C-VILLE Weekly | April 15 - 21, 2026 by C-VILLE Weekly

From policy to product, what’s next for cannabis in the Commonwealth

Hello, Charlottesville.

Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.

I won’t bury the lead for this week’s cover story (p.20): Virginia is finally getting a retail cannabis market (feel free to—responsibly!—celebrate, as we purposely scheduled this story for the week of 4/20). But what might be even more compelling is that the story also looks at the state’s infrastructure to open up such a market.

For years, marijuana in the Commonwealth has existed in a kind of legal limbo. You could possess it. You could grow it. But you couldn’t buy it, at least not in any straightforward way. In that gap, a confusing marketplace took shape, where products labeled as “hemp” blurred definitions, and where consumers were sometimes left to take labels at face value.

What’s happening now isn’t just legalization catching up with public opinion. It’s the state attempting to bring order to a system that already exists. The new framework—licenses, testing, labeling, oversight—signals a move away from that gray area toward something more transparent and accountable.

That may not be the flashiest part of the story. But it’s the part that determines what people are actually buying, how it’s made, and whether it’s safe. And, as Virginia prepares to open the doors to retail sales in 2027, that infrastructure may be what matters most. 4.15.26

Hot off the press

This week’s contributors

Many congratulations to [checks notes] C-VILLE Weekly on its Virginia Press Association wins, announced at the VPA’s awards ceremony April 11. Here’s what we picked up:

 Freelance writer James Sanford earned first place for “Waive of kindness,” his profile of late local musician Jim Waive.

 Photographer Tristan Williams took second place for “Sour Cherries” in the Pictorial Photo category.

 Columnist Sarah Lawson nabbed a second-place win for critical writing.

 Graphic Designer Tracy Federico took three first-place wins for advertising design in the Lifestyles, Multiple Advertisers and Themed Pages, and Professional Services categories.

Catie Ratliff is C-VILLE’s news reporter. Prior to CVILLE, she worked as a student journalist with WUVA at the University of Virginia. Ratliff covers a bit of everything, but has a specific interest in politics, education, development, and community issues. Read her work on pages 9, 13, and 20

Kristie Smeltzer is a writer, writing coach, and teacher. Her fiction has been published by Scribes*MICRO* Fiction, MonkeyBicycle, and Atticus Review. Smeltzer earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Central Florida. Read her work on page 36.

Rivanna Roots

MAY 2

MAY 16

MAY 30

JUNE 13

JUNE 27

JULY 11

JULY 25

AUGUST 8

AUGUST 22

SEPTEMBER 5

SEPTEMBER 19

OCTOBER 3

OCTOBER 17

WE ARE STAR CHILDREN W/ DROPPING JULIA

FONVILLE x FRIBUSH W/ CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

THE POLLOCKS W/ TANASI

TERRI ALLARD BAND W/ SCUFFLETOWN

THE OVERSTEPPERS W/ DRIFTWOOD RADIO

THE JACOB JOLLIFF BAND W/ CLARA GEORGE & ANNIE SAVAGE

DJ WILLIAMS BAND W/ HUMBLE

COREY HARRIS BAND W/ JEN TAL

RAMONA & THE HOLY SMOKES W/ REBECCA PORTER

THEOCLES & THE MUSES W/ THE CURRYS

LARRY KEEL DUO W/ BRENNAN GILMORE & ANDY THACKER

CHAMOMILE & WHISKEY W/ SWEET AFTON & LEAH GRAMS JOHNSON

GALLATIN CANYON W/ MIKE BURRIS & EMILY MORRISON

DOORS 5:30 PM - MUSIC 6:30 PM-9:30 PM

Food Trucks - Local Beer, Cider, & Wine TICKETS AT FRONTPORCHCVILLE.ORG

Spanberger signs hundreds of bills into law.

The Donald comes to town, plus SRO battle at CHS and goodbye Free Bridge Lane.

Real Estate: Low-Income Housing Coalition wants zoning amended.

CULTURE

Tried it in C’ville: New ’do, ne w you

Howsare, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Jake Solyst,

Extra: Celebrating Record Store Day with area vinyl vendors

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C-VILLE HOLDINGS, LLC Bill Chapman, Blair Kelly

APRIL 19: Lake Street Dive with Carrtoons

MAY 7: Ole 60 with the Jack Wharff Band and Rob Langdon

JUNE 20:

WNRN Presents: The String Cheese Incident Just Keep Spinning Tour 2026

JULY 18:

Alison Krauss & Union Station ft. Jerry Douglas with Special Guest Theo Lawrence

JULY 26: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Benefiting the Charlottesville Free Clinic

SEPT 5: WNRN Presents: Charley Crockett Age of the Ram Tour with Nat Myers

SEPTEMBER 8:

Sierra Ferrell A WNRN 30th Anniversary show Heavy Petal Tour

SEPTEMBER 22:

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

SEPTEMBER 24:

Sam Barber

More Announcements Coming Soon!

FRIDAYS AFTER FIVE Kicks Off April 17

JUNE 12-ON SALE NOW BARSTOOL RODEO WIDESPREAD PANIC TRIBUTE

ACELIA JULY 16-ON SALE NOW SHAWN MULLINS

JULY 23-ON SALE NOW COEY REED

Normalizing Cannabis With Education, Events, & Private Parties.

Letter of the law

Spanberger vetoes eight bills in lead-up to legislative deadline

BY CATIE RATLIFF

ANTISEMITISM AT THE CROSSROADS OF AMERICAN HATRED

PAUL AND DOROTHY GROB MEMORIAL LECTURE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

NAU Hall 101 5:30 pm

Reception to Follow

Democrats hold a majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, so it was no surprise that Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed most of the hundreds of bills that were sent to her desk this session. Still, the governor didn’t hesitate to veto and amend bills in the weeks and hours leading up to the April 13 11:59pm deadline.

The Virginia Legislative Information System lists 972 bills as approved or enacted by the governor as of press time. Spanberger vetoed eight pieces of legislation and recommended amendments to 112 more. Another 68 measures were marked as “awaiting governor’s action.”

Governors must act on legislation sent to their desk during a session of the General Assembly within seven days of receipt, says the Code of Virginia. Any bills passed in the last seven days of a session have to be acted on within 30 days of the session adjourning. If the governor fails to sign, veto, or amend legislation passed by the General Assembly by the deadline, the bills become law.

Spanberger’s eight vetoes cover everything from judicial reforms and skill games, to local Del. Amy Laufer’s proposed mattress stewardship program.

The governor spiked HB1288, and its Senate cognate SB17. As passed, the bills would have increased the maximum value of repossessed vehicles sold at public auction without a court order from the current $12,500 cap to $17,000. “House Bill 1288 [Senate Bill 17] would put more vehicle owners at risk by increasing the vehicle valuation limit,” reads an excerpt from the veto. “[The bill] would result in a significant increase in the number of vehicles that could be sold without going through the process of getting a court order.”

Concerns about consumer protections and affordability drove several of Spanberger’s vetoes, including skill game legislation

and a bill advancing the proposed Fairfax County casino to a referendum.

“The rapid expansion of gaming in Virginia over the last decade has outpaced the Commonwealth’s ability to provide consistent enforcement, robust public safety oversight, and meaningful assessments of the potential impacts or harms of gaming in all its forms,” said Spanberger in her veto of SB661. “Without an entity in place to evaluate and mitigate social, economic, and public impacts, the Commonwealth is not positioned to expand gaming and legalize electronic skill gaming devices.”

Spanberger struck down SB756, which would have allowed Fairfax County residents to directly vote on the creation of a casino and sidestep the county’s board of supervisors, because of the potentially dangerous precedent created by circumventing local government.

She mentioned public safety, accountability, and potential unintended consequences in blocking SB764 and HB637, bills that recommended the expansion of deferred dispositions for DUI charges and creation of a lesser tier of punishment for trace possession of controlled substances, respectively.

IN BRIEF

“[HB637] would create a new offense with misdemeanor penalties for possession of drug residue, which would have the unintended and regrettable consequence of making offenders who are arrested for possession of residue ineligible for drug court,” Spanberger wrote. “Drug courts in Virginia help provide comprehensive substance abuse treatment under intensive supervision to defendants who struggle with substance use disorders and have proven valuable to offenders and public safety.”

The governor also vetoed the judicial system reform proposed in SB23, which would have ended the ability for defendants to waive their fourth amendment rights (privacy and protections against unreasonable search and seizure) as a condition of a plea agreement. Under current law, Virginians do not have to waive their fourth amendment rights to receive a plea agreement. But it’s a common practice with established standards in place to protect defendants, something Spanberger asserts is a valuable option for both parties.

In an interesting departure from the other vetoes, Spanberger snuffed out 55th District Del. Laufer’s bill that would have created a mattress recycling program. “[HB86] would require Virginians to pay a new fee for a mattress recycling program earmarked for one specific organization,” wrote Spanberger in the last-minute veto. “While I value the need for reliable recycling for mattresses—which crowd landfills, mandating that all mattress retailers that sell to Virginians participate in a single recycling program and increase their prices makes this program unworkable for the Commonwealth.”

The Virginia General Assembly will reconvene on April 22 to consider the governor’s vetoes and amendments. A special session the next day will focus on the budget, which legislators have yet to set for the upcoming fiscal year.

All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less) Pay? Check! Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs legislation raising Virginia’s minimum wage to $13.75 per hour in 2027, with a further increase to $15 due in 2028. Spoiled order Police investigate an April 12 shooting (with no life-threatening injuries) at the 29 North Waffle House. Future president? Maxwell Mandel, 24, of Crozet, picks up 32 more felony charges (for a total of 80) for alleged sex crimes against children. Board meeting Charlottesville Skate Park will celebrate its eighth birthday with free live music, crafts, and cake April 18. Little firetrucks everywhere Responding to pedestrian and bicyclist feedback, city seeks more compact, urban-friendly fire engines for its department. Ain’t right A 2,200-gallon propane truck overturns in Afton, spurring evacuations and cleanup from hazmat and fire crews; Hank Hill reportedly horrified.

State legislators will return to Richmond to discuss the governor’s vetoes and amendments on April 22.

The Lion and the Lamb

Schütz & Gabrieli for Easter

Heinrich Schütz, William Byrd, Josquin des Prez, Michael Praetorius, and Orlando di Lasso.

Bill Baxtresser, cornetto - Benjamin Geier, tenor - Sheila Dietrich, soprano - Fiona Hughes, baroque violin - Katherine Shuldiner, viola da gamba - Joel Vander Zee, organ

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Paul Von Hoff baroque trombone

Time to vote

Virginia’s in the home stretch for its April 21 redistricting special election ahead of November’s midterms.

Early in-person voting in Charlottesville runs Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm until April 17, and Saturday voting on April 18 from 8:30am to 5pm, at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections. Albemarle residents can vote early from 8:30am to 5pm at the Fifth Street County Office Building through April 18. Regular polling sites will be open Election Day, April 21, from 6am to 7pm.

More information can be found at elections.virginia.gov, and in C-VILLE’s previous coverage of the proposed amendment.—Catie Ratliff

Cabernet meeting

President Donald Trump made a quick trip to Charlottesville on April 10, drawing the attention of opponents and supporters alike. Trump was in town for a private fundraiser at Trump Winery to raise funds for his MAGA Inc. super PAC ahead of the midterms.

According to the Federal Election Commission, MAGA Inc. received more than $297 million between January 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026—all from other political action committees.

While Trump’s supporters gathered behind closed doors, protesters rallied

along Route 29 ahead of the president’s visit in an effort to directly voice their frustration as the motorcade traveled from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.—CR

Safety meeting

In response to community concerns about the reintroduction of school resource officers—armed police patrolling schools— the Charlottesville City School Board will host a work session at Charlottesville High School on April 16 at 5pm. A coalition including students, community activists, the Legal Aid Justice Center, and the Charlottesville Education Association will hold a rally in opposition to the reintroduction of SROs immediately before the meeting.

