Christiansburg is a cozy and quaint little town in Virginia, so I'd expect nothing less from their…read moreart and history museum. The Montgomery Museum of Art & History is indeed cozy and quaint, and it is housed in a former bank. You'll pick up on that detail as soon as you step inside -- there's a literal vault that you can step into! They embrace the bank-ness of this space nicely. The museum has rotating exhibits, and when I was there, they were displaying Girl Scouts paraphernalia and locally made quilts. It was really cool to see old-school Girl Scout outfits and patches, as well as intricately created quilts made by community members. This museum seems to really take the time to built exhibits around the community, and involve the community, which is really cool to see. There is also a library that holds information about local history, historic families of the region, cultural achievements from the area, and historical documents. People are free to visit and peruse through the books and papers that are available in the library. Admission to the museum is free! Parking is also free and plentiful. The museum is open every day except Sunday and Monday, so plan accordingly.

We moved here from New Jersey a dozen years ago. Up there, entertainment required a trip to heavy…read moretraffic areas, with equally heavy parking tolls and usually run-down, tacky facilities. We have been totally impressed with the Jefferson Center. Free parking on a tree-lined street, immaculate facility, friendly and welcoming staff, and invariably terrific performers. Jefferson Center is one of the biggest reasons why we are glad we moved to Virginia.

Nice local high school converted to a performing arts center. There is a unique selection of…read moremusical artists in a unique facility. The parking is a challenge at best, perhaps carpool if going with friends. The gravel lot leaves something to be desired with a few divots. There is one local restaurant in walking distance, making it a challenge to arrive early for dinner and a show.

I love visiting museums because they take us back in time and through real objects of the time and…read moreexhibits of such, we get to better understand the period and the significance of that time period. The Salem Museum and Historical Society is a local history museum located in the historic 1845 Williams-Brown House, in Salem, Virginia. The museum features exhibits across five floors that trace the area's history from early Native American settlements to the Civil War and modern era. It features permanent and rotating exhibits, such as "The First People of the Roanoke Valley," and offers educational programs, the Logan Library & Archive Room, and a gift shop. Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted. Also, ample free on-site parking is available for the convenience of all those who visit the museum. When I arrived a very knowledgeable and friendly museum staff member greeted and welcomed me. The young gentleman quickly explained a little bit about the museum and some of the exhibits located on each floor. I was particularly interested in the Roanoke College History. I had the opportunity of visiting the college last year when I was invited to attend the Sister Cities dinner there, and was very impressed with its buildings and landscaping layouts. Garrett Channell, the Museum's Executive Director, came out of his office to personally greet me and also welcome me to the museum. After visiting the museum I had and opportunity to see him again and complement him for the well organized and clearly labeled exhibits. I then visited the Gift shop, which had lots of books and framed prints for sale, among other things. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its exhibits. And I highly recommend that weather you're a local or a tourist passing by, you stop and give them a visit. I can assure you that you'll be glad you did.

Such a wonderful museum! They focus on both local history and the stories of people associated with…read moreSalem. I really appreciate how well they handle important topics like race and integration; in their America 250 section, they did a fantastic job highlighting how the Revolutionary War would have impacted people from different backgrounds, races, and sexes, and they have a wonderful display on Black history in the area. I love how niche and grounded the museum can be; they really show pride in Salem and its history, and honor both recent and distant history. I've visited museums across the state, and this one is a true gem!

Boogie's Wrestling Camp Hall of Fame Museum 2946 Alleghany…read moreSprings Road Shawsville, VA 24162 If you need directions just mapquest the address. As you know, I have over 60-years experience in professional wrestling. I feed my students (men and women) with knowledge on muscle toning, nutrition, and the attitude needed to become a professional wrestler, manager, valet or referee. No size or weight requirement. You will be training under my close personal supervision. In addition, I will teach you how to master interviews, and perfect your ring appearance. We train every Sunday from 12 noon till 4 p.m. It takes an average of one year to graduate and receive your diploma once you have enrolled at "Boogie's Wrestling Camp." My students and I are family, so once you join BWC you are one of us. Simply bring with you $250.00 in cash for a one-time joining fee, plus $20.00 for your first pro wrestling lesson. After that each Sunday bring just the $20.00 fee for your four-hour training session from 12 till 4 p.m. You can also purchase your wrestling ring attire here at BWC: including boots, tights, trunks, singlets, masks, jackets robes, etc from Angel's Wrestling Wear. You have my personal invitation to come to BWC any Sunday at 12 noon to train and start MAKING YOUR WRESTLING DREAMS COME TRUE!! Have a great week. God Bless! See you this Sunday! WWE Hall of Famer Handsome Jimmy "The Boogie Woogie Man" Valiant Have You Ever Wanted To Be A Pro Wrestler? "Where Dreams Come True" Hall of Famer Jimmy Valiant's prestigous wrestling school features some of the best trainers in the U.S. -A Referee? -A Manager? -A Valet? Open 52 Sundays A Year 12-4 $250 Sign Up Fee $20 Per Class Yearly Fall Graduation Two Camera and Television Training Events A Month

Season ticket holder here so I have a bias. The VT ticket office has it down pretty good now a…read moredays. The whole system is automated and you can order your tickets on line so it makes the process smooth. Game days they get you into the stadium pretty quick. They have the automated Ticket readers now so no more ticket tearing at the gate. Sandy is running a pretty well oiled machine up there now. Nice work!

