Town and Gown

For the end of the year, the intersection of Virginia Tech and Blacksburg.  Main St. and Alumni Mall; the iconic Cook's Clean Center and Mike's Grill....love it.

Covered Bridge

A group of volunteers manages and maintains a real covered bridge in Giles county.

Mill Stone

In front of one of the Blacksburg municipal office buildings, the Wang House, there is a series of stones.  Perhaps there was a quarry that provided excellent grind stones.

Lobby of the Taubman

Looking out at Roanoke from the lobby.  The coffee sign is on the roof across the street.

A new business downtown

Avail Vapor is on Main St., downtown.

Mountain Lake

In the middle of this photo is Mountain Lake.  Some geologists have been working to get it to refill; perhaps with some success.  There is water down there.

Change in the colors

The religious season changes and the purple of advent is now the white candles of Christmas

Advent Wreath

The season of Advent, marked by the wreaths with purple ribbons, is just about complete. 

Storm clouds in the sun

The sky was magnificent this morning with the sun and the storm clouds. 

Social House was Taylor House

Work is progressing on this building on Main St.  In July, it seems a dilapidated old house.  The refurbishing of the exterior seems finished.

Middle School

One of the new school buildings.  Blacksburg has an education district where there are elementary, middle and high school buildings.  There are schools in other locations in the community too.

Is it a mural?

This painting on a brick wall is next to the Taubman Museum in Roanoke. 

Sunset at cemetery

West View Cemetery with dramatic clouds.

Part of the Parks and Recreation office

Certainly seems a delightful office.  It is a historic home preserved and used for Blacksburg town offices.

Community Band Holiday Pops Concert

Blacksburg Community Band Holiday Pops Concert featured all the great holiday songs, Santa and an elf.  It was held in the new Blacksburg High School.

Main Street Signs

There are many promotional signs along Main St.  Each seems to have delightful spirit and style.

Re-creating continues

The Black House project continues.  First I thought it was a Christmas tree...but it must be part of the steep roof.

Construction at The Edge

The new construction at an old development.

Winter trees

Seems starkly black and white, but those were the colors.

Plain sky for cold day

Today the weather was plain.  No storm, no blue sky.

Icy morning

The weather forecast last night was for icy conditions.  Icy trees this morning right on schedule.  But the weather was not so hazardous.  It  was not too dangerous locally.

Symbol of the Advent season

The second candle is lighted to mark the Advent journey.

Nearby Roanoke

Some of the iconic symbols of nearby Roanoke.

Blacksburg launches the holiday season

Celebration in downtown tonight for the tree lighting.  The tuba band has a grand sound playing holiday music. 

Music is always in season

Music is a constant part of life.  Sometimes the season brings even more music as people celebrate the holidays.

Research greenhouses

I would guess the plants in this research greenhouse are in a study that includes longer exposure to light than the Blacksburg day is providing now.

Wintery skyline

Late afternoon.

Horses on Hill at Hoge Pasture

The Hoge Pasture, next to a stable, is two blocks from Main St.  It gives Blacksburg a "rural" view from some angles. 

Older home

This home in one of the older neighborhoods is in the midst of some of the older apartment buildings.