Month: January 2015

Categories
Arts

The art of Pollock: One-time national songwriter goes local

Jason Pollock (second from left) traded a high profile musician’s life on the road for the backroad charms of Batesville and home recordings with The Pollocks. Publicity photo.

Jason Pollock has achieved more fame making music than most people ever dream of. As a member of ’90s post-grunge rock band Seven Mary Three, he toured the world and played to tens of thousands. He co-wrote the band’s 1997 Billboard Top 100 No. 1 hit “Cumbersome,” as well as its No. 7 hit that year, “Water’s Edge.”

But Pollock said his ambitions these days aren’t “fame and riches and glory.”

“The only ambition I have is to wake up early and write music every day,” he said. “I’ve found that place where that’s what I’m looking for and everything else is secondary. The thing that’s really the most important to me is the artwork. If you can find that, then you’ve been lucky.”

It’s a likely story, and the cynical might find it hard to believe. But how about this for some proof: On January 31, Pollock and his band The Pollocks will take the humble stage of the Batesville Market. They’ll be releasing an album Pollock recorded in a friend’s Scottsville home with his wife Maryline Meyer, songwriting partner Thomas Gunn, drummer Nathan West and a rotating cast of characters. They’ll play to a crowd of 100-150. And they’ll play songs that aren’t even close to the Billboard Top 100, much less No. 1 hits.

Want more proof? The Pollocks have never toured to build buzz for their records, of which they’ve released six since forming in 2008.

“There’s not one of us that is under 30 years old, and we’re not going to get in a van and tour for the next five years,” Pollock said. “It’s just not going to happen.”

That’s going to make it tough to reach a wider audience, but it also makes Charlottesville pretty damn lucky. It makes The Pollocks latest record, the delightfully titled Johnny Sunshine and the Rainbows, our piece of well-crafted Americana. It makes tracks like “Love Is Alive” our very own little Dylan-esque hit.

“The music really betrays its influences,” Pollock said. “Both Thomas and I grew up listening to Neil Young and Dylan, The Band, The Beatles, the Stones, The Velvet Underground. There’s even a little Tom Petty in there.”

So just how did Pollock come to be Batesville’s own J.D. Salinger, toiling away at his craft in near obscurity? In 1999, he left Seven Mary Three, not at the height of the band’s popularity but certainly before the boys from Williamsburg and Orlando, Florida, had squeezed every last bit of juice from fame’s orange.

According to Pollock, it was a classic case of band members reaching an artistic impasse. He wasn’t feeling inspired to write music at the time, he said, and he could no longer tell what was a good song and what was a clunker.

So he left. He came back home to North Garden. He got out of the music game for the most part. For four or five years, he didn’t really know what kind of music he wanted to write and play. He wasn’t sure he would ever get back in the studio, start a band or take the stage.

Finally, a friend snapped him out of it. He had to get a band together, the friend said, and suggested a few people. West and Gunn joined up with Pollock and his wife, and the quartet started playing together as The Pollocks. Records began to flow—one in early 2008, one in late 2008, others in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Then the band pulled back a bit until an odd opportunity popped up. Pollock’s buddy in Scottsville had “this old vintage recording equipment” lying around in his house. Pollock also had some recording equipment. They decided to set up a makeshift recording studio and started recording on analog gear.

There were bumps in the road. Well into the recording process, they discovered their tape machine wasn’t tracking properly. They had to start over. West broke his ankle. The bass player on the record, local standout Michael Clem, quit. The keyboard player quit. Pollock’s friend who owned the house was having work done on his roof, so there was constant banging.

“It was like one thing after another,” Pollock said. “It was definitely something where the will had to take over to get it done, but it was such a great process that we went through. We were never bitter.”

The result is a “musically simple” record, by Pollock’s account. It’s composed mostly of three chord tunes with simple changes. Pollock said he and Gunn focused on writing melodies that attract the ear, and lyrics about people coming together as a community; love and a dash of social critique.

Does Pollock ever regret going it alone? Does he wish he’d still been with Seven Mary Three when they reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top 100 again in 2001? Not at all, he insists.

“I think it was the right thing to do,” he said. “My creative output is much greater now than it was then. I think it’s better music, as well.”

The Pollocks’ new CD drops at Batesville Market on January 31.

Categories
Arts

ARTS Pick: Celtic Fiddle Festival

Celtic Fiddle Festival got its start with gig-crashing between fiddling friends. Check out its finely tuned stage antics at The Haven on Saturday. Publicity photo.

