Month: April 2008

Categories
Living

Get on the bus

The bus is 45 minutes late picking me up due to the ladies on board needing Starbucks, but I don’t mind. The Washington Wine Academy and Reston Limousine have started bringing groups from Washington D.C. to Charlottesville to tour wine country, and intrigued by reports of Long Island wine tours gone mad (drunken bachelorette parties! Table dancing! Nudity!), and by a recent Leesburg Today article claiming that “Virginia wine success will come from tourism,” I decided to get on the bus and see for myself what this approaching success will look like. Imagine my delight when I stepped on board and saw 11 young female wine enthusiasts in sundresses and sandals, all eager to help our wine industry make it big.


Don’t drink and drive, but do ride and drink: Groups from Washington D.C. can now get a taste of our area wine country, thanks to the Washington Wine Academy and Reston Limousine.

It’s Kelly’s birthday. She is turning (shut up! Don’t say it!) 29, and so all the girls have gotten together for a Charlottesville wine tour. Visit two Charlottesville area wineries! Lunch and shopping at the historic Downtown Mall! I am assured by WWA president Jim Barker and Kristin Tanzi, the business development coordinator for Reston Limousine, that the kind of party-bus mentality that’s causing wineries all over the country to post “No Limos” signs is strictly prohibited here. That’s great, I think, as the bus flies past our turn and heads for Fluvanna County. I point this out to the grizzled driver, Chuck, who calmly replies, “WHAT! I’M JUST GOING THE WAY I KNOW HOW! WHERE WAS I SUPPOSED TO TURN?”

We arrive at Blenheim winery late and the bulk of the ladies head immediately to the deck to take in the view. Greg, on the tour with his wife, Alma, moved to D.C. from California and remembers his grandparents taking him to Napa Valley before it began to choke on its own tourist vomit. His assessment of the difference between here and there is that “Napa has lost that small town feel.”

We are late getting into Charlottesville for lunch and shopping. Chuck takes another wrong turn and when I point this out to him, he thoughtfully says, “WHAT!” and jackknifes the bus across the median.

After lunch and no shopping (we’re running late), the ladies sleep, chat about how best to pack for a flight to Cabo, and listen to their iPods. Chuck expertly steers the bus down the narrow roads leading to Barboursville Vineyards as oncoming cars pull over onto the shoulder, honking their horns in friendly greeting.
 
Barboursville is packed. We get off the bus and stand in line at the entrance. “That’s the downside of the growth of Napa,” Greg says pointing at the rolling hills, “they don’t have any of this.” But inside, the theme park cum food court vibe prevails. Luckily, the winery is having its spring barrel tasting, and we indulge in verticals of the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon reserve, and taste the 2007 Octagon, which has yet to be bottled.

So, whither cometh our success? After tasting Barboursville wines dating back to 1991, and stretching forward to the unreleased ‘07 vintage, I know the answer I would give: the wine. But economically, I guess it’s not that simple. The day winding down, three of the ladies sit sulkily on a brick wall and smoke. I ask if the birthday girl had fun. “Yeah,” one of them says, not looking at me behind her large round sunglasses, “I guess she’s enjoying it.”

Categories
Living

We Caught You Looking Sweet!

Falconer Robins

Occupation: Third year student at UVA

Where we spotted her: On the Corner

Style sense: Falconer says she’s really into fashion magazines like Vogue and looks to celebrities like Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen for fashion tips. A Memphis, Tennessee, native, Falconer says her style tends to be made up of simple colors with one “punchy” item thrown in. She gets a lot of her clothes from Ella, a boutique in her hometown. In fact, with the exception of her Ray-Ban sunglasses and her H&M purse, her outfit is entirely from boutiques!

Categories
News

The mother load

Dear Ace: I saw Howie Long on the Downtown Mall the other day and he was looking kind of small. Think you could take him?—B. Igshot

B: When Ace was but a wee boy, a poolside confrontation with the neighborhood thug (during which Ace was left pantsless and crying) taught him that he’s a lover, not a fighter. And also, that he should never accept a dare that challenges him to try and do an underwater handstand.

