Doug Thompson announced on his Web site last week that Blue Ridge Muse, his gallery and studio in downtown Floyd, will close at the end of the month.

Thompson, who previously ran Blue Ridge Creative at the Jacksonville Center until 2006, said a "prime location" in Village Green persuaded him to give it another try and he opened the business in late 2007 at 201 E. Main St.

"In 2008, we held on, hoping things would improve," Thompson wrote in a Sept. 16 blog posting. "They didn't."

Thompson said the Muse will continue as a community news Web site.

"Like so many other businesses -- small, medium and large -- Blue Ridge Muse becomes partly a victim of a stagnant economy and an owner who just couldn't come up with a business plan that worked," Thompson wrote.

New pizza parlor opens in Blacksburg

A new eatery, Tech Pizza, opened last week at 890 Kabrich St., the former location of The Gobbler Italian Restaurant & Pub.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 2 a.m. Sunday. There is a lunch buffet offered until 2 p.m. each day, but customers can also eat in, carry out or have pizza delivered.

Brew Do tickets are now on sale

Tickets for the New River Valley's first craft beer festival, Blacksburg Brew Do, are on sale.

They are available at Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill at 1470 S. Main St. in Blacksburg or online at blacksburgbrewdo.com.

The Brew Do will be held at the First & Main center from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 24.

Thirteen breweries from Virginia and beyond will offer tastings of dozens of types of beers, ales, lagers and stouts.

The final judging of the home-brew competition will take place in the Bull & Bones Brew Tent followed by the announcement of "Best in Show."

Throughout the day live entertainment will be provided by Laura Beth and the Clover Hollow Boys, Mountain Legend Express and Gov't Plant.

Advance tickets are $20 for 10 tastings and $30 for 20 tastings. Gate pricing is $25 for 10 tastings and $35 for 20 tastings. Each tasting is 4 ounces.

Tickets for designated drivers and attendees aged 13 to 20 are $10 in advance or at the gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free, and everyone under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

CFNRV names new associate director

The Community Foundation of the New River Valley announced Monday it has hired Jessica Wirgau as its new associate executive director.

According to a news release from the foundation, the position will manage the foundation's grant-making process; organize and manage workshops, seminars and events; coordinate development work carried out by the board; and develop and manage new and existing programs responsive to community needs.

Wirgau earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in art history from Duke University and the University of Virginia, respectively. She is pursuing her doctorate at Virginia Tech's Center for Public Administration and Policy with a focus on arts and cultural policy and nonprofit management.

Wirgau worked in numerous nonprofit museums before coming in 2004 to the New River Valley, where she served as the town of Blacksburg's museum coordinator. Since 2007 she has been a part of the Arts Initiative at Virginia Tech, a universitywide effort to enhance the presence and practice of the arts on campus and in the surrounding region, where she worked to build community support for new arts facilities and programs.

CFNRV Executive Director Andy Morikawa said there were nearly 100 applicants from across the region and country for the new, full-time position.

In the end, Morikawa said in the news release, the best candidate was "one of our own."

-- The Roanoke Times