Community calendar, September 29-October 5, 2005
THURSDAY, September 29
STAGE
Shenandoah Shakespeare
10 S. Market St., Staunton. 540-885-5588
All's Well that Ends Well: Helena, the beautiful daughter of a deceased physician, is in love with Bertram, whose lack of redeeming qualities makes no difference to her. Oblivious to the whole situation, Bertram goes to live with the ailing King of France. Helena pursues him and miraculously cures the King, earning his undying gratitude and his decree that she can marry anybody she wants at the French court. Guess who she chooses? But Bertram not only refuses to get it on with Helena, but flees, sending word that he will not recognize her as his wife until she becomes pregnant with his child and captures the heirloom ring from his finger. How can you not go? Stay after tonight's 7:30 show to chat with the actors.
Noises Off: Live Arts presents this wildly successful British Farce by Michael Frayn. Larry Goldstein directs the play through October 15. $10-17. 7:30pm. 123 E. Water St. 977-4177.
FAMILY
Tales for Tots: The 5 and under crowd can enjoy mysterious storybook favorites at Barnes & Noble's preschool story time. 10:30am. Free. Barracks Road Shopping Center. 984-6598.
WORDS
More Social, Less Security?: Newsweek contributing editor Robert Samuelson discusses "Why the Social Security Debate Should Be About More Than Social Security, and Why It Matters More Than the Budget Deficit" at a Miller Center Forum. 11am. Free. 2201 Old Ivy Road. 924-7236.
Sankofa - History on Wheels: One of the foremost collections of African-American history in the United States comes to Charlottesville for a two-day display and lecture. The exhibit showcases the heritage, legacy, and challenges of African-Americans, spanning black history from 1860 to the present with art and artifacts from West Africa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe. 7pm at the Dickinson Building at PVCC. Free, no tickets needed. Details: pvcc.edu/cal_main.asp.
WORDS AND TUNES
Found: Found magazine creator Davy Rothbart, a writer and contributor to public radio's This American Life, unearths some of the wackiest discarded letters, notes, and grocery lists you've ever read. His friend, local singer/songwriter Devon Sproule, offers an extended set to supplement tonight's show at Gravity Lounge."It's become such a popular project that every week he gets boxes of mail from around the world, so he has really choice stuff," says Devon.
It's easy to think that this is a relatively straightforward multimedia partnership until you hear about how Davy– umm– found her: Apparently Rothbart was involved in an unfortunate car crash that led to an even more unfortunate head injury. He attempted to stop the profuse bleeding with a newspaper featuring a story about Devon. When the clotting had stabilized, he looked her up and fell in love with her music.
"The cool thing about Davy is that you never want to question his stories because they're so awesome. You never want to know if he's exaggerating," says Devon. Ain't that the truth. Go hear some longer ones tonight and be sure to bring your own Found flotsam for the audience participation portion of the program.
Peter Rothbart, Davy Rothbart, and Devon Sproule at Gravity Lounge. 8pm. $5. 103 S. First St. 977-5590.
TUNES
Kingdom of Priests at Atomic Burrito. Free, 11pm.
The Pixies at the Charlottesville Pavilion. $35, 7:30pm.
Silent Diner at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.
George Melvin at Fellini's #9. No cover, 6:00pm.
Bad Karma at Kokopelli's. $3, 7pm.
Bullistic and Memory Fade at the Outback Lodge. $5, 10pm.
Club Retro with DJ Stroud at R2. $3, 21+.
The Falsies, Mark Rock, and Cooter Small at Southern Culture. $0, 10:15pm.
Thompson/D'earth at Miller's. $4, 10:30pm.
Karaoke at Fat Daddy's. $5/Free 21+, 8:30pm.
Karaoke at Damon's Sports Grill. No cover, 9pm.
The Nice Jenkins at Mellow Mushroom. No cover, 10:30pm.
Acoustic Groove Trio at Mono Loco. No cover, 10pm.
FRIDAY, September 30
WORDS
Hands-on History: Be there when the City of Charlottesville unveils its latest state historic marker, commemorating the site of the former Monticello Wine Company. Enjoy remarks from local VIPs, followed by a reception at Greek Orthodox Church. 3pm at the intersection of McIntire Road and Perry Drive. Free. 970-3130.
DANCE CARD
Dance Party: Terry Dean Dance Studio gets everybody ready for a winter of indoor fun. Dance classes teach the basics and dance parties help you practice. There's a party tonight! $10. 9pm. 1309 A. Seminole Trail. Details: 977-3327 or terrydeansdancestudio.com.
STAGE
Staged Reading: Engaged– a witty and cynical appraisal of love, marriage, and money by W.S. Gilbert (of & Sullivan fame) is part of the Victorian Studies Conference (NAVSA) at UVA this weekend. Directed by Betsy Tucker, Engaged will be presented as a staged reading by faculty, students, and friends of the Department of Drama in Culbreth Theatre. 8pm, $5. Culbreth Road. 924-6677 or
Shenandoah Shakespeare
10 S. Market St., Staunton. 540-885-5588
Comedy of Errors: Shakespeare's shortest play concerns twins– both named Dromio– and another set– both named Antipholus. The twin Dromios are slaves, employed to look after the Antipholus two, but then there's a shipwreck, a ransom, much falling in love and escaping to convents. Hence the name of the play. As expected, at the end everyone is saved, rescued, or married. 7:30pm.
Noises Off: See Thursday, September 29. Tonight the show is at 8.
TUNES
Glad That's Over: One of Malcolm Holcombe's previous albums scored a four-star review in Rolling Stone, but the folk singer is glad to be done with the hassle of a major label contract. "I had no control over it, and I got tired of listening to everybody else running their mouth," he says. "Everybody can talk, but the proof is in the pudding."
Nevertheless, he's still inspired enough to keep trying to write better songs. "If you designed a great mousetrap," he says, "I might try to make a better one. With all the rats in the music business, I'm just glad that there's enough cheese around." And with all the figurative speech in those two comments, you should be glad that this is in print.
Malcolm Holcombe and Stereocrash at Gravity Lounge. $8, 9pm.
