Despite perceptions, gun violence is down so far this year PAGE 13 Solid showings from Thomas Dean, Cathy Ward, and more PAGE 33
Join us for our 2nd annual festival!
Saturday, July 13, 2024
10 am - 5:30 pm
The Center at Belvedere Charlottesville, VA
“Stories told live and told well are magically transformative, connecting us deeply across all kinds of difference.”
“This is the most diverse and inclusive storytelling festival I’ve ever seen.”
- Sheila Arnold, Storyteller
We are a diverse community of storytellers and community builders presenting a second annual “Celebration of Tales” in Charlottesville. Join us as we build a stronger, deeper, and more inclusive community. We will feature a truly diverse array of storytellers uniting us through the power of story.
There will be powerful stories, expertly told. In addition, there will be children’s stories and a workshop for children as well as workshops for aspiring storytellers and fans who want to better understand the power of this art form.
Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Center Website.
Adult $25 • Child $10 • Family Pass $50
Scholarships and group discounts available. Enquire here: celebrationoftales@gmail.com.
Go to www.celebrationoftales.org to learn more!
Dovie ThomasonHannah HarveyCarolina Quiroga Charmaine Crowell-White Rob Craighurst Stan Trent
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
at Eat up!
list of local ways to bask in what’s left of the sunny season (there’s something
Galleries: What’s on view this month.
Sudoku
Crossword
Free Will Astrology
violence, city crime rates are lower overall.
Real Estate Weekly: A new zoning code allows for more housing—and plenty of opposition.
All You Can Eat: Creative flavors at SugarBear’s new shop.
Correction
In the June 19 cover story, ”The last Black space?”, we misgendered Emoni Brock. She is Mel Walker’s daughter.
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Hello, Charlottesville. Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.
I have a confession to make: I don’t really like summertime. Even beyond the heat (which I think most of us can agree is … kind of a lot), the mosquitos, and the tree pollen (achoo!), there’s something about the whole vibe of summer that gets on my nerves. Have fun! Do the things! Don’t waste a single second! It’s a lot of pressure.
7.3.24
Of course, I’m not so much of a curmudgeon that I can’t recognize the season’s highlights: I love the romance of fireflies, I have fond memories of sprinkling salt on slices of watermelon with my grandfather on the back deck, I’ve even been known to pelt a loved one with a water balloon on occasion. And I can’t deny that Charlottesville’s a pretty terrific place to indulge in the magic of summertime.
You’ll see for yourself on page 23, where in this week’s cover story I’ve highlighted 24 ways to have fun! do the things! and not waste a single second of the back half of your summer. No pressure.
Caite Hamilton
“[Joe Biden] says he ran because of Charlottesville. He didn’t run because of Charlottesville. He ran because it was his last chance. He’s not equipped to be President.”
—Former President Donald Trump on President Biden’s reaction to the events of August 11 and 12, 2017, during the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election
NEWS IN BRIEF
Crash into me
Former Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley was charged with Driving Under the Influence on June 24 in Albemarle County. Neither driver was injured as a result of the two-vehicle crash, but Albemarle County Police arrested Tinsley at the scene on suspicion of DUI. Tinsley is out on bond but is currently dealing with other legal issues surrounding a potential breach of settlement connected to the sexual assault allegations that prompted him to leave DMB in 2018. Tinsley’s arrest is not expected to have any impact on, let alone ruin, DMB’s current tour.
Change of pace
As of July 1, Virginia motorists are subject to new laws passed by the General Assembly, impacting uninsured motorists, farm use vehicles, disabled parking placards, and owners of manufactured homes. Drivers without insurance can no longer pay an uninsured vehicle fee and are now required to attain coverage at or exceeding Virginia’s liability limits. Other changes include the replacement of informal farm use placards with official Department of Motor Vehicles-issued plates, the elimination of the fee for disabled parking placards, and a new process for proof of ownership transfer for manufactured homes. For more information on these changes, visit dmv.virginia.gov.
Higher power
Former Cavalier Bridget Williams soared to new heights at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials on June 30, winning the women’s pole vaulting final. Williams, née Guy, graduated from the University of Virginia in 2019 and was thrice named an AllAmerican during her time in Charlottesville. Williams will represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics later this month.
Front Roe
seat PAGE 11
New additions
Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed five new members to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors on June 28. With this slate of selections, 13 members of the BOV are now Youngkin appointees and hold a majority of the board.
The BOV comprises 17 voting members and is responsible for approval of policies, the university’s budget, and long-term planning. Appointees are eligible to serve up to two four-year terms and must be confirmed by the Virginia General Assembly.
According to the Virginia Public Access Project, three of the five appointees—Dan Brody, Marvin Gilliam Jr., and David Webb—made major contributions to Youngkin’s 2021 campaign for governor.
Brody, an Albemarle County resident and president of Health Data Services,
graduated from UVA with an economics degree in 1973. He also donated $25,000 to the Youngkin campaign in 2021, according to VPAP. Additionally, he contributed $30,000 dollars to Spirit of Virginia—a Political Action Committee heavily associated with Youngkin—and $25,000 to the governor’s Inaugural Committee.
A graduate of UVA CLAS ’82, Webb now lives in Virginia Beach and is the vice chairman of commercial real estate giant CBRE’s Capital Markets Group. VPAP data indicates that Webb contributed $84,000 to the Youngkin campaign, $25,000 to Spirit of Virginia, and $400 to Youngkin’s Inaugural Committee.
A former coal mining executive, Gilliam is a returning face to the BOV, having
Drawing connections
Local artists from the Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center and the Starr Hill Pathways program got the opportunity to show off their artwork in student commissions for the Equity Center at the University of Virginia. The commissions were highlighted at the annual Starr Hill Pathways Student Expo on June 28 at John Paul Jones Arena.
The art installations are part of a collaboration between the Equity Center, the Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, the Charlottesville Mural Project, and BRJDC intended to center the voices of local youth in each piece. For their project, creatives from BRJDC made three fabric murals measuring the same size as the detention center doors. The fabric murals are on display at the
previously served on the Board from 2010 to 2014. Public campaign donation records indicate that Gilliam gave $120,000 to Youngkin’s 2021 campaign, the largest contribution of those appointed this year. Gilliam has an extensive record of campaign donations to Republicans across Virginia, including $150,000 to the Spirit of Virginia PAC and $50,000 to Youngkin’s Inaugural Committee.
The two other appointees, Dr. David Okonkwo and Porter Wilkinson, do not appear to have donated to Youngkin based on information from VPAP. Okonkwo currently serves as a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh, while Wilkinson is the counselor and chief of staff for the Smithsonian Board of Regents.
Equity Center’s office on the Downtown Mall at 201 W. Main St.
The Starr Hill Pathways mural, created by students in the Creative Arts pathway of the program, highlights local youth’s interpretation of diversity. The mural, which features the word “diversity” in bright colors amid blossoming roots, is also located in the Equity Center.
Glenn Youngkin
Choice care
Abortion access in Virginia two years post-Dobbs
By Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
Two years after the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion in Virginia remains protected up to 26 weeks and six days into pregnancy (with some exceptions for maternal health). In Charlottesville, organizations are working to uphold and expand existing protections around reproductive healthcare in the commonwealth and across the country.
Despite stringent restrictions in bordering states—including near-total abortion bans in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia— patients in Charlottesville can obtain an abortion through clinics like Whole Woman’s Health and Planned Parenthood.
For the last two years, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, the nonprofit arm of WWH, has been working to protect abortion access post-Dobbs both in the states it directly operates in and nationwide. The organization introduced litigation in Charlottesville last year to protect access to mifepristone, a drug commonly used for medication abortion in the United States since 2000.
The WWHA suit against the FDA is ongoing, but the Supreme Court affirmed on June 13 that access to mifepristone would remain unchanged. Recent rulings, including the mifepristone case and the June 27 SCOTUS decision to reinstate a lower court ruling allowing doctors to provide emergency abortion care, are good signs for the pro-choice movement, but they don’t protect against future efforts to restrict abortion access.
“We were encouraged by the Supreme Court’s two rulings in this session, although I think they had the opportunity to rule even stronger than they did,” says Amy Hagstrom Miller, President and CEO of WWH and WWHA. “I think we’re going to see more restrictions to come.”
Post-Dobbs, WWH has seen a surge in the number of out-of-state patients at Virginia clinics, a trend which has only accelerated in the last year. Virginia is the last remaining state in the South to not pass heavily restrictive abortion laws, making it a key sanctuary for people in neighboring states.
As of May 2024, about 30 percent of patients seen at WWH clinics in Virginia are from outside the commonwealth.
Since a six-week abortion ban went into effect in Florida on May 1, Hagstrom Miller says the number of patients seen from the Sunshine State at the Alexandria clinic has increased by 600 percent. While the total number of actual patients is relatively small, approximately 60, the dramatic trend demonstrates the cascading effects abortion bans in other states have on local reproductive care.
“Florida was serving as a destination for people from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, [and] other places that had banned abortion,” says Hagstrom Miller. “It’s a pretty deep challenge for the care infrastructure to lose a place like Florida.”
