I bought my first ever issue of The Roanoker magazine last week.

Oh, I’ve seen it up on the shelves before, I just always ended up walking out of the bookstore with some business/finance magazine if not empty-handed.

But, this particular time I was hooked by the cover photo, which is the welcoming and well-recognized lighted sign for H & C Coffee. And I decided that $3.50 was a worthwhile investment to make in our bi-monthly area magazine.

The publication covers a range of things in and around Roanoke from dining, to lifestyle, to arts and entertainment.

Some of my favorite articles from the current issue are: “Best of Roanoke” where the votes are in and awards handed out for the top in such categories as Fishing Spot, Music Radio Station, and Most Accurate Weather Forecast.

Many of the winners and finalists made perfect sense, while a few others left me scratching my head.

There’s also another article about Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and its Director David Wiley. And the story of how one woman named Wendy Blair turned a home in Old Southwest into a Bed & Breakfast.

All in all great local reading, and I’m already looking forward to the next issue!

Noke News explores parts of Roanoke by foot, equipped with a camera and a notepad, in hopes of learning something new. Perhaps you will too.

When it comes to the Downtown Roanoke area one of the most recognized buildings, if not the most recognized, is the Wachovia Tower.

The building is tall and stately, and easily seen when approaching downtown from almost any direction, or simply passing by on Route 220/I-581.

Yet, beyond it just existing as a tall building, I think it’s purpose may help to bring close to home a humbling aspect of Roanoke.

The Approach

I came in from the West direction traveling via Salem Avenue, parallel parked across the street from Warehouse Row, and covered the rest of the distance on foot.

Late day sunshine causes the Tower to give off a faint glow at this distance.

Ground Level

Standing on the sidewalk and looking up at this building leaves me in awe, and l feel a sense of being swallowed whole in its presence.

But, I welcome the feeling.

It reminds me that Roanoke, for its size, does have at the very least a modest and sustainable downtown atmosphere. We do have a downtown.

Eye Level

After walking a short distance, over to the Shenandoah Avenue entrance of the Hotel Roanoke, I gain a little better footing to view.

The Tower’s dominance in height is clear in comparison to other nearby buildings.

But the, the tables are set to turn a bit.

From the Top

The view seen on an overlook at Mill Mountain causes a change in roles completely, with myself being the thing that is looked up to from below.

And Roanoke, with its natural landscape, permits this entire circle of experiences to take place.

From city to country, bottom to top, and back, in mere minutes.

Now, that’s pretty cool.

As for the Wachovia Tower itself, I know it hardly holds a candle to some of the skyscrapers in New York, Chicago, or even Richmond.

But, to me and to Roanoke it’s just the right size I think.

A month has already gone by since I last updated the new housing developments at both Maple Leaf Farms and Madison Field. So, I recently set out to grab a couple photos of the construction sites and pass along some general information about the projects as part of the Update 30.

Maple Leaf Farms

Maple Leaf Farms seen along Grandin Road Ext is quickly nearing completion on its second home. This is only the second of some two dozen total lots the area has available for building homes, according to sign at the site.

Construction at Maple Leaf Farms (5/17/08)

And, according to an online listing, houses in this new subdivision will carry a price tag of upwards to $700k. This I would say is far greater a price than other typical homes in the immediate neighboring areas.

Madison Field

Last month, Madison Field was looking for its first home buyer and now appears to have found one. The real estate sign in the front lawn of the newly constructed house proclaims “Under Contract” at the bottom.

Construction at Madison Field, Realtor Sign for Future Building Site in Foreground. Photo taken from a Sidewalk on Overland Road. (5/18/08)

Some homes at this development are priced at close to $400k.

Subsequent to this first house securing a contract, other signs have popped up around at the other open building lots. In total, several more lots are available in this area, as suggested by a sign on the site.

More updates next month.

What a difference a little over a month makes here in the Valley.

Back in early April most of the trees in our area were still bare and more closely resembled a scene from late Fall. But, now all of those tens of thousands (millions?) of branches and even the tiny twigs have sprouted new, green growth for the season.

Beautiful Mill Mountain as Seen from the Elm Avenue Intersection with Route 220/I-581 (5-18-08)

Regardless of the size and the irregularity, each and every new leaf has a part and a place in providing shelter for wildlife, shade for us, and natural decoration for all.

As for me, marveling in such simple pleasures, if nothing else, helps to keep me sane among the pressures and deadlines of life.

Noke News explores parts of Roanoke by foot, equipped with a camera and a notepad, in hopes of learning something new. Perhaps you will too.

Into the early evening hours this past Saturday, I went downtown to visit a unique sitting area that’s actually nestled in-between a couple buildings. The plaza is just around the corner from the City Market, and I imagine it’s a very popular spot for nearby workers to come out to and have lunch.

Century Park Plaza (or Century Square as it’s called by a plaque) is most easily seen and reached via Church Avenue, directly across the street from the #1 Fire Station.

However, Kirk Avenue borders on the other side of the park and, if you’re already on-foot downtown, this is the official entrance I’d recommend.

And that’s where we’ll begin, let’s explore:

Just to the right of the plaque, a stairway made of bricks leads the way up to the plaza. At the top of the stairs, and on both sides, are small, narrow bodies of water built into the brick walls.

