools seems to be growing nationwide as outdoor recreationalists increasingly eschew chemicals and additives. And while Barton Springs is probably the best-known natural pool in the country, nontraditional swimming spots in New Jersey, Minnesota, Florida, and Colorado have all reported recent upticks in traffic.
The same is true in Virginia, where the Blue Ridge Swim Club just outside Charlottesville has seen its membership roughly double in the past several years. “For some reason, we’ve grown a great deal,” club owner Todd Barnett says.
According to Barnett, Barton Springs is the “greatest pool in the country.” The Blue Ridge Swim Club will never match Austin’s three-acre bathing behemoth in size and diversity. But after a few recent improvements and the right eddy of the zeitgeist, the club’s local esteem has blossomed.
C’ville’s own
Somewhere in the Blue Ridge foothills just west of Crozet, water is collecting. As part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, it will filter down into the James, Mechums, and Moormans rivers, among many other streams and tributaries.
Near Taylors Gap, rivulets will form together and become Ivy Creek, much of the volume destined to dump into the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir north of Charlottesville. Other Ivy Creek water columns will meander north and east and drift off into a variety of smaller waterways.
Just northeast of where Owensville Road meets U.S. 250, a select group of the happy little H2O molecules will find themselves easing down an unnamed branch of Ivy Creek. They’ve been selected to settle into the roughly 100-yard concrete pool that is the focal point of the Blue Ridge Swim Club. There, the liquid will rest under countless shade trees, cooling loyal local swimmers to a chilly 70 degrees even on hot summer days.
Then, unceremoniously, the molecules will be shuttled out, replaced by other waters flowing down from the Blue Ridge and making a detour on their way to the Chesapeake Bay.
The stream-fed Blue Ridge Swim Club is unlike any other pool in the area. Bright blue, highly chlorinated waters are eschewed for green-hued flows. The only thing separating the appearance of the water from that of a lake, pond, or other natural swimming hole is concerted water replenishment, light chlorination, and a filter guarding against wildlife and plant matter.
“It doesn’t look like backyard pool water … but there’s something going on where people are embracing this place,” Barnett says. “I think that, in our lives and in our children’s lives, things are increasingly sterile and indoors and digital. This pool is maybe old school or something like that. People have really reacted to it in a positive way.”
Camped out
Barnett purchased the Blue Ridge Swim Club in 2011, not because he wanted to run a pool, but because he saw the rustic grounds’ potential for a summer camp. He had operated his Blue Ridge Field Camp out of a Free Union location along the Moormans River since 2000, and the Ivy swim club’s pool and surrounding areas were a perfect fit for the camp’s mission to give young people “friendships, adventure, and wonderful memories of summer.”
Barnett’s idea wasn’t completely original. From 1913 to 1919, the swim club served as the centerpiece of Blue Ridge Camp, founded by the pool’s designer, R. Warner Wood. According to historical accounts, the University of Virginia graduate’s camp offered “symmetrical, physical, moral, and social development in boys, along with plenty of healthful, natural fun.”
The natural pool went through two other owners up to 1966, when a group of club members rescued the property from potential shuttering as the suburbs closed in around it. The members ran the club not as a profit center, but as a beloved location where they could enjoy the outdoors and bracing runoff of the Blue Ridge.
Barnett has come to love the pool in his own way over the years—if somewhat begrudgingly. Like the passionate owners before him, he didn’t make money on the pool in its early years. That’s changed
The stream-fed Blue Ridge Swim Club opened in 1913, and it’s unlike any pool in the area. What separates it from local lakes, ponds, and other natural swimming holes is concerted water replenishment, light chlorination, and a filter that guards against wildlife and plant matter.
as he’s grown membership and made upgrades. In addition to adding the filter about five years ago— an improvement that’s made the waters more translucent and reduced in-pool debris—he built a timber-frame pavilion on the grounds, put in new decking and seating, and had the property placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“He’s just done amazing things,” longtime club member Mandy Peacock says. “It’s not overdone; you’re not getting tons of communication or slick social media. But he loves the pool, and it comes across.”
The pool retains its natural algae despite the new filter and light chlorination. The flora growth is managed further by the pool’s year-round cold temperatures. Regardless of the forecast, the water never eclipses the high 70s, while many public pools warm into the low 90s at summer’s peak.
The algae-limiting cold water is a fair trade off for most members. “It always feels at least 10 degrees cooler than any other local pool,” says Georgia Lindsey, whose family joined the swim club two years ago. “That’s part of the allure for my husband. He knows he can duck in there and cool off after a hot car ride home from work. It’s sometimes too cold for me, but everyone else really enjoys it.”
Family time
Peacock has been a Blue Ridge Swim Club member for well over a decade. After moving back to Charlottesville, she read about the gem in one of the local papers. She was living downtown at the time, but she thought it would be worth the drive. She’s never second-guessed the decision.
“It’s my favorite place in the world,” Peacock says. “It’s like a magical oasis in the woods.”
Several years after Peacock joined the club herself, she and her husband had their first child. She says, only half jokingly, that the couple decided to have kids just so the little ones could go to Field Camp. She’s old-fashioned, she says, a luddite, and Field Camp appealed to the part of her that wished she could have attended a trapped-in-time summer camp in her own youth.
Peacock says she and her husband go to the Blue Ridge pool about once a week after work and again on weekends with the kids. The wife and husband run Peacock Auto Service, and they often see their customers, friends, and neighbors dotted across the grounds.
On a recent Saturday at the pool, Peacock looked around and noticed not a single person staring at his or her phone. People sat in circles, idly chatting, or alone, quietly reading. “There’s of course no rule against phones. It’s just self-imposed,” she says. “People don’t feel like pulling them out.”
Lindsey went the opposite direction in deciding to join the Blue Ridge family—her kids had attended Field Camp for about 10 years before she and her husband became club members two years ago. On a typical Sunday, the Lindseys pack a cooler bag with snacks and drinks, bundle up their towels, and find a good spot around the pool. Lindsey might sit and read while the others enjoy the diving board.
“We’re definitely not trying to be quiet necessarily, but there is a feeling of peacefulness,” Lindsey says. “There are a lot of people that don’t have kids there, and we’re cognizant of that.”
Finding comfort
Barnett recognizes Blue Ridge Swim Club isn’t for everyone, and that’s a good thing. For the first time
since he purchased the club, he had to impose a strict cap on member numbers this year. He doesn’t quiz prospective members about the number of people in their family or place limits on guests, so he’s never quite sure how many folks will show up on a busy weekend day.
For some guests encountering the pool for the first time, taking the plunge takes courage. “There’s always a sense of, ‘what could be on the bottom of this pool,’ that I don’t think ever goes away,” Lindsey says. “But it’s more fun than scary.”
Lindsey and her husband grew up around swimming holes and rivers, and she appreciates that her kids have grown accustomed to “a different type of pool.” For Field Camp attendees, not swimming in the pool would likely be grounds for a wedgie.
Peacock, likewise, says the Blue Ridge pool’s mystery is part of the charm—on top of all the usual “hidden-gem-throwback–to-an-easier-time” praise those in the know offer up. And in the end, Blue Ridge members, as well as Barnett himself, wouldn’t mind if their gem stayed hidden. Growth would require more parking, more employees (already difficult because of the business’ seasonality), and more paper-pushing.
Blue Ridge will never draw a million guests in a year like Barton Springs. But as long as the clean, clear water flows from the western hills into Ivy Creek and through the gates of Barnett’s swim club, he’ll keep up his labor of like.
“When I bought the place, I continued to run the swim club in part because my wife told me I didn’t want to be the person who closes it,” he says. “It’s a very different sort of swimming experience, but somehow the word has gotten out among particular people. We’ll keep taking baby steps. No one likes the idea of big crowds out here.”
Dive in
There’s no shortage of places to get your dip on in and around Charlottesville—be they traditional man-made pools or natural swimming holes.—SG
POOLS
Booker T. Washington Park Pool Outdoor lap pool, zero-depth area, slides. Open 11am to 7pm daily through August 11 and weekends through September 7.
Brooks Family YMCA Indoor lap pool, zero-depth area, diving board, inflatable water track. Open to members Monday to Friday 5:30am to 8:30pm, Saturday 7am to 5:30pm, and Sunday noon to 5:30pm.