Deemed “three of the finest folk violinists anywhere” by The Washington Post, Celtic Fiddle Festival is a touring trio of Irish fiddlers that takes the art of playing very seriously. The “violinists” are accompanied by Nicholas Quemener, a master open-tune guitarist, for a musical set that showcases a fascinating blend of traditional, international and individual styles with broad appeal.

Saturday 1/31. $20-23, 8pm. The Haven, 112 W. Market St. 973-1234.

Categories
Arts

ARTS Pick: Corey Smith

Corey Smith defies the glamorous side of country music with his direct approach and reverence for the genre. He plays the Jefferson on Saturday. Publicity photo.

In a culture of designer cowboy boots and custom fitted blue jeans, Corey Smith breaks the mold and brings some grit and authenticity back to the country scene. Raised in the rolling hills of Jefferson, Georgia, Smith sings about experiences from rural Southern life. With nine albums to his credit, the country star has amassed a loyal fan base by writing straight from the heart. “There’s more than one way to skin a cat in country music,” said Smith.

Saturday 1/31. $15-20, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. 245-4980.

Categories
Arts

ARTS Pick: 2001 A Space Odyssey

Explore the final frontier on the big screen at the Paramount's viewing of 2001 A Space Odyssey on Saturday. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

It’s man vs. monolith in Stanley Kubrick’s enigmatic sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood star as two astronauts on their way to Jupiter aboard a sentient, computer-controlled spacecraft. From its iconic soundtrack to the tackling of evolution, artificial intelligence and extraterrestrial life, this 1968 epic continues to grow a cult following as the definitive film of the space age.

Saturday 1/31. $4-6, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. 979-1333.

Categories
Arts

Traveling alone: A clear-headed Jason Isbell talks solo success

Jason Isbell credits sobriety for his recent award-winning album and a renewed passion for playing live that has grown his audience. He performs at the Paramount on Monday. Photo: Michael Wilson.

Jason Isbell is enjoying the afterglow of redemption. The lauded country-rock tunesmith is still touring behind his career-defining 2013 album Southeastern, an effort that earned overdue recognition for an artist who turned his demons into a poignantly captivating sonic statement. Ubiquitously praised by critics, the album led to Isbell taking top honors at the Americana Music Awards, where he was spotlighted among genre heroes including Jackson Browne and Loretta Lynn.

Isbell’s road to greater success, though, was long and at times personally arduous. After spending six years as a key contributor in the Drive-By Truckers, alcohol-fueled discord resulted in his departure from the band in 2007. He’s since released four studio albums under his own name, but Southeastern is a step above the previous three.

Isbell gives the credit to a clear head. In 2012 he quit drinking with help from friends, including Ryan Adams, and his soon-to-be wife, fiddler and fellow songwriter Amanda Shires, and shortly after he wrote the songs that would become Southeastern’s starkly confessional 12-song set. An Alabama native, who grew up near the musically rich town of Muscle Shoals, Isbell delivered the album with his endearing husky drawl, shrouded in a blend of dusty rock and front porch soul, as he reflects on regret through personal revelations and vivid character sketches. Since the album’s release, Isbell and his band the 400 Unit have graduated into bigger venues. Last fall he sold out three straight nights at Nashville’s venerable Ryman Auditorium, and Monday night will mark Isbell’s first appearance at The Paramount Theater.

C-VILLE Weekly: Why do you think Southeastern had greater impact than your previous work?

Jason Isbell: The longer I go as a songwriter the more I realize that the craft goes a long way. I think people attribute their connection to the record to the subject matter, but I think it comes down to the songs being well-written. The amount of time and focus that was spent refining the songs made for better quality.

Also, the personal story that went with that time period for me resonated with a lot of people. It was kind of a perfect storm, as far as songwriting goes, because I had something to talk about.

Has the success affected the way you approach songwriting moving forward?

Everything I do in my life is different now, because I have more hours in the day. Before this record I was going out and drinking a lot. I no longer have to spend a few hours getting over a hangover every morning. I was never really working and drinking at the same time. I would drink so much that I couldn’t really read anymore, so I surely couldn’t write. Now I put more work into everything that I do, and that’s more rewarding for me.

What’s the status of a follow-up album?

