Danielle Barilla in a purple lace shirt

Danielle Johnson

Senior Newsletter Editor

Danielle is based in Greenville, SC and came to GVLtoday from the television news world, previously serving as the Executive Producer at WIS-TV in Columbia, SC. Whether she’s on the job or not, she loves checking out her city’s food + beverage scene and learning about local history.

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City
What makes ice so dangerous?
Ice storms in SC have caused widespread damage in the past, and as we brace for winter weather, we spoke to a meteorologist to find out why.
January 22, 2026
 · 
David Stringer
GVL_Jianna_Cookbook_SEPT2024
Culture
Editor’s Pick: Celebrating Jianna’s James Beard Semifinalist
We spoke with Andrea Ciavardini-Royko minutes after she found out she was a James Beard Award semifinalist.
January 21, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
A frozen fountain
Weather
What makes an ice storm so dangerous?
Ice storms in SC have caused widespread damage in the past, and as we brace for winter weather, we spoke to a meteorologist to find out why.
January 21, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Bon_Secours_Wellness_Arena_Rendering_JAN2026
City
A look at Bon Secours Wellness Arena’s $282 million expansion
The updated plans were presented to Greenville County Council as the arena requests funding to make the renovations possible.
January 20, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Embassy_2016_view_JAN2026
City
2016 in Greenville, SC through the eyes of @gvltoday
We’re hopping on the latest social trend and reminiscing on some of 2016’s biggest moments, including our very own launch.
January 16, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
woodruff-traffic
Just how bad is the traffic in Greenville, SC?
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
January 15, 2026
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
The Cook's Station | Photo by GVLtoday Team
Small Business

Local love: GVLtoday’s growing guide to reader-recommended small businesses
Help us create a growing guide to small businesses by submitting your favorite local makers, restaurants, and professionals, and sharing this page with a friend.
January 15, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Zillow_Gone_Wild_JAN2026
Real Estate
The Paris Mountain estate that caught the attention of Zillow Gone Wild
“WHEN I think about Greenville, South Carolina architecture this is exactly what comes to mind,” the post said.
January 14, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Meals_on_Wheels_JAN2026
Nonprofits
Editor’s Pick: Meals on Wheels’ new facility will triple its impact
The new Meals on Wheels building features a 15,000-sqft kitchen with 5,000 sqft of storage for food.
January 13, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
This photo shows a cozy and modern café interior. A hand in the foreground is holding an iced coffee in a clear plastic cup with a lid and straw. The background features a seating area with white chairs, soft-toned furniture, and large windows letting in natural light. The décor includes potted plants, a patterned rug, a glass-top coffee table, and wall art. Outside, it appears to be a rainy day, adding to the cozy ambiance.
Food
A new Coffee Crawl is taking over Greenville for the month of February
The event, which also took place in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Nashville in January, urges participants to explore new coffee shops in their city.
January 12, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Court_Street_Google_Maps_JAN2026
City
How Court Street could become a pedestrian-only area
If the city moves forward, the plan would close part of East Court Street to cars and expand market and event space.
January 12, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
A close up of the white blossoms of the Bradford pear tree.
City

