metropolis | march 2007

Written by Nicci Page
with Elizabeth Parsons

Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2006

Congratulations to J&J Fashions, the oldest women’s retail shop in Rocky Mount, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month. This unique boutique has long been a family endeavor. Four decades ago ago, owner Jewell Hunt’s passion for fashion inspired J&J Fashions, Inc. While working another job, Jewell’s husband, Ben, became involved with the business from the beginning. Years later, Jewell and the couple’s daughter, Sheila Copenhaver, are shopping the major markets of America and personally select the latest fashions for their store. They also help their “guests” match costume jewelry and other accessories to complement garments. For riding out four decades of highs and lows in Southwest Virginia—and for continued success into the next 40—City wishes J&J a very happy anniversary.
http://www.jandjfashions.com/    540.483.9530

The RAMA (Roanoke Academy of Medicine Alliance) Foundation will host its Ninth Annual Book and Author dinner on Saturday, March 31, at 7 pm. RAMA is a charitable, educational group comprised of approximately 200 local physician and spouses aimed at improving quality of life in Southwest Virginia through health education and service, as well as through volunteer activities. The dinner will be held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center and feature renowned authors Nathaniel Philbrick, Hampton Sides, and Rita Mae Brown. Philbrick, author of Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War (named one of the top ten non-fiction books of 2006 by the New York Times); and National Book Award winner for In the Heart of the Sea, will headline the event. Joining Philbrick is Hampton Sides, author of Blood and Thunder and New York Times bestseller Ghost Soldiers; and Rita Mae Brown, author of Puss ‘N Cahoots, the latest in her beloved Mrs. Murphy Series. Ms. Brown is also author of The Sister Jane Foxhunting Mysteries, another popular series. Tickets are $75 and all proceeds benefit the RAMA Scholarship Program, Project Access, the Ronald McDonald House, Belmont Community Health Center, Virginia Western Community College Education Foundation Endowment, and SAVE (Stop America’s Violence Everywhere). This is a wonderful opportunity to dine with friends, toast three famed authors, and contribute to local charities—last year the foundation raised more than $41,000. The dinner is open to the public and invitations for this memorable evening will be sent out soon, so request one early. For tickets or more information, contact the RAMA Foundation.
rama-bookandauthor@cox.net     540.725.744 

Roanoke is awash in green as it ushers in St. Patrick’s Day the weekend of March 16. The infamous Roanoke St. Patty’s Parade has exploded to become the Southeast’s second biggest celebration (10–12,000 attended last year), and it keeps a’growin’. This year, EventZone and The Jefferson Center are joining forces to bring you the grandest St. Pat’s Roanoke has ever seen…Festivities take place on Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17, kicking off with the ShamRockin’ St. Pat’s Bash on Friday at the Jefferson Center. The event was a blimey success last year, so planners are making it even bigger for ‘07, with entertainment, food, and drink spilling out of Fitzpatrick Hall and filling the entire Jefferson Center complex. On Saturday, join the throngs at the McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade features more than 100 entries from clowns to dogs to Harleys to llamas, and gets underway at noon, heading down Jefferson Street. After the parade, make your way to the area’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Festival featuring Warpipe, the famed Celtic Pipe Band based out of Roanoke. Led by champion piper Burt Mitchell, the band is growing rapidly, and attracting some of the best pipers and drummers in Southwest Virginia. The 2007 parade will honor those who protect and serve: local police, fire, veterans, and EMS.
http://www.roanokesaintpats.org/    540.342.2640 (x.229) 

On Tuesday, March 27, Radford University will host the Moscow Festival Ballet as they present a true classic, Cervantes’ Don Quixote in the Bondurant Auditorium in Preston Hall. Founded in 1989 by the legendary Sergei Radchenko, the Moscow Festival Ballet is dedicated to presenting the major works in classic Russian ballet tradition. The company has toured extensively throughout Europe, Northern Africa, the Far East, and the United States.  The performance at Radford University will be part of a 17-week tour and features the classic Spanish story of Don Quixote on stage, as choreographed by Morius Petipa to the music of Leon Miekus. Each year, the College of Visual and Performing Arts carefully selects world-class professional groups to perform for the campus and surrounding communities; these creative gems are not to be missed. The ballet runs from 8 to 10 pm. Tickets for these events are available until two weeks before the performance.
http://www.radford.va.us/     540.831.5265         

