Blacksburg Fork And Cork Festival is a great way to relax. enjoy great wine sampling and mingle…read morewith fellow students and local vendors. Besides stall most of the Virginia wineries and food stall local restaurants & bakeries other local craft vendors also participate to display their craft including but not limited to china, bags, jewelries, paintings etc. Both times I attended the fest, I volunteered for second shift which allowed me to attend the fest during first shift completely free of cost with unlimited wine tastings. The volunteer had to attend a meeting prior to the festival to know more about their duties. We got a packet containing T shirt, festival layout, managers info and free tasting glass. Tickets for the festival is usually 20$ for tasting On the day of the event, we showed up for first half, got out tasting bands and ready to roll. the atmosphere was very lively with giant steel man walking around, the belly dancing performance in the main arena, live band playing on the stage where you can do hula hoops, they even had cooking demonstrations every hour and you can taste the dish which was pretty neat and unique to this fest. I loved most of the fruity wines and Chardonnay. Overall good selection of wineries and you can definitely find the one that you will love. I also had fennel cake from the stall and it was yummy-liocious. there was chocolate store next to the fennel cake truck and we all know how perfect wine and chocolate pairing is. nibbling on chocolate covered strawberries while sipping the sangria was dreamy. I also bought a miniature barrel which was super cute and perfect art piece for rustic look that I am going for in interiors. They even had petting zoo which was neat addition for tension relief. I had immense fun and then we did second shift in assisting wineries with tasting and it was blast as I love interacting with people. All in all, its a must try to get the feel of culture, have fun while trying wines from all over the Virginia region.

I love a good wine festival, but this one was just so crowded, with not enough wineries. People…read morewere waiting at least half an hour in each line. Because there were only so many options. There also weren't too many food vendors. If it's called Fork & Cork, your ticket price should include light bites, not just wine tastings. Because you can't order a meal from every food vendor. But you certainly want to try them and learn about local businesses. Not worth going in my opinion, unless you opt for the VIP ticket to beat the crowds.

From the outside I never expected to see such an amazing variety of quality exhibits highlighting…read moreour nation's transportation history. Located in downtown Roanoke's historic freight station, The Virginia Museum of Transportation does a great job in preserving Virginia's transportation history with a major focus on rail, featuring iconic locomotives like the N&W Class J 611 and Class A 1218. It houses a vast collection of steam, diesel, and electronic locomotives, including famous Roanoke-built engines. The museum offers interactive family-friendly exhibits covering trains, automobiles, and aviation, featuring over 30 antique automobiles, aviation displays, an outside railyard with historical locomotives on the rail, and a U.S. Army Jupiter Rocket. In 2025 it also launched the Maritime Gallery, with the Naval History of Virginia, located on a second floor. There they also have an interesting exhibit of the Circus and America's Railroads. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its amazing exhibits. The museum also houses the Traveler's Treasures Gift Shop with lots of desired item for sale, such as pins, posters, apparel, wooden trains, hats, toys, books, and tumblers, among other items. These can be also purchased from their website vmt.org Free parking is available for guests immediately adjacent to the museum. Also, cross from the museum is located the award winning Valley Metro Third Street Station, providing convenient bus transportation. Admissions prices are reasonable at $14.77 for adults, and discounted to $12.66 for Youth (13-17), Seniors, and Students with ID (17-59). Children (3-12) pay $10.55, and 2 & under are Free. I highly recommend you visit this museum if you have not yet done so. It is definitely an enriching experience.

I was in Roanoke for work and work ended early for me and since it wasn't dinner time, I'd say to…read morestop at the Virginia museum of transportation. They have there planes, trains, and automobiles. Reminds me of a movie I once saw. The museum is very nice. They have a big area for trains lots of information about trains. They also have airplanes there. They have one hanging from the ceiling. They have a couple cars actually more than a couple cars. Some of them were very nice, but it's a good place to go for a couple hours and check it out.

Never actually been here for a movie but on Sunday morning it is Hope Chapel. Joe Volpi is an…read moreamazing pastor and continuously bringing a great message from God. The movie theater is beautiful old fashion. It has second level seating and the tickets are very cheap.

Seriously, what's not to love?…read more The Lyric isn't your top of the line theater where you see what just came out, but they have a good selection of movies, both indie, new (though it's released later) and classics. The inside of the theater is reminiscent of an old theater, with an old fashioned ticket booth, plenty of seating (there's balcony seating!) and a classic looking stage with a projector. It's really quite beautiful! The location makes it a prime place to go for a movie if you're in college, and the ticket prices are pretty reasonable! Even for a nighttime showing, it's only $5, and the concessions are just as cheap. The staff is extremely friendly, and they accept volunteers if you're looking for any volunteer work. Definitely a place to go, especially if you like seeing quirky movies. The only downfall is that it only shows one movie at a time, for one week each, unless there's a special showing. Harry Potter and the Princess Bride are coming up!

