Route 29 panel urges VDOT to include bike and pedestrian plans
The Virginia Department of Transportation is on track to begin $230 million worth of road projects along Route 29. According to a state mandate, all four components of the plan, dubbed the Route 29 Solutions, must be completed within the next three years. But as the long-anticipated alternative to the Western Bypass moves forward, stakeholders […]
Vaping: The cigarette alternative picks up steam in Charlottesville
Brooke Jenkins was an unlikely smoker, and an even more unlikely quitter. A devoted athlete, she successfully avoided cigarettes in high school by playing soccer and hanging around other health-conscious jocks. But when she went on to Eastern Carolina University to play on the Division I soccer team, she was shocked to see that cigarettes were everywhere.
Vanished: Virginia’s other missing women
Hannah Graham’s disappearance has dragged other local missing persons cases, abductions, and murders back into the public eye—particularly those of Nelson County teen Alexis Murphy, whose body is still missing even as her convicted murderer, Randy Allen Taylor, sits in jail, and Morgan Harrington, whose remains were found in Albemarle in 2010 three months after […]
Environmentalists respond to McAuliffe’s ‘no fracking’ promise
The statewide debate over hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the George Washington National Forest continues. Last week, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced at a climate change commission meeting that he will not support fracking in the GW. Local environmentalists and forest advocates said they’re grateful for the governor’s support, but because the decision is ultimately […]
New downtown club Trocadéro offers exclusive weekend revelry—for a price
Guys, it’s time to put away the shorts and flip-flops, and not just because Labor Day has come and gone. This fall, a new club downtown will give you a reason to dress to the nines on a Friday or Saturday night. Trocadéro Social Club, a European-inspired, member-preferred weekend nightclub housed in the Glass Haus […]
Fare share: App-based taxi service Uber arrives in Charlottesville
Students are back, and with the influx of people needing rides to and from the Corner, business is picking up for local cab drivers after a slow season. But some cabbies are wary of a new kid in town that claims to be a safer, cheaper, easier alternative to taxis. Uber, an app-based ride-sharing service […]
Where do you live as a UVA first-year if you’re trans?
This week marks our first-ever pride issue—just in time for Charlottesville’s Pride Festival this weekend. Check out our other feature stories on deciding whether to marry as a gay couple, on what it was like to be gay at CHS in the ’90s, and on the festival itself. The dorms at the University of Virginia became […]
A glimpse into the soon-to-open downtown taco joint, plus other restaurant news
Taco turnover Been bummed since El Puerto’s downtown location closed its doors earlier this summer? Looks like we’ll be able to chow down on tacos and margaritas at that location again pretty soon. The windows are covered in paper, but a sign posted outside and a quick chat with an electrician when the door was […]
Froyo owner preps Korean BBQ spot Zzaam! for September opening
It’s been eight months since Arch’s Frozen Yogurt on Emmet Street closed up shop. Now, the owner of another yogurt company is gearing up to reopen the space, but the cups of ice cream, cookie dough bites, and whipped cream will be replaced with noodle bowls, Chinese broccoli, and kimchi. Owner Derek Cha, founder of […]
Despite traffic worries, supes approve permit allowing growth at Albemarle private school
In a 4-2 vote last week, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit that will allow a small private school to expand enrollment. The school in question is the Regents School of Charlottesville, where last year 83 plaid- and khaki-clad kids from kindergarten to eighth grade attended classes infused with Christian […]
Academy boom: County’s specialized science high school programs push project-based learning
In 2009, Albemarle County launched its Math, Engineering & Science Academy (MESA) at Albemarle High School as a pilot program for a new model of learning. Five years later, enrollment in MESA has more than doubled, and administrators are taking more steps towards career-oriented learning with a strong hands-on component in other fields. Two years […]
Helping hand: Local volunteer opportunities for you and your kids
The kids are back in school, so we know what that means—back to soccer practices, Boy Scout meetings, football games, and band competitions. Free time is sparse, but if you’re looking for one more activity to squeeze in, consider something that will not only teach your kid valuable skills, but will also give back to […]
Up and out: For 40 years, Camp Holiday Trails has helped kids leave illness behind
Annie Eplee spent the first 18 days of her life in the NICU. After suffering in utero blood loss and a brain injury, Annie was diagnosed early on with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and cognitive developmental delays. The second daughter born to Susan and Kelly Eplee, she “set a new normal” for her parents.
