Hotseat


Charm school: The importance of being Ernest Published on Dec 4th, 2008 0 comments Ernest "Boots" MeadPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Ernest Mead is the most beloved teacher at UVA ever. If that seems like hyperbole, consider: How many professors have been asked to teach a seminar so...
HOTSEAT- Golden gal: Olympian Shoop brings home Beijing bling Published on Nov 6th, 2008 0 comments Lindsay ShoopPHOTO BY WILL WALKER Nearly 60 years after Norma Desmond said the immortal words, "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille," Olympic rower Lindsay Shoop takes the prize for best line...
HOTSEAT- Riegert can't do that to our questionnaire! Only we can do that to our questionnaire! Published on Oct 30th, 2008 1 comments Peter Riegert PUBLICITY PHOTO Since emerging on screen thirty years ago as frat guy Boon in Animal House, Peter Riegert remains one of America's most deliciously wry actors. His eloquent sarcasm and...
HOTSEAT- Abell's camp: Make it, don't take it Published on Oct 23rd, 2008 0 comments Sam Abell.PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO National Geographic photographer Sam Abell doesn't take pictures– he makes them. In his latest book, a photo of a train derailing in Davenport, Iowa, is the...
HOTSEAT- Mansion-bound? AG explains why he'll be governor Published on Oct 9th, 2008 7 comments Bob McDonnellPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Attorney General Bob McDonnell is pretty well known as a tough-on-crime AG who wants Tim Kaine's job as Virginia governor, and before that, as a conservative...
HOTSEAT- Hello, Dolley: James Madison dishes on the state of the union Published on Sep 11th, 2008 3 comments James Madison PAINTING JAMES VANDERLYN, COURTESY MONTPELIER FOUNDATION Talk about your tough interviews. Just getting on former President James Madison's calendar was a logistical nightmare, mainly...
Play-by-Dave: Koehn takes over Cavalier mic Published on Aug 28th, 2008 0 comments Dave KoehnPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Growing up in Colorado Springs, in a house where people rooted for the Denver Broncos, it didn't take long for Dave Koehn to get caught up in the idea of sports...
HOTSEAT- BBQ gets Jinxed: Pig pro earns prominent props Published on Aug 14th, 2008 1 comments James "Jinx" KernPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO James "Jinx" Kern may operate the smallest sit-down dining spot in town, but his Jinx's Pit's Top Barbecue restaurant on East Market Street has recently...
HOTSEAT- Admit it: UVA dean Blackburn prepares his exit Published on Jun 26th, 2008 0 comments John BlackburnPHOTO BY WILL WALKER When John Blackburn retires as the University of Virginia's dean of admissions after 23 years, he'll be leaving the one and only career he's ever known. But the...
HOTSEAT- Admit it: UVA dean Blackburn prepares his exit Published on Jun 26th, 2008 3 comments John BlackburnPHOTO BY WILL WALKER When John Blackburn retires as the University of Virginia's dean of admissions after 23 years, he'll be leaving the one and only career he's ever known. But the...
HOTSEAT- Howdy, neighbor: Tolbert rules the 'hoods Published on Jun 19th, 2008 0 comments Jim TolbertPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Jim Tolbert is to City Hall born. Charlottesville's director of neighborhood development has spent his entire life hanging around government offices, starting in...
HOTSEAT- Focused: Festival a snap for Jessica Nagle Published on Jun 12th, 2008 1 comments Jessica NaglePHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Several years ago, at a dinner hosted by her dad, a UVA surgeon, filmmaker Nicole Kassell met Jessica Nagle. Two years later, she called Nagle and told her she...
HOTSEAT- The best is yet to come: To Cavs fans, he's <i>the </i>Tony Bennett Published on May 28th, 2008 0 comments Tony BennettPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO When Tony Bennett was announced as the new head coach of the University of Virginia's men's basketball team in April, the name was instantly recognizable to Cavs...
HOTSEAT- Ray of sunshine: Staunton prosecutor keeps smiling through controversy Published on May 14th, 2008 1 comments Ray RobertsonPHOTO BY LINDSAY BARNES Staunton Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Robertson can pinpoint the very moment he made the decision to live a life in the public eye. "I was delivering the...
HOTSEAT- Mac attack: McAuliffe aims to energize Richmond as governor Published on May 7th, 2008 0 comments Terry McAuliffePHOTO BY LINDSAY BARNES Got a question for Democratic candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe? You're likely to get a "big idea" in his response. After 30 years spent running political...
