Signature Speaker Series features JMU archaeologist

Dr. Carol Nash, a professor and archaeologist at JMU, will speak at the Wayne Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 28, on “Native Americans in the Shenandoah Valley.”

The talk is being presented as part of the Wayne’s Signature Speaker Series.

Admission is Pay What You Will. Concessions are available.

“We’re honored to have a renowned teacher and scholar of the caliber of Dr. Nash as part of our Signature Speaker Series at the Wayne,” said Tracy Straight, the executive director of the Wayne Theatre.

“Dr. Nash is a well-regarded expert on Native American settlement in the Valley. This should be a highlight event in our Signature Speaker Series schedule,” Straight said.

Dr. Nash has taught at JMU for 28 years and is currently associate professor in the Department of Integrated Science and Technology. She is the author of numerous technical reports, papers and publications, and has directed archaeological research in Shenandoah National Park since 1999 and at Wintergreen since 2003. Her recent work has focused on the interaction of Native Americans and European settlers.

The Wayne Theatre is located at 521 W. Main St. in Waynesboro.

Details

• Info: (540) 943-9999 or www.waynetheatre.org
• Direct Link: waynetheatre.org/february-28-native-americans-shenandoah-valley
• Ticket Link: waynetheatre.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=21
• Facebook Event Link: facebook.com/events/401597623514385

Solas brings Irish-American music to Court Square Theater

The Court Square Theater Music Series continues on Friday, February 24th with a concert by Irish-American group, Solas.

2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the quintessential Irish-American band, Solas. Formed in 1996, in a manner befitting their name (Gaelic for “light”), Solas burst onto the Irish music scene and instantly became a beacon – an incandescent ensemble that found contemporary relevance in timeless traditions.

Eleven albums later, with numerous awards to their credit, and more miles traveled touring the world to count, Solas will mark this milestone with a exciting new recording project and tour, ALL THESE YEARS. It is a celebration of a band that, from its inception, captured the musical world’s attention and went on to become one of the most influential groups in the history of Irish music. ALL THESE YEARS sees Solas reuniting with all the members of the band, past and present, to record new material and embark on a year long world tour.

Anchored by founding members Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistles, guitars, bodhran) and Winifred Horan (violins, vocals), who form the backbone of the uniquely definable Solas sound, long time members Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and Mick McAuley (button accordion, vocals) and newest member, the dynamic Moira Smiley (vocals, banjo), Solas is musically at the top of their game and continues to be the standard bearer not only for great Irish music, but great music in any genre.

Solas performs at Harrisonburg’s Court Square Theater on Friday, February 24th. Doors open at 7:00pm and the concert begins at 8:00pm. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door. Please visit valleyarts.org or call 540.433.9189 for more information and to purchase tickets.

Court Square Theater is located at 41-F Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia.

The Young Irelanders bring Irish music, culture to Wayne Theatre

Traditional Irish music, song and dance comes to the Wayne Theatre on Friday, Feb. 17, with The Young Irelanders.

The eight-member troupe has performed for three U.S. presidents, the Queen of England, Prince Albert of Monaco and several heads of state.

“It sometimes disheartens me when audiences outside of Ireland don’t get a chance to see and hear what our Irish culture is really about but are instead fed a derivative of the real thing,” said Young Irelanders producer Eric Cunningham.

The Wayne Theatre is a natural stop for the troupe on its four-month North America tour. The Shenandoah Valley has deep Scots-Irish roots dating back to the first settlement of the Valley of Virginia in the early 18th century.

“We’re thrilled to have this talented group of performers here to bring a slice of authentic Irish culture to the stage at the Wayne,” said Tracy Straight, the executive director of the Wayne Theatre.

The Feb. 17 show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults or $15 for students.

The Wayne Theatre is located at 521 W. Main St. in Waynesboro.

Details

• Info: (540) 943-9999 or www.waynetheatre.org
• Direct Link: http://waynetheatre.org/february-17-young-irelanders/
• Ticket Link: https://waynetheatre.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=78
• Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/747597242071293/

Bridgewater College to present Interfaith Film Festival Feb. 15-16

Bridgewater College will present an interfaith film festival Feb. 15 and 16. Both films will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Boitnott Room on campus.

American East will be screened on Wednesday, Feb. 15. A 2008 film, American East is a drama about Arab-Americans living in post-9/11 Los Angeles. The story highlights the pressures under which many Arab-Americans live by focusing on the points-of-view of three main characters.

