“Being a cook for the Marines was a bit unusual, but we were making gravies and sauces from scratch — it was the real deal. I spent four years on active duty as a cook,” says Tim Gearhart.

Instead of prepping food for his fellow soldiers on a ship, Tim Gearhart now crafts artisan chocolates for his company, Gearharts Fine Chocolates. Geaharts, based in Charlottesville and with a second location in Read full story

The “freak nuclear accident,” or variations thereof, is a trope of comics and monster cinema, but in 1979, novelist Tom De Haven took that strange catalytic event, put it in the New Jersey of a tempestuous near future and into a relationship between disfigured brothers and a woman. He titled it Freaks’ Amour. 

The story seems eerily relevant as a new Dark Horse graphic novel by Dana Marie Andra, Read full story

Mellow Mushroom in Carytown officially opens today at 11 a.m., but I got to scope out the new location at the soft opening on Saturday night. When I wandered in around 6:30 p.m., the joint was packed — something that I expect to see for a while as this trendy pizza spot settles into the neighborhood.

The restaurant is spacious and renovated with funky, modern lighting and among its murals, one featuring records Read full story

Tomorrow night, May 21, Concrete Ideas is hosting a Mix-In — a hands-on social event with a live demo and the chance to get your hands dirty. It all starts at 5:30 p.m. at Concrete Ideas’ new showroom at 2100 N. Hamilton St.

Stan, Noelle and Zach Webb, the trio behind Concrete Ideas, welcome you to come and join in.

Known for its unique and environmentally friendly work, Concrete Ideas handcrafts Read full story

We last spoke to Chesterfield County native Clay McLeod Chapman when he was making the rounds with a short film called Henley about a peculiar young boy. He mentioned projects then in the works, one of which has turned into a trilogy called The Tribe. The first volume is Headroom Headhunters, out now under the Disney/Hyperion imprint, and the performer/writer Chapman is touring the country with it for its intended audiences.
He’ll Read full story