Fry’s Spring Beach Club Outdoor members-only club, three swimming pools, recreation areas. Open to members daily through September 7 and September 12–13. Hours vary; typically 10am to 8:30pm.
Hollymead Swim Club Outdoor members-only lap pool, diving well, baby pool. Open daily through August 11 and Thursday to Sunday through September 13. Hours vary; typically 11:30am to 8pm through August 11 and 4pm to 8pm through September 13. Open Labor Day 11:30am to 8pm.
North Grounds Recreation Center Indoor lap pool at UVA, family swim hours. Open Monday to Friday 5:30am to 9pm and Saturday/Sunday 8am to 9pm.
Old Trail Swim Club Outdoor members-only lap pool, zero-depth area, diving board. Open Monday to Sunday 10am to 8pm through August 11; Monday to Friday 4:30pm to 8pm and weekends 10am to 8pm through September 13; and 10am to 8pm Labor Day.
Onesty Family Aquatic Center Outdoor lap pool, water slides, in-water playgrounds, lazy river, diving board, zero-depth area, inflatable water track. Open 11am to 7pm daily through August 11 and weekends through September 7.
Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center Indoor lap pool, zero-depth area, lazy river, slides. Open Monday to Thursday 7am to 7:45pm, Friday and Saturday 7am to 6:45pm, and Sunday 10am to 5:45pm.
ALL NATURAL
Blue Hole on Moormans River Swimming hole, 1.5-mile hike from Sugar Hollow parking area. Open daily until dark (seasonal).
Chris Greene Lake Park County beach, swimming, boating, fishing area. Open daily 7am to dark (seasonal).
Mint Springs Valley Park County beach, swimming, boating, fishing area. Open daily 7am to dark (seasonal).
Rip Rap Hollow Trail Swimming hole, 3.5-mile strenuous hike from parking area. Open daily until dark (seasonal).
Sherando Lake Spring-fed lake, beach, swimming, recreational areas. Open daily until dark (seasonal).
Snake Hole on Moormans River Swimming hole, 0.8-mile hike from Sugar Hollow parking area. Open daily until dark (seasonal).
St. Mary’s River Falls, swimming area, 2-mile hike from parking area. Open daily until dark (seasonal).
Walnut Creek Park County beach, swimming, boating, fishing area. Open daily from 7am to dark (seasonal).
Blue Hole on Moormans River
CULTURE
FRIDAY 8/7
MIND THE ACT
Weaving together incisive British wit, affective audience engagement, and uncanny extrasensory perception, Peter Antoniou offers an astonishing stage show spreading magic around the world. With a childhood goal of being recruited by the X-Men, Antoniou honed his mind-reading skills studying under tarot readers, psychics, wizards, magicians, hypnotists, profilers, and psychologists. The “America’s Got Talent” alum has toured for nearly two decades, including headlining at the Venetian and Mirage hotels in Las Vegas. His interactive, high-energy act delves into mind-reading, fortune-telling, and lots of laughs. $38.05, 7pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Putt Putt, Sounds like FUN!
CULTURE TO-DO LIST
Wednesday 8/5
Holly’s Open Mic Night. Mic check to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Vintage rock, blues, and original music for your mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
The noble Orlando wins a court wrestling match—and Rosalind’s heart—but before their love can take root, she’s banished from court. $40–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
FIREFLY Bingo Night. Four rounds of familyfriendly play with prizes after each round. Free, 6pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Hosted by Thunder Music. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Teens ages 14–18 are invited for an hour of writing, collaborative editing, and optional writing challenges in the company of other creative, writerly teens. Snacks provided. Free, 4pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org
The Fralin Downtown Film Series: Art Thomas Kinkade’s pastoral
landscapes made him the most-collected and despised painter of all time. After his shocking death, his family discovers a vault of unseen paintings. $11–13, 7pm. Violet Crown Charlottesville, 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. charlottesville.violetcrown.com
Thursday 8/6 music
Berto Sales & Vincent Zorn. Lively flamenco rumba. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Sunny Sweeney. Sweeney’s fierce independence has allowed her to speak with the care of a trusted confidant who sees our hurts and is rooting for us. $29, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Travis Elliott. A C’ville institution offers thoughtful takes on classic and contemporary songs. Free, 9:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
stage
Our Town Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prizewinning play is one of the most cherished works in American theater, not because of spectacle, but because of its simplicity. $40–75, 7:30am. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
WEDNESDAY 8/5
SHEDDING LIGHT
The Fralin Downtown Film Series screens Art for Everybody, a documentary that digs into the life and work of Thomas Kinkade, the self-described Christian “Painter of Light.” Kinkade’s bucolic landscapes and quaint cottage scenes peppered with overt religious symbolism gained the artist an immense following. But as his professional star ascended, Kinkade’s personal life devolved into chaos, characterized by alcohol abuse and bizarre public outbursts. After his untimely death by overdose, Kinkade’s family uncovered a trove of unseen works that complicate the legacy of this wildly talented and complex creator. $11–13, 7pm. Violet Crown Charlottesville, 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. charlottesville.violetcrown.com
etc.
Mingle Mahj. Play for a cause. One-hundred percent of your $25 suggested donation goes directly to The Haven to support its work in our community. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.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, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Friday 8/7
music
Bob Bennetta Trio. Live jazz. Free, 6:30pm. Afghan Kabob House, 200 Market St. afghankabob-house.com
Brandon Wayne & His Lonesome Drifters and Ian Gilliam. A sunset soirée featuring classic vintage rockabilly, hillbilly, and western swing along with original surf instrumentals. 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. Dara James and the Soul Disciples. Blues, R&B, and a whole lot of soul. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com
Dave Goodrich. Singer-songwriter and guitarist plays blues, rock, pop, Motown, and original music. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Fridays After Five: Alligator. Vintage Grateful Dead tunes. With Don’t Look Up. Free, 5:30pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com
LUA Project. A new style of traditional music inspired by the sounds and sones of Mexico, Appalachia, and the Atlantic Basin. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
N.E.W.T. x Ben Cook & The Burnt Bridge Collective. New music. Free, 9:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
PJ Morton. Morton is a soul singer, songwriter, performer, and producer based in New Orleans. $50–75, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Travis Elliott. Singer-songwriter blends catchy alternative pop hooks with punk energy and Americana grit in originals and covers. Free, 5pm. Valley Road Vineyards, 9264 Critzers Shop Rd, Afton. valleyroadwines.com stage
As You Like It. See listing for Wednesday, August 5. $40–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
Peter Antoniou. Blending razor-sharp British wit with uncanny mind-reading skills. $38, 7pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesouthern cville.com
words
Friday Night Writes. An open mic for emerging musicians and writers to share their unpublished works. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominion bookshop.com etc.
Fun Fridays. Teens 11–18 are invited to have a fun new experience. This week: Nerf battle. Registration required. Free, 2pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org
FEEDBACK CULTURE
Back to life on the road
Cordovas bring vintage country-rock grooves to the Southern
BY JEDD FERRIS
Joe Firstman is a musical journeyman who’s taken an uncommon career path.
In the early 2000s, he inked a deal with Atlantic Records and played piano-driven pop music that emphasized the soulful depth of his voice. Then he made an interesting pivot and became a late-night talk show bandleader, fronting the musical ensemble for “Last Call with Carson Daily” for five years in the latter part of the decade. He finally found his groove, though, when he formed Cordovas.
The band, active since 2011, hovers on the fringes of the jam band and Americana scenes. Firstman and company’s songs have a lived-in organic warmth, sounding like they came out of casual jam sessions in Laurel Canyon or Big Pink in another era. “This Town’s a Drag” and “It’s the One Who Needs You Tonight,” from the band’s 2018 album, That Santa Fe Channel, are comfortingly familiar, earnest originals that come across like they were crafted after way too many spins of the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty and the Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
Beyond cosmic country, the group taps into a broad range of vintage rock influences, incorporating the stacked harmonies of The Band, the bluesy guitar extensions of The Allman Brothers Band, and the gritty, R&B-hued shuffles of Little Feat. This kind of pastiche carries the risk of making material feel like tired retreads, but Cordovas’ sincere approach tracks more like vital, linkin-the-chain reverence than bar band mimicry. In “Fallen Angels of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Firstman’s ode to the soul-saving aspects of music from the 2023 album The Rose of Aces, he unabashedly sings, “I know all the roads from Memphis to Muscle Shoals.”
