5/30/02 issue

THURSDAY, MAY 30

PERFORMANCE

A dreamer's tale: his cave became his crypt

TOBY EMERT

Floyd Collins' gravestone bears the inscription "the greatest cave explorer ever known."

Frankly, I'd never heard of Collins before last summer when Live Arts announced plans to produce the musical version of his story as their season finale. But, had any of us been adults in 1925, we'd have known exactly who he was and how he died.

Collins' family owned Crystal Cave in Kentucky, which Floyd, a poor farmer, believed somehow connected to the Mammoth Cave system, a popular and lucrative tourist spot. Hoping to cash in on the bigger cave's allure, Collins was determined to find the connection.

In January 1925, after a day of exploring, he was nearly out of the cave when a large rock fell on his foot and pinned him in place. The two-week vigil and rescue effort that followed became the biggest human interest story of the day. It was a world-wide phenomenon.

Unfortunately, Collins died before he could be rescued, but his story has become legend. In the mid-1990s Adam Guettel and Tina Landau crafted the musical Floyd Collins, which won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical in 1996. The score has been called bluegrass-tinged with Sondheim-esque influences.

John Gibson, artistic director at Live Arts, is at the helm of this production, joined by Doug Schneider, who has appeared in dozens of local plays, as musical director. Chris Estey, who has performed with Offstage and Live Arts, plays Floyd.

"This is the best musical score of the past decade," Gibson claims. "I'm thrilled that Charlottesville will get to hear it."

Tonight's show is a preview; Floyd Collins begins its official run Friday, May 31, with a champagne reception to follow. Regular performance dates are June 1, June 5-9, June 12-16, and June 18-22. Shows on June 14 and June 20 are already sold out. All Wednesday performances are pay what you can nights and start at 8pm. The Tuesday show and all regular Thursday shows, "early bird" performances, begin at 7:30pm. All Friday and Saturday performances start at 8pm, and the Sunday matinees on June 9 and 16 begin at 2pm. Live Arts, 609 E. Market St. $12-15. 977-4177

THINK

Builders bootcamp: From 8am to 5:45pm today, get in mental shape at the "TechStart Bootcamp," a day-long seminar for life science and biotech entrepreneurs, organized by Virginia's Federal and State Technology Partnership Program. $50 covers course, materials, refreshments, and keynote luncheon. UVA's Biomedical Engineering Lecture Hall across from Jordan Hall, til 5:45pm. 982-3756

Find that job: Piedmont WORKS offers a free job search workshop every Thursday from 9 to 11am. Call 977-2662 to register.

Mixing and bubbling: Dr. William Forman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics presents "Hot Gas in Clusters, Groups, and Galaxies -- Mergers, Mixing, and Bubbling" today from 4 to 5pm at the UVA Astronomy Building, 530 McCormick Road. 924-7494

Be debt-free: Debtors Anonymous meets every Thursday at 7:30 pm in the Trinity Episcopal Church library (2nd floor), 1042 Preston Avenue. 973-8464

TUNES

Blues Night at Dürty Nelly's: Get your blues thang on every Thursday night a Dürty Nelly's, the most local bar in town. Find a college student there, and you'll win a prize! Just kidding. $4, 9pm.

Cinema 8 at Outback Lodge: Former Fighting Gravity member Michael Sauri heads this surprisingly un-ska rock and roll band. Big guitars and catchy melodies make sweet-sweet love, and teach us all that sometimes good things do happen twice. $5, 8pm.

Chris Winter Band at Coup DeVille's. No cover. 10pm. (W)

Blues Night at Durty Nelly's. $4, 9pm. (W)

Mar e Marada at El Girasol. 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)

DJ Mighty Matt at Mountain View Grill. $5, 10pm. (W)

Cinema 8 at Outback Lodge. $5, 8pm.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 31

FAMILY

Virginia is for (fun) lovers

BY LINDA KOBERT

Is the end of May really too late to start thinking about vacation plans for the summer? I mean, with all the end-of-the-school-year activities happening this month, who has time to think about next month?

Fortunately, the folks at Barnes & Noble have been thinking about warm weather wandering. On May 31, they're hosting a summer fun celebration just for families called "Kids Love the Virginias" that features a whole day's worth of activities designed to stir our interest in roaming around our home state.

And who best to start getting us stirred up about Virginia than the state's unofficial down home storyteller, Kathy Coleman? Coleman tells tales and sings songs of the Appalachian culture of her childhood, bringing it to life with objects like her daddy's old cane and the quilt her mamaw made from the scraps of an old skirt. She'll be weaving her magic in the children's department for kids five and under from 10-10:30am, and for those in grades K-3 from 10:30-11am.

