The Roanoker - November/December 2020 - 8

from the editor

New Hope for a New Year
A trying year for our community has proven we do better together - let's keep at it!
MY MOTHER WAS RIGHT (AS USUAL): Time flies
as you get older. Something that happened five years ago
is often mistaken for "just last year" (in my case, trying
to remember when we got a new roof ), while things
that happened only a few months back feel like they
occurred a decade or so ago.
And in the year of COVID-19? Forget about it. I
can't decide if this year feels like its own decade, or as if
it's only been a month. (It depends on the day, really.)
It's hard to believe our team has been working from
home since March, and harder still to think it'll soon
be the holidays. These days, I feel as if I blinked and
missed six months. But one thing is for certain amidst
the turmoil: our community has rallied behind our local
restaurants and businesses in an unbelievable way.
You might've noticed our popular food and holiday
issue is missing a component: our annual Dining
Awards, as voted on by our readers. In lieu of this year's
ever-changing dining scene, it was an easy decision to
instead focus on the people behind the plates. Christina
Nifong spoke with several restaurant owners on the
incredible shifts within the industry, learning how savvy
business owners have taken on new responsibilities and
shaken up their daily routines in order to survive dining
(or lack thereof ) during a pandemic (page 50).
Shari Dragovich tackled a beast of a piece: A-Z
Dining (page 56)! The process included much lively
discussion on her editor's front porch, and will hopefully

encourage you to support the many (many!) amazing
spots in our region that fit every flavor of your
choosing. From pastries and pizza to sandwiches and
small plates, there's no shortage of great places to eat.
That also includes Layla Khoury-Hanold's look at
where to find your favorite themed sweets (page 52),
perfect for gifts or as a way to treat yourself (because
you definitely deserve those brownies after this year!).
As I begin to plan my holiday festivities, I know
things won't the same as they've been in the past. How
could they? No matter if it's pausing an old tradition
or starting a new one (see page 68 for inspiration
thanks to our staff and writers), I hope that we all do
so with enthusiasm. I'm a firm believer that things
won't simply "go back to normal" after COVID-19,
but that doesn't necessarily mean we can't greet a new
year with hope (and perhaps a sincere relief to move
forward).
May we all end this year and start the next in good
health and cheer - even if it's a toast on Zoom!

TELL US ABOUT...

your holiday cheer! From
matching family pajamas
and opening a gift together
on Christmas Eve, what are
your favorite traditions?
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

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See you in 2021,

llong@leisuremedia360.com

meet the contributors

Aila Boyd

is an educator and
journalist who resides
in Roanoke. She holds
an MFA in Writing from
Lindenwood University.
Read her Gist piece
about the new look
inside Hotel Roanoke
on page 20.

8

Ashley Cuoco

is practicing her love of
hospitality through food
photography. A Long
Island native, she finds
creative expression
in daily kitchen
experiments. Follow
along at @ashcuoco
and ashcuoco.com
where Ashley finds
joy in sharing food
with others. See
her photography on
our cover and in the
Southern Spoonful
holiday feature on
page 14.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

Ashley Fellers

is a writer, selftaught painter and
contemplative
photographer in
Roanoke. When not
working at the public
library, 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. See her piece
on "the Vegan Queen"
page 45.

Layla KhouryHanold is always

looking for the next
exciting bite-and
relishes uncovering
the story behind it. Her
work has appeared on
Saveur, Food Network
and Refinery29 and in
The Chicago Tribune,
Drinks International and
Our State. Follow her on
Instagram
@theglassofrose or on
Twitter @glassofrose.
Read her feature on
Holiday Sweets and
Treats on page 52.

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.
Read her Gist piece on
page 22; Local Food
Heroes on page 48; and
her holiday essay on
"The Nutcracker" ballet
on page 66.

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 John's dining
photos in A-Z Dining on
page 56.

Michael Shelton

is a Registered Financial
Consultant, tax
specialist and owner of
360 Wealth Consultants.
His firm specializes in
providing retirement
planning and wealth
preservation strategies
for business owners
and astute individuals.
Read his feature on
Finances for Every Age
on page 30.

TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker - November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - November/December 2020
