Culture

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Everyone knows tech geniuses are around every corner in Silicon Valley or Seattle. But don’t underestimate Virginia. The Commonwealth is becoming an increasingly major player in the tech industry, appearing on top techy lists worldwide. Hyperscale Hub From projected fusion plants to 3D-printed houses, it’s never a slow news day in the Old Dominion’s tech […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

A Quest to Save Lost First Air Force One

A highly customized, mirror-polished 1948 Lockheed C-121 Constellation with hand-painted lettering and art, four propellers, and a tapered fuselage shaped like a bottlenose dolphin secretly touched down in Seoul in November 1952 carrying U.S. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower. The former Allied Supreme Commander was there to fulfill a now-famous campaign promise: to visit the front […]

by Eric J. Wallace

Outfitting Your Home in the Digital Age

If aging in your home is a priority, check out AARP’s HomeFit program that reviews ways to make your home über-intelligent. Many new home builds have options for “smart home” features, including virtual assistants like Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa, or Apple’s Siri. These assistants handle many tasks with simple voice commands, such as turning TVs […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Restoration of 17-Century Ship in Virginia Sets Sails

—By Katie Farthing With the winds of hope and prosperity filling its sails, the Susan Constant landed at Jamestown in 1607 with 54 Englishmen aboard hoping for glory and gold. Fast forward 400 years, the original three-masted square rig has long since disappeared, but her lore has remained a vital connection to Virginia’s past, […]

by Staff

Find Art Along the ART

Metallic, prehistoric creatures welcome visitors to three riverfront parks along the Appomattox River Trail (ART). These Atlantic sturgeons, an ancient species of fish (think dinosaurs) stand in statue form on the riverbanks. Located in Hopewell’s City Park, Roslyn Landing Park in Colonial Heights, and Petersburg’s Patton Park, they raise awareness for river conservation and celebrate […]

by Hope Cartwright

New Deal Photography Captured Life in Virginia

Five New Deal agencies had photographic units, but the work of one specifically stands out: the expansive Farm Security Administration (FSA), which had more functions than any other agency due to its colossal mission of battling the Great Depression’s most widespread problem, rural poverty. Publicity was a key complement to FSA initiatives. But FSA photographers […]

by George Tisdale

Artistica Makes Art Accessible

At Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg, the focus is on living art and accessibility to consumers both in the gallery and through their online shop, Artistica. Michelline Hall, chief programming officer, explains their place in the art world: “We’re an art center. Our pieces are museum-worthy, but we’re dealing with living artists who […]

by Heather Bien

VMFA’s “A Long Arc” Captures Years of Southern Life Through Photography

On a winding path of more than 200 photos, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond tells the story of the American South, from early Antebellum daguerreotypes to vibrant, wall-sized modern photography. The exhibition, A Long Arc: Photography and the American South since 1845, runs through Jan. 26 and features hidden gems from […]

by Hope Cartwright

Culture Through Costumes with Ruth E. Carter

—By Katie Farthing Bright colors, bold patterns, and cultural significance define the Ruth E. Carter exhibition, Afrofuturism in Costume Design, at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation through Jan. 5. Visitors can explore hand-drawn sketches, real costumes, and Carter’s childhood sewing machine that tell this award-winning costume designer’s powerful story. Carter is most well-known for the outstanding costumes […]

by Staff

Mark Your Calendars for Virginia’s Studio Art Tours

If you’re interested in building or adding to your art collection, art tours are a wonderful way to check out a local art scene. They can be like moveable feasts, where perusing is encouraged and pressure to purchase is low-key. Unlike a gallery, artists are usually on hand to answer questions and schmooze with potential […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Booming Questions: Smart Planning is a Baby Boomer’s Must

It’s never too late to plan for retirement might be a cliché, but the hard truth is that Baby Boomers—whether they like it or not—are on deck now and for the next decade. For many of us, retirement is inevitable, and while financial planning is paramount, other considerations need sorting out, too. Where do I […]

by Madeline Mayhood

These Virginia Cities are Tops for Retirees

The golden years are about living your best life in ways you prioritize—be it weather, cost of living, or access to amenities like restaurants, golf courses, fitness facilities, and healthcare. With proximity to the mountains and coastline, Virginia is a nature lover’s mecca. And it’s one of the few states that counts Washington, D.C., as […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Building an Art Collection with Soul and Intention

