Well-Designed Design in Roanoke: A Mellow Evening

It had been a long week, and Friday came well-deserved.  We wanted to relax, have fun, be out, be with family.  Turns out that we designed an evening of design.

Thankfully, Kim knew it was a late night at the Taubman Museum of Art, and E and Kim went to check out exhibits while G finished her nap.  Friday nights at the Taubman=An absolutely outstanding atmosphere of art and fun relaxation, in this case including live music.  We parked in a free-for-Friday-evening garage, took a brisk walk to the museum, and smelled delicious things wafting from the restaurants downtown.  We delighted in the look of the Taubman at night with its lit staircase.  E made me smile so broadly as he enjoyed the live jazz. Check the online schedule--late nights happen about twice a month.

Our main purpose in visiting was to check out Follicular: The Hair Stories of Sonya Clark, an exhibit of hair-related art including unique hair braiding.  E adored the comb sculptures, and strong signage made reflecting on the artist's purpose highly accessible.  Importantly, this exhibit makers for a unique way to reflect during Black History Month.  There are themes of conformity, resistance, change, personal struggle, community, and more, and thanks to the solid curation, these can be explored by even more casual visitors.

We also dashed into a more expansive exhibit of the folk art of Reverend Howard Finster (closed 2.5.17). This exhibit drew you in with its color and made you think about community, arts education, religious notes in art, and more.  

After picking up Justin and G, we headed off to Tanglewood Mall's American Association of University Women's biannual used book sale, a great place to find gently-used academic, travel, and children's books.  Favorite finds this time included a 1970s illustrated children's Bible, classics like Robin Hood adapted to elementary reading levels, and a set of encyclopedia-looking books full of children's stories.  Find out more about the AAUW sale here.  Ignore the worn carpet in the former Dollar Tree and enjoy.

If we haven't told you,  we just enjoy Tanglewood.  It's Roanoke's less-bustling indoor mall.  We expect it to be redeveloped, but for now, go and enjoy lighter crowds, special events, and Roanoke's easier-to-shop, typically-better-stocked JCPenney and Belk locations. Plus, Tanglewood is home to my favorite biannual kids' consignment sale, Back on the Rack, which is next open on March 18.

And then dinner... One of J's Christmas gifts to K was a Mellow Mushroom gift card to help us finally try out Roanoke's new location. We were delighted by the modern, spunky, and cozy atmosphere as well as by the pretzel bites with dipping cheese.   Go Mellow when you have time to relax.   Making your pizza may take 30 minutes, but it is worth it.  There's outdoor dining in season, but this time of the year, enjoy the "living room" fireplace instead.

A Little Lex-perience

Our newest addition has been enjoying several close-to-home trips.  We're being a bit more sensible than when Elijah first arrived, although Kim's travel hunger has been returning full force.  In any case, it's`been pleasant to enjoy some places that are not too far afield.  Consider our small adventure to Lexington, Virginia.

We visited the VMI Museum, largely to see some "new" Stonewall Jackson artifacts relating to the 150th anniversary of his wounding and death.  The VMI Museum is small and worthwhile, and the displays include a mock-up of a VMI dormroom, an impressively-displayed collection of guns, and purple hearts from VMI soldiers.  The museum's gift shop is the best in Lexington featuring VMI gear, souvenir Christmas ornaments, and books.  On each visit, Kim makes it a special point to remember Josh Hurley, a friend from the Alleghany High School Class of 1997, who was among the first soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the current war.  

From the VMI campus, it's an easy walk to Washington and Lee, also a lovely campus.  The Lee Chapel and Museum chronicles parts of university history and even boasts a small gift shop, but the beautiful grounds may be the main attraction.  On the date of our visit, there were two weddings; if you are making a special trip to see the interior of the chapel, be sure to call ahead to check the schedule.  Justin and Elijah went in search of a smaller historical collection housed in the university's administration building, but we found ourselves locked out on the weekend.

When in Lexington, remember to walk--simply park at the Lexington Visitor's Center for free, take a minute to orient yourself to the area by viewing their excellent selection of information on regional attractions, and walk where you wish downtown.  Both of the museums mentioned here are free to visit, and it is easy to "add on" a visit to the Stonewall Jackson House.  We recommend strolling over to The Bookery, a crowded bookstore in which we've found some history texts and local features.  It's easy to find ice cream to enjoy while you walk, and there's a Macado's for sandwiches.   