A dozen songs are almost done, and we’re going to record in March. As far as content of the songs or themes, I try to stay away from focusing on that while I’m in the process of writing them. Once the record comes out, I’ll start to see things emerge and figure out exactly what I’m talking about. While I’m writing the songs, I just demo them for myself so I don’t forget them, and then I put them away and go to another one. I like to go into the studio with that kind of freshness. I have to relearn the songs along with the members of the band and work from scratch.

When not busy with your own work, you and your wife, Amanda Shires, play in each other’s bands. What’s it like collaborating with your spouse creatively?

I can trust her opinion. It’s important to have somebody around you that will call you on bullshit and won’t just say ‘yes’ to everything. A lot of creative people get less creative as they get more successful because they eliminate those folks from their lives and they get no constructive criticism. My wife is a good person for giving me a straightforward opinion on the work that I’m doing. That helps me keep from being complacent. On the other side, it’s just fun to make music together. That’s the thing that made us friends in the first place, and it’s still our favorite thing to do.

How did you adjust to playing big rock shows completely sober?

It was the opposite of what I expected. When I go back and watch YouTube clips from when I was drinking, it’s like (hearing) fingernails on a chalkboard for me now. When you drink, your hearing goes. That’s why everyone gets louder and louder in a bar as the night goes on. If you can’t hear, you can’t really sing too well, so I used to have monitors blaring and still not be able to hear the pitches I was trying to hit.

I also have a lot more energy now. The whole band does, too. When I quit drinking they all cut way back, out of respect. Everybody is in really good spirits. I enjoy playing more now than I ever have.

Last summer you reunited with your old Drive-By Truckers bandmates Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley to play a benefit show in Muscle Shoals. How was it?

I had a great time. I keep in contact with those guys regularly, especially Patterson. I miss playing those songs, so it was really nice to have a night to go back and revisit that material. I believe the work that we did together was really strong, so it was a joy to go back and do it again.

Categories
News

ABC renews lease on West Main store

The controversial ABC store on West Main Street will remain in its current location. Photo: Michael Johnson

The liquor store on West Main that sparked petitions both for and against its moving, as well as discussions on race and gentrification in the midtown corridor, will stay in its current location for another five years. ABC Chair Jeff Painter said in a January 28 statement that he signed the lease renewal at 502 West Main after careful consideration of community comments, meetings with city leaders and law enforcement, and a review of all options, including relocation, before deciding the best course of action was to remain in the store’s current location.

The relocation option was problematic in Charlottesville, and at a January 20 City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Dede Smith pointed out that finding another spot in the city that wasn’t near a school or park was unlikely, and to close the West Main store would leave the city without an ABC store.

Last year, Fifeville Neighborhood Association president Mike Signer collected more than 350 signatures calling for the store to be moved, as well as offering testimony from beleaguered citizens about dealing with litter and public safety. He took the petition to City Council, which unanimously passed a resolution in support of booting the liquor store, a move they backed away from in January when Rose Hill resident Raymond Mason collected more than 500 signatures in support of keeping the store in its present location. The problem, said Mason, wasn’t the store but “the influx of white people moving into the neighborhood.”

City Councilor Bob Fenwick, an early supporter of moving the store, later said he realized it was a more complicated issue and addressed gentrification. “We don’t need an issue that sits there and festers,” he said. “[The controversy] is an opportunity to address several things,” including addiction and the cleanliness and safety of the store. Fenwick will host a town hall meeting Thursday, January 29, at 5:30pm in City Council chambers to discuss, “Are we losing the character of Charlottesville?”

In an email to the signers of the original petition, Signer said, “I, for one, listened and learned a lot about our neighbors’ feelings about a changing neighborhood through this issue.” He said the decision is an opportunity to achieve compromises between residents’ concerns about the store and concerns about inclusiveness in the West Main corridor.

“There’s going to have to be open communication,” said Mason after the ABC decision, and he reiterated that blacks and whites can see the same issue differently.

“Virginia ABC is grateful for the robust public participation in this decision and values each citizen’s input,” said the ABC’s Painter in his statement. “Our intention is to continue to work with our Charlottesville neighbors to ensure that the West Main Street store represents Virginia ABC as a responsible member of the community we serve.”

 

Categories
News

UVA sorority women speak out over party ban

A UVA fraternity party in fall 2014. Photo: Martyn Kyle

You could call it Rolling Stone fallout, part two.

