Why are there so many empty storefronts on the Downtown Mall? P.9
City Council opts out of demolition on 1301 Wertland St. P.15
The Sandman brings comedy and chaos to John Paul Jones Arena P.29
Monday, September 15Sunday, September 21
PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF CHARLOTTESVILLE-ALBEMARLE
HONORS
Teacher Innovation Grantees
ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL
Michelle Banaszak Pocketalk
BUFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Cianna Washburg
SOL Game Ready Day
BURNLEY MORAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Jessica Scott
BME Earth Stewards
CHARLOTTESVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Kevin Paquette
Future Cville: A STEM Career Pathway Pilot
HENLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Karen Ackerman
Henley First Lego League (FLL) Robotics Club
JACKSON VIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Ida Cummings
Writing Together: Strengthening Home-School Connection
JACKSON VIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Jessica Pedersen
Equitable Access in Enrichment: Making Specials Inclusive for All
JACKSON VIA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Sabra Timmins
Crossing the Line: An After-School Soccer Club for Building Inclusive Communities
MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL
Bernice Brythorne
Authentic Field Research Experiences for Environmental Science Students
MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL
Jeannette Stott
Making Printmaking Accessible
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Angie Foreman
Calming Spaces & Happy Faces
Libros en Espanol
The Need to be Seen: Neurodivergent Representation in the Library
WALKER UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Beth Bohannon
Positive Pathways: Incentivizing Growth & Engagement
WALKER UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Amy Wissekerke
Classroom Economics for 6th Grade
www.pefca.org
Hello, Charlottesville.
Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.
9.10.25
This week’s cover story (p.21) is about more than whisky. It’s about what happens when passion, patience, and place come together.
This year, American single malt earned recognition as its own category—a long-awaited milestone for distillers who’ve spent years building credibility for their craft. And at the center of that story is Lovingston-based Virginia Distillery Co., along with other local makers who saw something special in Charlottesville’s culture, climate, and community.
Why does that matter? Because single malt whisky isn’t just about what’s in the glass. It’s about where it’s made, who makes it, and the sense of pride it carries. In Scotland, that sense of place is woven into every sip. With Charlottesville makers leading the way, Virginia has its own chance to shine on the world stage.
Simon Davidson introduces you to the people behind the passion, from Gareth Moore carrying forward his late father’s vision to the distillers and dreamers who saw untapped potential. Together, they’ve put Charlottesville on the map for American single malt.
Hey, thanks!
This week’s contributors
These generous benefactors of C-VILLE have supported our work through our Save the Free Word campaign. If you’d like to contribute, follow the QR code.
Towns Ackerman
Susan Albert
Catherine Anninos
Lori Balaban
Timothy Bambury
Catherine Barnes
Julie Basic
Susan Battani
Jennifer Beachley
Mayanna Bean
Denise Benson
Anne Bergamesca
Rebecca Berlin
Kim Biasiolli
Patrick Bird
Paddy Bowman
Paul Brewer
Claudia Murray
Brindle
Sumner Brown
Colette Brown
Jack Brown
Kate Buford
Cathleen Burgess
Carol Burger
Patricia Burkett
Michael Callahan
Linda and Pat Canzanelli-Dantona
Brian Carlton
Helen Cathro
Janelle Catlett
James Clark Jr.
Diane Cluck
Karen Collins
Lorraine Collins
Beth Croghan
Margaret Crone
Emily Currier
Maria-Eugenia
Dalton
Pam and Peter Dennison
Nancy Dettor
Martha Donnelly
Charlotte Drummond
Louise Dudley
Lee Elberson
Jane Elmore
Karen Emmitt
Ken Engebretson
Elizabeth Engle
Rosa Ellen English
Joe Ethier
M. Fife
Lavonne Fitts
Kevin Foley
Barbara Fornoff
Joan Forrest
Georgia Garrett
Gerald Giammatteo
David and Janna Gies
Stephanie Goodwin
Trice Gravatte
Andrew Greeley
Jennifer Grover
Cara Hall
Kendra Hall
Jeremy HarrisMcDonnell
Madeleine Hawks
Ann Marie Haynes
Mary Haynes
Chris Hellings
Stephen Herrick
John Heyser
JoAnn Hofheimer
Lisa Hogan
Laura Horn
Christina Horton
Robert Inlow
Deb Jackson
Garth Jensen
Nina Johnston
Nicole Jones
Diane Jones
Janet Jospe
Brian Kelly
Trish Kenney
Tom Kirk
Kathryn Kluge
Julie Lacy
Marcia Langsam
Jacalyn LaPierre
Aaron Lawrence
Eric and Diane
Lawson
Elizabeth Lawson
Frances Lee-Vandell
Sean Libberton
Angeline Lillard
Peppy Linden
Jessica Lino
D. Little
Phillip Long
Rob Lynch
Catherine Maguire
Greg Mallard
Jeff Martin
Erin Mayer
Kieran Mcdowell
Mary McIntyre
Gretchen McKee
Ruth McWilliams
James Mernin
Nicolas Mestre
Tim Michel
Parthy Monagan
Vic Monti
Hilary Moorman
Michael Morency
Harold E. Morgan
Michael Moriarty
Catherine Moynihan
Jim Mummery
Karen Myers
Monica Newby
Sandy Newhouse
Kathy O’Connell
Dennis O’Connor
Diane Ober
Cynthia Van Osch
Annette Osso
Laila Ouhamou
Annette Owens
Timothy Palmer
Joe Peacock
Elizabeth Perdue
Joann Peters
James Peterson
Damon Pettitt
Elayne Phillips
Robin Powell
Anne Price
Ernest Pugh
Harry Purkey
Leslie Quenichet
Frances Racette
T. Radsky
Scott Ransom
Sarah Ratcliffe
Stots Reele
Marjorie Rein
Cindy Richards
Kevin Richardson
David Robinson
Julia Rubarth
Carol Gilbert Sacks
Audrey Sarate
Joan Schatzman
Sandra Schmidt
Eric Schultz
Karen Schuyler
James Seitz
Elaine Shaw
Chuck Shelton
Paul Shettel
John Smith
Kristina Smith
Meredith Smoot
Mickey Speck
Maria Spence
Jim Spencer
David Stackhouse
Rod Stoner
Robert Strickland
Nichole Taylor
William Terrell
Emily Thiede
Reid Thompson
Prue Thorner
John Titus
Jessica Tobin
Erica Toy
Rose Trapnell
Jill Trischman-Marks
Susan Uland
Rick Vergot
Christina Walker
Steven Ward
David Waters
Chris Waugaman
Phoebe Weseley
Kelly West
Gary and Anne Westmoreland
Jay Wildermann
Marcia Wilds
Andrew Wolf
Natalie Yancey
Suzanne Yeaman
Nura Yingling
Kelly Zalewski
Kathleen Zenker
Simon Davidson is the founder of The Charlottesville 29 and author of The Daily Progress column Dinner with Simon. He’s written about Charlottesville food since 2012. His work has appeared in C-VILLE, Travel + Leisure, Eater, The Local Palate, and Edible Blue Ridge. Simon lives in Keswick with his wife and two children. Read his work on page 21
Jeff Morgan, a photographer and co-owner of Chime Studio, has worked with local and national clients in Atlanta, New York, and Charlottesville on product, food, and architectural photography, and portraits. You can find him every Saturday at farmers’ markets talking to his favorite vendors. See his work on page 21.
SEPT 21
Sunset Boulevard [NR] 2:00PM
OCT 10
Ghostbusters [PG] 7:30PM
OCT 12
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit [G] 1:00PM
Sensory-Friendly Screening!
