The Liz Moore Market Watch Blog

By: Lauren Cummings

It’s no surprise that residents from all over Central Virginia travel to Richmond to celebrate Independence Day for epic fireworks, live music, and an array of celebrations. The city has so much to offer, so we’ve narrowed it down to some of the hottest spots for a wonderful evening celebrating the federal holiday.

Dogwood Dell’s Festival of Arts
Dogwood Dell will host a spectacular evening full of live music and a firework show. The event starts on July 4^th at 5:00 pm, and it’s free to attend! All you need is a lawn chair or picnic blanket to get comfortable on the lawn to enjoy the live music, and you will have a gorgeous view of the firework show that starts after the sun sets.

The Diamond
Calling all baseball fans: What better way to celebrate American culture than attending a baseball game with front-row seats, that concludes with a spectacular fireworks display? Get your tickets and cheer on Richmond’s Flying Squirrels as they play against the Bowie Baysox – it will be an exciting game, and an even more exciting ending filled with dazzling fireworks. Tickets are selling fast – it’s guaranteed to be a lively night of celebration!

Fourth of July Fireworks at Kings Dominion
For a truly epic fireworks display, spend the day at Kings Dominion on July 4th^th. After a day filled with thrilling coasters and splashing around in Soak City, this firework display is the perfect way to end a day filled with fun memories. The best view in the park will be on International Street at the Eiffel Tower, although the fireworks can be seen at various points throughout the park.

Sources:

Hammond, Kassidy. “List: Best Places to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks in Richmond, Central Virginia.” WRIC ABC 8News, 21 June 2023, www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/list-best-places-to-watch-fourth-of-july-fireworks-in-richmond-central-virginia/.

VisitRichmondVA. “Fun 4th of July Festivities in RVA.” Richmond Region Tourism, 21 June 2023, www.visitrichmondva.com/blog/post/fun-rva-festivities-for-the-4th-of-july/

By: Lauren Cummings

There is something special about sharing books; the creases from where the previous reader was  gripped by the tension of the story, the dog  ear folds from where they had to mark their  place, or even the little notes they have left  behind as they jotted down their thoughts – these qualities don’t just add character to the book  itself, it creates connections between readers. We  may each experience a story differently, but it is up  to us to share them.

How It All Started

Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin was inspired by the  “take a book, leave a book” projects launched by coffee  shops and community buildings. He placed a Free Little Library in front of his residence as a tribute to his mother,  who was a schoolteacher with a passion for reading. All  it took was a few people to recognize the importance of  easy access to books for everyone, and from there, a chain  of free little libraries was established across the country.  As of 2022, 150,000 mini-libraries have been registered  across 115 countries worldwide.

What is a Little Free Library?

Little free libraries are exactly as they sound, and no library card is required. Little free libraries are usually 
placed by residents of the community or by volunteers  that are passionate about spreading knowledge and 
story magic to everyone. These mini libraries symbolize community, inspiration, and support.

How Can You Start One?

Creating your little free library is easier than ever with  the help of the non-profit organization behind it all, Little  Free Library. This organization has made it possible for  people to announce their library to the public and provide  access to resources to get noticed by the community. 
1. Identify a location and steward
2. Get a library – create one yourself or buy one
on the Little Free Library’s online store.
3. Register your library – see the QR code below.
4. Set up your steward account 
5. Build community support

Building Inspiration

If you want to get creative and don’t want to purchase  a mini-library from the online store, there are plenty 
of resourceful ways to create a mini-library. We have  seen people convert old microwaves into mini-libraries,  small dog houses, storage bins, and even an old  cabinet. The one thing to consider is if the structure is 
weather-proof material so no books are ruined; a door is ideal for this requirement.

Register your library or find one near you at www.littlefreelibrary.org.

Looking to play a round of golf in Richmond? Here are our recommendations for the best spots:

Independence Golf Club
Recognized by Golf Digest as one of Richmond’s top courses, located on a beautiful estate with an event venue.
https://independencegolfclub.com

Providence Golf Club
Designed by one of the best golf course architects in the world and rated the highest of any golf club in VA.
www.providencegolfclub.com/

 First Tee of Greater Richmond
Select from three outstanding courses and support First Tee’s initiatives for RVA youth.
www.firstteegreaterrichmond.org/

The Summer Edition of our Liz Local Magazine is now available.  We've dedicated this issue to our four-legged, furry friends highlighting pet friendly places, interior design tips with pets in mind, and more!