The ADDJ at Atomic Burrito. Free, 11pm.
George Turner and Royce Campbell at Bashir's. No cover, 7pm.
William Walter and Company at the Buddhist Biker Bar. No cover, 10:30pm.
Intense City at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.
Eli Cook's Red House Blues Band at Fellini's #9. No cover, 10pm.
Jimmy O and Calf Mountain Jam at Fridays After Five. No cover, 5pm.
Fletcher Bridge at Kokopelli's. $5, 8pm.
Missing Mason at the Outback Lodge. $6, 10pm.
Arlo Guthrie at The Paramount. $45/$42/$39, 8pm.
Matt Haimovitz at The Prism. $22/$18, 8pm.
Bluegrass open mic at Rapunzel's. No cover, 7:30pm.
The Devil's Music Ensemble scoring the silent vampire movie Nosferatu at the Satellite Ballroom. $10/$8, 18+, 8pm.
Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen with Slaid Cleaves at Starr Hill. $18/$15, 9pm.
Tiger Saw, Jason Anderson, and Casey Daniel at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar. $5, 9:30pm.
Beleza Brasil at the Blue Bird Café. No cover, 6pm.
SATURDAY, October 1
WORDS
Planting the Future: United Plant Savers presents this one-day conference on "the cultivation, preservation, and use of native medicinal plants." Experts speakers, hands-on workshops, and more. 8:30am-5pm at Bracketts Farm in Gordonsville. $70. Contact Kathleen Maier at 295-3820 for details.
WALKABOUT
Creative Auction: Dance the night away and bid on over 400 items at the AIDS/HIV Service Group's 15th annual Creative Charlottesville Auction. Food from local restaurants, wine tastings, and much more. 6pm-midnight. $40 tickets available from ASG. For a list of auction items, see aidsservices.org or 979-7714.
Walk-a-Long: The Charlottesville Chapter of The Links, Inc. hosts the 7th Annual walkathon entitled "Project Walking Fete: Make Health A Habit," to benefit the Westhaven Nursing Clinic. Registration starts at 8:30am at UHall, followed by a spirited and music-infused warm-up. The walk begins at 9am. $10 registration fee. The walk happens rain or shine. Details: 977-1929.
High Steppers: Charlottesville High School hosts the annual cavalcade marching band competition. Gates open at 8:15am with the first band starting at 9am. Thirty regional bands with 3,000 competitors strut their stuff all day. Concessions available. $5 adults, $3 senior citizens and children under 12. 295-8453.
First Saturday Bird Walk: The fall migration is the highlight of the October bird walk at the Ivy Creek Natural Area, led by Peter Brask of the Monticello Bird Club. Beginners welcome. Meet in the parking lot. 7:30am. Free. Earlysville Road. 973-7772.
Music of the Blue Ridge: The prize-winning old-time band, Breakin' Nu Ground, from Lexington performs traditional music at the Humpback Rocks farm. 2-4pm. Bring a lawn chair and hang out. Free. Blue Ridge Parkway. 540-943-4716.
Dig In: Ash Lawn-Highland celebrates Virginia Archaeology Month with a series of workshop digs on the estate. Participants learn the basics of the trade as they excavate, screen, and wash artifacts. House tour and exhibit included. Tools provided. Two sessions: 9am-1pm and 1-5pm. $20 adults, $12 children ages 6-11. Call for reservations. 1000 James Monroe Parkway. 293-9539.
Military History Weekend: A living history program on the front lawn of the Albemarle County Office Building featuring re-enactors from almost every war America has fought. 401 McIntire Road. $3 per family. 9am-5pm.
Don't Forget: The local Alzheimer's Association hosts the annual Memory Walk at "The Park" at UVA Law School. Come out to walk or call to support members of the more than 60 teams who've signed up so far. 9am-noon. 973-6122.
Eyes and Ears: The Rivanna Lions Club offers a free sight and hearing screening today at Old Farm Day at Pleasant Grove. No appointment necessary. Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Rt. 53, in Palmyra. Details: 589-1397.
Printing and Sketching in the Garden: This painting workshop demonstrates simple line drawing and basic watercolor techniques with a focus on the flower and vegetable gardens at Monticello. Materials provided. 9:30am in the Garden Shop. $10; reservations required. 984-9822.
Wine Trail Festival: Every winery seems to have its own festival, but here several local winemakers band together for a fun little gig around the lake with food, crafts, and more. 11am-5pm at the Boar's Head Inn. Fee. 296-4188 ext. 21.
First Saturday Walk: Take in the fall colors at the State Arboretum of Virginia. Join a volunteer docent for a guided tour of seasonal features of the Arboretum. 10am-noon. Suggested donation: $4 members, $6 nonmembers; under 12 free. No reservations needed. Meet at the information pavilion. 540-837-1758.
WALKABOUT AND FAMILY
Experience Ireland: The Blue Ridge Irish Music School offers a fun and informative afternoon of Irish music, song, and dance at The Senior Center. In addition to a performance by students and instructors at 2:15, admission includes a tin whistle class and an Irish dance class. 2-5pm. $5, children under 9 free. Family rate $20. 1180 Pepsi Place. 263-6288.
Fall Fiber Festival: Sheep-shearing, spinning, knitting, rug-weaving, a fiber fashion show, and sheep dog trials&endash; all at Montpelier in Orange County. $5 adults; under-16 free. Saturday 10am- 5pm, Sunday 10am- 4pm. 540-832-5526.
String Theory: The Fall Fiber Festival and Sheep Dog Trials at Montpelier celebrates rural life in the Virginia Piedmont with weavers and spinners, sheep shearing (kids can get up close and really see what is happening), border collie demonstrations, workshops on the various aspects of using natural fibers, and touchy time with many of the animals that provide the world with wool. Scottish dancing, music, and bagpipes are also part of the fun. Festival-goers get a discount on tours of Montpelier. 10am-5pm. $5 adults, children under 16 free. Rt. 20 in Orange County. 832-5526. fallfiberfestival.org.