And sprouting up from within the water are mini fountains, each rising to its own unique height. The soft rippling and splashing of water echoes gently against the surrounding buildings.

Main Entrance to Century Park Plaza, as Seen from Kirk Avenue

Throughout the area are a number of tables with chairs, and benches for sitting, eating, or just gathering. Open spaces in the brick flooring allow for trees to grow and provide shade and cover overhead.

View Into the Heart of Century Park Plaza

As I walked further into the plaza, all other sounds were increasingly replaced by the lively chirping of birds from above. And though it was vacant now, I could tell the park offered plenty in the way of leftover food scraps for these friendly, flying inhabitants.

There are also a series of sculptured columns to the left and right as seen when walking down through the middle of the plaza.

Each one is decorated and colored in various ways symbolic of the culture it represents.

The sculpture for Roanoke (pictured to the left) is complete with a star carved on the top.

A larger, framed marker on the wall mentions that these sculptures are part of the Roanoke Valley Sister Cities network, which is part of Sister Cities International.

Briefly from the organization’s website:

Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities. We strive to build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development.

And Roanoke is a part of the global organization. The columns at Century Park Plaza are physical representations of those other cities which are partners with Roanoke in the program.

The City of Roanoke provides pictures of all of the columns on its website.

The other side of the plaza is bordered by Church Avenue. And I stood there on the sidewalk and watched about a half-dozen cars drive past, as I jotted down some final thoughts on this experience.

While writing I couldn’t help but wonder how many of the passerby’s may not have been aware of this distinctive little spot, which isn’t too far off the beaten path at all.

Century Park Plaza, Church Avenue Running Right to Left in the Foreground

This week until now has been a bit cooler than normal during the overnight and early morning hours in Roanoke. Well, of course not so cold as to leave frost on my car windshield or anything of that order, just has been slightly out of the comfort zone for this time of the year.

But, I expect that we’ll make up for it in the coming weeks and months like we always seem to do. The wait for summer with full-time warmth and sunshine is getting less and less everyday.

In fact, as I write this after having just been outside, it’s a much milder morning already.

Now, for some other recent posts of interest from neighboring blogs.

This Is Country (May 6, 2008). Roanoke RnR writes about the idea that this city and area can be (and usually is) considered very much country at heart. (@ Roanoke RnR)

A Saturday Market (May 7, 2008). Rebecca again provides some still-frames from a previous day’s experience on the City Market, where she sells her own homemade soaps. After viewing this post I could almost hear the sounds of downtown myself. (@ On the Market)

A Sunrise from Another Day (May 11, 2008). David writes about the recent temperatures here in Roanoke. And he mentions that even though we may have experienced some cooler Spring mornings than we’d like the past several days, there are certainly even less appealing alternatives. (@ View from the Mountain)

Noke Novelties are interesting aspects, picturesque moments, and other quaint nuances of or about the Roanoke area.

When traveling south on I-581, there are a couple exits you could take in order to reach the downtown Roanoke area. One of them is Exit #5, typically referred to as the Hotel Roanoke exit. Because either the left or right lane on the ramp can take you to the main entrance to Roanoke’s historic hotel.

However, the left lane route offers a bit more scenery.

Going this way merges to Williamson Road, and it’s right here that you can see a fountain off in the near distance. Especially for tourists or other first-time visitors, it’s the first notable thing seen as you approach downtown from this direction. Moving closer brings into better view the upper sections of two of the more promiment buildings, the Hotel Roanoke and Wachovia Tower, which reside off in the background.

Welcome to downtown Roanoke.

The Fountain as Seen from a Sidewalk along Williamson Road, Near the Entrance to the Hotel Roanoke

Around the perimeter of the fountain is a basin comprised of a circular array of irregular stone flooring. The entire area is open and easily accessible via connecting sidewalks.

I know it’s just a fountain. But, I think it’s the relatively simple things like this that spruce up what could otherwise be just a plain patch of grassland.

I recently added the NewVa logo to the sidebar here at Noke News, and I wanted to take a moment and briefly explain the whys and whats behind the addition.

From the NewVa website:

NewVa is the brand and visual identity for the region of western Virginia that encompasses the Alleghany Highlands, the Roanoke Valley, and the New River Valley.

I see it as a way to unite Roanoke and neighboring cities, towns, and counties, and overall help to promote those things we all enjoy or want to see in our adjoining communities.

In addition to the website, there’s also a publication produced and distributed which more or less acts as a welcome guide to much of the Roanoke area.

The magazine touches on many things ranging from the climate we experience, to education, economy, and the culture of Roanoke.

Neat stuff to read, even when being a lifelong resident. Some of the information I already knew and some I forgot I knew (such as wireless internet being available in parts of the downtown area) and was thankful for the reminder.

Even taking into consideration my college days at Radford University, I’ve never lived outside of the NewVa region in my entire life.

While some of my highschool classmates were anxious to leave the area in search of bigger and better things, that bug just never bit me. Today, I live minutes from the hospital where I was born and merely across town from the house where I spent my childhood and teenage years.

And, certainly by choice rather than circumstance, I’d prefer things no other way.