Cemetery-As-A-Park: Lynchburg's Old City Cemetery

It was time to take a brief trip out of town, and we went searching for something unique to do that wouldn't take tons of time or energy in honor of Justin's birthday.  Kim hit the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors' Center, and upon picking up a pamplet featuring Lynchburg's Old City Cemetery, the where-to-go decision was easy.  We've been to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, and we've read all about how the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, area developed as a park/burial ground.  Our little trip to Lynchburg provided similar fascination--and a quick getaway from the Roanoke area as we awaited baby Gwen.

In short, the cemetery is a delightful place for an interesting garden walk.  There are civil war period graves, there's an ash garden for pets, and there's a pretty little garden pond. The cemetery also features several "museums," perhaps better termed displays and exhibits, that are worth a stop to hear the associated audio.  We especially enjoyed the Pest House Medical Museum, an interesting glimpse into hygeine and health in early Lynchburg, and the Hearse House and Caretakers' Museum, a memorial of sorts to those who've maintained the impressive cemetery grounds.  Expect to see some minor archeological digging and to be welcomed by friendly staff in the Cemetery Center (do plan to go when the center is open, typically 10-3 Monday-Saturday).  Think about the number of staff and volunteers dedicated to the site--it's impressive!  One challenge: parking, especially on the prom weekend we visited--many teens were on site to be photographed with their dates.    Consider planning your visit when you can most enjoy a nice walk, probably in the Virginia spring or fall. 

When in the Lynchburg area, we always have to direct families with kids to Little Dickens, a fabulous book-and-brainy-toys store that also features a small cafe and a wide selection of used books for various audiences.  One can find local interest books here as well.  Too bad their website does not seem to be accessible as we blog--but do GPS their address, 2236 Lakeside Drive. 

Relevant Twitter Handles:
@visitlynchbrgva 

An Eclectic Day in Greensboro

Feeling the need for a little spring travel, Kim encouraged the family to drive to Greensboro, NC, for the day.

We'd been looking forward to taking in the International Civil Rights Center and Museum since it opened in February 2010. The museum is housed in the former Woolworth store building where the 1960s sit in occurred. Several of the art deco store features remain and are a delight to see. The museum's focal point--the lunch counter itself--is hallowed, presented on its initial footprint. It is much larger than we expected, and as Justin aptly put it, it is pretty amazing that it was never moved given the context of the 1960s south. There are also some interesting artifacts in the museum, including a "two-sided" Coke machine made for segregated waiting rooms and of which there are thought to be only 10 in existence (the other 90that were made having been destroyed, apparently, by Coke itself). We really, really appreciate the sprit of the museum, but we would make two critiques: 1) there seemed to be a need for coordination of the multiple tours scheduled on the day of our visit, and 2) we wish the museum would focus on the Greensboro location and local history more definitively in its mission, as the international idea seems broad for now. If you go, expect a guided tour, seek to educate yourself on the museum artifacts by means other than simply reading placards (buy the newspaper supplement describing the museum opening in the gift shop for help), and allot significant possible wait time if you do not schedule your visit with the museum itself.

Following our visit, we headed a few blocks up to Greensboro's Mellow Mushroom--yum! Mellow Mushrooms are such classy pizza joints! We spent only about $20 and had a fresh-made pizza we "designed" along with a yummy soft pretzel appetizer, and Elijah got to sit in a tie-dyed high chair. This Mellow Mushroom location is decorated in a hip gothic style with several throwbacks to old churches including ornate lettering and a pulpit-like hostess stand. Great place to take in lunch!

On the way back up 220, we stopped at Edward McKay Used Books and More, quite an impressive bookstore. Some perks? Inexpensive prices, fun atmosphere, well-organized collection that takes pains to separate "lay" from "professional" books, T-shirts and tote bags for sale... If Kim could add anything, it would just be a postcard to buy! Several families in the children's section were talking about allowing their children to pick a certain number of books per trip to the store, much like one might do by giving a child $5 at the Dollar Tree. What a great idea--with much better results likely!