Like many of its old-school predecessors, Cordovas—which now features Firstman, steadfast lead guitarist Lucca Soria, and a rotating collective of side players—has its own creative hub, a multi-house compound of sorts in Todos Santos, Mexico, where the group invites fellow musicians to woodshed songs and hosts the Tropic of Cancer Music & Arts Festival. It’s where the band workshopped the songs on its latest album, the January-released Back to Life
The new effort, Cordovas’ first on the venerable independent label Yep Roc Records, features nine tracks in a lean 29 minutes. The group’s signature live-show jamming is largely set aside in favor of efficient,
slightly refined songcraft that still mostly revels in traditional styles. Album opener
“Higher Every Time” is a sub-three-minute country ramble about romantic euphoria, with edges polished by smooth harmonies and crystalline banjo rolls. A few songs later, Firstman’s voice evokes shades of Townes
Van Zandt in “Josephina”—a heartbreak ballad accented by weeping pedal steel.
The album takes more intriguing turns on the back half. “Wings,” in particular, is a pleasant surprise, an airy meditation with minimal stream-of-consciousness lyrics that float among a soft, jazzy beat and saxophone fills from special guest Kamasi Washington. With Cordovas, Firstman has found a comfortable zone, as he continues to wander in search of new sounds.
Beyond cosmic country, the group taps into a broad range of vintage rock influences, incorporating the stacked harmonies of The Band, the bluesy guitar extensions of The Allman Brothers Band, and the gritty, R&B-hued shuffles of Little Feat.
Cordovas perform at The Southern Café & Music Hall on August 11 with support from Gavin Kattesh.
Friday 8/7
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, August 6. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Saturday 8/8 music
Blake Esse. Original country music and classic covers. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Brian Franke. Independent award-winning singersongwriter and cover artist. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Brian Franke. Acoustic covers and originals. Free, 5pm. Bottle House, 608 W. Main St. bottlehouse.net
Greg Ward and The Dubsettors. An acoustic reggae party featuring originals and covers. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
James Tamelcoff. Bringing a fresh voice to modern country music. $23, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jefferson theater.com
Josh Mayo. Music to cure whatever ails you. Free, 9:30pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Kat & The Travelers. Backroads takes on the timeless compositions of America’s roots music. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Press Play Music Series: Adam’s Plastic Pond. Styles spanning Southern lap steel and folk ballads to bright, breezy guitar pop. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Rivanna Roots: Corey Harris Band. Local blues icon brings his full band to the stage. With Jen Tal. $17–20, 6:30pm. Rivanna River Company, 1520 E. High St. frontporchcville.org
South Canal Street. Covering top hits from the golden era of music, the late 1950s to the 1970s. Free, 6pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Surfing For Daisy. A sound rooted in alternative folk rock with hints of psychedelia, yet truly holding no bounds. $29, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
The Pollocks. Led by Jason Pollock, former guitarist and songwriter for Seven Mary Three. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com
Vincent Zorn. Acclaimed rumba flamenco guitarist with eleven album credits and a reputation for delivering powerful, original performances. Free, 2pm. Hark Vineyards, 1465 Davis Shop Rd., Earlysville. harkvineyards.com
stage
As You Like It See listing for Wednesday, August 5. $40–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
Heather (Singular): A Comedic Show Featuring One Human, One Puppet Heather brings humor, neuroscience, and her inner puppet child for a night of laughing through life’s hardships. $20, 7pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthousestudio.org
Our Town. See listing for Thursday, August 6. $40–75, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
The Drag Bazaar. A night of Drag King and Boylesque performances. Ages 18+. $15, 6pm. The Looking Glass, 522 Second St. SE, Ste. D. ixartpark.org
words
New Dominion Storytime. 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
classes
Beginner Hand Sewing. An introductory course teaching three basic stitches for those with little or no hand sewing experience. Ages 15+. $20, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com
Leaving the Ordinary World and Returning with the Elixir. A seminar for novelists, memoirists, narrative nonfiction writers, and authors of screen plans and stage plays, based on the universal concept of the hero’s journey. $67, 9:30am. WriterHouse, 508 Dale Ave. writerhouse.org
Printmaking Workshop. Learn the art of linocut block printing. No prior experience required, all materials provided. Ages 15+. $35, 9:30am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com
Tropical Florals and Foliage in Watercolor. Dive into a tropical paradise by learning how to paint exotic botanicals in watercolor. Beginners welcome. Ages 15+. $40, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Charlottesville City Market. Explore fresh produce, local foods, and handmade goods from 100+ area vendors. Free, 9am. Charlottesville City Market, 100 Water St. E. charlottesville.gov
Met Live in HD: Aida In this powerful 2025 Met performance, soprano Angel Blue sings the title role of Verdi’s Egyptian drama, going head-to-head with mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi as her royal rival, Amneris. $13–19, 1pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Paramount On Screen: The Blues Brothers. Comedy icons John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star in the outrageously funny musical comedy about Jake and Elwood Blues, two brothers searching for redemption with no money and a briefcase full of soul. $11, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, August 6. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Sunday 8/9
music
Dave’s Basement. A Sunday session featuring mighty fine music. Free, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com
Mo & Mary Mac. Talented singer-songwriters. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Patrick & Aaron Olwell and Friends. Energetic and eclectic jam session offers renditions of traditional Irish tunes. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com
Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam. Show up with Instruments if you got ’em. Otherwise, just show up. Musicians gather in a circle to jam and the audience sneaks a spot to watch from the perimeter. Free, 2pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
stage
Our Town See listing for Thursday, August 6. $40–75, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
TO-DO LIST CULTURE
FRIDAY 8/7
MORE TONE
Multitalented singer, songwriter, performer, and producer PJ Morton brings a whole lot of soul to everything he does. The six-time Grammy Award winner has earned outstanding accolades while selling out venues around the globe. The first Black composer to write an original song for a Disney attraction, Morton has collaborated with icons including Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, and Nas. In his solo work, Morton combines silky vocals with stirring instrumentality to explore themes of love and faith. $50–75, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
classes
Crochet a Book Sleeve. Make an envelope-style sleeve that can be used to store books, journals, art supplies, and more. Basic crochet knowledge required. Ages 14+. $30, 11:15am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Music Bingo. Listen to your favorite music, match the songs to the titles on your music bingo cards, and win great prizes. Free, 2pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com
Paramount On Screen: To Kill A Mockingbird. A widowed lawyer in Depression-era Alabama defends a falsely accused Black man, while teaching his young children about the devastating realities of life. $9–11, 2pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, August 6. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Monday 8/10
music
Ramona Martinez. Local favorite serenades with her signature mix of country western and mariachi.
Free, 5:30pm. The Fitzroy, 120 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. thefitzroycville.com
words
VDM Storytime. A magical storytime adventure where the pages come alive and imagination knows no bounds. Free with museum admission. Free, 10:30am. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St. vadm.org
Tuesday 8/11
music
Cordovas. An Americana rock band from Nashville that is road tested and deeply traditional in the ways that matter. $22, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari. A cast of great players joins the guitar virtuoso. Free, 6:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.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
There’s no place like home.
August Exhibitions
The Center at Belvedere 540 Belvedere Blvd. “Belonging,” paintings by Randy Baskerville. Through August.
Crozet Artisan Depot 5791 Three Notch’d Rd., Crozet. “Two Takes on Clay,” celebrating two distinct yet complementary approaches to ceramics, with functional pottery by Holly Horan, and imaginative sculptures by John Pluta. Through August. Meet-the-artists event August 8, 11am–1pm.
C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery 118 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. “Just Imagine,” exploring abstraction through broken pieces of blown glass, by Norma Geddes. Through August. First Fridays opening reception with the artist, 5–8pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery 2529 Scottsville Rd. “Expressions of Summer,” paintings in oil and acrylic by artists Julia Kindred and Matalie Deane. Through September 29.
The Edgar Shannon Library at UVA 160 McCormick Rd. “The Way We See It,” centering the perspectives of children living in container camps after the 2023 earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye and northern Syria, by Lucy Bassett. Through December 31.
The Gallery at Studio IX 969 Second St. SE. “Everything Good Starts Small,” new works reflecting thoughts, optimism, and belief that any idea, person, and good action starts small, by Edgar Batcheller. Through August 30.