From 4:30-6:30pm, two of our favorite museums team up to show young adventurers what they can find when they venture out into the Virginia countryside. The Virginia Discovery Museum takes kids up, up, and away as they make their own hot air balloon and sail off to a destination of their choice. Those who "send" a postcard back home can enter it in a drawing to win a hot air balloon piñata.

Kids can make tracks with the folks from Virginia Museum of Natural History who will help intrepid explorers learn something about Virginia's wildlife. Kids can meet some local animals with the museum's taxidermied specimens and real animal pelts they can pet. Kids can also make a rubbing of animal footprints with models of their tracks.

The day rounds out with an evening presentation at 7pm by George and Michele Zavatsky, authors of Kids Love the Virginias: A Parent's Guide to Exploring Fun Places in Virginia and West Virginia with Children Year Round. The authors will be hosting a colorful interactive display and giving away bookmarks. Their informative guidebook discusses over 900 places and events specifically designed for families with children between the ages of 2 and 15.

A variety of other Virginia travel guides for families will also be featured, including The Family Field Guide to Charlottesville and Beyond by local author Susan T. Haas and her friends at Free Union Country School.

So finding a summer full of fun things to do won't be so hard after all.

Kids Love the Virginias Day takes place at Barnes & Noble May 31. Barracks Road Shopping Center. 984-0461

Time's running out: Only two more days for the Green Valley Bookfair, with books of all genres going for 60-90 percent below retail, 9am-7pm daily, but it's all over on June 2. I-81 between Harrisonburg & Staunton, exit 240. For more information, see www.gvbookfair.com.

PERFORMANCE

Floyd Collins: See Thursday, May 30.

No Shame Theater: Got a short performance piece that's begging for an audience? Show up at No Shame Theater and try it out. Just get there early enough to sign up for an available open slot. Live Arts LAB, 609 E. Market St. $7 at the door. 11pm. 295-2774

Contra dance: The Albemarle Chapter of the Country Dance and Song Society sponsors a contra dance called by George Segabade with music by the Elftones (with Mara Beamish on fiddle and Roger Gold on guitar). A beginner's workshop starts at 7:30pm before the dance begins at 8pm. Municipal Arts Center, 1119 Fifth St. Ext. $6. 296-4352

THINK

International finance: Public policy professor and Congressional adviser Adam Lerrick talks about "A New World for the International Financial Institutions in the Bush Era" at the Miller Center at 11am. 2201 Old Ivy Road. 924-0921

TUNES

Boogiehawg at Friday's After Five: Kazow! Boogiehawg is all about the funk, one thing Charlottesville could definitly use more of. A little Red Hot Chili Peppers, a little sax, and some pop will get your congealed circulatory system pumping again. East end of the Downtown Mall.

Larry Keel Experience with Curtis Birch at Starr Hill: Keel, a bluegrass virtuoso, brings his Appalachian heritage into full force this Friday. With a band of similar instrumental masterminds, what could possibly go wrong? $8, 9pm.

Southern Action at C.J.'s Bar and Grill. $5 Men/$ 3Women, 9pm.

Clairborne at Dürty Nelly's. $4, 9pm.

Majahkamo at Mountain View Grill. $5, 9pm.

Halfgassed at Miller's. $4, 10:30pm.

Down Till Now at Vinegar Hill Grill. $3, 9:30pm.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

FAMILY

History on foot: The Albemarle County Historical Society begins a new season of walking tours of historic downtown Charlottesville. Every Saturday now through October, tours leave at 10am from the McIntire Building for a one-hour stroll around Court Square viewing reminders of over 250 years of history. A $3 donation per person is suggested. No reservations required. Children under 12 and school groups are free. Group tours can be arranged for other times as well. 200 Second St. NE. 296-1492

NATURE

Happy trails

Another link in the chain

LYNN JO JAMESON

Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, the Rivanna Trail Foundation, and the American Hiking Society join forces once again for the 10th annual National Trails Day celebration. The Rivanna Trail almost circles Charlottesville with nearly 20 miles of beautiful wild space. Roughly following the Rivanna River and several of its tributaries, this trail has been the inspiration and cause celebre of small towns across the nation.

Last year, the National Trails Day event won the American Hiking Society's Eastern Regional Award for the Best National Trails Day east of the Mississippi. Not to be outdone, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports won the Dupont Trails for Tomorrow for being the number one retailer in the country supporting local trails. High honors indeed considering that every state participates in this event with similar town-encircling footpaths and sponsorship by thousands of retailers.

