Leona Baker

1 month ago | coastalvirginiamag.com | Leona Baker

Sometimes the best things come as a delightful surprise. I was both delighted and surprised by Prime Mediterranean, a new restaurant located off the beaten path (at least for Southsiders) in Middlesex County and serving a mélange of dishes from Italy, Greece, Southern Spain, France, Turkey and other coastal countries of the Mediterranean region. There is nothing monochromatic about the tantalizing plates emerging from the kitchen of chefs Heather Minter and Jonathan “JL” Lewis.

1 month ago | coastalvirginiamag.com | Leona Baker

D.C.’s Capitol Hill inevitably conjures images of lawmakers and lobbyists, politics and protests. But this iconic neighborhood in the heart of the nation’s capital also happens to be a really vibrant place to visit, whether for a weekend getaway or a work retreat.  If you are a lover of history, art, books or food—or, like me, all the above —Capitol Hill is a veritable treasure trove of flavors and finds waiting to be savored and explored.

1 month ago | coastalvirginiamag.com | Leona Baker

The phrase “say it with flowers” takes on a new meaning in an interactive art project on display at various locations in Coastal Virginia in 2025 as a part of the With Love initiative for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Coastal Virginia. Through the 1,000 Flowers Community Art Project, participants were invited to create origami flowers inscribed with personal messages of hope and healing for those whose lives have been affected by mental illness.

1 month ago | coastalvirginiamag.com | Leona Baker

We are not weighing in on the sometimes-heated debate about what constitutes a sandwich (though you can Google “Sandwich Alignment Chart” if you want to see where you stand). Suffice it to say, humans have been putting a variety of ingredients on or between pieces of bread and eating them for centuries.

Nov 25, 2024 | coastalvirginiamag.com | Leona Baker

Flowers aren’t just for bouquets and white lace anymore. Over the last several years, blooms have been popping up on designer wedding dresses like a wildflower meadow in late spring. From whisper-soft pastel petals to bright pops of pink, blue or green…3D appliques to breathtaking floral embroidery: this is flower power in the best way. “We are seeing floral-inspired bridal styles quickly gaining in popularity,” says Brooke Thurman of Milk & Honey Bride in Virginia Beach.