Destination Bedford

Knitwits: Beginner Knitting Class
2019-02-19 18:00 - 19:30, 2019-02-26 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | VA
We will learn the basics of knitting and make a cozy pair of slippers. Once you learn to to cast on, knit and purl, there is no end to what you can make!
Instructor: Suzanne Warner, a retired middle school teacher in Bedford. “I have been knitting since around age 10. Knitting helps me relax and deal with a crazy world!”
Kids 10+ welcome when accompanied by an adult
Registration is required

5th Annual Edna Curry/John Bower Exhibition
2019-02-20 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-21 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-22 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-23 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-24 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-25 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-27 11:00 - 16:00 and 3 more dates | VA
Annual judged non-theme exhibition to honor Bower Center’s primary benefactors, Edna Curry and John Bower
Gallery admission is always free during open hours-
Tues-Sat, 11am-4pm
Entry deadline for artists: January 19th
5 Judges: Artists in the Blue Tablecloth Society
The Blue Tablecloth Society was originated by the well-known Virginia artist Ron Boehmer and functions as a critique instrument and professional barometer for its membership, which is limited to five. The goal is to examine work, learn from each piece, and each other. We discuss our motivations, goals, and problems as they relate to us specifically, and art culture today.
Director: Ron Boehmer: www.ronboehmer.com
Current members:
Deliece Blanchard: https://delieceblanchard.com
David Eakin: www.davideakin.com
Cheryl Hawkins: www.artboxvirginia.com/art-on-12th/html
Kaye Lipscomb: https://kayelipscomb.com
Nancy McDearmon: www.nancymcdearmon.com

Hiroya Tsukamoto Concert
2019-02-23 07:30 - 21:30 | VA
One-of-a-kind Internationally-Acclaimed Guitarist Offering Workshop and Concert at Bower Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 23
Japanese guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto takes the Bower Center stage for the second time, kicking off the center’s Concert Series, on February 23, 2019 at 7:30pm. Concert-goers in 2018 were blown away by Hiroya’s eclectic and immersive performance. His musical style is best described as “Cinematic Guitar Poetry” and its depth and intricacy captures the audience from the first chord, taking them on a journey through Hiroya’s unique compositions.
Guitarists can learn from Hiroya the afternoon of February 23 in his workshop, focusing on fingerstyle guitar, song structure, and composition for a live setting. A basic knowledge of chords is recommended-the workshop is intermediate-level. Space is limited: use coupon code “guitar” at checkout to save $5.
Hiroya’s music can be found on YouTube, Spotify, and hiroyatsukamoto.com
Hiroya is a one-of-a-kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up the guitar shortly after.
In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. He formed his own group in Boston “INTEROCEANICO (inter-oceanic)” which consists of unique musicians from different continents including Latin Grammy Colombian singer Marta Gomez. The group released three acclaimed records (“The Other Side of the World”, “Confluencia” and “Where the River Shines”). Hiroya has released three solo albums (“Solo”, “Heartland” and “Places”).
Hiroya has been leading concerts internationally including several appearances at Blue Note in New York City with his group and Japanese National Television(NHK). In 2018, Hiroya won 2nd place in International Finger Style Guitar Championship.

“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” -Jazz Review.com
“HiroyaTsukamoto plays with fluid mastery, pristine tone, and great
warmth. ”
-Celine Keating (author / Acoustic Guitar Magazine / minor7th)
“HiroyaTsukamoto takes us to an impressionistic journey ” -Boston Herald

Workshop: February 23, 2019
2-3:30pm
$30 – save $5 with code “guitar” at checkout
register at bowercenter.org
Concert: February 23, 2019
Doors open 7pm, concert starts at 7:30
Tickets: $15 at the door and at bowercenter.org
Cash Bar
Bower Center for the Arts
305 N. Bridge St. Bedford, VA 24523
540-586-4235
www.bowercenter.org

Forest Farmers Market
2019-02-23 08:00 - 12:00, 2019-03-02 08:00 - 12:00 | Forest Farmers Market, 15583 Forest Road, Forest, VA, 24523, United States
Virginia Grown Produce, meats, honey, flowers along with breads for locals to enjoy. The market is open the last week in April until the last week in Oct. Please come and enjoy the local food from our area.

