Articles Tagged "Holidays"

During the holidays, our real estate agents want you to spend less time cooking and more time socializing. Get out of the kitchen and into the family room with holiday meals from these wonderful restaurants and markets near Richmond homes for sale. 

• Lemaire Restaurant - Jefferson Hotel, 101 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23220
  Enjoy a dinner of Southern-influenced holiday classics with dinner from Lemaire Restaurant. Herb-crusted prime rib comes with soup, salad, and an assortment of side dishes that includes their signature spoonbread. Top it all off with some luscious chocolate pecan pie. Dinners are offered for two, four, or six people at $100 per pair. Order by December 15 for pickup on December 23.
  
  
• Big Herm's Kitchen - 315 N. 2nd St., Richmond, VA 23219
  Remember those holidays of your childhood, when the whole family gathered at Grandma's house for dinner? Big Herm's Kitchen does, and their holiday dinner features that same great home-cooked taste. All dinners include oven-roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, stuffing, rolls, and cranberry sauce. Choose from additional sides, including green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mac & cheese. The price is $25 per person, with a minimum order of 10. Order by December 17 for pickup or delivery on December 23 or 24.
  
  
• Mosaic Catering + Events - 3001 Cutshaw Ave., Richmond, VA 23230
  Want to add a touch of the unexpected to your holiday meal? Mosaic Catering + Events has you covered. Their seasonal menu includes classic dishes with a modern twist. You'll have a hard time deciding between tasty choices such as everything spiced salmon, sage and goat cheese whipped potatoes, and cinnamon celebration meatballs. Vegetarians will love cheesy winter squash casserole, roasted cauliflower and root vegetable gratin, and other hearty but meat-free dishes. Vegan options are available on request. 
  
  
• Libbie Market - 400 Libbie Ave., Richmond, VA 23226
  In 2010, when Ukrop's grocery stores were sold, employees Buster Wright and David Taylor stepped up to preserve the specialty store location. Today, Libbie Market has the variety and convenience of a full-scale grocery store with the warm, personalized service of an independent shop. Their holiday menu features an extensive mix-and-match list of entrées, sides, and breads such as beef tenderloin, herb stuffing, corn pudding, and buttermilk biscuits. Place a $50 minimum order by December 17 for pickup on December 23 or 24. 
  
  
• Nomad Deli & Catering Co. - 207 W. Brookland Park Blvd., Richmond, VA 23222
  Why wait for the main event? Start your holiday off right with a grazing brunch from Nomad Deli & Catering Co. Open gifts while nibbling on a spread of mini bagels, spinach and feta quiche, baked Brie bites, cinnamon roll pull-apart, and fresh fruit. Their dinner is equally spectacular, with spiral ham, roast beef, crostinis, and an assortment of spreads and cheeses. Top it all off with a dessert tray of brownie bites, apple blondies, pecan pie tarts, pumpkin dip, and cookies. 
  
  
• Homemades by Suzanne - 101 N. 5th St., Richmond, VA 23210
  If it's not on the holiday menu at Homemades by Suzanne, you don't need it. Categories include Chicken & Turkey, Beef, Seafood, Cheese, Dips & Sauces, Quiche, and Dessert. Place your order, and they'll have everything ready for pickup, or delivery and set-up is available for an additional charge.

Use some of that extra time to find or sell a house in Richmond. Contact us at Joyner Fine Properties to get started.

'Tis the season to shop local! With the holiday season approaching, there are plenty of Richmond stores where you can shop for unique gifts and support the local economy while doing so. Here are a few key places our real estate agents recommend visiting.

• Rosewood Clothing Co: 407 Cleveland Ave., Richmond, VA 23221
  If your recipient loves clothing and accessories, then Rosewood Clothing Co. is the perfect local shop to visit. The store celebrates creativity and self-expression. Their focus is on clothing that is comfortable, stylish, and sustainably made.
  
