The Roanoke Rambler

The Roanoke Rambler Welcome to The Roanoke Rambler. We are a local, investigative and literary news outlet based in Roanoke, Virginia.

A likely lone Republican and four Democrats entered the Roanoke City Council race in recent days, deepening the candidat...
04/01/2026

A likely lone Republican and four Democrats entered the Roanoke City Council race in recent days, deepening the candidate pool and setting up a contested Democratic primary.

Amanda Marko, a small business owner and chairwoman of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, filed to run as a Republican.

Council incumbent Vivian Sanchez-Jones and Danny Clawson, director of the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition, filed as Democrats. Banker Harvey Brookins and Raekwon Moore, who works in the mental health field, said this week they plan to be part of the Democratic slate by filing paperwork by Thursday’s deadline for party candidates.

Learn more about the newest candidates: https://www.roanokerambler.com/roanoke-council-race-ramps-up-with-five-more-candidates/

03/27/2026

Friday, March 27
🍷5 to 8 p.m. — Virginia Wine Pop-Up at Colony House Motor Lodge (3560 Franklin Rd., Roanoke). Lightwell Survey pours small-batch Virginia wines. Birdogs food truck serves up their signature chicken “birdog.” Femme Fatales Vinyl spins vinyl sets that move through funk, soul, disco, garage, new wave and house.
⭐️5:30 p.m. — Grandin Chillage in the Grandin Village (Westover Ave. and Grandin Rd., Roanoke). Live music from Virginia Electric, food trucks, adult beverages, and family entertainment.
🌙7 p.m. — Tarot & Art at Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage (6 Old Whitmore Ave., Roanoke).

Saturday, March 28
🐣10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Eggcellent Adventure at the Virginia Museum of Transportation (303 Norfolk Ave. SW, Roanoke).
🎊1:30 to 2:30 p.m. — Nowruz (Persian New Year) Celebration at the Art Walk in Elmwood Park and surrounding the Main Library (706 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke).
🎶6 p.m. — Live music: Mason Creek on the Platform at Twisted Track Brewpub (523 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke).

Sunday, March 29
🧘🏼‍♀️11 a.m. to noon — Yoga with BodyMindSoul Yoga at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). ($)
🪩7 p.m. — March Madness Diva Edition Drag Brunch at The Park Dance Club (615 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). ($)
🎼4:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: 3 Eyed Tiger at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem).

See the full calendar: https://www.roanokerambler.com/happenings-the-only-roanoke-events-calendar-youll-ever-need-week-of-3-25-26-to-4-1-26/

A conservation group is in talks to possibly buy most of Evans Spring and protect it from intensive development.The Blue...
03/26/2026

A conservation group is in talks to possibly buy most of Evans Spring and protect it from intensive development.

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is in discussion with several of the property’s private owners about an agreement, said David Perry, the organization’s director.

The Roanoke-based Blue Ridge group is partnering with the national Conservation Fund, Perry said. The Conservation Fund has deep enough pockets to front money that would be part of the likely millions of dollars needed to buy the land, Perry said.

The Conservation Fund’s mission is two-fold: environmental protection and economic vitality. Perry said such a purchase of the Evans Spring property could position a nonprofit community land trust to own it. A portion of land could include leases for affordable housing, he said.

Read the full story to learn more: https://www.roanokerambler.com/blue-ridge-land-conservancy-in-talks-to-buy-most-of-evans-spring-but-needs-city-action/

A city zoning enforcement action prompted by citizen complaints threatens to slash services at an award-winning day shel...
03/25/2026

A city zoning enforcement action prompted by citizen complaints threatens to slash services at an award-winning day shelter for homeless people in downtown Roanoke.

Residents and businesses frustrated by the activities of people without homes are pitted against a community provider offering services designed to help them, in this case The Least of These Ministry.

TLOT, as it is called, remained in normal operation Tuesday in spite of being ruled out of compliance Feb. 25 for having a portable toilet, lockers and wintertime “warming” buses outside its facility at 422 Luck Ave. SW. From the city’s perspective, what began as a food and clothing bank a couple of years ago morphed into an unauthorized housing provider with clients sleeping in buses.

Read the full story: https://www.roanokerambler.com/after-complaints-city-cites-downtown-roanoke-homeless-day-shelter-over-zoning-code/

Friday, March 208 p.m. — Live music: Runaway Gin — Phish Tribute at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (1217 Maple Ave. SW., Roano...
03/20/2026

Friday, March 20
8 p.m. — Live music: Runaway Gin — Phish Tribute at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (1217 Maple Ave. SW., Roanoke).
8 to 11 p.m. — Live music: Abbey & Andy at Pok-E-Joe’s (105 E. Washington Ave. Vinton).
10 p.m. — Live music: The Dundies at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke).

Saturday, March 21
1 to 5 p.m. — EmpowerHER Resource Fair at Melrose Plaza (2502 Melrose Ave. NW, Roanoke). Featuring women-owned businesses, vendors focused on services for women, and live musical entertainment.
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Soul Serenity at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture (2502 Melrose Ave. NW, Roanoke). A restorative poetry and wellness gathering celebrating creativity, clarity, and communal renewal.
9 p.m. — Starr After Dark: THERAPY Alternative/Wave Night at Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage (6 Old Whitmore Ave., Roanoke).

Sunday, March 22
4:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: The Floorboards at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem).
6 p.m. — Live music: A Taste of Ireland at the Harvester Performance Center (450 Franklin St., Rocky Mount).
7:30 p.m. — Live music: Marc Ribot at the Jefferson Center’s Fostek Performance Hall (541 Luck Ave., Roanoke).

Find even more events in our full calendar: https://www.roanokerambler.com/happenings-the-only-roanoke-events-calendar-youll-ever-need-week-of-3-18-26-to-3-25-26/

For years, residents in Northwest Roanoke believed the Gilmer-Harrison neighborhood was next in line to receive long-pro...
03/19/2026

For years, residents in Northwest Roanoke believed the Gilmer-Harrison neighborhood was next in line to receive long-promised investment from the city. But now, a new development plan has the community worried that the city is quietly breaking that promise.

The city’s proposed 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan is raising concerns that Roanoke may pull back from investing federal housing and development funds into its highest-need neighborhoods — a break in a target area investment strategy the city has followed for decades. If adopted, the plan would sharply reduce the share of federal funding dedicated to specific target neighborhoods, sending most dollars to citywide projects instead.

That change comes after the city fell short of its own federal spending goals last year in the current target area, Southeast Roanoke’s Belmont-Fallon, according to a federal report. The draft Consolidated Plan does not name a new target neighborhood after Belmont-Fallon’s designation ends in 2026, raising questions about whether the neighborhood-focused strategy will remain in place.

Read the full story to learn more: https://www.roanokerambler.com/residents-worry-roanoke-is-backtracking-on-neighborhood-investment-promises/

Roanoke is throwing a line in the water to see if it can hook a firm to manage the Jefferson Center. It would be a new b...
03/18/2026

Roanoke is throwing a line in the water to see if it can hook a firm to manage the Jefferson Center. It would be a new business model – which would come from talks that started last summer after the center's former director warned the facility could close by this year without city investment.

The city’s proposed contract does not specify how much the city would pay a management firm. Nor does it say anything about any change in the center’s foundation-based structure or what it could mean for the nonprofit’s four dozen employees.

Read the full story to learn more: https://www.roanokerambler.com/city-pursues-new-model-for-cash-trapped-jefferson-center-with-management-firm-idea/

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