The Spark

Arts Booster Paul Somers

Martha Woodroof — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:50:44 +0000

Meet art-film festival organizer/ poet/ skate-head/ barkeep Paul Somers.

Creepy Junk Shop Story

Terry Ward — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:41:30 +0000

Terry Ward tells about his favorite thrift store --a creepy place that gets one thinking about mortality.

Battling Blooms

Martha Woodroof — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:25:12 +0000

Glenna Graves talks about growing flowers –gulp– competitively.

Music Feeds Us

Martha Woodroof — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:29:15 +0000

Violist Fitz Gary is in Charlottesville to co-host the Second Annual Music Feeds Us concerts to benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Our Intern Can Move Like THAT?

Martha Woodroof — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:43:35 +0000

Mesmerizing hip gyration and fluid arm movement are second nature to Julia Skinner, who, while living in Hawaii, spent many childhood hours in the obligatory hula-instruction. Julia still hulas and shares some stories.

Martha's Hollywood Near-Miss

Martha Woodroof — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:16:44 +0000

Film director Robert Altman's odd connection to Martha Woodroof --who managed to not-become a Hollywood celebrity.

Area Bach Boosters

Martha Woodroof — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:02:43 +0000

Long time Shenandoah Bach Festival organizers and performers join us --including Ken Nafziger, Les Helmuth, and Jeremy Nafziger.

Odd Old Va. Maps

Martha Woodroof — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:22:31 +0000

Bear right at the mountain-sized turkey (according to an antique map). Off our coast on a French-made nautical chart, exaggeratedly large French warships dwarf and scare wimpy British ships. In his new book, Mapping Virginia: From the Age of Exploration to the Civil War, map expert Bill Wooldridge notices how we once pictured our own land and how the world-beyond once pictured Virginia.

Back to the Basics

Matt Bingay — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:08:48 +0000

The Spark is taking a vacation this week, but will be back next week. In the meantime, we're presenting State of the Re:Union - Back to the Basics.

Flower Grower Mary Jo Swartzendruber

Martha Woodroof — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:12:04 +0000

Eliza Doolittle is among the best-loved fictional flower-sellers. Mary Jo Swartzendruber is a real flower seller --and she grows her own too.