Yard Sale Sunday: Still Soggy

Alright, so I don't really want to hear anyone else say that we need the rain anymore. If we still need rain, then let's just admit that saying we need rain is a regional colloquialism because it feels like it's been coming down for a coupla weeks now. And with that, despite an absolutely beautiful Sunday, there were only very sparse yard sales to hit.

There was one on Colonial Ave which consisted of a computer so old I'm pretty sure it maxes out playing pong, and a few random clothing items. Only one other sale was advertised in either The Roanoke Times or Craig's List, and none marked "rain or shine," leaving me with a good excuse to drive around drinking coffee and eating a bagel in lieu of cheaper, healthier foods at home, but little in the way of hope for decent sales.

With Saturday rains, I imagine that most who intended on having a yard sale this weekend didn't think it fitting to open up shop on Sunday, with invariably fewer yard salers and most people waking to get to church, not buy used copies of Reader's Digest.

Oh well, it looks like I'll have to wait just a little longer to get back into the yard sale swing of things, though I tip my hat to the Colonial Sale in solemn hopes that someone with an eye for vintage computer parts took that beast off your hands.

Sure, it could have been the absence of adverts and notices in local media that failed bring out the buyers on Saturday, making Sunday a bit of a wash.

The internet has changed the way we live in numerous ways and garage sales are not immune. Garage Sales Tracker is a new site that allows users to list their yard sales while saving both buyers and sellers time and money. Here are some of the benefits and features the site offers.

• Cheaper than the newspaper classifieds


• Rain out guarantee.


• Driving directions ready to be printed

So check it out and see if Garage Sales Tracker is right for you. 'Til next week, be sure to make your sale signs readable and your pockets full of change!

DC Proximity

Last weekend turned into a couple of days in DC to attend a symposium on Abraham Lincoln at the National Archives. DC isn't exactly tramping Roanoke, but stay with me.

On the drive up, we listened to an audio book on Lincoln to jog our memories of dates, names, battles, and legislation.

It was interesting to hear these very assertions questioned and discussed during the symposium which was - above all - a room full of people who already enjoyed a high Lincoln literacy and had moved on to refining that knowledge with specifics in lieu of popular conjecture. Here were titans in the field who had written a handful of books on the subject, some slightly thicker than that dictionary you always had to wade through in your middle school library.

At the end of each lecture was a time for questions, and I crafted at least one question for each speaker as if prepared in case called upon and not about to stand in front of Lincoln scholars and as if they'd heard the latest Lincoln/Kennedy connection.

The next day, spoiled by ubiquitous IKEA's out west, we did some light IKEA shopping before heading to Little Ethiopia for some lunch.

The drive is no Sunday stroll, but how fortunate we are to live somewhere within a manageable distance to our capital. I'll not go on a patriotic rant about DC's history and character (though there is that), but let's look at it from a completely practical standpoint: while the parking might be a bit of a bear, where else can you burn a whole week on museums, galleries, and events without paying a dime?

Okay, so the history is pretty nice, too. As for Lincoln: I've got some serious reading to do before my next symposium.

Theater Glenvar High: "The Wedding Singer"

It was a bit of a drive down to Glenvar High School for their new musical The Wedding Singer after Sandler movie turned Broadway hit, but I knew it would be worth the time. Sure, Glenvar's my old high school, and the drama director Steve Franco is a good friend of mine, but I'd like to think that I would have gone anyway.

Let's just say that I wasn't surprised to learn that Singer enjoyed many months on Broadway: the music and the dancing really are well organized, and this shined through at Glenvar.

Even for someone who doesn't go out of his way to see musicals, I have to say that the songs and the dancing were the best parts of the play. Much of the in-between is a collection of some of the best one-liners from the movie, and - while funny - aren't the meat of the production.

So far as Glenvar's portrayal of it, despite a few technical snafus and a few rushed lines (certainly both of which are pretty common fair at the high-school level) the cast did a great job with all of the very intricate dances, movement, and situations. This was not a static play but as demanding physically as Grease in parachute pants.

The cast was - to say the least - excited by the play and the story, which really came through in the production and which I can attest first-hand makes all of the difference. The house was about two-thirds full on opening night - last Thursday - near as I could tell from about six rows back.

I wish I could say that I wrote this in time for my readers to see it, but - alas - it ended Saturday night. But the chance to check out my old high school's play was a great experience, and one that I'm sure to continue.

Anyone out there still make it to their high school's shows?

Subway fixes what ain't broken

While there are far more exotic places to eat in Roanoke, my diet and budget often take me to Subway, the health-conscious man's answer to fast food. I'm no Jared: I can grow sick of Subway as easily as I can any other food I've had too many times, but I find myself there twice a week, I'd say, usually the one at Towers Mall, since the one downtown has been mediocre for some time (I guess when you have so much business, being good isn't mandated).

However, while I love the trend of having nutritional information posted on Web sites for even the most dietary egregious locales such as McDonald's and Wendy's, I was a little surprised to find something out about Subway's menu.

