June 2025 Issue

Make Your Independence Day Celebration Sparkle With these essential additions.

Make your Independence Day gathering spectacular with these star-spangled must-haves that combine patriotic flair with practical elegance and good taste. Create a star-spangled display with decorations from My Mind’s Eye. Stars and Stripes Decorative Hanging Stars fits the bill. $25. MyMindsEye.com Bring the American spirit to your pool this Fourth of July with Mark & […]

by Gracie Hayden

Unforgettable Events Across Virginia to Celebrate Independence Day 2025

With such a rich history, it’s no wonder that Virginia knows how to party like it’s 1776. These events across the state invite you to let your freedom ring this Fourth of July. July Fourth Celebration • Galax A display of American pride and small-town charm in downtown Galax. VisitGalax.com Fourth of July in Colonial […]

by Gracie Hayden

4 Virginia Breweries With Destination Onsite Stays

Virginia’s craft beer scene offers an embarrassment of hoppy riches, with breweries spanning from the Chesapeake Bay to the Shenandoah Valley. Entire interstates, like Nelson County’s Highway 151—sometimes known as the Brew Ridge Trail—are now dedicated to this thriving industry. But while brewery hopping is a great adventure, especially with a designated driver, there’s something […]

by Kinsey Gidick

Celeste Farms Takes Farm-to-Table to a New Level

Ian Newell wanted to create something meaningful, something people needed—like oxygen, water, or food. The first two, he reasoned, were already handled by nature and the utilities department. That left food. The 38-year-old founder and owner of Goatacado, a fast-casual, health-focused eatery in Richmond’s Fan district, dreamed of a place where people could get to […]

by Hope Cartwright

Yesteryear’s Medicine at Alexandria’s Apothecary Museum

Lauren Gleason, assistant director of education of the City of Alexandria, explains the fascinating ins and outs of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary. Imagine walking into a pharmacy today and asking for opium or morphine. You could—no prescription needed—at least until the 20th century rolled around. In 1914, the Harrison Narcotic Act was introduced into law, taxing […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Things to do in Old Town Alexandria

Entering Old Town Alexandria feels like someone waved a magic wand after navigating the notorious mixing bowl of I-95: Suddenly, it’s all worth it. The sun shines through the tree-lined streets between Georgian, Federal, and mid-century modern homes, and ivy-covered bricks welcome me. I have eight hours before returning home, so my wide eyes absorb […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Meet the Future of Biomedical Innovation at Virginia Tech

Move over, Shark Tank. At Virginia Tech’s Health Sciences and Technology campus in Roanoke, graduate students are diving into something even more challenging: turning complex medical discoveries into life-saving devices and products. In a high-stakes competition that mimics the popular TV show, 21 first-year students in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program recently […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Confessions of a Chronic Over (and Under) Packer

“You know they’ll have that there, right?” my boyfriend Jack asks while I stuff body wash into my bulging bag. What self-respecting Airbnb doesn’t have soap in their shower? I, however, am particular about my lavender-scented soap. I must have my own toiletries, which isn’t so outrageous, but the problems arise when I push my […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

The Most Loved Mayo Brands, According to Virginia Chefs

Of all the condiments in the door of your fridge, there is perhaps none as polarizing as mayonnaise. The sandwich spread evokes either devoted love or vehement repulsion, depending on whom you ask. Even among mayo lovers, there’s the issue of which brand is best, a debate that hinges on regional fealty, culinary posturing, and […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Summer Safety For Your Pets

Sizzling sidewalks. Scorching cars. Sweltering backyards. Summer’s heat threatens our four-legged friends in sneaky ways. Never—not even for “just a minute”—leave pets in parked cars. That quick errand could cost a life as temperatures skyrocket inside vehicles. Those midday walks? Save them for cooler days. Exercise your pets during dawn or dusk hours when temperatures […]

by Madeline Mayhood

The Ultimate Guide to Cycling Virginia’s Northern Neck

I’ve chased adventure by kayak down the Mississippi and skied pristine slopes near and far, but nothing rivals the intimate freedom of a well-planned bike journey. There’s an intoxicating simplicity in compressing your world into compact panniers and surrendering to the rhythm of the road—no deadlines, no obligations, just the hypnotic spin of wheels against […]

by Eric J. Wallace

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’s VMHC Launches Nation’s 250th Celebration

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) unveiled Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation on March 22—the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s iconic “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” speech. This groundbreaking exhibition, developed with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, is America’s first major commemoration of the nation’s semiquincentennial and runs […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Michelangelo at the Muscarelle

In a landmark cultural exchange, the Muscarelle Museum of Art, on the campus of William & Mary in Williamsburg, presents Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine, featuring nearly half of the master’s surviving Sistine Chapel sketches. The exhibition, through June 1, celebrates Michelangelo’s 550th birthday and offers rare insight into his creative process. Visitors can […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Heritage Meets Innovation at the Branch Museum in Richmond

The Branch Museum of Design in Richmond unveils its captivating Re-Think Design series with Re-Think Landscape Design, a dual exhibition, through June 8, celebrating both the storied past and sustainable future of landscape architecture. Genius by Nature in the Main Gallery highlights the masterful legacy of Charles Gillette (1886–1969), whose “Virginia Garden” style transformed the […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Essential Dental Tips for Kids Every Parent Should Know

Parents, here are 9 critical tips to help ensure your kids will have healthy teeth. 1. Start Early: Schedule first dental visit within 6 months of first tooth or by age 1. 2. Stay Cool: Your calm attitude helps keep kids relaxed at checkups. 3. Speak Up: Share concerns with your dentist openly. 4. Master […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Virginia’s Top Outdoor Events Kicking Off Summer 2025

RICHMOND – Dominion Energy Riverrock May 16–18: The James River turns into an adrenaline-filled playground at this outdoor bash. Watch kayakers face whitewater, climbers scale boulders, slackliners defy gravity, and dogs take flight in the high-flying Air Dog competition—all set to a live music lineup. RiverrockRVA.com SMITHFIELD – Smithfield Arts Festival May 17: This Pagan […]

by Hope Cartwright

Events

June 18, 2025

Pollinator Celebration

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs

June 18, 2025

Garden Walk with Brent Heath

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs

June 18, 2025

May – June @ Art Works!

Art Works

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

June 2025 Issue

Make Your Independence Day Celebration Sparkle With these essential additions.

Current Issue

Events

Pollinator Celebration

Garden Walk with Brent Heath

May – June @ Art Works!

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

June 2025 Issue

Make Your Independence Day Celebration Sparkle With these essential additions.

Current Issue

Events

Pollinator Celebration

Garden Walk with Brent Heath

May – June @ Art Works!

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

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today