View the digital version for your market below:

Peninsula Edition

Northern Neck Edition

Richmond Edition

Williamsburg Edition 

Fireworks are a must on July 4th and Richmond has many great spots to see a spectacular show.  Here are our recommendations:

Chesterfield Fairgrounds - Not only fireworks, but also a children’s inflatable play area, food vendors, live music, and more! 5-10:30PM, 10300 Courthouse Rd, Chesterfield, VA 23832

The Diamond - Nothing says America like fireworks at a baseball game! See the Flying Squirrels play & enjoy the fireworks afterward.6:35PM, 3001 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23230

Byrd Park July 4th at Dogwood Dell is back! Fireworks can be viewed from Shields and Swan Lakes, the Fountain Lake area, and the area in front of the Carillon. 6PM, 600 S Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220

Looking for a way to celebrate St. Patty's Day in Richmond?  There are many great options!

Here are our recommendations:

Shamrock the Block
March 12th 12-6pm
Shamrock The Block is a FREE street festival in its 17th year - located on the Boulevard in Richmond, VA between Leigh and Broad Street.

Shamrock RunRVA 5K
March 13th 10:30am
Celebrating St. Patty's Day with the 4th Annual Shamrock RunRVA 5k! This 5k road run/walk will start and end at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, in the heart of RVA.

Official St. Patrick's Bar Crawl
March 12th 1-9pm
Richmond's Official St. Patrick's Bar Crawl Returns For The 5th Year! Register Now & Join The Shenanigans.

The winter weather is here to stay and snow is falling in Virginia.  Check out the best sledding spots in Richmond and make the most of your snow days.

1. FOREST HILL PARK (Southside)
Great for families with younger children!

2. BRYAN PARK (Northside)
The disk golf course is a great sledding spot!

3. MAYMONT (Downtown)
Sled on the hill at the Nature Center, the hill near the Dooley Mansion, or the hill behind the Children’s Farm. Give them a call first at (804) 358-7166 to make sure they’re open.

4. LIBBY HILL PARK (Church Hill)
If you want high hills and fast rides, this is the place for you!

5. HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY (Oregon Hill)
Ride down the hill at the back of the cemetery and enjoy the view of the river.

There is no shortage of holiday fun to be had in Richmond, Virginia this season.  Here are our top recommendations:

1. Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - A spectacular light show in one of Richmond’s most beautiful spots. Gardenfest is open nightly through January 9, 2022. Buy tickets online only at www.lewisginter.org

2. Holiday Season at Maymont

Take a trip back in time and experience Victorian holiday grandeur at Richmond’s beloved Maymont! The Dooley mansion will be decked out in all its Gilded Age holiday glory. Runs through January 2022. Buy tickets online at www.maymont.org/events/holiday-merriment 

3. Illuminate Light Show at the Meadow Event Park

Enjoy the experience of Central Virginia’s largest drive-through light show! Runs through January 2nd, 2022. Purchase tickets at
www.illuminatelightshow.com

4. Holiday Movies at the Byrd Theatre

You’ve got plenty of options to choose from this holiday season at the Byrd Theatre! Classics from A Christmas Story to It’s a Wonderful Life will be showing at RVA’s most beloved cinema. Tickets & showtimes are available online at www.byrdtheatre.org/showtimes/.

Did you know that you can find a fantastic selection of fresh ingredients for your cooking projects, sourced from local suppliers right here in Richmond, Virginia? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites so you can support local businesses this holiday season and take your cooking to the next level.

Good Foods Grocery

A Richmond favorite, Good Foods Grocery was established in 1985 and has since provided the area’s largest selection of bulk flours, spices, and more. You won’t be able to beat the flavor of your freshly-baked goods when you use their ingredients!

Libbie Market

A full grocery, over 500 varieties of wine, a catering service, and bulk coffee and candies - what more could you want? If you need a one-stop shop, Libbie Market might be just the place for you.

Penzey's Spices

Do you have recipes this year that call for more unique spices? Your best bet is to go by Penzey’s Spices in Carytown. The selection is fantastic- a feast for your eyes as well as your tastebuds.

The Olive Oil Taproom

Home of over 54 flavors of oils and vinegars, the Olive Oil Taproom is your place to shop if you’d like to treat your guests to an unforgettable meal.

Ellwood Thompson's

Pick up locally-sourced ingredients at this popular spot right near Carytown. You can trust the quality you’ll find at this grocery that sells only the best.

Enjoy your holiday feasts with the best Richmond has to offer!

