A birdie writes…

A friend is watching a fancy-schmancy 10-man film crew working on the downtown mall. My coworkers and I are providing commentary from our perch 3 stories above and wondering what the movie is about and why, oh why, would they be filming on the downtown mall in the middle of the noisy & messy construction? Any one have a clue?

Many of you know of Trevor Moore, a comedian/actor who grew up in Charlottesville and since high school has been making some hilarious material in NYC with the independent sketch comedy group “The Whitest Kids U’ Know” airing on the IFC channel…even got picked up by HBO with an award.

Regardless, Trevor is starring in the new FOX SEARCHLIGHT produced (remember Napoleon Dynamite??) film coming out March 13th aptly named “MISS MARCH”… Though the movie looks very mediocre, it is quite exciting to have a Charlottesvillian starring in a movie that features Hugh Hefner and other notable celebrities.

Whitest Kids U Know Clips after the break…

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Oh the excitement is in the air!  It is almost xmas.  For some of us that could mean a morning full of sweet gifts, or the longest day in the world stuck with annoying in-laws.  Lets jump the gun and have some real fun this weekend:

Friday

Charlottesville Movie Fans:  Twilight at 645PM on the downtown mall.  While only scoring 50% on rotten tomatoes, if you have read the book and want to know what the ultra-mysterious Edward Cullen looks like in person, this is your only chance.

McCormick Observatory Open House:  Come watch the stars at 7PM.  If you are lucky, you can catch Santa making a practice run in his new high performance sled.

Saturday

Envy Dance Party @ Wild Wing Cafe 10PM

Arcady Vineyard Wine Tours:  totally available

wow…I ran out of steam already.  Anything else going on?  Check out MUSE for all arts/music/stage/etc… happenings in cville.
[pic from *SMILING PUG* on Flickr]

Ya, I know this is supposed to go on MUSE, but you need to go see Familiar Strangers tonight.  Why?  It’s a film produced by local studio Cavalier Films and is their first big foray into mainstream film making.  Opening weekend box office receipts are very important for any movie and especially ones that aren’t distributed as broadly as your “Secret Life of Bees 2″ (ok, I made that up but it makes sense).

Anyway, it’s playing at the Downtown Theater tonight at 1:30, 4:15, 7:30 and 9:50.  Go see it and let us know what you think.  Here is the trailer if you haven’t seen it:

In another “Sign of Our Times,” it appears that Vinegar Hill Theatre will close after the Film Festival.  Pity.  People just weren’t going to the theater and that killed it.  When is the last time you went? I can’t remember the last time I went.

Update from commenter katsd:

the guy from visulite (in staunton) is saving the day and stepping in! it’s not going to close!

History of the Theatre taken from the website and published after the break…

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Lake City starring Sissy Spacek and Dave Matthews was just bought by Screen Media. The film takes place in “rural VA”. I am not really sure it was filmed in rural Virginia, but hopefully our locals made it happen. The film will debut in New York and five urban markets on Nov. 7th.

The gist of the film: Guy has drug dealer issues (not sure what), hides with Sissy Spacek (his mom) in rural VA, Dave Matthews (the big, bad drug dealer – I just don’t see it) and his wife try to find him.

Details Here 

The weather is getting warmer, and this weekend is hotter. This should keep you busy this weekend:

• Fridays After Five: The Charlottesville Funk All Stars open for the Lee Boys performance at 5:30PM . From their website “The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.” They are also playing at the Outback Lodge at 10PM for $10.
• Sex And The City Party: For all of you wannabe New-yorkers still living in cville, you can almost live vicariously through the show’s best music at 216 on Friday night.
• Sex And The City Movie Premiere: This movie is only playing in one theater in all of Cville, Carmike 6 on Garden Blvd. You can watch this all weekend at 1:00, 1:30, 4:00, 7:00, 7:30, 10:00, 10:30. The Girl’s Night Out is organizing a move night for all you women out there.
• Bent Theatre Comedy Group: Performing in Lovingston, VA, at Rapunzel’s Coffee and Books from 8pm-10pm on Friday night.
• String of Pearls: Live Art’s new performance opens tonight at 8PM. Buy tickets here for $12 -$14. Catch the next show on Saturday night at 8PM as well
• Farmer’s Market: Saturday from 7AM-12PM you can catch the freshest produce, meat and poultry this side of the Mason Dixon.
• Crabtree Falls Hike: a moderate hike with 7 people attending so far
• Handgun Shooting: Saturday 2PM at Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club. This will come in handy when you run for President and claim that you were born with an NRA license in your mouth.

What other happenings are going on this weekend?