Stir It Up: Nelson County apple growers are making a party out of stirring the apples at Flippin-Seaman's Apple Butter Festival. Live music, pick your own pumpkins, pony rides (from 11am-2pm), games, food, clown, crafters, and more. 10am to 5pm. Free admission. Rt. 250 west, left on Rt. 151, right on Rt. 56 west, apple shed is 6 miles on the left. 1-434-277-5824.
FAMILY
Ride the Trails: Today is the second annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, and Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club members are taking kids for a ride at Walnut Creek Park. Rough riders ages 8-18 must come with their own bikes and helmets in good working order, and guides will address topics such as trail etiquette, safety, and basic skills. Parents must sign a release for their kids and may ride along, but are not required to do so. Meet at the beach parking lot. 2-4:30pm. Free. Reservations required. 540-456-7338. cambc.org/docs/kidmtbikeday2005.pdf.
Tasty Tomes: Teens who love to read come together for Chips and Chapters, the teen book discussion group at the Central Library. Kids in grades 6-12 meet once a month to discuss a different book at each session, have a snack, and help choose titles for later sessions. Today's first meeting discusses Avi's Nothing But the Truth. 2-3pm. Free. 201 E. Market St. 979-7151, ext. 3.
Pigs Party Down: Wee ones can enjoy cookies and stickers at the Storytime Theatre at Barnes & Noble as they listen to the new favorite from Laura Numeroff, If You Give a Pig a Party. Children will make a birthday hat and have a snack. 11:30am. Free. Barracks Road Shopping Center. 984-0461.
Out on a Limb: Young field hands can join in the harvest fun by picking their own apples, sampling fresh cider, and nibbling the famous cider donuts at Carter Mountain Orchard's Apple Harvest Festival. Arts and crafts, hayrides, picnicking, apple butter, pumpkins, and much more fun included. You can also come pick your apples during the week until the apples run out– usually in late October. 9am-6pm. Admission free. Rt. 53. 977-1833.
Pound It Out: The Frontier Culture Museum hosts a Hammer In featuring traditional and modern blacksmithing. There will be contests, presentations, and a sale. 9am-5pm. Included in the price of admission. Rt. 250 west in Staunton. 540-332-7850.
FAMILY AND STAGE
Name Game: Naming the troll is of utmost importance to a particular princess as Rumpelstiltskin dances onto the stage at the Old Michie Theatre. The classic Grimm's fairy tale comes to life as a marionette puppet play featuring hand-carved marionettes from the Czech Republic, sound effects, and a flying magical spoon. 11am and 2 and 4pm. $5. 221 E. Water St. 977-3690. oldmichie.com.
STAGE
Shenandoah Shakespeare
10 S. Market St., Staunton. 540-885-5588
Hamlet: Anyone who needs to read a description of what this play's about definitely needs to get on over to Staunton and check it out. Prince of Denmark, Ophelia in the stream, Laertes, and alas, poor Yorick! It's all here. 2pm.
The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan heads for Paris with an old horse, his father's letter of recommendation to the head of the King's Musketeers, and a recipe for a miracle wound-healing salve. Although he loses the letter and sells the horse, he's allowed entrance into the Musketeers and is accepted into Athos, Porthos, and Aramis' ranks. The story follows the four friends' heroism in saving an Englishman (Buckingham) and acting valiantly at every opportunity until we learn whether D'Artagnan will become a true musketeer. Prices vary. 7:30pm.
Noises Off: See Thursday, September 29. Tonight's show is at 8.
DANCE CARD
Argentine Tango: Two hours of South-of-the-Border fun at the Terry Dean Dance Studio. First hour instruction, second hour dancing practice. 7-9pm. $10. 29N, just behind the Flaming Wok. 540-456-6635
TUNES
The Lascivious Biddies: The four luscious babes in the Lascivious Biddies return to Gravity Lounge this week to blend jazz chops with pop sensibilities. Vocalist Lee Ann Westover doesn't really have a problem using the "rock and roll chicks" angle for marketing purposes.
"It's a gateway, I guess," she shrugs. "Some people interpret it as a gimmick, but it really did happen organically." The project grew gradually out of four loosely connected traditional jazz players who decided to do something a little more wild and intriguing. Nevertheless, they still play for serious audiences. "We play for the most part in elegant listening rooms," says Westover. "We like to have a nice rapport with the audience and have a relationship with them."
The Lascivious Biddies at Gravity Lounge. $10/$8, 8pm.
Punk Rock Matinee: Viking's Deli and the Deadend Kids at Better than Television under the Jefferson Theater. $3, 6pm.
Big Bob and the Night Cats at Atomic Burrito. No cover, 11pm.
Carbon Leaf and Sparky's Flaw at the Charlottesville Pavilion. $17/$15, 7:30pm.
Sconch at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.
Worn In Red at the Garden of Sheba. $5, 10pm.
The John Wyant Band at Kokopelli's. $5, 8pm.
Acoustic Charlottesville at Live Arts. $7, 8pm.
Daylight Tragedy and Brickbath at the Outback Lodge. $6, 10pm.
The Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra at Old Cabell Hall. $25-$11, 8pm.
The Jake Amerding Trio at The Prism. $15/$12, 8pm.
McAvoy, Kaylor, and Crowe at Rapunzel's, 7:30pm.
The Blue Ridge Irish Music School at The Senior Center. $20 per family/$5 per person, 2pm.
Mount Eerie and Thanksgiving at the UVA Chapel. $5, 9:30pm.
Bennie Dodd at the Wild Wing Café. No cover, 9pm.
The Matthew Willner Four at the Buddhist Biker Bar. No cover, 10:30pm.
Evergreen Music and the 2nd South Carolina String Band at the Battle of Stanardsville Civil War Reenactment in Greene County (1.5 miles west of US 29 on US 33). $5 advance/$7 door day pass. (Weekend pass: $8 advance/$12 door).
Sal Milione, David Tewksbury, Melissa McClain, and Nickeltown at Live Arts Upstage. 8pm, $7.
SUNDAY, October 2
STAGE
Shenandoah Shakespeare
10 S. Market St., Staunton. 540-885-5588
All's Well that Ends Well: See Thursday, September 29. Today's show is a 2pm matinee.