Is there anything to dislike about over 75+ pinball machines at one price as long as you like? Had…read morea ball for hours going from machine to machine that looked appealing. The one time admission for adults is $15. They offer senior discounts. The museum is on the second floor wgich is accessed by stairs, or elevator. Restrooms are on the first floor as well as a candy shop. I found all the machines that I played in good working order. Thankfully it was not too busy on a Saturday afternoon and had no wait for anything. I took a photo of everything I played, around fifteen pinball machines in around two hours and had a ball. Unfortunately my childhood machine "Time Warp" was not in their collection. A few favorites were Star Wars, Elton John, Mandalorian and Fun House which pastas there most popular. Easy recommendation and full 5 stars. My wrist got a workout, but was fun!

We had a great time playing pinball. Some of the older machines were better than the newer ones,…read morethough all of them were at least 30 years old. It was a bit surprising that they didn't have any historical information about the machines. The machines were in great working condition.

To be honest I was first attracted to this theatre by its modern, magestic architectural design of…read moreits building front. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants, businesses, and entertainment venues, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Westlake Cinema, located in Hardy, Virginia is a perfect example. Located in the right corner of the Westlake Town Center, Westlake Cinema is a four-plex movie theater featuring a total of four theater screens with varying seating capacity, all located on a ground floor. Two screens hold 128 seats each and two other hold 174 seats each, to give the venue a total of 604 seats. The theater features first-run movies, stadium seating in comfortable reclining seats, Dolby Digital Surround Sound, RealD 3D, optional hearing assistance headphones, free Wi-Fi, and a full service concession stand. I invite you to view my photographs and videos accompanying this review to get a better sense of the inside of the theater and its amenities. Previously having viewed its website and taken advantage of purchasing my ticket online for their Wed, June 10, 2026, 3:45PM showing of Masters of the Universe, I had received an email with a QR Code to conveniently check in after arriving to the theater. I figure I would arrive early to watch the previews, but when it was 3:29PM and the theater doors were still closed with no one to be seen, I began to be concerned, got out my cellphone and gave the theater a call. No one answered the call but almost right after the 7th ring I heard someone opening the theater's doors. Later I found out that their doors open at 3:30PM, only 15 minutes before the start of the movie and that the movie time is actually the time the previews start. That doesn't give guests much time to purchase snacks at the concession stand. Maybe that is why they have it that you can purchase these online as well and by showing the QR Code, they will only have to deliver the items. Like in many theaters now-a-days, the box office is obsolete. Your are directed to purchase your tickets at the concession stand. When I arrived there, four people were behind the counter: a young lady cashier, two young gentleman, and and a friendly older lady. All of them were eager to be of service and once other customers began to arrive and order, they all went to work, were very efficient, and even began to smile. I was still full from having had lunch at Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Grill, but had them scan my QR Code ticket and stayed close by observing how they handled the other few customers. They did a great job, working as a team, and you could tell they also enjoyed doing it. The screening room was modern and very clean, with nice lighting that made it very easy to walk to your chosen seat. The reclining seats were very comfortable, and the air-condition temperature was just right and very soothing. The screen view and the sound were perfect. Used to going to large cities movie theaters this was a unique, soothing, and wonderful movie theater experience, and I highly recommend the place. This community should be proud of having a theater like this one, run by such a nice group of individuals who work great as a team.

This is a great little movie theater. The staff and owners are nice. They are engaged in the…read morecommunity. They are trying to make it into a community center so we have even more entertainment options. The seats are comfortable. The prices are fair. For such a small area to have a theater is a great blessing. It is nice going to a place so close. Please support this business!

We love this place. It's such a great throwback to the good old days. My wife and I have gone to…read moremovies, concerts etc. The service is always great and a lot of fun. It beats the mega theaters. We attended the Rocky Horror Picture Show here also. It was a lot of fun. They had a theater group along with the movie. It's a cult classic. It's a can't miss if they have it this fall. The staff upbeat also. Very friendly.