To support the growing number of outof-state patients traveling to Virginia for abortion care, WWH is opening a new clinic in Petersburg this July. With the opening of the new clinic—chosen for its convenient location along I-95—WWH will operate three clinics in Virginia.
Beyond brick and mortar clinics, WWH is also providing abortion care in the commonwealth through telemedicine and the mail.
“We are very committed to never having longer than a week wait for an appointment, and we’ve been able to uphold that even as people are traveling in from other places,” says Hagstrom Miller. “Abortion is completely accessible, and people can still get access to the medication abortion that they choose in Virginia and and in all the states where abortion is still protected.”
“You can get a safe abortion legally in Virginia, no matter if you’re from Virginia or you’re from another state that has banned abortion,” she says. “You can travel for abortion and it’s well within your rights to get a safe and legal abortion with us in Virginia.” With Democrats holding control of the state legislature, Virginia is unlikely to pass any abortion restrictions in the near future.
“You can get a safe abortion legally in Virginia, no matter if you’re from Virginia or you’re from another state that has banned abortion.”
AMY HAGSTROM MILLER, WWH AND WWHA PRESIDENT AND CEO
Still, conservative, pro-life Republicans remain active in Virginia, including Charlottesville-area Rep. Bob Good.
Immediately following the SCOTUS decision affirming access to emergency abortion care on June 27, Good introduced legislation that would make it “a federal crime for a licensed medical professional who accepts federal funds to perform or prescribe an abortion at any point after fertilization.”
“Thankfully, the Dobbs decision did overturn Roe, finding there is not a Constitutional right to abortion, and returning the regulation of abortion to the people’s representatives,” said Good in a press release. “In a post-Roe America, Congress must legislate to protect life. It is our duty to follow the science that life begins at conception and end abortion so that every American has the chance to live.”
With the exception of Good, Charlottesville-area legislators broadly support abortion access.
Clean, safe, and reliable water…
The ACSA’s annual drinking water quality reports are available on our website for customers and the general public. Working with the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, we continue to produce and deliver water of the highest quality. See the new look of the reports and read about our enviable position regarding the absence of any lead distribution pipes or lead service lines of customers, plus our ability to meet the new ultra-low PFAS guidelines. Contact us for a printed copy of the reports.
2022 ACSA Drinking Water Available
The ACSA's Annual Drinking Water Reports detail how our dedicated of the highest quality during 2021; it met or exceeded all regulatory Contact Tim Brown at tbrown@serviceauthority.org or 434-977-4511, X119. Visit www.ServiceAuthority.org
Whole Woman’s Health President and CEO Amy Hagstrom Miller says the number of Florida-based patients seen at the Alexandria WWH clinic has increased by 600 percent since the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Readers’ concerns over the recent spike in shootings in downtown Charlottesville have not gone unnoticed, but they belie a substantial overall drop in violent crime in the area, says city police.
According to data available on the City of Charlottesville’s website, there have been 112 calls for “shots fired” in the city so far this year, compared to 138 in the same amount of time in 2023, a reduction of just under 19 percent. There has been a single homicide in Charlottesville this year, compared to four by this time last year.
Charlottesville Chief of Police Michael Kochis says that while the improved numbers are good, people’s perception of safety is equally as important.
“I’m careful how I talk about numbers,” he says. “The statistics are important, but it’s also important how people feel … These shootings are happening at five o’clock in the afternoon when the kids are home from school and out on the street … It’s important how people feel and whether they feel safe.”
Kochis attributes the recent spike in gunshots heard throughout the city to an ongoing operation to stop two different groups from their cycle of continuous violence.
“We believe many of the recent calls for shots fired and gun arrests are connected to two groups who have been retaliating against each other,” he says. “We’re conducting an ongoing operation to find the people who are committing these crimes and put a stop to [them].” So far, the Charlottesville Police Department has made five arrests and removed 10 guns off the street, including two AR-style rifles, several pistols, and a modified, fully-automatic Glock.
The latter weapon Kochis refers to was part of an arrest made on June 13 at Tonsler Park. Richard Michael Sanders, Jr., of Charlottesville, was arrested on two counts of possession of a concealed weapon and three counts of possession of a firearm in a city park, both misdemeanors, as well as one felony count of possessing or using a machine gun. Sanders was also arrested a month ago for carrying a firearm on city property.
Two others were arrested in connection with the incidents: Damillion Diggs, arrested on June 12, was charged with two counts of possession of a scheduled I or II narcotic and two counts of possession of a firearm by a nonviolent felon within 10 years. Police seized two AR-style rifles, an AR-style pistol, and three handguns in the arrest.
Malik Luck, of Charlottesville, was arrested in connection with the shootings on June 17, when two separate incidents of gunfire were reported within five minutes of each other. A third outbreak of gunfire was reported later that evening, resulting in a total of 81 shell casings recovered from multiple weapons between the three incidents. Luck faces charges of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, which is itself a felony, as well as a misdemeanor count of reckless handling of a firearm.
After three shots fired calls in a single day, CPD issued a press release vowing an increase in manpower to bring the incidents to an end.
“CPD is continuing its operation into recent gun violence within the City,” the release read. “The operation is being expanded by adding additional resources and personnel. The operation is focused on individuals who are illegally possessing firearms and committing acts of violence within our community. The CPD is working closely with the Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to identify, arrest, and incarcerate those who continue to prey on our community.”
Kochis said that his department was not only increasing patrols, but building trust and working with the community to help restore peace in downtown.
“It’s very much an ongoing operation, and we’re increasing patrols in the areas where the shootings have taken place at the times that they have been taking place,” he says. “We’re also trying to build trust and better relationships within the community. It’s more than just patrols—it’s about being present.”
Charlottesville Chief of Police Michael Kochis vows to address recent surge in gun violence.
the CAMERA
This summer, share your snaps in our first-ever food photo contest. Give us a sweaty cocktail glass, a gooey burger overflowing with melty cheese, a stack of pancakes oozing with syrup. Get the picture?
Enter at bit.ly/cvillephoto2024 before Sunday, July 7, and our judges will choose the most mouth-watering images. The winners (and honorable mentions) will be published in an upcoming issue!
Annie Gould Gallery
Zoning in Density opponents argue in court that city didn’t follow state rules
By Sean Tubbs
Will opponents of Charlottesville’s new zoning code get a court trial to argue against recent rules?
That answer will not be known for at least several months following a 90-minute hearing last week on a motion from the city for Circuit Court Judge Worrell to dismiss the case.
Charlottesville City Council adopted a Development Code last December that allows more homes to be built on all properties within city limits. At the lowest level, parcels that used to be restricted to one unit can now have at least three.
On January 16, a group of residents filed a suit arguing their property values would be harmed by the additional density and alleging that the city did not perform a rigorous study of its effects on transportation infrastructure as required by Virginia law.
“The city failed to do what the General Assembly told them to do,” said Michael Derdeyn, a Flora Pettit attorney hired by the group, at the hearing. “The process was flawed.”
Derdeyn says a court trial would allow evidence to be submitted to prove the city did not send enough information to the Virginia Department of Transportation on the impacts that additional density might have.
The city responded that the opponents sought to use the courts to achieve what they could not do through the legislative process.
“The new zoning ordinance (NZO) identified a significant problem, which was a lack of affordable housing,” said Greg Haley of the law firm representing the city, Gentry Locke.
Haley said the new zoning was adopted as part of the Cville Plans Together process, which includes Council’s adoption of an affordable housing plan in March 2021 as well as a new Comprehensive Plan in November
2021. He said the zoning puts into practice values the council sought to adopt.
“It allows multifamily units in all zoning districts,” Haley said.
A major priority for Council was to distribute housing production across the city, but the study showed that the actual process would be “inherently incremental” and not rapid, Haley said. An inclusionary zoning analysis in the summer of 2023 estimated that 1,300 new units could be built over three years.
“You have conclusions from staff that the infrastructure is sufficient,” Haley said. A trial would not be warranted because the legislative body offered multiple forums for disagreements to be aired.
Derdeyn said the city’s rate of change analysis only looked at residential neighborhoods and did not study the potential impact on existing mixed-use corridors, where residential density is now unlimited with no maximum cap.
“They didn’t analyze the other parcels,” Derdeyn said. “They looked at part of the puzzle. They didn’t even look at the whole city.”
This is the second time Worrell has presided over a hearing involving these same issues. In August 2022, he dismissed three of four counts in a previous suit to overturn the Comprehensive Plan. At the time, he ruled the plaintiffs could not bring the case forward because they could not demonstrate any harm had been done to them through adoption of the plan.
Derdeyn said that harm is now demonstrated and the case should go to trial.
“Your honor said we had to wait until the zoning,” Derdeyn said. “The ordinance passed and now we are here.”
After a 90-minute hearing, Worrell made no decision and invited both attorneys to submit closing arguments. He plans to follow up with a written opinion.
“Suffice it to say, it’s an interesting
ment,” Judge Worrell said.
