The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 10

editor's note
Where is Better Than Home?
L
written by Liz Long, Editor Did you know yelling at TV home buyers can be quite satisfying for the soul?
ike so many others this year, my husband
and I spent a significant amount of time on
improving our home, whether it was installing
new gutters, finally upgrading to a gorgeous gas stove
or even simply Marie Kondo-ing all our closets and
storage spaces (my organized closet really does bring
me joy now!).
I 'm a homebody by nature, so when the
pandemic hit, we were actually well-prepared, as our
1,200-square-foot house became the perfect refuge
with its cozy spaces and newly-implemented basement
gym. In fact, I'm blessed in that I'm still very much in
love with our house, more than ever, really, and while
our couch could use a few new throw pillows, we're
finally in a good spot without worry of major repairs.
Though, don't get me wrong - I love my kitchen and
have done what I can with the allotted space, but I'd
consider giving away an arm or a leg for the kind of
kitchen that's on our cover! (The brass, the colors,
that island!) Christy Rippel's look into three incredible
kitchen updates will absolutely inspire your own
renovation dreams (page 66).
I've also found a new way to occupy my time on
the treadmill: tearing through dozens of homes-related
television shows. (I honestly cannot tell you how many
hours I've spent this past summer arguing with TV
couples on their choices - " paint is nothing, girl, you
should be far more worried about those foundation
cracks than green walls and no tub! " - and my personal
favorite, " your budget is how much?! " )
It's been over a decade since I had to house hunt,
and so much has changed in the real estate game.
It's why I loved Aila Boyd's piece on the New Faces
of Real Estate, featuring five young realtors making
their way in the industry (page 51). From unique
networking opportunities to new technology used
for easier experiences, they're standing out thanks
to their outside-the-box styles.
Don't miss all the great homes info in this issue,
from great paint tips (page 74) and repurposing longlived
spaces (page 80) to our fabulous home shopping
guide (page 86) and understanding the shortage on
construction supplies (page 96). Got homes-related
FAQs? Our local experts ease your stress by sharing
their knowledge (page 110). Christina Nifong also
shares how one nonprofit is renovating homes to offer
afforable housing for those in need (page 58).
Plus, read Mason Adams' profile of Judge Onzlee
Ware (page 32); learn about how an award-winning
guitar gunslinger Redd Volkaert came to live (and
perform) in our region thanks to Eric J. Wallace (page
37); enjoy a night out with theater, ballet, music or
more, thanks to the incredible arts and culture in our
region (page 42); and celebrate Oktoberfest fun at three
local brewpubs pairing great food with their craft brews
(page 118).
Now, back to the treadmill to argue with a few more
TV couples and their questionable tastes...
See you on the greenway,
Correction
In our July/Aug '21 issue, we listed
the Top Docs Radiologist winner
incorrectly; the Top Doc winner in
that category is Dr. Vishal M. Patel.
Our apologies for the error.
tell us about...
your childhood home! What did
you love about growing up in
your house - cozy fireplaces,
big backyard fun or even secret
stairways? Share your thoughts on
our social media pages!
we want to
hear from you
Questions, comments or feedback
about The Roanoker? E-mail llong@
leisuremedia360.com
follow us on social
roanokermag
roanoker
contributors
Mason Adams
(@MasonAtoms on Twitter)
has covered Blue Ridge and
Appalachian communities
since 2001. He writes from
Floyd County, Virginia.
See his featured profile
on Judge Onzlee Ware on
page 32.
Aila Boyd
is an educator and
journalist who resides in
Roanoke. She holds an MFA
in Writing from Lindenwood
University. Read her Gist
pieces starting on page
20 and her feature on The
New Faces of Real Estate
on page 51.
Ashley Fellers
is a writer, self-taught painter
and photographer. When
she isn't teaching writing at
Virginia Western, she snaps
photos of sidewalk cracks,
rescues wet leaves from
windshield wipers and leaves
poems hidden under park
benches. She has a Master of
Fine Arts degree from Virginia
Tech. Get great paint tips in her
feature on page 74.
Christina Nifong
is a writer with a
decades-long career
profiling interesting
people, places and ideas.
She's recently launched
a new email newsletter
focused on life in
the slow lane, called
Nourishing Stories. Sign
up and find more of her
work at christinanifong.
com. Learn more about
a nonprofit's beautiful
residential work with her
feature on page 58.
10 September/October 2021
Dan Smith
is an award-winning
Roanoke-based writer/
author/photographer and
a member of the Virginia
Communications Hall of
Fame (Class of 2010). He
is founding editor of a
Roanoke-based business
magazine and a former
Virginia Small Business
Journalist of the Year
(2005). Read his Gist pieces
starting on page 20 and his
feature on Building Supply
Shortages on page 96.
Bob Sowder
enjoyed a career in
broadcast television and
advertising, working in
markets from D.C. to L.A.
and a lot of fly-over country.
On a visit back to Roanoke
in 1999 with his wife Jules,
they discovered Roanoke
and returned to raise their
two children. See Bob's
photography on the cover
and in our Three Kitchens
feature on page 66.
Eric J. Wallace
is an award-winning
journalist whose work
has appeared in major
national outlets like WIRED,
Atlas Obscura, Outside,
Backpacker, VinePair,
Modern Farmer, All About
Beer and more. Read
his feature on Guitar
Gunslinger Redd Volkaert
on page 37.
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The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021

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