BEST LIVE MUSIC IN THE BURG
best of blacksburg
BLACKSBURG AND VIRGINIA TECH COMMUNITY MEMBERS RAISE CONCERN AFTER BOV’S VOTE TO CANCEL HOUSING EXPANSION EFFORTS NEWS
Max Painchaud | news writer
The vote comes after Blacksburg Town Council’s recent approval of constructing an eight-story student housing complex
On Tuesday, March 25, Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors voted in favor of canceling planning and funding for the Student Life Village. The Student Life Village, which was approved in 2022, aimed to provide over 5,000 beds and housing facilities for Virginia Tech undergraduates.
Despite multiple approvals of expanding off-campus housing from the Town of Blacksburg, finding housing is still an issue both Virginia Tech students and Blacksburg residents face.
As Virginia Tech’s student population
OUR CORE VALUES
Impartiality means reporting, editing and delivering the news honestly, fairly, objectively and without opinion or bias.
Credibility is the greatest asset of any news medium, and impartiality is the greatest source of credibility.
To provide the most complete report, a news organization must not just cover the news, but uncover it. It must follow the story wherever it leads, regardless of any preconceived ideas on what might be most newsworthy.
The pursuit of truth is a noble goal of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately. Journalists’ role is therefore not to determine what they believe at that time to be the truth and
has grown in recent years, there has been a rise in issues with housing availability and affordability. These concerns impact both Virginia Tech students and Blacksburg community members.
In the past 10 years, over 5,400 beds have been added to Blacksburg’s housing market to accommodate to the need for housing.
When asked if he was moving off campus next year, Ryan Greenstreet, a freshman majoring in environmental science, stated that he was moving off campus due to so
reveal only that to their readers, but rather to report as completely and impartially as possible all verifiable facts so that readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth.
When a news organization delivers both news and opinions, the impartiality and credibility of the news organization can be questioned. To minimize this as much as possible there needs to be a sharp and clear distinction between news and opinion, both to those providing and consuming the news.
Voice your opinion. Send letters to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com
All letters must include a name and phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. Other submissions must include city of residence and relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed.
Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.
few upper classmen living in the dorms.
Greenstreet explained that while he and his group of four friends did not have a hard time finding off-campus housing, he felt rushed due to how early Virginia Tech students start looking for housing for the spring and fall semesters.
When asked if he thought off-campus housing was becoming harder to get and more crowded, he responded by saying, “Coming from Chapel Hill, I do notice that Blacksburg doesn’t seem to have a big student rental market ... my dad manages rental houses at UNC Chapel Hill and confirmed that there is hardly anything in Blacksburg in terms of student neighborhoods.”
Greenstreet was also questioned whether he thought rent prices were rising as VT’s housing becomes less attainable, and stated, “I have no past comparison to
prices in Blacksburg, but again, a Chapel Hill single renter house for college students is pushing out families ... this over-catering to students seems like the opposite in Blacksburg. I expected rent in Blacksburg to be closer to $750, not $1,250 like it is.” Currently, there is no clear answer on the future of housing for the university’s students.
NEWSROOM
COLLEGIAT
231-9865
Editor-in-Chief: Victoria Weber (editor@collegiatetimes.com)
Managing editor: Emanda Seifu
Design editor: Annmarie Leake
Assistant design editors: Caroline Rogers and Sarah Jordan
Copy editors: Riley Vinluan, Emily Southern and Allyson Welmaker
News editors: Ayisha Surani and Erin Bailey
Lifestyles editors: Emelia Delaporte, Michaela Scott and Emma Duncan
Sports editors: Sam Mostow, Thomas Bray and Dylan Tefft
E TIMES
Opinions editor: Jenna Mason
Assistant opinions editor: Mohib Amjad
Photo editor: Hamad Alhendi
Assistant photo editor: Maddy Djuric
Have a news tip? newstips@collegiatetimes.com
BUSINESS STAFF
Business manager: Viktor Fedotov (business@collegemedia.com)
MEDIAMATE
231-9860
888-897-7711 collegiatetimes.com/media_kit/ orders@mymediamate.com
The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students. © Collegiate Times, 2020. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Collegiate Times. Read about our organization’s Core Values online at collegiatetimes.com.
VIRGINIA TECH HOSTS ACCESSIBILITY AWARENESS WEEK
Jacob Luckenbaugh | news writer
The week consisted of in-person events each day with no cost to participate and asynchronous classes.
Virginia Tech held the second annual Accessibility Awareness Week from March 31 to April 5. According to the event’s website, the goal of the week was to “provide learning opportunities and resources that engage the campus community to think, discuss, learn, and take action regarding digital and physical accessibility.”
The week was developed after Global Accessibility Awareness Day, an event held on the third Thursday of May to spread greater awareness about accessibility issues.
Featuring multiple in-person events on each day with no cost to participate, the week consisted of various offerings from a learning session titled “Social Media Best Practices: Accessibility” to an informational event called “Robotic and Automation Technologies in Construction.” Throughout the week, students could also take part in self-paced, asynchronous classes like a course called “Universal Design for Learning 101.”
