Food & Drink

Martini 101: Classic Recipes, Variations, and Ordering Like a Pro

After espresso martinis took over cocktail menus and social media last year, many non-mixology scholars were left wondering: what, exactly, is a martini? Sipping on the creamy, coffee-forward drink with its adorable three-bean hat, it’s easy to forget that martinis, traditionally, are transparent, boozy, and feature a very different flavor profile. Despite its Italian-sounding name, […]

by Hope Cartwright

Charlottesville Bar Birch & Bloom’s Cocktail

This Charlottesville bar offers zero-waste cocktails from garden to glass. Here’s a recipe for Birch & Bloom’s Milk Punch Kimpton The Forum Hotel, Charlottesville Recipe courtesy of Daniel Beedle, chief mixologist and assistant food and beverage director 3 cups water 30 grams green cardamom pods (cracked) 40 grams cinnamon sticks 120 grams peeled ginger (thinly […]

by Hope Cartwright

Cocktail Muddling Recipes with MurLarkey

Muddling is a mixology technique sometimes taken for granted—listed as an instruction on countless classic cocktail recipes with no explanation given for the amateur, at-home bartenders following along. Here are some cocktail recipes courtesy of MurLarkey Spirits. MurLarkey Lemonito (stick muddled) 5 mint leaves ½ teaspoon sugar 2 lemon slices 1.5 ounce MurLarkey Lemon Whiskey […]

by Hope Cartwright

Chicano Boy dishes up burrito and taco perfection

Top-notch taqueria

by Madeline Mayhood

Enjoy peace and afternoon tea at Peace Hill Farm

Everyone’s summer bucket list should include afternoon tea at Peace Hill Farm. Set along the banks of the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, the property’s beautiful backdrop is perfect for relaxing inside or out and filling up with all sorts of delectables—and of course, tea. But don’t stop there. Make it a weekend, and […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Cooking with Kudzu

Kudzu was introduced in the U.S. in the 1940s, specifically for erosion control. Unfortunately, that was a huge bust, and this aggressive vine has become the scourge of much of the American South, invading open spaces and woodlands with lightning speed. No wonder its nickname is “foot-a-night” vine. While our relationship with this bionic creeper […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Indian spice meets American favorite in Keya’s potato chips

Savoring Bombay

by Hope Cartwright

This Louisa County winery just keeps celebrating

By Laura Drummond Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company opened its doors in 2021, and it’s been celebrating ever since. This family-owned boutique winery joins a growing collection of craft beverage makers in Louisa County. It’s one stop along the Fermentation Farm Trail, an agriculture-focused beverage trail that includes six area breweries, cideries, and wineries growing […]

by Staff

Meet Mable, the loveable Tipsy Wagen

By Ian Stalker Tipsy Wagen Tours uses a vintage vehicle to carry oenophiles in search of a great vintage. Even non-wine connoisseurs are welcome. The Palmyra-based company’s 1972 Volkswagen Bus— dubbed Mable—takes guests on tours through Virginia’s celebrated wine country. Mable’s life began as a taxi in Brazil before Katie and Ken Galan, who were […]

by Staff

Stratford Hall—Annual Oyster Roast & Auction

On a stellar April Sunday, nearly 200 guests attended Stratford Hall’s Annual Oyster Roast & Auction, led by the Northern Neck Friends of Stratford Committee. The event, on the grounds of Stratford Hall Historic Preserve, home of the Lee family, featured local oysters from Bevans Oyster Company and wine from Ingleside Vineyards. This year’s live […]

by Staff

Sage Bird Ciderworks crafts some of the state’s best

Peruse the drink menu at this downtown Harrisonburg craft cidery and you’ll find an action-packed list of oddities headlined by a trio of heirloom single-varietals—including the 2022 Black Twig, which won gold at the 2023 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition, the world’s largest cider contest. But Sage Bird’s most adventurous offering is the […]

by Staff

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

Three can’t-miss Shenandoah Valley farmers markets

Once called the breadbasket of the South, the Shenandoah Valley is home to four of Virginia’s top five farming counties and accounts for about a third of its total agricultural GDP. Fertile soils, broad grassy pastures, and dense forests ripe with berries, tubers, and walnuts bring heavenly produce and meat products—and superlative farmers markets. Here’s […]

by Staff

Delightful treats in downtown Abingdon

Anthony Perkins fell in love with baking as a child while helping his grandmother make annual holiday treats like pineapple cookies and Appalachian-style molasses stack cakes. But it wasn’t until he saw an internet pop-up ad for culinary school in his early 20s that he realized the passion could become a profession. “It sounds ridiculous, […]

by Staff

Brothers launch the first distillery to open in Roanoke in 100 years

In 2020, a trio of brothers set out to do something for the first time in more than a century: establish a distillery in Roanoke. Owner, head distiller, and eldest brother Tim Brady had a long-standing passion for craft beer, but saw a unique opportunity in spirits when he returned to his native city after […]

by Staff

Traditional English tea services come to southwest Virginia

When Fredericksburg-based serial entrepreneurs Matthew and Laura McClelland discovered the owner of popular Crest Hill Tea Room in The Plains planned to retire in 2022, they jumped at the opportunity to step in. The couple were longtime patrons and loved the eatery’s traditional afternoon English tea services, pastries, and sandwiches. But what came next was […]

by Staff

Try this farm-fresh trout dip from Smoke in Chimneys

Hoping to level-up your next charcuterie board? Look no further: Smoke in Chimneys’ farm-fresh trout dip brings an unparalleled blitz of savory, Shenandoah Valley flavor. Husband-and-wife owners Ty and Shannon Walker handcraft the small-batch, warm season offering on a restored, century-old Newcastle trout hatchery. Fish are raised the old-fashioned way in a complex of streams […]

by Staff

All that Amazon’s second headquarters has to offer

Arlington’s Met Park is the home to Amazon’s second headquarters—HQ2. The new building, on the corner of South Eads Street and 15th Street South, boasts an array of businesses and amenities to enjoy. The result is a bustling blend of corporate culture, commerce, and green space. Its parklike setting is where families, pets, employees, and community […]

by Staff

A cherished local pub reopens in NoVa

Arlington’s beloved Irish pub, Ireland’s Four Courts, was a community hallmark for years. In August 2022, a car plowed into the building, resulting in more than a dozen injuries, a massive fire, and damage that forced the business to close its doors indefinitely. Regulars, residents, and even competing Irish pubs alike rallied, raising nearly $100,000 […]

by Staff

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Events

July 5, 2025

Carlyle House Family Fun Day – Garden Gathering

July 5, 2025

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Carlyle House Historic Park

July 5, 2025

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Virginia Repertory Theatre

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

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

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

Food & Drink

Martini 101: Classic Recipes, Variations, and Ordering Like a Pro

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Events

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Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Food & Drink

Martini 101: Classic Recipes, Variations, and Ordering Like a Pro

Current Issue

Events

Carlyle House Family Fun Day – Garden Gathering

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

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weekly newsletter: VL Today

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