C-VILLE Weekly | February 11 - 17, 2026

Word to song

A national podcast pairs The Golden Hours with novelist Bruce Holsinger—for one night of shared creation

UVA faces a leadership vacuum as searches stretch on P.9

Council okays fewer Kindlewood units ahead of final phase P.15

Smyrna chef gets James Beard nod for national award P.37

MARDI GRAS MARDI GRAS

Hello, Charlottesville.

Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.

2.11.26

Full disclosure: I’ve known Ben Arthur, the host of the “SongWriter” podcast that is the subject of this week’s cover story (p.24), since I was a kid. His wife once worked for my mom in her vintage shop, which led to a decades-long friendship between her mother and my mother, and our paths crossed often as I was growing up. I always thought the Arthurs were incredibly cool and wanted to be around whatever they had going on.

Truth be told, even though our age gap feels far narrower now that we’re both adults, I find myself still feeling that way. Which is why I’m very excited that C-VILLE is hosting a live taping of “SongWriter” on February 21, when Ben will pair an author (in this case, Bruce Holsinger) with a songwriter (in this case, supergroup The Golden Hours) to create work around a common theme and then bring them into conversation. Staged downtown at The GUILD, the event will be intimate, one of a kind—and the first of four events from C-VILLE this year. Turns out, wanting to be around whatever Ben had going on was a good instinct. For more information and tickets, go to theguild.social.

This week’s contributors

Say less

Love is weird and wonderful, and sometimes the best way to express it is with 17 syllables. Our annual Haikus from the Heart contest gives you a tiny canvas for big feelings: swoony, silly, tender, complicated. We asked you to write to a longtime love, a new crush, your dog, or maybe someone you haven’t even met yet. Here are the seven local poets we felt understood the assignment.

Two toothbrushes kiss

Sorry to separate you

But I need to brush.

Liana Courts

OMG did you hear what happened to Susan? Mark took back her ring!!!

Larry Bauer

Michael Cordell

Another sunrise I reach out seeking your hand

Our sunset unknown

Evelyn Gorman

Seven Five Seven

Five Three Six Two Eight Four Three

I know you’re out there

Liana Courts

In sickness and health

Can cancer crumble this love

You led me through hell

Karen Flagg

You loved the places

Beneath the scarred dry marrow

Breath given to bone

Mary Courts

STRAVINSKY’S PETRUSHKA

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE 24

Words and music “SongWriter”

NEWS 9

UVA scrambles to fill leadership

A look at city schools’ budget.

Former UVA football player ed, and county rezoning.

Real Estate: Council okays wer Kindlewood units.

CULTURE 31

Anna Kovatcheva’s of a novel.

37 Small Bites: Smyrna chef’s a James Beard semifinalist, Popitos expands, and Dave’s takes over Fuzzy’s space.

FOR FUN 40

40 Sudoku 41 Crossword

43 Free Will Astrology P.S. 46

C-VILLE or C-VILE

editor@c-ville.com

max@c-ville.com

CULTURE EDITOR

Tami Keaveny tami@c-ville.com

SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Nathan Alderman news@c-ville.com

NEWS REPORTER

Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

NEWS CONTRIBUTOR

Sean Tubbs

ASSOCIATE CULTURE EDITOR

CM Turner arts@c-ville.com

COPY EDITOR

Susan Sorensen

DIGITAL EDITOR

Tristan Williams

CONTRIBUTORS

Rob Brezsny, Dave Cantor, Matt Dhillon, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Mary Jane Gore, Maeve Hayden, Andrew Hollins, Erika Howsare, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Jake Solyst, Paul Ting, Eric Williamson

ADVERTISING advertising@c-ville.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Bianca Johnson bianca@c-ville.com

REAL ESTATE & CLASSIFIED ACCOUNT MANAGER

Brian Hrozencik brian@c-ville.com

DIGITAL SALES MANAGER

Rob Davis rob@c-ville.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Stephanie Vogtman-Say stephanie@c-ville.com

Jacob Phillips jacob@c-ville.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Tracy Federico designer@c-ville.com

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Faith Gibson ads@c-ville.com

BUSINESS

PUBLISHER

Anna Harrison anna@c-ville.com

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Gregg Early development@c-ville.com

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Debbie Miller debbie@c-ville.com

A/R SPECIALIST

Nanci Winter accounting@c-ville.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Billy Dempsey circulation@c-ville.com

C-VILLE HOLDINGS, LLC

Bill Chapman, Blair Kelly

C-VILLE Weekly is Charlottesville, Virginia's award-winning alternative newspaper. Through our distinctive coverage, we work to spark curiosity and enable readers to engage meaningfully with their community.

CONTACT US: P.O. Box 119, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902

publisher.

TingPavilion.com

APRIL 19: Lake Street

Dive with Carrtoons

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

***Just Announced***

JUNE 20: The String Cheese Incident

Just Keep Spinning Tour 2026 On Sale Friday, Feb. 13 at 10am

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

***Just Announced***

SEPTEMBER 8:

Sierra Farrell

Heavy Petal Tour

On Sale Thursday, Feb. 12 at 10am

SEPTEMBER 22:

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

MARCH 11-ON SALE NOW PENTAGRAM STRING BAND WITH YES MA'AM & LITTLE FOOT

MARCH 28-ON SALE NOW WILSON SPRINGS HOTEL

MAY 15-ON SALE FRIDAY MAGOO

02-12|

02-14|

OPULENCE: VALENTINE'S DAY BURLESQUE 18+ EARLY SHOW AND LATE SHOW 02-19| J RODDY WALSTON AND THE AUTOMATIC BAND WITH JESSE'S HOUSE 02-20| THE JACK WHARFF BAND SOLD OUT 02-21| DIRTY GRASS PLAYERS 02-22| LYAO COMEDY TANAEL JOACHIM –THE ALIEN EVERYWHERE TOUR HOSTED BY AMBER L. HENDRIX & FT. JOHN RADEMACHER 02-24| BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT WITH GLASSING

02-25| LAUNDRY DAY WITH SATCHEL SHURE 02-26| KENDALL STREET COMPANY WITH SHAGWUF

02-27| FULL MOON FEVERTOM PETTY TRIBUTE

02-28| JOE PUG 03-04| AN EVENING WITH THE LARRY KEEL/JON STICKLEY DUO

Elgar – Salut d’Amour

Rachmaninoff – Adagio from Symphony No. 2

Camille Saint-Saëns – Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 | Claire Youn, violin Mascagni – Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana Williams – Marion’s Theme from The Adventures of Indiana Jones

Wagner – “Liebestod” from Tristan und Isolde Tchaikovsky – Romeo and Juliet

LITERATURE IN THE WARSAW, LODZ, AND VILNA GHETTOS

SVEN-ERIK ROSE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

Sven-Erik Rose is Professor of German and of Comparative Literature, and the Director of the Program in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Davis He will speak about his most recent, book, Making and Unmaking Literature in the Warsaw, Lodz, and Vilna Ghettos, described as “The first scholarly account of the literature written in the ghettos that takes it seriously as literature.”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12

WILSON HALL 301 | 5:30 PM

Reception to Follow

Event can be viewed both in person and live on our YouTube channel

Role call

Leadership shakeups and transitions leave UVA looking for long-term leaders

BY CATIE RATLIFF

The 2026 Trindle Fellow Lecture

Science, Faith, Music and the Road to Wisdom

Dr. Francis Collins

THURS, FEB 19, 2026

5:30 PM | The Rotunda | Reception to Follow

Hosted by the Trindle Endowment and Brown Residential College

The Trindle Fellow Lecture Series was created by UVA alumni and faculty in honor of UVA Professor Emeritus Carl Trindle, the first Director of Studies and former Principal of Brown Residential College.

Multiple personnel searches are underway at the University of Virginia, thanks to a slew of academic and executive leadership vacancies across the institution.

In addition to the standard scrutiny of potential candidates, UVA must navigate public and political distrust in the institution following the rushed appointment of President Scott Beardsley, the departure of multiple Board of Visitors members, and an ongoing lawsuit against former medical leaders.

Six executive-level roles are currently filled by interim appointees: provost and executive vice president, dean of the McIntire School of Commerce, dean of the Darden School of Business, dean of the School of Medicine, CEO of UVA Medical Center, and chief of UVA Health Children’s.

The seniormost vacancy is the provost and executive vice president position, the chief academic officer of the university. Among other responsibilities, the provost directs UVA’s schools, libraries, art museums, and more. Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Brie Gertler stepped into the role in March 2025, when her predecessor Ian Baucom left to become president of Middlebury College.

According to Deputy Spokesperson Bethanie Glover, UVA hopes to fill the provost position this spring. Beardsley, who led the search committee before stepping down in mid-January, estimated that a new provost would be selected by March.

“In terms of process, the search committee, aided by the university’s Executive Search Group, will recommend several candidates to the president for consideration,” says Glover. “From there, the president will nominate the preferred finalist for the provost role to be elected by the UVA Board of Visitors.”

The BOV also lacks a rector and vice rector at press time, and has not set a date to select its new leadership.

