-
Seeing Front Royal Through Dad’s Eyes
My father spent a day exploring Front Royal with me following the loss of his wife. Together, we visited community landmarks, met remarkable people, and discovered that the town’s greatest strength isn’t its places, but the relationships that connect them. Read More
-
38th Annual Wine & Craft Festival
A long day at the Virginia Wine & Craft Festival brought balloon mishaps, dirty soda discoveries, live music, Ghostbusters encounters, community conversations, sudden rain, and the familiar exhaustion that follows a full day spent volunteering, wandering downtown, and reconnecting with people. Read More
-
Inside the Sapphire R-91: First Look
After discovering a 1986 AMI Rowe Sapphire 91 jukebox at Stone Branch Center for the Arts, we explored its robotic mechanics, overflowing coin slot, mysterious modifications, spinning record carousel, and possibilities for restoring it with modern technology & local creative content. Read More
-
CSS, Jukeboxes, and Flags
A canceled meeting opened unexpected time for jukebox research, website development, community events, and quiet reflection on leadership, delegation, and balancing too many responsibilities while continuing work on the Restoring the Signal exhibit. Read More
-
The Day of the Royal Blueberry Tart
A day spent restoring a 1938 typewriter, uncovering archival newspaper scans, photographing local murals, discussing payphones and clowning, playing improvised games with friends, and sketching AI-assisted mural concepts inspired by the Shenandoah Valley. Read More
-
Dial ‘I’ for interactive: New exhibit celebrates 150 years of communication
Northern Virginia Daily: Highlights the Restoring the Signal exhibit at Stone Branch Center for the Arts, which explores vintage communication technology through interactive telephones, storytelling, oral histories, nostalgia, and community participation, centered on 150 years of communication history. Read More
-
Solving SSL Before Press
Days before a reporter visited the Restoring the Signal exhibit, I found myself untangling a bizarre SSL certificate problem involving DNS, AutoSSL, browser caching, and cPanel—while also preparing rotary phones, TTY demonstrations, flyers, and interactive storytelling experiences. Read More
-
Restoring the Signal Flyers
Preparing for a news interview, I created flyers, updated the exhibit website, and wrestled with CSS, AutoSSL, and responsive layouts deep into the night — all to help bring the phone exhibit and Royal Visit recordings to the community. Read More
-
Artist Trading Card: Artistic Revolution #6
An afternoon making artist trading cards at Stone Branch Center for the Arts turned into a nostalgic dive into goth and industrial music, surreal collage art, and an absurd “artistic revolution” led by Hello Kitty, ransom-note typography, flowers, & punk-inspired experimentation. Read More
-
Family Fun Day, Crawfish, and Candlestick Phones
Family Fun Day brought crawfish, music, dancing, juggling clowns, and antique telephones. Between community conversations, gallery visits, and unexpected dog drama, the day became a reminder of the quirky traditions and connections that make small-town events memorable. Read More