Port & Main winter 2012

&

port main

Winter 2012 V. 2 Issue 2

Feeling icy?

Warm up your winter with some simple on- and off-campus ideas.

James Madison University’s Student Magazine

delving into Dessert

Which nearby sweet treat is really worth the weight gain?

enliven your night

Check out these local hot spots that will change up your routine.

Tired of Harrisonburg?

Find out some of Staunton’s best secrets

LOOKING FOR A NEW PLACE NOW? HOW ABOUT FOR NEXT AUGUST? COME IN TODAY TO SIGN YOUR LEASE!

1627 DEVON LANE HARRISONBURG, VA 22801 540.432.5525 WWW.UMICOMMUNITIES.COM

Foxhill Townhomes “Your Home Away From Home”

FURNITURE!

Letter from the Editor

Dear reader,

&

This is my first issue of Port & Main, and I’m so thrilled and honored to be a part of it. It has started under such a talented team of people, and I’m happy to be taking hold of the reins.

Though I’m a junior English major with a passion for writing and journalism, I have only recently developed an interest in magazine production. But one of the aspects I enjoy about it is that it requires you to think outside the box. It asks that you explore the world around you and that you get to know more people, more places and more adventures.

I find this especially appealing as my time at JMU is slowly but surely coming to an end. I hope to use this magazine as a way to introduce both myself and my readers to a realm beyond the JMU bubble.

Don’t worry. I won’t go all “Carpe Diem” on you —­ you get the point. Take advantage of what’s around you. I hope this issue gets you started on this goal. Enjoy!

staff

port main Editor-in-Chief Torie Foster Copy Editor Mary Claire Jones Photo Editor Robert Boag art editor Sam McDonald

TORIE FOSTER Editor-in-Chief

Contributing Writers Nora Bollinger Kassandra Hoffmeister Camden Layell Sarah Lockwood Alison Paylor Contributing Photographers Ryan Freeland Paul Jones Mary Claire Jones, copy editor

Robert Boag, photo editor

Sam McDonald, art editor

Mary Claire is a senior media arts and design major from Richmond. She enjoys reading, writing and incessantly quoting “Mean Girls.” She is a copy editor at The Breeze and is excited to be part of Port & Main. After graduating, Mary Claire hopes to work in the publishing industry, but is secretly still waiting for her Hogwarts letter.

Robert is a senior media arts and design and religion and philosophy double major. He enjoys sports photography and also serves as the multimedia director at The Breeze. He enjoys a juicy BLT, long walks on the beach and a good cuddle. Robert can often be found running up and down the sidelines on football gamedays taking pictures.

Sam is a senior graphic design major.

She loves to paint, read, watch movies, run and spend time with her family. Eventually, Sam wants to work with layout and design for a magazine after graduating or possibly own her own studio. A cool fact about Sam is that her initials spell “S-A-M,” short for Samantha Ann McDonald.

Ads Staff Dan Devine Melissa Knowles Owen Thomas Jordan True David Wales Interested in advertising?

540-568-6127 portads@gmail.com

Want to work for The Breeze?

Apply for editor positions at joblink.jmu.edu.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? FOSTERVE@DUKES.JMU.EDU

P&M, Winter 2012

3

&

port main inside...

6

WINTER WOES

8

REWIND THE CLOCK

11

DOUBLE MAJORING

12

DESSERT FACE-OFF

18

ENCORE!

Desperately missing the sun? Find out several options, both on and off campus, to melt some of that iciness that’s got you down.

And you thought you were a picky eater. Get some details on the “paleolithic diet,” thought to emulate what one would eat during the Paleolithic Era. Does it really work?

Is it worth it? Our writer spills her pitfalls while showing how others made it work.

Cookies, cupcakes, yogurt, ice cream — Harrisonburg has it all. But which local spot provides the most dessert with the least weight gain? A dietetics professor weighs in.