The zoning map adopted by Council in December 2023 sets up a future with more housing, but the plaintiffs in the case (three of whom are on Rugby Road or Rugby Avenue) argue the city should have done more study on the impacts of the additional density.
EDGEMONT
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 15 miles south of Charlottesville, is this rare 572-acre historic estate whose design is reputed to be the only remaining private residence attributed to Thomas Jefferson. $15,000,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700 www.HistoricEdgemont.com
HIGHER GROUND
27 acre estate, mountaintop retreat with 11,400 sf., 8-BR, 6.5-BA residence with many outside terraces, decks and unsurpassed panoramic mountain views! 10 miles to famed Omni Homestead Resort, 2 miles to the airport. Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455 www.highergroundva.org
SPRING HILL LANE
In Ivy! Architect designed, light filled Contemporary with 1st floor master suite, chef’s kitchen, FR, 3 additional BR, study, LR, DR, terrace level guest quarters, 2-car garage, pool and multiple terraces. Western school district. MLS#653127 $1,595,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
FREE UNION PARCEL
42 acre tract on Wesley Chapel Road with the right to be divided into two 21 acre parcels. Big views with clearing towards the Blue Ridge. Stream frontage on Burruss Branch. Old logging road recently cleared for easy access. MLS#647055
$799,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124
BENTIVAR MANOR
Exquisite brick home on 88 acres less than 5 miles from city limits. Residence is in excellent condition, 7-BR and 11,000+ sf. The property is a mix of pastures & woods with long frontage on the Rivanna River, & miles of trails. MLS#652353 $5,200,00 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
MEADOW FARM
436+ acres in Southern Albemarle! 4 division rights; complete privacy; lush, gently rolling terrain; long road frontage; stream; 3-acre lake; 125-135 acres of open land; mature hardwood forests. Under conservation easement. MLS#651411 $2,985,000 Charlotte Dammann, 433.981.1250
HISTORIC STAUNTON
Meticulously renovated National Historic Register home, blending modern amenities with remarkable charm. Five-bedroom with tall ceilings, hardwood floors, stained glass windows, and trim. Quartz kitchen, magnificent primary suite, terrace apartment. MLS#653080 $1,295,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700
KESWICK ESTATE
Discover Keswick Estate, a gated community near Keswick Hall, offering a 2.10± acre building site harmonizing country life and resort living in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Create your dream home close to golf, dining, tennis, and more. MLS#650785 $515,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700
FIELDS OF BOAZ
A country French estate on 24 acres 6 miles from the University of Virginia. Timeless charm and modern luxury with soaring ceilings, spacious primary suite, home office, wine cellar, guest quarters, and private pond. MLS#652608
$3,995,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700
BELLAIR
Recently renovated contemporary home in soughtafter Bellair neighborhood! With 4-BR, 3.5-BA, and a vaulted great room, this residence offers superb construction. Enjoy stunning views from the screened porch. MLS#652438 $2,875,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
CRAIGS STORE RD
Nestled amidst the rolling hills of western Albemarle, this 76 acre parcel offers compelling views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, diverse terrain, and multiple estate-caliber building sites. 2 miles from Batesville Market, 15 miles from Charlottesville. Not under conservation easement. MLS#652337 $1,150,000 Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700
MONTICELLO AVENUE
1-BR, 1-BA condo located just steps away from the Downtown Mall. Boasting pristine condition this unit features a gourmet eat-in kitchen, private balcony and more! Exceptional Downtown living. MLS#651308 $457,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Will Faulconer, 434.987.9455
SIZZLING SAVINGS
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Organic Walnuts
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HEALTH & BODY CARE
SALE! ALL IN-STOCK ITEMS JULY 2-31 *some exclusions apply
Sunny days
ahead
YOUR CHARLOTTESVILLE SUMMER BUCKET LIST Spoiler alert: Summer’s almost halfway over. But there’s so much more fun to be had! We’ve compiled 24 mustdos for your summer bucket list. Check them off as you go, and use hashtag #cvillesummerbucketlist to share what you’re up to.—By Caite Hamilton
Sunny days ahead
Pop by the City Market.
If you don’t visit the City Market at least one Saturday morning in the summer, did summer even happen?
Head downtown to reunite with in-season favorites like Planet Earth Diversified, The Orchid Station, and Caromont Farm. And, duh, grab some Shenandoah Joe to go.
Be a tourist in your town.
If the last time you visited Monticello was on a sixth grade field trip (guilty), take advantage of Monticello’s Local Discount—if you’re an area resident, enjoy a reduced rate of $22 for self-guided tours. (Or get in free when you accompany an out-of-towner who’s paying full price!)
Albemarle County Fair.
Two words: funnel cake.
Float on the Rivanna.
In the movie of Charlottesville’s life, the Rivanna would be a major character. Not only is this 42-mile tributary of the James a glimmering topographical feature of our area, it’s also the coolest (literally?) place to be in the summertime. Grab an intertube and put in anywhere you can.
Pick a peck of peaches. White, yellow, or donut (the flat ones that are good for snacking), Chiles’s peaches are a musthave in the summertime. Pick your own, then grab a cone (or two) of the Crozet spot’s signature seasonal ice cream and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountain view.
Return to the Corner.
Ah, summertime. Birds are chirping, flowers are blowing in the breeze, and the Corner is all but emptied of undergrads. We like to take the opportunity to explore this uncharted (during the school year, at least) territory.
Dine al fresco.
We don’t have to tell you the best place to do this (ahem, the Downtown Mall). Another good option? Pack a picnic and stroll UVA’s Pavilion gardens.
Eat a hot dog from the grill.
We say hot dog, but really anything will do (see: Pick a peck of peaches). The point is: Grill it, eat it. (Need a grill? Ace Hardware sells a classic Big Green Egg, but many picnic shelters at Pen and McIntire parks have grills, too.)
Go fly a kite.
No, really. Find a fun one at Alakazam or Shenanigans, then head to Pen Park and let ’er rip.
Get drippy with it.
The return of summer means the return of Chandler’s Ice Cream stand, that Instagrammable soft-serve spot on River Road.
Go on a bike ride.
Ready to feel the wind in your hair? Blue Ridge Cyclery offers bike rentals for $60 per day.
Root for the home team.
Head to Crutchfield Park, where the Tom Sox—40+ elite collegiate baseball players from across the country—kicked off their 42-game season in early June. Admission is free, and the schedule is at tomsox.com. Not a baseball fan? Charlottesville Blues launched earlier this summer and both the men’s and women’s teams are #goals. Find more info at charlottesvillebluesfc.com.
Sunny days ahead
Shoot for the stars.
The Leander McCormick Observatory public night program (it’s free on the first and third Friday nights of every month) is a can’tmiss any season, but we especially like going in the summer. Register early to observe celestial objects through the observatory’s 26-inch McCormick Refractor— and keep your eye out for UFOs.
Make lemonade.
If life’s handed you lemons, Splendora’s— also a good summer stop!—owner PK Ross recommends the gelato shop’s lavender lemonade: Pour boiling water over two cups of dried lavender and four cups of sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Cover with plastic to steep for 20 minutes with 1kg lemon juice in an eight-quart container. Strain the lavender syrup and then top with water to 5kg total weight.
Go fish!
Walnut Creek, Chris Greene Lake, Ragged Mountain Reservoir... There’s no end to the great places you could nab a fresh catch in our area.
Drink on a rooftop.
You have four choices: Quirk Hotel, The Graduate, LEVEL10, or Blue Moon Diner. The first three offer sweeping views of the city, while Blue Moon boasts a charming view of West Main’s midtown stretch.
Eat watermelon.
Grab this classic summer treat from the City Market, slice it open, and go to town. Bonus bucket list points if you let the juice run down your chin.
Plant veggies for fall. You reap what you sow, so get your fall vegetable bounty going in the summertime for optimum results. In July, plant beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, peas, radishes, spinach, and winter squash from seed.
Take a staycation.
Can’t get away? Live like a tourist in one of the area’s 300+ vacation rentals through Airbnb or, more locally, Stay Charlottesville. Let the hosts be your guide to the city, with recommendations for restaurants and tourist attractions.
Join a CSA.
Fresh veggies all season long and none of the work of planting, watering, or harvesting? Sign us up.
Dance to live music.
Summer offers an abundance of opportunities to get your groove on, from free concerts at Fridays After Five or The Garage to ticketed shows at Ting Pavilion. Or catch a glimpse of live music through the windows of downtown restaurants. Miller’s and The Whiskey Jar often have bands jamming loud enough to have a listen.
Catch a firefly.
When the weather warms up, humidity-loving fireflies come out to play. Trap one with your hands or in a jar and watch the magic of bioluminescence come to life.
Watch a sunset.
Sure, you could hike to Humpback Rock or Raven’s Roost to catch an epic sunset over the mountain range, but we recommend more urban destinations: the Belmont Bridge, the Lawn at UVA, or the top of a parking garage downtown.
Head to Blue Hole.