For 2025, the theme for the week was “How the intentional design of systems,
spaces, and experiences helps improve accessibility across all areas of campus life.” This message was reflected in the diverse range of groups involved in sponsoring the events, including the Campus Accessibility Working Group, Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education, Division of Information Technology, and Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies.
The week’s events provided students with a chance to learn more about accessibility issues while acting on the missions of various
OPINIONS
PRESERVING
campus organizations.
THE BEST OF BLACKSBURG
Mohib Amjad | assistant opinions editor
Nature and wildlife of the Appalachian Mountains should be protected in Blacksburg.
Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains, Blacksburg is part of the United States’ most diverse ecosystem. These forests, adorned with colossal oak, hickory and maple trees, host wildlife ranging from black bears to whitetailed deer, bobcats and even the endangered cerulean warbler; the forests shelter them all. Although these ecosystems are teeming with life, that balance hangs by a thread. The unrelenting demand for intensified logging, in conjunction with careless hazardous waste disposal and rampant pollution, threatens the very essence of nature that lovingly nurtures and safeguards Blacksburg. Our future lies in our hands, and we must make a change now.
The Appalachian forests surrounding Blacksburg have huge ecological, economic and cultural significance in this region. Because of this, these forests have played a large role in how this city has evolved.
Appalachia has one of the highest concentrations of salamanders in the world, which are crucial to maintaining the ecological balance of the forest and Blacksburg. They do this by acting as a source of both predator and prey for other organisms in the region. This region of ours is also home to numerous water bodies. Rivers and streams, such as the New River and Cascade Falls, support many aquatic life forms. The endangered Eastern hellbender
salamander thrives in only the cleanest waters, which signals increasing environmental damage These forests act as a critical carbon sink for this region, mitigating the effects of climate change.
On March 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to increase logging activity. This means that the current logging capacity of 650 acres per year will be increased to at least 1,200 acres per year in the short term, and in the long term, it will be increased to 3,200 acres per year. Forests don’t exist in isolation. Earth is one giant ecosystem; an example of this is that the sand particles from the Sahara Desert feed the Amazon rainforest, keeping it fertile. If we increase logging, these ancient carbon sinks will also be negatively affected. Logging practices often involve the removal of entire forests in one go. This destroys habitats for various wildlife species, forcing them to move to other regions. Bird species that depend on the dense forest canopy, such as wood thrush and the scarlet tanager, die out due to habitat loss. Furthermore, logging will increase erosion. Soil that is disrupted will easily wash away into the water bodies, leading to sediment build-up. This will reduce the water quality and harm not only the wildlife population, but also us.
Natural areas of Blacksburg are not only
set aside for wildlife, but for our use as well. Students and locals can partake in the scenic beauty of the Jefferson National Forest, Pandapas Pond and the Huckleberry Trail. If logging operations continue to encroach on these regions, it will further limit our ability to camp, hike and revel in nature. This will also strip us of a major source of income for Blacksburg: tourism.
Other than increased logging, human activities are also negatively affecting our environment. There has been massive soil and groundwater pollution resulting from Virginia Tech’s unsatisfactory management of hazardous waste. As part of the Virginia Tech Consent Order, the university signed a contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010. Under this contract, Virginia Tech is required to establish interim protective measures, carry out an environmental investigation to ascertain the contamination level and devise appropriate cleanup methods for the damaged portions of campus.
Stroubles Creek, a 12-mile-long stream that passes through Blacksburg as well as the Virginia Tech campus, has been classified as an impaired waterbody since 2002. In the past, the creek was polluted by effluents from coal mining activities during the 19th and 20th centuries. Recent events include the discharge
of chemical waste from university laboratory facilities between 1970 and 1978, a kerosene spill in 1985 and a fuel oil spill suspected in 2006.
We need to take measures to save Blacksburg. From throwing trash in the trashcan to questioning whether the recycling trash goes to the proper treatment sites, we need to proactively take steps to save Blacksburg. Efforts should be made to implement environmental protection policies. For example, student organizations can start reforestation drives to revive some of the forests that were destroyed.
The future of Blacksburg is not predetermined — it is a choice we make every day. In the end, our community is built on its treasures. Be it forests, streams or wildlife, they serve as the lifeblood of our area, nurturing the town and supporting the livelihood of many. Let us stand together — as students, residents and stewards of this land — to preserve what makes Blacksburg truly special. Let’s save the best of Blacksburg for those to come, for future Hokies.
BLACKSBURG PRIORITIZES CREATIVITY BY PROVIDING THE BEST ART AND CULTURE INSTITUTIONS
Emily Dorsey | opinions columnist
Blacksburg hosts more than just Virginia Tech, it’s immersed in art and culture.
At first glance, small towns like Blacksburg can seem boring. Most newcomers, including students, don’t know what opportunities to look for and partake in. Many of us think of Virginia Tech rather than the actual town when we hear “Blacksburg, Virginia.” The public university can overwhelm the town of Blacksburg, leaving residents and college students unaware of hidden gems. But looking past Drillfield Drive, Burruss Hall and the Pylons, there are many interactive and communal opportunities full of art and culture waiting to be explored.
