Issue 24: The $5 Love Where You Live Experiment

Melody WarnickBlacksburg, Buy local, Love Where You Live experiment

On the Friday that the ice cream shop Sugar Magnolia finally soft-launched in downtown Blacksburg, Virginia, traffic through the doors didn’t falter for eight hours. The tables were swamped when I wandered over. No matter. I ate my $3.50 coconut chip ice cream cone among the greeting card racks. It’s the least I can do. Communities do well when their … Read More

Issue 22: Truth: Money CAN buy happiness. At least for you in your place.

Melody WarnickBlacksburg, Love Where You Live experiment, Place love

I know, I know. Buying things doesn’t make you happy. Experiences do. But what about paying for gear that helps you have more meaningful experiences where you live? I have spent about 20 years of my adult life in places where it snows every winter, sometimes an awful lot. Utah. Maryland. Iowa. Virginia. And yet it was only last year … Read More