THURSDAY, April 17
PERFORMANCE
Big Love: The UVA Drama Department concludes their regular season with Charles Mee's retelling of one of the oldest Greek dramas, Aeschylus' The Suppliant Women, in which 50 sisters flee their arranged marriages to 50 brothers. Continues April 16-19. Culbreth Theater, 109 Culbreth Road. 8pm. $7-12.

Arms and the Man: George Bernard Shaw's comedy opens on the main stage of the V. Earl Dickinson Building at Piedmont Virginia Community College, 501 College Drive. Continues April 17-19. 7:30pm. $6-10. 961-5376.

WORDS
Snoop Dog: UVA's Department of Anthropology offers a lecture "Like a Terrier: Doing Ethnography In, On, and Around the De Beers Corporation." Speaker is economic anthropologist Clare Terni. Campbell Hall room 153. 6:30pm. Reception follows. 924-7980.

Purebred: Barnes & Noble hosts a musical performance by Ben Taylor, son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. The 26-year-old composer is celebrating his debut CD, Famous Among the Barns, inspired by a Dylan Thomas poem. Come to listen and enter a raffle for a pair of tickets to Taylor's 8pm concert at Starr Hill. Barracks Road Shopping Center. 12:30pm. 984-0461.

Stand-up philosopher: A college grad working in a whole body donation clinic and a woman obsessed with Benedictine monks star in Maud Casey's new collection of short stories, Drastic. Casey is at New Dominion Bookshop tonight at 6. Downtown Mall, 295-2552.

WALKABOUT
Pull that oar: In honor of national Learn to Row day, the Rivanna Rowing Club hosts an open house. Meet the coaches, try rowing in UVA's training barge, and sign up for LTR classes. No charge, no obligation, just fun for all. 9am-2pm at the boathouse. Take Hydraulic Road to Earlysville Road, turn left before the reservoir bridge onto Woodlands Road, then 1/3 mile on right. rivannarowing.org. 978-2092.

Brown bag: "Byte By Bite," a monthly brown-bag lunch program focused on computers and technology, meets at noon in the McIntire Room of the Central Library at 201 E. Market St. Today's topic is "Computer Security 101." Brian Davis from UVA's Info Technology Dept. tells how you can protect yourself and your computer from viruses, unauthorized access, and theft. Bring a lunch. Beverages and dessert provided. Free. 295-4410.

TUNES
Rayna Gellert at the Prism Coffeehouse: Old time fiddler Rayna Gellert is the latest featured artist in the Prism's spring series, Female Fiddlers. Joining her is Joe Fallon of the Critton Hollow String Band. $12/$10 advance, 8 pm.

Dar Williams with Ben Taylor at Starr Hill: Dar Williams' latest release has been called "good, but really girly at points." Pop songs from somewhere beyond Sarah McLachlan in their womanly charms to somewhere beyond. $20/$18 advance, 9pm.

The African Drumming and Dance Ensemble at Old Cabell Hall: Featuring music and dance of Ghana and the Central African Republic. The African Drum and Dance Ensemble is composed of UVA students under the direction of Michelle Kisliuk, and this evening they're joined by guest artists Afi Diana Kofitiah and the family dance group Zokela Seko de Centrafrique. $10/$5 students, 8:15pm.

Jim Waive at the Blue Moon Diner. No cover, 8pm.

Chicken Head Blues Band at Dürty Nelly's. $4, 9pm. (W)

Beija-flor at El Girasol. 10pm, no cover. (W)

The Jessup, Mills & Snider Trio at Escafé. No cover, 10pm. (W)

The Victrolas at High Street Steak and Grill. No cover, 8:30pm. (W)

John D'earth and friends at Miller's. $4, 10pm. (W)

Mike Meadows with Devon Malone at Mountain View Grill, $5, 7pm.

Skyline Awake with the Emergency at Outback Lodge. Free, 10pm.

Grasping at Laws upstairs at Tokyo Rose. No cover, 9:30pm. (W)

Since By Man at Tokyo Rose. $5, 10:30pm.

B.C. at the Virginian. No cover, 10:30pm. (W)

FRIDAY, April 18
PERFORMANCE
No shame: Join the weekly line-up of performers at this open mic for actors, if you dare. Live Arts LAB Space, 609 E. Market St. 11pm. $5 at the door. 977-4177.

Big Love: See Thursday, April 17.

Arms and the Man: See Thursday, April 17.

Sam Shepard Duo: Live Arts offers two of Shepard's well-known plays: Buried Child playing on the Main Stage, and True West appearing in the LAB Space. Both plays examine the phenomenon of the American family. Buried Child plays at 8pm; True West begins at 8:15pm. 609 E. Market St. Reserved tickets for Buried Child $12-14. $7 tickets for True West must be purchased at the door. 977-4177.

WORDS
Forgive and forget: Is South Africa's Truth & Reconciliation Program a good model for other divided societies? A lecture by Lyn Graybill, UVA scholar and author of two books on South Africa, examines the question. Miller Center, 2201 Old Ivy Road. 11am. 924-0921.

The Batcave: Alfred Loomis, a financier with a private laboratory at the disposal of the developers of radar, is the subject of Tuxedo Park, the book of the month at Northside Library's "Books Sandwiched In" program. The discussion will be led by Frank Patterson of Motivational Concepts. Northside Library, Albemarle Square. 12-1pm. 973-7893

FAMILY
What's your name?: Old Michie Theatre's spring production transplants a classic Grimm tale to the South Pacific in Rhumb Tiya: A Rain Forest Rumpelstiltskin. Local youth perform in this live stage production with exotic phrasings, traditional island rituals, and lyrical music. 7pm. $6 advance, $7 at the door. 221 Water St. 977-3690. oldmichie.com.

