Discovering the Quirky and Unknown Cultural Gems of Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville is a charming college town that boasts rich history, picturesque beauty and an affluent population. Its also a vibrant cultural hub with plenty of artistic offerings for locals and visitors alike. While popular tourist attractions like Monticello attract huge crowds yearround, there are lesserknown gems scattered throughout the city that truly reveal its unique character.

One such place is The Garage (250 First St N), a venue that has become known as Charlottesvilles hangout for underground music lovers. Located in the heart of downtown, this former auto repair shop now features intimate live performances by upandcoming indie bands from all over the world. You can catch everything from punk to experimental shows here.

If youre looking for something more refined, head over to McGuffey Art Center (201 Second St NW). This historic building was once home to an elementary school and was converted into artist studios in 1975. Today it houses multiple galleries featuring works by local artists who specialize in everything from painting to sculpture to mixed media installations.

For theater buffs seeking something unconventional and thoughtprovoking, Live Arts Theater (123 E Water St) is definitely worth a visit. Founded in 1990, this communitybased theater company puts on plays ranging from classics like Shakespeare to contemporary productions covering issues such as social justice or mental health struggles.

Of course no trip to Charlottesville would be complete without visiting UVAs campus where culture flourishes alongside academics at venues including Old Cabell Hall (University Ave & McCormick Rd) which hosts concerts yearround showcasing classical music chamber ensembles;Fralin Museum Of Art at University of Virginia(155 Rugby Road), which holds several exhibitions each year ranging from ancient art pieces through cutting edge contemporary works ;and Heritage Theatre Festival located inside Culbreth Theatre At UVa.(109 Culbreth Road), presenting theatre performances of Broadway productions, contemporary drama and comedy with an emphasis on student works, all influenced by the vibrant artistic community thriving in Charlottesville.

And for those who love literature and history there is The Rare Book School at UVA (114 Alderman Library), which boasts a jawdropping collection of rare books and manuscripts that date back to medieval times. Here you can attend workshops led by worldclass scholars as well as view exhibitions showcasing some of the schools most prized collections.

Charlottesville has no shortage of cultural offerings. Whether youre interested in music, theater, or visual arts theres something for everyone here including plenty of secret places waiting to be discovered. Take your time getting to know this charming town rich in art and culture!

Websites:

The Garage: www.thegaragecville.com

McGuffey Art Center: www.mcguffeyartcenter.com

Live Arts Theater: www.livearts.org

UVA Performance Venues Information At A Glance: https://www.virginia.edu/arts/uvaperformancevenuesinformationglance

Rare Book School at UVA: rbs.library.virginia.edu

Twitter handles:

The Garage: @thegaragecville

McGuffey Art Center:@mcguffey_artist

Live Arts Theater:@liveartscville