February 2025 Issue

Children’s Hospital Gala for Art and Music Therapy

Richmond – 61st Annual Children’s Hospital Foundation Ball Country Club of Virginia Themed “Some Enchanted Evening,” this long-standing annual gala lit up the Country Club of Virginia on Nov. 1, 2024. Hosted by the Junior Board of Children’s Hospital Foundation and presented by Davenport & Company and Trailer Recycling Services, the glamorous night, featured cocktails, […]

by Staff

SPARC’s 2024 Gala Honors Community and Advocates

Dulles – SPARC—Gratitude Gala 2024 Washington Dulles Airport Marriott The Specially Adapted Resource Center (SPARC) Gratitude Gala, held on Nov. 2, 2024, brought together community leaders and supporters for a heartfelt evening of recognition and celebration. Honoring Sen. Mark Warner as SPARC Hero of the Year, the event underscored the organization’s mission to empower young […]

by Staff

Virginia’s Most Unique Spa Treatments

As I quasi-drifted toward my husband, clearly in a dizzying state of bliss, I heard him ask, “Did you have some champagne or something in there?” He eyed me carefully as I emerged—a bit wobbly—from a 105-minute gemstone light and body treatment at The Spa at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyard. “No,” I whispered, although I […]

by Amy Brecount White

Colonial America’s Favorite Cocktails, From Virginia Distillers

In their mission to recreate the libations of yore, Williamsburg-based 8 Shires Distillery dove deep into historic records—ledgers, ship manifests, journals, and personal diaries—to uncover the drinking habits of Colonial America. Through all their research, one fact stands out: “For the most part, everybody drank all day long,” says general manager Tucker Casanova. All that […]

by Hope Cartwright

Valerie Darden Invites Us Into Her Home

Ashland is quintessential small-town America, what with its historic downtown, cozy local businesses, bike routes, and friendly neighbors. So what better place to call home for someone whose life in Virginia has been somewhat charmed, like decorator Valerie Darden? Since moving to Virginia from New Jersey in 2007, Darden’s life has been full. She married […]

by Charlotte Safavi

Virginia’s Street Food Scene Looks East

Fast food is leveling up thanks to an increased demand from Asian street food lovers. Read about these Virginia businesses that are answering the call. The Thai Pan • Leesburg Brilliantly positioned next to a Leesburg gas station, The Thai Pan offers on-the-go grub—from spring rolls and fried calamari to pad Thai and Thai fried […]

by Katie Farthing

Virginia Food Halls are Social Hubs and Culinary Hotspots

Deciding where to eat: a struggle that continuously threatens to foil plans for a fun, food-filled night out. Suddenly, every category, flavor, and variety of food flies out of your head. When you know you want to go out to eat, but can’t think of what to eat, epic food halls do the hard work […]

by Hope Cartwright

A Toast to Love: Selecting Signature Drinks for Your Wedding

Beyond floral centerpieces and that all-important first dance song, there’s another crowd-pleasing way to make yours and your partner’s personality shine in a sippable fashion: offer a signature drink designed by a pro. According to Chris Webster, owner of The Easy Pour Mobile Bar in Fairfax, a specialty cocktail or mocktail is more personalizable than […]

by Jennifer Prince

Stylish Ways to Feature Your Pets at Your Wedding

Pets are family, so why not include them in the big day? From ponies and dogs to cats, here are some of our favorite ways couples are bringing their four-legged friends into the celebration: Featured photo by Abigail Thomas Photography/Michael & Anja 2025 wedding submission. This article originally appeared in the February 2025 issue.

