James G.'s Profile

If you're looking to score some wonderful 7-inches, this is the place to go - You're bound to find some gems (like that Wilco "I'm a Wheel" 7-inch they just happened to have). However, if you're looking to score a cheap LP, you're going to have to look elsewhere. They know what they have and they price it accordingly. That said, they have a LOT. I wait for the day when I pop in there with more than 15 minutes before they close...

A few years back, I had my first pleasurable experience of ordering online from Vintage Vinyl. They had a very rare import CD-single for an excellent price, and I was very pleased. Fast forward to about a month ago, and I was actually setting foot inside of this record store that for many years, had only existed in cyberspace for me. For a indie-record shop, the place is HUGE. Their new stock is extensive, and you can see their attention to detail in their excellent categorization. (PS, you can find Neutral Milk Hotel bootlegs there too, which kind threw me for a loop.) They have a healthy selection of vinyl, and a nicely obscured (without a keen eye, you'll be hard-pressed to find it) section of 7-inches. Really, the only fault I can find is in their used CD selection. I don't think I've ever been to a shop where I wanted to buy so little from their used CDs...that's usually like crack for me. I really doubt I can blame the store - I kinda have to blame those who sell their CDs there. Northeast Jersey must be still be caught up in the pop-punk craze of 7 years ago...But then again - Vintage Vinyl, stop buying so much crap and I'll happily give you that final star.

This is my favorite venue to see a show. The is food wonderful and the drink/beer selection extensive, which makes arriving 2 hours early for a cover-only (no advance tickets!) show a pleasant experience. I recommend the Brie, the chicken fingers (ask for them if you don't see them!) and the corner seat at the bar. Wait, scratch that...I want that seat. There is also a nice little porch off the back of the bar, where you might find yourself enjoying a drink with the headlining band (and can catch a smoke for you smokers).

Shows I've seen there have been: Kings of Convenience, American Music Club, Ron Sexsmith, Joseph Arthur, Marah, Mark Eitzel, and many more that I can't think of at this very moment.

The cafe side is quite nice too. While they will serve you a different menu than the bar menu, they have always been cool about ordering off either. Not too big, might be tough for a group bigger than 4, and normally at least 80% full.

Parking is a piece of cake - if you were to drive by the Iota on your left, you would start looking for a parking sign that would follow quite quickly on your right. (I believe it's the second right past the Iota) You make the right, and you'll almost immediately see an entrance to an underground parking lot -  free parking after 5 (or something of the sort) and is perfect for you night out at Iota.

I live in Virginia (for now) and wow...have I missed good bagels. I went to Sunrise Bagels for the first time about a year ago and have been going back every chance I get. The prices are cheap, the food is WONDERFUL, the selection is out-of-sight. I wish I could open one in Roanoke...it would be huge!

There were a lot of roadside hot dog stands in the NJ/PA area when I was growing up. Each shop had it's own style, but Johnny's was always the one that I measured them against. Spread out against the backdrop of the Delaware River, Johnny's provided a cheap dog, Little Debbie snacks, and amazing, amazing, dirt-cheap t-shirts. I actually saw one in, of all places, Cosmo. My sister had the pic on her fridge.

This isn't high cuisine, it's a hot dog stand. But it's a hell of a spot, it's got some history, and it's in Buttsville! (Which, there is a "No Dumping" sign shortly after the "Welcome to Buttsville" sign if I remember correctly)

Swagat is one of two (though there's another one being built) fantastic Indian restaurants in Roanoke. Swagat's food is fantastic, the service is wonderful (and quicker than Nawab!) and parking is usually pretty easy to find right there on the street. An added bonus...SUNDAY BUFFET!

I've always enjoyed Corned Beef's food and I think Jeff did a good job hipping you to their cuisine. However, I have to make mention of the nightlife. If you're heading out to cruise for dudes or chicks, then this is the place to go. However, if you're going out WITH your dude or chick, and don't want to feel like you're at a meat market, then find somewhere else.

Tired of the downtown meat market, the crappy music and the expensive drinks? Recently voted the "Best Bar Food in Roanoke," the Community Inn lives up to it's title with cheap, good, classic food. When I say classic...I mean it. When is the last time you had school-house pizza? How about a grilled cheese? Add some tomato? Perhaps a burger with a side of tater tots? Nice.

So, to have the best bar food, you must be a bar. Indeed, the Community Inn (CI) is a bar, and a wonderful one at that. The ultimate Roanoke melting pot, this is a primary hotspot for hipsters, bikers, republicans, democrats, ex-fratboys, artists, other bar owners, your local record store clerks, tatoo artists, rednecks, old-timers and dart/pool players. No one group can even come close to claiming it as solely their own, the CI is everyone's. The bartenders are top-notch and  will not only look out for your drinks but you as well. The atmosphere isn't unique, some booths, a long bar and TVs scattered around the ceilings, but it does the job. While CI may not be the fanciest joint in Roanoke, it's the one place in Roanoke that anyone can feel comfortable in.

CLOSING ON JULY 7, 2007 - crap.

The restaurant in top-notch with plenty of choices, even vegetarian fare that my friends have enjoyed. Seating is plentiful, with booths, tables and a roomy bar fitting the bill for any of your seating preferences. I believe they have a larger room to the right that would be perfect for large groups or private parties. Prices are moderate, entrees range between $12-22, sandwiches between $8-12. Expect to drop about $20/person with modest drink selections.

Their beer has seen some success outside of the walls of their restaurant of late, but if you want the full selection of seasonal and small-batch selections, look no further. While Starr Hill's beer never disappoints, I find their dark beers especially good. The prices are what you would expect, $4 or so for a draft, but you're not drinking Bud so it's not that much of a shock. Nothing is better than killing some time, drinking a smokey brew and waiting for the doors to open on a show upstairs.

The upstairs holds a music hall that has recently proven me wrong. I had begun to expect cover bands and hippy-fare, but they have since become a much more adventurous venue. Recent performances by the Brazilian Girls, Yo La Tengo, Jonathan Richman, The Yard Dog Road Show, The Rapture and others have almost made me forget about Traxx.

Overall, I am quite thankful that Starr Hill exists. Long live Starr Hill.

I have to say, my perspective is probably a bit different than these others reviewers. However, I can say that while I am presently living in Roanoke, VA, I grew up in New Jersey and did live for a brief while in NYC. That said, I am sure that the fact that I live is a much less interesting (design-wise & nightlife-wise) town clouds my judgment.

I came across The Dove on a trip into NYC this past January and my experience couldn't have been better. With some time to kill and a chill outside, my parents and I slipped into The Dove and grabbed a quick glass of mulled wine. The wine was wonderful, the decor was pleasing, but it was the music that made be ask for a business card. So eclectic, the music was all over the place, but at all times interesting. It made me long for a bar in Roanoke that piqued my musical interest.

Overall, I enjoyed every minute I was in The Dove...and that deserves a 5-star rating. Excellent.