Archive

12.29–1.04

Hey Neighbors, Another year is ending, and with it Nokeland. With the emergence of other event sites and my growing devotion to other endeavors, this feels like the right moment to say goodbye. Nokeland started when I moved back to the area (unwillingly) after a pretty rough patch in life.

12.22–12.28

Mon 12/22 🎨 3:30–5:30pm: Threads of Kwanzaa (textile art reception) // Gainsboro Library // free ↝ ♫ 5–80pm: Drew Freeland & The Good Time Sinners (Americana) // Parkway Brewing - Salem// free ↝ 🎨 6–7:30pm: Needle Felted Soap (1st of 4-week class) // Fishburn Mansion // $55 for all four classes ↝ Tue 12/

12.15–12.21

Mon 12/15 🎭 5:30pm: Holiday Movie Night (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation & Daddy's Home 2) // Starr Hill Brewery // free; 18+ ↝ 🎨 6pm: Painting Clay Leaf Ornaments // Green Designs // $50 ↝ 📚 6:30–7:30pm: The Bookish (open-format review/show & tell club) // Belmont Library // free ↝ ✮ 7–8pm:

12.08–12.14

Mon 12/8 🎨 6–8:30pm: DIY Ceramic Charcuterie Board // Motel Studios // $50 ↝ 🍔♫ 6:30–7:30pm: Plant-Based Potluck // Williamson Rd. Libary // free ↝ ✮ 6:30–7:30pm: Humans of SWVA Listening Circle (share your personal stories re: recent government actions) // 1007 1st St SW // free ↝ Tue 12/9 ✮ 4–7pm:

12.01–12.07

Mon 12/1 🏆🌳 6–8am: Star Run (monthly running event) // River's Edge North // free ↝ 🎭 5:30pm: Holiday Movie Night (Four Christmases & A Bad Moms Christmas) // Starr Hill Brewery // free; 18+ ↝ 🎨 6pm: Fresh Wreath Workshop // Green Designs // $60 ↝ ✮🧸 6:30pm: Roanoke County Tree Lighting (crafts, music, magic, &

11.24–11.30

Mon 11/24 🎭 5:30pm: Monday Night Movie Club (Planes, Trains & Automobiles and Pieces of April) // Starr Hill Brewery // free; 18+ ↝ 🎄♫ 7:30pm (doors 6:30): Mannheim Steamroller (holiday orchestral) // Salem Civic Center // $59+ ↝ Tue 11/25 🏆 5:30–7pm: Cardio Dance & Pilates // Melrose Plaza // FREE w/ canned

11.17–11.23

Mon 11/17 🧸🐾 10:30–11:30am: Stories w/ Live Turkeys // Belmont Library // free; <5 ↝ 🎭 6pm: Monday Night Movie Club (The Big Lebowski & Dazed and Confused) // Starr Hill Brewery // free; 18+ ↝ Tue 11/18 💃 1–2pm: Line Dancing with Tracy // Melrose Plaza // free ↝ 🍔 5–8pm: Friendsgiving Potluck // AFOG

11.10–11.16

Mon 11/10 ✮ 6:30–7:30pm: Humans of SWVA Listening Circle (share your personal stories re: recent government actions) // 1007 1st St SW // free ↝ 🎭 7:30pm: Paranormal Cirque III - final day // Salem Civic Center // $25+ ↝ Tue 11/11 💃 1–2pm: Line Dancing with Tracy // Melrose Plaza // free ↝ ♫ 5–

11.03–11.09

Mon 11/3 🧸🎨 3:30–4:30pm: Make Your Own Book // Main Library // free ↝ 🏆 4:30–5pm: Free Tai Chi // St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church // free ↝ Tue 11/4 💃 1–2pm: Line Dancing with Tracy // Melrose Plaza large fitness room // free ↝ 🏳️‍🌈🍔 4–7pm: Queer Community Potluck // Roanoke Diversity Center

