FunStuff: Charlottesville events February 9 and beyond

Bob Marley tribute, mon
This is a twofer– a reggae dance party and a chance to check out the barely opened Black Market Moto Saloon at the corner of Meade Avenue and East Market Street, where we've spotted Tea Bazaar creator Matteus Frankovich jack-hammering away in front of his latest establishment. Dinner is served starting at 5pm– West Indian food to whet the appetite for Marley. The tribute is hosted by Scottie B., a.k.a. Mountainrasta, with WTJU's DJ Rizla, DJ 3rd Degree doing a dub session, and a special performance by Darrell Rose, Scottie B., and William Whitten's Afrikan Drum Fest & Dancers.
February 9, Black Market Moto Saloon, 9pm, $5

Found moments in photography
It's no secret that Jen Fariello is one of the Hook's favorite photographers– and not just because 10 years ago when this paper started she was doing pretty much all our photography at far less than her standard rate and selling an ad here and there as well. Her show at PVCC is called "The Personals," and it expresses the personal nature of her exquisite portraits, as well as some of her personal favorites– like "Batman"– in this mostly black-and-white show in the South Gallery. It runs February 10 through March 28, and while you're there, in the PVCC North Gallery, "Sew What" stitches together textile artworks by Jo Lee Tarbell, Harriet Arthur, and Shelby Fischer.
February 10 opening reception, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 5 to 7pm, free

This is the week for folk legends
Songs by Bill Staines have been recorded by the likes of Peter, Paul, and Mary, Jerry Jeff Walker, and The Highwaymen, and they've turned up on Prairie Home Companion, and in the soundtracks for Deadwood and Return of the Secaucus 7. Not only that, but he's a lefty who plays his right-handed guitar upside down. He's going to do a concert in Afton at North Branch School, and you can join him for a potluck dinner at 6pm. Tickets are available at Greenberry's, Trailside Coffee in Crozet, and North Branch School at 221 Mickens Road.
February 10, North Branch School, 7:30pm, adults: $10/$12; students $3/$5

Jackson's party ain't over
When legends like the Queen of Rockabilly come to town, you don't mess around. Wanda Jackson put the glam in country music in the '50s, and was encouraged by the King– Elvis Presley– to go rockabilly. Jackson may be 74, but she's still going strong. Last year, she appeared on David Letterman with Jack White, with whom she's recorded The Party Ain't Over album that has her covering Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good." She'll be here with Heath Haynes & the Hi Dollars.
February 11, Jefferson Theater, doors open 7pm, $18/$20

A fairy tale ballet
Here come some favorites– Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Sugar Plum Fairy– courtesy of the Charlottesville Ballet, with the Seven Dwarfs played by young dance students from Charlottesville Ballet Academy. Each interactive 45-minute performance is followed by a Fairy Tale Tea Party in which little princesses and princes can meet the fairy tale ones, and live happily ever after– at least for the rest of the afternoon. Ballet and tea party together cost $25 for children, with adult chaperones free to the tea party. Or the ballet tickets may be purchased separately.
February 11, Dickinson Theater at PVCC, 11am, 1pm and 3:30pm, $10/$15

Celebrate your love– with wine
Jefferson Vineyards is the wine chosen by Peter Chang to pair with his food at the James Beard Institute, and the winery is offering free tastings for the Valentine weekend. Cruise on out to 1353 Thomas Jefferson Parkway (just past Monticello) to sample Meritage or Viognier, and feel the love.
February 11 & 12, Jefferson Vineyards, 9am to 5pm, free

Live dangerously
Austin-based band This Will Destroy You, who came here in 2010, is heading back to Charlottesville on an upcoming Monday night. Never heard of 'em? You're not alone, as there are no vocals, and some of the tracks– such as "The Mighty Rio Grande" which backed the trailer for the film Moneyball– can top eleven minutes. But for those who like atmospheric post-rock, this is the band for you. "The quiet parts are tear jerking," says SputnikMusic. "The loud parts, while equally tear jerking, are brutal." To us, the band (shown here rocking Barcelona) sounds at times like an amped-up Coldplay without the singer. Bonus: this all-ages show has three openers: Mountains (electronic drone), Amen Dunes (fuzzed-out garage), and Historic (local post-rock).
February 13, The Southern, 7pm, $10  

  

Doesn't anyone celebrate on Tuesday?
The weekend is loaded with Valentine's Day events, but when you get to February 14, the romantic dinners with wine and chocolate seem to dry up. That's where the Kluge-Ruhe museum steps in with a quirky approach to romance– and perhaps to draw traffic to its Aboriginal art collection. The Peter Jefferson Place museum on Pantops is offering a guided tour with a glass of something sparkling, and not one, not two, but three pieces of Gearhart's chocolate per person. Advance reservations are required and may be obtained by calling 434-244-0234 or emailing . Follow that up with dinner at the nearby Tip Top and you've got a memorable Valentine's Day.
February 14, Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, 4pm, $10

A Grammy-winner to Field
One of our colleagues would drive a hundred miles to see songwritin', multi-instrumentalist folk legend Tim O'Brien play the mandolin, fiddle, bazouki, banjo, or guitar. What a piece of cake that she only has to drive out to Crozet to catch this bluegrass musician's musician perform as part of the Field School's Distinguished Artist Series. O'Brien will play with local fave Uncle Henry's Favorite's, which recently won the Prairie Home Companion small town band. The school is located at 1408 Crozet Avenue, with tickets available at Greenberry's or Musictoday.
February 15, the Field School, 7pm, $25/$10

Jefferson's slaves in Washington
The Washington Post calls the "Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty" exhibit "groundbreaking." Certainly, it's the first time the Smithsonian has gone this deeply into one of the darkest stains on American history. Monticello and the National Museum of African American History and Culture collaborated to closely examine through artifacts and oral histories six families who belonged to the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence. And while you're on the Mall in Washington, DC, the National Gallery has renovated its 19th-century French art galleries, and the eclectic displays sound ooh-la-la.
Through October, Museum of American History, 10am to 5:30pm, free

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This week's "FunStuff" was compiled by Lisa Provence, and next week's "FunStuff" will be compiled by another newsroom staffer. To get your event considered, send a press release to [email protected].