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

DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995                   TAG: 9509220048
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STACY JONES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

PREMATURE PASSING: Jimmy Butler and his Roanoke Comedy Club are alive and, if not kicking, at least wiggling. A story in this paper last week may have led readers to believe the laugh house was boarded up. Not so. Butler is still looking for a buyer, but until he finds one the Williamson Road comedy club is a good place to spend your leisure dollars. The headliner tonight and Saturday is David Klein. Admission is $7. Shows start at 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Call 982-5693.

LET'S PULL TOGETHER: Or, as they say in Swahili, ``Harambee.'' That's the theme of the black- tie gala taking place next Friday at the Patrick Henry Hotel. The African-influenced affair, held from 8 p.m.-1 a.m., is the main fund-raiser for the annual Henry Street Heritage Festival. Live entertainment, hors d'oeuvres and dancing will keep attendees busy. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture. Call 345-4818.

PIANOS, STRINGS AND THINGS: Now in the third year of its artistic residency at Roanoke College, The Kandinsky Trio is almost as synonymous with Roanoke as the Star. The nationally known chamber music ensemble opens its season Saturday at 8 p.m. in Olin Theater. The trio will perform Mozart's quartet for piano and strings in G minor, a jazz-inspired piece by Libby Larsen, and Schubert's ``Trout'' quintet. Special guests are double bassist James VanDemark and violist Paul Cortese. Admission is $7. Call 375-2333.

FIDDLE FRENZY: That's what will take place Saturday and Sunday at Explore Park. Curley Ennis and his boss, Rupert Cutler, both made cameos in my office requesting coverage. Realizing my past oversights, I respond with this listing. The weekend offers tons of music by Curley, Robbie Wells and the Blue Ridge Mountain String Band, plus banjos, bagpipes, song-bows and jaw-harps. Legendary Floyd County violin-maker Arthur Conner will also make an appearance. Next weekend, Explore presents the Dueling Dulcimer competition with cash prizes for the top three players. The park is located at milepost 115 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Admission is $4, $2.50 for kids 6-18, free for children under 6. Call 427-1800.

THREE-RING HIPPODROME: That's the danger of a thesaurus; it won't permit you to simply write ``circus.'' Anyway, The Roberts Bros. circus arrives at the Sedalia Center on Saturday for a 3 p.m. show. The 45-member company includes aerialists, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, comedians, illusionists and animal trainers. Lisa, a 7,500-pound Asian elephant who is one of the big top's 20 trained animals, will grant rides to onlookers one hour before the show. Viewers can visit the circus lot at 9:30 a.m. to meet the animals. Guides will give tours and answer questions about circus life. Tickets are $7 for those 15 and older, $5 for kids 2-14. Call (804) 299-5080.

by CNB