Continuing our drive, we made a brief pit stop at Mt Tabor United Methodist Church's Talking Mural exhibit as we neared the Virginia state line. The exhibit signs have always intrigued us, and today, we drove by beyond its operating hours (10-4, Monday-Saturday) but found it open anyway. The people of the church have made their house of worship a rest stop of sorts, complete with a playground for kids. They offer an audio drama of the life of Jesus whenever you stop in, and the congreation takes welcoming you seriously: there are even specially-decorated tissue boxes in each pew. The site has a clear evangelical goal but did not strike us as "pushy."

Relevant Links:
International Civil Rights Center and Museum
Mellow Mushroom
Edward McKay Used Books and More
Talking Murals of Mt Tabor United Methodist Church

Relevant Twitter Handles:
GoGreensboro, EdMcKayBooksGBO

A Buchanan Festival Weekend

Again this weekend, we sought a "quick trip" from Roanoke following Elijah's swimming lesson at Green Ridge. We headed off to Buchanan, realizing there was a Civil War re-enactment and a small festival going on today. We drive through Buchanan often when returning from other places on the I-81 corridor--but it had been several years since we'd bummed around there.

We began with lunch at the Greenwood, Troutville's landmark home cookin' restaurant. It's a great place for things like country fried steak and chocolate malts, the Botetourt County version of Road Food. It's another place Elijah enjoys the mashed potatoes.

Next, it was off to Buchanan's simple downtown, a good place for casual antiquing. Several shops are within easy walking distance of each other, and the proprietors and the people you pass on the street are relaxed and friendly. There was a fabulous selection of postcards at James River Antiques, and Eagles Wings Antiques and Uniques is a beautiful-yet-unpretentious store. My description would not be complete without giving credit to Justin's favorite, Fireside Books. Fireside is a crowded used bookstore with good deals--and lots of old magazines to comb if you are interested. On the way out of town, we also stopped at Kelly's Real Deals (Troutville), an antique and curiosity shop with an exterior to behold.

No trip to Buchanan would be complete without a walk across the swinging bridge. Water plays a lively role in this town's history--ask any native about the Flood of '85.

There's a new German restaurant in Buchanan--in an old funeral home, I think. We're going to have to go back and eat there! If you go, also consider visiting the restored drug store (complete with a soda fountain) and the inexpensive movies at the Buchanan Theater. If driving via Troutville, stop at the Apple Barn II, one of the nation's most popular Cat's Meow dealers, and browse an extensive collection of local sites in wooden shelf sitters.

Baby's First Book Fair

Oh, it's Green Valley Book Fair time! We went on opening day--busy but fun. Kim and Justin came away with lots of good regional titles from History Press and other treats, with Kim being especially pleased with some Road Food selections and some new board/picture books representing a whole host of cultures and concepts for Mr. Elijah's exploration. If you go this set of Book Fair dates, expect some new shelving sub-catgories--don't let them throw you off. For example, travel writing (downstairs, near architecture) is not with the travel guide books (upstairs, traditional location). We learned that Elijah has inherited his parents' cloak of invisibility when shopping in crowded locations, but hey, we always wanted to avoid being intrusive people who believe their stroller has the right of way in all circumstances, so it's all good.

We skipped our usual visit to the Dayton Farmer's Market and went searching for antique malls instead. We found Rocky's off I-81 (exit 235) and were not excited--lots of expensive items and glass/silver but little for our taste. The Factory Antique Mall in Verona (exit 227) was much, much more exciting, its happy-looking orange building being a bonus. We enjoyed extended time in a wonderful old book dealer, getting a "new" book on JP II and assorted other treasures from the kindly proprietor. Kim came away with a substantial number of new postcards, including foldouts for Jamestown and Bethlehem. There was a substantial amount of old paper to browse in this mall, and it was spacious with varied vendors--many of whom were on site and offering discounts. If you are travelling this way, we also recommend Alpha and Omega near Shenandoah Harley Davidson, but we didn't stop there today.

We ate at Rowe's (say Rawl's) in Staunton, one of Justin's favorites. If you're not familiar, it's a reasonably-priced, home cookin' kinda place that has been reviewed in publications like Savor and has its own cookbooks you can buy. Elijah recommends the exceptional mashed potatoes.