Noises Off: See Thursday, September 29. Today's show is a 2pm matinee.
FAMILY
Magical History Tour: Nineteenth century plantation life comes alive with costumed crafters preparing for autumn with hands-on activities for youngsters (candlemaking, quilling, Scottish dancing, colonial games), Highland dancing, and more at the home of President James Monroe Ash-Lawn Highland. Bring a picnic. 1-5pm. Included in the cost of admission. 1000 James Monroe Parkway. 293-9539.
String Theory: See Saturday, October 1. Time today is 10am-4pm.
WALKABOUT
Geo Trekking: Walk with geologist Aaron Cross as he explores the relationship between the area's geology and its human history at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. This will be a moderately strenuous hike, so bring water and sturdy shoes. 2pm. Free. 973-7772.
History Weekend: See Saturday, October 1. $3 per family. 9am-5pm.
Wine Trail Festival: See Saturday, October 1. 11am-5pm at the Boar's Head Inn. Fee. 296-4188 ext. 21.
WALKABOUT AND TUNES
High on the Mountain: Start your week in old-fashioned form, with some fine mountain music and country gospel, live at the Humpback Rocks farm. 11:30am-1:30pm. Free. 540-943-4716.
TUNES
All Original: Jae Sinnett was last here in March 2004 to host a clinic for the UVA Music Department, but this week he returns to Charlottesville to lead a trio performance at Live Arts. Most jazz performances involve playing standards from a set canon, but Sinnett takes particular pride in his abilities as a composer and will be playing all originals. "I'm a big advocate of drummers writing and getting into the theoretical side of music," he says. "I got tired of being the perpetual sideman and the timekeeper for musicians who couldn't keep time. In many ways, this is like a tribute to drummers."
Jae Sinnett with John D'earth and Steve Wilson at Live Arts. 8pm.
Criminal: The things Keller Williams does to his acoustic guitar almost qualify as crimes against nature. Often called a "one-man jamband," Williams plays solo shows by layering guitar parts on top of one another using on-the-fly loop-recording technology. This gives him a lot of improvisational freedom.
"A lot of times when I don't remember the lyrics, I'll make them up as I go," he laughs. One of his more obscene violations of performance convention was made possible by a Charlottesville native known only as Max, who gave Williams a small musical toy a while back. "It had a little earphone jack, and we rigged it up to where it could come through the P.A. system," says Williams. "It broke after about three weeks." No word yet on whether he's looking for a replacement, but feel free to bring your most absurd musical contraptions down to the Pavilion on Sunday just in case.
Keller Williams at the Charlottesville Pavilion. $22, 7:30pm.
David Ross MacDonald and Jess Klein at Gravity Lounge. $5, 7pm.
Sentai Mathematics and Les Angeles Mort at Better than Television under the Jefferson Theater. $5, 5pm.
King Golden Banshee at Fellini's #9. No cover, 6pm.
Warmed Over Boys at Kokopelli's. $5, 7pm.
The Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra at Old Cabell Hall. $25-$11, 3:30pm.
Dan Sebring at the Blue Bird Cafe. No cover, 6pm.
B.C. at Miller's. No cover, 11pm.
The 2nd South Carolina String Band and Smokin' Trout at the Battle of Stanardsville Civil War Reenactment in Greene County (1.5 miles west of US 29 on US 33). $5 advance/$7 door.
MONDAY, October 3
WORDS
Give and Take: Lois Lowry's Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver, is the focus of this month's discussion at Crozet Library. Even if you haven't read the book, come for a good discussion at 7pm. Free and open to the public. 5791 Three Notch'd Road. 823-4050.
Kokopelli Journals: Visit ACAC's gym in Albemarle Square to meet Laura Cockerille Giannini, author of the Kokopelli Journals, about a "reservation dog" and all the adventures he prompted, hear her read, and get her to sign your copy of the book. $5 from the sale of each book goes to Katrina relief. 6-9pm. 540-832-7048.
FAMILY
Club Fantasy: Fans of fantasy can explore magical worlds and alternative realities in Northside Library's fantasy book discussion group for teens. Snacks are involved along with great books and lively conversation. 6:30-7:30pm. Registration required. Albemarle Square. 973-7893.
WALKABOUT
Parkway No, Transit Yes: Help make the switch from subsidizing endless sprawl to supporting walkable development with convenient transit, bike paths, and sidewalks. Come plan the rally, sign up to table, or for more information. 5:30-7pm. McIntire Room in the downtown library. 882-1069.
TUNES
Three Fine Lines and The Points at Atomic Burrito. No cover, 11pm.
Street Legal at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.
Open mic night at Baja Bean. No cover, signups at 8:30pm, show at 9pm.
Matthew Willner at Miller's. No cover, 10pm.
Travis Elliott at The Virginian. No cover, 10pm.
TUESDAY, October 4
DANCE CARD
Dancing 'Round the World: International folk dancers meet every Tuesday 6-8:30pm at the Senior Center to learn dances from Russia, Israel, Bulgaria and France. Pepsi Place. Free. Beginners welcome. Info: 960-2227.
Go for It: Young dancers ages 12-18 can try out today for a spot in the new Miki Liszt dance company II. Come prepared to show a dance of any style lasting 90 seconds maximum. Be prepared to learn a new combination. 4:15-5:30pm. Studio 20, McGuffey Art Center, 201 Second St. NW. 973-3744.
WORDS
Love Life: Susan McKinnon, an anthropology professor at UVA, discusses "Marital Signs of Progress: What's Cousin Marriage Got to Do with Modernization?" at the monthly Fellows Seminar sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. 4-5:30pm at the VFH, 145 Ednam Drive, near the Boar's Head Inn. 924-3296.
TUNES
Travis Elliott at Atomic Burrito. No cover, 11pm.
The Greg Ward Project at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.
Mark Hamelin at Old Cabell Hall. $24/$20/$10/$5, 8pm.
Joel Harrison at Gravity Lounge. $10/$5 advance, 8pm.
