Author Archive for Waldo Jaquith

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Judge Rules for Cav. Daily in ABC Suit

A federal judge yesterday ruled in favor of the Cavalier Daily in the matter of accepting alcohol advertising, the AP reports. Both UVa and Virginia Tech’s Collegiate Times had been barred from accepting any advertising promoting alcohol under state law. The Virginia American Civil Liberties Union argued on their behalf, demonstrating that not only is the restriction unconstitutional, but that there was simply no evidence that it has any impact on alcohol consumption. Advertising revenue at the papers should climb accordingly.

Spring Has Spring (And It’s Wet)

Published by Waldo Jaquith on April 1, 2008 in In Brief. Closed

Signs of spring: the Downtown Mall fountains are running. #

Orbit Billiards Shuts Down

Published by Waldo Jaquith on April 1, 2008 in Business. 14 Comments

Corner bar and pool hall Orbit has abruptly shut down after a 13-year run. A band scheduled to play there this week has been told that the establishment is no more, and that the building is going to be renovated over the next month or so. There’s no word on why this has happened, or what the future holds for that space. All is presumably well at Orbit’s sister restaurant, Rapture, and some of the gigs will end up there. Orbit was the first business venture of local restauranteur Andrew Vaughan, who had previously owned and operated the Java Hut coffee cart on the Downtown Mall. It quickly became a favorite among students, packed to the gills on weekends.

This is probably a good time to point out that Gravity Lounge remains very much (and very successfully) in business, despite the 2006 declaration that it was going out of business. In case anybody lives in a cave, it’s probably worth pointing out that, happily, that news hasn’t proven to be true.

“From Scratch”

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 31, 2008 in In Brief. 18 Comments

The tough thing about selling locally-made from-scratch food is that nobody believes you. We’ve been desensitized by McDonald’s and TGI Fridays cheapening the concept. #

Remember 1970s Horror TV Shows?

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 31, 2008 in Ask cvillenews.com. 3 Comments

Fellow local history buffs, albeit those a bit older than me, might be interested in this note from Sean Kotz:

Where were you on Saturday nights during the witching hour in the 1970s? Well, there is a good chance, like a lot of Virginians, you were watching your local horror host. This summer, Horse Archer Productions is brushing back the cobwebs as we film the new documentary, “Virginia Creepers: The Horror Host Tradition of the Old Dominion.” We will be charting more than 40 years of Virginia’s television history by talking with hosts (former and current) as well as fans to create this just in time for Halloween. In fact, we’re very interested in involving you, and are currently planning a Charlottesville area taping for fans, so if you remember Slime Theatre or Cobweb Theatre or any Virginia host or show, contact us at info@horsearcherproductions.com. And go to the website to learn how your stories, memorabilia, and memories can be part of this movie.

I’m always glad to see efforts to document recent local history. John Hammond Moore’s excellent “Albemarle: Jefferson’s County, 1727-1976” peters out in the 1950s, Moore presumably figuring then-recent history would interest few. Here’s hoping somebody takes on the task of updating it soon.