ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 22, 1996 TAG: 9611220021
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: The Tipoff
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES
CUTE FIX: Rival that cup of caffeine with an early-morning infusion of cuddly and precocious kids at the annual Grandin Road Children's Christmas Parade. The trek will leave from Christ Lutheran Church (Brandon Avenue and Grandin Road) heading toward Memorial Avenue at 11 a.m. Saturday. Nonperishable food donations for the needy will be appreciated. Call 342-2351.
NATIONAL NARRATIVE: Tellabration 96!, in which storytelling groups nationwide participate, aims to raise awareness and appreciation of tale telling, especially among adults. On Saturday, local tellers including Aransas, Gale Kuebler, Sean Webb, Jennifer Carter, Kathy Carter, Barbara Wassell and Leslie Barger will help the Blue Ridge Storytelling Association, in cooperation with the Roanoke County Parks and Recreation Department and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, reach the goal. Tickets cost $4 for adults, $2 for children 12 or younger. Telling starts at 8 p.m. at the Brambleton Center, 3728 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke. Call 387-6086.
BEST BATS: Bats of all shapes and sizes will be celebrated at the Science Museum of Western Virginia all day on Saturday, with special contests, demonstrations and stories revolving around the much-maligned and misunderstood creatures. ``The Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats'' exhibit will also still be on display at the museum in Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke. Call 342-5710.
CONTRA BAND: U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion Elke Baker, composer/guitarist Larry Unger and caller Mary Devlin will present an eclectic musical mix Saturday for Contra dancing, including Scottish, Irish, Contra, old-time, folk, swing, blues, Klezmer, Celtic and classical styles. But don't just listen. Learn the steps at lessons for newcomers starting at 7:40 p.m., then start dancing in earnest at 8 p.m. at the Post School of Ballet, 1324 Grandin Road, second floor. There is no charge, but donations will be appreciated. Call 265-1861.
MERRY MUSIC: The New York-based Touring Concert Opera Company will do Donizetti's comic "Don Pasquale" at the Reynolds Homestead in Critz at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Lead soprano and Martinsville native Priscilla Gordon, who has toured nationally and internationally with the company, will perform the informally staged production with her husband, Spanish tenor Alberto Figols, and their daughter, Lizanne Figols. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, or half price if reserved in advance. Call 694-7181.
EVANDER WHO? Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns, the only boxer to win five world titles in five weight classes, will be socking it to 'em Nov. 29 at the Roanoke Civic Center. Tickets for the professional boxing event, which starts at 8 p.m., range from $15 for general admission to $150 for Gold VIP seating. Call 981-1201.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB