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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 28, 1995                   TAG: 9507280035
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STACY JONES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

CREATIVE MARKET: Downtown Roanoke's historic market square will take on a new look this Sunday, thanks to V Magazine. Its Sunday Art Day will be targeted at the area's young. The event will include a children's parade, hula-hoop competition, skateboard demos, bands, storytelling, and a petting zoo. Warning: There will also be mimes wandering around. Sunday Art runs from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. Call 342-2028.

DOWNTOWN DO-WOP: In an effort to be more appealing to the average Joe and Jane, Mill Mountain Theatre is trying something new. Following the Thursday preview of ``Forever Plaid,'' a hybrid gathering - part sock-hop and part backyard barbecue - will commence in the atrium at Center in the Square. Running until midnight, the event will offer dancing, hot dogs, beer and soda. It's meant to tie in with ``Forever Plaid,'' which is a musical featuring songs of the '50s and '60s sung by four wise-cracking ghosts. Tickets for Thursday are $13, which includes a seat for the play and one hot dog. Extra eats will be sold for $1. Call 342-5740.

PEANUTS, CRACKER JACKS AND BEN-GAY: Most people would love to relive their glory days. This explains why professional athletes don't fade away; they hit the seniors' circuit. Segue to baseball Hall-of-Famer Vida Blue. He'll be the headliner for the 9th Annual Miller Lite Old Timers' Game on Saturday. The old-timers will take the field against a team of local media folk at Municipal Stadium in Salem. The event begins at 5:30 p.m., preceding the 7 o'clock Salem Avalanche game against the Kinston Indians. Tickets are $3-$6. Regular admission covers both games. Discounts are available for senior citizens and kids under 12. Call 389-3333.

BARTER BLOWOUT: Robert Porterfield didn't rest after founding the Barter Theatre. Another of his legacies - the Virginia Highlands Festival - begins its 47th year Saturday. The festival, held in Abingdon, sports the traditional stuff like an art show, antiques market and storytelling. It's the not-so-routine activities that give this 16-day event an edge over the rest: a variety of plays, performances by dance troupes from Argentina and Israel, music by Trout Fishing in America (which won best indie pop album of 1992), an archeological dig at nearby Saltville, and a celebration of children's literature. Times, dates and prices vary. Call (800) 435-3440.

GARAGE BAND REVIEW: Call it the Iroquois-PG, or the Not-Ready-For Prime-Time-Players. Tonight, the Teen Center gets hip with its ``Battle of the Bands.'' Sure, they're high-school bands, but that doesn't mean they can't play. Phatso, Monkey Trick and the Bobby Fischer Faction will square off for their peers from 8-11:30 p.m. Admission is $3. Only students in grades 9-12 will be admitted. The center is located at 3738 Brambleton Ave. S.W., Roanoke. Call 772-2058.

by CNB