I’ve been operating this blog since January 2008 (and updating a bit more consistently since March) but I’m not sure how long you may have been a reader.

So, I wanted to take a minute and revisit some of the more popular posts thus far (determined by page views) and I also threw in a couple of my personal favorites.  All in no particular order.

I hope you enjoy.

Exploring Roanoke - Views of the Wachovia Tower
Take a journey and see downtown Roanoke’s tallest building from the ground looking up, all the way to the mountain looking down.

Thelma’s Chicken-n-Waffles, Uniquely Delicious Combination
This is actually one of the top 3 visited posts on Noke News.

Exploring Roanoke - An Introduction to the Greenways
Have  you heard about or noticed signs for Greenways in our area? Read this post to learn a little bit about the basics of these roadways which are built for non-motorized traffic only.

The Open Windows Time of the Year
A tribute to the wonderfully seasonal temperature we as Roanokers experience, especially during Spring.

Exploring Roanoke - The Railwalk
Take a stroll along a neat exhibit downtown which sheds some light on Roanoke’s railroad heritage.

Views of Roanoke - Late Spring ‘08 Nature Edition
A few beautiful photos in and around Roanoke taken during this past Spring.

Little Fish in a Big Pond (or a Roanoker Visits Chicago)
If you’ve grown accustomed to the relatively laid back lifestyle that is Roanoke, and then taken a trip to a “big city” I think you may know what I mean.

Exploring Roanoke - The Roanoke River Greenway (Part 1)
One of the more well-known greenways in Roanoke, and for good reason. In a still ongoing series, I explore the entire nearly 6 miles of this one-of-a-kind pathway which runs along the Roanoke River.

A Final Visit to Steve’s Famous Hot Dogs
Just before it closed a few months ago, I stopped in one last time at Steve’s (which had been there for as far back as I could remember) for a hot dog combo.

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

Tucked away in-between a couple of relatively quiet neighborhoods, and still visible and easily accessed from I-581, is a higher education system I think Roanoke is fortunate to have in it’s backyard. 

And, we as residents are also equally fortunate I think. This is how the school helped me.

I actually went there, twice.

Originally, I attended VWCC after highschool and until transferring to Radford University. But, after I finished the B.S. degree (English major) at RU, I found myself working (and liking working) in a totally different field. So, I went back to school mostly in night classes and finished an A.A.S in Mechanical Engineering in 2006.

I even have the choice to continue education and obtain a 4-year degree in Engineering at Old Dominion University, but all on the campus of VWCC via distance learning.

That’s pretty neat.

Finding the time to do everything is a little more difficult!

What are your experiences attending VWCC?

1 - City, Country, or the Best of Both

Traveling from city to country, and back, can easily be done in just a couple hours. Stop at an overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway to have a picnic (even walk a few hundred yards further for more privacy) and come back to town for some shopping at Valley View Mall or to catch a new movie release.

2 - The Views

It seems that just about any outdoor (and many indoor looking out) spots around Roanoke offer some kind of view of the mountains. We can watch them change colors and become lively with the new season and all always occuring quietly in the distance.

3 - Traffic Takes on a New Definition

From having lived in Roanoke, my idea of even the worst kind of traffic just doesn’t hold a candle to an average day in a bigger city. I can drive home after work within about 10 minutes or so and even choose from multiple different routes, none of which require a speed above 35 mph.

What would you say is unique or special about Roanoke?

A few weeks ago, I saw a representative from a home security system company walking around in my neighborhood (Virginia Heights) in Southwest City. He told me that another residence a few houses down from me had been burglarized and that he was installing a new home security system for them.

He continued with a pitch for the product/service and after several moments I politely told him that I wasn’t interested. I’m not entirely convinced that a feeling of safety can be bought, but I do think the feeling can simply be a way of life.

He indirectly suggested that my mindset makes a little sense, at least up until the point your safety is jeopardized. Then what do I do?

I Feel Safe Living in This Area, Always Have

Occasionally when I get home in the evenings from work, and until dark, I leave my main front storm door unlocked and open. The outer sreen door is primarily made of glass and hardly poses much in the way of protection. But, my (indoor only) cat enjoys sitting by the door and taking a few peaks out into the big world.

More than one time I’ve even fallen asleep accidently with the doors open and unlocked, and the only disturbance I encountered was the next morning when my alarm clock went off.

And, during several weeks in the early Spring, I keep some windows in my house open all the time, including throughout the night, with only a weak window screen separating me from the outside.

Do I live in a bubble with unrealistic expectations that nothing bad will ever happen? I really don’t think so, because I am aware of the risks. I just live my life the best I know how.

Things do seem that simple to me.

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.

This is Part 6 in an Exploring Roanoke series that covers: the current (as of May, 2008) entire nearly 6 miles of the Roanoke River Greenway, Wasena Park, The Skate Park, Smith Park, Piedmont Park, and lots of scenery along the way.

(For a general introduction to the greenway system in Roanoke, you may want to first visit a previous post.)