“The Board of Visitors has a quorum and can meet and act if needed,” Glover says. “The Board may choose to call a special

meeting to elect a rector and vice rector in the coming weeks, but we anticipate the newest members will be reviewed for confirmation by the General Assembly before that meeting occurs. There have been no interruptions in the university’s or the Board’s work.”

Glover did not provide a timeline or process for filling the McIntire or Darden deanships. Amanda Cowen has served as interim dean of McIntire since July 1, 2025. The Darden position, the newest vacancy, opened when Beardley became president January 1.

At UVA Health, leadership searches are also under way.

Mitchell Rosner filled one previously vacant role in September 2025 with his appointment as UVA Health CEO. Rosner’s predecessor, Craig Kent, and former School of Medicine Dean Melina Kibbe received a September 5, 2024, letter of no confidence signed by 128 UVA Physicians Group faculty. Neither immediately resigned, but both have since left the university.

Eric Swensen, public information officer for UVA Health, says the health center will conduct a national search for a dean, but a timetable has not yet been set.“The next step will be to engage with faculty members to get their input into the timing of the

search and the search process,” says Swensen. Colin Derdeyn was appointed as interim dean in August, and began his term after a short transition period with Kibbe in September 2025.

Wendy Horton, former CEO of the medical center, was not mentioned in the September 2024 letter of no confidence, but was named in an ongoing lawsuit filed October 3, 2025. She left UVA the month prior, with Terrie Edwards stepping into the interim role on September 15, 2025.

A national search is underway for the next medical center CEO, with plans to start reviewing applications in the coming weeks. “A search for a leadership position like this typically takes six months,” Swensen says.

For the UVA Health Children’s chief, Swensen says, “we are using our established internal processes to determine next steps for permanent leadership.” Cindy Bo left the position in October 2025, with a press release citing “personal reasons.” Chief Strategy Officer Jason Lineen has been pulling double duty as the interim chief since her departure. Beyond the senior-most roles, there are roughly 1,000 openings at UVA Health. Swensen says this is standard for an organization of its size, which employs more than 18,000 people across the University Medical Center, the University Physicians Group, the UVA School of Medicine, and UVA Community Health.

“These openings span a wide range of roles, with the largest share generally in nursing, research, and allied health, reflecting national workforce trends and evolving patient-care needs,” he says. “Staffing levels naturally fluctuate throughout the year based on patient volumes, market conditions and ongoing recruitment activity. We continuously evaluate those needs and prioritize hiring in roles that directly support patient care and operational readiness. We remain well-positioned to deliver high-quality care thanks to our dedicated teams across the health system.”

NEWS EDUCATION Cost of learning

CCS grapples with collective bargaining agreement ahead of budget approval

BY CATIE RATLIFF

The Charlottesville school board, education union, and City Council are searching for funds to fulfill a collective bargaining agreement for school support personnel. Leaders from the Charlottesville Education Association and Charlottesville City Schools reached an understanding on February 9, ahead of a joint session with city councilors and the district’s February 19 budget approval—but it didn’t come easy.

The proposed FY27 budget, totaling $129,631,641, comes in at roughly $4.3 million more than last year. Approximately 52 percent of the proposed expenditures come from salaries and wages. To cover the increase in spending, the school board will need almost $3 million in additional funds from City Council.

The February 9 discussion centered on the ratification of the agreement negotiated between the city and the CEA’s School Support Personnel bargaining arm, including a 10.5 percent raise. Tensions arose at a February 5 board meeting, when Superintendent Royal Gurley and CEA President Shannon Gillikin expressed frustration with the delayed ratification of the agreement and gave conflicting accounts about who was delaying the process.

An email signed by the school board, sent on February 6, indicated that the union’s failure to ratify the agreement would prevent the full raise from being included in the February 9 budget presentation to City Council.

“We have received confirmation this morning that the CEA does not intend to give its support professional unit members the opportunity to ratify the tentative agreement in time for the Board approval

of next year’s budget on February 19,” reads an excerpt of the email. “Our legal counsel has advised that this failure to submit for ratification negates the agreement that was reached at the table. The Superintendent, therefore, will present a budget that includes a raise of 3% for support professionals, consistent with administrative staff (and 1% higher than the state-mandated raise of 2%). … We were fully committed to passing a budget that included the 10.5% raise once we had the cooperation of the CEA. At this point the earliest a new contract can be considered is for the 2027-28 school year.”

Despite Gurley opening the February 9 meeting with an announcement that the CEA would vote on and bring an agreement to the school board ahead of its budget approval, community and board members alike voiced concerns with the language of the email.

“I’m uncomfortable with the language that’s being put out around this. I’m uncomfortable with the communication from our end, unfortunately,” said new school board member Zyahna Bryant. “I don’t want us to be saying deadlines are missed if we’re not clear about what those deadlines are.”

The 10.5 percent raise creates a $900,000 gap in the city’s allocation to the district. It’s far from the only funding hole the city is trying to close in its FY27 draft budget. Councilors expressed strong support for the agreement, but voiced concerns about finding the funds and reluctance to pursue any tax rate hikes to balance the budget.

Teaching and support staff alike argued that they needed raises during public comment, describing employees’ current financial strain.

“We have staff who can’t pay their phone bills, replace their cars, which were destroyed on school grounds while they were doing their jobs, or afford their health care premiums. I can’t do my job without them. I can’t teach students without their work,” said Esa Schenck, a sixth-grade math teacher at Walker Upper Elementary. “I urge the City Council to fully fund this budget. I know that you are still trying to find the money for a 10.5 percent raise. That’s a bare minimum for the people who allow our students to succeed. I’m a math teacher. I know that money comes from different pools, and I know that we can’t just swap things out for one another. But Dr. Gurley, I would like to remind you that last year, you received a raise which brought your salary to over $212,000.”

Foul

Former University of Virginia wide receiver Jahmal Edrine was indicted on rape and abduction charges February 2, and brought into custody February 5. According to Albemarle County Police, Edrine’s arrest comes after months of investigation into an August 24, 2025, incident.

Edrine, who is not currently enrolled at UVA, was scheduled to appear in Albemarle County Circuit Court on February 9, but was rescheduled to February 11. At press time, the date of his next court appearance had not been announced. The 22-year-old remains in Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.—Catie Ratliff

Snowfall

The snow and ice is finally starting to melt, but some are still feeling their impacts.

“We’ve had approximately 200 cases in the emergency department related to the most recent winter storm,” says Eric Swensen, UVA Health public information officer, noting a trauma consult was needed in 80 cases.

“Injuries ranged from head trauma while sledding to broken bones from slip-and-fall incidents to car accidents and in a few instances, pedestrians hit by cars after stepping on the road to avoid icy sidewalks,” Swensen says. “About 75 cases involved sledding accidents.”—CR

Terms and conditions

In the first executive directive of her term, Gov. Abigail Spanberger ended all 287(g) agreements between state agencies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement on February 4. “Virginians deserve to have their state and local law enforcement resources devoted to the safety and security of their communities, not federal civil immigration enforcement,” reads an excerpt from the directive. A link to the full text can be found on c-ville.com.—CR

Building talks

Places29-North group briefed on two rezonings BY SEAN TUBBS

The housing chapter of Albemarle’s new Comprehensive Plan states that the county needs 10,000 new homes by 2040 to keep up with anticipated population increases. The exact number that gets built will depend on elected officials approving rezonings following a public process that allows members of the public to weigh in. The Places29-North Community Advisory Committee considered two such rezonings at its January 8 meeting.

The first covers 7.35 acres in Hollymead that would be accessible from the Holly Hills development recently approved by supervisors. Developer Nicole Scro submitted three different versions for feedback, all within the density range allowed in AC44: a multi-family apartment layout with 110 units, a townhouse development with 58 units, and one with approximately two dozen single-family homes.

Committee Chair Bill McLaughlin suggested Scro should have come forward with a more definitive plan rather than a range.

“I don’t know how we could have any input on this from the community when there’s a big difference between 22 singlefamily homes and [110] apartments in terms of the impact on the community, the impact on the schools,” McLaughlin said.

Scro said she brought forward options to allow herself flexibility given the long time it takes to get approval to build housing.

“I can’t predict what’s going to happen in three years when I finally can move dirt,” Scro said. “We need housing in our area, and we’re trying to build more housing that meets the Comprehensive Plan.”

Scro requested and received a deferral of this rezoning after receiving comments from staff who, among other things, said building 22 single-family homes is not consistent

with AC44. She has until August 3 to resubmit the rezoning.

The Places29-North group also examined a proposal to build between 42 and 147 units on 5.6 acres of land that will access a future extension of Berkmar Drive between Hollymead Town Center and Airport Road.

Charles Rapp of Collins Engineering said the land for what would be called Cornerstone at Berkmar is designated for office and light industrial uses, but the roadway project and a roundabout at Airport Road will make this parcel too small to be viable for those purposes.

“Once this road goes through, it’s going to take away a little over an acre of land,” Rapp said. “So you’re going to have less than a five-acre site, which is challenging for industrial development.”

IN BRIEF

All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)

Rapp said residences in this location will be attractive to buyers who want to walk to retail at Hollymead Town Center. Details are still being worked out, he said, because construction can’t start until the road is finished. The project is not scheduled to be completed until spring 2030, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The Cornerstone project will next go to the Planning Commission at a date to be determined.