Art and cultural centers are important to any city or town because they provide an outlet for artists to express themselves, for patrons to enjoy something inspirational and for enlightening and overall enhancing the neighborhood’s atmosphere. They can also shine light on marginalized and underrepresented groups and histories. These institutions build a stronger sense of belonging, shared interest and multicultural understanding. All these positive aspects are what make a town ten times better; especially small towns like Blacksburg.
Having centers for the arts in a small town brings direct positive impact and change. Blacksburg is special because there are many ways to get involved artistically in a seven square mile radius that other towns do not prioritize or promote as heavily.
The Moss Arts Center is known for hosting many exhibitions and performances, like most performing art centers are. In February, there were performances by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and Kodo, which are not events many expect to witness in Southwest Virginia. Also recently, “The Book of Mormon” came to Moss and was a huge hit. A significant, unique aspect of Moss is that they also provide Q&As, school-day performances to public school students and workshops with the featured musician or artist around their performance date. This dives deeper into the rich history, culture and creation of their designated
art and a chance for patrons to get more one-on-one involvement outside of their performance or exhibit.
Ruth Waalkes, associate provost for the arts and executive director for the Moss Arts Center, provides insight on how Moss cultivates opportunities for the student body and public.
“Our goal is to be serving students of the university — a very important audience — as well as the broader community,” Waalkes said. “Our goal always was that it would complement what was already existing in the community and really add to the opportunities for everyone. And I think we’ve done that.”
Just across Alumni Mall is the Squires Student Center. While it is affiliated with Virginia Tech, there are many options for the public to participate. Inside the building, there are three venues to check out: Studio Theatre, Haymarket Theatre and the Perspective Gallery. Outside of classroom lectures, the faculty-designed Studio Theatre holds concerts from various performers with a wide spread of instruments and themes. The Haymarket Theatre is similar; many presentations and productions are held for students and the public to attend, like the annual VT student-led Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Perspective Gallery displays diverse visual arts and photographs on a rotating basis, featuring multiple student artists throughout the year.
The Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation has been a staple in the community for over a decade. Its goal is to “preserve, interpret, and promote Blacksburg’s art, history and cultural heritage.” This institution maintains and operates programs through the Alexander Black House and St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, which can be found minutes from downtown Blacksburg. They host tours of historic buildings, galleries, market jams and lecture series. This is one of the few museums that can be found in Blacksburg, which is what makes it so special and rich in historic value.
Lastly, the XYZ Art Gallery is another
key organization that promotes art and performance to students and the public. They are the only student-led art gallery in Blacksburg that hosts rotating exhibitions, live music every Friday from local bands and other social events. XYZ is a great venue for artists to display their art because there is no entry fee, and most exhibit submissions are accepted through the board.
Quin Campbell, vice president of the XYZ Art Gallery, shared why the gallery is an important and impactful asset for everyone and what some people may not know about it.
“Anyone can come play music, anyone can come show their art,” Campbell said. “We are not discriminatory or limited to ‘high end’ artists.”
There are many other establishments devoted to arts and culture throughout Blacksburg, including the Lyric Theatre, Smithfield Plantation, Armory Art Gallery, Hahn Horticulture Garden and more.
Waalkes also shines light on the overall goals of her and her team.
“Adding to the overall cultural life here is a big piece of what we hope to do,” Waalkes said.
Not only does Blacksburg offer a variety of places promoting the art life and cultural scene, the 2025 Best of Blacksburg survey supports what some of the residents actually think about their town. According to the survey, The Milk Parlor took the title of Best Live Music, Top of the Stairs, also known as TOTS, won Best Karaoke and finally, WUVT-FM won Best Radio Station. Institutions and organizations that promote the arts can sometimes get lost in big cities or with insufficient media marketing. That’s why Blacksburg has the best art and culture programs. The town is small enough for residents to know what is going on through signage around the streets or word of mouth. Many residents and college students are passionate about Blacksburg’s art success and prosperity. Plus, no event goes unnoticed, with constant media coverage on GobblerConnect, Next Three Days,
local government calendars, Step Into Blacksburg and more. There truly is no town comparable to Blacksburg, Virginia.
LIFESTYLES
BEST OF BLACKSBURG: STEPPIN’ OUT FESTIVAL
Anna Payne | lifestyles staff writer
Discover why Steppin’ Out was voted the Best Festival in Blacksburg.
The results for the Best of Blacksburg survey are in for 2025, and locallyowned businesses are the cream of the crop. Downtown is full of winners who are ready for customers to spill off of campus and in through their doors. The survey, known affectionately as BOB to the staff at the Collegiate Times, is organized with care by the editor-in-chief each spring. Anyone can vote on the winners.
Draper Road might as well be called champions’ row, because a solid seven categories have their winners packed into the short mixed-use walking and driving district. Coffeeholics took home both Best Breakfast and Best Coffee, right next to The Milk Parlor, who took Best Live Music. Rivermill Bar & Grill is directly across the street and took Best Overall Bar in town. Benny Marzano’s, which took both Best Pizza and Best Late-Night Food, is just up the street where Draper turns into a driving road with parking spaces. Next to Benny’s is the Blacksburg Farmers Market, an open-air vendor market that won the award for Best Place to Buy Flowers.
