Charlottesville, VA

Welcome the New Year in a healthy way! This family friendly 5k run will start and finish at Charlottesville Amphitheatre. Runners, walkers, families, strollers and dogs all welcome (please note the strollers and dogs will start behind the rest of the field). For more information visit http://www.badtothebone.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=158&Itemid=309. Race starts at Charlottesville Pavilion

This holiday season be sure to enjoy all the great shopping in Downtown Charlottesville!

And don't forget to mark your calenders...December 31st starting @ 1pm, come and celebrate with First Night Virginia as we ring in the New Year! At midnight, watch the ball drop at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion. For a schedule of events for First Night Virginia, visit www.firstnightva.org.

The Paramount Theater proudly presents

An Evening with Chef Tom Colicchio

"Top Chef"Head Judge & Producer Live at The Paramount

March 18 â–ª 8:00pm

Tickets On Sale at 10am

Star Circle - November 28

All Supporters - November 30

General Public - December 2

(stay tuned for more Spring show announcements next week)

Purchase tickets via

www.theparamount.net

call/visit our Box Office:434-979-1333

215 East Main St

10am-2pm~M-F

Ticket Prices: $44.50 Reserved / $54.50 Reserved / $99.50 VIP

VIP Tickets include: premium seating and access to the after party/book signing

at Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar

Chef/Owner Craft restaurants, Colicchio & Sons, Craftbar, Craftsteak, Riverpark, & 'Wichcraft

Tom Colicchio spent his childhood immersed in food, cooking with his mother and grandmother. It was his father, however, who suggested that he make a career of it. Tom taught himself to cook with the help of Jacques Pépin's legendary illustrated manuals on French cooking, La Technique and La Méthode. At age 17, Tom made his kitchen debut in his native town of Elizabeth, New Jersey at Evelyn's Seafood Restaurant.

Tom continued his love for cooking at several prominent New York restaurants including: The Quilted Giraffe, Gotham Bar & Grill, Rakel, and Mondrian. During his tenure as executive chef of Mondrian, Food & Wine magazine selected him as one of the top 10 "Best New Chefs" in the U.S. and The New York Times awarded the restaurant three stars.

In July 1994, Tom and his business partner Danny Meyer opened Gramercy Tavern in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. Tom's cooking at Gramercy Tavern won consistent recognition, garnering three stars from Ruth Reichl of The New York Times and earning him The James Beard Foundation's 2000 "Best Chef-New York" Award.

In 2001, Tom opened Craft, earning three stars from The New York Times, and The James Beard Foundation Award for "Best New Restaurant" in 2002. That same year, Tom received The Bon Appétit American Food and Entertaining Award for "Chef of the Year."

Along with Crafts casual sibling, Craftbar, established in New York, Tom set out to expand his simple, elegant brand of cooking. He has since opened Craftsteak at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (2002), Craft Dallas (2006), Craft and Craftbar in Los Angeles (2007; 2009), Craftsteak at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods (2008), and Colicchio & Sons and Riverpark in New York (2010).

Tom opened his first 'wichcraft - a sandwich shop rooted in the same food and hospitality philosophies as Craft - in New York in 2003. Today 'wichcraft has 14 New York City locations, as well as locations in Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Tom has published three cookbooks to date. The first, Think Like a Chef (Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2000), won The James Beard Foundation "KitchenAid" Cookbook Award in May 2001. The second, Craft of Cooking, was released by Clarkson Potter/Publishers in 2003. A sandwich book inspired by 'wichcraft, was released by Clarkson Potter/Publishers in March 2009.

Since 2006, Tom has been applying his experience and expertise to television as the head judge on Bravo's hit reality cooking series "Top Chef." The Emmy-winning show is now in its ninth season, focusing on the Lone Star State, Top Chef: Texas. Tom not only serves as head judge on the show, but also as a mentor to the up-and-coming chefs.

In May 2010, Tom was awarded The James Beard Foundation's coveted "Outstanding Chef" award, the culmination of his 30 years of hard work in the restaurant industry. He also opened his latest restaurant, Riverpark in October of 2010.

Tom also consults at Voysey's and Tides restaurants at the Kiawah Island Club, South Carolina and The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club, Ireland - both private clubs.

Tom and his restaurants give back to the community by supporting charities including Children of Bellevue, City Harvest, The Food Bank For New York City, and The Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. He lives in the West Village with his wife, Lori Silverbush, and three sons.