Roanoke

Virginia Urban Trails & Greenways to Get You Outside

Connecting green spaces with urban trails to bring more natural beauty to U.S. cities isn’t new: Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted pioneered the concept in the 1860s when he designed Boston’s now-legendary Emerald Necklace. The revolutionary system used landscaped “greenways” to link 1,100 acres of metropolitan parks across 7 miles and 16 neighborhoods. The […]

by Eric J. Wallace

Roanoke Gala Supports Wildlife Rehab and Conservation

ROANOKE – Night Owl on the Town Hotel Roanoke An Eastern box turtle named Rio; Elv-hiss, an Eastern rat snake, and Zombie, an Eastern screech owl, were just some of the special guests at Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center’s Night Owl on the Town gala on Sept. 28, 2024. The event at Hotel Roanoke raised $60,000 […]

by Staff

Try Virginia’s cocktail of the year from Hotel Roanoke

Want to taste the official best cocktail in Virginia? The Hotel Roanoke can now claim that title, thanks to lead mixologist Henry Hill, Jr. The longtime bartender won the inaugural Virginia Cocktail Games in 2024 with his cocktail called “No Place Like Home.” The boozy concoction was inspired by the prompt: Why do you choose […]

by Erica Jackson Curran

No Place Like Home: Virginia’s Cocktail of the Year

Try this recipe that won the Virginia Cocktail Games in 2024.

by Erica Jackson Curran

Shining a Spotlight on Local Flora

The 2-acre educational garden at Roanoke’s Virginia Western Community College welcomes its newest addition: the Sunny Meadow Native Garden. The carefully curated space, transformed from a former conifer patch, showcases Southwest Virginia’s native plant species. After extensive research and planning, students, staff, and volunteers brought the vision to life in spring 2024, creating a vibrant […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Virginia’s Best Festivals & Parades

It’s not just the luck of the Irish that Virginians are so passionate about St. Patrick’s Day. So many Irishmen settled in Virginia in the 1700s that the Shenandoah Valley was once known as the “Irish Tract.” Whether you’re tracing your Celtic roots or just in it for the Guinness, cities across the Commonwealth have […]

by Hope Cartwright

Elevate Your Cocktails with Next-Level Garnishes

Garnishes can be so much more than aesthetic afterthought. “Garnish with” this or that is the standard end step in a cocktail recipe. Though last, garnishes certainly shouldn’t be considered the least, providing both added adornment and taste. Olives bob at the bottom of a dry martini, and a leafy celery stalk juts out of […]

by Hope Cartwright

Fun Garnishes to Top Off Your Cocktail

Spirited and unique, these cocktails come with oddly inventive garnishes that make them stand out at any party. Tomato Water Martini Sometimes less is more, and it certainly is in this case. Let tomatoes take over your taste buds in this terrific treat, thanks to The Vault at The Liberty Trust in Roanoke. 5 ounces […]

by Katie Farthing

Roanoke’s Vibrant Energy

Roanoke beckons with biking trails and more. For most of my life, Roanoke has been a bit of a mystery. Growing up at the opposite end of the state, I knew it only vaguely, as a railroad town on the edge of Appalachia, easy to zoom by on I-81 without blinking. (Photo by […]

by Staff

Most-Viewed Articles of 2022

Here are the Virginia Living articles readers loved this year: from croissants to costume design and everything in between. As always, we have had great fun serving our readers and seeing where their tastes lie—food, homes, Virginia towns, and farming—so it seems. One of the more surprising facts about this Top Ten list is that most of […]

by Staff

From Nuts to Soup

Ladle a luscious taste of autumn with Virginia peanut soup. It’s creamy and decadent, perfect for the first crisp day of fall. And although it’s been a Virginia taste tradition for centuries, peanut soup remains elusive on modern-day menus. It starts simply enough, with a hearty chicken stock. Fragrant with the […]

by Staff

Delicious Fare, Downtown Charm

Sidecar elevates Roanoke’s burgeoning restaurant scene. Sidecar welcomes diners with an established presence that makes it feel like an old friend. But this downtown Roanoke restaurant is relatively new to the culinary scene. Opened in 2020, just weeks before the city shut down, it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves. Housed […]

by Staff

Holiday Sides

These Thanksgiving sides easily double for any holiday get-together. Chef Tyler Thomas, River and rail, Va Oyster and Cornbread dressing Tyler Thomas The River and Rail Restaurant, Roanoke Chef Tyler Thomas, River and rail, Va Oyster and Cornbread dressing Every chef dreams of a day off, and for […]