WALKABOUT
Lunar eclipse: You haven't seen a lunar eclipse since 2000. That could change in May. Find out about the upcoming total lunar eclipse at the Science Museum of Virginia's interactive planetarium show, LiveSky. Museum astronomer Jim Lehman answers questions about the May 15 eclipse and a second eclipse later in the year. 6:30pm. Free. Visit www.smv.org for more info. The Science Museum is located at 2500 W. Broad St. in Richmond.

Spring orchids: The Charlottesville Orchid Society holds its annual spring show and sale of orchid plants at Fashion Square Mall today and tomorrow from 9am-9pm each day. 975-4231.

TUNES
Johnny and the Lowdowns at the Dew Drop Inn: Blues act Johnny and the Lowdowns is fronted by John Morgan, President of the River City Blues Society in Richmond, so it's a pretty good guess that they know how to get down, old school style. No cover, 9:30pm.

Open Road with King Wilkie at Miller's: Rounder Records artists Open Road and King Wilkie, two young bluegrass bands, infuse the genre with their exuberant energies, playing bluegrass how it was meant to be played-&endash; rough and tumble, ready for a metaphorical fight. $4, 9pm.

Luxury Liner (country/pop), Jalapeno Cornbread (jam), Ohm's Law (beach music/pop/etc.), and Frontbutt (old-school rap) at Outback Lodge: Put on by OMN Cyclists, this show benefits a worthy cause, so it's a great way to spend $5. And you'll get a chance to see four of Charlottesville's most eclectic live acts. $5, 7pm. See Tunes feature.

Matt Haimovitz and Itamar Golan at the Prism Coffeehouse: Cellist Haimovitz and pianist Golan introduce their new CD release, The Rose Album, at the Prism tonight. "Romantic salon music," for your listening pleasure. $25/$20 advance, 8pm

Maserati, Ostinato, and Tone at Tokyo Rose: Three instrumental bands for the price of one. Hometown favorites Ostinato duke it out with post-rock champions Maserati in a mostly voiceless war for the entire planet! $5, 10:30pm.

Paul Goes Richter at Jabberwocky. $2, 11pm.

Swing Piggy at Mountain View Grill. $5, 8:30pm.

William Walter & Co. at Orbit. No cover, 10:30pm.

Poetry & Fiction Night at Rapunzel's Coffee & Books. Free, 7:30pm.

The African Dance and Percussion Troupe at Stony Point Elementary School. Free, 10am.

SATURDAY, April 19
PEFORMANCE
Big Love: See Thursday, April 10.

Arms and the Man: See Thursday, April 10.

Murder mystery: Join the Jefferson Players as they delve into the world of murder and intrigue over a four-course buffet meal. They offer the comedy by Jason Campbell, It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To. Courtyard Marriott, 1201 W. Main St. 7pm. $29.90. 977-1144 or jeffmanor.com.

Advanced improv workshop: Daniel Perez, who has studied with Chicago's Second City and Improv Olympic, offers a Saturday morning improvisation workshop on "long-form," the technique developed by legendary improv guru Del Close, through June 7. Live Arts LAB Space, 609 E. Market St. 10am-12noon. $90-110. 977-4177.

FAMILY
Estate tour: Montpelier guides offer a special tour of James Madison's estate that focuses on the legacy of William and Annie duPont (who purchased the plantation in 1901) and their daughter, the famed equestrian Marion duPont Scott. Every Saturday now through October. 2pm. Included in the cost of admission. 11407 Constitution Highway (Rt. 20 in Orange). 540-672-2728. montpelier.org.

Confederate camp: Dr. Matthew Reeves, Director of Archaeology at Montpelier, leads a tour of a Confederate Civil War encampment on the grounds of James Madison's estate that was occupied during the winter of 1863-64. The tour starts at 11am from the Monticello Visitors Center and involves a three-quarter mile hike through the woods. Free, but a $10 donation is requested to help construct an interpretive trail. 11407 Constitution Highway (Rt. 20 in Orange County). 540-672-0008. montpelier.org.

Planting time: Just in time for Mother's Day, plant lovers age eight and over can learn how to divide a favorite houseplant and suspend their plant stylishly with a twine and button hanger at Crozet Library. 10:30am. Free. In the old train station on Three Notch'd Road. 823-4050.

Crafty fair: Court Days Craft Festival takes place at Lee Park today. Quality handcrafted items are available from vendors from far and wide. Live entertainment and food, too. 10am-6pm. Free. Corner of Market and Second streets.

Buckle up: Albemarle County Department of Fire and Rescue sponsors a monthly child safety seat inspection. Volunteers will be at Barracks Road Shopping Center today from 10am-2pm. Free. 296-5833.

Look under bushes: Charlottesville's department of recreation and leisure services hosts its annual Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 12 and under. 11am, but hop over there early, because you gotta grab quick&emdash; the scramble usually lasts five minutes max. Needless to say, the Great Bunny himself will be in attendance. 970-3101.

What's your name?: See Friday, April 18.

WALKABOUT
Vineyard basics: Gabriele Rausse, expert winemaker and associate director of gardens and grounds at Monticello, discusses the basic principles of grape growing: varietal and site selection, trellis systems, propagation, planting, pruning, pest control, and harvesting. 9:30am, Monticello's Garden Shop. $10, registration required. 984-9822.

Wildflower walk: A three hour guided hike through the wildflower-graced landscape of Monticello. Registration required. 984-9822.

Spring orchids: See Friday, April 18.

Hike Wintergreen x2: If you're a morning person, why not join a Wintergreen Nature Foundation naturalist for an interpretive hike through the mountains of Wintergreen? Moderate difficulty. $3 members, $5 non-members. 10am. Or if you're a good listener, try the "Listening Walk," which caters to the young naturalist. 1pm. $5. 325-7451.

Cycle recycling: Help recycle and repair donated bikes for Community Yellow Bikes from 11am-3pm. Meet at the shop at the rear of the building on the corner of W. Main and Ninth streets SW, behind the Hampton Inn. 220-0247.