Puppie McCloskey and David Bullington of Andes Importers Inc. are crossing continents and time zones to bring a taste of South America to wine boutiques and high-end restaurants around town. Sommeliers will tell you the buzz surrounding wine from the Mendoza region of Argentina is not just hype—the Malbec is emerging as a “signature wine” for the mountainous country, the way Sauvignon Blanc did for New Zealand. According to “Malbecs Scale New Heights,” a January 12 piece in USA Today by Jerry Shriver, “in the past five years the amount of all Argentine wines shipped to the USA annually has doubled, to 2.4 million cases (through November), and the amount of Malbec and Malbec blends sent here annually has nearly tripled to 860,000 cases.”  Although these amounts are still relatively small, the growth rate is nothing short of remarkable. Andes Importers currently import wines from LaGarde (established in 1897, one of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards of Mendoza). We at City had an opportunity to sip a few LaGarde wares—from a fresh, fruity Viognier to a voluminous, complex Malbec; from a well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon to an intense and velvety Merlot. They were nothing short of divine; and the good news is they are within your wallet’s reach—from $10 to $20 (a favorable peso-dollar exchange rate helps keep the prices of Argentine wines affordable). Bel Pasto, Provisions, and Tinnell’s now carry LaGarde; restaurants serving them include Frankie Roland’s, Four Nineteen West, Nico’s, Wildflour and Carlos’.  Taste what the buzz is all about. ~EP
http://www.lagarde.com.ar/ 

The Harlem Globe Trotters are an 80+ year American tradition, and on Wednesday, March 14, the Salem Civic Center will host the Globetrotters’ 2007 Tour. Celebrating their 81st consecutive season, the Trotters are world famous for their hilarious athletic antics. Watch these players pull off amazing feats of sportsmanship, balance, and gravity—the guys dream and dribble across the court in their own unique “basketball ballet” that is truly a sight to see. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster with prices ranging from $65 for VIP courtside seats to regular reserved seating for just $20. And here’s a heads up for the thrifty: check out the official Globetrotters website for discounted ticket offers that are often available. The show starts at 7 pm and is suitable for all ages.
http://www.salemciviccenter.com/     http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/     540.343.8100  

Welcome to Winter Wine Excursions in Charlottesville, a new tour offering from Albemarle County Wine Tours of Virginia. Winter is one of the best times to visit wineries: tasting rooms are less busy and new releases abound (a glass of wine is a great way to shake off the chill, too). Albemarle County Wine Tours will customize a tour itinerary based on the wines you enjoy—whether Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Viognier, or bubbly. Tour the grounds of some of the state’s most esteemed wineries and those a little off the beaten path, too; enjoy a private introduction to barrel rooms, wine makers, and their principals of wine-making. A Winter Wine Excursion starts at $99/per person and includes door to door service from anywhere in Central Virginia, tasting fees, “tasting 101,” a knowledgeable guide, plus lunch and bottled water. The tours are open daily from through March 31.
http://www.winetoursofvirginia.com/     434.242.0127   

Heard of Ameranouche? When the Gypsy Jazz act first played at The Sun last year, locals hadn’t either, and they were understandably reserved about seeing a New Hampshire trio they’d never heard of before. Once they finished performing a fine combination of Gypsy Jazz, Parisian Swing, and Spanish rhythms, the accolades began to fly, and Ameranouche’s return is much-anticipated in Floyd and beyond. Ameranouche’s dexterous production of mesmerizing rhythms and expressive melodies were originally inspired by Django Reinhardt, and they’re doing this legend-of-twentieth-century- composers proud. The band manages to celebrate its influences, while maintaining an indisputably contemporary feel with break-neck tempos and flashy guitar tricks and their own unique panache. Ameranouche performs at the Sun Music Hall in Floyd, Saturday, March 31, from 9 to 11:30 pm. The Sun folks rave the event is to be “the best concert in years. A must see and hear to believe.” Ticket prices are $8 before the show and $10 on the day of the show; they’re available at Winter Sun and on the website.  Experience the music and you’ll understand its impact.
www.wintersuninc.net/thesun    540.745.7880 

