The first time the temperate drops enough to freeze nearby ponds, the winter world truly becomes a wonderland. The fascinating feeling of ice underfoot brings out the kid in all of us, and gliding across frozen water is pure magic. While I know a few brave souls who have skated across Pandapas Pond in the dead of winter, I wouldn’t recommend it. Hearing the ice stretch and fracture while bubbles begin to rush to the surface is nothing short of …
A billowy 40 degrees, the mountains a crisp blue in Blacksburg, the eve of the year 2017. People are prepping to celebrate the ringing in of a New Year. Party hats, black …
1 large orange 6 whole cloves 6 whole black peppercorns 1 bottle (3 cups) fruity red wine 2 cardamom pods 6 allspice berries 1 cinnamon stick (+ 4 for garnish) 1/2 cup …
In a home in the hills outside Blacksburg, Christmas decorations are tastefully displayed, traditions have been handed down and created anew, and the holiday spirit fills every space. This classy, contemporary family …
Hiding the surprise is a big part of gift giving and has been for years – even centuries. The use of wrapping paper is first documented in ancient China, where paper was …
So imagine as a college student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, you drop into a bar for a beer one afternoon after painting away part of the day with friends at …
The year was 1892. The place was a stony bean field (or was it wheat?) at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, a swath of land that would become the Drillfield. The people …
Folks of a certain age remember a time when the main job of children was to go outside and play. A combination of increased fear, “plugged-in” play, school reform that doesn’t allow …
Having baby goats in a yoga session raises the bar on the fun and frolic and brings out new people who may not otherwise approach the yoga scene. “We saw goat yoga …
“Ring that chord,” encourages Wilderness Road Chorus director Lavelva Stevens. When the women of this barbershop-style chorus sing the notes just right, an overtone moves through the room, and the audience hears …