TUNES
Kevin Burke at the Prism Coffeehouse: Irish fiddler Kevin Burke has been world-renowned since the '70s when he played with such artists as Andy Irvine and Arlo Guthrie. This show features two full solo sets of Burke's fiddling mastery. $20/$18 advance, 8pm.

Andy Friedman & Paul Curreri at Rapunzel's Coffee & Books: Artist Andy Friedman and local folk musician Paul Curreri have been touring the country in unison since March, presenting their acoustic multi-media experience to towns far and wide. Projections of Friedman's art, paired with his renowned storytelling, immediately proceed Paul Curreri's humorous and melodic take on folk and "country-blues." $5, 7:30pm.

Indecision at Starr Hill: Prototypical jam band Indecision takes the stage in their hometown, one of their few shows this year-&endash; the group stopped touring professionally in1993. A little Dead, Phish, et al., and some pretty good songwriting to boot. $12/$10, 9pm.

Ohm's Law at Earl's Firehouse Grill. $3, 8pm.

Sparky's Flaw at Jabberwocky. $2, 11pm.

Ezra Hamilton & Friends at Miller's. $4, 10pm

Tigerlilly at Mountain View Grill. $5, 7pm

Global Funk Council at Outback Lodge. $6, 10pm.

Indecision at Starr Hill. $12/$10, 9pm.

The Dawning: Amber Spyglass and In Tenebris at Tokyo Rose. $5, 10pm.

SUNDAY, April 20
FAMILY
Eggs-citement: Charlottesville Recreation and Leisure Services and Albemarle Parks and Recreation host an Easter Egg Hunt on the Charlottesville High School athletic fields for kids ages 12 and under. Rain or shine. 11am. Free. 1400 Melbourne Road. 970-3260.

What's your name?: See Friday, April 18. Today's performance is at 3pm.

Crafty fair: See Saturday, April 19. Hours today are 1-4pm.

PERFORMANCE
Sunday salsa: The Charlottesville Salsa Club sponsors a weekly opportunity to learn and practice salsa and other dances in a smoke free nightclub atmosphere. Music is salsa mixed with other Latin styles. Orquesta Timbason performs live this week. Complimentary water and sodas. The Outback Lodge, 917 Preston Ave. 8pm-midnight. $8. 979-7211 or .

TUNES
The Hogwaller Ramblers at Escafé. No cover, 10pm. (W)

Matt Wilner at Mellow Mushroom. No cover, 8pm. (W)

Dead Night at Michael's Bistro. No cover, 10pm. (W)

Charlottesville Acoustic Muse presents Slaid Cleaves with Vyktoria Pratt Keating at Mountain View Grill. $15/$13 advance, 7:30pm.

MONDAY, April 21
TUNES
Jackson Gibson at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10:30pm. (W)

Mike Mulvaney at Jabberwocky. No cover, 10pm.

Max Collins at Michael's Bistro. No cover, 10:30pm. Experimental acoustic. (W)

George Melvin at South Street Brewery. No cover, 9:30pm.

TUESDAY, April 22
PERFORMANCE
After school workshop: Designed for the teen actor, this six-week workshop focuses on the actor's vocal production and physical movement, skills that will be put to use in developing monologues. Amanda McRaven leads the class. Live Arts LAB Space, 609 E. Market St. 5-6:30pm. $45-60. 977-4177. See Performance feature.

Where's the acting?: Join fellow actors for a workout guaranteed to stretch your performing muscle groups. Carol Pedersen, a local acting coach, leads an hour of physical and mental exercises. The Attic, 313 Second St. SE, Studio 208. 7pm. $10 drop-in rate. 977-4177, ext. 100.

WALKABOUT
Historic Garden Week: See some of Albemarle's most glorious gardens during the 2003 Historic Garden Week, today through Thursday. This year's tours feature the Country Homes and Garden Tours (Riverside and Oakwood), Chopping Bottom, Stillhouse Mountain and Limestone Farms, a Festival of Flowers at the Farmington Country Club, and much more. For more, visit the websites at VAGardenweek.org and avenue.org/garden. See Walkabout feature.

TJ the gardener: Peter Hatch, Monticello's director of gardens and grounds, presents an illustrated lecture discussing the themes that defined Jefferson's passion for horticulture. A complimentary tour of the gardens at Monticello follows. 2pm, Monticello Visitor's Center. Free, but space is limited. 984-9822.

Open meditation: The Joshua Tree Mindfulness Center, a new community-based meditation center, invites participants to join them in quiet meditation from 7:15am-8:15am, and again from 5:15pm-6:15pm. Cushions, small benches, and chairs are provided. No fee. 2125 Ivy Road (in the plaza next to Foods of All Nations). For more info, call 244-3144 or e-mail .

WORDS
Star Wars: Should the U.S. wage war from space? Putting aside the present debate over whether the US should wage war from the ground, Bruce Gagnon of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, makes the case for unarmed stars. Gagnon has works on space issues for 19 years and will discuss how space-based weapons technologies are used in the war on Iraq. TJMC Unitarian Church, 717 Rugby Road, 7pm. 984-4459.

FAMILY
Friendly stories: Massachusetts storyteller Katie Green brings a magical blend of original stories and folktales to Scottsville Library. Plenty of participatory songs and chants are part of the fun. 7pm. Free. 330 Bird St. 286-3541.

Quiet time: The Village Playhouse hosts "Peace Within," a 30-minute program of sharing songs, simple games, and art projects that nourish inner peace. All ages welcome. 3pm. Free. 313 Second St. SE. 296-9390.

TUNES
Shape of Shade at Orbit Billiards: Rock, jazz, and funk have a happy marriage in the local act, Shape of Shade. Strong female vocals provided by Lauren Goldwert set off a nice mix of genres. No cover, 10pm.

Jamie and Rolland at the Blue Moon Diner. No cover, 8pm. (W)

Glenn Mack at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10:30om. (W)

Steve and Timmy Ryalls at Dürty Nelly's. $3, 8pm. (W)

Mammie West at Jabberwocky. No cover, 10pm.

