metropolis | september 2006

Written by Nicci Page

We hear the question posed a hundred times a day on the Roanoke city market…”What’s going on with Paradox?” Rest assured, City has the latest on the popular club’s re-opening—which is sometime around November of this year. For those new to the area, Paradox offered dining, dancing, live music, salsa lessons and the unique atmosphere of one of the market’s oldest buildings. Doctors Steve Rosenoff and Paul Richards teamed up to create Paradox over three years ago, but after a brief meeting with success, closed the building (even older than the market building itself) for extensive renovations. The changes taking place are worth the wait, we think. Upon its reopening, Paradox promises an experience like none other, focusing on “the arts:” the art of dining, music, and visual art. Atlanta, Georgia Chef Chad Scott—of “Iron Chef” fame and renown—joins the team, to offer modern, innovative American fare to the Square that is affordable. On the music front, the venue will feature a new, “real” stage and improved acoustics. The lounge will have showings and artwork for sale (and upstairs, the City Magazine folk will be hard at work in our new office location: 206 Market Square!) And FYI, Roanoke, Paradox is named for the sake of a really cool word, NOT because it was created by a “pair-o-docs.” As Dr. Rosenoff puts it, “I also love words that end in OX
 the universal hug and kiss sign.” Spread the love—um, I mean word—and keep your eyes on City for more news of the re-opening.

City oenophiles converge this month at the 18th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival September 23 and 24. More than 4,000 turned out last year for this annual 2-day lakeside event that showcases approximately 20 Virginia wineries, quality crafters, great food and live music. The event takes place at Bernard’s Landing Resort and Conference Center and features great live lake tunes from Domino on Saturday and The Tams on Sunday. Virginia wines offer flavors and styles to please every palate and winemakers will be on hand to answer questions and assist guests with their sampling. Participating wineries include Amrhein Wine Cellars, Chateau Morrisette, David Valley Winery, Delfosse Vineyard & Winery, Fincastle Vineyard & Winery, First Colony Winery, Hickory Hill Vineyards, Valhalla Vineyards, Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Villa Appalaccia Winery, Virginia Mountain Vineyards, Wintergreen Winery and many more. Over 65 quality food and craft vendors participate in this year’s Festival.
www.visitsmithmountainlake.com | 800.676.8203

Roanoke city celebrates its roots on September 30 at the 17th Henry Street Heritage Festival. Presented by the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture, the Heritage Festival moved to Elmwood Park around 11 years ago in order to accommodate growing crowds and more vendors and entertainment, but Henry Street is where it all began. Henry Street was the heart of the African-American community of the Roanoke Valley from the early nineteen hundreds until urban renewal. It was where people shopped, dined, socialized, sought medical attention, legal advice and cavorted with friends and family. Henry Street was about one eighth of a mile, from the Martin Luther King Bridge, to Gilmer Avenue. The festival is an ongoing celebration of African-American music, food, art and the community of those of African descent. The festival features: the Heritage Market, children’s activities, a food court, exhibitors and displays, information on health issues, a voter registration area, live entertainment and more.
http://www.harrisonmuseum.org/ | 540.345.4818

A myriad of courtly characters appears at Green Hill Park in Salem September 30—October 1 as they briefly crawl ‘Out of the Woodwork’ (OOTW) for a short rendition of Virginia’s Renaissance Faire. The OOTW troupe of Elizabethan re-enactors was formed with the goal of bringing history to life vis-a-vi fun, interactive events. It has since gathered a following of some proportion in the NRV and surrounding areas; some locals never miss this somewhat strange but intriguing scene, in fact. Players guide their patrons through customs and culture, art and music, everyday life (food, clothing, an honest days wage) and the interrelationship of church, military and sovereign. Frolic among nobles, fools, merchants, peasants, minstrels and dancers; and join artisans, craftspeople, and food merchants in a day of fun and history. Just remember—weapons must be peace-tied (for those of you who know what that means).
www.varf.org | 434.822.7700

Stressed out? Forget the spa. Forget golf, the beach—and dump that cheesy dime store novel. What could be more stress relieving than throwing off your shoes and running madly through piles of defenseless fruit? AmRhein Wine Cellars presents their 6th Annual Moonlight Stomp on September 16, one of their most popular events of the year, offering wine lovers a chance to REALLY participate in the wine-making process. Stomp grapes “I Love Lucy” style under the harvest moon while sipping award-winning Virginia-style wines and roasting marshmallows by a bonfire. Have a custom wine label made with your picture as a souvenir or join in with local musicians as they sing around the bonfire. A fine Virginia pork BBQ dinner is available for stompers; blankets, chairs, and jackets are encouraged. The event begins at 4 pm and costs $10 per person, which includes a souvenir glass. While you’re there, sample some of the vineyard’s Governor’s Cup winning selections! Medals received in the 2006 Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition: 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Gold Medal, 2003 Merlot Silver Medal, 2004 Petit Verdot Silver Medal, 2003 Chambourcin Bronze Medal, 2003 Chardonnay Bronze Medal, Safire Bronze Medal.
www.roanokewine.com | 540.929.4632

