Speaker Series: The History of Mac and Bob’s: What opened as a 10-stool “Sub Pub” in 1980 has expanded over time into a sprawling 330-seat, full service restaurant with an 80-tap bar and over 100 employees. Mac & Bob’s has grown, not only in size, but also in the hearts of the people of Salem. Bob Rotanz, the “Bob” in Mac and Bob’s, will share the restaurant’s incredible story. This talk is open to the public. The event, which is hosted by the Salem Museum, will be on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Book Talk: At Home with the Virginia Presidents: What do George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler and Zachary Taylor have in common? They were all born in Virginia–-making the Old Dominion the birthplace of more United States Presidents than any other state in the Union. On Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m., Heather Cole, author of “Virginia’s Presidents: A History and Guide” will present an engaging armchair travel talk about these eight Virginia-born presidents and the sites that shaped their lives. The trip will travel the state–from Staunton to Charles City and Wytheville to Winchester–to (virtually) visit the homes and historic sites of the Virginia presidents. Attendees will learn a bit about the presidents’ lives, take a peek inside their homes, and get ideas for their next history road trip. Cole will sign copies of her book after the talk. The program will take place at the Salem Museum, and is free and open to the public.
Theory of a Deadman and Skillet: The bands will perform at the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $40.50.
DMV2Go: DMV2Go will be at the Salem Civic Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 27.
Mannheim Steamroller: Chip Davis, founder and creator of Mannheim Steamroller, will celebrate over 35 Years of his annual Christmas concert tour during a Sunday, Dec. 3 performance at 7 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center. It is the longest running concert tour in the entertainment industry. Tickets can be found at the Salem Civic Center Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.com.
Simone Paterson — “ULTRAVIOLET, A Life of Purpose”: The exhibit runs through Dec. 3 from 1-4 p.m. in the Olin Hall Galleries. Over the past 30 years of practice-led research, Simone Paterson’s art has undergone significant transformations — from photographic self-portraits in Australia to abstracted landscapes and intricate machine embroideries in America. Through her exploration of the intersection between technology and the human condition, Paterson seeks to find meaning in the world around us and from within ourselves, promoting self-awareness and inner peace. Her belief in the power of art to enhance our well-being is showcased throughout the exhibition, which celebrates her personal and artistic journey and her unwavering commitment to purposeful creation. Paterson received a Ph.D. from The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, and an M.F.A. from Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia. She is a retired associate professor and once chair of undergraduate studies in creative technologies and studio at the School of Visual Arts at Virginia Tech. “ULTRAVIOLET, A Life of Purpose” is made possible with support from the Copenhaver Scholar in Residence Grant of Roanoke College, the Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Center for Art and Olin Hall Galleries.
Amelia Salisbury and Derek Mueller: “Out of Hollow Green Stuff Woven”: The exhibit runs through Dec. 3 from 1-4 p.m. in the Olin Hall Galleries. “Out of Hollow Green Stuff Woven” is an exhibition reflecting two artists’ relationship with a place called Wonder Hollow. Their images document and trace the daily edges of weather, chart a pollinator’s carousel, and frame as placemats a dream soup of domestic and land-based rituals and wanderings. Together their works represent fragments of a naïve almanac; composed from a selection of uncollated pictures and page spreads. Many works are paired with textual inflections and micro essayistic filaments of narrative. Amelia Salisbury’s works move between digital and analog processes, combining collage, paper cutting, illustration, and several types of print. They center on themes of encountering the land as a novice and regathering the endangered knowledge and traditions of women folk in her familial lineages. Derek Mueller’s works are digital drawings, composites, and illustrations developed in Procreate. They include maps of abstracted topographies; one, above ground, in a bird’s eye view of the land; another, beneath ground, plotting the mysteries of a homemade creek-fed irrigation system.
DMV2Go: DMV2Go will be at the Salem Civic Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 18.
Festival of Lessons & Carols: A Festival of Lessons & Carols with the St. Paul’s Choir and harpist, Rachel O’Brien will be on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 42 E. Main Street, Salem – www.stpaulssalem.dioswva.org.
Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo: Southwest Virginia’s favorite family-friendly event is back for the 56th year. The Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo bucks back into Salem Jan. 5-7 of 2024 with the same non-stop excitement fans have come to love for decades. Tickets are start at $20 and go up to $30. They can be purchased at the Salem Civic Center Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Riley Green & Tracy Lawrence: Riley Green, the Academy of Country Music’s new male artist of the year in 2020, is set to make his first appearance at the Salem Civic Center. Green will be joined by Tracy Lawrence and opening act Ella Langley when he hits the arena’s historic stage on March 7, 2024. Tickets can be purchased at the Salem Civic Center Box Office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and online anytime at www.ticketmaster.com
REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield: Classic rock and roll hitmakers REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield are once again joining forces on the road in 2024 and bringing their tour to the Salem Civic Center on Tuesday, March 26. Tickets range in price from $35 to $169. Tickets can be purchased at the Salem Civic Center Box Office or online at ticketmaster.com.
Rend Collective: Rend Collective, the popular Contemporary Christian worship band from Northern Ireland, is coming to the Salem Civic Center on Sunday, April 7, 2024, for a night of uplifting and upbeat praise music. The band is an eclectic collection of multi-instrumentalist performers who have produced two No. 1 albums on the Christian charts and produced a song of the year in “Counting Every Blessing.” Tickets, which can be purchased at the Salem Civic Center Box Office or online at ticketmaster.com, start at $28 and go up to $48.
Dustin Lynch: “Kill the Cowboy” tour: Country musician Dustin Lynch will perform at the Salem Civic Center on Friday, April 12, 2024, as part of his “Killed the Cowboy” tour with special guest Skeez. Tickets start at $35.50. Lynch first appeared in Salem in 2015 when he starred on the final day of the Blue Ridge Music Festival at Salem Stadium. He was just starting to crank out hit songs back then, but he now has eight No. 1 songs, four top-5 albums, 10 gold and platinum certified singles, and he has tallied over 5.4 billion cumulative global streams. His sixth studio album is “Killed The Cowboy.”
Public meetings:
The Salem City Council will meet on Monday, Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem City Council will meet on Monday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem City School Board will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
The Salem City Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
