Arts & Culture

Bay School: A Hidden Art Powerhouse in Mathews County

Tucked away among the rivers and creeks of the Chesapeake Bay, Mathews County packs an artistic punch that belies its small size: just 8,500 souls call its winding roads and fertile fields home. But this isn’t just another rural community—it’s an unexpected creative hotspot. At its core is the Bay School Community Arts Center. But […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Knot by Forrest Gander

The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet returns with photography-paired poems. Knot by Forrest Gander. Copper Canyon Press. pp.72. $25. Both photography and poetry need the “viewer/reader” to function properly. Poet Forrest Gander, who grew up in Annandale, and photographer Jack Shear’s first collaboration, Knot, works doubly hard to provide and elicit meaning […]

by Konstantin Rega

Favorite Books 2022

Our picks for the best books by Southern authors or that take place in the South. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Full Review Here (Our interview coming soon.) Buy a copy at The Bookshop. Author Bio: Barbara Kingsolver is the author of ten bestselling works of fiction, including the […]

by Staff

The Singularities

The Irish prose master returns with a novel filled with his past work. The Singularities by John Banville. Knopf, pp.320. $30. If there is a lonely man and an old house, you’re probably reading a John Banville novel. And one does not read Banville for plot—his unreliable narrators’ reliability make […]

by Konstantin Rega

Local Cheer

Some must-visit Christmas celebrations around the state. From iconic markets like Richmond’s Bizarre Bazaar to fledgling events like Middletown’s Kris Kringle Market at Belle Grove, Virginia plays host to a bevy of holiday artist hubs teeming with locally made goods. You’ll find baked treats and jewelry from more than 60 vendors at […]

by Staff

Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver’s latest novel follows an Appalachian orphan with a nod to Dickens. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Harper. pp.560. $32.50. A number of years ago, I met Barbara Kingsolver at Harvest Table (the restaurant founded by the author and her husband, Steven Hopp) in Meadowview. As my husband […]

by Staff

String Theory

The VMFA’s Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art gives the guitar its solo. Photo by Sandra Sellars, © 2022 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Leo Mazow says that the first thing people want to know about Storied Strings: , the guitar-centric exhibition he’s assembled at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), […]

by Don Harrison

Andriana Trigiani Interview

As her 17th novel debuts, she’s thankful for librarians, local theater, and her Virginia upbringing. New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani grew up in Big Stone Gap and, while she now lives in New York, her Virginia roots run deep. In The Good Left Undone (Dutton, April 2022), Trigiani, also a […]

by Konstantin Rega

Surf Artist

Abbi Custis draws beachy inspiration from the Eastern Shore. (Photo by Chris M. Rogers) When a client asked artist Abbi Custis to paint an old surfboard, it sparked a new passion. “I started thinking of the surfboard as a blank canvas,” she says. “People put them in beach houses, kids rooms, anywhere—just […]

by Constance Costas

Clay McLeod Chapman Interview

Ghost Eaters explores the haunted spaces in the mind and in the local landscape. Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman. Quirk Books. pp.304. $21.99. Konstantin Rega: So what inspired this book? Clay McLeod Chapman: Well, you know, I’m a Virginia boy through and through; I was born and raised in Richmond. […]

by Konstantin Rega

Creating a Community

The Library of Virginia’s Literary Awards are all about bringing people and books together. jay paul (All photographs by Jay Paul for the Library of Virginia) Not only is the Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards celebrating 25 years, but the Library of Virginia itself is about to reach its 200th anniversary […]

by Konstantin Rega

Bill Glose Interview

Gulf War veteran Bill Glose shows what happens when soldiers return in these short stories. All The Ruined Men by Bill Glose. St. Martins Press. pp.288. $27.99. Konstantin Rega: It must be kind of weird to be interviewed by Virginia Living since you used to be the book editor in the […]

by Konstantin Rega

The Muse & the Mosaic

At New Ravenna, Eastern Shore locals tap their inner artist. Lemons glass mosaic At last count, the town of Exmore on the Eastern Shore had 1,348 residents. Among them, 120 spend their days creating exquisite mosaic tile murals for New Ravenna, a company that sprawls through five buildings in Exmore’s sleepy downtown. […]

by Constance Costas

Celebrating the Queen

Virginia was her most visited state. SAC Matthew ‘Gerry’ Gerrard RAF MoD/Crown copyright 2016 38GpPO-Official-20160611-079-526 View of Buckingham Palace and the Mall during the Queens 90th Birthday Celebrations. Her Majesty’s official 90th Birthday celebrations ended with an impressive display of 15 different types of aircraft, five of which are being provided by squadrons celebrating their […]

by Konstantin Rega

Lost and Found

A shattered wine glass delivers a message. I was decluttering long before Marie Kondo-ing was a thing. Scuffed Teflon skillets, Sony Walkman, long-forgotten books. When an item outlives its usefulness, out it goes. But some things are so treasured that losing them can feel like a slap. No matter how much […]

by Staff

Sophia A. Nelson Interview

Nelson’s latest book explores 21 life lessons to be a better you. Be the One You Need by Sophia A. Nelson. Health Communications. pp.368. $17.95. Konstantin Rega: When did you come to Virginia? Sophia A. Nelson: I initially came here as a first-year law student at Washington and Lee […]

by Konstantin Rega

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Brook’s sixth novel dives into the life of the great racehorse Lexington and his trainer Jarret. (Painting by Edward Troye) Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Viking. pp.416. $28 “To be alive is to be in perpetual conflict,” is Sartre being a classic cynic but also a truth-teller. Conflict is everything […]

by Konstantin Rega

TJ Klune Interview

We talk to the bestselling YA author about his teen superhero romance series and other works. Heatwave by TJ Klune. Tor Teen. pp.384. $18.99. Konstantin Rega: When did you move to Virginia? TJ Klune: Before, my partner and I were living in Tucson, Arizona. We moved here in 2013, for my job. […]

by Konstantin Rega

Virginia in the Spotlight

Roanoke author Beth Macy’s book got Hollywood’s attention. Antony Platt HULU Dopesick Dopesick — “Breakthrough Pain” – Episode 102 — OxyContin is on the market but faces a potential threat, Purdue’s vast influence reaches the town of Finch Creek, Bridget steps outside her DEA authority, and the criminal investigation of OxyContin begins. Dr. Samuel […]

by Staff

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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

Can’t-Miss Spots in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park offers breathtaking views, scenic trails, and diverse wildlife—the perfect prescription for nature lovers. Some spots to add to your itinerary include: This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2025 issue.

by Stacy Watkins

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

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Can’t-Miss Spots in Shenandoah National Park

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