10.27–11.02

Mon 10/27 🎃🎨 6pm: Haunted Terrarium Workshop // Green Designs // $50 ↝ 🎃 6pm: Horror Movie Night - Halloween (1978) & Halloween (2007) // Starr Hill Brewery // free; 18+ ↝ Tue 10/28 💃 1–3pm: Line Dancing with Tracy // Melrose Plaza large fitness room // free ↝ 🐾🍺 5:30pm–7pm: Tails & Ales: Dog Edition (drink with

10.20–10.26

Mon 10/20 🎃 6pm: Horror Movie Night (The Blair Witch Project & Trick 'r Treat) // Starr Hill Brewery // free; 18+ ↝ 🎨 6pm: DIY Floral Pumpkin Centerpiece // Green Designs // $50 ↝ 📚 6:30–7:30pm: The Bookish (open-format review/show & tell club) // Belmont Library // free ↝ Tue 10/21 💃 1–3pm: Line

10.13–10.19

Mon 10/13 ✮ all day: Indigenous Peoples' Day // free ↝ 🎃 6pm: Horror Movie Night (The Craft & Disturbing Behavior) // Starr Hill Brewery // free; 18+ ↝ Tue 10/14 🎃🧸🎨 10am–8pm: DIY Dreamcatcher // Main Library // free ↝ 💃 1–3pm: Line Dancing with Tracy // Melrose Plaza large fitness room // free ↝ ♫ 5–8pm: Leonard Blush

10.6–10.12

The most magical time of the year is heeeeere! Halloween-themed events featuring costume contests, cozy crafts, murder mysteries, and LOTS of treats are marked with a 🎃. Mon 10/6 ✮ 5:30–8:30pm: A Night at the Museum (dinner fundraiser for TAP) // VA Museum of Transportation // $125 ↝ 🎃 6pm: Horror Movie

9.29–10.5

Mon 9/29 📚✮ 5:30–6:30pm: Your Brain on Art: Conversation with Authors Ivy Ross & Susan Magsamen (author talk) // Taubman Museum // $25 ↝ 💃 6pm: Outdoor Pop-Up Latin Dance Lesson // Stillwater Flotation // free ↝ ✮ 6–7pm: Adults-Only Spa Night (foot baths, face masks, & mocktails) // Belmont Library // free ↝ Tue 9/30

9.22–9.28

Mon 9/22 🎨 6–8:30pm: Beginner Tie Dye Workshop // Motel Studios // $40 ↝ 🏆🌳 7:30–9:30pm: New Moon Kayaking // Carvin's Cove // $45 ↝ Tue 9/23 ✮ 11:30am–1pm: RBTC Lunch & Learn: Tech Accessibility // VWCC // free ↝ 💃 1–3pm: Line Dancing with Tracy // Melrose Plaza large fitness room

9.15–9.21

Mon 9/15 📚 6:30–7:30pm: The Bookish (open-format review/show & tell club) // Belmont Library // free ↝ 🏆🌳 7:30–9:30pm: Quarter Moon Kayaking // Carvin's Cove // $45 ↝ ♫ 8pm (doors 7): Ryan Adams (rock, folk) // Berglund Performing Arts Theatre // $47+ ↝ Tue 9/16 🎨 4:30–7:30pm: Paint

9.08–9.14

If you need a special friend to get you through the colder months, our local shelters have you covered with several waived adoption fee days this month: Angels of Assisi on the 13th & 21st, and Roanoke Valley SPCA on the 12th & 13th. Head to their facilities to bring

9.01–9.07

Mon 9/1 🏆🌳 6–8am: Star Run (monthly running event) // River's Edge North // free ↝ ♫ 3–7pm: Illiterates, The Brood, Sultry, Ex Parents, U.S. Gas (hardcore punk) // Blindhouse Beer Co. // $12; all ages ↝ Tue 9/2 💃 1–3pm: Line Dancing with Tracy // Melrose Plaza large fitness room // free