Pitched to the even more health conscious, there are two alternatives to the various types of bread at Subway: the wrap and the flat bread. I remember the wrap coming around when the Atkin's fad diet was in full swing and everyone was swearing off carbs. The flat bread is newish, pitched in particular for certain signature sandwiches.

However, checking the stats on the site, both the wrap and the flat bread have more calories and lower fiber than the wheat bread. Sure, I understand that any restaurant wanting business needs to appeal to the current diet trends and miscalculated fears, but hopefully someone choosing these bread alternatives are aware of the higher calories and less fiber (not to mention the fact that they would likely fill you up far less considering they both have less mass).

It's kind of ironic to want an alternative to something that's already healthy. I mean, you wouldn’t figure that a McDonald's hamburger was fatty because of the kinds of pickles or mustard they use. When my fellow Subway patrons get a good quarter cup of mayonnaise on an otherwise healthy sandwich, I'm thinking that bread is not the culprit here.

Ready for Yard Sales

Coming from Arizona, where yard sales ran year-round and having them rain out was about as likely as the Cardinals going to the Super Bowl (well, at the time), I have had to get used to the idea that - in Roanoke - there's only so many months of yard sales, and rain is a deal breaker.

I figured March would be the start of this year's yard sale season, but this weekend was a little too soggy for people ready to rid themselves of their spring-cleaning junk. With the erratic back and forth weather, yard salers are probably as confused as my flowers as to what to do next.

Hopefully this coming weekend will bring more sellers out. I haven't had the pleasure of sifting through old books and VHS tapes in some months, and I long for a little haggling.

I suppose I'll even be planning my own annual sale within a month or so, which - for the past two summers - had been bar-none the best means of meeting and conversing with my neighbors. In one advantage over Arizona yard sales, around here I've run into people I've met at sales time and again, and sales are always a good reason to strike up some conversation with complete strangers.

This yard sale season, I'll be posting some experiences, tips, and leads on Tramping Roanoke, so come on back and feel free to share your own experiences and insights.

Mardi Gras Masquerade

Just before the snow hit, my wife and I were up in the hills celebrating the coming of Lent. Okay, so we're not Catholic and were just looking for an excuse to dress up in masks and get together with friends.

I've always marveled at how quickly you can go from urban to the middle of nowhere in the Valley. Head north at the K-Mart in Salem and you'll be hip deep in the woods before you can smoke a cigarette. Explore the other side of Brambelton Ave across 419 and you'll see horses and feel a temperature drop before a song plays out on the radio.

In a similar fashion, my wife and I were humming Dueling Banjos aloud as we climbed to our friends home overlooking Roanoke. Drop-offs of a good hundred feet with only a few trees to act as barriers threatened on the side of the road too narrow for another vehicle.

While the view was dynamite, and there was certainly no threat of a loud noise complaint up there. Alas, when it began to snow and ice, party-goers had to make the snap decision to stay or go: stay for what was likely overnight and into the next morning, or go before the precipitation began to accumulate, turning the winding way down the hills into a treacherous path.

It turned out that - by the wee hours of the morning - the sleet had slowed and it was still warm enough to create a slush instead of a sheet of ice.

Of course, the "middle of nowhere" trick works in reverse, as well, since we were back to the safety of well-traveled roads in mere minutes, able to enjoy a secluded party and the succor of our suburban home and comfy bed in the same night.

Shave and a Haircut

Only one day out from having to fulfill my Guard duty, and my hair is about as long as it has been since I sported a half-hearted mullet back in the '80s. Bound to have lunch in Grandin Court, I thought I'd try the barber shop I've seen down there a few times - the aptly named Grandin Road Barber Shop. It's hidden in plane sight next to Grandin Theatre.

Inside, '70s-style décor such as green leather seats and the old and rugged barber chairs go along with the oldies music softly humming in the background. Signs posted on the wall behind each chair identify the barbers, of which there are two out three working.

The one cutting my mop is named Roger - a nice and genuine older fellow who's likely been cutting hair longer than I've been alive. Amid the proclaimed "crowd" of five or so people, there's talk about the economy, social consciousness, and the neighborhood.

I see the guy in front of me getting shaved with a straight razor and I tell me wife that I've always wanted to do that just to see what it's like.

When it's my turn, we talk about the weather (which is beautiful) and about the occasion for the cut and style. Just as I think he's finished, he swaps the paper collar out and starts to lather me up around the ears and on the neck. It looks like I'll be getting a razor cut today.

I look at my wife and see that she's smiling, but she's really only a blur since I've had to lose the glasses.

The experience was interesting, and I decided to go in just for the shave one of these days or coupled with the next haircut. The rate is pretty cheap, they take checks, and I walked away smelling like my grandfather.

Dining Out: Thai Orchid

I must admit, I was aiming to eat at The Judge's Chambers based on a friend's suggestion, but since it was closed this last Saturday, we decided to try to the Thai Orchid right across the street on 1st in downtown Roanoke.