Debate about SROs in local schools has persisted since at least 2020, when the Board voted to remove police and introduced the Care and Safety Assistant program. In March 2025, the Board voted 4-2 to bring back SROs after a string of fights at CHS.

Efforts to select new SROs are reportedly under way. Per the current agreement between the Board and CPD, officers would return to schools for the 2026-27 school year.

Organizers are calling for the Board and Superintendent Royal Gurley to rethink, revote, and ultimately reverse the 2025 decision. The Board’s makeup has changed since the March 2025 vote, leaving the potential outcome of a revote uncertain.—CR

DEVELOPMENT NEWS Permanent promenade

Albemarle supervisors set to revoke roadway status for Free Bridge Lane BY SEAN TUBBS

Since November 2024, a narrow roadway along the banks of the Rivanna River south of Darden Towe Park has been closed to motorized vehicles in order to implement one of the county’s planning visions.

“Free Bridge Lane provides a unique opportunity to further enhance the River corridor while improving upon the bicycle/pedestrian connectivity in the area,” reads a section of the Pantops Master Plan adopted by Albemarle County supervisors in June 2019.

The conversion of the roadway into a “green street” is one of a dozen catalyst projects intended to be built within the first eight years of the plan. The plan originally called for the road to remain open to traffic in one direction southbound from Darden Towe Park.

However, when Albemarle followed through with a feasibility study four years later, the consultant, LPDA, presented an additional option that would convert the project to a car-free promenade. Supervisors agreed in March 2023 to proceed with a oneyear pilot to test the idea, and the closure began in late fall of 2024.

Free Bridge Lane is a public road and the initial closure to vehicles was done with the blessing of the Virginia Department of Transportation. That agency conducted a traffic study before the closure and again in the spring of 2025.

“The study found an increase in bicycle and pedestrian trips,” reads a staff report for a resolution on the Board of Supervisors’ April 15 agenda to ask the Commonwealth Transportation Board to discontinue the road.

“The CTB may discontinue a roadway if it determines that the roadway no longer serves the public convenience, warranting its maintenance at public expense, and it divests VDOT from maintenance responsibilities,” the staff report continues.

If the CTB agrees, the space would remain public and Albemarle County would take over responsibility for maintaining the promenade as an extension of Darden Towe Park. Supervisors would still have to adopt an ordinance formally closing the roadway to vehicles.

As part of the pilot, Albemarle County built a parking lot at the northern end of the space that can hold about a dozen vehicles. A smaller pull-off at the southern end only has room for two or three vehicles.

The promenade offers an opportunity for the county and others to offer educational experiences such as a StoryWalk, sponsored by Sentara, which matches passersby with a children’s book. A coalition of environmental groups has posted a placard with information about the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership.

There are other catalyst projects in the Pantops Master Plan that are related, like the opening of future parks along the Rivanna River and a pedestrian crossing of the waterway.

A site in Woolen Mills has been selected for that bridge, but advancement has been slow due to a $42.5 million cost estimate. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission has applied three times for federal grants to help lower the cost but failed to make the cut each time. Officials have agreed to try a fourth time. C

The closure of Free Bridge Lane began in late fall of 2024.

REAL ESTATE NEWS

Demanding rewrite

Charlottesville Low-Income Housing Coalition wants City Council to amend zoning

BY SEAN TUBBS

When Charlottesville City Council adopted a new set of zoning rules in December 2023, the idea was to make it easier for developers to construct housing units.

That is proving not to be the case for LCD Acquisitions, a company that has filed plans for a seven-story building in Fifeville called The Mark that is allowed under the Residential Mixed Use 5 zoning. The new rules eliminated public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council to approve additional height and development.

The Charlottesville Low-Income Housing Coalition has been making its voice heard anyway, with its members telling City Council they see the prospect of student housing in Fifeville as a form of displacement.

“For months now, community members, organizations, advocates, and residents like myself have shown up,” said Terry Tyree at the April 6 City Council meeting. “And still we are asking: ‘Why are our voices not enough to slow this down and bring this back to a formal process that truly includes community input?’”

Tyree said the coalition wants Council to apply an overlay zoning district called Core Neighborhood that would only allow a threestory building by-right. Two additional stories could be built but only if 20 percent of the units are rented to households making under 50 percent of the area median income. This overlay is already in place on portions of Preston and Cherry avenues.

“The Core Neighborhood Corridor Overlay was not applied broadly enough to meet its stated goal and this oversight should be corrected,” said Emily Smith, an attorney with Legal Aid Justice Center. “When zoning changes are enacted to support the public good, the law is very protective to the locality.”

So far, City Council has not directed staff to prioritize this action, but Council did meet in closed session on April 6 to get advice on “legal aspects of changes to the city’s zoning code.”

In October, Council settled a first lawsuit against the code and agreed to conduct a study of the impacts of additional density on the city’s transportation network.

Meanwhile, the plans themselves are working their way through the process with many opportunities for further challenges.

On March 19, the Charlottesville Board of Zoning Appeals on a 2-2 vote upheld a determination from the zoning administrator that the project is within a half-mile radius of an eastern edge of the University of Virginia. That would allow The Mark to qualify as “student housing,” which does not require affordable units to be included. The developers would have to pay into the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund, but at a lower rate than units outside of the radius.

The Board of Zoning Appeals is set to take the matter up again on Thursday, April 16, but the agenda for the meeting doesn’t indicate what will be publicly discussed. The appellant lives across the street and could appeal the case to Charlottesville Circuit Court.

However, there were only four BZA members present in March and another vote will be held to see how the fifth member votes. The appellant, Paul Reeder, lives across the street and could appeal the case to Charlottesville Circuit Court if the determination remains upheld.

In December, the Board of Architectural Review denied a certificate of appropriateness to allow The Mark to incorporate two historically protected structures on Seventh Street. LCD Acquisitions appealed the case to City Council, but so far a hearing has not been scheduled.

The appeal filed on December 31, 2025, by attorney Steven Blaine argued that the BAR’s vote was an attempt to subvert the zoning.

“The Project substantially advances the City’s affordable housing goals contained in the Comprehensive Plan by providing significant funds to the City’s affordable housing fund as required by the Development Code,” Blaine wrote. “The required payment is currently estimated to be approximately $4,550,000.”

Annie Gould Gallery

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The Charlottesville Low-Income Housing Coalition worries that if The Mark, a sevenstory student apartment complex, is built in Fifeville, it’ll be a form of displacement.

GORDONSVILLE ROAD

Mulberry Hill Circa 1900 in the heart of Keswick Hunt Country. Set on over 22 acres of beautiful land, offering the opportunity to build an estate home and stables on the back portion of the property. The stately residence features a 11’x23’ grand entry hall with 10’ ceilings. The original 2 over 2 home was added on to over the years.

The light filled dining room and kitchen additions overlook the backyard. Wide cased openings with fine woodwork and trim lead to the parlor and living room. The one bedroom guest cottage is currently rented. Both residences qualify for historic renovation tax credits. Wonderful for gardening and has a bold stream. A charming county property. $1,390,000

OLD FARM ROAD

A remarkable property in Bellair. Set on a 1.9 acre beautifully landscaped, elevated lot. Magnificent trees and grounds. Unique floor plan. Featured rooms; Living room with fireplace, dining room with floor to ceiling walk-in bay windows,family room with fireplace and a sunroom overlooking the stunning pool. Many custom features: copper gutters, slate roof, 2 sunrooms, circular driveway to the front and lower driveway to the terrace level. Full terrace level with french doors, family room, study, play room and wet bar.

$2,700,000

RAVENS PLACE

Wonderful floor plan. Great, nearly flat yard. Many updates and improvements include: 2025 new roof, refrigerator, dishwasher, range, microwave (all stainless steel) 2020 shed remodeled, new front door and shutters. Primary suite remodeled with walk in shower.

High time

As

Virginia moves toward full legalization of adult-use marijuana, we take a look at everything green BY CATIE

RATLIFF

It’s official: Virginia’s (finally) opening its adult-use retail cannabis market in 2027, though the exact start date is still being hashed out. The Commonwealth may be late to the legalization party, but the state is the site of the earliest-known cannabis legislation in North America.

In 1619, the first Virginia General Assembly not only encouraged, but required colonists to grow hemp. More than a century later, enslavers and founding fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson espoused the promise of the plant. (There’s an extensive record of enslaved laborers at Monticello and Mount Vernon cultivating hemp, but historians say there’s no evidence Jefferson or Washington smoked it.)

Federal regulation of cannabis ramped up throughout the 20th century, culminating in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. It classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug—entirely banning production, possession, and sale of cannabis outside of government-approved research.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule I drugs have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” That list includes heroin, LSD, ecstasy, peyote, and marijuana. Drugs the DEA considers dangerous, but which still have medical uses, end up on Schedule II. Substances you may have expected to see in Schedule I, like cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, and fentanyl, are instead categorized as Schedule II substances.

Hemp, defined by a 2025 amendment to the 2018 farm bill as cannabis products containing less than 0.3 percent THC, has been descheduled. Outside of specific synthetic cannabinoid medications like Marinol, the federal government still hasn’t formally recognized marijuana’s medical applications. Efforts to reschedule marijuana are ongoing.

While national laws remain stuck in the ’70s, Virginia is moving ahead to greener pastures.

The state created its first limited exception to the federal ban of marijuana in 1979, allowing cancer and glaucoma patients to possess cannabis oil, but providing no legal pathway for them to acquire it.

More than 35 years later, the state moved more earnestly toward medical legalization. Between 2015 and 2018, ac-

cess to medical cannabis oil in Virginia expanded from epilepsy patients to all medical conditions. Beginning in 2019, patients could receive prescriptions in more forms, though they still couldn’t get marijuana flower.

State legislators kicked off 2020 by decriminalizing marijuana use more broadly, and improving the medical cannabis dispensary system. The next year, the Commonwealth formed the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, and the General Assembly permitted adults to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to four plants per household, beginning July 1, 2021.

For five years, Virginians have been able to possess and grow marijuana for personal use. There’s still nowhere (legal) to buy it unless you have a prescription, but new leadership is ready to change that: On April 13, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger acted on a slate of marijuana-related bills sent to her desk, signing three into law and recommending changes to other legislation.

“Because of this long delay where we kind of haven’t seen much motion in Virginia, it seems like there are many different topics that the legislature wants to address,” says Paul Seaborn, assistant professor at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, and longtime scholar of marijuana legalization.

Green deal

If you assumed that Virginia already had recreational dispensaries, you’re not alone. Despite sometimes deceptive marketing, non-medical retailers currently can’t sell cannabis products with more than a modicum of THC.

They can, however, sell certain “hemp” and “hemp-derived” products. In theory, these items can only contain up to two milligrams of THC, or have a minimum CBD to THC ratio of 25:1, under state law.

“The current model in Virginia is very confusing for everyone involved,” says Seaborn. “Right now, if you’re seeing products in the market in Virginia, their origin is from a hemp plant that has less than 0.3 percent THC.”

A growing market for “hemp” products containing illegal amounts of THC has emerged both in Virginia and nationwide in states without legal adult-use markets. FedCONTINUED ON PAGE 22

DEPARTMENT

“Virginia is quite unusual in having had such a delay between when we legalize consumption and possession, and then introducing a full commercial market. We have neighboring states that already have adult-use markets in place, and they’re selling millions of dollars of legal cannabis in a regulated system.” PAUL SEABORN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

eral oversight of “hemp” and “hemp-derived” products, particularly those categorized as supplements, has been practically nonexistent since the passage of the 2018 farm bill.

In 2025, Congress passed an amendment that updated the DEA’s definition of hemp to close the “farm bill loophole,” which will go into effect November 12. Even the Library of Congress page about the amendment acknowledges that “it remains unclear if and how federal law enforcement will enforce the new prohibitions when the new definition goes into effect,” and “both FDA and DEA may lack the resources to broadly enforce the laws prohibiting intoxicating hemp products on the market.”

A recent investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that many of the “hemp” products sold around that city contained “illegal amounts of THC.” While the amounts found weren’t “life threatening,” the lab testing conducted by Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs found contaminants in some of the products, and “a carcinogen used in paint stripper” in a package of Indacloud Orange Funta Gummies.

