Looking for something unusual and entertaining to do Sunday afternoon? Come to the Lyric for a free concert of Middle Eastern music at 3pm. Best of all (besides the popcorn) the concert is FREE! I know my friends from MUSE/Mandara Dance Company will be happy to see this. I remember Anne Elise Thomas performing in 2010 and it was fascinating!

The Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, the Center for the Arts, and the CLAHS Dean’s Advisory Committee on International Initiatives, present Al-Hawanim, a five-woman ensemble performing Middle Eastern music.

Featuring:
Elizabeth Ayoub, singer
Anne Rasmussen, ‘ud
Anne Elise Thomas, qanum
Bridget Robbins, nay
Myriam Eli, percussion (riqq, daff, darabuka

Funding by: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Center for the Arts, CLAHS Department Diversity Award, and the following CLAHS departments and programs: Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought (ASPECT), Foreign Languages and Literatures, History, Music, Political Science, Reema Samaha Arabic Language and Cultural Initiative, Religion and Culture, & the School of Performing Arts and Cinema.

Showtimes:
Sunday October 2, 2011
3:00pm - Admission is Free

So after a cold, wet football Saturday, come to a warm, dry, fantastic FREE concert on Sunday!

The Lyric Theatre: The Heart of downtown Blacksburg!

Thursday night started out kind of frantic, setting up for the Steep Canyon Rangers. Then the duet, The Honeycutters, showed up as a quartet, and pretty scruffy at that. Oh well, they were just the opening act. Sound check went okay. Everybody seemed happy and mellow. Then the show starts and THE HONEYCUTTERS blitzed the audience.

OMG - it was like a young Gillian Welch and David Rawlings backed by a bass and mandolin were wowing the Theatre. They cleaned up well and by the middle of the second song I abandoned my post at the light console and was buying their only CD. Soulful, sensitive, descriptive songwriting matched with a gravely alto backed by a strong tenor - the whole audience was mesmerized. The first time I saw Garth Brooks out in Colorado as an opening act, I felt the same way. To this day I can’t remember the headliner! The Honeycutters is a group to keep in your sights - they have a great future!

Okay, after such a great review, what is left to say about the Steep Canyon Rangers? In the old day, bluegrass bands did a constant pirouette around a stage microphone. It was an art form that was lost when everyone got their own microphone and stared at the audience instead of each other. SCR band members each had their own microphones but the choreography, switching around, recombining to swap harmonies, was art taken to a higher level. Their timing was flawless and their drive, even when doing a slow song, was constant. They had an energy that just did not stop. Their fiddle player, a classical concert violinist, looked like a Mac Magaha clone, dancing and hopping and whooping it up. The three vocalists switched and swapped and danced around the stage pairing voices with intrumental harmonies.

Ya snooze, ya lose, and if you weren’t there, you’ll just have to listen to the rest of us tell you how great an evening it was. Check the Lyric website - thelyric.com - for all our coming events or just look at earlier blog entries. The Lyric has outdone itself this year and that is saying a lot!

I am sooo ready for Thursday, 9/22, Live At The Lyric Presents the Steep Canyon Rangers. Guys, if you read this, my requests are for: Atheists Don’t Have No Songs, Yellow Backed Fly, Jubilation Day, Feelin Just A Little Like Dale and Call the the Captain.

Hrd driving amazing bluegrass, these boys kick some SERIOUS butt. They have been joined by Ronnie Bowman, Steve Martin, the Dixie Chicks and Paul McCartney, fer gollywompems sake, which only shows how AWESOME they are. They make all those other folks sound so good and are even wilder on their own.

Have you gotten your tickets yet? There are still tickets available, although I DON’T KNOW WHY! Thursday night, September 22 - THIS Thursday. WOWSER!

The Lyric theatre - the HEART of Downtown Blacksburg.