But most importantly, it taught Ace that if he can’t take the neighborhood badass, he certainly cannot take Howie Long, who, according to NFL.com, weighs just shy of 270 pounds (which is, needless to say, slightly more than what Ace’s scale tells him each morn), even if you did think he looked “small.” Of course, it’s hard for Ace to admit all this—he doesn’t like to debase himself in front of his readers, as he fancies himself someone who’s ready for anything and anyone. So, you’ll understand when Ace tells you that he was, at first, somewhat hesitant to (pun alert!) tackle this question.

But then, as luck would have it, just as Ace was ready to kick off (he’s on a roll!) another investigative adventure, fate (and Howie’s wife, Diane Long) stepped into the very store in which Ace was doing a little shopping on a rainy Monday afternoon. It was a sign! Ace pressed on. He knew he was definitely unable to take the former pro footballer, but he wondered, would Diane be able to tell him who could?

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Ace decided to seize the moment and he walked over to ask her. After an understandably nervous laugh, she stood thinking. Maybe her boys, Chris, Kyle and Howie junior, she said.

“He always tells [our sons], ‘If you want to take me, be sure you’re ready. I don’t have a lot in me, but I’ll give it all I’ve got!’” she informed Ace. Fair enough, he thought, and then asked her if there was anyone else.
 
“Yeah,” she said. “Me.”

Touche.

You can ask Ace yourself. Intrepid investigative reporter Ace Atkins has been chasing readers’ leads for 18 years. If you have a question for Ace, e-mail it to ace@c-ville.com.

Categories
News

Slowpoke: One Nation, Oh My God!

In the foreword to her third collection, “Slowpoke” cartoonist Jen Sorensen, Charlottesville resident and C-VILLE regular, argues that political comic strips retain their relevance even years after initial publication. As if to underscore her point, one of the first few strips in One Nation, Oh My God! indirectly references the Swift Boat scandal that surrounded John Kerry in 2004. Thanks to Sorensen’s new book, the strip is being reprinted at the same time as North Carolina Republicans launch a commercial exploiting Dem presidential candidate Barack Obama’s connection to controversial minister, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The more things stay the same…

While “Slowpoke” stands apart from other political cartoons because of Sorensen’s wit and creativity, One Nation, Oh My God! stands apart from other political cartoon collections because of one simple, yet ingenious invention: the comic strip commentary. Below every comic in this book, Sorensen has provided her own notes and reflections. Some illuminate the inspiration for a strip, others update the readers on the current whereabouts of various unsavory political characters, and more discuss initial reader reaction to the work. Many of them are quite funny in their own right, like the bit about the rodent-centric website Hamsterster in the social networking strip. It’s a lot like director commentary tracks on DVDs, but with a lot less back-slapping and ego-stroking.

The strips in “One Nation, Oh My God!” go back to just before the 2004 election and run until the fairly recent past, up to the Clinton/Obama race. There are too many insightful, hilarious strips to discuss, but a couple stick out in particular for perfectly summing up a rational person’s reaction to the unbelievable times we live in. The rest of the world’s (and galaxy’s) reaction to Dubya’s 2004 victory should probably be reprinted again just prior to November’s election, so we can remember just how awful we all felt the morning after. The Rid-Mex/Gay-Ban comic offers a good refresher on how insidiously the GOP turns Americans against each other to cover how shamefully it has run this country. Sorensen’s nonpolitical, pop-culture strips are just as astute; “Aesthetic Movements to Come” has me actually hoping for the advent of Pointillist graffiti.

Furthering the DVD connection, the collection wraps with some bonus materials, including reprints of actual documentation explaining why one of the strips was banned from a Texas prison, and a list of search terms that brought people to her website. One Internet user apparently found slowpokecomics.com by asking, “How many pubic hairs does Janice have?” I assume the list is fabricated, but knowing Sorensen, I’m not so sure. As evidenced by this book, she knows all too well how the best humor comes from the sad, screwed-up reality we live in. (The answer, by the way, is 11; I asked Janice myself.)

Categories
News

What’s in your backpack?