OCT 19
Hocus Pocus [PG]
2:00PM
Event Sponsor: Shannon Thomas, Core Real Estate Partners
NOV 14
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest [R] 7:30PM
Event Sponsor: Piedmont Paint & Finish
Movie Sponsor:
SEPT 27
Manhattan Short Film Festival
7:00PM
Event Sponsors: Helen & John Steele
OCT 11
Summer of Soul [PG-13] 7:30PM
OCT 12
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit [G] 4:00PM
NOV 1
The Rocky Horror Picture Show [R] 9:00PM
Event Sponsor: Cville Pride
NOV 15 10 Things I Hate About You [PG-13]
7:30PM
Event Sponsor: Shannon Thomas, Core Real Estate Partners
ED I TORIAL
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Weekly is Charlottesville, Virginia's award-winning alternative newspaper. Through our distinctive coverage, we work to spark curiosity and enable readers to
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 KATJA ATTENSHUN PRESENTS: DRAG & DANCE PARTY (16+) FT. SUTTON IMAN & ORPHEUS ROSE
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The price of a public square
Downtown Mall vacancies, foot traffic, and a debate over homelessness collide BY CATIE RATLIFF
The Downtown Mall is at the center of Charlottesville’s most recent controversy, a “camping ordinance” that would criminalize sleeping or storing personal belongings on public property. While a strong coalition opposing the ordinance showed up at the September 2 City Council meeting, some business owners claimed the draft proposal was a step toward strengthening Charlottesville’s downtown economy.
Despite the hubbub, the Mall’s vacancy rate has stayed relatively steady, sitting at 3.65 percent as of the city’s July 2025 report.
According to Charlottesville’s Office of Economic Development, the Downtown Mall currently has seven vacancies out of 192 ground-level storefronts: the former locations of Ten Thousand Villages, Sombrero’s, Cinema Taco, Passiflora, and Wells Fargo, as well as the Dewberry Hotel shell and CODE Building retail space.
C-VILLE’s former location on the Mall was not included in the 2025 list due to its “primary use as an office space.” Walker & Dunlop, a real estate group working on the sale of the Dewberry/Landmark/empty hotel of many names, told C-VILLE there are “no updates or comments to provide from ownership.”
Filling spaces on the Mall can be tricky given the type of space available and what potential renters are looking for, but the city has limited ability to encourage property owners to fill long-vacant spaces.
“Each property owner sort of takes a different approach to things that’s unique to them. … Some of them will look to lower rates when they feel it’s appropriate to do so. Some feel very strongly that the rates that they have are the best that they can do,” says Matthew Johnson, assistant director of economic development for Charlottesville.
“Sometimes you’ll see property owners that will, instead of doing different things with the rates, they’ll do things as far as tenant improvement allowances.”
While the number of vacancies remains unchanged from January 2025, they’re not all the same spots continuing to sit empty.
“We actually had a couple of other spaces that have been longstanding vacancies, whether it’s the old Fellini’s space or the Hardware Store retail space,” says Johnson. “Those have been filled at this point by tenants.”
Current vacancy rates on the Mall are in line with the fluctuating, but relatively low, rates reported by the OED prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—with five vacancies
on the Mall in January 2019, and two in July 2019.
The vacancy rates on the Mall are similar to those at Barracks Road, which had six vacancies in January 2025, and one in July 2025. The 2019 report for the shopping center counted seven vacancies in January, and five in July.
While helpful, vacancy rate data only shows openings resulting from a business’ closure, not the economic health of stores and restaurants that are still operational.
According to Travis Wilburn, founder of Stay Charlottesville, Charlottesville Insider, and a former head of business development at C-VILLE, foot traffic on the Downtown Mall has dipped significantly in recent years.
Cell phone traffic data provided by Wilburn, collected through an AI aggregation service, shows there were 2,458,687 visits to the Downtown Mall in 2024. The first year included in the data set is 2017, which shows 3,456,844 visits.
This puts daily average visits at 6,736.13 in 2024, compared to 9,470.81 in 2017.
“Rent costs have gone up, taxes have gone up, and [cost of] goods have gone up … traffic is down,” says Wilburn.
Amid the increase, Wilburn and other business owners on the Mall report complaints from visitors about sanitation and safety—and human waste near businesses.
“A lot of the Downtown Mall businesses complain about having to clean up feces in the morning, or urine,” he says. “I can tell you wholeheartedly [decreased foot traffic] has to do with safety and cleanliness. … Feedback from exit surveys ... reflects [guests’] concerns on safety and cleanliness, and regardless of how I feel, their perception is the reality of what we are seeing.”
Most online reviews of the Downtown Mall are positive. Some of the ratings—including nearly every negative review—mention the unhoused population and panhandling. The average rating is 4.2 out of 5 on Google Reviews, and 3.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor and Yelp.
DOWNTOWN NEWS
At its core, the divide between businesses and housing advocates boils down to a difference in how people view the Mall, and the best way to resource the city’s social services for the unhoused population.
More detailed coverage of the proposed camping ordinance and its public reception can be found in Sean Tubbs’ reporting on page 13, but to say those at the recent City Council meeting were upset about the measure, and lack of conversation with people directly affected by it, would be an understatement.
In a letter to council and leadership ahead of the meeting, Livable Cville highlighted how the ordinance criminalizes homelessness at a time when Charlottesville does not have a year-round, low-barrier shelter, or even an alternative place for people to go.
“This approach does not improve public safety nor does it seriously address homelessness for one basic reason: Homelessness is a housing problem, not a criminal justice problem,” reads a portion of the letter, cosigned by 19 organizations including Charlottesville Harm Reduction, National Lawyers Guild at UVA Law, and the Legal Aid Justice Center. “The consequence of this ordinance will be that people experiencing homelessness will be forced further and further into the margins, where their safety and the safety of others is at higher risk.”
Greer Achenbach, executive director of Friends of Cville Downtown and the sole speaker in support of the ordinance, highlighted the role of businesses in funding social services in an interview ahead of the September 2 council meeting.
“The biggest impediment to our businesses is the perception of people that do not want to come down to the Mall because they feel unsafe, or they have been harassed or put in situations that make them uncomfortable by some of our unhoused population,” she says. “We really are looking for compassionate solutions that benefit everybody in the community. The Mall is not just for the businesses, right? It is for everybody, and everyone needs to be able to coexist peacefully, together. … We want to see a
thriving economy. We want to see a welcoming environment. Is it clean? Is it safe? Is it beautiful? Is it accessible?”
Achenbach highlighted the need for actions including opening public restrooms on the Mall, and noted that programs like the Mall ambassador program—which will create a permanent city presence to improve cleanliness and safety—are a benefit to everyone.
At the council meeting, Achenbach said FCD agrees with arguments “that there should be a designated camping area in the city until we can provide enough shelter beds, but it should not be in our business district.” Between boos from other attendees, she said council has “a fiduciary responsibility to protect the tax base that funds vital social programs.”
The camping ordinance was unanimously tabled by City Council. There’s still work to be done according to both local businesses and service providers for the unhoused.
“Ultimately, we need more housing, and at various levels,” says Shayla Washington, executive director of Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless. “We need more homelessness prevention funding, because many of us are closer than we realize to falling into homelessness rather than riches.”
“I completely sympathize with what many of these [downtown business owners] have experienced at their businesses, and no one should have to worry about other human beings defecating or urinating on their property,” Washington adds. “BRACH is in support of adding more public restrooms to the Downtown Mall. … Additionally, we welcome input from these stakeholders as well and look forward to convening those who are interested in exploratory conversations regarding realistic solutions that will benefit everyone.”
Following the tabling of the ordinance, Washington says BRACH is looking to create “at least one city-designated campground for people experiencing homelessness” at a site accessible via public transit, and available to service providers to extend outreach and resources.
