What Time is It?? It's Microfestivus Time!!!

Here we are again, dog days of summer. Some like it hot, but no one can stay in this heat for too long without some kind of relief. So what can you do about it??

The Square Society is hosting their annual mega-party Microfestivus and has you all hooked up this Saturday to take your mind off the high temps. Beer to the rescue!! Here's what it's about, as posted on their Facebook event page:

"The Square Society will host the 13th annual MicroFestivus, a micro and craft beer festival. There will be a selection of over 50 beers from 20 micro and craft breweries from the Mid-Atlantic region. MicroFestivus takes take place at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke on August 14 between 12pm and 6pm. Beer tastings are in 4 oz. and 8 oz. sizes. And of course you have to be at least 21 with a valid ID to have attended.

For our VIP patrons again this year Flanary's will be providing food including Reubens, Meatballs, Fish and Chips, among other tasty bites! BE SURE TO ORDER YOUR VIP TICKET ON LINE....VIP tickets are limited and will sell out. Order on line early to not miss out!

Jordan Harmon and Pop Rivets are the music for this year's Microfest!"

In other words, BEER, BEER, BEER, MUSIC, BEER, FOOD, BEER... (Did I mention, there's gonna be beer?)

So please come and join The Square Society for this day-long event. Get your tickets online at a discount, or at regular price on the day of the event at Elmwood Park. Find out more about joining The Square Society by visiting them on the web. This is Roanoke's ultimate Young (and Young-at-Heart) Professionals organization creating the cheeriest atmosphere at all their events, which to date has raised tens of thousands of dollars for The Center in the Square in Downtown Roanoke.

If you are interested in volunteering at this year's Microfestivus, sign up to be on the official beer-pouring crew for one shift. That gets you in FREE and you also can have four free beer tastings, plus a T-Shirt! Go to this link to sign up: VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP. (Other volunteer tasks are still available, too. Just sign up for a quick little shift, and be 21 or older.)

For more info on Microfestivus, check out the website. The complete schedule is posted there for brewers, bands, and food. And don't forget to buy your tickets while you're at it...

See you around Downtown (in Elmwood Park!!) CHEERS!!!

Bouncy Ball New Years' Eve at Science Museum of Western VA

This New Years' Eve, the Science Museum of Western Virginia will be hosting its 2nd Annual Bouncy Ball Drop. The event begins at 10:30am Thursday, December 31st at the Museum which is located in the Center in the Square building on the Market Square in Downtown Roanoke.

A take on the dropping of the ball to kick-off New Year's, which adults customarily practice (the most famous of which happens in New York City's Times Square), Bouncy Ball is alternately a family affair for kids to enjoy as thousands of bouncy balls are dropped from various landings inside the atrium onto the ground floor level. The Ball Drop is timed for high noon and promises to unleash a frenzy of cheering and a rampage of boings!

Immediately after the Ball Drop, visitors may continue their visit inside the Science Museum until 2pm. Admission is free. (No shows are scheduled for the Planetarium or the Megadome on New Year's Eve. The Museum is closed the following day on Jan 1st and will re-open on Saturday.)

Here are some scenes from last year's Bouncy Ball, courtesy of myScoper.com from their Flickr photo page:

Also, myScoper posted a video of last year's Bouncy Ball if you'd like to see what's in store for you and your kids - You're definitely in for a treat, so bring your cameras!!!

The Science Museum of Western Virginia is located at 1 Market Square SE, Roanoke, VA 24011. Visit their Facebook Page and become a Fan today! For more details and to show your support for the Bouncy Ball New Year, you can check out their Event Page and click to "Attend." (And after New Year's, you can post your pics of all the fun you had!!!)

Hope to see you at the Bouncy Ball on New Year's Eve Day! Star City FAME will be there to capture all the mayhem on video! So as always...
... We'll see you around Downtown!!