This March the Wilson Hall in Lexington, Virginia will play host to history as the renowned Julliard String Quartet performs the complete cycle of string quartets by Béla Bartok for two consecutive nights in celebration of their 60th anniversary season. Hear Quartets Nos. 1, 3, and 5 on Friday, March 2, and Quartets Nos. 2, 4, and 6 on Saturday, March 3. Both evenings begin at 8 pm and end at 10. In this marvelous display of musical tradition, the Juilliard String Quartet will re-create a seminal moment in its history: the first cycle of the six Bartók quartets performed in the United States from its 1948 premiere. The Bartók cycle is one of what violist Samuel Rhodes, the ensemble’s senior member, describes as “common threads that have been supremely important to the Juilliard String Quartet.” Composed between 1908 and 1939, the Bartók quartets were not well known in the United States in the years following World War II. The Juilliard players had to learn the Sixth Quartet from parts copied by hand from the manuscript, and the first cycle met with little national attention. Today the six works are part of the standard repertoire, standing beside the quartets of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert and played even by student ensembles. 
lenfest.wlu.edu     540.458.8000

According to the band’s official website http://www.chicagotheband.com/, “more than any other city in the United States, Chicago, located at the center of the nation, has reflected the cultural diversity that has served as both a nurturer of significant musical talent and a magnet that drew the best from other areas.” Perhaps this is what brought Chicago musicians Walter Parazaider, Terry Kath, Danny Seraphine, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, Robert Lamm, and Peter Cetera to the city in 1967 to form a group with one dream, to integrate the musical diversity of their beloved city into a new sound—“a rock ‘n’ roll band with horns.” Their dream turned into 20 Top Ten singles, 12 Top Ten Albums (five were #1), and sales of more than 120 million records. The biggest accomplishment of the band may be their fans’ loyalty, however. On March 6 at 8 pm, join them at the Roanoke Civic Center for the much-anticipated concert; arrive early to mingle with other loyal Chicago fans with a pre-concert party from 5:30 to 8 pm. It will feature a slue of heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bars. Tickets are $17.50 in advance and $25.50 at the door. Don’t leave the rest of the fans “Wishing You Were Here.”
http://www.roanokeciviccenter.com/     540.853.LIVE 

The cause is a mystery, the cure unknown, and anyone can be affected—this is why we walk. On April 14 from 10 am to 2 pm, join friends and supporters of MS sufferers at Roanoke’s annual MS Walk to raise money, hope, and awareness about this tragic and baffling disease. MS (Multiple Sclerosis) is a chronic ailment of the central nervous system affecting the brain and spinal cord; it strikes adults without warning between the ages of 20 and 50. A new case of MS, in fact, is diagnosed every hour. Symptoms come and go unpredictably, leaving sufferers to worry, “Will I be able to hold my child today?” or “Will I become paralyzed, blind, or unable to walk or work in the future?” The Roanoke MS Walk takes off from the Hotel Roanoke, and the route ranges between three to six miles.  It also features an alternate one-mile family route for those who cannot complete the full three to six miles, and there will be giveaways, free snacks, drinks, and plenty of encouragement at every stop. The MS Walk, truly a community activity, is a great way to meet new people or bond with coworkers, family, and friends; you can participate as an individual or team up with others to raise more money—inquire today to get a jump start on fundraising. With new and powerful online fundraising tools, it’s easy for your contacts to contribute to the cause. ~EP
http://www.mswalkva.org/ or www.nationalmssociety.org/vab/home

If you’re among the 76 million-strong baby boomer generation, you may be facing important issues about residence and retirement. According to a recent study by the American Society of Interior Designers, 77% of those polled say that as they age, they are extremely or somewhat likely to remain in the homes they currently occupy. But needs change, and a dwelling suitable for the thirty-something may not be so for her parent or grandparent. That’s why Stedman House Interiors, the Virginia Baptist Home, and Rife + Wood Architects, are holding a free symposium/luncheon on home design and aging issues on Thursday, March 15 at 11 am at the Hidden Valley Country Club in Salem.  Hear about the principals of Universal Design, a school of thought within the design/architectural world that promotes safe and flexible accommodations. Home-related discussion topics will include safety, ease of access, and mobility, as well as comfort, enjoyment, and ease of home maintenance—issues that are key to boomer homeowners. The folks at Stedman House believe that “age and disability should not isolate us from our community—our homes and dwellings should accommodate these conditions as a natural part of our lives.” If you have these concerns as well, RSVP at 540.345.7797 to reserve a space—there is no charge but seating is limited. Doors open at 11 am for networking and browsing of displays; the luncheon and presentation get started at noon. ~EP
540.345.7797