The Roanoker - May/June 2018 - 10

Businesses, Bands and Best of
Readers share their favorites while panels of experts helped with a few other
lists you'll read in this issue.

I

ALWAYS LOVE THE "BEST OF" issue each year,
thanks to the thousands of readers who submit
their nominations. I've personally found several
amazing services to use and great shops to frequent
over the years thanks to our readers' recommendations,
and love learning about new spots or hidden gems.
Whether I need to find a great gift (or, ahem, great
treats for myself ), a trustworthy professional to fix
something in my home or want to learn about local
companies giving back to the community, I know I
can find it in our Best Of section (page 33). Thank
you, readers, for sharing your knowledge and support
of our local businesses, people, places and things!
Thanks to writer Mason Adams, you'll also learn
about eight Roanoke-based businesses that are
changing the landscape of their industries (page
77). Some are branching out into regional, national
and even international scope (bringing even more
accolades to our great area), while others are making
an impact within their more immediate communities.
Dan Smith covers 25 years of high school athletes,
which, as you can imagine, was a challenge (page
82). These athletes had (or in some cases, continue
to have) terrific careers, and it's always interesting to
see where they are now. For example, I knew about
J.J. Redick long before moving to Roanoke, but how
about Angela Tincher O'Brien, a softball player who went
on to win a gold medal for the U.S. Olympic team in 2006?

MEA CULPA

Smith also faced a second challenge when
compiling a list of great Roanoke bands and
musicians, with a little help f rom a panel of
professionals. Love live music? You'll read about some
favorites and a few new voices around town thanks
to our list (page 96). Special thanks to our readers
and social media friends who also contributed their
favorite locals-I can't wait to catch their shows and
learn more about the many great musical offerings
we have in the region!
Crazy for kombucha? You'll enjoy Christina
Nifong's coverage of the latest trend sweeping
Roanoke, as well as the benefits and challenges faced
by these local kombucha creators (page 88).
Talking about food might be one of my favorite
things (besides eating it), so I'm pretty excited to
check out four unique offerings along Williamson
Road, thanks to our dining writer Shari Dragovich
(page 114). It's easy to get global flavors in our little
city, thanks to hardworking restaurateurs putting a
little culture and a lot of love into their dishes.

In our March/April 2018
issue, we miscredited
Stephanie Johnson in
our "Vets Need Care,
Too" article. Stephanie
Johnson at LSU is a
Licensed Clinical Social
Worker with a Masters in
Social Work.

TELL US ABOUT...

your favorite live shows
to catch in Roanoke!
There is so much talent
in our region for local
musicians and bands.
Where should we go for
our next fun show?

WE WANT TO
HEAR FROM YOU

Questions, comments,
or feedback about The
Roanoker? E-mail llong@
leisuremedia360.com

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Cheers!

llong@leisuremedia360.com

MEET THE

CONTRIBUTORS

(@MasonAtoms
on Twitter) has
covered Blue Ridge
and Appalachian
communities since
2001. He writes from
Floyd County, Virginia.
Find his piece about
Business Game
Changers on page 77.

10

MAY/JUNE 2018

Courtney Howard

was born and raised
in Alleghany County,
graduated from Emory
& Henry College and
worked for five years in
Los Angeles before she
heard the mountains
calling her back home
to start her photography
business. See
Courtney's photography
in our Kombucha piece
on page 88.

Christina Nifong

is a freelance writer with
a decades-long career
of profiling fascinating
people, places and ideas.
She's also a committed
locavore, an urban
gardener and mother to
three kids, five chickens
and the sweetest kitty on
the planet. Sign up for
her monthly newsletter,
Eat Healthy/Eat Local
at christinanifong.com.
Read Christina's pieces in
the Gist on page 21 and
Kombucha on page 88.

Dan Smith

is an award-winning
writer, author and
photographer and a
member of the Virginia
Communications
Hall of Fame. He is
founding editor of
a Roanoke-based
business magazine and
a former Virginia Small
Business Journalist of
the Year. Read Dan's
piece on 25 Years of
Athletes on page 82
and 10 Roanoke Bands
on page 96.

Jess Sorensen

of Bone & Sol
Photography is a
portrait photographer
based out of Roanoke,
VA. She specializes
in documentary-style
photography. Inspired
by her time living and
traveling abroad, she
has a deep passion for
emotional storytelling
through images. See
her images in our Best
of Roanoke section
beginning on page 33.

Bob Sowder

is a native of Roanoke
and 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 in
our Homes section on
page 100.

Laura Wade

is the founder of
Thrive by Heart and
offers workshops and
individual guidance to
empower women to live
and love their lives. She
is passionate about her
family, holistic health,
personal transformation
and sharing ideas to
inspire others to live
their best lives. Read
Laura's pieces in the
Gist on page 20.

TheRoanoker.com

LIZ LONG HEADSHOT: TARA LILY

Mason Adams
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker - May/June 2018

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