College Avenue, which intersects Draper
Street, is home to the winners of Best Vegetarian Fare, Best Sushi, Best Radio Station and Best Karaoke. Green’s Grill & Sushi Bar is the winner of the first two categories. Top of the Stairs, colloquially known as TOTS, took home Best Karaoke. Karaoke takes place weekly there on Tuesday nights. Squires Student Center is home to WUVT-FM, which won Best Radio Station. This station is completely student-run and has both student and local DJs, often facilitating shows at various venues as well.
Off of the downtown section of Main Street, you’ll find the winners for 11 categories. The Cellar Restaurant & 6-Pak Store won Best International Fare, Best Cocktail and Best Beer Selection. Sharkey’s Wing & Rib Joint took both Best Burger and Best Happy Hour. Sugar Magnolia won Best Sweets, Cabo Fish Taco won Best Overall Restaurant and PK’s Bar & Grill won Best Place to Play Pool or Shoot Darts. Live Wire Tattoo & Piercing won Best Place to Get Tattooed and Blacksburg Books won Best Bookstore. Steppin’ Out, which occupies multiple roads around downtown, won Best Festival.
Down on South Main, the winners are a bit more spread out. Campus Emporium, which has both a downtown and a South Main location, won Best Place for VT Gear. In the First and Main shopping center, B&B Theatres won Best Place to See a Movie and Jersey Mike’s won Best Subs.El Rodeo, which also has a location on North Main, won Best Mexican Fare. The Gables shopping center is home to Vintage Cellar, which won Best Wine Selection, and Kroger, which won Best Grocery Store and also has a location on University City Boulevard. Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness is just off of South Main and won Best Gym.
North Main is home to a less concentrated selection of winners. For Best Date Spot, the winner is 622 North Restaurant, Bar and Wine Lounge. Carol Lee Donuts won Best Bakery. The Goodwill in the Patrick Henry shopping center won Best Clothing Store.
The other winners were scattered throughout town and campus. Buffalo Wild Wings won Best Wings and Best Place to Watch Sports on Television. West End Market won the Best Dining on Campus. Nail Bar, off of Prices Fork,
won Best Salon or Spa.
A couple of winners are outside the Blacksburg limits. The Best Hiking Trails category broadened the horizons of voters to include greater variety, and was taken by the Cascades, a trail near Pembroke. Pete Dye River Course in Radford, owned by Virginia Tech, won Best Golf Course.
Beyond entertainment and food, the Best of Blacksburg survey seeks out the favorite locations for other specialty needs such as automotive maintenance, legal assistance and fine jewelry. Campus Automotive on North Main took first place in the Best Place to Get a Car Serviced category. On South Main, Spicer, Olin & Associates won Best Law Firm. Downtown, Kent Jewelers won Best Jewelry Store. The Edge won Best Apartment Complex.
Keep an eye out for the 2026 poll and be ready to vote for your favorite businesses when the time comes; they may get a chance to be individually featured in the paper.
@COLLEGIATETIMES
BEST OF BLACKSBURG: 622 NORTH RESTAURANT, BAR AND WINE LOUNGE
Shreya Munjeti | lifestyles contributor
Learn why this local favorite won Best Date Spot in our 2025 poll.
One of the most recognizable signs downtown reads “622 North.” Inside is a surprisingly spacious restaurant with a unique ambiance and warm environment.
“I think I have the best chef in an hour and a half radius,” claims Walker Perkovich, one of 622 North’s owners.
With so much to offer, it is no wonder 622 North Restaurant, Bar and Wine Lounge was voted the Best Date Spot for the 2025 Best of Blacksburg poll.
Perkovich explained that the restaurant has been open since 2010, quickly becoming a landmark of downtown Blacksburg. For friends, families and couples alike, the restaurant offers an essential addition to Blacksburg as one of the finer restaurants in town.
“All good things take time, but it’s slowly becoming more and more of the vision of what I think Blacksburg doesn’t necessarily have and
kind of would separate us from other people,” Perkovich said. “When we first opened, we were looking more formal…but we wanted to make it approachable and affordable… I want to have a nice enough atmosphere where business meetings or rehearsal dinners want to come here but not so formal that people that want to show up in t-shirt and jeans feel outcast or alienated.”
Catering a higher-end restaurant to a college town is difficult, but through 622 North’s adaptability, it is a place for everyone, all economic backgrounds and dietary preferences. The menu is vegetarian-friendly and offers gluten-free options.
“People can have a nice drink, have dates, but also it’s just a (place) to come out and have a good meal,” Perkovich said.
622 North is versatile in not just its ability to cater to different crowds, but also in its cuisine.
Perkovich was inspired by many different cuisines, but mainly Californian cuisine as his family is from Los Angeles.
“Over the years we’ve had different chefs and all of them have different favorite areas of cuisine that they enjoy making and we’ve kind of just stuck with bits and pieces of whichever ones worked well,” Perkovich said.
At 622 North, the experience is not merely the taste of the food, though they carry pride in making delectable meals. The restaurant uses an amalgamation of their chefs’ and family’s experiences to create and curate their perfect menu.
