Mike Allen
The Roanoke Times
Roanoke, VA, United States
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Past articles by Mike:
Arts & Extras: Bridge to diversity
Viewed through imagination’s playful lens, the long, sweeping concrete arches underneath the Memorial Avenue bridge in Southwest Roanoke could call to mind the aqueducts of ancient Rome. → Read More
Arts & Extras: Making art outside the box
A round face peers out from inside a wooden box, the top of which is labeled with the word “foreigner.” → Read More
Steam dream: Norfolk & Western 611 'a true national marvel'
Bev Fitzpatrick worked at Roanoke’s transportation museum when he was 15 years old, as a superintendent, cleaning up the grounds after visitors left. → Read More
Cornershot: Roanoke native's graphic novel illuminates black history
Roanoke native Joel Christian Gill believes that when it comes to commemorating black history, #28daysarenotenough, as the Twitter hashtag goes. → Read More
Arts & Extras: 'Sister Act' in Roanoke and Charlottesville
Broadway's habit (so to speak) of adapting movies with musical elements to the stage continues with "Sister Act," based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy. Goldberg herself produced the musical version. Both movie and book tell a tale of a disco singer who witnesses a mob murder. To protect her, the authorities disguise her as a nun and hide her at a convent, where at first there's culture… → Read More
Taubman Museum announces new expansion into existing space
Carey Wayne Taylor, 62, of Roanoke, passed away Monday, January 12, 2015. Funeral Services will be noon Friday, January 16, 2014, at Church Alive International, 905 Peters Creek Rd. Arrangements by Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Roanoke, Va. → Read More
HALLOWEEN FICTION: The Vintage Dress: A Ghost Story
After the ghost story I told last Halloween, I got several calls from readers who described their own ghostly encounters, some of which were pretty hair-raising. The most peculiar of them all, the one I’ll share now, came from a gentleman I’m going to call Lucas. → Read More
Virginia Science Festival changes Roanoke event locations ahead of rain
The Virginia Science Festival has announced location changes for its Roanoke events in anticipation of thundershowers on Saturday. → Read More
Slovenian artist brings surreal paintings to downtown Roanoke gallery
Slovenian artist Barbara Jurkovsek says that her paintings of albino animal hybrids aren’t meant to be menacing. But a viewer studying the creatures’ colorful, glowering eyes, along with ears that resemble the arms of children, might be hard-pressed to conclude otherwise. → Read More
Mill Mountain Zoo director steps down
Mill Mountain Zoo executive director Ray-Eric Correia resigned today, citing a need to spend more time as caretaker for his 104-year-old father-in-law, who lives with Correia and his wife in Rockbridge County. → Read More
Arts & Extras: Southwest Virginia artists pay tribute to the "Peaceable Kingdom"
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together and a little child will lead them. These Bible verses from the book of Isaiah inspired the 19th century Quaker preacher and sign painter Edward Hicks to paint a series of scenes of children, livestock and wild animals living together in peace, depictions of a state of divine… → Read More
Mural artist paints 'Beautiful View' for Wasena neighborhood in Roanoke
The Main Street bridge in Roanoke’s Wasena neighborhood sheltered a bit of bright color during a drizzly Friday afternoon. → Read More
Nominees announced for Kendig Awards, which honor arts in Roanoke Valley
Hollins University and Roanoke College have announced the nominees for the 2014 Perry F. Kendig Awards, which honor artists, arts organizations and supporters of the arts in the Roanoke Valley. The award is named after the late Perry Kendig, a president of Roanoke College who was known for his arts patronage. → Read More
Hollins professor Eric Trethewey was ‘fine, strong poet’
Eric Trethewey taught poetry to graduate students aiming to become the next great American poets. He taught poetry to jail inmates looking for a constructive outlet for their torments. → Read More
Arts & Extras: blue brontosaurus spotted in Northwest Roanoke
Spotted this morning: a blue brontosaurus roaming outside 4DD Studios along Shenandoah Avenue N.W. → Read More
Roanoke artist grows 'Fuzzy Kudzu' inside Taubman Museum
Ralph Eaton first started making sculptures out of stuffed animals while he was a float builder for the Rose Parade in California. → Read More
Longtime Roanoke fan to appear on 'The Price is Right'
Roanoke native Selena Childress-Mayo says she’s been a fan of game show “The Price is Right” for as long as she can remember. → Read More
Roanoke artist wins 1st prize at weekend show
Roanoke artist Kinsey Hinrichs took home the $1,500 best in show prize at the 56th annual Sidewalk Art Show, which happened Saturday at the Taubman Museum of Art. → Read More
Southwest Virginia Ballet welcomes back graduates for encores
Southwest Virginia Ballet of Salem will celebrate its 25th anniversary by bringing back some of its graduates for encore performances. → Read More
CornerShot: Roanoke's Jason McNeil gets role in Charles Manson film
Roanoke native Jason McNeil was once a freelance columnist for the The Roanoke Times, contributing to the rotating lineup of “The Front Porch” in the now-defunct Neighbors section. → Read More