Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy is routinely named the region's best writer by readers of The Roanoker magazine.

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There has been no summer vacation for me this year.

Unexpected events, such as my children's reaching adulthood, earning money and having lives of their own, have caused me to think small.

Instead of the beach, I've gone to the movies.

Well, one movie, actually.

That would be "Once."

So far, I've seen it twice.

That's why I'm putting it first on my list of late-summer things to do for those who haven't done anything.

"Once" will play at the Grandin Theatre in Roanoke through Thursday.

I've seen it described as a musical, which conjures up goofy visions of Gene Kelly dancing on walls, and a musical comedy, a term that couldn't be further off.

It's a story, that's all -- a story with music. Lots of music.

Not show tunes, but music-in-the-making, as well as the music of attraction.

Naturally, it's Irish, because the Irish are the world's best storytellers. Refreshingly, it involves love of a sort, but not sex.

The R rating comes from the heavy use of the F-word, a prominent feature of young people everywhere.

I'm not going to tell you the story. I will say that a lot of seemingly predictable occurrences never occur, and a lot of electricity gets generated by the stars, Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, a pianist from the Czech Republic.

How good was it?

Well, I'm in a save-money mood these days, but the first thing I did after seeing "Once" was go to the mall and buy the soundtrack.

Feel free to disregard this rave review -- which agrees with Roanoke Times movie critic Chris Gladden's earlier review -- as the rantings of a cheap dude.

And, if you see it, feel free to dislike it.

Me, I'm thinking about going again.

Here's something else that's easy, inexpensive and enjoyable: Coda, the coffee shop in Grandin Village across the street from the movie theater.

It offers live music several nights a week, a relaxed environment and a clientele that includes middle-age people. In fact, they often dominate.

One Saturday night last winter I went there and saw many people I knew.

Other times, I've seen one or two -- but these are people I don't ordinarily run into.

Again, you may choose to disregard this recommendation. I'm just saying that this long, hot summer can be eased a bit with some cool, inexpensive diversions.

Of course, free advice is worth exactly as much as you pay for it.

That'll be 5 cents, please.

Joe Kennedy's column runs Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.