There is nothing like live theatre for entertainment, and although professional theatre is…read moreconsidered the ultimate in theatre experience, throughout my life I have enjoyed community theatres just as much or even greater. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Showtimers Community Theatre of Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. This week, I happened to discover this non-profit, volunteer driven venue established in 1951, dedicated to fostering life-long appreciation of the performing arts through non-professional theatre productions. And today, I had the pleasure of visiting the theatre for the very first time and watch the production of "The Shark is Broken." Roanoke's oldest continuously running community theatre, originally performed at Roanoke College, and in 1961 they purchased a former church on McVitty Road, which now houses the intimate 138-seat venue, that produces five mainstage shows annually. I arrived early to be able to explore the theatre's lobby, and ask some questions at their ticket office. The beautiful building is located on top of a small hill with plenty of parking spaces. After parking my Lexus in a space near their entrance, I climbed up some stairs with eight steps and reached the building's nice size porch with a lovely light blue door entrance. I'm not sure if it has another easily accessible entrance but I think it might have because I saw some older guests inside that I'm sure couldn't have climbed all those stairs. I found the entrance front door unlocked and left a little bit opened, like if inviting guests to come in on this dark and cold showtime evening. Inside, the staff there were very friendly and welcoming. When I told them this was my first time there they allowed me to hang out in the lobby, looking at all the pictures and theatrical posters from previous shows. I also shared with them how when I lived in Boston I visited over 45 community theaters from cities and towns all around the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. One was even in a farm and the seats were squared pieces of hay. How the first professional Musical I saw had been a Broadway Show in New York City at the age of 14 and was called Pippin, staring John Rubinstein as Pippin and Ben Vereen as the leading player and directed by Bob Fosse. And how during my college years, I had the opportunity of watching Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Wang Center in Boston with the main character played by Donny Osmond. And how during my time living in Miami I was an active Board Member of two community theaters. At seven o'clock sharp they opened the doors to the theatre and a volunteer guided me to my seat in Row J, Seat 8. Which happened to be in the center of the front row. It's amazing how in a very short time the theatre got completely full of people coming to watch this show. The three main actors did an excellent job performing and I was able to meet them in person at the end of the show at the porch of the building to congratulate and thank them for a wonderful show. I feel the Performing Arts enrich our lives and for this reason I highly recommend you visit this gem of a community theatre. Go watch a show there. Make a donation of time or money by volunteering and giving them your support. Believe me, you will be getting back a lot more than what you put in.

This is a quaint local theater that you probably never really knew existed. It's right off of…read moreElectric Road across Keagey Village. To me, it looks like an old church. Established in 1959, they have featured several local plays and musicals per year. Many local singers and actors have performed here. I have enjoyed many performances here. I estimate that the seating is just about 150 people. For refreshments, they have candy, chips, cookies and soda/pop/Coke (whatever you call a carbonated drink from where you live) and they're reasonably priced, as are the shows. Considering it is only a half skip and a jump from where I live, I frequently come for an entertaining afternoon. It's a great small local theater with excellent performances. Because of the small venue, there really ain't a bad seat in the house. Parking ain't too bad none either. Check them out, sometime. You won't be disappointed.

Many of us are aware of the Southwest Virginia Ballet (SVB) through their yearly production of the…read moreNutcracker, presented in the Berglund Center for the Performing Arts. But few are aware that it is a premier non-profit, pre-professional youth dance company, based in Roanoke, Virginia, and currently celebrating 35 years in the Roanoke Valley. Established in 1990 by Tess (Terri) Post, SVB is a significant part of the Roanoke Valley's artistic landscape and has achieved recognition locally and beyond. Its mission focuses on making pre-professional dance training accessible, enriching the community through dance, and providing performing arts experiences for all ages. They provide free training to young dancers in the region and offer outreach programs for underserved individuals across Southwest Virginia.  For the Southwest Virginia Ballet's 2025 Nutcracker, they are featuring a live orchestra, the Viena Light Orchestra, composed of professional and pre-professional musicians, from different countries, and conducted by Dr.Wayne Gallops. The Ballet also has a new Artistic Director, Laurence Blake, making it a performance one can't miss. What better way of understanding what the Southwest Virginia Ballet is all about, than going in person to watch this performance of the Nutcracker. And that is precisely what I did. Having obtained a front row center seat, I was able to watch an amazing performance, from the main roles to the most insignificant ones. And as I watched the performance, I thought to myself how learning ballet and performing significantly boosts youth self-esteem by fostering confidence through skill mastery, providing an outlet for self-expression, building resilience against challenges, promoting a positive body image, and creating a supportive community, leading to increased self-worth and a stronger sense of self-assurance both on and off the stage.

Southwest Virginia Ballet is an award-winning organization whose mission is to provide the highest…read morequality dance experience to as diverse a group of young people as possible -- all for free! Every year dancers at Southwest Virginia Ballet perform "The Nutcracker," filling the Performing Arts Theatre at the Berglund Center for four performances over three days in December. These same dancers step on stage for free demonstrations at Elmwood Park and the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, as well as ticketed performances in Roanoke and across Southwest Virginia. SVB is the only organization in our area to create performances of such high caliber with student dancers alone. It's a group that draws ballet dancers from Blacksburg, Henry County, Botetourt County, Galax and beyond. They come together to a newly renovated studio in the Roanoke Industrial Center every Saturday from August through May.

This is a house which was turned into a museum relatively recently but was never really torn apart…read moreand rebuilt during its extensive history. My guide was a local with family memories going back generations, which might not be true for every visitor but which adds a value you can't put a price on (nor do you need to, as the museum is free). There were a variety of exhibits on the surrounding area and a gift shop with a significant variety of mostly local artisans represented. While it is an older building, a chairlift has been put in so it is accessible. The biggest drawback I could see is that while it is a solidly constructed building, it clearly is not impervious to stinkbugs, of which there were many. A common, if historically recent phenomenon. The place puts on events and rotates its exhibits, so I'll likely come back.