August 19th, 2004 issue #0333

August 19th, 2004

Boomtown flats: Downtown's building frenzy

If it seems like new construction projects are springing up all over town, you're not imagining it. Charlottesville is officially in a building boom. "In the five years I've been here," says planning chief Jim Tolbert, "this is by far more than I've ever seen."

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Construction debris: C&O braces for 'war zone'

Giving birth to a world-class city is painful. Ask the owners of businesses who have endured months and months of construction around downtown landmarks like the new Live Arts and Paramount theaters. Years before the Downtown Mall became a dining mecca, the C&O Restaurant was about the only reason for gourmands to hit the otherwise deserted downtown after 5.

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The week in review

Saddest find: The body of a homeless man, Eugene M. Tyndall Jr., 53, behind trash bins in the LexisNexis parking lot August 10. Worst weather: Two storms– tropical st...

Ivy arrival: A big fat Greek... grill

When I first glimpsed the banner announcing the imminent arrival of the "University Grill" on Ivy Road (in the former home of Hardees next to the 7-Eleven), I somehow just ...

The communist: Questioning embodies patriotism

One spring day, my friend Connie and I rode our bikes down the hill on Oakland Street to Eighth, pedaling hard for a long block, looking for the house that had been describ...
Trash TV: Vicariously making the <I>Clean Sweep

I should have a trash TV– literally. About 10 hours each week, I watch a program called Clean Sweep on the Learning Channel. I'm endlessly enthralled by this repetit...

What do you think of the building boom?

Tony LaBua: "I've been waiting for it for a long time. When I left New York in 1985 to open Chaps, Long Island was in the middle of a housing boom." Jehu Martin: "I love...

$old

ALBEMARLE 6/11 James H. Scott III to Louis Mitler, 3.524 acres at 2850 Locust Hill Drive, $470,000. Seth P. and Davita L. Robinson to Roy A. and Mary E. Sharrow, 92...

High marks: Nelson house has Addy-ed appeal

ADDRESS: Mark Addy Inn ASKING: $1,600,000 SIZE: 5,888 fin. sq. ft.; 2,716 unfin. YEAR BUILT: 1844 NEIGHBORHOOD: Nellysford in Nelson County CURB APPEAL: 9 of 10 LISTED BY: ...

Update

APPEARED IN THE HOOK: April 22, 2004 in Issue 0316 ADDRESS: 1187 Partridge Lane ASKING PRICE: $279,900 SELLING PRICE: $256,900 DAYS TO CONTRACT: unknown SELLER'S AGENT: Bar...

Threeway: Man, woman-- and a shark

A good filmmaker doesn't need much to keep an audience involved for 79 minutes. A man, a woman, and a shark will do quite nicely, thank you. Actually Chris Kentis, a good f...

Dancin' fools: Harris wows 'em after 5

Corey Harris and the 5X5at Fridays After 5 August 19 Though the sky looked dark as tropical storm Bonnie theoretically drew near, the mood I was in last Friday as I walke...
Hateful! CD crop (bar one) raises the bile

Charlie Hunter Trio: Friends Seen and Unseen (RopeADope) G. Love and Special Sauce: The Hustle (Brushfire) Har Mar Superstar: The Handler (Brushfire) Have you ever...

Backwoods brouhaha: Undoing the Roadless Rule

From the Mojave Desert to the Shenandoah Valley, the United States is a country defined by its open spaces–three million-plus square miles of plains, mountains, wetla...
Everybody trembles: CarMax eyes Pantops

For years, Pantops Mountain has been home to a fleet of new and used auto dealerships. But recent news that the "no-haggle" used car superstore CarMax is eyeing the White H...
Evonitz revealed: Serial killer story reveals tale of terrors

Richard Evonitz. The name still evokes a shudder. In the space of nine months in 1996 and 1997, Evonitz terrorized Central Virginia when he killed three teenaged girls: Sof...
Feeling blue: Venerable diner to close

It celebrated its 25th anniversary less than a month ago, but Blue Moon Diner won't live to see its 26th, says co-owner Rob "Gus" Gustafson. In fact, on August 29, the Dine...
Lots of supply: But where's apartment demand?

If you build it, will they come? That's been the question on the minds of apartment developers hoping that the market can support the glut of new local units. Judging from ...
Valley kids: Teens charged in Afton arson

Three Waynesboro teens have been charged with arson in connection with last month's fire at the Skyline Parkway Motel in Afton. Seven fire departments from as far away as S...

The $40K limit: You don't need any more

Looking for happiness through financial success? Wondering what the magic number is? It's $40,000. Really. So technically, most of you should be happy. And if you're workin...

SPORTS WRAP

Best instant classic: Defending Jefferson Cup golfing champion David Passerell beats the odds to top Brant Dixon in a thrilling Sunday evening playoff at the Birdwood cours...

Fried fish: Lightning cooks the crappies

DRAWING BY DEBORAH DERR McCLINTOCK Q. When lightning strikes a body of water, is it instant fish-fry down below? How big is the kill zone? –Mrs. Paul &...

Election nay: Anti-Bush vendor shirts the issue

"Damn straight, buddy!" says a voice from across the Downtown Mall. Mac Schrader's ears perk up, and he smiles, greeting the approaching pedestrian as both a political comr...

Barbara Shifflett: My (county) fair lady

There were two well-known Barbara Shiffletts in town. Now there's one. Event management is the specialty of one of the Barbara Shiffletts, and so apparently it was no big d...

Juicy broadband faces hurdles

The recent article by Hook reporter Lisa Provence [July 1: "Electric change, Nelson makes net history"], presents an overly optimistic and somewhat incomplete picture of th...
McDonald's manipulates us

Your [July 22] back-page editorial on Morgan Spurlock's McDonald's-bashing documentary Super Size Me misses the point. It's not just that McDonald's sells unhealthy food, b...
Steal! = bad advice

Is the article from the Brazen Careerist in your July 22 edition ["You're fired! Learn from the magic words"] a test to see if people will respond, or some form of satire? ...

Cultural calendar, August 19-26, 2004

THURSDAY, August 19 WORDS Memories: James D. Russell reads from his book Beyond the Rim: From Slavery to Redemption in Rappahannock County, Virgi...