For the second year in a row, if you’re planning to buy Libby’s canned Pumpkin Pie Filling, you better go ahead and buy your supply now. 

Morton, Illinois, population 16,000 is home to the Libby company which controls 80-90 percent of the nation’s pumpkin pie mix.  Last year, their 5,000 acres of pumpkins were stopped from reaching grocery store shelves because of bad weather.  This year, the abundance of rain has soaked the crop, making a large portion of the crop uneligable for harvest.  They have been harvesting 24 hours a day since September, but they said that it’s still going to be a tight squeeze to satisfy everyone’s pumpkin pie needs over the holidays.

Prices are being affected as well.  A normal 15oz. can that normally sells for around $.99 is going for about $1.59 and the 29oz. can is priced this season at $2.29. 

My suggestion to you is two fold.  Either 1) go out and stock up or 2) take a breather and make things the old fashioned way; from scratch.  You might be surprised with the results.

The jack-o-lanterns are sitting on the curb waiting to be picked up and the aisles in the grocery store are stocked with boxes of stuffing and baking essentials.  That can only mean one thing, boys and girls; the holiday season is upon us.

The season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is my absolute favorite part of the year and this year is no exception.  There are so many things to do in Southwest Virginia this time of year and after looking at the laundry list of regional activities, I think I’m ready to make my suggestion.

The Wolfhart Haus in Wytheville, VA is offering A Wolfhart Haus Christmas…Christmas in New York, which opened last week and runs until December 31.  This show features a holiday song and dance revue.  A delightful mix of traditional and contemporary music makes this show a favorite for the whole family!  Since it is a dinner theatre, it is affordable, offering a holiday themed dinner.

 My next suggestion is a personal favorite.  I highly suggest WMKS: Christmas 1942 at the Barter Theatre. Radio Station WMKS: Where Music Kills Sorrow is back on the air for another Christmas season, offering a mix of traditional Christmas music, old-time and patriotic tunes in a regional WWII era tale. It’s worth the drive to Abingdon, be sure not to miss it!

 Whatever your plans for the holiday season, keep in mind that these are only two of the many, many choices you have in Southwest Virginia.  Be sure to check out our regional events calendar for more ideas!

This is it, folks.  Another year has passed and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion time has come again!  Rhythm & Roots is a music festival held on State Street in Bristol to celebrate the 1927 Bristol Sessions, the musical heritage of Southwest Virginia and the musical legacy of The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and the like.   This year, in its 9th year, the Rhythm & Roots Reunion will prove to be better than ever, boasting several incredible acts.  Sure, they’re all incredible, but I’m going to highlight some of my personal favorites and maybe you’ll get a hankering to head on down…I know I’m going.

First up is Patty Loveless.  She’s one of the featured performers and I have no doubt she’ll be fantastic.  She’s taken a departure from traditional country music and is now leaning toward bluegrass and music reminscent of her Kentucky home.  Next up on my visual and audio wishlist is Darrell Scott.  If you can see only one performance, see this one!  Mr. Scott is incredible!  He has more soul in his pinky than I ever hope to have in this whole body of mine.  This is my pick of the weekend…that is, unless he plays with Tim O’Brien.  If that happens, you MUST GO!  Consider it an early Christmas present.  If you find yourself taking my advice skeptically, then check out their album Real Time…No matter what, if he plays Jesus was a Capricorn, you’ll be a believer.

 Others you need to see? Holy Ghost Tent Revival, John Cowan (always a rip roaring good time to be had there), Southwest Virginia Darling Martha Spencer, Pokey Lafarge, and Celtic Adrenaline itself, Scythian.

It’s September 18-20, so make sure you get your tickets now! Stop everything you’re doing and go to http://www.bristolrhythm.com/.  You can pick up weekend passes or just go for a day…whatever your choice, just make sure you don’t miss it!

Shai Cullop

Karl Rozemeyer 

Actors know that body language speaks volumes, and the good ones use it subtly to persuade the audience.Poses, positions and postures tell the audience what to think about the character.A job interview is no different, said Jodie Bentley, owner and co-founder of The Savvy Actor, a firm that coaches actors on the business of acting and teaches them how to market themselves. Your body language tells the interviewer things about you.”I think it is important to have body awareness before you go into an interview,” she said. There are many actions and habits that we should consider doing or avoid doing to tell the right story during the interview setting.  Actor John Treacy Egan, featured in such Broadway hits as “The Producers” and “The Little Mermaid,” demonstrates some of the body-language tricks he uses and avoids on stage. “Practice these, and you will take it over,” he said. “It’s like muscle matter,”

1) Wardrobe

Bentley emphasized the importance of wearing clothes that show you in your best light during an interview. “I really think that the clothes that you wear impact who you are, and if you wear something that makes you feel fabulous, your body language is going to be so much more comfortable in the moment.”

2) Hold onto a talisman

“Wear a piece of jewelry or a scarf or something that has meaning to you and can ground you in the moment,” Bentley said. “If I get nervous, sometimes I will look at my wedding ring and think of my husband who supports me, and I realize I should be doing this and I am on the right path. When we get nervous, we feel ourselves being removed from our bodies slightly. I think that having that talisman is a great way just to keep us grounded and present in the moment.” (more…)

Blacksburg has always had a real sense of community. With the University, Virginia Tech, at its center, Main Street has become a real attraction and a friendly destination for all citizens of all ages. It’s a spot where locals and visitors alike can meander and get a feel for what Blacksburg has to offer. The newest undertaking for the tight nit community is a uniform recycling program for downtown businesses, which will hopefully expand to all businesses in Blacksburg. “A proposed plan for the program was presented to town council in November 2008 and, after that, work started on a detailed plan. In July, a plan was presented to the council with an update on the program, and he and other committee members are now working with town staff on implementation.” (more…)