A packed concert hall or theatre? Bring it on. These creative performers are ready to entertain you.

22

INSIDE STAUNTON

28

H’BURG HITS

Everyone pronounces it differently, -- but not everyone knows how much fun it can be. Check out some of our featured Staunton spots.

Bored in Harrisonburg? Don’t fret. From rock music to drag shows, there’s some local entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

P&M, Winter 2012

5

put some

SUMMER in your winter

6

P&M, Winter 2012

Winter got you down? Don’t spend your time feeling blue. Check out these fun and local ways to combat your winter woes with just a little bit of sunshine.

by ALISON PAYLOR | photo by ROBERT BOAG

PARTY in UREC UREC has some largely unknown services meant to help students relax. UREC contains a hot tub and sauna available for all gym users.

Hot tubs are relaxing anytime of the year, but especially if the freezing temperatures have dulled your attitude.

The sauna, located to the left of the hot tub, can keep you warm during the winter months, but it

can also help you unwind after a rough workout at the gym.

“I like to use the sauna because it helps my muscles stay loose and relaxed, which feels good because in the winter, the cold reduces the elasticity of your muscles,” said Joe Cady, a junior athletic training major, “and they feel much tighter and for me, I find it very uncomfortable.”

UREC also holds dive-in movies, which are a fun opportunity to watch movies while swimming and hanging out in the pool. All the organizers ask is for you to bring a bathing suit and towel.

UREC provides floats and shows movies every Thursday at 9 p.m.

(February’s showings: “Rudy,” “Almost Famous,” “Love Stinks” and “Road Trip”).

THE BEACH, ANYONE? Nothing says summer like the beach, so why not throw a beach party?

If you’re living on campus, suggest the idea to your resident adviser and make it a hall event.

A relatively inexpensive party is possible when you have an entire hall or dorm to contribute to it.

“I think residents will really appreciate taking a study break and a break from the cold weather by getting into a warmer and brighter state of mind with a beach-themed program,” said junior Sam Rimkus, an RA in Chandler Hall.

GET YOUR GLOW ON If you’re looking to go off campus during the winter for some summer

vibes, there are plenty of options close by. Beach Bum Tanning & Airbrush Salon, located in the Harrisonburg Crossing shopping center off Reservoir Street, offers several levels of tanning packages depending on how much you are willing to spend. There are also several other salons near campus, like Caribbean Tan Inc. on Port Republic Road. Staying tan during the winter can keep your summer glow going all year long.

“I start tanning in the winter because I hate the way my darker winter clothes look on me when I’m pale,” said Tanya Tarnovsky, a junior English major. “I feel like they make me look like paper!”

Resort retreat If you have access to a car and you don’t mind a little drive, Massanutten Resort’s indoor water park could be the perfect weekend getaway. The facility, open year-round, is kept at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The park features include pipeline surfing, a lazy river, tubes, slides and a hot tub.

SEASONal MIXING Are these winter blues solutions still not warming you up? Try mixing the two seasons together.

“After a recent snowfall, we’d all get our snow gear on and go play volleyball in the snow,” said Alex Falciani, a senior history major.

“It would be a good time, and volleyball is a lot of fun, anyway.”

Falciani also suggested an ice cream social around a fire pit. You could also make s’mores if you have all the ingredients. n

P&M, Winter 2012

7

going

caveman

by KASSIE HOFFMEISTER | photo by PAUL JONES

We all learned about the Paleolithic Era in high school.

But could it change the way you eat?

Though our society is constantly moving forward with new technology, imagine taking your diet back in time. The paleolithic diet, also known as the “caveman diet,” is thought to resemble that of our ancestors who lived during the Paleolithic Era. It emphasizes eating lean meats, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, while eliminating grains, refined carbs, dairy, salt and processed oils. The diet was first introduced during the ’70s.* Research into the paleolithic diet is very limited and the health benefits are considered very controversial, explained dietetics professor Jeremy Akers.