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea will be shown on Thursday, Feb. 16. A 2011 drama about the friendship that develops between a 20-year-old Palestinian and Tal Levine, a 17-year old Israeli immigrant. When a terrorist explosion kills a young woman at a café in Jerusalem, Levine writes a letter, puts it in a bottle, and sends it to Gaza—to the other side—beginning a correspondence with a young Palestinian man that will open their eyes to each other’s lives and hearts.

Both films are open to the public at no charge.

Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in 1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational college. Today, Bridgewater College is home to nearly 1,900 undergraduate students.

Virginia Tourism announces Valentine’s Day Instagram sweepstakes

The Virginia Tourism Corporation announces a Valentine’s Day Instagram sweepstakes beginning Friday, Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 19.

In order to enter the sweepstakes, adults 21 and older must share their photo on Instagram and tag @VisitVirginia and use #LOVEVA. All photos must feature a Virginia LOVEwork to be considered a valid entry.

The winner will be randomly drawn to receive a free one night stay in a grand premier room at Richmond’s historic Jefferson Hotel, the region’s only Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Hotel. See below for usage restrictions.

The drawing will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21. The winner will be contacted through Instagram and their photo will be featured on the Virginia is for Lovers Instagram account.

To learn more about the sweepstakes, visit blog.virginia.org/2017/02/loveworks-instagram-sweepstakes.

To learn more about the LOVEworks program, visit virginia.org/love.

The one night stay at The Jefferson Hotel is subject to availability. Advance reservations are required. Certificate is valid through Feb. 28, 2018.

About Virginia is for Lovers

Tourism is an instant revenue generator in Virginia. Every dollar invested in Virginia Tourism’s integrated marketing results in $7 of revenue for the Commonwealth. Those marketing dollars are targeting travelers who will visit Virginia, stay longer, and spend more money. Learn more at virginia.org.

About LOVEworks

The artwork, commissioned by Virginia Tourism Corporation, is an extension of the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand, and features giant LOVE letters in towns and cities across the Commonwealth. The LOVE letters, called LOVEworks, have become popular tourist attractions, inspiring viral posts on social media using the hashtag #LOVEVA.

About The Jefferson Hotel

Built in 1895, The Jefferson Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Richmond and is within minutes of the city’s most popular attractions, restaurants and shopping.  It is a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts and Historic Hotels of America. Guests of The Jefferson enjoy complimentary downtown transportation, fitness center and indoor pool access, high-speed internet access and evening turndown service. The Jefferson is also home to Lemaire Restaurant, TJ’s Restaurant and Richmond’s most famous Sunday Champagne Brunch.  For more information about The Jefferson Hotel, visit jeffersonhotel.com or call 804-788-8000.

Paint Staunton Quick Draw Art Competition, Wet Paint Sale set for April 29

The second annual Paint Staunton Quick Draw Art Competition and Wet Paint Sale promises fun for professional artists, amateur artists, budding young artists and collectors of original art.

Area plein air artists will compete for $875 in cash prizes. The public is invited to come watch artists of all ages capture the timeless beauty of downtown Staunton and purchase the art during the wet paint sale.

The paint competition begins at 9:30 am at the Sunspots Pavilion in downtown Staunton on Saturday, April 29. Judging will take place at the Sunspots Pavilion at 12:30 pm and prizes awarded at 1:30 pm. Rosealie Day White, a BSSS co-founder, and esteemed plein air painter will serve as juror. The Wet Paint Sale begins at 2:00 pm.

Registration for professional and amateur artists is $15. Artists 16 and under participate for free.

For more information regarding the Paint Staunton Quick Draw Art Competition and Wet Paint Sale, visit www.bssschool.org.

Paint Staunton Quick Draw Art Competition and Wet Paint Sale is an event of the Beverly Street Studio School (BSSS) whose mission is to provide the community and region with a variety of opportunities to explore the world of the visual arts through practice, professional instruction, and contact with practicing artists. BSSS is a non-profit organization and is proud to be celebrating 25 years in 2017.

Harrisonburg’s inaugural Restaurant Week serves up local flavor

The City of Harrisonburg is home to a unique blend of locally-owned restaurants, craft breweries, grocers, bakeries and cafes, and Virginia’s first culinary district. The inaugural Harrisonburg Restaurant week, set for March 5 – 11, 2017, showcases the local flavors at more than 40 participating restaurants throughout the city.