Game on: Woolly Mammoth space changes hands, new owner battles illness and focuses on fun
In May of this year, Mark Weber was diagnosed with cancer, and the prognosis was not good. Two and a half months and several rounds of chemotherapy later, he’s doing so well that he’s gearing up to open a new restaurant. In the middle of an intensive treatment regimen for a stage three malignant tumor, […]
Valet parking for Belmont eateries, Chinese spot changes hands, and other restaurant news
Park it in Belmont It’s no secret that the lack of convenient restaurant parking can make dining in Belmont a little less than desirable, especially on the weekends. Now, on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 6pm, drivers from Southern Star Valet are on hand outside tavola and The Local to deal with the hassle […]
Ristorante Al Dente abandons fine dining, rolls out new pasta café menu
Pick your pasta, pick your sauce. It’s a simple concept, and one that Morocco native Karim Sellam hopes will bring more life to his Venetian-inspired restaurant in the Ix building. Introducing Al Dente Pasta Café, a classic Italian restaurant that’s open for lunch, dinner, coffee breaks, and everything in between. Ristorante Al Dente, which Sellam […]
Barrett Early Learning Center is moving forward after last summer’s financial crisis
It’s been a year since parents checked their kids’ cubbies at Barrett Early Learning Center and found the letters announcing the board’s abrupt decision to close the preschool that’s been known for its diversity and affordability for nearly 80 years. The new board and staff are making long term plans so the school doesn’t find […]
UVA alum brings business opportunities and cultural immersion to Brazil’s favelas
University of Virginia graduate Elliot Rosenberg has been lucky enough to attend two soccer matches in Brazil since the 2014 FIFA World Cup began. But while soccer fans from every corner of the globe fill hotels and hostels across a dozen cities, Rosenberg is working around the clock on an ambitious entrepreneurial endeavor, pairing visitors […]
Say cheese: Local cheesemonger brings home silver from national competition
While some of us were glued to the TV last Sunday as Costa Rica defeated Greece in a nail-biting penalty shootout, one of Charlottesville’s own was showcasing his skills in a slightly different arena. On Sunday, June 29, Flora Artisanal Cheese owner Nadjeeb Chouaf competed in the fifth annual Cheesemonger Invitational in New York and […]
Overheard on the restaurant scene: This week’s food and drink news
Bye, guys Five Guys Burgers and Fries is down to two Charlottesville locations. The Downtown Mall spot, which was often bustling with lunch breakers and bar-goers, closed its doors for good earlier this week. The restaurant’s owner did not return calls for comment by press time. Lettuce celebrate Next week, Local Food Hub will celebrate […]
Could craniosacral therapy be a key to migraine treatment?
As a migraine sufferer who’s been on and off different prescriptions and treatments for 12 years, I’m skeptical of any alternative therapy with claims to address or heal chronic headaches. But I’ll try anything once, so after making some calls to Common Ground Healing Arts, I found myself covered with a bedsheet, face down on […]
StreamWatch report reveals decade-long poor water quality in Rivanna River watershed
After a decade of assessments by its volunteers, local watershed monitoring group StreamWatch has reported that 70 percent of streams that drain to the Rivanna River are failing state water quality standards. It’s far from an ideal finding, but as the citizen science organization points out, the situation could be worse. In a report released […]
Get (red) pumped: Pippin Hill owners debut new Tuscan restaurant downtown
Outdoor construction barriers enclosed the building at the corner of Fourth and East Main streets on the Downtown Mall for weeks. The temporary walls kept the elusive project under wraps, and even if you could sneak a peek around, you wouldn’t see much through the paper-covered windows. You may remember this spot as Positively 4th […]
Overheard on the restaurant scene: Cider-washed cheese, new brew, and seafood spot expansion
Starr Hill rolls out new IPA If you’re looking for a hoppy beer this summer, look no further than Starr Hill Brewery’s newly renovated tasting room in Crozet. Last week, the brewery announced the debut of King of Hop Imperial India Pale Ale, the latest installment of its limited release All Access series. The new […]
MADrave: Boutique fitness facilities join forces for fun
It’s 9pm on Saturday, and I’m finally catching my breath. I’ve got glow sticks tied around my ponytail, hot pink face paint smeared on my cheeks, and sweat dripping down my nose. I do as I’m told and push my forearms against the wall, leaning deeper into a lunge position to stretch my calves. The […]
Half baked? Local bakery owners respond to recent study negating gluten sensitivity
We all know at least one person who orders lettuce-wrapped burgers, declines invitations to pizza nights, and swears up and down that you’ll never miss the gluten in the fabulous homemade brownies they bring to the office party. Ever since a 2011 study revealed that non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) could be the root of a […]
How many Yellow Cabs can one town hold?
Tension is rising among Charlottesville’s already competitive cab drivers, especially now that UVA students, who make up the bulk of their business, are gone for the summer. You may have noticed a recent influx of cars on the road with the words Yellow Cab painted on the side, but look closely—the cars differ in color, […]