All rezonings now require that a minimum number of units be designated as affordable, which means they would be restricted to households below 60 percent of the area median income. Both Rapp and Scro said attaining that level has been a struggle, but they are committed to providing that number as plans become finalized.

10-1 General Assembly Dems unveil proposed new map of Congressional districts, potentially pitting Tom Perriello and Mike Pruitt against Roanoke-area Dem Beth Macy in a primary this spring. Missed shots Charlottesville police stats show crime down 10.9 percent and gun-related incidents down 51 percent year over year in 2025. Point taken Charlottesville police arrest suspect in February 27 stabbing on Grounds that put the critically injured victim in the hospital and UVA on lockdown. Bucks passed City redirects $469,000 in funds previously earmarked for a low-barrier shelter—now delayed—to help local orgs more rapidly aid our unhoused neighbors. Mall walkers Charlottesville debuts six full-time “ambassadors” to clean and patrol the Downtown Mall. Roo 29 Nelson County sheriff’s deputies rescue an escaped, injured kangaroo spotted hopping around on Route 29 north of Colleen, reuniting it with its joey and returning it to its wildlife-sanctuary home in Arrington.

“Jordan

“Jordan

My name is Jordan Hague and I created Equity Saver USA in 2008 to offer a better, more affordable service to disrupt and challenge what I personally experienced to be an outdated and flawed approach to Realtor compensation at the expense of sellers and buyers.

My name is Jordan Hague and I created Equity Saver USA in 2008 to offer a better, more affordable service to disrupt and challenge what I personally experienced to be an outdated and flawed approach to Realtor compensation at the expense of sellers and buyers.

In 2024 the National Association of Realtors settled a billion dollar lawsuit related to inflated Realtor commission practices. This monumental settlement opens the door for true free market competition and innovation to thrive. I’ve successfully sold homes using a 1% model for nearly 2 decades proving the old “6% legacy” commission model is a waste of money and does nothing to help promote affordable housing. Contact me direct to arrange a no obligation meeting to learn more.

In 2024 the National Association of Realtors settled a billion dollar lawsuit related to inflated Realtor commission practices. This monumental settlement opens the door for true free market competition and innovation to thrive. I’ve successfully sold homes using a 1% model for nearly 2 decades proving the old “6% legacy” commission model is a waste of money and does nothing to help promote affordable housing. Contact me direct to arrange a no obligation meeting to learn more.

Ben

“Jordan

“Jordan

Jerry and

Sam

REAL ESTATE NEWS

Smaller phase

Council agrees to fewer Kindlewood units as plans for final phase begin BY

When the City of Charlottesville agreed to fund Piedmont Housing Alliance’s redevelopment of Friendship Court into Kindlewood, the nonprofit developer was responsible for building a minimum of 425 units.

PHA’s executive director appeared before City Council on February 2 to provide an update before residents get to work overseeing the design of a fourth and final phase.

“We’re going to need creativity to persevere,” Sunshine Mathon told Council at the meeting. “It’s a really, really complex project, structurally and financially.”

Council has invested millions in the project for both infrastructure and financing of individual phases. Subsidized housing developments need multiple layers of financing to guarantee affordability over decades.

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project, but the first 106-unit phase is complete, and work is under way on a second with 104 units. Mathon said that while construction costs keep escalating, higher interest rates have also added millions to the bottom line.

“We also didn’t know that in this last year that there would be a massive upheaval in the federal administration that has created all kinds of uncertainty to very riskaverse funders and lenders,” Mathon said.

Mathon said financing is in place for a third phase with 85 units, and the fourth can now be planned based on the current absence of many federal subsidies for new construction. The value of low-income housing tax credits is also trending down, and the process has become more competitive, with three times as many applications year over year vying for the same amount of tax credits.

Council has already committed $4.5 million to help finance the fourth phase, with

SEAN TUBBS

an anticipated range of 75 to 150 units. Mathon said the upper end is likely not attainable, but a range of 90 to 130 might be.

Mathon wanted to know whether a maximum of 385 units would be acceptable, or if Council would be willing to invest more.

“The one really important question in this calculus is, if Council is going to commit another $5 million, is an additional 40 units at Kindlewood the most efficient and best use of those resources?”

Mathon asked.

Mathon’s question needs an answer in order to begin the process of engaging with residents on the design. That work must be finished by March 2027 in order to apply for tax credits through Virginia Housing.

City Councilor Michael Payne said he would accept the lower number.

“I know it’s not anyone’s ideal, and I know it’s not PHA’s ideal, either, but I’m okay with amending where our expectations are, just as an acknowledgment of [the] reality of the funding and cost situations [being] fundamentally different,” Payne said.

Payne’s colleagues all agreed, and Councilor Natalie Oschrin noted that marketrate units cannot be included in projects funded through tax credits.

“If we did allow market-rate housing on the property, it would be in a separate income-segregated building, which is the whole thing we’re kind of trying to avoid,” Oschrin said.

Phase four will also include between 11,000 and 14,000 square feet of commercial space and at least 10 units that would be reserved for homeownership through PHA’s community land trust.

In addition, construction is currently under way for an early learning center site as part of phase two.

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. $480,000

RETRIEVER RUN

Top Quality, custom home in Ivy, set on 5 acres w/ mountain views. Extended living space w/ swimming pool and full size tennis/sport court. Covered terrace pavilions overlook the expansive lawn. Bright, expansive interior spaces.Vaulted great room opens to the gourmet kitchen and breakfast room. 2 primary suites on the 1st floor.The upper floors feature 3 additional suites and a billiard room.Terrace level features a family room w/bar, movie room, craft/ hobby room, home office and a full bath. Mechanical room houses a Geothermal system w/ room for storage. Home also includes a central vacuum system, irrigation system and an invisible fence.

$2,350,000

HATTON FERRY LANE

Fabulous renovation of a 1880 gem in Albemarle County. Hatton on The James is an historic estate, set on 13.9 acres fronting on the James River. Lovingly & authentically restored. The 500 sq. ft. wrap- around porch extends the living area. Light pours in through the banks of windows. The open, double staircase leads from the center hall to the second floor landing. Extensive gardens and walkways. Numerous perennials and hardscapes made of flagstone, brick, soapstone terraced parterre & mature gardens. Property includes a charming one bedroom guest house, gardener’s shed and a writer’s studio. Easy access to Water activities. $1,895,000

Very nice Townhouse in convenient River Run. New roof and gutter leaf filters. Well maintained. Easy access to town and Penn Park. Easy walking distance to the Community pool.82

UPCOMING FOUNDATION EVENTS:

From Equal to Effective: Reexamining the Way We Fund Public Education

FEB 25th - 6:30PM

The Courage to Lead: Building Brave Workplace Cultures

The Courage to Repair: An Introduction to Restorative Justice Practices

MAR 3rd - 6:30PM

The Courage to Repair: An Introduction to Restorative Justice Practices

MAR 10th - 6:30PM

Price Thomas, the Executive Director of City of Promise, explores what it means for a community to truly prioritize education. Despite decades of investment, gaps in literacy, attendance, and long-term outcomes remain stark. Thomas of City of Promise shares research, lived experience, and new ways to rethink education.

Jim Detert, an author and professor at UVA’s Darden School of Business, gives this masterclass for leaders building high-integrity organizations. Drawing on his research, you’ll learn how leadership behaviors shape candor, ethics, and performance—and gain practical frameworks to create cultures where people speak up, dissent is welcomed, and hard truths lead to stronger outcomes.

Erin Campbell of Central Virginia Community Justice (CVCJ) introduces restorative frameworks that strengthen people and communities. Used by Charlottesville and Albemarle to divert cases from court, CVCJ’s lowers recidivism rates and creates safer, more compassionate communities. Participants will learn techniques that transform conflict into connection.

Body & Soul Dance Party

FEB 28th - 9PM—1AM | Common House

The love jam of the season returns to Common House for a multi-level dance party filled with passion, rhythm, and connection. Two dance floors come alive with House, Funk, Soul, and R&B for one unforgettable night.

THE EVIDENCE

As a national podcast descends on Charlottesville, a unique local band ascends

IT’S A SCENE

out of a Stanley Kubrick film. You’re blindfolded and led into a room you’ve likely never seen before. A silent usher takes you to a seat where you’ll remain for the next hour with only your ears to guide you.

Musicians take up their instruments and begin to play. There is no stage talk, no exposition to give you a sense that you’re anywhere other than in a landscape of sound.

The four vocalist-slash-instrumentalists circle around the room playing songs designed specifically for the sightless experience. None of the usual trappings of a live music event follow—no dancing, no eye contact, no physical performance connecting the band and audience.

What’s left is pure sonic alignment. What’s left is the Golden Hour Experience.

Created in 2017 by members of local Americana bands David Wax Museum and Lowland Hum, the Golden Hour Experience (formerly Concert in the Blind and, later, Golden Hour) has been a critical success. Audiences say they feel like children, relearning how to listen and feel in the presence of music. They say they feel comforted, cared for. In a 2020 World Cafe podcast, NPR reporters called the 60-minute experiment a “surround sound, immersive musical experience” that “could change the way you experience live music.”

“It’s like a theater piece in that it starts and then just goes and there’s no stopping,” David Wax says. “We almost treated it as if we were writing for a musical, because it’s a very specific thing that’s happening for the audience. It’s this private and—at the same time—communal concert.”

Beyond the audiences, Golden Hour Experience has had a profound effect on the musicians creating it—Suz Slezak of David Wax Museum and Daniel and Lauren Goans of Lowland Hum, in addition to the former band’s eponymous frontman. Almost unconsciously, they built a “new collective musical identity,” Wax says. The obvious next step was to form a band. Today, the four-piece is known as The Golden Hours.

After performing for the first time as a band late last year, the quartet will now try another innovative approach to making music. On February 21 at The GUILD downtown, they’ll debut a song inspired by a short story from bestselling novelist and University of Virginia professor Bruce Holsinger. The performance will be part of a live recording

of the “SongWriter” podcast created by Ben Arthur, a musician, novelist, and UVA alum.

“I’ve spent my whole life playing shows, and there’s something beautiful that can happen through music when a room comes together,” Arthur says. “The term that I’ve learned for this is ‘collective effervescence.’”

Telling stories

Arthur launched the popular “SongWriter” podcast in 2017 with a broad creative goal: Bring together authors and musicians to produce synergistic stories and songs. The idea has resonated with audiences and the artists themselves. Through the syndicated radio platform Acoustic Cafe, “SongWriter” now reaches more than 1.5 million weekly listeners. The podcast’s list of contributors includes some of the great creatives of our time, from National Book Award winners Joyce Carol Oates and Jonathan Franzen to Grammy winners David Gilmour, Steve Earle, and Questlove.

Now in its seventh season, the podcast asks authors to write a short fiction or nonfiction piece and songwriters to craft a tune in response. Arthur sometimes pairs the duos by first reaching out to a traditional writer; other times, he taps a songwriter. In either case, the artists choose to work with one another.

Across 83 30- to 60-minute episodes to date, “SongWriter” has featured a reading of the written word, performance of the song dealing with the same themes, and a question-and-answer session. In episode nine of season one, former New York City police captain, photographer, and filmmaker Rita Mullaney tells Arthur the story of two unhoused individuals making their way in NYC. In response, the Lumineers’ touring bassist, Byron Isaacs, performs a Lou Reed-inspired tune chronicling the tribulations of New Yorkers—over a distorted guitar riff and driving bassline.

In a two-part episode in season five, George Saunders offers a 60-minute reading of the short story “Sea Oak.” The tale—of a man working in an aviation-themed sort of Chippendales while trying to improve his family’s dystopian life—is bizarre but captivating. Asked to respond is Craig Finn, the non-autobiographical storyteller who fronts The Hold Steady. It’s an effective pairing, and in Finn’s characteristic monotone, Saunders’ story comes to life in a way that is both true to the source material and surprisingly fresh.

In 2020, the Templeton World Charity Foundation approached Arthur about a funding opportunity. If he would produce shows “around elements of human flourishing,” such as forgiveness, empathy, caregiving, polarization, and artificial intelligence, the foundation would give the podcaster the money he needed to keep producing shows in concert with high-quality artists.

“I was like, ‘Wait a minute, you’d pay me for this?’” Arthur says. “Who among us doesn’t feel like we need to deal with polarization in this country? Who among us doesn’t think that forgiveness is something we need to apply to ourselves?”

Coming together

David Wax Museum had just finished a show in New York when the band met an illustrator. The young artist had been in the audience and drew the live performance on the spot. He showed the work to Wax and Slezak and mentioned his brother’s podcast, a project that “turns stories into songs.”

Arthur reached out to Wax about appearing on “SongWriter.” As soon as Wax and his Golden Hour bandmates saw who’d been on the podcast before them, they wanted in.

“One of the things that powers this project is that musicians are often ridiculous fans of writers and imagine that writers have magic that they don’t have. The exact same thing is true of writers. Writers imagine that musicians have some magic, while they’re just technicians.”

BEN ARTHUR

Wax, in turn, had just finished reading Holsinger’s latest novel, Culpability. “To have a local author that was having a moment—and there’s just so many fascinating themes in that book—it just felt so right to engage with whatever he’s thinking about right now,” Wax says.

At Wax’s request, Arthur contacted Holsinger, and the novelist agreed to pen a short story for the podcast. It was a step outside the scribe’s comfort zone; even in his early days as a writer, he’d never tackled short-form storytelling.

One of the topics Arthur suggested—another from the Templeton Foundation playbook—gave Holsinger an idea. In addition to themes of human flourishing, the foundation wanted to explore animal intelligence.

Holsinger penned “River Cat,” a dark comedy about a troubled feline. He sent the work to the four Golden Hours songwriters. He admitted it was a “bit off the beaten path.” It was the only context he offered.

“One of the things that powers this project is that musicians are often ridiculous fans of writers and imagine that writers have magic that they don’t have,” Arthur says. “The exact same thing is true of writers. Writers imagine that musicians have some magic, while they’re just technicians.”

When the audience sits down at The GUILD on February 21, Arthur will introduce the “SongWriter” project, Holsinger will debut “River Cat” in an unabridged reading, The Golden Hours will take the stage to offer its musical response, and a subject matter expert will join the group to discuss the intersection of animal intelligence and humanity.

At this point, everything is set—except for the song.

Seeing clearly

Michael Allenby is still tinkering with the Downtown Mall venue that is The GUILD. The space inside Vault

Virginia hosted its first show last May, but only a handful of acts have played to the 100-seat room since. The scarcity is part of the allure. Allenby, who now manages both the Vault and GUILD, initially intended the intimate shows to be by invite only. He’s amended that strategy slightly over the past year.

Another point of consideration for the venue: Could it host a Golden Hour Experience after the “SongWriter” podcast recording? Wax had reached out to Allenby directly about the event early in the planning process. The Golden Hours bandmates have a years-long friendship with Allenby, and the intimacy of The GUILD felt right. Still, details needed to be finalized.

The team ultimately decided the space wasn’t optimal for a blind concert. But the audience will get a consolation prize: a short set by the burgeoning band of the same name following the “SongWriter” recording and a brief intermission.

As Golden Hour, Wax, Slezak, and Daniel and Lauren Goans approach songwriting as a true collective. “There’s no ego,” Lauren Goans says. “Things move really rapidly, and we’re able to find the shape and the form of the idea quickly.”

Goans says the humorous edge to “River Cat” has inspired her thinking about the song that might emerge, and the story is set locally, giving the songwriters another touchpoint. What else may come remains up to speculation.

“As a writer, to be able to bring in a musical component … and to have your work interpreted in the moment, I just feel like that is a really rare gift,” Wax says. “It’s a fresh ask—we’ve never done anything quite like this either.”

Arthur says the scientific element of the stories inspired by Templeton’s themes has elevated the artwork further. It’s not that our feelings and heartbreak expressed in song aren’t serious, but thinking about the science behind our interactions—both among one another and with storytelling—takes the project to the next plane.

“Your best teachers almost certainly use stories to engage you,” Arthur says. “They were instinctually doing this thing, which is like using a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. And they’ve in fact been correct, scientifically, about the appropriate way to engage our minds.”

Playing it out

Holsinger says he’s been a fan of David Wax Museum for years. When a Golden Hour Experience came up at Fry’s Spring Beach Club last year, he and his wife enthusiastically bought tickets and prepared to don their blindfolds.

“It’s really like you don’t know where you are,” Holsinger says. “After you’re blindfolded, they lead you by the hand, and you don’t know how the room is set up. You don’t even know if the lights go dim. One musician will be in front of you, another will be behind, and you’ll hear 10 different musical instruments over the course of an hour. All you’re concentrating on are the acoustics of the room. It’s ethereal. It’s dreamlike.”

Wax is humble about the innovation. The idea of the Golden Hour Experience, he says, was a small part of it. Far more interesting have been the unintended consequences. The way he, Slezak, and Daniel and Lauren Goans have adapted to making music for an audience receiving it through a single channel. The sonic signature that launched a new musical project for the four musicians. And, now, the collective effervescence they hope to create at The GUILD with Arthur and “SongWriter.”

“When I first started the podcast, I had run into a period where I was just having trouble starting songs, and I began using other people’s work as a jumping-off point,” Arthur says. “One of the delights of this project is that I get to talk to artists all the time. And one of my experiences in talking to David Gilmour or some other great musician is realizing, ‘Oh, that guy is doing the same thing I’m doing every day.’” C

UVA MUSIC EVENTS

Date/Time/Place

Saturday, 02/14, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 02/15, 3:30pm The Paramount

Friday, 2/20, 3:30pm 107 Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 02/21, 8:00pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 02/22, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 03/14, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 03/15, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 3/21, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Saturday, 3/21, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall

Sunday, 3/22, 3:30pm MLK Performance Center

Friday, 3/27, 8:00pm Old Cabell Hall

Event (* Denotes free events)

Charlottesville Symphony: Romance Rachmaninoff & Tchaikovsky

Charlottesville Symphony: Romance Rachmaninoff & Tchaikovsky

Alexis C. Lamb Colloquium * Music and the Living Earth

Stravinsky's Petrushka * For 2 pianos and 2 percussionists

UVA CMS: Cellist Adam Carter with Jeannette Jang, Violin & Jeremy Thompson, Piano

Katherine Tang's 4th Year Recital * Two Hands, One Breath: Where Air Meets Keys

UVA CMS: Piedmont Duo: I-Jen Fang, percussion, Ayn Balija, viola

Performance Showcase Recital * with L. Kim, J. Lawson, T. Ledbetter, E. Mayhood

Charlottesville Symphony

All-American—Celebrating VA250

Charlottesville Symphony

All-American—Celebrating VA250

Michael Angelucci Piano Recital *

All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.