The final destination of a hike through Sugar Hollow, Blue Hole isn’t actually blue. It’s a refreshing swimming home with a small waterfall that cascades into the basin. In other words, a great spot to relax after a 1.5mile hike.
TOM DALY
CULTURE
FRIDAY 7/5
HERE TO PLAY
Charlottesville’s first music and gaming event in more than a decade, Mosh Bit features casual gaming tournaments and punk performances by NIJI SAGA, Steel Samurai, and 14£bs. Each band combines nostalgic video game melodies with energetic sets packed with a punch. Superbit, a new outpost of the popular gaming store from northern Virginia, and local shop The End Games bring activities for all to enjoy. Don’t get your wires in a twist—be ready to play for prizes during this electrifying musical experience. $15, 8:30pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
THURSDAY 7/4
WARM WELCOME
As our country celebrates its collective independence, Charlottesville has the additional honor of welcoming new citizens into the nation at July 4th at Monticello. The historic home’s West Portico transforms into an open-air Naturalization Ceremony where the Oath of Citizenship to become an American is issued to dozens of deserving individuals. This year’s keynote address will be delivered by author, philanthropist, and American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland. Shuttles to the mountaintop will run from PVCC starting at 7:30am for a full morning of music, family activities, root beer floats, and more! Free, reservations required. The ceremony begins at 9am. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org
72 WAYS TO KICK OFF YOUR SUMMER
FRIDAY 7/5
COUNTRY FOLLOW
Alternative country group Jared Stout Band creates tunes for the soul rooted in the heart of Appalachia. The band’s discography journeys through the countryside of sound and promises to provide an evening of comforting bluesy folk. Stout’s thoughtful and original songwriting has solidified the group as one to watch, earning a runner-up accolade for the “On-the-Rise” award at FloydFest ’22. Opening performer Low Water Bridge Band has recently released its sophomore album Back to the Valley, which shares the story of small town life in the Shenandoah Valley. Free, 5:30pm. Ting Pavillion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com
CULTURE THIS WEEK
Wednesday 7/3 music
Berto and Matt. Latin guitar night. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Karaoke. Downtown C’ville’s longest-running karaoke party. Hosted by Jenn Deville. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Karaoke. Sing your heart out at Fiorano Karaoke. Easy sign-up and a booming sound system. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
Mike Rosensky Trio. Live jazz music. Free, 8:30pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com
Open Mic Night. Open to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. Hosted by Nicole Giordano. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
The Wavelength. Vintage rock and jazzy blues vibrations for your mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskey jarcville.com
classes
Flower Embroidery. Stitches common in floral embroidery can be used in so many ways. Embroidery hoop and supplies as well as printed instructions provided. Ages 14+. $25, 5pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Needle Felted Geodes. Join Ari (they/them) for a fun, relaxing time felting a pretty and practical pincushion or decoration. Ages 14+. $35, 5pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
etc.
Bent Theatre Improv. A hilarious evening of improv comedy where you make the show by shouting out suggestions. Free, 7pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St. decipherbrewingco.wixsite.com Bingo. Free to play, fun prizes. Free, 6pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Blow Out Sound engineer John Travolta gets an earful of intrigue in director Brian De Palma’s shocker. $10, 7:15pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com
SuperFly Run Club. Run around the city, then enjoy $5 pints. Raffles and exclusive merchandise to be earned. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Thursday 7/4 music
Berto and Vincent. Join Berto and Vincent for a night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Heifetz International Music Institute. Independence Day concert and celebration. Free, 2pm. James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe Pkwy. highland.org
Jimmy O. Celebrate Independence Day the DuCard way with wonderful wine and music by house favorite Jimmy O playing classic rock, oldies, and country music. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Karaoke. Sing karaoke with us at Firefly Restaurant + Game Room every Thursday. Reservations recommended. Free, 8pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Patriotism in the Park Food, local bands, and family-friendly activities starting at 5pm. Fireworks at 9pm. McIntire Park, 375 250 Bypass. 997cyk.com
Independence Celebration Jam to live music by Lord Nelson with opener Cake Fight. There will be an open grill serving up burgers, hotdogs, and snacks as well as food trucks. Fireworks at dusk. Boar’s Head Resort, 200 Ednam Dr. boarsheadresort.com
Red, White, and Blue in Greene
A big Independence Day celebration in the small town of Stanardsville. Enjoy live country music and food vendors leading up to fireworks at 9:45pm. Morris Field, 13510 Spotswood Trl., Ruckersville. rwbng.org
Fourth of July Parade in Scottsville Parade at 9am hosted by the Scottsville Fire Department. Fireworks over the James River at dusk. 141 Irish Rd., Scottsville. scottsville.org
Grave’s Mountain Farm and Lodge
Afternoon picnic, evening lodge dinner, music by The Unsuitables, pony rides, and craft vendors. Fireworks at 9pm. 205 Graves Mountain Ln., Old Blue Ridge Tpk., Syria. gravesmountain.com
Wintergreen’s July Jubilee Pool party, live music, racquet sports competitions, artisan market, chairlift rides, children’s block party, and a magic show at Wintergreen Resort. Fireworks at 9:30pm on July 6. Wintergreen Resort, 39 Mountain Inn Loop, Nellysford. wintergreenresort.com (Through July 8)
Matthew O’Donnell. “The Blue Ridge Bard” is a cornerstone of the C’ville music scene. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
Michael Clem. Enjoy live tunes and Thursday specials in addition to the regular menu. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Thursday Jam with Steve Lanza. Steve hosts a gathering where you are invited to come and play along. Free, 8pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
Waterfalls Trio. Reds, Whites, and Bluegrass. Celebrate the 4th of July at Keswick Vineyards with some great red and white Virginia wines, delicious food, and bluegrass music by Waterfalls Trio. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com etc.
July 4th at Monticello. Join us as we celebrate Independence Day with a Naturalization Ceremony, remarks from Misty Copeland, family activities, music, community partners, and more. Free, 9am. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. home.monticello.org
Friday 7/5
music
Boxed Lunch. Awesome indie pop-rock sounds that are sure to satisfy all of your musical cravings. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Chickenhead Blues Band. Charlottesville’s premiere boogie woogie, upbeat, rhythm and blues dance band. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E Market St.
Fridays After Five: Jared Stout Band. An electrifying alt-country band with a musical style that’s as diverse as the Appalachian landscape they call home. With Low Water Bridge Band. Free, 5:30pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com
Josh Mayo and The House Sauce. C’ville favorite Josh Mayo performs rock ‘n’ roll with a rotating cast of familiar faces. Free, 8pm. Vision BBQ & Catering, 247 Ridge McIntire Rd. visionbbqcville.com Karaoke. See listing for Wednesday, July 3. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
Ken Matthews. Kick off the weekend with wine, kebabs, and live music. Virtuoso Ken Matthews lays down some wailing saxophone and classic tunes on the clarinet. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Mosh Bit: Punk Music and Gaming Night. A celebration of the music and culture surrounding video games. Bit-crushing performances by NIJI SAGA, Steel Samurai, and 14£bs. $12–40, 8:30pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Septic Vomit Gore. Death metal and barbecue. ‘Nuff said. Free, 8pm. Ace Biscuit & Barbeque, 600 Concord Ave. words
Friday Night Writes. An open mic evening of emerging writers performing their short stories, poetry, and music. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St. , Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com etc.
Puzzle Crawl. This puzzle crawl takes you to the breweries on Preston Avenue. Crack codes, solve puzzles, and enjoy some of Charlottesville’s best beers along the way. $15, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Saturday 7/6 music
Berto and Vincent. Join Berto and Vincent for an afternoon of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 2:30pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Berto Sales. Sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America with Berto Sales. His unique fingerpicking style and contagious energy will have you tapping your feet. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com
Bob Bennetta Quartet. Gigi’s Celebration of Life. Gigi loved jazz standards from the ‘30s to the ‘50s and loved to sing, so it is fitting that we celebrate her with the Bob Bennetta Quartet. Free, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com
Cake Fight. Live modern pop and classic rock in an absolutely stunning setting with some of the region’s best wines. Free, 1pm. Southwest Mountain Vineyard, 2300 Whipper In Ln., Keswick. smvwines.com
Chris Burrows. Enjoy live tunes with your wine, cider, and beer along with a full menu of food options to choose from. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Eli Cook Band. Join us for upbeat and fun bands every Saturday night. Join us for live music that you’ll want to dance to. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Goth Takeover. Come dance and celebrate all things spooky. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
Street Beans. Phenomenal street musicians with irresistible party grooves. An amazing repertoire, dazzling stage show, and undeniably soulful vocals up front. Free, 10pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Troy Breslow. Singer-songwriter Troy Breslow plays country music. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Willie DE. Original rock ‘n’ roll. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com
dance
‘80s Dance Party. ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s tunes to get you busy on the dance floor. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
classes
Felted Soap. Join Ari (they/them) to learn a wet felting process for making colorful scrubby soaps covered in soft wool. They’re like a washcloth and a soap in one. Ages 14+. $35, 3:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Needle Felted Opossums. Join Ari (they/them) to learn how to make a soft little opossum figure using a specialized notched needle to sculpt dyed wool. This class is suitable for beginners. Ages 14+. $35, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Field Day. Fun at Blenheim Vineyards, featuring music from Richelle Claiborne and Tucker Rogers, seafood from Oyster Catcher Sea Farms, and more. Free, 11am. Blenheim Vineyards, 31 Blenheim Farm. blenheimvineyards.com
LYAO Presents: Chris Alan is Runnin’ It. Chris Alan is a nationally touring standup comedian and podcaster based out of Washington, DC. His style is a mix of well-crafted jokes and stories about his life. $20–60, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
CULTURE ALL YOU CAN EAT
Bear hugs
New ice cream shop has the scoop on exciting flavors
By Ella Powell arts@c-ville.com
Emily Harpster launched SugarBear, an artisanal ice cream brand that prizes local ingredients and collaboration, in 2022, hoping to honor “food, small business, and community.” She takes a lot of pride in making each pint from scratch, but where does she find inspiration?