(Photos and video of courtesy myScoper.com)

Sun Trust Dickens of a Christmas 2009

Two more Fridays left for the Sun Trust Dickens of a Christmas celebration in Downtown Roanoke - so try to get out to see all the magic!!
Last week, Star City Fame went out to experience the first night of this event. It was awesome fun! I brought my smaller video camera with me to be more mobile... it helped keep people from freaking out too. I was able to get many of the vendors, passers-by, and even the Dickens street actors to just do their thing. This made editing the video so much easier and a lot of fun! So thanks everyone for participating!!

Actually, I don't have to go into any details - you can see for yourself everything that happened if you watch the video.



Please come out this Friday and next Friday... On tap for the 11th there will be an XMas Parade, and on the 18th there is a pet dress-up contest. All three Fridays are packed with sounds and colors of Christmas, street vendors, horse and carriage rides, children's games, various performances, and of course, the Dickens characters. Stores are open late along Salem and Campbell Avenues and the Market Square, and further around the perimeter.

Center in the Square, Mill Mountain Theatre and other local Arts Organizations will also have special performances, including a choir of Local Colors friends this Friday night (11th). Find out more on Facebook - Visiting Dickens of a Christmas is free, so just click to "Attend!!"

Have a wonderful Holiday Season - and see you around Downtown!!!

New and Exciting Developments for Downtown

Some exciting times coming up in the near future for Roanoke City, Downtown in particular. Two of the most innovative projects due up are the Center in the Square renovation and the Heart of Roanoke "netroots" Community Organization which focuses on exploring and making changes in urban design for the core of the city.

Center in the Square Renovation:

Center in the Square, the building on Campbell Ave SW in the Market Square, is set to be renovated beginning early 2010. This historic structure is also home to Center in the Square, one of the seven non-profit organizations under The Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences. The organization held its Annual Dinner at the Hotel Roanoke last evening (September 10th) to announce and illustrate its plans developed by local architecture and engineering company Spectrum Design, along with conducting its annual updates to members and guests. They also held a special silent auction throughout the evening to benefit part of its Capital Campaign.

Details of the renovation plan were given by Spectrum Design's David L Bandy, AIA and his associates in a captivating presentation and video, which you can view here through the Roanoke Times' article posted the following morning: Center in the Square unveils renovation plans by Mike Allen.

(Photo above of the Center in the Square Building and the Organization's logo are courtesy Center in the Square's website.)

Heart of Roanoke:

Eldon Karr, "Appalachian Architect," runs a blog describing his urban design ideas and themes and has recently added a Facebook Page for the Heart of Roanoke. The concept for it comes both from the "Design'79 Urban Design and Planning" in Roanoke and the more up-to-date "Netroots" effort (termed so in a manner of online-social-networking-meets-grass-roots-community-organizing). The first meeting for this group began on Saturday, August 29th, when a Photographers' Walking Tour of Downtown assembled outside the Hotel Roanoke. Dan Smith, owner, editor and photographer of Valley Business Front, led an informal photography class. While the focus for Eldon is a passion to green up and revitalize things for Henry Street, the scope of this organization is much wider for the Downtown area as a whole.

Star City Harbinger, "Appalachia's Online News Alternative," ran a nice review of the event on their website. In a collaborative piece, Hank Bostwick (SCH's editor), River Laker (Car Less Brit), and I filmed and edited a short video of this first-of-a-series Photog Walking Tour. The video opens with impressive historical information about Downtown, the Heart of Roanoke's roots and its efforts, narrated by Mr Laker in his marvelous British accent. (Girls, I didn't see a ring, but I wasn't looking either...) Please check out SCH's article and video Exploring Alternative Visions for the Heart of Roanoke," and also add their blog to your news feed while you're there.

I can't wait to see all this transformation going on soon!! Hi-tech roof-top with butterflies in Roanoke? Oh yeah!! Vertical Wall Gardens? Yes, and much more...

SEE YOU AROUND DOWNTOWN!!