Roanoke is ranked as the 10th largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. So after a week here, you’ve probably felt as though you’ve seen it all. After a semester here, the valley may feel as though it’s swallowing you whole. As college undergraduates, we all occasionally succumb to lethargy due to uninterrupted stress. This calls for some artistic stimulation. This week, the HC Hollins Team took a look at what makes the city of Roanoke appealing. So, on those days when you can’t seem to focus, take a break from your studies. You just may rediscover places off-campus that can become new sources of inspiration.
5. The Grandin Theatre – The Grandin Theatre is the centerpiece of the Grandin Village. Today, the Grandin survives as the lone historic movie theatre in the Roanoke Valley, having originally opened in 1932.
Its eclectic interior design featuring elements of various revival style is a part of its charm and appeal. What sets this theatre apart from others in the city is that, in addition to releasing some mainstream movies, the Grandin Theatre boasts showings of independent movies and short films.
4. Downtown Roanoke’s Market Street – Hollins University’s shuttle bus service takes students directly downtown, where nestled along Market Street are the Roanoke Farmer’s Market and specialty gift shops like Chocolate Paper.Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea is where many Hollins students get their caffeine fixes. If something exciting is happening in Roanoke, it’s happening downtown. There’s live music at Corned Beef & Co., the Citybar nightclub in 202 Market, and Formosa Lounge (a new sushi bar to compete with Wasabi’s). This area of downtown is also known for events such as the Strawberry Festival, the Sidewalk Art Show, and the Pride in the Park Festival, along with many others that take place throughout the year. For a complete list of calendar events, check out: http://www.downtownroanoke.org/events.
3. The Taubman Museum of Art– Along Route 220, there is a modern building (loosely resembling the Sidney Opera House with its many jagged edges) that looks very out-of-place among the rest of the city’s historic architecture. Originally a part of the Center in the Square, the Taubman relocated to its new location at the end of 2008. The museum’s exhibitions change frequently, but the museum’s permanent collection features art inspired by the Appalachian region. The Taubman is more than just an art gallery; it also hosts performances of live music and dance, film presentations, and art workshops.
2. The Roanoke Star– Roanoke is known as the “Star City of the South.” Built in 1949 near the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway at the top of Mill Mountain, the Roanoke Star is still the world’s largest freestanding illuminated man-made star. It is visible from just about every part of the valley (even on the Hollins campus if you know where to look). Best of all: it’s free! Perfect for a date or just a quick escape—Pack a picnic, tread the hiking trails, sneak a peek at the Mill Mountain Zoo, take in the view of the city below, and snap some photos. If you are standing on the overlook, you’re on StarCam, so don’t forget to tell your friends and family to go online to www.RoanokeVA.gov/starcamso they can see you on camera.
1. The Center in the Square – #1 on our list may seem like just a tease. As of this year, the Center in the Square is closed for some much-needed renovations. The Harrison Museum of African American Culture, the History Museum of Western Virginia, the Mill Mountain Theatre, Opera Roanoke, the Science Museum of Western Virginia, and the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge are all housed within the building. Here are some things to
look forward to upon its reopening in 2012: a refurbished exterior of the building, a redesigned Atrium (with four additional aquariums), new dining facilities, a butterfly habitat in the roof-top Pavilion, and “reinvented” productions by the Mill Mountain Theatre. The Center in the Square also supports the Roanoke Ballet Theatre and the O. Winston Link Museum, both of which are off-site. Take a look at the center’s website, http://www.centerinthesquare.org/index.php, for a renovation timeline and for details on the temporary locations of these museums.