For Harpster, it’s simple: Most of her flavors evolve from personal experience. Take Wild Woman Whiskey, a nod to spiked eggnog that was inspired by a friend’s heartbreak.
Perfectly creamy and smooth, Wild Woman Whiskey has subtle hints of nutmeg that make it taste like spiked eggnog. But unlike the hotly contested Christmas beverage, here SugarBear’s use of whiskey and holiday spice creates a rich flavor that’s not overpowering, but strong enough to mend a wounded heart.
The Call Me Old Fashioned, a take on the classic cocktail, features Elijah Craig bourbon and sour Morello cherries. Infused with bitters, the ice cream is sweet and refreshing with a hint of orange in every bite. The cherry topping adds a sour punch, keeping the dessert versatile and edgy. If you like the cocktail, you’ll enjoy the flavor profile of this unique treat.
SugarBear’s traditional flavors are equally worth a lick. Emperor of Ice Cream, a nod to poet Wallace Stevens, who wrote a piece by the same name, is a chocolate pint reminiscent of a rich brownie.
“I was trying to think what the Emperor of Ice Cream should be, and I knew it had to be chocolate,” says Harpster.
Mint Chocolate Chunk, made with coconut oil, has a smooth texture with a glossy mouthfeel. The strong kick of mint is not for
the weak, but those committed to a refreshing blast contrasted by nibs of dark chocolate are in for an elevated summertime treat.
The East High Street store’s fruity flavors—Blueberry Sunshine and Passionfruit included—are perfect for summer. Blueberry Sunshine contains blueberry coulis from local Eastwood Farm & Vineyards and lemon zest swirled into sweet cream. Though the tangy lemon hits the palate first, the flavor quickly transforms to sweetness. Meanwhile, Passionfruit includes real fruit puree as its central ingredient, and its balance of subtle tartness against a heightened sugary taste makes it, as Harpster says, “most popular with the kiddos.”
SugarBear’s menu is vibrantly handwritten and features a rotation of local collaborations and seasonal specials that pique curiosity. A row of picnic tables in the back allows customers to relax like it’s their own backyard, while velcro ax-throwing and jumbo Connect Four await groups of family and friends who are in for a sweet time.
Emily Harpster’s SugarBear offers unique flavors and hand-scooped cones at its new shop on East High Street. You can also find the ice cream at local markets including Foods of All Nations and MarieBette. Find out more at sugarbearcville.com.
PHOTOS: TRISTAN WILLIAMS
CULTURE THIS WEEK
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
Saturday 7/6
Puzzle Crawl. See listing for Friday, July 5. $15, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Storytime. Readings of recent favorites and classics. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com
Sunday 7/7 music
Caroline Vain. Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Richmond, VA. Caroline combines her experience as a fiddle player with indie rock elements to create a unique sound. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com
Gina Sobel. Gina Sobel is a natural improviser. Accomplished on multiple instruments, she radiates energy and excitement in her live performances of funk, jazz, and American folk. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducard vineyards.com
Holly Renee and The Road Dawgs. Holly Renee Allen delivers Americana soul. Her songs are rich and vibrant, lyrically intelligent—and sung in “Southernese.” Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
DG3. Gin and jazz in the Château Lobby bar. DG3 is a jazz trio that showcases modern music and modern takes on classic jazz standards. Free, 5:30pm. Oakhurst Inn, 100 Oakhurst Cir. oakhurstinn.com
dance
Salsa Dance Night. DJ Rafa will be spinning the latest in salsa and Latin-inspired dance cuts in the dance floor area of the bar. Come feel the heat and move. Free, 9pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail Ste.101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
words
On the Movement of Books. G. Scott Clemons will discuss how he has collected the Aldine Press since his days as an undergraduate in the Classics Department at Princeton University. Free, 5:30pm. The Edgar Shannon Library, 160 McCormick Rd. library.virginia.edu
etc.
Red Dawn In the mid-1980s, only a band of brave teenagers can stop a communist invasion of small-town America. $10, 7pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com
Tuesday 7/9
music
C-VILLE Weddings provides couples with a comprehensive guide to planning their big day. Make us the first stop on the road to wedded bliss.
Michael Johnson. Michael Johnson has been playing country, worship, rock, and a range of music for the last 20 years. Enjoy the sounds of the acoustic guitar while you dine. Free, 1pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail Ste. 101, Barboursville. fioranomediterranean.com
Vincent Zorn. Join Vincent on the veranda for Latin guitar tunes and stunning views. Free, noon. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, 5022 Plank Rd., North Garden. pippinhill farm.com
classes
Tree of Life Necklaces. Jewelry-making class for beginners using basic wire wrapping techniques and semi-precious gemstone beads. Ages 12+. $40, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.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, 6pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmand winery.com
Paint by Numbers. Join us for a self-guided paint-by-number session to explore your creative side at your own pace. $20, 1pm. Cake Bloom, 705 W. Main St. cake bloom.com
Puzzle Crawl. See listing for Friday, July 5. $15, all day. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Monday 7/8
music
Berto and Vincent. Come join us for an evening of Spanish rumba and Latin guitar with Berto Sales and Vincent Zorn. Free, 6:30pm. South and Central Latin Grill, 946 Grady Ave., Ste. 104. southand centralgrill.com
Betty Jo’s Boogie Band. Live boogie band with a horn section and all. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
Barling and Collins. Legendary C’ville bar band back at it again. Free, 7:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
Karaoke. Sign up and sing your favorite songs. Hosted by Thunder Music. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Vincent Zorn. Vincent Zorn performs solo wild flamenco rumba. Must say “olé!” Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
stage
KidsFest: The Elixir of Love A live opera performance for students. K-12 kids get to meet one of the stars of the show, receive an introduction to the world of theater, have a snack, and get a take-home packet. Free, 1:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
classes
Paint + Sip. Grab some food from the Dairy Market and a cold beer from Starr Hill Brewery, then paint with us. Learn a variety of techniques and skills to render a “vibrant sunset” scene. $38, 6pm. Starr Hill Downtown, 946 Grady Ave. Ste. 101. blueridgebrushes.com
etc.
Bingo. Five rounds of this brew-tiful game. Family-friendly, so bring the whole crew. $20, 6pm. Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery - Charlottesville, 520 Second St. SE. threenotchdbrewing.com
Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Music Bingo. Prizes to be won. Hosted by King Trivia. Free, 7pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Poker Night. Test your luck and skill at our hold’em poker night. Free, 7pm. Fiorano Restaurant and Bar, 5924 Seminole Trail Ste. 101, Barboursville. fiorano mediterranean.com
Top Secret! The makers of AIRPLANE! take on World War II epics and spy thrillers. $7, 7:15pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com
July Exhibitions
The Barn Swallow Artisan Gallery 796 Gillums Ridge Rd. “Listening to Artifacts,” new works in sculpture and collage by Kim Boggs. Through July 7. First Fridays reception at 5:30pm.
Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. “Bellair: Making Visible the Invisible,” plein air landscape paintings of a local farm over the course of a year by Raymond Berry. Through August. First Fridays reception at 5pm. City Clay 700 Harris Street, Ste. 104. “Emma’s Imaginarium,” a large-scale coralscape installation of ceramic works by Emma Terry. Through July 25.
Crozet Artisan Depot 5791 Three Notch’d Rd., Crozet. “A Lasting Impression,” functional ceramic works by Ingrid Chase. “The Unfolding of your Words,” plein air paintings by Donna Cruce Kocka. Through July. Meet the artist event July 13, 11am–1pm.
C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery 118 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. “Dreaming of Trees,” by Mary Ellen Larkins explores the inspiring and magical aspects of fused glass. Through July. First Fridays reception at 5pm. Dovetail Design and Cabinetry 1740 Broadway St., Suite 3. “TWEETS,” acrylic and watercolor works by Matalie Deane and Juliette Swenson. Through July.
The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA 155 Rugby Rd. “Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala.” Through July 14. “The Spaces We Seek,” curated by students from the 2023–24 University Museums Internship class. Through July 14. “Barbara Hammer: Evidentiary Bodies,” featuring an immersive multichannel video installation. June 22, 2024–January 26, 2025. The museum will be closed July 15–August 30 for exhibition changeover.