Kelly Whitton

Age: 21

Year: Senior

Hometown: Alexandria

Major: Architectural history

What’s in your backpack? Arts Administration class clicker, REMIX a capella flyer, three chapsticks, keys with Gonzaga keychain, Relay for Life pen and pencil case, 30-gig iPod, Trader Joe’s chocolate chip granola bar, small binder clip, tissues, squished Snickers, hand sanitizer, Julia Childs’ My Life in France, AAA soap sheets, red Moleskine planner, receipt from Shebeen, gift certificates from J. Crew and Barnes and Noble, checkbook, wallet, American Studies notebook, business card for a summer job offer making crepes.

C-VILLE welcomes news tips from readers. Send them to news@c-ville.com.

Categories
Living

Class act

So much news, so little space! First up is the Charlottesville Cooking School. It’s not a restaurant per se (although you do get to eat what you make in class). Still, Restaurantarama considers this part of our purview for two reasons: (1) more informed eaters demand more from our restaurants and that benefits all of us, and (2) some of you who attend a class just might decide the culinary world is the place for you, and we’ll get to say we knew you when you couldn’t tell a coarse chop from a chiffonade. The school is in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center, next to El Puerto, and it’s the brainchild of Martha Stafford, who says she’s been stewing about starting the thing since moving to Charlottesville 10 years ago with her husband, Philip—he’s the guy who started C&O and the Market Street Wine Shop before selling those businesses to their current proprietors. Recently, Philip has launched Virginia Wine Works with Michael Shaps (for more, see the February 19, 2008, Working Pour).


Dream the possible dream: After 10 years of thinking about it, Martha Stafford has at last opened the Charlottesville Cooking School, located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center.

After graduating from Peter Krump’s New York Cooking School (now called the Institute of Culinary Education) in 1990, Stafford worked as a caterer, a food writer and an instructor, first at Peter Krump’s and then on the Kings Super Markets Cooking Studio circuit in New Jersey and finally, locally at the Seasonal Cook. Stafford says her classes at the Charlottesville Cooking School will differ from some of the other offerings in town, in that they’ll be entirely hands-on. In other words, you’re going to walk away with some skills. Stafford’s particular food philosophy is about eating fresh, seasonal and local. She says it sounds silly, but she spends a lot of time in her instruction “talking about how important it is for food to taste good.” For example, she says there’s a proper way to wash, rinse and dress greens for a salad, and that selecting fresh, local and seasonal greens makes a world of difference to your taste buds. Currently, the cooking school is offering three classes: The Basics of Spring Cooking, The Basics of Thai Cooking (from Ashley Clarke) and Cupcakes 101 (open to kids as young as 9). But there’s much, much more to come, including a class on Italian cooking from enoteca manager Marisa Catalano. Classes range from $75 to $100 ($45 for the cupcakes). For information visit www.charlottesvillecookingschool.com or call 963-COOK.

Top chefs

A big “Congratulations!” goes out to Bryan Emperor of Ten. The nationally recognized sushi chef was invited to compete in the Creative Sushi Competition presented by the National Sushi Society in Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago, and he won first runner-up. That victory qualifies him to compete at the international level in London this October. He’s going to be representing Charlottesville (oh, and the rest of the United States) in that competition.

As for the Clifton Inn’s chef Dean Maupin, he’s partnering with Linden Vineyards (recently recognized as one of THE places for Virginia wine by Travel + Leisure magazine) for a four-course vintner dinner this Wednesday.

Brunch and lunch

Add another spot to your Sunday brunch options: Beer Run now offers the lazy man’s breakfast (until 7:30pm!). For Downtown lunch, there’s now a quick but healthy alternative: Dragana Katalina-Sun, who owns Marco & Luca in York Place with her husband, has opened Nicola’s Veggies in the little window on Second Street that used to house the noodle shop. There, she serves lots of raw, organic and fermented fare.

Sammies!

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Eppie’s now has sandwiches on the menu, including a ham “biscuit” on their signature pumpkin bread as well as other classics (e.g., tarragon chicken salad) served on Albemarle Baking Co. bread. Eppie’s menu says, “These should have been on the menu a long time ago.” That’s so diplomatic of them. We would have said, “Here are your damn sandwiches, you sandwich-obsessed Americans.”

Another opening, another show

Finally, Ventana is now open in the old Kiki space on Fifth Street SE, and The Upstairs has opened above Escafé.

Got some restaurant scoop? Send tips to restaurantarama@c-ville.com or call 817-2749, Ext. 48.