  Rosewood Clothing Co. also carries some vintage apparel and jewelry. Their apothecary section is a good place to pick up nail polish, soap, salves, and other small gifts for the loved ones on your list.
  
  
• Gild and Ash: 5730 Patterson Ave., Richmond, VA 23226
  Gild and Ash carries a fine selection of men's and women's accessories, along with home goods and decor. If you're not sure what to buy for someone on your list, their consultants can help you out. They're experts in decor and fashion.
  
  Some of the more unique gifts at Gild and Ash include geode coasters, scented matches, and unique tea towels. Fill a stocking with these small items, or spring for a really special gift, like some gold hoop earrings or a multi-chain necklace.
  
  
• Little Nomad: 104 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220
  For the youngest on your gift list, pay a visit to Little Nomad, a local shop for babies and kids. They carry sustainably made clothing crafted from materials like Peruvian Pima cotton.
  
  Along with clothes, Little Nomad carries illustrated picture books, sketch pads, and wellness essentials for little ones. Their Mommy & Me Skincare Gift Set is quite popular.
  
  
• Paper Plus: 5804 Grove Ave., Richmond, VA 23226
  Take a break from looking at Richmond homes for sale, and stop by Paper Plus. This local shop sells stationery, picture frames, and home accents. It's a lovely place to shop for someone who enjoys penmanship and art.
  
  Paper Plus has been a Richmond staple since 1978. The store has a very simple, welcoming vibe and is sure to put you in a good mood. You can even pick up an agenda for the new year while you're there.
  
  
• Relics to Rhinestones: 5726A Patterson Ave., Richmond, VA 23226
  If your recipient loves jewelry, then Relics to Rhinestones is the perfect place to shop. This store is a luxury boutique that carries everything from baby gifts to home decor, but their jewelry selection is especially vast. 
  
  The employees at Relics to Rhinestones are very helpful and can help you find the perfect gift for anyone on your list.
  
  
• Sheppard Street Antiques: N. 1126 Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond, VA 23230
  Sheppard Street Antiques is a locally owned antique dealer where you can find unique, vintage gifts for your loved ones. They have antique paintings, wicker baskets, wooden furniture, painted china, and so much more.
  
  Since the selection at Sheppard Street Antiques is always changing, it makes sense to stop by a few times during the holiday season and see what treasures you find.

Richmond has so many lovely, locally owned stores worth visiting. Those listed above are just the beginning. Have a great time shopping this holiday season, and don't hesitate to contact us if you're in need of real estate services. Our agents would be proud to help you find the perfect Richmond home.

After a while, holiday cards can get tedious, sending the same basic sentiment, year after year. This year, though, in addition to looking at holiday cards, you're also looking at Richmond homes for sale, as you prepare to move. That means your season's greetings will also serve as a new home announcement, to let people know about your amazing new place, and when they can visit. You need to make them extra special. Here are seven unique holiday card ideas you can try this year.

1. Gingerbread House
   Get a thin piece of brown cardboard and decorate it to look like a gingerbread house - or better yet, a gingerbread version of your new home. You can even stick a piece of (wrapped) candy on it for the doorknob. Write your holiday message on the back. It's a great way to convey the holiday spirit and the news about your new home at the same time.
   
   
2. Add a Family Photo
   If you like to send family photos with your cards, try switching it up this year. Take a full-body shot of each family member, individually, in some sort of fun action pose. Then, cut each of their figures out of the printed photos. Take the cutouts, string them all together with a piece of twine, and include it in your holiday card. As a bonus, combine this one with the gingerbread card above: now your cards have your family, living in your new house!
   
   
3. Button Snowmen
   Get a bunch of white buttons of all different sizes. Stack them up three at a time, to look like snowmen, and glue them to the front of your cards. Add accessories, like a tie made from colorful yarn, or a top hat made from construction paper. You can just make one, or you can make several, each representing a different member of your family, with all different distinguishing characteristics.
   
