Manassas Journal Messenger | City Focus for Sept. 20
The season of autumn inevitably brings with it telltale elements: elementary school projects showcasing various hues of orange, brown and golden leaves; heavier, darker-colored clothing being worn; and pools and libraries swapping operating hours.
What signals the change in weather with more seasoning, creativity and gluttony than a chili cook-off?
The Third Annual Loy E. Harris Pavilion Chili Cook-off Contest is scheduled for Saturday.
The schedule is: cooking starts at 10 a.m.; judging starts at 2 p.m.; crowd sampling begins at 2:10 p.m. Admission is free and promises lots of chili and music.
To those wanting to be crowned king or queen of chili prep, please note that the organizers will supply a booth, water, a cook table and a prep table. The rest is up to you.
Loy E. Harris Pavilion is located at 9201 Center St. in Manassas. For more information, call (703) 361-9800 or e-mail [email protected].
Loy E. Harris Pavilion is offering more than just third-degree tongue burns this week. New Orleans blues, jazz and zydeco will be featured tomorrow at a benefit concert to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. Gates will open at 6 p.m. for the free event, but a $5 donation is suggested.
Local restaurants will be donating the proceeds from the sale of food and drinks to the relief effort. For more information, visit www.okras.com.
If you usually drive on Center Street between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., stop it … at least until Wednesday after 8 p.m. Manassas has scheduled milling and repaving on Center Street today and Wednesday, weather permitting. Center Street will be closed to traffic from the intersection of Grant Avenue to the intersection of Zebedee Street between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Eastbound traffic will be detoured onto Prince William Street to Fairview Avenue and then to Center Street.
In the event of inclement weather, the schedule will be adjusted through Friday.
If you have information to share about services or events in Manassas and Manassas Park, please contact staff writer Tory N. Parrish at [email protected] or (703) 368-6570.