Blues N' Stuff at Miller's. $3, 10pm.

Monticello Road at Outback Lodge. $3. 10pm. (W)

North Mississippi All Stars at Starr Hill. $15/$12 advance, 9pm.

B.C. upstairs at Tokyo Rose. 9:30, No cover. (W)

WEDNESDAY, April 23
PERFORMANCE
Sam Shepard Duo: See Friday, April 18.

FAMILY
Dogwood daze: The Dogwood Festival hosts a Celebration of Community at Fry's Spring Beach Club. Area non-profits and the Chamber of Commerce will be there with information about resources available in our community. Food, entertainment, and fun for the whole family are promised. 5-7pm. $2. dogwoodfestival.org.

Friendly stories: See Tuesday, April 22. Today's event takes place at Gordon Avenue Library. 1500 Gordon Ave. 296-5544.

WORDS
Easy as ABC: Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write with competence, but it also measures the human ability to communicate. Literacy experts Edward Jones of GMU and Rebecca Spurlock explain how the mind learns to read, and literacy advocate Susan Erno introduces some adult learners who are reading in public events. Tune in to "With Good Reason" on WVTF, 88.5FM tonight at 7:30pm. 924-3296.

Downtown Mall makeover: The League of Women Voters is holding a forum on the future of the Downtown Mall. Presentation from former mayor David Toscano will highlight improvements on the east end and the designs for a new amphitheater. Congregation Beth Israel, 301 E. Jefferson St., 12:00pm. $8 lunch available, call 970-1707.

Star Wars: See Tuesday, April 22. Today's location: Cabell Hall 215, 7pm. 984-4459.

Theremins and stud finders: Everything you've ever wanted to know about physics but never thought to ask. Ninth annual National Physics day at UVA offers two shows designed for the whole family. 6pm and 7:15pm at the Physics Building, 382 McCormick Road. Free. 924-6565.

WALLKABOUT
Simpsons mania: Mike Reiss, co-creator of the endlessly, internationally popular The Simpsons, speaks on "Simpsons Mania: Behind the Scenes with America's Favorite Family " as a part of the Center for Politics National Symposium on Political Humor. Free. 8:15pm. Old Cabell Hall. centerforpolitics.org.

Historic Garden Week: See Tuesday, April 22, and Walkabout feature.

Guided meditation: The Joshua Tree Mindfulness Center, a new community-based meditation center, hosts a weekly discussion-meditation series led by local instructors. Topics include joy, fear, and anger. Brief talks will lead into meditation practice. Come to any or all sessions. 7pm-8:30pm. Free. 2125 Ivy Road (in the plaza next to Foods of All Nations). 244-3144 or .

Swing your partner!: Couples dancing and line dancing. Fry's Spring Beach Club, 2512 Jefferson Park Ave. 2-Step Lesson 7-8pm. Dancing 8-11pm. $6. 977-0491.

MS meeting: "New Perspectives on Multiple Sclerosis" is today's seminar topic at a meeting for families with MS patients at the downtown Omni Hotel. Free buffet dinner. Reservations required. 888-237-5394 x7266.

Could it be&?: Still Life with Donuts: Natural History of a Neighborhood, a documentary about Belmont, premieres today at the Vinegar Hill Film Festival. Check the theater for times or call 242-3239.

TUNES
Bennie Dodd at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10:30pm. (W)

Wednesday Jazz Night with Phatback Boogaloo at Dürty Nelly's. No cover, 8pm.

Jeff Decker and Mike Rosensky Quartet at Miller's. No cover, 9pm. (W)

Frank Rivera at Orbit. No cover, 10:30pm.

Violinist Hasse Borup and cellist Amy Leung at PVCC: Jessup Library Window Lounge. Free, 12:20pm.

Beleza upstairs at Tokyo Rose. No cover, 9:30pm. (W)

THURSDAY, April 24
WALKABOUT
Historic Garden Week: See Tuesday, April 22, and Walkabout feature.

TUNES
Daybreak at the Prism Coffeehouse: Southern bluegrass ensemble Daybreak builds on "the Nashville influences of Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenbery, and Edgar Meyer," and features the fiddling work of Deanne Whelan. The group's debut CD was rated among the top 10 bluegrass recordings of 2002 by CMT. $12/$10 advance, 8 pm.

The University of Virginia's Opera Workshop: Spring Concert at Old Cabell Hall: Director Dr. Louisa Panou-Takahashi leads students and faculty of the McIntire Department of Music in a program of scenes from Donizetti's The Elixir of Love, Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Gounod's Faust, Beethoven's Fidelio, Bernstein's On the Town, and Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! $10/$5 students, 8:15pm.

Jim Waive at the Blue Moon Diner. No cover, 8pm.

Chicken Head Blues Band at Dürty Nelly's. $4, 9pm. (W)

Beija-flor at El Girasol. 10pm, no cover. (W)

The Jessup, Mills & Snider Trio at Escafé. No cover, 10pm(W)

The Victrolas at High Street Steak and Grill. No cover, 8:30pm. (W)

Van Dyke Brown at Jabberwocky. No cover, 11pm.

John D'earth and friends at Miller's. $4, 10pm. (W)

Hard Rock Night: Lyman, Tighten, The Little White Pills at Outback Lodge. No cover, 10pm.

Grasping at Laws upstairs at Tokyo Rose. No cover, 9:30pm. (W)

The University of Virginia's Spring Concert at Old Cabell Hall. $10/$5 students, 8:15pm.

B.C. at the Virginian. No cover, 10:30pm. (W)

ONGOING AND UPCOMING
WALKABOUT AND FAMILY
Rail ride: On May 10, 17, and 31, the James River Rambler takes a trip through the springtime scenery of some of Buckingham County's most beautiful rolling hills and deep forests. Trips to New Canton features a spectacular view of the James River. The train, which is headquartered in Dillwyn, is pulled by a diesel locomotive from the '50s and features preserved passenger cars from the '20s as well as open-air sightseeing cars. Fares range from $10-$20 for adults, $6-$10 for children. For a complete schedule and for reservations (suggested!), call 800-451-6318 on Saturday (10am-4pm) or Sunday (1-4pm).