I got this from Laureen @ Downtown Blacksburg Inc (DBI) WOW! Feeling like there is nothing to do besides football? Check out all the happenings Downtown. And remember, the Lyric Theatre IS the Heart of Downtown Blacksburg! I can’t think of a better place to be “local” than right here!

Please join us at some of the many fun and exciting events hosted by Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. and our members.
See you downtown!

OUR MISSION
Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. (DBI) is an association of merchants, property owners, and downtown advocates whose mission is to sustain a dynamic, vital, and diverse community through marketing, events, economic development, and leadership.

Events
Actors Theater of Blacksburg presents:Top Dog/ Underdog
at The Lyric Theatre, Sept 24 & 25 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Downtown Tailgate presented by Downtown Blacksburg, Inc.
Friday September 30 5:00-9:00pm on College Avenue- Rain or Shine!
The night before the VT/ Clemson Game- sponsored by US Cellular
Beer/wine
Hot dogs, chilli, Kettle corn, shaved ice
Inflatable bouncers and Tailgate Games
Iron Hokietron and cheerleaders
Live Music by “Train Wreck” -Classic rock/Blues/Funk
Admission: FREE

Community Arts Information Office Gallery”Water Works”
Come by and check out this sustainability week art display. A collaboration between the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech and recycled art by members of Blacksburg Regional Arts Association.
Admission: FREE

Blacksburg Farmers Market Apple Tasting Event
September 24, 2011
Come and taste an amazing variety of local apples and apple products, with music by old-time band the Black Twig Pickers
Tasting admission: $2 Children’s Activities: FREE

3rd Annual Pretty in Pink fundraiser for Susan G Komen
presented by Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. Wednesday, October 12th
Have an incredible amount of fun & fight Breast Cancer! Raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure
More information to follow!

Hahn Horticulture Garden-Music in the Garden: Oktoberfest!
October 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Free music!!! Join us for some Oktoberfest fun with the Sauerkraut Band, the NRV’s pre-eminent oompah orchestra. Beer for sale by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Association - must have i.d. for purchase. Sausages + more for sale by the Food Science Club. Note this event will be cancelled if stormy.

Wednesday Garden Walks & Talks - Free!
Learn at lunchtime! All run 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. - meet at the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion.

New River Stage presents “Countdown to Murder”a murder mystery of classical flavor about an eccentric wealthy count who has been mysteriously killed. The show is family friendly and features a healthy amount of audience participation.

Live at the Lyric- Fall Season James Gregory - The Funniest Man in America - (SE)
“Save the Chicken Tour”
Saturday September 17, 2011

For more information and tickets visit Live at the Lyric

Market Square Jam Blacksburg’s Market Square Jam is a weekly jam session that takes place on Tuesday evenings in downtown on the corner of Draper Road and Roanoke Street. Every Tuesday night from 7-11pm in Market Square Park. Mostly old time/bluegrass/folk/blues kind of music, but really it can be any type of music as long as it’s unplugged.

Blacksburg Contra Dance Group Blacksburg Contradances
Dances are on the third Saturday night of the month from 8pm to 11pm with a lesson at 7:30pm and in the YMCA Dance Room unless otherwise noted. Admission $8 (after 10pm, free) Children 10 and under get in for half price.

Southwest Virginia Social Dance Society (SVSDS)Every Friday - free dance lesson from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dancing follows at 8:30 p.m. First dance session free, and then $3.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members. Held at the YMCA Event Room.

SEEDS Nature Center Activities
Come Visit the Blacksburg Price House Nature Center:
Operated by SEEDS at Blacksburg’s historic Price House and gardens. Rain or shine…Nature discovery for children right downtown. It’s a museum and more for children and the young at heart!
107 Wharton St. SE
Hours
Tue: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Thu: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Fall 2011 Children’s discovery weekly themes and events…
It’s a world of water! Tues Sept 13 - Saturday 29 October: Water themes, exhibit, and watershed education.
Sat. 17 Sept. Follow the flow. 10am walk from the nature center along the water’s path to the new mural on Draper Rd.