David Grisman and Old School Freight Train at the Paramount
Dar Williams and Girlyman at Starr Hill. $20, 9pm.
Joseph Mills at Fat Daddy's. No cover, 9pm.
Matthew Willner and Friends at the Buddhist Biker Bar. No cover, 10:30pm.
Ezra Hamilton at Mono Loco. No cover, 10pm.
WEDNESDAY, October 5
STAGE
Shenandoah Shakspeare
10 S. Market St., Staunton. 540-885-5588
Comedy of Errors: Dr. Ralph lectures on the play at 6pm, and then the performers put it all into practice at the 7:30 performance.
Noises Off: See Thursday, September 29. Tonight's show is at 8pm. Pay what you will.
WALKABOUT
Autumn Table: Appalachian Sustainable Development hosts this first-annual evening of fine food, local wines, and live music at Ash Lawn Highland. Enjoy chef specialties from the area's best restaurants, with a rare local appearance by singer-songwriter John McCutcheon. Anthony Flaccavento presents the keynote address on building a healthy and sustainable world. 6:30pm. $30 per person, advanced tickets required. 978-7446.
WORDS
Talkin' Politics: House of Delegates candidates David Toscano and Thomas McCrystal participate in a public debate at the Charlottesville City Council Chambers. Sean O'Brien, executive director of the Sorenson Institute, and Steve Rappaport with 29 News will be co-moderators. Free and open to the public. 7pm. 972-9090.
FAMILY
Book It: October is National Book Month. Young writers and others can learn how books get published, meet a real writer or two, and design a book of their own at Northside Library. Local children's writers Jennifer Elvgren, Kathy May, and Mara Rockliff will be there talking about their books and how it got published. 4pm. Free. Registration required. Albemarle Square. 973-7893.
Soap Bubble Science: Blowing bubbles isn't just fun; there's a lot of science involved in surrounding circles of air with soap. Young Einsteins can mix up a super bubble brew, make different kinds of blow toys, and perform a few simple experiments that will blow your mind. 4pm. Free. Gordon Avenue Library. 296-5544.
More Tales for Tots: The 5 and under crowd can storyteller favorites at Barnes & Noble's preschool story time. 10:30am. Free. Barracks Road Shopping Center. 984-6598.
TUNES
O.A.R. at the Charlottesville Pavilion. $25, 7:30pm.
Kate Campbell and Mary Gordon Hall at Gravity Lounge. $15/$10 advance, 7pm.
Nanci Griffith and the Blue Moon Orchestra at the Paramount. $29.50/$25.50/$22.50, 8pm.
B.C. at the Buddhist Biker Bar. No cover, 11pm.
Bennie Dodd at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.
Josh Mayo at Fat Daddy's. No cover, 9pm.
Karaoke at Jabberwocky. No cover, 21+, 10pm.
The Mike Rosensky and Jeff Decker Quartet at Miller's. No cover, 10:30pm.
Open jam at Rapunzel's, 7pm.
Chris Jamison and William White at The Virginian. No cover, 10pm.
THURSDAY, October 6
STAGE
Shenandoah Shakespeare
10 S. Market St., Staunton. 540-885-5588
The Three Musketeers: See Saturday, October 1, Stay after tonight's 7:30 performance to chat with the cast.
Noises Off: See Thursday, September 29.
FAMILY
Learning Curve: Psychologist Anita Remig talks about "Creating Successful Functioning Children with Developmental Disorders" at the Little Keswick Foundation for Special Education's 8th annual Education Symposium. The talk offers insights and tools for helping kids challenged by Asperger's, autism, bipolar disorders, ADHD, OCD, and tic disorders. 7-9pm. Free. Glenmore Country Club, Keswick. .
More Tales for Tots: See Wednesday, October 5.
WORDS
Another World: Disgrace, by J.M. Coetzee, is the focus of this month's meeting of the Greene County Library's Book Discussion Group. It's a story about middle-aged professor David Lurie and his life in the shifting landscape of post-apartheid South Africa. Winner of the Booker Prize. 7pm in the Library Meeting Room. All are welcome. 985-5227.
TUNES
Bueno! at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.
Seamus Kennedy at Gravity Lounge. $5, 7pm.
The Rogan Brothers at The Satellite Ballroom. $5, 9pm.
Thompson/D'earth at Miller's. $4, 10:30pm.
Karaoke at Fat Daddy's. $5/Free 21+, 8:30pm.
Karaoke at Damon's Sports Grill. No cover, 9pm.
The Nice Jenkins at Mellow Mushroom. No cover, 10:30pm.
Acoustic Groove Trio at Mono Loco. No cover, 10pm.
Stable Roots at the Outback Lodge. $5, 10pm.
Upcoming and Ongoing
DANCE CARD
Cut a Rug: Terry Dean Dance Studio gets everybody ready for a winter of indoor fun. Dance classes in Viennese waltz and advanced rumba(!) (Monday), beginning cha-cha and intermediate tango (Tuesday), beginning rumba and advanced foxtrot (Wednesday), beginning swing and intermediate waltz (Thursday), beginning salsa (Friday). Practice at dance parties every Friday at 9pm. Individual classes $10 per person per class. Dance parties: $10. 1309 A. Seminole Trail. Details: 977-3327 or terrydeandancestudio.com.
Pole Dancing: Slither like a sleek snake at the Shergold Studio's pole dancing class every Thursday. Beginners at 7pm, Intermediate at 8pm and Advanced at 9pm. Or if flamenco is more your style, try that on Thursdays, too. Former Berkmar Ballroom spot on Rio Road. 975-4611.
Square Dance Classes: Learn to do-si-do with the pros. The Virginia Reelers Square dance club offers beginning square dance classes on Tuesday nights. 7pm at Woodbrook School. Open to all, no experience necessary. Details: 296-9704.
Dancing 'Round the World: International folk dancers meet every Tuesday 6-8:30pm at the Senior Center to learn dances from Russia, Israel, Bulgaria and France. Pepsi Place. Free. Beginners welcome. Info: 960-2227.
