Ed Roseberry's UVA and Charlottesville Photographs

Alas, the Biff Burger Restaurant, with its $0.15 burgers, is no more!

You'll enjoy viewing the pictures and a videotaped interview of Ed Roseberry, a 1949 graduate of the University, who thankfully developed an interest in photography during his days as a student.  Now 88 years old, Ed captured a variety of subjects in his black and white images, from Hollywood film stars in town to shoot the movie "Giant", to concerts and big weekends here at UVA.  Many of the buildings and landmarks shown in the photos are still around, and it's interesting to compare the "then" with the "now."  Unfortunately the Biff Burger Restaurant and Carroll's Tea Room were long gone by the time I, Bob, came to Charlottesville.  However, I have fond memories of shopping at Eljo's on the Corner, driving up and down Main Street before it became a pedestrian mall, and eating dinner once at the Gaslight Restaurant.  Thanks to UVA, the Alumni Association, and Messrs. Roseberry and Barefoot for sharing these materials.      

Filippo Mazzei, the "Unknown American Patriot" from Tuscany

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation recently announced that it has acquired the papers of  Filippo (Phillip) Mazzei.

So who was Filippo Mazzei?  He trained as a physician in Tuscany, but he is best known in Virginia as the man who in 1774, with the support and encouragement of Thomas Jefferson, first tried to establish a commercial vineyard in the American Colonies.  He planted vines on land that is now the site of Jefferson Vineyards, and he built a house, known as Colle, which still stands. Unfortunately, his timing was bad, as his venture was disrupted by the American Revolution.  He returned to Italy, his home country, in 1779, and began working as an arms dealer for the American cause.

But Mazzei became much more than a winemaker and a merchant.  He and Jefferson shared not only a passion for wine, but also an interest in politics.  In fact, some historians and even President John Kennedy have credited Mazzei with introducing the concept "all men are created equal" to Jefferson.

After the American Revolution, Mazzei stayed in Europe and became a political writer and roving diplomat.  He represented the Polish crown in France during the French Revolution, where he again met up with Thomas Jefferson.  He died in 1816, at the age of 85.  In 1980, in honor of his contributions to the founding of this country, the United States published a commemorative stamp with his name and the title "Patriot Remembered."

Taste Wines at Montpelier and Monticello!

Monticello's Wine Festival is held on the West Lawn
of Thomas Jefferson's home.

May brings us two of Central Virginia's most prominent wine festivals -- the Montpelier Wine Festival at James Madison's estate in Orange County on Saturday, May 4th, and the Monticello Wine Festival at Thomas Jefferson's home on Saturday, May 11th.   These festivals will feature wines from some of the area's best vineyards, including Barboursville Vineyards, Trump Vineyards and Virginia Wine Works (all of whom received gold medals in the recent Virginia Governor's Cup wine competition).  These are
great opportunities to sample some superb wines, learn about Virginia's leading vineyards and winemakers, and experience the homes of some of our country's founders.      

UVA Reunions Weekend

In June, UVA will host Reunions Weekend, and Bob's Class of 1973 will be celebrating the 40th year since its members walked the Lawn and took their degrees.  The UVA Class of '73 will hold its reunion dinner on the porticos next to the Rotunda.  Interestingly, in November, 1824, another 40th (+) reunion took place at the University, when the Marquis de Lafayette returned to America, and was honored at a dinner at the Rotunda attended by former presidents Jefferson and Madison, and by the president at the time, James Monroe.  It had been just over 40 years since Lafayette had helped America win the Revolution.        

Saving the Rotunda

If you're interested in historic preservation, you'll appreciate this story about the Rotunda, which symbolizes the University of Virginia and the vision of its founder, Thomas Jefferson.  Since last year, the Rotunda has been undergoing some major repairs.   It will soon have a new copper roof (the 4th covering since the building was constructed beginning in 1822), and the scaffolding erected during construction will be coming down, just in time for graduation exercises.  For a fascinating account of the history, construction and renovation of the Rotunda, see this article which appeared in the Winter 2012 edition of the University of Virginia Magazine.

Charlottesville's "Fridays After Five" Free Concerts

Charlottesville's nTelos Pavilion, at the east end of the Downtown Walking Mall, is the place to hear live music from April through September.  The City recently began its 2013 "Fridays After Five" concerts.  Here's the schedule through May:

April 19 : NO BS Brass Band with Grits & Gravy (Modern Funk  Brass Band)

April 26 : Cha Cha's Cadillac with Erin Lunsford & The Smokey Bandits (Rockabilly Country)

May 3 : Groove Train with Bluestep (Return of Disco!)

May 10 : William Walter & Company with Special Guest DJ Williams with Tara Mill & Yankee Dixie (High Energy Rock and Twang)

May 17 : Abbey Road with The Currys (Beatles, Beatles & Beatles)

May 24 : Beleza with Morro Azul Samba School (Funkalicious Samba Soul)

May 31 : Turnpike Troubadors with Carl Anderson (Rowdy Heartland Americana)

For out-of-town guests:  these are local groups, some just playing for fun, and some hoping to make the big time like the Dave Matthews Band.  Enjoy their music -- maybe one day you'll see one of them on a national tour, or receiving a Grammy or Country Music award!

Surfin' and Turfin' With WVPT and The Embers

While Charlottesville was celebrating Thomas Jefferson's 270th birthday, WVPT, Virginia's public television station, held a beach party benefit at Foxfield Race Track, which is why the event was dubbed "Surf on the Turf." The Embers Band (not as old as TJ - only been around since 1958) rocked the grass with its ageless gets-you-movin' beach music.

If you missed the event, there's good news -- you can still support WVPT, with its excellent PBS broadcasts such as the "Downton Abbey" series, and you can experience an Embers performance at a number of places in the South.  The Embers perform over 200 times a year.  Bring your dancin' shoes!