This Historic and Non-profit theatre which opened its doors more than 90 years ago as a local icon…read morein Grandin Village, continues to be the center of attraction of this dynamic neighborhood in the City of Roanoke. Today I decided to go visit and experience first hand the magic behind this theatre that besides showing movies and holding special events, it has and will always be the heart of this community, and as I was able to see and experience for myself offers a unique movie going experience. When I first arrived, I was fascinated with the magnificent restoration of this Historic Art Deco Architectural building. Little did I know that I was about to experience one of the best movie going experiences of a lifetime. For I discovered that a local community movie theatre is more than just a place to go watch a movie and eat popcorn. It is a place to feel the pulse of fervent community in action. At the ticket booth I was greeted by a young lady and asked to go inside to purchase my ticket because her computer was not working as it should. So I proceeded to do so and walked over to the concession stand where a lady greeted me with a warm welcome and not only sold me the ticket but after I asked her about the theatre, she gave me a personal description of key points of its structure as well as other activities that took place here. Among other things she told me about the Art Gallery on the second floor, the different viewing rooms and the two owls located in the main one, and other events and activities that they have year round including the fundraisers. Also, tonight they were having the Rocky Horror Picture Show showcased by the Tolls of Madness Troupe from Virginia Tech. The cast will dress like the ionic characters and encourage audience participation through callback lilines aimed at the screen and throwing various props as called for by the film. Needless to say the two shows for tonight were sold out. What an exciting event here in this community movie theatre in the Star City of Roanoke! One could see the excitement and enthusiasm of all the theatre employees, from the ones behind the concession stand selling the popcorn to the ones finishing putting up some light up the stairs to the second floor as part of the Halloween decorations. Inside the main viewing room I was impressed with natural red brick walls and the two owls. The chairs even though they weren't as reclinable as some of the ones in new modern theatres, they made you feel at home, maybe because they reminded me of the many time I went to my hometown movie theatre before many of them have become extinct due to lack of creative management and competition from the big new modern ones. Last time I went to one of those the room temperature was so hot to the point of being uncomfortable. But here, in this cozy and warm not so little theatre, the air-condition worked just fine and contributed to the excellent movie watching experience. As I was leaving there was a crowd of people outside waiting to come in for the Rocky Horror Picture Show; and I thought to myself: Now I know and have experienced the magic behind the Grandin Theatre and wish everyone who reads my review can do the same.

During this wonderful time of the year, I enjoy going to uplifting places that put you in the mood…read moreto celebrate the Holiday Season. So this Wednesday, that is precisely what I did. After being awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants, businesses, and entertainment venues, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Mill Mountain Theatre, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located in the Center In The Square building, in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, Mill Mountain Theatre is a professional regional theater presenting musicals and plays year-round. It is the gem of the performing arts of the Star City of Roanoke. Ever since I was a kid and watched a Broadway Musical for the very first time at the young age of 12, in New York City, I was inspired by the acting, by the plot, and by the meaningfulness of the words of the songs. The musical was Pippin, with Pippin played by John Rubinstein, and featuring Ben Vereen as the leading player. Then while living in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, I had the privilege of enjoying one of my favorite musicals, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," with the main character Joseph, played by Donny Osmond, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. But even if this all sounds like a great experience, what is even greater is that I had the opportunity of visiting over 50 community theaters in New England while I was living there. From small theaters in farms where the seats were haystacks, to theaters in small towns in which the seats escalated upwards to be able to accommodate enough people to watch the show, to dinner theater where you were able to enjoy a meal in a cozy room with a stage, where the play was performed. Today, after having dinner at the Six and Sky Rooftop Grille, located in the same building as the Mill Mountain Theatre, I came down to the first floor to watch "A Christmas Story." As I arrived to the entrance of the theater, a very friendly and welcoming lady volunteer, scanned my front row, center ticket, and showed me to the entrance hall that led into the theater. Once there, another gentleman volunteer, took a look at my ticket and showed me the way to the front row seat. The stage was not the largest, but a perfect size to put on a great number of good plays. They did an excellent job building the set scenery with a nice collection of props. The actors did an almost flawless performance in which you were even able to see their character's personalities transformed into their own. It was a very impactful production. It effectively used humor to engage the audience while tackling the serious and important subject of bullying. This blend often helps make the serious messages more relatable and memorable. The intermission served as a time to relax and maybe visit the beautifully designed consecion stand for some refreshments. After the show, it was nice to find that a door led directly to the parking building where I had parked my Lexus. In conclusion, the Star City of Roanoke and its community is enriched by having this very unique little performing arts center. By bringing people together for shared learning and cultural experiences, this theater fosters social connections, community pride, and a greater sense of belonging.

We went to see the production Annie last night and it was an absolutely amazing performance. They…read morereally have a well-produced performance and the facility was great. My only complaint was the spacing between the rows of seating in which had there would have been anyone sitting in front of me they would have had my knees pushing against the back of their chair, making both of us uncomfortable. However, the performance and venue itself were 5 star all the way. It's an amazing theater organization offering acting classes and really have a great presence in the area. Last year they did a production at the Bent Mountain Center of James and the Giant Peach and it was a phenomenal production as well. Some of these actors and actresses were in Annie as well and it is great to see their growth since the last performance we saw them in. The acting and choreography was excellent and exceeded my expectations - the talent and ability of our hometown theatrical group here is amazing! We loved it! You have to check them out. They have a nice list of productions for 2025 which we plan on being regulars to support them. Such an enjoyable time! Please check them out!

Loved this place! It's a 15 per person flat rate to get in and everything is free play. Lots of…read moredifferent vintage arcade games to choose from. We spent a few hours here and had a great time.

It is always a great time to hang out with friends or family, amazing way to kill time or an…read moreafternoon.