PIEAUCTION
Six decades later
On September 8, Del. Katrina Callsen presented Charles Alexander, one of the Charlottesville Twelve who integrated city schools, with a resolution from the Virginia General Assembly. The ceremony was held at the Albemarle County Office Building on the 66th anniversary of the integration of Charlottesville’s public schools.
Alexander was one of nine students who integrated Trailblazer, formerly Venable, Elementary School on September 8, 1959. Lane High School, now the site of the Albemarle County Office Building, was integrated the same day by three students.
“The historic integration of Venable Elementary School and Lane High School by the Charlottesville Twelve marked a pivotal moment in the local civil rights movement and paved the way for broader desegregation across the Commonwealth,” reads a portion of the resolution, which was adopted by the state legislature in February. “The enduring legacy of the Charlottesville Twelve serves as a testament to the transformative power of courage and unity in the face of injustice, and their example continues to inform and enrich the ongoing struggle for civil rights.” Catie Ratliff
In tuition
The Piedmont Scholars Program received $5 million on September 5, funding more scholarships for students transferring from Piedmont Virginia Community College to the University of Virginia. According to UVA Today, the gift comes from the same anonymous donor whose 2021 donation created the program and has been matched by UVA’s Bicentennial Scholars Fund. CR
Next steps
Unhoused support groups call for city to designate campsites
BY SEAN TUBBS
Those who packed Charlottesville City Council chambers Tuesday, September 2, to protest a draft ordinance that would criminalize camping and storing personal items on public property had a strong message.
“This is not the time to be adhering to draconian Trump-like policies on some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Shayla Washington, executive director of the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless.
Washington and the heads of other nonprofit groups who are part of “the continuum of care” were not involved in the development of the ordinance. The idea stemmed from private meetings city councilors held this spring and summer with Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis and other city staff.
“There was no community engagement as has usually been required … absolutely none,” said local attorney Jeff Fogel. “Nobody was talked to. Not the service providers, not the people who have cared about this issue. It is absolutely and completely infuriating.”
Several speakers said the idea to pass a no-camping ordinance was premature because there are not enough beds for unhoused people at area shelters. Washington demanded elected officials postpone any vote on the ordinance until plans to develop a low-barrier shelter are more concrete. In
October 2023, City Manager Sam Sanders announced Charlottesville would work to-
ward one, after a month in which people were allowed to camp in Market Street Park.
City Council has approved half a million dollars in annual funding to operate such a facility and will pay the Salvation Army $250,000 a year if its thrift store on Cherry Avenue is chosen to be the low-barrier shelter.
“In the interim, designate up to three cityowned spaces for people experiencing homelessness to officially be permitted to camp,” Washington asked council. “These camping
spaces can come equipped with security detail for not only the unhoused residents, but people who are concerned for their safety in the community.”
Washington said each should be on a Charlottesville Area Transit stop and have a maximum number of people who can stay there. She also called for a working group to be convened to identify solutions.
City Councilor Michael Payne took responsibility for the item being on the agenda.
“The buck stops with City Council in terms of where things come from,” Payne said. “When the city manager presented his original plan for homelessness, part of it was [banning camping] as a possible policy. The decision at that time was we will not explore this until a permanent year-round shelter actually exists.”
Afton Schneider, the city’s director of communications and public engagement, said the city has not yet begun to pay the Salvation Army because the thrift store has not closed. She also said the idea of using city land for a campsite is under consideration.
“If a property were identified to be used for this purpose, the city manager will designate it for that use,” Schneider said.
Schneider said the city is in negotiations with BRACH and other nonprofits about how to utilize two city positions funded in the FY2026 budget to provide homeless outreach.
“Nobody was talked to. Not the service providers, not the people who have cared about this issue. It is absolutely and completely infuriating.” JEFF FOGEL
IN BRIEF
All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)
University of Virginia medical school archivist discovers rare medical books thought to have been lost in 1895 Rotunda fire. UVA economist Anton Korinek named to Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. Monday night shooting prompts Albemarle County to issue shelter in place warning September 2; suspect apprehended hours later. Chiles Peach Orchard discovers 1.83-pound peach, the largest grown in its 100-plus-year history. ESPN’s preseason bowl projections include UVA. Student struck and injured by car at Keene school bus stop September 4. Western Albemarle High School installs weapons detection system. Car catches fire in Market Street Parking Garage September 6, damaging two others.
The discussion around a draft ordinance banning camping on public property has been put on hold.
FAITH IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE:
JUSTICE, COMMUNITY, AND THE WAY FORWARD
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
10 AM - 11:30 AM Panel What does it mean to be faithful in the public square today?
1 PM - 2 PM Heath W. Carter
The Promise and Perils of a Big Tent Faith
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
9 AM - 10 AM Heath W. Carter
The Sense of our Small Effort
Join Heath W. Carter
Associate Professor of American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary
Nichole M. Flores
Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia
Free and open to the public Free childcare RSVP required via QR code
Walter Kim President of the National Association of Evangelicals & UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy
REAL ESTATE NEWS
Still standing
Council upholds BAR’s decision to deny request to demolish historic house
BY SEAN TUBBS
An attorney for the owner of 1301 Wertland St. told Charlottesville City Council on September 2 that tearing down the structure for new apartments would outweigh any historic preservation goals.
“We believe the prevailing factors are the policies prioritized in the 2021 Comprehensive Plan and implemented through the [new zoning ordinance] to increase housing opportunities and thereby promote more affordable options for good housing,” said Steve Blaine of the firm Woods Rogers.
The city’s Board of Architectural Review denied a demolition request at its May meeting. Neither Blaine nor anyone else represented Seven Development at that time, so the public heard for the first time this month that the developer felt the city would benefit from having between 200 and 300 units of housing for University of Virginia students.
In 2023, the BAR had approved a certificate of appropriateness for another 34-unit structure that would coexist on the same 0.4-acre property. The new zoning code offers more possibilities under the Residential Mixed Use 5 zoning.
The house itself was built around 1842 and was the home of William Wertenbaker, the second person to serve as the University of Virginia’s librarian. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an anchor of the city’s Wertland Street Historic Street.
“Aside from some repairs and encroachment of neighboring development, the house generally retains its appearance of the original house in the late 18th-century
modifications,” said Jeff Werner, the city’s historic preservation planner.
Werner said the city welcomes creative development and there is much precedent for historic structures to be reused.
“In a situation like this, we would look for something that preserves the historic resources while accommodating increased density, which was indicated by the project that was included or approved in 2023,” Werner said.
Blaine pointed to research that shows Wertenbaker owned slaves and that there was no real need to preserve the house to keep his name alive.
“The documents relating to the historic landmark nomination and the local landmark designation leave out these facts,” Blaine said.
City Councilor Michael Payne said he would not overturn the BAR’s decision in part because there was no attempt to bring forth a design that incorporated the historic structure. Outgoing Councilor Brian Pinkston also said he would vote no.
City Councilor Natalie Oschrin accepted Blaine’s argument because she said more housing units outweigh historic preservation.
“I have been to the houses on Wertland Street,” Oschrin said. “They’re not glamorous, historic buildings. The floors are sticky, the windows are broken. It’s not a destination you go to on a walking tour of historical buildings.”
Oschrin made a motion to overturn the BAR, but she did so before BAR Chair James Zehmer had the opportunity to make a rebuttal. He said the 2023 approval for more housing was a compromise. He said it was worth preserving Wertenbaker’s place in history.
“At a time in this country when education’s under attack, when libraries are under attack, it’s a good thing to support the preservation of the home of a very important librarian to this community,” Zehmer said.
That was enough for Mayor Juandiego Wade to uphold the appeal.
“We have a proposal that has been approved that shows that we can keep the residents and also have some units there,” Wade said.
A vote to deny the appeal was approved 4 to 1 with Oschrin voting no.
