April 2025 Issue

Hargrave Military Academy Relaunches Flight Program

Hargrave Military Academy announced the revival of its aviation program through a strategic partnership with Averett University’s FAA-approved Part 141 flight school in Danville. The collaboration allows Hargrave cadets to pursue aviation studies, complete ground-school and flight lab courses for college credit, and gain hands-on flight experience. “The desired outcome is for cadets to complete […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Dirty Sodas Arrive in Virginia at Coco’s Sodas + Sweets

It’s not your standard big gulp that you can get from 7-Eleven,” says co-owner Ben Cichelli of the tricked-out drinks at Coco’s Sodas + Sweets in downtown Vienna. The shop caters to “soda purists,” as Ben might say—those who know the fizz difference between a fountain-pour drink and a bottled 2-liter, and who might be […]

by Hope Cartwright

Gluten-Free and Tasty Bakeries In Virginia

Gluten-free bakeries may sound like an oxymoron to some. After all, isn’t flour supposed to be the star of the show? Determined to set the record straight, dedicated GF bakeries around the state, however, are deftly baking delicious gluten-free delectables—from cakes and muffins to cookies and scones—ratcheting up competition with traditional bakeries. These dedicated GF […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

This Gluten-Free Soy Sauce is Made in Henrico

“As a child, soy sauce was such a familiar part of my life that I never considered it extraordinary,” says Takashi Sato, president and eighth-generation member of the founding family of San-J, an international soy sauce brand. Yet, the unassuming 10-ounce bottles of soy sauce have become just that: extraordinary. San-J produces those bottles at […]

by Hope Cartwright

Coastal Virginia’s Distilleries Embrace Seaside Inspo

A sun-warmed beach and an ice-cold cocktail: what is it about the pair that make such a perfect match? When the two adored relaxation rituals meet, magic happens—especially inside of Coastal Virginia’s distilleries. These distillers take oceanside inspo and bottle it, bringing the beach vibes to you. Blue Sky Distillery: The Blackbeard’s Point Rum reminds […]

by Hope Cartwright

Carpenter Bees: Virginia’s Valuable Pollinators

My introduction to carpenter bees came via a mysterious drift of sawdust on our deck. Stooping down to examine the underside of the railing, I found a perfectly round, finger-sized hole drilled neatly into the wood. When another tiny mound of sawdust appeared, then a third, I did as one does when faced with a […]

by caroline kettlewell

Shining a Spotlight on Local Flora

The 2-acre educational garden at Roanoke’s Virginia Western Community College welcomes its newest addition: the Sunny Meadow Native Garden. The carefully curated space, transformed from a former conifer patch, showcases Southwest Virginia’s native plant species. After extensive research and planning, students, staff, and volunteers brought the vision to life in spring 2024, creating a vibrant […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Books For Serious (and Aspiring) Gardeners

The Land is Full, by Nelson Byrd Woltz. The Monacelli Press, 2024 The latest book by Nelson Byrd Woltz (NBW), the renowned landscape architecture firm in Charlottesville, is a celebration of parks and public gardens whose designs reflect the land’s histories. From Houston’s 1,500-acre Memorial Park to Brooklyn’s Naval Yard meadows, NBW crafts spaces that […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Where to Get Your Edible Cookie Dough Fix in Virginia

Anyone who says they’ve never sneaked a taste of cookie dough before popping it in the oven is either lying or has superior self-restraint. Sometimes, the best part of baking is that secret sample. Now, you can do it with pride—and safely! Edible cookie dough has increasingly popped up on Virginia menus. Build Your Own […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Chickadees are Easy to Recognize, Hard to Tell Apart

