Gardens at Night to Feature Gypsy Jazz

Wine, Food, and Nighttime Garden Tours at September 11 Event

Winchester, VA 9/8/09… Gypsy jazz from the band Le Hotclub De Biglick, wine from Barrel Oak Winery, and grilled delights from Food-on-a-Stick will highlight the summer’s final Gardens at Night event on Friday, September 11, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

From Roanoke, Virginia, Le Hotclub de Biglick plays “gypsy jazz,” a style of music that became popular in the 1930s Parisian jazz scene. In the years before World War II, French musicians were emulating the jazz music coming out of America while incorporating the Gypsy influences that flavored their music and using guitars and violins instead of saxophones and trumpets. This style of music was made famous by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910–1953).

Named after the gathering of musicians to perform gypsy jazz referred to as the “Hotclub” and the town of Roanoke’s original name of Big Lick, Le Hotclub de Biglick plays energetic music that has the gypsy sound. The band is comprised of violinist Dan Adams, bass player Jeff Hoffman, and guitarists Cyrus Pace and Robert Casey. Le Hotclub de Biglick will perform jazz standards, original compositions, and their own arrangements of traditional gypsy folk songs during their Gardens at Night performance.

Along with music, this Friday’s event offers visitors the opportunity to see the Glen Burnie Gardens under dramatic nighttime lighting and to enjoy wine from Barrel Oak Winery of Delaplane, Virginia. The winery will be in the gardens selling its award-winning BOWHaus White and BOWHaus Red wines by the bottle or glass.

Attendees interested in non-alcoholic drinks and delicious food will be able to purchase sodas, bottled water, and freshly grilled chicken breast, hot dogs, and pineapple from Food-on-a-Stick. Strawberry shortcake will also be available. Food prices will range from $3 to $8.

During Gardens at Night, visitors are invited to explore six acres of gardens, tour the garden Visitor Center, and view a video detailing the story of the Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens. The Visitor Center includes a fascinating detailed miniature model of the historic house. The house and Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) are not open for tours during Gardens at Night. In the event of rain, the musical performance will be held in the MSV Reception Hall and the Museum galleries will be open for tours.

Gardens at Night admission is $5. MSV Members and children aged six and under are admitted free. Additional costs apply for wine and food purchases. No outside food or beverages will be permitted in the gardens. Those bringing picnics are welcome to enjoy their food and drink in the picnic area next to the garden entrance. While a limited number of chairs are provided, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

September’s Gardens at Night program is partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Glen Burnie Gardens are located on the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley campus at 901 Amherst Street in Winchester, Virginia. The Museum complex—which includes the Museum, the Glen Burnie Historic House, and the gardens—is open from Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Additional information is available by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 235, or referring to www.ShenandoahMuseum.org. – END –