Warm Hearth Village- 2nd annual Founders Day Festival
Saturday September 24, 2011, 11am-4pm
Craft vendors, petting zoo, free kids zone, entertainment, pet show and more
4pm-8pm BBQ, Bands & Beer Garden

YMCA- BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES TOGETHER
The Y strives to have a meaningful, enduring impact in our community every day.
Join our cause and help us strengthen the foundations of communities throughout the New River Valley by making a gift to our Strong Communities Campaign. To learn more about how you can have a lasting impact right in your own neighborhood, visit www.vtymca.org and give today.

Senior Discount Tuesdays
Every Tuesday in Downtown Blacksburg- savings for Seniors in 40 participating businesses. See our website for details.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL EVENTS VISIT OUR WEBSITE!
DBI Event Info
September 2011

Laureen Blakemore
Director,
Downtown Blacksburg, Inc.
149 College Ave.
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Phone: 540-951-0454
Email: events@downtownblacksburg.com

Join DBI
for everyday savings!
Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. (DBI) is an association of merchants, property owners, and downtown advocates whose mission is to sustain a dynamic, vital, and diverse community through marketing, events, economic development, and leadership.

BUY LOCAL. EAT LOCAL. BE LOCAL.
Offer Expires: NEVER

Well, the year has just gotten more exciting! A group of interested Lyric fans have started Lyric Theatre Late Night: movies you might have missed or have loved but haven’t seen on the big screen.

Starting with The Room on Friday, October 7, at 11:30 pm, the success of The Princess Bride showing continues. This Is Spinal Tap, the mockrockumentary comes on line Friday, November 11, again at 11:30 pm. And what looks to be the event of the fall late night/early morning season is Sing A Long With The Sound Of Music! on Friday, December 2, at 11:30 pm and Saturday, December 3 at 9:30 am. Bring your vocal chords!

Want to know more? Check out the Facebook page: Lyric Theatre Late Night

Top Dog / Under Dog - (P)
1 Room
2 Brothers
3 Card Monte
And a twist you won’t soon forget!
Featuring Michael Anthony Williams and Eddie McClain - Directed by Craig Wallace Rated R for language and adult subject matter.

I saw this play Saturday evening and was very impressed. Williams and McClain did a marvelous job portraying two brothers, Booth and Lincoln, fighting the past and fearing the future. This is a bleak play about a black man, a former 3 card monte huckster portraying Abraham Lincoln in an arcade. He is on the skids, living in a run down room with his brother. Their father had had a sense of humor in naming them Lincoln and Booth and the arcade people had more humor in having a black man do a white face Lincoln being assassinated. Lincoln (Williams) is trying to move his younger brother Booth (McClain) away from a life of hustle and cons but Booth is determined to be king of the 3 card monte, going so far as to nick name himself 3 card.

This is a rough play with rough language and situations. Gritty might be a better term. It showed to a very small audience last weekend and I would hope more people would come see it on the 24th and 25th of September. Williams and McClain gave a performance worthy of a full house and it would be good for a larger audience to come and appreciate them.

I hear so often that Blacksburg is a Sahara of the Bozart and there is nothing to do. Blacksburg is alive with music at many local locations, live theatre on and off campus, art galleries abound downtown - hey, all it takes is for a person to invest a little footpower and you are there. This Saturday we have James Gregory, the funniest man in America at the Lyric. On thursday, September 22, we have the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers with opening act the Honeycutters. September 24 and 25 we again bring you Top Dog/Under Dog. Sunday, October 23, we have singer/storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston, whose African oral tradition promotes an understanding of our common human experiences. November 23 brings Barter Theatre with Civil War Voices. Don’t sit at home and complain there is nothing to do - get out and experience downtown Blacksburg.

The Lyric Theatre: The Heart of DOwntown Blacksburg