TLR has been in hibernation, so please pardon our dated material. But we are in the process of rebuilding and freshening the site with new cultural and political commentary to reflect the times: stay tuned!
DJ Stevie R returns with some hot and soulful new music picks!!
So, I was walking my dogs last Saturday afternoon (Feb. 16)and spotted a sign outside the Balls Bluff Tavern: “4 Metal Bands Tonight." Since my first musical love was 80s metal—Judas Priest, Metallica, Def Leppard--I had to go.
What a mistake.
I took my wife, Bob, and Tommy T. We grabbed a table and some beers and after much instrument tuning the first band began to play. I think their name was “Yard Work” from Richmond. (At least that’s what it sounded like he said.) The cacophony that erupted from the speakers was literally painful--way too much sound for such a small space. No melody, just overdriven noise. My wife emptied packets of Equal so she could shove the empty packets in her ears. The rest of us tore up napkins and fashioned ear plugs. The lead singer was singing but the vocal could not be heard over the wall of noise.
The crowd seemed to consist only of the members of the bands waiting to play. A few dudes stood in front of the band and slightly swayed, weird. Thankfully the set was short and I optimistically waited for the next band. The second band was “blah blah blah” from Sterling. (At least that’s what it sounded like he said.)
Once again the wall of noise assaulted us. We left halfway through the “blah blah blah” set. I give props for the bands efforts. They were enjoying themselves, but this was no Def Leppard or Krokus. In fact this was not heavy metal, but industrial metal, and unfortunately, very bad industrial metal. Of course I’ll return to the Bluff for live acts. But if a sign for "metal" appears again, my dogs and I will just steer clear, and you should too.
PLACE Winter Tennis at Ida Lee: Overall, A Smash Hit By Ima Goodget and Olive Tuplay The aero-dome is here! The aero-dome is here! And while we have been skeptical of its value to Leesburg in general — particularly compared to an outdoor pool, which the new indoor Ida Lee Tennis Centersomehow trumped – we’ve come around. Sure, from some angles it looks like a UFO, a Michelin man in repose, a recumbent Pillsbury Doughboy, particularly at night. And it also evokes Monty Python’s voracious Blancmange, the nebulous French dessert that swept Wimbledon by eating tennis superstars. But the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. And if you slip inside the new tennis bubble’s cavernous warmth on an icy night, it quickly becomes clear that this gigantic puddin’ pop is a terrific place to merrily thwack a tennis ball about, even in the dead of winter -- or what passes for that season these days. Indeed, if its popularity is any indication, the tennis bubble is a raging success, and it gets our unequivocal thumbs up. The Tennis Center, paid for by a 2004 bequest from A.V. Symington, was selected last year over several other improvements under consideration, including an outdoor aquatic center, following a process that included community input, and, apparently, a lot of lobbying by tennis buffs. (Don’t worry: the outdoor pool is scheduled to open in 2009!) Originally scheduled to open in October 2007, the project got off to a rocky start when the original structure malfunctioned due to a tear in the fabric. According to Wayne Jones, the Tennis Program Assistant at Ida Lee, the delay caused tremendous disappointment and resulted in Ida Lee having to refund many weeks worth of residents’ indoor time and lesson fees.The enormous structure, composed of three parts melded together, had to be replaced in its entirety by the Canadian-based manufacturer, Yeadon.At an overall cost of approximately $2.5 million (including $500,000 spent on improvements to the outdoor courts, landscaping and related structural elements), it finally opened in January 2008. Residents willing to shell out some $30 for an hour (for doubles that’s just $7.50 a head!) can now take advantage of four USTA regulation deca-turf (read: blue concrete) courts inside the complex, as well as a nice viewing area in the middle featuring comfy wood tables and chairs. The Center offers classes at all skill levels as well as private lessons by first-rate instructors. Jones points out that Leesburg is fortunate to have at the helm Moses Gittens (head tennis pro) "whose professional vision far exceeds what you would typically find in a public Parks and Recreation setting". The seven outdoor courts, resurfaced in October, are also top notch according to Jones. So don your Tretorns and go snog the Doughboy! Once there, you’ll be hooked -- and the workout may even help you sport that swimsuit at the new outdoor pool with a little more confidence next year. The Ida Lee Tennis Center phone number is (703) 737-6068
Eds. Note: A bit sterile, but with its good vibes day and night and proximity to main street, TLR Soul Rating®: 2
By Bill Horne LETTER FROM THE PROVINCES Feb. 5, 2008 Livin' la Vida LoCo? Speak for Yourself, WashPo. By Bill Horne
OBSERVED Juno, the Ho and me Jan. 25, 11:55 PM By Bill Horne
About this Site:
The Leesburg Review is an independent online journal of opinion devoted (for the most part) to deducing the existence of soul, or lack thereof, in the people, places, and things of Leesburg, Virginia and its environs. The exclusive TLR Soul Rating® employs scientific inquiry (ie soul-searching) to determine a precise grade for the soulfulness of these entities as follows: TLR SOUL RATING® 0 - Soulless 1 - Some Soul 2 - So-so Soul 3 - Mo' Soul 4 - Serious Soul 5 - Soul-Full
The Review is wholely owned and produced by its owners and editors. Please direct flattery, vitriol, and requests for the Weekly Email alike to editor@theleesburgreview.com