This year, though, the 10th anniversary year, should be a spectacle. Last year 200 volunteers showed up to weed whack the trail into submission. Now, thanks to year-round, monthly maintenance, the Rivanna Trail is close to being completed. As with any undertaking in nature, the trail will always need care and maintenance. But having it completed (by the community at large) is a significant contribution to the greening of urban landscapes. And having our efforts recognized nationally gives us one more reason to be proud.

The work today around Moore's Creek from Azalea Park to Biscuit Run includes constructing at least two small wooden footbridges, planting small trees, and general clean-up around the stream. As usual, the attire is work clothes and gloves, and although tools are provided, Rivanna Trails Foundation asks that you bring whatever you can such as hammers, pruners, saws, rakes, shovels, mattocks, or gas-powered weed eaters. There will be several projects for all ages and skill levels so that everyone in the family can join in. All volunteers will be assigned a work site and site leader. Groups will be able to work/stay together and have a site all to themselves.

Meet at the Holiday Inn on Fifth Street Ext. at 9am on Saturday, June 1. Free t-shirts to the first 100 volunteers and free socks to the first 100 females. Lunch will be provided at noon followed by a short meeting before the day ends at 1:30pm. For more information, call 923-9022 or check out www.rivannatrails.org.

Don't be blue: Join bluebird specialist Ron Kingston of the Monticello Bird Club for an early morning jaunt at the Ivy Creek Natural Area. Beginners welcome. Meet in the parking lot. Route 743 (Earlysville Road). 973-7772

A talk for our times: Jamaica Kincaid, renowned novelist and garden writer for The New Yorker, finds poetry and politics in the simplest cultivated flower. An admirer and student of Jefferson, she revels in the ambiguity expressed by his love of gardening. Enrollment for her lecture is limited, and registration is required. 9:30am. $5. Meet at the barn at Tufton Farm, Route 732 (one and a half miles east of Monticello). 434-984-9822

Horsing around: The June schedule at the Virginia Horse Center begins this weekend with miniature horse shows, barrel racing, and a rodeo. Cowboys and cowgirls compete in mutton busting, chute dogging, goat tying, pole bending, and more. $5 for the rodeo; all other events free. For more information call 540-463-2194; for a map, www.horsecenter.org.

PERFORMANCE

Floyd Collins: See Thursday, May 30.

Advanced Improv: Brad Stoller offers the opportunity to hone your performance skills through improvisation. Join him on Saturday mornings through June 8. Live Arts LAB, 609 E. Market St. 10am. $45-60. 977-4177, x100

Two over, two back: Charlottesville United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association offers ballroom, Latin, and swing tunes featuring DJ Michael Smith. Come early for a Samba or Hustle lesson. Municipal Arts Center, 1119 Fifth St. Ext. 8-10:30pm. $5-10. 980-8159

THINK

Walk for kids: Get your exercise today from 3 to 5pm in a Walk-A-Thon to benefit the patients of the Children's Medical Center. Picnic and prizes follow at Klockner Stadium. $20. 924-8432

School's out: The Statewide Homeschool Conference & Curriculum Fair, sponsored by the Virginia Home Education Association, has sessions for parents, teens, and children. Adults $30 ($35 per couple), children $15, plus $10 per-family fee. 8 am-6 pm. Covenant Church of God, 1025 E. Rio Road. http://www.vhea.org. See Think feature, page XX.

Herb and garden festival: Hustle over to Harrisonburg to find vendors selling plants, herbs, botanical art, and more, as well as lectures, demonstrations, educational booths, and refreshments. 10 am-4 pm. Admission and parking free. Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University. 540-568-3194

Historic homes: The "Fifteen Chimneys" tour sponsored by the Madison Garden Club and Madison County Historical Society includes five historic homes and two landmarks. See them all on Saturday from 10am to 4pm, or Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. $15 package, $4 each for individual houses. 540-948-4455

TUNES

Latter day masters

Acid jazz makes you wanna dance

BY MARK GRABOWSKI

Music collectives seem to be all the rage these days. A collective is a group of like-minded musicians (in the form of bands) who have gotten together to spread their take on noise making-- usually by forming their own record label. Sure, many of the bands of the collective can start to sound alike (the Elephant 6 Collective is made up of bands like the Apples In Stereo and Beulah, all seemingly dedicated to returning our world to the LSD'd late-60s), but remember, there's strength in numbers (most of the time).

Carlos Washington and Giant People are on the New Century Soul Records label-- an eclectic collective seemingly dedicated to enriching our daily lives through exposure to large doses of-- you guessed it-- soul music.

