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I’d wondered if the town had collectively forgotten that the Corner parking lot is the cradle of the local music scene. Brendan Fitzgerald brings the happy news in this week’s C-Ville that, no, people remember: local filmmaker Meghan Eckman is making a documentary about it. She’s spent a year learning about the lot’s history, and is in the process of turning 125 hours of footage into a single work.

It’s noteworthy that the lot’s manager, Chris Farina, is the creator of “West Main Street,” a gem of a documentary made back in 1995. I’ve seen it a half dozen times (I own a copy), and the more time passes, the more valuable it becomes as an artifact of the town’s history.

Sahar Adish and her family fled Afghanistan in 1998, to escape the Taliban, after the fundamentalists seized control of Kabul. They made their way to a refugee camp in Pakistan where they lived until 2002, when they were granted asylum in the United States. The International Rescue Committee resettled them in Charlottesville, getting her geologist father work as a hotel janitor and her teacher mother a job at a day care center. Three years ago, as a student at Light House, Adish made a film about her family’s escape to America, entitled “Sahar: Before the Sun.” Fellow students Joe Babarsky, Sanja Jovanovic, Luke Tilghman all worked on the film, which went on to be widely broadcast on the Independent Film Channel, among others.

Now comes the news that Sahar and her three collaborators have won a Peabody award, Katherine Ludwig reports in the current C-Ville Weekly. The Peabody is the highest award in journalism — to have one’s first film win a Peabody is akin to walking into a baseball park for the first time and hitting the grand slam that wins the World Series. The award is for “Beyond Borders: Personal Stories from a Small Planet,” broadcast on CNN International in 2006, which included the Light House film along with eight others.

I can only find an excerpt of the movie online. While down with the flu last year I was thrilled to stumble across the film on TV, and doubly thrilled when I realized that it was local. There’s no caveat here; it’s not good despite having been made by a group of teenagers. It’s just flat-out a stunning work.

I got a good bit of e-mail when it was announced that “Larry the Cable Guy” would be performing at the John Paul Jones Arena. Some folks were upset that the stand-up comedian’s anti-intellectual, anti-gay, anti-Muslim, racist schtick was being given an audience by UVa. On the one hand, yeah, fair enough. But on the other hand, I think Charlottesville may devolve into liberal self-parody by getting all upset about the guy. (Speaking of liberal self-parody, everything I know about him comes from a feature article The New Yorker had about him a few months ago.)

Well, C-Ville Weekly apparently agrees that this ain’t right — J. Tobias Beard has a critical look at Larry the Cable Guy in the latest issue, and clearly doesn’t like what he sees.

The trailer for Evan Almighty is now available. It’s very weird seeing the instantly-recognizable Crozet view of the Blue Ridge in the movie, though I expect it’ll be weirder still seeing so many familiar faces as background characters.

(Via Old Trail Village News)

Reader Charles Marsh sent me this: “Two weeks ago, around 10:00 on a Wednesday night, the Venable neighborhood was treated to intermittent blasts of exceedingly loud music which continued for an hour and a half period. The next day, we learned that the source of the music had been the new John Paul Jones arena, whose managers had run tests on the new state-of-the-art sound system. The cause for concern to Venable neighborhood residents is great. In every neighborhood meeting with arena planners over the past three years, our questions about potential noise problems have been answered with the promise that the arena would be acoustically insulated; noise pollution should be the least of our worries. But the music from a routine sound test in the arena could be heard loudly inside our homes and thus portends a long and difficult future for arena-community relations. The failure to keep this simple promise threatens the quality of life in a neighborhood that has been remarkably supportive of the universityÂ’s ambitious plans for growth.”

Did anybody else experience this? If the volume of concerts is going to be that loud, I think the resulting fight is going to be much worse than the Belmont/amphitheater volume problem.

The Virginia Film Festival has announced this year’s theme: “Revelations: Finding God at the Movies,” Jessica Kitchin reports in today’s Progress. No specific films have been named for the October 26-9 event; on the contrary, festival director Richard Herskowitz has established a a blog to solicit ideas for what films should be shown. There are no comments posted yet, so now’s your chance to influence the line-up.

Sean McCord writes: “As part of PBS’s American Experience series, WHTJ will be broadcasting ‘Murder of the Century,’ about the murder of Stanford White in 1906. White, of course, was the renowned architect who over the redesign of UVA’s Rotunda after it burned down in 1895. C-Ville Weekly ran an article a few years ago on White, the rebuilding, and his infamous murder by millionaire Harry Thaw over White’s affair with Thaw’s winsome wife, Evelyn. I am looking forward to PBS’s documentary treatment of this story.

“WHTJ will be broadcasting ‘Murder of the Century’ on Monday, March 20th, at 10:00 PM.”

NBC 29’s Paul Merrill broke the story last night that Caroline County Assistant Superintendent Rosa Atkins has been offered the position of Charlottesville School Superintendent. She has reportedly submitted her resignation to her current employer, which seems to indicate that it’s a deal.

