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The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton Brings the Audience into Focus

The second season for its artistic director, Brandon Carter, marks two anniversaries: the 35th of the Center itself, as well as the 400th of Shakespeare’s First Folio.

by Meredith Lindemon

NoVA Wild is the New and Improved Reston Zoo

Tara Campbell Lussier didn’t know that she’d become the owner of the infamous Reston Zoo.

by Meredith Lindemon

Ovoka Farm’s Wagyu Beef Operation

Karen Way, CEO and founder of Ovoka Farm, wasn’t born into cattle farming, despite her ease in the pastoral countryside of Paris, Virginia. She spent over a decade as an attorney in Chicago, dreaming of a more bucolic life.

by Heather Bien

Ian Boden’s Bold Move

Star chef Ian Boden sent shock waves through Virginia’s gastronomy circles in August when he announced plans to leave The Shack and open a new culinary inn in downtown Staunton. The move comes just months before the acclaimed eatery turns 10.

by Eric J. Wallace

Four Hot Toddy Recipes to Warm You This Winter

Warm whiskey, honey, tea, even cloves—the hot toddy is the ultimate hot, boozy beverage. The classic recipe is like a steamy cousin to the old-fashioned. But these days, bartenders add citrus, apple cider, and warming spices to the mix.

by Renee Sklarew

Mouthwatering Mocktails: Exploring zero-proof options

Once written off as sugar bombs or poor imitations of their boozier counterparts, spirit-free beverages are anything but.

by Sylvie Baggett

21 Spoons Is Culinary Art with a Mission

Ann Butler keeps busy teaching the next generation about food—how to have a healthy relationship with what goes on their table and into their communities, but also important life skills rooted in food.

by John Haddad & Meredith Lindemon

Thomas Woltz and the Monticello Project

NBW worked there on a single project with two parts. When Monticello’s Visitor Center was envisioned in 2009, the foundation’s leadership was informed of a nearby burial ground for about 40 of Monticello’s enslaved population.

by J. Michael Welton

Glass Art in Virginia

“Glass was America’s first export,” says Charlotte Potter Kasic. She’s the executive director of Norfolk’s Barry Art Museum at Old Dominion University and a renowned glassmaker herself.

by Renee Sklarew

British Afternoon Teas in Virginia

To point the pinkie or to not point the pinkie? The question is eternal, but if you’re a tea afficionado and enjoy sipping from a china cup, you have plenty of options to immerse yourself in a modern-yet-proper very British tea.

by Staff

All About Acorns

Acorns are, of course, the fruit of oak trees. And they fall—of course—because tiny acorns/mighty oaks … you know the drill. Acorns are how oak trees make more oak trees.

by caroline kettlewell

Farmasea Restaurant is Low Country Inspired Seafood

Farmasea brings full-body Southern flavor profiles to its menu. The food is heavily influenced by Carolina Lowcountry cuisine refined by big city chefs and served using Coastal Virginia’s local ingredients.

by Madeline Mayhood

Seasons’ Yield Bread Days

Seasons’ Yield is in the milling business, and grinding flour and grains onsite is what helps create extra-special baked goods that get snatched up every other Saturday at Bread Day. Folks in the know can’t get enough.

by Max Watman

A Stunning Middleburg Renovation

Set on 18 acres, an overwrought, faux-Italian villa was gutted and infused with a timeless graciousness in this thoughtful renovation.

by Constance Costas

A Grand Villa on Monument Avenue

The careful stewardship of a Duncan Lee-designed home on Richmond’s Monument Avenue has preserved a family’s legacy for its next generation.

by tupponce joan

Poetic Sculpture

An interview with the artist who fuses words and art in this lyrical installation. Tom Hennessy Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture, a dynamic art installation at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, runs through October. Created by Falls Church-born artist Kate Raudenbush and New York-based poet Sha Michele, the installation is a […]

by Konstantin Rega

K9 to 5: Meet six working dog super heros

The term “man’s best friend” has endured since the 1700s, when Frederick the Great of Prussia coined it. At home, dogs are family members and loyal companions. And at work, they’re valued team members who take their jobs seriously. Meet canine celebrities Nadine, Bluto, Bruno, Sky, Irene, and Forest. From farm shepherds and truffle […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Study at Morrison House

Central American cuisine in Old Town Alexandria. The Study, Alexandria, VA I smile at the tableau of folks gathered around The Study Bar in Alexandria’s Morrison House. Emmanuel Pressley is shaking martinis for one couple, while a woman at the end of the bar nurses her Fire & Ice cocktail. Between sips, […]

by Staff

Virginia’s Portrait Artists

How Virginia’s finest artists—and their clients—are redefining a beloved Southern tradition. “Excited about college?” In 1980, Fielding Archer and his father were halfway to Hampden-Sydney, driving west on Route 60. The question should have been an easy layup. Archer hadn’t applied anywhere else. Instead, it plucked at a gnawing doubt. “Actually,” […]

by J. Michael Welton

Pages: 12

Events

July 9, 2025

June – July @ Art Works!

Art Works

July 9, 2025

Wind Down Wednesday: Open Air Concert Series at Stratford Hall

Stratford Hall

July 9, 2025

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

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

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

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

STAUNTON – Festival of Concerts June 26–Aug. 2: The stunning strums and resounding chords of classical music echo through Staunton’s mountain landscape as Heifetz International Music Institute students from around the world take the stage, with new concerts every day. HeifetzInstitute.org GLOUCESTER – Food Truck Frenzy July 13: Virginia’s most mouthwatering food trucks descend on […]

by Hope Cartwright

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The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton Brings the Audience into Focus

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Events

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Wind Down Wednesday: Open Air Concert Series at Stratford Hall

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

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New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

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The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton Brings the Audience into Focus

Current Issue

Events

June – July @ Art Works!

Wind Down Wednesday: Open Air Concert Series at Stratford Hall

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

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Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

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weekly newsletter: VL Today

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