Grace Estate Winery 5273 Mount Juliet Farm, Crozet. “Explore Virginia,” watermedia works by Matalie Deane. August 3–September 1
IX Art Park 522 Second St. SE. “The Looking Glass,” an immersive art space featuring a whimsical enchanted forest and kaleidoscopic cave. Ongoing.
Jefferson School African American Heritage Center 233 Fourth St. NW. Permanent exhibition, “Pride Overcomes Prejudice,” exploring the history of peoples of African descent in Charlottesville. Ongoing.
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA 400 Worrell Dr. “Color is Life: Women’s Work Today,” a group show of women artists featuring fiberwork, painting, printmaking, film, and sculpture. Through March 14, 2027. “Cammeerangan Ngalin-ngur Gining | From Our Ancestors’ Hands – Story Bags,” Fiber art and installation by Sonja Carmichael. August 8, 2026–January 10, 2027. In the Upper West Oval Room of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, “Tali | Sandhills: Prints from Ikuntji Artists,” a group
show of printed works. Through August 16. “Nginingawula Jilamara Ngirramini kapi Jurra | Our Art Stories on Paper: Printmaking at Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association,” a group show of printed works. August 18, 2026–January 24, 2027. Les Yeux du Monde 841 Wolf Trap Rd. “HOME: Eleven Artists on Heritage, Belonging, and Place,” a group show featuring painting, sculpture, work on paper, and textiles by Heather Beardsley, Pam Black, Barbara Campbell Thomas, Michelle Gagliano, Meg Hitchcock, Sanda Iliescu, Megan Marlatt, Ana Rendich, Dorothy Robinson, LaRissa Rogers, and Millicent Young. August 8–September 13. Opening reception August 8, 4–6pm.
McGuffey Art Center 201 Second St. NW. In the Sarah B. Smith Gallery, “A Felt Sense,” felted textile paintings that translate emotional and lived experience into tactile, sensory forms, by Lindsay Heider Diamond. In the First and Second Floor Galleries, “All Member Summer Show,” works by both renting and associate members, highlighting the breadth, diversity, and creativity of the center’s artistic community. Both exhibitions run July 3–August 16.
New City Arts 114 Third St. NE. In the Welcome Gallery, “Keepers of Wonder,” a solo exhibition of sculptural worlds and portals to places that exist just outside reality by ceramicist Emma Terry. August 7–September 16. First Fridays opening reception 5–7:30pm with an artist talk at 6pm.
The PVCC Gallery V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. The 2026 Student Art Exhibition showcases the accomplishments of student artists from the latest academic year. Through August 29.
SCAN—Gallery on Valley 460 Valley St., Scottsville. In the Main Gallery, “Create! Fabricate! Construct!” Through August 30. First Fridays event, 4–7pm.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville 717 Rugby Rd. “Always a Student,” works by Jen Cruz, Karen Jones, Marie Spilman, Patrick Talarico, and Tim Sanders. Through August.
Vault Virginia 300 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. “Then & Now: Charlottesville in the 1970s,” 10 painted portraits by local artist and activist Frances Brand, supported by historic photographs, newspaper articles, and additional images. Through August 23.
Visible Records 1740 Broadway St. “come tierra, canta fuego (earth-eater, fire-singer),” ceramic sculptures and experimental installations reflecting on migration, impermanence, and the shifting boundaries between the physical and psychological, by Aida Lizalde. Through August 15.
Saturday 8/29/26 through Sunday 1/3/27
The Fralin Museum of Art’s Legacies of Independence offers a slate of five exhibitions exploring varied themes and perspectives surrounding the ongoing effects of Thomas Jefferson and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Collection and Translation: Thomas Jefferson in Southern France contextualizes the founder’s 1787 journey through prints, drawings, maps, and models. Georges Adéagbo and the Legacies of Independence provides a global perspective on the pursuit of independence and equality. Independent Ideas: Narcissa Chisholm Owen reflects on the materials used to record history and what independence means. Sky Hopinka: Mnemonics of Shape and Reason offers poetic works that explore the intersections of history, indigeneity, and the contemporary moment. What Was Built, What Was Born: Labor, Land, and the Body in 20th-Century American Art examines how 20th-century American artists visualized labor and the working class in a rapidly changing nation. The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, 155 Rugby Rd. uvafralinartmuseum.virginia.edu
Happy August to All! We hope your summer is going well. We have released our 2024 Shannon Hill Red. A blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Petit Verdot. Notes of black raspberry, cherry and fresh violet with a soft mineral finish. It will go well with barbecued beef and red-sauced Italian dishes! Medium bodied with supple tannins.
We are working through our vineyards, and most varieties have recovered well from the April freeze which makes us hopeful for this year’s harvest, even though it will be lower than expected. And as always in farming, we look forward to next year!
We hope to see you at the winery. Our wines are not from a recipe. But in cooperation with nature, our wines are built on elegance and nuance through our winemaker’s knowledge and intuition. We are a winery that just wants to be a winery. And if that is not enough, you’ll meet our friendly and wine enthusiastic, tasting room staff! What’s happening at FiftyThird Winery and Vineyard in
August
Saturday, August 1st: Live Music: John Benjamin 1-4 p.m. Virginia country artist that connects with audiences through strong vocals, honest storytelling and a down-to-earth stage presence.
Saturday, August 8th: Live Music: Mike Proffitt 1-4 p.m. Classic and original acoustic rock you are sure to enjoy…along with 53rd wine!
Saturday, August 15th: Wine Club Appreciation Day Bring a friend(s) $17/person includes
tasting, food coupon and a great experience at the winery!
Live Music: Nate Oyler 1-4 p.m.
Accomplished singer-songwriter from Richmond with soulful, acoustic country tunes.
Food Truck: Willie’s Waffles
Saturday, August 22 Live Music Tammi Kamin 1-4 p.m.
Acoustic, melodic singer-songwriter blending heartfelt lyricism with organic instrumentation. An easy afternoon with 53rd wine.
Saturday August 29 Live Music: Danny Kensy 1-4 p.m. nationally touring country artist and songwriter based in Richmond who is on the rise in the Country music industry.
Cheers!
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
2023 TANA Chardonnay
This vineyard designated Chardonnay comes from our TANA vineyard and exhibits a lovely bouquet of pineapple and distinct mineral characteristics. It exhibits a vibrant acidity with a hint of oak and a weighty finish. Pairs well with food. Produced in a Mâcon style and aged 5 months in French oak. Gold medal winner at 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition & named VinePair’s 30 Best Chardonnays for 2026.
We are open 7 days a week throughout the month of August with live music every weekend. Visit our website and our social media pages for the most up to date listings of our upcoming live music an d events!
Saturdays & Sundays - Live music every Saturday and Sunday through the month! Come to DuCard for the afternoon with family and friends and enjoy a variety of live music (no cover). Bring a picnic or select some local fare from our lite noshing menu to pair with our awardwinning wine for a fun afternoon in our amazing mountain setting.
August 16th – Farm to Table Harvest Dinner
It’s our annual Farm to Table Harvest Dinner for 2026, focusing on locally sourced ingredients and benefitting the local 4-H and Madison County Fair. The event will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 6:30 to 9:00 in the Pavilion at the tasting room with the amazing view of the Blue Ridge as a backdrop for the evening. Food will be prepared by Madison County’s own Kendall Rider of Rider #4 Cooking and Catering and will include ingredients from 5 Riders Farm, William’s Orchard, Papa Weaver’s Pork, Kristin’s Cakes, Kite’s Country Ham, Heritage Homestead A2A2 Cheeses and South Mountain Creamery. A glass of DuCard Vineyards own Cider or Rose will start off the meal and additional wine will be available for purchase by bottle or glass. Soft drinks or water will be available complimentary. The servers for the event will be members of Madison County’s 4-H Stockman’s Club. Members of the club focus on learning about farm animals and about 4-H through hands-on activities. Guests will begin the evening with hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary glass of cider or Rose and continue the evening with the main course and dessert. Additional wine will be available for sale by the bottle or glass. The price for the dinner remains the same as last year, $120 (all inclusive; dinner is $75 plus an $18 service fee for our 4-H servers, and $7 tax). A $20 donation to the 4-H and the Madison County Fair is also included in the ticket price of $120 per person. Additional donations are welcome and can be made during the ticketing process. Maximum capacity is 100 for this event. Contact Beth@ ducardvineyards.com with any questions or special needs. Please note that the DuCard Wine Club discount does not apply for this fundraising event. Go to https://ducardvineyards. com/event/farm-to-table-harvestdinner-3/ to purchase tickets.
