Culture

Make Your Independence Day Celebration Sparkle With these essential additions.

Make your Independence Day gathering spectacular with these star-spangled must-haves that combine patriotic flair with practical elegance and good taste. Create a star-spangled display with decorations from My Mind’s Eye. Stars and Stripes Decorative Hanging Stars fits the bill. $25. MyMindsEye.com Bring the American spirit to your pool this Fourth of July with Mark & […]

by Gracie Hayden

Singular Vision

Master craftsman Hugo Kohl brings new life to vintage jewelry styles. Most days, Hugo Kohl can be found in his Harrisonburg workshop and boutique, doing what he loves: creating authentic, vintage-style jewelry. Kohl’s story began in 1993 when he visited Providence, Rhode Island, the historic center of Industrial Age jewelry manufacturing. […]

by Staff

Vogueing in the Valley

Summer trends and smart styles at these fashion-forward boutiques. Summer is right around the corner which means it’s time for a closet refresh. Linda Holden, owner of The Fashion Gallery in Verona, shares her fashion dos and don’ts for this season. First up, don’t be shy to be colorful this summer. […]

by Staff

Knockerball and Nerf Wars

Elevation Sports is “the most fun you’ll ever have.” Shutterstock People play bumperball zorbsoccer outdoor. summer time. Imagine running around in a giant, clear bubble, taking your frustrations out on a whole field of other bubbles. That’s Knockerball. It’s like bumper cars without the car. Elevation Sports in Harrisonburg promises the […]

by Staff

Beginner’s Guide to Aimee Mann

From a Berklee dropout to a Grammy Award-winner, Aimee Mann makes music she loves. SHERYL_NIELDS Aimee Mann is that sort of Indie musician that could have gone under the radar, but she hasn’t. Even with her softer voice and subtle reverb sound, the singer-songwriter gives depth, emotion, and energy to her work. Born […]

by Konstantin Rega

My Life on a Roller Coaster

A terrifying rite of summer becomes a family tradition. (Illustration by Robert Neubecker) Look around any theme park and you’ll notice two kinds of kids: the daredevils who ride every roller coaster, waving their hands in the air and screaming their heads off. And the timid ones, like I was, secretly praying […]

by Staff

Gift Giving 101

Experts weigh in on just the right hostess gift. More whisper than shout, a hostess gift has one essential purpose: to send a thoughtful gesture of appreciation. To help you get it just right, we polled some of our favorite gift shops for tips and ideas. Angela Phelps of Arlington’s Le […]

by Staff

Washington’s Winner

Mount Vernon sweeps three categories this year. Thalia Romero West Front of the Mansion, August 2020 Overlooking the Potomac River about eight miles south of Alexandria, Mount Vernon is the estate and burial site of George Washington and his wife, Martha. Today, visitors can explore the house along with its working farm, […]

by Staff

DEA Museum

Artifacts from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) surprise and fascinate. Stories of true crime and drug trafficking come vividly to life at Arlington’s DEA Museum. This newly renovated museum pays tribute to the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and explores the history and highlights of drug enforcement. The museum […]

by Staff

The Old Town Hive

Fashionistas flock to Alexandria’s trio of stylish shops. Renée C. Gage When a friend suggested to Elizabeth Todd that she open a shoe store in a tiny Old Town storefront, she jumped. “By the time I mentioned it to my husband, I was no longer pondering,” she recalls of her 2003 decision. […]

by Staff

Heartfelt Music

Conductor Valentina Peleggi draws out a new sound from the Richmond Symphony. (Photography by David Pearson) “When you make music, you make it with your heart. And this orchestra does that,” says the Richmond Symphony’s newest music director, Valentina Peleggi, who’s conducted in Baltimore and São Paulo. “Richmond is so welcoming and embracing of the […]

by Konstantin Rega

Founding Trip Advisor

Armed with Jefferson’s travel tips, writer Derek Baxter hits the road in his new book. (Engraving by Jane Braddick Peticolas, 1825) In Pursuit of Jefferson by Derek Baxter. Sourcebooks. pp.416. $27.99. When two of Jefferson’s compatriots asked his advice on traveling through Europe, he responded by pouring the insights […]

