Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 15, 1993 TAG: 9310150228
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
This, of course, prompts you to ask one question:
"So?"
Virgil (as in Roman poet) was born on this day in 70 B.C.
J.F. Pilatre de Rozier made the first ascent in a hot air balloon on Oct. 15, 1783. He reached an altitude of 80 feet and stayed in the air 4 1/2 minutes.
Friedrich Nietzsche, the polemical philosopher, poet and classical scholar, was born Oct. 15, 1844.
Obviously, the significance of this day in history calls for a celebration . . . especially since it happens to fall on FRIDAY!
What's a celebration without toasting, feasting and music making?
That's what you'll find each Friday and Saturday this month at Mountain Lake. The Giles County resort is putting on its annual Octoberfest, the popular German celebration of autumn.
The Biergarten is open from 5 to 10 p.m., serving German beers, wines and spiced cider. Appetizers include grilled German sausages and hot rolls.
Feasting begins at 6 and continues until 8 p.m. Banquet tables are filled to overflowing with traditional German specialties such as sauerbraten, Black Forest ham, potato pancakes, caraway sauerkraut, spaetzle, salads, cheeses and smoked meats. In addition, you'll find roast venison and wild boar at the carving station and a variety of mouth-watering desserts (German cheesecake, strudel, Black Forest torte . . . ) at the sweets bar.
The musical merrymaking runs from 7 to 10 p.m. The Sauerkraut Band, a German oompah band from Blacksburg, plays lively dancing music.
Admission to Octoberfest is $25 for adults or $12.50 for children 12 and under. The fee includes entertainment, food, gratuity and tax. Admission is limited to 200 per night.
To make reservations, call 626-7121, 951-1819 or (800) 346-3334.
\ PARABLE FOR OUR TIME: "The Good Person of Setzuan," Virginia Tech's first main stage production of the season, continues today and Saturday in the Squires Studio Theatre. Curtain time both evenings is at 8.
The play by Bertolt Brecht tells the story of Shen Te, a prostitute who's nevertheless the last good person in Setzuan. The plot revolves around her struggle to maintain her goodness in a world full of greed.
Presented in a contemporary setting, the fictional place of Setzuan turns so decadent that Shen Te becomes the "Angel of the Slums," handing out rice in the streets every morning.
The 25-member cast is directed by graduate student Garland Scott.
Tickets, on sale now at the ticket office in Squires Student Center, are $7 for adults and $5 for students or senior citizens.
\ NIGHT OWLS: The wise ones will want to check out the bands at Blacksburg's South Main Cafe this weekend.
Rare Daze, a group formed in 1988 as a cover band for the Grateful Dead, performs tonight at the cafe. The music covers a variety of styles (from R&B to rock to blues to jazz) and features the strong vocals of Barbara Nesbitt.
On Saturday, Blacksburg's own Electric Woodshed performs. The popular group, known for its powerful guitars and driving rhythm section, plays classic rock and blues.
Entertainment starts at 10 p.m. South Main Cafe is at 117 South Main St. The cover charge both nights is $4 if you're over 21 or $5 if you're under 21.
\ PLAY IT AGAIN, FLOYD: A new exhibit, "Floyd County Music Making," opens Saturday at the Old Church Gallery, 110 Wilson St., in downtown Floyd. It's a collection representing an overview of the county's musical history, including the gospel influence, early traveling performers, shape note singing and folk music.
Instruments, posters and photographs will be on display, along with an early instruction cloth, handpainted with music scales by singing schoolmaster Tazewell Pugh. Of special interest is a dulcimer fashioned from a stovepipe.
Cockram's Friday Night Jamboree and WGFC in Floyd contributed to the exhibit. Individual contributors include Stanley Lorton, Bob Avery-Grubel, Randall Hylton and Elizabeth McCommon. Wanda Dalton of Floyd is the curator for the exhibit.
"Floyd County Music Making" will remain on display through Nov. 27. Gallery hours are Fridays, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery house is behind the E-Z Stop shop on Main Street.
\ THERE'S MORE THAN ONE REASON TO VISIT FLOYD: After you see the musical exhibit at the Old Church Gallery Saturday, you're invited to listen to some live music and kick up your heels at the square dance. It starts at 7 p.m. at Floyd County High School.
Barbara Poole and Larry Sigmon, better known as The Unique Sound of the Mountains, will perform traditional bluegrass music. The duo twice won first place at the Galax Old-Time Fiddlers Convention. Sigmon's banjo picking and singing style, along with Poole's bass playing, truly are a unique combination.
The Jamboree Pickers, a Floyd County group specializing in old-time bluegrass and gospel music, will perform, too.
Admission to Saturday's dance is $4. You might want to bring some extra cash for the cake and pie auction. All proceeds support programs at the Old Church Gallery.
by CNB