The WVPT Kids’ Book Festival will be held Saturday, September 25, from 1 - 5pm at the Charlottesville Pavilion in downtown Charlottesville.

An estimated 5,000 people attended last year and organizers are expecting another large turnout for the literacy event being held for the first time at the Charlottesville Pavilion.

“This is our 5th anniversary and we’re very excited about it being located in downtown Charlottesville,” said Barbara Roadcap, Outreach Coordinator for WVPT. “The WVPT Kids’ Book Festival has really grown here but its important mission remains the same: to promote reading and literacy among kids and families.”

Over the years, WVPT has given away more than 50,000 books to area children, and this year, more than 5,000 books will be available for each child under 10 years old.

Each child will be allowed one new, and one “gently read” book. There will be four categories of books for different reading levels including Board Books for toddlers, Story Books, Chapter Books and Books in Spanish.

In addition to the book give-away, there will be music, activities and games for the whole family.

Special guests at the festival include McKenzie Vanover, a story teller from Winchester, Kevin Munroe of the Charlottesville Drum Corp and Brian Bence, a local magician. Clifford, the Big Red Dog and Cubby, the WVPT Bear, will also make an appearance.

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The iS music venue lasted barely a year before shutting its doors Monday morning.
PHOTO BY HAWES SPENCER

For the little venue that could, the iS music lounge announced Monday that it iS no longer in business.

When managers Stew Hartman-Mart and Chris Dunbar announced in September 2008 the re-opening of the Starr Hill music venue as the Si restuarant/iS music lounge double whammy, the regional music scene rejoiced for the re-addition of the venerable venue back into the live music scene. But perhaps those who claim Starr Hill was cursed are right— as Sunday night, September 28, the Twitter feed of the venue’s booker, Jeyon Falsini, announced that Is was closing.

According to Falsini, Sunday night’s show featuring Tennessee-based punk rockers Black Diamond Heavies and local hard-rockers Corsair and Channel 43 was the venue’s final (more)

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Edgar Allan Poe.
PHOTO BY W.S. HARTSHORN

On the eve of the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth, five American cities are fighting over the legendary author’s legacy, but Charlottesville— arguably the site of his literary birth— isn’t one of them. In fact, there’s even a plan afoot to destroy part of the natural area that inspired one of his notable short stories.

January 19 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man whose elegiac poems and macabre tales have cemented his reputation as one of America’s greatest writers. Yet, in Charlottesville, even the keepers of his room at the University of Virginia haven’t publicly firmed up any plans for a bicentennial celebration.

There are literally dozens of events scattered among Boston, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, and Richmond; but the Hook couldn’t find anything Poe-related happening on the 19th in Charlottesville.

The Raven Society, which rewards top students with scholarships and (more)

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Alberto Rey, “Aesthetics of Death: VII”

Washington & Lee University’s Staniar Gallery presents “Alberto Rey: Life, Death and Beauty,” an exhibition by the Cuban artist whose paintings and video works explore environmental issues and their connection to identity. Wilson Hall (attached to the Lenfest Center), 100 Glasgow St., Lexington. 540-458-8860.

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