This magazine is, and has always been, a labor of love for its small staff and merry band of contributors. We are passionate about Virginia’s spectacular Piedmont and aim to reflect the region’s bounty on these pages. This issue marks the tenth anniversary of our singular mission: giving voice to the people, history, and natural beauty of this special—no, magical—place.

Ten years is a significant milestone in the publishing world where most magazines shutter in their infancy. We have you, our loyal community of readers and advertisers, to thank for this. Over the past decade we’ve seized each and every opportunity to express our gratitude the only way we know how: through articles and photographs that seek to encapsulate the majesty that surrounds us.

To celebrate this landmark we’re showcasing our favorite stories from the magazine’s history with a particular emphasis on those early, foundational years.

We’ll revisit 13 artists’ visions of Old Rag. We’ll reinvestigate the grassroots movement that halted Disney’s ill-fated quest to develop a sprawling theme park on our treasured, historic grounds. We’ll re-read the humorous and poignant essays by Walter Nicklin, this magazine’s founder, and amuse ourselves with his insights into the unique, illustrious character of the Piedmont. All this and more.

It’s a cliché to say times change, but they do, perhaps more than ever before in the past decade as technology advanced at a blinding clip. For both better and worse, the media landscape has experienced a seismic shift since we published our first issue in 2007. Amid this turbulent landscape—much less serene than the Piedmont landscapes we all treasure—producing a small, quality, independently owned print magazine is challenging.

Two years ago, we responded to this ever-changing market by publishing more issues with fewer pages. Now, as the magazine enters its second decade, we’ve decided upon a different model, one that we believe will reward our readers. Rather than publish six thin issues, we’ll publish two robust ones. This reconfiguration permits us to delve into the history, art, cuisine, music, businesses, and people that imbue the Piedmont with its amazing diversity and abundance.

What has not changed, and never will, is our sincere appreciation that you’ve welcomed this magazine into your home.

–Dennis Brack, Publisher