The John Paul Jones Arena has a spectacular schedule of Broadway performances planned between now and July 2012.  Plan now to attend one or all of the following:

My Fair Lady - October 24, 2011

Rock of Ages - December 4, 2011

Fiddler on the Roof - February 21, 2012

Young Frankenstein - April 4, 2012

Mamma Mia - July 12, 2012

For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.JohnPaulJonesArena.com.

This Thursday through Sunday July 28-30 you can watch a crew build timber outlines of two smokehouses from James and Dolley Madison’s time.  This is part of an initiative to interpret the daily lives of the enslaved individuals who lived on the Montpelier property in this era.  By the end of the year six buildings will be outlined, three slave quarters, two smokehouses and a detached kitchen.  Learn more at www.montpelier.org.

If you missed Restaurant Week, try these weekly opportunities for great food in Charlottesville:
Orzo in the Main Street Market will offer each Monday a two course dinner (any salad and any pasta) for $18/person. www.orzokitchen.com.
L’etoile, also on Main Street, will offer on Wednesday and Thursday nights three courses for $30/person.
www.letoilerestaurant.com.

Charlottesville has history … Albemarle has wineries … both have fantastic food … but we also have a vibrant music scene.  Here’s just an example:

The Southern Cafe and Music Hall has the following on their upcoming roster:  July 22 Sinclarity, Kingsfoil and Andy Waldeck; July 23 Carl Anderson & Andrew Combs at 7:00pm, The Eli Cook Band and Joe Lawlor and Friends at 9:30; July 26 The Devil Makes Three and Phillip Roebuck; August 1 Jolie Holland; August 5 Kings of Belmont; August  Galen Curry and Rob Martin & Willie DE; August 12 Corsair and Disastronaut; August 14 Songwriter Showcase with Andy Zipf, Michael Coleman & Dean Fields; August 17 Six Organs of Admittance; September 2 Kings of Belmont; September 10 Xiu Xiu.  For more information go to www.thesoutherncville.com.

Come join the fun at DelFosse Vineyards this summer:

July 23 - Concert with the Worx from 6:00pm until 11:00pm.

July 31 - French Crepe Day from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.

August 7 - Wine and Food Pairing at 1:00pm.

August 14 - French Crepe Day from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.

August 20 - Wine Club Member Appreciation Day from 1:00pm until 9:30pm.  Pig Roast and Full Moon Saloon Concert.

Reservations are required for some events.  For more details go to www.delfossewine.com.

Four performances co-sponsored by the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Monticello are scheduled this July at Monticello.  This first is next Thursday, July 14th at 7:30pm.  Quartetto Di Sassofoni Accademia is one of Italy’s chamber music ensembles; they will be playing a mix of classical and jazz.  On July 15 you can hear the Winston-Salem Youth Chorus.  On July 21 and 28 the feature is the Wintergreen Chamber Players Concert.  For more information go to www.monticello.org.

Want a quick getaway from the heat of the city?  A couple days of complete relaxation and great food?  Come to Cedar Spring Inn next week (July 11-16); rest and read by the pool with the mountains as your backdrop.  Then take advantage of Restaurant Week in the city that never stops with great food.  For $26 you will get three fabulous courses at your choice from a host of notable restaurants.  For a complete list and to see the menus go to www.cvilleyum.com.

On Saturday, July 23rd, from Noon until 4:00pm, enjoy Henley’s Orchard peaches with Whitehall Soliterre dessert wine.  Try the peaches over ice cream or over pound cake.  Then try a sampling of the Soliterre along with your dessert.  For more information go to www.whitehallvineyards.com.

Now you KNOW Charlottesville qualifies as a “Great Wine and Food Destination” …. because it is the 2011 location of the North American Wine Bloggers Conference, coming here July 22-24.  This is the fourth annual event of it’s kind,  bringing together wine bloggers, new media innovators and wine industry leaders.  Come for the conference … and stay to relax in the countryside.  Check us out at www.cedarspringinn.com.

Every Sunday in the summer (and sometimes into fall) the property at King Family Vineyard is the site of the Roseland Polo Match beginning at 1:30pm.  Guests are invited to bring shade and a picnic and enjoy the match, weather permitting.  King Family Vineyard also hosts First Wednesday Roast and Toast on the first Wednesday of each month.  On Wednesday, July 6th, the tasting room will be open until 8:00pm and there will be music by Applejack Jam.  For more information go to www.kingfamilyvineyards.com.