Distance: approx. 1/4 mile

(The first 6 Parts of this series account for about 2 miles of the Roanoke River Greenway.)

At the end of Part 5, we had walked along the section of Wiley Drive to the point where it connects back with a main road, near Rivers Edge Park.

The Open Path

The first aspect that I noticed at this point was the feeling of openess and perhaps being slightly more vulnerable.

Vulnerable to what, really nothing at all. But until now, the majority of the pathway has had a great deal in the way of shady tree cover and I had just grown used to the sense of protection.

Herbert Davies Memorial Bridge (Pedestrian Bridge)

Greenway path leads straight ahead, entrance to the bridge is visible to the left

Along the way is a pedestrian bridge that connects the Roanoke River Greenway path to a playing field on the other side of the river.

The bridge is so named after a city council member from the 1950s, according to a marker that sits in front.

Just after walking by this bridge, the pathway now a regular sidewalk, the greenway continues. Not far ahead, and easily noticed with new pavement, the path deviates a little to the left.

Then, we pass under a train bridge and I believe also the bridge for Old Jefferson Street.

Note: This area has seen construction improvements since my visit. A wood, enclosed walkway system was built directly at the path and beneath these bridges.

An End?

Beyond these bridges, the entrance to Roanoke Memorial Hospital is in sight.

And there is another small bridge to cross which marks the end, at least of this section of the greenway. There is also enough room here to rest for a bit and also turn around for those riding bikes.

Looking back at the apparent end to the Roanoke River Greenway

But, it’s not the real end, as there is actually over 3 miles left of the greenway to walk, ride a bicyle, explore, and enjoy.

But, where to go? I’ll explain that, and and we’ll continue exploring next time.

Since I started this blog, I’ve been meaning to continually write basically mini reviews of some of our area magazines and literature soon after a new issue hits the newsstands.

In many respects, the writers of these publications voice opinions and insight on and about the Roanoke area much in the same way I attempt to do with Noke News.

City Magazine

From articles on dining to art to retail this monthly publication covers a wide variety of lifestyle and leisure topics pertaining to the greater Roanoke area.

And, it’s free, too.

There are metal stands with the magazine on multiple corners in and around downtown Roanoke, and I believe I’ve also seen the publication other areas, such as Montano’s International Gourmet restaurant on Franklin Road.

I’ll post when the next issue comes out (in about 2 weeks).

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

A few weeks ago, I proposed a question on Noke News as to the origin of a fountain that sits along Salem Avenue and at the intersection with Market Street.

I didn’t receive any responses to the question at the time, and until now have not been able to look into it and provide an answer on my own.

However, Tom Angleberger with The Roanoke Times provided an answer to the question in his latest (7/14/08) column titled “What’s On Your Mind?”

Here’s an excerpt:

Luckily, P.J. Grubb, a mechanical supervisor for Roanoke’s city government, was able to put it all together for us.

“As far back as I can remember the fountain was originally put in to water peoples’ horses while riding in downtown Roanoke some time back at the turn of the century,” he explained.

Officially, the fountain is still there for the police horses, but, with residential life growing downtown, it’s getting some new users.

“It seems that some of the people that live in various condos downtown also use the fountain to water their dogs while walking them.”

As a result of these findings, I’m happy to include this neat little historic piece on the list of Noke Novelties.

I’ve had a fascination with words for sometime. Word choices, meanings, and pronunciations and how they differ among people and locations.

And having grown up in Roanoke I seem to have developed a variation of my own in speaking certain words. Here are 3 examples of just what I’m talking about:

I write “wash” but say “warsh”

Now, I don’t know where the “r” comes from, I really don’t. But, in normal conversation, or when I forget to catch myself, that’s how I pronounce the word.

And the “r” of course carries to other terms such as when I say “Warshington, D.C.” And this can lead to a couple double takes when socializing with those who wonder if we’ve changed the name of our nation’s capital.

Route, is it “root” or “rout”?

In the Roanoke area, I often hear 2 distinct and different ways to say the word “route”. One way sounds the same as the part of a tree that grows underground, and the other way sounds the same as what happens when a sports team really clobbers it’s opponent.

Well, according to dictionary.com, both pronuniciations seem to be of equally acceptable use. I’ve always known the word to be said as “rout” (rhyming with “about”) and even at my relatively young age that habit doesn’t seem to have much hope in being broken.

Ya’ll come back now, ya hear?

Maybe it’s a combination of watching The Beverly Hillbillies and The Andy Griffith Show growing up that contributed to this one. But, I’m completely content with saying “ya’ll” as basically a contraction of “you all” and I use the word probably more than just occasionally.

I’ve also seen it written as “y’all” so there are even variations of the variation.

Roanoke may be much closer to New York (about 460 miles away) than say Baton Rouge (about 915 miles away) but in some distinct instances like these, I think I may have a bit more in common with some others who live in the Deep South, or perhaps somehow a mix of both areas?

Can anyone else relate or know of any other such unique pronunciations around Roanoke?