Categories
News

New dean must fill broad mandate

The gin and whiskey flowed freely at Carr’s Hill on April 24. And why not? It was 5pm on a warm spring day—and at last UVA had a dean of Arts & Sciences. A group of faculty, students and administrators assembled in a pavilion outside the University President John Casteen’s house to meet Meredith Jung-En Woo, who will take the reigns from interim dean Karen Ryan in June.


UVA administrators enthused that Meredith Woo raised money for her Canadian-award-winning documentary—a good sign for all the money she’ll have to raise as the new Arts & Sciences dean.

The University has known it must find a replacement for the former dean (and popular American history professor) Ed Ayers since Ayers announced in November 2006 that he was taking over as president of the University of Richmond. Despite having seven months to fill the post, the initial search committee fell short. Ryan was appointed to fill the spot a few days after Ayers officially took over at Richmond, but she made it clear that she wasn’t interested in the job long term. UVA officials didn’t comment publicly on where the first search went wrong.

The Arts & Sciences dean is in a unique position among campus deans, required to unite in one school the hardest of sciences with the most ethereal of the arts—in addition to handling the fundraising duties that are increasingly part of the job for the modern UVA dean. The University wants to improve its sciences, both in terms of teaching and researching, while maintaining its historical strength in the humanities.

“We talked early on about no factions, and we could not have gotten Meredith Woo had [the search committee] done anything other than work together,” said Provost Tim Garson. “You found somebody that reflects exactly what we’re after. We’re after somebody who spans arts and sciences.” Woo, 49, currently is the associate dean for social sciences and a political science professor at the University of Michigan.

“The previous search was done on a short time scale,” says James Galloway, the environmental sciences professor who led the new search, which started in September. “The new dean did not have to be a scientist. The new dean did have to have the skills to be able to build the sciences, and we’re convinced that Dean Woo has those skills.”

In hiring Woo, the University fulfilled another objective that it surely had: hire someone other than a white man. When discussing hiring searches for the long list of open deanships and VP slots, Garson has often joked that he would like to see a woman from Singapore get hired. With Woo, he’s pretty close to getting his wish. She was born in South Korea, and though she earned her undergrad and graduate degrees in the states, she is fluent in Korean and Japanese in addition to English.

Woo showed she was mastering the language of UVA with her brief remarks on Thursday, pulling out a quote from Thomas Jefferson: “Institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.”

C-VILLE welcomes news tips from readers. Send them to news@c-ville.com.

Categories
News

Governor’s ball

You know, if we could pilot the political way-back machine to 1851 and change just one thing about Virginia’s cobbled-together Constitution, it would be the ridiculous prohibition against a governor “succeeding himself” (and no, that’s not code for some sort of pornographic act). Now don’t get us wrong—we have nothing against executive-office term limits (without them, the Oval Office would probably still be occupied, “Futurama”-style, by Ronald Reagan’s glass-encased head). But c’mon—this mandated ditching of our beloved (or beleaguered) leader after four years, whether we like it or not, has been a royal pain in the Commonwealth’s collective kiester for over 150 years.


Is it any wonder that Jim Gilmore (pictured) and Mark Warner, who could each only serve four years as Virginia’s governor, are looking for further employment in the U.S. Senate? 

Yes, we know it could be worse. After all, Virginia’s original 1776 Constitution actually called for the General Assembly to appoint both a new governor and a “council of state” every year, and limited the executive to three successive terms. Now, we don’t now about you, but the idea of our dysfunctional Assembly trading out governors at a faster rate than they renew their concealed handgun permits chills us to our very soul.
   
Anyway, aside from making The Old Dominion’s top dog a lame duck from the get-go (mixed metaphor alert!), the other big problem with this four-years-and-out requirement is that our ex-govs are invariably tossed out of work way before retirement age, and are thus forced to rattle around the countryside, looking for something—anything!—to keep themselves occupied.

And that’s how we end up with oddities like this year’s U.S. Senate race, which features not one, but two former Virginia governors, locked in an increasingly yawn-inducing battle for the hearts and minds of the six people who actually care.

