Connie Bailey Kitts

Arts & Culture Connie Bailey Kitts, Dec. 23, 2022

Cookies For A Nativity Fast: Recipe With Ancient History Makes Annual Appearance In Appalachia

To prepare for Christmas, many Orthodox Christians fast for 40 days from eggs, meat and dairy. But that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy something a little sweet. Ginny Chryssikos’ melomakarona fasting cookie brings a bit of ancient history to Appalachia.

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Arts & Culture Connie Bailey Kitts, Sep. 28, 2022

Country Ham Caprese And Cheesy Eggrolls: Virginia Barbecue Restaurant Serves Up Community-Inspired Dishes

People love to argue over which barbecue sauce is most authentic — vinegar, tomato or mustard. But Cuz’s Uptown Barbeque in Tazewell County, Virginia, is distinguished by something entirely different.

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Arts & Culture Connie Bailey Kitts, Jul. 19, 2022

Descendant Revisits, Revives African American Cemetery

America has a history of segregating Black and white people — in restaurants, schools, buses… even in death. In Bluefield, Virginia, graves of Black residents who helped build the town were neglected for decades in its segregated cemetery. It might have stayed that way had it not been for the efforts of one persistent woman whose family was buried there.

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Arts & Culture Connie Bailey Kitts, Jul. 06, 2021

Appalachian Artist Blends Sight And Sound To Create Award-Winning Turkey Calls

Like many Appalachian traditions, turkey calls go way back. Historically, they’ve been used as a hunting tool, but one West Virginia artist has taken it to the next level. Brian Aliff makes hand-crafted, prize-winning decorative turkey calls. These pieces are functional and they’re becoming collectors items, but it took a while for Aliff to think of himself as an artist.

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