In the Commonwealth, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services currently regulates these products because of their legal classification as “hemp.” Cannabis policy expert JM Pedini says VDACS’ oversight isn’t up to snuff.

“If there had been stronger regulatory enforcement required for so called ‘hempderived’ products, we wouldn’t be in this position, but here we are,” says Pedini, development director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and executive director of Virginia NORML. “[A] cannabinoid is a cannabinoid, and calling it ‘hemp’ doesn’t exempt it from the need for regulatory oversight.”

“The consumer has literally no idea what they’re buying. They’re just taking the word of the person who’s selling it, or taking the word of the package,” Pedini says. “Sellers might have the best of intentions, but when you don’t uphold consumer safety standards, consumers get hurt.”

In addition to their work with NORML, Pedini served as co-chair of the Legal and Regulatory subcommittee of former governor Ralph Northam’s Marijuana Legalization Work Group. They were directly involved in the creation of the CCA, and

worked on and lobbied for several bills this legislative session. Beginning July 1, hemp and hemp-derived products will move under the CCA.

“CCA is our cannabis regulator,” says Pedini. “If you’re growing hemp for rope, you still do that at VDACS. That’s fine. If you’re growing hemp for hemp seeds for your salad, still going to go under VDACS. But if you’re growing something for cannabinoids, that should be at CCA where it belongs.”

With Spanberger’s signature, VCAA now leads that state’s oversight of all cannabis products and sales, including medical marijuana, hemp products, and the much-anticipated adult-use market.

License to grow

The General Assembly has, at last, created a framework to let Virginians not only legally possess and use marijuana, but also sell it commercially.

While the General Assembly passed the legislation with a January 1, 2027 start date, Spanberger has recommended retail sales be pushed back to July 1, 2027.

“Virginia is quite unusual in having had such a delay between when we legalize consumption and possession, and then introducing a full commercial market,” says Seaborn. “We have neighboring states that already have adult-use markets in place, and they’re selling millions of dollars of legal cannabis in a regulated system.”

Preparation for an adult-use market has been going on for years, despite stagnation in the legalization process under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The CCA took over regulatory oversight of medical cannabis from the Virginia Board of Pharmacy in 2024.

“We already regulate cannabis in Virginia, and we do it very well. We have some of the best consumer safety standards for cannabis in the United States right here in the Commonwealth,” says Pedini. “These adult-use dispensaries are going to look just like medical cannabis dispensaries do. It’s not going to be the flashing pot leaf neon sign that you see in these unregulated smoke shops. That’s not what regulated cannabis looks like in Virginia.”

The state can issue up to 350 licenses for retail marijuana stores by January 1, 2028. If more than 350 qualified applicants apply, the licensure process will proceed to a lottery. (Early interest from potential

applicants makes this scenario all but certain.) If the General Assembly decides 350 isn’t the right number of licenses, it can reevaluate that cap during future legislative sessions.

The legislative framework sets further guidelines for retail marijuana stores, including square footage caps, location restrictions, and authorized methods of sale.

Beyond establishing the adult-use market, likely new laws create pathways for enforcement of regulations and penalties for the illegal sale of marijuana or marijuana products by people and businesses licensed by VDACS, CCA, and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority.

Consumer protections going into effect include requirements for display decals, which people can use to verify a store’s license—a particularly important detail for Pedini. The civil penalty for failure to display a decal in the establishment is $10,000 a day. Falsifying a decal carries a heavy civil fine of $100,000.

The good stuff

The Blue Ridge Health District doesn’t have a medical dispensary or retailers. While that should change soon (owing not to a change in the law, but to the settlement of court challenges that have plagued the license), BRHD residents will likely see retail stores open before any local state-licensed medical dispensaries.

“A lot of people probably don’t even know that we have a medical cannabis industry that’s been legal for a number of years,” says Seaborn.

Legislators also clarified rules around and expanded the accessibility of medical cannabis for Virginians this year.

One of the biggest changes to medical cannabis in 2026 will be surface-level: Its packaging must include the total amount and per-serving amount of THC and CBD in edible and topical products, and total percentages of THC and CBD for inhalables.

Soon-to-be laws further outline where medical marijuana can be delivered in Virginia, and create a system for dispensing medical cannabis to a patient’s registered agent, parent, or legal guardian. State law already protected terminally ill patients’ ability to possess, use, and receive medical marijuana in hospitals and other medical settings, and new laws further affirm it.

Still, existing and incoming laws allowing an authorized party to handle medical cannabis on behalf of a patient

Paul Seaborn, an assistant professor at UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce, says “the current [cannabis] model in Virginia is very confusing for everyone involved.”

are particularly important for ensuring accessibility.

“Patients in these types of facilities may not be able to go to the dispensary and get it themselves, they may not be able to physically answer the door at the facility where they live,” says Pedini. “Somebody else has to be lawfully authorized under Virginia law to physically receive their medicine or dispense it to them. … We already did that for nursing and hospice a number of years ago.”

Beyond the smoke?

Whether it was “just say no,” D.A.R.E, or a different slogan, you’d be hard-pressed to meet anyone raised in the United States who hasn’t sat through a classroom presentation about the “dangers of marijuana.” Fearmongering around cannabis can be traced back to the early 20th century, when anti-immigrant, racist, and xenophobic rhetoric converged to form the popular demonization around the recreational use of marijuana.

The bias of 20th-century fearmongering translated into a biased enforcement of cannabis law for decades, which Virginia’s newest laws acknowledge directly in its creation of a legal retail market for adult use.

“The General Assembly finds that laws prohibiting the use and sale of marijuana have been ineffective and have had devastating collateral consequences for individuals and communities across the Commonwealth, disproportionately impacting African Americans,” reads an excerpt from HB642. “The purpose of this subtitle is to create an

approach to marijuana regulation that is rooted in principles of restorative justice, economic equity, and public health in order to generate significant revenue dedicated to community reinvestment, create small and local businesses, strengthen the Commonwealth’s vital agriculture sector, end the racially disparate impacts of prohibition, and protect the health and safety of all citizens of the Commonwealth.”

On the financial end of things, the Virginia Cannabis Equity Business Loan Fund aims to at least partially address the historic wrongs of disproportionate law enforcement through its licensure system.

Other major developments in the equity space include new protections for parents. Perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about marijuana, but custody and visitation has been a recurring issue.

Meaning of the word(s)

“Parents or guardians simply being certified as medical cannabis patients should not, in and of itself, be grounds for prohibiting guardianship or parental rights or visitation,” says Pedini.“And unfortunately, that has been happening in courtrooms across the Commonwealth for years.”

The change in law also raises questions about sentencing for anyone still serving a cannabis-related sentence in Virginia. Under the version of HB26 passed by the General Assembly, anyone found delinquent, convicted of felony offenses, or with probation or supervision violations related to marijuana would be able to receive an automatic hearing to consider sentence modification. An April 13 amendment by Gov. Spanberger changes the process from an automatic appeal to requiring a petition. To be eligible, the offense must have been committed prior to July 1, 2021, and the person must still be in custody, on probation, or on community supervision as of July 1, 2026. The proposed law expires July 1, 2029.

Beyond laws directly referencing cannabis, a change to Virginia’s rules for judicial record-sealing—which allows for expungement if a person is not convicted or their charges are reduced—will affect those with previous marijuana charges as well.

Latest buzz

Virginia’s newest cannabis laws are a lot to take in. But practically, cannabis is in the Commonwealth.

“It’s already in all of our states, regardless of whether it’s legalized and commercialized,” Seaborn says. “We’re just talking here about whether we move from unregulated sale, and really no oversight or taxation or testing, to a more regulated system.” C

While they may sound like synonyms, many of the common terms and labels used to discuss marijuana have different meanings—legal, industrial, and scientific. Here are some important definitions of terms in this article.

Cannabinoids: Active compounds found in cannabis. Common cannabinoids include THC and CBD. Can occur naturally, or be synthetically created.

Cannabis: A plant genus that includes species like Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa

CBD (Cannabidiol): A non-intoxicating, but still pharmacologically active, cannabinoid. The World Health

Organization’s 2018 report on CBD found it is relatively safe and not associated with abuse potential. Purported medical applications include the treatment of seizure, neurological, and sleep disorders. Its largest safety concern is a lack of regulation and oversight.

Hemp: The definition of “hemp” varies depending on who you ask. Virginia defines hemp as a cannabis plant with no more than 0.3 percent THC

by dry weight. The commonwealth currently allows hemp-derived products to have up to two milligrams or THC per package, or a CBD-to-THC ratio of no less than 25:1. At the federal level, the 2018 farm bill defines hemp as cannabis products that contain less than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC by weight. This definition has created nationwide loopholes in the regulation and classification of cannabis.

Marijuana: Any part of a cannabis plant that contains one or more cannabinoids. Often used in place of the term “cannabis” in the Code of Virginia. The Code’s current definition of “marijuana” excludes some formulations of hemp.

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): An intoxicating cannabinoid responsible for the “high” sensation associated with marijuana consumption.

Compared to CBD, use of cannabis with THC is associated with more adverse side effects and abuse potential. FDAapproved indications for synthetic THC (like Marinol) include appetite inducement and nausea reduction for chemotherapy and HIV patients.

More information on and resources related to cannabis can be found on the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority website.

“These adult-use dispensaries are going to look just like medical cannabis dispensaries do,” says JM Pedini, development director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and executive director of Virginia NORML. “It’s not going to be the flashing pot leaf neon sign that you see in these unregulated smoke shops.”

Wordplay is a trivia fundraiser where teams

Tickets $20 The Paramount Thursday, April 23 7:00 pm compete while the audience plays along. Proceeds benefit Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/ Albemarle, a nonprofit organization that promotes adult literacy through free English, basic education, and citizenship tutoring.

Raffle Prize Tickets $5 or 5 for $20

With prizes from The Omni Homestead • The Pie Chest • Massanutten Water Resort • Hark Vineyard • Richmond museums • Local theater, music

• Family packages • ACAC birthday party

• Restaurants, entertainment, more! Do not need to be present to win.

A Festival About the Future of Community

COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAM

ALL WEEK | Multiple Venues

Discover Charlottesville’s rich community resources as our partners host a range of activities. They’ll take you into public parks, local jails, galleries, theaters, nature preserves and more—telling the story of Charlottesville as only they can.

CROWDFUNDED PITCH NIGHT

WED April 22 | CODE Building

Get inspired as local entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a live audience willing to pledge funds to their favorite contestant.

TOMORROW GALA

THUR April 23 | The Bradbury & Vault Virginia

Raise a glass with the artists, speakers, and innovators who make Tom Tom possible. Expect live music, DJs, and the chance to meet the people behind the ideas.

HEADLINER: JOHN GRISHAM & DEIRDRE ENRIGHT

WED April 22 | The Paramount Theater Justice advocate and author John Grisham and Deirdre Enright of the UVA Innocence Project explore the realities for people imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

DOWNTOWN MALL BLOCK PARTY

FRI April 24 - SAT April 25

Celebrate 50 years of Charlottesville’s iconic Downtown Mall while strolling the bricks and soaking in the scene. Multiple music stages, family programs, performers and more transform the mall for two days of celebration!

PROM PROM DANCE PARTY

SAT April 25 | Common House

Big beats. Electric vibes. This is the prom you actually wanted, where everyone is the main character and you shine like only you can. See you there.

PORCHELLA

SUN April 26 | Belmont

Stroll the streets of the charming Belmont neighborhood to enjoy free acoustic front porch concerts and jam sessions to close out the Tom Tom Festival.

Civic Futures Summit

Housing Education Democracy

Economic Vitality Storytelling

Workforce Development

WED April 22

Power up for good! Join forces with hundreds of changemakers who are dreaming courageously and tackling issues that matter.

Innovation Summit

AI & Data Entrepreneurship

Energy & Climate Technology

Biotech Startups Investment

THUR April 23 + FRI April 24

Connect with founders, entrepreneurs, & investors who are leading the way through courageous innovation.

