Around Clarke County Jan/Feb

January

11 Young Naturalist Program

Five Saturdays through March 8. Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce. Students grades 1 through 6. $22/session with discounts for multiple class enrollments and FOSA members. Topics include EcoArt, Cold-weather Carnivores, Frozen Feathers, Blandy Winter Olympics, and Signs of Spring. Pre-registration is required. Register online at http://blandy.virginia.edu, call 540-837-1758 Ext. 224, or download a registration form at www.blandy.virginia.edu.

14 Bill Whiting Retrospective

Through March 9, 2014. A show of the late artist of the Shenandoah Valley at the Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville, including 60 paintings by this well-loved artist who captured the beauty of the Valley. A signed, framed print of his painting, Along the Shenandoah, will be raffled off on the last day of the exhibit. Raffle tickets sold at the Barns. For information, visit www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.

17 Winter Full Moon Walk

Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce. 7pm-8:30 pm. $10 for FOSA members, $12 for non-members, $20 for whole family. Weather permitting, join them for a guided walk under the full moon to explore the winter world after dark. Meet in the Blandy library, dress warmly, bring a flashlight. Hot chocolate and snacks, too! Reservations required. Call 540-837-1758, ext. 224 or register on-line at www.blandy.virginia.edu.

17 The Woodshedders

With opening act Tabasco Bustelo at the  Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 7:30pm. $15 advance, $20 at door. Bringing together diverse influences of country, R&B, old-time, bluegrass, and gypsy jazz, this band of five brings high energy and excellent musicianship to their audiences and keeps the crowd on their feet. Shepherdstown-based rock band Tabasco Bustelo opens the show for a fantastic night of music. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

18 Film: The Attack

Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 3pm. $8/person or $5 for Magic Lantern and Barns of Rose Hill members. An Arab surgeon in Tel Aviv discovers a dark secret about his wife in the aftermath of a suicide bombing. The LA Times called it “a subtle and disturbing film about love, loss, and tragedy.” In Hebrew and Arabic with English sub-titles. Rated R, 102 minutes. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

19 Cahalen Morrison & Eli West

Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 3pm. $10 advance, $15 at door. Hailing from Seattle, Morrison and West put a modern, edgy spin on their original songs with an old country and bluegrass influence and have received national acclaim from top roots musicians. Stopping in Berryville as part of their east coast tour. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

 20 Film: Freedom    Riders

Historic Long Branch, 830 Long Branch Lane, Millwood. 5pm. Free. Long Branch Plantation honors Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a film screening of Freedom Riders. This film screening is part of the National Endowment for the Humanities Program, Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle. Freedom Riders tells the terrifying, moving, and suspenseful story of a time when white and black volunteers riding a bus into the Deep South risked being jailed, beaten, or killed, as white local and state authorities ignored or encouraged violent attacks. See www.visitlongbranch.org or call 540-837-1856 for more info.

 25 FOSA Seed Exchange at Blandy

Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce. 10am-3pm. Free. Gardeners will gather in the library to exchange seeds, roots, cuttings, and discover new additions for their gardens. No invasive species allowed. (Check arboretum’s list of invasives at http://blandy.virginia.edu, then navigate to invasive plants. Native plants are encouraged. For info, call Donna Downing at 540-667-3778.

25 Snap, Crackle, and POP

Veramar Vineyard, 95 Quarry Road, Berryville. Noon-5pm. Live music and prizes accompany your wine-tasting experience. For info, call 540-955-5510 or visit www.veramar.com.

25 Bright Box Comedy Night

Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester. 7:30pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. Kaleidoscope Comedy presents two shows: Kelly Terranova, former radio talk show host, culls his material from the day’s headlines, from pop culture to NASCAR and is known as “a skilled comedian who features playful audience interaction, making each show unique.” Jay Szech’s stories about college, the working world, and life after graduation have thrilled college crowds across the country. For info and tickets, visit www.brightboxtheater.com.

 27 Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Workshops

Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce. 6:30-pm-9pm. Insight Meditation instructor Shell Fischer leads an eight-week series of Mindful Based Stress Reduction workshops on Monday evenings beginning January 27. For information and to register, visit www.mindfulvalley.com.

31 Riley Baugus and Dirk Powell

Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 7:30pm. $15 advance, $20 at door. A must-see for anyone interested in old-time music. Dirk Powell plays fiddle and has recorded with artists Jack White, Joan Baez, T-Bone Burnett, and Loretta Lynn, among others, bringing his Appalachian heritage to a fresh mix of bluegrass, old-timey, and folk music. Riley Baugus brings his banjo and powerful singing voice. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

February

 1 River Whyless w/MINK

Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester. 8pm. $10 advance, $15 at door. River Whyless’s sound is described as folk-rock, nature-pop, and baroque-folk and since 2009 the band has played hundreds of shows coast to coast. MINK is fronted by Melissa Wright, formerly of Acoustic Burgoo, and includes Daniel Zezeski on drums and Erik Burnham on upright bass. “Known for soulful vocals, electrifying stage presence, and thoughtful songwriting, MINK is bound to make you laugh and cry, hope and sigh, and after all, dance.” Presented by Dancing Beagle Events. For info and tickets, visit www.brightboxtheater.com.