40 Gibson Hollow Ln Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com
EARLY MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS
At Early Mountain, our world class wines are featured in a restaurant grounded in the same sense of place. Reserve your table for indoor or outdoor seating and enjoy our latest releases alongside an à la carte menu or seasonal wine-paired prix fixe.
The Meadow is open for the season! We’re offering a casual picnic-style menu, paired with wines by the bottle, glass, or flight. No reservation needed, weather dependent.
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday Upcoming Events & Experiences
Wine & Cheese Pairing Experience
August 2, 2026 | 2:00–4:00 PM
Join Early Mountain Sommelier
Peggy Kearns Dean and Maggie Bradshaw of Truckle Cheesemongers for an interactive afternoon exploring the art of pairing wine and cheese. Taste five Early Mountain wines alongside artisanal cheeses while discovering the flavors and techniques behind exceptional pairings. Perfect for every level of wine lover.
Friday Dinner Hours & Chef’s Table
Fridays | 5:30–8:00 PM
Enjoy dinner hours every Friday! Later evenings invite you to enjoy seasonal dishes on the patio or in the Tasting Room as the sun sets.
The Chef’s Table experience offers an intimate, seven-course menu paired with select wines.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 4:00 PM
Enjoy a rare in-depth fireside interview with Chef O’Connell, just days before the official release of his memoir. Following the conversation, guests are invited to the terrace for a reception with Eun Yang and Chef O’Connell, featuring Early Mountain wines and passed
hors d’oeuvres. Each guest will receive a signed copy of his new memoir - Main, Middle & Gay.
Enjoy dinner at Early Mountain every Friday! Later evenings invite you to enjoy seasonal dishes on the patio or in the Tasting Room as the sun sets.
The Chef’s Table experience offers an intimate, seven-course menu paired with select wines.
Seats are limited. Scan to plan your visit.
6109 Wolftown-Hood Rd, Madison, VA 22727 (540) 948-9005 www.earlymountain.com
EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY
Blueberry Season
Enjoy delicious blueberry specials in the tasting room all summer including our seasonal Blueberry Wheat Ale, Blueberry Cider, Blueberry Lemonade Wine Slushies as well as new menu items highlighting this favorite fruit including our popular Blueberry Flatbread, Baked Brie, & more! Celebrate the season with a glass of award-winning Rosé and oysters every Friday night! Salty Bottom Blue will be here every Friday night serving their delicious raw and grilled oysters, which pair beautifully with a glass of our gold medal Sparkling Blanc de Blancs or 2025 Rosé.
Eastwood has a large indoor airconditioned space and all music will be indoors this month unless the weather dictates otherwise.
Upcoming at the Winery:
Virginia Oyster & Wine
Celebration | Every Friday
Enjoy our Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration every Friday night this Spring! The oysters are prepared by Salty Bottom Blue. Enjoy them in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm on the stage in our tasting room.
Porch Nights | Every Thursday (NEW!)
There’s something about a porch at golden hour that makes the world slow down in the best possible way. At Eastwood Farm and Winery, we’re leaning into that feeling all season long with Porch Nights — our weekly Thursday gathering featuring outdoor live music and an easygoing atmosphere. Grab a seat on our covered veranda or at one of our many picnic tables, relax with the sparkly lights overhead, fireflies in the fields, and a glass of
porch-sipping wine in hand - join us for your new favorite Thursday tradition. Bring the family, the dog, a few friends, or just yourself. No reservations, no cover — just good music, good company, and spring evenings done right.
Wine Slushies are Back! Cheers to the beautiful weather with a refreshing wine slushie:) Music Bingo | Sunday, August 9th and 30th; September 20th| 2-4PM (open 12-5PM)
Everyone loves singing along with their favorite songs and who doesn’t love a competitive game of Bingo? Music Bingo brings together the best of both worlds for a high energy game that is fun for everyone. Simply listen to the music, match the songs to the titles on your music bingo cards, and win great prizes!
Paint & Sip | Sunday, August 30th from 12-2PM (open 12-5PM) Grab a glass of wine (or your favorite drink!) and let your creativity flow in our relaxed and fun Paint & Sip classes. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a first-time painter, the talented instructors of Blue Ridge Brushes will walk you through the painting process as you create your own masterpiece. Ticketed Event - Reserve Your Spot On Our Website
Sangria Sunday and Maker’s Market| Sunday, August 23rd 12-5PM
Join us for our house-made Sangria (one day only) with a pop up featuring Erica Cavanaugh from Honeysuckle Creek Farm and her fresh take on Sangria cocktails, as well as a local maker’s market where you are sure to find some creative treasures.
Live Music: Paxton Henderson 1-4PM
Crab Feast | Saturday, August 29th 12-4PM (open 12-8PM).
Nothing says Summer quite like a Crab Feast! Salty Bottom Blue will be serving up Blue Crab and Oysters, both raw and grilled (from 1-4PM) in addition to Eastwood’s regular menu, including the delicious crab dip. Top it off with a glass of Viognier or Blanc de Blancs. Live Music All Day! Heidi Riddell from 12:30-3:30PM and F.O.G. from 5-8PM
Rosé and Bubbles Showcase| Sunday, August 30th 12-2:30PM (at the Tent and Terraces) (General Admission $40)
Join us for an afternoon celebrating the wines of summer with rosé, sparkling wine, food trucks and beautiful views. This ticketed tasting event showcases wines from six Virginia wineries—all crafting their wines at the Virginia Wine Collective, Eastwood’s new collaborative production facility and tasting room in downtown Charlottesville—for an unforgettable afternoon of sipping and discovery.
Ticketed Event - Reserve Your Spot On Website
Oktoberfest (every Saturday and Sunday September 5 - October 31)
Every Saturday and Sunday this Fall, Eastwood is bringing you all the cozy, festive vibes with a lineup of flavor, fun, and celebration featuring delicious food truck specials, raffles, live music and traditional Oktoberfest beer. And the fun doesn’t stop after the weekend. You can enjoy a special Oktoberfest menu in the tasting room every day of the week featuring Germaninspired delights, including our Flammkuchen, Bacon Maple Pecan Brie and loaded potato soup seven days a week. Check out our website for full food truck and tasting room menus.
Chamber Music Festival|
September 16th at 7:30 (doors open at 6:00 PM for food and beverage purchases)
Presented in partnership with Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival. As evening settles over the winery, this concert offers an inviting journey through the sound world of American composers. With light fare and beverages available for purchase beforehand beginning at 6:00pm, the experience combines conviviality and contemplation— beautiful music unfolding in a cozy space designed for listening and lingering. Ticketed Event - Reserve Your Spot On Website
Musicians: Raphael Bell, Jennifer Frautschi, Judith Gordon, Simone Porter, Raman Ramakrishnan, Dov Scheindlin, Tim Summers
MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!
Join us for the popular Porch Nights every Thursday with live music on the veranda and Eastwood After Dark on Saturdays featuring upbeat, danceable music 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 Friday night and Sunday afternoons. See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.
Every Thursday (open 12-8PM): Porch Nights Live Music on the Veranda 5-8PM
Every Friday (open 12-8 PM): Live Music and Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration, every Friday 5-8PM Every Saturday (open 12-8 PM): Live Music 12:30-3:30PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8PM
Every Sunday (open 12-5 PM): Live Music or Music Bingo (See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.)
Also Open Monday through Wednesday 12-5 PM and Thursday 12-8PM What about the kids?
Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards!
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 a delicious lunch/dinner menu. 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
August at Keswick Vineyards!
Summer is in full swing, and there’s no better place to soak it all in than Keswick Vineyards! August brings sunny vineyard views, warm evenings, and plenty of opportunities to sip, savor, and relax with friends and family.
Blue Crab Feast August 8th with Oysters and Blue Crab
Open 7 Days a Week
Join us all week long! Enjoy extended hours every Wednesday evening during Wine
Down Wednesday from 5:30–8:30 PM, featuring live music, delicious food, and your favorite Keswick wines.
Live Music Every Saturday | 12–4
PM
Spend your Saturdays surrounded by beautiful vineyard views, exceptional wines, and performances from talented local musicians.
Barrel & Board Food Truck
| Wednesday–Sunday
Pair your favorite wines with delicious bites from Barrel & Board, serving up the perfect vineyard fare throughout the week.