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Former UVA librarian William Wertenbaker’s home, which was built in 1842 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, will not be demolished.
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Beautiful mountain views to the east! Architecturally designed and custom-built to take advantage of these views.This lightfilled 3/4 bedroom cottage is set on a private 5 acre lot in Emerald Ridge, near Crozet.The bright great-room extends the length of the house and features a kitchen with a walk-in pantry and opens onto the screened porch.The covered front porch is extended living space as well. First floor primary suite, features an outdoor shower and a walk-in closet .Full, unfinished, walkout terrace level, with roughed-in bath, offers possibilities for additional living space.
Very nice Townhouse in convenient River Run. New roof and gutter leaf filters. Well maintained. Easy access to town and Penn Park. Easy walking distance to the Community pool.82
HOW CHARLOTTESVILLE HELPED PUT AMERICAN SINGLE MALT ON THE MAP BY SIMON DAVIDSON
Apassion project, at its core, is about passion. For the past decade, Gareth Moore’s passion has been to bring a new product into the world: American single malt whisky. In long-term passion projects like his, progress can seem as slow as watching whisky age. But this year came a leap forward. As of January 19, American single malt is an officially recognized whisky category, a step distillers hope will propel their style from sideshow to the main stage. The whole idea of single malt is a sense of place—whisky that reflects where it’s made. To mark the leap forward, Moore’s Virginia Distillery Co. has made a whisky tribute to the region on which its success stands.
What is American single malt?
Single malt is whisky made by a single distillery from malt—barley that is malted, meaning soaked, germinated, and dried. Single malt from Scotland, where official standards govern its production, is the most esteemed whisky in the world. Like the stories of pizza, hamburgers, wine, and beer, the tale of American single malt is one of Americans taking a foreign product and applying ingenuity to make it their own. Names of distilled spirits in the U.S. are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. To be called bourbon, a whisky must be made from at least 51 percent corn. Rye must be at least 51 percent rye. Other rules govern the length of aging
and the types of barrels that can be used. These standards help consumers recognize products and help producers market them. Until recently, TTB did not have a category for American single malt whisky, undermining its credibility as a style.
Nine years ago, a group of single malt distillers set out to change that. Moore and a few others met at a Chicago bar and hatched an idea: Why not us? On a restaurant menu or at a liquor store, a customer can find sections of bourbon, rye, and other liquors. But, those seeking an American single malt have nowhere to look. Even someone lucky enough to find one may not know what’s in it.
The distillers formed the American Single Malt Whisky Commission and began advocating for the spirit’s recognition. After years of lobbying and education, that became a reality this year when the TTB adopted a standard of identity for “American single malt whisky.” Under the standard, for a distiller to label a spirit American single malt whisky, it must be distilled at a single American distillery from 100 percent malted barley and aged in an oak barrel.
Distillers view this recognition as a watershed moment for American single malt. Even without it, American single malt has skyrocketed, growing from a handful of distilleries in 2016 to more than 250 today (that’s more
American distilleries making single malt than Scottish ones!). Now that American single malt is a legally recognized whisky, distillers expect momentum to grow. While Moore found the milestone personally rewarding, it will mean much more to the industry, he said.
“Having our products grouped in a real growing category is great,” Moore says. “Miscellaneous whisky is not a great category.”
Virginia Distillery Co.’s director of liquid development agrees. “Historic,” says Amanda Beckwith of the TTB’s first new whisky category in more than 50 years. “Until people really know what American single malt is, they can’t fall in love with it.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
OF THE LAND
Another distillery putting Charlottesville on the American Single Malt map is Spirit Lab Distilling. A decade ago, founder Ivar Aass was living in Manhattan with his wife, searching for a place to open a distillery and pursue his passion for single malt whisky which, for Aass, had always been fueled by the concept of terroir in wine—how a wine’s flavor is shaped by its land and climate. In their search for a new home, Aass and his wife made one visit to Charlottesville and were hooked. Not only did they love the community, but Aass saw all of the makings of good whisky: the local bounty of ingredients, the climate, and people with a curiosity and love of food and drink. Having celebrated Spirit Lab Distilling’s 10th anniversary in June, Aass says his whisky is a way to feed the community while also being a part of it. “It’s aged in the air we breathe and made from the water we drink,” says Aass. “We manipulate it as little as possible, and let Charlottesville do the work.”—SD
JEFF MORGAN (ABOVE), SANJAY SUCHAK (BELOW)
Virginia Distillery Co.’s Gareth Moore and Amanda Beckwith agree that passion—from those who grow the barley to the people who sell the whisky—is crucial to the success of their business.
Quality is everything
As to people falling in love with American single malt, when building a brand, quality is paramount. First impressions can last. A bad one risks turning a curious taster into a lifelong skeptic. If a rising tide lifts all boats, a leak in one can sink the whole endeavor.
At Virginia Distillery Co., quality is nonnegotiable, Moore says. From the beginning, that has meant never cutting corners. Because whisky requires aging, new distilleries have no source of revenue until sufficient time has passed for aging to occur. Some new distilleries solve this by buying whisky from megadistilleries and bottling it as their own. Others have tried bottling their unaged product and pitching it as “white whisky”— something marketers have never had much success persuading people is any good.
When Virginia Distillery Co. launched, it took neither shortcut. Instead, to supplement its distilled product, the distillery sourced a quality whisky from Scotland and aged it in Virginia, blending it with its own. Over time, the proportion of Scottish whisky in the bottles decreased as quantities of the Virginia whisky grew.
In 2020, five years after opening, the distillery bottled its first whisky distilled entirely on premises. No supplement from Scotland. It launched its 100 percent American single malt under the label Courage & Conviction, named after a favorite phrase of Moore’s father, who founded the distillery in 2011 before passing away two years later: “Have the courage of your convictions.” Almost immediately, accolades rolled in from experts like Whisky Advocate and Wine Enthusiast. And then, in 2023, came a stunning upset from an American single malt: Whisky of the Year at the London Spirits Competition.
What does Virginia taste like?
After a decade of emphasizing their whiskies’ commonalities, distillers of American single malts may now highlight their differences.
The significance of the word “single” in single malt is a sense of place. The word distinguishes single malts from blended whiskies that combine products from multiple distilleries, like Johnnie Walker or Dew-
ars. Unlike blended whiskies, single malts’ flavors reflect the place they are made and their surrounding culture and climate.
In Scotland, which is nearly one and a half times smaller than Virginia, regional variations in culture and climate produce single malt whiskies whose differences are wellrecognized—the peat of Islay, the fruit of Speyside, and the grassiness of the Lowlands.
The U.S. is more than 100 times Scotland’s size, and now that American single malt has gained official recognition, the country’s greater diversity in culture and climate could produce even greater regional varieties.
If that’s true, what does Virginia taste like? Its culture and climate. Blue Ridge Mountain water enhanced by Virginia—and Virginians.
While not everyone loves the commonwealth’s weather swings, whisky does. They drive interaction between the spirit and the
wood, enhancing flavor. In the summer, heat and humidity expands the wood. (This is why Virginians can’t shut their doors in the summer.) As oak barrels expand and the wood’s pores open, whisky seeps into the staves. In the winter, the wood contracts, pushing the whisky out. The cycle, which sometimes can happen within a single day of Virginia weather, increases surface contact between whisky and oak, boosting the extraction of flavors and compounds. Consequently, whisky in Scotland ages more slowly than it does in warmer climates.
Culture, meanwhile, is people.
“A distillery doesn’t make whisky, people make whisky,” says Moore. “It’s all a lot of copper and stainless-steel bullshit without the right people.”
To Moore, what makes the right people is passion. The vision for Virginia Distillery Co.
