ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996                   TAG: 9606070008
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS STAFF WRITER 

TENNIS WITH GOOD TASTE

Suit up! It's time to put on those tennis whites.

"A Wimbledon Celebration" is the first in a series of three upcoming outings sponsored by the Blacksburg Master Chorale.

For the past four years, members of the community chorus have put on "Dinners of Note," a fund-raiser that offers fine dining and unique entertainment. This year promises more of the same.

Three theme dinners are planned over the next five months. The Wimbledon event is set for June 29 in Blacksburg. Hosts for this first dinner are Rosemary Blieszner, Steve Gerus and Amelia and Joe Ball.

In addition to feasting on smoked salmon, champagne, roast beef with all the trimmings and a variety of fine wines, guests will be treated to a tennis stroke competition and exhibition game. Tennis pro Louie Belt of the Blacksburg Country Club will oversee the action.

The second evening in the series, "A Taste of Wine," is slated for July 27. The casual meal promises an array of interesting wines selected by connoisseur Bernard LaBerge.

Fran and Gene Carson are hosting the dinner, along with LaBerge, Amelia and Joe Ball, Ora and Clarence Taylor and Alice and Tom Payne. While sitting at the wine table, guests will enjoy such delicacies as squash soup with fresh dill, chocolate mousse and raspberry and lemon tartlets.

The final event in the series is "The Hunt Breakfast," set for Oct. 5 at the Sassafras Farm and Retreat in Possum Hollow. Deanna Boswell and daughters, Kathleen Strazzni and Judy and Phil Araman will do the honors for this one. They say those attending should be prepared to hunt for a door prize donated by Travel Agents International.

Be prepared for another delicious dinner, too. The autumn feast features Maryland crab soup, beef, wild rice and other gourmet foods.

The cost for each dinner is $55 per person, a tax deductible expense because all proceeds go to the Blacksburg Master Chorale to support its season of concerts. The hosts provide the meals as their gift to the chorale.

Requests for reservations should be mailed by Saturday to: Dinners of Note, P.O. Box 10903, Blacksburg, Va. 24060. When requesting reservations, you should indicate your first, second and third choices. If you want to attend more than one dinner, make a note on your reservation request.

For more information, call Judy Araman at 552-6518.

LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  The Blacksburg Master Choral invites you to join the net
          set for "A Wimbledon Celebration," the first of three frolics to 
          benefit the community choral group. color.