Ix Art Park 522 2nd St. SE. “The Jungle Within,” a new exhibition featuring living plants by Annie Temmink with Trevor Kemp inside “The Looking Glass.” Ongoing. “Art Mix at Ix,” a fun night of painting, live music, and cocktails at the outdoor art park. Paint Swap Party, a painting workshop where artists switch canvases every 5 minutes. First Fridays, 6:30pm.
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA 400 Worrell Dr. “Shifting Ground: Prints by Indigenous Australian Artists from the Basil Hall Editions Workshop Proofs Collection,” curated by Jessyca Hutchens, featuring work by 22 Indigenous Australian artists. Through October 6. “Our Unbroken Line: The Griffiths Family,” screenprints on textiles, ceramic works, and paintings curated by Dora Griffiths. July 13–December 8. Les Yeux du Monde 841 Wolf Trap Rd. “Influence + Conversation,” interdisciplinary works by Barbara Campbell Thomas and Isabelle Abbot. July 12–August 25. Opening reception July 12 from 5–7pm. McGuffey Art Center 201 Second St. NW. In the Smith, First, and Second Floor Galleries, the annual “All Members Summer Show,” features current work from renting and associate members. July 2–August 18. In the Lower Level North Gallery, “International Neighbors Exhibition,” featuring artworks made by refugees resettled in Charlottesville. Through July. First Fridays reception at 5:30pm.
New City Arts 114 Third St. NE. In the Welcome Gallery, “Around the Table: Political play, agency, gamification, and other things we can learn from board games,” a multidimensional exploration of the art and politics of board games, curated by New City Arts Artist-in-Residence Chandler Jennings. July 12–25. Opening reception July 12 at 5pm.
The PVCC Gallery V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. The 2024 Student Art Exhibition, celebrating the accomplishments of student artists from the latest academic year. Through September 7.
Quirk Gallery 499 W. Main St. In “Care Less,” artist Seth Bauserman borrows the subject
matter of his daughter’s drawings to explore the space between innocence and experience. Through July 28.
Random Row Brewing Co. 608 Preston Ave. “Inside/Outside: Flowers in the Window,” recent paintings by Randy Baskerville. Through August.
The Rotunda UVA Grounds. In the Upper West Oval Room, the Charlottesville Indigenous Art Takeover. “Waŋupini: Clouds Of Remembrance And Return,” works featuring depictions of clouds by various artists. Through July 7.
Second Street Gallery 115 Second St. SE. In the Main Gallery, “The Art of Collage” features artworks from 41 contemporary
artists. In the Dové Gallery, “Paper Room,” a mixed-media and interactive exhibition by Jess Walters with Stephen Haske and Sarah Lawson. Through July 19.
Studio Ix 969 2nd St. SE. “More Echo,” features new works by Thomas Dean, including screenprints on paper and wood and collage images. July 5–September 1. Opening reception July 12 at 5pm.
Visible Records 1740 Broadway St. “Amigxs Gringxs,” a group exhibition featuring artists of many diasporas looking at their complex relationships with immigration/migration, colonization, cultural heritage, and trans-border/cultural identities. Through August 2.
IMAGES COURTESY OF THE GALLERIES AND/OR ARTISTS
Jess Walters with Stephen Haske and Sarah Lawson at Second Street Gallery
Seth Bauserman at Quirk Gallery
Thomas Dean at Studio Ix
Cathy Ward of the Griffiths family at Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection
Raymond Berry at Chroma Projects
PUZZLES
That sounds rough
BY MATT JONES
ACROSS
1. Lingerie buy, for short
5. MDX and RDX maker
10. Chest muscles, briefly
14. ___ Mills (bygone photography business)
15. Kidney-related
16. “Magnum P.I.” setting
17. A “Sesame Street” monster’s butt?
19. Cherry part
20. “... ___ the fields we go”
21. “Bill ___ Saves the World”
22. Samplers of sorts
24. Bagel cheese
26. Writer Fleming
27. U.K. city with a lot of bridge discards?
34. Actress Lively
37. Went too far, like a sentence
38. Teensy
39. Puerto Rican pop star Fonsi
40. He preceded Liz and Rishi
41. “Me as well”
42. Tool for rowing
43. Eldest St ark daughter on “Game of Thrones”
44. Watch covertly
45. Prescription taken while in restraints?
48. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” announcer Wilson
49. In a bawdy way
53. W ith 60-Across, possibility with shoddy “Survivor” merchandise?
57. “Wahoo!” in Oaxaca
58. Singer Corinne Bailey
59. Not achromatic
60. See 53-Across
63. Ski resort near Park City
64. Actor Michael, subject of dueling impersonations in “The Trip”
65. Tennis tournament type
66. Dishevel, as hair
67. Not acquired, in some poems
68. “I, Claudius” emperor
1. Hot mugful
2. Skin lotion ingredient sources
3. Language where “How’s it going?” is “Kei te pehea koe?”
4. Do a comic book job
5. Words before “kidding” or “serious”
6. Forfeit
7. Burmese leader of the 1950s
8. Whitewater ride
9. ___ Romeo (Italian car)
10. Mail-related
11. Corroded
12. “Believe” Grammy winner
13. Added amounts
18. Fireplace nook
23. Roadside marker
25. Puts in the form of a question
28. Fern leaf
29. Iran’s official language
30. Early supercomputer
31. Votes of opposition
32. Fish in a Pixar pic
33. Cookbook author Paula
34. Allied nations
35. Pacific island
40. Mid-2010s term of endearment
41. Blow out, as a volcano
43. Broadcast TV censor’s concern, once
44. Villainous look
46. Acting family of three generations
47. “Yeah, right!”
50. Arrange loosely
51. Bronny James, as of a recent draft pick
52. Like some two-choice questions
53. “Careless Whisper” duo
54. “Shoresy” streamer, stateside
55. Tuskegee or Spelman, for short
56. Actor Morton who played King George in “Hamilton” (and whose son played “Young Sheldon”)
57. “That’s ___ concern to you!”
61. Newton’s tree?
62. Long time
SUDOKU
Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Cancer
(June 21–July 22): Even though you and I were both born under the sign of Cancer the Crab, I have a taboo against advising you to be like me. I love my life, but I’m not so naïve or arrogant as to think that what has worked for me will also work for you. Now, however, I will make a temporary exception to my policy. Amazingly, the astrological omens suggest you will flourish in the coming weeks by being at least somewhat like me. Therefore, I invite you to experiment with being kind and sensitive, but also cheerfully irreverent and tenderly wild. Be on the lookout for marvels and miracles, but treasure critical thinking and rational analysis. Don’t take things too personally or too seriously, and regard the whole world as a holy gift. Be gratefully and humbly in awe as you tune into how beautiful and wonderful you are.
By Rob Brezsny
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): Actor Carrie Fisher put a strong priority on being both amusing and amused. For her, almost everything that happened was tolerable, even welcome, as long as it was entertaining. She said, “If my life wasn’t funny, it would just be true, and that’s unacceptable.” I recommend you experiment with those principles, Taurus. Be resourceful as you make your life as humorously interesting as possible. If you do, life will conspire to assist you in being extra amused and amusing.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20): As you charge into the upcoming period of self-reinvention, don’t abandon and forget about your past completely. Some of your old emotional baggage might prove useful and soulful. A few of your challenging memories may serve as robust motivators. On the other hand, it will be healthy to leave behind as much oppressive baggage and as many burdensome memories as possible. You are launching the next chapter of your life story! Travel as lightly as you can.
Leo
(July 23–Aug. 22): Over 3,700 years ago, a craftsperson living in what’s now Israel fashioned a comb from an elephant’s tusk. It was a luxury item with two sides, one used to smooth hair tangles and the other to remove lice. On the handle of the ivory tool is an inscription: “May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard.” This is the oldest known sentence ever written in Canaanite, a language that created the world’s first alphabet. In some ways, then, this comb is a precious object. It is unspeakably ancient evidence of a major human innovation. In another way, it’s mundane and prosaic. I’m nominating the comb to be a symbol for your story in the coming weeks: a blend of monumental and ordinary. Drama may emerge from the routine. Breakthroughs may happen in the midst of everyday matters.
Virgo
(Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Some astrologers assert that Virgos are modest, humble, and reluctant to shine. But a Virgo New Yorker named Ashrita Furman provides contrary evidence. His main activity in life is to break records. He holds the Guinness world record for having broken the most Guinness world records. His first came in 1979, when he did 27,000 jumping jacks. Since then, he has set hundreds of records, including the fastest time running on stilts, the longest
time juggling objects underwater, and the most times jumping rope on a pogo stick. I propose to make him your spirit creature for the coming weeks. What acts of bold self-expression are you ready to make, Virgo? What records are you primed to break?
