Victorian Tea Fundraiser:  The Old Court House will be holding a Victorian Tea Fundraiser on Saturday, February 25th at 2pm. The event will include tea, Victorian entertainment, guest speaker Joy Melcher, and pagentry.  Victorian Tea will be served in the historically preserved court room built in 1840. The building served as a hospital and a prison during the civil war and changed hands 70 times between the Union and Confederacy during the war.  Read more.

Sesquicentennial Soiree – An 1860s Era Dance:  The George Washington Hotel will be hosting the Sesquicentennial Soiree George Washington Ball, a benefit for the Old Court House Civil War Museum.  The event takes place Saturday, February 25th and will feature live entertainment provided by the Victorian Dance Ensemble and The 2nd South Carolina String Band.  No dance experience is required, and dance instruction and demonstrations will be provided.  Read More.

Live Music Schedule:

-Friday, February 24th

• DJ Freedom Ortiz @ Brewbaker’s Restaurant – 10pm to 1:30am
• Cazhimere @ Sweet Caroline’s – 9:30pm
• Unknown Origins @ Piccadilly Public House – 9pm to 1am

-Saturday, February 25th

• The Jokers @ Brewbaker’s Restaurant – 10pm to 1:30am
• DJ Calibur@ Sweet Caroline’s – 8pm
• Jumptown @ Piccadilly Public House – 9pm to 1am

Admission for the Soiree is $120 per couple or $60 per person for dinner and dance; admission for the dance only is $60 per couple and $30 per person.  Period dress is encouraged but not required.

 
Victorian Tea will be served in the historically preserved court room built in 1840. The building served as a hospital and a prison during the civil war and changed hands 70 times between the Union and Confederacy during the war.

 
Advanced tickets for the fundraiser are $10. For more information, call 540-542-1145.

The City of Winchester is hosting this Open House to allow interested businesses and residents the opportunity to look at the improvements that are being proposed, ask questions, and provide comments about the project.  This is an informal event, so please feel free to come anytime between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

If you are unable to attend this Open House, but would still like to look at the plans for the improvements, please contact Perry Eisenach at (540) 667-1815 or by email at:  peisenach@ci.winchester.va.us .  We look forward to receiving your input on this very important project.

Magic Lantern Theater Presents: “Cave of Forgotten Dreams”: The Magic Lantern Theater will be showing “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” on Saturday the 18th at 2pm. The 90-minute film is rated G and will be shown in the Handley Library.  Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Handley, the event is free and open to the public though donations are appreciated.

John Kirby Jazz Fest: The Coalition for Racial Unity will be holding the John Kirby Jazz Fest this Saturday, February 18th from 7pm to 11pm at the Piccadilly Brew Pub.  The event helps to celebrate Black History Month with an evening of jazz performances dedicated to Winchester native John Kirby, an accomplished jazz bassist and band leader.Live music will be provided by the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Sextet led by professor Bob Larson, Jon Rose and Friends, and the Latin Jazz group Tierra Firme.  The event will also include a desert bar and silent auction.  Tickets are $25 per person.  For more info, email crubridges@yahoo.com.

Live Music Schedule:

-Friday, February 17th

• DJ Freedom Ortiz @ Brewbaker’s Restaurant – 10pm to 1:30am
• The Reflex @ Sweet Caroline’s – 9:30pm
• Paul Pfau @ Piccadilly Public House – 9pm to 1am
• Robby Limon @ The George Washington Hotel – 8pm

-Saturday, February 18th

• The Luke Johnson Band @ Brewbaker’s Restaurant – 10pm to 1:30am
• DJ Calibur@ Sweet Caroline’s – 8pm
• Joe Bloom & Jayne Salviate @ Below the Fringe – 8pm
  

Live music will be provided by the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Sextet led by professor Bob Larson, Jon Rose and Friends, and the Latin Jazz group Tierra Firme.

The event will also include a desert bar and silent auction.  Tickets are $25 per person.  For more info, email crubridges@yahoo.com.

Plot Summary from IMDb.com: In 1994, a group of scientists discovered a cave in Southern France perfectly preserved for over 20,000 years and containing the earliest known human paintings. Knowing the cultural significance that the Chauvet Cave holds, the French government immediately cut-off all access to it, save a few archaeologists and paleontologists. But documentary filmmaker, Werner Herzog, has been given limited access, and now we get to go inside examining beautiful artwork created by our ancient ancestors around 32,000 years ago. He asks questions to various historians and scientists about what these humans would have been like and trying to build a bridge from the past to the present.

Music will be provided by harpist Allen Dec.  The afternoon’s menu includes choice of Teas served with cucumber, ham salad and pimento cheese sandwiches; warm scones; fruit, chocolates and lemon blossoms.

The event is $10 per person.  For reservations call 540-667-5869.

Charles Broadway Rouss Day: This Saturday we celebrate the birthday of Charles Broadway Rouss, whose contributions to the Winchester community are still felt by citizens even over a century after his death.  To remember his work, there will be a panel discussion on the man himself and the founding of the Winchester Hospital at 11am at the Old Hospital.  At 1pm, a wreath will be laid on his monument at Mount Hebron Cemetery.  Read more.

 The Big Kiss Event:  Set for February 11th, the Big Kiss has couples come downtown in an attempt for Winchester to break the record for most people kissing simultaneously. Last year’s Big Kiss broke Virginia’s former record.  The smooching happens at 2pm, but come early as the event will have free blood pressure checks courtesy of Shenandoah University Physician Assistant and Nursing students, music compliments of 98.3 KISS FM, and a donation raffle after the smooching. For every dollar donated to the American Heart Association, you will receive three raffle tickets for prizes donated by Old Town Merchants. Read more.

Wine Tasting: Murphy’s Beverage Co. will be having a wine tasting on Saturday, February 11th from 1-5pm.  The event will be featuring the wines of Bravo Wine Cellar, a distributor from Harrisonburg that specializes in the wines of Italy and Spain.

Live Music Schedule:

-Friday, February 10th

• DJ Freedom Ortiz @ Brewbaker’s Restaurant – 10pm to 1:30am
• Story for Hire @ Sweet Caroline’s – 9:30pm
• Shag @ Piccadilly Public House – 9pm to 1am
• Terry Oates @ The George Washington Hotel – 8pm

-Saturday, February 11th

• Lagerhead @ Brewbaker’s Restaurant – 10pm to 1:30am
• DJ Calibur@ Sweet Caroline’s – 8pm
• Moondog Medicine Show @ Piccadilly Public House – 9pm to 1am
  
• Terry Oates @ The George Washington Hotel – 8pm
  

On Friday, February 10th, first 50 people to enter Rouss City Hall will receive a birthday cupcake.

About C.B. Rouss:  Rouss, one of Winchester’s most notable benefactors and a well-known businessman, lived a life of triumphs and setbacks, but graciously paid homage to his hometown through his generous contributions. Rouss survived serving as a private in the Civil War, endured many financial setbacks – including imprisonment for his debts, and went blind in his later years. When Rouss died in 1902, he was worth nearly $10 million. His contributions to the Fire Companies, Mount Hebron Cemetery, City Hall, and his purchase of Thatcher Spring are still impacting the citizens of Winchester today. Join us this year to celebrate C.B. Rouss’ birthday, his contributions to Winchester and his legacy.

Events for Saturday, February 11th:

• 11am: Panel Discussion -”C.B. Rouss and the founding of the Winchester Hospital”
• 1pm: Wreath Laying at Rouss Monument in Mount Hebron Cemetery

The inclement weather date is scheduled for Saturday, February 18th.