Re-imagining Ireland: President Mary McAleese of Ireland presents the keynote address at "Re-Imagining Ireland," a historic international conference and festival happening May 7-10. This unique Irish "town meeting" features more than 100 Irish politicians, citizens, artists, writers, scholars, and musicians in discussions about Ireland's storied past, its present challenges, and future promise. Related cultural activities include music, theater, film, and art. re-imagining-ireland.org/. See words feature.

Historical Society news: The Albemarle Historical Society Walking Tours of historic downtown Charlottesville run now through October. Hour-long tours leave every Saturday at 10am from the McIntire Building at 200 Second St. NE, across from Lee Park. A $3 donation is suggested. Through April, the "Lost Architecture of Albemarle" is a special exhibit at the Society. 296-1492.

"Saturdays in the Garden" at Monticello: Monticello's annual series of gardening lectures, horticultural workshops, and natural history walks run through November. Subjects include wildflowers, old roses, basket weaving, flower arranging, plants of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, wine, and more. Members of the Monticello staff and guest experts lead the workshops. Nominal fees. Reservations required for most sessions. Email or call 984-9822. Info is also available at www.monticello.org.

Who's who: Northside Library celebrates National Library Week with a month-long contest to see who can match the book character with the Newberry Award winning book. Contest forms must be turned in by April 30. Free. Albemarle Square. 973-7893.

Behind the scenes: Now through the end of October, Montpelier guides take visitors on special tours of rarely seen rooms in the mansion made famous by James and Dolley Madison. Offered every half-hour from 10:30am-4pm. Included in the cost of admission. 11407 Constitution Highway (Rt. 20 in Orange). 540-672-2728. www.montpelier.org.

Discovering plants and animals: The Virginia Museum of Natural History at UVA offers another Lewis and Clark exploration. Visitors can learn about the plants and animals that the Corps of Discovery encountered on their historic journey in the new exhibit "Natural History Pioneers: The Flora and Fauna of the Lewis and Clark Expedition." Admission is free. 104 Emmet St. 982-4605.

Westward adventure: The Virginia Discovery Museum invites kids to visit the Mandan Indians as Lewis and Clark did in the winter of 1804-05 in their Back Gallery exhibit "Up from the Earth: The Mandan Way of Life." The exhibit lets kids meet a bison, set up house in a Mandan earth lodge, and try their hands at hunting, farming, and trading in the wild state of North Dakota. Included in the price of admission. East end of the Downtown Mall. 977-1025.

Building power: Young engineering types can test their metal at the Science Museum of Virginia's new exhibit "Engineer It!" through April 27. Can you build a tall building that will stand up to an earthquake? Construct a seven-foot arch? (Hint: It takes a team.) And what happens when you wear wings in a wind tunnel? These and other exhibits help kids learn the inside story. Exhibit included in the price of admission. 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond. 800-659-1727. smv.org.

Westward ho!: Adventurers can tag along with Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they lead the Corps of Discovery westward on a perilous journey across a treacherous, uncharted wilderness in a new IMAX film Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West. Plays now through September 19. Tickets are $6.50. The combination ticket that lets you see the exhibits too is $10.50 kids 4-12, $11.50 adults, $11 seniors. Call for times and reservations. 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond. 800-659-1727. smv.org.

Monkey around: The legendary primate researcher Dr. Jane Goodall leads viewers to a remote area in Tanzania to visit a few of her long-time friends in the IMAX film Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees at the Science Museum of Virginia through June 14. Tickets for the film only are $6.50, but get the package deal and see the exhibits too. 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond. 800-659-1727. smv.org.

Food and shelter: The Children's Museum of Richmond hosts an exhibit that helps kids learn some of the wilderness skills the Lewis & Clark crew needed to make it through the journey&things like navigating by the stars, building forts, and tracking animals for food. Interactive displays help modern adventurers record their observations and identify unknown animals. A replica of a Sioux tipi is displayed, and Native Americans will drop by to share their skills. 2626 W. Broad St. 804-474-2667. c-mor.org.

ART LIST
Govisual presents the color photography of Victoria Dye. Dye's "Tidepools of Olympic National Park," runs through June 5 at the gallery at 208 Third St. NE. 293-4475.

Nancy Spahr's oil paintings are on display through April 30 at the New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St. 295-2552.

The Renaissance School is hosting Alexander Hawkins' "Resonances: Images from the Modern Day Grand Tour," an exhibit of photography taken in Italy and Asia, through April 30. 406 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 984-1952.

Dean Dass' "Mnemosyne" runs through April 26 at Les Yeux du Monde @ Dot2Dot. 115 S. First St. 973-5566.

Nellie Appleby and Nikolai Goodich share the Nature Gallery space with a collaborative show through April 25. 111 E. Water St. . 979-8855.

The Central Virginia Watercolor Guild exhibits members' work at the Alzheimer's Association through April 28. 1807 Seminole Trail, Suite 204. 964-1423.

C'Ville Coffee shows "All Outdoors," an exhibit by Doris deSha, Nancy Frye, Joan Griffin, and Anne Warren Holland, through April. 1301 Harris St. 979-4402

Sun Bow Trading Company presents "25 Years of Secret Holdings," 16th-19th century textiles from the Silk Road, through April. 401 E. Main St. 293-8821.

"Bring the Garden Indoors," featuring the work of Haley Jensen, will be featured at Transient Crafters through the end of April. 118 W. Main on the Downtown Mall. 972-9500.

Until May, the C&O Gallery shows new work by artist Nancy Galloway. 511 E. Water St. 971-7044.

You can view the figurative and landscape paintings of Barbara Finn through May 5 at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, 717 Rugby Road. 293-8179.