Downtown Mall Passport

Support the Block Party by making a donation and grabbing a Block Party Passport! Enjoy amazing special offers at local businesses throughout the event and beyond, and help keep the Block Party going. Get yours early online or stop by a Passport and ID station during the event.

Civic Futures Summit

Innovation Summit Technology. Entrepreneurship. Investment.

Downtown Mall Block Party

Community Partner Programs Multi-genre & Multi-format Community-hosted Events. Various times. Tomorrow Gala

Downtown Mall Block Party

John Grisham & Deirdre Enright Porchella Crowdfunded Pitch Night

PROM Dance Party

200 + EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES | 90 + FREE OR PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN

Check out the full schedule of music, art, and ideas, including over 60 programs directly programmed by the Charlottesville community.

SCHEDULE

MOBILE APP ARE LIVE

Search for “Tom Tom 2026” to download our mobile app! Browse all events and create your personalized schedule.

BALLOT QUESTION

Proposed Constitutional Amendment

To be voted on at the April 21, 2026, Special Election

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?

UVA MUSIC EVENTS

Date/Time/Place

Friday, 4/17, all day Jefferson Scholars Bldg (112 Clarke Ct)

Friday, 4/17, 3:30pm UVA Chapel

Event (* Denotes free events)

Techne: Forum on Art & Technology * Registration requested

Clarinet Ensemble Recital * Directed by Jiyeon Choi

Alvin Hill Colloquium *

Friday, 4/17, 3:30pm 107 Old Cabell Hall

EXPLANATION FOR VOTERS (Approved by House and Senate Privileges and Elections Committees on February 20, 2026)

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to tem porarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistrict ing after the 2030 census?

Present Law

Friday, 4/17, 6pm UVA Amphitheater (rain: Band Building)

UVA Concert Band directed by Andrew Koch * "Folk Traditions: The American Story"

Virginia’s eleven congressional districts are drawn once every ten years by the Virginia Redistricting Commission, a legislative body made up of eight legislators and eight citizens, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. Virginia’s congressional districts were last redrawn in 2021 and will next be redrawn in 2031.

EXPLANATION FOR VOTERS (Approved by House and Senate Privileges and Elections Committees on February 20, 2026)

Present Law

Proposed Amendment

Virginia’s eleven congressional districts are drawn once every ten years by the Vir ginia Redistricting Commission, a legislative body made up of eight legislators and eight citizens, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. Virginia’s con gressional districts were last redrawn in 2021 and will next be redrawn in 2031.

Proposed Amendment

The proposed amendment would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw one or more of Virginia’s congressional districts before 2031 in limited circumstances. In the event that another state redraws its own congressional districts before 2031, without being ordered by a court to do so, the General Assembly would then be able to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts. The General Assembly’s power to do so would continue until October 31, 2030, and the Virginia Redistricting Commission would reassume the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031.

Saturday, 4/18, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 4/18, 5:00pm 107 Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 4/18, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall

String Chamber Ensembles * Directed by Ayn Balija

Trumpet Masterclass * with Professor Buddy Deshler

Charlottesville Symphony directed by Ben Rous Featuring Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade

The proposed district map has been approved by the General Assembly and would take effect only if the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.

A “yes” vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts, since other states have done so, in addition to giving effect to the proposed district map in time for the 2026 Congressional elections, and return the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031 to the Virginia Redistricting Commission.

The proposed amendment would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw one or more of Virginia’s congressional districts before 2031 in limited circumstanc es. In the event that another state redraws its own congressional districts before 2031, without being ordered by a court to do so, the General Assembly would then be able to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts. The General Assembly’s power to do so would continue until October 31, 2030, and the Virginia Redistricting Com mission would reassume the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031.

A “no” vote would leave the authority to draw congressional districts with the Virginia Redistricting Commission once a decade and Virginia’s current districts would remain in place.

The proposed district map has been approved by the General Assembly and would take effect only if the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.

FULL TEXT OF AMENDMENT

[Proposed new language is underlined. Deleted old language is stricken.]

Section 6. Apportionment.

ARTICLE II.

Franchise and Officers

A “no” vote would leave the authority to draw congressional districts with the Virginia Redistricting Commission once a decade and Virginia’s current districts would remain in place.

FULL TEXT OF AMENDMENT

[Proposed new language is underlined. Deleted old language is stricken.]

Members of the House of Representatives of the United States and members of the Senate and of the House of Delegates of the General Assembly shall be elected from electoral districts established pursuant to this section and Section 6-A of this Constitution. Every electoral district shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory and shall be so constituted as to give, as nearly as is practicable, representation in proportion to the population of the district. Every electoral district shall be drawn in accordance with the requirements of federal and state laws that address racial and ethnic fairness, including the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, and judicial decisions interpreting such laws. Districts shall provide, where practicable, opportunities for racial and ethnic communities to elect candidates of their choice.

Section 6. Apportionment.

Sunday, 4/19, 3:30pm MLK Jr. Performing Arts Center

Monday, 4/20, 7:30pm Hunter Smith Band Building

Wednesday, 4/22, 4:45pm 107 Old Cabell Hall

Thursday, 4/23 & Friday, 4/24, 1pm Old Cabell Hall & live-streamed

Friday, 4/24, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 4/25, 8pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 4/26, 12:30pm Rotunda Dome Room

Wind Ensemble: Between Memory and Light * Directed by Elliot Tackitt

Oboe and English Horn Masterclass * with Kathryn Meany

Tea Time Recitals * Directed by Ayn Balija & I-Jen Fang

Chamber Singers Directed by Michael Slon

UVA Jazz Ensemble: Songs, Fables, & Stories Directed by Sharel Cassity

UVA Cello Recital * Directed by Adam Carter

ARTICLE II. Franchise and Officers

The Commonwealth shall be reapportioned into electoral districts in accordance with this section and Section 6-A in the year 2021 and every ten years thereafter, except that the General Assembly shall be authorized to modify one or more congressional districts at any point following the adoption of a decennial reapportionment law, but prior to the next decennial census, in the event that any State of the United States of America conducts a redistricting of such state’s congressional districts at any point following that state’s adoption of a decennial reapportionment law for any purpose other than (i) the completion of the state’s decennial redistricting in response to a federal census and reapportionment mandated by the Constitution of the United States and established in federal law or (ii) as ordered by any state or federal court to remedy an unlawful or unconstitutional district map.

Any such decennial reapportionment law, or reapportionment law modifying one or more congressional districts, shall take effect immediately and not be subject to the limitations contained in Article IV, Section 13, of this Constitution.

The districts delineated in the decennial any reapportionment law shall be implemented for the November general election for the United States House of Representatives, Senate, or House of Delegates, respectively, that is held immediately prior to the expiration of the term being served in the year that the reapportionment law is required to be enacted. A member in office at the time that a decennial redistricting law is enacted shall complete his term of office and shall continue to represent the district from which he was elected for the duration of such term of office so long as he does not move his residence from the district from which he was elected. Any vacancy occurring during such term shall be filled from the same district that elected the member whose vacancy is being filled.

SCHEDULE

Section 6. Application and duration of certain redistricting amendments.

The authorization in Article II, Section 6 authorizing the General Assembly to modify one or more congressional districts at any point following adoption of a decennial reapportionment law in the event that any State of the United States of America conducts a redistricting of such state’s congressional districts at any point following that state’s adoption of a decennial reapportionment law shall be limited to making such modifications between January 1, 2025, and October 31, 2030, in response to actions taken by another state between January 1, 2025, and October 31, 2030

SCHEDULE

Section 6. Application and duration of certain redistricting amendments.

200 Seminole Court Charlottesville, VA 22901 (434) 975-2500

Lakes 1792 Airport Road Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434) 964-9002

8458 Seminole Trail Ruckersville, VA 22968 (434) 990-8473

5835 Jarmans Gap Rd Crozet, VA 22932 (434) 812-2318

835 Cherry Ave Charlottesville, VA 22903 (434) 244-3700

13437 James Madison Hwy Orange, VA 22960 (540) 308-7555

Saturday, April 18 • 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, April 19 • 3:30pm

Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center

Program

Gubaidulina – Fairytale Poem Sibelius – Finlandia Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade

Daniel Sender, violin

Concert Sponsors: Lamplight Design Studios, David and Rosalyn Preston, Stewart and Mary Buckle Searle Daniel Sender’s appearance is made possible by The Angus Macaulay Visiting Artists Fund.

Benjamin Rous, conductor

Daniel Sender, violin

FRIDAY 4/17 AND SATURDAY 4/18

WELL STRUNG

Bluegrass badass Billy Strings is back for more. The Grammy-winning Americana musician returns with his repertoire based in traditional roots improvisation, peppered with elements from rock, blues, and country. Strings’ earnest voice and adroit instrumentation channels the greats of the genre, whether he’s carrying on mournfully about life’s rocky roads, or jubilantly praising the simple things. Expect a pickin’, pluckin’, and hard-strummin’ good time. Prices vary, 7:30pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com

CULTURE TRIED IT IN C'VILLE

Trust your cut

I am genetically blessed with good hair. Such hair, though, comes with a price. While others know how to bend hairstyles to their will, my experience is the opposite—the more I fuss, the more the hair rebels. I’ve longed for more of a cut-it-and-forget-it approach.—Kristie Smeltzer

What

Getting an intuitive dry haircut.

Why

To have a ’do I love that grows out even better.

How it went

It’s been sunroof season ever since I got the cut—weather be damned!

I arrived at an unassuming row of businesses and found master stylist Lune Wynyard’s workspace nestled in a therapist’s office. The cheery, intimate room features a vibrant, multicolored mural on one wall that infuses the space with creative energy.

Wynyard greeted me warmly, and we set about discussing my hair. They shared that they are a pioneer of intuitive dry cutting, refining techniques first developed when cutting their own hair years ago. The goal of an intuitive dry haircut, in the vernacular of youth, is to enable one’s hair to live its best life. To achieve that, Lune analyzes the whorl and spiral patterns of a client’s hair. Then, they cut the hair dry, working with its natural tendencies to ensure that it lays just right, with or without styling. When Wynyard mentioned that last bit, I literally did a happy dance in the chair.

I’m fortunate to honestly say that I’ve never had a bad haircut. However, many times I’ve snarled and gnashed my teeth while enduring awkward growing out phases of a short haircut, when I looked more like a sassy llama in an alt-rock band than a grown-up woman who knew what she was doing. Hence my elation to learn that all growing-out experiences needn’t be so snarly and gnashy.

Wynyard asked me about my hair—parts I liked or loved and those that frustrate me. They prompted me to share information about my lifestyle and comfort with styling, and provided insights in a manner that didn’t make me feel like a hair-dunce.

Lune got their hands into my dry, unwashed hair (yes, so vulnerable!), and their smart fingers got to work—twirling curls between their fingertips and watching how the locks sprang back once released. They did that good-at-hairstyling thing where they sort of fluffed up my coiffure at the root and let it fall naturally.

Strategy session concluded, Wynyard began the haircut. The only way I can describe how it differs from other haircuts is that it felt more kinetic and dynamic.

Typically, there’s a discernible pattern. Methodically portion hair, snip-snip-snip, shake out clippings. Lune’s pattern is similar but with deliberate pauses to negotiate certain sections or curls.