Washington's group doesn't exactly fit the mental picture most people have of soul music-- James Brown, the Motown Sound, etc.-- their roots are in another version of soul: soul-jazz. Created in the late 60s, soul-jazz relies on fluid bass-lines that skate over the backbeat, emphasizing the groove of a piece. Roy Ayers is a fine representative artist of this type of music; his work was seminal in creating acid-jazz, a new style in the late 1980s and '90s-- percussive-heavy groove-emphasized jazz.

Washington is a former member of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe (Karl Denson is in turn a former member of the Greyboy Allstars, one of the better known acid-jazz groups), who went solo to form his own group, Giant People. Washington is the bandleader as well as the trumpet player (expect lots of flamboyant trumpet solos); John Staten is on the drums; Ignacio Arango plays electric bass and guitar; and Jessee Molloy is on the tenor sax.

Their music is a mix of soul-jazz and acid-jazz, with some world music thrown in, and although they also declare hip-hop another element of their sound, I couldn't really hear it. What I do hear is jammy, danceable jazz music performed by clearly talented musicians.

Several tracks from their new album are available on mp3.com, and I recommend checking them out if you have the means. Their newest album, Epic Soul Music (a humorous title, think of a rock band calling an album Fantastic Rock!), will probably figure big when they play at the Outback Lodge on June 1.

My head is presently in uncontrolled bop mode thanks to the track "Freedom Condition 2000." As I can feel the bop moving to my feet, and the need to dance is steadily increasing, I gotta switch off Carlos Washington and Giant People before something really embarrassing occurs. I'll just save that for the show.

Carlos Washington and Giant People perform at Outback Lodge, June 1. $5, 8pm.

Steve and Tim Ryalls at Awful Arthur's. No cover, 10pm.

Innerspace at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.

Ohm's Law at Dürty Nelly's. $3, 9pm.

Betty Gone Bad at Mountain View Grill. $5, 9pm.

Halfgassed w/ Double Trouble at Rapunzel's. $5, 8pm.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

ART

Creative families: Second Street Gallery hosts a "Family Art Day" from 1 to 4pm today. Come celebrate Les Christensen's sculpture exhibit with tours, a workshop, music by Allodola, and treats from IY. Additional information: www.avenue.org/ssg or 977-7284

FAMILY

Pork fest: Lots of great family fun is in store at the Old Fashioned Pig Roast sponsored by the Albemarle County Fair. The shindig starts at 3pm with pony rides, raffles, door prizes, an auction, music by the Jimmy O Band, and, of course, gobs of food. Admission is $10 for ages 12 and up, $5 for kids 6-12. Nutmeg Farm hosts the party on Route 20 south. Go to Carter's Bridge and follow the signs. 293-6396. http://monticello.avenue.org/fair/pig_roast.htm

Family dancin': Sure an' it will be a good time if you show up at the Ceili (pronounced Kay-lee) at Greenwood Community Center from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Families are welcome to join this traditional Irish social dance sponsored by the Blue Ridge Irish Music School. The monthly event features live music and resembles American square dancing. Beginners can learn the basics in a workshop from 6:30 to 7pm. $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 8-16, and $20 for families. A reduced rate is available for members of the school. Rt. 691 in Greenwood. 823-2122

TUNES

Dead Night at Michael's Bistro: Who doesn't like the Grateful Dead, really? I mean, they at least knew how to have a good time. The good times continue every Sunday night at Michael's Bistro, where live Dead shows will make you feel like it's 1968 all over again. No cover, 10pm.

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

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

DJ Mighty Matt at Mountain View Grill. $5, 10pm. (W)

George Melvin at Rococo's. No cover, 7pm. (W)

MONDAY, JUNE 3

BOOKS

Founding Father du jour: Book club newcomers are invited to cut their teeth on award-winning historian David McCullough's biography of the second president, John Adams. Discussion begins at 7:30 at Barnes & Noble in the Barracks Road Shopping Center.

PERFORMANCE

Summer festival: Want to be part of the Live Arts Summer Theater Festival 2002 as a director, stage manager, producer, venue manager, or assistant director? Come (or send someone) to the weekly organizational meeting. Live Arts, 609 E. Market St. 5:30pm. 977-4177

TUNES

Holiday Inn and Atsushi Miura upstairs at Tokyo Rose: Cooler than you'll ever be, Atsushi Miura rocks it indy style every Monday. Quirky songs from a pillar of our community (Miura owns the Tokyo Rose). No cover, 9:30pm.