“Health claims are weight loss, decrease in type 2 diabetes, decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, overall better health, reduced gout, inflammation and decreased risk of cancer,” Akers said. a Charlotte Martin , a UREC nutrition analyst, decided to pick up the diet after reading Robb Wolf’s “The Paleo Solution.”

8

P&M, Winter 2012

“I love looking into new diets and trying them just to try them, but this one just has a lot of science behind it,” Martin said.

She has been trying it on and off for about a year.

“I don’t do it every day, but I try to stick to it as much as I can,” she said.

Like every diet, Martin said the health benefits depend on the person. She said she has more energy while on the paleolithic diet.

“Maybe I’ve also lost a few pounds, but I know with other people who do it, weight loss is definitely one,” she said.

Martin sometimes has a hard time finding things in a grocery store. She often has to go to a specialty store such as Kate’s Natural Products on University Boulevard or Sue’s Super Nutrition on South Main Street.

It can also end up being a lot more expensive.

“A bag of regular flour is two or three bucks, but a bag of almond flour is nine or 10,” she said.

Martin noted that a lot of

the books about paleolithic dieting, like Wolf’s, have really grabbed people’s attention, and she believes it would be even more popular if it weren’t such a strict diet.

“It’s a very limited diet and it can be really hard to follow, especially if you love pasta and bread,“ Martin said. “But it just really does seem to make sense because I don’t think we really need as much grains as [the USDA says] we need.”

Courtney Bast, a junior health sciences major, decided to try the diet as a 24-day challenge through her gym, CrossFit of Harrisonburg.

Bast adopted the diet for two reasons.

“I saw the results of people from my gym and was surprised and eager to try it,” she said. “I also adopted it because I have always been such a picky eater and never tried new things. I figured this was good motivation.”

Several days into the diet, she already found it to be challenging.

“I have to put aside the microwave pizza and chips and eat stuff I have never tried before,” Bast said.

Bast does find it timeconsuming to make meals that qualify as part of the paleolithic diet in between classes.

“I think it has definitely paid off, though,” she said. “My body feels a lot better and not dragged down by processed or gross food.”

Although Bast is only trying the diet temporarily, she hopes to stick with it afterward.

But not all are convinced by the paleolithic diet. Akers has some doubts.

“There is not enough clinically based research to suggest that this diet is better than eating a balanced diet with a variety of foods,” he said.

Akers advises opting for a more developed diet.

“The advertisers and individuals that are writing the books are making millions off of consumers,” he said. “That is why fad diets are a billiondollar market.” n

* According to Akers & Martin

Paleo recipes: n Egg flower soup: a simple Asian soup, including eggs

added to a chicken broth n Stuffed pork tenderloin: pork stuffed with sundried

tomatoes and artichoke hearts n Chocolate cranberry pie: combination of dark chocolate and fresh cranberries n Paleo pizza: made with meatza, a crust made with ground beef instead of dough; top with lean meats and vegetables n Roast beef with thyme, garlic and red wine: pair with a simple salad; add pesto or horseradish for added flavor n Cinnamon chicken: cooked with a blend of cinnamon and garlic full recipes at paleodietlifestyle.com

P&M, Winter 2012

9

Home of the $5 Footlong

6 locations in Harrisonburg to serve you 854 Port Republic Road 540-374-3774 www.subway.com

China Express

FREE Delivery Super Combo $7.35 1031 Port Republic Road Next to Food Lion 540-568-9899

Sam’s Hot Dog Stand Best dogs in town!

910 Reservoir St. - Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-433-8727 www.SamsHotDogs.com

Artful Dodger From wake up call to last call!

47 Court Square, Downtown Harrisonburg 540-432-1179 www.ArtfulDodger.org

El Rancho Authentic Mexican Restaurant The Taste of Mexico 68 S. Carlton Street - Harrisonburg, VA 540-433-1656

double the major ...