Early memories shape the art we gravitate toward. That could be a walk through the Met on a childhood trip to New York. Perhaps it’s the illustrations from a favorite children’s book or a certain angle in your bedroom that stretched your understanding of color and light as the hours and seasons evolved. For Page […]

by Heather Bien

AI Tools Are Here to Stay

Are you someone who thinks AI is just a fad? If the answer is yes, experts like Walid Saad, electrical and computer engineering professor and artificial intelligence expert at Virginia Tech, suggest you reconsider. Saad likens AI today to the Internet of the 1990s: “Its adoption will be inevitable, and we should be well-informed in […]

by Madeline Mayhood

For a New Year’s Resolution, Capture Kismet

By Clare Osdene Schapiro | Illustration by Anna Godeassi What advice do you have for me?” a young friend recently asked over tea. Finished with college and starting out in her first job, she’s very responsible, clever, and has always been sensible and conscientious. At her age, I wasn’t any of those things. Nonetheless, I […]

by Staff

Virginia Ranks Best in Business, Lifestyle, and More

National publications, studies, and ranking lists agree: Virginia is for lovers—and winners. Here’s a look into several ways Virginia topped the charts in 2024: Our creative capital city CNN Travel crowned Richmond as America’s best town to visit in 2024 for its rich arts, culture, and history, plus a great food and beverage scene. Our […]

by Hope Cartwright

Polar Plunge Virginia: When, Where, and Record-Breaking Funds

Imagine this: a crowd of hundreds, outfitted in whacky, outrageous costumes—from Willy Wonka to Viking warriors—descends on the Atlantic Ocean in the middle of winter. Is it a movie scene? A convention? Hardly. In this case, the Virginia Beach oceanfront swarms with enthusiastic participants for the annual Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics of Virginia. The […]

by Hope Cartwright

A Quest to Map Virginia’s Lesser-Known Gray Fox

When you think “fox,” you might imagine your classic, straight-out-of-central-casting idea of fox: white chest and chin, russet body, white-tipped tail. Several fit the bill that I regularly encounter on early mornings in my wooded city neighborhood, nonchalantly angling their way across yards or trotting down the street. But Virginia has another fox you are […]

by caroline kettlewell

Matt Lively’s Murals are the Real Virginia Attractions

If you’ve driven around Richmond, you’ve probably spotted a few bees pedaling unicycles. No, not supernatural insects buzzing around the city. These beecycles are the creations of artist Matt Lively. Lively’s first love will always be sculpting, but his creative murals are all over Virginia—from Richmond to Norfolk, Loudoun, Petersburg, Gloucester, Sandston, and more. He […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

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Events

July 19, 2025

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

July 19, 2025

Seth Kibel & The Kleztet

Creative Cauldron

July 19, 2025

Shrek the Musical

All Saints Performing Arts Center

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Around the world, as both a beverage and a pastime, tea is steeped in history and ritual. From the casual to the ceremonial, tea is a throughline for many cultures, and now, it’s enjoying a renewed interest from beverage pros who are drawn to tea’s unique flavor characteristics, health benefits, and cultural connections. Recently, two […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

STAUNTON – Festival of Concerts June 26–Aug. 2: The stunning strums and resounding chords of classical music echo through Staunton’s mountain landscape as Heifetz International Music Institute students from around the world take the stage, with new concerts every day. HeifetzInstitute.org GLOUCESTER – Food Truck Frenzy July 13: Virginia’s most mouthwatering food trucks descend on […]

by Hope Cartwright

Top Summer Mountain Events in Virginia

Making the most of summer’s fleeting sweetness reaches new heights in a mountaintop setting. From the Blue Ridge to the Alleghenies, sun-soaked adventures unfold among soaring trees and peaks. Discover what Virginia’s ridges offer at mountain venues this summer. Chairlift Sunset Sessions, Roseland July 12 & Aug. 16 Take in sunset views of misty blue […]

by Hope Cartwright

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New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

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Events

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Seth Kibel & The Kleztet

Shrek the Musical

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Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

Top Summer Mountain Events in Virginia

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weekly newsletter: VL Today

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