The Roanoker - May/June 2019 - 8

This Girl's Best Friend? Carbs.
Plus Best of Roanoke winners and our important conversation about
immigration in the community.

T'S THANKS TO YOU, READERS, that I
always learn about a surprising hidden gem or
a fun spot to take friends when they visit-all
because you let us know about your favorite people,
places and more in our annual Best of Roanoke
reader poll (page 30). Livability recently named
Roanoke number three on their top 10 list of 2018
Best Affordable Places to Live; I couldn't agree
more, obviously, in no small part due to the many
people, events and small businesses that make all
the difference in being part of a great community.
I recently celebrated my birthday and had only
one request-not for diamonds or a whirlwind trip
to Paris, but for a delicious steak dinner at Frankie
Rowland's (what can I say, food is the way to my
heart). The steak-and scallops, and risotto, and
pineapple martinis!-were the highlight of the
weekend, but it was the fine dining experience that
made me pause to take it all in. In that moment of
sitting down in a lovely space, experiencing flavors
and smells and fellow diner camaraderie, I couldn't
help but smile, which is why I think Shari Dragovich
is on point with her essay on fine dining as a selfcare perk (page 128). As for Frankie Rowland's, I
dare you not to drool on the page when you see our
dining review and incredible photos (page 119) - and
next time you're in, do yourself a favor and get the
scallops. (I look forward to your thank you emails.)

Since taking over the editor's desk, I've thought
long and hard about how to use my position to
help others. There's one timely topic that's been
on my mind for over a year, and regardless of
politics, I think it's important to put a spotlight
on it: immigration in our region. Christina Nifong
shares one Roanoke immigrant's incredible story,
including her family's struggles and successes (page
83). I hope this discussion is as eye-opening to you
as it was for me, because I fully admit I need to
do better at embracing the rich, diverse cultures
that are right here in our neighborhoods. From the
economic impact immigrants make for our region to
the community's inclusion (or sometimes exclusion),
this is an important conversation, and one we'll be
continuing in an online blog series found on our
website. I hope you join us in the discussion, and
that we can all do our part to make someone's day a
little brighter by trying to understand exactly how
far they've come and how hard they work to achieve
the American Dream. We all deserve that much.

TELL US ABOUT...

the dreaded grocery
errands - would you
consider the pick-up
lane to save time (and
sanity)? 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
THE ROANOKER
roanokermag
roanoker

Cheers!

llong@leisuremedia360.com

MEET THE

Brian Bongard

is a writer, real estate
investor, adventure
seeker and aspiring
musician who loves
calling Roanoke home
base. Read his piece
on the Immigrant
Experiences in Roanoke
on page 88.

MAY/JUNE 2019

Christina Nifong

is a writer with a
decades-long career
profiling interesting
people, places and
ideas. She's also a
committed locavore
and mother to three
kids, four chickens and
one very sweet kitty.
Find more of her work
at christinanifong.com.
Read her Gist piece on
page 16 and Growing
Roots in Roanoke (A
Refugee Experience)
on page 84.

John Park

has become the
quintessential food
evangelist for SW
Virginia and the
surrounding regions.
Though John lives in a
suit by day, he prides
himself on sharing his
love of great eats and
the people who make
it possible. Follow his
social media moniker
@hungryasianrke and
see his photos in our
Dining section on page
119.

Amy Pearman

of Boyd Pearman
Photography is a
professional commercial
photographer with
more than 20 years of
experience capturing
people, places and
products. Outside of
work, Amy is a wife, a
"basketball mom," a
rescue dog champion
and a music lover. See
Amy's photographs on
our cover and in the Best
Of Roanoke section on
page 30.

Christy Rippel

is an award-winning
freelance writer,
covering lifestyle,
design, health and
parenting. A VT
graduate, she likes to
bike and walk local
trails. When she and
husband Chris aren't
watching the Hokies,
they watch their four
kids compete in sports.
A Maryland native,
she lives in Roanoke
County. Read her 10
Easy Home Decor Tips
on page 112.

Anne Sampson

is a freelance journalist
and photographer
based in Roanoke.
She's often found
hiking and visiting
small towns at home
and abroad, camera in
one hand, notebook in
the other. Follow her
on Instagram
@annephotog. Read
Anne's piece about
Immigration Affecting
Our Local Economy on
page 91.

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 Roanokebased business
magazine and a former
Virginia Small Business
Journalist of the Year.
Read Dan's piece about
the growth of Rocky
Mount (thanks in part
to The Harvester) on
page 94.

TheRoanoker.com

LIZ LONG HEADSHOT: AMY PEARMAN / AMY PEARMAN HEADSHOT: TIFF JONES

CONTRIBUTORS

http://www.TheRoanoker.com

The Roanoker - May/June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - May/June 2019