How to get free trees to replace those stinky Bradford Pears
For every Bradford Pear you remove from your property, Clemson and the Forestry Commission will give you a free replacement, but only while supplies last.
January 8, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Bradford_Pear_JAN2026
Travel and Outdoors
How to get free trees to replace those stinky Bradford Pears
For every Bradford Pear you remove from your property, Clemson and the Forestry Commission will give you a free replacement, but only while supplies last.
January 7, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Peace_Center_Sneak_Peek_JAN2026
City
Sneak peek: Step inside the Peace Center’s new music venues
January 7, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
A Lagree fitness class in Asheville, NC.
Wellness
2026 wellness trends and where to find them in Asheville
Whether you’re plunging into icy water, hopping on the reformer, or basking in red light, wellness in 2026 is about finding what makes you feel good. With so many options popping up around Asheville, we’re sharing where to try these wellness trends.
January 6, 2026
 · 
Grace Powers
A modern library equipped with sleek self-checkout kiosks designed to make borrowing books quick and convenient. Four black-and-white self-service stations are lined up in a row, each featuring a touchscreen interface and a card payment slot. Beneath the screens, transparent shelves with LED lighting provide space for scanning and processing books. The bright and open library space in the background is organized with bookshelves labeled by category, creating an inviting atmosphere for readers. A nearby sign advertises a local book club meeting, adding a community-focused touch. Large windows let in ample natural light, enhancing the clean and contemporary aesthetic. The setup reflects a seamless blend of technology and traditional library services, catering to the needs of modern patrons.
Small Business
Meet your 2026 reading goal with the help of these local Greenville spots
You can just load your TBR (to be read) list, but these challenges and pop-up shops keep it interesting.
January 2, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Paris_Mountain_State_Park_Music_In_The_Woods_JAN2025
Travel and Outdoors
Paris Mountain State Park is working to rebuild its Music in the Woods stage
The Music in the Woods stage was damaged by Helene in fall 2024, and now the park and its supporters are working to rebuild.
January 2, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
A table set at a restaurant.
Food
Wine and dine around Greenville for Restaurant Week South Carolina
Get your calendars out and start booking your reservations at these Greenville-area eateries offering special dishes, menus, and deals for a limited time during Restaurant Week South Carolina.
January 2, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Sauna_House_MAY2025
Culture
Wellness trends and where to find them
Whether you’re plunging into icy water, holding a plank on a Megaformer, or basking in red light, wellness in 2026 is about finding what makes you feel good. With so many options popping up around Greenville, we’re sharing where to try these wellness trends.
December 19, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
1998 December - Snow on Main Street | City of Greenville
City
The history of snow in Greenville, SC
Let’s take a look at some stats on the history of snow in Greenville
December 16, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Homes_for_the_holiday_hispanic_alliance_DEC2025
Real Estate
Take a virtual tour inside these Alta Vista homes decked out for the holidays
We saw 2025 design trends come to life at the Hispanic Alliance’s 2025 Homes for the Holiday event.
December 15, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Kenny's_Golf_Club_DEC2025
Sports
Kenny’s Golf Club spot to swing at Judson Mill
A new 6,800-sqft indoor golf facility with advanced training technology, six simulator bays, and on-site refreshments is opening soon at Greenville’s Judson Mill District.
December 10, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVLtoday trees falls park
City
Greenville will focus on a long-term urban forest plan in 2026
The Urban Forest Comprehensive Plan will inventory Greenville’s canopy, shape future tree policy, and invite public input starting in 2026.
December 10, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Shops_At_Greenridge_DEC2025
Business
Be the Broker: What do you want to see at one of Greenville’s most popular shopping centers?
December 9, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
Aerial shot of current city hall building (tall, multi-story, black mid-century building)
City
Dreaming up Greenville’s new City Hall
We’re looking at the request for proposal to bring in an architect for the project, plus other city halls with features that caught our eye.
December 9, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Furman_Fall_Foliage_Greenville_Weather_SEPT2023
Sports
Furman’s men’s soccer team is one win away from the National Championship
It’s the first time the Paladins have ever made it to the College Cup.
December 8, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
The Uptown Charlotte skyline at sunset.
Culture
CLTtoday wrapped: Revisiting 2025’s top stories
This year brought development updates, restaurant news, and the final upgrades of the Spectrum Center, and CLTtoday was there to cover it all. We’re looking back at 2025’s top stories with our CLTtoday wrapped.
December 4, 2025
 · 
Maria Adnado
A moving gif with the text "2025 Wrapped"; moving componenets include a star shape in the top left corner, three location pins in the top right corner, a sun shape in the bottom right corner, and a mobile phone with a smiley face in the left bottom corner.
Culture
RICtoday Wrapped: Revisiting 2025’s top hits
It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
December 3, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
GVL_County_Square_APRIL2024
City
GVLtoday wrapped: Revisiting 2025’s top hits
This year brought development updates, restaurant news, and the final pieces of Unity Park, and GVLtoday was there to cover it all. We’re looking back at 2025’s top stories with our fourth-annual GVLtoday wrapped.
December 3, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Hone_DEC2025
Hone will help local chefs test concepts in the Village of West Greenville
A first-of-its-kind concept in Greenville, the incubator aims to give chefs and business owners the resources they need to succeed.
December 2, 2025
 · 
Danielle Johnson
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