by Staff

Local Cheer

Some must-visit Christmas celebrations around the state. From iconic markets like Richmond’s Bizarre Bazaar to fledgling events like Middletown’s Kris Kringle Market at Belle Grove, Virginia plays host to a bevy of holiday artist hubs teeming with locally made goods. You’ll find baked treats and jewelry from more than 60 vendors at […]

by Staff

Kinnfolk Interview

Celebrating the Irish spirit and making it their own. The Knotted Circle is an exploration of Celtic music by two musicians (Kinnfolk) who feel in love with the music of Ireland and then fell in love with one another in Roanoke, VA. Konstantin Rega: So what inspired this new album, The Knotted Circle? […]

by Konstantin Rega

Downhome Good Breakfast

Scratch Biscuit makes its mark on Roanoke. At Scratch Biscuit Company, the down home breakfasts come hot and homemade. “We make our biscuits by hand each day,” says owner Nathan Webster. Beyond favorites like egg and cheese or sausage biscuits, look for the Jerry Garcia with smoked tofu; the Jezebel, made with […]

by Konstantin Rega

Pinball Wizard

Play through the decades at the Roanoke Pinball Museum. Learn pinball’s fascinating history, master the physics behind the game, and attempt to beat the top score at Roanoke Pinball Museum. Since opening in 2015, players young and old can’t get enough. “People come in and can’t believe our collection,” says Nic […]

by Staff

Salvage Save

The road from salvage store to lifestyle brand. Sure, you could call it a salvage business, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of Black Dog Salvage. It all began in 1999, when Robert Kulp and Mike Whiteside bonded over the pending demolition of a local historic home. They made an offer […]

by Staff

Virginia in the Spotlight

Roanoke author Beth Macy’s book got Hollywood’s attention. Antony Platt HULU Dopesick Dopesick — “Breakthrough Pain” – Episode 102 — OxyContin is on the market but faces a potential threat, Purdue’s vast influence reaches the town of Finch Creek, Bridget steps outside her DEA authority, and the criminal investigation of OxyContin begins. Dr. Samuel […]

by Staff

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Events

September 18, 2025

An Artist’s Journey: The Bay School’s Annual Student Art Show

Bay School Community Arts Center/Art Speaks Gallery

September 18, 2025

Mathews ArtFest

Bay School Community Arts Center/Art Speaks Gallery

September 18, 2025

Mathews Plein Air 2025

Bay School Community Arts Center/Art Speaks Gallery

Submissions are open for Virginia Living's Top Wedding Vendor 2026 List!

Virginia’s Best Small-Batch Ice Cream Shops

Move over, chocolate and strawberry. It’s not that you’re boring, it’s just that Virginia’s small batch scoopers are churning out so many flavors that it makes plain old vanilla seem, well, vanilla. In the Old Dominion, we found that Scoop in Richmond’s Fan District is out of this world, with flavor bombs like Tahini & […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Top 10 Fall Festivals in Virginia 2025

Alexandria – 23rd Annual Alexandria Art Festival Sept. 13–14: Stroll Old Town’s John Carlyle Square Park as it’s transformed into an outdoor art gallery for this fall festival. Admire the work from more than 200 juried artisans from around the globe. VisitAlexandria.com Virginia Beach – VIRGINIA BEACH NEPTUNE FESTIVAL Sept. 26–28: The 51st anniversary of […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Everyone knows tech geniuses are around every corner in Silicon Valley or Seattle. But don’t underestimate Virginia. The Commonwealth is becoming an increasingly major player in the tech industry, appearing on top techy lists worldwide. Hyperscale Hub From projected fusion plants to 3D-printed houses, it’s never a slow news day in the Old Dominion’s tech […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Roanoke

Virginia Urban Trails & Greenways to Get You Outside

Current Issue

Events

An Artist’s Journey: The Bay School’s Annual Student Art Show

Mathews ArtFest

Mathews Plein Air 2025

Most Popular

Virginia’s Best Small-Batch Ice Cream Shops

Top 10 Fall Festivals in Virginia 2025

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Roanoke

Virginia Urban Trails & Greenways to Get You Outside

Current Issue

Events

An Artist’s Journey: The Bay School’s Annual Student Art Show

Mathews ArtFest

Mathews Plein Air 2025

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

Virginia’s Best Small-Batch Ice Cream Shops

Top 10 Fall Festivals in Virginia 2025

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today