Sorority women at UVA are furious over the collective decision of the leaders of their 16 national organizations to bar them from the Greek-wide party known as Boys’ Bid Night, scheduled for this Friday, January 31, and are speaking out nationally about what they see as sexist and damaging disparities in how sororities and fraternities are treated.

Boys’ Bid Night is one of the biggest and most important celebrations for fraternities and sororities all year. It’s been called the “Christmas of Greek life.” And while it’s technically held to mark the occasion of men officially becoming pledges in their chosen fraternities, the night has typically revolved around women, with groups of girls attending elaborate events in costumes and drinking heavily with their hosts.

After seeing the University stuck in the media spotlight for months in the wake of the now discredited Rolling Stone story on an alleged rape at a frat party here, the leaders of the national sorority organizations with chapters at UVA decided Boys’ Bid Night posed too much of a safety risk, and issued letters to local chapters telling them they’ll face fines and other consequences if they participate. A spokeswoman for the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), the sorority umbrella organization that counts the 16 UVA chapters as members, cited a rule that bans women from fraternity recruitment events and vice versa.

But many UVA sorority members say it’s an unfair move, and adds to what they see as sexist and unfair treatment by their sorority leaders. National rules dictate that sororities can’t host parties with alcohol in their own houses, a mandate that’s received increased scrutiny since C-VILLE reported on it last fall and the New York Times wrote a piece on the issue earlier this month.

Speaking up can come with consequences; we’ve learned that one UVA sorority member has deactivated from her organization after giving an interview to the Huffington Post in which she criticized national sororities’ treatment of chapter members. But C-VILLE has heard from a number of women in the last week who want to explain their anger, and we’re sharing some of their thoughts below. Most have asked that we not indicate their sorority.

From Hooper Neale, a second-year sorority member:

“In my personal opinion, this mandate is absolutely ridiculous and not a single person I have talked to thus far agrees with it, or even understands the reasoning behind it. When we learned that sorority girls were not allowed to step foot in fraternity houses at all that night, everyone was shocked and, quite frankly, belittled. For many sororities, there is a mandate that every member must be present in the sorority house on the night of January 31. This means that legal adults are being told that they literally cannot even lay in their beds on a Saturday night and do homework. How is that fair? As a 20 year old student, I am legally not allowed to go to a bar, but there is no law that states I cannot go into a fraternity house. There is no law that says I must be in my sorority house that night. We are not children, and we should be able to make our own choices. We are all aware that people can get too drunk on BBN. But people, both boys and girls, can get too drunk anywhere and at any time. The boys want to celebrate their new brothers, and the girls want to celebrate with them. Being in the Greek world is supposed to be fun and communal in a non-exclusive way. No sorority travels from house to house as a group, no one wears her letters. There seems to be no problem.

Everyone I have talked to, both male and female, is fed up with all of these restrictions they are taking out on us. IFC members had done their part over break to implement change in their houses, and girls feel like we are being victimized for no apparent reason. We do not want to come across as party-obsessed or boy-obsessed. A female, non-Greek athlete can still step foot in a fraternity that night. Just because we are girls in a sorority it seems like we’re paying thousands of dollars a year in dues just to be told what we cannot do, even as an individual. We do not understand how this is legal.

Many of my friends in fraternities have stated that they just plan on pushing their big parties back a week, which is perfectly legal. The NPC cannot continue to restrict fraternities from having social gatherings. That being said, this mandate is a failed attempt to fix a problem that is far bigger than the University of Virginia. Although this mandate is not a direct result of the Rolling Stones article, everyone knows that the article got the ball rolling. Not only were there falsities found in the article, there were factual instances that happen at schools all over the world. The University of Virginia, a school that has already suffered an unprecedented amount this year, continues to bear an unnecessary burden.

I am not planning on rebelling. I will not step foot in a fraternity on Saturday night, barring a miraculous lift on the mandate. I just want to speak for all of my peers who I have spoken to.”

From Olivia Bona, fourth-year sorority member:

“A key issue is the subjugation of women by organizations meant to empower them. Women have, historically, been the targets of sexual violence, and forbidding women to exercise their agency is both a human rights violation and a dangerous contributory measure to these historic stereotypes. No one is upset they are being forced to miss a high-risk party night. The real issue is the component of force.”