When was the last time you saw a Chinese Dragon dancing around the Farmer’s Market? Center in the Square presents its 23rd Annual fall fundraiser, Affair in the Square 2006
 And the theme?
(drum roll)
“A Night In the Orient.” Join City on Saturday, October 7, from 8 pm to Midnight, at an event to remember
how do we know? We still reminisce about last year (despite a few too many champagne toasts). The event is held at the Center in the Square building on the Historic Farmer’s Market and as always offers an exclusive VIP rooftop party for the $100 VIP ticket cost. VIP tickets include an open bar from 6:45 to 8 pm on the top floor of the parking garage deck and two complimentary drink tickets. General Admission tickets are $50 and include two complimentary drink tickets per guest and freedom to play from the Atrium to the 4th Floor and out on Market Square. The party has dancing, fine food, a silent auction, entertainment, dĂ©cor, performance art and more and takes over all five floors of Center in the Square, this year with an Asian twist.
www.millmountain.org | 540.342.5740
www.centerinthesquare.org | 540.342.5700

How fast can you say, “speed dating”? Experience one of the newest dating trends on the singles scene at the Single’s Mingle at Chateau Morrisette. Enjoy an evening of wine, light hors d’oeuvres and conversation with new people without the hassle of a crowded bar and blaring music. The evening begins (thank heavens) with a full tasting and evaluation of Chateau Morrisette wines with experienced (and single) staff members. Following the tasting, speed date for 4 minutes with each of 15 (max) new people selected from an extensive geographic area. Speed through questions and conversation, then decide if you would like to re-encounter one or more of your dates again. This fast-paced evening of safe, easy and unique interactions takes place September 23. Limited seating is available and reservations with a credit card ($20 per person) must be made by September 15. IDs required. 6 pm SHARP!
www.thedogs.com | 540.593.2865

If you’ve lived in New York, L.A., San Francisco—or almost any other big city around the country or around the world—then you’ve heard Craig’s name before, perhaps ad nauseam. Who is he? He’s Craig Newmark, but the more important question is “What is IT?”—it’s Newmark’s innovative community website, www.craigslist.org. Craigslist is a collection of community classifieds and forums, organized by city—a place to find jobs, houses, roommates, dates, advice, info, pants, protests, fish tanks and just about anything else—all in a relatively non-commercial environment. Newmark started Craig’s List in 1995 in San Francisco, and the city lives and breathes it. SF is no longer alone: Craigslist is now #7 among English language websites, trailing only Yahoo, AOL, Microsoft, Google, Ebay, and News Corp. More than 10 million people use it each month, from computers in Buenos Aires to Micronesia to—that’s right—Roanoke, Charlottesville and the New River Valley. Says B. Dominguez, frequent visitor to Roanoke and resident of Salt Lake City, “I can’t live without Craigslist. I’ve used it to find a place to live, a second-hand couch, a date on Saturday night and advice on growing organic food.” What will YOU use Craigslist for? The site is only as strong as those who use it, so log on to create a FREE classified, find an old (or new) flame, complain about politics or your hairdresser—or to see what others are offering up.
www.craigslist.org
www.roanoke.craigslist.org
www.blacksburg.craigslist.org

Anyone for tennis might want to consider improving their game at close-by Wintergreen Resort where they can study with Clapton-caliber pro Thomas Johnston, who holds a masters degree in sports psychology from Cal State Fullerton and is among the country’s top students of the mental side of tennis. For the fifth consecutive year, Tennis Resorts Online ranks Wintergreen as one of the top 10 tennis resorts and one of the top 10 tennis academies in the country. In addition, Tennis Magazine ranks Wintergreen among the nation’s top 50 tennis programs for the past 17 years. Wintergreen can offer local players a nearby stage to improve one’s mental game with programs that devote time to the mechanics of the game but also showcase Johnston’s special emphasis on the sport’s psychology. The resort is also a lovely place to take the family to relax while you improve your game—even offering a paintball course for the kids.
www.wintergreenresort.com | 434.325.8235

In other ski resort news, Snowshoe is celebrating the fall season with the annual Colors of Fall Festival on September 30. Celebrate the turning of the leaves this year at the highest village in West Virginia. The event provides pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, scarecrow making and arts and crafts as well as some other unusual events. For instance, enjoy a whole new experience and have a lot of fun too, at the 14th Annual Road Kill Cook-Off. Anything goes, as long as the main ingredient is an animal commonly found along the road (disclaimer: participants are NOT encouraged to go “motor-hunting” for their entrees). Also on the 30th, enjoy the activities of fall with the town of Marlinton at the Harvest Festival, which features live bluegrass music, old-time and folk music, clogging, soccer games, arts and crafts, a truck and tractor pull, harvest games for children, an auction, horse shoe pitching, agricultural exhibits and more. And while your there, relax and enjoy the Harvest Cass Train to Whittaker Station, ride through the mountains and along the stream; see the leaves turn gold, orange and deep crimson. If you just can’t wait that long to make it up to snow country, attend Blues, Brews & BBQs September 8—10. The stage has been set for a mouth-watering weekend of championship (non-road kill) BBQ and palate cleansing brews
not to mention the great sounds from the region’s best blues bands.
www.snowshoemtn.com | 877.441.4FUN

Posted: September 1st, 2006 under Performing Arts.
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~Nicci Ray is a freelance writer whose interests lie in arts, entertainment, fiction and fine cuisine. A Roanoke resident by birth, she has worked with such publications as The Roanoke Times & World News, Artbeat Magazine, Radford News Journal, Christiansburg Messenger, NRV News, and In the Loop Magazine of The Tampa Tribune. She holds a degree in Print Journalism from Radford University. Nicci can be contacted in care of City Magazine at 540.345.6300 or contact@citymagazineonline.com.