DOUBLE THE WORK

Is packing on the extra classes worth it? One brave sophomore shares her experience.

by Alison Paylor On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, I took a test on my birthday. It was traumatic.

I know what you’re thinking — white girl problems. But I’m not complaining because I was regurgitating Psychology 101 facts instead of regurgitating birthday cake. I’m complaining because it was the middle of summer. I was reflecting on Pavlov’s experiments while the ice cream truck circled through my neighborhood and the summer sun beckoned me from my MacBook.

But these are just some of the consequences of double majoring.

As a media arts and design and writing, rhetoric and technical communication double major (and studio art minor), my summers are filled with overpriced online classes and my weekends are homework-packed instead of party-packed. My extracurricular time is limited, and my summer job options are sparse because no employer wants a minimally available employee.

My point? Double majoring is hard work!

And I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Junior Erica Traveline, a political science and hospitality and tourism management double major, is also accustomed to the extra workload. Each summer, she’s taken a community college class, and last semester she took 18 credits.

“I think the hardest thing for me so far has been the planning aspect,” Traveline said. “I have my advisers in both of the different majors, but it’s hard because they both really only know about their department. I have to meet with each of them separately and then sit down on my own and kind of figure out how I’m going to work in the requirements for both majors.”

This strategic planning seems to be the most daunting aspect of double majoring for students. Even the Career and Academic Planning website admits double majoring can be a challenge. Only with “careful, advance planning” can students possibly

double major, the site advises.

So what might this “careful” planning entail? Well, let’s do the math. According to JMU’s requirements, students planning on double majoring need a minimum of 150 hours before they can receive their diploma.

And if students wants to graduate within four years, this leaves them eight semesters to complete these 150 credits. Divided by eight semesters, this leaves about 19 credits per semester. That’s about six — sometimes seven — classes each semester. And all of this is assuming that students know they want to double major at the beginning of their freshman year. JMU may make double majoring doable, but it’s definitely no stroll down the Quad.

One student who made the math work is senior Samantha Seebode. Not only is Seebode graduating with two majors under her belt (psychology and philosophy and religion), she is graduating in only three years.

“I came in with a lot of transfer credits,” Seebode said. “And when I talked with my adviser, she convinced me to [double major] because a lot of my classes could count for both GenEd credit and psych and religion. So I ended up not having much to complete in order to fulfill the major requirements.”

Her extracurricular life isn’t suffering, either. On top of double majoring, she works almost full time at Target and volunteers every week at Harrisonburg High School in the nursery.

So if despite all of the extra work and planning, you do decide to double major, there’s some good news. It’s not all struggling to fit in classes and blowing your paycheck on online summer courses. Double majoring does offer some positives.

“If you’re willing to work a little harder and are really dedicated to what you are studying,

then it can really work to your advantage,” Seebode said. “You definitely get to meet a lot of people that you might not otherwise interact with in a single major, and it opens up a lot more opportunities.”

Traveline agrees.

“The College of Business and department of political science are both so different and have different things to offer, so I love just being able to go back in between the two schools,” Traveline said. “They both offer a nice break from one another and allow me to think in different ways.”

I should probably note that my own experiences with double majoring might have been different had I planned properly.

My first sans-adviser class selection created a very unsure and confused freshman in me.

I ended up signing up for several classes that I still can’t justify taking. (How did Intro to Interior Design help me fulfill my WRTC and SMAD credits again?)

