ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 2, 1996 TAG: 9601020142
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Reporter's Notebook
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
Posted on numerous stores and restaurants in downtown Blacksburg this week is the same, simple one-word sign - CLOSED. Gone are the throngs of students walking the streets of the campus and the town. Gone are the numerous cars that clog the precious parking spaces.
It is winter break in Blacksburg. A co-worker, and fellow Blacksburg resident, swears he can see tumbleweed blowing across Main Street this time of year - at least in his mind.
Like any college town, Blacksburg becomes a different place when students leave. It's not that the town loses any charm or grace. Blacksburg just becomes slower, quieter, as if it is resting.
This is my first winter break in Blacksburg. As a recent graduate of Indiana University, which resides in a college town similar to Blacksburg called Bloomington, I was used to being the deserter rather than the deserted.
There are definite bonuses to being a permanent resident. On a quick lunch break a few days ago, I walked into a local Main Street hair salon for a trim and waited exactly two minutes to get my hair cut. Within minutes, I left the salon and got in my car, which was directly across the street in the parking spot I never could capture in the weeks and months before - a moment of sheer joy.
An acquaintance who works at the Corner Drug Store said many of the customers who have come in during the last few days cannot stop marveling about the calm. Store owners who have kept their businesses open say they savor the time to catch up on orders and relax a bit.
These are the golden moments the people of Blacksburg cherish. But there are also drawbacks.
I learned this past week that winter break is not a good time to entertain out-of-town guests.
The age-old question of where to take a guest for dinner becomes a downright dilemma. Backstreets Restaurant, one of the few restaurants open early last week, did a brisk business Tuesday night. The waitress smiled as she told our small group that the staff was not expecting such a crowd right after Christmas.
"It's the only place open here," one of my amused guests told her.
Lodging was another story entirely. My friends switched hotels during their stay because, as the only guests in one local hotel, they had to take quick showers Tuesday morning - the staff was running chemicals through the pipes to clean the system.
The pros and cons of winter break in Blacksburg, however, can best be summed up in a classic Top Five list, compiled by several Roanoke Times reporters and Blacksburg dwellers.
The top five benefits of winter break include:
1. Parking spaces aplenty.
2. No lines at the restaurants.
3. Lots of dart lanes at the local bars.
4. Tek-Tow closed for the week.
5. Being the Blacksburg reporter (with nothing to report).
The drawbacks are:
1. Parking spaces aplenty, but nowhere to go.
2. No lines at the restaurants, but half of the establishments are closed.
3. Lots of dart lanes at the local bars, but you have to play cricket slop - alone.
4. Tek-Tow closed for the week, but it doesn't matter (see reason No. 1).
5. Being the Blacksburg reporter , with nothing to report.
Elissa Milenky reports on business and Blacksburg government for the New River Current.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 linesby CNB