Libra
(Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Libran author Diane Ackerman says, “We can’t enchant the world, which makes its own magic; but we can enchant ourselves by paying deep attention.” I’m telling you this, dear Libra, because you now have exceptional power to pay deep attention and behold far more than usual of the world’s magic. It’s the Season of Enchantment for you. I invite you to be daring and imaginative as you probe for the delightful amazements that are often hidden just below the surface of things. Imagine you have the superpower of X-ray vision.
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): If I’m reading the astrological omens correctly, you are in the midst of major expansion. You are reaching further, opening wider, and dreaming bigger. You are exploring frontiers, entertaining novel possibilities, and daring to transcend your limitations and expectations. And I am cheering you on as you grow beyond your previous boundaries. One bit of advice: Some people in your life may find it challenging to follow you freely into your new territory. They may be afraid you’re leaving them behind, or they may not be able to adjust as fast as you wish. I suggest you give them some slack. Allow them to take the time they need to get accustomed to your growth.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian actor Jeff Bridges has wise words for you to heed: “If you wait to get all the information you think you need before you act, you’ll never act because there’s an infinite amount of information out there.” I think this advice is especially apropos for you right now. Why? Because you will thrive on making strong, crisp decisions and undertaking strong, crisp actions. The time for pondering possibilities must give way to implementing possibilities.
Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): People may be attracted to you in the coming weeks because they unconsciously or not-so-unconsciously want to be influenced, stirred up, and even changed by your presence. They hope you will be the catalyst or medicine they need. Or maybe they want you to provide them with help they haven’t been able to give them-
selves or get anywhere else. Please be aware that this may not always be a smooth and simple exchange. Some folks might be demanding. Others may absorb and integrate your effects in ways that are different from your intentions. But I still think it’s worthwhile for you to offer your best efforts. You could be a force for healing and benevolence.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 19): Sometimes when gifts arrive in our lives, they are not recognized as gifts. We may even mistake them for obstacles. In a worst-case scenario, we reject and refuse them. I am keen on helping you avoid this behavior in the coming weeks, Aquarius. In the oracle you’re now reading, I hope to convince you to expand your definition of what gifts look like. I will also ask you to widen the range of where you search for gifts and to enlarge your expectations of what blessings you deserve. Now please meditate on the following riddles: 1. a shadow that reveals the hidden light; 2. a twist that heals; 3. a secret that no longer wants to be secret; 4. a shy ally who will reward your encouragement; 5. a boon that’s barely buried and just needs you to scrape away the deceptive surface.
Pisces
(Feb. 20-March 20): Lake Baikal in Russia is the world’s deepest, oldest, and largest lake by volume. It contains over 22 percent of the fresh surface water on the planet. I propose we make this natural marvel your prime symbol for the next 11 months. At your best, you, too, will be deep, fresh, and enduring. And like Lake Baikal, you will be exceptionally clear. (Its underwater visibility reaches 120 feet.) PS: Thousands of plant and animal species thrive in this vital hub. I expect you will also be a source of richly diverse life, dear Pisces.
Aries
(March 21-April 19): I trust that your intuition has been guiding you to slow down and disappear from the frenzied, agitated bustle that everyone seems addicted to. I hope you have afforded yourself the luxury and privilege of exulting in the thrill of doing absolutely nothing. Have you been taking long breaks to gaze lovingly up at the sky and listen to music that moves you to tears? Have you been studying the children and animals in your life to learn more about how to thrive on non-goal-oriented fun? Have you given your imagination permission to fantasize with abandon about wild possibilities? Homework: Name three more ways to fuel your self-renewal.
CLASSIFIEDS
IT Project Manager, Charlottesville, VA.
Manage performance of India-based IT personnel by administering IT proj reqmnts & allocating personnel resources to meet 24-hr prjct deadlines. Engage in daily communications w/ India-based IT personnel to monitor prjct workflow & timely complete emergency workloads. Establish backend processes for the web-based platform for use by India-based IT personnel to reduce dvlpmnt timeframe & testing errors. Communicate w/ CTO & other mgmt personnel to understand IT prjct rqmnts, establish list of current prjcts & timelines, provide daily status reports, & coordinate data processing & updates. Engage in ongoing collaboration w/ U.S. vendors to resolve IT-rel issues. Advise on the use/application of ASP, ASP.NET, VB.NET, C#, .NET CORE; PHP; MS-SQL/ MYSQL SERVER, JQUERY, HTML5, CSS, dtSearch engine &/ or similar dvlpmnt tools/software. Coordinate the dvlpmnt of application programming interface(s) (APIs) & mobile applications on the Android & IOS platforms.
C-VILLE Weekly is seeking an Account Executive. For more than 30 years C-VILLE has been covering the news, arts, people, food and events that make our town a perennial top city to live in.
Want to help build a powerful local brand? Looking for a job that connects you to every aspect of life in our city?
C-VILLE Weekly is looking to add a dynamic salesperson to our advertising sales team. We are looking for a fearless self-starter to manage a list of established clients and develop new business. Does this sound like you?
The right person will join our hard working staff in a fast-paced online and print publishing environment. This is a F/T hybrid, salaried position with great perks and benefits!
Trvl to India, 1-2 times per yr, each time 3-4 weeks, for purpose of managing India-based IT personnel. Bachelor’s deg w/ concentration in Comp Sci, Info Tech, or their foreign equivalent, & 24 months of IT prjct mgmt exp involving web database applications, or 3 yr foreign bachelor’s deg in Comp Sci or Info Tech & 36 months of IT prjct mgmt exp involving web database applications, or any suitable combination of education, training, or exp.
Send Res to: Fastcase Inc., Attn: HR, 1467 Greenbrier PL, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
Community & MISC. Notices
LARGE, SUNNY OFFICE AVAILABLE TO SHARE
Downtown with on-site parking
Comfortable, furnished first floor office available on Mondays, Thursdays and weekends. Tues, Wed, Fri mornings before 10:30a negotiable. The building features shared waiting rooms and ADA compliant restroom, high speed internet, fax and copier. Printer, refrigerator and microwave in office. Ample on-site parking. Building is on High St near Locust Ave. The other tenants are also therapists so privacy and quiet are expected. I am looking for tenant(s) to sublet on an ongoing basis (lease required). Rent starts at $300 for one day per week and is negotiable depending on how often you anticipate using the space. Perfect for someone with hybrid (online, in person) practice or starting a new business.
LEGALS
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Albemarle County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re: R.S. (dob 9/15/2023)
The object of this suit is to terminate residual parental rights in R.S. (dob 9/15/2023) and aprove foster care plan with adoption goal.
It is ORDERED that Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
6/5/2024 Judge Pather DATE JUDGE
Call/text (434) 282-4998
Play ball!
The June 27 Tom Sox Charlottesville home game at Charlottesville High School included a special guest: two-time Super Bowl champion (and local legend) Chris Long. The former NFL defensive end stopped by to throw the first pitch of the game and highlight the work of The Chris Long Foundation. Through the Foundation’s Waterboys and EdZone initiatives, the nonprofit seeks to provide sustainable clean water solutions in communities both at home and abroad, as well as supply essential resources—like clothes, books, and hygiene products—to Charlottesville elementary school students. Now that’s a home run.
Do you appreciate all the benefits trees serve in our environment? Consider registering to become a Tree Steward in the Fall 2024 Training Class and joining us in our commitment to promote healthy urban and rural forests!
The Fall 2024 class will consist of a combination of online training sessions and field activities with a maximum of 32 students to facilitate the best field training possible. With a 15-week duration beginning August 6 and ending November 16, the online classes will precede the field activities held on every other Saturday at various locations in the Charlottesville area.
We look forward to meeting you, assisting you with the training program, working side-by-side with you and enjoying Piedmont Virginia’s beautiful urban and rural forests together as you progress through the class toward becoming a Tree Steward.
NOTE: Please go to the CATS website at www.charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org to view the complete class description and syllabus and to follow the registration link to Eventbrite. Questions? Contact us at news@cvilleareatreestewards.org
PUZZLES
That sounds rough
BY MATT JONES
ACROSS
1. Lingerie buy, for short
5. MDX and RDX maker
10. Chest muscles, briefly
14. ___ Mills (bygone photography business)
15. Kidney-related
16. “Magnum P.I.” setting
17. A “Sesame Street” monster’s butt?
19. Cherry part
20. “... ___ the fields we go”
21. “Bill ___ Saves the World”
22. Samplers of sorts
24. Bagel cheese
26. Writer Fleming
27. U.K. city with a lot of bridge discards?
34. Actress Lively
37. Went too far, like a sentence
38. Teensy
39. Puerto Rican pop star Fonsi
40. He preceded Liz and Rishi
41. “Me as well”
42. Tool for rowing
43. Eldest St ark daughter on “Game of Thrones”
44. Watch covertly
45. Prescription taken while in restraints?
48. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” announcer Wilson
49. In a bawdy way
53. W ith 60-Across, possibility with shoddy “Survivor” merchandise?
57. “Wahoo!” in Oaxaca
58. Singer Corinne Bailey
59. Not achromatic
60. See 53-Across
63. Ski resort near Park City
64. Actor Michael, subject of dueling impersonations in “The Trip”
65. Tennis tournament type
66. Dishevel, as hair
67. Not acquired, in some poems
68. “I, Claudius” emperor
1. Hot mugful
2. Skin lotion ingredient sources
3. Language where “How’s it going?” is “Kei te pehea koe?”
4. Do a comic book job
5. Words before “kidding” or “serious”
6. Forfeit
7. Burmese leader of the 1950s
8. Whitewater ride
9. ___ Romeo (Italian car)
10. Mail-related
11. Corroded
12. “Believe” Grammy winner
13. Added amounts
18. Fireplace nook
23. Roadside marker
25. Puts in the form of a question
28. Fern leaf
29. Iran’s official language
30. Early supercomputer
31. Votes of opposition
32. Fish in a Pixar pic
33. Cookbook author Paula
34. Allied nations
35. Pacific island
40. Mid-2010s term of endearment
41. Blow out, as a volcano
43. Broadcast TV censor’s concern, once
44. Villainous look
46. Acting family of three generations
47. “Yeah, right!”