But you can learn from my mistakes. Do your math and talk with your advisers. You can graduate with two majors without compromising your passions along the way. n

P&M, Winter 2012

11

food FIGHT

by NORA BOLLINGER photos by ROBERT BOAG & RYAN FREELAND

12

P&M, Winter 2012

C

Cupcakes, ice cream and cookies galore! Harrisonburg’s dessert upcakes, ice cream and cookies galore! Harrisonburg’s dessert spots are no secret to its locals. Just try visiting Kline’s on the spots are no secret to its locals. Just try visiting Kline’s on the first first warm night of summer — ice-cream lovers flock to the neon warm night of summer — ice-cream lovers flock to the neon sign and sign and occupy every square inch of pavement. But what’s occupy every square inch of pavement. But what’s not so well-known is how not so well-known is how much sugar some of these sinfully-delicious much sugar some of these sinfully-delicious morsels can pack. A reduced-fat morsels can pack. A reduced-fat cookie from Campus Cookies or a cup cookie from Campus Cookies or a cup of Sweet Bee fro-yo topped with a few of Sweet Bee fro-yo topped with a few candy pieces seem innocent candy pieces seem innocent enough. But are these options really as healthy enough. But are these options really as healthy as we think? We also as we think? We consulted dietetics professor Jeremy Akers to discuss consulted dietetics professor Jeremy Akers to discuss the health the health values of different desserts and dishes out their appropriate values of different desserts and dishes out their appropriate portion portion sizes. Which dessert item will win out as the most balanced choice? sizes. Which dessert item will win out as the most balanced choice?

P&M, Winter 2012 13

Kline’s Dairy Bar A staple favorite for locals, Kline’s serves thick, custard-style ice cream without the added fluffiness of other ice creams. The smooth, rich texture is thanks to a continuous freeze method.

Fresh, raw milk is fed into a freeze machine every morning.

This type of machine doesn’t continuously whip the ice cream, resulting in Kline’s airless texture.

Just as with Sweet Bee, the danger lies within the added toppings. Strawberries and other fruits can be on the lighter side, but some of the richer toppings, such as wet nuts (walnuts in maple syrup) can add a whopping 100-plus calories to any serving.

Kline’s features two locations, one at 58 E. Wolfe St., and the other at 2425 S. Main St. >> Akers weighs in: “Usually frozen yogurt has less fat and calories, but with the various versions of sugar-free, fat-free ... you can have situations where ice cream has less calories and fat than yogurt.” >> Appropriate portion size: 1/2 cup of ice cream (about the size of half a baseball)

Sweet Bee Sweet Bee — home to mountains of dessert toppings and tanks of flavored soft-serve frozen yogurt found at 1645 Reservoir St. If you have immeasurable self-control, you can walk out without consuming 500 calories of sugar. Most flavors offer a reasonable 100 to 110 calories per half cup, and some (such as the no-sugar added selections) even amount to only 80 or 90 calories per half cup.

But then there are the toppings: cake batter bites, sprinkles, Oreo crumbles and hot fudge sauces. For a healthy you, your best bet is to avoid the toppings counter at all costs because the calories can stack up. If you simply can’t resist the showcase of such delectable goodies, there are healthier topping options, including fresh-cut strawberries, pineapple pieces and blueberries — which can all satisfy at nearly half the calorie cost. >> Akers weighs in: “Frozen yogurt is cultured and may also have probiotic bacteria that ice cream lacks. Probiotics can encourage healthy digestions and help treat or prevent diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal infections, colds, flus and eczema.” >> Appropriate portion size: 1/2 cup of frozen yogurt (about the size of half a baseball)

14

P&M, Winter 2012

Cocolicious Cupcakes Cocolicious, located at 14 Newman Ave., offers an assortment of cupcake flavors. The bakery cooks up creations ranging from the spin on the traditional “chocolate bomb” (a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing and a Hershey’s kiss in the center) to the more original “breakfast cake,” a vanilla cupcake topped with bacon. It’s easy to go overboard when the prices are less than $2 per cupcake. Their sizes do match the recommended portion for a balanced diet, but how much sugar gets to be too much sugar? >> Akers weighs in: “The American Heart Association recommends limiting the amount of added sugars you consume to no more than half of your daily calories allowance. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day, or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s 150 calories per day or about 9 teaspoons of sugar ... A teaspoon has 20 calories in it.” >> Appropriate portion size: one cupcake (about the size of a tennis ball)