At the University of Virginia Art Museum, "Political Humor: A Tribute to Herblock," and "Masterworks from African Art: Selections from the Collection" run through May 4. Also on display are the UVA Art Museum's newly acquired Joseph Cornell boxes and collages, which will be on exhibit through June. "Re-Imagining Ireland: Irish Art Today," works by living Irish artists, runs through June 8. Summer Arts @ the Museum, a three-session art program for kids, begins July 7. Rugby Road. 924-3952.

The PVCC Student Art Exhibit runs through April 23 at the V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Drive. 961-5204.

At Art Upstairs, Joy Levick Cross' exhibit of watercolors, "Art Interprets Flowers& A Garden of Windows," will be up through April 29. The gallery is at 316 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall above the Hardware Store Restaurant. 923-3900.

Delmon Brown Hall IV shows new paintings at the Mudhouse in April. 213 W. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 984-6833.

At the McGuffey Art Center, "Self-Portraits" a group show, is in the upstairs gallery, and "2002-New Work-2003," an exhibit of figurative artwork by Joan Soderlund and Edith M. Arbaugh, is on the mail level through April 27. 201 Second St. NW. 295-7973. See Art Feature.

Second Street Gallery is the place to see the satirical "Codices Canibales: Books and Prints," by Enrique Chagoya, through April 27. 201 Second St. NW 977-7284.

A group show by 20 members of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Art Association is on view through June 30 on the upper mezzanine of the Charlottesville Airport. The show includes works in oil, watercolor, pastel, and mixed media by Janice Breeden, Thomas Walsh, Peg Redd, Karen Jaegerman Collins, Ralph Schultz, Michael Thompson, Trilbie Knapp, Judy Ely, Vidu Palta, Gail Mankie, Rachel Fanning, Betty Arehart, Phyllis Frame, Anne Marrocco, Matalie Deane, Cristian Perl, Ed Mochel, Mercedes Lopez, and Coy Roy. 980-2523.

Radar
"Harmonies From Life," water color and oil paintings by Ray Martin, grace the Front Street Gallery through May 31. 773 Front St., Lovingston. 263-8526.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts presents "Despite Many Adversitites, We Are Still Here," photographs of Native Americans by Carolyn DeMerritt, April 24-July 20. 2800 Grove Ave., Richmond. 804-204-2704.

"Animals" an exhibit by artists Cynthia Burke, Dorothy Chan, Suzanne Tanner Chitwood, and Mia LaBerge, is now on display at Spruce Creek Gallery, but only until April 21, so hop to it! The Spruce Creek Gallery is located one mile south of Nellysford on Rte. 151 in Nelson County. 361-1859.

FEATURES/FEATURES/FEATURES
ART
Un-common: Two artists, little connection
BY AARON STEINBERG
The human body in art has been around probably as long as art. This is just a guess, but a pretty safe one. Whoever might have been around to record something like that has been dead a long time, and they obviously let that historical detail slip away. In other words, it's a pretty long tradition and also a broad topic.

Still, in choosing this very topic for a common theme, Joan Soderlund and Edith Arbaugh hoped the work they contributed to their joint show at the McGuffey might resonate with one another's. It doesn't. Marked by divergent styles and interests, the work of each of these two artists looks right past the other.

Arbaugh mixes a relatively straightforward realism with coy, suggestive points of view. She gravitates towards scenes that find intimate angles to suggest larger scenes.

"The Party," for example, shows a solitary, weary-looking woman sitting alone, but from the reflection in the window just beyond her, it's plain that she's in a room full of people. This sort of flirting with the viewer reaches an apex with "Back Soon," a painting that, common themes be damned, includes only a plainly rendered kitchen, with an empty red chair pulled back slightly from the table.

Eyes roll over these not-unpleasant paintings easily enough, though Arbaugh doesn't leave things here. In a second group of paintings, Arbaugh turns her attention to an unwieldy symbolism which, unlike the first set of paintings, will likely cause confusion in most viewers.

Paintings such as "The Dream"-- which depicts a large sleeping person orbited by tiny floating people in black leotards-- obviously look to mix more classical styles of art. Here, Arbaugh seems to be working by some line of inner logic. It's just never clear what that line is.

By contrast, the more stylized Soderlund resists the sidelong compositional style and places the human form squarely in the middle of her work. Still, it's clear that Soderlund has other things in mind. She wants to exploit a contrast between representational art and a more abstract aesthetic.

To that end, Soderlund brings a washed-out palette of pinks and blues and a habit of breaking shape down into squares of color. And so what might, in the context of the entire painting, look like a shoulder or a foot, can also be viewed as an unevenly formed tile in a mosaic.

Though she references Paul Klee explicitly in one of her paintings, she keeps a bit of German Expressionism in her work-- especially in paintings like "International Community," which poke gentle fun at military men by emphasizing the plumage of their helmets, packed together like eggs in a carton.

At the McGuffey Art Center, "2002-New Work-2003," an exhibit of figurative artwork by Joan Soderlund and Edith M. Arbaugh, is on view through April 27. 201 Second St. NW. 295-7973.

PERFORMANCE
Act better: Summer classes improve form
BY TOBY EMERT
As the temperatures warm up a bit and the end of the academic year looms on the horizon, planning activities for the fast-approaching summer may be on your to-do list. If you have youngsters in the house who have even the slightest penchant for drama, you'll want to know about all that the education folks at Live Arts have been up to. Jennifer Peart, the education director for the company, reports that this year's line-up of workshops will be bigger and better than ever.

Thespians ages 8 to 13 can prep for the summer offerings by enrolling in the weekly sessions of "Making the World: Storytelling and Drama" running on Thursday afternoons beginning April 24. Andrea Rowland teaches the course that invites the students to explore great old stories and experiment with basic theatrical elements of sound, movement, and ensemble as they give these stories expression. "A student story showcase will be featured at the end of the course," she promises.

