Snow Making, Music Playing on?Tap for Weekend Entertainment
By JULIEANNE COOPER, Region EditorOld Man Winter made sure to make his presence known this week, dumping more than 2 feet of snow in some areas of northcentral West Virginia. And while there some grumbling and bumbling about the area, just as many folks in the Mountain State are beaming, joyous over the more-than-generous gift that's fallen in their backyards.
All across the region, efforts to get set for another winter season are shifting into high gear at entertainment establishments and area resorts. The holidays - along with all the accompanying stress - are just around the corner.
But before those days even arrive, take time to head out for a relaxing evening or other fun-filled event. There's lots coming this way over the next few days, with lots of opportunities to relax and unwind with music, dancing and other pleasurable events.
Get those skis and snowboards ready because Snowshoe Mountain Resort is kicking off its 2008-2009 season Friday. With lots of fresh powder - both natural and manmade - the resort is opening five days earlier than anticipated. Lift tickets are just $29 from opening day through Tuesday and guests can take on Skidder, Crosscut, Heisler Way, Spruce Glades, Whiffletree and Whistlepunk
For up-to-date conditions, trail reports, pictures, video, reservations and special offers, visit www.snowshoemtn.com or call 1-877-441-4FUN.
In the mood to stay indoors? There's plenty going on indoors including the following:
West Virginia Wesleyan College's Department of Theatre and Dance will present Danceworks XVII and the Advanced Musical Theatre Research class today in Atkinson Auditorium at 8 p.m. Danceworks XVII will showcase talent from the semester's dance technique and repertory classes from Wesleyan's Dance Minor program.
The performance includes choreography in contemporary dance, tap and classical ballet by adjunct members Gretchen Moore and Nina M. Scattaregia. Also featured in the concert are original works by students from the program's choreography and improvisation class.
The Advanced Musical Theatre Research class will present an hour of selections from their semester-long study of duets and small group numbers. The performance will also include student choreography by senior musical theater major Sara Ogawa.
The revue features Kelsey Benjamin of Cambridge, Md., Meredith Gagich of Washington, Pa., Cassandra Lemon of Mineral Wells, Joshua Peters of Lynchburg, Va., Robert Quarles of Lusby, Md., and Greg Ramsey of Burnsville, accompanied by Dr. Melody Meadows, professor of music.
Danceworks XVII tickets are available at the door and will be $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and non-Wesleyan students and $2 for WVWC students and faculty with ID.
The Purple Fiddle Coffeehouse and Mountain Market will welcome entertainers Friday through Sunday including Matt "Doc" Lambert and Friends, The Tuscarawas River Band and Goldmine Pickers.
The Tuscarawas River Band kicks off the weekend Friday at 8:30 p.m. Admission to hear this jam band is $7.
The Fiddle will feature a locals appreciation show Saturday with Matt "Doc" Lambert and Friends at 8:30 p.m. Admission to the "acoustic extravaganza" is free.
"A young, passionate, four-piece band," the Goldmine Pickers, will entertain the Fiddle crowd Sunday at 7:30 p.m. According to an event organizer, the group's music weaves together "roots and inspiration in bluegrass, jazz, folk and Irish traditions to create an energetic new space in Americana music." Admission is $10.
The Purple Fiddle is located on East Avenue in Thomas. For more information on these and other upcoming concerts, call 463-4040 or visit www.purplefiddle.com.
The Pocahontas Opera House will host a Hank Williams Tribute Night, featuring John Lilly and Rob McNurlin, Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door.
John Lilly is a multi-talented acoustic music performer from Charleston who specializes in Americana, roots country and traditional folk music.
Rob McNurlin was raised in eastern Kentucky where the hymns in church, the Johnny Cash Show on TV, a harmonica from his grandmother, his parents' records, and a guitar on his ninth Christmas set him on a musical path. He later began studying traditional music, learning hundreds of folk, hillbilly-blues and gospel tunes.
These musicians will pay tribute to the great country music icon who, in his short lifetime, pioneered the honky-tonk style and became one of the most influential musicians and songwriters in history.
To find out about other upcoming Opera House performances, visit www.pocahontasoperahouse.org or call 799-6645.
The Tuscarawus River Band will make another stop in the area on Saturday at the Brazenhead Inn in Mingo.
For more information or to make reservations, visit online at www.brazenheadinn.com or call 1-866-339-6917. The Brazenhead Inn is located on U.S. 219 south between Valley Head and Snowshoe.
A Mountain Explorer Dinner Train pulls out of the station Saturday and will feature the live murder/mystery "A Scream in the Dark." Passengers can take in the who-done-it theater and dinner aboard this special November run on the New Tygart Flyer.
Passengers will be boarding at the Elkins Depot. For more information or to make reservations, call 1-877-MTN-RAIL or visit www.mountainrail.com.
With snow on the ground and the Thanksgiving holiday almost here, another special event is inching ever closer. And for many sportsmen in the area, this is the event they've been waiting and preparing for throughout the year. Yes, it's hunting season.
There'll be lots of folks donning camo and blaze orange, rifles on their backs, binoculars around their necks, just waiting for that prize buck to come within firing range.
To welcome those hunters, Timberline Four Seasons Resort will host its "Hunters Evening Celebration" Sunday through Wednesday, featuring evening dinners by the lodge's fireplace, especially for hunters, but also for the friends of Timberline.
The Fireside Grill will serve a Wild Game Special each evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and later guests can join the Timberline family in front of the blazing fireplace at Timber's Pub to talk over the day's adventures.
For more information on this and other upcoming resort events, call 1-800-SNOWING or visit online at www.timberlineresort.com.