CHARLOTTESVILLE IN A GLASS
My years as a food writer have produced one basic observation about restaurants: There are only two kinds in the world, those with love and all the rest. The same could be said of whiskies. The whiskies of Virginia Distillery Co. owe their flavor to the passion of the Charlottesville community, whose people make them, support them, and enjoy them. Virginia Distillery Co. now has a whisky in tribute to that community: The Charlottesville 29 Single Barrel.
When the distillery created its Courage & Conviction brand in 2020, it created a second brand—VDC—for more experimental offerings. Beckwith’s aim with Courage & Conviction is consistent expression of a classic, old-world style, which she pursues by blending proportions of whisky aged in bourbon, sherry, and wine casks. With VDC, on the other hand, she experiments with
her whole range of casks. As she surveys and samples her 8,000 casks, she constantly assesses how best to blend them to achieve desired flavors. Every now and then, though, she comes across a cask so distinct that it warrants being enjoyed as is, rather than blended with others. These are candidates for a single cask release—a whisky bottled from a single cask.
For the whisky tribute to Charlottesville, Beckwith, her team, and I sampled several single casks before selecting cask #11272. Aged for five years in ex-bourbon casks, and then two years in a J. Dias Ruby Port cask, it is the distillery’s first and only 100 percent American single malt port single cask. And, it honors the passion of the man who founded the distillery, his son who carried it forward, and the Charlottesville community that fuels it.—SD
belongs to Moore’s father, George. When George passed away in 2013 while he was developing the distillery, Moore knew nothing about distilling, but it sparked a passion in him to fulfill his father’s vision. Moore looks for that passion in everyone with a role in his whisky—those who grow the barley, those who distill and age the spirit, those who provide the casks, those who sell the whisky, and those who enjoy it. And it’s not just passion for whisky Moore looks for. It’s passion for almost anything that may help—people, education, science.
What makes that easy, Moore says, is the culture of the Charlottesville area, where his employees live. Whether it’s wine, beer, cider, spirits, cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea, ice cream, gelato, jam, honey, butchery, baking, cooking, farming, or their Bodo’s order, Charlottesville people are passionate about something. “Meh” is just not something you hear very often.
Take Beckwith. As a longtime lover of single malt whisky, Beckwith learned in 2015 that a new distillery would be making it near Charlottesville, and she could hardly believe her luck. Though she had no experience in the industry, she sent a cover letter and was hired within weeks. Why? Her passion, says Moore. “We saw in her a passion to share whisky with others.”
And not just any whisky. Virginia whisky. It’s no accident, Moore says, that Virginia is in the name of his distillery. Its founders had the foresight to recognize the importance of sense of place in single malt. Now that American single malt has arrived, and regional differences emerge, Moore feels a responsibility to his Charlottesville community to reflect its passion as best he can. “I want to make it proud.”
JEFF MORGAN
It’s no accident that Virginia is in the name of VDC. CEO Gareth Moore says he feels a responsibility to the Charlottesville community, and he wants to make it “proud.”
The 13th Annual Cville Sabroso is 9 hours of familyfriendly live music and lively dance performances, food, artisan crafts, and interactive cultural activities. Sabroso has something fun for everyone!
Cville Sabroso is an unforgettable celebration of the vibrant Latino spirit and cultural heritage; come experience the richness, diversity, and warm hospitality of Latino/Hispanic communities!
PERFORMANCES
1:00 Opening Ceremony
1:25 Casa de la cultura Peru (Peru)
KIDS ZONE - free - 12 and under
“Copa Sabroso” soccer shootouts
Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” (MIMA) face painting • handicraft projects
FIESTA BAR (adults only)
TICKETS
kids free!
13+ $8 before 9/15, 13+ $10 after 9/14 or at Ting on Saturday
8:00 Foreign Playerz (Social Dancing) saturday, September 20 1-10pm • Ting Pavilion
1:50 Hermosa Venezuela (Venezuela)
2:00 Raices Ecuatorianas (Ecuador)
2:25 Panamanian Traditional (Panama)
3:00 Grupo Tahuantinsuyo (Peru)
4:15 Raices Ecuatorianas (Ecuador)
5:00 Tradiciones Bolivianas (Bolivia)
5:20 Villa Sabrosa (Mexico)
5:35 Elizabeth Lainez (Mexico)
6:00 Atrapado Musical (Mexico)
7:20 Kids’ Parade of Flags
8:30 LA INTERNACIONAL SONORA DINAMITA
CULTURE
9/12 THROUGH
OLIPHANT IN THE ROOM
Chronicling the extraordinary life and A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant illustrates how, over five decades and 10 U.S. presidents, the Australian transplant became America’s most renowned and feared political cartoonist. Featuring interviews with Oliphant, his family, friends, and colleagues, plus archival footage and hundreds of his distinctive drawings, the film also offers a concise history of political cartoons—underscoring the importance of creative critique in today’s era of political polarization and corporate media control. $11–14, 2pm and 6:45pm. Violet Crown Cinema, 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. charlottesville.violetcrown.com
CULTURE TO-DO LIST
Wednesday 9/10 music
Berto and Matt. Brazilian and Latin treasures to make you smile from the inside out. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Chamber Music Festival. A lively set of cantos, choros, valsas, and tangos, by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Astor Piazzolla, Osvaldo Golijov, and others. Free, 7:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Mood Ring: Queer and Trans Open Mic Night. Share your original music. Mic, speakers, and keyboard provided, please bring your other instruments. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Open Mic Night. Mic check to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. All ages welcome. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, and originals for your mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm.
The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
dance Square Dance Demonstration. Showing off the fun of square dancing—a lively mind-body workout that’s social and energizing. Join the fun to watch or participate. Free, 11:30am. The Center, 540 Belvedere Blvd. thecentercville.org
Weekly Swing Dance. Beginner-friendly swing dance lessons teaching the Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, and blues. No partner needed. Stay for social dancing after the class. $10, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com
words
Storytime at the Garden. Bring a blanket or chairs for stories and rhymes outside, presented by JMRL Gordon Avenue Branch. For ages 2–4. Free, 10am. Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, 950 Melbourne Rd. piedmontgarden.org
etc.