The week-long celebration will feature the popular Taste of Downtown and introduce Savor on Port and Relish Uptown, a new branding initiative that will include a collection of local restaurants specifically on Port Republic Road and various locations throughout the city. Participating restaurants will serve upsignature dishes, daily specials, small plates, brunch bites, sweet treats and more. The week offers patrons an opportunity to visit an impressive and diverse mix of locally-owned eateries with international influences ranging from mainstream American to Asian-fusion cuisine to authentic Indian fare.

During Harrisonburg’s Restaurant Week, our chefs will showcase their creativity and talents. They create global comfort foods sourced from area farms and dishes that are inspired from secret family recipes, making it easy for you to take a “Culinary Trip around the World” right here in the Shenandoah Valley.

“This is a great opportunity to team up with our local food businesses to showcase the culinary arts in Harrisonburg,” says Brenda Black, Director of Tourism and Visitor Services. “We’re inviting visitors and our neighbors to join us as we indulge in home-grown goodness and celebrate the bounty of the Shenandoah Valley.”

“O’Neill’s Grill is very excited to be a part of restaurant week,” says Tim O’Neill, owner of O’Neill’s Grill. “It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our scratch kitchen to some of the community that hasn’t visited us before. We are also going to tie this event to one of our local monthly charity events.”

“I love these types of city wide events,” says Scott Coles, chef at Jimmy Madison’s Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar. “It’s an opportunity to stretch beyond my culinary boundaries and be a little more adventurous. My menu for Restaurant Week this year is “Contemporary Country” themed, with dishes such as Beer Can Quail, Mac & Cheese Tower, Spam Dynamite and a Baked Virginian.” He also says, “Restaurant Week is a chance for me to explore what the other creative minds of Harrisonburg have to offer.”

“Taste of Downtown is a unique showcase of the downtown food scene, which boasts more than 40 food-related businesses in a 40-block district” says Kim Kirk, Chief Marketing Officer at Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance. “Every restaurant offers a unique atmosphere and culinary experience. This diversity coupled with our chefs’ commitment to showcasing the local culture and ingredients are what makes Harrisonburg’s food scene incredible.”

Tickets are not required; however, reservations are encouraged and should be made directly with the restaurant. Guests can visit as many places as they wish during the seven‐day event.

For a list of participating restaurants and details of their offers, visit www.VisitHarrisonburgVA.com/dining/harrisonburg-restaurant-week or www.tasteofdowntownhburg.com.

Solas brings Irish-American music to Court Square Theater

The Court Square Theater Music Series continues on Friday, February 24th with a concert by Irish-American group, Solas.

2016 marks the 20th Anniversary of the quintessential Irish-American band, Solas. Formed in 1996, in a manner befitting their name (Gaelic for “light”), Solas burst onto the Irish music scene and instantly became a beacon – an incandescent ensemble that found contemporary relevance in timeless traditions.

Eleven albums later, with numerous awards to their credit, and more miles traveled touring the world to count, Solas will mark this milestone with a exciting new recording project and tour, ALL THESE YEARS. It is a celebration of a band that, from its inception, captured the musical world’s attention and went on to become one of the most influential groups in the history of Irish music. ALL THESE YEARS sees Solas reuniting with all the members of the band, past and present, to record new material and embark on a year long world tour.

Anchored by founding members Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistles, guitars, bodhran) and Winifred Horan (violins, vocals), who form the backbone of the uniquely definable Solas sound, long time members Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and Mick McAuley (button accordion, vocals) and newest member, the dynamic Moira Smiley (vocals, banjo), Solas is musically at the top of their game and continues to be the standard bearer not only for great Irish music, but great music in any genre.

Solas performs at Harrisonburg’s Court Square Theater on Friday, February 24th. Doors open at 7:00pm and the concert begins at 8:00pm. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door. Please visit valleyarts.org or call 540.433.9189 for more information and to purchase tickets.

Court Square Theater is located at 41-F Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Virginia State Parks stimulate $224 million in visitor spending in 2016

Virginia State Parks helped stimulate more than $224 million in visitor spending in 2016. The figure comes from a new economic impact report compiled by the Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business as part of an ongoing partnership with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the agency that manages Virginia State Parks.

“In 2016, Virginia State Parks hosted over 10 million visitors, more than a million of whom spent the night in our world-class cabins and campgrounds. These important economic drivers support more than 3,500 private and public jobs across Virginia and improve quality of life in our Commonwealth,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Last year, out-of-state visitors spent around $98 million as the result of our state park system – an incredible return on only $19.8 million in general fund appropriations.”