From Lissie Baker, fourth-year Delta Zeta member:

“The NPC ban on women’s participation in Boys’ Bid Night fails to be an effective measure in addressing sexual assault and the perpetuation of rape culture on our grounds. It takes away sorority women’s right to individual action—despite that sororities, at their core, are created to empower women and celebrate individuals. In previous years, sorority chapters at UVA have undertaken serious risk-management measures; however, these measures have suddenly been deemed incapable of ensuring safety, the ‘only’ option left being to infringe upon individuals’ choice to participate.

Moreover, it fails to transparently address last semester’s events. Greek organizations are clearly concerned about backlash following the infamous Rolling Stone article. Why not work collaboratively with chapters to create “positive changes”, rather than instituting top-down mandates that woefully fail to rebuild our integrity as organizations?

The greatest disappointment is its blatant sexism. Barring women from these events makes women responsible for addressing “unacceptable conduct” that could occur. By demanding we remove ourselves from the situation, rather than continuing cooperation with fraternities and highlighting their responsibility over fraternity-organized parties, the NPC places the responsibility of assault on a women’s choice to participate and shows no concern for the well-being of unaffiliated women.

We as a community can do better.  The NPC can do better.  This is not the way bring about lasting, positive change.”

UVA President Teresa Sullivan issued a statement Thursday on the NPC decision:

“The National Panhellenic Conference and its member national organizations arrived at this decision and issued relevant instructions to their chapters in Charlottesville pursuant to their own policies. The University was not involved in this decision, and we consider this a matter between the national organizations and their local chapters here in Charlottesville.

We would resist any implication that U.Va. students are somehow deserving of special admonition. To the contrary, students at U.Va. have lived up to our tradition of student self-governance. Our student leaders in the Greek community recently spent several weeks developing thoughtful enhanced safety practices for their members and guests. These new safety practices were adopted by all fraternities and sororities on Jan. 16.

We have confidence in our students’ ability to use good judgment, be mindful of one another’s safety, and adhere to the new safety practices developed by them and outlined in the recently revised Fraternal Organization Agreements.”

—Graelyn Brashear and Nicolette Gendron

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Magazines Real Estate

What’s new in home technology?

Today’s homeowners can control a host of innovative home technologies from their tablets and smart phones, and if you aren’t yet acquainted with these innovations you are in for a pleasant surprise.

The list of possibilities includes entertainment such as home theatre or distributed audio that lets you enjoy music throughout your home.  Making day to day life more convenient is another way technology can improve the quality of your life, allowing you to control many of your home’s functions from wherever you are on the planet, while at the same time assuring your home is more secure when you are away.

Some of these technology upgrades are simple, requiring little in the way of DIY ability, while others are best left to the pros.  Regardless, the good news is that as the technology becomes more sophisticated it frequently becomes less expensive, and in some cases may actually be significantly cheaper than it was just a few years ago.

Will technology impact your home’s resale value?  In some cases the answer is clearly yes.  In others it may depend on when you sell and what comes on the market between now and then.  An HVAC system that is state of the art today may be considered old and inefficient even five years from now.  Even if you don’t get your investment back, you can, in the meantime, enjoy all the convenience and lifestyle enhancements the different technologies have to offer.

Energy Savings

Technology can make a major contribution to the quality of your life via energy savings.  A good example is solar panels which have received a lot of attention in our area thanks to the Solarize Charlottesville program spearheaded by LEAP (Local Energy Alliance Program).   Homeowners can request a free energy assessment and if solar panels are appropriate, can choose to have them installed at a reduced cost.  Low interest loans to pay for them are available from the UVA Credit Union.

“Solar is a big conversation,” said Charif Soubra, Sales Manager for The Woods at Burnet Commons, a Southern Development Homes project near the downtown mall.  Homes in this development are pre-wired for solar and Soubra said that for three recent homebuyers, solar installation was a “must.”

Returns are immediate with solar systems, he explained, because they are “net metered.”  This means the system is directly plugged into the electric meter and the client is only billed for net energy use reducing their monthly power bill.

Another energy saving technology is the hybrid heat pump hot water tank.  These tanks have an extra component on top, Soubra explained, which removes heat from the surrounding air and transfers it to the water.  In times of high demand the system can revert back to a conventional water heater as needed which is why it is called a hybrid tank.  “These hybrid hot water heaters are as efficient as the tankless ones,” Soubra said.

Programmable thermostats are also a popular technology that offers significant energy savings.  However, Sinisa Maricic with CvilleInstallations.com described an even smarter option called a learning thermostat. “The learning thermostat is one step above a programmable one,” Maricic said.

