Phyllis Theroux

A Californian by birth, author and essayist Phyllis Theroux settled on the East Coast before finding her way—and losing her heart—to Ashland. Her memoir, The Journal Keeper, explains why she calls Virginia home.

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Culture

Southern Ways

She was just passing through; but Ashland had other plans. (Illustration by Jane Webster) In my mid-40s, I almost married a farmer-professor from Vermont. In preparation for my new life, I bought a pair of rubberized boots, a new L.L. Bean parka, and tried to get interested in tapping trees for maple syrup. […]

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Top 10 Fall Festivals in Virginia 2025

Alexandria – 23rd Annual Alexandria Art Festival Sept. 13–14: Stroll Old Town’s John Carlyle Square Park as it’s transformed into an outdoor art gallery for this fall festival. Admire the work from more than 200 juried artisans from around the globe. VisitAlexandria.com Virginia Beach – VIRGINIA BEACH NEPTUNE FESTIVAL Sept. 26–28: The 51st anniversary of […]

by Madeline Mayhood

A Couple’s Small-Town Makeover

After a successful career in investigative services in Washington, D.C., Terri Wesselman and her husband, Julien Patterson, decided to settle down in Irvington. Initially drawn to the area by the Tides Inn, the couple had been weekending in the Northern Neck since the late ’90s. “There was something about the area that was quiet but […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Staunton’s Queen City Mischief & Magic Celebrates 10 Years

You’ll hear the festival before you see it, mostly through the excited shouts of even more excited children. You’ll feel your footsteps fastening almost of their own accord, driven by the anticipation that hangs like a spell over the town of Staunton. And as the buildings of Beverley Street envelop you, some centuries old, you’ll […]

by Hope Cartwright