by Staff

Squeaky, Squealin’ Clean Cars

At Hogwash Express Car Wash, a couple shares their passion for the community. After buying an aging car wash near Richmond’s airport, Janet and Tom Hogg renovated it, installed new equipment, and Janet attended “car wash college” to launch Hogwash Express Car Wash in 2018. Now, with a second Hogwash on Broad […]

by Staff

Country to the Core

The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion celebrates country music and its birthplace. Billie Wheeler It’s the 95th anniversary of the Bristol Sessions and the 21st Rhythm and Roots Reunion which will be taking place Sept. 9-11 in downtown Bristol. We’ve sat down with the Executive Director of Advancement, Leah Ross, and local musician, Woody […]

by Konstantin Rega

Amanda Quain interview

Georgiana Darcy gets the Pride & Prejudice retelling she deserves in this YA romance. Accomplished by Amanda Quain. Wednesday Books. pp.320. $18.99 Konstantin Rega: When did you move to Virginia? Amanda Quain: I moved to the DMV area a year after college and then to Arlington two years later. And I […]

by Konstantin Rega

Smart Car Buying

Car-shopping tips when the supply chain is strained. Shutterstock Make, model, mileage. Leather seats or sunroof? There’s a lot to consider when buying a car. Now, add microchips to the list. Turns out a global scarcity of chips is causing a car shortage. And, unfortunately, these problems aren’t ending anytime soon, say […]

by Staff

Northern Neck Orchestra

Small town charm meets big city orchestra. Kilmarnock just might be the smallest town in the U.S. to boast a full-sized orchestra. Founded in 1991, Northern Neck Orchestra celebrates its 30th season this year with an impressive range of performances led by award-winning conductor Michael Repper, who has worked with the New […]

by Staff

Bookworm’s Paradise

Chincoteague Island’s Sundial Books charms with its small town appeal. “When we opened in 2007, there were three other bookstores in Chincoteague,” says coowner Jane Richstein of Sundial Books, “now it’s just us.” But even through the past two years, says Richstein’s husband and co-owner, Jonathan, “the community as a whole stepped […]

by Konstantin Rega

Show Them the Money

Kids learn valuable lessons from financial literacy. Even young children can learn valuable financial skills by handling real money, says Felicia Stovall of Chesapeake Wealth Management. “The experience of holding the money is much more real than looking at it on a screen.” She says it’s important for kids to understand that […]

by Staff

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Events

June 28, 2025

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Carlyle House Historic Park

June 28, 2025

The Mariners’ Sips & Trips

The Mariners’ Museum and Park

June 28, 2025

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Eight Virginia schools received the National Blue Ribbon 2024 award for their high performances. The Exemplary High Performing Schools are Spring Hill Elementary in McLean, Green Run Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Bethel Manor Elementary in Hampton, and St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. The Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are Central Academy Middle […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

The University of Virginia has climbed to No. 4 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, advancing one position from last year. The university maintained its No. 24 overall ranking, tying with Emory and Georgetown universities. UVA’s commitment to accessibility and student success stands out in several key metrics. […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Small Town, Big History: The Stories of Abingdon

Long before the first European settlers ventured into the American wilderness, the Delaware and Catawba tribes tracked a buffalo trace through the Shenandoah Mountains. Abingdon—once known as Wolf Hills—emerged along this trail, today’s Route 11. Frequented by westward expansionists on the Great Valley Road, Main Street grew. Today, the city of 8,336 residents hugs Route […]

by Michael C. Upton

Culture

Make Your Independence Day Celebration Sparkle With these essential additions.

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Events

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

The Mariners’ Sips & Trips

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Small Town, Big History: The Stories of Abingdon

Culture

Make Your Independence Day Celebration Sparkle With these essential additions.

Current Issue

Events

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

The Mariners’ Sips & Trips

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Small Town, Big History: The Stories of Abingdon

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weekly newsletter: VL Today

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weekly newsletter: VL Today