Campus Cookies The go-to for late-night munchers and all-night studiers, Campus Cookies delivers warm baked goods to students and Harrisonburg residents. Open from 7 p.m. until after midnight every day of the week, the dessert spot offers more than 10 different flavors of cookies, plus brownies, cookie cakes, cinnamon rolls and milk. At no more than two bucks a pop, it’s tempting to go all out. The company does offer one type of reduced fat cookie: chocolate chip. Its website describes this cookie as 43 percent less fat than its regular version, but does that really make it OK to eat twice as many? How much healthier is reduced fat versus regular fat? >> Akers weighs in: “Food labels can be confusing, and labels and claims can mean various things. Reduced fat refers to a product’s claim to contain at least 25 percent less fat than the original version. One problem with a reduced-fat or low-fat product is that the company may add more sugar or sodium to enhance the taste to make it taste more like the original.

So the best option is to read the labels and choose the option that is better for your balanced meal plan.” >> Appropriate portion size: two cookies (each about the diameter of a baseball)

P&M, Winter 2012 15

apply online today h arrisonburgstudentliving .com

sc an & learn

pet friendly for fall 2012 • optional utility pack age available stonegate

southview

amenities subject to change | see office for details | limited time only

the commons

s to n e g at e short distance to Jmu through arboretum—on bus route

fitness center • utilities included

(up to a monthly c ap)

4 bedroom / 4.5 bathroom apartments • individual leases fully furnished with leather-st yle furniture

south view great location to Jmu—on bus route • fitness center private bedrooms & bathrooms • computer l ab sand volleyball court • individual leases fully furnished with leather-style furniture

t h e co m m o n s less than 1/2 mile to Jmu • 4 bedroom apartments private bedrooms • gold’s gym membership included

individual lea ses • utilities included

(up to a monthly c ap)

fully furnished with leather-st yle furniture

save with no security deposit n ow acc e p t i n g a p p l i c at i o n s f o r fa l l 2012 stonegate

southview

the commons

s to n e g at e | 5 4 0.4 42 .4 49 6 | 18 20 p u t t e r c t s o u t h v i e w | 5 4 0.43 2 .0 6 0 0 | 1070 lo i s l n t h e c o m m o n s | 5 4 0.43 8 . 3 8 3 5 | 8 69 b p o r t r e p u b l i c r d

for your

entertainment

by Kassie Hoffmeister | photos by Ryan Freeland

Some of JMU’s students work hard not only academically but also by cultivating a passion for performing.

These performers spend hours practicing and perfecting every last note or dance move, all for the amusement of others.

>> Joseph Chung, dancer sophomore computer science major

18

P&M, Winter 2012

You can find him dancing six days a week and sometimes eight hours a day.

Joseph Chung is the vice president of breakdance club and co-founder of Visual Distortions Dance Crew.

“When I’m breakdancing, people say I look like I’m always kind of aggressive and want to battle somebody,” Chung said. “For some reason, that’s my style. But when people get to know me, that’s not how I am at all. I’m a really shy person, and it gives me this outlet to push myself.”

Chung has been breakdancing for six years and doing hip-hop for one year.

“It’s not even a hobby I’m doing on my own,” he said. “It’s a part of me now.”

Visual Distortions has performed at the 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness ball and the 2012 Coalescence.

Amanda Kohr, improv comedian << junior media arts & design major Before joining improv group New and Improv’d freshman year, Amanda Kohr was part of her high school’s theatre.

“I liked the improv games we would play as warm-ups, and because I liked the games so much I just wanted to find a way to do it,” Kohr said.

JMU’s New & Improv’d comedy troupe does a combination of short- and long-form improv.

“It’s hard to describe what we do because we never know what things are going to be about,” she said. “We make up each other’s names, and we make up our relationships all on the spot.”

Kohr describes performing as surreal.