Dürty Karaoke. Dive bar karaoke for your hump days. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
SATURDAY 9/13
PLEIN AIR PAIRING
The Second Saturday Music Series presents genre-blending pianist, composer, and storyteller Katherine Nies for an evening of outdoor arts and entertainment. Nies combines classical, folk, and improvisation into a sound that feels both timeless and otherworldly, drawing inspiration from her mother’s Peruvian and Puerto Rican folk songs on guitar and her father’s late-night jazz piano, combined with a love of Celtic traditions and folklore. Guests are encouraged to bring their own beverages and picnic dinners to enjoy during the event, which features a lantern boat launch at dusk and live drawing and an art display by local artist Chicho Lorenzo. $5–10, 6–8pm. The Quarry Gardens at Schuyler, 1643 Salem Rd., Schuyler. quarrygardensatschuyler.org
Rapture Karaoke. The longest-running karaoke event in town. Hosted by Jenn DeVille. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Thursday 9/11
music
Berto and Vincent. A night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival: Concert II. Brazilian pianist Cristian Budu, Finnish clarinetist, conductor, and composer Osmo Vänskä, and the festival’s stellar string players perform a classic repertoire. $22–30, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. cvillechambermusic.org
Michael & The Misdemeanors. C’ville rock ‘n’ roll for fans of Tom Petty, Springsteen, and DMB. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
Open Mic Night. Music, singing, poetry, spoken word—everyone is welcome to participate. Hosted by Jordan Redifer and Mark Douglas with guitars in hand to accompany or play along. Free, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Sharif. Original soft rock and indie blues. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com stage
The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Shakespeare at his most playful, where friendship tangles with romance and characters stumble through the beautiful, messy chaos of growing up. $35–70, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. An escape room meets a pub crawl. Visit the Preston Avenue breweries, crack codes, unravel riddles, and sample Charlottesville’s best brews. Players get $1-off pints at each brewery. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
SuperFly Karaoke. Sing your heart out under the disco ball. Free, 7:30pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Trivia Like It’s 1799. Test your historic knowledge of the 18th century with teams of up to five players. Prizes awarded to winning teams. Reservations encouraged. Free, 6pm. Michie Tavern, 683 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. michietavern.com
Friday 9/12
music
Blake Hunter & The Gatherers. Featuring Blake Hunter, Eric Knutson, Paul Rosner, and Brian Wahl. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival Free Community Concert. The festival’s stellar musicians present a lunchtime concert with an eclectic program for strings, clarinet, and piano—featuring music from Brazil, as well as short works by classical composers. Free, 12:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. cvillechambermusic.org
Dave Goodrich. Singer-songwriter performs a rockbased repertoire including flavors of jazz, blues, and other popular genres. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Jim Richardson. Local singer-songwriter performs folk, country, and rock. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com
Josh Mayo. One of Charlottesville’s finest entertainers rocks your night away with his band. Free, 10pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Midnight Buzz. An eclectic blend of acoustic and electric classic rock tunes. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Mr. Space Cat. A sunset soirée featuring six friends playing acoustic rock and blues with lots of harmonies. Free, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com
The Barons x HASH the Band. Heavy-hitting indie rock to a lighter fair of introspective love songs from The Barons and next-gen rock from HASH. With Chloë Ester. $20–22, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
The Wavelength. Vintage rock plus original tunes at the iconic dive bar. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
dance
Boot Scoot Square Dance Party. Big Silo plays driving old-time favorites and teaches you how to move to the music. No experience necessary. Beginners and all ages welcome. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
stage
Adam Sandler: You’re My Best Friend Tour. The accomplished actor, producer, musician, and writer brings his latest show to stages far and wide. $38–200, 7:30pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com
The Two Gentlemen of Verona. See listing for Thursday, September 11. $63–117, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
words
Author Event: Lea Marshall. Join us for a reading with Lea Marshall, who will read from her debut poetry collection, The Slow Hammer of Roots. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com
classes
Paint + Sip: Blue Ridge Blues. Paint, sip, snack, repeat. Learn how to paint the design in a stepby-step format, no experience necessary. All materials provided. $39, 6pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. blueridgebrushes.com etc.
A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant. Documenting the life and celebrated career of the political cartoonist, told in interviews with the artist, his family, friends, and colleagues, in archival footage featuring hundreds of his cartoons. $11–14, 2pm and 6:45pm. Violet Crown Cinema, 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. charlottesville. violetcrown.com.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, September 11. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started with beers and trivia. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Saturday 9/13
music
Bad Halen. Local Van Halen tribute draws from the entire David Lee Roth-era catalogue. With Gak!, Roanoke’s ’90s tribute band, covering tracks from grunge and pop to hip-hop and alternative. $5, 9:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
STAGES CULTURE
Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler still makes jokes. You may be Gen X or a Boomer and think of him as the doofus next to Chris Farley on “Saturday Night Live,” but aside from being an extremely well-paid Hollywood movie star, writer, and media producer, he’s also a musician who plays for laughs.
It may surprise you to learn that, dating back to 1993, Sandler has released nine albums, four of which are soundtracks from his films and specials—the latest being last year’s Adam Sandler: Love You. It seems that the overarching chunk of his output is of the musical variety rather than the stand-up comedian spooning out witty observations.
So is it good? Is it funny? Well, let’s put it this way: He’s not a parody addict like Weird Al Yankovic, nor is he an original visionary, a comedic Brian Eno. No, Sandler sounds like a drunk Billy Joel. He also comes across like that guy who lived down the hall in your dorm and always brought his acoustic guitar to the TV lounge to play his latest composition.
Much as that guy would often break up at his own punchlines before he delivered them, so does Sandler. I mean, you’ve probably heard “The Chanukah Song” around the holidays by
now, because that mid-’90s strummer racked up 17 million plays on Spotify, and that can’t all be Jewish bots amusing themselves.
Generally, his song constructions don’t stray too far from his sparse Chanukah blueprint of an instrument or two, plus vocal arrangements. Bringing his You’re My Best Friend Tour to the area, he’ll likely chuckle his way through foul-word peppered ditties (and trust me they are ditties—little ones even) on subjects ranging from the wholesomely domestic to the inane.
To my taste, he’s not as witty as “serious” musical artists Sparks or Jonathan Richman when they’re being intentionally funny, and he’s certainly not as dry or offthe-wall as vintage Steve Martin or Cheech and Chong. That’s not to say it doesn’t land—he’s got his moments, even if for me those tend to be found in the crime drama Uncut Gems and not whatever he’s put together for Happy Gilmore 2
John Paul Jones Arena SEPTEMBER 12
He’ll sing some humorous songs, and you will probably laugh a few times—which is more than I can say about a lot of other famous people with microphones you could pay to see at JPJ.—CM Gorey
CULTURE TO-DO LIST
THROUGH 9/20 CHAMBER MADE
The Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 26th season with a series of concerts including a free community performance on September 12. The eclectic program for strings, clarinet, and piano features music from Brazil as well as short works by classical composers Niccolò Paganini, de Beriot, Rebecca Clarke, Osmo Vänskä, and others in a one-hour lunchtime concert, with no tickets or registration necessary. Cellists Edward Arron and Raphael Bell, pianist Cristian Budu, violinists Jennifer Frautschi, Erin Keefe, Muriel Razavi, and Timothy Summers, and clarinetist Osmo Vänskä perform. Free, 12:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. cvillechambermusic.org
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29
Saturday 9/13
Blake Esse. Enjoy the sounds of this singersongwriter and recording artist from Culpeper. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Eli Cook. Music from the crossroads of blues, the highways of rock, and the backroads of country. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Mike Proffitt. Original and classic acoustic rock. Free, 6pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Second Saturday Music Series. Featured performer Katherine Nies is a genre-blending pianist, composer, and storyteller whose roots run deep in jazz, classical, and folk traditions. $5–10, 6pm. The Quarry Gardens at Schuyler, 1643 Salem Rd., Schuyler. quarrygardensatschuyler.org.