8.25–8.31

Mon 8/25 🎨 6–8pm: Vinyl Record Mandala Paint & Sip (fundraiser for NAMI) // Bubba's 33 // $38 ↝ Tue 8/26 🌳 5:30–6:30pm: Wasena Park Community River Cleanup // bridge to Vic Thomas Park // free ↝ 📚 6–7:30pm: Coffee, Tea, & Poetry (poem sharing) // Roanoke Higher Ed Center

8.18–8.24

Mon 8/18 📚 6:30–7:30pm: The Bookish (open-format review/show & tell club) // Belmont Library // free ↝ 🎭 7–9:30pm (doors 6): The Encampments  (documentary screening) // Grandin Theatre // free ↝ Tue 8/19 🎨 5:30–6:30pm: DIY Essential Oil Bracelets // Stewartsville Library // free ↝ 🌳✮ 5:30–6:30pm: Plawking // Bennington

8.11–8.17

You may notice that this newsletter is heavy on the comedy–it's Roanoke Comedy Fest (😂) this week! From Thursday 'til Sunday, enjoy comedians of local and national fame all over town. Don't like laughing? Maybe you like dogs instead. We've got an art

8.04–8.10

Not to be confused with the most amazing, desert-dwelling, life changing, charmingly weird, absolutely perfect indie rock outfit ever Built to Spill (or that Korean boy band), "BTS" in this post is shorthand for 🚸 "Back to School." Time to start enforcing those bedtimes again! Mon 8/

7.28–8.03

Mon 7/28 🐾🌳 10:30am: American Kestrel Release with SWVA Wildlife Center // Picnic Mountain Overlook // free ↝ 🏆 11am–noon: Zumba! // Gainsboro Library // free ↝ 🎨 4:30–7pm: Open Art Hours // Appalachian Arts Hub // free ↝ 🎭 7pm (doors 6): Star City Secret Cinema Grand Finale (mystery movie screening) // Grandin Theatre // free ↝ Tue 7/29

7.21–7.27

Mon 7/21 🎨 6–8pm (doors 5:45): Craft & Sip: Sunflower Tiki Torch // Ledo Pizza // $39+ ↝ Tue 7/22 ♫ 5–8pm: Alex Arbaugh (rock, folk) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝ 📚 6–7:30pm: Coffee, Tea, & Poetry (poem sharing) // Roanoke Higher Ed Center // free; 18+ ↝ 🏆 6–9pm: Crokinole Night

7.14–7.20

Mon 7/14 📚🧸 2–3pm: Teen Poetry Camp // Williamson Rd Libary // free ↝ 🏆✮ 4–8pm: XCM Post-Race Party w/ Specialized (tap takeover & mountain bike demos) // Cardinal Bicycle // free ↝ 🎨 4:30–7pm: Inaugural Open Art Hours // Appalachian Arts Hub // free ↝ ♫ 5–8pm: Noah Spencer (Americana, country, singer songwriter) // Parkway Brewing -

7.07–7.13

Mon 7/7 🏆 5:30–6:30pm: Yoga for the People // Elmwood Park // free ↝ 📚 6–8pm: Silent Book Club // Olde Salem Brewing - Roanoke // free ↝ Tue 7/8 ♫ 6pm: Lose Sight, Innervision, Struck, Reaction Time (hardcore) // Asher's Coffee Beans // $10; all ages ↝ ♫ 6–8:30pm: Gabriel Van (bluegrass,

6.30–7.06

Between the holiday and the heat, things are slower than usual this week. 🐌 If your plans for the 4th don't include passing out at 8 or comforting a trembling puppy dog, here's where you can catch some fireworks: Thursday, July 3 🎆 9:30pm: River's