Winter Weekends at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest
2019-02-23 10:00 - 16:00, 2019-02-24 10:00 - 16:00, 2019-03-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Spend time as Jefferson did—in the home designed as his personal retreat. Read and relax in a historic setting, enjoy complimentary coffee and tea, explore our grounds or engage with special exhibits and vignettes. And on Saturdays, join us for gallery talks led by experts on subjects related to Jefferson’s time, including the eventful year of 1819.
A LOOK AT THE YEAR 1819
A momentous year, 1819 was fraught with peril: a financial panic gripped the nation—and Jefferson himself; an epidemic ravaged the enslaved community; and the debate on what would become the Missouri Compromise began. Small exhibits, vignettes and gallery talks will be presented throughout the house to tell true stories of the time culled from Jefferson’s letters and journals.
PARLOR TALKS SCHEDULE
Join us in the Parlor of Jefferson’s retreat home (or in the Kitchen as noted) on Saturdays for our 2019 Parlor Talks series. Each talk is given by a Poplar Forest expert on a specific topic about Jefferson and his time. All talks are included with admission.
SICKNESS, DROUGHT, DEBT, DEPRESSION AND DISUNION: JEFFERSON’S TRIALS IN 1819
Saturday, January 19 at 1 p.m.
Always philosophical, Jefferson’s optimism was put to the test in 1819, a year with widespread illness, drought, family strife and crumbling finances in his midst, and unmistakably ominous clouds of national disunion on the horizon. How is it that Jefferson did not become paralyzed by despair? As we enter into the bicentennial of this unsettled year, come hear exactly what happened during 1819. Presented by Wayne Gannaway, Director of Programs, Marketing and Grants for Poplar Forest.
RESTORING JEFFERSON’S CARRIAGE TURNAROUND
Saturday, January 26 at 1 p.m.
Poplar Forest archaeologists have carefully excavated and studied evidence related to Jefferson’s carriage turnaround. Join Eric Proebsting, Ph.D., Director of Archaeology and Landscapes for a look at what they’ve discovered, and learn exciting details about its upcoming restoration, generously supported by the Garden Club of Virginia. When the restoration is complete in early 2019, the north side of Jefferson’s retreat will look as it did during Jefferson’s ownership for the first time in over 200 years.
JEFFERSON’S POPLAR FOREST NEIGHBORS
Saturday, February 2 at 1 p.m.
While Poplar Forest wasn’t envisioned as a grand home for many guests, Jefferson often invited neighbors to Poplar Forest to dine with him and his grandchildren and they would return the visits, as well. Join Gail Pond, Poplar Forest’s Collections Manager, for an introduction to Jefferson’s Poplar Forest neighbors and their relationships with Jefferson. Hear true stories about these first friends of Poplar Forest and what their visits were like.
POPLAR FOREST CRAFTSMEN
Saturday, February 9
Restoration craftsmen working in house throughout the day
Parlor talk at 1 p.m.
Constructing Jefferson’s architectural vision for Poplar Forest between 1806 and 1826 was no small task. Meet the free and enslaved craftsmen responsible for originally bringing that vision to life. Join Travis McDonald, Poplar Forest’s Director of Architectural Restoration, for an introduction to these craftsmen and their work; speak with one of the current craftsmen working on the Poplar Forest villa restoration; and watch him work, installing molding throughout the house.
JEFFERSON’S INDEBTEDNESS
Saturday, February 16 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Jefferson wisely warned his granddaughter Cornelia to “Never spend your money before you have it,” but, personally, had much difficulty following his own advice. Join Bill Skinner, a longtime tour docent at Poplar Forest, as he explores the debts Jefferson incurred throughout his adult life. The accumulation of significant debt was a lifelong struggle for Jefferson and a burden for his family after his death.
HEARTH COOKING IN THE KITCHEN—JEFFERSON’S COOKS
Saturday, February 23 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
What’s cooking in Jefferson’s kitchen? Join Mary Kesler, Coordinator of Themed Tours and Historical Information and Vince Fastabend, Architectural Restoration Supervisor, for an introduction to Jefferson’s enslaved cooks and a demonstration of the 19th-century hearth cooking techniques they employed.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILES IN THE LATE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURIES
Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m.
They say clothes make the man or women. Join Dr. Jennifer Ogborne, Poplar Forest’s Curator of Archaeological Collections, for a look at the clothing worn by men and women during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and the production of textiles by enslaved people at Poplar Forest. Observe as Dr. Ogborne demonstrates various sewing techniques throughout the day. Examples of reproduction clothing and artifacts from the collection representing the enslaved community and Jefferson’s family, will be on display.
HEARTH COOKING IN THE KITCHEN—JEFFERSON’S COOKS
Saturday, March 9 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Who’s cooking in Jefferson’s kitchen? Join Mary Kesler, Coordinator of Themed Tours and Historical Information and Vince Fastabend, Architectural Restoration Supervisor, for an introduction to Jefferson’s enslaved cooks and a demonstration of the 19th-century hearth cooking techniques they employed.
Admission to Winter Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.—last admittance at 3 p.m.) is $16 for adults; $14 for seniors (ages 65+) and military (must show ID); $8 for college students (must show ID) and teens (ages 12-18); $4 for youth (ages 6-11); and free for children under age 6 and Poplar Forest members.

Guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto Workshop
2019-02-23 14:00 - 15:30 | VA

Hiroyo Tsukamoto - Cinematic Guitar Poetry
2019-02-23 19:30 - 22:00 | VA
Eclectic, immersive and mesmerizing; International acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto takes us on an innovative, impressionistic journey filled with earthy, organic soundscapes that impart a mood of peace and tranquility.
Doors open at 7pm
Cash Bar
**Guitarists: Don’t miss Hiroya’s Workshop the afternoon of the concert! Info & Registration at: https://www.hisawyer.com/bower-center-for-the-arts/schedules/activity/718365**
Hiroya is a one-of-a-kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up the guitar shortly after.

Intro to Pottery & Ceramics
2019-02-26 10:00 - 12:00 | VA
Learn and explore the wonderful world of clay! In this class we will use techniques such as coil, pinch and slab to create decorative and functional ware.
Instruction will include treatment of clay in various stages of moisture, wedging, finishing techniques and glazing. There will be an introduction to wheel- throwing to form bowls, cups, bottles etc.
The Instructor is Kim Clarke. “When asked to describe her own work, Clarke already has a perfected artist statement ready to go.
“Tim Burton meets ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and explodes into Cirque du Soleil,” she says.
The description is fairly accurate among the bunnies, kings, queens and jesters. The only thing that doesn’t scream Lewis Carroll are her boats, in which figures and animals often sit — though she says she’s not sure why.
“Transportation’s kind of big for some reason,” says Clarke. “Cars, rockets.””
Notes:
• $20 materials fee due to instructor first day of class
6 sessions, Jan 22-Feb 26
Tuesdays, 10am-12pm

Intro to Mosaics with Dotti Stone
2019-02-26 13:30 - 16:00 | VA
Feel the excitement of learning a centuries-old art form… and prepare to be addicted!
Learn the basics of mosaic design, some of the different materials used, the tools used, how to cut glass and porcelain, and two direct methods of constructing a mosaic. Supply fee will cover the first two small projects.
Instructor: Dotti Stone
Dotti studied art at Richmond Professional Institute – ‘65, (now VCU), Richmond VA. Previously, a professional photographer and stained glass artist in Northern Virginia. Stone took up mosaics in 2004 while still in Northern VA. She relocated to Wirtz VA in 2007 and operated a home studio, Smith Mountain Lake Mosaics. She opened a studio in Bower Center for the Arts in 2009 and a year later moved to Bedford to be near the Center, the studio, and to be part of its growing arts community.
She has exhibited widely and in 2015, with several other mosaic artists, organized BRAMA (Blue Ridge Area Mosaic Artists). The group meets bimonthly, exhibits mosaics, and works on community mosaic projects. Stone creates fine art panels and sculptural works, and since 2009 has taught mosaics classes to adults, and to youth in Bower’s summer arts camp and after-school programs.
“Most rewarding is seeing what my students create, their excitement over the different materials and colors, learning various techniques and their applications, and developing an appreciation for mosaics. Mosaic art is one of the oldest art forms and creating and exhibiting them to inspire others to enjoy, appreciate, and learn about this versatile and tactile form of art is important and satisfying.” Dotti
Notes:
• $30 supply fee due to instructor first day of class
• Supply fee will cover your first two small projects
Jan. 22-Feb. 26 (no class 2/5)
Class times available: 1:30-4pm or 6-8:30pm
Students may come to whichever session best suits their schedules.

