From watching stand-up in North Carolina and Williamsburg, Va., to visiting a basement apartment in Brooklyn for a podcast taping, Executive Editor Chad Anderson spent several months tracking Sara Schaefer for this month's profile of the Midlothian-raised comedian. (See Page 64.) The next project for this podcaster, writer and Emmy-winning blogger is big: Schaefer's live talk show with co-host (and fellow comedian) Nikki Glaser debuts on MTV Jan. 29. As you wait for that premiere, watch their " Justin Timberlake, Make Music Again" video or visit Schaefer's Faces of the Last Season of Oprah Tumblr site. TomKat, Madge, Stedman and sequined UGGs are all there.
RVA Grooves premiered on WWBT Channel 12 in November with vivacious host Kelli Lemon. The brainchild of Johnson Inc., a marketing and communications company, the show highlights the city's arts, dining and entertainment scene. This first season has six episodes, which can be seen at rvagrooves.com . Season two, scheduled to run in late spring, will mark a shift in content. The first season aired during a paid-content slot, but the next will air as part of 12's local programming. Check it out on Page 26.
Of the eight magazine events that we produce, our biggest "show" of the year will hit the stage on Feb. 10. The Elbys, the first ceremony recognizing standouts in Richmond's restaurant community, drew 350 attendees last year. Needing more space, we have moved this year's ceremony to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and it's now a ticketed, open-to-the-public event . We invite you to mingle with some of your favorite restaurateurs and chefs. Net proceeds will benefit three food-related charities — Shalom Farms, SlowFood RVA and Tricycle Gardens. See Page 86.
Less than two weeks after the Elbys, the second RVA Awesome Adult Spelling Bee, a fundraiser for Podium Foundation, hits the ballroom at the Residences at the John Marshall on Feb. 20. Podium promotes writing in the RPS high schools and publishes an annual journal of student work. I've sat on its board since the nonprofit's inception in 2009.
Since the Bee is the week of the Oscars, teams that sign up are encouraged to "bee stars" and dress as their favorite film characters or movie actors. Sweet rewards are promised for participation!
