The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - 10

editor's note
Enjoy the Show!
written by Liz Long, Editor Thank an artist (and the volunteers!), buy the tickets and revel in
local arts and culture - Roanoke's got more than enough to keep your calendar packed.
I
'm over people saying " There's nothing to do
here. " There, I've said it, perhaps the most forceful
statement I've ever shared in an editor's letter (thus
far). But the accusation could not be less true - all you
have to do is check out our events section (page 24) to
see just how many events and activities are happening
in only a two-month period! Live music and theatre,
comedy and art shows, festivals, marathons - and that's
not even counting weekly trivia nights, sporting events,
paint nights, makers' markets, open mics and more
happening on the regular!
In the last year alone, I've stood in awe at 500 years
of art from Titian to Monet at the Taubman Museum
of Art; seen live music like the Punch Brothers and
the incredible poet Nikki Giovanni alongside Javon
Jackson at the Jefferson Center; shouted at the referees
at Rail Yard Dawgs hockey games and Salem Red
Sox baseball games; heard the most gorgeous voices
with one of the most incredible experiences at Opera
Roanoke's " Hidden Gems " ; felt like a teenager again
seeing *NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick at Dr Pepper Park;
danced to Doom Flamingo at 5 Points Music Sanctuary;
did the Barbenheimer weekend at Grandin Theatre;
watched dancers share their culture at Local Colors
Festival; and ate my weight in food at countless other
joyful gatherings.
Already I can't wait to winter-walk through
Illuminights, get a taste of history at the Blue Ridge
Folk Life Festival, bask in ballet with SWVA Ballet and
Roanoke Ballet Theatre performances, hear En Vogue
contributors
at Henry Street Heritage Festival, sit with Symphony
Under the Stars by Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
and view Broadway at Berglund Center without ever
leaving town - and that, dear readers, is exactly my
point. ALL of this is in our own backyard, available
to us without ever leaving the Valley. The costs are all
incredibly affordable, especially without travel (I haven't,
for example, ever paid $500 for one ticket), and I am
never caught up in crowds or bottle-necked parking lots!
Of course, it's with many thanks to the hardworking
artists and teams who give us such opportunities. Late
last year, I had the honor of joining the Jefferson Center
board of directors. It's been an eye-opening experience
to see how hard everyone works, from the director
and board to staff and volunteers. There are so many
components, big and small, that make every event in
our region so special, and though we know this, seeing
it firsthand reminds me how lucky we are for passionate
people in the Valley. Thanks to them, we're able to see
award-winning, national and legendary acts only a
few minutes from home. And I haven't even touched
educational programming, local artists who take part in
shows and creations and so, SO much more! I've barely
scratched the surface of what we'll enjoy over the next
year, but I can't wait to see you there. Thank you to those
who bring us such gems!
See you at the show,
tell us about...
your favorite local act or show
seen in our region? Share your
thoughts on our social media
pages!
we want to
hear from you
Questions, comments or feedback
about The Roanoker? E-mail llong@
leisuremedia360.com
follow us on social
roanokermag
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Aila Boyd
is an educator
and journalist
who resides in
Roanoke. She holds
an MFA in Writing
from Lindenwood
University. Read her
" Do You Know...? "
piece on page 16.
Ashley Wilson
Fellers
is a writer, self-taught
painter and contemplative
photographer in Roanoke,
Virginia. When she isn't
teaching writing at Virginia
Western, she snaps photos
of sidewalk cracks,
rescues wet leaves from
windshield wipers and
leaves poems hidden
under park benches. She
has a Master of Fine Arts
degree from Virginia Tech.
See her piece on State of
the Arts on page 28.
10
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
Stacey
Manganelli
is a tenderhearted
writer living in
Hollins with her
husband and son. She
writes an interactive
lifestyle blog at
teaandtenderness.
com. She would
love to hear your
responses to the
questions she poses
there. Read her story
on the Build Smart
Institute on page 94.
Shawn
Nowlin
is an acclaimed
writer, interviewer,
photographer and
content creator.
After nearly a
decade of working
in the newspaper
industry, Nowlin,
34, transitioned
into a full-time
freelancing career.
See his Mural Photo
Essay starting on
page 38.
KyAnne Reeves,
Roanoke City resident,
graduated from Radford
University with a BBA
in Marketing. In the
summer of 2022, she
published the first book
in her new MiddleGrade
fiction series,
" Adventures of Alyssa -
Ordinary Girl. " When she
isn't writing, she can be
found reading, running
or lounging with her pup,
Link. Read her piece on
Equity in the Arts on
page 32.
Dan Smith
is an awardwinning
Roanoke-based
writer/author/
photographer.
He
is founding editor
of a Roanokebased
business
magazine and a
former Virginia
Small Business
Journalist of
the Year (2005).
Read his piece on
Stiltwalkers on
page 42.
Bob Sowder
is a native of Roanoke.
He enjoyed a career in
broadcast television and
advertising, working in
markets from D.C. to
L.A. and a lot of fly-over
country. On a visit back
to Roanoke in 1999 with
his wife Jules, they
rediscovered Roanoke and
returned in 2001 to raise
their two children. See
his homes photography
on our cover and in the
Blacksburg Home feature
starting on page 66.
Clayton Trutor
holds a PhD in US History
from Boston College
and teaches at Norwich
University in Vermont. He
is the author of " Loserville:
How Professional Sports
Remade Atlanta--and
How Atlanta Remade
Professional Sports " (2022)
and " Boston Ball: Jim
Calhoun, Rick Pitino, Gary
Williams, and Basketball's
Forgotten Cradle of
Coaches " (2023). See his
feature on Roanoke's Chess
Champion on page 35.
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The Roanoker Sept/October 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker Sept/October 2023