Sunday Salsa: The Charlottesville Salsa Club sponsors a weekly opportunity to learn and practice salsa and other dances in a smoke-free nightclub atmosphere. A basic lesson (usually salsa) gets the evening started at 8pm. Complimentary water and sodas. The Outback Lodge, 917 Preston Ave. 8pm-midnight. $3-5. cvillesalsaclub.com or 979-7211.
WALKABOUT
Improvement Ed: FOCUS Women's Resource Center presents a series of five workshops in Assertiveness Skills Training. Learn to improve communication, increase self confidence, gain respect, express positive emotions, and much more. Wednesday evenings, October 19- November 16, 7-8:30pm. 1508 Grady Ave. $50 includes materials and light refreshments. Info: Bebe Heiner, 293-2222 x 192.
Humpback Rocks: Stroll through a re-created 19th century Appalachian farm, complete with traditional music (see Tunes September 17-18 for performers), on your way up to the breathtaking view from the Humpback Rocks overlook. Visitor's Center open every day 10am-5pm. Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 5.8. 540-943-4716.
Volunteer Training: Shelter for Help in Emergency is seeking volunteers to participate in their Summer Volunteer Training program. Learn what you can do to help out in the local community. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9pm through October. 963-4676 for registration and details.
Yes, Yoga: Kundalini yoga purifies the body and liberates the spirit. Experience it for yourself for $5 per class, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm in the attic of the Glass Building, 313 Second St. SE. 293-7439.
ART AND FAMILY
Eye for Art: Those with an eye for a good story can put their talent to work in the 18th annual Writer's Eye Competition at the University of Virginia Art Museum. Now through November 18, children in elementary through high school can view a selected group of art works at the Museum and write an original poem or short story in response. Forms and instructions are available at the Museum. Tuesday-Sunday, 1-5pm. Free. Rugby Road. 924-7458. virginia.edu/artmuseum.
FAMILY
Get Real: Teen Read Week starts October 16, and kids in grads 6-12 are advised to get real and write about it. Jefferson-Madison Regional Libraries are collecting prose and poetry on the topic of what's real to you for their Teen Read Week Writing Contest. Prizes will be awarded, and entries must be submitted by October 22. Details at any branch. 979-7151, ext. 3.
Take a Hike: Young outdoorsmen can discover what camping is all about at a new exhibit at the Back Gallery at the Virginia Discovery Museum. Visitors can follow a map to their campsite in the deciduous forest of the Blue Ridge, pitch a tent and settle into a sleeping bag, or enjoy all the outdoors has to offer including hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and wildlife. Through January 15. Included in the price of admission. East end of the Downtown Mall. 977-1025.
Playing Doctor: The Health Hut comes to the Virginia Discovery Museum from its former home at the UVA Children's Hospital. This interactive collection of activities helps kids learn about their bodies, health care, and making healthy choices. Slim Goodbody, for example, gives the inside scoop on the heart, lungs, and other organs. In the doctor's office, kids can view x-rays and examine patients. Discover the five senses, find out how much you weigh and how tall you are, and much more. This exhibit will be displayed in the Back Gallery for the next year. Included in the price of admission. East end of the Downtown Mall. 977-1025.
ART LIST
The University of Virginia Art Museum currently offers "The Power of the North: German, Dutch and Flemish Old Master Prints," featuring works created between 1500-1700, plus "Insistent Absence: the Unacknowledged Influence of Ukiyo-e on Modern Japanese Prints." Both shows run through October 16. Also on view: "A Jefferson Ideal: Selections from the Dr. and Mrs. Henry C. Landon III Collection of American Fine and Decorative Arts," which will remain on display through November 23. 155 Rugby Road. 924-3592. See Art feature.
Piedmont Virginia Community College Gallery hosts "The Evolution of Ideas: Experience, Influence, and Affinity," a retrospective of work by emeritus professor Chica Tenney (whose art will be on view all over town in October). V. Earl Dickinson Building. 434-5203.
The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection offers "Above and Beyond: Perspectives in Aboriginal Art," examining how Aboriginal artists use perspective and point-of-view to depict landscapes and traditional stories. The show is on view through November 5. 400 Worrell Drive. (Pantops). 244-0234.
The new venue Abundant Life Chiropractic and Gallery closes its September show of work by Diana Arge and opens an October exhibition, "Love Cards," by Virginia Reiley and Elize Evans. 201 E. Main St., Suite Q. 979-5433.
Angelo presents photographer Ben Greenberg's exhibition, "Where Land and Water Meet," through October 30. 220 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 971-9256.
Charlottesville-Albemarle Art Association members Sandra Austin, Blake Hurt, Ed Mochel, Gigi Payne, Coy Roy, and Ralph Schultz have work on view at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Airport through November 7. Airport Road. 295-2486.
Through October 31, Michael's Bistro displays "Places Foreign and Familiar," an exhibition of photographs by Michael Shveima. 1427 University Ave. (on the Corner above Littlejohn's). 297-8032.
Glo is currently showing paintings by Christian Peri. 225 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 295-7432.
Blue Ridge Beads & Glass displays new paintings and art glass by Jerry O'Dell. 1724 Allied St. 293-2876.
L'étoile Restaurant displays paintings by local artists Barry Gordon, Malcolm Hughes, and Christian Peri. 817 W. Main St. (across from the Amtrak Station). 979-7957.
Radar
Sweetbriar College presents "The Madness of Paradise," featuring the photographs of Gregry Crewdson, Annabel Elgar, and Justine Kurland, in the Gary Pannell Art Gallery through October 1. Also, "Paula Helenveld: Ancient Wisdoms and Natural Actions at Akrotiri 1500 BC" hangs in its Benedict Hall Gallery. The show remains on view through October 30. And in the Babcock Gallery, Sweet Briar presents "Sue Johnson: Fragments from the Alternate Encyclopedia," through October 16. 800-381-6100.
The Williams School of Commerce at Washington and Lee University in Lexington offers a dual exhibition entitled "North and South," by painter Eric Fitzpatrick. The show remains on view through December. 540-458-8602
Nellysford's Basic Necessities presents "Gallic Dream," Ted Pfaltz's photographs of France. Route 151. 434-361-1766.
