Vinegar Hill Cafe Celebrates its “first” First Friday in December
Vinegar Hill Cafe will be hosting its first First Friday event at the Jefferson School City Center next Friday, December 6, from 5 to 6 pm. Cafe Manager Joel Schectman will have complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages on hand. The cafe will be showcasing the work of Ellen Osborne, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers—a fellow tenant organization at Jefferson School City Center.
“It’s interesting to be mixing my work life and my ‘other’ life,” Osborne said. “This work represents the type of thing I do when I’m not here!”
Osborne is showing two series of small collages using old photographs, an inkjet printer, acrylic paint and color pencil. “My artwork has always involved some sort of photography,” Osborne said. “We relate to photos in such a positive way. We tend to see our similarities more than our differences when we share our personal histories.”
One of the collage series is from a group of 1940s photos from Osborne’s family friend who served in Europe. “The letters and the poses in the photos he sent home could have been expressions from any number of soldiers at that time,” said Osborne. “They all wrote about missing home and they all posed in front of famous monuments.”
Osborne refers to the other series as Ode to a Normal Childhood. The collages are made from a number of photos from the 1960s and 1970s of her family during regular life events such as birthday parties, first days of school, and vacations.
Schectman hopes the event encourages other local artists to consider using the Cafe to display their work. Interested artists can email inquiries to vinegarhillcafe@jabacares.org.
JABA & Literacy Volunteers at Alternative Gift Fair Today
Join Jefferson School City Center tenants JABA and Literacy Volunteers at The Paramount Theater’s Second Annual Gift Fair today, November 29, from 12 to 7 pm. Last year the Alternative Gift Fair helped channel thousands of dollars in donations to seventeen Charlottesville non-profits dedicated to energy, poverty, animal rescue, nature, the arts, education, innovation, and more. This year, The Paramount will feature nearly double the number of participating nonprofit and charity organizations.
At The Paramount’s Alternative Gift Fair, there will be no ‘things’ for sale at all. Instead, holiday shoppers at this virtual “mall” will visit dozens of local organizations, learn about their work and challenges, and decide whether to name a gift to that organization in honor of a friend, colleague, or loved one. Paramount staff offers a one-stop checkout so there is no pressure on buyers. Charities don’t know who their donors are until they receive a list after the event, and even then the donor may choose to remain anonymous. Shoppers may pay by cash or credit card, and one hundred percent of their donations goes to their designated charities. The Paramount absorbs all the overhead costs, which this year is again underwritten by Victor Millner of Northwestern Mutual.
Forte Jazz Band to Perform at Carver Rec December 7
Tickets are still available for Forte Jazz Band, an eight-piece jazz ensemble from Smithfield, Virginia, playing Saturday, December 7 at Carver Recreation Center. The evening will kick off at 8:30 pm and tickets are $20 per person. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Mel’s Cafe. Carver Rec Center Manager Dan Carpenter warns this event will sell out fast and urges music lovers to purchase their tickets early by calling the Center at 434-970-3053.
Common Ground Hosts Restorative Yoga Workshop
On December 7 Sandra Pleasants will lead a restorative yoga workshop at Common Ground Healing Arts. Restorative Yoga is designed to allow deep relaxation for body and mind. The measurable benefits of deep relaxation include more balanced cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure as well as improved digestion and elimination. Restorative yoga is also known to help with insomnia and release muscle tension.
Pleasants will aid participants in achieving deep relaxation through use of props and holding postures for extended lengths of time. Pleasants has been practicing and teaching yoga for nearly 30 years. The cost is $30 and the workshop will be held from 2 to 4 pm. Fees received from workshops like this enable Common Ground to offer a sliding scale fee for many of their other services, so that the healing arts are available to all.
Jefferson School City Center is a voice of the nine nonprofits located at Charlottesville’s intergenerational community center, the restored Jefferson School. We are a legacy preserved . . . a soul reborn . . . in the heart of Cville!