50. Arrange loosely
51. Bronny James, as of a recent draft pick
52. Like some two-choice questions
53. “Careless Whisper” duo
54. “Shoresy” streamer, stateside
55. Tuskegee or Spelman, for short
56. Actor Morton who played King George in “Hamilton” (and whose son played “Young Sheldon”)
57. “That’s ___ concern to you!”
61. Newton’s tree?
62. Long time
SUDOKU
Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Cancer
(June 21–July 22): Even though you and I were both born under the sign of Cancer the Crab, I have a taboo against advising you to be like me. I love my life, but I’m not so naïve or arrogant as to think that what has worked for me will also work for you. Now, however, I will make a temporary exception to my policy. Amazingly, the astrological omens suggest you will flourish in the coming weeks by being at least somewhat like me. Therefore, I invite you to experiment with being kind and sensitive, but also cheerfully irreverent and tenderly wild. Be on the lookout for marvels and miracles, but treasure critical thinking and rational analysis. Don’t take things too personally or too seriously, and regard the whole world as a holy gift. Be gratefully and humbly in awe as you tune into how beautiful and wonderful you are.
By Rob Brezsny
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): Actor Carrie Fisher put a strong priority on being both amusing and amused. For her, almost everything that happened was tolerable, even welcome, as long as it was entertaining. She said, “If my life wasn’t funny, it would just be true, and that’s unacceptable.” I recommend you experiment with those principles, Taurus. Be resourceful as you make your life as humorously interesting as possible. If you do, life will conspire to assist you in being extra amused and amusing.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20): As you charge into the upcoming period of self-reinvention, don’t abandon and forget about your past completely. Some of your old emotional baggage might prove useful and soulful. A few of your challenging memories may serve as robust motivators. On the other hand, it will be healthy to leave behind as much oppressive baggage and as many burdensome memories as possible. You are launching the next chapter of your life story! Travel as lightly as you can.
Leo
(July 23–Aug. 22): Over 3,700 years ago, a craftsperson living in what’s now Israel fashioned a comb from an elephant’s tusk. It was a luxury item with two sides, one used to smooth hair tangles and the other to remove lice. On the handle of the ivory tool is an inscription: “May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard.” This is the oldest known sentence ever written in Canaanite, a language that created the world’s first alphabet. In some ways, then, this comb is a precious object. It is unspeakably ancient evidence of a major human innovation. In another way, it’s mundane and prosaic. I’m nominating the comb to be a symbol for your story in the coming weeks: a blend of monumental and ordinary. Drama may emerge from the routine. Breakthroughs may happen in the midst of everyday matters.
Virgo
(Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Some astrologers assert that Virgos are modest, humble, and reluctant to shine. But a Virgo New Yorker named Ashrita Furman provides contrary evidence. His main activity in life is to break records. He holds the Guinness world record for having broken the most Guinness world records. His first came in 1979, when he did 27,000 jumping jacks. Since then, he has set hundreds of records, including the fastest time running on stilts, the longest
time juggling objects underwater, and the most times jumping rope on a pogo stick. I propose to make him your spirit creature for the coming weeks. What acts of bold self-expression are you ready to make, Virgo? What records are you primed to break?
Libra
(Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Libran author Diane Ackerman says, “We can’t enchant the world, which makes its own magic; but we can enchant ourselves by paying deep attention.” I’m telling you this, dear Libra, because you now have exceptional power to pay deep attention and behold far more than usual of the world’s magic. It’s the Season of Enchantment for you. I invite you to be daring and imaginative as you probe for the delightful amazements that are often hidden just below the surface of things. Imagine you have the superpower of X-ray vision.
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): If I’m reading the astrological omens correctly, you are in the midst of major expansion. You are reaching further, opening wider, and dreaming bigger. You are exploring frontiers, entertaining novel possibilities, and daring to transcend your limitations and expectations. And I am cheering you on as you grow beyond your previous boundaries. One bit of advice: Some people in your life may find it challenging to follow you freely into your new territory. They may be afraid you’re leaving them behind, or they may not be able to adjust as fast as you wish. I suggest you give them some slack. Allow them to take the time they need to get accustomed to your growth.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian actor Jeff Bridges has wise words for you to heed: “If you wait to get all the information you think you need before you act, you’ll never act because there’s an infinite amount of information out there.” I think this advice is especially apropos for you right now. Why? Because you will thrive on making strong, crisp decisions and undertaking strong, crisp actions. The time for pondering possibilities must give way to implementing possibilities.
Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): People may be attracted to you in the coming weeks because they unconsciously or not-so-unconsciously want to be influenced, stirred up, and even changed by your presence. They hope you will be the catalyst or medicine they need. Or maybe they want you to provide them with help they haven’t been able to give them-
selves or get anywhere else. Please be aware that this may not always be a smooth and simple exchange. Some folks might be demanding. Others may absorb and integrate your effects in ways that are different from your intentions. But I still think it’s worthwhile for you to offer your best efforts. You could be a force for healing and benevolence.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 19): Sometimes when gifts arrive in our lives, they are not recognized as gifts. We may even mistake them for obstacles. In a worst-case scenario, we reject and refuse them. I am keen on helping you avoid this behavior in the coming weeks, Aquarius. In the oracle you’re now reading, I hope to convince you to expand your definition of what gifts look like. I will also ask you to widen the range of where you search for gifts and to enlarge your expectations of what blessings you deserve. Now please meditate on the following riddles: 1. a shadow that reveals the hidden light; 2. a twist that heals; 3. a secret that no longer wants to be secret; 4. a shy ally who will reward your encouragement; 5. a boon that’s barely buried and just needs you to scrape away the deceptive surface.
Pisces
(Feb. 20-March 20): Lake Baikal in Russia is the world’s deepest, oldest, and largest lake by volume. It contains over 22 percent of the fresh surface water on the planet. I propose we make this natural marvel your prime symbol for the next 11 months. At your best, you, too, will be deep, fresh, and enduring. And like Lake Baikal, you will be exceptionally clear. (Its underwater visibility reaches 120 feet.) PS: Thousands of plant and animal species thrive in this vital hub. I expect you will also be a source of richly diverse life, dear Pisces.
Aries
(March 21-April 19): I trust that your intuition has been guiding you to slow down and disappear from the frenzied, agitated bustle that everyone seems addicted to. I hope you have afforded yourself the luxury and privilege of exulting in the thrill of doing absolutely nothing. Have you been taking long breaks to gaze lovingly up at the sky and listen to music that moves you to tears? Have you been studying the children and animals in your life to learn more about how to thrive on non-goal-oriented fun? Have you given your imagination permission to fantasize with abandon about wild possibilities? Homework: Name three more ways to fuel your self-renewal.
Play ball!
The June 27 Tom Sox Charlottesville home game at Charlottesville High School included a special guest: two-time Super Bowl champion (and local legend) Chris Long. The former NFL defensive end stopped by to throw the first pitch of the game and highlight the work of The Chris Long Foundation. Through the Foundation’s Waterboys and EdZone initiatives, the nonprofit seeks to provide sustainable clean water solutions in communities both at home and abroad, as well as supply essential resources—like clothes, books, and hygiene products—to Charlottesville elementary school students. Now that’s a home run.
Do you appreciate all the benefits trees serve in our environment? Consider registering to become a Tree Steward in the Fall 2024 Training Class and joining us in our commitment to promote healthy urban and rural forests!
The Fall 2024 class will consist of a combination of online training sessions and field activities with a maximum of 32 students to facilitate the best field training possible. With a 15-week duration beginning August 6 and ending November 16, the online classes will precede the field activities held on every other Saturday at various locations in the Charlottesville area.
We look forward to meeting you, assisting you with the training program, working side-by-side with you and enjoying Piedmont Virginia’s beautiful urban and rural forests together as you progress through the class toward becoming a Tree Steward.
NOTE: Please go to the CATS website at www.charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org to view the complete class description and syllabus and to follow the registration link to Eventbrite. Questions? Contact us at news@cvilleareatreestewards.org
