Blue Ridge Happenings

Music and All That Jazz!!

Rockwood Manor is delighted to be hosting the  The New River Valley  Friends of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Road Show. We are the Sixth stop since they hit the road in September, how exciting!

The NRV Friends of the Roanoke Symphony is a volunteer arm of the RSO that supports performances of the Roanoke Symphony in our area and  promotes music education programs in New River schools. This years show will be featuring jazz bassist Charlie Perkinson & Co. Mr. Perkinson is the weekday host of “Jazz Tonight”  He has had a love for Jazz since high school where he played the upright bass. In his college years at Virginia Tech he played in the school dance band, The Southern Colonels.

After college, while overseas as a member of the United States Air Force he had the opprotunity one night to play the bass in the band backing up singer Rosemary Clooney while she was on a USO tour.

We look forward to visiting with our friends and having a relaxing evening listening to Charlie Perkinson & Co.

Learn more about the NRV of the RSO Road Show at  http://www.rso.com/about/nrv_friends.html

Listen to Charlie Perkinson on the radio at WVTF Public Radio or more information at http://wvtf.org/people/charlie-perkinson

Memoirs From Redd “The Red Chair Travels”.

MEMOIRS FROM REDD “THE CHAIR”

What a beautiful time to be in Southwest Virginia!!  I was picked up at Ikenberry Orchards by my next tour guides, Frank and Rochelle, and I have never seen such a variety of apples!!  There were apples I had never heard of but they were deee-licious.

 

We left the orchard and headed south on I-81 to Roanoke.  There sure were a lot of trucks on this road.  Since we were on a time crunch we were not able to visit the huge star atop Mill Mountain but I did get to see the famous Hotel Roanoke as well as the O. Winston Link Museum which hosts hundreds of pictures of trains.

 

As we traveled further south on I-81 I was able to take in the beauty of the leaves changing to their brilliant fall colors.  I saw reds (my favorite since they matched me), golds, oranges, and yellows as well as greens and browns.

 

When we arrived at Rockwood Manor Bed and Breakfast in Dublin, VA I was exhausted but not too tired to take in the beauty of this historic gem as we drove up the tree lined driveway.  I thought I was going to be in a remake of the movie Gone With the Wind.  WOW!!  Fortunately my hosts sensed how tired I was and put me straight to bed in one of the  guest rooms.

 

The next morning I woke to a cloudy, rainy day so I was able to spend the morning just looking around this huge 10,000 square foot home.  But in the afternoon the weather had cleared up and I was able to explore the New River Valley.

 

 

 

 

My first stop was at New River Community College where I saw wind generators and solar panels.  This small college is exploring alternative energy sources and they offer classes based on this.

 

We traveled to Pulaski to see a huge model train set that has recently been acquired by the town.  A scale model of Pulaski Town that is amazing to see. We also took in the restored train station with Bike Pulaski and entrance to the “New River Trail”. A 57 mile long Rails to Trails path. Nearby was Historic Calfee Park  home of the Mariners training team.

That evening I was tempted to get in the Jacuzzi but thought better of it since it may have loosened up my joints too much.

 

On Thursday morning I awoke to a foggy morning but no precipitation so my hosts took me to Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech.  Go Hokies!!!  There were so many students headed in so many different directions it made my rungs spin.

 

Then I went to the football stadium.  That place is HUGE!!! It holds 65,000 fans on a Saturday home game and it is packed.  The head football coach, Frank Beamer, has been coaching his alma mater for 27 years and is well respected in the football community as well as his local community.  I had the opportunity to read his book Let Me Be Frank before I went to bed.  What a super person he is!

 

On the way back to Dublin I got to sit by the cool waters of the New River.  Did you know that this river flows from south to north unlike most rivers in the northern hemisphere?  I have learned so much on my travels.  I wanted to dip my legs in the water but it was a little too chilly for that.

 

Tonight is Halloween and I am looking forward to the costumes that may come to the door.  I will have lots of candy to give out but I also get to eat any that is left over.  Yum! Yum!

 

 

 

Tomorrow I travel to my next destination, the Inn at River Bend.  I can’t wait to see more of this beautiful valley and learn more about the history that abounds here.

 

Thanks to my hosts, Frank and Rochelle, for showing me around this area.  I look forward to seeing the rest of the country and seeing more sites.

 

Dictated by Redd to Frank and Rochelle        October 29-31, 2013

 

Scott Mactavish: Creator of Feature Length Documentary “Murph the Protector”.

Murph-Poster-Master-Feb2012-400

An American Hero who gives his life to save those under his command.

This is a special story written directed and produced by a Pulaski Hometown Boy. To think that Scott now lives in an area with other personal friends of ours and is near the Navy Seals of whom this story is about. We are blessed to have such a talented individual in our midst and the story he tells of Lt Michael Murphy is enthralling. Thanks to both for making me Proud to be an American.

 

 

 

 

The Marvelous Wonderettes at the Pulaski Theater for Valentines Day

 

These lovely Ladies have really got the talent and we are so lucky they are coming to our local Pulaski Theater this Valentines Day 2013. T he Marvelous Wonderettes is a great off -Broadway musical  written by Roger Bean . You are taken to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes. Four crazy girls with all sorts of talent and spunk! As we learn about their lives and loves, we are treated to the girls performing  classic ‘50s and ‘60s songs with a do wop style as good as it gets on over 20  classic hits!  A real musical trip down memory lane!

Have you been trying to come up with a great VALENTINES Day gift for your Lady. Well here it is. Rockwood Manor has some rooms available on a first come first served basis and at a discounted price of only $125 for the evening and breakfast the next morning. And better still is the fact that “the Marvelous Wonderettes” will be spending the evening and joining us for breakfast.

 

Marvelous Wonderettes

An Off Broadway Hit and Musical.

Ryan Pelton is back to perform his world famous Elvis Presley Tribute.

Ryan Pelton is a World Class Elvis Presley Tribute Artist

Ryan Pelton and his wonderful crew are here again to weave another magical tribute to Elvis.  We had the pleasure of their staying here at Rockwood Manor and getting to know them on a somewhat personal basis. Their show tonight at the Pulaski Theater is almost sold out and I can see why. He is a true artist with a voice to match his looks and both are so  close to the King’s it is scary.  I see why he is so popular and traveling the world performing and yet so down to earth and humble. So many of the performers that have stayed with us are completely different from their stage persona and he is too.  At this one of their last performances as a Tribute Band, Ryan told of his intentions of creating his own musical style and going for it. I know he has the talent to do so.

 

You GO Ryan.

 

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