Office: 434.924.3052; music@virginia.edu; https://music.virginia.edu

Box Office: 434.924.3376, artsboxoffice.virginia.edu

Subscribe to our music email: music.virginia.edu/events

An evening with

SongWriter

featuring Bruce Holsinger + The Golden Hours

Where: THE GUILD at Vault Virginia

When: Saturday, February 21, at 6pm

Tickets: www.theguild.social cville

In a live recording of the SongWriter podcast, bestselling author Bruce Holsinger will read a new short story about a troublesome cat, and The Golden Hours (with members of David Wax Museum) will perform a new song written in response. Dr. Jennifer McQuiston will discuss animal intelligence with host Ben Arthur and the artists, and the audience will be invited to interact.

This Valentine’s Day… Don’t settle for ordinary. From February 12th–15th, Blue Ridge Café invites you to an unforgettable evening of indulgence, romance, and flavor.

Valentine’s Day Specials available February 12–15 Limited seating. Reservations strongly recommended. ✨ Reserve your table now. ✨ 434-985-3633

CULTURE

SATURDAY 2/14

ROMANCING THE TONE

A few classic Valentine’s tropes pop up in Lovers Welcome, a concert promising deep feelings alongside the potential of poetry and transcendence. Grab your date (or a sympathetic/single friend) and explore love, un-love, and amorous longing with indie darling folk troubadour Lizzie No, who shares new songs for yearners and old tales of heartbreak. Shenandoah Valley folk and jazz-inspired artist Isabel March performs in support. $20–25, 7:30pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.org

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

THURSDAY 2/12

OH, BROTHER!

A commanding presence behind the upright double bass, Michael Hawkins brings a swinging pulse to contemporary jazz with his working group The Brotherhood. The charismatic musician has performed around the world with jazz legends, and currently resides in Richmond, leading a band of top beboppers in the Commonwealth. The Brotherhood includes pianist Weldon Hill, drummer Billy Williams, and saxophonist James “Saxsmo” Gates C’ville jazz legend John D’earth joins the band on trumpet. $22–27, 6pm. The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd. cvillejazz.org

Wednesday 2/11

music

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

Wavelength & Kiz Carter. Soulful vocals on surprising vintage rock covers, blues tunes, and originals. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.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

classes

Paint & Sip with Pikasso Swig. Paint a wine bottle of your choice for Valentine’s day, with instructors from Pikasso Swig leading the way. Snacks and supplies provided, bottles to paint on available for purchase. Free, 5:30pm. Bottle House, 608 W. Main St. bottlehouse.net etc.

Dürty Karaoke. Hump Day party. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durty nellyscharlottesville.com

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

classes

Glass Blowing. Learn the art of glass blowing by making Valentine items, wine stoppers, and more. Free, 5pm. Bottle House, 608 W. Main St. bottlehouse.net

Paint + Sip: Candy Hearts Wine Glasses. Paint the special design on one or two wine glasses in a stepby-step format. No experience necessary, all materials included. $40–44, 6pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. blueridgebrushes.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. An escape room meets a pub crawl. Visit the Preston Ave 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

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 2/13 music

Beleza Trio: Carnaval Celebration. A Brazilian Carnaval celebration featuring Madeline (vocals/ keys) and Berto Sales (guitar/voice), and Matt Wyatt (drums). Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

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

Chamomile & Whiskey. Nelson County favorites bring a heady dose of Americana, folk rock, and country-laced tunes to thrill the hazy masses. With John Shenk. $12–15, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Kai Crowe-Getty Songwriter Spotlight. Virginia songwriter of rock act Lord Nelson shares songs and stories that inspire him. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

SATURDAY 2/14 & SUNDAY 2/15

Feel the love

Thursday 2/12

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

Open Mic Night. Music, singing, poetry, spoken word ... everyone is welcome to participate. Free, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius. Husband-and-wife duo performs songs. $48.95, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

dance

Paramount Presents: Tango After Dark. The ultimate theatrical tango experience merges intoxicating music, jaw-dropping choreography, and breathtaking moves. $41–74, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

stage

Bent Theatre Comedy Night. A night of “you say it, we play it” improv comedy. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

One Mic Stand: Spoken Word Open Mic. Offering seasoned artists and up-and-comers a platform to share stories, poetry, comedy, satire, and more in a welcoming environment. Free, 7pm. Piedmont Virginia Community College, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. pvcc.edu

Langhorne Slim: The Dreamin’ Kind Tour. A pioneer of raw, rule-breaking Americana reaches far beyond the genre he helped inspire. With Laney Jones and The Spirits. $32, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Matthew O’Donnell. Traditional folk singer and multi-instrumentalist. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Michael Proffitt. Sip and sing along with a talented musician. Free, 5:30pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills. com

Midnight Buzz Duo. Offering thoughtful covers with guest musicians throughout the evening in a Valentine’s Day-inspired show. Free, 5pm. Bottle House, 608 W. Main St. bottlehouse.net

Mighty Marley Celebration. Featuring Mighty Joshua with One Love Project. $22–25, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

The Greenhorns. A new seven-piece band from Charlottesville blending New Orleans funk, jump blues, R&B, and a little jazz. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

UVA Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity Presents: Black History Month Gospel Concert. Featuring Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and worship leader Chandler Moore, and an opening performance by singer-songwriter Madison Ryann Ward. Free, 6:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

T Valentine’s crafts at Second Street Gallery’s Family Studio Day secondstreetgallery.org

T Crafts and snacks at Central Library’s Palentine’s Day Party for teens. jmrl.org

T Laugh it off at Love Fest! An Improv Comedy Show at Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre goatrodeocomedy.com

T Something sultry? Immodest Opulence presents two Valentine’s Day Burlesque shows at The Southern Café & Music Hall thesoutherncville.com

T Belt it out at Potter’s Craft Cider with Love Songs & Breakup Anthems: Karaoke for Singles, Sweethearts, & Situationships potterscraftcider.com

T Fancy something sophisticated? Charlottesville Symphony presents a program of romantic works in performances at Old Cabell Hall and The Paramount Theater. cvillesymphony.org Times, prices, and locations vary. See calendar for additional details.

dance

Boot Scoot Square Dance Party. A beginnerfriendly square dance with Big Silo playing driving old-time favorites to help you move to the music. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Galentine’s Day Beginner Hip-Hop Dance Class. Make friends, move your body, and learn some easy-to-follow hip-hop dance moves. All skill levels are welcomed. $12, 6:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

stage

Comedy Afton. An unforgettable night of stand-up comedy featuring Dan Frigolette, a seasoned comedian with extensive credits across television, film, and international stages. $20–150, 5pm. Hazy Mountain Vineyard & Brewery, 240 Hazy Mountain Ln., Afton. hazy-mountain.com

words

Author Event: Anna Kovatcheva. Kovatcheva reads from her debut novel, She Made Herself a Monster. A conversation with writer John Casteen follows. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

classes

Paint + Sip: Cozy Cabin. Paint the supplied design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials included. $40, 6pm. Hazy Mountain Vineyard & Brewery, 240 Hazy Mountain Ln., Afton. blueridgebrushes.com

etc.

After Hours at Blenheim: Streaming DMB at The Gorge. A special evening featuring a streaming viewing of Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge (2025) on the big screen, with dinner by Sussex Farm. $35, 7pm. Blenheim Vineyards, 31 Blenheim Farm. blenheimvineyards.com

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 12. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 12. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 2/14

music

Charlottesville Symphony: Romance. Featuring some of the most romantic works ever written by Elgar, Rachmaninoff, Mascagni, Williams, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky. $10–53, 7:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. cvillesymphony.org

Dave Sherman Trio. Sherman teams up with Andy Burdetsky on bass and Gary Crockett on drums for a night of blues music. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Her Checkered Past. Anne O’Brien and Frank Bechter perform music to warm your heart. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Josh Mayo and The House Sauce. One of Charlottesville’s finest rockers performs with his band. Free, 10pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Latin Guitar with Berto. Enjoy the sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America with Berto Sales. His unique fingerpicking style and contagious energy will have you tapping your feet. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com

Lizzie No: Lovers Welcome. Folk troubadour presents a night of love, un-love, and longing in all its forms. With special guest Isabel March. $20–25, 7:30pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com

The monsters we need

Anna Kovatcheva examines survival and identity through vampire folklore BY

SARAH LAWSON

Anna Kovatcheva’s debut novel, She Made Herself a Monster, is a dark incantation of a story that explores themes of transgression and transmutation through traditional folklore tropes. Set in 19th-century Bulgaria, the novel revolves around Yana, a self-proclaimed vampire slayer, and Anka, an orphan whose fate is tied to that of her adoptive father figure, the Captain, a powerful and abusive man who aims to marry her against her wishes.

