Roanoke

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

–By Katie Farthing 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 […]

by Staff

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

The Life-Changing Magic of Fly Fishing

For these dedicated anglers, casting a line brought new possibilities. Fly Fishing Virginia Beaver Creek (Photography by Kyle Laferriere) For Beau Beasley, it all began in the back of an ambulance. Beasley, a 23-year-old Fairfax County paramedic at the time, had responded to a call concerning an angler at Burkes Lake who […]

by Staff

Ruth E. Carter Exhibit

Movie costumes showcase a master designer’s four decades of passion. Colin Douglas Gray SCAD Atlanta – Winter 2021 – Exhibitions – Ruth E. Carter – “Afrofuturism in Costume Design” – Documentation – SCADFash – Photography Courtesy of SCAD (Taubman Museum; photo courtesy of Scad) Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter has worked […]

by Konstantin Rega

One House at a Time

Historic renovations bring housing to Roanoke’s needy. Roanoke’s Restoration Housing is breathing new life into blighted historic-district properties while helping those in need of stable housing. Founded in 2014 by Isabel Thornton, a preservationist and affordable housing developer, the nonprofit has transformed five homes, now occupied by local nonprofits and low-income residents looking […]

by Elizabeth Cogar

Breaking the Ice

Welcome programs help newcomers feel at home in new surroundings. Shutterstock Portrait of cheerful seniors playing card game at lunch table on outdoor terrace laughing happily Being new in a senior living community can feel a little like the first day at a new school. Your surroundings are unfamiliar, and you haven’t […]

by Elizabeth Cogar

The War on Drugs

Roanoke author Beth Macy’s bestseller about drugs is now a series streaming on Hulu. Here’s what her publisher says: In this extraordinary work, Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of a national drama that has unfolded over two decades. From the labs and marketing departments of big pharma to local doctor’s offices; […]

by Staff

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Events

March 20, 2025

Clay Creations: A Ceramic Celebration Exhibition – Call for Entries

Crossroads Art Center

March 20, 2025

February – March @ Art Works!

Art Works

March 20, 2025

Cabin Fever Concert with Poisoned Dwarf

10 Speakeasies Across Virginia & How to Find Them

Tucked in hidden alleyways and behind disguised doors lie some of the state’s best-kept secrets … and cocktails. Speakeasies promising vintage vibes and low-light charm dot the map far and wide, but where to find them? Here are 10 to get you started on a journey to delicious drinks and illicit adventures of 1920s allure. […]

by Hope Cartwright

Ensuring Loudoun County’s Country Roads Remain Rural

By Regan Hofmann Something happens when you leave the pavement. Suddenly, the journey becomes more about where you are than where you are going. You have arrived somewhere special even though you are still on your way. Whether it’s the tire of your car or bike, your sneaker, or a horse’s steel-clad shoe that crosses […]

by Staff

Top 10 Must-Visit Spring Festivals for 2025

Highland County – MAPLE FESTIVAL March 8–9 & 15–16: Virginia’s “sweetest event of the year” brings maple syrup to the scenic streets of Monterey, McDowell, Bluegrass, and other Highland County towns. Enjoy maple sugar camp tours, pancake meals, and maple donuts. HighlandCounty.org Charlottesville – THE VIRGINIA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK March 20–23: Virginia authors converge […]

by Hope Cartwright

Roanoke

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

Current Issue

Events

Clay Creations: A Ceramic Celebration Exhibition – Call for Entries

February – March @ Art Works!

Cabin Fever Concert with Poisoned Dwarf

Most Popular

10 Speakeasies Across Virginia & How to Find Them

Ensuring Loudoun County’s Country Roads Remain Rural

Top 10 Must-Visit Spring Festivals for 2025

Roanoke

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

Current Issue

Events

Clay Creations: A Ceramic Celebration Exhibition – Call for Entries

February – March @ Art Works!

Cabin Fever Concert with Poisoned Dwarf

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

10 Speakeasies Across Virginia & How to Find Them

Ensuring Loudoun County’s Country Roads Remain Rural

Top 10 Must-Visit Spring Festivals for 2025

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

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weekly newsletter: VL Today