“Whenever I go to a nice restaurant, I smell the food before I eat it because it’s part of it,” Perkovich said. “You want to have the smells, the different textures, the different colors… you’re almost painting a picture with the food and I think that’s something we do really well.”
622 North strives to make eating “an evolution,” with each bite complementing the last. For those planning to dine at 622 North, Perkovich assures there are options for every palette.
“If you want something rich and bold (in) flavor, the shrimp and grits has a Cajun-style rich southern flair,” he said. “The risotto is more of a carbonara vibe with poached egg pancetta and oregano oil. Something in the middle (is) the pork chop that we haven’t changed in a couple of years because it’s been so well received.”
For 622 North Restaurant, Bar and Wine Lounge hours of operation and menu, visit their website. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.
@COLLEGIATETIMES
THE 2025 BEST OF BLACKSBURG WINNERS: THOUGHTS FROM THE LIFESTYLES SECTION
lifestyles
section staff
From top eats to local faves, the lifestyle writers share their takes on the BoB winners.
The results are in for the Collegiate Times’s Best of Blacksburg survey. With 42 different categories, this year’s class includes the greatest restaurants, shops, activities and amenities of Blacksburg, chosen by Hokies and locals.
Members of the lifestyles section share why their favorite 2025 winners deserve their titles.
Best Coffee: Coffeeholics
John Garlow, lifestyles staff writer —“Coffeeholics is my go-to purveyor of caffeine. I’m not a morning person, but a cappuccino with a danish is still a terrific way to begin my morning. Great atmosphere and even better coffee makes for a top-tier place to start a productive day. Coffeeholics is absolutely worth visiting if you’re looking for breakfast or a mid-afternoon boost.”
Best Bakery: Carol Lee Donuts
Benjamin Gozzi, lifestyles staff writer — “I can’t say enough good things about Carol Lee Donuts. Each and every one of the flavors is outstanding and worth a try if you ever find yourself on North Main Street. The employees are friendly, kind, and always go out of their way to help customers — be sure to try the blueberry glazed donut!”
Best Mexican Fare: El Rodeo
Michaela Scott, lifestyles editor – “Since opening its doors in 1992, El Rodeo, also known as El Rods, has become a staple of the Blacksburg community. Its welcoming atmosphere, vibrant decor and packed menu options make El Rods the perfect stop for flavorful Mexican cuisine. Their food is reliable and affordable, with meals ranging from as little as $5 to $20. If you’re looking to enjoy a meal with family, go out with friends or have a casual meal, El Rods is located at 623 North Main St. and 1540 South Main St.”
Best Pizza and Best Late Night Food: Benny Marzano’s
Shreya Munjeti, lifestyles contributor
— “An absolute staple of Blacksburg! I’m not sure I know of a Hokie who has gone without a slice during their time at Tech. Open until 2 AM on the weekends, Bennys knows their crowd.”
Emma Duncan, lifestyles editor — “Whether it’s a classic cheese or pepperoni slice to seasonal pies such as Fortnite Battle Royale, Benny’s is the ultimate college kid comfort food. The atmosphere is also welcoming and has become the lifestyle section’s preferred place for a group social.”
Best Sweets: Sugar Magnolia
Gozzi — “Sugar Magnolia has everything a sweet tooth and a savvy shopper would want combined into one storefront. The ice cream is rich, creamy and scooped fresh on request, and the connecting shops are perfect for a new piece of Hokie merchandise. With a ranging variety of flavors and a selection of gourmet fudges/ popcorn, you can’t go wrong at Sugar Mags.”
Best Dining on Campus: West End Market
Riley Thompson, lifestyles staff writer —
“I love West End Market, and even though it’s a fair distance for me compared to Dietrick or Owen’s, I still find myself going constantly to try their extensive variety of options. Fighting Gobbler has one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had, and Leaf & Ladle’s salads always hit the spot. It gets even better in the morning when some of the restaurants at West End open for breakfast, which includes the amazing Rosso West End Waffle.”
Best Overall Restaurant: Cabo Fish Taco
Emelia Delaporte, lifestyles editor — “Any restaurant that has good maduros (sweet plantains) is a great place to go in my book. The building saw some amazing musicians come through before becoming Cabo, so the vibes are excellent as well.”
To read more about Cabo Fish Taco, read lifestyles editor Michaela Scott’s article from April 2024, when Cabo was also
named Best Overall Restaurant.
Best Festival: Steppin’ Out
Delaporte — “I had the pleasure of experiencing my first Steppin’ Out in summer 2024. This event has such a rich history and an epic variety of wares. It’s a great chance for local businesses and small artisans to interact with the community and sell their unique products.”
To read more about the Steppin’ Out festival, read lifestyles staff writer Anna Payne’s article discussing the 2025 win.
Best Hiking Trails: Cascades
Cat Pizzarello, lifestyles staff writer — “One of the reasons I chose VT was because of all the amazing hiking opportunities around campus. Cascades was the first hike I ever did, and it did not disappoint. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or have never stepped foot in the woods, this 4-mile loop with a beautiful waterfall at the end is perfect for every hiker.”