The thermostat’s website explains that it is for the 90 percent of people who install a programmable thermostat but never get around to programming it.   When you install a learning thermostat you teach it in the first week what your preferences are by adjusting the temperature for when you are away during the day or at night.  After a few days the thermostat learns your schedule and programs itself to match.  Expect to save about 20 percent in energy costs when you use one. The other good news is that you can control it from your phone and for most people installation is a DIY project.

Ben Davis, Sales Director for Craig Builders, said “we’ve seen a large push for technology surrounding the energy efficiency of the home.”  Some energy saving technologies his company has incorporated recently include variable speed fans as part of the heating and cooling system and multiple programmable thermostats zoned for different parts of the house.  “These give the new owners more temperature control in the areas where they’re spending the most time,” Davis said.

Technology Enhances Home Entertainment

Technology can vastly expand and improve home entertainment options.

Wireless systems are available that make music available throughout the house and even outdoors, Maricic explained adding that “it’s like having a separate boom box in every room that you can control with your phone.”  This means you can have the same music playing throughout the house, or something different in each room.  It also means “parents can turn down their kids’ music if it gets too loud,” he said.

Full home entertainment systems with surround sound are popular, but may not suit everyone, Maricic explained.   Many people instead choose a sound bar which “simulates big sound and can be controlled from a TV remote,” he said.

Improved functionality is a big part of what technology adds to a home’s audio visual systems.  Ben Feiner with Prolink, LLC explained that today consumers have access to online content allowing them to stream videos or access music via internet radio.  They also experience better sound and a much enhanced video experience.

Increasing your home’s ambiance through lighting is another life enhancing technology.  LED bulbs are available today that not only save energy and have a very long life, but are WiFi enabled allowing you to control their color from your smart phone.  For example, Maricic described programming your lights to give you the orange glow of sunset even on a dark day.  You can also program your lights to be dim first thing in the morning, gradually brightening as you awaken.

Technology Enhances Convenience

Home automation, with all of its convenience, is a big part of why people choose to install new technologies in their homes.

“When customers do upgrade, we’re seeing it go toward surround sound, home audio and home automation packages…it’s incredible what can be controlled from a smart phone these days,” Davis said.

A fully automated home means it is all connected on one platform, explained Nick Salzman with Appalachian Home Technologies, LLC.   “One app controls everything including window shades, the HVAC system, lighting and music.  You can even access your oven to have it start preheating before you arrive home,” he added.   

Keeping track of the different systems in your house can be challenging.  Did you remember to turn off the stove?  Lock the doors?  Salzman described an incident when he was drifting off to sleep one night and suddenly noticed one of his kids had left the bathroom fan on.  Instead of getting up and walking to the bathroom, he turned it off from the comfort of his bed using his smart phone.   

Salzman has been in the home technology business since the late 1990s and said that not only are there many more options available today, but they are much less expensive.  Compared to when he started in business, the cost to upgrade your technology is sometimes as little as 10 percent of what it was back then.  He added that universal remotes are also an option for controlling multiple technologies and are still in use by people who aren’t comfortable with today’s apps.

Comfort features are a big reason people like the new technologies.  As an example, Soubra described a popular item—touchless faucets for the kitchen.  To fill a pot with water just hold it in front of the faucet to turn it on.  When the pot is full, move it away and the water turns off automatically.

Home Security

Automation lends itself well to home security options of all kinds.  Feiner listed some of these, which can include burglar alarms, fire, carbon monoxide and flood sensors, all of which can be controlled from a smart phone.  Surveillance is also an option and allows you to keep an eye on doors, driveways and pools.  “Log in anytime 24/7,” he said, “to see what is going on.”

With the right technology you can control what happens in your home when you are away. You can set your system to have lights go on and off at different times during the day or evening or to lower and raise shades or open drapes making the home look much more like one where someone is in residence.  And of course if you forget to set this up or want to make changes you can do that from wherever you are.

Home Wiring

While some technology upgrades are simple and lend themselves to a weekend project, others require professional installation.

Even though many innovations are wireless, “there are access points that have to be hard wired,”  Salzman said.  The most important wire, which Salzman called the “Swiss army knife for the home,” is the Ethernet cable. This means for many installations it will be critical to seek the advice of a professional, even if your home is relatively new.

