Sure, Grand Isle is a famous fishing village in South Louisiana that has endured more than its share of hurricane misery, most recently from Gustav. It's also the name of a new dining spot in New Orleans that captures some of the soul of the Lousiana coast in all its funky appeal.

Yesterday I hit the red leather-bound volumes of Southern Living, starting at the top left corner of the shelves in 1966. What I found felt very much like a time capsule.

A great reporter digs to find the facts and writes them as he knows them.  When he is wrong, he admits his mistakes.

I was wrong.

After a previous post regarding St. Nick in Fredericksburg, I got a call from Santa.  Rather, I missed a call from Santa.

(Listen to Santa's message.)

Local Santa, Santa Claus (see Retraction post), loves sharing the joy of Christmas. photo by Scott Suchman

I sent our photographer, Scott Suchman, a rather detailed shot list last December for my story, "Shop Fredericksburg."  I gave him specific locations and angles I thought would work.  The main theme, though, was to convey Chrismas in this charming Virginia town. 

I never asked him to find Santa Claus.

photo by Scott Suchman

We've chosen our five favorites in this Virginia city.

We're huge fans of the Old Town district of Fredericksburg, and here's why: All the stores are locally owned.  When browsing for everything from antique furniture to contemporary gifts, you'll find the shop owners right on the spot.  Check these out.

Recently, Time Magazine (a publication owned by our parent company) published a story titled, "50 Authentic American Experiences." These huge types of magazine articles always intrigue me. Rarely do I not grab the magazine or click on the story to see what editors spotlight as the best BBQ in Texas, the greatest songwriters of all-time, or America's favorite beaches. I love the breadth of expertise and the narrowing down of opinions.

Time, though, missed the mark, especially in the South. I'll offer my thoughts and you can decide.

Virginia Tech escaped with a 20-17 win over Georgia Tech Saturday evening thanks in large part to Tyrod Taylor's legs.

The recently unredshirted quarterback scrambled for 74 yards on 15 attempts, scoring a touchdown on a two-yard keeper late in the first half. Though Taylor completed only 9 of 14 passes for an anemic 48 yards, his happy feet seemed to energize the orange-clad crowd. "See!" exclaimed the man in front of me, who turned around each and every time the fleet-footed playmaker sprinted across the field. "Sean Glennon could never do that."

This good-natured ribbing occurred because I foolishly declared a desire to see senior quarterback Sean Glennon play after interviewing him over the summer. Because his team offers little pass protection and a lack of talented receivers, the strong-armed Glennon is useless to the Hokies and was left sitting Saturday.

Of course, Taylor had some help from Georgia Tech's mistake-riddled offense. The 'Jackets tallied 387 yards total offense, but coughed up the ball three times, twice turning over the ball. They also had eight penalties for 61 yards and one interception. The Hokie faithful breathed a sigh of relief when the last play ground to a halt, and most felt lucky to end the day with a win.

The band never quit.

That's about the best thing that can be said about Virginia's painful 52-7 loss to Southern Cal at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville Saturday. That and the record crowd of 64,947 may have seen the national champions play.

Still, I love the first day of football season. Every team is undefeated, and fans are drunk on high expectations. When players go to sleep on Friday night, visions of national championships dance in their heads. It's sunshine and roses on every campus in America.

Until the game starts, anyway.

On an early morning walk this week, I glimpsed the first promise of fall.

Dew clung to the summer-brown grasses and lacy fog hugged the river bottoms, both damp reminders of a late night thunderstorm. As I marched briskly along the fence rows, something from above caught my eye. I stopped to watch as a single yellow leaf, released from its home high atop a poplar tree, floated gracefully on the morning breeze and settled in the meadow below. Excitement coursed through my veins as I instantly began to count—less than two weeks until college football begins!

(Photo by Art Meripol)

I grew up in a small town in Alabama. I have a Southern accent that digs deep or floats shallow, depending on the situation. I thought I knew Southern accents, until I met Lindsey Vincent at the Good Earth Peanut Company while researching a story out this month on the best stops off I-95.

(Photo by Jean Allsopp)

Pumpkin Lee at Journeymen Saddlers in downtown Middleburg has done the tack repair work for equestrians--many of them Olympians--for over 30 years.  Pumpkin, huh?  So I ask her given name.