4.07–4.13

Happy Monday y'all. This week, events that are part of the Freedom First Down by Downtown Festival are marked with the lil' red Stratocaster 🎸. I'm hoping the weather holds out but, as always, double check with the venue before you go to make sure an event is still on. Havefunbesafe!

Mon 4/7
🐾 11am–8pm (various time slots available): Pet Portraits with the Easter Bunny // Valley View Mall // $37+ ↝
✮ 4–5pm: Springtime Plawking Picnic (park cleanup) // Gainsboro Library // free ↝
🎨 5–6pm: Daisy Art Parade Workshop // Melrose Library // free ↝
✮ 6–7:15pm: Creating Happiness (basic & practical meditation) // Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center // $10 ↝
🏆💃 7–8pm: Bellydance Basics (second class in 6-week series) // Uttara Yoga Studio // $16 drop-in ↝

Tue 4/8
✮ 11:30am–1:30pm: AG Lunch & Learn: Preserving your Land (discussion and Q&A on conservation) // The Barn at Back Creek Farm - Buchanan // $20 ↝
🎨 4–6:30pm: Clay Candle Holders w/ the Slap Shop (art class) // Crystal Spring Grocery // $30, registration req. ↝
♫ 5–8pm: William Seymour (Americana, country) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🐾 5:30–7pm: Dog Adoption Event & Run // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
♫ 6–8pm: Jonah Carden (acoustic blues rock) // Wasena City Taproom // free ↝
🏆 6–9pm: Crokinole Night (Canadian board game club) // Golden Cactus // free ↝
✮ 7–8:30pm: Tarot Share (all-level tarot card class) // Lifestream Center // $15 ↝
♫ 8pm: Joanne Shaw Taylor (blues) // Shaftman Performance Hall @ Jefferson Center // $49+ ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Sky Dolphin (cover) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝

Wed 4/9
🏆🌳 9am–1pm: Wildflower Wanderings Spring Hike (guided hike) // Explore Park // $10, registration req. ↝
✮ 5–8pm: Mid-Week Market (live music, vendors, food & drink specials) // Golden Cactus // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Sideshow Runaways (group show) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🍔 6–8pm: Sip Outside the Box (French wine lesson + tasting) // Stave & Cork - Salem // $30, 21+; registration req. ↝
🧸 6–8pm: Easter Egg Hunt festival (face painting, Easter bunny, inflatables, petting zoo, & more) // Salem Red Sox Stadium // free, ages 3–10 ↝
♫✮ 6:30pm: Hip Hoponomics (beatmaking workshop) // The Collective // free ↝
🏳️‍🌈💃 6:30–7:30pm: Queer Tango // Roanoke Diversity Center // $5–$10, registration req. ↝
✮🎨 7–9pm: Reflections on Water (art & musings on water and community) // Taubman Museum // free ↝
♫ 7–9pm: Troublesome Blues Band (rock, folk, blues) // Village Grill // free ↝
♫ 7–11pm: Open Mic Night // The Front Row // free ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 7): Minor Gold & Kayla Renee  (folk) // The Spot on Kirk // $12 adv. $15 day of ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Reggae Night by The Ambassador (reggae) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝

Thu 4/10
🐾🌳 9–11am: Walk on the Wild Side - Birds // Mill Mountain Zoo // $20, registration req. ↝
✮ 5:30–6:30pm: Daisy Art Parade Sneak Peek // Morningside Urban Farm // free, registration req. ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: GOTE (rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮ 5–9pm: SERCAP's Water is Life! Banquet (fundraiser) // Hotel Roanoke // $85, registration req. ↝
✮ 5:30–6:30pm: BUZZ Live! Non-Profit Talk Show (live podcast recording) // The Spot on Kirk // free ↝
🧸🎭 6pm (doors 5): Blippi: Join the Band Tour (children's musical theatre) // Berglund Center // $40+ ↝
🌳 6–7pm: Pesticide Residues on Retail Greenhouse Plants: Buying Pollinator-Safe Plants (lecture) // CVC at Heights Community Church // free, registration req. ↝
🎨 6–7:30pm: Pebble Art Party (nature art) // Stave & Cork - Salem // $30 ↝
🎨 6–8pm: Watercolor Flowers (painting) // Sycamore Station // $15, registration req. ↝
♫ 6–8pm: TJ Ellis (country, folk) // Wasena City Taproom // free ↝
♫ 6–8:30pm: Open Mic Night // Alexander-Gish House // free ↝
♫ 6–9pm: Solacoustix Duo (blues, RnB, variety) // Brady's Distillery // free ↝
✮🌳 6:30–8pm: Forgotten Grasslands of the Southeast (lecture) // Christ Lutheran Church // free ↝
🎭 7pm: Mountain Memories: Charles Lytton's Tales of Appalachia (author storytelling event) // Salem Museum // free ↝
♫ 7:30–10:10pm: Christian Q. (funk, blues, jazz, pop) // Hanging Rock Tavern - Salem // free ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 6:30): Ripe (indie pop) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $27+ ↝
♫ 9:30pm: FUNKSHUI (psychedelic, experimental) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝

Fri 4/11
♫ 2–3pm: Middle Eastern Tambourine Workshop // Fishburn Mansion // $45, registration req. ↝
✮ 5pm: Work Release: NYA Happy Hour (fundraiser for the Humble Hustle Company) // Golden Cactus // free, registration req. ↝
🏆🌳 5–8pm: Sunset Kayaking // Carvin's Cove // $45, registration req. ↝
🎸 5:30pm: Star City Soul Club (soul & funk vinyl DJ set) // Elmwood Park // free ↝
♫ 5:30–9pm: The Eric Wayne Band (southern rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🎨 6pm: Faux Stained Glass Resin Suncatchers (painting) // Well Hung Vineyards // $28, registration req. ↝
🎸🍔 6–9pm: Friday Food Truck n' Tunes with Sky Dolphin // Sweet Donkey // free ↝
🎸 6:30–9pm: Jake Ziegler (rock) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
♫ 7pm (doors 6:30): Pat Bianchi Trio (Jazz) - early show // Fostek Performance Hall @ Jefferson Center // $35 ↝
🎸🏳️‍🌈🎨 7–9pm: Fired Up & Fabulous: A Drag & Pottery Night (drag show, mug painting) // Motel Studios // $40, registration req. ↝
🎸🎭 7pm: Swan Lake Act II (ballet) // Trinkle Main Stage // $12+ ↝
🎸🎭 7:30pm (doors 7): The R.E.A.L. Funny: Latin Comedy Night! // The Spot on Kirk // $10 adv. $15 day of ↝
🏳️‍🌈🎨 7:30pm: SWVA Pride Paint Party (paint nite & drag performance) // Flowers by Eddie // $35 at the door ↝
🎸 7:30–9pm: Creedence Clearwater Recital (cover) // Elmwood Park // free ↝
♫ 7:30–10:30pm: Becki & the Boom Booms (blues, jazz, rock) // Hanging Rock Tavern - Salem // free ↝
🎸 8pm (doors 6:30): Of Good Nature, Cam Clark (soul, funk, folk, reggae, fusion) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $18+ ↝
♫ 8–9pm: Ash Devine (folk) // 3rd Street Coffeehouse // free ↝
♫ 8–11pm (doors 7): Blake Hornsby, banshee, Olchar E. Lindsann (experimental folk, jazz noise, spoken word) // Art Rat Studios // free, BYOB, donations welcome ↝
♫ 8pm–midnight: In the Meantime (alt rock) // The Watering Hole // $10 ↝
♫ 9pm (doors 8:30): Pat Bianchi Trio (Jazz) - late show // Fostek Performance Hall @ Jefferson Center // $35 ↝
🎸 10pm: Wim Tapley & the Cannons (pop, Americana) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝

Sat 4/12
🏆 7:35am–3:05pm: Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon & Half Marathon // Elmwood Park // $130–150, registration req. ↝
✮ 9am–4pm: Salem Spring Holiday Market // Salem Civic Center // free ↝
🧸 10am–3pm: Eggcellent Adventure (Easter event) // VA Museum of Transportation // free ↝
🏳️‍🌈🍔 noon–3pm: Second Saturday (kickoff potluck for 35+ social group) // Roanoke Diversity Center // free ↝
✮ noon–5pm: Spring Craft Fair // Melrose Masonic Lodge // free ↝
🎸 noon–6pm: Marathon After Party (live music, food trucks, vendors) // Starr Hill Brewery // free ↝
🧸🏆 1–2:30pm: Yoga with the Wild Way (girls' yoga) // Uttara Yoga Studio // sliding scale; ages 9–14 ↝
🎨🌳 1–4pm: Nature Photography for Beginners // Camp Roanoke // $35, registration req. ↝
🎨 1–8pm: Puppet Build Day (help build an octopus for the Daisy Art Parade!) // MAKE Roanoke // free ↝
🎸🎭 2pm: Swan Lake Act II (ballet) // Trinkle Main Stage // $12+ ↝
🧸 2–4pm: Superhero Paint Party // Lucid Dreams - 1418 Hershberger Rd NW // $15 ↝
✮ 2–6pm: Sip & Seek: A Sacred Tea Ritual // GLOW Healing Arts // $65, registration req. ↝
✮ 2–7pm: Afro Everything Block Party (live music, dance, vendors, food, & more) // Century Plaza // $12 ↝
🍔 3pm: Tea Party // Our Daily Bread - downtown // $35 for two, reservations req. ↝
🎨🐾 3pm: Pressed Flower Collages (class, incl. entry to cat café) // Blue Ridge Indie Market // $30, BYOB; registration req. ↝
🎸 4:30–6pm (doors 4): Dylan Dent (variety show) // The Mountain House // pay what you want ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Mad Iguanas (rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🎸 6:30–9:30pm: Sasha (folk fusion) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
💃 6:30–10:30pm: BrewChata (Latin dance party) // Twisted Track Brewpub // free, 18+ ↝
💃 7pm: Black Box (student ballet showcase) // Roanoke Ballet Theatre // $26.50 ↝
🎸🎭 7pm: Swan Lake Act II (ballet) // Trinkle Main Stage // $12+ ↝
♫ 7–10pm: Glam'r Kiti (80's cover) // The Hangout // $10 ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 5:30): Garrett Hicks (country) // Sidewinders // free ↝
🎸 7:30pm (doors 5:30): Red Herons (folk) // Ursula's Cafe // free, donations encouraged ↝
🎸 7:30pm (main act; openers start 3:30): The Hip Abduction, Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast, Empty Bottles (afrobeat, reggae, rock, yacht rock ) // Elmwood Park // $18 ↝
🎭 7:30pm: 2025 New Directors Showcase (short plays) // Showtimers Community Theatre // donation for entry ↝
🎸 8pm (doors 7:30): The Crooked Creek Misfits & Jacob Ritter (bluegrass benefit for Justin Golden) // The Spot on Kirk // $12 adv. $15 day of ↝
🏆 8–11pm: Get Tilted! (after hours pinball party) // Roanoke Pinball Museum // $10, 21+ ↝
🎸 10pm: Bring Out Yer Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝

Sun 4/13
🎸 7:30am–4pm: Dog Bowl Market (music by DJ Ruby Star, Mackenzie Roarke, Caitlin Krisko Trio) // Black Dog Salvage // free ↝
🏆 9am: Slow-K 5K // Black Dog Salvage // $40, registration req. ↝
🏳️‍🌈🍔 10am–1pm: Flashback to the 80s Drag Brunch - early show // Well Hung Vineyards // $10 ↝
✮ noon: Grown-Up Easter Egg Hunt // Lick Run Farm // $15, registration req. ↝
🎸 noon–3pm: The Catawba Cryptids (folk, old time) // Golden Cactus // free ↝
✮ 1–3pm: A Survey of Karma with Harvey Murdoch (4/5 in series) // Uttara Yoga // free, registration req. ↝
🌳 1–4pm: Car Camping Basics (class) // Explore Park // $10, registration req. ↝
🎨 2pm: Easter Gnome (paint nite) // Big Lick Brewing // $45, registration req. ↝
🏳️‍🌈🍔 2–5pm: Flashback to the 80s Drag Brunch - early show // Well Hung Vineyards // $10 ↝
🎸 4–7pm: Virginia Electric (garage Americana, rock) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
♫ 5–8pm: Troublesome Blues Band (rock, folk, blues) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝

Ongoing/Multiple Dates

🏳️‍🌈 thru Apr 30: Clean Valley Day Cleanup 2025 // various locations // A Spring Cleaning for Mother Nature—register your own cleanup day with the CVC! "Clean Valley Council’s mission is to encourage environmental stewardship and lead the way towards a sustainable tomorrow by educating and inspiring those around us." // free ↝

🥎 Apr 11–13: Chance Crawford Benefit Softball Tournament // various locations // "The Chance Crawford Benefit Softball Tournament began 44 years ago to help a young Salem High School quarterback, Chance Crawford, who suffered a tragic spinal cord injury in a high school football game...Chance is now serving as Clerk of Circuit Court for Salem and no longer needs the help, but he continues to make contributions to the community by allowing the tournament to be played in his name to help others. All proceeds are used to help many different worthy causes and give several college scholarships." // Learn more ↝

🎭 Apr 11–13: Closing Arguments // Exit, Pursued by a Bear // "The difficult job part of funeral arranging for a family member and what comes with it...This is familiar ground to anyone who has lost an immediate family member—and a realistic portrayal for those who haven’t—of how the grieving process sometimes begins." // $18 ↝

Looking Ahead

🍅 Saturdays May 17–Aug 23: Printmaking with Zoe // Second Cafe // "Come join us for our summer printmaking series! Classes will be held at Second Cafe from 3-5pm on 5/17, 6/21, 7/19, and 8/23. Check out the link here for the sign up form and more info. Hope to see you there! Follow us on Instagram at zoe.aust and second.cafe to connect and for more updates!" // $50 for individual class, $175 for all 4 classes + drink (all materials included) ↝