I have lived in Italy for a total of eight years and this pizza is pretty darn close to legit. I went in today praying they had pizza by the slice, but I was prepared to pay for a whole pizza just for me if they didn’t. Well, they did, and it was fresh and heavenly. Not like some places where the pizza’s been sitting out all day and they just nuke it for you really quick, this was just out of the oven. Two slices with a drink…$4.50. Love it.

Located on South Main just after the 7/11 and Hess gas station, you have to try the best pizza by the slice in the Burg. Trust me, I know my za.

Clean, great service and some good pizza. Located right next to Starbucks across the street from the Port Republic access to campus. They also take Flex for those of us who have any left.

Definitely a treat if you’re finished with exams after tomorrow. Happy studying!

This is not creepy at all and the psychic, didn’t get her name, is really personable and made me feel very at ease during my first reading. There are a variety of services; palm readings go for $20, psychic reading (which I got) was $25, and tarot card readings as well as other services are $35 and up. She’s located right downtown on E. Market (across the street from A Touch of Earth) just before you hit Court Square (that coffee shop that’s down there on the corner is just a few doors down on the opposite side of the road.) Bring a friend if you don’t feel comfortable going alone, but they can’t sit in on your reading. Check it out, kids.

Mentioned this place in previous posting. Refer here, please.

Chic, earthy decorations provided a cool atmosphere and with an unconventional twist on traditional diner food we couldn’t have been more impressed. 

The old diner meatloaf is jazzed up Southwestern style with chorizo and served with ancho mole sauce. I opted for the Southwest Burger that comes with black bean salsa, guacamole and pepper jack cheese served with fresh golden fries. The BF ordered the Maple BBQ Burger with bacon and cheddar cheese.

But what I was incredibly thrown by was that they cooked my burger perfectly. I’m a red-meat kind of girl and usually when I say I want medium-rare I end up getting well-done but this was not the case tonight, it was perfectly seared but still red inside. In love. Two thumbs way, way up.

The menu also features an extensive cocktail and beer list for those wishing to liven up their meal a bit. Today they featured a Blackberry Mojito and Tequila Sunrise. Also, this place is extremely affordable. For two amazing burgers and fresh sweet tea for my date and I the bill came out to just under $20. Definite deal.

Although a bit of a mini road trip, Thunderbird Cafe shouldn’t be passed up. Cruise down route 33 towards Massenutten for about 10 minutes and once you pass Spotswood High School on your right you’re only about a minute away. You’ll see the neon sign as soon as you round the corner.

Polish off lunch with their crazy amazing Lava Cake, a warm, “rich and dense” chocolate cake with a melty chocolate center. To die for.

P.S. This may sound super weird, but they have the coolest bathroom (toilet) around, just saying, find out why and comment back.

Located on 600E University Boulevard to the right of Costco and across the street from Tuesday Morning.

Clean and quaint atmosphere the wait staff is exceptional and the food even better. Order the traditional miso soup and salad with Japanese garlic, ginger dressing before you dig into some shrimp tempura rolls, fresh sashimi and my favorite, spicy tuna roll. 

Located at 182 Neff Avenue across the street from the back of Valley Mall I definitely recommend Sushi Jacko for a date or girls night out.

In light of our separation from this magical place, I feel it is appropriate to share with you one of my favorite pieces in regard to graduating.

Although thought to have been a commencement speech this was originally written as a column by Chicago Tribune staff writer, Mary Schmich in 1997. Later the column was put to music by director, Baz Luhrmann and called, “The Sunscreen Song.”

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts. Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

So, I would go several weeks…okay, I lie, several months (shh don’t tell her that) without a haircut until I made the trip to NoVA. My little also had a pretty traumatic haircutting experience at a salon that shall remain unnamed.

But fear no more, I found, the best hair salon in the Valley. The Studio is located at 380 East Market Street (white house with black and pink accents) and has been “voted best in the Burg” for years. I’m terrible at explaining what I want, so that’s why my Aunt Jen always chops my hair because she knows what will look good on me.

Khanda, a beautiful young stylist, with great hair (FYI never get your hair cut by someone with terrible looking hair), did a wonderful job with guessing what I wanted and it turned out adorable. The Studio staff was so accommodating and cheerful. Definitely recommend The Studio if you can’t go home for the weekend to get a cut by your regular stylist.

Pricing is very reasonable and they offer a variety of other beauty treatment services. Call: (540) 434-8188 and ask for Khanda!

Mom: “Evin, did your diploma display get to your house alright?
Me: “Yeah, but what makes you think I’m getting a diploma?”
Mom: “EVIN CHRISTINE, I SWEAR TO GOD…”