The city will hold a press conference this afternoon to make the announcement.

6:30pm Update: It’s official.

Husbands, want a new wife? Wives, looking for a new family? Would $10k sweeten the deal? ABC has a deal for you.

In June, after the amphitheater was turned over to Coran Capshaw, it was up in the air whether Fridays after 5 would continue. An attempt was made to clear things up, but all that was known that some sort of a free weekly event would continue to happen. After all, why wouldn’t Capshaw want to sell tickets to see prime performers on Friday nights? Now the folks at Charlottesville Downtown Foundation, the creators and operators of the concert series, have declared Friday’s concert to be “the last Fridays After 5 as we know it.” Councilor Blake Caravati says that Fridays isn’t ending, but that the city is just going to “take it to the next level,” while a Capshaw rep. promises that there will be a charitable concert every Friday, although the contract makes no such promise. CDF isn’t so sure that Caravati and Capshaw are going to come through, and so they’re looking for a new venue to carry on the event. In short, nobody’s knows what’s going on. Lisa Provence has the story in this week’s Hook.

In today’s Progress, Claudia Pinto has an interview with Carl Carter, perhaps better known as the guy who dresses like a clown and plays keyboard on the Downtown Mall. He can be found nearly every day of the week, tapping away on his keyboard, playing violin or playing with wind-up toys. Says Carter of his work, “It’s very political. For me, it’s about freedom of speech.”

writes: Visit http://www.bookcrossing.com/. This is a “catch and release” site for books - its similar to the Yellow Bike Program. It’s a global sociology experiment that is the brainchild of a group of KC-based computer consultants. bookcrossing.com tries to encourage people to experience “The Karma of Literature”. The idea is that you find a book you like, go to their web site and register it, slap the recommended label inside the book’s cover, and then leave it somewhere! The label says, “Please read me, I’m not lost. I’m travling around trying to make friends.” You can even leave hints to others about where you placed it. I just checked their website and so far there have been 25 releases right here in C’ville.

writes: Charlottesville is featured in this month’s issue of InStyle Magazine, whose circulation nationally is 1.6 million. They focus on such local favorite hangouts as the Blue Light Grill, Spudnuts, the Mudhouse, and Fridays After Five. UVA, Monticello, and downtown mall shops are also highlighted. Of course, InStyle couldn’t have gotten away without mentioning the DMB. The feature starts on page 417 in the May 2002 issue with actress Sela Ward on the cover…

See the three blurry shadowy people in the photo of Fleurie? One of those is me. :)

Big_Al writes: The Charlottesville Downtown Foundation released this year’s April 18-21 Dogwood Blues Festival lineup, which includes The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, The Radiators, and The Holmes Brothers. Local acts scheduled to appear this year include Code Blues (Charlie Pastorfield & friends), Tom Robbins & the Chicken Head Band, Jump Street, and the one and only Danny Beirne. A portion of the Festival’s proceeds benefits Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity. Visit the Dogwood Blues Festival web site for more information.

Last night, the World Wrestling Federation came to Charlottesville, putting on a show for nearly 6,000 people at U-Hall. There were a total of nine matches over the course of the evening. The last time that wrestling came to our fair city was in 1998, when World Championship Wrestling put on a show. Today’s Progress has the story.

Two of Charlottesville’s own, football player Howie Long and former UVa running back Tiki Barber will be playing on Wheel of Fortune this evening. It’s a part of the show’s NFL Players Week, and all winnings go to charities. Though Barber’s chosen charity is unknown, Long selected the Piedmont Court Appointed Specialist Advocates and Andrew’s Buddies. Long is the honorary chairman of the latter group. The story is in today’s Progress.

The video for Dave Matthews Band’s new single, “Everyday,” hits the airwaves today. It was filmed just three weeks ago, right here in C’ville on the Downtown Mall. You can give it a watch on DMB’s website. Is it just me, or is it really weird to see the Mall in a video and those shots of NYC interspersed with shots of C’ville?

Yesterday the first of two days of filming took place for Dave Matthews Band’s “Everyday” video. Actor Judah Friedlander wandered from the pink warehouse on South Street down First Street to SNL, providing hugs to extras and strangers alike as he went, all the while being record by a film crew. Afterwards the crew moved down to a home named “Breasthaven” on 14th Street (where else?) before finishing up for the evening. Today they intend to film at the band’s studio out of town, off Route 20, before Dave leaves tonight for his Thursday show in London. The story is in today’s Progress and the Cav. Daily.

This weekend, from the 19th - 21st, Live Arts will be hosting “The Common Good,” an extended musical event to raise money for the American Red Cross. Over 100 artists will perform over the course of the weekend, including Shannon Worrell, Kenneth Coles, Terri Allard, Buzby, Fred Boyce, devon, Greg Howard, the Hogs, Brady Earnhart, Nickeltown, John D’earth, The Hackensaw Boys, and lots and lots more people. You can buy tickets on-line, or call Live Arts at 977-4177. 100% of ticket sales will go to the Red Cross. Read on for Live Arts’ press release, which has details on the line-up and the schedule.