Make the Most of Summer
Whether you’re planning a relaxing afternoon, gathering with friends, or discovering a new favorite wine, August is the perfect time to visit Keswick Vineyards.
Virginia’s Most Rewarding Wine
Club
Exclusive benefits. Incredible discounts. Special events. If you haven’t joined yet, now is the perfect time! Become a member and enjoy everything our wine club has to offer.
Celebrate the last full month of summer with us—we can’t wait to raise a glass with you this August!
Hours:
Open 7 Days a Week
Sunday–Tuesday & Thursday | 10 AM–5 PM
Wednesday | 10 AM–8:30 PM
Friday–Saturday | 10 AM–6 PM Food, flights, and open bottle service end 30 minutes prior to closing daily
complex now, this Petit Verdot will continue to develop gracefully over the next decade.
Friday Sundowner’s Free Music Series - every Friday from 5:308:30pm, May through October. Friday night we love to create a family friendly atmosphere, supporting local up and coming musicians from all over Virginia, offering a full food menu, and our award winning wines while enjoying the beautiful sunset over our western facing vines and music from our talented artists.
Sundays Blues and Jazz-1:004:00pm every Sunday, May through
MERRIE MILL FARM AND VINEYARD
2024 Reserve Petit Verdot
We’re thrilled to present our 2024 Petit Verdot — a bold red that thrives in Virginia’s unique climate and soils. This exceptional vintage received special treatment: over a year of French oak barrel aging followed by additional bottle rest to marry the flavors. On the nose and palate, it opens with concentrated dark stewed fruits — black cherry and plum — that segue into an earthy, savory midpalate. Gentle waves of toasted French oak lend soft vanilla and a whisper of baking spice, while fine-grained tannins and a lingering blackpepper finish give structure and length. Rich and
October, featuring the best local Jazz and blues musicians, the perfect way finish the weekend relaxing on our patio with wine and great company.
Events for the month of August: 8/7: Sundowners Music seriesBailey Hayes 5-9pm
8/8: Blooms4Good Bouquet Workshop 12-1pm
8/9: Sunday Jazz and Blues- Paulien 1-4pm
8/14: Friday Sundowners Music Series- Mercy Creek-5:30-8:30pm
8/16: Sunday Jazz and Blues-John D’earth 1-4pm
8/21: Friday Sundowners Music Series- Brisk! 5:30-8:30pm
8/23: TBD
8/28: Friday Sundowners Music Series- Wavelength 5:30-8:30
8/30: Sunday Jazz and Blues- Jon Tyler Wiley 1-4pm
594 Merrie Mill Farm Keswick, VA 22947 (434) 365-3006 www.merriemillfarm.com
PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS
August is the perfect time to savor the sweet flavors of summer, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a glass of Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery’s 2025 Viognier. Nestled in the heart of Virginia Wine Country and proudly womanowned, Prince Michel combines generations of winemaking tradition with genuine hospitality, creating the perfect destination to relax, reconnect, and enjoy the season.
This month, we’re featuring our 2025 Viognier, an elegant, aromatic white wine that beautifully captures the essence of late summer. Bursting with vibrant aromas of ripe apricot, juicy peach, and delicate floral notes, this beautifully balanced wine delivers a rich, silky mouthfeel while remaining crisp and refreshing. The finish lingers with bright citrus and luscious stone fruit flavors, making every sip as inviting as the next.
In honor of National Peach Month, our Viognier is the perfect companion to the season’s freshest flavors. Pair it with fresh peaches and creamy burrata, grilled chicken or fish topped with peach salsa, roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, or even a classic peach cobbler for dessert. Its bright fruit character and refreshing finish make it equally at home at backyard cookouts, elegant dinners, or relaxing evenings on the patio.
Beyond the bottle, Prince Michel offers more than exceptional wines. Enjoy guided tastings, breathtaking vineyard views, delicious dining, and craft beer at Tap 29 Brew Pub. Whether you’re visiting for a casual afternoon or celebrating a special occasion, every experience is designed to create lasting memories.
Celebrate National Peach Month all August long with our 2025 Viognier, the Prince Michel Wine of the Month. Available for $24.99 per 750 mL bottle, Club Members save 20% and Non-Members save 15% throughout August 1–31.
Upcoming Events & Weekly Specials
• Live Music every Friday–Sunday (see our website for the latest lineup)
• Trivia Night every Monday | 6:00–7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday Beer & Wings Specials
• Happy Hour every Thursday | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
• Open 7 days a week beginning at 11:00 a.m.
154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA 22725 (540) 547-3707 www.princemichel.com
A Woman-Owned Business
VIRGINIA WINE COLLECTIVE
Expanded Hours, Wine, Beer and Pizza
Join us at Eastwood Farm and Winery’s new production facility and downtown bar and lounge featuring a pizza shop menu, beer on tap, and winemaker wine flights. The Collective is now open every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
from 5-10PM with revamped loft and shuffleboard.
Upcoming at the Collective: Winemaker Pop-Ups | Select Fridays 6-8PM (Open 5-10PM) Enjoy free samples and tour the facility with some of our independent winemakers on Fridays! Check out events on our website: (https:// eastwoodfarmandwinery.com/ virginia-wine-collective/) and Facebook page as we will be adding more dates.
July 31st: Josh Cataldo - Cataldo’s Perfezione
August 7th: Chris TropeanoPresent Company
August 14th: Julie Linker - Delve Wines
August 29th: Josh CataldoCataldo’s Perfezione
Winemaker Karaoke | Every Other Wednesday, July 22, August 5 & 19, September 2nd, 16th & 30th from 7-9PM (karaoke is only upstairs; downstairs bar and dining room still open as usual 5-10PM)
Join us up in the loft at the Collective every other Wednesday evening. No cover required.
Paint & Sip | Thursdays July 30th (6-8PM) (Open 5-10PM)
Grab a glass of wine (or your favorite drink!) and let your creativity flow in this relaxed and fun class. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a first-time painter, the talented instructors of Blue Ridge Brushes will walk you through the painting process as you create your own masterpiece. Ticketed EventsReserve Your Spot On the Virginia Wine Collective Facebook Page or the Eastwood Website.
Mahjong with Mountain Mahj: Open Play | Thursday, July 23rd 6-8:30PM (open 5-10PM)
Details to be announced On the Virginia Wine Collective Facebook Page and the Eastwood
Website or contact gabrielle@ eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Harvest Viewing Days at the Collective (Wednesday-Friday 5-10PM). Viewing opportunities start sometime in late August (as soon as the grapes start rolling in!). We are bringing harvest to downtown Charlottesville and are located on Avon Street at the 4-way stop for Wegmans! In addition to the glass viewing area upstairs, we will be roping off a small area on the production floor so that you can walk out to view the action. Anytime is a great time to visit the Collective this Summer and Fall. Email Gabrielle@ eastwoodfarmandwinery.com if you have questions.
Production Tours and Guided Tastings
We look forward to welcoming guests to the Virginia Wine Collective for tours and guided tastings. Please email our Wine Collective Coordinator, Gabrielle Thomas, if you would like to schedule a tour or guided tasting. She may be reached at gabrielle@ eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Large Party Reservations
Interested in making a large party reservation for your group? Reach out to mary@eastwoodfarmandwinery. com to book.
About the Collective
Eastwood designed the Virginia Wine Collective to include nine winemaker suites and an incubator alongside the main production area. The suites provide a space where independent winemakers can anchor a license and make their wines. The Collective has been designed to reduce the costs associated with independent winemaking, and thereby support further innovation and talent in the Monticello AVA.
Over 21 Policy
You must be over 21 to visit the bar, lounge and dining room at the Collective.
Current Winery Hours Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 5-10PM
1585 Avon Street Extended Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 https://eastwoodfarmandwinery.com/ virginia-wine-collective/
This year, everyone's invited.
We're expanding Best of C-VILLE with the launch of Bestival—a brand-new community celebration of everything that makes Charlottesville the best. Spend the afternoon exploring local businesses, enjoying food and entertainment, and celebrating this year's winners before we cap off the day with our annual invite-only Best of C-VILLE party.
