On the Market.

Owner of Roanoke market’s Agnew Seed dies - from the Roanoke Times.

Create your own fragrant lavender sachets with this simple recipe.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound lavender flowers
1/2 ounce dried mint
1/2 ounce dried thyme
1/4 ounce ground caraway
1/4 ounce ground cloves
1 ounce sea salt

Instructions:
Detach the lavender flowers and leaves from the stems and mix with the other ingredients. Place in small bags made of silk, unbleached cotton or cotton with die-fast color. Sew shut and tie with a ribbon if desired. Decorate the bags with ribbons or paints to give as gifts. Be sure to check out this Idea for Herbal Brew Bags form Crafts Magazine.

If you don’t grow your own lavender, you can purchase it and other supplies from either Mountain Rose Herbs or Glenbrook Farms.

Keep those chamomile blooms from your herb garden! Not only do they make a relaxing tea - my favorite blend is 50% dried chamomile blossoms and 50% dried lemongrass steeped for five minutes - but they’re great for cooking too! Here’s a little recipe compliments of Blossom Farm for Chamomile Tea Cookies.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dried chamomile flowers
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups flour

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop the chamomile blossoms and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour and chamomile flowers. Drop by small teaspoonfuls on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Back 9-10 minutes.

A great place to purchase organically grown, dried herbs in bulk is Mountain Rose Herbs.

Former Roanoke City Market Manager, Hope Hollingsworth, just couldn’t stay away from the Market forever. A year later and you can now find her on Saturdays helping Tim Belcher sell his homegrown heirloom tomatoes, squash, and beans. She’s also selling something of her own.

These cute tops designed and sewn by Hope are lightweight and airy - perfect for keeping cool in this summer heat. And of course, Hope models her clothing herself to everyone she sells to!

Also new on the Market are some beautiful casserole dishes by Sherry Tucciarone.

A vase by Jayn Avery.

Lampwork jewelry completely handcrafted by Brian Seckinger.

And Milk Baths by Rebecca Dillon made from healing goat’s milk, high mineral dead sea salts, colloidal oatmeal, and shea butter.

Weekend entertainment at 202 Market

Friday, July 18th

Parachute Musical/9pm/$8
“…a brainy brand of piano-pop that’s classically complex but warm and inviting…”

Legendary JC’s/11pm
“…sweaty, horn-gueled, old-school R&B…a must see show!…”

Columbian Independence Party/9pm
Live music, prizes, food, dance, and many more!

Saturday, July 19th

Speidel, Goodrich, Goggins & Lille/9pm/$15
“…it makes you feel good…clever song writing, freshness, warmth…”

+ Latin Dance w/DjDiego/9pm/$5

Have dry, thirsty hands from working in the dirt this summer? Maybe a little sunburn where you forgot to wear you hat while gardening? Well here’s a little recipe I created to counter the effects of both. This rich cream is perfect for replenishing those stubborn spots of dry skin or for soothing and healing a sunburn.

Sun & Skin Soother

©2005 Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen

Ingredients:
1 Cup Shea Butter
1/2 teaspoon Lavender 40-42 Essential Oil
1/4 teaspoon Tea Tree Oil
2 teaspoons Raw Organic Aloe Vera Gel
1 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
2 teaspoons of Mountain Rose Herbs Secret Skin Oil

Instructions:
Melt shea butter in a pot on the stove over low, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into containers. Makes 2 4oz. jars.

You may also interested in trying these recipes:

Gardener’s Hand Cream Recipe
Natural Herbal Sunburn Relief Recipes

Friday, July 25th, the Market’s own Cheryl Dolby will be hosting an open house for her gallery showing at WVTF. Please come by and see the beautiful sculptures she’s been working on this year for this event. The show is being held at WVTF Public Radio Station from 5pm - 7pm. There will be music by Charlie Perkinson Trio and catering by Edible Vibe Cafe & Coffee House. While you’re there, you can also enter to win one of Cheryl Dolby’s Goddess Ceremonial Necklaces by guessing the number of beads on her car, B-Dazle.  Click here for directions and more information.

Sculpture by Cheryl Dolby; Photograph by Rebecca D. Dillon.

Daily Specials this Week at Blues BBQ Co.

Monday, July 14th Chopped Brisket Sandwich, fresh cut bull chips & drink $8.95
Tuesday, July 15th Pulled Chicken Sandwich, fresh cut bull chips & drink $8.95
Wednesday, July 16th Fried Chicken Club, fresh cut bull chips & drink $9.95
Thursday, July 17th Savannah Pulled Pork Sandwich, fresh cut bull chips & drink $9.95
Friday, July 18th Meatloaf Sandwich, fresh cut bull chips & drink $8.95

$6 Lunches Monday through Friday (Drink not included.)

Weekly Happenings at Blues BBQ Co.

Karaoke Monday, July 14th Starting at 9p.m.
Bluegrass Tuesday, July 15th Featuring Acoustic Endeavors, Starting at 7p.m.
Wing Wednesday, July 16th Wings 50 cents! Starting at 5p.m.
Guys’ Night Thursday, July 17th Drink and Appetizer Specials! Starting at 7p.m.
Friday, July 18th BeeBop Hoedown, Starting at 9p.m.
Saturday, July 19th Gumbo, Starting at 9p.m.

Another delightful recipe made from market fresh ingredients.

Recipe courtesy of Blossom Farm.