The tragedies of September 11 hit every heart in the nation. In response, Charlottesville artists are taking action for THE COMMON GOOD in a weekend-long benefit for the American Red Cross on October 19 - 21.

Over three days, Live Arts will host more than 100 artists in four concerts and two late-night dance parties for THE COMMON GOOD. 100% of ticket sales will go directly to the American Red Cross. “We need to be able to use our gifts to benefit others,” said Live Arts Artistic Director John Gibson. “At Live Arts, as it is as all across America, the lights are still on.”

On Friday the 19th, check out the benefit’s first concert, featuring the Naked Puritans, Clare Quilty, Andy from ‘Earth to Andy,’ Shannon Worrell, Kenneth Coles, and a performance of Vasalisa by Foolery, all starting at 7:30 p.m. at Live Arts. A minimum $15 donation will provide general admission to the concert. Then stay for a late-night dance party featuring Peter Griesar and Raphael at 11 p.m. Minimum donation is $10 for the dance party.

On Saturday the 20th, join Terri Allard, Jane Scatena and Doug Schneider with Greg Harris, the Music Resource Center, Kathryn Caine, Buzby, Miki Liszt and Fred Boyce for a family concert at 2:00 p.m., as well as a performance of Antigone by LATTE. Minimum donation is $10 for adults, and there is no minimum donation for children under age 13 attending the family concert. Saturday’s second concert begins at 7:30 p.m., with performances by Devon, Greg Howard, Hogwaller Ramblers, Brady Earnhart, Nickeltown, Third Man Improv, Miki Liszt, and Thadd McQuade. A minimum $15 donation will provide general admission. The night closes with another dance party starting at 11 p.m., with details to be announced. Minimum donation is $10.

On Sunday the 21st, come back for the benefit’s final concert at 7:30 p.m. for performances by Karmen, the Hackensaw Boys, John D’Earth and friends, Danny Schmidt, Wisher, Hoganzeroes, Teresa Dowell-Vest, Zen Monkey Project, and Offstage. A minimum $15 donation will provide general admission.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Live Arts Box Office beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 16 during regular Box Office hours. The Box Office is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Call the Box Office at 977-4177, extension 108. Advance tickets also can be purchased online beginning October 16 by going to www.livearts.org and linking to musictoday.com. Tickets can be purchased at the door for each event, starting an hour before each performance and continuing for the duration of each performance.

Recognizing the needs of those around us, Live Arts is replacing its previously scheduled haunted house and masquerade ball fund-raiser with THE COMMON GOOD, which is sponsored by C-Ville Weekly, The Widening Gyre, Sprint, and Crutchfield.

The schedule for the 14th annual Virginia Film Festival is being distributed around town today, and the website should have it tomorrow. Ticket sales start Monday for the October 25th - 28th event. The theme this year is “Masquerades,” and thus features films like like Tootsie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Phantom of the Opera.

writes: Fridays after 5 has been canceled this week. CDF had planned a very uplifting, reverential program for this evening and regrets that this opportunity for the community to come together will not occur. CDF strongly urges all who were planning to attend to take part in the Red Cross fundraising that was scheduled for this event to please support the Red Cross disaster relief and blood collection activities that are ongoing. You can reach the Red Cross at 295-LIFE. Tell them Fridays After 5 sent you!

Chap writes: The local theater group Offstage will be performing Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” behind PVCC’s new Dickinson Theater. Show dates are May 31 through June 2, and June 7 through June 9. Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:30. The play will (weather permitting) be held outside at the ampitheater, so bring blankets/lawn chairs. Rain dates are June 14 - 16. This is a fairly macabre (read: interesting) play so young children are not encouraged to attend. Tickets may only be purchased at the door. Email a fellow monitorhead with any questions - This is a show not to be missed!

At 10:45 Saturday morning, the Dogwood Parade will begin its annual trip around the Mall. It will head east on Water Street, north on seventh, then west on Market down to the County Office Building. As always, WVIR will be broadcasting the whole spectacle. Also, the Dogwood Festival rides will be open at McIntire Park through Sunday evening. This is a classic C’ville event, so don’t miss it.

The UVa Department of Drama’s performance of The Who’s “Tommy” (you know, the pinball wizard) opens Thursday night. It runs from the 19th-21st, and then from the 25th-28th. All performances start at 8pm.

According to the AP, some residents think that the April Dave Matthews Band concerts at Scott Stadium will be a little too loud. I’m not aware of a concert ever having been performed at Scott Stadium, but I’m guessing that folks in the neighborhood would be used to football games being pretty loud. What is terribly obnoxious, though, are those terrible new lights they put on during the stadium’s expansion. They can be seen all the way from Stony Point; I’d think that the astronomy department would hate them.

Charlottesville’s most famous novelist, John