Best Date Spot: 622 North Restaurant, Bar & Wine Lounge
To read more about 622 North, read lifestyles contributor Shreya Munjeti’s article discussing the 2025 win.
Best Live Music: The Milk Parlor
Aidan Mason, lifestyles staff writer — “Can’t go wrong with a good Emo Night! Milk Parlor’s had some great live music, and I have quite a few fond memories of CreativiTea and Silhouette open mics.”
Best Place to See a Movie: B&B Theatres Blacksburg 11 with B-Roll Bowling
Gozzi — “B&B Theatres is the ultimate spot for weekend entertainment. Movies are made that much better with premium concessions and reclining seats inalmost every theater. The bowling experience is also a blast — this is the perfect spot for a large-group hangout!”
Best Radio Station: WUVT-FM 90.7
Delaporte — “If we’re sharing opinions, I have to plug my station! WUVT is a sibling organization of the Collegiate Times under the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech and I’m a deejay on Tuesday afternoons. The staff are passionate about music and making sure that everyone in the area gets to hear good music, whether at a show or over the airwaves.”
Best Place to Get Tattooed: Live Wire Tattoo & Piercing
Bailey Miller, lifestyles staff writer — “I have gotten six individual piercings done at Live Wire, and each experience has been phenomenal. The staff are all incredibly kind, talented and knowledgeable.”
Best Grocery Store: Kroger
Duncan — “Whether you prefer University Mall or Gables, Kroger is a classic. The University Mall Kroger is my go-to. With orange walls and HokieBirds all around, it’s as if I never left campus. Overall, I find it’s easier to navigate and less crowded.”
Best Bookstore: Blacksburg Books
Gozzi — “I’ve never had a more pleasant experience in a bookstore than at Blacksburg Books. Take a stroll downtown and you’ll find shelves upon shelves of exciting reads, ranging from science fiction to romance to everything in between. The bookstore’s employees are so knowledgeable about different books and will give excellent recommendations.”
To read more about Blacksburg Books, read lifestyles staff writer Mollie Coogan’s article from April 2024, when Blacksburg Books was also named Best Bookstore.
To experience why the lifestyles section loves this year’s BOB winners, make plans to visit them during the remaining weeks of the semester.
BEST OF BLACKSBURG: STEPPIN’ OUT FESTIVAL
Annually, booths and vendors line the streets of downtown Blacksburg in the warm, late summer heat at the Steppin’ Out festival, which features over 250 businesses, artists and musicians. The summer of 2025 will mark the festival’s 44th celebration, which will occur Aug. 1-2 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
From music-filled hours by local artists to endless fare possibilities, finding something to love at the festival will be far from arduous.
Kat Mills is a local singer and songwriter who has performed at the Steppin’ Out festival for almost 20 years. She expressed that the festival is a supportive environment that encourages artists to grow and perform.
“I can always trust the people who are putting it together are doing it because they love our town,” Mills said. “They want it to be successful for all the people of our town.”
Anna Payne | lifestyles staff writer
Discover why Steppin’ Out was voted the Best Festival in Blacksburg.
There are three different musical stages: the main stage, the acoustic stage and the community stage, which feature different performances all day long. According to Mills, Steppin’ Out is excellent exposure for her music because the event brings people from all over Virginia and surrounding areas, like North Carolina.
“People come from all around,” Mills said. “My audience at that event tends to be people who have seen me before, and some of them come back year after year to seek out if I have new recordings, new merch and new stories to share. It helps me up my game when it’s people that are coming to that event and that stage to see me.”
Music isn’t the only reason people seek out the Steppin’ Out festival. Food vendors from all around, such as Carly’s Kettle Korn, which serves Tennessee and southwest Virginia, attract many visitors. Nearly 4,000 people have shared their
interest in the event on Facebook.
“I’ve always told all the (farmers market) vendors it’s wonderful exposure for our business,” said Lindsay Lindeberg, the owner of Big Lick Ice Cream Co. “You’re going to talk to people and expose your business, you know, to get people from all over the New River Valley and beyond that come here for the festival.”
Lindeberg began her ice cream business in 2011 and attended her first Steppin’ Out in 2012. Throughout the years, Lindeberg said she has always felt super well supported by the community, especially at the festival.
“It’s always been a really great festival. Even if it rains, it’s still very strong.” Lindeberg said. “It’s just a really good community event; it’s always felt really well supported.”
In addition to food and musical entertainment, a wide variety of businesses, from
jewelers to potters, populate the streets of Blacksburg, ensuring amusement for everyone. Free admission and parking are bonuses of the festival, making it an affordable activity for anyone to enjoy.
If you were searching for a reason to come back to Blacksburg before the chaos of the new school year ensues, the Steppin’ Out festival is the perfect excuse. Mills suggested the festival is a time to learn more about the town of Blacksburg, apart from just the university.
“This is the time to really learn about our town,” Mills said. “This is the time to feel the energy of the town and feel welcome here.”
SPORTS LACROSSE OUTCLASSED BY NO. 15 CLEMSON, DROPS FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer
Mia Pozzi and Lauren Render each notched two goals in the effort.
