Departments

Randy Thompson, Publisher, Vista Media Inc.

A Homecoming and a New Chapter

The Roanoker welcomes our new publisher, who has significant roots in our community.
Two smiling people posing indoors in front of a leafy plant, a woman in a star-print dress holding a champagne flute.

To 14 Years of Mentorship

This editor would not be where she is today without another editor’s steady guidance.
A smiling older man with glasses and gray hair in a plaid button-up shirt beside the headline "Clown Owns Up, Goes Home.

Clown Owns Up, Goes Home

The 42-year editor in chief of this magazine says goodbye.
Circa 1930 image shows the original members of the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew.

Strange Days of Roanoke: The Man Who Launched a Movement

At only 9 years old, Julian Stanley Wise watched two men drown in the Roanoke River, a scene he never forgot.
A smiling bald man with a gray goatee wearing a navy blazer over a checked button-up shirt, seated indoors.

Do You Know… Gary Larrowe?

Larrowe celebrates 10 years as county administrator for Botetourt County.
Italian Drunken Noodles

Southern Spoonful: Get Cozy

The perfect fireside supper should always include garlic bread and a winter cocktail.
The Hash's gospel choir, Voices of Fire, celebrate their performance at the opening night of the 2025 World Series.

Hitting a High Note

Performing with Pharrell Williams’ Voices of Fire, this couple found themselves at both the Vatican and the World Series.
The Fox City Jazz Band

Speakeasy Sophistication

Hotel Roanoke’s new Fox City Jazz Club offers a vibe that’s both timeless and modern.
Maredith Roller

Raised by Roanoke

The Star City’s people and opportunities shaped bestselling author Beth Macy into the writer she became.
Courtesy of Brandon Lee Adams

From Hills to Stage

Brandon Lee Adams is capturing attention across the country while bringing an Emmy home to our region.

Departments

Painted wood statue holding a teacup, a chandelier-lit dining room, and a wood-paneled sitting room.
Features

The House on the Hill

Stewardship of the signature structure on the city side of Mill Mountain is in the very conscientious hands of Drs.

Recreating a Dreamy Blue Kitchen
Features

Recreating a Dreamy Blue Kitchen

Inspired by a beloved former home, this Old Southwest renovation layers sky-blue cabinetry, warm metallic accents, and tailored updates into

The Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival attracts about 20,000 visitors annually — a boon to the local economy.
Features

Bloom Town

Flower farms are finding new ways to keep our community beautiful.