FOR FUN PUZZLES
SUDOKU
#1
#1
#4 #2
#2
#5
#4
PUZZLES FOR FUN
CROSSWORD
BY MATT JONES
Rated PG-13
ACROSS
1. Dumb or awkward person, from the Yiddish (and Matt Berry’s character on “Krapopolis”)
6. “Divine Secrets of the ___ Sisterhood” (2002 movie)
10. “Dancing Queen” foursome
14. Legendary host Philbin, to fans
15. Former Fed head Greenspan
16. British pound, slangily
17. Pertaining to the hipbone
18. Subtle eye signal
19. Take back, in a program
20. Feature of airports and hospitals
23. “However,” briefly
24. “Welcome to Wrexham” figure ___ Mac
25. Comment section, metaphorically
32. Roofing material
34. Copier of old
35. San Francisco mayor Daniel
36. Ill effect
38. Addis ___, Ethiopia
40. Bridge position
41. Television, newspapers, etc.
43. Endorse digitally
45. Participate at Aspen
46. Inflation instrument
49. Letterman list count
50. “___ to Extremes” (Billy Joel song)
51. Method of holding small objects between the thumb and fingers
58. ___ Turismo
59. College campus yard
60. University at which Jimmy Carter taught
62. Cuzco locale
63. Strong craving
64. Spud
65. Ladder par t
66. Large ones might clash
67. Goes nuts
DOWN
1. ___ Lanka
2. Assist
3. “Return of the Jedi” princess
4. Lorre’s “Casablanca” role
5. Posh Spice’s married surname
6. “This is boring
7. Sacha Baron Cohen character with an upcoming 2026 movie
8. 2020 presidential candidate Andrew currently humiliating himself on Fox’s “Nation’s Dumbest”
9. Turkish capital
10. Color similar to cyan
11. Beer keg stopper
12. ___ one’s time
13. Fuss
21. Region of ancient Turkey
22. Let the dice do their thing
25. June celebration
26. Ear thy tone
27. Hint at
28. Aim high
29. Clear the cache, say
30. Board game of world conquest
31. Cooler brand named for a cryptid
32. Fill-in
33. Claim with confidence
37. “Attention!”
39. Once more
42. “Be with you in ___!”
44. Side option, sometimes 47. Unlike any other 48. Inaugural poet Amanda
51. U.K.-based sandwich chain ___ a Manger 52. Like some collectible cards
53. O.R. activity 54. Aladdin” character named after a literary villain 55. Lofty poems 56. Smidgen 57. Get ready 58. Navigational tracker
61. ‘69 and ‘96, e.g.
ANSWERS 7/29/26
When they go lo
By Rob Brezsny Virgo
(Aug. 22-Sept. 22): Virgo biologist Stephen Jay Gould argued that evolution isn’t a ladder of progress but a branching bush of experimentation. Most species that ever existed are extinct, but they weren’t failures. For a very long time, they were successful experiments in being alive, well adapted to their environment. When conditions changed, they ended. That’s how evolution works. Let’s apply this lesson to your life, Virgo. If a part of your world is concluding, celebrate and thank it, then bid it a fond farewell. Feel grateful that it succeeded completely at what it was meant to do and gave you all it had to give.
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your sense of purpose is intensifying. Your people need you more than ever, and your gifts are ripening just as they are most valuable to your community. But I must add that the road ahead will not be frictionless. You will have to outmaneuver diversionary tactics and dispel pockets of confusion. To serve as a shimmering catalyst of beauty and truth for your allies—and a shrewd strategist in the presence of deflections—lean into the paradoxical counsel attributed to Jesus: Be gentle and pure like a dove, yet keenly perceptive and discerning like a serpent.
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Concrete continues to cure beyond the time when it’s first poured. After seven days, it has 70 percent of its ultimate strength, and after 14 days, 90 percent. It usually keeps getting sturdier for a few months, even years. I propose that we use this as a metaphor for what you’re working on, Scorpio. The foundations you established a while back are still solidifying. Projects that are working pretty well are still developing potency. This is a good thing! Everything is slowly improving through processes you’re not actively managing.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Here’s your assignment: Find yourself a pair of enchanted pants that will bring you good luck and stir up fun. How will you know that they’re authentically charmed? Because when you put them on, you will instinctively wander toward adventures that expand your understandings about life. They may also lead you to explore places and situations that aren’t truly forbidden or taboo, but which you have oddly avoided as if they were forbidden or taboo. Finally, your enchanted pants are likely to inspire you to dream up a few crazy good ideas that will turn out not to be mostly good and not at all crazy.
Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In classical music, a “fermata” is a symbol on the sheet music that instructs the instrumentalist to hold a note longer than its written duration. How long?
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN
(July 23-Aug.22): Within most galaxies are dense clouds of gas and dust that astronomers call “star factories.” Here and there, the magic of gravity gradually gathers together diffuse material into concentrated clusters until nuclear fusion ignites, creating brilliant new suns. I suspect you will be operating a metaphorical star factory in the coming weeks and months, Leo. Small ideas, fragments of plans, or tentative experiments could coalesce in productive ways. Through your patient attention and care, luminous concentrations of useful beauty will emerge.
It’s unpredictable. The musician decides. I think your life would benefit from a metaphorical fermata or two, Capricorn—maybe even more. You won’t come to a protracted pause, but you will engage in strategic prolonging, extending certain notes beyond their expected duration. Examples? Lingering longer in a conversation from which you’re inclined to exit early; staying with an ambiguous emotion rather than rushing to resolution; allowing a project to develop more leisurely than you might if you were simply pushing for sheer efficiency. Opt for what’s soulful instead of what’s crisp and neat.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Fate is subtly but insistently pressuring you to stop squandering energy on half-hearted, hand-me-down desires. Why? So your real, holy obsessions can move to the center of your attention. The tepid wishes and lukewarm yearnings are being exposed for what they are: distractions that nibble away at your time and passion without fully feeding your soul. As these mediocre drives fade in importance, you’ll be exultant to see how much more fire, clarity, and juice you have available for the few burning, churning yearnings that truly belong to you.
Pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20): The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is so deep that if Mount Everest were located at the bottom, its peak would be over a mile underwater. The deepest point in the ocean could swallow the highest point on land with room to spare. The world holds more below than above. Please meditate on this fun fact, Pisces. I hope it inspires you to understand that your
most interesting power often lies in the depths, not the peaks. While others are summiting, you’re descending into the mysterious, fathomless interiors. Your explorations may not photograph well because they happen in darkness. But they are the source of your strength.
Aries
(March 21-April 19): In the early days of aviation, navigation instruments were rudimentary, and the skies were often a blur of clouds, darkness, or featureless horizons. Pilots sometimes relied on a technique called “dead reckoning”: good instinct bolstered by simple instruments like compasses and stopwatches. I suspect you will benefit from practicing a metaphorical version of dead reckoning in the coming weeks. You may not have all the data you would like, and the path ahead might be less than clear. But you already possess enough hints and inklings to make thoughtful approximations. If you’re alert and flexible, listening to subtle signals within you and around you, your evolving estimates will guide you uncannily close to the right destination.
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): Nineteenth-century poet Emily Dickinson rarely left her comfortable home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her favorite activity was to sit in her bedroom and compose her odd, unique, brilliant poems. Eventually, she wrote 1,800 of them, though few were published during her lifetime. Today she is renowned as one of America’s great literary geniuses. Her story reminds us that magnificent growth may emerge from simple and humble circumstances. I suspect you will thrive if you
borrow her strategy during the coming weeks. You don’t need a hubbub of flashy events to evoke your beauty. A period of creative stillness could amplify your imagination and inspire your dazzle.
Gemini
(May 21-June 21): In Renaissance workshops, apprentice painters learned their craft by assisting masters with small tasks. They mixed pigments, prepared canvases, and cleaned up. There was a valuable trade-off for this humble work. Being in proximity to mature brilliance often spurred the fledgling artists to harness their own creative powers. I suspect this dynamic is relevant for you, Gemini. Now is a favorable time to be alert for unexpected teachers and lessons. Be ready to apprentice yourself to captivating experiences where you might learn what you didn’t even realize you needed to know. Your willingness to be a curious, gracious student is your superpower.
Cancer
(June 21-July 22): If you knew you were going to live to 95 in reasonably good health, what additional careers or adventures might you pursue? Visualize your lifespan stretching out before you like a wide winding road, where you will have plenty of time not just to survive, but to experiment, wander, and reinvent yourself. Would you train for a new craft or profession? Would you move to another country for a while and apprentice yourself to a language, landscape, or tradition that has always piqued your curiosity? I invite you to take a concrete step that moves you in the direction of interesting future fun.