We reached my miniature sideburns—a source of near-constant teeth-gnashing as my hair grows out—and stopped to discuss strategy. I had been letting the ’burns grow out so I could tuck the hair behind my ears, and it had been a long boring slog. We opted to leave the hair there longer since I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take it back down to shaved shortness or leave it tuckable. Wynyard offers a complimentary 15-minute touch-up session after haircuts, in case folks

Wednesday 4/15 music

Graham Nash Live on Tour 2026. Nash performs a career-spanning retrospective of his six decades of contributions to contemporary music. $67–374, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Open Mic Night. Mic check to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

The Wavelength with Michael Elswick. Vintage rock, blues, and classic jazz instrumentals, featuring Michael Elswick on sax. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskey jarcville.com

Tigers Jaw with Hot Flash Heat Wave. Rock band from Scranton, Pennsylvania, performs with the California-based indie pop-rock group. $35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Vincent Zorn. Rumba flamenco guitar music. Free, noon. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, 5022 Plank Rd., North Garden. pippinhillfarm.com

dance

Weekly Swing Dance. Beginner-friendly swing dance lessons teach the Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, and blues. No partner needed. Stay for social dancing after the class. $10, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com stage

Blood at the Root Based on the case of the Jena Six, Dominique Morisseau’s potent and timely ensemble drama explores inequality in the justice system. $25–30, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Queer South(s) 2026 Presents: before you go: An Offering with Sharon Bridgforth. A Queer, Southern-spirited, citified, Black performance installation with artis-in-residence Bridgforth and company. Free, 7pm. Drama Building Lobby, 109 Culbreth Rd. ihgc.as.virginia.edu

Twelfth Night, or What You Will Shipwrecked and alone, Viola disguises herself as a man and stumbles into Shakespeare’s most tangled love triangle. $35–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com etc.

Dürty Karaoke. Consistently voted Charlottesville’s best karaoke. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com Fund the Fight: Board Game Night. Hang out, play board games, and support the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund. Free, 6pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

Rapture Karaoke Night. Hosted by Thunder Music. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

have anything that needs a tweak. It put my mind at ease about sideburn-gate knowing I had a safety net if I changed my mind (which, of course, later I did).

It’s been over a month since my intuitive dry cut, and my hair is growing out beauti-

Thursday 4/16 music

Berto and Vincent. A night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com Elegance & Intensity: Piano Quartets by Mozart & Brahms. Pianist Jeremy Thompson is joined by violinist Audrey Gray, violist Danielle Wiebe Burke, and cellist Schuyler Slack. Free, 7pm. First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park St. firstprescharlottesville.org

fully. Most days, I just need to run my hands through my hair a few times before going out in public. As a woman of a certain vintage enduring frequent hot flashes and night sweats, that feels like a minor miracle. C

Songwriter’s Open Mic. Calling all songwriters to a space for all levels, styles, and ages. Performances limited to one original song per player. Amps and mics provided. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Lune Wynyard follows natural growth patterns in her unique approach to hair cutting.

Start Making Sense: Talking Heads Tribute. A seven-piece band meticulously executes the sounds and iconic live visual elements of Talking Heads. $20–25, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Travis Elliott. Singer-songwriter blends catchy alternative pop hooks with punk energy and Americana grit through originals and covers. Free, 8pm. Maya, 633 W. Main St. maya-restaurant.com

Uncle Pen. Old-timey bluegrass, but make it cool. Free, 8pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

dance

Spring Dance Concert 2026. Showcasing new works where students, faculty, and guest artists delve deeply into the creative process of choreography. $7–9, 8pm. Culbreth Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu

stage

A Bold Stroke for a Husband. A witty whirlwind of scheming lovers, clever women, and social satire, set in Madrid, Spain. $35–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

Blood at the Root See listing for Wednesday, April 15. $25–30, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Dogs & Cats Divorce dogs and custody cats—it’s never as simple as who gets the kids. Presenting two stories of clever-yet-confused adults looking for meaning and connection in today’s modern world. $20, 7pm. The Hamner Theater Blackbox at Crozet Arts, 1408 Crozet Ave., Crozet. thehamner theater.com

etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. An escape room meets a pub crawl. Visit the Preston Avenue breweries, crack codes, unravel riddles, and sample Charlottesville’s best brews. Players get $1 off pints at each brewery. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Crafters Cinema. A relaxed evening of crafting while enjoying a movie with other makers. This month: The Martian (2015) and making custom buttons. Ages 16+. Registration optional. Free, 5:30pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org Friendly Feud Night. Bring a team and see if you can identify what the survey says. Free, 6:30pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. Like an escape room but at a winery. Crack codes and unravel riddles while sampling Charlottesville’s best wine, beer, and cider. Play when you want and go at your own pace. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Friday 4/17

music

Billy Strings. Grammy-winning Americana musician returns with a repertoire based in traditional roots improvisation, peppered with elements from rock, blues, and country. Prices vary, 7:30pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com

Bob Bennetta Trio. Live jazz. Free, 6:30pm. Afghan Kabob House, 200 Market St. afghankabobhouse.com

Colloquium with alvin hill. Presenting a technology-based artist whose work combines projection, light, modular synthesis, and LEGO bricks. Free, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu Eli Cook Band. Music from the crossroads of blues, the highways of rock, and the backroads of country. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

J. Roddy Walston and the Automatic Band. Sweat, rock, piano. $32, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Making Noise in the Library: The Dale Avenue Band. Hot club-style jazz, 1930s pop standards, and stylish original compositions. Free, noon. Clemons Library, Newcomb Rd. N. lib.virginia.edu

Mike Miz Pre Billy Strings Event. A songwriter and guitarist from the Wyoming Valley of Northeast Pennsylvania performs prior to the Billy Strings show at JPJ. Free, 4pm. Bottle House, 608 W. Main St. bottlehouse.net

Prince Night. A Prince-themed celebration filled with iconic hits and themed flights inspired by the Purple One. Free, 5pm. Fallen Tree Vineyard and Farm, 4593 Clark Rd., Crozet. fallentreevineyard.com

Royce Campbell Jazz Trio. An evening of jazz with guitarist Campbell, Bob Bowen on bass, Jim Howe on percussion, and Victor Lee on sax and flute. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Susie and The Pistols. Susannah Hornsby, Andrew Green, Paul Rosner, and Michael Clem deliver round after round of awesome cajun-tonk sounds. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

The Wavelength. Funky jams to get down. Free, 8pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

Westminster Organ Concert Series. Florence Rousseau, organist at Kernogan Abbey in France, performs works of Bach and Buxtehude on the Taylor and Boody tracker organ. Free, 7:30pm. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rugby Rd. westminsterva.org

dance

Boot Scoot Square Dance Party. A beginnerfriendly square dance with Big Silo playing driving old-time favorites to teach you how to move to the music. No experience necessary. All ages welcome. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Gasolina Reggaetón Party. Bringing together the reggaetón and Latin-music community from coastto-coast. Ages 18+. $27, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Spring Dance Concert 2026. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $7–9, 8pm. Culbreth Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu

stage

Blood at the Root. See listing for Wednesday, April 15. $25–30, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Dogs & Cats. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $20, 7pm. The Hamner Theater Blackbox at Crozet Arts, 1408 Crozet Ave., Crozet. thehamnertheater.com

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical JV. A show that celebrates individuality and reminds us that our individual differences make us awesome, not outcasts. A perfect event for all ages. $10–25, 7:30pm. Belmont Arts Collaborative, 221 Carlton Rd. Ste. 3. dmradventures.com

The Hound of the Baskervilles When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the moors with a look of terror on his face and paw prints by his body, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called to unravel the curse of the hound. $35–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

words

Author Event: Kory Stamper. Stamper speaks about her new book, True Color: The Strange and Spectacular Quest to Define Color—from Azure to Zinc Pink. An audience Q&A follows. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

TO-DO LIST CULTURE

classes

Zines Now!: Zines All Day. Celebrate zines and zine-making through a day of back-to-back tutorials led by student staff. Free, 10am. Scholars’ Lab Common Room (Rm. 308), Shannon Library, 160 McCormick Rd. cal.lib.virginia.edu

etc.

Techne: Forum on Art & Technology. A one-day conference brings together artists of different backgrounds to showcase their work and discuss critical topics on how technology continues to (re)shape our relationship to art. Free, 9am. Jefferson Scholars Foundation, 112 Clarke Ct. music.virginia.edu

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Charlottesville Waldorf School Spring Party. A signature annual gathering brings the grown-up part of the CWS community together in the spirit of warmth, gratitude, and renewal. $45, 6pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. cwaldorf.org

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 4/18

music

Billy Strings. See listing for Friday, April 17. Prices vary, 7:30pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com

Charlottesville Symphony: Scheherazade. A program of Sofia Gubaidulina’s Fairytale Poem, Samuel Barber’s Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, and

Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. Featuring violinist Daniel Sender. $10–53, 7:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. cvillesymphony.org

Cumberland Road. Delivering faithful renditions of the biggest ’90s country hits from Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and more. Free, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Driftwood. Shape-shifting folk-rock outfit from Upstate New York. $25–30, 8pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com

Eli Cook. Cook rains down fire and brimstone in his singing, and expresses touching tenderness while pushing the musical envelope. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Jay Webb. A country artist performs songs that hit like a gut punch. $25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Mike Proffitt. A mixture of original and classic acoustic rock. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Peyton Tochterman and Gary Green. Singersongwriter pairs up with the harmonica wizard. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

String Chamber Ensembles Spring 2026. Talented young musicians come together to perform numerous works that they have perfected over the course of the semester under the direction of faculty musicians. Free, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

The North Country. Experimental pop collective based out of Washington, D.C. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

SATURDAY 4/18

NORTH COMES SOUTH

To kick off WTJU’s Rock Marathon week, The North Country loads in for a high-energy show that blends indie-rock and art-pop. The experimental collective based out of Washington, D.C., pairs poignant and political lyrics with danceable beats reminiscent of ’80s synth-infused staples. Fronted by songwriter and singer Andrew Grossman, the band builds a big sound, bolstered by layered harmonies from singers Margot MacDonald and Laurel Halsey. Expect songs that ruminate on the dire state of 21st-century civilization, shifting between lamentations of what has been and exaltations of what could be. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

JOE CARABEO

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

Saturday 4/18

The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, originals, and more. With Michael Elswick on saxophone. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Three Notch’d Road Baroque—The Lion and the Lamb: Schütz & Gabrieli. Baroque trombonist Paul Von Hoff leads a joyful Eastertide program of early German, English, and Italian music. $30, 4pm. Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 7599 Rockfish Gap Tpk., Greenwood. tnrbaroque.org

Ty Burkhardt. An accomplished fingerstyle guitarist moves effortlessly from ’80s classics to modern favorites. Free, 2:30pm. Fallen Tree Vineyard and Farm, 4593 Clark Rd., Crozet. fallentreevineyard.com

dance

Spring Dance Concert 2026. See listing for April 16. $7–9, 8pm. Culbreth Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. drama.virginia.edu

stage

A Bold Stroke for a Husband See listing for Thursday, April 16. $35–75, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. american shakespearecenter.com

Blood at the Root See listing for Wednesday, April 15. $25–30, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Dogs & Cats See listing for Thursday, April 16. $20, 7pm. The Hamner Theater Blackbox at Crozet Arts, 1408 Crozet Ave., Crozet. thehamnertheater.com

Goat Rodeo Comedy Co. Improv Night. Madcap comedy, made up on the spot. $5–15, 7pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthousestudio.org

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical JV. See listing for Friday, April 17. $10–25, 3pm and 7:30pm. Belmont Arts Collaborative, 221 Carlton Rd. Ste. 3. dmradventures.com

Twelfth Night, or What You Will. See listing for Wednesday, April 15. $35–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

words

New Dominion Storytime. Features readings from recent storybooks and the classics kids know and love. Rain or shine. All ages welcome. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

Summer England Book Signing Q&A. England, a local actress and author, celebrates the release of her debut novel, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne. Free, 10am. American Shakespeare Center, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespeare center.com

classes

Cville Stories: Storytelling Exploration Story Swap. Explore storytelling prompts and generate your next true personal story. Registration required. Free, 1pm. Cville Coffee, 1301 Harris St. cvillestories.com

Expressive Watercolor and Ink Florals: Tulips. Explore ways to achieve the fresh, spontaneous quality of loose watercolor that gives this style its unique beauty. Ages 15+. $70, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Fabric Mosaics: Create Your Own Kinusaiga Art. Craft a 9x9-inch art panel from foam board and fabric scraps, turning leftover textiles into something beautiful in this no-sew fabric-art class. Ages 16+. $30, 9:30am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Family Studio Day. Create artwork inspired by the “Fine Art + Flowers” show with exhibiting artist

TUESDAY 4/21

XCX-CITING INDIE FILM

Screening as part of Virginia Film Festival’s year-round programming schedule, Erupcja (2025) offers an arthouse drama built around romance and driving dance music. On vacation together in Warsaw, Poland, Bethany (Charli xcx) discovers her boyfriend Rob (Will Madden) is about to propose. A volcanic eruption occurs, and Bethany uses the fallout from the event to ditch her dude and reconnect with old friend Nel (Lena Góra). Debauchery ensues. Written, produced, directed, photographed, and edited by Pete Ohs, the film intercuts shots of volcanic eruptions and employs a Polish narrator who observes the characters’ inner worlds. $11–13, 7pm. Violet Crown Charlottesville, 200 W. Main St. charlottesville.violetcrown.com

Lee Christmas Halstead. All materials provided, all ages welcome. Free, 10am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St SE. secondstreetgallery.org

Paint + Sip: Shenandoah Springtime. Paint the supplied design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials included. $40, 2pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com etc.