In addition to a substantial positive impact on the value of nearby real estate, the report found that the economic activity stimulated by Virginia State Parks yielded approximately $19.6 million in tax revenue for the Commonwealth last year.

“For every $1 we receive from the General Assembly, Virginia State Parks generate 99 cents in tax revenue,” said Virginia State Parks Director Craig Seaver. “Sales taxes, business taxes and state income taxes all help to make state parks nearly budget neutral.”

“This report gives us a new baseline from which we’ll measure all state parks economic activity in the future,”said Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Director Clyde Cristman. “Previously, we used decades-old calculations and multipliers to arrive at the numbers. We are continuously collecting customized spending information from thousands of visitors on line and in writing. We’re also using a special computer program, called IMPLAN, for our calculations. With this new process in place, we expect to have more precise figures that we’ll continue to refine every year.”

For the full Virginia State Parks Economic Impact Report 2016, click here. For more information about Virginia State Parks, visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.

Shenandoah Valley Art Center features Governor’s School students

The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of February, in the Cabell/Arehart Gallery is paying tribute to art education exhibiting the artwork of the Visual Arts students from the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School.

Mary Yoder, Visual Arts Director, commented that the students participate in a regional art program that connects them with other talented students from Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro in a college-level studio setting. In this program, students develop their own unique aesthetic built on a strong foundation in technical skill. Regular peer critiques and study of influential artists assist students in formulating educated opinions regarding quality and intended purpose of visual art.

The program encourages students to explore a range of approaches and eventually dedicate time to concentrating on media and subject matter that interests them the most. In the AP Studio course this concentration on selected media or subject matter is referred to as “Sustained Investigation.”

The pieces in this show exhibit individual areas of interest within the art program. Students have thought carefully about the subject matter of their work and the media in which they communicate their message. An opening reception will be held February 4, 6 – 8pm.  The public is invited to come, meet, and talk to the young artists.

In the Hallway Gallery, the tribute to art education continues with an exhibition of artwork by the Blue Ridge Virginia Art Education Association showcasing its members from the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. The exhibit is an intriguing look into the creative process of educators. It is a rich tapestry of artwork that represents lives involved in the daily practice of nurturing young artists who will determine the evolution of art in the future.  In the Members’ Gallery, the theme RED will be interpreted by SVAC members through a variety of media and creative ideas.

Save the date! Ellen Schorsch, pianist will present a program, “Musical Celebration of the Renaissance,” Sunday, February 12, 2:00pm at SVAC. Included will be pieces inspired by Renaissance literature and art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Want to make your art pay? SVAC presents: THE BUSINESS OF ART – A LECTURE SERIES – Wednesday afternoons, 1-3pm, February 8, 15, and 22. Lecture 1: Proposal Advice, Lecture 2: Getting Your Ducks in a Row: streamlining your administration so you can spend more time making ART, and Lecture 3: Staunton Creative Community Fund’s guest speaker will be talking about cash flow and financial resources for artists. SCCF will be able to help you take steps to make your business work for you!  Cost is$10 for one lecture or $25 for all three.

Come learn the art of making Basic Kiln Fired Enameled Jewelry taught by Audrey Young on February 11, 9am -5pm.  Study this ancient art of fusing glass to metal! All supplies included. ($80)

For the young artist, Shenandoah Valley Art Center offers, the ever popular Saturday Art for Kids, presenting a creative art experience for young artists. Designed as a program that expands upon art offered in school or as an art experience for the home schooled, the classes are taught by artists who are amazing with kids. All supplies and snacks included for children ages 6 – 10.  Preregistration required. (February 4, 11, 18, and 25, $15 per class).

Open studio opportunities in the Virginia Ross Education Studio are available to printmakers and ceramic artists.  Access to top of the line clay and printmaking equipment and space to work will be furnished for $60 per quarter.   Apply on line at www.SVACart.com.

The art center is a retail alliance partner with the Artisan Center of Virginia. In the SVAC Gift Shop you can find the perfect creative gift in fiber, jewelry, wood, glass, pottery, and more by juried artisans from Virginia and SVAC member artists.

The Shenandoah Valley Art Center is located in downtown Waynesboro at 122 S. Wayne Avenue.  Galleries are open to the public 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.  For more information, call (540) 949-7662 or visit www.svacart.com.