metropolis | october 2006

Written by Nicci Page
Photo courtesy of Gaelic Storm, performing October 14th at the Annual Radford Highlanders Festival.

Editor’s Note: From the turning of the leaves to the creeping in of cooler climates, fall is all about change—about doing something different. In this spirit, October’s Metropolis shakes things up by offering ten unique happenings and places whose fun, funky flavor you won’t find anywhere else.

Revisit the days of Scott and Zelda Saturday, October 28, at the Roaring 20s and 30s Costume Ball at Blue Ridge Parkway’s Skyland Resort. This costumed ball affair is modeled after the fancies of George Pollock, who built Skyland in 1895 and who hosted many such extravagant costume parties during the 20s. Festivities begin with a one-hour dance lesson (fox trot, waltz, swing) and continue with a themed dinner menu and dancing. The costumes aren’t the only charming relics from the past, however; Skyland has long been known as an unpretentious venue that patrons refer to as “delightfully rustic.” By no means a luxury resort in the “stuffy” sense of the word, Skyland was intended as a place where affluent people from major cities could relax and recharge, sans in-room phones, TVs, and other modern distractions. Located 3700 feet above the Shenandoah Valley, near Luray, Virginia, its breathtaking views, fresh air, and nature make it the perfect place to work off your post-party hangover, too. $35 per person; the event begins at 5 pm.
www.visitshenandoah.com | 800.999.4714

It all begins with a kick-off parade at 10 am, October 14 in downtown Radford, as the Annual Radford Highlanders Festival blasts off with a barrage of colorful floats and authentic Scottish pipe and drum bands. Come early and bring a chair because this Scottish fair runs until 6 pm and offers so much that even the heartiest Highlander may need a rest. Activities include amateur Scottish heavy athletics (like the caber toss, log balancing, and hammer throwing); live music; Scottish grub; and activities and entertainment for the wee ones. Folks from all over the region and as far away as Australia sell and display their wares, like wooden toys, stained glass, woven rugs, cozy sweaters, and Celtic jewelry. On a more academic level, the festival offers Scottish clan gathering and genealogy research where you can, with the help of an on-site genealogist, discover family histories. The clan midday march is always a highlight of the festival. Three pipe and drum bands—the Virginia Highland Pipes and Drums, Appalachian Pipes and Drums, and Deep River Pipes and Drums—gather on the main field and lead the clans in a parade of tartans and crests. Gaelic Storm will also perform.
www.radford.edu/festival | 540.831.5182

We work, shop, dine, and party there, but who really considers downtown home? Get an intimate peak inside the benefits and pleasures of City Life with “Downtown Living—A Walking Tour of Unique Living Spaces in Downtown Roanoke” October 14–15. Wander through seven distinctive downtown residences and learn more about attainable downtown housing options (without the shrill sales pitch). Check out John Reburn’s unique apartment above Roanoke Valley Printworks, for example, the Campbell Garage Lofts and the newly refurbished single family homes in the Miller’s Hill project. Director of Development Yvonne Olson encourages Roanokers to take part: “We feel that our tour does and can continue to promote the idea that people do indeed live downtown… You go about your business there…but you never think about the people actually living upstairs”—in the vibrant heart of this fine city. Sponsored by Valley Bank and the City of Roanoke, the tour is a fundraiser to support the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. Prices are $10 in advance, or $12 the day of the tour.
www.theartscouncil.org | 540.342.5790

How do you take your fashion? Shaken and with a twist, or served straight up? We die-hard fashionistas of City Magazine have been thrilled to wily away our lunch hour and hard-earned paychecks at 310 Rosemont, just around the corner from our new Market Square offices. The hip and fashion-forward “denim bar” is located next door to another favorite, Lä De Dä, at 312 Market Street; it’s named after the address of owner Winter Hodges’ childhood home in Tennessee. 310 Rosemont brims with high-end jeans from the likes of True Religion, Citizens of Humanity and 1921, plus gorgeous pieces from Nicole Miller, Francesco de Basia and a slew of other drool-worthy designers. It offers a whole wall of edgy men’s clothes and shoes, too—filling what has been a gaping void in Roanoke’s fashion scene, I do declare. (And we know you’re out there, fashion-conscious men!) The store opened in August and along with Lä De Dä and Dandelion Feet, has made the area around Market and Church a much more fashionable place to mill around.
540.345.5326

Hundreds of glowing red and white balloons will illuminate Elmwood Park, Thursday, October 5, as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsors Roanoke’s fifth annual two-mile fundraising walk, Light the Night. The event is a community celebration with food, music, and family activities, and the goal is to foster hope, awareness, and to raise funds to fight blood cancer. The park will transform into a radiant wonderland as walkers carry their lit balloons—white for survivors and red for supporters—to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer. Anyone can participate: children, adults, and seniors are all welcome. There are no fitness requirements and incentives can be earned for different fundraising levels. It’s an entertaining, beautiful, and healthy way that City readers can help find the cure. Registration begins at 5:30 pm and the walk begins at 7 pm.
www.lightthenight.org | 800.766.0797

