Get Out! events, shows, things to do

“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Shredding, plunging, climbing
"Living this lifestyle is essentially living the dream," says kayaker Evan Garcia, the subject of the short film Huck, one of 14 short films screening this week at the Paramount for the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, an annual event that brings the best of the famed Canadian festival to venues around the world. Some of us might beg to differ with Mr. Garcia, who plunges off towering waterfalls in his kayak– but even the vertigo-stricken might agree it's thrilling to watch. Also showing is The Gimp Monkeys, an inspiring account of the first all-disabled ascent of famed Yosemite rock formation El Capitan. The 1,800 foot climb is considered arduous for an experienced climber, but the three guys in this film don't let the fact that they're each missing a limb slow them down. Other offerings include Crossing the Ice, the  "chilling" tale of an Australian duo's 90-day, 2,260km journey to and from the South Pole, and Highway Wilding, a documentary that explores pioneering solutions being implemented in the Canadian Rockies to prevent wildlife from becoming roadkill. Another entry sure to charm is the four-minute Lily Shreds Trailside, which introduces viewers to a mountain-bike-chasing dog.
March 10 at 6pm, March 11 at 7pm at The Paramount, $15

Corey Harris kick-off
MacArthur Fellowship recipient and internationally renowned blues musician Corey Harris presents the first concert at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, where he'll perform with his band, Rasta Blues Experience, and discuss his latest album, Fulton Blues. Inspired by an African-American community in Richmond that endured for 300 years until the land was seized, its buildings razed and its occupants forced out in the urban renewal of the 1960s and 70s that also laid claim to Charlottesville's Vinegar Hill neighborhood, Harris' latest effort– his 11th album– comprises 14 songs, both original and classics– that tell stories and encompass a range of styles from roots and reggae to blues. Proceeds from the the lecture support future Heritage Center public programs, and the 100 lecture tickets sold give attendees the bonus of having the best seats in the 300-seat venue.
March 7, lecture 5-6pm, concert 7pm. $41.20-$61.80

Science Straight Up
What the heck is a Higgs boson anyway? Science Magazine called its discovery "the scientific breakthrough of the year," but just what is a Higgs boson?  Join U.Va. physics professor Bob Hirosky to learn about this mysterious elementary particle [displayed graphically here], why it's such a big deal, and what it means for our understanding of how the universe works.  Science Straight Up is a monthly “Science Cafe” series organized by scientists at the University of Virginia to promote community conversation about scientific topics in a relaxed atmosphere.  Free and open to all curious minds; no science background needed.  http://sciencestraightup.org
March 13, Black Market Moto Saloon, 7:30pm

CULTURE BEAT

Sundance shuffle: Oldham not starstruck

Last June, local punk rocker, psychedelic groove maker, college and middle school teacher, writing center director, folk singer and songwriter, freelance journalist, restaurant reviewer, and now film actor, Ned Oldham [pictured here with co-stars Hannah Gross, Deragh Campbell and Kim Taylor at the Sundance Film Festival], wrapped up his work on a film called I Used to Be Darker, by Baltimore-based director Matt Porterfield. Oldham plays a musician and a husband whose marriage, to another musician, is on the rocks. Oldham's older brother Will, better known as the musician Bonnie "Prince" Billy, made his acting debut as a teen preacher in John Sayles' 1987 Matewan, so the younger Oldham wasn't exactly star struck by the experience.

"We had twelve-hour days," he said, "Pretty hard work. And a good deal of waiting around."

In January, however, the film made its world premiere at the decidedly glamorous Sundance Film Festival. The verdict? According to Variety, "At once emotionally charged, formally abstract and narratively laidback, Porterfield's third feature should sustain the indie cred enjoyed by his much-lauded earlier films."

Hey, not bad.

The Hook: What was it like being at Sundance? 

Ned Oldham: Lots of taxis and shuttles because having a car is a pain in the ass because there's nowhere to park.  I was lugging a guitar and sometimes two guitars around, and I stayed about 25-minutes away at the Homestead Resort. It was a nice place but we weren't there much except to sleep; we'd get home at night on the shuttle hoping to get a nightcap but it being Utah, the hotel bar would be closed.

Any celebrity sightings?

Oldham: At one photoshoot, we came in after Nicole Kidman; apparently she walked right behind me twice, but I didn't see her.  I did see Courtney Love on the street, looking a bit puffy.  Other celebrity sightings were obfuscated by paparazzi and oglers.  Also, since I really don't watch TV and see few movies, a lot of times I was seeing people I didn't recognize–someone from How I Met Your Mother; the girl, now a bit gray, from Top Gun; and others.

Any cool perks?

Oldham: At the photoshoots, like for Entertainment Weekly, Indiewire, and others that kind of blend together, there was almost always free stuff from sponsors, like Adidas and Ugg; cookies, energy drinks. My best score was some smartphone gloves.

What was it like being on the red carpet?

Oldham: I suppose that big stars in big films actually run the gauntlet as they enter the theater, but for us, and I suspect most of the films, the red carpet was an upstairs room where they do an organized photoshoot.  For me, the only way to enjoy photoshoots is to move around a lot, change poses for every shot, try to make colleagues lose composure, stay lively; otherwise they would be tiresome.

What was it like to see the film in that setting?

Oldham: It was great to finally see the film on the big screen; I had the jitters before, but once it began to roll, it was a relief to see that Porterfield and editor Mark Vives had put it all together into what I think is a really well-paced and moving film; I could sort of forget I was watching myself (having a beard, unlike my character in the film, might've helped with this.)  

You play a musician in the film, and I heard you played at Sundance.