However, upgrading even a very old home is not difficult.  “Most technologies are not out of the question,” Salzman said.  “Today we can do what we couldn’t do even five years ago, and it’s not so expensive.”  He did say that it costs more to add these technologies in an existing home because of the wiring that will be required, but it can be done.

Resale

As home technologies become more known and accepted, buyers will look for them when out shopping for a home.  Even today, while they may not increase the value of the home, “they increase its perceived value,” Salzman said, which can translate to fewer days on the market.

New home sales may more accurately reflect the value of some technologies that may eventually impact how appraisers value resale homes.  An example is Craig Builders, where “technology upgrades are included in the final purchase price of the home so that real estate appraisers can track what’s added in each home,” Davis said.

If you are considering technology upgrades, research the options and consult a professional if you have big plans.  Then evaluate whether the extra convenience and safety features are worthwhile for you and your family.  If you are like many homeowners, you may well decide the answer is yes.

Celeste Smucker is a writer, blogger and author who lives near Charlottesville.

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Magazines Real Estate

Finding enough home storage

House-hunters always have “enough storage” near the top of their “want-to-have” lists, along with energy efficiency, a fireplace, a laundry room, and a garage. In fact, having good storage options is a positive selling point for any dwelling.

There are two kinds of storage, of course, and it’s good to have options for both. First is storage in view, such as shelves of books or displays of collectibles. For plain-sight storage, a combination of closed and open shelving is ideal. Open shelves can spotlight treasured items. They can also hold baskets or bins in colors to compliment your décor.

This type of storage can be built-in or be a combination of freestanding shelves and cupboards that can be rearranged as your needs change. Shallow shelves installed a foot below the ceiling around the top of a room can provide a remarkable amount of storage for books, souvenirs, collections, or other seldom-used items.

Enclosed, but visible storage, such as a glass case, glass-topped coffee table, or china cabinet protects items and cuts dusting duties for special items on display.

In many places, however, you’ll want out-of-sight storage. This often can be more economical since containers, such as baskets or bins, can be more basic and less expensive than when they are in plain sight.

Closet organizing systems are another excellent way to increase storage space. These systems can include drawers; short hanging space for blouses, shirts, and pants; long space for dresses; shelves for shoes and folded garments; and decorative hooks for belts, ties, purses, or scarves.

Such a set-up can be custom built or be a DIY project that can be rearranged as your needs change. Several companies including ClosetMaid, Rubbermaid, and Martha Stewart have customizable systems with various configurations and prices. Consumer Reports magazine especially recommends the Elfa System as the easiest to install.

There are similar systems for kitchen or laundry storage. An especially useful storage strategy is a lazy susan installation. Corner cupboards in kitchens are notorious for being less than useful, but a large lazy susan makes all that space accessible. Some are available for under $100, depending on the depth of your corner.

Smaller lazy susans—especially in higher cupboards where it’s difficult to see the back of the shelf—can hold everything from spices to canned goods. Sturdy two-tiered models with raised lips and non-slip surfaces cost less than $15. TIP: If you are storing things on high shelves, have a sturdy step stool to retrieve them safely.

Dual-purpose furniture is another excellent storage option. Examples: a coffee table with drawers, an ottoman with a lift-off top, or a bedstead with drawers underneath. Other options might be a narrow table that fits behind a sofa, but can open with wide leaves to seat 10-12 or the clever chair that opens into a handy little stepladder.

A trendy new storage idea involves staircases and the spaces underneath them. A system of narrow shelves can climb the wall beside the stairs. The area beneath can be fitted with open shelving or a system of rollout shelving or drawers that can often be as deep as the stairs are wide. In some cases, stair risers can be replaced with drawers or shallow shelves holding books.

Container Storage

Always remember that purchasing containers in similar sizes is far more practical than a miscellaneous collection of odd-sized units. In fact, it would probably make your life simpler to convert to matching containers. This is true for everything from kitchen food storage (instead of that muddle of plastic containers with a drawer full of unmatched lids) to large units specifically designed to be stackable. TIP: See-through containers are always preferable so you can easily tell what’s inside without having to open them. If your containers aren’t transparent, it’s important to label clearly on the top and two sides.

If you will be using the bins, baskets, or other containers on shelves, be sure to check the dimensions. If the containers will be behind closed doors, inexpensive ones will do, but if you are storing them where they can be seen, make careful selections of colors and materials to enhance your décor.

For cellars, attics, garages, or outdoor sheds, opt for completely airtight containers to keep out both critters and humidity. They come in a great variety of sizes and shapes.