Teen actors have a chance to get a jump on their training as well with Amanda McRaven's course, "Acting Study," taught on Tuesday afternoons beginning April 22. Designed for the serious acting student, this workshop focuses on actors' vocal production and physical movement, skills that will then be put to practical use in work with monologues.

Through two or three different monologues, students will explore language, character, and physicality and leave class with monologues that can be used for auditioning for local plays as well as college productions.

The annual Summer Theater Institute, which runs for three weeks, beginning in late June after schools are out for summer break, features a session on comic forms, puppetry, masks, improvisation, clowning ,and acrobats; a Shakespeare intensive that includes a trip to Shenandoah Shakespeare Youth Company in Staunton to perform, to attend more workshops, and to see a Shakespearean production at the Blackfriars Playhouse; and a repeat workshop from last summer musical theater.

This session provides training in singing, acting, dancing, musical choreography, and improvisation. The week-long experience concludes with a public musical performance in the Live Arts Summer Theater Festival.

If last year's success is any indication, Peart expects the Summer Theater Institute to be a big hit. "It runs so smoothly," she says. "The teachers are great, and the kids really come to learn about theater. We have a great time."

Class rosters fill quickly, so mark your calendars now for the early in-person registration on Friday, May 2, and Saturday May 3. "You can phone in your registration after May 3," Peart explains, "but we can't guarantee that we will still have spots open."

All of the workshop sessions will be held at Live Arts, 609 E. Market St. Call for information about dates and prices; they vary by course. 977-4177, ext. 100.

FAMILY
Dear Mom: More chances to save the earth
BY LINDA KOBERT
Anybody remember Earth Day? Demonstrations against the war in Vietnam occupied the news on April 22, 1970, when Senator Gaylord Nelson's national environmental protest took place. He wanted "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda." Twenty million Americans took to the streets, parks, and lecture halls that day to advocate for a cleaner, healthier, sustainable environment.

Unfortunately, the need for awareness of potential pending environmental catastrophes did not end with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. Earth Day continues to be celebrated across the nation each spring on and around April 22.

In Charlottesville, UVA's Student Environmental Action is spearheading a week of Earth Day activities in which all members of the community are invited to get involved. Among the planned events are a number of family-friendly opportunities to get up close and personal with Mother Nature and efforts to protect her.

Folks can help build trails with Student Alliance for Virginia's Environment, create a bog garden at Booker T. Washington Park with Charlottesville Parks and Recreation, or take a Saturday morning hike with UVA's Outdoor Club.

The solar house that won UVA's architecture and engineering schools national recognition in the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, D.C., last fall will be open and on display at its construction site in Crozet.

A benefit concert and open mic poetry reading are planned for Saturday evening. On Sunday, the earth-based spirituality group NatureSpirit will not surprisingly share ideas about nature and spirituality.

The week winds up with an information and trade fair on the actual Earth Day, April 22. From 10am-5pm, Newcomb Hall Plaza will be buzzing with community groups and activist organizations including Twin Oaks Community, Amazon Herb Company, the Nature Conservancy, UVA Recycling, and Integral Yoga.

EcoHouse, a new campus organization trying to create alternative, environmentally conscious living arrangements, will offer a workshop at the fair from 11am-1pm. City council member Kevin Lynch, Alexis Ziegler from Trade Local, and Stratton Salidis of Alternatives to Paving will discuss the interface of ecology, economics, and governmental policy-making from 3-5pm.

Earth Week 2003 offers the chance to inspire the next generation with environmental consciousness. There is still much to be done.

Earth Week 2003: Citizens of the Earth takes place April 18-22 at various locations around town. A complete schedule of events is listed on the Student Environmental Action website: www.student.virginia.edu/~enviact.

TUNES
Metal for pedals: Bands jam for bike odyssey
BY MARK GRABOWSKI

If I were to be told that a person was planning to ride her bicycle from Maine to Florida in 30 days or less, my mind would instantly suggest a number of reasons, of varying probability. Lost love might spur a gal to try to find solace in the open road, a la Forest Gump.

A guy might be trying to get on one of those World's Most Amazing People shows, eyeing the segment between the man who can communicate with his stomach gurgles and the boy who can play Mozart's Requiem on the spoons.

Or someone might just be, to use a technical term, "crazy."

But eventually I would begrudgingly decide on the likeliest explanation, which is, of course, riding for charity. Dee Dee Winfield, Samantha Jones, and Sally Carson are once again proving 14th century logician William of Occam's principle (Occam's Razor): They are undertaking their East Coast long-distance pedalathon to benefit the American Cancer Society and Hospice of the Piedmont.

On June 22, the three cyclists will begin their junket from Calais, Maine, to Miami, Florida, a trip of 1828.48 miles, hoping to complete it in a month or less. Winfield, an exercise physiologist at a general clinical research lab at UVA, and Jones, an activities director at Rosewood Village, made the same trip last year. Carson is a recently arrived bike messenger from New York who will be making the trip for the first time.

The American Cancer Society is a cause everyone knows, but Hospice of the Piedmont might be a bit under the radar. Since 1988, Hospice of the Piedmont "has lived out a pervasive philosophy and unique approach to end-of-life care: that the patient's choice must be upheld, that no one should die alone or in pain, and that the needs of the entire family must be addressed." Also a worthy cause, I think we all can agree.

And now for the (perhaps not obvious) music tie-in: To raise funds to support their trip, the three are holding a benefit show at Outback Lodge on April 18, featuring the donated live sounds of four local acts: the country-pop/rock group Luxury Liner, the jam band Jalapeno Cornbread, the surf/pop group Ohm's Law, and the old-school rap cover group Frontbutt.

Luxury Liner-- which was called High Stakes Band before the departure of female vocalist Julie Freund-- features singer/songwriters Ken Hymes and Charles Davis, and plays sweet lo-fi rock with tight sad harmonies. I haven't heard Jalapeno Cornbread before (although I've never been one for the "jam" aspect of jam bands), and though Ohm's Law and Frontbutt are both lots of fun to see live, Luxury Liner, with their delicate songwriting and melodious songs, is the act I'm most looking forward to at the show.