   
4. New Home Announcement
   Instead of the traditional holiday greeting, why not send out a card that tells people you've moved, and shows off your new home? Include a picture of the house (complete with lights and decorations), and your new address, encouraging friends to come to visit - for the holidays or otherwise. 
   
   
5. Washi Tape
   Get a roll of washi tape with a colorful and festive design on it. Put pieces of tape on your card to make fun, holiday designs. Stack several pieces of tape on top of one another in decreasing sizes, to form a tree. Tie pieces of yarn into bows, and put them on top of tape pieces to make them into gifts. Use your imagination.
   
   
6. Snow Globe
   On the inside of your card, draw or otherwise create a snowy, holiday scene. Cut a circle out of the front of the card, so part of the scene can be viewed through it. Get a small ziplock bag, and put sequins in it. Attach the bag to the inside of the card (left side) directly over the hole. When you shake it, the sequins will fall over the snowy scene, just like a snow globe.
   
   
7. Book Card
   Take a book you don't mind sacrificing. Draw outlines of holiday figures and shapes on the pages, and cut them out. Paste the shapes to the front of your cards.

These are just a few creative ideas for sending holiday cheer and announcing your new home during the holidays. Our real estate agents can get you into a house you'll be proud to spread the news about this holiday season. Contact us to find your dream home!

When you enter a room, the scents inside the space impact your feelings, emotions, and immediate perception of the home. This is especially true around the holidays.

Our real estate agents know that inviting, comforting scents are what people associate with the holiday season. Here are a few ways to enjoy seasonal scents in your home. 

• Light a Festive Candle
  A candle is a go-to way to add festive aromas to any space thanks to its simplicity and widespread availability. Make sure that you keep the wick trimmed to a quarter of an inch in length to prolong the candle's lifespan. Try a candle that mimics the aroma of your favorite holiday treat. Or, opt for a more nature-inspired scent that resembles the fresh aroma of a Christmas tree or snowy winter day. Feeling creative? Create a tablescape to combine multiple candles that have complementary scents.
   
• Use a Scent Diffuser
  A scent diffuser combines an essential oil or scented oil with water and diffuses the scent throughout the room. Some scent diffusers also act as humidifiers due to the amount of moisture they add to a room. Scent diffusers are easy to use, don't involve an open flame, and add seasonal aromas to your home for hours at a time. They come in a variety of styles and colors, making it easy to find one that suits your decor. Grab your favorite essential or scented oil and add a few drops to your scent diffuser, combining it with the correct amount of water. Start small; you can always add more oil if the smell isn't strong enough.
   
• Simmer a Festive Blend
  Aromas from the kitchen have a way of wafting throughout your entire home. Put some water or cider in a pot and add cinnamon, orange slices, cloves, and cranberries and simmer on low. Make sure that the water or cider covers the contents, and keep in mind you'll need to add more as it evaporates.
   
• Bake a Batch of Cookies
  There's nothing like the delicious aroma of a fresh batch of cookies. When clients add their homes to the list of Richmond homes for sale, we often recommend that they bake cookies before open houses or showings to ensure their home smells heavenly. Not only can you change the scent with your cookie recipe, but you'll have a tasty treat to enjoy. 
  
  
• Make Cinnamon Ornaments
  Cinnamon ornaments are an old-fashioned way to add festive scents to your home. While you can purchase cinnamon ornaments, it's much more enjoyable to make your own. Combine three-quarters of a cup of applesauce with two bottles of cinnamon until it forms a soft dough. Then, grab about a fourth of the dough and roll it out until it's a quarter of an inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutter to cut your ornament out. Make sure to add a hole to hang your ornament with the end of a drinking straw. Bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 2.5 hours. 

Want a home with more space for holiday festivities? There are plenty of Richmond homes for sale! Contact us today to start your search.