For the first time since 2019, Virginia Tech lacrosse has lost five straight games. The Hokies (7-7, 2-5 ACC) dropped their Saturday matinee to No. 15 Clemson, 18-6, on a day where costly penalties and an anemic offense were too much to overcome.
From the jump, the Tigers (11-4, 5-2 ACC) controlled the game. Clemson midfielder Natalie Shurtleff was the first on the board, notching a score 45 seconds in. Just over a minute later, attacker Regan Byrne would join her. Then, with just under seven minutes left, fellow attacker Kayla MacLeod deked out a Hokies defender to notch the Tigers’ third tally, zipping a crisp low liner into the net.
Tech was held scoreless for nearly all of the first frame before attacker Lauren Render found the back of the net with 58 seconds left. With 33 seconds to spare, attacker Sophia Trahan knocked in a goal of her own — before that was ruled no good due to a crease violation, leaving the Hokies down five to end the first.
The review nullified any momentum for Tech, so MacLeod added her third goal early in the second quarter to extend Clemson’s lead. The
Tigers attacker accounted for four goals all game.
After her third, Tech ran into another penalty. This one was a dangerous contact call on midfielder Mia Pozzi, marking the second time that the Hokies let a goal slip. Tech eventually found a small rhythm. Render, as well as midfielders Emma Rowland and Ally Phalines, tallied a trio of goals to round off the first half with a 10-4 deficit.
However, that stretch was short-lived, with Clemson outscoring the Hokies 8-2 in the second half and holding them scoreless in the final frame. The Tigers outshot the Hokies 19-11 in the second half and didn’t let up until the final whistle.
Clemson attacker Lindsey Marshall led that charge, scoring four of her six goals in the second half, including three in the final nine minutes. Her six goals equaled the totality of Tech scoring, resulting in a blowout 18-6 win for the Tigers.
Saturday’s result felt all-too familiar for Tech. Just a year ago, it was routed 15-4 by Clemson, and not much changed this time around. Of the Hokies who took the field on Saturday, Pozzi was the only one to have scored in the 2024 matchup.
Though one of her tallies was waved off due to
dangerous contact, Pozzi was also one of just two Hokies to tally multiple goals on Saturday. The other, per usual, was Render. And that highlights a glaring issue for the Hokies:
The inability to generate consistent offensive production beyond Render and Pozzi. Only those two have scored more than 15 goals this season, and aside from them, only Kamryn Henson and midfielder Maura O’Malley average over a goal per game.
The Hokies only notched two goals outside of their star duo Saturday, with midfielder Henson — fresh off her third career hat trick against Duke last week — held scoreless.
Now, with just three regular season games remaining, the Hokies find themselves in a battle to stay above the cut line for the ACC Tournament. Saturday marked another step back for a Virginia Tech team trying to stop its lateseason slide.
Tech is one game ahead of No. 21 Notre Dame, clinging to the eighth and final spot for the ACC tournament. While the Hokies would hold the head-to-head over Louisville and Pitt, they have no such protection from the Fighting Irish (6-7,
1-6).
Notre Dame plays both the Cardinals (6-8, 1-6) and the Panthers (6-7, 1-6) on its upcoming slate. The best-case scenario for Tech to make the ACC tournament would be for Notre Dame to lose to both Pitt and Louisville, since the Hokies hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over each.
Tech’s next game is a non-conference tilt versus Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, April 9 at noon. It’s an opportunity for the Hokies to course-correct before their two most important games of the season.
And with just two ACC games remaining, the Hokies can’t afford to let another opportunity slip. If they can’t find answers soon, their postseason hopes may vanish before the final whistle of the regular season.
SOFTBALL CLINCHES FOURTH STRAIGHT ACC SERIES WITH WIN OVER NC STATE
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer
Bre Peck hit her first home run in over a month.
In a Saturday showdown, the No. 11 Hokies extended their win streak to 12 games and clinched their fourth straight ACC series with a 3-0 shutout of NC State.
With the win over the Wolfpack (21-18, 4-10 ACC), Virginia Tech (31-5, 10-1) remains tied with No. 10 Florida State (35-6, 10-1) for the conference lead.
In the circle, Emma Mazzarone threw her second complete game for the Hokies. The sophomore lefty steamrolled through 25 Wolfpack batters, allowing only two hits and as many walks while throwing out six.
Many of her early pitches aimed for contact, with each of the Hokies’ first nine outs coming via groundout, flyout or lineout. As a result, Mazzarone worked through NC State’s entire order in just 16 pitches, showing her command and ability to generate early contact.
Though the remaining four innings weren’t as strong — she surrendered two hits and two walks — she threw out six, with only one Wolfpack baserunner reaching third.
On the other side, Tech wasn’t as explosive as Friday, registering only three hits. But it capitalized off the knocks it did get — especially in the fourth. After shortstop Rachel Castine worked a leadoff walk, third baseman Bre Peck shot a two-RBI homer over the leftfield wall.
Peck’s home run was the 49th of her career and first since Feb. 28. The bomb moved her to within one of Megan Evans’ all-time program record. She also raised her career RBI total to 167, just three shy of Kelsey Bennett, who’s now an assistant coach at Georgia Tech.
