C-VILLE Writers



Have your holiday cocktails at home with friends

Have your holiday cocktails at home with friends

Hands down, this is my favorite time of year: “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” spiced cookies, figgy pudding—and, of course, the drinks. Holiday drinks are, by design, meant to be communal. At least, in my family they always were. I can remember my early childhood, running around my grandparents’ [...]

Join C&O chef Dean Maupin for a two-part class in the fundamentals of soups, stocks, and sauces. Photo: Andrea Hubbell

Happy New Year! This week’s restaurant news

Make the new year bright Chef Dean Maupin at C&O is getting creative with his four-course menu on New Year’s Eve, which is a steal at $55 per person. The evening also features a brand new champagne and sparkling wine list, Red and the Romantics playing rockabilly tunes (starting at 10pm), and a complementary toast [...]

Green happenings: Charlottesville environmental news and events

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. Extra, extra: The Rivanna Trail Foundation [...]

Notes from the news desk. File photo.

What’s coming up in Charlottesville the week of 12/17

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. The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board has CANCELLED its previously scheduled 1pm meeting on Monday, December 17. [...]

According to the Nature Conservancy, using a real tree at Christmas is better for the environment. File photo.

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. Genuine article: The Nature Conservancy, which [...]

Notes from the news desk. File photo.

What’s coming up in Charlottesville the week of 12/10

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. The Charlottesville Planning Commission meets from 5:30 to 9:30pm at City Hall, and plans to hear a [...]

Virginia's Capitol Building in Richmond. File photo.

Bill roundup: A look at Virginia’s upcoming legislative session

Virginia’s 2013 legislative session kicks off in just over a month, and a flurry of bill introductions—and promises of introductions—has started the wheels of political coverage turning in the Commonwealth. Here’s a roundup of some of the most talked-about items set to be addressed in Richmond: Drug screenings as welfare prerequisite: Del. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, [...]

Green happenings: Charlottesville environmental news and events

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. Holly jolly trails: Join the Sierra [...]

Early Mountain Vineyards hosts its third annual Holiday Open House the weekend of December 8. Photo courtesy Early Mountain Vineyards.

Drinks, drinks, and more drinks: This week’s restaurant news

One stop shopping (and drinking) Kill two birds with one stone at Early Mountain Vineyards on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9 for the third annual Holiday Open House from 11am-5pm. Shop from local artisans selling crafts and specialty food items while enjoying a glass of Virginia wine. Gift baskets stuffed with local fare [...]

Fill 'er up! Nick Crutchfield, of Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar, has been working on an impressive cocktail menu. Photo: John Robinson

Why I pour: A bartender’s history of strong drinks

As a younger bartender, I became captivated by the history, myths, and mystique of the finer and quirkier sides of mixology. I clearly remember one of my mentors telling me that I should know everything that I can about everything behind my bar. (Little did I know that that Jack in a Box contained oddities [...]

Join Tucker Yoder for a special dinner at Clifton Inn on March 19. Photo: Nick Strocchia

Wine, cheese, and a Beer Run: This week’s restaurant news

Clifton Inn makes a Beer Run Tucker Yoder of the Clifton Inn teams up with Beer Run on a collaborative “Winter Beer Dinner” on Monday, December 3. Five inventive courses will be paired with unique beers inspired by winter from Bells, La Chouffe, Victory, 21st Amendment, and Liefmans breweries. Festivities and canapés begin at 6pm, [...]

The Dark Star Orchestra welcomed a sit-in from the legendary Phil Lesh at a recent show.

Dark Star Orchestra keeps it real for Deadheads

In short, covering the Grateful Dead’s music is not to be taken lightly. For many, these tunes are a religion. And the concert hall is the church. Although they may each tell it a bit differently, real devotees will all attest: there is a tangible magic that occurs at such gatherings.

Boston attorney Wendy Murphy filed a complaint against UVA with the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights in June, claiming the school isn’t following its own sexual misconduct policy. The agency was already conducting its own investigation of UVA’s policy. Photo by Elise Amendola.

Burden of proof: UVA’s sexual assault policy under fire

On September 23, a UVA student was forced into a bathroom at an off-campus party and raped. Five days later, a second student was shoved against a wall near Monroe Hall and sexually assaulted. Last week came details of a violent attempted abduction and rape on Stadium Road. Each incident drew attention: brief reports in [...]

Ashley Florence image at Community Photo: Will Solis

ARTS Pick: Ashley Florence at Community

Ashley Florence’s show almost acts a patchwork quilt: the separate photographs stand as works in their own right, but lend to each other when viewed in succession. They form a sort of portrait of the artist as seen through her own lens, in addition to actual self-portraits that are part of the show.

Notes from the news desk. File photo.

What’s coming up in Charlottesville the week of 11/19

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. The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board meets from 1 to 3pm Monday at the County Office Building. [...]

Sip and save: Jessica Schneidman of The Wine Guild of Charlottesville helps member to a hefty discount—only 15 percent above wholesale cost. Photo: Elli Williams

Fruit of the vine: Wine events for November

Afton Mountain Our tasting room is open year-round. Here you can taste our wines with our friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff, enjoy a glass or bottle of our wine on our patio with beautiful panoramic views, or relax at a picnic table in the grass or at the Pavilion surrounded by the beauty of [...]

Clowning through a crisis can be the greatest, according to the folks at Charlottesville Circus Arts. Photo: courtesy of Charlottesville Circus Arts

ARTS Pick: Clowning Workshop

Working through the tides of life’s natural ups and downs can get the better of even the best of us. Some shut off, while other’s go off (see road rage, going postal, and anger management). Enter the ringmasters at Charlottesville Circus Arts, who have a funny way of looking at life’s lemons.

"Camel Flowers" at Sunbow Trading Company.  Image courtesy of Sun Bow.

ARTS Pick: Camel Flowers

“Camel Flowers” is a private collection of rare tribal Anatolian and Persian animal adornments curated by local business owner, Saul Barodofsky.  While highly decorative, these medallions, head dresses, knee pads and whips were devised to protect against evil, and bring fertility to the nomadic tribes who dressed their camels and horses with them.  The antique tack [...]