Charlottesville City Market. More than 100 vendors offer fresh produce, local foods, and handmade goods from a diverse community of growers, makers, and artists. Free, 9am. Charlottesville City Market, 100 Water St. E. charlottesville.gov

Charlottesville Jamboree. A day of family fun with live music, featuring Nicki Bluhm, Fireside Collective, Michael Clem, Mike Miz, and The Front Porch. $20, noon. Fairview Swim and Tennis Club, 707 Belvedere Blvd. montessoriofcville.org

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Eco Fair—Spring Festival 2026. A vibrant community celebration of nature, sustainability, and springtime. Free, 9am. Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, 950 Melbourne Rd. piedmontgarden.org

Fifth Annual Bloom Fest. A full day of family fun, including a vendor market, free yoga on the lawn, book swap, paint & sip, live music, and more. Free, noon. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Gordonsville in Bloom. A community festival celebrating spring, featuring a growing station, botanically inspired crafts for kids, musical performance by Andrew McKnight and Beyond Borders, and a vendor market. Free, 11am. Town of Gordonsville, 112 S. Main St., Gordonsville. townofgordonsville.org

Jason Burke Band. Classic rock covers and originals. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

John Sweet. Self-taught musician plays his own fingerstyle guitar arrangements of popular music spanning several genres and decades. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Lake Street Dive. A boldly original cross-pollination of soul, folk, jazz, classic pop, and more. $46, 7pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

The Trio Sunday Session. Live jazz with Dan Barrale, Bill Edmonds, and Eric Franzen. Free, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

Three Notch’d Road Baroque: The Lion and the Lamb: Schütz & Gabrieli. Baroque trombonist Paul Von Hoff leads a joyful Eastertide program of early German, English, and Italian music. $30, 4pm. Grace Episcopal Church, 5607 Gordonsville Rd., Keswick. tnrbaroque.org

Young Musicians and Adult Students Recital. Students who take private lessons are featured in this community recital sponsored by the Wednesday Music Club. Free, 1:30pm. The Center, 540 Belvedere Blvd. thecentercville.org

dance

Step Afrika! The Evolution Tour. Celebrating more than 30 years of critically acclaimed percussive performance with a groundbreaking program. $35–52, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

stage

Blood at the Root. See listing for Wednesday, April 15. $25–30, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org Dogs & Cats. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $20, 1:30pm. The Hamner Theater Blackbox at Crozet Arts, 1408 Crozet Ave., Crozet. thehamner theater.com

Hope Fest. A magical evening of family fun, food trucks, and live music, with headliner Mighty Joshua. $15–35, 4pm. Rivanna River Company, 1518 E. High St. reclaimedhopeinitiative.org

Mountainfilm on Tour. An evening of inspiring and captivating films handpicked from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride. Registration required. Free, 7:30pm. The Contemplative Commons at UVA, 403 Emmet St. S. csc.virginia.edu

Rhythm & Roots: Storytime & Plant Potting. A fun-filled program where little hands plant and decorate their very own potted herbs, led by WeGrow. Designed for ages 3–8 with caregivers. Free, 10am. Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, 233 Fourth St. NW. jeffschoolheritagecenter.org

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Yay! Crozet! Passport Event. The ultimate small-business treasure hunt. Pick up a passport at any participating business, collect stickers, and win prizes. Free, 10am. Crozet. downtowncrozet initiative.com

Sunday 4/19 music

An Lár Traditional Irish Music. Fast-paced jigs and reels alternating with lyrical waltzes and melancholy airs. Free, 2pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Charlottesville Symphony: Scheherazade A program of Sofia Gubaidulina’s Fairytale Poem, Samuel Barber’s Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. Featuring violinist Daniel Sender. $10–53, 3:30pm. Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center, 1400 Melbourne Rd. cvillesymphony.org

The Hound of the Baskervilles See listing for Friday, April 17. $35–75, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com classes

Crochet for Beginners. Learn the basics of crochet. Leave with a crochet hook and a small crocheted washcloth. Ages 12+. $25, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Oil Painting for Everybody: Landscape Edition. Learn oil painting in an approachable and organized format. Beginner focused, but open to all skill levels. Ages 14+. $45, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Music Bingo. Bringing together the best of two worlds for a high-energy game that is fun for everyone. Free, 2pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Silent Book Club. Read i n quiet camaraderie. No assigned reading. Free, 12:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, April 16. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Monday 4/20

music

Between Memory and Light: Wind Ensemble Spring 2026. Featuring selections from works by

EXTRA CULTURE

Pressing matters

A local spin on Record Store Day

Ask vinyl enthusiasts what’s special about their collection—and then order another drink because you’re in for a passionate lesson on recordbin diving, rare releases, cover art, reissues, mint ratings, analog vs. digital audio superiority, and the nuances of the recording and pressing process.

Every year, on the third Saturday of April, audiophiles get their own holiday in the form of Record Store Day. Charlottesville record retailers celebrate with special appearances, limited editions, discounts, and more. Here’s what local shops have planned for the LP crowd this weekend.

Sidetracks Music

310 Second St. SE. sidetracksmusic.net

Around the corner from the music landmark Pink Warehouse, Sidetracks will open at 9am on Record Store Day with hundreds of titles from John Prine to John Coltrane. “We’re hoping to have live music on the porch by The Falsies around noon,” says owner Cal Glattfelder. “RSD is a great thing, and always our busiest day of the year.”

Hello Goodbye Records

Behind Tavern & Grocery, 108 Fourth St. NW. hellogoodbyemusic.com

HGR is turning the day into a party with independent record sellers, vintage clothing seller 3 Wrong Turns, and Tribute Coffee in an extended celebration. On Sunday, the shop hosts a WTJU Vinyl Takeover. “What we’re most excited for is a very limited Record Store Day release of the Salad Days documentary soundtrack that Daniel and I are releasing via our Hello Goodbye Records [label],” says co-owner Lindsay

Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, Florence B. Price, Henry Dorn, and others. Free, 7:30pm. Hunter Smith Band Building at UVA, 180 Culbreth Rd. music.virginia.edu

Fantastic Cat. Dubbed “the Harlem Globetrotters of Americana” by Rolling Stone and “The Wu-Tang Clan of folk rock” by The Village Voice. $43, 7pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com etc.

Not Bored Games. Teens ages 11–18 play board or card games introduced by other teens. This month: Bhabhi. Free, 5pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org

Fitzgerald. “I have three other special RSD releases as an associate producer with my archival production work with Elemental Music—Freddie King, Bill Evans, and Cecil Taylor (plus one more that’s only being released overseas, Michel Petrucciani).”

Melody Supreme

115 Fourth St. SE cvillemelodysupreme.com

A well-curated shop, “Melody Supreme isn’t a dusty record store full of recycled neverknow-what-you’ll-get used vinyl,” says the store’s website. Open every day and located just off the Downtown Mall, this vintagerecord goldmine has been impacted by re-

cent (temporary) street closures, which means foot traffic is more crucial than ever.

Plan 9 Music

188 Zan Rd. plan9music.com

It’s business as usual at Plan 9 Music, a retailer that’s been supporting independent music for more than 40 years. “All RSD releases are special and limited, so [we] don’t want to give one artist a preference over another,” a store contact told us. “The staff here all have varying musical tastes. There are no local C’ville artists in the RSD mix this year. And, our shop is small so there is no room for live events.”

—Tami Keaveny

Tuesday 4/21 music

Maris. L.A.-based singer-songwriter pop sensation. $19, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari. A cast of great players joins the jazz guitar virtuoso. Free, 6:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

words

Pursuits of Knowledge: Conversations at Monticello. An ongoing series of conversations with schol-

ars and authors. $10, 6pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org etc.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Teams of two to six people compete to win prizes like gift certificates and pint glasses, plus bragging rights. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

VAFF Year Round: ERUPCJA A romantic vacation goes awry when a volcanic eruption strands a couple in Warsaw, Poland. Starring Charlie XCX, Lena Góra, Will Madden, and Jeremy O. Harris. $11–13, 7pm. Violet Crown Charlottesville, 200 W. Main St. charlottesville.violetcrown.com

Sidetracks Music’s Cal Glattfelder says the downtown shop is always busy on Record Store Day.

Concert Band

THE AMERICAN

✔

THE WINE DOWN -

WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?

53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD

A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock

I’m back….but in a hurry. The vineyards are about to start blooming; ready, set go!

Our 2023 Two Springs was awarded a gold medal and chosen as one of the winning wines for the Governors case at the Virginia Governors Cup competition. Congratulations to our winemaker Chelsey Blevins! It also received a gold medal from the San Francisco Wine Competition and 91 pts by JamesSuckling.com.

This is a cabernet franc dominate blend characterized as dark fruited and spicy with a lovely floral and herbal undertone on the nose. Being young, the palate is tightly wound with fine boned tannins and bright acidity. Focused and energetic, its carries notes of dark cherry and plum. Simply put, this is a well-made wine crafted with real heart and soul. It can be enjoyed now and will keep rewarding those with patience to let it age gracefully. Just like me, LOL.

We invite you to visit our serene, meadow-like location in rural Louisa County. We pride ourselves on being genuine and approachable, eager to share our passion for wine without any scripted lines or memorized facts, just a warm and welcome atmosphere.

We are a Winery that just wants to be a Winery!

April events

Saturday, April 18th: Wine Club Pick Up Day 1

Pick up your quarterly wine allocation, enjoy a wine tasting in the pavilion, and spend your day at 53rd! Not a Wine Club Member, enjoy all the perks of being a member for $17/ person.

Food Truck: FARMacy Mexican Fusion

Live Music: Pat Anderson 1-4pm

Sunday, April 19th: Wine Club Pick Up Day 2

Pick up your quarterly wine allocation, enjoy a wine tasting in the pavilion, and spend your day at 53rd! Not a Wine Club Member, enjoy all the perks of being a member for $17/ person.

Food Truck: Hibachi Mobile

Live Music: Nate Oyler 1-4pm

Saturday, April 25th: Tasting of Virginia Governors Cup medal winning wines

Live Music: Ron Gentry 1-4pm

For more details, please check our website at www.53rdwinery.com or call us at 540-894-1536. Cheers!

Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm 13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com

DUCARD VINEYARDS

2023 Triskele

A welcoming bouquet and wellstructured palate highlight this premium red wine blend with notes of sweet spices, herbal scents, dark fruit, with lingering tannins on the finish. This exquisite wine is made only in the best growing seasons. We recommend decanting Triskele for 30-60 minutes before serving in order to fully reveal its outstanding character and complexity.