6.23–6.29

Tue 6/24 📚 6–7:30pm: Coffee, Tea, & Poetry (poem sharing) // Roanoke Higher Ed Center // free; 18+ ↝ 🏆 6–9pm: Crokinole Night (Canadian board game club) // Golden Cactus // free ↝ ♫ 6–10pm: Torture, Two-Piece, Eyez Wide Shut, Opposition, Companion of Fools, Nerve, (metal, hardcore) // Blindhouse Beer Co. // $15 adv. $20 day

6.16–6.22

🎉 The Nokeland Trivia + Bingo page has been updated! (It was long overdue...yikes.) Check it out for fun things to do on the slower nights of the week. Mon 6/16 ✮ 6–7:15pm: Becoming a Friend of the World (meditation) // Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center // $10 ↝ 📚 6:30–7:30pm:

6.09–6.15

Mon 6/9 🍔✮ 11am–noon: Cupcakes with Mayor Joe Cobb (meet & greet) // Main Library // free ↝ 🎨 7–9pm: Knots & Nibbles (DIY macrame keychain) // The Front Row // $15 ↝ ♫ 7:30pm (doors 7): Holy Wire, Ghostcop, Torturetwinn, DJ Night Terror (new wave, synth pop, post punk) // The Spot on Kirk // $12

6.02–6.08

Ah, summer. The season of swimming, sports camp, and first aid. ⛑️ If you're in need of CPR/AED training this year, head on over to the Compress and Shock Foundation Website—they've got a ton of free trainings in Roanoke coming up this Saturday, June 7th!

5.26–6.01

Mon 5/26 - Memorial Day 🇺🇸 I hope you're getting some time to relax and celebrate this day of remembrance. Looking for something to do but stuck inside because of the weather? Google offers this Virtual Tour of United States Veterans and War Memorials, and this evening PBS

5.19–5.25

Happy Monday, Roanokers! One small housekeeping note: in the interest of saving space, I've removed the "registration required" note on all events. Chances are, if it's a ticketed event or an indoor event with limited capacity, registration WILL be required. 🎟️ But you're

5.12–5.18

Mon 5/12 ✮🧸 4–5pm: Teen Workshop: Digital Marketing (design a website) // Melrose Library // free ↝ 📚 6–8pm: Silent Book Club // Olde Salem Brewing - Salem // free ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Akashic Records Introduction // One Community Now // free, donations welcome ↝ Tue 5/13 ✮ noon–1:30pm: A Future for Every

5.5–5.11

Mon 5/5 ♫ 7:30–9:30pm (doors 7): Ghost Funk Orchestra, Cinémathèque (DJ sets - indie, psych rock, fusion) // The Spot on Kirk // $15 adv. $20 day of ↝ Tue 5/6 🎨 1–3pm: Mugs & Mamas: Hand-Build a Mug Workshop for 2 - early class // Motel Studios // $100, registration

4.28–5.4

Mon 4/28 🎨 6–8pm: Mosaic Lamp & Candle Holder Experience (workshop) // Hammer & Stain // $32, registration req. ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Essential Oils for Pets // One Community Now // free, donations welcome ↝ Tue 4/29 ♫ 6pm: Dice and Drafts (game night) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Creative Conversations:

4.21–4.27

🫵 HEY YOU 🫵 Sorry, had to get your attention. While scrolling this week's events, make sure you go alllll the way to the bottom to check out the "ongoing/multiple dates" section. That's because we've got a packed weekend including a new play,

4.14–4.20

Mon 4/14 🎨 4–5pm: Make Your Own Salt Scrubs // Belmont Library // free ↝ ♫ 5–8pm: Noah Spencer (Americana, country, singer songwriter) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝ ✮ 5:30pm: Small Business Meetup // Blindhouse Brewing // free ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Project Veil Break (cognitive physics) // One Community Now // free, donations welcome

4.07–4.13

Happy Monday y'all. This week, events that are part of the Freedom First Down by Downtown Festival are marked with the lil' red Stratocaster 🎸. I'm hoping the weather holds out but, as always, double check with the venue before you go to make sure an