The book opens on Yana performing a ritual to reinvigorate a village that has been ravaged by a plague. Kovatcheva begins, “There is a brick, and there is a mouth. In a dim root cellar smelling of dirt and brined cabbage, people cluster anxiously close.” The scene quickly pulls readers in with gruesome yet captivating details: “His fingers are blue and swollen, his nails pressed into the putty of his skin like yellow shells. When Yana pulls his dry lips apart, his teeth grind together as though his body knows what is coming. A human mouth is much smaller than a brick. Most only open four inches wide.”

Kovatcheva writes of that first, anonymous village, “Without a spark of hope, none of them will survive the snow.” And so Yana ignites the spark by performing a vampire slaying, setting a visceral and sour tone, tense with action. A far cry from Buffy, Yana’s skills are in the art of performance and deception. Her craft is one of scheming and captivation—thoughtful and slow, which she learned from her mother. “‘People will think things about you,’ her mother told her. “‘When they do, they give you power. You can use their thoughts against them.’”

When Yana arrives at a village, she susses out villagers’ dreams and nightmares so as to be able to vanquish the monsters that live in their hearts and minds. As Kovatcheva writes, “Every village is haunted in its own way. All of them want her to banish something without form.” Steeped in the art of the con, Yana’s practice begets results. “Even a fake seer is of use, as long as she is convincing,” writes Kovatcheva.

While Yana travels from village to village performing rituals to rid them of perceived curses, vampires, and demons, the orphan Anka is trapped in the village of Koprivci, awaiting her destiny of marriage. Anka is also a scapegoat for villagers who believe she is at fault for myriad afflictions. “In the neighboring towns, people tell Yana that the village Koprivci is cursed, if you believe in such things,” Kovatcheva writes. Through a chance

encounter, Yana and Anka meet and craft a plan monstrous enough to save both the village and Anka herself. To do so will take witchcraft (or at least what passes for it in a town that wants to believe).

Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, and raised in Central Virginia, Kovatcheva attended the University of Virginia, and She Made Herself a Monster was inspired in part by her coursework in UVA’s Slavic studies department. The novel was completed during a residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, where she is a two-time fellow. Describing the origins of a vampire as well as its power over people, Kovatcheva writes, “Dying is noise and movement, but what follows is silence. … A shadow chooses the body. The body is its womb, its vessel while the demon grows. … The demon knits itself a shape. … The vessel becomes the model: as God made him in His image, so the vampire makes itself in the image of a man. The slayers, sabotnici, share these stories. They teach them to ordinary people, pass them from mouth to mouth, because you must be able to see a monster before you can fight it.”

In the end, She Made Herself a Monster is a book about survival, about seeing the monsters in our midst and fighting them even when the odds against you are great. It’s an exploration of the lengths to which one may go to protect themselves and the people they love; to escape violence, trauma, and abuse; and to build a new collective reality. It is also about the stranglehold of loneliness, loss, and desperation, and portals to other lives.

Informed by folklore and fairy tales, the novel examines the stories we tell to make sense of our world and the identities we hold within that world. Exploring storytelling as a communal practice, Kovatcheva’s novel is a compelling and timely look at the ways stories can be harnessed to create a shared reality—a mutual belief in what is good and what is evil—and the ways they can either bolster or undermine those who hold power. Monsters serve a function, in life and in death. As Yana tells a villager, “Humans have always needed people like me—as long as we’ve needed monsters.”

In the end, She Made Herself a Monster is a book about survival, about seeing the monsters in our midst and fighting them even when the odds against you are great.

Ash Wednesday, February 18

7:30–9:00 a.m. | Ashes to Go, Old Trail Drive (across from Grit Coffee)

12:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. | Holy Eucharist: Rite II with Imposition of Ashes

Join us Sundays in Lent

8:15 a.m. | Traditional Worship

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent with a call to penitence and remembrance that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. Join us this Lent for many opportunities to mark the sacred journey to Easter.

10:30 a.m. | Family Worship with Children’s Chapel 5:30 p.m. | Choral Evensong (1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays) Contemplative Evening Prayer (2nd, 4th Sundays)

Learn more about worship at stpaulsivy.org/worship

Solidarity Complete Fitness is a full-service strength & conditioning studio. Our goal is to improve all areas of fitness by providing thoughtful programming, a supportive community, and premium coaching. We are here to help you reach all of your health and fitness goals, no matter what they are.

READ LOCAL. WEAR LOCAL.

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

Saturday 2/14

Love Songs (With and Without Words) 2026. An intimate Valentine’s Day concert featuring Sheila Dietrich, soprano, James Wilson, cello, and Carsten Schmidt, piano. $45–70, 5pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. american shakespearecenter.com

Mike Proffitt. Singer-songwriter performs a mixture of original and classic acoustic rock. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Real country music, 36 years and running. Free, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

The Legwarmers’ Totally ’80s Prom. This ain’t no half-assed cover band, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling around—it’s the ultimate ‘80s tribute band. $30, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St. jeffersontheater.com

Up-beat, hot jazz to dance to. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Immodest Opulence: Valentine’s Day BurWhether you’re celebrating passion, independence, or just leaning into a little flirtation, this show delivers bold performances and memorable moments without taking itself too seriously. Ages 18+. $25–38, 6pm and 9:30pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Love Fest! An Improv Comedy Show. Goat Rodeo Comedy Co. presents a Valentine’s improv comedy show made up on the spot from audience suggestions. $10–15, 7pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthouse

Cinderella. Laurent Pelly’s storybook staging of Massenet’s Cendrillon is presented with an all-new English translation in an abridged 90-minute adaptation. $13–19, 1pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

New Dominion Storytime. Featuring 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

Mending Workshop: Seams and Hems. Learn basic techniques for repairing seams and hems in clothing. Bring your own articles to repair during the class. Ages 15+. $20, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

A very-beginner love-themed workshop focuses on the tools, materials, and basics of cutting tile and glass, how to properly adhere mosaic bits to a substrate, making a curve, and grouting. Ages 12+. $68, 10:30am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 12. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Camp Classics: Dreamgirls Three young women, Deena Jones, Effie White, and Lorrell Robinson, desire to become pop stars, and discover exactly what it takes to be in the music business. Light snacks provided. Free, 2pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org

Family Studio Day. Construct paper flower vases using colorful paper and playful shapes

with educator and exhibiting artist Ryan Trott. Add personal touches to make a floral Valentine’s card or a beautiful bouquet. Free, 10am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org

Love Songs & Breakup Anthems: Karaoke for Singles, Sweethearts, & Situationships. Valentine’s karaoke. All feelings welcome. Free, 6pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Palentine’s Day Party. Teens 11–18 are invited to bring a BFF or two and celebrate their friendship with fun matching crafts, team games, and Valentine’s treats. Registration required. Free, 1pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org

Paramount On Screen: Casablanca Academy Award winners Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman light up the screen in one of the most enduring romances in movie history. $9–11, 4pm and 6pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 12. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Sunday 2/15

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

Beleza Duo. An afternoon of funkalicious samba soul blending the riches of North and South America, with Madeline Holly-Sales on vocals and keys and Berto Sales on guitar, voice, and loops. Free, 1pm. Southwest Mountains Vineyards, 5185 Stony Point Pass, Keswick. smvwines.com

Charlottesville Symphony: Romance. From Shakespeare’s tale of the ill-fated Romeo and Juliet to George Lucas’ Indiana Jones franchise, Charlottesville Symphony performs some of the most romantic music ever written. $13–64, 3:30pm.

The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

The Bluegrass Destroyers. Shake off the cold and settle in for a Sunday packed with ciders and string tunes. Free, 1pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Matt Johnson. Originals and well-known covers. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Pat Anderson. A roots rocker with a toughminded country-rock sensibility. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com classes

Oil Painting for Everybody: Floral Edition. Learn oil painting in an approachable and organized format by rendering a floral composition. Beginner focused, but all skill levels welcome. Ages 14+. $45, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Printmaking Workshop. Learn the art of lino/ block printing. No previous experience necessary, all materials provided. Ages 15+. $35, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 12. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Craft Cville Galentine’s Market. Talented women makers and artists offer many different handmade goods. Free, noon. Eastwood Farm

and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com

Live-Scored Film Screening: Flying Ace. Celebrate Black History Month with the 100th anniversary of this 1926 race film inspired by the story of Bessie Coleman, with a live musical score by Matt Marshall. $9–10, 2pm. Violet Crown Charlottesville, 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. charlottesville.violetcrown.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, February 12. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

WTJU Family Radio Day. A family-friendly peek into WTJU’s broadcast studios. Enjoy story time, music making, and an audio activity. Designed for ages 4–8. Sign up in advance. Free, 10am. WTJU 91.1 FM, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

Monday 2/16

music

Margo Price: Wild At Heart Tour. Classic country songs written from the intellect and the gut, hell-bent on truth-telling and both timeless and urgent all at once. $36, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

words

Storytime. A magical storytime adventure where the pages come alive and imagination knows no bounds. Free with museum admission, 10:30am. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. vadm.org