2026 Virginia Governor’s Cup Gold Medal Winner

Feature Event:

Seafood Saturday April 25, 2026 12:00-6:00

Oh yeah! Our spring Seafood Saturday at DuCard Vineyards is back! Nomini Bay Oyster Ranch will be providing the freshest and most delicious oysters from the Northern Neck: raw, steamed, grilled, and grilled with toppings. They will also be offering steamed shrimp and non-seafood items!. Throw in the music of South Canal Street and add the beautiful mountain and vineyard views, and you have a day made in heaven! So grab a bottle of wine, some fine oysters, find a seat, and enjoy a great afternoon at DuCard. Admission tickets are $12 in advance and $20 at the gate. Ticket includes a souvenir logo wine glass to take home! Wine Club members should email Beth with reservations. Purchase tickets in advance https:// insidenovatix.com/events/ seafood-saturday-spring-advancetickets-4-25-2026

We are open 7 days a week throughout the month of April with live music every weekend. Visit our website and our social media pages for the most up to date listings of our upcoming live music and events!

Saturdays & Sundays- Live music every Saturday and Sunday in March from 2-5 pm. Come to DuCard for the afternoon with family and friends and enjoy a variety of live music (no cover). Bring a picnic or select some local fare from our lite noshing menu to pair with our awardwinning wine for a fun afternoon in our amazing mountain setting.

Open daily Mon-Thurs. 12-5 pm Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm

40 Gibson Hollow Ln Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com

EARLY MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS

The best of Virginia wine calls for food that reflects the same quality and sense of place. Quality drives everything we do - from our worldclass wines to our restaurant, led by Executive Chef Tim Moore, formerly of The Inn at Little Washington. Chef Tim’s artful, ingredient-driven approach shines through our prix fixe and à la carte menus, expertly paired with exceptional wines. From elevated tastings to seasonal offerings, every visit offers something new. This spring, we invite you to stay a little longer with extended hours every Friday.

Tasting Room Hours

Thursday - Monday: 11:00 am - 5:30 pm Fridays: 11:00 am - 8:30 pm Closed Tuesday and Wednesday Spring Events & Experiences

Extended Hours on Friday Evenings

Beginning April 10

Ease into the weekend with seasonal dishes or a bottle of wine on the patio as the sun sets.

Mother’s Day at Early Mountain

May 7–11, 2026

Treat Mom to quality time and exceptional wine. Our special Mother’s Day Prix Fixe menu is available all weekend with extended Sunday hours. Hyper-seasonal dishes, beautiful wines, and spring views from our blooming vineyard patio. Reservations recommended.

Winemaker Dinner: Early Mountain × Crimson Lane May 9 | 6:30 PM

Join winemakers Maya Hood - White and Dominick Fioresi as they share the vineyards, vintages, and decisions behind each bottle. Chef Tim Moore presents a five-course menu thoughtfully paired with the wines. Expect seasonal dishes, carefully curated pours, and an intimate setting.

Aromas of Wine & Perfume Experience

Sunday, May 17th | 1:00pm4:00pm

Begin with an introduction to perfume composition from our partner, the distinguished custom fragrance house B Parfums. Craft a personalized 20mL signature scent using the world’s most exceptional aromatic materials. Then, explore five wines with Sommelier Peggy Kearns Dean, each

paired with seasonal culinary bites. Discover the connection between wine and perfume through this immersive sensory experience. For reservations and upcoming events, visit earlymountain.com.

6109 Wolftown-Hood Rd, Madison, VA 22727 (540) 948-9005 www.earlymountain.com

EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY

SPARKLING BLANC DE BLANCS & VIRGINIA OYSTERS

Celebrate the spring season with a glass of our sparkling brut Blanc de Blancs and oysters on Friday nights! Salty Bottom Blue will be here every Friday night this spring serving their delicious raw and grilled oysters, which pair beautifully with a glass of our gold medal Sparkling Blanc de Blancs. Delicious to enjoy on its own, with Salty Bottom Blue oysters, a toasty seasonal flatbread or warm crab dip, or with one of your other favorite menu items. Let us pop the cork on a bottle for you!

Upcoming at the Winery: Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration | Every Friday Starting

April 1

Enjoy our Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration every Friday night this Spring! The oysters are prepared by Salty Bottom Blue. Enjoy them in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm on the stage in our tasting room.

Wine Slushies are Back!

Cheers to the beautiful weather with a refreshing wine slushie:)

Open Mic Writer’s Night | Thursday, April 16th, 6:30PM (open 12-8PM)

Join us for our newest feature, Open Mic Writer’s Night, an evening celebrating the written word. Local writers will take the mic to share readings from their short stories and poetry, showcasing their creativity and unique voices in a warm, welcoming setting.

Music Bingo | Sunday, April 19th and May 31st 2-4PM (open 125PM)

Everyone loves singing along with their favorite songs and who doesn’t love a competitive game of Bingo? Music Bingo brings together the best of both worlds for a high energy game that is fun for everyone. Simply listen to the music, match the songs to the titles on your music bingo cards, and win great prizes!

Tom Tom Event:How She Built It: What It Took - A Dinner & Discussion with Women Founders | Thursday, April 23rd

Join us for an unforgettable evening spotlighting the women behind some of Charlottesville’s most beloved food and beverage ventures.

Athena Eastwood, Eastwood Farm and Winery (Moderator)

Kitty Ashi, Monsoon Siam Gail Page Hobbs, Caromont Farm

Emily Harpster, SugarBear Susan Sweeney, Cake Bloom

The night begins with a heartfelt panel conversation about courage

— the risks taken, the challenges faced, and the passion that keeps them moving forward. It’s an honest look at what it means to build, lead, and persist. Following the discussion, settle in for a four-course seated wine pairing dinner with a menu created by the women on the panel, showcasing beautifully crafted dishes, thoughtfully selected wines, and a celebratory Blanc de Blancs toast. With orchard views as your backdrop, this evening is about community, conversation, and raising a glass to bold ideas. Every meaningful dream starts with courage. Ticketed Event - Reserve Your Spot On Our Website

Brave Hearts, Calm Minds: Community Healing for Veterans | Sunday, April 26th 1-4PM (open 12-5PM) 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival Event

Join us for a special community event designed to honor our veterans. Meet organizations committed to veteran well-being and community care. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Activities include: Thai Chi (Consuela), Meditation (Simply Mindful Moment by Kim Munson); Reiki (Dana Bowen); Chair Yoga (Kelly Hughes); Music by Roy Hughes Caring For Creatures (Animals on site for you to meet); Corn Hole Tournament Fundraiser; 50/50 Raffle and Raffle Drawings. In addition to the Eastwood menu Blue Ridge Pizza food truck will also be serving up delicious pizzas.

Paint & Sip | Sunday, April 26th 122PM (open 12-5PM)

Grab a glass of wine (or your favorite drink!) and let your creativity flow in our relaxed and fun Paint & Sip classes. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a first-time painter, the talented instructors of Blue Ridge Brushes will walk you through the painting process as you create your own masterpiece. Ticketed EventReserve Your Spot On Our Website Mother’s Day | Sunday, May 10th Celebrate Mother’s Day at Eastwood on Sunday, May 10th. We’re hosting our annual Mother’s Day Market from 12-5PM along with Live Music by Heidi Riddell from 1-4PM. Delicious wine and food will be available all day with options for the whole family. In addition to our lunch and dinner menus, we are also bringing in several food trucks to add to the fun. We hope you can join us!

Graduation Weekend | May 15th, 16th and 17th (now taking reservations)

Reserve space with your family and friends on the Veranda or at the Tent to celebrate! Enjoy our dinner and lunch menu all day, pre order items for your group to share from our Catering Menu, or bring your own picnic to the Tent. Choose from our selection of award winning wines, beers, ciders and non alcoholic beverages throughout your reservation. We are open from 128pm Friday and Saturday, and 12-5pm on Sunday.

Memorial Day Weekend | Thursday, May 21 - Monday,

May 25

Memorial Day is a time of reflection, gratitude, and gathering. Join us all weekend for Live Music & Special Events. And, ask at the bar about our Pay It Forward beverage program to honor our veterans.

MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!

Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights from 5-8pm (in addition to our more mellow Saturday afternoon music program). Eastwood also hosts a range of live performances by talented local and regional musicians every Friday night (and Sundays!). See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.

Every Friday (open 12-8 PM): Live Music 5-8PM

Shrimp Boil 4:30-7:30 through March

Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration, every Friday beginning April 1st 5-8PM

Every Saturday (open 12-8 PM): Live Music 12:30-3:30PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8PM

Every Sunday (open 12-5 PM): Live Music or Music Bingo (See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.)

Also Open Monday through Wednesday 12-5 PM and Thursday 12-8PM

What about the kids?

Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Winery Hours: Sunday-Wednesday (12-5 PM); Thursday-Saturday (12-8 PM)

We look forward to welcoming you to our tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as a delicious lunch/dinner menu. Escape to Virginia Wine Country, only five miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Open year-round, seven days a week. Pet friendly and large groups are welcome. Ample indoor and outdoor seating.

Rt 20 near the intersection with Avon Extended (5 mi from Downtown Mall) Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 www.eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

HARDWARE HILLS VINEYARD

Traminette

Back on the shelf! We are excited to bring back this single varietal by demand. A beautiful estate grown favorite! Remarkably floral aromatics with suggestions of roses and lavender. Aged in stainless with wellbalanced offering tones of apricot, ripe stone fruit and sweet herbs. Very limited release, so get yours today. Our social media is worth taking a look! Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube... fun

wine humor here.

EVENTS:

April 16th – 6:30-8:30 pm, Friendly Feud Night: Grab your team and come see what SURVEY SAYS... guessing best answers for so many zany questions! Food and wine available for purchase!

April 25th- 6:30 – 9:30 pm, Karaoke Night: Warm up those vocals for a most excellent night of ... you! Take the mic and join us for our first time Karaoke extravaganza! Who will be the star? Cover is $10. Wine and food for purchase.

April 26th- 12 noon – 4 pm, Wedding and Fashion Expo! Welcome to the Wedding Expo and Fashion Show at Hardware Hills Vineyard! Join us for a day filled with bridal inspiration, stunning fashion, and beautiful vineyard views. Discover the latest trends in wedding attire, accessories, and decor while sipping on exquisite wines. Witness a spectacular fashion show showcasing the hottest bridal designs of the season. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to gather ideas and meet with top wedding vendors in a picturesque setting. Save the date and get ready to say “I do” to the perfect wedding experience! Purchase your tickets online in advance!

Fridays - LIVE MUSIC, check out our site for each week’s lineup! Hours - We will be open during our regular winter hours

5199 W River Rd, Scottsville, VA 434.286.4710 • www.hardwarehills.com

KESWICK VINEYARDS

April at Keswick Vineyards! Spring has arrived, and there’s no better place to enjoy the season than at Keswick Vineyards! April brings fresh vineyard views, longer days, and even more opportunities to sip, savor, and relax with friends and family.

Now Open 7 Days a Week (Starting April 1st)

We’re excited to welcome you all week long as we return to our full schedule for the season! Please note we will be closed on Easter Sunday.

Live Music Every Saturday: 12 - 4 PM

Let the music set the mood while you sip and soak in the moment.

Join Virginia’s Most Rewarding Wine Club

Where every pour feels personal and every visit feels like home. Ask us how to fall in love with Keswick wine all year long!

1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947

Tasting Room: (434) 244-3341 ext 105 tastingroom@keswickvineyards.com www.keswickvineyards.com

PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS

Nestled in the heart of Virginia Wine Country and proudly woman-owned, Prince Michel blends tradition with a

modern, welcoming atmosphere that invites you to slow down, sip deeply, and enjoy the season of love.

This month, we’re featuring our Rapidan River Chocolate Red, a smooth, velvety blend crafted for cozy nights and romantic celebrations. Made from 43% Chambourcin, 18% Merlot, and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, this irresistibly satisfying wine layers dark berry fruit with rich cocoa warmth for a truly decadent experience. Enjoy it slightly chilled, over ice, or as a luxurious after-dinner treat—it’s the perfect companion for chocolate desserts, fireside evenings, or special celebrations.

Beyond the bottle, Prince Michel offers more than just great wine. From tastings and scenic views to delicious bites and craft beer at Tap 29 Brew Pub, every visit is designed to feel special!

Fall in love with Rapidan River Chocolate Red all February long— and make this month one worth savoring.

Live Music every Friday–Sunday (lineup on our website)

Trivia every Monday, 6–7:30 p.m.

