Dec 19
By Tonia Moxley
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – Surely two 40-plus women enjoying a glass of red wine and some Trader Joe’s cocoa truffles late on a Saturday should not giggle so loudly. But the tinkling sound of two dozen canning jars full of hot, honey-yellow lard sealing themselves sent us into paroxysms.
“Oh, there went another one. And another one! He He!”
By Niki King
If you’re headed home for the holidays, consider brushing up your axel and lutz. Several Appalachian and near-Appalachian cities have recently opened outdoor ice-skating rinks in their central downtown areas, channeling the urban spirit of New York’s Rockefeller Center.
By Niki King
The holidays can be stressful, especially if you’re having to travel far to get back home. Fortunately, there are some prime places tucked away in the mountains where the wearied traveler might find some serious respite. If you can squeeze an extra day or two into your holiday schedule, treat yourself. Stop off at one of these fine establishments for rest, good eats, drinks and merriment. You’ll feel refreshed when you show up at your families and you can go back to work after the holidays feeling like you actually had a little vacation.
by Beth Newberry
Crystal Good’s poetry readings aren’t for a lazy listener. They are a patchwork of history lessons, current-events coverage and literary word play all sewn-up with an electric and provocative performance. If you’re asleep, she’ll wake you up. If you’re sitting down, she’ll get you on your feet. If you are already standing, she’ll get your hand in the air while you’re yelling, “Amen.”
The HillVille is proud to have been featured by Nate Berg in The Atlantic Cities today. The site, well-respected in the design, architecture and planning industries, explores innovative ideas and issues facing global cities and neighborhoods through news, analysis, data and trends. Its senior editor is Richard Florida, who famously penned The Rise of the Creative Class.
Co-publishers Niki King and Beth Newberry both have a journalism backgrounds, so being on the other side of the interview is a little disarming. Nonetheless, we’re proud The HillVille and urban Appalachia has gained this national exposure. We hope you agree and think we represented our region well. Let us know what you think!
by Beth Newberry
When Graham Shelby, writer and radio journalist, interviewed radio legend and Kentucky-native Bob Edwards for Kentucky Public Radio about his memoir, A Voice in the Box: My Life in Radio, and the two ventured into a conversation about regionalism, identity and stereotypes as well. “[Appalachia’s] the throw away zone of America,” says Edwards. “It’s owned by out-of-state interests, mostly energy companies and other corporate interests, who take from eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.” Listen to the radio segment.
ex-App: An ex-Appalachian (in abbreviated form, ex-App) is a person temporarily or permanently residing outside of Appalachia, the region of their upbringing, heritage or heart. Example: Bob’s an ex-App, he lives here in Seattle now, but hails from Southwest Virginia and is totally back home proud.
Urban Appalachian: An Appalachian living in one of the region’s cities or a city on the region’s fringes.
Urba-lachia: What happens when you say urban Appalachia real fast.
By Niki King
Say the word “Appalachian” and many images come to mind. A city skyline may not be among them. And maybe that’s our own fault. Our cities haven’t been a hot topic in the Appalachian Studies community and there are few representations of our regional urbanity in art, media and literature.
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by Beth Newberry
It’s 1982.
I am five years old.
I stand with my dad and a neighbor, both their faces beyond my sight line, their words floating down in the barely-cool air of dusk. My dad tells our neighbor that we are going soon on a trip to Virginia to visit family. My father describes the small, mountain towns he and my mother are from, and the neighbor looks at me and says, “Oh, but you’re a city girl.” Read more
By Beth Newberry
Appalachians living beyond the hills and who are trying to return to the region often search for a new hometown that combines the best of “back home” and the cities they are leaving behind. For many returning Appalachians, the search often includes finding a new city or town that has urban amenities, as well as close proximity to family (but not too close), the visual beauty of the Appalachia, and close-connectedness of the culture and job opportunities. An impossible combination? Maybe not as unimaginable as many ex-Apps or outsiders might think. Read more
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