Richmond's Virginia Museum of Fine Arts features a rotating series of paintings under the umbrella title of "An Enduring Legacy: Paintings Acquired Through the J. Harwood and Louis B. Cochrane Fund for American Art." 200 N. Boulevard. 804-204-2704.
The Walker Fine Arts Center– Baker Gallery at Woodbury Forest School presents Werner Sensbach's "Paces of the Piedmont" and Chris McAndrew's "Sculpture in Stone." Both shows hang through October 28. Woodbury Forest. 540-672-3900.
The new Virginia Holocaust Museum Art Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by G. Roy Levin, through December 31. 2000 E. Cary St., Richmond. 804-257-5400.
The Arts Center in Orange features "Visual Phrases," an exhibition of work by Bill Moretz, Janice Breeden, and Aggie Zed, through October 29. 149 E. Main St., Orange. 540-672-7311.
Staunton's Middlebrook Gallery presents the clay miniatures of Lou Greiner through October 23. 5 Middlebrook Ave. 540-885-9955.
During October, Barboursville's Sun's Traces Gallery showcases Paula Brown-Steedly's pottery, Charlottes LaRoy's basketry, and Sarah Lock's silver work. 5449 Gov. Barbour St. 973-3700.
The Barn Swallow has pottery by Janice Arone and Mary Ann Burke, plus other handcrafted artwork for sale. Route 682 off 250W. 434-979-4884.
The Ed Jaffe Gallery features paintings and marble sculptures by Ed Jaffe, plus abstract photographs by Marc Jaffe. 108 W. Main St., Orange. 540-672-2400.
Other
The University of Virginia Art Museum is currently accepting entries for the 18th annual Writer's Eye competition. Writers of all ages are invited to submit poetry and prose in response to any of 21 works currently on view. All entries are due by 5pm, November 18. Application forms, regulations, and images of the works are online at virginia.edu/artmuseum. Info: 243-2050.
The Mental Health Association seeks artists and writers who have an interest in mental health to submit works for an art show and public reading to celebrate World Mental Health Day. The art will be on view during October, and the reading is scheduled for October 10, 1-4pm. Submit works on October 8, 10am-12pm at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church. 717 Rugby Road. For more information, 977-4673.
FEATURES/FEATURES/FEATURES
ART
Daunting Durer: Old masters' stunning prints
BY LAURA PARSONS
I didn't expect to see my dog at the University of Virginia Art Museum when I went to view "The Power of the North: German, Dutch and Flemish Old Master Prints." But there he was– or rather his 16th century twin– in all his mongrel glory, sitting face-forward, nose down in the lower right corner of Albrecht Dürer's engraving, "Saint Eustace."
The musculature of his chest and the slightly crooked ridge of fur running down its center, along with the way his ears flop and how his haunches splay– it's all there. Meanwhile, above, Saint Eustace drops to his knees before a stag sprouting the crucifixion from its forehead as it stands in the middle of a forest, with a castle-topped town looming in the background.
This combination of naturalistic observation and religious imagery exuding an eerie fairy-tale flare is what, according to UVA's Stephen Margulies, distinguishes Northern European printmakers of the era from their more florid Italian counterparts.
Curated in response to last year's exhibition of Italian Old Master prints, the current show encompasses woodcuts, engravings, and etchings by Dürer, Lucas van Leyden, Leonhard Beck, and Hendrick Goltzius, among others. It invites viewers to compare the techniques and themes of contemporaneous printmakers responding to the same influences. Unlike today, artists of the period embraced rather than derided imitation, so the deviations and innovations become that much more intriguing.
It may be hard to imagine, but printmaking was as revolutionary for 15th and 16th century Europeans as the Internet is for us today. Printing techniques– from the movable type of the Gutenberg Bible to carved woodblocks to precisely chiseled engravings– for the first time enabled people in different locations to absorb the same visual information.
How the Old Masters developed artistry within such precise craftwork and what they chose to depict is fascinating. The exquisitely detailed Dürer works, for instance, reveal the German artist's interest in science and the natural world, whereas the images by his Dutch rival and imitator Lucas van Leyden showcase the latter's celebration of everyday life and social interactions.
Throughout the exhibition, Margulies' always-informative signage offers viewers in-depth insights and poses questions for reflection.
But if you go for nothing else, go for the Dürers. I repeatedly found myself slack-jawed before his images, staggered by how chiseled and inked plates could so perfectly capture the folds of a lady's sleeve or the twist in a tuft of fur.
"The Power of the North: German, Dutch and Flemish Old Master Prints" is on view at the University of Virginia Art Museum through October 16. 155 Rugby Road. 924-3592.
BUZZ BOX
Oh, freedom: Guthrie relishes big issues
BY VIJITH ASSAR
Arlo Guthrie became a well known social commentator and musician during the '60s folk scene thanks in large part to "Alice's Restaurant," an 18-minute rambling musical narrative about his experiences with police and military recruiters during the Vietnam era.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the song, and he's bringing the celebration to The Paramount on September 30. Faced with The Hook's questions about the society that emerged from his activism 40 years ago, Guthrie began to gush.
"There were a lot of people engaged in all kinds of stuff 40 years ago. It wasn't just the war– the war was only one thing in the cultural revolution– the civil rights movement, people concerned about the war, people worried about nuclear power, and people burning lingerie– it was a lot of the same people, even though we tend to isolate these events and think of them as separate. It wasn't just about the war, it was taking stock of the nation as a whole and wondering what kind of country we were going to have.
It's no different now from the way it was 40 years ago. It's not just the war– people are concerned about who you can marry or what you can grow in your backyard.
These are the issues that concern the times, and there are people heavily involved in all of them, and right or left, that's terrific. Every individual doesn't have to be right about everything, you just have to engage in the discussion of the times. If enough people do that on the left and the right and the top and the bottom, we'll do alright.
I think we have accomplished exactly what we had hoped to, which is to continue to make people feel like their voice counts. Forty years ago, there were people telling us to shut up, get out of the country if you don't like it, but we got up and we said, "No. You've gotta speak up. If you're American, you have an obligation to present your point of view, and by doing so you make the country free."