Stillhouse Sound. A dynamic five-piece band delivering an eclectic mix of soulful rock classics, funk favorites, modern hits, and deep cuts. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
The Harry Llama Adventure. Music on the lawn featuring a mix of originals, classic covers, and a few surprises. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potters craftcider.com
The Pollocks. Rocking acoustic music. $15, 7pm. Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Whistle Pig & The Trooperbuebies. An electric night of high-energy blues rock. With Uncalled For, playing tons of crowd-pleasing blues classics. Free,
10:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
stage
Romeo & Juliet Shakespeare’s most iconic story of young love—reckless, tender, and all-consuming. $51–92, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
The Two Gentlemen of Verona See listing for Thursday, September 11. $51–92, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com words
Author Event: Henry Wiencek. Join us for a book talk with Henry Wiencek, who will speak about his new book, Stan and Gus. Free, 4pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com
Storytime. Featuring readings from recent storybooks and the classics kids know and love. Rain or shine. All ages welcome. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com classes
Show and Tell: How to Make the Most of Your Story. Learn how to distinguish between showing and telling in your own writing and discover ways to include both in a new scene for your short story, essay, novel, or memoir. Led by James Seitz. $67, 10am. WriterHouse, 508 Dale Ave. writerhouse.org etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, September 11. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Family Studio Day. Make your own teeny tiny masterpieces using a range of materials and techniques inspired by “Teeny Tiny Trifecta 8.” Exhibiting artists will be on hand to guide and answer questions. Free, 10am–2pm. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org
Queeraoke. Everyone is welcome to join the fun and sing their heart out—no matter what level of singer you are. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
Sunday 9/14 music
Ali Webb. Captivating jazz vocalist brings humor, storytelling, and originals alongside jazz standards with Wells Handley, Randall Pharr, and Brian Caputo in Be Anything. $18–22, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival: Concert III. A concert of great classic works and fascinating contemporary pieces from Haydn, Widmann, Schubert, and Brahms performed by world-class musicians. $22–30, 3pm. Old Cabell Hall. cvillechambermusic.org
Dara James. Soulful blues music performed solo. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Gina Sobel. A natural improviser accomplished on multiple instruments, Sobel brings together elements of funk, jazz, and American folk music into a fresh and compelling sound. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Patrick & Aaron Olwell and Friends. An energetic and eclectic Irish music jam. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com
Rixeyville Revival. A dynamic duo of two life-long friends sharing the stage with other local musicians to create and unite people together with their love of music. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com
Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam. The musicians gather in a circle to jam and the audience sneaks a spot to watch from the perimeter. Show up with instruments if you got ’em. Otherwise, just show up. Free, 2pm. Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
South River Strings. An eclectic mix of rock, blues, and bluegrass from a four-piece outfit with rich harmonies and a soulful blend of genres. Free, 2pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com stage
The Two Gentlemen of Verona See listing for Thursday, September 11. $49–88, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. american shakespearecenter.com
classes
Crocheted Granny Squares. Level up your crochet skills and learn how to mix colors to make crocheted granny squares. Basic crochet experience needed. Leave with a bamboo crochet hook and a granny square. Ages 12+. $25, 3pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Paint + Sip: Pumpkin Wineglasses. Learn how to paint the design in a step-by-step format, no experience necessary. Ticket includes one or two wineglasses to adorn, specialty glassware acrylic paint, and all needed supplies. $38–40, noon. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. blueridgebrushes.com
Watercolor Foundations: Materials, Techniques, and Confidence. Learn about watercolor basics and techniques. All materials provided—including plenty of paper for notes and practice. Bring your curiosity, creativity, and questions. Ages 15+. $40, 2–5pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
STAGES CULTURE
Mannequin Pussy with Gouge Away
Iam impressed by Mannequin Pussy. The band makes contemporary indie rock that excels without posturing or abducting the riffs of pre-internet college radio’s heyday. MP writes melodies that sound as if no other option would make as much sense or satisfy the notes. This forgone conclusion of artistry is especially true on the choruses. The group packs the punch of the Pixies, and knows how to jangle along in those reverby, clean, jazzy chords that often disintegrate into warming fuzz layers.
Formed in Philadelphia in 2010, MP performs songs that don’t exude the kind of pretension you might imagine coming from a band whose debut record was released only on cassette in 2013. The music is rocking, philosophical, and insightful, particularly on 2024’s I Got Heaven, where the group deals adroitly in dynamics. Shouty fury breaks open panoramically with soaring, soul-bearing beauty.
etc.
Cville Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, September 11. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market.
Music Bingo. Fun for the whole family, with gift card prizes for winners. Free, 2pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarm andwinery.com
Monday 9/15
music
Jon Tyler Wiley. Rock ‘n’ roll from Virginia—possibly in a pickup truck. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
words
Storytime. A magical storytime adventure where the pages come alive and imagination knows no bounds. Free with admission to the museum, 10:30am. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. vadm.org
etc.
Beer & Board Games. A casual evening of brews, bites, and a little friendly competition. Whether
When MP is raging, it’s menacing. You wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of main vocalist Marisa Dabice’s tirade on the title track. As exciting as Bristol, England-based act Idles, Mannequin Pussy provides its share of punkish bursts crammed into one- to two-minute trad hardcore takes like “Aching,” a speedfreak that calmly swims into “Split Me Open,” the sweetly knit closer that you can imagine hearing on a Tuesday morning WNRN playlist.
The Jefferson Theater SEPTEMBER 16
Dabice’s voice goes from fully angelic to Linda Blair possessed at the drop of a distorted guitar, a schizophrenic back-and-forth that encapsulates the feeling of the band with one distinction: It doesn’t simply loud/quiet through every track for the hell of it. No, these shifts feel like calculated decisions that ultimately support smartly crafted choruses that could stand as catchy a capella singalongs to fill the darkness if the world lost all of its electricity for a while.—CM Gorey
you’re in it to win or just here to chill, there’s a spot for you. Free, 6:30pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Tuesday 9/16
music
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival: Concert IV. Enjoy State of the Art, two contemporary works by Jessie Montgomery and Thomas Adès, and a timeless trio by Antonín Dvořák. Free, 7:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. cvillechambermusic.org
Jazz Tuesdays. Guitar virtuoso Jeff Massanari is joined by Liz Barnes on piano, Karl Kimmel on bass, and Pat Hayes on drums. Free, 7:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapture restaurant.com
Mannequin Pussy. Philadelphia rock band brings cathartic tunes about despairing times. With Gouge Away. $30–35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Matt Axton. Americana singer-songwriter with legacy roots. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker ’25 World Tour. Formerly fronting rock-Americana groups Whiskey-
town and Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Adams is a seven-time Grammy-nominated musician praised as one of rock’s most talented songwriters. $39–89, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Vincent Zorn. Lively flamenco rumba with a unique percussive technique that incorporates a diverse range of strumming styles, rhythms, and taps. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
classes
Paint + Sip: Twilight Blooms. Paint the design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials provided. First beverage included with ticket purchase. $40, 6pm. Ellie’s Country Club, 16 Elliewood Ave. blueridgebrushes.com
etc.
Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Teams of two to six people compete to win prizes like gift certificates and pint glasses, plus bragging rights. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
The Run Club. Do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.
FOR FUN PUZZLES
SUDOKU
#1
#1
#4
#2
#5
PUZZLES FOR FUN
ACROSS
“Crazy” singer Green
Mentalist Geller
French fry, elsewhere
Shapiro of “All Things Considered” (until September 2025) 27. Supposes
England’s westernmost cape
31. PepsiCo beverage brand with a two-lizard logo
32. Country near the Strait of Hormuz
33. Minn. college named for a Norwegian king
35. Airpor t near OAK
38. Skater Lipinski
39. Where BTS originated
40. Saucy
41. “Exit full screen” key
42. “Walk This Way” rap trio
43. It’s light, but not a saber
44. “Happy Birthday” writer
46. One who agrees
48. Subject of a neighborhood flier
51. “Scratch that,” in texts
52. “If you think you can’t remember the prefix for three, just ___”
53. Submitted, as completed homework
55. A head
57. “Despicable Me” super villain
58. Protective gear
60. Actor Christopher
63. Wise one?
64. Adult Swim fare, for short
65. Beach house feature
66. Jack of nurser y rhymes
67. Online administrator
DOWN
1. G.P., e.g.
2. Line leader?
3. 1947 film set in India with Deborah Kerr as a repressed Anglican nun
4. Miley and Noah Cyrus’s manager mother
5. Vintage photo prints
6. Basic beginning
7. Main squeezes
8. Concert setting
9. Title location for an “Adventure,” per a 1976 interactive text computer game
10. Is familiar with
13. Snakes native to Southeast Asia but considered an invasive species in Florida
14. “Dies ___” (Requiem movement)
15. Bits of roasted cocoa beans
20. Barometric indicator of upcoming rain, maybe
22. Ursine baby
23. Mexican street corn
24. “Falcon Crest” star Lorenzo
By Rob Brezsny Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Scientists discovered that some caterpillars, while dissolving inside their cocoons, retain memories of their caterpillar lives even after becoming butterflies. In my view, that’s equivalent to us humans remembering details of our previous incarnations: having an all-new body but being able to draw on what our past body learned. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be able to draw on this amazing capacity in the coming weeks. The person you used to be will have key revelations and inspirations for the future you.
