Around Clarke County
April
18 Melodime w/ NELO
Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester. 8pm. $10 advance, $15 at door. Musically addictive indie-rock bursting with emotion, imagination, inspiration, and energy! Each band tells stories from the deepest recesses of their hearts and souls, and seamlessly blends the musical past with the sounds of the future. More information and tickets at www.brightboxtheater.com.
18 & 25 Flora of Virginia
Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce. 9am–3pm. $30 for FOSA members, $35 for nonmembers. Reservations required. Marion Lobstein leads lab and field sessions using the Flora of Virginia, recognizing plant families, and more. Bring lunch, a 10x ocular, and the Flora book if you can, and dress for the weather. Register at www.blandy.virginia.edu or call 540-837-1758, ext. 224.
19 Community Easter Egg Hunt
Historic Long Branch, 830 Long Branch Lane, Millwood. Noon–3pm. Free. Hop on down for the Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt! Egg hunts, prizes, hayrides, face painting, local barbecue, gardens, museum exhibits, and more. Rain or shine.
19 Junk Food Frenzy at Veramar
Veramar Vineyard, 905 Quarry Rd., Berryville. Noon–5pm. $15 per person for food & glass of wine. Welcome spring with junk food, wine, and a game of corn hole! Reservations required. Call 540-955-5510 or visit www.veramar.com.
21 Watercolor Class
Opus Oaks Studio East, 109 First Street, Berryville. Ages 12+ $85. Six classes on Mondays 10–12 or Thursdays 7–9pm. Bring your own materials or pay $50 for a beginner set. Color mixing, composition, layering color, brush techniques, and washes will be introduced by instructor Gale Bowman-Harlow. For more information and to register, contact www.opusoaks.org or call 540-955-4226.
21 Therapeutic Riding Begins
Spring Season Opens at Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship. 420 Russell Road, Berryville. BRCTH has openings for new students for an 8-week spring session beginning April 21. Serving adults and children from age 5. Lessons include grooming, horse handling and knowledge, and mounted activities. For registration and information, call Margie Youngs at 540-533-2777 or email brcthinc@hotmail.com.
22 Earth Day Tours of Arboretum
Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce. 10am–noon. Free, reservations required. Offered in both English and Espanol. See glorious displays of spring’s flowering trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Co-hosted by Winchester Parks & Rec. Register at www.blandy.virginia.edu or call 540-837-1758, ext. 224.
22 Legendary Jazz Bassist Eddie Gomez
Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun St., Winchester. 8pm. $25 for adults, $10 for students. Two-time Grammy Award winner Eddie Gomez has been on the cutting edge of music for over four decades, playing with jazz giants such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, and Benny Goodman. He is joined by pianist Stefan Karlsson and drummer Jimmy Cobb to create jazzy, classical, and contemporary music. Get tickets at www.brightboxtheater.com.
23 Fused Glass
Opus Oaks Studio East, 190 First Street, Berryville. Ages 13+. $125. Six classes. Experienced or prior students welcome. Fusing glass in a kiln creates wonderful 2D and 3D art pieces with luminous colors, decorations, and shapes. Led by instructor Gail Gramprie. For more information and to register, contact www.opusoaks.org or call 540-955-4226.
25 Barns Youth Night with The Mailmen
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. Doors open at 7, show at 7:30. Teens-$8 in advance, $10 at door. Adults-$10 in advance, $12 at door. The Mailmen produce a unique rush of funk, pop, and alt rock with Tyler Adams on guitar/vocals, Dan Williams on drums, and Seth German on bass. Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
26 Comedy Night with Chris Monty and Jim Gallagher
Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun St., Winchester. 7:30pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. Kaleidoscope Comedy presents two shows in one night: New York-based comedian Chris Monty is also an actor, writer, and radio host who plays all around the country. Jim Gallagher has been performing in top comedy clubs for years, as well as acting and directing. Hosted by Irwin Loring. Get tickets at www.brightboxtheater.com
26 & 27 Historic Garden Week Tour in Clarke County
Headquarters at Historic Long Branch with tours of four gardens and homes near Millwood and White Post. Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Advance tickets $25, day of tour $30, single site $15. Credit card sales available at Long Branch day of. Contact tour chairman Terry Chandler at 540-837-2465 or visit www.vagardenweek.org.
26 Spring Art at the Mill Show
Running daily through May 11 at the Burwell Morgan Mill, Millwood. Sunday–Fridays, noon–5pm, Saturdays 10–5. $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students free. The Clarke County Historical Association hosts one of the premier art shows in the region, offering over 1,500 pieces of painting, sculpture, wood, glass, and pottery, as well as artist demonstrations. Proceeds benefit the CCHA. For more info, visit www.clarkehistory.org or call 540-955-2600.
26 Immersion into Sequential Art
Opus Oaks Studio East, 190 First Street, Berryville. Ages 11+. $85 + $10 materials fee. Six classes. An exploration into the work of comics and fantasy stories, this class takes a look at the history and trends while asking “What story will we tell today?” Each person will create a story board and work on illustrations, layout, logos, characters, and color. Led by instructor Eric Cherry. For more information and to register, contact www.opusoaks.org or call 540-955-4226.
26 Ladies Night at Veramar: Line Dancing
Veramar Vineyard, 905 Quarry Rd., Berryville. 7pm–9pm. $25 per person includes dancing paired with wine and light appetizers. Leave the men at home and gather your girlfriends for a night of dance instruction and libations. Reservations required. Visit www.veramar.com or call 540-955-5510 for more info.
