Posts in category 'Food'

When friends come to visit the Roanoke Valley, you don't just "show them around." You give them a day they won't stop talking about on the drive home. The secret? Start early, support local, and let the mountains do what they do best.

• The Morning Hike

Begin the day before the rest of the world wakes up with a sunrise hike to McAfee Knob—one of our families most favorite and also the most photographed spot on the entire Appalachian Trail.

The early morning climb is peaceful, the air is crisp, and when you reach the overlook the view stretches across the Blue Ridge Mountains like a real life painting! If you're lucky (or brave), yo...

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There are places that are more than buildings.

Places that hold memories, spark connection, and quietly shape the soul of a neighborhood.

The Grandin Theatre is one of those places.

For nearly a century, this historic theatre has stood as a landmark in Roanoke not just as a movie house, but as a gathering place for the community. It has weathered change, growth, and generations of stories, remaining a constant where people come together to laugh, reflect, celebrate, and connect.

Walking into the Grandin feels different. You sense its age in the best possible way with the original details, the patina, the echoes of decades of shared experience...

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Coffee, the delightful distillation that invigorates and awakens us.  According to some brands, America runs on it and it comes in just about every flavor, size, and preparation you can imagine.  In this blog I'll teach you about some coffee basics, the three waves of coffee and what that means for coffee shops in America and what you can expect from each. Lastly, I'll give you a couple of my local favorites.

The Coffee Basics

It's all just bean water, right? As they say in college: Yes, but also no.

Coffee is a curious thing.  Very simply, it's what you get when you grind roasted coff...

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When was the last time you enjoyed a meal outdoors? Dining al fresco—a fancy way of saying "eating outside"—isn't just a change of scenery.

Research shows it can boost both your physical and mental health.

A sunny day outdoors means a healthy dose of Vitamin D, which can improve your mood, strengthen your bones, lower blood pressure, and support your immune system.

Breathing fresh air instead of recycled indoor air naturally relaxes you, helping you take deeper breaths and get better oxygen flow without even trying.

And let's not forget the views. Here in Roanoke, plenty of restaurants offer outdoor seating where you can soak in mountain vistas or the energy of downtown.

For example, El Rodeo on Electric Road has a welcoming patio with scenic mountain views—perfect for gatheri...

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If you're looking for a cool treat with serious local flavor, Blue Cow Ice Cream is a must-visit.

This locally owned shop serves up homemade, small-batch ice cream that's anything but ordinary. Known for its creative and unforgettable flavors like Goat Cheese Blueberry, Banana Pudding, and the wildly popular Cow Patty, Blue Cow takes ice cream to the next level. When you walk in the door, the smell of the homemade waffle cones pulls you in. My go to flavor is the goat cheese blueberry, but in the fall they add dark chocolate raspberry, which is to die for!

Each scoop is made with care, using fresh ingredients and bold combinations that surprise and delight. Last time I was there, they told me they even roast the...

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