Of course, Democrat Mark Warner initially set his sights on a higher office, but ultimately decided that he didn’t have the stomach for a national presidential campaign (and watching Barack Obama try to beat back Hillary Clinton, who seems more and more like a cross between Anita Bryant and the liquid-metal killing machine from Terminator II: Judgment Day, he’s probably counting his blessings). Republican Jim Gilmore, on the other hand, is almost certainly looking at this as a step up from his current job as a Loch Ness Monster mop boy at Busch Gardens.

Regardless, watching the candidates share the stage at the recent Shad Planking political festival in Wakefield, you could feel the palpable yearning for the days when their every word was reported from Fredericksburg to Fancy Gap, and their every action was…well, summarily ignored by the General Assembly, but you get the idea. (And yes, the other Republican hopeful, Delegate Bob Marshall, was also there—but he was ignored so completely by the ex-govs that he must have felt a bit like a shad himself as he sat fuming in the sun: slow-cooked while nailed to a board.)

In the end, however, there can be only one successor to the retiring Senator John Warner—and we wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to say who that may be (although, just between pals, I think the Dirksen Senate Office staff might just be able to reuse one senatorial nameplate). But whomever emerges as the victor, he can rest assured that, as a sitting U.S. senator, he’ll finally be able to perform his duties as the founding fathers intended: lazily, with frequent extended breaks (it’s even called “recess,” just like in kindergarten!), knowing all the while that the power of incumbency (and lack of those pesky term limits) will likely keep him in office forever. God bless America!

Categories
News

A matter of utilities

Plaintiff: Evan Sullivan

Defendant: John Anderson

Court: Albemarle County Circuit

What’s at issue: Whether Anderson, the landlord, is required to pay for utilities that he “caused or permitted…to be terminated” on December 28, 2007. According to the suit, Anderson refused to restore services, “leaving [plaintiff] and his family without capacity for washing, bathing, flushing, or cooking.”

What’s at stake: $200 for spoiled food, as well as out of pocket damages for eating out, and the cost of purchasing propane for a heater. General damages of $1,250 are also sought, in addition to $1,000 in punitive damages.

What’s the status: On January 24, 2008, the court entered a temporary injunction for Sullivan so that his utilities would be restored. A month later, the injunction was extended through April. Anderson then filed a motion to evict, but the General District Court cancelled the lease in favor of Sullivan, which meant he didn’t have to pay back rent. The suit is still pending.

C-VILLE welcomes news tips from readers. Send them to news@c-ville.com.

Categories
Living

Going electric [with video]

Spent any time in Charlottesville bars? If so, there’s a good chance you’ve bumped into Travis Elliott. Since he moved here from Richmond six years ago, he’s been taking his acoustic guitar around to local watering holes and gaining friends and fans with original tunes and a wide array of covers (“Happiness is a Warm Gun” is Feedback’s fav).

After getting settled in the ’Ville, Elliott teamed up with fellow strummer Rowe Webster and a couple other musicians to form the Travis Elliott Band. “We played a couple full band shows at West Main and certain places around town,” Webster says when Feedback sits down to talk with the two guitarists. “And I think literally our third or fourth show was doing the side stage for Dave Matthews.” That opportunity took the group out on the road to Raleigh and Pittsburgh. Not a bad start!


The Travis Elliott Band (bottom to top: Elliott, Sam Cushman, Rowe Webster and Teswar Wood) will rock
Rapture on April 30.

C-VILLE Playlist
What we’re listening to

“Thank You Friends,” by Big Star (from Third/Sister Lovers)

“Angel,” by Massive Attack (from Mezzanine)

“Blues Run the Game,” by Nick Drake (from Family Tree)

But after playing more around town and occasionally beyond, Elliott decided to take a break and work on his solo acoustic material. Recently, though, louder sounds have beckoned again. “I got kind of lonely,” he says with a laugh. “So Rowe and I picked up the electrics this time. I finally felt like it was time to plug in and make some noise. It really kind of puts it all together when you have a full group, when you have three other people that are telling people that this song is good. You’ve got backup. It’s kind of like having a gang.”

