C-VILLE Writers



Big woof: Lola the bulldog wears a flowered collar to a wedding at the Inn at Westwood Farm in Orange. Photo: Elisa B Photography

Include the pooch: Make your dog part of your wedding day

It’s a tale (tail?) of true love. More and more people are including their dogs in their wedding. After all, they’re family (and maybe more likeable than some relatives). From acting as best man to flower dog to ring bearer, Fido’s getting in on the action. Local blogger Jeannine Lalonde Smith and her husband, Marc, [...]

A view of the countryside around Charlottesville, named by the SELC as one of the Southeast's most endangered places because of plans to build the Western Bypass around the city. Photo by Robert Llewellyn.

The threatened three: Local sites on SELC list of endangered places

Editor’s note: Guest columnist Cale Jaffe was recently named director of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s (SELC) Charlottesville office. Maybe it’s just the buzz of Valentine’s Day in the air, but I can’t help reflecting on how easy it is to fall in love with Charlottesville. Whether it is camping in Shenandoah National Park, canoeing [...]

File photo.

Survey: Tell us about your working life

As we put together C-VILLE’s annual job issue, we want to hear from you. Hate your job? Love it? Constantly working late? Take our survey and tell us! Follow this link to answer seven quick questions. Then share it with friends (use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cville-job-survey) and pick up the jobs issue March 12 and see how C’ville works!

Notes from the news desk. File photo.

What’s coming up in Charlottesville the week of 2/11

Each week, the news team takes a look at upcoming meetings and events in Charlottesville and Albemarle we think you should know about. Consider it a look into our datebook, and be sure to share newsworthy happenings in the comments section. On Tuesday, February 12, The City of Charlottesville is hosting a lecture by the [...]

Notes from the news desk. File photo.

News brief roundup

Every Monday, the C-VILLE team compiles a list of the previous week’s most important stories that didn’t make it into the news section. Be sure to check in each week for all the news you need, in full-length stories and briefs. Student shot with pellet gun on city school bus A Burnley-Moran Elementary student was [...]

The Blue Ridge in winter. Photo by Jack Looney.

Green happenings: Charlottesville environmental news and events

Each week, C-VILLE’s Green Scene page takes a look at local environmental news. The section’s bulletin board has information on local green events and keeps you up to date on statewide happenings. Got an event or a tip you’d like to see here and in the paper? Write us at news@c-ville.com. Work hard, play hard: Join other [...]

Notes from the news desk. File photo.

What’s coming up in Charlottesville the week of 1/21

Each week, the news team takes a look at upcoming meetings and events in Charlottesville and Albemarle we think you should know about. Consider it a look into our datebook, and be sure to share newsworthy happenings, too. It’s a short week because of MLK Day, so a lot of city and county meetings are [...]

Snow in Downtown Charlottesville. Photo by Graelyn Brashear

Snow closings and delays for Charlottesville and Albemarle

UPDATE: Albemarle County schools have a teacher work day today—no regular classes. The storm that was supposed to bring several inches of snow may have been a bit of a bust, but it’s still causing some closures and cancellations Friday morning. Neither Charlottesville nor Albemarle schools have announced closures or delayed openings as of 6:30am. [...]

Snow in Charlottesville.

UPDATE: Snow for C’ville?

The forecast has fluctuated in the last few days, but it looks increasingly unlikely that Charlottesville and Albemarle will avoid the snow headed our way. County schools are cancelled for Thursday—though city schools remain open as of 6:30am—and forecasters are warning locals to get ready for an ugly evening commute. The National Weather Service upgraded [...]

The Blue Ridge in winter. Photo by Graelyn Brashear.

Green happenings: Charlottesville environmental news and events

Each week, C-VILLE’s Green Scene page takes a look at local environmental news. The section’s bulletin board has information on local green events and keeps you up to date on statewide happenings. Got an event or a tip you’d like to see here and in the paper? Write us at news@c-ville.com. Become a Master: For any nature lovers [...]

Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar is one of a host of local eateries participating in what's now two weeks' worth of Charlottesville Restaurant Week deals in January and February. Photo: Andrea Hubbell

Food fight: Charlottesville Restaurant Week becomes weeks

The annual food fest known as Charlottesville Restaurant Week—sponsored by The Hook and benefitting the Local Food Hub—has some competition this year from a local marketing group. In addition to the original and well-known Charlottesville Restaurant Week, which run January 21 to January 27 (and again from July 8 to 14), a new event—somewhat confusingly [...]

Notes from the news desk. File photo.

What’s coming up in Charlottesville the week of 1/7

Each week, the news team takes a look at upcoming meetings and events in Charlottesville and Albemarle we think you should know about. Consider it a look into our datebook, and be sure to share newsworthy happenings, too. After a holiday hiatus, local governing bodies are getting back to normal with the first meetings of [...]

The Blue Ridge in winter. Photo by Graelyn Brashear.

Green happenings: Charlottesville environmental news and events

Each week, C-VILLE’s Green Scene page takes a look at local environmental news. The section’s bulletin board has information on local green events and keeps you up to date on statewide happenings. Got an event or a tip you’d like to see here and in the paper? Write us at news@c-ville.com. Winter woods walk: Wild Virginia will [...]

Students from UVA Catholic Student Ministries volunteer at Casa Alma, a family-run Belmont homestead that offers housing and support for locals in need. Photo courtesy Steve and Laura Brown

Local Catholic couple runs Casa Alma, a refuge for those in need

Many people dedicate their holidays to giving, but one Charlottesville family has built a life around it. Laura and Steve Brown, members of the worldwide Catholic Worker movement, are live-in hosts at Casa Alma, an urban homestead in Belmont that offers housing and community support to families in need—and a home and way of life [...]

L’étoile chef/owner Mark Gresge will remove lunch from the restaurant's offerings in the new year. Photo: Cramer Photo

Drink specials and a menu reduction: This week’s restaurant news

The next chapter L’étoile has served up a delectable lunch since its inception in 1993, but that will come to an end in the beginning of the New Year, ushering in a streamlined focus on dinner service, special event group luncheons, and catering. Chef Mark Gresge’s French-Virginian cuisine will be available for dinner only Tuesday-Saturdays [...]

It's a 'do! Live Arts' production of Hairspray tops our list for the year's most impressive production. Photo: Will Kerner

29 lists to recap what was great (and not so great) about 2012

Much of our lives is put into lists: grocery lists, to-do lists, guest lists, playlists, shit lists… Thus, we’re ending the year with a laundry, ahem, list of the highs and lows of the past 12 months. We’ve scrolled through everything we wrote, everything you said in response, and pretty much everything in between to chronicle the [...]