With the end of the year approaching, prospective homebuyers have holiday cheer on their minds as they tour Richmond homes for sale. This doesn't mean you should make your home into a replica of the North Pole though! Successfully staging your home for the holidays takes subtlety and class. Here are a few tips for tastefully staging your home for the holidays.

1. Decorate the front door. 
   The front door is your best place to make a good first impression. Hanging a cheery holiday wreath on the door can set the stage for your prospective buyers to imagine themselves in your home for the holidays from the moment they step over that threshold. Don't clutter up the yard with a lot of decorations, though, as it doesn't take much to cross over the line into the realm of tacky. Instead, focus on improving your curb appeal.
   
   
2. Match your decorations to your decor. 
   The best way to achieve subtlety and class is to make sure your holiday decorations blend seamlessly with the existing decor. Opt for holiday colors and styles that complement your themes and furnishings. If you've done your job with staging, these should be fairly neutral, setting the stage for a subtle holiday display.
   
   
3. Remember that less is more. 
   The rule of thumb for staging isn't any different around the holidays. As always, you should minimize the decor as much as possible. Instead of adding holiday decor, replace what you had used for staging before, as you don't want it to appear too cluttered by trying to squeeze everything in. And don't break out your entire collection of holiday ornaments! Just a few tasteful touches, such as a bowl of pinecones on the coffee table or a holiday greenery arrangement, will be just enough to encourage your buyer to envision themselves in your home.
   
   
4. Keep the decor impersonal. 
   Staging your home needs to be impersonal at any time of the year, but perhaps most of all around the holidays, when people are thinking about entertaining and celebrating with their families. This means that not only should you remove family pictures from the walls, but you also should make sure not to hang any holiday decorations that are too personal. We all have our own ways of celebrating the holidays, so keeping your holiday decor subtle and impersonal will allow them to picture themselves and their own traditions in your home.
   
   
5. Highlight your home's best features. 
   Finally, don't forget that the main purpose of staging is to show your home to its best advantage. You can use your holiday decor to highlight your home's best features, just as you would with any other decor. A strategically placed decoration can draw attention to a feature of your home that you want to highlight. Use your decorations sparingly, but use them to help your home shine.

No matter the season, staging a home for sale is an art form. If you feel overwhelmed or are unsure of how to proceed, one of our real estate agents can walk you through it. Contact us today to start the process!

The holiday season is a special time in Virginia! Richmond is one of the state's most precious gems, and it shines bright this time of year. As you fill out your calendar for the holiday season ahead, be sure to take a look at these fabulous family-friendly events coming to town.

1. Richmond Christmas Parade - W. Broad Street / 7th Street, Richmond, VA
   One of the best things about buying Richmond homes for sale is that you are just a short drive from downtown. The charming Christmas Parade will roll through downtown on December 7th at 10 am. This is one of the largest Christmas parades in the country, and it is a perfect time to come out and enjoy the holidays with people throughout the state.
   
   
2. Hip Hop Nutcracker - Altria Theater, 6 N Laurel St, Richmond, VA 23220
   This modern mash-up of a holiday favorite is one that's guaranteed to entertain. The Hip Hop Nutcracker blends contemporary dance with the classical sounds of Tchaikovsky. It's fun for all ages and a perfect opportunity to teach your children the true meaning of holiday spirit.
   
   
3. Jingle Bell Run - 211 Westmoreland Ave, Richmond, VA 23226 
   The 2019 Jingle Bell Run/Walk is a wonderful way to get the blood flowing as you wrap up your holiday shopping. This 5k run/walk helps raise awareness for the Arthritis Foundation. You can dress up in your most festive holiday gear as you make your way through town, spreading cheer and hope to friends, family, and co-workers along the way.
   