3.31–4.06

Mon 3/31 🐾 11am–8pm (various time slots available): Pet Portraits with the Easter Bunny // Valley View Mall // $37+ ↝ ✮ 6–7:15pm: Growing Your Confidence (basic & practical meditation) // Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center // $10 ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Bashar: Unlocking Your Highest Potential // One Community Now // free, donations welcome

3.24–3.30

Mon 3/24 🐾 11am–8pm (various time slots available): Pet Portraits with the Easter Bunny // Valley View Mall // $37+ ↝ 💃 7:30–8:30pm: Adult Ballet Class // Hope Center // $15, registration req. ↝ Tue 3/25 🌳 5–7pm: Virginia Urban Agriculture Information Session // Lick Run Farm // free, registration req. ↝ ♫ 5–8pm: Jeff

3.17–3.23

Last week, I made a mistake or twenty. With one emoji, I outed my Americanness and reinforced a misguided practice—that of using four-leafed clovers as a symbol of St. Patrick's Day. Now I knew the shamrock ☘️ (which only has three leaves) symbolized the Holy Trinity, of which

3.10–3.16

Mon 3/10 🎨 5–6pm: Daisy Art Parade Workshop // Melrose Library // free ↝ ✮ 6–8pm: MAKE Community Meeting (in person & online) // MAKE Roanoke // free ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Healing With Breathwork // One Community Now // free, donations welcome ↝ ✮ 6:30–7:30pm: PedalSafe ROA March Public Meeting (bike safety community)

3.03–3.09

Mon 3/3 ✮ 6–7:15pm: Finding Calm Within (basic & practical meditation) // Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center // $10 ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Spring Clean Your Chakras // One Community Now // free, donations welcome ↝ Tue 3/4 ✮ all day: Mardi Bras! (bra toss fundraiser for VBCF) // Jack Brown's // free

2.24–3.02

Mon 2/24 🎨 5:30–7:30pm Page Turners Book & Craft Club (book: The Last Twelve Miles, craft: sea glass succulent) // Art on 1st // $32 ↝ ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Eco Living // One Community Now // free, donations welcome ↝ Tue 2/25 ✮ 12:15pm: CommuniTEA Tuesday (tea, coloring, conversation) // One

2.17–2.23

Mon 2/17 🏆 6:30–8pm: Tai Chi by the Tree // GLOW Healing Arts // $13 ↝ Tue 2/18 🏆 6am–8:30pm: Snowshoe Shuttle (transportation to and from Snowshoe Mountain Resort) // Public Works 1802 // $45 ↝ 🌳✮ 9am–2pm: Trail Work (volunteer, nature) // Carvin's Cove // free, 14+ ↝ 🧸 3–4pm: Cryptid Creatures

2.10–2.16

💘 Valentine's Day is upon us and there are a million ways to celebrate, whether you choose to support a local business or to (arguably, more fun) stay in and snuggle. 💝 One local establishment, however, is celebrating Un-valentine's Day: this year, Mill Mountain Zoo is selling "

2.03–2.09

Mon 2/3 🏆 5:45–6:45pm: EveryBody Yoga // Fishburn Mansion // $48 ↝ 💘✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - Crystals for Love (in person & online) // One Community Now // free, donations welcome ↝ Tue 2/4 ♫ 5–8pm: Christian Q. (funk, blues, jazz, pop) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝ ✮ 5:30–7pm: Living

1.27–2.02

Mon 1/27 ✮ 6:30pm: Monday Meetup - The Role of a Death Doula // One Community Now // free, donations welcome ↝ ✮ 7–8pm (refreshments starting 6:30): Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Gun Violence // SML Democrats - Moneta // free ↝ Tue 1/28 ✮ 12:15pm: CommuniTEA Tuesday // One Community