by Hope Cartwright

How to Find Your Ideal Wedding Vendors

Selecting the right vendor is important. Is the baker whose cake caught your eye a good fit for your needs? Can your budget cope with that ace photographer’s pricing? Your personalities should mesh, too. If your wedding planner is not much on organization or your florist wants to ship peonies in from New Zealand, maybe […]

by Jennifer Prince

Bold Hues Bring Weddings to Life

A crisp, white wedding gown; a pristine ivory-frosted cake; simple cream tablecloths. It’s the stuff of dreams for many brides-to-be—but not all. For maximalist, color-loving brides, a monochromatic palette spells ho-hum. But color is alive and well in the wedding world, with vendors dishing out vibrant-hued cakes of green, yellow, and blue and wedding dresses […]

by Hope Cartwright

The Case for Choosing In-Season Flowers

While many details make your wedding day beautiful, flowers are possibly the most impactful. They’re carried down the aisle, they adorn seats and church pews, they decorate your reception tables—with all those fresh blooms adding color, texture, and fragrance to your big day. However, all that impact comes at a price, as flowers can also […]

by Jennifer Prince

AI is Revolutionizing the Fitness Industry

Artificial intelligence stands to redefine every aspect of our world—communicating, manufacturing, e-commerce, and frontiers we have yet to imagine. Now, with the accessibility of AI-powered fitness tools and personalized training, we’re witnessing a new era of exercise. By collecting data as you exercise, advanced AI can customize fitness plans, track progress, and offer real-time feedback […]

by Dylan Hostetter

Ways to Honor Important Relationships at Your Wedding

Weddings are perfect for acknowledging the special people in your life. Beyond readings, special corsages, and wedding party roles, we’ve assembled a few unexpected ways to honor loved ones. 1. Borrow something from them, such as wearing your father’s bowtie or your grandmother’s pearls. 2. Add a favorite food of theirs to your day whether […]

by Jennifer Prince

Flex-Friendly Fitness Studios Around Virginia

Stretching is foundational to fitness. Flexibility may be taken for granted, but it’s everywhere—it’s how we bend down to pet a dog, reach across the dinner table for mashed potatoes, and climb the stairs. According to Medical News Today, the plethora of benefits to stretching—beyond helping with activities of daily living—include mood and focus enhancement, […]

by Hope Cartwright

Omega-3s and Where to Find Them

If the classification of Omega-3 as a “fatty acid” sends you into a panic, relax. These are unsaturated, good fats that provide necessary energy to cell structures all over our bodies. They can also play vital roles in heart and brain health by reducing the risk of both blood clotting and stroke, and in some […]

by Dylan Hostetter

Virginia Living Weddings 2025

Vows Meet Vision: Because nothing says “forever” like a personal touch. Dreamy ball gowns swirl and pastel florals bloom as the wedding world reels toward fresh, one-of-a-kind nuptial celebrations. Individuality reigns—weddings today can be as vibrant, soft, intimate, bold, elegant, or whimsical as each couple desires. The phrase “It’s your day” has never rung so […]

by Hope Cartwright

How Trees Benefit Hearts and Homes

Anna Aquino, a Richmond-based landscape architect, can quickly rattle off a litany of why trees make good citizens—they provide oxygen, improve air quality, enhance wellbeing, improve moods, filter pollutants, prevent soil erosion, offer shade and cooling effects, shelter wildlife, reduce noise pollution, and beautify spaces in which they grow. “Trees have an almost magical beauty,” […]

by Madeline Mayhood

How Virginia’s First Post-Prohibition Distillery Got Its Spirit

Ambrosial, musky, and sweet fragrances of alcohol waft through: The A. Smith Bowman Distillery barrel warehouse welcomes with a distinct aroma. The wood varies from Hungarian to Austrian, American, Brazilian, and more—all destined for Bowman products. But the story behind the Bowman name goes deeper than whiskey. The company’s stills, George and Mary, aren’t named […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Pages: 1234

Events

June 25, 2025

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

June 26, 2025

Coffee + Conversation

Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

June 26, 2025

We the People – The Women’s Army Corps in World War II

National Museum of the United States Army

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

February 2025 Issue

Children’s Hospital Gala for Art and Music Therapy

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Events

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Coffee + Conversation

We the People – The Women’s Army Corps in World War II

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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

February 2025 Issue

Children’s Hospital Gala for Art and Music Therapy

Current Issue

Events

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Coffee + Conversation

We the People – The Women’s Army Corps in World War II

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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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