Open mic at Baja Bean. 9pm. No cover. (W)

Haider's Five at the College Inn. No cover, 8pm. (W)

DJ's Myson and Mason at Michael's Bistro $2, 10:30pm.

George Melvin at Rococo's. No cover, 7pm. (W)

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

PERFORMANCE

Floyd Collins: See Thursday, May 30.

THINK

Shop for hospice: "All for One Day" at Foods of All Nations. Fifty percent of the day's net profits will be donated to Hospice of the Piedmont, to help provide hospice care for terminally ill people and support for those grieving.

Free legal advice: Get 20 minutes free with a lawyer to discuss legal questions. FOCUS Women's Resource Center, 6:40-9 pm. Pre-registration required. 293-2222

TUNES

B.C. at Michael's Bistro: A switch from their usual Tuesday night gig at the Blade-Runneresque Tokyo Rose, B.C. performs at Michael's Bistro this week. Catch the cello, guitar, quirky-lyrics duo as they trample down the road to big time fame. $3, 10:30pm.

Karaoke at Baja Bean, no cover, 9pm. (W)

Jamie and Rolland at the Blue Moon Diner. No cover, 10pm. (W)

Glenn Mack at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm.

Steve and Timmy Ryalls at Dürty Nelly's. $3, 9pm. (W)

Man Mountain Jr at Orbits. No cover, 10:30pm.

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

George Melvin at Rococo's. No cover, 7pm. (W)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

PERFORMANCE

Floyd Collins: See Thursday, May 30.

NATURE

The sky is falling: Charlottesville Astronomical Society meets tonight at McCormick Observatory. Open to all whether you are interested in the topic or just an amateur astronomer. 9pm, weather permitting. For more information and directions, log on to www.cvilleastro.org or call Susan Bender at 296-1335.

TUNES

Daemon Records showcase: Sally, Moto Litas, and 1945 rock Tokyo Rose tonight. They're calling it a party, but it's more of a rock and roll show, and you're invited. The all-female powerhouses Sally and the Moto Litas could possibly rock the boy out of the mostly male 1945, but we will have to see about that one. $5, 10:30.

Ezra Hamilton at the Blue Moon Diner. No cover, 10pm. (W)

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

B.C. at Mellow Mushroom. No cover, 11:30pm. (W)

Mr. One at Michael's Bistro. $3, 10:30pm.

Jeff Decker and Mike Rosensky Quartet at Miller's. $4, 9pm. (W)

DJs Mason and Myson at Orbit. $2, 10:30pm. (W)

The Modern Groove Syndicate at Outback Lodge. $3, 10pm. (W)

George Melvin at Rococo's. No cover, 7pm. (W)

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

PERFORMANCE

Floyd Collins: See Thursday, May 30. Tonight's show is at 7:30.

FAMILY

Running for fun: The Charlottesville Track Club sponsors a summer youth track program for boys and girls ages 6-12 on Thursday evenings, 6-7pm, starting tonight at the UVA track. The program ends with a track meet on July 18. Program is free. 295-5186

BOOKS

Hear that sound?: It's the opening bell for a seven-week long book drive for the Children's Medical Center. Anyone buying a book from Barnes & Noble to donate to the center gets 10 percent off. Meanwhile, the super-seller promises to donate $500 worth of new books and today welcomes a mouse who wears overalls and eats cookies (and stars in a favorite children's book) at 5:30pm in the "courtyard," wherever that may be.

Thousands of thumbprints: Are what the winners of this short-story contest have in common. The winners of the contest sponsored by the Village School and Lexis Nexis, all girls in grades four through eight, will read their stories tonight at Barnes & Noble at 7pm. Cash prizes and publication in the Spring edition of Jambalaya for the young writers, an evening of pleasant surprises for the audience. Barracks Road Shopping Center. 984-0461

THINK

Black Women/White Women: Join an open discussion group that tries to bridge racial, ethnic, and cultural differences. This month's topic is What experiences have we had that contradicted our class expectations? What experiences have reinforced them? FOCUS Women's Resource Center, 5:45-7:15pm.

TUNES

Bobby Graves at Baja Bean. No cover, 10pm. (W)

Chris Winter Band at Coupe DeVille's. No cover, 10pm. (W)

Blues Night at Dürty Nelly's. $4, 9pm. (W)

Mar e Marada at El Girasol. No cover, 10pm, (W)

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

Wynn Walent at the Mellow Mushroom. $5, 10pm.

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

DJ Mighty Matt at Mountain View Grill. $5, 10pm. (W)

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

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