A Big Thanks, New Bikes, Pumpkins, and More in Get Outside Weekend Update (10/25-28)

In this issue

Weekend Update

Pete's Picks

Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. Unveils Hometown Mfg.

Urban Farm Gets Green Light

Check Out the Green Living and Energy Expo

Upcoming Events To Keep Your Eye On

WEEKEND UPDATE

MUSIC - Apple Butter and Soul at Blue 5 - 10/25
MUSIC - URTH at Martin's - 10/25
MUSIC - Eric Church at Roanoke Civic Center - 10/25
MUSIC - Sol & Funk Root at Martin's - 10/26
MUSIC - Jimmy Thackery at Kirk Avenue - 10/26
MUSIC - Terry Hanck at Blue 5 - 10/26
COMEDY - Mike Epps at Roanoke Civic Center - 10/26
FESTIVAL - Blue Ridge Folklife Festival at Ferrum College - 10/27
East Coasters Women's Ride - 10/27
Guided Paddle - Fall Foliage James River Trip - 10/27-28
Buffalo Mountain/Fairy Stone State Park Hike with RATC - 10/27
Waterfalls and Wild Ponies - 10/27-28
West End Center's 2nd Annual 5K Spooky Sprint - 10/27
Trail Work at Carvins Cove - 10/27
Bike The New River - 10/27
Fall Foliage Hike - 10/27
Choose Your Length of Ride - The Peaks Run - 10/27
2012 Peaks Run-Century Cycling Challenge - 10/27
MUSIC - Shorefire and Electric Chameleon at Martin's - 10/27
MUSIC - Jim Lauderdale with Daniel Justin Smith at Kirk Avenue - 10/27
MUSIC - TK-421 at Growler's - 10/27
MUSIC - Bob Margolin at Blue 5 - 10/27
Coffee Pot Sunday Ride - 10/28
Daleville to Tinker Cliffs to Andy Layne Trail Hike with RATC - 10/28
Color Me Rad Run - 10/28
Rowdy Dawg Mountain Bike Race - 10/28
Famous Monday Mountain Bike Ride - 10/29
Nurturing Nature Walk for Preschoolers - 10/29
Bandito's Cyclocross Ride - 10/29
Little Bandito's Race - 10/29
Mill Mountain Night Rides - 10/30
Tuesday Tuneups - 10/30
Famous Tuesday Night Ride - 10/30
MUSIC - Kathleen Edwards with Jim Bryson & Gord Tough at Kirk Avenue - 10/30
Chicky Mountain Bike Ride - 10/31
Bandito's Halloween Night Cyclocross Ride - 10/31
MUSIC - Michelle Malone at Kirk Avebue - 11/1
MUSIC - Lost Bayou Ramblers at Growler's - 11/1
MUSIC - Davina and the Vagabonds at Blue 5 - 11/1
For even more events visit the complete Roanoke Outside calendar
For arts and culture events visit The Arts Council calendar

PETE'S PICKS

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to the Anthem Roanoke GO Outside Festival. Mother Nature was kind and granted us an incredible weekend. More than 8,500 people attended GO Fest (click here to see photos from the event). We're already planning for 2013 ... let us know what you want to see next year.

So, here's a plug for something that makes me a little uncomfortable ... but it's for a great cause. There we were, setting up stuff for GO Fest on Friday morning, and the folks at UnderDog Bikes tell me they have something to show me. Turns out they had some "Friends of Pete" shirts (and stickers) created that they're selling, with all proceeds going to the "Bridge The Gap" fund for the Greenways. Pick yours up at UnderDog Bikes located within Black Dog Salvage.

Get Outside!

Pete Eshelman
Director of Outdoor Branding

Roanoke Regional Partnership

VISIT A PUMPKIN PATCH

Fall is upon us and we are just a few days away from Halloween, so why not spend a day looking for the perfect pumpkin?

Farms all around the Roanoke Region are open. Many offer weekend events and festivals that go beyond finding the perfect vegetable for carving or eating.

So plan to make a day of it, and head out to one of the area pumpkin patches this weekend.

Check out our list of farms near you >>>

SIX-ELEVEN BICYCLE CO. UNVEILS HOMETOWN MFG.

If you've ever wanted a custom, hand-built bicycle, especially one from internationally renowned and award winning Six Eleven Bicycle Co., but couldn't quite justify the price tag, your dreams may be coming true.

Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. showed off a new line of Roanoke-made bicycles at GO Fest last weekend - Hometown Mfg.

Hometown Mfg. bikes are still hand built but utilize some processes that speed up production and help lower the cost. The steel frames are tig welded (instead of brazed) and powder coated (instead of wet paint).

Hear what Aaron Dykstra (Six Eleven Bicycle Co. owner/builder) has to say about the new Hometown Mfg. line in this video.

The new line includes a 650b mountain, road, disc cross, and touring bikes. Each model will come in four different sizes and is made right here in Roanoke, VA.

Frames will be available in early 2013, and are expected to be under $1,000. And don't be surprised if you see the bikes showing up in your favorite bike shop sporting a custom paint job specific to that shop.

Show your Roanoke (and made in the USA) pride -- ride a Hometown Mfg. bike!

URBAN FARM GETS GREEN LIGHT

The Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op urban farm plan is moving forward.

Earlier this month, Roanoke City Council approved that sale of 17.5 acres on Blue Hills Drive to the co-op and lease with an option to purchase another 7.4 acres. Heritage Point, when expanded to the proposed 24.5 acres, would be the largest contiguous urban farm in the United States.

The co-op's plan calls for a fruit orchard, honey, cut flowers, nursery and bedding plants, and off-season vegetable production on the site. The site will also be home to free-range chickens and the group will use sustainable farming techniques, without commercial fertilizers or pesticides. Plans also include an on-site farmers' market.