You have to use the freedoms you have, or you lose them. There are people telling people to shut up now, and I'm opposed to those people.
Before the war in Iraq, millions of people all across the world took to the streets. Some of them were saying, "Don't go," and some of them were saying "Let's roll."
That's when I knew what we had accomplished. In every community now, there are groups concerned about nuclear energy and the environment, civil rights, and women's rights. All the things that were controversial 40 years ago have become part of the fabric of the culture. They've become ordinary. That's the ultimate success of the activism of those times.
BUZZ BOX - Buried hatchet? Pixies reunite for… $?
BY VIJITH ASSAR
The Pixies, perhaps second only to Nirvana in toppling the tyranny of hair metal in the early 1990s, broke up under less than amicable circumstances due to the constant bickering between singer Black Francis and bassist Kim Deal. Now, a reformed Frank Black has re-formed the band for a reunion tour that promises to be as exciting and neurotic as it is profitable.
The Hook: How's the situation with Kim?
Frank Black: Oh, that's not a situation. That's an ongoing dynamic.
The Hook: What is it that made you want to re-unite?
Frank Black: Well, I suppose... the money.
The Hook: But you're one of the fathers of alt rock.
Frank Black: Am I? I thought it was Iggy Pop.
The Hook: Well, the Pixies are often credited with starting the wave that allowed Nirvana to break. What's it like to have outlived them by more than 10 years?
Frank Black: I'm very glad to be alive. It's always good to outlive anything.
The Hook: Of course, but what does it mean for you guys as artists?
Frank Black: That's like someone saying, "The word is that the Pope just bought your record." What do you even say to that? It doesn't mean I'm thinking about converting to Catholicism.
The Hook: Is there anybody out there whom you view as the logical extension of what you were doing?
Frank Black: Not really. You might hear similarities, but we're a little too willing to be dorks. It's a schizophrenic potpourri.
The Hook: Are you a dork?
Frank Black: I have clogs.
The Hook: You just played Lollapalooza in Chicago, which has devolved from a traveling festival in the '90s to a one-shot concert because of slow ticket sales. What was your reaction to that change?
Frank Black: That's showbiz.
BUZZ BOX- Empire angst: Williams waiting to exhale
BY VIJITH ASSAR
New England songwriter Dar Williams released her first album in 1993, and by the end of the decade she had become one of modern folk music's most fearsome warriors. She arrives in town this week to pitch her newest album, My Better Self, which is heavy on electric guitars and rock-oriented arrangements and even features a cover of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb."
The Hook: You were in Charlottesville recording with DMB bassist Stefan Lessard in 2002. What was that like?
Dar Williams: It was nice and easygoing– it's hard to say what it was, really, because it was so much fun. Stefan has to wrestle with all the weirdness of being a superstar, but he does it well. His bass playing is extremely melodic and poetic and almost lyrical in a way– it's a lyric writer's dream to have that sort of bass playing available.
The Hook: You've been back to Starr Hill a couple of times since then. Are you still playing that material as part of the show?
Dar Williams: I think we'll be doing only one of the songs he was on. We're not doing that whole album these days when we play live.
The Hook: What kind of lineup do you bring with you on tour now?
Dar Williams: It's almost the same as last time– keyboards, bass, drums, and guitar.
The Hook: So is Out There Live still an accurate representation of your live show?
Dar Williams: Not as much, because it's a different band. The band kind of used the live album and my studio albums as a jumping off point. These guys have taken it and made it their own. They nod to the arrangements that are there, but they give it their own thumbprint.
The Hook: "Beautiful Enemy" is pretty hard compared to "calling the Moon," and you've moved back and forth in terms of dense orchestration over the course of your career. How do you see that developing in the future?
Dar Williams: This is my third album with the band from Green World– so we were just kind of digging in. It's just a trust exercise. The lyrics are also a little harsh– harsher than the production, even.
The Hook: Speaking of interesting production, the Pink Floyd cover is pretty captivating. Why did you choose that song?
Dar Williams: It works on a lot of different levels. As a performer, it's an interesting song about having to lose some of your consciousness in order to make sure you can make it up on stage. That contradiction can happen, although it hasn't happened in my career (I'm pretty lucky). It came about right after the election, and I think that the world was in shock. It wasn't that we couldn't have our cappuccinos, but there was this aspect of surprise, the realization that we're going to have more of the same. There's not going to be an exhale at the end of the inhale, we're going to keep inhaling. We got to go back to our comfortable lives, but there was a sense of loss, and that song is about keeping on in the face of loss.
The Hook: That's an interesting spin to put on such a classic, well established song. It sounds like the same emotions that were probably behind "Empire."
Dar Williams: Again, I wrote that right after the election, and I wanted to lay bare what I thought was a just position. When you are building an empire, you raid the coffers of your civilization to it. It's really empire versus civilization, even though we're so used to seeing it as empire as a part of civilization. You sacrifice your civilization in order to further your goals of building an empire. You raid the financial coffers, and also the moral ones– civil liberties and so on. Nazi Germany sacrificed its morals tremendously to follow it's grand scheme. The British Empire certainly had an element of racism that allowed them to pursue empire building. Now, we have to decide what to sacrifice.
The Hook: So do you ever worry about alienating your listeners with all this?
Dar Williams: No. To say that inevitably, "This empire will fall on its own ass, like every empire does," was a matter of stating a fact. I wrote this as a student of history: there are references to other empires, but no mention of us. If you say that this is about the United States, that's a very self-exposing observation, because one could argue that we're not in there at all. I do believe, though, that this government is criminal. Every other presidency has had elements of it– the United States is very powerful, and so it has had its moments of imperialism with other presidents– but this one is only about expanding their own oligarchy.
The Hook: In an ideal world, what effect would the song have?
Dar Williams: I don't mind reinforcing something, but I don't expect to convert anyone. I can be a part of something. It's not one person who does it, it's everyone. I don't consider myself to be even half a drop in the bucket.