C
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
LEO
CLASSIFIEDS
DEADLINE
Friday at 5 PM for inclusion in the
SIZES AVAILABLE
PRICING
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1800(B), notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia (“City Council”), will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, August 3, 2026, at its Business Meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chamber, 605 East Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, to hear public comment on a request from City of Promise Inc., for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia (“City”), to approve a Lease Agreement for use of a City-owned Property and Building or Structure located at 708 Page Street, and for use of a portion of a City-owned property located at 210 8th Street NW, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Any person may appear at the Public Hearing to present their views regarding the above matter. Individuals with disabilities, who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the Public Meeting, may call (434) 987-1267, or submit a request via email to ada@charlottesville.gov. The City requests forty-eight (48) hours’ notice, so that proper arrangements may be made. Copies of all Public Hearing related documentation/materials are available online (at least five (5) days before the Business Meeting) at www.charlottesville.gov/agenda, and in the Clerk of City Council’s Office.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION Case No. JJ041916-07-00; 08-00; 09-00 VA. CODE § 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104
Charlottesville Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Charlottesville Dept. of Social Services v. Unknown Father and Tayqaundra Johnson (a.k.a. Tayquandra Johnson)
The object of this suit is to terminate the residual parental rights of Unknown Father and Tayqaundra Johnson (a.k.a. Tayquandra Johnson) of a girl child (Z.H.) born to Tayquandra Johnson on December 7, 2022.
It is ORDERED that Unknown Father and Tayqaundra Johnson (a.k.a. Tayquandra Johnson), appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 16, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
7/22/26 Areshini Pather DATE JUDGE
Virginia
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LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES: CHARLOTTESVILLE-GORDONSVILLE 230 KV REBUILD PROJECT CASE NO. PUR-2026-00050
On April 23, 2026, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) an application (“Application”) for approval and certification of electric transmission facilities in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia. Dominion filed its Application pursuant to § 56-46.1 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) and the Utility Facilities Act, Code § 56-265.1 et seq
Through its Application, the Company proposes to complete the following (collectively, the “Rebuild Project”):
• Rebuild approximately 8.7 miles of the existing 230 kilovolt (“kV”) Charlottesville-Hollymeade Junction Line #2054 by removing the existing 230 kV structures, which are mostly single circuit wooden H-frame structures, and replacing them with double circuit 230 kV monopole structures utilizing current 230 kV standards;
• Install approximately 8.4 miles of idle 230 kV conductors on the vacant circuit of the Company’s proposed 230 kV double circuit structures between Charlottesville Substation and Hollymeade Junction;
• Rebuild approximately 7.2 miles of the existing 230 kV Hollymeade JunctionGordonsville Line #2135 by removing the existing 230 kV structures, which are mostly single circuit wooden H-frame structures, and replacing them with double circuit 230 kV monopole structures utilizing current 230 kV standards; and
• Install approximately 8.4 miles of idle 230 kV conductors on the vacant circuit of the Company’s proposed 230 kV double circuit structures between Hollymeade Junction and Gordonsville Substation.
Dominion represents that the proposed Rebuild Project is necessary (i) to resolve identified North American Electric Reliability Corporation reliability violations projected to occur that, if not relieved, will severely impact the transmission system’s ability to maintain reliable service to the Company’s customers in the Gordonsville Load Area; (ii) to maintain the structural integrity and reliability of the networked transmission system; and (iii) to ensure that Dominion can adequately and reliably provide service for the load growth anticipated in the Gordonsville Load Area.
The Company states that the total length of the existing right-of-way to be used for the Rebuild Project is approximately 15.8 miles. According to Dominion, no new right-of-way is needed because the existing maintained electric transmission corridor is adequate to construct the proposed Rebuild Project. Dominion represents that given the availability of existing right-of-way and the statutory preference afforded thereto, and because new right-of-way would likely cause additional costs and environmental impacts, the Company did not consider any alternate routes requiring new right-of-way for the Rebuild Project. However, Dominion states that “the Company’s Underground Engineering Group did review underground construction of the Rebuild Project and determined that while it is permittable and technically feasible, constructing the Rebuild Project in such a manner would not be practical.”
Dominion states that the total estimated conceptual cost of the Rebuild Project is approximately $97 million (in 2025 dollars), which includes approximately $92.5 million for transmission-related work, and approximately $4.5 million for substation-related work (2025 dollars). Per the Application, the Company’s desired in-service date for the Rebuild Project is no later than December 31, 2028.
Description of the Route
The proposed Rebuild Project is located within the existing CharlottesvilleHollymeade Junction Line #2054 and Hollymeade Junction-Gordonsville Line #2135 corridor, which spans from the Charlottesville Substation (near the intersection of Coleman and Smith Streets in Charlottesville) to the Gordonsville Substation (near Lovers Lane in Gordonsville). The Rebuild Project traverses east/southeast from the Charlottesville Substation, loosely following Richmond Road (Rt. 250) and Interstate 64 before turning northeast and following Louisa Road/Gordonsville Road to its terminus at Gordonsville Substation.
For the overall Rebuild Project, the minimum structure height is approximately 70 feet, the maximum structure height is approximately 150 feet, and the average structure height is approximately 112 feet, based on preliminary conceptual design, not including foundation reveal and subject to change based on final engineering design.
All distances, heights, and directions are approximate. A sketch map of the proposal accompanies this notice. A more detailed map may be viewed on the Commission’s website:scc.virginia.gov/consumers/public-utility/electricity-faqs/transmission-lineprojects. A more complete description of the proposed Rebuild Project may also be found in the Company’s Application.
The Commission may consider a route not significantly different from the route described in this notice without additional notice to the public.
The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Comment that, among other things, directed the Company to provide notice to the public and provided interested persons an opportunity to comment on the Company’s Application and request a hearing. The Commission subsequently entered an Order determining that the procedural schedule should be modified to include a public witness hearing and an evidentiary hearing on the Application.
A Hearing Examiner Ruling for Notice and Hearing scheduled a telephonic portion of the hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Application as follows:
(a) The portion of the hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Application shall be convened telephonically at 10 a.m. on November 10, 2026.
(b) To promote fairness for all public witnesses, each witness will be allotted five minutes to provide testimony.
(c) On or before November 3, 2026, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide required contact information to the Commission. This information may be provided to the Commission: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/ case-information/webcasting; or (ii) by calling (804) 371-9141.
(d) This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/case-information/ webcasting
On December 2, 2026, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff.
Electronic copies of the Application and other supporting materials may be inspected at: dominionenergy.com/charlottesville-gordonsville. An electronic copy of the Company’s Application also may be obtained, at no charge, by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Andrew .T. Flavin, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, 1001 Haxall Point, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or andy.flavin@troutman.com. Interested persons may also download unofficial copies of the Application and other documents from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/case-information.
On or before November 23, 2026, any interested person may file comments on the Application by following the instructions on the Commission’s website:scc.virginia. gov/case-information/submit-public-comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR2026-00050.
On or before September 14, 2026, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission at: scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq. (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any notice of participation filed by a person not represented by counsel shall also set forth why the filer’s positions in this matter are not adequately represented by another party to this proceeding and cannot be expressed through written or oral public comments as provided for in this proceeding. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2026-00050.
On or before October 21, 2026, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served electronically on the Commission’s Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneously with their filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, as modified by Commission Order(s) or Hearing Examiner Ruling(s), including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2026-00050.
To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and required electronic service on parties to this proceeding.
Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of theClerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission Order or Hearing Examiner Ruling, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
The Company’s Application, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Orders, and the Hearing Examiner’s Rulings may be viewed at: scc. virginia.gov/case-information
VIRGINIA
P.S. THE BIG PICTURE
The ripe stuff
Ketchup, guys: Tomato Tomato Fest on Tuesday, July 28, was four hours of fun celebrating summer’s most beloved fruit, with a gallery of 71 different tomato-themed works, 65 homegrown tomatoes for judging, and all the tomato-themed treats (lollipops! cocktails! pies! gelato!) your stomach could handle. Hosted by The Little Market at Lampo and sponsored by Duke’s Mayonnaise, the second annual event also included a fruity photo booth from Parlor Studio, for which the crowd was dressed to the vines.