Tuesday is Beer & Wings Specials Day

Happy Hour every Thursday, 3–5 p.m.

Open 7 days a week at 11 a.m. 154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA 22725 (540) 547-3707 www.princemichel.com

A Woman-Owned Business

VIRGINIA WINE COLLECTIVE

Expanded Hours, Wine, Beer and Pizza

Beginning March 25th, the Collective will be open every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5-10PM. Enjoy wine, beer and pizza as well as a revamped lounge and shuffleboard.

Upcoming at the Collective:

Winemaker Pop-Ups | Select Fridays 6-8PM

Enjoy free samples and tour the facility with some of our independent winemakers on Fridays! Check out events on our website: (https://

eastwoodfarmandwinery.com/virginiawine-collective/) and Facebook page as we will be adding more dates.

April 17: Chris Tropeano - Present Company

April 24: Jake Busching - Jake Busching Wines

Winemaker Karaoke | Wednesdays, April 15th and 29th from 7-9PM (bar and dining room still open to the public)

Join us up in the loft at the Collective every other Wednesday evening. No cover required.

Production Tours and Guided Tastings

We look forward to welcoming guests to the Virginia Wine Collective for tours and guided tastings. Please email our Wine Collective Coordinator, Gabrielle Thomas, if you would like to schedule a tour or guided tasting. She may be reached at gabrielle@ eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Large Party Reservations

Interested in making a large party reservation for your group? Reach out to mary@eastwoodfarmandwinery. com to book.

About the Collective

Eastwood designed the Virginia Wine Collective to include nine winemaker suites and an incubator alongside the main production area. The suites provide a space where independent winemakers can anchor a license and make their wines. The Collective has been designed to reduce the costs associated with independent winemaking, and thereby support further innovation and talent in the Monticello AVA.

Over 21 Policy

You must be over 21 to visit the bar, lounge and dining room at the Collective.

Current Winery Hours Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 5-10PM

1585 Avon Street Extended Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727

https://eastwoodfarmandwinery.com/ virginia-wine-collective/

FOR FUN PUZZLES

SUDOKU

#4 #2

#2 #5

PUZZLES FOR FUN

“Euphoria” network

30. Controversy when a Boston Marathon cheater becomes a TV host?

36. Former Chinese leader Zhou ___

37. NBA Hall of Famer Gasol

38. Dwight Eisenhower’s wife

39. Invitee who makes the party suddenly make sense?

42. Texting format initials

43. Fish that goes with chips

44. “Live ___” (Taco Bell slogan)

45. ___ TomÈ and PrÌncipe

46. Spam generator

47. Tom kha kai cuisine

51. Where to change direction in your LeSabre?

56. Build up

57. “Steamboat ___” (Mickey Mouse cartoon in public domain)

58. “The Bridges at ___-Ri” (1954 movie)

59. “Golly!”

60. Burning

61. Late Pink Floyd member Barrett

62. “77 Sunset Strip” actor Byrnes

63. Approvals

DOWN

1. Seattle Slew, for one

2. How some things are read

3. Pine tree secretion

4. Led Zeppelin’s “Whole ___ Love”

5. Monthly util.

6. Festival of Lights symbol

7. Skip formal nuptials

8. Asterix’s home

9. “Can I bug you?”

10. Painful ordeal

11. Discount grocery chain headquartered in Germany

12. Word with hex or high

16. Ask for table scraps

19. Grade school projects

21. One-legged camera support

25. TV series about hiding edibles?

26. Words spoken before a spell

27. Computer-to-TV cable

28. “Mission: Impossible” actress Barbara

By Rob Brezsny

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): New beginnings and final chapters will be overlapping in the coming weeks, and they’ll push you in the direction of robust growth. It won’t always be obvious which is which, though, so you’ll need to sharpen your discernment to read the signs. Here are two contemplations to steer you: 1. Which long-running sagas in your life have finally played themselves out? 2. Which struggling, half-forgotten dreams are yearning to rise again and blossom as if they were brand new? Once you’ve listened deeply enough to answer those questions, move boldly: Feed and protect whatever is being born, and actively assist in the graceful dismantling of whatever is ready to end.

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): One of your go-to tools or assets is still functioning, but now is exactly the time to repair or refurbish it—before it breaks. Furthermore: A power outage of sorts may be looming unless you move to head off an impending overload. Wait, there’s even more! The monster in your closet is still deeply asleep, which is why now is the perfect moment to summon an exorcist or exterminator, before it stirs. Are you getting the picture, Gemini? The very fact that you’re reading this horoscope gives you all the advance warning you need to sidestep potential glitches and diversions.

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): According to my reading of the astrological omens, asking the BIG questions is highly advisable right now. Why? Because you are unusually likely to get really good answers to those BIG questions. Want a nudge to get started in this noble enterprise? Here are three recommended queries: 1. “What is the wild meaning of my precious life?” 2. “Who the #@$%&!* am I, anyway?” 3. “Where is this so-called ‘God’ I hear so much about?” Dear Cancerian, I will also urge you to formulate humorous, satirical BIG questions that inspire life to be playfully revelatory with you. Here are three: 1. “How can I fine-tune my friends and loved ones to perfection?” 2. “Are there shortcuts to getting absolutely everything I want?” 3. “How do I sign up for a life of nonstop pleasure, free from all discomfort?”

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): When people finally grasped just how radical Einstein’s theory of relativity was, a journalist asked him how he had arrived at such a breakthrough. Einstein said it was simple: He had utterly ignored supposedly fundamental truths. Dear Leo, please notice what that might imply for you in the coming weeks. Einstein didn’t dismiss a mere opinion or fashionable theory; he set aside theories so deeply accepted that everyone treated them as obviously factual. He didn’t waste energy fighting them, but simply pro-

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN

(March 21-April 19): Anthropologist and author Clifford Geertz loved to use “thick description.” He wrote detailed reports that captured not just the surface level of what happened but the deeper levels of meaning. Here’s an example of thin description: “He winked.” Thick description: “He quickly closed and opened his right eyelid in a culturally specific gesture of playfully conspiratorial communication.” In the coming weeks, Aries, I invite you to enjoy the sumptuous pleasures of thick description. Unleash your wild curiosity as you dig down into the rich, complex truths about everything. Gleefully explore how the cultural, personal, and historical contexts give each moment its specific, nuanced significance. (P.S.: This approach will enhance your options for responding.)

ceeded as if they didn’t exist. Consider doing the same: Set aside at least one seemingly incontestable assumption and be alert for the new realities that then become possible.

Virgo

(Aug. 22-Sept. 22): The International Space Station orbits Earth every 90 minutes, so astronauts see 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. It’s a challenge to maintain their circadian rhythms. They must be disciplined as they stick to a sleep cycle that human bodies are accustomed to. But there’s a wonderful trade-off: the rare privilege of witnessing the rapid cycling of total darkness and brilliant light, which provides a visceral sense of life’s deep cadences at work. Your routine may seem similarly unsettled these days, Virgo. Transitions are coming faster than feels natural. But I suspect this disruptive blessing is giving you access to patterns that aren’t intelligible when you’re moving more slowly. You’re beholding the way things change as well as the changes themselves. This is a valuable gift. The insights will be worth the disorientation.

Libra

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You Libras sometimes get accused of indecision, as if your careful weighing of possibilities were a weakness. But I see a different truth: You aspire to be fair-minded as you honor all the legitimate claims on your attention. So the problem isn’t your capacity for considering multiple sides of each story. Rather, I find fault with the culture you live in, which is obsessed with one-dimensional certainty. If I were your coach or therapist, I would give you

permission to take your time and resist the rush to resolution. The most honest thing you can say may be, “I’m still deciding,” or “Both of these feel true.”

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re not a flaming expert at turning tension into treasure, but you have modest skills at that art. And now I’m predicting you will grow these skills. Before you jump to conclusions, though, please know that I’m not implying you will be immersed in stressful melodrama. I’m suggesting you will handle differences of perspective with increasing aplomb and curiosity. Instead of treating conflict as a debilitating hassle, you’ll try to find value in it. Some debates may even feel stimulating and fun rather than tiring. To take maximum advantage, enjoy the controversies as exploratory missions rather than as showdowns you must win at all costs.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I hope and predict that you will be wildly resourceful as you wisely experiment with love in the coming weeks. I hope and predict that you will research the art of tender, inspiring intimacy in new frontiers. Reinvent passion, you subtle intensity freak! Be a bold explorer who breaks the boring old rules! Dare to break open new varieties of sweetness and companionship that require you to innovate and improvise!

Capricorn

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you were on a walk and spied a dime on the ground, would you bend down to grab it? Probably not. Would you

feel differently about a quarter? Maybe you have decided that nothing under a dollar is worth your effort. But in the coming weeks, you will be wise to break such rules. Symbolically speaking, the act of stooping down to pick up a dime will set off a chain reaction that ends with you acquiring a hundreddollar bill. By saying yes to small, unexpected blessings, you’ll position yourself to receive larger ones down the line.

Aquarius

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to begin a building project on the scale of Egypt’s Great Pyramid or India’s Taj Mahal. You should at least initiate work toward some magnificent masterpiece or creation, Aquarius. According to my analysis, there’s a chance you could coax an armada of helpers to work on your behalf. And as you set out to accomplish your labor of love, I bless your quest.

Pisces

(Feb. 19-March 20): Artists who specialize in origami can create structures far stronger than the flat paper they’re folded from. The weakness of being made from thin, fragile material is overcome through strategic creasing. Engineers now use origami principles to design everything from solar panels to artificial blood vessels. Let’s extrapolate these facts into a lesson for you in the coming weeks, Pisces. We’ll assume that your flexibility is a strength, not a liability. You will wield your pliability to produce a high degree of structural integrity.

Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888

CLASSIFIEDS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1800(B), notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia (“City Council”), will hold two (2) Public Hearings on Monday, May 4, 2026, at its Business Meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in City Hall Council Chamber, 605 East Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, to hear public comment on the following:

• A request from Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia (“City”), to approve a Standard Form Lease Agreement for Commercial Space Within a City-Owned Building or Structure for use of a portion of a City-owned property located at 100 5th Street NE, Charlottesville, Virginia; and

• A request from The Virginia Discovery Museum, Inc. (“VDM”), for the City to approve a Lease Agreement for VDM’s use of a City-owned property located at 524 East Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Any person may appear at the Public Hearings to present their views regarding the above matters. Individuals with disabilities, who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the Public Meeting, may call (434) 987-1267 or submit a request via email to ada@charlottesville.gov. The City requests forty-eight (48) hours’ notice, so that proper arrangements may be made. Copies of all Public Hearing related documentation/materials are available online (at least five (5) days before the Business Meeting) at www.charlottesville.gov/agenda, and in the Clerk of City Council’s Office.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Case No. CJJ-37, 315-08, 09 VA. CODE § 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104

Charlottesville Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Charlottesville Dept. of Social Services v. Kieonna Hawkins & Mohipul Rairoop

The object of this suit is to terminate the residual parental rights of Kieonna Hawkins & Mohipul Rairoop of a male child M.R. born to Kieonna Hawkins on 6/4/2014.

It is ORDERED that Kieonna Hawkins & Mohipul Rairoop, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

3/23/26

Areshini Pather

DATE JUDGE

P.S. THE BIG PICTURE

Shelf life

As far as classic Charlottesville experiences go, waiting for (and then finally attending) the Friends of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library bi-annual book sale is one of them. This year’s spring sale ran from April 4 to 12 at the Albemarle Square shopping center and featured thousands of donated books, along with puzzles, music, and other media. The long-running event has been a community staple for more than 60 years, with proceeds supporting library programming and special projects. In 2025 alone, the Friends of JMRL donated more than $170,000 to the library system. If you missed it, don’t worry—you’ll get another chance in the fall.

MAY 2

2-3:30 p.m.

Ticket required

Celebrate 250 years of Jefferson’s Declaration at Pen to Paper, an afternoon of conversation, music, poetry, and theater, honoring our most shared piece of history.

Monticello’s West Lawn SIGNATURE EVENT