Departments

Looking up at several people's hands holding smartphones in a circle against a blue sky with clouds.

Screens Down, Voices Up

Inside the bold moves schools and parents are making to unplug kids and encourage face-to-face connection.
Bruce C. Bryan is a self-described “Advertising Czar.” He’s also a nonprofit ally, family man, marketing mentor, ace networker and, now, author.

Do You Know… Bruce Bryan?

The marketing professional credits his success to the relationships he’s made.
A smiling bartender in a tie-dye shirt holds up a steel cocktail shaker behind a bar stocked with liquor and drinks.

Raising the Bar

Platinum-winning bartender Brittany Browning shows skill, creativity and heart while working one-handed.
Kianna and her daughter, Kennady.

Letting Go, Staying Close

Navigating the years as a college parent means growth on both ends.
Sketch Roanoke co-founders and volunteer leaders are artists Maria Stone (left) and Michael Holcomb, pictured in Virginia Western Community College’s arboretum. They choose visually interesting places for artists to gather and create, twice a month.

Drawing Together

Sketch Roanoke meets in settings around the city to give artists a chance to connect and explore.
Seay says she “wanted the space to feel cozy and reminiscent of an old library, but still comfortable and approachable.”

Cozy Up at Roanoke’s Newest Literary Escape

This charming hangout invites visitors to settle in with stories, sips and good company.
Members of the Post-Apocalyptic Poets for a Pre-Apocalyptic World.

A Flourishing Underground Literary Scene

In downtown coffee shops and breweries, audiences are invited to read, write and clap along in celebration of the written word.
Patrick Harrington

Do You Know… Patrick Harrington?

The one-time “Ad Man” has been surrounded by history of one kind or another most of his life. Now, he’s having fun with it.
A hand holds a vintage black-and-white photo of a domed, porched building over a sunny lawn with a brick building.

Then and Now: Botetourt Hall

The former Hollins University dining hall has transformed into a multi-use space for student activities.
Hill Crest Hall opened in 1922 and housed up to 250 females who worked at the Viscose plant in Southeast Roanoke.

Strange Days of Roanoke: The Women of Hill Crest Hall

In the 1920s and ’30s, a female dormitory at Viscose was the center of life for hundreds of workers.

Departments

Four-panel collage of downtown apartment interiors: unfinished room, empty living room, bathroom, and white kitchen.
Features

On the Rise

The renovations to create new living spaces continue unabated.

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.

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