Finally, a well-kept list of where items are stored is key, especially for seasonal items such as holiday ornaments and ice skates or the badminton set and long-handled barbecue tools. Many people employ a white board or bulletin board where listings and locations can easily be changed. Others prefer a box of index cards.

However you do it, maximizing your home’s storage space will keep your life less cluttered and crowded.

—

Marilyn Pribus and her husband live in Albemarle County near Charlottesville. She’s a great fan of lazy susans.

Categories
Living

French twist: Petit Pois combines French classics with contemporary fare

French onion soup is a Petit Pois classic. Photo: RammelkampFoto.

In Charlottesville, a meal at Petit Pois is as close as it gets to eating in France. My dinner companion told me so. And, he should know. Jose de Brito, acclaimed chef at The Alley Light, was raised in France and his passion for French cuisine can produce strong views on the subject.

What is it about Petit Pois, smack in the middle of Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, that reminds de Brito of restaurants in France? “The classics,” he said—dishes like duck confit, steak frites, coq au vin and the chicken liver mousse my mother eats every time she visits Charlottesville. Each is the result of a time-tested method, properly executed. Use top quality ingredients and adhere to the classic method, said de Brito, and any chef anywhere, whether in Virginia or France, can achieve similar results. “It’s fool-proof,” he said.

Perhaps, but Petit Pois’ chef is no fool. Brian Jones, who has headed the kitchen since the restaurant opened in 2005, trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and has done stints with some of the country’s best French chefs, like Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert and Jean Georges Vongerichtin. “I do not give praise often, but Brian Jones is great,” said de Brito, who once cooked with Jones at Fleurie, Petit Pois’ parent restaurant.

Jones’ favorite Petit Pois dish, French onion soup, illustrates de Brito’s point about the classics. The broth requires a laborious process, combining house-made beef jus and chicken stock, and Jones is methodical about following it. For the jus, Jones roasts trimmings of steak from the steak frites and then simmers them in water with vegetables and aromatics, while leftover bones of Polyface chickens form the base of the stock. Jones then adds slowly caramelized onions to the broth, pours it into a crock and tops it all with a day-old baguette slice from Albemarle Baking Company and oozing, bubbly, gratinéed McClure cheese from Virginia’s Mountain View Farms.

I began my meal with the soup, and I’d be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying bowl of food in town. De Brito meanwhile enjoyed a special of pan fried smelts, with grilled lemon, baby arugula and capers, which, thank goodness, Jones may add to the regular menu.

Next I chose another classic: trout amandine. Capers, sliced almonds and butter smothered a seared trout filet with crispy skin. De Brito sampled the green beans that came with my trout to test whether they were tender, as in France, or left crisp, as is more common in the U.S. “Cooked like a French guy,” de Brito concluded happily.

As an additional side, I could not resist ordering panisse, fried cakes of chickpea flour popular in the south of France, but rarely seen stateside. Again, their preparation requires hard work. The recipe Jones sent me after the meal says to stir the batter so vigorously that “you should break a sweat.” Laced with fennel seed, and served in bite-sized cubes, the panisses were delicious on their own, but addictive when dipped in the accompanying red pepper rouille. They’d make a perfect snack at the bar with a cocktail or glass of rosé, I tried to force myself to remember.  Truth be told, Petit Pois does not strive to be an authentic French bistro. That was not the aim of owner Brian Helleberg, who opened Petit Pois as a less expensive alternative to his restaurant Fleurie. Hence, the décor does not mimic a classic bistro, but instead is whimsical, with bright—almost fluorescent—green walls, colored glass lights and beaded tile floors. And, the menu veers from authentic French bistro fare, too, with the addition of Jones’ own creations.

Compared to the French classics, Jones’ additions tend to be lighter and healthier—for instance, Helleberg’s personal favorite Petit Pois dish, crab cakes, is available seasonally. The lighter dishes are a welcome twist on French fare, particularly in warmer months, which is Petit Pois’ busy season.  That’s when a 65-seat patio triples capacity and draws crowds of people for al fresco dining and Downtown Mall people-watching.

But my dinner with de Brito was a delicious reminder of how restorative a Petit Pois meal can be during cool weather, as well. The hearty French classics and cozy 25-seat room seem made for winter dining. “It’s a perfect place for an unfussy meal when you do not want to cook,” de Brito summarized. “That is the definition of a bistro that does its job well.”