Check out the cyclists' webpage at biketrippin.com for details on their trip and how to donate to this worthy cause. And if you're looking for a pleasantly noisy way to help them reach their goal, check out the Outback Lodge April 18.

Fund raiser for the American Cancer Society and Hospice of the Piedmont with Luxury Liner, Jalapeno Cornbread, Ohm's Law, and Frontbutt at Outback Lodge, April 18 $5, 7pm.

WALKABOUT
Tiptoe through: Local gardens&emdash;glimpses of glory
BY CHRISTINA BALL
Pooped-out from planting perennials? Not sure how to add shape and variety to your backyard, or enhance the curb appeal out by the mailbox? Tired of the same old shrubs, year after year after year?

No matter what the scale of your own house and garden-&endash; be it Belmont bungalow or gracious Glenmore estate-- you can surely get some ideas and inspiration from the masters during Historic Garden Week. From Tuesday, April 22 to Thursday, April 24, a grand bouquet of tours and related events will blossom in and around Charlottesville.

As for Historic Garden Week proper, Oakwood, owned by John and Renée Grisham, tops the list of private garden tours. The approximately 240 acres were part of a land grant from King George III in 1758; Governor Frances Fauquier signed the sheepskin deed.

The gardens have been designed to flow gracefully with the landscape, mixing old and new as though they have always been there. Many special features abound, including a secret garden surrounded by old boxwoods, a formal rose garden, an allée of dogwoods and azaleas, a croquet greensward, and a purple conservatory set before a reflecting pool.

But don't go looking for a peep of the master's writing table. This is a "gardens only" tour.

Perhaps an easier ticket is the Chopping Bottom Farm tour. Inspired by the designs of Washington, D.C., architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen, Anne and Tony Vanderwarker's 1999 home, stuccoed in white with galvanized aluminum roofs, has a stylized farmhouse look. From the house one looks out on a 70-foot lap pool and the Southwest Mountains.

The surrounding grounds include a delightful freestanding screen porch and five compact herb and flower gardens. A whimsical outdoor living room furnished with Phillipe Starck furniture is set on a gravel carpet. The house received Metropolitan Home Magazine's House of the Year Award in 2002. The house, grounds, and two studios will be open.

Stillhouse Mountain Farm, Limestone Farm, Keswick Hall, and a Festival of Flowers at the Farmington Country Club fill out the fragrant offerings.

Of related interest is Patricia Kluge's annual Albemarle House Flower Show, benefiting children's charities. Open to the public Tuesday-Thursday are the Albemarle House Conservatory, the chef's Herb Garden, a special Succulent Garden installation, and a Colonial Woodland Walk surrounding the newly opened Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard Farm Shop. Definitely worth the drive, especially if you're in the mood for a gourmet picnic.

Historic Garden week in Charlottesville-Albemarle runs Tuesday, April 22, through Thursday, April 24. Ticket prices and availability vary; call 295-3141 or visit VAGardenweek.org. Patricia Kluge's Albemarle House Flower Show and tours coincide with Garden Week. Tickets ($10) are available at the Kluge Estate Winery and Farm Shop, And George, Kenny Ball Antiques, and The Store at the Boar's Head Inn. 984-4855 or klugeestate.com.

WORDS
Omnia Gaelia&: Two nations, finally together
By ELIZABETH KIEM
The Protestant Reformation played hob with Europe, sundering ancient ties across the continent. The medieval culture of the Gaels was one victim: Scotland embraced Protestantism while Ireland rejected it.

Five centuries later, the linguistic and cultural ties that once united the two shores of the Irish Sea have been virtually forgotten, as religious sectarianism rules the day on the Emerald Isle.

Now, (coming soon to a Dome Room near you), Leabhar Mor Na Gaeilge, or The Great Book of Gaelic, promises to solder the halves of Gaeldom back together. Or at least get people thinking about it. A modern, secular answer to the Book of Kells, the monastic scripture kept under glass in Dublin's Trinity College, The Great Book of Gaelic is a cooperative work to be bound and treasured as a cultural artifact.

Unlike the Book of Kells, Leabhar Mor has little to offer in the way of miniature illuminations of the saints. Instead, it's an anthology of 100 Gaelic poems, encompassing 15 centuries of Scottish and Irish mythology, ballad, and romance, each uniquely illustrated by a different artist.

Because The Great Book of Gaelic is indeed quite large, only 20 of its 25" x42" pages are being shipped to the States. Their first stop is the Rotunda, where they will be exhibited as part of the four-day "Re-Imagining Ireland" conference sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

While Irish (and to a lesser extent Scottish) music and dance are heavy-hitters in the "world music" mania and perennial favorites among folk music lovers generally, the same cannot be said for the Celtic fine arts. Ever since the carved stone crosses went the way of the Druid-stones, there hasn't really been a unique Celtic visual arts tradition.

Now that the Gaeltacht is enjoying a resurgence, the illuminated manuscript offers the perfect vehicle for the creation of a modern school of Gaelic art.

Which isn't to say that Leabhar Mor is either definitive or hegemonic. On the contrary, its mélange of lyrical styles-&endash; epic, schmaltzy, and racy-- is matched by a variety of artistic media, from collage and tapestry to photographs and prints. In its frontispiece, The Great Book promises "a dizzying complexity [which is] definitively a product of the fragmented aesthetics of the modern world."

And of course, that most fragmenting of modern artistic inspiration& the Reformation.

The Great Book of Gaelic is on display in the Dome Room in UVA's Rotunda April 18-May 16. Editors Theo Dorgan and Malcolm Maclean present "The Making of the Great Book Of Gaelic" May 8 at 2:30pm. For more information on the exhibits and events of "Re-Imagining Ireland," log-on to re.imagining.ireland.org. Elizabeth Kiem is the press-coordinator for the Re-Imagining Ireland conference.

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