Oldham: Yeah, I played with my good friend Jack Carneal, who is also in the film, for the first time in several years, and it was real fun. He's a great drummer and it was fun to crank it up, especially at the premiere party at High West Distillery.  Baltimore restaurateur Tony Foreman is a co-executive producer and hosted the party, which meant great wine and food.  A very fun night.

It was also very nice to be reunited with the rest of the cast and crew.  Shooting was fast– only 21 days– and intense, everybody living in close quarters, eating together, waiting around together, and, of course, working together.

So any chances the film will play in Cville?

Oldham: I know director Matt Porterfield had to pass on an invitation to the Virginia Film Festival last year (for his second movie, Putty Hill), but I am hoping this film will come to the festival this year.

Any regrets?

Oldham: That I didn't have time to ski.

THE LIST

3/7
Theater: In the Next Room, The Vibrator Play. Live Arts Downstage Theater. 7:30pm. $25
The Big Read: Little Read Book Bugs. JMRL Northside Library. 4pm. Free.
Theater: American Shakespeare Center presents Julius Caesar. Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton. $24-$25
Art: Art.i.facts by Anne Chestnut. Les Yeux du Monde. 1pm. $12
Film: Art21 Screening and Discussion Series presents, Play. CitySpace. 12pm. Free.
Film: The magic of mountain biking hits the big screen when Reveal the Path shows at Vinegar Hill Theater. 7pm. $10-$15. www.imathlete.com/events/revealthepath
Art: Miniature Books exhibition. Virginia Arts of the Book Center. 10am. Free.
Reading: Paul Cantor will present his new book, The Invisible Hand in Popular Culture: Liberty vs. Authority in American Film and TV. New Dominion Bookshop. 5:30pm. Free.

3/8
The Big Read: Screening of film, Double Happiness. JMRL Greene County Library. 7pm. Free.
Theater: Into the Woods. Four County Players. 8pm. $12-$16

3/9
The Big Read: Family Fun—Kite Flying. JMRL Northside Library. 10:30am. Free.
The Big Read: T’ai Chi Class with JMRL. Hiromi T’ai Chi. 10:30am. Free.
Reading: WriterHouse Seminar—Spoken Word, Combining Poetry and Performance. WriterHouse. 1pm. $55-$60
The Big Read: Inedible Jewelry—Fortune Cookies, create miniature clay fortune cookies. JMRL Scottsville Library. 2pm. Free.

Art: Free glass cutting lessons, limited to five participants.  434-823-4237 to reserve a place. Blue Ridge Beads & Glass, Crozet. Free.
Art: We Bury Our Own, works by Christian Thompson. Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum. Open hours. Free.

3/10
Sports: UVA Men’s Basketball vs. Maryland. JPJ Arena. 6pm. $19-$36
Film: The Banff Mountain Film Festival. The Paramount. 6pm. $15

3/11
Theater: Public Lecture, Beyond the Marble Man: Who was James Madison? Court Square Theater in Harrisonburg. 4pm. Free.
Comedy: Improv Mondays. The Hamner Theater in Afton. 6pm. Free.
The Big Read: Screening of film, The Joy Luck Club. JMRL Gordon Avenue Library. 7pm. Free.

Film: The Banff Mountain Film Festival. The Paramount. 7pm. $15

3/12
The Big Read: A book discussion of Child of the Owl by Laurence Yep. JMRL Gordon Avenue Library. 4pm. Free.
Reading: Poetry Writing Contest. Milli Joe Coffee and Gelato. 6:30pm. Free.
The Big Read: Traditional Chinese Medicine Presentation. JMRL Northside Library. 6:30pm. Free.

3/13
Dance: Step Afrika! The Paramount. 7pm. $15.50
The Big Read: Tales of Silk and Dragons—Folktales of China. Gordon Avenue Library. 4pm. Free.
Comedy: Improv Comedy for Beginners. Play On Theater. 7pm. Free.
Reading: Wednesday Evening Book Group. JMRL Gordon Avenue Library. 7:30pm. Free.
Theater: Richmond Ballet. V. Earl Dickinson Building at PVCC. 7:30pm. $10
Art: Lunch with artist, Kiki Slaughter. Les Yeux du Monde. 12pm. $15

SOUND HOUND

3/7
Miracles of Modern Science, Birds and Arrows at The Southern. $10
Darrin Bradbury at Whiskey Jar.
Todd Snider and the Burnouts, Kevin Gordon at The Jefferson. $18-$20
Evan Mook at Fellini’s #9
Franki Valli and The Four Seasons at The Paramount. $59.50-$125
Alex Culbreth at Blue Moon Diner
Corey Harris at The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center

3/8
Hot Twang at Whiskey Jar
Scott Miller, Peyton Tochterman at The Southern. $12
The Fighting Jamesons, The Bloody Angle, Hunter Wolfe at The Jefferson. $12-$15
Blue Step at Fellini’s #9. $5
Carol Covell and Skip Gailes at Escafe
Travis Elliot at Baja Bean

3/9
Sharkopath, Beako, Tallahassee at The Southern. $5
Your 33 Black Angels, The Veldt at Whiskey Jar
Overdog at Fellini’s #9. $5
The Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio at UVA Brooks Hall

3/10
Hogwaller Ramblers at Fellini’s #9
Patrick and Aaron Olwell and Friends at Albemarle Cider Works

Gina Sobel and the Last Call Gospel Choir at Plank Road Exchange

3/11
Jazz Collective # 9 at Fellini’s #9
Blues and Stuff at Blue Moon Diner

3/12
Bread and Puppet at Random Row Books
Travis Elliot at Fellini’s #9
The Sabor Trio at Escafe
Chris Amsler at Blue Moon Diner

3/13
Stephane Wrembel, The Rick Olivarez Trio at The Southern. $10-$12
Danny Barrale at Fellini’s #9
Jim Waive at Blue Moon Diner