2  Groundhog Day Celebration

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 181 Kernstown Commons Blvd, Winchester. 12:30 pm.  Join Barry Lee of WINC to see what the groundhog’s forecast is for spring’s arrival then come inside for a silent auction and more fun to benefit local wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit Valley Wildlife Care.  The movie Groundhog Day will show at 1:30pm. Movie tickets available at www.drafthouse.com/winchester.

2 Film: Stories We Tell

From Magic Lantern at the Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 3pm. $8 for non-members, $5 for members. This award-winning documentary from Sarah Polley explores the elusive nature of truth and memory in the history of one family. Rated PG-13, 108 minutes. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

 8 Rhythms Round the World

Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 11am-12pm. $10 per child. A musical tour of Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia invites the audience to play along with dances from around the world and incorporates a wide variety of exotic instruments. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.

8 Paul Pfau

Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester. 8pm. $10 advance, $15 at door. Pfau’s music combines British blues and New Orleans funk rhythms with hook-laden pop melodies. Performing over 180 dates a year, Pfau has gained a large and loyal following across the region and in 2011 was nominated as Best New Artist by the Washington Area Music Association. For info and tickets, visit www.brightboxtheater.com.

 9 Harlem Wizards  Basketball Benefit

It’s the Harlem Wizards vs. Clarke in Motion basketball game at Clarke County High School, 627 Mosby Boulevard, Berryville. 3pm. Students $9, Adults $11 in advance, Students $12, Adults $15 on game day. Children under 5 free. The Harlem Wizards take on Clarke In Motion, a team comprised of CCPS faculty and coaches and community leaders. Proceeds benefit Clarke County Education Foundation. Pre-sale tickets available at all CCPS schools and Bank of Clarke County in Berryville from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7. For information, call 540-955-0430.

 9 “Colored Troops” in the Civil War

Bob O’Connor is the author of eight Civil War books and presents an authentic first-person living history portrayal of Ward Hill Lamon, Abraham Lincoln’s bodyguard. Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 1pm. Free. Sponsored by the Clarke County Library.

14 The Larry Keel Power Trio

Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 7:30pm. $15 advance, $20 at door. Keel is described by some as the most powerful, innovative, and exhilarating acoustic flatpicking guitarist performing today. Joining him are Will Lee on soulful, bluegrass style banjo and lead vocals, and Jenny Keel on vocal harmony. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

 14 Of Love & Mischief

A Valentine’s Day Celebration with Caravan of Thieves, Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester. 8pm. $25 advance, $30 at door. Two floors of music, chocolates, special love potions, and theatrical, delightful fun with the Caravan of Thieves, a gypsy, jazzy trio. Presented by Dancing Beagle Events. For more info and tickets, visit www.brightboxtheater.com

 16 HSCBA Polar Plunge

Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Fire Hall. 2pm. Plunge into the river and help send at-risk children to High Five Sports Camp!  Warm up afterwards at the Blue Ridge Fire Hall with good food and great music from Drymill Road.  Presented by the Horseshoe Curve Benevolent Association. Contact Tracee at 540-554-8291 for more information.

 17Power of the Spiritual

Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 3pm. Playwright/performer Amanda Kemp and violinist Michael Jamanis blend African American history and poetry to introduce intergenerational audiences to the beauty and significance of spirituals. The production celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. For more info, visit www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

22 Bluegrass and BBQ

With Town Mountain at the Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 8pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. Come hear top-notch bluegrass from North Carolina and enjoy delicious BBQ for sale from Jordan Springs Market. Award-winning Town Mountain has emerged as one of America’s premier young bluegrass bands with original songwriting, tight harmonies, big stage presence, and instrumental expertise. Purchase tickets at www.barnsofrosehill.org. or call 540-955-2004.

Current & Ongoing

School Board

Clarke County School Board meetings are held at D.G. Cooley Elementary School, 34 Westwood Road, Berryville, at 6:30pm and are open to the public. Upcoming meetings are on January 27, February 3, February 10, February 24, March 24, April 28, and May 19.

Parks & Rec

A wide variety of classes and activities are offered through Clarke County Parks and Recreation. See complete schedule at www.clarkecounty.gov/parks.

Opus Oaks

Opus Oaks offers several upcoming classes and workshops for all ages in painting, drawing, stained glass, jewelry design, photography, and sculpture. See complete schedule at www.opusoaks.org.