
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 28, 1995                   TAG: 9504280021
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STACY JONES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

HOUSE & GARDENS: For those of us who are so nosy we attend every open house in town pretending to be in the market for new digs, the charade ends this Saturday. Thanks to agreeable owners and the efforts of the Roanoke Valley and Mill Mountain Garden Clubs, the public will have the opportunity to inspect four incredible estates and their gardens. A fifth garden, whose owners decided not to open their residence to visitors, will also be part of the circuit. Included on the Historic Garden Week tour will be the ``Rockledge,'' mansion which is situated 700 feet above the Valley, just below the Mill Mountain Star. The tour, which raises money for historic preservation, runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and costs $12. Due to limited parking at each home, participants must use a free continuous shuttle available at the Roanoke Garden Center or at South Roanoke Methodist Church. Tickets can be bought at the Garden Center. Call 343-4519.

SIDEWALK SALE: You won't find 99-cent sweaters or factory irregulars at this street enterprise, but you will find lots of art. The return of V Magazine Sunday Art means the Roanoke City Market area will be full of artists, music, and wanderers this Sunday. A belated mini-Earth Day celebration will also be held as local environmental and recycling groups will be in attendance. Sunday Art takes place from 1-5 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month. Admission is free. Call 342-2028.

SWIRL, SWIRL...SWISH, SWISH: Or maybe, hit me again. Whatever your approach to wine - whether you're a novice, connoisseur or more the twist-off type - the 3rd Annual Roanoke Valley Wine Festival should be satisfying. Held Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on the quadrangle of Hollins College, the gathering will host eight Virginia wineries. Peripheral diversions include food, artists and musicians. Taster tickets (for those 21 and older) are $8 in advance and $12 at the door. Non-taster tickets are $5. Children under 12 get in free. Tickets can be purchased at the Market Square Wine Shop, Montano's Restaurant, International Gourmet and Vintage Cellar. Call 345-1316.

HAVING OUR SAY: Everything is in the eye of the beholder, which is why it's a good idea to get a view from as many perspectives as possible. Take a chance this Saturday and venture out to Hollins College for ``Our Voices and a Taste of Diversity.'' The Black Student Alliance and Multicultural Club will present a prose and poetry reading of the works of several African-American authors. Following the reading, students and faculty share foods unique to their cultures. The presentation runs from 2-4 p.m. in the Green Drawing Room at Main Building. Admission is free. Call 362-6452.

NEW RIVER REVIVAL: A repertoire of classics will fill the air when the New River Valley Symphony presents its spring concert. ``The Wise Virgins,'' a transcription for orchestra of six Bach pieces arranged into a ballet suite, opens the performance. Mozart's Horn Concerto and a performance of Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 in G major round out the evening. The concert will be Saturday at 8 p.m. in Burruss Auditorium on the Virginia Tech campus. Admission is $5/$3 for students and senior citizens. Call 231-5615.

LATE NIGHT BUFFET: As in Jimmy Buffet. Following Saturday's all-you-can-eat Shrimpfest 1995, Captain Cook and the Coconutz will stage a musical tribute to Jimmy Buffet at the Salem Civic Center. It's too late to get tickets for the shrimp, but the 7:30 p.m. concert is open to all for $5. Beer and wine will be available for purchase throughout the evening. Call 342-2640.

CHRISTMAS IN APRIL: Although most people aren't thinking about Christmas, the city of Salem is. It is sponsoring ``Salem After Five,'' an outdoor concert series to benefit the Community Christmas Store. The all-volunteer operation provides clothing, food, household items and toys to needy families at Christmas. The first event, held tonight from 5-9 at the Salem Farmer's Market, features the band Rhythm Doctors. Admission is $1. Call 375-3057.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF VINTON: Taking the air of a theme park, the 40th Annual Vinton Dogwood Festival brings a parade, a vintage auto show, an arts and crafts show, children's events, beauty queens, amusement rides, bands, a 5K run and country music star Tom T. Hall to the city's downtown this Saturday. Hall will sign autographs at the Vinton War Memorial from 1:30-2:15 p.m., then he will lead the parade which begins at 2:30 p.m. at the old William Byrd High School. Other activities taking place at the Vinton War Memorial Building are the crowning of the Miss Vinton Dogwood Festival Queen on the front portico at 12:30 p.m. and an After Parade Jam, featuring Load, on the front lawn at 3:45 p.m. Admission is free. Call 983-0613.

by CNB