ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: out & about
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
"My heart's in the Highlands;
my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands,
a-chasing the deer;
A-chasing the wild deer,
and following the roe,
My heart's in the Highlands
wherever I go." | - Robert Burns
The ancient Celts left their mark as a people who savored a good meal, a good laugh and a good battle every once in awhile.
They valued their personal liberty and were willing to put up a fierce fight to protect it.
No wonder many in our neck of the woods are proud of their Celtic heritage. It was passed as a gift among kinsmen.
The Highlanders at Radford University are putting on a festival Saturday to honor the Celtic and Appalachian heritage of the region. They're launching the celebration with hopes that it will become an annual fall fete.
Events will be held at the Dedmon Center complex. Make sure you find a good spot to view the festival parade featuring the first appearance by the new Radford University mascot, the (who else?) Highlander!
The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. Burt Mitchell, a world champion piper, will don his kilt, his doublet and his brogues to lead the procession.
You're invited to dress in the university's tartan colors and join in if you like. Radford's official tartan is the MacFarlane, a plaid pattern of red, navy and dark green. Members of the Roanoke Valley Scottish Society will be on hand to tell you more about the clans, history and culture of our Celtic ancestors.
The fun continues throughout the day with entertainment, crafts, sheepdog exhibitions and all manner of traditional games.
By the way, how far can you toss a bale of hay, a hammer or a wee caber?
Guest artists for this festival are Irish folk singer Gerry Timlin and Clan na Gael ("children of the gaels"), the popular new group that performs Celtic music with a rock influence.
You'll also be treated to performances by the Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drums, Second Wynde, Appalachian storyteller Cat White, dancers Shona Stack and Heather Spradley and actors from the historical drama, "The Long Way Home."
Admission to the festival is free, but you'll want to bring some money for food and spirits. Concessions, including Scottish fare, will be available.
MEET THE AUTHOR: If you've read "Family Linen," "Oral History" or "Fair and Tender Ladies," you've already met Lee Smith.
Now's your chance to rub eyeballs with her.
Smith, author of nine highly acclaimed novels, was born and raised in Grundy and now is an English professor at North Carolina State University. Her writing exemplifies a down-home charm and natural wit - her Appalachian birthright.
Smith will visit Blacksburg this week to help raise money for Solitude, Virginia Tech's oldest building. Efforts are under way to make the landmark a gathering place for the study and celebration of Appalachian culture.
Cast members from the Barter Theatre will join Smith on Monday to perform scenes from "The Devil's Dream," a musical based on her book by the same name. The musical is by Paul Ferguson, a writer and director from Chapel Hill.
Following the 8 p.m. performance in Squires Student Center's Colonial Hall, Smith will answer questions from the audience.
On Tuesday, Smith will sign copies of her books and read from her latest work, "The Christmas Letters." The novel winds around 50 years - or three generations - of Christmas letters written by Birdie, Mary and Melanie. Through their letters, the three women show what happened between 1944 and 1995 to the traditional American marriage.
Tuesday's reading and autograph session runs from noon to 1 p.m. at University Volume Two Bookstore in University Mall. It's free and open to the public. A portion of proceeds from Smith's book sales will go to the Solitude Fund.
Admission to Monday's performance of "The Devil's Dream" is by donation - $5 suggested for students, $10 for nonstudents.
FORTE FOR FOUR: The New York Times calls their sound "strikingly beautiful" and "luminescent."
The Audubon Quartet, Virginia Tech's quartet-in-residence, has entertained audiences all over the world for more than 20 years.
Violinists David Ehrlich and David Salness, cellist Clyde Shaw and violist Doris Lederer make up the quartet. In addition to performing classic works, the four are proponents of contemporary composers. They have performed and premiered works by Peter Schickele, Ezra Laderman, David Baker and other modern maestros.
You're in for a real treat Tuesday when the Audubon Quartet fills Blacksburg's Lyric Theatre with its luminescent sound. The foursome will perform a benefit concert to help out the renovation effort for the grand old movie house.
The quartet will perform works by Robert Schumann, Anton Webern and Hugo Wolf. A highlight of the concert is a rendition of Peter Schickele's Quartet No. 1 "American Dreams."
Tuesday's performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at the theater on College Avenue. A reception will be held after the concert.
Tickets, $20, are available by calling 951-0604 or you may buy them at the door. All proceeds go to the Lyric renovation project.
ATTENTION, BEARDED BEAUTIES: The beard contest is just one of the fun events at the Pembroke Heritage Festival. It's happening Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., on Pembroke's Main Street.
In addition to the standard festival fare (crafts, art, baked goodies and lots of food), you'll have the opportunity to meet and talk with American Indian representatives and members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Live music and dancing, a soap box derby, a parade, a farmer's market and a display of paintings by local artists are a few of the events calling you.
Admission to the festival is free ... and you don't even have to shave!
TONIGHT, TONIGHT: Fall fashions, smooth wines and cool jazz - that's the ticket tonight at Main Street Radford's eighth annual "Jazz Night."
It starts with a 5 p.m. fashion show in the historic Central Depot of Radford's west end. Sew Biz is hosting the show which features local models, including Anna Workman, a hair stylist with Michelle and Company. The beauty salon is giving gift packs to those who attend the show and will donate a door prize.
Sew Biz also will have a special display of quilted items during the show.
Chateau Morrisette will provide wines for the wine tasting following the fashion splash. Catered food will be available and the Miles High Jazz Band will play for the event. It runs from 6 to 10 p.m. in the courtyard adjoining Central Depot.
There's a $2 charge for the fashion show and wine tasting. Food's extra.
LENGTH: Long : 126 linesby CNB