The past 15 months has been a roller coaster in our real estate world. It’s hard to imagine that in spite of being in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also experienced the hottest real estate market in US history. The perfect storm of low listing inventory and historic low interest rates converged to cause buyer demand to spike to all-time highs.

Clearly, it’s a great time to be a seller. But… what about the other side of that equation? Sellers are asking themselves, “I may get peak pricing for my home right now, but then I’ll have to turn around and pay peak pricing on the other end. Does that make sense for me?” Every situation is different, and the answer really depends on a lot of different factors. One thing that definitely makes sense, though, is that now is a great time for an in-depth look at values with your favorite REALTOR. If you’re not currently living in your dream home, now just may be the perfect time to explore alternatives.

Other drivers that are causing people to re-think their current space are the possibilities created by new opportunities to work remotely. Many people have realized that they can hang up their commute, and work from home…and that home can be anywhere they want. That freedom extends beyond location – it also means new and different features are important in a home: home offices and outdoor spaces have become all the buzz in recent months.

We’ve devoted this month’s edition of Liz Local to exploring a few of those features.

Check out a digital version of our Summer Liz Local Magazine:

Peninsula Edition

Williamsburg Edition

Richmond Edition

Northern Neck Edition

It's tubing season in Richmond, Virginia and there are many great options for adventure close by!

1. James River State Park:
Try the area between the canoe landing and Bent Creek. Check local
news for river cleanliness updates.

2. The James near Charlottesville:
Make a reservation with James River Runner to enjoy a tubing experience near Charlottesville.

3.Shenandoah River’s South Fork:
Contact Front Royal Outdoors to snag some tubes and enjoy a relaxing day on the river near the mountains.

4. Maury River & Upper James River:
Venture near Roanoke for an enjoyable day on the river. Twin River Outfitters provides tube rentals here.

Visit www.lizmoore.com/love to enter.  If you don't live in the Northern Neck, what a great reason to take a day trip and enjoy the beautiful water views!

Staying safe and enjoying the water this Summer can go hand in hand! Check out these tips for keeping yourself and your family safe.

We love where we live and we know you do, too!  Join us for our photo contest throughout Northern Neck and be entered to win some great prizes.  Don't live in the Northern Neck but you've visited?  All participants welcomed!  Visit www.lizmoore.com/love before September 10, 2021 to enter your favorites photos of Virginia's Northern Neck.

Your pets are beloved members of your family and you want to make sure they receive the very best medical care. But how do you choose the right vet for your pet? We've outlined some important considerations below when selecting a veterinary practice for your fur baby.

Communication is Key
Ask your friends, family, and neighbors who they recommend. People with first-hand experience are great sources of information and someone who has had a great experience is eager to sing the praises of their veterinarian.

Responsive
Call potential veterinary practices: Do they answer the phone, or if not, do they return your call promptly? Is someone available to answer your questions? Can you easily get an appointment? Are you able to call and check on your pet frequently if they are having a procedure? You want to choose an office that communicates well with their clients.

Philosophies
Ask the veterinarian about their philosophies on pet health care. A few topics to discuss are euthanasia, cancer care, chronic disease planning, and spaying and neutering. Do they mesh with your own? Having a care giver with like­minded philosophies will help when faced with difficult decisions. Observe how they react and respond to your specific questions. Does this seem like someone with whom you'll be able to communicate and trust?

Take a Tour
A good office or hospital is proud of their facility and should be willing to give prospective clients a tour of their facility. Check the cleanliness of exam rooms, check out their medical equipment, do they have access to x-ray, ultrasound, dentistry, labs, and the like? Also, be sure to inquire about health care specific to your pet and any special care they might require. 

Interaction
Introduce your pet to your potential veterinarian and their staff long before your first appointment. Observe how everyone interacts with you and your pet. Are they welcoming, calm, and attentive to you both? Observe how your pet responds to them as well. Choosing a warm and caring practice can soothe a stressful situation for your pet.

Location and Hours
This isn't as important as good, solid care, but convenience is a factor to consider. Choose a vet you can access in a reasonable amount of time, and with hours chat work with your schedule. Choosing a wonderful practice that you can never get to won't do anyone any good.

Busier Can Mean Better
Don't be put off by a busy waiting area. A crowded, fast paced waiting area can be signs of a great, well-liked, hardworking practice.

Money Matters
Vet bills can add up quickly. Be sure to ask about costs of routine care like office visits and vaccines and ask about emergency services like x-ray.

Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort town all within a short drive making it the perfect day trip beach destination.  Just an hour or two away, you will find gorgeous beaches, a bustling boardwalk, a variety of excellent restaurants, and fun activities sure to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts and kids. Virginia Beach is a year-round destination with beach fun and water play in the summer and many attractions to explore in the less crowded, cooler months.  Let’s head east and explore! 

Virginia Beach first and foremost offers miles of wide, gorgeous sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. People near and far flock to Virginia Beach to sun bathe on the shore, splash in the waves, and enjoy the boardwalk.

If you like adventure, Virginia Beach has exciting waves that attract boogey boarders and surfers daily, especially around the south end of the beach.  The locals usually surf around 1^st Street at the oceanfront if you want an authentic surfing experience.  Still a grommet on the waves?  No problem, several outfits offer surfing lessons and board rentals including VB Surf Sessions, Seth Broudy School of Surf, and Pungo Board House.  You can find more information on lessons and rentals on their websites at www.vbsurfsessions.com, www.sethbroudyschoolofsurf.com and www.pungoboardhouse.com.

Those wanting to enjoy the water at a slower pace might enjoy stand up paddle boarding, or SUP as seasoned paddlers call it.  Companies offer lessons, rentals, guided eco tours, and even SUP yoga on the calmer waters around Virginia Beach including First Landing State Park, Rudee Inlet, and Back Bay.  SUP is great exercise and offers beautiful nature views that often include pods of dolphin, osprey, bald eagles, great blue herons, and more.  A few tour companies to check out are Beach Eco Tours, Rudee Inlet Stand Up Paddle, and Tula Adventure Sports Stand up Paddleboard & Kayaking.  You can learn more on their websites at www.beachecotours.com, www.paddleboardvb.com, and www.tulasports.com.

For those looking to just sit back and enjoy the view, a boat tour might be more your speed.  Many tours are offered including fishing, dolphin watching, and there is even a Craft Brews Cruise offered by the Virginia Aquarium!  Capt. Jack’s Pirate Ship Adventures are very popular with tourists of all ages.  Aboard Capt. Jack’s Black Pearl, a bright red ship flying iconic Jolly Rogers, passengers sing and dance along with the crew, enjoying the show as much as the view.  More information on boat tours is available at www.rudeetours.com, www.virginiaaquarium.com, and www.virginiabeachpirateship.com. 

When exploring Virginia Beach’s land-based attractions, the VB Wave, a trolley-inspired bus, makes getting around fun, easy, and affordable.  The VB Wave transports passengers around the oceanfront, Rudee Inlet, and First Landing State Park.  Just hop aboard at one of the many stops and sit back and enjoy the ride!  Fares are due in cash and cost $2.00 per adult and children 17 and under are free with a paying adult!  Day passes are available for $4.50 each.

All of the fun in the sun is sure to make you hungry and Virginia Beach has many delicious and unique dining options.  A couple of our favorites include Citrus, breakfast here is a must!  Located at 2265 W Great Neck Road and made famous by appearing on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, locals and tourists alike stand in line for citrus orange glazed pancakes and innovative benedicts.  And what’s a trip to the beach without enjoying a raw bar?  Local favorite, Big Sam’s Grill and Raw Bar located at 300 Winston Salem Ave. in Rudee Inlet serves up fresh, locally caught seafood dishes and raw bar items in a comfortable setting with views of the marina. 

Thirsty for an adult beverage? Quench your thirst with an Orange Crush, the unofficial drink of Virginia Beach, made famous by Waterman’s Surfside Grille, a great oceanfront restaurant at the south end of the beach.  The recipe is a blend of the juice of one whole fresh orange with flavored vodka, orange liqueur and a splash of Sprite served over crushed ice.

If you decide to turn your day trip into an overnight, there are numerous hotels and motels for every budget.  One of our favorites is the Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront located at 3315 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach.  This hotel is at the northern, quieter end of the beach and features an indoor/outdoor pool and their onsite restaurant, Lagerheads. 

There is so much to see and do in Virginia Beach, enough to fill up many, many day trips.  It’s a good thing this jewel is just a short drive away! Other day trip options include a visit to the Virginia Aquarium and their Adventure Park, seeing a concert at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, visiting the Military Aviation Museum, touring an oyster farm, visiting the Cape Henry Lighthouse, playing at Top Golf, and so much more.  Plan your trip today!

Virginia Beach...just another reason why we love where we live!