Drummer Sam Cushman and bassist Teswar Wood round out Elliott’s gang, who will bring the noise to the Charlottesville Music Showcase at Rapture on April 30, along with Space Cadet, a new project from B.J. Pendleton and Tucker Rogers. Elliott says that the band has plans to record a new album, but wants to play more shows first. “We’re still a baby band, as I like to call it,” he says. “I think in about two or three months we’ll be at the point where we have these 12 songs down and we’ll be ready [to record].”

Travis Elliott performing with Mariana Bell and Tucker Rogers at the Charlottesville Music Showcase.

Love of Satellite

In the immortal words of The Doors, “The time to hesitate is through.” Sure, we borrowed that reference from Empire Records, but that’s the message from the recently formed group Citizens for Local Culture, which has launched a campaign called Satellite Unite! that aims to keep Satellite Ballroom from being replaced by a CVS pharmacy in June.

We chatted up with Emily Sloan, one of the group’s organizers, about its efforts. “There’s still never been a definite statement on the fact that there is a CVS moving in and that Satellite doesn’t stand a chance of staying in its current location,” Sloan says. Hopeful words, but from our conversations with Terry Vassalos, the building’s owner, the CVS deal seems like a pretty sure thing. The group is working to get as many people as possible to show support for the Ballroom through letters and phone calls to Vassalos, Satellite investor Coran Capshaw and local media outlets. Sloan cites a Facebook.com group called “Coran Capshaw, Save Satellite Ballroom!,” which, as of press time, included over 1,600 members, as evidence that many people want to see the venue stay.

Last week, the group spread the word by setting up tables at Satellite shows and at Just Curry in the afternoon. When we talked, Sloan had not spoken with Vassalos, but said she would like to. “I don’t know him and I don’t know what he really feels, and I’m not sure how aware he is of the impact of what he’s doing,” she said. She hopes, though, that letters, phone calls and broader awareness of the situation can help save Satellite.


Plan 9 is headed out, but Citizens for Local Culture want to keep Satellite Ballroom in the Corner’s Anderson Brothers Building.

Feedback caught up with Vassalos to ask about the campaign, and he said that he has received a few letters and phone calls, but that they wouldn’t affect his decision. “They want to know what is going on,” he says. “But, you know, they make some comments, but they don’t know the inside story. I don’t feel like I have to explain the business to them.”

Ballroom booker Danny Shea told Feedback that he is flattered by the efforts to save the venue. “I don’t know if it’s a lost cause or not,” he says, “but the community definitely has the right to let Terry know.”

If the Ballroom closes, Feedback will miss it dearly, and we’re happy to see that other people feel strongly about the music spot as well. If Satellite does leave our orbit, we’re sure that Charlottesville’s mad musical energy will spawn something new. We’ll never trade in awesome live music for easier access to toothbrushes, condoms and nail clippers.

UPDATE April 29: A deal to bring a CVS to the Anderson Brothers Building is now official, according to NBC 29. Read more here.

To read a letter sent to C-VILLE about Satellite and CVS, check out this week’s Mailbag.

Digitalis

Feedback is excited about UVA’s Digitalis Under The Stars computer music festival, which will take place at UVA’s Amphitheater this Wednesday, April 30. The festival will include a performance by Professor Matthew Burtner‘s MICE ensemble, a laptop computer orchestra with over 180 members. You can be part of the ensemble yourself if you bring along your laptop. If you’re not already headed to Springsteen Wednesday night, don’t miss this great night of innovative, interactive sounds!

Lacking pep?

This past week marked the fifth anniversary of the UVA Athletic Department‘s ousting of the Virginia Pep Band from the school’s varsity sporting events. It’s been half a decade, but we have to say, we still yearn for the antics of the rag tag group ever time we find ourselves in the stands at JPJ, Scott Stadium or Klöckner. The band performed in UVA’s Amphitheater last week on April 24, exactly five years after the Athletic Department banned the group from performing at games due to a controversial performance at the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl.

Despite their continued state of exile, the Pep Band has kept things going. "The Pep Band deserves tremendous credit for the way it has handled itself since 2003," says Evan Macbeth, President of Friends of the Virginia Pep Band. "When some groups may have turned bitter and adversarial, the Pep Band reacted with characteristic creativity and looked for new opportunities to serve. The alumni are proud that the student leaders of the Pep Band have made the best of this challenging situation." Wahoowa!

News or comments? Send them to feedback@c-ville.com.