Anathallo, with Shapiro and Page FranceStarr Hill Music HallThursday, November 30 Performing like a well-oiled machine, Anathallo disappointed. music When a band introduces its second song of the evening as “a song for the heavy-hearted”—as Anathallo did Wednesday night at Starr Hill—you have a pretty quick idea of what you’re in for. While most […]
Feats of clay
“Top Chef” Wednesday 10pm, Bravo I skipped Season 1 of this chef-based reality show, but caught up during one of Bravo’s countless marathons. It’s not nearly as engaging as its fashion-minded sibling, “Project Runway,” but it’ll do. My main issue is that it’s tough for the audience to get a real sense of the contestants’ work. […]
Music for these times
Typically, I wait until December 23 to try and put myself in the holiday spirit, but some people prefer to take their time with the holidays. Get in the spirit: Debbie Hunter and her group will present medieval English carols and more at St. Paul’s Memorial Church. Debbie Hunter’s early music vocal group, Mira, will […]
Reviews
Arms and the ManUVA Drama DepartmentThrough December 2 Autumn Shiley and Joel Grothe star in UVA’s production of Shaw’s "Anti-Romantic Comedy," which seethes with bitterness behind its jaunty humor. Stage Watching a play by George Bernard Shaw is a double pleasure. On the surface, he dabbles in formula, producing effects that are heavenly for being […]
Show me the funny
“The Office”Thursday 8:30pm, NBC Ricky Gervais, the genius behind the original British “Office,” guest wrote tonight’s episode of his sitcom’s American counterpart. It’s an interesting challenge as our “Office” has already lasted about three times longer than his. The extended run has allowed the American writers to dive much deeper into the various characters and […]
What’s playing?
Babel (R, 142 minutes) Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of 21 Grams and Amores Perros) contributes another weighty ensemble piece. This complex rumination on communication (or the lack thereof) in modern-day society takes place in three places at once. In Morrocco, a couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) gets involved in a shooting crisis. In California, […]
Squeeze me
Correction Appended There used to be an honest-to-god juice bar in town, called Liquid, and when it closed almost exactly three years ago it left a giant smoothie-shaped hole in the local scene. (As anyone who’s ever visited that spot’s current tenant, Atomic Burrito, can tell you, wheat grass is no longer in the house.) […]
eBuybuybuy
So it’s the week after Thanksgiving. Everyone knows what that means, right? ’Tis the season to blow that bank account centless! Yeeha! While it may be painful once you take stock of the damage post-New Year’s, the rush of giving and getting that rules December can result in a pretty potent high. I, personally, tend […]
Salmon run
There are a thousand ways to dress up pasta. You can cook it the traditional way with meatballs and marinara sauce or as a healthy vegetable medley sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Better still, why not be like Will Farrell in Elf and pour the hot condiment of the season—maple syrup—on your pasta, then top it […]
Seasonal wrap-up
From Sweet to you: a very sincere thanks to everyone who has written or called wondering what ever to get her Sweetness for the impending holiday. A Fendi knock-off handbag, the one with the snaky clasp and the thickly braided strap?
December 1: First Fridays
Art Upstairs Annual all members exhibit, featuring a 6′ holiday tree decorated with paintings, 6-9pm. Black Cat Skateshop Broken skateboard decks from a number of artists, 6-9pm. BozArt Gallery All members show with a variety of mediums, 6-9pm. The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative Meditative paintings by Asha Greer, and pottery by Trew Bennett, with an […]
Point break
Let’s just say some old college photos surfaced at a party. Maybe not the ones DJ Stroud was really worried about, but interesting photos nonetheless.
Special delivery
“Madonna: The Confessions Tour” Wednesday 8pm, NBC I suppose it’s to her credit that 20-plus years after shocking us with her “Like a Virgin” performance at the VMAs, Madonna is still causing controversy. But can’t we give a girl a break? For this, her new concert special, NBC decided to nix the portion of the […]
Ease inn
Here’s some late-breaking news for you: Restaurantarama has learned that not everyone likes to cook on Thanksgiving. Though the Norman Rockwell version of the holiday has everyone gathered ’round the home table, noshing a feast prepared lovingly by the hands of a blood relation, plenty of clans follow a different tradition:
Give thanks for maple syrup
If there is a “hot” condiment this holiday season, it’s got to be maple syrup. And From Scratch Baking Co., located in the Forest Lakes Shopping Center, knows how to incorporate this delish flavoring into a decadent dessert. This year, pass on the mincemeat and pumpkin pies and try your hand at making this bake […]
One man’s trashâ¦
Along with pretty much everyone else of my generation, I often wonder what life was like before Google—that innocent time when there was no way to find out random facts about everyone from a blind date prospect to your best friend to a co-worker. The same could be said about Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. […]
Pilgrims’ progress
Sitting here waiting for Thursday and all the things that come with it: Turkey, stuffing and heartburn that feels like my arteries will implode. Watching the Detroit Lions get basted on national TV. Still, I’m reminded why we all gather: to give thanks. Here, then, are Things in Sports that I am Thankful For: I’m […]
Ten rates high
Restaurantarama sometimes feels amazed by what’s happening here in our little burg. Not only do we enjoy a collection of fine restaurants that many cities twice our size can’t match, but new places join the pack every month. And many of those newcomers, it seems to us, evince a sheer urbanity that makes our heads […]
The state of the liberal nation
Well, America, there is a god. Not that I’m partisan or anything, but those midterm elections sure felt good, eh? Three words: Sayonara Senator Macacawitz. Holla. But let’s not just gloat. We should also learn a little about how this blessed event came to pass, methinks. For the unabashedly liberal like myself (“bleed-ing heart” has […]
Fear factor
The terror threats on seven NFL stadiums three weeks ago proved to be nothing more then an Internet hoax by some message board posters. Still, the aftermath did spark conversation that sporting events could someday be a prime target for acts of violence. In the past six years we’ve learned that nothing is off limits […]
Andy’s candy
Andy Waldeck found his dream bass guitar on eBay recently. Waldeck, who likes trying to collect instruments from his birth year, recently found a 1966 candy-apple-red Fender Jazz Bass “with the most rare factory option, [the matching peg head paint.] This one is, as stated, in dead mint condition.
Pass The Remote
“Show Me the Money”Tuesday 9:30pm, ABC Entertainment, thy name is…Shatner! The shameless, Emmy-winning performer shows Howie Mandel and Bob freaking Saget how a real man hosts a game show. Why waste busty models by having them simply hold briefcases? When it comes to the Shat, these girls shake it. In fact, the Million Dollar Dancers […]
While we were sleeping
Some new restaurants make a big old noise to let you know they’re coming (see below for Exhibit A, Chick-fil-A). Others just quietly appear like a night-blooming flower. Though it’s been right under everybody’s nose, the former Garden of Sheba space on E. Market Street hasn’t generated much talk as it changed hands over the […]