   
4. Story Time with Santa - Hopewell Community Center, 100 West City Point Rd, Hopewell, VA 23860
   Want to keep the kids busy while you search for Hopewell homes for sale? Spending a night with Santa, Rudolph, and the rest of the North Pole crowd is the way to go. On December 14th from 4 pm to 6 pm, Santa and his crew will be weaving tales and baking cookies at Story Time with Santa. 
   
   
5. A Very Special Holiday Tea - Hobby Hill Farm Fresh, 2652 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, VA 23139
   A spot of tea always goes well with a holiday celebration. On December 14th from 11 am to 4 pm, you can sit back and enjoy some of the finest teas in the world. The Very Special Holiday Tea is the perfect place to sit back and relax while you discuss the Powhatan homes for sale you are most interested in scheduling for a showing.  
   
   
6. Santa Paws - 3329 Pump Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060
   Be sure to include Fido and Fifi in your holiday celebrations this year. At Santa Paws, your pets an get their photo taken with the big buy and enjoy plenty of playtime and treats. On December 14th from 10 am to 1 pm, Santa and his crew will be happy to have their photo taken with your pup. Be sure to stop by Glen Allen homes for sale afterward.  

Contact us for more ideas about area events you can enjoy with your family this holiday season. Our REALTORS® are happy to help you discover all that Virginia has to offer.

Memorial Day is May 27.  Our REALTORS® know that Memorial Day Weekend is a busy time for our residents. With parades, festivals, ceremonies and other events happening around town, you've got quite the options to fill your weekend with fun. Here is our pick of five great activities you and your family can attend this Memorial Day weekend.

1. America's First College & Memorial Day Celebration – 251 Henricus Park Rd., Chester, VA 23836
   Henricus Historical Park is celebrating Memorial Day in a very cool way on May 25th. Just around the corner from Chesterfield homes for sale, come out for a celebration where the first American formal school was formed. Interpreters will host lectures and living history presentations for visitors. They'll even fire muskets and cannons to salute the men and women of the armed forces that have sacrificed their lives throughout American history.
    
2. The Memorial Military Murals by Charles Hoffbauer – 428 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220
   The Virginia Historical Society, in the Museum District surrounded by Richmond homes for sale, invites residents and visitors view The Memorial Military Murals by artist Charles Hoffbauer. Admission is free to see these paintings depicting Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Memorial Day originated shortly after the Civil War as a way to honor those who fought, making this exhibit an appropriate way for your family to honor the fallen on this annual holiday.
   
   
3. Gallmeyer Farms Memorial Day Celebration – 3622 Darbytown Ct., Richmond, VA 23231
   Take a quick drive just north of Hopewell homes for sale and spend the day on the farm! On May 25th, come out to Gallmeyer Farms for hayrides and activities for the whole family. Kids will love picking strawberries and playing on the farm as live music fills the air.
    
4. 25th Pamplin Historical Park Anniversary/Memorial Day Commemoration – 6125 Boydton Plank Rd., Petersburg, VA 23803
   Pamplin Historical Park is one of the many gems located around Petersburg homes for sale. Join them during Memorial Day Weekend as they celebrate their 25th anniversary. They'll debut a new exhibit and host plenty of activities throughout the weekend. Visit on Memorial Day for special events including a Breakthrough Battlefield Tour, a showing of War So Terrible, an artillery salute, the presentation of colors and a ceremony honoring our fallen troops.
   
   
5. Sandston Memorial Day Parade 2019 – 11 JB Finley St., Henrico, VA 23250
   Extend your Memorial Day weekend an extra day and join one last celebration. The Sandston Memorial Day Parade takes place on May 27th. Watch as a lively parade travels through town passed Henrico homes for sale. A ceremony recognizing veterans will be held before the parade at Seven Pines National Cemetery. After the parade, the celebration continues with music, activities for kids and plenty of vendor booths full of food and more fun!

We wish a Happy Memorial Day to all of our Richmond residents whose family members have served in the armed forces. Contact us when you're ready to make Richmond your home. Our REALTORS® are ready to help start your search for local homes for sale.