HOTSEAT- Barnes-storming: Miller School head catches a wave Published on Apr 24th, 2008 0 comments Lindsay BarnesPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Lindsay Barnes Jr.'s Charlottesville roots go deep: born and raised here, a former City Councilor and lawyer, head of the Miller School. No matter; he's about to...
HOTSEAT- New age faith: Why Tom Perriello takes on Goode Published on Apr 3rd, 2008 9 comments Tom Perriello. PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Tom Perriello has been to some of the worst hellholes on earth: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur. "I was part of a team trying to force [Liberian...
HOTSEAT- Republican with a cause: Linwood Holton tells all Published on Mar 27th, 2008 1 comments Linwood Holton PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Here's what it's like to visit the Virginia State Capitol with former Governor Linwood Holton: busy legislators stop, and everyone wants to say hello. He even...
HOTSEAT-<i>MAS*H</i> man: Just call him Mike Published on Mar 20th, 2008 0 comments Mike Farrell. PHOTO COURTESY AKASHIC BOOKS Hollywood is full of people who've squandered their talent and name recognition to become tabloid fodder. Mike Farrell took another path. Way before the...
HOTSEAT- Mere flesh wounds: Straka's life of crime (writing) Published on Mar 13th, 2008 0 comments Andy Straka PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Andy Straka is living the writer's dream. He's just published his fourth book, Record of Wrongs. He won the Shamus Award for the best private eye book of 2004....
HOTSEAT- Hello, Dahlia! Lithwick relishes Supreme Court jester role Published on Mar 6th, 2008 0 comments Dahlia LithwickPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO In the last decade, Dahlia Lithwick has gone from unemployed attorney and aspiring author to one of the pre-eminent legal writers in America, becoming a senior...
HOTSEAT- Very lucky strike: How Fielding found mom... on TV Published on Feb 28th, 2008 0 comments Lee Fielding PHOTO BY JENNY LYNN Lee Fielding remembers the moment, circa 1960, when he first learned about the magic of television. Five years old, he was sick in bed awaiting a visit from...
HOTSEAT- Fired up: Chief Werner's career of a lifetime Published on Feb 21st, 2008 1 comments Charles Werner PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner doesn't flinch as two sirens zoom by his office on Ridge Street. "I hear a fire engine and then an ambulance,"...
HOTSEAT- Rising son: Long ready for NFL shot of his own Published on Feb 14th, 2008 0 comments Chris LongPHOTO BY WILL WALKER It's a familiar sight to UVA football fans: a 6'4", 285-pound giant, sweat glistening on his brow, wearing #91 for the orange and blue, taking a deep breath, having...
Jerry gander: Stenger has his eyes on the skies Published on Feb 7th, 2008 2 comments Jerry StengerPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO There's a winter storm system approaching that will soon drop the first snowfall of the season on Charlottesville and, for the third time this morning, Jerry...
HOTSEAT- A separate peace: Why jailer Matthews feels house proud Published on Jan 31st, 2008 0 comments Ron Matthews PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Early January finds gold garland strung around Ronald Matthews' desk and gold balls hanging from the office ceiling. Once the Christmas decorations come down, he'...
HOTSEAT- Super Starr: Thompson's brews go national Published on Jan 10th, 2008 0 comments Mark ThompsonPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO In September 1999, brewer Mark Thompson was driving from Denver across the country to move back to his hometown of Charlottesville, eager to establish his new...
HOTSEAT- Dean's list: Jeffries looks forward to teaching Published on Jan 3rd, 2008 0 comments John Jeffries PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO John Jeffries understands what he'll be giving up when he steps down as dean of the UVA Law School in July. Not only does he lose his sweet third-floor office...
HOTSEAT- Hollywood 'hoo: UVA's other famous Thomas Published on Nov 1st, 2007 0 comments Sean Patrick ThomasPUBLICITY PHOTO After his turns in several Hollywood blockbusters, some might say Sean Patrick Thomas' ascendancy to the big screen was inevitable. But to hear the UVA alum tell...
HOTSEAT- Prosecutorial discretion: Chapman opens up-- a little Published on Oct 25th, 2007 0 comments Dave Chapman PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Dave Chapman takes being a constitutional officer pretty literally. As a poli sci major at UVA with an interest in constitutional history and law– which his...