Arts & Culture

Ma Cong’s Artistic Revolution at the Richmond Ballet

Anticipation hums through the air as the audiences settle into Richmond’s Leslie Cheek Theater at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), double-checking silenced phones and shifting for the best view of the eminent stage, framed by colossal red curtains. The feeling is unmistakable—a quiet, buzzy awe, knowing something extraordinary is about to unfold. Among […]

by Hope Cartwright

Richmond Ballet Gala 2024—Milonga: An Evening of Tango

At the Richmond Ballet’s premier fundraising event of the season in April, 300 guests convened to enjoy a night of Argentine food and dance, as well as a silent and live auction. Milonga attendees were awed by dancers from Virginia Tango, a tango-inspired ballet choreographed by the company’s new artistic director, Ma Cong. Later, they […]

by Staff

Books to dive into this summer

Take note of what Virginia has to offer—authors and stories alike.

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Headwaters Down Productions navigates the James

If you know Richmond, you know river people. People who spend every free moment on the James, lounging on rocks at Belle Isle or paddling through whitewater rapids. In 2020, UVA grads Will Gemma, Justin Black, and Dietrich Teschner weren’t your average river people. Gemma was a writer in California, Black a touring musician, and […]

by Hope Cartwright

Surf’s up in Virginia Beach

We all know Virginia Beach for its oceanside offerings: the sand, sunshine, and its white caps and crashing waves—beach is literally in its name, after all. And from Aug. 18–25, it’s time to put that wave energy to good use on a surfboard. As the longest, continually running surfing contest in the world (62 years […]

by Hope Cartwright

Plucking the heartstrings of Virginia folk at Appaloosa Festival

Find a different kind of music festival in Front Royal this summer at Appaloosa. Bluegrass, Americana, and Celtic tunes pour out from the stages, the acoustic strumming and folksy strains filling the late summer air. Over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31–Sept. 1, retreat to the nostalgic Skyline Ranch Resort, where authentic American homegrown music converges […]

by Hope Cartwright

Hampton Roads nonprofits help coastal communities

The Community Resilience Innovation Challenge is targeting entrepreneurs to solve one of Hampton Roads’ most pressing problems: protecting its residents from flooding and rising sea levels. An initiative from Hampton Roads RISE Resilience Innovations and LISC Hampton Roads (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), the project’s goal is to fortify coastal communities by addressing core environmental concerns […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Pedestrian Palooza: Community, cuisine, car-less streets

Lazy afternoons spent strolling down King Street in Old Town Alexandria are about to get better. The car-free, pedestrian portion of the street is here to stay—perfect for window shopping, stopping for a bite or an ice cream cone, and meandering with friends. Implemented to promote walkability, outdoor dining, and event activation, the pedestrian zone […]

by Staff

Pharrell spotlights Virginia roots in upcoming film

Don’t be surprised if you see film crews throughout Hampton Roads and Richmond this summer. Virginia native Pharrell—as in Pharrell Williams, singer, songwriter, and music producer—heads home in the name of movie-making. Set in 1977, the musical biopic will showcase his childhood in Virginia Beach featuring the Atlantis Apartments where he grew up. This […]

by Hope Cartwright

Winchester makerspace invites members to explore their inner maker

Winchester’s Valley Makers Association provides a fun and supportive space to flex your creativity, tackle projects, and immerse yourself in all things fabrication. A $40 membership brings 24/7 access to a communal workshop equipped with an expansive collection of prograde tools that range from 3D printers, to table saws, welders, CNC machines, and metal presses. […]

by Staff

Add these NoVa art galleries to your next cultural outing

Virginia’s art scene is vibrant, and Northern Virginia is brimming with talent. Immerse yourself in fine art at these three galleries. Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria is one of the country’s largest collections of artists working under one roof. Visit this institution that has been fostering connections between artists and the public for more […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Japanese influence meets colonial elegance in a twist

Hotel AKA Alexandria, a 2023 addition to the historic Old Town neighborhood, could “also be known as” Alexandria’s most enigmatic new accommodation. The hotel’s design, décor, and architectural detailing embody a fascinating fusion of Japanese minimalism and colonial influence, led by the creative direction of Italian architect Piero Lissoni. The muted colors and soft contours […]

by Staff

Nab distinctive gifts at these top museum gift shops

Not all museum gift shops are made equal. These top spots offer one-of-a-kind merchandise that lets you take home a slice of the experience or share it with family and friends. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond—The Commonwealth’s premier destination for fine art also brings primo shopping opportunities. Here you’ll find fun, branded staples like […]

by Staff

Salt Wood Studios crafts one-of-a-kind mixed-media maps

Richmond-based artist Chris Lombard was painting a seascape in 2020 when he thought, “What if instead of looking out on the ocean from the beach, I tried a birds-eye view?” he says. “Then I thought, ‘But that’s 2D, how would you make it artistically interesting?’” The question led Lombard down a career-altering, creative rabbit hole. […]

by Staff

Historic Roanoke mansion and one-of-a-kind rec center gets a facelift

For nearly 60 years, people have gathered at the Historic Fishburn Mansion and estate in downtown Roanoke for daily activities like architectural tours, yoga, tai chi, card games, and painting parties. Businessman Junius B. Fishburn built the 42-room, Georgian-revival style home, now a Virginia Historic Landmark, in 1907 and left it to the city in […]

by Staff

L.C. King has been handcrafting denim for more than a century.

Step into L.C. King’s chic but rugged downtown Bristol showroom, and you’ll find a mix of heirloom-quality jeans, jackets, hunting vests, button-up shirts, belts, and wallets that range from workaday-tough to fashionably on-trend. What’s more astonishing is their provenance: All are handmade on site by master sewers in one of America’s last continually operating, family-branded […]

by Staff

PBS brings digital, region-specific programming to southwest Virginia

The nation’s first all-digital public TV network, PBS Appalachia Virginia, made waves when it won a Capital Emmy and announced its new studio would be housed in Bristol’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino just days before launching in June 2023. The network brings four channels—one of them 100 percent region-dedicated—to 14 Southwest Virginia counties that […]

by Staff

Exploring Blue Ridge Folkways

Inside the Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts

by Staff

Bath County’s beloved art gallery celebrates 30 years

Warm Springs Gallery When owner-artist Barbara Buhr announced plans to open an art gallery and café in a 5,000-person rural mountain county, residents thought she’d gone nutty. “Sometimes I think it’s amazing I’ve managed to maintain a business in such a remote [area] and support myself in this community,” says Buhr. But 30 years later, […]

by Staff

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Events

June 20, 2025

Slice of History: Civics Pizza Party at Woodlawn

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

June 20, 2025

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

June 20, 2025

Lend Me A Soprano

ARTfactory

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

Arts & Culture

Ma Cong’s Artistic Revolution at the Richmond Ballet

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Events

Slice of History: Civics Pizza Party at Woodlawn

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Lend Me A Soprano

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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

Arts & Culture

Ma Cong’s Artistic Revolution at the Richmond Ballet

Current Issue

Events

Slice of History: Civics Pizza Party at Woodlawn

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Lend Me A Soprano

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

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

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weekly newsletter: VL Today

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