Usher in Halloween with Mill Mountain Zoo’s Zoo Boo from 1–4 pm on Saturday, October 28. The decade-old party is a fun and educational way for kids to celebrate the season and learn more about the world’s fauna. It includes special activities such as trick-or-treat candy stations; live animal encounters (with some holiday creepy critters and some not-so-creepy critters); special “meet the keeper” exhibits; games; prizes; entertainment; and a costume parade and contest. So come dressed in your favorite costume and join a merry-not-scary Halloween event that is sure to delight City kids young and young-at-heart. $6.75 for adults; $4.50 for children, plus tax. (Be sure to check out City’s page 31 for a comprehensive guide to Halloween and Harvest events; and read more about the original German Oktoberfest in Douglas Jackson’s Spirits column, page 38. The latter includes several suggestions of where you can enjoy local versions of Europe’s favorite beer bash).
www.mmzoo.org | 540.343.3241

The film critic and star-watcher in us all demands attendance at the 19th Annual Virginia Film Festival just down the road in Charlottesville, October 26–29. This year’s theme is “Revelations: Finding God at the Movies,” and features more than 100 films and speakers focusing on the theme of spirituality and film. Here’s a few “divine revelations” about what to expect: the festival will showcase local filmmaking (with a unique Scandinavian twist), including an opening night presentation of the acclaimed Swedish Auto, a flick by Charlottesville filmmaker Derek Sieg. Shot last year in Charlottesville, Swedish Auto was a darling of the recent Los Angeles Film Festival and earned strong reviews from The Hollywood Reporter, the Los Angeles Times, and Variety (the latter dubbed it “a study in state-of-the-art indie filmmaking.”) And that’s just one of the offerings; for more information about the Volvo Adrenaline Film Project, parties, and stargazing (Sandra Bullock among others has been spotted there), check out the website. Tickets are now available.
www.vafilm.com | 434.982.5277

Ladies, bring your PJs and favorite pair of slippers for the 2006 Pajama Jam to Benefit Breast Cancer, founded and hosted by 94.9 Star Country’s Robynn Jaymes, on October 27 from 6–11 pm. This is the third year for this girls-only PJ bash, which sold out within 20 minutes last year. It will feature great country music by Mark Wills, Jenny O’Neill, Virginia Mullins, and Blue Country. “Last year,” laughs Jaymes, “the ladies actually rushed the stage.” A dinner and silent auction are included, but it’s the music and “cute boy factor” that bring them out in droves. “The cool thing about it is that it’s a safe environment [for women] to come out,” Jaymes continues. Pajama Jam funds go to benefit the American Cancer Society. It all takes place at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. Stay tuned to 94.9 Star Country or check out the website below for details.
www.949starcountry.com | 800.393.0857 540.774.2716

Although most people remember the Harvest Festival as premiering in ’05, it’s actually a seventies celebration revisited. A down home celebration of our region’s heritage, then as now, the Harvest Festival highlights music, foods and crafts of Southwestern Virginia and the Blue Ridge—with a tantalizing touch of the subculture, too (read on). Experience Virginia clogging, bluegrass and old-time music (provided by such local talent as Blue Mule, Acoustic Endeavors and The Wild Turkeys); antique tractors and farm equipment; crafts demonstrations; apple butter making; and the piece de resistance—the moonshine exhibits! Jack Powell, retired ABC agent and moonshine book guru, will be on hand to share his insider’s knowledge of this (still illegal) phenomena; so will Moonshiner’s Jamboree Coordinator Tim Smith. The exhibit will include pics, demonstrations and a real, live old-timey still (no samples, I’m afraid). For kids, there will be cakewalks, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making and even a petting zoo. So come one and all to this classic festival that was recently revived on the city market; it takes place Saturday, October 7, from 10 am to 4pm.
www.downtownroanoke.org

The spirit of Carnivale blows over the Blue Ridge… Leave it to the free-thinkers of Floyd, Virginia to shake up fall with their decidedly decadent, decidedly original Floyd Fandango, October 21—22. Kids and adults will enjoy Ferris wheel and vaudeville-style entertainment like sword swallowers, stilt walkers, jugglers, clowns, music—even a main stage performance by Texas-style country rocker Junior Brown. If leaving the kids at home, feast your senses on “grown-up” spectacles like sexy burlesque and the Flying Cat Circus. Then there’s the beer: sip and sample the frothy creations of Magic Hat, Dogfish Head, Blue & Gray, Clay Pipe, Wood Chuck, New River, Starr Hill, among others. Adult entrance fee includes four beer tastings (and yes, you may buy full beers if so inclined) and a full day of carnival fun all under the big top tent. $18 in advance for those of drinking age ($22 at the gate); designated drivers and youth 13—20 are $15 ($18 at the gate). Entrance for the wee ones (12 and under) sets you back a mere $5. Located at milepost 170.5 off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
www.floydfandango.com | 540.745.FEST

Posted: October 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.