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov.21): According to Celtic mythology, Cerridwen is the goddess of inspiration. In her cauldron, she brews magical elixirs that bestow the powers of wisdom, creativity, and transformation. The humans most likely to earn her blessings are those who are patient and willing to be changed. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are now at the top of the eligibility list for gifts like these. And the next three weeks will be the most favorable time for you to ask for and receive such blessings. Here’s a clue that will help you get all you deserve: Believe in magic.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec.21): In ancient Chinese philosophy, ziran means naturalness, spontaneity. It might refer to the way a mountain is purely a mountain, and a wave is a wave without trying to be a wave. I think you Sagittarians are due for an extended engagement with this wild ease and elegant freedom. After weeks of inner labor, your soul wants to breathe in ziran. Your assignment is to let yourself be as natural and unconstrained as you dare—not correct or careful or “optimized.” So I advise you to head in the direction of what’s simple and real and good. Emphasize smoothness over effort. Choose your rhythm, not theirs. You aren’t required to prove your healing. You just have to live it.
Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Serendipity is an English term that refers to beautiful accidents, fortunate interruptions, unexpected opportunities, and surprisingly wonderful discoveries (The French equivalent is sérendipité; Italian: serendipità; Japanese: serendipiti.) The word didn’t exist until 1754, when author Horace Walpole coined it. Lovely outbreaks of good luck and uncanny blessings had been happening from time immemorial, of course, even though there wasn’t this precise word for them. Here’s a key point: They are more likely to occur if you believe they’re possible and make yourself alert for their arrival. That’s good advice for you right now.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The placenta is the only organ that the human body creates from
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Basenji is a dog breed that doesn’t bark. Instead, it produces an eerie, melodic yodel called a baroo. This oddity isn’t a flaw or drawback; it’s an interesting uniqueness. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to express your personal versions of the baroo—your idiosyncratic offerings and singular gifts. Playfully resist the pressure to be more conventional or “on brand.” Be faithful to what yearns to come out of you, which may be raw, radiant, and
a little weird. Let
your
authenticity be exactly what it is: a beacon, not a liability.
scratch and then discards. Let’s pause for a moment to register how remarkable this is: to grow a temporary life-support system and then jettison it once its purpose is fulfilled. Inspired by this miracle, I speculate that you may soon undertake a metaphorical version of it. A situation or experience that has nurtured you is reaching the end of its mission. Though it has served you well, the wise move might be to outgrow it and move on to a new phase of your evolution. At the very least, it’s time to embark on a search for new forms of nourishment.
Pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20): In Balinese gamelan music, there’s a technique called kotekan. Two instrumentalists play distinct musical parts that together create a seamless, intricately melodic and rhythmic texture. Let’s make this your metaphor to live by in the coming weeks, Pisces. In my astrological opinion, you are not meant to work solo. Your greatest success and most fun will come by generating harmony through collaborative improvisation and shared timing. A small warning: Someone else’s input may at first feel like interference, but it’s actually the missing part of the song. Let yourself blend, bounce, echo, and respond. Genius will be born in the spaces between.
Aries
(March 21-April 19): I can’t speak the Quechua language, which is Indigenous to the Andes Mountains. But I have lifted one of their words to use for our purposes here: munay. It refers to an intensely practical and visionary love that includes far more than sweet feelings and affection. When we practice mu-
nay, we offer discerning respect and detailed appreciation to those we adore. We are generously eager to help our allies live their best lives. It takes discipline! And focus! And ingenuity! To be a rigorous and vigorous source of munay, we must cultivate it as a daily practice. In the coming weeks, Aries, I hope you will go a bit wild in your expression of this tender force of nature. Imagine yourself as a gentle whirlwind of love that spreads interesting beauty and bestows useful blessings. Be a relentless dispenser of catalytic gifts.
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): The medieval Persian polymath Avicenna believed the soul entered the fetus not with the first heartbeat, but with the first dream. I offer this idea for your poetic consideration, dear Taurus. Let’s imagine that the next beautiful thing you create will not arise from your forceful intention. Rather, it will emerge because you give yourself permission to fantasize, to wander freely in wonder, and to meander with curiosity on the frontiers. Your assignment is not to hustle, but to incubate; not to push forward, but to dwell expectantly in the mystery.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20): The bowerbird constructs elaborate ground-based shrines not as nests but as seduction lures. The enticer might gather blue bottle caps, yellow flowers, and shiny stones so as to create a scene that piques the attention of a potential mate. These objets d’art are not merely decorative. They are displays that demonstrate discernment, skill, and aesthetic intelligence. I authorize you to be like a bowerbird, Gemini. What collection of symbols, words, gestures,
and curiosities will magnetize the people or opportunities you long to engage with? It’s not about flashiness; it’s about alignment. What you draw into your sphere will reflect the vibes you emanate.
Cancer
(June 21-July 22): The pearl doesn’t begin as treasure. In its earliest form, it’s an irritation: a grain of sand that’s really a wound inside the oyster. Over time, the creature coats it with layers of nacre, turning discomfort into luminescence. Let’s use that as a metaphor for you, Cancerian. In my view, your task right now is not to escape or shed what’s bugging you, but to expedite the coating process. What is that gritty thing? A memory, injustice, or unmet yearning? It’s crucial you don’t reject it and don’t let it fester. I think it’s best to turn it, layer by layer, into a luminous asset, even a treasure. Prediction: The pearl you form will long outlast the wound.
Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22): Olive trees can thrive in rugged environments, including rocky and nutrient-poor soils. Their root systems are wide, deep, and resilient. They are welladapted to full sun, high temperatures, and low water availability. In comparing you to an olive tree, Leo, I’m not implying you will always have to be as hardy as they are. But in the coming weeks, you will be wise to be equally plucky and persevering. Here’s another fact about the olive tree you can and should emulate: Its fruit is valuable and in demand.
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
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At the request of the Executor, I appoint Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 11 :00 a.m., as the time and my office at 420 Park Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, as the place for receiving proof of debts and demands against the decedent or her estate.
Edward H. Bain, Jr. Commissioner of Accounts Circuit Court for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia
NOTICE OF TAKING OF DEBTS AND DEMANDS
Upon request of the Executor, I will be conducting a hearing for receiving proof of debts and demands against the decedent or the decedent’s estate on September 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at the law office of Scott Kroner, PLC, 418 E. Water Street, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Rebecca C. Hryvniak Commissioner of Accounts
Community & MISC.
Notices
P.S. TRENDING
The good, the bad, and the Charlottesville
C-VILLE
Baggby’s opens Brekky in former Blue Ridge Country Store spot. New, modernized, renovated Charlottesville Middle School opens. Jen Fleisher. Katie Couric helps former UVA prez Jim Ryan move out of Carr’s Hill. UVA students return to Grounds. Weather (maybe?) cooling down for the season, with lows reaching 50 degrees. Jim Waive Tribute at Fry’s Springs Beach Club. Fresh figs. Tomato pie at Tomato Tomato Fest. Charlottesville Pride Festival’s record attendance. New speeding cameras. Best of C-VILLE party at IX Art Park. Zoning code debacle.
C-VILE
Empty storefronts on the Downtown Mall. UVA officially takes possession of FEI. John McGuire. Former UVA prez Jim Ryan moves out of Carr’s Hill. Police Civilian Review Board executive director resigns. Alakazam Toys closes. UVA students return to Grounds. Rush hour on the bypass. C&O bar closed all summer. Poop on the Downtown Mall. Yogaville lawsuit. New speeding cameras. Spotted lanternflies. Characters on “The Summer I Turned Pretty” asking, “Who’s Dave Matthews?” Zoning code debacle