Ingredients:
1/2 gallon white wine vinegar
1 pint fresh raspberries
1/2 cup maple sugar or honey
Lavender thyme sprigs

Instructions:
Thoroughly wash 3 wine bottles. Divide fruit and thyme sprigs among the bottles. Warm vinegar in a stainless steal pot to 100 degrees. Pour maple sugar or honey into warm vinegar, stirring well. Using a funnel fill bottles with warm vinegar mixture. Cork the bottles. Label and store in cool dark place for at least 1 week before using. Keeps up to 8 months.

Information courtesy of Hotel Roanoke; submitted by Thomas Becher.

2008 ROANOKE ARTS FESTIVAL SET

Second annual event to feature legendary Crystal Gayle;
Rock ’n’ roll, Bluegrass and classical music planned;
Theater, culinary arts, film, and puppets among offerings

Planning already under way for 2009 Festival

ROANOKE, Va., (July 10, 2008) – The second annual Roanoke Arts Festival, re-timed this year to help celebrate the opening of the new Taubman Museum of Art, will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8-9 with free and ticketed events and activities to appeal to a wide range of audiences.

The 2008 Roanoke Arts Festival will complement the museum’s grand opening weekend and once again pay tribute to arts of the region and beyond with a host of rich offerings capped by a performance by Country-music legend Crystal Gayle. The Festival will include a free downtown rock ‘n’ roll concert, great Bluegrass music, a musical puppet show, an exposition of the culinary arts, theatrical performances, classical music and more.

The Festival will also serve as the grand finale to “40 Days and 40 Nights,” a celebration of arts and culture with daily activities and exhibits coordinated by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge.

“This year’s Festival – timed for the museum’s opening and this historic moment for the arts and culture for our region – is a great way to celebrate all facets of the arts,” says Susan Jennings, Roanoke’s public art coordinator. “The 2008 Roanoke Arts Festival will extend this excitement onto the streets of downtown Roanoke and into venues in Roanoke Valley.”

“With the Taubman Museum opening its doors as one of the most impressive museums of its kind, we felt the Arts Festival should tie into that spirit and welcome visitors to explore not just the visual arts, but music, drama, film – even the culinary arts,” adds Festival manager Rick Salzberg.

As the final touches are being made to this year’s schedule, planning already is under way for the third annual Roanoke Arts Festival, scheduled to be held next fall.

“With strong interest and broad audience appeal from our inaugural Festival last year, we’ve heard from fans of the arts from throughout Virginia urging us to offer even more choices in years ahead,” Salzberg says. “That’s why we’re already looking ahead to next year, when we will resume a four-day Festival.”

The 2007 Arts Festival was recognized as one of the year’s best festivals by the readers of City Magazine, and even nationally renowned performers lauded the Festival.
“I want to thank the committee for inviting me to the first Roanoke Arts Festival – and I know there will be many, many, many more,” Judy Collins said when she took the stage last October at the Roanoke Performing Arts Center.

Ramsey Lewis of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, had this to say: “When the Trio performs our intent is not only to communicate and have fun with each other on stage, but to extend those wonderful moments to the audience, and hopefully they will become a part of our musical conversation. When this happens, performer and audience become one and energize each other. This was the occasion on October 4, 2007, at the first Roanoke Arts Festival. The audience was musically sophisticated and a joy to play for. We eagerly look forward to our return.”

A video of highlights from last year’s Festival is available on the Festival’s web site at: http://www.roanokeartsfest.com/raf_movie/index.html

2008 ROANOKE ARTS FESTIVAL EVENTS AND SCHEDULE

The Roanoke Arts Festival schedule, released today at a reception for sponsors and supporters at the home of noted art collector Jim Hyams, will feature free performances, events and exhibitions at multiple venues across the city. Many of the activities, including the rock concert, will be free.
Ticketing details will be released closer to the Festival. A schedule of events is available on the Festival’s web site, www.RoanokeArtsFest.org, and will include:

Saturday, Nov. 8

• “FiddleFest Lite,” a day of Bluegrass with teaching workshops and jam sessions followed by a concert by acclaimed Bluegrass performers.
• “Day of Music.” A free rock concert with the “Magic Twig Community” and a number of other popular regional bands.
• “Doubt.” The Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play presented by the theatre departments of Hollins University and Virginia Tech.
• The James Piano Quartet.
• A concert at Blue 5 with great guest artists.
• Downtown art gallery tours.

Sunday, Nov. 9

• “An Exposition of the Culinary Arts” at the new Culinary Institute of Western Virginia.
• Staged readings from the works of venerated authors Nelson Bond and Jack Kestner presented with the Roanoke City Library.
• World premiere of “Bull – A Puppet Musical” by The Thistledown Puppets.
• A special film presentation by the Grandin Theatre.
• A second performance of “Doubt.”
• Crystal Gayle concert at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, with the exciting new Nashville duo of Sam & Ruby as her opening act.

Also throughout the Festival, there will be ongoing exhibitions at area museums and public art, including:
• White Liquor, Blue Ridge Style at the History Museum of Western Virginia.
• Transportation Art: Photorealism From the Collection of James W. Hyams at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
• A photography exhibition at the O. Winston Link Museum.
• Public art on view at different locations in the City with the Roanoke Arts Commission.
• The James W. Hyams Collection on view in Old Southwest. (Portions of this collection have been on loan to more than eight museums, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.)

“We are thrilled with the lineup we have so far, and especially delighted to be welcoming Crystal Gayle to Roanoke,” Salzberg says. “With three dozen hit records and 19 number one singles, her classic songs and continued success – Crystal was named ‘Best Female Entertainer’ by American Magazine for 2007 – assures a memorable performance which will delight fans, and serve as a strong cap to a weekend packed with something for everyone.”