Tuesday 2/17

music

Open Mic Night. An opportunity to test the waters, showcase your original songs, and enjoy the sounds. Hosted by The Open Mic Music Exchange and Nicole Giordano. Free, 9:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

Yefim Bronfman. Renowned pianist performs a program featuring works by Brahms, Debussy, Prokofiev, and Schumann at this Tuesday Evening Concert Series show. $5–45, 7:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. tecs.org

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

In Conversation: Mantua Nangala and Sally Rowe Nakamarra. Two leading women painters from Australia’s remote Western Desert discuss personal practice and the role of art in promoting economic empowerment, community health, and more. Registration required. Free, 2pm. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA, 400 Worrell Dr. kluge-ruhe.org

classes

Paint + Sip: Blue Ridge Starry Night. Paint the supplied design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials and first drink included. $44, 6pm. Ellie’s Country Club, 16 Elliewood Ave. blueridgebrushes.com

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

SMALL BITES CULTURE

Nom nom nom

Smyrna chef Tarik Sengul earns James Beard nomination

BY JAMES SANFORD

Smyrna has been around for less than four years, but that’s long enough for chef and co-founder Tarik Sengul to get the attention of the prestigious James Beard Foundation: Sengul has been named a semifinalist for the Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic category, which encompasses restaurants in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.

He joins previous local James Beard semifinalists Peter Chang (Peter Chang China Grill), Melissa Close-Hart (Junction), Jose de Brito (The Alley Light, Café Frank), Angelo Vangelopoulos (Ivy Inn), and Ian Redshaw (Lampo, Prime 109).

A native of Turkey, Sengul began his American cooking career in New York and then joined forces with his friend, Orhun Bartu Dikmen, to launch Smyrna in the summer of 2022. The Aegean/Mediterranean restaurant’s open kitchen set-up allows diners to watch the chefs prepare dishes from the tantalizing meze trio to the coveted Manti dumplings dish composed of Sharondale mushrooms, dehydrated tomato, garlic yogurt, and pepper butter sauce. Sengul will find out on April 1 if he moves to the list of five finalists. The 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards will be presented in Chicago on June 15.

Popitos pops up downtown

Popitos Pizza owner Ray Zayas says he wasn’t necessarily looking for a second location, but “the opportunity came up and, you know, we thought it through, and said, ‘Let’s take a swing at it.’”

Zayas and his team are turning up the heat at 200 W. Water St. (the former address of Mono Loco, Umma’s, Signature Soul, and Moe’s Original BBQ). The new location has an expanded menu that includes New Yorkstyle pizza. “We’ve always done wood-fired pizza—high temperature, 800 degrees or more,” he says. “What we’ve got in the new store is a traditional deck oven to make the traditional New York style.”

You’ll also find the Grandma pizza, “which is a type of Sicilian pizza” that Zayas says is only available by the slice. Carryovers from the original Rio Hill store include the Fun Guy (for portobello mushroom lovers), the Hot Pig (with jalapeños, bacon, and hot honey) and the White Za (ricotta, ParmesanReggiano, mozzarella, spinach, garlic, and extra-virgin olive oil).

Goodbye Harold, hello Dave

If you go to 5th Street Station lookin’ for chicken, you won’t find Harold’s or its wonderfully crispy catfish—15 months after opening, the Chicago-based chain pulled up stakes and is relocating to Richmond. Meanwhile, Dave’s Hot Chicken has taken over the former Fuzzy’s Taco Shop space in the shopping center. Initially launched as a pop-up eatery in East Hollywood in 2017, the brand is a global hit with chickenheads in Toronto, London, and Dubai—and loved by vegetarians too.

“You can get any meal as cauliflower,” says manager Tony Carter. “We call it Dave’s Not Chicken.” If you’re in the mood to mix it up, try the top-loaded fries plate, which piles on cheese sauce, pickles, kale slaw, plus a half-dozen Dave’s Bites.

Get some dim sum

Also new to 5th Street Station is Bambu Dumpling & Noodle House. “We have some traditional Chinese food, like General Tso’s Chicken, but we try to make it more modern,” says the manager. “We focus on dumplings and ramen—that’s our key item—and then we have some dim sum and some appetizers.”

Dim sum selections include crystal shrimp dumplings, steamed or pan-fried pork buns, sesame balls, and chicken or pork and shrimp shumai. The dumpling menu includes vegeta-

ble, chicken, pork, and beef options, and another highlight is the ever-popular bibimbap.

Cooking up classes

If you’re thinking a cooking class might combat the winter blahs, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards is happy to guide you through lessons on the cuisine of France, Spain, Greece, and Italy from February through April. Each class runs three hours and is hosted by chef Victoria Cosner, and includes Pippin Hill wines and a family-style dinner in the tasting room.

A decade in the making

Remember those old Orson Welles commercials for Paul Masson wine, where he declared, “We will serve no wine before its time”? The same sentiment flows at Spirit Lab Distilling, where distiller/owner Ivar Aass has waited 10 years for the Brindle Rum to come of age. Distilled in 2015 and aged in a single 15-gallon barrel, the rum is finally being released in multiple small quantities.

“The small-barrel format brought an intensity and concentration that we rarely see, while time rounded the edges and built deep notes of caramelized sugar, dried fruit, warm spice, and oak,” says Aass in a press release. Sign up for availability notifications at spiritlabdistilling.com.

MORE TO CHEW ON

THURSDAY 2/12

White Wine Blending Workshop. A hands-on workshop where you get to be the winemaker. $50, 6pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

FRIDAY 2/13

Be My Valentine Food Tour. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon filled with delectable bites, handcrafted drinks, and local stories. $25–150, 4pm. Free Speech Wall, east end of the Downtown Mall. c-villebites.com

Galentine’s Wine Dinner. A multi-course dinner paired with wine. $115–350, 6pm. The Opal Lounge at Mockingbird, 421 Monticello Rd. catering.thelocal-cville.com

Valentine’s Dinner at The Farmhouse. A four-course, wine-paired dinner prepared by the culinary team. Event repeats February 15. $140, 6:30pm. The Farmhouse at Veritas, 72 Saddleback Farm, Afton. veritasfarmhouse.com

SATURDAY 2/14

Valentine’s Wine Dinner. An evening of dancing, sparkling wine, and a romantically themed menu. $150 per person, 7pm. Veritas Vineyards and Winery, 151 Veritas Ln., Afton. veritaswines.com

SUNDAY 2/15

Couple’s Perfect Pasta. A pasta-making class with chef Kelvino Barrera followed by a romantic gourmet lunch. $160, 11am. Mockingbird Restaurant (upstairs), 421 Monticello Rd. c-villebites.com

Valentine’s Day Sunday Brunch. Catered by chef Mark Gresge of l’etoile Catering, featuring the harp music of Vicky Lee. $120 per person, 11:30am. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Valentine’s Steak Dinner. A chef-prepared four-course meal with optional wine pairings. $75–80 per person, 6pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills.com

TUESDAY 2/24

Châteauneuf du Pape Wine Dinner. A vertical tasting paired with dinner led by Héléne Jaume of Domaine Grand Veneur with master sommelier Robert Jones and Cellar Road. $265 per person, 6pm. Tavola, 826 Hinton Ave. tavolavino.com

SATURDAY 2/28

Dueling Pianos Dinner Party. A night of music, food, dancing, singing, and wine with Felix Fingers Dueling Pianos. $99–109, 6pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills.com

SATURDAY 3/7

Barrel Tasting with the Winemaker. Winemaker Julien Durantie provides a sample taste of the 2025 harvest. $75 per person, 1pm and 3pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

SUNDAY 3/8

Chocolate & Wine Pairing Event. Master chocolatier Ann Czaja and DuCard owner Scott Elliff select pairings and share the reasons why they work. $75, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

FOR FUN PUZZLES

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD BY

MATT JONES

Born and bread

60. De-squeaked

64. Cruise ship deck

65. Sign seen near crossing guards

67. Love, in Latin class

68. Adjust, as wheels

69. “La Cage aux Folles” character

70. He does way more talking than Teller

71. Amtrak terminal

72. Stank

DOWN

1. Dump abruptly

2. Nabisco mainstay

3. Like some pretzels

4. Go in

5. Move while filming

6. Space balls?

30. Site of the 1998 Winter Olympics

36. Gloomy music genre

37. Gloomy guy?

38. Laptop brand partially from Latin for “new”

39. Has the knack

40. Bar soap alternative, maybe

42. Pickleball divider

43. Makes invalid

45. Billion years

46. Forgotten rapper?

47. One of 32 works by Beethoven

50. Ave. crossers

51. Cupcake decorator

52. Belt-hole maker

54. Baffled

57. Do something

7. Regenerist brand

8. Something to learn

9. 157.5 deg. from N

10. Green-blooded “Star Trek” antagonist

11. Say with confidence

12. Zorro’s accessory

13. Remote button

18. Future sign

22. “Star Trek” actress Barrett married to Gene Roddenberry

24. Chef Emeril

26. Italian cornmeal dish

27. “Previously on ...” segment

28. “Legend of a Cowgirl” singer Coppola

29. It comes between haters and hate

By Rob Brezsny Pisces

( Feb. 19-March 20 ): Can you care for stressed people without making it your duty to rescue them? Can you offer support without being taken advantage of? I hope so, Pisces. Life is inviting you to be more skilled about expressing your love without compromising your own interests. How? First, offer affection without signing up for endless service. Second, don’t let your empathy blur into entanglement. Third, monitor your urge to care so it doesn’t weaken your sovereignty. Your gift for soothing others’ struggles evokes my deep respect, but it’s most effective when it’s subtle and relaxed. Give people room to carry out their own necessary work.