“You need to have complete awareness, but you also live in the moment,” she said. “There’s no time for hesitation. You take your instinct, and then you run with it.”

>> Jack Gardner, bagpiper sophomore philosophy major It all started as a bet at lacrosse camp. Jack Gardner’s coach made a deal with him that if he came back the next year playing bagpipes, he would give him lacrosse sticks.

Sure enough, Gardner made it happen. He attended the National Piping Center at Shenandoah University in Winchester and traveled to Scotland to play for a month when he was 14.

Gardner is now considered a grade-1 bagpiper, on a scale of one to five, one being the highest and three being your average skilled bagpiper.

Gardner says there’s a lot of pressure on bagpipers.

“It’s nerve-wracking when you’re a solo performer, and you have all the pressure,” he said. “One of the nice things, though, is that most people don’t know anything about bagpipes, so normally when you mess up, if it’s not a glaring mistake, only you know it.”

His two favorite song genres to play are hornpipes and jigs.

“I find they are also the best crowd pleasers and can show off skill the best,” he said. “It’s nice to show that bagpipes are capable of some really fast and difficult music.”

P&M, Winter 2012 19

Love â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mad Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;?

Become one.

Email thebreezeads @gmail.com.

Clay Underwood, opera singer << sophomore music major

Clay Underwood began his singing career in a children’s choir when he was 11. The members sang at George Washington University and the Kennedy Center and traveled to Wales.

When he scored the lead role in his eighth grade musical, Underwood decided to take it more seriously with voice lessons. By the time he was a senior in high school, Underwood knew he wanted to be a vocal major.

“It was either musical theatre or straight classical singing,” Underwood said. “I decided to do the classical singing because I knew I wanted to pursue that.”

JMU has shown him what a real audition process is like.

“It’s taught me how to prepare and how to deal with either success or failure and not to take it too personal, just move onto the next thing,” he said.

While at JMU, Underwood has participated in “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Ba-Ta-Clan,” “L’Enfant Prodigue” and “Die Fledermaus.”

Underwood hopes to get a job singing for an opera company or involved in musicals, but he isn’t too picky about his future.

“As long as I’m performing,” he said.

P&M, Winter 2012 21

22

P&M, Winter 2012

returning to the

Victorian Era

by Sarah Lockwood | photos by Ryan Freeland

Unless you grew up around the valley, you probably pronounced it wrong on your first attempt. Staunton, pronounced “Stanten,” is just 30 minutes south on I-81. While all the franchise glory of KFC, Chili’s and WalMart greets you off exit 222, a few minutes after heading west on US-250, a cozy yet lively Victorian downtown scene emerges. Many students visit the town for field trips to Blackfriars Playhouse and return for the growing art culture, boutique shopping and wide selection of restaurants.

P&M, Winter 2012

23

Cocoa Mill Chocolatier Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

Pick up a sweet treat from this small, friendly shop. Nearly 20 years old, its goodies are award winners, with accolades from The Wall Street Journal, CBS Morning News, Paula Deen and The Washington Post. While chocolate lovers from anywhere can order online, you can stop by and pick up fresh single servings or packages of chocolate-dipped pretzels, toffee, caramels, truffles, chocolate-covered apricots and more.

24

P&M, Winter 2012

Margaret McElroy Interior Design Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

In the back, McElroyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fabric swatches provide a wide selection for her interior design clients, while the main area of the space is filled with a local artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paintings and consignment items. You may want to stick to window-shopping for the beautifully refurbished furniture pieces, because prices can climb to three and four digits. But apartment accessories such as throw pillows, candles and even artwork begin as low as $5. A small loft and back office are home to photographer Monica Wilson and her gallery. Wilson shoots portraits outdoors and in her studio and sells landscapes and other wall art pieces as well.