27 Muscle Shoals movie at the Barns
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. Doors open at 2:30, show at 3pm. Presented in cooperation with Magic Lantern Theater, this documentary celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such as “I’ll Take You There,” “Brown Sugar,” and “When A Man Loves A Woman.” Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
May
2 Aberdeen Green
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 8pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door. Native Clarke County girl Amanda Mackintosh and her Shenandoah Valley friend Carley Chilton, both now of Nashville, bring their music, gorgeousness, and fine pipes to the stage to present their Appalachian, Americana-inspired songs influenced by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Patty Griffin, Keb Mo, Allison Kraus, and Bonnie Raitt. Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
2 River Days Spring Fest at Sleepy Creek
Running through May 4 at Sleepy Creek Campground, Berkeley Springs, WV. Tickets $35–$50. Come down to the Potomac River to enjoy music from Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Hackensaw Boys, Grand Old Ditch, Bumper Jackson, Freedom Enterprise, Mama Corn, and more; arts & crafts vendors; puppets; boat rentals; food & beverage available on site. Visit sleepycreek.wix.com/campground for more info and tickets.
3 The Plank Stompers
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 7:30pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. This 4-piece band melds old time soul and bluegrass with futuristic funk, encouraging audiences to sing, dance, clap, and get down. Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-200
4 All-Star Tribute to Patsy Cline
Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun St., Winchester. 4pm. $15 advance, $10 at door. Join an all-star lineup of musicians featuring Melissa Wright, Daniel Zezeski, Dwayne Brooke, Rudy Bzdyk, and John Miller to celebrate the extraordinary music of local legend Patsy Cline. Get tickets at www.brightboxtheater.com
9 Critters
Fire House Gallery, 23 E. Main St., Berryville. Opening reception May 9 from 6–8pm. Exhibit runs through May 31. Whether it’s a cat or canary, horse or hound, Clarke County residents love their animals! Show-goers will see animals rendered on pottery, glass, and fiber, as well as paintings and wood. They’ll also have a chance to have their pet immortalized by artists specializing in animal portraiture. Visit www.firehousegalleryandshop.org for more info.
9 Bumper Jacksons Album Release Party w/ The Green Boys
Bright Box Theater, 15 N. Loudoun St., Winchester. 8pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. Album release of Bumper Jacksons’ “Sweet Mama, Sweet Daddy, Come In.” Hot and sweet, this band’s traditional jazz and pre-war country repertoire paints America’s story, from New Orleans brothels to Appalachian hollers. Performed by a sextet wielding washboard/clarinet, guitar, bass, trombone, pedal steel, and “The Suitcase” percussion set. The Green Boys, a 4-piece band from Richmond opens the show with their lively mix of bluegrass, folk and honky-tonk. Get tickets at www.brightboxtheater.com
10 Illusionist Mario Orsini
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 3pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. Based in Washington, DC, Mario has become one of the most in-demand magicians on the east coast. “Witness the Impossible!” Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
16 DG Cooley Elementary Spring Carnival
34 Westwood Road, Berryville. 4-8pm. Bring the kids and celebrate spring with an exhaustive list of games, contests, and fun. Football toss, Angry Birds slingshot, face painting, bounce house with slide, obstacle course, magician, silent auction, photo booth, and much more. Activities cost one or two tickets and tickets are $1 each, $10 for 12, or $20 for 25.
18 Storytelling & Song with Ken Wade
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 3pm. $15 advance, $20 at door. New York-based artist, storyteller, and songster Ken Wade brings his stories, guitar, and songs for an authentic and engaging afternoon of entertainment. Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
22 Clark Hansbarger – Dream of a Good Death: New Songs of the Old War
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 7:30pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. Local favorite musician (and former teacher) Clark Hansbarger takes us on a historical journey through the Civil War with stories and original songs. This show marks the release of his new album, “Dream of a Good Death,” a folk opera of sorts inspired by Drew Gilpin Faust’s book The Republic of Suffering. Performing with Clark will be a group of fine area musicians including Allen Kitselman, Gary McGraw, Mike Jewell, Rob Remington, John Friant, Joe Faber, and Kara Hansbarger. Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
24 The Flaming Shillelaghs
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. 8pm. $12 advance, $15 at door. The Flaming Shillelaghs are Jesse Winch on guitar, bodhran, and harmonica, Joe DeZarn on fiddle, Tina Eck on flute and whistles, and Melissa Dunning on vocals, bringing traditional Irish dance music, haunting ballads, and infectious humor to audiences for over 30 years. Get tickets and info at www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
24 Bring Your Pet to Long Branch Day
Historic Long Branch, 830 Long Branch Lane, Millwood. Noon to 3pm. $5 per person. Celebrate National Pet Month by bringing your pet out for special activities including pet photographs with an historical interpreter, paw prints and ornament activities, and a lecture from executive director Nicholas Redding about the role pets played during the Civil War. Local organizations attending will be the Clarke County Animal Shelter, Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, homemade animal treats from Scout’s Buffet, and vendors. Call 540-837-1856 or visit www.visitlongbranch.org for more info.
Current & Ongoing
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 April 28 and May 19.
A wide variety of classes and activities is offered through Clarke County Parks and Recreation. See complete schedule at www.clarkecounty.gov/parks.
Opus Oaks offers several upcoming classes, workshops, and specialty summer camps for all ages in painting, drawing, stained glass, jewelry design, photography, sculpture, and more. See complete schedule at www.opusoaks.org.