When it comes to birdwatching, to call myself a rank amateur would be an insult to rank amateurs. Give me something incontrovertibly identifiable—your cardinals, your blue jays, your crows and Canada geese—and I’m all swagger and self-confidence. But throw a white-breasted nuthatch or a dark-eyed junco at me, or ask me to make the call […]

by caroline kettlewell

Arlington’s Ambar Serves Balkan Cuisine That’s Earned a Michelin Nod

They had to call it fried chicken. At first, the restaurateurs at Ambar put their signature dish on the menu by its preferred name—“monastery chicken.” It was served for generations to the monks at Gracanica Monastery in Serbia, to end their fast. “But nobody ordered it when we called it monastery chicken,” says Uros Jojic,director […]

by Craig Stoltz

Controlled Burns are Virginia’s Environmental Superpower

I’m guessing you don’t have this in a smaller size?” I ask the day’s burn boss. The bright yellow Nomex suit she hands me is laughably large on my 5-foot frame, requiring duct tape around the ankles so I don’t trip. While it may not be runway-worthy attire, I’m thankful for the peace of mind […]

by Ellen Kanzinger

Memorial Garden at River Farm Honors Longtime AHS Volunteer

The backyard garden of longtime American Horticultural Society volunteer Clara Plein is the inspiration for a posthumously named garden at the AHS headquarters at River Farm in Alexandria. Dedicated last summer, the Clara B. Plein Memorial Garden showcases combinations of native plants and cultivars based on how well they support the property’s natural ecosystems—from providing […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Alexandria Home Brings “Viewing Garden” Trend to Virginia

So many elements conspire to make an outdoor space successful—how it’s organized, how it’s used, how it functions over time, how it works as part of a larger composition. And then there’s the beauty factor—the eye candy in the form of plants and details—that paint a pleasing picture. In the case of a particular garden […]

by Kendra Taylor

Must-Have Gardening Gadgets & Gear for Spring

As gardens spring back to life, having the right stuff makes all the difference. We’ve curated this season’s most innovative and reliable garden essentials—from boots and blooms to balms and bags. Tame prickly beasts with these Felco 705 Rose Gloves—your armor against vicious roses. Their leather-suede construction and adjustable nylon cuff shield against even the […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Virginia Tech’s Partnership Will 3D-Print Homes Statewide

Technology continues to amaze us, from AI to driverless cars. Now, Virginia is … printing houses? Virginia Housing, the state’s housing finance agency, and Virginia Tech unveiled a robotic 3D printer last November in Virginia Beach, capable of constructing homes. The nearly 11-foot high, 4-ton Tvasta printer, designed and built in India, cuts construction time […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Pharma Growth and Boutique Hotel Fuel Petersburg’s Boom

Tens of thousands of drivers speed past Petersburg daily on I-95, but its exit ramps are becoming busier as the city emerges as a destination in itself. The industry is moving in and fast. Denmark-based pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk acquired a facility there last December, and Phlow Pharmaceutical launched operations last summer, positioning Petersburg as […]

by Hope Cartwright

Crab Point: Home & Landscaping on the Rappahannock River

Landscape plans are always works in progress. Expected outcomes can be confounded by weather, soil, wildlife, even changing goals. That’s why it’s helpful to take a long view—just as Susan and Michael Tempest are doing with Crab Point, their property at the tip of a high-profile White Stone peninsula. Working with father-and-son team Ken and […]

by Paula Peters Chambers

Finding Connection Through Birdwatching and Serendipity

While out for a stroll, my husband and I wander into a garden shop in Georgetown. The person behind the counter is in her 20s, pale-skinned, nose ring, blue jean overalls. “Can I help you find something?” she asks. “We’re looking for a tablecloth,” I tell her. She points to a stack of Indian block […]

by Page Evans Corey

Pages: 1234

Events

August 5, 2025

Become a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward!

Ivy Creek Natural Area

August 5, 2025

Virtual Battle Brief – Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794

National Museum of the United States Army

August 5, 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 Best Small-Batch Ice Cream Shops

Move over, chocolate and strawberry. It’s not that you’re boring, it’s just that Virginia’s small batch scoopers are churning out so many flavors that it makes plain old vanilla seem, well, vanilla. In the Old Dominion, we found that Scoop in Richmond’s Fan District is out of this world, with flavor bombs like Tahini & […]

by Madeline Mayhood

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

April 2025 Issue

Hargrave Military Academy Relaunches Flight Program

Current Issue

Events

Become a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward!

Virtual Battle Brief – Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794

Shrek the Musical

Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Virginia’s Best Small-Batch Ice Cream Shops

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

April 2025 Issue

Hargrave Military Academy Relaunches Flight Program

Current Issue

Events

Become a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward!

Virtual Battle Brief – Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794

Shrek the Musical

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Virginia’s Best Small-Batch Ice Cream Shops

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today