Peck’s two-run bomb was a reminder of her reliability — she leads the team with 41 RBIs and ranks second in home runs with nine.
While NC State managed to work a walk to start off the fourth, it didn’t result in any scoring. Right fielder Taylor Ensley advanced to second base and stole third, but was stranded when Mazzarone struck out catcher Hannah Church. For the remainder of the game, the Wolfpack couldn’t get a baserunner
past first.
For good measure, Tech tacked on an insurance run in the fifth. Right fielder Cori McMillan walked, advanced to second on a single by first baseman Michelle Chatfield and scored on an error at first to give the Hokies a 3-0 lead that they never relinquished.
McMillan reached base three times, drew two walks and singled in the fifth. The senior has been on a tear this season, with her .991 slugging percentage standing as the best in program history and is nearly .300 higher than any other Tech player this year.
The top three sluggers in Hokies history are all on this year’s squad. McMillan (.991), Chatfield (.700) and Peck (.642) have been key parts of one of the most potent lineups Tech’s ever fielded. They need to stay on their respective tears to cement themselves in the record books, though.
The Hokies’ dominance extends beyond the batter’s box — Emma Lemley’s four no-hitters and a reliable bullpen have given
them one of their deepest pitching crews in recent memory.
On both ends of the field, Tech has been one of the strongest teams in the country, outscoring their opponents 83-25 in their last 12 games.
Tech’s final showdown against the Wolfpack comes on Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m. Then, the Hokies will return to Tech Softball Park to face Charlotte on Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m.
Last year, Tech lost to the 49ers (18-21), 8-4. However, that year’s Charlotte team went on to finish 39-18, much better than this season’s iteration.
With Florida State continuing to win as well, Tech knows that it can’t afford a misstep. At this point, every ACC game is critical in the race for postseason seeding, especially with both teams searching for a top-eight national seed and the chance to host a Super Regional.
@CTSPORTSTALK
BASEBALL REBOUNDS FROM GAME 1 SLUMP WITH 6-1 VICTORY OVER NOTRE DAME
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer
Jackson Cherry tallied a game-high three RBI.
A day after dropping its series opener to Notre Dame, Virginia Tech baseball answered with a resounding 6-1 victory to knot the series at one on Saturday. Though the offense remained largely stagnant, stellar pitching saved the day for the Hokies (21-10, 8-6 ACC).
Freshman Jake Marciano (4-0) went on a career-high nine-strikeout run over 6 2/3 innings, tossing a one-run ballgame, allowing no earned runs and throwing 76 strikes on 116 pitches. The southpaw allowed just six hits and worked out of jams early, stranding two Notre Dame (15-13, 3-11 ACC) baserunners in the third and fifth innings. His most dominant stretch came from the fourth to the seventh, where he retired 10 of 11 batters. Notre Dame’s only run on his watch came as third baseman Nick DeMarco crossed the plate on an unearned RBI single in the fifth. Marciano’s command kept the Irish in
check, and when he exited the game in the seventh, reliever Grant Manning picked up where he left off. The graduate student added three punchouts of his own and surrendered a single hit to earn his second save of the year. Together, the duo combined for 12 strikeouts and surrendered just two free bases. Because of them, only two Notre Dame baserunners reached third base.
The Fighting Irish struggled on offense, hitting just 2-for-15 with runners on base, including 1-for-5 mark with runners in scoring position. On the other side, the Hokies started slow, going 1-for-9 in leadoff opportunities, but were more effective once aboard, finishing 4-for-12 with runners on and 2-for-9 with them in scoring position. It wasn’t Tech’s sharpest offensive outing, but it didn’t need to be with Marciano and Manning’s exceptional outings.
The Hokies’ bats capitalized on Notre
Dame’s shaky defense to build an early lead. After stranding two runners in the first inning, it broke through. Jared Davis was hit by a pitch and then made his way to third after a Ben Watson single. Davis reached home plate off Sam Tackett’s subsequent sacrifice bunt.
After Jackson Cherry walked, he and Watson scored as third baseman Hudson Lutterman cracked the ball down the leftfield line, vacating the bases and giving Tech a 3-0 lead.
Though the Fighting Irish’s bullpen temporarily stabilized the game, keeping the Hokies scoreless through the eighth, they would eventually unravel. On the other end, Tech’s defense held strong, surrendering only a single unearned run — an RBI single from Irish center fielder Jared Zimbardo.
After, the Hokies’ defense tightened back up, notching a quick foul out. Lutterman then
cinched the fifth inning with a diving grab between second and third to put Tech back on offense.
In the ninth, the Hokies put the game out of reach. Davis laced a double and advanced to third off a wild pitch. He, alongside Tackett, scored off a towering three-run bomb from Cherry. It was the graduate student’s fourth homer of the year and his seventh hit of the series.
The rubber match will come on Sunday, April 6 at noon. Given that Tech suffered an RPI-damaging loss to Radford on Tuesday, it’s a must-win game. After their Notre Dame series concludes, the Hokies’ next challenge will be a midweek matinee at English Field against No. 20 Troy (24-8, 8-3 SBC), which kicks off on Wednesday, April 9 at 6 p.m.