Heron Valley
2019-03-01 19:30 - 21:00 | Relaxing
Advance tickets may be purchased from Lynchburg Tickets! All tickets are $15. You must bring a paper receipt or evidence on your phone to gain admission. Doors open at 7 pm. With advanced ticket purchases, you are guaranteed a seat but for the best view come early.
The concert is held in the Bedford Room of Bedford Central Library. For more information, call 540-586-8911, or visit www.friendsofbedfordlibrary.org. Join us and bring a friend or two! To receive notifications of upcoming shows please join our email list, accessible through our web site. Help us build our mailing list by forwarding this email to your friends!
Heron Valley are an energetic, young traditional band from Scotland who have serious enthusiasm for the music they play. Their roots lie in Scottish and Irish traditional music, while taking influence from various Folk, Country and Bluegrass styles. The five-piece, energy fuelled group comprises piper/guitarist/whistle player Euan McNab, banjo player/drummer Nick Hamilton, pianist Arlene Mackechnie, guitarist/vocalist Abigail Pryde and bassist Callum Cronin.

Bedford Christmas Station Sale
2019-03-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Roanoke-Skyline-Night-2016
We’ve been very busy getting ready for our fundraising Station Sales which will run March 2 – Oct 5, 1st Saturdays each month, 9:00-1:00 & on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10:00-4:00. Our “new” adult clothing & shoes are priced at $7.50 each or 2 for $12! 100% of funds raised through these sales of the wonderful merchandise that is donated to us is used to purchase the new clothing, toys, teen, senior citizen & disabled adult gifts, household & personal care items and food that we purchase for our Christmas Selection eXpress clients to select from in December! We welcome you to stop by the remainder of Feb. on Tuesdays & Wednesdays to shop the new clothing & shoes, 10:00-2:00 & get a sneak peek at everything else!

Saturday Story Time
2019-03-02 11:00 - 12:00 | Bedford Public Library, 305 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Saturday Story Time @ Bedford Central Library
Join us on the 1st Saturday of every month at 11:00 AM (unless the library is closed) for a new program filled with fun stories, songs, crafts and more! For children ages 0-5.

Goats and Wine Encore
2019-03-02 12:00 - 14:00 | Seven Doors Winery, 5800 Johnson Mountain Road, Huddleston, 24104
Goat Snuggle and Wine Tasting is back! We had so much fun the last time and so many people interested and on our wait list, we’re having an encore event March 2 while these babies are still small enough to be cute and cuddly.
Yes, it’s basically where you come visit us, drink wine and pet baby goats. 🤗🐐❤🍷🍾
Limited to first 30 people, must purchase tickets by March 1. $25 per person, includes goat cuddling, tasting of 7 wines, glass of wine and light snacks. Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol.

Apocalypse Ale Works 6th Year Anniversary Party
2019-03-02 12:00 - 17:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Come celebrate our SIX years of business with us! Six special beers will be on tap as well as food from Fifth and Federal of Forest!
We couldn’t do this without you! Thank you for your continued support!

MTX # 4 Championship Finale!
2019-03-02 13:30 - 17:00 | Falling Creek Park, 1257 County Farm Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
We’ll keep your legs spinning with the Bedford Winter Mountain Cross Race Series. Come on out and join in on the racing, fun, food, prizes and friends! More good times coming with the Bedford Trails Winter Mountain Cross Race Series right around the corner. Get signed up today!

Nancy Fischer Reads from New Book at Goose Creek Studio
2019-03-02 14:30 - 17:00 | Goose Creek Studio Gallery, 302 Court Street, Bedford, VA, United States
Local writer Nancy Fischer will be reading from her new collection of essays and poems, “Words, Lovely Words,” at Goose Creek Studio on Saturday, March 2 at 2:30 pm. In this follow up to her successful debut, “Knobby Kneed Fences,” Fischer uses wit and humor to find profound depth and meaning in common, everyday life.

Goose Creek Studio Gallery and Custom Framing is located at 302 Court Street in Bedford. For more information, call (540) 586-8482 or see www.goosecreekstudio.com.