Aries

(March 21-April 19): “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them,” wrote Ernest Hemingway. This Valentine season, I propose you experiment with his approach. Take a smart risk with people who have shown glimmers of reliability but whom you haven’t fully welcomed. Don’t indulge in reckless credulity, just courageous and discerning openness. Be vulnerable enough to discover what further connection might bloom if you lead with faith rather than suspicion. Your willingness to believe in someone’s better nature may help bring it forth.

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): Taurus singer Barbra Streisand addressed her legendary perfectionism. She said that truly interesting intimacy became available for her only after she showed her dear allies her full array of selves, not just her shiny, polished side. In alignment with astrological omens, I encourage you to experiment with the daring art of unfinished revelation. Let the people you care for witness you in the midst of becoming. Share your uncertainties, your half-formed thoughts, and your works in progress. Surprise! Your flaws may prove as endearing as your achievements.

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): Author Anaïs Nin wrote, “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” I believe this understanding of camaraderie should be at the heart of most Geminis’ destinies. It’s your birthright and your potential superpower to seek connections with people who inspire you to think thoughts and feel feelings you would never summon by yourself. You have an uncanny knack for finding allies and colleagues who help you unveil and express more of your total self. Now is a good time to tap further into these blessings.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN

(Jan 20-Feb. 18): Poet Mary Oliver asked her readers, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” This Valentine season, I propose a collaborative version of this prod:

Ask

those you care for to help you answer Oliver’s question, and offer to help them answer it for themselves. Now is an excellent

time to act on the truth that

vibrant intimacy involves the two of

you inspiring each other to fulfill

your highest

callings. Do whatever it takes to make both of you braver and bolder as you learn more about who you are meant to be.

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): Poet David Whyte said that “heartbreak is unpreventable.” It’s “the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control.” But here’s the redemptive twist: Your capacity to feel heartbreak proves you have loved well. Your shaky aches are emblems of your courageous readiness to risk closeness and be deeply affected. So let’s celebrate your tender heart not despite its vulnerability but because of it. You should brandish your sensitivity as a superpower.

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): Choreographer Twyla Tharp said she fell in love with her husband partly because “he was the only person who didn’t seem impressed by me.” I will extrapolate from that to draw this conclusion: Our most valuable allies might show their most rigorous respect by seeing us clearly. This Valentine season, Leo, I invite you to test the hypothesis that being thoroughly known and understood is more crucial than being regularly praised and flattered. Enrich your connections with the perceptive souls who love you not for your highlight reel but for your raw, genuine self.

Virgo

(Aug. 22-Sept. 22): The famously kind and caring author Anne Lamott confessed, “I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish.” That’s a liberating insight. She revealed that even kind, caring people like her harbor messy internal chaos. This Valentine season, Virgo, I dare you to share a few of your less-than-noble thoughts with

soulful characters whom you trust will love you no matter what. Let them see that your goodness coexists with your salty imperfections. Maybe you could even playfully highlight the rough and rugged parts of you for their entertainment value. What’s the goal? To deepen spirited togetherness.

Libra

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): How do we eagerly and daringly merge our fortunes with another person while maintaining our sovereign selfhood? How do we cultivate interesting togetherness without suppressing or diluting our idiosyncratic beauty? In some respects, this is a heroic experiment that seems almost impossible. In other respects, it’s the best work on the planet for anyone who’s brave enough to attempt it. Luckily for you Libras, this is potentially one of your superpowers. And now is an excellent time to take your efforts to the next level of heartful grittiness.

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here’s a quote from “Sex and the City”’s Carrie Bradshaw: “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love, that’s fabulous.” I invite you to make this a prime meditation, Scorpio. To begin, get extra inspired by your own mysterious beauty: captivated by your own depths, fascinated by your mysterious contradictions, and delighted by your urge for continual transformation. The next step is to identify allies and potential allies who appreciate the strange magnificence you treasure in yourself. Who devoutly wants you to fulfill your genuine, idiosyncratic soul’s code? Spend the coming weeks enriching your connections with these people.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This Valentine season, I propose that you infuse your intimate life with a fun dose of playful curiosity. Visualize your beloved allies, both current and potential, as unfolding mysteries rather than solved puzzles. Ask them provocative questions you’ve never thought to ask before. Wonder aloud about their simmering dreams and evolving philosophies. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule No. 1: When you think you’ve figured someone out completely, the relationship withers.) In fact, let’s make this one of your assignments for the next five months: Heighten and nurture your nosiness about the beautiful people you love. Treat each conversation as an expedition into unexplored territory. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule No. 2: A great way to stoke their passion for you and your passion for them is to believe there’s always more to discover about each other.)

Capricorn

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ecologists studying symbiosis know that successful partnerships aren’t always between similar organisms. Some bonds link the fortunes of radically different creatures, like clownfish and sea anemones or oxpeckers and buffalo. Each supplies resources or protection the other lacks, often assuring they live more successfully together than they would on their own. This is useful information for you right now. At least one of the allies you need looks nothing like you. Their genius is orthogonal to yours, or they have skills you don’t. The blend may not be comfortable, but I bet it’s the precise intelligence you need to achieve what you can’t accomplish alone.

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

CLASSIFIEDS

Adovate LLC (Charlottesville, Virginia) seeks Project Scientist, Adenosine Analogues.

Lead and manage complex and interdependent R&D projects to ensure the achievement of our goals, including overseeing the timeline, scope, and budget associated with the pharmaceutical development of new chemical entities from discovery through clinical development.

Organize ad facilitate project team meetings and manage data sharing, including the use of collaborative tools (e.g., SharePoint). Identify and communicate risks, dependencies, and other issues that may pose challenges to achieving project goals. Propose and implement action plans to resolve project issues. Identify process gaps and collaborate with team leaders and other members to address these gaps and develop solutions. Contribute to the establishment of a new function within a growing company. Coordinate cross-functional teams internally, including research, development, regulatory affairs, supply chain, finance, legal, and clinical operations. Ensure key stakeholders, including senior leadership and external partners, are kept informed of project progress, changes, and risks. Coordinate scientific decision-making and map/monitor study timelines. Manage contracting with CROs in collaboration with the scientific team and legal department, including work orders, CDAs, MTAs, MSAs, and other agreements. Develop, track, and update project budgets in coordination with internal and external stakeholders. Ensure timely invoicing and payment processing for various vendors. Responsible for accessing and reviewing CMC documentation if required.

Must have a bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Must have 36 months of project management experience. There is 1 position available, and the position will pay $65,280 a year.

Apply by mailing resume with cover letter referencing job #17545 to Attention: Uday Gupta, Adovate LLC, 1180 Seminole Trail, Ste 495, Charlottesville, VA 22901.

GRUPO ROA, LLC TRADING AS THE ENEMY

112 W. Main Street, Ste 6, Charlottesville, VA 22902

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY

for a restaurant wine, beer and mixed beverages consumed on and off premise license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages Augusto Rodriguez Araoz, Owner

NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be Submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

P.S. TRENDING

The good, the bad, and the Charlottesville

Submit your own at c-vile.com.

C-VILLE

Part of West Main Street will be named Mel’s Walk, after Mel’s Cafe owner Mel Walker, who passed away in 2024. 5th District congressional candidate Tom Perriello outraises Republican incumbent John McGuire by 3-1. Bennett, a Zions Crossroads cat, is one of nine finalists for Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments’ cat photo contest. Gov. Abigail Spanberger overhauls UVA Board of Visitors. Dave Matthews speaks out in favor of the people of Minneapolis. Collective bargaining for public sector employees advances in General Assembly. Snow days! The Haven flooded with donations during snow storm. MarieBette hot chocolate month returns. Charlottesville finally gets its skating rink back—on basketball courts, parking lots, hayfields, and sidewalks layered with ice.

C-VILE

Lingering ice impacts Downtown Mall businesses. New UVA President Scott Beardsley appears to have padded his resume with “peer-reviewed academic papers” that weren’t peer-reviewed. Massive winter storm—which keeps local kids out of school for a week (seriously wut?) and then some—leaves us all wanting to abolish ice. UVA emergency department reports heaps of snow/icerelated injuries. Salt used to treat icy surfaces can hurt wildlife, plants, waterways, and more. Congressman John McGuire’s solution to the housing crunch: tax breaks for folks 65 and up who want to sell their vacation homes. Red Cross faces severe blood shortage thanks to winter weather and flu outbreaks. Tony Bennett court dedication postponed to February 21 due to snow/ice storm. People keep using the word “snowcrete.”

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

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

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

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