Be a pinball wizard in Roanoke, Virginia

Remember those hours spent bent across a pinball machine? Sure you do, and don’t tell your kids about it because they will remind you how you admonished them about video games.

New to Roanoke, Virginia, this week is the Roanoke Pinball Museum where visitors will be introduced to the history of pinball and the science behind the game, plus have an opportunity to appreciate the color, composition and overall design of the back glasses and playfields. The Roanoke Pinball Museum will be an interactive museum where patrons can play for one admission price on 46 machines that range from 1948 to today. General admission for the summer is $10 for individuals ages 9 and up with free admission for children ages 8 and younger (with accompanying adult 18 and up).

The grand opening of the museum will be from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, June 19, at the Center in the Square in Roanoke. The event includes multiple generations of Roanoke “gamers” and will include retro gaming (eight-bit games) on the large digital monitors inside Center’s atrium. Music for the event will be provided by deejays while Bastards of Fate will be preforming in Center’s atrium at 9 p.m. The event will also have food, drinks, vendors and a variety of impromptu performances.
        The atrium level activities at opening night are free to the public and admission to the Roanoke Pinball Museum is $10.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “ExploringCajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Steamy August is time for a "Beer-Cation"

            There are staycations (where you vacation close to home), fun-filled playcations and the old-fashioned vacation, defined by Webster as “a period of time that a person spends away from home, school, or business usually in order to relax or travel.”

            Well credit the South for coming up with “Beer-cation.”

            It’s the brainchild of the Virginia Blue Ridge region, famous for its delicious wine industry. Not to be outdone by the almighty grape, six participating breweries in the Roanoke area have created the Virginia Blue Ridge Beer Loop and are offering a “Hop on the Loop” sweepstakes this month in honor of Virginia Craft Beer Month.

            During August, craft beer enthusiasts who visit six participating breweries and have their card validated will be entered to win gift certificates and merchandise. Visitors that receive validation from all six breweries will be eligible for $150 in gift certificates to the participating breweries. For those who visit three or more locations from Aug. 1-31, there are more prizes to be won.

            Of course, you must be 21 or older to partake and/or win.
            Participating breweries in “Virginia’s Blue Ridge Beer Loop” are Big Lick Brewing Company, Callaway Brewing Company, Chaos Mountain Brewing, Flying Mouse Brewery, Parkway Brewing Company and Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers.

             A downloadable brochure with details about the sweepstakes and brewery information can be found here.

Hotel Roanoke offers sweet deal

            Roanoke is a sweet town nestled in the Virginia mountains, offering great museums, art galleries, dining opportunities and numerous hiking trails and wineries throughout the region.

            Here’s another sweet reason to visit. The historic Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center will welcome visitors with two signature chocolate chip cookies per person today in celebration of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. And you don’t even need a reservation to receive your cookies, although the hotel is a pretty special place to stay, a charming example of old-style hospitality with 331 guest rooms and 19 suites, walking trails and easy access to historic downtown streets.

Spoon bread and peanut soup

            The Hotel Roanoke is a DoubleTree by Hilton, a brand known for welcoming guests with warm chocolate chip cookies upon check-in. Today’s event is part of its global “Cookie Care” program, which launched this spring to celebrate the brand’s milestone of giving out more than 300 million cookies at check-in.

            The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is located at 110 Shenandoah Ave. in Roanoke. While you’re there, make sure to sample their famous peanut soup and spoon bread served in the hotel’s restaurants.
        For information on the hotel, call (540) 985-5900. For information on Cookie Care and to enter to win prizes, visit https://www.facebook.com/Doubletree/app_550598988381052.