1.20–1.26

Mon 1/20 🏆 noon–9pm: MLK Day Skate (roller skating) // Firehouse Skate 'N Play - Vinton // prices vary ↝ ✮♫ 5:30–7:30pm: Beginner & Intermediate Frame Drum Class // The Beat Goes On - Salem // $10 ↝ 🏆🧸 6–7pm: Youth Beginner Movement Class (rock climbing) // River Rock Climbing // $10; ages 8–

1.13–1.19

Mon 1/13 🏆 5:30pm: 100 Miler Kickoff Event (walk, raffle, tips, community) // Fishburn Mansion // free for participants ↝ 🏆 6–7pm: Adult Beginner Movement Class (rock climbing) // River Rock Climbing // $10, registration req. ↝ ✮ 6–7:15pm: Begin with a Pure Vision (basic & practical meditation) // Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center // $10 ↝ ✮ 6:

1.06–1.12

Southwest Virginia probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of multicultural dance, but after regularly adding 💃 salsa events 💃 and seeing the many classes offered this month, I'm beginning to think the dance scene here might, in fact, be something to write

12.30–1.05

🎆💃🎊🪩 In true procrastinator fashion, I'm adding this intro with 1 hr 53 min left in 2024. This project started mainly as an exercise to convince myself that moving back home after a very, very difficult year wasn't the worst thing in the world. In that regard,

12.23-12.29

Mon 12/23 🧸🎨 8:30–11:30am: Holiday Critter Crafting with Mill Mountain Zoo // West End Center // $25, registration req. ↝ 🧸✮ 9am (additional time slots at 10:30am & noon): Cookies for a Cause with Mrs. Claus (cookie decorating fundraiser for The Life Ring Foundation) // One City Plaza // $25, registration req.

12.16-12.22

🕎 Just like last year, yesterday we celebrated the final night of Hanukkah, the Jewish celebration of—what's that? What do you mean it hasn't even started yet? If you're anything like me, your childhood consisted of basic protestant holidays celebrated by conservative white Christians.

12.09-12.15

Tue 12/10 ✮ 5–8pm: Happy Hour for All: Ugly Sweater Party // A Few Old Goats Brewing - Roanoke // free ↝ ♫ 5–8pm: Brian Mesko & Terry Brown (jazz, funk) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝ 🏆 6pm (check-in 5pm): Holiday Lights Tour Bike Ride // Cardinal Bicycle - Grandin Village // free; $5 donation

12.02-12.08

Photos ops with Santa have been marked with "🎅". Mon 12/2 🎅 5–7pm: Free Family Photos with Santa (photo op, bring your own camera) // Belmont Library // free ↝ ♫ 7–8:30pm: Roanoke Valley Choral Society: “Merry and Bright – Holiday Memories” // Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church // free, $20 suggested ↝ Tue 12/

11.25-12.01

🦃 No holiday is more fixated on the consumption of a singular animal than American Thanksgiving; most families couldn't imagine dinner without a perfectly roasted turkey on the table. But what, exactly, does that bird symbolize? Does it hold any cultural significance, or is it simply the product of

11.18-11.24

🥸 Is it just me, or is no one celebrating Movember anymore? In our little corner of the world, has the mustache become so mainstream that participants are indistinguishable from the common man? In case you don't remember, Movember started as a movement to bring awareness to (and raise

11.11-11.17

💫 🔮🤞Why do we make wishes at 11:11? And on 11/11, are they more likely to come true? Read about it here. In the meantime, I'm wishing you all have time to check out what's happening this week: Mon 11/11 ✮ 7–10am: Veterans Day

11.4–11.10

Tue 11/5 ✮ 8:30pm–close: College Line Dance Night // Sidewinders // $10–20 ↝ ✮ 6:30–9pm: Music Bingo with Nathan // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝ Wed 11/6 ♫ 5–8pm: Foster Burton (psych rock, blues) // Parkway Brewing // free ↝ ♫ 6–9pm: The Guard (bluegrass) // The CoffeePot // free ↝ 🏳️‍🌈 6:30–7:30pm: Queer