Though the poor weather and notoriously scant downtown traffic many weekends meant we were the only patrons for lunch. The restaurant was nice and clean, to include the bathrooms, with a smattering of Thai decorations and with a uniformity that was pleasing and conveyed professionalism.

The owner/server was a quiet man who spoke very good English; service was prompt, but - again - we were the only customers. I imagine it could get a little slow if the place were really busy.
My wife and I shared the spring rolls with peanut sauce for an appetizer, and then the dinner portion of the Massaman Curry. The spring rolls were very flavorful, though mild (I suppose we could have requested spicy, but didn't).

The curry was also quite good. Not the best Thai I've had in Virginia, but right up there. The dinner portion was just right for the two of us.

Our lunch came to about $20, which is a little pricey for having had water and sharing an entree, but certainly not bad for such unique food so well prepared, either.

Well illustrated menus, mild food, and the owner's skill with English would make Thai Orchid an easy choice for any beginners wishing to give Thai a taste without knowing much about the food.

Easy Bake Hard to Find

It was our intent last weekend to find the Easy Bake Over Cook-off, which I thought would not only have been a tasty treat, but also good blogging material (oh the things I'll do for a story).

We saw the event featured in The Roanoke Times, and then we checked the time and location on Roanoke.com the day of just to be sure. It was to be at the Center in the Square Science Museum of Western Virginia and the event was free after paying for entry.

Inside, before heading up to the museum, we asked the reception desk about the event, and got blank stares. At the museum entrance as we waited in line, we overheard a phone call in which the caller asked for details about the cook-off, and the girl at the desk said she knew nothing about it.

When we told her we were there for the same thing, she apologized, but said that it couldn't be there. For the sake of sanity, I used my Blackberry to look it up, and - sure enough - there was a completely erroneous event posted on Roanoke.com for something as sweet as an Easy Bake Oven Cook-off.

While I'm actually a fan of Roanoke Times most of the time, my experience with event write-ups is this event that never seemed to have happened and another that I read about on Thursday that was ending the next day. Let's just say I'm not batting 1000 here.

Dining Out in Roanoke: Grace's Place Pizzeria

Grace's Place is within walking distance, but I still drive because that's just what we do sometimes. Parking can be a bear in Grandin Court (all the more reason to walk) but we found a spot open and perused the restaurants for dinner.

I've actual been to Grace's before, but that was before I wrote reviews, so - other than what I ate - I probably couldn't tell you much.

Last night, though, Grace's was pretty packed. Oh wait, that's pretty much any night, which is good and bad. Bad in that the place gets a little cramped, but good in that you can have a meal with the security that collective wisdom speaks to the place's finer qualities, which in Grace's case is certainly the food.

That's not to say that the wait staff isn't nice - they are - nor that the restaurant is unkempt - it's rather tidy by my reckoning. It is a little tight, though, which could make grazing the medicore saled bar a little burdensome, so I stuck with ordering some real food and sitting in a booth.

My wife and I split the spinach artichoke dip for our app and then split the vegetable primavera sub. The dip was quite good, with rugged little toast pieces in lieu of chips. It was a little oily, so this is not a diet food, to be sure.

The sub, though, stole the show. Subtleties liked the roasted red peppers and basil really set if off, and I considered pulling the whole "What's that behind you?" trick on my wife to get a bit of her half, but I figured she wouldn't fall for it anyway.

The meal was quite reasonable, our bill was $13 and change minus the tip. The service was good, and the food came out incrementally, as expected, so none of that "he's your app with your meal" stuff.

We'll definitely hit up Grace's again sometime, though - judging by the mad rush of people to fill our parking spot when we left - we'll be walking next time.

Parking and Transportation: The Campbell Mart Makeover

The fact that Wachovia Tower's parking garage downtown was constructed by either a blind man or Satan himself is common knowledge. Many of my co-workers bear battle scars from run-ins with the garage's moronic angles, exposed water main's, and tight corners.

I have born three such scars on both of my vehicles. I would like to say that I wear them with pride, but I'm still horse from the shouting match I had with myself after the third "love tap" with that garage (which should hereafter be referred to as "The Mangler").

Signs upon exit read "Watch your mirrors" and other signs remind the new and uninitiated that the garage isn't responsible for the multiple collisions you're sure to endure during your stay. At least the staff members are nice, though I don't know where that guy from Brooklyn went to.

Alas, I have to admit that I harbor many of the same fears regarding the proposed parking structure to go into the bottom floor of the Campbell Mart on Campbell Ave. Hey, I'm glad someone's going to do something with it, and we certainly need more parking downtown, but my car and I both quiver when we think about another "converted" parking space.

Perhaps my trepidation will prove unfounded, and the refurbished Campbell Mart will bear little resemblance to The Mangler. But some wounds take a long time to forget. Just ask my car.