P&M, Winter 2012 25

Worthington Hardware Co. Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Filled with antiques, this warehouse-sized corner store is a bit of a misnomer, but certainly not a disappointment. Worthington opened as a hardware store in 1890, but became an antique store 26 years ago. Now, George Hanger and his daughter, Jane, sell everything from thimbles to old hardware. All the antiques are local, collected over the years from estate sales and the like. Worthington’s also starting to carry some retro record players and phones. Even if you aren’t looking to purchase quirky collectibles or well-loved books, a walk through this piled-high maze is happily nostalgic.

Queen City Marketplace Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

This shopping bazaar, which opened in April, houses a variety of vendors. Sixty vendors and consigners sell everything from antiques eco-friendly toys and woodworking to jewelry, stained glass and folk artistry. In the front window, “Landscape In Miniature”

by Pam Shank displays create entire scenes in single flowerpots. Grab an apron for your kitchen from Jackie Robinette’s hand-sewn selection of clothing for both pets and people. In the back, a stringed instrument repair shop has a small service stand. With the addition of the upstairs floor designated for consignment furniture items, this hall is a browser’s paradise. Prices here depend on whose corner you’re checking out, but you can find an eclectic mix of items ranging from $1 to $26,000.

26

P&M, Winter 2012

Virginia Accents Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

A warm, cozy store with a Southern touch, Virginia Accents features local handcrafted art including jewelry, candles, agricultural landscapes, acrylic horse paintings, stained glass, pottery and rustic-style wood furniture. Among the 20 local artisans represented, the jewelersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work is typically most popular. While big items in the store push $1,000, students will enjoy donning or gifting jewelry as inexpensive as $18 in stained glass, beads, brass and copper.

Or cozy up with one of their locally made scarves!

The Artful Dodger Want to show off your dance moves? For a $5 cover, you can go to the Dodgerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dance parties, featuring DJ Jekyll on Fridays and DJ Fayo on Saturdays from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. If jazz is more your scene, the Dodger hosts the JMU jazz band every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for free. Go to the events page at artfuldodger.org to see check for updates on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming up.

28

P&M, Winter 2012

by Camden Layell | photo by Paul Jones

your night life ...

P&M, Winter 2012 29

downtown music 34 Located at 34 South Main St., you can enjoy performing arts ranging from concerts to theatre and drag shows. Downtown Music usually hosts at least one event a week, with tickets running $5 on average. Bands range from blues and metal to hip-hop and more. Weekly events include the No Strings Attached improv group performing on Mondays, Contra Dance lessons on Tuesdays and Old Time Jazz sessions on Wednesdays. Check out Downtown Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page or downtownmusic34.blogspot.com for a full schedule.

30

P&M, Winter 2012

photo by RYAN FREELAND

BLACKFRIARS PLAYHOUSE The American Shakespeare Center at the Blackfriars Playhouse in historic Staunton is sure to make you love Shakespeare. The internationally acclaimed company entertains patrons with six shows a week, roughly 51 weeks a year. The theatre holds the distinction as the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s original theatre in London. Each play is performed under Shakespeare’s original staging practices, the most notable feature being universal lighting (meaning the audience shares the same lighting as the performers). Performances include “A Mad World, My Masters,” which runs Feb. 23 to April 7, and “Dido, Queen of Carthage,” which runs March 14 to April 7. Go to americanshakespearecenter.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

photo by TOMMY THOMPSON

P&M, Winter 2012 31

Nôrth 38 DON’T FIGHT THE TRAFFIC ON PORT REPUBLIC • Utilities included in rent • By the bedroom leases • Convenient Harrisonburg Transit Service • Designated quiet buildings • 24-hour access to the Clubhouse • Resort style pool and hot tub • Private study rooms & computer lounge • Furnished apartments with leather sofas • 32” LCD flat pannel TVs • Cable TV with HBO • Free tanning beds • Pet walk (pet friendly!)

• Car care facility • State of the art fitness center • Excellent customer service • Energy star certified

LEASE TODAY! 1.888.417.4374 NORTH38APTS.COM 1190 Meridian Circle Harrisonburg, VA