On the Market.

All along Market Street merchants have decorated pots provided by Downtown Roanoke Inc. with fresh flowers and plants as part of the effort to clean up Downtown Roanoke. Everyone who participates is being judged to see who has the best pot. This pot, created by Pauline of Shades of Color, is my favorite.

There’s more than one type of hot dog to be found on the Roanoke City Market. Vendors and visitors to the Market enjoy all the friendly fur balls that come down for a stroll.

Barry of Sumdat Farm Market bundles this season’s first crop of homegrown asparagus he has for sale. Try cooking up some Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter or Asparagus-Turkey Wraps with Roasted-Pepper Mayonnaise.

Linda Jo brought out a variety of her paintings she has for sale. Painted on wood, this work features two wolves howling at the moon.

You could also buy cheese this Saturday from a brand new vendor, Mountain View Farm Products. They sell their own farm fresh eggs, beef, and cheese. Their Farmstead Cheese was available in colby, white cheddar, swiss, gouda, jack, and a spicy jack. The cheese is excellent. After a tasting I walked away with three different types. You can contact them by phone at (540) 460-4161 or by email at drnkmlk2@yahoo.com. The company is located in Fairfield, VA.

Additionally, Sandy River Pork will have brats back in stock this coming Saturday.

Following are a few upcoming events in the downtown Roanoke area.

Emerging Artists Opening Reception for Cricket Powell and Jason Ring

Thursday, May 1, 2008
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Roanoke Main Library
706 S. Jefferson St

Come enjoy the opening reception for this new EMERGING ARTISTS event:

Cricket Powell/photographer fabuloso
http://www.flickr.com/cricketpowell

Jason Ring/country blues maestro
http://www.myspace.com/jasonringlive
http://jasonringlive.com/

Food/Tong’s Thai Restaurant

everyone welcome/no charge for anyone/food

First Fridays at Five

Friday, May 2nd, 2008
5:30pm - 8:30pm
Rail Side Amphitheatre
Band: The Worx
http://www.firstfridaysroanoke.com

Community School’s 28th Annual Strawberry Festival

Friday, May 2nd - Saturday May 3rd, 2008
10:30am - 5:30pm
Elmwood Park
http://www.communityschool.net/strawberry.html

Free Friday at the Center in the Square

Friday, May 9th, 2008
12:00pm - 5:00 pm - Free Admission to the Art Museum of Western Virginia (540) 342-5760
1:00pm - 4:00pm – Free Admission to the History Museum of Western Virginia (540) 342-5770
12:00pm - 6:00pm – Free Admission to the Science Museum of Western Virginia (540) 342-5710

Clean Commute Day

Friday, May 16, 2008
7:00am - 9:30am
Virginia Museum of Transportation

Take the Clean Commute Pledge at ridesolutions.org/cleancommute!

Do your part to improve the region’s air by taking the pledge to Commute Clean on May 16! Complete the online pledge to use alternative transportation - biking, walking, carpooling or public transit - and be eligible for great prizes!

Don’t go it alone - encourage your friends, family and coworkers to take the pledge. Even if they don’t live in Roanoke or New River Valleys - heck, even if they don’t live in the US! - everyone can play a part in reducing fuel consumption, air pollution, and greenhouse gases. Help make Roanoke a leader in going Green!

This year, we are incorporating National Bike to Work Day into Clean Commute Day with a series of six bicycle commute routes, all ending at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Pick a route from the Clean Commute Day website and join your fellow bike commuters at our VMT Hospitality tent for refreshments and a chance to upgrade your ride with a drawing for a new Giant Boulder mountain bike!

Visit the website at www.ridesolutions.org for complete event information.

Pamela Jean Gallery Show - Art of Juan Astianax from Mexico

Friday, May 16th, 2008
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Pamela Jean Gallery
115 Salem Ave. SE

There will be Free Parking in the parking lot next to the gallery from 5 to 8 only. View examples of Juan’s work on Facebook.

Local Colors Festival

Saturday, May 17th, 2008
Elmwood Park
http://www.localcolors.org